The Sixers are 20-13 against the Knicks during that time span. The Flyers are 53-39-2 against the Rangers and Islanders. The Eagles are 11-9 against the Giants and Jets. The Phillies are 84-84 against the Mets and Yankees.
"It's the only place I've ever been where they actually chant . . . 'Flyers suck,' " Flyers defenseman Derian Hatcher said. "I don't think we even do that here. Honestly, I think it's fun playing in New York. I always kind of enjoy it when the fans hate you."
While the hatred might not extend to the players on the ice, or in the field, or on the court, the intensity seems to. Nowhere does it seem to be stronger than on the football field and baseball diamond, where the Phillies, Eagles, Mets, Yankees, Giants and Jets have played each other to a virtual deadlock over the last eight-plus seasons.
The last 2 years, the Mets and Phillies have exchanged various verbal volleys, with the Phillies securing the last two National League East titles. This year, the rivalry was particularly testy, with the Phils taking exception to some of the antics of shortstop Jose Reyes after a midsummer home run.
"Just watch 'em," Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins said about the Mets in late August. "Just watch 'em. If you were a player, you're looking over in that other dugout, you'll feel a certain type of way . . . You try to find something on any team, but especially these guys."
The Eagles might not feel the same way about the Giants as Rollins feels about "these guys," but there is a realization inside the locker room that a special opponent awaits. Four of the last five meetings between the teams have been decided by less than a touchdown. The teams split their last two playoff meetings, with the home team winning both times.
In 2000, when Jason Sehorn, Ron Dixon and miserable playing conditions spelled doom for Donovan McNabb and Reid, the Giants went on to win a berth in the Super Bowl.
This time around, the Giants are the defending champions, and regardless of Sinatra and Elton and Humphrey and Bacon and the Empire State and One Liberty Place, that seems to be all the fuel the fire will need.
"They have championships and they have a storied tradition," Avant said, "and all those types of things just makes the game fun." *
Daily News staff writers Phil Jasner and Ed Moran contributed to this report.
