Orangeliners » Sixers

Sixers vs. Flyers – the winner isn’t so clear

Speener — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 02:29:24 +0000

Today on WIP there was a discussion rating the four local sports teams on a scale from 1 to 10. It’s pretty predictable that the order was Phillies, Eagles, Flyers, and Sixers (way behind). One Flyers fan called in and gave his ranking and added the comment “the Sixers don’t even matter.”

Flyers fans seem to have a greater opinion of their team’s popularity than is true. The fact is most people in this town could care less about the Flyers. (To be honest, I’m one of them – I think professional hockey is barely ahead of professional soccer.) What the Flyers have is a rabid fan base, many of whom would put the Flyers one or two in their local loyalties – ahead of either the Phillies, Eagles, or both. There are more Sixers/NBA fans in this city – but most would say they simply like the Sixers. They wouldn’t give their left nut for Sixers tickets. Flyers fans would go beyond the left one and give their right one, first born, and wife.

The Sixers have to work hard to get people in the doors, while the Flyers don’t; I blame a lot of that on the NBA. Number one they continue to market players as opposed to teams. If you’re one of those cities that doesn’t have one of the “IT” players, then there’s no excitement about your team. Number two: the officials continue to call a game that encourages one-on-one play over team play. Number three: the NBA draft combined with the salary cap basically create a system that keeps mediocre teams, mediocre.

All that said, the Sixers have the most room for growth in this city, while the Flyers have pretty much maximized what they can get. But any Flyers fan who thinks the Sixers don’t matter should realize that their team is one Sixers superstar away from being forgotten again.

Sixers old new logo

Speener — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:39:54 +0000

I don’t really care about the draft tomorrow but this is big news: the Sixers got rid of their old crappy logo (the one that said script Sixers – looked like it came straight out of Miami Vice and the 80’s). The new logo is actually their old classic logo; the one that they won championships with.

There will be new uniforms, a new court design, and a new secondary logo by the end of the summer.

Maybe this means things are turning around. Oh yeah – that’s right, they draft 17th tomorrow.

The NBA Draft is Thursday – does anybody care?

Speener — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 01:22:39 +0000

So the NBA draft is Thursday and I couldn’t care less. Am I the only one? I’ve always believed that the NBA is a flawed league. Great teams are built around a singular great player, maybe two. Everyone else is generally extra parts. You don’t generally get great players unless you’re drafting really early. Yeah Kobe was drafted 13th (Charlotte/New Orleans has got to rue the day. Kobe for Vlade Divac?) I just don’t see the draft having a major impact on the Sixers chances for next year. I hope I’m wrong, but big impact will have to do with Eddie Jordan, signing Andre Miller, and replacing Samuel Dalembert – in that order.

And the Sixers Head Coach Search goes on: Kurt Rambis out

Speener — Wed, 27 May 2009 19:57:23 +0000

Apparently Kurt Rambis was told he’s out of the running for the Sixers head coach position. Who’s going to get this job? And what chance does the new coach have with this roster?

The Sixers might have done Rambis a favor.