New York City. Hands down, the best city in the world for sports. With nine sport teams in the New York Metropolitan Area, it makes the Big Apple one of the most competitive sports cities in America, if not the world. New York is also home to some of the greatest places to play (Yankee Stadium, Madison Square Garden). New York is proud to be the home of arguably the best fans in sports as well; who are as rowdy and passionate as any other cities'. So, this post is going out to all the Pittsburghers, Bostonians, or Chicagoans who think their city can out do the sports scene in the Big City.
The first sport I'll go over is hockey. You can say all you want about the Rangers and fifty-four years, or the Devils being a “Mickey Mouse organization,”-Wayne Gretzky, or the Islanders, just being the Islanders, but the history runs as deep as the support the fans have for their team. There is no question for the Rangers' history, being an original six team, winning four Stanley Cups, and celebrating their 85th Anniversary this year. And must we go further with fan hood? Rangers fans are among the most passionate in the game making almost every game a sell out, and giving good reason to why Madison Square Garden is the best place to play or watch anything. When the Devils first moved to New Jersey it was not pretty, as they lost to Wayne Gretzky's Edmonton Oilers 13-4 one game. Gretzky went on to remark, “Well, it's time they got their act together, folks. They're ruining the whole league. They had better stop running a Mickey Mouse Organization and put somebody on ice.” And a few years down the road, the Devils made Gretzky eat his own words, as the Devils went on to win the Stanley Cup in 1995, 2000, and 2003. The Devils ultimately became one of the most powerful teams in the league before the lockout. This year also marked the first time since 1996, that the Devils missed the playoffs, breaking one of the longest streaks in the NHL. And then there are the New York Islanders. What the Islanders don't have in talent, they make up for with their rowdy and clever fans. I went to the Nassau Coliseum for a game once, and could not believe how funny and ridiculous some of these fans were. Now believe it or not, the Islanders do have SOME history, winning four Stanley Cups consecutively, being one of the few teams in sports to come back from 3-0 deficit in the playoffs, and having a player tear up the Rangers so bad, he has his own chant at Ranger games. Some may argue that New York is past its prime in hockey, but if you looked around at the fans and some of the upcoming talent in the New York Hockey scene, you wouldn't think so.
Next we'll do basketball. In New York you have two historic teams that haven't done too well in recent years. However, they both still find their way into the national spotlight. First we have the Knicks. The Knicks have won two NBA Championships, one in 1970 and one in 1973. The Knicks are definitely one of the most historic teams in basketball. With the players they have had like John Starkes, Clyde Frazier, Patrick Ewing, and Bernard King; and also being known for their celebrity fans with none other than Spike Lee topping that list, the Knicks are one of the most popular and historic teams in the NBA. And on top of that they play at the Garden, the “Mecca of basketball,” and arguably the most famous in sports. The Knicks made the playoffs for the first time since 2000, only to get completely shown up by the Celtics. They have one of the most infamous owners in sports, as well as having Isaiah Thomas as a head coach, if it wasn't bad. But the Knicks have drawn themselves back onto the national scene thanks to the arrivals of Amar'e Stoudemire and Carmelo Anthony, the only good things the Knicks have to put themselves into national recognition. Then we have the Nets, who were the dominant team for a good portion of the early millennium and even a bit afterward. The Nets have one an ABA Championship, which must cont as something, right? But even if you don't count that, they won back-to-back Eastern Conference Championships. However, recently they made into the headlines for all the wrong reasons with their almost record worst season ever, just edging out the 72-73 Sixers. But they recently obtained Deron Williams, whom one could make a case for best point guard in the league, through a trade with the Jazz. And because of this we could see Nets basketball on the rise. So, no matter how bad New York Basketball could be, it will still be in the national spotlight because people care about New York and want to see them, whether they win or lose.
Third we'll do football. We have so much history between the Jets and Giants. Four Super Bowls between the two (3-Giants, 1-Jets), and some of the league's best fans. The Jets, who usually fill every fan with disappointment at the end of each and every season, have turned it around recently and have gone two back-to-back AFC Championship Title games. Thanks to Coach Rex Ryan, this team has gained a sort of swagger that America, and New York in particular just love. And this has attracted the attention of everyone. The Jets have stepped away from the “Same Old Jets, more disappointment,” into “Same Old Jets, back in the AFC Championship.” And going back to history, the Jets are the first AFC team to win the Super Bowl, and only to do so by guaranteeing they would win (also as 16 and half point under dogs). Jet fans are also among the rowdiest in sports. With the patented “J-E-T-S, JETS JETS JETS,” chant, the fans are also one of the loudest in the New York Area. Then we have the Giants, who carry the arrogance of the new found swagger Jets, and the success the Jets have had of late. The Giants have won three Super Bowls, all in memorable fashion. And even though the Giants have not done well of late, they still have the talent to do so. There is nothing like New York football. The history around it, the fans both teams have, and the success that both teams have is uncomparible.
And finally there is baseball. Do I even have to explain this one? New York is home to the freakin' Yankees. If that isn't enough I don't know what is. And yeah sure there's also the Mets, but both teams are one of the most historic franchises in sports. The Yankees, I don't even know where to begin. Where to start? The Hall of Famers? The rings? The stadium? The fans? Really, it's like asking a child why they love Christmas. There are too many reasons to provide for the Yankees on why they carry a good weight of New York baseball with them. And yet, there are the Mets, the ugly, unintelligent, step-brother to the Yankees. At least they have won two World Series to prove some reason they belong in the New York Sports Market. However, the Mets have had their share of good players. Darryl Strawberry, Tom Seaver, Yogi Berra, and even Willy Mays played for the Mets. I feel sorry for the Mets. If they don't look bad enough as it is, they probably wouldn't look as bad if the Yankees didn't play in the same city.
You hear the cities that are brought up in comparison to New York. Boston, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Dallas, etc. However, New York is different. There is just a feeling you get when you walk into Madison Square Garden and hear the clash of bodies against the boards or the swish of a net. The feeling you get when you see the opening pitch at a Subway Series game. The feeling you get when you see the opening kick-off at a Jets or Giants game. There is a reason every player wants to play in New York. The venues, the media exposure, the fans, whatever it may be. I doubt one could go anywhere in America and find a sports city just as nuts, historic, and great as New York City.
No comments:
Post a Comment