A chant celebrating New York’s diversity and the Knicks’ run to the NBA Finals went viral on social media, turning a 23-year-old fan into an online personality at the center of the city’s basketball craze.The New York Knicks won the NBA Finals 4-1, winning their first championship since the 1970s. The streets of Manhattan are filled with blue and orange as excitement builds across the city.Amid the basketball craze, a brief slogan posted online has become a cultural talking point far beyond the sport itself.“My mayor is a MuslimMy bagel is kosherMy Christian DiorKnicks Final Four”The phrase was originally shouted by 23-year-old Knicks supporter MD Ahnaf Hossain in a TikTok video tagged by prediction markets company Kalshi. The video went viral and the slogan even appeared on merchandise such as T-shirts and hats.The New York Times described the hymn as “pure New York City poetry.”Hussain later appeared in a follow-up video, updating the slogan to reflect the ongoing series:“My mayor is still a MuslimMy bagel is still JewishThe Pope is on our sideKnicks five points”The video was filmed in New York and even included a fun reference to the Pope as the Knicks continued their championship run.Talking about the origins of the chant, Hussein said his purpose was to bring people together. “I grew up with Jews, Muslims, Haitians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis,” he told The Washington Post.“I have to bring everyone together,” he added.Hussein himself reacted calmly to the sudden attention online: “I think sportsmanship is bringing a love that we haven’t seen in this city in a long, long time,” he told The New York Times. “I grew up with Jews, Muslims, Haitians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis,” Hussein said in an interview.The Washington Post identified him as someone who moved to Jamaica, Queens, from Bangladesh as an infant.
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‘My mayor is still a Muslim’This refers to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani. The quote emphasized that the city’s mayor is Muslim and celebrated New York’s multicultural identity. An updated version adds the word “still” to the slogan.“My bagel is still Jewish”Bagels are closely associated with New York’s Jewish community, which played a major role in the bagel’s popularity in the city. The collection is a playful homage to New York’s Jewish heritage and food culture.‘The Pope is on our side’That’s a tongue-in-cheek reference to a Knicks fan who went viral for celebrating in Vatican City during the NBA Finals. It jokingly suggests that even the Pope is rooting for the Knicks.“Knicks five points”Here are sports predictions. Fans often say “Team in X” to predict how many games their team will need to win a playoff series. After the Knicks lost a game, “Knicks in Four” was no longer possible, so Hussein updated the slogan to predict a championship in five games.“My Christian Dior”The collection references the famous French luxury fashion brand Christian Dior, commonly known as Dior.The viral moment was tied to the excitement of sports and New York’s broader cultural identity. The song blends humor, religion, fashion references and basketball prediction culture. It also surrounds much of American pop culture.
