🌽 Simply a-maize-ing! | Sports Daily Newsletter

If you’re even the tiniest bit superstitious, then you’ll love the story we handpicked to lead off this final Friday in August.

Because what if I told you that there’s a fan out there who believes his decision to bring an ear of corn to Phillies games helped spark the Phillies’ nine-game win streak and is the perceived reason for Kyle Schwarber’s walk-off winner against the Cardinals last Sunday?

That’s only part of the story of Phillies fan Luke Butler, whose affinity for corn meeting baseball at Citizens Bank Park started 22 years earlier with a yellow T-shirt and an ode to former Flyers turned WIP voice turned Flyers president Keith Jones.

Confused? So were we, but the more you read this latest from Inquirer writer Alex Coffey, the more you realize there might be something to the maize this story unfolds into.

See what we did there?

Rain is once again in the forecast with highs reaching the 80s today. And if you’re wondering what the weather will be for Sunday’s return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic, we have that too.

— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

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❓Have a favorite sports superstition? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

The best of Harper?

Objectively, without a trace of recency bias, Bryce Harper is having his best month in seven years with the Phillies, Inquirer writer Scott Lauber writes. Entering play Friday, with four games left in August, he has gotten on base in 55 of 108 plate appearances, a mind-bending .509 clip, and reached in 29 consecutive games, the longest streak of his career.

Harper’s surge — which has coincided with his move back to right field — has showcased what the star does when he’s at his best. And that means focusing on hitting better pitches.

Next: The Phillies open a series in Anaheim against the Angels tonight (9:38 p.m., NBCSP). Andrew Painter (3-6, 6.04 ERA) will start opposite lefty Reid Detmers (4-8, 3.62).

What we’re …

🤔 Wondering: Will Harper’s impressive August parlay into September?

🔥 Thinking: These Taylor Swift-inspired basketball shoes by Nike, worn by Caitlin Clark, are actually pretty fire.

🚴🏻 Sharing: The best spots to watch this weekend’s return of the Philadelphia Cycling Classic.

👏🏽 Applauding: The Toronto Raptors’ intention to retire the jersey of former Sixers guard and Villanova great Kyle Lowry on Jan 10.

🏈 Surmising: That Temple head coach K.C. Keeler still has no clue who will definitively line up under center in the Owls’ season opener.

Back … in black

When Za’Darius Smith played his last game with the Eagles on Oct. 9, 2025, it capped an 11-year run in the NFL. But his decision to leave had nothing to do with the wear and tear the sport can take on a body.

“Got a phone call from my mom’s doctor telling me that she doesn’t have much longer to be on this Earth,” Smith said. “So, I let the team know. Obviously, they weren’t trying to let me leave but that was the only thing I had left, to retire. So, I retired. Dealt with that. After losing my mom, I lost my grandma. Then after my grandma, I just lost my dad. So, y’all obviously know what I’ve been through.”

Now, Smith has found his way back into the league, but it won’t be with the Eagles. He signed a one-year contract with the Atlanta Falcons last week and, as Inquirer writer Ariel Simpson explains, is hoping his return to the gridiron offers a well-timed fresh start.

Pressure cooker

Union interim manager Ryan Richter feels like enough time has passed to understand the locker room he inherited after the club dismissed Bradley Carnell just before the World Cup break.

He also knows that there’s enough time to turn around an embarrassing start to the 2026 season with 13 games remaining before the MLS playoffs begin.

The unknowns are still omnipresent. Can the Union sustain a run that’s seen them unbeaten in their last six MLS matches? If they do, could he have his interim tag removed?

Ask him, as Inquirer writer Jonathan Tannenwald did, and Richter will tell you the only thing he’s dwelling on is an upcoming showdown with Red Bull New York, the team that kickstarted that six-game streak on Saturday (7:30 p.m., Apple TV).

On this date

Aug. 28, 2025: It was on this day just one year ago, Kyle Schwarber crushed four home runs and finished with a team-record nine RBIs in the Phillies’ 19-4 rout of the Braves at Citizens Bank Park.

Our best sports 📸 of the week

The week started as one to savor after the Phillies orchestrated a ninth-inning rally for the ages. But was just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to Philly sports. Fortunately, our photo editors captured a good bit of it and compiled our best shots from the last seven days to share with you, our readers.

🧩 Unscramble the anagram

HER LETTSAPP

This venue will be the center of the college basketball universe in the city again as teams are lining up to pay homage to 100 years of hoops inside the famed arena. Think you know? Take a guess and then click here to see if you’re correct.

What you’re saying about events in Philly

We asked: What former Philly events would you like to see return?

It would be neat to see Philadelphia host a college football bowl game again. The city had the Liberty Bowl for a while before it moved to Memphis. I guess weather concerns might prevent it from happening, but if the Eagles ever built a domed stadium, they could certainly do it. — Everett S.

I was always a big fan of the Army-Navy Game here. That was a great tradition. I know it’s got to go to other parts of the country, but does it? It just felt like its home was always in Philadelphia and especially at the Linc. — Mike S.

We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Alex Coffey, Ariel Simpson, Scott Lauber, Jonathan Tannenwald, Lochlahn March, Mike Livingston, Chris Hine, Conor Smith, Anthony R. Wood, Jasen Lo, and The Inquirer’s photography staff.

By submitting your written, visual, and/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer’s Terms of Use, including the grant of rights in Section 10.

Have a great weekend, Philly. We’ll catch you on Monday. Until then, enjoy the games. — Kerith