A Fan’s Love Endures: A Knicks Story

It seems there’s a guardian angel for the New York Knicks.

Beatrice Riley-Jordon, a widow from Staten Island and a dedicated Knicks supporter, has left some of her late husband’s ashes in an empty seat at Madison Square Garden. Her family feels that his spirit is cheering the team on as they strive for their first championship in over five decades.

“She recently sprinkled his ashes in the seat next to her, allowing him to enjoy the game with her from above,” their daughter Domonique shared.

“He adored the Knicks, and my mom did too. As she likes to say, he’s their angel.”

While the family didn’t specify which game Dave’s ashes attended, it seems his presence might have inspired the Knicks, as they are now just one win away from securing a place in sports history.

If the Knicks manage to defeat the San Antonio Spurs in Game 5 in Texas this Saturday, it would mark the end of a 53-year championship drought, and Beatrice believes that Dave will be there, witnessing it all.

Dave Jordan, a U.S. Army veteran who later worked in healthcare, passed away from cancer in 2022, just three months shy of his 69th birthday. Since then, Riley-Jordan has kept a seat open for him each time she watches the games on TV.

“That’s my chair; I need it for when I’m alone,” she explained.

The empty seat serves as a bittersweet reminder of her loss but also represents a love story that transcends even death.

“It’s sad that he’s not here, but he still is — he’s in the garden now, watching with us,” she added.

The Knicks were more than just a sports team for the couple; they were part and parcel of their shared life.

Nearly four decades ago, at the dawn of their relationship, countless memories were created at Madison Square Garden.

“We started our journey by attending Knicks games together,” she reminisced. “He said he had never been to a game with anyone else before. So, I agreed to go.”

Then, life took a difficult turn.

When Dave’s health took a nosedive, Beatrice stood by him, providing care during his toughest moments.

“It was really bad,” she recalled. “I cared for him throughout. We were together for over 34 years.”

After losing Dave on December 18, 2022, she found it too painful to watch the team they both cherished. The TV stayed off.

However, over time, their family’s sorrow transformed into determination.

Beatrice’s family, including her daughters, cousins, and grandchildren, urged her to keep the connection to the team alive. “The Godbrothers said, ‘You need to go. Dave would want you to watch the Knicks,’” she noted.

Eventually, her family gifted her a ticket, encouraging her to return to Madison Square Garden for the first time since her husband’s passing.

What unfolded then was one of the most moving experiences of her life.

“I brought my husband’s ashes with me to the game,” she shared. “As I was in Section 224, I turned to him and stated, ‘Dave, you’re with me.’”

As the Knicks aim for that long-sought championship, Beatrice wants everyone watching the 2026 Finals to know this:

“He’s right there with them, an angel on their shoulders. They’re going to do it this year.”