Hate and Respect

by Jon Hecht “Thanks for the memories, even though they weren’t so great” The name “Michael Jordan” requires no explanation: He is indisputably the greatest player of all-time. For 15 years, he dazzled basketball opponents, teammates and fans with talent never before seen in the NBA. He scored at will, and he did it with class. He played defense, and did so better than any one at his position. And he jumped so high that the air seemed to be his second hardwood. Today is the day to remember it all: He will be inducted into basketball’s Hall of Fame. Every NBA fan can appreciate what he did for the game. Chicago can thank him gratefully. But for New York Knicks fans, remembering the Jordan years requires a balancing act. When Jordan is officially enshrined in Springfield, MA, the New York faithful will once again have to figure out how to reconcile two forces – hate and respect. M stands for ‘Mike’s’ at MSG For MJ, NY was a second home. The Brooklyn-born prodigy played his first game...