Maybe it was a misteak.
The descendant of the brothers credited with creating the first Philly cheesesteak will make the renowned sandwiches at a Long Island pizzeria — while wearing head-to-toe Knicks gear — after losing a bet with the eatery’s co-owner.
Frank Olivieri, proud owner of Philadelphia’s iconic Pat’s King of Steaks, will begrudgingly wear orange and blue while slinging sandwiches at Dario’s Pizza in West Hempstead after the Knicks annihilated the 76ers 144-114 on Sunday.
Olivieri had instigated a friendly wager with the pizza parlor’s co-owner, Louis Cretella. The pair bet on which teams would win, Olivieri siding with the 76ers and Cretella with the Knicks — and the loser would have to travel to the other’s restaurant and cook for a day in the winning team’s gear.
“[Olivieri] wanted to make a wager on game three. I said, let’s bet the whole series,” Cretella told The Post.
Olivieri is accustomed to losing, but held out hope for his Philadelphia team until the bitter end.
“We always have a feeling that the 6ers, or anyone else in Philly are going to come back. We’re used to saying ‘maybe next year’,” he told The Post.
He shrugged off the impending ignominy, adding that he’s “been meaning to try [Dario’s] cheesesteak anyway.”
“I figured it would be a good way to extend some brotherly love to our brothers up in New York and on Long Island,” he added.
Olivieri and Cretella haven’t set a firm date for when the cheesesteak connoisseur will grace the Long Island pizzeria, but suggested that this may not be the end of their game.
“We’re willing to do another bet in the next round, whether it’s a place Cleveland or Detroit, so we’ll see,” Cretella said.
The Knicks advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals and will play the winner of the Detroit Pistons vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers series.
The friendly wager came about after Olivieri learned his ancestors’ cheesey, meaty creation had come under fire amid the NBA’s Eastern Conference Semifinals, where the Knicks were pitted against the 76ers.
Many eateries in New York City seized on the rivalry and cheekily desecrated their menus’ Philly cheesesteaks, including Dario’s Pizza.
Cretella changed the menu item from Philly cheesesteak to the Philly SUCKS cheesesteak in the restaurant’s computer system. Hard copy menus also have the “Philly” crossed out and “F*** Philly” in black marker written over it.
Olivieri took notice and reached out to place the bet he has now lost.
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