Annnnnnd at Center

At 7ft from Georgetown, number 33 co-captain, PAAAAAAAAATRICK EWING.

To me those words will forever symbolize one of the greatest athletes that I have ever rooted for and will always remind me of one of the greatest runs a sports team of mine will ever have. On Friday the final chapter of Patrick Ewing's playing career was closed when he was elected into the Basketball Hall of Fame.

Ewing retired as one of the greatest players in the history of the sport never to win a title, but that is certainly no knock on him. Ask any Knick fan who was alive in the 90s and and they will tell you that Patrick has a special place in their heart and you will usually hear words like "warrior" to describe him. And that is exactly what Ewing was...a warrior. Playing in New York can be a very tough task, no matter the sport, and Ewing was the perfect player for the city.

Ewing had a very unique relationship with the fans of MSG and it is very hard to describe to someone who did not experience it first hand. Never has a player had such a love hate relationship with his fans and everyone knows the hate part was present only because we loved him so much.

We loved him because he was not just another high energy guy, but instead an almost guaranteed 20 and 10 every night guy that played every game like it was his last. Every night, not matter the situation or game, Ewing would take the court and leave everything on it by the end of the game.

We also loved him because of the wars he had with Michael and the Bulls, Reggie and the Pacers and Alonzo and the Heat. Every year Ewing and his Knicks were running into one of these teams and every game of every series it seemed that Patrick was finishing with his usual 20 and 10. Although he ultimaley lost to one of these teams every year, Knick fans knew that Ewing would be the guy to get the ball and he would always leave it all on the court.

We loved him because it seemed like every year Patrick was guarnteeing a NBA Championship, and every year the Knicks would find another way to lose. No matter how much the loses hurt however, it seemed right that Ewing would be doing this because we knew he actually belived it and was going to give everything he had in order to get it. And when he did not get it, Ewing was the first one to put the blame on his own shoulders.

Nothing sums up Patrick Ewing's career more than the 1997 season when he broke his wrist in late December and was listed out for the season. The year looked to be over as the Knicks had lost their franchise center for the season and many were questioning weather he would ever play again. Of course in true Ewing fashion, he vowed he was going to work to get back for the playoffs later that Spring. Many called him crazy as they felt that this injruy would lead to the end of his career and he would never be the same. However Ewing proved everyone wrong by returning for game 2 of the second round series against the Pacers. I still remember this as one of the top 3 greatest sports moments of my life. After 5 months without their best player, the Knicks had him back and were ready to go on a run and beat the hated Pacers. Of course it was not meant to be as the Knicks were eliminated in 5 game despite Ewing scoring in double digits in all 4 games he played in.

I could go on and on with stats that Ewing put up or talk about a playoff series against the Pacers, but to truly understand Patrick Ewing you had to witness it first hand. I wish I could explain better to those who don't understand what I am talking about but it is too hard to put into words. The bottom line is there has never been an athlethe that more loved in New York without ever actually winning a title. Despite the lack of rings for Patrick, he will still go down as one of the most gritty and great players to ever play at the Garden.

That is why I consider Patrick Ewing my favorite athelte of all time and it will be hard to find someone who will replace him.