The \u201cNova Knicks\u201d could give you something to root for in the NBA Finals.<\/p>\n
The trio of former Villanova<\/a> teammates \u2014 made up of Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges \u2014 will compete in Game 1 tonight vs. the Spurs (8:30 p.m., ESPN).<\/p>\n There\u2019s also an incredible story behind Bridges that you\u2019ll want to learn. The Philadelphia native graduated from Great Valley High School. His mother raised him as a single parent.<\/p>\n Tyneeha Rivers grew up in West Philadelphia<\/a>. She was the first member of her immediate family to go to college. At age 19, she gave birth to Mikal. Family and friends were skeptical that she\u2019d be able to have a career of her own while taking care of a child. <\/p>\n She was determined to prove them wrong. Tyneeha went on to earn her bachelor\u2019s and master\u2019s degrees \u2014 all while raising a young boy to become one of the best basketball players in the world.<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Isabella DiAmore, @phillysport<\/a>, sports.daily@inquirer.com<\/a>.<\/p>\n If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u2753Who is your favorite local professional athlete to watch right now? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter<\/a>.<\/p>\n Cristopher S\u00e1nchez<\/a> made Phillies history last week. Could he make major league history this week? <\/p>\n S\u00e1nchez needs a scoreless first inning Wednesday to pass Hall of Famer Carl Hubbell for the longest scoreless streak by a left-hander. The development of his slider has contributed to this transformation from a fringy major league pitcher to a Cy Young candidate.<\/a><\/p>\n \u201cThe results are showing now, so it\u2019s something to feel really good about,\u201d S\u00e1nchez said recently through a team interpreter.<\/p>\n Behind five solid innings from Aaron Nola<\/a> and 12 shutout innings from the bullpen, the Phillies grinded out a 3-2 win over the Padres. <\/a><\/p>\n What we\u2019re \u2026<\/p>\n \ud83e\udd14 Wondering: What members of the media \u2014 both nationally and in Boston \u2014 are saying about A.J. Brown<\/a> joining the Patriots<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83d\udc42 Hearing: The wide receiver says there\u2019s \u201cno bad blood\u201d with Jalen Hurts<\/a> and he always wanted to be a Patriot in first interview with Maria Taylor.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83c\udfc0 Learning: All the Philly connections in the NBA Finals, including the Sixers castoff turned Spurs starter.<\/a><\/p>\n There\u2019s always more to the story. The Eagles wouldn\u2019t have moved Brown if they weren\u2019t open to the idea, and the star wide receiver might not have wanted to leave if the destination didn\u2019t suit his preferences.<\/a> <\/p>\n But at last, the saga is over. The Eagles players will miss their former teammate and understand that business is business. There also was a sense of relief with the trade behind them.<\/a><\/p>\n DeVonta Smith<\/a> is now the unquestioned top receiver. The title of \u201cWR1\u201d isn\u2019t a totally new thing for Smith, and right now, the job requires the 27-year-old to learn the scheme, which he described as \u201cdifferent\u201d from what the Eagles have done in the past.<\/a><\/p>\n Want to know more about how the offensive scheme is coming together? Take a look at Jeff McLane\u2019s takeaways from the second open practice of organized team activities on Tuesday.<\/a><\/p>\n All in just over a week, Brenden Aaronson<\/a> took a Leeds to London round trip, then Manchester, New York, Atlanta, the Jersey Shore<\/a>, Philadelphia, and back to the U.S. men\u2019s soccer team\u2019s World Cup<\/a> training camp.<\/p>\n But it was worth every moment. The Medford native recently got married, his club team finished clear of relegation in England\u2019s Premier League, and his national team is getting ready for its biggest-ever World Cup. <\/p>\n He\u2019s finally getting the chance to soak it all in.<\/a><\/p>\n Sports snapshot<\/p>\n \u2018Heart and soul\u2019: As West Chester<\/a> continues its chase for a Division II baseball title, the Rams are leaning on their longtime batboy Timmy Hoge\u2019s support.<\/a><\/p>\n Judgment call: A New Jersey track runner was disqualified for knocking over his opponent\u2019s hurdle. His parents say it was unfair.<\/a><\/p>\n Team USA bound: Friends\u2019 Central\u2019s Ryan Carter, one of the top recruits in the Class of 2027, is hitting the big stage with the women\u2019s under-18 national team.<\/a><\/p>\n Over A.J. Brown\u2019s four seasons, the Eagles won one Super Bowl<\/a>, played in another, won 73% of their regular-season and postseason games, and qualified for the playoffs every year.<\/p>\n The Eagles traded Brown not because they didn\u2019t want him to play here anymore, but because he didn\u2019t want to play here anymore.<\/p>\n Brown told the world that winning at the highest level wasn\u2019t enough for him. No one should be surprised that his personal quest has taken him out of Philly, writes columnist Mike Sielski.<\/a><\/p>\n \ud83e\udde0 Trivia time answer<\/p>\n A.J. Brown departs the Eagles as the only player in franchise history to notch 1,400-plus receiving yards in multiple seasons (2022, 2023). His 2022 single-season franchise best broke a decades-old record. Whose record did he break?<\/p>\n If you said Mike Quick, then you know your Eagles football, that or you read Olivia Reiner\u2019s story on Monday<\/a>. Either way, nice work. <\/p>\n Some Eagles players expressed that the uncertainty of the trade carried weight. Can you guess which player said this quote? Find your answer here.<\/a><\/p>\n What you\u2019re saying about A.J. Brown trade<\/p>\n We asked: What did Brown do for you? Among your responses: <\/p>\n A truly elite athlete, and once my favorite Eagle, in the end, he disappointed me with his immaturity and self-absorption. You do not complain while the team is winning and the performative sideline \u201creading\u201d was sad. Unlike our beloved Ben Franklin, he was not born to be a Philadelphia lifer. \u2014 Tommy O.<\/p>\n I neither loved him nor despised him. Teams win Super Bowls not individuals. Brown did not win the Super Bowl, the EAGLES did. No doubt as Marcus Hayes pointed out, he was one of the all-time best Eagle receivers, but at the same time was often not present when most needed. He was a malcontent who probably needed a Lombardi type leader. I hope he can man up and become a super star for the Patriots. \u2014 Everett S. <\/p>\n Seems the way things worked out it was either Hurts that had to go or Brown. The Eagles are a better team with Brown on it. When Hurts didn\u2019t show up for A. J\u2019s recent wedding, that was the last straw. Personally, I would\u2019ve had no problem if they sent Hurts packing. However, that\u2019s not how the NFL works. WR\u2019s are replaceable. QBs are not. Both of their attitudes were bigger than their commitment to the team. Wishing AJ nothing but the best. It sure gets mighty chilly up in New England in the middle of the winter! GO BIRDS. \u2014 Ronald R.<\/p>\n He did nothing for me. If I want to pay to see clowns I\u2019ll go to the circus. \u2014 Silvio M.<\/p>\n Trading away a generational talent takes a lot of nerve, quite a gamble for certain. I\u2019m not sold on the compensation package as I don\u2019t see any immediate assistance benefiting the \u201826 team. The rookies and newcomers will have to play very well to compensate for the loss. I still strongly suspect a form of collusion between three parties to plant this seed. True or otherwise I can\u2019t be certain but the idea of this exchange was kept alive in the press for far too long. Coincidence? I think not! \u2014 Bill B.<\/p>\n We compiled today\u2019s newsletter using reporting from Mike Sielski, Alex Coffey, Scott Lauber, Jeff McLane, Jeff Neiburg, Olivia Reiner, Ryan Novozinsky, DeAntae Prince, Gabriela Carroll, Jonathan Tannenwald, Mia Messina, Conor Smith, Isabella DiAmore, and Brett Friedlander.<\/p>\n By submitting your written, visual, and\/or audio contributions, you agree to The Inquirer\u2019s Terms of Use<\/a>, including the grant of rights in Section 10.<\/p>\n That\u2019s it for me this week. Kerith will get your morning started you in Thursday\u2019s newsletter. \u2014 Bella <\/p>\n