This is For The Win’s daily newsletter, The Morning Win. Did a friend recommend or forward this to you? If so, subscribe here. Have feedback? Leave your questions, comments and concerns through this brief reader survey! Now, here’s Mike Sykes.
Good morning, winners! I hope you’re well and you’ve had a fantastic week so far. Happy Wednesday! We’re halfway through the week.
Hey, remember when I wrote that the Rangers had some Team of Destiny vibes going? Yeah, that was fun, right? Right. I think that was totally fair to say about the postseason Texas has had so far.
But, clearly, I need to apologize to the Phillies.
Because after Philadelphia’s 10-0 thrashing of the Diamondbacks in Game 2 of the NLCS, it feels a lot like destiny — and just about every other cosmic force — is on its side, too. Especially when it comes to those bats.
The Phillies are hitting just about everything right now. The bats are on fire. They’re the first team to have multiple 10-run games in a single postseason since the 2009 Phillies (lololol), according to ESPN. This team is outscoring opponents by a whopping 33 runs. The Phillies have led at the end of 57 innings so far this postseason and only trailed in two total, per MLB.com’s Paul Casella.
It ain’t just the bats. Aaron Nola’s inconsistencies on the mound during the regular season have completely vanished. He pitched a shutout through at least six innings for the third time in these playoffs. That’s literally Cole Hamels-esque stuff — Hamels was the last pitcher to do that for the Phils.
The Phillies aren’t undefeated like the Rangers this postseason, but they certainly do feel unstoppable right now.
Philadelphia still has to win two more games to close this thing out and the next two are on the road. It won’t be easy. Well, it shouldn’t be easy. But the Phillies have made everything else look pretty simple so far in these playoffs, so hey. Maybe it will be.
Speaking of the Phillies…
Phillies fans, this is just your newsletter today. Clearly. Our Andrew Joseph ranked the postseason crowd atmospheres so far in these playoffs. Guess who was No. 1?
Of course, it’s Philadelphia. Here’s why from Andrew:
“The gap between the environment at Citizens Bank Park and the rest of the playoff field is almost absurd if we’re being honest. Sure, the Phillies have given their fans plenty to cheer about this postseason, but that crowd has been electric from the opening pitch and onward in every game. It’s the only crowd that has left teams visibly rattled this postseason, and their fans take pride in that.”
We all know how fans from Philadelphia can get. They’re loud. They’re boisterous. They can be downright rude at times, too, for sure. But one thing you can never say about them is that they don’t show up for their team. They always do. And they have done so in a big way for the Phillies this postseason.
Reebok is back, baby
In a shocking — but very cool! — twist of events, Shaquille O’Neal has been brought on as the president of Reebok’s basketball division and is also bringing Allen Iverson with him as the VP. That’s one heck of a presidential ticket, folks.
He obviously has a big history with the brand as a signature athlete. So does Iverson. Now, they’re both running the brand as executives. Talk about a full-circle moment.
First order of business? Signing LSU star Angel Reese to an NIL deal. Meghan Hall has more.
“Fittingly, Reese is balling out of control (in the best way possible). Per Nick DePaula of Boardroom, NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal, who just landed on the leadership team at Reebok, is making Reese the first athlete to sign an NIL deal with the company.
…
Reese is partnering with Reebok to create a capsule collection that will launch during the back half of 2024. The company will also have her give input on product designs and provide feedback for a relaunch of Reebok Basketball in 2025.“
Can’t wait to see what Reebok’s return to hoops looks like. This is going to be so much fun. The 90s are really back, folks.
Quick hits: The Rockets Kevin Porter Jr. mess … Leave the Chargers’ super fan alone … and more
— The NBA is having some trouble with the human side of basketball. I wrote about that here with the Kevin Porter Jr. trade on Tuesday.
— If y’all don’t stop hating on this Chargers fan. She’s just having a good time! Mary Clarke has more.
— Cory Woodruff has five NFL trade deadline bold predictions here for you. Check ’em out.
— My goal in life is to one day be as smooth as Trea Turner is with this slide. Charles Curtis has more.
— Here’s Robert Zeglinski with his weekly studs, duds and sleepers for your fantasy football team in Week 7. Tap in.
— Here’s Christian D’Andrea with a breakdown of what’s wrong with my quarterback. Please, Eagles, fix Jalen Hurts.
That’s all, folks. Happy Wednesday! You’re almost to the weekend. Keep it going.
Peace.
-Sykes