It
turns out that Nas was just five years ahead of his time when he announced that
"Hip Hop is dead." It only took the Philadelphia 76ers a half a decade to realize as much.
On
Tuesday the team announced that its mascot of 15 years, Hip Hop, has
"fallen in love, married, and will relocate to a rural part of Pennsylvania to start a
family." Actual quote from the team's press release.
That
is to say -- ear muffs, kids -- Hip Hop is out as 76ers mascot.
The
always on-it Philadelphia Inquirer beat writer Kate Fagan spoke with new 76ers team owner Adam
Aronabout what apparently was a necessary change:
"Before
we bought the team — in one of my first meetings in August with (managing owner)
Josh Harris — we were comparing notes about our reactions to everything Philadelphia 76ers. Both
of us, independently, came to the same conclusion: Hip Hop wasn't the right
image for the team we wanted to create and the product we wanted to offer 76ers
fans."
Aron
then explained that there was "no fan support for the Hip Hop
mascot," and that the "interest in this issue was considerable."
Aron appeared on WIP radio and the first question was basically when can Hip
Hop go away? (Although asked in a more colorful manner, I'm told.)
Then the Inquirer held an on-line poll asking fans if they wanted Hip Hop to remain as the
team's mascot. Only 1 in 7 Philadelphia
sports fans supported Hip Hop. Aron noticed. A few days later he Tweeted on his
Twitter account (@SixersCEOAdam), asking fans why they didn't like the mascot.
He said he received about 40 to 50 responses within an hour. Kobe MS
For a
team that barely sells 40 to 50 tickets an hour during an actual season, that
can be accurately described as a fevered response.
Aron
and company haven't fully committed to a new mascot, or even to who will design
the team's new child-frightener, but he did confirm that the team is in
"advanced" discussions with Jim
Henson's Creature Shop, according to his
interview with Fagan.
One
thing you can count on, Revolutionary-era enthusiasts? You won't see Ben
Franklin ambling around
the Wells Fargo Center
anytime soon. Cue Aron:
"Ben
Franklin is a human being and these mascots are usually more animals."
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