There are things people are good at. Take me for instance – I’m good at a few things – most notably left-handed layups (note, I’m right-handed though) and perfecting the fishtail braid. Not exactly resume material, but I’ll take it.
And then there are things I suck at. Like sleeping. I suck at sleeping. Isn’t that sad?
I was recently turned onto these iChill sleep shots – they are basically the opposite of 5-hr energy drinks and I will admit I was beyond skeptical (especially because a guy I was dating is the one who turned me onto these and well, trusting guys is never easy for me). But guess what? THEY WORK.
And they are not gross. I kind of pictured this really gross chalky-tasting liquid, but nope. They are easy to travel with (overnight bag, traveling, etc.). Since I spent 262 days on the road last year as a travel writer, I will be packing these with me from now on!
They have no sugar, no carbs, no calories, nada. I know what you’re thinking – what’s the catch? There isn’t one (at least not one that I’m aware of, but maybe they haven’t started tested lab rats on iChill yet…), but just wanted to share these are my new favorite things.
The sleep shots are available at over 10,000 retail stores, but I buy mine on Amazon. (Don’t judge – I work from home so the UPS guys and gals are kind of my co-workers, it’s nice to see them!)
Of course I cannot promise it will work for everyone, but I can promise (and I’m not being paid to say this) that this is the first thing that has worked for me in a really long time. And I don’t wake up tired either. It’s quite surprising really.
One of the reasons I love the NBA is how fast-paced games are. There’s always something exciting happening on the court, especially if you’re in Houston and get to see James Harden play on the regular. But the beard-man isn’t the only reason to get excited at a Rockets game – you’ve also got the powerful and exciting Rockets Power Dancers (RPD). Take a look at my one-on-one exclusive interview with Willy — she has my vote for best hair in all of the NBA.
If you love a girl with wild, curly hair, a passionate and motivated dreamer and someone who truly getsbasketball, Willy’s your girl. Not to mention she’s a rock star and has the moves to claim such a title. Don’t believe me? She was a backup dancer for Beyonce during the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show.
Now do you believe me?
Man Cave Daily: Where are you originally from?
Willy: New Orleans, LA–born and raised.
MCD:Occupation or school?
W: I am currently a student studying Business Administration with a specialization in Entrepreneurship. I am also a dance instructor at a local elementary school, and I assist the Rockets Entertainment Manager as a coach for the Rockets Space City Seniors… I like to stay busy!
MCD:Years on team?
W: This is my 2nd season with RPD and I made it my first try! Before moving to Houston, I was a member of the New Orleans Hornets Honeybees for two years however, I didn’t make it my first time auditioning there. I almost gave up, but decided to try again the following year, and I made the team!
MCD:Tell me about your dance background? You have moves I wish I had; I know you didn’t just learn them…
W: Oh no! I definitely did not just learn to move this way! I’ve been dancing since I was four. I’ve never been technically trained or attended dance school. I learned from music videos and by performing with dance teams. I gained my experience from these teams, and by performing as a backup dancer for several different artists, including Beyonce, during the Super Bowl XLVII half time show. I love performing and the moves just come natural to me! RPD’s style of choreography is definitely a challenge and I have to push myself! I try to take dance classes when I can just to continue improving and learning.
MCD:Hardest part about being an NBA Dancer?
W: The schedule!! We perform at 41-plus home games (excluding playoffs). Not only that, but we have practice twice a week and a certain number of community appearances we have to attend. And to top it all off, we all have to maintain another job or be full-time students (most of us do both)! It’s not all fun and games, we definitely work hard!
MCD:Have you ever gone onto the court and forgotten your routine?
W: Yep! But, because I practice so much the muscle memory saves me! We push to perform new choreography at every game, and we rarely repeat routines so I have a crazy amount of dances in my head. It’s very easy to forget the first move, but I try not to make my mistakes noticeable.
MCD:Favorite NBA player?
W: Dwight Howard–He’s a great player, but it’s what he does outside of basketball that is
2014 – 2015 NBA Dance Series sponsored by Ideal Protein Houston
inspiring. His “Block Out Violence” campaigns have been a way for him to reach out to kids and encourage them to stop violence and bullying. It says a lot about a person that cares to give back, and help our youth and the community.
MCD:Best part about basketball?
W: The entertainment of course! Besides that, the fourth quarter is always the best part of the game. The intensity of each team determined to take the win is what keeps fans on their feet. It’s also the time that the fans, including myself, are either the happiest or super stressed! We want our ROCKETS to win!
MCD:Coolest thing about the Toyota Center?
W:We have a Tundra Suite with a real Toyota Tundra Truck inside…so cool! I’m always amazed when I visit that suite.
MCD:If you had a Real Housewives intro…
W: “I’m more than just a housewife, check my resume!” (And to add the dramatic effect, I would snap my fingers.)
MCD:Miley or Taylor?
W: Taylor Swift.
MCD:Biggest misconception about NBA dancers?
W: We are not “ditzy cheerleaders!” We are real dancers/performers, and education is actually a requirement to join any team, so yes, we are knowledgeable human beings! Also, we do not date the players!
MCD:Favorite music to dance to?
W: I love dancing to ’90s R&B and rap music!
MCD:What song instantly puts you in a good mood?
W: Anything by Aaliyah. My favorite is “Try Again.” It pushes and motivates me to keep going and to not give up. If at first I don’t succeed, I dust myself off and try again. It applies to every aspect of my life.
MCD: Dream vacation?
W: I want to visit Egypt one day! I’m infatuated with Egypt’s history and would love to see the Egyptian pyramids.
MCD:Most embarrassing thing in your Google history?
W: Myself! I’ve googled myself to see what comes up under my name. No I’m not self-centered, just wondering what pops up when I type my name in Google. I was simply curious [winks]
MCD:Most random thing in your purse?
W: A straw… I hate drinking from a can without using a straw!
MCD:Fan of selfies?
W: I’m a fan of hair selfies. I love showing my wild curly hair in pictures, so I take selfies just to focus on my hair.
MCD:Favorite thing about Houston?
W: Galleria Mall–it’s huge, and I love the ice skating rink inside. Plus, all of my favorite stores are in the Galleria!
MCD:When I say the letter “W” what’s the first word that comes to mind?
W: My name of course… Willy!
MCD:What app do you use most?
W: It’s a tie between my Rockets app and the Google Maps app. I check the Rockets app everyday to stay updated. I use my Google Maps app to get around the city; I have a terrible sense of direction!
MCD:If you could go to dinner with any celebrity, who?
W: Laurieann Gibson! She’s had a very successful career as a dancer and choreographer and I would love advice from her.
MCD: Homebody or an adventurer?
W: Definitely a homebody. A wild Friday night includes watching Lifetime in bed. But, I did say that this year’s resolution would be for me to be more adventurous! So far, I haven’t committed to that idea…but hey, I still have 9 more months!
MCD:Most adventurous thing you’ve done?
W: I’ve climbed the Great Wall of China! It was a long walk, and very hot, but I did it and I learned a lot!
MCD:Tell me something people would find completely out of character?
W: I turned down my acceptance into nursing school to focus on my passion for dance and to pursue avenues in entertainment. It’s the most courageous thing I’ve done, but was definitely out of character for me because I have never wanted to disappoint my family, and they were all “pro” nursing school! I’d like to think I made the best decision. Follow your dreams people!
Check out my pal Willy on Instagram @Willi_lu and follow her team on Twitter: OfficialRPD
To see the original article which ran on CBS Man Cave Daily in the sports section, click here. You’ll also hit the jackpot with more photos of Willy!
A big thank you to Willy for giving us an exclusive interview and a big thanks to Ideal Protein Houston for sponsoring this fun series. Ideal Protein is a medically developed protocol only available from qualified professionals and provides one-on-one weight loss coaching for educational support and motivation as well as weekly weight and body measurements analysis (and much more!).
https://theblondeside.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/nbY9xf4R.jpeg240240Jaymehttps://theblondeside.com//wp-content/uploads/2018/06/1526998321020-300x192.pngJayme2015-03-30 13:03:032015-04-01 10:07:36Rockets Power Dancer Willy: A Stellar Talent
Bonnie Bernstein is proof you don’t just see veterans onthe field; you see them on the sidelines as well. She’s also proof she’s had to work just as hard, albeit a different kind of hard, to gain that same veteran status as say Joe Montana.
Bernstein comes to the table with class, grace, experience, and raw attitude not to mention mature emotion. And accolades. Boy does she come to the table with accolades, most notably being recognized by the American Sportscasters Association as one of the most accomplished female journalists in her field. She’s spent 17+ years covering some of the nation’s most prestigious sporting events on-air for ESPN and CBS, but recently she moved to a slightly different field. Now she’s using her business smarts outside of sports to help build a network as the “face” and Vice President, Content and Brand Development, of Campus Insiders.
“I’ve always had this entrepreneur spirit but no place to do anything with it. And when Campus Insiders initially came to me and approached me about being the face of the network, I was able to parlay that into the position I have now and they were really open to it and supportive,” Bernstein says of her new role.
When asked to describe herself in a few words, Bernstein opts for words like seasoned, diverse, resilient, passionate, and prepared. All things she very much is. But rare, genuine and honest are words I’d add.
One of the best things about Bernstein is her brutal honesty — even when it comes to her own past fashion fauxs, and she’s got jokes. For instance, when I asked the journalist/entrepreneur how important looks were in her field, she simply responded, “Well I’ve been around for 23 years so obviously they are not that important.”
She’s also modest, did I mention that?
“When I got my first network job (ESPN hired me when I was 24), I was so obsessed with building my credibility that if you went back and looked at some of the outfits I wore you would understand that it was certainly not my mission to be a fasionista,” she explains.
“It was important for me to have fans focus on the words I was disseminating than providing commentary on my outfits. I really tried to down play anything aesthetic. That said, I’m smart enough to realize there’s a lot of attractive women on TV and in the media and some of them might not be as qualified for those jobs as somebody who might not be quite as attractive but the reality is we create our own opportunity and if you’re ambitious enough to leverage your looks to get a job, then far be it for me to judge.
“My personal philosophy is the way I gradually built my brand–I down played the looks until I felt I had the credibility and that was a gradual metamorphous. My emphasis was helping people understand that my purpose for being there was to be the very best sports journalist I could be,” she concludes still laughing at her ghosts of wardrobes past.
There’s a quote I fell in love with not long ago by Madeleine Albright that says, “There is a special place in hell for women who don’t help other women.” Too often successful women, or just women in general, are in competition with one another. Bernstein is not one of those women. She’s around to help. Check her Twitter feed every so often — she’s always sharing tips and responding to inquiring minds. Her biggest tip for up and coming journalists, especially in this new world of social media is to always double source. This is what the world needs more of — not just on social media, but in life. We need more Bonnie Bernsteins.
You can’t be in the industry as long as Bernstein has and not have seen some of the nasty criticism and personal attacks prevalent in today’s world, which come quickly in the form of fast-typing social media haters. And of course, she’s got some serious thoughts on that.
“Jemele Hill and Richard Deitsch were tweeting yesterday and Jemele had put some stuff out there about stuff she’s seen on her timeline and it’s just vile. I applaud Curt Schilling for taking legal action against the trolls who went after his daughter, because what social media does is it gives nameless faceless cowards a voice. I feel really fortunate I don’t get a ton of that. I feel like my content is relatively benign–I have passionate opinions but I also make it very clear I enjoy healthy discussion. If you want to engage with me that way that’s cool. If you want to diss me it kind of depends on the mood I’m in but I will never resort to name-calling.
“On a rare occasion I’ll click on their profile and see what their information says. One time somebody was really disrespectful and he had the name of his employer–he worked for a school, I believe he was a lacrosse coach–he was so disrespectful that my response to him was “I’m sure and I put the name of the school handle would be thrilled to see one of their employees tweeting like this.” I don’t feel the need to do that in abundance but every once in awhile I’m ok just checking somebody and saying look, slow your roll, show me your face–don’t show me an egg avatar–give me your name, tell me where you work and then let me know if your have the audacity to tweet the way you do,” she says bluntly.
Throughout her career, Bernstein has covered some of the nation’s most esteemed events, such as the Super Bowl, NBA Finals (including the Bulls’ second historic three-peat), and NCAA Men’s Basketball Championships, but her favorite is the 2002 NCAA Championship. “I was working with Jim Nantz and Billy Packer. We had the good fortune of covering every single one of Maryland’s games and the run of the championship and that’s my alma mater,” she recalls fondly.
Speaking of March Madness her obvious favorite (early-on) is Kentucky. “There’s a really special feel to the tournament because everybody has a chance,” she says of her impending 90-hour workweeks.
As for March Madness, be sure to check out one of Bernstein’s projects with her team. “One of the cool things we’re doing for Campus Insiders for our second year is a segment called 68-60, and basically we create an interactive bracket. Once the brackets are released you can roll over any of the teams and we do a 60-second video preview, married with an editorial component so for people who may be casual basketball fans or a diehard basketball fan, it would give you all the information you need to put your brackets together. It’s one of the series we do and are really proud–our team literally pulls an all-nighter as soon as the brackets come out,” she says.
To check out the 68:60 project and more of what Bernstein is working on, follow her on Twitter and Facebook, and visit her official website, BonnieBernstein.com
To see this original article, which ran on CBS Man Cave Daily in the sports section, click here.
TicketCity & The Blonde Side are giving away Houston Rockets Tickets
After a hard week of work, The Blonde Side is PUMPED to announce our new partnership with TicketCity for all your sports and concert ticket needs.
To kick off this brand new partnership, we are giving away a pair of tickets to the Orlando Magic vs. Houston Rockets game on St. Paddy’s Day (March 17th). You can enter the contest on FB or Twitter, but for another chance (or if social media isn’t your thing), you can also comment on this blog post for a chance to win the tickets.
Stay tuned for more ticket giveaways and be sure to visit TicketCity when you’re on the hunt for some of the hottest tickets!
Illustration by German Arellano for Local Houston Magazine
Arian Foster’s Top 5 Weirdest Moments (that we know of):
Texans running back Arian Foster has had a lot of amazing moments on the field not limited to his Namaste touchdowns, and he’s had a lot of…well, just plain moments off the field (all of which made national news). Here are some of our favorites from #23 as he continues to keep the game entertaining.
CHEERIO, MATE.Back in December – and for no other reason than Arian just being Arian, he gave his entire press conference in a British accent. “String together wins, that is the goal,” he said in his newly developing accent only breaking “character” once.
NOT A FAN OF SELFIES.A fan interrupted Foster’s meal by literally sitting his baby on the table and asking him to take a picture with the baby. Foster declined the photo op, then took to Twitter saying, “Can you please remove your infant away from my salad fork, bruh?” Foster took to Twitter again to explain another encounter he had with a crazed fan: “Lady asked me for a pic, I asked her “wouldn’t you rather have a genuine moment with me? Where you from?” She said “no, I just wan’ a pic”.”
ARIAN FOSTER ON TINDER? No, but his tweets are. Paul Gallant of SportsRadio 610 has paid attention to Foster’s unique tweets long enough to know they are conversation starters, so Gallant signed up for Tinder and began chatting up females using only tweets from Foster. Gallant says instead of using “sup girl” or “hey bae” as pickup lines, why not use the creativity Foster so lovingly puts out in the Twitterverse? Gallant started conversations using completely random and out-of-context tweets like, “I don’t think I’ve ever not peed in a hot tub” or “Your cat doesn’t love you” or “a carrot burger would be awful.”
HOUSTON HAS A FAKE ARIAN FOSTER. An unsuspecting fan takes a picture with the wrong Arian Foster. Last year a fan (@j_baz) tweeted that she “ran into Arian Foster at Pub Fiction” and included a picture of herself and a man who looked an awful lot like the Texans running back. Foster quickly pointed out her mistake by tweeting, “Lol, I appreciate the love but that’s not me.” The story and tweet got so much traction it became news on SportsCenter. But that wasn’t the end – Foster appreciated how the fan took it in stride and a few weeks later met up with her for a “real” picture.
This article originally ran in the print issue of Local Houston Magazine’s March 2015 issue (their first ever sports issue). What are sports in Houston without a little prodding at Arian Foster? Click here to see the online version (and the awesome illustration!).
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You’ve got 99 reasons to love JJ Watt – here’s one more.
IF YOU AREN’T AWARE OF WHAT J.J. WATT DOES ON THE FIELD, I’M CURIOUS WHERE YOU GOT THAT ROCK YOU’VE BEEN HIDING UNDER. THE WORK THAT #99 PUTS IN OFF THE FIELD – I’M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT SHOWING UP TO THE WORKOUT ROOM AT 4AM WITH THE CLEANING CREW, FILMING FORD AND HEB COMMERCIALS OR GRACING THE COVER OF ESPN THE MAG WITH THE BEAUTIFUL KATY PERRY – IT’S THE OTHER STUFF THAT IS JUST AS IMPRESSIVE.
It sounds hard to believe, but believe it.
That same heart, determination and work ethic you see from Watt on the field is the same intensity and love he puts into his foundation, the Justin J. Watt Foundation, a 501c(3) that reaches out to middle schools in Wisconsin and Houston with insufficient funding for after-school athletic programs, or no afterschool athletics whatsoever. No one knows more about the importance of afterschool athletics for building character and athletic ability than Watt himself. “The Justin J. Watt Foundation encourages children to dream big and work hard,” says J.J. Watt. “We hope to provide the motivation and means to turn those big dreams and hard work into something incredible.”
Tickets for his 2nd Annual J.J. Watt Charity Classic at Constellation Field in Sugar Land May 1 sold out within minutes and once again crashed the ticketing website thanks to eager fans. The nighttime event will feature defensive and offensive players from the Houston Texans on opposing teams under “Friday Night Lights,” a home run derby, silent auction and fireworks following the game. If you didn’t get the coveted tickets, there are still ways to help the Foundation and local kids by visiting their website and sharing the info with schools in need of funding.
“The Justin J. Watt Foundation has been a strong supporter of after-school sports for middle school kids in the Greater Houston area for the past three years. We have donated more than $800,000 in funding for things such as team uniforms, sports equipment and safety gear which can be used for years to come. We know that when kids look forward to playing on a team after school, they tend to perform better in the classroom and have better attendance. Participating in sports after school also provides kids with opportunities to take personal responsibility, become leaders, develop healthy lifestyles and be accountable to others,” says Connie Watt, Vice President of the Foundation.
The Foundation anticipates reaching the $1 million mark by the end of 2015! To learn more, visit www.jjwfoundation.org.
The Sugar Land Skeeters are part of the Atlantic League of Professional Baseball Clubs (ALPB) and play 140 regular season games – 70 home at Constellation Field and 70 away. Constellation Field is a state-of-theart stadium just 20 minutes from downtown Houston. The ALPB is considered the highest level of Minor League Baseball and is a preferred route for experienced players to be scouted by Major League Baseball. The Skeeters have been around since 2012 and have finished the last two seasons with winning records. www.SugarLandSkeeters.com
This article originally ran in the first-ever sports issue for Local Houston Magazine (formerly 002) in March 2015. If you didn’t snag a print issue, click here for the online version of this JJ Watt story.
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Texans Garrett Graham – Co-Founder of Project 88 Foundation (photo Michelle Watson/CatchLightGroup.com)
Bombshell wife of Texans player works tirelessly to help Houston kids: How an NFL power couple gives back
There are a few things you need to know about Houston Texans tight end Garrett Graham. For starters, he wears No. 88.
He also has a somewhat shy and quiet demeanor, yet he remains very involved in almost any conversation and has a bit of a goofball tendency — which matches perfectly with his beautiful blonde bombshell wife Ericka. The two met at Wisconsin and complement each other in a way reality TV show producers dream of.
As most wifely roles go, Ericka could easily be considered Wonder Woman. She supports the efforts of her talented husband on the field, but more importantly she is dedicated to making sure the two of them make a difference in their new hometown (Houston of course), which is how this football couple’s Project 88 Foundation came about.
The mission of Project 88 is to provide underserved students with leadership development and educational opportunities. It sounds simple enough, but as the Grahams are learning, there are thousands of moving parts to get a charity project like this rolling.
With school budget cuts happening all over the country, one of the first places to cut has been college counselors and advisors. According to a 2014 report, the stateside average for Texas exceeds 400 students per counselor, and in Houston, the average is nearly 700 students per counselor. Clearly there will be many kids who never even get the chance to talk about the real possibilities of college, much less receive guidance on the steps necessary to apply and finance those sky-high tuition costs.
The Grahams have been working tirelessly (Garrett fully admits it’s his wife who is the one truly working tirelessly, sometimes waking him up at 3 a.m. to discuss a new idea) to brainstorm and work out the details of how to help kids, specifically in HISD, with college goals and admission processes. It wasn’t long ago the Grahams themselves were learning all the how’s and what’s and when’s of applying to college, but as a college athletes-to-be with very helpful families their experience was quite different.
“After teaching English and College Readiness at a low-income college preparatory school last year, I became passionate about helping students plan for their future,” Ericka says. “However while teaching, I also realized how complicated and difficult the college admissions and application process was — especially for families that don’t have a college-going history.
“Many families do not have the financial means to make it happen as well.”
The Education Fight
Ericka says the goal from day one was to make a “measurable difference,” and that the process of defining Project 88 has been evolving each and every day. In fact, it’s still evolving.
“Ericka has always wanted to start a charity,” Garrett says. “I just re-signed last year to be in Houston for another three years, and I wanted to do something more to show our appreciation to the city and the fans.
“(The foundation] just seemed like a good way to reach out. We’ve made this our home. Houston has been great to us so why not give back?”
As of just a few days ago, Project 88 officially teamed up with Advise TX and HISD, to help students get access to information about college, financial aid and student services.
“At Project 88 Foundation, we are aware that many Houston-area students lack access to information about going to college, and that many students in Houston have never considered college as a possibility!” Ericka says. “Still we believe that all students are capable of productive and successful futures, if given access to the right information and opportunities.
“The funds we raise at Project 88 will go towards supplying HISD schools with full-time college advisors that live and work right here in Houston.”
The couple has sought help from friends like Laurie and Matt Schaub, who successfully created GR8 Hope Foundation, and Hannah McNair, the wife of Texans chief operating officer Cal McNair, a Houston philanthropist with a big network and an even bigger heart. “The McNairs have been 50 percent of this equation starting it up,” Ericka says.
A common misconception about professional athletes is that once they reach a certain point in their career, they are requiredto start a non-profit. Sure they are encouraged to do so and many of them have the means to give back, but what it generally boils down to is something inside of them wanting to give back.
And of course a wife like Ericka Graham who has made it her mission.
To see the original article that ran on Houston’s Culture Map, click here.
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L to R: Delaney, Toni, Lesha, Rachel, Madison Photo: Arthur Garcia for Select Studios
When it comes to the Houston Texans Cheerleaders (HTC) there are a few mainstays. For example, the legendary and highly coveted red boots. Big hair and brighter smiles are another. All of that (and more) are thanks in part to Coach ALTO GARY. Coach Alto has been running HTC since its inception dating back 14 years. HTC tryouts are quickly approaching and this is the year to get on board. “Not only are we training for next season, we’re going to start training for the Super Bowl – now is the time,” Coach Alto says. Competition is tough. Out of all the contestants, Coach can take 35 girls, max. Everyone brings something different to the field. Here’s what Coach Alto said stands out about these five ladies aside from the fact “they all lead by example”:
Delaney: She’s not afraid to laugh at herself. She also brings a sense of maturity to the squad.
Toni: I love the curly hair and she’s just so nice. She goes beyond the call of duty, all the time.
Lesha: She has a lot of layers. She’s stern – that’s not a bad thing. Girls take her seriously.
Rachel: I call her my Jenny McCarthy – she’s funny, she’s loud and she always steps up when we need something.
Madison: She comes from the pageant world; she’s definitely a natural leader and very poised.
DELANEY
Dream car: Range Rover
Pizza toppings: Pepperoni. Or just cheese.
Longest road trip: DC
Favorite restaurant: “I’m pretty simple – I like Outback.”
TONI
Dream car: BMW 6Series
Pizza toppings: Pepperoni and jalapenos
Longest road trip: Tennessee
Favorite Houston restaurant: Boheme. “I’m obsessed. I like the pizzas and the atmosphere.”
LESHA
Pizza toppings: Hamburger, sausage and extra cheese
Longest road trip: Tennessee – it was already 16 hours, and we made a wrong turn so that added 3 hours!
Most random thing in your Google Search: I Google every celebrity – what they wear and what makeup products they use.
RACHEL
Favorite karaoke song: Carrie Underwood’s Before He Cheats
Pizza toppings: Pepperoni
Weirdest in thing in your recent Google history: Myself
Dream car: Big trucks or a Tahoe
MADISON
Pizza toppings: Chicken and artichokes
Longest road trip: I went to Tennessee for a Texans away game. It was a long road trip, but a fun one!
Most random thing in your Google Search: When I was in high school, I ran track. There was a 4×1 where I fell and skinned up the back of my legs – I’m sure that’s somewhere on Google.
HTC TRYOUTS: March 28th Sign up at www.HoustonTexans.com
COACH ALTO’S TRYOUT TIPS: – What you wear. Wear something that looks good on you, Coach says. – If you want to rock tennis shoes, rock on. – Stand out. Whether it’s your smile or the fact you’re having an absolute blast. – Positive attitude. This goes further than being a good dancer, she says. – Don’t get frustrated. Have fun and keep going.
To see our behind the scenes interview with these lovely ladies, visit this YouTube clip.
This article originally ran in the print edition of Local Houston Magazine (March 2015), which was their first-ever sports issue. For the online version of this article, click here.
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Photo via Sofia van der Dys for Local Houston Magazine
Sallie Sargent boasts one of the most powerful jobs in sports.
IT’S 2015 – A WOMAN WORKING IN SPORTS ISN’T SO RARE ANYMORE. TO BE A WOMAN ASSIGNED ONE OF THE BIGGEST JOBS IN ALL OF SPORTS, NOW THAT IS RARE.
MEET SALLIE SARGENT, THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE SUPER BOWL HOST COMMITTEE FOR SUPER BOWL LI to be held at NRG Stadium in FEBRUARY 2017. Sargent comes to the table with more than 28 years of sports marketing and special event management experience. Her job is all encompassing; she is responsible for managing all logistical components leading up to the game including sponsorship, hospitality, volunteers, security and fan events. Her job involves keeping everyone happy, including locals, visitors and don’t forget city officials. Oh, and the NFL!
When it comes to Sargent’s actual job description and lengthy to-do list, she laughs. “The NFL doesn’t just give you a template – you have to create it,” she says. Which is where her almost three decades of knowledge will come into play. Although she’s worked on five different Super Bowls, this will be Sargent’s first time seeing it from the bid process (2012) all the way through to execution (2017). No pressure. “My job is to touch every aspect of anything and everything associated with the Super Bowl with two exceptions: I don’t have anything to do with the [actual] game and I don’t have anything to do with the halftime entertainment,” Sargent explains. Everything else is in her capable hands or in the hands of the team she selects to help make it all happen.
“The challenge that is most paramount in my mind is the traffic – traffic management and transportation – making sure we do a really good job of having kind of a marriage of public and private transportation options. I think that is the key for us to be successful,” she says. Originally from Scottsdale, Arizona, Sargent now calls Houston home. With only two years to learn all the ins and outs of her new home, you better believe she’s digging her heels in. Literally. “I’ve discovered this city is almost a hidden jewel. The people here are so proud of their city and community. My goal is to make sure the rest of the country and the rest of the world knows what we know about Houston, which is it’s a great place to live, to work, to come and visit, to shop and to eat,” Sargent says, noting the James Beard Awards in Houston. The Super Bowl is a huge stage for any city and their residents to showcase all the amazing things that make it what it is, and Sargent says her end result is to “make Houston shine during 2017.” When it comes to everything that goes into planning out a game as big as the Super Bowl, Sargent simply says, “It takes a village.”
Sargent’s extensive résumé includes previous Super Bowls, college bowl games, the NBA All-Star Game, MLB’s Charity Gala, the 2004 Democratic National Convention, the 2008 Republican Convention and a myriad of other large-scale entertainment events.
This article originally ran in the print issue of Local Houston Magazine – the first-ever sports issue (March 2015). Click here to see the online version of this piece.
Photo via Sofia van der Dys at Sculpt Pilates and Fitness
THERE’S NO SUCH THING AS AN OFFSEASON FOR MASCOTS. And we quickly learned there is no such thing as a normal day in the life of Houston’s favorite and furriest mascots. It’s been eight years since we last sat down with Clutch, Orbit , Toro and Diesel, so we decided to meet them at the gym for a quick sweat sesh…
HOW FAST CAN YOU RUN A MILE?
Clutch: 7:30.
Toro: Fast enough.
Diesel: How fast can you make a spicy maple tea bread, provolone, brie, basil pesto sandwich?
Orbit: I don’t like running.
HOW MUCH CAN YOU BENCH?
Clutch: Only 185.
Toro: How much does a defensive tackle weigh?
Diesel: Orbit after he eats a lunar ton.
Orbit: A lunar ton – it’s funny because it’s space.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN WITH THE TEAM?
Clutch: 20 years.
Toro: 14 years.
Diesel: 7 years and 10 months.
Orbit: I was around from 1990–1999, but took a 13-year sabbatical back in space. I’m back for good, and entering my third year back.
WHAT DO YOU EAT WHEN YOU’RE CARB-LOADING?
Clutch: Delicious steak. Sorry, Toro!
Toro: BBQ chicken and stadium food. Definitely not beef!
Diesel: Spicy maple tea bread, with brie cheese, a slice of provolone topped with two pounds of basil pesto…and steak.
Orbit: I’d crush some hotdogs. And moon pies.
WHAT DO YOU DO TO STAY IN SHAPE?
Clutch: Run and box.
Toro: Swing and rappel from the top rope of NRG Stadium.
Diesel: Stay away from steamrollers.
Orbit: Round IS a shape.
WHO IS YOUR FAVORITE WORKOUT BUDDY ON YOUR TEAM?
Clutch: D-Mo – that guy is a beast. And I mean a real beast like me!
Toro: JJ Watt – since JJ and I have somewhat the same physique, we work out together.
Diesel: Brad Davis, because he is the only one left on the team that hasn’t asked me what I say.
Orbit: Altuve – we just give each other piggyback rides to train.
FAVORITE PLACE TO RUN IN HOUSTON?
Clutch: Memorial Park.
Toro: With our fans at the Running of the Bulls event.
Diesel: 29.751332 latitude, -95.352623 longitude.
Orbit: The stairs at Minute Maid Park.
This article originally ran in the print issue of Local Houston Magazine’s March 2015 issue – their first ever sports issue. For the online version, click here.
