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  • ‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Whit Merrifield on Nick Castellanos’ falling out, why Rob Thomson was his favorite manager

    ‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Whit Merrifield on Nick Castellanos’ falling out, why Rob Thomson was his favorite manager

    Upon signing with the Phillies as a free agent in 2024, Whit Merrifield figured he would get regular at-bats at multiple positions.

    It didn’t work out that way.

    Surely, then, Merrifield could relate to the deterioration of Nick Castellanos’ relationship with manager Rob Thomson last season over playing time, the fallout of which will lead the Phillies to trade or release Castellanos before spring training.

    Merrifield, who retired last season, recently joined Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss that topic and more, including how his close friend Brad Keller will fit into the Phillies’ bullpen and the team’s unexpected pursuit of his former teammate Bo Bichette.

    Watch the full interview below and subscribe to the Phillies Extra podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcasts.

    Q: What’s your view of the Phillies’ offseason? And where do you come down on how much change a team like that should be making to a roster that’s been together for a few years and had a lot of regular-season success, but just hasn’t gotten over the hump in October?

    A: Well, there’s only one team that ends up winning the last game of the season. In baseball, man, that’s a hard thing to do. It’s such a volatile game. There’s so many ups and downs throughout the course of the year, so much has to go right at the right time for you to hoist that trophy at the end of the season. And for Philadelphia, they’ve got all the pieces. It just hasn’t quite peaked at the right time for them. But if you’ve got a team that’s consistently winning the division, it’s hard to fault the guys in the clubhouse and want to go with new guys. That’s a little unrealistic, in my opinion, especially if you’ve got guys that love being in Philly, love being in the clubhouse with the other guys, love playing for the other guys. It’s another thing if the guys feel like they’re going through the motions. But that’s not the feeling you get in that clubhouse. It’s a very driven group of guys. It’s a group of guys that want to bring a championship to Philly. And it just hasn’t quite happened yet. But there’s 29 other teams that are trying to do the same thing.

    Are the Phillies ‘running it back’? Maybe, but that’s not the most important question for 2026

    It’s not just a matter of, let’s go get all the best players. I mean, it’s easy to say because the Dodgers have done it the last two years. But they about met their match last year, really. They should have lost that series against Toronto, in my opinion. There were some things that happened that allowed L.A. to win over Toronto that probably should have gone the other way. But it’s just not as easy as going out and just being like, ‘Oh, we’re going to go get the best pitcher. We’re going to go get the best position player.’ You’ve got to have the right group of guys in every city. And I think Philly does. It’s just a matter of them getting over that hump.

    Nick Castellanos (right) clashed with Phillies manager Rob Thomson last season and is not expected back in 2026.
    Q: Nick Castellanos clashed with Rob Thomson a few times last year, especially after he lost his everyday job, and the Phillies are going to either trade him or release him before spring training. As a guy who was used to playing every day when you came to the Phillies and wound up coming off the bench, what was the communication about playing time like with Thomson?

    A: It’s a big transition. It really is. Because as an everyday player, you’re used to the flow of the season. You’re used to the mindset of understanding that you’re going to have bad stretches, you’re going to have good stretches, but over the course of the full season, if you just keep doing what you’ve always done and what you’re used to doing, at the end of 162, everything will work itself out. As a bench guy, you don’t quite get that luxury. If you’re in a cold stretch, I might not play for another week unless something happens — somebody needs a day off or something. And if you catch a heater, it’s like, ‘OK, I might be able to earn some playing time, earn some at-bats doing this.’

    And so, there’s a lot more innate pressure and focus on what you’re doing yourself vs. being in the flow of the game, trying to contribute to the team and almost like just playing the game. And it’s easy to sit back and say, ‘Oh, well, you should just always be playing to win’ and all that. And that’s not quite what I’m saying. What I’m saying is you don’t think about yourself as much and how you’re doing as much when you’re playing every day, because you know you’ll be in there the next day. And when you’re not, it’s just a different type of focus.

    ‘Phillies Extra’ Q&A: Rob Thomson on managing the Bo Bichette aftermath, Nick Castellanos, and more

    I’ve always said it’s why I wasn’t as good in the minor leagues because the minor leagues is all about you. It’s all about yourself. It’s all about getting your numbers so you can get the hell out of there and get to the big leagues. And my numbers in the minor leagues were not very good, except for I had one really good year. But besides that, they were very average to below average.

    When I was in Philly, I’ve told people before, I think Rob Thomson was the best manager I ever had. My favorite manager of all time. I loved him. In any job there’s times when you’re going to disagree with your boss. Your boss has ultimately got to make a decision. And there’s times when you’re going to disagree. I thought that, coming into it, I had a chance to compete for an everyday outfield spot. And after the spring training I had, I thought maybe I had earned a good run to start the year, and didn’t quite get it. But Topper was very up-front with me about what was going on. And like, ‘You’re going to be playing three days this week. We got you [for] two games this series. Hey, we’re going to try to get you in the Sunday game of this series. But it depends on if this guy needs a day off, whatnot.’ And I felt like he was very up-front with me. And if he wasn’t, he’s got a lot going on.

    Whit Merrifield, being congratulated by Rob Thomson during a spring training game in 2024, said the Phillies skipper was always very candid with him about playing time.

    Look, his worry is not catering to me and worrying about my playing time. He’s got a lot going on. But if I was at a point where I needed some knowledge of what they were thinking, he was the easiest guy to go in and talk to. It was never uncomfortable to knock on his door. ‘Hey, Topper, you got a second? What’s the deal? What’s going on? I haven’t played in three days? Is that what’s happening?’ And he was very communicative.

    So, I don’t know how he and Casty’s relationship was. I think Casty is a genuinely good-hearted dude. He’s a little different, and he’ll tell you — he’s just a little different. He’s a little different guy, and he handles things a little differently. He’s very blunt. He’ll tell you exactly how he feels. There’s a little Zack Greinke in him, where he just tells you what he feels. And there’s usually not malicious intent behind it, but it can sound like that sometimes. And I think there are just some things that happen that Casty didn’t like along the way, and he’s not the guy to hide his feelings or sugarcoat it. And I think it just kind of came to a head.

    Q: You were part of the players’ negotiating committee for the last collective bargaining agreement in 2022. With the owners supposedly pushing for a salary cap this time around, do you think baseball is headed for the cliff after the season?

    A: I don’t know. I know that there is a hard no, a nonstarting conversation — unless that’s changed over the last couple of years — with the [players’ association] on a salary cap. And so, I don’t know if the league is just continuing to say it as a posturing stance, or what the serious level is behind a salary cap. And I know it’s a nonstarter for the PA. … It’s a weird thing now, because it seems like the owners have always been together, and the players have always been together. But now it seems like the owners have turned on the Dodgers, and so now, it’s like they’re fighting the Dodgers, along with fighting the players. I don’t know where that leaves us, and I’m not overly optimistic that there will be baseball on time in 2027.

    Ranking the Phillies’ top 10 prospects: Key question, 2026 outlook for each

    I haven’t been a part of those conversations in two years, so I don’t know what’s going on behind closed doors. And frankly, I’ve spent enough time doing it; I don’t care to know anymore. I just sit back and watch from afar, because those were some long nights and long hours that I’m not missing being a part of. … I don’t think it’s in a good place. How bad it is, I don’t know. But I’m not optimistic that baseball will be starting on time in 2027.

    Watch or listen to the full episode for Merrifield discussing what the Phillies are getting in reliever Brad Keller, one of his best friends, why he was surprised they pursued Bo Bichette, and more.

  • Flyers draft: Penn State’s Gavin McKenna is once again stating his case to be the No. 1 overall pick

    Flyers draft: Penn State’s Gavin McKenna is once again stating his case to be the No. 1 overall pick

    STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Gavin McKenna is an 18-year-old prospect who plays like a seasoned NHL veteran. He sports a rare combination of vision and speed that takes most teenagers years to develop.

    It’s why he’s drawn comparisons to future Hockey Hall of Famers Patrick Kane and Nikita Kucherov. It’s also why, before McKenna even played a game for Penn State, coach Guy Gadowsky said he planned to “let Gavin be Gavin.”

    NHL teams have been queuing up for a chance to select McKenna in June’s NHL draft and to “let Gavin be Gavin.” But they will likely need a top-three selection, and maybe the No. 1 overall pick, to land the prolific winger.

    ‘It just blew me away:’ Penn State-Michigan State puts on a show to remember in outdoor hockey event

    The Flyers, who not long ago occupied a playoff spot, could be among them. Losers of 11 of their last 13 games, the Orange and Black are tied for the ninth-lowest point total in the NHL and are firmly back in the McKenna sweepstakes.

    With 29 games remaining, the Flyers have just a 12.5% chance to make the playoffs, according to Hockey Reference’s latest playoff probabilities report. And according to Tankathon, they currently have a 7.4% chance of landing the first or second pick in the draft lottery. While McKenna is a winger, and Philadelphia’s priorities are center and defense, if the Flyers get some long-overdue lottery luck, could they afford to pass on such an offensive talent, especially given their 21st-ranked offense?

    Here’s a quick scouting report on McKenna and what the prospect could bring to the table at the next level.

    A great manipulator

    Gadowsky has praised McKenna’s “elite” skating and puck skills. But to the longtime Nittany Lions coach, McKenna’s ability to “manipulate the pace” tops all else.

    “[McKenna’s] work ethic is excellent,” Gadowsky said. “He’s extremely quick. He thinks the game differently. And you can see when there are drills that are game-specific, he uses time and space in a very unique way. … When you think [he’s] out of time and space, he manipulates it, and that’s what is really amazing to watch.”

    Major expectations followed McKenna, who was viewed as the consensus No. 1 pick in the 2026 NHL draft, to Happy Valley when he committed to the Nittany Lions in July. Many questioned whether the then-17-year-old, who racked up 41 goals and 129 points last season in the Western Hockey League with Medicine Hat, could handle the physicality and rapid pace after making the step up to college hockey.

    Through 24 games, McKenna has answered those questions. Among Division I skaters, the freshman is tied for 13th in points (32), and ranks 11th in both assists (21) and points per game (1.33). He’s been especially hot lately, having scored seven goals and tallied 14 points in eight games since returning from the World Juniors with Canada.

    McKenna can see plays before they develop. He passes his teammates open rather than passing to open teammates — a skill set showcased on several of his team-high 21 assists.

    “He does everything that the team wants and that the coaches want,” Gadowsky said. “He’s a big-moment player. He’s an incredible talent. But his desire to help the team is what I love most about him.”

    Passing the test

    The native of Whitehorse, Yukon, is a pass-first forward. He plays an unselfish game that sometimes teeters on being too unselfish. But that doesn’t mean he’s not aggressive when necessary, nor does it mean he can’t score.

    McKenna tallied his first collegiate hat trick on Jan. 23 against Wisconsin. With Penn State sporting a two-goal lead, McKenna batted down an airborne puck, turned and skated into the offensive zone, and fired a perfectly placed wrist shot through traffic to complete the achievement.

    McKenna’s shot isn’t the fastest, but it’s accurate. What his shot lacks in strength, he makes up for with a quick release and deft placement.

    The left-handed forward showcased that accuracy in No. 5 Penn State’s 5-4 overtime loss to No. 2 Michigan State on Saturday at Beaver Stadium. After receiving a slot feed, McKenna settled the puck and beat Detroit Red Wings prospect Trey Augustine to tie the contest at 2-2.

    “I kind of blacked out on that one,” McKenna said of his goal. “I think just the emotions in that game — the crowd, the atmosphere, how tight of a game it was — it was pretty easy to get excited like that.”

    McKenna wasn’t done. With the game tied in the second period, the speedy winger pinpointed a pass around two Michigan State defenders and onto the blade of Aiden Fink, who snapped one far side to give the Nittany Lions a 3-2 lead. McKenna scored or assisted on three of Penn State’s four goals on Saturday.

    “Gavin is a super smart player. I know any time he has the puck, I always [have] to be ready,” Fink said. “I saw him have the puck in the corner, and I kind of knew he saw me. I knew he was going to give it to me.”

    While McKenna sports a relatively polished game, his physicality, or lack thereof, is one of his weaknesses and something he’s working on. Standing 6-foot and 170 pounds, the left winger prefers to play a finesse game, which means using his speed to dodge hits and skate into space rather than fighting through contact.

    But that doesn’t mean he’s afraid to get physical when necessary. After totaling just four penalty minutes across his first 21 collegiate contests, McKenna tallied 30 over his next two.

    When Fink tumbled to the ice after taking a blindsided check in the Nittany Lions’ 6-3 loss to Michigan State on Friday, McKenna delivered a retaliatory cross-check on Cayden Lindstrom.

    He received a five-minute major and a game misconduct. But teammates Reese Laubach and Jarod Crespo praised McKenna’s willingness to stand up for his linemate. And in the NHL, plays like that, especially from players not typically known for being physical, go a long way toward earning your teammates’ respect.

    McKenna has the intangibles — elite speed, maturity, impressive playmaking — that make up a No. 1 pick. He’s the type of prospect who could change a franchise.

    Think Matthew Schaefer, who’s on track to guide the New York Islanders to a playoff berth in his rookie season. Or Macklin Celebrini, who has his San Jose Sharks eyeing their first playoff berth since 2019. With some similar lottery luck, McKenna could be the spark the Flyers need to bring playoff hockey back to Philadelphia.

    Penn State’s Gavin McKenna has seven goals and 14 points in his last eight games.
  • Janelle Stelson almost beat Scott Perry in 2024. She keeps outraising him as she prepares for a rematch.

    Janelle Stelson almost beat Scott Perry in 2024. She keeps outraising him as she prepares for a rematch.

    Democrat Janelle Stelson outraised U.S. Rep. Scott Perry for the second quarter in a row in her bid to flip the Central Pennsylvania district, which could determine control of the House in November.

    Stelson, who lost by a little more than 1 percentage point to Perry in 2024, has raised more than $2.2 million since launching her rematch campaign in July. She has outraised Perry in both quarters since her kickoff and has more cash on hand than the incumbent Republican when taking his campaign debt into consideration.

    Perry, a close ally of President Donald Trump, appears to be in the toughest fight of his political career. The seven-term lawmaker continues to be a Trump loyalist even as other swing-district Republicans in the state increasingly look to distance themselves from the president.

    Stelson’s strong fundraising haul indicates Democrats think they can finally flip the seat this year in a more favorable environment after Stelson came close in 2024 even though Trump carried the state and led a red wave.

    Stelson, a former TV anchor and former Republican, has again rooted her campaign in attacks on Perry and Trump. She thinks it will work this time.

    “I think the story of Scott Perry just keeps getting worse,” Stelson, 65, said in an interview. “He’s somebody who I covered for years on the news, and people have just really had enough. After more than a decade in Washington, he’s caused a lot of problems.”

    Perry, 63, a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, voted last month against a Democratic-led bill to restore recently expired healthcare subsidies amid a national spike in insurance premiums, a vote Stelson has seized upon. Three other Pennsylvania Republicans who represent swing districts — U.S. Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick, Rob Bresnahan, and Ryan Mackenzie — voted for the measure.

    Brian Fitzpatrick criticizes House Speaker Johnson as Pa. swing-district Republicans join Democrats in ACA subsidies vote

    Stelson would need to win the Democratic primary in May to set up the November rematch. She is facing Dauphin County Commissioner Justin Douglas, a progressive pastor, who has raised under $85,000 this year. Perry also has his first primary challenge, from Karen Dalton, a retired attorney for Harrisburg Republicans, who reported raising a little more than $11,000 since launching her campaign.

    Perry raised more than $2.9 million in 2025, and Stelson has raised $2.2 million since she launched her campaign in July. Stelson raised more than $946,000 from October through December, beating Perry’s haul for the quarter of $780,031.

    Stelson ended the year with $1.52 million cash on hand, while Perry had $1.66 million. But Perry’s campaign also has nearly $280,000 in debt, which would put Stelson ahead when factored into the totals.

    FILE – U.S. Rep. Scott Perry, R-Pa., speaks during a campaign event in front of employees at an insurance marketing firm, Oct. 17, 2024, in Harrisburg, Pa.

    The nonpartisan Cook Political Report rated the district as a toss-up alongside Mackenzie’s Lehigh Valley district, marking them as among the most competitive races in the country.

    Perry campaign spokesperson Matt Beynon said Perry’s fundraising last quarter was “incredibly strong” and pointed to how he outraised fellow swing district Republicans Bresnahan and Mackenzie during that stretch.

    Beynon said Perry is in a better position to ward off a Democratic challenge this year because his district has emerged as a priority for national Republicans, landing on the National Republican Congressional Committee’s Patriots Program — a list of priority races that he was not on in 2024.

    “Seeing the results last go-around, and seeing how hard we fought to make sure that the congressman was reelected, I think did open some eyes, and the congressman has been able to make the case that he needs support, too,” Beynon said in an interview.

    He said it has been “a learning experience for folks to understand” that the district has become increasingly blue in recent years. The 10th Congressional District includes Dauphin County and parts of York and Cumberland Counties, and is home to Harrisburg and Hershey.

    Perry declined to be interviewed for this article.

    Stelson said Republican voters in the district who have historically voted along party lines are “really waking up” and are beginning to view Perry as more of an “extremist” than a Republican.

    2024: Scott Perry’s Democratic opponent Janelle Stelson thinks she can get support from Republicans. She used to be one herself.

    She criticized Perry for urging his colleagues to throw out Pennsylvania’s votes hours after the Jan. 6, 2021, attack on the Capitol. She also pointed to his vote against awarding the Congressional Gold Medal to Capitol Police officers, as well as his support for Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act, which made cuts to Medicaid and SNAP in order to help fund Trump’s tax cuts and immigration crackdown.

    “He’s always putting his far-right politics ahead of the needs of people in this area,” Stelson said. “They can’t pay their bills. … His defeat actually would be a defeat for extremism in our politics.”

    Democrats are optimistic that having Gov. Josh Shapiro, who won the district in 2022, at the top of the ticket will boost Stelson’s chances and build on last year’s momentum in local races.

    Perry’s campaign has called Stelson a “carpetbagger,” since she lived outside district lines in nearby Lancaster last time she ran. Stelson has argued that she knows the district well because of her decades-long career as a local journalist, and that she used to live in it.

    Stelson campaign spokesperson Alma Baker confirmed Stelson now rents a home in the district in Camp Hill while still owning her Lancaster residence, noting she lives in the district full-time.

    Stelson pointed to what she described as “national problems” when asked about unique issues in the district, such as the economy. Her campaign soon after unveiled an agenda aimed at supporting farmers and other rural residents.

    Beynon said that Perry will speak about his support for provisions in Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill Act like ending tax on tips and extending tax benefits for overtime. He will also point to his long-held position sponsoring a bill to ban stock trading in Congress, on which he has collaborated with Democrats.

    Both candidates plan to talk about affordability, which has emerged as a successful message for both sides of the aisle.

    “It’s just getting worse when you have to worry about whether you’re going to put groceries on the table or pay your skyrocketing utility premiums, that’s a real problem,” Stelson said. “You can’t send kids to school without something in their tummies, otherwise they’re going to be thinking about that all day instead of learning.”

    As a broadcast journalist for decades, the second-time candidate said, she listened to and highlighted concerns from people in the district.

    “And I feel like now they can teach me what I need to be doing in Congress when I carry their voices there,” she added.

  • Makings of greatness? | Sports Daily Newsletter

    Makings of greatness? | Sports Daily Newsletter

    There’s a decent chance that the top overall pick in the next NHL draft is playing right now for the Penn State Nittany Lions.

    And if the Flyers keep playing as poorly as they’ve been lately, there’s a chance they’ll be able to draft him.

    Gavin McKenna, 18, is an immensely talented prospect from the Yukon who is starting to live up to the hype as a Penn State freshman. He has racked up seven goals and seven assists in the last eight Nittany Lions games.

    Penn State coach Guy Gadowsky sees the makings of greatness: “He’s extremely quick. He thinks the game differently. And you can see when there are drills that are game-specific, he uses time and space in a very unique way. … When you think [he’s] out of time and space, he manipulates it, and that’s what is really amazing to watch.”

    NHL scouts have been watching for a long time. The Flyers, losers of 11 of their last 13 games, might have a shot at landing McKenna. According to Tankathon, they have a 7.4% chance of landing the first or second pick in the draft lottery. If they land him, maybe they can start over. Again.

    — Jim Swan, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.

    If someone forwarded you this email, sign up for free here.

    ❓Who was the best first-round pick ever in Philadelphia sports? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.

    George’s impact on trade deadline

    The Sixers will be awarded a $5.9 million tax variance as Paul George (right) serves his unpaid suspension.

    The 76ers are without Paul George for 25 games. So what comes next? Well, aside from two months without one of their most versatile players, there is also the trade deadline, a moment for the Sixers to reset and prepare for life without George.

    The Sixers do have an easier path to get under the luxury tax now that they will be awarded a $5.9 million tax variance as the forward serves his unpaid suspension. But there is still the on-court product, which can be improved at the deadline as well. The Inquirer’s Gina Mizell took a look at the team’s most movable contracts, an exercise that provides a glimpse into the Sixers’ opportunity to succeed on both counts.

    The Sixers extended their winning streak to four games with a 128-113 win over the Clippers behind a career night from Dominick Barlow.

    Captain Cold

    Flyers captain Sean Couturier has not scored a goal in 27 games.

    Sean Couturier ranks third in franchise history in games played, 10th in assists, 12th in points, and was the Selke Trophy winner in 2020. Not too shabby.

    But the veteran forward can’t get anything going at the moment, as Couturier has just five points since the turn of the year, and has not scored a goal in 27 games. Even more frustrating for him, he’s getting the chances, as evidenced by various analytic metrics.

    Demoted to the fourth line, the captain is hoping that “getting back to the basics” will help him finally find a breakthrough.

    Merrifield on Castellanos falling out

    Retired former Phillie Whit Merrifield, who now has a baseball podcast, says he wants to get into media to try to explain the game for fans.

    Upon signing with the Phillies as a free agent in 2024, Whit Merrifield figured he would get regular at-bats at multiple positions.

    It didn’t work out that way.

    Surely, then, Merrifield could relate to the deterioration of Nick Castellanos’ relationship with manager Rob Thomson last season over playing time, the fallout of which will lead the Phillies to trade or release Castellanos before spring training.

    Merrifield, who retired last season, recently joined Phillies Extra, The Inquirer’s baseball podcast, to discuss that topic and more.

    A closer look at prospects

    Defensive lineman LT Overton of Alabama runs through drills during practice for the Senior Bowl on Jan. 28.

    The Eagles will have some holes that need filling when the NFL draft arrives in April. The team’s scouting staff got a closer look at top prospects over the last two weeks at workouts for the East-West Shrine Bowl and the Senior Bowl. Our Devin Jackson covered all the action. He offers an in-depth look at the all-star game process and gives his take on several players who could fit in with the Eagles.

    Birds in the Pro Bowl

    Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts was a recent addition to the Pro Bowl lineup.

    Quick, name the last Pro Bowl that had relevance for Eagles fans. How about the 2014 version, when Nick Foles was named offensive MVP? It was still played in Honolulu then, and the game still resembled tackle football. These days, the Pro Bowl is a flag football game, which is relevant because the sport will make its debut at the 2028 Olympics.

    The game will be played in San Francisco tonight at 8 (ESPN), with a seven-on-seven format and five Eagles slated for action. Two former Eagles, DeSean Jackson and Michael Vick, will serve as offensive coordinators. Who’s in for the Birds? Olivia Reiner has all the details here.

    Sports snapshot

    Jason Kelce (right) and Beau Allen star in a Super Bowl commercial for Garage Beer.

    David Murphy’s take

    Sixers guard VJ Edgecombe is averaging 15.1 points and 4.2 assists in his rookie season.

    This shouldn’t need to be said, but the Sixers aren’t going to trade VJ Edgecombe for Giannis Antetokounmpo. Nor should they. Which also shouldn’t need to be said.

    To understand Edgecombe’s immense present and future value, you have to watch him on the court. It’s incredibly rare for a 20-year-old rookie to average 35.6 minutes per night for a team that is six games over .500 and has a legitimate chance to make a playoff run. It’s even rarer for said rookie to do it with the maturity and grace that Edgecombe exhibits at both ends of the court. And it’s rarer still for a rookie to possess that veteran-level basketball IQ while also possessing such an electric athletic upside. More from David Murphy.

    🧠 Trivia time

    Who was the first 76er to be named NBA rookie of the year? First with the correct answer here will be featured in the newsletter.

    A) Hal Greer

    B) Allen Iverson

    C) Charles Barkley

    D) Jerry Stackhouse

    What you’re saying about Paul George

    We asked: What’s your reaction to Paul George’s suspension? Among your responses:

    Same old Sixers. They have been cursed throughout the “Process.” Just as they were jelling as a team, news of the suspension. Is Paul George finished? Were the supplements needed to keep his body from breaking down? Hard to get excited about the playoffs. — Bob C.

    Find a place to trade him. If he is that stupid to take illegal drugs, who needs him. Has never helped. — Jim C.

    … I think George got off lightly with a 25-game suspension. There are no excuses for any of the players who get caught. They all know the rules. … The rules are what they are and anyone (Philly athletes included) should be suspended and fined when caught. — Everett S.

    Paul George’s suspension will cost him $11.7 million.

    I’m flabbergasted and extremely disappointed! With the sizable financial resources he has along with the vast medical resources available to him through the team and players association, it is unconscionable that he wasn’t aware of the consequences of what he was putting into his body. To us mere mortals the NBA fine is almost unthinkable, but will have zero bearing on his lifestyle. Unfortunately, this won’t be the last time we hear a similar story. — Jim V.

    My reaction is the same as when they signed him. Why are the Sixers paying multi-millions of dollars to someone who never plays? Honestly, when it comes to dedicated professional athletes who give it their all every night, the NBA has become a disgrace. How it continues to function is beyond amazing. — Bob A.

    If it was doping, then it’s both insulting and frankly suspicious how quickly he *and the organization* played up the open-shut case look. … So I’ll say it, considering all the other malarkey this franchise has put us through in modern times, I’m just praying that there wasn’t involvement from team representatives … — D.W.S

    Paul George has a mental health problem and the NBA gets to decide which of those drugs are in his best interest. Did this not happen to the Phillies over drugs last year? Do the employees of these organizations also have to adhere to these policies? Certainly not. … — Richard C.

    We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Greg Finberg, Keith Pompey, Gina Mizell, Gabriela Carroll, Scott Lauber, Devin Jackson, Olivia Reiner, Ariel Simpson, and David Murphy.

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

    Thank you for reading our newsletter. Bella will be back to bring you Sports Daily on Wednesday. — Jim

  • A court was right to stop the sale of its water system, but Chester still needs help | Editorial

    A court was right to stop the sale of its water system, but Chester still needs help | Editorial

    The recent state Supreme Court ruling that a receiver can’t unilaterally sell the Chester Water Authority to a for-profit company was a big win for its customers. But it complicated a plan to use the sale to bail out the city of Chester.

    While the court ruling is the final word on the sale, there is more to be done to safeguard utility customers across the commonwealth and help the residents of Chester.

    The best way to protect all utility customers in Pennsylvania would be for the General Assembly to repeal Act 12. The misguided legislation, spearheaded by lobbyists, opened the door in 2016 for the sale of municipal water and sewer systems.

    The law was supposed to help distressed utility systems. Instead, for-profit companies have largely purchased well-run systems and massively and routinely increased the rates that customers pay.

    Since Aqua Pennsylvania purchased the sewer system in New Garden Township in Chester County in 2020, for example, residents have seen their rates increase 200%, according to a consumer group fighting the sales. Other cities and towns have seen their bills go up by 100% or more.

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    In short, Act 12 has failed to accomplish what it was allegedly designed to do.

    To his credit, State Sen. John Kane, a Democrat who represents parts of Chester and Delaware Counties, has proposed repealing Act 12, but few lawmakers in Harrisburg are brave enough to stand up to the influential for-profit water companies.

    Short of a repeal, lawmakers must reform Act 12. At the very least, the law should be amended to require that the sale of any public utility be put to a vote. The residents who pay for the utility should decide whether to sell it, not the local politicians. If residents approve a sale, the utility should be put out to a public bid and not negotiated in private.

    Such reforms, while not perfect, would give residents some protection from local elected officials selling off public utilities for short-term gains without their input.

    The Chester City Council voted in 2021 to sell the Chester Water Authority to Aqua Pennsylvania for $410 million. In January, the state Supreme Court ruled the sale could not go through.

    The court was right to rule that the city of Chester could not sell the water authority. After all, the authority serves roughly 200,000 people in more than 30 municipalities across Chester and Delaware Counties.

    It is understandable that the city wanted to sell the water authority. The City of Chester, which has about 34,000 residents, filed for Chapter 9 bankruptcy in 2022.

    Aqua offered to buy the water authority in 2017 for $320 million. Two years later, the for-profit company increased its offer to $410 million.

    The board that oversees the water authority unanimously rejected the offer, but the city council in Chester viewed the sale as a way out of its financial problems.

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    But any short-term gain for the city would likely have resulted in a sharp increase in water bills for customers. This would have put more financial stress on residents in Chester, which has a poverty rate of 30%, making it one of the poorest municipalities in the state.

    Residents in Chester and Delaware Counties would have also seen steep increases in their water bills. The water authority is already well run, so there is little to be gained by a sale.

    However, the court’s ruling leaves the city of Chester in a bind. There is a vehicle in place to help Chester. Act 47, known as the Municipalities Financial Recovery Act, supplies funding to help municipalities in financial distress.

    The city of Harrisburg, the city of Chester, and the borough of Newville are already part of the Act 47 program. State lawmakers should increase funding for Act 47 to help the commonwealth’s distressed municipalities.

    That is the best solution to a thorny problem. It also avoids the sale of public utilities that will only result in bigger bills coming due for ratepayers.

    Just ask the residents in New Garden and other towns whose local elected officials sold them out to for-profit companies.

  • Philly-area medical schools are enrolling more women and attracting more students, according to the latest trends

    Philly-area medical schools are enrolling more women and attracting more students, according to the latest trends

    Competition at Philadelphia-area medical schools intensified in 2025, with programs seeing about 50 applicants for every open spot.

    That’s the highest demand since 2022, with the number of applications bouncing back after a three-year decline, recently released data from the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) shows.

    The annual report offers a look at the composition of the nation’s future doctors through the demographics of the applicants and enrollees at M.D. degree-granting medical schools across the United States and Canada.

    It showed increased class sizes and strong female enrollment across the Philadelphia area’s five M.D. degree-granting schools: University of Pennsylvania, Thomas Jefferson University, Temple University, Drexel University, and Cooper Medical School of Rowan University.

    And the fraction of first-year medical students from Pennsylvania who identified as Black or African American, excluding the mixed-race student population, fell from 6.9% to 5.4% between 2023 and 2025.

    The racial demographics of entering students are seeing increased scrutiny in light of the 2023 Supreme Court decision that effectively ended affirmative action, barring race from being used in higher education admissions.

    The percentage of first-year medical students from Pennsylvania who are Black is lower this year than the national average. Pennsylvania also lags behind the national average for first-year enrollment of Hispanic or Latino medical students.

    This data reflects the results of the application cycle that concluded last spring. Next year’s prospective medical school students are currently in the thick of admissions season, awaiting interviews and offers.

    Here’s a look at the key trends we’re seeing:

    Applications back up

    Demand for spots at Philadelphia area-medical schools is back up after a three-year decline. There were nearly 5,000 more applications last cycle, a 9.3% increase, with all schools except Cooper seeing a boost.

    Jefferson’s Sidney Kimmel Medical College helped drive growth the most, with a 16% increase in applications compared to the previous year.

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    More medical students being trained

    Orientation icebreakers might take a bit longer to get through at area-medical schools as first-year classes continue to get bigger.

    In 2025, Philadelphia-area schools enrolled 1,089 new medical students, compared to 991 in 2017. Drexel University College of Medicine contributed to half of that growth, adding 49 seats to its recent entering class compared to that of 2017.

    Penn’s Perelman School of Medicine was the only school that did not increase its class size in 2025.

    Medical schools around the country have committed to increasing class sizes to address projected shortages of doctors.

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    Female enrollment remains strong

    More female students have entered Philly-area medical schools over the last decade.

    In 2025, 55.4% of first-year enrollees at Philly-area medical schools were female, compared to 47.7% in 2017.

    Drexel saw the biggest rise, with 181 women entering in 2025, compared to 120 in 2017.

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  • Letters to the Editor | Feb. 3, 2026

    Letters to the Editor | Feb. 3, 2026

    ICE in

    Regarding City Council’s overwhelming opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, what is its plan to enforce our nation’s immigration laws? Or does it believe Philadelphia should establish its own? And that America’s 50 states and countless cities should also “do their own thing.” Or is it really saying it wants no standards at all — completely open borders? In which case, an untold number of immigrants could come here.

    Does Philadelphia have a plan for that scenario? Because, to my knowledge, there is no nation on earth that allows anyone to cross its border at any time for any reason. Just as we lock the doors of our homes from unwanted intruders, nations set immigration laws for the same reason. Otherwise, we have anarchy. This commonsense observation seems to have escaped the anti-ICE movement.

    Or has it? Certainly, there are well-intentioned activists in this movement. However, there are also financial backers, such as Neville Roy Singham, who reportedly has close ties to China’s government. And as we have seen with District Attorney Larry Krasner, a recipient of George Soros’ financial support, nonenforcement of the law puts everyone at unnecessary risk. Or is that the point?

    Lynn Landes, Philadelphia, lynnlandes@gmail.com

    No middle ground

    Jonathan Zimmerman’s recent column misses the forest for the trees. Either we apply the articles and amendments of the Constitution to all citizens equally, or we are living in a failed democracy. There is no middle ground on this question.

    It is certainly ironic that the Second Amendment has been cited by the left. That does not mean its application in this case is automatically hypocritical. To cite it is to faithfully and equally apply the Constitution as interpreted by the courts. In suggesting otherwise, Zimmerman acts as an apologist for those who have ignored and will likely continue to ignore the Constitution at will. This has the effect of normalizing such behavior.

    The Constitution starts with the words “We the people …” emphasizing its collective nature and evolution through time. While citizens may sometimes be frustrated by legal interpretations of some of the articles and amendments, the Constitution represents our country’s most basic principles governing behavior. Those who ignore this fact do so at the peril of all citizens.

    A defining feature of this administration is that it willfully and illegally ignores basic tenets and interpretations of the Constitution made by the courts. When this happens, the individuals involved must be held to account. If we do not do so, we tacitly accept that the Constitution is no longer meaningful, and that our interactions will be governed by the whims of one man and his underlings.

    Michael James, Haverford

    ICE vs. police

    “The officer … has been placed on administrative duty pending an internal investigation, as per department policy when an officer discharges his gun.”

    When The Inquirer published a report recently about a Philadelphia police officer who had fired a shot at a suspect who allegedly shot another man, the article ended with the above words. Any casual reader of crime in Philadelphia probably knows these words by heart. If you use your gun for any reason, we have to check you out.

    Why can’t U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement be subject to the same type of regulations? Why isn’t Jonathan Ross, who fired the shots that killed Renee Good, subject to investigation? Why was he allowed to flee the scene? And why aren’t the ICE agents who shot Alex Pretti being investigated?

    Rosemary McDonough, Narberth

    Join the conversation: Send letters to letters@inquirer.com. Limit length to 150 words and include home address and day and evening phone number. Letters run in The Inquirer six days a week on the editorial pages and online.

    Editor’s Note: An earlier version of the letter about City Council’s opposition to ICE agents misidentified a businessman who has been linked to the Chinese government. It is Neville Roy Singham not George Soros.

  • Dear Abby | Mother feels left out of family gatherings

    DEAR ABBY: My daughter-in-law, “Louise,” died of cancer five years ago. She was 45; my son, “Pete,” was 48. They’d been married for 15 years and had no children.

    Three years ago, Pete met “Shelly” through a mutual friend, and they were immediately attracted to each other. Within a year, they were living together and seem very happy. Shelly has two grown children and three grandchildren. Her mother is also in the picture. I have met her a few times, and she was very pleasant.

    What bothers me is that Pete’s “new family” doesn’t include me. They’re aware that I’m on social media and can see all the photos they post — doing things with the kids and their great-grandma — which is lovely. I’d just like to be included once in a while.

    This past weekend, I saw another post of all of them, with photos captioned: “Enjoying a leisurely brunch with the whole family.” I was stunned when I realized they were in a cafe that is literally across the street from my apartment, but I wasn’t asked to join them. I won’t bring it up because I’m afraid I’ll be seen as a whiny, insecure old lady. But still, it felt like a deliberate snub.

    I have kept a low profile and tried not to be “that” relative who always finds things to meddle in or gripe about. Is there a way to express my feelings without a “poor pitiful me” attitude?

    — SNUBBED IN ILLINOIS

    DEAR SNUBBED: It is possible that the dominant person in your son’s household is his lady friend, and she arranges their activities. Talk to your son. Ask if you might have said or done something that has put Shelly off, which is why you have been sidelined. And then, instead of waiting to be asked, start doing some of the inviting yourself. (Be sure to include Shelly’s mother when you do.)

    ** ** **

    DEAR ABBY: I’m stuck with an alcoholic husband. I do love him, but it’s complicated. I don’t have any family. My mom is 96, and I would never burden her with my problems. His family is in denial or whatever you call it. I have only my disability check, which isn’t much. I can’t find part-time work because of my age (I am 63). When my husband drinks, he becomes impossible to be around, packs up his stuff and leaves, and then demands that I apologize for his mistakes. I’m trapped. What can I do?

    — PRISONER IN TEXAS

    DEAR PRISONER: Go online and search for the location of the nearest Al-Anon meeting (al-anon.org/info). Al-Anon is an offshoot of AA. There are many meetings, so it shouldn’t be too hard to find one near you. These meetings are free; they do not charge. Once there, start listening and share what you are going through. If you do, you may learn methods for coping with your alcoholic husband. You may think you are alone right now, but you will soon realize you are far from it.

  • Horoscopes: Tuesday, Feb. 3, 2026

    ARIES (March 21-April 19). Though naive, it’s human nature to assume others want the same things we want when that’s often not the case. Imagining the motivations, preferences and proclivities of those around you makes cooperation easier and misunderstandings less likely.

    TAURUS (April 20-May 20). The importance of an interesting private life will be highlighted today. It’s essential to your vitality and creative expression. You can have it all: curiosity, inner theater, private jokes and so much to feed your imagination.

    GEMINI (May 21-June 21). Remember when you felt so overwhelmed you wondered how to get through it? Now you’re asking better questions: How else could my life be arranged? What needs to end and what needs to start?

    CANCER (June 22-July 22). Not everyone has to get with your program for you to feel good about what you’re doing. You readily accept that you’re not in control of everything, and you enjoy seeing the various approaches people take when they feel free to explore.

    LEO (July 23-Aug. 22). You’ll be sorting out responsibilities, figuring out where they lie and deciding who will take on which job. If you accidentally take on more than you intended to, it will work to your benefit.

    VIRGO (Aug. 23-Sept. 22). It will benefit you to aim higher than usual because what’s usually good enough just won’t do. So, dig a little deeper, give a little more and you’ll quickly find yourself ahead of the game. Note which little things make a big difference.

    LIBRA (Sept. 23-Oct. 23). It’s weird when people want you to want things you don’t want. It’s also easy to get tricked in this regard and think that you like and believe what’s popular. Belonging is a basic human need, but you shouldn’t have to sell yourself short to do it.

    SCORPIO (Oct. 24-Nov. 21). You’ll absorb more energy than usual from nearby influences. If you’re not around the people, ideas, values and esthetics you would like to have, leave. Go where there’s inspiration and aspiration in abundance.

    SAGITTARIUS (Nov. 22-Dec. 21). A new relationship is forming. You don’t need to get this right so much as get it honest. You can never fail in relationships because you either build a bond or you learn from what didn’t work.

    CAPRICORN (Dec. 22-Jan. 19). Some of your past actions are good to repeat, and others, not so much. That’s life. Why waste time judging some other version of you? You’re always doing the best you can with what you have.

    AQUARIUS (Jan. 20-Feb. 18). Your hands are on the wheel. You live your choices through work, creativity, restraint, tenderness, humor and truth-telling. You show up. You experiment. You recommit. It’s more than a mindset. It’s a practice, and a winning one at that.

    PISCES (Feb. 19-March 20). Worry is the bad kind of stress — the kind that wears on your immune system. Physical exercise, relaxation, a new plan — all relieve the tension and put you on a healthier track. Whatever way you choose, you’ll successfully move through this.

    TODAY’S BIRTHDAY (Feb. 3). It’s your Year of Magical Inclusion. You extend a sense of belonging to all, and love fills your world in unforeseen ways. Because you stay openhearted and accommodating to that which is outside your preferences, you end up, in a roundabout way, getting exactly what you want. More highlights: Career acceleration, a new revenue stream and joyful productivity that makes work feel like a privilege. Cancer and Capricorn adore you. Your lucky numbers are: 7, 3, 10, 8 and 41.

  • Tyrese Maxey scores 29 as Sixers win fourth straight with 128-113 win over Clippers

    Tyrese Maxey scores 29 as Sixers win fourth straight with 128-113 win over Clippers

    INGLEWOOD, Calif. — Tyrese Maxey scored 29 points, including seven three-pointers, Dominick Barlow added 26 points and 16 rebounds, and the 76ers beat the Los Angeles Clippers 128-113 on Monday night for their fourth consecutive victory.

    The game featured two big names who weren’t selected as All-Star reserves: Joel Embiid of the Sixers and Kawhi Leonard of the Clippers.

    Embiid had 24 points as he continues to gain full strength after a right ankle injury. The Sixers improved to 11-10 without Paul George, who is serving a 25-game suspension for violating the NBA’s anti-drug program.

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    Leonard led the Clippers with 29 points and Jordan Miller had 21 points off the bench.

    Los Angeles was without James Harden, who missed his second straight game due to personal reasons. Coach Tyronn Lue said before the game that Harden was at home in Phoenix.

    Leonard had two dunks and a three-pointer in the fourth, but the Clippers couldn’t put together a sustained run and he finished the game on the bench.

    Maxey, Barlow, and Embiid combined to score 22 points in the third when the Sixers were outscored 34-28, but still led 100-87.

    The Sixers led the entire game, going up by 23 points before settling for a 72-53 halftime advantage.

    The Clippers are 8-3 over their last 11 games as they try to stay within range of at least making the play-in tournament.

    The Sixers visit the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday night (10 p.m., NBCSP) to finish a back-to-back.