Long wait is over

I was still in Grade 2 when the New York Knicks won their first NBA championships in 1970 over the LA Lakers. They followed it up in 1973 for their second league title also against the Lakers.    More than five decades later, they won their third league title in gritty come-from-behind wins, making the San Antonio Spurs wonder why they got clobbered with comeback victories four times.

The close-out game was held in San Antonio’s home court and they tried to prevent Knicks fans from attending Game 5.  The Spurs worked with Ticketmaster to enforce a 150-mile radius from Frost Bank Center not to allow ticket purchase from outside the restricted zone, although those who were able to get tickets were allowed to get inside the arena.

Data showed that more than 35% from the New York – New Jersey area were in attendance for Game 5.  Whole sections of the arena were filled with blue jerseys.   That’s a sizable number of fans cheering for the visiting team.  They say it’s more affordable flying to San Antonio, book a hotel and watch a game than paying those ridiculously overpriced tickets at MSG, which, during Game 4, general admission prices ballooned to $10,000.

Not only did the Knicks dominate, the fans too.   They infiltrated Atlanta, Philadelphia and Cleveland wearing blue Knicks jerseys with the usual Knicks celebrities.   In San Antonio, it included Britain’s Prince Harry.   Spike Lee has an heir to his super fan label in Timothee Chalamet.

Saturday morning before the game, midtown Manhattan was in a festive mix of blue, orange, yellow and red.   There was a fiesta atmosphere with an afternoon concert by a pop band inside MSG.   Fans of Brazil and Morocco in yellow and red, were chanting their FIFA cheers while waiting for their shuttle across the Hudson River to the MetLife Stadium.   Later in the evening, a sprinkling of yellow and red can be seen with the Knicks crowd at the watch party.

There were fireworks in the suburbs including our area after the game.  But celebrations outside MSG and Times Square lasting until 3am became chaotic and destructive resulting in the arrest of 63 people, despite a heavy police presence.

Many were injured, including police officers.   There were drunken fights, stabbings, slashings and a shooting.   One of the school buses that were used to transport football fans was set on fire and the others were damaged, including five police vehicles.    At least 10 suspects were criminally charged.   Majority of New Yorkers celebrated appropriately but the irresponsibility of a few hooligans made things bad.