I Rang the Ceremonial Bell at the 76ers Game on Friday!
I had quite the past Friday night!
On January 6th, I headed down to the Wells Fargo Center, as I would on any other 76ers game day, to do my public addressing for the team.
But this game night was just a little different!
Normally, I would be the one announcing the ceremonial bell ringer during the pregame introductions…
But his time I was the person who got to ring the bell as the Sixers were set to take on the Chicago Bulls!
It was honestly such an honor!
The team approached me with the opportunity in celebration of my 25th year as the public addressing announcer for the team.
So of course, with me being at center court getting ready to ring the bell, someone else would have to take over my job temporarily to announce who was going to ring the bell that night.
Or should I say a couple of people would have to take my job…
And, man, did they find some good temporary replacements!
Both Dan Baker, the Phillies’ public address announcer for 51 years, and Lou Nolan, the Flyers’ public address announcer for 51 years, were the ones who introduced me!
ringing tonight’s bell, celebrating his 25th year with the Philadelphia 76ers - our PA Announcer: Matt Cord! 🔔
— Philadelphia 76ers (@sixers) January 7, 2023
introducing him are the legendary Dan Baker and Lou Nolan. #BrotherlyLove @TISSOT pic.twitter.com/48J94Gr7YU
I was truly moved that two legendary figures in the Philadelphia sports world would take time out of their weekends to do that for me!
I was also lucky enough to have about 30 close friends and family members in attendance to watch me ring the bell, on what was truly an amazing night!
The most notable person in the building that night was my Mom!
The one and only, Betty Cord, who is pictured above!
My mom is 93 years old and just as fun as ever!
She even was on the court for the whole ceremony!
I am so glad that she and everyone else who was there that night were in attendance.
It was such an honor and I loved every second of it, just like I love every second of doing my PA job for the Sixers night in and night out!
The only downside of the night was that the Sixers ended up losing to the Bulls, so I might not be asked to ring the bell again!
LOL!
But in all seriousness, thank you to the Sixers and all the 76ers fans in the city who make my job so fun!
MATT CORD
Join me weekdays 9am to 2pm right after The John DeBella Show and before André Gardner from 2pm-7pm. CONNECT 3 at 10am for FABULOUS prizes, Noontime Nuggets at 12noon, and you can win concert tickets throughout the show for many of the upcoming MGK Concerts. Text in your requests at MGKMGK or call 215-263-WMGK. I end every show with a voicemail from my late father Jack Cord because he always left the coolest voicemails on my machine and phone.
Also the PA Voice for the Philadelphia 76ers for the past 26 years, and the Voice of NBA2K22 and NBA2K23.
