A day after giving a second tryout to Antonio Pena, the Sixers will take a look at his Villanova teammates, Corey Stokes and Corey Fisher, Thursday at the PCOM Center.

Also, 6-4 guard Justin Hurtt of Tulsa, 7-0 center Charles Okwandu of Connecticut and 6-11 center Bengaly Fofana of France will try out.

Okwandu previously played for Harcum J.C.

Stokes and Fisher are major scoring threats, something the Sixers could use.

Pena, more of a rebounder who was caught in Villanova's permiter-first style, is trying to show scouts that he can score, too. According to assistant general manager Tony DiLeo, Pena did "better" Wednesday than he did in his first Sixers tryout.

The Sixers have the 16th and 50th overall picks in the June 23 draft.

Make sure to check out my column on Pena and his chacnes in the Daily Times Thursday and, as always, on delcotimes.com

Cole Hamels left the Phillies' 9-1 victory over the Florida Marlins Monday a stiff back. He does not think it will prevent him from making his next start.

"It just kind of tightened up on me," Hamels said. "Obviously, it got a lot colder and my body temperature kind of dropped. I obviously don't think it's that smart to go out and compete and not be able to compete at my best. Obviously, I didn't want to hurt anything. So I just tried to play it smart. I don't want to come out of a game. But at the same time I want to be smart."

Asked if he thought he would make his next start, Hamels said, "Yeah. Oh, yeah."

Hamels allowed three hits over seven innings to improve to 9-2. His nine W's tie Roy Halladay for the major-league lead.

Check out my column on delcotimes.com and in the Daily Times Wednesday about Hamels, the Phillies' spectacular rotation and the peace of mind it gives the manager and coaching staff.

.... time for the Phillies to start playing like the morning-line favorites to win the world championship, which they were heading into the season.

And they just might.

Everything is in place for that. Chase Utley is starting to stir. Ryan Howard doesn't look twisted against left-handed pitching. Domonic Brown has shown a little something.

This is the time. If it is going to happen for the Phillies, it is now.

Check out my column in the Daily Times Tuesday and on delcotimes.com

The Phillies are baseball's only 40-win team. Ryan Madson is as much a reason as any.

After blowing his first save of the season Thursday, Madson was strong Sunday, preserving the Phils' 4-3 win over the Chicago Cubs.

It was his 15th save in 16 tries.

He should be an All-Star ... and it would make him happy. Very happy. Very, very happy. Oddly happy, maybe, in baseball terms.

“Ah, I would love it,”he said. “It would be a dream come true. It would probably beat going to a World Series, to be honest with you, just looking at the players. I have always watched the All-Star Game, just looking. And I would love to go. It would be awesome. I still have a little bit of work to do to get there, I think. There's a lot of guys that are still a lot better than I am right now.”

Beat the World Series?

It was a strange quote, but not one to be taken too literally. He was caught in the conversation about the All-Star Game and what it would mean to him. He has been to the World Series twice already and the All-Star Game would be a new experience.

I was there and had asked the question, so I understood the spirit of his reply.

He would like to be an All-Star. Very much. That's all. And he would deserve it, too.

Check out my column on delcotimes.com and in the Daily Times Monday about Madson and the excellence of the Phillies' bullpen.

I will be talking about the Phillies and the pending sale of the Sixers Thursday morning between 8 and 8:30 with Angelo Cataldi on WIP 601-AM.

Among the topics will be my Thursday column in the Daily Times and on delcotimes.com about the strange behavior of Phillies fans, who have tolerated a year-long hitting slump without once booing.

Listen in ...

The Sixers are for sale, or close enough to it. They are in discussions about the future of the franchise, Peter Luukko says. Do that math.

The new owners, reports say, could be led by a leverage buyout specialist, Joshua Harris, from New York. It is tough to believe that he will be any more successful marketing pro basketball in Philadelphia than Ed Snider, Pat Croce, Harold Katz, Fitz Dixon or the Philadelphia Warriors, who had to run to the coast for cover.

It's not a pro basketball town. Its a basketball town. Two different things.

If the Sixers win --- and Doug Collins could make that happen --- they will be popular ... but only until they start losing again. It's how it goes. And if anyone knows that, it is the Comcast-Spectacor people.

Check out my column on delcotimes.com and in the Daily Times Wednesday

Marty McKeone worked six sharp innings Friday at Ashburn Field and Bonner defeated Frankford, 7-2, for the PIAA District 12 Class AAAA baseball championship.

Jamie Jiusti had three hits from the leadoff spot to send Bonner rolling into the state playoffs. The Friars will open Monday at 4:15 against Council Rock South at Asbhurn Field.

As always, be certain to check the Daily Times Saturday and delcotimes.com for in-depth coverage, videos and photographs.

Here are the results from the weigh-in Thursday at Harrah's-Chester for the fight card tonight:

WEIGHTS FROM CHESTER, PA

Victor Vasquez 135 – Gustavo Dailey 133 ½
Tony Ferrante 175 – Joe Park 174 ½
Angel Ocasio 133 ½ - Randolph Scott 134
Rashad Brown 162 – Phillip Burnette 157
Joey Tiberi 135 – Jonathan Ocassio 132 ½
Fred Jenkins Jr. – 165 – Todd Erikkson TBA
Naim Nelson 140 ½ - Kywame Hill 143

This is the bout sheet: 

 

RED CORNER                                                BLUE CORNER                                              Main Event
Victor Vasquez                     6- Lightweights             Gustavo Dailey
12-5-1 (6)                                                                   4-11 (1)
Philadelphia                                                               Philadelphia

Tony Ferrante                    6- Light Heavyweights        Joe Park
9-2 (4)                                                                          8-5 (6)
Philadelphia                                                        Florence, SC

Angel Ocasio                      4- Lightweight                   Randolph Scott
4-0 (1)                                                                                0-3
Philadelphia                                                               Salisbury, MD

Rashad Brown                       4- Middleweights              Phillip Burnette
3-0 (1)                                                                                    2-2 (1)
Philadelphia                                                            Myrtle Beach, SC

Fred Jenkins Jr.                       4- Spr Middleweights        Tod Erikkson
1-0 (1)                                                                              3-5-2 (1)
Philadelphia                                                                      Dover, NJ

Joey Tiberi                                       4- Lightweights     Jonathan Ocassio
3-1 (3)                                                                                  0-7
Newark, DE                                                                   Philadelphia
135 lbs 132 ½ lbs

                                                         BOUT # 1
Naim Nelson                                4- Jr. Welterweights              Kywame Hill
PD                                                                                              1-7 (1)
Philadelphia                                                                            Philadelphia