The boss of Philadelphia’s Pat’s King of Steaks wore a “Philly Sucks” T-shirt and worked at a Long Island eatery Wednesday after betting against the red-hot New York Knicks.
Pat’s owner Frank Olivieri worked at cheesesteak joint Dario’s in West Hempstead to make good on a wager he made as the Knicks and Philadelphia 76ers faced off in the Eastern Conference Semifinals — with New York eventually bludgeoning its way to a sweep.
“I’m over here, and I’m having a ball. I’m sweating my butt off in the kitchen, making cheesesteaks,” Pat’s owner Frank Olivieri told The Post, admitting he’s now pulling for New York to finish the job.
“If they beat the Sixers, they should definitely win the Finals.”
The bet came as Dario’s and other spots temporarily banned “Philly cheesesteaks” from their menus, with the restaurants owner and Knicks season ticket holder Louis Cretella rebranding their sandwich the “Philly sucks” cheesesteak.
The name went out on DoorDash menus on its way to going viral. It eventually caught the attention of Olivieri, whose family takes credit for inventing the cheesesteak. He placed the bet with Cretella while Philly was down 2-0 in the series, hopeful the perennial underdog would rise from the canvas.
“We’re used to saying ‘maybe next year,” Olivieri woefully said.
But he showed nothing but brotherly love while keeping his word after a mid-day ride up I-95.
“He’s been a real gentleman since he got here. We’ve been busting his chops for at least an hour,” Cretella said. “He just takes it in stride, laughs, keeps going.”
Olivieri even invited the staff down to his Jersey Shore house and couldn’t help but be happy inside the Long Island spot, which was packed with Knicks faithful.
“I’ve cooked for presidents … this was the best event I’ve ever done,” he said.
Dario’s sold close to 200 cheesesteaks for the three hours while Olivieri was slicing away, making both Pat’s and Dario’s style steaks: cheese whiz for true Philly style and Cooper sharp cheese for LI’s finest.
“This is one of the wildest lunch rushes we’ve ever had,” said Cretella. “Energy for the Knicks is off the chart.”
Adelphi professor Zachary Pournazari, who first heard about the “Philly Sucks” steak in The Post, risked being late to administer a final because he had to have one while sporting a Jalen Brunson jersey.
“We have the Philly fans bringing their culture here, it’s nice being able to enjoy their culture – just like how we got to enjoy the four-game series against them,” he said with a cheek-to-cheek smile. “Any student wearing a Knicks jersey gets a bonus point today.”
He’s not the only academic with a running case of Knicks fever — especially after the squad took a 1-0 series lead over the Cavaliers in the Eastern Conference Finals with a 115-104 overtime barnburner Tuesday night.
Daniel McCabe, principal of Nesaquake Middle School in Saint James, is jamming the classrooms with hoop dreams.
The diehard changed his the building’s front sign, which usually posts uplifting messages, to read “let’s go Knicks” earlier in the playoffs.
“Bus drivers have given the thumbs up … but when parents come on and go is when we’re getting the ‘let’s go Knicks chants,’” said McCabe, a dedicated fan who has been wearing at least four different jerseys to school on game days.
Students were so excited they had McCabe do one better this week with the sign, changing the message to “GO NY GO NY GO” as a nod to the team’s iconic theme song.
McCabe also declared a blue-and-orange spirit day for Thursday, when the Knicks are set to play Game 2 against Cleveland.
“The dress code is rock your absolute best Knicks attire. Nesaquake is bringing the hype,” said McCabe, who is educating kids on his own heroes, the legendary players of the 1990s like John Starks and Patrik Ewing.
“The kids and the faculty and staff are getting into it. The energy in the hallways right now is louder than Madison Square Garden.”
The Central Islip district held a similar energetic spirit day on Tuesday ahead of game one.
That evening, superintendent – and super fan – Dr. Sharon Dungee was “running to her office” while splitting her time between a budget vote and the game 1 thriller.
“It’s been long overdue,” she said. “We’re really excited.”
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