Sports Archives - Page 5 of 20

1st Annual Bermuda Golf Classic

NFL Veteran Lawrence Taylor (LT) for the win at the 1st Annual NFL Bermuda Golf Classic (photo via D'Lamina Photography)

NFL Vet Lawrence Taylor (LT) won the 1st Annual NFL Bermuda Golf Classic (photo: D’Lamina Photography)

Anytime you get 27 professional athletes together – whether current or retired – there are a few things you can expect. I had the chance to hang with some of the coolest guys ever to embrace “the shield” at the first annual NFL Bermuda Golf Classic last week.

For example – when there is no real pressure on the field, complete and utter nonsense and goofiness ensues – just laughing and smiling the entire time beyond grateful for the experience to be on such a beautiful course and hang with such legends. Those honors definitely go to free agent Ryan Lindley and St. Louis Rams Special Teams Devon Wylie.

Then you’ve got guys who are just loving life and spending time with their families on the beautiful island of Bermuda – like Adrian Murrell and Victor Green who split their time between hitting the links with former teammates and hitting the beach with their families. And of course we can’t forget the incredible wardrobe of Marcus Stroud and his wife strategically worn throughout the weekend’s festivities, which should have won an award all its own (this will be a thing next year, mark my words).

For others, and a pretty recurrent theme throughout the week, you might see extreme smack-talking that ranges anywhere from the number of Super Bowl rings one has to bragging rights for the bogey you shot on the last hole, or the time you turned left and avoided that hard-hitting tackle (Lawrence Taylor and Billy Joe Tolliver win the smack talk category hands down). Let me be the first to say – how these two retired NFL players don’t have their own reality show is beyond me. Someone needs to get on this. It is pure gold.

The Bermuda Golf Classic took place at the famed Port Royal Golf Club, former home to the PGA Grand Slam of Golf. While there were no green jackets handed out to the winner, there was a stunning trophy as well as a custom-made Rockwell watch which went to retired linebacker Lawrence Taylor (L.T.) who beat out Billy Joe Tolliver in a sudden-death playoff round on signature hole 16 overlooking the gorgeous Bermuda waters. With about 200 sets of eyes (media, other players and locals), the two shot beautiful drive after drive, hitting the green like clockwork, but it was L.T.’s putting skills that won him the title.

Prior to the playoff round, L.T. was certain Billy Joe would have out-putted him. “The greens out here don’t give you the opportunity to make a lot of putts. It’s never the greens fault; it was the alcohol’s fault,” he says jokingly with a rocks glass in hand. “Of course we talk a lot of smack, but at the end of the day you still gotta perform. You always watch what you say because you don’t want to eat your words – it’ll come back to bite you like a big dog,” L.T. says.

After a bit of such talk, Billy Joe comes back with, “He’s been hit in the head too many times, you can’t blame him.”

[Check out The Blonde Side’s YouTube clip with these two vets.]

It was no surprise L.T. and Billy Joe made it to the finals (golf has sort of become their thing post-NFL), but a big surprise did come when Jaxson de Ville, the Jaguars mascot, shot an impressive 78 (7 over par) in his entire costume, size 24 shoes and all – only the second time playing a full 18

The Blonde Side goofing around with NFL Players Ryan Lindley and Devon Wiley

holes in costume. Golfing since age 5, Jaxson says signature hole 16 was his favorite, one of the most beautiful holes he’s played.

“We’re having a blast out here,” Hans Olsen, former tackle for BYU and the Colts says. “I gotta be honest – there’s been some pretty ugly smack talk – I’m not going to mention any names,” he says of a breakfast table encounter that went down the morning after the tournament. “Apparently there was some money, some words exchanged and things got really ugly, and I got up and left the table,” he says. Olsen also took a moment to casually mention that he was drafted in the Top 5 of the Pro-Am, because the competition between these guys never really went away.

“Smack talk has been more collegiate-based from my experience,” former Steeler Max Starks explains. “There’s a lot of Hurricanes, Seminoles and Gators out here – there’s a lot of heckling on the holes, but that’s ok because it’s not often you get to play a PGA-rated course,” the former Florida Gator says.

“It’s a fantastic course – you can find yourself in trouble in the bunkers, but it’s a lot of fun,” free agent Ryan Lindley says. The week also included a Pro-Am tournament where locals could draft-style bid on players. Lindley took it upon himself to grab the microphone and give all the compelling reasons he should be drafted for the Pro-Am. His team said he “lived up to the hype and more.”

While the tournament was certainly fun for all who played, it was more than bragging rights and custom watches up for stake. “We feel very fortunate to play on a course like Port Royal. It’s always good seeing the guys – we have a great reunion and the camaraderie we’ve built over the years is fun,” says former Jets safety Victor Green who puts on his own golf tournament in New York in September.

Former NFL Player Max Starks hits hole 16 at Port Royal Golf Course (photo via D'Lamina Photograph)

Former NFL Player Max Starks hits hole 16 at Port Royal Golf Course (photo: D’Lamina Photograph)

The weeklong event involved a lot more than just golf. Intangibles like bonding time, family style meals (and adult beverages for most), scooter tours throughout the two-lane island (if you passed your scooter test), swimming with and kissing dolphins, scuba diving and snorkeling, mini-golf and more. It was an all around great reunion for players and their families and a lot of love was shown from the Bermudians. Players and their families were put up at the Cambridge Beaches Resort & Spa (which was a presenting sponsor) where they undoubtedly rolled out the red carpet. There wasn’t a single attendee who isn’t anxiously waiting and hoping for an invite for next year.

While the event was a ton of fun, I will say thank goodness none of these guys had backup plans to play professional golf.

This article originally ran in the sports section of CBS’s Man Cave Daily. Click here to see the original article online.

April 12, 2015/by Jayme

Jaxson de Ville

Football

Jaxson on signature hole 16 at the 1st Annual Bermuda Golf Classic (photo: D’Lamina Photography)

Jaxson Takes MVP Honors at 1^st Annual NFL Bermuda Golf Classic

It’s no secret golf can be a frustrating sport, and that’s just for a normal person. Try being nearly 7ft tall, 403lbs and wearing a size 24 shoe and hitting the links. (To put it in perspective, Shaquille O’Neil only wears a size 22 shoe.)

Twenty seasons in the NFL as the self-proclaimed best mascot in sports, Jaxson de Ville (Curtis Dvorak) recently played just his second full round of golf (18 holes) and first tournament – and he came in 3^rd. Flying all the way to Bermuda at Port Royal Golf Course to play in the 1^st Annual NFL Bermuda Golf Classic with his Nike Woods driver TaylorMade irons and putters, Jaxson shot a 78 (+7) coming in behind Lawrence Taylor (LT) and Billy Joe Tolliver.

The retired Taylor and Tolliver battled it out in a sudden death round on signature hole 16 (Jaxson’s favorite hole), with LT snagging first place after out-putting Tolliver. Jaxson snagged MVP honors, which is no surprise to Jaguar fans, but his exceptional golf game may be a surprise to some.

Jaxson has been playing golf since he was five and appearances at golf tournaments over the last 20 seasons have been a regular part of his job – that’s a lot of practice for the cat.

Jaxson attributes his third place standing at the Bermuda Golf Classic to having to arbitrarily guess

Jaxson playing caddy for Lawrence Taylor, who won the Bermuda Golf Classic (photo: D’Lamina Photography)

his handicap. “I just started hitting balls and always speculated what I thought I could shoot in costume,” Jaxson says. “I didn’t know what my handicap was because I hadn’t played a round in costume so we said lets go with 8 because that seems like a fair handicap.”

His handicap wasn’t the only thing unexpected about his first tournament in costume. “We didn’t know if I’d need to take a break or how much water I’d need,” he says noting he took a small break and probably (like most) didn’t get enough water. “I definitely didn’t get enough Gatorade because I faded the last 5 holes – I ended up bogeying my last 4 out of 5,” he admits.

MVP honors weren’t enough for Jaxson (unlike his recent 1^st place winnings) – next year he’s coming back for the real deal. But maybe with different shoes.

“I wore the mascot feet instead of golf shoes because I thought it would make for better pictures, but it’s a lot more difficult,” Jaxson laughs. “It really only hurt in the bunkers – my feet would slide – it was like standing on two soft platters. It hurt my game on a couple shots,” he says.

“I wish I would have been in LT and Billy’s group – with five holes to play I was 3 over at the time and they shot 4 over to tie, so I would have been right there within a stroke of them,” he recalls. “I figured Billy Joe and LT were shooting 70 or 60,” which likely would have put him out of the running he says. Knowing he was so close to winning the first-ever Bermuda Golf Classic, Jaxson is already practicing for next year.

Since LT came out the winner, Jaxson undoubtedly wants a chance to face off against him at the next tournament. As for players he hopes to see in Bermuda next year, he’s personally inviting two Jags players. “I definitely want Blake Bortles here because he wanted to come this year but his schedule conflicted, and of course Scobee because any chance I get to play Scobee in the same tournament is good. He got me in the last tournament we were in together,” Jaxson says looking for payback.

“ I definitely will be working on it leading up to it (next year’s tournament). That’s why I wanted to win the first one because I knew there were only a handful of guys with the handicap as far as the gross. The net balances everything out, but I wanted to win the gross because next year there’s going to be a lot of good golfers out here because guys are going to hear about it,” he says.

Another obvious disadvantage to playing in costume is not being able to see your ball after you drive, which luckily didn’t affect Jaxson’s game too much thanks to an extra set of local eyes. “They gave me a guy named Chris from the club (‘Big Chris’) to ride around with – he was definitely the MVP. He was my eyes and had knowledge reading the greens, so he definitely helped me,” Jaxson says.

Just like a mascot to grab EVERYONE’S attention (photo: D’Lamina Photography)

As for the week in Bermuda, Jaxson says, “It was fun to see a lot of guys you haven’t seen in awhile” – like Fred Taylor, Marcus Stroud, Doug Jones and a bunch of the other guys he spent time with.

“I’m learning things for next time like packing the cart with bananas, Gatorade, and power bars,” he says. And it’s undecided what kind of shoes he’ll wear. Next year’s tournament is slated for April 13 – 17^th.

April 11, 2015/by Jayme

2015 HTC Battle To Make the Team

Cheerleading

Houston Texans Cheerleaders – a few blondies (photo via Houston Texans)

Houston Texans cheerleaders battle to make the team: A behind the scenes look at the beautiful drama

Massive sighs of relief could be heard from 35 of the hardest working, hair-flipping and hip thrusting gals in Houston when the new Texans cheerleaders were revealed inside the Methodist Training Center practice bubble this week. For the first time in Texans cheerleader history, all the returning vets made the 50-women finals, which included a week of practices, swimsuit rounds, interviews by the coach and other Texans staff and online daily voting by crazed fans.

Everything fell into place Tuesday night when Texans cheerleader coach Alto Gary announced the 35 girls who will beautifully make up the new team, which include 12 rookies anxious to rock those coveted red boots.

“You worked so hard and I’m so thankful for your hard work. I wish I had 50 spots, but I don’t have the budget for it. If your name isn’t called, we can be friends and I hope to see you next year,” the coach started before calling the first name. As each name was called, the women walked the red carpet to hug Gary, letting out a huge sigh of relief.

“We have a lot of Sarah’s . . . Sarah M” coach called out saying “she’s come a long, long way and I’m so proud of her.” Gary noted that Sarah M. was part of the training group last season and expressed her sincere appreciation for all her hard work over the course of the year.

(Note, the team also has Sarah C. and Sarah F. The Texans do not release cheerleaders’ last names.)

One of the most excited red carpet walks has to go to returning vet Allison who literally sprinted to hug her coach, which was impressive in those knee-high red boots with a heel.

My personal highlight of the night was when Gary called for Jessica. Not a soul moved. Everyone looked at the beautiful blonde who was standing towards the left of the semicircle, but she had no idea it was her. “Yes, YOU,” Gary said before Jessica finally made her way onto the carpet. (Thank goodness we avoided that awkward Bachelor moment when the wrong girl steps up for the rose.)

Krystal literally jumped all the way down the red carpet after hearing her name.

After all 35 names were called, Gary thanked everyone yet again for their dedication and hard work. “You never know what can happen. Ladies, I will see you next year, stay in shape, and keep dancing!” the coach said. “Seriously, you never know what could happen — you could get a call in December. Thank you and I’ll see you next year.”

It’s no secret the 50 finalists put in a lot of hard work, but Gary and her staff definitely logged some

HTC Madison and Lesha are back for another season (Photo via Houston Texans)

long nights too.

Cheerleader Heartbreak

Sadly a few Texans cheerleader vets did not make the team this year and the heartache was clear on everyone’s faces, including Gary’s.

Cheerleader vet Rachel said that on a scale of 1 to 10 in nervousness she was an 11.5 heading into the evening.

Cheerleader vet Rachel said that on a scale of 1 to 10 in nervousness she was an 11.5.

“I just really want my spot back. Last season I came in here and just had a blast because I had nothing to lose because I wasn’t on the team and coming in here this year I had everything to lose. This is everything to me,” she said.

As for the rookie she’s most excited about, Rachel said that goes to Kelly. “She was an Ice Angel — that’s what I was before this and that’s how I met her, so when she came down she asked if she could live with me, so we live together — I’m so excited she made it!”

There’s a new set of twins on the sidelines — Jordan and Randi who are identical twins from Crockett with the thickest and sweetest southern accents you’ll ever hear. This was the duo’s first time trying out.

“We were overwhelmed — can’t believe it,” the twins said in unison. As for what they’re most looking forward to, Jordan summed it up quite nicely.

“The experience and making friendships and dancing on the field in front of thousands of people,” she said.

Although the sisters have never done anything quite like this, they’ve danced for 13 years and even taught dance for five years. The pair plans to commute in for every game and practice in their shared Jeep Patriot — all the way from Huntsville.

That’s cheerleader dedication.

Click here to see the original article that ran on Houston’s Culture Map.

April 9, 2015/by Jayme

Wizard Girl Kelly

Cheerleading

Wizard Girl Kelly (photo courtesy of the Washington Wizards)

Washington D.C. has long been packed with some big names and some powerful influences. Politics aside, the Wizard Girls are at the top of that list (at least my list) and so is my new blonde pal Kelly who is in her rookie year with the east coast dance team.

She’s energetic, has the kind of hair Pantene commercials are made of, and of course…she’s got the dance moves we all wish we had. But hair and slick moves aside, Kelly is the total package with the desire to always give back to her community, loves the intensity of the sport she dances for and isn’t afraid to photo bomb anyone and everyone possible. And she’s humble…unless you talk about her college dance team of course…

I also feel like I should warn New Yorkers, because Kelly says D.C. trumps New York. Fighting words?

Man Cave Daily: Where are you from?

Kelly: Warrenton, VA–a small town most people just call Northern Virginia.

MCD: Occupation or School?

K: I graduated from Hofstra University, in Long Island, NY. I majored in journalism and was on the dance team. We just so happen to be back-to-back Division One Hip-hop National Champions, but I don’t like to brag.

MCD: Years on team, did you make it your first try?

K: I am a rookie! I was lucky enough to make it on my first try.

MCD: Tell me about your dance background? You have moves I wish I had; I know you didn’t just learn them…

K: I have been a dancer for a long time; I actually grew up studying ballet, but I got pretty serious about it in college while on the dance team. Not only did we dance at sporting events, we competed in Collegiate Nationals. I love a team environment; I was never the one who hated group projects in school. So after graduating I needed a new team.

I made the New York Jets Flight Crew, and I had a great season cheering for the NFL. I moved back to the D.C. area this summer and was lucky enough to become a Wizard Girl!

MCD: Hardest part about being an NBA Dancer?

K: Well there is a lot of hard work that goes into being a NBA dancer, but the payoff is so fun that the work is worth it! We are constantly learning new material, and getting ready for upcoming games. With 40-plus games and multiple performances in a game, we have a lot of choreography to get to Wizard Girl standards!

MCD: Have you ever gone onto the court and forgotten your routine?

K: Thank goodness I have never forgotten a routine on the court! I don’t think my coach would be too happy about that. Derric, our coach works extremely hard to give us new, entertaining, and innovative routines. And we work hard to get them right for game day. But my teammates would tell you I may have a moment or two right before we perform that I think I have forgotten everything. But I have learned that I don’t, and they have learned to ignore me.

MCD: Favorite NBA player?

K: What I think makes the Wizards so fun to watch is how they work together. It’s hard to pick a favorite!

MCD: Best part about basketball?

K: How everything is close-up and more intimate than other sports. It just adds to the excitement and intensity. I love being able to see the faces of the team I am cheering on, as well as those cheering with us in the stands. It may sound weird, but I love the personality that basketball has. Seeing a player give everything they have on the court in those final seconds, pull off some creative and athletic moves to win the game, and then see the fans right there with them.

MCD: Coolest thing about your arena?

K: The Verizon Center is electric; D.C. packs the place out to see the Wizards continue in their great season. I love that from the highest rows to courtside, fans are cheering the entire game.

MCD: If you had a Real Housewives intro…

K: Ughhh, I am feeling a lot of pressure on this one! My teammates and I joke about if we had a

Wizard Girl Kelly has all the right moves and words to live by (photo courtesy Washington Wizards)

Wizard Girl TV show; I’m telling you these girls are hilarious. So I don’t want to disappoint.

MCD: Miley or Taylor?

K: Both! Is that cheating?

MCD: Biggest misconception about NBA dancers?

K: Well I can think of a handful off the top of my head; most involving a lack of brains, or humility. But we don’t dance for other people’s opinion; that is the biggest misconception. Any girl dancing for a professional team has worked extremely hard for that position, and knows how much goes into it. You will be hard-pressed to find a place with more driven, kind, hilarious, and intelligent women than the sidelines of an NBA court, and they happen to be pretty great dancers too.

MCD: Dream vacation?

K: I am constantly talking about traveling, to my family and my friends. We have so many dream trips planned in our heads it’s hard to pick just one. I would really love to go to Greece, but I would honestly go most anywhere in the world right now! I mean, if I didn’t have practice…

MCD: Most embarrassing thing in your recent Google history?

K: It’s funny you should ask that. Last night in the locker room we were doing a pretty serious Google investigation into Sally Hansen, to see what she looked like. It turns out, she’s not even real! If you have no idea what I’m talking about it is completely understandable.

MCD: Most random thing in your purse?

K: I was really hoping for something interesting–I have nail polish… not cool at all.

MCD: Fan of selfies?

K: I don’t take a lot of selfies. I never get the angle right or something. Buuut I do photobomb a lot of selfies, and well, any other picture. It is definitely something the Wizard Girls have rubbed off on me. We all do it; no one and no picture is safe.

MCD: Favorite thing about DC?

K: Coming from New York I wasn’t sure how D.C. was going to stack up. And I hate to break it to all my New Yorkers but it’s better–a lot better. I love that although it is a huge city it can still feel small. I love how beautiful it is; my drive to the Verizon Center is marked with the Lincoln Memorial, Washington Monument, White House–I could go on and on.

MCD: When I say the letter “W” what’s the first word that comes to mind?

K: Well I instantly think of WIN! It may be because I am still thinking about the Wizards’ win last night.

MCD: App you use most?

K: Probably the map–directions are not my strength.

MCD: Homebody or adventurer?

K: Definitely an adventurer. I am up for anything, and love being spontaneous! My teammate and I made a 2015 bucket list; they aren’t huge trips or anything. Just small ideas that keep us trying new things! I’m really looking forward to trying to trapeze, and a color run.

MCD: Most adventurous thing you’ve done?

K: Moving back to D.C. this summer was such an adventure! I never thought I would be here and dancing for the Wizards. And now that I am, I don’t know how I lived without it. This city and my teammates bring an adventure everyday!

MCD: Tell me something people would find completely out of character?

K: I used to be a competitive figure skater and I am obsessed with board games! I also have recently started volunteering with the Alzheimer’s Association. It is a cause very close to my heart, and the Association does such great work to help those with the disease and their families, and help fund research to find a cure!

To end on a somewhat motivational note because I know Kelly will approve, I will leave you with one of Kelly’s favorite quotes, which is also now one of my favorites: “All you touch and all you see, is all your life will ever be.”

To see the original interview along with more smashing photos of Kelly, click here to see it on CBS Man Cave Daily. Thanks to the Wizard Girls for partaking in this series and thanks to Ideal Protein Houston for sponsoring the series. Ideal Protein can help you with many aspects of weight loss and management, but my favorite is their weekly weight and body measurements analysis that they offer clients.

April 2, 2015/by Jayme

Rockets Power Dancer Willy: A Stellar Talent

Cheerleading

Rockets Power Dancer (RPD) Willy

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!).

March 30, 2015/by Jayme

Keep Arian Weird

Football

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.

“I’M JUST TRYING TO BE THE BEST TEAMMATE I CAN BE.” Foster was asked 11 questions during an interview after 2014 training camp and this was the answer he gave ELEVEN TIMES.

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.

*Follow his adventures on Twitter.

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!).

March 8, 2015/by Jayme

99 Reasons to Love JJ Watt

Football

Photo via Salviace Photography

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.

March 6, 2015/by Jayme

Project88 Foundation (Texans)

Football

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.

March 6, 2015/by Jayme

The Prettiest Part of Football

Cheerleading

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.

March 5, 2015/by Jayme

Sallie Sargent

Football

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.

March 5, 2015/by Jayme