‘Pick a side coward’: even-handed Elmo enrages New York Knicks fans

Prospect of first NBA title since 1999 fuels wave of righteous outrage against Big Apple-based Sesame Street character

The NBA basketball finals between the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs has already drawn commentary after Spurs fans earlier this week continued a habit of wearing distracting, candy-colored T-shirts to honor the Texas city’s annual Fiesta festival.

But now the Knicks’ first opportunity to win the title since 1999 – the last time they were in the finals, also against the Spurs, when they lost – has thrown fans in the Big Apple into such a partisan frenzy that some have come for one of their most beloved own.

Knicks supporters are in a frenzy since, just before the first game of the finals this week – which New York went on to win – the Sesame Street character Elmo decline to offer an endorsement for his “home team”.

In a post on X earlier this week, the egalitarian Elmo indulged in a controversial slice of “both sidesism”, equally wishing the Knicks and the San Antonio Spurs well. “Elmo hopes both teams have fun!,” the character wrote.

Eight million people registered a “like” online.

But some Knicks fans saw red. Some even became really rude, the complete antithesis of the loving and lovable puppet, as cyber outrage erupted.

“Don’t you dare forget your roots you little red fuck,” one outraged Knicks supporter posted online.

The Sesame Street TV show, of which Elmo is one of the most well known and adored characters, was conceived in New York, debuting in 1969.

Many Knicks fans are now angry that the red Muppet, as ostensibly a New Yorker, didn’t cheer for New York’s perpetual underdog team.

“PICK A SIDE COWARD,” wrote one user on X.

“Elmo, I don’t think you understand what is at stake here,” another poster wrote, while another raged: “I hope Elmo gets priced out of New York and has to move to New Jersey.”

Elmo attempted to patch thing up with a weak response on Thursday, posting: “KNICKS that last message! Elmo didn’t mean to SPUR you on!”

Basketball frenzy has briefly pushed the buildup to the soccer World Cup into the background, even though that tournament, spread across the US, Mexico and Canada, kicks off in a few days.

Donald Trump has said he plans to attend game three of the NBA finals at Madison Square Garden next week, after receiving an invitation from the Knicks owner, James Dolan, raising the temperature even higher.

“The answer is yes – he’s invited me, I’m going,” the US president, a longtime Knicks fan and New York native, told reporters Thursday in the Oval Office. Trump said he may also attend two other games next week.

The NBA commissioner, Adam Silver, said: “Sports in particular is something where we can emphasize what we have in common, not what pulls us apart. I’m thrilled that, yet another New Yorker wants to participate in the enthusiasm and the joy around this Knick team.”