He’s getting quite a name for himself, largely thanks to those big basketball players.
A passionate Knicks supporter, originally from Long Island and now living amidst Celtics fans, has sparked interest by crafting a clever Billy Joel-style lyric that captures a recent playoff win in New York. This could be the good luck charm for the NBA Finals against the Spurs.
“By the time I decided to do this, I think they were on a five-game winning streak,” Luke Wenner, 21, from Attleboro, Massachusetts, shared after his streak reached 11 wins.
Wenner, who’s drawn attention from Mick Jagger’s son, remarked, “I thought, why not? Clearly, it turned out pretty well.”
His clever tribute comes in the form of a parody of “The Piano Man,” following Game 1 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Cleveland. The Knicks staged a remarkable comeback, erasing a significant 22-point deficit in the fourth quarter.
“Tuesday at 8 o’clock, the usual Knicks come shuffling in/They’ll soon bounce back from their rust – and soon the comeback will begin.” Wenner performed this on the piano.
“The Cavs had a commanding lead. The Knicks trailed by 22, but then Brunson came in and scored 15 points in no time. The Cavs were in shock.”
A dedicated fan of the Knicks, Islanders, Giants, and Mets—thanks to a family connection—Wenner followed up with a “movin’ out” song for Game 2, also known as “(Anunoby Song),” and has plans for a “New York Knicks State of Mind” for Game 3.
He even transformed “She’s Always a Woman” into “For me, it’s always New York.” His remix of the Knicks’ victory over Cleveland has garnered over 10,000 likes.
“While watching the game, I think about which Billy Joel songs fit the moment,” said Wenner, who idolizes the Long Island musician.
Wenner has also shared a new version of “For the Longest Time,” which he intends to unveil in conjunction with the team’s first finals appearance since 1999.
“While some may have thought hope was lost, true New Yorkers remain strong,” he wrote.
“Well, it’s about time. Let’s bring this home. We’ve been waiting a while.”
Having just recently graduated in psychology and criminal justice, Wenner started with around 70 followers after his Game 1 jingle. Now, his follower count is near 3,000, following the rousing reception of his song among Knicks fans.
“I’m really thrilled to see so many positive comments; people seem to enjoy what I’m doing,” he noted, adding that the response has been overwhelming.
Yet, Wenner’s journey to this point was accompanied by challenges, especially enduring the jeers from Celtics fans over the years.
“Throughout my school years, there was quite a bit of teasing since most teams weren’t performing well,” Wenner recalled.
He compared the Knicks’ struggle to that of the Giants when they faced off against the Patriots in Super Bowls XLII and XLVI.
“Nobody gave the Giants a chance, so I feel the Knicks have a fighting chance,” Wenner said.
“It definitely means a lot, particularly since I get to gloat a bit among my fellow Celtics fans.”
