chinyere vann: in her own words
Continued from previous post:
Chinyere ("gift of god"), continues to be an inspiration, from being an Associate Director for CBS Sports, a business partner, a mentor, to her favorite role, being Super Mom to 3 beautiful children. This Brooklyn, NY native, the youngest child of 3, of Chinese-African American descent, graced my childhood bedroom wall after I saw her in a Nike advertisement in a magazine -- one that completely empowered me as a young girl. I thought, "if she could do it, I could, too."
I definitely did--and that ad, that girl playing ball, has continued to serve as a reminder. This is my way of thanking her and sharing her story.
On the nike ad:
In the 90's, the Nike ad you starred in was bold and daring-- especially in portraying young girls in sports. When you collaborated with Nike, did you know how much of an impact/impression it would make?
"During the time of the NIKE ad, I was just enjoying myself and playing basketball with the fellas. The boys basketball team that I was chosen to be a part of ---by a well known city street legend Rodney Parker (GOOGLE HIM.."Rodney Parker New York City") was called "Red Star". It was for high school students, although an outside basketball team, that was made up of "reject basketball players" that didnt have the grades or the committement to play with the big time AAU teams. Some of my teammates included Rafer 'Skip 2 My Lou' Alston [remember, AND1?], Cameron 'Killa Cam' Giles [yes, THAT CAM'RON] and Mason Betha 'MA$E'. Other guys on the team were amazing players from city high schools. Red Star would ALWAYS beat the well known AAU team some of those teams even had players such as Stephon Marbury and Felipe Lopez. (I'm just creating a little bit of the scene for you). Anyways, at the time playing these games with the fellas, I often did have girls and often parents come up to me at the end of a game and say things like, 'OMG, you can really play, your jumpshot is amaazing, you really know how to hang with the dudes.'
At the the time, I thought nothing of it it because I played at the local schoolyards/parks with the fellas all of the time --so it was no big deal. When the folks from NIKE contacted my parents and I, that was the moment that I realized what a big deal I was, proving to the world that girls can compete with boys. This NIKE ad by the way, was worldwide. Not only was I competing with them, I was beating them! I was conquering these courts with my boy teammates and winning major New York City tournaments. After the NIKE ad, the media was all over the story line. I was featured in NBA's Inside Stuff, ABC's 'A Passion to Play' and Essence Magazine even listed me as the top 25 influential women under the age of 25. Yep, I made an impact. Yep, I made an impression."
How did it affect you?
"It was just fun and play for me. I was playing with the fellas on the basketball courts since I was 8 years old."
What did you end up pursuing after high school?
"I was considered one of the top 5 basketball players in the nation, and was offered a full scholarship to every single division I program. I ended up attending the University of Iowa. I played for the team, and we were the Big Ten conference tournament champions and lost in the sweet 16 of the NCAA Women's Basketball Tournament. After a year off (playing with the program) I decided to transfer and attend Fordham University. I left Iowa because I was home sick and missed my family."
Sports Illustrated Feature & Iowa Hoop Days
on her inspirations:
Who did you look up to when you were growing up and why?
"I looked up to my brother, Kayode. He was a great basketball player and 8 years older than me. He was the best athlete and basketball player I'd ever seen. He would go to the schoolyards and courts in the New York City boroughs and kill 'em with jumpshots, dunks, passes, his DEFENSE. 'Amazing K' was his nickname. He didn't have the recognition I had playing ball because my parents had no clue about the intense world of basketball. They stressed academics! But after high school, when he averaged 50 points a game or something like that, he was accepted academically to Georgetown University. He decided to try out for John Thompson's Hoyas and was offered a FULL scholarship by Coach Thompson. My brother was the first player to walk on and given a FULL scholarship from Coach. My brother's roommates included Alonzo Mourning and Dikembe Mutumbo."
What is your life's dream? What are you currently pursuing in life?
"I am living the dream! I was a FORD model from ages 4-12. I was a regular on Sesame Street for 6 years. I was the best basketball player in the universe in high school, played division I basketball and currently I am an associate director at CBS Sports! I am a proud and dope mother of 3. I am living my dream."
What fills or stirs your soul? What do you do to stay centered and balanced?
"I LOVE to live! I have a great family and amazing friends. My balance... do a little bit of everything."
On being a mom:
Chinyere is a mom to 2 beautiful girls: "Lula" Age 9, "Kalei" Age 6, and 1 boy (who has completely stolen my heart): "Theodore" Age 2.
Have they seen the ad? Do they know how dope Mom is?
"My kids know I am Super Woman. There have been times when walking the streets of Brooklyn or Manhattan and a guy will come up to me and be sooo excited to see me and say to my kids: 'Your mother was the dopest basketball player ever", or "Do you know who your mom is?' HA HA HA."
You are my Mom goals-- how do you do it? Balance work, self, family life?
"I love being a mother-- it comes naturally."
What is your greatest wish for your children?
"To be better than me, centered like me and love to live."
on her career:
How did you end up in production (CBS Sports) and why did you choose this line of work? Did you always know this was what you wanted to do?
"After playing at Fordham, I had opportunities to play overseas, but at that moment I decided that Basketball and I were no longer a good mix. I needed to move on to somethng else... television. Because I was in front of the cameras basically my entire childhood and teenage years, I wanted to learn about being behind the scenes. I was given an opportunity after college to work as a production assistant at CBS Sports and I immediately loved it and have been working here ever since!"
Sachin Productions is a collaboration with one of your friends. What made you want to start your own company?
"I started my prodauction company with one of my best friends Sanaa Harris, ESQ (I have THE best friends btw). We started SaChin productions, 4 years to date, to challenge ourselves and create a platform for us and for others to create."
Are there any upcoming projects that you'd like to share? How are these projects involving the community you live in and thrive in?
"SaChin has produced Afro Latino Festival NYC for 2 years and we produced the live streaming for the West Indian Day parade in Brooklyn. Currently, we are working on a reality show treatment as well as a web series treatment.
To learn more, our Instagram is: @SaChinproductions and we are currently looking for freelancers: www.SaChinprod.com/freelance. Our website is: Sachinprod.com."
CBS Sports Family & SaChin Productions
we want to know:
Choose one person you'd want to play (and beat) H-O-R-S-E in and why?
"Cheryl Miller-- she can shoot!"
tying it all back to the nike ad, who do you see your girls identifying with now? looking up to as role models and why?
"They look up to each other, their cousins, I want to see themselves within their own community. They are surrounded by folks who are 'LOVING, COMPASSIONATE DOERS.'"
and If you could go back in time-- what would you tell that 15 year old girl in the Nike ad?
"Nothing, I'd say, 'keep it up!'"
---
amen, sis. AMEN.
We'll be rooting for you!
p.s. we did it! your batch of pansit is coming! thank you for it all!
*All images courtesy of Chinyere Vann, unless otherwise stated.