The former Michael Knight croons. The Mag's Chris Palmer swoons.

As if a night at the Garden with the Knicks' high-powered, free-wheeling offense (fine, they were playing the Clippers) wasn't enough of a treat, who do I see coming out of the tunnel during pre-game warmups? Why it's none other than the NBA's number one fan, David Hasselhoff.

With his numerous contributions to society (Knight Rider, Baywatch, Baywatch Nights and Baywatch Hawaii), the Knicks couldn't help but let Hasselhoff sing the national anthem. Somehow I don't think Francis Scott Key intended "and the home of the brave" to be a punch line. But there wasn't a dry eye on the Clippers bench -- from all the laughter.

After the game, Hasselhoff, accompanied by his lovely wife Pamela, congratulated the Knicks on their mopping of the inexperienced Clips. "Hey man, great game," David said to Glen Rice. "You guys had mad game." Or something.

Hasselhoff also managed to squeeze in a couple of Baywatch plugs, like "Byron Scott once told me he had a list of all the players who tape Baywatch." Do tell.

A few minutes later, Hasselhoff and Chris Childs made small talk about quasi-superstardom. "Doing a Broadway show is a lot like a basketball game," said the actor. "You gotta be strong in the fourth quarter."

After Spree -- dressed in a multi-colored Coogi sweater, baggy jeans and brown Timbs -- was treated to the Byron Scott anecdote, Hasselhoff handed him a business card. "Come see my show, Jekyll and Hyde," he insisted. "Here's my number. Knock on my door. We'll have lunch."

"OK, sounds good. I'ma do that," replied Latrell. "Where is it at again?"

Maybe I'll go see the show too. I wonder if K.I.T.T. is free.

C-Palm writes hoop for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at christopher.palmer@espnmag.com.