I had this teacher in high school named Sam Holt, who also happened to be the soccer coach at my high school alma mater, just outside the Philly limits. He didn’t know it, but having him as a teacher left an indelible mark on who I became.
Dually having him as my varsity soccer coach made all the difference, too, as he demanded the best out of every player, or you would find yourself taking in the game from the aluminum bench. In both the classroom and on the field, he taught life lessons that still serve today, 30-some years later.
Coincidentally, today’s must-read is a history teacher just like Mr. Holt, who has been an inspiration to scores of professional soccer hopefuls at YSC Academy, the school directly associated with the Union’s youth academy.
Where Holt regaled my class with stories of the Vietnam War, Mark Franek has been the U.S. soccer historian, educating students like Union phenom Cavan Sullivan who, before Franek, had been led to believe the U.S. could never win a World Cup. Needless to say, much to the chagrin of a classroom with some representing America’s best hope.
It’s a fun read, one Inquirer writer Matt Breen dives into.
Your weather today? Carbon copy of yesterday, with sunny skies and temperatures in the high 70s, before we get into some more rain expected tomorrow.
— Kerith Gabriel, @phillysport, sports.daily@inquirer.com.
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What if we told you that former Villanova men’s basketball head coach Jay Wright watched three of his former Wildcats players lead the Knicks to an NBA title from a cul-de-sac in Radnor?
Coming back from a wedding in New Jersey, Wright and his longtime wife, Patty, pulled over their car on a Main Line side street and watched as Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart, and Mikal Bridges reached the pinnacle of the sport, while snapping a 53-year drought in the process.
Inquirer writer Jeff Neiburg on Wright’s virtual father-son moment from 100 miles away.
What we’re...
⚾ Sharing: Brandon Marsh comes in at third among National League outfielders in the latest All-Star vote.
🥊 Reading: How the ‘Rocky Jinx’ caught up with fans of Ecuador’s World Cup team on the steps of the Art Museum.
👀 Watching: The revelry that was Philly’s first-ever men’s World Cup match.
Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly said he didn’t consider giving Trea Turner some time off as he’s continued to struggle at the plate. Turner was already slumping before the Phillies departed for their 3-3 road trip to Toronto and Milwaukee, but a 3-for-26 trip lowered his average to .219 and his OPS to .598 on the season.
Turner, who won the batting title in 2025, has a 23% strikeout rate and 27.8% whiff rate this year. But Mattingly is steadfast that things will turn around. (Turner was removed from Monday’s 7-0 thrashing of the Marlins with a bruised right wrist but Mattingly said X-rays were negative.)
The first update on All-Star voting was announced on Monday, and the case looks strong for one Phillie, who is looking to make his All-Star debut.
Next: The Phillies continue their series against the Marlins at 6:40 tonight (NBCSP). Jesús Luzardo (5-4, 4.35 ERA) will start against Marlins right-hander and South Jersey native Tyler Phillips (1-1, 1.86).
The 2026 NHL draft is quickly approaching, and for the first time in a while, the Flyers are in the driver’s seat.
After making it to the second round of the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2020, the Orange and Black are picking at No. 21 in the first round and only have five picks across all seven rounds.
In Part 1 of Inquirer writer Jackie Spiegel’s two-part interview with Brent Flahr, who runs the team’s draft, the assistant general manager chats about the team’s approach heading into the draft, which will be held on June 26-27 in Western New York.
On this date
May 16, 1984: Phillies legend Steve Carlton belts a grand slam off a fellow future MLB Hall of Famer named Fernando Valenzuela to fuel a 7-2 Phillies win over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
“The evidence hardly supports the idea that the Eagles’ heavy reliance on the shotgun in recent years is an ipso facto indictment of Hurts and/or the offensive scheme. At least, not if you accept as fact that Burrow and Mahomes are two of the best quarterbacks in the NFL. Mahomes attempted just 32 passes from under center in 2025, 12 fewer than Hurts’ 44.” — Inquirer columnist David Murphy opines on the Eagles’ penchant for playing out of the gun and how that might look under new offensive coordinator Sean Mannion.
🧠 Trivia time
Philadelphia hosted its first men’s World Cup match, but it’s not the first FIFA World Cup game at Lincoln Financial Field, as there have been women’s matches played there as well. Today’s question: What year was it?
A) 1999
B) 2003
C) 2010
D) 2013
What you’re saying about the World Cup
We asked: After the [U.S. men’s national team’s] big 4-1 win, how far do you think the Americans can advance in the World Cup?
We’ll know on Friday. Beat the Aussies, and we effectively win the group, giving a pretty good path to the quarters, and I think we’ll get there. Then can we get to the semis? Why not? — Joel G.
My retired soccer coach friend told me that Team USA will go as far as their defense takes them. Homefield advantage helps, but then advancing will depend on who they have to match up against. For now, it’s important they earn three more points in group play against Australia on Friday. — Everett S.
We compiled today’s newsletter using reporting from Lochlahn March, Matt Breen, Conor Smith, Michelle Myers, Jackie Spiegel, David Murphy, Ariel Simpson, and Jeff Neiburg.
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.
Enjoy Tuesday, Philly. I’ll catch up with you later this week. — Kerith