Harmony

Today was interesting. It was in the mid 70s, despite it being only in the first week of April. The Phillies were playing their last exhibition game at home, and I just happened to be in the city, but...

I was next door, inside, watching the very bad 76ers. I have not been back to that arena since Iverson was on the team, and we were one of the most exciting organizations to watch. I loved it then, and being back today was all too strange. I had never seen the arena this empty. A place that can hold almost 40,000 people was probably holding close to 10,000. The introductions, game play, and cheers all just felt sad. I know teams go through their slumps, but when I got familiar with the NBA and the 76ers was on their rise. I grew up following them as they became a spectacle. One of the first games I remember was the opening game at the new arena. I still have the ticket. With Iverson, and Jerry Stackhouse featured on the ticket.

Eight years since I last attended a game there, today was a reminder of what the place used to look like, sound like, and feel like. So much has changed. Not with the building itself, however. If you did not tell me what the date was I would not realize it had been so long. It was a really great time, those seasons almost ten years ago.


I think I am getting old.