Knicks in Five?
Yes, Knicks in Five!
Tonight, could be monumental…maybe. Hopefully.
The Knicks are poised to snatch their first championship in over 50 years, and if they win, it will be behind enemy lines in San Antonio. The arena has already banned people who live outside a 150-mile radius of the city from buying tickets. Like their opponents from the East Coast, San Antonio is too proud of their city to let their team’s home be overrun by rowdy interlopers.
When you have championship seasons like the one we are currently seeing, more than titles are at stake. It is about where you come from. The pride you have for your people and tribe. The world has been seeing that play out on the streets of NYC over the past month. But when you leave where you’re from, like I did nearly 4 years ago, moving from Jersey City to Austin. Your sense of pride swells. Perhaps it’s because you never want yourself, and others, to forget where you come from. Just because you leave a place doesn’t mean that it’s no longer a part of you. I learned that early on during my first spring in Austin.
To explore my new surroundings, I went to a watch party for the NBA playoffs in East Austin, near my home. I found out about it when I was served up an ad on Instagram by an account called “KnicksFansinAustinTexas.” That was all I needed to buy in.
And ever since that night, over the past 3 seasons, I’ve chased playoff thrills with this motley crew of transplants and tri-state expats. Life has been good in Austin, but that doesn’t mean I don’t miss where I come from, and it doesn’t mean I can’t have those moments to connect with back east, no matter how far away I may be.
That has especially held true this season, and the hell of a run the Knicks have had. As a fan who was disenchanted with the team for too long, even with what has already happened this season feels unreal. The fact that they are one game away from a championship is something I honestly thought I would never see in my lifetime.
While I’m not in New York or New Jersey tonight, I’ve been grateful to have enjoyed the thrill of these games with others who, like me, have relocated but never forgot where they came from.
Fingers crossed…Knicks in five…even though a game six victory at MSG would be just as sweet.