# Knicks in 5, from a 9-year-old at Ground Zero

> A boy reading his grandfather's name at the 9/11 memorial slipped in a sports prediction, and the crowd got a moment of lightness.
- Title: Knicks in 5, from a 9-year-old at Ground Zero · ABC7 New York
- Summary: A boy reading his grandfather's name at the 9/11 memorial slipped in a sports prediction, and the crowd got a moment of lightness. Grief and joy can share…
- Keywords: september 11, new york city, knicks, family, memorial, news, local, 9-year-old, Ground, Zero, ABC7 New York
- Source: ABC7 New York — https://abc7ny.com/post/boy-says-knicks-5-reading-grandfathers-name-during-9-11-ceremony/19824822
- Published: 2026-09-13T00:25:00+00:00
- Read time: 1 min
- Topics: september 11, new york city, knicks, family, memorial, news, local
## A lighter moment at Ground Zero
During Friday's 9/11 ceremonies in Lower Manhattan, the solemn roll call of names broke for something unexpected.

> There was a moment of levity at the 9-11 ceremonies on Friday.
## The boy at the microphone
Nine-year-old Andrew Rosenblum stepped up to read his grandfather's name among the victims honored at the memorial.
## Knicks in 5
After the name, Andrew added a call on his favorite New York teams. The sports prediction landed in the middle of the most solemn ceremony the city holds.
## He practiced all week
The families got their names about a week ahead. Andrew rehearsed four nights running, then woke up around 5:30 on Friday morning.

> We got the names like a week before it was happening so we practiced Monday night, Tuesday night and Wednesday night and Thursday night
## Optimistic about the Jets too
Asked about the season ahead, Andrew figured the Jets would do better than last year. A kid's forecast, delivered with total confidence.
## Why it stuck with people
Twenty-five years on, the ceremony is carried by grandchildren who never met the people they name. Andrew's joke was a grandson sounding like himself.
## Key takeaway

Grief and joy can share the same microphone. A kid reading a name he never got to say out loud made room for both.