Knicks Fans Get Superstitious Ahead of Eastern Conference Finals: Rituals and Beliefs Abound
As the New York Knicks gear up for Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Pacers, some of their most dedicated fans are diving deep into their superstitions. You know, the kind of stuff that makes you wonder if they’re more into magic than basketball. Seriously, some fans are putting their jerseys away and even turning off their TVs, all in the name of good luck.
One Reddit user shared their game-day strategy, saying, “I had success with not watching the second half if the Knicks are down double digits, and instead playing Earth Defense Force 5 and checking the score intermittently.” Sounds like a plan, right? They’re ready to repeat that if things start to go south again.
Others are taking it a step further, opting to skip the game entirely. “I’m one of those guys, will not be watching and I will not be checking the score,” another fan chimed in. It’s like they think that by not watching, they can somehow influence the outcome. And then there’s the fan who’s sworn off all Knicks gear until the series wraps up. “I’ve worn zero Knicks gear since the series started,” they said. “Now I refuse to wear anything Knicks related until this series is finished.” Talk about commitment!
At McMahon’s Public House in Park Slope, Brooklyn, bartender Colette Reilly believes she’s the Knicks’ secret weapon. “Whenever I don’t work, they lose,” she told a reporter. “So now they’re all superstitious, and I was getting texts from regulars saying, ‘You better be here on Friday or we’ll kill you.’” No pressure, right?
One of the bar’s regulars has his own quirky ritual. He’s got a lucky straw he uses every game and sits in the same spot. “He carries it around and sits in the same seat every time,” Reilly explained. “He even promised to shave his beard off if I came into work and they won… and he did it on Saturday.” Now that’s dedication!
Outside Madison Square Garden, 22-year-old Danny is sticking to his tradition of wearing his Jalen Brunson jersey for good luck. “I try to wear the Brunson jersey,” he said. “Sadly, I have to work, but if I didn’t, I’d be outside MSG or at one of the parks.” He’s optimistic, though, saying, “Even if they lose the first game — we’re the comeback kids!”
But not every Knicks fan is on the superstition train. Doug Berns, 37, has been writing musical parodies for each game since November and doesn’t buy into the whole luck thing. “To genuinely be locked in and paying attention is all a fan needs to be doing,” he said. He pointed out that some fans have even canceled watch parties out of fear they’d bring bad luck. “What, we’re not allowed to hang out with our friends and watch the game together anymore?” he lamented.
Still, Berns admits he has a few quirks of his own. “I have like, ‘oh, we won the last game while I was wearing this T-shirt, I’ll wear it again,’ stuff like that,” he confessed. So, maybe he’s not completely immune to the charms of superstition.
Then there’s Will Z., who’s not worried about luck at all. He’s confident Game 1 is already “in the bag.” “I’m going to go hang out with my friends and watch it with my friends,” he said casually. “Too bad I can’t watch it at MSG because the tickets are outrageous.”
“We got it in the bag,” Will added. “Game 1, we got it.” With all these rituals and beliefs swirling around, it’s clear that Knicks fans are ready to do whatever it takes to help their team secure a win. Whether it’s avoiding the game, wearing lucky jerseys, or just hoping for the best, the energy is palpable as they prepare for what they hope will be a thrilling series.
