Sports Media Report
This September, basketball legend and MSG Networks’ Knicks analyst Walt “Clyde” Frazier became the first person to be honored as both a player and a broadcaster by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. To honor this remarkable achievement, the New York Knicks and MSG Networks have presented “Clyde” with a one-of-a-kind painting by Chris, the renowned artist known as “Poor Rupert.”
The beautiful painting (photo attached), named “Twice is Nice,” was presented to Clyde during a break in action at the Knicks/Hornets game on October 26th at Madison Square Garden.
Frazier was first inducted into the Hall of Fame as a player in 1987 after a storied career that included two world championships with the Knicks, and perhaps the greatest NBA Finals Game 7 ever played – 36 points, 19 assists, 7 rebounds and 4 steals against the Los Angeles Lakers in the 1970 NBA Finals.
After his legendary playing career, Frazier took to broadcasting, perfecting the craft and using creative wordplay, rhymes and expert analysis on his way to being recognized as one of the great television analysts in the history of basketball, earning the Hall of Fame’s prestigious Curt Gowdy Award for excellence in broadcasting this fall.
Frazier joined MSG Networks in 1987, first in radio, and then began his career on television for MSG Networks in 1992, earning critical accolades along the way, including three New York Emmy Awards.
The painting, a four-foot by five-foot acrylic and spray paint work on a birch wood panel, was created by Knicks fan Chris, the artist known as “Poor Rupert.” Chris, who’s from Freeport, Long Island, is a fine art painter, muralist and graffiti artist and his work can be seen across Long Island and throughout the five boroughs of New York. Chris’ inspirations are hip hop culture, graffiti, pop culture, retro cartoons and anime – his work utilizes vibrant colors and mood, motion and energy and complex compositions to join traditional imagery with futuristic visions.
“I created this piece to celebrate ‘Clyde’s’ second Hall of Fame honor and it’s an ode to his bold style and charisma,” said Chris. “I am so honored that I’m able to be a small part of this unbelievable journey that ‘Clyde’ has made.”
