David Fizdale, new head coach of the New York Knicks, throws out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium! pic.twitter.com/O2B0d5mjSy
— YES Network (@YESNetwork) May 8, 2018
Welcome to the Bronx, David Fizdale! The newly christened New York Knicks head coach took to the mound Tuesday night to show off his skills.
David Fizdale was brought on to be the head coach of the New York Knicks, right? The sport doesn’t matter because he’s a part of the New York scene.
Tuesday night he got right in to the thick of the New York state of mind when he tossed out the first pitch before the New York Yankees took on the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.
I mean, no terrible. He got it to Gary Sanchez on the fly. But you could definitely see Luis Severino, the starting pitcher awaiting his mound back, giggling a little in his glove. But remember…he’s a basketball guy.
Previously serving as the head coach for the Memphis Grizzlies, Fizdale was let go in November. Fizdale took over for Jeff Hornacek, who was let go promptly after the Knicks’ season drew to a close.
Also watching his first pitch, pay attention to after he heads back towards the dugout. He gives Sanchez a big hug and throws his arm around his shoulders like a fanboy. But let’s be honest…who WOULDN’T be starstruck by being that close to Sanchez in person? This, after all, is the player who clubbed 20 home runs in his first 53 games during the 2016 season.
Hopefully Fizdale can take some of this Yankee luck and rub it off on his Knicks, who could definitely use it after last season. Fizdale is coming to a Knicks team who finished 29-53, good for fourth in the Atlantic, just one game above the floundering Brooklyn Nets.
But he at least gets a slew of talent on his squad. There will be Kristaps Porzingis. There will be Frank Ntilikina. There will certainly be talent. All that matters is that he actually does something with it. Good luck, David!
