Jerry Ferrara Urges Knicks Fans To Remain Patient Through Slow Start | NY Got Game

53 years of waiting. A championship finally delivered, and now the challenge of doing it all over again. The New York Knicks, they are defending NBA champions, and while their title defense has gotten off to a... A bit of a rocky start. There's still plenty of reason to believe in the orange and blue. So our next guest, he knows all about the highs and lows of being a Knicks fan. You know him from his roles in Entourage and Power, but he's also one of the biggest Knicks fans in Hollywood. Joining us courtesy of BetMGM, the one and only, actor Jerry Farrar joins us now. Jerry, what's going on, man? Dexter, I cannot believe we are sitting here today and you're in your intro talking about the Knicks or the Champs. This is not a day I thought was coming in at least 10 years since I last spoke with you. So I'm very happy to be here. I know, man. I know. I think a lot of people are still, even today, you know, as we are in November, it's just still, it's a little, it's still a little shocking, right? You still can't believe that it's actually real. It's actually happened, even though we're now into the season. We've seen the banner grow up. You were there on opening night. So, you know. It's all that. So let me ask you this, Jerry, because you lived, you know, like me, lived through the heartbreak in the 1999 finals against San Antonio. And then, yeah, I hear the sigh. And then before this finals, you, I saw you. I saw you out here. You were talking a little trash to Spurs fans before this year's finals. So take me back to the moment when the Knicks finally finished the job against San Antonio. What was your reaction, and did you have any I told you so messages ready to send people? So I am a pretty optimistic Knicks fan. I would always get a lot of crap out there in the world, people thinking I'm just trying to protect selfish interests of like, oh, because you get tickets to the Knicks games. You don't want to talk bad. No, I always talked realistic about the team. I mean, it's so easy to be down on what the Knicks were for years and years up until the last three or four years since Brunson got here. I tried my best to put a positive spin because if not, what else are we watching each and every night? I love watching basketball. But with that optimism... Comes a lot of fear once things start going well, like almost like this is going a little too well, like this is too good to be true. When is the other shoe going to drop? Because that's usually what happened for the Knicks. So I on social media and Twitter specifically, which I only really use X for Knicks talk. I talk a lot of trash a little bit, but inside, I am just a scared, scared fan. But this team, with their resolve, like you really couldn't ever bail on any situation. They earned that right for you to sit through some bad play because you never knew when that switch was going to flip. And we saw some of the most historic comebacks and playoff and finals history. Yeah, it was just, it was beautiful. Just even when I see the images still, it's still so beautiful that we got to go through it. And then for me with you, one of my favorite stories from the Knicks championship celebration, we were just talking about this before we started recording, was hearing your son, who's, he's seven, right? Your son is seven and he was getting emotional. Crying about the Knicks winning. And he's only seven. So he hasn't seen the pain that you've seen. That some other Knicks fans have seen. So somebody like yourself who's waited so long to experience the moment when the Knicks won. What did it mean to you to share that championship experience with your son. And see that same love that he had for the Knicks. What did it mean for you to see that? I'll say he started peaking in like two years ago when like the Knicks played the Sixers in that first round series, one of the best first round series of all time. He would like take a look, but he didn't really care. Last year, he was like starting to really become a big fan. And that game one, the Halliburton game, which I think we've exorcised those demons, that hit him so hard that he became a fan from that pain. And then I started as a dad thinking, Why are you doing the same thing that was done to you to him? Why are you bringing him up in through all this Knicks drama and pain? But he really got invested after last year's series. And Dex, I kid you not, I don't force this on the kid. Obviously, I watch a lot of hoops. He always asks about it. He's obsessed with cards and stats. He could name you. He came with me to the Knicks banner night because my wife wanted to come. But then his whole case was mom can't even name two other players on the Sixers. He made a Sixers case. And then he went deep. He mentioned Paul Reed when talking about the Sixers starting five. I'm like, wow, man. You at least know what you're talking about, even though Paul Reed's on the Pistons now. He was once a Sixers, so I gave him credit for that. So, yeah. Seeing his reaction, though, the cool thing about him breaking down in tears like that was it was the first time he ever had happy tears and he didn't know what was happening. He just kept saying, Dad, I'm crying and I don't know why because I'm not sad. I said, son. Those are happy tears. Those are the tears that we like. Those are tears of joy. So I'll remember that like years from now when I'm already old. When I'm old and gray, I'll just be talking about that moment with my son. No, it was a beautiful moment. It reminds me of I was outside the garden before the banner night, and I was talking to this father and his son. And the son is nine years old, and he... I was interviewing him and he said, I don't know why my dad had to wait this long. He didn't understand the pain. He's like, why do you have to wait this long all this time? But I'm like, hey, some Knicks fans have been waiting a long time for 53 years. But Jerry, speaking of that long time, you were representing the Knicks as a fan long before they were champions, including during your years filming Entourage. So what's your favorite? Or craziest Knicks memory from that time. Did anybody on the Entourage set ever get tired of hearing you talk about the Knicks? They were like, get out of here. We don't want to hear about the Knicks anymore. Did you ever experience any of that hate? I do remember when we were shooting Entourage, like the pilot episode of Entourage, you know, I had the Bernard King jersey on. I just remember thinking like, this is awesome for me. I hope people, like I knew my friends back in New York would appreciate that. We'll And then the coolest thing that really happened to me, Dex, like a few years into Entourage and how this whole like me going to Knicks games be even started was I shot a commercial that Spike Lee directed for like MSG at the time. right And. It was me and they were highlighting like the Nate Robinson, David Lee, like those young rookie Knicks that were going on. back. So that's what got me in the building. One of the coolest things, though, with the Knicks that ever happened to me was I was shooting power. And Porzingis went on, I don't know what radio show he went on. He went on some New York sports radio show, and they asked him. They said, hey, Chris Stapps, any celebrity you could meet in Celebrity Row, who would it be? And he says, Jerry Ferrara. Wow. Dude, my phone blew up. People from the Knicks, that night they had me courtside. Meeting Porzingis for the first time. And I tell you this because I'm like, the younger version of me would never fathom that this was possible. And outside of like financial security and reaching some of my dreams, it's the best thing that's happened to my, because of my acting career. Besides the financial security and yes, lifelong dream, the Nick stuff was the best thing that ever came from my acting career, for sure. That is really dope that they made that happen that. The next game that night I was on set and shout out to the power crew. They got me out. Like we filmed my stuff and I was out by five o'clock and I was heading over to MSG by six. And I was on the floor pregame hugging and shaking hands with Porzingis before tip off. That's insane day. No, that's a, that's a, that's a dope moment there. So Jerry, as you know, and fans all know here, Nick's finally end that 53 year championship drought. Now there's seven games into their title defense and they're sitting at three and four. And most people say that doesn't feel like a championship start to the season. But how much of a pass are you giving this team after what they accomplished last season? Or is the old Knicks fan in you already starting to panic a little bit because you're 3-4? You know, I want to be that shrewd. I want to be that much of like, this is unacceptable. You just can't be. They get a pass. The only way the pass runs out is if we're in like early April and we're in like the play-in tournament. If that's going on, then it's going to be, you know, big problems in New York. But no, they get a pass. You don't want to say like the regular season doesn't matter because it of course does. But for so long. We, the Knicks were the hunters and a three seed meant the world to Knicks fans. Cause that means we were in the playoffs and we had some home games to look forward to, right? It used to be just get in the playoffs at all costs. Then it became, wow, we can maybe get a top three or four seed. Great. Then it slowly kept escalating. And now that this banner has been hung, believe me, it's not like, well, they don't have to win it this year. Who cares? Cause that's never going to fly in New York, but you certainly give them the time and space. to work it out coming off the year and the summer that they came off of. I am going to be very, very patient as a fan, and I encourage everybody else to be as well. I've been trying to do that. Some people are not patient at all whatsoever, Jerry. I mean, listen, this is New York. You understand that some people are just not going to be patient at all whatsoever. But as we record this, the Knicks do have an opportunity to get to 500 on Wednesday, so maybe things could be a little bit better. They host the Bulls. What do you want to see from the Knicks in the next game that will make you feel a little bit better about where this team is headed? So, you know, I like that we... You know, won like a few ugly, messy games, and then we looked very solid against the Nets. Could have probably blown them out, but the Nets hung around. I think that's always going to be a tougher matchup than the records would show. And the Bulls hung around the last time, too. So now I want to start seeing some take care of your business versus the team that you should beat. And this is no disrespect to the Bulls. So many young players. Shout-outs, Matas Buzelis. That's my guy. But, like, take care of business, especially on your home floor. Take care of business. business. Don't make this like a, like, alright, we're up four with three to go. No, no, no. This has got to be a no-sweat game. Take care of your business. Don't play with your food. That's usually my mind. Exactly. Don't play with your food. Alright, Jay, I got it. Before I get you out of here, I know you have a couple things I want to talk to you about, too, about what you're doing right now, but I do got to get a bold prediction from you because, as you said, we know what this Knicks team is capable of when everything clicks. We saw it this past spring. When we get to the playoffs, next spring, yes, I'm saying that. I assume the Knicks will be in the playoffs, not in the playing tournament, as you kind of brought up before. Do you expect New York to be right back in the championship conversation? And who do you think is the player that'll be the biggest X factor in getting them there? So, look, I do expect them to be a part of the conversation. I do think, you know, the way the NBA is now, I'm not saying they don't want to see repeat champions, but the way the salary cap and the apron and all that stuff works, Like, losing Mitchell Robinson is a prime example of making it harder for anyone to repeat. And the Thunder went through a similar thing. Thank Look, I know you mentioned I'm here in support of BetMGM, and if you look on BetMGM right now, you I think the Knicks are plus 1,000 thousand to win the NBA championship, but I think they started off as plus 700. hundred So they started off three and four, and they knocked them back up to plus 1,000. one thousand So I think if you, you know, if you like to... venturing in a little wager, I'm definitely going to just put a little entertainment money on the Knicks to win here. the championship. I think that's the only way to go. I think it's a good time to get it in, but there's such a long, long way to go, and as we see even what happened with the Thunder with injuries. But I do think that's a unique Knicks talent is the health and durability of these guys, so I fully expect them to be in a conversation. I don't know if this is the team, if we're doing a run back like, you know, Leon Rose. always makes small but smart moves. Like the Jose Alvarado move was brilliant when it happened. But if this is the final form of the team, I do think that obviously the stars will do what they do. I do think it's those bench guys. I think it's the Alvarados, the Clarks, and seeing Tyler Kolek develop. I'm curious to see what happens with the center minutes with Drummond and all that. But I think it's going to come down to that bench. Do we get the Landry Shamet at that shot 90% in the finals? If that happens, we're a very big problem for a lot of teams. Yeah, the bench who actually has been... Good to start the season. Landry Shamet shooting over 45% from downtown, so he hasn't been bad. I love the value you gave there from BetMGM, that plus 1,000. So if you're looking for some value, Knicks fans, you might want to hit that right now. Could you let the people know what you've been doing with BetMGM? Because you've been doing some good work with them. What's going on with that? Yeah, it's been about three years now since I've been working with BetMGM as an ambassador. They have also done, you know, so right by me by supporting my sports media career, whether it was with a previous podcast and throwbacks now that I have with Matt Leiner. They're on with sponsorship there. And they have brought me to some unbelievable experiences. They brought me to the Super Bowl, where, by the way, my pick for that Super Bowl I was live tweeting for them was, it was the Niners. Uh, Chiefs. And I predicted overtime. Now I'm not trying to say I'm some guru cause I'm not, but it was one of the coolest picks I ever had. Cause that's the only second time the Super Bowl went to overtime. Uh, I had a shoot around and I played a game of horse at MSG. So they've put me at all these amazing experiences. And like I said, you know, I, I always bet responsibly. It's an entertainment thing for me, but, um, you know, I liked that they have, you know, with the NBA, they have basically, you know, defense with injuries where, you know, You know, if you lose a player in the first quarter. Because that happens a lot in the NBA. So I just think they're doing great things. And like I said, they've supported my sports media career to this point. So BetMGM all the way for me, Dex. All right. Doing some good things there with them. And you got to go to Super Bowl. So that's, you know. Super Bowl. Good. Can't be mad at that. Yeah. Who's your football team? I'm a Giants fan. Oh, so you're feeling good. What's happening right now? Oh, wow. You did not expect this at all. That's what you're saying. Uh, I was very optimistic to watch some football. Again, the Giants are sort of now where the Knicks are not fully because they've won championship. Those two championships in the last 15 years have given us so much, but this was the year where it's like, okay, maybe we could flirt with that six or seven seed that where the Knicks were five years ago. Like, let's get in there. And then, you know, they're off to such a good start. Obviously the Dart injury was devastating, but now it's, it's, I kind of get to this, like, I don't want to don't celebrate. Now we've got to pump the brakes. I'm in pump the brakes mode. Understood. Understood. All right. Last thing, last thing before I let you go, Jerry, you know, everybody, we know you from Entourage, we know you from Power. You've been spending some more time writing and producing and doing some, what's next for you in Hollywood. Are there any projects, any roles on the horizon that you're particularly excited about? What's what's next for Jerry Ferrara? The thing I'm excited about most, and I really don't want to do the thing where I can't say too much, it's not because I can't say it because I'm not allowed, it's also, number one, I don't want to jinx it, and number two, you know, the deal is done, but there's a few steps to go, but I did just sell a show. To HBO and all I'll say is it is in the sports world scripted series, which obviously, you know, you know me now that's where my passion is. So that that's one I have a lot of high hopes for and I've been putting in a lot of work on and then, you know, Doing the podcast with Lionheart with Throwbacks, you know, we just had Tiffany Amber Thiessen, one of both of our, like, childhood crushes, so to speak, and that episode went bonkers. But, you know, this week we have Cordell Stewart coming on, which that was one of my favorite players as a kid. I like that. I like that. Yeah, I didn't even know why. He has a documentary coming out on HBO Max. Yes, which I have to watch. I didn't. Did you know why they called him Slash? I believe there's a real reason, like a specific reason. I thought it was because of his ability to play wide receiver and quarterback. Well, I'll spoil some of the doc. Like Bill Cowher said, all right, I'm not because like it was always he always wanted to be a quarterback. He didn't want to play a receiver. All right. I'm gonna keep you. I'm going to put you as QB slash wide receiver slash running back. Hence the slash. I mean. That's how they say it in the documentary. So you got that episode dropping. Yeah, and he describes that famous pass with Colorado, the way he described it. He remembers every single facet of details of that play. He's an unbelievable storyteller. Can't wait to see. Hey, I'm excited for what you got coming up, man. You're doing a lot of stuff for writing and producing the show that you sold to HBO. Wishing you a lot of blessings on that. That sounds like it's going to be really good. Can't wait to see that as well, too. And continued success, man, on all the work you're doing with BetMGM. But, Jerry, I got to thank you, man. Thank you for joining me here in New York. I appreciate you, man. Dexter, anytime, I'm a big fan of yours. I know we've talked a couple before, but anytime you ever need me, put up the bat signal. If you want to talk New York sports with somebody who's passionate, to say the least, I'm always there for you. You do a great job. Thank you, man. I appreciate that. You know, just try to be great like you, everybody. That is Jerry Ferrara. Check out his work everywhere, especially with the MGM. You know he's excited about the Knicks, and he's ready to see if they can go back to back. Jerry, thank you again, man. Go Knicks. And thanks for watching New York Odd Game. Boom shakalaka.