A Hosing in Ann Arbor

Full disclosure, I'm not much of a college sports fan. Apart from March Madness, I can count on both hands the total number of college games I've watched over the last twelve months. And for the record, I did not have a rooting interest in this past weekend's Michigan / Western Michigan contest in Ann Arbor. But I can spot a hose job a mile away, and having watched the last nine seconds of that game at least a dozen times, I can say without reservation that Western Michigan got hosed. 

Simply put there's no way in hell Michigan should've gotten another shot at a Hail Mary pass. The clock clearly read 0.00. Western Michigan had won 12-7. The players on both teams were walking off the field; even the coaches knew it was over.

That was when one of the officials said that the play was under review. The play in question was a pass from Bryce Underwood that was intercepted by Micah Davis of Western Michigan after time had expired. The consensus by the announcers in the broadcast booth was that this was just a formality; nothing to be concerned about. 

However, to everyone's surprise, the review determined that there was one second left in the game. We all know what happened. Underwood threw a 47 yard TD pass to JJ Buchanan. Instead of losing 12-7, Michigan won 13-12. 

Forget for a moment that Michigan entered the game a 27 and a half point favorite. Forget also that Western Michigan had no business even being on the same field with Michigan, let alone winning the game. The fact is they were one second away from pulling off the upset of the season; they deserved better than what they got.

The official statement from the Big Ten - released two hours after the game - did little to allay concerns; if anything, it made matters worse. Here is the statement: 

Following video review, it was determined Western Michigan’s #18 started his jump from an established out-of-bounds position (left foot) and made contact with the ball with one second remaining on the clock. As shown in the provided video of what was viewed during the replay process, a side-by-side view of the play and the game clock, using a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium, was used to determine the final ruling.

Eighty-five minutes prior to the game, all broadcast cameras used for the replay system, including the camera on the game clock, are synced using a strobe system to ensure all cameras are aligned.

There are so many things wrong with this statement, starting with the assertion that there is a direct shot of the game clock in the stadium that was used to determine a final ruling. This direct shot was synched 85 minutes prior to the game. Meaning, according to the Big Ten's own statement, the time we see on the screen is the official game time. If that is the case, where did the extra second come from?

On two separate occasions, we see the clock on the bottom of the screen match precisely what the stadium clock is showing: once at 35 seconds and again at 8 seconds after the ball is snapped on the first Hail Mary attempt. Everything looks copacetic until the ball touches the hands of Davis out of bounds. It is at that point that one second magically appears on the replay clock that the Big Ten is using. No one else has seen this camera angle before; a system the Big Ten refers to as Hawk-Eye Innovations Synchronized Multi-Angle Replay Technology or SMART. 

So basically we played an entire game relying on a camera angle of the stadium clock that we were assured was synched prior to the game, only to find out that a mysterious camera angle would have the last word. The fact that this SMART system is utilized by a conference with a stake in the outcome of the game is a clear conflict of interest. You can see where I'm going with this.

Fox Sports rules analyst Mike Pereira said that in the NFL, whenever there is a discrepancy between the scoreboard / TV clock and the clock the replay officials use, the refs are instructed to use the clock the TV viewers are watching so they don't create in the minds of the fans a belief that the process was rigged. I see no problem with that policy. That the NCAA doesn't adhere to it is a huge red flag. 

In all the years I've been a sports fan, I've been adamant that the better team always wins. There's one exception to this rule: when the better team gets screwed. Western Michigan got screwed. How do I know this? Did you see that press conference the president and coach of Western Michigan held the day after the game? Take a good look at the coach. I've seen hostage videos that look less intense. How much you wanna bet Western Michigan was warned to toe the line and not make any waves over the loss? 

It is moments like this that embolden conspiracy nut jobs who believe that elections are rigged, 9/11 was an inside job, and JFK was assassinated by the CIA. The Big Ten could've just let the original call stand. Win or lose Michigan hardly looked like a national championship team. Prior to the game they were ranked 16th in the AP Top 25 poll. As of this writing, neither the AP nor FCS Coaches poll has them in the top 25. The only people they fooled were the idiotic fans who stormed the field after the game. You'd think Michigan won the Super Bowl, for God's sake.

The right thing to do would be for the Big Ten to reverse their mistake and award Western Michigan the win. I'm not holding my breath waiting for that to happen. There's way too much money involved here, and as Cyndi Lauper once sang, money changes everything. 

Look, I realize that bad calls happen all the time in sports. But this was more than just a bad call; it was an embarrassment, made all the worse by the lack of transparency and common decency by those in charge.

The point is, this didn't have to happen. Unfortunately it did. 

Postscript: 

Within the last hour, Mid-American Conference Commissioner Dr. Jon Steinbrecher released a statement regarding the outcome of the game between Michigan and Western Michigan. It reads,

After further study and investigation, it is now evident that replay protocol was not properly followed in determining whether time remained on the game clock at the conclusion of the Western Michigan vs. Michigan football game.

The established replay protocol requires that the game clock displayed on the program feed be used in determining whether time remained. Instead, the Big Ten Conference replay crew relied upon the clock feed embedded within its replay system. As a result, one second was placed back on the game clock and an additional play was awarded.

This was not a judgment regarding the proper amount of time to place on the clock. It was an error in the application of the established replay protocol governing this specific end-of-game timing situation. Had the protocol been properly followed and the program-feed clock been used, no additional play would have been awarded and Western Michigan would have won the game, 12-7.

As a result, the Mid-American Conference has submitted formal appeals to the NCAA FBS Oversight Committee and the College Football Playoff. The MAC is requesting that those bodies recognize Western Michigan as the actual winner of the game for purposes of their respective rankings, evaluations and selection deliberations and take such other corrective action as may be within their authority.

Clearly this matter isn't over. To be continued...

Another Bottom Six Signing By Drury

Rangers fans and Mets fans both have something in common. No matter how many times they get their hearts broken, they still come back for more. Despite missing the playoffs two years in a row, the Garden faithful remain eternally hopeful for this upcoming season. 

To be clear, Chris Drury has not had a bad offseason. The moves he's made have improved the roster. And Eeli Tolvanen is a good bottom six forward, that at $1.5 million, is a solid signing. But he's still another bottom six forward on a team that has more bottom six forwards than it knows what to do with. Tolvanen, Will Cuylle, Noah Laba, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Taylor Raddysh, Tye Kartye, Joseph Valeno, Adam Sykora, Jaroslav Chmelar, and Matt Rempe.

The top six is another matter. After Mika Zibanaejad, J.T. Miller, Pavel Dorofeyev, Alexis Lafreniere and Gabe Perrault, the pickings are a little slim. And keep in mind, Perrault in the top six is not exactly a slam dunk. Given this franchise's track record with past first rounders, I wouldn't put it past Mike Sullivan to relegate him to the bottom six if he gets off to a slow start. 

The point is for a team that wasn't exactly loaded with elite-level talent to begin with, Drury didn't really move the needle much. True, the defensive pairings are better, but the Rangers enter the 2026-27 season with two aging centers on contracts that, for all intents and purposes, are unmovable. Even the most optimistic outlook for this team has them as a Wild Card. When you compare the job Drury has done with the Rangers with the job Leon Rose has done with the Knicks, it's almost laughable. 

Two months ago, after Drury's free agent signings, I asked a very simple question. 

"What's the plan? Is this the start of another three-year window followed by consecutive seasons without making the playoffs? How many more times do we have to ride this sick roller coaster? That's the biggest problem I have with Drury. He keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. Name one time when he didn't take a short cut. From the moment he got the job, he's seemed more interested in keeping it than doing the hard work required to win a championship."

Instead of doing a rebuild, which is what was called for, Drury elected to do yet another retool. As a result, even with all the moves he's made, this team still isn't as good as the ones that went to the conference finals in 2022 and '24. Assuming they do make it to the playoffs - and that's a big assumption - they're far more likely to suffer a quick exit than go on a deep run. With the exception of the Detroit Red Wings and Toronto Maple Leafs, there's not one team in the East that isn't in better shape than the Rangers personnel wise, and that includes the hated Islanders.

With Quintin Dolan taking over day-to-day operations of the organization, it remains to be seen whether he will be as patient as his father. If I were Drury, I wouldn't bet the ranch on it. 

2026 Giants and NFL Preview

The John Harbaugh era is about to begin. No more test runs around the block; no more pep talks about how things are going to be different around here. Giants fans have heard it all before anyway. To borrow an old, if familiar, saying: this is where the rubber meets the road. From here on out, results are all that matter.

If 2025 taught this team anything, it's that it isn't how well you start the game that counts; it's how well you finish it. Five times last season the Giants lost a game in which they held a double digit lead. The most egregious of those losses came against the Denver Broncos at Mile High Stadium in October. The Jints were up 19 points going into the fourth quarter but lost on a last-second field goal. That loss ostensibly ended yet another season that started out with so much hope.

John Mara did something even his father would never have contemplated. He not only hired a new head coach, he vested in him co-authority to run the organization as he saw fit. In the 101 years since the franchise was founded, no head coach has ever had that much power. But desperate times call for desperate measures. 

From the beginning, Harbaugh put his stamp on this team. He finally pulled the plug on Graham Gano; traded holdout Dexter Lawrence for a first rounder; and set out to address needs on the roster. His decision to draft an offensive lineman with the pick he got from the Bengals underscored the latter.

In a departure from previous coaching regimes, Harbaugh's practices were tough and demanding. It was clear he was looking to build up the team's stamina; something that was sadly lacking late in games last season. Not coincidentally, the Giants defense allowed a total of 84 second-half yards over their last two preseason games against the Dolphins and the Jets. 

But that's the preseason. What about the regular season? After all, the Giants went 3-0 last preseason and look where it got 'em.

Two years in a row I predicted a 7-10 record, and two years in a row, I was rudely awakened, as the Giants finished 3-14 and 4-13 respectively. To say that this is an organization that historically has not earned the benefit of the doubt would be putting it mildly. 

That being said, there are reasons to believe this team will be better this season. For one thing, they have depth on the O-line and the front seven. If Bill Parcels was correct in saying that the game is won at the line of scrimmage, Harbaugh has done a good job beefing up both sides of it.

They also have their quarterback. Though Jaxson Dart played only one possession during the preseason - going 3-4 for 26 yards and a TD - he had by all accounts an outstanding rookie season last year. If Malik Nabers is healthy, and if Odell Beckham, Jr. can rediscover the magic that made him one of the NFL's elite receivers, the Giants will have one of the best one-two punches in the league. With veteran receiver Darius Slayton and tight end Isaiah Likely, Dart should have plenty of weapons at his disposal.

In the backfield, the Giants have plenty of depth, as well. Joining Tyrone Tracey and Cam Skattebo are Devin Singletary and Najee Harris; the latter a free agent pickup from the Steelers, who before he got injured last season, ran for over a thousand yards four years in a row. 

If there is one major area of concern it remains the secondary. The fact that Deonte Banks survived the final cut this weekend speaks more to the lack of options at the position than it does Harbaugh's belief in his player. Dennard Wilson is going to have his hands full keeping opposing offenses from exploiting that weakness. The onus will be on the front seven to pressure the quarterback. Indeed, the entire season may come down to whether or not they are successful.

Last season, New York had the toughest strength of schedule of any team in the NFL. Going into 2026, it has the 17th toughest schedule. So if the Giants struggle this season, it won't be because of the quality of their opponents; it'll be because they suck. And I don't think they will suck.

But while I am cautiously optimistic, I would put the brakes on any talk of a postseason berth. The NFC West and North are the top two divisions in all of football. It's quite conceivable that you could have five playoff teams coming from those divisions. Even if the Giants wind up with a winning record, they will have a difficult time beating out teams like the Seahawks, 49ers, Packers and Lions.

If we're being realistic, the goal in Harbaugh's first year should be for the Giants to be playing meaningful football in December.  An 8-9 record would accomplish that goal, and is very doable given their schedule. Anything more would be a nice bonus; anything less would be a major disappointment. 

Below are my predictions for the 2026 NFL standings and postseason.

NFC East:

Eagles

Cowboys

Giants

Commanders

NFC North:

Bears

Packers

Lions

Vikings

NFC South:

Buccaneers

Saints

Falcons

Panthers 

NFC West:

Rams *

Seahawks

49ers

Cardinals

AFC East:

Patriots

Bills

Dolphins

Jets

AFC North:

Ravens *

Bengals

Steelers

Browns

AFC South:

Texans

Jaguars

Colts

Titans

AFC West:

Broncos

Chargers

Chiefs

Raiders

* Number one seed

NFC Wild Cards:

Seahawks 

Packers

Lions

AFC Wild Cards:

Bengals

Bills

Chargers

NFC Championship game: 

Rams over the Eagles

AFC Championship game: 

Bengals over the Patriots

Super Bowl:

Rams over the Bengals

Leftovers

Now that the dog days of summer are upon us, and the Mets are just about out of it, I thought I'd do a montage of various stories that on their own probably wouldn't merit a dedicated piece. Barring something truly newsworthy, such as Steve Cohen firing David Stearns, this will likely be the last piece I write until August.

So here goes,

The ESPY Awards. It was gratifying to see the Knicks finally get the respect they deserve, even if it was at an awards ceremony that was held in New York. They won in every category they were nominated for, including best male athlete: Jalen Brunson; best championship performance: Jalen Brunson; best NBA player: Jalen Brunson; best play of the year: O.G. Anunoby; and best team: Knicks. 

However, there was one category that was missing from the festivities: best executive. Had there been an award for that, it would've undoubtedly gone to Leon Rose. Think about it: before this year, the last local-area team to win a championship was the Giants in 2011. That was 15 years ago. For a city that Frank Sinatra once said never slept, and has a total of nine sports franchises, 15 years is a VERY long time. Maybe if those franchises had someone like Rose running them, their fans might've had a few more championships to celebrate.

Jaxson Dart and Trump. I stayed away from this because of the toxic nature of the subject. That being said, I do think it was a mistake for Dart to attend a Trump rally. Not because he isn't entitled to his opinion, but because as a leader on this team, he has an obligation to every player in the locker room; some of whom may not have voted for the current president. The last thing this quarterback needs going into his second year as a pro is to become a lightning rod. Going forward, it would behoove him, and frankly all athletes, to stay out of the political arena. That goes for athletes who endorse Democrats. Stick to the Xs and Os. In the end, the only thing fans care about is the result on the field, court or rink.

The Leo Carlsson offer sheet. I'm just gonna come right out and say it. This is the worst thing that could've happened to the NHL. Anyone who thinks this is good for hockey doesn't know what the hell they're talking about. $18 million per year for a player coming off an entry level contract is absurd. I don't care if he turns out to be the next Nathan MacKinnon, he's only played three seasons and has yet to average a point a game. If Carlsson is worth $18 million, what's Connor McDavid worth, $30 million? This will have ripple effects throughout the NHL, trust me.

Pat Verbeek and Steve Yzerman. If you think Chris Drury's tenure in New York has been a disaster, just consider that Verbeek or Yzerman could've been running the show. It was Verbeek who botched the Carlsson negotiations. Instead of re-signing him for $15 million a year, he chose instead to play hardball. And it was Yzerman, who in seven seasons with the Red Wings, never once made the playoffs. Yes, Rangers fans, it sucks to admit it, but Drury isn't the worst GM in the league, after all.

Wemby signs for less than the max. Following in the footsteps of Jalen Brunson, Victor Wembanyama left roughly $50 million on the table when he signed his extension with San Antonio. The move gives the Spurs the financial flexibility they need to build a championship roster around the 7-5 center. Some will not understand this, but with the second apron likely here to stay, cap management will be essential for teams looking to win a championship. The Knicks would never have ended their 53-year drought had Brunson not left $113 million on the table. Think about this: at no point was Tom Brady ever the highest paid quarterback in the NFL. But he was smart enough to know that it takes a team to win a Super Bowl. Here's to smart athletes who get that.

Philly fans boo Jordan Walker. For the record, I've never had much use for all star games. I've also never had much use for Philadelphia sports fans. So when Philly fans booed Jordan Walker for winning the home run derby I couldn't resist. Seriously, this is a fan base that can't show up to support its own teams in the playoffs and they boo a fucking home run derby winner? Predictably pitiful.

Daylight Savings Time now yearlong. Whether or not you thought this was a good idea - frankly, I was ambivalent - there's one unintended consequence. NHL games played in Canada will air one hour later in the U.S. That means when the Rangers play the Maple Leafs in Toronto, the game will start at 8:00 PM in New York instead of 7:00. Now you'll have to stay up an extra hour just to watch the Blueshirts lose.

Lindor on the move? Late Thursday, it was learned that the Mets have informed teams that everyone but Juan Soto, Nolan McLean, Carson Benge, A.J. Ewing and Christian Scott are available. Conspicuously absent from that list was Francisco Lindor. The fact that Stearns is willing to include him in a fire sale, is a sign that both he and Cohen believe that, despite spending $371 million on payroll, this team is a train wreck. I guess that's progress. They say the first step to solving a problem is admitting you have one.

Participation trophies. If there's one thing I can't stand it's sports personalities who humiliate themselves on national TV. ESPN's Vincent Goodwill apparently misses the good-old days when the NBA boasted dynasties like the Warriors, Spurs, Bulls, Lakers and Celtics. So rather than just admit that parity is a fact of life and here to stay, he belittled the last eight champions by saying they won a participation trophy. Imagine confusing the Larry O'Brien trophy with something you give to kids to make them feel better about losing a soccer match. That's a special kind of stupid.

LeBron James. For the second time since he turned pro, "King James" is making everyone wait while he decides who his next team will be. I might be the only basketball fan in America who truly doesn't give a shit where he plays next season, so long as it's NOT the Knicks. At this point in his career, he's the third option on any team he signs with. His days of being a top five player are over.

Braden Schneider re-signs for $5.5 million. Maybe it's me, but I'd much rather have Will Borgen at $4.1 million than Schneider at $5.5 million. Both defensemen were bad last season, but with Borgen, Drury would've had an extra $1.4 million to address other needs on the team.

Meet the Mess

78-112.

That is the New York Mets won-loss record since June 13 of last year. How bad is that? Only three teams in the majors have a worse record: the Anaheim Angels (77-115) and the Colorado Rockies (69-123). It's hard to believe that only 13 months ago, the Mets were solidly in first place in the National League East with a record of 45-24.

I've heard of free falls but this one takes the cake.

Adding insult to injury, the Mets have the second highest payroll in all of baseball at $376 million. Imagine paying all that money for a team like this. That's like going to a fine restaurant and getting served a whopper value meal.

That David Stearns still has a job is the biggest mystery in all of sports. He took a team that was two wins away from the World Series in 2024, and systematically dismantled it. And the players he brought in have been utterly dreadful. The pitching still sucks, the offense has been offensive, and the defense, as we saw clearly yesterday, is terrible. Meanwhile, Pete Alonso, the guy the Mets couldn't wait to get rid of, is hitting .252 with 21 home runs, 65 runs batted in, an OPS of .820 and only two errors. If this is what Stearns meant when he said he would address the run prevention, he has a sick sense of humor. 

At this point, there are maybe five players on this roster that are worth keeping: Juan Soto (who, despite missing a month on the DL, is second in the National League with a .967 OPS), A.J. Ewing, Carson Benge, Nolan McLean and Luke Weaver. That's it. Every one else can pack their bags, as far as I'm concerned. 

And that would include Francisco Lindor. It was Lindor's error with one out in the top of the 9th that allowed the Boston Red Sox to tie the game and eventually win it in the 10th. In 40 games and 153 at bats this season, Lindor is hitting .216 with 5 HRs and 12 RBIs. I wish that were a misprint, but sadly it isn't. And this guy was bucking to become captain?

If George Steinbrenner were the owner of this team, everyone including the ball boy would've bene fired by now. Unfortunately, Steve Cohen is the owner; the very same owner who, when he bought the franchise six years ago, said he would be "slightly disappointed" if the Mets didn't win a World Series in his first three to five years of ownership.

Well, I got news for ya, Steve-O: the fans are more than "slightly disappointed." They're downright pissed. Since 1986, they've waited patiently for another championship. Year after year, they show up at CitiField hoping against hope that their loyalty will be rewarded. Instead, they get their hearts broken. The only other local-area team to treat its fans worse than the Mets are the Jets. And they haven't won a Super Bowl since 1969.

That's a small consolation for the Flushing Faithful, and it is no excuse for Cohen, who is, arguably, the richest owner in baseball. The man should be outraged at what's going on here. But rather than hold his people accountable, he makes excuses for the poor play on the field and the gross incompetence in the front office. There's being patient and then there's being obstinate.

The Mets should have a sign outside of CitiField that reads: "Clearance sale, everything must go. No reasonable offer refused." I don't give a shit if Lindor has a no-trade clause or not. Brandon Nimmo had a no-trade clause and he was moved. If there's one thing New York sports fans know all too well, it's that anyone can be traded. Even if Cohen has to eat part of Lindor's contract, it's better than watching him embarrass himself game after game. If it's true that he and Soto don't get along, all the more reason to get him off the roster. 

It's time to face reality: the Mets are a mess. They are dead last in the NL East; only the Rockies are keeping them out of the league cellar. The trade deadline is August 3. To borrow a line from the movie Trading Places, it's time to sell, sell, sell!

In Leon We Trust

When Leon Rose decided to move on from Tom Thibodeau last June, he had no replacement for him. He attempted to interview several candidates, including Jason Kidd of the Dallas Mavericks, but was denied permission each time. Critics jumped all over him. How could he fire the franchise's most successful head coach since Jeff Van Gundy and not have a successor lined up?

One month later, Rose finally found his man; a coach that had been fired four times in his career, twice by the same organization. Again, his critics pounced. Well, we all know what happened. Mike Brown, in his first season, lead the Knicks to their first title since 1973. So much for not having a Plan B.

When the Boston Celtics signed Mitchell Robinson to a three-year contract at $15.6 million per on the first day of free agency, the critics in the cheap seats were at it again. How could Rose let this happen? Why couldn't the Knicks just go over the second apron to re-sign him? Once again, no Plan B.

It took Rose less than three days to find Robinson's replacement. Like Mike Brown a year ago, Andre Drummond was not his first choice. According to Chris Haynes, Rose had his sites set on Yves Missi of the New Orleans Pelicans, but was rejected "multiple times." Apparently, they view him as a "vital core" player. I wasn't aware that a 26 win team had vital core players.

But regardless of whether Drummond was Rose's first choice or his fourth, the point is he was the best option out there. And if we're being honest with ourselves, the slash line between the two men is very close. How close? Take a look see:

Robinson: 60 GP / 19.6 MP / 5.7 PPG / 8.8 TRB / 1.2 Blk / 0.9 AST / 41 FT% / $15.6m 

Drummond: 63 GP / 19.5 MP / 6.4 PPG / 8.4 TRB / 0.8 Blk / 1.3 AST / 63 FT% / $2.45m

You tell me, if you were Leon Rose, which player would you have signed? If you still prefer Robinson, I seriously don't know what slash line you're looking at. Drummond isn't just the better value; he's the better player. One thing's for certain: the Knicks won't have to worry about "Hack-a-Mitch" anymore. And with the money Rose saved by signing Drummond, he can now re-sign Jordan Clarkson and maybe even sign Kevon Looney. Along with Landry Shamet, Jose Alvarado and Deuce McBride, the Knicks, for the second season in a row, will have the deepest bench in the NBA. How's that for a Plan B?

You don't run an organization with your heart, you run it with your head. Even if James Dolan had been willing to go over the second apron, Rose would've been a fool to do so, especially for a player who doesn't play back-to-back games, can't hit free throws, and in the postseason, allowed Onyeka Okongwu, Joel Embiid, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen and Victor Wembanyama to shoot 57 percent against him. You don't pay someone like that $15.6 million; you thank him for his service and send him on his way. If anything, the Celtics did the Knicks a huge favor. 

That's the way Rose has rolled ever since he arrived in New York six years ago. His critics don't always understand him; the media doesn't always understand him; sometimes his own players don't always understand him. It may seem at times like he's flying by the seat of his pants, but the fact is he never does anything without having a plan A, B, C or D ready to go.

Leon Rose is the principal reason why the Knicks won the NBA championship this past season, and he's the principal reason why they should be considered the favorites to repeat going into this season. Yes, I realize Jalen Brunson carried them on his back, especially in game five of the finals, but it was Rose who brought Brunson to New York and it was Rose who gave him the supporting cast he needed to complete the job.

The man knows what he's doing. Leave him alone and let him cook. 

Drury's Last Stand?

If there were any doubts about whether the New York Rangers were rebuilding or retooling, they were  thoroughly put to rest yesterday. On the first day of free agency, Chris Drury sent a very loud and clear message to the fanbase: this is a retool.

Coming off arguably his best draft since he was hired, Drury went to work immediately. At first, it looked like a typical free agency day for Drury; nothing spectacular. And then it got real interesting. In all, Drury made nine transactions. Here they are in order: 

1. He acquired goaltender Joonas Korpisalao from the Boston Bruins for forward Kalle Vaisanen and a 2028 4th round pick. The Ottawa Senators retained $1 million of Korpisalao's $4 million salary as part of an earlier trade with the Bruins.

2. He then signed Joseph Valeno to a one year $1.2 million contract that he can unload at the trade deadline if it doesn't work out.

3. Next up, he signed Oliver Bjorkstrand to another one year contract at $4.5 million. 

4 & 5.. To replenish Hartford, he signed career AHLers Marc Del Gaizo and Glenn Gawdin to two-year, two-way contracts worth $875k AAV a piece. 

Then came the two blockbusters:

6. Drury traded Vincent Trocheck to the Utah Mammoth for Utah's 2024 1st round pick Cole Beaudoin, a conditional 2027 3rd rounder and defenseman Sean Durzi. Beaudoin was the high draft pick Drury was after, and Durzi is a right-handed defenseman who had an excellent season for Utah last year.

7. Drury then traded a 2030 top 10 protected first round pick for defenseman Marcus Pettersson. Pettersson played for Mike Sullivan in Pittsburgh years ago, and I have no doubt that factored into Drury's decision to acquire him. This trade was actually announced before the Trocheck deal but took longer to finalize because Pettersson has a no move clause. 

8. Next up, in what can only be described as a textbook example of addition by subtraction, Drury traded Will Borgen to the Bruins for a 2027 2nd round pick and a conditional 2028 3rd rounder. A used puck bag would've sufficed, so give Drury high marks for finding someone willing to take Borgen and his $4.1 million cap hit off his hands.

9. Rounding out the transactions, this morning, Drury signed Dennis Cholowski, another career AHLer, to a two-year, two-way contract. 

Overall, I'd give him a B+. He unloaded Borgen, improved his defensive pairings, but weakened his center depth. In Pettersson, he acquired a player who's 30 years old and still has five years left on his contract. Like the J.T. Miller trade he made in 2025, this has the potential of blowing up in Drury's face.

Look, are the Rangers better now than they were before the Draft? Yes. Have they improved themselves enough to make the playoffs? Maybe.

But here's my concern. Let's say the Rangers sneak in as a wild card this season. Let's be optimistic and say they upset the Carolina Hurricanes in the first round. Then what? Does anybody seriously believe this team can win the Stanley Cup? Me neither.

And that brings me to the sixty-four thousand dollar question. What's the plan? Is this the start of another three-year window followed by consecutive seasons without making the playoffs? How many more times do we have to ride this sick roller coaster? I was 33 the last time this franchise won the Stanley Cup. I was hoping to see one more before I die.

That's the biggest problem I have with Drury. He keeps making the same mistakes over and over again. Name one time when he didn't take a short cut. From the moment he got the job, he's seemed more interested in keeping it than doing the hard work required to win a championship. Case in point: J.T. Miller. Rather than admit he made a mistake and buy out his contract, he's determined to keep him, no matter how badly his skills have deteriorated. The signing of Bjorkstrand is another case in point. Yes, he's a good player, but at this stage of his career he's basically a bottom six forward. How much you wanna bet Sullivan puts him on the second line, thus taking a spot away from a younger player?

Take a good look at the job Leon Rose has done with the Knicks. In six years he transformed one of the worst franchises in professional sports into NBA champions. And he did that without taking a single short cut; by making the tough decisions that needed to be made; and by thinking long term instead of short term. All while working for the same boss Drury reports to: James Dolan. Don't tell me you can't succeed with a demanding owner.

There's a reason why the Rangers have won only one Stanley Cup since World War II. They just haven't been good enough to win another. With Chris Drury at the helm, that isn't likely to change anytime soon.

Drury Goes 4 for 4 on Draft Night

As you might've surmised, I haven't been writing much about the Rangers lately. In fact, this is only my third piece on them since Thanksgiving. You can hardly blame me, what with the Knicks having their best season in over five decades.

It's been a rough couple of years for Chris Drury. From the heights of winning the President's trophy to the depths of consecutive seasons without making the playoffs, he's earned every bit of grief that's come his way. But as critical as I've been of him, I do believe in giving credit where credit is due. 

Going into the 2026 NHL Draft, the pressure on Drury was enormous. He had two picks in the first round: the 5th and 26th; he had a center he was looking to unload; another center he had his eye on; a boatload of cap space with a shopping list; and a fanbase that was growing increasingly frustrated at the constant failures and the tired excuses. To be perfectly honest, I wasn't expecting much.

How wrong I was. Maybe it was the carryover effect from Leon Rose, but Drury had one his best nights of his tenure as President and GM. 

It began with a bombshell trade: The Rangers acquired the rights to Pavel Dorofeyev from the Vegas Golden Knights in exchange for the 26th and 92nd picks in this year's draft and a top 10 protected first rounder in 2028. Dorofeyev led the Golden Knights in goals scored the last two season with 37 and 35 respectively, but he was an RFA and Vegas didn't have the cap space to re-sign him. That Drury was able to land him without giving up the better of his two first round picks was quite a feather in his cap.

The night was just getting started, however. With the 5th pick, he chose Alberts Smits, a burly left-handed defenseman who, at the age young age of 18, played for Team Latvia in the Olympics. Though fans were hoping for Carsons Carels and Chase Reid - both of whom have higher ceilings - Drury went with the player a majority of scouts say is NHL ready. I would not be at all surprised if he plays opening night on the second pairing.

But you know the old saying: the best trades are the ones you don't make. The day before the draft, Frank Seravalli tweeted that the Rangers were one of two teams that were in negotiation with the Anaheim Ducks for the services of Mason McTavish. It's no secret that McTavish had been on Drury's radar for quite some time. If history was any indicator, most of us were fearing the worst. The Rangers were about to overpay for a good, but hardly elite, center. When news broke that the Ducks had traded McTavish to the St. Louis Blues for two first round picks, the sighs of relief could be heard from 8th Avenue to the Van Wyck.

Last but not least, there's Vincent Trocheck. Drury has been looking to move the second-line center since before the trade deadline, but his asking price has been a first round pick and a high-level prospect. When he didn't get what he was looking for, rather than sell low, he opted to keep him and wait until the Draft to try again. Like the McTavish situation, the fear was that Drury would panic, but damn if he didn't surprise us again. I said it back in March, and I'll say it agin: it wouldn't be the worst thing in the world if Trocheck was still on the roster next season. At $5.6 million, he has a very manageable cap hit, and he's still capable of putting up 60 points. There's no need to move him just for the sake of moving him. Drury undoubtedly feels the same way. Good for him.

Well, what'd ya know? Four opportunities to do the right thing and Drury went four for four. Can dogs and cats sleeping together be far behind. I haven't said this in a while, but well done.

Now before we get too far ahead of ourselves, it's important to keep in mind that even with the addition of Dorofeyev this is still not a playoff team. Whether Drury trades Trocheck or not, we still don't know how good Gabe Perrault is; or whether Alexis Lafreniere's last 20 games of the regular season was the real deal or just a mirage; or whether JT Miller has anything left in the tank; or whether anyone other than Adam Fox and Vladislav Gavrikov can play defense.

If this is indeed a retool, it's far from complete. There's still a lot more work that needs to be done. The good news is that after locking up Dorofeyev to a 7 year x $11 million AAV contract, Drury has $15 million in available cap space to work with; the most he's had since he was hired in 2021. 

If he's smart, he'll put it to good use. 

Second Aprons for Dummies

Far be it from me to defend James Dolan. Since he assumed ownership of the Knicks and Rangers in 1999, both franchises have basically spun their wheels. The Rangers missed the playoffs 12 out of 27 seasons; the Knicks, until the arrival of Leon Rose, made the playoffs three times from 2001 to 2020. Indeed, the best decision Dolan ever made in his entire life was to hire Rose to run the Knicks organization. Trust me, it's easy to despise this man.

But the flack he's taking over his comments on WFAN that the Knicks would not go over the second apron is undeserved and totally uncalled for. First off, I doubt if Dolan even knows what an apron is; if you think he does, you're giving him way too much credit. Remember, this was the same guy who thought Phil Jackson and Isaiah Thomas were capable of running his team when even a neophyte could tell they were in over their heads. Everything he knows about basketball could probably fit on the back of a fortune cookie.

No, the decision to stay under the second apron came from Rose, and not because he was worried about the extra money his boss might have to dole out. The man shits money the way a sugar addict downs jelly beans. The fact is there are profound ramifications for going over the second apron. Before I list what they are, a brief history is in order.

The apron system was enacted in July of 2023 and went into effect in the '24 offseason. There are two aprons: the first and the second. The first apron acts as a sort of luxury tax trigger. While there are some penalties, they are not too severe. Most teams in the NBA have, at one time or another, gone over it. 

The second apron, however, is where the shit hits the fan. It's the league's way of saying you fucked up and now there's a price to be paid. These are the penalties for going over the second apron:

1. No salary aggregation. That means teams cannot combine salaries in order to acquire a player. In other words, no two for ones.

2. No sign and trades. Pretty much self explanatory. 

3. No cash in trades. Teams are prohibited from including cash in any trade.

4. No mid-level exceptions. Teams can only sign free agents to minimum contracts.

5. No buy-out signings. This applies to players who made more than the mid-level exception in their previous salary.

6. Frozen draft picks. First round picks that are seven years out cannot be traded.

Basically, teams that go into the second apron can only do the following things: 1. sign their own draft picks; 2. sign their own free agents; and 3. sign other teams free agents to minimum contracts. That's it. 

Over the last three seasons, seven teams have gone over the second apron: the Boston Celtics (2024-25); the Phoenix Suns (2024-25 & 2025-26); the Minnesota Timberwolves (2024-25); the Milwaukee Bucks (2024-25); the Cleveland Cavaliers (2025-26); the Golden State Warriors (2023-24 transition phase); and the Los Angeles Clippers (2023-24 transition phase). Of those teams, only the Cavs are still over the second apron, though the Oklahoma City Thunder are currently flirting with it.

Why have so few teams gone over the second apron? Because it's the closest thing to purgatory on Earth for a sports franchise, that's why. Leon Rose has come close twice, but resisted crossing that threshold both times. There's no indication that the third time will be any different. Just the opposite, in fact. During the NBA draft, Rose traded his first round pick for five second round picks, then traded back in the second round. Those are not the moves of a man who plans on going over the second apron; they are the moves of a man who is doing everything humanly possible to stay under it.

Throughout his tenure as President and GM of the Knicks, Rose has had pretty much free reign to run the basketball operations as he sees fit, and Dolan, for his part, has gone along with it. Anybody who thinks that the decision to stay under the second apron was driven by money hasn't been paying attention. Rose knows more about the nuances of cap management and salary negotiations than anyone in the sport. He should; he was one of the most successful agents before coming to New York. The last thing he would do is box himself in; which is what going over the second apron would do. The man built a championship roster; you think he doesn't know how to replace a couple of bench players?

For fuck's sake, grow up. 

Look, Mitchell Robinson was a valuable member of this team, but Bill Russell he wasn't. Rose will find a suitable replacement for him, and probably for less money. Landry Shamet, likewise, played an integral role coming off the bench, but if he chooses to leave, it won't be the end of the world. The Knicks starting five is still, overall, the best in the NBA. I trust that Rose and his staff will be able to assemble a nine-man rotation for Mike Brown capable of defending the title in time for the season opener.

If nothing else, he's earned the benefit of the doubt. 

Winning Changes Everything

No sooner had the New York Knicks parade down the Canyon of Heroes concluded than the focus turned from celebration to concern over whether they could keep their roster together for next season. Unlike players, GMs have no offseason. With James Dolan making it clear that the team would not go into the second apron, Leon Rose was faced with a basic arithmetic problem. He has $16.9 million in available cap space and only nine players signed. The NBA requires each team to carry a minimum of 14. How to divide five into 16, that is the question.

One of those five players is none other than Mitchell Robinson, the center whose rebound off a missed free throw in game five helped seal the Knicks first title in 53 years. Last season, Mitch made just a shade under $13 million. The prevailing view is that he's looking for a pay raise. Now you see the dilemma.

Heading into the NBA Draft, the Knicks had picks 24, 31 and 55. Pick 24 was a first rounder and carried a $3.3 million cap reserve, meaning if Rose had taken a player with that pick, that reserve would've gone immediately against the team's salary cap. $16.9 million minus $3.3 million leaves $13.6 million. Rose couldn't let that happen, so he made a series of moves that surprised even his biggest supporters. 

First he traded pick 24 to the Lakers for pick 25 and cash. He then used that pick to select Sergio Da Larrea from Spain in what wold've been a draft and stash maneuver that the NBA allows teams to get away with to avoid a cap hit. Then he traded Da Larrea to the Mavs for pick 30, which turned out to be Koa Peat and two future second-round picks. Peat was then traded to the Suns for pick 47 in this draft and two future second rounders.

So to sum up, in a little less than 20 minutes, Rose turned his 24th pick, which he never had any attention of keeping, into five second-round picks, one of which is number 47. And he was able to do this with every team in the NBA knowing full well that he had a cap problem. Don't ever play poker or chess with this man. You'll lose everything you own.

So what does Rose do tonight? Does he trade all three of his picks? Does he trade two and keep one? That all depends on what the demand is. It is almost a given that he will trade pick 31 for more future draft capital. But he could use his 47th pick to draft Robinson's replacement.

Let's face it, while Mitch is a fan favorite and an excellent rebounder, the man can't hit a free throw to save his life. Seriously, this guy makes Ben Simmons look like Kareem. Last season, he shot 41 percent from the free-throw line; 29 percent in the postseason. Every team in the NBA employs the hack-a-Mitch tactic. It's not a question of if they use it but when. It's hard to imagine there isn't a center in this draft who could do better for considerably less money.

One of those centers is Ugonna Onyenso from Virginia. He has a 7-5 wing span and is considered an excellent rim protector. ESPN's mock draft has him going to the Magic at 46. If he's there at 47, Rose should definitely take him. The rookie cap hit for a second-round pick is $1.362 million. That's $11.6 million less than Robinson made last season. The thing fans need to keep in mind is that this isn't a buffet, it's a garage sale, and Rose is under no obligation to pick anyone. 

Regardless of whether the Knicks draft a center in the second round or go the free agency rout, it's safe to say that Robinson has played his last game as a Knick. That's the advantage of winning; it gives you the option of thinking long term instead of short term. Had the Knicks lost to the Spurs in the finals, Rose might be tempted to try and convince Dolan to run it back. He doesn't have to do that now. He knows his core is intact. He can fill out the roster anyway he likes.

To a certain extent he's already doing that. Just hours before the draft, Shams Charania reported that the Knicks had re-signed Mohammed Diawara to a four year extension believed to be just over $10 million. At 6-9, Diawara looks like a young Pascal Siakam. It was a savvy move by Rose to lock him up to a team-friendly deal. I expect he will get more playing time next season. Another player who could see more minutes next season is Tyler Kolek, especially if the Knicks lose Landry Shamet in free agency. And then there's last season's free agent pickup, Jose Alvarado. He has a $4.5 million player option. I expect he will opt out and sign a multi-year extension soon. It's nice having options, isn't it?

To quote Mel Brooks, "It's good to be the king." The Knicks are the kings of the NBA.

Long live the kings. 

Where Jalen Brunson Ranks in the Pantheon of Clutch New York Athletes

As I was watching Jalen Brunson address the crowd at the Knicks parade, I couldn't help but notice an air of vindication in his words. Yes, he thanked James Dolan and the front office for believing in him; his teammates for giving him the confidence; the coaching staff and trainers; and of course the fans.

But it was what he said in closing that resonated most with the two million or more fans who turned out to watch the parade live and the millions more who tuned in to watch it on TV.

"There's a lot of people that have a lot of negative stuff to say. There's a lot of people who have a lot of opinions. But when you prove them wrong, you really don't have to say shit to them. Nah, they don't deserve it. Appreciate y'all. Thank you."

That's about as close to saying "fuck you" as Brunson is capable of. But if ever there was someone who was entitled to say "fuck you" to his detractors, it would be Brunson. Since his arrival on Broadway, this man has endured every kind of slight imaginable.

One of those slights came at the hands of a certain person whose name I shall not bother to mention here. As Brunson said, she doesn't deserve it. But for those who need a reminder, the incident occurred two years ago. This individual made it a point to say Brunson was too small and was "not a dude," whatever the fuck that means. She then went on to explain that since John Stockton and Allen Iverson didn't win, and they were small, that meant Brunson couldn't win either.

For those who actually know a thing or two about basketball, and who also know what the word context means, allow me to turn back the clock a bit. Stockton was a point guard who played for the Utah Jazz from 1984 to 2003. The Jazz went to two consecutive NBA finals in '97 and '98, where they unfortunately met up with the Chicago Bulls, who just happened to be working on their second three-peat. Stockton and Karl Malone played their hearts out, but they couldn't stop Micheal Jordan and the Bulls. They lost both series 4-2.

Like Stockton, Iverson was a point guard who played for the Philadelphia 76ers from 1996 to 2010. In 2001, the Sixers advanced to the finals, where they met up with the Los Angeles Lakers, who were also in the middle of going for a three-peat. That Lakers team had Shaquille O'Neil and Kobe Bryant on it. The Sixers were valiant but the Lakers were too much for them. They lost 4-1. Ironically, the only game LA lost that whole postseason was against Philly in the finals.

My point is Stockton and Iverson's size had absolutely nothing to do with them not winning a title. Their teams just happen to lose to two of the most dominant basketball dynasties of the last 30 years. There's no shame in admitting that, nor should there be. If Stockton and Iverson had been four inches taller, the results would've been the same. Iverson, in fact, averaged 33 points per game against the Lakers in that series.

Making general statements about an athlete's size as a bar against winning is the sort of thing trolls on social media do; it's not the sort of thing people who hold responsible positions in the media should do, and whether or not she apologizes, I hope the next time someone is asked to opine on the prospects of a player winning a championship, the reply that follows is an informed one.

Having said all that, I think what Brunson did this postseason ranks him among the top clutch New York athletes of all time. By clutch, I mean coming through in the playoffs. But where does it rank? I decided to compile a top ten list from the last 60 years.

Without further ado,

1. Eli Manning: The man lived in the shadow of his brother Peyton his whole career, yet when it mattered most, he came up big in Super Bowls 42 and 46, earning not only MVP in both games, but the distinction of being the only quarterback in NFL history to beat Tom Brady twice in the Super Bowl. His postseason passer rating in 2011 was 103.3, and he led the NFL in passing yards with 1219 and touchdowns with 9.

2. Mark Messier: He had one mission when he came to Broadway: end the curse of 1940. His "guarantee" and subsequent hat trick in game 6 of the '94 conference finals stands as one of the most iconic moments in Rangers history, and his game-winning goal against the Canucks in game 7 of the finals delivered New York its first Stanley Cup in 54 years.

3. Jalen Brunson: The player who was too small, too slow and not a number one option, tied Micheal Jordan for most points in a road close-out finals game. Captain Clutch's overall performance in the finals is the singular reason the Knicks were able to end their 53 year drought. The man not only deserves his flowers; he deserves a whole damn florist. 

4. Walt Frazier: When Willis Reed got injured in game five of the 1970 NBA finals, the Knicks needed someone to step up and take charge. That someone was Clyde. His 36 points and 19 assists in game 7 enabled New York to win the first of its two titles in the '70s.

5. Reggie Jackson: Mr. October was no stranger to winning in the postseason. He was an integral part of that Oakland A's team that won three consecutive World Series. But it was his performance in game 6 of the '77 World Series that forever cemented his place in New York folklore. His three home runs against the Dodgers helped the Yankees clinch their first title since 1962. 

6. Joe Namath: In the late 1960s, everyone knew the NFL was the dominant league. The Green Bay Packers had routed the Kansas City Chiefs and Oakland Raiders in Super Bowls 1 and 2, and now the Baltimore Colts were preparing to do the same to the Jets in Super Bowl 3. But Broadway Joe had other plans. He not only guaranteed his team would win, he went out and proved it. In what is still considered to this day the greatest upset in sports history, New York shocked Baltimore 16-7. The win not only made Namath a household name, it put the AFL on the map. One year later, the two leagues merged.

7. Mariano Rivera: Without question, the greatest closer in baseball history. He's the career leader in postseason saves (42), ERA (0.70) and WHIP (0.75). How impressive was Rivera? His ERA in the Yankees '98 and '99 playoff runs was 0.00 in 18 appearances. Indeed, from 1996 through 2000, he allowed just two earned runs in 56 innings. If there's such a thing as an automatic out, it was Rivera. 

8. Lawrence Taylor: From 1981 to 1993, the most feared defensive player in the NFL. He gave offensive coordinators fits and opposing quarterbacks nightmares. LT helped lead the Giants to two Super Bowl wins in '86 and '90, and turned Bill Belichick into a legend. 

9. Derek Jeter: In 7 World Series, Jeter had a batting average of .321, with an OPS of .832. Overall in the postseason, he hit .308 with 20 homers and 61 RBIs. During his Yankee career, which lasted 20 years, he finished 6th in team RBIs (1311) and 8th in team batting average (.310). He was the most consistent clutch player to wear the Pinstripes since Mickey Mantle. 

10. Brian Leetch: The 1994 Conn-Smyth winner led the Rangers with 34 points during their Cup run. The Calder and two-time Norris trophy winner was a fixture on New York's blue line until he was traded to the Maple Leafs in 2004. He's second for most points by American-born defensemen with 1028, 204 behind Phil Housley. 

At Last!

"For the rest of your life, men, nobody can ever tell you that you couldn't do it because you did it."

Bill Parcells, after the Giants won Super Bowl 21

The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions!

I still can't believe it. I felt the same way when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup in 1994. That's what 53 years of failures can do to you. It can make you doubt what your own eyes and ears are telling you.

Even as the final seconds were ticking off, I still thought that something was going to happen that would ruin this moment. Wembanyama would be fouled as he hit a three pointer, he would then convert the free throw to send the game into overtime, where the Spurs would win and force a game 6. The Knicks would lose that game at the Garden and then lose game 7 back in San Antonio.

Another failure in a long list of failures.

Except that didn't happen. Wemby missed his three-pointer, OG Anunoby grabbed the rebound with one second left and threw the ball up into the air in celebration. The Knicks held on to win 94-90 to wrap up the series in five. Mike Breen summed it up best as the final buzzer sounded:

"IT'S OVER, KNICK FANS! THIS IS NOT A DREAM! YOUR LONG, LONG WAIT HAS ENDED! GO AHEAD AND CRY!"

And cry I did; like a baby. Tears of joy streamed down my cheeks. All those years of disappointment and heartache came pouring out at once. I have a feeling I wasn't alone.

For all the players who have come and gone since the last championship - Bob McAdoo, Ray Williams, Michael Ray Richardson, Bill Cartwright, Campy Russell, Bernard King, Patrick Ewing, John Starks, Anthony Mason, Charles Oakley, Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, Latrell Sprewell, Stephon Marbury, Jeremy Lin, Carmelo Anthony, Amar'e Stoudemire, Tyson Chandler, J.R. Smith, R.J. Barrett, Julius Randle, Donte DiVincenzo, and all those I missed - this one's for you, too.

It wasn't easy. Like they had done in the previous four games, the men in orange and blue fell behind by double-digits in game five. For the series, New York was -57 in the first quarter, but +69 in the other three. That was the story of this final. The Knicks got stronger as the games wore on while the Spurs sputtered. The poise and resilience of the Knicks propelled them to victory while the immaturity and inexperience of the Spurs proved to be their undoing.

This was an historic run. The Knicks went 16-3 in the postseason, 9-1 on the road. The three losses were by a total of six points. Their overall point differential of 283 was 53 points higher than the 2017 Golden State Warriors: the team generally acknowledged as the best of all time. All four of their close out games came on the road. The 22 point comeback against the Cavs in game one of the Eastern Conference finals was surpassed only by their historic 29 point comeback against the Spurs in game four of the finals. Anyone who believes for a moment that this team did not earn its title doesn't know a damn thing about basketball.

The Finals MVP was, by unanimous vote, Jalen Brunson. On a night where the rest of his teammates didn't have it, the Captain dragged them across the finish line. His 45 points is tied with Michael Jordan for third most in a title-clinching game. He averaged 32.6 points per game in the finals, 28.4 overall in the playoffs. If there were any doubts that he was the best free-agent signing in NBA history they were put to bed in this series. His decision to leave $113 million on the table when he signed his latest contract is the reason this franchise ended its 53 year drought. It's no coincidence that after being slammed to the court by Wembanyama in game three, Brunson had his two best shooting performances in games four and five. The Russians were right: revenge is a dish best served cold. Not only is Brunson a "dude," he is, without question, the best clutch player in all of basketball.

But as great as Brunson was, he didn't do it all by himself; he had some help. OG Anunoby, Karl-Anthony Towns, Mikal Bridges and Josh Hart each contributed in their own way to the cause. Anunoby was making a case to be Finals MVP before Brunson dropped 45 in the clincher; Towns owned Wembanyama early in the series; Bridges made people forget about those draft picks; and Hart was pretty much a thorn in the side of San Antonio most of the series.

And now we come to the architect of this championship team. I think it's safe to say that Leon Rose was, without question, the best hire James Dolan has ever made as owner of this franchise. In addition to clearing out dead cap space, Rose methodically assembled one of the best rosters in the NBA. He hired Tom Thibodeau, signed Jalen Brunson, traded for Josh Hart, OG Anunoby, Mikal Bridges and Karl-Anthony Towns. And when he realized the Knicks had reached their ceiling with Thibodeau, he replaced him with Mike Brown. The only player he inherited that's still with the team is Mitchell Robinson.

Though Brown unleashed their potential, the toughness and resiliency that has come to define this group over the years came from Thibs. How else can you explain how this team was able to come back from 20 down multiple times over the past two postseasons? Any other team would've folded like a cheap tent. Not this one.

Even when they were going through that rough patch in January, the Knicks never wavered as a team. When they dropped games two and three against Atlanta and the season was hanging by a thread, they never lost their faith in one another. They knew they were up for the challenge and they proved it by winning 13 in a row and 15 of their last 16.

That's what makes them so beloved by their fans: that never say die attitude. Admit it: when they were down 10 early in the fourth, you knew they were going to pull it out, didn't you? So did the Spurs, I'm guessing.

And now this incredible season is over. The New York Knicks are the 2026 NBA champions. No one can ever take that away from them.

All that's left is the parade down the Canyon of Heroes Thursday morning. I was there when the Rangers had their parade in '94, and I will be there when the Knicks have theirs, along with about 3 to 5 million screaming and grateful fans.

They say all good things come to those who wait. To paraphrase the great Sam Rosen, Knicks fans have waited a lifetime for this moment. It's finally here.

The Better Team Wins

You know how you can tell which is the better team? It wins, that's how. Trust me, I have a lot of experience rooting for teams that have lost to better ones.

In 1973, the Mets lost to the A's in the World Series. Both teams were good; the A's were better.

In 1994, the Knicks lost to the Rockets in the NBA finals. Both team were good; the Rockets were better. 

In 2001, the Giants lost to the Ravens in Super Bowl 35. Both teams were good; the Ravens were better.

In 2014, the Rangers lost to the Kings in the Stanley Cup finals. Both teams were good; the Kings were better.

In 2015, the Mets lost to the Royals in the World Series. Again both teams were good; the Royals were better.

So far in the 2026 NBA finals, a lot of people have tied themselves up in knots coming up with reasons for why the Knicks couldn't possibly be the better team in this series. They point out that over the first four games, the Spurs have led for a total of 133 minutes while the Knicks have led for only 52 minutes, ergo the Spurs are better. Percentage of time led in basketball is about as meaningless as time of possession is in football. Many teams have won the time of possession while losing the game. It happens more than you think. Last time I checked, the only score that mattered was the final score.

Look, have the Spurs gotten off to good starts in these finals? Most definitely, yes. San Antonio has led at the end of all four first quarters. In fact, they've held double-digit leads in every game of this series. But as good as they've been in the first quarter, the Knicks have been better in the other three. New York is a collective -47 in the first quarter, but in quarters two, three and four, they're +24, +16 and +15 respectively. The 29-point lead the Spurs blew in the second half of game four represents the largest blown lead ever in an NBA final. That singular distinction belongs to them, not the Knicks.

This postseason, the Knicks have played better on the road than they have at Madison Square Garden. They're +171 away vs +108 at home. All three closeout games have occurred in the visitors arena, not one has been remotely close. Clearly, living out of a suitcase has not been a problem for this team.

The Knicks have the best player in this final; the best clutch player in all of basketball. They might even have the second best player. That is not a knock on the Spurs; it's just a fact based on everything we've observed from watching both these teams in the closing minutes. With the exception of game three, the Knicks have been the more composed, more poised and more mature team on the court. Their best players have simply been better than the Spurs best players, and Mike Brown has out-coached his counterpart Mitch Johnson.

Ask yourself this question. Who would rather have when the game is on the line: Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Karl-Anthony Towns or De'Aaron Fox, Julian Champagnie and Victor Wembanyama? That was meant as a rhetorical question, by the way. I wasn't looking for an answer.

I don't know why this is so hard for some people to comprehend. The Knicks are not leading 3-1 because they've been lucky or because they had an easy path to the finals or even because the basketball gods are finally smiling on them. They're leading because they've been the better team.

Is it possible that the Spurs can come back and win this series? Of course it is. And if they do, guess what? They will be the better team.  But I sincerely doubt that will happen. I think this series ends tonight with the better team hoisting the Larry O'Brien trophy.

That's how this works; it's how it's always worked. There are no participation trophies when it comes to sports. There are just winners and losers. The winners get to celebrate with their teammates on a podium and receive a ring; the losers get to go home empty handed. 

Sorry if that ruins your narrative, but then I've never been very good at drawing narratives. Besides, I'm a Rangers fan. Who knows more about losing to a better team than us?

History

"Little roller up along first. Behind the bag, it gets through Buckner. Here comes Knight and the Mets win it!"

- Vince Scully, bottom of the 10th, Game 6, 1986 World Series

I will never forget the range of emotions I felt during that 10th inning in October of '86. The Mets were one pitch away from losing the World Series and I and my friends were despondent. Minutes later, I went from despondent to elated. Mookie Wilson had saved the season. There would be a game seven at Shea Stadium, after all, and the Mets would win it.

To be clear, last night's game at Madison Square Garden was not an elimination game for the New York Knicks. Had they lost, the finals would've been tied at two with game five in San Antonio Saturday night. But the stakes were no less high. A loss would've given the Spurs home court with the prospects of this promising postseason ending up like all the others: in bitter frustration. 

And for the first 24 minutes it certainly looked that way. Unlike game three - which was close throughout - game four was turning into a rout. The Knicks seemed about as interested in playing a basketball game as I was taking calculus in college. Karl-Anthony Towns picked up two fouls in the first minute of play; the latter courtesy of a terrible call on a challenge by Spurs coach Mitch Johnson. Jalen Brunson resumed his ISO ball which resulted in his teammates standing around like statues. And the vaunted New York defense, which had come to define this playoff run, was nowhere to be seen. San Antonio led 41-22 after one and 76-49 at halftime. 

The Spurs shot 28-47 (59.6%) from the field and 14-26 (53.8%) from three in the first half, while the Knicks shot 15-37 (40.5%) and 4-12 (33.3%) respectively. The Spurs also had more assists than the Knicks: 18 to 7. The Garden resembled more a mausoleum than a sports arena. Spike Lee looked like he was going to jump off the Brooklyn Bridge.

But then in the second half New York finally woke up. They started playing defense and began to move the ball around. The Knicks had 16 assists in the half, as they outscored the Spurs 58-30 to win the game 107-106 and take a 3-1 series lead back to San Antonio.

The turning point came with 9:27 to go in the third quarter. The Spurs were up 81-52 when Victor Wembanyama was hit with a flagrant foul 1 for elbowing Towns. KAT converted both free throws and the Knicks never looked back. They narrowed the gap to 90-75 going into the fourth and took their first lead of the game with 1:22 left in regulation. The Garden, which had been quiet most of the night, erupted. Mariska Hargitay and Taylor Swift were dancing in the aisles. Larry David was actually caught smiling.

While Brunson had 17 points in the half - 36 for the game - it was OG Anunoby who was the main hero. His block on De'Aaron Fox's layup with 11 seconds to go and his rebound shot with 1.2 seconds left to put his team up for good is the reason New York is one win away from its first championship in 53 years. Anunoby is also one of only five players in NBA finals history to score 30 or more points and the go-ahead field goal in the last three seconds of the game. The other four are Jerry West (1962), Kareem Abdul Jabbar (1974), Hakeem Olajuwon (1995) and Michael Jordan (1997).

Another unsung hero was Jose Alvarado. Mike Brown elected to put him and Brunson together in the backcourt to start the fourth. Alvarado scored 8 points and 3 assists in the quarter. Together, the pair was a plus 21 in 12 minutes. It was a brilliant move by the Knicks coach.

This was the third time in this series that the Knicks successfully overcame a double-digit deficit to win a game. They trailed by 14 points in game one, 12 in game two and 29 in game four; the latter an NBA record for a finals game. The previous record was held by the Celtics who overcame a 24-point deficit against the Lakers in 2008.

After shooting the lights out in the first half, the Spurs went ice cold in the second. They were 8-39 (20.5%) in the field and 3-17 (17.6%) from three. While the Knicks D had a lot to do with that, San Antonio helped them out with their decision making with the ball. For some reason, the Spurs attempted eight consecutive three-pointers up by 20 to 25 points, converting on only one. On twelve separate possessions they shot the ball with more than 10 seconds remaining on the shot clock. This "strategy" was eerily similar to the one the Celtics employed last year against the Knicks. The result was consecutive blown leads in games one and two and an eventual series defeat.

The number one offender for the Spurs was Fox. He had four turnovers in the second half, one of which was a backcourt violation. His decision to go for a layup in the closing seconds with this team up by one rather than dribble it out and let the Knicks foul him was inexplicable. Seconds after Anunoby blocked his shot, he scored the winning bucket. The two things you must do when you have a big lead is to use the clock to your advantage and don't turn the ball over. The Spurs did neither and it gave the Knicks the opening they needed to eventually win the game.

So now the Knicks have a chance to close out this series and put the Spurs out of their misery. They have yet to play a full 48 minutes in any of these games. Indeed, you could make the case that had it not been for San Antonio's ineptitude, New York might very well be trailing 3-1 instead of leading 3-1.

But that's water over the dam. Regardless of how they got here, the Knicks are one win away from winning their first championship since 1973. If they are smart they will take care of business Saturday night.