MSG Network will pay tribute to the 40th anniversary of the New York Knicks 1969-70 NBA championship team with a week's worth of related programming.
The regional sports network, which along with the team is part of the MSG business unit that was officially spun-off from Cablevision Systems Corp. when it began trading on the NASDAQ National Market System Feb. 9, is highlighted by a special screening tonight of the club's famous Game 7 triumph over the Los Angeles Lakers and the Feb. 22 telecast of the "Second Annual Knicks Legend Night."
MSG, on Feb. 15, will screen the famous Game 7 in which the injured captain Willis Reed emerged from the tunnel during warm-ups to inspire the Knicks and Walt "Clyde" Frazier, who scored 36 points and dished out 19 assists as the team captured its first NBA title. The game will replayed at 9 p.m, with Frazier, the Knicks's longtime game analyst, joining host Al Trautwig in reliving the action and its aftermath.
"Afterwards, I went all over New York; I went to so many different parties, I hated mimosas for a while I drank so much wine and champagne," said Frazier, reflecting on the celebration of the Knicks first championship. "It was just a fabulous feeling to finally reach the pinnacle, especially for Knicks fans who had suffered so long."
One of the installments of ProFiles series, this one centering on Bill Bradley, the former New Jersey Senator and small forward on the club, will air at 11:30 p.m., hosted by Knicks's current play-by-play man Mike Breen.
Other ProFiles of team members, including the later power forward Dave DeBusschere and Red Holzman will run throughout the week.
MSG also will televise four Knicks games -- a pair against the Chicago Bulls on Feb. 16-17, the Oklahoma City Thunder on Feb. 20 and the Milwaukee Bucks on Feb. 22.
The latter night is scheduled to showcase the aforementioned Knicks Legends night, as championship team members, including Frazier, Bradley and Reed, will be honored at midcourt during halftime.
All 40th anniversary programming sports a ticker with special info dedicated to the 1969-70 season. For Game 7 of the 1970 Finals, the ticker will focus on team statistics, records, and other data about the championship team. During Knick ProFiles, the ticker will spotlight statistics for the player featured in the show.
MSG.com will also pay tribute to the 40th anniversary celebration. Starting on Feb.15, msg.com/legends will feature championship-specific video and photos, and will expand to host a tale-of-the-tape style interactive chart comparing 1970 to 2010 in different categories including notable Knicks, popular music, gas prices and more.
MSG Network's Knicks 1969-70 championship 40th anniversary schedule is as follows:
Monday, February 15
9:00pm - 11:00pm: 1970 NBA Finals Game 7, Lakers @ Knicks (hosted by Trautwig and Frazier)
11:30pm - midnight: Knick #24: Bill Bradley (hosted by Breen)
Tuesday, February 16
8:00pm - Knicks @ Chicago (live)
11:00pm - 11:30pm: Knick #19: Willis Reed (hosted by Breen)
Wednesday, February 17
7:30pm - Chicago @ Knicks (live)
10:30pm - 11:00pm: Knick #22: Dave DeBusschere (hosted by Breen)
11:00pm - 11:30pm: Knick #613: Red Holzman (hosted by Breen)
Thursday, February 18
9:00pm - 10:00pm: MSG Vault: Bradley to Willis to Clyde
Friday, February 19
8:00pm - 8:30pm: The Mike D'Antoni Show
9:30pm - 10:00pm: Knick #10: Clyde Frazier (hosted by Breen)
10:00pm-10:30pm: Knick #12: Dick Barnett (hosted by Breen)
Saturday, February 20
6:00pm - 6:30pm: Knick #22: Dave DeBusschere (hosted by Breen)
7:30pm - Oklahoma @ Knicks (live)
11:00pm - 11:30pm: Knick #24: Bill Bradley (hosted by Breen)
11:30pm - midnight: Knick #613: Red Holzman (hosted by Breen)
Sunday, February 21
7:00pm - 7:30pm: Knick #18: Phil Jackson (hosted by Breen)
7:30pm - 8:00pm: Knick #10: Clyde Frazier (hosted by Breen)
Monday, February 22
Noon - Knick #15: Dick McGuire (hosted by Breen)
12:30pm - Knick #12: Dick Barnett (hosted by Breen)
1:00pm - Knick #613: Red Holzman (hosted by Breen)
1:30pm - Knick #18: Phil Jackson (hosted by Breen)
2:00pm - Knick #24: Bill Bradley (hosted by Breen)
2:30pm - Knick #22: Dave DeBusschere (hosted by Breen)
3:00pm - Knick #10: Clyde Frazier (hosted by Breen)
3:30pm - Knick #19: Willis Reed (hosted by Breen)
4:00pm - MSG Vault: Bradley to Willis to Clyde
5:00pm - 1970 NBA Finals Game 7, Lakers @ Knicks (hosted by Trautwig and Frazier)
7:30pm - Milwaukee @ Knicks (live- Second Annual Knicks Legends Night at halftime)
