Undefeated Super Middleweight—“The Cobra” Fears No One

Emerging boxing star Carl “The Cobra” Froch made all the right moves in 2009. The man from Nottingham, England came to America in April and knocked out Jermain Taylor in dramatic fashion—in the 12th round of a close fight—to defend his WBC Super Middleweight title for the first time. Then in November, the 32-year-old Froch outpointed unbeaten American southpaw Andre Dirrell in his opening bout of the prestigious SHOWTIME Super Six Tournament.

Standing supreme with a record of 26-0 with 20 knockouts, Froch has some more feats to accomplish before he retires from prizefighting by the age of 35 or 36. Presently getting ready for an upcoming showdown with former WBA Super Middleweight champ Mikkel Kessler in March or April, Froch took time out to welcome MOVES MAGAZINE for an intimate photo shoot with his girlfriend Rachael Cordingly, and this captivating indepth interview where he discusses his unique career, inspirations, life outside the ring, and much, much more…

What is your first memory of boxing?

“My first amateur fight probably, in Nottingham. Or hitting a punching bag in my dad’s garage.”

How old were you when you started boxing?

“I was eight or nine. My older brother Lee boxed as an amateur. I had about 45 fights as a schoolboy then took a few years off to focus on school. I got back into boxing again when I was 18.”

How would you describe your boxing style?

“I can box, move, jab but I’m a fighter first and foremost. I could box more and make my career a lot easier —but that’s not what I’m about. I like to get stuck in. I like to fight.”

What kind of leisure activities do you enjoy outside of boxing?

“I like tennis. I play a lot of tennis. But since my ACL reconstruction in my right leg I have to be careful, there’s a lot of stopping and starting. But I really enjoy a game of snooker. I really do. A good friend of mine—Michael Holt—was in the world championship. He’s from Nottingham. I’ve practiced with him on Sundays. He’s doing very well at the minute. So I’m improving my game. Also, I play a bit of guitar and I like to do a few Johnny Cash numbers. I’m a big Johnny Cash fan. Johnny Cash is the man.”

What is your inspiration as a boxer ?

“I want recognition from the top fighters in the world. The top Americans.”

Who is your favorite all-time fighter ?

“Roy Jones Jr. He was fantastic to watch.”

Switching gears to the SHOWTIME Super Six Tournament , do you think Mikk l Kessler might be damaged goods after his loss to Andre Ward ?

“No, he didn’t take that many blows, of course not. He had a few injuries with cuts around his eyes from head butts. But he wasn’t really an aging fighter. He didn’t really take a sustained beating for 12 rounds. He was unfortunate to get the cuts with the way in which Ward was fighting—diving in with his head. The referee out there allowed him to get away with it as well. Which was a shame.”

Who do you favor in the Arthur Abraham – Andre Dirrell matchup ?

“Well, I hope Abraham knocks him out. And if he catched him, he will knock him out. But I know how hard it is to chase someone like Dirrell and catch him. Because I went 12 rounds trying to catch him. And it’s difficult against someone who is so negative—to catch him. Whether or not Abraham could do what I couldn’t do—who knows. That remains to be seen. So Abraham could knock him out—or lose on points, unfortunately. But I think Abraham knocks him out.”

What are your impressions of Ward ? Is he similar to Dirrell?

“They’ve got similarities, in terms of they both are more boxer/movers. But Ward’s not as negative as Dirrell. Nowhere near as negative.”

How do you see your chances vs. Ward ? How wi ll you win ?

“Against Ward, I’ll just do what I do best. And that’s close the range. That’s the difference between Ward and Dirrell—Dirrell runs a lot more than Ward. Ward will, at times, stand up and fight. He just seems to hold a lot and he just seems to lead with his head. I’ve got the experience with plenty of fights where people have tried to hold. I don’t let them get away with that.”

Who has been the most impressive in the Super Six tournament so far ? And who is the favorite to win now ?

“Well, you can say the best win was Ward against Kessler. But I don’t think the best Kessler turned up for the races. I think he got a bad cut. I think the most impressive win was myself and the favorite to win is myself. But I’m sure other people will disagree.”

Do you sti ll hunger to face Joe Calzaghe ?

“No, not really. I saw him the other day. And he looks like a fat, old man. So there’s not much sense to fight Calzaghe.”

Does your girlfriend ever provide ad vice on your boxing strategies ?

“No, Rachael never gives me any boxing tips. I listen to my trainer. If I’m taking boxing advice from Rachael, it’s a bad day [smiles].” Two huge wins over Jermain Taylor and then Dirrell.

Two huge wins over Jermain Taylor and then Dirrell. How did they impact your celebrity profile in the United Kingdom ?

“Yes, it’s brilliant. Beating Taylor (12th round KO), defending champion, and coming back to England, it’s been massive. And that’s the reason we sold out the Trent FM Arena with 9,000 fans at 3 o’clock in the morning. Not many people can do that. It’s unfortunate the way in which the fight unfolded—because of Dirrell’s negativity— but I’m a superstar now in my hometown. It’s brilliant. Covers on Boxing News, Boxing Monthly, a fitness magazine, and there’s bits and bobs going locally. I’m working close with a local council and I’m doing a lot of TV bits, Anne Robinson, The Question of Sport.”

Your a top fighter , persuasive speaker . Do you think acting could be in your future ? You resemble James Bond in the photo shoot .

“Thank you. Yes, it would be nice to go into something like that after my boxing career. So something like that would be considered. We’re actually putting a pilot together —a boxing film in Nottingham. We’re putting a pilot together now. If we get any investors, we’ll then get a script. See how that goes.”

Have you ever had a funny memory in your boxing carer ?

“I used to be a fan of Prince Naseem Hamed, an exciting fighter who provided entertainment value. And I got carried away one amateur fight—I vaulted the top rope (as Hamed used to do), flipped over the top rope—that went okay. Then during the fight I was throwing a silly uppercut from the canvas, and bobbing and weaving with my hands down. I threw a shot and I missed and I fell over. But I got up and won the fight. But that was quite fun and embarrassing. All my friends were laughing.”

What ’s been your greatest moment in boxing?

“Was lifting the WBC title against Jean Pascal in my hometown Nottingham (December 2008). It wasn’t massively recognized because Pascal was unknown. But to come through a fight like that was an unbelievable feat, if not a recognized one.”

Your most painful moment ?

“Was actually when I lost in the Olympic qualifying tournament. I was trying to qualify for the Sydney Olympics (2000). I lost a decision but it was a political decision to a Romanian in Liverpool. I basically got ripped off on the scoring system. There were a lot of politics involved back then when England was trying to qualify. It was painful to not qualify for the Sydney Olympics when I knew I was good enough to go there and win a medal.”

Of all your matches , in which one did you fee l you were at your absolute best ? Which do you consider to be your finest , sharpest performance ?

“I’ve got to revert back to the world title fight (vs. Pascal) because it was such a hard fought contest (won on a unanimous decision). I’ve since been sparring with Jean Pascal (who has subsequently won the WBC Light Heavyweight title). And he’s fast and he’s strong and he’s tough. And he was unbeaten. And he was very good as an amateur. That’s my best performance against a top level fighter, a top operator. When I won the British title by knocking out a guy named Damon Hague—lovely bloke—but it went a round. So you don’t take a great deal from that.”

What is the best fight you have watched ?

“Naseem Hamed stopping Jose Badillo. A masterclass. A skillful fight.”

How would you describe your prefight feeling/mindset ?

“That’s quite an in-depth answer. I’m thinking about winning. There’s plenty of emotions that go on when you’re fighting. It’s very…it’s a deep question. That you need a long time to answer. I’m going to bring a book out. You’ll have to buy that and read that [smiles]. I’ll talk about it in there.”

Your unbeaten as a professional. When is the last time you actually lost a boxing match ?

“In the semifinals of the world amateur championship against the Russian world champion (Andrey Gagayev) on points in 2001.”

Who are some of today’s boxers that you enjoy to watch ?

“All the best fighters really. Floyd Mayweather is just a great technician—offensively and defensively. Manny Pacquiao is so fast and explosive. I watched a lot of Miguel Cotto’s career. I enjoy watching him. David Haye—I like watching his fights because sometimes he’s a little bit of a kamikaze. There’s a lot of method to his madness, the way he fights. But David Haye is exciting to watch and I’m looking forward to see him fight the Klitschkos. He’s definitely got a chance there, a good chance.”

And last , Mann y Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather , who do you see as the superior fighter ? Who will prevail?

“I think Floyd Mayweather beats Pacquiao. He’s too technically proficient. His defense is too good. I can’t see Pacquiao doing anything with him. Basically because Mayweather’s defense is too good. His offense is good as well. He’ll frustrate Pacquiao, then he’ll break him down. Then he’ll beat him, he’ll either outpoint him or he’ll stop him. In my opinion.”

Perspective on Carl Froch:

His trainer Robert McCracken : “Carl can fight. He’s highly regarded back home. I first heard of him 11 years ago. I first met him 10 years ago. He’s a special fighter. He’s very confident, has natural ability, timing and heavy-handedness. He’s a very hard puncher. With his reach, his arms are very long. He’s physically very strong. So he’s kind of got everything you need in a fighter. He’s also kind of unorthodox which also makes it more difficult for the opponent. Carl’s 100% professional. He’s diligent in everything he does. He’s very level-headed and listens to the right advice. He’ll keep a cool head on fight night. He’s a very formidable fighter and the best super middleweight in the world.”

Boxing News Editor Tris Dixon :

“Froch is a man’s man and a fighter’s fighter. He ducks no one, fears no one and wants to be recognized as the best fighter in his division. He is a big-punching hard man, has a terrific chin and one can only anticipate the fireworks when he steps in with fighters who think the same, like Mikkel Kessler and Arthur Abraham. He was a 2001 World amateur bronze medallist and was convinced he would have medalled had he been in the Sydney Olympics of 2000. His popularity is a strange beast in this country. A hero in Nottingham, he’s been in numerous exciting fights yet has failed to nail down a TV deal over here. He is no underachiever but he is under-appreciated. I have worked with Carl numerous times and he is gracious with his time. Just last week we slotted in an hour-long interview and he had a number of professional commitments to meet and still had to buy his Christmas tree. He’s a pro who’s doing things the right way but has yet to crossover into the mainstream which is too bad, because he merits his place alongside stars from other sports. He does not crave the publicity but he deserves to be recognised for his achievements.”

When pro athletes need to get somewhere in a hurry, they had better know Al Palagonia, The Man Who Never Sleeps

WORDS BY john powell

Al Palagonia has a cell phone attached to his left ear and a landline attached to his right. It’s just before noon on a Friday, and Palagonia is helping a client find a quick flight today. He’s only been at it for five days with his new company, Apollo Jets, a company that helps athletes and executives avoid the hassles of commercial flights via private airplanes, and he’s hustling to make a deal. “You’re not a difficult customer,” he tells the man on the other side of the phone. “You’re making me work harder and I’m happy to do that to get you what you want.” Getting people what they want has made Palagonia very successful – and a lot of famous friends.

It’s not unusual to turn on an NBA game to see Palagonia sitting courtside. “I love basketball and I like being visible,” he says. Several people in his office laugh out loud. If you know Al, and everyone seems to know Al, you know visibility is part of the job. “This job is as much about who you know as it is what you know,” he says. “Yesterday, a guy called me to say he had a plane flying empty from Los Angeles to New York. It set the wheels spinning in my head. I remembered another guy who was flying the same route that day. I got the guy a better plane and a better deal. You can be smarter than me, or more handsome, or have more money, but I guarantee you, you will never outwork me.” And like many of the athletes Palagonia deals with on a daily basis, if you’re not hustling, someone is going to take your job.

To have a client base of professional athletes is to make yourself available 24 hours a day. When you factor in different time zones, night games, road trips, and the other factors that make an athlete’s schedule completely different than a 9-to-5 office worker, an athlete needs a contact that cannot just survive phone calls at irregular hours, but thrive on them. It’s one of the reason’s Palagonia has been accepted so quickly in the pro athlete community. It’s not uncommon for people to call him at 2 a.m. and get a call back at 2:01 a.m. “I have been flying private for over 10 years and never have a met anyone like Al Palagonia,” says Shaquille O’Neal, the future Hall of Fame center for the Phoenix Suns. “For the last 2 years, Al has provided me with the best planes, pricing, and service I have ever experienced.” Shaq’s not the only basketball superstar that has Palagonia on his speed dial. When the Redeem Team returned to the United States after capturing the gold medal in basketball, many of the players relied on Palagonia to get them from the USOC facility in Minneapolis to their homes quickly and safely.

How does Palagonia do it? “I don’t sleep,” he says. “I just take naps. If I get three hours, that’s a lot. On the weekends, I catch up.” At least some weekends. “Next week, Spike and I are going out to see the Lakers – Knicks play. I’m also going to meet with a few potential clients.” The Spike in question is Spike Lee, one of Palagonia’s best friends. They met through basketball, of course.

During the nineties, in a previous lifetime to Palagonia, athletes were coming to him to do some money managing for them, even the greatest, Michael Jordan. It was one night at a Knicks/ Bulls playoff game, where Palagonia made a friendship that would change his life. “I was sitting courtside for the game, Spike Lee was sitting about eight rows behind me. I asked him why he wasn’t sitting courtside. He said he didn’t know the right people to get courtside seats. I said ‘I’m the guy to know to get courtside tickets.’” Palagonia got Lee courtside seats for the next game.

They got along so well, Lee offered Palagonia a part in his next film at the time, Girl 6. Palagonia told Lee, “Spike, if you’re not going to pay me $500,000, it’s not wovbvrth my time.” And he meant it. As a financial broker, that’s how much Palagonia was making in a bad month. In a good month, he could clear a million. When Lee came to Palagonia with a part in his basketball classic “He Got Game,” it was an offer Palagonia couldn’t refuse. “Ray Allen was one of my favorite players,” he says. “The opportunity to play a sports agent trying to recruit him was too good to pass up.” Since then, Palagonia has had a role in seven other feature films, including “Summer of Sam” and Lee’s most recent, “Miracle at St. Anna.”

“It’s ironic,” Palagonia says. “Spike and I flew our first private flight together. We went to Indiana for the Knicks/Pacers playoff series. That was the series where Reggie Miller was trash talking with Spike during the game. At the hotel, Pacer fans were banging on our doors. I told Spike, ‘The next time we come here; I’m flying private and leaving the same night.’ It’s funny how things come full circle.

Indeed, since Lee and Palagonia escaped rabid Pacer fans in the dark of night, flying private has become a necessity for businessman who have to be several places in a day. “When you take into consideration the time it takes you to get through security, to check your baggage, to pick it up, to find your ground transportation, an executive is lucky he can visit two cities in one day. Maybe he’s out of the office two or three days to visit offices or plants around the country. By flying private, he saves so much time he can do it all in a day. When you consider how valuable that person’s time is in making the company money, flying private probably saves that company money, because they have a critical person where they are supposed to be—making money.”

If there’s one thing that Palagonia understands, it’s how to make money. He knew he was a good salesman even when he was six years old. “I remember my neighbors were having a yard sale,” he says. “I can still remember them holding the cash, making change for people.” Palagonia was inspired enough at age 6 to have a yard sale of his own. One day, while his parents were at work and his older sisters were watching him, he lugged everything he could carry out of the house down to the sidewalk—chairs, silverware, anything that he could carry. “When my parents came home,” Palagonia remembers, “they saw me sitting on the kitchen floor counting a wad of cash. I had sold the chairs. It was $167. My mother screamed at me, ‘Where did you get that money from.’ That wasn’t even the best sales job! The best sales job was getting people to give me the stuff back for what they paid for it.”

It was as a financial broker that Palagonia made his name and a lot of money. “My first year at D.H. Blair, I made a million dollars,” he says. “At my peak, I was making that in a month.” During that time, Palagonia lived a life that allowed him to understand what it is that a pro athlete goes through. “Like most of these guys, I came from a household where we didn’t have much. My father worked in sanitation, my mother was a nurse. I didn’t understand what real money was until I started making it myself. As soon as I did, everyone was reaching out for their share. I was buying people houses and cars.” After a mis-step on Wall Street, Palagonia left the industry. “Let’s just say I took a short cut and it came back to bite me in the ass.” Once he wasn’t earning at the same capacity, many of the same people for whom he had given so much turned their back on him. “That’s when you learn who your friends are. People like Spike Lee never turned their back on me. They were always there for me, and I’ll always be there for them.”

There were a lot of entrepreneurs who still knew about Palagonia’s work ethic and his Rolodex of fiercely loyal friends (many of whom had a lot of money and weren’t friends with Palagonia for what he could provide financially). A good friend, Greg Cohen asked him if he would consider the private jet business. After doing some research, Palagonia saw it as a great marriage between his ability to sell and his connections around the country and he has been grateful to Greg ever since. The rest is aviation history. “I never take no for an answer,” Palagonia says. “Every no I get is another step closer to yes.” As an example, he relates a story of an unnamed athlete who has told him that he would never leave his current private jet firm because he believes they are the safest jets to fly. “I’m going to prove to him,” Palagonia says, “not convince him. Prove to him why the jets we provide are as safe, if not safer. At the end of the day, it doesn’t matter if I’m your friend or not; what matters is that I get you the safest, most comfortable flight at the best deal. If I can do that for you, I’m going to win.” And with that Palagonia has one more thing that makes him even more similar to his pro clients. Winning is everything.

The old adage ‘a picture’s worth a thousand words’ in this case is an understatement. Meet John Neyrot, artist, photographer and famed body painter. His canvas, more than inspiring, beautifully sculpted naked women who at the end of his masterpiece become human murals of some of the most aesthetic pleasing art to the human eye. Beginning his creative journey at a young age doodling and drawing on his notebooks, Neyrot’s hobby became his bread and butter when he realized his passion and talent for photography could sustain him financially.

Present day, Neyrot’s seductive style has made him one of the most sought after image makers in the country. Merging his love of painting with photography has given this modern day Picasso the freedom to create a visual narrative through the women he shoots. Lending his craft to iconic clients such as Hugh Hefner’s infamous Playboy Mansion, glamour magazines throughout the world and creating collections of images in an assortment of sultry calendars amid the most beautiful women and obscure locations around the globe, Neyrot is defining art through his work.

Amazingly one of his most memorable shoots to date was commemorating The 2008 Colts Cheerleaders Calendar after their team victory in the XLIII Super Bowl. A tribute to the armed services, Neyrot captured portraits in military bases around the country. While most would expect envy to come from his presence amidst a sea of gorgeous women, men reveled at the shiny, perfectly positioned Lombardi Trophy that graced the pages. Neyrot reminisces, “I have to say, although initially I didn’t fully understand the magnitude of holding this trophy in my hands, by the end of the shoot I was quite excited.”

Perhaps his success is directly tied to his humble disposition and gratuitous demeanor. While comfort and trust are essential in photographing the perfect picture, in body painting it’s crucial. As Neyrot works his paints about a woman’s most intimate areas he is overwhelmed with a deep-rooted sense of respect. “When I meet the woman I’m working with, I understand the work they put into looking just right. I feel honored that a woman feels comfortable enough to disrobe in front of me, allowing me the freedom to create. I really value and respect their trust in my craft,” Neyrot gently explains.

A culmination of life-long talent, John Neyrot has created a business that is most men’s pleasure. Exhilarating to say the least, his soothing approach and eye for beauty has placed him as a forefather in this new trend in pop culture art.

KARI KLINKENBORG Serves Up The Goods

Standing at an impressive 6 ft tall and stunning to say the least, 24 year old Kari Klinkenborg, often referred to as jaw dropping gorgeous, has the nation asking…what is Terrell Owens thinking, this one is definitely a keeper! Former Gator volleyball player and model, Klinkenborg has graced the covers of many magazines and has appeared in Samsung Camera Ads as well as a plethora of others.

Raised between Denver, Iowa and Cali, Kari is the perfect blend of quaintness and sophistication. As a child, Kari made a name for herself throughout El Toro Marine Base as a tomboy and often followed behind her older sister, as her two younger sisters did her. They rode horses and competed with the local boys in every sport under the sun. It was her older sister that inspired Kari to pursue volleyball, and being the goal setter and go getter that she is, Kari set out to secure a volleyball college scholarship. “Since I was young I have always been a huge planner and goal setter. My mom taught me to be that way; she is the most driven, strong, selfless, hard working, honorable human being I have ever met. She really is my hero,” Kari emphatically notes. Ranked 49th in the nation by prepvolleyball.com and heavily recruited by the nation’s top 25 schools, Kari received her scholarship from The University of Florida. With a determination to succeed at the collegiate level, Kari who had been modeling throughout High School, put her hopes of acting and modeling on the back burner and focused on volleyball. Unfortunately a volleyball related ankle injury prevented Kari from continuing to compete for the Gators her junior year. Devastated, the brunette beauty put the books on hold, packed her bags and head to South Beach just in time for Miami’s peak modeling season, only to return a semester later to finish what she started… a bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications with a minor in education and outside concentration in sports management.

With degree in tote and God leading the way, the leggy beauty set out for L.A. on a gut feeling that paid off. Kari explains, “I always said after graduation I would go to L.A., it’s just something I had to do or I’d never be fulfilled, I worried that I’d always be left wondering ‘what if.’” Although appearing on her on again, off again boyfriend Terrell Owens’ reality show brought some exposure, it was Kari’s first passion that brought opportunity knocking. With the revolutionary launching of the Women’s National Volleyball Association (WNVA), came her break, Kari was the obvious choice as the league’s correspondent and spokeswoman. Knowledgeable in the sport and easy on the eyes, Kari Klinkenborg will dazzle fans from the sidelines while top female athletes vie for a spot on one of the eight pro volleyball start-up teams. Set to begin a nationwide media blitz in February, first stop Super Bowl, Kari will be a part of sports history. Klinkenborg states “I’m excited to be a part of the WNVA and included in their unique approach in getting the word out and creating even more of a demand for this exciting sport,” she continues, “although we are starting with eight, we are anticipating the league will grow to 20 or 30 teams a few years down the road.”

Preparing to achieve her next goal, Kari is currently taking acting classes in hopes of attaining a future on the big screen. Based on her track record, chances are, she’ll be in a theater near you coming soon!

Walter Iooss never thought he would be a professional photographer. As a teenager, it was just a hobby. But then at age 18, he got his first assignment for Sports Illustrated.

Michael Jordan Lisel, IL – 1987

No one captured Michael Jordan’s personality, his joy for the game, or his most personal moments, the way Walter Iooss has. For this photograph, Walter trekked to Jordan’s basketball camp for kids in Lisel, Illinois. He had one side of a parking lot painted red and another side blue, not knowing which uniform Jordan would wear to the shoot. When Jordan arrived, Iooss perched himself above the rim in a cherry-picker and had an hour to capture Jordan with the proper light and shadow. In later years, Jordan would never do an hour-long shoot. “When he played those two seasons for the Wizards,” says Iooss, “he never posed for a single photographer.”

He was to photograph and octogenarian sailor in Connecticut, who had built a boat with no plans and sailed it to Florida and back. Similarly with no plans, Iooss built an unparalleled photographic collection that has captured virtually every icon of professional sport: Ali, Jordan, Pele, Koufax, Gretzky, Unitas, Arnie and Tiger among hundreds of others. He has also photographed the most beautiful women on the planet for the world famous Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue. “If you’ve got the best looking women on the planet and the best locations, it isn’t that hard,” Iooss says. Turning the pages of Iooss’ book, Athlete, is like taking a visual tour through the last fifty years of American sports history. From Kyle Rote to Brett Favre, from Wilt to LeBron, Iooss’ camera has focused on the icons of every major sport under the brightest lights looking for the story not yet told. This feature is just a small representation on the colossal body of artwork that Iooss has created and continues to expand every day.

Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier Philadelphia, PA – 2003

“Originally, this shoot was to be for a story about rivalries – Evert vs. Navratilova, Nicklaus vs. Palmer. They couldn’t get enough people to pose for the story. The magazine wanted them smiling for the photo, they want everything happy. And in color. By the end of the shoot, they were playing around for the camera. I had brought a 20×24 Polaroid camera and shot mostly color, but for the last few images, I switched to sepia film. I told them, ‘Just stare into the camera. No smiles.’ And I was able to capture the photo I was looking for—two warriors who left their lives in the ring. They ended up liking this photo the most. I think they liked it because it showed them as they really were.”

Tiger Woods Orlando, FL – 2002

Iooss captures golf ’s greatest talent showing a little of his personality, something he rarely does during shoots. “Tiger has been schooled by Michael Jordan,” Iooss says. “He doesn’t get photographed a lot and when he does it’s all business. It’s unlikely you would ever see poses like this again.”

Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus Ligonier, PA – 1965

“Arnold Palmer is definitely in my top five athletes to photograph,” says Iooss. “It was a rush to follow Palmer around when the gallery was watching. He had a charisma like no other. Tiger is great, but in his day, Arnold would definitely have given him a run for his money.” Here, Iooss captures a light-hearted moment in the Palmer/Nicklaus rivalry during the 1965 PGA championship at the Laurel Valley Golf Club.

Dwight Clark and Everson Walls San Francisco, CA – 1982

“People have called me a lucky photographer. In some cases that’s true, I’ve definitely been lucky. But I love watching football, and I especially love to watch receivers. I try to follow their patterns and tendencies. Chance favors the prepared man.” Here, Dwight Clark makes one of the most famous catches in NFL history in 1982, propelling the San Francisco 49ers into the Super Bowl.

Swimsuits

Iooss started working on the world famous SI Swimsuit issue in 1972. “At the time, I was about 29 years old, sexy girls, exotic locations—it was a dream job.” Having photographed some of the most beautiful women in the world has taken Iooss to locations such as Vietnam, South Africa, Brazil, and too many Caribbean islands to mention.

Kobe Bryant Los Angeles, CA – 2000

“Kobe said, I’m not going to look at the camera for this shoot,” said Iooss. “I wanted him to wear his nicest Italian clothes and drive around in his beautiful sports car, but he insisted on wearing his track suit. That’s the kid in him, always testing people.” Here, Iooss captures one of the few times Kobe looks at the lens.

Steffi Graf Cabo San Lucas, Mexico – 1997

Steffi actually approached the magazine wanting to do the shoot. Midway through the afternoon, her agent called me and asked me not to take any profile shots of her, because she was self-conscious of her nose. From that moment on, her nose was like a weather vane. Everywhere my camera moved, her nose followed it. She didn’t like the photos, but just about everyone else did.”

Yogi Berra and Whitey Ford Tampa, FL – 2001

“Going to Spring Training was always like going back in time. When you went in the 60’s, it was like watching baseball in the 1940’s. When you went in the 80’s, it was like watching in the 60’s. The fans were so close to the players. Everyone was much more laid back. Guys in the media wouldn’t even cover most of the games, so I would be at a batting cage with maybe two other photographers. Those days are long gone.”

Kyle Rote Bronx, NY – 1962

Iooss started toying with photography as a teenage hobby. He started attending NFL games with a camera. He was able to capture this compelling portrait of New York Giants running back, Kyle Rote. “I got a sideline pass for the day,” Iooss remembers. “My dad was a musician and he worked with WNEW. It’s amazing, you could spend so much time preparing for a photograph, and then something that you take in 30 seconds as an 18-year-old holds up well over time.”

Johnny Unitas Timonium, MD – 2001

“At the time, Unitas was one of my last living heroes,” Iooss says. He wanted to photograph Unitas badly for Sports Illustrated. “When the magazine was doing a story on former NFL players who were suffering from injuries and what little help they were getting from the league, they finally sent me. Here was the man with the golden arm and he couldn’t even lift that arm to drink a cup of coffee…when I was done, I welled up in the car. To see my idol living on hard times, it was an emotional day for me.

Wilt Chamberlain Boston, MA – 1966

“In those days, the strobe lights would be in the mezzanine. People would be smoking, so there would be this haze. And you can sit right up on the baseline. You could even put your camera on the court if the play wasn’t coming your way. Now the strobes are up in the ceiling. What makes photographs like this are the backgrounds. You just don’t have those opportunities anymore. Especially when you’re three or four feet behind the baseline.”

Boys Playing Stickball Havana, Cuba – 1999

“Cuba was a gold mine for photographers. The only sport I still play is golf. And in that moment when you bring the club back before it strikes the ball, there’s nothing else going on in the world. Just that. In the same way, when that ball is being pitched and the boy is about to hit it, there’s nothing going on in the world. It’s that childhood purity of sport that makes it so special.”

“The Mercury Girl” Making Her Mark In Hollywood

You might have seen her on Maxim’s list of Hot 100 Women or possibly in FHM, perhaps you recognize her face from the Lincoln Mercury commercials; regardless of where, Jill Wagner standing at 5’ 8” is hard to forget! A North Cacalacky native, Jill graduated Sigma Cum Laude in Business from North Carolina State, which means, yes gentlemen she is more than just a pretty face. Packing her bags and heading to Los Angeles on gut feeling, Jill quickly made her mark in Hollywood. Initially signing with friend and modeling agent Alex Fox from CSD, Jill realized the modeling world was not for her. Going on calls, walking into a room full of hundreds of women that looked just like her, seemed pointless. Luckily it only lasted a short while, after landing a job on MTV’s hit television series Punk’d, as the shows first female regular sketch performer, Jill began her acting career. Her charm and incredible sense of humor kept opportunity knocking, and soon guest star roles on series such as Monk on USA, Quintuplets on Fox, and a recurring role on Dr. Vegas for CBS began to open up.

Although Wagner was making steady strides forward checks were not steadily rolling in. As thoughts of returning to North Carolina began to cloud her head, a call from her manager sealed her stay in LA. On her way to the airport Al Hassas, current manager urged her to go on an open call for Lincoln Mercury who was on the search for a spokeswoman. “Typically I wouldn’t go on an open call, they just seemed like a waste of time, but since it was on the way to the airport I decided to stop. I was a little concerned because Al told me they were looking for a bilingual spokeswoman, which I am not! His advice? ‘Fake it!’” Wagner giggles. Needless to say she went in there, all American and nailed it. There were a series of cuts, from 100’s to 50 to 10 to Jill Wagner as the final pick for Lincoln Mercury’s 2005 Spokeswoman, which she continues to hold as of today. Jill comments, “It’s a good thing it came through, with only $150.00 in my bank account I was ready to go home.”

Taking her first stab in a lead role, Jill embarked on a new challenge in acting. Transforming herself into Krista Starr in Blade: The Series, she played the role of a woman trying to find her brother’s killer and in her quest was infected with vampire blood. Wagner confesses it was “the toughest role” she’s had to play thus far. “I say this because it was the first time I had to carry a series.” Although it only aired for one season, Jill was on the rise, even winning Spike TV’s 2006 honor of “Woman of Action.”

Fast forward two years and Jill Wagner has now become a household name. A feature film with a starring role in the science fiction thriller Splinter, released this past Halloween and currently out on DVD, and perhaps even more exciting is her co-hosting position on the ABC primetime competition reality series Wipeout, proclaimed this summer’s biggest splash! Her play by play commentary along with her contagious laugh has definitely played a significant role in the show’s success.

If you missed out while you were barbequing, no need to fret. Jill, along with special guest Michael Irvin, will co-host a special themed Super Bowl edition that will air during half-time and a post Super Bowl full episode in which cheerleaders will compete against male couch potato sport fans; primetime exposure showcasing Jill’s likeability.

Making all the right moves, Jill Wagner is rapidly becoming a household name and America’s next sweetheart.

Formally known as Madison Square Garden’s “official” photographer, George Kalinsky is easily one of the most sought-after professionals in entertainment, with a quick glance at his work you immediately understand why. Whether it’s sports, music, theater, or perhaps just a simple snap shot, Kalinsky’s photos seem to capture the attention of people round the world.

Whether it’s sports, music, theater, or perhaps just a simple snap shot, Kalinsky’s photos seem to capture the attention of people around the world. His story, well, one could possibly describe it as divine intervention or possibly a twist of fate, but it is nothing less than inspiring! Like the Garden, Kalinsky seems to encompass a magical persona. With a gift of capturing moments in time through the zoom of his lens and a click of a shutter, George has been responsible for revolutionizing photography.

Sports photography would seem like an obvious choice with the symbiosis of artistic and athletic talent George demonstrated at a young age. Reporting to the Herald Tribune on Saturdays, he found quickly that he was not only able to reproduce the most popular cartoons, but had the creative ability to craft his own. Also playing both basketball and baseball through his school age years, he developed his athletic ability that would earn him an invite to the Baltimore Orioles Spring Camp in 1962. He dazzled scouts with his incredible speed, George recalls “I remember vividly, Billy Hitchcock and Hank Bauer wanting to sign me; I knew I was fast, but I also knew I was not Willie Mays. I wanted to be the best at something and I didn’t know what it was going to be, but I knew it wasn’t going to be baseball,” and just like that, George Kalinsky turned down a contract to play professional baseball.

Even more confident that his future lay within his artistic ability, George enrolled in Pratt Institute’s Industrial Design program. “My education at Pratt really assisted me in becoming a better artist and photographer. I had the talent of creating beauty, that was God’s gift, but Pratt taught me design and why what I was creating was beautiful. What made the same object more appealing at one angle rather than another, these lessons I still draw from today.” George would not leave Pratt without phenomenal achievement, designing the Princess telephone and the first three way baby carriage before his departure.

Already exceeding what most wish to accomplish in a lifetime, Kalinsky, with his over-achiever, athletic, competitive mentality, knew he had not reached his pinnacle. Dredging through a period of financial hard times, George’s search finally ended in 1966 in none other than South Miami Beach. In Miami to interview for an opening as a sports cartoonist at the Miami Herald, Kalinsky left the newspaper confident that the interview went smoothly. After taking photos of his drawings he headed over to South Beach with his camera strapped around his shoulder. With a glance across 5th street, George immediately recognized Howard Cosell. Within minutes Muhammad Ali, then known as Cassius Clay, stepped across the street to meet Cosell and both men proceeded into the Fifth Street Gym. Without hesitation, Kalinsky followed the two gentlemen only to be stopped by Ali’s trainer Angelo Dundee who informed George that his admittance would cost him $1. George quickly responded that he was the official photographer for Madison Square Garden and showed the camera strapped around his shoulders, the words just fell out of his mouth…a statement that would be prophetic. Amused by George’s response, Dundee allowed him through. Not quite realizing the magnitude of what he was about to do, George asked permission to photograph Ali’s workout, and with the snap of a flash George’s quest for his calling was answered. With 12 images of the workout in his camera, George learned that Ali’s high profile fight was cancelled, which meant he had not only the latest photos of Ali, but most likely the only photos that Ali would be taking for a while. With camera in tote, Kalinsky dashed to the Herald to get the film processed. The film was developed and a photographer was born! George Kalinsky’s first 12 photos were sent across the nation and were seen around the world.

Maybe it was a backbone made of steel, or possibly the fact that he had nothing to lose, whatever the case, George Kalinsky took his first and only roll of sport action film and headed to meet with John F.X. Condon, President of Madison Square Garden’s Boxing Division. Although George had a design degree and had been working as an Art Director at a New York Agency, the extent of his photography experience lay within that one roll. When asked to see the rest of his portfolio, George responsed “this is all I’ve got.” Both amazed and a little taken back, Condon took a look and loved what he saw. He gave George a boxing assignment for that upcoming weekend with the potential of becoming Madison Square Garden’s official Boxing Photographer. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I went with the hopes of maybe getting some freelance work, being offered any position, nevertheless a position as the official photographer for the Garden never entered my mind. It was well beyond my expectations,” Kalinsky explained.

George left the office on top of the world, ecstatic over what just took place. On his way down, with his new good luck charm in hand, a man stopped him. In need of some photos of his knee for an insurance claim, the gentleman asked if the camera worked and explained what he needed to George. George without hesitation took the photos that were needed and got them developed instantly. While snapping away, it turns out that the man was Frankie Blauschild, Head of PR for the New York Knicks. A huge Knicks fan, George exclaims that he would love any opportunity to work with the team. Whether it was simply timing, or God sealing Kalinsky’s fate, whatever the case, this was his destiny… Blauschild gives Kalinsky a shot and tells him to show up to shoot the Lakers vs. Knicks game scheduled for that night. He explained to George that the Knicks photographer had fallen down a flight of subway stairs and they needed a replacement, if Blauschild liked the pictures the job would be Kalinsky’s. Needless to say, in one day George Kalinsky, with one roll of film, became both the Madison Square Garden’s Boxing and New York Knick’s Official Photographer. The Rangers, Jets, Mets, and the world would follow…recognizing George’s unique style, and gift of capturing the true essence of these athletes.

Kalinsky is also responsible for transforming the game-day programs that we have come to know today. Very similar to what small colleges and high schools currently produce, programs were just thumbnail pictures with mini bios to accompany them. With his vision and extra-ordinary artistic flair, Kalinsky teamed with the concession company and Harry M. Stevens to turn these 6-12 page booklets into a money making extravaganza. Full glossy pages, filled with pictures, articles and of course advertising, were all revamped and completed within the first year of George’s stint at the Garden. The program that we know today made its debut in 1967 at the Garden.

Arenas and teams, one by one would convert under Kalinsky’s direction. The first head-to-head boxing shot was created by Kalinsky… the famous photo of Muhammad Ali outside Frazier’s gym in Philly…that’s right, Kalinsky. He spent five hours in Joe Frazier’s gym photographing the images that would help to create the prefight hype for the 1971 bout between Frazier and Ali, which was dubbed the “Fight of the Century.” The ever so famous shot of Willis Reed limping onto the MSG court, you guessed it…also Kalinsky. His notoriety transcends beyond the sports world into politics, theater and other segments of the entertainment industry. In 1974, after immersing himself into a full fledged career in photography, one week before the Ali and Frasier would meet in a rematch, Old Blue Eyes came knocking. “I was sitting here at my desk with my door open and there was a soft knock. I looked up and there was Frank Sinatra with his body guard who asked if they could come in…I was shocked. Frank came in, introduced himself and asked me to tell him everything I knew about photography in less than five minutes. Before I knew it we were eating at Frank’s favorite restaurant Patsy’s and three hours later, Sinatra had become my protégé and my friend. He requested that I take pictures of his concert ‘The Main Event,’ which I did.” Six months later, George caught wind that Sinatra was in town. With a photo in hand, he walked into the Waldorf, got Sinatra’s room number and walked right up to his door, without a problem and without hesitation. George presented him with what Sinatra would proclaim the best picture he’d ever seen of himself and the same photo that graced the cover of Sinatra’s concert programs. “There would be times I would hear we were in the same country at the same time, and I’d give him a call. I had an exhibit in Tokyo in 1986, and by coincidence Frank was also in town. He came by for a private viewing, that’s just the relationship we had.” The friendship between George and Frank lasted through Frank’s last days. After Sinatra’s death, his daughter Tina called George. She, in an emotional state told him that he captured the essence of who her father was in one particular photo better than any photograph ever taken of him. “When Tina explained how she felt about that photo, the one with Frank holding a cigarette, I had to hand the phone to my wife June, I was so taken by the statement I became a little unraveled.” Even now a bit emotional George continues to explain, “for a photographer that is the ultimate compliment.”

Compliments and requests flow in and become one in the same for George. Humble in nature, George is completely unaware of his own eminence, with accolades such as the International Photographer of the year in 2001, an inductee in the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame, 10 books under his belt, 1000 magazine covers, not to mention his work as part of a permanent exhibition in the Governor’s mansion in Albany, NY…just to name a few. So, when he wants to see the sold out, last performance of “700 Sundays,” Billy Crystal’s huge Broadway success, it never crosses George’s mind to make a few calls, and maybe cash in on his own name. This is the man former President George H. W. Bush asked “So Mr. Kalinsky, what’s it like to be a legend.” Instead Kalinsky simply states in his quiet voice, “June and I really wanted to see 700 Sundays, but the show was sold out, there weren’t anymore tickets.” he continues to explain, “the phone rings and on the other end was Billy Crystal asking me if I would come to the show and take a picture of him on the stage from the back, like the shot I took of Ewing with his hands up to the crowd in Madison Square Garden. I explained with that shot I would have to be on the stage while he was performing. Billy said we’d work it out.” The day of the performance George met Billy Crystal at 1pm and they choreographed each step ensuring George would be able to capture the images Crystal wanted. “My friends in the audience weren’t sure if I was part of the play or if I was working!” Tickled by the moment and still a bit shocked by the opportunity, Kalinsky lets out a shy chuckle. It’s no wonder George has had tremendous success, it’s exactly this unpretentious demeanor that brings an instant ease and comfort to anyone in his presence.

Responsible for capturing and in some cases creating icons through his photographic visions, Kalinsky continues to dazzle his fans. Refining and fusing his tremendous talent of art with his photography, George has now created a new genre of photography entitled “Sports Fine Art.” He has taken photographs, both old and new, and has strategically enhanced them with paint, adding an entirely new dimension to his gallery. A perfectionist, Kalinsky has been working on this technique for decades and has now unveiled his masterpieces to the world…and the world has taken notice. With deals currently in the works, it’s only a matter of time until these pieces of art become as famous as every other venture George has touched. With excitement dancing in his eyes, Kalinsky exhibits his incredible work, “June just told me to lock myself in a room until I got it right, and that’s what I did. I finally came out with a creation I’m proud of.” Portraits of the biggest names in sports, music and other facets of entertainment all come alive with vivid colors of paint.

And if all of this success doesn’t amaze you, maybe his current venture with Van Wagner will. Simply by signing his name, George Kalinsky has even further solidified his brand. Teaming with Van Wagner, one of the largest home media companies in the United States, George Kalinsky’s signature will accompany his famous photos on billboards across the nation. In a campaign that has already launched in several major cities, George’s signature will appear as large as the photos it compliments.

With a loving family, a booming career with proven longevity, and God definitely leading the way, George Kalinsky remains the heavyweight champ of photography.

To view both George Kalinsky’s photography and fine art collection go to www.georgekalinsky.com

With Ray Lewis, you can count on two things:

1.)The toughest middle linebacker in the game will eventually decleat you.

2.)He will then help you find your shoes.

Ray Lewis loves to hit people. Maybe that’s why he’s been named to the NFL All-Pro first team as a middle linebacker for a sixth time this season. Even at age 33, after having played in over 170 NFL games, one of the fiercest tacklers in the history of the game enjoys the process. The recognition of what the offense is trying to run. The anticipation of where the ball is about to go. Moving at top speed to that part of the field, then lowering his shoulder pads and separating the player from the ball. Despite the sheer joy Lewis derives from jacking up an opponent, it’s the moment after the hit that Lewis enjoys even more. “We were playing the Raiders last week and I put a hit on JaMarcus Russell,” Lewis says. “Between whistles, I told him ‘I like you big fella. Make sure you get my number after the game. And if you need anything, anytime, you give me a call,’” Then Lewis heads back to the defensive huddle and prepares to behead his new friend again.

Playing up the warfare element of football has made the NFL billions of dollars. Every coach encourages an “us against the world” attitude they believe creates winners. Comradery is for teammates only. But Ray Lewis has been to the mountaintop. He’s been the greatest player in the greatest game in the world. And with experience comes knowledge. “The game of football never changes,” Lewis says. “And life isn’t football. The guys who have been my biggest competitors—Hines Ward, Jerome Bettis, Eddie George—they are some of my best friends in the world.”

The business of football tries to convince players otherwise. Highlights celebrate vicious hits over sportsmanship. Controversy creates ratings. And ratings create money. There isn’t any money in encouraging a guy to ask another player for help or express affection and friendship for him, if he’s wearing a different color jersey. For that reason, Lewis usually extends his hand in friendship first. “It’s not just football,” he says. “It’s the world we live in. Every business is competition. People walk right past other people every day, won’t say hello or anything. Life is too short.” And when you have to surpass the obstacles Ray Lewis has had in his life, you realize it gets shorter every day.

We could list Ray’s career accomplishments here, but if you’ve watched the NFL at all over the last decade, you’ve seen them all first hand. At age 33, he’s been a nine-time Pro Bowler. He’s been named to the All-Pro team eight times. He is one of only six players to win Defensive Player of the Year at least twice. And he was only the second linebacker ever to win the Super Bowl MVP. Even though he has a few more years of football left, it’s the life after football that excites him most.

His Ray Lewis 52 Foundation is structured much like how Ray plays defense—it’s available to help anyone in need at anytime. “Growing up in a single parent home is not easy,” Lewis says. “God has blessed me this much, I have to pass a message of hope on to others. I’m trying to give hope to those who have lost it. My life is based on the understanding that anyone can praise people on top. It’s what you do when the world has counted you out.”

As with any athlete who makes it to play at the highest level, the path to Ray Lewis’ professional career was filled with obstacles. The first being his mom. “When I was 9, I wanted to play Pop Warner,” Lewis remembers. “My mom was afraid I was going to get hurt. That, and we didn’t have the $10 for the league.” When the coach saw Ray running around, he offered to pay half of Ray’s fee. After much pleading, Ray’s mom let him play.

“She came to the first game,” Lewis says. “She worked three jobs, so she was always too busy to come. I was wearing #85, the last jersey they had. On the first play, I ran a reverse on the kickoff 75 yards for a touchdown. After that, she was ok with me playing.” All through his school years, Ray Lewis was the man of the house, looking after his three younger sisters and younger brother Keon, who recently was a central figure on the HBO documentary Hard Knocks. “At age 9, my mother told me, ‘You don’t have time to be a child.’ I had to know what responsibility was—how to cook, how to clean. It gave us a togetherness. I brought that togetherness to everything I did, including football.”

Lewis blossomed in high school as a running back and linebacker. His favorite school, Florida State, offered him a scholarship. “The coaches sat me down.” Lewis remembers. “They told me, ‘You come here, lift weights and put some weight on your frame for two years, and you’ll start in your junior year after Derrick Brooks graduates.’ I don’t know if it was foolishness, but I told them, ‘What makes you think I’m not better than Derrick Brooks right now.’ I stood up and walked out. Man, my high school coach was mad at me. He was like, ‘You messed up a real opportunity at a scholarship.’”

But one thing Ray Lewis has never lacked is faith. Dennis Erickson, then the head coach of the University of Miami came to Lewis’ last game to scout the opposing team’s wide receiver. By the end of the game, he was looking for Lewis. With only four days left to commit to a scholarship, Erickson offered Lewis the last spot on the team, vacated by a player that blew out his knee. “Opportunity is always knocking,” Lewis says. “The only question you have to ask yourself is how hard can you work to take advantage of that chance.”

In his first practice with Miami, Lewis was thrown into the fire with the university’s prized recruits, “I signed so late, I wasn’t even in the media guide,” he remembers. Once inserted in the 9-on- 7 drills, Lewis bowled over one of the ball carriers, stepped to his chest and said, “Don’t be coming my way.” After that play, his older teammates Warren Sapp and Rohan Marley pulled him aside and said, “Today, you are a Hurricane. They took me in almost immediately.”

Even at that early age, Lewis understood that football is a business. That’s why he left Miami after his junior season. “I had nothing left to prove in college,” he says. “We could have used the money. My mother wanted me to finish school. I told her ‘Mom, trust me. If I leave, I’ll finish my degree.’ And I did. A few years later I finished at the University of Maryland.”

On draft day, he sat at Pro Player Stadium in Miami, waiting for the hometown Dolphins to draft him. Just days after his Miami teammate and close friend, Marlin Barnes, was murdered, and just a few blocks away from where Barnes was laid to rest, Lewis was about to embark on his professional journey. As he sat there grieving, watching himself slip down the draft board, listening to announcers say he was too small and would only be a special teams player in the pros. “I’m older now,” he says, “so I understand. But it still amazes me how guys who’ve never played the game at any level: pro, college, even high school, can come on TV and tell people a man can’t do something that they’ve never done.” Lewis knew he needed to show the world what type of man he was. When the Ravens finally selected him with the 26th pick, he cried.

Fast forward to today, the pro bowls, the tackles, the Super Bowl ring and a Hall of Fame career in the bank. The on-field Ray Lewis and off-field Ray Lewis are almost merging to become one. He’s still a fierce competitor, but he’s also a fierce friend to anyone who needs one. Including his rookie quarterback, Joe Flacco. “With Ray being around the league as long as he has and me being a rookie, he’s just given me the confidence to go out and play,” says Flacco. “He’s been behind me from day one. Whenever you have a guy that’s had that much experience and that much success, it gives you the confidence to go out there and play well.”

Ed Reed, the Ravens All-Pro safety and former Miami Hurricane still learns from Lewis. “My first years here, Ray taught me how to watch game tape,” Reed says. “He taught me how this business functions. Since I’ve been here, it’s been non-stop.”

To Ray, mentoring players off the field is as important a job to him as his role on the field. He’s part of a firm called Allied Athlete Group, which helps players prepare for life after athletics. They connect athletes with business opportunities in their local community in an effort to rebuild the player’s identity that gets lost in the militaristic culture of the NFL.

Lewis has seen the pitfalls that younger players find on their road to stardom—the wish to please everyone at the expense of themselves, the lack of respect that pervades the game. Even the lack of respect players have for themselves. “I’m always trying to share knowledge, even about the smallest things,” Lewis says. “Like cursing. Guys curse all the time. But you never know who’s watching you or who’s listening to you. Most of the time, I just have a simple conversation with someone. Timing is helping someone every single day of your life. I’ve made mistakes. I’m willing to share them. If there’s one message I have for the young players, no matter what you do in life, do yourself a favor. Do not walk by yourself. It’s too much to try to figure out.”

It’s why guys like Randall Cunningham and Rod Woodson still call Lewis every week to check up on him. They were his mentors when he was coming up in the sport. Even the greatest players in the world need a helping hand now and again. Even as they can already begin preparing Lewis’ bust for Canton, he’s always seeking knowledge. There’s always still something to learn about football as long as he’s draping the 52 over his chest. “And make no mistake,” Lewis says before departing, “I’ve got a lot of football left.

Robert Seale is a Houston-based photographer specializing in dynamic editorial, corporate, and advertising portraiture.

A former staff photographer for the Sporting News, Seale photographed over 200 covers over his ten year career there. In 2006, he left SN to concentrate on his portrait work, and to take on work for a variety of new clients, including: Sports Illustrated, ESPN the Magazine, Rides, SLAM, Businessweek, Rolling Stone and Men’s Health. He recently completed work on a National ad campaign for Under Armour.

Seale has produced portraits of the finest athletes from the past twenty years. His ability to seamlessly and quickly capture images depicting an athlete’s special qualities and personality is respected throughout the photographic and sports industries.

Seale began his career as a photojournalist, eventually working as a staffer at several metro newspapers in Texas and Georgia where he became proficient in the skills of action photography. After a career covering 11 Super Bowls, 11 World Series, 13 NBA Finals and numerous other national sporting events, Robert is now available to take on the challenge of working on any assignment. To see more of his work, you can visit his website: www.robertseale.com.

He can be reached via email at Robert@robertseale.com, or at his Houston office at 832-654-9572. Photographs contained in this article are ©Robert Seale/ Sporting News, or ©Robert Seale. All rights Reserved.

For those of you familiar with the reality TV show Growing up Gotti, it is consider an Aesop’s fable compared to Growing up Rothman……Although the late” Teflon Don” John Gotti may have struck fear and respect in the five borough hoods of New York, maintaining control of the family in his castle was laughable at best. Just look at his sons today. During the same era, approximately 5,200 miles away on the North Shore of Oahu was a four year old toddler named Makuakai (guardian of the sea in Hawaiian) who vividly remembers all the armed forces of Hawaii except for the sixth fleet from Pearl Harbor descending upon his home to take dead or alive Big Daddy Da Hui founder “Fast” Eddie Rothman. Now I could tell you what Da Hui means & who Fast Eddie Rothman is, but then I would have to kill you. So take me off the hook and google it.

For the next two years, Makua as referred to by his friends lived in a tent on the beach in the same exact spot where Big Daddy’s beautiful house stands today. During those difficult times, it would have been easy to take to a life of crime. What carried Makua through those hard times was continuous participation in sports. Playing football, soccer, baseball, water polo, surfing, fishing, & diving on a daily basis, barely left time for him to eat, sleep, and learn something in school. Makua credits his father as having a BIG influence in shaping his life. Eddy laid the law down with tough love and advice in respect to: never start a fight with anyone who does not want to fight you, never make someone who is fat or ugly feel bad about themselves, always strive to reach your full potential, help others in need, & never ever disrespect Da Hui.

Makua’s two favorite passions in life were football & surfing. At age twelve, he was surfing 15-18 foot waves in front of his house at a famous surf spot called Phantom’s. (At age 41, I was crushed and nearly drowned in 6-8 foot surf next to Phantom’s) Fortunately, surfing greats Laird Hamilton and Derrick Doerner recognized Makua’s fearless talents and took him under their wings showing him the way to big wave surfing. At age 13, Fast Eddie bought Makua his first jet ski to start tow surfing into the big stuff and with in no time Makua was hooked on the adrenalin of being towed into 30-foot waves. However, becoming a pro football player was more then just a dream for Makua. Football was truly his passion. He was all over the field hitting ball carriers like a jackhammer. His high school coaches thought he would be the next Junior Seau or Zach Thomas (both Makua’s favorite players) but a career ending knee injury placed football in fantasyland forever.

Once healed up, big wave surfing became prime focus and at age 16 Makua was invited to the World Cup of tow – in surfing on Maui to compete against Laird Hamilton & a host of veteran masters. Makua walked away with 4Th place, although many people felt he should have won it all, but they just could not let a first time 16-year-old beat all the top contenders from around the world. The physical demand of tow-in surfing requires a very rigorous cross training regiment. Father Eddy instilled in Makua’s mind, “that to be the Big Kahuna, you must train your body and feed your body and brain the right foods and no screwing around with drugs of any kind”. So Makua went off to San Diego to train with Rob Garcia, (Oscar De La Hoya’s fitness coach) for conditioning, “Kid Peligro” for Jiu-Jitsu, “Panchito” Bojado (Olympic Boxing Silver Medalist) and Diego Sanchez (U.F.C. combatant). “These guys whipped me into super human shape, changing my body from a marshmallow to marble and most important, increasing my endurance to unimaginable stages”. I discovered that my heart and focus would allow me to do anything I wanted.

Up to the age of 18, Makua’s life had been lived largely through the shadow of his father. A life changing experience took place on a gargantuan November day in 2002 off a Maui break called “JAWS”. During one of the most historic days in big-wave sessions, Makua was towed into surfing history on a last second borrowed Jet Ski known as the “Turtle” for its speed. Makua thought that this was going to be his test run but as the monster wave rose beneath him, he realized this was it, released the rope and began barreling down a 66-foot moving mountain of deep blue thunder. “That beast had so much power and the power went right through me, I was one with the wave”. It went down in the record books as the largest wave ridden to date by a man. This amazing feat earned him at 18 years old the undisputed winner of the Billabong XXL Big Wave Challenge, beating a field of veteran big wave riders whose average age was over twice that of Makua. Rothman received the grand prize of $66,000 – or $1,000 per foot plus the acknowledgement in a Miller Lite beer commercial recognizing him as riding history’s biggest wave. Chicks recognized him as well. Maui-based photographer Ron Dahlquist received $5,000.00 for capturing the image in his lens.

Makua has since been surfing all the major tournaments around the world. His # 1 endorsement sponsorship is Alpine Stars. Rothman’s goal is to win the World Professional Surfing Championship and in addition be the first person to ride a 100+-foot wave all in the same year as well. This in fact would place him as the next great waterman since Duke Kahanamoku whose bigger then life statue stands at the sands of Queens Beach in Waikiki. In the spare time that he is afforded from a global travel schedule, Makua spends personal moments visiting children in hospitals, giving speeches at the YMCA’s and other youth organizations. “I tell kids that anything is possible if you put your heart and mind into it 110%. Don’t let anyone tell you that you cannot do something, because you can”! There are many kids who come from broken homes, single parent families and various unfortunate tough situations, I tell them,” do not be discouraged, you can and will persevere”. “I think it is extremely important for people to share their fortunes with others in any way they can. It always gives me a great feeling to help someone else out”.

For those of you who have a desire to paddle out into a lineup throughout the Hawaiian Islands especially on the West and North Shore of Oahu, (wise advice from Marv L.) please get yourself a special permission slip from your local Da Hui enforcement officer. Da Hui to you.