The Knicks’ Name Traces Back to a 200-Year-Old Stunt: Justin Fox

New York City’s current obsession with a group of men collectively known as the Knicks can be traced back to Oct. 26, 1809. “Distressing,” began the notice printed that day on the bottom of Page 3 of the four-page New-York Evening Post. It continued:

Left his lodgings some time since, and has not since been heard of, a small elderly gentleman, dressed in an old black coat and cocked hat, by the name of KNICKERBOCKER.

The notice went on to ask that any information concerning the missing senior citizen be left at the Columbian Hotel, where he had been staying, or the newspaper’s office. ...