Flavor Flav admittedly doesn't know much about water polo, but rapper Public Enemy is joining the US women's team this summer when they travel to Paris for the 2024 Olympics. After the rapper responded to a comment by the team's coach and captain triple gold winner Maggie Stephens, calling for support for the team earlier this year, the dynamic duo appeared in CBS Mornings together on Monday (July 1) to talk about their unlikely collaboration.
Flav — who has signed a five-year sponsorship deal with the US men's and women's water polo teams — was dressed in his best red, white and blue Team USA Olympic gear for the chat, including, of course, a huge, bling- Team USA medal. “These women out here … the women's water polo team out there busting their butts to make the United States look good,” Flav told co-hosts Nate Burleson and Gayle King.
“And they're chasing that dream, you know what I'm saying?” Flav said of the team that scored back-to-back gold medals in 2012, 2016 and 2020. The Public Enemy user admitted he didn't know much about the sport before and had only seen it briefly on TV during the previous Olympics. But when his manager showed him Steffens' post about how team members — like many Olympiacos athletes — have to work two or three jobs to support their athletic careers, he said he had to get involved.
“I was definitely surprised. I was really excited,” Steffens said of her reaction when Flav responded to her post and promised to help. “When Flav responded, it was definitely not what I expected. But it was a beautiful, beautiful expectation and relationship that changed and really opened a lot of doors and was really a public figure for us. Was amazing.”
On May 4 Stephens he wrote in an Instagram post that she and her fellow athletes could really use some financial support before this summer's games. “You all are truly the team behind the team and we feel it and need it! Many of my teammates are not just badass champions, but also teachers, business owners, coaches, physician assistants, and more. Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a 2nd (or 3rd) job to support chasing the dream (myself included!) and most teams rely on sponsors for travel, accommodation, nutritional support, rent/housing and just being able to afford to live in this day and age,” Steffens wrote on Instagram paying tribute to her hard-working comrades.
Father of four daughters, Flav, 65, responded at the time, “AYYY YOOO,,, as a dad of daughters and a supporter of all women's sports – I will personally support you girl,,, whatever you need. And I sponsor the whole team. My manager is in contact with your agent and will use all my connections and resources to help you all even more. This is a FLAVOR FLAV promise.”
During their interview, Flav said he has since learned that the intensely physical sport in which players can swim more than two miles during a race while treading water most of the time is “one of the hardest games” . Amazed by the amount of work they put into their sport for what is typically very little pay, Flav said he was happy to step in, which Steffens said has already made a difference.
“He always makes us laugh and he definitely brings a lot of positivity,” Steffens said of Flav's brilliance amid the anxiety that has begun to set in as the July 26 opening date for the Paris Games approaches. “Having Flav's really positive, upbeat and fun energy brings a great perspective to our team.” After Flav noted that he can swim, Steffens pledged to take the rapper to the pool to test his water polo skills.
In a surprise that lit up Steffens' face, Flav revealed that his sponsorship will come with a Virgin Voyage cruise as well as a $1,000 bonus. “That's amazing,” said a shocked Stefans with a big smile on her face. “I'm excited, this is amazing. Thank you very much!”
For now, however, Flav plans to be in Paris to cheer on the team and, he added, hopes his effort will open doors for other celebrities to sponsor Olympiacos athletes.
Check out Flav and Steffens below.
from our partners at https://www.billboard.com/music/rb-hip-hop/flavor-flav-paris-olympics-hype-man-us-womens-water-polo-team-bonus-cruise-1235723084/