If loyalty were a stat, Michael Strahan’s leading the numbers. Even if you like it or not. While Shaq’s already calling game on the Knicks’ playoff hopes before tip-off, Strahan’s out here doing layup drills in fandom. The ex-Giants legend—more known for flattening quarterbacks than dissecting zone defenses—was courtside at Madison Square Garden.
But before we continue, the important part is that he’s never gone full fanboy on a particular NBA squad. But one scroll down his Instagram feed, and it confirms that Strahan’s heart beats in blue and orange, even when the scoreboard doesn’t. That’s what happened when the Celtics strolled out of the Garden with a dub. 119-117. Yes, they had to claw through overtime, needing a Jayson Tatum deep ball to even see the extra five minutes. But a job done is a job done.
It was Boston’s closest win against New York this season, which says a lot considering they’d won the previous three by at least 13. With that gritty W, the Celtics also snagged their 33rd road win of the season, putting them one step from tying Golden State’s historic 2015-16 road record. But Strahan? He wasn’t there for Boston’s stat sheet. “Getting ready for playoff basketball in the Garden,” he wrote. “Let’s go @nyknicks.”.
I mean, well, it’s hard to say how many of the fans would be saying ‘LFG!’ after that kinda performance. Strahan doesn’t care, though. Even if, on the other end of the court—okay, country—Shaquille O’Neal‘s just tossing grenades. “I don’t think they’re good enough to advance to the second round,” he said, before casually suggesting even the Pistons would give New York the smoke.
The Pistons, Shaq? Really? You sure about that? This is the franchise which is worth $7.5 billion. Only the Warriors have a higher tag. But Shaq’s just going off what he saw on Wednesday. As for Strahan? He’s going off his loyalist tag, staying true to it. Some might like it, some might hate. But that has been the theme around whatever Strahan does. He’s got his own loyalists. But the ones who can’t bear him, they just can’t. And they won’t.
Michael Strahan’s loyal, he just respects game
Remember that chaos when Michael Strahan waved the Eagles flag before Super Bowl LIX? Yeah, that wasn’t just your Twitter timeline having a meltdown—it was the entire Giants fanbase short-circuiting in real time. On one end, there’s the whole loyalist for the Knicks take. On the other, here, we have got the whole Big Blue questioning his loyalty. So, what’s going on? Well, nothing. Just a Giants legend, holding up the enemy’s banner, singing “Fly Eagles Fly”? Hmm, understandable for the fans to feel a certain way.
And yeah, Giants fans were already on edge. A 3-14 season will do that to you. But Michael Strahan’s move? It felt like salt on a gaping wound. Some called it betrayal. Others called it honesty. But to Strahan, it was something else entirely. “C’mon, we’re gonna ‘Fly, Eagles, Fly’ for Saquon Barkley because I respect and love this man so much,” he said, grinning, as if he hadn’t just broken a thousand New York hearts. And then came the zinger: “See, we don’t have a flag in New York.” Boom. That one stung more than a fourth-quarter pick-six.
Now, when guys like Amani Toomer and Carl Banks step in, you know the noise is loud. Toomer called it “a warning shot,” and you could feel the frustration bleeding through. “We want results,” he said. “We want to be proud of the organization we shed blood, sweat, and tears for.” Banks? He backed him too. “None of us are pleased,” he said, flatly. That’s not throwing shade. That’s a group of legends calling out their old house for losing its edge.
So no, Strahan’s move wasn’t some headline-hunting TV stunt. This was personal. His career—141.5 sacks, a Super Bowl ring, Giants immortality. The man bleeds blue. But he also calls it like he sees it. And what he sees? A franchise that’s drifting, not building. One that let a guy like Saquon walk and hasn’t had a pulse since.
This wasn’t about turning heel. It was about drawing a line. Respect the game. Respect the players. But don’t expect loyalty to a logo when the foundation’s cracking. As Toomer said, “I want to hold the organization to the same standard they held us to.” And if waving an Eagles flag is what it takes to wake the front office up? So be it. Because Michael Strahan hasn’t stopped being a Giant. He just stopped pretending everything’s fine when it’s clearly not.
The post Criticized for Eagles Gesture, Michael Strahan Proves New York Loyalty With Message for $7.5B NBA Team appeared first on EssentiallySports.
