Excited fan manages to greet Lebron on court

I know maintaing security everywhere is more of a concern than it ever. In sports arenas it was should be a top priority. The recent publicity exploit at Madison Square Garden involving a determined basketball fan to race onto the court and shake Lebron James' hand calls their security into question. In today's world this could be potentially disastrous or just plain unsafe. I realize the Knicks have grown accustomed to the fights among fans and their bitterness towards losing, but unauthorized people can't just roam the court to ask for an autograph or greet a favorite player up close. This guy who managed to slip by security probably had no intentions other than to congratulate Lebron on his scoring performance and let him know he was a big fan.

This story would've created a real scare and probably caused the media to blow a gasket if the enthusiastic fan asked the Cavs superstar to sign his shoes and jersey and all of a sudden a handgun fell out of his pants. The same would go for any character who dashed to the sidelines with a wild look on their face and started hollering, "OH SNAP! LEBRON THAT DUNK WAS OFF THE HIZZLE FOR REAL!" Such random outbursts (even though maybe affectionate) shouldn't be allowed at sporting events. I'm not sure what Lebron was thinking when he invited this fan to a later game between the Cavs and Nets. I really like Lebron and admire him, but he may have opened the flood gates to fan interference.

The NBA needs to intervene into this arrangement because it will give other fans the idea this sort of behavior is okay and is rewarded. I know King James cares about his fans and want to keep them satisfied, but buying them tickets as a special gift isn't the answer. He also has to take his own safety into consideration. Fans can enjoy the game from their seats and send shoutouts or boo whomever they want from there. The whole walking on court and getting up close with the players will cause panic and pose a distraction if it's not stopped.