Is It Time to Climb the Walt Whitman for the 2021 Sixers

The Philadelphia 76ers begin their 2021 NBA Playoffs run this Sunday against the Washington Wizards.  It’s the first time the Sixers are the number one seed in the Eastern Conference for an NBA Postseason run in twenty years.  The 2001 Philadelphia 76ers finished the regular season that year with 56 wins and worked their way through the playoffs to face the Los Angeles Lakers in the NBA Finals.  Allen Iverson led the way past the Reggie Miller and the Indiana Pacers, Vince Carter and the Toronto Raptors then Ray Allen and the Milwaukee Bucks before taking on Shaquille O'Neal and Kobe Bryant's Los Angeles Lakers.  I remember the excitement generated for the Sixers and Iverson like it was yesterday!!  The 2001 Sixers captivated the fans that year in a way that was incredible.  The team president of the 76ers back then did an incredible job creating excitement too: Pat Croce, known for being a hyper and enthusiastic personality, would do almost anything for his beloved Sixers. 

On June 13th in 2001, the Sixers were down two games to one versus the Lakers and Croce knew he needed to give the team and the fans inspiration to even the series.  Croce did something I witnessed and will never forget: To inspire the team, Pat Croce scaled the 400 foot tower of the Walt Whitman bridge to hang a 5 by 70 foot Sixers banner in the sweltering June heat.  Can the Sixers capture that type of excitement as they start their 2021 playoff run? 

Across the street, the Phillies can’t seem to get anything going as they struggle to put together a win streak.  Constantly seems like all they do is win one and then they lose another one.  The Phillies are second in Major League Baseball in team strikeouts with 449 strikeouts after 45 games, only Tampa Bay has more with 472 strikeouts!  It’s pathetic watching game after game the Phillies mired in mediocrity, they can’t hit on a consistent basis and haven’t been easy to watch. 

The Eagles just finished their first Rookie Training Camp under new Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni who liked what he saw from his players and the coaches spoke about the upbeat workouts this week as Offseason Training Activities continue in Philadelphia. This weekend in the Locker Room with Billy Schweim we will talk about it all!!

On Saturday’s show in The Locker Room with Billy Schweim, we will get you pumped up for the Sixers First Round Game One on Sunday and talk with former Team President Pat Croce.  Pat, recently diagnosed with cancer, now has teamed up with the American Cancer Society to raise awareness and money to beat this dreaded disease.  With Pat Croce on the team you can’t lose!!  Pat will tell us about what he’s doing now and reflect on his time with the Sixers!! The Phillies and Eagles will round out the show conversation.

On Sunday's show, Pete Thompson will join me in the studio and will continue to get you ready for the 1pm tip off of the Sixers versus Wizards on 97.3 ESPN FM.  The Phillies have been mired in mediocrity and manager Joe Girardi has had to put his foot down with this struggling team.  We will hear from former Phillies second baseman from the beloved 1993 team Mickey Morandini.  Mickey will give us some insight on the current team.

Catch all the action starting every Saturday and Sunday at 10am on 97.3 ESPN radio!