PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Tip-off at Wells Fargo Center is still a little ways off. Fans are filing in, but you may wonder — why so early? Well, the early birds get the benefit of seeing some players go through their pregame routine before formal layup lines.
One of those players is Sixers star Joel Embiid. The MVP candidate is typically laser-focused, putting up shot after shot to get ready for a game. In a large arena with music playing over the public address system, it’s not easy for anyone, any age, to get the attention of the big man.
Don’t tell that to 10-year-old Connor Strauss of Oaks — whose mother proudly referred to him as “a maniac” at these games.
Strauss and his younger brother Patrick are at this Sixers game with Jim Gaffney – their grandfather. Their Pop. Gaffney said on this night, the kids put together a banner in tribute to Embiid.
Connor then shouts to the 7-footer what the sign says — “Joel Embiid, I Love You!”
Gaffney said Embiid turned and acknowledged the young fan.
“And it was just so cool to see the connection with him and the team.”
Moments like that are how fandoms take off.
“Whenever I go to a game, it’s like my happy place,” he said.
A tradition started in the 60’s
Gaffney, who is from Phoenixville, grew up in Delaware County. When he was the age of his grandkids, he remembers waking up early on Sunday mornings, going to church, getting hoagies and then going to Franklin Field to watch the Eagles. For most of the 1960’s, the Eagles stunk — so bad that fans took out their snow-packed frustration on Santa Claus one day, a game Gaffney attended.
Gaffney, though, remembers his father stressing the importance of finding something positive, even in a blowout loss. What was the best play you saw? What was something exciting?
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Six decades later, Gaffney — a father of four daughters — is keeping that mentality while bonding with his nine grandkids.
Connor is contributing to these moments, as he convinced his Pop to purchase Sixers season tickets during the pandemic.
“His love for the Sixers is what attracted me to the Sixers and I’m an absolute fanatic for the Sixers now,” says Gaffney.
A basketball expert in the making
Connor has had other special moments at games, such as meeting the Sixers mascot – Franklin the Dog – on a night he was wearing Franklin gear.
“I just like being in the arena with all the fans and then the fans that are rooting for the other team.”
Yet it’s more than just sharing the enthusiasm of the Sixers with fellow fans. Connor and his brother — who play sports as well — are learning that being a professional athlete isn’t easy. It takes work.
“It’s nice to see that he sees the true sport and the respect that the players have for each other,” Gaffney said. “For everybody that’s on the court down there, and Connor is a person that I admire because I see him picking up on that.”
Also, going to games is more than simply sitting down and watching.
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“[Connor] knows the people next to him,” says Gaffney. “He knows the usher who led us into the arena. It's just a cool, respectful thing.”
He also regularly brushes up on his sports knowledge – casually dropping references to athletes of decades gone by.
Connor has picked up on the sport so well, Gaffney will call his grandson if he misses a game to get all the details.
“There's not a thing about any sports team in Philly, or any player that he doesn't know about ten times over. So he's my encyclopedia when it comes to questions on sports.”
Grateful for the quality time
Three years ago – March 7, 2020 – right before COVID paused almost all live sports for several months, Connor, Patrick, Gaffney and many other family members went to see the Flyers play the Buffalo Sabres at Wells Fargo Center. They were celebrating Gaffney’s 60th birthday. It was a 3-1 win – the Flyers' ninth in a row.
It’s those moments that create lasting family memories.
“When we come out of the games, the boys are high-fiving each other. They’re high-fiving us. You’ll look at each other and quite honestly as a grandfather as you're walking out the stadium, you're just blessed that you can give them the opportunity to see that.”
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Gaffney hopes one day Connor can pay it forward with his grandchildren just like his Pop.
“There's nothing better than a good sports team and a good night out with the grandkids,” said Gaffney.
Connor says, “I’m really grateful in spending this time with my Jimbo.”