Stu Bykofsky: Use Eagles to pay it forward
POLITICIANS often are accused of talking out of both sides of their mouths. Our Favorite Governor often is accused of eating with both sides of his mouth. I say this with tender love.
POLITICIANS often are
accused of talking out of both sides of their mouths. Our Favorite Governor often is accused of eating with both sides of his mouth. I say this with tender love.
Politicians like Ed Rendell are a rarity. While he comes off as a shlubby "real guy," he is crafty, savvy, loyal.
With the possibility of a Philadelphia vs. Pittsburgh Turnpike Super Bowl laid out before him, Rendell said he would engage in the traditional wager between governors of states represented by the teams - by making a bet with himself.
Bipolar? No, crafty.
(This supposes that the Eagles beat the Cardinals and the Steelers beat the Ravens on Sunday. Predictions? Is an Eagle stronger than a Cardinal? Is a steelworker tougher than a Raven?)
Here's Rendell's wager: If the Steelers win, Philadelphia will send a pile of Pat's cheesesteaks to a senior center and a shelter in Pittsburgh. (Rendell adroitly sidestepped a potential political flap by choosing Pat's over the always-in-the-papers-for-one-thing-or-another Geno's.)
If the Eagles win, Pittsburgh will send Primanti Brothers sandwiches to a senior-citizen center and a homeless shelter in Philadelphia.
By directing the food to senior centers and shelters (and bringing public attention to them) Rendell was savvy. More about that in a moment.
As to loyal, Fast Eddie's a flat-out Eagles fan.
As a 30-year Eagles season-ticket holder, Rendell bleeds midnight green. Everyone knows it. If he denied his heart, and suddenly pretended to be as neutral as Switzerland, Pittsburgh fans wouldn't respect him and Eagles fans would despise him.
We know that Rendell's favorite job is dissecting Eagles games on Comcast SportsNet. The governor thing he squeezes in when time allows. Do you blame him? Who wouldn't rather be with Michael Barkann and Vaughn Hebron and especially Ray Didinger than with those ding-dongs in Harrisburg?
I crave a Pittsburgh-Philadelphia showdown, because it would make the Keystone State a winner no matter what. We could use some good news.
Pittsburgh's a decent, hardworking, blue-collar town, a little like Philly but friendlier, because it's practically in the Midwest. The Steelers have a glorious history, a storied owner - and they were the champions three years ago. That makes it our turn. (If Pittsburgh gets into the Super Bowl, I will turn from praise to vilification, of course. It's tradition for the People Paper to dis the opponent.)
Oh! Rendell's gift of food to centers and shelters: That great idea birthed the bet I've made with Pittsburgh Post-Gazette columnist Tony Norman.
The columnist rooting for the losing team will write a check to a charity in the winner's city. My charity will be St. John's Hospice for Men, 1221 Race St., Philadelphia 19107.
Why am I telling you this? Remember the movie "Pay It Forward," which pushed the idea of helping someone else for no reason at all?
If our Eagles do go all the way, we would have a reason. With our hearts filled and our spirits soaring, Eagles fans could pay it forward with a charitable gift and spread our delirious joy with the less fortunate.
Instead of that second bottle of champagne, or that fourth six-pack, or that third pizza or kielbasa, why not put that money in the mail to the hospice - or to any local charity?
It's the best way to celebrate, before we get our parade.
E-mail stubyko@phillynews.com or call 215-854-5977. For recent columns: