Lifelong Friends Reunite for Knicks Championship Celebration

Two retired workers from the New York City Sanitation Department, Doug Bertinelli and Pat Hannafin, revisited memories from 1973 by carrying a banner they created when the New York Knicks won their last championship. The lifelong friends met in 1969 and shared their love of basketball, attending Knicks games together since their youth.

In their first year as teammates at Blessed Sacrament Roman Catholic Church on Staten Island, they won a local championship. In 1970, they waited outside Madison Square Garden all night to purchase tickets for the Knicks’ winning season. By 1973, as high school seniors and best friends, they were back at the Garden to witness the Knicks’ second title win. Mr. Bertinelli’s part-time job supported their ticket purchases.

Using a bedsheet and a marker, Mr. Hannafin crafted a banner for their celebration in Manhattan. Although the Knicks’ success dwindled over the years, the banner was stored away in Mr. Hannafin’s attic. Their passion for the team, however, remained strong.

This year, the duo once again attended a championship celebration. They attended a ticker-tape parade as the Knicks emerged victorious. Both retired, Mr. Bertinelli, 71, and Mr. Hannafin, 70, connected over the years despite having families and busy careers. Mr. Hannafin, known for his dedication to New York sports, retained the banner for over five decades.

Mr. Bertinelli visited Mr. Hannafin in Staten Island, spending an hour-long drive to watch a Knicks game, reminiscent of their youth. Although the Knicks lost Game 3, it felt like old times as they shared pizza and memories.

The duo attended St. Peter’s Boys High School and later worked for the Sanitation Department at different locations. Mr. Hannafin worked in Manhattan, while Mr. Bertinelli was stationed on Staten Island. Remarkably, their daughters were born just three days apart.

When possible, Mr. Bertinelli arranged routes to work with Mr. Hannafin, strengthening their bond. Despite technological advances, Mr. Hannafin resisted owning a cellphone, keeping the same home phone number, which Mr. Bertinelli memorized.

On Thursday, they took the Staten Island Ferry to Manhattan, as they had in their youth. Reliving those days, they dusted off the banner for the parade. Though they live further apart now, their shared love for the Knicks remains unchanged after 53 years.