I am a New York Knicks fan. Like most sports, I come to my affiliations through my son, as we bond over high-level athletics and athletes. He is a huge, longtime Knicks fan and a New York resident.
Right now, it is hard not to be a Knicks fan, not to admire their power and grace in winning the NBA championship on June 13, breaking a more than half-century dry spell. The team presented a master class in how to behave while winning and how not to fold when under pressure.
The path to “Knicks in Five!” — the popular chant describing swift victory over the San Antonio Spurs — wasn’t preordained; oddsmakers favored the Spurs at the outset of the NBA Finals.
Claiming the title required skill, maturity, grit, the desire to — and most importantly, not to lose. Team captain and MVP Jalen Brunson personified the Knicks winning spirit — staying calm, and focused, and overcoming adversity, including a historic 29-point deficit in winning Game 4 despite elevated intensity.
The diversity of the Knicks’ fandom (all are welcome) added to their appeal. If you were in New York City, you could stand next to a stranger and watch the game projected on giant outdoor screens and the sides of buildings. During these spontaneous, free watch parties, you felt, through sports, a sense of connection with the next person. Creating that sense of unity is something to bottle up and celebrate.
After the Knicks won, I began looking around for unrelated people or events that linked to the virtues displayed by the Knicks players. And to my mild surprise, when you look for displays of competence and a sense of community, you can find it.
There is no more diverse a setting than an airport departure gate. A weather delay, a late-arriving aircraft and a maintenance issue complicated my Delta flight. With the flight crew standing at the gate, the holdups mounted. Knowing the flight crew can time out over a long delay, passengers got antsy.
Then, in full view of the gate windows, a small truck pulled up, and a Delta repair crew jumped out. With delays now well beyond two hours, the techs pulled off and switched out the plane’s back tires as the anxiety built.
The crew drew my attention and that of other passengers. Instead of mounting frustration, we fully engaged in watching the crew. None of the workers appeared to break a sweat. I don’t even know if they were aware of 100 or so people observing their every move.
Soon enough, with the wheels secure, a cheer went up as the boarding announcement occurred. To my amazement, we passengers carried that good feeling forward, courteous to one another while boarding and stowing our bags.
Shared interests and celebrating virtues are possible even with differences. It is even easier if you look for good behavior and try to relate to others. The joy transferred among Knicks fans is an inspiration to find common ground. The Delta repair crew example proves it is transferable to everyday life.
The first step is to reframe our thoughts, look for links to others, and feel kinship rather than what divides us.
I am so grateful for the “Knicks in Five!” They helped me reboot my faith in others, my fellow fans, and now I am looking for that link in other parts of life. It can make you feel happier. I urge you to try it!