Mellencamp Slams McAfee’s Knicks Fan Roast as Pacers Surge in Playoffs

In the electric atmosphere of Game 4 of the Eastern Conference finals, former Indianapolis Colts punter and ESPN host Pat McAfee seized the microphone to rally Indiana Pacers fans. With the Pacers leading the New York Knicks 111-96, McAfee took aim at celebrity Knicks supporters in attendance, including Spike Lee, Ben Stiller, and Timothée Chalamet, urging the crowd to send them back to New York "with their ears ringing." The fans responded with boos, amplifying the charged moment.

But not everyone was cheering. Indiana native and rock legend John Mellencamp, present at the game, expressed his dismay on social media, calling the incident a lapse in the state’s famed "Hoosier Hospitality." He apologized for the "poor sportsmanship," emphasizing that booing visitors was beneath Indiana’s values. "I was embarrassed," Mellencamp wrote, extending an olive branch to Knicks fans on behalf of Hoosiers.

McAfee’s gamble paid off, as the Pacers secured a 3-1 series lead, powered by Tyrese Haliburton’s 32-point triple-double performance without a single turnover. Meanwhile, Ben Stiller fired back, challenging McAfee to show up at Game 5 in Madison Square Garden. With the Knicks facing a must-win streak to reach the NBA Finals, the series is a high-stakes showdown, with the winner set to face the Oklahoma City Thunder, back in the Finals for the first time since 2012.

This clash of fandom and pride highlights a deeper tension: the line between spirited rivalry and respect. As the Pacers and Knicks battle, the real question is whether Hoosier Hospitality can shine through the heat of competition.