New Logo, New Attitude, New Star? - Russakoff Rules - Comcast.net Sports

The shine has come off the 76ers’ star a bit in Philadelphia. Ever since that ’01 Larry Brown-Allen Iverson run, Philly basketball fans have been putting more and more distance between themselves and their NBA squad.

It may have been the loss of PR-genius Pat Croce, the meteoric rise-and-fall of A.I. or the inability to put together a legitimate contender. But as of today the Sixers are the Ringo in the Philadelphia Fab Four.

Maybe that’s about the change.

Today at the Comcast Center in Philly (a 17-floor downward commute for yours truly) the 76ers unveiled their new old logo. It is, as you can see above, the logo from the Sixers’ heyday, when Mo and Andrew were controlling the floor and Dr. and Moses were patrolling the paint.

Complete with a retro music, a Back to the Future introduction by Tom McGinnis, an appearance by one — and only one — current Sixer (I told you Jason Smith would be there!) and Huey Lewis’ “Back in Time” blaring through Comcast’s mega speakers, the 76ers are officially going old school.

It is a move long overdue and one many fans (including a vociferous jackass named Russakoff — I fished my wish) have been begging for over the past decade and a half.



After all, black is only a Philly color when the Flyers are wearing it. And moving away from the classic red, white and blue left fans feeling a little distant about the team.

…If they can change the entire color scheme on whim, what’s to keep them from changing their entire roster? What’s to keep them in Philly at all?

Philly is America’s city. Red, white and blue fit too well. Leave the black “faux” toughness to the Atlantas and Oaklands of the world. Philadelphians don’t need a color to know we’re bad. We just need to see our team go out and work as hard as we do … every day.

Hopefully, with the addition of Eddie Jordan and this homage to the great 76ers teams of the past, we are on our way to another great Sixers era.

Guard Against Disappointment

All indications are that Ed Stefanski is leaning toward a backcourt player in Thursday’s draft. Of course, all of those indications are based upon what Stefanski is saying, so we can’t be too trusting of the information.

But Ed insists they are looking for “the best guard available” when they pick at 17. And he would never – ever – lie to me. .. we’re too close. Stefanski said he would only think about going frontcourt if a “draft-day trade threw the draft all out of whack.”

The new guard could be a one or a two, according to the Sixers GM, but with the depth at point guard in this year’s class plus Andre Miller’s tenuous status, the smart money is on a floor general.

Knowing that, let me put out this plea:

PLEEEEAAAAAASEEEE let it be Ty Lawson.

Pretty please. With a cherry on top.

Yes, I know he’s five-foot-nothin, a hundred-and-nothin. But unlike Sean Astin, the dude has a ton of athletic ability. Lawson has the explosion to get to the rim, the quickness to get off his own shot and the vision to find the open man.

Sometimes the best things come in small packages — and Lawson is the complete little package.

I know all about Eric Maynor. Love him. Good kid (I think I’m Facebook friends with him). But you can’t compare him with Ty Lawson. Maynor may be taller, but he doesn’t shoot as well from long range, and more importantly, he’s markedly slower.

I keep hearing that Maynor is NBA-ready. Yea, NBA-ready to be the next Kevin Ollie. Give me the guy who proved he was the best college point guard in the country. Give me the best player on the NCAA’s best team. Give me the guy who knows how to win rings.

Adding a guy like Lawson gives the Sixers an instant backcourt threat. And, if Philly somehow ends up keeping Miller (unlikely), Lawson could play alongside of Miller at the two.

Sometimes NBA GMs try to outsmart themselves. Sometimes they want to prove their "genius" by going against conventional wisdom.

Luckily, Ed Stefanski never struck me as a guy with something to prove.

Let’s hope I’m right.

Let’s hope Ed takes the guy who has proven to be elite at every level.

Let’s hope we see Ty Lawson in black red, white and blue.

What do you think of the Sixers' new logo? Who is the best point guard in the draft? Sound off here.

Message Edited by Lee_Russakoff on 06-23-2009 06:17 PM