Moods

The biggest impact on New Yorkers’ moods is the weather, the second is the Knicks. These past few weeks we’ve had (mostly) good weather and the Knicks winning close games. Last night, that fell apart.

The Knicks imploded at home. They blew a 14 point lead with three minutes left, and then lost in overtime. Their collapse was nasty, brutish, and short.

This year’s Knicks team, more than any other, embodies a New Yorker’s hopes and dreams. It’s a bunch of long-time friends coming together to outperform expectations, to make things happen in a difficult and competitive environment.

When they lose like they did last night, the Knicks suddenly embody all of New York’s collective fears. Your landlord will jack your rent. Your corner bar will close. Your Citibike dock will be empty. Your subway train will be delayed. You are not going to make it here. You are not going to make it anywhere.

Basketball’s just a game, but the Knicks collapsing feels serious. The Knicks become a pincushion, a voodoo doll exerting psychic pain on millions of New Yorkers. Between the bad weather and the bad loss, an angry undercurrent is going to run through New York for the next two days. Pedestrians’ tempers will run shorter, drivers’ horns will sound louder. The city will feel different than it did on Monday. The optimism, and the sun, are gone. Let’s hope that both the sun and the Knicks come back.