NFL
By: Mark T. Wilson
Relationships between sports figures and fans are complicated. Fans expect players to give 100 percent on the court or field. And players expect fans to have their backs no matter what. But in Philadelphia, things are a bit different. Ben Simmons, in his eyes, has given his all to the fans of the Philadelphia 76ers. Fans feel they have given Simmons their all during his time there as well. But now, their relationship is being put to the test.
Simmons is Public Enemy No. 1 in Philadelphia and rightfully so. But there is a way he can win them back over.
What’s been missing from this circus of an offseason and the early stages of the 2021-22 NBA season are words. Simmons has yet to publicly say anything regarding his feelings or future with the team. This is what has fans mostly in an uproar. Even if Simmons feels he owes nobody anything, he does owe the fans an explanation.
What Simmons has to do is get in front of a camera and speak his heart. I get it, he’s scared of the blowback but he can do it in a closed space with no media around. Hell, Instagram is working. He can do a live video or a taped one and speak his heart.
Philadelphia is a blue-collar city. I grew up there. We’re good for giving athletes a second chance. The city hated Donavon McNabb for some of his actions. Some fans viewed Allen Iverson and his entourage as not quite Philly-style and Charles Barkley has so many run-ins during his time there that we didn’t know what to think of him.
And yet, through it all, they’re still three of the most beloved sports figures to ever play in that city. We took them in as one of our own not because they were perfect, but because they weren’t. They did what they did, faced the music, and asked for forgiveness.
Now, will the fans forgive him that easily? No. It will take some time but the more he decides to remain quiet, the louder the hate will get. What fans are looking for is for Simmons to say that he made a mistake and that he’s going through some issues and that he still wants to remain a member of the Philadelphia 76ers. Or, he can say that he no longer wants to be here. The keyword here is for Simmons to just be honest.
So far, the talking has either come from inside reports, members of his PR team, or his agent. But where is Simmons in all of this? Fans are looking for an athlete who can face hardships and move on. Simmons has not shown that and that’s the main reason why he’s being dragged through the mud right now.
Who in his camp is new to this? Where are those players he’s been hooping with? where are the veterans like LeBron pulling him to the side?
What the fans need to hear is Simmons say what’s really going on with him. How does he feel about whats’s being said? What happened during the series against the Atlanta Hawks? Does he feel that his teammates have his back? fans are wondering what the truth is. All that’s being said is that he wants out.
But the issue here is that those words are not coming from him. If he wants to leave, then say that. Don’t have another person speak for you. The City of Philadelphia deserves more. If he’s scared, then say that. But if he wants to stay, then the first step is to say that as well.
At this point, Ben Simmons is his own worst enemy. He’s alienating himself from a fanbase where some are still defending him. If he doesn’t like what’s being written about him, then he can very easily change the dynamic with a few words. Take out a section in The Players Tribune. Go on All The Smoke with Matt Barnes or something. He needs to take every opportunity to right some wrongs and let his voice be heard.
The fans are ready to forgive him. But running away, that’s not the best option. It’s time for Ben Simmons to speak up.
