knicks in 5
there is a flip side to every victory
History really is told from the side of the victors. During this year’s NBA playoffs Twitter’s algorithm unilaterally decided that I’m a New Yorker and who am I to argue?
Last night the Knickerbockers made the biggest NBA finals comeback to clinch victory after being down 29 points at half time and I am living for it. Bro, I don’t think I truly experienced the full spectrum of human emotion until I witnessed the final 5 minutes of that game. It was insane. I’m so happy for my guys and proud of my team. Man, what a journey we’ve been having.
But in all this joy, it wasn’t until I scrolled to the other side of the internet, that I realised there was a flip side to the story. For the Knicks, it was a historic victory, but for their opponents (the Spurs), it was a historic fumble. They were on a record setting pace in the first half, but lost their momentum. There must be some deep anger, sadness and disappointment attached to that. Now, I kinda feel bad for them.
In all this, that which I find most fascinating was despite it being so obvious that if one team won the other must have lost, I was so caught up in the celebration that it didn’t register in my brain until I saw the other side. Though I am someone who typically considers things from all angles, I got engulfed in the noise of the victory and lost sight of all else.
Maybe it’s the adrenaline talking, but I think this has given me a new grace for people who are blinded by a single narrative they experience of the world and fail to consider that other versions of reality exist. It’s not really in our nature to look beyond our personal realities, after all, the most compelling truth is that which we experience first hand. However, my grace only extends so far. To live a life in community with others, especially those you don’t always see things eye to eye with, requires the broadening of your perspective beyond that which that is familiar and self-serving. It is to confront truths that may be uncomfortable and destabilising and learn how to navigate the dissonance. Victory for one doesn’t necessarily mean victory for all. Not everything in this world can be right and wrong, true or false, black and white; part of maturing is learning how to make space for the grey.
Anyways, back to my celebration. Boys, we did good but it’s not over yet. Let’s rest up for Saturday, lock in for game 5, and bring that trophy home!
