For Patrick Ewing and The Garden crowd, Fat Tuesday was a different type of celebration. The Magazine's Anne Marie Cruz was courtside for the red-carpet treatment.

Holiday cheer permeated the air. Die-hard Knicks fans took their seats wearing Mardi Gras beads. Some schmoe from Queens even sunk a three-pointer to win a red Dodge Intrepid.

And Patrick Ewing came wrapped in black knee sleeves, white tape and a Christmas-y Sonics jersey.

Old sauce, sure. But the sight of New York's most loved and hated in enemy gear was just weird. Some reckless time-traveler must have stepped on a Mesozoic-era butterfly, changing the course of history. And in this altered reality, Knicks was suddenly spelled S-O-N-I-C-S, with a silent S-O.

Beat writers crowded Seattle's pregame locker room, shuffling about uncomfortably. When Ewing strolled out into the hallway, bodies poured out after him, blood rushing to a numb limb.

"'Mr. President! Mr. President!'" said Shannon Ribler, a Knicks equipment guy, mimicking the media types. Only Gary Payton, completely invisible tonight, remained behind, sitting hunched over as David Aldridge pumped him for next season's short list.

"It's sad because I only get to see Patrick once a year now," said Ribler."I told him I miss him."

And?

"He said, 'Where are my wooden hangers?!?' " Shannon said, grinning. "Same old Pat, joking around. I can't believe I forgot them. But look, everything's there, the way he's always asked for it."

He motioned to Ewing's locker. It was a surreal still life: A plate of red and green (team colors!) grapes. A basketball nestled next to his sneakers. And the familiar/unfamiliar No. 33 jersey, in green and red.

Outside, team lines blurred even further. Ewing poked his head into New York's players lounge, while another former Knick, David Wingate got some pre-game love from Mark Jackson, Charlie Ward and Rick Brunson. And later, as Ewing's video tribute played, the arena blew up. The same people who booed him out of town fired up an explosive roar that seemed to reverb endlessly. Both benches stood hollering and clapping. Come game time, opponents hugged and joked and pounded fists right up until the tip.

After the Knicks' 101-92 victory, the festive atmosphere thrummed on."Gate!" yelled Van Gundy to Wingate. "Your video is next!" Former Hoyas slapped each other's backs. And despite the loss, despite the fact that Seattle claims him now, Ewing radiated some sort of contentment, still buoyed by that three-minute ovation.

Home, bittersweet home.

Anne Marie Cruz writes for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail her at anne.marie.cruz@espnmag.com.