5. Mike Krzyzewski’s 1,000th Win | January 25, 2015
I’ve done hundreds of college games at the Garden, and in all those games, there has never been a more intense, sustained loudness from the first minute to the last. I got to congratulate (Coach Krzyzewski) after the game. You know, we’re both Polish guys whose names end with -ski, so we have a kinship.
4. His First Game as Lead PA Announcer | November 4, 1989
Before the game, the Knicks did a poignant, heartfelt tribute to the late John Condon (who had been the voice of Madison Square Garden since 1947). Condon’s widow was there. I always used to imitate Condon to my friends because we all grew up with him at the Garden. So to replace him was pretty impactful.
3. Game 7 of the 1994 Eastern Conference Finals | June 5, 1994
Ewing hit the go-ahead shot against Indiana, and we won the game. It was kind of a watershed game for the franchise. Ewing jumped on the scorer’s table, with his arms wide. He was about six feet over to my right, which was good, because Ewing sweated a lot.
2. The 1998 NBA All-Star Game | February 8, 1998
It was Jordan and Kobe, but the people in the stands—Johnnie Cochran, Muhammad Ali—were a who’s who mix. It was just amazing. This past year, we hosted another All-Star Game, and that was great. But it was maybe just half a notch below the first one.
1. Game 3 of the 1994 NBA Finals | June 12, 1994
My personal favorite moment was when I got to the court for the first NBA Finals game that I ever did. It was like, Wow, we have a chance to win the championship. This is just the coolest thing ever.
—Joe DeLessio, FCLC ’06
