Clubbing Package Pt.21. Knicks in Five!

Last Clubbing Post:

Main Plots Start Here

This is not necessarily a clubbing post, but if the city is burning, it might as well go here.

My phone’s about to die. Knicks in five!

Montage

Mostly sober, by choice! Froggie, the birthday girl, some other people from her friend group, and I were at a bar watching the Knicks vs. the Spurs.

I found it slightly ironic that it is NY against Texas now… Get it? Soon it will be Froggie’s city versus mine. I am happy with either side winning. Oop sorry I forgot that I was in NYC. Would probably be executed for treason if anyone heard me saying that.

The bar was crowded. We waited about 20 minutes to get in. I was on my toes out of curiosity to see what true patriotism looks like in a city full of diversity. It looks like an uncoordinated silent agreement of orange and blue jerseys. Knicks in five.

…

The shouting, chaos, people pushing front and back, groups trying to get in and get out, dudes spilling beer, girls going to bathrooms, and a frog with some enthusiasm that I have never seen before. He said, no matter what happens, people are going to burn the city down! He said, I’ve just lived in this place for 15 years — what do I know. His eyes were glowing with something that melts me. As he squeezed my hand for the 10086th time when the Knicks scored again, I knew it was going to be an unforgettable night.

…

With some curses, some complaints and some cheers, before I could realize what was going on, it was the last 5 seconds in the game with the Knicks leading 4 points to the Spurs. 94:90.

Foul after another foul. Seconds stretched to minutes, until the air horn rang, urging everyone to go burn the city down! People around me, of all ages, genders, races, style, started jumping up and down. It was like the pre-storm ocean with surges of waves splashing against the shore, and in this case, the bar. Froggie held my hand and stormed out of the bar. Let’s go to Times Square! That’s where everything will happen.

Wait, what about your friends?

Let’s go!!

…

TIme Square

Froggie and I would always start running randomly. We would hold hands and shuttle across the crowd, seeing only each other among millions. It was under the Grand Central, the Palm Beach Festival at the Hamptons, the hill in front of Usdan, and now, Times Square and Madison Garden, along with thousands of fanatic New Yorkers flooding the streets. At this point, not only were we running, we were sprinting — Froggie with a clear destination and me just tagging along, but I ran just as enthusiastically. Mid-June, heat waves. The underground steam rose from crevices of wells, and the crowd quickly penetrated them. Again it was the smell of weed and piss and beer. Like 2 swordfish, Froggie and I ran over 7 blocks, high-fiving strangers and yelling gibberish. We were here.

The city that never sleeps was raving. Cars were like leftover cotton candies targeted by ants. Passionate teens climbed over school buses, stomping and yelling. People wearing jerseys, all sorts of weird things, and in some cases, nothing (pants on, fortunately), turned into close families without borders. Suddenly, the Spurs became the ultimate enemy, and having one common enemy has made the city more united than ever. Fuck this fuck that. Fuck him fuck them. The subject of the fucks has done nothing wrong but join another team. Another time! Spurs.

So much pushing, panic-running. It’s time for performance artists to shine. The kid who climbed up the traffic pole and started shaking it up and down. God my heart screamed for him. The person wearing a Spider-Man suit. The spontaneous circles, among which two or three dudes were dancing and chanting. The street fights. The man with a bleeding face. The crowd booed a police officer who climbed up a pole to chase some guy.

Waves and waves of human flesh were sending me into a frenzy. I thought about the ginormous raves that I’ve been to but NYC is crazier. I hang tight to Froggie, who seemed to be falling in love with the collective consciousness. I wonder what it is like to have such a tight bond to the city. The people — are they really obsessed with city pride? Or are they just looking for an excuse to riot? If China had entered the World Cup, perhaps us shy Shanghainess would do the same…

Subway, Closing Remarks

My legs were trembling, and from time to time I found it difficult to breathe. Layers and layers of flesh vibrating with sound waves. There was no room for me to chill. I blame the gummy I took yesterday — did I mention that I almost missed the bus?

I told Froggie I wanna go back. We squeezed our way to the subway station, and luckily it wasn’t too crowded.

The fuck this fuck that and the Knicks in five continued along the subway seats. Only here people seem to have slices of fatigue not well-shaded. I guess we all want to leave the game early. Let the post-party die after us.

Froggie and I got some Halal food from the food truck. Finger-licking good. Plate-licking good. We washed up and got into bed exactly when our eyelids could not hold up anymore.

Knicks in five?! Thanks NYC. That was fun.

Nothing seems surprising after NYC

PS

Realizing that I have not written much clubbing stuff ever since Nebula last August. Don’t get me wrong! Drinking never stopped. I just got too used to it.

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Published 13 Jun 2026