If these are indeed the real Knicks, they’re in big trouble

Back in the watercolor summer of 1969, as the Mets were getting the hang of playing competent baseball for the very first time, there came a three-game series at Shea Stadium with the first-place Cubs in early July that was quite literally the first important games the Mets ever played. 

At first, it went very well: they scored three ninth-inning runs to rally against Fergie Jenkins in the first game. In the second, Tom Seaver retired the first 25 Cubs he faced, and the 4-0 win pulled the Mets within 3 ½ games. But in the third game the Mets reverted to 1962 form: two costly errors helped Chicago to a 6-2 win. 

“Were those the real Cubs?” manager Leo Durocher was asked afterward. 

Leo, ever willing to lead with his lip, shook his head.