It Looks Like Ben Simmons Return On Thursday Night Is An Elaborate “I’m the Victim” Set Up

The anticipated return of Ben Simmons to the Wells Fargo Center on Thursday has lost some sizzle after it was confirmed Simmons will NOT be suiting up for the Nets. Simmons will miss the game as he continues to fake a back injury to protect his ego. But, Nets coach, Steve Nash did confirm the former Sixer guard will be courtside on the bench for the game. 

 

Let’s put this in terms my 11th grade English teacher wouldn’t be proud of: it is going to be a shitshow. 

 

Simmons’ appearance in the arena alone is enough to prompt non-stop booing and targeted harassment from fans. It won’t be Family Fun Night at the WFC unless you want your sons and daughters to learn some four letter words they’ve never heard before. 

 

It’s all well deserved, let’s stop the civility charade. Ben Simmons quit on this team and this city all because he refused to take accountability for his playoff shortcomings for close to half a decade. On his way out of town, he blamed everyone associated with the Sixers short of the parking attendants. He did it through backchannel “sources” being fed from his “camp” to national media reporters. 

 

It’s truly hard to decide which drama filled headlines of this unrelenting saga were the most exhausting. Was it when he practiced with a phone in his pocket and then refused to do drills prompting his ejection from practice? Could it be when it was reported that he was upset the Sixers brass didn’t visit him over the summer (while simultaneously admitting he ignored their calls and texts)? Or how about blaming Joel Embiid for a lackluster performance against the Raptors in the 2019 Eastern Conference Semi-Finals, a series where Simmons averaged 11ppg?

 

So yeah, a little bit of booing might be warranted. But, this might be playing right into the hands of the Klutch Sports strategy:

This gives off all the vibes of the scene in The Dark Knight where the police commissioner realizes “The Joker planned to be caught!” 

Just the latest and hopefully final Kutch Sports charade, my friends! They are banking on fans taking it too far, saying and throwing things they shouldn’t. It’s up to fans to exercise some semblance of self control given their vitriolic hatred for Simmons.

 

Admittedly, it would be pretty funny if they had a “Thank You Ben” tribute video. Only following that, the arena was so dead silent all you could hear was Doc Rivers frantically begging Tobias Harris to stop pump faking open three point attempts.

 

Seems like fans going to the game Thursday night should just exercise common sense. Boo him into oblivion. If his poorly managed agency once to use that in a grievance suit, fine. We will use the video evidence of a fan teaching him to shoot free throws while the rest of the crowd cheers him on at the line like some team manager getting a chance to play for the first time on Senior Night.

 

Just don’t be the jackass who throws things. Beers are $12, drink it. Don’t waste it on him. Remember the popcorn incident? That guys banned. And if you hurl a racial slur his way, never come back to the arena again. 

 

Go to the game, boo loudly, have fun, and enjoy the fact we now have TWO point guards capable of doing Simmons never could: knocking down multiple free throws. 

 

By Aidan Powers | March 8, 2022
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