Why is MSG considered the Mecca of basketball?

Trillmatic90

Trillmatic90

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I always hear people make this claim but have never knew why. I know New York as a city embraces the basketball culture and that there's courts all over the city, but that doesn't explain why Madison Square Garden is considered the Mecca of basketball. The franchise only has 2 championships, the last one being 40 years ago. The Knicks have been relevant for a brief stint in the 90's and are now rising back to relevance after more than a decade. So why does MSG get the title of being the Mecca of basketball instead of the TD Garden/Boston Garden, Staples Center/The Forum, United Centre, etc?

By the way, I'm not trying to bash the Knicks, I've just always been curious about this.
 
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It extends beyond the Knicks, ranging from high school to the pros. Quite a few big games took place there on various levels. H.S. championships, The NIT back when it was the premier tournament and the Knicks. Now does that justify the name? Maybe, maybe not but that's what its known for.
 
8PM at MSG said:
It extends beyond the Knicks, ranging from high school to the pros. Quite a few big games took place there on various levels. H.S. championships, The NIT back when it was the premier tournament and the Knicks. Now does that justify the name? Maybe, maybe not but that's what its known for.
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I know where your coming from but I don't think playing high school basketball championships or an annual tournament should be the reason an arena is considered the Mecca of basketball, but that's just me. I think the phrase "Mecca of basketball" should go out to an arena where basketball was revolutionized like it was during the showtime era in LA or when winning was extremely prevalent like it was at the Boston Garden.
 
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JJ Watt said:
Cause NY has to claim everything.

see Michael Jordan
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#NeverForget
Osh Kosh Bosh said:
The Knicks losing felt so good it reminded me of something very important that I must share with you part of this comes from having many annoying extended family from that area.

Bear in mind I think the Knicks are a good team and are in line for 45-48 wins but %!%+ the knicks and %!%+ new york.


%!%+ em, I am so utterly sick and tired about hearing about the knicks, and how "basketball is better when the knicks are good" you know what  I beg to differ, basketball was !+%*#+% pretty good when the knicks stunk. I didn't have to deal with the chronic overrating of Knick players, the constant over exposure the trials and tribulations of a consistently terrible franchise. I don't care if it's in new york, %!%+ new york right in the ear and I really mean it. I think it's so utterly obnoxious when people say "OH LEBRON SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE KNICKS" You ask am why and they say "ohh it's New York". @@% DOES THAT MEAN?  Im so glad he spurned the Knicks and I am so glad that he teased that franchise for as long as he did allowing more terribleness. You deserve it.  All of you.  

Ohh ohh why wouldn't he want to come to new york SUCH a great history, TWO championships in 60 years of existence, 9 CONSECUTIVE losing seasons, oooooh aaaaah bask in the magnificence of the "mecca of basketball". Mecca of basketball name is so annoying as well, the mecca has a penchant for producing wackness and hyping players to absurd levels. Bassy? Lance Stephenson? Don't forget the general wackness of new york college basketball. Also I If hear one more dude from New York try to claim Carmelo Anthony or MJ as being from new york I think I may have to remove some knick fans  from this earth. 

%!%+ your team, %!%+ your city, %!%+ your wack #*% point guards, %!%+ rucker park, %!%+ the overrated patrick ewing, %!%+ the garden, %!%+ the fictional mecca of basketball, %!%+ st johns, %!%+ ron artests hair cuts, %!%+ gallo's tilted head, %!%+ amare, %!%+ all y'all cats. 
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pimp.gif
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I'm not sayin but im sayin.


and just to beat you yes the raptors are terrible, but nobody calls us the mecca of basketball. 
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I am not from New York and to me there is no building like it that I've been to. It's just a different feeling in there and on the street. Being smack dab in Midtown helps it's appeal, for sure.

Regardless of recent history NYC is pretty rich in hoops history. And the building since it's opening has hosted more great players and teams than any other building that is still in place - considering Chicago Stadium and the Boston Garden no longer exist and the Forum doesn't house any basketball.
 
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That post by OKB :wow: :rofl: Son went in

Al3xis said:
I am not from New York and to me there is no building like it that I've been to. It's just a different feeling in there and on the street. Being smack dab in Midtown helps it's appeal, for sure.

Regardless of recent history NYC is pretty rich in hoops history. And the building since it's opening has hosted more great players and teams than any other building that is still in place - considering Chicago Stadium and the Boston Garden no longer exist and the Forum doesn't house any basketball.
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I would say this is only because the arena has been open for so long. The thing you should think about is regardless of the great players that played there, only 2 championships have been won in 60 years.
 
JD617 said:
#NeverForget

Osh Kosh Bosh said:
The Knicks losing felt so good it reminded me of something very important that I must share with you part of this comes from having many annoying extended family from that area.


Bear in mind I think the Knicks are a good team and are in line for 45-48 wins but %!%+ the knicks and %!%+ new york.



%!%+ em, I am so utterly sick and tired about hearing about the knicks, and how "basketball is better when the knicks are good" you know what I beg to differ, basketball was !+%*#+% pretty good when the knicks stunk. I didn't have to deal with the chronic overrating of Knick players, the constant over exposure the trials and tribulations of a consistently terrible franchise. I don't care if it's in new york, %!%+ new york right in the ear and I really mean it. I think it's so utterly obnoxious when people say "OH LEBRON SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE KNICKS" You ask am why and they say "ohh it's New York". @@% DOES THAT MEAN? Im so glad he spurned the Knicks and I am so glad that he teased that franchise for as long as he did allowing more terribleness. You deserve it. All of you. 


Ohh ohh why wouldn't he want to come to new york SUCH a great history, TWO championships in 60 years of existence, 9 CONSECUTIVE losing seasons, oooooh aaaaah bask in the magnificence of the "mecca of basketball". Mecca of basketball name is so annoying as well, the mecca has a penchant for producing wackness and hyping players to absurd levels. Bassy? Lance Stephenson? Don't forget the general wackness of new york college basketball. Also I If hear one more dude from New York try to claim Carmelo Anthony or MJ as being from new york I think I may have to remove some knick fans from this earth. 


%!%+ your team, %!%+ your city, %!%+ your wack #*% point guards, %!%+ rucker park, %!%+ the overrated patrick ewing, %!%+ the garden, %!%+ the fictional mecca of basketball, %!%+ st johns, %!%+ ron artests hair cuts, %!%+ gallo's tilted head, %!%+ amare, %!%+ all y'all cats. 
pimp.gif
pimp.gif
laugh.gif



I'm not sayin but im sayin.



and just to beat you yes the raptors are terrible, but nobody calls us the mecca of basketball. 
indifferent.gif
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lol i think this how most ppl not from NYC feel
 
JD617 said:
#NeverForget

Osh Kosh Bosh said:
The Knicks losing felt so good it reminded me of something very important that I must share with you part of this comes from having many annoying extended family from that area.


Bear in mind I think the Knicks are a good team and are in line for 45-48 wins but %!%+ the knicks and %!%+ new york.



%!%+ em, I am so utterly sick and tired about hearing about the knicks, and how "basketball is better when the knicks are good" you know what I beg to differ, basketball was !+%*#+% pretty good when the knicks stunk. I didn't have to deal with the chronic overrating of Knick players, the constant over exposure the trials and tribulations of a consistently terrible franchise. I don't care if it's in new york, %!%+ new york right in the ear and I really mean it. I think it's so utterly obnoxious when people say "OH LEBRON SHOULD HAVE COME TO THE KNICKS" You ask am why and they say "ohh it's New York". @@% DOES THAT MEAN? Im so glad he spurned the Knicks and I am so glad that he teased that franchise for as long as he did allowing more terribleness. You deserve it. All of you. 


Ohh ohh why wouldn't he want to come to new york SUCH a great history, TWO championships in 60 years of existence, 9 CONSECUTIVE losing seasons, oooooh aaaaah bask in the magnificence of the "mecca of basketball". Mecca of basketball name is so annoying as well, the mecca has a penchant for producing wackness and hyping players to absurd levels. Bassy? Lance Stephenson? Don't forget the general wackness of new york college basketball. Also I If hear one more dude from New York try to claim Carmelo Anthony or MJ as being from new york I think I may have to remove some knick fans from this earth. 


%!%+ your team, %!%+ your city, %!%+ your wack #*% point guards, %!%+ rucker park, %!%+ the overrated patrick ewing, %!%+ the garden, %!%+ the fictional mecca of basketball, %!%+ st johns, %!%+ ron artests hair cuts, %!%+ gallo's tilted head, %!%+ amare, %!%+ all y'all cats. 
pimp.gif
pimp.gif
laugh.gif



I'm not sayin but im sayin.



and just to beat you yes the raptors are terrible, but nobody calls us the mecca of basketball. 
indifferent.gif
Click to expand...
Click to expand...

Holy **** :wow: dude left no stone unturned :rofl:

Staples Center >> MSG
 
all you country folk love to hate on nyc

and by country i mean everywhere in America outside of NY/LA

edit: by the way, this threads happened before. but i think it was about why NYC in general was considered the Mecca of basketball.
 
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MSG is a great arena. Been to about 30 knicks games or so over the past 20 years. Its the last old school NBA arena left imo. It was Boston garden, the forum, MSG and Chicago stadium and MSG is the last of a dying breed. A great stadium but when you consider the Knicks lack of success I just can't call it a Mecca.

The old Yankee stadium, regardless of how to feel about the Yankees was a Mecca. So much history took place there, so many legends played there, so many championships won there, monument park all that. That stadium was baseballs cathedral.

MSG, a great stadium, great knowledgable crowd even when the Knicks suck, has a good share of history in it but I just can't call it the Mecca of basketball.
 
Staples Center could never, ever compare to MSG. The fans suck and their general support for basketball as a whole sucks as well. The Pac 12 tournament moved to Vegas for a reason. Even when the Big East Tournament wasn't at its best, it was easily the best postseason conference tournament at times being better than the NCAA Tourney. Name a conference tournament that had anything as memorable as UConn's run or the Six OT game in the last decade. MSG made those moments larger than the game.

Ask every NBA player where they love to play and what it means to them when they step on that court.

Sebastian Telfair overhyped? Please. He was the best PG by far when high school basketball actually meant something and was good. Just because he didn't pan out in the NBA doesn't mean he was overhyped. He earned that adidas contract and that lottery pick.

This is going to turn into a NY vs the world thread like in Music and General
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ok maybe same answers dont apply considering that threads four years old and I was immature as F :smh: :lol:

but...my basic argument is that the Mecca shouldn't be based just on the NBA, which is in the end of everything just a business.

NYC is the Mecca of basketball, and the Garden is in the heart of it.

people are going to base their opinions in here on feelings that don't have to do with basketball though so I doubt any good discussion comes out of this thread.
 
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nYcHipHopHippo said:
ok maybe same answers dont apply considering that threads four years old and I was immature as F :smh: :lol:

but...my basic argument is that the Mecca shouldn't be based just on the NBA, which is in the end of everything just a business.

NYC is the Mecca of basketball, and the Garden is in the heart of it.

people are going to base their opinions in here on feelings that don't have to do with basketball though so I doubt any good discussion comes out of this thread.
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I would be fine if people said NYC was the Mecca of basketball, but people claim MSG is the Mecca of basketball and I just dont get that. Ill look through that thread you posted.
 
re-read the whole thread, aside from 80% of my responses and the classic cases of NYC hate, there are a lot of great responses in there, especially from the basketball fans that aren't from NY and giving a completely unbiassed view.
 
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Long story short:
-Like the saying goes "if you can make it here, you can make it anywhere". Great number of people take it to heart.

-Lot of legends, from back in the day, come out of NY or had incredible game moments; professionally, amateurs, street ball, etc

-Fans are ruthless, but appreciate TRUE TALENT ...
Plus it has A LOT to do with the fact that it's New York City ... if MSG was in Atlanta, it wouldn't amount to anything (truth be told). What other city could you compare it to? -

-That's why people have such reverence for it (warranted or not)
-MSG is the biggest stage for sports, entertainment because of the culture in and around it.

-Being called the "Mecca" ... cue Michael Jordan's press conference after playing his last game, as a Bull, in 1998 ... after he said it, EVERYONE started using that term. If the GOAT says it's so, then... there you go
 
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