As an adult when I go to sporting events at times I get irritated by the mascots. They run around act a fool and sometimes get in the way of the actual event. I sometimes wonder if they are even necessary.
Back in November (2010), the old Sixers and Flyers arena, The Spectrum, was set to be demolished. On tv as they were showing footage from events in the arena they flashed pictures of the old Sixers Mascot Big Shot. I had not seen Big Shot in years because he had been replaced by a steroid using hyper active bunny named Hip-Hop.
Big Shot
Hip-Hop
At the moment I saw Big Shot all sorts of memories popped in my head. I thought of going to Sixers games as a kid with my father, uncle or grandfather and watching Dr. J and Magic put on performances that make the current NBA look like a minor league. I thought of watching Charles Barkley playing his heart out and intimidating players that were Bigger, Stronger, and Faster than he was. I thought of watching Michael Jordan play live and putting the fear of GOD in Hersey Hawkins just by looking him in the eye.
What I realized when I saw Big Shot was he represented the moment when I fell in love with hoops. So maybe mascots do play a part in the sports world. Maybe there are kids right now at Sixers games who are watching Hip-Hop and are falling in love with the game. I doubt it though. Later in life when they see Hip-Hop they may think of Evan Turner stinking the place up or Elton Brand being abused by every other teams’ big men, or Andre Iguodala being asked to do more than he should.
On second thought maybe I should be giving credit to Dr. J, Maurice Cheeks, Moses Malone, Charles Barkley, Magic Johnson, Michael Jordan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Larry Bird and many of the legends I had the privilege of watching play at the Spectrum.
I guess mascots can represent both the good and bad. Unless of course we are talking about the Phillie Phanatic because he kicks a$$ no matter how good or bad the Phillies are.
The G.O.A.T Mascot!
What do mascots mean to you? Do they matter at all? Or am I just tripping?
Jimmy Williams
