Hayes is an a-hole for that bit of writing. It’s as simple as that.

Most of the Inky/Daily News writers are utter trash, relying on petty innuendos and poison pen writing instead of insightful journalism (including one who is now here writing for the Eagles).

Couldn’t agree more. Well written.

Thanks for putting the situation in context and providing the full background including the deleted part of the article in question. This type of reporting is what makes PHLY a good use of my money.

Excellent article and insight. Hayes was out of line and it boggles the mind that he’d try to defend himself to Embiid after such a cheap shot. At the very least he should own what he did.

Hayes is a flamethrower, always searching for clicks. I wouldn’t be surprised if he escalates things, and continues to bait Joel. I hope he doesn’t, and writes a full throated mea culpa. But I don’t see that happening . I think Marcus Hates is a miniscule talent, and I think the odds are greater that the 76ers go undefeated the rest of this season.

Marcus Hayes has been a clown and a troll for as long as I can remember. Why The Inquirer still employs him is beyond my comprehension.

There is not a single Philadelphia athlete (or coach) whom Marcus Hayes has not belittled with sustained ad hominem attacks. (He called Nick Sirianni’s children “human shields” just a couple of weeks ago.) His insult-comic writing persona is so one-note that it’s just not interesting to read: every team is pathetic, every athlete is lazy, every coach is uninspired. Joel cannot lay hands on him, and yes, this is likely to cause a suspension — maybe a long one. And Joel will own his part of that. But Marcus Hayes owns his chunk of it too. And he’s done a lot less for the Sixers than Embiid.