Naked Sports with Cari Champion

Darren Waller - From Football to Freedom

Darren Waller a former NFL athlete, shares his journey of self-discovery, addiction, and recovery with us in this episode. He discusses the duality of his identity and some of the challenges he faced while navigating life as a professional athlete. Waller's candid reflections on his struggles with addiction and the path to recovery highlight the importance of self-acceptance and finding purpose beyond sports. Waller shares his vulnerable experience of an overdose, the subsequent realization of his addiction, the transformative power of music, and his commitment to finding a deeper purpose in his life moving forward. Listen to the <a href="https://open.spotify.com/album/2apXYVPRS1iaRMIzM6u2jZ">NEW EP: Internal Warfare: This Too Shall Pass</a> Connect: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carichampion/?hl=en">@CariChampion</a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/rackkwall/?hl=en">@RakkWall</a> Learn More: <a href="https://darrenwaller.org/">DarrenWaller.Org</a> Subscribe: <a href="https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCWUdKRAXL5021aOvXLwHwSOj7FaG2Dbf">Naked Sports with Cari Champion</a> on YouTube!See <a href="https://omnystudio.com/listener">omnystudio.com/listener</a> for privacy information.

Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese caused a media frenzy after their infamous “you can’t see me” exchange in the 2023 NCAA championship game. There was a fierce debate over their perceived rivalry and it only intensified once they became the hottest prospects in the WNBA's rookie class. 
The media’s fixation on their so-called rivalry has been fueled by the same gender and racial bias that has haunted women’s sports for generations. And now that Clark and Reese have brought thousands of new fans to the sport, is it safe to say that this storyline is what the WNBA needed?  Or has it invited toxicity into a space that has always prided itself on its inclusivity and sisterhood?
In this groundbreaking series, Cari Champion searches for answers from those who know Clark and Reese best – from the coaches who helped shape their game, to the players and journalists who have witnessed their meteoric rise first-hand. Champion traces the incredible parallel paths of not just these two historic talents but the WNBA itself, and sets the stage for the collision course that has brought us to this very moment. The Making of a Rivalry: Caitlin Clark vs. Angel Reese is not just about two of the brightest flames the sport has ever seen, but it also asks an essential question – in a time of such divisiveness, is it possible to let greatness unite us?
Connect: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/carichampion/?hl=en">@CARICHAMPION</a>