FAN IS A REAL BASKET CASE
Paying 25G to follow NY’s biggest loser
No one in New York has worse timing than Dennis Doyle.
After the lifelong Knick fan lost his job as a lawyer with a commercial litigation firm, he decided to pursue his passion and cheer on his favorite team at every game for an entire season. Yes, this season. Doyle — with no job, and no immediate prospects — withdrew $25,000 from his savings and decided to embark on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure, attending all 82 Knick games in 201415.
Even all 41 road games — including Thursday’s game in London.
That, for those uninitiated in the team’s losing ways, is the financial investment equivalent of hiding one’s money under the mattress — and then setting it on fire.
“Absolutely, I never thought it’d be this bad,’’ Doyle said of the Knicks, whose infamy includes an NBAworst 535 record, a current 15game losing streak for a franchise record, and defeats in 25 of their last 26 games.
“Nobody did. But it reached a point where I know the losing is only going to be helpful in the long term. I actually find myself less upset. If they’re losing or getting blown out, I only know it’s going to help with the pingpong balls,” Doyle said in reference to the team’s chances in the 2015 NBA Draft Lottery for the first overall pick.
If Doyle, 31, sounds more optimistic about the Knicks’ future than he should, it may be because he’s still woozy from the latest road adventure, a trip to London for Thursday’s game against Milwaukee.
To keep the costs down — $750 round trip — Doyle took a redeye Saturday from JFK Airport with a connection through Iceland.
The Astoria resident estimates his airfare for the season has amounted to nearly $9,000, including extra fees for itinerary mixups.
Doyle has been advised to cut his losses and call it quits after next month’s AllStar Game — in Madison Garden, of all places.
“You mean shut it down like Melo?’’ Doyle said of injured Knick superstar Carmelo Anthony. “I can’t shut it down. I’m in too deep. I knew there was a chance this could be a really awful season. I thought they’d contend for the eighth [playoff ] seed, but I knew there was a chance they’d be awful. I’ll see it through — if it doesn’t kill me first.’’
In addition to the travel costs, Doyle said he has spent $3,500 for a full Knicks seasonticket plan, and $4,000 for road games.
The London game sold out online in minutes, so he was forced to buy a ticket on the secondary market for $200.
Doyle said he’s not about to put a bag on his head like other fans.
“I brought this on myself,” said Doyle, who’s documenting the season on his blog. “Nobody’s fault but mine. Part of this experience is also seeing what they go through with travel and develop some empathy. It’s tiring.’’