Excitement builds on the LIRR
David Jacobs, of Merrick, right, and his cousin David Kikarov, of Miami, speak with Newsday at the Merrick LIRR station. Credit: Newsday/Robert Brodsky
Shortly before 4:30 a.m., the Merrick Long Island Rail Road station platform was already filling up with nearly 100 excited Knicks fans heading to the parade.
They included David Jacobs, of Merrick, and his cousin David Kikarov, who traveled from Miami for the celebration.
"I've waited 27 years for this exact moment," Kikarov said. "I wasn't going to miss it."
Jacobs said the Knicks championship run "has been great for the city and has been great for us. I couldn't be any happier."
The 5:21 a.m. LIRR train to Penn Station was standing room only well before it pulled up to Merrick. But boisterous Knicks fans didn't seem to mind
Anthony Delacruz, of Merrick, was joined by his brother-in-law, his two sons and one of their friends.
"I've been to a Giants parade. I've been to a Yankees parade but I wasn't sure I would ever see a Knicks parade," Delacruz said. "I've been dreaming of this since I was 14."
Mike Francisco, Delacruz’s brother-in-law, said a Knicks title "never seemed possible. And the fact that it came so fast, felt so great for the city coming together. All of our loyalty paid off this year."
Robert Brodsky is a breaking news reporter who has worked at Newsday since 2011. He is a Queens College and American University alum.
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