Charles Oakley, a former New York Knicks forward, was cleared Friday of charges he incurred for an incident involving two security guards at Madison Square Garden some time ago, per Elizabeth Rosner of the New York Post.

Oakley’s misdemeanor assault charges — for a televised scuffle with two Madison Square Garden security guards — were dismissed by a Manhattan judge on Friday afternoon, in accordance with an August deal in which the charges would be erased and sealed provided he stays out of trouble for six months.

Oakley did not have to appear in Manhattan Criminal Court Friday; the deal did not force him to admit any guilt.

“Mr. Oakley has been completely vindicated,” said his lawyer, Alex Spiro. “The New York legend lives on.”

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The incident was odd, to say the least. Oakley allegedly shouted a vulgar comment to Knicks owner James Dolan during a game against the L.A. Clippers almost a year ago, which prompted the security guards to escort him out the building. Dolan soon banned him from the Garden, and many in the NBA world castigated the billionaire for the decision.

But now it appears that the incident is completely behind Oakley, a figure universally loved not only in New York but the entire NBA. It was just another negative mark on Dolan's reputation in New York.

The incident was silly, to begin with, and Oakley should have never been banned from the Garden. And now that he has been cleared legally, he can get on with this life.