Looks like LeBron James is about to get the VVIP (Very Very Important Personalities, dahling) treatment in the City of Brotherly Love! With King James officially joining the Philadelphia 76ers, two of the city's most iconic cheesesteak establishments are practically falling over themselves to welcome him. Forget waving, they're rolling out the whiz-colored carpet!
Pat's King of Steaks: The King's Way
First up, we've got Pat's King of Steaks, a historical landmark in the cheesesteak universe. They're not just offering LeBron a sandwich; they're literally changing their ordering lingo! For a limited time, the fan-favorite "Whiz Wit" (that's cheese whiz with onions for the uninitiated) will be known as "The King's Way." Don't fret, purists, the classic ingredients remain untouched. You'll still get that gooey cheese whiz, onions, and juicy steak. Pat's owner, Frank Olivieri, a third-generation legend himself, spilled the tea to TMZ, saying, "Everyone knows there’s only one way to order the classic, and now there’s a new way to say it. When you come to the window and ask for The King’s Way, we’ll know exactly what you mean." Subtle, yet effective, for greeting sports royalty.
The official Instagram for Pat's made an announcement fit for a king, proclaiming, "Welcome to Philly, LeBron. The King of Basketball meets the King of Steaks 👑 Around here, that means Whiz Wit. Now, there's a new way to order the original." They even laid out "contract details" for their classic:
- Position: Franchise Player
- Years: Since 1930
- Status: The Originator
- Starting 5:
- PG - Onions
- SG - Whiz
- SF - Ribeye
- PF - Italian Roll
- C - Pat’s
Seriously, who knew a cheesesteak could have such an impressive lineup?
Geno's Steaks: The VIP Treatment
But wait, there's more! Not to be outdone, Geno's Steaks is also pulling out all the stops for LeBron. We're talking a meal served in their super exclusive VIP booth – reportedly the hardest seat to snag in all of Philadelphia! And if that wasn't enough, Geno Vento himself is offering LeBron a personal "Cheesesteak 101" lesson. Imagine King James behind the grill, spatula in hand!
Geno Vento shared his enthusiasm with TMZ, stating, "Our VIP booth – the hardest seat in Philadelphia to get – already has LeBron's name on it. Whenever he's ready, we'll welcome him with a cheesesteak, hand him the spatula, and even let him spend some time behind the grill for a little cheesesteak 101 with me personally." He added, "Every Philadelphia legend has a story at Geno's, and we'd love for LeBron's to begin here." Talk about making an entrance!
LeBron might be the biggest star around, but Geno's has hosted a constellation of celebs, including Shaquille O'Neal, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake, Travis Kelce, and even the utterly fabulous Gritty (yes, the Flyers mascot!). So, LeBron's in good, albeit diverse, company.
The King's Next Chapter
This all comes after LeBron officially announced his move to the 76ers on Friday. In a heartfelt statement, he reflected on his previous teams in Los Angeles, Miami, and Cleveland, signaling that this latest chapter would be the final one in his legendary career. His agent, Rich Paul, confirmed the details: a two-year, $8 million deal, complete with a player option.
With the new NBA season just a couple of months away, LeBron better get his fill of these legendary sandwiches while he can. He'll need all that Philly fuel to bring a championship title back to the City of Brotherly Love. We're just wondering which cheesesteak joint will win his heart (and stomach) first! Our money's on him trying both, because, well, he is the King after all.
