What Villanova’s Win Means for a Philly Hoops Fan

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Former Villanova coach Rollie Massimino (right) with head coach Jay Wright after the Wildcats beat North Carolina in the NCAA championship game.

Former Villanova coach Rollie Massimino (right) with head coach Jay Wright after the Wildcats beat North Carolina in the NCAA championship game.

The very first time I went to the Palestra, I almost got run over by Bill Cosby.

My dad took me to the Atlantic 10 tournament. This was a doubleheader with a Temple–Saint Joseph’s game and another quarterfinal. As we went up the walkway toward the gym, an older man was laughing with his friends and clowning around. He crashed into me. It wasn’t a big deal — I wasn’t knocked over or anything — but my dad turned to the guy ask him to knock it off. When he did, he realized it was Cosby.

I guess I eventually got Cosby back for this, but I remember what happened afterward much better: Temple beat Joe’s by 15 points, and I got my first introduction to Big 5 basketball.

That was not my only Atlantic 10 tournament. My dad took me again the very next year. St. Joe’s looked like they were going to lose to Rutgers. They trailed by 13 at one point. But the Hawks rallied and won it on a Bernard Blunt three-point play with just seconds left. I had never heard a louder crowd. Read more »

Pennsylvania Says Mistakes Were Made in Party-Switching Data

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Photo illustration source images via iStockphoto/JimLarkin/Stacey Walker

Photo illustration source images via iStockphoto/JimLarkin/Stacey Walker

If you’ve been feeling confused about the ongoing presidential race, don’t feel bad, because the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is confused as well.

Last week, state election officials reported that some 245,000 Pennsylvanians had opted to change political parties between January 1st and the deadline last week of March 28th. Read more »

Is Pa. House Rushing to Pass a Controversial Abortion Bill?

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Opponents and supporters of Planned Parenthood demonstrate Tuesday, July 28, 2015, in Philadelphia.

Opponents and supporters of Planned Parenthood demonstrate Tuesday, July 28, 2015, in Philadelphia.

A controversial bill that would ban abortions after 20 weeks is on the schedule for Wednesday’s house session, according to Steve Miskin, spokesman for Pennsylvania House Majority Leader Dave Reed. At that time a vote may take place or could be postponed. The bill passed out of the House Health Committee on Monday.

In addition to shortening the timeline for legal abortions from the current 24-week cut-off, House Bill 1948 would also ban what it calls “dismemberment abortions” — a procedure currently known as dilation and evacuation, it involves dilating the uterus then removing the fetus using a vacuum and surgical tools. It is one of the main abortion methods for women in their second trimester.

The bill is primarily sponsored by staunch pro-life advocate State Rep. Kathy Rapp (R), of the 65th district. The bill currently has 101 co-sponsors, at least 11 of whom are Democrats. In a November memo sent to house members to gain sponsorship for the bill, Rapp and co-sponsors Rep. Bryan Barbin and Rep. Bryan Cutler wrote one of their primary reasons in creating the bill was because of evidence that the babies are capable of feeling pain at that stage.  Read more »

Philly to Hold Center City Parade for Villanova on Friday

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The city is going to throw Villanova a victory parade.

The parade starts Friday at 1 p.m., and will run from 20th and Market to Dilworth Park in Center City. It was first announced in an email from Villanova president Fr. Peter Donohue to students and alumni this morning. There will be a rally at Dilworth Park at the end of the parade.

The route will essentially be a redux of the Center City portion of the Taney Dragons parade held for the Little League team in the summer of 2014. The Wildcats won’t be continuing down Broad Street to be honored at Citizens Bank Park like the Dragons were.

Fr. Donahue said more details would be shared later this week. Read more »

State Sues Atlantic City as Finances Unravel

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Atlantic City at dusk, November 2014

Photo | Dan McQuade

The state of New Jersey is suing Atlantic City, trying to force the municipality to make payments to the city’s public schools instead of making a scheduled payment to employees on Friday.

NJ.com quotes Gov. Chris Christie: “This won’t fix the city’s own financial problems. But it will prevent them from making Atlantic City students and their families collateral damage to their reckless financial games.”

ABC News reports the city owes the district $34 million through July. The lawsuit aims to put the school district “at the front of the line” for any money that Atlantic City, with its foundering casinos, can scrape together.  Read more »

Villanova Canceled Classes Today

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Villanova basketball fans celebrate in Villanova after the Wildcats defeated North Carolina.

Villanova basketball fans celebrate in Villanova after the Wildcats defeated North Carolina.

Villanova students got a text this morning announcing what many had suspected would happen: The school canceled all classes today so kids can sleep off their hangovers. (Or, you know, continue to celebrate.)

The school bookstore is open until 6 p.m. for those wanting to buy championship gear. Read more »

WATCH: How Charles Barkley Celebrated Villanova’s Win

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Villanova won the national championship last night on a Kris Jenkins three-pointer at the buzzer. It was a thrilling basketball game with an incredible finish, as ’Nova hit a three just five seconds after UNC had tied the game on a three of their own.

After the game, TNT shared video of Charles Barkley reacting to the game-winning shot. It’s amazing! Let’s talk about it. Read more »

WATCH: Fans React to Villanova Buzzer Beater

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Villanova basketball fans view a broadcast of the national championship between Villanova and North Carolina, Monday, April 4th, in Villanova, Pa.

Villanova basketball fans view a broadcast of the national championship between Villanova and North Carolina, Monday, April 4th, in Villanova, Pa.

Most Outstanding Player Ryan Arcidiocono took the ball up court, and passed it back to the inbounder. Kris Jenkins let it fly. The three-pointer went in, and the Villanova Wildcats were national champions. It was an incredible finish to a thrilling national title game.

Watch how fans reacted to the game-winner around the region and at the game: Read more »

Villanova Wins National Championship, Twitter Goes Bonkers

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Villanova's Phil Booth celebrates after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74.

Villanova’s Phil Booth celebrates after the NCAA Final Four tournament college basketball championship game against North Carolina, Monday, April 4, 2016, in Houston. Villanova won 77-74.

It’s been a rough sporting year here in Philadelphia, what with the rebuilding, and the tanking, and the other team tanking, oh, and the Rube Goldberg self-destruct device that was Chip Kelly‘s final Eagles season. Which might explain why when Kris Jenkins sealed Villanova’s first NCAA Championship since 1985 with a breath-taking, buzzer-beating trey, Twitter erupted with a wave of euphoria not seen around here since Brad Lidge put one past Eric Hinske. There’s a lot of great #Villanova tweets out there. These are just a few of our favorites: Read more »

Villanova Wins National Title on Buzzer Beater

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Kris Jenkins shoots the ball over North Carolina Tar Heels guard Joel Berry II during the second half in the National Championship game of the 2016 NCAA Men’s Final Four at NRG Stadium in Houston, Texas.

Villanova is No. 1 again.

Going the length of the court in the final 4.7 seconds, Kris Jenkins took a pass from Ryan Arcidiacono and hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give the Wildcats the National Championship. Villanova won 77-74.

“I inbounded the ball to Ryan, and I was able to sprint up the court and get in his vision, and I was like, ‘Ryan! Ryan!’” Jenkins said on TV postgame. “Every time I two-step it’s going up. I think every shot’s going in, so that one was no different.”

“It’s Arch’s job to make the decision,” Jay Wright said on TV postgame. “Kris told him he was going to be open. Arch made the perfect pass.” Read more »

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