Like Jim Phillips and Northwestern football deserve credit for their marketing campaign declaring the Wildcats to be “Chicago’s Big Ten Team” the same credit needs to go the way of whoever started marketing New York’s Madison Square Garden as “The World’s Most Famous Arena”.
We’re approaching 50 years since the New York Knicks have won an NBA title and almost 30 since the Rangers won a Stanley Cup. It might be a famous arena, but it’s only so famous because it’s importance is significantly overblown, just like almost everything based in New York. When something special is accomplished there it seemingly comes from a guest of the building roughly 90% of the time (very scientific research backed this statistic up, I promise).
- Billy Joel and Elton John both have banners in the rafters honoring the times both have sold out the Garden.
- Marilyn Monroe’s infamously sang “Happy Birthday, Mr. President” to Jack Kennedy there in 1962.
- Michael Jordan officially announced his return to the NBA with his double-nickel game (55 points) in 1995.
- Reggie Miller owned this building despite only ever playing for the Indiana Pacers.
- LeBron James put up 52 points while earning a triple-double in a game there in 2009.
Those are just some of the guests who have put on shows at the Garden.
Wednesday night’s performance by former Notre Dame star and current Milwaukee Buck, Pat Connaughton, might not be remembered for as long or by nearly as many people, but was another instance of a guest taking over the Garden.
Connaughton scored 23 points, one shy of his career high, with seven three-pointers as the Bucks survived a Knicks comeback to win 112-100 and move back to .500 on the young season.
Three of Connaughton’s seven three-pointers came in succession, taking the Bucks from a one to a 10 point lead. Watch them below:
9 straight from Pat Connaughton to put the game away for the @Bucks! 🔥🔥🔥@pconnaughton: 23 PTS, 9 REB, 7 3PM pic.twitter.com/7bf4NDfphU
— NBA (@NBA) November 11, 2021
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