A Homage by Fahim ‘Coach Fah’ Nassar

It Smells Like Knicktober-

October. The air becomes crisp as the temperatures turn from the warmth and joy of summer to the chilly, pumpkin spiced vibe of fall. While baseball is wrapping up its Boys of Summer, the NHL skates their way into the season, it is also the time for orange balls to start bouncing. That alone brings a plethora of excitement to millions.

Especially to this kid from Queens, whose been a fan of the Knicks since 1981. Why am I excited, come on…. it’s the Knicks! While there are those who poo-poo the Knicks, as if they are paid to do so like Richard Jefferson, there are those of us who love the team without fail. It doesn’t mean we love every move they make, but the support for the team outweighs any slight proclivities. This is what leads to today’s discussion.

Knicks Twitter.

Sports teams have their fanbases, and these fanbases converse through social media all of their hopes, dreams, and ideas for player movement, salary cap etc. Knicks Twitter seems to be the proverbial Hulk Smash of all bases however.

There is an interesting contingent of paid media reporters and beat writers that like to pretend the fanbase dislikes the franchise. This notion cannot be farther from the truth. From the “G.F.A” (Good Fan Society) and the “Company Men” to the “Toxic Boys”, these fans, content creators and more, contribute to a vibrancy and engagement not seen by many or any other fanbase on social media for that matter. What other fan base has such uproarious fans that they create splinter cells within social media?

The Lo Mein Thread is a perfect example of that. Spearheaded by loyal Knicks fan, @MJsLasagna, this nearly decades old thread reinvigorates every year. Last night, as the first preseason game was upon us, MJ sent out the roll call, and Knick fans proceeded to fall in line and chat all game about everything from the gamer itself to favorite game foods.

The content creators are an amazing aspect of this base as well. Due to ineptitudes in fair reporting, fans took it upon themselves to tell the Knick story. Anthony Donohue was one of the first to do it. His podcast was amazing. Now we have entities like ‘KOT- Knick of Time’; Poastin’ and Toastin’, KFTV (Knicks Fan TV), The Morning Drive with Danny B, Knicks Minute Live with Coach Fah, Bad Weather Fans, Blorage Tears, GUK (Guard Up Knicks) and the Knicks Film School, just to name a few.

The moral of this story is that Knicks fans are communal, tribal and fiercely loyal. If we don’t like your narrative, we will do it ourselves. We can argue amongst ourselves but that is because we all are knowledgeable and fiercely passionate. But if you aren’t about that Knick life you won’t understand it!

*Photo courtesy of ClutchPoints