“The Knicks showed us how successful teams function. They work together, they pick each other up, they have each others’ backs, and they are genuinely happy when a teammate does well. They are humble, and they are not interested in individual glory.” ❤️
I am so happy for you, the Knicks, everyone in New York, and fans everywhere! Tears of joy 🥹
Edited to add- I was so excited, I forgot to include how fun and exciting the entire season has been to watch 😁 such a joy.
Oh Greg I don’t really know you but I love you! I’ve commented many times on your Substack writing but this sports essay is so good. Congratulations on your joy and the chip for the Knicks! It’s been 10 years since my Cavs came back from 1-3 to win against the 73 wins GS Warriors and that was love and happiness. It was Cleveland for goodness sake. I can relate to hating the Dolan ownership as his brother owns the Guardians and is kind of cheap. We’re a small market after all. 🙄 So enjoy your title and team. I look forward to Tuesday.
Greg, I just read that the last time the Knicks won, the humiliated President resigned the next year. Hope that was true. Hope that WILL be true this time as well. I’m so happy for New York!!!
I love this so much for you and Knicks fans everywhere. Your joy is palpable to this long-time Celtics fan (love that dirty water - Boston you’re my home) and I so enjoyed reading this. Go Knicks!
Thanks! The Celts had their moments, too...I happened to be in Boston, overlooking the square outside TD Garden, when they won 2 years ago. A fun gathering, but nothing like NYC...
Congrats to you and the Knicks, Greg! I don't follow men's basketball--big women's b'ball fans in our household. (We suffer permanent trauma from Mississippi State's last-second loss to Notre Dame in the 2018 NCAA women's finals, so I know how it feels to be emotionally invested in a team.) Anyway--Yay to the Knicks!! Enjoy every bit of your elation!
Oh! And Ms State lost by 60 pts to UConn in 2016 (cursed year) only to end UConn's vaunted winning streak the next year with a jump shot from the smallest player in the tournament! Anyway, yay for basketball! Take care.
Excellent Greg, The Knicks have been a WONDERFUL distraction to the horror before us. We await the return of the Sonics, in the mean time we love watching and cheering on a good game. Loved watching these games. Best line today " Don't shit on our joy"....It's perfect. Everyone should be a Knicks fan today...excellent sportsmanship. Thanks for sharing your love for the Knicks.
Thanks, Val! It's still an abomination that the Sonics were allowed to move...although OKC is a wonderful fan base. Hopefully they get a team again soon.
So happy for your Greg! May you have started your day with a Bloody Mary or Mimosa re-watching the game this time knowing the outcome. KNICKS IN FIVE!!
I can’t help but remember you in your Knicks jersey, as they were defeated in prior seasons on the 5-8 Greg. Damn, I’m happy for you, my NYC and Jersey pals in and around the city. Especially Kat who spent many great years through much tragedy here in ‘Sota! He and his father really deserved this moment!
Oh boy! This morning when I first heard that the Knicks won, I perked up, turned my head toward the TV and thought of you first thing, and since then I’m all smiles today. Your enthusiasm is so contagious, I’ll always smile, and cheer on the Knicks, though I won’t reach the level of analysis you share. So, the good vibes are all out in the universe, and I’m so cheered up, I’m even thinking we have a shot at removing the Trump burden from our mind and spirit soon. Diversity sure does lift a team to great “heights,” and New York is the best place to reach the top. Congratulations! P.S. It’s raining in Washington, D.C. today!
You and your fellow New Yorkers have my sincere congratulations! I read and listen to you enough that your Knicks fandom became infectious. Then my disgust at the so-called president’s involvement cranked up my emotional reaction to true excitement for the Knicks’ win! These days, as you say, any reason for being truly happy is in itself reason for celebrating. When it’s because a decades-long downer has been reversed … bring out the champagne!
My son and his partner Sophie have been going to the games and rooting them on. They watched the final game in their new apartment together. This was a big win! Go Knicks!
Greg, great, thanks. Sports cannot solve the world's problems but they sure can offer respite from the gloom surrounding us, lift people up. During the World Cup when the national team plays, cities come to a halt. Fans put aside differences, unite in cheering their team on. The fact that Scotland made it to its first world cup lifted the Scots, winning their first ever world cup match last night has just about every Scot with a huge hangover today, front page headline stuff.
For this lifelong Knick fan, pure joy, the glow continues. Now Go England soon to be followed by in the American version of football, Go Giants (I know, wishful thinking but I can hope, can't I?) Hope is the essence of being a sports fan, be it sustaining or deflating, both emotions offer respite from life's bullshit.
Woohoo! Did you see the shots of the retired Knicks? Ewing, so happy, almost in tears. But Walt Clyde just smiling big, like he knew it all along. I love that guy.
Big question, will Knicks accept an invite to WH? For sure dumbass Dolan will pressure them to go. All he cares about is getting the idiot to sign off on Penn Station funding so he gets a new MSG across the street. ASS-HOLE!
“The Knicks showed us how successful teams function. They work together, they pick each other up, they have each others’ backs, and they are genuinely happy when a teammate does well. They are humble, and they are not interested in individual glory.” ❤️
I am so happy for you, the Knicks, everyone in New York, and fans everywhere! Tears of joy 🥹
Edited to add- I was so excited, I forgot to include how fun and exciting the entire season has been to watch 😁 such a joy.
Thanks, Kim! It was a great great year, so much fun.
I'm happy because you're happy.
Thanks, Sharon!
Oh Greg I don’t really know you but I love you! I’ve commented many times on your Substack writing but this sports essay is so good. Congratulations on your joy and the chip for the Knicks! It’s been 10 years since my Cavs came back from 1-3 to win against the 73 wins GS Warriors and that was love and happiness. It was Cleveland for goodness sake. I can relate to hating the Dolan ownership as his brother owns the Guardians and is kind of cheap. We’re a small market after all. 🙄 So enjoy your title and team. I look forward to Tuesday.
Thanks, Christine. The Guardians are due, they are due. They've been SO CLOSE a few times. 1948 is a long time to wait.
Bron goading Dray into the nut punch is an underrated NBA moment...
Greg, I just read that the last time the Knicks won, the humiliated President resigned the next year. Hope that was true. Hope that WILL be true this time as well. I’m so happy for New York!!!
Yes, it is true! History repeats let's hope!
Yes!!!
I love this so much for you and Knicks fans everywhere. Your joy is palpable to this long-time Celtics fan (love that dirty water - Boston you’re my home) and I so enjoyed reading this. Go Knicks!
Thanks! The Celts had their moments, too...I happened to be in Boston, overlooking the square outside TD Garden, when they won 2 years ago. A fun gathering, but nothing like NYC...
Congrats to you and the Knicks, Greg! I don't follow men's basketball--big women's b'ball fans in our household. (We suffer permanent trauma from Mississippi State's last-second loss to Notre Dame in the 2018 NCAA women's finals, so I know how it feels to be emotionally invested in a team.) Anyway--Yay to the Knicks!! Enjoy every bit of your elation!
Thanks, McLain! My FIL is a huge UConn women's hoops fan from way back. Diana Taurasi forever.
Oh! And Ms State lost by 60 pts to UConn in 2016 (cursed year) only to end UConn's vaunted winning streak the next year with a jump shot from the smallest player in the tournament! Anyway, yay for basketball! Take care.
Excellent Greg, The Knicks have been a WONDERFUL distraction to the horror before us. We await the return of the Sonics, in the mean time we love watching and cheering on a good game. Loved watching these games. Best line today " Don't shit on our joy"....It's perfect. Everyone should be a Knicks fan today...excellent sportsmanship. Thanks for sharing your love for the Knicks.
Thanks, Val! It's still an abomination that the Sonics were allowed to move...although OKC is a wonderful fan base. Hopefully they get a team again soon.
So happy for your Greg! May you have started your day with a Bloody Mary or Mimosa re-watching the game this time knowing the outcome. KNICKS IN FIVE!!
Thanks, Anita. I've watched the end of Game Four about 800 times...
And you still have Thursday’s parade!
I watched all 4 hours of that Cubs 2016 parade and no one was stopping me.
But think how fun this chant would have been: "Knicks in Six!" 🤣
Awesome, Greg! Congrats! Now both our teams have won a championship this year. Go Hawks! Go Knicks!
Thanks! It's so rare and so good.
I can’t help but remember you in your Knicks jersey, as they were defeated in prior seasons on the 5-8 Greg. Damn, I’m happy for you, my NYC and Jersey pals in and around the city. Especially Kat who spent many great years through much tragedy here in ‘Sota! He and his father really deserved this moment!
Thanks, Patrick. I am still pinching myself it happened. So happy for all the players. And I know the MN fans have been rooting for KAT.
Oh boy! This morning when I first heard that the Knicks won, I perked up, turned my head toward the TV and thought of you first thing, and since then I’m all smiles today. Your enthusiasm is so contagious, I’ll always smile, and cheer on the Knicks, though I won’t reach the level of analysis you share. So, the good vibes are all out in the universe, and I’m so cheered up, I’m even thinking we have a shot at removing the Trump burden from our mind and spirit soon. Diversity sure does lift a team to great “heights,” and New York is the best place to reach the top. Congratulations! P.S. It’s raining in Washington, D.C. today!
Thanks, Beverly! That's the great thing about joy; there's no limit to it. You can share it and share it and share it and it never dilutes! : )
You and your fellow New Yorkers have my sincere congratulations! I read and listen to you enough that your Knicks fandom became infectious. Then my disgust at the so-called president’s involvement cranked up my emotional reaction to true excitement for the Knicks’ win! These days, as you say, any reason for being truly happy is in itself reason for celebrating. When it’s because a decades-long downer has been reversed … bring out the champagne!
Thanks, Earl! I'm glad to hear. Bubbly time!
Go Knicks!!! A lot of joy in the air. It's wonderful.
It's been a long time, for the Knicks or the joy. Thanks, Sara!
My son and his partner Sophie have been going to the games and rooting them on. They watched the final game in their new apartment together. This was a big win! Go Knicks!
My dad (a Spurs fan for years) DID get on the bandwagon and started rooting for the Knicks.
What can I say? Magic⚡
Ha! Yes! Of course Wemby made it easy during the finals. He turned off a LOT of fans with his behavior, on and off the court.
Greg, great, thanks. Sports cannot solve the world's problems but they sure can offer respite from the gloom surrounding us, lift people up. During the World Cup when the national team plays, cities come to a halt. Fans put aside differences, unite in cheering their team on. The fact that Scotland made it to its first world cup lifted the Scots, winning their first ever world cup match last night has just about every Scot with a huge hangover today, front page headline stuff.
For this lifelong Knick fan, pure joy, the glow continues. Now Go England soon to be followed by in the American version of football, Go Giants (I know, wishful thinking but I can hope, can't I?) Hope is the essence of being a sports fan, be it sustaining or deflating, both emotions offer respite from life's bullshit.
Woohoo! Did you see the shots of the retired Knicks? Ewing, so happy, almost in tears. But Walt Clyde just smiling big, like he knew it all along. I love that guy.
Dart. Ugh. So annoying w/r/t Giants.
Big question, will Knicks accept an invite to WH? For sure dumbass Dolan will pressure them to go. All he cares about is getting the idiot to sign off on Penn Station funding so he gets a new MSG across the street. ASS-HOLE!
I'm a very old Aussie. I've never watched a basketball game in my life.
I LOVED this post !!!
Australia has a decent league and some good players come from there.
Thank you!