‘Bing bong’: Two words have made America lose its minds

It’s the two words that have seen the US go nuts over one of its most storied NBA franchises. But has it already jumped the shark?

The Knicks have high hopes. Photo: Twitter and Getty Images

A new phrase has entered the sporting lexicon in the US now that the New York Knicks are finally good but fans fear it may have already triggered the side’s downfall.

The Knicks started the 2021-22 season with a bang, going 5-1 to lead the Eastern Conference before today’s 113-104 loss to the Toronto Raptors handed them a second loss for the year.

But the city has been swept by two little words as “bing bong” takes over.

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The phrase gained traction in a viral video from one-minute street talk show Sidetalk, which is run by two New York University students Trent Simonian and Jack Byrne. The video has over 5.7 million views on Twitter and 300,000 on YouTube.

Outside the Knicks’ season opener — a 138-134 overtime win over the Boston Celtics — fans lost their minds over victory as fan Jordie Bloom said “bing bong” straight into the camera.

It’s a blink if you miss it moment but it’s grown legs in New York and across social media.

Watch the video here. WARNING: Explicit language

The man behind "bing bong". Photo: Twitter / sidetalknyc

The Knicks fans are smelling success. Photo: Twitter / sidetalknyc

Bloom reportedly said the phrase comes from something as New York as the Knicks.

“The phrase is derived from the subway doors closing: ‘Stand clear of the closing doors please; bing bong,’” Bloom said.

It’s also the intro sound before the Sidetalk videos and rapper Nems also released a song in August titled “Bing Bong”.

It’s quickly swept into prominence for the Knicks, as the team itself posted the phrase on a highlight last month.

Bing bong pic.twitter.com/Rb7NrB15OA

— NEW YORK KNICKS (@nyknicks) October 23, 2021

He’s far from the only one.

New York comedian Desus Nice of duo Desus and Mero tweeted the phrase, even Knicks star Evan Fournier.

Great TEAM win tonight !!
Bing Bong!

— Evan Fournier (@EvanFourmizz) October 27, 2021

Fournier also dished out a “bing bong” for RJ Barrett after he hit a career-high 35 points against the New Orleans Pelicans last week.

But fans fear that the “bing bong" may have gone a step too far.

The Athletic’s Knicks beat writer Fred Katz posted: “They just played a “Bing bong!” track on the loudspeaker after Evan Fournier hit a 3 at MSG.”

Evan Fournier shoots his shot. Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images

Others blamed the loss against the Raptors on the voice of the Knicks Mike Breen.

Just before the end of the first quarter, Knicks star Julius Randle drained a three-pointer when Breen dropped the phrase.

While the Knicks kicked out to a 15-point lead in the second quarter, the Raptors brought it back to four points at the half before Toronto led by 12 at the end of the third quarter.

mike breen saying “bing bong” on the broadcast tonight might’ve turned into a curse of the knicks. bing bong is for the streets not the msg network

— sean yoo (@SeanYoo) November 2, 2021

Ever since Mike Breen said Bing Bong, we started playing terrible.

— Trav B Ryan (@travbryanmusic) November 2, 2021

Mike Breen just Bing Bong'ed. I can't tell if that's awesome or if that means Bing Bong is officially dead like when your parents joined Facebook... I mean Meta. #NBA

— Mark Gottlieb (@MarkGottlieb) November 2, 2021

Forget #BingBong. It's more like #UhOh at MSG right now. What's going on with the #Knicks?

— Kevin Maher (@KMaherNews12) November 2, 2021

Unpopular opinion: let this be the death of bing bong https://t.co/tP9pmjePsE

— Alex Wolfe (@thealexwolfe) November 2, 2021

An original member of the NBA as the New York Knickerbockers, the Knicks have been one of the most league’s most storied franchises who have been painfully short of success.

Having won just the two titles in the franchises 75-year history, the fans are desperate for any kind of success.

The past 22 seasons since the last time the Knicks were in the NBA Finals have not been kind to the franchise, making the playoffs seven times and going further than the first round just twice.

But the Knicks appear to have turned a corner after making a shock run to the playoffs last season before being bundled out in the first round by the Atlanta Hawks.