Kim and I started the night by getting a quick bite and having a couple drinks before heading over to MSG. When we arrived and made our way over to the escalators, someone who appeared to work at MSG said to us, "Hey, grab a soda on your way. They're free." Kim and I, feeling somewhat suspicious, grabbed a free 20 oz. bottle of soda apiece after someone who was taking sodas out of the cases they were delivered in restated the earlier gentleman's offer.
Kim and I continued up, up, and away to the top of the Garden. When we got there, another vendor promptly offered us popcorn, Cracker Jacks, Twizzlers, etc., saying again the concessions were free. Kim and I passed and went to our seats.
Only when we entered the arena's interior did we hear something we could not believe. Yesterday night, the final Knicks' home game of the season, was "Fan Appreciation Night." All concessions were free, all night! We could get pizza, hot dogs, pretzels, nachos, candy, soda, water, ice cream bars, etc., all for free, all night long. It was a complete surprise to us and I struggled to comprehend this apparent reality for much of the night. I don't think it helped that, by the end of the game, vendors were trying to get rid of their merchandise by walking through the crowd and throwing free ice cream bars, boxes of popcorn, and other items to whomever wanted the items. It was really something.
As for the game, that was really..."something,"...too. The night started with "Uncle Junior" of the HBO-hit Sopranos singing the National Anthem:
After that, New York Knicks' star David Lee addressed the entire MSG audience to thank them for their support over the season. I wish I had been filming it because it turned out to be more of an apology speech; he said something about, "Sorry the season hasn't been more like what we'd hoped for, but I promise we'll continue working hard so that we might improve our situation in the future." I couldn't believe I was there to witness such a public apology.
But that was not all, folks. The Celtics were introduced to a fairly warm reception (due to the large presence of Celts fans), Isaiah Thomas was more enthusiastically boohed, and then the Knicks were introduced. I have to tell I was very surprised by what I saw next. The Knicks, following their individual introductions, literally took their outermost shirts off and, as the public announcer said, gave the shirts off their back to families that were selected to receive them at halfcourt:
I'm not sure what that was supposed to accomplish, of course, but they did it. I don't know, but Kim and I thought it was so weird.
Anyways, it all continued along. There was the opening tip, the "Juggling Pianist," the "Knicks' City Dancers," and the game. "The Boston Three Party" did not play, but it was still a fun atmosphere, a Celtics' win, and a fun place to spend a Monday night. Overall, the game was outdone by all the strange events, sights, and sounds, but I'd go back again to see whatever it was I saw last night. I don't know what to say about it,...but I doubt I'll soon forget it. Oh, speaking of forgetting, I nearly failed to mention that during a TV-timeout, the Knicks honored a NYC school teacher who found and resuscitated a student in the public school where the teacher worked. Sounds like a feel good story, right? The student was near-death because he'd been stabbed repeatedly by another student with a pair of scissors. Now you understand why I think it's so weird they publicly recognized this at half-court of a Knicks game. The guy deserves the applause, to be sure, but is that the time or place to remind 20,000 sports-enthusiasts of what's wrong with NYC's public schools?
Kris and Kirstin: thanks for the tickets. You guys should have seen it. Unbelievable.
Here are some more highlights:
