SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW | RITUALS > RESOLUTIONS

When you're focused on working out, it's important to optimize your hard work with your method of choice, recovery and proper nutrition. Ladders is a sports nutrition brand that offers premium supplements that is co-founded by LeBron James and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Ladder's Chief Nutrition Officer, Adam Bornstein tells us about Ladder and their new challenge Rituals>Resolutions.

ATHLEISURE MAG: LeBron James, his trainer Mike Mancias and Arnold Schwarzenegger coming together to create Ladder is a powerful combination. What led you to Ladder?

ADAM BORNSTEIN: Ladder was one of those opportunities you get where you have no idea what it will become but it's worth all of the time and effort. I was a part of Ladder long before it was ever a brand and growing business. Years ago, after LeBron's cramping game - and Mike’s quest to find better supplements - I was contacted by Arnold Schwarzenegger to help formulate the initial Ladder products that were designed for LeBron. I’d known Arnold for years, and he had seen my approach to nutrition, which is one backed by quality, safety, and results. So, when the opportunity came to formulate something for LeBron, it was one of those projects that are incredibly exciting. When someone puts faith in you to create a supplement that will be used by one of the greatest athletes ever, you not only have to rise to the occasion, but you need to go above and beyond and make what you create so much better than anyone’s expectations. That was the original mission and continues to be what drives me every day at Ladder.

AM: Tell us Ladder’s leading shakes and products? What’s the science behind it?

AB: One of the best aspects of Ladder is we only create products that we know work. So, every single ingredient and every amount needs to be backed up by numerous studies (on people, not animals), to say with confidence that it delivers results for the people that use the products. That means we don't have many products because only a few ingredients are undeniably effective. We have 2 protein powders (whey and plant), a Superfood Greens, and our Pre-workout (energy) product.

With the protein, we tried to examine what makes protein effective, which is the amino acids. In order to unlock all of the benefits of protein - everything from muscle gain and fat loss, to even qualities like better hair, skin, and nails - you need a complete protein that is high in essential amino acids and BCAAs. Many proteins might look good on a label with how much protein it has, but it's using a low-grade protein that won’t deliver all of those benefits.

For our Pre-Workout, we were very interested in a position paper by the International Olympic Committee that examined the most powerful performance supplements. Three ingredients stood out: caffeine, beta-alanine, and creatine. So, we built a product around that core and then added elements to help improve focus and ensure that the caffeine would cause a crash or jitters.

And our Superfood Greens focuses more on the essential nutrients in your body - things like magnesium or Vitamin D - that are very hard to get in your diet.

AM: The Rituals>Resolutions Campaign sounds exciting and productive! What does it emphasize and focus on?

AB: The Rituals>Resolutions campaign is designed to solve the age-old question of why it’s so hard for people to stick to their resolutions and see success. It's not that a resolution is a bad intention, but - by design - it’s set up to fail. Goals without systems can’t succeed. And the best way to build a system is to have a habit. And the best way to create habits that stick is to create a ritual that makes it easier for you to repeatedly do behaviors that will lead to desired outcomes.

Instead of having people do the same thing over and over again, we wanted to celebrate the rituals that create habits. Our goal at Ladder is to help anyone level up and better their best, and this is an important component of sharing how so many successful people are able to experience success at the highest level.

AM: Tell us about the featured Challenge led by master trainer Mike Mancias.

AB: We’re lucky at Ladder to have access to some of the best fitness pros in the world. And for the challenge, Mike Mancias worked with Alex Toussaint - a senior instructor at Peloton - to design a challenge that will improve all aspects of fitness. Together, Mike and Alex designed a workout that is a combination of strength and cardiovascular conditioning, requires minimal equipment, and is flexible so that anyone can fit the plan into their busy schedule. We know that after January, people start falling off with their goals. We wanted to make sure that we provided a challenging workout to keep people on track and offer the support of Mike and Alex to keep people motivated, working hard, and seeing results.

AM: What’s the hashtag to get involved, support and follow along?

AB: The Ladder Challenge really is for everyone. A big part of what Ladder does is it brings people together and builds a community so that people are not alone in their pursuit of living healthier and being more active. And the best part is it is driven by one of the best trainers in the world – who has worked with two of the most successful athletes in history – who are sharing insights and access to a wealth of information with anyone that wants it. Everyone can join the Ladder Challenge and engage with others taking the challenge socially using #LadderChallenge.

@LadderSport

Read the Jan Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Something You Should Know | Rituals > Resolutions in mag.

HOW TO IMPROVE ON YOUR BASKETBALL SKILLS

How many times have you seen pro basketball players and wished you were just as good as they are? Countless times I believe. The truth is, wishing doesn't get anything done. You have got to take steps to improve your game. The likes of Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Dwayne Wade, Kobe Bryant and all the superstars on the court didn’t acquire those skills overnight; they had to work hard to master their craft. They don’t have two heads, neither do they have more than two hands. They learned to develop their skills with workout and training and that’s the same thing you need to do. 

There is no surefire way on how you can improve your basketball game and take it to the next level other than giving the game time. Practice, they say, makes perfect. If you keep at it, you will get there. 

Quickly, let's take a look at some tips on how you can take your game to the next level.

1.   Hard Work

You know it's easy to think that the game is not as hard as it is portrayed, but then you would be fooling yourself. Each time you get on the court, there are probably 9 other guys who are more determined than you are. They probably have more skills and more strength. They have what it takes to beat you every time. So how do you match them? You don’t have control over what they have but you have control over you and what you got is hard work and resilience. You have got to compensate for what you lack in skill and strength with hard work. Hard work always pays off. Get off your butt early in the morning. Workout late at night. Keep doing it for weeks, months and years. It may take time but it will eventually pay off. Ask the star players, they will tell you that they are out there on the court alone for hours each day learning new skills when every other person is lounging away. If you work harder than your opponents, there is no way you won’t be able to beat them on the court one day. It may not happen immediately but slowly and surely, your star will shine.

2.   Don’t Ignore the Little Things

Most basketball players who want to be great, focus only on the big things like making 3 pointers but it’s not all about that. Making the baskets is just a result of many other seemingly little things like footwork, form, workouts, the kinds of food you eat, etc. It will be easier for you to shoot, make the baskets and dribble when you have paid attention to the little things. It is pretty much like you can’t grow tall if your roots are not properly planted into the ground. So while you are working hard, do not ignore the little things. You will be sure to level up your skills in no time.  

Another thing you should not ignore is practicing your shooting skills, there are many basketball hoops out there in the market, but an adjustable hoop will for sure give you a challenge. If you want to try these adjustable basketball hoops then investing in one will be a great idea. Buying a basketball hoop, especially if you manage to get yourself the right one, will provide tons of fun for you and your family and the more you play, the better you become. However, whenever you are choosing a basketball hoop, you must ensure such a hoop is well suited for your family’s needs. 

3.   Trust the Process

It’s sad to see aspiring basketball superstars giving and bailing out on the process because they are not reaching their goals as fast as they would want to. Consistency is what pays off. Time is not in your power to control, but you can keep working hard while waiting. No one may be seeing all your hard work at the moment but very soon, your light will shine. Keep training and perfecting your skills. Keep building your confidence. Keep building your resilience. When you have injuries, don’t think the world has come to an end, pick yourself back up and get at it again. This time, put your entire mind into it and keep trusting the process. Eventually, the process will always deliver and your name will be the talk of the town. 

4.   Take Time to Ask for Help

There are some things you may not understand all by yourself, there are things that may be beyond your comprehension of the court. Do not be shy to ask for help, if you want to know how it is done. One of the biggest reasons players fail is because of pride. Just because you can do 3 pointers and dunks doesn’t make you a superstar yet. You have got to be able to replicate the same results and exceed your best each time and you might not arrive there if you are too proud to ask for help. Asking for help will not reduce you in any way; rather you learn and get better.

5.   Break Your Records

There are going to be bad days when you fall short of your expectations. There are also going to be days when you are invincible. Such days when you have a game, don’t settle. If you can do an alley-oop or Down and Back sprints in 5 seconds, don’t settle for 8 seconds and be cool with it. Find time to improve yourself each time. This is what makes a basketball superstar. Find ways to improve your basketball game and take it to the next level each time you are on the court and never settle for less, when you can improve on yourself.

You must come to terms with the fact that practice makes perfect. You need to put in the extra work, if you want to become the next basketball superstar. Watch as many videos as you can, listen to the pros and take the opportunity to make use of these skills during your games.  

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

ULTIMATE GUIDE AND STRATEGIES IN PLAYING SQUASH

Squash is a great game to play if you are looking for an overall body workout. It can also prove to be mentally challenging because apart from your physical strength, you also need to be mentally alert while playing the sport. 

Thus, if you are up for the challenge, here are some of the strategies that can help you in playing squash.

Control the T Zone

Perhaps the first strategy that you should master as a squash player is to be able to control the T Zone of the court. The T Zone refers to the middle of the court simply because the lines painted on the floor form the letter T. This area is the most efficient place to retrieve the ball, and this is also the best position to power hit weak shots from your opponents. You are more likely to win the game if you spend more time in this zone compared to your opponent.

Squash Serve Strategy

The next technique you need to master as a squash player is how to serve effectively, as well as how to receive a serve correctly. Take a moment before you serve to think about the exact spot that you are aiming for and get to the T zone immediately after you serve. Another great strategy is to mix up your serves to be able to inhibit your opponent from being able to predict your next move.

In parallel, also master the proper technique in returning a serve. Volley the return if you are receiving a lob serve and shorten your backswing if you are returning a hard serve. Aim for a spot high on the front wall is you are returning a lob serve and keep in mind that there is no need for you to generate a powerful hit in returning a fast ball.

Attack Loose Balls

Constantly hitting tight and deep shots will pave the way for your opponent to eventually throw a loose ball. Whether you are playing a game of singles or doubles squash, make it a point to attack loose balls from your opponent. Practice to volley loose balls around the T Zone or the center of the court and make your opponent run. In parallel, hit loose balls hard in the frontcourt.

Master the Art of Deception

Squash is a game of strategy and technique, which is why it is important to ensure that your opponent won’t easily be able to predict your next move. Thereby, maximize your shot options and come up with moves that will send your opponents running the wrong way.

Squash can be deemed as one of the most challenging sports to play. This is because apart from the physical strength and endurance needed to thrive in the game, you also need the mental alertness to be able to execute a strategy that will disable your opponent. Nevertheless, seasoned players recognize that while squash is physically and mentally challenging, it is also truly engaging and addicting.

Read the lastest issue of Athleisure Mag.

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW ABOUT BETTING ODDS AND LINES

While a beginner may derive some fun from betting casually with little money, only an expert gambler would really know where to put their money. If you’re still new to the gambling scene, you shouldn’t ignore learning about betting odds and how they are calculated. Statistics and calculations are supposed to be your allies when you’re gambling. Odds define the probability of a certain event, like winning or losing. It also dictates your potential winnings if you predict right. This is why betting against the odds or betting on the underdog is much more rewarding due to the risk taken. We understand that probability can be quite confusing at first, but once you get familiar with its logic, it becomes second nature. The more you learn about probability and odds, the more you see the words through the lens of probability. We’ll be providing you with an overview of what you need to know about betting odds and lines to helping you get started.

Reading Odds

The first natural step is being able to read the odds displayed at any game, match, or tournament. There are three main types of writing odds, depending on the country. The American odds, the most common, denote the profit with a (+) so if you see, for example, an odd with a (+200) that means that every dollar you bet you yield 2 as profit. Fractional odds are more common in the UK and the previous example would be denoted as ½. The decimal odds are popular in Europe and a $2 profit for every dollar is written as 3.00, which is the total you win including your own bet.

If American odds are denoted with a negative that means that the amount presented should be wagered to make $100. A (-500) bet means that for every $500 you wager; you win $100 if it’s correct. The American odds are often referred to as moneyline odds. The difference between, odds dictates the favorite with the highest chance to win in contrast with the underdog with the lower chance. The more the difference gap between them gets bigger the more money you’ll win if you place a correct bet on the underdog.

Favorable Odds

While it’s easy to do so, you can’t just depend on the numbers displayed and only think of profits. The more profit your wager gets, the riskier the bet. All sports have different strategies to bet and spreads; a lot of experts are using sophisticated and strategies that take a lot of experience to find favorable odds. In sports, the past championships and winners are used to define their new odds every year. You can see the previous winnings and the interesting odds of past years on Boyd’s Bets to try and understand how a certain championship is developing. You can use this to your advantage as they present a brief overview of the teams and their performance as they explain the reason for the high or low odds.

Shopping for Odds

Experts at sports gambling suggest not settling down for the first thing you see on any website. Exploring other websites and venues for differing odds to gain an advantage can yield you a good profit. Betting odds are calculated mathematically by using complex equations and statistics, making every betting shop offer different odds on the same matches. One shop may offer a drastically higher profit for a wager than the other, making you win more significant. You’ll find that every website presents different spreads and lines that can be used to your advantage.

Different Strategies

Since every sporting event is different, it can be a bit overwhelming at first to formulate a good strategy for betting. When you’re betting on horses, it’s recommended that you lock in your wager as late as possible. An NFL game, on the other hand, would provide better profits and odds if you lock in your bet as early as possible. The strategy of finding a formula for betting will never be constant and it will require a lot of revision and research to make sure that you’re betting on the right result. Every sport is different, making every strategy also different.

While a happy-go-lucky attitude in betting is fun, it’s not the best when you’re trying to bet serious money. A deeper understanding of odds, lines, and their calculations are guaranteed to help you get a look at the true potential of your wagers. There is no single strategy that works for every game so always try to do your best each and every bet to truly win.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

47TH HONOLULU MARATHON

On Dec 8th, 26,000 runners and walkers lined up on Ala Moana Boulevard for the 47th Honolulu Marathon, sponsored by Japan Airlines. Nearly 20,000 of those were there for the full 26.2mile event, and the rest for a shorter 10km race, both finishing in Kapiolani Park. This is the 5th largest marathon in the US and provides $150M in revenue for the local economy. Yesterday’s temperatures were warm and humid and this course is known to be difficult due to several challenging hills.

This race has unique elements that include: not having a time limit, allowing participants to run or walk at their own pace. Everyone is greeted at the finish line with a finishers medal and finishers shirt.

PHOTO CREDIT | Photo by Ezra Shaw /Getty Images for HONOLULU MARATHON

PHOTO CREDIT | Photo by Ezra Shaw /Getty Images for HONOLULU MARATHON

Titus Ekiru (winnings included $50,000 in prize money and time bonuses) and Margaret Muriuki, both of Kenya, were crowned champions of the 47th Honolulu Marathon in Waikiki today.  Ekiru, who won the race last year, was timed in 2:07:59.02, the fastest-ever time in the state of Hawaii.  Muriuki ran 2:31:10, a personal best.

The top American was Renee Metivier of Bend, Ore., who qualified for the 2020 USA Olympic Trials by running under 2:45:00 (she was timed in 2:43:18).

PHOTO CREDIT | Photo by Ezra Shaw /Getty Images for HONOLULU MARATHON

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ARGUMENTS ON WHY COLLEGE ATHLETES SHOULD BE PAID

Coming up with a good quality argumentative essay is not easy, especially if it is your first attempt. To put your worries at ease, we at AdvancedWriters are providing you with a well-written sample essay that is well researched and detailed. The topic is an argument on why college athletes should be paid.

College sports is something that is very popular in America with sports like football and basketball being televised and drawing in huge crowds. This is something that brings in a lot of money for television networks. Over the years, there have been plenty of debates on whether college athletes should be paid when they play or not because of how valuable their teams are. Below is a list of valuable college football teams. 

Source https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2018/09/11/college-footballs-most-valuable-teams/amp/

There are two main reasons why college athletes should be paid. The first reason is college athletes put their bodies on the line and risk injury to entertain people. College athletes are young and full of enthusiasm and this makes the games very competitive because they play with heart and passion. While this is something admirable, football and basketball are contact sports. Many college students do suffer serious injuries, and some can be career-ending.

This can put their scholarship aspiration to a complete stop because they have put their bodies on the line and not being paid for it. Serious injuries to the knee, for example, can leave someone crippled for life. A concussion, for example, can cause serious brain damage, depression, and even dementia at a very young age. Since there are serious health risks when college athletes train and play on game day, they deserve to be paid.

The second reason why college athletes should be paid is college sports games bring in a lot of money.  Below is a diagram which shows the average revenue for schools by sports.

https://amp.businessinsider.com/college-sports-revenue-2016-10

There is no doubt that a lot of money is made from college, but many believe that paying the athletes will make them become complacent and make it less competitive. Instead of playing for pride, college athletes might start playing for a paycheque. Fans love to see the passion and feel the money will ruin that, but this is not true.

Many major corporations in America are making millions off college athletes by asking them to wear their brands without pay during games. These players feel used by these corporations, and no one can blame them for feeling that way. Stopping them from being paid is a way to make sure that purity is preserved, and it remains competitive.

The third reason why college athletes should be paid is it makes them fitter and healthier. When students are earning while they play, they will not need to look for part-time employment to support themselves. This lets them focus more on education and getting better marks, which is good for the school they are attending.

The fourth reason why college athletes should be paid is the funds can provide relief to families that are struggling financially. Not all students come from families that are financially well off. On top of paying for their child’s tuition, they need to buy sports gear for them to play in. A family might sometimes have to rely on loans just to get their child through college. When a college athlete is paid, they can ease some of the financial burdens on their family and pay for their own tuition and up keeping rather than rely on their family.

The last reason why student college athletes should be paid is it motivates them to play. Many college athletes never make it as professionals in their respective sports. In fact, only 2% of college athletes end up making a career in the sport they are playing in. This is because they prefer to become a pro in the field they are studying as play for their college team to socialize and be fit. 

Overall giving students a huge amount of money while they are not ready for it is not a good idea as they can be targeted by predators who want to use them for their money. No one wants to be a victim of fraud, but since college students can sometimes be naive, they can leave themselves exposed to people who do not have their best interests at heart. On the other hand, not being paid while you are doing a job is wrong. Everyone deserves to be paid for a job, especially one that has serious health risks like basketball and football. Some of the money a student might earn if paid can be used to pay for the best medical treatment when they suffer serious injuries.

References:

• CollegeXpress Student Writer (2017) Should College Student-Athletes Be Paid? Both Sides of the Debate. [Online] Available at https://www.collegexpress.com/articles-and-advice/athletics/blog/should-college-student-athletes-be-paid-both-sides-debate/ [Assessed on 01 Dec 2019]

• Abigail Hess (2019)Majority of college students say student-athletes should be paid, survey finds [Online] Available at:https://www.cnbc.com/2019/09/11/student-athletes-should-get-paid-college-students-say.html [Assessed on 01 Dec 2019]

• Chris Smith (2018) College Football's Most Valuable Teams: Texas A&M Jumps To No. 1 [Online] Available at https://www.forbes.com/sites/chrissmith/2018/09/11/college-footballs-most-valuable-teams/amp/ [Assessed on 01 Dec 2019]

• The perspective (2019) Three Reasons Why College Athletes Should Get Paid [Online] Available at https://www.theperspective.com/debates/sports/college-athletes-get-paid/ [Assessed on 02 Dec 2019]

• Times Staff (2019) College athletes should be paid[Online] Available at https://sjcctimes.com/12832/sports/college-athletes-should-be-paid/[Assessed on 02 Dec 2019]

• Editor in chief (2019) 14 Should College Athletes Be Paid Pros and Cons [Online] Available at:https://vittana.org/14-should-college-athletes-be-paid-pros-and-cons [Assessed on 01 Dec 2019]

• Steve Cameron (2019) The NCAA brings in $1 billion a year — here's why it refuses to pay its college athletes [Online] Available at:https://www.businessinsider.com/ncaa-college-athletes-march-madness-basketball-football-sports-not-paid-2019-3 [Assessed on 02 Dec 2019]

• Cork Gaines (2016) The average college football team makes more money than the next 25 college sports combined [Online] Available at:https://amp.businessinsider.com/college-sports-revenue-2016-10 [Assessed on 02 Dec 2019]

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

GREAT REASONS TO TRY ARCHERY OUT AT LEAST ONCE

Are you in the mood to try something new? If you are, then there are so many amazing things that you can do, including archery. If you want to channel your inner Legolas or Green Arrow, then this is definitely something you should consider!

Archery is an ancient art form that is still a popular practice today. In the past, archery was mainly for fighting and hunting. However, in the modern era, it's more for recreation and sports.

Archery is held in high regard in different places around the world. As a matter of fact, the Kingdom of Bhutan considers it as their national sport. 

Why You Should Try Out Archery

There is more to archery than holding a bow and arrow. The most popular archery discipline is Target Archery. It has been part of the Olympics since 1900. However, there are other disciplines, such as the following recognized around the world:

●      Para-archery

●      3D Archery

●      Field Archery

●      Ski and Run Archery

●      Flight and Clout Archery

If you look beneath the surface, there are actually so many fantastic reasons why you should give archery a try. If you want to give it a go, take note of these:

It’s For Everyone.

Regardless of gender, age, orientation, and many other factors, archery is open for all. It does not discriminate. It’s something that anyone can get into even the people with disabilities (PWD). It’s so inclusive that even those who have never held a bow in their lives can try it.

Archery is something that you can either enjoy by yourself or with a group of people. If you head down to your local archery club, you will undoubtedly run into people of all ages and from all walks of life! If you are up for some team activity, then you should sign up as soon as possible!

It’s A New Kind Of Workout.

If you are tired of doing the same exercise routines, perhaps you should opt to make archery your new workout habit! It's a far cry from the usual fitness trends that you might find yourself trying.

While it might look like a stationary activity, the truth is, there are a lot of movements involved in archery. On average, you can burn about 100 calories in 30 minutes, but this depends on your weight and other factors. The longer you do it, the more calories you will be burning! 

It’s Reasonable And Affordable.

If you haven’t tried archery before, you might think it’s inaccessible sport reserved only for those with plenty of money. However, if you are in it for fun and recreation, then it’s something that won’t burn a hole in your pocket.

If you do get into archery and commit yourself to it seriously, check out the recommended gears by https://thebowguy.com/best/bow-release/.

It Helps Improve Focus And Coordination.

Archery is not just about using a bow and arrow to shoot a target. It's not just about the physical side of things. There are so many aspects involved, including your ability to focus and your dexterity. When you try archery for the first time, you will realize the amount of work that goes into perfecting your aim.

If you wish to be an excellent archer, then you have to work on strengthening your mental fitness. When you are mentally healthy, it helps your attention and focus. These traits are important when you are working on your movements.

It Makes You More Patient.

Mastering the art of archery does not happen overnight. It takes practice and patience. Even if you are a beginner, you will learn how to appreciate the beauty of waiting for the perfect timing.

Archery focuses on precision, so your patience goes a long way!

You Can Play It Anywhere.

Archery is something that you can enjoy any season. You can play it both indoors and outdoors. Depending on your preference, you can try archery for the first time either way! It's all up to what you are up to! Check out an archery club near you to find out about their facilities and what their offers are for a newbie like yourself!

Archery For Beginners: First Time Archers

If you want a fun and relaxing activity that helps in boosting self-confidence and control, then don't forget to add archery to your list. At first glance, it might seem like an unconventional choice, but once you try, you just might have the surprise of your life!

If you are up for some challenge, then go for it! Archery combines all the elements of what you are looking for! You are not only getting physical and mental benefits but an exciting overall experience that's unlike any other!

 Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

POSITIVE EFFECT OF STUDENT ATHLETICS ON ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE

Students' desire to be a student-athlete at college and university is steadily increasing. People want to maintain a healthy lifestyle, and for the most part, it's a good sign. More and more states start to encourage the dedication of students. The governments establish laws which decide that student-athletes should get paid. But the issue of students participating in sports is controversial. Teachers and researchers often claim that such extracurricular activities distract students from studying and result in poor grades. 

But despite all that, most parts of the researchers tend to think that student athletics has a positive effect on their academic performance. Such meaning is based not on assumptions. The major universities conducted numerous researches, and most of them showed good results. In most cases, the problems are caused not by sports activities as it might first appear. 

But the workload in educational institutions increases from year to year. It's supposed that students should absorb more and more information to become qualified specialists. In reality, students just can't cope with them with their own strengths. There is one of the best solution - a professional essay writing company with years of experience. SmartWritingService provides international students with high-quality paper writing help at an affordable cost. You don't need to sit in your room, bent over papers and try to understand the material. This essay writing service offers a wide range of papers from short essays to complex research papers and Doctoral dissertations. Let a huge team of professional academic writers do their work online.

What Effects of Sports Can You See?

We used to think that people engage in sports only to be healthy and have a fit body. But it's not the only advantage of physical activities — sport influences cognitive ability and brain activity, which are crucial factors in a student's academic performance. Physical activity improves blood circulation and blood supply to tissues and organs. It relates to brain tissue. The regular training session will provide clarity of mind, necessary for absorbing new information.

Not everyone can combine studying with participation in sports activities. Some students experience that lack of time even not being involved in any other extracurricular activity. University athletes have clearly defined the schedule. For example, in the morning, they have a training session, then come to classes and lunch. After classes, some may have other training. Such a timeline fosters time-management skills. It's one of the most important skills in studying. Those athletes, who are used to such daily routine don't lose any free minute. 

If you want to learn how to handle the mountain of assignments easily, think of engaging in university sports activities. Initially, it will be hard, but after a while, you'll adapt to changes. Many people notice the improvement in well-being after productive discussions. And when you're in a good mood, all seems better and easier, especially studying. 

Other important aspects are motivation and confidence. It's known that athletes are the most motivated people. They commit themselves to sports and do everything to achieve the result. This skill and this feeling unintentionally transfer into the classroom settings. Students put the goals and do everything to achieve them in their academic performance. The same thing is with confidence. Various researches showed that student-athletes feel more confident than their non-athlete counterparts. 

Self-confident people tend to accept more responsibilities, don't be afraid of participating in public conferences, that give extra credits. That's good for the reputation of students in the university. To see the effect of athletics on classroom activity, the student should put the classes after the training session. The scientists have proved that an increase in brain activity starts 20-30 minutes after training. 

So, when teachers seek a way to change the student's attitude towards studying and increase attendance, they should throw away negative thoughts and propose to participate in university sports. There's no better way to raise a persistent person. Even if suddenly students feel that to succeed in sports and maintain a high level of academic performance simultaneously is more than they can bear, don't worry. 

It isn't worth to forget about EssayLib. We don't aim at making people reluctant to study. Some student uses our help when the material is too complex for their understanding. Contact us at any moment, and you can kill two birds with one stone. 

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SOUND AND STEADY WITH AL HORFORD

With the beginning of the 2019-20 NBA season starting this month, we’re all excited to see what the 82 game season holds for our favorite teams. This month’s cover story features Al Horford, a 5 time NBA All-Star, who has played 12 years in the league with 12 playoff appearances. He has had a busy few months. Hailing from Puerto Plato, Dominican Republic, during the off-season, on July 10th, Philadelphia 76ers General Manager Elton Brand (who was a former teammate of Al’s when he played at the Atlanta Hawks) announced that Al Horford signed to the team and will be wearing #42.

In sharing the news that Al was joining the team, the General Manager emphasized that “He has built his reputation around hard work and a tradition of winning, which are the same qualities that have formed the foundation of the 76ers. Al’s playmaking, elite defensive talents and veteran leadership confirm why he is a crucial addition to our roster. We have gained a championship-level teammate that will not only complement our current makeup, but will help grow our young core as we strive for the highest level of success.”

This reaction to Al comes from his years as a solid player, as he is adept at playing a number of defensive positions and will pair well alongside his teammates – Joel Embiid and Tobias Harris, in an impactful front line which will create a fierce dynamic to opposition defenses. Last season he appeared in 68 games for the Boston Celtics and started in all of them. He posted 13.6 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.3 blocks in 29 minutes per game. Those stats earned him being only 1 of 2 players (NBA MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo; Milwaukee Bucks being the other) in the league to hold those averages. He also shot .535 from the field, .360 from 3-point range and has a career high of .821 from the free-throw line. His talent and focus in his 7 seasons include a field-goal percentage of .500 or better, putting him fourth in the league behind Dwight Howard (LA Lakers), Pau Gasol (Portland Trailblazers) and Lebron James (LA Lakers). Additional accolades include being chosen to the 2017-18 All-Defensive Second Team and 2010-11 All-NBA Third Team.

Looking back at his career, he has played in 786 games (782 starts) with Boston and Atlanta. His career averages are 14.1 points, 8.4 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 1.2 blocks in 32.8 minutes per game. This veteran has had an astounding 120 career postseason games and his teams have qualified for the playoffs in each of his 12 seasons, as far back as 2007-08. He initially came to the league when he was selected by Atlanta with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2007 NBA Draft. While playing collegiately for the Florida Gators, he assisted in leading the team to the school’s first 2 NCAA titles in 2006 and in 2007. After his 3rd and final season at Florida, he was selected to the All-SEC First Team, the NCAA All-Tournament Team and the Associated Press All-American Third Team.

During the announcement of an array of former and new members of the 76ers, Elton emphasized that, “defense is where we will hang our hat and should have one of the best defensive teams in the league.” To that end, he believes that, “Al Horford, is a proven leader, proven player every single year. I know what he brings to the table, not only starting with Joel and being able to push us much closer to our goal of winning the championship.”

This summer, as fans, analysts and potential teammates speculated on where Al would end up, many wondered what factored into his decision. “When I decided to opt out of Boston, it wasn’t an easy decision, but I did it and I felt that there was going to be a lot of options for me,” Al said.

“When June 30th came around, things escalated very quickly and there were multiple teams and a lot of strong interest and I had to make the best decision for me. When Elton called and spoke with my agent, he laid down his offer and I was very surprised that there was this strong interest for me to be here and it made the decision very easy. I’m just excited to be a part of this. The view of this city, of Philadelphia – gets me excited! I’m hyped and ready to go.”

The impact of Al’s relationship to Elton brought him to Philadelphia, seeing his commitment to being at the top of his game when they were both at Atlanta and emphasized the importance of the game and giving it all on and off the court at optimal performance levels. Al noted, “I’m just letting you know right now. I have a lot of respect for Elton. I got to watch him as a younger player to be on our time, to see how professional he was and how he took care of his body – I really respected him. To just see how he did it when he was with us.”

“I’ll tell you a story,” he continued. “We were getting ready to go to dinner one night with some of the guys and we were about to get into the elevator. When you get into a city, that’s what you do, you go out and have dinner. He was in the elevator going into his room and coming from the gym – sweating and he had just done an hour of cardio – he was drenched. So his commitment to wanting to win and do the right things inspired me back then. I think that he believed in me and he believes in this group and what we can do and when they came knocking and approached me, it felt right. That’s why I am excited to be here because I know that he wants what’s best for this city of Philadelphia and what we are trying to do.”

Al has been candid on his focus to win a championship. In addition to his relationship with Elton, he also looked at the talent on the 76ers. “I think that the opportunity to play for this type of organization for this city was something that I really had to consider and to look at and then you look at the potential of this team and the coach, Coach Brown leading the way and obviously Joel Embiid, Ben Simmons and Tobias Harris, and all the upside that we have and now we just finished assembling our group – every time I kept looking at the players that we were signing – I was like yeah we have Kyle O’Quinn and I saw that Josh came through and that James Ennis III re-signed, and that Raul Neto got here. We got a good group here and it got me even more excited. I felt that we were in a good place and I feel really good about our future.”

The mutual admiration and Elton’s desire to build an elite starting 5 and incorporating Al into the team’s recipe of their success speaks volumes on their mutual admiration. This team is built on the depth of talent as well as the character of those that are coming together. Elton summarized, “it was very important for me to get high character guys that know how to play the game and that can still step on the court and pay a lot of dividends and to be able to do a lot on the court and not just be locker room guys. This helps a lot especially for our young playing guys who are developing to see how they work. Al told the story of what he saw as a young player and watching me as an older player working out. It’s about paying it forward. They see how hard you work, your professionalism and playing it forward so that they can see what it takes in order for you to win. So that’s the benefit of having those adults in the room.”

He continued, “the opportunity to have Al back up Joel in the playoffs and then to have him in the 5 is a great opportunity for us. We had a huge hole and deficit last year and we look forward to having Al playing on the court. He can play the 4 he can play the 5 and we have many players that can play multiple positions.”

With the off season and pre-season games in the rearview mirror, the team and fans look emphatically forward towards the regular season. With much anticipation, and a long time rivalry, the first game of the season was against the Boston Celtics. Prior to the game, there was much speculation on how would it be for Al to go against his former teammates, as well as how the team played together now that they have officially started. The 76ers won their first game 107-93. To kick off his season with Boston, Al noted it was “very weird to me. It felt good to go out and to get a win. It’s kind of good that it’s finally over as there was a lot of emotion leading up to this. It was good that we came out and competed and we were able to get the first win.”

In addition to winning this game and being a part of this team, Al is also very adamant about his respect for this city that he now plays for. To see the fans excitement for this team and embracing him, he mused, “it felt great. The atmosphere was great tonight. He stated, “our fans were really great even before tip-off. Our fans were into it and engaged and by the time the National Anthem was over, it was a packed house. They carried us throughout the night. We had some runs there and it carried us through.”

With the kick-off of the first game, Al and the rest of the 76ers continued on to playing and gaining another win against the Detroit Pistons (117-111); winning again against the Atlanta Hawks (105-103) and their latest win against the Minnesota Timberwolves (117-95) – at the time of this issue release. The Timberwolves game was played back in Philadelphia. Post game, Al highlighted about his teammates that, “the thing that I keep seeing with our group is that any of us can go in there post, score, be aggressive go through there, be strong and that was an example of it tonight. There were times that I had to go in there or Joel, Tobias, Ben, as well as Josh. We really try to play with our size and impose our will in the paint.” When he reflects on his strengths and what he brings to the team, it echoes the foundation sentiments and import that Elton shared in the press conference about the focus of defense and the players that he assembled. “I believe that’s one of my strengths to be put in different parts to protect the people whether bigs or smalls, and not only me but Ben does that well. It’s tough to go through Joel in the paint, so it works to our advantage when we do these kinds of matchups.”

From game to game, Al continues to talk about the importance of optimizing skills to play cohesively as a team on the court and off the court. He values team trips where they come together to watch The Joker, team dinners and getting to know how to work with one another. He is also insistent on watching the game tape to see where they can tweak how they play as he believes that when you’re at home, you can mask some of your mistakes, but when you go on the road – these things can definitely affect the pace and play of the game.

With 12 years in the game, he knows that his teammates and the organization are looking to him as a sound and steady presence and he knows that he needs to “find the open spots – whether that’s slashing to the basket or spacing.” This is necessary in order to provide rim protection when Joel is in position for an aggressive play.

It is an honor to have him join us as this month’s cover story feature, we look forward to seeing a tremendous season for someone so skilled, devoted and spirited on and off the court.

PHOTOS COURTESY | Alex Subers and Philadalphia 76ers

IG @AlHorford

@Sixers

Read the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Sound and Steady with Al Horford in mag.

KEEPING IT WHOLE WITH LARA MERRIKEN

We sat down with Lara Merriken, founder of LÄRABAR which is known for their bars that are comprised of fruits, nuts and spices as well as their plant-based protein bars. Lara's interest in whole foods that keep you satisfied with its decadent ingredients stems from being an athlete playing Women's Volleyball at USC. But it would be years later after working as a social worker that she went hiking in the Rocky Mountains where the birth of LÄRABAR came to fuition. We hung out with Lara to talk about the bars, their original offerings and the brand's growth as they were acquired by General Mills.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Prior to creating LÄRABAR, what were you working on before this that led you to launching this company?

LARA MERRIKEN: Well, I was actually a social worker right outside of college. I worked with at risk kids for a long time. But I did play volleyball in college which is really the reason why I got into healthier eating for athletic performance which was the beginning of my journey. That evolved into being passionate about healthy eating and feeling good. I found myself on a mountain one day for a hike and the idea of LÄRABAR came. It’s about simple ingredients of fruits, nuts and spices but making something that tasted indulgent and delicious.

AM: So you were on the Rocky Mountains and you decided to do this, what was the first process in creating the initial LÄRABAR?

LM: Well, I actually would comb the grocery store aisles and get my inspirations from pies, cookies and cakes. Cashew Cookie is one of those that we have today which is just 2 ingredients – cashews and dates – that’s it, but it tastes indulgent! Apple Pie is another one that we have today and I would harken towards those junk foodie forbidden foods, but using healthy ingredients!

AM: That's amazing! What were your first 5 original flavors that you started with?

LM: Cashew Cookie is one, Apple Pie, Cherry Pie –

AM: Our favorite!

LM: It’s a great flavor! Banana Bread and Chocolate Coconut Chew were the original 5 flavors.

AM: Ok so going back to the Cherry Pie LÄRABAR, what makes it so tasty?

LM: We use a very rare tart unsweetened cherry that I found in the Midwest during my search for really good ingredients. It’s real! It has that real flavor just like all of our bars do. We actually use apples in the Apple Pie.

AM: So you went from the 5 original flavors to 30+. How do you go about that? Is it an inspiration board when you’re thinking of new flavors? You’ve also increased your assortment with your Protein Bars and there are just so many things!

LM: Well, we use the same process and there is a bigger team of people that work on the brand now, but still we want to bring flavors that people are wanting and enjoying. Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip is another good one!

AM: Ooo another fave of ours!

LM: Same as well as for my son! We just love to bring good new flavors. Some like the fruity and some like the nut based – kind of richer flavors.

AM: How long is that process for you when you’re in that inspiration phase from concept to actually producing it?

LM: Well we always come out with new flavors and our protein plant-based line is new, but we come out with new things annually with new products. So, it’s constant.

AM: Do you take bars out of rotation?

LM: Yeah, on occasion, if a flavor isn’t working or people aren’t loving it, we definitely rotate things out. But we’re growing and we have 30+ flavors now so we have quite a few products to offer people.

AM: Why did you decide to add plant-based protein bars to your assortment?

LM: Well people are always looking for more protein based food and certainly one that is portable. We obviously wanted to do a plant-based one. We use pea protein and nuts. Nuts offer natural protein and we have worked on it for 4 years to create 4 flavors in this new portion of the line with flavors that we wanted to offer.

AM: What are the 4 flavors?

LM: Well, there’s a Lemon Blueberry, an Apple Cobbler, Almond Butter Chocolate Brownie and then a Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup. So a nice balance of fruity and nutty depending on what you lean towards.

AM: So what are your 3 favorite ingredients that you love putting into your bars?

LM: Well LÄRABAR is really composed of fruits, nuts and spices so that would really encapsulate whether we have our core product line or our protein plant-based one. We have those same components in there. Obviously with the protein, we added our pea protein in addition to that to give it 11 grams of protein a bar which is great. But those are really the main components of the balance of fruits, nuts and spices and/or protein.

AM: What are your 3 fave signature bars?

LM: Well, my all time favorite is Cashew Cookie like I had a half this morning with my coffee early today - it's a classic. I also love Cherry Pie and I love the new protein line. Just for something different if you want added protein, but you don't want to sit down and eat a meal, but you know you will get the amount of protein that you need to sustain yourself throughout the day.

AM: For those that are on the go, how can we make sure that we get those good whole foods?

LM: That’s where LÄRABAR comes in. We sell our bars nationwide to all different kinds of grocer stores, convenient stores – you name it! The idea is that it is portable food and offers consumers the opportunity to throw it in your bag and that you are offering them something that they know is going to sustain you, tastes good and will keep you healthy!

PHOTO COURTESY | LÄRABAR

IG @LARABAR

Hear Lara Merriken, founder of LÄRABAR, right now on our show, Athleisure Kitchen which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

Read the Oct Issue of Athleisure Mag and read Keeping it Whole with Lara Merriken in mag.

WHEN YOUR TAILGATING BECOMES A HOMEGATING WITH MARK SCHLERETH

We’re in the thick of Football Season and earlier this month we chatted with Mark Schlereth who is a retired NFL player who played 12 seasons with the Washington Redskins and Denver Broncos. He moved onto being a football analyst for ESPN and now on Fox Sports. We also enjoyed seeing him on a number of episodes of HBO’s Ballers! So we know that he knows a thing or two about tailgating as well as homegating - which allows everyone to have a great view of the game as well as to have their favorite items to enjoy while cheering for their team. We wanted to know what his 3 essentials are if we’re enjoying a homegate at his house as well as some predictions on the 100th season of the NFL! Note that we talked with Mark Schlereth on Oct 10th of this month.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What are 3 items that we could find at your next homegating festivities?

MARK SCHLERETH: Being at home is what makes it so much fun and I love sharing my homegating tips! It starts with Gardein plant-based meat alternatives and they have everything that you can think of. They’ve got chicken, they’ve got beef, pork and fish. They have Spicy Chicken Sliders, Chicken Wings, Nashville Chicken Hot Tenders – whether it’s your vegan friends, veggie friends or any kind of friends for crying out loud! It’s all delicious and they’re going to love Gardein.

Everybody loves snacks that goes with dips and that’s just science. Hidden Valley Ranch mix is used in restaurants all across America. You can have that same restaurant-style ranch at home with Hidden Valley Ranch Signature Buttermilk Recipe whether it’s pizza, wings, veggies – you name it! Everything is better with Hidden Valley Ranch. My granddaughters call it dip dip. She say’s, “Po Po give me some Dip Dip.”

No party is complete without chili! When it comes to chili, it’s all about the beans. Bush’s has been around for a 100 years and you know them from their Baked Beans. Their beans are slow simmered, full of flavor and perfect for spicing up your party – 3 Bean Chili, White Chili and even Pumpkin Chili! You can make your chili better with Busch’s Beans.

No homegate is complete without the go to of TV’s LG Oled. TV Experts have dubbed it the number 1 TV of 2019. The C9 4K TV has over a billion rich colors, it’s beautiful and stunning picture quality with Google Assistant so that you never have to take your eyes off the television set as they have a 55”, 60” and 77” sets.

AM: Currently the NFL is in its 100th season. What NFL season picks do you have that you can share with us?

MS: Well I mean, to me – when you even look at last week, if you control the line of scrimmage, and I called the game in London last week, it was exquisite and the game was between Chicago and Oakland. If you thought that the Oakland Raiders were going to go out to London and be beaten by the Chicago Bears, because historically they have been a better football team – but the team that controls the line of scrimmage and physically beats up the other team, that’s the team that won about every game last week. So it’s really interesting to see how these teams are physically put together! The Patriots obviously still a great team. The Saints are doing it right now without their starting Quarterback and winning every game. They have been amazing as well. The San Francisco 49ers are undefeated for crying out loud! Think about this, Tom Brady and his understudy, Jimmy Garoppolo are the only 2 Quarterbacks right now that are currently quarterbacking undefeated teams. Jimmy Garoppolo with the 76ers and Tom Brady of course with the New England Patriots!

 Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

9LIST STORI3S | GUNNAR PETERSON

Read the Sept Issue of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S with Celebrity Fitness Trainer and Director of Strength and Endurance for the LA Lakers in mag.

MELLABRATION TIME WITH LEAH VAN DALE

This September, our cover is graced by Leah Van Dale who wrestles under the name Carmella as a WWE SuperStar who is also on E! Total Divas, which is back for its 9th season on Oct 1st! Our shoot took place during NYFW, which showcased SS20 collections that we can't wait to start rocking in a few months. Our shoot took place at The Mondrian Park Ave Hotel on the Mondrian Terrace as well as at their lower level lounge known as The Boogie Room.

As we showcased great transitional fall looks, we also got to know more about this athlete, whose career has included being a dancer for the New England Patriots as well as the LA Lakers as a Laker Girl and of course being a WWE SuperStar. In addition, she also launched her own wine label that embodies her mantra and how she sees the world as she continues to amass her empire.

ATHLEISURE MAG: You have had an amazing career, that has included cheerleading, dancing, modeling, wrestler and entrepreneur. When you were growing up, what was the moment that you realized that you wanted to be an entertainer?

LEAH VAN DALE: For as long as I can remember. I was dancing before I could even walk. It’s where I feel the most comfortable. I’ve always loved putting on a show!

AM: Earlier this year, our Feb cover included a few members of the Super Bowl Champions’ New England Patriots, what was your journey to becoming a cheerleader for this team for 3 seasons?

LVD: I danced my entire life. When I started college I knew I wanted to continue my passion for dancing. I found out about a try out to become a New England Patriots Cheerleader. I went to the try out and made it! The rest was really history.

AM: After 3 seasons with the New England Patriots, you became a Laker Girl for the Los Angeles Lakers for a season, what was that process like?

LVD: At the time, you could only cheer for the Patriots for three seasons. I had just graduated college in May of 2010 and I was ready for a change. I flew out to LA the day before the tryout. There were almost 700 girls there for the audition and only 6 spots open on the team. I felt so out of my element. I kept making it to the next round and after almost two months of tryouts and training I made the team! I picked up and moved to LA without knowing anyone or anything about the city, but I wouldn’t have changed a thing about it.

AM: As someone who was familiar with the WWE as your father Paul Van Dale is a mixed martial artist and worked with the World Wrestling Federation (now WWE) in the 80s and 90s – when did you decide that you wanted to be in the WWE?

LVD: Honestly, I never thought I would end up in the WWE. I used to watch it when I was a kid, but it wasn’t something I aspired to do. I wanted to be a dancer. My dad would bring it up from time to time but I always shut the idea down. When I did everything I could with dance I found out about a tryout with WWE. The timing was perfect. All the stars aligned and my journey to become Women’s Champion began.

AM: Tell us about your journey for becoming a part of the WWE?

LVD: I moved to Orlando in 2013 when I was signed to WWE’s developmental brand NXT. I trained at the Performance Center for a little over two years; learned the basics in wrestling and created my Carmella character. In 2016, I was drafted to Smackdown Live and I’ve been moon walking and trashing all over TV since.

AM: Your ring name is Carmella, why did you choose that name and what is the persona of her when you're wrestling – how does this differ from you?

LVD: I wanted an Italian mob-wife character. I channeled my inner Carmella Soprano. I wore fur jackets and talked with an accent. We already had a girl on the roster billed from Boston (where I’m from) so they decided to bill me from Staten Island (which is my real life rival!! A New Englander pretending to be from New York?!?!) I did all the studying I could do to make sure I really gave off the Staten Island vibes and I pride myself on my character. She’s definitely more outspoken than Leah. But it’s essentially me with the volume turned up to 100!

AM: What is the process like when you are creating your ring persona and do you have input when it comes to the storylines that you are involved in?

LVD: I had all of the way in creating Carmella. She’s definitely evolved over the years, but I feel lucky that the first character I came up with is still what I’m doing today. Some people go years trying to create their on screen persona, so I’m very fortunate.

AM: You have had a number of amazing wins in your career at the WWE, what are 3 of your favorite storylines that you have been involved in?

LVD: I loved my story with Nikki Bella when I first debuted on Smackdown Live. It was my first feud and it was super high profile. I was so nervous to work with her, but she was incredible. She always had my back. I loved when I became Miss Money in the Bank. I made history in the first ever women’s MITB ladder match. I got to carry that contract and be so incredibly obnoxious about it. Of course my final favorite is when I cashed in on Charlotte Flair the Smackdown after Wrestlemania 34. I was an over the top champion with these ridiculous Mellabrations. It was so fun.

AM: Who do you consider as members of your squad within the WWE?

LVD: I have a good group of girls I’m close with. Bayley is one of my best friends. We got super close during our time in NXT and we’ve remained that way despite being on different brands the last few years. Natalya is my girl. We text literally every single day. She’s so funny. I love Sonya and Mandy as well. We all lived in Fort Lauderdale for the last year and they’re just super fun.

AM: As an athlete in the WWE, what does it mean to you to be in this organization as well as being apart of a number of the amazing things taking place within the women’s matches that take place there?

LVD: This is the best time to be a lady wrestler. I feel so fortunate to be a part of so many historical moments. These are the times everyone will be talking about when it comes to the Women’s Evolution.

AM: Fitness has been a key component of your career and you have even been in videos with Bob Harper, why is it so integral to you?

LVD: Fitness has been an important part of my life since I was a kid. My parents have always instilled that into my sister and me. When I’m active and eating healthy is when I feel my best. Of course we all fall off the wagon every now and then, but I always get back to it.

AM: What is a typical day like for you when you’re working out?

LVD: When I’m at home (which is RARE!) I train with my trainer or I do yoga. On the road I do empty stomach cardio in the morning, either 30 min on the stationary bike or walk on the treadmill on a high incline. Then I do some weight training. I alternate upper and lower body workouts.

AM: You were wrestling at Madison Square Garden earlier this month, what is your day like going into a day like that?

LVD: Usually it’s a workout in the morning then I just head to the arena for 2pm. Just to walk into MSG is mind blowing, nevermind knowing I get to perform there. It’s every entertainer's dream. This was my third time there. It never gets old!

AM: You’re constantly on the move, what is the average week like for you between taping shows, being in the ring and more?

LVD: It varies from week to week, but typically something like this:

Saturday fly from home to the first city, have the show, the drive to the next town. Have a show on Sunday, then drive to the next town. After our show on Monday, I drive to wherever we have our live tv show Smackdown Live that week. Of course the gym and finding healthy spots to eat inbetween all of that. When we’re filming for Total Divas, I would fly to wherever we are filming that Wednesday morning after TV. We film Wednesday-Friday then fly to the next set of shows on Saturday. When we aren’t filming, I sometimes get to go home Wednesday-Friday, in between show loops.

AM: Season 9 of E! Total Divas premiers on Oct 2nd – why do you like being a part of this show and how important is it to be involved so that we can know more about you as well as your character?

LVD: I was on the show for season 7, but I didn’t get the opportunity to really open up and show my truth. I’m excited to do that this time around.

Nothing is off-limits, which scares me a little. It’s very nerve-wracking to put your entire personal life out there for everyone to judge, but I’m ready!

AM: What can you tell us about your upcoming season?

LVD: It’s all about our sisterhood. There’s six of us: Ronda Rousey, Nattie, Sonya Deville, Trinity and Nia Jax. You’ll get to see my relationship with my boyfriend Corey Graves and of course there’s a little drama with the girls.

AM: Tell us about Capo Cagna Wine – how did this opportunity come about, how long were you in development, what is the meaning behind the name and where can people get it?

LVD: It’s been in the works for well over a year now. It’s been such a long process with a lot of ups and downs. I wanted to start a brand and have it mean something. I want everyone to feel like a Boss Bitch when they’re drinking it, which is was Capo Cagna means in Italian.

AM: Wine is a beverage that a number of people enjoy or are just learning about, we love how you position your wine regardless of the sippers’ wine background – why is that your approach?

LVD: I think it’s important to feel confident. I want whoever grabs the bottle of wine to know they deserve to feel a little boujie, but it’s not going to break the bank. It’s all about being boujie on a budget. So if you’re a wine snob, this is not the wine for you! ;)

AM: Currently, Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay are available, will there be additional varietals that we should keep an eye out for?

LVD: Yes! We will have a Rosé launching for the summer of 2020.

AM: On average, how many times a year are you traveling?

LVD: 52 weeks a year. We don’t have an off season.

AM: As someone who travels quite frequently, what are 3 things that are in your carryon that make you feel like you’re at home?

LVD: I always keep one of my comfy sweaters in my backpack so I pull that out for the plane ride; my eye mask and my iPad so I can keep up on all of my favorite reality shows (Real Housewives is my guilty pleasure.)

AM: Do you have any philanthropies or charitable work that you are a part of that you can share with us?

LVD: With WWE we are always involved with so many charitable organizations. A few that I work closely with are The Boys and Girls Club, Be a Star (WWE's anti-bullying campaign) and UNICEF Kid Power.

AM: When you have downtime, what are 3 things that we could find you doing or eating when you’re taking time for yourself?

LVD: You will find me drinking wine on my couch, eating sushi or pizza and watching Netflix.

AM: In Ft. Lauderdale, where can we find you grabbing a drink/meal, working out and shopping?

LVD: When I’m home, I’m usually a homebody. But I do work with my trainer Danny Blanco at Top Notch Training. Other than that, I’m ordering Uber Eats and laying low!

AM: What are 3 brand/products that you’re loving within each of these three categories of - fitness, beauty and in style?

LVD: I’m all about skin care products. I love using rose water to spray on my face when I travel. Rosehip oil is essential. I’m always shopping on Revolve.com because they have free two day shipping, so my clothes are always there when I get home from the road.

IG @CarmellaWWE

Our cover shoot took place at The Mondrian Park Ave on the Terrace as well as the lower level lounge known as The Boogie Room which is managed by In Good Company Hospitality. We took a moment to chat with Chris Guidice, General Manager of IGC to find out about the spaces, what guests can enjoy and the hotel in general.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did The Boogie Room launch?

CHRIS GUIDICE: The Boogie Room opened a little over a year ago and recently relaunched with brand new art on the walls and throughout the space.

AM: What is the ethos of The Boogie room?

CG: The Boogie Room is a place where art, music, drinks, and culture bridge the gap between approachability and exclusivity. This edgy bar, with its combination of street art and retro furniture, is the perfect hideaway from the hustle and bustle of Park Avenue South. The dim lighting and intimate space give an air of elusiveness, while still maintaining the warm and welcoming atmosphere that is typical of all IGC Hospitality’s venues.

AM: We love that there are murals at this lower level hotspot, what’s the story behind them and how often do they change?

CG: The walls feature beautiful murals full of bright colors painted by local artists serving as an homage to ’80s and '90s NYC street art. A group of talented artists were brought together and given the direction to create a fun atmosphere that has cultural and historical relevance to this amazing city.

AM: What are 3 signature drinks that we should have the next time that we’re at The Boogie Room?

CG: The Boogie Room’s specialty cocktails are everything on our bottle menu! Of course, we have a full bar with beer, wine, and spirits, but the parade of sparklers and bottles represent the ethos of a Boogie night.

AM: What events are taking place at The Boogie Room this fall that we should mark our calendars?

CG: The Boogie Room takes on a life of its own on Friday and Saturday nights. This nightlife hotspot features some of NYC’s most sought after DJs from 11:30 pm - 2 am every weekend. Think dancing, flowing drinks and bumping music.... There’s always something going on here!

AM: We also shot at the Mondrian Terrace as well – tell us about this space and more about this vibe?

CG: Mondrian Terrace is a year round terrace offering the best of both indoor and outdoor space. We are currently in the final month of our Rosé Terrace installation, a rosé lover’s paradise, and will soon be transitioning to a Fall-themed pop up. Our outdoor terrace overlooks the corner of Park Avenue South and East 30th Street. The indoor lounge is a canvas for seasonal soirees and NoMad nights.

AM: What are 3 signature bites that we should enjoy at Mondrian Terrace?

CG: We change the menu seasonally, but three of my current favorites are burrata with fig balsamic, beef short rib sliders, and the lamb meatballs with feta cheese and pine nuts. Each dish is perfect for snacking on as you sit and take in the great vistas of downtown Manhattan. If you’re feeling generous, they’re all very easy to share

AM: What events are taking place here that we should keep an eye out for as we continue into the fall?

CG: The Rosé Terrace at Mondrian Terrace is winding down and we’ll be debuting a new Fall/Winter pop up soon, so stay tuned! Our Beverage Manager Allie Klug and Executive Chef Todd Matthews are always working on incorporating seasonal ingredients into our menus, which means lots of specials to look forward to.

AM: For the Holiday season, is there anything taking place at The Boogie Room or the Mondrian Terrace that we should swing by?

CG: We’re planning our Halloween party at Mondrian Terrace. Guests can enjoy rooftop views, Halloween Cocktails, and a live DJ. Tickets for the event will be available soon, keep an eye out here for more details.

We also host a weekly Latin Night every Sunday. Of course, for those who really like to plan ahead, we have New Year’s Eve blowouts planned for all of the venues in Mondrian Park Avenue!

AM: With 3 venues at the Mondrian Park Avenue Hotel, what was the process behind coming up with spaces and concepts? You have definitely created different vibes that would fuel guests of the hotel, those that book an event, people who staycation and those who are in the neighborhood that ware interested in swinging by.

CG: The three spaces at the Mondrian have all been designed to have their own unique feel. Cleo is a beautiful Mediterranean restaurant which has American influences in the dishes and distinctly unique décor. Mondrian Terrace offers a relaxed atmosphere and seasonal delicacies, perfect for a first date or corporate party. The Boogie Room stands in stark contrast to the posh and sleek look of the Mondrian and surrounding Park Avenue, it is perfect celebrating birthdays, or just a place to dance the night away. All three spaces are inspired by the hotel’s namesake - Dutch painter Piet Mondrian. The Boogie Room is actually named after one of his paintings titled Broadway Boogie.

AM: Tell us about In Good Company and other locations do you have that we should keep on our radar?

CG: IGC has more than a dozen amazing venues. All super unique and hospitable. We’re excited to recently welcome Woodpecker by David Burke to the portfolio, as well as our second nightclub, Jewel Thief - opening next month! Whichever IGC Hospitality venue you choose to visit, I guarantee you will find the common thread of good food, good drinks, and great people.

IG @IGCHospitality

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's cover story was shot by Paul Farkas, using Canon Mark IV; and selected Canon lenses: EF 50 f/1.2 L, EF 24-70 f/2.8 L II, and EF 70-200 f/2.8 L II.

IG @PVFarkas

MAKEUP CREDITS

MUAH Jessica Bonilla used a number of products and tools to create the makeup that is in this cover editorial with WWE SuperStar and E! Total Divas' Leah Van Dale/Carmella.

LOOK I

To hydrate the face, EMBRYOLlSSE Moisturizing Face Cream was used.

Base Makeup: CINEMA SECRETS Foundation 300 Series. LAURA MERCIER Translucent Loose Setting Powder was used.

Bronzer: FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA in Sun Stalk'r (Caramel Cutie and Mocha Mami).

Highlight: First, TATCHA Luminous Dewy Skin Mist was sprayed to give a healthy natural glow and take away the powdery look. DOSE OF COLORS Highlight was applied on top in Mirame.

Blush: BH COSMETICS Blush Palette.

Eyes: KKW BEAUTY KKW X MARIO 10 Pan in Eyeshadow Palette in Miami and Albania.

Lips: ANASTASIA BEVERYLY HILLS Lip Palette (mixed colors for the light pink look) and mixed FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Gloss Bomb in Diamond Milk for a satin finish.

LOOK II

KISS PRODUCTS lashes in Poise and smudged a little black lipstick from the ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Lip Palette for a more natural styled sultry eye. The lips are brighter for the sporty look with a pretty pop of peach with FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Diamond Milk over the top.

LOOK III

The lip for this look is FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Gloss Bomb in Universal for a beautiful sporty look.

LOOK IV

This look was kicked up a notch for this beautiful gold jumpsuit. We wanted a lot of color for the eyes. Jessica used MORPHE X JACLYN HILL Eyeshadow Palette in Bling Bling and the Metallic Purple Shade Gem in the crease. A light blue shade from NYX Petit Brights Pallette was used in the inner corner. For the outer corners, Jessica used colors Iri Ji (a pink shade) and Ofala (an orange shade) from the JUVIA’S PLACE Festival Palette with Odogwo (gold shade from the same palette) in the center, INGLOT COSMETICS' 77 Eyeliner and added more of FENTY BEAUTY BY RIHANNA Universal Gloss Bomb on the lips.

IG @Laniidoa_Cosmetics

HAIR CREDITS

Hairstylist Brooke Bogle used a number of products for the hairstyles in this cover editorial with WWE SuperStar and E! Total Divas' Leah Van Dale/Carmella.

LOOK I

Soft beach waves were created using a 1 inch iron. Prepped with CATWALK BY TIGI Haute Iron Spray.

Sprayed at the end as well for added shine.

LOOK II + III

Two side braids into a pony using BEDHEAD TIGI On the Rebound Curl Recall Cream for smoothness.

For added texture to the pony, fluffed and sprayed with TIGI COPYRIGHT Custom Complete Volume Finishing Spray.

LOOK IV

Funky waves with spontaneous braids with accent jewels and rings.

For texture and separation used CATWALK BY TIGI Texturizing Sea Salt Spray and re-scrunched gently. Sprayed CATWALK BY TIGI Haute Iron Spray for added shine.

IG @Brooke_Bogle

FASHION CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's Celeb Fashion Stylist, Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director Kimmie Smith focused on looks that incorporate a number of pieces that will become go-to's in your closet with the onset of warm weather.

LOOK I

PG 36 | HANRO Nala Soft Cup Bralette | MAVI Tess Super Skinny in Black Snake Jeans | MAISON DE PAPILLON Velvet Blazer | LAGOS Black Caviar Diamond Necklace + Maya Circle Statement Ring |

LOOK II

FRONT/BACK COVERS + PG 19 - 29 | UMBRO Bodysuit | LAGOS JEWELRY Black Caviar Black Ceramic Diamond Earrings + Signature Caviar Diamond Pave Crossover Ring | ATHLETIC PROPULSIONS LABS Techloom Bliss White/Black/White Sneakers |

LOOK III

PG 16, 17, 31 | ALO YOGA Crop Cropped Short Sleeve Top in Caramel + High Waist Ripped Warrior Leggings in White | PARAJUMPERS Hybrids Olivia Puffer Jacket in White | ATHLETIC PROPULSION LABS Techloom Bliss White/Black/White Sneakers | LAGOS 18K Gold Caviar 12mm Ball on a Chain Necklace |

LOOK IV

PG 32 - 35 | YANDY Ms. Metallic Jumpsuit in Gold | LAGOS 18K Caviar Gold 2mm Width with 80mm Hoop Earrings + 18K Gold Caviar 12mm Ball on a Chain Necklace |

IG @Shes.Kimmie

Read the Sept Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Mellabration Time with Leah Van Dale in mag.

SOMETHING YOU SHOULD KNOW WITH TRACY WOLFSON

When you're enjoying your favorite sport, more than likely, it's more than just watching the game, it's about the mechanics, knowing about the team, specific players, coaching staff, its history, how you feel about it in terms of memories growing up and more. It's about the storylines and how sports is immersed in our day to day lives from the community, pop culture, social good and entertainment. We had the chance right before the start of the 100th season of the NFL, to talk with Tracy Wolfson 4 X Emmy Nominated Lead Reporter, NFL ON CBS, NCAA Basketball and Studio Host for the network. We talked about when she fell in love with sports, her journey in sports broadcasting that brought her to CBS, the importance of preparation in her field and storylines that are exciting to keep an eye out for.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment when you realized that you wanted to work in sports?

TRACY WOLFSON: I was about 7 or 8 years old. I was sitting in my room, I was a little tomboy and all I really wanted to do was watch sports. My parents had no idea how I came to wanting to do that. I had no brothers, my father wasn’t really into sports, but I became obsessed with it and I became so intrigued with every sport out there. So, that’s when I decided that I would do everything that I possibly could to be a reporter and to talk about sports for the rest of my life. I watched the NBA Inside Stuff which I’m dating myself, but back then, it was Ahmad Rashad and Willow Bay. I said, “you know what? If Willow Bay can do it, then I can do it.” That’s when I decided to do it.

AM: Wow, well we have had the opportunities to interview a number of broadcasters especially those in sports. What was your journey to get to CBS – how did that happen?

TW: Well it was a really long journey because back then, there wasn’t really a It was a long journey. Back then, there wasn't a blueprint for it and there weren’t a lot of people that you could reach out to and talk to or for anyone to give you advice. I knew I wanted be in sports so I went to the University of Michigan for the academics but also because they were surrounded by sports, so I figured that at least I would be around it. I could meet people and find a way to get into this business that way. I took some communications classes and I did a few internships and met a few people from CBS around that time. They said, “ok when you go back to school, why don’t you help us out when we come to do games? You could be a runner and get water and coffee.” And that’s what I did. I did a bunch of football games and some basketball games. I did some ice skating shows with them and I kind of got my foot in the door, but I wanted to be on camera and I didn’t have any experience and there were no classes I could take at Michigan at the time that I started out as a researcher at the time at CBS. They hired me and it was my first job out of college. I would basically get research for all the other reporters and announcers out there and I put portfolios together. I was there for about a year and I got the offer to move up to the next level as an Assistant Producer type thing. I said that I would go for it, even though I knew that I wanted to be in front of the camera, but I didn’t have a tape. So I got the interview and the guy said, “I know you love sports and you know sports, but not like the guys do.” I was like – huh? That was my first experience of being a woman in this business so, I said, “really?” It was like the best kick in the pants that I could have gotten – I was like, “I’m out of here.” He’s no longer with CBS by the way. I found a job as an agent representing broadcasters and seeing a completely different side of the business: how to put together a tape, how to sound, how your voice should sound, what you should be wearing and what news directors you are looking for. I sent a bunch of tapes around for other people. I got one girl by the name of Jenna Wolfe who is now out in this business. I got her a job from Upstate New York to Philadelphia. She was my age and she was already in the number 1 market and I said, “oh my gosh, she’s already in the number 1 market and I haven’t even gotten on the market yet – come on! What are we waiting for here?”

So I left and I still had to get in front of the camera. I got a job as a producer on News 12 Long Island producing sports. Every time a reporter went out and did his reports, he’d let me do my reports. I made a fake tape and sent it out all across the country and I got one job in Trenton, NJ. I was never live there and was there for a year and a half. They didn’t have any live sports, so I just did 5 minutes of sportscasts a day – highschool, minor league stuff and college sports. I put together a tape and sent it to some agents and different people and I got a job at MSG Network. I got a job doing Oxygen Sports at the time. I was with ESPN for a year doing college football. It was my first time being live for ESPN College Football ever doing a live game. It was pretty incredible, I didn’t know what I was doing. I was yelling into the microphone. They were like, “you don’t have to yell, that’s why you have a microphone!” So I did whatever I could. I was there for one season and then CBS had an opening for a number 2 reporter and because I had been there, I think they kind of remembered me and I had a lot of friends. It was between a few of us, but then I got the job and now I have been with CBS for 17 years.

AM: You do so much on CBS, as we enjoy seeing you report on the NFL and obviously during the Final Four – what are the different roles that you have there?

TW: I do a lot of different things and it has grown over time. I started at CBS and I covered rodeo, covered auto racing, track and field, tennis, gymnastics – you name it. Anything CBS would have, they would ask me to cover. Now, I specialize a little bit more on just the NFL. I did college football for 10 years covering the SEC. So now it’s just NFL, college basketball and the NCAA Final Four March Madness and I have a show with the most incredibly talented women on CBS Sports Network called We Need to Talk where it’s former athletes whether it’s Summer Sanders (Team USA Swimming 4 X Olympic Medalist, sports commentator, reporter), Dara Torres (Team USA Swimming 12 X Olympic Medalist), Swin Cash (retired WNBA athlete and VP of Basketball Operations and Team Development for the New Orleans Pelicans), Lisa Leslie (retired WNBA athlete, studio analyst for the Orlando Magic broadcasts on Fox Sports Florida and Head Coach for Triplets in the BIG3), Laila Ali (retired undefeated professional boxer and TV host), Amy Trask (former CEO of the Oakland Raiders) and so many other women with different perspectives on sports. We just don’t talk about women’s sports. More often than not, we’re talking about the NFL, but it’s a really good show and it’s something different then my normal reporting. There’s a lot of hosting involved and also just a talk show giving our opinions and our viewpoints. A lot of times our view is different than a man’s.

AM: What we love so much about how you approach it is the fact that you have a storytelling aspect and just getting everyone into it. How do you prepare for your NFL coverage and how does that work with you?

TW: It really stems from my research background. I love it and that’s what you need to do to find the stories. It’s kind of like Groundhog’s Day. You come home on Sunday or Monday, you unpack that wheelie bag, you repack that wheelie bag, and then you get focused on the game at hand. A lot of time, I start back to my previous game. So I know that I have my 2 games and I start studying to find something that's different. I start reading all the beat reporters because they’re there 24 hours a day with those teams. I switch teams every week. So I really read everything that I can find whether it’s on the Internet or what they send us from the teams. I make calls and dig deeper and we’ll have meetings with each of the teams and their star players – the quarterbacks, coordinators, coaches, defensive players and really find out more information. You know the X’s and O’s – you have to know that because your questions are going to come from that and your story lines are going to come from that. But you can also weave in different stories at the same time and I think that that is really the balance between being a good reporter and having the best broadcast – how do you weave those stories in and then what can you find from the field? A lot of the stuff, you can’t prepare for. You’re the eyes and the ears on the field. You’re getting things that the men and the women in the booth can’t get. So, I just run the field over and over again looking, searching and listening whether it’s an injury or something that the offensive line coach may say or maybe it’s the way that a quarterback reacts after throwing an interception. You try and bring that to light and bring it to the broadcast and make the viewer at home feel like they are right in the game.

AM: How do you take time for yourself as you’re all over the place with your travels. How do you manage it all by having a family as well as your schedule?

TW: The juggling is really difficult and I tell anyone that wants to get into this business and have their family as well as working on sports and being on the road or anyone that is doing a business and juggling their families, you really do come last. You really have to do that as for me, my number 1 job is actually being a mother. I always say that and I will continue to do this until it doesn’t work for them. If it doesn’t work for them, then I am out! It does work for them because I am able to juggle and I have the experience and I have figured out what’s worked. I know what’s right and how to balance that time.

I make sure that I set my routines for my kids. I get them to bed on time, they get a good night’s sleep and they can get up in the morning feeling refreshed. It makes my job much easier and then they go off to school and that’s when I focus on my work. And then when they come back home, we get back into that routine and once I get their bedtime routine going and getting them into bed, I know that they’re getting their rest and I can focus on myself again and do more work. Then I get myself into a really good routine and I think that that’s the way of really finding time for yourself. If you feel good, if you’re refreshed, if you’re energized, you know that you’re in a good spot and place, then that’s ok. That’s where I really need to be because you’re being spread so thin everyday of our lives.

AM: How essential is it for people to have great sleep and what should we do around that so that we can get it?

TW: I see it from the top watching athletes. They need to get good sleep, they talk about it all the time in order to have peak performance levels out on the field or on the court. Then it starts with me, I need to be at my top game every single day and every time I’m out there. Not only working as a sideline reporter, but waking up early and being on the field for 7-8 hours. But also as a mother being on my peak. I need to be at the top of my game and being refreshed and ready for them. So I try to pass on those routines to them and I truly believe that sleep, especially going into the school year, is so important to set those routines. Being a partner with Sleep Number, I’ve learned and always have been a huge proponent of this by setting up a routine early, getting that consistent schedule down, limiting the light, taking away those phones, Playstations, devices so that they have the time to relax. Understanding that sleep is coming and being consistent with that. An hour before bedtime, I have an 8 year old, a 10 year old and a 13 year old – so all my kids are boys and they’re all hyper with a lot of energy and it’s important to have them wind down.

But the schedules are all different. The 8 year old needs something different than the 13 year old. The schedules stay the same in terms of having them calm down, taking away devices an hour prior to bedtime, they get their reading done in bed and I come in with them and sit down to go over some things with them. Maybe I read with them, they love that and look forward to that and then I turn the light off and I move onto the next kid with my 10 year old who enjoys the same routine. Then the 13 year old, well teens are difficult, they have a lot of stuff. They have sports, a lot of school work, their after school activities and they have their friends and they want to be social. I have to be able to balance that out with him as well and set a good schedule with him. I have to remind him that sleep is crucial in terms of lowering that stress level, making him have that best performance that he can in the classroom and on the field. I talk to him over and over about it and then I show him that I do it and that it’s time for my bed too. I need a schedule also and hopefully I set a good example also for them.

AM: As someone who does travel so much, what are 3 things that are must have in your carryon?

TW: Ok well, I definitely bring sneakers with me. I don’t wear sneakers on the field because I’m only 5’2” and everyone that I interview is a lot taller than me. I actually need the height, but I bring the sneakers with me because I feel that exercise is so important and it gives me a chance to just calm down and to relieve all the stress that’s around me. It allows me to have some alone time which is really important. I definitely bring a little tinted moisturizer that will maybe cover up a little of the bags under my eyes or the imperfections that we all have because that HD screen shows everything! Then, I bring a really good book because a book is really important to set that sleep routine up for me. I want to turn my TV off, I want to limit that light, I want to have that same schedule that I have at home, on the road. That way, I can be ready for that game in the morning. I bring a book, it may not be a lot and I may not have time to read a lot, but I want to be able to put my work away and just focus on relaxing, spending that last hour to chill out and to just have that me time and knowing that I will be refreshed and ready for the morning.

AM: What are you excited for this season?

TW: I’m really excited. We have tremendous match ups and so many exciting things going on at the NFL right now! I’ve been talking about the Cleveland Browns which really excite me with all of their personalities, faces, and the excitement in Cleveland to potentially have a winning team! All the noise – can they handle the pressure, as we kick off the season with that game against the Tennessee Titans. They have questions of their own like who’s going to start as quarterback it’s Marcus Mariota’s team but Ryan Tannehill right in the back? Then you have the Oakland Raiders and Antonio Brown with helmet gate. You also have Jon Gruden and can they get back to their winning ways? Then there’s Le’Veon Bell switching teams and how are the New York Jets going to do? Can they take over and make that next step? Are the New England Patriots going to be back on top again? How is Tom Brady going to perform now at age 42? It’s incredible!

Then you have the Chicago Bears, a team that really made a run at the end of the year. Can Mitchell Trubisky take that next step? I think that their defense is going to be very strong and can they take that North? We can go down that line, but that’s what’s exciting about this season as there are so many storylines and hey, we just found out about the Indianapolis Colts’ Andrew Luck.

AM: YES! We couldn’t believe he retired!

TW: I can’t tell you. I was sitting at home with my kids. We were watching a college football game and when I found the news, my heart kind of sunk. It was so upsetting.

AM: We were preparing questions for this interview and when we heard, we literally went to Twitter on your feed.

TW: I didn’t even know how to react. I got up the next morning and I was still really upset. I have had a lot of time to be around him and he’s such a good person, so smart, he knows the game, comes from a great family, I know his father well and to see the toll that it took to get to this point. You feel for him because of what he’s been going through, you can just imagine over the last few years and it’s so sad that it had to come to that. He’ll be fine and he’s in a good spot because he is so smart and he will have a lot of good opportunities ahead of him.

AM: It definitely tugged at our heart. But it’s a reminder that selfcare is so important and you really have to take care of yourself.

TW: I think that the game is trying to get better too and trying to prevent a lot of those hits and the physical side to it. They’re changing these rules in trying to do that so that players don’t have to go through that as much. It wasn’t necessarily hits to the head, but your body just breaks down after awhile. It was really devastating and that’s yet another storyline with Indianapolis and I know you will be following that!

IG @TracyWolfson

You can hear Tracy Wolfson next month on our show, BUNGALOW SK which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, iHeart Radio, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

Read the Sept Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Something You Should Know with Tracy Wolfson in mag.

20TH ANNUAL CITI TASTE OF TENNIS NYC 2019

PHOTOGRAPHY | Paul Farkas

Although we’re in the midst of NYFW and fresh off of releasing Athleisure Mag’s Aug Issue which has our Electric Zoo cover, SayMyName (the Godfather of Hard Trap as well as additional EDM DJ/Producers) - we’re doing a bit of backtracking as we made our way to the 20th Annual Citi Taste of Tennis NYC 2019 which took place during the US Open and was held at Cipriani 42nd St. This event celebrates tennis greats that included John Isner, Venus Williams, Serena Williams, Coco Gauff, Andy Roddick, Milan Tyson, Gaël Monfils, Daniil Medvedev, Felix Auger Aliassime, Belinda Bencic, Abi Spears, Vania King, Jamie Loeb, Monica Puig, Donna Vekic, Bethanie Mattek Sands, Kristi Ahn, Danielle Collins and more.

In addition, there were noted chefs that included Richard Blais (Juniper and Ivy), Masaharu Morimoto (Morimoto), Sujan Sarkar (Baar Baar), Edward Lee (Milkwood), Chef Bao Bao (Baoburg), Lamar Moore (The Swill Inn), Rory MacDonald (Chanson Patisserie), Kerry Heffernan (Grand Banks), Michael Han (Ortzi), Julian Medina (Toloache), Mina Newman (Sen Sakana), Cedric Tovar (Lotte NY Palace), John Stage (Dinosaur BBQ), Neil Cline (British Virgin Islands), Sani Hebaj (Dabble @ The Conrad), Mike Viola (Boars Head), Anastacia Song (American Cut). In addition, other notable athletes such as Mike Tyson were also there as well.

One of the highlights of the night included a sibling rivalry of the Williams Sisters and Chef Richard Blais as they competed onstage during this cooking competition and interestingly enough, they tied for their best dish.

In between enjoying signature dishes along with Diplomatico Rum and Zonin Prosecco, guests enjoyed dancing to DJ Mad Linx, The Rakiem Walker Band and reggae artist, Naomi Cowen.

You can see more from the event via @AthleisureMag’s Instagram account.

PHOTOGRAPHY | Paul Farkas

PHOTOGRAPHY | Paul Farkas

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

GETTING TO KNOW 5 OF THE MOST ICONIC BASKETBALL SHOES OF ALL TIME

Basketball sneakers have a very storied history that spans decades upon decades. Did you know the first basketball sneaker made strictly for performance was made almost 100 years ago? Today, with the help of Sports Domain Lab we’re taking a look at the history of basketball shoes and five of the most iconic basketball models of all-time.

Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star

What many consider the first “official” basketball sneaker, the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star made its debut way back in 1917 when it was released by the Converse Rubber Shoe Company.  The Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star got its name in 1921 when it was named after Chuck Taylor. Taylor was a salesman for the brand who also happened to be playing for Converse’s semi-pro All-Star basketball team. Chuck Taylor needed a durable shoe and gave Converse some suggestions on how they can make that possible. Thankful for Taylor’s input, Converse agreed to the enhancements, made the shoe and named them after him. What makes this model even more iconic is the fact that it became the first basketball shoe casually worn off the court.

Pro Keds Royal

The Pro Keds Royal made its debut in 1949. Like the Converse Chuck Taylor All-Star, this model was also constructed using a canvas upper and gum sole. The shoe was worn by notable players such as George Mikan and Willis Reed throughout the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s. Known for being an affordable sneaker that was also durable, the sneaker may look simple in appearance, but it had all the qualities and traits to support your game on the court. Unlike the Converse brand, Pro Keds did not manage to remain relevant after all these decades. That being the case, you can still find the brand at select retailers throughout the globe. Down, but not out. W could not have expected anything less from Pro Keds.

adidas Superstar

The adidas Superstar made its debut in 1969. By the 1970s, the Three Stripes model was being worn on the court by superstar players like Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. The Superstar stood out thanks in large part to its leather upper and distinct rubber shelltoe. The shoes were so highly coveted that the biggest hip hop artists in the world began wearing them casually during the 80s, shout out Run-DMC. As you can imagine, soon thereafter the adidas Superstar became a fashion staple in the urban community. It’s safe to say that the adidas Superstar has had a bigger impact off the court than on.

Puma Clyde

The year was 1973. Walt “Clyde” Frazier and the Knicks had just defeated the Lakers to win their second championship. That very same year, Frazier had signed with Puma for $25,000 a year. His on-court shoe of choice, the Puma Clyde. According to Frazier,  the Puma Clyde was based on the Puma Basket and borrowed details from the Puma Suede. Just like Clyde Frazier, the Puma Clyde redefined street style with it’s smooth aesthetic. It was the perfect mix of style and substance. It was also the first sneaker that was designed to make a fashion statement, hence the suede upper, a trait rarely seen on basketball models back in the day. Even after all these years, Puma continues to release new iterations of the Puma Clyde. Talk about withstanding the test of time, eh?

Nike Air Force 1

Is there a more iconic basketball silhouette than the Nike Air Force 1!? At the very least, it has to be a top 3 candidate, right? It’s hard to argue that any other sneaker has had as much of a crossover into street culture than the Nike Air Force 1.

The Bruce Kilgore-designed model is said to have been released in at least 2,000 colorways since the shoe made its debut back in 1982. When the shoe was made, it was considered a peak-performance basketball shoe. The original Air Force 1 was a high-top that came with an ankle strap, a full grain leather upper and of course, for the first time ever in a basketball shoe, Nike Air technology. Soon after debuting on the court, the AF1 growth spread throughout the globe like wildfire. We’re now in 2019, and sneakerheads are STILL feening over certain Air Force 1 releases. That’s wild.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

CONTEXT + REPETITION: MARTY SMITH

Our July cover story took us to Ocean City, NJ for a fun and inspiring day at the beach as well as insight to the fundamentals of life. Marty Smith, ESPN's Broadcaster/Journalist is someone who breaks down the game, brings his enthusiasm for the love of sport and is always exchanging energy with those on set as well as those that are off. As someone who began his time at the network covering NASCAR, he has grown into a number of areas which include: SportsCenter, College GameDay, this fall's SEC Nation as a host, and the successful Marty & McGee. This interview not only includes Marty's journey to the successes that he currently enjoys, but also lets you reflect about what happens when you believe in your self, honor those that came before, acknowledge where you came from, and allow yourself to engage in powerful progression that you may not have planned for yourself!

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was the moment that you knew that you fell in love with sports?

MARTY SMITH: I would have to say I was a young boy and my father, he was infatuated with the Pittsburgh Steelers, back in the Steel Curtain days of Joe Green, Terry Bradshaw, Franco Harris and those immortal – immortal Steelers teams, Lynn Swann and John Stallworth and all those guys. So, I was a little boy and I would sit with my daddy and watch the Steelers and my momma used to say that even as a four year old, I would be like, “that was a hold,” or “that was a clip,” and I’d call out penalties before the flags were thrown and what not. That’s when I kind of knew – the way that it felt just being in my father’s aura that way. I grew up in a small farming community in the Southwestern part of Virginia and all we had was ball. We played everything and there was no sitting inside. My parents were like, “get your ass outside and do something and don't come back until dark," and so football, basketball, baseball-and I loved to compete. To this very second, I love to compete. That feeling of competition and that feeling of grinding your way to noticeable improvement against competition is something that’s intoxicated me forever. So I knew real young that I was going to be a sports guy.

AM: So can you share with us your sports background – what you played and how far you went?

MS: From four years old through my Freshman year of college, I was an athlete and I started with baseball as a little Pee Wee League guy and then when I was in 4th grade, I started playing Pop Warner Football. The same year, I started playing Little League Basketball so from 4th grade all the way through my Senior year of high school, I played all 3 of those sports and I played all year around. I played football from August until the winter time – December. From December until March or April, I played basketball and then I played baseball for my school teams until school was over or the season was over, and then I played either Rec League Baseball or American Legion Baseball all the way through the summer. And then we did football again. So, I never stopped playing ball and again, I grew up in a small community so my buddies that were my teammates and I went to school with them, they’re still my boys today. My best childhood friend since I was 4 years old basically, is the Tampa Bay Rays Athletic Trainer – how weird is that? We grew up in this tiny little town of very few people. Everybody were farmers or blue collar community and he and I both made our way out to pro sports – pretty crazy.

AM: What was that moment when you realized that you might be interested in pursuing professional sports?

MS: I wasn’t good enough. So when I got to college, I went to a small college in East Tennessee first. It was a Division II school athletically, called Carson Newman and they had a really good baseball program so I went there to play baseball. I stayed there 1 year and then I transferred over to Radford University from which I graduated and thought that I would easily make the baseball team – no question in my mind. I had no doubts. I went and they had a walk on tryout and they asked me to participate in that and I did that. I hit and threw it ok – I was a middle infielder and didn’t have a good try out. So the coach who knew about me in high school - I grew up around the corner, he was like, “man, I don’t think that you’re good enough.” They didn’t allow me to play. So I will tell you this. God is funny. I was so devastated in that moment because I don’t care. If you’re passionate about sports – I don’t care if your ceiling is high school, I don’t care if your ceiling is college and certainly for guys like Peyton Manning, Tom Brady or Drew Brees or these guys – the elite of the elite at whatever their passion is athletically. When it’s time to be done, you lose your whole identity because my whole identity, my whole life was athlete.

That was my identity and because truth told, I was a pretty good one in high school in the area in which I grew up, I had a decently celebrated career, we won state championships as teams – we had that kind of talent where I came from. So when I lost baseball, I’m not kidding y’all, there was a level of depression that I did not anticipate and I have never been a guy who’s down – I’m unstoppable, it’s how I’m wired and I was stopped. I knew a girl that dated a buddy of mine and she came in one day she said, “you know you need to get up off your ass and you need to come with me to the Sports and Information Office and you need to work because you have such a wealth of knowledge.” I’m like, “what, I’m not going in there and taking stats – I play ‘em – no.” After a substantial pity party, I got up one day and I said, “alright man, let’s see what happens.” Went in there, I fell in love with being around it again. Some of my best college friends were guys who played baseball, they played basketball – because the Sports Information Department gave me substantial responsibility immediately. As a Sophomore, I ran around with the baseball team - took their stats, etc. As a junior, they handed me Women’s Basketball and I traveled with the Women’s Basketball team on top of my class load. Then, I got the greatest break you could ever ask for. I was offered a stringer position by the Roanoke Times which is the major regional newspaper in the area in which I grew up covering high school sports, the local NASCAR short track, etc. That’s when I realized that I was going to write for a living and that was what I’m gonna to do. As a Senior, I got to cover Virgina Tech Football as a stringer for the Washington Post.

AM: That’s insane!

MS: On top of my class load. So all of these people believed in me. I will tell you this, had I not gotten cut, I don’t even know if gotten cut is fair. Had I made the Radford Baseball Team, I wouldn’t be sitting with you now, guarantee you. Because I wouldn’t have had to make that shift in focus that I had to make because I wasn’t playing anymore. How about that?

AM: Wow. You’ve had so much in your career prior to ESPN, so what was that journey like as I know you were with NASCAR.com for awhile.

MS: So much of my career goes back to people who believed in me. And in that book, they wanted me to do the dedication page. Who do you dedicate this to? All I wrote was, For the believers. Most notably, Lainie, Cameron, Mia and Vivian my nuclear family – wife and children. But so many people have believed in me from coaches to mentors to all the way down to people that work at ESPN, who don’t have to take the time to offer you guys this opportunity, to pitch you this opportunity, but they believe enough in me that they’re doing that.

When that believer, a guy named Ray Cox, who writes for the Roanoke Times, even still, he covered me in high school. So when I wasn’t playing anymore, he was like, “what?” I saw him at a Radford Basketball game. He said, “I think that you need to be writing for me. You have this factor that you’re so relatable to people and you connect with people in a way that you need to be writing.”

So I started covering high school sports like I said and that led to the local short track called New River Valley Speedway (now Motor Mile Speedway) at the time and I was a NASCAR guy as a kid because my daddy liked it. But my favorite driver was Davey Allison. Davey died in a helicopter crash July 13th 1993, I stopped loving the sport in that moment. My passion – I mean it was like lighting a bottle rocket when I went back to that short track. I went and I told her (Lainie), I know what I’m gonna do - I know what my path is – NASCAR is my way. It’s the fastest way to get through pro sports. I covered it for the Lynchburg News – I had a job that may not even exist anymore. I made $12.80 in my first job out of Radford. I bought her engagement ring with it – you talk about broke as Joe! I started chasing race cars. I’ll never forget sitting in the Richmond International Raceway garage – sitting on the pit walls watching these cars go by. Dale Earnhardt, Rusty Wallace, Jeff Gordon – “holy smokes that’s really them, I’m on this side of the track.” I’m inside the track and I can walk out there and talk to them if they’ll give me the time of day. I couldn’t believe it. I worked there for one year.

During that time, I wrote a story on a guy named Paul Brooks who was from that town. His mother called me and said I needed to do the story. I thought it was Jim Bob Jordan the street stock driver down the street. Paul had been elevated to the VP of NASCAR. Called Paul, we hit it off, he liked the story and he sent me some desk furniture of the 50th Anniversary of NASCAR like a business card holder that you put the pens in. At the very bottom of the box was his stationary with his email on it. I emailed him, “get me the hell out of here. I’ll clean toilets in Daytona Beach, Florida if you get me out of here. I got big aspirations, got big dreams – you can help me get me there.” They didn’t have any jobs, a few months later, a guy quit at NASCAR.com – he called me come to the interview, if I was good enough I would get the job – I got the job. I made it to $20K. Now I’m traveling around the country man. I went to San Francisco man, Napa, California and I got to cover race cars! Worked there until ’05 and ESPN called. They were coming back into the business of NASCAR. In ’07 they put together their whole broadcast team and I was going to be in the insularly part in a show for SportsCenter we had a show called NASCAR Now.

AM: Great show.

MS: It was a great show! Jack Obringer – this is all in my book. Jack Obringer, the guy who called me who is still at ESPN now and is one of my greatest believers. He said that everybody who talks to me says your name – you know what’s going on in the sport and you know the drivers. I laughed and said, “hey man, I’m so flattered, but you called the wrong guy. There’s a guy named Marty Snider who’s a great broadcaster and I’m sure that that’s who you meant to call.” He laughed out loud and said I was the guy. He told me to go home and think about working with him. I went home to Lainie and I said, “you’re never going to believe this, I think that ESPN wants me to come work there." I'm a guy who would rather crash and burn and fail knowing that I can’t, then wonder 20 years from now sitting on that porch wondering if I could have. So I took the job. The first time that I was really on television was SportsCenter. Can you believe that? There are local reporters who are so talented, they work their asses off, they set up their own camera shots and dream of that chance and I was afforded that chance immediately. That’s never been lost on me and I’m so appreciative. From there, the company let me grow. They let me make mistakes, they let me look like – I needed a lot of work. My story is just unorthodox because I was sportcentric for 7 years – really 8 from ‘07-‘14 those 8 NASCAR seasons. I got to grow and learn my voice and ESPN afforded me that voice and no one has ever once asked me to change it. They’ve never asked me to try to lose this accent because I have always maintained that you can be Southern and articulate at the same time. It worked because I was covering NASCAR. Then we lost NASCAR and I thought, ok what do I do now? Do I pursue another network maybe, do I bet on myself again? I went home and told Lainie that I needed to bet on myself again and I was ready to see what was out there and I signed my 3rd ESPN contract which was ’15-’18 and bet on myself. My career has been beyond every fantastic dream that I could have ever imagined.

AM: You have covered so many different sports for the network. How do you prepare yourself when you’re reporting on College Football versus the NFL – is it the same for you?

MS: No. I’m voracious about study. I’m voracious about preparation and reading and listening and things that intrigue me, I put it in a document. Then I take that document and pair it down and then I study that document. Like, Tiger Woods. When I got the opportunity to interview him, I studied so hard and watched so much and I probably had a 40 question list and I paired that down to 15 and I studied those 15 until minutes before I was sitting in front of him and I crumpled the paper up and threw it away. Because I want to have a conversation with you. The best interviewers listen. Because the best question is more often than not, why, how, when, how did that come to be, what was your passion. That was most certainly the case with him. Can I tell you how I got there?

AM: Yes!

MS: 2012 I think it was, I interviewed Jeff Gordon for a NASCAR Countdown Pre Race Program and I had this specific thing that I wanted out of Jeff and I kept interrupting him during the interview to try to keep him on task. It worked for what I was sort of after. But after the race before which it ran which was New Hampshire, after that race – I was so proud of myself that I got this interview with Jeff Gordon man – 4X Champion – 80+ wins! After the race, I went out to interview Dale Jr. who is like my brother – we’re brothers – we’ve been through it together. The highest of highs and the most crushing of lows we’ve walked it together. I get out to his car because he wrecked and they’re looking all around the cars when they’re looking at the dings in it. He turns around and says, “come here, I’m pissed at you.” There’s other reporters around so he takes me to the entrance to the truck that carries the race cars and says, “you need to stop interrupting people.” I was like, "what?” He said he watched the interview with Jeff and he wanted to hear some of the things that he said, but I kept interrupting him and that I looked like an asshole, “stop interrupting people.” I was so mortified. He cut me and do you want to know that it was the single greatest advice that I have ever gotten in this job? I completely changed my interview approach. I let people expound upon their thoughts and thereby, be ing able to tell me their story rather than trying to conjure something that you desire. I tell that story sometimes when he’s around and he’s like, “damn, let it go.” I’m like, “no. You changed me and only a real dude does this.” You’re on this high and most dudes would be like, “hey man that’s cool.” I am forever grateful to him for that.

That’s what I do. I study, study, study and then throw it away. Because I want to hear you and want to be immersed with you. It has proven to be very successful for me.

AM: So what are all the shows that you’re on at ESPN?

MS: Wow. A lot of them! So SportsCenter, College Game Day, SEC Nation, Get Up, Marty & McGee – which is such a fascinating study. Marty & McGee is a Southern culture program almost more than a sports program. There was a lady named Cherita Johnson and for a time she kind of ran the podcast/digital arm at that time. I called her one day and said I had a proposal as I had a buddy Ryan McGee (she knew him because they were PA’s together) and him and I had covered NASCAR together and felt that ESPN could produce a really cool piece of content with a podcast, we would be willing to go to a studio so we wouldn’t have to hire a bunch of people. We just wanted to do a podcast about NASCAR if she would let us. She wasn’t sure if there was a market for it and she asked me to tell her a story. So, 45 minutes later, I’m telling her all these stories about Dale Earnhardt, Dale Jr. and Jimmie Johnson. She said that I was so passionate about that she would go ask. She did and they greenlit it. The magic of Marty & McGee is the chemistry, we’re buddies and have been so for 20 years! It went from a live radio show on Sat afternoons, then a few years ago they moved us to 7am on Sat! That’s when I said, “son, our lives just changed!” That’s when everybody is going to get the donuts and taking junior to baseball. It changed everything! Then, last year, they decide that the coaches in the South Eastern Conference they wanted to be engaged in a different way and they wanted the two if to make it happen. They asked what the set should like and I said, “a card table, an American flag and an eagle soaring by – I don’t know.” They built us that set. The coaches come in. They’re immediately disarmed. We’re laughing out loud with them. Nick Saban is talking about his dad, Nick Sr. had tears in our eyes. So they give us a weekly show on SEC Network which this fall moves to Weds. so that it ensures that it’s not pre-empted by soccer or a live program. We don’t even know what to make of it – we’re floored!

AM: What’s it like juggling all of these shows with your current schedule?

MS: It’s a lot and I’m afforded the ultimate blessing which is a patient, immersed, patient and loyal partner who appreciates all of this. She understands all of this and allows me to chase the dream. I can’t wait for people to read about Lainie in the book because they are going to see what a phenomenal soul she is. In this life, we meet people that are more successful, that may not have as much, we meet people who are more beautiful, we meet people who are the most blue collar down-home, people who grew up in the city all of that – all walks of life. Very rarely do you meat innate grace. Lainie has it. There is no way in hell that I could have this career, this life, have met these people that I am so fortunate to meet if she didn’t have that personality. I thank her everyday!

AM: Specifically during the college football season, what is your week like for that?

MS: We work every day. From now until mid January, we are gas on the throttle doing college football. Even on days off, we’re prepping. On days off, you’re reading, calling around, texting around, talking to coaches. Sports information people, in some rare cases – players. To make sure that you are at least ahead of the game but at least in the game. You go hard as hell man and I love every second of it.

AM: Who are you looking forward to interviewing this season from the college football side – what are 3 things that you’re pumped about?

MS: I’m blessed beyond what I deserve. We have a host and reporter who is among the most talented television professionals I have ever seen. Her name is Laura Rutledge. Laura makes all of it look easy – it’s not and she makes it look so simple. She is going to have her first child this fall. As a result of that, she will go on maternity leave and will miss a portion of the season. While she is away, she is the host of a show called SEC Nation and it’s a phenomenal show. I mean Tim Tebow, Marcus Spears and Paul Finebaum are the panelists. They are all great friends of mine already - Tim is like a brother to me. In the book, I share his influence on me which is dramatic. So when Laura is on maternity leave, I am going to get to host that show. When ESPN called me and told me this, my initial reaction was Euphoria and it was also, “you know I have never done that before and you know it’s something that I am going to have to learn.” They understood all that and said that my passion was what they needed. I can’t wait, a live atmosphere with a live audience in the South Eastern Conference, with those 3 guys and a producer – Baron Miller, who's a brother to me anyway. He has an artistic vision and unbelievable passion to help guide us through. I can’t wait for the energy change. My best friend, Eric Church, always says that there is going to be an energy exchange tonight. There is going to be my energy and your energy. I'm going to give it every last damn ounce of everything I got and if you give it back to me, there is going to be a moment and it’s going to live forever. Well I get to drive that moment and I can’t wait! Tebow man, Spears – I’m not Laura – I’m not as talented and polished as her or Joe Tessitore the first gentleman who hosted that show, or Maria Taylor who also hosted that show. They’re better broadcasters than me, but I’ll never be out passioned. I can control 3 things everyday: I can control kindness, effort and passion. If I max those out, I’m going to be alright and I’m maxing. In every single facet of my life: fatherhood, husbandry, professionally, friendships – there ain’t nobody going to ever say that I didn’t leave it all out there when the Lord calls me home.

AM: One of the things that draws me to your reporting is your passionate storytelling and being someone who grew up in Indiana, watched Hoosier basketball growing up, graduated Indiana University and was glad to have been there during Bobby Knight’s last year as coach, we believe in the concept of “Life is Sports and Sports is Life”. When college basketball happens, there is such a feeling that comes through which permeates all aspects of my life. Why does college football have that feeling for you that makes you so passionate about it?

MS: I was discussing this this morning. There is a country artist named Justin Moore. I have known Justin his entire career now. This is his 5th album he is putting out this week and he’s only 35 and having a tremendous career. He grew up in a little town called Poyne, Arkansas. The Arkansas Razorbacks are their pro team. I grew up 20 miles west of Virginia Tech’s campus on a cattle farm. The Virginia Tech Hokies are our pro team. They are also our identity, they also brought a national brand to a farming community. Because of Frank Beamers’ Hokies Virginia Tech Hoakies, Blacksburg is known in Seattle, in California, Clearwater, Fl and it’s known in Banger, Maine. Everybody knows Blacksburg because of those football teams. When I was a kid, we didn’t have a whole lot when I was real young. My daddy worked all the time and I didn’t get to be around him and he was a bit of mysterious and mythical figure to me. But there were some Saturday mornings when he’s wake me up and say, “boy get dressed, we’re going over the mountain.” I knew that meant we were going to watch Virginia Tech football. It was bad football. It was 0-8, 0-10, 1-9, 2-8 because Coach Beamer was still laying those foundation bricks to the amazing legacy that he built. But I got to go there with my daddy and I got to have a fountain coke and I got to have his attention and I got to feel his love and hope he felt mine and we got to watch Virginia Tech play football. To this second, I feel closer to him in Laine Stadium then I feel anywhere else. I lost daddy in ’08. When I go back there, I feel closer to him than anywhere else. My passion for it, is so much deeper than simply the game. It’s this father/son connection, it’s this family connection because so many little college towns take their identity from those athletic programs just like Bloomington does. I get to go in on Fridays and Saturdays in the fall and I get to be there with those people. Whether it’s Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Columbus, Ohio, Blacksburg, Virginia, Ann Arbor, Michigan – those towns are those schools. I get to live it. Hell, they pay me for it! Wow – it’s unbelievable to me!

AM: With such a busy schedule, you have a book coming out August 6th, Never Settle: Sports, Family and the American Soul. Why did you want to write this book and what do you hope that your fans and those who read this book take away from it?

MS: I have wanted to write a book for a really long time. It’s funny, I wasn’t ready until I got the deal. I didn’t have enough life experiences until last year. Back to Tiger, I interviewed him and of course I put a picture up with us on the ‘gram. You’ve gotta do it for the ‘gram and I came home that evening and my son has a YouTube channel and we were skateboarding. So I said, “you know what man, let’s go down this hill. I’ll be on my board and you’ll be on your board and I’ll kinda get crouched down and get a cool shot with my phone for you.” I put it on my Instagram Stories and this publisher saw it. I was blown away by that.

Long story short, the next thing you know, I’m meeting with this gentleman, a guy named Sean Desmond at Twelve Books, my publisher in NYC. Avenue of the Americas man, wow country boy comes to town. He talked about how his little boy who is 12 is fascinated by all the stuff that I get to do. Then he saw that and he was intrigued. How is this guy that was interviewing Tiger Woods in the morning and hanging with his son in the evening – he wanted that. He wanted my family in the book, he wanted Lainie, he wanted the husband Marty in the book, he wanted father Marty in the book. He wanted me to be so vulnerable and he wanted Tiger, he wanted Nick Saban and he wanted Cristiano Ronaldo in Shanghai, in Beijing. He wanted all of these experiences. He wanted me throwing a post pattern on the White House lawn. Thank God the Secret Service has a sense of humor! It’s all in the book. I actually did that! We were stupid, man. He wanted all of that and he pushed me throughout the writing process. Show me, don’t tell me. You’re telling me a good story, show me a good story. I loved that advice because it demanded of me to take another layer of veneer off.

Again, I have so many friends that are musical artists. They told me throughout time that anything worth its salt is vulnerable. But with that vulnerability comes a very unique emotion because you are putting this layer of yourself out into and this energy in the world. You have to be ok with whatever comes back good or bad. You’ve given this and holy crap it’s giving me anxiety and Lainie is like why? That was always my response to my friends too because they were putting out something good – but you’re putting this part of yourself out there and above all, I know it’s relatable and vulnerable. I think it will sing and I think that a lot of people will see themselves in that. I discuss things like the primal sorrow of losing my mom when I was barely an adult. She had breast cancer and died when she was 47 years old. My sister turns 47 in Feb so, Stacy and I go back and forth about what that’s like. Because when you’re 21 you don’t realize how young 47 is. When you’re 43, you think that she hadn’t even gotten started yet. I’d give anything – anything to be able to show her. She would be tickled and the coolest grandmother to these little people that we have running around.

My son has Tourette and so there is a lot that comes with Tourette. His tics, how people react to that. He’s used to people staring at him. Middle School is hard, he’s only recently gotten to a place where other kids sometimes aren’t nice. My mother, back to that innate grace, I never met anybody that was more Godly than my mom. She raised a lot of kids and I only have one sibling. She raised a lot of kids. I had a lot of buddies and she was there momma too. I wish she was here to see all of this and to be that for my kids. I go all the way into that primal sorrow. I write it in that way that’s really really raw. It’s a hell of a thing and I hope that people feel themselves in it. There’s a football coach that I have become very close with, Barry Odom – head coach of Missouri – Missouri Tigers. He wrote me the nicest text the other day. The 4th chapter of the book is about one of the most impactful people in my life. There is a Special Olympics athlete that I chronicled in '15, her name was Olivia Quigley. It’s all in there – why she was so important to me and Barry read the chapter. I sent him an advanced copy. He was like, “dude – I knew you were pretty cool on TV, but this is what you need to be doing. It’s changing lives.” That was very cool for him to say.

AM: How long did it take for your to put the book together?

MS: I started almost immediately when I met with Twelve last May. My deadline was Jan. 15th and I was very naïve about the time – really naïve. I wrote a lot of it in Ocean City Coffee. I would get up before dawn every morning when we were here last summer. I rode my bike down there and wrote until about 9:30am morning and then came back. Then, I thought I didn’t have to worry about being a present father or husband on airplanes and hotel rooms. But when you have covered a college football weekend, the last thing that you want to do is go to your hotel room and write! You just want a cold one and to laugh with your buddies a little bit, eat a meal and get on the pillow. I somehow managed to do it. That last week, I still had quite a bit to write. I came home from the National Championship in Santa Clara, California – immediately packed a bag, flew to NYC and spent 5 days holed up in the publisher’s office pounding on those keys. I’m not kidding ya, 5:30 on Jan 15th was when I needed to have that thing in and it was 5:30 on Jan 15th when I said, I don’t know if it’s done, hope it is - but here it’s yours.

AM: How did it make you feel when Eric Church wrote your forward as he’s your best friend.

MS: He’s my best friend. I was here – he called me about something else and he needed my opinion and perspective. We probably talked about it for 90 minutes. You get Eric Church on 90 seconds it's a miracle - we were on the phone for 90 mins! So I said, “before you go, I have something else to tell you about. I hate to bother you with it and I know you’re busy. I’m writing my first book.” He said, “it’s about fuckin’ time.” Truth be told, he thinks I’m wasting my time doing anything but writing and he has always been a fan of how I write and the way I paint pictures. He’s a writer, that’s what he does. So we have that mutual energy exchange and kinship. I said, “I would be really honored and I don’t think it would be complete the way that I need it to be complete if you don’t write my forward.” He said that it would be the pleasure and joy of his life that I would pick him to do that. I will tell you that it showed up near my deadline because it’s Eric. I was kind of badgering him saying, “hey bro – I have to have this thing in.” He asked me when it had to be in. I’m sitting in Charlotte and he texted me that he had sent it via email. Two other people had read it before he sent it, his most trusted confidentes in his life – his wife Katherine and his manager John Peets. I get my computer and Lainie is sitting next to me and I’m reading it and I can feel myself and she’s capturing it on video. I will tell you that it’s the most single kindest thing that I have ever read in terms of your impact on somebody. It made me belly laugh and ugly cry. He’s a real hard ass. He plays one for a living, he doesn’t suffer fools, he takes no crap. He taught me that my passion is ok and that my way is ok. Even when the bosses tell you something, if you believe it do it. For him to write what he wrote about me, I can’t wait for y’all to see it. I want to talk about it so much but I want y’all to have to read it. It’s awesome. It means the world to me that he would take the time to do it.

Like Greg Sankey is the commissioner of the SEC and I gave him the very first copy that I had ever held in my hands. McGee and I were interviewing him and he said he wanted one, but that I would have to sign it. So I sat down right there and signed it and said it was like handing him my first child. He wrote on the Internet how good it was and that Eric Church had written the greatest forward that he had ever read in years – he was right. I could talk for days about him – my hero!

AM: One of the things that we were struck by is the amount of people on Twitter who were talking about how those who pre-ordered received FaceTime messages thanking them for doing so.

MS: I have 52 people left to call! I was trying to think of a way – I felt bad that the people that pre-ordered the book that they invested in me and I wanted to make it personal. I saw that Kurt Busch, one of the NASCAR drivers, had FaceTimed some of his fans. So I thought that we should try that. I thought it would be 10 people. Marty will call you or FaceTime you if you pre-order his book. It was a lot more than 10 people. To see the reactions from the people! One young lady called me and said, “you’re always talking about people who give you that passion and this life direction to help you have that perspective and to stay focused – you’re that person for me.” She was in tears. She can’t wait to have the book. It was very fulfilling for me as well. They’re so appreciative.

AM: I mean just from the comments, people running out of the meetings in their offices and getting so excited.

MS: One guy worked in the Library of Congress and he was so excited that my book was going to be there. Another guy worked as a Missouri State Trooper or a Detective. He pulled over and took a picture of us talking. I still have a few people to contact and I will get to them. One of them was my high school football teammate, we were Defensive Backs a long time ago. We won the state championship together.

AM: Do you foresee writing another book?

MS: That’s up to the publisher, but if they afford me the opportunity – hell yes! There are 25 chapters in this book and there are at least 15 stories that I didn’t even get to. I talked to Paul George about what it was like when he broke his leg in half. The way he felt and the way he saw his team react. The vulnerability and how stripped he was. I talked to Anthony Davis – I was surprised it went down this road. It was in the middle of Black Lives Matter was such a movement in this country. We kind of brought up race and here I am having this great conversation of depth with this gentleman who grew up in Chicago, African American a face for those other young man growing up in that neighborhood. He got out, you can do this. Being interviewed by a 40 year old white man from a rural Appalachian town and how we were connecting and what an example we can be together. It was a wonderful conversation. Stuff like that that’s not even in the book. I hope this book is received well enough that I get that chance – I would be honored.

AM: As someone who travels as much as you do, what are 3 items in your carry-on that makes you feel comfortable or have a sense of home?

MS: Everything is a carry-on I don’t check bags. Bose Q35 Noise Cancelling headphones are my life blood because I am such a music guy. Costa Del Mar are my sunglass guys – I always have them with me because of the injured eye. I like having it covered. Either Jordan 1s, 3s, 4s or 11s. I don’t ever travel without at least 1 pair of Jordans - ever.

AM: The Sneaker Duffle is going to do well.

MS: Yes thank you! ESPN watchers know me for my sneakers. When I was growing up, once again, my dad never in a million years would have been like I would pay $140 for those shoes. Hell no! When I was in 8th grade maybe 9th. I saved enough money from throwing hay bales in the summer to buy my first pair of Js. They were 5s. The original pair of 5s, I don’t have any 5s in Ocean City or I would show you what I was talking about. The original 5s have clear bottoms – soles. The clear bottoms had the Jump Man in the ball of the foot. If you wore them outside, they would soil to this amber color. I was not about to let that happen. I would carry my Js to school and then put them on when I got there. I never lost that. If you guys had any idea of how neurotic I am about my shoes. All of my shoes are like that. I’m a Js guy and I love Air Max 90s the original Air Max and I am crazy about these. I would say those 3 things.

AM: How do you take time for yourself to decompress with all of the things that you do?

MS: Water. I grew up on a farm, I still own hundreds of acres in Southwest Virginia that is still farmed. When I was a little boy, I was always captivated by the beach. So we bought here 5 years ago I believe our families bought this home and last July, Lainie and I bought a home on Lake Norman in Charlotte and that’s where we live full time. It allows me to really reflect, be vulnerable and to consider who I want to be. It also allows my children to get away from their phones and for me to get away from it and get away from everything. It allows me to be a dad that is creating memories. That’s so important to me to be a present father and husband when I’m not on the road – to be here. I try very hard. It’s hard for any driven professional. I do my dead level best to demand that of myself. Last night, we sat on the beach. I didn’t have my phone other than to play music on a Bluetooth speaker from 3 o'clock in the afternoon to 10:30pm. I bet I had 50 or 60 text messages. Don't judge me – you promise – I have 193 unread text messages! When I’m here, I purposely don’t get on my phone. Tomorrow I will be in Charlotte for our college football seminar for the next 2 days, the day after that I have to shoot something for Marty & McGee all day for the SEC network, the day after that I’m in Clemson, SC all day covering the first practice for the Tigers and we’re kicking off August 24th. And I have a book coming out!

You know one thing that you will never hear me do – complain. I won’t do it. Do you know how many people would sever fingers – I’m aware. I’m very protective of my time in a demanding industry. But, I’m a grinder man.

AM: When you’re in Ocean City, where can we find you grabbing a meal, go shopping or working out?

MS: Kessel's Korner 28th & Asbury. We eat there that’s our spot. Express Pizza is right around the corner here too. They both have grilled buffalo wraps – grilled chicken buffalo. I’m a buffalo sauce freak show – I love it. I don’t only get the grilled buffalo wrap, I get extra buffalo on the side because I dunk it in there – buffalo sauce is my deal man. I go to the local gym and I’m also an endurance athlete. I was supposed to run the New York City Triathalon but they canceled it because of the Heat Index hitting 115 degrees. I was supposed to do the running portion and to be apart of a trio it’s called Challenged Athletes Foundation. Bob Babbitt one of the godfathers of triathlons in this country asked me to participate. There was going to be a double amputee as our swimmer, a world class cyclist as our cyclist and I was going to do the run in Central Park. I run the boardwalk all the time it’s 5 miles. 2.5 each way and I do it all the time.

Lainie gets on the Internet. She got all of our school supplies from Target. 7th Street Surf Shop is another one that we enjoy. Heritage Surf Shop is another one because I love surf T-shirts, big brim hats because I am super pale.

AM: We’re all about #TRIBEGOALS – people who inspire us to be our best selves. Who are those 3 people for you?

MS: Not to say that I want to be overwhelming about the book, but it’s one of the reasons why I wanted to write it. I wanted to champion those people. My parents would be one answer. I am so fortunate and I’m that guy who's an angel on one shoulder and the devil on the other. My momma was an angel and my daddy battled my demons. I got both of them inside me. I am so fortunate that I had them. They were very present for every game I ever played, they were very demanding, I was one of those guys that if I wasn’t on the honor roll then I didn’t get to play. I’m so thankful for that. I got spanked if I did something wrong and I got wooped – there were no time outs. I’m thankful for that. Everything I said about Eric applies here. It’s because he showed me through our friendship and through his approach to be absolutely unmitigated to be who you are. Be passionate, reach through that camera lens! I knew that when I was covering NASCAR working for ESPN on a Sat morning SportsCenter in the fall when people were ready to watch college football – you may not be interested in NASCAR but you will listen to me during that 2 months because of how much I love it. He helped me realize that that would be ok! Then my wife, Lainie is such a special person. She’s selfless, graceful, she don’t take no crap, she is my single greatest sounding board and will tell me the truth the whole time. That’s why she is reading the book for the first time. She is so astute and I am so appreciative of that. She also made me more selfless.

IG @MartySmithESPN

Our shoot took place in Ocean City, NJ which meant that we enjoyed showcasing menswear looks that are perfect for the beach.

FASHION CREDITS

LOOK 1 PG 16-25 | LE TIGRE Polo Shirt | KENNETH COLE Shorts | SPERRY Gold Cup Collection | TIMEX Watch | NAGICIA Bracelet | COSTA DEL MAR Sunglasses |

LOOK 2 COVER + PG 26 - 35 | KENNETH COLE Shirt | MAVI Shorts | SPERRY Gold Cup Collection | TiMEX Watch | CLEAR VISION OPTICAL/REVO Sunglasses | HEX BRAND Sneaker Duffle | JORDANS Sneakers |

LOOK 3 BACK COVER PG 37 - 49 | MAVI Denim Shirt + Shorts | TIMEX Watch | KENNETH COLE Sneakers | CLEAR VISION OPTICALS/REVO Sunglasses | EARTHCRUISER Bike |

You can hear the full interview with ESPN's Marty Smith in August on our show, #TRIBEGOALS which is a part of Athleisure Studio, our multi-media podcast network! Make sure to subscribe to find out when the episode drops. You can hear it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and wherever you enjoy listening to your favorite podcast.

Read the July Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Context + Repetition: Marty Smith in mag.

S1. E13. | #TRIBEGOALS WITH ESPN'S MARTY SMITH

On today's episode of #TRIBEGOALS, we chat with our latest cover star of Athleisure Mag which took us to Ocean City, NJ to catch up with Marty Smith of ESPN's SEC Nation, SportsCenter, College GameDay and Marty & McGee right before college football starts! After a shoot that took us to some of his favorite spots, I sat with him in his vacation home to talk about when Marty fell in love with sports and specifically college football. We talked about his baseball days and transitioning into sports journalism and broadcasting from NASCAR.com to a number of contributing and hosting positions at ESPN. In addition, this impactful storyteller not only shares moments in his career from Jeff Gordon, Dale Earnhardt Jr to Cristiano Ronaldo and Tiger Woods - but also his new book Never Settle: Sports, Family and the American Soul.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

THE NORTHERN TRUST AT LIBERTY NATIONAL GOLF CLUB LUXURY SUITES

The summer is definitely moving fast and a few weeks ago, right before Father’s Day, we shared with you about how you could win tickets to play at the exclusive Liberty National Golf Club. We’re excited for next month’s premier golf event for THE NORTHERN TRUST PGA TOUR’s FedExCup Playoffs that take place from August 7th - 11th at the Liberty National Golf Club in Jersey City, NJ. We’re excited to take in a day of the top 125 elite PGA TOUR talent competing during this event and you can get in on the fun too as THE NORTHERN TRUST has a number of ways to watch this golf match in a luxurious setting and of course, we have the scoop on what we’re looking at and links to find out more. Remember, THE NORTHERN TRUST will not be back in NJ until 2021 at this members-only club so this is definitely the year.

There are many ways to enjoy the game this year! This year there are premium food and beverage options including a signature Grey Goose cocktail, THE NORTHERN TRUST offers unique entertainment with breathtaking views (especially during a professional sporting event) of the NYC skyline and Statue of Liberty throughout the course. Ticket options include all price points, ranging from daily grounds, to a value Family Ticket Package. THE NORTHERN TRUST has seen an unprecedented level of hospitality sales and momentum with most of the premium offerings and experiences sold out, making this THE FOMO WORTHY – NEAR SOLD OUT - EVENT OF THE SUMMER. In addition to the packages that we will breakdown below, please note that the family ticket package is no longer available, but as a replacement, parents/guardians can purchase a grounds ticket for themselves for $35pp and any number of children under 18 that they bring, will be granted access for free.

THE LIBERTY CLUB

We’re excited for the Liberty Club which is available for $7,500 that offers a first-class experience with exclusive access that includes all-inclusive dining by Executive Chef Shaun Lewis (formerly of The White Elephant in Nantucket and The Pierre Hotel in NYC), an exclusive and private shopping experience, concierge service, opportunities for player meet-and-greets, high-end furnishings, VIP ferry arrival, design elements and keepsakes from contemporary artist Peter Tunney, and so much more.  Purchase this here.

THE ULTRA CLUB

THE ULTRA CLUB is located on Liberty National’s par-3 14th floor and has unparalleled views of the Manhattan skyline and Statue of Liberty. This stylish and all-inclusive upgraded food and beverage options experience is available for $395/per day on Sat and Sun only with very limited spots available on these days. Enjoy taking in the game in a climate-controlled venue. Play interactive games provided by Michelob ULTRA, including Skee Putt and Par Darts, high-end private restrooms and TVs to watch the tournament broadcast. You can purchase customizable ticket options for single and multi-day access. Purchase this ticket here.

THE ANCHOR CLUB PRESENTED BY GREY GOOSE

Known as the “Clubhouse on the Course”, The Anchor Club presented by Grey Goose is a double decker hospitality venue which has a modern rooftop lounge vibe with views of the 18th and 1st Fairways and the 2nd Green for $160 on Wed and $185/per day Thursday through Sun. Note that there are not many spots open for this package.

Guests will enjoy amazing views, climate controlled interior and an open air covered second level with soft seating and a rooftop vibe. There is a curated food menu and premium beverages that are available for purchase as well as high end provate restrooms. TVs to watch the tournament broadcast as well as being able to enjoy the signature cocktail of THE NORTHERN TRUST, the Anchor Fizz which was created specifically for the tournament.

This year, there will also be two Topgolf Swing Suite GO Simulators for guests to use - these simulators are used by the top PGA TOUR pros like Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day when they do their off-course practice. Purchase this ticket here.

If you’re heading to the tournament, we have the scoop on the best ways to get there below!

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

WHAT'S HAPPENING IN HEAVYWEIGHT BOXING AND WHY IS IT SO IMPORTANT?

Throughout the history of sports, boxing and its stars have been amongst the most revered sportspeople in the world. Over the past half-decade or so, the sport has been enjoying a renaissance of sorts, producing entertainment in the professional ring to cause the sport to trend as a popular way to workout, with venues like Overthrow Boxing Club benefitting from the increased attention at the pro level.

Boxing is a superb sport to take up if you’re looking to get fit or enhance your fitness. Even if you don’t engage in any sparring sessions, utilizing the workouts that professional boxers use will enhance your whole body, which is why many celebrities have trained under Michael Olajide to get fit.

People are discovering the benefits of boxing training because the sport has been able to surge its way back to the headlines. However, if the professional arena goes stagnant again, fewer people will be as enthused about using the sport to get fit, which would be a tremendous shame.

Regardless of how immaculate the likes of Vasyl Lomachenko or Naoya Inoue are in the lighter divisions, the heavyweight ranks will always set the standard for boxing onlookers, and right now, it’s not exactly the shining example that the sport needs.

Champions struggling to come together

The biggest reason why boxing has been able to surge back into the limelight worldwide is Anthony Joshua. The charismatic heavyweight is both as likable as he is mighty in the ring. After winning the gold medal at the London 2012 Olympic Games, he’s gone on to stage some of the most entertaining fights of the modern era, including one which may go down as one of the greatest heavyweight fights of all-time against Wladimir Klitschko on April 29, 2017.

As detailed by the Miami Herald on May 28, Joshua’s next opponent is the short-notice Andy Ruiz, who the Brit is expected to defeat convincingly in New York – home of boxing haven Dogpound.

At the other end of the table is Deontay Wilder with the other major heavyweight world title. A fight between the two not ending in a draw would produce the tantalizing prospect of the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world with four belts.

However, it’s not as easy as simply making what would be the biggest fight since Joshua-Klitschko. Assuming that Joshua dispatches of Ruiz, he and Wilder’s vacancy would have lined up for a bout at the end of the year. But, on May 29, Wilder announced, per Fox Sports, that he’d be fighting Luis Ortiz – a boxer he’d already knocked out in 2018.

Wilder has made many moves to avoid Joshua in recent times. Earlier this year, broadcasting company DAZN offered Wilder an unprecedented $100 million, as shown by SportsPro, to defend against Dominic Breazeale before facing Joshua for two fights. Wilder declined and decided to go with a much smaller deal on Showtime.

As reported by Boxing News, Joshua says that he’s willing to wait for the 33-year-old American as the three-belt world champion is continually improving. While this is true, it’s not good for the health of the sport: it needs to continue to be entertaining with major fights to get more people involved.

Wilder’s aversion to competition hurting the division

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Deontay Wilder’s choice in opponents isn’t just hurting the view of boxing in the eyes of the fans and Joshua’s historic aspirations; it’s also holding up potential contenders. One fighter who has been incredibly hard done by Wilder’s selection of weaker opponents is Dillian Whyte.

As explained in his BBC documentary, Whyte has been the number one contender for Wilder’s WBC belt for years, and yet the American has been allowed to avoid Whyte and select lower-ranked opponents. Another who has suffered to Wilder is Tyson Fury.

Rushed back into the ring after defying the odds to get back into the sport, Fury should have won against Wilder on points when they fought on December 1, 2018, but the judging in Los Angeles ruled for a controversial split decision draw, as shown by The Guardian. As the fight didn’t sell as well as they’d hoped, their rematch has been put back.

Fury fights again on June 16 against Tom Schwarz, and Whyte takes on Oscar Rivas on July 20. Both Brits are favorites with Fury, as of May 30 with Betway Sports,  at 13/8 to win by decision or technical decision and Whyte at 1/7 to win. After these heavyweight clashes, the hope is that they will box each other and force Wilder’s hand.

As reported on May 11 by Boxing Scene, the WBC have order Fury and Whyte to fight in a ‘final eliminator’ to determine a mandatory challenger to Wilder, to which Fury says it’s unfair.

The unfairness is not due to a mismatch; it’s because the governing body is making Whyte do yet another eliminator after three defenses of the WBC Silver which is meant to make him the mandatory challenger. If Fury and Whyte meet, it would be a great bout and hopefully lead to Wilder facing a legitimate challenge to his belt.

Within the sport, avoiding the rightful competition is bad enough, but with boxing trending in the right direction again with the fitness-loving public, it would be a shame for disappointment in the pros to stop its momentum. Boxing is a tremendous way to get and keep fit, but if the pros don’t keep it entertaining, it may fade into the background once again.