India, June 15 -- Many people in the United States weren't even watching the FIFA World Cup over the last week. It wasn't that they weren't interested in football but something far more exciting was taking place at one of the most famous venues in sport: Madison Square Garden.

The New York Knicks were within touching distance of the NBA trophy which had eluded them since 1973. The drought had gone on for so long that it had become a running joke. They had seen players like Patrick Ewing and Allan Houston come and go, they had seen Spike Lee sitting in the stands and cheering them on without reward. But this time, it seemed like their time had finally arrived.

Their regular season run wouldn't have made you a believer (53-29 which placed...