Category: News

The NFL Lands in South America

Green Bay Packers
NFL Brazil
Philadelphia Eagles
by Shawn Ghassemitari

Brazil takes football (soccer) fandom to hysterical levels. Fans often sacrifice chickens, wear the same clothes, avoid the match altogether or entrust a psychic to jinx opposing teams to gain a spiritual advantage. In São Paulo, supporters of Corinthians football team detest their cross-town rivals Palmeiras so much that players can be fined for wearing the color green and club officials have flirted with the idea of painting their pitch black to banish all associations to the verdant hue. 

 

When the NFL comes to town, however, green will be awash Neo Química Arena today, as the Green Bay Packers and Philadelphia Eagles touch down on Brazilian soil to play the first ever NFL match in South America.

The league has made it a priority to expand the game past North America — regularly hosting games in London, Germany and Mexico, as well as Brazil, its fifth largest global market. Since planting roots in the ‘90s, there are now over 120 American football clubs in the unofficial home of the beautiful game, with nearly 24 million fans who regularly tune into NFL games. Not everyone is excited though, namely the players, with Eagles defensive back Darius Slay going on his “Big Play Slay” podcast to state he didn’t want to make the historic voyage.

 

“I’m like, ‘NFL, why y’all wanna send us somewhere where the crime rate is this high and we out the country?”’ said Slay. “You know, the first thing people are thinking is like some terror could possibly happen. I told my family do not come down there because I’m not going to be nowhere to be found. I’m going to be in the hotel chilling, minding my business, playing my game after a long 9½-hour flight.”

 

Slay has since apologized, but his sentiments echo real issues in Brazil’s largest city, which has a “very high” crime rate, according to Numbeo, from assault to armed robbery. But ironically, Philadelphia, in U.S. terms, is not far off from Brazil’s most populous city when it comes to crime, particularly homicide rates.

At the grassroots level, SPIRAL spoke with Alvaro Fadini for Issue II, a chemist from the island of Vitoría who was entranced by the blend of strategy and athleticism offered by the sport. Turning a hobby into a profession, Fadini, who plays quarterback, quickly ascended the rigors of the game to be selected by the Brazilian National Team, as well as for Pernambuco club side, Recife Mariners, where he currently plays. “American football is just pregnant right now in Brazil, ready to give birth to something great,” former New York Jets tight end, Johnny Mitchell previously told The Associated Press. The sport’s meteoric rise is a testament to this growth, despite fans’ general lack of exposure and limited access to live broadcasts. 

 

For fans and league executives, Eagles versus Packers will be seen as the first domino to fall in what is expected to be “a catalyst to deeper, year-round engagement,” said Peter O’Reilly, the NFL’s Head of International Affairs, in an interview with The Athletic. The game will be a continental affair, drawing in thousands of fans from neighboring countries. 

Shedeur and Shilo Sanders Model in Louis Vuitton’s FW24 Runway in Paris

Louis Vuitton
Shedeur Sanders
Shilo Sanders
by Shawn Ghassemitari

Shedeur and Shilo Sanders are living a moment.

 

Where it was once taboo for collegiate athletes to express themselves, from endorsements to touchdown celebrations, today, it’s uncommon to see top talent not operating as their own brands. And for the two young Sanders, they’re not afraid to show it, which shouldn’t come as a surprise, given they’re the children of legendary defensive back, Mr. “Primetime” Deion Sanders — who coaches them on-and-off the field. Unlike their father, however, the two young Buffs don’t need to wait until the pros to cement their names.

 

This past week, Shedeur and Shilo were invited by Louis Vuitton’s menswear creative director, Pharrell Williams, to model in its FW24 runway in Paris. Going on show number three, Williams blended traditional Americana, such as cowboy hats, bolo ties and embroidered denim jackets, with some of the aesthetic sensibilities that he’s come to be known for under his Billionaire Boys Club and ICECREAM imprints — from vibrant digitized camo, punchy graphic accents over premium leather bags to those classic 6 inch Timberland boots that are a staple within hip hop circles.

CREDIT PICS:

(01) Courtesy of Louis Vuitton

Trent Williams Links Up with FCTRY LAb to Release Exclusive Red Knight RNRs

FCTRY LAb
Footwear
San Francisco 49ers
Trent Williams
by Shawn Ghassemitari

If you were to fly over Levi’s Stadium, you’d know its January, as the endzones have just been dipped red to follow the club’s postseason tradition. For Trent Williams, however, he’s not waiting to log in a touchdown-leading block to get a little red on his feet.

 

The 11-time Pro Bowler collaborated with FCTRY LAb, an upstart footwear company to drop his own exclusive clog called the Red Knight RNR. While the shoe doesn’t look like anything revolutionary, per say — namely, it falls under the same category of many of the current offerings from Merrell, Crocs, Suicoke and 1017 ALYX 9SM, it’s novelty comes in the fact that anyone with an idea can generate a similar or entirely different shoe; not just vaulted off for your typically hoodie-clad, Vibram-wearing creative director.

 

Co-founded by YEEZY’s former Innovation Lab head, Omar Bailey,  the Black-owned company lookes to redefine the production on footwear by providing 360 services — from ideation and consulting, sampling and manufacturing, marketing to distribution, FCTRY LAb chop the usual production phase for any given shoe to just about one to three months, as opposed to the usual eight to twelve.

“We can build anything,” Bailey told fellow 49er edge rusher Nick Bosa, when he recently visited Williams at the team’s training facility.

 

While at adidas, Bailey had his hand in some of YEEZY’s most innovative kicks, from the Foam Runner to the alien-like 450. His ability to work quick came at Ye’s direction to start an in-house prototyping facility to bypass the longer wait-times from Asia. “We were able to iterate and innovate very quickly to get shoes on his feet to get instant feedback,” Bailey said in a past interview. “And then we’d make those changes and get him another pair in less than 24 hours,” he added. “That allowed us to be able to move the development process at light speed and be able to get to market faster.”

 

When the lab had to move with the rest of YEEZY to Cody, Wyoming, the pressure to churn designs — as with the general pace of all of the label’s subdivisions — became extra magnified. “To say no when I got asked to make a crazy shoe was, like, not even an option,” Bailey recalled regarding Ye’s feverish process. “It was just, let’s figure this out. Let’s do it.” In hindsight, this aptitude for speed, without compromising on quality, is a core pillar to FCTRY LAb’s ethos. But perhaps even more integral to the LA-based venture label, is the hope to give athletes a platform to create their own shoe lines that aren’t tied to Nike, adidas or New Balance.

 

Releasing today only on FCTRY LAb’s website, the Red Knight RNR is a premium foam slipper created from a 3D-prined injection molding that boasts a contoured footbed that will add a little flare to the day-to-day routine, without sacrificing comfort along the way. For those looking to purchase, the V1 version of the slip-on is available to purchase for $150.

CREDIT PICS:

(01) Courtesy of FCTRY LAb

Post Malone and NTWRK Unite to Release Dallas Cowboys Collection

Dallas Cowboys
NTWRK
Post Malone
by Shawn Ghassemitari

Post Malone worked with NTWRK to show his love for ‘America’s Team’, the Dallas Cowboys. Having shown a resurgence that quite frankly has not been seen since the mid-90s, there is a lot for Cowboys fans to be excited for and the capsule encapsulates much of that raw energy.

 

Releasing just in time for their big divisional showdown with the Philadelphia Eagles, the collection comprises of boxy oversized hoodies, tees, bomber jackets and uniquely-tailored jersey tops. Each garment has been specially co-branded with the club’s logo and visual identity, but packaged in a way that feels familiar to the timeless tour tee that does not feel at all force — like many leagues often opt for to just throw out more product in the ecosystem — and that will likely keep a place on the racks of the most diehard of fans from season to season.

 

While born in Upstate New York, Malone inherited his love for the Cowboys from his dad, Rich, who once served as the assistant director of food and beverage for the club. As any die hard, he has even gone on record to say that if the Cowboys were to win the Super Bowl, he’d get the fabled no. 88 tatted, which has been worn by Hall of Famers, Drew Pearson and Michael Irvin, as well as Dez Bryant and now CeeDee Lamb.

 

Designed in collaboration with Cheatin Snakes Worldwide, standouts in the capsule include the Doomsday Defense Baseball Jersey, featuring a retro graphic on the left pocket and back emblematic of the ’80s and the early ’90s. For those looking to make a bigger statement at the tailgate, the “Malone” Double Jersey carries an unmistakably Southern bravado that will get plenty of use come Sunday. Shop the full collection online.

CREDIT PICS:

(01) by Cheatin Snakes Worldwide

(02) by NTWRK

Kyler Murray Returns in Korea-Inspired Nike Vapor Edge Dunk Lows

Kyler Murray
NFL
Nike
by Shawn Ghassemitari

Nearly 12 months since tearing his ACL, Kyler Murray will make his return to the field in a custom pair of Nike Vapor Edge Dunk Lows.

 

The occasion, much like his career, is more than just about himself. Born to an African-American father and Korean-American mother, the Arizona Cardinals quarterback has always been a proud proponent of his Asian heritage — in a time when there is an alarming amount of hate crimes taking place within the US. “I’m proud to play with the flag of South Korea on my helmet,” he’s previously said. “It’s a great way to honor my mom, honor my heritage and highlight the diverse backgrounds that make up the NFL.”

 

Similar in color palette to the famed Ronaldinho “Touch of Gold” Tiempos, K1’s Vapor Edge Dunk Lows sport a white leather upper with melon green accents along the inner heel counter and tab, as well as a shiny rose gold hue throughout the cleat plate and Swoosh. The lifestyle iteration features a textured upper with the same green hue, which is inspired by his commitment to excellence, while revealing hidden layers on the heel tab, such as “Green Light” in Korean — a nod to his cultural heritage and the way he slices defenders when on the run.

CREDIT PICS:

(01) by Nike

Mitchell & Ness Reissues Eagles Jacket Worn by Princess Diana

Mitchell & Ness
Philadelphia Eagles
by Shawn Ghassemitari

Back by popular demand, Mitchell & Ness has reissued the Philadelphia Eagles letterman that Princess Diana famously wore in the ‘80s and ‘90s.

 

“Diana loved to be different,” noted the royal’s former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, “this was her style.” According to reports, Diana’s ties to the City of Brotherly Love stem back to 1982, when she attended the funeral of Grace Kelly, the Princess of Monaco, who was born in Philly. Jack Edelstein, a statistician for the Eagles at the time remembers having a conversation with Diana that night, noting her eagerness to learn about the team, who donned her “favorite colors.” Soon after, she received a care package with the now famed jacket she’d wear to pick up a young Wiliam and Harry from school.

 

“It sort of showed the public and her children that she was a normal mother in a style that people liked,” Wharfe added. Royalty Returns tomorrow as the jacket will be available to purchase for $400 USD at the Eagles Team Store, as well as M&N’s flagship in Philly.

Flag Football Is Coming to the Olympics

2028 Summer Olympics
Flag Football
Olympics
by Shawn Ghassemitari

Football is coming to the Summer Olympic Games. The American kind that is and the version with flags instead of pads. Starting in 2028, during the Summer Games in Los Angeles, you can potentially see star athletes from around the world, be it Patrick Mahomes and Justin Jefferson, to collegiate and international breakouts make their mark on the game on a truly global level.

 

For years, there has been a stigma surrounding flag football as an inferior iteration of the sport, reserved for rec leagues and novices. Just this week, Tom Brady went on record to (ironically) criticize the NFL’s officials for making the game soft. Years from now, however, the mere inclusion of the game on such a globally competitive stage may go down as one of the biggest developments for the sport since the NFL-AFL merger. Former greats have long known these benefits, such as Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie, Michael Vick, Chad Johnson and Terrell Owens, who occasionally still compete in flag football leagues, such as the American Flag Football League (AFFL). Many of them note how you can enhance everything from your route running and breakaway speed to the way you strategize on defense.

 

The NFL has caught on, actively investing in flag football leagues at every level of the game — from pop Warner to high school, college to the Pro Bowl, California all the way to Catania. Most notably of all, flag football has quietly emerged as the most inclusive iteration of the game — where diversity, equity and inclusion aren’t empty promises stamped on the back of helmets, but lived experiences on-and-off the field. The sport is unquestionably safer as well, which will add growing interest for parents who question the game’s baked in violence, while still experiencing the teamwork, strategy and excitement of football.

CREDIT PICS:

(01) Feature Image by Jess Colquhoun

Remembering Dick Butkus

Chicago Bears
Dick Butkus
by Shawn Ghassemitari

Middle linebackers today may look like receivers, but in the 1960s, many of them represented the very (stereotypically) tribal nature of the game. Perhaps no one better fit this description than Dick Butkus. He had brawn shoulders, little words, back-breaking tackles and a military cut that would’ve even instilled fear in Gunnery Sergeant Hartman.

 

Born to Lithuanian-American parents in Chicago’s South Side, Butkus was the youngest of eight children, but was noticeably lonely in his formative years, only consoling to a select few and valueing loyalty above all else. As it would become apparent throughout his life, football itself would become his best friend as he ascended the ranks at the University of Illinois and eventually being drafted by both the upstart Denver Broncos of the AFL and third overall by his hometown Chicago Bears in the 1965 NFL Draft. Unsurprisingly, he would go on to play for the latter, despite being paid less.

 

“He’s a great example of what this city is,” recounted former teammate and Bears legend, Mike Ditka. “I don’t think this city is a boisterous city, I don’t think this city is a loud city. This city is a strong, hard-working, blue-collar city and that’s what Butkus was.”

During his pro career, Butkus would amass five first-team All-Pro titles, eight Pro Bowl selections, an induction into the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1979, along with 27 forced fumbles, 22 interceptions and 11 sacks, which doesn’t account for the devastation he caused on opposing QB’s because the sack stat wasn’t official until 1982.

 

Just like Bobby Boucher, Butkus would create stories in his head of people antagonizing him to get himself mad. “If someone on the other team was laughing, I’d pretend he was laughing at me or the Bears. It always worked for me,” Butkus mused. “In most people’s minds,” said Ed Stone of the Chicago American, “he is still the most powerful symbol of the violent nature of the game.” But as intimidating and primitive as the man was on the field, he was a deeply misunderstood player, a sensitively complex player who represented a still complex game.

 

Rest in Power, Dick.