The Sport Superlatives - Issue No. 28

July 12, 2024

🏆 The Superlatives 🏆

The Actual Feminist: Allyson Felix

Olympic Track and Field champion Allyson Felix may be retired, but she said she’s not done making her mark! Allyson holds a seat on the International Olympic Committee’s Athlete Commission and made it her mission to address the challenges she faced as a female athlete. Felix led the committee in establishing a partnership with Pampers brand to launch the first-ever nursery in the Athlete Village, giving parents (men and women) a place to bond and spend time with their little ones during the 2024 Olympics. Yasss, Allyson -keep fighting the good fight, sis! 

The Delulu Feminist: Charlotte Jones

During the recently released America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders on Netflix, we got a peek into the life of an NFL cheerleader. While most were quite impressed by the women and their dedication… No one was impressed by learning that the cheer squad makes less than the average NFL waterboys and team mascots (who fans are definitely paying attention to…). Cue comments from Charlotte Jones, who is the Cowboys’ executive vice president and chief brand officer.

In an interview following the docuseries, Charlotte said that the women who join the squad are not incentivized by pay but for the experience. While we believe people should have passion projects not centered around financial gain, we’re not sure working for a multi-million dollar team is one of them. But hey, maybe Charlotte is pulling from her own experience and doing it for the thrill. Perhaps she too is being paid less than the majority of the staff… I mean, she is the Cowboy’s owner’s daughter, after all.

🎾 Going Out Swinging: Wimbledon has been whittled down to the final two contenders for the women, and the men will follow suit today. The runner-up (aka last loser standing) from Roland Garros, Jasmine Paolini, has made her way back to another Grand Slam final and will take on the 2021 Roland Garros Champ, Barbora Krejčíková.

While this may not be the star-studded final many had hoped for, it will undoubtedly be a hard-fought battle. Even though Krejčíková has won a major, we shouldn’t sleep on Paolini, who probably won’t wanna be the runner-up for two slams in a row….cuz that would be totes embarrassing, and in the wise words of Brandy, “almost doesn’t count.”

On the men’s side, Djokovic has somehow made his way into the semifinals on a subpar knee. The competition really ought to be ashamed…I mean, the man is 37 and just had meniscus surgery! He did get a lucky break in the quarterfinals when his opponent, Alex de Minaur had to tap out due to a hip injury. Novak will take on 25th-ranked Lorenzo Musetti in the semis for a chance at the finals. On the other side of the draw, Roland Garros Champ Carlos Alcaraz will battle Daniil Medvedev in a rematch of the 2023 US Open semifinals, which Medvedev won…just to lose to Djokovic in the finals. Will history repeat itself? We bet Novak would like that.

🏀 Going for Gold: The US Men’s Basketball team has been assembled like the Avengers, and everyone [in the US of A] is excited to see some of the NBA’s biggest stars playing with each other for a common gold…we mean goal. While the US has been pretty dominant in years past, the competition is definitely creeping up in the rearview mirror. Hence…sending in the big guns: Captain America, aka LeBron James, Hawkeye, aka Steph Curry…you get the point. 

Oh, but one name you won’t see is Kawhi Leonard after the Clippers decided to prioritize his health for the season and yank his butt off the Olympic team. It’s giving “My mama said I can’t come outside.” But fear not, he’s been replaced by Celtics’ defensive guard, Derrick White…not Jaylen Brown (ya know, the finals MVP). The team is in Vegas playing exhibition games right now and will begin Olympic play July 28 vs Serbia. Good luck, fellas…we don’t accept silver…jk just do your best.

🌟 And the Award Goes to…The Espys went down last night and some of our [and your] faves took home little globes of glory to place on their mantles… or at their mama’s houses. Where it goes is none of our business, but we are pretty interested in who heard their name called during last night’s ceremony. 

Athletes like A'ja Wilson (Best Athlete and Best WNBA Player), Patrick Mahomes (Best Athlete and Best NFL Player), and Caitlin Clark (Best Record-Breaking Performance and Best College Athlete) took home multiple awards. Both those ladies decided this whole meeting could’ve been an email and accepted their awards via video call, but they were excited nonetheless. Dawn Staley accepted the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance due to her cancer research advocacy…and took a moment to also advocate for equal pay, stating, “How do I not fight pay disparity when I do the same job, and get paid less, but win more?”…A WORD from Sista Staley! Here is a full list of all the winners.

THE Serena Williams hosted the whole shebang in a handful of outfits (we’ll get into one of those looks later) to accompany a gaggle of kekes. That’s right, Queen Williams was bringing the jokes taking jabs at her ex, Drake (cuz why not? Everyone else is), and the King himself, LeBron James (no hairline is safe). This hosting gig, coupled with the release of her new ESPN documentary series, “In the Arena,” has Serena winning from every angle (but what’s new?). All in all, it was a great night for sports.

🏈 It’s a Love Hate Relationship: Former Patriots coach Bill Belichick, has stepped out of the unemployment line. Belichick will be the newest sports analyst on “Inside the NFL,” working alongside the likes of Ryan Clark and Chad “Ochocinco” Johnson. Now, this is tea because Belichick is notorious for being short or completely mute when it comes to chatting it up the media. So you mean to tell me that the man who doesn’t like the media is now a part of them? Oh, so your soul is indeed up for sale?  Or maybe this, along with his new girlfriend, is all a part of some mid to end-life crisis. JK…we get it; times are hard…make that money, honey! Hopefully, his NFL analyses are equally as entertaining as these old press interviews…run the footage!

🏈 Well, This is Awkward: Former NFL quarterback, Cam Newton, expressed he had some FOMO on his ‘4th & 1 with Cam Newton’ podcast earlier this week after seeing photos of Christian McAffrey and Olivia Culpo’s wedding. Except he missed out because… he wasn’t actually invited, which had him in his feelings a bit. 

He tried to save a little face, saying he probably wouldn’t have been able to make it anyway. Uh-huh, sure, Cam… we’re sure you were superrrr busy… although he does have eight kids whom I’m sure keep him occupied. His ex-Carolina Panthers teammate took to IG to explain the snub by revealing that Cam left him on read for four years… he kept track because he has feelings, too, ok? Hopefully, Cam can grab a babysitter soon, and maybe the two can make up over drinks and reminisce about how the Carolina Panthers were almost great in their day.

⚽ Bet You This Will Be a Whole Mess: Drake stays in somebody’s mentions, and Argentine soccer player Lionel Messi stays messy. It went up on a Tuesday… Tuesday, July 9th to be exact, when Argentina beat Canada 2-0 in COPA America. While most weren’t shocked by this outcome, Drake put a lot of faith in his home team by placing a $300k bet on Canada to secure the W. After Argentina won, they of course, blasted Kendrick Lamar’s Not Like Us to drive the point home… petty petty petty. Welp, love to see it!

Your sports term of the week is: Ace

This week, it’s a two-for-one!

IRL Example: It’s like when you are arguing with someone you know well and have that one thing you can say that will end the argument immediately…but must we go that low?

Ok, is it just us, or are skirts having a moment?? We should definitely take a moment to appreciate this cute skirt set that Serena Williams recently graced us with:

It’s giving Paige Desorbo (for all of our Bravolites out there!). Want to channel your Upper East Side girly and get a similar set? Asos has one that is adorbs!

But wait for it because Serena said she’s not done stepping on our necks and served us another amazing look on the ESPYs red carpet in a custom gown by Giorgio Armani Privé.

Have a fancy gala? Here is a similar look from Balmain:

For a less expensive and slightly less formal option for one of the many summer weddings you were invited to, here is a dress from Reformation that gives us similar vibes:

No matter which one you buy, your look will hit a grand slam!

Do you love sports? Want to find a way to fit more sports into your week? We’ve got you. From keeping up with your work colleagues to impressing hot dates, our newsletter aims to keep you in the know regardless of your fandom level or the reason. That’s your business, sis!

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