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Naomi Withdraws from Wimby
Re: Naomi Withdraws from WimbyNaomi Osaka says Novak Djokovic, others reached out to offer support after French Open withdrawal NEW YORK -- Naomi Osaka says former first lady Michelle Obama and Novak Djokovic, Michael Phelps and Stephen Curry were among those who reached out to offer support after she withdrew from the French Open to take a mental health break. In an essay that appears in Time's Olympic preview issue, on sale Friday, Osaka -- a four-time Grand Slam champion and former No. 1-ranked player -- wrote that she hopes "we can enact measures to protect athletes, especially the fragile ones," and suggests they be allowed to sometimes skip media obligations without punishment. "There can be moments for any of us where we are dealing with issues behind the scenes," Osaka said. "Each of us as humans is going through something on some level." She said before the French Open began that she would not speak to the media during that tournament, saying those interactions were sometimes uncomfortable and would create doubts for her on the court. After her first-round victory in Paris, Osaka was fined $15,000 for skipping her mandatory news conference and threatened by the four Grand Slam tournaments with the possibility of disqualification or suspension if she continued to avoid the media. Osaka, 23, then pulled out of that tournament, saying she deals with anxiety before news conferences and has experienced bouts of depression in recent years. "Believe it or not, I am naturally introverted and do not court the spotlight," she wrote for Time. "I always try to push myself to speak up for what I believe to be right, but that often comes at a cost of great anxiety." She hasn't played since Paris, also sitting out Wimbledon, which ends Sunday. She will return to competition at the Tokyo Olympics, which open July 23, and where she will represent her native Japan. "It has become apparent to me that literally everyone either suffers from issues related to their mental health or knows someone who does," Osaka wrote in her essay, adding later: "I do hope that people can relate and understand it's OK to not be OK, and it's OK to talk about it." On the topic of news conferences, Osaka said she thinks the "format itself is out of date and in great need of a refresh." She also proposed giving tennis players "a small number of 'sick days' per year, where you are excused from your press commitments without having to disclose your personal reasons. I believe this would bring sport in line with the rest of society."
Re: Naomi Withdraws from WimbyNaomi Osaka returns to spotlight, wins best athlete in women's sports at ESPYS Naomi Osaka returned to the spotlight for the first time since withdrawing from the French Open in May and skipping Wimbledon, posing on the red carpet at The ESPYS on Saturday night. The world's highest-paid female athlete faced a slew of photographers in New York, with one being heard urging her, "Nice smile," as cameras clicked furiously. Osaka offered a faint closed-mouth smile in response. Osaka won as the best athlete in women's sports at the annual show honoring the year's top athletes and sports moments. It was moved to New York from Los Angeles this year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Tom Brady won best men's athlete and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers were named best team. The quarterback, who turns 44 next month, won his seventh Super Bowl title this year in his first season with the Bucs. Osaka, who has won four Grand Slam titles, pulled out of the French Open before the second round, saying she has "huge waves of anxiety" before speaking to the media and that she has "suffered long bouts of depression." She also sat out Wimbledon. She'll return for the Tokyo Olympics, representing her native Japan. She high-fived boyfriend-rapper Cordae from YBN Collective before taking the stage. "I just really want to not say a long speech because I'm a bit nervous,'' Osaka said. "This year has been a really, it hasn't even finished, but it's been really tough for a lot of us. For me, I just want to say I really love you guys.'' Charlotte Hornets rookie LaMelo Ball won as best breakthrough athlete. The best game award was Gonzaga's 93-90 win over UCLA in the semifinals of the men's NCAA basketball tournament. DeVonta Smith, who won the Heisman Trophy at Alabama and now plays for the Philadelphia Eagles, won as best men's college athlete. UConn freshman basketball sensation Paige Bueckers won as women's college athlete. She urged greater media coverage for Black women athletes. "They've given so much to this sport, the community, and society as a whole, and their value is undeniable,'' she said. "I think we should also use this power together to also celebrate Black women. To all the incredible Black women in my life, on my teams, to Breonna Taylor and all the lives lost, and to those names who I have not yet learned but I hope to share, I stand behind you and I'll continue to follow you and follow your lead and fight for you guys.'' Shohei Ohtani, the Los Angeles Angels' two-way sensation, won as best MLB player. The Los Angeles Dodgers' World Series victory was named best championship moment. Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson attended the show in her first public appearance since testing positive for marijuana at the U.S. Olympic track trials and losing her spot on the team for Tokyo. Actor Anthony Mackie hosted the show from The Rooftop at Pier 17 at the Seaport. He singled out Scripps National Spelling Bee winner Zaila Avant-garde during his monologue. The 14-year-old from Louisiana is a basketball prodigy. "This kid can do anything," Mackie said. "She can hit a step-back like Luka Doncic and then spell Luka Doncic right the first time." Former WNBA MVP Maya Moore received the Arthur Ashe Courage Award for her work on criminal justice reform. She was honored on the same day that the late tennis champion would have turned 78. Moore stepped away from her playing career in 2019 to seek justice for Jonathan Irons, who was serving a 50-year prison sentence after being wrongly convicted of burglary and assault. Irons' conviction was overturned last year and he was freed. The couple later married. Chris Nikic was honored with the Jimmy V Award for Perseverance. Last year, he became the first person with Down syndrome to finish an Ironman triathlon. "I don't do excuses," Nikic said. "I don't quit." Manchester United star Marcus Rashford received the Pat Tillman Award for Service. The 23-year-old Brit helped raise millions of dollars for children in England during the COVID-19 pandemic. Re: Naomi Withdraws from WimbySo Maya Moore got a award for being a prison pen pal. ESPY awards are a joke now.
Re: Naomi Withdraws from WimbyNaomi Osaka’s Now A Bada$$ Barbie You Can Buy For Your Kids (Or Yourself) This is Osaka’s second time being honored as a Barbie Naomi Osaka has been a role model to many athletes and others who’ve praised the tennis star on her openness to speak out on racial justice and mental health. The 23-year-old is now being immortalized for younger generations as Mattel’s latest Barbie doll — the Naomi Osaka Barbie Role Model. Mattel Mattel “Known for using her platform to speak out about issues surrounding human rights and racial injustice, Naomi is a force, on and off the court,” Mattel said on its website of the doll, now available for pre-order and shipping on August 15 for $29.99. This is Osaka’s second Barbie — she was also available as a one-of-a-kind Barbie Shero for the brand’s 60th anniversary in 2019. “It’s such an honor to be a part of the Barbie Role Model series, and to remind young girls that they can make a difference in the world,” Osaka said in a press release. “I want young girls everywhere to feel empowered to dream big and to know that if they believe in themselves that anything is possible!” Osaka made headlines when she pulled out of the French Open and Wimbledon, prioritizing her mental health over the game. She issued a statement to explain that, since the 2018 U.S. Open, she’s suffered from “long bouts of depression.” She explained that speaking to the public and reporters at mandatory press conferences during tournaments gives her “huge waves of anxiety.” “I’m gonna take some time away from the court now, but when the time is right I really want to work with the Tour to discuss ways we can make things better for the players, press and fans,” Osaka wrote. She recently penned an essay for Time Magazine talking about it in more detail and about her journey to the upcoming Tokyo Olympics. “I feel uncomfortable being the spokesperson or face of athlete mental health as it’s still so new to me and I don’t have all the answers,” she wrote. “I do hope that people can relate and understand it’s O.K. to not be O.K., and it’s O.K. to talk about it. There are people who can help, and there is usually light at the end of any tunnel.” The new Role Model Barbie wears a replica of the outfit she wore at the 2020 Australian Open, a blue-and-pink Nike tank top and shorts with a white skirt. In addition to the Barbie and the upcoming Olympics in Tokyo, Osaka is the subject of a Netflix documentary miniseries titled Naomi Osaka, premiering July 16, which talks about her childhood and the rise to become a tennis superstar. More importantly, she’s been open about prioritizing her mental health above everything else — a message that is so needed for all ages in all stages of their lives. Re: Naomi Withdraws from WimbyOsaka, who said she’s media shy, now has a major Netflix series, is on the cover of Vogue Japan, and a big ESPN award appearance. Just 5 weeks ago she stated she was going to “take some time away.” Like ESPN, saying one thing, doing another. No shame. No self awareness. Re: Naomi Withdraws from WimbyThank You!
Re: Naomi Withdraws from WimbyNaomi Osaka: Stephen Curry, Michelle Obama, others reached out following withdrawal from French Open The women's tennis star will return to the court at the Tokyo Olympics, where she will represent Japan. |