Founding Father, Dog Or Moose Are Finalists For New Sixers Mascot
By Jim Melwert
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - The 76ers are asking fans to go online to vote for the team's new mascot. The three finalists have been narrowed down to a Ben Franklin mock-up, a dog, or a moose. (Yes, a moose.)
The Sixers say they created the finalists working closely with Jim Henson's Creature Shop. They are 'Big Ben,' a seven-foot tall Ben Franklin, 'B. Franklin Dogg', a seven-foot dog, and 'Phil E. Moose' (In case you confuse us with Manitoba.)
KYW's Jim Melwert spoke with morning commuters about their thoughts on these new options.
"What about Big Shot?" asked one man at a Center City bus stop. "Go back in the archives!"
Since Big Shot, the old Sixers mascot until 1996, was not one of the final choices, that fan went with the founding father.
"I'll go with Big Ben," he said. "I don't think too many people are going to like the moose to be honest with you."
Another fan echoed that sentiment.
"I have no idea with the dog. But I can tell you, if you're going to go with anything, you've got to go with Big Ben. It's going to represent the 76ers; the idea of the bicentennial."
However, even with all of the talk of a new mascot, fan Aden Rosario hopes it is the first step by the new ownership group of putting together a product he can be proud of.
"This is not only a football town. This is not only a baseball town. This is a sports town and the Philadelphia 76ers have always been a part of it," Rosario said. "And we look forward to these guys bringing it back."
The team has a new website where you can voice your opinion and vote.
