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USA Water Polo Goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson Finds Joy in Her Trailblazing Journey

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2 months ago

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PARIS — These Olympics may very well be described because the Games of ladies’s empowerment, especially the empowerment of black women. There’s the historic dominance of the U.S. women’s basketball team, the seismic impact of gymnast Simone Biles and sprinter Sha’Carri Richardson’s quest to win the gold medal she felt was denied her in 2020.

Then there’s Ashleigh Johnson, a two-time Olympic champion who is taken into account top-of-the-line goalkeepers in women’s water polo — In 2021, she saved 80 shots on the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympics, greater than another goalkeeper in either the lads’s or women’s tournamentsJohnson is a pillar of the dominant U.S. women’s Olympic water polo team, which is searching for its fourth consecutive Olympic gold medal.

Johnson helped lead Team USA to gold on the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games and the delayed 2020 Tokyo Games. Her team opened its title defense Saturday with a dominant 15-6 victory over Greece. Johnson recorded 10 saves in three or more quarters. Team USA lost 13-11 to Spain in pool play on Monday.

Johnson, who played water polo for 4 years at Princeton, made her first Olympic team at age 21. Now, at 29, Johnson has grow to be a sage, a keeper of the flame, and has warned the Olympic team that it must write its own history.

“The legacy of this team is so strong — the U.S. women’s water polo team has won three consecutive gold medals, and this is an opportunity to win a fourth,” she said. “But this particular team, this group of women, hasn’t done anything yet. We haven’t won a gold medal, we haven’t been to the Olympics. This is our first opportunity to prove ourselves. We’re making our own way and writing our own stories.”

That’s how Johnson described her journey, from swimming lessons to winning three consecutive Florida state championships at Miami High School to playing intercollegiate water polo at an Ivy League school to becoming a dominant force in a sport where there have been no black players.

United States water polo gold medalists Ashleigh Johnson (left) and Madeline Musselman (right) after their gold medal match against Spain throughout the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at Tatsumi Water Polo Centre on August 7, 2021 in Tokyo.

Tom Pennington/Getty Images

In 2016, Johnson became the primary African-American woman to affix the U.S. Olympic women’s water polo team. For all of the talk of progress and the misguided backlash against diversity, Johnson is proof of the effectiveness of diversity and the ability of inclusivity.

Just ask the opposition. Johnson played 4 years at Princeton and have become the all-time saves leader. Johnson’s journey was a difficult and lonely learning experience that gave her a brand new perspective on what other trailblazers endured to interrupt through previously segregated sports.

The biggest challenge was an internal one, testing her self-confidence. The first was selecting a university.

“I played the sport in high school, and deciding to go to college to play water polo wasn’t easy,” she said. “I chose Princeton, which was a very unusual path for a water polo player, but I was going to play water polo there, which I did for four years.”

After her sophomore 12 months, Johnson made the difficult decision to depart college and train to make the U.S. Women’s Olympic Water Polo Team. “That decision was tough because I never saw anyone on that team that looked like me. I never imagined that I could do that. I always wanted to balance my life with my sport, and I felt like the decision to move from New Jersey to California was a huge decision to give up that balance and take it out of my life.”

She had to beat her doubts, but eventually she found the positive energy of family and friends who encouraged her to take the leap. “I thought, ‘OK, here are all these people who believe in me, who believe I can do this. Let me take a chance and believe I can do it, believe in myself and just do it.’ So I did. I worked hard for two years and eventually made my first Olympic team.”

In some ways, Johnson’s journey defines the journey of any athlete who makes the Olympic team in any sport. She was stretched and pushed in ways she could never have imagined. Even the isolation of being a trailblazer became empowering.

“We trained twice a day, lifted weights four times a week. It was a lot more than I’ve ever done,” Johnson said. “I’m glad I took the risk, but it was weird.”

As an East Coast transplant to the West Coast, Johnson was a fish out of water. “Water polo is West Coast-based, so coming from the East Coast and taking what I knew about water polo, how I played, to the national team was a very difficult transition. And then, being the only person who looked like me, I thought, ‘OK, how do I fit in when nobody looks like me, nobody has my background, and what do I want to take from them? What do I want to give? How open, how vulnerable am I going to be on this team?’”

What if she did all this, sacrificed herself, opened herself up, and still didn’t achieve the specified result?

Johnson discovered that letting go of fear brings freedom.

“It was a tough journey,” she said. “But I used to be ultimately capable of make the team and recover from my fear of failure, which is difficult when you’ve such an enormous goal.

“That’s something that a lot of people don’t realize about the Olympic journey. The more you hold on to the fear of not achieving your goal, the more it hurts when you don’t achieve it, and the less you actually experience the journey along the way, which is the best thing you get out of it.”

USA goalkeeper Ashleigh Johnson serves the ball throughout the Group B match against Greece on the primary day of the 2024 Paris Olympic Games on the Aquatics Centre on July 27 in Paris.

Clive Rose/2024 Getty Images

Three Olympics later, Johnson has grow to be the leader and star of Team USA. Her mission now, in addition to helping the team win its fourth consecutive gold medal, is to open the door and convey more young women who appear like her into the game.

In July, she felt invigorated when 65-year-old rapper Flavor Flav signed a five-year sponsorship deal to support the lads’s and ladies’s national water polo teams.

“I’ve met a lot of young black girls in my sport. A lot of them reach out to me through Instagram through USA Water Polo,” Johnson said. “Just sharing stories, encouraging and being a fan of people who find themselves coming into our sport, being a voice that guides them, telling them they’re on the precise path, they’re doing the precise thing, there’s a spot for you here.

“I think telling a new story is something I’m trying to do, saying we belong here, we stand out here, and then mentoring. That’s really important to me.”

When she was 21 and walking the trail of a pioneer alone, Johnson struggled hard to seek out joy in her journey. Today, she said, her joy is immense.

“I think finding joy in what you do is asking yourself why you do it,” she said. “I play because it brings me joy even when it’s hard. Like, jumping in a pool is one of the hardest things I do all day, but I think about it as my job, I get to play a game with my friends, and it’s the same game I’ve been playing since I was a kid. The game hasn’t changed, I’ve just gotten better at it, so I play the game I’m really good at with my friends every day.”

There is more joy at these Games than on the Tokyo Games, when the world was in the grips of a pandemic.

Johnson said 2021 lacked a way of lightness and joy.

“One of the biggest differences between the Tokyo Olympics and these games is that the pandemic is behind us, and that has affected a lot of athletes,” she said. “Loads of people have been grieving, lots of people have been wondering how one can take care of the financial losses, the social losses, and a lot distance.

“We didn’t have any interaction with other athletes (in Tokyo). The Olympic spirit was there, but it was muted. So going into these Games, that Olympic spirit was revived. As excited as I am to play, people are excited to go and be part of the Olympic spirit. We all felt a surge of energy.”

Winning a fourth gold medal will bring her joy, but it would also make her discipline more diverse, and the outcomes her team achieves will give her peace of mind.

Joy has grow to be multifaceted.

“The pandemic has put things in perspective for us,” Johnson said. “OK, I play water polo and I’m an athlete, but what else am I? — understanding that you’re more than just an athlete, more than what you do at your job. I need to go for a walk every day, or I like to cook, I like to read. Connecting with things that make you happy.”

William C. Rhoden is a columnist at Andscape and the creator of Forty Million Dollar Slaves: The Rise, Fall, and Redemption of the Black Athlete. He directs Rhoden Fellows, a training program for aspiring journalists at HBCUs.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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‘Mike Doesn’t Look His Healthiest’: Fans Spot Disturbing Changes in Michael Jordan’s Appearance That Raise Serious Health Concerns

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8 mins ago

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September 21, 2024

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Many sports enthusiasts consider Michael Jordan to be the best skilled basketball player of all time. However, fans of the NBA legend are actually concerned about his well-being.

Jordan traveled to Monaco together with his wife, Yvette Prieto, for the UEFA Champions League match between Monaco and Barcelona on September 19, which Monaco won 2-1.

Michael Jordan Donates $10 Million to Medical Clinics in His North Carolina Hometown: 'Everyone Should Have Access to Quality Healthcare'
PARIS, FRANCE – JANUARY 24: Michael Jordan attends a press conference before the NBA Paris Game between the Charlotte Hornets and Milwaukee Bucks on January 24, 2020 in Paris, France. (Photo by Aurelien Meunier/Getty Images)

Photos of the American billionaire in the European country sparked concern from social media users after Bleacher Report shared photos of Jordan on Instagram. Fans who zoomed in on the photo immediately noticed that his sclera (the white of his eyes) appeared discolored.

“What’s up with his eyes, man?” one person wrote in the comments section. Another asked, “Does he have jaundice??? His eyes are way too yellow.”

A 3rd fan wrote: “Mike doesn’t look the healthiest. Maybe he’ll have to give up the cigars and cognac.”

Jaundice is a disease that causes the skin, sclera, and mucous membranes to show yellow. According to Cleveland Clinicthe disease could also be brought on by liver dysfunction.

“His liver is begging for help,” one Instagram user wrote of Michael Jordan. Another account exclaimed, “Check out the GOAT’s liver!”

People on the web also offered advice to the six-time NBA champion. For example, one suggested, “MJ, drink some water, man, for fuck’s sake.”

There was also speculation that His Airness can have been smoking marijuana, with an Instagram user wondering: “Is this guy high or did he have a shot to the liver?”

Jordan was often known as a celebration animal in the ’90s. According to his former teammates and players, he had a habit of drinking beer while playing golf all day, then heading to the basketball court for a game. Today, he can often be found partying on yachts with friends, smoking a cigar.

Magic Johnson told an identical story about how Jordan, whom he described as “the strongest, non-basketball player… athlete I’d ever seen,” once wanted him to come back home after hours.

“I told Mike I can’t stay up until 4 a.m., have a drink, get up, play 18 rounds of golf, sleep for an hour and then come in and score 30 (points) by halftime,” Johnson told Shannon Sharpe on “Club Shay Shay.” “I know who I am.”

This isn’t the primary time Jordan’s eye color has been rumored. After the 10-part Netflix docuseries The Last Dance premiered in 2020, viewers theorized a few possible MJ condition.

“Yellow eyes should not be ignored because they are a sign of something more. There is literally more than meets the eye,” said ophthalmologist Dr. Val Phua VICE in 2020 in response to Jordan’s appearance in the film “The Last Dance.”

The doctor from the Eagle Eye Centre in Singapore also said that “leaving eye diseases untreated leads to vision deterioration and even blindness.”

While questions on his health proceed to arise, Jordan has expressed interest in helping others receive treatment. The North Carolina-raised athlete has teamed up with Novant Health to open three clinics in his home state.

Two Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinics have opened in Charlotte. The Novant Health Michael Jordan Family Medical Clinic in Wilmington will open in May 2024.

“Everyone deserves access to high-quality health care, no matter where they live or whether they have insurance,” Jordan said in press release earlier this yr.

He added, “I am truly inspired by the many moving stories of people who are now experiencing success thanks to the support of our medical clinics in Charlotte.”

Jordan was previously married to Juanita Vanoy in September 1989. She was reportedly awarded a $168 million settlement after filing for divorce for a second time in 2006. They had three children: Jeffrey, 35, Marcus, 33, and Jasmine, 31, who’s involved in her father’s athletic shoe line.

The NBA Hall of Famer married Cuban-American model Yvette Prieto in April 2013. The couple, who met in 2008 and got engaged in 2011, share 10-year-old twin daughters named Victoria and Ysabel.


This article was originally published on : atlantablackstar.com
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Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels steps into action

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13 hours ago

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September 20, 2024

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Star black quarterbacks aren’t any longer the exception, they’re the rule. Throughout the football season, this series will explore the importance and influence of black quarterbacks from the grassroots level to the NFL.

ASHBURN, Va. – The Washington Commanders’ starting quarterback Jayden Daniels is off to a solid start, which comes as no surprise to the previous Commanders quarterback.

Jason Campbell, a former first-round pick of the Washington Redskins and a four-year starter for the franchise, became a fan of Daniels after watching him play in college at LSU. Daniels’ success as a running back has benefited the Commanders during their 1-1 start, Campbell said, and can help Daniels change into more comfortable within the team’s passing game. Campbell is optimistic about Daniels’ future, provided the Washington coaching staff properly handles the young player’s development.

Campbell said Daniels continues to make the precise decisions because the team prepares on the practice facility for a Week 3 road game against the Cincinnati Bengals.

“One of the things he does really well is protecting the ball. He hasn’t thrown an interception yet, and for a rookie quarterback through his first two games, that’s really good,” Campbell told Andscape on Tuesday. “Even when that (fumble) happens, and it’ll occur, you’ll be able to see he understands he has to make good decisions with the ball. I do know they’re attempting to protect him from running an excessive amount of. I understand it’s a giant deal (a couple of potential injury). There was quite a lot of discuss him rushing 16 times in Week 1.

“But it’s not like they designed 16 runs for him. If they did, yes, that would be a problem. But most of those runs were rushes. Those runs are going to open up explosive plays in the passing game because of the pressure they put on the defense when a quarterback can run like he can. There’s just not a lot of guys who can do that. The difference in Washington from LSU is that in addition to the running, he had so many explosive passing plays at LSU. Once he starts building that chemistry with his receivers, combined with the running, those plays are going to happen.”

Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels steps out from outside the penalty area at Northwest Stadium on September 15 in Landover, Maryland.

Randy Litzinger/Icon Sportswire

Selected second overall within the 2024 draft, the 23-year-old Daniels is amongst six quarterbacks chosen in the primary round, tying a record set in 1983. Through two games, the Washington rookie has been the perfect of the bunch.

Daniels accomplished 75.5 percent of his passes for 410 yards. While he didn’t have any touchdown passes, Daniels, crucially, didn’t have any interceptions either. Daniels has 132 rushing yards (and a formidable 5.1 yards per rush average) with two rushing touchdowns. He fumbled the ball twice, however the Commanders recovered it each times.

For comparison, the opposite two rookies playing at point guard, the No. 1 pick Caleb Williams Chicago Bears and the twelfth pick Because Nixa The Denver Broncos struggled. Both seemed overwhelmed by the speed of the sport.

After the visiting Commanders lost to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Daniels’ profession debut, he showed poise of their home opener, confidently leading the game-winning drive that capped a 21-18 victory over the New York Giants. With the Commanders trailing 18-15 late within the fourth quarter, Daniels led the team in back-to-back field goals, including a 30-yarder as time expired. On those drives, he accomplished 7 of 9 passes for 91 yards. Daniels ran twice for 15 yards.

After watching Daniels at LSU, Campbell thought the 2023 Heisman Trophy winner’s game would translate well to the NFL because “it’s all about the RPO (run and pass option) in the league these days,” Campbell said. “NFL coaches want guys who can make plays with their legs now. And from the first time you watch him, you can see he really does that.”

In his current role as a radio analyst for Auburn Sports Network, Campbell has often watched Daniels play within the SEC. Selected as an analyst for his alma mater in 2023, Campbell was named the SEC Offensive Player of the Year in 2004. That season, he led undefeated Auburn to an SEC championship and a Sugar Bowl victory.

Washington chosen Campbell in the primary round (twenty fifth overall) of the 2005 draft. He then had a 10-year NFL profession, also playing for the then-Oakland Raiders, Bears, Cleveland Browns and Cincinnati Bengals.

When Campbell first saw Daniels, who transferred to LSU after three seasons at Arizona State, play in person, one thought immediately got here to mind: Baltimore Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Although Daniels wasn’t as polished as Jackson, the two-time AP NFL MVP, “you could see some of the same things,” Campbell said. “Guys like Lamar, Jalen Hurts (of the Philadelphia Eagles), Justin Fields (of the Pittsburgh Steelers) … they make big plays with their legs.

“When I was playing, they (coaches) always wanted you to stay in the pocket. If you didn’t stay in the pocket, it was like, ‘Oh shit. I did something wrong.’ Now, if you can get out of the pocket and run like they do, coaches see that as an added threat. The whole coaching mindset has changed. It’s a big bonus now. The RPO game has really allowed guys to come in and start right away and learn on the field. A guy like Daniels can beat you with his legs and his arm.”

Washington Commanders quarterback Jayden Daniels celebrates after a game against the New York Giants at Northwest Stadium on September 15 in Landover, Maryland.

Greg Fiume/Getty Images

As a member of the fraternity of black quarterbacks in Washington, Campbell is a giant fan of Daniels’ development.

Quarterback Doug Williams’ iconic, myth-busting Super Bowl performance got here when he led Washington to a 42-10 victory over the Denver Broncos in Super Bowl XXII in 1988. Williams became the primary black quarterback to start out a Super Bowl game and won the sport’s MVP award.

Although Williams, who’s a senior adviser to the Washington general manager, was not drafted by the Commanders and commenced only 14 games for the franchise in 4 seasons, all the black quarterbacks who play for the team accomplish that in his shadow, Campbell said. The club also drafted Robert Griffin III (2012, No. 2 overall) and Dwayne Haskins (2019, No. 15 overall) in the primary round.

“You feel like there’s a little extra pressure to live up to that,” Campbell said. “Because he was the primary black quarterback to win a Super Bowl and he did it for Washington, that’s a giant deal.

“But the bottom line is, to get anywhere in this league as a quarterback, you have to be in the right place, in the right situation, and have the right pieces around you. For (Daniels), it’s going in a pretty good direction right now.”

Commanders fans, hungry for fulfillment, are hoping Daniels continues on his current profession path.

Jason Reid is a senior NFL author at Andscape. He enjoys watching sports, especially any games involving his son and daughter.

This article was originally published on : andscape.com
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Memphis Head Coach Penny Hardaway Announces New Assistant Coaches

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1 day ago

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September 20, 2024

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Former NBA player and current college basketball coach Penny Hardaway just announced that he has hired two assistant coaches, including a former HBCU head coach, to affix his staff on the University of Memphis.

School announced that Nolan Smith and former Detroit Mercy basketball coach Mike Davis shall be assistant coaches for the 2024-25 season.

“I am excited to have Coach Davis as part of our program,” Hardaway said in a written statement. “He is a seasoned coach who brings a winning mentality to the team and has a powerful resume to back it up, each on and off the court.

“Mike has won at the highest level, has achieved great success and is a proven leader of young men. He will serve our program in the front office, on campus and in the community. We are excited to have Mike and his family in Memphis.”

Davis spent the past six seasons as head coach at Detroit Mercy (2018-24), as he brings greater than 35 years of coaching experience to the sidelines. He has been a head coach for twenty-four years and has led his teams to the postseason in 14 of those years. He has a winning record in 15 of those 24 seasons, recording a minimum of 20 wins nine times.

Smith, meanwhile, most recently served as an assistant coach at Louisville for the past two years (2022-24). Prior to his time at Louisville, he spent six seasons working under legendary coach Mike Krzyzewski at Duke (2016-22).

“Nolan is a guy with grit and grit, one of the brightest young coaches in college basketball,” Hardaway said. “He works hard and has an unmatched passion for the sport.

“He brings a championship mentality to our team, not only having won a national championship as a competitor, but also having learned from one of the all-time greats in Mike Krzyzewski. Our fighters will love being in the gym with Nolan, and we are excited to have him and his family as part of Tiger Nation.”

The Tigers will play their first exhibition game on October 15 within the Hoops for St. Jude® Tip Off Classic, where they may face North Carolina on the FedEx Forum in Memphis.


This article was originally published on : www.blackenterprise.com
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