He has Knicks fans believing they can go all the way \u2014 to heaven.<\/p>\n
A Long Island bishop who used to play college hoops is using his beloved Knicks<\/a> and their biblical 13-game postseason winning streak to get New Yorkers closer to God.<\/p>\n \u201cLike Peter, James, and John were called from fishing nets, I was called from basketball nets,\u201d Bishop John Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre told The Post near the altar of St. Agnes Cathedral.<\/p>\n Bishop John Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre is using his beloved Knicks and their biblical 13-game postseason winning streak to get New Yorkers closer to God. Lone Pine Press for NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cNew York Knicks, 2026, we\u2019re so grateful to you,\u201d he said, \u201cFor the wonderful way you\u2019ve turned Madison Square Garden again to just a magical place, and brought so many New Yorkers together.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n The former point guard for Princeton University\u2019s JV team in the late 1970s had his spiritual outlook shaped by both his play and the two-time title-winning Knicks of the era <\/a>\u2014 especially \u201cunselfishness\u201d from fellow Tiger forward Bill Bradley.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cThey formed me in so many ways,\u201d Barres said of watching the 1970 and 1973 NBA champs<\/a> as a boy.<\/p>\n There are few more jovial than Barres that half a century of agony in the garden may finally end with the Knicks currently up 2-0 over the Spurs<\/a> in the NBA Finals.\u00a0<\/p>\n The former point guard for Princeton University\u2019s JV team in the late 1970s had his spiritual outlook shaped by both his play and the two-time title-winning Knicks of the era. Lone Pine Press for NY Post<\/p>\n Westchester-born Barres, who, like Brunson, wore No. 11, has remained deeply rooted in Catholicism\u2019s connection to sports \u2014 especially at the youth level on LI \u2014 ever since his playing days.\u00a0 Lone Pine Press for NY Post<\/p>\n Barres is exemplifying their long-awaited title run by teaching Long Island\u2019s 1,000 newly confirmed Catholics and others to \u201cstep up\u201d their starting roles as \u201chumble, compassionate\u201d lights of Christ.\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI use the example of Jalen Brunson stepping up with his three pointers \u2014 his management of the floor, the wonderful way he passes, the wonderful way he drives to the basket, the wonderful way he reads the other team,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m mesmerized by Jalen \u2014 just watching him, his unselfishness, and just how he does what he does.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cI use the example of Jalen Brunson stepping up with his three pointers \u2014 his management of the floor, the wonderful way he passes, the wonderful way he drives to the basket, the wonderful way he reads the other team,\u201d he said. Lone Pine Press for NY Post<\/p>\n \u201cLike Peter, James, and John were called from fishing nets, I was called from basketball nets,\u201d Bishop John Barres of the Diocese of Rockville Centre told The Post near the altar of St. Agnes Cathedral. Lone Pine Press for NY Post<\/p>\n Westchester-born Barres, who, like Brunson, wore No. 11, has remained deeply rooted in Catholicism\u2019s connection to sports \u2014 especially at the youth level on LI \u2014 ever since his playing days.\u00a0<\/p>\n He even hands out priest cards showing him making a layup at the Ivy League school\u2019s Jadwin Gym.<\/p>\n \u201cI think the Holy Spirit prepared me humanly through the basketball experience,\u201d the Bishop said.<\/p>\n The cards also show a dunk-on-the-devil message, \u201choliness and mission GO FOR IT!\u201d\u00a0which takes inspiration from a motto by Pope John Paul II, a talented athletic skier himself.<\/p>\n Barres too has been a major advocate for athletics being connector to faith \u2014 he even wrote a \u201cya gotta believe!\u201d letter about the 1969 Mets \u2014 and once helped a young man land a role with Hofstra-turned-Villanova\u2019s legendary coach, Jay Wright.<\/p>\n