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Category: Sports

  • Tyrese Maxey visits local spots to promote signature New Balance shoes: ‘Philadelphia has raised me’

    Tyrese Maxey visits local spots to promote signature New Balance shoes: ‘Philadelphia has raised me’

    Standing out front of Faheem’s Hand of Precision, located on South 20th Street, Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey recalled sitting on his front steps “like a bad kid.” During his second year in Philly, the two-time All-Star would walk across the street to get hot chips, watch a young kid from the neighborhood ride his dirt bike back and forth, and see kids on the bus passing by banging on their windows to get his attention.

    Fast forward five years and Maxey was back on his old stomping grounds on Wednesday to promote the upcoming release of his signature New Balance sneaker, the Maxey v1s.

    “I went and got a haircut and sat on those steps and talked to people that walked by,” Maxey said. “I came through here during the times of 5, 6 p.m. where the whole block, everybody is here. … This is a place of comfort. This is a place of family. It means a lot.”

    ESPN Rank places Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James among NBA’s top 20 players

    Faheem Alexander, Maxey’s barber, has owned the shop for 26 years. Inside, the walls are decorated with photos of Alexander with celebrities like Tiffany Haddish and Tracy Morgan.

    However, there’s still no photo of Maxey and Alexander hanging up — yet.

    “I have a spot cleared out for him,” Alexander said. “That’s my foundation pic. I want everybody to come in and see the picture. It’s been amazing to see him grow, from a fresh-faced 18-, 19-year-old kid, to now, he’s a father [at] 25 years old. … It’s just easy. He’s a beautiful person.”

    Tyrese Maxey sits on the front step of his barbershop, Faheem’s Hands of Precision, while promoting his new signature sneakers.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    Maxey getting his own signature shoe is another example of the young guard’s rising star power. He signed a shoe deal with New Balance in 2023, joining players like Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, and Zach LaVine. Since then, he’s starred in the brand’s “We Got Now” ad, and released the Tyrese Maxey Hero Pack — which is a collection inspired by Maxey’s love of comic books that included a basketball shoe, the New Balance Hesi Low v2, and a lifestyle shoe, the New Balance 1906R.

    “I’m just feeling blessed, and thankful for the opportunity,” Maxey said. “And then the biggest thing, I just hope the people are as positive and happy about it as I am. I hope when they put them on, they get to have fun with them. I hope the shoe brings them joy, as much as it brings me. That’s the biggest thing I wish and hope for. And I’m glad to see it come to fruition now.”

    Tyrese Maxey takes a tour of his old Philly stomping grounds to promote new signature shoe
    Video: Tyrese Maxey takes a tour of his old Philly stomping grounds to promote new signature shoe

    Maxey debuted his New Balance signature shoes in April during the Sixers’ 109-97 play-in game victory over the Orlando Magic that clinched the No. 7 seed in the Eastern Conference. Ahead of the sneaker’s release, Maxey visited three local Philly spots as a way to surprise fans.

    His first stop was at Foot Locker, located on Chestnut Street, where he met with the workers and posed for photos with fans who spotted him through the window.

    Tyrese Maxey stopped at Foot Locker on Chestnut Street to promote his new signature sneakers, the Maxey V1s.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “I basically grew up here,” Maxey said. “I’ve been through all these places, these streets, everywhere. And that’s just me trying to be a good person and a good role model to the kids and the people in the city — making them smile. Philadelphia has really raised me and it’s really helped me become the person I am today and I’m very thankful.”

    The second stop was at the cheesesteak spot Ishkabibble’s, located on South Street, where Maxey took pictures with the staff.

    Sixers’ Jaylen Brown channels outer space with his new signature shoes that are ‘NOT from HERE’

    “Ishkabibble’s is important to me because it’s the first place I had a cheesesteak,” Maxey said. “Cheesesteaks are huge here. And now whenever I’m close to Ishkabibble’s, I always go stop in. I’ve taken everybody there that I know, pretty much, that come to town.”

    As Maxey was leaving the shop, Carlos Deloatch, 54, and his wife Valencia Whitfield, 69, stopped him to chat about the upcoming season.

    “Don’t let LeBron [James] come to our city and steal your shine,” Deloatch said.

    Tyrese Maxey (center) talks with Carlos Deloatch (left) and Valencia Whitfield (right) while visiting Ishkabibble’s on Wednesday.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer

    “He came here to help,” Maxey responded with a smile.

    The Maxey v1s have been in the works since January. The low-top sneakers have a black base made of suede and mesh material, with light blueish gray accents that swoop into the design.

    “The biggest thing was trying to keep it a secret,” Maxey said. “There’s been a lot of times where people have asked me on the spot in interviews in live situations like ‘Hey, you think New Balance will give you a shoe?’ and I know the shoe is coming, but I can’t say anything. … That was one of the most entertaining parts.”

    The sneaker is set to release on Oct. 2.

  • Phillies may be preparing Andrew Painter for a bullpen role by keeping him on normal rest for his next start

    Phillies may be preparing Andrew Painter for a bullpen role by keeping him on normal rest for his next start

    Don Mattingly didn’t want to tempt fate. So, in revealing that Andrew Painter will start Thursday night instead of Friday, he explained that the Phillies merely prefer to keep the rookie on regular rest.

    But there’s another factor at play.

    By keeping Painter on turn rather than giving him extra rest — as they did last week in New York against the Mets — the Phillies could line him up to come out of the bullpen for one inning over the weekend in lieu of a side session in preparation for a potential relief role in the postseason.

    Dave Dombrowski: ‘Better to wait until our season is complete’ before deciding on Don Mattingly’s future

    And if the Phillies had clinched a wild card, Mattingly surely would’ve discussed the plan for Painter as a postseason reliever. But they still needed to beat the Brewers on Wednesday night and get a loss from either the Diamondbacks or the Padres.

    “There’s really no plan at this point for what we’re going to do,” Mattingly said. “Just win tonight, and then we can talk about it.”

    Painter hasn’t pitched in a relief role in his brief career, although the 23-year-old righty did follow an opener twice early in the season. He gave up one run in five innings April 12 against the Diamondbacks and allowed five runs in five innings June 12 against the Brewers.

    In his last 10 starts, Andrew Painter has allowed only 43 hits in 55⅔ innings and posted a 3.88 ERA.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    But the Phillies are trying to fortify the bridge to closer Jhoan Duran, especially with setup reliever Jonathan Bowlan sidelined by a right groin strain. Last weekend, Dave Dombrowski said “some of our starters are going to end up in the bullpen” for the wild-card round.

    Painter, who isn’t lined up to start in the best-of-three miniseries, would be a logical candidate to fill that role. And the Phillies would surely feel more comfortable using him out of the bullpen if they can give him a relief appearance before the end of the season.

    “[I’d] be able to rear back a little bit and let it eat a little bit more,” Painter said recently. “I’m sure velo would tick up a little bit, and we’ll be able to just empty the tank.”

    In 24 appearances, Painter is 3-10 with a 5.59 ERA. He has been more effective since returning July 31 from a brief stint back in triple A. In his last 10 starts, he has allowed only 43 hits in 55⅔ innings and posted a 3.88 ERA.

    The Zack Wheeler conversation: Why he expected to thrive after surgery, and how much longer he wants to play

    Luzardo update

    Although Jesús Luzardo tested his sore left shoulder by playing catch for a fourth consecutive day, he had what Mattingly called “more of a recovery day.” The Phillies haven’t disclosed when he will throw from a mound.

    “We just have to see how he feels [Thursday],” Mattingly said, “and then listen to [athletic trainer] Paul [Buchheit] and see what he says he can do.”

    Luzardo, who hasn’t pitched since a 109-pitch complete game Sept. 7 against the Braves, is eligible to return from the injured list Sunday. The Phillies remain hopeful that he will be able to pitch in the postseason in some capacity, perhaps out of the bullpen.

    Zack Wheeler surpassed his 2,000th career strikeout during his start on Tuesday.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    Mr. 2,000

    By striking out the side in the first inning Tuesday night, Zack Wheeler became the 10th active pitcher — and the 96th pitcher ever — to reach 2,000 strikeouts.

    “It’s really cool, special,” Wheeler said. “Some of the guys asked me in here, ‘Would you have ever thought [of reaching 2,000 strikeouts]? The answer is no. Getting into the league, trying to get your feet under you, trying to last, game to game early on. Just trying to stay up in the big leagues and trying to figure out how to throw strikes. That was hard for me. Just being where I am now, it’s pretty special.”

    Early in his career, after coming up with the Mets, Wheeler missed nearly two seasons after Tommy John elbow surgery and setbacks in his recovery. But since he signed with the Phillies in 2020, Wheeler has a 2.93 ERA in 184 starts and more wins above replacement (36.5, according to FanGraphs) than any pitcher in the sport.

    Matt Klentak breaks down how the Phillies acquired Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez
    Video: Matt Klentak breaks down how the Phillies acquired Zack Wheeler and Cristopher Sánchez

    Extra bases

    Bowlan threw lightly off a bullpen mound. “It tells you he’s feeling pretty good,” said Mattingly, who didn’t disclose plans to get Bowlan into a game before the end of the regular season. … The Phillies topped 3 million fans in total attendance Tuesday night. It marked the fourth consecutive season that they reached that mark. … The Brewers haven’t named a starter for the series finale, but righty Bryse Wilson (0-0, 3.67) is a possibility. Wilson began the season in triple A with the Phillies and made one major-league appearance before getting designated for assignment in June.

  • ‘It’s up to me. Everyone is watching’: Can former lottery pick David Jiříček win a job on the Flyers’ blue line?

    ‘It’s up to me. Everyone is watching’: Can former lottery pick David Jiříček win a job on the Flyers’ blue line?

    On Wednesday, David Jiříček and Oliver Bonk both skated with the NHL group, cementing them as the top two contenders for the final spot on the Flyers’ opening-night defense, next to veteran Nick Seeler.

    The Flyers want their young players to learn from playing big minutes. They’re unlikely to keep Bonk up to be the seventh defenseman, as opposed to being on the top pair in Lehigh Valley.

    Flyers believe Dan Vladař ‘dodged a bullet,’ list the netminder as ‘day-to-day’ with an upper-body injury

    But Jiříček, who the Flyers acquired at last year’s trade deadline from Minnesota, is the only one of the Flyers’ young defensemen who is not waiver-exempt, meaning the Flyers can’t send him down without risking losing him for nothing.

    The final cut days of training camp are a busy time on waivers, which could increase the odds of Jiříček slipping by unclaimed. But it’s more likely that the Flyers would keep Jiříček up even if he doesn’t win the job, just to continue to get him reps and practice without risking losing the talented blueliner.

    “Offense is there, so I just have to play defense, sounds easy, right?” the 22-year-old joked. “Be good on defense, don’t make mistakes — obviously everyone makes mistakes, but try to do it as little as you can, and everything is going to be fine.”

    In practice, Jiříček got reps running the point on the Flyers’ second power-play unit, with Travis Konecny, Noah Cates, Owen Tippett, and Alex Bump.

    After Monday’s preseason loss to Washington, Tocchet said he wanted to see the 6-foot-4, 204-pound Jiříček be more aggressive with his shot, something Tocchet believes he’s held back on in practice to avoid hurting his teammates.

    David Jiříček’s offensive tools have rarely been questioned. But can he elevate his game enough defensively to earn the trust of Rick Tocchet?Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer

    “Guys get that way, they want to endear themselves to their teammates,” Tocchet said. “They want to give them passes and stuff, but he’s got a gifted shot. I think he took it one time and it was a heater. I want to see three of those a game.”

    Tocchet said that another one of Jiříček’s biggest strengths is his patience with the puck and ability to slow the play down. But “when there’s chaos,” Jiříček begins to struggle, so the Flyers worked to develop his abilities reading the game and learning how to shut down plays in the corner during his 15-game stint to end the year with Lehigh Valley of the American Hockey League.

    The former No. 6 overall pick has struggled to stick in the NHL since his draft year in 2022, mostly due to challenges adapting defensively and with his skating. Tocchet said it was fair to say Jiříček’s strides are still a bit clunky, but joked that he too played “ugly” during his time in the NHL.

    “Don’t get me wrong, we all work on our skating, we work on all sorts of stuff,” Tocchet said. “But it might not look pretty sometimes, but he does get the job done.”

    Acquiring David Jiříček is the latest example of the Flyers’ unorthodox approach to rebuilding. It’s worth the risk.

    Jiříček racked up 13 points (two goals, 11 assists) in 15 games with the Phantoms to end last season. Both of these goals came on the power play, earning him a call-up for the final regular-season game. Tocchet said he’s seen significant progression from Jiříček since he first came to the organization at last year’s trade deadline, but there’s still more room to grow.

    “It’s up to me. Everyone is watching,” Jiříček said. ”…Try to make them feel like I’m ready and I’m here to take a spot.”

    Breakaways

    Denver Barkey, who Tocchet described as “day to day” on Tuesday, skated with the Phantoms group and skated on the ice alone between practices in a non-contact jersey. … Jett Luchanko and Cole Knuble sat out Wednesday’s practice after playing in back-to-back preseason games. … Nikita Grebenkin (upper body) is full-contact in practice and Tocchet expects him to play in Thursday’s preseason game against the Boston Bruins. “The guys won’t hit him. He wants to be hit,” Tocchet joked. … The Flyers placed forwards Carl Grundström, Jack Studnicka, Nolan Foote, Danila Klimovich, and Zach Aston-Reese, and defenseman Cam Dineen on waivers Wednesday. … The team also assigned forwards Noah Powell and Riley Thompson, defensemen Spencer Gill, Hunter McDonald, Ty Murchison, and goaltender Carson Bjarnason to Lehigh Valley. Meanwhile, forward Matthew Gard was returned to the Seattle Thunderbirds of the Western Hockey League.

  • Jason and Travis Kelce debate solutions for hot turf fields, the Eagles’ run game, and more from ‘New Heights’

    Jason and Travis Kelce debate solutions for hot turf fields, the Eagles’ run game, and more from ‘New Heights’

    After Sunday’s scorcher in Nashville, Travis and Jason Kelce’s opinions reached a boiling point in Wednesday’s episode of New Heights, when the brothers discussed the turf temperature for the Eagles’ win.

    In a nearly two-hour episode, the Kelce brothers broke down all the happenings of Week 2 of the NFL before an interview with Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson, who were promoting their Apple TV show Brothers on a podcast with two … brothers.

    Too hot to handle

    The turf on Sunday in Nissan Stadium in Nashville reached 157 degrees, and Nick Sirianni reportedly needed an IV.

    So how hot is too hot?

    Nick Sirianni greets Eagles players outside of locker room after win vs. Titans
    Video: Nick Sirianni greets Eagles players outside of locker room after win vs. Titans

    Jason and Travis debated the extreme temperatures, which Jason said he initially shrugged off.

    “I was like on WIP or something like that earlier in the week. They’re like, ‘Oh, you think the heat’s going to make a difference?’ I was like, ‘Ah, everybody’s playing in heat,’” Jason said.

    ‘Biggest catch of his life’ for Darius Cooper, Drew Brees’ Jalen Hurts take, and more

    That was until he saw the actual temperature of the turf displayed on the TV and heard about Cam Jurgens, who said he switched his cleats about three times because of them melting.

    “You shouldn’t be allowed to do that,” Travis said “You shouldn’t be allowed to put players on a field that does that.”

    While Travis’ solution was simply putting down grass fields instead, Jason’s idea was more out of the box.

    “We got to get some air-conditioned fields,” Jason said. “Come on guys, we can we can do it.”

    Don’t rush the rushing game

    You’ll take the wins “how you get them,” Jason said while discussing the Eagles’ 24-20 win over the Titans on Sunday. But he still saw plenty of good, especially from quarterback Jalen Hurts, who Jason said “is the reason why they have won these two games.” Hurts went 26-for-37 with 264 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday.

    “What’s the most encouraging to me is that if Jalen is playing like this the way he has the two first two weeks, that run game gets going, it’s going to be a very fun offense to watch,” Jason said.

    Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni (left) and assistant to the head coach Cole Peterson (right) dance off the field after beating the Tennessee Titans 24-20 in Nashville, Tenn. on Sunday, Sept. 20, 2026.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni celebrates after the Eagles beat the Tennessee Titans.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts celebrates with running back Saquon Barkley after throwing the game-winning touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper catches the game-winning touchdown late in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper catches a touchdown with 9 seconds left in the fourth quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni celebrates after they beat the Tennessee Titans.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Happy Philadelphia Eagles fans after the Eagles scored a touchdown with seconds left in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles center Cam Jurgens lifts up Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Darius Cooper after Cooper makes the winning touchdown with seconds left in the fourth quarter. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles fan holds up a Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith jersey with seconds left in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts throws the football late in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter gets help coming off the field in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles fan is sweating it out with the Eagles trailing 20-17 in the fourth quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Makai Lemon gets stopped by Tennessee Titans cornerback Marcus Harris.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith catches first down pass against Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Riq Woolen defends Tennessee Titans wide receiver Carnell Tate with 12:50 left in the fourth quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts scrambles out of trouble and throws an incomplete pass with 8 seconds left in the third quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles tight end Johnny Mundt is brought down by Tennessee Titans linebacker Cody Barton in the third quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni while the Tennessee Titans are driving in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Jihaad Campbell and Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun stop Tennessee Titans running back Nicholas Singleton in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley pushed out of bounds by Tennessee Titans linebacker Cedric Gray in the third quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith hauls in a pass, but it was incomplete during the third quarter against the Tennessee Titans.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles kicker Jake Elliott watches his long field goal in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley running with the ball in the third quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Ty Robinson (left) and Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter (right) try to block a field goal as time runs out in the first half against the Tennessee Titans in Nashville, Tenn.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Zack Baun brings down Tennessee Titans wide receiver Elic Ayomanor after Titans’ drive to the end zone late in the second quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith celebrates a touchdown against the Tennessee Titans.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles running back Will Shipley runs along the sideline with Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor defending.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles fans cheer as the Eagles drive towards the end zone.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles head of security Big Dom DiSandro stops Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts as he is running out of bounds so he doesn’t hurt himself in the second quarter.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby runs with the football during the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts and Philadelphia Eagles running back Tank Bigsby celebrate Bigsby’s touchdown in the second quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks gets a first-down catch passed Tennessee Titans linebacker Cody Barton and Tennessee Titans linebacker Anthony Hill Jr. in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Tennessee Titans safety Amani Hooker intercepts the ball from Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts in the first quarter and runs it just short of the end zone.David Maialetti / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith gets a first down pass with Tennessee Titans cornerback Alontae Taylor defending in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Britain Covey returns the first punt of the game, defended by Tennessee Titans safety Erick Hallett, in the first quarter.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
    Philadelphia Eagles fans get ready for the game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Jason said Hurts hasn’t gotten enough credit for being a reason the Eagles’ run game was so dominant for so long. He thinks issues with the rushing game this season are rooted in the offensive line, and continuity issues, largely because of injuries, have changed that dynamic and made it harder to establish.

    While those issues sort themselves out, the Eagles filled a void at tight end following Dallas Goedert’s injury by getting “a dog back in the in the Eagles jersey,” Travis said of Zach Ertz. Jason added that Ertz is on the cusp of breaking Harold Carmichael’s franchise record for career catches, needing just 11 more.

    “I’m always excited to see 86 in some green, especially if he breaks this record,” Jason said. “I think if anybody was going to break that record, I’d be happy that it was Zach.”

    What we know (and don’t) about the Eagles entering Week 3 vs. the Bears

    It’s a toss-up

    Travis broke the record for the most yards after catch by a tight end in NFL history, and his wife, Taylor Swift, showed off her ring in a viral moment of her lauding the Chiefs overtime win with a cheer of “that’s my husband,” and still, the moment that New Heights listeners had the most questions about was a coin toss.

    In a moment that has since gained a lot of traction, Colts safety Camryn Bynum tried to “defer” after winning the coin toss in overtime. Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes tried to take advantage of the moment by interjecting and saying “they get the ball.” Referee Craig Wrolstad ignored Mahomes’ attempts in favor of making sure he understood what Bynum and the Colts were trying to do.

    Because there is no second half in overtime, deferring is not an option, which caused some confusion from fans. Still, Jason was quick to support his brother and the Chiefs in their attempt to capitalize on the blunder.

    “I’m on board with, like, you saying the wrong thing, I think you should be penalized for that,” Jason said.

    Russell Wilson sees his approach to the game in Eagles QB Jalen Hurts. Having the same mental coach helps.

    Brothers and Brothers

    The sports conversations didn’t end when McConaughey and Harrelson joined in the second half of the episode.

    Between talking about their careers, friendship, and new show, the group also talked sports.

    That included a story McConaughey told from Texas’ BCS national championship win at the Rose Bowl in 2006. He spoke about the “intangibles” he saw Vince Young display during the game and taking off his helmet and running down to the other side of the field to shake the hand of three USC alumni veterans during a TV timeout.

    “I was sitting there looking at that,” McConaughey said. “We’re going like, ‘We’re going to win this game.’ ‘Did you see that?’ ‘That’s how present this dude is.’”

    As for Harrelson, McConaughey revealed he’s actually a “sneaky athlete” who can be ambidextrous while playing tennis or basketball. However, unlike his character in Kingpin, Harrelson isn’t much of a bowler.

    “That’s a real hard sport for me, bowling, but sometimes I get lucky,” Harrelson said. “One time I actually bowled a 199. Imagine the last frame, all I needed to do was get more than like three, and I got three.”

  • ESPN Rank places Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James among NBA’s top 20 players

    ESPN Rank places Tyrese Maxey, Jaylen Brown, and LeBron James among NBA’s top 20 players

    The 76ers added LeBron James and Jaylen Brown to a roster already featuring Joel Embiid. But ESPN’s latest NBA ranking still puts Tyrese Maxey ahead of them all — and leaves the Sixers without a player in its top 10.

    Maxey landed at No. 11 in ESPN’s NBA Rank, released Wednesday, while Brown came in at No. 14, James at No. 18, and Embiid at No. 41. VJ Edgecombe ranked No. 72, giving the Sixers five projected starters among the league’s top 72 players.

    ESPN asked its seven panelists to project each player’s contributions to the 2026-27 regular season, weighing quality and quantity of play. That distinction is especially relevant to Embiid, who averaged 26.9 points last season but appeared in only 38 games.

    Maxey’s climb followed the best season of his career. He averaged 28.3 points and 6.6 assists in 70 games, earned third-team All-NBA honors, and rose 17 spots from No. 28 in last year’s ranking.

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    ESPN’s Dave McMenamin wrote that Maxey’s presence played a major role in James’s decision to sign with the Sixers. Brown, meanwhile, arrives after averaging a career-high 28.7 points for Boston and making the All-NBA second team. ESPN projects Maxey ahead of both newcomers as the three prepare to play together for the first time.

    Embiid rose six spots from last year’s ranking, but his No. 41 placement still reflects questions about how often he will play. ESPN noted that he has appeared in 96 of a possible 246 games since winning MVP in 2023. While his scoring remains among the league’s best when he is available, the panel was projecting what he could contribute across a full regular season.

    James’s drop carries its own historical weight. He ranked eighth last year, and No. 18 marks the first time he has fallen outside the top 10 in NBA Rank’s 15-year history. He enters his first season with the Sixers at 41 years old after taking on a facilitator role alongside Luka Dončić and Austin Reaves with the Lakers.

    Even ESPN’s analysts disagreed about where James belongs. In a separate discussion of the rankings, Jamal Collier called No. 18 “questionable,” while Tim MacMahon considered it “fair.” Anthony Slater pointed to James’s placement behind Maxey and Brown as a sign of the adjustment awaiting him.

    LeBron James, left, and Tyrese Maxey, right, are among the top 20 players on ESPN’s top 100 players. Chris Szagola / AP

    Edgecombe made his first appearance on the list at No. 72 after averaging 16.0 points, 5.6 rebounds, and 4.2 assists as a rookie. He finished third in Rookie of the Year voting and ranked 11th in the NBA in minutes.

    Paul George, whom the Sixers sent to Boston in the deal for Brown, landed at No. 67. That puts him 13 spots below last year’s ranking and 53 behind Brown on this year’s list.

    The year-to-year changes come with a shift in ESPN’s process. Previous lists drew on player-vs.-player votes from more than 100 contributors; this year, ESPN combined top-100 ballots from seven panelists. The instruction to project regular-season contributions stayed the same.

    Brown has acknowledged the adjustment ahead. At his introduction in August, he said the new teammates would need to sacrifice, trust, and communicate. “Winning is the agenda,” he said. Maxey may be ESPN’s highest-ranked Sixer, but the list cannot answer how often the five starters will play together or what each will give up when they do.

    ESPN will reveal its top 10 on Thursday, with every member of the Sixers’ projected starting lineup accounted for. The Sixers open the season Oct. 20 against the reigning champion New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden (7 p.m., NBC10) — their first regular-season chance to see how those five fit together.

  • Eagles’ Vic Fangio says safety starters are staying put, won’t increase Cooper DeJean’s snaps at the position

    Eagles’ Vic Fangio says safety starters are staying put, won’t increase Cooper DeJean’s snaps at the position

    Cooper DeJean isn’t moving to safety on a full-time basis any time soon.

    The play of Eagles starting safety Marcus Epps is under scrutiny following the Eagles’ 24-20 victory over Tennessee, particularly in regard to his missed tackle on Titans running back Tyjae Spears’ third-and-22 rushing conversion late in the game.

    Epps and Andrew Mukuba, the starting safety tandem, were credited with three missed tackles apiece on Sunday in Nashville, according to Pro Football Focus. The database also put the blame on Epps for conceding Titans receiver Elic Ayomanor’s 29-yard reception in the second quarter on third-and-13.

    But Vic Fangio responded with a blunt “no” on Wednesday when asked if he would consider moving DeJean — who starts at safety in place of Epps in base defense — to safety full-time.

    Rather, Fangio didn’t express long-term concern about Epps in the role. He acknowledged that the 30-year-old safety “had some plays that he would like to have back,” both against the run and the pass. But the Eagles defensive coordinator didn’t seem to be completely out on Epps as a starter.

    “He’ll bounce back,” Fangio said.

    Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would not commit to changes at safety ahead of Week 3’s trip to Chicago. Yong Kim / Staff Photographer

    Still, Fangio said that “there’s a chance” that he could lean more on Michael Carter II, the 27-year-old defensive back who’s primarily played at nickel cornerback throughout his career, but competed with Epps for the starting safety job in training camp.

    The Eagles also signed 31-year-old defensive back Kenny Moore to the practice squad. Moore, who spent nine seasons with the Indianapolis Colts, has primarily played nickel cornerback. He does have some safety experience, too.

    Fangio wouldn’t confirm that the Eagles were signing Moore, let alone describe his prospective role in the defense.

    “I’ve never laid eyes on him,” Fangio said. “Never watched him play, so we’ll see.”

    Bears on the run

    The last time the Eagles faced the Chicago Bears in Week 13 last season, the Bears rushed for a whopping 281 yards and two touchdowns on 47 carries.

    Kyle Monangai and D’Andre Swift led the way with 130 yards and a touchdown and 125 yards and a touchdown, respectively, on the ground.

    Fangio isn’t flushing that game. In fact, he said he will include plays from the Eagles’ last outing against the Bears in this week’s cut-ups of the offense.

    “We got to play it better, obviously,” Fangio said of the Bears’ Week 13 output in the run game. “They are one of the better running teams in the league. Got a really great O-line, great backs. Their scheme is good. We’re going to have to play it a whole lot better.”

    The Eagles were gutted on the ground against Kyle Monangai and the Bears in a home loss on Black Friday last year.Jose F. Moreno / Staff Photographer

    The Eagles will need to clean up their tackling if they want to fare better against the Bears this time around. Last week against the Titans, the Eagles missed 12 tackles, according to PFF.

    “We missed a little bit more than we normally do,” Fangio said. “Missed a couple critical ones there. Just got to close space a little bit better, and we got to do it better.”

    While the Eagles are preparing to take on the Bears’ sound rushing attack, they might not have to prepare for quarterback Caleb Williams. The 2024 first-overall pick out of USC is “week to week” with a hamstring injury, according to Bears head coach Ben Johnson. Backup Tyson Bagent is in concussion protocol, paving the way for 38-year-old journeyman Case Keenum to take QB1 reps at Wednesday’s practice.

    But Fangio said he’s not necessarily operating under the assumption that Keenum will start on Monday night.

    “Don’t have enough information yet,” Fangio said. “We’re preparing for Chicago’s offense. I don’t think their offense will change a whole lot schematically. So that’s what we’ll prepare for.”

    Vic Fangio said Jonathan Greenard is getting closer but will not play a full complement snaps on Monday, even if he is active. David Maialetti / Staff Photographer

    Greenard getting closer?

    After sitting out the first two games, could Jonathan Greenard make his Eagles debut against the Bears?

    The 29-year-old outside linebacker has been practicing as a limited participant since the season began after he was sidelined throughout training camp due to a pectoral strain.

    Fangio said Greenard has a “better chance [at playing] than last week,” but he added that he wants to see how the veteran edge rusher will fare in practice this week before making a decision on his prospective role on Monday.

    Even if Greenard is able to play, don’t expect him to take on the majority of snaps in his first game back.

    “He’s definitely not ready for a full workload,” Fangio said. “He’s not only coming off inactivity; he’s coming off an injury. And his injury for a good bit, I don’t know, first four to six, seven weeks, he really couldn’t do a whole lot conditioning-wise either. So he’s nowhere near ready for full load.”

  • For all the hype, Cavan Sullivan has genuinely earned his moment on the USMNT’s biggest stage

    For all the hype, Cavan Sullivan has genuinely earned his moment on the USMNT’s biggest stage

    FAYETTEVILLE, Ga. — In Philadelphia, it’s football season, it’s almost the baseball playoffs, and it’s always a good time to talk about LeBron James.

    But amid all that, an unexpected question rises these days on Broad Street. And as it happens, the same question is rising around the soccer world.

    How has a 16-year-old from Northeast Philadelphia seized so many headlines?

    The answer is simple: Cavan Sullivan has earned it.

    Yes, he’s an amazing talent. Yes, he already has enough marketing deals to make players twice his age blush, including one with Adidas that has set him up with superstars like Lionel Messi and Trinity Rodman.

    But that talent alone — never mind the hype — wouldn’t have seen Sullivan score six goals in the Union’s last six games, or have the team’s second-most scoring chances created despite ranking ninth in minutes played.

    Cavan Sullivan earns his first USMNT call-up, as do Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield

    No, those moments happened because of what got him on the field in the first place. Interim Union manager Ryan Richter described that part perfectly after the big win in San Diego earlier this month, when Sullivan’s backheel goal exploded online.

    “He trains like an animal every single day,” Richter said. “His outstanding quality is the mentality that he has, and the way that he approaches every game and every day, and that’s what pushes him to get better and better.”

    A few minutes later, Sullivan was told of those words, and was asked what it meant to hear them.

    “I always appreciate when stuff like that’s acknowledged, so thank you to him,” he said. “I think that’s just sort of, like, my DNA in a way. I think it’s sort of how I’m wired. But always great to have people like him acknowledge it.”

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    There are moments when Sullivan comes across as an already-polished product of three generations of Philadelphia soccer royalty. But there are also still moments where you see the rawness of a 16-year-old, and this was one.

    Comparisons to Freddy Adu aren’t fair

    If Sullivan plays in any of the U.S. team’s four upcoming friendlies, he’ll become the youngest senior men’s national team player since Freddy Adu in 2006.

    Around the soccer world, Sullivan gets compared to other young phenoms, such as Arsenal and England’s Max Dowman and Spain and Barcelona’s Lamine Yamal. (Not for nothing did Adidas, which markets all three of them, recently bring Sullivan and Dowman together for a photo shoot where Sullivan had one of the Union’s new third jerseys.)

    But for some people in this country, the most significant comparison goes in a less optimistic direction: to Adu.

    In 2004, Adu arrived on the scene as a 14-year-old already crowned as destined to be the greatest American men’s player of all time. He took the field with D.C. United back then carrying the hopes of MLS at a time when it was desperate for any kind of recognition.

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    The recognition came, including a TV ad featuring Adu and Pelé. But the on-field accomplishments didn’t. Adu fell far short of his potential, despite seemingly countless opportunities over a 17-year career.

    Looking back, we can now see why. It wasn’t just that he was swallowed up by the hype. It’s that so much of the infrastructure that has helped Sullivan grow didn’t exist in Adu’s teenage years.

    MLS teams didn’t have youth academies back then, from the Union’s unparalleled scale — to frankly any scale. Fans might think about the first-team staff and sometimes the reserve-team coaches, but the dozens of youth team coaches and high school teachers that fill the club’s Chester complex who work outside the spotlight are immeasurable.

    Cavan Sullivan cemented his case for making the U.S. men’s national team in the Union’s rout of San Diego

    Adu didn’t have any of that when he grew up. He went straight into the first team at 14, and that was it. MLS could barely even accommodate a legal minor in some facilities back then, and its reserve league didn’t start until a year after Adu’s pro debut.

    The Union reserve team’s facilities at the club’s training complex in Chester.Alejandro A. Alvarez / Staff Photographer

    Now the league knows what it’s doing, with systems in place to accommodate what has become a years-long pipeline of elite young talent. Sullivan is just one example, and quite a few of them have made the current U.S. roster.

    Few players know this more than one of the national team’s best, Tyler Adams. He rose through Red Bull New York’s youth and pro ranks, moved to Europe after three years in MLS, and now flies the flag for Americans in the English Premier League.

    Neil Pierre could be on the cusp of his next star turn as he heads to his first USMNT camp

    This week, the 27-year-old is one of the veterans welcoming the debutants.

    “Prospect is a great word, but they’re doing it at a high level right now,” he said. “And then for me, as a product of MLS and a kid that came through MLS, you have to respect the league and the level that they’re playing at, at such a young age, because you’re competing against grown men. … You just have to do things in the right order, and we’re giving them the best opportunity to do that now.”

    Tyler Adams (center) at work during Wednesday’s U.S. men’s soccer team practice at the national training center in suburban Atlanta.Jonathan Tannenwald

    Confident? Yes. Cocky? No.

    There’s one more point to make about Sullivan. Outsiders call him cocky, and he can be: from stepover dribbles to the flashy outfits he wears at Subaru Park on game days. But what athlete doesn’t have an ego?

    You have to have one to become elite in sports, whether Bryce Harper or LeBron James or Carli Lloyd.

    Of course, Sullivan hasn’t yet achieved what those three have, and whether he will remains to be seen. But he has an outstanding support system that keeps him in check at the right times, from his family at home, including his older brother and teammate, Quinn Sullivan, to team captain Alejandro Bedoya, and Ryan Richter in the Union locker room. You can be sure they all got him ready for this week as best they could.

    Cavan Sullivan earns his first USMNT call-up, as do Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield

    Beyond that, we can’t know how this Union season will end up, with a bunch of tough games coming next month; and it’s impossible to know what will happen when Cavan joins Manchester City at the end of next year.

    Will he actually play for the English giant, or get loaned out repeatedly — the fate that past Americans suffered in England, including Downingtown’s Zack Steffen at City and Media’s Auston Trusty at Arsenal?

    Zack Steffen played just 21 games for Manchester City in 4 1/2 years on the English Premier League giant’s books.Ian Walton

    It’s easy to spend time and energy fretting about those questions. Right now, though, can be a moment to put them aside.

    Just as Union fans have allowed themselves to simply enjoy the team’s renaissance, they can sit back and enjoy this national team window for Sullivan, Neil Pierre, and Frankie Westfield. The games are friendlies, so results matter less than seeing how the players handle their first steps on the senior national team stage.

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    The last word goes to Adams, since he delivered on this subject as well as he does with so many things.

    “If anybody remembers me when I was 16, 17 years old, I came in and I wasn’t afraid to step on people’s toes, but I was very keen on doing the work and making sure that I could earn the respect of the older players,” he said. “That’s always super-important as you try to build this group out. We have a lot of bright talent here, but it’s important that we all work hard and help get the best growth out of all of them.”

    Neil Pierre (second from left) working with former Union centerback Auston Trusty (left) and other players at Wednesday’s U.S. practice.
    Jonathan Tannenwald
  • Jenkintown is canceling the rest of its varsity football season

    Jenkintown is canceling the rest of its varsity football season

    The Jenkintown School District is canceling the rest of its varsity football season over safety concerns from low participation, officials announced this week.

    The high school team in Montgomery County’s smallest school district had played two games so far this season and was set to play Lower Moreland on Friday.

    There were not enough players on the team, nor enough active participation, to safely play a whole season, high school principal Thomas Roller and athletic director Aubrie Breisblatt wrote in a letter to the school community Tuesday, and the team had already been forced to forfeit games.

    “Continuing to compete under these circumstances would place significant physical demands on a limited number of players,” the school leaders wrote, adding that the decision had come at the head coach’s recommendation.

    While the team will not play any more games this year, the program will continue to hold practices, and officials hope to rebuild the program in the future.

    “Sports participation, especially at a school as small as Jenkintown, ebbs and flows over time depending on students’ interests,” school board president Carolyn Riley wrote in a text Wednesday.

    ”We remain very supportive of our students committed to playing football.”

  • Fights, guns, football: Former Eagle Mike Golic recalls a wild story from his time in Philly

    Fights, guns, football: Former Eagle Mike Golic recalls a wild story from his time in Philly

    Ron Heller stepped out of the shower naked and took a boxing stance. Jerome Brown stood across from him in full pads. Mike Golic and the rest of the Eagles defensive line at the time dropped their helmets as offensive linemen began filing out of the showers.

    After a training camp practice filled with fights, Golic thought the two lines might be about to have another.

    Instead, everyone started laughing.

    Golic revisited the locker room standoff Tuesday on ESPN’s This Is Football, recounting the practice that led to it and a confrontation involving Brown that had escalated to talk of guns.

    During one-on-one pass-rushing drills, offensive lineman Ron Solt and Brown led a series of fights. But it was a fight “not just between the two players, but through the whole O-line and D-line,” Golic said, adding that it happened after six or seven consecutive plays.

    According to Golic, Solt said he would go to his car for a gun. Brown replied, as Golic remembered it, “I’m going to beat you to my car and get my gun.” Neither player retrieved a weapon, Golic said, but the drill had spun out of control.

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    “You didn’t get a whole lot done in practice when you’re fighting that much,” Golic said.

    The Eagles stopped the one-on-one session and moved to a two-minute drill, but another fight disrupted everyone’s work. After practice, the defensive linemen stayed on the field for extra drills while the offense headed inside.

    Beloved Eagles defensive end Jerome Brown was one of the subjects in a wild story told this week by former Eagles teammate Mike Golic.

    At West Chester University, where the Eagles held camp, the route to the defensive locker room passed the showers. Golic and his teammates were walking in still wearing their uniforms when Heller emerged. Heller had faced Golic when they played for Penn State and Notre Dame, respectively. Golic remembered him as one of the toughest opponents he had faced.

    Heller stopped directly in front of Brown. In Golic’s telling, he tried to put the practice dispute behind them: “Hey, Jerome. All good. Practice, whatever.” Brown answered with expletives and made it clear he was still angry. Heller squared up as more offensive linemen came out of the showers.

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    “It was like West Side Story, but one group was naked,” Golic said.

    Golic had considered what he might do if the groups fought.

    “I would’ve used my cleats in a very, very bad way against a naked man,” he said.

    No one got that far. The sight of one line in pads facing another fresh from the showers broke the tension. Golic said the players laughed, the defensive linemen went to their lockers, and the offensive linemen finished showering.

    The stories offered a glimpse of the practices over which Buddy Ryan presided in Philadelphia. Ryan encouraged fighting, according to Golic, who joined the Eagles in 1987 partly because he wanted to play for a coach known for his defense. The roster included Reggie White, Clyde Simmons, and Brown up front; Seth Joyner at linebacker; and Eric Allen in the secondary.

    According to Golic, former Eagles coach Buddy Ryan (center) didn’t mind a scuffle every now and again.

    Ryan later called a defensive front featuring White, Simmons, Brown, Mike Pitts, and Golic the best he had coached. He previously coordinated the Chicago Bears’ celebrated 1985 defense. His Eagles reached the playoffs three straight seasons from 1988 through 1990, though they never won a postseason game under him.

    The defense continued to dominate after Ryan’s tenure ended. In 1991, the Eagles allowed the fewest total yards in the NFL. Brown earned the second of his two first-team All-Pro selections. He died in a car crash in June 1992 at age 27, and the Eagles later retired his No. 99 jersey.

    Golic has told the shower story before. But on Tuesday, he also recalled the threat-filled fight between Solt and Brown that preceded it. That day’s work ended in a locker room full of players laughing at how close they had come to fighting again.

  • Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion talks Eagles’ early-down woes, potential Zach Ertz role

    Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion talks Eagles’ early-down woes, potential Zach Ertz role

    Sean Mannion knows his offense is still a work in progress.

    There have been positive signs, no doubt — like the team’s strong third-down conversion rate (53%) — but their track record in one particular area ranks near the bottom of the league:

    Early downs.

    According to Sportradar, the Eagles have an offensive success rate of 37% on first and second downs, which ranks last in the NFL. They’ve converted a first down on first down just one time and they’re tied for the most negative plays on offense through two weeks.

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    So, what gives? Mannion tried to explain this bizarre early- vs. late-down stat discrepancy during his Wednesday news conference.

    “There’s always going to be things to clean up each week,” the first-year offensive coordinator said. “We’re really close on a lot of our things on first and second down. Just some fundamental things to clean up, corrections to make. We’re always looking as a staff to put everyone in the best possible position to succeed. Not to make it coachspeak or anything like that, but I think we’re really close there.”

    Improvement in the run game would be a big first step. Eagles running backs averaged just 3.7 yards per carry in the first two weeks. They averaged 2.8 yards per carry in the last-minute win at Tennessee last Sunday.

    Coach Nick Sirianni didn’t offer much of an update Monday on Saquon Barkley, who missed the majority of the first half against the Titans, but he did finish the game so that could bode well for his Week 3 status. What does Mannion think of the current state of the run game?

    “We’re close,” he said. “A few little things fundamentally, just some of the smaller details that, if we attack those, it’ll really come to life for us. But the guys are bought in. I think what we’re doing, being able to stay on schedule on first and second down, allows you to call more runs. You never know when those are about to pop … I feel that, moving forward, those are going to start to break through.”

    Sean Mannion lauded Zach Ertz’s skills as a pass catcher. YONG KIM / Staff Photographer

    What will Ertz’s role be?

    The Eagles signed tight end Zach Ertz — who spent the first eight-plus years of his career in Philadelphia — to their practice squad Tuesday. The franchise legend will help fill the void left by Dallas Goedert, who is likely out several weeks due to a sprained MCL.

    The offense Mannion runs leans heavily on tight ends. So how, exactly, does he plan on using the 35-year-old Ertz?

    “He’s a very comfortable pass catcher,” Mannion said. “He’s had a really strong track record in that area. When you look at the tight end group, it’s really about the composite of everyone’s skill sets together. It’s what makes that position specifically unique — it’s about complementary skill sets and how they play off one another… We’ll use the week to evaluate and see what Zach’s role looks like.”

    Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion on how Zach Ertz will fit into the Eagles' offense
    Video: Offensive coordinator Sean Mannion on how Zach Ertz will fit into the Eagles’ offense

    With second-round pick Eli Stowers (quad/hamstring) and Grant Calcaterra (back) on injured reserve, Johnny Mundt and E.J. Jenkins are the only healthy tight ends on the Eagles roster. They’re both blocking tight ends. That could mean targets are coming Ertz’s way (he’s only 11 receptions shy of breaking Harold Carmichael’s franchise record of 589).

    “We’ll use this practice week and see what it looks like moving forward with us,” Mannion said. “Excited to add him. I know [we’re] a little dinged up at the position… But Zach has a lot of history with the organization. Excited to bring him in and use the week to see what his role may or may not look like.”