New York Knicks fans outside Madison Square Garden took spiritual matters into their own hands Wednesday afternoon, burning sage and copal to cleanse negative energy before Game 4 of the NBA Finals against the Spurs. The ritual reflected a belief among some supporters that Donald Trump's presence at the arena has cursed the team.
Fans gathered hours before tipoff in bohemian attire, performing the cleansing ceremony while chanting affirmations for victory. The group protested barricades surrounding MSG, viewing the security measures as part of the broader energy problem plaguing the franchise.
The Knicks have endured a historically difficult Finals run, and some fans have publicly blamed Trump's courtside attendance for the team's struggles. This isn't merely superstition. The MAGA-aligned former president's highly visible presence at games has generated significant crowd reaction, with some supporters viewing him as bad luck while others see his attendance as a distraction from the team's on-court performance.
The spiritual intervention represents how desperate the Knicks fanbase has become. New York hasn't won an NBA championship since 1970, and this Finals appearance carries enormous weight for a city desperate to see the iconic franchise succeed. When conventional sports wisdom fails, fans resort to alternative methods. Sage burning and manifestation rituals tap into New Age spirituality practices that have gained mainstream acceptance in recent years.
The incident captures the intersection of sports fandom, celebrity culture, and political polarization in contemporary America. Trump's courtside presence transforms every Knicks game into something beyond basketball. His attendance becomes theater, distraction, and for believers in spiritual energy, an active impediment to victory.
Whether the sage cleansing produces any tangible results remains to be seen. The Knicks face an uphill battle against the Spurs regardless of what happens outside MSG's doors. But for these devoted fans, the ritual offered