{"id":69,"date":"2023-05-03T23:10:21","date_gmt":"2023-05-03T23:10:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ascjcapstone.com\/spring-2023\/fiumefre\/?page_id=69"},"modified":"2023-05-08T03:09:14","modified_gmt":"2023-05-08T03:09:14","slug":"the-athlete-the-brand","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ascjcapstone.com\/spring-2023\/fiumefre\/index.php\/the-athlete-the-brand\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"\n

THE ATHLETE = THE BRAND<\/strong><\/h1>\n\n\n
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USC Defensive Back L ‘Boogz’ Simpson (right) poses with Head Coach Lincoln Riley (left), who is wearing one of Simpson’s hoodies. (Instagram: @lboogz) <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n
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The most talented athletes from football and men\u2019s basketball have already cashed in on huge NIL deals. But athletes don\u2019t have to play the popular sports to make money with the new laws; all it takes is for them to simply be themselves.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

L \u2018Boogz\u2019 Simpson is a defensive back for the USC football team. \u2018Boogz\u2019 is well known on campus and on Instagram with nearly 14,000 followers, but not for his work on the field. He is the founder and CEO of the Take No L\u2019s clothing brand. He has also named himself the brand\u2019s first NIL sponsored athlete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simpson believes he\u2019s cracked the code on how to thrive in the NIL era.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cYou can\u2019t spell NIL without the L.\u201d <\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Whether or not it\u2019s a play on words about his name, he\u2019s right \u2014 Likeness is referring to an athlete\u2019s visual identity, and the traits that define who they are.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Likeness is more important than talent. The name \u2018L Boogz\u2019 is bigger than \u2018L Simpson.\u2019 But he realizes that the only way to profit at this stage of the new era is to be a brand instead of an athlete.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Simpson has gotten the opportunity to see many high profile athletes wear his clothing, both college and pro. He\u2019s given hoodies to hip hop artists and celebrities. While some of this can be credited to playing basketball at Sierra Canyon and football at USC, Simpson believes it\u2019s mostly due to his humorous personality and \u201cgo after it\u201d attitude.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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USC Women’s Volleyball (@lboogz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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YouTuber ‘Flight Reacts’ (Left) and Influencer Jenna Brandy (Right) (@takenolsbrand)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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Simpson with rap artist Gunna (right) (@takenolsbrand)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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USC Quarterback and Heisman Winner Caleb Williams (@lboogz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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NBA Hall of Famer Kobe Bryant (left) (@lboogz)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
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So far, the athletes that have benefited from NIL deals aren\u2019t necessarily the Heisman contenders or the March Madness heroes. It\u2019s the athletes that understand there is no set formula to success and aren\u2019t afraid to get creative.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWith this new format, there is no box of what you can do,\u201d said Simpson, \u201cJack likes to stay in the box, but I\u2019m not Jack.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Olivia Dunne is a gymnast at Louisiana State University who\u2019s become one of the top earners of the NIL era so far. Her fame started on TikTok and has grown to all social media platforms, leading to sponsorships with clothing brands such as Vouri and American Eagle. In April 2023, she announced that she would be featured in Sports Illustrated\u2019s<\/em> Swimsuit Edition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

But whether it\u2019s social media or starting their own business, athletes are set up better than ever for a future that doesn\u2019t involve playing sports. He\u2019ll still be in college for a few more seasons, but Simpson already believes clothing is his future.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cI want to continue to grow my business and get it sponsored,\u201d said Simpson, \u201cbut mainly, I just want Take No L\u2019s to be everywhere and apply to everything, not just sports. You might have a final tomorrow, or a job interview and you don\u2019t want to take an \u2018L.\u2019 The possibilities are endless.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

THE ATHLETE = THE BRAND The most talented athletes from football and men\u2019s basketball have already cashed in on huge NIL deals. But athletes don\u2019t have to play the popular sports to make money with the new laws; all it takes is for them to simply be themselves. L \u2018Boogz\u2019 Simpson is a defensive back … <\/p>\n

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