Chapter 1: The Birth of a Classic Anthem

In celebration of the New York Knicks' seventh playoff game in a decade, it’s the perfect moment to reflect on a remarkable anecdote that intertwines sports and business.

Back in 1992, a young white rapper, then just 22 years old, dropped off a tape at the Knicks' offices located in Madison Square Garden. This track, titled "Go New York Go New York Go," quickly gained traction and became the unofficial hype anthem for the Knicks. The artist behind this infectious tune was none other than Jesse Itzler, who is now a minority owner of the Atlanta Hawks.

Itzler amassed his wealth as the founder of one of the largest private jet companies globally. Marquis Jets was acquired by Berkshire Hathaway in 2009 for an undisclosed amount, but given its $700 million in revenue the previous year, it was undoubtedly a significant deal. He also played a pivotal role in launching ZICO Coconut Water, which Coca-Cola acquired for a confidential sum, and he’s a New York Times Best-Selling Author.

Now, back to the story at hand.

Itzler had enjoyed some success in the music scene as a teen, landing a few songs on MTV during the late ’80s. However, by the early ’90s, he found himself primarily writing jingles for radio ads and taking on other less glamorous gigs. Then, an unexpected opportunity arose.

A clothing company reached out to him, requesting a jingle. Coincidentally, the owner of this company was the wife of Ernie Grunfeld, the Knicks' General Manager. Seizing the moment, Itzler asked if he could create a song for the Knicks, and to his surprise, he received approval.

As Itzler recalls: "I recorded it in my apartment, which was essentially a crawl space in a small loft. We captured the demo in a single take directly onto a cassette. I knew right away this was going to be big. IMMEDIATELY."

He then borrowed $5,000 to cover the production costs for the final version of the song. Itzler’s instincts were correct; it turned out to be a massive hit. The Knicks compensated him with just $5,000, but this single ignited a unique ghostwriting career in the NBA. Following the song's debut, he was hired by teams like the Lakers and Wizards and even tasked with crafting the NBA's slogan, "I Love This Game."

"It’s an incredible feeling to step into the Garden and hear your song blasting through the speakers with 20,000 fans waving their towels… It's as close to being Jay-Z as I'll ever get."

Chapter 2: From Jingles to NBA Anthems

The story of Jesse Itzler is not just about a catchy tune; it's also a testament to how creativity and opportunity can intersect in unexpected ways.

The video title is My Top 5 Rappers Of All Time | Jesse Itzler Shorts - YouTube, which provides insights into Itzler's musical influences and his journey through the industry.