The Sixers are in a long-term down cycle, so it's natural that college basketball would take precedence over the pro game. I am more of a 'nova fan than the others (there's some VLS in my family), but I think the whole city became St. Joe's fans when they recently made the elite 8, and the same of the years Temple has done well (though there's a contingent that won't ever root for John Chaney), and LaSalle during the Lionel Simmons years. And who doesn't want Penn to score some upsets? When it comes to basketball, Philly fans have the luxury of being frontrunners without having to venture further than the Main Line to find teams to support.
This probably only works for casual basketball fans, and is not applicable to anyone currently enrolled at an undergraduate program in the big 5.
Which helps explain why a a NE Philly non-Catholic, I grew up preferring Penn and Temple to Nova and St Joes, and was happy to root for Michael Brooks and L-Train back when LaSalle still had an athletics program. That got solidified during college by having UMass down the street so I'd root for Temple and St Joes whenever they'd come in, plus my brother then went to Penn.
Like all right-thinking Americans, I was a Hawk bandwagoner during the undefeated season, and obviously still love Martelli, but I've never felt that warmly towards Villanova post-high school.
Still, end of the day, if you ask me to name my favorite Philadelphia college basketbal players, it starts with the Eddie Jones-Aaron McKie Temple team and spreads out from there -- Vreeswyck, Juan "Pepe" Sanchez, Tim Perry, (sigh) Mark Macon ...<span> </span>
No. I mean, I can't speak for Philadelphia as a whole, but abso-friggin-lutely not. Hoot hoot!
ReplyDeleteThe Sixers are in a long-term down cycle, so it's natural that college basketball would take precedence over the pro game. I am more of a 'nova fan than the others (there's some VLS in my family), but I think the whole city became St. Joe's fans when they recently made the elite 8, and the same of the years Temple has done well (though there's a contingent that won't ever root for John Chaney), and LaSalle during the Lionel Simmons years. And who doesn't want Penn to score some upsets? When it comes to basketball, Philly fans have the luxury of being frontrunners without having to venture further than the Main Line to find teams to support.
ReplyDeleteThis probably only works for casual basketball fans, and is not applicable to anyone currently enrolled at an undergraduate program in the big 5.
Which helps explain why a a NE Philly non-Catholic, I grew up preferring Penn and Temple to Nova and St Joes, and was happy to root for Michael Brooks and L-Train back when LaSalle still had an athletics program. That got solidified during college by having UMass down the street so I'd root for Temple and St Joes whenever they'd come in, plus my brother then went to Penn.
ReplyDeleteLike all right-thinking Americans, I was a Hawk bandwagoner during the undefeated season, and obviously still love Martelli, but I've never felt that warmly towards Villanova post-high school.
Still, end of the day, if you ask me to name my favorite Philadelphia college basketbal players, it starts with the Eddie Jones-Aaron McKie Temple team and spreads out from there -- Vreeswyck, Juan "Pepe" Sanchez, Tim Perry, (sigh) Mark Macon ...<span> </span>