Maggie Steffens requested for extra guidance for the U.S. women’s drinking water polo workforce, and the captain acquired a person specially stunning response.
From a clock-sporting rap icon.
Moved by Steffens’ Instagram publish, Flavor Flav has stepped ahead to enable the U.S. staff as it goes for an unparalleled fourth consecutive gold medal at the Paris Olympics this summertime. He is finalizing a offer that will make him a Usa Drinking water Polo sponsor and the formal hype man for a software in search of a even larger highlight.
The 65-12 months-previous Flav, a founding member and hoopla man with General public Enemy, has jumped headfirst into his new responsibilities, highlighting some of the team’s best gamers on social media. He also is building ideas to look at the women’s crew participate in in Paris.
“When I come out and I view this water polo group … ‘USA! Usa!’ Yo, I’m heading to be the largest buzz guy that they at any time experienced in their lifestyle,” he instructed the AP on Friday. “I’m heading to be more substantial than any cheerleader that they had in their daily life. I’m likely to cheer this staff on, and I’m heading to cheer this group into successful a gold medal.”
Winning has been the common outcome for the U.S. women’s group due to the fact the 2012 Olympics. But it hasn’t captivated the very same focus or assist as equally dominant American applications, largely mainly because water polo remains a area of interest sport during most of the environment.
That — together with a little nostalgia — prompted Steffens, 30, the past remaining member of the 2012 team, to publish on Instagram. While expressing gratitude for the possibility to perform and her love for her activity, she also inspired everyone reading the post to test out her staff and highlighted the consistent economical struggle for most Olympic athletes.
“We’ve gotten a large amount of comments you know of ‘Oh, it’s so great what you have performed. Bummer you’re not a soccer participant or a basketball participant, mainly because your crew would be having way far more publicity or way extra aid,’” Steffens stated Friday from Paris, where the workforce is on a instruction trip forward of the Olympics.
“And alternatively we’re even now sort of the place we had been at 12 a long time in the past, which for me isn’t my aim. I’ve often needed to propel the activity ahead.”
Enter Flav, who was inducted with the team General public Enemy into the Rock and Roll Corridor of Fame in 2013. Flav’s manager introduced the publish to his notice, and he determined he wanted to assistance.
“One thing about me, I know what it feels like to want to see a dream occur correct,” mentioned Flav, who is identified for carrying a large clock on a chain around his neck. “I know what it feels like to want to realize a target, and I’m the form of individual that, if I see you hoping, then I’m going to do whatsoever I can to support you.”
Steffens mentioned it was “very surreal” when Flav — whose legal name is William Jonathan Drayton Jr. — arrived at out. Asked what she knew about Flav and General public Enemy ahead of the connection, Steffens immediately imitated Flav’s regular “Flavor Flav!” declaration.
Steffens is one particular of the oldest players on the U.S. team, but she stated Ryann Neushul, 24, experienced Community Enemy in her prime 5 on the music streaming assistance, Spotify. A pair of the team’s coaches and Steffens’ family also were being energized about the partnership.
“My entire spouse and children was like ‘Is this genuine? Flav is element of the h2o polo world now?’” Steffens claimed. “I was like ‘I really do not know what’s going on, but I want to dress in a clock ideal now and which is how I’m experience.’”
Steffens and the U.S. staff also have yet another substantial-profile supporter in Taylor Swift. They attended the musician’s Eras Tour live performance on Friday evening at La Défense Arena — the location for the women’s water polo final on Aug. 10.
Women’s countrywide workforce supervisor Ally Beck arrived at out to Swift’s camp and astonished the staff with the tickets. Flav reported he also contacted Swift’s team, but the tickets had previously been accepted.
Flav, who is performing on a further tour with Public Enemy that could start off later on this year, then held up a T-shirt with his image that go through “KING SWIFTIE.”
“I’m happy to guidance Taylor. … Flavor Flav is a Swiftie, the king of all the Swifties,” he stated.
Which is one more relationship Flav has with his new favorite crew.
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