There’s a Chili’s about 2 miles from my house.

I can’t really explain why, but I love Chili’s - even though I’ve only been there 5-6 times in my entire 34 years on this beautiful earth.

It just makes me smile - it’s a unique version of the American Dream.

This past Monday evening, I had a few hours to kill before picking up my wife at LAX after her trip to Montreal for Formula 1.

While I admittedly didn’t do anything nearly as cool, I was recovering from the holiday weekend in my own special way and was craving about 3 different types of food.

I knew Chili’s would be able to give me what I needed.

To my surprise, it was full when I walked in - save for one stool at the bar. Of course.

Luckily, the Knicks game was on. They were sweeping the Cavs on their way to their first NBA Finals since 1999.

I overheard the bartender say: “I’m happy for them - their owner sucks but they have an awesome fanbase.”

That line stuck with me.

I’m from LA, mind you - so it’s Purple & Gold ‘til i die, but I started thinking about the differences between the two fanbases - and cities at large. Both iconic, but very different.

See, Laker games are known for courtside celebrities, but when you start to list the names: Floyd Mayweather, Adam Sandler, Lou Adler, and of course, Jack Nicholson, you realize none of them are actually from LA. In fact, many of them are from New York.

In many ways, LA is famous because of the people who go there.

New York is famous for the people who are from there.

Even as an Angeleno myself - it’s hard to deny it.

You really felt the passion of Knicks fans this year, particularly on the road. They are die-hards.

Of course, fans travel to road games, but rarely do you see the big names at each road game. Chalamet, Stiller, Lee, Fat Joe…they we’re basically at every away game. So much so that Cavs owner Dan Gilbert said he would ban any season ticket holder from his arena for life if they sold a playoff ticket to a Knicks fan.

Naturally, celebrity will make these stories more prevalent in the attention cycle, and while I’m not one to particularly give a damn about celebrities myself, I think it’s been a net positive this time around.

Because it sheds light on a core foundation of this letter…

How many other things drive people to act like this?

To spend time, money, and more to follow a sports team around the world?

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: it’s not automated, it’s not scripted, it’s uniquely human. It’s a form of identity that’s stood tall against cultural deterioration.

We’re gonna see alot more of it this summer for the World Cup, and I will be watching.

Here are ten good songs. I bet you’ll like at least one…

RP WEEKLY!!!!