According to court documents and local media, 24-year-old Pacers fan Jarrett Funke was charged with three felony counts after allegedly stabbing a Knicks fan during a fight at a brewery in Carmel, Indiana. This incident occurred during Game 2 of the Knicks’ series with the Pacers, which the Pacers won 114-109 at Madison Square Garden.
Funke has reportedly been charged with battery by means of a deadly weapon, battery resulting in serious bodily injury, and criminal recklessness committed with a deadly weapon. The first two counts are Level 5 felonies, whereas the third count is a Level 6 felony. He may be looking at 3 to 15 years in jail, depending on how the judge decides on the matter.
The argument reportedly began due to a verbal altercation that started with Funke knocking down one of the victim’s Knicks hats. Funke then yelled “F*** you, you still have a f***ing problem, take this outside,” to the two men, according to one of the alleged victims.
According to the Indianapolis Star, Funke’s father tried to defuse the situation by stepping in and yanking Funke away. According to reports, Funke and his family were told to leave the brewery, and the caller informed police that they were no longer required.
A few minutes later, a brewery worker called the police again to report that Funke had gone back to the patio of the business and attacked the two claimed victims while they were smoking. One of the Knicks supporters claimed in court that he took out a knife to dissuade Funke and then placed it back in his pocket because “he had no intention of using it.”
After an apparent verbal disagreement turned physical, Funke is accused of stabbing the two victims. Funke allegedly told police that the two victims were “talking s—” and that they started the fight. According to Funke, one of the victims “began punching him in the face” after pushing him to the ground. Funke allegedly “retrieved his pocketknife from his hoodie and swung it around toward (one of the victims) back with his right hand.” Multiple witnesses have claimed that Funke was the primary aggressor in this incident.
Loyalty In Sports: Are We Crossing The Line?
Looking at how aggressive Knicks fans are, one would not expect them to be the victims in an incident like this. While we are no one to pronounce any party as innocent or guilty, we can question whether we as a society are taking our sports brand loyalties way too far.
Fight breaks out in the Clippers stands tonight
(via @Farbod_E)
— Hoop Central (@TheHoopCentral) July 1, 2021
While bar fights are common, it has become an increasing trend recently that sports fans indulge in physical altercations during or after the game ends. This needs to stop, fans need to stop taking on-field rivalries personally.
SAMI ZAYN GOT HIS ASS BEAT BY A RANDOM NBA FAN LMAOOO pic.twitter.com/LXeFfnI01t
— Clown (@ClownBall9) January 10, 2025
While it may be helpful for the competitive spirit during the game, it should not come at the risk of the safety of the public. No sports rivalry in the world is worth endangering human life over.
