The following is a sponsored article in partnership with Xfinity.
To celebrate Black History Month, Xfinity is highlighting industry leaders in a three-part editorial series. The series profiles trendsetters in sports, entertainment, and technology who are making history, today.
We’re here to give them their flowers now.
By Mike “Orie” Mosley
For decades, society has tried to limit athletes, specifically those of color, to conversations about the game, but today’s leaders in sports are looking to shake it up. From ventures in podcasting to social justice to technology, here are some Black leaders dominating in uncharted territory.
Some ideas are birthed through the most challenging times. For Brandon Marshall, his brainchild was the launch of the “I Am Athlete” podcastlast year during the pandemic. “Back inMarch, when everything was locked down, I’m looking at the situation [like], ‘Man, I got legends in my neighborhood… and I’m like, ‘This is an opportunity to start a podcast,” Marshall said in arecent interview on Drink Champs. Marshall launched the podcast with former NFL playersChanning Crowder, Chad Johnson and Fred Taylor. The former athlete and his peers serve asco-hosts and have created a buzzing platform covering important and controversial topics at theintersection of sports, race, culture, and society. Playbook in hand or not, this group is stillcalling the shots.
Many people know Andre Iguodalafor his wins on the court, but he’s had just as many inbusiness. The entrepreneur, best-selling author, and VC investor is making moves that will lastwell beyond his basketball career. Iguodala has funded more than 40 companies includingZoom, Bevel and Allbirds. He compares the similarities between basketball and the tech worldin an interview with Crunchbase. “Different companies have different vibes, some are more laidback and others are more buttoned-up. I have had to learn how to add value to different cultureswithin companies in the same way as I have with different teams.” He seems to have figured outhow to play the long game, and he’s even bringing other players along with him. In 2017, hekicked off the inaugural Players Technology Summit alongside his former teammate, StephCurry, to put other athletes on and to show them how to disrupt Silicon Valley bringing athletes,investors, and the tech world together.
Maya Mooreis a two-time NCAA and four-time WNBA champion, with two Olympic gold medals.She made an unexpected movewhen she decided to walk off the court from what seemed to bethe most important thing in her life, basketball. “The success that I’ve been a part of inbasketball truly blows my mind every time I think about it. But the main way I measure successin life is something I don’t often get to emphasize explicitly through pro ball. I measure successby asking, ‘Am I living out my purpose?’” It was Moore’s work off the court in a prison ministrythat led her to step away from basketball– Jonathan Irons, a man who was wrongfully convictedat the age of 16. Moore, who only lost 4 games while a Husky at UConn, shifted her focus tohelp Irons secure defense attorney, Kent Gipson, who ultimately helped Irons get his caseoverturned. Her step away from her love on the court, helped her to discover her true love offthe court. Two months after Jonathan Irons was released, he and Moore officially tied the knot!
Throughout Black History Month and beyond, we celebrate Black leaders in sports who are dominating with or without the ball. Who inspires you to excel? We invite you to learn about more Black change makers in sports with The Simone Biles Story: Courage to Soar, A.K.A. Cassius Clay, and more on the Black Experience on Xfinity.