Remember when everybody thought Gritty was a terrible mascot? That he/she was a rip off Phillie Phanatic with crazy eyes who looked more likely to murder you in your sleep rather than get everybody pumped up for another .500 Flyers season?

That lasted about 10 seconds, then people realized Gritty was, indeed, a genius idea, as he/she went on a national publicity tour, appearing on pretty much every program imaginable.

He/she is even winning awards, and last night shouted out the late Daenerys Targaryen during his/her acceptance speech at the Sports Business Journal’s “Best in Sports” gala:

Gritty.

First of his/her name. Queen/king of the Andals and the First Men, Protector of the Seven Kingdoms, the Mother/Father of Dragons, the Khaleesi of the Great Grass Sea, the Unburnt, the Breaker of Chains, etc.

h/t Jeff Blumenthal