Record Sport's Scott McDermott files the latest from his American World Cup journey
17:00, 08 Jun 2026
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Knicks fans celebrate
Out of the blue, an almighty roar reverberated off the concrete buildings between 6th Avenue and Broadway.
A wall of noise assaulted the senses. It felt like the population of Manhattan - or around Times Square at least - all cheered in unison.
For the small, oblivious group of Scottish journalists heading towards Connolly’s pub for a well-earned pint - it was a shock to the system.
We knew that the New York Knicks were playing the second game of their NBA Finals series against the San Antonio Spurs.
What we didn’t anticipate was being in the heart of the city at the exact second the Knicks sealed a dramatic, last-gasp 105-104 win to go 2-0 up.
As the timer hit zero in Texas, with victory secured, fans in bars and pubs everywhere yelled at once in a state of ecstasy.
What a moment.
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New York Knicks fans cheer
Once we’d processed what had gone on and got inside the bar, the party was just getting started.
Frank Sinatra's all-time classic, "New York, New York," blared from the sound system as every basketball fanatic in the place sang their heart out.
In the background, the TV screens were still showing the post-match analysis.
The highlights of that final minute were being played on a loop.
Since the Knicks haven’t won an NBA title since 1973, this was something to savour.
Even though they’re not home and dry yet in the best of seven series, it felt historic.
Eventually, fans young and old spilled on to the streets, most of them wearing Knicks shirts.
The Empire State Building was lit up at the top in the team's blue and orange colours.
They’d been showing the game live at Maddison Square Garden just a few blocks up.
There were Police everywhere to try and control the commotion.
On Monday night, the Knicks will attempt to go three-up by winning on home soil at MSG but you can’t get a ticket for love nor money.
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New York Knicks fans
It rounded off an exhilarating day in Manhattan for yours truly.
After arriving in New Jersey for Scotland’s friendly against Bolivia, it was a no-brainer to take the transit train into NYC.
For anyone who hasn’t been, try to do it just once in your life. It truly is the city that never sleeps.
That was evident as we struggled later to get a taxi back to Newark before being stuck in a traffic JAM at 2am.
It’s some place. That buzz when you step out of the station at Times Square lives with you forever.
The giant neon-light billboard screens, the smell from the hot-dog stands, the yellow cabs, the steam coming out of the street drains.
Manhattan’s vibrancy must be virtually unmatched anywhere in the world.
An eclectic mix of people come together to create something special.
The best way to describe it is that you constantly feel like you’re on a movie set.
From getting my picture taken with The Rock outside Madame Tussaud’s to bumping into a Naked Cowboy - all he had on was his Stetson and a pair of budgie smugglers - it was surreal.
The whole place is intoxicating.
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Scott McDermott in New York
But then, just a short train ride away, you can go from pandemonium to poignancy.
At the World Trade Centre memorial, it’s still an eery feeling as you peer over a wall with the 9/11 victims’ names etched into it.
As the streaming water disappears into Ground Zero, it soon brings you back to reality.
It’s a humbling experience. After arriving in New York, the Scotland players visited the site on their Manhattan morning walk.
Humility is something these boys have in abundance. Without it, they wouldn’t be at the World Cup.
But this will be unique, particularly for some of the younger players in Steve Clarke’s squad.
When they looked around and tried to take it all in - the magnitude of their achievement would have hit home.
But they’re not here in the US just to take part in this tournament.
In New Jersey, they had a job to do. And so did we.
On Friday night, Clarke and Lewis Ferguson faced the media at the Sports Illustrated Stadium, home of the New York Red Bulls.
The following day, Scotland got down to business for their last pre-tournament friendly.
Around the ground, there were plenty of supporters with Scotland shirts on - and American accents.
The biggest roars were for household names like Andy Robertson and Scott McTominay.
Unusually, the press box at the old Red Bull Arena is in the corner of the stadium.
But on Saturday afternoon in the 90 degree heat, it didn’t really matter what vantage point you were watching Clarke’s team from.
In the opening 45 minutes, they were on fire. Forget the humidity of Manhattan, this was rarefied air for any Scotland team.
Scottish fans during the warm-up match between Scotland and Bolivia at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey
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Scottish fans during the warm-up match between Scotland and Bolivia at Sports Illustrated Stadium in Harrison, New Jersey(Image: Deccio Serrano/NurPhoto/Shutterstock)
We were 4-0 up against Bolivia and playing like Brazil 1970. Never mind the New York Knicks, at one point in that first half, Clarke’s side played like the Harlem Globetrotters.
OK, maybe I’m getting a bit carried away. But this was uncharted territory for us ahead of a World Cup.
So why not soak it up and get excited about what might be about to unfold?
In his post-match press conference, Clarke did his best to keep things on an even keel.
But for us press boys, it was hard not to get a little bit giddy with that performance.
We got back to our hotel in a pretty undesirable part of town that was more like Niddrie than Newark.
But that didn't dampen the mood, as our heads hit the pillow full of hope and optimism.
Goodbye New Jersey and New York. Now, it’s off to Charlotte.
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And the next leg of Scotland’s very own American dream.