During last week’s discussions Joel EmbiidGiven ‘s health and absence from the 76ers roster, I made a proposition to the team’s season ticket holders on Friday: If any of them accept or are comfortable with the Sixers’ vague answers to obvious questions, they should do so. Email me. I would publish their opinions and insights in a follow-up column.

As Nicolas Cage said Rock … God, a lot has happened since then.

Embiid spoke movingly about his situation and career on Friday. The Sixers lost at home to the Memphis Grizzlies on Saturday. Minutes after the game, Embiid pushed colleague Marcus Hayes into the locker room. With paul george In his first game for them, the Sixers lost to the Suns in Phoenix on Monday. They are now 1-5. The vibrations were not subtle.

These conditions probably contributed to the outcome of the quasi-survey I conducted. If I received just one positive email or social media message from someone who spent money to watch a recent Sixers game in person, I would include it below. I didn’t. Instead, the feedback was filled with anger and disappointment, and the Sixers’ performance on the court had little to do with why fans felt the way they did.

A sampling:

Steve, Central CityHave had season tickets for over 20 years:

“All these years, I have always felt positive about the performance and effort of the team and players, even when I could not give tickets to games because the team was so bad. So far it is.

“I understand there’s a lot of emphasis on winning championships, and I’d certainly love to see that. But the NBA is entertainment first and foremost. Very few people have the luxury of attending the playoffs (if the Sixers make it to the title). But there are plenty of fans who can afford to take their kids to one or two games a year.” The expectation at home is that they have the opportunity to watch the superstars on both their home team and the visiting team. As a season ticket holder, my expectation is that professional athletes will do their job unless they are injured or have a life situation that requires attention (which is unlikely). not guaranteed), fans who pay high ticket prices to pay their exorbitant salaries are being deceived.”

” READ MORE: Nick Nurse and Sixers try to get Joel Embiid’s mind back on basketball after locker room argument

Ed, from Sewell, was a season ticket holder for seven years:

“My biggest gripe now is how Nurse NickIs it his job to go out and try to tell the press what’s going on? where Daryl MoreyElton Brand or Josh Harris? The franchise has been a complete mess since Harris bought it (it wasn’t very good before then). “I would like to see season ticket holders boycotted and forced to sell.”

Gary, Bala CynwydNot a season ticket holder. But for the last quarter-century, he had gone to eight to 10 games each season with his children, sitting in what he called “the cheap seats.” He wrote:

“This is the first time in over 25 years that I haven’t purchased a ticket. The way things ended last year, combined with the team’s lack of transparency about player status, left me feeling very, very disrespected. It’s one thing to do your best and fall short. Keeping fans in the dark is one thing. I find it a sign of disrespect that we still have no idea what exactly Joel’s problem is and what our plan is to get him back on the field. “The remaining players (and coaches) have to take the pressure, which is not right.”

David, from Gloucester CountyHe was a season ticket holder among a group of friends. He gave up his seats two years ago:

“I told my friends, ‘Never mind, I’m not paying $600 to come and watch the bench play as shit.’ This team is a complete clown show. They’re more interested in being downtown developers that no one wants than just trying to win games and keep their paying customers happy. “If they move downtown I will probably never go to a game again because there is no easy way to drive or park there and there is no train from Glouco to Philly.”

Scott, also from South Jersey, is in his fourth season as a season ticket holder and said this will be his last.

“It is painfully obvious that the Sixers have known this for a very long time and announced long before the season started that Embiid would not play, long after season ticket deposits and contracts were signed. I contacted my ticket agent twice, received no response, and emailed the Sixers.” “I sent it but there was no response. The franchise is dysfunctional, hypocritical and frankly very arrogant. They should be building a hospital instead of a new arena.”

” READ MORE: Sixers season ticket holders are angry

The lesson here for the Sixers or any other major organization inside or outside of sports seems pretty simple: Be as proactive, direct and honest as possible in your interactions with the public.

Of course it’s difficult. Athletes, and to a lesser extent coaches, earn millions of dollars. They have tons of power. They want to control their narrative. They want to call the shots. But this more challenging course of action is better. The alternative is to take the easy way out, assuming you’ve already captured your customers and can afford to bring them together. All of this encourages mistrust and resentment. Don’t you believe me? Take a look around you this week. We have seen where this approach leads.