Gaels At the Garden: Telling the Story of Knicks' Historic Championship
Members of the Iona Community help bring New York's NBA championship to fans across the region and beyond
For these Gaels, covering the Knicks during the NBA finals served as a reminder of the experiences and preparation at Iona that helped lead them to the biggest stage in sports.
For more than five decades, Knicks fans waited for the moment they could celebrate another NBA championship.
That moment finally arrived when New York defeated the San Antonio Spurs in five games to capture the franchise's first Larry O'Brien Trophy since 1973, sending Madison Square Garden and the city beyond into celebration.
Along the way, members of the Iona University community helped bring the historic run to life live from Madison Square Garden.
Through television reporting and sports broadcasting, Gaels played a role in bringing one of the most memorable chapters in franchise history to fans across New York and beyond. Their work placed them at the center of a championship that captivated generations of Knicks supporters.
For these members of the Iona community, the opportunity represented more than a career milestone. It served as a reminder of the experiences and preparation at Iona that helped lead them to the biggest stage in sports.
Anthony Carlo ’15: A Full-Circle Moment
Anthony Carlo '15, middle, spent the postseason documenting the passion and excitement displayed by the Knicks' fanbase.
For ABC7NY General Assignment Reporter Anthony Carlo ’15, the Knicks' run to the NBA Finals provided a unique opportunity to witness the impact a championship-caliber team can have on an entire city. Covering Knicks watch parties organized by Madison Square Garden, Carlo spent the postseason documenting the passion and excitement displayed by a fanbase long overdue to raise a championship banner.
“I’ve been presented with a unique perspective of watching a city, and beyond, unite behind one team,” Carlo said.
“Everyone is watching the NBA Finals with passion and exhilaration. As a Knicks fan, I am as well, but I’ve also been watching the fans. That’s my job as a reporter covering the watch parties that have been organized by Madison Square Garden.”
For Carlo, the opportunity also served as a reminder of where his career began. As a student at Iona, he gained hands-on experience covering the Westchester Knicks at the Westchester County Center, an opportunity that helped lay the foundation for his professional career.
Carlo got his start covering the Westchester Knicks, an opportunity he landed through Iona professor Mike Damergis.
“As I take in the sights and sounds of what this championship run means for a die hard fan base, I can’t help but remember my time as a communications student at Iona,” Carlo said. “Back then, I wasn’t at MSG, but instead at the Westchester County Center. That’s where I cut my teeth covering the Westchester Knicks — the organization’s D League team (now known as G League) — an opportunity given to me by Iona and my mentor, professor Mike Damergis whom I give great thanks to.”
Now having covered the franchise as it secured a historic championship, Carlo reflects upon the moment as both a professional achievement and a testament to the opportunities that helped launch his career.
“Seeing it come full circle has been a privilege and an honor — and for me — one that started with an opportunity Iona University gave me,” Carlo said.
Richard Giacovas ’13: The Next Chapter in Leaving Out a Dream
Giacovas credits Iona in preparing him for a successful career in sports media.
For Fox 5 reporter Richard Giacovas ’13, covering the Knicks during their return to the NBA Finals was both a professional milestone and a reminder of the ambitions that first took shape during his time at Iona.
“Over the years, I have covered many historic moments,” Giacovas said. “To be in New York in this historic moment, to see everyone in blue and orange, that’s what it’s all about.”
For Giacovas, the assignment also underscores the role Iona played in helping launch his career in sports media.
“Iona prepared me for this moment,” Giacovas said. “I remember when we were covering sports on campus; and now we’re here at the Garden ahead of the NBA Finals with access to everything we dreamed about.”
Chris Scaglione ’96: Seeing the Finals Through a Unique Lens
Iona alumnus Scaglione is an executive sports producer at WCBS and has covered the Knicks since 1999.
To WCBS Executive Sports Producer Chris Scaglione ’96, the Knicks' return to the NBA Finals offered a rare perspective. Having covered the team's most recent Finals appearance in 1999, Scaglione is among a select group of media professionals who have witnessed both eras firsthand.
“Covering the NBA Finals has been an amazing experience,” Scaglione said. “I covered the Knicks the last time they made it in 1999, and there were so many lean years in the 27 years since.”
Throughout the postseason, Scaglione watched a franchise once defined by decades of frustration return to the pinnacle of the sport, capturing the attention of fans well beyond New York.
“It’s been a remarkable climb back to dominance as shown by the incredible 13-game postseason winning streak, ultimately capturing their first NBA title in 53 years,” Scaglione said.
Bruce Beck: Covering a Magical Run
As Executive-in-Residence, Bruce Beck provides one-on-one access to Iona students for mentoring and guidance on career opportunities.
For Bruce Beck, NBC 4 New York Sportscaster and Iona University executive-in-residence, the Knicks' Finals win was unlike anything he has seen during nearly five decades covering New York sports.
“The NBA Finals are mystical, mythical and magical,” Beck said. “The Knicks fan base has been absolutely wild. They are one of the most passionate groups that I have ever seen in almost 50 years covering New York sports.”
As the playoff run unfolded, Beck witnessed Knicks fans transform arenas throughout the country into home courts, creating an atmosphere that reflects the depth and loyalty of the franchise's following.
“These fans have taken over road games in Atlanta, Philadelphia, Cleveland and San Antonio,” Beck said. “They turn the visiting arena into their own personal playground.”
At Madison Square Garden, Beck notes that the Knicks faithful created an environment fit for Hollywood.
“The scene is something out of a movie,” Beck said. “The crowd is filled with a multitude of celebrities, whose passion for the Knicks and the game of basketball is fascinating.”
Beck believes the team's success was fueled by the same qualities that defined some of the greatest teams in franchise history.
“The Knicks had a remarkable championship run, fueled by unselfishness and selflessness,” he said. “They remind me of the Knicks of the late 60s and early 70s, who went on to capture two NBA championships.”
While the pace of the postseason was relentless, Beck said the opportunity to document the Knicks' pursuit of a championship remains a privilege.
“I have been working nonstop, round the clock for over seven weeks,” Beck said. “But it is an honor and privilege to cover this team and these riveting games for NBC 4 New York.”
ABOUT IONA
Founded in 1940, Iona University is a master's-granting private, Catholic, coeducational institution of learning in the tradition of the Edmund Rice Christian Brothers. Iona's 45-acre New Rochelle campus and 28-acre Bronxville campus are just 20 miles north of Midtown Manhattan. With a total enrollment of over 4,000 students and an alumni base of 55,000 around the world, Iona is a diverse community of learners and scholars dedicated to academic excellence and the values of justice, peace and service. Iona is highly accredited, offering undergraduate degrees in liberal arts, science and business administration, as well as Master of Arts, Master of Science and Master of Business Administration degrees and numerous advanced certificate programs. Iona students enjoy small class sizes, engaged professors and a wide array of academic programs across the School of Arts & Science; LaPenta School of Business; NewYork-Presbyterian Iona School of Nursing & Health Sciences; and Hynes Institute for Entrepreneurship & Innovation. Iona also continues to be recognized in prestigious national rankings. Most recently for 2026, Iona has been named one of the nation’s best colleges by The Princeton Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes and others. Additionally, U.S. News & World Report recognized Iona as one of top for social mobility in the country, while Georgetown University's Center on Education and the Workforce (CEW) ranked an Iona degree in the top 6 percent nationally for long-term return on investment. Iona’s LaPenta School of Business, meanwhile, is also accredited by AACSB International, a recognition awarded to just 6 percent of business schools worldwide. In addition, The Princeton Review once again named Iona to its “Best Business Schools for 2025,” recognizing both its on-campus and online MBA programs. Connecting to its Irish heritage, Iona also opened a new campus in County Mayo, Ireland, located on the historic 400-acre Westport House Estate. A school on the rise, Iona officially changed its status from College to University on July 1, 2022, reflecting the growth of its academic programs and the prestige of an Iona education.