Sixers Fans Must Embrace Kendall Jenner
Written by Timothy Lewis (@MrTeeLew)
As a fan base, there has been a mixed reaction to Kendall Jenner sitting courtside to watch on-again, off-again boyfriend, and Sixers’ superstar, Ben Simmons. Are they still together? I don’t know. Should they be, our collective approach to this relationship will prove a reflection of our city’s self-esteem and reputation.
Philadelphia is a place that only Philadelphians seem proud of. History and “grit” characterize the city and its inhabitants (See: Gritty). And while there have been markedly hard times, we are in the midst of a renaissance.
The “City of Brotherly Love” has long been at odds with its identity. Nationally, we are known as “the city that bombed itself”; “the city that threw snowballs at Santa Claus”; a disenfranchised place hosting discontented people. Trapped between a political metropolis and the city that never sleeps, Philly has long faced feelings of pariah despite being one of the country’s largest and most renowned destinations.
Perception is changing, however. Once isolated between mega-capitals, we’re now a trendy sweet spot. For people entrenched in the area, this favorable gaze brings with it discomfort. We are the adolescent realizing the transformation of puberty. Now that we are sought after, there is dismay toward the shallowness of the outside observer.
We won the Superbowl! We’ve tasted fruits of “The Process”. We hosted the NFL draft in 2017 (probably the best ever), where our citizens struck an elusive balance of hysterical passion and exemplary conduct. We have even been named GQ’s city of the year. A laser beam from Billy Penn’s eyeballs has dazzled the national spotlight at every opportunity.
And with this burgeoning foundation, we must now choose our destiny. Winning begets winning. Fame begets fame. Light is inseparable from stardom. Do we nosedive into a black hole of rugged Philadelphian theatrics, or do we light the beacon of welcome? This question is answered by our treatment of Kendall Jenner.
Like it or not, having relevant sports teams is radically important to the perception of a city. It means that high-profile athletes are willing to make a given place home for the majority of the year. As a result, it drives narratives about the city’s aesthetic, offerings, culture, and people. It opens economic opportunities and indoctrinates feelings of solidarity.
With that in mind, how do you think it looks to a star player and prominent public figure, in this case, Ben Simmons, when his girlfriend is booed for sitting courtside? How stupid do we look to the common observer by purporting the “Kardashian curse”? Listen to local sports talk radio and you’ll hear every other Sixers-related caller booking Ben Simmons’ a one-way ticket to LA. And with that attitude, they might be right.
Being a public nuisance makes us unattractive to the national audience. We look stupid, with all the flavor of a backwater, forgotten place — uncultured — littered with curmudgeons. And that’s not all. We look like losers. Winners are used to the attention. They are used to outsiders grasping at their coattails. They are used to being emulated and adored. They are used to celebrities and athletes and public figures of all varieties associating with them because they themselves are winners. While one may debate merit and measure, Kendall Jenner is a winner.
Suggesting Ben Simmons is “Hollywood” and that his interaction with high-profile celebrities indicates an eventual move to L.A., admits a sense of inferiority. Philadelphia can be the greatest place on Earth, and in some ways it already is. It’s up to us to prove that the world has been sleeping on us. Like it or not, Kendall Jenner and the influence she pedals may be the proverbial first domino, a ripple dictating the cascading splash of a legacy that truly represents our legendary city.
Let’s greet Ms. Jenner with favor next time she occupies that courtside seat at the Wells Fargo Center. Let’s give an ovation she won’t soon forget when her face paints the jumbotron. Philadelphians are a hate-you-til-we-love you people, and while our hatred is most formidable, there is no place that loves harder.
So, Philly, destiny time: Are we winners or losers?
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