
Maggie Steffens questioned for far more guidance for the U.S. women’s water polo team, and the captain received a single notably surprising response.
From a clock-sporting rap icon.
Moved by Steffens’ Instagram submit, Flavor Flav has stepped ahead to assistance the U.S. team as it goes for an unparalleled fourth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summer months. He is finalizing a deal that will make him a United states Drinking water Polo sponsor and the formal hype guy for a plan trying to find a more substantial highlight.
The 65-12 months-previous Flav, a founding member and hype person with Community Enemy, has jumped headfirst into his new obligations, highlighting some of the team’s very best gamers on social media. He also is earning plans to observe the women’s staff engage in in Paris.
“When I occur out and I look at this water polo staff … ‘USA! United states!’ Yo, I’m likely to be the biggest buzz gentleman that they at any time experienced in their lifetime,” he explained to the AP on Friday. “I’m heading to be even bigger than any cheerleader that they experienced in their life. I’m heading to cheer this group on, and I’m going to cheer this crew into profitable a gold medal.”
Winning has been the usual end result for the U.S. women’s team since the 2012 Olympics. But it hasn’t captivated the identical attention or assist as equally dominant American plans, mainly for the reason that h2o polo stays a specialized niche sport during most of the planet.
That — alongside with a very little nostalgia — prompted Steffens, 30, the last remaining member of the 2012 crew, to publish on Instagram. When expressing gratitude for the chance to enjoy and her enjoy for her activity, she also inspired any one reading through the publish to verify out her crew and highlighted the regular economical struggle for most Olympic athletes.
“We’ve gotten a ton of opinions you know of ‘Oh, it is so cool what you have accomplished. Bummer you’re not a soccer player or a basketball participant, mainly because your workforce would be getting way far more publicity or way much more assist,’” Steffens explained Friday from Paris, exactly where the group is on a coaching excursion ahead of the Olympics.
“And instead we’re nevertheless type of where we were being at 12 a long time back, which for me is not my intention. I have generally desired to propel the sport forward.”
Enter Flav, who was inducted with the team Public Enemy into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2013. Flav’s supervisor brought the post to his focus, and he made a decision he wished to support.
“One thing about me, I know what it feels like to want to see a dream occur real,” mentioned Flav, who is recognized for carrying a huge clock on a chain close to his neck. “I know what it feels like to want to reach a intention, and I’m the style of man or woman that, if I see you attempting, then I’m heading to do whatsoever I can to support you.”
Steffens mentioned it was “very surreal” when Flav — whose lawful identify is William Jonathan Drayton Jr. — achieved out. Asked what she knew about Flav and General public Enemy ahead of the connection, Steffens promptly imitated Flav’s frequent “Flavor Flav!” declaration.
Steffens is 1 of the oldest players on the U.S. staff, but she explained Ryann Neushul, 24, had General public Enemy in her top five on the new music streaming provider, Spotify. A couple of the team’s coaches and Steffens’ loved ones also were thrilled about the partnership.
“My total relatives was like ‘Is this true? Flav is aspect of the h2o polo environment now?’” Steffens stated. “I was like ‘I don’t know what’s heading on, but I want to wear a clock proper now and which is how I’m feeling.’”
Steffens and the U.S. workforce also have one more superior-profile supporter in Taylor Swift. They attended the musician’s Eras Tour concert on Friday evening at La Défense Arena — the location for the women’s h2o polo closing on Aug. 10.
Women’s countrywide team manager Ally Beck achieved out to Swift’s camp and surprised the team with the tickets. Flav claimed he also contacted Swift’s crew, but the tickets had previously been approved.
Flav, who is operating on another tour with Community Enemy that could start off afterwards this yr, then held up a T-shirt with his image that go through “KING SWIFTIE.”
“I’m happy to support Taylor. … Taste Flav is a Swiftie, the king of all the Swifties,” he stated.
Which is one more connection Flav has with his new favorite group.