And let me brighten your mood further. I was speaking to a friend on Saturday who has family in the town where Jalen Brunson bought a house. When Jalen moved in one of his cousin's kids was, to say the least, elated to find out that he moved in a couple of houses down the block. The kid left a note at Brunson's house inviting him to come over and shoot hoops whenever he wanted. A few days later there was a knock at the door. Jalen was there, note and ball in hand. They shot hoops for over an hour. The kid has a memory, and a friend for life. This is who won the MVP - not only an MVP in the series, but MVP in life as well. We need more of them.
Fabulous post, dear Jojo! Huge congrats to the Knicks, the City of New York and all the fans, worldwide. Sometimes the good guys do win.
One interesting point: the last time the Knicks won the championship, in 1973, the then-president resigned the following year. We need a repeat of this in 2027! GO DEMS! 💙
Agree, Debby. Not currently possible … but if we Get Out the (Blue) Vote in November, in numbers Too Big to Rig, we have an excellent chance of flipping the Senate as well as the House. Once Dems have firm control of both chambers of Congress, the sky is the limit! 😉
Punkette, I love the way you think! I admit, I fluctuate between hope and despair like it's my job! I am terrified they will at the last minute do something with the "save" act which will stop all women who changed their names to not be allowed to vote. LOL I also wonder if I should change my name back, but then think of all the other things I would have to change. It's hell getting old! ;-)
It surely is, Debby! Hang in there. We will do this! ✊🏽 I feel fairly sure that the Save act is dead. No way will Thune and the Senate Repubs obey Dump’s demand and give up the filibuster. It’s the only thing keeping them in power.
I am a life-long Celtics fan and have always hated the Knicks. But, because of your eloquence and true fan sincerity, I am very glad they won! Congratulations!!
You’ll never believe this — as a kid I was a Celtics fan (and a Knicks fan) I know, I know lol. I was the same with all the Big East teams. Super weird.
My family hails from Fall River Mass. We bled green and white. But I always had respect for the Knicks. Frazier, DeBushere, Bradley, Reed, Lucas. The Golden Age of the NBA.
Belief gives us the courage to begin, perseverance gives us the strength to continue, and devotion gives our efforts meaning. Together, they carry us through uncertainty, setbacks, and triumphs alike. When guided by our purpose, persistence in our actions, and commitment in our hearts, extraordinary things become possible. Jo..keep the perseverance to make extraordinary things happen!
HOORAY KNICKS!!!!!! This New Yorker has waited a long time for this as well. What an incredible playoff run. Legendary! Of course, the only bump was the orange turd jinx. But, they wiped that right off their sneaker and kept going! Is this the beginning of the New York run? Are My Giants next !?!
"Here’s to every player who had somebody else’s back when the air got thin, when the court felt tilted, when the whole season seemed to totter and teeter on the edge of collapse. Here’s to the bruises and the loose balls and the late-night film sessions. Here’s to the quiet moments we’ll never see—the locker-room pep talks, the hand on the shoulder, the whispered I got you after a missed shot. Here’s to the invisible labor that makes the visible magic possible."
I love it! A more apt metaphor for our current political state is hard to imagine. I read that first sentence as:
"Here’s to every American who had somebody else’s back when the hegemon's pretenses got thin, when the Supreme Court felt tilted, when the whole country seemed to totter and teeter on the edge of collapse."
"Belief is choosing to keep going when the world has taught you a thousand reasons to quit. It’s showing up—in the voting booth, in the group chat, in the streets, in the small moments no one applauds. It’s refusing to let cynicism turn you into something smaller than you were meant to be."
Beautifully written. Those words mean a lot to me. I know it’s “just” a game, basketball, but that team proved that perseverance, determination, dedication, and BELIEF does matter! ❤️
Meanwhile, we get to watch the modern equivalent of Berlin 1936, the Fuhrermuseum in Linz, Austria, and Beyond Thunderdome (sadly, without Tina Turner).
Thank you for all the sincerity and joy and hopefulness you bring to your writing. Thank you also for the wonderful trash-talking, swearing, and speaking honesty and truth to power. I love your cussing!
We absolutely love you!! When I’m feeling lost I come to your page and I laugh and I cry but I always depend on you to pull us out of the bullshit and into reality. I can’t thank you enough for being there all the time! Keep it up! Us Jersey girls gotta stick together!! Love you Jo!!
Yes, all the more important to see this and Brunson given MVP, because virtually every "expert" rating basketball players underrated him, and blew him off as not really good enough, too short (except for Steph Curry, of course), etc.
And let me brighten your mood further. I was speaking to a friend on Saturday who has family in the town where Jalen Brunson bought a house. When Jalen moved in one of his cousin's kids was, to say the least, elated to find out that he moved in a couple of houses down the block. The kid left a note at Brunson's house inviting him to come over and shoot hoops whenever he wanted. A few days later there was a knock at the door. Jalen was there, note and ball in hand. They shot hoops for over an hour. The kid has a memory, and a friend for life. This is who won the MVP - not only an MVP in the series, but MVP in life as well. We need more of them.
Wow!!!!
That's what I said. It gave me hope that there is still enough good in the world to get us thru these dark times.
Jalen Brunson is the epitome of class.😃
Instant tears! What a sweet man!💖
That is so beautiful!🥲😊🩷
Great story, making America one kid at a time.
Thank you! These kind of true life stories about people being the best human beings make my heart sing and my spirit soar. From Minnesota. ♥️
I think this is the most heartfelt and touching post I’ve ever read from you. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings.
Fabulous post, dear Jojo! Huge congrats to the Knicks, the City of New York and all the fans, worldwide. Sometimes the good guys do win.
One interesting point: the last time the Knicks won the championship, in 1973, the then-president resigned the following year. We need a repeat of this in 2027! GO DEMS! 💙
OMG you're right! 🤞
Nixon was an abomination but the mango mobster has him beat by a mile! Dumpty’s days are numbered, and he knows it. 😈
Sadly, I can't see any republican senators walking into the White House to tell him he has to go.
Agree, Debby. Not currently possible … but if we Get Out the (Blue) Vote in November, in numbers Too Big to Rig, we have an excellent chance of flipping the Senate as well as the House. Once Dems have firm control of both chambers of Congress, the sky is the limit! 😉
Punkette, I love the way you think! I admit, I fluctuate between hope and despair like it's my job! I am terrified they will at the last minute do something with the "save" act which will stop all women who changed their names to not be allowed to vote. LOL I also wonder if I should change my name back, but then think of all the other things I would have to change. It's hell getting old! ;-)
It surely is, Debby! Hang in there. We will do this! ✊🏽 I feel fairly sure that the Save act is dead. No way will Thune and the Senate Repubs obey Dump’s demand and give up the filibuster. It’s the only thing keeping them in power.
Indeed!
I am a life-long Celtics fan and have always hated the Knicks. But, because of your eloquence and true fan sincerity, I am very glad they won! Congratulations!!
You’ll never believe this — as a kid I was a Celtics fan (and a Knicks fan) I know, I know lol. I was the same with all the Big East teams. Super weird.
My family hails from Fall River Mass. We bled green and white. But I always had respect for the Knicks. Frazier, DeBushere, Bradley, Reed, Lucas. The Golden Age of the NBA.
Belief gives us the courage to begin, perseverance gives us the strength to continue, and devotion gives our efforts meaning. Together, they carry us through uncertainty, setbacks, and triumphs alike. When guided by our purpose, persistence in our actions, and commitment in our hearts, extraordinary things become possible. Jo..keep the perseverance to make extraordinary things happen!
Well said, thank you 🪄
HOORAY KNICKS!!!!!! This New Yorker has waited a long time for this as well. What an incredible playoff run. Legendary! Of course, the only bump was the orange turd jinx. But, they wiped that right off their sneaker and kept going! Is this the beginning of the New York run? Are My Giants next !?!
Thanks for all you do JoJo. Love ya.
Powerful writing. Made me cry with understanding. 💖💪🇺🇸
"Here’s to every player who had somebody else’s back when the air got thin, when the court felt tilted, when the whole season seemed to totter and teeter on the edge of collapse. Here’s to the bruises and the loose balls and the late-night film sessions. Here’s to the quiet moments we’ll never see—the locker-room pep talks, the hand on the shoulder, the whispered I got you after a missed shot. Here’s to the invisible labor that makes the visible magic possible."
I love it! A more apt metaphor for our current political state is hard to imagine. I read that first sentence as:
"Here’s to every American who had somebody else’s back when the hegemon's pretenses got thin, when the Supreme Court felt tilted, when the whole country seemed to totter and teeter on the edge of collapse."
Simply amazing. Thanks, Jo.
Yes Jo, this will carry us all,
"Belief is choosing to keep going when the world has taught you a thousand reasons to quit. It’s showing up—in the voting booth, in the group chat, in the streets, in the small moments no one applauds. It’s refusing to let cynicism turn you into something smaller than you were meant to be."
Thank you and carry on. We know we will.
Beautifully written. Those words mean a lot to me. I know it’s “just” a game, basketball, but that team proved that perseverance, determination, dedication, and BELIEF does matter! ❤️
Meanwhile, we get to watch the modern equivalent of Berlin 1936, the Fuhrermuseum in Linz, Austria, and Beyond Thunderdome (sadly, without Tina Turner).
😮 That IS what it looked like! My searching brain thanks you.
Thank you for all the sincerity and joy and hopefulness you bring to your writing. Thank you also for the wonderful trash-talking, swearing, and speaking honesty and truth to power. I love your cussing!
We absolutely love you!! When I’m feeling lost I come to your page and I laugh and I cry but I always depend on you to pull us out of the bullshit and into reality. I can’t thank you enough for being there all the time! Keep it up! Us Jersey girls gotta stick together!! Love you Jo!!
😭😭
Yes, all the more important to see this and Brunson given MVP, because virtually every "expert" rating basketball players underrated him, and blew him off as not really good enough, too short (except for Steph Curry, of course), etc.
Thank you, JoJo for writing just how it all felt for me!
Even on my darkest days you bring light. Thank you, Jo
You guys are making me cry 🥹