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‘26 U.S. Amateur visits Merion Golf Club

2026 Eagles

Season Preview

George Anastasia’s

MOB SCENE

Volume 16 • Number 3 – $3.95

Philadelphia takes center stage as the nation celebrates the Semiquincentennial this summer

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FROM THE

PUBLISHER

JerseyMan Magazine VOLUME 16 • NUMBER 3

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BY KEN DUNEK

Whatever happened to civility?

WAS WATCHING THE US OPEN golf final round last month, and as usual, I was rooting for my favorite player Scottie Scheffler to overtake Wyndham Clark for the title. Clark had a 6-stroke lead, but the lightning-fast greens and knee-high rough could provide a scenario for a comeback. It almost happened, with the leader winning by a single stroke over Sam Burns. What I wasn’t prepared for was the treatment Clark received from the patrons. Applauding an opponent for good play is one thing, but cheering when Clark’s ball went into the rough or lipped out of the cup was unsportsmanlike and excessive. Clark had a moment of anger at last year’s US Open at Oakmont where he damaged a locker in frustration, but he has since apologized many times for it. He still seems to be paying the price for it. This incivility isn’t limited to sports; it’s increasing in all areas of life. There is a saying about someone speeding through a yellow light. They call that “squeezing the lemon.” But there are many intersections near my home and office where they should change the saying to “squeezing the tomato.” Cars race through lights that have been red for a good 3-5 seconds. I always check both ways when my light is green, and then wait a bit. I don’t want to be a statistic. And if you are going the speed limit on any highway, be prepared to get run over from behind. I’m no prude, but the F-bomb is now prevalent in many public conversations and is repeated loudly in restaurants when women and children are present. Even our sports heroes take the podium after a championship and let it fly. I don’t think I ever heard my father say that word in public or private. And in the old days when I took my family out to eat and overheard the word too many times I walked over to the offending table and reminded them that women and children were present. That was when I was in shape and could defend myself. Now I would have to survey the offending party and figure out the best way to get my message across. Flight attendants are being punched in the nose for a seat mix-up. Grocery cashiers have food thrown at them for not discounting an item that is no longer on sale. It’s sad. But when I get really down I head to a Wawa where everyone holds the door open for you and says thank you. The coffee there is delicious, but the manners and civility are refreshing.

Ken Dunek PUBLISHER ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Ashley Dunek EDITOR George Brinkerhoff ART DIRECTOR Steve Iannarelli CONTRIBUTING WRITERS George Anastasia, Jan L. Apple, George Brinkerhoff, Michael Bradley, Sam Carchidi, Alexandra Dunek, Mark Eckel, Dei Lynam, Anthony Mongeluzo, Kevin Reilly, Mike Shute, Kurt Smith Event Coordinator & Administrative Assistant Alexandra Dunek Website & Digital Coordinator Spartan Digital Solutions Editorial gbrinkerhoff@jerseymanmagazine.com Advertising 856-912-4007 Printing Alcom Printing, Harleysville, Pa. Controller Rose M. Balcavage Sales Associates Ashley Dunek, Terri Dunek, JP Lutz JerseyMan/PhillyMan Advisory Board Peter Cordua (Chairman). . . . . . . . . . Cordua Consulting, LLC Don Eichman. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Alcom Printing Bill Emerson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Emerson Group Jerry Flanagan. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . J Dog Brands Bob Hoey. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Janney Montgomery Scott Kristi Howell. . . . . . . . Burlington Co. Chamber of Commerce Ed Hutchinson. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Hutchinson Robert Kennedy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Waterworks Metrology Anthony Mongeluzo. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . PCS Charlie Muracco. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . CLM Advisors Ryan Regina. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Big Sky Enterprises Scott Tanker. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Tanker Business Solutions Joe Tredinnick. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Fulton Bank Jim Wujcik. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . The Joseph Fund

“Ah Summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.” – Russell Baker JerseyMan Magazine/PhillyMan Magazine, products of a partnership between Ken Dunek, Anthony Mongeluzo, and Alcom Printing Group, are published by New Opportunity Publishing, LLC, with offices at 5 Perina Boulevard Cherry Hill, NJ 08003. Copyright 2026.

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INSIDE

“Deep summer is when laziness finds respectability.” – Sam Keen

JerseyMan Magazine VOLUME 16 • NUMBER 3

40 ON THE COVER

BARBERING STILL IN STYLE BY JAN L. APPLE –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

REACHING THE BEACH BY MIKE SHUTE –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

FIRST FAMILY OF FISHING BY SAM CARCHIDI –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

EAGLES SEASON PREVIEW BY MARK ECKEL –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

MERION HOSTS THE U.S. AM BY MICHAEL BRADLEY –––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––––

COLUMNS

1 2 J O T T I N G S • 2 0 G E O R G E A N A S TA S I A’ S M O B S C E N E • 22 DEI LYNAM 24 KEVIN REILLY • 72 THRU THE LENS • 76 GET FIT • 78 TECH TIME

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JOTTINGS

“A sunset is the sun’s fiery kiss to the night.”

BY GEORGE BRINKERHOFF

– Crystal Woods

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Celebrate the 250th Birthday of the USA with

Patriotic Bobbleheads! On July 4, 2026,

two and a half centuries since the Declaration of Independence was adopted in 1776, it will be America’s 250th birthday, or semiquincentennial. The National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum has come up with a uniquely spectacular way to celebrate. They’ve developed and produced their own special line of patriotic bobbleheads, which just went on sale this month ahead of the July 4th weekend. Who doesn’t love bobbleheads! The series of 16 bobbleheads in all includes Founding Fathers and statesmen (Ben Franklin, Alexander Hamilton), groundbreaking inventors (Eli Whitney, Alexander Graham Bell, Thomas Edison, Samuel Morse), abolitionists (Frederick Douglass, William Lloyd Garrison), women’s

rights pioneers (Susan B. Anthony, Dr. Mary Edwards Walker), social reformers and educators (Dorthea Dix, Thomas Hopkins Gallaudet), patriotic flag makers (Betsy Ross, Mary Pickersgill), an industrialistturned-philanthropist (Andrew Carnegie), and a bobble of the founding document that started it all, The Declaration of Independence. The bobbleheads will be individually numbered to 1,776. (Get it?) They are available for pre-order now at the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame’s online store for $30 to $35 each plus a flat-rate shipping charge of $8 per order.

For more information and to place an order, go to www.bobbleheadhall.com. 12

What We Read American Soccer Nation: The Remarkable 150-Year History of Yanks on a Roll, from Mob Football to the Modern Game By Mark C Franek

HOUGH THE TITLE references the 150-Year history of the game of soccer in America, Mark Franek’s deep dive into the games history actually goes back a bit further. He references team kicking games that were played by the Chinese and in Mesoamerica 3500 years ago. The Greeks and Romans also had ball kicking games. His book traces soccer’s beginnings in Britain as far back as the year 1000 when mobs of people from different areas, towns or sides might gather and would, using all different body parts, attempt to move a “ball” from one place or landmark to another. Called mob ball, amongst many other names, these games had little to no rules, and injuries and violence were common. And as the use of the feet began dominating, something more recognizable as ‘foot ball’ eventually developed. The authorities inevitably got involved, lashing out against these games. Various proclamations, denunciations and bans of this ‘foot ball’ were attempted throughout the early years, the 1200s and 1300s, creating early records that these contests did occur. One Puritan described the game thusly, “Sometimes their necks are broken, sometimes their backs … Football encourages envy and hatred, murder and a great loss of blood.” Franek traces the development of the modern version of soccer in America from the codification of rules by the English in 1863, who “did more to spread the game around the world … than any other country. The English (and Scottish to be honest) gave soccer to us Yanks and for many decades and they helped us as we tried to advance the sport in our country.” He points out that what is generally considered to be the very first football game between Rutgers and Princeton in 1869 (and the granddaddy of modern American gridiron football), “was certainly a soccer-esque game,” and concludes that “the activity was much closer to soccer than to rugby.” Franek’s research demonstrates that in the latter part of the 19th century, some amateur and semi-professional leagues were started. But the rise of the first truly professional league, the

American Soccer League (ASL), really began in what is now considered as the Golden Age of American Soccer in the roaring 20s. This league was supported by corporate benefactors such as Charles Schwab, President of Bethlehem Steel, the 2nd largest steel company in the world at the time. It attracted top talent from Europe and it’s “standard of play … by 1925 – at least among the top teams – rivaled the best in any league worldwide” and was very successful. This was then followed by a period during the Great Depression

The story of American soccer’s birth, rise and fall only to rise again is a uniquely American tale. when that league went bust and, despite some World Cup successes, soccer’s growth was stymied through WWII. Between the development of the North American Soccer League (NASL) in the Sixties and Seventies, a bit more World Cup success and then the birth of Major League Soccer (MLS) in the Eighties and Nineties right through to this years’ World Cup, Franek shows how advances in American soccer have been generally positive, despite some missteps.

With one foreword written by the Philadelphia Union’s Cavan Sullivan and a second written by Tim Howard, this book is a must read for both the casual fan and history buff alike. The story of American soccer’s birth, rise and fall only to rise again is a uniquely American tale, one which Mark Franek brings to life through this excellently researched work and his fine storytelling.

An Appetizing Oasis

N THE MOOD for an off-the-beaten path and off-beat restaurant tucked into a unique setting, with reasonable prices, a casual, welcoming atmosphere and mouthwatering seafood (as well as many other selections) this summer? If so, I’ve got a place for you. The Red Eyed Crab restaurant is a one-of-a-kind destination. Situated in a building appropriately decorated with a rustic nautical theme, it’s sumptuous fare includes broiled fish, fried platters, steam pots, burgers, steaks, wings, pasta, soups, salads and desserts. Only the most intrepid of explorers might haphazardly bump into its rural location. While its postal address indicates Port Norris, it actually sits on the banks of the Dividing Creek in the tiny hamlet bearing the same name within the borders of Downe Township. Having originally been settled in the 1700’s, the town of Dividing Creek is in the midst of New Jersey’s Delaware River Bayshore area, a mixture of wetlands, farms and forests. The region has supported, at various times, shipbuilding and sawmills, basket making and oyster farming. Mostly, it seems to be just a quiet crossroads today.

Only the most intrepid of explorers might haphazardly bump into its rural location.

*Special thanks to Paul Hellberg for this suggestion.

With the wetlands, the river and the historic village as the background, the Red Eyed Crab stands out as a friendly oasis to the hungry traveler. After all, if you’ve gotten this deep in South Jersey on your journey, you’re bound to need sustenance. The building is unpretentious and inviting, the staff very attentive and accommodating and the food was expertly prepared. For a first course, both the Crab Corn Chowder and Manhattan Clam Chowder were greedily inhaled, as was a fresh salad. Next, one of the steam pot dishes, the Kraken, and one of the specials, the Scallops Florentine with spinach and pasta, arrived. The Kraken consisted of a bountiful feast of perfectly steamed clams, mussels, shrimp, crab legs and lobster tails, and butter, which easily served two, and the scallops were also a big hit. Of course, that seafood extravaganza was followed up with a healthy slice of chocolate éclair pie for dessert, which was the ideal finish to this compelling, immensely satisfying experience. The Red Eyed Crab’s address is 977 Main Street, Port Norris, NJ. It is BYOB and seasonal (it shuts down before winter). Open Thursday - Sunday, 3-9 pm, and you can confirm their daily specials on their Facebook page.

The Red Eyed Crab restaurant is hidden away in Port Norris, NJ.

Gallantly Streaming Did you know

that there have been 27 official versions of the flag of the United States of America throughout our 250-year history? The first flag had thirteen stars and thirteen stripes representing the 13 original colonies. In 1795, the flag was changed to 15 stars and 15 stripes (adding Vermont and Kentucky as states) and it was this version of the flag that Francis Scott Key saw after the bombardment by the British of Fort McHenry in Baltimore, during the War of 1812, inspiring him to pen

the poem that became our national anthem, “The StarSpangled Banner.” The Flag Act of 1818 enshrined that the 13 stripes would forever represent the 13 original colonies, and determined that stars would be added to the flag each July 4th for years when new states were granted statehood. The current 50-star flag, added in 1960, is the version of our flag that has officially flown the longest. 15

Ladies of Legacy Wine Tasting with Nina from Traino’s Wine & Spirits

4th Annual Infinity Club Spades Tournament. Congratulations to 2x champs, Lauren Stroud & Keith Stewart supporting Alpha Kappa Alpha

Legacy Club Pop-Up Event at Soundplex

Legacy Club Event at Burlington Country Club Sponsored by The Mobile Cigar Lounge

Ron Jaworski’s Celebrity Golf Challenge Pairing Party at Live! Casino

Chairman’s Club Golf Outing – Llanerch CC

Legacy Club Pop-Up Happy Hour at the Pyramid Club Photos: John Wilchek Photography

MOB SCENE

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BY GEORGE ANASTASIA

The Many Faces of Organized Crime

HE NEW JERSEY STATE Commission of Investigation (SCI) held a hearing a few weeks ago billed as a look into the “Changing Face of Organized Crime” in the Garden State. A better title might have been “The Many Faces of Organized Crime.” The mob, Cosa Nostra, the Mafia, whatever you want to call it, still exists and is very much in play. But it’s no longer the dominant, five-hundred-pound gorilla in the underworld. Gangbangers, outlaw bikers and DTOs (law enforcement bureaucrats love three-initial shorthand, this one for Drug Trafficking Organizations) are all vying for a bigger piece of action. For more than three hours in a committee hearing room on the fourth floor of the Statehouse Annex in Trenton, panels of experts from local, state and federal agencies described how. Diversity is certainly part of the new look. But the bottom line is unchanged. Every group is predatory, the experts said, and every group is profit driven. It is, and always has been, about the money. Groups have augmented traditional moneymaking operations with more sophisticated and highly lucrative criminal enterprises, said SCI Executive Director Bruce Keller in remarks at the start of the hearing. But, he added, “Money is still the driver behind much of the organized crime activity.” Social media and the internet are two other factors that have come into play with gangs using those tools to help set up and carry out their operations. Some street gangs are using Zillow and Google Maps to zoom in on wealthy, upperclass suburban neighborhoods where expensive automobiles are parked in virtually every driveway. Car theft rings – some with young teenage gang members who are not even old enough to have a driver’s license – then swoop in on their targets, driving away with automobiles that within weeks are on cargo ships 20

heading for Europe or South America and eager buyers willing to pay top dollar for a shiny, new set of wheels. Law enforcement has countered with its own set of electronic surveillance and tracking devices. Some are highly sophisticated. Others are basic but highly effective run-of-the-mill. Young gang members, one investigator told the SCI panel, often contribute to their own undoing. He then told how his agency moni-

The bottom line is unchanged. Every group is predatory, and every group is profit driven. It is, and always has been, about the money. tors Facebook and other online postings by gang members who inadvertently implicate themselves in criminal activity. In one case, a young gangster proudly waved an assault rifle he had obtained illegally. His own video became the basis for his arrest and conviction. ID theft, especially scams targeting the elderly, has become another new electronicrelated gambit for gangs. Authorities also warned about counterfeit merchandising operations - long a big money-maker for the Camorra in Naples - that would be heavily in play this summer during the World Cup games across the United States. “If there’s a way to make money…they’re going to find it,” Joseph Patricola, a special agent

with the U.S. Department of Labor, told the SCI. Patricola was one of several panel members who brought the hearing back to familiar ground for most Garden State mob watchers. He was one of four witnesses who focused on the activities of Cosa Nostra in New Jersey, pointing out that while there has been a reduction in violence (making money, not headlines, seems to be the marching orders of the day), the mob is still heavily involved in gambling, loansharking and labor racketeering. Painting a picture in broad brush strokes, none of the witnesses who appeared at the hearing identified individual gangsters. Tony Soprano was nowhere to be found. But the multi-million-dollar financial scams described by the witnesses offered a look at the new face of even the traditional New Jersey underworld. Scams that have been well documented in the past would include the gasoline tax fraud, daisy-chain operations of Russian gangsters who, in the 1980s, teamed with Michael Franzese. Franzese, a former capo in the Colombo crime family and now the face of organized crime podcasting (another phenomenon, but a story for another day), was able to generate millions for his crime family by working with the Russians.

NOTHER SCAM, orchestrated by South Jersey mob figure Nicky Scarfo Jr. and his top associate, Salvatore Pelullo, involved the takeover of the floundering Texas-based First Plus Financial and propping it up while stealing millions from unsuspecting investors. Both Scarfo and Pelullo are currently serving 30-year prison terms. Finally, one panel member made a broad reference to the multi-million-dollar Par Funding scandal -- part Ponzi scheme, part traditional mob shakedown – that rocked financial circles two years ago. The Par Funding case is the most recent

and probably the most accurate picture of the emerging face of organized crime today. The principal players, both of whom have pleaded guilty to racketeering and fraud charges, were brothers Joseph and James LaForte. Their ties to the Gambino crime family were documented as the case unraveled. James LaForte has been identified as a mob soldier who served as an “enforcer” for the Par Funding operation, which over several years defrauded investors of more than $400 million. The LaFortes’ mob bona fides are significant. Their grandfather, Joseph “Joe the Cat” LaForte, was a capo under legendary Gambino crime family underboss Aniello Dellacroce. Joe the Cat has been described as a bookmaker and loanshark who built his fortune by investing in New York real estate. His holdings included the Ravenite Social Club on Mulberry Street in Little Italy. It was Dellacroce’s headquarters and later became the Manhattan base for John Gotti after Dellacroce died in 1985. LaForte’s namesake grandson apparently displayed the same financial acumen as his grandfather. Hundreds of unwitting investors put money into his Par Funding operation with the promise of high percentage returns on their investments. The government later charged that the investors’ initial “returns” from Par Funding came from cash supplied by newer investors, the classic Ponzi scheme maneuver. Meanwhile, authorities said, Par Funding established itself as a short-term lender for small businesses in need of quick cash. These so-called “merchant cash advance” loans came with exorbitant interest rates that one SCI witness described as “suffocating.” The LaForte brothers then used mob-like tactics to collect when those businesses were unable to meet their payment schedules, with James LaForte threatening to “torch people’s cars” and “kick people’s teeth in,” said investigators. In all, authorities alleged, Par Funding generated $120 million in illegal income that supported the brothers’ lavish lifestyle. Money also went to the Gambino organization. James LaForte, among other things, pleaded guilty to assaulting a lawyer working with the Securities and Exchange Commission receivership to confiscate Par Funding assets. The assault occurred in broad daylight on a street in downtown Philadelphia. The lawyer was struck in the head from behind by an assailant wielding what appeared to be a club. It was a case of 1920s mob tactics used in what the government said was a 21st century mob operation. n 21

DEI LYNAM

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The Sixers New Regime

IXERS FANS have been down this path before. New regimes are introduced, promising to build a championship-caliber team. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but here the fan base has been wanting and waiting to experience that winning feeling of being the last team standing in a given season for 43 years. The Philadelphia 76ers named Mike Gansey President of Basketball Operations on June 8th. He succeeds Daryl Morey, who served in the role for five and a half years, but was let go after the Sixers were swept in the second round of the NBA playoffs by the New York Knicks. Gansey joins the Sixers after 15 years with the Cleveland Cavaliers, where he rose from intern to general manager. “I loved Cleveland,” the 43-year-old said. “It would have taken a lot to get me out of Cleveland. I had a conversation with Bob (Myers), Josh (Harris), and you have a championship-level coach in Nick (Nurse). You have a lot of really good players on the roster. “Josh is passionate. He wants to win at the highest level. He hates to lose. I hate to lose. The more conversations we had, the more excited I was to be here and work with these guys. Bob’s won championships. Nick has won a championship. I won a championship in Cleveland. We want to do that here in Philadelphia.” Gansey repeatedly talked about the current core group of players he inherited when he was hired. We know the four names quite well: Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecombe (rookie), Paul George, and Joel Embiid. Three of the four players have max contracts (George, Embiid, Maxey). While two (George and Embiid) have had challenges with consistent availability due to injury, illness, or suspension, their contributions remain vital. Gansey is focused on embracing new methods to unlock the full potential of this talented roster and shape a brighter future. “I just got here,” Gansey said. “I had conversations with Coach. I haven’t had many conversations with Joel and Paul yet. Tyrese and VJ, we have connected. Everyone is all over the world right now. My world is spinning right now. “I want to get their input and Coach’s input and get this thing together. They are our four guys. They are under contract. We have to do our best to help them become their best selves. Every night at 7 o’clock, we have to have them at their best so we can win.”

ANSEY KNOWS THAT ACHIEVING SUCCESS requires teamwork throughout the organization. To that end, a key condition before he accepted the position was the elevation of Jameer Nelson from Assistant General Manager to Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations. “I am very excited to have Jameer as my number two,” Gansey explained. “He was a sticking point when I was talking to Josh and Bob. He was somebody I really wanted throughout the process. He is well respected around the league. “I am 0-2 against him when I was at Saint Bonaventure, and he was at Saint Joe’s. I think I have the win now because I have him on my side. 22

Mike Gansey (right) with Head Coach Nick Nurse

“ I hate to lose. The more conversations we had, the more excited I was to be here and work with these guys.” I’m just ready to get today over with and get going because the draft is two weeks away.” Like Gansey, Nelson has progressed through a single organization since retiring from his 14-year NBA playing career. In 2020, the Sixers hired him as a scout and assistant general manager of the Delaware Blue Coats, their G-League affiliate. Now, six years later, he is Mike Gansey’s right-hand man with the big club. “I’m going to be honest with you,” Nelson said, “I thought I was going to be a coach. But when you’re working in the front office, you get to coach in your own way. Starting as a scout and in the G League, being able to run a team in the minor leagues, it’s important. It was important for shaping me into the executive I am now. Collaborating with coaches and players, I quench my thirst for coaching there.” For a kid who grew up in Chester, PA, and was a die-hard Sixers fan, his post-playing career is surreal. “In the past, I’ve had opportunities other places,” Nelson said. “I wanted to be part of the solution here. The thing that matters most to me here is I’m home. My family is here. I’m a Sixers fan. My favorite basketball players of all time are Charles Barkley, Allen Iverson, and Kobe Bryant — people who played in this area. I feel like there are possibilities to help this organization move forward.” This time feels different, but significant work remains. n

KEVIN REILLY

Kevin Reilly is a former NFL linebacker, inspirational speaker, and corporate resilience coach. After losing his left arm to cancer, he redefined his life’s playbook to help executives build unstoppable teams.

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The Ultimate Trade

NFL Playbook Strategies for Business Disruption The smell of fresh-cut grass at training camp always brings it back. It is July 2026, and that familiar energy fills the air. But before the whistle blows, mid-summer offers a rare breath of air. Summer is a natural time of reflection and slowing down. It is a quiet pocket of the year meant for taking stock of where we are before the chaos begins. For leaders, this pause acts like a mirror. It forces you to look at your organization’s past before you gear up for a grueling new fiscal season, evaluating what you are willing to leave behind to succeed.

The Evolution of the Grind The game has changed so much since my playing days, and training camp shows that shift. Today, players go through crisp, 90-minute drill sessions wearing only helmets and shells. Back in my day, camp was an absolute meat grinder. We endured brutal two-and-a-half-hour practices in full gear. There were virtually no breaks, and coaches intentionally held back water to test our mental toughness. It was a completely different world of physical punishment. Still, whether an athlete is surviving an old-school 150-minute gauntlet or mastering today’s fast-paced drills, the core mental challenge of football remains exactly the same. Football teaches you early on that you own nothing but your work ethic. Look at a guy like A.J. Brown. When a blockbuster trade sends a superstar across the country, it shakes the foundations of a franchise. Fans get upset, and sports talk radio blows up. But for the player—and the organization—it is a masterclass in sudden change. One day, you are the focal point of one city’s dreams; next, you are walking into a brand-new locker room, learning a new playbook, and trying to prove your worth all over again.

Leadership Takeaway: Efficiency Over Exhaustion Peak performance doesn’t require burning out your team. Maximize impact through focused, high-intensity intervals instead of demanding, exhausting, low-yield hours.

Ultimate Trade Trading players serve as a clear reminder that the corporate world, much like the NFL, is a constantly changing landscape. As executives and entrepreneurs, you can’t tie your identity—or your team’s strategy—to a specific jersey, desk, or comfortable routine. I learned that truth the hardest way possible. When I was playing for the Eagles, I thought my biggest challenge would be beating a cornerback on a deep route. Then came the diagnosis: desmoid tumor. To save my 24

Whether an athlete is surviving an old-school 150-minute gauntlet or mastering today’s fast-paced drills, the core mental challenge of football remains exactly the same. life, my left arm, shoulder, and four ribs had to be amputated. Talk about a trade. The universe traded my athletic prime for a hospital bed and a future I didn’t recognize. My career as a professional football player was over in a single afternoon. The resilience required to survive a trade with another team is the exact same resilience required to pivot an entire business when the market drops out from under you. We must use the quiet moments of summer To contact Kevin Reilly: Website: kreilly.com Instagram: kevinreilly52 • Email: kevinreilly4652@gmail.com

reflection to mourn our losses, yes, but as leaders, we cannot set up camp in the graveyard of our past successes or failures.

Leadership Takeaway: Pivot with Purpose Nostalgia is a corporate liability when markets disrupt your plans. Accept new realities immediately, reallocate assets fast, and redefine what winning looks like.

Executing the Play Called Now As the Eagles gear up for this upcoming season, the roster looks different. It always does. Coaches change, favorite players depart, and new faces fill the gaps. Success in this league demands that you accept the current reality immediately. If you spend training camp wishing the old receiver were still here, you miss the timing on the route with the new one. The exact same rule applies to your business.

Leadership Takeaway: Trust the Current Roster Disruption changes your personnel and your market conditions. Align your team around today’s strategy, focusing energy on future execution rather than past departures. We all face our own training camps in business and daily life. Relationships end, companies downsize, and market disruptions alter our trajectories. Take the time this summer to slow down, reflect on what has passed, and mentally prepare your team for the shift. Moving on is not about forgetting; it is about adapting. It is about acknowledging that change is the only vehicle that can carry your enterprise to its next victory. Resilience is the daily choice to put on the helmet, step onto the field of a market you didn’t perfectly plan for and execute the play that is called right now. The old season is gone. The new one is waiting to be won. n

Barbering - Still in Style Behind the Scenes with Sidney Kasoff Gray BY JAN L. APPLE

Sidney Kasoff Gray

Photos Alyssa Ambrose

Fifty or 60 years ago, walk down any main street in America, and it wouldn’t be uncommon to spot the swirling motion of a red, white and blue striped barber pole. The trusty barber shop could have easily been described as a staple in American society. Fast forward decades. Spas and hair salons have expanded exponentially. They are just about everywhere. And though some may think of the old-fashioned, classic barber shop as pure nostalgia, it appears that they haven’t gone out of style. Meet Sidney Kasoff Gray, a barber at Levelz Barbershop in Cherry Hill, New Jersey. He’s been working at Levelz (a shop with five locations; four in South Jersey, one in Philadelphia) since 2019 and has never looked back. “The barbershop is making a comeback,” said the 26-year-old lifelong Collingswood resident. Gray shared that becoming a barber was never in his long-range plan. In fact, while

studying illustration at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia back in 2018, he was fairly certain that would be his path. But life has a way of intervening. Gray said that he first picked up a pair of $15 clippers at about the same time that he was

“falling out of love” with art school. “I needed extra money and a friend needed a haircut,” recalled Gray. Suffice it to say that things kind of took off from there. His friend was thrilled with the result. And Gray felt pretty good about the finished product. Barbering, he has learned, is

really another type of art form. Though these days, instead of the old-fashioned barbering school, training is offered by cosmetology institutes. Students can choose their area of specialty, including barbering. After that pivotal day of discovering a newfound talent, Gray began viewing lots of barbering videos (probably thousands), watching barbers and studying the variety of techniques of those seasoned in the craft. This led to further precision of his skills and the ability to

length off longer hair and shaping styles like slick backs, combovers and other longer looks. We also use thinning shears to take some bulk out of thicker hair.” After a haircut, Gray often uses a soft barber brush to remove loose hair from the client’s neck, face and clothing. “Depending on the client and service, I may also use a little powder or aftershave product to help the skin feel clean and comfortable,” he said. Gray sees about 14 or 15 clients a day, with

“

adding that many clients confide in him about their personal struggles. Yet a barber, he underscored, is not a mental health professional. But listening with compassion is kind of expected from those who sit in his chair. On a recent Instagram post, Gray described the premise behind the documentary: “Beyond the chair, beyond the shop, beyond being just a barber, we all remain human beings, but rarely in this industry do we get to voice our struggles, our doubt, our anguish and the lessons

Rarely in this industry do we get to voice our struggles, our doubt, our anguish and the lessons that come attached to the craft.” hone the craft. That passion soon led the selftaught barber to enroll at PB Cosmetology Education Center in Gloucester City in 2020. He became licensed in 2021. Attending this training at the height of COVID had its share of challenges, Gray explained, and everyone was obviously in masks. But to Gray, the education was well worth it. “I love my job,” said Gray, elaborating that the skills of a barber are very different than that of a hairdresser. Barbers, he said, focus solely on cutting hair in a man’s style, though there are a few women who prefer a very short cut that seek out barbers. It’s also not uncommon to offer a facial shave if a client requests the service. Barbers use straight razors for some clients, he added, which are sharpened with a sanding stone. Hairdressers, on the other hand, do highlights, updos, perms, cuts and pin curls, to mention a few. And typically, hairdressers prefer cutting wet hair, whereas barbers start with it dry. “I like to start with a clean canvas,” said Gray, meaning no product.

Tools of the Trade

“Clippers and shears are used for different things,” said Gray, who utilizes both on a regular basis to achieve his goals. “Clippers are mainly used for shorter styles and fading, like skin fades on the sides and back of the head or buzz cuts. Shears are used more for taking 30

ages from about 3 through 80-something. But no matter the age or the texture of hair, he always aims to do the best he can to please every client. One appointment may be a high school freshman, the next a man in his 80s. “I always try to give every cut as if it were the client’s wedding day,” said Gray. “I love the feeling of giving people confidence and being one of the few on earth to do that,” he continued. “For me, it’s never been about the money.” Gray is all about quality rather than quantity and finds it very gratifying when a client gets out of his chair with renewed confidence.

Documentary in Process

Gray explained that working in the industry has yielded some unexpected life lessons and observations on the mindset of barbers. After seven years of cutting hair, he wants to share some insights and behind the scenes glimpses on the human aspect of the job. So much so that he is in the process of creating a documentary series entitled “Deep Cut – The Chair Built Me.” The series, which he plans to post on social media (Instagram, Facebook and YouTube), will spotlight interviews with barbers who have been in the profession for at least 10 or more years. “It will feature conversations with seasoned barbers about the side of the craft you don’t typically hear about,” said Gray,

that come attached to the craft.” Barbers, he said, often listen to the personal struggles and details of clients’ lives. It kind of comes with the territory. Clients frequently talk about their families, milestones, special moments in time. And when clients are regulars, which is commonplace in the industry – whether weekly, biweekly, monthly or every six weeks – their barber often gets to know a lot about their lives. “Some guys come in, and they may be feeling depressed,” he said. “They confide in me. Sometimes, I can connect but it can be stressful. Some clients may ask for advice, and I don’t have the answers. I’m not a licensed psychologist.” It is this nuanced aspect of the industry that Gray aspires to share with the world. Working an 11-or 12-hour day from Tuesday through Saturday, Gray is on his feet most of the day. He feels that it’s part of his job to listen, to be a welcoming, cheerful presence, to be happy. “So even if I’m struggling, I have to put on a happy face,” he said. Gray looks forward to sharing the spotlights of an array of seasoned barbers, which he plans to release one at a time. At the end of the day, Gray finds it extremely rewarding when clients get out of his chair feeling refreshed, renewed and more self-confident. The finishing touches matter as does the “wow” factor. Gray wants each client to “feel like a million bucks” after their haircut. n

Reaching the Beach Bill Sablich Ocean Media and Total Reach Media WITH A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE of beachgoers and vacationers at the Jersey Shore, business have always sought out ways to reach these potential customers. There’s always been some traditional and clever ways of advertising over the years. Of course, there’s the iconic planes that have been pulling the word about fudge, saltwater taffy, frozen custard or drink specials in the sky high above the New Jersey coastline – some since the mid-1940s. You’ve probably come across newer advertising styles with messages

BY MIKE SHUTE

stamped into the sand. Of course, there’s your standard billboards and signage along the roadways leading toward your favorite beach, or on piers and boardwalk railings, depending upon which of the towns you frequent. But veteran advertising executive Bill Sablich, the owner of Total Reach Media and his newly purchased Ocean Media, is hoping to make his impact by sea, doing so in and around what is known as “America’s Greatest Family Resort,” – Ocean City, NJ.

“Watching families, vacationers, people just soaking up the day, and knowing that right in that moment, a local business owner’s message is reaching them.” Sablich’s boasts a 25-foot catamaran boat with a digital screen that can present motion or animated video, static photos, and written text all on a 300-square-foot digital screen that floats along the coastline at a rate of 3 to 5 miles per hour. After pulling out of the Boatyard Marina in Somers Point at about 9 a.m. each day, the floating messenger goes under the Longport-Ocean City Bridge, goes past the Gardens section of Ocean City and then goes from 1st Street all the way down to 55th Street in about 90 minutes, then when it gets to Corson’s Inlet, it turns around and heads back up toward the Gardens, making another 90-minute trek for a roughly three-hour tour – without Gilligan and friends. It will make two full trips down and back before making its way back to the marina, but is visible to beach goers from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

IN JUNE, SABLICH GOT HIS FIRST TASTE of the boat life from aboard the vessel. “Stepping onto that boat for the first time and seeing the people on the beach — it genuinely stopped me in my tracks,” explained Sablich, a

Bill Sablish

30-year veteran of the advertising industry primarily working with billboards and radio advertising over the years. “There’s something you can’t fully prepare for: watching families, vacationers, people just soaking up the day, and knowing that right in that moment, a local business owner’s message is reaching them.

“Having the boat is unique, it’s different, it’s seasonal. I truly love the Jersey Shore, I’ve been going to the Jersey Shore for my whole life”

“These are real people supporting real businesses, and we’re out there on the water making those connections happen. It felt less like work and more like a reminder of why I do this. The beaches in early June were already beautiful — the energy, the people, the whole scene. But peak season? I have a feeling we haven’t seen anything yet, and honestly, I can’t wait.” Sablich, who is a resident of Dresher, PA, but owns a home in Ocean City, bought Ocean Media back in January after leaving his long-time corporate role at OUTFRONT Media, Inc., in July 2025. He started Total Reach Media in November, and the floating billboard boat of Ocean Media is now a part of the fold. “I started Total Reach Media as a media sales company where I sell billboard owners’ inventory, so I would sell the space on other people’s billboards that just wanted to own and operate and manage them. I do the selling. I also sell radio commercial advertising on Phillies Spanish Radio broadcasts and some digital media products as well. Then this opportunity came along for me to grab some of my own assets, which is better than selling other people’s products. So, I bought the boat. When I first bought it, I was going to make it under my umbrella of Total Reach Media, but Ocean Media NJ was the boat company, and it had a brand

The floating billboard is visible to beach goers from 10 am to 4 pm each day.

and sounded better. I kept that company name as its own separate company, but it operates under Total Reach.” “Having the boat is unique, it’s different, it’s seasonal. I truly love the Jersey Shore, I’ve been going to the Jersey Shore for my whole life, and Ocean City specifically the last 26 years with my family (which includes his wife of almost 30 years, Jennifer, and his three children: Conor (27) and

21-year-old twins Catherine and Kyle). Just to be a part of the Ocean City community, buying Ocean Media made a lot of sense to me. “In terms of opportunity, the previous owner – while he was doing a great job with it – was utilizing the business to kind of promote himself. He owned a lot of other businesses along the Jersey Shore, so he would use the boat advertising as a way to promote those businesses. I saw a lot of opportunity to create special kinds of advertising and unique sponsorship opportunities. I thought it would be a great way to do more than just billboards and make it part of the community. I’m trying to work with the Ocean City Chamber of Commerce so they can use it for broadcasting messages and promoting activities that are going on in Ocean City. I want to make it more than just an advertising solution, … more of a special part of the community and do some great things with it.”

“To be able to do some cool things, like including the weather, flashing up news, maybe even sports scores and being informational, we can probably get someone to sponsor those elements. That kind of excites me.”

ALONG WITH ADS FOR PIZZA, surf and turf specials and mini golf, Sablich wants to add messages about the tides, the weather, and other things that will help the everyday vacationer improve their enjoyment of Ocean City and open people’s eyes to the variety of entertainment options in and around town. “As you’re sitting on the beach, you can plan your day. I want to try to provide some information for beachgoers because that’s an important part of visiting the shore. It is definitely attention getting, and it’s brand-safe too. I’m not going to allow controversial ads or strong political messaging either way. Clients seem to love it because they know they’re reaching families, and it’s a certain kind of advertising that’s basic. Plus, it allows them to do multiple things. If it’s Storybook Land that’s advertising, and then it’s raining out, it puts opportunities like that in people’s brains. ‘If it’s not a great beach day, what else can we do in the area? Oh

yeah, what about that place we saw on the boat? We have kids and we don’t want to be stuck in the house.’ Maybe it’s an ice cream shop, or a miniature golf course, or the chance to visit a winery, or something like that. It gives businesses like that a greater and different opportunity to reach people. “(Non-business) people love the opportunity, too. I get quite a few calls from people who want to do personal messaging – graduation, anniversary, engagement messaging – any type of congratulations or birthday wish. One other unique thing we can do with the boat is create situations where we can have events such as movie nights and enhanced coverage of other special occasions. “To be able to do some cool things, like including the weather, flashing up news, maybe even sports scores and being informational, we can probably get someone to sponsor those elements. That kind of excites me. That’s what made me buy the business.” So far, Sablich has found the biggest challenge to his new venture to be the boat life, for instance, scraping barnacles. “But what has surprised me is how much work goes into maintaining a 25-foot catamaran boat and keeping the engine going and all the work that has to be done on the boat itself. The advertising part of the business, it’s super exciting, but I don’t really have any boat experience. All of the maintenance, the upkeep issues, the challenges of keeping it in the marina and not getting it stuck in the mud during low tide, all of those things that revolve around the boat itself, that is a whole learning curve that I’m really getting up to speed quickly on.” Sablich says that because of the unique way the boat delivers its messages, it can quickly become as beloved and iconic as the famous planes that soar over the ocean. “Besides just having one stagnant message per pass like the planes, the boat can carry more variety and includes pictures. It’s a 300 sq ft screen where each ad flashes for 10 seconds over a roughly 8-minute rotation, and it’s hard to forget. The boat is eye level, and I definitely believe it’s going to catch everyone’s attention, even if you only look up for a second or two. And, encouraging people to put up those personal messages, birthday, anniversary, graduation, retirement, I think it gives us a little more credibility in the community and makes us more of a part of it. “I’m also creating a feature where people can submit photos through social media – uploaded onto our screen – with people enjoying the best family vacation spot in the country. That also makes us closer to the community. And I intend to participate in Night in Venice (July 25) and put the boat in the water for that annual celebration. I truly want to be part of Ocean City community.” n

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

BY KURT SMITH

Philadelphia’s Revolutionary Summer

Bells Across PA

EMEMBER IN 2005, when Moorestown featured various RCA decorative sculptures of “Nipper”, the RCA Victor dog, around town? And if you remembered the classic brand, how neat it was to spot one? The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania must have liked the idea. They are celebrating America’s semiquincentennial with a much larger-scale version of it. It’s called “Bells Across PA”, and it’s fiberglass Liberty Bell-shaped sculptures, painted by local artists to reflect the location of each Bell. You can see one in Valley Forge, decorated with the Father of Our Country leading his troops into the most daring maneuver of the war. Or view a stunningly painted Bell in downtown Pittsburgh, adorned with the breathtaking city skyline. As of this writing, there are 94 Bells Across PA to see. There’s at least

Photo by Kurt Smith

America turns 250 years old this July, and the city where it all started is at the center of the celebration all year.

one in every county, but if you don’t have the time to find them all, there are 23 in Philadelphia alone. Go see Parris Stancell’s “A Tapestry of Hidden History” at the United Lutheran Seminary, Gail Gaines’s “Freedom Rising” at Mother Bethel AME Church, Sean Martorana’s “Heartbeat of the Fox” in Lions Park, or Tara Jacoby’s “We the People” at the Philadelphia Visitor Center to start. If you’re an art enthusiast, you’ll want to see as many of these treasures as you can. You can find their locations at www.visitpa.com/2026/bells-across-pa.

SEMIQUINCENTENNIAL is a huge milestone for a nation, especially one that has come pretty far in a relatively short time. At age 250, the nation’s birthplace is the obvious choice not just for tourism, but for major sports leagues to host their biggest events. 41

52 Weeks of Firsts

HE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA and its people, of course, made quite the contribution to this country’s existence. On that basis alone, the city deserves an All-Star Game 250 years later.

But a look into the history of accomplishments of Philadelphians, especially when it comes to being the first at many things, creates an even more remarkable impression. The Philadelphia Historic District 250th Committee is recognizing the city’s groundbreaking contributions to a better existence with “52 Weeks of Firsts”, a series of events and podcasts that tell the amazing stories of firsts that happened in or near Philadelphia. Each Saturday event, at the various historic locations, showcases a Philly first with a storyteller sharing the true story, family-friendly activities, and entertainment. There will also be a sculpture from a local artist at each event, celebrating the milestone. You can also watch the accompanying podcast on YouTube, featuring WMMR’s Marisa Magnatta as the host. Here are a few firsts that you might not be aware came from Philadelphia:

The First Public Girl Scout Cookie Sale: In 1933, publicly

sold Girl Scout cookies showed itself to be a recession-proof idea…even a Depression-proof idea. Girl Scouts of Philadelphia were the first to make that happen, with sales at local utility company windows in the city. The idea took hold, because thin mints.

The First Public Protest Against Slavery: Almost two

centuries before Fort Sumter, Philadelphians were seeing something wrong with slavery. Supported by a group of German and Dutch Quaker immigrants in Germantown, Francis Daniel Pastorius wrote the Germantown Quaker Petition of 1688. It was the first public document to denounce slavery.

The First Stadium in America: This one had to be in Philly,

right? In fact, the original home of the Eagles, Franklin Field, is recognized as the first true stadium in America. It was also the first to feature a scoreboard and a second-tier upper deck, and it hosted the first-ever radio broadcast of a football game.

The First Ice Cream Soda: Like the cheesesteak, it’s one

of those classic “Why didn’t I think to mix these ingredients together?” moments. In 1874, Robert M. Green ran out of cream to mix with his soda and used vanilla ice cream instead. There are others that lay claim to the invention, like George Guy, who worked at Green’s fountain and reportedly accidentally dropped a scoop into a soda, but for the most part, it’s recognized as a Philly invention. You can go to the Visit Philadelphia website to learn more about “52 Weeks of Firsts”, with links to the podcasts, as well as event schedules and locations.

Lincoln Financial Field will be named “Philadelphia Stadium” for the World Cup.

JerseyMan and PhillyMan have already extensively covered the coming visit to Citizens Bank Park of America’s best ballplayers for the MLB AllStar Game on July 14. If you’re interested, have a look at our spring issue. But the country’s 250th is viewed by another major sports organization as the perfect opportunity to showcase its biggest event here. You’re probably aware that FIFA’s World Cup is featuring six of its matches at Lincoln Financial Field, including a Round of 16 elimination tournament on the Fourth. You might even have attended or are attending one of those matches. (If you are, congratulations on being successful enough to afford tickets. As this sentence was written, it’s over $800 just to get in the door.) Better yet, our home state will also be hosting the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium in the Meadowlands. Thankfully, the much-maligned

After 250 years of celebrating some pretty big events, Philly knows how to handle this. and road improvements. After 250 years of celebrating some pretty big events, the city knows how to handle this. They’ll be offering enhanced public transit, residential parking protections, improved pedestrian and bicycle access, even increased tour bus service to Lemon Hill on the Philly PHLASH tour bus. SEPTA is also well prepared, a reminder that two and a half centuries in, your taxation is still generating representation. Transit rides are still just $2.90 on match days, making it possible for the folks who spent $2,000 on hospitality packages to recoup at least some of their excess by avoiding triple-digit parking rates. In addition to the Broad Street Subway, we all know and love for getting to the Linc, the G1 trolley (and of course, several SEPTA buses) can get you to Fairmount Park and the festivals at Lemon Hill. For late evening matches, there will be additional Regional Rail service. If you’re planning to go to either a match or the festival, it’s probably a good idea to use transit…not just because of the parking cost, but because of the hassle and traffic on the way. It’s not likely that you’ll ever see so many visitors from across the globe ascending the Art Museum steps.

turf at MetLife is being temporarily replaced with a natural grass pitch for the event, as required by FIFA. Interestingly enough, both stadiums have been given temporary names for the Cup. The Linc is now “Philadelphia Stadium”, while MetLife is now “New York New Jersey Stadium”. Not very imaginative… couldn’t they have at least called the Linc “Vince Papale Stadium”?...but that’s also a FIFA requirement: no corporate sponsors that aren’t affiliated with FIFA.

HE IDEA OF 250 YEARS of unprecedented success for a nation after throwing off its tyrannical shackles deserves special recognition, even beyond the world’s biggest sporting events calling the nation’s birthplace its championship destination.

Photos by Kurt Smith

HE FIFA FAN FESTIVAL, taking place through July 19 at Lemon Hill in East Fairmount Park is free, but you have to request a pass on the Philly World Cup 2026 website. The fan festivals are likely to be a fascinating snapshot of a 250-year tradition of people across the globe coming to America for a better party. On match days, they’ll feature watch parties (and broadcasts on massive screens), concession offerings, and entertainment. Local artists, performers, and community groups will all make appearances and showcase their talents. It’s the kind of party the Founders envisioned would be possible in a free country, complete with a rotating lineup of food trucks, arguably one of the standout features of a liberated nation. (That’s not sarcasm.) Lemon Hill will also be seeing improvements in the deal, including “removal of invasive plant species”, new sidewalks, accessible ramps,

National Constitution Center

Neighborhood Jawnts See what they did there with the classic Philly slang? Neighborhood Jawnts is an ongoing tour series of Philadelphia neighborhoods, where tour guides take visitors to various places in a neighborhood and share stories and other highlights. Tours are conducted in cooperation with neighborhood organizations, and include a look at the local community’s culture, creativity, and long-established businesses.

Photo by Kurt Smith

There’s a total of 20 Jawnts going on in various communities; tours are running through October. Even if you’ve missed some good ones, like the East Passyunk tour that celebrates the iconic neon of Pat’s and Geno’s cheesesteaks, there’s plenty more you can still enjoy.

Some of these shouldn’t be missed for proud Philadelphians. In July, the tours will include Chinatown, Germantown, Chestnut Hill / Mt. Airy, and the South 9th Street Market. August is even more promising: there’s a Jazz in North Philly tour, a South Philadelphia tour, and a South Broad Street tour, which presumably should include great Spectrum stories. Since it’s often easy to be overwhelmed choosing from the selection of food in this city…the Reading Terminal Market alone is a source of great agitation…a Neighborhood Jawnt could tell you about local food icons. Everyone should expand their horizons with a Schmitter. Until reading about the Frankford-Tacony tour, for example, this writer hadn’t heard of Fink’s Hoagies. Planning a trip. The Neighborhood Jawnts schedule is available on the Philadelphia Visitor’s Center website. Tours are free, but you need a reservation. 44

Even The New York Times and The Boston Globe – two publications whose readers might not always have the highest opinion of the City of Brotherly Love – listed Philadelphia as a must-visit place in 2026.

Philadelphians especially deserve to be proud of our history, and the city is reflecting that in multiple ways. Sure, there will be a longer parade than usual and a spectacular fireworks display for all on the anniversary of the signing. But the celebration will keep going throughout our semiquincentennial year. Interested in participating in the Block Party Bonanza? The city is giving a boost to block parties, with “Life, Liberty, and Happiness” kits. The kits, according to the America 250 website, include “giveaways, decorations, games, and activities for all ages”. ShopRite is even chipping in gift cards for food and beverages. The city is also offering “Neighborhood Jawnts” through October, a tour series celebrating the history, small businesses, and culture of neighborhoods across the city. The East Passyunk Jawnt, for example, shared the history of the Moyamensing Prison, the Singing Fountain, and of course, the Pat’s and Geno’s rivalry. You can find out more on the city’s Visitor Center website. Any time of any year for any American, the National Constitution Center is worth a visit. But if you’ve already been, it’s worth a return visit for two new exhibits in 2026. There’s “America’s Founding”, an interactive gallery that brings to life the drafting, ratification, and adoption of the Constitution and Bill of Rights, and “Governing the Nation”, a gallery featuring exhibits and interactive experiences detailing the checks and balances system of our branched government. Visit Philly called the America’s Founding exhibit “a sensory and aesthetic homage to what the United States has long stood for, offering hope for a brighter future”. The great folks at Wawa are getting in on the fun, too. They’re sponsoring the Welcome America Festival 2026. From Juneteenth to July 4th, Welcome America features free museum days throughout the city, including visits to the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, the Christ Church Preservation Trust, and the American Philosophical Society Museum. From painted Liberty Bells to historical tours to new exhibits, there’s no better time to take advantage of being a Philadelphia area native.

Victory Philly First Brew When it comes to different ways to celebrate a semiquincentennial, a good beer is something a Jersey Man or Philly Man can always get behind. Victory Brewing Company, as you probably know, is an established craft brewery that started over three decades ago in Downingtown. Today, they have taprooms in multiple locations, including in Center City, with a wide variety of craft beers on tap to go with a great burger. Being from the Philadelphia area, of course, it was on the Victory people to recognize America’s 250th birthday occasion. They did just that with the Philly First Anniversary Ale. Photo by Kurt Smith

S THE VISIT PHILADELPHIA WEBSITE pointed out, travel publications of all kinds are calling Philadelphia a top destination in 2026. Beyond the semiquincentennial milestone and the sporting events, festivals, and enhancements going with it, travel entities point out a wide range of what makes our city great anytime. Travel & Leisure named Philadelphia one of the top 50 must-visit culinary destinations in 2026, praising award-winning chefs from around the world who call Philly home. CNN, in its listing of top places to visit, was smart enough to mention the 50th anniversary of Rocky. And Afar Magazine, in addition to gushing over the Nation of Artists exhibit at the Art Museum, chose scrapple as the one food you travel to Pennsylvania for. Even The New York Times and The Boston Globe – two publications whose readers might not always have the highest opinion of the City of Brotherly Love – listed Philadelphia as a must-visit place in 2026. Fortunately for JerseyMan and PhillyMan readers, we live here. Or at least, not far away across a river that is light-years easier to cross today than it was on Christmas Night in 1776. We probably shouldn’t take for granted how great we have it, not just to be Americans, but to live in a city full of reminders why We the People showed that we could deliver a better life for all than royalty ever could. Philadelphia isn’t just the home of the ultimate underdog triumph 250 years ago. It’s a city that still points to a better and brighter future. A place where it’s easily conceivable that a great sandwich will still be easy to find by 2276. n

Philly First Anniversary Ale is available in 4-packs of 16 oz. cans. It’s 4.8% alcohol, so you can enjoy more than one. It’s made from Simcoe, Strata and Amarillo hops, and Pilsner, Vienna and Wheat malts. Victory describes it as “light hop bitterness with notes of citrus, floral, tropical fruit and pine with a clean and malty backbone”. And if nothing else, Philadelphians are well known for backbone. In addition to the Victory taprooms, you can find Philly First at your local beer store; they feature a Beer Finder on their website to help out. As Victory says, Philly First is “made for the good times and good people of this mighty fine city.” You could say Victory has proven themselves a key element of good times around these parts.

Photos CourtesyCody Melton

Cody Melton with a 300-pound giant bluefin tuna he caught in North Carolina in January 2026.

South Jersey’s First Family of Fishing BY SAM CARCHIDI

ome fishermen have

tales – inflated tales – about their big catches and their amazing adventures on the sea. Cody Melton is a fisherman with big tales, big catches, big adventures. Only his stories are not inflated. Melton, 32, has been there, done that. Caught an 850-pound blue marlin? Check. Combined with other family members to win over half a million dollars in tournament fishing last year? Check. Runs a highly successful, high-end fishing fleet? Check. In other words, Melton is living the dream. Work doesn’t seem like work. His job – leading top-of-the-line fishing excursions – is something that has become a part of his DNA. And his family’s. “Some people are lucky to work and do something they love,” Melton said recently. “I’m lucky enough to be in that position.” Melton and his brother, RJ, own and operate Jersey Nutz Sportfishing, which has three vessels that take fishermen on trips out of Atlantic City and Point Pleasant Beach. The company also charters boats out of North Carolina in the winter. “My brother and I started the business when I was a senior in high school,” said Cody

Jersey Nutz, a custom-built vessel from Blackwell Boatworks, fishes out of Atlantic City.

Melton, a 2012 graduate of North Burlington Regional in Columbus, N.J., where he was a state wrestling champion. How was his company’s name created? “The Nutz part came about because everyone said we were nuts to start a charter fishing

business,” he said. The brothers got the last laugh. The business, now in its 14th year, is flourishing. In 2012, they purchased their first vessel around the same time Cody was winning the 285-pound NJSIAA state wrestling title. 49

He has chartered boats for NFL quarterbacks and company CEOs – and every occupation in between. Deep family roots For the Melton brothers, Jersey Nutz Sportfishing has deep family roots. Their father, Robert, who has his captain’s license like his sons, and their uncle, John Melton, “always had the love for offshore fishing, but they did it recreationally,” Cody Melton said. “A weekend fishermen-type thing. And they got my brother and I into it. My father has always been a big help in the business.” The family’s fishing lineage goes back even further. The brothers’ great grandfather was a charter captain in Key West, Fla., and their grandfather was an outdoor enthusiast who had a sportfishing vessel. “It kind of just kept progressing, and then

my brother and I started the business,” Cody said. “My great-grandfather did some small boat charters in Key West with shallow-water fishing, but nothing like we do now.” Cody runs the company’s biggest vessel, a 61-foot, $2 million custom-built boat that runs excursions out of Atlantic City, near the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino. RJ handles the mechanical duties connected to the boats and is a part-time captain, though he doesn’t travel as much as in the past because he wants to spend time with his two young children. James Kerbaugh is the company’s other captain. Trips run from the Jersey Shore in the summer, with guests fishing mainly for big-eye

tuna and yellowfin tuna. “But we also catch a lot of white marlin, blue marlin, mahi, and swordfish,” Cody said. “There’s quite an awesome fishery here in New Jersey that not a lot of people know about.”

‘Southern’ fish in NJ A lot of the “southern” fish come up the Gulf Stream and are captured in canyons that are 70 to 95 miles off the Jersey Coast. In the spring and fall, Jersey Nutz does sixand eight-hour coastal excursions, during which clients fish for striped bass. It’s a little easier for families to do, Cody said. In the winter months, the operation runs vessels from North Carolina’s Outer Banks, with participants capturing lots of blue-fin tuna. The excursions that run out of Atlantic City take off near the Golden Nugget and attract high rollers. Six people, along with the captain and the mate, are permitted on the boat and are treated to a high-end, luxury experience – complete with leather couches, air-conditioned rooms, TVs, beds, bathrooms, a kitchen, and showers. The cost is $7,950 (plus tip) for the guests, or $1,325 per person for the 26-hour trip.

Photos CourtesyCody Melton

Captain Cody Melton (far left) and his family members gather to weigh in the winning fish at the Jimmy Johnson Tournament in Atlantic City last year.

The vessel, which has a Seakeeper that stabilizes the journey and reduces the “rock and roll,” is equipped with advanced technology that enables guests to find schools of fish. “That’s the vessel I fish from when I’m doing all the tournaments,” Cody said. “The last few seasons, we’ve had a lot of good tournaments

RJ Melton

ing fish at the same time,” he said. Some people use Cody and Jersey Nutz because they want to fish with such an expert. Some use the company because of the topnotch boats. Some take the trips because of the company’s great success at catching huge fish. Cody once caught a blue marlin in the canyon that weighed 850 pounds. Repeat: 850 pounds. That’s success. “There are some monster, monster fish out there,” he said. For Cody and his brother, the fishing, the excursions, and meeting interesting people is what makes their job so enjoyable. It’s more like a labor of love, Cody said.

Wakes up smiling

and won quite a few as well.” Providing luxury on the sea, he said, has been Jesey Nutz’ brand in the industry. “Our goal is to provide a first-class service from start to finish – and be the best at catch-

“That’s really what drove us to start the business, and it’s still what really drives us,” he said. “I wake up every day smiling to go fishing because every day is different. It’s not like going to an office and sitting at your desk and kind of knowing what you’re going to do every day. “Whether it’s the fish that are different and they bite differently, or the sea conditions that are different or Mother Nature is different,

there are a lot of variables that go into it, which can make it harder, but it also makes it interesting,” he said. Cody and RJ are also deeply involved in Melton Industries, a family business that specializes in diesel engine repair and remanufacturing services. But fishing is what makes them tick. A resident of Springfield, Burlington County, Cody said, “You never really know when you leave the dock how your day is going to go as far as success, but it’s never boring.” One of the perks of his job is meeting people with different backgrounds. He has chartered boats for NFL quarterbacks and company CEOs – and every occupation in between. “I’ve had clients who have turned into friends and still fish with me,” Cody said. Those who want to learn more about fishing from Cody and his crew can listen to their podcast called Get ‘Em Giddy, and it sometimes includes some of the clients they take on excursions. “It’s just something my brother and I have always said to each other – and we ran with it. You know, giddy in the sense of ‘get ‘em fired up,’” said Cody, adding that the slogan is written on each of the company’s boats and its apparel. Melton and his family members were extremely fired up after excelling in tournaments last year and bringing home more than half a million in prize money. “We won two tournaments with my family last year,” Cody said. “It was with my dad, my brother, my brother-in-law, my uncle’s kids. That was really cool. We had a really good tournament season.” Among its wins, the group captured prizes in the fifth annual Jimmy Johnson “Quest for the Ring” Tournament out of Atlantic City. The tourney, which had more than 60 teams and over $1 million in payouts, was hosted by Jimmy Johnson, the former Dallas Cowboys football coach. Jersey Nutz had the most total earnings (roughly $270,000) and the heaviest big-eye tuna, weighing 135.5 pounds. And that’s not a fish story. n 51

2026 Eagles Season Preview

THE NEW LOOK BIRDS

When the Eagles open training camp at the end of July, a lot of familiar faces both on the field and on the sidelines will be missing. The team’s top wide receiver, best assistant coach and a couple of mainstays on defense are all gone. This is a different Eagles team with significant changes on offense, defense and the coaching staff. Will the results be different? We won’t know that until January. Here’s what we do know about what has changed since last season’s playoff loss to San Francisco. BY MARK ECKEL

THE COACHING STAFF: Head coach

Nick Sirianni is back for his sixth season and will look to extend his playoff streak to six years on the way to his third Super Bowl. Those around Sirianni will not be the same. Quarterback Jalen Hurts will have his sixth different offensive coordinator in just his seventh NFL season. Sean Mannion, who turned 34 the weekend of the draft, replaced Kevin Patullo as offensive coordinator. Patullo replaced Kellen Moore, who replaced Brian Johnson, who replaced Sean Steichen, who replaced Doug Pederson/Press Taylor. Steichen (Colts) and Moore (Saints) were hired as head coaches. The rest, including Patullo, were fired. Mannion, a onetime backup quarterback, spent one year as Green Bay’s quarterback coach. The biggest change will be the absence of offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. Hired in 2013 by Chip Kelly, Stoutland made his mark as one of the best to ever do his job. A disagreement over his title of run game coordinator being removed, the long-time coach decided to take a year off. The last time Stoutland wasn’t on the Eagles coaching staff, Andy Reid was. Think about that for a minute. Ryan Mahaffey, who came with Mannion from Green Bay, will serve as tight ends coach and

run game coordinator. Josh Grizzard will be the new passing game coordinator and Chris Kuper will try to fill the giant shoes Stoutland left behind as offensive line coach. Grizzard, who turned 36 in June, was a quality control coach in Miami before spending last year as Tampa Bay’s offensive coordinator. Kuper, 43, played guard for six years in Denver before becoming an assistant for both the Broncos and Dolphins. He was Minnesota’s OL coach the past three seasons. Defensively, coordinator Vic Fangio will be back for another season. Fangio denied reports he mulled retirement and said he has at least two more years in him. Fangio did lose his top assistant when secondary coach Christian Parker left to become the DC in Dallas. Joe Kasper was promoted from safety coach to replace Parker and Mike Pellegrino was added to the staff. This will be Kasper’s fifth season with the team. Pellegrino, a college lacrosse star at Johns Hopkins, spent nine years as an assistant in New England and last year in Buffalo.

THE OFFENSE: Wide receiver A.J. Brown

and his 339 receptions, 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns as an Eagle are gone. While a trade (to New England) was inevitable, Brown

will still be missed. Fellow receiver Jahan Dotson, not so much. The former No. 1 pick of Washington cost the Eagles a third-round pick but caught just 37 passes in his two years with the team. DeVonta Smith becomes the true No. 1 WR after being 1A to Brown. Battling for spots 2 and 3 will be first-round draft pick Makai Lemon, free agent addition Hollywood Brown and trade acquisition Dontayvion Wicks. Another free agent, Elijah Moore, could also be in the mix. The Eagles moved up a few slots to No. 20 to select Lemon, and the team hopes it bucks history. The last three times the Eagles have taken a first-round wide receiver with the 20th overall pick, or later, it turned into Freddie Mitchell (25), Nelson Agholor (21) and Jalen Reagor (20). Hollywood Brown will be on his fourth team. His best years came in Baltimore. Last year in Kansas City, the 5-foot-9 speedster caught 49 passes for 587 yards and five touchdowns. Wicks, a tough possession-type receiver, had 108 catches for 1,238 yards in his three years in Green Bay. He dropped nine passes in 2024, but cut that number to just two in 2025. While Stoutland is gone his last offensive line somewhat surprisingly returns intact. The Eagles did not address their line until the third round of the draft when they selected Miami tackle 53

Markel Brown. The team is obviously hoping for better health from right tackle Lane Johnson, who missed eight games last season and has not played a full season since 2015 and center Cam Jurgens, who missed three games last year and 10 over the past three years. Johnson and guard Landon Dickerson both thought about retirement but decided to return for another season.

THE DEFENSE: Fangio is back, but four

of his starters from 2025 are not. Edge rusher Jaelen Phillips, who the team traded a thirdround pick to get at the deadline, safety Reed Blankenship, linebacker Nakobe Dean and cornerback Adoree Jackson all left as free agents. A draft day trade of two third-round picks was spent to acquire Jon Greenard from Minnesota to replace Phillips. Jihaad Campbell was taken in the first round of the 2025 draft to eventually replace Dean and that’s what he’ll do. Riq Woolen was signed away from Seattle as a free agent and will replace Jackson. Fangio said Pro Bowl nickel back Cooper DeJean will play safety in base defense and move back to the slot in nickel. Untested Marcus Epps and Andrew Mukuba will man

the safety spots when DeJean moves to slot. Greenard had 24 1/2 sacks for Houston and Minnesota in 2023 and 2024, but just three last season for the Vikings. Woolen had an up-anddown season for the Super Bowl champion Seahawks. He started at the beginning of the season but came off the bench later. He allowed three touchdown passes during the regular season, and then three more in three playoff games.

Eagles, in 2024, was ravaged by injuries a year ago. A healthy Jayden Daniels, at quarterback, could make all the difference in the world for head coach Dan Quinn’s team. And speaking of head coaches, the Giants took a huge jump in class, going from Brian Daboll to former longtime Eagles assistant coach John Harbaugh. The Giants have a lot of room to improve from 4-13 and still might have a ways to go, but you have to think Harbaugh, who had great success in Baltimore, will have them pointed in the right direction.

THE DIVISION: When the Eagles became

the first team since 2004— when they also did it — to repeat as NFC East champions it wasn’t that difficult. At 11-6, they were the only team in the division to finish over .500. Dallas was 7-9-1, Washington was 5-12 and New York was 4-13. It was the first time the division didn’t have at least two .500, or better, teams since 2020 when nobody in the division was .500. That figures to change this season. The Cowboys, who have suffered back-to-back losing seasons in 2024 and 2025, have not had three consecutive losing seasons since 200001-02. Washington, who made it to the NFC Championship Game, where they lost to the

THE SCHEDULE: There are eight playoff

teams from a year ago on this year’s slate. That’s two more than last year when the team went 3-3 in those six games with wins over Buffalo, Green Bay and the Rams and losses to Denver, Chicago and the Chargers. Four of those eight games in 2026 will come in consecutive weeks when the Eagles face the Bears, Rams, Jaguars (in London) and Panthers between Sept. 28 and Oct. 26. Three more will come over the final month of the season when they face the Seahawks, Texans and 49ers. The eighth playoff team they face is Pittsburgh and Aaron Rodgers in week 11. n

Merion’s famous wicker basket

Merion Golf Club Gets Another Star Turn BY MICHAEL BRADLEY

Photo courtesy Merion Golf Club

uring its distinguished 130-year history, Merion Golf Club has hosted many signature events that have been won by some of golf ’s most legendary names. Chick Evans won the 1916 U.S. Amateur Championship there. Bob Jones won the U.S. Amateur in 1924 and ’30. Ben Hogan captured the 1950 U.S. Open, and Lee Trevino topped the field at the ’71 U.S. Open. Merion’s reputation in the global golf community is impeccable, and the club has become a preferred destination for the game’s top players. That’s why the United States Golf Association has chosen Merion to host the 2030, 2040 and 2050 U.S. Opens, as well as the 2034 and ’46 U.S. Women’s Opens.

“What happened is that the match play and potentially two USGA learned that the great 36-hole daily marathons to earn players of today want to win the same title won by Evans, tournaments where the great Jones, Arnold Palmer, Jack Nickplayers of yesterday won,” says laus and Tiger Woods. This is the Scott Nye, Merion’s Director 126th playing of the tournament, of Championships. “It’s more which began in 1895 and which meaningful for them to win at was not contested during World historic courses, like Oakmont, Wars I and II. Pebble Beach, Pinehurst, The It’s a unique test of golf – PGA Country Club and Merion. Tour events require four days and “The USGA said, ‘Let’s get 72 holes of play – a chance to win Scott Nye these classic venues booked.’” the USGA’s oldest title and an opOne of those bookings will occur from Auportunity for Ardmore-based Merion once again gust 10-16, when Merion hosts the U.S. Amato show off the course that has made it one of teur for a record seventh time. The grueling, golf ’s most historic and challenging layouts. week-long tournament brings together the “From the moment you step on the properbest non-professional golfers from more than ty, you can feel its long-standing history,” says 30 countries, who must survive stroke play, USGA Senior Director of Championships Ben 59

‘‘

Hole number 16

“The great players of today want to win tournaments where the great players of yesterday won.” Kimball. “The fact that we have hosted more USGA championships there than at any other club in the U.S. and that it is one of the best golf courses in the world resonates. It’s fitting that we return there as often as we do.” 60

Merion will host matches throughout the week, but the tournament’s substantial size (312 golfers) creates a need for another course to handle the 36 holes of stroke play on August 11-12 that will winnow the field to 64 golfers. So, Philadelphia Country Club in Gladwyne, which was founded in 1890, and which nine years later became the seventh USGA member, will host golfers on the first two days of the Championship. But the star of the week is Merion, which last welcomed the tournament in 2005, when Italy’s Edoardo Molinari became the first Italian and the first Continental European to win the U.S. Amateur. In 2025, 18-year-old Mason Howell became the third-youngest winner when he defeated Jackson “The Fridge” Herrington at San Francisco’s Olympic Club.

“Having been involved with the U.S. Amateur for so many years, maybe I’m biased, but I think it’s golf in its purest form,” Howell says. “You have amateur golfers fighting for the ultimate prize of being the national champion in our oldest championship.” The U.S. Amateur is actually one day older than the U.S. Open, and it begins in June with local qualifying involving more than 5,000 golfers, at 48 sites around the country. Final qualifying takes place in July to produce a field of 312 that will head to Merion and Philadelphia CC for 18 holes of stroke play on August 10 and 11 that will cut the field to 64. On August 12, at Merion, those golfers will play 18-hole matches to cut 32 from the ranks. The next day, the rounds of 32 and 16 will take place. The quarterfinal matches take place on August 14, with

Photo courtesy USGA/Chris Keane

‘‘

USGA Senior Director of Championships Ben Kimball

We have hosted more USGA championships [at Merion] than at any other club in the U.S. and that it is one of the best golf courses in the world resonates.”

the semifinals the next day. On Sunday, August 16, the two remaining competitors will play a 36-hole match to determine the winner. “It is truly a grind, from beginning to end,” Kimball says. “And it truly changes the winner’s life.”

•••

The U.S. Amateur was considered a “major” tournament from its inception until sometime in the 1950s. It joined the U.S. and British Opens and the British Amateur as the most important competitions. In 1930, Jones, who remains one of the seminal figures in golf history, became the only person to win all four majors in one calendar year. In May, he defeated English golfer Roger Wethered at the British Amateur at St. Andrews in Scotland. A month later, at Royal Liverpool, he captured the British Open and, for the first time – during a conversation with

writer Al Laney of the Herald Tribune in New York – spoke of his goal to win all four major tournaments. After surviving temperatures of up to 108 degrees to win the U.S. Open at Interlachen in Minneapolis, which caused the bantam-sized Jones to lose 10 pounds, he regrouped and prepared for the U.S. Amateur at what was then the Merion Cricket Club. Six years earlier, Jones had won the tournament at Merion (he also won in ’25, ’27 and ’28),

and he made clear his love of the course. On September 27, Jones drubbed Eugene Homans to win the U.S. Amateur. He had a seven-hole lead after the morning round and secured the triumph on the 11th hole in the afternoon. The golfing world celebrated the remarkable accomplishment, which Atlanta Journal writer O.B. Keeler dubbed “The Grand Slam.” By the 1950s, as professional golf grew in popularity, thanks to players like Palmer, the

Bobby Jones

U.S. Amateur lost some of its status among fans and media – but not within the USGA. “In the eyes and hearts of the USGA, it’s still a major,” Kimball says.

••• In 2030, the golf world will celebrate the centennial of Jones’ unique accomplishment, and the U.S. Open will be staged at Merion as a fitting tribute to the legendary golfer. Fans can expect another jam-packed experience, like the one at the Open in 2013. However, things will be different for those attending the U.S. Amateur this August. For one thing, there will not be the same crowds that fans experienced at the ’13 Open or in May during the PGA Championship at Aronimink Golf Club in Newtown Square. Despite the tremendous lineup of golfers scheduled to compete, the game’s biggest names – Rory McIlroy, Scottie Scheffler, etc. – will not be there. That removes some casual golf fans, who are attracted to the star power. There will also be much more modest hospitality and media presence at Merion for the U.S. Amateur. And fans can get closer to the play at the U.S.

Merion clubhouse

Amateur than they can at even a regular PGA event, much less a major tournament. Because there are fewer spectators, there is less of a need to provide buffers between the galleries and the competitors. That makes for a more enjoyable viewing experience. “For the U.S. Amateur Championship, we

don’t have the same infrastructure we do for the U.S. Open Championship,” Nye says. “There are no grandstands. The spectators can walk behind the golfers. It’s more intimate.” Because Merion is scheduled to host three men’s and two women’s U.S. Opens over the next 24 years, it’s unlikely it will stage the U.S. Amateur for quite a while. There is no arguing the impact on a club that holds a major, but being the site of the oldest American championship is also a significant distinction. “Hosting the U.S. Amateur is generally considered one of the highest honors a club can get from the USGA,” Nye says. “It’s a pretty exclusive collection of clubs, and hosting elevates Merion’s stature worldwide.” While the club will get a boost – although it is already considered one of the best courses on the planet – the winning golfer will also receive considerable esteem. Winning the U.S. Amateur is a tremendous achievement and can serve as a runway to tremendous professional success. Just look at the lineup of legends that have hoisted the Havemeyer Trophy. “We say it within our building, ‘It’s as important as any of the championships we sponsor,’” Kimball says. “When you win a major, whether it’s the U.S. Open, the Senior Women’s Amateur or the U.S. Amateur Championship, to say you won it at Merion Golf Club and are in the same conversation with Bobby Jones or Edoardo Molinari is a big thing. “It’s important to win the U.S. Amateur, but where you win it is especially important.” This August, Merion Golf Club will continue its important role within the USGA. n

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BY ALEXANDRA DUNEK

Sip Smart

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BY ANTHONY MONGELUZO

2025: The Year Tech IPOs Came Back Strong – And 2026 Looks Even Bigger THE DRY SPELL for tech companies going public is over. After a few quiet years, 2025 saw the IPO market wake up. The U.S. had hundreds of IPOs overall, with tech playing a big role. Companies raised real money—around $44 billion across the market—and AI-related businesses led the pack. Big winners included CoreWeave (the AI cloud powerhouse backed by Nvidia GPUs), which had one of the strongest debuts and kept climbing. Figma (the design tool everyone uses) finally went public after its Adobe deal fell through and did well. Others like Chime ( fintech banking), Circle (stablecoins), and SailPoint (cybersecurity) also made noise. It wasn’t crazy 2021-level hype, but solid companies with real sales and clearer paths to profit got rewarded. The takeaway? If you’re a solid tech business riding the AI wave and you clean up your numbers, the public markets are open again. Now, 2026 is shaping up to be huge. Three monster names—SpaceX, OpenAI, and Anthropic—could raise tens or even hundreds of billions combined. These aren’t small startups anymore. They’re changing how we live, work, and explore. For regular guys investing or just following tech, this means you might soon own a piece of the future. SpaceX: Rockets, Satellites, and Massive Ambition Elon Musk’s SpaceX is gearing up for what could be one of the biggest IPOs ever. They filed the paperwork and are aiming for a June 2026 debut on Nasdaq under ticker SPCX. Valuations are floating around 40-80 billion. Starlink is the star here—millions of users paying for fast satellite internet, especially in places with no good options. The company launches rockets like crazy, has steady NASA deals, and is talking about Mars and even space data centers. Risks? It spends a ton on new tech, faces regulations, and things can 78

blow up (literally). But if you believe in multiplanetary life and reliable global internet, this is the ultimate growth bet. OpenAI: The Company Behind ChatGPT Sam Altman’s team, famous for ChatGPT, is also heading public. They’re prepping filings now and could go public as early as September or fall 2026, with a possible 1 trillion valuation. Revenue exploded to around $20 billion last year, but they’re still spending heavily on computers and power. Their AI powers coding tools, chatbots, and business software for millions. Going public means raising huge cash to keep building smarter AI while letting everyday investors buy in. Competition is fierce, safety questions linger, and costs are insane—but if their next models deliver, this could be massive. Anthropic: The Safer AI Player Anthropic, makers of the Claude AI models, is the more careful cousin in the AI race. Backed heavily by Google and Amazon, they’re eyeing an IPO possibly in October

2026, with valuations already pushing toward $300-900 billion in talks. They focus on enterprise customers and “constitutional AI” that tries to be safer and more trustworthy. Revenue is growing fast with better profit potential than some rivals. An IPO here lets the market bet on AI that’s powerful but comes with guardrails—something big investors like. What This Means for Regular Guys These three alone could dwarf everything from 2025. They show investors are hungry for real AI and space tech exposure. For the Jersey/Philly tech crowd—whether you run a small business, invest on the side, or just love gadgets—this opens the door to owning shares in companies that used to be for billionaires only. Sure, risks are real: sky-high prices, execution challenges, regulations, and market swings. But the potential payoff is gamechanging. 2025 proved the rebound is here. 2026 could send it into orbit. Get ready, fellas—the tech IPO train is leaving the station, and it’s carrying some serious horsepower. n