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Route 66 sees neon-fueled resurgence in Tulsa ahead of centennial

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As Route 66 prepares to celebrate 100 years since its creation, the Route 66 Commission in Tulsa, Oklahoma, is already looking ahead to the next century.

When the sun goes down in Tulsa, bright neon signs light up the historic highway along the city’s 28-mile stretch of Route 66.

Michael Wallis, founder of the Route 66 Alliance and known as the voice of the Sheriff in the Disney-Pixar movie “Cars,” has spent years driving, studying and exploring Route 66.

“We think of it as this winding museum,” he tells FOX from his Tulsa home, just a block from the Cyrus Avery Centennial Plaza. “This is the home of Cyrus Stevens Avery, the Father of Route 66.” 

ROUTE 66 SPURS TOURISM IN HISTORICAL SMALL TOWNS

Route 66 is known around the world as the “Main Street of America,” highlighting an integral part of westward expansion in U.S. history.

“It’s a way of really going deep into America, and getting to know the heart of it,” Spanish traveler Ignacio Casares said while driving the route with a group of friends in a rented RV.

In the second half of the 20th century, the interstate system expanded across the US. The American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials later voted to remove Route 66 from the national highway system.

Wallis said he wanted to help inspire a new future for Tulsa’s section of Route 66.

“I knew the road was still there, more than 85% of it, you can still drive. So I was wary of hearing that in the past tense,” Wallis said. 

ROUTE 66 AT 100: DOOCY KICKS OFF MASSIVE ROAD TRIP

But several businesses along Tulsa’s stretch of the historic route struggled after the highway was decommissioned.

“When I was born, this was an area in Tulsa that most Tulsans weren’t proud of,” said Julia Figueroa, store manager at Buck Atom’s Cosmic Curios.

Figueroa’s shop is one of the most eclectic and vibrant stops along Route 66 in Tulsa, located in the Meadow Gold District. The owner brought in giant fiberglass statues to help attract visitors to the area.

To draw more visitors, the Tulsa Route 66 Commission launched a matching grant program for businesses.

“We formed a neon sign grant,” said Ken Busby, chair of the Tulsa Route 66 Commission.

The grant helped businesses buy new neon signs or restore old ones for advertising.

“Neon was the first — was the first advertising on the road,” Busby said. “And that’s how drivers going across this little two-lane road across America found a vacancy, a restaurant or whatever.”

CRUISES STILL SEE BUSY SUMMER SEASON AMID OUTBREAK

Busby said there are now 84 neon signs along Tulsa’s 28 miles of Route 66.

“You just see all these neon signs popping up, and you’re just like in a big city of neon,” he said.

Many locals told FOX they love the neon signs, while businesses are looking toward a brighter future.

“I’ll drive there at night just to watch people taking pictures at night and enjoying the neon,” Figueroa said.

Busby said the next step is proposing a matching grant for businesses to restore building facades.

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Yankees infielders collide, allowing Mets to score game-winning run in dramatic comeback

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The New York Mets took the first Subway Series of the season over the New York Yankees in dramatic fashion on Sunday afternoon.

The Mets had runners on first and third in the bottom of the 10th inning with one out and rookie Carson Benge at the plate. Benge hit a chopper over Yankees reliever Tim Hill’s head.

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“Once it went over the pitcher’s head I kind of knew,” Benge said after the game.

Yankees infielders Anthony Volpe and Max Schuemann collided trying to make a play but neither could come up with the ball. Marcus Semien jetted home to score the game-winning run. The Mets won the game, 7-6.

The Yankees had a 6-3 lead going into the bottom of the ninth. Tyrone Taylor came up to the plate with Benge and Juan Soto on base. With two outs, he crushed a pitch to left field off David Bednar to tie the game. The next Mets heroics came in the following inning.

It was Taylor’s third home run of the season.

“I didn’t know it was going to stay fair,” Taylor said. “I kind of waited there to see if it would.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

The Yankees went 2-7 on a nine-game road trip as they get set for a seven-game homestand against American League East rivals the Toronto Blue Jays and the Tampa Bay Rays.

“Guys are playing tough and making the plays they need to but just coming up a little bit short,” Yankees slugger Aaron Judge said. “We’ve got to have a short memory, move on and get ready … because we’ve got a big division opponent coming in.”

Bednar blew a save for the second time in 12 chances and his ERA ballooned to a 4.95.

“Overall, it’s unacceptable, especially in that spot,” Bednar said. “It’s just very frustrating.”

Mets manager Carlos Mendoza applauded the team’s resiliency.

“We get down. We get punched in the face. We get back up,” he said. “Today was a perfect example when, like I said, we didn’t play our best game and we still are able to shake hands at the end.”

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Celtics star Jaylen Brown tears into ESPN’s Stephen A Smith as feud escalates: ‘Face of clickbait media’

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Boston Celtics star Jaylen Brown’s season may be over but his feud with ESPN personality Stephen A. Smith heated up over the weekend.

Brown was on his livestream and came after Smith once again after the sports pundit told the NBA guard to “be quiet.” Smith previously responded to Brown accusing NBA referees of having an “agenda” against him following the Philadelphia 76ers coming back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series against the Celtics.

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The five-time All-Star wrote on X earlier this month he would “be quiet” once Smith retired.

“Did he just say I needed to be quiet? Be quiet for who?” he said Sunday night. “Man, f— Stephen A. Stephen A, Stephen B, Stephen C. My offer still stands. You want me to be quiet and stop streaming, well, I want you to be quiet and get off these networks because you’re not using your platform to do real journalism. You’re using your platform to use clickbait.

“Tell this mother—-er to retire because he’s the face of clickbait media at the point and maybe with his retirement we can spark a movement to get the rest of these mother—-ers out of here — or to also have some type of … forget journalistic integrity, actual integrity in order to hold themselves accountable to the bulls— takes they put out.”

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

Brown analyzed one clip of Smith speaking about Brown not having Jayson Tatum on his stream and suggested that it’s the reason why Smith is referred to as a “clown.”

It’s safe to say the Celtics had a better season than NBA fans expected. Boston came into the year without Tatum as he suffered a torn Achilles in the playoffs last year.

But Brown carried the load, playing in 71 games and averaging 28.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 5.1 assists. Brown said that Smith couldn’t understand how leadership and team chemistry helped lift the Celtics to greater heights than what was expected.

The Celtics were 56-26 and won the Atlantic Division.

Smith previously said that Brown needed to “be quiet” unless he was trying to force the Celtics to trade him.

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Audemars Piguet x Swatch ‘Royal Pop’ release sparks mob scenes, pepper spray and arrests at malls

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In the world of watch collecting, there’s a term for three of the most legendary, historic, accomplished and well-respected brands and manufacturers: The Holy Trinity.

The Holy Trinity, otherwise known as Patek Philippe, Vacheron Constantin and Audemars Piguet, and Audemars Piguet, are world-renowned for their heritage, quality, and craftsmanship. And while there are many other high-end companies making exceptionally beautiful watches like A. Lange & Söhne or Breguet, big new releases coming from the Holy Trinity generate more attention than most other brands.

Which is why it was so surprising when news broke recently that Audemars Piguet was collaborating with the Swatch company for a new project. Audemars Piguet, or AP, is best known for their “Royal Oak.” A legendary watch, designed by Gerald Genta, that’s a favorite of many collectors and nearly impossible to get in stores without a lengthy “relationship” with a boutique. Swatch, though they own high-end brands like Breguet and Omega, is known mostly for making accessible, affordable starter watches.

An independent watch brand at the top of the market selling “timepieces” for $30,000 and up. A massive conglomerate that sells “bioceramic” watches for $350-400. A match made in…heaven?

Surprising though it may be, the “Royal Pop” was announced in early May, a new and unique collaboration between the two companies. Instead of a traditionally understated stainless steel case, the Royal Pop comes in several bright colors. Made in Swatch’s bioceramic material, all designed to sit in a type of pocket watch format with a lanyard connected to it.

Retailing for $400-425, the May 16 in-store-only release was expected to draw significant interest. Boy did it ever.

Despite what “experts,” politicians and certain media outlets may like to claim about the current state of the U.S. economy, turns out there is tremendous demand for $400 watches. To the point where massive crowds gathered across the country, some days in advance, to get the Royal Pop. Swatch announced on Saturday that a number of stores would stay closed, without selling watches, due to safety concerns.

WATCH: MASKED THIEVES WIELDING HAMMERS HIT JEWELRY STORE IN WHAT EXPERT CALLS ‘MOB-STYLE’ HEIST

And on Long Island, New York, rowdy crowds that essentially formed a mob rushed the Roosevelt Field Mall, forming an unruly mob that brought in local police. One video from the scene showed a police officer overwhelmed by the crowd, and using pepper spray to control the mob.

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According to the New York Post, four people were arrested on scene. One for a “second-degree assault charge.” A whopping 19 Swatch stores were closed on Sunday for safety concerns. The store in SoHo never opened on Saturday as the crowd of several hundred were too rowdy to even start selling watches. It’s been a similar story overseas, with locations in London and elsewhere seeing problems with

Many of those camping out intended to resell the Royal Pop, with most going on eBay for around $1,600-$2,000. But again, when we hear every day that the economy is in dire shape, why are there thousands upon thousands of people lining up for $400+ watches? Or many more willing to spend $2,000+ on a watch that retails for $400 and doesn’t currently have an option to wear on a wrist?

Some have listed a full set of the different color options for well over $10,000. What kind of down economy is this?

The AP x Swatch “Royal Pop” brings a unique opportunity for collectors or watch fans to get a watch that’s associated with the Holy Trinity for just a few thousand, instead of tens of thousands. By that measure, it’s a bargain. But the fact that there are so many out there willing to buy into the product, even at that price, shows that maybe things aren’t as bad as they think they are.

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