Where does Drake rank among famous superfans?
By Jason Cole
2. Spike Lee
Lee isn’t some celebrity who came by sports as a way to stay relevant by showing up in crowd shots. Lee’s love of New York sports teams has been woven into his life, work and art. From the very first movie he did (She’s Gotta Have It in 1986), Lee has used sports as an integral part of his characters.
Whether it was Mars Blackmon and his love for Air Jordans:
Or as Mookie in Do the Right Thing donning a Jackie Robinson Brooklyn Dodgers jersey and demanding respect:
Sports has been a key component of Lee’s entire persona for more than 30 years that the country has known him. While the sports elements in his movies have been part of more serious discussions about race and culture, Lee’s relationship with the New York Knicks is simpler to understand.
It’s pure, unadulterated love. Yes, the relationship has been tested. If you’re a Knicks fan after all these years, you know what you did. You made a wrong turn at the devotion line but never once considered divorce. Now you’re in too deep. This is not some case of flaming lust, like in Jungle Fever. This is the real thing. For better or worse and you’re still waiting for better.
With the exception of a few years when the Knicks had a contender under Pat Riley (Knicks fans are still waiting for Patrick Ewing’s layup to go in), about the only thing of any entertainment value was Lee gesticulating on the sidelines.
Or someone like Reggie Miller gesturing back.
But the beauty of being a true fan is that when you put your heart into something as deeply as Lee put his into the Knicks, people appreciate it.
Even the people who once mocked you.
