Blue Wigs and Bad Words: Knicks Fans Are Ready for the Playoffs.

There was a loud commotion close to a sizzling canine vendor inside Madison Square Garden moments earlier than a playoff sport between the Knicks and the Miami Heat on Sunday. A bunch of Knicks followers noticed one other Knicks fan and began cursing. Other individuals turned their heads, cautiously shifting away from the group; a battle appeared to be brewing.

But because the followers walked towards one another, locked arms and commenced leaping round, it grew to become clear that this was not about to be a brawl. At the middle was Darryl Thompson, in a blue custom-made Knicks shirt with a four-letter phrase in orange and the identify of the Heat’s greatest participant: Jimmy Butler. All of the cursing? That was simply the followers, uh, studying the shirt’s message out loud.

“I made it,” Thompson, 37, stated proudly. “It took about 30 minutes. I came up with an idea instantly and all that. I called some personal people to get it pressed up for me. We just made one. We don’t want this floating around.”

Moments like that stuffed Sunday’s Game 1 between the Knicks and the Heat, the primary second-round playoff sport on the Garden in a decade. During the Knicks’ first-round playoff collection towards the Cleveland Cavaliers, Knicks followers stormed Seventh Avenue exterior the world, climbed poles, danced and drank after victories.

But on Sunday, the Knicks misplaced at dwelling for the primary time this postseason, 108-101, after being up by 12 factors at halftime. Seventh Avenue was desolate afterward, lined with law enforcement officials who have been ready for a raucous crowd however as a substitute watched followers bounce by puddles within the pouring rain as they headed for trains dwelling. Game 2 is Tuesday on the Garden.

Here’s a take a look at a number of the followers from Sunday.

Greg Dell, 48

Underneath Greg Dell’s Knicks hat is his hairless head, which he makes use of to point out individuals how lengthy he has been a fan of the group. “Since 12 years old,” he yelled, “back when I had hair.” The Knicks’ shortcomings over his 36 years of fandom have seemingly contributed to a number of the hair loss, however he wouldn’t commerce it for anything, he stated. And when you flip 12 years previous, he added, you’ll be able to’t change your group until you progress to a brand new metropolis.

Dell stated this has been essentially the most thrilling Knicks season he can bear in mind for the reason that group went to the 1999 N.B.A. finals as a result of they lastly really feel like a authentic contender. He stated he was “throwing away,” the Game 1 loss and predicted that the Knicks would wrap the collection up in six video games.

“It’s like dating,” he stated. “If you want to find a loyal person — your spouse, your girlfriend — ask them their favorite team. If they say the Knicks, they’re loyal. They’re not cheating on you. They’re not leaving you. That’s us.”

Miguel Garcia, 45

Miguel Garcia and his two brothers, Danny and John, grew up within the lengthy shadow of the Garden at forty third Street and Ninth Avenue, shut sufficient to listen to a number of the noise from across the area on sport days.

Their first Knicks reminiscence was from Game 3 of the 1999 Eastern Conference finals when ahead Larry Johnson was fouled as he made a 3-point shot after which swished the following free throw to present the Knicks a 92-91 victory over the Indiana Pacers.

On Sunday, they entered the Garden clad in several coloured wigs they bought from Party City as a result of they “had to go crazy” for the special occasion.

“You know, I have no hair, so I needed to put something on,” Garcia stated.

Francis Vasquez stopped others close by from speaking, seemingly so they may perceive the significance of what he was about to say. Vasquez lifted one hand as they watched: This one was for God, he stated, earlier than lifting his different hand simply barely beneath that one, which, he stated, was for the Knicks.

Greg Dell and Vasquez met on Sunday after the sport at a bar, and Vasquez stated their relationship was reflective of what he beloved about Knicks fandom.

“I could feel his energy, and he could feel my energy,” he stated, “so that just builds a connection.”

Vasquez grew up in Washington Heights in Upper Manhattan, the place he constructed an unrelenting help for a group that has by no means rewarded him for it with a title. Still, Vasquez stated, he would “die for his Knicks.”

“Don’t let us win the championship; it’s going to be a riot that day,” he stated. “I’ll probably get locked up that day.”

The Romito Family

Leah Romito had by no means been concerned about basketball. But over the past two seasons, her 8-year-old son, Axel, has fallen in love with Knicks ahead Julius Randle and guard Jalen Brunson, turning her right into a fan, too. On Sunday, she adopted her son’s instructions, yelling and cheering as if she had been born into Knicks fandom like lots of the others within the Garden.

It was the primary sport she had been to with Axel. Brunson scored 25 factors, however Randle sat out due to an ankle harm. “It’s sad,” Axel stated. “Very sad.”

Lakeisha Reid paid $1,500 to go to the sport along with her girlfriend. She stated she has been a Knicks fan since she was a teen, drawn to the thrill that the previous star middle Patrick Ewing, who attended Sunday’s sport, introduced her father and to individuals throughout New Jersey, the place she grew up.

Sunday was her first-ever Knicks sport, so she deliberate an eye-popping outfit for the event that featured shiny blue pompoms. “You only live once,” she stated, “and I was like, ‘We want to do it right.’”

Reid stated she was most stunned by the friendliness of the gang, which she described as “crazy but polite.” Reid remembered followers yelling for others to sit down down and folks listening with out debate. One fan switched seats along with her girlfriend to make her extra comfy.

“Up north we’re known for being a little hard, and sometimes we could be a little loud, but at the game it was just the up-north love, the vibe,” she stated. “It was just no drama. It was beautiful.”

Satchel Aviram grew up in Westchester County, N.Y., loving the Knicks for so long as he can bear in mind. He appreciates the fan base primarily as a result of Knicks followers are loyal by the few ups and the innumerable downs, not like Nets followers, he stated.

“The second the Nets lose, they know it’s over. When the Knicks lose, we know we’re going to fight,” Aviram stated. “The team is behind the Knicks always, and the city is behind the Knicks.”

Aviram stated the rain and grey skies may have been mirrored in a dismal feeling amongst followers after the loss, however as a substitute he stated he felt a constructive “electricity” in most followers trying ahead to Game 2.

“We’ve been down for so long that it’s meant so much for the city that we’re finally battling,” Aviram stated, “and it seems like we finally have it figured out that we can go forward.”