The definitive list of correct choices from the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Best of 2022 Polls
The Philadelphia Inquirer released a poll asking people to rank the best local celebrities, athletes, superfans, mascots, and a few wild cards in the city of Brotherly Love for the 2022 calendar year.
After looking at the options, obviously, there are some major issues with their selected candidates so let’s take a closer look at who’s available and I’ll give cast my votes for all to see.
Philadelphia Inquirer Best of 2022 Poll
Philly Celebrity
- Quinta Brunson
- Tierra Whack
- Abbi Jacobson
- Jim Gardner
- Miles Teller
Okay. Not to be disrespectful right from the jump but I have no idea who these people are outside of Jim Gardner and Miles Teller. While I do love Jim Gardner and spent my entire life watching his historic career on 6ABC news, he will not get my vote simply because he’s from New York. As for Brunson,
Whack, and Jacobson, there’s no way I can cast a vote for them either because I don’t really know who they are or what they do. Apparently one is a sitcom star and the other is a singer? First, sitcoms are never funny. Sorry. Not even The Office is that funny and out of respect for the singer, I don’t comment on music I haven’t heard.
That leaves us with the obvious choice, Miles Teller. Teller is a Downingtown native and will get my vote for Philly Celebrity even though one time in high school he made out with my friend’s girlfriend on the balcony of some house party.
Teller is a die hard Phillies fan and was around throughout the MLB playoffs last season. That is plenty to earn my vote. I haven’t seen or heard from the other people about Philly sports outside of Gardner so honestly, they shouldn’t have even been listed.
Mi Tell what’s crackin’ bro?
Philly Athlete
- Bryce Harper
- Jalen Hurts
- Jason Kelce
- Tyrese Maxey
- Joel Embiid
All athletes listed above are worth voting for but you have to go with Bryce Harper after the postseason spectacle the city of Philadelphia witnessed last fall. Harper’s bat was the hottest it’s ever been during the 2022 playoffs, giving Phillies fans one of the best months in postseason history. He slashed .349/.414/.746 in 17 games, logging 6 HRs, 13 RBIs, 12 runs scored, and 22 hits.
Philly Mascot
- Phanatic
- Gritty
- Swoop
- Phang
- Franklin the Dog
Okay so really, the way I view Philly mascots is pretty simple. There’s only one (maybe two) that should ever even be considered in rankings or votings.
The number one choice is obvious. The Phillie Phanatic is the best mascot not only in Philadelphia, but in all of sports. That’s just a fact. Argue with your couch.
Second, I would rank Swoop. The Eagles’ mascot never gets enough love around the city and he continues to go along his merry way in one of the best run sports franchises in America.
As for the others? I would probably put Phang as number three. Not because he’s a good mascot. He’s actually the worst of the bunch if you’re looking at looks and feel. Why the Union wouldn’t go with the Ben Franklin mascot or even the “Sons of Ben” Franklin skull is beyond me. Phang attempting to resemble the “Join or Die” snake is laughable.
Then you have Franklin the Dog. Why do we have to call him Franklin THE DOG? I think it’s pretty evident that he’s a dog, right? Regardless, I’ll never forgive the Sixers for getting rid of Hip Hop so there’s no way he will get any love from me in the voting process.
As for Gritty. Absolutely not. The Comcast created nightmare is a complete joke and the Flyers’ franchise spends more time marketing him than actually putting a good product on the ice.
Philly Super Fan
- Monty G.
- Dunphy
- Marybelle Alston
- Al Horwitz
- Kyle Pagan
This is actually a pretty solid list. Monty G is fantastic and always cracks me up with his freestyles about Philly sports but honestly, that’s not enough to win superfan honors from me. Marybelle Aston is similar. Sure, she’s an older woman who dances but is that really a superfan? Going to have to go with no there as well.
Al Horwitz is annoying and needs to stay in his seat while sitting courtside at Sixers games. Kyle Pagan, a man on the street god who is always in the mix post sporting events, while talented and someone who I’ve worked with in the past, wouldn’t make the cut as a superfan for me either.
I’m also extremely bias here but I’m the answer here is Rob Dunphy.
Look, I’ll be totally honest with you. I didn’t know much about Dunphy until we linked up together on a Phans of Philly trip in Arizona last October for the Eagles-Cardinals game, but he’s just an all-around Philly sports fan and on top of that, a genuine, no bullshit great guy.
Me and The Liberty Line boys were with Dunphy throughout the Arizona trip watching the Phillies beat the crap out of St. Louis in the Wild Card followed by the Eagles beating the Cardinals.
I talk to him fairly often and it’s always something about Philly sports. He’s constantly tailgating, no matter the weather, showing off his tattoos while posing for a million different pictures with fans. No matter the when or where, Dunphy answers the call for fan photos. You have to respect that.
Dunphy by a million.
Philly Wildcard
- Philly Pole Climber
- Candy Lady
- Philly Elmo
- Chicken Man
- Branflakezz
Okay so this one is relatively easy. The Philly Pole Climber had so much potential until he couldn’t get down from the pole and had to call in police and firefighters to help him get down. For that reason, he’s 100% out and should lose the name “Philly Pole Climber” permanently.
I have no idea who the Candy Lady is so that’s a quick nope. Sounds creepy, right?
Philly Elmo? Seems like a solid option but the last picture I saw of him was standing in the middle of the street surrounded by looted restaurants and stores with buildings on fire. Are we sure he’s the one that should get a vote? I’m not.
I also have no idea who Branflakezz is so he’s out. Honestly, I’m not really interested in finding out either.
That leaves us with the Chicken Man, who brought a small blip of joy to Philadelphia following a rough Phillies World Series loss. I remember logging on to Twitter that morning and being extremely confused about why there was a group of people watching a guy eat rotisserie chickens on an abandoned pier in South Philadelphia, his 40th consecutive one eaten.
A part of me wanted to remove him from voting because he’s from Rhode Island but the fact that his timing was so perfect and coupled with the fact that he’s taking his fame and using it to team up with the South Philly Community Fridge to raise $1,000 for operations and distribute 200 chicken meals for people in need, he gets my vote.
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