'New York Deli' Is No Place For Yankee Fans
STERLING HEIGHTS (WWJ) - Battle lines are being drawn as the Tigers prepare to take on the Yankees in the playoffs. So, what do you do if the name of your Detroit-area business is "New York"?
Sporting his Detroit Tigers cap and Tigers hoodie, Tom Gjokaj, whose family owns Sterling Heights' New York Deli restaurant says he was born and raised near I-94 and Mt. Eliot in Detroit.
He is a die-hard Tigers fan.
- Tom Gjokaj (WWJ Photo/Sandra McNeil)
"No Derek Jeters on the menu, no A-Rod ... no nothing like that. God forbid!" Gjokaj told WWJ Newsradio 950's Sandra McNeil. "That would never happen. We might throw a [Justin] Verlander on there though, depends on how he does tonight."
Gjokaj said he'll call that sandwich the "J.V." after the star Tigers' pitcher.
Although you won't find any New York Yankee-themed menu items at his place, Gjokaj said he does have some family member from the Big Apple, and the trash talking has already begun.
"My uncle's son just flew into Detroit today. I've been waiting for him to get here any minute, but I guess he's kinda laying low. He's not too confident about the series, so he's been keeping his mouth shut," said Gjokaj.
"I think they're scared of Verlander and our pitching staff. Yankees fans are fans but they're not dumb," he said.
Gjokaj said Tigers fans have been low-key so far about the restaurant's name, but one New York fan did visit wearing Yankees' gear and got a little grief.
As for his series prediction? He's calling it for Detroit in four games.
