May 25, 2026
I appear regularly as a guest on Dan Sileo’s National Football Show for two reasons. The biggest is because he’s one of a vanishing breed of sports talkers still holding people accountable. And the other is to keep my dwindling radio skills from disappearing entirely.
Well, now I have a third reason. Sometimes he gives me ideas. He did so a few days ago when he asked me if the face of the Phillies is actually Kyle Schwarber, and not Bryce Harper.
My answer then was yes. Schwarber is straight from central casting when it comes to Philly sports heroes, more so than the increasingly whiny, polarizing Harper.
Looking back, however, I see now that I didn’t go far enough with my answer. Schwarber is not just the face of the Phillies right now; he’s the face of all sports in our still-gritty sports city.
The truth is, we have been looking for the next in line after Jason Kelce, who represented the fans with honor and dedication for more than a decade.
Kelce was the best face of Philly sports in the past two generations. Not only was he a tough overachiever who played through every injury, but he also won a championship here in 2017.
And now it’s Schwarber’s turn to represent us. Like Kelce, he is not an Adonis physically, but he makes up for any body imperfections with a winning mindset. Watch him in a key at-bat, and you will see how much he competes.
Passion is essential in a Philly sports hero. Schwarber checks that box at every opportunity.
Honesty comes next. The reason Donovan McNabb never became the face of Philly sports is because he didn’t care enough about the fans to include them in his process. Same with Carson Wentz and Joel Embiid, among many others. Schwarber answers a fair question thoughtfully and respectfully. He knows his responsibility.
Then there’s coolness under duress. That’s a basic requirement of being a Philly sports hero. For example, there was Jimmy Rollins, the face of Philly sports before Kelce. Jimmy was equally fearless on the field or in front of a microphone, at a time when his teammates recoiled at media exposure.
And finally, there’s the ultimate measure of a Philly sports hero. Did he win a championship, and how did he handle the moment?
Of course, no one excelled more at that challenge than Kelce, both with his consistently brilliant play and with his unforgettable speech, while decked out in a Mummer’s costume, at the parade.
During our conversation, Sileo mentioned Greg Luzinski as a possible Philly sports face many years ago. Good pick. He had the same qualities, four decades ago. That’s one of the great attributes of our city, I think. We reward commitment and passion.
The best way for me to illustrate this is to pair off some of our stars. Half of them were born to represent our sports city. The other half came up short.
Pete Rose, yes. Mike Schmidt, no.
Brian Dawkins, yes. Nnamdi Asomugha, no.
Bobby Clarke, yes. Eric Lindros, no.
Moses Malone, yes. Joel Embiid, hell, no.
See the difference? The most beloved players have been a reflection of the fans who cheer them – blue-collar athletes who work harder and want success more than the players surrounding them.
That’s Schwarber, for sure. He already has a ring from the miracle Cubs of 2016, but he seems more committed than ever to match the feat here. Watch him go from first to third on a single, those stubby legs pumping before the head-first dive just ahead of the throw. He cares.
One of the questions I was wrestling with while diving into this topic is whether the fans have changed, whether the softer media are actually a reflection of the people they inform. Hey, lots of people stood and cheered Trea Turner, who was a total bust before the unprecedented move in 2024 by our fans, who have never been known for forgiveness.
But then I look at all of the emails I get every day from fans who cringe at the rehearsed pablum spouted daily by Eagles coach Nick Sirianni; by the selfish antics of A.J. Brown; or the shameless theatrics of Joel Embiid. Fans can still see through the phoniness of so many of our sports figures today.
I prefer to believe people here are still the same discriminating fans, better able to see the difference between a hero and a zero, than any other sports town.
So, congrats to our new face, Kyle Schwarber.
Now go win us a championship.
Complaints? Yeah, I’ve got a few:
- Nolan Smith is an absolute disgrace for getting caught driving 137 mph on May 15 in Georgia, endangering the lives of every person on or near I-81 that day. He was racing down the highway in a Lamborghini, which is just one of the rewards for an NFL player flaunting the perks of a $12-million contract. If you have a Nolan Smith jersey, here’s some unsolicited advice: Burn it.
- I am going to repeat what I say (mostly to myself) when I’m watching Aaron Nola pitch for the Phillies. He stinks. Since signing his ridiculous seven-year, $172-million deal two years ago, Nola has been consistent only in his awfulness. This season’s ERA: 6.04. Last season: 6.01. There’s a very good chance these are the first negative words you have ever read or heard about Nola from the media. It’s about time, no?
- Am I the only fan deriving some amusement from the national media’s coverage of the A.J. Brown trade. Don’t get me wrong. I think the trade is a terrible idea. But it’s too late for that now, in the eyes of everyone but the lemmings reporting on the Eagles. They’re still floating rumors of deals all over the NFL. Take my word for it. Brown will become a Patriot on or about June 1. Anything else you hear is pure BS.
- Speaking of the Patriots, I will never be able to look at Mike Vrabel the same way after the still-simmering scandal over his illicit six-year relationship with NFL reporter Dianna Russini. The debate right now is over why Vrabel hasn’t faced the same public condemnation that Russini has. It’s simple, really. If you’re a reporter acting inappropriately with a source, that’s not a career deal-breaker. If you lie about it the way Russini did, it is. No credibility = no career.
- Josh Sweat is sitting out OTAs in a power play to get himself traded from Arizona to Green Bay, where his ex-coach Jonathan Gannon now serves as defensive coordinator. A solid edge rusher for the past six seasons, Sweat clearly loves playing for Gannon a lot more than he loves winning. This just in: Gannon is the most overrated coach in the NFL. He will fail in Green Bay, too. With or without Sweat.