You tell 'em, Elmer:
Rocky has about as much to do with how Philadelphians see themselves as Kathryn Hepburn and "The Philadelphia Story" do. Both movies represent us about as much as King Kong's climb represents the aspirations of the average New Yorker.
People on both sides of the statue thing seem to agree that this is not about art. But it is about image and the way the city sees itself.
This is about to touch off a class war between the blue-collars and bluebloods. The collars claim real Philadelphians are the folks who fill an arena every year for a projectile-vomiting competition known as Wing Bowl or boo Santa on network TV.
But hold up a minute. Before anybody starts trying to fit us all into that "crass" brothers straitjacket, let me point out a few things.
People were finding their way up the steps to the Philadelphia Museum of Art long before Rocky ever wore out a boxing glove with his face.
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A million a year show up at the museum, even if Rocky's not on the card.
Some show up in Phillies caps or Eagles jackets. They don't all take goat cheese on their steak sandwiches or consult a somme-lier before choosing a bottle of wine.
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It's like that in a world-class city. You have a few folks who will spend hours musing over a Brancusi statue and a few who can't eat their cereal if it's not in a bowl marked with the Eagles' team logo.
And a lot of people who can do both.
In order to succeed, during the campaign and ultimately in office, the next mayor needs not only to bring together both sides of Philadelphia, but also appeal to the two sides that exist within each individual Philadelphian.
And for the record... this is a shot and a beer and chablis town.