atricia Williams of Newark is a diehard Knicks fan. She challenges anyone who criticizes the team she has cheered for her entire life. She follows the exploits of Latrell Sprewell and Allan Houston with the obsessiveness of a woman who knows her basketball.


None of this would matter except that her son, Eric, plays for the Celtics. On most game nights, Patricia doesn't worry about dividing her loyalties. Last night, her two loves were at odds on the FleetCenter parquet. Eric Williams made two key plays (one offensive, one defensive) in the final 33 seconds to give Boston a 101-100 win over New York. Back in Newark, the emotions were mixed.