weekened report 002
football players are on linkedin now and apparently KD has a burner account
Welcome to Weekend Report 002.
in case you missed the first edition, here it is:
Think of this as another page ripped from my sports and wellness scrapbook, except this week’s didn’t come from a game.
Similar to an athlete, I had a very clear vision of what my life was supposed to look like. Fortune 500 job. Corporate “stability”. Climbing the ladder. Free food and benefits. The whole thing.
And I’m grateful to God for what I’ve achieved.
But recently, I’ve been realizing that following your dreams doesn’t always look like continuing on a path you decided on when you were 17. Sometimes it looks like knowing when to pivot.
For me, sports and living an active lifestyle became an outlet and a reminder that there’s more to life than performance reviews, deadlines, slack messages, and inboxes.
Work can support your life, but it probably shouldn’t be the thing your entire life revolves around.
At the same time, that’s something I do admire about athletes. Their work and their passions often go hand in hand. They know what they want and dedicate their lives to being the best at it.
And while my personal path might look like discovering a new dream, for some, it’s not about changing the dream at all, but building the right systems around it.
Recently, I’ve looked into Fernando Mendoza, a quarterback at Indiana, who gained attention for using LinkedIn to announce his intention to enter the 2026 NFL Draft, which feels like a perfect example of this.
I personally thought using Linkedin was an clever move and it does make sense especially considering how strong the athlete × brand pipeline has become.
Being an athlete today isn’t just about the game itself, but also the culture and partnerships that surround it.
It serves as a reminder that even at the highest level of competition, having opportunities outside of your main job can make a huge difference long term. Careers are short. Impact doesn’t have to be.
When I think about Fernando, a two star recruit from Miami who chose Indiana to rewrite his story, that is where it really becomes meaningful.
He was not the headline coming out of high school. He was not the safe bet. He chose the harder path.
That decision led to him becoming the first player in school history to win the Heisman Trophy.
That alone is historic.
What stands out even more is what he represents.
Beyond the accomplishments, he carries himself like a true leader. Humble. Kind. Calm.
Underdog stories remind us that doubt is not destiny.
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I’m really excited to see where he lands in the draft later this year.
He had an incredible season where he led his team to an undefeated National Championship, so I’m sure plenty of teams will have their eyes on him heading into the draft.
I came across this video of the letter his mom wrote him before a big moment in his college career <3
But, with the NFL in its offseason and me currently learning a new sport from scratch, this week’s report is a little shorter.
I’m looking forward to catching up on everyone’s Substacks and reading all the NBA takes while the season’s still here.
what i’m watching
It’s a very Philly sports weekend for me. I’ve been catching up on what changes the Eagles (go birds!) are making this offseason and thought this video Jason Kelce made about the new Offensive Coordinator was really interesting.
After last season’s struggling offense, he’s suggesting there might be more hope for the Eagles next year (so fingers crossed). This will also be Jalen Hurts’ 7th Offensive Coordinator in his NFL career… but hey, 7th time’s a charm?
Also saw that my favorite rookie, VJ Edgecombe, went on a podcast. He’s basically been the only player in the league I’ve consistently followed this season, but I’m looking forward to learning more about my actual home team, the Knicks.
And on a final note, I just saw something about KD having a burner account?!
Bleacher Report posted this and while I’m admittedly out of the loop on nearly everything NBA right now, should I be using this as a quick recap?
in my cart
Hatch alarm - i’ve have one for a while, but looking for an upgrade - improved my entire night-time routine
Anyway, in the meantime, I’ll be learning about the basics and positions in basketball
AH SO FUN! Soooo cool to see Fernando Mendoza in the report this week, I thought his use of LinkedIn is so novel and it always makes me laugh in a good way! I’m super, super excited to see where he ends up as well. I feel like in recent days I saw posts linking him that the landing spot might be the Raiders? Not sure if it’s true, though. I’m not fluent in the NFL Draft (maybe this is the year to be?)
And AHHH VJ ON A PODCASTTT I have to listen! :’)
And yay learning about the Knicks :D so so so fun!!! (I mean not rn we lost to the Pistons yesterday but besides that.. fun!) lmk if you ever want tips or recs for videos to watch to get into the team or anything :D