The New York Knicks, my hometown basketball team, just won the NBA Finals for the first time in 53 years, led by three players from Villanova, my college alma mater. Dubbed the “Nova Knicks,” it felt surreal, like this team was specifically designed for me. As an adult, I don’t get as emotionally invested in sports as I used to, but I’ve never had this much fun rooting for a professional sports team. The only thing that compares is the two times Villanova won the NCAA championship (2016 and 2018), led by three of the same players: Jalen Brunson, Mikal Bridges, and Josh Hart. Watching the Nova Knicks felt like being an early fan of a local indie rock band, who years later, break out into worldwide mainstream success. But unlike indie hipsters, I don’t resent the newcomers. I welcome any and all onto the Nova Knicks bandwagon. To explain why this team meant so much to me, let’s go back to the beginning.
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T.Z. Barry 