All Articles Tagged "athletes"
“Why Not Live Truthfully?” Jason Collins Opens Up To ABC About Coming Out, His Attempt To Marry A Woman, And His Future Hopes
Eric McCandless/ABC
Yesterday, Sports Illustrated unveiled their newest issue with the face of Jason Collins on it, who by announcing to the world on the cover that he was gay, would go on to be the first openly gay and active male athlete. It wasn’t that deep to some who could count the many women who have played sports and have come out as gay, but considering the fact that he is the FIRST male athlete to finally feel comfortable enough, while still in the NBA, to come out, it is a bigger deal than we think.
Collins sat down for an interview with George Stephanopoulos, his first since coming out, and talked about previously living a lie, why he wanted to come out, trying to “play it straight,” and what he hopes will come from his choice to open up to the world.
On living in misery for years and what pushed him to come out:
“When you keep telling yourself a lie, at some point you buy your own cover story.”
“[The bombings] reinforced the notion that I shouldn’t wait for the circumstances of my coming out to be perfect. Things can change in an instant, so why not live truthfully?”
“I knew that I tried everything in the book as far as trying to convince myself to lead the life that you should…calling off the wedding, it was a tough decision, but it was the right one because I knew I wasn’t getting married for the right reasons.”
On his aunt (the person he came out to first) saying she always knew he was gay:
“She was the first family member. I have a special relationship with my aunt. I love my parents and my brother and everyone else in my family, but there’s just something about the way I get along and relate with her.”
“She had her suspicions about me. She was extremely supportive. She’s a judge in San Francisco so I guess she’s good at reading people [laughs].”
As for how his coming out changed his relationship with his twin brother (who unlike his aunt, hadn’t suspected he was gay)…for the better:
“I’m really good at playing it straight [laughs]. No, uh, maybe he needs to hang out with my aunt a little bit more and get a discerning eye like she has. But he’s been incredibly supportive…I’ve always had the big brother role…and I was protective of my little brother, but now he’s sort of taken on that role of protecting me.”
And what he hopes for his teammates and for other athletes afraid to come out:
“From my teammates, I’m expecting support because that’s what I would do for my teammates. A team is like a family and the NBA is like a brotherhood.”
“I hope every player makes a decision that leads to their own happiness. Whatever happiness that is in life. I know that I’m the happiest that I’ve ever been in my life.”
Check out his full interview with George Stephanopoulos for ABC on the next page and let us know what you think below. Good luck to Collins and we’re happy for his newfound happiness!
Is That You Bey? Athlete’s Recreate Famous Album Covers For ESPN’s Music Issue
Source: ESPN
You almost thought Beyonce got a quick suntan didn’t you? Don’t lie.
Well the truth is that’s Olympic Track & Field star Allyson Felix dressed up like Bey for ESPN The Magazine latest spread. The editorial for their February 18 Music Issue features today’s top athletes recreating classic album covers and we have to say they’ve done a pretty awesome job.
In addition to Allyson recreating 2003′s Dangerously in Love, ESPN included Tampa Bay Buccaneers NFL quarterback Josh Freeman as Michael Jackson during his Thriller days, motocross racer James Stewart as Rick James in Street Songs, and NFL players Trent Richardson (Seattle Seahwaks), Marshawn Lynch (Cleveland Browns) and LaMarr Woodley (Pittsburgh Steelers) as Run DMC. The mag also brought along Olympic swimmer Ryan Lochte to recreate Nirvana’s Nevermind, NASCAR racecar driver Jimmie Johnson as Bob Dylan, Olympic Gold medal soccer player Alex Morgan as Katy Perry on her One of the Boys album cover, and Major League Baseball players J. Upton, E. Longoria, B. Phillips, G. Stanton and S. Victorino as Devo.
Check out the cover side-by-sides on the next few pages. What do you think?
6 Ways to Bring Olympian Grit to Your Career Climb
Allyson Felix, Image: The Washington Post
The Olympics is one of the view institutions that celebrate feminine toughness as much as its masculine counterpart. The London Games are be no exception with women outnumbering men on the U.S. roster for the first time in history, and the debut of women’s boxing where the United States is represented in each of the three weight categories. Hopefully, the grit and toughness displayed by female Olympians will influence perceptions of women competing in areas outside athletics.
Making it to the top of any field is a daunting task that requires dedication, resiliency, and more than a little toughness. Here are six lessons from world-class athletes to help you overcome adversity on your climb up the corporate ladder.
1. Be Resilient.
“‘Falling in life is inevitable—staying down is optional.’” -Carrie Johnson, two-time Olympic kayaker
It is easy to get caught up in the glory of the Olympic Games and forget all of the missteps and faulty starts that lead up to the defining moment of an athlete’s career. When you experience your own setbacks, never let staying down be an option.
2. Tough it out.
“‘One word: ‘Fight.’ Anyone can do it when it feels good. When you’re hurting, that’s when it makes a difference, so you have to keep fighting.”
-Erin Cafaro, 2008 rowing Olympic gold medalist in women’s eight
The difference between being an amateur and an Olympian may just boil down to how much pain a person is willing to endure. Pain and discomfort weed out the candidates who just don’t want it bad enough. Your career trajectory won’t always be easy, but if you’re willing to put in the work even when it doesn’t feel good, you’re already beating out most of your competition.
3. Push yourself.
“‘If you think you’re done, you always have at least 40 percent more.”‘
-Lauren Crandall, captain of the 2012 U.S. Olympic field hockey team“I ask myself, ‘Can you go any harder? Are you hurting enough? Are you going hard enough?’ I keep asking myself: ‘Can you go any harder?’”
-Kristin Armstrong, 2008 road cycling Olympic gold medalist in women’s time trial
What you think you can do and what you are truly capable of are vastly different from one another. We rarely tap into our full potential. Olympians regularly test their limits and push their boundaries. Don’t let yourself get comfortable, even when you’re satisfied with your work. You can always go a little harder.
4. Stay positive.
“‘Everything is going to work out—there’s no other option.’”
-Kari Miller, 2008 Paralympic sitting volleyball silver medalist
The mind is a powerful tool and our way of thinking has a profound impact on our performance. If you’re feeding yourself thoughts of failure, you’re creating the perfect environment for self-fulfilling prophecy. Continually remind yourself that there is no other option than for you to succeed.
5. Have fun.
“‘If you’re not having fun, then what the hell are you doing?’ It reminds me to find the reason why I’m doing it and why I’m out there, which makes things more manageable when I’m stressed and fatigued.”
-Allison Jones, six-time Paralympian
When was the last time you heard an Olympian saying that they hated their sport? Part of the passion that comes with competing at such a high level is the sheer joy the athletes gain from the experience. If you are going to dedicate your life to a career or venture, make sure it is something that you love to do.
6. Compete.
“‘My competition isn’t resting!’”
-Kim Rhode, five-time Olympic shooter
There are benefits to focusing on your own lane, especially in the heat of competition. But, when you’re training for your big moment, don’t forget that there are other people vying for the same dream you are. If you’re not actively working at getting better at what you do, you are probably getting worse, and someone else is certainly surpassing you.
Cortney Cleveland is a freelance writer and content strategist in New York City. You can follow her on Twitter@CleveInTheCity and visit her personal column The Red Read.
“Basketball Wife” Tamia Explains What’s Really Wrong with VH1′s Reality
Source: Bossip
By now we all know that what we see on VH1′s “Basketball Wives” is far from reality, but sometimes you need an insider to tell you what life really is like being married to a basketball player. The Huffington Post caught up with singer Tamia, who’s the wife of NBA player Grant Hill, and she gave her thoughts on how much of the show is real, and brought up an interesting point about how women aren’t the only ones who look bad on the show. Here’s what she said:
“I think the perception is definitely not a reality. I think, to be fair, a lot of those women [on the show] aren’t wives. And I’m good friends with Shaunie. And as far as business is concerned, I applaud her, but I think that it’s definitely very misleading in terms of what our lives are about.
“I do have a lot of friends who are married to athletes, and a lot of these women are involved in charities, doing all kinds of things behind the scenes and are supportive wives, and — believe it or not — have supportive husbands who are really great guys. I think not only for the women, but I think it just paints a really bad picture about the men as well. I think for athletes in general, people are like, ‘Why would you want to marry an athlete?’ And that goes back to what I was saying to you: what works in one person’s marriage, may not work in the next. So keep your eyes focused on yours! I guess it’s interesting TV, but it’s definitely not reality.”
Tamia has a good point. When any woman has drama with a basketball player, we typically think, well, what did you expect hooking up with a pro athlete, and we forget that every man with skills on the court isn’t a dog when he steps off of it. So how do Tamia and Grant make their marriage work? Here’s what she said:
“I always say, “What works in one marriage may not work in the next. So definitely keep your eyes focused on your own relationship,” she said. “I think it’s important to understand that you guys are going to grow. Obviously, I’m not the same person that I was at 24, and he’s not the same person that he was. But we also together allowed each other to grow as well and stay connected at the same time. And I think that’s important. And obviously, communication is super important. And at the end of the day we just love being with each other and being really good friends”
Well, she said it twice for a reason. If you want to make it work, keep your focus on your own relationship and not everyone else’s.
What do you think about what Tamia said? Does “Basketball Wives” uphold negative stereotypes about the athletes as well?
Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.
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Keri Hilson Says No Thanks to Dating Celebrity Men
Keri Hilson’s “No Boys Allowed” stance doesn’t just mean she wants a man of an appropriate age and mind. She recently told Eurweb that there are a whole lot of men who fall into that category and for the ones who do, she wants no part of it.
Here’s what she had to say:
“What I meant by that was honestly, I put a lot in that category – rappers, sports players, ball players and things like that. I would never say “never,” but I want something real. I want real love. I don’t want this red carpet Hollywood love. I feel like they’re easily penetrated, and that’s something that I don’t want. I don’t want publicity. I want love.”
She added that she knows some famous couples can make it work but the way some men have approached her made her feel like their relationship would just be a publicity stunt or a “good look” and that’s not appealing to her. Come to think about it, I don’t recall ever seeing her name in any headlines concerning celebrity dating rumors. Sounds like she’s a woman about her business when it comes to music and men.
What do you think about her no-celebrity rule? Could you see yourself with a famous man?
Brande Victorian is a blogger and culture writer in New York City. Follower her on Twitter at @be_vic.
More on Madame Noire!
“No Ordinary Love” – The Pros of Dating A Guy Outside of the Limelight
Do you want to know why so many women stay single in today’s dating market place? One of the culprits keeping women in the lonely hearts club is that they’re setting unrealistic standards. A lot of women today have taken the philosophy that if a man is not making Lebron James money or have stocks like Donald Trump, then that man is not worthy of a their time. Sadly this mindset is heavily prevalent in the black and minority community. You see so many black women pass up great husband candidates because he doesn’t “make enough.” Well that’s her preference and prerogative, but meanwhile these same women wind up spending another birthday with her girls, another lonely Christmas watching Rudolph the Reindeer on TV with her dog because of this so-called prerogative.
Sure there are lots of successful black athletes, male singers and entertainment figures that we see everyday on every screen who have achieved dizzying heights of success that should be celebrated and applauded. But, I believe the mindset of, this is the ONLY kind of man that’s datable is damaging for our chances at love connections. This mindset makes it appear that its the only ideal for black love to aspire to. Not true at all.
There are many successful men behind the scenes that yearn for love, loyalty and commitment just like women do, but because our culture has bombarded us with what their image of the “perfect man,” some of us have lost sight of the most important things we should be seeking in a mate. The men that have occupations outside of the football field, stage or recording studio get labeled as “regular” or “ordinary” with not as much to offer as the men who spend 90% of their time in the spotlight. So a lot of times, the ordinary men get written off before they’ve even been given a shot to prove their worth to some women.
I once was having a conversation with a good friend of mine and we were discussing her serial single-ness. I was offering up some options of how we could maybe break this drought in her love life. She, being a successful young woman approaching her mid 30′s had conquered all other aspects of her life with flying colors, but when it came to dating and relationships, something was obviously holding her back. It was during that conversation on a sunny, Saturday afternoon that I realized what it was. She described to me that all the guys she was interested in were too busy chasing paper, chasing hits and chasing their goals. Not chasing her! And the ones that were interested in her, she was turned off by because they weren’t exciting enough. She exclaimed to me, “what am I gonna talk about over dinner with a dentist,” or “he’s the manager at a real estate office, how boring” and my favorite one, “I have nothing in common with a graphic artist…” And I said to her, “only thing you two have in common is that he’s single and looking for a solid relationship and so are you; if that’s not a common interest, I don’t know what is.” I explained to her that there is nothing wrong with dating an “ordinary guy.” All ordinary guys are not users and scam artists. And a lot of times it’s the ordinary ones that have a clearer vision of what they want for their lives in terms of love and commitment and sooner than a man that lives for the spotlight. Not always, but more often than not.
What Michael Vick Can Teach You About Money Management
(New York Times) — Michael Vick will take the field on Sunday wearing the uniform of the Philadelphia Eagles, who took him in after his imprisonment for helping to run a dogfighting ring. But thanks to his personal bankruptcyfiling after he went to jail, he will also be playing for BMW Financial Services, Dodson Pest Control, Summertime Pool and the Monticello Woods Homeowners Association. They are not sponsors. Instead, they and many others have a claim on his future earnings. Bankrupt professional athletes are a sad fixture on the sports scene, and Mr. Vick isn’t even alone among quarterbacks who have hit the financially injured reserve list. The former Cleveland Browns star Bernie Kosar and the current New York Jets backup, Mark Brunell, have had their brushes with bankruptcy, too. Sports stars may or may not mess up more often than the average person who earns a lot of money really fast, but their troubles seem outsize because of their fame and the pathetic schemes they fall for. The stakes are high for football players in particular, since their average professional career lasts just four seasons or so and may leave lingering injuries and the health costs or physical limitations that come with them.
Dapper Dudes: The Most Stylish Male Athletes
Who says athletes don’t have style? Topping the ‘best dressed’ lists alongside some of the most stylish celebrities, many athletes have started to embrace fashion and demonstrate their personal style. Trading in their sweats for tailored suits, most of these men have enlisted the help of personal stylists to create a signature look that compliments their tastes. From Dwyane Wade’s love for pin-striped suits to Lebron James’s secret obsession with blazers, what’s not to love about an in-shape, Hot athlete who also knows how to dress?
Older Men Who Could Get it Back in the Day
When asked to come up with a list of much older men, still breathing, who were fine in their heyday, it was immediately clear that I couldn’t do it alone.
I was interested to know who my mother, now in her ’60s, was checking for way back when during her camel and mash potato-dancing days. We went back and forth, me naming names I had only seen in blaxploitation films and on Motown infomercials that come on late at night. She of course shut many of them down. Laughing at my suggestions of the guys from “Cooley High” and debating with me about why O.J. Simpson automatically disqualified himself from the list. So after flipping through album sleeves, recalling every black television show from the past and going through a ton of Google image pages, here is a list of living actors, musicians, athletes and more who may not be your cup of tea now (probably because they could be your grandpappy), but had all your mommas and grandmamas, swooning. If you don’t agree with the choices, you’ll have to take your issues up with moms.
A Reverse in Gains: 10 Athletes Who Have Gone Bankrupt
We’ve all played this game: “If I were rich I would…” Travel the world? Start a business? Quit my job? No one ever says, “Squander it all,” despite the fact that this happens often. In a recent article, 15 Athletes Gone Bankrupt, CNBC reminds us how pervasive a problem this is among sportsmen. The NBA estimates that 60% of players go broke within five years of retiring, and according to a 2009 Sports Illustrated finding, 78% of NFL players could be classified as bankrupt or financially distressed, within two years of leaving the job. The Atlanta Post takes a look at the ten African-American athletes that made CNBC’s list.
Mike Tyson
After serving 3 years on rape charges, former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson returned to the ring. It wasn’t long, however, before he bit a piece of Evander Holyfield’s ear off, in one of the most disgraceful incidents in sports history. His career never rebounded and when he filed for bankruptcy in 2003, an extravagant lifestyle, pet tiger, $9 million divorce settlement and back taxes had not only succeeded in absorbing the $400 million he’d earned, but left him with a $27 million tab.
