ATHLEISURE MAG | #72 DEC 2021

In this month’s issue, our cover story is with film, TV and stage actor, Curtiss Cook who plays Abe in the film adaptation of West Side Story, Otis “Douda” Perry in The Chi and has appeared in countless other shows. He talks with us about how he got into acting, how he plays dynamic characters and brings them to life as well as upcoming projects that we can expect to see him in. We also have the first of 2 NEW YEAR, N3W YOU features with Curtiss Cook, STARZ’s POWER BOOK II: GHOST’s Alix Lapri and NBA Minnesota Timberwolves’ Taurean Prince. They share The Good, The Add and The Buzz as they look at 2021 and 2022.

This month’s 9PLAYLIST is from Ryan Seacrest as he shares songs for our playlist as we countdown to the New Year. NFL New England Patriot and 3 X Pro Bowler, Matthew Judon, shares his 9LIST STORI3S with us. Our 9LIST ROUTIN3S comes from NASCAR’s 2 X Cup Series Champion and 220+ trophy winner Kyle Busch, who shares his Morning, Afternoon and Night with us. This month’s 9LOOKS shares some of our favorite ensembles from Zimmermann’s Resort 22 collections.

Our monthly feature, The Art of the Snack focuses on Sapphire Cuisines of India in NY. This month’s Athleisure List comes from Mad Morton and ONE19 Wine Bar + Food. As always, we have our monthly roundups of some of our favorite finds.

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.

ALL IN TOGETHER NOW

This month's cover story features Jonathan Jones, Brandon King and Obi Melifonwu of the Super Bowl LIII Winning Champions New England Patriots. The road to success is one that is truly a journey that isn't a straight line. In our interview we hear how these teammates fell in love with the game, made their way to the Patriots and how they get ready for their games every week! In addition, we also had the opportunity to talk with their Sports Agent, Sean Stellato of SES Sports, whose own life has been infused with sports as an athlete who then made the Jerry McGuire transition to being on the other side of the ball. The relationship between players and the agent is essential to their success.

Our shoot took place in Tribeca at the Serafina Tribeca, which is one of our favorite places for Italian comfort food. When it comes to hospitality and having the right vibe for a celebration, the General Manager, Christian Ferrara makes everyone feel at home while educating them on his cuisine and culture.

ATHLEISURE MAG: When did you realize that you wanted to play professional football and what was your journey to get to the New England Patriots?

JONATHAN JONES: I grew up loving watching the games as young as when I was 3 or 4 years old. I played high school football in Georgia and high school football in Georgia is just big! I went to Auburn, we won a National Championship. Leaving Auburn, I was a free agent and I chose to come to New England and it was probably the best decision of my life honestly as I have had the chance to go to 3 straight Super Bowls. It’s been a great journey as far as the NFL goes! But for my entire journey to come from where I come from to make it to the Patriots, it’s been a blessing!

AM: Tell us about the position you play and who do you work with closely on that portion of the team?

JJ: I play defensive back cornerback and mostly we work with the safeties and sometimes the linebackers.

AM: During the season what is your week like in terms of practicing to get to Sunday’s game?

JJ: After a game on Sunday, you come in on Monday and first thing you want to handle and collect everything from the previous game. You then want to start working on your body. Tuesday is a day of recovery for your body getting a massage, getting treatments for pains that took place from the last game. Wednesday, Thursday and Friday is all about training and practice. Saturday, it just depends on whether it is a home or an away game. But, it’s a full week and Tuesday isn’t like a day off, but more like a day to get ready.

AM: What are 3 songs that are on your playlist that get you ready for whatever game you’re playing?

JJ: It’s always a classic with me with Young Jeezy – it doesn’t even matter what song it is! Right now I have Little Baby on my playlist and I’m from Georgia so any of the Georgian rappers that are out right now – they’re there too!

AM: What does it feel like to be a 2 X Super Bowl Winning Champ?

JJ: It feels great to win Super Bowl LI and LIII. To get there every time is always the goal. I’ve been there 3 years in a row and to win 2 of them is amazing. A lot of people never even get there so for me to be there 3 times and to have won 2 is great! Every year you get there, you have to refocus and remember what you did last time to get there and how great you were at that time to win.

AM: What is it like in the off season as you prepare for the regular season?

JJ: The first thing is to get your mind and body right. You have to take the time during the off season. You want to make sure that you spend time for yourself, with your friends and family. But then it’s like you’re right back to when it’s time to go back and you also want to make sure that you stay in shape as well. It’s a quick turnaround and you have to be ready.

AM: What are your goals for the upcoming season?

JJ: My goal is to develop my game and become more of a leader within the team and to definitely work on my game with me being a young player. I want to continue to improve.

AM: How do you define your personal style? What do you wear when you’re going out for fun or when it’s a special night out.

JJ: My personal style is always about being casual with nice jewelry. I’m a laid back person. When it’s about going out, you can never go wrong with a nice shirt and jeans with nice shoes. It’s always an easy fix.

AM: Now that you’re able to relax what are 3 shows that you’ll binge on Netflix?

JJ: Oooo 3 Daredevil, The Punisher and Iron Fist.

ATHLEISURE MAG: What was your journey to get to the New England Patriots?

BRANDON KING: I went to Thompson High School in Alabama that was home for me. It was a pretty small town and in my senior year there, we got a movie theater and a Walmart which was pretty big for our town. Now, my high school is the biggest high school in the state which just goes to show how much it has grown! When I was there it was much smaller. During my junior year, coaches started coming in and recruiting and I talked to a lot of teams, but ended up falling short in my senior year by .03 to meet NCAA requirements.

A lot of people in my family were so happy that they thought I would be going to a Division I school on scholarship. So when I didn’t, a lot of people just put me on the back burner and a lot of people stopped talking to me because they felt that I was just going to be back at the house. But I knew what I wanted to do and I played for 2 years at Highland Community College in Kansas. At the time, I thought that I would be there for a year and then transfer to a Division I school, but that’s not how it turned out. I kept my head down to do what I needed to do so that I could continue to play football. I did well there and I got a lot of awards which I’m not big on as I believe the past is the past. You need to continue to work to do the things you need to do to be where you are. By staying there and doing the work, I got a scholarship to go to Auburn and transferred there. I played safety there and shortly after getting there, there was an injury to Justin Garrett the star linebacker which was a hybrid position between linebacker and safety so I changed to that position and I played that for most of my Junior year and then moved to linebacker. My senior year, I ended up breaking my thumb a week or two right before my first game of that year. I did everything that I could do to just stay at full speed. I treated everything with full respect, all of my teachers and anybody that could or would help me. I always had a smile on my face when I walked around as just having the opportunity to be there at Auburn was everything. Even in the worse times, you still have to smile. While at Auburn, I played linebacker, defensive end and safety. I was always ready for any opportunity and for people to see that I could do those positions being 225-226lbs was important and showed that I am versatile.

My senior year at Auburn, I was trying to do an internship while I was a full time student and trying to train for the NFL. I didn’t have an agent or anything like that because I didn’t have any money for that. When I was at Auburn, I played multiple positions, I was still under the radar for the most part. When I first got to Auburn, I just worked out with the strength coaches and I really appreciate them, because they prepared us very well in developing the athletes overall. I ended up just being there and working everyday and working in the schedule to actually be able to workout and I had to be productive and just go about a different way. I just came to work everyday and I don’t think it really matters, I have been in the league for 4 years and I still haven’t gone to a facility or trained with a specific individual. Being at Auburn and being with those coaches, they laid out what you had to and it wasn’t a big deal for me to get it done that way. After Pro Day came, I think I did pretty well and I walked up to the Canadian coaches and whoever was there and I wanted to shake everyone’s hands and to tell them thank you for coming by. We had all 32 NFL coaches there for our Pro Day I believe, to check out the talent. I tried to take the initiative to shake everyone’s hands that I could to show my appreciation. I did the same thing my last day at Auburn. Whether you were a positive influence or a negative influence, that’s what makes a person a person. Sometimes, people don’t realize that there is beauty in the pain and wherever you are in life, you can smile and do what you have got to do in life.

After that, I went back to work and I didn’t get any calls and then I got a call from one team with a contract. I just wanted to put my best foot forward and did everything I could do to play professionally – I didn’t want any regrets. That team called me and woke me up out of my sleep and I knew the dream was still alive and then a few days later, I got another call from another team and then I got a workout schedule from the Patriots and I never visited the Patriots or anything like that. I never went to check out the facility. I just had a workout set up at Samford University in Birmingham, AL and had an individual workout with him and it was the only thing I did. I got an opportunity to go out to other teams for my time to shine as a free agent. I wasn’t worried about the money it was finding the right opportunity – I chose the Patriots and I have been there ever since.

AM: Tell us about the position that you play and what portion of the team you work with closely?

BK: Right now I play linebacker. For the last 4 years, I have been a core special teams player. My position coach is Joe Judge – the special team’s coach. I work closely with Matt Slater, Nate Ebner – I work closely with those guys and just try to get all the ins and outs from those guys the best that I can. Those guys have been a part of a lot of Championship football. They have a lot that I feel that I can learn from. Maybe one day the goals that they have learned, I can reach back and help someone else too. They are great guys to be around, they put their pride to the side and put the team first. They don’t complain and they get it done. I have a lot of respect for them.

AM: During the regular season, what is your week like in terms of practicing and preparing for those Sunday games?

BK: I wake up at about 5:00/5:30/5:45am depending on whether I have an injury to tend to or not and it’s best to get working on that first thing in the morning. During the season I work, 12-13 hour days.

AM: What has playing in the Super Bowl been like for you?

BK: It’s been amazing. My first Super Bowl (LI), my head was kind of spinning with everything going on – I was going at like 100 miles a minute. This one, it was my 3rd one that I was a part of, and everything was a great experience, but I just wanted to get to the game. I knew how it felt to win a Super Bowl game and what it felt like to lose one. I knew what we came there for and it was nice to see my family and everything, as I don’t get to see my family a lot as they still work and I don’t get to see them that much. It was great to catch up with them, but at the end of the day, it’s a very long season and trying as you’re playing 34 games a year, as you have the preseason also and to play at that level. I wanted to do what we came there for and to put those distractions aside. You know what it’s like to watch the game when you’re younger and for me, it feels like the game gets too big and we all have different ways to approach it. Winning felt like weight coming off your shoulders. There are people that you bonded with in the beginning during training camp that don’t make it or you play with them half the season and something happens to them and they may not be on the team anymore. The new guys have to come in and fill in the voids fast, because no one is going to feel sorry for someone that doesn’t know what to do or not knowing the system. Everything counts and everyone needs to be on the same page to be successful. Playing with your team for awhile creates a sense of comfort. Winning and going through all that adversity is a lot – this season wasn’t perfect by any means! We knew that no one was going to be able to fix it but us. Our job is to get it done. It felt good to get it done and to be at 3 Superbowls in a row and to know what it is like to win and lose one and then to look at these guys I play with. I mean I have only been in the league for 4 years and I know my body doesn’t always feel too hot and to play with guys that have played 8/9/10/11/12 years, I have a lot of respect for them. It’s like ok, then let’s go! It’s a respect thing and everyone in that building comes to work every day and it’s hard for you to not do the same thing.

AM: So what do you do during the off season to prepare yourself for the next upcoming season?

BK: I take a week or 2 off as I feel that that is well deserved. The off season is really short. I feel like it’s only a month and a half off. By the time I get home it will be around Feb 28th and we have to report in April. I bought a home in Tennessee last year and I’m trying to get everything there and get the family settled in and then I have to see the family in Alabama.

AM: What are the goals for the next season?

BK: I’m not really big on setting goals because disappointment is one thing and I feel that you can get really deterred if you do set the goal. I take one day at a time. People will say that they want to do this or do that and then people will look at you and say, “hey you said you were going to do this and now look at you.” I’m the kind of person, that I just let things ride and happen the way that they happen. I will figure out the pieces of the puzzle to get to where I want, but hopefully, I will be able to put it together in the right way for the way that I want. I just want to be productive, dependable and that I am doing things in the right way.

AM: Since you are on the road so much, what are 3 items that you like to have with you that make you happy or comfortable?

BK: I try to keep a pair of headphones with me. Sometimes I use them, sometimes I don’t. Sometimes I listen to music in the locker room, sometimes I don’t. When I travel, I like to have headphones because you can block things out. This year I have been bringing my tablet with me more because I can watch my movies on Netflix and take my mind off of things. You’ve been putting in the work during the week to know who you are going against so I want to relax when I travel to the game. When I get to the hotel, then I like to be able to pick that back up again to think about the game.

ATHLEISURE MAG: So when did you realize that you wanted to play football professionally and tell us your journey on how you came to the New England Patriots.

OBI MELIFONWU: At the age of 9. Well it’s a funny story. I came to Massachusetts as the age of 3 and when I was about, I want to say between the age of 6/7, I watched the Patriots win Super Bowl XXXVI. I realized then that I really loved football and then at the age of 8, I brought a Pop Warner sign up sheet to my mom and she ended up throwing it out and saying it was too dangerous. I was crushed that year and I methodically thought about how I could get her to sign the sheet. So the next year, the same thing happened, I brought the sheet and she didn’t sign it and then I brought another sheet for her to sign and she ended up realizing that I was serious about it and she signed it. I’ve been playing football ever since!

My journey to the Patriots was one that I least expected. I went to high school and I got one offer from UCONN. It’s the only offer I got and I went there and had a pretty good year. Then I got drafted by the Raiders in the second round. Then after I got drafted I felt like that I was finally here and I could prove myself and play football. Unfortunately, I had injuries that happened to me that slowed things down. That last year, I ended up getting injured in August and I got cut. I was devastated. But I understood that everything happened for a reason. Nothing good good comes without perseverance and I really believe that God gives the strongest battles to the strongest war riors. I took that perspective and I just worked and got as healthy as I could and I got picked up by the Patriots. It was ironic as that was the team that I grew up watching playing. It was the team that I wanted to be on since I was little.

AM: Tell us about the position that you play and who do you work closely with in that portion of the team.

OM: The position I play is safety and that position is on defense. It is basically the last line of defense – you stop Receivers, running backs, any skilled position from scoring as that last line of defense. If stuff breaks through the line of the linebackers, even sometimes the cornerbacks. The Safety is the one that kind of has to save the day. Getting to the NFL and getting to the Patriots, I started to work really closely with the defensivebacks on the Patriots like Devin McCourty, Patrick Chung, Duron Harmon and Coach Belichik. They really helped me to improve as a player.

AM: During the regular season. What is your week like in terms of practice, working out, watching the game tape – what are the typical things that you tend to do as you prep for that gameday?

OM: A typical week is like a lot of studying and a lot of watching the games on your own. Everyone has their own routine and things that they like to do to help them get ready for the game. I just like to go into work and try to really take notes, implement the gameplan for that practice and do that everyday. As the gameday gets closer, just kind of take a step back from the physical part just really try to focus on what I need to do for that day. I’m visualizing different things like certain calls for certain formations and certain situations. Just mentally preparing to be ready for that game and I feel like that’s a good mindset to have. There are 53 people on a team, but only 47 people get dressed. Some weeks you might be up and some weeks you might not be. Some times you may be activated and other times you may not be activated. It’s almost like you have to take that approach every week because you don’t know when you’re number is going to be called. If you’re not ready for your number to be called, then you’re going to miss out on that opportunity at that time.

AM: You’re in amazing shape – how long are you in the gym and what are some of the key workouts that you do? Do you have 3 that are your go to in particular no matter what?

OM: Yeah, it’s funny that you say that because in college, I really just ate anything I wanted. In terms of healthy, I mean I just did everything and ate anything. But when I got further along in my career, I started really trying to watch what I ate. Even until now, I still do my best to stay healthy because I understand it will help me in the long run with my longevity.

In terms of gym workouts, I do the typical three which I feel is the bread and butter of bench, squats and power cleans. Then there are other things like core and I’m always trying to work on a lot of stability stuff to help maintain the strength of my arms. I’m really trying to get into yoga. I’ve tried it a couple of times and we just don’t have the best relationship right now haha. It’s something that I am going to try to continue to do.

AM: You’ll probably like Hot Yoga or a Cardio based one, it may make you feel more aligned to it more.

OM: Yeah.

AM: So what are your go-to foods in terms of what you do to maintain your body and then what splurge food do you enjoy eating?

OM: My go-to vegetable is broccoli. I love it grilled, cooked, sautéed, whatever! My go-to meal for fuel is pasta and meat sauce. I’m the type of person that when I am performing or doing any type of physical activity, I have to eat before. I feel like that I can feel my body using that to fuel me throughout whatever workout or activity that I’m doing. So that’s my go-to meal.

Splurge I mean – everything under the sun that’s sweet! I try to cut down on dairy – icecream not too much but chocolate, cake, cookies – whatever sweet that you can think of I will most likely eat. That’s really my splurge or any fast food.

AM: On game day, how do you prepare – do you have a routine that you go through or is it more of a mindset?

OM: It depends on how I am feeling for that game. I feel that how I prep is the same, but on that day of the game, some days I will listen to Future or Meek Mill to get hype. Then other times I will listen to Jhene Aiko’s, ‘The Calm Before the Storm’ to get ready. For game day the night before, I try to do a lot of visualization for the game. I try to put myself in the position of the game so if it should happen that way, it’s not the first time that that happened. I try to keep a level head and not think too above or below the game. I try to understand mentally that things will happen throughout the game and that I shouldn’t get too overworked about it especially as a DB because the position I play and that CornerBacks and Safety’s play you might get beat on the play or give up a touch down or you might give up a big chunk and in the position that we play – we have to have short memories. We can’t let that one play affect the rest of the game. So those are just things that I do before and during the game.

AM: What was Super Bowl Sunday like for you and what has it been like since the game? Obviously, we shot your cover days after the big win and we’ve been watching your Instagram.

OM: The experience has been really great. Like being able to be in a Super Bowl and just being able to soak it in – it’s a blessing because so many people go through a whole season, 10 seasons, 16 seasons all the way to get to here and they don’t win a Super Bowl. As a player, you play the Super Bowl for many reasons. I feel like you play to make it to the Super Bowl, win the Super Bowl and then become a Hall of Famer. The fact that I got to experience that in my second year is something that I will not take for granted.

AM: You have great style – how would you define it? What do you wear when you’re just hanging out with friends or for a night out.

OM: With my friends, I just like to be comfortable. I wear a lot of joggers, a lot of sweats, nice comfy sandals, sweatshirts – I love sweatshirts like the one that I wore in the shoot, that’s the kind of things that I’m talking about.

When I go out, I’m a simple person. Obviously I like my figure and I like to take care of my body. I want to wear things that show that off whether I’m wearing slim fit shirts as well as slim fit and tapered jeans to show off my legs. Just something nice on my feet, whether they’re Yeezy’s, Timberland’s – any sneaker that looks neat and fit. My style is simple. I wear a lot of solid classic neutrals with a simple fit – nothing too extravagant.

AM: Now that you’re in the off season what are you thinking about and what goals are you setting to prepare for next year?

OM: My goals in terms of next season is that first, I have to get away from football. You work and you train for 8 months and then you have to go and take time to get away. I have really learned that in my time in the NFL. You have broken your body down to play and now you just need time to step back so that you can ease into it. I want to get my body right so that I can come correct in April. I can compete and everything I need to do but this year I am very focused on my body and mind being right emotionally and spiritually. This way I can perform at the level that I know I can and that I can show everybody else especially the Patriots organization that they didn’t make a mistake in picking me up and in giving me that chance.

AM: You’re based in Foxboro, where can we find you grabbing a meal, working out and shopping?

OM: Working out – I haven’t figured it out. I have a couple of places that I might try as I just got here. You can find me at the Patriots Place at Showcase Cinemas – I love the movies! I watch too many movies or playing video games or find me at the mall. Not even shopping, just walking around seeing things. I’m really observant and I like to see things.

I also wanted to say thank you for the interview and having us. I just want to thank everyone that helped me to get to this point and I don’t want to leave anybody out. To all the friends, coaches, everyone on this journey that has helped me out and you guys putting me in this magazine. I just want to say thank you!

ATHLEISURE MAG: We enjoyed having you a part of our cover shoot and we know that prior to being a sports agent, you also had a career professionally in football. Can you tell us about your athletic career and then what took place that led you to becoming an agent and then eventually launching your firm?

SEAN STELLATO: What a great question. Well I was born and bred in Salem, Massachusetts. I played highschool football there and had a very successful career there. Actually, the spinoff from my book, No Backing Down, came from my Junior football season which had a very diverse underdog team, a legendary coach that I always call a first generation Bill Belichick. As the team was projected to not win a game they found themselves undefeated playing another undefeated team. A major teacher strike shut down the school system – we ended up playing in front of 12,000 people and I had my career game on National Television and that was kind of my coming out party. After graduating Salem, I had the opportunity to go to a Boarding School for a year called the Gunnery Prep School.

I’m fully indebted to them because they taught me the value of education. They gave me the opportunity as it was such a political spinoff with the team after the Junior year, because of the coach being fired, that all of the kids who were going to be seniors were pretty much in harms way. The new person that they hired didn’t care. People were looking out for themselves and not for the kids. So a lot of the minority kids who had single parents, didn’t have a father figure to look out for them and it ultimately killed their careers. I was fortunate and was the Lone Ranger that was able to fly from the nest and get an opportunity – a true blessing was Gunnery Prep School – they gave me a full scholarship which was $33,000 to go there! I mean there were 8 of us together in a 3-bedroom house where I grew up in Witch Craft Heights in Salem. My mom was a stay at home mom and my parents didn’t have a college degree. They gave me that blessing and opportunity and I was on the basketball and football team there. I went onto Marist College – my mother doesn’t fly so I gave the Heisman to them. I did receive denial letters from a couple of schools and I still do read them a couple of times a year because if I let rejection define me, I wouldn’t have been doing what I am doing.

I played Division I basketball and football there which, is 45 mins north of the city on the Hudson. It was a beautiful campus and had a successful career there. My junior and senior years there I was the leading wide receiver for the 2000-2001 season. I finished there 9 straight semesters on the Dean’s List. The beauty of an education and just remembering the first time that I had been on an airplane to play basketball at Pepperdine – an amazing journey through college. But we played down in Florida after 9/11 about 10 days after that and I got scouted by an Arena Football coach and he ended up following up with me after the season and I had the opportunity to play 2 years professionally for the Arena Football League for 2002 and 2003. One of my head coaches for one of my teams is now the head coach at Purdue and he beat Ohio State this year.

You know, I saw the movie Jerry McGuire back in 1996 in high school and I fell in love with the movie. I thought about how cool it would be. I mean, as a football player, you think that you’re immortal and that you can play forever and I had to face that reality. I could have played in 2004 and I said, “I’m going to go hard on this sports agent thing.” I had 2 agents that I had hired and then I fired. I felt that there was this gap between how I wanted to represent players and the lack of transparency that I was fed when I played. I felt that I wanted to reshuffle this industry and threw my hat in the ring and got licensed late 2005. I didn’t know what I was doing and I spent a few years banging around on my own for a few years and then I partnered up with a firm and then I got exploited and in 2013, I was with the firm for a few years. We joined with a client each and then it grew into 10. I was flying our New Year’s Eve, Christmas Day signing guys getting exploited making pennies on the dollar. The night I got inducted into my high school Hall of Fame, I told my wife, “I’m not happy where I am in my career.” I told her that I wanted to have my own firm and she said, ”let’s draft the termination letter today.”

I walked away and I had signed a Non Compete so I had to walk away from all of those guys. I had one loyal client that said, “I signed with you, you’re my guy.” He never played a down in the NFL after that point and he said, “I’m leaving and coming with you.” Like Jerry McGuire walking out with Ron Tisdale, a receiver and goldfish – I walked out with an unproven long snapper and a pet boxer dog named Sly. I remember when I left that firm, they said that I would never make it in the industry. But my whole life people said that I was too small to play football, that I wouldn’t play Division I or play pro. I feed off of and that’s all I needed to hear and my wife was my witness and I put my head down and went to work.

I signed my first player, Bryan Braman, who won the Super Bowl last year, he kept me in business and I made a pact when I got into the business and I said I would never go to the SuperBowl unless I had a client in the Super Bowl, and the last 5 years I have had my guys every single year play in the Super Bowl. My drive to be an agent is to be the best and football lifted my soul when I would step onto the field. It brought me so much structure and joy to my family’s life and my life as well as the ability to have an education and to network with the ability to meet people and to interact. It's a special place in my heart. I have been inducted into 3 Hall of Fames which I am so proud of that as I was statistically not supposed to be here in terms of how I was raised, my size. I never let my greatest asset – my work ethic, down. That is what I stayed true to!

AM: What is your day like during the season vs off-season? For those players that you rep, how much contact to you have with the team and the league?

SS: My day to day – my mornings start off very early. I can only workout very early because my phone is always blowing up with 100s of calls and 100s of emails a day. That’s a big part of my lifestyle that I approach every day as I lift and I run. I get my mind right and I try to read a book every 2-3 weeks. I'm finishing my second book and it all comes down to time of year right? So obviously, if you have clients who won the Super Bowl, you just go balls to the walls to try to monetize and to expose them and align brands with them that are in line with their missions. In terms of post SuperBowl, when you win, you’re talking about shifting gears. So let me rewind.

In the fall, you’re talking about recruiting kids for the 2019 the following draft. You’re going to college games and evaluating films. At the same token, you’re servicing your guys with their needs and what they want. Then you have the guys that are on the street. You have to designate x amount of hours to make sure that they are employed. For the guys that are playing during the season, you have to make sure that you get them appearances for their marketing. Right when the season is over, you go into guys who are unrestricted free agents that are able to test the open market - so gauging what their value is and seeing which teams best suit their needs.

You’re constantly trying to work on your relationships with teams as that’s key. In terms of having that relationship and letting them know you have great guys and you’re not just throwing people at coaches. It’s 24/7 – 365. I don’t really call anytime that I travel a vacation because I am constantly fielding guys and am a hands on kind of guy. It’s how I believe I should run this.

AM: Is it hard for you to represent clients that are on different teams?

SS: I’ve got guys in a lot of different markets. It’s great to be able to interact with so many teams as no one usually stays with the same team – maybe Brady and a handful of others. Shuffling around is just human nature in the NFL especially with salary caps. With free agency, it’s a different landscape than what it was 20 years ago. That being said, it’s important that if you have guys on other teams where if – for contract extensions or just to broker deals – it’s new markets that are important because every market is different. My conversation with the Dallas Cowboys is different than the New England Patriots. Everyone has different core values and beliefs – obviously everyone wants to win in this league and to monetize opportunities as the league has crossed over to $15B in revenue. It’s a fine tuned machine.

AM: I’m sure you have a number of people who request to be represented by you. What process do you have in deciding whether someone will join your roster?

SS: I tell everyone that there is 1,440 minutes in a day and I have two lives, one as a sports agent with SES Sports as my infrastructure and I also have my family which is my wife and 4 kids. I try to keep that balance and sometimes I leave my self a little thin and I try to be better at that.

In terms of managing expectation. My phone is constantly ringing, when I first started I was the one seeking out guys and now I can cherry pick guys that I want to have. Obviously if you get a 1st or 2nd rounder, you don’t want to miss that opportunity. I think managing expectations, having that connection with a player who has the core values and beliefs that alignment is important. Some guys put a higher value on their skill set and it’s like having a house that you try to sell in the open market where you think it’s $2M and everyone else thinks it’s $1M – it’s going to be tougher to sell. You have to compromise, and you can’t sugarcoat it with your clients, you have to keep it real and be transparent with them and do what is in their best interest.

AM: What is a typical Sunday like for you during the season?

SS: A typical Sunday is impossible for me to be in every market. I have yet to be in every market on the same day. Last year in the Superbowl having 8 guys in the game – 5 in the Patriots and 3 on the Eagles – I mastered it that day! In terms of a typical Sunday, I try to at least see every player each year. If not I have the NFL package and thank God for cell phones! My Director of Football operations is phenomenal and he doesn’t take his eye off the ball. He’s always keeping me in the loop on things, from Social Media, research, staying current on guys and watching everybody. I take watching these guys very seriously. When I go to the Superbowl and people go as fans, it’s different, I go in as a business. I don’t change my preparation in terms of game rituals. I stick with them as a player as I do as an agent.

AM: What are those rituals?

SS: I make sure that I have the same things for breakfast every Sunday. I always say a prayer before kickoff. I kiss my crucifix. When I go to church that morning, I pray for each player individually. Sometimes I wear the same socks is he plays from one week to the next. I always have the same snack before kickoff or during the game. During the Super Bowl, I will put my phone in the cup holder and not touch anything until something happens. During the AFC championship, I was very unprepared weather wise, but when I am suited up, I always put my baseball hat on and turn it backwards and pretended I was playing Little League Baseball with a rally cap on. I didn’t move it until they won it in overtime. My wife thinks I’m crazy with my superstitions, but I don’t know. I get superstitious on certain things and whatever works – works for you right?

AM: With this last Super Bowl win, what was that like for you and what is it like that you’re a part of these guys careers?

SS: Just surreal and gratifying. I tell everybody that when you have that baby and hold it in your hands, it’s a life changing moment. When you have these players and you have such a passion for football like I do, I took them as far as I could take them and see them taking it further it just touches my heart like no other. This one was the most special win, because clients like Jonathan Jones – he led the defense in tackles, he had a sack and contributed so much to that win. Ryan Allen could have been the MVP of the game. Brandon King, he’s just an absolute beast and Obi with his story of how he ended up here.

AM: His story is incredible.

SS: With Obi, we had 4 teams to pick through and I don’t ever like to take credit, but I really pushed and stressed the fact that he needed to be a Patriot and not a Saint or a Chief. We picked the winning lottery ticket there.

This one in particular meant more because I felt like my guys contributed more to that particular win. I had bigger roles and obviously in my mind, it has increased more in the last few months. I mean last year, it was special because of Bryan – he pretty much kept me in business and kept the lights on in 2014 when I was a year into it. It’s been remarkable. You want to see all of your clients win a ring. Obi got his this year, Bryan got his last year, Trey Sullivan got one last year. This year I didn’t have any players on the opposing team. Last year I felt bad for my Patriots clients that lost, but on the same token, I felt good for Bryan. For the Falcons/Patriots Super Bowl, I had 1 client on the Falcons whose family was completely devastated and my Patriot clients pulled off the greatest comeback in Super Bowl history. It’s been a blessing to be affiliated with history. The Patriots, whether you love them or hate them, are remarkable in what they do and they have done what no other franchise has been able to do in these times. You can talk about the Cowboys, Steelers and Green Bay Packers, they did not do it in a time period like this. There was no free agency, there was no salary cap. It’s a completely different animal today. What Belichik and Brady are doing – it’s remarkable. I’ve been able to grow up in this area and be able to model and build a sports agency around and learning from them – how they negotiate, how they do things at the organization to how I manage the kids’ careers.

AM: With the draft coming up, what is your role for that and what do you do?

SS: It’s to be a confidant to the players that I represent and to know that they are not going to be a guinea pig. To know that they are with someone who is not going to reinvent the wheel. Being with someone who has the relationships in the league who is going to sell them and brand them organically to make them successful in the NFL. It's a very trying long time, but at the same token it’s a lot of time and emails – the combine is a tremendous amount of leg time getting in front of people. It’s constantly selling, planning, promoting, These calls build for the combine for their pro day so they can be successful and play in this league. It’s a process that I take very seriously – you want to have all the guys that you represent drafted, but at the end of the day – you manage their expectations and you hold their hand and say, “hey, if you’re undrafted. That’s ok. Some of the greatest players that ever played this game went undrafted.” That’s sometimes your destiny and your fate.

AM: When we were on set for the photoshoot, we enjoyed hearing about a number of projects that you are working on outside of your life as a sports agent. Can you share them with our readers here at Athleisure Mag?

SS: My first book, No Backing Down, which is a human triumph story on 3 levels – my personal story, legendary coach and our team, has a forward written by Doug Flutie and it was endorsed by Bill Belichik, Evander Holyfied, Mike Ditka, Washington Post, NY Daily News and it goes on. It’s an incredible book and it’s now in it’s second edition. The screenwriter/producer of Hoosiers and Rudy will finish the script for the movie shortly as we’re in the very early stages of that, but I like my chances with such an established and well known screenwriter. If you go to SeanStellato.com you can order the book and obviously you can get it on Kindle via Amazon. I’m going to have a Draft party on April 25th that is going to be a great night if you’re in the Boston area as it will be at the Ferncroft Country Club as it will be a chance to meet with some of the Super Bowl Champions – Jonathan, Obi, Brandon and some of the college kids. It also includes a Celebrity Golf tournament that will raise money for the Junior Golf Fund. We’ll have one of th e top Sushi Chefs in the world appearing and providing phenomenal sushi and we’ll have good Italian wines. The Draft party will also reveal the title of the children’s book. I love to read and as a kid, I read a lot of books that I couldn’t relate to.

July 19th, will be the release of my children’s book which will also be a magical day! It will be held at the historical Hawthorne Hotel in Salem, MA which opened in 1925. This book is a Friday Night Lights meets Harry Potter and it is a magical football story that is mostly fiction, but there is a non-fiction component to it. It takes place in my home city which I am excited about. One of the main characters is my daughter who is suffering from psoriatic arthritis and I am looking to bring awareness to this condition. It will be an evening with some of my clients and we will celebrate a post Super Bowl party as well as to unveil the book which is going to be a magical night for everyone.

Our football camp takes place July 21st and it’s our 12th year doing this. I try to make it Disney World for a day for a young girl or boy where they can attend this non-contact camp. The day is hosted by my clients and myself and they have an amazing day with goodie bags, they get autographs and they get their jerseys signed. They compete and the winners get awarded cool swag. They leave feeling so inspired and uplifted and that they can do anything and that is the message that we try to convey. No Backing Down isn’t just a book title, it’s our motto. It’s for every man, woman and child regardless of your gender. It’s for someone with a vision, someone that maybe they have been denied and told that they can’t do that they can be relentless in the pursuit of following their dreams. That is what we convey to everyone that comes through these doors. It’s my baby and it’s one day a year which takes 6 months of preparation that we try to go all out for the kids.

AM: How many kids would you say are at this camp?

SS: We get anywhere from 100-200.

The thing about this camp is, we may not have the household marquis huge names coming. But I have blue collar guys that can relate to these kids because there aren’t a lot of kids on the planet that are going to be 6’5” and 275lbs like Gronk. Someone like Jonathan Jones who is 5’9” and 180lbs and flies like the wind or like myself, I was an underdog, but if I can do it – anyone can do it. Sometimes you just need that person to just push you along to give them that advice. They can be advised and pushed in the right direction. That’s a great day obviously!

AM: How do you take time for yourself so you have what you need to fuel others?

SS: It’s a good point. I’m a stickler on my diet and on my preparation. It’s all about those endorphins, whether I’m jogging or in a swimming pool. I get a high when I get to spend time with my kids, see my daughter to play basketball, ballet or gymnastics. Occasionally, in the summer I do try to get some downtime and I love the beach and the ocean to get a little Vitamin D. Every year I spend time to take my family down to Disney World, which is a bit more exhausting than a true vacation ha! A true joy and high for me is giving back and touching lives like going to an orphanage or a Children’s Hospital. When I was trying to make it as an agent when I was nearly out of the business, I used to pray that if I was allowed to do what I do then I would make sure to give Him the glory and honor Him every day and would help kids. I stayed true to that promise when He blessed me and anointed me with this skill set to make a difference in this industry. I go to the chiropractor 2 times a week, Dr Garrity in Naherty, MA is phenomenal and he keeps me so right. My wife is an amazing cook. I'm fortunate when I’m not on the road so much, that I get those homemade meals! I’m young enough – I want to leave a mark on the life and blessings that I have got! I’m so passionate about what I am doing. I know that I always think about my ancestors who came over from a boat from Calabria, Italy with only a couple of meals and a suitcase to come and take that and run with it. I want to preserve their legacy and that is the true joy. I’m passionate about my Italian heritage and what my family went through so that I can do what I do now.

AM: Since you travel so much, what are 3 items that you always have on you/you’re carry on that you have when you’re on the road?

SS: Great point! I have to have Jesus Calling my little meditation and prayer book that has scriptures for every day that my Mother in Law gave me. It really starts my day off right. I carry a journal with me wherever I go. My wife laughs at me, but I don’t consider myself a writer, although I have written 2 books – I never know when that next thought of book might come into my mind. I just shut down and take an hour or two to write. I’d hate to forget something that – I mean Walter Payton who I loved, used to have old school pictures of his family. So I have 16 pictures in an album in my portfolio – my wife, my kids, my dog, my parents – at the end of the day, I reflect on that when I need it. This journey isn’t all vertical and I have people that care about me, love me and support me – it’s not just for the man in the mirror. Those are the 3 and I feel like I missed something but I know it’s only three and I hope that they are ok ha!

AM: It’s what you do and it’s more than ok!

FASHION CREDITS

OBI MELIFONWU PG 16, 32, 36 | NATALIE FEDNER David Bowie Tank | G STAR Denim | FERRAGAMO Belt | YEEZY ADIDAS Sneakers | PG 18 - 23, 29, 30 +_ BACK COVER | CLAUDE RUSSELL NYC Zipped Mesh Jacket | G STAR Denim | ETHIKA Underwear | FERRAGAMO Belt | PG 38 | TED BAKER Sweatshirt | G STAR Denim | YEEZY ADIDAS Sneakers | NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS Super Bowl Champions Player's Sweatshirt |

JONATHAN JONES COVER, PG 40 - 47 | NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SUPER BOWL Game Day Player's Jersey | PG 16, 18, 26 - 37 | TED BAKER Blazer | HANRO Tee | ALL SAINTS Jeans | OFF-WHITE Sneakers |

BRANDON KING COVER, PG 40 - 48 | NEW ENGLAND PATRIOTS SUPER BOWL GAME DAY Player's Jersey | Adidas | PG 16 -33, 37 | TED BAKER Short Sleeve Woven | KINROSS Cashmere Blazer | EMBELLISHMENT Jeans | PG 34 | KINROSS Cashmere Ombre Sweater |

SERAFINA TRIBECA FOOD CREDITS

Throughout the cover shoot, we shot within Serafina Tribeca's restaurant and in addition to the New England Patriots' Super Bowl Champions and their sports agent, Sean Stellato - we also had Christian Ferrara, the General Manager of the eatery included in our shoot who also shared a few dishes that appeared in the shoot as well as suggestions on what you should try when stopping in for a bite, wine or a few cocktails:

. 18oz Ribeye

Grass fed Ribeye simply marinated in extra virgin olive oil, pepper, touch of garlic and rosemary for three days. After that, naturally grilled without adding any butter.

It comes with crispy and flavorful roasted potatoes and string beans.

. Rigatoni Bolognese

Rigatoni al dente with the finest homemade 100% beef sauce.

. Spaghetti Carbonara

As our tradition says, we only use crispy pancetta, Parmigiano Reggiano 24 months aged and Pecorino, eggs and crushed black pepper.

. Pizza al Tartufo Nero

Our secret recipe made from a bouquet of Italian cheeses, black truffle carpaccio and white truffle oil.

. Short Ribs

Slow cooked (4.5 hours) short ribs in our Chianti Riserva red wine, mixed vegetables and homemade gravy sauce Served with saffron risotto and Tuscan mushroom porcini crostini.

IG Stay in the loop with what the New England Patriots Super Bowl LIII Champions are up to: Jonathan Jones @GetItOnJones31, Brandon King @_King205, Obi Melifonwu @Obi_1nOnly, their sports agent Sean Stellato @SeanStellato and one of our favorite places to dine @SerafinaTribeca.

Read more from the Feb Issue of Athleisure Mag and see All in Together Now in mag.

ATHLEISURE MAG | #39 FEB 2019

This month Athleisure Mag is covered on both of its covers by Brandon King, Jonathan Jones and Obi Melifonwu of the New England Patriots Super Bowl LIII Champions and the shoot took place at Serafina Tribeca. We interview them about the win as well as their passion for the game. This issue also includes interviews with Boston Celtics' Al Horford, producer and entertainer Drumma Boy, Celebrity Chef and TV Personality Marcus Samuelsson of Red Rooster, WE TV Marriage Bootcamp's Dr. V and fashion designer, Christopher Raeburn.

Read the latest issue here.

FLY BRYAN FLY

Just days after the Super Bowl, we got some time on the calendar to talk with NFL Philadelphia Eagles, Super Bowl LII Champion, Bryan Braman! Coming off of so much excitement playing a game that he loves while also taking in the moment of a great success, we were impressed by his humble nature and his focus on hard work, having a goal and being a leader that his teammates can connect with.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We know that the last few days have been crazy for you and really appreciate you coming by to chat with us - how has it been knowing that you're a Super Bowl Champion?

BRYAN BRAMAN: It's been crazy and I'm just taking it all in right now! 

AM: We have to ask, you have really great hair and the perfect man bun - you have to spill how you take care of it as a number of readers were asking us in preparation of this interview!

BB: I don't really - it just grows. I don't really trim it although recently I just cut the dead ends off. I don't use any special shampoos. I have tried things that people have recommended, but nothing has really stuck. Honestly, most of the time I don't brush it - I just woke up like that and get up and go. I shower, rinse it out real good and then go afterwards.

I actually had an undercut and so all of the sides and the back were a different length and I wasn't able to pull it up. But now it's at a length that I can actually pull it up and it stays for a little bit and then it falls out. Hopefully, those parts will grow out a little bit more. I didn't want to cut them off and the undercut started getting jagged and crooked so I just stuck it out to grow it out.

AM: When did you know that you wanted to play football?

BB: A long time ago - I was probably 6 or 7 years old. I knew I was going to play in the NFL when I was 13.

AM: What was your journey to get to the Eagles?

BB: Starting from me entering the NFL, I played for the Houston Texans for 3 years and my rookie deal was coming to an end and at that time, I was a restrictive free agent so they owned all the rights to me and we just didn't agree on a contract and they ended up releasing me. From there, I was able to get in with Philly back in 2014. So I played with them in '14, '15, '16 and then similar situation, they allowed my contract to expire and from there I took some time off and then the New Orleans Saints called and they let me play for 2 preseason games and they liked me and wanted to bring me back. But due to an injury that I sustained to my shoulder, they didn't feel comfortable bringing me in. Philadelphia ended up calling me a few weeks after that and the rest is history.

AM: That's exciting, we're sure that was stressful when you were in between teams, but then to come back to this team must have been great! The Philadelphia Eagles is our Style Director's second favorite team as she is a major Indianapolis Colts fan since it's her hometown!

BB: Oh really that's cool. How do you feel about Frank Reich (Super Bowl LII Offensive Coordinator for the Eagles who was just hired as the Head Coach for the Indianapolis Colts)?

AM: Really good actually! It was a little weird when Josh McDaniels (Offensive Coordinator and Quaterbacks Coach for the New England Patriots)  was announced as the coach for the Colts as it didn't seem to make sense and then of course within hours of the announcement, he decided to stay.

BB: I thought it was strange that they pulled out. That took me by surprise. But Frank's a good guy though, I think he will do well! He'll be really good for the team.

AM: We think so too and we're excited to see what he does.

What do you think it is about your energy that your teammates embrace you so much and that the fans do as well? Many times people know very specific positions and those who are on Special Teams (the position that he plays) are not always as known - what makes you so memorable? Is it your humble nature?
 
BB: I don't know if it's that or moreso the passion that I play in the game. If you were to ask anybody, "Does Bryan love the game of football?" I'm sure that you would get a yes everytime. I just feel that the passion and the love of the game is something that has really carried me and that you can see that in my play style and the way that I run on the field and the way that I try to hit people, the way that I pace on the sideline - I love it - I love the game.

AM: What are your workouts like in the regular season versus off season?

BB: There's a difference between building strength and maintaining strength. Offseason leading up to the season, I really just use as much of that time as possible to get as strong, as fast and as physical as possible. Then during the season, you just want to maintain that.  

The biggest difference more or less, would be the weight, the intensity, the regularity etc. So, lifting everyday in the off season compared to lifting twice a week during the season. Just try to keep that extra off your body, the rehab of making sure that the joints and the muscles are all firing and working properly. Definitely intensity is the biggest difference for regular season  and off season.

AM: What was your mental focus like coming into the Championships and then transitioning into playing Super Bowl LII in terms of just having that mindset to prepare for the game?

BB: For me, it was about not making it anything bigger than it actually is. 

AM: Wait - so you had no nerves when you walked out? It was just another game for you.

BB: Yeah. I mean you could feel the energy and the biggest thing was that for the amount of time, especially for the Super Bowl, compared to a regular season game, the amount of time you spend pre-game and half time it's all extended. So by the time you're at the end of the game, you're looking at an extra hour and a half of time that's in there that you wouldn't have for a regular game. You can really get burned out during those times with your energy or you peak too high too early or at the wrong time. It can throw your game off so I just remembered that whole time that I kept repeating to myself, "take it easy - take it easy, you've got time - you've got time - you've got time." I just tried to keep as calm as possible. I would think about it, take it all in, look at the stadium, see all the fans and everything that they did with it. It was incredible!

AM: It was such a good game!

So, you're a snappy dresser especially when you're rocking suits. We've checked out your Instagram - what's your personal style and what are your favorite brands?

BB: Thank you - I just have to see it on the hanger. If it's something that I like and I can see it then it doesn't matter about the brand. The fit obviously when I put it on has to be right or I'm not wearing it. I'm not about beauty is pain. I want to be nice and comfortable and I feel like I look my best when I am. I don't really have too many brands but I do like Alberto for jeans. I like G-Star they're pretty savvy for me and I love their jeans. Being a Swedish brand, they have taller lengths that just fits me right as I just can't walk into Macy's and find a pair of Levi's that fit you like that. Shirt wise, I wear a lot of v-necks - H&M Has a lot of the long line tees - TopMan has this as well. 

AM: What do you do in your personal time? 

BB: I spend time with my girls. I have two daughters. I like firearms so I worked as an armor for a little while and have a nice little collection of rifles and handguns that I like to spend time with. I enjoy the fire range, hunting, hog hunt - I'm an outdoorsy guy. I like to snowboard, fish - anytime outside is something that I like to do quite a bit.

AM: Are you catching any of the Olympics that's going on right now?

BB: So, figure skating has always been my favorite to watch. Back when Scott Hamilton was doing back flips - that's what got me. I mean this guys just did a backflip on iceskates - NO WAY!!! I would be in my living room like, "gymnastics on ice!" It was great and I was hooked ever since. It would just be something that I would do with my mom. 

We'd channel surf and see ice skating and watch it together. One of the restaurants we'd go to would have figure skating on and we'd catch it there. This year, I haven't watched it as intently as I'd usually do.

AM: How do you give back in terms of charities and philanthropies that you are apart of?

BB: So I have a pretty interesting story. I feel like sharing that with people and being able to let them know that it doesn't matter how down you feel or out you feel - you have to keep pushing and keep your eye on the prize. Never falter as it's easier to give up than to push forward. But the reward for pushing forward will always be greater then any risk! That's big time!

AM: Knowing your backstory and how you came through this process to be where you are and to be so humble and zen, you never know the turns that will come along but if you manifest your reality - thats what's going to happen!

BB: Predicted destiny - manifest destiny!

Read more from the Feb Issue and see Fly Bryan Fly in mag.

SUPER BOWL STYLE 2018

Where are you watching the game and what are you rocking? Show your pride in your hometown and adopted city with some of these cute finds that you can purchase at the NFL Shop as we begin to count the hours until Super Bowl Sunday to watch the Philadelphia Eagles vs the New England Patriots in Minneapolis. Follow us on Twitter as we share our thoughts and cheer on one of our favorite teams - the Eagles (we love anytime we're in Philly). We'll loop you in on the commercials, the scores and everything in between on one sport's biggest nights!

Check out the Jan Issue

SUPER BOWL STYLE

On February 5th, Super Bowl Sunday hits Houston, TX with the Atlanta Falcons and the New England Patriots. In addition, we're all excited about Lady Gaga when she hits the stage for this year's half time show.

If you can't get to the game, or Houston, we suggest watching at American Whiskey at 247 W 30th St NY, NY 10001 to cheer on your team, as well as to get great eats!

YANDY Pullover Hoodie

ADIDAS Superstar

90 DEGREE BY REFLEX Leggings

| YANDY Raw Edge Pullover Hoodie | ADIDAS Superstar Silver Toe | 90 DEGREE BY REFLEX  Ankle Mesh Ring Leggings - Black Label Collection |

Read more from the Jan Issue.