Try to imagine Derek Jeter being ejected from Yankee Stadium on Old-Timers’ Day. That’s sort of what happened Monday night to Uno the beagle, widely acclaimed as the most popular winner in Westminster history.
CNBC wanted to show Uno in the opening segment of its telecast, and quietly brought the dog to the TV tower in the ring. But Uno wasn’t registered to be in the building and Westminster officials didn’t know he was there until they heard him barking.
Now almost 11, the 2008 winner and his handlers were escorted by security out of the Garden.
“Having no prior approval to attend nor any documentation, he was requested to leave the premises,” Westminster spokesperson Gail Miller Bisher told the New York Times.
“That leaves the question of how Uno appeared from Texas at Madison Square Garden without authorization.”
A spokesman for NBC Sports said it was “a misunderstanding.”