In a creative “home & home” series, John Romanelli and Joe Ferrara hosted Jim Toennies and me in the Big Apple at the new $1.5 billion Yankee Stadium Thursday night featuring A.J. Burnett vs. Pedro Martinez in a “must-win” game for the Yankees—the best team money can buy in this universe.
We wore our full Phillies-red “uniforms” and Yankee fans were good-natured, actually. The catcalls were sarcastically friendly. The fact that the Phillies had won decisively the previous night behind a gem pitched by Cliff Lee may have humbled the New Yawkers a bit.
We expected the most grief at the legendary Stan’s Sports Bar at 836 River Rd just across from the old Yankee Stadium, but they were good-natured true sports fans. This joint is like the Cubby Bear Lounge or Murphy’s at Wrigley Field.
We also could not resist a couple of NY hot dogs from a street cart (which I think the locals call “dirty dogs because the water they are boiled in comes directly from the Hudson River) and they tasted great…even tastier because they were $2 bucks a dog outside and $10 inside the stadium!
We had a drink in the very exclusive “Yankee Stadium Steaks” inside the park. Inside a glass display case must be 200 individual big serrated steak knives, each individually engraved for the owners, such as Rudy Giuliani, Derek Jeter, Alec Baldwin (who was at Game 1) and Donald Trump.
We also had the pleasure of meeting one of Joe’s pals at YSS–Peter DiTommaso (co-owner with brother Frank) of Interstate Industrial Corporation of NJ. Just as the old stadium was the “House that Ruth Built”, Peter built Yankee Stadium. I told him I thought he did a nice job. I think he appreciated that.
The pre-game show was star-studded with rapper Jay-Z (one of my favorites) and the sultry Alicia Keys. You knew this was big when it captured the attention of all of the Phillies and Yankees players (who like that genre) and they had their own video cameras to record the show.
The headline song was “Empire State of Mind”. It is a fine jiggle…but it still did not compare to the game-ending blaring melodic masterpiece by The Chairman of the Board—Francis Albert Sinatra singing “New York New York”.
Once the game began, we had excellent seats, courtesy of Joe. We were just 30 rows up off of the 1st base bag. We did not get the same attention as another season ticket holder 5 rows in front of us—former Governor George Pataki.
He actually wore a suit, tie, overcoat and scarf and looked very Governor-like. Either he still receives bodyguard protection or he has a couple of very big friends. He was gracious for pictures and autographs between innings. New Yorkers seem fond of him.
Ashton Kutcher and Demi Moore attended Game 2. But I did not see Kate Hudson anywhere cheering for her A-Rod. Though today’s Philadelphia Inquirer reports that Kate will be attending Game 3 in Philly.
The concourse area of Yankee Stadium is big and impressive with banners honoring the great players in Yankee history. Similarly, Monument Park in centerfield is an open air museum with monuments, plaques and the retired numbers of Yankee greats. The only four monuments are dedicated to Lou Gehrig, Babe Ruth, Mickey Mantle, Joe DiMaggio and manager Miller Huggins.
Lots of history has been transported to the new Yankee Stadium. And the tradition is undeniable. We had a truly excellent New York adventure. The Phillies did not play well enough to win. Losing just 3-1 and the series is now tied 1-1 and back in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia is now ready for Game 3 tonight featuring 2008 World Series MVP Cole Hamels
GO PHILLIES!