Anthony Gargano is a full-time host on sports radio in Philadelphia, so he's seen a lot of what it looks like when teams have Josh Harris as an owner.
He also knows what it's like to host a show with Brian Mitchell, as the two used to host a show together back in the day…and BMitch helped Gargano meet the love of his life?
"He allowed me to use his amazing ride for my first date with my wife," Gargano recalled when he called into BMitch & Finlay Monday afternoon.
After a little talk about the Eagles, whom Gargano is covering for his show these days, JP asked Anthony about Harris' ownership situation…and while it pained him to praise Harris because he covers the Eagles, he had no choice but to do so.
"I think he's going to be a blessing for that franchise," Gargano said. "You can say what you want about the Sixers, but he has given that franchise every resource possible, and is consistently around the luxury tax. He wants to win, and he will do things the right way. He allows his basketball people to handle basketball operations, and I think he'll do the same thing in Washington."
That 'scares' Gargano, because 'you knew under Dan Snyder they were never going win,' so it 'pains' Gargano to say Harris will be a great owner.
There has been curiosity about how Harris might want to move the Sixers to an arena in Center City Philadelphia, instead of being a tenant at the Wells Fargo Center, but as Gargano explained, that's actually a better move for the franchise potentially.
"I think the Center City arena would bring life; east of City Hall to the (Delaware) River is an area that has been sort of depressed and needs some vibrancy, so to have an arena and bars and restaurants downtown would bring that life and be cool," Gargano said. "Go through the cities with downtown arenas, it's just vibrant. I love South Philly, but I don't think it's negative to have an arena in Center City – and he's not doing it with taxpayer dollars, he's doing it himself."
That's a strategy that worked in DC with Capital One Arena, and many credit that building with reviving its neighborhood – as opposed to Philly's sports complex, which has two stadiums, and arena, and a gathering spot, but next to nothing else anywhere near the complex.
"I don't understand how people say this is a negative," Gargano said of Philly's situation. "It's only going to bring business to the Chinatown area, which is adjacent to where the new arena would be. I think it would only make it stronger."
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