TALE OF THE TURNPIKE
Serby: It’s New York, New York, city so nice they named it twice
WHENEVER I feel the urge to relieve the buildup of momentary stress, I turn on my favorite Sinatra number: Start spreadin’ the news I’m leavin’ today I want to be a part of it Philadelphia, Philadelphia Oh wait. Don’t think was what Ol’ Blue Eyes ever crooned.
Look, no disrespect intended as Jalen Brunson and the Knicks begin their defense of Madison Square Garden against Big Bad Joel Em- biid and the 76ers.
No cracked Liberty Bell jokes here.
No They Boo Freakin’ Santa Claus in Philadelphia wisecracks here. No need. Feel free to check out Celebrity Row some time around 6 o’clock on Saturday night at the Mecca, otherwise known as Madison Square Garden. New York is, and has always been, a star town.
Contrast that next Thursday night with Game 3 at Wells Fargo Center. There is a reason why the Sixers have proposed a new 18,500-seat state-of-the-art arena on Market Street not far from City Hall.
Has anyone ever called Wells Fargo Center The World’s Most Famous Arena?
Pick one for history’s sake: Yankee Stadium, or Citizens Bank Park?
When was the last time — or the first time — you heard anyone refer to Philadelphia as the entertainment capital of the world?
Philadelphia, Philadelphia, a city so nice they named it twice. Oh wait. Those vulgar, expletive-spewing Eagles fans notwithstanding, there are many in the Philadelphia sportswriting fraternity that I like and respect very much.
They will have to forgive me for telling New York Post readers that it’s a nice place to visit but I wouldn’t want to live there. Nothing personal. Ever watch the movie “A Bronx Tale”? I have this recurring nightmare that Bronxborn Chazz Palminteri locks me and some friends inside a Philly bar and tells us ominously: “Now yooz can’t leave.”
Those aforementioned Eagles fans have had a jolly old time watching their boys slap the Giants around lately. The Eagles’ first Super Bowl win was all the more Rockyesque with Nick Foles at the controls.
Far be it from me to point out that the city had to wait 50 years after Norm Van Brocklin for another football championship.
Far be it from me to remind Philly that the New York Football Giants have four Lombardi trophies in the glass case inside 1925 Giants Drive. As for the Jets, no, they haven’t won a championship since Broadway Joe did it on Jan. 12, 1969, but it is imperative to point out that Rich Kotite was in such a hurry to leave Philadelphia that he returned to his New York roots to coach the Jets to a 4-28 record across two seasons.
The Phillies have won two World Series championships. That ties them with the Mets. That leaves them 25 shy of the Yankees.
The Flyers — Broad Street Bullies except when Islanders enforcer Clark Gillies pummeled Dave Schultz — have won two Stanley Cups. The Rangers have won four. The Islanders won four in a row once.
The 76ers hold a 3-2 edge in championships over the Knicks, but that won’t get Spike Lee down.
Writer Thomas Wolfe: “One belongs to New York instantly; one belongs to it as much in five minutes as in five years.”
No trashing Pat’s or Geno’s, two of Philadelphia’s crown cheesesteak palaces that I have indulged at. At least not by me:
“You tell me Philly cheesesteak or chicken parm hero, I’m taking chicken parm 10 out of 10 times,” colleague Paul Schwartz told The Post. “That’s a lot better than that shaved beef Velveeta cheese BS.”
Not one to pile on, Paul refrained from any mention of Essa-Bagel or Utopia Bagels or John’s
Pizza on Bleecker or a slice just about anywhere in the five boroughs or Katz’s Deli or Barney Greengrass or Elio’s or Park Side Restaurant or Le Bernardin or Emilio Ballato or ...
Travel Magazine: “The diversity of its inhabitants is matched only by the variety of things to do, from Central Park, the Empire State Building, Ellis Island, the worldrenowned museums, Times Square and Broadway, to the local flavor of each distinctive neighborhood and the hidden treasures they have to offer. And don’t forget the other four bustling boroughs: walk across the Brooklyn Bridge, eat ethnic food in Astoria, Queens, visit the Bronx Zoo, and take the Staten Island ferry for a glorious (and free!) view of Lady Liberty.”
I wish my old New York Post colleague Anthony “The Cuz” Gargano, the Pride of South Philly, the best of luck with his new ALLCITY network daily internetbased show. Nobody has ever seen Gargano and the Philly Phanatic at the same party FWIW. “Nobody cares the way a Philadelphia sports fan cares,” Gargano was quoted as saying in a recent Q&A in City Life. Oh yeah? Show up Saturday night at the World’s Most Famous Arena, Cuz. Knicks in seven. Yo Frankie boy: If I can make it there I’ll make it Anywhere It’s up to you... New York, New York.