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JJ: “Good Midseason Report Card, but Final Grade All That Matters”

BQE Admin on February 18, 2026

New York, New York

By John Jastremski

We have reached the All Star break of this 2025-2026 NBA season.

As a whole, I’d say the Knicks are basically right around where I thought they would be at this point.

They are 35-20 and have the third best record in the Eastern Conference. 1/2 game back of Boston for 2nd place & 6 games back of upstart Detroit for 1st.

The narrative around the team is actually quite similar to where we were a season ago.

Last year, it was the struggles with the Boston Celtics that appeared incredibly problematic.

This year, it happens to be the Knicks’ struggles with the Detroit Pistons. In both matchups this year, the Knicks have been absolutely dominated and it sounds the alarm of concern for Playoff Time.

For me, I’m not there with that narrative. Last year was the perfect lesson for why I am not. 

The Celtics won all 4 matchups with the Knicks in the regular season. The Knicks flipped that vibe on its head winning the 2nd round playoff series in 6 games.

Yes, the Knicks play the Pistons this coming Thursday. I’d prefer to see the Knicks win that game and silence this building narrative.

That said, the bigger concerns for the team moving forward are these:

  1. How do you mask the defensive deficiencies of Jalen Brunson and Karl Anthony Towns on the floor together?
  2. How do you get Karl Anthony Towns back offensively to where he was a season ago?

If the Knicks can solve those two riddles, they will be playing in the NBA Finals. If they don’t, they will be soul searching in a big way this summer.

The Knicks midseason report card grade is a solid B, but it will be a monstrous swing between now and the spring.

For a group that’s been knocking at the door the past few seasons, the only grade that matters is the final.

Stay tuned for the result!

You can listen to my podcast New York, New York on The Ringer Podcast Network every Sunday/Thursday on Spotify/Apple Podcasts. You can watch me nightly on Honda Sportsnite at 11 PM on SNY.

Nets One of a Few NBA Teams to Honor Black History

BQE Admin on February 18, 2026

Brooklyn hosts one of the best Black History Month celebrations of 2026

It was Black History Night at the Barclays Center earlier this month as the Nets took on the Chicago Bulls! Photos: Christian Spencer

By Christian Spencer

sports@queensledger.com

The Brooklyn Nets are one of the few NBA teams this year to host a Black History Month game, showing how the franchise’s identity is deeply rooted in its Black heritage. 

On February 9, the team celebrated that identity with a 123–115 win over the Chicago Bulls, in-arena performances, and a special appearance by Nets legend Julius “Dr. J” Erving.

The evening was not just a game, but a veritable indicator of Brooklyn’s influence on Black culture, basketball, and community.

Fans watched a tight contest that swung both ways before the Nets closed it out with crisp late-game execution and balanced scoring down the stretch. 

Beyond the scoreboard, the game highlighted Black generations and community traditions that have shaped Brooklyn’s identity. 

African dancers opened the night with bright colors and pounding drums that energized the arena and set a vibrant tone.

A cookout-style dance-off followed, as Boomers, Gen X, Gen Y, and Gen Z playfully competed over which generation produced the best music and moves during a pregame “Black Family Reunion” activation staged with Brooklyn-based platform The Lay Out. 

The Nets hosted a pregame fireside chat on Black health and wellness, where artist and entrepreneur Styles P spoke with local community groups about mental, physical, and emotional healing. 

KBT Temple and Praise performed Lift Every Voice & Sing and the National Anthem before tipoff, and the Brooklynettes and Team Hype honored Black social dance at halftime alongside the New York Liberty’s Timeless Torches, bridging generations. 

The programming was a copious investment in Blackness that extended beyond the court.

Before the halftime show, fans were welcomed by NBA legend Julius Erving, popularly known as Dr. J. 

Though his appearance was brief and silent, the arena erupted in cheers as the iconic player watched his hometown team secure a meaningful win during Black History Month. 

Dr. J’s presence was especially fitting: he won championships in both the ABA and NBA and inspired generations of players, including Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, and Vince Carter. 

His Nets jersey — No. 32 — hangs in the rafters.

Julius Erving was honored during the game. His Nets jersey sits in the rafters at the Barclays Center.

Other NBA teams also hosted Black History Month-themed games. 

The Boston Celtics celebrated with the NBA Pioneers Classic against the Milwaukee Bucks on February 1, honoring the league’s first Black players, according to The Boston Herald.

The Bucks followed with their Black Excellence Game versus the Bulls on February 3, according to TMJ4, NBC Milwaukee, while the San Antonio Spurs marked Black Heritage Night against the Dallas Mavericks on February 7 with in-game spotlights and community programming, according to The Associated Press.

The Atlanta Hawks’ Black History Month game versus the Washington Wizards is scheduled for February 26. 

Even so, the Nets’ February 9 game offered one of the most performative celebrations, reflecting a season-long commitment to honoring Black culture.

As Brooklyn Downtown Star previously reported, the Nets’ embrace of hip-hop culture separates them from most franchises. 

The team collaborates with the Notorious B.I.G. estate, with the Brooklyn Camo City Edition uniforms — first introduced in 2018–19 and revived for the 2025–26 season — paying tribute to the late rapper and his Bedford-Stuyvesant roots. 

The arena reflects Brooklyn’s hip-hop legacy, from Biggie-themed nights and halftime programming to the influence of Jay-Z, who advocated for the team’s return to Brooklyn.

No Love Between St. John’s & Providence on Valentine’s Day

BQE Admin on February 18, 2026

Heated brawl breaks out in Providence as Red Storm win 11th straight

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

It was a heated affair on Valentine’s Day as the St. John’s Red Storm looked to avenge their lone BIG EAST loss of the season. This time in enemy territory, the Johnnies looked to fend off a physical Friars team that handed them a 77-71 loss at Madison Square Garden to kick off 2026.

The arena was a powder keg as Bryce Hopkins made his return to Rhode Island after transferring to St. John’s for his final year of eligibility. It felt like something was destined to happen after the first matchup between the Johnnies and Friars, and the home crowd was on their toes waiting for that spark.

That spark came five minutes into the second half of a tight ballgame, as the former Friar was fouled hard from behind. The aggressor, Providence’s Duncan Powell, was quickly swarmed by red shirts as he and Dillon Mitchell took swings at each other.

Six total players were ejected from the game. For the Friars, Powell and graduate guard Jaylin Sellers were thrown out, with the former handed a three-game suspension for “combative actions.” 

St. John’s went without Mitchell for the majority of the second half, ejected for attempting to punch Powell. Ruben Prey, Sadiku Ibine Ayo and Kelvin Odih were tossed for leaving the St. John’s bench during the scrap.

Still, for the visitors, the grit needed to win came between the lines, rather than in extra-curricular activities.

“We didn’t initiate anything,” commented Head Coach Rick Pitino after the game. “We talked about toughness as not turning the ball over, creating steals, getting offensive rebounds. That’s what we believe toughness is, and that’s all we talked about throughout the entire time.”

Pitino, who previously coached at Providence and led the Friars to the Final Four in 1987, was disappointed in the home crowd, who seemed bloodthirsty.

“I think the crowd lost objectivity of what they’re here for,” he said. “If they’re just here to poke fun at Bryce Hopkins and not get a win for the Friars, that’s not the Friars I remember in ‘87.”

Play resumed after a 20-minute delay, and the Red Storm quickly asserted themselves. Free throws and a quick bucket. They would keep their foot on the gas and see out the win, 79-69. It was the 11th consecutive victory for St. John’s dating back to their loss to Providence. Compared to the Johnnies, Providence has lost all but three contests since their upset win at MSG.

“I feel like we responded in the best way possible,” said Zuby Ejiofor, who finished with 14 points to lead St. John’s starters. “We were without [four] of our players and you know, Dylan [Darling] does what Dylan has been pretty much doing for a big stretch now. So I’m really proud of the guys, knowing how we competed for 40 minutes.”

Darling finished with a game-best 23 points, also picking up eight rebounds and three steals. 17 of those points came in the second half, where he was instrumental in the visitors pulling away and maintaining a lead down the stretch.

Darling’s play has been instrumental during the current winning streak and it’s clear St. John’s will need their dynamic guard performing come postseason in both the BIG EAST and NCAA tournament.

“Somebody needed to step up, I just try to bring energy,” said Darling about his performance. “We knew we needed to focus on every small detail to win the game, and that was really just our focus.”

On Monday Darling was named Metropolitan Basketball Writers Association Player of the Week, following Ejiofor who won the honor the week before. Darling also picked up his first appearance on the BIG EAST Weekly Honor Roll.

The Johnnies are back at MSG this weekend to finish the season series with the Creighton Bluejays. Tip-off is set for noon on Saturday the 21. 

After this weekend, only a pair of home games remain in the Red Storm schedule. On February 28 they welcome Villanova to Madison Square Garden, before hosting Georgetown in their penultimate regular season matchup on March 3.

Next week the Red Storm head back to New England, this time to play the #5 UConn Huskies in Hartford, CT. It’s sure to be another thrilling contest with the St. John’s streak still going strong and UConn looking to answer following their defeat earlier this month.

Reliving the Years of the Cardiac Cosmos

BQE Admin on February 18, 2026

Fans gather for documentary screening about club’s 2015 US Open Cup triumph

Cosmos fans during the 2015 US Open Cup clash against New York City FC. Photo by Greg Jenkins.

By Noah Zimmerman

noah@queensledger.com

A crowd of a few dozen shared food, drinks, and New York Cosmos memories in Astoria last Wednesday night. Director Greg Jenkins and a passionate group of local soccer fans gathered at Rivercrest on Ditmars Boulevard to enjoy the first public screening of “Cardiac Cosmos 2015 US Open Cup,” a 36-minute documentary produced by Battle For New York.

Jenkins began documenting local soccer around the time the Cosmos made their return in the North American Soccer League and New York City FC made their debut in Major League Soccer. He noticed a unique possibility for a multi-team “derby” in the country’s deepest sports market.

In 2015 he realized something special was brewing on the pitch as the Cosmos had recently played against the New York Red Bulls in 2014. There was a three-team rivalry on the horizon, and local fanbases were reaching a fever point.

“I attended 45 total matches in 2015,” said Jenkins about the pivotal local soccer season. This included the first matchup between New York City and the Red Bulls, which was also turned into a short documentary.

Now with the Cosmos return on the horizon, it’s a perfect time for Jenkins and other local fans to revisit the glory days of the Cosmos.

“The Cosmos coming back is really exciting, especially since they have a stadium of their own, it’s something they never had even in the Pelé days.” said Jenkins. “I think it’s a great way to get people excited about the new season.”

The crowd seemed to travel a decade back in time during the screening, which included a significant amount of game and TV footage. The Cosmos fans booed New York City players and fans, jeered the referee’s calls (and lack thereof), and cheered on every play as if it was happening live.

“It was great to see that, it was like everyone was reliving the moments. Of all the games, I think this one really deserved to have this sort of treatment,” added Jenkins. “It took over 10 years to make this movie and it shows there’s still interest. It’s almost like the footage has gotten more valuable over time.”

“I loved getting to see all the faces in the documentary,” commented one person in attendance. “It really got me thinking about where these people all are now and I’m excited to see a lot of them again.”

The documentary brought back great memories of the Cosmos’ golden years. Now the club will attempt a comeback in 2026!

In recent years, the Open Cup was dealt blows to its legitimacy as a major competition. MLS, the only 1st division soccer league in the nation, opted to pull first teams from the competitions, instead sending reserves and academies to take on opposition from lower leagues.

“It’s an unfortunate decision for sure for MLS to not put their first teams into the Open Cup, MLS has disrespected the US Open Cup and that’s unfortunate, but maybe it gives teams like the Cosmos or Brooklyn FC a chance to beat their second team.”

The film concluded with a recap of the famed penalty shootout where the Cosmos came from behind late to miraculously defeat their new neighbors. The crowd erupted into celebration as the players and fans on screen cheered.

“Oooooh soy de Cosmos! (Oh, I’m for the Cosmos)” they chanted. “Es un sentimiento que no puedo parar (it’s a feeling I can’t stop).”

Rivercrest is a home to plenty of soccer watch parties, and they will be the home for Cosmos watch parties in 2026. They’re also frequented by local amateur and semi-pro teams like New York International FC and national team supporters groups like American Outlaws Queens.

“Cardiac Cosmos 2015 U.S. Open Cup” is now available to watch online at https://youtu.be/FUUSbMQ5kzg. To see more from Battle For New York, you can visit battlefornewyork.com.

Blow the Ram’s Horn

BQE Admin on February 18, 2026

Willis Hodges dies in Williamsburg in 1890, but his legacy lives on. Photo via NJG.

Willis Hodges, the founder of America’s first Black-owned newspaper, was a prominent figure in Williamsburg. 

GEOFFREY COBB | gcobb91839@Aol.com

Author, “Greenpoint Brooklyn’s Forgotten Past

When people think about African American communities in Brooklyn, people might think about East New York, Brownsville or Flatbush, not Williamsburg, but the area was once home to a thriving Black community founded by an amazing, but forgotten Brooklynite, Willis Hodges. Though Hodges’ name is largely forgotten today, his life story and achievements deserve to be recalled, especially during Black History Month.

His life had so many adventures, it seems as if it came straight from a film script. Although Willis Hodges’ life may seem contrived, it is not. Born free to unenslaved African American parents in Virginia in 1815, Hodges learned to read and write at a time when many whites were illiterate and only a handful of African Americans could articulate their stories.  Nat Turner’s rebellion cast a shadow over the Hodges family when his older brother was falsely accused of abetting Tuner in his slave revolt and was imprisoned.  Hodges’ older brother escaped the jail and headed to New York. Incensed whites took vengeance on Hodges’ family, nearly blinding his mother and killing all the family livestock.

Willis arrived in Williamsburg in 1836, where he soon bought land and became a deacon in a local black church. He also became one of the founders of Colored School #2 in Williamsburg, where black children learned to read and write.  Willis also quickly joined the local abolitionist movement and became a stationmaster on the Underground Railroad. Angered by a pro-slavery editorial in a New York newspaper, Hodges paid to print a rebuttal, but his article was stuck in the back of the paper where no one would see it.  When he confronted the publisher, the man told him to start his own newspaper which he did, starting the weekly Ram’s Horn in 1840. His paper featured articles by Fredrick Douglass and John Brown, the leader of the unsuccessful attack on the Harper’s Ferry arsenal. The Ram’s Horn became the first newspaper ever in America published by an African American.

Douglass urged Hodges to “blow away” on his horn, predicting that its “wild, rough, uncultivated notes may grate on the ear of the refined,” but would “be pleasurable to the slave, and terrible to the slaveholder.”

Hodges and Brown became good friends, and it is entirely likely that Hodges knew about Brown’s plans to foment a slave rebellion before the attack on Harper’s Ferry. It’s also possible that Brown pleaded with Hodges to join him in the raid, but we will never know because as soon as Brown was arrested Hodges burned all of his correspondence with Brown.

During the Civil War Hodges disappeared from Brooklyn and there is speculation that he served the Union Army as a scout. At the end of the war, Hodges returned to his birthplace and was chosen to represent Virginia at the constitutional convention of 1867-1868, which marked the first time ever blacks sat alongside whites as lawmakers. Hodges’ leading role at the convention singled him out for attacks in the pro-confederate Southern press, which was openly hostile to African Americans taking part in Reconstruction. Aligning himself with the Radical Republicans, Hodges supported the enfranchisement of blacks, demanded the disenfranchisement of former Confederates, and sought the racial integration of schools. When Democrats returned to power in Virginia at the end of Reconstruction, Hodges returned to Williamsburg where he lived until his death in 1890.

Hodges published his autobiography chronicling his unique African American story, which he dedicated to the free Blacks of the South. Hodges home and store on South Fifth Street were demolished to construct the Williamsburg Bridge, so the physical evidence of his time in Williamsburg is gone, but his important legacy as a writer and abolitionist lives on and should be remembered during Black History Month.

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