In the sports world, the past 10 days have been, for lack of a better word, a little wild.The New York Knicks clinched their first NBA title in 53 years, the UFC staged an event on the White House lawn, and the first World Cup on American soil since 1994 kicked into high gear.Subscribe to read this story ad-free Get unlimited access to ad-free articles and exclusive content.NBC News had reporters on the ground for all of it, so we thought we’d empty our notebooks and give you a peek behind the scenes of all these historic events.
We don’t typically publish a Saturday newsletter, but for a stretch like this? We made an exception.Knicks ComebackI’ve had the pleasure of seeing some wild NBA playoff games, but none really compares to the New York Knicks’ 29-point comeback against the San Antonio Spurs in Game 4 of the NBA Finals.What stood out most to me was what happened in Madison Square Garden after the game.
First, the fans refused to leave.It was an absolute party in the bowl of the arena, with fans staying and cheering long after the final buzzer had sounded.
In the tunnels, the excitement was equally high.Taylor Swift and the Haim sisters had an impromptu dance party immediately after leaving the court.
Ben Stiller high-fived people as he walked into the press conference room with a look of simultaneous joy and disbelief.Even hours after OG Anunoby’s incredible, game-winning tip-in, the buzz was palpable.As I made my way to the train at Penn Station well after midnight, seemingly every third or fourth person had their Knicks gear on.
And at least on my subway car, multiple people went through a list of their favorite moments from the game.The enduring thrill was a surefire sign that night will be one New York fans won’t forget — and won’t stop celebrating — for a long time.
—Rohan NadkarniKnicks CelebrationIn a span of 24 hours, I watched two games in two different sports, in two different time zones.What tied both together was how e...