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    After A Player Highlighted How Many Olympians Have To Work "2 Or 3 Jobs," Flavor Flav Sponsored The US Women's Water Polo Team

    By Natasha Jokic,

    5 hours ago

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3eNA77_0ugjQCnE00

    It might be somewhat surprising to hear that the big sponsor of Team USA Women's Water Polo at this year's Olympics is... Flavor Flav .

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=3amT8d_0ugjQCnE00
    Mike Lawrie / Getty Images

    Yes, the founder of Public Enemy. He's also had plenty of moments of controversy throughout the years, including spending a month in jail for assaulting his girlfriend at the time in 1991 and three months for shooting at a neighbor shortly after.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=47dtTS_0ugjQCnE00

    In 2021, Flav pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor coercion charge from "grabbing a phone" during an incident with a female member of his household.

    Amy Sussman / Getty Images

    So, how did the rapper come to back the team? Back in May, record-breaking team USA captain Maggie Steffens took to Instagram to ask for people's "support" ahead of the Olympics (where, by the way, they've had three consecutive gold medals). "[It] means everything to us & impacts our sport more than most," she wrote. "Many of my teammates aren’t just badass champions, but also teachers, business owners, coaches, physicians assistants, and more."

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1QWMda_0ugjQCnE00
    Defodi Images / DeFodi Images via Getty Images

    "Some may not know this, but most Olympians need a 2nd (or 3rd) job to support chasing the dream (myself included!) and most teams rely on sponsors for travel, accommodations, nutritional support, rent/lodging, and simply affording to live in this day and age. Especially female sports and female athletes. We’ve had companies & amazing individuals support our sport alongside donors, USAWP & USOPC, but we always need more help," she continued.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=33Wicu_0ugjQCnE00
    Joe Scarnici / Getty Images for USOPC

    And who should hop into the comments but Flav himself? "As a girl dad and supporter of all women's sports - imma personally sponsor you my girl,,, whatever you need," he wrote. "Imma sponsor the whole team. My manager is in touch with your agent and imma use all my relationships and resources to help all y'all even more."

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1eG86z_0ugjQCnE00
    Maggie Steffens / Via instagram.com

    The "Flavor Flav promise" has held up: Shortly after, he signed a five-year sponsorship deal and made an undisclosed financial donation. He even appeared in a promotional video where he tried the sport.

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=0Xw61i_0ugjQCnE00
    USA WP / Via instagram.com

    Fast forward to Friday's game against Greece, and Flavor was in the crowd cheering — alongside first lady Jill Biden.

    “When these girls aren’t in the water, they’re home living active lives … working two or three jobs. It takes time to get a gold medal,” Flavor reportedly said on Friday. “Everybody wants to feel like they got their back covered, like somebody has their back. When they feel that, it makes them feel more powerful, it makes them feel more better. It gives them a lot more energy to go out and get that fourth gold medal.”

    https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=1nUtH4_0ugjQCnE00
    Clive Rose / Getty Images

    And his support hasn't gone unnoticed:

    NBC / Via Twitter: @NickoGallo Twitter: @soAUcal

    Nice to see someone who says they care about women's sports actually support it, eh? Here's hoping for that fourth gold medal.

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