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Be Careful What You Ask at the NFL Scouting Combine

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Evan Weiner
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Be Careful What You Ask at the NFL Scouting Combine
Eli Apple. Photo: Darron Cummings/Associated Press

Will the NFL crackdown on what kind of questions that team personnel can ask participants at the Scouting Combine. Last March, Eli Apple went on the Breakfast on Broad TV show in Philadelphia to discuss how he thought he did at the combine.

Apple told the show’s hosts, “I’ve been asked a lot of weird questions. I don’t know if I could say on TV. The Falcons coach, one of the coaches, was like, ‘So do you like men?’ It was like the first thing he asked me. It was weird. I was just like, ‘no.’ He was like, ‘if you’re going to come to Atlanta, sometimes that’s how it is around here, you’re going to have to get used to it.’ I guess he was joking but they just ask most of these questions to see how you’re going to react.”

The coach asked a question that probably would have gotten him fired at Atlanta Falcons owner Arthur Blank’s former business Home Depot.

In the NFL, coaches look for guys who can intimidate and shy away from those who can be intimidated so that question seemed perfectly reasonable. But someone figured out this could be a workplace discrimination problem and the Falcons organization apologized fast.

If you know anything about NFL history, the league was forced to desegregate in 1946 because the owners of the Cleveland Rams could not move into the publicly funded Los Angeles Coliseum without offering equal employment opportunities to all. The same thing happened in 1962 when Washington owner George Preston Marshall moved from the old Washington baseball park to the new federally funded stadium and had to provide equal opportunity employment.

A workplace lawsuit for discrimination is the last thing the NFL owners need. One side note, the NFL does not have to worry about the Breakfast on Broad TV show, it has been cancelled.

By Evan Weiner For The Politics Of Sports Business

This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, Evan Weiner.

Olympic Committee Adds Human Rights Clause to Host City Contract

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Inside The Games
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Olympic Committee Adds Human Rights Clause to Host City Contract
International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach. Photo by Sven Teschke via Wikimedia Commons

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has announced that the incorporation of human rights principles is among the changes it is making to its Host City Contract.

The revised Host City Contract, developed with recommendations from a coalition of leading rights, transparency and athletes’ organisations, has been finalized and will first apply to the 2024 Olympic Games.

Paris and Los Angeles are the only two candidates left in the race, with the IOC due to elect the winner during its Session in Peru’s capital Lima in September.

For the first time, the IOC has made specific reference to the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights (UNGP), a set of guidelines for states and companies to prevent, address and remedy human rights abuses committed in business operations.

The Guiding Principles detail how commercial enterprises ought to assess human rights risks, take effective measures to prevent human rights issues, and guarantee a remedy for abuses that take place despite those efforts.

As part of the implementation of Olympic Agenda 2020, IOC President Thomas Bach has met representatives of the Sport and Rights Alliance (SRA), which includes Transparency International Germany, UNI World Athletes, Terre des Hommes, the International Trade Union Confederation, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.

In September 2015, not specifically mentioning human rights in its Host City Contract for the 2024 Games was described as an “astonishing omission” on the IOC’s part and one that did not live up to the expectations created by the Agenda 2020 reform process.

A release sent out by the SRA warned how the IOC must “wake-up” to the human rights impact of its events.

“Time after time, Olympic hosts have gotten away with abusing workers building stadiums, and with crushing critics and media who try to report about abuses,” said Minky Worden, director of global initiatives at Human Rights Watch.

“The right to host the Olympics needs to come with the responsibility not to abuse basic human rights.”

The IOC said in its new contract that host cities have an obligation to “protect and respect human rights and ensure any violation of human rights is remedied in a manner consistent with international agreements, laws and regulations applicable in the host country.”

It goes onto say that this should be done “in a manner consistent with all internationally recognized human rights standards and principles, including the United Nations Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, applicable in the host country”.

“This is an important step by the IOC for the future,” said Sharan Burrow, general secretary of the International Trade Union Confederation.

“Implementing the UN Guiding Principles across all major global sporting events could help break the cycle of human rights abuses, and this example from the IOC should be applied to all such events, starting now.”

Following strong criticism of the IOC’s failure to criticize Russia for its alleged gay rights abuses before Sochi 2014, a Host City Contact signed by the bidders in the race for the 2022 Winter Games in 2014 specifically prohibited discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation for the first time.

It also included requirements to allow the media to report freely on the Games and for the building of infrastructure for the event to comply with international labor standards.

This change was praised by human rights groups at the time, but they claimed it must only serve as the first step in a raft of changes, and expressed their displeasure that such changes had not followed.

In August of last year, Brazilian authorities were accused by Amnesty International of missing a “golden opportunity” to use the Olympic Games to improve their commitment to human rights.

It came after at least eight people were reportedly killed in police operations in the city during the Games.

The new Host City Contract also includes a section on countering fraud and corruption related to the organisation of the Olympic Games.

“Strengthening transparency, good governance and accountability are key elements of Olympic Agenda 2020,” IOC President Thomas Bach said.

“Based on these principles, the IOC is moving forward by including provisions in the Host City Contract aimed specifically at protecting human rights and countering corruption.

“The organization of the Olympic Games should always promote and enhance the fundamental values of Olympism.

“This latest step is another reflection of the IOC’s commitment to embedding these values in all aspects of the Olympic Games.”

“We worked closely with SRA and we welcome its input, which is now reflected in the new version of the Host City Contract.”

By Daniel Etchells

Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz. 

Los Angeles 2024 Chairman ‘Disappointed’ by Budapest Withdrawal

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Inside The Games
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Los Angeles 2024 Chairman ‘Disappointed’ by Budapest Withdrawal
Los Angeles 2024 delegates Casey Wasserman, Allyson Felix, Janet Evans and Angela Ruggiero at the ANOC General Assembly in Doha. Photo: Team USA

Los Angeles 2024 chairman Casey Wasserman has said it is “disappointing” to see Budapest pull out of the bidding process for the Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Last week, government officials in Hungary said the bid was being withdrawn after a petition set up by campaign group Momentum Mozgalom calling for a referendum was signed by 266,151 people.

This was followed up by Budapest 2024 chairman Balázs Fürjes confirming formal closure procedures had begun.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) released a statement yesterday saying they had received communication of the bid’s withdrawal.

Los Angeles and Paris are now the only two candidate cities remaining in the race for the 2024 Games, with a decision to be made in September during the IOC Session in Lima.

“All of us at LA 2024 are disappointed in this news,” a statement from Wasserman said.

“We have the highest respect for Budapest 2024’s pioneering approach to designing and promoting their bid, and we look forward to continued friendship with our Hungarian colleagues.

“The world is entering an era of unprecedented change.

“This is the ‘new reality’ for the Olympic Movement and it calls for new thinking.”

Protesters from Momentum said money should be spent on areas such as education, healthcare and transport in the country.

When contacted by insidethegames, bosses at Paris 2024 said they will not make a comment until the Budapest bid is officially retreated.

By George Thorpe

Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz. 

Venezuelan Skier Says he had no Practice on Snow Before World Championships

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Inside The Games
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Venezuelan Skier Says he had no Practice on Snow Before World Championships
Venezuelan skier Adrian Solano has revealed he had no experience of skiing on snow before competing at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Nordic Ski World Championships last week. Photo: Reuters

Venezuelan skier Adrian Solano has revealed he had no experience of skiing on snow before competing at the International Ski Federation (FIS) Nordic Ski World Championships last week.

Having never trained on snow before competing in Lahti, Solano wobbled backward as he exited the starting gate during one of his races.

He fell over numerous times after sliding down a small hill and tried to walk up an incline while others raced past him.

In the first race, a 10 kilometer qualifying round, Solano failed to finish.

He completed the first 3.5km of the race in 37 mins 39sec – the same amount of time it took other competitors to finish the entire course.

In the 1.6km cross-country sprint he finished last in 156th place.

Solano has since revealed that he had no previous experience of skiing on snow, only on wheels in Venezuela.

“I fell and did not give up,” he said in an interview after returning to Venezuela.

“Not everyone gets up but I got up more than 30 times.

“It was my first experience on skis on snow in my life.

“I was scared.

“Many people don’t realize that practicing on asphalt is very different to practicing on snow because the snow has a different texture.”

When Solano arrived at Paris’ Charles de Gaulle airport last month, immigration officials failed to believe he was a professional skier.

Solano claimed he was forced to return to Venezuela five days later.

The story caught the attention of Finnish television personality Aleksi Valavuori who set up a fundraising campaign and raised more than $4,224 to pay for another flight via the Spanish capital of Madrid.

“Something had to be done,” said Valavuori, speaking from the Finnish city of Turku.

“I knew absolutely nothing.

“I’d never heard of Venezuelan skiing.”

Some Venezuelans were left angry that he embarrassed them internationally and suspect he was promoted by the ruling Socialist Party as Instagram photos show Solano posing with members of the party’s youth movement and no photos of him skiing.

Solano says the photos are old and that he made it to the championships with zero help from the government.

At the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, violinist Vanessa Mae was accused of making the Games as an alpine skier through rigged events.

Mae, who competed under her father’s surname Vanakorn, represented Thailand in the women’s giant slalom and finished with a combined time of 3:26.97, which was 50.10 behind gold medalist Tina Maze of Slovenia.

In November 2014, she was banned for four years by the FIS after they claimed she had “manipulated” qualification rounds to her advantage.

However, Mae successfully appealed against the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in June 2015 and the FIS issued an apology and paid damages to her.

By Max Winters

Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz. 

Nightengale: Tebow Reports to Mets Ready for ‘Hardest Thing in Sports’

By
Bob Nightengale
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Nightengale: Tebow Reports to Mets Ready for ‘Hardest Thing in Sports’
Tim Tebow practices his swing during batting practice on Sept. 20, 2016 in Port St. Lucie, Fla. Photo: Wilfredo Lee, AP Photo

Tim Tebow was everywhere Monday at the New York Mets spring-training camp, but nowhere to be found in the actually place that mattered.

You could find Tebow jerseys at the large tent outside the stadium complex.

There were Mets fans wandering around the complex cheering at the mere sight of him.

There were Mets players wearily being asked about Tebow.

And there was Tebow having his own press conference while the Mets’ players worked on the field before their spring-training game against the Houston Astros.

Yet, inside the Mets’ clubhouse, where there are lockers for 57 players in their big-league camp, none are reserved for Tebow.

He is inside the Mets’ minor-league clubhouse, several hundred yards away from the big-league clubhouse, which on this day seemed like years away.

Still, there was Tebow, smiling in front of all the cameras, putting on the positive spin during his 15-minute press conference, answering to the critics who believe it’s nothing more than a sideshow.

“I just kind of focus on what I can control,’’ Tebow says, “my attitude, my effort, my focus, trying to get better every single day. I’m not going to worry about whatever everybody is writing, what everybody is thinking, how I’m being marketed. I just want to learn the process and have fun out there.’’

And his odds of Tebow actually making the big leagues one day?

“I don’t have to give my chances,’’ he said. “That’s my ultimate goal. But I’ve had so much fun training, pursuing it. I enjoy the process, and hopefully I’ll have a chance to (play in the major leagues) someday.’’

Certainly, he faces the longest off odds. He is 29 years old. He has not played baseball since his junior year in high school. Now, he wants to be an authentic major-league player.

“I don’t think it’s a bigger challenge than I thought,’’ Tebow says. “You’re picking up a sport 12 years after not playing.  Part of the challenge is why it’s so fun, and why it’s something I’m enjoying and loving.

“Hitting a baseball is the hardest thing in sports.’’

Even if he never sets foot in the Mets’ major-league clubhouse, or advances past Class A, the Mets’ players have shown no resentment.

If nothing else, they’ve done nothing but show encouragement.’’

“It’s great that he’s chasing that dream,’’ Mets captain David Wright says. “I’m sure it’s very difficult not having played baseball for so long and trying to pick it up at the highest level.

“The short period of time that I’ve been around him, it seems like he’s focused on becoming the best baseball player possible. I think that’s all that anybody can ask of him.’’

Tebow spent a month last fall in the Instructional League, taking weekends off for his broadcasting gig. He went to the Arizona Fall League, where he had an abysmal showing, hitting just .194 in 19 games for the Scottsdale Scorpions, with 20 strikeouts in 62 at-bats.

During the winter, he worked out with Mets hitting instructor Kevin Long, Washington Nationals second baseman Daniel Murphy, former catcher Chad Moeller and former All-Star outfielder Gary Sheffield.

“I got a chance to see him in person in January when I worked out with (Long),’’ Mets outfielder Curtis Granderson said. “His physical presence is amazing to see. He’s a very strong individual. He was talking about the game, wanting to learn the game, and wanting to work.

“He was hitting six times a week. His work ethic is through the roof, which obviously is what you have to have. So he’s not Cadillac-ing through this by any means. So it’s not just show up, roll me out there, here I am.

“If he doesn’t make it, it’s not because he didn’t try. If it doesn’t happen, it definitely won’t be because of efforts.  I’m excited to see what he can do.’’

The Mets, who signed him to a $100,000 contract last year, say there are no specific plans for Tebow this spring. Yet, there will be a time sometime this spring when the Mets will bring him over the major-league camp, just seeing what he can do, and providing a bit of a buzz to a mundane spring-training schedule.

“We are hopeful that (Tebow) will demonstrate enough progress in spring training,’’ Mets GM Sandy Alderson told reporters Sunday, “that we will send him to a full-season club.’’

Yes, where perhaps a sell-out crowd will be on hand, watching the spectacle.

“This game is about our fans, it will always be about the fans,’’ Collins told reporters Sunday. “I think our fans should get a chance to see him.

“This guy is a special person, tremendous athlete. He got a huge name in the sports world and he’s in our organization trying to be a baseball player. I’m certainly not going to take anything away from that.

“I salute him for what he’s trying to do. It’s not going to be easy. It’s going to be very difficult. But he’s a tremendous competitor. I know he’s a winner. That’s going to mean a lot in that big clubhouse full of young kids over there.’’

Maybe, this is what it’s really all about.

By Bob Nightengale

This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, USA Today. Follow Bob Nightengale on Twitter and Facebook. 

Are Cord Cutters to Blame for Falling NBA TV Ratings?

By
Evan Weiner
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Are Cord Cutters to Blame for Falling NBA TV Ratings?
Dec 23, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) reacts in the fourth quarter against the New York Knicks at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports

Sports Business Journal reported that National Basketball Association (NBA) television ratings on regional cable sports networks have fallen about 15 percent through the first half of the season compared to the 2015-2016 season. But the reporting lacked one element. How have cord cutters impacted the league’s TV numbers?

Remember these are not over the air TV ratings but cable TV and the cable TV industry has been losing millions of subscribers over the past few years, and it is not just limited to ESPN. It is all across the board, including sports and news networks because when you cut the cord, you are cutting a great many channels.

The news was a little better from this year’s All-Star Game, which didn’t do all that badly last Sunday night in the entire TV ratings spectrum. The game got about 7.8 million viewers on Turner’s TNT and TBS and had about 200,000 more viewers than in 2016 but it was one of the lowest rated NBA All-Star Games ever.

Clearly there is a subscriber problem.

The Walt Disney Company’s ESPN, ESPN2 and ESPNU, lost 542,000, 552,000 and 608,000 subscribers in December. ESPN has around 87,859,000 subscribers and has lost about 12 million customers since 2011, ESPN2 may have 87,730,000 subscribers and ESPNU has dropped to 69.2 million. Those numbers and revenues continue to drop which is not good for Disney as ESPN has a large investment in the NBA.

Turner is losing subscribers on both TNT and TBS and also has a large contract with the NBA. The regional networks are losing subscribers with their fees and some ad revenue, none of which is good news for sports owners and players and networks.

By Evan Weiner For The Politics Of Sports Business

This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, Evan Weiner.

Geisenberger Claims Record-Breaking Luge World Cup Win

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Inside The Games
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Geisenberger Claims Record-Breaking Luge World Cup Win
Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger led a German clean sweep at the last meet of the FIL World Cup season to secure a record-breaking 38th individual victory in Altenberg. Photo: FIL

Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger led a German clean sweep at the last leg of the International Luge Federation (FIL) World Cup season to secure a record-breaking 38th individual victory in Altenberg.

The 29-year-old, who had already sealed a fifth consecutive overall World Cup title prior to the race, posted a combined time of 1 min 44.364sec.

It bettered that of nearest challenger Tatjana Hüfner by 0.071sec and third-placed Dajana Eitberger by 0.186.

Three-time world champion Geisenberger now tops the list for the most World Cup victories, with with two-time Olympic champion Sylke Otto of Germany and current world champion Hüfner now sharing second place with 37 wins each.

“The season didn’t go badly at all,” Geisenberger said after securing her fifth win of the season.

Today’s victory comes just less than a month after an uncharacteristically sloppy first run by Geisenberger cost her a place on the podium at the World Championships in Igls in Austria.

“Of course, the World Championships were a bit of a disappointment, but I successfully held onto the overall World Cup and have now won five World Cups,” she added.

The track record was broken a total of four times in today’s first run, with Geisenberger ultimately setting the new time to beat at 52.185.

During the second heat, Hüfner pushed it down further to 52.175.

Geisenberger finished the season on 982 points after the 12 stages, 117 more than Hüfner in second.

Russia’s Tatyana Ivanova, who came fourth today, was 299 off the pace in third.

Having wrapped up the women’s crown, Geisenberger went onto help Germany wrap up the team relay title later in the day.

The team, which also featured Felix Loch, Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken, clocked a combined time of 2:23.021 to secure a fourth successive win in the event.

Latvia’s Eliza Cauce, Kristers Aparjods, Andris Sics and Juris Sics were 0.125 behind in the runners-up spot, while Russia’s Ivanova, Roman Repilov, Vladislav Yuzhakov and Iurii Prokhorov were 0.209 back in third.

In the overall standings, Germany’s total of 531 was 126 more than second-placed Latvia.

Third place went to Russia, 136 behind.

By Daniel Etchells

Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz. 

Track Coach Salazar Denies Claims he Broke Anti-Doping Rules

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Inside The Games
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Track Coach Salazar Denies Claims he Broke Anti-Doping Rules
In 2015, former distance runner Alberto Salazar yells out lap times to distance runner Mo Farah, from Britain, during the 10,000-meter race in the Prefontaine Classic track and field meet. Photo: DON RYAN/AP

Alberto Salazar has rebuffed claims that he may have broken anti-doping rules to boost the performance of some of his athletes following the leaking of a United States Anti-Doping Agency (USADA) report.

The document obtained by The Sunday Times alleges the American head coach of the controversial Nike Oregon Project gave Sir Mo Farah and other athletes potentially harmful legal prescription drugs when they had no medical need.

Dated March 2016, the report was passed to the newspaper by Russian hacking group Fancy Bears.

In a statement released last night, Salazar denied the claims by USADA and maintained his stance against doping in sport.

“I believe in a clean sport, ” he said.

“I do not use supplements that are banned.

“I have clearly and repeatedly refuted allegations directed against me and the Oregon Project.

“The Oregon Project will never permit doping and all Oregon Project athletes are required to comply with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Code and International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) rules.”

The report also claims that Salazar used a banned method of infusing a supplement called L-carnitine, the effects of which he reportedly boasted about to seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong before he was exposed as a drugs cheat.

Although L-carnitine is not a banned substance, infusions of more than 50 millimeters within a six-hour time frame are prohibited.

According to The Sunday Times, the document states USADA has “substantial and compelling” evidence that Salazar and Houston endocrinologist Jeffrey Brown “conspired to collude together” to use prescription medications to boost performance.

Brown’s lawyers have denied the charges and said the use of L-carnitine was approved by USADA.

The Sunday Times story does not state whether any of the report’s stated conclusions are out of date.

Responding to these claims, Salazar said any use of L-carnitine is done “within WADA guidelines.”

“In this case, to ensure my interpretation of WADA rules was correct, I also communicated in writing with USADA in advance of the use and administration of L-carnitine with Oregon Project athletes,” he said.

“I have voluntarily cooperated with USADA for years and met with them more than a year ago.

“The leaking of information and the litigation of false allegations in the press is disturbing, desperate and a denial of due process.

“I look forward to this unfair and protracted process reaching the conclusion I know to be true.”

Sir Mo, who won 5,000 and 10,000 meter gold at both the London 2012 and Rio 2016 Olympic Games, said in a statement on his Facebook page that he has “never broken the rules in regards to substances, methods or dosages.”

“It is upsetting that some parts of the media, despite the clear facts, continue to try to associate me with allegations of drug misuse,” the statement read.

“I’m unclear as to The Sunday Times‘s motivations towards me but I do understand that using my name and profile makes the story more interesting, but it’s entirely unfair to make assertions when it is clear from their own statements that I have done nothing wrong.

“As I’ve said many times before, we all should do everything we can to have a clean sport and it is entirely right that anyone who breaks the rules should be punished.

“However, this should be done through proper process and if USADA or any other anti-doping body has evidence of wrongdoing, they should publish it and take action rather than allow the media to be judge and jury.”

Salazar has been under investigation since a BBC Panorama program made allegations about drugs use at his United States training base.

It was claimed that London 2012 Olympic 10,000m silver medalist Galen Rupp was given the banned anabolic steroid testosterone in 2002, when he was 16-years-old.

In June 2015, Salazar released a 12,000-word open letter providing a detailed rebuttal of the allegations that Rupp has ever taken a banned substance.

Rupp has also denied the claims.

By Max Winters

Republished with permission from insidethegames.biz. 

A Black History Month Mystery: Was Robinson’s Debut Delayed?

By
Evan Weiner
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1
A Black History Month Mystery: Was Robinson’s Debut Delayed?
Jackie Robinson. Photo: Sporting News

Here is one of history’s mysteries. Was Jackie Robinson’s debut with the Brooklyn Dodgers, breaking baseball’s color barrier, delayed by as many as eight months?

Wally Triplett has a theory that Robinson should have been called up to the Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1946 season, but Joe Tepsic got in the way. Baseball historians have splashed water on Triplett’s story, but people should not be dismissive of Triplett, who was one of two black Penn State players who desegregated Dallas’ Cotton Bowl in 1948 and was Robinson’s driver in 1947 when Robinson’s Dodgers played in Philadelphia.

Tepsic befriended Triplett in 1945 while the two played football at Penn State. In 1946, Tepsic signed a contract with Brooklyn, stating he could refuse being sent down to the minor leagues.

Tepsic was a struggling player with Brooklyn while Robinson was with the Dodgers’ Triple A team in Montreal in 1946.

“Jackie signed in 1945 and was sent to Montreal,” Triplett remembered. “In 1946, Leo Durocher wanted Jackie and asked Tepsic to go down to Montreal. Tepsic said ‘no.’ Tepsic had signed with Brooklyn and had a clause in his contract that he could decline going to the minor leagues. He delayed Jackie until 1947, he would not go down.”

According to accounts available, Tepsic’s teammates were hoping that he would accept the demotion and the team would pick up a veteran pinch hitter. There is no indication that Brooklyn would have added Robinson but Triplett said Durocher wanted Jackie.

Robinson made his Major League debut on April 15, 1947. Triplett struck up a conversation with Robinson after a game and took him home for a meal and to get away from the pressure.

Triplett would make history too, becoming the first African American to be drafted by an NFL team, the Detroit Lions, to make a roster in 1949.

Was Robinson’s debut delayed? It is one of History’s Mysteries.

By Evan Weiner For The Politics Of Sports Business

This article was republished with permission from the original publisher, Evan Weiner.

Unorthodox Hands: The Art of Steve Cunningham

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U.S. Sports Academy
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Unorthodox Hands: The Art of Steve Cunningham
Two-time International Boxing Federation Cruiserweight World Champion Steve “USS” Cunningham. Photo: premierboxingchampions.com

Two-time International Boxing Federation Cruiserweight World Champion Steve “USS” Cunningham’s skillset is undeniable; however, the Philly-born contenders’ hands are also skilled in the visual arts.

Cunningham, who began drawing and experimenting with various art mediums in high school, honed his passion for art (and boxing) in the Navy and began writing his USS Comics series in the summer of 2008.

“I was motivated to create a comic book [loosely] based on my experiences in the ring and in the Navy. Before long USS Comics was born.”

In an ever-growing stockpile of more than 200 sketches, Cunningham highlights boxing notables “Brother” Naazim Richardson and Amir Mansour, as well as a cast of shredded and elongated heroes, foes, and dynamic family members.

“First, I draw. Then, I digitize. I’m motivated to draw daily—even when I’m in training camp. Especially when I’m in training camp.”

Accented black and white sketches lead viewers to off the grid locations; vantage points from helicopters, rooftops, and secret science labs transport readers to a world filled with action and twists. Cunningham’s imagined world, much like his boxing world, is controlled and well-studied.

“I like Frank Miller’s style. I also like varying perspectives. I’m aware of the technical aspects of art like the “rule of thirds” and using positive and negative space. I’m inspired by art and the world around me.”

If life imitates art, this husband and father of four knows very well the positive and negative aspects associated with family dynamics. However, his commitment to his core values transcends his art and ring life. His way is one rooted in humanity and optimism: storied elements of sure-to be legends, superheroes, and those who communicate with their hands.

Steve Cunningham fights on March 17, the day that Mansour Saga, his web comic debuts.                   

By Van G. Garrett

Van G. Garrett is an award-winning author and artist. His updates can be found at: www.vanggarrettpoet.com.

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