They call it the “World’s Most Famous Arena.” For over the last decade, it has been anything but. Madison Square Garden has been home to two of the most dysfunctional franchises in all of sports. The New York Knicks, run into the ground by front office executives Scott Layden and Isiah Thomas, and the New York Rangers, under the questionable control of Glen Sather for the last 11 years, have failed to become perennial title contenders. James Dolan’s ownership has been tumultuous and these once-famed franchises have been ravaged in the nation’s largest sports market. Desperate for a winner, New York fans have been searching for a glimmer of hope and promise. A dream that one day their teams will reverse course and carry themselves from the Atlantic’s basement to the crown of the East. Superstars and young talent have revitalized New York sports and for the first time since the 1996-1997 season, the New York Knicks and New York Rangers will simultaneously appear in the NBA and NHL playoffs, respectively. The dream is alive, the future is bright and the Garden is back.
They call the Garden the “Mecca of Basketball” but the dominating performances in recent years have been from the visitors, such as Lebron James and Kobe Bryant. Resurging, the New York Knicks enter the 2011 playoffs as the number six seed. Faced with a first round matchup against two time Eastern Conference Champion Celtics, they remain heavy underdogs; however, a bleak future has been replaced by a strong foundation. The credit for the rebuilding and restructuring of the New York Knicks goes to President of Basketball Operations Donnie Walsh. Motivated and determined, Walsh used his basketball expertise to gut a roster filled with enigmas, egos and excessive contracts in order to pursue prized free agent LeBron James and the star-studded free-agent class of 2010. Although the Knicks did not land LeBron, the acquisition of Amar’e Stoudemire changed the culture of the modern day Knicks.
Signed to a five year, $100 million contract, Amar’e catapulted the Knicks to an early 16-9 mark and brought out the best in players such as Raymond Felton, Danilo Gallinari and Wilson Chandler. The emergence of these three from role players to effective contributors led to the acquisition of superstar Carmelo Anthony from the Denver Nuggets. His desire to become a Knick, revitalize championship basketball in New York City and return the Garden to its sacred state as a basketball haven resonates with Knick fans. The Knicks, finally having two players who are determined to win a championship at all costs, have the groundwork for a contending team. Together, Amare and Carmelo have recaptured the imagination of Knicks fans and put the Knicks back on the path of respectability and renown.
When the Knicks lost in the 1994 NBA Finals, the New York Rangers miraculous Stanley Cup championship run alleviated the agony. The Garden, hosting two championship caliber teams, was in its finest stage. The 2000s were filled with anguish and heartbreak, from both the Knicks and Rangers. Rangers GM Glen Sather signed an abundance of stars, but they struggled to mesh. This approach was painfully similar to the Knicks strategy, who saw high-priced players arrive, only to struggle in a team focused game. Sather, failing in one of the NHL’s preeminent markets, reluctantly began a rebuilding approach. His acquisitions, such as Jaromir Jagr, Ryan Callahan, Marian Gaborik, Chris Drury, Brandon Dubinksy and most importantly, Henrik Lundqvist, have restored Ranger pride. The Rangers disprove the myth that teams cannot rebuild in New York.
The Rangers, after eight consecutive years without a playoff appearance, ended their drought in 2006. After two first round exits, two second round exits and an epic shootout loss to their rival Flyers, the Rangers enter the 2011 playoffs as the eighth seed against the Washington Capitals. The Rangers have the young talent and veteran leadership in place to become a consistent contender in the East. Goalie Henrik Lundqvist, referred to as King Henrik, is one of the premier goalies in the NHL. Despite being surrounded by average-level offense throughout his career, Lundqvist’s ability to invigorate the Garden faithful and carry a team on his back for stretches at a time has placed him amongst the greatest in Ranger history. Lundqvist’s outstanding play has made hockey relevant in New York again and re-energized MSG into an inspired arena.
The Garden has been home to some of the greatest performances in sports history. The players that walk through the tunnels and step on the grandest stage can resurrect the arena from its losing memories and give the fans hope for a stronger tomorrow. Madison Square Garden is home to two of the proudest and most respected franchises in all of sports. It is also home to two teams that have historically fallen short; together, they have won only one championship since 1973. The Garden, however, has withstood the losses and its prestige is still intact. Now, it is in the hands of the stars who grace New York’s newspapers’ back covers today — Carmelo Anthony, Amar’e Stoudemire and Henrik Lundqvist — to restore its glory. With their talent and ability to take over games, they have the demanding but valiant burden to restore to a deprived fan base its championship teams and revitalize the Garden to its iconic and grandeur past. Their dunks, jumpers, headbands, focus, saves, masks, pads and screams of “I Do This!” have left the fans confident and optimistic. If they can bring the Garden a championship banner, a rafter with their name and number may be in their future; as a symbol of immortality, their ability to transcend their sports and the cultural change they brought the Garden and New York sports.
