Rick Pitino joins 'Thank You, NYPD' campaign before St John's' March Madness opener

March Madness kicks off with a Cinderella prediction, and Olympic hockey hero Jack Hughes wants his golden puck from the Hockey Hall of Fame, sparking debate.

The "Thank You, NYPD" campaign in New York City is an ongoing effort to show appreciation for those in blue.

The campaign has encouraged residents to upload videos expressing appreciation for the department. St. John’s head coach Rick Pitino was among those who responded, thanking those he said have helped maintain a safe city environment.

"I want to give a sincere thanks to the NYPD officers who do such an incredible job to keep our city safe," Pitino said Friday in a video posted to Madison Square Garden’s Instagram account. "Thank you so much."

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FOX Sports broadcaster Gus Johnson interviews St. John's head coach Rick Pitino after the Red Storm defeated the Connecticut Huskies in the Big East Conference Tournament championship at Madison Square Garden in New York City March 14, 2026. (Brad Penner/Imagn Images)

Pitino’s show of gratitude came just hours before the Red Storm’s first-round game in the men's NCAA Tournament. Fifth-seeded St. John’s faced No. 12 Northern Iowa Friday evening in San Diego.

Later this month, as part of the campaign, Madison Square Garden will host an exclusive concert featuring a star-studded lineup, including Cyndi Lauper, John Fogerty, rapper and New York Knicks fan Fat Joe and others. St. John’s plays most of its home games at Madison Square Garden.

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"Today, we announced ‘Thank You, NYPD,’ a campaign encouraging all New Yorkers to thank the New York City Police Department for its