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Athletes June 25, 2020
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JR Smith to the Lakers? Why the NBA needs Team Swish back

JR Smith might be back at work again.

Per ESPN, the Los Angeles Lakers are looking to sign Smith to replace Avery Bradley in time for the league’s restart. Smith’s agent Rich Paul and Lakers president of operations Rob Pelinka were reportedly discussing an agreement on Tuesday and Wednesday.

Avery Bradley will be opting out of the season’s restart due to personal reasons. This puts the Lakers, the top seed in the Western Conference, without a starting point guard.

The 34-year-old Smith hasn’t played an NBA game in two years, last playing with the Cleveland Cavaliers in 2018. The 15-year veteran was drafted by the New Orleans Hornets out of high school in 2004, and he has also played for the New York Knicks and Denver Nuggets.

 

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I CAN’T WAIT 👀👀 @lakers

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Smith won a league championship with the Cavaliers in 2016 alongside LeBron James.

He was also awarded Second Team Parade All-American in 2004 and was named the NBA’s Sixth Man of the Year in 2013.

Smith has had an interesting hiatus, to say the least.

On May 31st 2020, Smith was caught on video physically assaulting another man. The incident allegedly happened during a George Floyd protest, where the man had broken Smith’s truck window using his skateboard.

The 225-pound Smith viciously kicked the man before his friends stepped in, scaring the man off. “I chased him down and whooped his ass,” Smith said. “. . . didn’t know where he was going and broke my f**king window in my truck.”

TMZ makes it clear that Smith’s beating was not a result of racial or hateful causes. It only happened because of the man’s involvement with JR’s truck. Video obtained by the website clearly shows Smith delivering blows to the man with both hands and feet.

In December 2019, it was reported that Smith had been in an extramarital relationship with actress Candice Patton. Smith and his wife Jewel had made public statements on social media regarding the cheating accusations. JR and Jewel have been married since 2016.

Smith admitted in December that he had been struggling since splitting with his wife. “It a one of the hardest Christmas’s I’ve had but we still pushing,!” Smith said on Instagram. The couple shares three children together.

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBcClTZB8eD/

Jewel offered her own comments on social media. “Clearly there is a lot going on. . . it’s a battle, hurdle to jump over … out there in the public.” LeBron James and his wife Savannah had offered their supports in the comments.

On January 21, 2020, it was reported that Smith and his wife had reconciled.

This past April, Smith also had words to say regarding his relationship with Hennessy.

“I don’t even drink Henny, bro. It’s not my s**t, bro,” Smith said. “Nah, I never drank it before, though. Even before that. The funny thing is, the picture that everybody talks about of me drinking Henny, it’s a champagne bottle. So, I don’t even know how that even came about.”

Smith’s supposed obsession with the alcoholic drink has come up various times in the past few years. Due to his off-court antics and love of partying, Smith earned the nickname “Henny God.” His reiterance of his disgust for the drink only makes Smith’s situation more charming.

On March 28, 2020, Smith called President Trump a f***ing clown for his handling of the pandemic. His words were in response to one of Trump’s countless tweets bashing the media. Smith isn’t the only NBA player critical of Trump, as both the Golden State Warriors and Toronto Raptors skipped the traditional White House visit following their championship wins.

The NBA needs personality and life back. JR Smith is a fan favorite who has been having a hectic couple of years since he last played in the league. America has been under much duress lately, and the NBA’s return is one positive sign in a tough few months.

 

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Been getting the game from my OG why stop now! Love you Pop

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Smith’s return would breathe fresh life into a league that will be playing without fans.

We can only hope that Smith’s return will come soon with LA, and we cannot wait to see him rejoin another powerhouse team for the chance at another title.

Athletes June 22, 2020
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How Stephen Jackson became a voice of Black Lives Matter

The death of a close friend was not what former pro-basketball star Stephen Jackson was expecting on May 25th. Shortly after the news broke of George Floyd’s killing, Jackson went public with the information that Floyd was a “twin” to him.

When he had initially viewed the video, he didn’t immediately recognize Floyd, thinking he was just “another black getting murdered by the police.”

After taking a second look, Jackson came to the crushing realization of the man’s identity. “I haven’t been the same since I seen it,” Jackson told an NBC correspondent on the Today Show.

What initially started off as just “another black getting murdered” has been anything but that. Following the Minneapolis tragedy, thousands upon thousands of Americans have participated in protests — both peaceful and violent — over the course of the past few days. President Trump himself has threatened to bring in the military should the violence continue.

“Floyd would want everybody standing together and fighting for justice, and that’s it. He’s not the type of person to promote violence… What we’re seeing right now, this is not what Floyd would want” Jackson said.

It is quite a defining statement from Jackson, has spoken passionately about the necessity of change: “We need justice, we demand it… we’re going to get it… it has to stop,” he told CNN.

As one of the current leading faces in the public eye, Jackson’s early life had its ups and downs. Born in Port Arthur, Texas, Jackson’s half-brother Donald Buckner died due to head trauma at age 25 after being jumped.

It was an event that shaped him, as Pacers CEO Donnie Walsh alluded to: “You can’t tell me seeing his brother die that way hasn’t had an effect. To me, it’s why he is always coming to the help of his teammates.”

Jackson’s success on the basketball court was nothing short of spectacular, as after leading his high school to a state championship his junior year, he was drafted 42nd overall in the 1997 NBA draft by the Phoenix Suns.

His 18-year professional career includes over 12,000 points, a playoff run with the Golden State Warriors in 2006-07, and a world championship in 2003 with the San Antonio Spurs.

 

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Can’t wait to get back in the gym. Getting tired of doing push ups. #WackoJacko

A post shared by Stephen Jackson Sr. (@_stak5_) on

It is his outspokenness that has made Jackson a profound leader in the current protests. At a quick glance, one could possibly confuse Floyd and Jackson as related.

“I’m here because they’re not gonna demean the character of George Floyd, my twin,” Jackson told a Memphis gathering. “When was murder ever worth it?” he continued “But when it’s a black man, it’s approved.”

Jackson has become a voice that the Black community can rally behind. He is an example that a Black person killed by the police is not just another random victim; they are somebody who matters.

Jackson has become the example of a community member directly involved with the victim; he did not bring himself to a “victim” level, he brought the victims up to his star level.

As he continues to share the words and feelings of his true friend’s death, it is certain that this relationship will serve as the bridge between police victims and true celebrity power. Stephen Jackson is doing something that has rarely been seen before.

As more celebrities and athletes continue to share their support with the Black community, Jackson stands as the pillar uniting all classes.

This is not about status anymore. This is about family, community, and standing up for the rights of the oppressed. As Jackson’s daughter said herself, “Daddy changed the world.”

Athletes June 22, 2020
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Maya Moore is the social justice hero young women need

Maya Moore, basketball superstar, sacrificed her career with the WNBA in February of 2019 in pursuit of social justice.

Even as such a high-profile star, Moore’s advocacy work has not been covered extensively by the media. It is crucial that media platforms give the same focus to women athletes/entertainers as they do men who are making sacrifices by being invested in the fight for social reform.

Moore chose to put the basketball down in early 2019 so that she could fight for Jonathan Irons’ freedom in Jefferson County, Missouri.

During two seasons where she would have been playing, Maya Moore helped Irons’ conviction get overturned, originally a 50-year sentence of which he spent 23 years behind bars.

Moore knew Irons’ from when she was a child. Irons had gotten to know her family through the volunteer work they did with the prison and their church. Moore joined forces with Change.org to help create a petition and start the campaign Win With Justice.

Moore is uncertain about her future with basketball; right now her sole focus is fighting for justice for marginalized individuals.

While Moore is a two-time Olympic Gold medalist and has gone on six trips to the WNBA finals, she now plays in a different court, advocating for criminal justice reform.

So often the media focuses on male athletes and advocates of justice like Colin Kaepernick, and while these men’s efforts definitely should be applauded, it’s paramount to remember that women are also using their platforms to do the same. Making sacrifices for social justice that put their careers, their families, their livelihoods at risk.

Dascha Polanco, known for her role as Daya Diaz on Orange Is the New Black, actively advocates for women of color in jail and helps those who have been released successfully re-enter their lives.

Kim Kardashian West helped release a woman named Alice Johnson from prison after hearing she had been a non-violent offender. Originally sentenced to life in prison, Johnson was released after 21 years behind bars.

Even when she was suiting up in her jersey and hitting the hardwood, Moore used her platform for efforts bigger than basketball. Four years ago, in support of two black men who had been killed by police, Philando Castro and Alton Sterling, Moore’s whole Minnesota Lynx basketball team wore Black Lives Matter t-shirts while warming up before their game. The cops working the game were so affronted at the perceived slight against law enforcement that they walked off the floor. I wish I were kidding.

Moore has been an activist for a while now, yet her name and face appear far less than men who are also advocates for justice. Still, she powers on, using her social media platform to help educate others.

Maya Moore shares the fact that racial injustices have been happening for a long time, and she explains the need for discourse on how to end it.

Moore, in addition to a wide range of other women athletes, entertainers, and advocates, is using her platform to voice support for change, too long forgotten and swept aside.

Athletes June 19, 2020
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Marcus Rashford makes sure kids in the UK have access to free food

Manchester United forward Marcus Rashford is a positive light in a dark time. The 22-year-old English footballer put his case forward for free school meals to be provided for financially-struggling families in the U.K, and now has the government making changes to their own policies.

Rashford’s actions have even caused football leagues to adjust their policies on Black Lives Matter campaigns. It is a fantastic act of humanity in a time of global uncertainty, and Rashford has become another athlete using their platform to make a substantial contribution.

During the earlier months of the pandemic, Rashford was involved in online gaming tournaments for charity. He also reserved Manchester United tickets for workers in the U.K’s National Health Service. Neither of these philanthropic acts would measure up to his next project, however.

 

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All for a good cause fundraising for @unicef_uk. Me and @dhtekkz Vs @danerashford @dwainemaynard 🎮⚽️

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Rashford teamed up with FareShare to provide free school meals for vulnerable children in financially-stricken situations. In May, he made a sizable personal donation of £100,000, raising supermarket interest in the project. On June 11, Rashford announced that the project had reached over 3 million children nationwide.

The numbers kept growing as Tesco, Asda, and Co-op each made their own personal donations. By June 19, more than £20 million had been raised.

“We don’t know how long this is going to go on for, and it’s just something that, if this had happened 10 or 15 years ago, it definitely would have affected myself in the position I was in when I was a kid,” Rashford told Independent U.K.

“It was just something that I thought if there’s a way to try and help people and kids especially then let’s just try and do it.”

Rashford was not content with his progress, though. On June 15, he wrote an open letter to the government calling on them to end child poverty in the United Kingdom. “This is not about politics; this is about humanity,” Rashford wrote.

“Looking at ourselves in the mirror and feeling like we did everything we could to protect those who can’t, for whatever reason or circumstance, protect themselves. Political affiliations aside, can we not all agree that no child should be going to bed hungry?”

Rashford also pushed his letter beyond childhood hunger, addressing the current worldwide racial tensions. He used his own experiences as an example, citing the difference that his community has made in his life. “As a black man from a low-income family in Wythenshawe, Manchester, I could have been just another statistic,” Rashford continued.

“Understand: without the kindness and generosity of the community I had around me, there wouldn’t be the Marcus Rashford you see today: a 22-year old black man lucky enough to make a career playing a game I love.”

The letter set off a flame. The following day, the U.K government announced policy changes regarding the extension of free meals for school children during the summer holidays. Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a £120 “COVID Summer Food Fund.”

Families who had previously earned free school meals will now receive a summer voucher worth £15 weekly for the duration of the school break, which will be applicable in nearly all supermarkets. Over one-million children will reportedly receive the benefits. 

Rashford’s actions have given athletes a good name. Alongside Stephen Jackson, LeBron James, and multiple other professional athletes, Rashford is using his compensation and platform to make a community-driven difference. All too often, athletes have been criticized for their lack of judgement and reckless behavior due to fame. Because of what he’s doing, Rashford has provided his cohort of professionals with a sense of goodness. He has reinforced the idea that wealthy athletes can offer more than television entertainment.

Likewise, Rashford has been monumental in the Black Lives Matter campaign by demonstrating the ability to stand up and make a difference. A Black man himself, Rashford has not only been outspoken about the racial issues, but has also demonstrated a level of action.

By using his time and value to help hungry children, Rashford is providing a source of invaluable representation for the Black community. He is showing how it is his decision to assist children and people in need, not the decision of society, and not the decision of pressure.

 

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Just because… @waynerooney ♥️🐐

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Marcus Rashford is an example of true passion in a harboring time. To donate to his charity, visit https://fareshare.org.uk/

Athletes June 5, 2020
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White privilege shaped Drew Brees’ comments. Here’s why it’s bigger than football.

New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees made controversial comments Wednesday when he shared his opinion on kneeling during the National Anthem.

In an interview with Yahoo Finance, Brees made a statement answering a question regarding Colin Kaepernick’s 2016 protest of police brutality against minorities by saying, “will never agree with anybody disrespecting the flag of the United States of America.”

Brees’ comments generated widespread disapproval across the sports world, including replies from Los Angeles Lakers star LeBron James, and other Saints teammates Michael Thomas, Demario Davis, Malcolm Jenkins, and Alvin Kamara.

Jenkins, in particular, had harsh words for Brees in a since-deleted video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljO-TXjk3-Y

“Our communities are under siege. And what you’re telling us is don’t ask for help that way. Ask for it a different way. And it’s unfortunate because I considered you a friend. I looked up to you. You’re somebody who I had a great deal of respect for. But sometimes you should shut the f**k up,” Jenkins said.

Michael Thomas also had a pair of Twitter statements for his quarterback:

https://twitter.com/Cantguardmike/status/1268220772046307333

https://twitter.com/Cantguardmike/status/1268224561008574465

Brees’ comments clearly come from a place of passion, as he mentions how the National Anthem reminds him of his two grandfathers who served in the armed forces during World War II.

“In many cases, it brings me to thinking about all that has been sacrificed, and not just in the military, but for that matter, those throughout the Civil Rights movements of the ’60s, and all that has been endured by so many people up to this point,” Brees said.

While Brees’ comments regarding his grandfathers are valid and come from a true place of passion it, unfortunately, raises the problem of white privilege within the NFL community. This made him naive to the issues around him, especially those generated by the recent deaths and protest movements.

By refusing to acknowledge the necessary aspects of Kaepernick’s protests in his initial comments, Brees, unfortunately, displays a level of ignorance towards the country’s current pain, which is very susceptible to backlash and controversy.

He shows that the best, most outspoken figures in the sports world are victim to white privilege, and do not understand the issues at hand.

https://twitter.com/DougBaldwinJr/status/1268276006831316992

White privilege is an issue that has affected sports for quite some time. According to David J. Leonard, author of Playing While White: Privilege and Power on and off the Field, white athletes are profiled as intelligent leaders, hard workers, and role models while colored athletes do not receive the same diagnosis.

“Sports, like America itself, is a place where race matters,” Leonard says. “It is a place where anti-black racism is ubiquitous, from the press box to the coach’s office, from the stands to the White House. It is also a place where the privileges of whiteness are a commonplace” he concludes.

These statements are all-too-familiar in the modern-day. Tim Tebow, Aaron Rodgers, and Drew Brees are three of many athletes to be considered “household role models.”

Their Black teammates are constantly regarded as “naturally gifted,” “ungrateful with money,” and of course, “a liability.” Black athletes are rarely recognized for their hard work and passion of the sport, and instead labeled as “naturals.”

It is unfortunate that these stereotypes are not the current main issues, with us instead of having to address the murder of innocent Black men and women first. As society continues to deal with these tragedies, the privilege of white athletes will continue.

This extends past Drew Brees and into multiple star athletes today. Leonard continues his piece making an example of Tom Brady, an athlete who shares much of the privilege and social status that Brees does. “The story of Brady is the story of whiteness, of advantages and systematically produced opportunities,” Leonard says.

Similar to Brady, Brees fell out of the first round and had to “work his way” up to a starting job. Black athletes are rarely recognized with this work ethic and instead headlined with their natural gifts and police mugshots.

“White privilege is also the celebration of Bill Belichick’s hoodie as African-American youths are seen as criminals and ‘thugs’ for their similar clothing choices” Leonard continues. “It is ‘Gronk being Gronk,” while any denounced Black athletes are denounced as “selfish and out of control.”

Brees has especially profound responsibility to recognize his privilege coming from the city of New Orleans. It is a city with a majority Black population, one of the few in the United States. Furthermore, the Saints football team is an icon for the population.

Kids go to school wearing Saints hoodies, imitating Brees’s signature throws on the recess field. Representing this city, he has a clear responsibility to be something more; to recognize his privilege, and use it to shut out the assumptions and stereotypes surrounding the Black population.

Thursday morning, Brees publicly apologized for his comments. In an Instagram post, he apologized to his friends, teammates, the city of New Orleans, and the black community for his previous comments.

“In speaking with some of you, it breaks my heart to know the pain I’ve caused,” he says. “I stand with the black community in the fight against systemic racial injustice and police brutality and support the creation of real policy change that will make a difference. I condemn the years of oppression that have taken place throughout our black communities and still exists today.”

Following his comments, several of his teammates expressed their forgiveness, notably Alvin Kamara. “It’s time for us to be part of the solution, not the problem” he exclaimed on Twitter. “We have to educate to progress.”

Thankfully, Brees seems to understand his wrongdoing. While he was not intentionally trying to disrespect anybody, his comments showed a level of naiveness and ignorance that is affecting American culture today.

White privilege is a reality, and it is most dangerous to those who do not know that they exhibit it. The best way to combat it is to spread the word, spread awareness, and peacefully educate those who lack the knowledge.

While Drew Brees and other athletes have a distinct platform for their actions, it starts with all of us. We can make a difference, we just have to reach out.

Athletes May 28, 2020
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This is why athletes kneel: The sports world reacts to the murder of George Floyd

The world reacted to the brutal murder of George Floyd in Minneapolis on Monday, caught on camera.

Floyd, a 46-year-old African-American man, was handcuffed and pinned to the ground by an officer’s knee. Floyd was clearly not resisting, and bystanders pleaded for the officer to loosen his grip.

Floyd could be heard saying “I can’t breathe,” and yet still, the officer kept his knee on Floyd’s neck, and none of the other surrounding officers did anything to stop their partner.

The brutality and subsequent death of Floyd brought back memories of the 2014 death of Eric Garner. To Michael Brown. To a plethora of other Black men and women who have been the victim of police brutality, and still nothing has changed. This Time cover captures the issue well.

 

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I’m so extremely angry. This bullshit has to stop! #JusticeForGeorgeFloyd

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America, a country whose foundation was built upon slavery and racist ideologies, is still entrenched in those racist systems. Has anything truly changed since the civil rights movement? People are angry, and those who aren’t, aren’t paying attention.

Athletes took to the internet to voice their grief, their fear, their sadness and regret over George Floyd’s death and the number of other Black lives lost due to police violence.

LeBron James, the King, the tireless advocate for justice and the everyman’s prosperity, was adamant in his frustration over Floyd’s death and people who criticize why athletes use their platforms to address social issues.

 

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Do you understand NOW!!??!!?? Or is it still blurred to you?? 🤦🏾‍♂️ #StayWoke👁

A post shared by LeBron James (@kingjames) on

After Ahmaud Arbery’s death, around three weeks ago, the King shared a message in anger, fear, and despair, saying how Black people are hunted every day.

Colin Kaepernick, whose social efforts are well found beyond just the scope of his kneeling stance, posted to Instagram a message essentially declaring “enough is enough.”

 

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A post shared by colin kaepernick (@kaepernick7) on

Steph Curry posted a message on Instagram as well. “George pleaded for help and was just straight up ignored, which speaks loud and clear that his black life didn’t matter,” said the Golden State Warriors superstar.

These athletes may be millionaires, but money does not solve injustice in this country. Money does not protect those that are immediately targeted and stereotyped because of the color of their skin.

And even if it did, athletes rightly feel a responsibility to stand up for those without a voice, to use their platforms to try and enact change.

Former NBA star Stephen Jackson, known for his hotheaded and honest personality, joined The Today Show to speak about Floyd, a lifelong friend of his, and the murder of black people in this country.

I will note that The Today Show saying, “died while in Minneapolis police custody” in its caption is inaccurate and insensitive. Floyd was murdered on the street while not resisting arrest and over a petty crime.

It is worth considering whether calling for manslaughter or murder is even enough for the cop who killed Floyd, and the others who were complicit in his death. Not only are cops who murder innocent people performing murder, but it is their authority, and only that, that gives them the power to be violent and murder in the first place.

Not surprisingly, Jackson was distraught during the interview.

Referring to Floyd calling out for his deceased mother in the video, Jackson said,

“I’m a black man and I’m a strong black man and I know Floyd. That’s a cry for help. We don’t scream our mother’s name like that unless we know something is wrong and our life is in jeopardy and we can’t control it.”

The ability to take pictures and record videos at any moment has spread awareness on issues sensible people always knew existed. Discrimination, racist behavior towards black people, police brutality all across the country. The fact that the cop kept his leg on Floyd even while being recorded should let anyone know that he understands his white privilege, and was not fearful of the ramifications.

Athletes have such power in this world, but in such a bleak time, it’s hard to imagine what even they can do. A revolution is coming, sooner than later. Rest In Power George Floyd, your name will not be forgotten.

Here are more athletes, coaches, and retired players who’ve let their voices be heard via social media:

Athletes May 19, 2020
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Spencer Dinwiddie is good, but not $25 million in Bitcoin good

Spencer Dinwiddie loves a flare for the unnatural.

Dinwiddie, who previously attempted to tokenize his NBA contract but was told “no” by the league, posted a GoFundMe link on Friday stating that if fans reached his goal of $24,632,630, he would let them choose what franchise he signed with next.

The Brooklyn Nets guard is not a superstar, he is not even really a star, but a very high-level role player who could play a large role on a championship team. The niche he has carved out for himself in the league is commendable, as not many teams took a chance on him once Detroit essentially let him go and he spent some time in the G-League.

Yet his aspirations are high, and his desire to be the one player in the league to do something extremely innovative with his contract shows he is not like most athletes. But are his expectations for fans too high? The GoFundMe is not exactly on the proper trajectory for the lofty goal he set out for.

As of Sunday afternoon, Dinwiddie had raised less than $1,000 on the page, and the second-highest donation was for $69 from a Nets fan who included the message, “Knicks are Poopiepoopbuttbuttsoup.”

Ah, the crosstown rivalry between two teams. Basketball, we miss you.

Dinwiddie may have realized the error in his ways, based off of his tweet this morning.

The Nets guard won’t even be a free agent until 2022, although he does have a player option on the 2021/22 season where he is supposed to earn $12,302,496. Is he jumping the gun, wylin, or setting the standard for players who want to do something different with their contracts under the guise of additional freedom.

Almost certainly the former two.

However, any way you slice it, Dinwiddie is not like any other role player or close-to-All-Star in the league. And if he continues to play like he has been this year and last, the suitors will be aplenty in 2021/2022.

…But is this man really bugging though?

Athletes April 28, 2020
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Roxy surfer Stephanie Gilmore champions sustainable living in her sport

When I got the opportunity to hang out with a world-class championship pro surfer, a part of me was itching to find out all I could about surfing, and her home, Australia.

Waves and sharks popped up in my mind, and I had some curiosity about the origin of UGGs and the array of remarkably beautiful influencers occupying coastlines.

But another thing that popped up in my mind was the condition of the oceans that surfers occupy and if ocean plastics were becoming more of an issue, coastally and worldwide.

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

There always seems to be a new source of ocean plastic, going back to the beginning of the past decade. Currently, ocean plastics are becoming like an unnatural-natural resource that can be harvested from oceans and beaches around the globe.

This got me thinking of how, if any, do surfers care to be stylish on open water or dry land, knowing the impact fashion has overall.

Bring Your Board

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

Professional surfer, Roxy sponsored athlete, guitarist, environmentalist, and Australian cool-kid, Stephanie Gilmore is leading the way to the 2021 Olympics. Surfing will be premiered for the first time in Tokyo.

She has been making waves since the tender age of 19 in the pro-surfing circuit and is now living a dream while supporting many eco-friendly efforts of various nonprofits and organizations.

She is an influencer of surf culture and people around the world, especially in her Pacific island region.

IMG_5141-Steph-Malibu-final.jpg

“I FINISHED HIGH SCHOOL AND WENT STRAIGHT ON TO THE QUALIFYING SERIES AND QUALIFIED STRAIGHTAWAY. AND SO I WAS ON THE WORLD TOUR AT 19 YEARS OF AGE. IT WAS MY FIRST YEAR, AND I WON THE WORLD TITLE AS A ROOKIE, AND I WON IT EVERY YEAR FOR THE FIRST FOUR YEARS. THEN AT THE END OF 2010, I HAD THIS INCIDENT, WHICH WAS A BIT OF A HURDLE.”

Stephanie continued:

“I HAD A BROKEN WRIST AND A FEW DIFFERENT INJURIES AND SOME EMOTIONAL TRAUMA. IT TOOK ME A GOOD YEAR TO REALLY RECOVER FROM THAT. IN 2012, I WAS ABLE TO COME BACK AND WIN THE TITLE AGAIN. I SORT OF BEEN OFF SINCE THEN. I’D WIN A TITLE AND THEN I FEEL LIKE IT TAKES ME A YEAR TO GO BY TO FINISH PARTYING.”

RX18_Steph7_SerenaLutton_7728.JPG

Stephanie has recently spent time on hiatus from the surfing scene. She’s usually traveling and photographing her views from coastlines around the world.

For her, sustainable ideas were far from her daily routine but her livelihood is set in one of the most vulnerable ecosystems on the planet, the ocean. Besides balancing on a board, she has realized the balance needed for fashion and the ecosystems of the world to co-exist.

Josie Kerr [wearing ROXY tee and cap] and Ellie were forced to evacuate their home in Mallacoota [Australia]. Justin McManus/The Age/Fairfax Media via Getty Images
Josie Kerr [wearing ROXY tee and cap] and Ellie were forced to evacuate their home in Mallacoota [Australia]. Justin McManus/The Age/Fairfax Media via Getty Images

What is evident is the ravaging fires Australia has experienced earlier in the year. The oceans that are swooshing used consumer plastics and other trash from continent to continent, coastline to coastline, ending up in places like Bali, whose infrastructure can’t handle the influx of the trash.

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

“I THINK NOW IT’S A BIG MOVEMENT. WHICH IS COOL FOR SURFERS! DIVING STRAIGHT INTO SUSTAINABILITY – SURFING IS A PERFECT CANDIDATE FOR THAT BECAUSE WE ACTUALLY LIVE THERE EVERY DAY.”

THE WAVE OF INFLUENCERS

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

Born, raised, and living in New South Wales, Australia, and spending time in Malibu during the off-season, this happy-go-lucky girl has been carving a path of her own and celebrating her success around every turn.

As a Roxy sponsored, seven-time world champion athlete, living most of her life on the surface of the ocean, she is avid about their brand’s functionality in design, but more impressed at the eco-friendly production and finish of the garments.

She is honored to be considered cool enough for fashion placement, but she has goals that come with that.

Limited_Roxy_WA19-QRTRS-20.jpg

“THERE’S A LITTLE MORE GOING ON THAN JUST TRYING TO BE AN INFLUENCER. I THINK THE MAIN THING, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN US IS THAT I WANT TO USE MY PLATFORM TO SPEAK ABOUT THE ISSUES AND THINGS THAT AREN’T GOING TO JUST GROW MY FOLLOWING BUT TEACH MY FOLLOWING.”

Gilmore continued:

“I WANT TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS THAT I’M TRYING TO INFLUENCE PEOPLE ON. AND I THINK THAT’S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR A LOT OF INFLUENCERS TO STOP AND ASK THEMSELVES THOSE QUESTIONS. LIKE, ‘WHAT ARE YOU ACTUALLY TRYING TO TELL ME? WHAT STORY ARE YOU TRYING TO TELL ME?’”

ROXY SURFING CLUB

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

Roxy swimwear is particularly favored by Stephanie as she can find everything she needs for surfing in any condition while knowing that the brand is countering the effects of human consumption with their Pop Surf Collection.

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

Roxy makes everything a surfer needs like sarongs, slides, towels, and even poncho towels with hoods, which makes changing at the beach more accessible.

They have everything covered for a surfer with suits for every condition like when the waters are warm but the wind is chilly. Maybe just a vest when it’s a bit warmer or full suit when the weather is colder.

LOOK OUT FOR THE REST OF THIS ARTICLE IN THE PAGE PRINT ISSUE COMING SOON!

TAKE OUR PAGE READER SURVEY

Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020
Stephanie Gilmore, ROXY Pop Surf Collection 2020

You can watch Stephanie in the latest surfing visuals from the Convicts production house in Electric Wave, featuring two other surfing greats, Coco Ho and Leah Dawson.

“Electric Wave is half surf-film, half arthouse-cinema and all futuristic. Featuring seven-time World Surf League Champion, Steph Gilmore, in addition to the young star Coco Ho and legendary free surfer, Leah Dawson, Electric Wave celebrates sustainability and progression within and beyond the surf world.”

Look out for this article on PAGE magazine.

Athletes April 14, 2020
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Ziaire Williams goes on UNINTERRUPTED and declares Stanford University

“I’m just tryna blaze my own trail,” 5-star recruit Ziaire Williams tells WNBA superstar Chiney Ogwumike. The standout basketball prospect speaks on an exclusive Q&A with Stanford Cardinal alum Ogwumike on UNINTERRUPTED‘s Instagram live stream.

“I am more than an athlete,” Williams continues.

Williams declared for Stanford on Sunday in a poised and eloquent speech posted on UNINTERRUPTED’s Twitter. His parents jumped in the frame after he revealed his decision to the audience, and the whole Williams clan looks to be in high spirits, even with the uncertain state of the world right now.

A much-needed breath of vibrancy and positivity.

“Before I make this announcement I would like to give a special thoughts and prayers out to those who are battling this coronavirus pandemic,” says Williams.

The next step was for Williams to explain his decision, as well as his life and basketball. All on a live Q&A with fellow Cardinal and homie Chiney Ogwumike. Ogwumike is also the host of UNINTERRUPTED’s hit basketball podcast Certified Buckets.

“Basketball is going to stop dribbling eventually,” Williams says with focus and precision.

“You got that right, you got it right at a young age,” Ogwumike animatedly responds. It is clear she respects Williams for his wise words at such an early age, with the majority of his career only ahead of him.

 

View this post on Instagram

 

“I am more than an athlete” — @ziaire on what he wants his legacy to be at Stanford. 🎙: @chiney321

A post shared by UNINTERRUPTED (@uninterrupted) on

Ziaire Williams began playing basketball at the age of five. For his first three years of high school, Williams attended Notre Dame High School. In his junior season, he averaged 27 points, 10 rebounds and 3 assists per game.

For his senior year, Williams transferred to Sierra Canyon School, which was already a stacked squad but also had high-profile talents Bronny James and Zaire Wade in tow.

Still, Williams, a senior, was the standout of the group. Now, he’s staying on the west coast and gearing up for a freshman season that will sure to be under the spotlight in the wake of the pandemic.

Right now, possibly more than ever, people want to watch sports. They recognize the gravity of the situation the world is in, but the calming effect sports has on people’s lives is readily apparent now with its absence.

Best of luck to Ziaire Williams, already a model young citizen and star athlete ready to etch his name into the Stanford and NCAA history books.

Athletes March 18, 2020
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Fight Kulture: Reese Scott’s Women’s World of Boxing Part II

What are you fighting for?

When heard initially, the word “fight” may prompt visuals of violence, gore, or an old 90s action flick. But the word speaks to so much more. It’s mental, emotional, it’s universal and when said it can be felt by all.

For too long, the idea of fighting was seen as solely masculine, building a multitude of social constraints that discouraged women from participating in combat sports and while these constraints have slowly been lifting, they still exist.

One of the many pillars supporting and fueling women in combat sports is none other than Reese Lynn Scott, owner of New York City’s first women’s only boxing gym, Women’s World of Boxing. 

Right at the tip of Harlem lies a getaway, a  safe space, a home to women of all ages to do one thing. Fight. 

Fresh off of its two year anniversary, WWBOX has built a community for women in the city to be themselves. At the heart of this community is Scott, full-time trainer and soul-sister to all. 

Scott fell in love with boxing at a crucial time in her life. On the surface, she had it all – the career, the finances, but at the end of the day, she wasn’t happy even though society told her she should be.

This disconnect led her to fall into a deep depression, compromising not only her emotional health but her physical as well. 

One day, Scott walked into a boxing gym near her office and never looked back. While her determination and newfound energy in fighting helped her find new fulfillment, the manner in which herself and other women were treated in traditional boxing gyms didn’t sit well. 

Scott took a bet on herself and quit her esteemed publishing gig to open a safe haven where women didn’t have to worry about their appearance, their presumed ability or hearing disingenuous remarks during their workout.

She set forth to open a place where women could just be themselves and continue to fight their fight without having to consider any opinions other than their own. 

Peep the video above for Part II of our chop up with the charismatic enigma about her journey and the roots of the iconic gym.

Reese Scott’s Women’s World of Boxing Part I and see some BTS photos below

Women’s World of Boxing BTS Photos

women's world of boxing

women's world of boxing

women's world of boxing

women's world of boxing

women's world of boxing

women's world of boxing

women's world of boxing

women's world of boxing

Photos Courtesy: Jesse Vargas x Zaire Ivey-Bracco