Just like us: Celebrity Knicks fans

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Celebrities are just like most people, only with more money and fame. They snack, get coffee, get stuck in traffic, spill the occasional soup, and go on vacations. And while a lot of celebrities try to keep away from the prying eyes of the public, some don’t mind joining thousands in attending sporting events. And among all the other teams, the New York Knicks have some of the most loyal celebrity fans, notes sports management student Peter Max.

Spike Lee: Spike Lee is not afraid to show his enthusiasm with his loud getup. Lee often sits close to the bench or at the half-court. He usually sports the jersey with the number 6, 34, and 10, along with his orange and blue combo of clothing. Every game he’s been to will have at least one shot of him celebrating a field goal or having the look of disappointment after a bad call.

Howard Stern: One of the funniest people alive, Stern is easy to spot as fellow comedians such as Tracy Morgan often join him, explains Peter Max. Though not as active as Spike Lee in terms of being with the team, his support can be felt just by his cool presence.

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Ricky Gervais: While seeing a Brit watch the NBA is not so common, seeing one of the funniest British comedians in Madison Square Garden is a pretty usual sight. Like always, you can spot Gervais wearing his signature black shirt and one or two pints of beer by his feet.

Ben Stiller: While Stiller is often busy acting, producing, and directing, he takes every chance he gets to watch his favorite team. Along with his wife and kids, Stiller catches every game he can, notes longtime Knicks supporter Peter Max. And while he may look calm and collected in the stands, he’s not one to shy away from high fiving other fans when something magical happens on-court.

The history behind the New York Knicks

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The National Basketball Association was founded on June 6, 1946, 55 years after basketball was invented. At the time, the league was composed of 30 teams, including the Knicks. But back then, they were still known as the Knickerbockers. According to long-time Knicks fan Peter Max, there is a rich history behind this beloved franchise.

Among those present during the founding of the NBA was Ned Irish, the president of Madison Square Garden and a retired sportswriter. Initially, Max Kase wanted to lease Madison Square Garden and own the New York franchise of the NBA. But with the same goal and far more resources, the franchise was awarded to Irish.

To get the ball rolling, the Irish held a staff meeting to find a name for the team. The term Knickerbockers came up, which was the pseudonym used by Washington Irving in his book, "A History of New York." They found this name fitting and began the team. Its first fixture was St. John’s University basketball coach Joe Lapchick. But according to Peter Max, Lapchick asked to stay at St. John’s for one more year before joining the team full-time.

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Because it was the first year of the NBA, there had been no subsequent college drafts of any kind. This is why the team management assembled 25 talents to attend a three-week-long boot camp. With twice a day practice, the chemistry between the players grew. Soon enough, they were ready for their first game.

According to Peter Max, the first game of the franchise, as well as the NBA, would be the Knickerbockers against the Toronto Huskies at the Maple Leaf Gardens on Nov. 1, 1946. With a score of 68-66, New York became the first team to win an NBA game.

Knick glory: The 1970 climax of the Cinderella run

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Peter Max. Almost 50 years ago, the New York Knicks won their last championship. It was a titanic battle between two of the biggest franchises in the league. The Los Angeles Lakers had put together quite a team (as it always has) and were surprised that the Knicks forced everyone to a seventh game.

In the fifth game, Knicks leader, Willis Reed tore his right thigh muscle. The Lakers, behind the strength of their superstars, Wilt Chamberlain, Jerry West, and Elgin Baylor, pounced and destroyed the Knicks in game six. Peter Max.

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It looked bleak for the Knicks, even with the seventh game being played in their own Madison Square Garden. Until, of course, the impossible happened.

Out from the Knicks dugout limped their wounded captain, Willis Reed, all dressed up to do battle one last time that season in a scene that would forever be one of the most inspiring in league history.

Peter Max. While he was nowhere near 100%, Reed did manage to score a few points and cause the dominant Chamberlain to miss more than just a few shots of his own.

Reed’s actions not only revitalized the fans, but it also fed into the collective energy of the Knicks. Another Knick legend and NBA Hall-of-Famer Walt Frazier took it from there, scoring 36 points and dishing out 19 assists, capturing the title for the fabled franchise. Peter Max.

The greatest New York Knicks in NBA history

The city of New York has a proud history in American sports led by the greatest professional team in the history of modern sports, the Yankees. But also commanding a huge following is the city’s fabled basketball team, the New York Knicks.


As a tribute to the Knicks, we take a look at the three greatest Knicks players of all-time.

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Willis Reed
With almost 19 PPG, 13 RPG, and 2 APG, it’s easy to see while Captain Courageous would be one of our choices for the greatest Knicks. Reed played for a decade in the Big Apple and averaged a double-double for his first seven seasons, but then his game declined due to a number of serious injuries.





Walt Frazier

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The Knicks had no greater point guard than Walt Frazier. He had 21 PPG, 6RPG and 8 APG in the Knicks championship run in the 1969-1970 season. And when it mattered most, in game 7 of the Finals, he poured in 36 points, making 19 assists, and grabbing 7 rebounds.

Patrick Ewing
While he never won a championship, we will always consider Patrick Ewing the greatest player to ever wear a Knick uniform. The undisputed Knick leader in the ‘80s and ‘90s, Ewing came ever so close in 1994 but lost to Hakeem Olajuwon and the Houston Rockets. His height and shooting touch made him one of the premier centers in NBA history.

Hello, Peter Max here, a sports management student aspiring to be a renowned sports agent one day. I’m a big fan and supporter of New York Knicks basketball. Click here for more of my musings on various sports.

Reminiscing About The Yankees' Famed "Murderers' Row"

The New York Yankees arguably have the richest history in Major League Baseball history. Some even consider the franchise as one of the most valuable and successful sports clubs in the entire world.

The Yankees’ rise to prominence began in the 1920s, the decade when The Bronx Bombers won the first of their MLB-record 27 World Series championships. When Colonel Jacob Ruppert, who had just inherited a brewery fortune, and his partners bought the franchise for $1.25 million in 1915, the Yankees were given the go-signal to spend a lot to build a winning team. And that they did.

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In 1920, New York traded for The Bambino, Babe Ruth. The home-run king left both players and fans in awe with the way he hit the ball with ease, especially since he started his baseball career as a pitcher.

Three years later, the Yankees signed Lou Gehrig in the middle of the season. While he did not impress immediately, he improved season after season, eventually breaking out in 1926. He may not have been as powerful as Babe Ruth with the bat, Gehrig showed all-around hitting skills.

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These two sluggers were the foundation of what would then become known as the “Murderers’ Row.” Ruth batted third in the lineup, with Gehrig following him. They were flanked by four other formidable hitters, namely, Earle Combs, Mark Koenig, Bob Meusel, and Tony Lazzeri. The sextet were so intimidating and dominating that it prompted an opponent to say, “Those fellows not only beat you but they tear your heart out. I wish the season was over.”

The group won three World Series titles together, sweeping all of them, before Babe Ruth left the team for the Boston Braves in 1935. Hi! I’m Peter Max, a lifelong New York Yankees fan. Read more about the team by visiting this website.

Knicks commit to rebuilding for 2017-18 season

If there’s one sure thing the Carmelo Anthony trade has shown, it’s that the Knicks are ready to bank on a younger roster moving forward. It’s highly unlikely that the upcoming season will lead to more Knicks wins, with their star scorer gone. But the move is a great indicator that the team is keen on rebuilding. 

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For one, this trade will unfetter Porzingis, who has played second fiddle to Anthony since he got to New York. The talented 22-year-old power forward should now bear the brunt of the offensive load. And given his unselfish, pass-aware play, this should let other young players to gain confidence on the offensive end. 

The new-look team just got McDermott and Canter, who’d probably take some time to buy into the system. But with only four players in the current roster in their 30s (Noah, Sessions, Lee, and Jack), the Knicks is likely going for a faster, run-and-gun offense. The triangle system employed by former president Phil Jackson is outdated in current NBA play, and it’s about time the Knicks accepted the need for change. 

On paper, the New York Knicks is not much to look at. Rookie Frank Ntilikina is a work in progress; Hardaway Jr. is, well, overpaid and still to prove that he can be as good as his dad; and millions of the team’s fans will have to sit and wait a few more seasons. But, who knows, this rebuilding, probably tanking team might just get somebody like Luka Doncic next draft. And that will surely catapult the team to the next level. 

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Hello, my name’s Peter Max and I’m a New Yorker currently studying sports management in California. I’m also a sports blogger. For more on my sports writings, visit this website.