How an ironworker put Philly?s 25-year sports curse to rest

The statue of William Penn atop Philadelphia?s City Hall (here alongside last year?s solar eclipse) was the tallest point in the city for nearly a century. When it was overtaken by a skyscraper, some say, a decades-long sports curse began.

Michael Bryant/Philadelphia Inquirer

Boston has its Bambino. Chicago?s got the Billy Goat. In Philadelphia, it?s the Curse of Billy Penn.

SUPER BOWL LII | SUNDAY, 6:30 P.M. (NBC)

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/29/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/fc2a73d17c134d8f8bd88f8da5a4ad54-fc2a73d17c134d8f8bd88f8da5a4ad54-0.jpg How the Patriots and Eagles match up, plus a prediction

With the NFL championship on the line Sunday, here is a position-by-position breakdown.

?It?s really Tom?s fault?: Howard Stern defends WEEI host

The radio ?Shock Jock? said the Patriots quarterback shouldn?t have had his daughter on ?Tom Vs. Time? if he didn?t want to open his family up to criticism.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/30/BostonGlobe.com/Sports/Images/9b306b2ac1624954869baaffadfe73e6-9b306b2ac1624954869baaffadfe73e6-0.jpg Chris Long made a ridiculous bet on the result of Super Bowl LII

It involves getting a tattoo.

 Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood, Jordan Knight, Donnie Wahlberg, and Jon Knight have hosted the four-day NKOTB cruise nine times.

BRIAN BABINEAU

Globe Magazine

My four days at sea with New Kids on the Block

The other passengers have been Blockheads since they were tweens, and as a nonstop party cruise shows, the crush may last forever.

Names

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2016/12/15/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/ryan_station1_biz.jpg Christa Delcamp departs Channel 7

But she?ll be back on the air soon.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/30/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/Journalists007.jpg Boston Public Library asks for help in transcribing abolitionist manuscripts

One of the library?s most popularly searched collections, the anti-slavery manuscripts include letters, newspapers, pamphlets, and more.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/09/21/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/davis_suit6_met.jpg Aaron Hernandez attorney promises ?shocking revelations? in new book

The book, set to come out Aug. 21, was written with the cooperation of Hernandez?s fiancee, Shayanna Jenkins, and will include a foreword by her.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/30/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/AFP_X50VL.jpg Diane Keaton and Alec Baldwin are Woody Allen?s loudest defenders

Many other actors have spoken out against the famed director amid the current #MeToo movement.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/30/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/c2b9a727e8e846c1b48c5e8328aacef0-c2b9a727e8e846c1b48c5e8328aacef0-0.jpg Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie hired by ABC News

Chris Christie is known for speaking his mind. Now, he?ll get paid to do it.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/29/BostonGlobe.com/Travel/Images/21nantucket3.jpg The best hotel in the US? It?s right here in Mass.

For the second year in a row a TripAdvisor survey named this local hotel the best in the United States.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/29/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/XXlng201.jpg Russian LNG is unloaded in Everett; the supplier (but not gas) faces US sanctions

A giant tanker packed with liquefied natural gas unloaded its cargo at the Distrigas terminal in Everett during the past two days.

THINGS THAT WORK

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/30/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/iceroadscrop1.jpg It turns out vodka and icy roads can be a good mix

Oddly enough, it turns out the liquor ? or at least by-products of the distilling process ? can be used to help keep roads clean and safe during winter weather.

A man is obscured by snow as he cleared an area in Boston on Tuesday.

Jonathan Wiggs /Globe Staff

More snow than some expected blankets Boston area

Light to moderate snow fall was creating slippery conditions on some untreated roads Tuesday morning.

Trump takes center stage, but it?s the audience you should watch

The seats of the House chamber will be filled with both ardent supporters and vocal critics of President Trump when he gives the State of the Union at 9 p.m. tonight.

Melania Trump?s independent travel in recent weeks is set against a salacious backdrop.

A reportedly irate Melania Trump will be in the crowd

The first lady was furious after it was reported that a porn star was paid $130,000 to keep quiet about an affair with the president.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/30/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/BUSH%20UNION-751097-2622.jpg Once upon a time, Tom Brady wasn?t allergic to politics

The Patriots quarterback was then-first lady Laura Bush?s guest at the 2004 State of the Union.

Warren Buffet (left), Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos (center) and JP Morgan Chase Chairman and CEO Jamie Dimon.

Amazon, JPMorgan, Berkshire creating new health care company

Amazon is diving into health care, teaming up with Berkshire Hathaway and JPMorgan Chase to create a company that helps cover its US employees.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/19/BostonGlobe.com/Metro/Images/JakubMosur_20firstgen02_met.jpg One woman is on a mission to help first-generation college students

Alexandra Bernadotte remembers how awkward she felt at Dartmouth. She wants to help today?s students with the adjustment.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/12/24/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/88ebe2c6-53d2-4825-b232-cb9a74665310.jpg FBI?s No. 2 told friends he was pressured to resign

Andrew McCabe withstood months of withering criticism from President Trump.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/29/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/Handout_30lucent_01_bizB.jpg North Andover to decide tonight on proposed weed farm

Jeff Goldstein?s massive weed farm and research facility would be located at the old Lucent Technologies plant.

Sponsored by Wentworth Institute of Technology

As our infrastructure erodes, Wentworth prepares tomorrow?s building pros

Investment is needed now to repair public transit and more. One local university aims to prepare tomorrow?s leaders to do just that.

This content was produced by Boston Globe Media in collaboration with the advertiser. The news and editorial departments of The Boston Globe had no role in its production or display.

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/WebGraphics/Sports/BostonGlobe.com/2016/01/20moresports/seasonticket_90.jpg The Season Ticket podcast

We?re on to Minnesota! Host Chris Gasper gets Dan Shaughnessy?s take on the Eagles? chances against the Patriots and Tom Brady?s dispute with WEEI.

Follow:   iTunes   |   Stitcher   |   RSS

 

Opinion & Ideas

Opinion | Eric S. Lander

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/29/BostonGlobe.com/EditorialOpinion/Images/30bulbWEB.jpg Will US yield spot as world?s leader in science, technology?

America?s future is now up for grabs. We need clear answers to six big questions.

Newsletters

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/24/BostonGlobe.com/Politics/Images/BillBelichicknewsletter-2572.jpg Breaking sports alerts

As the Patriots get ready for the Super Bowl, don?t miss any news, press conferences, and Brady/Gronk health updates. Sign up today.

Special reports

Abdulkader Hayani put his daughter Ameenah to bed.

The Last Refugee: A three-part series

A series of occasional articles on the Syrian refugee families resettling here, and the local people assisting them.

Breaking News Alerts

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Get the latest news ? from weather to Trump to local happenings ? delivered via Facebook messenger.

Confidential tips

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2017/05/22/BostonGlobe.com/Business/Images/spotlight.jpg Have an investigative news tip?

Tell us about wrongdoing that needs to be exposed. Call the Spotlight team: 617-929-7483 or [email protected].

STAT

//c.o0bg.com/rf/image_90x90/Boston/2011-2020/2018/01/30/BostonGlobe.com/National/Images/Warning.jpg A must-read site for early warnings of shady scientific findings

Investors may first get wind of problems with the science they?re funding by reading forums where scientists scrutinize research.

Real Estate

Tips to prevent a carbon monoxide tragedy

Carbon monoxide is invisible to the senses, and every year, the poison endangers thousands statewide. The top culprit? Your home heating system.