On Feb. 22, there was a second "Miracle on Ice" when intrepid hockey player Jack Hughes kept playing with two smashed front teeth to score the winning goal and earn the gold medal for the United States.
Our nation rightfully experienced pride was coupled with happy energy.
America was walking tall!
The day before, HuffPost writer Monica Torres penned, "There's A Name For The Discomfort You're Feeling Watching The Olympics Right Now," decrying flag waving and chanting "USA, USA . . . !"
On (Twitter)/X, I noticed a reply to her post quickly picking up lots of steam.
My local Baltimore favorite, Jimmy's Famous Seafood, kept it short and not-so-sweet: GFY, but spelled out. We’ve seen trash talking between fast-food chains, but never political.
For MAGA supporters, it was like having the school quarterback picking off your bully.
Before the faint at heart swoon at the language, keep something in mind.
Baltimore is part of the Mid-Atlantic/Midwest swath known as the Rust Belt.
Anyone you meet is likely not more than two connections away from someone who's worked with their hands for a living.
Baltimore is especially unpretentious.
You can find a millionaire chatting with a familiar panhandler, and it's no big deal.
We tell it like it is, no snide "Bless your heart!" here.
And so, John Minadakis, proud Greek-American, fired off the post that has had over 17 million views. But meeting him in person, you realize he’s soft-spoken, a class-act family man and church-goer.
He's had other hilarious viral moments, including a giant billboard clapping back at PETA's slam of Maryland crabs, "It'd be a sin to waste them, and they died to be enjoyed. Savor the sacrifice."
John and his brother Tony inherited the thriving business from their dad.
They hold tailgates, concerts, parties and all kinds of fundraisers for widows and orphans, Ronald McDonald House, first responders, animal rescues, restaurants stung by our long, full pandemic shut-down.
I headed to the southeast part of town to talk with John in person.
John and his two brothers – Tony works on the food side of things – were raised in what was upstairs from the restaurant and now is several party and festive bar rooms with a DJ booth. John proudly pointed out the large area that was his bedroom: big, being as he was the eldest son.
Dad Dimitri – "Jimmy" – came from Karpathos, a Greek island.
Without speaking English, he started working as a dishwasher in regional restaurants.
He passed down his hard work ethic and patriotism to his family. John agrees that these traits are noticeable in this part of Baltimore, still with first and second generation Americans.
"Absolutely! Community is still important."
He noted that his dad always said, "An excuse you can always find," if business was slow: the economy, the weather, etc.
You have to take ownership of things yourself to succeed.
John first started working for the family business at sevem eight years old, starting with steaming crabs, graduating to washing dishes, "every job in the place!"
At 42, he's convinced that he won’t retire, as working is "in my DNA."
He considers that the 2d Miracle on Ice was the perfect harbinger of our nation’s 250th birthday. "It propelled us. It's our legacy."
This may seem odd, but here’s a perfect example of how Jimmy's family is trusted by Baltimore’s families over the generations.
That part of town happens to be home to several of the local long-running funeral homes. With several private banquet rooms, Jimmy's is popular destination for wakes.
The quality is on-point, John says they can get everyone taken care of in 20 minutes and it's comforting to have a "human being look you in the eye, not someone who sees you just as money."
Another community that they support is the local restaurants.
Yes, their competitors!
When Governor "Lockdown Larry" Hogan, R-Md., gave decision power to local jurisdictions about shutting down, it was Brandon Scott's first day as mayor of Baltimore.
Scott considered it a power move to require restaurants be closed without any heads-up.
Jimmy's, as well as other establishments, had full inventories of perishable goods.
Jimmy’s was able to absorb a tiny bit of the shock with their food trucks.
Some restaurants never recovered. But Jimmy's did a fundraiser, eventually raising $600,000, to give a lifeline to many places.
After that, people asked John to run for Mayor. Though he earned a degree in Political Science from Loyola University Maryland, he says, "I stay away from politics.
"The lockdowns "turned (him) off."
After an incredibly busy and exciting week at the restaurant, John good-naturedly posted to HuffPost for their address to send them a thank-you card.
Tamar Alexia Fleishman was the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's youngest female solo violinist. She travels globally, and has debated Bill Maher, Greta Van Susteren, and Dr. Phil. She practices law in Maryland. Read more Tamar Alexia Fleishman Insider articles — Click Here Now.
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