A June To Remember
New York City was at an all time high in June. The city was hosing select FIFA World Cup matches, including the final, and though the stadium is technically in New Jersey it’s apparently considered the NYC Metro area as most attendees were spending the day in Manhattan and using public transportation to get to the matches.
It was an unprecedented sports frenzy as the World Cup kicked off in the middle of the Knicks’ historic run toward the NBA finals. For New Yorkers, even those that have only been living here for a few years, there was a palpable jubilance in the air that was extremely contagious. Everyone was in such a good mood, and as the Knicks got closer to their win suddenly it felt as though anything could be possible. Optimism abound, it felt like I was seeing people that never smiled before finally crack.
My sister flew into New York to catch the rest of the games and celebrate Father's Day with the dad that made us Knicks fans from the very beginning, and we could not be more thrilled to witness the excitement of our dad who would listen to games on his handheld, battery operated radio when there wasn’t a TV around (screens were not a regular part of every day life and I miss that so dearly). Toward the end of Game 4 in San Antonio, the real possibility of the team that had routinely broken hearts with so many years of losses could actually defeat the strongest team from the west coast. A team that placed Wembanyama front and center as their closer, the other-worldly man that would stand in the way of the New York Knicks’ victory. No one expected the Knicks to recover from 29 points down to beat the Spurs 107-106 with an insanely legendary game winning tip-in by none other than OG Anunoby.
It was a moment we all stood in silence and looked at each other with complete disbelief while the announcer struggled to contain his excitement articulating what just occurred. The largest comeback in NBA final history. From that day forward it was an incredible energy seemingly embracing the entire city. There were witches on Etsy called on to cast spells for a Game 5 win. Fans were saging MSG to cleanse and protect the energy, and eventually nuns were joining in to bless the stadium with holy water — including Sister Marie Mackey from the Sisters of St. Joseph, who used to work at my high school when I attended. It was a surreal and unforgettable moment for so many New Yorkers who spent lifetimes rooting for this team.
For Game 5, I gathered with my family again convinced this would be the final game. We all got in our Knicks gear, my mom even making Leo an orange DIY Knicks bandana so no one would be left out.
For much of the game it seemed as though they might’ve had to take it to Game 6 at home. Jalen Brunson scored 13 points straight in the fourth quarter, helping the team overcome a 16-point deficit all the way to a 94-90 championship win. I looked at my dad with his eyes wide and misty.
“I waited 53 years for this!” he exclaimed, and my sister and I looked at each other while our hearts leap with joy.
The daily World Cup games, on mostly late in the evening or even at night, were riveting (and frustrating) as much of the matches point to a desire to get Argentina to the finals. The city launched a NYC Neighborhood passport initiative designed by the NYC Office of the Mayor, NYC Tourism & Conventions and Team Wonder to celebrate the FIFA World Cup. Found only at your local city library, inside is a cultural scavenger hunt, intended to motivate locals and visitors to explore small businesses and institutions, collecting unique artist-designed stamps from each like you would in a passport. The initiative steers visitors toward vibrant cultural and immigrant neighborhood hubs like Little Senegal, Little Colombia, Little India, Little Morocco, Little Egypt, and Chinatown. There were featured events like block parties, dance performances, art exhibits and film screenings. Each day there was a match, there were pockets of the city celebrating (or mourning) for their team and the pride of their country. It was honestly one of the most creative and beautiful initiatives that encourages gathering and unity in a big way, something that has been lacking throughout most of the country for years now. It reminded me why I love living here so much.
The teams I had as hopefuls were eliminated before the Quarter Finals and so was my interest in watching the final, but tradition insisted I do anyway. Although it felt like I was begrudgingly tuning in to watch, when it was all over with the Knicks championship and the World Cup win going to Spain there was quite a visceral void that was impossible to ignore.
The rest of summer flew by at accelerated speed. By the time my wedding anniversary comes around I know it’s the close of the chapter of summer. School has started, the sun has started to set at 7 instead of 8, and stores are erupting full of Halloween and Pumpkin Spice ambience. As autumn’s biggest fan, I welcome the shift (even though summer isn’t over for another month). I will continue to detest August but honestly nothing can be done to redeem the month that consistently brings rain and devastating, life-threatening floods to the Northeastern coast. And although I didn’t enjoy summer as it’s meant to be enjoyed (vacation, visits to the beach or pool, cocktails on a roof during sunset, etc) I still enjoyed the nuances. Especially June, which was very good to my city, and my dad.
