12/21/24
May 11, 2006
Rocky might be returning home: but at the foot of the steps? Better than nowhere I suppose. "Ordinary Philadelphians"?, what's up with that? Didn't know there was such a thing. Its about time Rocky returned to his spot overlooking one of the greatest cities in the world, I remember him up there when I was a kid. Rock on Rocky.
As "hardcore" as most sportsfans are here on SpoFi ... there can't be too many who don't recognize Rocky as one of the greatest sporting heroes/icons of all time. Shit, I've watched Rocky II more times than I've watched any single sporting event replay ever ... he's as "real" to me, in some ways, as Magic or Moon. Nothing can give me goosebumps like that flick! Guess it begs the question ... how "real" is Rocky to Philadelphia? To the world at large? Or just to me???
posted by Spitztengle at 01:12 AM on May 12, 2006
p.s. "hey, I ain't no bum!"
posted by Spitztengle at 01:13 AM on May 12, 2006
Rocky is to Philadelphia as big a hero as Bobby Clarke, Dr.J. or Mike Schmidt. Hey yo has been part of my daily vocabulary in one way or another for my entire life. As a born and bred Philly boy I say let him stand proudly overlooking the City of Brotherly Love.
posted by GoBirds at 01:39 AM on May 12, 2006
I'm a Phialdelphia ('burb) native... Pops was from South Philly... The way the city connects itself to Rocky kind of embarrasses me. Like the opening to Lincoln Financial Field. I cringed. Not to say i don't like Rocky, or the statue... I've done the up-the-Art-Museum steps my share of times... but the way we sometimes pretend we're all like him just hits me the wrong way. In my book, he is not even on the same planet as Schmidt, the Doc or Clarke. No way a fictional athlete can rank with those guys in my book. It was a movie.
posted by SummersEve at 04:32 AM on May 12, 2006
That should be Joe Frazier on the top of those stairs!
posted by JADEN2900 at 08:21 AM on May 12, 2006
When does Chicago get a Clubber Lang statue? It was a MOVIE people! He didn't fight a Russian in Moscow either!
posted by volfire at 08:58 AM on May 12, 2006
Apollo Creed did die in the ring though, didn't he?
posted by HATER 187 at 09:09 AM on May 12, 2006
Nobody comes to Philly because some players had some great seasons here...Rocky is a known icon to so many people that could care less about Philly sports...I'm glad Rocky is coming out of storage...& wish it could return to the top of the Art Museum steps...
posted by phillyolhead at 09:28 AM on May 12, 2006
It was a MOVIE people! He didn't fight a Russian in Moscow either! Quit fucking with my childhood.
posted by JJ at 09:58 AM on May 12, 2006
Apollo Creed did die in the ring though, didn't he? For your sins.
posted by yerfatma at 10:06 AM on May 12, 2006
YO ADRIENNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
posted by oh2rooper at 10:18 AM on May 12, 2006
YO ADRIENNE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! That took a lot longer than expected. My favorite fictious sports figure has to be Edwina Franklin. 
posted by HATER 187 at 10:29 AM on May 12, 2006
The Times' Top Ten Fictional Sporting Heroes. Wiki's list of Fictional Sports Teams. The Ultimate Fictional Sportsman. [filthy, dirty self-link]
posted by JJ at 10:57 AM on May 12, 2006
I'm glad Rocky is coming out of storage...& wish it could return to the top of the Art Museum steps... Agreed. The statue does belong at the TOP of the Museum steps. Yeah, it was only a movie, but so was Field of Dreams, and look at all the attention that place gets. Rocky, the movie figure, has been attached to Philadelphia for decades, just like those very Museum steps.
posted by dyams at 10:59 AM on May 12, 2006
Maybe the Senate should investigate, I heard he was on steroids when he won the Championship belt!
posted by volfire at 01:37 PM on May 12, 2006
I am a huge Rocky fan but I don't even think Rocky should have a statue because it just shows that Philadelphia has nothing to celebrate other than an actor.
posted by Clevelander32 at 05:50 PM on May 12, 2006
Mebbe we should get a statue of fat Drew Carey for Clevelander.
posted by GoBirds at 07:00 PM on May 12, 2006
I simply have to sit back and marvel at the humility of Stallone, to grace the city with a statue of himself. He's a giver, that one.
posted by The_Black_Hand at 11:08 AM on May 14, 2006
Get 'em Rocky!