Knicks vs. Nets Season Opener: NBA Smart to Postpone Barclays Debut
The NBA finally came to its senses and postponed the New York Knicks vs. Brooklyn Nets season opener at the Barclays Center, according to the league Wednesday afternoon (via Twitter).
A recommendation from New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg was heeded by the league. The NBA had initially planned to carry on with the opening night event despite the damage left in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
"At Mayor @mikebloomberg's recommendation, Thursday's @brooklynnets home opener vs. the @nyknicks has been postponed.
— NBA (@NBA) October 31, 2012"
The NFL is still planning on Sunday’s New York Giants vs. Pittsburgh Steelers matchup to take place at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. There was reportedly no damage to the stadium during the storm and the game will go on as planned as of Tuesday afternoon, according to Kareem Copeland, a league writer for NFL.com.
Nothing’s changed since, despite mass transit systems still being inoperable on Wednesday.
Unlike the NBA, the NFL may be making a big mistake as many in the surrounding area may be without transportation or even electricity still when Sunday rolls around.
In a battle of safety concerns, profit considerations and rescheduling issues, the NBA did the right thing for all involved parties by choosing to reschedule the game.
It’s not currently known when the game will be played, and no structural damage has been reported to the arena.
Still, as of Wednesday night, the league and city have not cancelled the Knicks' home opener at Madison Square Garden. The Miami Heat are coming to town and no announcements have been made or reportedly will be made that will change that, according to Mike Mazzeo and Ian Begley of ESPNNewYork.com.
"We're good to go," Knicks GM Glen Grunwald said in the report.
The league was smart to cancel the Barclays Center opening night, but it’s a little puzzling why it will allow the Madison Square Garden opener to go on just one night later.
Either way, public safety concerns and getting the area back on track following the devastating storm should be paramount in people’s minds, not the insignificance of one game of 81 more that will follow.
