Fight the good fight

Is it the start of a new era for Nike?

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

Montreal – What I will write in the next few sentences won’t be pleasing, but I’m always up for starting a controversial conversation that may shed light on a different perspective on a particular subject.
Recently, Nike has been back in the PR game with a bang. We saw the ad with Serena Williams and her father. It was so beautiful.

Serena Nike
Strength, courage, determination, and humility were showcased in this ad. For me, the ad was a success!
Serena Just Do It

This weekend, Colin Kaepernick was chosen to be part of Nike’s ‘Just Do It’ Anniversary campaign. I must admit, I like the ad. The black and white picture is marvelous! I do respect Colin for his beliefs and what he is standing for, but I would respect him more if he truly wanted to play some football-to at least have a season in the Canadian league, even if his salary wouldn’t be comparable to the NFL.

But, that’s another story.

I have a little problem with Nike. And damn, I love their apparel and shoes. I’m happy that this company is standing behind a social cause,but this is the same company that contributes to poor quality of life by making young boys or girls work in a sweatshop when they should be in school getting the best education they can or playing outside with friends, wearing their own decent pair of Nikes. Even Patrick J. Adams (a fellow Canuck) tweeted about the fact that Nike shouldn’t really be seen as an activist company when they still use non-unionized sweatshop labor.

I know I will get a shit load of comments, but I thinkifNike truly wanted to make a change, maybe they should put the same amount of money on a campaign to end the horrific conditions of sweatshop labor for any human being. This is not a place for a child to work. A child needs to be in school. Maybe, make a better work environment for the parents, with the possibilities of a scholarship for the children of those workers can go to school abroad or in their country. One thing for sure, Nike can Do It!

As for Colin, with all the money and the sponsorship he gets, I hope he will continue to stand up for what he believes in, just play some football elsewhere (Canada is a beautiful country and the CFL is not THAT bad). He can still fight the good fight and play some fine football in the CFL. Is it more appealing to be a glitzy activist?

Is it truly about activism, or is it about the money after all?

Nike, Just Do It.
colin-kaepernick-nike

P.S. Some people are damn stupid to burn their Nike’s items. Seriously… Damn fools.

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Vivre Le Grand Classique KR

Rédigé par Sabine Démosthènes

Il y a des moments où le temps semble s’arrêter pour un instant quand tu assistes à un moment magique.  Et tu veux t’accrocher à ce sentiment si joyeux pour le plus longtemps que tu peux.

Le Classique KR 2018 fut définitivement un de ces moments magiques pour moi.

Le fameux Commentateur Haïtien et son armée de joueurs et joueuses professionnels et  de hockey, d’humoristes et de personnalités publiques étaient prêts à donner tout un spectacle au Complexe Sportif Guimond.

Mais la star de ce tournoi fut la belle Laurence qui est la “bestie” à Kevin. Laurence était si rayonnante (j’étais à côté d’elle et de sa maman pendant que j’essayais de prendre des photos). Je peux confirmer qu’elle avait hâte d’aller sur la glace pour lancer le coup d’envoi. Ce qui était beau fut de voir une si belle amitié et complicité entre Laurence et Kevin. Kevin adore sa ”Laulau” tellement que le trophée du tournoi porte son nom. Voici une note à mes besties. Je veux un trophée qui porte mon nom. La barre est haute là. Je rigole évidemment.

Pour revenir à Laurence, elle est en rémission d’un cancer et elle a eu des soins à l’hôpital Sainte-Justine. Si vous avez la chance de lire le billet que Kevin a écrit sur sa meilleure amie que vous pouvez lire sur son site web, c’est vraiment touchant.

Laurence et les boys

La Fondation Sainte-Justine est une fondation qui me tient à cœur. Sans les soins, le grand travail des chercheurs, des médecins, des infirmières et des bénévoles que j’ai eus il y a 35 ans, je ne sais pas si je serais en train de vous écrire sur le Grand Classique KR. Et je suis persuadée que ça serait la même chose pour la belle Laurence et des milliers d’autres enfants.

Je tiens à dire un mot personnellement à Kevin.

Merci à ton équipe et à toi d’avoir organisé cet événement si magique. D’un enfant qui s’est battue avec toute l’équipe de l’hôpital Sainte-Justine il y a 35 ans jusqu’au petits guerriers comme Laurence, merci du plus profond du coeur.

Je suis prête pour le Grand Classique KR 2019! Une commentatrice haïtienne, ça serait cool ça.

Le Grand Classique KR 2018

Site Web Officiel de Kevin Raphaël

https://www.fondationstejustine.org/fr/

Hymn to LeBron James

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

After a little summer break, listening to this 70’s hit Summer Breeze, I’m ready to tackle the remainder of the summer!

I wasn’t really on a break, as Ross told Rachel on a Friends episode, since I have been working with The NorthSide team. We’ve been filming our kick-butt (I’m must be careful with my language!) YouTube talk show with the magnificent Educated Fool, Donnie D! Let’s say we’ve been having some serious fun.

Montreal was, again, the city to be in for summer. Osheaga, the Just for Laugh Festival, the International Jazz Festival, the African Nights Festival, the FrancoFolies and a lot of cool concerts were part of our summer “repertoire”.

Let’s get back to business shall we…

The last few weeks have been interesting. LeBron James is not only the crowned king of Los Angeles, but he is also the People’s King.

Why?

You may have heard or read that this fine gentleman created a very promising school. Some people were not very happy, or probably jealous (hint: 45), and lashed out with their stupidity on Twitter. LeBron James is clearly not intimidated by this kind of bullying. He is still focusing on the positivity surrounding him (a legion of people all around the world are admiring his good heart and his talent).

To King James, we promise to follow you.

Before I forget, a quick shoutout to Jalen Rose and Molly Qerim – the First Couple of ESPN!

They got married two weeks ago. When I learned this beautiful news, I did a little happy dance, like Carlton Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel Air (The Tom Jones one) in our VR during our camping trip. Guys, if you are sports and pop culture fans, check out their shows and podcasts on ESPN! You won’t regret it at all.

I will end this editorial with one question mark:

I wonder if Kobe Bryant is asking himself why he didn’t think of being more of a philanthropist instead of focusing on who is the greatest basketball player of all-time?

I’m just saying…

http://www.lebronjames.com

Jalen and Jacoby Show on ESPN

Molly Qerim Instagram

I got Toronto on my mind

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

I’ve still got Toronto on my mind, even after a few days back to the city of a thousand church bells, Montreal.

It wasn’t my first time in the Tdot, but it was my first time alone as an adult in the city. A few days disconnecting with my usual non-orthodox routine, that is – my crazy life, and without speaking the Molière language was interesting.

Montreal does have a special European charm and a certain je ne sais quoi, but Toronto is more a cosmopolitan city, with hidden treasures to be found every few streets.

I was in Toronto especially to listen to a nice conversation.

This conversation was insightful, funny, charming and so authentic. I’m really happy to have been part of it as a listener. Especially since part of this dynamic duo is my ultimate favorite journalist and person I try to emulate the most in this kind of journalism.

He is one of the most respected men in this field.

Nick Clooney is the journalist I am talking about. I won’t deny, listening to him gave me chills. Listening to him talk about Hazim “Haz’ Avdal, a young Yazidi Iraki refugee who is like a second son to him, I saw the pride of a father whose son gave him hope to believe in goodness in people again.

Both Amal and Nick were proud family members when they spoke about Az, as well as with Nadia Murad. Nadia is a young Yazidi woman that was captured by Isis. She escaped with some scars, but that hasn’t stopped her from being the sister, the mother and the ultimate superwoman to all the Yazidis.

She is proudly fighting the good fight with her secret weapon, Amal Clooney.

Amal is more than the woman who married one of the biggest movie stars in the world and one heck of a director (come on, Good Night and Good Luck was a masterpiece).

Yes, the media talks about her latest look. I do have to admit, she mixes fun and sassiness in her look like the majority of us women in this world aim to do.

There is even a blog dedicated to her fashion sense, but my point is that even the blog dedicated to her fashion sense talks about the cause that she cherishes. I definitely have more respect for a blog like the one I’m talking about over the TMZs of the world.

Why she is more than a celebrity?

It’s because, like Audrey Hepburn, her main focus is to shine light on causes that may not been known or talked about much. It’s not be easy to have this growth in attention when only 6 years ago, she could go to eat at her favorite Italian restaurant in Notting Hill without being mobbed by a hundred photographers.

But she has a good co-pilot in George and a good family unit that will continue to be her fortress.

I came back to Montreal with a refreshing perspective on life and the act of compassion.

I didn’t think that the city of Toronto would be the type to remind me to continue being compassionate and to keep up the good fight.

Speaking of keeping up the good fight, the best boxing trainer is in Toronto! Go check him out, Jorge Blanco. If you are in Montreal, you are not forgotten. You can train here in Montreal as well.

I’m so overdue that I will give my coach a call.

In the end, Toronto and Montreal are the perfect couple (except in the NHL). They are complementary to each other.

Can we take this as an example and be more complementary to each other as human beings, especially with regard to compassion and human decency?

I did see it last weekend in the Tdot!

http://spaniard.ca

Clooney Foundation For Justice official website

So hard to say goodbye to Anthony Bourdain

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

I’m in total shock.

I’m in this weird, very bad dream where Anthony Bourdain committed suicide.

Can I wake up out of this terrible dream and this horrendous week?

Wake up!

It’s not a nightmare. This is real.

I’m on my train ride into city and I’m just crying. The young lady next to me probably thinks I got dumped by a boyfriend, but it way worse than that.

Anthony was one of the people I looked to in order to set an example as a good communicator, a good citizen of the world and to be the “enfant terrible” of my generation.

He made me feel like it was okay to be an outsider, to be different and to be real without being obnoxious.

His TV show, “Parts Unknown”, is a ritual of mine and my hubby. Anthony was such a good guy. Not the most perfect one, but you could see that he had this gentle soul, even when he was looking like a real rock star with all his tattoos and his attitude.

I am speechless.

My thoughts are going to his family, to his love, to Éric Ripert and to all of his friends, including the fans.

I wish I could write his biography, but you know what, if you want to know who Tony was, please watch all of “Parts Unknown” and read his masterpiece book, “Don’t Eat Before Reading This”.

I will write it until I’m dying, but for anyone that is struggling, please, reach out.

One of my favorite quotes from Anthony is:

“You learn a lot about someone when you share a meal with him”

Thank you Chef!

Kate Spade is still shining like a bright star

Written by Sabine Demosthenes

Learning the news of Kate Spade’s death was unexpected and so sad.

Her name has been part of my repertoire since my “not so glamorous” teenage years in the nineties and into my early twenties.

I was always curious about the next handbag she would create, even as the minimalist kind of girl that I am.

But yesterday, when I learned the sad news of her death, I was reminded of when one of my high school classmates decided to end her life her first year in college. This classmate had everything going for her: beauty, perfect body, great hair, a sweet boyfriend and the status of one of the popular girls in school. At the same time, she was sometimes moody and seemed so sad.

Everyday, I would walk to school and our paths would cross. We walked the last 2 min to school together. She could sense that I was shy to talk to her. I would always give her my biggest smile, but then look down and walk faster. She would acknowledge my smile and my shyness.

There is not a day I don’t think of why I didn’t made the first step to being her friend.

She was my aunt’s neighbour. I still remember that dreadful February night when she called my home to talk to my mom who later told me that a young girl had died. She didn’t know I went to school with her.

By the time my mom was about to tell me the news, my best friend from high school had sent me an MSN message (yes, it was before Facebook messenger and texting).

I went to my room and picked up my high school yearbook, turning straight to the page her picture was on. I was numb. I cried.

I couldn’t go to the funeral because I felt so guilty about not reaching out to her. And I managed, with time, to face it but let me tell you, I struggled a lot afterwards.

Yesterday was a sad day.

But suicide is happening everyday. When someone is famous, we tend to be more aware because it is broadcasted across every form of media. But I would like to say, out loud, my thoughts about a specific thing I saw that made me so mad.

Why are outlets like TMZ, etc. are taking pictures of the body on a stretcher leaving the apartment building?!

I really get super mad about seeing a picture like this (by accident) because it is on the front page. Like when my classmate died, the local newspaper didn’t send a photographer to take a picture and put it on our Wednesday issue.

You get my point.

It’s a painful moment for the family and friends and everywhere you will go, this picture will be on every news outlet, tabloid and so on. It’s so awful and such a lack of respect.

For the young girl that lost her dear mom, for the husband that lost his wife and the mother of his child, to her family and to her friends, my thoughts are with you.

And to the tabloids, get the hell out and show some respect. Damn it!

In a way, she is still bringing lights into our life and she is forcing us having this really difficult conversations about depression and anxiety. Maybe this tragedy will save more lives.

For anyone that is struggling, please, please, please, we are here for you and there are some incredible organizations that are here for you. You are not alone.

We are not alone.

http://www.depressionarmy.com

https://www.nami.org

https://letstalk.bell.ca/en/

Don’t judge a book by its cover

Written by Sabine Démosthènes

I have loved fashion since I was young, from the time I realized it was a thing.

Watching my sweet Mamma glamming up for our ritual house parties in the 80s, while she likely wished she was more of an Alexis Colby Carrington because she was a fierce and career-oriented woman a that happen to be a fashionista rather than a Kristle Carrington from Dynasty, our favorite show, was a joy for me.

I was in awe of all of her stilettos, pearls necklaces, giant gemstone rings, and dresses. I couldn’t wait to play with them. I wasn’t the only one in that situation.

My mom worked a 9 to 5 job in a clothing manufacture earning a hourly wages while going back to school to have a better career for herself in the 80’s.

She worked so hard during the day. She wasn’t a lawyer, a journalist, a doctor, or a scientist, but she did her best to provide us with the essentials. And yes, fashion was part of that.

I never took my mom less seriously because she loved to have fun with her style and enjoy it. It was the  contrary. I admired her more for not taking herself too seriously and she encouraged me to have the same disposition.

In the 80s, everyone had fun with fashion. From executives (those shoulders pads – uh uh!) to the neon leggings seen on fitness enthusiasts.

Women like Oprah, Jane Fonda, the girls from Salt’N’Pepa and Madonna, even my gym professor and elementary school principal (I loved Mrs. Nantel’s red suit) were having fun with fashion.

In the 90s, Grunge and the streetstyle of Hip-Hop were in full bloom. It was the decade of my ultimate fashion mentor’s style!

I’m still into it today, dressing like her, it is so me now.

Carolyn Bessette-Kennedy! The minimalist goddess of all time.

Did we judge her like we crucify some women today for their wardrobe?

No!

So why do we do it in 2018? I read article that said, for example, you are a prominent human rights barrister, you cannot enjoy being creative with your outfit without being judged for not taking your role seriously.

What the heck?!

I find it ridiculous. People must have nothing better to do.

My clothes shouldn’t speak to my accomplishments but actually, my accomplishments should speak for themselves.

For an example, Diana, Princess of Wales had fun with her wardrobe, but it didn’t stop her from being considered the Peoples’ Princess.

I remember a few years ago, at a convention, I had my Gucci eyewear mixed with a Club Monaco T-shirt and a black pencil skirt. Simple, classic. I was given the look: “OMG you are so materialistic for showcasing your sunglasses”.

Someone actually came up to me and commented.

I wasn’t happy about it at all. I was thinking, I’m not judging anyone, why they are doing it to me?

After that, did I stop wearing my eyewear? Or, if I wanted to wear nice clothes, did I think twice?

Hell no!

We are so lucky to have the opportunity to have fun with fashion. Yes, some things can be pricey and some people may think we are pretentious. But, maybe try to take the time to learn about someone personally and then, maybe you won’t say or write such stupid things.

Ladies and Gentlemen, let’s not be those cynical, sad people that have nothing better to do than judge a book by its cover without reading it.

Let it be.