#they were attending the bowl cut olympics

[faunandfloraas]

fav skz // ksm? kms?

[ellephlox]

Anchor

Summary: Matt helps you when you're overstimulated at a party.

Pairing: Matt x fem!reader on the autism spectrum

Warnings: Description of panic attack, overstimulation, brief and very indirect reference to sexual assault, profanity.

A/N: I apologize in advance if this doesn't fit with your experience of autism! I just used my own tendencies as inspiration to write this. Thank you so much for the request, anon!

Foggy warned you that his family could be... intense. Not just rambunctious, or extraverted, but more like a crowd of drunken mega-fans when their favorite team won the Super Bowl.

"So I get it if you don't want to come," he said, speaking through a mouthful of poutine. "No pressure at all. It's just a summer barbecue. But the only food there will be lasagna, just so you know."

"Why lasagna?" You sat across from him and Karen at a small, quiet diner after work, with Matt to your left. Sometimes you went to Josie's, purely because it was Matt and Foggy's favorite bar, but on busy days you'd go to this smaller eatery instead. Matt never made a big deal of it, and never said specifically to Karen and Foggy why he always suggested the quieter restaurant on the days when Josie's was brimming with patrons and music, but you knew why, and you'd told him a thousand times how grateful you were.

"Why lasagna?" Foggy repeated. "Uh, because July 29th is none other than the very important holiday, National Lasagna Day?"

"I have a feeling your definition of 'very important' differs ever so slightly from mine," you said. "Sorry. Haven't heard of it. So, you celebrate this because...?"

"Because my dad thought it would be funny and then it kinda stuck. So now it's an official Nelson Family Tradition."

"He's dragged me to some really weird traditions over the years," Matt said, wrapping his arm around your shoulder. You liked the feeling of being in a cubby of his arms, and you subconsciously leaned in closer to him. There weren't many people you could lean into comfortably, but Matt was one of them. "Careful. Once you go to one, he invites you to all of them. I'm still recovering from the Hammock Olympics."

"What's—"

"Don't ask," Foggy cut in. "It's a long story. But think about it, okay? We'd love to have you."

You weren't keen on going to a lasagna party — or any party, for that matter — but you agreed. Foggy had been your friend for a long time, and you felt that you owned it to him; besides, as much as he claimed his family was rowdy, they couldn't be that unruly.

But nothing could have prepared you for the swarm of Nelsons that spilled out of the house and onto the lawn. They were everywhere: Dancing to music that pumped from a speaker with far too much bass that made you wince. Shooting hoops in the short driveway and bodily ramming into one another, sweat visible under their arms. Hovering over the drinks, pouring from the array of alcohol that was stacked on a folding table.

"How many family members does Foggy even have?" you asked, under your breath, as you slowed slightly. Matt was leisurely tapping his cane next to you, his hand loosely around your arm.

"Based on memory? A few dozen. But..." Matt's brow crinkled. "There's definitely more than five dozen heartbeats here right now."

"More than sixty? How are there so many Nelsons? How are they all even able to attend? Don't some of them have other obligations to go to?"

"If it gets really packed in there, and you want to leave, we can go anytime."

"It's okay. I'll be fine."

"Really, sweetheart." Matt tugged at your arm slightly. "Just showing up is a huge deal for Foggy. We can leave at anytime, and no one will judge us."

You smiled at him. "You're the coolest guy ever, you know that?"

Walking up the Nelsons' driveway, you hoped that you and Matt would just melt into the crowd, but instead Foggy caught a glimpse of you and waved wildly. Wonderful. You put a wide smile on your face, though, and waved back stiffly. Awkwardly. Maybe no more waving for me.

To distract yourself from the heat already rising in your face, you began to narrate to Matt. "Foggy's up ahead of us. Drinks are all on the left. Lemonade, I think, apple cider, vodka, wine. And... what looks like a cheese board? There's also a lot of chalk all over the driveway. Hop scotch, body outlines, and genitalia, I think."

"Hopefully the last isn't courtesy of Foggy."

"I don't think so. Foggy is—"

"Behind you, and delighted that you came," Foggy said, coming up from behind and hugging you. You stiffened, unprepared for the embrace, but he bounced back quickly, his face flushed with the heat of the day. "Happy National Lasagna Day! I'd recommend getting in there before the Twisted Teas are gone."

In the corner of your eye, you could see someone reaching over to turn up the volume on the music. The bass thumped out of the speakers with even more force, and simultaneously a baby started wailing only ten feet away from you. You tensed slightly, resisting the urge to simply turn around and walk away from this party. For Foggy. For Foggy, I'll stay here and enjoy myself as much as I can.

Matt must have sensed it, because his hand crept to yours and squeezed. "Drinks nearby?"

"Yeah, about five feet to your left," Foggy said. "I'll read you the options. Hey, Y/N — my mom wants to meet you." At your bewildered look, Foggy raised his hands. "I don't know why. I'm just the messenger. She's inside, in the kitchen right now, and all she said was she wants to talk to you once you get here."

"She wants to talk to me?" The prospect was alarming. So was the idea of leaving Matt's side in a swarm of people like this. But you had no choice, because Mrs. Nelson suddenly waved from the front door, as though she'd sensed your arrival, beckoning you inside.

"She's waving me in," you said, panicking slightly. "Foggy, are you sure she meant me?"

"Positive. Sorry. She's going to pry, but don't feel obligated to tell her your darkest secrets. I think she likes the idea of having a girl to chat with about Matt and me."

Dear God. Please let this not last long. You reluctantly parted from Matt, and made your way into the brightly lit, maximist-style interior of the Nelson home. Knick-knacks and assorted tchotchkes surrounded you as though you were in an antique shop.

"Y/N!" Mrs. Nelson appeared again, her face round like Foggy's. You started to extend a hand, but she went right in for a hug — so that's where Foggy gets it from — and squeezed you. Limply you stood there, awkwardly reaching to hug back with one arm.

"It's nice to meet you, Mrs. Nelson," you said. "Can I help with anything in the kitchen?"

"Don't be silly, that's not why I asked you in here. I want you to give me intel."

"Intel?"

"On Matthew! You're dating him, aren't you?"

"Oh — I—"

"We've known Matthew since he was a first year in law school," she went on, picking up a knife and chopping at a carrot with dextrous agility. "That boy doesn't ever settle down. But now he's met you, and I want details!"

"Um..." You averted your gaze. She hardly blinked at all, and it was unnerving. Instead you focused on the dripping faucet, and then the picture frames to your left. Foggy in college, Foggy with his siblings, a family portrait outside of Acadia National Park. You finally compromised and settled your gaze to the corner of her left eye. Close enough. "Well, we met about a year ago. Matt's always just understood me, and I guess we got along well with conversation, so here we are."

"You thinking of getting married?"

I barely know this woman, and she wants to know about my relationship. Your stomach was clenching at what you'd say, and it didn't help knowing that Matt was certainly listening to every word of the conversation. "I don't — I mean, I'm not really... I can't say. Not because I don't know, but because that's between me and Matt, mostly." Shit. Was that too harsh? You assumed it wasn't, because Mrs. Nelson went right on smiling.

The door slammed as someone else came in. You whirled around, hoping desperately it was Matt, but it was some unnamed relative who had the distinct Nelson features and a cigarette in his hand. He lit it, breathing in deeply, and exhaling smoke into the air.

"You know I don't like you smoking inside, Ben," Mrs. Nelson said, shooing at him.

"Sorry." Ben didn't stop smoking. You winced as the smell of cigarette smoke wafted up to you, and glanced at the closed window. That air Ben was exhaling — it was now in your lungs, and you could feel it tickling your throat. The more you thought about the fact that you were inhaling his air, the more restless you felt. The smoke curled through the air, and breezed against you as he sucked on the cigarette again. Surely it was now going to cling to your clothes for the rest of the day. You'd be able to smell it, you knew. And Matt would be able to smell it too, which would make it a hundred times worse because now you felt bad—

"Y/N?"

Your head snapped back to Mrs. Nelson. "Sorry?"

"I wondered if you'd like to hold the baby. She's fourteen weeks old today. I can ask Susan to bring her in for you."

That's the very last thing I want to do, actually.

You struggled for an answer, and finally landed on an excuse. "That's very kind of you to offer. But I think I've got to go back out," you said, jabbing a thumb over your shoulder and plastering a gracious look on your face. "I want to find Matt and... introduce him to someone."

Please don't ask who.

Fortunately, Mrs. Nelson didn't question you at all. "Oh, of course! I won't keep you."

Yes, please don't.

You hurried out of the kitchen, not realizing you were holding in a breath until you were in the mercifully clean, smoke-free air outside. The downside was that in the time you had been indoors, the sun had emerged from behind the clouds, and metamorphosed the already humid day into a blistering sauna.

You found Matt standing in the direct sunlight with some of Foggy's brothers. There was no shade to be found, and you mourned your decision to not put on sunscreen today as you joined his side and resisted the urge to hoist the back of your cardigan over your head like a parasol. The sweltering sunshine was so intense that you felt as though you could feel your skin burning second by second.

They all laughed — at what, you weren't sure — but it rang in your ears, nearly making you screw up your face. How was Matt handling this? Surely it was bothering him more than it bothered you. Yet he had a placid expression on his face, holding his cane loosely with one hand and sipping on a beer with the other.

"Last call for the cheese board," Foggy said suddenly. "And Mom says it'll be another two hours until supper, so grab some Swiss and Muenster now or forever hold your hunger."

Your stomach felt as though it were curdling. Two hours? It was already an hour past when you usually had lunch. Two more hours was frankly terrifying. And the only thing standing between you and the two-hours-out-lasagna was... cheese.

"Want to make our way over there, then?" you asked Matt, as casually as you could. There was no sense in letting him know you were stressed. He was having a good time, that much you could tell, and the last thing you wanted was for your discomfort to bring down his day.

Matt went with you to the table, and only when you were out of earshot of Foggy and his brothers did he speak. "Hey. You doing okay?"

"I've been better. I've been worse." There was no sense in trying to lie to him. "Let's just grab some cheese. I didn't realize lunch would be so late, or I would've had something at home."

But just before you reached the table, a girl of about eight or nine years ran in front of you, and dug both hands — both hands, two hands with chalk and dirty visibly staining them — into the platter of cheese, scooping out a handful for herself.

"Ella!" her mother snapped, a few feet away. "You've had enough. No more cheese."

The girl obeyed, tossing all the cheese slices back into the platter and running away cheerfully. You stood stock still, frozen in your spot.

Matt cocked his head slightly. "Still hungry for cheese?"

"Why?" you managed. "Why, why, why? Who just touches all the food then dumps it back in?" The cheese was too tainted now. Wistfully you looked at it, then at your watch. One hour, fifty-six minutes left. And that was if Mrs. Nelson served the lasagnas on time.

"I think that the Nelson household is your new nemesis," Matt said, pulling you in towards him. "Anything I can do?"

"No," you said, fighting to keep yourself optimistic. For Matt, for Foggy. "Thank you, though."

"We can imagine we're in a version of the Hunger Games. Except instead of bloodthirsty teens, we're surrounded by small talk and cigarette smoke."

"You knew?"

"Smelled it right away." Matt took your arm again as you made your way back to the circle of Nelson brothers. "And figured you were having the time of your life in there."

"Ha."

"If it makes you feel any better, all their stomachs have rumbled in the past half an hour," Matt said softly, nodding his head in the direction of Foggy's brothers. "You're not the only one who's disappointed that lunch is two hours out. And..." He shifted so that his right ear was facing Foggy. "It sounds like Foggy really, really needs to pee right now."

You let out a laugh. "Information I didn't need to have."

Matt only smiled as you both rejoined the circle.

You thought you'd make it until lunch. It was only two hours, you kept telling yourself, it wasn't long. Not much longer in the sun. Not much longer you'd have to stand there while Ben lit another cigarette nearby and the wind carried the smoke right into your face. Not much longer that the Nelsons would keep getting drunker and drunker and their laughs more raucous. And, certainly, it wouldn't be much longer that the music was blaring, pumping through your ears to rattle your very bones.

And then everyone grouped together, for one large family conversation, and you found yourself being jostled into the middle of a massive, warm crowd of Nelsons, shoulder-to-shoulder with people you'd never met before. The panic you had kept at bay so far began to swell like a tsunami under the surface of tranquil waters, thudding in your heart and moving up to your face. Too warm. The sun beat down, not a cloud in sight. All of the little kids were next to you now, singing and jumping up and down, and—

One of them sneezed, and with horror you felt droplets of mucus land on your right arm.

"I have to go," you gasped to Matt, slipping backwards out of the crowd and making a beeline for the house. Bathroom. You needed a bathroom.

But the final straw was the bathroom itself. Another speaker sat in the windowsill, projecting music loudly to the backyard, and it smelled like someone took a shit in there, making you gag and turn around—

Straight into Matt.

"Matt," you whispered. "I can't. I can't do this."

"Sweetheart—"

"It's too much. I've tried, but I can't, they're sneezing and laughing and dancing and I just can't do it anymore. I'm sorry. I'm so sorry."

"What do you have to be sorry for?"

"Because I'm ruining your day!" You crossed into the hallway and sat on the bottom of the stairs, rubbing your hands over your face and hair, again and again, as though to get the sound off. Only then did you realize with horror that you hadn't yet washed your arm, so you leapt up to run to the sink. Matt followed you, nimbly stepping over the clutter that was strewn on the floor. "If you didn't have me at your side, being a leech, you'd still be out there, laughing with them and sipping a beer. And — and you've got the hearing of a fucking bat, but you're able to tolerate everything, while I just throw a tantrum like a two year old." You were near tears, the truth of your own statement ringing into the kitchen. Because it was ridiculous, wasn't it? Matt's hearing was incomprehensibly better than yours, and so was his sensitivity to the sun and the cigarette smoke, and yet it didn't seem to touch him at all.

He reached out, and you thought he was going to shut off the faucet, but instead he ran his hand under the water, took the soap, and began to rub at your arm slowly, up and down. You stood still, your own hands dripping, and allowed him to remove whatever snot might still be on your skin. Finally he lowered his fingers, and took a clean washcloth from the cupboard under the sink. Starting with the top of your arm he dried off every last bit of water, working his way downward.

"Last night, out in the suit, I came across a frat party," he said, finally drying off your hands and setting the cloth on the edge of the sink. "Over seventy people were there. And there were roofies being handed out, like hors d'oeuvres, so that the guys could take advantage of whoever they wanted. I went in, shut it down. Went into the bedrooms and stopped a couple of them in the act. But the whole time, they had this heavy metal music blasting, and the house was filled with the smell of weed. It was dusty in there, too. Every breath I drew in, I could taste it, and feel the grit of it."

You remained silent and let him do the talking. His voice was low, pleasant; a welcome distraction from the voices and radio outside.

"It set me off," he continued. "And even afterwards, I could still hear it ringing in my ears, and could still feel the layer of dust on my skin. You know what helped me to snap out of it?" He raised his hand and gently cupped your face. "You."

You vaguely remembered Matt crawling into bed with you the previous night, and pulling you in close, but as far as you remembered, you hadn't even said a word. "Me? But how—?"

"You're my anchor." Matt's hand dropped. "You. When everything is too loud, I listen to your steady inhales and exhales. Your heartbeat. When the scents are too much, all I have to do is breathe in your shampoo and detergent. Your skin, your hair, your body... it's the only thing that I want to always be with. You're always my anchor. And I know you're strong enough to do all this on your own, but if you ever need me to be, I'll be your anchor, too. Just say the word, and we can leave this party. We can stay in all weekend and do nothing but order in takeout and watch movies. We can drive twenty hours north and stay in a remote cottage for a week. And if you need a break from me, I'll take off until you're ready. I'll always be your anchor, always, if you want me to be."

You closed your eyes, your heartbeat slowing; it was as though someone had dialed down the music outside. Matt seemed to notice the relaxing of your posture, because he tilted his head against yours, and breathed, "That's my girl."

"Thank you," you whispered, wrapping your arms tentatively around him. "And I never want a break from you. Never you." At your motion, his own arms embraced you tightly, as though he'd been waiting for the indication that you wanted to hug.

"And something else," Matt said, after you pulled apart. Without looking he reached behind him towards the fruit basket and plucked out two bananas. "I'll pay Mrs. Nelson back for these."

You broke out in a smile and took one of the bananas. "Keep guard so no one walks in on us chowing down alone in here like two bizarre monkeys?"

He leaned against the counter next to you as you peeled the banana. "Always."

[blackandgoldandeverythingnice]

among the fields of gold - c. mcavoy

Pairing: Charlie McAvoy x female!OC

Summary: A little sneak peek into the future of charlie and nellie from i’m so glad to know as they attend the 2026 Olympics 

Word Count: 4,682

A/N: Just the most self-indulgent little fluff I could come up with because I love writing them.

Warnings: none! the smallest hint of adult content but that’s about it.

“This is so fucking cool – did you ever actually tell me how cool it was to be at the Olympics?” Charlie was bouncing along the streets of Milan and swinging Eleanora’s hand as they went, a couple of other Team USA players behind them as they used the off day to do the touristy things they hadn’t yet been able to do during the first round of games.

“You’ve done plenty of World’s before, it’s almost the same.”

“It absolutely is not.” He argued back, glancing down and smirking at the little scowl on her face. He ignored the groans of a couple from the guys at the fact they were about to start bickering. It wasn’t their fault; he didn’t invite the idiots to come with them.

“You’re just excited because you’re staying in the Village and there are a bunch of girls there too – you don’t get that at World’s.”

“Yeah, I’m there for the girls.” He rolled his eyes and squeezed her hand before leaning over to kiss the top of her head.

The team was housed on their own floor in the dedicated USA building and it was like being back on a road trip in Peewees. They’d cruised through the round-robin, winning every game in their group and were heading into the elimination games. A lot of the guys had played together for years through development camps and national teams and they felt good about their chances.

They’d been wandering the streets of Milan, seeing as much of the sites as they could since all they’d seen were the inside of rinks. While Charlie had wanted to spend it just with Eleanora, some of the guys had caught him in the lobby with her on their way back from breakfast and insisted on joining them. She had pretty much become their team mascot: at every game, made a new sign for each and chatted with all the families happily. It made something in him burst in pride at the sight of her fitting so seamlessly into his life now. It hadn’t been an easy road to get there.

“Can you two not?” one of the Hughes brothers interrupted.

“Yeah, let’s stop this before it really gets rolling.” Matthew Tkachuk cut in, sweeping past Charlie with a smirk as he hit his shoulder and made his way across the square towards the Duomo. A few of the other guys sped passed them, running around the square and changing pigeons.

“And for a former Olympian, could you walk any slower?” Auston Matthews teased as he came right up close behind them.

Annoyed, Charlie shoved his teammate away just as Eleanora pinched his side. “I’m sorry, put some respect on the only gold medalist in this little crew right now. Also, I’m six months pregnant, dick head – you try carrying a bowling ball around your middle on these cobblestone ass streets.”

“Technically, a McAvoy has a gold medal – shouldn’t have changed your last name, babe.” Auston grinned, wrapping an arm around her shoulders but making sure to gently guide her as they walked around the various tourists and other athletes who had done the same thing they did.  

“Can you get the fuck away from my wife?” Charlie groaned, checking Auston away so he could pull Eleanora into his side.

The rest of the guys walked ahead, leaving the two of them alone. Charlie smiled down at the way Eleanora was basking in the bright, cold air, her cheeks flushed and nose a little pink. There was a visible glow around her. He’d always thought it was bullshit when they said pregnant woman glowed but since the second she’d taken the test, there was a light happy aura around her. Walking with her tucked into him like she was slowed them down but Charlie liked making sure Eleanora was okay, to the point that she might kill him at some point if he asked her again how she was feeling.

“How are you – ”

“Don’t you dare ask how I feel right now, Charlie McAvoy.”

He pouted down at her. “It’s a valid question, they keep you scheduled so late for some of the media shit.”

“It’s called my job, babe.” She hip checked him gently. She’d stayed involved in the figure skating community and this year they’d invited her to provide commentary for the ladies’ singles. Turns out she was incredibly personable in front of the cameras and enjoyed talking to the young skaters. “I’m just happy none of your games conflict with the skating. I don’t think they’d love me ‘calling out sick’ only to have me show up on TV on the glass yelling at you to play better.”

“Excuse you, I have the most minutes played and highest rating.”

“Yes, baby – you’re very highly rated.” She snuggled into his side, and he laughed when she slid her hand into his back pocket and squeezed his ass.

The pair of them walked slowly around the square, laughing at the guys as they ran around. A few of Team Canada showed up along with a few of the Czech players. Since most of the teams were made up of NHLers, all the teams were friendly off-ice and trying to control them was like corralling kids at their first away tournament. A few fans stopped them as they went but most of them were interested in getting pictures with Eleanora rather than any of the guys, something the team loved to tease Charlie about. Joke was on them, he couldn’t be more proud to watch the way people adored her.

“How’s my boy doing?” he changed tactics as a group of young girls walked away after spending five minutes taking pictures with her and asking what it was like to win gold.

“I think he wants pizza and pasta.”

“Pizza and pasta? Not or?”

“You’re really gonna ask how I feel then judge your pregnant wife for wanting all the food?” the glare she shot him was enough to have him throwing his hands up in defense.

He leaned down to kiss her but she dodged him. “No way, bud – find me food then you can kiss me.”

“In my defense, I asked what my son wants to eat – you’re incidental to me checking up on him.”

“Do you want to die? Is that your plan? You want Team USA hockey to lose the gold because their captain was murdered by his pregnant wife?”

“Why’s Goldie threatening your life?” Jake popped up behind them, scaring the shit out of Charlie while Eleanora had seen him coming.

“He’s judging how much I want to eat.”

“Well, come on my fellow sewer rat – if Chuckie won’t love you right, I will.”

Jake offered her his hand and she took it, tossing a teasing smile behind her as the two of them started towards one of the side streets to find a suitable restaurant leaving Charlie to scurry after them.

--- ---

Eleanora chewed distractedly on her cuticle, staring at the clean sheet of ice waiting for the guys to step on for warmups. As she had for every single game, she was standing on the glass at the corner where her and his family had sat for the entirety of the tournament. The jersey of Charlie’s she had on barely fit over her belly and the maternity leggings made her feel like a sausage. Bouncing on the balls of her feet anxiously, she was as nervous as she’d been for her own gold medal skate.

“How’re you feeling?” a voice interrupted her nervous thoughts and she glanced over to see her father-in-law sliding into the seat next to her. After the first win, they’d sat in the same order they’d been in for every other game that followed. While Charlie wasn’t overly superstitious, Eleanora was and there’d been half a dozen little rituals she’d come up with for this Olympics.

“Jesus, your son ask you to ask me that?” she teased back at Charlie Sr. She rubbed her belly slightly and tried not to wince at the pain in her back. “Pretty sure this asshole is sitting right on my sciatic nerve.”

“Can you not call my first grandson an asshole?” Charlie’s mom appeared on her other side, looping her arm through hers. “But seriously, you alright?”

“No pain I haven’t dealt with before but this kid is already putting me through the wringer. I have to do this for 3 more months?”

Mrs. McAvoy frowned sympathetically and rubbed her arm softly. “Sorry, Ellie but yes. It’ll be worth it though.”

Just as she spoke, the guys stepped out and Eleanora zeroed in on Charlie leading the way, pushing the pucks off the edge of the bench and onto the ice.

“I can’t believe this – my son is going to be an Olympic medalist no matter what.” His mom said, sniffling slightly as she watched them start skating.

“We want gold, Jen – right, kid?” Senior nudged her in the side.

Eleanora smiled slightly. “I just want him to do the best he can.”

“Bullshit, you’re more competitive than he is. I saw you cursing him out last game for - and I quote - ‘a bullshit lazy turnover’.” Holly added as she joined the conversation, pushing her mom out of the seat next to Eleanora so she could keep the right lineup. 

They all laughed while she just shrugged. “No one plays for second place...although I do kinda like being the only gold medalist. It’s how I get him to do things for me when I think I deserve them.”

The noise in the arena started to swell as the Canadians took the ice and Eleanora felt the familiar buzz and thrill of the pressure building. She hadn’t been able to see Charlie this morning, only getting a quick FaceTime as she’d been wrapping up interviews with some of the figure skaters who were getting ready for their final performance the following day.

“How was he this morning?”  

Kayla shrugged. “Quiet. He missed you.”

She frowned, cursing herself for not having been there. It was their routine for the last few years, she was always the last person to see him before he went into the locker room for a big game. It felt like a bad omen that she’d missed giving him a last kiss before the biggest game of his career.

But just then Charlie skated by them for the first time, helmet off and his hair flowing behind him. He tapped the glass as he went by but kept skating in loops. After a couple laps and drills, he returned to the corner and stopped in front of her.

She couldn’t hear him over the crowd but he was pointing at her and gesturing halfway across the rink to where there was an opening in the boards. She followed where he was pointing to see one of the arena staff standing by the entrance to the locker rooms and she got the hint, squeezing through the seats as fast she could. The belly didn’t exactly help her move quickly or the people that kept trying to stop her.

He was already waiting for her by the time she reached the space, his gloves off and resting on the side. He reached out for her and she stepped eagerly towards him. On skates he was so much taller than her that she had to stand on tip toe just to wrap her arms around his neck. She was cognizant of the eyes of those in the area on them and she was sure there were cameras zooming in too.

“I couldn’t play the biggest game of my life without getting my good luck kiss.”

The stares and camera clicks faded away as she stared up at him. Knowing how the media was obsessed with “Their Story”, this was bound to be everywhere in no time. It’s why they liked their moment to be private before a game but right now, Eleanora couldn’t quite care because all she wanted was Charlie to win.

Gently, he brushed her stomach and just as he did, the baby gave a hard kick. Charlie grinned, leaning down to press his lips firmly to hers and she smiled into the kiss. “I think someone’s telling you he wants you to win.”

“I plan on winning it for his momma, gotta impress her.” He smirked, his face still inches from hers.

“I love you, baby – so fucking much.” She pressed one final kiss to his lips. “I’m not gonna tell you just making it to the gold medal game is an achievement – even though it is. You know what you need to do. Go fucking win it.”

“I shoulda had you do the pump-up speech for the boys.” He kissed her nose quickly before pulling back and grabbing his gloves to return to warmups. “I love you, babe – see you on the ice after.”

She watched him skate away, her palm flat against her belly and she felt another strong kick. Rubbing her stomach she looked down at the USA stretched across her front, smiling softly as she whispered to herself.

“Don’t worry, little man – daddy’s gonna win it for us.”

--- ---

The second period started with the game tied at two. Charlie had an assist and had already spent almost twelve minutes on the ice. Despite most of the off-ice friendships and even teammates who were playing against each other it was getting chippy. They all clearly wanted it and weren’t holding back. Tkachuk had managed to draw three penalties while only going to the box once himself.

Eleanora felt like she was going to lose her voice the amount she’d been screaming throughout the game. It seemed like part of Team Canada’s game strategy was to go after Charlie as much as possible. They’d been hitting him hard and there’d been one particularly nasty penalty he drew when Chabot leveled him with a late hit. Charlie had been slow to get up from that one but within the first thirty seconds of the powerplay, he’d put a pass right on Auston’s tape for the tying goal.

There had always been something both exhilarating and nerve-wracking about watching Charlie play. When he was on the ice, she only watched him, not even noticing where the puck was or what action was happening unless he was involved.

It was partially how she was able to react a second before the rest of the rink when she saw Chabot coming from behind him, hitting him hard and sending Charlie headfirst into the boards. He was splayed out flat on the ice while his teammates immediately rushed to his defense, Auston and Tkachuk jumping Chabot before Auston was pulled away by Dougie Hamilton. Eleanora felt like climbing over the glass to get to him and Kayla was gripping her arm tightly.

“Get up. Get up. Get up, Junior.” His dad was begging while Eleanora just kept staring in horror.

After what felt like hours but was probably only a minute, he slowly tucked his legs up under him and managed to get to a kneeling position just as the team doctor reached him. He was clearly still dazed, holding one hand on his helmet as he slowly got up. Gaudreau had come over and was kneeling next to him, offering to help him up but Charlie waved him off.

The arena applauded as he stood up, but Eleanora couldn’t feel the relief everyone else did as she watched them lead Charlie to the locker room.

“He’s okay. He got up on his own. They just have to check him out for protocol. He’s okay.” Kayla was chanting and all Eleanora wanted to do was rush to the locker room. Instead of watching the rest of the game, she stared at the locker room entrance, praying Charlie would return to the bench.

They ended the second period down by one and only during the intermission did she let herself pull her phone out to find the replay of the hit. They all huddled around together watching intently, only slightly reassured that Charlie had gotten up on his own and made his way quickly down the tunnel without support. It felt like time was moving in slow motion as the ice was cleaned. Finally, the lights dimmed again and the players started back out on the ice.

It felt like a weight was lifted when she saw Charlie hop out last, doing quick laps to warm back up as he shook his legs out. As he went by them, he tapped the glass and Eleanora felt like she was going to cry just from the quick wink he gave her.

“Thank god.” His mom sighed a breath and Eleanora felt lightheaded as she rubbed her stomach aimlessly. The baby had been active all game, bouncing around and kicking more than usual. It’s like he could sense what was happening around them.  

The third period wasn’t any less stressful, Team Canada was clearly content to play defense while Team USA threw everything at them but couldn’t seem to find the back of the net. But then in the last 27 seconds of the game, Charlie caught a pass from Quinn Hughes and buried it in the top corner of the net to tie the game. The roar of the arena felt deafening as they all jumped up and down, screaming happily while the players mobbed their captain. The crowd clearly expected overtime, neither team wanting to give one up in the remaining seconds of the game.

But then Conor McDavid of all people misplayed the puck in the neutral zone and it landed on Jack Eichel’s stick who shot down the ice on a breakaway with only 7 seconds to go, shifting to his backhand as he slid the puck between the goalie’s legs.

If it was possible, the roof would’ve blown off the top of the arena. Team USA hadn’t won since the 1980 Miracle on Ice game and the place was shaking with excitement. USA gear and equipment was strewn across the ice like confetti while Team Canada stared on in disbelief, some kneeling together watching while others had already started to make their way towards the locker room.

People were hugging her tightly and screaming in her ear. Eleanora wasn’t even sure they were all people she knew. Charlie Sr. pulled her away from whoever was holding her and into a tight hug while the rest of the family crowded around jumping as they celebrated. She didn’t even realize she was crying until she tried to spot Charlie on the ice but her vision was blurry.

Sobbing into one hand, the other pressed tight against her stomach she felt another strong kick which only made her sob harder. It was better than her own win because she hadn’t had any true family to celebrate with besides her coaches who had become replacement parents to her. This was entirely different and felt like they’d all won it.

The celebrations continued on the ice as the McAvoys all made their way towards the same opening Eleanora had talked to Charlie before the game start. Other wives and families were already there, pulling each other into hugs, most of the moms crying happily while a few of the dads tried to fight their own tears except for Jim Hughes who was openly crying as he held his wife tightly to him.

Standing on the glass so she could watch, Eleanora scanned the sea of blue jerseys to try to find Charlie, biting her lip to try to stop crying. She was still contemplating scaling the glass but knew the guys deserved to celebrate with their team first.

Finally, her impatience grew and Eleanora, just popped the door open and started to make her way onto the ice. Once the dam broke, the rest of the families followed, ignoring the staff asking for them to stay off the ice until they had carpets laid down.

It was decidedly difficult to maneuver on the ice in sneakers and a pregnant belly but she moved as quickly and carefully as she could towards her target. Their eyes locked and Charlie broke away from the guys to get to her. When he reached her, he went right for her waist, dragging her up and off the ice as he twirled her around as she held tightly to him.

Neither of them spoke at first as Eleanora pressed kisses all over his face as he laughed until he could kiss her back. It was awkward to be held up so Charlie carefully set her down on the ice, one hand tucking protectively against her back so she wouldn’t slip and the other pressed gently on her belly as he leaned down for the sweetest kiss they’d ever shared.

“I told you I’d win it for you.” He whispered, pressing his forehead against hers.

“Not before scaring the shit out of me first.” She shot back but squeezed his waist tightly, her face landing in the sweaty material. “I’m so fucking proud of you, Teddy.”

She stared up at him, and despite the fact that he had just won the biggest game of his life, he was staring at her like they were the only two people in the world.

“This is almost as good as our wedding night.”

She gave a watery chuckle in return. “Just the wedding night not the wedding itself?”

“Eh, that was okay too.” He teased just as the rest of his family joined them. Reluctantly, she released him so he could hug his family, stepping back to give them a moment.

A few of the guys paused to hug her as they went by but mostly she just stood there watching Charlie beaming at everyone around him. The camera crews were starting to show up as the staff worked to get the carpets out and set up the podiums. Eleanora knew they wouldn’t get a private moment together for hours and she tried to melt into the background but Charlie was having none of that, snagging her hand and dragging her towards him as they started to interview him.

From her position under his arm, she stared up at him as he spoke, beaming proudly as he talked about the win and how special it was for them. She was so focused on him she didn’t realized they’d asked her a question.

“Nellie.” Charlie whispered, nudging her with a nose to the top of her head and she glanced at the reporter who was beaming at her.

“I was just asking how this compares to your own gold medal win just four years ago?” they repeated the question.

Eleanora grinned and squeezed his side tighter. “There’s no comparison.” She started, enjoying some of the frowns that followed before continuing. “What Charlie and the boys did was so beyond historic and I’m so proud to have been able to watch it happen. This team worked so hard and never gave up. I’m just thrilled I was able to share in it. Although I’m pretty pissed that I can’t win arguments anymore by saying ‘well I have a gold medal so you have to do what I say’.”

Everyone laughed in response, Charlie squeezing her side lightly.

“I’m sure you guys haven’t seen yet but the video of you two right before the game has become quite popular.” Eleanora flushed slightly as they continued. “Charlie – did you get any last minute advice?”

She pinched his side, hoping he’d lie but the smirk on his face already told her differently. “She pretty much told me that just getting to the medal game wasn’t enough and that I knew what to do. Pretty sure the exact words were ‘now go fucking win it’ and honestly, I can’t really say no to my wife so I did.”

--- ---

It was nearly three hours later by the time Eleanora and Charlie were walking into her hotel room and shutting the door so they were finally alone. They were planning on changing then meeting up with everyone to celebrate. Most of the guys’ flights weren’t for another day or two so they planned to enjoy what little remained of their Olympic break before they’d have to return to their teams for the rest of the season.

Charlie face planted onto the king-size bed. “Fuck, you’ve been sleeping on this for two weeks while I’ve been on the worst twin mattress in the world?”

Eleanora giggled, pulling her jersey off leaving on her loose t-shirt, she slipped out of her sneakers and kicked them towards the door so she could sit and join him on the bed. Despite how happy she was, she was exhausted and the pain in her back went from dull to stabbing on a dime. It took a little effort for her to climb up onto the bed and get comfy as she curled up on her side.

Charlie inched up so his nose was brushing against her swollen belly. Her hand immediately fell to his hair, running her fingers through gently and scratching his scalp. He brought his arm up so he was hugging her middle and pressed his lips against her.

“Hi, Tripp.” He whispered causing Eleanora to tug his hair gently.

“Baby, no. Even if he ends up Charlie the third, we are not calling him Tripp.”

Charlie ignored her. “Ignore mommy, I’ll make sure you get a cool nickname.”

She rolled her eyes but he kept talking. “I don’t know if you heard all that noise but now you have two parents with gold medals. We’re pretty big deals.”

“Kid was bouncing all over the place for most of the game before settling directly on my sciatic nerve so I couldn’t get comfortable.”

“Be nice to mommy, sweet boy.” He mumbled and pressed a kiss to her stomach before turning up so he could stare at her. “I think I won because of you.”

“You won because you’re an amazing hockey player and leader. You did this. Next up you can win us a Cup.” She smiled softly, stroking his hair as he crawled up so their faces were level. They lay there quietly together, staring at each other and enjoying the peace. They’d both turned their phones off, telling his family they’d see them at the restaurant that USA hockey had reserved for them. For now, they just wanted to be alone.

Carefully, Eleanora brushed Charlie’s hair off his forehead. “Your head okay? I might kill that Canadian fuck.”

Charlie laughed but cringed slightly. His head hurt more than he let on but he passed concussion protocol and had a few days off before he’d have to be back on the ice for a game.

“Are you okay? I know when you’re in pain, Nellie.”

She winced despite trying to smile as he tucked his hand under her top to lay on her bare skin, soothingly running his thumb along belly.

“Just pregnancy, or so I’m told. I need to figure out how to get him off this nerve or I’m gonna spend the flight pacing the aisles because I won’t be able to sit.”

Charlie frowned. “I hate seeing you in pain. And I’m worried you won’t want the five that I want if this one is such a pain in the ass.”

She snorted, inching forward to kiss him softly. “Let’s get through meeting this little man first then we’ll talk more, kay?”

“You’re the love of my fucking life, you know that?” he gripped her neck gently.

Smiling, she leaned forward to steal another kiss. “Lucky for you, it’s mutual. Now…I bet we could find a comfy position for you to fuck me in before we have to go to the restaurant.”

A slow smirk spread across Charlie’s face as he rolled her carefully onto her back so he could lean over her.

“I can definitely do that.”

[keilemlucent]

the sex party: i

 (r18+)

shinsou hitoshi x reader

ao3

part 1 (you’re here!)   ||    part 2

word count: ~7.1k

You and Hitoshi definitely have a thing for each other, but who would've thought that a 'sex party' would produce a confession?

warnings: 

COLLEGE AU! characters are explicitly aged up to college students as early 20 year olds!

not really a sex party, mutual pining, friends to lovers, confessions, reader is canonically bi, brief momo x reader, light dom/sub, spanking, references to drug use, smoking (cigarettes, salem trademarked fic thing), drinking, and smut

there is a scene where there is attempted sexual assault. it is marked with ***** before and after. 

---------

this.... this piece is a monster. i’ve been wrestling with it for a month and now its here for y’all. the second part is already out ;^)) thank you to @keiqos for being an absolute king and beta reader this monster. enjoy y’all!!

||||||||||||||||| 

You never imagined that you would be where you were. It was under weird circumstances, but god if you weren’t going to try and enjoy it. 

The party you found yourself attending was lit with flashing lights and rainbow projections. There were two different DJs on various floors of the suburban mansion. They bumped out remixed club music, making the walls hum and thrum and bodies writhe and sweat. One of the kitchen counters was loaded with bottles and bottles of hard liquor and mixers. 

You were quickly making a third mixie. Just a vodka soda, boringly. There were certainly more fun options, but you weren’t exactly sure how to feel about this party just yet. You were having trouble discerning whether this was a ‘gin and tonic millennial’ party or a ‘jungle juice in an old cooler’ party. 

Denki and Jiro had convinced nearly two car-fulls of your friends to roll up. It sounded so fun, so wild!

  “Yo! Our friends from the EDM scene are throwing a SEX party! You all should come! It’s at a mansion across town!”

 Their ‘friends’ were two middle-aged, white hippies who did a lot of molly for their age. 

Nonetheless, you found yourself in a massive, odd house and managed to lose your friends fairly quickly (and accidentally). All the rooms stayed dimly lit and loud. You could hardly keep track of your own two feet. 

Someone pressed you into the counter, a hand grazing against your barely covered ass. 

You whipped around, watching as a couple walked away, one of them giving incredibly loud bedroom eyes.

Oh yeah, the ‘sex party’ part.

It wasn’t a kink party, or really a sex party at all. Sex was encouraged and provided for, but not necessary. The mansion’s massive attic was where most of the sex acts were happening with its five beds, three bondage rigs, a wall of toys of all types, condoms, lube, whippits, and even Viagra in decorative bowls. You had yet to venture up, but Denki had already spammed the group chat about it.

(It had been the first place he went upon arriving.)

You took your drink down the stairs (the place had three fucking basements) and turned into a small hallway that led outside.

It was cold, but your somewhat drunk body hardly minded. The sobering bite of wind gave a nice reprieve from the thrumming heat inside. 

You immediately spotted Hitoshi leaning on a retaining wall, half a cigarette hanging from his lips. His face lit up, when he saw you, waving you over.

 You smiled back at him, glad to find a friend and best of all Hitoshi. 

You two were quite close. 

In addition to both being sociology majors and having a lot of overlap when it came to classes, you’d known each other since freshman year and only grew closer with time. You’d spent many nights at his house off-campus, sipping cup after cup of black coffee in the midst of a paper writing and studying. You also definitely didn’t ever have close calls of affection though, no. 

No. 

Never.

You and Hitoshi were obviously just friends.

...

“Wild party, huh?” Hitoshi quirked an eyebrow, nodding to the house. He offered you a cigarette that you took greedily. 

You placed it between your lips, Hitoshi ever so casually leaning forward to light it with his signature clipper. He’d nabbed it off some ‘milf’ at the casino which he and Denki had gone to for bingo ‘for the meme’ freshmen year. 

You let out a puff, “Thank you! And yes, very wild. I’m on drink three and I still feel overwhelmed.”

Hitoshi sipped his own, nodding in agreement, “I know Jiro and Denki know some wild people from the scene, but this seems over the top.”

“It is kind of fun? But definitely an ‘I need to be a little more fucked up’ kind of fun,” You remarked.

You set down your cigarette on the cement wall, attempting to boost yourself up onto it. You nearly had it, except you really didn’t and slipped back down. You anxiously turned around, checking your dress over for any sort of tears. 

Hitoshi set down his own cigarette, standing in front of you. You looked up at him and felt very small and very horny all of a sudden. It certainly wasn’t an abnormal set of feelings, given how the two of you teased each other relentlessly. 

“Need some help there?” He chuckled at your struggle as you frowned up at him.

“If you insist.” You expected him to offer a hand to stabilize yourself on but no, Hitoshi’s big hands were suddenly grabbing at your waist, lifting you on the walls with little effort.

You swore you almost felt him squeeze you before letting go.

“You’re welcome,” Hitoshi just smirked as he returned to his spot, taking a deep drag to look at you through lowered lids.

You glared, but in good fun. 

At that moment, a few other of your friends poured from the door to the patio. They were all shouting, jarring and drunk, and very happy to see the two of you.

You unconsciously shifted a bit closer to Hitoshi on the wall, bare leg just barely touching his shoulder.

You didn’t notice it, but Hitoshi definitely leaned into you too. 

“(Y/N)! Hitoshi!” Momo addressed you firmly as Denki and Hanta snickered behind her. “You both are smarter than to smoke, aren’t you?”

“Nope,” You popped the word from your mouth to take another drag.

“We’re drunk, give it a rest,” Hitoshi waved his hand dismissively. You were both her friends, but she did have a pole up her ass sometimes. 

Almost to emphasize the point, Jiro withdrew her own pack and started offering to other people. 

As the ever-important smoking ritual continued, you couldn’t help but shiver from the now-painful gusts of wind. You abruptly hopped off of the wall, only wobbling a little on your heels as you hit the ground. Hitoshi moved to steady you, a firm hand on your shoulder.

(God, you wanted to melt into him.)

See, Hitoshi had been smart enough to wear a warm outfit. A pair of black jeans, a form-fitting, well-cut sweater, and a jacket which was slung over his arm. 

He offered it to you, eyebrow raised, “If you’re cold, you’re welcome to this. I’m gonna stash it when I get inside anyways.”

You shook your head, pushing back on his arm, feeling the hard muscle beneath. You almost shivered. “No, no it’s okay. I’m gonna head back in.”

“Mind if I tag along then?” Hitoshi asked, eyes scanning around you. He seemed well aware that there were some creeps at this party.

Most of the time, you wouldn’t feel great about needing some tall, beefy dude to casually stand around as a deterrent. But, honestly? You appreciated it immensely. 

“Right this way, smokestack,” You just had to give him shit, it was part of your cute dynamic right?

(It made the incessant flirting easier to hide.)

...

You couldn’t help but continually notice how Hitoshi had bulked up. He had been hitting the gym a lot and working on himself physically. 

God, did it show. 

His body had been a bit lanky and wiry before, but he’d filled out so well. With his cute sweater on, you could see how the fabric stretched tight around his biceps and his chest. You couldn’t look at his forearms in any setting or risk drooling all over yourself.

Not that you would mind drooling for Hitoshi, but you’d prefer it to be in a different context. 

(But, you’d never admit that.)

 The two of you wordlessly winded through the house, finding a somewhat less feral living room in one of the basements to relax in. Most everyone occupying the space was just mingling, save for a few couples making out. It seemed manageable. You settled for a spot on the carpet against a wall.

Hitoshi raised an eyebrow, “Really?”

“I feel way safer sitting on a floor than a couch here,” You couldn’t help smiling when you saw him snuff out his own amusement. 

You both watched as a couple was grinding and audibly moaning on one of the aforementioned couches. Hitoshi relented, “Point taken.”

He slid down the wall next to you, shoulder to shoulder, drinks in hand.

You both sat in silence for a minute, just taking the sounds and sights of the party. People-watching could have been an olympic sport at this shindig. 

“Hey,” Hitoshi broke the mild tension, tapping your upper thigh over your dress. “I’m not saying this to be a creep, really, I promise. But, I really like your dress.”

You turned your body slightly, towards him. Oh, now you needed to give him shit— “Oh, how complementary. Not creepy at all. Just my very sweet, male friend telling me how I look pretty in my party dress.”

Hitoshi leaned closer to you, mirroring you by lying half on his side. His breath and heat curled over your face and neck, “Oh, (Y/N), now you’re putting words in my mouth. I said that I like your dress. Because it’s one of Mei’s designs, right?”

You looked down, heat filling your cheeks. 

Fuck your drunk mouth.

“Though,” Oh, Hitoshi was closer. He had leaned to your ear, steadying a hand on your shoulder. “I do think you’re pretty in this dress. I’d use a different word instead of pretty though.”

“Like?” 

“Mmmm, gorgeous,” He hummed too casually. “As strong of a word as I can use without being a creep, right?”

“‘Toshi,” You groan, swatting his hand away. “You’re a bastard, you know that?”

He just beamed at you, “I’ve been told.”

Hitoshi drew back and met your eyes.

Once more, you mirrored each other. Both of you bore comically dilated pupils, wet lips, flushed faces and slight tremors in your hands.

“You know, I think I referred to you as ‘sweet’ too...” You raised an eyebrow at him. You couldn’t help the way your gaze flickered down to his lips. It flitted back up, “But, that’s nothing, right?”

Hitoshi bit his lip, taking a big breath. 

Suddenly, he was standing up. 

“Hey, wait—” You stammered, standing as well. “I’m sorry, that was a lot. I only meant to tease.”

“No, no, it’s okay,” Hitoshi put his hands in front of himself, creating distance between the two of you. “Same. You know I can’t help giving you trouble, (Y/N).”

Ouch.

You cracked a smile, rubbing your arms, “Of course, yeah. Silly friend shit.”

Hitoshi was quick to redirect, pointing a thumb out of the room, “I’ve gotta hang this somewhere. See you in a bit, or you can come with me if you like?”

“Nah, I’ll wander,” You patted his shoulder, waltzing off your churning gut by cutting in front of him. “Take it easy, smokestack.”

You couldn’t hear if he replied.

 ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||

 You did, in fact, wander. With meandering feet, you moved through room after room. You poured yourself another drink, but it’s not nearly as strong. Your run-in with Hitoshi soured your mood. While not fully ruined, you were definitely feeling weirder than you wanted to be.

Hitoshi and you obviously had energy, yeah. But the most either of you had acted on it was ‘seemingly meaningless’ flirting. It was always followed up with a ‘no homo’ or ‘aha, got ‘ya!’, yet it always felt real in the moment. You weren’t a dumbass. You had caught Hitoshi eyeing you a few (read: many) different times. There were so many close calls and contacts between the two of you.

 There was one time while you were making a box of mac and cheese in Hitoshi’s kitchen circa 2 AM. You had borrowed one of his shirts and a pair of joggers to sleep in, a common act of yours. He walked past you for a glass of water, keeping the cup under the tap until it ran over just to look you up and down. 

His gaze wasn’t prying or predatory, not even close. You trusted Hitoshi with your life and you knew that he wouldn’t ever breach boundaries like that. Rather, he regarded you in a way that made him lose time, something soft and gooey in his eyes. That time, it wasn’t lustful attention. It just felt-

(Like the way lovers look at one and other, enamored.)

 Another time was during one of his performances. The house venue had been dimly lit and musty as fuck, but that didn’t distract Hitoshi. As Jiro’s vocals shook the basement, you met eyes with Hitoshi as he slammed on guitar. His gaze always returned to you throughout the whole set. When you had teased him about it, he claimed that looking at you helped keep his stage fright in check.

The reasoning didn’t calm the butterflies in your stomach. 

 There was another particularly telling occurrence where you had fallen asleep on Hitoshi’s floor in the middle of working on your final paper for your theory class the semester prior. He returned from his smoke break to find you curled up under the first piece of cloth you could find (which, in that case, was one of his hoodies). You weren’t fully asleep, and you certainly weren’t when Hitoshi hefted you into his arms, laying you so gently down on his bed and covering you with a throw blanket. 

Oh, god, the sweetness, like something you’d never known when you felt his hand on your face, smoothing over your cheekbones, your nose, and then your lips. His gentle voice, deep with the late-night, “You work too hard, you know.”

He nestled next on the floor next to the bed, leaving you to sleep undisturbed the rest of the night. 

There were, of course, many more instances of Hitoshi’s way-too-kind kindness, and a pile of your own moments as well. 

It was all damning, but relatively ignored. Your friendship was more important than any stupid feelings the two of you had right? You refused to acknowledge your own feelings beyond semi-sexual remarks, jabs, and jests. You couldn’t jeopardize your friendship, right?

...

 You eventually found yourself at the foot of the stairs that led to the attic. Even from the landing, you could hear various rhythmic slaps, moans, and laughter. 

You ascended the stairs and took in the sight greeting you.

There were various bondage rigs that were free-standing, all occupied at the moment you entered. Loops for ropes and chains to be tied to drilled into the ceiling. Flogs, whips, canes, and other implements hung heavy on one of the walls.

The room was lit dimly, yet nothing seemed obscured. A few rainbow lights illuminated the sweaty bodies about the room. Not everyone was having full-on sex. Most people were actually clothed. A lot of folks it seemed were just there spectating. 

Speaking of most people, your party peers were all lounging on the beds. Sans, Hitoshi, of course, standing and laughing with Kaminari. 

The lot saw you enter and flagged you down. You walked past a heavily-tattooed man getting pegged by a woman in a tutu and a crowd of costumed partygoers doing whippits which were being handed out by a man in an elaborate steampunk top hat. A cute girl with silver hair was strung up in a nearby rig, moaning as a leather-clad man fingerfucked her. 

You stood next to Hitoshi, bumping into his arm with your own, “Didn’t take you for a voyeur.” 

He snorted, joshing you back, “I have my moments.”

“I didn’t take you for a prude, (Y/N)!” Denki snickered, bringing attention to you. “You looked like you’d seen a ghost when you walked in here.”

“Denki, please,” You rolled your eyes. “I walked into a room made for very wild sex acts. That’s a very different expression than the one you’re describing.”

That made him snort and fall back onto the bed, along with Hanta and Mina. 

(How high were they? That wasn’t even a good joke.)

Hitoshi chuckled himself, something low and lumbering.

(Don’t think about how hot that is.)

“This makes me think back to that night, in sophomore year,” Hanta spoke as he sat up. “You know, kink night.”

“Oh, yeah! I forget about that,” Denki turned towards you and Hitoshi and raised his eyebrows.

You flushed.

Momo, innocently, asked, “Kink night?”

Hitoshi cleared his throat, looking anywhere but you.

“Oh yeah!” Mina piped up, hugging Momo’s shoulders from behind. Jiro was sitting in Momo’s lap, head on her tits. “We made a drinking game of exposing our weird sex acts and kinks to each other.”

You laughed uncomfortably at the memory, avoiding the very embarrassing and horny part that involved you, “That was the day that we found Mineta was into scat.”

“Oh wow,” Jiro gawked. “That was before Mineta got canceled?”

“Oh, yeah. He got wasted and ran off after that. Thank god.” Denki snickered. “You know what else happened that night?”

“Denki, please, stop talking.” It was Hitoshi placing a firm hand on the other’s shoulder. 

Denki just looked at the two of you like he was some old god of mischievous, turning back to the girls, “That’s when we all found out about Hitoshi and (Y/N)’s suuuuuuuuuper compatible kinks. Like, scary compatible.”

“They got sooooo awkward about it too!” Mina snickered, looking at your and Hitoshi with matchmaker in her eyes. 

You would kick her ass for it later. In that moment, you tried to keep a somewhat neutral expression as you recalled the night in question.

Sure, it was a year or two back and you and Hitoshi weren’t half as close back then. 

The lot of you had been sitting on the floor of Denki and Hitoshi’s dorm, passing around a bottle of cheap, flavored vodka in a fucked up, horny game of truth or dare.

...

  “You’re next (Y/N)!” Mina passed the bottle to you and fell back against the carpet. You swallowed thickly, swishing the content liquor inside. “Dare or sex act?”

The rules of the game were simple. Choosing ‘dare’ meant that someone else chose a sexually-charged dare for you and ‘sex act’ meant exposing either a kink or a sex act you’d done. It was a roulette either way, but one option gave you far more control than the other. 

After the last dare consisting of Denki giving a very messy lap dance to Eijiro, and you weren’t really in the mindset to repeat anything even close to that.

“Sex act,” You sighed in defeat.

Denki snickered in the corner, “Spill it!”

Hanta cheered you on as you bit your lip in thought.

The liquor swirling in your stomach was affecting your inhibitions, and with one shy, half-glance to Hitoshi, you spoke up. 

“I have a spanking kink, what of it.”

You drowned out Hitoshi’s red cheeks and the cheers of your friends with a deep chug from the bottle.

The bottle was passed to Hitoshi as you asked the question, “Dare or sex act?”

Jiro giggled from the bed, sipping at her own drink as well. 

“Sex act,” Hitoshi groaned, rolling his eyes at Denki, but you all knew he loved what was going on.

“Reveal yourself, Hitoshi! What gets your rocks off!?” Mina shouted drunkenly as she rolled on the floor. You made a mental note to cut her off from having any more of the trashy vodka.  

Hitoshi gave you a fleeting, but very horny look before regarding the group.

There was a twitch in your lip that made you think his smirk was all for you.

“I love pulling a cute girl over my lap and turning her ass purple while she’s begging for more.”

As everyone around you jeered and cheered, you gulped. 

And so did Hitoshi.

...

 “Yeah!” Hanta fell back. “That was so fucking funny. Like, all night it was all (Y/N) being like ‘I’m a filthy masochist!’ and Hitoshi being like ‘I’m a filthy sadist!’”

“Hanta, for the love of god,” You interrupted him, face burning with a fucked up mix of shame and lust. Hitoshi was mirroring you. “Why do you have to bring that up?”

“Oh, dude, because whenever we talk about it, you and Hitoshi get so embarrassed, it’s hilarious!” Hanta fucking giggled and reached for his drink. 

“Are we gonna talk about how you and Denki both like fisting—” You give them a taste of their own medicine, watching the two of them choke and gawk. To the side, Momo whispered to Jiro, eyeing you. 

Hitoshi barked out a laugh, losing some tension in his shoulders. You met his eye for a moment, only to see the jewelish purple taken up by his blackened pupils.

Fuck.

Momo spoke up, brow furrowed, “Can I request something a bit odd of you, (Y/N)? It’s perfectly okay if you say no.”

“Shoot,” You reply, sipping your beverage. 

Momo bit her lip, eyes going to Jiro, then you, “Can I try spanking you?”

Everyone collectively choked. You especially.

You took another nervous sip of your drink, avoiding eye contact with the group.

You regained composure, refusing to look at Hitoshi, but letting the fucked up idea brew and brew in your mind, “Uh, I mean, is Jiro okay with it?”

“Oh yeah, totally,” Jiro nodded, kissing her girlfriend’s jaw. “Pain isn't my thing, at all, and she’s always wanted to try it. And hey, if you’re a ‘filthy masochist’, be my guest.”

But, would you be her guest?

Your drunken mind considered.

It was the most acceptable setting for it to happen in public. You really did like getting spanked and were a raging masochist, so it would, at the very least, be fun for you. A little humiliating, but that was also a turn on. You’d also get to indulge Momo, who was dating Jiro, but they both seemed perfectly okay with a bit of platonic pain play, so what was the real harm? 

Your gaze flickered to Hitoshi.

Oh, fuck.

His face was lit up with a deep blush even in the irisian hues of the sex attic. His eyes were pointed distinctively opposite of you, a hand literally over his mouth as he crossed his arms over his chest.

Your mind lit up with ideas.

Terrible, sinful ideas that you would be the peak of you and Hitoshi’s teasing.

Fuck it.

“Sure, I’m down,” You smirked and Momo lit up. Immediately, she was up and scouting out the area for a spot to go to town. Momo even seemed to be eyeing up a wall of toys. 

“Hey,” Jiro whispered to you as you truly realized what you got yourself into. “Thanks for this. She’s really into this kind of stuff, and I like indulging her, but I can’t handle too much.”

“Oh, of course!” You spoke so brightly. “I have a high pain tolerance, so I’m sure I can take what she dishes out, too.”

You heard Hitoshi clear his throat behind you.

You let yourself take another glance at Hitoshi and it made you want to die on the spot. His eyes glared in anger with the sinful intensity that was entirely directed at you. You could tell by the awkward way he was leaning that he was trying to hide the bulge in his jeans.

Is... Is he that turned on by just the thought of me getting spanked?

Oh, this truly was your best teasing yet.

(Were you taking this too far?)

Kaminari was gripping the sleeve of Hitoshi’s sweater, not allowing him to leave. Judging by how the latter was looking and staring, he wasn’t going to either way.

Momo walked back over, tugging you by the hair to a bed that was a lot higher than the others. It was the perfect height for you to bend over.

“What’s your safeword?” She asked, running her hand down your back to push you against the comforter like she’d done this hundreds of times before. Your chest fell against the bed, forearms giving you a bit of leverage. 

You hummed, “Just ‘red’ should be good.”

“Perfect,” Momo smiled before pressing the back of your neck, forcing your face into the sheets. “I’m gonna give you ten with my hand, okay?”

“I trust you, Momo, do your worst,” You spoke so confidently, but truly you didn’t know what was coming.

Momo smoothed a hand over your ass, hardly covered due to the angle you were bent over. The pretty fabric of your dress, pulled over your curves, was hiding less and less. Momo hummed, running a firm hand down the zipper of the dress, “Do you have a preference as to if I pull your dress up or not?”

Oh, holy fuck. 

That was beyond teasing.

Fuck it.

“You can pull it up, but keep my panties on. I need some dignity,” You winked back at her. 

Momo blushed. She delicately pulled the fabric back, resulting in a round of wolf whistles from your friend. Sober you was going to hate the fact you did this, but drunk you? Thriving.

(Though you wished it was Hitoshi delivering, but you digress.)

Without warning, Momo brought her hand down on your ass, a loud smack resounding around the room, causing a slight hush.

Oh fuck. 

You were already drawing some attention.

Despite the pleasant haze of painful pleasure that was beginning to swirl in your mind and gut, you couldn’t help but notice the looks and stares. 

Particularly, you got a nasty feeling from the figure in the far corner eyeing you up from ass to toes. He looked fairly nondescript, but the aura he was giving off felt like poison. Something sticky and unpleasant formed in your gut when you looked at him. Your drunken mind chased it away by turning your head the other way. 

And then all you could see was Hitoshi’s gaze on you.

It was damn near feral.

His cheeks flushed and dewy. A bit of sweat was dripping down his temple, reflecting the party lighting like some sort of sick joke. One of his hands was raking through his violet locks. His teeth dug into his full lips as he stared you down. 

Your eyes met and you refused to look away.

So did he. 

Another hit, harder, made you bite your lip to suppress a cry.

Three more and you couldn’t help the bubbling sounds that were spilling from you. Soft cries and moans, maybe a whimper or two leaked from your bitten lips. Momo wasn’t holding back, and you were sure your ass would ache tomorrow.

Good.

Two more and tears leaked from your eyes. You were sure your friends were just waiting to give both you and Momo so much shit, but you couldn’t care less. All you could do was drink in the hungry way Hitoshi eyed you. 

It was definitely not the way people who were ‘just friends’ looked at each other. 

“Last two, make ‘em count!” Mina shouted from behind you with a cheer. Some of the others in the room were clamoring to watch.

Momo ran a soothing hand down your back, “You doing okay?”

“I’m peachy,” You push out, voice clearly tear-stricken. “Finish me off, Momo. Bruise me.”

That apparently set her off. Momo smacked your ass with such a force that your face pressed harshly into the bed, obscuring your view of Hitoshi. 

The last slap was, by far, the worst. Momo decided to tease you, torturing the raw skin of your ass. She would wind up only to pet your lower back or stroke the tops of your thighs. When she finally gave you the hit you deserved (for torturing Hitoshi and yourself), it sounded across the room just as loud as your sob that followed it. Tears leaked from your eyes as your breath came out in shudders. You loved the feeling of numbness and pain that emanated from your abused cheeks. You relished it.

You turned your head upright, vision blurry. Momo pulled your dress down, helping you sit up. 

You didn’t get much of a chance to catch your breath as Hitoshi dashed away and out of the sex room, very tense and very distressed judging by how Denki was shouting after him.

Oh fuck.

You kicked yourself mentally, cursing your stupid fucking hubris.

You took it too far.

He’s either turned on, uncomfortable as fuck, or both.

Probably both.

 You start to sit up, ignoring the sobering pain heating up your ass. Quickly, Momo pressed you back down to the bed. A solo cup of clear liquid was offered to you. 

“Aftercare, obligatory. Drink this, it’s just water,” Momo stated curtly, watching you down the water. You rubbed the tears from your eyes. 

“How’s my makeup?” You asked, ignoring the rising panic in your chest. 

Momo inspected you for a moment as the others came over, jeering. She quickly rubbed away smears of mascara, running a hand over the side of your face, “Do you feel okay?”

“Yeah, totally. Shit was fun,” You prayed you were disguising the turning of your gut well enough with your nonchalant tone. “I’m gonna find Hitoshi and make sure he has an extra pair of pants.”

Momo frowned, pressing you down and squeezing your shoulders, “Somehow, I don’t believe that. Please rest for a moment, (Y/N).”

You faltered, following Momo’s command without much thought. Your mind was still in a somewhat of a fog as you sipped at the water she gave you. Her hand rubbed at your shoulders and back, dropping praise every few moments. 

The rest of your peers filed over, cheering, flopping on the bed around you. 

“Holy fuck, (Y/N),” Hanta whistled, clapping your shoulder.

“That was so hot,” Denki sighed, red-faced and wide-eyed. 

Momo ran an affectionate hand through your hair as Jiro fell into her lap, winking at you, “She’s so good, right?”

“Yeah, holy fuck. If y’all ever need a third, you have my number.” You breathed, shaking out a laugh. “I think I need to find Hitoshi, though.”

 You stood up, wobbling for a moment, comically aware of sets of eyes on you as you dashed away. Your friends shouted encouragement from behind you as you descended the stairs.

Truthfully, your intent was to smooth things over and make the routine, ‘but we’re bros!’ comment. You knew that this wouldn’t be enough, considering how far you pushed it.

You fucked up.

Took it too far. 

What does Hitoshi even think of you now?

...

Your mind was sobering with the help of the water and pain. 

You had to find Hitoshi.

So, you quickly moved about the house.

You scanned room after room, checked the front and back yard, but couldn’t find him anywhere.

  Where the fuck was he?

 You passed by a room upstairs, door shut, and you swore you heard his voice inside.

The panic that had been brewing in you was spilling over. Your ass ached and walking hurt like hell with the bruises that were forming. All you wanted was a cigarette and to apologize to your best friend for taking things way too fucking far—

You swung the door open and was met with a scene that did not include Hitoshi Shinsou.

A mess of four very cute, very high girls, mostly but not entirely clothed, were writhing on the bed, all popping up to look at you. 

You flushed, body tensing as you tried to laugh it off, “Oh, wow, sorry about this! I thought my friend was in here. I’ll let you all get back to it.”

The girls hardly seemed perturbed by the sudden intrusion, rather they seemed quite complimentary. 

“Aw, you don’t wanna join?” One of the girls pouted, giving you puppy dog eyes. “You’re so pretty!”

“T-thank you,” You shook your head, “You are all very sweet, but I have to find my friend.”

“The one behind you?” A different girl asked. 

Your hazed mind hadn’t even picked up that was anyone behind you. 

You couldn’t help lighting up. Hitoshi had to be behind you, of course, this silly anxiety attack would come to an end—

You turned.

Your face fell.

***********

It was the creep from the sex room, grinning down at you. There was a nasty glint in his eye.

Your heart started going faster. Your gut soured with a feeling far off from drunkenness.

“Actually, uh, no, I’ll be going, thanks.” You tried to sidestep the man, but he quickly blocked the doorway, boxing you in.

“No, I think we’ll stay,” Oh, the man’s voice was sick in your ears. 

You were too shocked to move at first.

His reached for your shoulder, but you managed to stumble back from him. 

“No, hey, dude, don’t touch me,” You barked back, pass your growing fear. 

He scoffed, muttering something about you being a  ‘cheap whore’ and stalked you down. 

Your back hit a wall. You froze.

You felt trapped. 

His cheap cologne was choking you.

He was just inches away. 

You looked helplessly to the girls on the bed, but they had dissolved back into each other. Their hands were grabbing at each other's writhing bodies, clothes being torn away with light moans filling the air. They were far too fucked to be bothered with what was happening to you. The deafening music of the party drowned out your senses beyond the small room. 

You tried to slip away from him, out of the door, but his arm slammed beside you.

He caged you. 

His hand shot to grab your wrap, squeezing hard and shooting pain into your shoulder as you tried to rip yourself away. 

“Get the fuck away from me!” You snarled, trying to wrench out of his grip, away from him. You fell deeper into panic. 

You could feel his breath on your ear, and your heart dropped in your chest. With the thrum of the party, it felt far too loud for anyone to hear you. Even if you shouted for help, would anyone come? No one even knew that anything was wrong—

A voice cracked like a roll of thunder through the man’s actions and the drone of the party.

“Get the fuck off of them before I break your fucking fingers.” A familiar, blessed voice cut the air from behind you.

Thank fucking god.

Hitoshi stood in the doorway. 

You almost sobbed in relief.

His broad form took up most of the door frame, chest puffed out in his anger. His brow was lowered, mouth twisted in revulsion and fury, all directed at the man who had you caged. Only rage colored Hitoshi’s features. Until he caught your gaze, anyways. 

Then, it all dissolved to fear. 

“We’re busy, she’s fine, fuck off.” The guy said, digging his hand into your side. 

You kicked at his shoe, relishing the way he hissed in pain. 

The man glared at you, then looked to Hitoshi. The man scoffed, looking him up and down to assess whether putting up a fight was worth it.

Apparently not, as the man shoved you roughly towards Hitoshi.

*********

You tripped into the latter’s chest as he caught you easily. 

Without missing a beat, he steadied you and crushed you to him. One of his broad hands moved up to almost shield the side of your face. You were surprised to find that his body was shaking just as hard as your own. You both mirrored each other in rage and panic. 

You pressed your face into his sweater as tears remained dangerously close to falling from your eyes. Fear still tore through you and everything about Hitoshi made you feel a hell of a lot safer.

Hitoshi’s arm tightened as he continued his stare-down.

The man grumbled, exiting the room in a huff and harshly pushing back Hitoshi (and you). You flinched, wincing. A low, rumbling growl rumbled in Hitoshi’s chest as he stared death at the man. 

You knew that this was probably all too much. There were details of intimacy and boundaries that were being broken without thought from both of you and that was very bad, probably. 

But, you also were drunk on fear as opposed to vodka, and having someone safe to hold you felt better than any hit you could’ve found at the party. 

You surrendered to your very obvious reality. 

 When the man was gone, filtered back into the party, Hitoshi looked down at you, his mood entirely changing. 

His anger dissolved. His face softened as he tenderly (and quickly) assessed you. Concerned, but earnest eyes searched your face and body for visible signs of harm. When he was satisfied, Hitoshi linked your hands and pulled you from the room. 

He walked you through the party, quickly but gingerly. Your mind buzzed, still panicked and anxious, but the thought of cold air and a less stimulating environment was like aloe on a burn. 

Finally, you reached the front door, walking onto an empty front landing. 

You fell into Hitoshi. 

Your sweaty, shaking hands clung to the back of his sweater as you buried your face into his neck. The familiar scent of his woodsy cologne and natural sweat was more of a sedative than any drug you could find at the party and you fucking needed it.

Hitoshi wrapped his arms around you from the small of your back to your shoulders, squeezing as he buried his face in your hair. 

You stiffened but relaxed a moment later. You couldn’t keep pretending. You didn’t have it in you. 

You were surrounded by him and the cold air, and nothing felt more comforting. 

You decided to forget the semantics of your relationship for a little. 

(You hoped, prayed, that he would too).

Hitoshi suddenly tensed, “Is it okay that I’m touching you?”

You could only nod, voice weak and small in the back of your throat, “Y-yeah, it's cool. It’s been cool.” 

Hitoshi grounded you, turning the two of you so you were protected from any potential prying eyes. He moved you just right so that his cheek rested on top of your head. 

You allowed yourself to close your eyes and focus on the calming beat of Hitoshi’s heart. 

He soothed you by existing; he always did. But, in that moment, after such an uncomfortably close brush with something fucking disgusting, his presence was almost cleansing. It purged you of the incessant clawing in the back of your mind.

You’re safe. 

You pulled away just enough to look up at Hitoshi’s face. You felt him give you a squeeze which made the smallest, unlikely smile form on your lips. 

Slowly, like he was trying not to spook a wild animal, Hitoshi cupped the side of your face. The hold was firm, like it had power to it. You sank into his palm. 

(Fuck that feels nice—)

“How are you feeling?” Hitoshi asked softly, gaze warm and honey-like.

You laughed weakly, leaning into his palm, “Like shit. Holy fuck.”

The hand cradling your lower back stroked a thumb idly, “I can only imagine. What happened back there? That guy had been in the ‘sex room’ with us, right?”

“Uh, excuse you, ‘sex attic’, I think you mean?” You still managed to joke. “And yes. Must’ve been following me or something, fucking creep.”

“If you want, I’ll go back in there and kick the shit outta him. I’m sure the others will help. It’d be so worth getting him thrown out for,” Hitoshi snickered, turning his head towards the door as he did.  

As he turned back, his eyes widened as your fearful expression returned.

“P-please don’t leave,” You knew it was too much, right? Obviously. But, you didn’t care. 

You felt fairly certain Hitoshi didn’t either by that point. 

You pressed yourself back close to him and buried your face in the crook of his neck, clutching at his front. “Please don’t go.”

You weren’t sure if he’d return any affections (obviously earlier gestures were just to comfort you, right?). 

He did. Immediately, he squeezed as much of you as he could reach, nuzzling his face into the side of your head. 

“I’m not going anywhere, I’m right here.” Hitoshi reassured you with his voice as well as his touch. You shuddered, feeling his lips and breath so close. 

The two of you stayed like that for a while.

You retained your death grip on Hitoshi, contemplating it all. Perhaps it was the setting or the way your body was thrumming, but something was forcing you to come to terms with how you really felt about him.

You enjoyed teasing Hitoshi too much for it to just be platonic. You knew this.

You wondered how Hitoshi felt considering all of those heated looks and smirks he loved dishing out.

(An insecure thought or two crept about only being a fuck to him. You tried to repress it, though it certainly didn’t calm you.) 

 Despite these thoughts, you held Hitoshi with everything you had, fearing that whatever long-cultivated connection the two of you would slip away by the end of the night.

After a few minutes of slow silence, Hitoshi offered you a cigarette, which you took graciously. He leaned forward to light it, silently regarding you with warm eyes. 

You took a fat inhale, breathing out with shaky lungs. 

“I’m sorry.” You spoke abruptly. 

His eyes widened and he shook his head, gently grabbing your shoulders, “No, (Y/N), there is literally nothing for you to be sorry about.”

“No, there is. The thing with Momo,” You shook your head. “That was bad. I’m sorry, I was teasing you and I took it too far. Way too far.”

Hitoshi went still, averting his eyes and biting his lip. 

“I appreciate the apology,” Hitoshi's face erupted in red. “B-but, you don’t need to be sorry.”

He’s... embarrassed?

Oh.

(You truly were a dumbass, but god love ‘ya.)

You took another puff, nodding. 

Hitoshi pulled you to him again, this time wrapping an arm around your shoulders. His thumb rubbed idly at the bare skin of your arm as he whipped out his phone.

“What do you want to do?” The air was cold as Hitoshi spoke. It nipped at your skin and made you crinkle your nose.

With a moment's hesitation, you replied in a hoarse voice, “Can we go home?”

Hitoshi visibly softened for you, “Of course. I can call us an Uber. To your dorm...?” There’s a question in his voice that you both already knew the answer to.

You shook your head, “Your place?”

He nodded, “Of course, (Y/N).” 

You leaned into his shoulder, letting yourself relax. 

[redgreenbluesforloco]

Asahi feature on how Akiko overcame anorexia to become National Champion in 2013

Trigger warning for a detailed account of Akiko’s struggle with an eating disorder (anorexia nervosa), including physical and psychological effects. {Note: I’m not at all an experienced jpn to eng translator, and this is my first time translating such a long article on a complex subject. The phrasing may be awkward and there may be some mistakes. If you notice any, please do let me know.}

Content under the cut: Main article + Akiko’s letter to her mother + a segment on the correlation between the “athletic mentality” and eating disorders and what kind of support is available in Japan to those suffering from EDs

Her weight having once been as low as 32kg, Akiko was able to return to the ice

As the sound of Phantom of the Opera filled the arena, she landed clean combination jumps in sync with the music. Even on this final battle, she displayed a rich variety of expressions as she danced. Once she struck the final pose, her hands clenched into fists and she let her arms drop. During the four minutes of her free skate, there had been no mistakes.

It was at the National Championships on the 23rd of December, 2013, that the Olympic representatives would also be decided. Having come from 2nd place in the SP into the FS, Akiko Suzuki (33) had tears streaming down her face. “It’s been a long time, but I’m glad I’ve skated for this long.”

When she was 18, she developed an eating disorder. For over half a year, she was in a state that made it impossible to skate at all. She was able to make a recovery after hitting rock bottom, and now, in a surprise victory, managed to place 1st, scoring very high marks in the FS. She had secured a place in the Olympics for the 2nd time. Her mother, Keiko (68), who had been watching the performance, was overcome with emotion: “I guess Gods do reward you in the end.”

Akiko started skating when she was 6 years old. She had been learning many things, but what she wanted to pursue was skating. From her home in Toyohashi (Aichi prefecture) she’d go to train in a rink in Nagoya. When her father Kazunori (71) and Keiko, who ran a restaurant, were busy, one of their regular customers would sometimes pick her up at the rink. The food served was mainly Japanese cuisine.

During summer and winter vacations after she started middle school, she’d go to a training camp to be instructed by Coach Hiroshi Nagakubo. Her jumping technique was lackluster, but she loved to dance. What set her apart was her exquisite expressive ability. On her 1st and 2nd years of high school she placed 4th twice in a row in the National Championships. People’s expectations of her future grew.  


After graduating high school, she went on to attend Tohoku Fukushi university in Sendai, and decided to tackle skating in Coach Nakubo’s home base. At the same time, her peers from the same hometown of Aichi, Miki Ando and Yukari Nakano, were living abroad on and off to train.

In March of 2003, she began her stay at her coach’s house. Laundry, cleaning, preparing her own meals: if she couldn’t do everything perfectly she’d get frustrated with herself. She had morning practice; then, after attending lectures at university, she’d be back in the rink again. It was the start of a life that revolved around skating to an unhealthy extent. 


The shape of a woman’s body changes easily during puberty. For the sake of scoring in competitions, she had been warned about the importance of self-management. If she lost weight, she’d be able to jump more easily. She didn’t want to be told she couldn’t manage by herself after moving out of her parents’ home. She was taken captive by those kind of thoughts.

She then changed her bowl to a child-sized one and stopped eating anything greasy or fried. She wouldn’t eat vegetables that had been cooked with any kind of grease. Little by little, she increased the number of rules for herself. She wouldn’t eat meat anymore and was very particular about ingredients put in side dishes, no matter how small the quantity. 


She’d measure her weight 5 times a day. If she didn’t get on a scale she couldn’t relax. If her weight had gone down, that was proof her hard work had paid off. With a height of 161cm, her weight dropped from 48kg to 40kg in one month.

During an extended vacation in May, she came to visit her mother at the Izakaya she ran in Toyohashi. The moment she opened the door, her mother exclaimed, “What happened?” She looked so thin she was hard to recognize.

When she went back to Sendai, she never skipped practices or college lectures, but there was a tough commute including a transfer from the train to a bus. After attending 90 minute lectures, she’d be very tired. By the time she arrived at the rink, the practice was sloppy; she became unable to perform even simple spins. Yukio Shibata (69) the head of the skating division, noticed this and told her, “Why don’t you go home?”

At the end of May, Keiko-san took her to see a psychiatrist at a Toyohashi hospital. As the doctor listened to her symptoms and measured her weight, he informed them that she was anorexic. It is a type of eating disorder now called anorexia nervosa, an illness characterized by extreme concern over weight to the point where one develops a tendency to skip meals altogether. This results in an increasing danger of malnutrition. Although the person suffering from the disorder diets often, they do not realize they have lost weight.

Having already been concerned over the strange changes her daughter was going through, the doctor’s explanation satisfied Keiko. But Akiko could not accept that her efforts were being called an ‘illness.’ The thoughts that crossed her mind were along the lines of “I wanted to be thin so I lost weight. I can gain it back, so it’s fine.”

She was prescribed medication to raise her blood pressure as well as antidepressants. She couldn’t sleep no matter how tired she was, so she started taking sleeping pills. She had so little body fat she felt cold even in the middle of the day. Despite all of this, she couldn’t bring herself to drink the canned nutritional supplement given to her by the hospital: “If I drink this, I’ll get fat.”

She couldn’t even eat the meals her mother made for her. “Eat just a little bit of something nutritious,” she was told. She thought, “I’m doing what I can.” It was painful for her to see the sad look on her mother’s face.

The impatience to skate grew worse. She would go to the rink in Nagoya, but she was tired out just from the one-and-a-half-hour commute and would come back home without having been able to accomplish anything. That summer, her weight dropped as low as 32kg.

She’d developed this eating disorder when she enrolled in university in 2003. At that time, she weighed 48kg. By the summer of that year she weighed 32kg.

By the end of May she had gone back home to Toyohashi (Aichi prefecture), moving out of her boarding place in Nagoya. However, she would still not eat the food her mother, Keiko, tried to give her. Her mother would plead with her, “Please eat.” But it was not so simple, although it was painful to see her mother look so sad.


In July, Keiko-san tried to tell her, “Let’s go to the hospital.” She earnestly told Akiko, “I just want you to live.” But Akiko stubbornly refused, saying, “If I go, it means I won’t be able to skate.” She couldn’t imagine being herself if she couldn’t skate.

A change in Keiko’s words created the opportunity for Akiko to face the challenge of eating. Instead of ordering Akiko to eat, she said, “Let’s start with whatever you feel you can eat and go from there.” Akiko had thought her parents would not accept her unless she was perfect, but now she began to feel as though her current self could be accepted in her entirety. Tofu, fruits, sugar-free yogurt. Little by little, she began to eat what she could. 


In the autumn, she was scheduled to appear in her first GP competition, Skate Canada. But she had been away from the rink and her new programs had not been choreographed yet. In September, she phoned the Japanese Skating Federation and said that she could not attend due to health problems. “I’ve missed my chance,” she thought, and broke down in tears after the phone call.

In the middle of autumn, she became determined and returned to Sendai: “I want to be on the ice once again.” Coach Nagakubo, however, told her, “I can’t let you practice. First you have to get your weight back up to 40kg.” To start with, she worked on regaining her physical strength through walking. 


When it came to her fear of eating, it was one step forward, one step back. Head of the skating division Yukio Shibata introduced her to a clinic nearby where she would get IV drips with vitamins and nutrients. She told a nurse there, “I have to eat, but I just can’t.” The nurse responded, “It’s okay. Just take it slow for now.” Suzuki felt grateful to receive a reaction so full of acceptance.  


Her food intake gradually increased in quantity. She gradually became more positive with both her body and mind. Her weight having once been below 40kg, she returned to her 1st year of university and stood on the ice once again.

The muscles supporting her torso had become weak to the point where she would fall down trying to skate forward. She became wary of people’s gaze. She felt as though her skinny thighs were being stared at. “But that’s just the reality,” she thought. In order to skate, she worked hard to accept the reality that faced her. She decided to try and make an appearance in January 2004 at an intercollegiate championship. The head of the skating division at Fukushi University Yukio Shibata recounts, “I couldn’t believe she’d really skate.” 


She didn’t know whether she would be able to complete the performance. She couldn’t do 3 rotation jumps – she could only make it to two and a half. The time when she had placed highly in the ranks during high school at the National Championships “seemed like a lifetime ago.” 


At that time, Noriko Hongo, who ran a beauty salon in Miyagi, Sendai, would often take Akiko out. She was the same age as Suzuki’s mother, Keiko. Noriko had two figure skating daughters who used to be enrolled at the same university club as Suzuki, and had been told by Shibata, “Please look after [Akiko].” 

“Let’s go to a place that has food that Akko likes!” Suzuki adored Noriko and her serene voice, dubbing her “my Sendai mother.” They would go to a karaoke snack bar just for fun, without drinking alcohol. After her morning practice, Akiko would go to Noriko’s house to take a nap. Noriko would help take care of her eating habits, making her Japanese food with plenty of vegetables. Although she could still not eat meat, as the items that she could eat increased, she began to feel as though she might recover.

She had to rebuild her muscles one by one. In practice, she had to re-learn everything from theory to application. She started being able to do things that just a week before had been impossible for her. She re-lived the joyful moments from childhood: “I was able to do that jump! I was able to spin correctly!” Her club coach Hiroshi Nakubo patted her on the back and told her, “You can definitely make a comeback.” 


Akiko was aware that body-building is essential for athletes, so eating habits were also an aspect of training. The self-imposed rules about what she had to eat continued to decrease. However, she still couldn’t bring herself to eat meat. She had accepted a piece of information she found on her own that said that “grease is always bad,” and at first, she believed meat to be greasy. She knew that the proteins were good for muscle-building, but she couldn’t shake off the fear. 


The breakthrough came at the end of her 3rd year of university, when some thin-sliced pork with salad was served. She was told by friends, “You don’t have to force yourself.” Somehow she wanted to try it. “I think it might be okay,” she said, sincerely believing that it would. 


When Shizuka Arakawa was selected as a representative at the national championships for the Torino Olympics in 2006 where she won gold, Akiko could not make the last group along with the top-ranked skaters. She was told, “What a shame that you had to have a setback at that time.” The frustration was overwhelming.

In 2007, she won the Winter Universiade Competition. She was able to secure the ticket to the 2010 Vancouver Olympics that she so desired, where she placed 8th. “I’ll stop when I’m satisfied with myself.” Another year, and then another, and so on. She went to her 2nd Olympics in 2014 Sochi, and placed 8th once again. It probably used to be unimaginable for anyone that she would get to go to the Olympics twice. “To keep going while I was sick, I needed power and perseverance, but the objective of continuing to skate gave me the motivation to overcome the obstacles in my way.” 


Having had the experience of an eating disorder, just being able to skate made her happy. The fact that she was able to compete like she did was, after all, due to her healthy body. She now asks that female athletes seek medical help if they are experiencing sudden and drastic changes in their weight or amenorrhea (absence of menstruation/skipping periods).

After the March 2014 Worlds in which she retired, she’s been living as a professional skater and choreographer. She also commentated on the Pyeongchang Olympics on television. Skating has accompanied her throughout her life. She would like to continue with the activities that allow her to communicate her love of the sport.

Akiko’s letter to her mother

Akiko’s mother still treasures a letter Akiko sent her when she was finally able to go to skate Canada after having to withdraw the previous time. She keeps it in her wallet to this day. In this letter, Akiko reflects on how she cried talking on the phone and withdrawing from the competition, and how she feels happy being able to stand on the same arena that she would have been standing on back then. “[…]I’m very happy to be standing here having recovered this part of myself that I’d lost, my ability to skate. Thank you for standing by me all this time and working hard alongside me. I will be returning as myself, a healthy self!”

The dangers that lurk in the mentality of athletes

Eating disorders are characterized by an excessive concern/pickiness toward body weight and food intake, and a person suffering from such an illness becomes unable to eat normally. These nervous disorders are generally classified as anorexia, which dramatically decreases one’s food intake and causes weight loss to the point of malnutrition, or bulimia, in which one continues to eat food in large quantities. In the case of bulimia, excessive eating will often be followed by throwing up, taking laxatives etc. 


It is thought to stem from a combination of psychological factors such as perfectionism or low self-esteem and external factors such as family environment, society’s preference for thinness. Research conducted by the Ministry of Health estimated the patients to be at around 25.000, but there are doubts as to its accuracy.

Rehabilitation offers important resources such as having someone to listen carefully to the words of the person suffering from the eating disorder as well as offer advice to their families and guidance regarding proper nutrition. But there are still few medical institutions specializing in diagnosis and treatment. There are federal or municipal institutions called “Centers for Rehabilitation and Support for Eating Disorders” in Miyagi, Chiba, Shizuoka, Fukuoka.

It’s becoming clear that athletes in particular are suffering from eating disorders. Whether in sports like figure skating and rhythm gymnastics, where the competition involves aesthetic appeal, or track-and-field sports, the need to control one’s weight is particularly demanding. Aside from Akiko Suzuki, other female skaters who have been open about suffering from these disorders include America’s Gracie Gold and Russia’s Yulia Lipnitskaya.

Research from overseas suggests the risk to kids who have this athletic mentality, with characteristics such as stoicism, perfectionism, having an inclination to please their mentors and coaches etc. are twice as vulnerable to eating disorders as people in general.

Mari Suzuki, a doctor from the Japanese Association for Eating Disorders (based in Tokyo), pointed out, “Puberty is when your body weight increases and your bones and muscles are developing. And there are still trainers who will advise them to lose weight.”

The association’s “Support Guidebook: Tackling Eating Disorders as a Team” lists warning signs in an athlete’s behavior, including having an excessive amount of rules about eating, planning an excessive amount of training, drastic weight changes, a life in disarray. They are encouraging people to seek expert advice. The Association offers a course directed at coaches and mentors of athletes about 4 times a year. They also offer free advice through their email address.

Source: https://digital.asahi.com/articles/SDI201806019805.html

[2021laxteentour]

Day Two (Volunteering on Skid Row)

Going to Skid Row was very eye opening to me because it showed me how your decisions can but you in a dangerous and deadly place. It also showed me how good I have it as a person due to me realizing my acres to food, toiletries, bed, and much more. Going to USC gave me a chance to have my very first college visit and it didn’t disappoint. I was shocked by the huge size and added a option to my college list. Going to Venice beach was fun it showed me many different types of people and talents. Which was extremely exciting and fun. -Paris B.

Today I learned so many new things. I am so glad that we started out the day with helping others. Skid Row was a completely different experience that I had never seen before. The most important thing that the Skid Row taught me was that they aren’t bad people they just made some bad decisions. When I talked to some of the people and went around the community that statement made so much sense. I also got to view the Hollywood sign which was amazing. I also really enjoyed Venice and Santa Monica; it reminded me so much of a carnival or an amusement park. One of the most beautiful parts was the canal that was similar to Venice Italy. -Ariyana L.

Today was another exciting new adventure. Helping those on skid row was the most gratifying experiences of the entire trip. Being able to serve others on the first official Juneteenth holiday is what it’s all about. I was also overjoyed to see the big smile on my daughter’s face when we were able to visit USC college campus and she was able to see their state of the art aquatic center. She has been swimming competitively since she was 6 years old. For her to see what she has always dreamed to visit come to life was awesome! Thanks for helping us make those memories! -Stephanie L.

Today was filled with a lot of different fun activities. Besides the fun activities, starting the morning off with community service was emotional as it opened the eyes of what reality for some people really is. Previously I have done community service but this one was different. Although it was hard to see, it warmed my heart to see the community coming together once again to make a difference. Whether it was cutting or doing hair, picking up trash or providing meals and water. I truly left thankful. The college visit at USC was interesting and fun. I was amazed that the campus had an amazon, target and an apple store. We then moved to Venice beach, and I found it relaxing and had some of the best burgers! And it was cool to see that they had a lot of activities surrounding it like: basketball and tennis courts, skate park, eateries, shops and cool surfing spots.  Learned some knew things ending the night at the Santa Monica Pier and was cool too with the atmosphere it provided. It’s been awhile attending a carnival style setting since Covid arrived. Overall, this was a fun experience but also an eye opener. Once again, I’m thankful. -Morgan F.

Today will definitely go down in history! WECCAAN volunteered on Juneteenth , which is now a new recognized holiday! We cleaned Skid Row and interacted with the locals, which I say was very rewarding and the highlight of my day. We made a quick visit to USC which had a beautiful campus,  what I loved about visiting the campus is having one of the teens stare, take pictures and take mental notes of the size of the Olympic pool that was on campus.  Talking with this young lady and seeing that this campus might be a perfect fit when she finishes high school. This type of discussion,  interaction and visitation to a campus for our teens makes the trip extra rewarding and fulfilling. Traffic was busy for it being a weekend, but that didn't stop us from making a stop in Hollywood and taking a great group picture of the Hollywood sign that I almost see in lots of movies. Our day continued with a great bite to eat and people watching for sure at the infamous Venice beach. We had the opportunity to soak our feet and enjoy the beautiful breeze and most definitely get in some quality time and fellowship with new and old WeCCAN members. -Rania A.

Today is Juneteenth and we volunteered by picking up trash on Skid Row. Despite the luxurious parts of California, Skid Row has the highest homeless rate in California. I also saw a lot of tents on the streets & then we met a homeless man who had his own face on a wall mural. Afterwards, a man talked to us & he told his story about being homeless himself to owning a restaurant. This reminds me of my mother's stage play called "The Stranger". It is about a black man who loses his job & family. Then he becomes homeless & a woman finds interest in him. Then she encourages him to get back on his feet. The message of the story is once you fall, you must rise up. Meanwhile, we went to Rose Park & I learned that Jackie Robinson was a football player. Lastly, we went to Venice Beach & Santa Monica. -Tiffany W.

 I started my journey today by going to Skid Row and beautifying their community. I took my 1st trip to the Staples Center where I was able to take pictures with famous L.A Basketball players. We also went to the Rose Bowl Stadium for a restroom break and a workout. We then went to USC to look around the outside of the college. Then we went to Venice Beach, also known as Muscle Beach there we ate food from 2 taco places. Our last stop we went to the Santa Monica pier as we walked onto the boardwalk bridge looking at the oceanfront and the attractions at the pier, we then used the restrooms, and bought us some slushies. Today I had a great experience and hope to have more opportunities to share on the WECCAAN/ SeeAndServe service tours. -Darius W.

Today was truly a great experience, not just connecting with the group but for also the beautiful places we visited today. When we helped pick up the trash around the homeless it really opened my eyes to how truly I’m blessed and how I even live. That man that gave that speech really inspired me to believe in myself that anything is possible and dreams come true! Once again the beach was full of fun and laughter and relaxation to end the day off with. I’ve truly enjoyed my time here with this group in California ! -Ashleigh F.

Today we started bright an early but we started the day right with chicken biscuits courtesy of Dr Mike. Hunger satiated we hoped in the vehicles and headed to Skid Row. When we arrived there were parts of streets that had already been cleaned by other volunteers. I'm very inspired by this, there are more of us trying to make a difference in the world by serving the most vulnerable and ostracized of our community; people just like you and me, who are experiencing homelessness at this stage in their life. We walked up and down the streets whose sidewalks were lined with makeshift tents and shelters for the people living there. While every eye ogled at us out of curiosity; a few residents thanked us for being there. It was a stark reminder to have gratitude for the things in my life that I sometimes take for granted. I'm grateful for this experience and to see the emotions provoked in the young volunteers who are seeing homelessness up close and personal. Looking forward to tomorrow. -Giovan B.

This morning starting with a light breakfast. The volunteer site for this service learning trip was Skid Row. We had the opportunity to help to beautify the street that the people call home. Most people will not take the time to help the homeless. Those streets are dangerous. The homeless people are just surviving not leaving. It was very inspiring to hear Kevin Call story. When the odds are against you can overcome. The tour was a true at the right time. I enjoyed spending time with my once a year family. -Pamela G.

It's the 1st day Juneteenth is being considered as a national holiday and I'm up to volunteer my services. Dropped off on a 600 block of one of several streets in the community of Skid Row. As stories have unfolded about this community, I'm blessed to say I was dropped off to render services but not there to stay as some often do. Picking up the many piles of trash, to some those are considered to be their hidden treasures so be careful and observant as well as mindful for this is their home. It felt great being able to give complements as we stroll through, as I know a kind gesture will take you farther than condemning. We met Kevin Call who was once a product of the environment but has turned his life around and now he's rendering to the needs of this community. I think that's Awesome and very Inspirational to share this form of love! Strolling through making plenty of stops to monumental locations. Next up would be the Staples Center a place where I have never been. Seeing the nicely placed statues of Erving "Magic" Johnson, Shaquille O'neal, Oscar De La Hoyas, and Wayne Gritzskey all known for doing great things in the world of sports. I captured those moments by taking photos with my SunShines. On to the site of the art museum and there you will see beautiful architecture. Grabbing the fresh cut fruit from a family stand was a refreshing feeling to receive after the servicing, closest thing to water. Walked the campus of USC had one of my sons to look up facts about the school. Found out they're a D1 school in the athletic department, seen their lovely pool then snapped a few photos. Cool breeze from the site of Venice beach, known to some as "Muscle Beach". Many souvenir venues along the walk so I took to making a few purchases as we searched for some much needed food. Quenching my thirst with some cinnamon toast flavored rice milk, how refreshing. From here to the Santa Monica Pier, the calm ocean waters were making nice waves. My son would make the comment of it feels like its about to rain, due to the shores mist splashing in the air over the bridge. So many people out and enjoying the festivities around us, seems as the pandemic is ceased for their moments. For me it's still surreal so strolling through with my mask on and viewing these lovely places of California.  Overall I enjoyed my entire day and although I missed the beautiful parade in my city, I was able to parade in another city by giving service on the 1st official holiday of Juneteenth! -Tia J.

[freshginandtonic]

I Just Haven't MET You Yet: Thoughts on the Super Bowl of Fashion

The Met Gala is the the Olympics of fashion. As my title suggests, it has been called the Super Bowl of fashion. Athletes train for years - buffed and polished to an inch of their life to go out there and achieve excellence in sport. For the Met it’s excellence in fashion. Once a year, we (or at least my mother and myself) wait with bated breath to see what everyone wears.

As many of us are currently, I am working from home at the minute - today before I started my commute (15 seconds from my bed to my desk), instead of activewear I decided to put on my designated fancy ass velvet dress I bought about four years ago that I now wear to any vaguely formal occasion (with an abundance of tape to deal w how low cut it is) - and a puffer jacket (it’s cold af in my room) to commemorate the gala.

This year’s theme was supposed to be ‘About Time: Fashion and Duration’ I googled this concept and found the following information on the Met’s website: “it will explore how clothes generate temporal associations that conflate past, present, and future. Virginia Woolf will serve as the "ghost narrator" of the exhibition.”

My thoughts on this are as follows: firstly, ‘About Time’ is a great film if you haven’t seen it. Secondly, clothes conflating the past present and future - it’s a big yes from me. Thirdly, can Virginia Woolf serve as the ghost narrator of my entire life? What an idea.

The co-chairs this year were going to be Anna Wintour, Meryl Streep, Emma Stone, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Nicolas Ghesquiere. I mean, that list in itself is like a dream party list because you just know you’ll be getting a Streep-Stone-Miranda musical number in between drinks and dinner. I also don’t really know what being a co-chair of the event MEANS, but I’m guessing its some kind of vague organisational role where but you defer to Anna on everything - basically a school captain and principal set up.

For those of you who want a quick crash course in the, who, the what and the why I’m even talking about this gala thing here’s the tea: The Met Gala is the annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Costume Institute in New York City and marks the opening of the Costume Institute's annual fashion exhibit. Vogue have just done a video to explain the history so pls get enlightened.

However if you want more than 6 minutes and 50 seconds of how it all works, look no further than the 2016 documentary ‘The First Monday in May’. The film covers the months leading up to the 2015 Gala and the night itself. The theme that year was ‘China: Through The Looking Glass’, and it was all about the impact of Chinese design on Western fashion over the centuries.

The film is a huge eye opener into the pressure, time constraints, and sheer elbow grease that goes into the event. It’s also the closest thing to The Devil Wears Prada I’ve seen since ‘The September Issue’ . Anna Wintour flits around the museum with her sunnies and her giant cup of Starbucks, and scenes of Anna’s assistant and event organisers excessively vetting people from the guest list (“Josh Hartnett? What has he done lately?”) are amazing but also can you IMAGINE watching it and seeing them bitch about you?! Quelle nightmare.

Also if you’re a nosy Parker like me fun fact you can pause on the shots of the seating charts, and see who’s sitting next to who - I managed to squint and see Baz Luhrmann next to Jennifer Lawrence, Amal Clooney next to Tom Ford, and‘Jared Leto TBC’. How ominous.

As I mentioned earlier the show I work on covers the Met Gala - and yes, thanks to the time difference ‘the First Tuesday in May’ really doesn’t have the same snazzy ring to it. So come last year we were prepared to report on it - in 2020, I recalled it fondly, and also stressfully with my bosses video calling me at 7:30 this morning to remind me it was Met Gala Day and giving me a triple bypass in the process.

From my memory, the Queen of Camp at the 2019 gala was Lady Gaga - I remember watching her pink carpet entrance at work (I was the Met Gala producer that day - definitely not a real thing) and realising that every time I looked up at my screen she had a different outfit on - I believe there were four in total, which gave me palpitations at the time as I had to have three separate slabs of overlay to show the transition between her looks - but now a full year later I can appreciate her sheer artistry.

The 2019 theme was ‘Camp: Notes on Fashion.’ The exhibit was inspired by Susan Sontag's 1964 essay that defines camp as "love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration.” It’s something that Sontag describes as “esoteric - something of a private code, a badge of identity even, among small urban cliques.” It seems to me that’s the best way to describe the Gala itself? Something out of the ordinary, opulent and pretty much unattainable to normal people looking in from the outside that manages to seduce us all every year.

There were so many great looks last year I can’t possibly go through them all, so quick honourable mentions to the following: Harry Styles , Ezra Miller, Lily Collins, Irina Shayk, Kim Kardashian, and Hamish Bowles to name far too few. Also some great online stuff came out as well: this movie trailer for the event and this brilliant video showing how the Vogue social media team handled the event.

Despite all this, I have to say that yes, while the ‘Camp’ year was, indeed shit hot, and I lived for every moment of it, my favourite year was in fact 2017.

The theme was ‘Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination’, and after 13 years of Catholic education and living with a deeply religious grandmother who keeps a bunch of icons around our house I can firmly say Alleluia and Thanks Be to God. The main thing I remember from this year was this amazing video that Vogue put up (and apparently took down as I had to find it on Facebook) showing celebrities flouncing around the museum in their finery.

My friend Georgie and I were going through our favourite looks from previous years over Zoom last night, and while she had gone for looks from like 1974 to present day, literally all of mine were from 2017 bc I loved them all so much. Plus looking through I remembered that Shawn Mendes and Hailey (now) Bieber were a couple for about 30 seconds.

I must particularly make mention of Zendaya, Emilia Clarke, Greta Gerwig, Ariana Grande, Bella Hadid, Rihanna, Kate Bosworth, Blake Lively, Lily Collins, Kim Kardashian, Chadwick Boseman, Cardi B and Priyanka Chopra who, although perennially irritating since becoming Priyanka Chopra Jonas, cannot be ignored for her excellent use of red velvet here. As you can probably tell I found it REALLY hard to narrow that all down.

I am someone who decided at least five years ago that they would one day attend the gala (I haven’t quite figured out why I would be invited, but even Kim Kardashian started as a plus one so there’s hope for me yet). Every year I look at red carpet as my altar, the stars the saints and angels (yeesh, can you tell I went to Catholic school - and I actually believe this garbage). I don’t know how a short walk up some stairs to a museum became so fraught with power but there it is. Every time I go out in something approximating a ballgown (bringing it back to the red dress, people) I imagine how I would walk, who I would talk to, what my hair would look like (very important), and who I would have at my table (slightly less important than hair). And of course, addressing Anna (through her all things were made, for us and for our salvation, maker of Heaven and Earth, of all that is seen and unseen etc).

Maybe she would look at me and nod approvingly with a wry smile (please refer to the end scene of the Devil Wears Prada to see exactly how this would happen, but hopefully the smile would be a bit warmer than what you would give an ex-employee) and I would walk on, secure in the knowledge that Anna and I had connected on a deeply spiritual level. Then I imagine I would head straight to the bar to recover.

NOW KEEP READING HUN

A quick note for people who want to read fun stuff/watch fun stuff about the Met Gala to compensate for this trash year, here are some funky links to what Vogue has going on:

Anna Wintour Addresses the Met Gala and Florence + The Machine Performs https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HptQEYkMrVQ

Thinking of the Met on a Not-So-Typical First Monday in May https://www.vogue.com/article/moment-with-the-met-vogue-global-conversations

25 Years of Met Gala Themes: A Look Back at Many First Mondays in May https://www.vogue.com/article/met-gala-themes

Only at the Met: An Oral History of the World’s Most Glamorous Gala https://www.vogue.com/article/the-complete-met-gala-oral-history

See the Costume Institute’s New (Though Postponed) Show About Time https://www.vogue.com/article/costume-institute-about-time-preview

The Most Unforgettable Met Gala Beauty Looks—According to the Hair and Makeup Artists Behind Them.                             https://www.vogue.com/article/met-gala-makeup-artists-hair-stylists-instagram

Naomi Campbell Breaks Down 30 Years’ Worth of Met Gala Magic https://www.vogue.com/article/naomi-campbell-life-in-looks-met-gala-video

A Look Back at a Decade of Stunning Met Gala Interiors https://www.vogue.com/slideshow/a-look-back-at-a-decade-of-stunning-met-gala-interiors

Sarah Jessica Parker Shares a Playlist Inspired by the Met Gala Theme ‘About Time: Fashion and Duration’                              https://www.vogue.com/article/sarah-jessica-parker-met-gala-about-time-playlist

[rickhorrow]

10 To Watch : 22519

10 TO WATCH FOR THE WEEK OF FEBRUARY 25 

MAYOR’S EDITION

While Cactus and Grapefruit League games intensify, baseball sees its most significant participation gains since 2014. According to the Wall Street Journal, the number of people who played baseball in the U.S. "surged 21%" from 2014 to 2018, with nearly 15.9 million participants. Most of the gain has come from casual players who play baseball 1-12 times a year. The ranks of those "dabblers grew 53%, or by nearly 2.3 million people" since 2014. The growth of "more frequent baseball players was a modest 5% over four years." However, those numbers are better than in most other amateur sports. Tackle football participation "dropped 3.4% in the past five years," and hockey and soccer saw respective one-year drops of 3.8% and 4.3% in 2018. MLB credits the growth in part to a "program it launched" in 2015, Play Ball, that "holds programs across the nation." Last year, MLB and USA Baseball also "started a program for schools to introduce the game to kindergarten through fourth-grade students in gym classes." Drop offs in other sports are clearly baseball’s gain, and MLB is smart to partner with USA Baseball, Ripken Baseball, and other organizations teaching personal growth and leadership skills alongside baseball fundamentals.

And the Oscar for best ad sales goes to…the Internet. Disney-ABC TV Group's ad sales team confirmed it "sold off the last available unit" for ads during Sunday's Oscars telecast, and thirty-second spots were fetching $2.1-2.2 million, according to AdAge. But the big ad winner this year is digital. Spending on such digital channels as desktop, mobile, search, and social media is expected to pass traditional media formats in the U.S. this year, according to eMarketer, while spending on non-digital TV, radio, print, and billboards is projected to drop. Digital ad revenue was $26.2 billion in the third quarter of 2018, up 22% versus the year prior, according to a report from PwC U.S. It is highly likely that when the Nielsen ratings come in for this year’s Academy Awards telecast they’ll be down from years past – just like every other appointment viewing mega event including the Super Bowl. But it’s a safe assumption that mobile and social numbers for the global event will leap higher than Spike Lee into Samuel Jackson’s arms following his first ever Oscar win.

Investor Kyrie Irving stars in Beyond Meat campaign. Vegan food maker Beyond Meat has already gotten plenty of attention from athletes minding what they put in their finely-tuned bodies. According to Hashtag Sports, Beyond Meat put one of its new investors, Kyrie Irving, in the center of its new paid media push as the company, which has raised $122 million so far, gears up to go public. More and more NBA players are embracing a plant-based lifestyle that increasingly cuts red meat out of the picture. Irving isn't the only athlete interested in the venture; other new investors include a variety of retired and current sports stars including Shaquille O'Neill, Chris Paul, DeAndre Hopkins, Victor Oladipo, Lindsey Vonn, DeAndre Jordan, Harrison Barnes, Shaun White, and Luke Walton. Many athletes have sought to raise their performance by changing their diets. Now, they are literally putting their money where their mouths are as they financially back Beyond Meat.

The NBA ranked No. 3 on Fast Company's 2019 list of the Most Innovative Companies. The magazine noted that in 2018 the NBA "broke attendance records for the fourth straight season," had total revenue increase 25%, and saw its streaming service grow subscribers by 63%. Another reason for the NBA's ranking was the NBA 2K League, the "first extension of pro sports into esports, which has 21 teams and games that stream on Twitch." The NBA last year also "made a deal" with MGM Resorts International, "making it the first pro league to integrate real-time data into a gambling platform and enable the king of in-game micro-betting that keeps viewers watching each and every play." Other organizations with sports ties that were mentioned in the Fast Company rankings include Disney (No. 4), Peloton (No. 14), and Fanatics (No. 40). While the NBA’s competitive expansion has been undertaken by other American sports leagues, the NBA’s international makeup and the success of its many foreign national players have been major factors in its worldwide popularity.

The Raiders "appear to be close to wrapping up a deal to keep the team playing" at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum this year and "possibly" in 2020. According to the San Francisco Chronicle, an announcement is expected "this week or early next week.” A source said, "It's for one year for sure, with an option for the second year." Under the proposed deal, the Raiders would pay $7.5 million this year, with the rent rising to $10.5 million "if the team stays on" through 2020 in the event that its new $1.8 billion Las Vegas stadium is not ready. Of all the relocation possibilities floated in the last couple of months, from playing in San Francisco to Santa Clara to San Diego, staying put in Oakland is the most sensible plan for the Raiders, and certainly for their fan base there. With the Warriors set to relocate across the Bay to San Francisco next season and the A’s continuing to push for a new bayside ballpark, the Raiders will have more of the hometown spotlight to themselves, which could come in handy if their win-loss record doesn’t improve.

The United States Soccer Federation provisionally sanctioned the National Independent Soccer Association as a professional soccer league, clearing the way for the league to begin play in the fall of 2019. Clubs in Atlanta, Charlotte, New England, and Philadelphia have already announced their efforts to be part of the league, with the rest expected to go public in the coming days. Unlike other American soccer leagues, NISA will play a fall-to-spring season with a winter break, allowing time off during December and January. Upstart offseason pro leagues seem to be all the rage in both football and futbol these days. While NISA has not yet announced a TV carriage deal, the cities on board thus far have proven to be strong soccer markets, which should bode well at least for modest success.

Tom Dundon rescued the Alliance of American Football with a big cash infusion, proving he’s not one of Don Cherry’s “Bunch of Jerks.” The Alliance of American Football has introduced NHL Hurricanes Owner Tom Dundon as the league's new Chairman after his commitment of $250 million last week "enabled the AAF to meet" its financial obligations, according to The Athletic and other sources. Without new investors, there was a "good chance it was going to miss payroll last Friday." Dundon "will continue in his role" with the Hurricanes. About the AAF, one source said, "Without a new, nine-figure investor, nobody is sure what would have happened.” The Hurricanes have also been in the news cycle recently over the comments made by announcer Cherry about their unique victory celebrations, which recently included a limbo line. The team turned Cherry’s “Bunch of Jerks” criticism into a $32 T-shirt that fans have snapped up close to 5,000 so far.

Hulu kicks off its new live sports campaign with some help from basketball athletes. NBA stars Joel Embiid, Damian Lillard, and Giannis Antetokounmpo have signed endorsement deals with over-the-top streaming platform Hulu. Embiid and Lillard activated their deals during the recent NBA All-Star weekend with TV advertising campaigns and social media posts. The campaign is centered on the concept of the players “selling out” to promote Hulu’s live sports content, as accounts for each of the players would have such hashtags as #ad, #paid, #sponsored, #hulupaidme, #neversellout, and #hulusellouts. Although Hulu is best known as an entertainment streaming platform, it also offers live TV on a short-term contract option. According to SportsPro, Hulu also said it added eight million subscribers in 2018 and closed its fiscal year with more than 25 million total subscribers across its subscription on demand and live TV plans in the U.S. The key will be convincing users to shell out big bucks for its live TV service, which comes in at $39.99 per month.

Basketball Hall of Famer Nancy Lieberman promotes healthy lifestyles and educational opportunities for young girls and boys at her gala. According to CultureMap Dallas, celebrities such as actor Burton Gilliam, ESPN “Sports Center” anchor Jay Harris, and country singer Imaj mingled with an array of athletes including Deion Sanders, Rick Barry, Ed Belfour, Tim Brown, Homer Bush, and Rick Carlisle among many others on a night when Lieberman presented NBA champion Julius "Dr. J" Erving with a Trailblazer Award, and actor-musician Ice Cube with the Lifetime Achievement Award. All proceeds from the evening go to Nancy Lieberman Charities, which are dedicated to expanding and ensuring that educational and sports opportunities exist for economically disadvantaged youth. Lieberman’s network of charities serves students across the U.S. with basketball camps, clinics, Dream Courts, college scholarships, and school supply programs. It’s a good time for “Lady Magic” to spearhead a gala, as WNBA coverage is on the rise and her storied career and business experience could be crucial for popularizing the women’s league.

Cleveland Browns QB Baker Mayfield raises money for the Special Olympics. The event is a Special Olympics Ohio Cleveland Polar Plunge that raised money for athletes who are petitioning for the full inclusion of people with intellectual disabilities. According to 247 Sports, the February 23 event at Edgewater beach and Mayfield also gave away a pair of signed Bose headphones to one lucky participant. The quarterback had previously announced that he was teaming up with Barstool Sports to benefit the Special Olympics in the greater Cleveland area with a merchandise line featuring flags, sweatshirts, and T-shirts. 100% of net proceeds go towards supporting the Special Olympics. After Mayfield and fiance Emily Wilkinson played Secret Santa during the holidays and the quarterback played in a charity softball game to benefit victims of the fires and shooting in Thousand Oaks, the No.1 pick shows no signs of slowing down his charitable arm.

[geekade]

The ABCs of the Stanley Cup Finals, 2017 Style

The ABCs of the Stanley Cup Finals, 2017 Style

Hi there, fellow Geekade enthusiasts. I know you’ve gotten used to seeing me share my opinions about the latest in film and television, but this month, with apologies to my good friend and fellow Geekade writer Dave Diorio, I’m taking a break to write about the greatest sports events on earth. No, not March Madness, the NBA Finals, The Super Bowl, The Masters, The Triple Crown, The World Cup, The Olympics or even the World Series. Those are all worthy events, but they cannot match the absolute excitement and nail biting grind that takes place on a frozen stretch of ice in April and May every year. Without a doubt, the greatest sport tournament is the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

This year has been no exception. While the NBA playoffs have literally felt like a two-month slog in the muck that lead to a championship series that every single basketball fan on Earth KNEW would happen, this year’s Stanley Cup playoffs have been absolutely thrilling. The number of games that were either won in overtime or by one goal has been astounding. And for our dessert in the Stanley Cup Finals? We have a potential repeat champion, the dynasty-in-the-making Pittsburgh Penguins facing off against what has to be the feel good story in all of hockey, the Nashville Predators and their city’s explosion as a honkey-tonk, hockey-loving town.

So, dear reader, to help you fully embrace the excitement and immerse yourself in the Cup-Craziness to unfold, here are the ABCs of the 2017 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

A is for… Advantage, as in a man advantage. Hockey is the only sport that routinely has one of the players sit in a penalty box if they commit a penalty on the ice. (Alright, settle down soccer fans. Yes, your sport can lose a man too, but it’s not a routine function of the game. It only happens when a guy gets tossed. And besides, I included the World Cup up above. Take a seat and sing your team’s drinking song.) Watch this final series for man advantages. At the time of this writing, we’ve already had a controversial 5 on 3, which turned the tide of Game 1.

B is for… Beards, as in the playoff beard. Hockey players are notoriously tough athletes. It is not uncommon for a player to get cut or lose teeth by a stray stick in a collision, get stitched up in the locker room, and then come back out to get back into the game. As a point of reference, in my beloved Philadelphia, we have two star basketball players who sat out for a year (or two) with injuries that should have healed in far less time. For lack of a better term, hockey players are lunatics. So is it any wonder that there’s a tradition of growing beards for the playoffs? As if we need another reminder that these guys are burly he-men? By the time the Stanly Cup is awarded, it’s like looking at a team full of the Brawny Towel guys.

C is for… Crosby, as in Sid the Kid, a.k.a. Sidney Crosby. Point of disclosure. I am a Philadelphia fan. (Ok, you can stop laughing now. I mean it.) And it is a tradition that Philadelphia fans absolutely abhor the players on the opposing teams who have talent. And who whine. Players like Larry Bird. Michael Irvin. Kobe Bryant. Bryce Harper. And Sid Crosby. To keep my Philly cred, I have to say that Sid is a crybaby. Truth be told? He’s also one of the best, if not THE best player in the world. He is a force on the ice, and the bigger the game, the more likely it is that he will be a huge part of it. The Penguins are not THE PENGUINS without him. Count on Crosby scoring a huge goal in an important game in this series.

D is for… Day with the Cup. In what is one of the greatest traditions in all of sports, every player on the Stanley Cup winning team is given a chance to take the Cup for 24 hours and do whatever they please with it (short of melting it down) under the watchful eye of a chaperone with the greatest job ever (more on him later). There are amazing stories of players who have take the cup to their hometown where they grew up, players who have their children baptized in the cup, players who take the cup fishing, sailing, swimming, skydiving and, in one famous case (by a player who’s name rhymes with Lark Lessier) to a strip club where the dancer on stage worked the cup into her routine.

E is for… Emrick, as in Mike “Doc” Emrick, the primary NHL play by play man. For the uninitiated, listening to Doc Emrick call a playoff game is like listening to Verne Lundquist call an SEC overtime game between Alabama and Auburn or Gus Johnson call Duke versus North Carolina. You know how fans from around the country universally seem to dislike Joe Buck when he calls the NFL or the World Series? Yeah, that doesn’t happen with Doc Emrick. Coming back to hockey after a bout with cancer, Doc is now a hero to so many and is famous for his list of verbs to use to explain the different ways a puck can be moved up and down the ice.

F is for… Fish, as in Catfish. Hockey is a sport with some strange traditions. When a player scores three goals in a game, it’s called a hat trick. Why? In 1940, a haberdasher in Toronto offered free hats to players who scored three goals in a game. And so a legend was born. Today, when a player scores three in a game, fans litter the ice with hats. In Detroit, it’s been a long-standing tradition for the fans to throw an octopi on the ice in the playoffs. In 1996, the Florida Panthers got to the Stanley Cup Finals where at least once per game, fans would litter the ice with rubber toy rats when the Panthers scored. This year, we can add a whole new take on the “throwing stuff on the ice” thing. Nashville fans are now throwing catfish on the ice. Why is this perfect? For one, it absolutely trolls the Detroit tradition – Detroit has long been a tormentor of Predator fans. Second, is there any more perfect aquatic creature than a catfish to represent a team in the heart of the south? Third and last, a fan from Nashville got a ticket to see Game One in Pittsburgh, drove the 560 or so miles to Pittsburgh, vacuum-packed a dead catfish doused in Old Spice so it wouldn’t smell, taped it to his leg under his pants, took it out of his pants and threw it out onto the ice during the game, much to the dismay of the Penguin faithful. Love this game.

G is for… Goalie. Quarterback. Closer. Goalie. The three most pressure packed positions in all of sports. Stanley Cups have been won by teams with inferior talent simply because they had a goalie playing at the top of his game, or to use a hockey euphemism, “standing on his head.” In May of 1974, my Philadelphia Flyers beat the Boston Bruins in six games in what was considered to be one of the greatest upsets in all of hockey history. Why? Because we had the best goalie in the world at that moment – a lovable French Canadian named Bernie Parent. To this day, 43 years later, I doubt highly that Bernie Parent has ever had to buy a drink in the City of Brotherly Love. The goalie makes or breaks your team. And the Stanley Cup finals are a pressure cooker for goalies. Grab your popcorn!

H is for… Hockeytown, a name sports writers gave Detroit at the height of their greatness in the 1950s. When Detroit returned to hockey prominence and won the Stanley Cup in 1997 (against my Flyers…) the name was reborn as the team won a series of cups after that. Why is that significant to these finals? I would argue that both of these teams could contend for the title of Hockeytown right now. Pittsburgh has a chance to be the first team to repeat as Stanley Cup champions since the Red Wings did it 1997 and 1998. They are, for all practical intentions, a dynasty. And in a city where the Steelers are like a religion, the Penguins have become the biggest story in the city of three rivers. And if Nashville wins? Well, that city is off the hook for this team. More on that later.

I is for… Icing. When a team dumps the puck all the way down the ice to escape intense pressure, icing is called. It’s significant because the team that dumps the puck has to now survive a face-off in their own zone and they’re not allowed to send in any new players to replace the tired skaters on the ice. In the old days, players would race down the ice to decide whether icing would be called; if the team that dumped the puck touched it first, the icing would be waived off. That rule was changed because…well…hockey players would beat the hell out of each other to race to the puck. Maybe they needed to save it for another part of the game. But they’re hockey players. You know…lunatics.

J is for… Jinx. Professional athletes are notorious for being superstitious. An interesting superstition in hockey is that players who have not won the cup can’t EVER touch the cup. Even when NHL players are in the presence of the Cup, they dare not touch it. When the Staal brothers (Marc, Jordan and Jared) were celebrating with their brother Eric who had just won the Cup in 2006 with the Hurricanes, none of them would lay a finger on the Cup - even though it was right in front of them. If you play in the NHL, you just don’t touch the Cup until it’s yours. Another famous jinx followed the New York Rangers. In 1940, when they won the Stanley Cup, one of the players on the team…relieved himself, so to speak…in the cup. The Rangers would not win another Stanley Cup until 1994. Baseball had the curse of the Great Bambino and the Billy Goat. Hockey has the piss cup. (Bah dum bum.)

K is for… the Keeper of the Cup. When players get their Day with the Cup, one man goes from town to town and place to place with the cup. His name is Phillip Pritchard, and he stays with the cup at all times. So, when players travel to the tops of mountains to have their picture taken with the cup, he goes along. When players take the cup to their hometowns or high schools or to pediatric cancer wards, he goes along. When players have their children baptized in the cup, he attends the service. And when Mark Messier, or rather Lark Lessier, takes it to Scores in Manhattan, he goes along. Phillip Pritchard: The luckiest guy with white gloves and a dust rag you’ve ever met.

L is for… Lord Stanley, a.k.a. Frederick Arthur Stanley, the 16th Earl of Darby, was the governor general of Canada in the late 1800s. Because his sons were hockey players, he donated a cup to be competed for by all of the amateur teams in Canada in 1892. Soon after, the cup became the trophy sought by professional teams, and in 1926, the Stanley Cup became the official championship trophy for the National Hockey League.

M is for… Montreal, the home of the Les Habitants, the Bleu-Blanc-Rouge, a.k.a. the Montreal Canadiens. The Montreal Canadiens have won the Stanley Cup more than any other team, a record 24 times. Interestingly enough, Montreal is also the last Canadian team to win the Stanley Cup since 1993, which is a sore spot for anyone who comes from Canada. (Trust me, eh.)

N is for… Nashville, the newest team to the Stanley Cup finals party. Let’s see. A game adored by Canadians. Played on ice. What city in the lower 48 would be a great host? Well, if you thought anyone would have chosen Nashville, you probably would have laughed. But who’s laughing now? The Nashville Predators have become the city’s greatest draw; packing in fans in what is the greatest party on ice. The Predators have a house band. They have a crazy tradition of throwing catfish on the ice. They have a bonkers mascot who rides an ATV on the ice. And in the heart of the deep south, in SEC and NASCAR territory, the Predators now boast a legion of stars who cheer on the Preds. Vince Gill, Amy Grant, Keith Urban, Trisha Yearwood, Kelly Clarkson, Paramore, Marcus Mariota, Kings of Leon, Lady Antebellum and Carrie Underwood are all fanatical followers. Besides the Grand Ole Opry, and the clubs on Broadway, Bridgestone Arena is the place to be.

O is for the Ottawa Canal. Remember that “day with the cup” thing? After a night of celebrating their Stanley Cup victory in 1905, members of the Ottawa Silver Seven felt it necessary to see if one of them could kick the Cup into the Ottawa Canal. One of the players actually connected and the cup was sent to the bottom of the canal, where it stayed until the next day when the players, having sobered up, realized where they had left it.

P is for… Pittsburgh, the home of the Penguins and what is now hockey’s reigning dynasty. If you think Pittsburgh is the “Steel City” with a working class population, you would be right. If you think of Pittsburgh as a city in decline with closed steel mills, you would be dead wrong. Pittsburgh has reinvented itself over the past 20 years and turned itself into a leading city in technology, business and medicine. And Pittsburgh is now as strongly identified with the Penguins as they are with the Steelers.

Q is for… Quick Whistle. The most dangerous places in sports have to be the opening turn of the Indianapolis 500, the starting gate of a triple-crown race, a goal line stand in the fourth quarter and in hockey, the front of the net in the last five minutes of a close game. It is not for the faint of heart. Sticks flying. Players punching. And a rule that says as long as the referee can see the puck, the game is still live. Watch for quick whistles by the referees when the action seems about to boil over into actual violence.

R is for… Rinne, a.k.a. Pekka Rinne, the extraordinary goalie for the Nashville Predators. He has been stealing games throughout the playoffs (standing on his head). His goals against average is under 2, which is outstanding, and he has two playoff shutouts so far. His success will determine whether Nashville can challenge the mighty Penguins.

S is for Subban, a.k.a. P.K. Subban, defenseman extraordinaire. Subban was a stalwart defender with a cannon slapshot who was traded to the Predators this year and has been a steady leader for this up and coming team.

T is for… Trapezoid. Hey, wait a minute. I didn’t know there was going to be any math on this thing. Well, if you look closely at the ice behind the net, you will see a red outlined trapezoid. It’s there because it’s the only place where a goalie can go behind the net to control the puck.

U is for… Underwood, as in Carrie Underwood. The singing of the national anthems of both Canada and the United States is a truly emotional moment. In one memorable game, the PA system broke down in Edmonton and the fans sang the AMERICAN National Anthem, a.k.a. NOT their own anthem, perfectly word for word. Try to catch Lauren Hart sing God Bless America before Flyers’ games, or the anthem before games in Chicago and Boston. But topping them all right now is country music superstar Carrie Underwood who has upped the ante of memorable anthems in Nashville.

V is for… Video Goal Judge. Hockey has turned to technology to make sure goals that are scored are legitimate. Quick story. In 1980, my Flyers lost the final game of a hotly contested Stanley Cup final to the New York Islanders. There were two separate goals scored in that final game which would have been disallowed if we had a video goal judge then. (Curse you, Leon Stickle…) Should I mention the final goal scored by the Blackhawks against my same Flyers team in 2010 from a seemingly impossible angle (which may or may not have gone through the side of the goal and not the front)? Let’s move on and hope that the Video Goal Judge doesn’t play too large a part in determining the outcome of a game. (Although for game one, that wish has already been broken.)

W is for… Wraparound. In hockey terms, when a player flies around the net with the puck and tries to tuck it into the other side of the goal. See: Sidney Crosby.

X is for… Extra Time, a.k.a. Overtime. During the regular season, hockey games are settled with a brief overtime period with three players going against three for five minutes, followed by a soccer style shootout if there isn’t a winner. It’s not the greatest way to settle a game. But in the playoffs, they play until there is a winner. Period. My Flyers beat the Penguins in 2000 in a game that went 5 overtime periods after the regular three. And what’s even better, there aren’t may breaks in the action. In the first three periods, there are planned “TV” timeouts. In overtime, they don’t follow that pattern. The game flies by. Playoff overtime hockey is as good as it gets for excitement and heart-stopping action.

Y is for… Yinzers, a term of endearment for anyone who hails from Pittsburgh. It comes from the “Pittsburghese” accent. If you’re lucky enough to attend the finals in person in Pittsburgh (hopefully with OUT a catfish doused in Old Spice strapped to your leg), you might hear people use this term. Yinzer seems to be a term Pittsburgh residents like to call each other, but they might not like it so much if an outsider calls them the same. Use at your own risk.

Z is for… Zamboni, the name of the machine that “cleans” the ice between periods. It was also the nickname my team gave me when I was playing pick-up hockey when I was a kid. Maybe it was because I spent more time lying on the ice rather than actually skating.

And so, there you have it. Enjoy the Stanley Cup finals. Embrace the craziness of the Predators’ fans. Admire the true talent skating for the Penguins. And remember that you need to shave those playoff beards once the last game is over.

[newagesispage]

                                                              FEBRUARY          2020

PAGE  RIB

 *****

Just as we said good bye to 2019, 75 of The Rolling Stones outtakes and such were released for a minute on You tube.  The thinking seems to be that the tracks which could be found under 69RSTRAX were ‘released’ before public domain sets in.

*****

Check out Somebody up there likes me, a doc about the life of Ronnie Wood.

*****

Bill Wyman has a new book out set for release on Feb, 29 called Stones: From the Inside

*****

The film, The Burnt Orange Heresy looks great and will open on March 6.

*****

Steve Martin has been talking about next year’s Hulu series he did with Martin Short, Only murders in the building. I thought it was a bit but apparently it is real and I can’t wait!!

*****

I loved Samantha Bee’s take on ghost sex: Spook softly and carry a big dick. Too funny!

*****

Bill Maher just bought a new place in Avalon on Santa Catalina Island for a mil. The area boasts hardly any cars as most people get around on foot or by golf cart.

*****

Stephen Colbert’s executive producer Tom Purcell came up with the idea years ago for a home makeover show that does a re-do on murder houses. Someone else came along and thought it again because now we have Murder House Flip.

*****

Abby Huntsman has left the View.

*****

The Oscar noms are out with Joker leading the pack. There is Leo and Joaquin for actor and Hanks, Hopkins, Pacino, Pesci and Pitt for supporting. That is the TOUGH category. For actress there is Cynthia Erivo and Renee Z. Kathy Bates is up for supporting. Johansson is up for 2. For films, they love Ford V Ferrari, The Irishman, Jo Jo Rabbit, Marriage Story, Joker, Little Women, 1017, Parasite and Once upon a time in Hollywood.

*****

Dave Chappelle, Marianne Williamson and Donald Glover are helping to raise $ for Andrew Yang.

*****

The last season of Criminal Minds is officially underway and I was so fucking glad that Dorian Harewood was there for the final shows. Woo Hoo!!

*****

Neil Young and John Oliver are now American citizens

*****

Interrogation is a new tv series that looks promising.

*****

Wes Anderson’s new film, French Dispatch that he wrote with Hugo Guinness, Jason Schwartzman and Roman Coppola will be out on July 24. The production features Benecio del Toro, Adrien Brody, Tilda Swinton, Frances McDormand and Bill Murray.

*****

The Russell Simmons doc about his incidents with women has lost its executive producer, Oprah.

*****

John Stewart has written and directed a new film, Irresistible starring Steve Carell and Chris Cooper.

*****

I am so sick of the multiple pens it takes to sign the documents when they sign something into law etc. You are wasting our money signing a letter at a time, politicians just so U can give some crap as a keepsake. Let’s have a real signature! I don’t think the average person would be allowed to sign official papers that way.

*****

The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame has decided on their new inductees: Depeche Mode, The Doobie Brothers, T Rex, Whitney Houston, Notorious B.I.G., Nine inch nails and the Ahmet Ertegun award will go to manager Irving Azoff along with journalist and manager Jon Landau.

*****

Julian Castro is out, Marianne Williamson is out, Cory Booker is out.** Sanders got the endorsement of Nevada’s largest teacher’s union and the black caucus.** Bloomberg says he will use his $ for whoever is the democratic candidate. He is also running an anti-gun ad during the Super Bowl.

*****

I wish Rep. Doug Collins would stop talking.

*****

Ken Jennings was the big Jeopardy winner in the showdown.

*****

Diego the tortoise has had so much sex that he saved his species. There were only a few of them left and now there are about 2,000.

*****

The Tokyo 2020 Olympics will be here July 24.

*****

Warren and Bernie got into it after the January debate. They sort of called each other liars.

*****

Hillary Clinton is the first female chancellor of Queens University.** The Justice department inquiry into Hillary has finally ended. They found nothing.

*****

The Golden Globes had some very deserving winners like Succession, Brian Cox, Laura Dern, Olivia Coleman, Patricia Arquette and Joaquin Phoenix. Tarantino was honored for his writing. I think the best dressed were numerous this year. There was hardly a wrong choice except for J Lo, Thomasin Mckenzie, Ryan Seacrest and Beyonce. I loved Joey King, Michelle Pfeifer, Kaitlin Deaver, Rose Leslie, Cate Blanchett, Ellen and Portia, Phoebe Waller- Bridge, Cynthia Erivo, Eddie Murphy and Paige Butcher, Brad and Leo, Zoe Kravitz, Helen Mirren, Annabelle Wallis, Lisa Lu, Bill Hader, Kerry Washington, Lisa Bonet, Colin Jost and Scarlett Johansson, Patricia Arquette and Nicole Ansari-Cox.

*****

The SAG award also had some very well dressed which included Reese Witherspoon, Michelle Williams, Lupita Nyongo, Zoey Kravitz, Millie Bobbie Brown the Schitts Creek cast and Patricia Arquette. Christina Applegate was a bit too old school but she rocked it. The people on the SAG carpet were very chatty.  Parasite was named best cast. Other winners included Zellweger, Joaquin, Sam Rockwell, The Crown, Laura Dern and Dinklage. I have not seen The Morning Show but I was a bit shocked to see Jennifer Aniston win over Jody Comer, Helena Bonham Carter, Olivia Coleman or Elizabeth Moss. This was an award from her fellow actors so I suppose they wanted to send her some love. Her ex Brad Pitt won as well and went on and on about himself.

*****

The Grammys were pretty somber with a lot of ballads and the sadness of the death of Kobe Bryant that day. Aerosmith refused to let drummer Joey Kramer play with them and many found the performance a mess. A wonderful moment was Tanya Tucker and Brandi Carlile with their song that went on to win best country song. Tanya Tucker won best country album. Other winners included Billir Eilish, Lizzo, Elvis Costello and the imposters, Gary Clark Jr., Nipsey Hussle and John Legend, Willie Nelson, Michelle Obama and Dave Chappelle. I had no love for the fashion of Ariana Grande or Rosalia. My best dressed were Lizzo, Camila Cabello, Elle Mai, Jameela Jamill, Billy Porter, Bebe Rexha and Alessandria Ambrosia.

*****

Roman Polanski’s An Officer and a spy captured the most noms at France’s Cesar awards.

*****

What IS Iran’s cyber capability? Give us details when it comes to Trump’s act of aggression against Iran. Wasn’t he supposed to get us out of the Middle East?** Our own government has concluded that withholding aid to Ukraine was illegal even though half the Senate does not seem to care.

*****

Dori Miller is the first person who was not a President to have an aircraft carrier named after him. The African American hero was at first not recognized for his bravery but FDR changed that. Construction will be completed in about 8 years.

*****

Gustav Klempt’s missing Portrait of a Lady was found in a hole in the wall of a house. It had not been seen since 1997.

*****

Kathy Griffin got married on New Year’s Eve to her long time love, Randy Bick with Lily Tomlin officiating.

*****

Venture capitalist Imaad Zuberi pled guilty to obstruction of justice for impeding a Federal investigation into the inaugural fraud.

*****

Eric Swalwell has said that everybody will want the Trump trial in the future wherein the person on trial gets to make the rules. It will be a thing. Who needs witnesses?

*****

So there is a story that many Puerto Rican’s have had to move to the continental U.S. (mostly Fla.) because of the lack of help they have received from the current administration. Now, they can only vote in primaries in Puerto Rico but when they settle in other places they can actually VOTE for President. Lesson: Help Others!

*****

A Federal court just affirmed an injunction preventing the Trump administration from discharging air force members living with HIV. It is hard to keep up on all the despicable things this administration is doing.** Scary Clown 45 thinks he is responsible for low cancer rates. They have been steadily going down anyway. He wants a 4.9 bil cut in medical research, 897 mil cut in National cancer institute and a 763 mil cut for the CDC. Luckily it didn’t happen.

*****

Apparently before the impeachment trial began, Trump’s legal team gave thousands of dollars in contributions to Moscow Mitch, Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruz. What a sad time for this country. KEEP INVESTIGATING ANYWAY.

*****

A new immigrant prison just opened in Baldwin, Michigan, run by GEO, a for profit prison company.

*****

The wall is costing about 20 mil a mile and the 100 miles or so completed have mostly been repairs to existing structure. When G W Bush was in office the cost was about 4 mil a mile.** About 30 feet of the wall feel into Mexico due to high winds.

*****

Season 7 of Grace and Frankie will be the last.

*****

The White House streamed a sermon from the Holy City Church of God in Christ in Memphis. The event that VP Pence attended for the MLK holiday was led by a pastor who claimed that our gay friends were possessed by demons.

*****

Days alert: Loved Kristen’s call back to Rosemary’s baby again when talking about little Andy or Jenny. I can’t believe that in those same flashbacks we learned what a horrible Mother’s Day they had.  How could so much go wrong in 1 day? ** Hooray, More Tony and Anna!! ** The heartbreak of John and Marlena and the evil of the brainwashed really harkens back to the heyday of Days.** I wish that the baby mix up story would bring Tate and Theresa back to town! It is time for she and Brady to get back together!

*****

Rudy has started a podcast.

*****

I am often not a fan of tradition (royal, religious or otherwise) but I admit it gave me great comfort to see the articles of impeachment walked carefully to the Senate chamber. We still have a little bit of order amidst all the chaos of the Trump era.

*****

The Astros are cheaters.

*****

The super bowl will be upon us on Feb.2 with Kansas City V San Francisco.

*****

6139 military vets committed suicide in 2019. R.I.P.

*****

R.I.P. victims of the Australian fires, Chris Tolkein, Neil Peart, David Olney , Terry Jones, Mr. Peanut , Jim Lehrer , victims of the Calabasas helicopter crash and Buck Henry.

[junker-town]

Why Special Olympics matters, in the athletes’ own words

Special Olympics athletes and parents explain why the organization means so much to them in the wake of its recent funding threat.

Renee Manfredi represented Hawaii at Special Olympics’ Capital Hill Day in February, when the organization had a chance to engage with Senators and Congresspeople. She is a Special Olympics veteran, having participated in basketball, softball, swimming, and soccer over the course of 11 years.

She is one of many athletes who say that they were shut out of opportunities to play sports before participating in Special Olympics, and that competing has led to significant personal development.

”Competing has made a huge difference in my life because now I have more confidence and I’m competing in sports that are designed specifically for people like me,” Manfredi says. “I’ve grown in ways I’ve never seen coming. Special Olympics is a wonderful opportunity for people with intellectual disabilities. Quite frankly I can’t imagine my life without it.”

That day on the Hill, United States Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos said that she was “proud to stand beside you as a partner in support of Special Olympics.” About five weeks later, on March 26, DeVos proposed a budget for the Department of Education that included the elimination of $17.6 million in funding for Special Olympics, accounting for approximately 14 percent of the organization’s income.

DeVos proposed this particular cut the prior two years as well, and was rejected by Congress both times, but received more public backlash on her third attempt. The outcry led to Senator Roy Blunt, the chairperson of the appropriations subcommittee who would have to approve DeVos’ proposal, issuing a public statement that Special Olympics would not be defunded. Two days later, Donald Trump said that a cut to funding for Special Olympics would not be part of his administration’s budget proposal.

“Having different needs isn’t a disability, it’s a reason to get together and bond over a sport or another activity, and be a family.” - Kyle Aragon, Special Olympics golfer

Special Olympics reaches over five million athletes with intellectual disabilities around the world. But the DeVos’ proposal suggests that there are people in the White House and Department of Education who either don’t understand or don’t care about what Special Olympics does for people with intellectual disabilities and their communities. In speaking to the participating athletes and parents, it’s obvious how essential the organization is.

“Having different needs isn’t a disability, it’s a reason to get together and bond over a sport or another activity, and be a family,” Kyle Aragon, a golfer, says when asked how competing in Special Olympics has made a difference in his life.

Aragon says that playing golf has helped him develop considerably as a person off the course. “From a young age when I first picked up a club, it didn’t really mean anything to me. But as I started learning lessons, it started opening up doors,” he says. “I started letting go of outside influences like frustration and stress, things that could be destructive.” Aragon believes that those lessons have helped him as he’s started attending college to study graphic design.

Jordan Becker runs on her high school track team, while playing soccer and basketball with Special Olympics. Her mother, Priscilla, is a coach for the soccer team. She says it’s challenging for her daughter to play on traditional sports teams.

“The hardest part is the rules,” Priscilla says. “There’s specific guidelines, and everyone is expected to follow those guidelines. You have to be a square peg and fit in a square hole. If you don’t quite fit, it’s very difficult, and a lot of our kids don’t fit.”

But Priscilla says that Jordan’s experience with Special Olympics is much different. “In Special Olympics she has her basketball team, and it’s something that she enjoys. She likes to go, she likes the practices, she feels comfortable,” she says.

“I love that the intentions from the coaches are to grow and develop athletes,” Priscilla adds. “They’re really out there to teach and develop these kids, but it’s in an environment where the kids are comfortable. And I think it gives her some pride that, when you ask the question, ‘what do you do?’, she can answer, ‘I’m a basketball player.’”

Special Olympics is also helping its veteran adult athletes learn public speaking skills and serve in ambassador roles through the Global Messenger program. Paul Hoffmann, who has participated in Special Olympics since 1986 and remains an active competitor at 61 years old, was the organization’s first Global Messenger from the state of California. Despite being from Orange County, Hoffmann has competed in snowshoeing, along with “basically everything under the sun,” as he puts it. He currently plays tennis, bowling, and bocce.

“I feel like I’ve been accepted in the community as a role model, trying to prove that people with intellectual disabilities can make a difference in this world if they give us a chance,” Hoffmann says. “I was put aside when I was going through school, they didn’t know how to treat people with intellectual disabilities.”

“If Special Olympics was taken away, what other organizations would be out there for people like me?” - Renee Manfredi, 11-year Special Olympics veteran

When asked what he thought was the biggest thing that kids got out of Special Olympics, Hoffmann says, “that they feel like they’re included, in the social aspects of being accepted.

“That’s the key thing. Sports to me is very important, but it’s secondary compared to having that friendship or partnership, having that camaraderie.”

As someone who has watched Special Olympics grow, serving more and more people over his 30-plus years of involvement with the organization, Hoffmann says he feels a responsibility to the younger generations of people with intellectual disabilities, and believes he can make their lives better through his advocacy.

“I think that by being a role model that I am changing the world,” Hoffmann says. “I’m trying to make it better for the younger people who are coming along and will eventually take over from me.”

That’s not to say he’s going to give up competition anytime soon. “When I’m 98 I still want to be walking around the track or something like that, but I know I have to pass the torch,” he says.

Manfredi is one of Special Olympics’ current Global Messengers. She had numerous speaking engagements at the Special Olympics World Games in Abu Dhabi in March.

“I started five years ago with the Global Messengers club,” she says. “The training was to teach us how to speak in public, which wasn’t always easy for me. There was a time when I would have been so scared I wouldn’t have been able to talk in front of even a small group without being afraid. But through the Global Messengers training I’ve overcome those barriers. I still get a little scared, but it helps to say a short prayer and take a deep breath.”

When asked how the Global Messengers has been rewarding for her, Manfredi says, “the best way to describe it is that it’s allowed me to grow in confidence.

“I’ve never been confident in myself, so with these opportunities, I’ve discovered growth and maturity in different ways,” she continues. “But I’ve also learned that my story can definitely make a huge impact on everyone who’s feeling like I used to feel — alone, isolated, maybe small. And those feelings can really shrink a person down to the point where they don’t feel like they can accomplish anything.”

Hoffman and Manfredi were both upset by the Department of Education’s budget proposal in March. Hoffman says he was “really hurt,” while Manfredi says she “was very shocked, scared and sad.” She asks, “If Special Olympics was taken away, what other organizations would be out there for people like me?

“It’s a really wonderful organization and a chance for the world to see us at our best,” Manfredi adds. “As competitors, as athletes, as people who have something to contribute to our community, and people who are determined.”

[cutsliceddiced]

New top story from Time: Vivica A. Fox: How Uma Thurman Helped Me Through ‘Kill Bill’ With Quentin Tarantino

They told me I had 15 minutes with Quentin Tarantino.

“Quentin’s going to meet with you in a coffee shop,” my agent said.

“A coffee shop?”

“It’s to see whether or not he likes you,” she said. “Then he’ll let you know if he wants to see you for the part.”

I thought, That’s some sh-t, but okay. He’d written a role for a black woman in Kill Bill, a script that was already getting so much buzz. Vernita Green was a cold-blooded assassin hiding out in the suburbs of Pasadena — until Uma Thurman comes to get her.

I was so anxious when I got to that coffee shop. It was like an audition for an audition. The first thing he told me was that he was in a video store and saw my name on the cover of the Two Can Play That Game DVD.

“I was like, ‘Vivica Fox!’” he said, shouting my name like I already was an action hero. “I am going to take this home, and if she moves me on the screen, that’s who’s gonna play my Vernita Green.”

Quentin loves telling stories, and if he likes you, oh, he is going to talk. At like Mach 5. We discussed favorite movies, of course. I talked about Pam Grier and how much I loved her, and Richard Roundtree, who’d played my dad on Generations. “Yeah, I’m Shaft’s daughter,” I joked.

The 15-minute meeting stretched to an hour and a half, until he said, “I’m going to send you a scene and I’m going to come to your house and we’ll work through it together.”

“My house?”

“Yeah.”

“Promise me you won’t hold my house against me?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Just promise me, Quentin.” He did, and I’m sure he suspected I was a hoarder or some crazy person living in a tiny house. The truth was that I was living in a huge 8,000-square-foot mansion in Tarzana. I’d invested in real estate, was doing very well, thank you, and this place frankly looked like a diva lived there. It was straight out of Dynasty, with a double staircase and huge chandelier right when you walked in.

It could easily be mistaken for the home of a spoiled brat who would never follow direction. This was a time in film when studios were not playing. They were tired of problem actors and had dealt with their spoiled stars shutting down productions because of heroin problems. They wanted workers on the straight and narrow, and any red flags could put me out of the running.

I was afraid he would take one look at the place and say, “Here I thought Vivica was hungry.” I still was.

So when I answered the door, his greeting was: “Holy shit, this is your house.”

“You promised me you wouldn’t hold it against me.”

“Holy shit,” he said again. “I’m not. Let me see this place.”

Before I could say anything, he helped himself to a tour like he was scouting a location. When he was done, he said he wanted to do the scene in the kitchen. Just like in the film.

He made me read it twice. And then, like he was making an idle remark, he said, “Very good. You are my Vernita Green. I’m hungry, do you want sushi?”

Mark Mainz—2004 Getty ImagesVivica A. Fox and Quentin Tarantino attend the “Kill Bill Vol. 1 Video Release Party” on April 12, 2004.

We went out to Kushiyu on Ventura in Tarzana. At dinner, he told me his plan for the film: There would be no quick cuts or getting away with special effects to make us look like real warriors. I had to commit to six months of training, and all of the actors needed to become experts in martial arts to make his vision real on the screen.

“No problem,” I said, thinking back to my high school athlete days. Piece of cake.

Ha.

For three months, Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Daryl Hannah, David Carradine, and I spent eight hours a day studying martial arts at a gym they put together in Culver City. It was nine to five, Monday through Friday. If you didn’t walk in the door between 8:55 and 8:59, you were in trouble at 9:01. I thought I was in the damn Olympics or something.

Uma was three months out after having her gorgeous baby boy, Roan, and she also brought her equally beautiful four-year-old, Maya, along. Of all the girls on set, I think Uma liked me best because of her kids. I used to play with them all the time. That baby boy would stare into my eyes. “Vivica,” she said one day, “I think he’s in love.” She and I were on strict diets, and we had a ritual of spending our one cheat day a week hanging out at this bowling alley Maya loved. We’d eat slice after slice of cheap pizza, loving every bit of it.

At first, Uma was frustrated because all the other women on the film were dropping weight so quickly with the intense training. I mean, the woman had just had a child. “Don’t worry,” I said, “it’ll come off.” She went to China to film for a month, and when I saw her again, I walked right past her. She yelled, “Yay! I got skinny!”

Uma needed all the support she could get — the movie rested on her shoulders. She was so busy, and then her and Daryl had that blonde competition thing going on. And I was like, I’m gonna be cool with you and I’m gonna be cool with everybody. I’m not in a pissing contest.

I have to tell you — whether you’re on a movie set or working at a law firm, some people will try to pull you into their drama and make you pick sides. Don’t fall for it. Think for yourself and stay above the fray.

BEI/REX/Shutterstock&Daryl Hannah, Uma Thurman and Vivica A. Fox at the film premiere of ‘Kill Bill: Volume 1’ in Los Angeles on Sept. 29, 2003.

Drama aside, the training itself was brutal. We’d do fight choreography, knife throwing, samurai lessons and hit the treadmill and weights in between. They liked me because I could do them high kicks from being a cheerleader. And every Friday, at the end of the day, Quentin would gather us around and give us a review. He called it his “State of the Union.” We all had to sit and listen.

The first week Quentin cut into us, telling us we had to work harder. Okay, I can work harder.

Second week, we got the same thing after we busted our asses. He said we weren’t giving it our all.

Third Friday, I was so proud of all that our team had accomplished. I was sitting between cute little Lucy and sweet Uma, and I was ready for a high five for all of us.

Instead, Quentin tore into us. Something about us lollygagging in the morning, taking too long to suit up and gabbing over coffee. He said we should get here at 8:30, a half hour early, if we wanted to do all that.

I raised my hand. “Hold up.”

And I lost it on him. “Is this a ‘beat us up’ contest?” I asked. “Are we f-cking doing anything right? Goddamn.” Everyone gasped. I felt Uma draw back. Lucy grabbed my hand and was trying to do a kind of acupressure on me, whispering, “Calm down. Calm down.”

I couldn’t. I kept sputtering, thinking I was taking a stand for everyone. And finally Quentin sort of said he appreciated the work but he wanted us all to do our best and to trust him.

Uma came up to me after. “Come here,” she said. She put her arm on my shoulder and those beautiful eyes of hers locked on mine.

“You know, Uma, it’s bullsh-t,” I said.

She repeated in her calm, meditative voice, “I’ve worked with him. I’ve worked with him. I’ve worked with him. And . . . it’s how he does things. He doesn’t mean anything by it, it’s just how he gets down.”

“Well, God,” I sputtered, “I mean, we’re working our f-cking asses off. And it’s like, you know, we’re not doing anything right.”

“What you need to do is learn how to manipulate the situation better. Then you can get what you want.”

I was all righteous. “I don’t have to manipulate nobody,” I said. “That’s not me. I don’t have to kiss his ass.”

She cocked her head. “No, I don’t mean like that,” she said, still speaking in that calm, soothing voice. “You have to learn to be quiet, speak less. He’s tough, but he’s not stupid. He’ll concede you something if it’s to make the film better. Learn to attack intelligently, Vivica. Because he’s got the power to fire you.”

And she told me she didn’t want that to happen. “But thank you for speaking up,” she said.

That moment was pure sisterhood. She was honestly looking out for me. She wanted me to advocate for myself, but to do it in a way that was more constructive. I’ll admit, it still took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about.

A Band Apart/Miramax/Kobal/REXDaryl Hannah, Vivica A. Fox, Michael Madsen, Lucy Liu in ‘Kill Bill: Volume 1’

I was driving home from Culver City when I realized why she had touched me so deeply. I thought about my dad, and when he would tell me not to just go off on the basketball court when all my energy had me spazzing out. “Attack intelligently,” he would tell me, the exact same words Uma used. “Don’t blow it by blowing up.”

When it came time for real rehearsals and filming, I got to see Uma give a master class in being a movie star and leader on the set.

I watched her argue with Quentin, intelligently and successfully, for wardrobe changes and even dialogue rewrites. She made it a true collaboration, pushing him away from simply making an ode to the samurai films he made us all watch with him, toward something new. Kill Bill is an astonishing work because of their shared efforts, and it’s because they each approached it not as a job, but as a cornerstone of their careers.

I know it’s the work that I am most proud of in my career. It took four days to film our fight scene, and on the last day I took a long bath when it was over. I sat in the tub and counted all the bruises on my arms and legs. I got up to 30. And I did so with gratitude. I was proud of my battle scars. I had done a Tarantino film, and nobody could take that accomplishment from me. Quentin is a fabulous director and I’d love to work with him again. I appreciate those endless hours in the Culver City torture chamber. It was his way of breaking us down to build us back up.

I had no idea about the car crash Uma recently made public, as that scene was shot after I completed my filming. But when I saw it I was shocked. Even at the premiere and on press tours in Los Angeles and New York, it wasn’t even mentioned. I commend Uma for her courage and grace, and hopefully Quentin learned that no shot is worth risking an actor’s safety.

From Uma, I learned so much about sharing power. She wanted me to do my best. That hasn’t always been the case for black women actors in film. I think the dirty secret of why African-American women are only now getting more opportunities is that directors were afraid to put a sister against a white woman actor. Because they knew the sister, who’d had to work her ass off to get to that moment, was always going to shine like the brightest light and blow the white actor off the screen. I say put me with the best. Because if she’s bringing her A-game, I’m bringing my A-plus game. And we gonna turn this mother out.

From Every Day I’m Hustling by Vivica A. Fox. Copyright © 2018 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press.

via https://cutslicedanddiced.wordpress.com/2018/01/24/how-to-prevent-food-from-going-to-waste

[duqstudents4fairtrade]

Fittest Late Night Talk Show Hosts 2017

Late night talk show hosts can crack a joke and carry a skit, but can they run a few miles without getting out of breath? The nightly format of most of these shows means that these hosts are in our living rooms and on our Twitter feeds every day. They should use their large platform and extensive followings to rally people around healthy lifestyle.

At the HFR institue, we’ve emphasized the connection between entertainment and fitness since 2013. Our innovative lists of fittest celebrities hit all categories of entertainers, from comedians to rock stars. This is our third annual fittest talk show host list, with previous research ranking the fittest late night talk show hosts and daytime hosts. We used Samir Becic’s knowledge of over 33 years in athletics coupled with his experience as 4 times Number 1 Fitness Trainer in the World to scour all available information on the late night hosts to find the fittest of the bunch.

Samir Becic, author of ReSYNC Your Life, says of these late night mavens “Late night talk show hosts have a specific role in American society because of the tens of millions of viewers and followers on social media. They can be among the most influential trendsetters and can inspire millions of Americans to embrace a healthier lifestyle.”

We used a combination of internet research and interviews to create this list:

Andy Cohen – Watch What Happens Live

A post shared by Andy Cohen (@bravoandy) on Oct 27, 2014 at 11:39am PDT

Scuba dives.

Enjoys fly-fishing.

Rides horses- can even be seen herding cattle in Montana on his Instagram page.

Has said his rescue dog Wacha, has made him more of a morning person, and he regularly walks him.

Works out daily with a trainer for an hour.

Although he is up late for his live late night talk show, he always makes time in the morning to workout, something he enjoys.

Cohen eats a healthy diet and is big on healthy eating. He often eats toast and tea for breakfast, quinoa for lunch, and religiously eats the same meal every night of grilled chicken fajita meat when working.

Trevor Noah – The Daily Show

A photo posted by Trevor Noah (@trevornoah) on Mar 31, 2014 at 11:05am PDT

He’s well-aware of the prevalence of heart disease so Noah likes to stay moving when he’s at the office. He does so by spontaneously completing a set of moves with a colleague throughout the day. This can include 10 reps of lunges or squats per person.

Noah finds no excuse to be physically inactive and discourages chronic sitting. He’ll squeeze in some pull-ups, squats, etc. when he’s preparing for The Daily Show.

He believes jumping is a wonderful and easy way to spruce up your monotonous daily actions.

Was runner-up in a reality dance TV Show in South Africa called Strictly Come Dancing, where he trained 14-16 hours daily.

For Noah, it’s not just about being active, it’s also about being proactive in finding ways to include some sort of mini-workout despite your busy schedule.

He is a conscious eater when it comes to processed foods. In a GQ interview, Noah comments that American food “has too much added to it” compared what he ate in his native country, South Africa. To accommodate for these differences, Noah omits excess sugar from his diet and sometimes he’ll even avoid refined carbs for multiple weeks.

Stephen Colbert – The Late Show

A video posted by Late Show with Stephen Colbert (@colbertlateshow) on Nov 20, 2015 at 11:04am PST

A NASA treadmill for astronauts, Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT), was named in honor of Stephen Colbert.

NASA named the space station treadmill after him- Jokes that his daily routine involves:

a protein shake thrown in the face of a jaguar

Crab walks for 25 miles and stabs a mountain

Finishes up with self flagellation and some catapult work

Attended the 2014 Shape & Men’s Fitness Super Bowl Party

In the 2010 Winter Olympics, the “Colbert Report” financially supported the US Speedskating unit as they competed in Vancouver

He used his power as TV show host to promote a fundraiser for the US Speedskating team after their sponsor collapsed during the financial meltdown. His efforts totaled to $300,000 that were used to cheer on the team on the less popular Winter Olympic Games.

He is a yogi in training.

In 2009, Colbert and Matthew McConaughey were ranked the same position for the sexiest Yoga Dork’s male celebrity yogi

Carson Daly – Last Call

A photo posted by Carson Daly (@carsondaly) on Sep 15, 2015 at 6:15am PDT

In 2015, his goal was to lose weight, Daly shed off 30 pounds through dedication and hard work and he continues to maintain his healthier weight.

Upon approaching his 30s, he reveals his growing desire to “eat healthy and be healthy”

Changing his dietary and fitness habits helps him concentrate on the important things of life and work.

Daly credits the blissful California weather for encouraging him to workout.

He’s been recognized as a Health Hero by WebMD in 2014 for his efforts to promote sustainable fresh foods by building gardens for children in Brooklyn.

He enjoys SoulCycle- a high-intensity spinning class

Daly enjoys going on bike rides to explore Santa Monica.

Jimmy Fallon – The Tonight Show

A photo posted by Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) on Feb 1, 2015 at 10:18am PST

He once had a fitness face-off with First aLdy, Michelle Obama, on his show and lost.

Jimmy is motivated to live a healthy lifestyle so he can stay ahead of his busy schedule.

His green juices contain spinach, parsley, and “God knows what else is in it,” Jimmy joked.

He likes a hearty bowl of salad and getting his omega fats from fish oil supplements.

Jimmy likes golfing.

He often hits the gym with a trainer.

After being the host of the Tonight’s show, he perceives his responsibilities like a boxer on a streak and going on multiple rounds.

Jimmy had to adjust his lifestyle to keep up with the demands of his show. Nowadays, he prioritizes self-care by swapping his night outs for more rest time.

Chris Hardwick – Midnight

A photo posted by Chris Hardwick (@hardwick) on Sep 2, 2016 at 2:11am PDT

He continues to practice abstinence ever since he stopped drinking in 2013.

Hardwick has shed an incredible 40 lbs since his commitment to giving up alcohol.

Being physically active and improving his diet has helped reset his mindset after going through a bump in his life. He no longer tries to make excuses for not being active.

“I humbly place my low point at your feet and tell you that if you’re thinking about making improvements in your life, TODAY IS THE DAY TO START. Quitting drinking, starting exercising, eating better, pursuing your passion, hugging more puppies–whatever it is. Don’t think about it. Just do it. Over-thinking the “hows” and “why comes” will put you in a neverending loop of inactivity. You have the power and ability to change the future with a simple “pro-you” decision” he has said.

Jimmy Kimmel – Jimmy Kimmel Live!

A photo posted by Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) on Apr 9, 2016 at 11:44am PDT

Enjoys sport fishing

He multitasks by utilizing his treadmill desk at work ever since 2012.

His decision to get a treadmill desk came after he “read somewhere that sitting all day can cut 15 or 20 years off your life… [which is] worse than smoking.” He believes that “we weren’t meant to sit this much” so he decided to change this by upgrading his office.

Kimmel commonly critiques fad diets and workouts. He doesn’t take them seriously and promotes more sustainable approaches that place a priority on being healthy rather than solely losing weight.

Conan O’Brien – Conan

A photo posted by CONAN (@teamcoco) on Sep 29, 2016 at 7:34pm PDT

In a humorous segment, he did a workout session with fellow actor Kevin Hart and trainer Jen Widerstrom this year. Although he was not as fit as Hart, O’Brien demonstrated his impressive stamina at 53 years old.

He has a love for bikes and biking. In fact, O’Brien supported The Challenged Athlete Foundation and The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation by participating in an online bike auction. These organizations were both cherished by O’Brien’s late friend, Robin Williams, who also gifted him a Colnago bike worth at least $2,000.

Good music keeps him going. You can find his workout playlist is available on the Rdio app.

Seth Meyers – Late Night: Seth Meyers

A photo posted by @sethmeyers on Aug 8, 2015 at 9:59am PDT

He sticks to a consistent routine of running an average of 4 days a week.

Meyers sets aside 3 days each week to weight train.

He likes to start his day with a refreshing glass/bottle of juice.

Instead of restrictive dieting, Meyers prefers to manage his weight and health by eating once every 4 hours.

Meyers participated in the 2012 Cycle For Survival to raise funds supporting rare cancer research.

He is a firm believer of hopeful perseverance after meeting many inspiring cancer survivors.

John Oliver – Last Week Tonight

A photo posted by Last Week Tonight (@lastweektonight) on Aug 15, 2016 at 6:43am PDT

Oliver has a soft spot for soccer and admits in a Rolling Stone interview that he still dreams of being a soccer player.

Oliver shuns the sugar industry and its unsustainable tactics that are detrimental to health.

In 2016, he bought and forgave $15 million of medical debt.

Despite the limited information currently available on his personal health regime, Oliver has a pivotal role in putting the spotlight on health. He has spoken on nutritional topics such as the chicken industry standards, Dr. Oz’s show, etc.

[Read More ...] http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/fittest-late-night-talk-show-hosts-2017/

[lasemillaschoolgardens]

Fittest Late Night Talk Show Hosts 2017

http://ifttt.com/images/no_image_card.png

Late night talk show hosts can crack a joke and carry a skit, but can they run a few miles without getting out of breath? The nightly format of most of these shows means that these hosts are in our living rooms and on our Twitter feeds every day. They should use their large platform and extensive followings to rally people around healthy lifestyle.

At the HFR institue, we’ve emphasized the connection between entertainment and fitness since 2013. Our innovative lists of fittest celebrities hit all categories of entertainers, from comedians to rock stars. This is our third annual fittest talk show host list, with previous research ranking the fittest late night talk show hosts and daytime hosts. We used Samir Becic’s knowledge of over 33 years in athletics coupled with his experience as 4 times Number 1 Fitness Trainer in the World to scour all available information on the late night hosts to find the fittest of the bunch.

Samir Becic, author of ReSYNC Your Life, says of these late night mavens “Late night talk show hosts have a specific role in American society because of the tens of millions of viewers and followers on social media. They can be among the most influential trendsetters and can inspire millions of Americans to embrace a healthier lifestyle.”

We used a combination of internet research and interviews to create this list:

Andy Cohen – Watch What Happens Live

A post shared by Andy Cohen (@bravoandy) on Oct 27, 2014 at 11:39am PDT

Scuba dives.

Enjoys fly-fishing.

Rides horses- can even be seen herding cattle in Montana on his Instagram page.

Has said his rescue dog Wacha, has made him more of a morning person, and he regularly walks him.

Works out daily with a trainer for an hour.

Although he is up late for his live late night talk show, he always makes time in the morning to workout, something he enjoys.

Cohen eats a healthy diet and is big on healthy eating. He often eats toast and tea for breakfast, quinoa for lunch, and religiously eats the same meal every night of grilled chicken fajita meat when working.

Trevor Noah – The Daily Show

A photo posted by Trevor Noah (@trevornoah) on Mar 31, 2014 at 11:05am PDT

He’s well-aware of the prevalence of heart disease so Noah likes to stay moving when he’s at the office. He does so by spontaneously completing a set of moves with a colleague throughout the day. This can include 10 reps of lunges or squats per person.

Noah finds no excuse to be physically inactive and discourages chronic sitting. He’ll squeeze in some pull-ups, squats, etc. when he’s preparing for The Daily Show.

He believes jumping is a wonderful and easy way to spruce up your monotonous daily actions.

Was runner-up in a reality dance TV Show in South Africa called Strictly Come Dancing, where he trained 14-16 hours daily.

For Noah, it’s not just about being active, it’s also about being proactive in finding ways to include some sort of mini-workout despite your busy schedule.

He is a conscious eater when it comes to processed foods. In a GQ interview, Noah comments that American food “has too much added to it” compared what he ate in his native country, South Africa. To accommodate for these differences, Noah omits excess sugar from his diet and sometimes he’ll even avoid refined carbs for multiple weeks.

Stephen Colbert – The Late Show

A video posted by Late Show with Stephen Colbert (@colbertlateshow) on Nov 20, 2015 at 11:04am PST

A NASA treadmill for astronauts, Combined Operational Load Bearing External Resistance Treadmill (COLBERT), was named in honor of Stephen Colbert.

NASA named the space station treadmill after him- Jokes that his daily routine involves:

a protein shake thrown in the face of a jaguar

Crab walks for 25 miles and stabs a mountain

Finishes up with self flagellation and some catapult work

Attended the 2014 Shape & Men’s Fitness Super Bowl Party

In the 2010 Winter Olympics, the “Colbert Report” financially supported the US Speedskating unit as they competed in Vancouver

He used his power as TV show host to promote a fundraiser for the US Speedskating team after their sponsor collapsed during the financial meltdown. His efforts totaled to $300,000 that were used to cheer on the team on the less popular Winter Olympic Games.

He is a yogi in training.

In 2009, Colbert and Matthew McConaughey were ranked the same position for the sexiest Yoga Dork’s male celebrity yogi

Carson Daly – Last Call

A photo posted by Carson Daly (@carsondaly) on Sep 15, 2015 at 6:15am PDT

In 2015, his goal was to lose weight, Daly shed off 30 pounds through dedication and hard work and he continues to maintain his healthier weight.

Upon approaching his 30s, he reveals his growing desire to “eat healthy and be healthy”

Changing his dietary and fitness habits helps him concentrate on the important things of life and work.

Daly credits the blissful California weather for encouraging him to workout.

He’s been recognized as a Health Hero by WebMD in 2014 for his efforts to promote sustainable fresh foods by building gardens for children in Brooklyn.

He enjoys SoulCycle- a high-intensity spinning class

Daly enjoys going on bike rides to explore Santa Monica.

Jimmy Fallon – The Tonight Show

A photo posted by Jimmy Fallon (@jimmyfallon) on Feb 1, 2015 at 10:18am PST

He once had a fitness face-off with First aLdy, Michelle Obama, on his show and lost.

Jimmy is motivated to live a healthy lifestyle so he can stay ahead of his busy schedule.

His green juices contain spinach, parsley, and “God knows what else is in it,” Jimmy joked.

He likes a hearty bowl of salad and getting his omega fats from fish oil supplements.

Jimmy likes golfing.

He often hits the gym with a trainer.

After being the host of the Tonight’s show, he perceives his responsibilities like a boxer on a streak and going on multiple rounds.

Jimmy had to adjust his lifestyle to keep up with the demands of his show. Nowadays, he prioritizes self-care by swapping his night outs for more rest time.

Chris Hardwick – Midnight

A photo posted by Chris Hardwick (@hardwick) on Sep 2, 2016 at 2:11am PDT

He continues to practice abstinence ever since he stopped drinking in 2013.

Hardwick has shed an incredible 40 lbs since his commitment to giving up alcohol.

Being physically active and improving his diet has helped reset his mindset after going through a bump in his life. He no longer tries to make excuses for not being active.

“I humbly place my low point at your feet and tell you that if you’re thinking about making improvements in your life, TODAY IS THE DAY TO START. Quitting drinking, starting exercising, eating better, pursuing your passion, hugging more puppies–whatever it is. Don’t think about it. Just do it. Over-thinking the “hows” and “why comes” will put you in a neverending loop of inactivity. You have the power and ability to change the future with a simple “pro-you” decision” he has said.

Jimmy Kimmel – Jimmy Kimmel Live!

A photo posted by Jimmy Kimmel (@jimmykimmel) on Apr 9, 2016 at 11:44am PDT

Enjoys sport fishing

He multitasks by utilizing his treadmill desk at work ever since 2012.

His decision to get a treadmill desk came after he “read somewhere that sitting all day can cut 15 or 20 years off your life… [which is] worse than smoking.” He believes that “we weren’t meant to sit this much” so he decided to change this by upgrading his office.

Kimmel commonly critiques fad diets and workouts. He doesn’t take them seriously and promotes more sustainable approaches that place a priority on being healthy rather than solely losing weight.

Conan O’Brien – Conan

A photo posted by CONAN (@teamcoco) on Sep 29, 2016 at 7:34pm PDT

In a humorous segment, he did a workout session with fellow actor Kevin Hart and trainer Jen Widerstrom this year. Although he was not as fit as Hart, O’Brien demonstrated his impressive stamina at 53 years old.

He has a love for bikes and biking. In fact, O’Brien supported The Challenged Athlete Foundation and The Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation by participating in an online bike auction. These organizations were both cherished by O’Brien’s late friend, Robin Williams, who also gifted him a Colnago bike worth at least $2,000.

Good music keeps him going. You can find his workout playlist is available on the Rdio app.

Seth Meyers – Late Night: Seth Meyers

A photo posted by @sethmeyers on Aug 8, 2015 at 9:59am PDT

He sticks to a consistent routine of running an average of 4 days a week.

Meyers sets aside 3 days each week to weight train.

He likes to start his day with a refreshing glass/bottle of juice.

Instead of restrictive dieting, Meyers prefers to manage his weight and health by eating once every 4 hours.

Meyers participated in the 2012 Cycle For Survival to raise funds supporting rare cancer research.

He is a firm believer of hopeful perseverance after meeting many inspiring cancer survivors.

John Oliver – Last Week Tonight

A photo posted by Last Week Tonight (@lastweektonight) on Aug 15, 2016 at 6:43am PDT

Oliver has a soft spot for soccer and admits in a Rolling Stone interview that he still dreams of being a soccer player.

Oliver shuns the sugar industry and its unsustainable tactics that are detrimental to health.

In 2016, he bought and forgave $15 million of medical debt.

Despite the limited information currently available on his personal health regime, Oliver has a pivotal role in putting the spotlight on health. He has spoken on nutritional topics such as the chicken industry standards, Dr. Oz’s show, etc.

[Read More ...] http://www.healthfitnessrevolution.com/fittest-late-night-talk-show-hosts-2017/

[rickhorrow]

10 To Watch : 12819

Georgia-based companies are surprisingly absent from Super Bowl marketing. Many of Georgia's "big corporate citizens helped the city" prepare to host Super Bowl LIII, but they "aren't the NFL's Super Bowl sponsors," according to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. Chick-fil-A, UPS, Kia, Mercedes-Benz, Holiday Inn parent IHG, and Serta Simmons "won't be in the Super Bowl," and Coca-Cola is temporarily on the sideline. PepsiCo, an NFL sponsor since 2002, for the first time will "serve its namesake cola in the stadium where Coke normally holds licensing rights." Pepsi has "unleashed a blue wave" in Atlanta, and there are "plans to cover logos on Coke's coolers and fountain machines" at Mercedes-Benz Stadium during the game. Pepsi has also placed a "multi-story sign across from the World of Coca-Cola," and a local ad states, "Pepsi in Atlanta. How refreshing." The Atlanta Business Journal also noted one of the "more interesting conflicts" is between Mercedes-Benz and Hyundai, the "official car sponsor of the NFL." The game will be held in Mercedes-Benz Stadium, but the NFL is "using an image where it's impossible to see the gigantic Mercedes-Benz logo that adorns several sides" of the venue. Atlanta-based Delta Air Lines, on the other hand, “is able to leverage its Super Bowl marketing and branding ties" because the NFL doesn’t have an airline sponsor

Vegas Stats & Information Network is predicting that more than $300 million will be wagered within eight states when the Patriots and Rams collide. “The handle, or amount wagered on the Big Game, has grown pretty steadily over the past decade, breaking records in Nevada for each of the past three years,” said VSiN CEO, Brian Musburger. “Between that momentum and the addition of seven new states taking regulated bets, we’re expecting the amount wagered this year to dwarf everything we’ve seen in the past.” However, as noted by Forbes, the $300 million estimate is only a small fraction of the money that will be wagered on Super Bowl LIII worldwide. According to the American Gaming Association, last year 97% of all sports betting in American was done illegally. Approximately $4.7 billion was bet on Super Bowl LII last year – an estimated $4.6 billion of that illegally

Together, the NFL and United Way inspire change, in Atlanta and beyond. The longest-running collaboration between a major sports league and a nonprofit represents a powerful vehicle for change in communities. The Character Playbook, powered by EVERFI, teaches middle school students how to build healthy relationships and make good decisions. And the Hometown Huddle creates more opportunities for young people to get active and healthy, through league-wide Days of Service and special events at the Super Bowl and other NFL showcases. The NFL has also announced the launch of the Inspire Change platform, designed to showcase “the collaborative efforts of players, owners and the league to create positive change in communities across the country,” with a focus on education and economic advancement, police and community relations as well as criminal justice reform. As part of the league's ongoing commitment to social justice, the joint NFL players-owners working group recently approved two new social justice grants focused on the three priority areas, issued to Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Operation HOPE.

To celebrate its first year as the official pizza of the Super Bowl, Pizza Hut is temporarily changing its name. Meet Pizza Hut Hut. The NFL named the chain its official pizza last February, but this is Pizza Hut’s first run as Super Bowl’s signature slice. Pizza Hut’s website already reflects the change, and USA Today reports an Atlanta location will temporarily rebrand itself with a new sign. The company will also debut two new Super Bowl ads featuring its Abraham Lincoln character already seen in commercials for Pizza Hut’s $5 deal menu. Pizza Hut will offer a game day special of $7.99 for a two-topping pie, and Super Bowl viewers in select states can order beer with their pizza from select restaurants. To that end, A-B InBev has "tacked on another 15 seconds to its Super Bowl ad buy, bringing the brewer's total time to five-minutes, 45 seconds, across eight ads," according to AdAge. The brewer also "plans to run eight more brand plugs during the game, totaling five seconds each." A-B InBev has "not approached this level of saturation" since 2010, when "nine ads spanned five minutes, 30 seconds."

The Super Bowl isn’t ready for medical marijuana. Acreage Holdings, the multi-state cannabis company backed by former Speaker of the House John Boehner, says CBS rejected an ad that calls for the legalization of medical marijuana. While medical pot is now legal in more than 30 states, the federal prohibition on cannabis has restricted research and made it difficult for some potential patients to get their hands on a drug that proponents say helps treat seizures, pain and other ailments. The ad aimed to “create an advocacy campaign for constituents who are being lost in the dialogue,” Acreage President George Allen said. Acreage, one of the most valuable U.S. weed companies with a market value of more than $2.4 billion, had hoped to raise its profile and push for increased access to medical marijuana. Acreage created the ad thinking it had a legitimate chance of getting onto the air. The company said it was careful to position the spot as a “call to political action” rather than a pitch for its brand, which now has cannabis operations in roughly 15 states and Canada. The NFL hasn’t accept marijuana, either, but the league is actively studying medical benefits of the drug and may change its stance in the near future.

Colleges for the first time "will be allowed to use a U.S. Olympic team logo to promote their Olympic sports under a groundbreaking deal" between the NCAA and the USOC. Historically, according to SportsBusiness Journal, the USOC has "resisted sharing its marks with colleges and universities without being paid, because selling the rings is the committee’s primary source of funding along with media rights." The marketing arrangement is the "first major result of the USOC and NCAA’s attempts to work together.” The USOC "now sees the persistent cuts in low-revenue-generating Olympic sports programs on college campuses as a significant strategic concern." Interested schools "will be able to opt into a free agreement that would allow use of a template with the USOC’s 'flag and rings' logo on the right and the school’s mark on the left, with the words 'Olympians Made Here' in the middle." The USOC "will offer the rights to any school that has ever had a current student or alumnus make the U.S. Olympic or Paralympic teams.” No schools have officially committed, but Duke is said to be interested

Chattanooga FC offering supporters chance to buy equity stake in club. Chattanooga Football Club has announced a limited offering of 8,000 shares, close to a $2.95 million valuation, that gives supporters of the local soccer team the opportunity to own a piece of the club. According to JohnWallStreet, the capital raised will fund the organization’s transition from amateur to professional players and to turn Chattanooga FC into to a year-round operation in preparation of fully joining the NPSL for the 2020 season. The club becomes the first American pro sports team to take advantage of reformed securities laws that now permit non-accredited investors to invest in corporations via online crowdfunding platforms. Most of America, on both the investor and the corporate side, had been frozen out of having access to that sort of capital”, which explains why the American sports landscape has been dominated by such a small group of wealthy owners. While crowdfunding gives average fans the chance to invest in pro sports, don’t expect your favorite NFL, NBA, MLB, or NHL franchise to raise money in that manner. The cheapest franchise of the Big Four is the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, currently valued at $290 million.

The Pats are headed to the Super Bowl and accompanying them is a charity raffle for two tickets. The New England Patriots Foundation opened an online charity raffle for a deluxe trip to sold-out Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta on February 3. In addition to two tickets to the big game, the raffle winner and their guest will receive two passes to a pre-game tailgate party and entrance to a private after party attended by Patriots players and members of the Kraft family. According to The Boston Herald, this is the third consecutive year that the charity has held the contest. Last year, the Patriots Foundation raised more than $300,000 through a series of playoff ticket raffles. The team’s nonprofit used that money to build two playgrounds in Fall River and Central Rhode Island. This year’s winner will be announced on January 30 and while offering a once in a lifetime Super Bowl experience, the Patriots have found a way to give back to youth in the greater New England community.

Verizon will air a Super Bowl advertisement with a first responder theme. According to Fortune, the ad features 11 NFL players and one coach whose lives were saved by first responders. The announcement comes after Verizon received criticism for slowing mobile data connections and limiting service of Santa Clara County firefighters while they battled California’s Mendocino Complex wildfire in August. After apologizing, Verizon said it would no longer impose data caps on first responders and will contribute up to $1.5 million to First Responders Outreach, a nonprofit that provides grants for emergency relief, training, and equipment to the industry. The way that the donation will be delivered is in $1 increments every time a person posts to Twitter or Facebook using the hashtag #AllOurThanks January 18-February 3, echoing a similar tactic to provide hurricane relief as part of T-Mobile’s #HR4HR campaign during the past MLB postseason. This ad hopefully will help clear Verizon’s name while providing others in future disasters with help.

The Souper Bowl of Caring feeds hundreds of thousands during the week around the big game. According to superbowl.org, young people with the non-profit have been leading the charge and inspiring others to collect money and food in the weeks leading up to the Super Bowl since 1990. By teaming up with local partners, these groups give 100% of donations to local charities and make the largest weekend of football into a weekend of philanthropy. As of January 24, the organization had 542 groups participating with over $3 million in cash and food items donated to date for the year. Since its inception, all participating groups have raised more than $143 million in cash and food donations. In 2008 alone, more than 14,000 groups collected over $10 million to tackle hunger and homelessness. The Souper Bowl of Giving has secured partnerships with nine different NFL teams and is always looking for more young volunteers to help give back to their communities.

[hottytoddynews]

The Ole Miss team lost this year’s Unified Egg Bowl but has qualified to compete in flag football at the Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle next summer.

Last week’s Egg Bowl was a chippy affair, complete with pregame brawls, crude celebration gestures, ejections and bird fingers pointing everywhere.

Wednesday night’s Unified Egg Bowl, which also pitted Ole Miss against Mississippi State for a year’s worth of bragging rights, was a good deal more convivial.

The fourth annual event featured Special Olympics Mississippi athletes in a hard-fought but entirely clean and amicable showdown at the Indoor Practice Facility in the Olivia and Archie Manning Athletic Performance Center on the Ole Miss campus.

Monica Daniels, executive director of Special Olympics Mississippi, poses with some Ole Miss athletes at Wednesday night’s Unified Egg Bowl in Oxford.

UM and MSU are both Special Olympics (SO) Colleges, which bring together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete on the same teams.

And make no mistake: They’re playing, but they’re not playing around.

“They fight for that egg just like Ole Miss and Mississippi State do,” said Monica Daniels, Special Olympics Mississippi’s executive director. “These athletes are competitive. They are on their game, and they are here to do their personal best and to win. They get out there and give it their all.”

This year’s Unified Egg Bowl played out a little differently from the Thanksgiving night game in Starkville. The MSU SO Bulldogs pulled out a 15-12 victory in the flag football match. It was their second straight Unified Egg Bowl win over the Rebels.

Ole Miss and Mississippi State are both Special Olympics Colleges, which bring together athletes with and without intellectual disabilities to train and compete on the same teams.

Mississippi State took an early advantage with a touchdown and two-point conversion, while the Rebels got denied on every one of its first-half drives. The Bulldogs took an 8-0 lead into the locker room.

After halftime, Ole Miss found a way to break the defense and put the ball in the end zone on a passing play, cutting the score down to 8-6. On the very next possession, MSU drove the ball down the field and scored another TD but failed on the two-point conversion attempt. Ole Miss then mounted a last-ditch scoring drive for a second touchdown before the clock ran out.

Special Olympics players train like other athletes for the games, noted Amanda Alpert, Ole Miss’ assistant director of intramural sports and sports clubs and an organizer of Wednesday’s game. “We practice all the time for events like this,” she said. “We have athletes who travel 45 minutes or an hour to get to practice. I can’t thank the parents and caregivers enough for their involvement.”

The Ole Miss team has qualified to compete at the Special Olympics USA Games in Seattle next summer, and Special Olympics Mississippi will send 32 other athletes to the national games, which will include softball, golf, tennis, bocce and track and field. All totaled, 4,000 athletes representing 50 state programs and the District of Columbia will compete in Seattle.

Callie and Rose Daniels, daughters of Special Olympics Mississippi executive director Monica Daniels, were on hand to cheer on athletes from both schools Wednesday night. Callie is an Ole Miss graduate, Oxford journalist and former HottyToddy.com editor, while Rose is a New York-based fashion model.

To help pay for events like the Unified Egg Bowl and the trip to the national games, Special Olympics Mississippi is holding an online fundraiser that invites Ole Miss and State fans to support their respective teams with donations. Click here to learn more and to donate.

Daniels took over the helm at Special Olympics Mississippi about a year ago. She started working with special-needs children after her daughter, Callie, an Ole Miss graduate in journalism, lost her hearing in early infancy. For several years in her childhood, Callie, a former HottyToddy.com editor who lives in Etta, attended Magnolia Speech School in Jackson, which serves children with language disorders, autism and intellectual disabilities.

“I worked with those children at Magnolia, and now a lot of them are athletes here today,” Daniels said. “They’re on the field tonight, so it feels like I’ve come full circle. It’s kind of a cool moment for me.”

Watch video of the introductions of the Ole Miss team here:

  Rick Hynum is HottyToddy.com’s editor-in-chief. Email him at rick.hynum@hottytoddy.com. Sports editor Adam Brown also contributed to this story.

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