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Philadelphia Flyers: Gritty is everywhere and becoming beloved

ByBenjamin Gabrych|
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 09: Gritty, the new mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers, respells from the catwalk to the ice surface during pregame ceremonies prior to his team playing against the San Jose Sharks on October 9, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - OCTOBER 09: Gritty, the new mascot of the Philadelphia Flyers, respells from the catwalk to the ice surface during pregame ceremonies prior to his team playing against the San Jose Sharks on October 9, 2018 at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Len Redkoles/NHLI via Getty Images)

The Philadelphia Flyers mascot is only three weeks old and has already become a national sensation.

It’s been a wild three weeks for the Philadelphia Flyers, and not just because the new season is underway. New mascot, Gritty, has consistently been in the national spotlight and steals the show wherever he goes.

This was especially true in the Flyers home opener against the San Jose Sharks. Gritty came down from the rafters in Shawn Michaels fashion to the tune of Miley Cyrus’ “Wrecking Ball” before the game began. The Flyers lost, but Gritty still managed to put a smile on the fans’ faces throughout the entire game.

Gritty made appearances on the national television circuit, too. Going from a simple cameo on Good Morning America to fighting comedian Ricky Gervais on The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon, Gritty entertains where ever he goes. Conan O’Brien even poked fun at him on his late night television show, unmasking an obviously fake Gritty and “revealing” his true identity.

The 7-foot tall mascot has made plenty of friends around Philadelphia. Gritty danced with the Phillie Phanatic during a Philadelphia Phillies game at Citizens Bank Park, receiving a great ovation from the crowd. Gritty then met Philadelphia Union mascot Phang on the same night the Union clinched a MLS playoff berth, which obviously wasn’t a coincidence at all.  He also hitched a ride with Lehigh Valley Phantoms mascot, meLVin, on the front of an ATV to Celine Dion’s “My Heart Will Go On”. They were all truly beautiful moments.

Gritty has many amazing qualities, but the best? His obsession with impressing Flyers forward Claude Giroux. The two first met about a week before the regular season started, and seemed to have a good time together. Since then, Gritty has tried his very best to wow the Flyers captain. From giving Claude cheesesteaks for trips on the road to inviting him out to lunch with Jimmy Fallon, Gritty really wants Giroux’s approval on everything.

Fans all around have come to love Gritty after the initial reveal, too. People have gone so far to get tattoos, wedding cakes, and create custom costumes all in the name of Gritty. Don’t expect the theatrics to stop anytime soon, as well. While he still has some skeptics, Gritty is here to stay and I personally can’t wait for what’s next to come.

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