talkSPORT broadcaster Jim White says he was “flattened” by a New York police officer after jumping a barrier to reach One World Trade Centre during the New York Knicks’ NBA Championship parade.
Jim White didn’t expect his World Cup work trip to include a confrontation with a New York police officer — but on Thursday, the streets around Manhattan turned into something else.
The 69-year-old talkSPORT host. who presents White and Jordan alongside former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan. was recording shows from One World Trade Centre while in the US to cover the tournament. His route to work. though. was blocked off by “gridlocked” traffic. triggered by the New York Knicks’ parade after winning the NBA Championship for the first time since 1973.
White told fellow presenter Paul Hawksbee that the chaos was immediate. “My hotel is less than an hour away. So I set off a bit earlier, but then I had problems trying to approach the World Trade Center,” he recalled.
Then came the moment he says he couldn’t avoid. With a barrier in front of him and Knicks fans all around, White made a split-second call. “As you can see. I’m in. but the crucial moment came. Paul. when there was a barrier in front of me and I decided. right. do I or don’t I?. And, surrounded by Knicks fans, I decided to jump the barrier.”.
What happened next was direct and physical. White said: “I was flattened by one of NYPD’s finest. They then told me, ‘hey, buddy, if you pull that stunt again, you’ll be arrested’.”
According to White, he tried to explain who he was. “I said, ‘Vinny, you’ve got to help me here. My name is Jim White. I do a show on talkSPORT with Simon Jordan. White and Jordan, you must have heard of it’.”
Instead of backing down, the officer responded by walking him back into the right flow. “And he said, ‘right, let’s see what we can do’. And Vinny, the senior policeman, and I’ll send a picture of this later, walks me to the top of Broadway and then down to the World Trade Center.”
White said the plan worked. “And I have made it, so has producer Luke. So has Troy Deeney. Let me tell you, Simon Jordan is out there somewhere in amongst two million Knicks fans.”
Brad Friedel, also staying at the same hotel as White, entered the story as a kind of counterpoint. White added that he didn’t think Friedel had decided it would be “extremely prudent to jump the barrier” to get to the studio.
When White brought it back to the present, the mood was still frantic. “There is utter chaos here, Paul, let me tell you. Chaos.”
Jordan, however, arrived at the studio soon after and insisted he wasn’t troubled on his way in, though White said some of the show’s production staff were struggling to get there on time.
Later in the day. White posted on X and shared a photo of himself outside the studio with a police officer who appeared to be Vinny. He wrote: “A massive thanks to this senior NYPD officer who kindly guided me through strict security at the New York Knicks NBA Championship winning parade this morning!” and added: “He got me on air at @talkSPORT and I’m forever grateful!”.
White also posted an image of a street that, in his words, was gridlocked during the parade, writing: “The NY Knicks Parade – no way through!!”
Jim White talkSPORT Simon Jordan Paul Hawksbee Vinny NYPD New York Knicks NBA Championship parade One World Trade Centre gridlocked traffic barrier
So he just jumps a barrier and acts shocked??
Wait I thought One World Trade was like super secured? If he was recording for a sports thing how does he just waltz in there. Also NYPD “flattened” is a wild word choice lol.
This is what happens when people think they’re special cause they’re on the radio. Like bro you’re not above barriers. But also, why is a parade stopping regular access to a job? seems like they should’ve had a lane for press.
Honestly this sounds staged a little? Like he’s 69 and jumping a barrier in front of cops while Knicks fans are there… idk. Maybe the officer was just trying to be mean for the story. If talkSPORT is going to cover games then they should’ve planned better instead of blaming the traffic.