Knicks Win, Knicks Win, the Knicks Win!! After a sixteen game losing streak the New York basketball debacle celebrated Martin Luther King's Birthday with a 'W. Its been a long time coming, they even went to London, England for a loss last week. Oh and in other news; I procured my tickets to watch the blue and orange "tangle" with the Nuggets here in Denver in March. Happy Birthday M.L.K!
I have a friend Dave who is a Jacksonville Jaguars fan (shout out Huffman). Yes you did read that right; but before you feel too sorry for him please understand something. He wasn't born in "The Bold New City Of The South." (seriously Jacksonville) No he actually picked the Jags as his team. OK, now lets all take a moment to remember him in his suffering! The story I heard from him is that twenty years ago he was a kid growing up in California and the NFL started two new teams including the Jags. For reasons that still aren't clear Dave decided to adopt one of the NFL's historically bad franchises as his squad, and I gotta say he has been faithful. Folks, the Jags are so lame they make the Raiders seem functional. They have so few fans that they have to tarp off half of the stands at the stadium. If football worked the way soccer did they would be demoted to the minors. Did I mention Dave's loyalty?
Sitting here tonight I have the TV on in the background. On the screen out of the corner of my eye the New York Knicks are melting down in Memphis against the Grizzlies. The game is so lopsided that Walt Clyde Fraizer, the Knicks announcer, is using phrases like "matador defense" and calling the Grizzlies kleptomaniacs for all the steals they have tonight. The Knicks are a dumpster fire, the kind you stare at out of fascination and horror. They are trying to win games this season, but are tied in wins (5) with a team that's told its fans they are actively trying to tank the season for a better draft pick. Why am I watching this game, while the wife is persistently lobbying for Downton Abbey? I am a die hard Knicks fan!
I grew up about an hour and a half from Madison Square Garden, home of the Knickerbockers. As a kid we didn't have TV so I spent a lot of those cold winter New York nights living and dying with the Knicks on the radio. Back then we were pretty good, but there was this guy around who kept stealing our glory. I think his name was Michael or something like that, #23. Since then its been year after year of misery punctuated by just enough hope to keep me flipping out at the players on the TV.
"And not only this but we should exult in our tribulations knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance character; and character hope; and hope does not disappoint" Romans 5:4
I've got to admit; its so bad that I had a dream about the Knicks the other night. I was in a gym picking teams for a game, and when it was my turn to pick shouted out gleefully "Andrea Bargnani." For those of you who don't live and breath with the NBA's worst team I need to let you know that Andrea is a dude, and he's terrible! A former number one pick he is perpetually injured and a giant (literally) disappointment. OK back to that dream I was having. I am standing on the court with my hands raised excitedly. There was a 7' tall, European guy with a lady's name sitting in the bleachers among the kids. I had spotted him before the other guy and pulled of a coup, but everyone in the gym was starring at me incredulously. I want to believe its because they were so impressed with my move but really they were looking at me with a mix of shock and pity. Its as if they were saying "Why would you draft Bargnani, he's a bust and always hurt". Then I woke up.
I grew up about an hour and a half from Madison Square Garden, home of the Knickerbockers. As a kid we didn't have TV so I spent a lot of those cold winter New York nights living and dying with the Knicks on the radio. Back then we were pretty good, but there was this guy around who kept stealing our glory. I think his name was Michael or something like that, #23. Since then its been year after year of misery punctuated by just enough hope to keep me flipping out at the players on the TV.
"And not only this but we should exult in our tribulations knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance character; and character hope; and hope does not disappoint" Romans 5:4
I've got to admit; its so bad that I had a dream about the Knicks the other night. I was in a gym picking teams for a game, and when it was my turn to pick shouted out gleefully "Andrea Bargnani." For those of you who don't live and breath with the NBA's worst team I need to let you know that Andrea is a dude, and he's terrible! A former number one pick he is perpetually injured and a giant (literally) disappointment. OK back to that dream I was having. I am standing on the court with my hands raised excitedly. There was a 7' tall, European guy with a lady's name sitting in the bleachers among the kids. I had spotted him before the other guy and pulled of a coup, but everyone in the gym was starring at me incredulously. I want to believe its because they were so impressed with my move but really they were looking at me with a mix of shock and pity. Its as if they were saying "Why would you draft Bargnani, he's a bust and always hurt". Then I woke up.
A couple days have passed and I am again watching my team shoot enough bricks to make Edgar Allen Poe bright eyed. The only thing that doesn't make me consider asking my wife to have me institutionalized is hearing Frazier say "Its so cold tonight in Washington that the politicians have their hands in their own pockets". I smiled momentarily.
Since they last played, the team has traded two of its better players, basically so that they don't have to pay them. Oh, that team I mentioned, the 76ers who are actively trying to lose, well they won. Which means we now own the worst record in the league. And today I read an article that argued that 13 other NBA teams have a better bench than the Knicks starters. Ouch!
Does the name Dennis Doyle mean anything to you? I doubt it, but after I tell you his story you will think of him with pity. See Doyle decided to take a year off work and spend around twenty grand of his own money attending every single 'Bockers game this season. "Some people are born with autoimmune disorder and some are born Knicks fans" writes Doyle on his blog. " I choose the Knicks as much as I choose Hashimoto's disease." Truer words were never spoken! The season is half over now and his writing has become increasingly depressing. Night after night of watching the Knicks get boat raced after taking a crappy flight to a place like Milwaukee or Cleveland will do that to you. By the time the Knicks come to Denver in March Dennis Doyle may need an intervention. Or at least a fellow sufferer like me to sit with him and watch our team suck in the mile high air. Follow him at theoakmancometh.com.
"New York, concrete jungle where dreams are made of
There's nothin you can't do
Now you're in New York
These streets will make you feel brand new
These light will inspire you
Lets hear it for New York, New York, New York"
-Empire State of Mind- Jay Z
Did I mention I am jealous of Dennis Doyle?
Not very well informed about what you wrote about...not being much of a sports fan...but still, I have to say, you are a remarkable writer with such unbelievable colored and witty writing. Even when it is about stuff I know nothing about...I'm still fascinated to read how you wrote what it is you had to say, so colorful!! Kathy
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