Anthony Edwards came for new 76ers stars LeBron James and Jaylen Brown in a roast-style commercial released Thursday afternoon.
In the video promoting his new sneakers with Adidas, the Anthony Edwards 3, the Minnesota Timberwolves star dunked on James’ decision to play for the Sixers.
“You see where big dog ended up? He was going to join me in Minnesota, but I guess his knees couldn’t handle the cold weather,” Edwards said jokingly.
The comedy continued in the commercial, dubbed “Minn-Atlanta-Sota,” a homage to Edwards’ hometown. Edwards also came for their haircuts — or lack thereof.
“We know why he really made that decision,” Edwards said. “Philly has some of the best barbers in the world. Between him and ol’ boy from Boston, they’re going to have a whole lot of enhancements going on in the locker room.”
Welcome to Minnatlantasota. The Cold Blooded Anthony Edwards 3 drops tomorrow.
Those “enhancements” Edwards is referring to? Hair spray paint. Both basketball stars have been the butt of jokes about their hairlines.
Brown caught flak last season for hair product mishaps after the product appeared to rub off onto opponents’ jerseys during games. James, 41, is no stranger to jabs at his hairline, having gone viral for his suspiciously thick hair in Space Jam and faced more than a few hair transplant accusations. Basketball fans on social media are now joking about the newly teamed-up duo’s shared struggle.
“If you’re on the court against me, anybody could get it, even your daddy. I don’t care if he’s your assistant coach,” Edwards said in a lighthearted dig at ’Nova Knick Jalen Brunson and his dad, New York Knicks assistant Rick Brunson.
Edwards, who led his team to a 49-33 record and the Western Conference semifinals last season, also said that for his upcoming season, “the cage is open, and the dog is unleashed.” Sixers fans will get to see that up close on Jan. 16, when the Timberwolves visit Xfinity Mobile Arena.
Anthony Edwards will face Tyrese Maxey and the Sixers in January.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Two weeks into the college football season, Temple has learned little about itself.
But Saturday’s matchup (3 p.m., CBS Sports Network) at Toledo serves as an opportunity to build off what worked in Temple’s season-opening win against Rhode Island and what didn’t in its Week 2 loss to No. 14 Penn State.
Here’s what this game could reveal for the Owls.
Temperature check
The Owls (1-1) split their first two games in expected fashion.
Temple dismantled an established FCS program, 38-14, before falling to a Big Ten powerhouse, 27-9. Given the competition, neither result revealed much new information about the Owls.
But this weekend, Temple will finally receive a temperature check.
Toledo stands where Temple is building toward. The Rockets made a bowl game for the last five years and haven’t won less than eight games in a season during that stretch.
The Owls will face a big challenge against a well-rounded Rockets roster, but it should be the season’s first competitive game.
“[Toledo’s quarterback is] athletic, he has a strong arm,” said head coach K.C. Keeler after practice Monday. “Their wideouts are really talented. … Their defense is really impressive and I think their quarterback is getting more confidence as time goes on.”
Toledo did most of its damage through the air in its first two games. In a 30-20 loss to Michigan State, Toledo gained 196 of its 273 total yards in the passing game. Wide receiver Adjatay Dabbs finished with 101 yards and was a key factor in the Rockets’ near-upset over the Spartans (Toledo led 20-19 in the fourth quarter).
Video: Sights and sounds from Temple vs. Penn State at the Linc
In Toledo’s 63-10 win over Central Connecticut State, John Alan Richter tallied 252 passing yards and three touchdowns. One of several highlights included wide receiver Rico Bond’s 85-yard touchdown.
Temple guard Eric King and tackle Kevin Terry are expected to return, as well as running back Sam Brown for his season debut.
Quarterbacks working together
The seemingly never-ending question regarding who is Temple’s starting quarterback is getting closer to an answer. Though, it’s still not clear.
Jaxon Smolik was the starter against the Nittany Lions, but Ajani Sheppard scored Temple’s only touchdown.
Keeler still expects to mix playing time between the signal callers in Week 3. CBS Sports analyst and former Rice University quarterback Taylor McHargue, who will be commentating the game on Saturday, says both Smolik and Sheppard have shown promise.
Temple assistant coach Tyler Walker talks to quarterback Ajani Sheppard during Saturday’s game against Penn State.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
“You probably have a role for both of them all season,” McHargue said. “For Sheppard especially, you’re seeing his ability in the red zone where he comes in and he’s very comfortable. … Against Toledo, I’d be very surprised if we just saw one or the other.”
Keeler made it clear that Penn State would be an outlier for Temple. When Smolik threw an interception in the first quarter, the Nittany Lions excelled in crowding his receivers and picked off a good pass.
Smolik will still be handling the majority of the snaps, but the second-year coach envisions specific packages where Sheppard will be under center on Saturday.
“It’ll be very similar to what you saw this week,” Keeler said. “It depends on where we are on the field. Then maybe we’ll lend it more to getting Ajani on the field more. . … It’s going to be more situational than anything else.”
On Thursday, Union forward Cavan Sullivan earned his first call-up to the senior U.S. men’s national team. If the 16-year-old phenom makes his debut in one of the team’s four autumn friendlies, he will become the second-youngest player ever to play for the USMNT, behind just Freddy Adu.
Sullivan is widely regarded as one of the next faces of U.S. soccer. The Philadelphia native signed a contract with the Union at just 14 and is set to transfer to the Premier League’s Manchester City at the end of 2027. While his call-up seemed inevitable to most onlookers, Sullivan did not feel it was.
“I don’t think it was necessarily expected, in all honesty,” Sullivan said after practice Thursday. “I never really like to think about what may come. Obviously, it’s something every kid works toward and dreams of. But to finally get it, it made my year.”
Added Sullivan: “This is a really exciting next step. It’s your first; I feel like I’ll always remember this one.”
Sullivan has been on a tear since the MLS resumed its season following the World Cup break. In 12 appearances, he has logged six goals and five assists, second only to Lionel Messi over that same span. His contributions have helped the Union to an 11-game unbeaten streak in league play. The team is currently in playoff position at seventh place in the Eastern Conference after a 1-10-4 start and the dismissal of manager Bradley Carnell.
Video: Philly’s Cavan Sullivan reacts to being called up to U.S. men’s national team.
Playing against older and more developed players is nothing new for Sullivan. However, the opportunity to play alongside some of the best players the United States has to offer is not lost on him. Head coach Mauricio Pochettino, who declined to reveal in past media engagements if he would call up Sullivan, selected 14 MLS players to star on his 28-man roster. The team also features players from the Premier League, the German Bundesliga, Italy’s Serie A, and Spain’s LaLiga.
“[Playing up] sort of teaches you, you’re not always going to be like the fastest, strongest, biggest. [It’s] sort of cliche, but you got to learn how to manipulate defenders and pass and move and learn to combine with your teammates,” Sullivan said. “Just develop a relationship with the ball that’s more close to [your] feet. You won’t always be able to just touch it by a guy and sprint faster than him.”
Sullivan, whose older brother and Union teammate Quinn previously played for the USMNT under Pochettino, will have some familiar faces with him at camp. Union teammates Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield also made Thursday’s roster. Like Sullivan, both players are products of the Union Academy and will be making their senior national team debuts.
On Thursday, Pierre noted that he was texting Sullivan and Westfield “nonstop” while they awaited the decision.
Neil Pierre (left) will join Union teammates Cavan Sullivan (right) and Frankie Westfield (not pictured) on the USMNT.Philadelphia Union
“[I] can’t even lie, me and the boys, like Cav and Frankie, were checking our emails 24/7,” Pierre said.
“We’ve been talking about this since we were 14-15, starting to go into national team camps,” he later added. “Like, how would it feel for all of us to go at the same time and individually going to like the men’s, that’s what you kind of dream for and try to get to. To do it is a great accomplishment and then also to do it with your brothers is just another level.”
Pierre, an 18-year-old centerback, towers over most of his MLS competition at 6-foot-7. Through nine appearances this season, he has scored four goals. However, he is being called up to the national team for his defense.
Next to Pierre on the Union’s back line has been Westfield, the team’s starting right back and, like Sullivan, a Northeast Philly native. His brother, Rocco, starred for Father Judge in basketball. Westfield has eight assists in 21 starts this season. He noted it was “nothing but happiness” for him and his teammates when they received the news, but he is not looking to slow down.
Frankie Westfield (center) and Cavan Sullivan (right) are both Northeast Philly natives.Isaiah Vazquez / For The Inquirer
“I also don’t want to stop here. Always, the final goal is to make the roster for your national team, but I know I don’t want to stop,” Westfield said. “I want to keep going, keep trying for more, and stay there and produce.”
The three selections are just the latest for the Union Academy. The club saw four homegrown stars play for the U.S. men’s national team in the World Cup this summer: Brenden Aaronson, Matt Freese, Mark McKenzie, and Auston Trusty.
“We think it’s very well-deserved,” Union sporting director John Scheer said. “So happy for the players and their families who worked so hard over the years. I’d say it’s a proud moment for not only our first team, where they’re having really big roles and they’re high performers for our group, but for our entire club.”
After escaping Week 1 with a 24-22 win over the Washington Commanders, the Eagles (1-0) travel to Nissan Stadium in Nashville to face the Tennessee Titans (0-1). As both teams prepare for the Week 2 matchup, here’s an updated look at game odds and some interesting player prop bets from two of the biggest sportsbooks:
Eagles vs. Titans updated odds
The last time these teams met was in 2022, the Eagles defeated the Ryan Tannehill-led Titans, 35-10, at Lincoln Financial Field. While the Eagles are coming off a win, the Titans are coming off a 23-10 loss to the New York Jets, the team’s sixth straight season opening loss.
Entering the week, the FanDuel and DraftKings sportsbooks have the Eagles listed as 7-point favorites.
Jalen Hurts got it done through the air and on his feet in the Eagles’ Week 1 win over Washington, completing 14 of 25 passes for 203 yards while rushing for 46 yards on seven carries.
Titans starting quarterback Cam Ward completed 19 of 32 passes for 140 yards vs. the Jets. For Sunday’s game, Hurts’ over/under is set at around 206 passing yards, while Ward’s is set at around 188 passing yards.
Tight end Dallas Goedert led the Eagles in receiving with 77 yards on four receptions vs. Washington. Dontayvion Wicks followed with two receptions for 73 yards.
Wan’Dale Robinson and Carnell Tate led the Titans with 38 receiving yards in their loss to the Jets.
The Flyers have quickly replenished their prospect pool over the past few seasons, stockpiling draft picks and making 32 selections, including 15 in the first two rounds, over the past four years.
The proof was on display over the past week in Allentown and Voorhees, as many of the Flyers’ top prospects gathered for rookie camp and two exhibition games against the New York Rangers. With rookie camp in the rearview, we caught up with Flyers director of player development Riley Armstrong to get his takeaways from the Rookie Series and his thoughts on some of the big names in the team’s pipeline. Here are some of the highlights from that interview on the latest episode of Flyers Extra at Gameday Central.
*Note: This episode focused primarily on the team’s prospects who are not yet in the NHL
After prefacing that top prospects Porter Martone, Denver Barkey, Alex Bump, and Oliver Bonk impressed as expected, Armstrong identified center Cole Knuble, 22, as the player who stood out most at rookie camp.
“I thought he really stepped in and showed Knubes is here and he’s coming to make the Flyers, and I really think he definitely put an impact … on the game that he played in,” Armstrong said.
“Over the course of the weekend … we [as a staff] kept going back and [saying] ‘Wow, Knubes was good. He was so good.’ We kept talking about him.”
Is Jett ready for takeoff?
Maybe the most maligned prospect in the system and heavily scrutinized draft pick of the Danny Brière regime, Jett Luchanko has underwhelmed since being selected No. 13 overall in 2024.
But could better health and less moving around this season bring a much-needed bounceback for the speedy centerman?
“I think from Jett’s side [that potential] has always been there. I do think over the past couple of years that little nagging injury he’s had has finally cleared up, and I think that was a weight off his shoulders,” Armstrong said. “From my view watching him this weekend, he was more engaged or willing to run into battles and skate through checks than I have seen him in the past few years. … I felt these two games he was really attacking the play.
“You see the assist to Alex Bump on his goal in the first game, how he went through the middle of the rink. Those are things we were waiting for him to do in Brantford and Guelph last year, and I definitely think with his speed, his vision, his playmaking, I really do think he’s going to definitely pop this season.”
Armstrong also reiterated that the next step for Luchanko, who is still only 20, is continuing to become more of a dual threat offensively.
“We’ve been preaching to him, and he’s always a pass-first kind of guy, so to see him start to build that confidence and get that mindset that, ‘Hey, I’m going to be a shooter, too’ is definitely a step in the right direction,” he said.
Jiříček’s development
The Flyers are hoping they can find a way to get the best out of David Jiříček, who is on his third team since being picked sixth overall in 2022.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
The Flyers’ latest reclamation project is 2022 top-10 pick David Jiříček, who was acquired at last year’s trade deadline for Bobby Brink.
“His offensive instincts are high level. That’s a guy who can shoot the puck from the blueline,” Armstrong said. “He changed the Phantoms’ power play when he came in … he started putting the puck in the net, and [once] guys started to try and block his shot, he started sliding it backdoor to a guy for a tap-in. I think those things are natural to him.”
While Jiříček’s calling card is his offense, Armstrong believes improving his game on the other side of the puck will be key to reigniting his career in Philly.
“The other side of it is defending and his lateral movements, and things like that,” Armstrong said. “But I know he spent a lot of time this summer working on his footwork, understanding how to close quicker and trust his skating more to defend. And really, once he understands that and really believes in himself after he gets more reps in camp and into the season, I hope he starts to flourish.”
Armstrong added that he thinks making Jiříček “more comfortable” and less “scattered” after a couple years of him moving around a lot could do wonders for the 22-year-old mentally.
“I think the one thing that stood out to me in the game he played in was just how confident he is with the puck,” Armstrong said. “He’s the same age as all these guys, and he’s doing things out there that a seasoned NHL player is doing with the puck, carrying the puck, having all that confidence and poise. … I do think he’s going to come in and push for a spot.”
One area Armstrong thinks Bonk still can improve in is his shot both from the point and when he’s deployed in the “Bumper Bonk” spot on the power play.
Amico earns lofty comparison
After a mostly lost season working his way back from injury, 2025 second-rounder Carter Amico reintroduced himself to Flyers fans with a strong development camp this summer.
But just how good can the 6-foot-5, 220-pound defenseman be?
A second year removed from his significant knee injury, Carter Amico looked like a different player at development camp with his rare combination of size and skating ability.Monica Herndon / Staff Photographer
“After everybody got to see a healthy Amico at development camp, everybody was like, ‘Holy, how good is he going to be.’ … I think for him the ceiling, I’m projecting [but] he could be a No. 1 or [No.] 2 defenseman at the NHL level. With his size, his skating, and how he goes up and down the rink, you see the guys who can play those roles. You look at [Travis] Sanheim, and it took Sanheim a couple of years to really develop that motor that he has, but he’s up in the rush, and then he’s back closing plays, and I really think that’s what put Sanheim on the map for Team Canada and all that type of stuff — just his ability to skate. And I definitely think Carter has that.”
Pretty high praise for the 19-year-old.
What about the Jacks?
Outside of Luchanko, the Flyers’ two biggest, no pun intended, hopes down the middle lie in towering centers Jack Berglund and Jack Nesbitt.
Why did Berglund, whom Armstrong believes can have a Tomas Holmström-type impact in front of the net on the power play, and the Flyers believe it was best for him to play in Sweden this year?
“[Färjestad BK’s new coach] put him in a great spot [late last season], Cam Abbott, and it was like first-line center, first-line power play, and all of a sudden Bergy just started to take off,” Armstrong said. ”We kind of wanted him to continue that, and I think they do a lot of great things in Sweden with their young guys, as they train more, and they don’t play as many games as we do in the American League. So that ability for him to be in the gym more and also be at home for another year … and he’s going to play big minutes.”
Armstrong added that Berglund’s chances to become a top-six center hinge on his skating, which he acknowledged has improved. He also praised the 20-year-old centerman for his innate ability to keep opponents on his back and protect the puck.
Regarding Nesbitt’s decision to go to college, Armstrong cautioned that he doesn’t expect Nesbitt, 19, to be able to “stack on” muscle as quickly as Martone, but that “being in the gym for as long as they can at Michigan is huge.”
“I’m not expecting him to go in there and just light it up. I have a slower-moving path for [Nesbitt] than what Porter did.”
Breakaways
Armstrong called 2024 sixth-rounder Ilya Pautov “awesome,” and said he loves that despite his smaller stature, he’s tenacious, strong, and poised with the puck. … Goaltender Martin Psohlavec, the Flyers’ 2026 second-round pick out of Czechia, will be billeting with Armstrong’s parents in Saskatoon while he plays with the Blades. … In addition to Knuble, Armstrong name-checked defenseman Spencer Gill, who is turning pro with the Lehigh Valley Phantoms, as a prospect who could pop at camp.
After a series of injuries, could defenseman Spencer Gill put himself back on the prospect map in his first year as a pro?Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
Just seconds after taking the podium in Beaver Stadium on Tuesday, offensive coordinator Taylor Mouser was asked about No. 14 Penn State’s struggling run game.
“Yeah, I knew that would be a question today,” Mouser said.
The ground game has been the weakest aspect of the Nittany Lions’ offense so far. They’re averaging 3.9 yards per carry through two games this season, and their starting running back Carson Hansen is at 4.4 yards per attempt.
“To say that I wasn’t thrilled with where the run game’s at would be an understatement,” Mouser said. “Feel like there’s a lot of growth to be had there.”
Mouser and head coach Matt Campbell are comfortable playing all four of Penn State’s top running backs — Hansen, James Peoples, Quinton Martin Jr., and Cam Wallace — but Hansen has twice as many carries as the next closest running back in Peoples, who has 15.
Hansen, an Iowa State transfer, had 952 yards and six touchdowns as the Cyclones’ bell cow last year. Mouser noted there is a sense of familiarity with Hansen, which is partly why he has handled the bulk of the carries.
The senior was sidelined with an injury for most of fall camp, perhaps contributing to his early struggles, but Mouser said, “that’s not an excuse.”
“Carson’s a great football player, and I don’t think I’ve done a good enough job as the offensive coordinator, showcasing him,” Mouser said. “He was an all-conference running back for us last year. Does that mean he’s an all-Big Ten running back? No, it doesn’t. But I just know the level of work that guy brings and the physicality and how important it is to him. And for whatever reason, we’ve been a hair off.”
Mouser said they’ve struggled with the small details, including Hansen missing a lane, the offensive line missing a block or a variety of other missed assignments.
But there isn’t an individual or position group to blame.
Penn State running backs James Peoples (1), Amar’e Glover (36), and Jeremy Washington (37) during practice on Aug. 5.Craig Houtz / For The Inquirer
“We’re all frustrated with the level of mediocrity that I would call the run game, and that starts with me,” Mouser said.
Campbell said he’s encouraged by none of Hansen’s runs being negative. Even though he’s not picking up 10 or 20 yards, he’s at least gaining field position when he gets the ball.
It’s the explosiveness and “finality of finishes,” where Campbell feels Hansen is lacking, but he echoed Mouser’s claim that the Nittany Lions are “inches off.”
The offensive line especially isn’t satisfied with how the run game has looked, according to Mouser, who said Penn State’s front five “are the most hungry to be dominant” on the ground.
“We want to be a team that prides itself on being the most physical football team and running the football,” Mouser said. “We have to figure out a way that we can be dominant on the ground.”
One adjustment to the ground game could be Martin, who had a breakout performance in the Nittany Lions’ Pinstripe Bowl victory with 103 yards, seeing more carries. The redshirt sophomore didn’t record a snap in Penn State’s 27-9 win over Temple, despite three other running backs getting at least a carry.
Mouser said Martin has “earned the right to get touches in our offense,” and added his absence from last weekend’s matchup wasn’t a reflection of his trust in the running back. But whether the Penn State returnee will see the field on Saturday against Buffalo (noon, Big Ten Network) remains unclear.
“Quinton is certainly one of those guys we all have great belief in,” Campbell said. “I think the reality of that, even that running back room, I just think there’s still some gray, and that room is going to continue to work itself out as we work through the weeks and work through these games.”
“There was a time that players went to training camp to start training for the season and to get in shape,” said Matt Nichol, a strength and conditioning coach who has worked with countless NHLers, in a 2014 Gary Roberts Performance video.
This wasn’t everyone, to be clear, but back in the day, players had time to prepare for the rigors of a season once they arrived in their respective NHL cities for training camp.
Since then, the science behind getting in shape has evolved, from how to train on and off the ice to nutrition. In the early 1990s, the mindset really shifted, as players began taking only a few short weeks off during the summer before getting right back in the gym and on the ice to prepare their bodies for what was to come.
And now there’s been another change.
With a new collective bargaining agreement that went into effect at midnight Tuesday, gone are the days of fitness testing, like measuring a player’s body fat or the dreaded “rope test” that former coach John Tortorella deployed on Day 1 to see where his players were physically.
The Flyers players are happy that, thanks to the new CBA, things like John Tortorella’s dreaded rope test are a thing of the past.MIGUEL MARTINEZ / For the Inquirer
And this year, training camp for the Flyers is condensed to just 11 days, counting from their first on-ice session at 8:45 a.m. Thursday in Voorhees, and ending with practice on Sept. 27. This is why team-style skating sessions started earlier, the ramping up of high-intensity workouts is occurring much earlier than in previous years, and why an emphasis — “a massive emphasis,” as one pro hockey coach said — has been put on doing the work in the summer because there is no time to ease back into things.
“Probably 10 years ago, you took a lot of time off the ice, and now more guys are skating earlier,” a veteran NHL defenseman told The Inquirer last season.
“… There’s still some heavy lifting throughout the week, but it’s not every day. It’s probably every other day, every two days, whatever the strength coaches think. And then towards the end, you ramp it up. You know, a little more power, speed work into the skates.”
Although the offseason work has been important for decades, it is even more critical now.
Last season there was much discord about Matvei Michkov’s fitness entering the season and how it impacted him throughout the year. He has acknowledged several times, including this summer in a Russian-language interview, that he did not prepare adequately for his sophomore campaign and came in with a high body-fat percentage. Based on social media posts, it looks like he’s put in the work.
Another behind‑the‑scenes video from from Panarin's private training camp. The way they transition between teams and players from Michkov all the way to Lyubushkin I'm really into it pic.twitter.com/hwYjvS7eOV
“Everybody has a different path along the way,” Flyers general manager Danny Brière said on Tuesday, adding Michkov looks like he has “a different swagger” now. “But what I was excited to see was, I think his maturity level increased as the season went on. In the offseason, seeing him here, he’s got a pep in his step. He feels good. He looks good. So I’m excited about Matvei’s season.”
And everybody has a different focus every summer, based on their needs and age. As one veteran NHL forward nearing the end of his career told The Inquirer in February, when you’re younger, the goal is to teach your body to get stronger and have bigger gains. As you age, it’s about getting your body back to that strength and improving on it. No matter the age, conditioning is important, too.
Tyson Foerster’s summer involved a lot of work in the gym as he looked to build back his strength after last season’s arm/shoulder injury.Courtesy of the Flyers
“It doesn’t happen overnight, either. It’s developing those habits in the gym,” said Bryan Marshall, a longtime strength and conditioning coach who was recently named the New York Islanders director of player performance. Marshall has worked with plenty of NHLers, including Flyers defenseman Jamie Drysdale since he was 14 or 15.
“It’s not one magic summer that does anything. It’s more buying into a philosophy that for the next decade of your life, you have to make decisions that are aligned with your hockey goals.
“And I think that has more to do with it for Jamie, because what I’ve noticed over the years is he has one successful month after another in the summer, and then one successful summer after another. And the next thing you know, he’s developed so much more strength, so much more power, and he’s now got the capacity, I think, to sort of really showcase his talents, right? Because the rigors of an NHL season are pretty grueling.”
The usual plan in the gym for Drysdale over the summer, per the defenseman, who spoke to The Inquirer in April, is rigorous: Mondays and Wednesdays are power days, Tuesdays and Thursdays are strength days, and Friday is conditioning. He would focus on power, aerobic capacity on the bike or VersaClimber, ladder work, hip mobility with bands, and explosiveness, like with box jumps. Working with bands and box jumps are his two favorites.
He’ll also typically undergo a comprehensive power assessment with Marshall using force plates and other technology to understand how he produces power, including force and velocity. For Drysdale, he saw that as he got stronger, he got faster.
As one player said: “It never really stops. It’s a full-time job in the summer as well.” Added another: “If you’re not in shape going into the season, you’re behind the eight ball.”
Why? Because during the season, you cannot train the same as you do in the offseason.
The body needs time to rest and recuperate in between workouts, whether they come on the ice or in the gym. According to UCLA Health, the benefits of a rest day include giving the “body a chance to flush out that excess lactic acid so muscles feel less tired and sore,” and allowing the body to heal and strengthen muscles after intense exercise creates small tears.
It’s why, although he chipped away at it and worked out more often during the Olympic break, it was hard for Michkov to ever get into top conditioning shape last season after a poor start. The heavy work in the gym is done in the offseason because, as one former NHLer told The Inquirer, everyone starts at a certain level, but as the season wears on and the body builds endurance, it also breaks down, causing a player’s strength to drop.
“There are sacrifices you have to make. That maybe some of your other buddies [have things they] can do that you are, unfortunately, [unable] to do,” a current NHL forward said.
“But at the end of the day, I’m fortunate enough to play this game at a high level, and I love doing it, so I’m going to do whatever I can to make sure I put myself in the best position each year.”
Flyers defenseman Rasmus Ristolainen’s game is predicated on strength, power, and physicality.Courtesy of the Flyers
The Phillies are alive and well in the hunt for the MLB playoffs, looking to lock up a wild-card spot. Each of the last two postseasons ended in the National League Division Series, as the Phillies struggled to recapture the Red October success that carried them to the World Series in 2022 and the NL Championship Series in 2023, when they made the playoffs as a wild card.
Here’s a look at where the 2026 Phillies are in the wild-card standings, and their remaining schedule:
National League East standings
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Standings updated at least once/hour.
National League wild-card standings
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Union phenom Cavan Sullivan’s rapid rise in the soccer world reached a new milestone on Thursday, as the 16-year-old earned his first invitation to the senior U.S. men’s national team.
He is one of three Union players on the latest 28-man squad, along with defenders Neil Pierre and Frankie Westfield. They’re joined by three more with local roots: goalkeeper Matt Freese of Wayne, and centerbacks Auston Trusty of Media and George Campbell of Chester.
Video: Philly’s Cavan Sullivan reacts to being called up to U.S. men’s national team.
Since the Union resumed their season after the World Cup, Sullivan has scored six goals and added five assists in 12 appearances. They include highlight-reel moments that seized headlines across the globe: a dazzling trap and run for a goal at Red Bull New York on Aug. 29, and a backheeled finish in a 5-0 rout at San Diego FC on Sunday.
“I think he deserves all the praise that he’s getting,” U.S. manager Mauricio Pochettino said in a news conference Thursday morning. “Because he’s performing well, he’s playing well, he’s giving assists and scoring goals — and he’s 16.”
Attention isn’t just coming from within MLS. They’re watching on Europe’s big stage, too, since Sullivan is due to join English superpower Manchester City at the end of 2027.
The deal was agreed upon when he turned pro with his hometown club at 14 years old in 2024. While neither club can discuss it publicly because of British labor laws, everyone knows the clock is ticking.
Just before 2 a.m. in Manchester, and it might have woken some people over there up… pic.twitter.com/jI4u2a7pW5
Right now, Sullivan is enjoying the present, kept grounded by coaches, teammates, and family. Chief among them is his oldest brother, Quinn Sullivan, a stalwart of the Union in his own right who earned his senior national team debut last year.
“We need to have a clear idea how to — I don’t want to use the word ‘help,’ but just to be with him and try to provide the best platform for him to evolve,” Pochettino said of wanting to get to know Sullivan. “Every day, we need to be the people that go there to push, and to evolve, and to sometimes put limits, sometimes to encourage to keep going [and] doing what he’s doing. It’s a good challenge for us, and I think it’s exciting to have him.”
The plan to get Sullivan to begin his career in Chester, with the right mix of firmness and care, has worked perfectly so far. And it’s the latest endorsement of the Union’s youth academy, which has become a remarkable pipeline for U.S. national team talent.
Media’s Auston Trusty is one of the veterans on this U.S. squad.Jonathan Tannenawld
Pierre, Westfield also earn the call
Now a new era is arriving, and not just with Sullivan. He’s joined on this squad by two more of the Union’s leading youngsters: Pierre, an 18-year-old centerback, and Westfield, a 20-year-old outside back.
“You are happy for Philadelphia, no?” Pochettino said. “Plenty of players from Philadelphia.”
Both players are major candidates for the 2028 Olympic squad, which is a big part of why they were invited. The Olympics is an under-23 age-group event, and this window is one of the only chances for candidates to get senior national team experience before they go into their own training regimen.
Pierre was born in Lebanon, Pa., and his family moved to Blue Bell so his older brother, Nelson, could join the Union’s academy as a kid. In time, Neil made his own impression and now is the club’s top centerback prospect since McKenzie and Trusty.
Neil Pierre (right) has made his own rapid rise with the Union this summer.Elizabeth Robertson / Staff Photographer
He’s impossible to miss on the field, standing 6-foot-7. He’s scored four goals since joining the Union’s first team this summer. But he also has proven he has the defensive chops to mix it up with veterans and a terrific passing game.
“When you compare him with a 30-year-old, or 26- or 28-year-old centerback that maybe is playing in another country, or maybe in MLS, I don’t see the difference [just] because one has more experience than other,” Pochettino said. “Both can make a mistake; both can be good. That is why, [with] this type of potential, when players like this guy are playing in MLS, how we can contribute in their career, to evolve and be better and better, is this guy being with us.”
Westfield grew up at the other end of Northeast Philadelphia from the Sullivans, in Morrell Park. For a while, he might not have been the most famous athlete in his house, at least locally: his brother, Rocco, starred for the Father Judge boys’ basketball team that won the last two Catholic League championships.
Frankie made his pro debut the night before Rocco claimed the first of his titles. Now, he has made a name for himself.
Frankie Westfield has been impressive as the Union’s starting right back.Yong Kim / Staff Photographer
“I think that it’s normal that it’s a different process now to build the roster,” Pochettino said. “With the idea of not only to perform today, but also to help these young kids to become more mature, more experienced — and because the one of the biggest objectives of the [U.S. Soccer] Federation is the Olympic Games in two years. And I think giving the opportunity to be involved in this senior team is a thing that is going to pay and to be very helpful in two years for these kids.”
The Union trio is part of a fleet of fascinating youngsters on this latest U.S. squad. Others include wingers Mathis Albert of Germany’s Borussia Dortmund, Cole Campbell of Germany’s Elversberg, and Zavier Gozo of England’s Crystal Palace; forward Julian Hall and midfielder Adri Mehmeti of Red Bull New York; and goalkeeper Diego Kochen, who grew up at Spanish giant Barcelona and is now with Denmark’s Lyngby.
Eleven of the 26 players on the squad are newcomers, with 13 returnees from the World Cup. Among the latter are Freese, Trusty, and perennial locker room leaders Chris Richards and Tyler Adams.
The Americans will take the field starting Monday at the national training center in suburban Atlanta, then head off on a cross-country journey with four games: Peru on Sept. 26 in Orlando, Chile on Sept. 29 in St. Louis, then rivals Mexico on Oct. 3 in Glendale, Ariz., and Canada on Oct. 6 in St. Paul, Minn.
Mathis Albert of Germany’s Borussia Dortmund (right) is another of the intriguing young talents on this U.S. roster.Oliver Hardt
USMNT roster for autumn friendlies
Local products in bold
Goalkeepers (4): Chris Brady (Chicago Fire), Matt Freese (New York City FC), Diego Kochen (Lyngby, Denmark), Brian Schwake (Nashville SC)
Defenders (10): George Campbell (West Bromwich Albion, England), Sergiño Dest (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Alex Freeman (Villarreal, Spain), Peyton Miller (New England Revolution), Neil Pierre (Union), Chris Richards (Crystal Palace, England), Antonee Robinson (Fulham, England), Miles Robinson (FC Cincinnati), Auston Trusty (Celtic, Scotland), Frankie Westfield (Union)
Midfielders (9): Tyler Adams (Bournemouth, England), Mathis Albert (Borussia Dortmund, Germany), Sebastian Berhalter (Middlesbrough, England), Zavier Gozo (Crystal Palace), Adri Mehmeti (Red Bull New York), Yunus Musah (AC Milan, Italy), Brooklyn Raines (New England Revolution), Gio Reyna (Strasbourg, France), Malik Tillman (Bayer Leverkusen, Germany)
Forwards (5): Cole Campbell (Elversberg, Germany); Justin Ellis (Orlando City), Julian Hall (Red Bull New York), Ricardo Pepi (PSV Eindhoven, Netherlands), Cavan Sullivan (Union)
"You are happy for Philadelphia, no? Plenty of players from Philadelphia."
Yes, it is an enjoyable part of my job as a professional cynic. But he can rest assured that lots of people around town are happy today:
The Phillies kick off a four-game series with the New York Mets Thursday, but fans will need to do a bit of channel surfing to catch all the games.
Thursday night’s game will air on Fox beginning at 7:15 p.m., with Kenny Albert and Tom Verducci calling all the action. Ken Rosenthal will report from Citi Field.
Aaron Nola (6-10, 4.69 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound for the Phillies. Nola hasn’t allowed more than three runs in a start since way back on July 22, when he gave up five to the Los Angeles Dodgers. He’ll face Mets rookie Nolan McLean (11-9, 3.24 ERA), who gave up just two hits and struck out 10 in a win against the Phillies on July 19.
On Friday, the Phillies jump off TV and onto streaming for their final appearance on Apple TV’s Friday Night Baseball this season. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m., with Alex Faust and Ryan Spilborghs on the call and Tricia Whitaker reporting from the stadium.
Apple TV also has its own pregame show hosted by Sierra Santos alongside former outfielder Chris Young and MLB insider Russell Dorsey.
It’s the fifth season of Apple TV’s seven-year, $595 million deal with MLB, which runs through the 2028 season. Over that time, the cost has nearly doubled from $6.99 to $12.99 a month.
While Apple TV’s exclusive games remain an annoyance for baseball fans without the streaming service, they do come with one important perk — the ability to switch the audio feed over to 94.1 WIP and Scott Franzke and Kevin Stocker calls.
The quality of Apple TV’s broadcast is also generally very good, with crystal-clear footage and minimalist graphics (though the constant probabilities and live gambling updates become a bit annoying).
Scott Franzke (left) and Ruben Amaro, Jr. will call the final two games of the Phillies-Mets series on NBC Sports Philadelphia. NBC Sports Philadelphia
The final two games of the Phillies-Mets series will be back on NBC Sports Philadelphia Saturday or Sunday. With Tom McCarthy calling Sunday’s NFL matchup between the Cleveland Browns and Tampa Bay Buccaneers on CBS, it’ll be Franzke calling the games alongside former Phillies general manager turned announcer Rubén Amaro Jr.
John Kruk will be back Tuesday along with McCarthy to call the Phillies’ series against the Milwaukee Brewers, the second-to-last of the season. And World Series MVP-turned-broadcaster Cole Hamels will be back in the booth for the final Phillies game of the season on Sept. 27 against the Tampa Bay Rays.
Phillies playoff picture
NL East standings
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There was a moment where it seemed like the Phillies might overtake the Braves in the standings. But after dropping two of three against Atlanta last weekend, the Phillies’ chances of winning the National League East appear distant as best.
The Phillies enter Thursday’s series opener against the Mets 4½ games behind the Braves with 10 remaining. Atlanta faces the AL West-leading Houston Astros this weekend, but finish the season against the lowly Cincinnati Reds and Miami Marlins. An epic collapse along the lines of the 1964 Phillies — who blew a 6½ game lead with 12 remaining — doesn’t seem likely.
NL wild-card standings
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If the season ended Tuesday, the Phillies would end up in the second wild-card spot, meaning they’d travel to Chicago for a three-game series against the Cubs.
The good news is the Phillies are just a half-game down from the top wild-card spot entering Thursday. Overtaking the Cubs would move that three-game series to Citizens Bank Park.
The bad news is the Cubs, who are off Thursday, own the tiebreaker against the Phillies. Chicago kicks off a three-game series against the Reds Friday before finishing the season with series against the Marlins and Boston Red Sox.
The MLB playoffs begin Sept. 29 and will air on NBC.
Phillies magic number
That is the combined total of Phillies’ wins and/or losses by the teams on the outside looking in that are needed to secure at least the third wild-card berth and a spot in the playoffs.
