The war for New York’s baseball is often played out with bats and gloves. But sometimes, the most intense action happens on social media. With the Yankees suffering a 12-6 loss to the Mets on July 5 at the Subway Series opener—marking their sixth straight defeat—one athlete decided he’d remind folks who actually has the upper hand.

In the eye of the storm was New York Knicks veteran Josh Hart. As the Yankees were getting torn apart at Citi Field, Hart took to X to post a simple yet defiant message to his followers. In the middle of a six-run deficit, Hart boldly declared to the world, “Just so yall know…its a Yankee city.” And that tweet quickly became viral, but probably not for the reasons he expected. It served as gasoline on an already raging fire.

This wasn’t the first time that Hart publicly backed the Bronx Bombers. When the Mets signed star player Juan Soto, he posted “Still Go Yanks!”

This time, his jab directly challenged Soto’s own claim about the city’s baseball hierarchy. At his introductory press conference, Soto made his perspective clear. “It’s been a Mets town for a long time, so I think we just gotta bring it to the top,” the player had stated. “Definitely, championships are going to tell you whether it’s the Yankees or a Mets town at the end of the day.”

But Hart’s connection to the Yankees runs deeper than casual fandom. His loyalty is a legacy matter, a part of franchise history. He is the great-nephew of the legendary Elston Howard, the first African-American player in the Yankees’ history. He was a 12-time All-Star, an MVP, and a member of 6 World Series champions. His number is retired in Monument Park. For Hart, the Yankees are literally in his blood.

However, even a legacy rooted in Monument Park couldn’t shield him from the wrath of a rival fanbase. Hart’s poorly timed tweet opened the floodgates for a wave of online ridicule from every corner of the city.

Fans reacting to the viral tweet

The roasting began almost immediately, and it wasn’t just from anonymous fans. The criticism came from inside Hart’s own house… figuratively, of course!

His Knicks teammate and Cleveland Cavaliers star, Donovan Mitchell, a noted and passionate Mets fan, saw the ill-timed tweet. “Saying this down 6 is funny 😂 #LFGM.” Mitchell’s jab was surgically precise. Pointing out the Yankees were “down 6” highlighted the terrible timing of Hart’s boast. It made the “Yankee city” claim sound completely out of sync with reality.

Other fans took a different angle, choosing to attack the very foundation of Hart’s Yankees loyalty. “You’re not even a Yankees fan 🤣🤣🤣.” This comment wasn’t just baseless trash talk. Fans quickly unearthed years of old posts from Hart. Growing up in Silver Spring, Maryland, he was a vocal supporter of the Washington Nationals. Past tweets included messages like, “Let’s go Nats! #Natitude” and an apology to Metsies where he admitted, “grew up watching the Nats so you know how it goes.”

Another common line of attack focused on the psychology of Hart’s tweet. “Shouldn’t feel the need to say it if that’s truly the case 🗣️ #LGM.” This jab exposed the inherent weakness in Hart’s proclamation. The fan implies that Hart’s words were just empty noise. The real statement was the 12-6 final score and the Yankees’ sixth straight loss. If New York was, in fact, a “Yankee city,” the scoreboard would do all the talking. Hart’s need to say it out loud during a blowout loss felt defensive.

Some of the most brutal commentary came from fans who decided to weaponize Hart’s own employer against him. One fan delivered a devastating cross-sport burn. “Just so you know… the Yankees are just as irrelevant as the knicks.” This comparison hits hard because it invokes the Knicks’ infamous championship drought, which dates back to 1973. For generations of New Yorkers, the Knicks have been a symbol of postseason frustration.

Finally, some fans dismissed Hart’s comment as the rambling of someone clinging to a bygone era. “It ain’t the 90s anymore unc ✌️.” This generational jab framed the “Yankee city” argument as outdated nostalgia. This comment pokes at Hart, implying him as an ‘uncle’ with outdated opinions. The phrase “it ain’t the 90s anymore” directly attacks the foundation of Yankee pride: Their dynasty that won four titles between 1996 and 2000.

Well, while NYM celebrates, NYY is not happy, especially with the leadership’s casual take on the team’s losing streak. As the season runs deep, we are yet to experience the urgency from “Yankee city,” if at all that’s the case…