Philadelphia is ready to get its first taste of professional women’s basketball with Unrivaled hosting a doubleheader Friday at Xfinity Mobile Arena. In front of a sold-out crowd, the three-on-three tournament is set to have plenty of spectators for its first event outside the Miami area — making this the perfect time for Jordan Brand to debut its Heir Series 2 sneaker.
On Thursday, Jordan Brand unveiled the women’s basketball shoe with Minnesota Lynx forward Napheesa Collier as the face. The sneaker will make its on-court debut during Friday’s Unrivaled doubleheader in Philly with Jordan Brand athletes Dana Evans and Dominique Malonga.
The low silhouette is similar to the Heir Series 1, which is the lowest shoe in Jordan Brand’s basketball lineup. The sneaker was first introduced in 2024 and put emphasis on the running and cutting that’s central to women’s basketball.
Five-time WNBA All-Star Napheesa Collier wearing Jordan Brand’s Heir Series 2 sneaker.
While the Heir Series 2 continues to share the same focus as its predecessor, it adds key improvements to enable more quickness in every step.
“With my footwork being an important part of my game, the Heir Series 2 is a performance shoe that provides the flexibility and stability for me to be a force on both ends of the floor,” said five-time WNBA All-Star Collier in a press release. “Everyone who follows my game knows I was a fan of the Heir Series, but the innovation in the Heir Series 2 has exceeded my expectations.”
Some of its new features include a forefoot Air Zoom unit to provide standout responsiveness for speed, a thicker drop-in Cushlon 3.0 midsole that is wrapped in an additional layer of foam cushioning above the outsole for more comfort, a translucent TPU cage, and a rubber herringbone traction pattern for greater quickness and control.
The sneaker also includes a removable hair tie attached to the heel and features a series of bold colorways — including a pink, yellow, and green colorway, a white, black, and red colorway, and a gray and black colorway that includes speckled pink paint along the midsole.
The Jordan Heir Series 2 comes in three different colorways.
“Women’s basketball has a very important place in the sports landscape, and Jordan Brand is committed to helping the next generation of hoopers reach their greatness. We titled this series of footwear ‘Heir’ knowing that these amazing athletes are next up — here to claim the basketball throne as their own,” said Leo Chang, the senior creative director of Jordan Brand basketball and sport, in a press release.
“The Heir Series 2 is the next iteration of the basketball sneaker designed for her, by her. The new forefoot Air Zoom unit enables even more support and responsiveness, tailored to the beautiful playing style of the women’s game.”
The sneaker will be available globally on Feb. 20 at jordan.com and select retail locations.
Sixers guards Tyrese Maxey and VJ Edgecombe have landed on the latest cover of SLAM Magazine, marking the second time both players have been featured on the cover page, but the first time together.
Maxey was first featured on the cover of SLAM’s February/March 2024 issue. Meanwhile, Edgecombe made his cover debut as part of SLAM’s 2024 high school all-American team. Now, the young guards share the stage as members of the Sixers.
The Sixers “box office” backcourt has ignited a new hope within the Philadelphia fan base, with the team already surpassing its win total from all of last season. Edgecombe, the team’s third-overall pick, made a historic debut — finishing the night with 34 points, the most in a Sixers rookie’s first game in franchise history, and the most scored in any NBA debut since Wilt Chamberlain.
Maxey will also be at All-Star Weekend. The sixth-year pro was named a starter for the NBA All-Star game, making him the first Sixers guard to be named a starter since Allen Iverson in 2010. Maxey’s second All-Star nod comes after averaging 29.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 6.8 assists.
Maxey and Edgecombe, who have been having fun together on and off the court, are part of a long list of current and former Sixers who have graced the cover, including Allen Iverson, Joel Embiid, Jerry Stackhouse, James Harden, and Ben Simmons.
Although the Eagles’ season came to an early end, Philadelphia fans can still see a hometown favorite on their television screens during Super Bowl LX.
The ad follows Lincoln’s friendship with the iconic horse playing under the appropriate sounds of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s “Free Bird.” The 60-second in-game spot will air during the Super Bowl.
“It was really like these two icons of America coming together,” said Jessica Hall, the chief executive officer of the American Eagle Foundation, a nonprofit focused on the protection and conservation of bald eagles and other birds of prey. “The Clydesdales have been icons for over 100 years and the bald eagle has been on the great seal for over 200 years. So, seeing those two elements come together and be represented in this really moving commercial was spectacular.”
The American Eagle Foundation got the call from Budweiser over the summer and started filming the project in October, making the trip from Kodak, Tenn., where the American Eagle Foundation is based, to California for Lincoln to star in his first-ever commercial. Lincoln, however, is no stranger to long trips and hotel rooms, thanks to his time serving as the Eagles’ pregame living mascot.
Lincoln doesn’t get his own hotel room on the road, but he does get his own space — and has a darkening crate if the room gets too bright.
“Seeing Lincoln soaring through the skies with his wings spread out, just doing what he does best, it never gets old,” Hall said. “Watching him fly, it sends chills down our backs every time. And meeting the Clydesdale was also incredible. The Clydesdale team were fascinated by the eagle, and the eagle team were fascinated by the Clydesdale.”
The ad, directed by Emmy Award-winning commercial director Henry-Alex Rubin, is the latest addition to Budweiser’s “Made of America” campaign.
“As we celebrate Budweiser’s 150th anniversary and America’s 250th birthday, we knew we had to rise to the occasion in a way only Budweiser can,” Todd Allen, senior vice president of marketing for Budweiser at Anheuser-Busch, said in a news release. ”‘American Icons’ brings our heritage to life through powerful storytelling with the Budweiser Clydesdales and an American Bald Eagle. This year’s spot will leave fans awe-struck and proud to enjoy a Budweiser as they celebrate our shared milestone moments.”
Lincoln first flew into Lincoln Financial Field during the 2024 season, taking over for his predecessor, Challenger.
Lincoln has been performing free-flight events since 2001, but his first NFL season, flying in bigger outdoor spaces, was in 2024. To prepare, he flew at Carson-Newman University and at Tucker Stadium, the home of the Tennessee Tech Golden Eagles.
Of course, training came with a few minor hiccups, including when it came to dealing with other animals. In December 2024, Katelyn Jennings, the operations manager of the American Eagle Foundation, told The Inquirer about a close call with an osprey, another type of bird of prey.
“We had a couple of situations that we encountered during training,” Jennings said. “We learned that Lincoln does not mind dogs or osprey … At our Carson-Newman game, they have an osprey nest near the field and the osprey would dive down to try and get him. And he says this is my territory and not yours and he just kind of looked at them like, ‘Hey, what are you doing here?’ and continued to fly onto the trainer.”
Now, a Clydesdale can be added onto Lincoln’s short list of animal interactions.
Ashley Frye, an avian care specialist with the American Eagles Foundation, catches Lincoln during a November 2024 test flight at the Linc.
Walking through the main concourse of Xfinity Mobile Arena after a game, fans often hear the faint sounds of drums rattling in the distance. If one follows the high-pitched rhythm of the snare to the melody of the tenor and eventually to the deep pulse of the bass, they’ll find the Sixers Stixers.
The group has been the official drum line of the 76ers dating back to 2013. For over a decade, they’ve performed in perfect cohesion — relying on teamwork, discipline, and unity — building lifelong friendships deeply rooted in brotherhood, and providing life-changing opportunities for inner-city youth through the power of music.
“We have nothing else,” said 46-year-old Antoine Mapp Sr., the director of the Sixers Stixers. “Everyone don’t play sports, everyone don’t play basketball, everyone don’t play football, everyone don’t play baseball, everyone don’t bowl. However, music is universal. Music touches the soul.
“When you’re part of a team, you start feeling accepted. You start feeling like you belong to something, you start feeling important. All kids really need is love and affection. You don’t know what these kids go through at home. You don’t know what they go through in school, but when it comes to being a part of something like this, we all family, and we say before we leave, ‘I love you, bro,’ because I don’t know if he’s going to make it back tomorrow.”
Antoine Mapp (front left) and the Sixers Stixers do more than just perform at games, like escorting Zyair Kendrick-Finney (back center), along with school and city officials, for his first day of 7th grade at Morgan Village Middle School in Camden in 2022.Mapp’s Stixers have been performing at Sixers games for over a decade.
‘Take these drum sticks, jail cell, or graveyard’
In 1991, Mapp was first introduced to drumming by his late grandmother, Elsie Wise. To keep young boys and girls out of trouble in the West Powelton neighborhood, Wise created a drum line and drill team known as the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad, which still practices today.
“My grandmom came to me and said, ‘Well, I’ll give you three options: take these drum sticks, jail cell, or graveyard,’” Mapp recalled. “I decided to pick the drumsticks. And I asked her what I’m supposed to do with these drumsticks. She said, ‘Figure it out.’”
At that time drum squads and drill teams weren’t as accepted. At 11 years old, Mapp remembers being called every name in the book.
“In the ’90s, drill team wasn’t accepted,” Mapp said. “They looked at us as being wimps, looked at us as being cowards, looked at us as being punks. They used to disrespect us, call us names, say vulgar things about our sexuality because they didn’t understand drumming, they didn’t understand the culture. They didn’t understand music and how it touches the soul and how it saves your life.”
However, that culture was on full display when Mapp attended Cheyney University, the nation’s first Historically Black College and University. He decided to attend Cheyney, on the border of Chester and Delaware Counties, to stay closer to home — giving him time to continue helping with the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad.
Antoine Mapp got his start with the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad, which helped turn into an opportunity with the Sixers.
In 2001, Mapp became the first person in his family to graduate college, with a major in accounting and minor in computer programming. And as he pursued his degree, he joined the Cheyney drum line.
“The band is the culture of the HBCU,” Mapp said. “The band is the heartbeat. The band is the lifeline. The band is what draws the attention. The sports team being good is a bonus when it comes to an HBCU.”
Not only was it the lifeline of the HBCU, but it was the lifeline for Mapp himself. The Philly native credits the drum line for saving his life.
“First of all, making it to 18 years old where I’m from, it’s like making it to 100,” Mapp said. “We used to make it to 18 and say, ‘OK, we have nothing to live for. We made it.’ That’s the mentality we used to have. Drumming saved my life. … The drill team and drum line raised me because the guys on the team became my brothers. The young ladies on the team became my sisters.”
This year, Antoine Mapp Jr. (front) — the son of Sixers Stixers drumline director Antoine Mapp (center in hat) — has joined the team.
A family affair
“Break down!” Mapp yelled as the Stixers began to choreograph their routine for the halftime show of a recent game against the Wizards.
Listening to the order, the rest of the Stixers changed formation — closing in on one another as they drummed out the melody that was discussed on their ride to the stadium. Wearing matching Sixers gear, their black Nikes moved in perfect harmony — one pair looking rather smaller than the rest.
That pair belonged to 11-year-old Antoine Mapp Jr., the son of Mapp, who joined the Stixers at the start of the season. After their first performance together, Mapp sent out a message to another famous father-son NBA duo.
“When I seen LeBron [James], it was the best feeling in the world,” Mapp Sr. said. “I said to LeBron, ‘Hey Bron, you ain’t the only one on the court playing with your son. It was a beautiful moment. Just to be able to say that, I never thought in a million years that I would be on the Sixers floor in the NBA drumming alongside my son. It’s the best feeling in the world.”
If you would have told Mapp that he was going to be performing alongside his son on the Sixers court in 2014, he would have never believed it.
Antoine Mapp Jr. (far right), is the 11-year-old son of Sixers Stixers drumline director Antoine Mapp (wearing hat). The group performs throughout Sixers games and at other team functions.
“I just lost in 2014,” Mapp said. “I just lost my job. My son, Antoine, they told me to abort him. They told me that his stomach and his lungs were growing in his chest. They told me he wasn’t going to walk, talk, run, or do anything. My grandfather, the only father figure that I knew, was in the hospital passing away. I was losing my son and my grandfather.
“On Father’s Day, I lost my grandfather. My son was in the NICU for six months. He was the only baby that survived the NICU.”
Throughout all the struggles, drumming was one thing that helped him persevere. Mapp remembers sitting in the parking lot and praying for guidance.
“[The Lord] spoke to me,” Mapp said. “That same week, I got a phone call from [76ers director of game presentation] Derrick Hayes. When Derrick called me he said, ‘Well, we’re calling you about being a Sixers drum line.’ I said, ‘OK, I’ll do it for free.’ That’s what I’m used to with the after-school program. Drumming was my payment. My life being saved, that was payment enough.
“When he told me that he was going to pay me for doing the game, a light bulb went off in my head. What is one of the reasons why there’s so much crime in my neighborhood? Lack of funds. That’s one of the reasons. So, I said, ‘OK, if the Sixers are paying us, let me change my program to I pay you to save you.’”
Mapp (left) leads the drumline as they entertain fans on the main concourse during a recent game against the Washington Wizards.
‘Don’t ever stop’
In 2020, Mapp’s 29th season helping with the West Powelton Steppers and Drum Squad, he had his last conversation with his grandmother.
“Before she took her last breath, I asked her, ‘Why am I still here?’” Mapp said. “She said, ‘Because you still love it.’ The last thing she said to me, she said, ‘Don’t ever stop,’ and took her last breath.
“That’s been ingrained in my brain ever since — and I haven’t stopped.”
Mapp has spent over three decades with the West Powelton Steppers and over a decade with the Sixers Stixers, performing alongside children as young as 4 years old to grown men in their 40s.
The Stixers take part in off-court events like the Annual 76ers Summer Shore Tour.And there’s no rest in the postseason, as the Sixers Stixers prepare for their performance during Game 6 against the Boston Celtics in 2023.
“We have no age limit,” Mapp said. “We don’t cap out. We’re in your life for the rest of your life. It’s our 35th year, and we have so many people that are still part of this group and have kids who are part of the group.
“I can’t wait to see what my son does with it 20 years down. I can’t wait to say we’ve been with the Sixers for 50 years, I’ll probably be like 96. But, I’ll still be here. And I’ll still be out there leading my guys. I’m so honored to be a West Powelton drummer and to be a Sixer Stixer.”
Halfway through the regular season, with All-Star Weekend slowly approaching, the NBA has announced its best-selling jerseys from the season thus far — and Sixers guard Tyrese Maxey has cracked the top 10 of the sale list.
The 25-year-old has easily become a fan favorite throughout his six seasons in Philadelphia. And following Monday’s announcement that the former league’s Most Improved Player will be starting in his first All-Star Game this year — earning his second All-Star nod — those jerseys will most likely be even more in demand.
Maxey, who currently averages 30.2 points, 6.7 assists, and 4.4 rebounds, was followed on the list by Dallas Mavericks rookie Cooper Flagg, and Houston Rockets star Kevin Durant. Golden State’s Stephen Curry and the Los Angeles Lakers’ Luka Doncic top the list.
Nine players on the list have been named starters for the 2026 All-Star Game, with Lakers star LeBron James as the only player to miss the cut.
Here’s the full top 15:
Stephen Curry, Golden State Warriors
Luka Doncic, Los Angeles Lakers
Jalen Brunson, New York Knicks
Victor Wembanyama, San Antonio Spurs
LeBron James, Los Angeles Lakers
Anthony Edwards, Minnesota Timberwolves
Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Oklahoma City Thunder
Jayson Tatum, Boston Celtics
Nikola Jokic, Denver Nuggets
Tyrese Maxey, Philadelphia 76ers
Cooper Flagg, Dallas Mavericks
Kevin Durant, Houston Rockets
Giannis Antetokounmpo, Milwaukee Bucks
Cade Cunningham, Detroit Pistons
Donovan Mitchell, Cleveland Cavaliers
Meanwhile, the Sixers were named one of the teams with the top-selling NBA merchandise, coming in at No. 5 above the Boston Celtics and the Minnesota Timberwolves.
Two months ago, 76ers guard Tyrese Maxey joined Indiana Pacers guard Tyrese Haliburton in a live group chat during a Thunder-Lakers game. When the 25-year-old was asked about the possibility of getting his own signature shoe, Maxey responded: “One can only hope and pray.”
Those prayers have been answered.
Maxey will be getting his own signature shoe, set to debut later in 2026, New Balance confirmed. ESPN was the first to report Maxey’s new shoe.
“We’re so excited that Tyrese was named an All-Star starter and to get to share this moment with him,” said Naveen Lokesh, head of global sports marketing for basketball at New Balance. “He represents everything we value at New Balance — hard work, authenticity, and confidence — so working together to bring his first signature shoe to life is a natural step in celebrating who he is and where his journey is headed.”
Maxey first signed a shoe deal with New Balance in 2023, joining Kawhi Leonard, Jamal Murray, and Zach LaVine. During the 2023-24 season, which saw him earn the NBA Most Improved Player Award and his first All-Star nod, Maxey appeared on a New Balance billboard in Indianapolis during All-Star Weekend. As the brand’s roster of athletes expands, Maxey has also been involved in New Balance’s “We Got Now” ad campaign alongside stars from other sports including Shohei Ohtani and Coco Gauff.
Two years after signing with the brand, it took another step forward in its partnership. New Balance presented the Tyrese Maxey Hero Pack — a collection that included a basketball shoe (New Balance Hesi Low v2) and a lifestyle shoe (New Balance 1906R) inspired by Maxey’s love of comic books.
There hasn’t yet been any information made available on when Maxey’s shoe will release and what it will look like, so stay tuned.
If you’ve ever thought about becoming a professional boxer, now may be your chance. The Team Boxing League will be hosting the first-ever televised open boxing combine at Bally’s Atlantic City this weekend (Jan. 16-18).
“The last two years, when we did different tryouts in different cities, we would get a line around the block from the gym that we would do tryouts in,” said Team Boxing League CEO Kevin Cassidy. “So, we decided we would do kind of America’s Got Talent style, open casting call. And that’s how we got into it.”
Fighters will compete for roster spots for the boxing league’s Season 4 lineup. Here’s what you need to know about the event …
What is team-based boxing?
The Team Boxing League is the nation’s first — and only — boxing league with a team-based model.
Each bout features 24 three-minute rounds of non-stop fighting with competitors switching on and off after one-round matches.
Each bout for the Team Boxing League features 24 three-minute rounds of non-stop fighting with competitors switching on and off after one-round matches.
Each round is scored by three judges, who are licensed by a State Athletic Boxing Commission. A round is scored 10-9 for the winner of a judge’s decision, and if there’s a knockdown, it’s ruled 10-8. All 24 individual round scores are added up at the end, and the team with the highest total score gets the win.
And that format makes for a unique fighting style.
“It’s a little bit different in team boxing,” Cassidy said. “They train to go all out in one round. So, they could either fight one or two rounds in an event. That’s the most. It’s not like traditional boxing, where you have a couple of rounds where you’re feeling out the other fighter. This, you have 30 seconds to figure out the other fighter and then you have to go all out.
“It’s the TikTok of boxing. It makes for excitement in all 24 rounds.”
The TBL season begins mid-March and ends in September. They’ll host 56 events across the country, with 12 teams representing different cities — including the Philadelphia Smoke from the East Division.
What to expect from the combine?
This weekend’s three-day combine at Bally’s Traymore Ballroom will test each athlete’s endurance, strength, punching power, and accuracy through nine different stations.
“They have different things for each,” Cassidy said. “They have rope drills and speed bags. And we have some technology that Bally’s developed for boxing which is going to test their hand speed and see how many uppercuts they throw. They’ll test their endurance, their fitness, their punching power, their coordination, all of those things.”
Three-day combine for the Team Boxing League will be held at Bally’s Traymore Ballroom.
How to watch
All three days will be streamed live on the Team Boxing League app and an edited version will be broadcast on Envoy TV in February.
“I’m looking forward to learning the stories of the fighters, their backgrounds,” Cassidy said. “We have fighters that come from a very diverse background. You have guys who have been to prison, police officers, firemen, construction workers.
“There’s a lot of fighters around the country who never got a chance to make it and this gives them a lot of exposure.”
Fighters can register for the TBL Boxing Combine Tryouts online.
The Philadelphia area will become the epicenter of sports this year and host major events, including the FIFA World Cup, the MLB All-Star game, and the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club. Now, another historic event has been added to the schedule: the inaugural Women’s Lacrosse League championship.
The event will take place during the Professional Lacrosse League’s homecoming weekend for the Philadelphia Waterdogs on Aug. 14-16 at Subaru Park in Chester.
“We’re thrilled to return to Philadelphia at Subaru Park in 2026, and make history when we crown the first WLL Champions,” said PLL cofounder and president Paul Rabil. “Philly fans have fueled some of the most legendary moments in our league’s history, and we can’t wait to see their passion for the Waterdogs and the game light up the stadium once again.”
In the championship, the league’s four teams (New York Charging, Boston Guard, Maryland Charm, and California Palms) will compete in the 10-vs.-10 format that debuted during the 2025 WLL All-Star game.
“Hosting both the Premier Lacrosse League and, for the first time, the Women’s Lacrosse League at Subaru Park is a powerful moment for our venue and for the region’s lacrosse fans,” said Union president Tim McDermott. “This weekend will reflect our commitment to showcasing elite competition at our best-in-class facility and creating unforgettable experiences for all who step foot in Subaru Park.”
Before the regular season begins on May 15 in Rhode Island, all four WLL teams, and the top four PLL teams, also will play in the 2026 Championship Series from Feb. 27 to March 8 at The St. James in Springfield, Va. The competing PLL teams are the New York Atlas, Carolina Chaos, Denver Outlaws and California Redwoods.
They will compete in the Olympic Sixes game format, which is set to return to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games. Fans can purchase presale tickets for the Championship Series online.
In the latest episode of New Heights, former Eagles center Jason Kelce laid out his reaction to what he called a “very frustrating game and season” for Philadelphia.
A shaky 2025 campaign for the Eagles offense ended with Kevin Patullo’s removal as offensive coordinator on Tuesday. Kelce used Wednesday’s podcast episode to clarify some of the comments he made earlier in the week while speaking in his analyst role on Monday Night Football. On the broadcast, he defended Patullo as “a great coach” while anticipating his dismissal.
Here’s what you missed from this week’s New Heights …
Replacing Patullo
Kelce, who spent 13 seasons with the Eagles, played under Patullo after he became the team’s passing game coordinator in 2021. A year after Kelce’s retirement in 2024, Patullo was promoted to offensive coordinator for this season.
“The expectations [for the offense] should be much higher than what they put out this season,” Kelce said. “I know I made some comments on Monday Night Football, and I do love Kevin Patullo. I’m not trying to absolve him of blame. … The offense wasn’t up to the task this year. It regressed. The main reason it regressed was the run game, and the offensive line’s inability to stay healthy, and to open up holes.”
While removing Patullo as coordinator was one of the franchise’s first moves after Sunday’s 23-19 playoff loss to the 49ers, Kelce suggested that players should also take accountability for the disappointing finale.
“It’s one of the highest-paid offenses in the NFL, and they were mediocre across the board,” Kelce said, echoing some of his comments from Monday. “The bottom line is this offense didn’t live up to what it should have. Patullo, as the offensive coordinator, bears responsibility, and so do the players. …
“I don’t think it’s ever fair to just throw it on one guy. Jalen [Hurts] said it after the game: Right now isn’t the time to put it on any one person.”
Former Eagles offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo talks with quarterback Jalen Hurts (left) and wide receiver A.J. Brown during Sunday’s wild-card loss to the 49ers.
“It would probably behoove the Eagles to bring in somebody with a fresh perspective on where it’s at currently,” Kelce said. “When you’re in it, you’re thinking about how you’ve had success in the past. When you bring in somebody else, we can bring in some fresh ideas and find ways to maximize things.
“I don’t think it needs to be anything that drastic. We probably want somebody who’s been proven offensively as a successful coach, and he could come in and look at things under a new lens with a lot of similar pieces.”
The two seasons the Eagles went to the Super Bowl under Nick Sirianni, they had offensive coordinators with experience at the position: Shane Steichen and Kellen Moore, both of whom were hired as head coaches the following year.
One of few positive reflections Kelce had on the Eagles’ season was on their sturdy defense, offering praise for defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
“Defensively, they played great,” Kelce said. “In [the wild-card] game, they want some plays back, but they overcame so much. If you look at the difference between their pay, I think it’s the lowest-paid defense in the NFL, and their production, it is absolutely insane.
“Vic Fangio and the entire staff of the defense has done a phenomenal job.”
Also on the podcast, Jason and Travis Kelce announced their upcoming book, No Dumb Questions. It will be the brothers’ first published book, coming out on June 2. They also announced new New Heights merchandise, an Amazon shop called the Kelce Clubhouse, and more.
Nearly eight years after retiring, former Eagles tight end Brent Celek is finding ways to educate the community. The Super Bowl champion is speaking out to raise awareness about men’s health.
“I think it’s important for men to talk more about their health,” Celek, 40, said. “I think it’s actually happening more. Like, I see it with athletes. I think historically, it’s just been something where men are supposed to be tough and you’re not supposed to talk about your problems and issues.
“And I think more and more people are starting to do that. And it’s good because it shows other men that they’re not alone. Other people are out here dealing with the same issues. And it’s OK, there’s ways to get through it. There’s therapy and there’s solutions to some of the problems.”
Celek is partnering up with the incontinence brand TENA for a video series touring the streets of Philadelphia.
In the series, Celek challenged men to put their sporting mettle to the test. With a football, basketball, and a court on hand, Celek and TENA tested how confident each man would be in catching a pass in a professional football game and shooting a three-pointer in a pro basketball game. Afterward, they engaged in a conversation about their health.
In a recent TENA survey, 46.71% of men said they were confident they could catch a pass in a professional football game and 41.92% said they could make a three in a pro basketball game. Celek hopes they can bring that same confidence when it comes to talking about their health.
Former Eagles tight end Brent Celek challenged Philadelphia men to put their sporting mettle to the test as a way to promote awareness for men’s health.
“Seeing others [talking about their health] allows them to be more comfortable talking about it,” Celek said. “If you see your peers talking about things that may be uncomfortable for them, but it works out, you think in your own mind, ‘I can do the same thing.’”
Celek battled a number of injuries in his 11-season NFL career, including torn labrums, ankle sprains, torn thumb ligaments, a torn medial collateral ligament in his right knee, a torn right biceps, a double sports hernia, and a torn posterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Since then, he’s taken a more hands-on approach when it comes to his health.
“I’m definitely more proactive,” Celek said. “When I was younger I relied on experts and doctors — and I still do now. But I would say as I’m getting older and we have access to everything at our fingertips with our phone, I’m more proactive in my own health. … And nobody knows you more than you know yourself. So I think it’s important for people to be proactive and to continue to look for things that will work for them.”
