Born in Portland Oregon, JJ went to the University of Oregon where he was an outstanding Track & Field star who was destined for the 1988 Olympics but an unfortunate injury broke that dream. He was one of the first prototype track stars to successfully “walk on” and excel at football for the Oregon Ducks. Despite being the 216th pick in the 1988 NFL draft with a size of 5’10 157 lbs., and plenty of doubters, JJ’s still went on to played 9 productive years in the NFL. (JJ’s NFL highlight film www.jjbirden.ws )
#SpotlightInterview| Dean Perretta Meets Academy Award-Winning Artist and Political Activist Che “Rhymefest” Smith
As a writer, artist, activist, political organizer and teacher, Che “Rhymefest” Smith has cracked glass ceilings and shattered negative stereotypes about hip-hop. In 2005, Rhymefest won a Grammy for co-writing the mega-hit “Jesus Walks” with his childhood friend Kanye West. In 2006 he released his critically acclaimed “Blue Collar” Album on Clive Davis’s J-records.
#SpotlightInterview| Bellator Star Linton Vassell
Talented Bellator MMA star and reigning and defending UCMMA Light Heavyweight Champion, Linton Vassell (15-4) has fought an arduosly inspirational journey to complete a consuming dream in competing in the world-class Bellator MMA promotion in the United States on primetime Viacom-owned Spike TV after six long and prosperous years of undying persistence, endless training and ultimate sacrifice in carving out a rock solid reputation in highly respected British promotions (UCMMA, Cage Warriors) with supreme knock outs and subjugating submissions in his native United Kingdom.
The vastly determined and god-given athletic 31-year-old Vassell – who is fittingly nicknamed ‘The Swarm’ – proverbially stings opposition unexpectedly with tenaciously hard-hitting punches; which is largely apparent with five noteworthy and devastating knockout victories to his name throughout a successful career which highly ascends with each passing calendar year.
#Spotlight Interviews| NFL New York Giants Carlif Taylor
New York Giants Defensive Tackle Carlif Taylor is a two-time 1st team NCAA Northeast 10 All Conference athlete, decorated NCAA All-Americanand inspirational team captain during his successful tenure with Southern Connecticut State University Owls. Taylor surprisingly went undrafted in the NFL Draft 2015 in Chicago, IL in May 2015 before inking an exclusive deal with four-time NFL Super Bowl Champions and eleven-time conference Champions New York Giants.
The talented New York Giants athlete became a bona fide standout as a junior in 2013, recording a vastly impressive 54 tackles (31 solo), 10.5 for loss and three sacks. Taylor consistently shown great improvement during his senior year in the NCAA as captain in 2014, recording an impressive 73 tackles throughout the season for Southern Connecticut; Taylor led Southern Connecticut in tackles against Gannon, St. Anselm and Assumption(11 tackles in each respective contest).
#InspirationalInterviews| “Picture Perfect” Zaid Khan
Acclaimed British-Asian Professional Wrestler “Picture Perfect” Zaid Khan is living a lifelong consuming dream of performing in the larger-than-life and high-profile world of sports-entertainment. The prodigiously talented 26-year-old Khan was a noteworthy standout amongst 15 of 100 registered applicants throughout the United Kingdom to receive an official invitation to attend a seminar at TNA Impact Wrestling Gut Check in Nottingham, United Kingdom.
The major appearance presented the naturally athletic Khan with the golden opportunity to earn an exclusive contract with TNA Impact Wrestling. TNA Impact Wrestling has consistently hosted major sold-out shows inside Wembley Arena in London, United Kingdom and airs weekly on Destination America; Zaid Khan met Olympic Gold medalist Kurt Angle, “The Vigilante” Sting and WWE Hall of Famer Hulk Hogan during the vastly marquee TNA Impact Wrestling Gutcheck event.
#InspirationaIInterviews|WBO British and European Superfeatherweight Champion Mitchell Smith
At the age of 6, Mitchell Smith discovered an unbridled passion for the sweet science. Smith invariably found greater solace in the boxing ring as a therapeutic and emotional release from problems in which he would occasionally face during school. The ever-rising 22-year-old British boxing sensation first joined Harrow ABC, where the precocious athlete switched to a new boxing gym in Bushey, ultimately claiming triumph in his first-ever bout aged eleven; the Harrow-born professional athlete proceeded to claim a tremendous wealth of junior boxing titles, subsequently relocating to Welwyn Garden boxing gym where Smith soon thereafter reigned supreme in claiming in the prestigious senior ABA title.
#Interviews| Dean Perretta Meets 8-Time Great Britain Jiu Jitsu Gold Medalist Daniel Burzotta
Internationally respected eight-time Great Britain Jiu Jitsu Gold Medalist and two-time United Nations Heavyweight Champion, Daniel Burzotta, is a candid straight shooter likewise to an accomplished Mixed Martial Arts shooter when resolutely discussing his richly decorated career with a sense of no regrets and openness. The self-professed ‘Pioneer of Martial Arts in the South East’ strategically created a uniquely empowering platform in the form of the innovative TSG (Team Sure Grip) school in Essex, United Kingdom alongside the successful UWC Mixed Martial Arts promotion which has proven to be a commercially viable and acclaimed hotbed for supremely gifted Martial Artists and rabid combat sports fans who insatiably whet their appetite in viewing undeniable raw British talent and unfiltered sporting action to spearhead the next generation of the nations prodigious sporting talent; TSG – which has naturally skilled students enrollled as young as 10 years of age – specifically caters to clinically skilled classes in Mixed Martial Arts, boxing, kick boxing, Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, kempo, freestyle wrestling and Greco Roman wrestling.
#Spotlight Interviews|Dean Perretta Meets Author and 13-Year NBA Professional Athlete Keyon Dooling
Beyond the pristine All-American image of an accomplished 13-year NBA multi-millionaire athlete and NCAA Missouri Tigers standout resided a hellish internal truth that was essentially eased by professional sports. Life in the fast lane never remotely drove the ever-grounded Keyon Dooling over the edge until what ultimately transpired in 2012 in a bittersweet incident that altered the stars outlook on life for eternity. The ever-honest and talented 10th overall selection in the NBA Draft 2000 explained his side of the story in-depth in the latest edition where ‘Dean Perretta Meets Keyon Dooling‘.
