In sports, the more time passes, the more we lose our history, be it who is the greatest of all time or what trade was the worst. Once a certain amount of time has passed, the eras of yesterday seem to be forgotten. Forgetting history applies to more than sports, as time has a way of making history fade from public consciousness.
September 11, 2001, is still commemorated each year, but the further we move from that day, the more distant it can feel, especially to the younger generations who didn’t live through it. With so many stories of resilience, unity and healing in the aftermath of 9/11, the center was the role of sports, particularly the New York Knicks, in helping a wounded city move forward.
Former New York Knicks guard and current Special Assistant to the General Manager Allan Houston played on that 2001-02 Knicks team and, with few words, expressed what it felt like in New York at that time.
“It was such a shock that didn’t disappear,” Houston said. “It was a very heavy time.”
In the wake of the attacks, New York was a city in mourning. It felt like we would never return to normal life. Sports have a unique ability to provide comfort in difficult times. They don’t erase tragedy, but they offer a sense of routine, a brief escape and a way for people to come together.
The return of baseball started the healing process with the Mets and Yankees. President George W. Bush’s first pitch in game three of the 2001 World Series in New York is etched in many people’s minds.
By the time the NBA season started that fall, New Yorkers still needed something to lift their spirits. That’s where the Knicks came in.
“Felt like you were playing for something bigger,” Houston said.
When Madison Square Garden opened its doors, it wasn’t just a basketball game; it gave people a place to gather, cheer and feel something other than sorrow.
Houston, a two-time all-star and respected veteran, understood the weight of the moment. Like many athletes in New York at the time, he and his teammates weren’t just basketball players; they represented a city trying to heal.
“We wore ribbons that year on our jerseys,” Houston said. “That ribbon meant something more.”
The games were more than competitions; they symbolized New York’s resilience in the face of loss, with their impact extending beyond wins and losses.
Today, it feels like we’ve lost sight of those moments. The significance of how sports helped heal New York after 9/11 isn’t as widely discussed as time passes.
The younger generations know the date, but do they truly understand the weight of what followed? Do they know how players like Allan Houston carried the burden of playing for a grieving city? It’s essential to keep these stories alive, not just as sports history, but as a lesson in resilience.
The Knicks were not just a basketball team; Allan Houston was more than a player. They symbolized New York’s resilience and determination to move forward. Remember to never forget.
Remember To Never Forget
In sports, the more time passes, the more we lose our history, be it who is the greatest of all time or what trade was the worst. Once a certain amount of time has passed, the eras of yesterday seem to be forgotten. Forgetting history applies to more than sports, as time has a way of making history fade from public consciousness.
September 11, 2001, is still commemorated each year, but the further we move from that day, the more distant it can feel, especially to the younger generations who didn’t live through it. With so many stories of resilience, unity and healing in the aftermath of 9/11, the center was the role of sports, particularly the New York Knicks, in helping a wounded city move forward.
Former New York Knicks guard and current Special Assistant to the General Manager Allan Houston played on that 2001-02 Knicks team and, with few words, expressed what it felt like in New York at that time.
“It was such a shock that didn’t disappear,” Houston said. “It was a very heavy time.”
In the wake of the attacks, New York was a city in mourning. It felt like we would never return to normal life. Sports have a unique ability to provide comfort in difficult times. They don’t erase tragedy, but they offer a sense of routine, a brief escape and a way for people to come together.
The return of baseball started the healing process with the Mets and Yankees. President George W. Bush’s first pitch in game three of the 2001 World Series in New York is etched in many people’s minds.
By the time the NBA season started that fall, New Yorkers still needed something to lift their spirits. That’s where the Knicks came in.
“Felt like you were playing for something bigger,” Houston said.
When Madison Square Garden opened its doors, it wasn’t just a basketball game; it gave people a place to gather, cheer and feel something other than sorrow.
Houston, a two-time all-star and respected veteran, understood the weight of the moment. Like many athletes in New York at the time, he and his teammates weren’t just basketball players; they represented a city trying to heal.
“We wore ribbons that year on our jerseys,” Houston said. “That ribbon meant something more.”
The games were more than competitions; they symbolized New York’s resilience in the face of loss, with their impact extending beyond wins and losses.
Today, it feels like we’ve lost sight of those moments. The significance of how sports helped heal New York after 9/11 isn’t as widely discussed as time passes.
The younger generations know the date, but do they truly understand the weight of what followed? Do they know how players like Allan Houston carried the burden of playing for a grieving city? It’s essential to keep these stories alive, not just as sports history, but as a lesson in resilience.
The Knicks were not just a basketball team; Allan Houston was more than a player. They symbolized New York’s resilience and determination to move forward. Remember to never forget.
Paul Garcia