Paige Bueckers had a breakout year as a freshman, quickly earning the nickname ‘Paige Buckets’ for her propensity for putting the ball through the net. When on June 1, 2021 the Name, Image, Likeness rule changed college athletics b, many expected athletes with household names to take full advantage of this newfound opportunity. Perhaps this is why it was surprising that someone as famous as Bueckers would have held off. Upon signing a deal with Wasserman and filing  for a trademark for her nickname, “Paige Buckets”, she kept  her moves with the NIL deal relatively silent. 

Interestingly, the athlete making the most of their NIL deals is another woman. LSU’s gymnast Olivia Dunne quickly signed a deal with athleisure brand Vuori, putting her above the basketball and football players everyone speculated would capitalize most on the new rules. But, thankfully, for other female college athletes, Dunne’s deal set an interesting precedent as it encouraged other companies to keep up with them. If they were going to sponsor and champion women’s athletics, their competitors would be pushed to do the same. Nevertheless, many athletes with household names have been selective with the deals they sign. Many, like Dunne and Bueckers have their pick of brands who wish to partner with them. Both, however,  have expressed that they will only sign deals that emphasize who they are as individuals. Their support will go to companies they feel will support them and will continue to do so once they are an official member of the team. 

Bueckers said her decision to sign with StockX came from a place of mutual interest. The online clothing and sneakers forum and distributor had goals that aligned with Bueckers own advocacy; Bueckers stated that it was her intention to help StockX center women’s sports. They will work together to create unprecedented inclusivity,championing female athletes. Another important point for Bueckers is  supporting and uplifting the Black community. On the contrary, StockX choosing to champion Bueckers came from a place of untapped market potential. Those who follow the Huskies of UCONN likely those who appreciate much of the same things as Bueckers, meaning signing her creates the possibility for a new market; Bueckers is a representative for those previously ignored. 

Another reason Bueckers’ deal is important is that it will likely follow her to the WNBA. Being one of the greatest college basketball players of all time, it is almost certain that Bueckers will eventually sign with a professional team upon completion of her college career. If she does so, she will be the first athlete to bring a brand like StockX into the league with her. This will create unprecedented opportunities for the women in the WNBA, her teammates, competitors and athletes she will never meet, nationwide. 

Excitement for Bueckers comes from a place of love. She stated that it was her love and interest in fashion that fueled her excitement to work with StockX. In their part, StockX will incorporate her into promotions, seek her opinions on various marketing ideas, and expand their sizing options to promote inclusivity for women. It is telling that StockX sought out Bueckers for their deal when they could have easily signed a male athlete. Since they are not a gender-exclusive brand, their signing with Paige makes a statement, which will hopefully promote more deals for more female athletes. A large and well-known brand such as this creates historic precedent. While this is good news for all athletes across the NCAA, it is especially exciting for female athletes who can look to the future with hope for their own deals. After all, once you move the bracket, the only place left to go is up. 

Welcome back, Billikens! If you frequent Simon Recreation Center, you will quickly notice that SLU encourages an active campus. Just two years ago, the Rec center underwent construction to accommodate updated equipment and a renovated look. At certain times of the day, it can be nearly impossible to claim a weight rack. There are wellness clubs, club and intramural sports teams, group fitness classes and countless other wellness opportunities that reside within the Rec’s walls. Not everyone on campus is interested in sports—and that’s fine! There is certainly plenty of interest in physical wellbeing, which has promoted the opportunity to step away from an entirely sports section and provide a space to get the latest on wellness trends. 

Wellness is synonymous with fitness in modern terminology. Therefore, both words fit into the world of sports. Many people argue that mental wellbeing correlates directly to athletic performance. Health seems to fit seamlessly into the world of sports. An important part of training, as is becoming more popular, is cross-training. Doing such can reduce risk of injury and encourage health on a larger scale rather than simply specializing in the muscles and skills needed for a specific sport. It is also important to note that cross-training is much different than CrossFit. While CrossFit has developed into a sport in its own right, cross-training is an extremely useful tool for reducing stress on overworked muscles, while encouraging the strength of others that may not be commonly used, but could be beneficial in preventing injury. 

As you step into a new semester, we want to encourage you to give new things a try, and start the semester on a high note. Here is a circuit you can try at your next visit to the Rec’s racks!

Warm Up:

10 Minute Jog – Perfect conditioning for when you have a 9-9:50 a.m. in Ritter, and a 10 a.m. in Beracha!

Lift:

At the Rack

3×10 Front Squat – To prep your form for all that sitting you’ll be doing this semester.

3×10 Barbell Shrugs – Get those lats ready for a bookbag full of textbooks.

3×8 Deadlifts – To practice picking up around your dorm/apartment.

3×8 Shoulder Press – To prep for answering all your professor’s questions.

Free Weights

3×10 Bicep Curls – To practice picking up all those books you’ll be reading.

3×8 (Each Arm) Single Arm Bench Press – So you can punch out your frustration on your pillow with purpose. 

3×8 (Each Leg) Single Leg RDL – For picking up around the apartment/dorm.

3×10 Good Mornings – To strengthen your back for those walks to class with a heavy backpack. 

Core 

20 Sit Ups- For when you wake up late to class.

30 Medicine Ball Twists – For when you need to find that spot in bed that’s perfect for a nap.

3 Reps Each Side Farmer’s Carry – To practice carrying groceries most efficiently. 

1 Minute Plank – To center yourself and remind yourself how strong you are! 

There will never be another Simone Biles. As the most prolific gymnast of all time, it would take an entire article to detail why she is so important to American gymnastics, Team USA, and the country proper. 

            Her name frequents headlines, even in the off season. She is an outspoken advocate for many prominent cultural and sociological issues. In the past week, her moves have been watched by the country yet again. Only this time, they would watch Simone in a courtroom, rather than in competition. 

   Surrounded by previous teammates Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney, and Maggie Nichols, the ladies took to the stand to detail the pedophelic abuse they suffered at the hands of the team doctor, Larry Nassar. Only, this time, the focus is not on Nassar, who was sentenced to 60 years in prison in 2017. This time, the women stood in front of the country and told them about the miscarriage of justice they suffered at the hands of the FBI and the investigators of their case. 

       The four thoroughly detailed exactly how the system failed them. Initially, by permitting the abuse to continue, and then, by sitting on their testimony. For over a year, the FBI had enough evidence and testimony by the girls to make an arrest and failed to do so, thus allowing for the breadth of Nassar’s abuse to expand rapidly. 

          Raisman even detailed that after she had cried on the phone while telling the FBI investigator of her abuse, there was silence at the other end. While the FBI has fired the lead investigator on the case, Michael Langeman, the Justice Department has yet to bring charges against him, or his previous (now resigned) supervisor, Jay Abbott. Additionally, Maroney made a point to expose the fact that Lisa Monaco, Deputy Attorney General, had failed to appear at the hearing. As a fellow woman, the gymnasts felt that both her silence and her lack of presence spoke volumes. The Justice Department also released findings that the FBI neglected to properly investigate the situation after being informed of the abuse. 

After three years of courtroom testimony, the four women at the forefront of the case are ready to close. The proposed settlement is $425 million. However, if insurance agencies do not allow the funds to go through, both the survivors and USA Gymnastics might not see that money. The women also want to make clear that this is a solution, rather than a settlement. After all, the money is mainly intended to bring USA Gymnastics out of bankruptcy and the remaining will be distributed among the survivors. 

   This case will surely be a landmark for gymnastics both nationwide and internationally. As part of the agreement, USA Gymnastics is mandating that member clubs provide visible information on how to report sexual assault in the institution. Safeguards are rolling out in order to help investigate claims more efficiently, and reporting measures are being instituted in an attempt to mitigate corruption or abuse. Since Nassar was the team’s physician during multiple Olympic games, the women are calling on the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee to acknowledge their part in the abuse and provide part of the payment in the settlement. 

   Team USA Gymnastics is an international sensation. They prove as much every time they perform on the world stage. Competition becomes elite from a young age. Learning the routines and skills require hands-on coaching. Gymnastics is famous for intense discipline and sincere dedication. This atmosphere has allowed generations of cyclical abuse and misconduct. Children are the victims of opportunity in this case. Raisman, Maroney, Nichols, and Biles, now women, are doing their part to make sure that the tainted reputation can be restored. Though three of the four are now retired, they will battle with their abuse daily. They managed to become international superstars despite the sexual assault they faced and the mental trauma that induced. In answering the call for justice, the FBI fell flat. While these female athletes have been scrutinized relentlessly throughout their careers, they contend that the investigators they trusted have not been scrutinized enough. 

   While the US will anxiously await another Simone Biles (if this off season truly does herold her retirement), a Biles retirement will hopefully mean the end of an era. Not in terms of her skill and expertise that has defined a new era for gymnastics globally, but rather an end to the thousands of stories of abuse that young gymnasts endure. Gymnasts are known for their strength and discipline. The four Team USA vets are fighting to make sure that discipline is reflective of their skill in competition, rather than their skills in suppression. 

In downtown St. Louis there sits an empty stadium called The Dome. Before 2016, it was the home of the NFL franchise the Rams. The team was beloved by the city; as a matter of fact a statue of a ram still stands proudly downtown. If you bring up the team and their move to a local, they will probably express bitter sentiments. A visit to any local thrift store will allow one to find plenty of now retro St. Louis Rams gear. When the Rams left, the city was not sure what to do with the newly vacant stadium. So, they chose to leave it alone. Every once in a while, a convention or concert will roll through that demands the size of The Dome. But the bottom line is that the once bustling stadium is now abandoned. 

   St. Louis and its taxpayers fought desperately to keep the NFL franchise. Upon building the stadium, they agreed to a lease with the Rams that stipulated the amenities of the stadium would need to be in the top fourth of all NFL stadiums in order for the team to remain in St. Louis. By 2005, those rankings had dropped. Instead of dropping the lease altogether or reverting to a year-by-year agreement, the team allowed owners to pump $30 million in renovations into the stadium. The renovations were completed by 2009. However, The Dome still did not meet NFL standards. By 2016, the Rams had filed with the NFL to relocate to Los Angeles. That filing was quickly approved. 

   But the city was not ready to let go of their beloved team just yet. After all, it was the taxpayers who were going to bear the $144 million left in debt from the constant renovations on the stadium. Many felt that the franchise owed them the chance to break even. In 2017, the city filed a lawsuit on its former franchise. 

   The Rams owner, Stan Kroenke, has been fighting to keep the case in the settlement stage. Many speculate that should the case move into the hands of a jury, little leniency will be afforded to the franchise; experts put a billion dollar price tag on an adequate settlement from the Rams to the city of St. Louis at this point in time. 

   The charges the city has levied against Kroenke’s team are massive, ranging from breach of contract, to fraud, to illegal enrichment, culminating in interference with business that resulted in public loss. The city has cited over $100 million in losses from ticket sales, hotel rentals, sales taxes, and more. If Kroenke’s settlement of a billion dollars works, it will be a steal for his franchise, as he has managed to bring the team’s net worth from $1.45 billion to a startling $4.8 billion. 

   Kroenke and his legal team have attempted to move the case from the St. Louis court system with complaints that the judge is too biased to the case. In response to this, case Judge Christopher McGraugh emphasized that one of the main reasons they cited for relocation was a lack of public support. If the public did not support the Rams to the point they felt they had to seek sanctuary elsewhere, why would they hold resentment against the team for leaving? Of course, then, they would be able to litigate without bias. The trial will remain in the St. Louis court system. 

   The Dome still has its perks. Being a covered stadium allows it to serve as a home and hub for various events that pass through the city. St. Louis XFL team, the Battlehawks have claimed it as their home. While it has sat empty for years, the new buzz surrounding the stadium will hopefully bring life back into its stands and pride back to the people who helped build it. All in all, the Rams settlement would be huge for the city as well as its residents. The settlement could perhaps even give St. Louisans a long-awaited economic boost. The City of St. Louis will certainly not give up the fight against Kroenke’s Rams. Kroenke’s lawyers will do everything they can to stop the case from sitting in front of a jury. However, if the case does not get settled before the court date approaches, the franchise could be looking at serious losses in reparation for their unfaithfulness.