Last Updated on November 24, 2025 by Daily News Staff

Pickleball Holiday Gifts

Looking for the perfect holiday gifts for pickleball enthusiasts? Look no further! As “America’s fastest-growing sport,” pickleball appeals to all ages and skill levels. Whether you’re shopping for a pro or a beginner, there are plenty of options to choose from. Consider gifting them a high-quality pickleball paddle tailored to their playing style, with options ranging from control paddles to power paddles. Don’t forget to consider factors like weight, grip, and shape. In addition to paddles, there’s a wide array of pickleball-related merchandise available, from apparel to accessories. This holiday season, surprise your pickleball-loving friends and family with the best gear and accessories that’ll enhance their playing experience and keep them entertained for hours on the court.

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2025 US Open Squash Championships returns to Philly, considered the birthplace of squash in America

Eric Zillmer, Drexel University

The world’s best professional squash players will be in Philadelphia for the U.S. Open Squash Championships at the Arlen Specter US Squash Center in University City from Oct. 19-25, 2025.

Squash, for the first time an Olympic sport at the 2028 Los Angeles Games, has its U.S. epicenter in Philadelphia, which is also considered the birthplace of squash in America. The sport was introduced to the U.S. at the Racquet Club of Philadelphia in 1900, where the first squash doubles court was later established.

James Zug, the preeminent historian of the game, writes about how, in the winter of 1901, 32 men competed at the club in the first squash tournament on American soil. Many other Philadelphia clubs followed, leading to a local squash culture that spread to high schools and colleges.

The United States Squash Racquets Association, now US Squash, was founded in Philadelphia in 1904, later moved to New York City, and in 2021 relocated its offices back to Philly.

I’m a sports psychologist who works with elite professional squash athletes and also writes about the game. As the former athletic director at Drexel University, I helped introduce varsity squash to the school and also assisted in starting a nonprofit community program called SquashSmarts for Philly public school students.

I believe squash is one of Philly’s best-kept secrets, as many Philadelphians do not know that our city is host to an Olympic training high-performance center, the U.S. Squash Hall of Fame and youth development programs known as urban squash.

A feast for the brain

Squash originated from the older game of racquets, which was played in London’s prisons during the 19th century.

The vulcanization of rubber by Charles Goodyear in 1839 enabled the creation of a squeezable rubber ball that maintained its original shape after being “squashed” against the wall. The British Commonwealth, through its worldwide military, social and political influence, promoted and grew the game internationally and set standardized rules and courts.

Watching professional squash today feels like being in gym class and science class at the same time: The sport showcases incredible athleticism and celebrates the laws of mathematics.

Squash is best understood in terms of its form and its essence.

The form of squash includes the ancient proportions of the cella of the Parthenon, which held the sacred statue of Athena holding Nike, the goddess of victory. An international squash court is 32 feet by 21 feet, and this ratio of approximately 1 to 1.5 establishes a sense of geometric order. With all walls and angles in play, and emphasizing elements such as time, velocity and space, squash allows for an amazing spectacle of creativity, elegance and speed. It is a feast for the brain. https://www.youtube.com/embed/nTcvGK3k1IQ?wmode=transparent&start=0

Mental aspects of the game

But the essence of squash is mental, and the three aspects I find especially intriguing are mindfulness, playfulness and fairness.

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Mindfulness: Mindfulness involves not dwelling on the past or worrying about the future. This is easier said than done, especially when a player is exhausted and struggling. The competitive squash player must focus on the moment and anticipate the next. This requires processing information in real time and practicing mindfulness to avoid distractions.

Playfulness: When I was a young athlete, I gave a B effort in practice and an A effort during competition. I had it all wrong.

I now understand that intense, disciplined practices are the foundation for tomorrow’s world-class athlete. There are no shortcuts. Psychologist Angela Duckworth advocates that excellence is 66% grit – which she describes as a combination of passion, effort and perseverance – with the other 34% being innate talent.

For high-performance athletes, it is beneficial to be a neurotic perfectionist in practice, but not during competition, when they need to be situationally aware. Performance coach Brian Levenson writes about the pro athlete being the opposite of a perfectionist when competing, shifting to being playful, intuitive, confident and adaptable instead.

In other words, practice like a pro, play like a kid.

Fairness: One intriguing aspect of squash is the two competitors share the same space. This requires respect for your opponent as well as the game.

At its best, squash resembles a dance between two foes, with the winner graciously allowing their opponent to leave the court first.

US Squash has made sportsmanship and character a key initiative as the sport grows in popularity at all levels of play. While the art of deception, such as head fakes or varying your swing timing, is a valued tactical skill, blocking the opponent, whether subtle or overt, is not. In Philly, the U.S. Open Squash Championships will have officials and a public video assistant referee, or VAR, system to sort things out.

Philly’s Olympic center

One of Philadelphia’s most passionate amateur players was the longtime U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter. In 2021, the Arlen Specter US Squash Center, located on the campus of Drexel University, opened and was named in his honor.

The Specter Center is a state-of-the-art training facility that is not just the home of the U.S. Open and Team USA but also the administrative center for US Squash, and a hub for the U.S. junior and senior national teams, as well as urban squash.

The inclusion of squash in the 2028 Olympics is a milestone for the increasingly international sport. Currently, eight nationalities are represented among the top 10 male and female pro players, although in recent years Egypt has dominated both the men’s and women’s game.

Two U.S. women who are ranked in the world Top 10 are Team USA’s best chances to win gold: Amanda Sobhy, who went undefeated at Harvard, and Philly’s own Olivia Weaver.

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If you want to catch them in action before the 2028 games, both will compete at the U.S. Open Squash Championships. Weaver will play Farida Mohamed from Egypt on Oct. 19 at 1:30 p.m., and Sobhy will face Melissa Alves from France the same day at 2:15 p.m. Both matches will be played on the center glasswall courts.

This story was updated on Oct. 16, 2025, to include details of the U.S. Open Squash Championships.

Read more of our stories about Philadelphia, or sign up for our Philadelphia newsletter on Substack.

Eric Zillmer, Professor of Neuropsychology, Drexel University

This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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2025 Rawlings Gold Glove Award

The wait is over for baseball’s defensive elite. Rawlings Sporting Goods Company has unveiled the finalists for the 2025 Rawlings Gold Glove Award®, spotlighting the players who turned routine plays into highlights and transformed defense into an art form throughout the season.

The Road to Gold

Since 1957, the Rawlings Gold Glove Award has represented the pinnacle of defensive excellence in Major League Baseball. This year’s finalists—three at each position in both the American and National Leagues—will compete for the sport’s most prestigious fielding honor, with winners announced during a special one-hour “Baseball Tonight” broadcast on ESPN, Sunday, November 2 at 8:30 p.m. ET.

“This year’s Rawlings Gold Glove Award finalists embody everything our brand stands for: precision, performance, and pride,” said Mike Thompson, Rawlings’ chief marketing officer. “Their defensive excellence is what brings energy and excitement to the game, and this announcement provides an opportunity to honor the defining moments that highlight why the glove remains such an essential part of baseball.”

Leading the Pack

The Toronto Blue Jays dominated the American League finalist count with six nominees, while the Chicago Cubs topped the National League with an equal number. Among the standouts are ten former Gold Glove winners in each league, bringing championship pedigree to this year’s competition.

American League Standouts

Bobby Witt Jr. of the Kansas City Royals headlines the AL shortstop finalists, joined by Texas Rangers star Corey Seager and Tampa Bay’s Taylor Walls. Cleveland’s Steven Kwan leads a competitive left field category, while the pitching position features Athletics’ Luis Severino, Rangers legend Jacob deGrom, and Yankees ace Max Fried.

National League Stars

The NL brings its own star power, with Philadelphia’s Bryce Harper making waves as a first base finalist alongside Atlanta’s Matt Olson and Cincinnati’s Spencer Steer. At shortstop, St. Louis’ Masyn Winn competes against Atlanta’s Nick Allen and Dodgers superstar Mookie Betts, who continues to prove his defensive versatility.

How Winners Are Chosen

The selection process blends traditional baseball wisdom with modern analytics. Each team’s manager and up to six coaches vote from qualified players in their league (excluding their own team members). Since 2013, the SABR Defensive Index™ (SDI) has comprised approximately 25 percent of the overall selection, ensuring statistical rigor complements expert evaluation.

The utility award follows a separate formula developed with the Society for American Baseball Research, recognizing players who excel across multiple defensive positions.

Fan Participation: The Platinum Glove

Baseball fans won’t just watch from the sidelines. Following the November 2 announcement, voting opens for the Rawlings Platinum Glove Award™—the ultimate honor that crowns the best overall defender in each league. Fan votes combine with the SDI to determine these winners.

Voting begins at www.Rawlings.com on November 2 at 9:30 p.m. ET and runs through November 5 at 11:59 p.m. ET. The Platinum Glove winners will be revealed at the Rawlings Gold Glove Award Ceremony in New York City on Friday, November 7.

Why Defense Matters

In an era often dominated by home run highlights and offensive statistics, the Gold Glove Award reminds us that championships are built on defense. These finalists represent the players who saved runs, preserved no-hitters, and made game-changing plays when it mattered most.

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From diving catches in the outfield to lightning-quick double plays and pitchers who control the running game, the 2025 finalists showcase the full spectrum of defensive excellence that makes baseball beautiful.

What’s Next

Mark your calendars for November 2 when ESPN unveils the winners, then head to Rawlings.com to cast your vote for the Platinum Glove. Whether your team made the playoffs or not, these defensive wizards gave fans something to cheer about all season long.

For complete finalist lists and more information, visit www.Rawlings.com.

The Rawlings Gold Glove Award has honored baseball’s finest defenders since 1957, with Rawlings serving as the official glove, baseball, and helmet of Major League Baseball.

https://stmdailynews.com/dreambreaker-a-pickleball-story-a-closer-look-at-the-documentary-and-its-uncredited-voice/