Back from the land of Rocky

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I just stepped into my apartment after my trip to Philadelphia.  Honest to blog.  Other than an unhealthy obsession with Ben Franklin (who appears in a toga in one sculpture, which is fitting because I’m sure Ben would be down for a toga party), Philadelphia’s favorite son is the fictional film character Rocky Balboa.  Tourists flock from around the country to run up the “Rocky” steps.  Dozens did it while I watched. Many are surprised to learn that there is an art museum at the top.

Now, there are a lot of steps.  A LOT of steps.  This leads me to believe the Rocky was raising his hand in the air at the top because he was able to complete the monumental task of making it up there.

Still, people love their Rocky.  There was a line to get a picture taken with a bronze statue of Rocky as long as the line to get into Independence Hall.  Pop culture, 1.  American history, 0. 

It’s worth noting that when Crash won Best Picture it was widely considered one of the biggest updates in Best Picture history, second only to Rocky‘s win in 1976.  That year Rocky beat out essentials like Network, All the President’s Men, and Taxi Driver, along with Hal Ashby’s Wood Guthrie biopic Bound for Glory. I’m just as bitter over that as a resident of Philadelphia is over seeing people run up those damn steps. 

Anyway, it’s nice to be back in the Cleve where we cannot recreate the Spider-Man 3 Sandman attack and no one wants to recreate any scene out of American Splendor.  Cleveland.  Ah, Cleveland.