The Athletic bewilderingly celebrates 'Zohran Mamdani sports summer' after New York Knicks win NBA Finals

New York City's spontaneous NBA championship celebration for the Knicks quickly devolved into chaos, with Chanley Painter reporting multiple arrests, stabbings and five school buses set on fire. The NYPD deployed riot gear and police horses to control the escalating unrest after the historic victory.

The New York Knicks won their first NBA championship since 1973 on Saturday night, finishing off yet another come-from-behind win over the San Antonio Spurs 94-90.

Meanwhile, a few weeks ago, English Premier League soccer team Arsenal won that league for the first time since the 2003-2004 season.

Both these teams have star players at the peak of their careers. Jalen Brunson, OG Anunoby and Karl Anthony-Towns starred for the Knicks, particularly in the postseason. For Arsenal, they're loaded with stars like Bukayo Saka, Declan Rice, Martin Odegaard and goalkeeper David Raya.

You would think, then, that credit for these teams' accomplishments would go to the players, coaches, front and office staff. But that would imply a level of awareness and rationality that many within left-wing sports media organizations simply do not possess.

KNICKS BEAT SPURS IN GAME 5 TO WIN FIRST NBA CHAMPIONSHIP SINCE 1973, ENDING 53-YEAR DROUGHT

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani arrives to take part in the National Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City on June 14, 2026. (Adam Gray/Associated Press)

Look no further than The Athletic as an example. Out of nowhere, the New York Times-owned outlet posted on X Sunday afternoon celebrating these two teams as being part of a "Zohran Mamdani sports summer." Because Mamdani is a fan of both teams, apparently, and therefore it's his "sports summer" because they both had success.

What on earth?

What does