SI:AM | My Night at the Epicenter of Knicks Fever

DAN GARTLAND 

Good morning, I’m Dan Gartland. Don’t tell my boss, but I’m going to go take a nap. I had a very late night last night soaking up the NBA Finals atmosphere in New York.  

In today’s SI:AM:

🤠 Wemby powers Spurs to big win

🏟️ How an NFL stadium preps for the World Cup

⚾ The slugger who could shine in Judge’s absence 

I’m tired, but it was worth it

Selçuk Acar/Getty Image

I don’t get many chances to just be a sports fan. Writing a sports newsletter five days a week means that if I’m watching a game, more often than not I’m also thinking about how I might write about it the next day. I watched Game 1 of the NBA Finals on my couch, occasionally jotting down notes on my phone. But for Game 3, I wanted to be a fan. 

I’d say that I’m a lapsed Knicks fan. I’ve lived my entire life in the New York area and grew up rooting for the Yankees, Giants, Knicks and Rangers (in that order). I remember sitting in the last row of Madison Square Garden to watch the Knicks play Yao Ming’s Rockets on Super Bowl Sunday as a 13-year-old in 2006, probably wearing the Allan Houston jersey I owned at the time. I spent two years living with two massive Knicks fans from Brooklyn when I went to college in the Bronx, and we’d watch the Carmelo Anthony-era Knicks most nights. But being a national sportswriter means I have to pay attention to teams outside of New York, and so following the Knicks became less of a priority. 

But with the Knicks in the NBA Finals for the first time since I became a basketball fan, I knew I had to experience a game the way millions of people in the New York metro area have—not making notes about the box score in my living room, but living and dying with every shot.

I decided to meet up with a couple of friends (including one of those aforementioned former roommates) at a bar in Midtown. I live about an hour outside the city, so I knew that going into Manhattan would make writing this newsletter the following morning a struggle—I got home at 1:30 a.m. and started writing at 6:30—but I wouldn’t have done anything differently.CONTINUE DAN’S COLUMN ON SI 

OpenWeb

Recommended by  

Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images

The best of Sports Illustrated

 

Get the print edition of Sports Illustrateddelivered to your door.

Click to subscribe! 

Wendell Cruz/Imagn Images

👀 The top five …

… things I saw last night: 

5. I didn’t get a picture, but I saw a guy wearing an Allonzo Trier Knicks jersey. Don’t worry if you don’t know who that is. He was an undrafted free agent whose NBA career lasted 88 games across two seasons. 

4. Stephon Castle’s unguardable alley-oop to Victor Wembanyama. 

3. Angels first baseman Trey Mancini’s RBI single in his first MLB plate appearance since July 2023. The former Orioles, Astros and Cubs player went 3-for-4 in his first game since being called up from Triple A. 

2. The totally bonkers Brewers-A’s game. Milwaukee won 15–14 in 12 innings after both teams scored four runs in the 10th. 

1. Jalen Brunson’s circus shot in the third quarter.  

Join SI The Post-Up

A weekly spotlight on the biggest stories and in-depth reporting of women’s basketball—from compelling athlete features to sharp commentary on the latest news and scores.CLICK TO SUBSCRIBE

OpenWeb

Recommended by  


We may receive compensation for some links to products and services included in this email.

Sports Publishing Solutions Inc.
625 Broadway, 10th floor
New York, NY. 10012
You are receiving this email because you are subscribed to the SI:AM newsletter.

You can unsubscribe here  .

Privacy Policy – Terms & Conditions

© 2026 Sports Publishing Solutions Inc. All rights reserved.
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF ABG-SI LLC.
All betting and gambling content included in the SI:AM newsletter is intended for individuals 21+ (18+ in DC, KY, NH, RI, and WY). Betting and gambling content, including picks and predictions, are based on individual commentators’ opinions and we do not guarantee any success or profits. If you or someone you know has a gambling problem, crisis counseling and referral services can be accessed by calling 1-800-GAMBLERor texting 800GAM.

Click this link to view the newsletter in your browser.

Unknown's avatar

Published by RJ Hamster

I was born on 6 August 1956 in San Francisco, California to Janet and (the late) Richard Hovis. I grew up in Santa Monica, California where I attended elementary, junior high school, and high school (graduating in 1974), in addition to involvement in sports and recreation (Little League +, the Boy’s Club ++). Further, it was in elementary school – St. Augustine’s By-the -Sea Parish School that I found, and made the choice to truly journey with God. I attended Arizona State University from 1974 to 1977 – seeking to become an architect, however, I was not accepted, and, as such, I graduated with a Liberal Arts degree. Upon graduation from Arizona State University, I attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and studied City and Regional Planning at the Master’s level. I successfully completed one (1) year in a two (2) year program – I did not complete the Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning – due to personal reasons. I returned to Santa Monica where I started (October 1979) my career as graphic designer with Exxon Company, USA. I spent five years with Exxon Company, USA. While working with Exxon Company, USA I was accepted into architectural school – Sci-Arc in Southern California, however, I did not attend preferring to stay with Exxon.. In 1982 I married Laura Flosi and in April 1983 we had our one and only child – Lauren Alain Hovis – a gift from God. We moved to Phoenix, Arizona in 1984 from Los Angeles, where I went to work as a graphic designer with Kitchell CEM (from 1985 -1987). From 1987 – 1995 I was an independent contractor, and a registered representative in mortgage finance, financial management, graphic design, and drafting. Further, I attended the University of Phoenix and successfully obtained a Master’s in Business Administration (MBA) in 1982. I was also a member of the Scottsdale Jaycees, where I became very involved in community events and projects. In 1994, I accepted a cartography position with the Defense Mapping Agency in Reston, Virginia. As such, I relocated from Phoenix to Reston. In 1998, I was accepted and worked as a Visual Information Officer with the Central Intelligence Agency. In 2002, I worked as a Support Officer until my retirement (due to a need for shoulder surgery) in September 2018. Away from my Federal Government service, I have been involved in various organizations and activities in Northern Virginia. In November of 2011, I married Rebecca Ouellette in Santa Monica, California. I reside in San Tan Valley, AZ with my two hamster - Jess and Timothy, our fish, our lizard - RJ Lizard., and our cats - Pearl and Grey. As to hobbies, I enjoy playing sports, attending sporting events, mentoring individuals from financial management to hamsters, building models, photography, travel, multimedia design, managing partner for RJ Hamster, and jazz – smooth jazz to a samba or a bossa nova. Love and God Bless, Peter – aka RJ Hamster Jo hi

Leave a Comment