It’s how these things go. If you’re a Sixers fan and you’re still paying attention to the season, you might be rooting for them to lose games these days so they can accumulate ping pong balls for the upcoming draft lottery. When dark clouds hover over an organization, that’s about as bright as it gets – sacrificing the present while keeping a hopeful eye on the future.
The phenomenon isn’t unique to Philadelphia. Hoops lovers in troubled NBA outposts like Orlando and Charlotte and Sacramento are no doubt doing the same thing. Mentioning ping pong balls isn’t surprising – if you’re a fan. It’s somewhat surprising, however, if you’re affiliated with a team.
Late in Wednesday’s game against the Heat, Sixers CEO Adam Aron dashed off this tweet:
Just for 3 minutes and 37 seconds can we forget about ping pong balls. Sixers lead Heat 87-85 deep in Q4.
— Adam Aron (@SixersCEOAdam) March 14, 2013
OK. He was excited. The Sixers had a chance to upend the Heat at that point, ping pong balls be damned. Then, Thursday morning, he sent out these tweets:
(1st of 2 tweets) Sixers beat Nets Monday and ever so close last night vs Heat. It would have been so gratifying to break Miami's streak.
— Adam Aron (@SixersCEOAdam) March 14, 2013
(2nd of 2 tweets) but for you ping pong addicts, our grueling schedule: 18 games left, 6 home 12 on road,9 versus 1st or 2nd place teams
— Adam Aron (@SixersCEOAdam) March 14, 2013
There you have it, ping pong addicts.
