Golden girl | Sports Daily Newsletter
South Jersey’s Levito is a U.S. champion, but she’s not done yet.
As she gracefully glided across the ice at the U.S. Figure Skating Championships last week, Isabeau Levito, who lives in Mount Holly and trains in Mount Laurel, drew effusive praise from commentator Tara Lipinski, herself a Philly native.
“That was a gold-medal performance if I ever saw one,” Lipinski said during Levito’s skate. “Perfection, precision. She takes her jumping passes with the precision of a heart surgeon. But then she floats around like a ballerina. It’s the perfect mix that you want in figure skating. And I think this may be the first of what may be many, many national titles for Isabeau Levito.”
Moments later, it was official. The 15-year-old was the 2023 U.S. champion, and a whirlwind ensued. But now that the dust has settled, the teen who describes herself as “a full-fledged grandma” has had time to reflect on her achievement. But she isn’t stopping there. She has two international competitions on the horizon.
“I’m just so happy and proud of myself,” Levito said the next morning. “This was my goal coming into the event, and I just feel so happy that I performed the way I wanted to.”
— Maria McIlwain, Inquirer Sports Staff, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
❓ What is your fondest gold-medal memory? Email us back for a chance to be featured in the newsletter.
Months ago, columnist Marcus Hayes posed a question to various Eagles. Was this a Super Bowl team?
Most veterans didn’t give a straight answer. Except for Miles Sanders.
“I don’t think anybody can beat us right now,” he said between Weeks 4 and 5.
Well, here they are. And Sanders’ teammates are talking now.
Super Bowl LVII is sizing up to be a matchup of two explosive offenses. EJ Smith goes inside the statistics to break them down.
Eagles guard Landon Dickerson suffered a hyperextension of his right elbow, but NFL sources say he is expected to play Feb. 12.
Kansas City holds a special place in Eagles coach Nick Sirianni’s heart. He once was a Chiefs assistant coach, and his wife is from the area.
Matisse Thybulle once was untouchable. But with the NBA trade deadline on the horizon, there’s a chance the Sixers could move him. Thybulle’s reduced role and inability to score remain red flags for many teams, but the Sacramento Kings and Golden State Warriors have interest in the Sixers forward, sources told The Inquirer’s Keith Pompey. Would this be a good time to deal him? Only time will tell.
Next: The Sixers host the Orlando Magic at 7 p.m. Wednesday (NBCSP).
Prized prospect Andrew Painter’s bid to break camp with the Phillies always figured to be a central plot point, and his every pitch could turn into a spring-training obsession based on the team’s uncommon lack of competition for jobs. Pitchers and catchers will report to Clearwater, Fla., in 15 days, and barring injuries — even with Bryce Harper expected to miss the first few months of the season while recovering from Tommy John surgery — all but three, maybe four, of the 26 roster spots are locked up. Let’s fast forward through spring training and take a swing at projecting the Phillies’ 26-man roster.
The Flyers are a surprising 21-21-9 this season, but will that be a good thing in the long run?
Beat reporters Olivia Reiner and Giana Han tackled that question, the upcoming trade deadline, and other key story lines surrounding the organization while the Flyers are off for All-Star weekend.
Next: The Flyers are off until Feb. 6 for the All-Star break.
Sports teams typically do not succeed in the modern world without top sponsors. Bimbo Bakeries USA has stuck by the Union since 2011, back when the club was struggling as an expansion MLS team.
Now the club regularly makes the playoffs and competes for top league trophies.
There to celebrate and sign on for another multiyear deal was the team’s longtime corporate partner.
Worth a look
Getting defensive: A look at Senior Bowl prospects whom the Eagles could target in the draft.
Rahsool reflects: The two-time Catholic League player of the year looks back on his rebound season.
Helping hand: A WNBA coach’s role in shaping Penn’s Kayla Padilla into the player she is today.
Purchase the limited-run print editions of Monday’s Inquirer and the Daily News, featuring all of the coverage from the Eagles’ big win in the NFC championship game.
Click here to order The Inquirer from Monday.
Click here to order the Daily News from Monday.
Trivia Tuesday answer
Who had the highest total of receiving yards in Super Bowl XXXIX, when the Patriots beat the Eagles, 24-21? Answer: Terrell Owens had a big game, but B) Deion Branch of New England caught 11 passes for 133 yards. Ethan H. was first with the correct answer.
What you’re saying about quarterback memories
We asked you: Who is the first Black quarterback you recall and what qualities of that player were memorable for you? Among your responses:
Michigan State played Notre Dame in the epic battle of undefeateds in 1966 which ended in the famous 10-10 tie, Game of the Century. Jimmy Raye was Michigan State’s quarterback. He was Black. So were the stars of the team, Bubba Smith, wide receiver Gene Washington, linebacker George Webster, and running back Clint Jones. Raye would become an NFL assistant for many years. — John Q.
I was 10 in 1968 when Marlin Briscoe was drafted by the AFL Denver Broncos as a defensive back but refused to show up unless they gave him a chance to tryout as quarterback. They relented and he was able to start five games (and play in 11) that season behind center becoming the first Black quarterback in that league. I was a huge AFL fan back then, an adopted kid in the center of the Midwest with dark features and ambiguous mixed heritage. I saw a bit of a game one Sunday afternoon against my Oakland Raiders when he was running the Bronco offense and was transfixed. It shouldn’t have mattered, to be honest, but it did. He was told the following year he would not be playing QB anymore, so he got a release and signed with the Buffalo Bills. They converted him to wide receiver (where he excelled) and he never played quarterback again. Briscoe died last summer. I don’t recall seeing his obituary anywhere. — David B.
Condredge Holloway. Holloway was the first Black starting quarterback in either college or pro that I remember. He was the first Black quarterback for the U. of Tennessee and in the SEC as a starter in 1972-1974. Note: I graduated from UT in 1970.
He was drafted by the Patriots (as a defensive back!) and played in the CFL as a quarterback. He was an aggressive runner and excellent passer. It was a lot of fun to watch him play. — Jim Elmore
The first black NFL quarterback that I clearly remember was Joe Gilliam with the Steelers. He had some really good days and some really bad ones. Very talented guy, but if I remember correctly he had problems staying with Chuck Noll’s game plans and the I think had some drug problems later on. Today there are black quarterbacks everywhere and for the most part race is not even thought of unless where a milestone accomplishment is taking place such as our first time two black Super Bowl quarterbacks. Love Jalen, but no matter how great he becomes (and I think he will) nor how good Donovan McNabb was, my all-time favorite black quarterback was is and will remain Randall Cunningham. At least for we Philadelphians he brought a whole new world of excitement that we had never before seen nor enjoyed. — Everett S.
John Walton … He was memorable because he was the first black quarterback for the Eagles. I was just going to see him out there. — John E.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Ellen Dunkel, Marcus Hayes, EJ Smith, Jeff McLane, Josh Tolentino, Keith Pompey, Scott Lauber, Olivia Reiner, Giana Han, Jonathan Tannenwald, Devin Jackson, Aaron Tully, and Melanie Heller.