Pat McAfee identifies himself as the 'somebody' who 'embarrassed' John Mellencamp at Pacers-Knicks game

Yahoo

5 days ago

ESPN personality Pat McAfee, left, appears to have annoyed singer John Mellencamp with his antics at the New York Knicks-Indiana Pacers game Tuesday in Indianapolis. (Sean Gardner; Timothy Norris / Getty Images)
Legendary rocker and Indiana native John Mellencamp apologized Thursday "on behalf of most Hoosiers" for the "poor, poor sportsmanship" displayed during the Pacers' home win over the New York Knicks in Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals two days earlier.
Although the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer. did not call out any specific Indiana sports fan in the statement he posted to X hours before Game 5, Mellencamp seemed to have a particular person in mind — popular ESPN personality Pat McAfee.
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"I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don't know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team — and in turn, support our team," the "Hurts So Good" singer wrote. "The audience booed these people. I'd say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it's poor, poor sportsmanship."
Read more: Teddi Mellencamp and dad John get real about burial plans as she battles Stage 4 cancer
Hours after Mellencamp posted his statement, McAfee reposted it on X and identified himself as the one who instigated Pacers fans to behave in such a manner.
"I am 'somebody,'" McAfee wrote.
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Mellencamp and McAfee were both on hand Tuesday at Gainbridge Fieldhouse as the Pacers defeated the Knicks 130-121 to take a 3-1 series lead. Addressing the crowd during a fourth-quarter timeout, McAfee called out celebrity Knicks fans Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and Timothée Chalamet — all of whom were in attendance that night — and encouraged Pacers fans to "send these sons of b— back to New York with their ears ringing!"
Stiller addressed the matter later that night on X, saying he assumed that McAfee was "playing around" and that all the fans he met at the arena were "awesome and incredibly cool."
Mellencamp, however, was not happy with the shenanigans.
Read more: Pat McAfee says ESPN didn't tell him to stop talking about Caitlin Clark. 'God' did
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"I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I've lived here my entire life," the singer once known as Johnny Cougar wrote. "On behalf of most Hoosiers, I would like to apologize for our poor behavior. I'm sure the Pacers had nothing to do with this smackdown."
Mellencamp's use of the "smackdown" appears to be a thinly veiled reference to McAfee, who is a color commentator and occasional wrestler for WWE. "Friday Night SmackDown" is one of the organization's signature TV shows.
It is unclear why Mellencamp opted to voice his displeasure so long after the incident occurred. Perhaps he plans to be in attendance Thursday night at Madison Square Garden as his Pacers attempt to seal their first trip to the NBA Finals since 2000.
One person who won't be there is McAfee, despite a friendly invite from Stiller.
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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.