The 8 Seconds Rodeo makes its debut in ‘the grittiest and most soulful city’

Ivan McClellan has had two million pounds of dirt to fill Temple University’s Liacouras Center for a “radically Black rodeo” on Saturday, along with 15 bulls, six broncos, 10 sheep, and more than 20 horses.

It has been a decade since he first fell in love with the Black rodeo on a 105-degree day in Okmulgee, Okla. The Portland, Ore., native was photographing the Black cowboys and cowgirls from the grandstands of the Roy LeBlanc Invitational Rodeo.

As they rode in Timberland boots at a speed of 50 miles per hour, braids flowing behind them, and their starched T-shirts crunching as their arms rose in suspension, McClellan realized there was a story that needed more unearthing.

“I got obsessed with rodeo culture at that point,” he said.

Black cowboy culture has existed since the beginnings of the American South, but McClellan felt there was a story that history books widely overlooked. He wanted to spotlight Black cowboys of the past and the rodeo athletes of today, from America’s Great Plains to those in the country’s largest urban centers.

With every rodeo he attended, he made more images and forged new relationships with cowboys and organizers, who inspired him to start a Black rodeo show of his own.

In 2023, he founded 8 Seconds Rodeo to highlight the essence of Black cowboy life, offer Black athletes higher wages than they were accustomed to, and introduce the world of Black cowboy culture to those unfamiliar with its extensive history.

That first rodeo at the Portland Convention Center drew a sold-out crowd of 2,000 attendees for an “electric” all-Black rodeo experience.

“This is not a reclamation story,” McClellan said. “This is something that we’ve always done, and something we’ve always had as Black people. We’re putting a light on it and letting people know it’s part of our identity. If you put on cowboy boots and a hat, you’re just putting on your grandpa’s clothes, and it’s OK.”

After selling out shows on the West Coast, McClellan — who recently moved to Chester County — teamed up with local equestrian and longtime friend Erin “Concrete Cowgirl” Brown to merge Western-style rodeo with Philly’s urban cowboy culture.

With Brown as his tour guide, McClellan ventured to the original home of the Fletcher Street Urban Riding Club, a famed institution for Black cowboys in the heart of North Philadelphia’s Strawberry Mansion neighborhood.

For decades, Black horsemen have roamed the streets of Strawberry Mansion and the nearby lushes at Fairmount Park. Several Black-owned stables have populated the area throughout the 20th century, where lessons on horsemanship and urban cowboy history were shared among riders young and old.

Brown started visiting the Fletcher Street stable at age 6.

And when the story of Fletcher Street and the city’s Black cowboy tradition was made into Netflix’s 2021 film Concrete Cowboy, Brown served as a consultant.

“We’ve achieved a lot in Portland, but I wanted to go to the grittiest and most soulful city in the world to see what we could do,” he said. “We’re going to throw down, the athletes are going to compete at the highest of their abilities, and I’m most excited about the crowd because of the city’s history and vibe.”

Philly’s, McClellan said, is a cowboy culture you don’t see anywhere else in America, and he’s excited to integrate that urban riding culture into Saturday’s event.

“It’s just the swagger of the riders here,” he said. “It’s got a lot of hip-hop in it, and that’s definitely something that has inspired us.”

Brown, who will bear the Pan-African flag to kick off 8 Seconds Rodeo, said the show is a natural fit given the city’s unique history and the recent commercialization of the Black cowboy.

“It’s major,” Brown said. “Cowboy and urban horse culture has been a thing way before I was born, but it’s more mainstream now with Beyoncé and everything coming forth. But what other city to do it than Philadelphia? It’s one of the largest cities, so why not?”

The one-day experience in Philly will feature rodeo athletes from around the country competing in bull riding, barrel racing, and bareback bronco riding for a total of $60,000 in prize money. There will also be a community pre-show that will have line dancing, mechanical bull riding, and roping instructions from fellow rodeo vets, and sounds from Philly’s DJ Diamond Kutz.

“You didn’t get those Fashion Nova and Boot Barn boots to sit in your seat. Come out early for community,” McClellan joked.

This event isn’t just a one-off, McClellan said. 8 Seconds Rodeo is going to be a mainstay event, and one he hopes becomes a place of community and celebration for Black Philadelphians who are familiar and new to the world of rodeo.

“We’re not bringing a rodeo to Philly. We’re building a rodeo in Philly,” he said. “We’re an unapologetically Black cultural event, and this one is going to be an unapologetically Philly event.”

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

The Fairmount resident who dreamed up a women’s fightwear empire from her college apartment

Maya Nazareth was 17, living in Malaysia, when she started training in Brazilian jiujitsu and discovered the discomfort and limitations of women’s fightwear.

She kept adjusting her sports bra, fixing her rash guard and pants while trying to focus on the martial art that demands immense discipline and control. Nazareth, who struggled with body image issues, said the feeling of discomfort and frustration affected how she moved in the gym and in the world.

Back in the U.S, as a “naive” college student with $2,000 to her name, she dreamed of building Alchemize Fightwear, an apparel brand to empower women fighters across the world.

She founded the brand in 2020. Five years later, she won $300,000 on ABC’s Shark Tank, backed by Reddit founder Alexis Ohanian, Lori Greiner, and Kendra Scott in exchange for a 15% stake.

“I was having my chest exposed, my stomach exposed, and my pants fell during training,” she said. “That’s a huge barrier for women to train in these sports, especially in front of 50-plus men in a training room. I just thought I could create something better.”

Nazareth, who grew up in Malaysia and all over New Jersey, realized that she shared her reality with many women in male-dominated gyms and martial arts academies, who are often led to quit before they experience the confidence and power martial arts brought to Nazareth.

“Jiujitsu transformed me into someone who felt strong, powerful, and confident, but the gear I was training in didn’t make me feel that way,” she said.

While studying international business at the University of Delaware, Nazareth placed her first purchase order of rash guards from a manufacturer, trying them out herself and putting them to test.

Her college apartment was Alchemize’s first headquarters, and her car was a mobile sales office.

She started by surveying 1,500 fighters, from amateur athletes to professional competitors, asking them what elements would make their apparel more comfortable and functional for their specific disciplines.

Nazareth reshaped necklines in the tops, removed center seams from the bottoms, inserted silicone waistbands, and built in sports bras for added support and comfort.

What she offered was both stylish and functional for women fighters in jiujitsu, wrestling, and later boxing, Muay Thai, and other disciplines. They were all “customer-centric designs,” she said, that made for a more fluid and functional fit for martial arts practitioners. She even tapped MMA fighter Michelle Waterson to design a collection of her own.

“It’s nothing revolutionary,” Nazareth, 27, said, “but it’s really just thinking about the customer first and what they need from their fight wear.”

When she formed the brand in 2020, she built a company for every woman, in and outside the gym.

“Moms are fighters. People going through medical diagnosis are fighters. People trying to push through in their careers are fighters. And I think fighting is just a natural human movement that we all innately know how to do, want to do, and need training around,” Nazareth said.

“I really love that we have created an avenue for more women to step into that. I think it’s really powerful to say, ‘Hey, it’s safe to show up and express yourself in this way.’”

Under the Alchemize brand, Nazareth hosts free self-defense classes for survivors of domestic and sexual assault. She also organizes grappling camps in gyms and martial arts academies throughout the region to increase accessibility for women athletes.

“I’m personally passionate about what fight sports can offer survivors of assault and of domestic violence,” Nazareth said. “Just being able to make fight sports accessible to the everyday woman who may think, ‘I’m not a fighter,’ or who doesn’t see themselves rolling on the mat with a bunch of sweaty men. I think that’s something I’m really proud of and something I would like to continue doing.”

Her work and advocacy haven’t gone unnoticed. In December 2024, the Fairmount resident was named to the Forbes 30 Under 30 list for groundbreaking work in women’s sportswear and retail.

Less than a year later, she was pitching on Shark Tank.

She received an email from the Shark Tank production team in March 2025 and immediately questioned its legitimacy.

“I try not to overcommit to an opportunity before it happens,” Nazareth said.

Despite her initial suspicion, she filled out the application and took the phone screening. Two months later, she flew out to California to compete on the show.

”You never know if you’re going to actually air on the show or what’s going to happen,“ she said. ”But I started my business for the love of the sport and because I wanted to do something cool for women’s jiujitsu. So, every single opportunity that comes up, I try to do my best. It was really exciting.”

As she practiced her script, Nazareth took a moment to reflect on her journey. “I kept saying to myself, this is not the time to play small,” she said. “This is the time to be courageous.”

When she walked out to present, Nazareth said she “blacked out.” But her proposal sparked immediate interest from Ohanian.

She started out seeking a $250,000 investment in exchange for a 5% stake in Alchemize, and ended with $300,000 and a shared deal with Ohanian, Greiner, and Scott.

“It was really emotional and really, really cool,” she said.

In the months since the episode’s airing Oct. 22, Nazareth said the company has seen increased sales and a growing list of new customers. Having weathered the chaos of Black Friday, she looks forward to the slower Christmas season before things pick back up at the top of the year.

She’s excited about the new developments at Alchemize. In 2026, Nazareth and her business partner, Suzette “Suliy” Melendez, will launch the flagship Alchemize Fightwear Athlete Program.

The online program will support athletes as they scale their current and future businesses in and outside of combat sports. Melendez said the move aligns with Nazareth’s mission to empower women in sports and business.

“We want to give other women opportunities outside of jiujitsu and give them a platform to scale,” Melendez said. “Being able to have shoulders to lean on, on the mats or off the mats, helps create community with our events.”

Nazareth also plans to expand Alchemize’s sports camps, making it the “South by Southwest” of women’s combat.

Through all these ventures, the goal remains the same, she says: creating pathways for women to enter martial arts and encouraging them to “own their inner ferocity.”

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

Dawn Staley, proudly ‘made in North Philly,’ wants everybody to know where she is from

No matter where Dawn Staley has gone in her basketball journey, she has taken Philadelphia with her as a companion, a teacher, and an inspiration.

In 1992, she was dropped from the U.S. National Women’s Basketball Team that won a bronze in the Barcelona Olympics because, she said to ESPN in 2021, of her lack of international experience and 5-foot-6 stature. Four years later, the undersized point guard led the team to its first gold medal in eight years.

After racking up five WNBA All-Star selections and two more gold medals, the North Philadelphia born-and-raised Staley was inducted into the Women’s Basketball of Fame in 2012.

In 2000, after initially rejecting the idea, she began coaching the Temple women’s basketball team, and soon transformed the program into a formidable one.

In 2008, she took over at the University of South Carolina, where her brash, old-school coaching style has led to three NCAA titles.

In her head, though, she is the same quiet, thumb-sucking kid, the scrappy guard from North Philadelphia’s Raymond Rosen housing projects, who has continued to honor her neighborhood, Staley said to The Inquirer over Zoom last week.

That love for Philly shines through in her memoir, Uncommon Favor: Basketball, North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I Learned From All Three.

“I’ve always respected where I grew up. I always carry my upbringing with me,” Staley said. “I’m unbothered by most things that are very challenging to others. It doesn’t matter, as long as it gets done. That’s what growing up in the projects does for you. And if you utilize the lessons, it will help you navigate through life.”

Released on Tuesday, the 239-page book takes readers to her childhood home on what has now been named Dawn Staley Lane, and reveals the dark moments that accompanied her personal and professional breakthroughs and losses.

Staley grew up in North Philly’s Strawberry Mansion, at 25th and Diamond Streets. This, she says in her book, shaped her into the fierce leader she’s become.

“My upbringing had taught me toughness, resilience, and that I could survive,” she writes.

She said she “saw women on TV playing basketball twice a year growing up. They probably played more than that, but I wasn’t in the house long enough … I saw national championships and I saw the Olympics and was like, ‘Oh, that’s what I want to do. That’s it.’”

Staley credits her unrelenting competitiveness, discipline, and gritty attitude to her no-nonsense mother, Estelle Staley, her four opinionated siblings, and her days playing pickup games at Moylan Recreation Center.

The recreation center, now named in honor of late Philly legend Hank Gathers Jr., is where Staley discovered her love of basketball. She was obsessed with the sport from the moment her first jump shot pierced the nylon net. And when boys passed her up for games, Gathers encouraged them to give her a chance.

Staley, on the other hand, refused to share her basketball unless she was among the first 10 players picked.

In her memoir, Staley details those formative moments, from Dobbins Technical High School to the Olympics. She also includes her true crime obsession.

Staley addresses the depression and mental fatigue she faced after winning the gold in 1996, the stockpile of injuries that shortened her pro career, her apprehensions to coaching, and the media bias she felt was directed at her South Carolina team during the 2023 NCAA tournament run.

“The book was relatively easy,” she said. “I’m an open book anyway. I don’t really hide anything. I just don’t really remember stuff. But the book made me remember stuff, so what I remembered, I’m going to share.”

Staley wasn’t inspired to write a book until a 2022 interview with Power 105.1 FM‘s The Breakfast Club, when radio host and author Charlemagne tha God asked her if she wanted to write one. She brushed it off, much like that initial coaching offer from Temple athletic director Dave O’Brien. But after a third national title run at South Carolina, she was ready to put her story to paper.

“A lot of people were asking me to do a book for such a long time,” she said. “It just didn’t seem like the right time to do it when they were asking … And then, when we had that undefeated season last year, it really sparked me to say, ‘This is really the time.’”

Her mother, Staley said, “was a disciplinarian.”

“And being the youngest child and not really having a say in your household because you have older siblings that are very opinionated, there were no freebies,” she said. “I got nothing easy. Nobody said, ‘Here you go.’ Everybody said, ‘Hey, we’re not going to give you anything. We’re going to challenge you, and we’re going to do it for the greater good of you.’”

Although she didn’t really understand that as a young person, “I think it forces you to create thick skin, toughen your armor, and it gives you pride to overcome the hurdles that’s thrown your way.”

Thus, the name Uncommon Favor.

Though she now lives in Columbia, S.C. Staley never veers too far from North Philly. She wears Eagles jerseys while coaching and her phone screen saver reads, “Made in North Philly.”

“I just think people really appreciate who I am, what I’ve become, and the fact that I never shy away from telling people where I’m from — no matter where I am, what country I’m in, or where I live. Everybody knows."

The city has embraced her right back.

In the coming weeks, Mural Arts will unveil the design of a new Dawn Staley mural on 28th and Diamond Streets, commemorating the hoops legend nearly 30 years after Nike revealed Staley’s first mural on Eighth and Market in 1996.

While she loves the public dedications, Staley hopes that Uncommon Favor, and her continued pursuits, inspires young Philadelphians roaming the same outdoor courts, recreation centers, and Chinese food spots as she did as a wide-eyed kid.

She also wants Philly to see the book and her story as a shared one, not just her own.

“It’s about us,” she said. “It’s not only my journey, but our journey. And I just think it’s going to be relatable to everybody that understands our hood.”

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

How to be an Eagles fan, according to obsessives on the internet

Connecticut native Jenny Meassick moved to Philly in 2017 and fell in love — she started the Instagram account “Old City Love” to highlight the history, food, and people that make up the historic neighborhood she calls home. And while she’s felt “welcomed, accepted, and celebrated” in the city, Meassick said the only link missing is her connection to the Eagles.

Earlier this week she took to the internet to speak the question most Philly transplants are too afraid to ask: How does one become an Eagles fan?

Is it as simple as attending a game at the Linc, revamping a closet with midnight or kelly green, or flipping the bird to anyone wearing a Dallas Cowboys jersey? Or is it purchasing an Eagles Christmas album, getting a tattoo dedicated to the team, or subscribing to a podcast hosted by a former player’s spouse? (We love you, Kylie).

Searching for answers, Meassick posted a Thread asking Eagles diehards for tips on how to join the crazed fan base. “I’m a transplant here in Philly. It’s been 7 years and … don’t come at me … but I have yet to realllly jump into the sports culture,” she wrote. “But I’m here, this is home. So I need some help.”

Hundreds of Eagles fans came to her rescue, creating an online syllabus for newbies to graduate to Bird Gang status. Here’s what they said:

Scream ‘Go Birds’ whenever and wherever

Whether it’s game day or a quick trip to Wawa, stop and give a fellow fan a “Go Birds.” More often than not, you will get a “Go Birds” in return. Then, make it a daily ritual, and “repeat until your last breath,” one commenter joked.

“Shout ‘Go Birds’ to anyone you see wearing Birds gear. Also: Reciprocate that greeting when given to you, another wrote.

Add Eagles gear to your closet

Once “Go Birds” has replaced your regular “hi, how are you” , it’s time to grab some team threads. Not only does it declare your fandom, it helps other fans find you. “Buy some Eagles and Phillies gear, something swaggy and let the love come to you,” one user suggested.

Another suggested getting a throwback jersey to avoid looking like a noob: “Grab yourself a good retired player jersey. [Brian Dawkins], Reggie White, [Jason Kelce] … all good choices.”

Meassick said she’s sprinkling her closet with some Eagles gear, albeit incrementally. The first item will be a kelly green crew neck. “That’s more like my style,” she said.

Find fellow Eagles fans at a tailgate or bar

No “Go Birds” is complete without a group of Eagles to return the favor. There are multiple ways to engage with the fan base, but the easiest way is to start with your local sports bar or pub.

“Go to your local bar and watch a game. Even if you don’t drink. You will immediately get caught up in the infectious enthusiasm and camaraderie,” one user suggested.

If you want to amplify the game-day experience, join the crazed crowd at a tailgate outside the Linc. If tailgating isn’t your thing, Xfinity Live! is another one-stop shop for game-day entertainment. But wherever Eagles fans flock, all are welcome.

“The Eagles fan base is going to meet you where you’re at. If you drink, cool. Go to a bar. If you don’t, cool. You can Google and YouTube the players,” Meassick said.

Do your homework on iconic Eagles plays

Admittedly, Meassick isn’t much of a football fan. She lived in Boston for 10 years and was fatigued by the sports-obsessed town.

The only Eagle she knows is former All-Pro center Jason Kelce, who retired last year. Dozens of fans recommended Googling current players, and the origin of iconic plays like the “Philly Special” and the “tush push.”

“Ask fans here for a short list of their most agonizing defeats and watch them on YouTube,” one fan said. “My suggestion is ‘The Fog Bowl.’ Then watch Brian Dawkins and [Chuck Bednarik’s] highlights. Then watch their Super Bowl victory.”

“Ask fans here for a short list of their most agonizing defeats and watch them on YouTube,” one fan said. “My suggestion is ‘The Fog Bowl.’ Then watch Brian Dawkins and [Chuck Bednarik’s] highlights. Then watch their Super Bowl victory.”

Be a hater of every other NFL team

This one is simple. If it isn’t the Eagles, then don’t mention the team. “Hate every other team in the NFL!” one fan declared.

Buckle up for the ride

While life as an Eagles fan has been great lately, true aficionados know how gut-wrenching a defeat can be, especially in the postseason. “Accept that being a Philly sports fan means oscillating forever between incredible highs and crushing disappointment,” a commenter wrote.

But like sesame seeds on a fresh-baked hoagie roll, fans stick with the Birds through thick and thin. And they expect the same commitment from fans, both new and old.

“Eventually your blood pressure will start spiking while you watch the games. You’ll also have an insatiable urge to fight anyone who talks bad about your team. That’s when you know the metamorphosis is complete and you’re a full-fledged fan,” another fan explained.

Accept your place in the cult

“We meet at our Lady of the Linc on Sundays. Many of us call it our religion … some a cult. Either way we bleed green and at the kiss of peace, we say GO BIRDS and you better say it back 🦅💚,” another fan explained.

Based on fan comments, Meassick is already on the right path. Her desire to be an Eagles fan, they say, is why there’s a place for her in the tribe.

“We’ve adopted you, you are one of us. Now walk into the closest Wawa and yell go birds 🦅,” one user wrote.

– The Philadelphia Inquirer

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