UTR PRO MEN'S MATCH SERIES POWERED BY ORACLE

On May 8th and 9th in West Palm Beach, FL for the UTR Pro Match Series powered by Oracle which was broadcast live on Tennis Channel. This event marks the first live tennis tournament during COVID-19 where the sport can be played locally and safely with 1:1 match play. It’s worth noting that players engaged in “stick fives” were the new high fives, hand sanitizing stations replaced communal water coolers, and players prepped and recovered in individual socially distanced tents on a grassy field. During the matches, winners waved to invisible fans that were not in attendance and they tossed towels to invisible ballkids that were not there as well.

On day 1 of the series, Hubert Hurkacz (UTR 15.35) of Poland got the day started by winning seven consecutive games and defeating former Roland Garros boys’ champion Tommy Paul (UTR 15.31) 4-2 4-0. Big-serving American Reilly Opelka (UTR 15.51) then defeated former world number one junior Miomir Kecmanovic (UTR 15.38) 4-3(4) 4-0, before also defeating his quarantine roommate Paul 3-4(4) 4-1 4-0 to move to 2-0 on the day. Kecmanovic then bounced back with a 4-3(2) 4-1 win over Hurkacz to close out the day’s action.  

The format is a round robin best of 3 Fast 4 sets. This will be the format for the finals and the 3rd/4th place playoff. You can see more videos here.

5.8.2020 | UTR PRO MATCH SERIES MEN’S PLAYER LINEUP

Reilly Opelka | Third-ranked American, ATP #39, UTR 15.51 (#25)  

Miomir Kecmanović | ATP Next Gen Semifinalist, ATP #47, UTR 15.38 (#43)

Hubert Hurkacz | 2019 Winston-Salem Open Champion, ATP #29, UTR 15.35 (#47)

Tommy Paul | Sixth-ranked American, ATP #57, UTR 15.31 (#58)

American Reilly Opelka, World No. 39, captured the title with a 4-3(2), 2-4, 4-2 win in the final. Despite putting on “Quarantine 15”, he served up a big win over Miomir Kecmanovic. “I’m definitely a little sore which is a good feeling. I’m not going to complain about being tired for the first time,” said Opelka in his post match interview. “UTR did a great job advancing and taking advantage of this time [off due to Covid] to put this event on.”

The event involved atypical drone footage and two jib cameras captured the players exchanging “racquet taps” at the end of each match, on-site skeleton crew in PPE, players recovering in their individual open-air tents, and thorough court cleaning between each match.

After the completion of Round Robin play that saw Opelka, Kecmanovic and Hurkacz go 2-1 in their matches, the big-serving American and young Serb advanced to the championship round. Hurkacz defeated Paul 4-1, 0-4, 4-1 in the third place match to move to 3-1 on the weekend, while Opelka’s win in the championship also helped him go 3-1. All matches this weekend count for each player’s Universal Tennis Rating. Opelka’s UTR 15.55 has his UTR world rank about 10 spots higher than his ATP ranking. Player UTRs changed throughout the tournament reflecting their real-time skill level. 

5.9.2020 | UTR PRO MATCH SERIES MEN’S PLAYER LINEUP

Reilly Opelka | Third-ranked American, ATP #39, UTR 15.51 (#25)  

Miomir Kecmanović | ATP Next Gen Semifinalist, ATP #47, UTR 15.38 (#43)

Hubert Hurkacz | 2019 Winston-Salem Open Champion, ATP #29, UTR 15.35 (#47)

Tommy Paul | Sixth-ranked American, ATP #57, UTR 15.31 (#58)

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The Women’s UTR Pro Match Series will be broadcast live on Tennis Channel Friday May 22  - Sunday May 24; 12:00 PM ET.

TUNE IN | Live on Tennis Channel and TC International, and streaming on Facebook and Twitter @MyUTR and @TennisChannel. 

5.22-24.2020 | UTR PRO MATCH SERIES WOMEN’S PLAYER LINEUP

Alison Riske | 4th ranked American, WTA #19, UTR 13.19 (#14)

Amanda Anisimova | 5th ranked American, WTA #28, UTR 13.04 (#33)

Danielle Collins | 8th ranked American, WTA #51, UTR 13.07 (#28)

Ajla Tomljanović | 2nd ranked Australian, WTA #56, UTR 12.85 (#68)

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

BANK SHOT WITH RACHEL NICHOLS

We have a number of our favorite broadcasters when it comes to catching up with our favorite sports. When it comes to the NBA, we're excited that this month's cover is the host of ESPN's The Jump, Rachel Nichols. You can also catch her on NBA Saturday Primetime Pregame and Halftime Coverage. We wanted to find out about how her passion for sports led her to journalism/broadcasting, what stories she has enjoyed covering and more.

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

RACHEL NICHOLS: When I was a kid, watching a game just always seemed better than any movie. You got adventure and clashes and heroes and villains and all of that, except also - unlike a movie where you pretty much know that Spiderman is going to save the city from the alien - with sports you don’t know who is going to win at the end. Sign me up.

AM: How did this translate into your interest in being a journalist/broadcaster?

RN: My personal athletic skills are...not elite. I’m short. My hand-eye coordination is so bad that eating soup can be dangerous. So since I was never gonna make it as a player, this was a great way to be involved in sports with the skills I do have – curiosity, critical thinking, writing.

AM: Prior to coming to ESPN, can you tell us your journey in terms of what school you went to and where you worked?

RN: I went to journalism school at Northwestern University near Chicago, but even before that I was interning at newspapers. I definitely started out wanting to be a writer – I grew up outside Washington DC and thought The Washington Post was the greatest newspaper in the world (still do), and by the time I was 22, I was lucky enough to be working there. I honestly would have been happy staying there forever, but the newspaper business model changed enough that it became clear it would be smart to also learn how to report for TV. I did both for a while, which led to a full-time job at ESPN in 2004.

AM: You were previously at ESPN covering the NFL with SportsCenter, NFL Countdown, Outside the Lines being a sideline reporter on Monday Night Football and being one of the original correspondents on E:60 what was it like working on this coverage?

RN: My first decade at ESPN involved so many sports – NBA coverage, NFL, baseball, college sports, hockey, golf, tennis. I even covered a blueberry pie eating contest once (seriously!) Learning how to bounce around gave me depth, and then the longer I was doing it, the more I bore down to focus on the NFL and the NBA.

AM: When you came back to ESPN you focus on the NBA and are the host of The Jump. We also see you on NBA Saturday Primetime Pregame and Halftime Coverage – what is it like covering these areas?

RN: The NBA is just so fun. There are no helmets, no masks – you get to watch these incredible athletes up-close, sometimes literally flying, and then when they come down to earth they are often some of the most outspoken, interesting, community-minded athletes in sports. NBA culture as a whole has a great sense of humor too - there's just never a boring day covering basketball.

AM: What is your preparation process like when you’re on The Jump for this daily show? How does this differ from when you’re on the court for a pregame show?

RN: When the season is going on, I spend a few hours a night watching games, making notes, and then each morning we have a big meeting to plan that day's show. I write a monologue for the top of the show, working in partnership with producers who really make it sing visually, and that’s where we try to set the tone for our conversations that day. Then it's about having those conversations with some of the smartest people I know – the reporters and former athletes who make up our show universe.

AM: What have been 3 of your favorite interviews that you have conducted?

RN: I’m so fortunate to have gotten to sit down with so many fascinating people. Some of them have been ultra-famous – I’ve interviewed Michael Jordan, Serena Williams, Derek Jeter, Tom Brady, Tiger Woods – and some of them are athletes that most Americans have never heard of, but people have amazing stories of perseverance and grit and all the things we love about sports.

AM: What are 3 interviews that you have yet to do that are in your bucket list to conduct?

RN: I don’t have a “bucket list” – but one thing I really do like is catching people at different moments of change throughout their lives. For example, I first interviewed LeBron James in his senior year of high school, and we’ve sat down and talked for the cameras nearly every year since. Now he’s 35 years old, with three kids and one of the best-ever NBA careers - getting a front-row seat to that journey has been pretty remarkable.

AM: You have been noted as one of the most powerful voices in sports media, what did it mean to be seen this way and how important is it for the continued movement of women in sports?

RN: I grew up reading Christine Brennan write about the NFL for The Washington Post. I didn’t know at the time, she was one of the only women doing that. I didn’t know that if I had lived in any other part of the country, I would have thought that football was only for men. To me it was as simple as “she does that, so I could do that.” Fast-forward to now: Hopefully when young girls see me, that’s what they think. That’s really all it’s about.

AM: Viewers can see you in the studio for The Jump as well as seeing you on the road, why is it important to you to be in both of these areas as opposed to just reporting from the studio?

RN: My career started “in the field,” so it’s how I still approach work. How am I supposed to talk about these players if I’m not regularly talking *to* them? How am I supposed to tell viewers what goes on during games if I’m not at them regularly? To me being out of the studio is just an important component of keeping the show current, and to signal to viewers that if something big is going on, they can count on us to be there.

AM: What is an average week like for you to give our readers insight into what your schedule is like?

RN: Thanks to coronavirus, there’s no ‘average’ for any of us anymore, sadly – but in more normal times, I’m in our LA studio 4-5 days a week, and then traveling 2-3 days to host our ABC Saturday Night game of the week on-site. I also sometimes travel to interview a player, and then there are the games here in LA that I go to once or twice a week, to catch up with players and coaches on not just the local teams but the visiting teams coming through.

AM: What's the best part about covering the playoffs?

RN: Seeing the best of the best go at it – there’s no substitute for that. I was really looking forward to this year’s playoffs, because unlike in recent years, there’s no heavy favorite like the Golden State Warriors. Now, with the NBA season being suspended...I’m just hoping we get to have a playoffs, even if it’s delayed.

AM: For this year’s season, what would you say have been the top 3 stories whether you covered it or not that have dominated this season?

RN: The NBA shutting down due to COVID-19 may be the most pivotal thing that’s ever happened to the league – it’s hard to even think about other storylines compared to that. Prior to the shutdown, we were certainly talking an enormous amount about the dominance of league MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo and about the tremendous level of play we were seeing from LeBron James at age 35, in his 17th year in the league.

AM: As someone who focuses on the NBA, in terms of your work with the ESPN, are there months or weeks during the year that are quieter for you and what do you do during this time?

RN: It’s pretty quiet in August but this year, the NBA is discussing playing basketball at that time – I think really for all of us, schedules are out the window right now. We just want to get back to some normalcy in America at large, and then we can figure out where basketball fits in.

AM: You travel quite a bit, what are 3 things that you like to have in your carry-on to make flying easier?

RN: Headphones! If I forget them on a trip, it’s torture. Whether it’s doing work, or escaping to watch a movie, that’s my No. 1 necessity on a plane. Other than that, I make sure I have an extra battery that my phone can hook into, and I usually bring a snack because airplane food is, well, airplane food.

AM: When you’re not on air, what do you do to take some time for yourself?

RN: I’m super-lucky to get to live in LA to do my job, which means at any time of year I can ride my bike at the beach, go on a hike or just stick my nose outside for 10 minutes to soak up that sunshine Vitamin-D. I also have twin daughters and as every working mom knows, that’s a huge juggling act, but for me being with my family is a great balance to what I do at work. Oh, and wine. God bless a good glass of red wine after the kids go to bed!

AM: Since you live in LA, where could we find you working out, grabbing a bite/ocktail or going shopping?

RN: I really like barre workouts, so when we’re not all self-isolating because of COVID, I go to classes for that. I also have a climbing machine at home for cardio. For cocktails, I’m a big fan of anywhere near the ocean with a good margarita – I like Elephante and Tallula's, which are both in Santa Monica - and the food at Felix in Venice Beach is off the hook. As for shopping – I’m a confirmed on-line shopper. It’s just so much easier with the amount of hours I work and travel, to browse on my phone instead of going into store. Let’s just say me and the UPS guy are really good friends.

AM: From a philanthropic standpoint, are there any organizations that you give your time to?

RN: With the country reeling from COVID-19 right now, my focus is on any organization that’s helping fill the gaps. Medical supplies for hospitals, food for kids who usually depend on meals at school but aren’t going to school right now. We’re in a national crisis - it’s scary and weird and one of the only things we really know about how to make it better is to just do as much as we can to help each other.

IG @Rachel_Nichols

Our photoshoot took place at TAO Group Hospitality's Magic Hour which is located at Moxy Times Square. This has become a destination where it makes guests that are 21+ feel like they are in an adult playground. We sat down with Magic Hour's Rooftop Bar & Lounge Beverage Director, Nikki McCutcheon to find out more about this midtown property.

ATHLEISURE MAG: We had a great time shooting at Magic Hour for our cover shoot located at the Moxy Times Square, can you tell us a bit about all the TAO Group properties that are at Moxy Times Square for our readers to become acquainted with them?

NIKKI MCCUTCHEON: Since opening our doors in September 2017, Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge at Moxy Times Square is New York City’s largest indoor/outdoor hotel rooftop bar and lounge. Eighteen floors above Manhattan, the space features an “urban amusement park” concept with an adult sensibility and offers epic Empire State Building skyline views. Located downstairs on the second floor of Moxy Times Square, Legasea Seafood Brasserie elevates the seafood dining experience by serving local, sustainable dishes in a modern and vivacious atmosphere. It is my favorite place to go in NYC – the Spicy Crab Beignets are a must have.

AM: Does TAO Group have properties at Moxy Chelsea or Moxy East Village?

NM: Yes! At Moxy Chelsea, TAO Group Hospitality operates Feroce, and the rooftop lounge, The Fleur Room. Over at Moxy East Village we have Cathédrale Restaurant, Alphabet Bar & Cafe, Little Sister Lounge and a new rooftop bar & lounge coming soon! Be sure to follow @TaoGroup on Instagram to stay up to date with all our happenings!

AM: Tell us about Magic Hour in terms of its layout with 3 rooftops and indoor spaces within this urbanized adult playground?

NM: On the East Terrace, we have views of the Empire State Building, the West Terrace has a moving carousel, a pink ombré flower wall with an “Under the Influence” neon sign and Foreplay, our mini putt-putt course with pink bunny statues in provocative poses. We also have the ‘Elephant Room’ which we often use as a private event space that has a full bar and lounge seating.

AM: A number of the spaces have Instagramable moments, how important is that to the guests that are there?

NM: Guests come to Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge for our multiple Instagramable moments! From the atmosphere with live music and DJs, to the over-the-top menu offerings and risqué décor, everything about Magic Hour is designed to be photographed.

AM: Are hotel guests able to enjoy Magic Hour and can reservations be made here?

NM: Of course! At Magic Hour, we encourage you to make reservations. Reservations can be made by emailing us at MagicHourNYReservations@taogroup.com, online on OpenTable, and for last minute reservations by calling 212-268-0188.

AM: In general, what is the inspiration behind the food and cocktail menu?

NM: We call ourselves an “adult playground” and you will find that our food and cocktail offerings are fun and whimsical.

AM: Can you share information about the Chefs at Magic Hour?

NM: Our amazing food offerings come from Culinary Director Jason Hall and Executive Chef at Moxy Times Square, Anthony Venegas. From opening in 2017, Chef Jason and I wanted the food and cocktail menu to be playful and approachable; we are encouraged to be creative and think outside of the box. For example, our Disco Ball For All cocktail that is served in a spinning disco ball or the Super Stacked Pancakes that are piled almost a foot high.

AM: Are there 3 signature cocktails that you would suggest on our next visit?

NM: Our most popular cocktail, and my personal favorite – the Party Pouch – is a pink, 18 oz. cocktail that comes in a clear pouch, made with Finlandia Grapefruit Vodka, yuzu citrus and a hint of pomegranate. Another great cocktail is the Berry Bubbly with Belvedere Vodka, St. George Raspberry and Domaine Chandon Sparkling Rosé. If you’re looking for a tequila-based cocktail, I always recommend the Float My Boat, which is prepared with Don Julio Blanco tequila, caramelized pineapple and jalapeño syrup.

AM: What are 3 signature dishes that you would suggest for us to enjoy?

NM: One brunch dish I love is our Super Stack Pancakes that comes piled high with maple cotton candy, bananas foster, blueberries and apple compote. For a quick and filling bite, I always recommend to our guests the Carnival Style Hotdog. It is unique to Magic Hour Rooftop Bar & Lounge and can be customizable to add your own toppings, such as a fried egg, bacon relish and mac & cheese, among others. If you’re looking for something sweet, enjoy the 3.5 lb. Giant Ice Cream Sandwich which was supersized for Cardi B.’s album release party and is now an internet sensation. With a 24-hour notice this “in the know” dessert comes with three different layers of flavors of ice cream – strawberry, chocolate and vanilla – and is covered in rainbow sprinkles and served with plenty of napkins!

AM: What kinds of special events or ongoing events are coming up that we should keep an eye out for as we head into the Spring/Summer?

NM: As we head into the Spring/Summer, we are rebranding our weekend brunch with new food and cocktail items. Be sure to follow us on Instagram at @MagicHourNY for all upcoming events and new offerings!

IG @TAOGroup

@MagicHourNY

@MoxyTimesSquare

PHOTOGRAPHY CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's cover story was shot by Co-Founder + Celebrity Photographer 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

STYLE, MAKEUP & HAIR CREDITS

Athleisure Mag's Celeb Fashion Stylist, Co-Founder/Creative + Style Director Kimmie Smith, MUA Bamike Ogunrinu and Hairstylist Lea DeLoy share how Rachel Nichols' look was created for the cover editorial.

LOOK I | OUT & ABOUT STYLE

PG 18 + 21 | PROUD Be Positive Bomber Jacket | PARADISED Always Summer Tank | RUTHIE DAVIS Charlie 20 Flatform Jogger in Black/Glitter | PHARAOUN Night Mandala Cocktail Ring |

LOOK II | ON SET/NEWSROOM STYLE FRONT COVER,

PG 22 - 27 | HALE BOB Tabitha Stretch Satin Dress | LAGOS KSL Cuff Bracelet + KSL Caviar Bracelet | NAGACIA JEWELRY Bamboo Ring | QUPID Alona Peep Toe Bootie |

LOOK III | AFTER WORK STYLE BACK COVER,

PG 28 - 33 | HALE BOB Zoey Embroidery Dress in white/gold dress | KIMMIE VINCENT Ocean Avenue | VIRGINS, SAINTS + ANGELS San Benito Ring | LAGOS Gemstone Skull Bracelets |

SKINCARE | KOH GEN DO Cleansing Spa Water | REBELS AND OUTLAWS Love Potion | TATCHA Luminous Deep Hydration Lifting Mask | TWINMEDIX Pro:Refine Eye Corrector | BELIF The True Cream Moisturizing Bomb |

FOUNDATION + CONCEALER | KEVYN AUCOIN Sensual Skin Enhancer | MAKE UP FOREVER Ultra HD Cream Foundation | CHARLOTTE TILBURY Hollywood Contour Wand | MAC COSMETICS Pro Palette Studio Finish Skin Corrector X 6 |

BLUSH | COZZETTE Infinite Blush Palette |

EYES | VISEART Neutral Matte Eyeshadow Palette + Dark Matte Eyeshadow Palette | ARDELL False Eyelashes Naked #420 | ANASTASIA BEVERLY HILLS Brow Definer #Caramel |

LIPS | RUNWAY ROGUE Lip Gloss in #Charmeleon | PAT MCGRATH LABS Lust: Lip Gloss #Bronze Venus |

HAIR | Misted in THEURGY Out of Body through dry hair before curling to add hold and heat protection | Then added THEURGY Shape Shift Texture throughout roots to create extra added volume and lift | Sprayed in THEURGY Enchantment Mist for high shine and to block out humidity | Finished with a light layer of THEURGY Retrograde Hairspray for a brushable finishing hold |

IG @Shes.Kimmie

@BamikeOgunrinu

@HairbyLeaDeloy

Read the March Issue of Athleisure Mag and see Bank Shot with Rachel Nichols in mag.

MIXED MARTIAL ARTS: BLOGS, TRAINING AND A WHOLE LOT OF (GOOD) PAIN

Being healthy should be a prerogative of any human. It is not just a trend or a phase; it should be a part of our daily life. As we are creatures of habit, we tend to do things just because it is a part of our daily activities. However, most of us are also programmed to look for pleasure and comfort first.

As this page says, we do not usually want to make an effort to be healthy since it is a lot of work. There are a lot of things that you should be doing, and acts that you need to avoid. Once it becomes a part of our routine though, it starts a path to being better physically and mentally.

There are many ways that we can achieve this state, but there are two general ones. First, you need to eat a balanced diet or meal. The other one is through physical activity. Most people would do your typical gym routines or running exercises to keep their blood pumping. They can be effective, and it is a good way to have some sort of exercise in our lives.

On the other hand, some people prefer a more strenuous type of activity. One of them is through joining a fighting class, and MMA is one of the more popular choices.

Learning Mixed Martial Arts

Mixed martial arts (MMA) can be considered as a combination of different fighting styles. It is also sometimes known as “cage fighting” because it is not as rigid in rules compared to other disciplines. One big example of this freedom is holding and grappling.

Most fighting sports do not condone these types of moves, but you can do it in MMA. Same thing with using elbow attacks, kicks and jumps. It is a bloody contact sport, and its training is almost incomparable with others related to its genre.

If you are still a beginner, it can be an intimidating experience. Most experts would agree that you need to undergo training in other contact sports before you can start with this. For example, it would be best to start with Brazilian jiu-jitsu, taekwondo and/or boxing. These disciplines would be best in preparing you for the world of MMA. Some of the rules might be different, but it is certainly going to be easier for adjustment.

You can also look into blogs that can help you learn more about this sport. With the internet, there are so many articles about this. It can be confusing to read most of them especially if you are just starting with the sport.

One of the ways that you may know that it is a great website for you is through their content. Certain sites cater more to advanced learners as it is full of recommendations regarding techniques and strategies.  Sites like https://mmasentinel.com help players know more about the craft and skills needed for it.

Starting From Scratch

If you are looking for a beginner-friendly blog, most of them would include tips and tricks on the equipment to use. You would not need the advanced techniques yet as you are still a beginner. It is also a great starting point for people who are just starting if they have articles about the basics. MMA is not a simple discipline by any means, and it has a lot of nuances that are different from the others. The rules of engaging in it are also different, so you need to know as much as possible.

Watching videos can also be a good way to know more about mixed martial arts. There are a lot of channels on YouTube and other platforms that cater to beginners and experts alike. The International Mixed Martial Arts Federation was founded to create more opportunities for novices to test their skills with other fighters. The Ultimate Fighting Championship has been for almost 27 years now, and it has been catering to professionals and fans alike.

MMA is not an easy sport to learn, but it is also hard to master. However, it can be a great way to flex those muscles and show some moves. Losing weight while gaining strength, speed and flexibility is ust one of the great benefits of learning this discipline. It can also be used as a self-defense tool in clutch situations, but you need to be able to use it properly.

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag.

9PLAYLIST | ALL ELITE WRESTLING'S BRANDI RHODES

Read the Feb 50th Issue of Athleisure Mag and see 9PLAYLIST Brandi Rhodes in mag.

9LIST STORI3S | STEPHEN "WONDERBOY" THOMPSON

Read the Jan Issue of Athleisure Mag and see 9LIST STORI3S | STEPHEN “WONDERBOY” THOMPSON in mag.

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.

THE ROAD TO TOKYO 2020 | NIKE UNVEILS OLYMPIC UNIFORMS

Last week, Nike unveiled a series of uniforms that we will see during this year’s 2020 Olympic Summer Games in Tokyo, Japan. Above are a number of sports that are represented in the US as well as additional countries that include Brazil. Since the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Torino, Italy, US athletes on the podium have worn the brand which showcases a collection of high-performance apparel to footwear (including a soccer cleat made with 3-D printed materials and running spikes optimized for short-distance sprinting). This includes when they’re on the podium as well as when they’re competing in a number of events that include track and field, soccer, speed skating etc. The Nike kit will continue to be worn especially with the deal inked last year that will go through the 2028 Summer Games in Los Angeles. This year, you’ll see the brand’s worn by athletes that are competing in track and field, basketball, soccer and skateboarding. The uniforms take into account that the weather in Tokyo in August will be extremely muggy and humidity as opposed to the 78 degree temperatures in Rio. In addition, sustainability has been something that has been of great importance since the 2000 Olympic Summer Games in Sydney, Australia. Below are some of the uniforms for the US, Brazil and France.

TEAM USA | Podium Outfits

TEAM USA | Skateboarding

TEAM USA | Track & Field

TEAM USA | Global Football

TEAM USA | Basketball

TEAM BRAZIL | Skateboarding

TEAM FRANCE | Skateboarding

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SUPER BOWL LIV

The big game takes place later on tonight, Super Bowl LIV. Whether you’re cheering for the San Francisco 49ers or the Kansas City Chiefs, all eyes have been on Miami for the past few days as football enthusiasts have descended on the city. Tonight’s game is bound to have great plays, amazing commercials that will have us talking tomorrow as well as half time performances that will be exciting! We can’t wait to check out everything so get prepared for a number of pre-game shows, comforts foods and after the game, getting ready to kick off the week tomorrow.

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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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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.

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.

ATHLEISURE MAG | #45 SEP 2019

This month’s cover and back cover is WWE Superstar and E! Total Divas (9th season drops Oct 2nd) – Leah Van Dale who wrestles under the name, Carmella. We talk with her about the upcoming season, her journey to the WWE with her background in fitness, cheerleading and dancing and her new wine label. In our feature, Something You Should Know, we interviewed Tracy Wolfson, sports broadcaster for CBS Sports. She talks about women in sports, how she got to where she is, and what she’s excited about for this season in terms of the storylines that are taking place in the NFL which is celebrating its 100th season. We also sat down with Ron Silver of Bubby’s an iconic restaurant known for its comfort food in Tribeca, The Highline and with 6 outposts in Japan.We talked about how he got into the restaurant business, the cannabis industry and his art. You can also hear his interview on our podcast network, Athleisure Studio within our show Athleisure Kitchen (available at iHeartRadio, Spotify, Apple Podcast, Himalaya, Stitcher and wherever you enjoy hearing your favorite shows). This month, we chatted with Chef Alvin of The Usual in NYC for The Art of the Snack.

As usual, we have our monthly roundups including our 9LIST (Athleisure Mag’s picks that we’re loving this month in style, beauty and fitness) featured roundups. This month’s 9LIST STORI3S (picks supplied by celebrities) gives us insight into Celebrity Fitness Trainer and Director of Strength and Endurance Training for the LA Lakers. We are also debuting the newest roundup within the 9LIST ecosystem with 9PLAYLIST (9 songs that we’re loving this month – of course, we’d love to hear from your talent who would like to share their playlists as well). As always, you can enjoy Athleisure List (Le Tea and City Wine Tours), The Pick Me Up, Bingely Books, Bingely Streaming, Style Files, Rock This Look During Sweater Weather, Athleisure Beauty, How to Dress, In Our Bag, #TRIBEGOALS and Pomelo Beauty. 

Read the latest issue of Athleisure Mag here.

THE JEWEL OF THE COURT WITH DANIELLE COLLINS

This month, our eyes turn to the US Open which takes place here in NYC. A number of tennis greats will battle with the best in their sport to walk away victorious. In addition, there are a number of fun activities around this time of year to hang out with your favorite player, to take in the game and more. Right before the Taste of Tennis, a culinary event that celebrates the US Open along with a number of athletes within the game and outside of it, we had the chance to chat with Danielle Collins who is known for her phenomenal playing as well as making jewelry for the court. We talk with her about the game, her passion for it and being a jewelry designer.

ATHLEISURE MAG: Tell us about what made you fall in love with tennis and drew you to the sport?

DANIELLE COLLINS: My draw to the sport goes back to my grade school days. Back then, every Monday to kick off the week we had Show and Tell. There was a boy at school who would bring in these shiny trophies he'd won over the weekends to show our class. I remember seeing the trophies and asking my Dad how I could win trophies like that, and he told me if I worked really hard I could win some trophies, too. I guess you can say that I've always had the competitive spirit from an early age, and loved the way tennis makes you problem solve on your own.

AM: What was the moment when you realized that you wanted to go pro?

DC: I knew I wanted to go pro when I was seven years old watching the Grand Slams on television with my parents. I didn't really know how to put my game all together as a junior, and didn't have the opportunity to turn pro right out of finishing high school. College helped me grow so much personally and as an athlete. Winning two national championships at UVA gave me confidence to know I could also have success at the professional level.

AM: How was playing in the quarterfinals in doubles at Wimbeldon?

DC: I absolutely loved competing with Bethanie. She was so much fun to share the court with and her energy is contagious! Getting to the quarterfinals was really huge for me personally, as I had never made quarterfinals in a Doubles Slam before.

AM: How has the current season been since the US Open is around the corner?

DC: The current season has been great. I am continuing to make progress within my game, and gaining the experiencing I need. Sometimes I don't get the results I want, but right now I am more focused on trying to continue to develop my game, and on the daily process to get myself to the next level.

AM: What is an average day like when you are in training for your next match?

DC: Training days are always different unless we are in pre-season. When I'm on the road, there are many variables during tournaments. We make time for strength and conditioning workouts everyday, put the hours in on court, and work with my sports psychologist/ performance coach. We also spend a lot of time focusing on recovery and making sure my body is getting what it needs to relax.

AM: What is the tennis season like?

DC: The tennis season is very long, but perfect for me since I love competition and traveling.

AM: We love accessories, what drew you to jewelry and how did this interest become another passion?

DC: What I love most about jewelry is the story each piece can share, and how sentimental jewelry is for people. For me, every piece of jewelry I own has some type of unique story behind why I designed it or what drew me into buying it. Designing jewelry allows me to use my creativity and imagination, in a way that is much different from tennis. I've always been passionate about fashion and art, and I am so grateful to have the opportunity to partner with Ritani to showcase my other passion in life.

AM: We know you have partnerships/sponsorships with New Balance and Head Racquets. When did you start working with them and what do you do with each of these relationships?

DC: Head and New Balance have been incredible for me and my career. I have been working with Head for about two years now and New Balance for a little over a year. There is no better feeling when you have two highly respected companies like these two, giving so much care and support to my career. The teams that New Balance and Head, work so diligently behind the scenes to make sure that we have the best equipment. Head has been so great in helping me accommodate to any specific needs that I have had with making sure my racquet is just the way I want and need it to feel. What both of them do is really special, and I am so grateful to have them a part of my career. They mean the world to me!

AM: Tell us about the Danielle Collins Jewelry line and of course about your diamond tennis bracelets?

DC: Launching at Wimbledon was so incredibly special to me. Wimbledon is the holy grail of our sport, and the rich tennis tradition is something that cannot be compared anywhere else in the world. When we launched, I was happy to carry on the tradition of elegance that the tennis bracelet represents. So many of the fans and jewelry lovers remember back in the 70s when Chris Evert was sporting her diamond tennis bracelet on court. I loved bringing back that vintage aesthetic, and was proud of the exquisiteness that Ritani engrained into each of the small details and sparkly diamonds.

AM: What is the full offering of pieces available at Danielle Collins Jewelry line?

DC: The full offering available is Necklaces, Bracelets, and Earrings. We offer some finer pieces and some more fun whimsical ones as well.

AM: What pieces from yourdo you wear during your matches?

DC: The jewelry that I wear during my match are a diamond tennis bracelet and double pendant diamond necklace.

AM: When creating your line, what inspires your pieces from legendary tennis players to various aesthetics?

DC: When designing, I enjoy creating a variety of different pieces. All of my pieces have one thing in common -- they are timeless, and will not go out of style. While some pieces are more whimsical and playful, and others follow a more classic design, at the core, it’s about the meaning behind them.

AM: When you are creating your pieces as you intend to have them worn during playing, what are you looking to include and to avoid?

DC: When I am creating my pieces and intend to have them worn I like wearing pieces that are edgy and sophisticated. I try to make sure each piece is lightweight enough to wear so that I am 100% comfortable moving around on court. The material that I like to include the most is diamonds. They are one of the world’s toughest materials, and at the same time, they shine and are sophisticated. I try to be one of the toughest players on tour, and at the same time I try to be fashionable! The art of jewelry and wearing these pieces allows me to showcase my creative sense of style, and reminds me to be tough on court.

AM: As a professional player and entrepreneur, what lessons did you learn that inform how you go about your endeavours?

DC: Being both a professional tennis player and entrepreneur has taught me a lot of lessons along the way. Both have taught me how to network, organize, and manage my career and jewelry line. But the most important thing both have taught me is knowing how to take appropriate risks.

AM: In St. Pete, Florida, where can we find you grabbing a meal/cocktail, working out and going shopping?

DC: On the weekends, you can find me at Bern's Steakhouse in Tampa, grabbing my favorite meal. I enjoy going to hot yoga on the weekends, and shopping at Restoration Hardware to draw inspiration for my home.

AM: What are 3 items that you tend to carry in your carry on when you’re traveling?

DC: Three items I carry in my bag when traveling: sunscreen, hair brush, and mascara.

IG @DanimalCollins

Read the Aug Issue of Athleisure Mag and see The Jewel of the Court with Danielle Collins 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.

WHO ARE THE BEST DRESSED FOOTBALLERS

Thanks to social media, footballer’s lives are more documented than they ever have been before and for those who really want to show off, it’s the ideal spotlight. Fashion is the perfect way to be creative and to reveal your true style and for these football stars, it’s an opportunity they’ve taken seriously. These are some of the most stylish football players who can’t get enough of showcasing their wardrobe.

Sergio Ramos

Spanish captain Sergio Ramos seems to get more stylish with every passing year and now that he’s embraced his thirties, he’s taken on a more sophisticated wardrobe, from tailored suits and waistcoats to stylish chinos and a smart casual look. 

Serge Gnabry

If there’s one person leading the next generation of style conscious sports stars onto the scene, it’s Gnabry. It’s easy to see how growing up in a world of social media has influenced Gnabry’s impeccable style. From his casual streetwear to moments where he’s donned a full suited attire, Gnabry always looks Instagram-ready. 

Hector Bellerin

Arsenal’s right back, Hector Bellerin, is arguably one of the most recognised footballers when it comes to style in the Premier League. It’s fair to say that he’s curated a look all of his own, where high-end fashion meets casual streetwear, and he’s not afraid to think outside of the box when it comes to his clothing which makes him both a darling for fashion blogs and football blogs at Infogol. 

Timothy Weah

There aren’t many athletes who could pull off a fashion shoot with Hypebeast but Tim Weah is one of the few who can. Weah is yet another member of the social media elite who is comfortable dressing with a photo opportunity in mind and he’s certainly one of the best dressed footballers of the moment. 

Romain Gall

Gall has the perfect mix of stylish influences on his side, having grown up in Paris, playing for Malmo in Sweden and representing the USA internationally. For a 23-year-old, he’s incredibly well-travelled and that has played a part in his curation of a unique and inspiring wardrobe. 

Tom Davies

Everton’s midfielder Tom Davies has found a way of taking his work attire off the pitch and into everyday life, with a laid-back style that’s most comfortable but stylish, and always eclectic. 

Gregory van der Wiel

One of the most fashionable players in the sport is Gregory van der Wiel. From rocking old Manchester United shirts to rocking a smart-casual look when hanging with his kids, the Dutchman has found a way of pulling off every look as if he was born to wear it. 

David Alaba

Alaba never seems to get it wrong when it comes to fashion. It can be all too easy for a look to veer from innovative to tacky, but Alaba always executes every style opportunity to perfection and with the perfect balance of creativity and thought. 

Kevin Trapp

From donning Dior to hanging out with Beckham at Paris Fashion Week, Trapp is at the epicentre of fashion, making him the most stylish goalkeeper in history. Germany’s goalie has the perfect mix of classic and on-trend style that works perfectly. 

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.

ATHLEISURE MAG | #43 JUL 2019

We’re excited to drop our latest issue of Athleisure Mag which is covered by ESPN’s Broadcaster/Journalist and author, Marty Smith. You’ve seen him on SportsCenter, College GameDay, SEC Nation and more. Check out his cover shoot which took place in Ocean City, NJ.

Read the July Issue here.