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Alex Coffey

@byalexcoffey.bsky.social

7.1K followers 140 following 530 posts

Sports features for the Philadelphia Inquirer. Second-generation sportswriter. Proud sister of an Olympic gold medalist. ✉️: [email protected]

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Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · Jul 23

In 1991, Ginny Burbage, a courier at FedEx, saw a package with Charles Barkley's address on it.

Her brother, Tommy Murphy, had terminal cancer. He was a big Sixers fan.

So, she sent him a letter.

Days later, Barkley came to their house. He stayed for two hours:
www.inquirer.com/sixers/charl...

Tommy Murphy was a lifelong Sixers fan, fighting cancer in 1991. Weeks before he died, Charles Barkley gave him an unexpected visit.

The items Barkley signed and gave to his fan are everyday reminders to his family of the former Sixers star's unexpected visit.

www.inquirer.com

Reposted by Alex Coffey

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 1d

“Any loss at this point is frustrating, but especially with how he did his thing out there. He put us in a great spot to win. It definitely hurts a little more.”

Jesús Luzardo was one of the few bright spots in Game 2. The Phillies didn't capitalize on it: www.inquirer.com/phillies/jes...

Jesús Luzardo was a bright spot in Phillies’ Game 2 loss: ‘We just didn’t get it done for him’

Luzardo went toe-to-toe opposite Dodgers ace Blake Snell and allowed just one hit through six innings. "He put us in a great spot to win," Brandon Marsh said.

www.inquirer.com

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 1d

“Any loss at this point is frustrating, but especially with how he did his thing out there. He put us in a great spot to win. It definitely hurts a little more.”

Jesús Luzardo was one of the few bright spots in Game 2. The Phillies didn't capitalize on it: www.inquirer.com/phillies/jes...

Jesús Luzardo was a bright spot in Phillies’ Game 2 loss: ‘We just didn’t get it done for him’

Luzardo went toe-to-toe opposite Dodgers ace Blake Snell and allowed just one hit through six innings. "He put us in a great spot to win," Brandon Marsh said.

www.inquirer.com

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 2d

Everyone's favorite Art Guy www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

The Phillies’ Harrison Bader has been painting since he was a kid. And it has helped shape his game.

Bader took an interest in art history in high school and still paints. It’s helped him get through the highs and lows of his major league career, while keeping him in “the present moment.”

www.inquirer.com

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 4d

Phillies’ Harrison Bader exited with groin tightness, but optimistic he can return during the playoffs www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

Phillies’ Harrison Bader exited with groin tightness, but optimistic he can return during the playoffs

Bader, who is expected to get imaging tests done on Sunday, said he is willing to "empty the tank" at this point in the season.

www.inquirer.com

Reposted by Alex Coffey

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

"I painted the entire time [I was on the IL in 2021]. It was great.”

“I’ve had times where I’ve played extremely well, and the colors are lighter, the strokes are lighter."

"It gives me time to just unplug from the world.”

Harrison Bader, Art Guy: www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

The Phillies’ Harrison Bader has been painting since he was a kid. And it’s helped shape his game.

Bader took an interest in art history in high school and still paints. It’s helped him get through the highs and lows of his major league career, while keeping him in “the present moment.”

www.inquirer.com

Reposted by Alex Coffey

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

Harrison Bader is an Art Guy.

He's painted since he was kid, studied art history in HS, and goes to galleries in his free time.

He paints "a lot" of portraits during the offseason (and used to during the season, too).

"It gives me time to unplug from the world.” www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

The Phillies’ Harrison Bader has been painting since he was a kid. And it’s helped shape his game.

Bader took an interest in art history in high school and still paints. It’s helped him get through the highs and lows of his major league career, while keeping him in “the present moment.”

www.inquirer.com

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

"I painted the entire time [I was on the IL in 2021]. It was great.”

“I’ve had times where I’ve played extremely well, and the colors are lighter, the strokes are lighter."

"It gives me time to just unplug from the world.”

Harrison Bader, Art Guy: www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

The Phillies’ Harrison Bader has been painting since he was a kid. And it’s helped shape his game.

Bader took an interest in art history in high school and still paints. It’s helped him get through the highs and lows of his major league career, while keeping him in “the present moment.”

www.inquirer.com

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

😂

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you!!

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you 🤍

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

Thank you!!! He didn’t want to share his art 😭 but maybe he will at some point

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

Bader is still in touch with his high school teachers, but joked that he's scared to show them his art, because they've seen "pretty good artists."

“But that’s not what art is about,” he said. “Art isn’t about comparison. It’s the joy of putting something to canvas” www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

The Phillies’ Harrison Bader has been painting since he was a kid. And it’s helped shape his game.

Bader took an interest in art history in high school and still paints. It’s helped him get through the highs and lows of his major league career, while keeping him in “the present moment.”

www.inquirer.com

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

Bader painted "the entire time" he was on the IL in 2021.

He's painted both during the season/offseason.

He sees it as a way to show where he's at in a given moment.

“I’ve had times where I’ve played extremely well; the colors are lighter, the strokes are lighter" www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

After graduating high school, he continued to paint.

This has remained true throughout his MLB career.

Bader paints portraits and self portraits, and likes to “manipulate the paint and its viscosity.”

It's given him a creative outlet off the field: www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

The Phillies’ Harrison Bader has been painting since he was a kid. And it’s helped shape his game.

Bader took an interest in art history in high school and still paints. It’s helped him get through the highs and lows of his major league career, while keeping him in “the present moment.”

www.inquirer.com

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

He also took ceramics classes throughout high school.

“He really took to it," said his former teacher, Keith Renner. "He was one of the kids that wanted to learn how to throw with more and more clay."

(Photo evidence below) www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

After graduating high school, he continued to paint.

This has remained true throughout his MLB career.

Bader paints portraits and self portraits, and likes to “manipulate the paint and its viscosity.”

It's given him a creative outlet off the field: www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

He took AP art history for years at Horace Mann in NYC.

In 2009, the class went on a field trip to the Met, to see a retrospective of the work of Francis Bacon.

Bader was only a freshman, but he loved it.

“Even to this day, that [exhibition] really stuck with me" www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 6d

Harrison Bader is an Art Guy.

He's painted since he was kid, studied art history in HS, and goes to galleries in his free time.

He paints "a lot" of portraits during the offseason (and used to during the season, too).

"It gives me time to unplug from the world.” www.inquirer.com/phillies/har...

The Phillies’ Harrison Bader has been painting since he was a kid. And it’s helped shape his game.

Bader took an interest in art history in high school and still paints. It’s helped him get through the highs and lows of his major league career, while keeping him in “the present moment.”

www.inquirer.com

Reposted by Alex Coffey

CallisonGhost @callisonghost.bsky.social · 11d

@byalexcoffey.bsky.social wrote a great story about her last season for @phillysport.bsky.social. share.inquirer.com/ev9hDn

She’s sold peanuts at Phillies games for 49 years with spunk, and she’s ‘not giving it up’ anytime soon

Cheryl Spielvogel has seen it all from the Vet to the Bank in her almost five decades on the job, and she’s never been shy sharing her opinions with players and managers.

share.inquirer.com

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 11d

Cheryl is the goat!!!!

Reposted by Alex Coffey

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 14d

Gordon helped Sidwar with the mental side of the game.

At La Salle & Villanova, Gordon was considered undersized for a QB. So, he used his mind to win.

“My thought was to take his physical attributes, and teach him the mental pieces that made me successful." www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

La Salle’s Gavin Sidwar is on the verge of breaking a school record held by his head coach

Coach Brett Gordon set La Salle’s record for career passing yards and touchdowns nearly 30 years ago. Sidwar, who’s bound for Missouri next fall, is 48 yards and six touchdowns shy of breaking it.

www.inquirer.com

Reposted by Alex Coffey

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 14d

"You'd see the bumper stickers everywhere. Even in 1980, I’d go to games, and I’d still see cars with them on there. Everybody had one.”

Her late husband coined the ‘Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent’ bumper sticker in 1974. It still resonates. www.inquirer.com/flyers/berni...

Her late husband coined the ‘Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent’ bumper sticker in 1974. It still resonates.

Linda Mitchell's late husband, Bob, got permission from Parent and his lawyer to use the goalie's name on a bumper sticker while working for the Flyers' ticket sales office in the 1970s.

www.inquirer.com

Reposted by Alex Coffey

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 14d

La Salle QB Gavin Sidwar is just 48 yards and six touchdowns shy of setting a new school record.

Who holds it now? His coach, Brett Gordon, who played for La Salle in the 90s.

“We might start running the ball more,” he joked. “To hold on as long as we possibly can” www.inquirer.com/high-school-...

La Salle’s Gavin Sidwar is on the verge of breaking a school record held by his head coach

Coach Brett Gordon set La Salle’s record for career passing yards and touchdowns nearly 30 years ago. Sidwar, who’s bound for Missouri next fall, is 48 yards and six touchdowns shy of breaking it.

www.inquirer.com

Reposted by Alex Coffey

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 15d

“That's what he was known for. You’d see the bumper stickers everywhere. Even in 1980, I'd go to games, and I'd still see cars with them on there."

Her late husband coined the ‘Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent’ bumper sticker in 1974. It still resonates: www.inquirer.com/flyers/berni...

Her late husband coined the ‘Only the Lord saves more than Bernie Parent’ bumper sticker in 1974. It still resonates.

Linda Mitchell's late husband, Bob, got permission from Parent and his lawyer to use the goalie's name on a bumper sticker while working for the Flyers' ticket sales office in the 1970s.

www.inquirer.com

Reposted by Alex Coffey

Alex Coffey @byalexcoffey.bsky.social · 15d

Unrivaled helped Kahleah Copper find joy in basketball again. Now it could be coming to her hometown. www.inquirer.com/wnba/kahleah... via @PhillyInquirer

Unrivaled helped Kahleah Copper find joy in basketball again. Now it could be coming to her hometown.

Unrivaled reminded the WNBA star of where it all began — the pickup three-on-three games in North Philly. The prospect of the league coming to her hometown? “I think that would be lit,” Copper says.

www.inquirer.com