The New York Knicks are on the verge of winning their first championship in over 50 years. Stories like this draw the most fandom and support. Their fans, however, make it harder to root for them.
It’s a total atrocity what’s happening out in the streets of New York. Everyone understands that Knicks fans are passionate, and that’s great for the game. Passion can turn toxic if it gets out of control.
There is one particular video I saw that was very disturbing. There was a 39-year-old San Antonio Spurs fan with a Tim Duncan Jersey on who was seemingly just finding his way around. A Knicks fan pointed out that he was wearing a Spurs jersey, and a horde of people went after him.
The most disturbing part was how long it lasted. After the initial scuffle, the man was running away from the chaos. Towards the end of the video, he was kicked from behind and fell to the ground.
The video was captured on CNN’s Instagram page. The man was eventually taken to the hospital and is thankfully in stable condition. Police are still looking for the attackers.
There was another video that transpired of an elderly African American who was also harassed. An even worse video later popped up of a Knicks fan jumping on top of someone lying on the ground with full force on his head.
By the end of the night, 21 people were arrested. It feels like nothing can be done. On a night when no watch party was allowed due to President Donald Trump’s arrival, this level of chaos still ensued.
This series should be about celebrating basketball. Every game has been close in the fourth quarter in an evenly matched series.
New York has stolen home court, and San Antonio bounced back in a big way to set up an incredible Game Four. Due to the behavior of Knicks fans, that is not the only story. What these people are doing to opposing fans is straight up illegal and inhumane.
To make matters worse, New York’s Mayor Zohran Mandani seems not to have grasped the seriousness of the situation. He released a statement lobbying New York fans to show respect to others. His actions, though, don’t fully echo that.
A free watch party has been granted outside the Garden by him for Game Four. There seems to be no accountability for what happened after Game Three. If Knicks fans face no consequences for their actions, the city must take stronger action now.
This sort of behavior should not be tolerated whatsoever. It’s just a game.
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