JuJu, Mahomes, and Hurts: The Faces Redefining Sports

Watts Up: The Juju Revolution

• By: Eric Lambkins II:

The WNBA has always been a league of almost. Almost respected. Almost visible. Almost lucrative. 

Its stars burned bright for decades, but in the shadows, their luminance muted by the deafening silence of society and culture that couldn’t—or wouldn’t—see them.

Cheryl Miller’s mythos was lost to grainy VHS tapes. Lisa Leslie’s dominance was reduced to late-night highlight reels on ESPN.

Brittney Griner’s fire became a lightning rod in headlines. Still, it didn’t quite elevate the league to the star power it deserves.

But now, at last, the almost ends. Enter Judea “JuJu” Skies Watkins—a 19-year-old phenom whose game is as beautiful as the purple skies of a California sunset; she isn’t a player but a prism. Through her, the world will finally see the WNBA not as a satellite but as a supernova.

JuJu is a box office draw in basketball shorts and lashes. She’s a walking paradox—humble yet magnetic, lethal yet lyrical, a scorer who doesn’t just dominate games but dismantles them. Her crossover is a cobra strike. Her stepback three? A has the melody of a sonnet.

Watkins’ scoring power has the ruthless efficiency of a surgeon and the flair of a streetball legend, dropping 30 points like tossed confetti. But it’s not just the how; it’s the who. 

JuJu plays with an infectious, unapologetic joy, making her harshest critics lean forward. When she grins mid-dribble, you don’t just watch—you doubt. You cheer. You believe.

And her grin disarms and dazzles. It’s the grin of a girl who grew up in the oft-forgotten enclave of Los Angeles––Watts, dribbling on cracked concrete, her dreams drowned out by sirens. But Watts is the motherland.

Watkins comes from royalty in Watts. Her great-grandfather, Ted Watkins Sr, after whom the park in Los Angeles is named, witnessed the residents of Watts suffer discrimination and was a notable founder of the Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) in 1965 to improve the quality of life in Watts.

Residents of the proud sliver of the city greet one another with a simple nod and phrase, “Watts Up!” An acronym for “We are taught to succeed under pressure.”

Watts successfully birthed poetry in motion and personified class in Watkins. She’s the daughter of college athletes, the youngest of four girls, a kid who shot jumpers under flickering streetlights to the soundtrack of car stereos, helicopters, sirens, and gunshots. 

Her game isn’t polished; it’s forged. Every euro-step and crossover-tween, every no-look pass, carries the grit of her grind; with the ferocity and fire of every drive––you see a Redwood blooming through concrete and Watts. And America loves a fighter—especially one who fights with style.

But here’s the magic: JuJu isn’t just here to play. She’s here to redefine the gravity of the game. The WNBA has long been shackled by lazy comparisons to the men’s league, as if women’s basketball were a lesser planet orbiting a masculine sun.

JuJu shatters that orbit. 

When she posterizes a defender or threads a pass through a forest of limbs, the question shifts from “Can women play?” to “Why haven’t we been watching?” She doesn’t just elevate the women’s game—she emancipates it.

Critics will carp about Caitlin Clark’s three-point barrages or Angel Reese’s rebounding rage, but JuJu transcends the box score. 

She’s culture incarnate. 

Where Clark’s appeal is rooted in middle America’s nostalgia for “pure” basketball, JuJu speaks to the soul of a nation that’s Black, brown, bold, and hungry for heroes who look like them. 

In the Matrix, she’s Neo—the One who bends reality. She’s a viral virtuoso on TikTok, blending Gen-Z swagger with old-school soul. In boardrooms, she’s a CEO-in-sneaks, her brand already a mosaic of endorsements and influence.

And timing? Hollywood writers couldn’t script it better. 

The WNBA’s new $2.2 billion media deal is a contract, a coronation sure to garner her concern. Networks are clamoring to crown a face for this cash influx, and JuJu’s aura is irrepressible. 

She’s the player kids will mimic on playgrounds (“Watch my JuJu stepback!”), the icon brands will fight to fund, and the force that will turn league pass subscriptions into a status symbol. 

Once criticized for underselling its stars, the WNBA’s marketing team has no choice but to flood the zone. Billboards. Docu-series. Sneaker collabs. JuJu won’t just sell jerseys; she’ll sell mythos if her story is correctly told.

Yet beneath the highlights and hashtags lies something more profound. JuJu’s rise isn’t just about dunks or deals—it’s about legacy. 

She steps onto the court carrying the whispers of Sheryl Swoopes’ spin moves, the ghost of Cynthia Cooper’s clutch gene, the unfulfilled promise of every pioneer who deserved more. And she knows it. 

“I’m not here to be the next anyone,” Watkins told Sports Illustrated. “I’m here to be the first JuJu.”

So, let’s be clear: The WNBA won’t just change when JuJu arrives. It will ignite. Arenas will crackle with a new electricity, a blend of anticipation and awe. 

Parents will point to her as proof that greatness needs no gender. Young girls will lace up their sneakers a little tighter, dreaming not of being “like Mike,” but of being like JuJu. 

And the league itself? 

It’ll finally shed its skin of scarcity, morphing from a niche novelty into a global spectacle.

Because JuJu isn’t just a player. She’s a phenomenon—a storm of skill, soul, and swagger.  And the WNBA? It’s her sky, and that’s Watts Up!

Patrick Mahomes II: The New Prototype

• By: Mykell Mathieu

Patrick Mahomes II is coming off the most brutal loss of his career with the Kansas City Chiefs  40-22 defeat by the hands of the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LIX. 

Even after the loss, he remains the most talked-about player in the NFL. His name, presence, and style of play are unlike anything the league has ever seen.

After playing three years at Texas Tech University, Mahomes was drafted by the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the 2017 draft.

He ended his college career with the Red Raiders ranked third in passing yards (11,252), touchdown passes (93), attempts (1,349), and completions (857). He ranked second all-time among Red Raider quarterbacks with 22 rushing touchdowns and also second in touchdowns responsible for (115), third in a career in yards of total offense (12,097), and third in career attempts (1,657). 

During his first year in the NFL with the Chiefs, he served as the backup quarterback to incumbent starter Alex Smith. Mahomes only started one game during his rookie year against the Denver  Broncos. He finished the game 22-of-35 with 284 yards passing, which helped him collect his first win as a starter in his career. 

Mahomes has since led the Chiefs to seven consecutive AFC Championship Game appearances and five Super Bowl appearances after becoming their starting quarterback in  2018. He is a three-time Super Bowl Champion & Super Bowl MVP, two-time league MVP, six-time Pro Bowler, and two-time All-Pro. 

He is off to one of the greatest starts to a career. He has thrown for 32.352 yards with 245 touchdown passes. He has also added 5,814 yards passing in the postseason with 46 touchdown passes thrown. Through eight seasons in the  NFL, Patrick Mahomes has put up the prolific individual numbers of all-time greats like Dan  Marino and Peyton Manning but also added the clutch postseason success and Super  Bowl wins of Tom Brady and Joe Montana. 

Those are just some of his outstanding statistical accomplishments so far, and he has yet to reach the age of 30.  

His highlight reel may be just as impressive. It features no-look passes, tough angle throws, big-time runs, and, once again, his clutch plays in the biggest games. 

Mahomes’ style of play is much different from that of the superstars before him. He isn’t the big 6″ 5′  pocket passer like Manning and Brady before him. The way the quarterback position is played has changed since the Texas native’s ascension to the top of the league. 

Teams now look for athletic quarterbacks who can make play outside the structure of an offense. Playing “backyard football” is no longer frowned upon regarding quarterback play. 

Mahomes’ greatness has given birth to the Josh Allens, Lamar Jacksons, Jalen Hurts, and Jayden Daniels of the football world. 

Not only has he brought forth elite play but genuine excitement to an already great game. We were used to saying guys stick in the pocket and make throws. Not too much excitement from the quarterback position, but it has since changed with the emergence of Mahomes.

NFL ratings continue to rise, especially when Mahomes is involved. It reaches its all-time peak. 

He is not only the best player in the NFL but also one of the most exciting athletes to watch in sports today.  

When you think of the new prototype for great and box office quarterbacks, Patrick Mahomes II  has started a trend that has changed the NFL forever.

The Dawn of Jalen Hurts: A New Era of Leadership, Impact, and Electrifying Football

• By: Jackie Rae

As a journalist, I naturally gravitate toward athletes who are more than just exceptional competitors—those who display greatness not only in their athleticism but also in their humanity.

JuJu Watkins is still young, so we can’t say if she will or won’t use her powers for the greater good. But, we can draw some conclusions about Patrick Mahomes. 

When it comes to demonstrating genuine concern for the struggles of Black people, Mahomes has offered little more than a minstrel show.

There’s no denying Mahomes’ talent on the field. He is a generational quarterback with an undeniable skill set. However, his ability to be relatable is only felt by one demographic.

In the wake of George Floyd’s murder in 2020, he faced backlash for dismissing the need for police reform. A year later, he shifted his stance, saying, “We need to come together and show that Black lives do matter.” The delayed response felt more like damage control than a genuine commitment to justice.

While Donald Trump continues to attack healthcare, women’s reproductive rights, immigrants, and diversity initiatives, Mahomes referred to him as “a good winner” and was honored to perform in front of him. Words matter, and so does silence in moments when athletes have the platform to effect real change.

Patrick Mahomes does not possess the qualities needed for me to give him the “must-watch” crown, but his performance in the Super Bowl did prove something far more significant: the dawn of Jalen Hurts is here.

Jalen Hurts has redefined what it means to be a dynamic quarterback in the modern NFL. His dual-threat ability keeps defenses on edge, making every snap unpredictable and electrifying. In the 2022 season alone, Hurts threw for 3,701 yards and 22 touchdowns while also rushing for 760 yards and 13 more scores, proving his versatility as both a passer and a runner.

His ability to escape pressure and extend plays often turns broken-down situations into highlight-reel moments, making him one of the most exciting players to watch. Whether he’s launching a deep pass with pinpoint accuracy or bulldozing through defenders for a first down, Hurts’ playing style is a thrilling blend of power, speed, and poise.

Beyond the stats, Hurts’ clutch performances have cemented his reputation as a must-watch player. In Super Bowl LVII, he became the first quarterback in NFL history to rush for three touchdowns in a Super Bowl, finishing with 304 passing yards and 70 rushing yards and nearly leading the Eagles to victory.

His 43 total touchdowns (passing and rushing) that season tied for the most in Eagles’ franchise history, demonstrating his ability to take over games in high-pressure moments. Hurts’ ability to command the offense in the air and on the ground adds an extra layer of excitement, as he’s just as likely to drop a perfect deep ball as he is to bulldoze a linebacker in the red zone. His fearless style of play, leadership, and composure make him one of the most exhilarating quarterbacks in the league today.

All of that paid off this season. Hurts, the quarterback everyone doubted, remained calm, collected, and composed—without any extra assistance from officials, he led the Eagles to a dominant 40-22 win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

He is a man of few words, but his actions speak volumes. For brands looking for their new face, Hurts is an undeniable choice. His face card never declines.

Beyond his talent, Hurts stands for something bigger than the game. He actively supports women—something our sitting president does not. In 2021, he used the NFL’s “My Cause, My Cleats” initiative to advocate for women in sports and beyond.

“I thought that was very important to show my support and play a role in equaling out the playing field for women in sports and women all around the world, really, when you talk about them being empowered to truly have equality in whatever field they choose to strive for,” Hurts told ESPN.

In 2023, he reiterated that stance on Good Morning America, emphasizing the importance of “focusing on equaling out that playing field and giving the young women in this world the same opportunities that young men have.”

Hurts doesn’t just talk—he walks the walk. His inner circle includes powerful women, including Nicole Lynn, the first Black woman to represent an NFL draft pick. His commitment to diversity and equality isn’t performative; it’s ingrained in how he operates.

Jalen Hurts is more than a quarterback. He is the player elevating the game, making it exciting to watch, and, most importantly, demonstrating what it truly means to be an inspiration both on and off the field.

The NFL is witnessing the rise of the Jalen Hurts era and, with it, the reign of the Philadelphia Eagles. Fly, Jalen Fly!