NBA players — and pro athletes as a whole — tend to be a superstitious breed, and some of these rituals can border on outright obsessive-compulsive behavior. Michael Jordan, for instance, always wore his Tarheel shorts under his Bulls shorts for good luck.
Knicks legend Patrick Ewing is apparently one such case. In a recent profile by Stefan Bondy of The New York Daily News, legendary former Knicks trainer Timmy Walsh told some incredible stories from his decades-long career in the NBA, and Ewing’s idiosyncrasies were among the most amusing/puzzling.
According to Walsh, Ewing had to have things just so, such as the particular way Walsh carried his game sneakers, to the specific coat hanger he kept in his locker, to the way his ice packs and bandages were arranged. He was also allegedly a Seinfeldian-level germaphobe.
Via the New York Daily News:
Ewing’s cups of water on the bench had to be freshly-poured, rather than sitting on a tray collecting germs.
“He was very aware of people who didn’t wash their hands,” Walsh said. “Patrick knew from two rooms away if someone went to the bathroom and didn’t wash their hands. He knew it. And Patrick was not touching that person all night. Two hours later, in the middle of the game, if that guy just hit the game-winning shot, he was fist-bumping him instead of shaking his hand. He wasn’t touching the guy.”
It must be exhausting keeping tabs on who is or isn’t washing their hands after every bathroom trip, but we all have our cross to bear.
Beyond that, Bondy’s piece is well worth the read. It’s a fascinating profile of a man who’s worked with so many NBA stars through difficult situations and, as a result, has plenty of colorful tales to show for it.
