FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) — New York sports followers have been so starved for one thing to have fun that they poured out…
FARMINGDALE, N.Y. (AP) — New York sports followers have been so starved for one thing to have fun that they poured out of Madison Square Garden onto the streets and snarled metropolis visitors in May, all as a result of the Knicks merely bought out of the second spherical of the NBA playoffs.
They’re already resigned to the Giants and Jets being dangerous, conscious the Yankees and Mets may not be adequate. They want a crew to pin their hopes on.
The U.S. squad enjoying within the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, a spot revered by locals in methods no area ever might, might be it. The Americans may as nicely commerce their purple, white and blue for Yankee pinstripes, as a result of their help comes New York fashion: loud, loyal and liquored up.
“There’s not going to be a lack of alcohol consumption,” U.S. participant Ben Griffin stated. “Fans are going to be loud. New York people love their sports.”
New York sports followers carry on ready for wins
New York groups have iconic championship moments like Joe Namath guaranteeing victory within the Super Bowl in 1969 and Willis Reed limping to the court docket to play Game 7 of the NBA Finals a 12 months later, however the Jets and Knicks haven’t gained since these guys have been on the crew.
Fans wept within the stands at MSG when the Rangers gained the Stanley Cup in 1994, ending a 54-year drought. Now they’re engaged on one other certainly one of 31 years and counting.
Even the Yankees don’t win like they used to, with solely two World Series titles within the 2000s — and one got here in opposition to the Mets, so a portion of New Yorkers hated the entire thing.
It could make even longtime New York followers surprise if they’ll preserve hanging in there. John McEnroe questioned why he didn’t swap allegiances after watching the Showtime Lakers when he was dwelling in California and befriended crew government Jeanie Buss, however the Hall of Fame tennis participant might by no means stop the Knicks.
So he stays an everyday at Madison Square Garden with Spike Lee, Ben Stiller and all the opposite followers who come to cheer on their Knicks. (Well, normally cheer.)
“Listen, I’ve been in all of these arenas. If things are going bad in Indiana, the Indiana fans are going to try to rally their team back. The Knicks fans are going to boo their team,” stated Stan Van Gundy, an NBA coach and broadcaster whose brother, Jeff, coached the Knicks to their most up-to-date NBA Finals look in 1999.
True, New Yorkers typically wrestle to disguise their disappointment. Giants followers couldn’t, booing all through their house opener Sunday, and some Jets followers wore paper luggage over their heads at MetLife Stadium final 12 months.
But when issues are good, gamers say no place compares.
“Everything is heightened, everything is better here,” the Knicks’ Josh Hart stated. “With all due respect to other places I’ve played, New York, it’s the mecca, and when you have people that really wear their heart on their sleeves and they go out there and they’re really passionate about sporting events of their teams, they come to show love and that energy is what makes you feel that difference.”
Some followers already began, booing loudly Tuesday morning as their shuttle bus handed Team Europe’s blue and yellow coach.
Bethpage Black is tough, simply the way in which New Yorkers like issues
Bethpage Black is the general public course that New Yorkers arrive a day early to and sleep in their automobiles in a single day for an opportunity to play. It’s not a kind of lodge resort programs individuals play on trip the place there’s no hassle except they drive it behind a palm tree. The Black is lengthy and it’s onerous. Arms get sore and legs really feel weary. It hurts like enjoying in opposition to Lawrence Taylor’s Giants.
But onerous is how New Yorkers need issues.
“Everything we do, we grind. We grind every day. It’s so New York,” stated David Caleca, the president of Bonnie Briar Country Club in close by Westchester County.
Besides enjoying Bethpage, Caleca was there when New York followers heckled Sergio Garcia in the course of the 2002 U.S. Open. He’s additionally been in Shea Stadium when followers would boo their personal Mets gamers, so is aware of feelings can swing in a New York minute.
He thinks the U.S. crew will obtain an enormous backing not solely as a result of it’s Bethpage however due to captain Keegan Bradley, who’s a New Englander however performed collegiately at St. John’s and shows the fervour of somebody who should be from Brooklyn or the Bronx.
“He’s the kind of guy that New Yorkers love because he wears his emotions for everyone to see,” Caleca stated.
Some followers might be cheering as a lot for the course as Bradley’s crew. He is aware of how New Yorkers really feel about Bethpage, a spot they discovered the sport from their fathers or spent summers caddying.
“It’s much more than a golf course to a lot of these people,” Bradley stated. “When you add all these things up, you’re going to get fiery fans.”
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AP Golf Writer Doug Ferguson and Associated Press author Michael R. Sisak contributed to this report.
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