Classic Rant #897 (February 4, 2013): Super Bowl Funeral

I don't know what is going to be bigger: the just finished Super Bowl or former New York City Mayor Ed Koch's funeral.

In the New York Metropolitan Area, I would say that it has to be Koch's funeral, hands down.

And even elsewhere around the country, Koch's funeral is going to resonate like no other city funeral, probably since Judy Garland's funeral in 1969.

There will be a lot of pomp and circumstance, and people from all walks of life at this funeral. Koch deserved the best, and he will go out strong.

If you didn't already know who Ed Koch was, he was New York City personified in one unique individual, who championed the city through some very dark days in the 1970s and 1980s, when New York City was on its own fiscal cliff.

Starting his time on the national state as a lawyer heavily involved in the civil rights movement, he gradually worked his way up to the top spot in New York City politics.

When you are mayor of New York City, you are really the mayor of the world. In the United States, some people say that the mayor of New York City is second only to the President of the United States in political importance, and Koch personified that to the hilt.

He could take it, and he could give it back too. He had an irascible sense of humor, but when put to the test, he could lay it on thick too.

I think he actually became more popular to the masses when he was finally voted out of office after a couple of terms as mayor.

He seemed to be New York City's own Jewish leprechaun, touting the city at every turn.

Although a life-long liberal Democrat, he supported whoever he wanted in various political races, no matter what their party affiliation.

He also appeared in a number of TV shows and movies, did movie reviews, and you might remember that he followed Judge Wapner as the presiding judge on "The People's Court."

He was really the typical New York everyman, and just about everyone liked him, even his opponents.

So, the day after the Super Bowl, we are really going to have the Super Bowl of funerals in New York City today. All the local stations will be covering this funeral as if a President has passed, and it should really be something to watch.

Politicians, celebrities, and just regular folk are going to be at this thing, and really, it will be less a funeral than a celebration of a man that gave his heart and soul to the city that he loved.

Goodbye Ed Koch. You used to ask, "How'm I doin;?" and the answer is a simple one:

"You done darn good, Mr. Mayor, darn good."