Once and For All week, which will be starting May 18th, will feature five of the best debates in Philly sports history. Donovan McNabb, Carson Wentz, Gabe Kapler, The Process, and the '08 Phillies. We will finally be getting answers to some of the most heated debates we have had over the last decade.
What about the ones that did not make it? Many of them are still up for deciding, but just fell short.
Here are the five debates that did not make the cut...
Jimmy Butler
Butler was a lightning rod of disagreement for fans before he even joined the team. His infamous practice with the Timberwolves drew national attention, and the Sixers took advantage of the situation by trading Process-favorites Robert Covington, Dario Saric and Jared Bayless for the all-star shooting guard. Butler was a force alongside Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons, but he continued to cause issues off the court that soured his relationship with fans and the front office. While many wanted Butler out of Philadelphia, a large contingency of fans were willing to overlook his divisive attitude in favor of a long-term contract. It is unclear whether the Sixers offered him a max deal, but the fan base will always wonder whether the Butler experiment should have continued or never happened in the first place.
Brett Brown
The Sixers are a significantly better team since Brett Brown arrived, but questions of whether he is the right coach to finish the job persist. He took flake over handling Ben Simmons' shooting woes, was shouldered blame for the Sixers poor roster construction, and has been unable to fix the team's inconsistent play. There is speculation Brown has lost the locker room and that a fresh voice is necessary. On the flip side, Brown helped develop players like Robert Covington and Joel Embiid, took last year's team to a Game 7 against the eventual NBA Champions, and has weathered the storm through a rotating cast of front office members and player personnel the last several years. This might be indicative of a larger organizational problem within the Sixers, but Brown's time as head coach is almost up.
Terrell Owens vs the Eagles
Before Jimmy Butler, there was Terrell Owens. Donovan McNabb never had a true weapon until the Eagles brought in Owens in 2004, who torched the NFL for 14 touchdowns and 1,200 yards in just 14 games that year. His drive was unquestioned when he came back from a high-ankle sprain injury to play in the Super Bowl against the Patriots, where he totaled nine catches and 122 yards. The good vibes quickly turned at the start of training camp the next year. Owens came into camp demanding more money. The Eagles took offense to this, shut him down, and the fan base turned on him. McNabb still holds resentment to this day, saying Owens distracted the team with his antics from returning to the Super Bowl. Fans had begged the Eagles to get McNabb a true wide receiver threat (sound familiar?) and when they finally signed one, they let him walk over money. What side is really to blame for this failed relationship?
Allen Iverson
Iverson is one of the most iconic Sixers of all time but his dedication to the game and individual play leaves questions about his legacy. Outside of the 2001 NBA Finals run, Iverson failed to get past the second round of the playoffs and kept the Sixers dwelling in mediocracy for the majority of the 2000s. Iverson rode his talent as much as he could and it often made up for the missed practices, general tardiness and a lackadaisical attitude. At the same time, Iverson invited swag and brought hip-hop culture to the NBA. He defined the crossover, and his gritty mentality led to 11-time all-star appearances and a Hall-of-Fame career. There is much to love and much to be desired with AI.
Are Fans Too Hard on Players
From Ryan Howard getting a beer bottle thrown at him to booing Donovan McNabb on draft night, Philly fans are known to express their frustrations with players. Even the all-time greats like Mike Schmidtt had contentious relationships with the media and fanbase. But for every bleak moment, there are bright ones. Take, for instance, the story of Doug Glanville receiving words of encouragement from a state trooper during his father's illness, or Jason Kelce drinking with fans during the Eagles parade. Philly fans have high expectations and lots of passion for their teams and athletes, and it is understood playing in Philadelphia is no easy task.
