a tumultuous time for the Knicks, both on and off the court. The team was struggling to find success, and behind the scenes, allegations of sexual harassment and misconduct were rocking the organization.
For me, as a Knicks fan, this was a shock. When I first became a fan, it was to connect with my father, who had grown up idolizing the team. He would regale me with stories of listening to games on transistor radios with his friends, huddled around a car, enjoying tallboys and sharing a joint. As a chubby weirdo with no athletic abilities, I wanted to find a way to bond with him, and rooting for the Knicks seemed like the perfect way to do it.
But as I delved deeper into my fandom, I realized that being a Knicks fan meant more than just watching games and cheering for the team. It meant supporting an organization that had a dark underbelly, one that was plagued by scandal and controversy.
The Anucha Browne Sanders case was a turning point for me. It revealed the toxic culture that existed within Madison Square Garden and the Knicks organization. The allegations of sexual harassment and silencing were horrifying, and it made me question my allegiance to the team.
But what struck me the most was the response from other Knicks fans. Many seemed to brush off the allegations, claiming that it was all just a ploy to bring down the team. They didn’t seem to care about the victims or the impact that this kind of behavior had on the organization.
This reaction was disheartening, to say the least. It made me realize that being a Knicks fan meant aligning myself with a fanbase that was willing to overlook or even defend the actions of those in power. It made me question whether I wanted to be a part of that.
And now, with the newest accusations against James Dolan, it seems that history is repeating itself. The allegations of sexual misconduct and links to Harvey Weinstein are disturbing, to say the least. But once again, there are those who are willing to look the other way, to continue supporting the team and its owner.
As a Knicks fan in Texas, I have always felt like an outsider. I have always been on the fringes of the fanbase, looking in from afar. And now, as more and more revelations come to light, I find myself questioning whether I want to be a part of this community at all.
Do we really need to steal inside info from the Knicks? Do we really need to defend the actions of those in power? I don’t think so. As fans, we have the power to hold our teams accountable, to demand better from those who run them. We can choose to support organizations that prioritize integrity and respect, instead of turning a blind eye to their transgressions.
For me, being a Knicks fan was about connecting with my father and finding a sense of belonging. But as I have grown older and wiser, I have come to realize that being a fan means more than just cheering for a team. It means standing up for what is right, and holding those in power accountable for their actions.
So, as the Knicks continue to make headlines for all the wrong reasons, I find myself at a crossroads. Do I continue to support a team and an owner that has shown time and time again that they are more interested in their own self-interest than the well-being of their fans and employees? Or do I walk away, knowing that my loyalty lies not with a team, but with the values of integrity and respect?
It’s a difficult decision, but one that I believe is necessary. As fans, we have a responsibility to demand better from the organizations we support. And if the Knicks can’t meet those standards, then maybe it’s time to find a new team to root for.
