Latest news with #GWOT
Yahoo
28-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Will Claressa Shields Vs. Laila Ali Ever Happen?
For years now, there has been a competitive rivalry between two of women's boxing greats in Claressa Shields and Laila Ali. Ali is a 2021 inductee into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. Her career boasts an undefeated record after 24 fights. Of those bouts, she has 21 knockouts. In Ali's day, she was nothing to snooze at. Hell, she was the furthest thing to snooze at. And up until recent years, no one would rival such greatness. What's in a name? When it comes to Shields, she has been making her way for years. With a professional record of 16-0, she's seeking to give her self-proclaimed nickname legitimacy as the 'Greatest Woman of All-Time' (G.W.O.A.T). For these two ladies, their relationship began as a mentor-mentee type deal. The two began as very complimentary of one another. However, a 2019 The Breakfast Club interview with Ali changed everything. She said, 'I don't think there's anyone there for me that would give me a good challenge.' Shields took exception to that notion, especially after her gold medal success in the most recent Olympics at the time. Since those comments, Shields has made it her point to not only win her fights but also become a box office attraction for women's boxing. She is as charming as she is strong in the ring. With that type of quality, she seeks to sell her fights in ways that women just haven't before. Most recently, Ali was asked once again whether or not she would take on Shields in a match. She responded, saying, 'Unless somebody has $15-$20 million, don't even call me about this.' A few days later, Shields seemingly called Ali's bluff, producing a video in which she presented a check for $15 million to pay Ali to sign on to fight her. The business of boxing Now, as a marketing ploy, I find this to be genius! The G.W.O.A.T is obviously promoting herself through this. But with athletes having the ego that they do, fans have to wonder, 'Will Ali take the bait?' At 47, Ali is 17 years Shields' senior. From an athletic standpoint, we're fine to assume that Ali won't be what she once was. However, there's always that possibility that for one night, she can be. That's the type of selling point you can have for such a generational fight such as this. If Shields can back up all of her smack talk, she will be known to be someone who was never writing checks her fists couldn't cash. As I enjoy saying, I see the vision. Do I think this fight will actually happen? I do. We've seen crazier things happen. So, if that $15 million is legit, you absolutely have to consider it from Ali's side. If this does go down, it's bound to be the biggest women's combat fight of all time. With that potential riding on it, I ask this: Why not?The post Will Claressa Shields Vs. Laila Ali Ever Happen? appeared first on Blavity.
Associated Press
07-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Jon Hammes Joins Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation's Esteemed Board of Directors
Established CEO Brings Lifetime of Business Experience to Foundation WASHINGTON, April 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation (GWOTMF) announced that Jon Hammes, the founder of Hammes Company, will join the Foundation's esteemed Board of Directors. 'I am honored to welcome Jon, a fellow Army Veteran whose expertise and experience is on par with our exceptional Board of Directors team,' said GWOTMF President and CEO Michael 'Rod' Rodríguez. 'His business acumen, coupled with his personal support and connection to our mission, elevates our organizational capability and furthers our goal to ensure all are honored in this first-of-its-kind Memorial.' Jon is the founder of Hammes Company, a national real estate consulting, development, and investment firm. Before founding the Hammes platform in 1991, Jon was a Managing Partner at Trammell Crow Company. He currently serves as a trustee and past chair of the Medical College of Wisconsin, a director of the George W. Bush Presidential Institute, a former trustee and chair of the State of Wisconsin Investment Board, an emeriti trustee for Marquette University, a past director of the University of Wisconsin Foundation, and a past chair and director of Teach for America. About the Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation Formed in 2015 by veterans, military spouses, and supportive Americans, the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT) Memorial Foundation is the 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization designated by Congress to lead the effort to plan, fund, and build a reverent and apolitical GWOT Memorial on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Our sole mission is to construct an inclusive place of honor for both uniformed and non-uniformed personnel, as well as their families, who served and sacrificed as part of global counterterrorism operations since September 11th, 2001. The Memorial will be a place for Americans to honor, heal, be empowered, and unite. The Memorial will be entirely funded by donations; no federal government funding will be used. All donations are 100% tax deductible. Learn more by visiting our website. Follow our progress on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.
Yahoo
29-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
There is more to Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth's unconventional style than his bright blue suits
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth seems to favor "operator casual" style on official trips. The style, popularized during the Global War on Terrorism, blends professionalism and tactical function. Hegseth's look contrasts with predecessors, reflecting a generational shift. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is known for steering clear of the traditional, somber attire expected in Washington, DC, playing the suit game by his own rules. But he's also got a second kind of unconventional look — operator casual. It's a different vibe from the conspicuously bright blue suit he wore at the recent NATO summit, drawing criticism, but it shares some similarities to some of his other preferred flair, like flag-linings in his suits, patriotic socks, and a star-spangled pocket square. The style gained momentum during the Global War on Terrorism, or GWOT, though earlier versions date back to the 1990s. US special operators deployed to areas away from support forces have, at times, needed to blend in. Lightweight, nonmilitary clothing that can convey professionalism while offering tactical features that allow the wearer to maneuver in a gunfight has come in handy. And it's since given rise to this look. Hegseth donned this kind of attire on recent trips to Guantánamo Bay in Cuba and the US-Mexico border. He wore the same style while addressing reporters in Hawaii this week as he disputed that he and other Trump administration officials discussed sensitive attack plans on an unsecured messaging app. The travel look differs from previous defense secretaries. Hegseth has cultivated an image of "lethality" and having "dust on his boots," characterizing himself as a "change agent" with real, on-the-ground combat experience. That's meant to stand in contrast with his predecessors, many of whom not only had combat experience but significantly more leadership experience. He may have taken notice of the comfortable "operator casual" style while serving in the Army National Guard, though it is unclear. The Office of the Secretary of Defense has not responded to Business Insider's request for comment on the secretary's attire. The general vibe associated with this look is that someone, often soldiers or civilian first responders, could "be traveling at one minute, and then be on the range the next minute, and then be back in the professional office in the third instance," said Tim Jensen, cofounder of the clothing brand Grunt Style, in an interview with BI. The term "grunt" is used to describe infantry personnel. The look usually includes five components, Jensen said. Normally, a baseball-style hat, maybe with a subdued American flag, sunglasses, a collared shirt or tee with a patriotic symbol, technical fabric pants (good in case you need to break into a sprint, Jensen explained), and hiking-style boots. Early versions of this operator casual look can be seen in photos from the 1990s, like when elite US Delta Force personnel were photographed traveling with Operation Desert Storm leader, US Army General Norman Schwarzkopf, carrying rifles with button-down shirts. Before the GWOT, special operations-coded words like "operator" weren't really part of the general American lexicon, Jensen observed. But after two decades of war and countless movies, books, and TV shows depicting niche SOF cultures, those preferences have seeped into other parts of American life, including into conventional corners of the US military. Hegseth did not serve as a special operator, but he is known to enjoy working out with Army Green Berets and Navy SEALs. Concurrent with the increased cultural popularity of special operations forces, as troops returned from deployments seeking more functional clothes to wear at home or to take on future overseas rotations, many were drawn to the new clothing styles, said Michael Standing, a marketing coordinator for the Zero Foxtrot clothing brand popular with veterans and first responders. The demand for a more outdoorsy style, with plentiful pockets and a loose fit to help obscure pistols for concealed carry, arose as US special operations units also drafted lucrative contracts with brands like Patagonia, Salomon, and Arc'teryx. Hegseth's travel look is a notable departure from some of the most recent secretaries. Jim Mattis, Trump's first defense secretary, was rarely seen in anything but dark formal suits. Leon Panetta dressed down in khakis and dress shirts while Ash Carter wore dress shirts and multiple holsters for devices. And Chuck Hagel favored a country club vibe and grandfatherly sweaters. One predecessor, though, Gulf War combat veteran Mark Esper, was photographed in a casual operator style on several occasions while visiting Iraq and Afghanistan during his time as the US Army secretary. While the off-duty operator look has surged in popularity with veterans and first responders over the past two decades, much of Hegseth's look can probably be chalked up to generational differences between him and his predecessors, said Derek Guy, a menswear expert and author of the blog Die, Workwear. As men's tailored clothing has declined in popularity while technical fabrics become more ubiquitous, a collared, button-front shirt and khaki-adjacent pants can convey a modern professional image, Guy told BI. A polo shirt could also suffice for such official travel, though it might communicate a less rugged image, he said. Hegseth is no stranger to tailored clothing, though his tightly fitted and brightly colored suits also distinguish him from other secretaries. But when visiting troops, especially in warm climates, it might make sense that he would gravitate toward a younger look, Guy said. "If you're a 60 or 70-year-old guy, and you're going out to visit troops, you might still wear a tailored jacket because it is so ingrained in your behavior," he said. "I think generationally, these different types of men across different age groups have different ideas of what it means to look presentable." Read the original article on Business Insider
