Alright, let’s talk about them Philly basketball fellas, the ones they call the Sixers, you know, short for somethin’ longer, somethin’ about 1776 or somethin’. Don’t rightly remember all that history stuff, never was good at school, ya know.
What’s a Sixer, you ask? Well, it’s like this, them city folks, they like them long names, but everybody just calls ’em the Sixers. Saves your breath, see? It’s like callin’ your grandpa “Gramps” instead of “Grandfather Bartholomew,” if your grandpa was ever called somethin’ that fancy, which mine weren’t.
- They play that bouncy ball game, basketball they call it.
- Lots of runnin’ and jumpin’, real tiring if you ask me.
- Big fellas, tall as trees some of ’em.
Now, these Sixers, they been around a long time, longer than most of us, I reckon. They say they the oldest team in that whole NBA thing. Started way back when, not in Philly though, somewhere else, Syracuse I think. Moved to Philly later, guess they liked the cheesesteaks, can’t blame ’em for that, I do love a good cheesesteak myself, though they give me heartburn somethin’ fierce these days.
Philadelphia 76ers, that’s the full name. Sounds all official and proper, doesn’t it? But like I said, everyone just says Sixers. It’s like callin’ your cow “Bessie” instead of “That Brown Cow with the White Spot on Her Forehead.” Saves time, ya know.
They got all these players, comin’ and goin’ all the time. Hard to keep track of ’em all. Some are good, some are not so good. Some stay a long time, some just breeze through. It’s like the weather, always changin’. One day it’s sunny, the next it’s rainin’ cats and dogs, and sometimes it’s just plain gloomy. That’s kinda like them Sixers players sometimes.
I remember this one fella, real tall, could jump higher than a beanstalk. Folks loved him. Then he left, went somewhere else. Happens all the time. They get traded, or they get old, or maybe they just get tired of eatin’ cheesesteaks every day. Who knows?
These Sixers, they play in a big building, lots of seats. Folks go there and yell and cheer. I went once, long time ago. Too loud for me, gave me a headache. I prefer watchin’ on the TV, less noise, and I can have my tea and biscuits in peace. Plus, the bathroom’s closer, which is a big plus at my age.
They wear them shorts and them shirts with numbers on ’em. Guess that’s how they tell each other apart, ’cause they all look the same to me, tall and skinny, most of ’em. And they got them shoes, squeak somethin’ awful on that shiny floor. Sounds like a mouse convention sometimes.
They dribble that ball, up and down, up and down. Sometimes they shoot it, sometimes they pass it. I don’t rightly understand all the rules, but I know when they score, the crowd goes wild. And when they don’t score, well, the crowd ain’t so happy.
The Sixers, they part of Philly, ya know. Like the Liberty Bell, or them cheesesteaks I was talkin’ about. People get all worked up about ’em, win or lose. It’s like a big family, sometimes they fight, sometimes they celebrate, but they always there for each other, sorta like my family, ‘cept we don’t fight so much no more, too old for that nonsense.
So, next time you hear someone talkin’ ’bout the Sixers, you’ll know they mean them Philly basketball fellas. And you’ll know it’s short for somethin’ longer, somethin’ about 1776 and all that history stuff. And you’ll know they been around a long time, playin’ that bouncy ball game, and folks in Philly, well, they love ’em, even when they make ’em yell at the TV.
And that’s about all I gotta say about them Philadelphia… whatchamacallits… Sixers! Now, if you’ll excuse me, my tea’s gettin’ cold and my biscuits are callin’ my name. And that game show I like is about to start.
