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It might be somewhat surprising to hear that the big sponsor of Team USA Women's Water Polo at this year's Olympics is...Flavor Flav.
Yes, the founder of Public Enemy. He's also had plenty of moments of controversy throughout the years, including spending a month in jail for assaulting his girlfriend at the time in 1991 and three months for shooting at a neighbor shortly after.
So, how did the rapper come to back the team? Back in May, record-breaking team USA captain Maggie Steffens took to Instagram to ask for people's "support" ahead of the Olympics (where, by the way, they've had three consecutive gold medals). "[It] means everything to us & impacts our sport more than most," she wrote. "Many of my teammates aren’t just badass champions, but also teachers, business owners, coaches, physicians assistants, and more."
"Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a 2nd (or 3rd) job to support chasing the dream (myself included!) and most teams rely on sponsors for travel, accommodations, nutritional support, rent/lodging, and simply affording to live in this day and age. Especially female sports and female athletes. We’ve had companies & amazing individuals support our sport alongside donors, USAWP & USOPC, but we always need more help," she continued.
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And who should hop into the comments but Flav himself? "As a girl dad and supporter of all women's sports - imma personally sponsor you my girl,,, whatever you need," he wrote. "Imma sponsor the whole team. My manager is in touch with your agent and imma use all my relationships and resources to help all y'all even more."
The "Flavor Flav promise" has held up: Shortly after, he signed a five-year sponsorship deal and made an undisclosed financial donation. He even appeared in a promotional video where he tried the sport.
Fast-forward to Friday's game against Greece, and Flavor was in the crowd cheering — alongside first lady Jill Biden.
“When these girls aren’t in the water, they’re home living active lives…working two or three jobs. It takes time to get a gold medal,” Flavor reportedly said on Friday. “Everybody wants to feel like they got their back covered, like somebody has their back. When they feel that, it makes them feel more powerful, it makes them feel more better. It gives them a lot more energy to go out and get that fourth gold medal.”
Nice to see someone who says they care about women's sports actually support it, eh? Here's hoping for that fourth gold medal.
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