New York is a state that takes its sports seriously. It’s the home of two MLB teams (the Yankees and the Mets), three NHL teams (the Rangers, the Islanders, and the Sabres), two NBA teams (the Knicks and the Nets), one NFL team (the Buffalo Bills), and one MLS team (New York City FC). The New York Red Bulls (MLS), the Giants and the Jets (both NFL) are New York teams that are technically based in New Jersey.
That’s a lot of teams and doesn’t even begin to cover all of them. There are also all the minor league teams for the professional sports teams listed above and all the NCAA teams as well. Unless you’re a fan, most people don’t know just how big a sport’s minor leagues are. The American Hockey League, for example, has three teams in Upstate New York alone.
This love of sports explains why sports betting has taken off so quickly in New York. As soon as online sports betting went live in New York in January 2022, New Yorkers were ready to go. The most popular sports to bet on in New York are football, basketball, hockey, and baseball. Golf and MMA betting are also huge. Betting on college sports is also legal, except for games played by college teams based in New York state.
The most important New York betting tips for new sports bettors are to stick to a sport you know well, compare odds from several bookmakers to make sure you’re getting the best deal, and never go over the budget you’ve set for yourself.
Even if you only bet following your heart and not the statistics, New York has produced more than enough athletes making sure that you can almost always bet on a hometown hero. Keep reading to learn about some of the GOATs of New York sports.
Mickey Mantle, Spavinaw, OK
Mickey Mantle was one of the first true sports celebrities and is still considered one of the greatest baseball players of all time. Despite being born in Oklahoma, Mantle is seen as a true New Yorker since he spent his entire career playing for the NY Yankees. He played for the Yankees from 1951-68, primarily as a center fielder.
Mantle is still considered one of the most powerful sluggers of all time, however, his place in the record books doesn’t quite reflect his skill. He played in an era before the use of steroids, so he was outpaced during the years where performance enhancing drugs tainted the sport.
During his career Mantle was a seven-time World Series winner, the AL MVP three times, an All-Star 20 times and won the Golden Glove Award in 1962, the Triple Crown in 1956, and was AL batting champion in 1956. He is honored in Monument Park, the open-air museum inside Yankee Stadium.
Sue Bird, Long Island
Sue Bird is one of the greatest female basketball players of all time. Even as a teenager she showed immense promise. In high school Bird was named the New York State Player of the Year in 1998 after she led her team to and won the state championship. After a university career in Connecticut, she joined the WNBA. She played for the Seattle Storm from 2002-2022.
Alongside her professional career, Bird also competed in the Olympics. With Team USA she won gold medals in 2004, 2008, 2012, 2016, 2020. Bird has had an important impact on women’s sports and has helped to popularize the WNBA.
Derek Jeter, Pequannock Township, NJ
Though technically born New Jersey, Derek Jeter is a New York sports legend. He fell in love with the Yankees after going to a game as a child and made it his mission to join the team. He became one of the greatest shortstops in history and spent his entire career with the Yankees (1995-2014).
With the Yankees Jeter won five World Series, was named an All-Star 14 times, and was the World Series MVP in 2000. He won the Silver Slugger Award five times and the AL Hank Aaron Award twice. Jeter became such a cultural icon that he featured in the 2010 buddy cop movie The Other Guys in both a cameo role and as a catalyst for the plot.
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Harlem
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar is one of the greatest players the NBA has ever seen. Unsurprisingly, he was the 1st round draft pick in 1969. He began his career with the Milwaukee Bucks but had his real success once he transferred to the Los Angeles Lakers in 1975. He was a key part of the Lakers Showtime Era.
During his career on the court, Abdul-Jabbar won six NBA championships, was named Finals MVP twice and overall MVP six times and was named an All-Star 19 times. His iconic #33 jersey was retired by both the Bucks and the Lakers. Abdul-Jabbar set the NBA’s all-time scoring record in 1984 with a stunning 38,387 points. This remained the record until 2023 when LeBron James seized the crown.
Vince Lombardi, Brooklyn
It takes a lot to get a trophy named after you. Vince Lombardi’s career as a football player was short — he briefly played with the Wilmington Clippers and the Brooklyn Eagles in the 1930s. Where he really made his mark was a coach.
He began coaching in 1937 and worked his way up to the NFL by 1954 when he took over as the offensive coordinator for the New York Giants. Lombardi had his biggest impact as the head coach for the Green Bay Packers from 1959-1967. During those few years he led the team to five NFL Championships and two Super Bowl wins. Though it was short, his career is still an inspiration today.
Breanna Stewart, Syracuse
Breanna “Stewie” Stewart is a power forward in the WNBA. Just like Sue Bird, she spent her college years at the University of Connecticut before beginning her WNBA career with the Seattle Storm. She currently plays for the New York Liberty and was named one of the WNBA’s top 25 players in its history.
Stewart has also enjoyed an international career, playing with Shanghai Baoshan Dahua (2016-18), Dynamo Kursk (2018-19), UMMC Ekaterinburg (2020-22), and Fenerbahçe SK (2022-23). Combining an international career with an American one has brought more attention to the sport and helped to increase its profile worldwide.
Natasha Hastings, Brooklyn
Sprinter Natasha Hastings comes from a family of athletes. Her mother was a top sprinter as well and she has cousins who are professional soccer players. After a successful high school and college sprinting career, Hastings started winning medals on the international stage. She won gold for the 4x400m relay in the 2008 and 2016 Olympics. She has also won 11 gold medals at World Championship events between 2007-2017.
In recent years, Hastings has created a social media presence where she shares insights into her training, what it’s like to be a professional athlete, the importance of mental health, and other topics. She has become a role model in many ways.
