RED CARPET, USA — The cheering never stopped. Matt Harvey savored every moment.
Everyone loves a parade and the Mets’ young ace, who has taken this city by storm, basked in the glory of being driven down 42nd Street today in the back of a bright red 2014 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ for the MLB All-Star Game Red Carpet Parade as New Yorkers went wild.
You should have heard all the adulation and love coming Harvey’s way.
I did. I was Driving Mr. Harvey.
There was a bench positioned in the middle of the bed of the truck, a power vehicle for a power pitcher, but Harvey wanted to get as close to the fans as possible so he elected to sit on the corner edge on the driver’s side, making my job that much more difficult.
In many places the crowd was 20-deep. Harvey enjoyed every moment of the ride with his beautiful girlfriend, supermodel Anne V.
“This is one of the coolest things I’ve ever done,’’ Harvey said as we slowly made our way down 42nd Street in the blistering heat. He smiled and added, “We’re going to have to have us a World Series parade.’’
The Mets haven’t driven through the Canyon of Heroes since 1986.
If the Mets are to have their own championship parade, Matt Harvey will have to drive that vehicle.
Harvey dreams big, always has and always will. He is not afraid of the spotlight.
He was the starting pitcher for the National League last night in the All-Star Game at Citi Field and has made the most of this, his first Midsummer Classic. It was fitting that Tom Seaver led off the parade of vehicles. Harvey will have to play the role of Seaver for the Mets to succeed.
The pressure was on. Moments before the parade began on 40th Street, just outside the Bryant Park Hotel, Mets COO Jeff Wilpon walked up to me and said, “Please be careful, you have precious cargo.’’
We were in good hands from the start, led by NYC Highway Patrol officers Nick Melillo and Dave Hiergesell. The Harvey truck was the lead truck carrying the All-Stars. I nudged the mighty V8 engine and made two tight right turns onto 6th Avenue, then down the red carpet on 42nd Street all the way to 2rd Avenue.
It was a blast from beginning to end.
Fans showed a sense of humor, yelling out, “Who’s Matt Harvey?’’ a reference to Harvey’s funny video on “Late Night with Jimmy Fallon,” where Harvey, as an on-the-street reporter, asked unsuspecting fans about Matt Harvey.
One such fan responded: “Who’s Matt Harvey?”
Harvey, like David Wright, has been an Amazin’ ambassador for this game and shot the Fallon video Monday morning.
“He’s great to work with,’’ said MLB spokesman Matt Bourne. “He really connects with the people. That is the No. 1 video on YouTube right now.’’
That was obvious as we rolled down 42nd Street with so many wonderful comments coming Harvey’s way. He waved constantly to the fans and repeatedly said, “Thank you. I appreciate it.’’
Harvey has already been on the cover of Sports Illustrated and let it all hang out in the Body Issue of ESPN The Magazine. He’s a new age social media star, glowing in the 24-hour spotlight that is New York City. In some ways he reminds of a modern version of Broadway Joe Namath.
As we moved along, fans chanted, “Harvey’s Better!’’ and yelled, “Matt, we love you, keep throwing hard!’’ Others screamed: “Hit 100!’’
That was about 95 miles faster than I was driving in the Harvey Day Parade.
Many of the smiling fans were shooting their own videos with Harvey the star. At the end of the route, I dropped my precious cargo off safe and sound and hopped out of the truck to make my way back to the staging area.
There, one last chant broke out from several attentive fans:
“Harvey’s Driver!’’
Yes, the Matt Harvey Experience is everywhere.
kevin.kernan@nypost.com