Get ready for a “Wall Street vs. Main Street” battle that could finally settle this thing once and for all.
Instead of waiting on the sidelines while America endlessly debates responsibility for our current malaise, several of Coney Island’s amusement operators and, of course, the wacky guys behind the annual Nathan’s hot dog eating contest, have invited “current and former Wall Street ‘Masters of the Universe’” to compete in a winner-take-nothing tug of war against “a team of regular Joes” on Saturday, May 30.
“This is nothing short of a ‘day of judgment,” said organizer George Shea, best known for his leadership of the July 4 frankfest. “I have arranged for a police escort for the Wall Street guys, of course.”
Shea added that he has offered to make the 1,000-foot rope available to any other groups “with an intractable disagreement.”
“Atheists and believers, North and South Koreans, cats and dogs — they all have to work out their thing,” Shea said.
The tug of war is just one of the events that will (hopefully) restore some luster to Coney Island this summer. In addition to the annual hot dog eating contest, the Mermaid Parade is set for June 20, the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Circus will run from June 18 through Sept. 7, and the AVP Professional Beach Volleyball tour is set for July 3–5. Marty Markowitz’s Seaside Summer Concert Series will continue on Thursday nights and the Brooklyn Cyclones start their season in June.
The Wall Street vs. Main Street tug of war, Coney Island beach [between West 10th and West 12th streets], Saturday, May 30, 1 pm. For info, visit www.coneyislandisopen.com.
