Taking in New York

To me, New York City is Manhattan. That's where I stay and work and hangout when I'm up this way. But the hotels in which I have always stayed have jacked their rates up from $229 or $249 a night to $399 or $507. Room-jacking, it's called. Hey, I just want to rent the thing, not buy it.

I flew up Monday for the Wladimir Klitschko-Calvin Brock fight, and tonight will be my fourth night in Queens. From my hotel I can see Shea Stadium and LaGuardia Airport.

I met a cool bartender who says she would love to live in Charlotte. But I think I heard her tell the guys eating dinner at the other end of the bar that she would love to live in Oklahoma.

My routine is walk to the train, which is about 12 blocks, unless I decide to improvise and take a shortcut, in which case it is 15 to 25. I take the train, which is a mere $2, into Manhattan, and either walk 20 minutes from Grand Central Station to Madison Square Garden or transfer and get out across the street from the Garden. I took a cab Wednesday because of the nasty rain and that cost me $50.

OK, it cost my employer $50. Hey, I had taken the cab to the train station, but the Garden was only another $28 and I had to leave the guy a $10 tip. Traffic was oppressive.

I offered to give my seat up to a man with a little girl and he said no. I offered to give my seat up to a woman with a little girl and she said no. I offered to give my seat up to a man on crutches and he said no. A few seconds later, however, the man held up pictures of a three little kids and loudly and in Spanish asked for money.

Walking through Queens is cool. I have never lived in a neighborhood that is, as they say, diverse. This one is. I have seen members of every race on the streets but mine. Well, I did see one of mine today, but he was across the street from the hotel and ventured no farther.

Music changes every few blocks, as do the names on the stores. Lots of moms and dads and little kids fill the sidewalks. I'm like a ghost. Except for the woman who would love to live in Charlotte and Oklahoma, nobody pays attention, not even when I offer my seat.