In case you haven’t heard, they’re on fire. Haven’t lost a game since April 23. Haven’t lost in the post-season. Haven’t gotten a ring in fifty five years.
Can they sweep their way through the Finals too?
Now I can’t say I’m a “die hard” Knicks fan but they’ve maintained a strong presence throughout my personal timeline. When I was a kid, my dad took me to see the Knicks. Madison Square Garden (the world’s most famous arena) is first and foremost known as the home of the Knicks. It’s also home to a lot of seediness, homeless people and ticket scalpers. I had to walk through them every morning to get to work.
I remember a time when the Knicks were so bad that the scalpers were giving away tickets FOR FREE. And like the saying goes, they were so bad (how bad were they) you couldn’t even give them away. No one was willing to waste a few hours of their day. Well Spike Lee and a few other diehards did/do.
I went to a few games after work since I worked six blocks from the Garden but it was mostly in lieu of Happy Hour. I’d meet up with friends and have a few drinks while the game was going on. At least we thought it was going on. We didn’t really pay attention. Admission was free and the drinks were cheap and strong. I remember somebody yelling could ya keep the noise down … we’re trying to talk here. The game was a sideshow.
On Sunday games, I’d go to the Garden and read the New York Times. Our apartment was just a five minute walk away and the game gave me a sense of community. Plus it was free. Even the ushers could care less: Take any seat ya want.
So I usually sat courtside. I can’t even imagine what a courtside seat costs today. Here’s a clip from the New York Post circa 2015:
One thing that baffles me is the circus known as the Knicks. They’re the worst run franchise in the NBA. Here’s their record the last 8 years.
30-52
37-45
39-43
33-49
23-59
33-49
23-59
32-50
That’s 8 straight seasons with losing records. How some of their upper management keep their jobs is beyond me. When you win fewer than 40 games, you’re officially terrible. It’s boggling considering the talent and payroll the Knicks have; 94 million dollars, the highest in the NBA.
So when (not if) they win, expect an avalanche of celebration inside and outside the Garden. I hope that old creaky arena can handle it. Believe me, these poor fans deserve it.
