As a longtime Knicks fan, you’ll, no doubt, expect me to run my mouth about consistently beating the piss out of the Heat, Patrick Ewing’s dominance over Alonzo Mourning and how MSG is The Mecca of basketball.
I won’t. I can’t.
Truth is, I’m jealous of you Heat fans.
When Allan Houston hit that runner, I ran through a crowded gym, screaming at anyone who would listen. There were no words leaving my mouth. Just noises. When Clarence Weatherspoon missed that shot (I know, touchy subject), I jumped off the couch and almost lost my hand to a ceiling fan. But, that’s always where the joy would end and the misery would begin. The Knicks never had a realistic chance of beating a Michael Jordan-led Bulls team, and by the time he finally decided to hang ‘em up (the second time), they were a shell of their former selves.
It was exactly one decade ago that the Knicks lost to the Spurs, with a broken-down Ewing on the bench and Marcus Camby doing his half-assed impersonation of a big man. It was exactly one decade ago that the Knicks were in the Finals. It was exactly one decade ago that the Knicks were relevant.
Don Chaney, Isiah Thomas, Steve Francis, Stephon Marbury, Eddie Curry… you know the story.
In stark contrast, over that same stretch of time, the Heat have seen Caron Butler, Lamar Odom, Antoine Walker, Gary Payton and a guy named Shaq all come through town and actually make an impact. They’ve drafted Dwayne Wade and Michael Beasley. (Someone, please tell the Knicks front office about drafting from the United States. Oh, Ronaldo Balkman. Right… Ugh.)
They Heat have won a freakin’ championship.
Right now, the Knicks are clearing cap space so they can potentially be a contender in the 2010 free agent class. This is, apparently, what Knicks fans are supposed to look forward to; not the playoffs, but free agency. (I don’t know about you, but I’m stoked! Shoot me.) They aren’t even assured of making the biggest splash. Can you imagine the epic failure 2010 will be if New York winds up with just Chris Bosh? And if LeBron does happen to wind up in MSG, then what? A star in a big city doesn’t automatically guarantee a championship. Ask Kobe.
Meanwhile, the Heat are already in possession of one of those 2010, big-name free agents and their biggest concern this season, is what they would like to get for Shawn Marion. You know, Shawn Marion, the guy who’s been on the All Star team four times. Oh, and the Olympics.
Wrap your mind around that for a second. Knicks fans are laboring through the ‘08-’09 season with a roster chock full of Malik Roses, while Heat fans are calling radio stations to complain about the possibility of acquiring Amar’e Stoudemire. Oh, how it must suck to have the chance at a badass, 26-year-old, three-time NBA All-Star, without even losing your best player. (Though, I totally understand not wanting to give up Beasley, but, you see where I’m going with this.)
It’s miserable for us. We’re jealous.
So, the next time you hear an obnoxious, loud-mouthed New Yorker call Sedano to trash the Heat, just remind him that his best player is a 6′9″ white guy with an uninspiring, generic name…
…and that 2010 is just around the corner.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m gonna go weep, quietly, in the hallway.
Adam Smoot is a graphic artist/writer with way too much time on his hands. He’s a loyal fan of the Marlins, Falcons, Knicks and Blackhawks, but has no idea where he picked up such random allegiances. You can read his drunken ramblings about about food, sports and life at Apartment718.
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