One Phillies superfan’s standing ovation inspires another superfan’s film

Kyle Thrash was destined to be a Phillies fan.

Just hours before he was born, his mother asked nurses to turn on the Phillies vs. Cincinnati Reds game on the delivery room TV. “I don’t think you can become a fan any sooner than me getting born into a game going on,” Thrash, 35, said.

The Lehigh Valley native grew up making the hour-long commute to Phillies home games with his grandfather and learning to weather the heartbreak that comes with being a Phillies fan.

During the 2023 baseball season, the Phillies and newly-signed shortstop Trea Turner desperately needed a midseason spark. The ball club’s 25-32 start and Turner’s lackluster play routinely drew frustration and boos from Citizens Bank Park crowds. Thrash, like other fans, was looking to Turner to live up to the expectations of his $300 million signing. Months of disappointment finally transformed to a surge of fanly reinvigoration after Thrash saw a fan’s video circulating on X.

The video was from Aug. 4, 2023, when, instead of booing Turner, nearly 42,000 fans at Citizens Bank Park gave him a standing ovation during a game against the Kansas City Royals.

The action was a result of efforts by several Phillies fans, including Jack Fritz, a producer at 94.1 WIP, whom Turner later called in to thank. It was also egged on by Phillies superfan Jon McCann, who goes by the Philly Captain on his YouTube channel.

“The fans tried tough love, but I think everyone was thinking something else had to be done,” said Thrash, who also codirected the Palm Springs Film Festival Award-winning documentary, The Sentence Of Michael Thompson. “And [McCann] came up with the idea that had the spark that took off, went viral, and obviously the fans responded.”

The video, which racked up millions of views on social media, reached Thrash on X and made its way into the Phillies locker room. Turner batted .338 over the final 48 games, with the fourth-highest on-base plus slugging in the league during that span. The Phillies finished with 90 wins and reached the National League Championship Series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.

The transformation inspired Thrash to collaborate with two-time Oscar winner Ben Proudfoot on the short documentary, The Turnaround. The film, set to premiere on Netflix today, tells the story of McCann, a devoted Phillies fan who inspired his team and city.

“It’s a human story. [McCann] is from Kensington, and he’s had his struggles. And I think the spark he started was worth telling,” Thrash said. “And I know [the Phillies] didn’t get the ending to the season we wanted, but I’m still proud of what the city did and excited for people to hear [McCann’s] story.”

Thrash and Proudfoot followed McCann as he talked about his hardened upbringing, bipolar disorder, and past suicidal thoughts. The Phillies superfan recognized the power of having support in times of darkness, and wanted to administer a dose of “Philly love” to cure Turner’s uncharacteristic slump.

The film starts with McCann describing the historic crack in the Liberty Bell and reciting a prayer to the 271-year-old Philly landmark: “Dear Liberty Bell, please let the Phillies win the World Series. Amen.”

His hopes, like the historic bell, have been weathered by his experience. But by the end of the 25-minute short, McCann is inspired by a renewed sense of self.

“This is so much more than a sports story,” said Proudfoot, who has previously directed the Oscar-winning short documentaries, The Queen of Basketball and The Last Repair Shop. “This is about someone who’s dealt with mental health and took a moment to give grace to someone who was dealing with their own issues. That’s what this story is about.”

Proudfoot, a Halifax, Nova Scotia, native, who’s been wearing Phillies jerseys throughout film festival season, admits his baseball knowledge is fairly pedestrian. But he and Thrash felt McCann’s story was tailor-made for the screen.

“We could’ve interviewed thousands of other die-hard fans,” Proudfoot said, “but [McCann] did the golden rule — treat others as you want to be treated.”

The documentary closes with McCann being invited to the Phillies’ 2024 season opener. And as the camera zooms out for a wide shot of the team’s South Philly ballpark, he says, in his thick Philly accent, “Come on boys, it’s unfinished business. This is our year. Come on, Trea Turner. This is our season. You’re going to win it for us.”

While the “Fighting Phils” didn’t make it to the World Series, they clinched the National League East title for the first time in 13 years. For Thrash, the story is characteristically Philly — “even when we lose, the city wins.”

“People forget Rocky didn’t win the heavyweight title in the first film,” Thrash said. “You don’t have to win for Philadelphia to rally behind you. You just have to put up a fight, and that’s what this film is about.”

Starting Oct. 18, “The Turnaround” streams on Netflix. The film is also screening at the Philadelphia Film Festival at 7 p.m. on Saturday at the PFS - Bourse Theater 3. filmadelphia.org.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

Yo Philly, we did it! The Visitor Center announces the city’s first Rocky festival

Nearly 50 years after the release of Rocky, Sylvester Stallone’s iconic Rocky Balboa remains an integral part of Philly lore. And this December, tourists and longtime fans will get to celebrate the first-ever RockyFest.

Following the success of last year’s Rocky Day, which drew thousands of spectators and fans dressed as their favorite boxer, the Philadelphia Visitor Center on Tuesday announced the first RockyFest. The center made the announcement atop the very Philadelphia Museum of Art steps made famous by Stallone in the 1976 Academy Award-winning film.

Visitor Center president and CEO Kathryn Ott Lovell said the weeklong celebration, which runs Dec. 3-8, will feature a series of free and ticketed events, including a 90-minute bus tour. The Rocky Bus Tour will take fans to Mighty Mick’s Gym, the Italian Market, and Adrian Balboa’s fictional grave site at Laurel Hill Cemetery, among other filming locations.

“We’re just excited to give people the opportunity to celebrate Rocky,” Lovell said. “Visitors want to run the steps and get a picture in front of the statue, but this is giving people a much more comprehensive experience.”

The festival aims to expand the fan experience that is already served by the Rocky Shop, located at the bottom of the Philadelphia Museum of Art steps, and Rocky Day, which Stallone attended along with his family and friend, actor Chevy Chase.

During his visit last year, Stallone called residents of Philly the true heroes.

“I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart — and Rocky’s, too, because we’re very close — to all of you who, believe it or not, are the real-life Rockys, because you live your life on your own terms, you try to do the best you can, and you keep punching,” he said.

Through partnerships with Visit Philadelphia, the Philadelphia Film Society, Philly PHLASH, and other organizations, RockyFest will help recreate Rocky and Adrian’s date nights at the University of Pennsylvania’s Class of 1923 Ice Rink and the Philadelphia Zoo. There’ll also be a Rocky marathon at the Philadelphia Film Center.

The Kennel Club of Philadelphia will host the “Southpaws at the Docks: Pugs and Mugs Yappy Hour” at the Cherry St. Pier on Dec. 5 to celebrate the bond between Rocky and his bullmastiff, Butkus. And historian Paul Farber, director of Monument Lab and host of The Statue podcast, will lead a discussion about the significance of the Rocky statue on Dec. 6.

“We’re excited about this year’s lineup of events and look forward to welcoming all who journey here to celebrate this cultural icon,” Visit Philadelphia president and CEO Angela Val said in a statement.

RockyFest guests will be offered free hotel parking and vouchers to the Rocky Shop, Val added.

Jennifer Nagle, vice president of special projects at the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, is confident the festival will draw Philly natives in addition to out-of-towners. “I’m from South Philly myself, and there’s nothing more South Philly than what we just put together with this RockyFest, Nagle said. “It’s long overdue.”

For more information and tickets to the inaugural festival, visit phlvisitorcenter.com/rockyfest.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

Eagles super fan sports a 72-inch custom wig in the team’s colors

Lifelong super fan Tina McIntosh, 52, has taken her love of the Eagles to new lengths.

For Monday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons (which the Eagles lost in a late-game rally by Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins) the Southwest Philly native wore a custom kelly green Eagles shirt, green high-top Nikes, white crew socks with the Eagles logo, and a 72-inch long, team-themed wig to match.

“When the Eagles play, I usually look for a lime green wig, but this time I wanted something different,” said McIntosh, who worked as a cleaner at Veterans Stadium in the early 1990s and is now a home health aide. “I had to think outside the box and that was it right there.”

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The $300 braided wig is almost like a tapestry with a reimagined Eagles logo from the 1960s: a green eagle carrying a football with yellow talons against a white background. The top and bottom is black and green.

McIntosh shared her outfit on Instagram before watching the NFC matchup with her cousin and grandchildren in North Philly, where she now lives. When CBS Philadelphia posted a video of McIntosh in her Eagles regalia, she caused quite a stir.

“I feel like she deserves a walk-on role in Abbott Elementary for this wig alone,” one Instagram user wrote before tagging actor Quinta Brunson.

McIntosh purchased the wig from part-time hairstylist Shana Everson of Braidedbyshana. The Syracuse-based wig maker has made Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs-themed wigs over the years.

McIntosh had seen Everson’s work on TikTok and went to her website to place her custom Eagles order. After exchanging images and ideas, Everson delivered a “butt length” wig adorned with Eagles colors within a week.

Everson is surprised by the attention the wig has received, but she’s happy for McIntosh who has been lapping it all up. “She’s such an animated character and she really rocked it,” said Everson, a Buffalo Bills fan. “I was satisfied, and I can’t wait to see the reactions when she wears the wig at the game.”

Ahead of the Eagles Sunday matchup against the New Orleans Saints, McIntosh has already mapped out her Eagles day outfit — another custom kelly green top, a pair of Eagles-themed jeans, and, of course, her new wig.

This time, she wants the Eagles to soar to victory.

“We win some, we lose some. I just pray that we win this Sunday,” she said.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

Meet Jason Kelce, summer student at a grazing farm, and perhaps a future rancher

Nagging postgame injuries, childhood memories, thoughts of retirement, and those fiery “Go Birds” chants: It was all captured in Kelce, a new Prime Video documentary starring Philadelphia Eagle Jason Kelce.

The 102-minute film, which premiered Tuesday, follows the all-pro center before the 2022 NFL season to the months after the Eagles’ historic run to Super Bowl LVII. Outside the grueling demands of the gridiron, and the moments spent with his wife, Kylie Kelce, and their three daughters, the doc shows Kelce exploring a surprising offseason interest.

When his days of hitching the ball to quarterback Jalen Hurts are done (and we hope it’s no time soon), Kelce might put his farmer hat on and spend his free time neutering bulls.

On the first episode of Kelce’s podcast New Heights with brother and fellow NFL star Travis Kelce, he talked about having a particularly “fun” offseason back in 2022. “You asked me what I did this offseason. Have you cut a bull’s nuts off? No, I don’t think you have,” he said.

Near the 24-minute mark of the doc, Kylie Kelce also talks about her husband’s farming endeavors in Missouri. The film then cuts to the six-time pro bowler grabbing a name tag and joining a beginner’s grazing school session led by cattle rancher Greg Judy.

In May 2022, Jason Kelce flew out to Clark, Mo., to meet Judy, who owns and leases 19 farms across the country, for his annual spring grazing school at Green Pastures Farm. Over two days, Kelce learned the fundamentals of sheep and cattle rearing alongside other beginner ranchers.

When he first met Kelce, Judy said his hand disappeared in Kelce’s massive mitts. Despite his physical stature, and growing popularity as a beloved Eagle, Kelce was as “humble” and willing to learn as much as anyone he’ has ever taught, Judy said to The Inquirer.

“Jason really blew me out of the water,” said Judy, a three-time author and popular YouTuber. “He’s just a learner. I think that’s why he’s so successful as far as being a football player. He’s willing to do the work.”

When Judy asked what drew Kelce to regenerative agriculture, which focuses on an eco-friendly, grass-based grazing system, the NFL star told him he wants to enjoy healthier foods and introduce his daughters to farming.

Judy, a die-hard Kansas City Chiefs fan, said it was hard watching his team beat the Eagles last season. “I almost felt like Mama Kelce during the Super Bowl,” he joked.

The connection between Kelce and Judy was made by Ann Demerath, the office manager and secretary at South Poll Grass Cattle Association, which maintains the record and registry of that particular breed of cattle.

As intentional as Kelce is on game day, Demerath said he’s as laser-focused when it comes to regenerative agriculture. And she knew having him meet Judy would set him up for success, and open his and others’ eyes to the possibilities of farming. “[Kelce] doesn’t go into things halfheartedly,” she said. “If he’s going to invest his time, he’s going to give it his all.”

As Kelce continues to learns the ropes of farming, Demerath said his presence can shed more light on the process of regenerative agriculture and clear any misconceptions about the practice.

“Somebody with [Kelce’s] influence to take on regenerative agriculture, and to show people that animal agriculture is here to support and heal the planet, is really important,” she said. “I think it’s super cool that [Kelce] is a part of this, and that he wants good food, he knows where it’s coming from.”

While Kelce is back for another NFL season, Judy looks forward to the day he gets invited to Kelce’s future farm, either in Missouri or near his home in Philadelphia.

“He talked about how he’d like to have me come in to consult on his farm, just to make sure [he’s] got the fencing, the water, and the livestock set up. I’m looking forward to that and seeing how it goes.”

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

Philly stylists look back at boldest (and tackiest) suits from the 2003 NBA Draft

A lot has changed in the NBA over the last two decades.

There’s no longer a team in Seattle, despite the outcry from grieving Supersonic fans. A generation of “big men” have morphed into position-less perimeter threats, and the Denver Nuggets are NBA champions for the first time in franchise history. Oh, and there’s a new all-time leading scorer in LeBron James, who passed Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s record back in February.

In the past 20 years, records have been shattered, new superstars have emerged, and college prospects are landing million-dollar brand deals before stepping into an NBA arena. But the hype around the NBA draft has remained. And on Monday, it will be 20 years since James, Carmelo Anthony, Chris Bosh, and Dwyane Wade’s names were called on draft night.

The 2003 NBA Draft is considered one of the greatest draft classes in league history. Not only were there four future Hall of Famers picked in the first five slots, but All-Star players Chris Kaman, Josh Howard, David West, Kyle Korver, and Mo Williams were also among the crop. But for all its glory, fans are convinced the ‘03 class is the worst-dressed group ever seen on draft night.

From the mountainous shoulder pads, overly buttoned suit jackets, curtain-length pants, and bulky silhouettes, Philly style blogger Sabir Peele said that year’s draft reminds him of Sunday service in the 1990s.

“The suits looked okay, but they had 16 buttons and a regular shirt collar on their jacket,” Peele said. “It was like people were dressing for what their perceived size was or something their grandfather might have worn, but not for their actual body. I don’t know who let them walk out the door thinking this was hot.”

While some fashion choices appeared inexcusable, Peele said, there were other layers worth considering: Hip-hop had a big influence in fashion during that era, and the presence of social media was largely nonexistent at the time. Neither Facebook, Twitter or Instagram existed in 2003, which likely forced the incoming rookies to rely on family members or friends for guidance. The result: “Just some big a** clothes.”

“Some of it has future application, but in terms of the actual design and cyclical-ness of the fashion, I don’t think this is going to come back,” Peele said. “Back then, there was no silhouette or shape.”

In an interview with Bleacher Report, Wade said players like Allen Iverson influenced his decision on draft night. “At the time, hip-hop culture was baggy jeans, Sean John jeans, hats to the side — that was the Allen Iverson culture,” the former Miami Heat star said. “That’s where the NBA was when we first got in.”

Even No. 10 pick Jarvis Hayes, who Peele said was dressed like a Baptist deacon, regretted the size of his draft suit. “It was the baggy suit era,” he told Bleacher Report. “I got (my suit) from a close family friend out in Georgia. I doubt if they’re still in business now if they’re still making suits like that. You wouldn’t catch me dead in a suit that size.”

Philly stylist Wayne Glassman, who owns Wayne Edwards Workshop, said the relaxed tailoring of the early 2000s was vastly different from the stylings of today, which favor more cropped, form-fitting looks with softer, more complementary colors.

“The players were just following the trends at the time,” Glassman said. “They had wide lapels with lower gorges. The pants were high-waisted, which allowed for a lot of drape, and there was fullness throughout the entire silhouette. Compared to today’s silhouettes, the trim is so much nicer.”

Looking back, Glassman said it’s easy to laugh at the suits worn by James and Anthony, but he’s seen younger athletes like Trae Young make similarly head-scratching fashion choices for the draft. “When he got drafted, (Young) wore a suit with cropped pants I’m not sure came down below his knees,” Glassman said. “He had on leather shoes and no socks.”

Glassman said certain athletes dress on the “costumey” side, while others take calculated risks to stand out. Then there are players and ex-hoopers who completely abandon the rules of fashion, he said.

Trae Young and his younger brother, Timothy, sporting their matching suits! #NBADraft pic.twitter.com/t3xt0ccQVJ

— NBA (@NBA) June 21, 2018

“Guys like Reggie Miller are pretty dapper, but if you look at someone like Charles Barkley, apparently others don’t care,” Glassman said. “Even sports broadcasters like Jeff Van Gundy, his suits look terrible. It’s really up to these athletes to put in the effort.”

With the presence of social media, and the popularity of tunnel walk photo ops, Peele said more athletes are leveling up their fashion sense. Instead of hiding their physiques under oversized jackets and lengthy trousers, players are opting for more natural-fitting garments. Some still pull out traditional suits, but the “blazer 2.0″ has become a more popular choice, he said.

“More guys want to be known as the ‘well-dressed athlete,’” Peele said. “Some come out suited, but others don’t want to be buttoned up, so they’re not wearing ties anymore. They’re thinking, ‘How can I flex and show that I’m still put together.’ I feel like that has become the thing.”

Players are trading in classic suit pieces for tailored pants and trucker jackets, and exchanging neckties for flashy necklaces and diamond-studded pendants. And as cyclical as the fashion industry can be, Peele doesn’t see the parachute suit pants or six-button jackets making a return.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

New Balance Basketball Stars Tyrese Maxey, Zach LaVine, and Dejounte Murray Talk Street Ball Origins

From its inception to today’s game, generations of basketball stars have conjured their hoop dreams on neighborhood blacktops, rec center gym floors, and makeshift home courts. Others made their name in different sports before discovering their on-court talents during gritty pickup games and street ball tournaments.

Those moments on the hardwood or cement floors defined their future play styles. They learned how to flick their wrist on their jump shots; kiss the top of the backboard on reverse layups, dunk over contested hands, and meld their skills and passions together to create their legacy – the same tireless pursuit of perfection that  New Balance has applied to decades in the footwear game.

Since 1906, New Balance has focused on being makers rather than marketers. They’ve  prioritized craftsmanship and impact over hollow accolades and fleeting moments of recognition and engagement. With the quality of its products, materials and partnerships, the brand has established an independent voice in the conversation of sports and culture, while inspiring a growing community of patrons proudly donning the letter “N” on their kicks. 

From the playground to arenas, big-name talents like Tyrese Maxey, Zach LaVine and Dejounte Murray have been drawn to the New Balance brand and its connection to street basketball culture. These hoopers talked to Complex about their early experiences on their hometown courts and how those memories inspired their game and style today. 

Tyrese Maxey

Getty Images

Before Tyrese Maxey became a first-round draft pick, the Dallas native was outplaying hoopers his own age. He was running the baselines as early as 4 years old, and there wasn’t a place in the world with a ball and a hoop he didn’t want to showcase his basketball talents. “My father was a head boys’ basketball coach, and I would go to practice with him and play. If I couldn’t go with him, I would go to the park in my neighborhood and play or force my uncle to play with me,” he says. 

Under his father and uncle’s wing, he began learning the nuances of the game, and the two men shaped Maxey’s fast-paced and creative playmaking style and instilled his confidence off the court. That growing conviction allowed him to embrace the resistance of elevated competition, and it opened his mind to the benefits of street and recreational ball. “Pickup games and structure-free basketball teach you how to improvise and give you a better feel for the game,” Maxey says. “Pickup games bring out a different level of competition; guys are going at you, and they have much to prove.” 

Now, the 22-year-old scorer wants to give aspiring hoopers in Philly the same experience he had in his youth. By pouring into the city’s parks and recreational centers, he feels it will increase community engagement, round out young players’ games and inspire others to capture the grit and relentless attitude he adopted on Dallas’ outdoor courts. “It’s extremely important; it’s the blueprint of basketball; it connects you with the people from all walks of life within the basketball community,” the University of Kentucky product says. “It builds a different layer of toughness. I’ve recently started to connect with some of the public park leagues here in Philadelphia; I’m looking forward to working with them and seeing what I can do to help push and keep the culture moving forward.”

Dejounte Murray

Basketball always came easy to Dejounte Murray. He dropped 35 points in his first rec league game, and did so well, he was convinced the rims were too low. Fortunately, he was wrong, and that day foreshadowed his future career as a professional athlete. 

Like Maxey, the Seattle native’s coronation into the sport was through his uncles, who made a hoop out of laundry baskets to play basketball indoors. Outside the house, Murray says they played on two hoops with missing backboards, and he followed his uncles wherever else they spotted a suitable court and competition. “I played everywhere my uncles played, which was our house, school, churches, and local outside courts,” Murray says. 

By competing in outdoor pickup games and rec leagues, the former University of Washington star found his love for organized ball and street hoops, and recognized the need for both forums. Murray said it toughens the skin of players. “Streetball is so important because it allows you to fall in love with the game of basketball, hooping freely and competing harder than ever, so I definitely believe it’s really important and it produces the best hoopers,” he says.

Between pro ball and streetball, Murray almost prefers the freedom he felt on the playgrounds and rec gyms he played on as a kid. The 26-year-old defensive stopper says he’s excited to see the best streetballers between Seattle and Atlanta, and his plans to return to the blacktop might be in the cards this off-season. “Streetball is the real deal. I prefer that hoop more than anything, and the league is the league; [it] turned my dreams into reality, and [me] proudly representing my family,” he continues. “In the off-season, I’m training and playing with my teammates at our practice facility and even outside too. But sooner rather than later, I want to take my 5 and go play against some of the local best in Seattle and Atlanta.”

Zach LaVine

For player Zach LaVine, his early streetball days didn’t begin on an actual street. In fact, not even above ground. Instead of a nearby park, rec center, church or playground, his professional athlete aspirations first bloomed in the basement of his childhood home. Before the high-flying scorer was in Pre-K, his dad set up a hoop and backboard inside the underground space. 

From an early age, the two-guard was destined for a career in sports. His mom was a softball player in college and his dad played football professionally as a linebacker. But after trying his hand at different sports, basketball quickly rose up the leaderboard, and he traveled wherever his newfound passion took him. “I played everywhere, from local parks and rec centers to high school tournaments,” the two-time All Star says. “On weekends my mom, dad, and sister would drive around looking for different parks that had different nets and rim heights.”

As he traveled around and beyond the suburb of Renton, Washington, LaVine said the experiences sharpened his game and focus, and prepared him for the physicality he would later face in his college and pro career. “Whenever you’re a young athlete, it’s good to learn how to compete in a team sport; It teaches leadership, toughness, and sportsmanship,”“ he says.

LaVine said the playground and local rec centers are where the game feels the purist, so it’s no surprise most players cite their hometown courts as the place they found their passion for basketball. Some of his fondest memories were playing alongside his dad in pick up games, who would elevate over YMCA hoopers long before LaVine was posterizing power forwards and centers. Looking back, the former UCLA standout says those experiences are valuable for any young basketball player. There are people of all different sizes and various skills when playing pickup games. Not only did that enhance the versatility of my game, but it taught me always to stay ready,”LaVine says. 

– COMPLEX for New Balance

We asked Shaq about possible 'Steel' remake, and he didn't say no

Before taking the stage Oct. 23 at Circuit of the Americas after the Formula One U.S. Grand Prix, DJ Diesel, better known as the larger-than-life (and just large) Shaquille O'Neal, chatted with the American-Statesman and hinted at a possible remake of the widely panned but beloved superhero flick, "Steel."

Although the 1997 film is considered one of the worst superhero movies of the genre, and a point of laughter for Shaq, who wore the armor of DC Comics character John Henry Irons, the 7-foot-1-inch star said an updated version of the movie might be worth pursuing. Now, is he serious? We have no clue.

"I did that movie right before the special effects took off," Shaq said with a smile. "The (outfit) was like a costume. But if I ever get a chance to redo that movie I'm definitely ... Matter of fact, I'm going to redo 'Steel.' You heard it here first."

Here's a look at the rest of our conversation with the NBA Hall of Famer:

Shaq was pulling for Lewis Hamilton to take first place at Formula One.

Shaq talked about why he was back in Austin for a second year to perform as DJ Diesel after the Formula One race.

"It's great. There are a lot of people here, a lot of fanfare and I'm looking forward to seeing the race again. Hopefully, my guy (Lewis Hamilton) can pull it off, but it's just nice to see beer and sunny Austin, Texas and everybody having a good time. I love being here, it's a great atmosphere."

(Max Verstappen won after a "dynamic duel" with Hamilton.)

Shaq has a deep love for Austin.

Shaq's Big Chicken was at Formula One and has a year-round presence at Austin's Moody Center. He said he knew Austin was an ideal spot for the franchise because of the fond memories he has of visiting the Texas capital.

"Well, I'm from San Antonio. We used to come up to Sixth Street damn near every weekend. I've always loved Austin, and I've always loved Pflugerville. I told myself when I get done, I'll buy about 500 acres out in Pflugerville. But listen, Texas is a great state, Austin is a great city and the people here are (too). I've always done a lot of business here. I used to do business with Dell, so I used to come here a lot and I've always loved the people in Austin. My daughter once attended the University of Texas. ... So I wanted to put the Big Chickens in the cities where I had a presence."

Shaq picks Giannis to win MVP, Golden State to capture back-to-back championships.

With the 2022-2023 NBA season in full swing, Shaq made some early predictions for league MVP and said which team he thinks will hoist the Larry O'Brien NBA Championship Trophy at the end of the season. Spoiler: He didn't pick my Cleveland Cavaliers.

"I thought Joel Embiid was going to come out the MVP, but now he just made it harder with that 0-3 start," he said. "Giannis (Antetokounmpo) is looking really good. Forty-four points in 28 minutes. I'm headed toward Giannis. The guards always get looked at for MVP, but I'll go with Giannis this year. And the (Golden State Warriors) seem to still be the favorite."

So no hope for my Cleveland Cavaliers?

"Cleveland looks good," he said. "They got Donovan Mitchell who's playing well. Cleveland will be good for him. It's a city that's a hard-working city, and they'll let him know when he's out there messing around. I think that will bring the best out of him. The (Utah Jazz) was too 'Aw,' but every now and then you need to look in the stands and see your fans disappointed so you know to step your game up. "

– Austin 360

Local sportswriter driven by faith to help high school athletes reach their dreams

Zach Fleer covers high school basketball for 270 Hoops, a website that highlights rising stars in the local high school basketball ranks, but his work with central Ohio youth doesn't end at game coverage.

The Columbus native has used the relationships he's built with coaches and scouts to help hundreds of local students earn athletic scholarships from schools at all levels of college athletics. 

"I understood basketball could be used as a platform for a lot of these kids to become the first person in their family to go to college, to get an education and use it as a tool to better their lives," said Fleer, 28.

Along with placing the city's most-talented players on the 270 Hoops website and social media accounts, Fleer has held showcases for players to gain additional exposure and helped several students pay for ACT tests to qualify for college enrollment.

Former Northland High School player Willy Mfum said that after Fleer covered one of his games, the 6-foot-2 guard received offers from Youngstown State University, Detroit Mercy, Robert Morris University and others before landing at South Dakota State University this season.

Mfum, 19, said Fleer advocated for him and other players to ensure they have a chance to reach their athletic aspirations.

"He's more about helping others than himself," Mfum said. "He doesn't worry about himself, he's just trying to help the kids from the city that's really in need."

Along with his athletic pursuits, Mfum has maintained a relationship with Fleer. Since moving to South Dakota, Mfum has reached out to him about his struggles with the transition. 

"I had a couple of struggles through basketball and he told me to stay focused, like I got this," he said. "Zach is like a real big brother."

While Fleer hasn't maintained connections with as many current players this year as he has in years past because of the growing age gap, he said it's important to continue forging those relationships.

Like many of the athletes he covers, Fleer grew up poor on the city's west and southwest sides.

With his mom out of work due to a serious back injury, Fleer's father was forced to work multiple jobs to make ends meet. And after his family filed for bankruptcy, Fleer quit baseball his senior year at Central Crossing High School to work 30 hours a week as a host and busboy at O'Charleys.

Having had these experiences, Fleer said, he's driven to help young athletes become the first person in their families to receive a college degree — just as he was. 

Jason Morrow, who founded 270 Hoops with Fleer in 2015, has been friends with his partner since high school. He said Fleer's passion genuinely is around fostering the kids' success.

Morrow said there are a lot of "bad actors" hanging around high school athletics, people who take credit when an athlete receives a scholarship. But Fleer isn't one of them, he said.

"For him, it's not so much about wearing a lapel saying, 'I've gotten so many kids to college,'" Morrow said. "It's just about the next person he can help."

Fleer said this desire to be of service has grown since finding God and connecting further with his Christian faith in April 2020 as he had more time to reflect at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. 

"Since I gave my life to Christ, I've really understood my identity," he said. "I'm a child of God that covers basketball, not just someone who covers basketball."

Fleer said this level of support takes a village, and there needs to be more people willing to do what he and Morrow do for young athletes. 

Going forward, Fleer and Morrow are working to establish more events and showcases under 270 Hoops, with the goal to find more of the city's hidden gems. 

On a personal level, Fleer said he will continue growing in his faith and push others to help fulfill the dreams of high school athletes in central Ohio.

– The Columbus Dispatch

Former Ohio State All-American scores in commercial real estate market

Just days after being cut from the Cincinnati Bengals and retiring from the NFL in 2009, former Ohio State University All-American Mike Doss was at a crossroads. At 28, Doss had no clear direction as to what life would look like outside the game of football.

While some remember him as a standout Buckeye defensive player and a key member of the 2002 National Championship team, Doss was burdened with the pressure many athletes face upon retirement: how to redefine their identity.

"I basically put my hands up and was like, 'Man, I'm burnt out,'" Doss said in a recent interview. "This thing is stressful, just not knowing your next paycheck or your next move and being able to provide for my family. The economy was down and everything was down.”

For nearly nine months, Doss tried to map out what the next phase of his life would look like. Instead of training throughout the summer to prepare for a grueling 16-game regular pro season, Doss sought out opportunities that aligned with his passions, finally settling on marketing and sales.

The Canton native returned to Columbus and took up jobs in medical sales, where he sold medical implants and assisted surgeons with operational equipment for Zimmer Biomet and worked for Johnson & Johnson as a product manager.

While he enjoyed working in sales, Doss said he always had an affinity for real estate. The 39-year-old had rented out subsidized and Section 8 housing, but was often restricted from bigger deals due to his scattered work schedule.

In the fall of 2019, Doss decided to make the transition to real estate full-time after meeting Bob Weiler and his son, Skip, who head the commercial real estate giant The Robert Weiler Company. 

"I was getting to a place where I wanted to make a larger investment, and then, once I crossed a certain threshold, it would become my lifestyle," he said. 

Set to graduate with a master's degree from OSU's Business of Operational Excellence program in December 2019, Doss shadowed Skip Weiler for months to gain more insight into the corporate real estate market.

Doss received his real estate license and began working for the Robert Weiler Company in March, where he's quickly become a bright spot in the office.

"The important things is he wants to learn and has experience selling," Bob Weiler said. "I said if you can sell to doctors, you can certainly sell to entrepreneurs."

Weiler said Doss has added a "calm and gentle approach" to the office and is already closing deals and generating high-profile leads.

"He's fit in beautifully with the rest of us," he said.

Following a quarterback's example

Former OSU and NFL quarterback Bob Hoying made a similar transition to commercial real estate. After six seasons in the league, he partnered with Brent Crawford to form Crawford Hoying in Dublin, where he guides the company's $750 million in new development business.

Like Doss, the former third-round pick was thinking about life after football following his final season in the NFL in 2000.

He began investing in properties during his playing days, setting the ground for a second career that's spanned 20-plus years. Still, Hoying said he was saddened by the thought of leaving the game he loved and having to start a new career. 

"Even though I had an avenue, there's a point where you realize your football career is over with," he said. "You go through mild depression and then it's all over; you're still trying to find what's next in life."

Having had the same experience, Hoying said he's proud of the strides Doss has made and is confident he will be successful in his new role. 

Family rules

Since working under the Weiler family, Doss says he's embraced the importance of growing in true business and expanding his brand to establish a legacy outside the game of football, one he can pass on to his wife, Jasmine, and three daughters Cadence, 3, Jordan, 6, and Mariah, 8 and younger brother, Anthony Kirk Jr., 18.

"It afforded me a good lifestyle, but I wanted more time with my family ... I decided to go all in, so that was it," Doss said.

Doss said he's looking forward to the challenges that come with commercial real estate, especially with him being one of the few minorities in the business. But knowing there's a family atmosphere at the Weiler Company, there hasn't been overwhelming pressure to learn on his own.

"Having that team around me has made a world of difference, versus being an individual agent trying to find my way," he said.

But Doss said the initial move to real estate wasn't without its struggles. He and others have faced the same challenges surrounding COVID-19, which has gravely affected the economy and prompted local businesses to shut down their offices and shift to virtual work spaces.

Still, Weiler said the three-time All-American has had early success due to his past experience in sales and connections as a local fixture among residents and die-hand Buckeye fans. 

Like former OSU football player and two-time Heisman Trophy winner Archie Griffin, Weiler said Doss' name garners the same attention from prospective buyers.

"I hope and pray that added value is that I'm a local," Doss said. "One of my good friends calls me the small-town celebrity.'

Doss credits his wife for supporting him through the various obstacles and shifts he's made in his life and career.

"She held it down and gave me the support to search for something I liked," he said of Jasmine. "The opportunity to look hard and soul search and pray spiritually so God can point me in the right direction.

"She was the rock even when she didn't want to be." 

Jasmine, 39, who's known Doss since they were both 12, said she's remained by his side in the face of adversity. During times of uncertainty, she gives him positive reinforcement and challenges him to further pursue his passions. And while the real estate industry is a large undertaking, she's confident her husband will continue flourishing in the new role. 

"Where we come from, you're always behind the 8 ball," Jasmine Doss said. "The first expectation is that you're not going to make it, that you won't be successful and if you do anything other than that it's a surprise. I think that's always going to be a driving factor behind everything he does."

As he transitions to another phase in his personal life, Doss said he's focused on building a legacy so his daughters and brother won't have to struggle like he did. 

"I'm just going to continue climbing that ladder of hard work, education and perseverance to really build something for myself and my family, so hopefully my daughters won't have a need."

– The Columbus Dispatch