“At least you live in New York City, and not Indiana,” Vanity Fair‘s Nate Freeman comfortingly reminded Knicks followers because the staff struggled in opposition to the Indiana Pacers. But the grin Caitlin Clark displayed Saturday, because the Pacers claimed the Eastern Conference championship trophy, gives a counter-narrative. On an evening like that one, possibly dwelling within the Hoosier state is not all that dangerous.
The Iowa-born-and-raised Clark settled in Indiana final 12 months after the highest WNBA draft decide was chosen by the Indiana Fever. Since then, Caitlin Clark has headed to Indy’s Gainbridge Fieldhouse even when she’s off the clock, for occasions like the ultimate US stops in Taylor Swift‘s Eras Tour. But with the Fever off till Tuesday, Clark was free to attend Saturday’s historic matchup between the Pacers and the Knicks, the place she sat alongside teammates Aliyah Boston and Lexie Hull.
Clark wasn’t the one well-known Pacers fan in attendance final evening, which noticed the Pacers head to the NBA finals for the primary time in 25 years. Indianapolis-born and raised actor Mike Epps was additionally there, as he is been for a lot of the season.
Absent within the stands was John Mellencamp, who a lot of his fellow Hoosiers nonetheless consult with as “John Cougar.” The musician has been a staple at playoff video games, however fan conduct at Game 4 left a foul style in his mouth. In a publish to social media final week, he chided his fellow followers for booing Knicks supporters.
“I was embarrassed when somebody, under whose direction I don’t know, called out some of the people who had made the trip from New York to support their team – and in turn, support our team,” Mellencamp wrote. “The audience booed these people. I’d say that was not Hoosier Hospitality. One could only say it’s poor, poor sportsmanship. I was not proud to be a Hoosier, and I’ve lived here my entire life.”
A reference, one assumes, to Pat McAfee, a former participant with the Indianapolis Colts who later turned to sports activities commentary {and professional} wrestling. According to USA TODAY, throughout Game 4 within the collection, McAfee urged the gang to shout at Knicks faithfuls Timothée Chalamet, Spike Lee, and Ben Stiller, all of whom had traveled to Indiana for the matchup.