Acknowledgments

I have loved researching and writing about New York City and the Knicks. But without the support and encouragement of many, many people, this book would not exist. First, thanks to those I interviewed to better understand this era in Knicks’ basketball: Harvey Araton, Butch Beard, Hubie Brown, Don Buse, Bill Cartwright, Jim Cleamons, Dave Cowens, Mel Davis, Len Elmore, Mike Glenn, John Hewig, Freddie Lewis, Mel Lowell, Rudy Macklin, Brendan Malone, Bob McAdoo, Bob Netolicky, Campy Russell, Rory Sparrow, Trent Tucker, Darrell Walker, Tom Werblin, and Harthorne Wingo. I can’t tell you how much I appreciate the time each of you spent telling stories about your connections to the Knicks.

I would also like to thank my colleagues both at Southeast Missouri State University and those who attended the North American Society for Sport History conferences for their valuable input as the project developed. Similarly, thank you to the anonymous readers whose feedback helped me fine-tune the arguments and my writing. I would also like to thank Michael McGandy, Mahinder Kingra, and the team at Three Hills for shepherding this project through the laborious process of making a manuscript into a book. To Susan Welker—the queen of interlibrary loan—thank you for diligently tracking down obscure books, newspapers, and magazine articles.

To my parents, Roger and Anita Criblez, thank you for buying me Tecmo NBA Basketball and NBA Jam. You did some other cool stuff too. And finally, to my amazing wife Jennie and three daughters—Avery, Eliza, and Charlotte: my love and eternal thanks for supporting my obsession with a sport you aren’t overly fond of.