Jerry Colangelo is the face of the Philadelphia 76ers organization. Rightfully so, because he is known by virtually everyone in the industry from his ties to Team USA. Now that reputation will work to build the 76ers into a championship team.
He is connected to virtually every NBA player, and agent. He knows the game of basketball, both the business end of the street as well as the sport elements contained in the industry. He is as plugged in as any individual can be to a professional sport. For as many honors and accolades provided to professional basketball players, there is always that special awarding of the gold medal in an Olympic game ceremony which will entice the best of the sport to willing train and perform for the chance. The path to the Olympics is through Team USA. But the path to Team USA goes through Jerry Colangelo.
But he is also tied to another organization, the Philadelphia 76ers. Some have questioned that alignment: why would a man whose reputation and authority in the basketball circle ever sully himself to align with a team with such a poor showing as the Sixers? Why indeed.
Myopic perceptions cannot see the true reasons for the alignment. Everybody wants to be part of a winner, and the most prestigious associations occur from the turn-around stories. You know the fairly tales and fables of the step-sister who eventually made it to the ball and married prince charming. Closer to home, you know the legend of the movie Rocky Balboa, a fictitious story brought to life by Sylvester Stallone about a gymnasium boxer who is given a title shot and boxes the fight of his life. The story is the essence of Philadelphia, a story so magically connected to the city that the city has erected a statue atop the steps used in filming the movie.
Imagine that, a monument to a movie character, who was downtrodden but persevered to win the championship.
More from Free Agency
- Grade the Deal: 76ers match Jazz’s wily offer sheet, keep Paul Reed
- Grade the Deal: 76ers sign free agent Mo Bamba, retain Montrezl Harrell
- Philadelphia 76ers add center depth by signing Mo Bamba
- This stunning free agency slip could doom the 76ers next season
- 5 best remaining free agents the 76ers should target
Now that is a Hollywood version of a story that is being written in real life, in real time, right now in the city. The Philadelphia 76ers are that downtrodden sports figure, winning comes as a surprise, and the national media has all but written the team off for good.
But to the eye of an expert, the low expectations are a golden opportunity. You see, everyone loves an underdog. But a shrewd person looks beyond the “where are they now” and factors in “where will they be?”. Jerry Colangelo is as shrewd as they come. Perhaps the team needs a tweek here, a guide through some rough patches, but the vaults of the Philadelphia 76ers are bursting with solid currency from three years of austerity in an NBA world of excess and squandering.
Next: Sky Is The Limit