Mike Klein’s August 13, 2006<\/b> column in the Philadelphia Inquirer<\/b> has this update on the Rocky<\/b> statue:<\/p>\n
Looks like the fight over the location of the Rocky<\/b> statue is headed for the final round, and the populist pugilist is poised to prevail by TKO<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Supporters of the statue, which Sylvester Stallone<\/b> gave to the city in 1982<\/b>, want it placed on the outskirts of the Art Museum<\/b> steps, which Stallone<\/b> made famous.<\/p>\n
Some bluenoses on the city Art Commission<\/b>, meanwhile, sniff that the piece is not art. (Look up the work of some commission members and decide for yourself whether that’s art.)<\/p>\n
The statue’s chances looked dim as recently as Wednesday<\/b>, when a commission review committee deadlocked, 3-3, on the site plan. City Public Property Commissioner Joan Schlotterbeck<\/b>, who favors it, withdrew the application before it went to the full commission, which has shot it down twice before.<\/p>\n
But I hear that through gentle arm-twisting, the full commission likely has the votes to approve the location, and a decision might come down before the next scheduled commission meeting Sept. 6<\/b>. “We’re very hopeful,” Commerce Director Stephanie Naidoff <\/b>said Friday<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Good timing. Sept. 6 <\/b>is the start of “Philly Loves Rocky Week.”<\/b><\/p>\n
Civic types, led by lawyer and Stallone<\/b> pal Jimmy Binns<\/b>, are organizing events including a boxing exhibition in JFK Plaza<\/b> (Sept. 6<\/b>) and a Rocky and Adrian look-alike contest<\/b> (Sept. 7<\/b>). Stallone<\/b> has agreed to come in Sept. 9<\/b> to be grand marshal<\/b> of the Hero Thrill Show<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The idea for the week was hatched after the Fairmount Park Commission <\/b>approved the site location in May<\/b>. At the time, Stallone<\/b> was to attend a statue dedication on Sept. 8<\/b>.<\/p>\n
The ceremony may come off then after all.<\/p>\n