For New Yorkers, next came the night of Feb. 22, 1980, in the sleepy Adirondacks town of Lake Placid. There, as the final seconds counted down, the immortal Al Michaels shouted, "DO YOU BELIEVE IN MIRACLES? YESSS!" as the USA hockey team somehow beat an all-world lineup from Russia. A moment frozen in time. We remember where we were.
For hardened NYers, there was the night of Nov. 18, 1985, when Lawrence Taylor hit Washington QB Joe Theismann so hard that he changed the dynamics of football, making Left Tackle the most important position on the line. Taylor broke Theismann's leg, a brutal blindside, and his frantic gestures for help were probably the greatest act of humanity in his violent career. We remember where we were.
There are other moments.
Of course, Sept. 11, 2001, when the World Trade Center fell.
Oct. 12, 2001, Derek Jeter's flip play at home plate, to nab Jason Giambi's brother.
Nov. 8, 2016, Election Night, as the country chose Donald Trump.
March 27, 2022, when Will Smith slapped Chris Rock during the Oscars.
July 13, 2024, the assassination attempt on Trump.
And then there is last night, when the Knicks - down by 29 - inscribed themselves into the cultural history of Gotham... and Hollywood. We will never forget where we were when OG Anunoby's hand soared in from outer space to score the winning basket with one second on the clock.
I certainly will never forget where I was.
In bed, sleeping.
I'd watched the first half, seen enough. I trundled off to the Land of Nod, thanking my stars for not going whole-hog onto the Knicks/celebrity bandwagon. Nope. I reminded myself - they're still the Nixx, guaranteed to disappoint - be it against Reggie Miller or Wemby. They hadn't fooled me. And I was going to get a good night's sleep, maybe waking up only once to pee.
So, today I wear the shame of disbelief. My gravestone will say, "COWARD WENT BEDDY-BYE, MISSED KNICKS' COMEBACK."
Do I believe in miracles? No. (And now, having made my bed, I must do it again in Game 5. The juju worked. Forget FOMO. I am a lost cause.)
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I was finishing a late dinner with the family,, the game on in the other room - sound turned a bit down, churning out its equivalent of white and orange noise. Then my daughter walked over to take a look and said that they were only down by one point.
WHAT!?!
THEY ONLY DOWN BY ONE POINT !
I channeled Boris the Animal from Men in Black III and sorta yelled out THAT’S IMPOSSIBLE !!!!
Then we all went over and had an absolutely wonderful blast of a time watching the rest of the game and cleaned up the kitchen.
Amazing !
Typo corrections in “above’s above” message
THEY’RE not THEY
, not ,,
Thanks for your understanding.
I found out this morning. I was frolicking in the pool with the golden retriever. Saw the Knicks were getting crushed and started reading Ursula LeGuin.
Well then, don’t sleep on Volpe’s coming hot streak,
I kid, I kid….
You know what they say….
I turned it off at the half. The game was too painful to watch. The refs were pissing me off. The Spurs couldn't miss. I couldn't take it anymore!
That said, I kept my eye on the game by looking at the scoreboard tracker on a website every few minutes.
When they cut it to under ten I was going to put the game back on but was afraid that the moment I did the comeback would end and it would be my fault.
So I read the "ticker tape" until the game ended, watched the frenzied celebration, and the post game show and then, and only then, did I watch the second half.
Interestingly three of my friends who are fans of sorts, no where near with the level of following the Knicks that I do, but fans nonetheless, were able to watch the entire game. Probably because the first half didn't piss them off the way it did me.
Part of me feels like I missed out on a real time experience of the greatest comeback in NBA and possibly sports history. Another part of me know that it wouldn't have happened if I watched.
Ju-Ju!
The last time something like this happened was the final play of the
Giants / Bills Super Bowl when I turned my head and closed my eyes and willed "Wide Right"
Great win!
It's not just something we never seen before, it's something NO ONE has ever seen before...
Oh, the more I listen to Wemby, the more I hate him...
He's too good to hate. But really annoying for sure.
Was Reggie Miller too good to hate? :) Plus Reggie wasn't a dirty player. Just a douchebag.
If the NBA had given Wemby his much deserved flagrant in Game Three he would be suspended now.
You know who else is really good? Altuve.
C'mon buddy you can hate Wemby. :)
He's a dick. Punching down. Plus not a single gracious word about how good the Knicks were in the second half.
Yes Doug...he's fucking arrogant...
I saw the second half on MSG 2 today in Germany. Holy Hannah, as my Uncle Joe used to say.
One thing, Duque. Assassination attempt? I still don't buy it.
My wife thinks he looks freakish. He does. Wilt the Stilt was proportional. This guy is a tiny head on top of weird stork legs.
The missus doesn't think he's much of a basketball player, either.
I turned the game off somewhere during the first half of dicking and bricking--something Walt Frazier, to be clear, never said or would say--and then turned it back on when the game had gone from horrific to reasonably bad. I was rewarded, but I still am ashamed of my lack of fortitude.
Assassination theatre...
I was slouched on the couch throughout the miserable first half. I was literally on the edge of my seat in the fourth quarter. I was yelling at the TV when they closed to 4. I was convinced they’d lose when Hart missed the lay-up. I was doubled over when Fox punched the ball down court & realized the Knicks would have to foul, & they’d be down 3 with just seconds remaining. I was astonished when Fox tried to shoot & Anunoby blocked it. I was certain Alvarado committed a backcourt violation to essentially end the game. When Brunson’s shot hit the rim I winced. When Anunoby’s desperate tap at the ball turned into 2 points I threw my arms up & ran across the room & then felt sick when I saw there was still time for one more play. And when Castle fumbled that last impotent pass & the horn sounded I started giggling (in a very manly way, of course). I think I watched all the post-game shows, gape-jawed & thrilled. What a ride. What a fucking ride.
I tuned out at the half ( down 20 plus points ) to have dinner ( we live in LA so time sometimes works to my advantage when it comes to sports ). After desert, I wandered back to the tv area, and turned on the game. There were 5 minutes to go and the Knicks were down 4 I think. I was lucky to tune in. I hadn't really watched the Knicks since the " Pat Ewing" trade. And the owner, Dolan, is on my despicable list. But the fates were kind to me. I saw the missed three and the rebound way up near the rim. I saw the mystery hand fly in to kiss the ball into the net. Pretty much luck I think. Although those guys, maybe, can do that in their sleep. It is a sports memory for the ages, regardless of what happens next. I always believe NBA Finals go to seven games. Because there is too much $$$$ left on the table if it ends earlier. There is almost no reason to watch any more games. Nothing can mach this. Nothing.
I was prone on the floor, hiding behind my couch ( blocking the TV _) when that kick occurred.
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