Kevin Love of the Cleveland Cavaliers looks on during the game against the Minnesota Timberwolves on Oct. 19, 2018 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
Cleveland Cavaliers power forward Kevin Love opened up to the media last year about his personal encounters with anxiety and depression, hoping to create better understanding in society about mental health. Love will now host his own web series dedicated to discussing healthy masculinity sponsored by shaving brand Schick Hydro.
Swimmer Michael Phelps and NBA veteran’s Paul Pierce and Channing Frye will join Love as guests on the series, titled Locker Room Talk. The show will generate conversations surrounding what positive masculinity means today. Locker Room Talk’s 54-second trailer premiered last Thursday on the Schick Hydro website and YouTube channel.
“I am grateful to have been chosen by Schick Hydro to host Locker Room Talk in hopes of shining a light on issues of masculinity that impact all men,” said Kevin Love in a press release. “Through this new series, I hope that together, we can inspire all men to embrace their own version of positive masculinity.”
A new episode will be released each week throughout November. Locker Room Talk will also encourage donations to the Movember Foundation and Kevin Love Fund through online fundraising platform Omaze. Those who donate at least $10 will be eligible to hang out with Love and receive VIP access to the Cavaliers v. Utah Jazz game on Jan. 4.
Love’s one-on-one discussion with Phelps will air during the week of Nov. 5. The following week will feature Love’s teammate and close friend Frye, who will talk about the importance of teamwork and teaching his kids that there is nothing wrong with showing emotions. Locker Room Talk concludes during the week of Nov. 19 when Pierce will discuss how “locker room talk” has evolved throughout his 19-year playing career.
“We chose to feature Love, Phelps, Pierce, and Frye because they are all true to themselves,” said Patrick Kane, group segment director, men’s shave at Edgewell Personal Care, in the press release. “Each of these athletes achieved the highest levels of success, while helping shape the conversation around what healthy masculinity looks like today.”
SportTechie Takeaway
Love was encouraged to pen a deeply personal article in The Players’ Tribune last year about his own battles with mental health (including an in-game panic attack during the Cavs’ 2017-18 regular season) after fellow NBA-star Demar Derozan spoke to the Toronto Star about his bouts with depression. The world of new media has given athletes unprecedented access to partnering with brands or starting their own media platforms to spread important messages.
