Philadelphia Sixers Fans #RaisetheCat in Feline Celebration of Team’s Success
Put your cats in the air, and wave them like you just don’t care.
That’s what Philadelphia 76ers fans are doing, as a form of unique celebration. After years of struggle, the NBA team is starting to rack up consecutive, impressive wins, which is cause for patient Sixers’ supporters to go wild, especially on social media.
Amidst the tweets of encouragement, a movement has formed inspired by a Sixers player who hasn’t even stepped foot on the court.
According to The Newcastle Herald, Ben Simmons, who was drafted first overall to the Sixers last year and is expected to make his NBA debut after the All-Star break, is a cat fanatic. The rookie is the proud papa to two Savannah cats, which he often posts photos of on his social media.
After seeing these shots, one Philly fan, Twitter user @GripperGrove, decided to take a cue from Simmons’ social playbook and Tweet photos of his own feline. Soon, after every Sixers win, @GripperGrove was posting a picture with his pet held in the air like baby Simba à la The Lion King, quickly tacking on his own hash tag #RaisetheCat.
SIXERS WIN pic.twitter.com/PgYrDbQBWk
— Dennis Grove (@GipperGrove) November 12, 2016
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The @Sixers WIN! #RaiseTheCat pic.twitter.com/ZYW3D0O6PK
— Dennis Grove (@GipperGrove) January 14, 2017
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YES YES Y'ALL @SIXERS WIN!! #RaiseTheCat
(I should fix the blinds) pic.twitter.com/wx8xGVKf6l
— Dennis Grove (@GipperGrove) January 25, 2017
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Using its peculiar magic, the social world latched onto the furry celebration. Soon, dozens of Sixers fans were sharing photos of themselves proudly holding their kitties aloft to mark a win by the Sixers.
Many of the results are regal.
Another @Sixers win! You gotta be kitten me! #RaiseTheCat Philadelphia! pic.twitter.com/PuFDEi0gUg
— Keith (@phillyindiefan) January 25, 2017
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@GipperGrove Break up the Sixers! #RaiseTheCat #hotdogcat pic.twitter.com/Y09Q2wkYGA
— Dan McQuade (@dhm) January 14, 2017
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Some take a more unconventional turn.
@Sixers WIN!!! He's not a
but it was still a process!! #RaiseTheCat#TrustTheProcess@GipperGrove@JoelEmbiidpic.twitter.com/BbgpxlN7Ga
— Amy Boutiette (@AmeliaMutt) January 21, 2017
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But you can feel the passion in every shot, and the cat confusion as well.
Someone tell me how raise the cat started
— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) January 21, 2017
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Simmons, confused at first by the new trend, has embraced #RaisetheCat himself.
#RaiseThecat pic.twitter.com/428xMu9bLp
— Ben Simmons (@BenSimmons25) January 21, 2017
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.@BenSimmons25 yells out #raisethecat on ig live pic.twitter.com/921HKnZnDz
— kurt gies (@kurtwearshats) January 25, 2017
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Now, the hashtag is a full fledged social media success story.
So next time you hear about a Sixers win, log on and enjoy all the #RaisetheCat responses.
Big W for the @Sixers last night. We #RaiseTheCat in their honor! #AdoptACat for 50% off through Jan 31. @BenSimmons25 @SixersFranklin pic.twitter.com/wMeIwF0YpT
— Providence_AC (@Providence_AC) January 25, 2017
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@GipperGrove @Sixers @BenSimmons25 once again, it's time to #RAISETHECAT pic.twitter.com/BvKKS10Okc
— Chris Fox (@CMFox4) January 25, 2017
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