Flavor Flav, the iconic rapper and member of the legendary group Public Enemy, has taken a surprising turn in his career by stepping into the world of sports sponsorship. At 65 years old, Flav has achieved numerous accolades in music, including a Grammy Award in 2020. However, he recently expressed that his new role supporting the U.S. women’s water polo team as they prepare for the 2024 Paris Olympics is one of the most significant accomplishments of his life.
In an interview with NBC Olympics, Flavor Flav shared his excitement about this unexpected collaboration. “I never in my life, honestly, never thought of me sponsoring a United States Olympic team,” he said. “For me doing this, I ain’t gonna lie, to me this is one of the biggest things that I feel that I could have ever done in life, outside of the other accomplishments that I’ve made to music. By sponsoring a water polo team and helping these girls out, this is bigger than me winning a Grammy.”
Flav’s involvement in sports sponsorship is not entirely unprecedented, as many celebrities have shown support for various athletic endeavors. However, his commitment to the U.S. women’s water polo team is particularly noteworthy. The team has a storied history, having won three consecutive Olympic gold medals in 2012, 2016, and 2020. Despite their success, the sport remains relatively niche, and many athletes struggle to secure the financial support they need to compete at the highest level.
The catalyst for Flav’s involvement was a social media post by Maggie Steffens, the captain of the U.S. women’s water polo team. In her post, Steffens expressed her excitement for the upcoming Olympics while highlighting the challenges faced by many women athletes. “Many of my teammates aren’t just champions, but also teachers, business owners, coaches, physicians, assistants, and more,” she wrote. “Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a 2nd (or 3rd) job to support chasing the dream (myself included!) and most teams rely on sponsors for travel, accommodations, nutritional support, rent/lodging, and simply affording to live in this day and age.”
Flavor Flav was moved by Steffens’ message and felt compelled to reach out. “I got daughters and I know what it feels like to be competitive but yet not recognized for what you do,” he explained. “Women’s water polo is not really a big popular sport like basketball or football, but I would love to see the sport grow because I like watching it be played. That’s why I stepped in and decided to help these girls out. It’s all about giving back.”
Flav is currently in discussions with USA Water Polo to finalize the details of his sponsorship. While the men’s and women’s teams were already funded prior to his involvement, both the organization and Steffens have expressed gratitude for his support. “Water polo is my whole world, it’s my life and it’s been a gift for me,” Steffens said. “To have a Hall of Famer like him notice us and be willing to share our story, and to empower our journey, was pretty spectacular.”
As Flav prepares to take on his new role, he is eager to become the team’s official hype man. He has already begun promoting the players on social media and is making plans to attend their matches in Paris. “When I come out and I watch this water polo team … ‘USA! USA!’ Yo, I’m going to be the biggest hype man that they ever had in their life,” he declared. “I’m going to cheer this team on, and I’m going to cheer this team into winning a gold medal.”
The U.S. women’s water polo team has consistently performed at a high level, but they have not received the same level of attention as other dominant American sports teams. Steffens acknowledged this disparity in her Instagram post, noting that many fans have commented on the lack of publicity compared to sports like soccer and basketball. “We’ve gotten a lot of comments you know of ‘Oh, it’s so cool what you’ve done. Bummer you’re not a soccer player or a basketball player, because your team would be getting way more publicity or way more support,'” she said.
Flavor Flav’s involvement comes at a crucial time for the team as they aim for an unprecedented fourth consecutive gold medal. The U.S. women have been on the podium in the last five Olympic Games, winning silver in 2000 and 2004. With Flav’s support, the hope is that the team will gain more visibility and recognition leading up to the Paris Olympics.
In addition to his support for the water polo team, Flavor Flav has also expressed admiration for fellow celebrity Taylor Swift. He even humorously referred to himself as a “Swiftie” and mentioned that he had reached out to Swift’s team to connect with her. The U.S. women’s water polo team had plans to attend one of Swift’s concerts during their training trip in Paris, further highlighting the intersection of sports and pop culture.
As Flavor Flav embarks on this new journey, he remains committed to uplifting the U.S. women’s water polo team and advocating for greater support for female athletes. His passion for the sport and dedication to helping others achieve their dreams is evident in his words and actions. “One thing about me, I know what it feels like to want to see a dream come true,” he said. “I know what it feels like to want to achieve a goal, and I’m the type of person that, if I see you trying, then I’m going to do whatever I can to help you.”
With Flavor Flav’s enthusiasm and support, the U.S. women’s water polo team is poised to make a significant impact at the 2024 Paris Olympics. As they strive for gold, they will have a powerful ally cheering them on every step of the way.
Source: Associated Press
