Knicks’ Fake Ring Offer Sparks Employee Backlash and Security Lesson

WHO:

Yahoo Sports - An MSG spokesperson said the company will provide rings and jewelry to players, coaches, employees, and other members of the Knicks family.

Pro Football Network - Knicks owner James Dolan faced backlash after Madison Square Garden (MSG) employees were misled about receiving a championship ring.

Yahoo Sports - The Athletic’s Joe Vardon reported on the fake ring offer and the team’s ring distribution.

Yahoo Sports - MSG employees, including some longtime employees and people in the Knicks’ business operations, reportedly would not receive championship rings.

Yahoo Sports - The Knicks’ assistant coaches received empty boxes during the ring ceremony and were expected to receive their rings later.

Yahoo Sports - Knicks great Walt Frazier handed out rings; NBA commissioner Adam Silver attended but sat on the opposite side of the court. NFL commissioner Roger Goodell and Jon Bon Jovi stood behind presenter Mike Breen.

WHAT:

Yahoo Sports - MSG said it will issue more than 275 championship rings and pieces of jewelry, valued at more than $3.7 million.

Yahoo Sports - MSG described using rings as a phishing-test lure as “an unfortunate mistake.”

Yahoo Sports - MSG said it had been hacked and extorted using an employee login and password obtained through a similar phishing attack.

Yahoo Sports - The Athletic reported that Madison Square Garden employees received the ring-offer email in September.

Yahoo Sports - The email promised the same jeweler and craftsmanship as the championship rings and said each ring would be personalized with the employee’s name at no cost.

CBS Sports - The Knicks’ championship ended a 53-year title drought.

CBS Sports - Knicks assistant coaches’ reactions to not receiving their rings reportedly ranged “from genuine anger to annoyance.”

CBS Sports - The number of employees who clicked the phishing-test link, and how many of them will eventually receive rings, were not clear.

CBS Sports - An MSG Sports spokesperson told The Athletic, “We are not disclosing anything about the rings.”

Pro Football Network - A fake NBA championship-ring offer to MSG employees triggered backlash.

Yahoo Sports - An email told recipients: “Congratulations, your Employee Championship Ring is here” and offered a complimentary, personalized ring with “two designs to choose from: Championship Gold and Garden Classic.”

Yahoo Sports - Employees who clicked the email link were reportedly assigned a mandatory cybersecurity class rather than receiving a ring.

Yahoo Sports - Knicks assistant coaches were presented with empty ring boxes while stirring music played.

Yahoo Sports - The Knicks lost their season opener to the Philadelphia 76ers, 106–100.

WHERE:

Yahoo Sports - The ring ceremony took place at Madison Square Garden in New York.

WHY:

Yahoo Sports - MSG said the phishing simulation was designed to strengthen its security against hackers after the company was hacked and extorted.

CBS Sports - The team’s championship defense was reportedly clouded by James Dolan’s opposition to entering the second apron, which cost the team reserve Mitchell Robinson, and by extension negotiations with multiple starters being tabled before the season.

CBS Sports - Team sources said the mandatory cybersecurity class was intended “to help satisfy some of Dolan’s growing cybersecurity concerns.”

Yahoo Sports - The phishing email was reportedly a cybersecurity test intended to address Dolan’s cybersecurity concerns.

Yahoo Sports - The assistant coaches’ rings were unavailable because the team was still measuring ring sizes and placing orders.

HOW:

Yahoo Sports - The Athletic reported that Oklahoma City Thunder assistant coaches also did not receive their rings on opening night the previous year, but the Thunder did not present them with empty boxes.

Yahoo Sports - The phishing test used an email offering employees a choice between two ring designs and a link to reserve one.

Yahoo Sports - Vardon reported that the Knicks’ ring distribution differed from common practices: some employees were excluded, and the assistant coaches’ rings were not ready for the ceremony.

Yahoo Sports - The article said the NBA commissioner usually addresses the crowd and presents players with their rings; Frazier performed the presentation instead.

A cybersecurity test at Madison Square Garden sparked backlash after employees were promised personalized Knicks championship rings, then told the offer was a phishing lure. The email offered two designs and a link to reserve a ring; employees who clicked were reportedly assigned mandatory cybersecurity training instead. MSG said the test was meant to strengthen defenses after the company was hacked and extorted using login details obtained in a similar attack, calling the simulation an “unfortunate mistake.” The company now says it will provide more than 275 rings and pieces of jewelry, valued at over $3.7 million, to players, coaches, employees, and others in the Knicks family. At the ceremony, assistant coaches received empty boxes because their rings were not ready, reportedly prompting anger and annoyance. Knicks great Walt Frazier handed out the rings, while NBA Commissioner Adam Silver attended.