Give Me Liberty

An exciting fan base keeps growing in Brooklyn

One of the many reasons to love New York is that this is a basketball town. When I first moved to the city in June of 1999, the Knicks were in the midst of a run to the NBA Finals that saw them take down the rival Heat and Pacers along the way. From the snootiest WASP on the Upper East Side to the coolest of cool guys in the LES, everyone in the city was rallying behind Allan Houston, Larry Johnson, Latrell Sprewell, and Patrick Ewing.

As a new arrival, I had no clue that I’d have to wait 26 years for the city to recapture that energy. So it was with great pleasure that I watched crowds gather on sidewalks outside of bars this spring to watch the Knicks make a long-awaited deep playoff run.From the Garden to the streets, the vibe was palpable.

That NYC hoops energy didn’t evaporate after the Knicks got bounced by the Pacers. It just hopped on the N train for its long standing summer residency at Barclays Center. Over the past three or four years, I’ve been taking my family to New York Liberty games. I’d say we get to three to five a season. I can honestly say that the feeling of pure joy at those contests rivals anything I’ve seen in a lifetime attending live sporting events as both a fan and reporter.

We went for our first game of the 2025 season last Tuesday to watch the Liberty host the Atlanta Dream. For a semi-meaningless midseason game (it was a Commissioner’s Cup contest, but I’m not 100% sure what that means) the energy and intensity were sky high. The Liberty rallied from down 17 to take the win behind 34 points from Sabrina Ionescu. (If you haven’t watched Sabrina’s 3-point contest against Steph Curry, stop what you’re doing and peep that now.)

It isn’t just the product on the court. The Liberty make every home game feel like a party. From the Timeless Torches, a 40+ dance squad with one 88-year-old member, to Ellie, their twerking elephant mascot, the team has its non-game entertainment dialed. And it’s so great to see so many walks of life get caught up in it.

As with everything else in New York, money plays a part in this, too. The “get in the building” cost for a run-of-the-mill Knicks game can easily be two bills. So we’re talking about a grand to bring a family of four to sit in the nosebleeds. With the Liberty, the Tejada fam can sit in the lower bowl for less than $300 total. If we wanted to sit in the upper bowl of Barclays, we could do it for under $100. (Side note: The fact that the upper bowl is even open is a sign that Liberty fever is spreading. That entire section used to be tarped off because of lackluster demand a couple seasons ago.)

But what I really loved was that the next day, I overheard two older ladies walking to the subway talking about the amazing comeback the night before. It was the kind of conversation I’ve heard guys have countless times, but seeing this type of water cooler banter take place among a new, and historically excluded, demographic felt particularly sweet and poignant.

Sports have a remarkable ability to bring people together. And with the Liberty it feels like the net of people is being cast wider than ever before.

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How “Jaws” Made a Template for the Modern Blockbuster

I like knowing the rules. That doesn’t mean I always follow them, but I like to know what they are when I tweak or break them. That’s why I appreciated this Times story breaking down the fundamental storytelling beats behind Jaws and how that formula has been followed countless times in the ensuing 50 years. —Justin

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This American Life

Whenever I’m in a podcast rut and need something to listen to, I go back to the 31-year-old well. Just last week, I was driving east on Glades Road in Boca Raton, FL and laughing out loud by myself in the car while Fred Armisen did an impression of Ira Glass, to Ira Glass. But the story that followed was heartbreaking. That’s the This American Life playbook — and why it’s the gold standard for short-form storytelling. My advice: just pick a random episode that tickles your fancy. —Andrew

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Daft Punk Is Playing at My House - Soulwax Shibuya Mix

While I was laughing in the car to Ira Glass and Fred Armisen, Avalon Emerson was apparently mixing this song with some socialist propaganda. I caught wind and needed to find the LCD track ID she thought mixed well with the Freeze the Rent anthem. —Andrew

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Sierra Nevada Hop Splash Sparkling Hop Water

I’ve cut way back on my alcohol consumption this year for a variety of reasons. (Sadly, the reason tied to shedding pounds hasn’t come true.) I’ve found this hop water from Sierra Nevada scratches both the itch to have a beer and the itch to have something that isn’t the same regular seltzer I drink liters of each day. —Justin