Bernie Williams Performing National Anthem At Knicks Game Tonight
Bernie Williams, whose single “Go For It” is a Top 5 hit on the Smooth Jazz Top 20, will be performing the national anthem on his guitar tonight, November 6, at Madison Square Garden in New York in a game between the host New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers.
Williams, a five-time All Star with the New York Yankees, told the New York Post that he hopes to meet the Cavaliers’ LeBron James. James is considered one of the top basketball players in the world and the Knicks will certainly be looking to sign him after this season when he becomes a free agent. “I don’t know about meeting him,” says Williams, a longtime Knicks fan. “But my family is at least hoping to get a glimpse at LeBron. It’s going to be pretty exciting.”
Williams, who performed the national anthem at the debut of the new Yankee Stadium earlier this year, was not in attendance at the stadium on Wednesday, November 4, when the Yankees won their 27th World Series championship. He was in Las Vegas for the Latin Grammys as his latest CD, Moving Forward, was nominated for best instrumental album category. He did not win.
“The acceptance of critics has been encouraging,” Williams told the Post regarding his music. “And that is surprising. I would expect a certain amount of skepticism about a person known only for his experience in professional sports. I can’t deny that link has opened the door, but the music has to be there or the door would shut quickly. I got a lot of accolades in my baseball career. I am nowhere near that status in music, and I don’t think it’s about that anyway. They don’t keep stats in the music business. It’s about meeting people and, at the end of the day, challenging yourself to have a good time making good music.”