With Philadelphia and New York 108 miles apart and the New Jersey Turnpike between them, here's an off-beat look:
A symptomatic situation
Yankees fans aren't the only large contingent in Philadelphia this weekend; there's also the Infectious Diseases Society of America group. "Some would point out the coincidence of the Yankees and the infectious diseases convention coming to town in the same weekend," Ed Grose, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, told the Daily News. "However, I'm not going to go there."
Seeing a manabout a horse
We preface this by attributing it to US Weekly, which shares another tale about the vanity of Yankees star Alex Rodriguez. According to the gossip mag, a former A-Rod fling claims he has two painted portraits over his bed of himself — as a centaur (a half-man, half-horse figure). "He was so vain," the ex is quoted as saying. "It was ridiculous."
Are you ready for some football?
With the Eagles hosting the Giants at 1 and the Yankees and Phillies playing Game 4 tonight, it is the first time NFL and Series games matching teams from the same cities are being played on the same day at the same site. It's the third time in the past six years there has been an NFL and Series game at the same site, including last year when the Eagles hosted the Falcons before the Phillies hosted the Rays.
Yes, we know we're not in St. Petersburg
With TV ratings thus far up significantly — Thursday's Game 2 had a 44 percent increase over last year (the Rays' only win) — thebiglead.com makes this observation: "Are pinstripes and Pedro Martinez really this fascinating or do the Tampa Bay Rays simply offer the mediocre sizzle of a Steak-umm?"
Faces in the crowd
Actor Minka Kelly — who just happens to be Derek Jeter's girlfriend — was part of a live commercial for the Stand Up to Cancer organization, along with actor Terrence Howard, TV news personality Katie Couric and former Phillie John Kruk. … Phillies Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt, above, threw out the ceremonial first pitch. … The cast of the Fox show Glee sang the national anthem. … Army sergeant Jesse Neace sang God Bless America.
News
