Michael Vick | Sports Issue 2018

2018 Fusion Sport. We all drive. 

New co-pilot

3. 

Editor’s Note 

A word from the Editor In Chief 

of The Quintessential Gentleman, 

Eric K. Thomas 

5. 

An Exclusive Interview 

With Michael Jai White 

The Quintessential Gentleman 

spoke with the acting legend and 

martial arts expert on balancing 

a career, life and playing 

one of the first African American 

superheroes on the big screen. 

7. 

5 Gadgets To Get You 

Through The Spring 

9. 

Vacation Like Baseballers 

Florida is the place to be if you 

are trying to vacation like your 

favorite MLB player. Check out 

these 2 resorts where you may 

see your favorite baseball player 

11. 

Corey Calliet 

One man’s goal to help people 

re-imagine themselves 

Our Staff 

21. 

From The 50 Yard Line 

To The Runway 

Former NFL Player Keith 

Carlos speaks of his journey to 

become America’s Next Top 

Brand! 

25. 

Spring Style For 

Bearded Men 

31. 

How Stylist Amber 

Alexandria Turns 

Athletes Into Fashion 

Stars 

35. 

Mikel Thomas 

Learn more about Mikel 

Thomas as he talks about track 

and field, making the Olympics 

and being a fire fighter in 

Atlanta. 

39. 

Michael Vick 

“The Illustrious Titles 

of an Icon” 

Editor-In-Chief 

Eric K. Thomas | Eric@TheQGentleman.com 

Fashion Editor 

Mickey Freeman | Mickey@TheQGentleman.com 

Lifestyle Editor 

Que Jackson | Que@TheQGentleman.com 

45. 

Groom It Like A Pro! 

48. 

Corn Elder On The 

Importance Of Fashion 

In The NFL 

49. 

Top 7 Cars 

For The Summer 

52. 

Quintessential Eats 

We have compiled some amazing 

recipes that could be used 

for an intimate evening at home 

with your significant other or 

game day with the guys. 

55. 

Fitness Tips For The 

Modern Day Gentleman 

Winter is OVER, Spring is HERE 

and summer is on the way. It’s 

time to shed those pounds from 

the previous and ready yourself 

for your “ Summer Body”. 

57. 

Black Gold 

A Salute to Black Men In The 

History Of Sports 

Director of Public Relations 

Dane Young | Dane@TheQGentleman.com 

Fashion Contributor 

Bobby Macker | Bobby@TheQGentleman.com 

Graphic Design & Visual Editor 

Tyline Burgess | Tylineburgess8@Gmail.com 

Table Of Contents 

Stay up to date with all of the latest from 

The Quintessential Gentleman by following us online at: 

theqGentleman.com

Editor’s 

Note 

It was very important for us to 

have Michael Vick as our first 

sports cover feature because he 

exemplifies what it means to be a 

Quintessential Gentleman. From 

his philanthropic works, business 

endeavors, and his many contributions 

to the National Football 

League, Michael Vick will forever 

be an iconic figure. 

The Quintessential Gentleman 

Magazine has an obligation to 

create a narrative that changes 

the outlook that systemic policies 

and practices have placed on our 

black brothers. Michael Vick and 

countless others aren’t afforded 

the luxuries of second chances and 

will forever carry unwarranted titles. 

Being a black man in America 

is like living in the twilight zone 

and for this, we need to uplift our 

heroes and be an example to the 

younger generation. We are proud 

to share these type of stories. 

Eric K. Thomas 

3 The Quintessential Gentleman | Spring 2018

THE 22 nd ANNUAL 

MIAMI BEACH 

JUNE 13-17, 2018 

THE NATION’S LARGEST GATHERING OF 

BLACK FILM & TELEVISION ENTHUSIASTS 

® 

FOLLOW US #ABFF2018 #WeAreABFF ABFF.COM 

“One Of The Coolest Film Festivals in The World” 

FOUNDING 

FOUNDING 

HOST 

HOST 

Spring 2018 | The Quintessential Gentleman 4 

PRESENTING 

PREMIER 

OFFICIAL

An 

exclusive 

interview 

with 

Michael Jai White 

By Zayin Allen 

A childhood hero, a husband who 

everyone can relate to in one way 

or another, and a funkadelic Robin 

Hood. Simply put he’s a jack of all 

trades, Michael Jai White is a poet 

of his roles as well a poet with his 

martial art skills. 

The star of the 2009 cult classic 

Black Dynamite and director of its 

upcoming follow-up The Outlaw 

Johnny Black, White proves his versatility 

in more than one way. Starting 

off as a teacher, he managed 

to balance his acting career and 

college classes all in one swoop. 

His career has been plagued full of 

groundbreaking roles. It’s hard to 

forget his role as one of the first African 

American superheroes to ever 

be on screen. White's portrayal of 

Al Simmons in the 1997 film Spawn 

has been capsulized in the hearts of 

comic book fans across the world. 

As a child, the film was not only 

amazing to watch, but how well 

White and John Legizamo acted in 

it made me believe the film was real 

which still haunts me to this day. As 

an actor, he is underrated, looked 

over and under represented. It’s 

not everyday People of Color can 

say they’ve seen an African American 

martial artist. Hollywood as a 

mainstream is just now starting to 

break the mold. White basically cat- 


apulted superhero movies in a way. 

Throughout the years, White has 

been building a massive fan 

base with his projects like Never 

Back Down II, Falcon Rising, 

Tyson, and Mortal Kombat: 

Legacy. 

After the rise and success of Black 

Panther, White is “profoundly proud 

and very happy.” With heroes like 

Meteor Man, Blankman, and Pootie 

Tang there needed to be a change 

for the better and change came in a 

big way. White added “There was a 

time where I thought there was 

never going to be a possibility of a 

sovereign black nation highlighted 

in such a movie.” 

White also mentioned that he's 

“happy for the youth who can see 

themselves in such a glorified light” 

and “happy for the new generation 

that have this type of superhero to 

look up to”. 

Always working and wanting to 

break the mold for media, Micheal 

Jai White recently stuck his hand 

in the pot and formed a multimedia 

production company under the 

name Jaigantic Studios. Being such 

a many men type of person, he offers 

to bring something new to the 

table. 

When asked what a quintessential 

gentleman means to him, he answers 

“A fully balanced man... everything 

in nature points to balance.” 

Today, White is still acting with 4 

films on the way and still has time to 

treat his body like a temple. His 

workout routines are also diverse 

and versatile as he changes up his 

routine every 2-3 months. Most action 

stars have some basis for their 

fitness and disciplines and White 

has be grinding since he was a kid 

after he saw his first kung fu movie. 

He was hooked on the “prowess 

and power” of actIon stars 

like Bruce Lee. In all of White's 

roles he is physically fit and this is 

his choice and lifestyle simply put 

he “enjoys it”. Being that his busy 

schedule as an actor doesn’t let 

up, he doesn’t have time to give 

out lessons but when he does he 

teaches seminars on some 

techniques he learned over time. 

Evidently there is more to come with 

White so it’s best for old fans and 

new fans to keep their ears to the 

ground. 

Spring 2018 | The Quintessential Gentleman 6

5GADGETS 

TO GET YOU 

THROUGH 

THE SPRING 

– Sponsored By T-Mobile 

It’s officially Spring and T-Mobile is 

getting you prepared to enjoy this 

season. Whether you’re catching a 

flight, taking an epic road trip with 

the guys or laying low with a staycation 

– we have some ideas to make 

sure this year’s Spring Break is one 

to remember. 

B&O Play 

Beoplay A1 

Speaker 

Just throw this in your backpack for 

powerful sound anywhere you go. 

Dust and water resistant, this wireless 

speaker is designed to endure 

a few bumps and scrapes – so turn 

up the music and party on. 

Mophie 

Powerstation Mini 

7 The Quintessential Gentleman | Spring 2018 

Whether kicking it at the beach or 

scrolling through Instagram, stay 

powered on-the-go with this slim, 

wireless charger that easily fits 

into any pocket.

Beats 

Studio3 

Wireless 

These headphones will make anyone 

look dope. You won’t have to 

worry about re-charging right 

away as these joints deliver premium 

playback for up to 40 hours! 

Plus, they are equipped with Pure 

Adaptive Noise Canceling to actively 

block external noise – perfect 

for helping you tune out on 

any flight. 

Tile Mate 

Single Pack 

Don’t just get one for youself but 

get one for all your Jetsetters! 

Make sure no one loses their luggage, 

phone or wallet again with 

the help of the Tile Mate. Use your 

smartphone to make the Tile 

ring when nearby, or if lost, the 

free Tile app will remember the 

last time and place it saw your 

Tile. 

Powerbeats3 

Wireless 

Earphones 

These high-performance earphones 

hold up to 12 hours of battery 

life and feature an optimized 

design for legit comfort and immersive 

sound. Sweat and water 

resistant, means you’ll be listening 

to your favorite tunes while working 

out or sitting poolside. 


VACATION 

LIKE 

BASEBALLERS 

Florida is the place to be if you are trying to vacation like your favorite 

MLB player. Check out these 2 resorts where you may see your 

favorite baseball player 

Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa 

This MLB spring training season, take yourself out to the ballgame 

and to Jupiter Beach Resort & Spa — the area’s only oceanfront 

resort and an idyllic home base for baseball fans who want a great 

staycation this spring. Fans can catch the St. Louis Cardinals and Miami 

Marlins Spring Training Jupiter’s Roger Dean Stadium, which is 

just minutes from the hotel. When they’re not busy at the ballpark, 

visitors can indulge in new menu items at the resort’s Sinclairs Ocean 

Grill, including a signature Curve Ball Burger (made with bacon, jalapeños 

and PB&J - I swear, it’s delicious!) and a 10th Inning 

Seaside cocktail that will be exclusively available at their on-site 

restaurants during season. 

JupiterBeachResort.com 

Opal Sands Resort 

Cover your bases this spring and catch as many games as possible, 

with the luxurious, modern Opal Sands Resort in Clearwater Beach 

on Florida’s Gulf coast as a great home base. Under an hour from 

Opal Sands Resort, the Philadelphia Phillies, the Toronto Blue 

Jays, and the New York Yankees all play at nearby stadiums. Opal 

Sands Resort is offering a Beach & Baseball two-night package 

including luxury accommodations, breakfast for two each 

morning, one official MLB baseball, two jumbo hot dogs and two 

soft drinks at the Sand Bar, and of course Cracker Jacks! 

OpalSands.com 



COREY 

CALLIET 

One Man’s Goal to Help People Re-imagine Themselves 

By: Dane Young 


Who is Corey Calliet? 

I am a celebrity trainer and coach. I 

would say I’ve been training celebrities 

for about 2 years but have been in the 

fitness industry for about 15 years now. 

I consider myself to be one of the top celebrity 

trainers in the game. I’ve awarded 

the opportunity to work with celebrities 

on actual movie sets and most aren’t giving 

the chance to, and I am thankful 

for this. I also boxed for five years, so I 

would say that I’m well rounded when it 

comes to sports and transformation. 

Where did the decision to become a fitness 

trainer stem from? 

I was amazed to see what I was able to 

do for myself, my personal journey and 

body transformation. I’ve started working 

out with friends and one mentioned 

that I should start training others. Stating 

that, what they’ve seen me do in 

about 8-10 weeks would take normal 

person years to accomplish. From there 

I set a goal, I knew that I wanted people 

to see my work, and if I was to get one 

celebrity and transformed them that it 

would catapult my career. And that’s exactly 

what happened. 

Why is it important for African American 

men to start taking health and 

well-ness more seriously? 

I strongly believe that it’s important to 

live a healthy mental and physical life. 

So many people are not taking their 

health seriously as they get older, they 

feel as if they don’t have to do as much. 

Which is ultimately resulting in risking 

your life and I don’t think that’s the way 

to live. 

I sometimes think of trainers as therapists 

and motivational speakers. Have 

there ever been times where your mood 

or morale has been personally affected 

by the work you do for others? 

I feel like my job is not only to train 

my clients physically but it also consists 

of a mental cultivation. If I can’t take 

your mind to another place than your 

body won’t follow. I feel as if I’m doing 

my part when I give all of me to my 

clients. I have to have the right mindset 

and the willpower to be able to help 

someone transform the way they think, 

feel and look and do better. It makes me 

happy and lifts me up because it can be 

draining at times. 

How do you stay encouraged enough to 

inspire others? 

When I’m down and out I simply remind 

myself that you have this job for a reason. 

It’s not about self it’s about being 

of service to someone else. This may 

sound crazy but I tell myself all the 

time, that you have a job to do and 

people you are holding accountable. 

For someone who is taking on a fitness 

journey for the first time, what are some 

tips to start to make sure they stay on 

track towards their goals? 

For someone who’s starting their fitness 

journey to a healthier lifestyle, I would 

say take it one day at a time. Find something 

you love. Rather it being jogging, 

playing sports, or swimming. Doing 

something you are already comfortable 

with won’t allow for you to quit as easily. 

Because if you try to do something that’s 

really hard, what’s going to happen is 

your going to fail because it seems too 

challenging. We typically don’t like to do 

challenging stuff and the hard work is 

what I consider the next step on your 

journey, but for now take it easy, find 

something you love and do it. 

What are some common misconceptions 

about dieting or 

going to the gym that you 

wish people would stop 

saying? 

Stop saying results 

comes overnight. Everybody 

think that in 

about 10 days they 

are going to see a 

brand new body. 

They have to understand 

that 

it didn’t take 

10 days to get 

your body 

like it is, it’s 

not going 

to take 10 

days to 

build 


it. Take your time, it’s a marathon, not 

a sprint. I wish people will stop trying 

to find the easy way out. There’s no 

quick fix and you have to go through 

the pro-cess. 

We are aware of some of your 

celebrity clientele, particularly Michael 

B. Jordan, who one would say is 

becoming a sex symbol. With the recent 

success of Black Panther, how did you 

help him prepare for this role and for the 

Creed franchise? 

(Laughing) I can quickly say that I didn’t 

play a role, I played the role, to be honest. 

When he met me he was of a smaller 

frame. I feel like we build his empire by 

creating the body and image for people 

to look at. We created something that 

someone would want to be like, I build 

my product, and my product sold. It’s 

doing well and it’s going to continue 

doing well. I feel like I had a big part 

in that, that’s why we are still working 

together and that’s why he’s my best 

friend. He also played a major role in my 

life. He’s allowing my work to be seen by 

the masses. 

Can you let us in on any secrets you 

share with him, as we try to prepare for 

our summer bodies? 

I guess it’s no secret, I just tell him 

that we can’t fail. It’s up to us and it’s 

up to him. The days when he wants to 

take it easy and not go as hard he has 

to remember that we are being held to a 

certain standard now. Because we don’t 

want to ever let nobody say that they are 

not putting in the work, they’re just all 

hype. What you get is what you see! 

What’s next for you? 

I started acting classes. Hopefully, I will 

be getting a spinoff of the E! Reality 

show Revenge Body soon. I do have my 

own radio show on Dash Radio. I also 

have a merchandise line out called Work 

Harder. I hope the world will see me in 

some movies soon. I kind of had no choice 

to get in the acting lane, when my best 

friend is one of the top actors in the 

world right now. 



Hats: Dobb Collection 

Clothing: Epocha 

Model: Marshall Price 

Photographer: IG @RangeCamera 















Photo Credits: 

Jimmy Romano 

FROM THE 50 YARD LINE TO THE 

RUNWAY 

Former NFL Player Keith Carlos speaks of his journey to 

become America’s Next Top Brand! 

By Dane Young 


The great diplomat, Frederick Douglass, once said that if there’s no struggle, there is no progress 

and this sentiment holds true to the journey of a child who was once counted out and 

deemed a social statistic. However, model Keith Carlos used the barriers against him as motivators 

and proof that regardless of the hand you’re dealt there’s always moves to be played. 

Here’s what Keith had to say about his journey to become America’s Next Top Brand! 

Describe the impact 

that playing sports 

have had on your life 

as an adolescent. 

Playing sports in my adolescent 

years molded 

me into the man I am 

today. With my mother 

incarcerated and no 

father figure in my life, 

I learned my toughest 

lessons through the balance 

of sports and the 

streets. Sports gave me 

the discipline I needed 

to change the negative 

perception of adversity. 

It also kept me physically 

and mentally healthy. 

It instilled a burning 

hunger for more. 

How did you know you 

were good enough 

to pursue an NFL 

career? 

I knew I was good 

enough when I was given 

doubt that I couldn’t 

make it. My whole life 

I’ve proven people 

wrong with my successes, 

sometimes even 

myself. I always had 

confidence because I’ve 

always been a standout 

player on every team I 

was on. 


Irvin Rivera 

Did you feel any outside 

pressures as a 

young man of color to 

choose the perfect institution 

that would 

allow for the necessary 

recognition to catch 

the attention of recruiters? 

Never! If it wasn’t for 

sports, college wouldn’t 

have been an option for 

me. I would be in jail or 

dead because that’s the 

common place for someone 

like myself coming 

from the hood. I always 

had to take the long 

route to success starting 

with going to Junior 

College after being a 

5th year senior. I knew 

anywhere I went after 

my Juco would be elite. 

From there I would do 

what I do best to achieve 

something at its highest 

level. 

Describe the injury 

that changed your life’s 

trajectory. 

I never sustained a life 

changing injury. Being 

injured is apart of the 

game. I made my mind 

up mentally after an injury 

that I wanted more 

and something different. 

Because I was bored 

with football at the time 

and tired of always hurting. 

When did you realize 

that it was time to say 

goodbye to your football 

career? 

I realized it was time for 

me to say goodbye to 

football when my over 

24 years of experience 

wasn’t measuring up to 

the politics of the game. 

The struggles were no 

longer worth more than 

my happiness. 

From the field to the 

runway, where did 

the decision to enter 

the modeling industry 


come from? 

Winning America’s Next 

Top Model really gave 

me the confidence, financial 

backing, and social 

validity I needed to 

become successful as a 

model. 

How did you prepare 

for the transition/ 

change? 

I didn’t prepare, I just reacted 

to everything with 

a good business mindset. 

This helped me align 

with the right people to 

get me where I currently 

am. 

Are there any unknown 

similarities in practices 

that you see with modeling 

to a routine of an 

athlete? 

Yes. As a model, you 

have to keep the same 

healthy lifestyle but as 

a professional athlete, 

you’re even more diet 

specific. You have to 

carry yourself well and 

have discipline when 

things are really good or 

really bad. 

What would you say is 

your biggest accomplishment 

as a model? 

As a model my biggest 

accomplishment is I inspire 

people all around 

the world. I have the 

power through doing 

something I love to 

make someone in another 

country that I would 

probably have never met 

pursue or never to give 

up on their dream. Even 

in the hood I’m from I 

inspire people. I’ve been 

told on numerous occasions 

that because of 

seeing my maturation 

from running the streets 

to where I am now has 

helped change people’s 

personal life. 

How did your family 

and friends react to 

your career change? 

They were very supportive 

and some of 

them didn’t agree but 

they had to respect it. I 

went from the NFL one 

month to being the first 

male winner of America’s 

Next Top Model the 

next. Plus my visibility 

increased as well with 

the caliber of work I was 

booking and I gained social 

validity. 

What are the makings 

of a successful male 

model? 

The makings of a successful 

model are just 

finding a consistent clientele 

and being able to 

provide for your family 

from that work, well at 

least in my case. 

How did winning 

America’s Next Top 

Model help with the 

Keith Carlos brand? 

It gave me the platform 

to do whatever I want 

because I have the masses 

and the facial recognition 

to do so. I’m not 

just another Instagram 

model or model stuck 

with an agency. I’m of 

celebrity status now. 

What’s next for Keith 

Carlos? 

I’m continuing to work 

as a model but also doing 

acting, producing, 

and entrepreneurial ventures. 

I’m diversifying 

my portfolio so that I 

have multiple streams of 

income. 

How’s fatherhood 

treating you? 

Fatherhood is nothing 

less than amazing! Keith 

Carlos Jr. has made me 

more of a beast at everything 

I do because now 

everything I do is to take 

care of him. So he doesn’t 

have to have the childhood 

I had growing up in 

the hood. I’m also filling 

a void because I always 

wanted a father to learn 

how to be a man from 

and to be there for me. I 

learned from the streets, 

coaches, my mother, and 

grandparents. I risked 

my life many times because 

I didn’t have that 

solid foundation I needed. 

By the grace of Yahweh, 

I made it to where I 

am because a lot of people 

don’t make it this far 

where I’m from. 

KeithCarlos


Jessy J 


SPRING 

spring 

style 

STYLE 

Photo Credit: 

Elle Edwards

FOR 

BEARDED 

MEN 

By Deangelo Valentine 

Photo Credit: 

Elle Edwards 


Men, winter is over 

but that doesn’t 

mean you should 

shave your beard. 

November has 

become a lifestyle 

so don’t let 

the pressure to 

be clean-shaved 

this spring stop 

you from being 

the bold, distinguished 

gentlemen 

that you’ve 

chosen to be. 

This spring is all 

about the defiant 

man whose beard 

matches his style 

and personality. 

If you live north 

of the Bible belt, 

spring also means 

the end to frigid 

temperatures that 

can leave your 

beard feeling dry 

and brittle. With 

more sunshine 

and humidity 

in the air, your 

beard will grow 

faster and look 

healthier thanks 

to an increase of 

Vitamin D. 

One thing’s for 

sure spring is 

the season to get 

seen and here are 

a few tips to get 

you some compliments 

on your 

beard. 

TRIM 

YOUR 

BEARD 

Start by trimming 

your beard. This 

doesn’t mean cutting your 

beard off, it means trimming 

less than an inch of dead 

ends. This will remove any 

damage done to your beard 

during the winter months. 

WASH YOUR 

BEARD MORE 

OFTEN 

The warmer weather will 

cause you to sweat, so you 

will want to start washing 

your beard more often. This 

might mean going from 

washing once a week to two 

washes a week, especially 

if you are 

exposed to dusty 

and dry conditions. 

DRINK 

MORE 

WATER 

One easy way to 

ensure your beard 

is hydrated is 

to increase your 

water intake to a 

gallon a day - yes 

a gallon. Water 

works wonders 

not only for you 

beard but also for 

the rest of your 

body. In addition, 

you can use beard 

balm more often 

or a beard moisturizing 

spray 

to add additional 

moisture to your 

beard. 

AVOID 

GETTING 

RAIN- 

WATER 

IN YOUR 

BEARD 

We all know women 

who hate to 

get their hair wet, 

but there may be 

a good reason for 

this. Rain is soft 

water and it strips 

the oils that are 

naturally in your 

hair leaving it 

brittle and prone 

to breakage. 

To avoid rainwater ruining 

your beard, take an old 


t-shirt and cut it into small 

squares so that it resembles a 

cloth. Take it with you when 

you leave the house 

on a rainy day so 

you can use it to 

sop up the rainwater. 

It also helps 

if you use beard 

balm to protect 

your beard on 

rainy days. 

Water and oil don’t 

mix so beard balm 

creates a protective 

seal, making 

it easier for you 

to air-dry a soggy 

beard. 

FASHION, 

STYLE & 

YOUR 

BEARD 

Once your beard is 

prepped and ready 

for spring don’t 

forget to complete 

your distinguished 

look by being 

creative with your 

style. There is a 

difference between 

having a beard 

and having the 

ultimate beard. 

The ultimate 

beard tells the 

world that you take 

care of yourself 

and your beard. If 

you’re ready to be 

well groomed and 

well styled, I have 

a few tips to help 

bearded men take 

their style to the 

next level. 

FACE 

SHAPE 

Consider that the shape of 

your face should correspond 

with the shape of 

your beard. Is your head 

circular, oval, square, coneshaped 

or some other combination 

of these? Is your head 

noticeably big or small? 

What about the structure 

of your jaw? Do you have 

a bum chin, a protruding 

jaw, or an undefined beta 

jaw-line? Once you answer 

these questions you can start 

to build your style. 

I have a small 

head with a long 

narrow face and 

an undefined defined 

jaw-line so a 

short or mid-sized 

round shaped 

beard won’t work 

for me. I have my 

barber shape my 

long, squareshaped 

beard into 

“Viking Style” so 

it compliments 

my face. 

If you have a 

round face and a 

large head, having 

a rounded beard 

would work best. 

If this describes 

you, you’ll want 

to look at Rick 

Ross’s beard for 

inspiration. 

If you have a 

cone-shaped head, 

where your face 

comes to a point 

at your chin you 

may want to disguise 

your pointy 

chin by growing 

out a full-rounded 

beard. 

Of course, every 

person is different 

and only you 

know what works 

best for your face 

shape. 

HAIR 

AND 

BEARD 

Spring is also the 

time where people 

feel an urge to change their 

hair. For men, I advise bal- 


ancing your beard with your 

haircut. Last year, I rocked a 

high top with a full Viking 

beard and it looked like I 

was a 17-year old kid with 

the face of a man - it wasn’t 

a great look. 

You will come to learn that 

some haircuts will take the 

focal point away from your 

beard and leave you looking 

a mess. You don’t necessarily 

need short hair with a long 

beard, I’ve seen men pull 

off locs with a beard, or a 

high fro with a beard, it 

just depends on the shape of 

your beard and how it flows 

with your hairstyle. 

For the bald-headed brothers, 

I am not leaving you 

out. Make sure your beard 

is properly lined up and 

trimmed. Since you don’t 

have hair on your head, a 

well-groomed beard will 

draw a lot of attention. 


Photo Credit: 

Elle Edwards

Photo Credit: 

Elle Edwards 


HOW STYLIST AMBER ALEXANDRIA 

TURNS ATHLETES INTO 

fashion 

stars 

By Mickey Freeman 

Briefly tell us about your journey into fashion styling? 

Five years ago, I was pursuing a medical degree. I wanted to work in pediatric oncology because I 

always had a passion for helping children. I came to the realization that medicine wasn’t my calling 

and that I could find a way to help kids through another platform that I would be excited about 

and happy doing 30 years down the road. After some soul searching and a lot of research, I found 

out that styling was an actual job. I could combine my two loves, fashion and sports to create a career 

for myself that would satisfy the burning passion that I had from a very young age. I was invited 

out to NY to intern for Diesel Black Gold for their FW13 NYFW show. I fell in love with the 

industry and returned to Denver with a profound sense of knowing that this was what I wanted 


to do. I was introduced to an 

NBA player through a mutual 

friend a couple months 

later who ended up becoming 

my first client. 

How did you transition 

to carving your niche 

in sports? 

Overcoming the challenges 

of dressing a 6’11 athlete for 

the first time was very painful. 

Thankfully I had become 

good friends with my client 

over time and with his heart 

of gold he allowed me to fail 

over and over again until we 

finally got it right. 

The failure that I felt was 

so convicting for me that I 

dedicated an entire team to 

finding designers that could 

fit my client off the rack. We 

have spent years building a 

portfolio of designers that 

can accommodate the sizing 

demands of athletes. It has 

been through all these experiences 

and my undying determination 

to see this vision 

come to fruition that I have 

become an expert in dressing 

vertically gifted men, which 

I’ve classified as my niche. 

always a process that I thoroughly 

enjoy because we get 

the opportunity to go beyond 

the surface of the sales floor 

and intricately understand 

the brand, the creative energy 

and process behind the 

collections. Fashion can be a 

very intimate experience and 

working with creative people 

on that level to bring your 

vision to life is very fulfilling. 

How does fashion help 

create an athlete’s public 

image? 

Athletes are given a very 

special platform and what 

they choose to do with it 

will literally determine how 

successful they can be both 

on and off the court. An 

athletes public image and 

the equity they have behind 

their personal brand is what 

creates the opportunities for 

lucrative endorsements and 

contracts beyond the court. 

Their personal style is an 

extension of them and their 

reputation. It gives cues 

into who they are and what 

they represent as a person 

and brand. Brands consider 

the public image of athletes 

when exploring partnerships. 

So the two are directly 

related. It’s very important to 

have a stylist on their team 

to help enhance and revolutionize 

that persona for 

potential opportunities and 

partnerships. 

How much of your job 

is teaching the player 

about fashion? 

There’s a lot of open dialogue 

about fashion with my clients. 

Fittings are the time 

where I get the opportunity 

to walk through our racks 

with them and show them 

new designers and pieces 

I’ve brought in. Most of the 

time its like, “Look at this! I 

found this designer on “X” 

and they are from “X” and 

the inspiration behind this 

piece came from “X”. As 

we’re working I’ll show them 

how to tie something, how to 

enhance the visual effect of 

something, which colors and 

patterns go with what etc. 

It’s very important that my 

guys know who and what 

they are wearing every time 

they get dressed. I appreciate 

that they take an invested 

interest in learning about 

fashion, which is reciprocated 

when they teach me 

about their field of expertise 

in sports. It’s a great tradeoff 

and we all stay educated and 

current in both worlds. My 

clients all come from diverse 

backgrounds and cultures. I 

love when they come to the 

table with their own perspectives 

and offer suggestions; 

it becomes a truly creative 

collaboration. I learn from 

them as much as they learn 

from me. 

What was a memorable 

time when your client 

came into himself sartorially 

and he loved it 

and owned it? 

I can’t tell you how much 

I appreciate someone who 

understands who they are 

and owns it. Authenticity is 

one of the rarest, yet valued 

traits in my opinion and 

I am so thankful that I get 

the opportunity to work with 

guys who embrace that. The 

Your clients aren’t traditionally 

sample size, 

so what is it like working 

with the designers? 

What’s cool is that athletes 

have become an ideology and 

a new representation for men 

in fashion. Designers now see 

a lot of value in working with 

us, which makes the process 

more streamlined and amicable 

compared to how it 

was before 2005 when the 

commissioner implemented 

the new dress code. Collaborating 

with designers is 


most important part of my 

job is understanding who 

my clients are and making 

that statement to the world 

through their wardrobe. If 

I’ve done my job to my personal 

standard then every 

time my guys get dressed 

they should feel that what 

they have on is an extension 

of themselves. My aim is 

for my clients to always love 

what they wear and always 

own it. If they’re dancing in 

the mirror, I know we accomplished 

that goal. 

Where do you look for 

inspiration and keep up 

with trends? 

As a general rule, I don’t embrace 

trends in my personal 

style or in that of my clients. 

It’s really important to me 

that my guys are authentically 

themselves and I challenge 

them to embrace everything 

about who they are 

and where they come from. 

It’s my job as their stylist to 

continue to push them forward 

and introduce them to 

new designers that will speak 

to their personal brands and 

style. I also think it’s really 

important to support new 

talent so we work with a lot 

of emerging and international 

brands. It’s valuable for 

all parties because I’m able 

to bring something new in 

and we’re the first to wear 

a lot of brands and put that 

out there. It also gives new 

designers a platform. There’s 

so much untapped talent and 

I value the opportunity I get 

to work with those designers 

and help them elevate their 

brands as we elevate ours. I 

find inspiration anywhere 

and everywhere. I’m very 

thankful for social sites like 

Instagram and Pinterest, 

which bring tons of inspiration 

to one place and for 

platforms like NJAL, which 

supports emerging designers. 

Street style is another big resource 

for me especially in 

markets like Paris and Milan. 

I am a huge fan of vintage 

and live for opportunities 

to check out vintage stores 

in new cities I’m visiting. I 

am very inspired by diverse 

cultures and time periods. I 

spend a lot of time researching 

the history of a wardrobe 

in those respective markets. 

What is the most challenging 

part of your job? 

I wish there were more designers 

who found value in catering 

to our sizing demands off 

the rack. Often, the brands 

that do accommodate our sizing 

offer “basics” which we already 

have plenty of. This has 

been such a challenge that 

it prompted me to create my 

own line of luxury menswear 

that caters to the vertically 

gifted athlete client. The cool 

part is that we get to collaborate 

with a different athlete 

each season who will pick a 

charity to receive a portion 

of the profits from the line. 

I’m really excited about this 

venture because it will allow 

me to work with children focused 

charities, which brings 

my vision and overall goals 

full circle. 

What advice would you 

give to an aspiring stylist 

interested in pursuing 

a career in fashion 

styling? 

Find a mentor. I am a big advocate 

for supporting others 

pursuing their dreams and I 

honestly think it’s important 

to find genuine people that 

would be happy to help guide 

you through the ups and 

downs because there’s a lot. 

Not everyone will be open to 

it. But find someone that believes 

in you and won’t allow 

you to give up on yourself 

even when you want to. Then 

be that person for someone 

else when the time comes. 


BE UNSTOPPABLE 

BETWEEN THE EARS 

Take back your brain. All it takes is a couple of gulps. 

With 13 natural brain-boosting nutrients, BrainGear’s 

liquid formula is designed to feed your brain exactly 

what it needs for you to be at your best. 

www.braingear.me 

Spring 2018 | The Quintessential Gentleman 34 

#BestBrainForward

MIKEL 


THOMAS 

By Eric K. Thomas 

Mikel Thomas started 

racing friends from his 

neighborhood with no 

shoes on to competing 

in the Olympics. This 

Trinidad and Tobago 

native is truly the personification 

of determination. 

Learn more 

about Mikel Thomas 

as he talks about track 

and field, making the 

Olympics and being a 

firefighter in Atlanta. 


Why did you start running? 

Running for me is one of 

those things that have been my 

circumstance to escape. Growing 

up in Trinidad and Tobago 

wasn’t the most luxurious area. 

I came out of circumstance and 

track and field is one of those 

sports where you don’t need 

anything. All you need is space 

and time. A lot of my introduction 

to the sport I did without 

shoes. In fact, you had to take 

off your shoes because you only 

had like one or two pairs and 

you really didn’t want to mess 

them up. When it was time to 

race the kids in the neighborhood, 

you took off your shoes, 

you got ready and you ran. 

Then it became an escape, as I 

grew older. It was an opportunity 

for me to gather my thoughts. 

At what point did you realize 

that you wanted to run professionally? 

Honestly, the idea running professionally 

kind of almost stumbled 

on me. It has always been 

a pursuit of knowing that I was 

capable of more. I believed I 

was professional in my actions 

before I had ever received a 

paycheck. Everything for me 

has always been a progression 

an evolution. I just wanted 

always to be able to show the 

world what I believe inside and 

being able to get paid for it 

with a bonus. Track and Field 

isn’t one of those illustrious 

sports. It can be for some but 

for me, it’s always been trying 

to make an idea a dream a 

reality. 

People say that running is all 

mental, do you agree? 

Absolutely, because it’s just 

you and you’re running against 

an element that no one can 

control. It’s not like any other 

sport where you depending 

upon the comradery or the 

feedback of your teammates. 

There’s no manipulation of a 

ball or field. It is the time and 

time is that one thing that I 

feel like we all want somehow 

some way to be able to control. 

It plays on your emotions. You 

can literally be at your best 

physically and fail mentally. But 

draws a piece of you internally 

that I feel like a lot of people 

love. You get the sense when 

you hear people talk about the 

runner’s high but I do feel like 

there’s a cognitive effect as well. 

It forces you to know yourself; 

it forces you to know your 

rhythm. 

If you were not running what 

would you be doing? 

The same exact thing I’m doing 

now. You can’t be an athlete 

forever. I can run forever but I 

can’t be at this elite level forever. 

In that regard, I really had to 

think about what it is that I 

really wanted to do moving 

forward and how I can create 

the greatest amount of impact. 

I just started the Fire Academy 

here in the Atlanta metro area. 

I’m still able to compete professionally 

but it would definitely 

be my future career along with 

my other philanthropic contributions 

that I would like to do 

in the sport. 

You competed in the 2008 

Olympics in Beijing, 2012 

Olympics in London and 2016 

Olympics in Rio. Describe the 

feeling the first time you qualified 

to 

compete the 

first time. 

I remember 

it like it was 

yesterday. I 

was here in 

the city of 

Atlanta. I 

was having 

some down 

time and 

I was still 

in university 

but of 

course, it was 

during the 

summer. I 

remember 


checking my email before cell 

phones were popping, so I had 

to go to a computer to check 

my emails. I remember reading 

that letter that you have been 

accepted and invited to participate 

and represent my beautiful 

country of Trinidad and Tobago. 

Words can’t even put it together. 

It’s like you literally remember 

every blood, sweat, and tears 

you poured and to see it come 

to fruition. Being at Olympic 

games is literally like a dream 

especially my first one because 

you see the people you admire; 

you see the worlds best-eating 

lunch, dinner, and breakfast 

with you from Serena Williams 

to Kobe Bryant. The fact that 

you are able to put yourself in 

that same sentence is humbling 

yet so motivating in the same 

sense. 

What can we look forward to 

from Mikel Thomas? 

Its about to be on and popping 

now. My goal is to continue 

to develop myself holistically. 

Sometimes as athletes especially 

as male athletes, we get so 

wrapped up in a certain identity 

of us in the sporting world. 

Whether it’s overcompensation 

from not getting certain affirmations 

growing up or trying to 

use it as an escape for a family 

or certain circumstances. I’ve 

definitely felt prey to all of 

those things but for me now it’s 

just really about living my best 

life. I want to be able to take 

all the lessons that I’ve learned 

from 

sports and 

apply it to 

everything. 

We have 

the World 

Championship 

next year and we have 

the Olympics in 2020. Those are 

my two main focuses moving 

forward, maybe another world 

championship after that in 2021 

but we’ll see. 



PHOTO CREDIT: FOX NEWS

MICHAEL 

VICK 

“The Illustrious Titles of an Icon” 

By Dane Young 

With accolades to prove one’s worth 

justified by the capabilities to perform 

brilliantly, pro athlete, Michael 

Vick’s NFL career depicts a tale of illustrious 

titles overshadowed by perspectives and values. Record-breaking, 

comeback player of the year, and most 

valuable; are all labels that leverage an athlete as the 

best and for Michael, his resume is decorated with 

such honors. However, the notion of the title “black” 

will forever marginalize an individual when playing the 

“American Game”. From having it all stripped away to 

the rebirth of a respectable man, Michael Vick’s journey 

is a glimpse of hope that the title doesn’t make 

the man but the man makes the title. And for Michael, 

progression is learning from the past in order to build 

a sustainable legacy. 

www.TheQGentleman.com Spring 2018 | The Quintessential Gentleman 40

How did you know you 

were good enough to 

play in the NFL? 

I mean it was easy for 

me, lol. I always dominated 

the kids in the neighborhood 

growing up. It 

was easy to score, to get 

a first down, and to pass 

the ball, but I worked 

hard at it. I would watch 

football all weekend; I 

was a football addict at 

a young age. I just had a 

dream, and I don’t know 

if people dream like I did 

or wanted the same thing 

I wanted from football 

but I can say that I went 

out and got it. I found 

ways to set myself apart 

and I think I was able to 

do it and stand out. 

What was your most 

pivotal/influential 

moment in your career 

history? 

I would have to say winning 

comeback player of 

the year. That was a title 

I wanted and yearned for 

a while away in prison. 

To be able to come back 

and play again and to 

step out on the field with 

no accolades attached. 

I didn’t want to come 

back winning the super 

bowl in my first year 

to shut people up, nor 

have some form of ego 

or pride; I didn’t want to 

use any of that as motivation. 

My motivation 

w a s 

simply 

to play again and finish 

accomplishing what I 

love to do while doing 

it right and showing the 

NFL that I am still worthy 

enough. Winning that 

title showed everything, 

and it’s a trophy that I 

will cherish forever. 

“..it’s important for people 

to know that we are not just 

athletes, but we can be 

black influentials, moguls and 

be iconic.” 

As a role model, do 

you feel any outside 

pressures from the 

world to be the best 

version of you as possible? 

When people look at 

you as a role model, you 

are being held to a higher 

standard than most. 

To look at it as if there 

are added pressures, 

the answer would be 

yes. You have millions of 

kids, who are patterning 

themselves after you and 

if that’s what it takes to 

stay motivated or take 

on the likeness of a role 

model then I think, it’s 

my obligations to live 

up to it, especially since 

people are holding me 

to such a high standard. 

I understand that all eyes 

are on me. I know that 

everything I do will be 

scrutinized and telecasted, 

so I try to make the best 

decisions and use the 

right judgments. I try 

to teach these same responsibilities 

to kids as 

well. 

Explain the difference 

in feeling from the first 

time you ever stepped 

onto the field as a new 

signee vs. after prison. 

The first t ime I s tepped 

on the field I was a rookie, 

everything was unfamiliar 

and I was just glad 

to know that I would be 

able to put on a NFL uniform 

to accomplish a lifelong 

dream. When I came 

back in 2009, it was the 

same feeling. Proving to 

myself and others that I 

belong and that I still had 

something to offer. What 

I would say the difference 

between these two 

times in my life was my 

maturity level. 

Why is it important to 

have ownership as an 

African American? 

It’s very important, we 

are setting the example 

for the generations to 

come. Everything will 

add to the legacy we 

leave behind. Also, it’s 

important for people to 

know that we are not 

just athletes, but we can 

be black influentials, moguls 

and be iconic. 

What are your 

thoughts on the political 

rise in the NFL and 

how players are being 

treated? 

I think people are now 

willing to listen and are 

becoming aware that 

athletes do have a voice 

and we do have a presence. 

That’s one of the 


easons why we are so 

marketable. We do play 

a major part, and of 

course, there are certain 

things that we sometimes 

have to stay away 

from, but that’s just life. 

What does it mean to 

be a black man in 

America? 

People can 

take what 

they want 

from this, 

but I’m going to say 

opportunity. America 

is supposed to be 

the land of opportunities. 

There’s a lot 

that you can take 

from that quote, so I 

hope people decide 

what they want and 

find satisfaction in it. 

Tell us about your 

many business 

ventures. 

I have a clothing line 

that’s really taking 

off. It will soon be 

in retail stores and 

on college campuses. 

This was a huge 

accomplishment 

for me in 2018. I’m 

excited about my 

production company. 

We’re going 

to start producing 

documentaries and 

series of all sort. I’m 

a part owner of the AFFL 

Flag Football League. 

It’s a game changer and 

it’s really taken off. This 

league will allow people/ 

professionals the opportunity 

to continue to be 

involved in the American 

game they love. 

What charities are you 

involved with? 

Well, there’s just one 

charity at the moment, 

and it’s The Boys and 

Girls Club of America. 

It’s important for me to 

work with them to help 

improve their current 

programming and to 

provide opportunities 

for every community kid 

that is involved with the 

organization. The Boys 

and Girls Club was a major 

part of my childhood. 

As a celebrity, do 

you feel as if you 

owe it to your 

community to give 

back? 

It’s the right thing to 

do. If you can’t pull 

each other up then 

what value are you 

adding? My worth 

goes beyond 

athletics; it’s about 

what you can do 

in the community 

and how you can 

help others. It’s all 

about creating 

opportunities for 

those around 

you. The world 

must go on, but it 

has to be in a good 

state to do so. 

Do you see any 

similarities in 

personality traits 

in your children as 

you did in yourself 

as a child? 

All their personalities 

are like mine, 

they pay great attention 

and are 

thinkers. I can talk 

to them on any level 

and we find ways 

to understand each 

other. My oldest 

daughter plays basketball, 

my youngest daughter 

is more of the brainiac 

and school means a 

lot to her, she’s making 

straights As, and my 

son is into fashion. So, 


everyone has their own 

lane and I appreciate 

that and acknowledge it. 

My wife plays a big part 

making sure they all stay 

focused while I work on 

the many things I have 

on my plate. 

What does forgiveness 

look like to you? 

The things I have encountered 

sticks a little 

bit, but people have to 

be accountable and realize 

that they were once 

young. We all came from 

different homes and 

backgrounds, so I say 

don’t judge me based on 

what you see on the field 

or in the media but judge 

me once you get to know 

me and my story. Some 

people grow up privileged 

and some people 

don’t and those who 

don’t can relate more 

and understand the fight 

and hustle. People don’t 

forgive because they are 

typically suffering from 

something. Other than 

that, if we don’t understand 

progress, then we 

will never be able to forgive. 

What do you hope to 

leave as a legacy when 

it’s all said and done? 

I want to leave knowing 

that the world knew I 

was a respectable man 

and that I had faults, but 

as I grew older, I learned 

from my mistakes. For 

that alone, I became a 

better person. I’m probably 

sure that my story 

won’t be the last; it’s not 

very rare that you find 

guys that go through 

something and are able 

to learn lessons along the 

way. But I want people 

to be able to take away 

the fact that I am and 

was a respectable man. 

Respect goes a long 

way, some people may 

say loyalty and honesty 

and such adjectives, but 

I think respect goes further. 

It holds and builds 

bonds and relationships 

to last a lifetime. 


GROOM 

IT 

LIKE 

A PRO! 

By Dane Young 

Have you ever wondered 

what a football 

player goes through 

before a big game? 

Like, what exactly does 

that look like? With the 

continuous growth of 

social media popularity, 

we see these athletes 

transition on and off the 

fields from the Hulk to 

a Hunk, which can be 

attributed to personal 

self-care. Fresh fades, 

lineups, alluring smiles 

and fashions to rival 

your favorite male supermodel, 

these athletes 

knows that in order to 

do good it starts with 

feeling good. We spoke 

with 2x Super Bowl 

Champion Elandon Roberts, 

and Wide Receiver 

Dontrelle Inman about 

how they manage to 

remain so polished after 

enduring days of physical 

hardships. 


Dontrelle 

Inman 

Team: Chicago Bears 

Position: Wide Receiver 

IG: @MrInman15 

1. As a professional 

athlete, how do you 

prepare your body for 

climate/temperature 

change as you travel the 

world? 

Honestly? There is no 

real way to prepare 

yourself for the many 

drastic climate/temperature 

changes as 

you travel the country 

visiting different league 

opponents from Buffalo’s 

below zero weather 

to Miami’s extremely 

humid weather – once 

your adrenaline kicks 

in you don’t even realize 

the elements you’re 

playing in. 

2.Describe your 

pregame grooming 

routine? 

On game days I typically 

wake up early, get 

a clean shave with my 

Andis clippers, make 

sure my hairline is 

clean and fresh and oh 

I always exfoliate. Since 

game day is typically 

once a week I use that 

as my reminder to exfoliate 

so I can stay on 

schedule and my skin 

will continue to feel 

healthy. 

3. What are some of 

your essential grooming 

products must-haves? 

Kiehl’s Ultimate Man 

Razor Bump Relief 

Kiehl’s Facial Fuel 

Andis Company 32400 

Slimline Pro Li Cordless 

Trimmer 

4. How often do 

you see a barber for a 

haircut? 

Once a week. Every 

game day when we 

are on the road we are 

photographed headed 

to the team bus or the 

team plane and since 

the NFL’s team policies 

require us to look 

professional (suited and 

booted) I always want 

to make sure my look 

is polished and clean! 

5.What are some 

dos and don’ts for the 

barbershop? (LOL) 

Never go to the new 

guy! This is a huge no 

no lol. 

Never go to a barber 

without a recommendation. 

Never let a barber freestyle. 

6.Why should more 

African American men 

participate in self-care 

practices? 


should definitely get 

into self-care practices 

because we already are 

blessed with the “black 

don’t crack” genes – 

so just imagine if we 

put extra care into our 

selves what our bodies 

can look like years 

down the line. Personally, 

for me, coming 

into manhood I realized 

I needed to take 

better care of my skin 

as many African American 

men like myself 

are prone to in-grown 

hairs because of our 

curl patterns but with 

self-care practices they 

are totally avoidable + 

more manageable. 

7. Are you a pedi 

or mani type of guy? 

During the season 

neither. I just feel like 

it’s almost pointless 

because of the roughness 

that my feet and 

hands go through daily 

on the field and off the 

field with recovery/rehab. 

Off season though 

I am definitely a pedi 

guy! Who doesn’t want 

a good foot rub? I just 

feel sorry for the lady 

that has to work on 

these things lol. 

8. After a long day 

on the field/courts, 

how do you choose to 

unwind? 

Definitely with a glass 

of red wine. A good 

bottle of Cabernet 

Sauvignon (one of my 

favorites is Ménage à 

Trois – Decadence) 

alongside a delicious 

home cooked meal is 

the perfect way for me 

to relax and unwind! 


Elandon 

Roberts 

Team: New England 

Patriots 

Position: Linebacker 

IG: The_ERob52 

1. As a professional 

athlete, how do you 

prepare your body for 

climate/temperature 

change as you travel the 

world? 

When I travel to different 

climates I make 

sure to stay hydrated so 

I can adjust to different 

altitudes easily. I 

also eat as healthy as 

possible during the 

week, especially during 

training. Training with 

elevation mask also 

helps out a lot. 

barbershop? (LOL) 

DON’T MESS UP MY 

EDGE! 

6. Why should more 


participate in self-care 

practices? 

Self-care is important. 

Hey, You look good 

you feel even better! 

7. Are you a pedi or 

mani type of guy? 

I’d get a pedicure over 

a manicure; only when 

my Fiancé makes me 

though lol. 

8. After a long day 

on the field/courts, 

how do you choose to 

unwind? 

After a long day my 

favorite thing to do 

is eat a good homecooked 

meal, chill, and 

just watch some TV 

with the family. Doesn’t 

take much to make me 

happy. 

2.Describe your pregame 

grooming routine 

I always stick to the 

same pregame routine. 

I shower first, playing 

my favorite music. 

After I shower I have 

to pick the perfect fit. 

Once I pick my clothes 

and shoes and the 

jewelry to match, of 

coarse, then I handle 

my hygiene things, like 

brushing my teeth, my 

hair, all that. 

3. What are some of 

your essential grooming 

products must-haves? 

My hair brush and cologne, 

Bond Number 9 

to be exact. 

4.How often do 

you see a barber for a 

haircut? 

I have to see barber every 

Friday. It’s a must! 

No exceptions. 

5. What are some 

dos and don’ts for the 

47 The Quintessential Gentleman | Spring 2018 www.TheQGentleman.com

Corn Elder on The 

Importance of Fashion 

in the NFL 

“For some people, they might not make the connection 

between football and fashion, but fashion is 

very important in the NFL. Yes, football is a rough 

sport, you got the pads, the helmets and everything 

else, but outside of the game, players have tapped 

into their creativity & fashion sense. Look at what 

the players wear to the games and in their interviews—you 

see that fashion is major. Of course, 

you have your top players that everyone knows, but 

there’s a lot of guys in the league who take their 

fashion very seriously”. 

Top 3 picks for SS 2018 

“My top 3 picks for the spring/summer are probably 

any Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Louboutin. I’m a Louis 

Vuitton guy myself, 

their backpacks and 

everything adds a nice 

amount of style—not 

too flashy. When you 

want to look like money 

and mellow at the 

same time, Louis Vuitton 

is the way to go. 

Gucci, on the other 

hand, is more flashy. 

They have some great 

color combinations. 

Hands down, Louboutin 

shoes are always a 

way to go! Shoes definitely 

make the outfit 

and with the versatility 

of Loubs, you 

can wear them with 

a variety of different 

things”. 

Louis Vuitton, JOSH 

(in Damier Graphite), 

$1, 800 

Christian Louboutin, 

Rantulow Flat Leather Sneakers, 

$795 

Gucci, Flora Snake 

print silk bomber 

jacket, $3, 350 


TOP 7 

CARS 

FOR THE 

SUMMER 

By: Que Jackson 

While 2018 has been the year 

we have joined our favorite car 

makers in laying some of our 

favorite models to rest, most 

brands have been busy creating, 

re-creating and perfecting 

brands that we would fall in love 

with. Check out 7 of our favorites 

for 2018. A very hectic time. 

But the best part about the wedding, 

outside of the wedding 

day, is the bachelor party. So, 

where should you go? Vegas is 

nice, but it’s overdone. Everyone 

has passports so you are not 

limited to staying in the United 

States. Here are 11 places you 

should consider when planning 

your bachelor party! 

2018 Mercedes Benz CLS 

The Third Generation of Mercedes Popular CLS is back to take 2018 

by storm. Mercedes-Benz is now building more strongly than ever on 

the aura and unique character of this trendsetting model. Starting at 

$75,150 

2018 Kia 

Stinger 

2018 Alfa Romeo Stelvio 

The Stelvio is a luxury compact SUV that joins the fledgling Alfa 

Romeo lineup for 2018. Like many other models in this class, the 

Stelvio seeks to distinguish itself by offering strong performance. 

Priced starting at $41,995 

Kia’s 

all new 

Sports and 

Luxury sedan 

has allowed this 

car company to add another 

level of respect to their growing 

brand. Over the past 20 years, 

Kia fought to make a name for 

themselves and over the years 

has accomplished that goal. 

They have once again topped 

the market with the classic yet 

modern Stinger. Starting at 

$31,900 


The 2018 

Jaguar F-Pace 

Visually inspired by F-TYPE, the 

new Jaguar F-PACE is a performance 

SUV that has the DNA 

of a sports car. From the hood 

bulge to the pronounced rear 

haunches, its powerful looks 

make it distinctive and give it 

a head-turning road presence. 

F-PACE reinvents the energy, 

strength and purity of form of 

F-TYPE. Starting at $42,000 

The 2018 Karma 

Fisker 

the all Electric luxury and sport 

is charged and ready to electrify 

the world. This car is one 

of few in an industry that has 

been dominated by Tesla, but 

the Fisker is making a point 

and it’s here to stay. Starting at 

$103,000 

The 2018 

Porsche Panamera 

is a car that is fashionable, yet 

functional. When Porsche created 

the Panamera, they created 

a lane that other car companies 

had to compete with. While still 

a leader in the industry, this 

car never ceases to amazing. 

2018 has brought on a more 

wagon type look that’s sure to 

have people admiring. Starting 

at $85,000 

Bentley Bentayga 

is unlike any other sport utility 

vehicle in the world. It is also 

the fastest SUV ever built. 

Bentayga brings together 

outstanding performance and 

unparalleled levels of luxury on 

and off-road. With its all-new 

W12 petrol engine, Bentayga 

has redefined what an SUV 

engine can do. The Bentayga is 

the world’s fastest SUV. Starting 

at $229,000

Quintessential 

Eats 

We all love to enjoy an amazing meal unfortunately everyone wasn’t blessed with the skill to cook. We have compiled some 

amazing recipes that could be used for an intimate evening at home with your significant other, or game day with the guys. These 

tasty yes simple recipes are sure to turn you into a hit. 

Chicken Piccata 

Chef Izzo Walker 

Ingredients: 

4 skinless chicken cutlets 

Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper 

King Arthur unbleached flour 

6 tablespoons unsalted butter 

5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 

1 tablespoon shallots, chopped 

1 tablespoon fresh garlic, chopped 

1/3 cup fresh lemon juice 

1/4 cup chicken stock 

1/4 cup white wine 

2 Tbsp brined capers, washed 

2 Tbsp fresh cilantro, chopped 

5 fresh sprigs of thyme 

Season chicken and flour with salt and pepper. Dredge 

chicken in flour and shake off excess. 

In a large skillet over medium high heat, melt 3 T of butter 

with 2 Tbs olive oil. When butter and oil start to sizzle, add 

2 pieces of chicken and cook for about 3-5 minutes. When 

chicken is browned, flip and cook other side for about 3 


minutes. Remove and transfer to wire rack, to drain excess oil. 

Into the pan add the lemon juice, wine, stock and capers. 

Return to stove and bring to boil, scraping up brown bits 

from the pan. Return all the chicken to the pan and simmer 

for 5 minutes. Remove chicken to platter. Add remaining 2 

tablespoons butter to sauce and whisk vigorously. Add thyme 

and cilantro and flavor sauce as needed and pour sauce over 

chicken. 

Blue Cheese 

“Hot Wing” Dip 

until blended. Transfer mixture to a serving bowl, and gently 

stir in blue cheese. If desired, stir in 1 to 2 Tbsp. milk, 1 

tsp. at a time, for desired consistency. Cover and chill 1 to 2 

hours before serving. Garnish, if desired. Serve with chicken 

tenders, celery sticks, radishes, and hot wing sauce. Store 

leftovers in refrigerator up to 7 days. 

Homemade 

Meatballs 

Chef Robert Scott 

Ingredients 

1 (8-oz.) package 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened and 

cut into pieces 

1/2 cup loosely packed fresh flat-leaf parsley leaves 

1/4 cup chopped green onions 

1/4 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise 

1/4 cup reduced-fat sour cream 

2 tablespoons white wine vinegar 

1 garlic clove, minced 

1 teaspoon hot sauce 

1 teaspoon lemon zest 

1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper 

1 (4-oz.) package crumbled blue cheese 

1 to 2 Tbsp. milk (optional) 

Garnishes: crumbled blue cheese, chopped green onions, 

freshly cracked pepper 

Pulse first 10 ingredients in a food processor 4 times or just 

Ingredients 

5 Lbs Meat (Beef, Turkey or Pork) 

Salt & Pepper -To Taste 

Minced Garlic-1 Tbsp 

Parmesan Cheese-2 oz 

Ricotta cheese-2 oz 

Eggs-4 Eggs 

Bread Crumbs-3 Oz 

Parsley 

Preheat your oven to 375°F 


In a Big Bowl mix the 5 Lbs Of Meat with the rest of the 

ingre-dients. Mix Thoroughly preferably with gloved hands 

So that the meat and the ingredients Are properly 

Incorpo-rated. 

With a 2 oz Scoop roll each scoop into a ball. 

Place on Non Stick Sprayed wax paper baking sheet. 

place in oven and bake for 25 to 30 minutes 

Check consistently. 

Meat Temp should be at or above 165° 

Jalapeño Cream Sauce 

Chef Robert Scott 

Ingredients 

Dice Jalapeños -2oz 

Chopped Bacon (Optional) -2oz 

Caramelized onions-2oz 

Grated Parmesan-2oz 

In a Skillet on Med High heat 

Sauté onions jalapeños and bacon in olive oil 

Let them Sweat for about a min and a half 

Add your Heavy Whipping Cream 

Bring to a slight simmer and let reduce 

Add your butter and Parmesan 

Stir constantly and add Salt & Pepper to taste!! 

Once you get it to a slightly thick consistency your ready to 

eat! ENJOY 

Olive Oil 

1 Quart Heavy 

Butter-4Tbs 

Salt & Pepper -To Taste 


FITNESS TIPS 

FOR THE 

MODERN DAY 

GENTLEMAN 

By: Que Jackson 

Winter is OVER, Spring is HERE and summer is 

on the way. It’s time to shed those pounds from 

the previous and ready yourself for your “ Summer 

Body”. We all have an idea of how we want 

that body to look, however we all don’t realize 

the amount of hard work that it will take to make 

it happen. First thing we must do is START NOW!! 

Here are a few Tips from some of the industries 

leading fitness professionals. 

Stop neglecting your body! Schedule your workouts 

the same way you schedule everything else. 

Your health is more important than anything 

your doing. If you get sick or too out of shape, 

those things won’t really matter anymore. Workout 

when you have your most energy so that 

your heart rate can hit that fat burning zone 

faster. Drink a lot more water, workout with your 

favorite music, or find a partner to workout with 

and hold each other accountable. Your daily intake/“diet” 

is a bigger 

part of your fitness 

battle; Make sure you 

eat clean, healthy 

meals and avoid all 

the dead, fat gaining, 

junk food. If your 

schedule is super 

tight; get some of your 

workout in and home 

before you get to the 

gym. Even if you get 

on 30 minutes in.... 

GET IT IN!! Breathe 

and watch your posture. 

-DJ Fadelf 

friend or someone 

who shares a common 

goal. It has to 

be someone who will 

hold you accountable 

for hitting your fitness 

benchmarks. Reward 

yourself when you do. 

Punish yourself when 

you don’t. 

- Jamar Robinson 

“Technically” summer 

bodies are made in 

the winter, so don’t 

run from the cold 

weather. Start focusing 

on your summer 

body and use that 

anticipation to fuel 

your winter workouts. 

As summer approaches, 

reduce your carb 

intake and start a high 

intensity training program. 

This approach 

is great for obtaining a 

lean and defined body. 

This health and wellness 

journey takes a 

tribe. Find a dedicated 

accountability partner. 

Whether it is a 

To increase strength, 

Stretch! To increase 

strength and increase 

size, it’s a good idea to 

take 20/30 seconds in 

between sets to stretch 

your muscle. Stretching 

loosens tight 

muscles, allowing you 

to eventually increase 

the tension on those 

muscles. As you increase 

muscle tension, 

you increase muscle 

mass over time.Want a 


Six Pack, Squat! When 

you perform traditional 

squats and deadlifts, 

your abdominal 

muscles are indirectly 

being worked to help 

balance and support 

your body. Better 

Looking Chest, Do 

More Bench Presses! 

This is a tri-muscle exercise 

that builds muscle 

mass for the upper 

body by developing 

powerful, well-defined 

pecs, shoulders, and 

triceps. 

- Jason Lobel 

look in your tank top 

make sure you do 

some push ups before 

leaving the house. this 

will give you a fuller & 

more muscular tone.( 

This is what all fitness 

guys do before leaving 

LOL). Try limiting 

doing starch, carbs 

& sweets to only 1-2 

times per week. this 

makes losing inches 

easier in the hot 

summer months, when 

you will sweat a lot 

anyway from the gruesome 

sun. Get creative 

Training Is Doing 1 

low Impact workout 

& then Doing a high 

impact workout which 

makes you challenge 

the volume of your 

heart rate for more 

intense workout) since 

you are short on time. 

For example you could 

use a 15 minute time 

frame and still do a 

full body workout as 

if it was a 45 minute 

Routine. (Examples 

Listed Below) 

- Jamie Hayes 

With Summer Fastly 

Approaching. Here Are 

Some Tips For Men 

During The Warmer 

Months.For a better 

with your workouts By 

doing interval training. 

Interval training 

is good when you are 

short on time. (Interval 

~Interval Training Routine~ 

• Situps: 45 Seconds of Work 

20 seconds of Rest 

• Run In Place: 45 Seconds of Work 

20 Seconds of Rest 

• Alternate Lunges in place: 

45 Seconds of Work 

20 Seconds of Rest 

Repeat For 15 Min. 


The first British Colonizers to North America arrived on a 

land that they would name Jamestown, Virginia, on May 14, 

1607, some 13 years before the arrival of the Pilgrims on 

the Mayflower and 12 years before the first black bodies arrived 

on this colonized land in North America as indentured 

servants. Not being British citizens, African servants weren’t 

subject to British Common Law and where essentially workers 

without rights. In 1641, slavery was legalized, reducing 

the status of blacks to that of chattel, personal property that 

could be owned for life. By 1660, Slavery had become so 

profitable that King Charles II of England established “The 

Royal African Company” to transport humans from Africa to 

the Americas. They called their human cargo,“Black Gold”. 

BLACK GOLD 

A Salute to Black Men in the History of Sports 

By Tyline Burgess 

In a country that has tried to reduce us to nothing more than 

black bodies; good only for physical labor, pleasure and entertainment, 

The Quintessential Gentleman raises its fist in 

triumphant salute to Black men throughout the history of 

sports. 

Black Athletes have displayed time and time again that our 

black bodies also have voices, and many have suffered the 

consequences of daring to speak up and out for the communities 

that they come from. From Joe Louis, Jackie Robinson 

and Muhammad Ali to Lebron James and Colin Kaepernick, 

black men throughout the history of sports have been living 

embodiments and shining examples of what it means to be 

black gold in America. Black gold is traded and profited from 

but never allowed to shine. “Shut up and dribble” is what 

Lebron James was told in 2018 for having a voice. Black gold 

is meant to be seen and never heard; expensive statement 

pieces without a statement. Ornamental. Black gold, to be 

adorn and treated like a precious collection of jewels — to its 

owners. 

With gloved fists raised and heads bowed, Tommie Smith and 

John Carlos, humbly accepted their Olympic gold and bronze 

medals for the 200-meter dash, sending a clear message of 

black power in protest to their country and team, U-S-A. The 

date was October 16, 1968, 6 months after the assassination 

of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. The two were immediately 

suspended from the Olympic team, lost their careers overnight, 

and returned home to death threats. Though elevated on an 

Olympic podium, representing American victory and excellence, 

these two heroes opted out of the opportunity to bask 

in false glory and adoration, posed as yet another jewel on 

America’s crown, and instead chose to be silent truth bearers. 

With no word uttered, Tommie Smith and John Carlos 

sent a message louder than the roar of the Olympic crowd. A 

silent but deafening —“Black Power”. 

Though denounced and unappreciated by mainstream 

America, photographs of this triumphant moment of defiance 

turned these vilified victors of America, into iconic heroes 

within the black community. Statues, murals, films and 


countless other works recapturing this moment are scattered 

throughout this country’s black communities. 50 years later, 

this silent protest during the National Anthem proved itself 

to be iconic in this generation, with many black athletes engaging 

in various forms of silent protest during the anthem; 

most notably, taking a knee; spearheaded by former 49er 

quarterback, Colin Kaepernick. Sadly, and all too true to its 

original narrative, we find Kaepernick in an all to a familiar 

position, hated by his country, NFL career over, on the receiving 

end of countless death threats, but celebrated by his 

people. Black gold is thrown aside for using its mind. Never 

mind speaking it. Gold is precious because it never tarnishes 

but when you’re black gold that only means things never really 

change. 

What then, is there to be celebrated about gold that’s called 

black? 

Aside from their contributions to the American socio-political 

landscape, black athletes have been major contributors 

to the wider American culture through business and in fields 

such as fashion, but also through their action both on and 

off the field. Michael Jordan’s ability to score a point almost 

seems to be an afterthought to his display of pure athletic ability. 

Why just dribble and shoot, when you can jump, spin and 

— dunk? Actually, make it what you want. Because it hasn’t 

been forgotten — that to you, we’re black gold; a coin, but I 

see the way that you spend me when I spin — swing, dribble, 

dunk — weaving, innovative styles of journalism into a point 

that I am expected to score. Isn’t that what black gold is for? 

Jordan Alley-ooped seeds of greatness shaped as basketballs 

into minds of future black children, because regardless of 

color, what kid in the 90’s didn’t wanna be like Mike? — A 

Black Man. Call him what you want, he had millions copin’ 

the Jordan Sole, and you wonder why in 2018 everyone has 

so much soul, Michael Jordan — Black, MO-GUL, planted inspirational 

seeds for the future, Black Gold. 

The Late Great Muhammad Ali was known not only for protest 

and controversy but also for his charismatic personality 

and charm. He had a way with words and offered many jewels 

to the American lexicon; he masterfully summed up his 

brute abilities in his memorable saying: “Float like a butterfly, 

sting like a bee, Rumble, young man, Rumble”.Who else 

could so gracefully describe knocking you out? He without 

a doubt inspired a future generation of black lyricist to spit 

and flow, leading to a future where Hip-Hop is King and a 

globe that has embraced its swag and lingo. In the same interview, 

he braggadociously boasted, “I’m the savior of the 

whole game! Every day I’m in the newspapers! ya gettin tired 

of readin ‘bout me… I’m a biiig man!” — One of the more 

irritable qualities of black gold is that it can’t help its shine. 

Its reflected light can prove blinding to some, so it’s understandable 

why they hate it. Ironically, this wouldn’t be so if 

they would just stop staring. Black gold, called so because all 

you can see is our shadow as you follow us through aisles of 

distrust; trending. 

Black twitter trends with the actions of black athletes. Today, 

they are using their voices by continuing to speak up and out, 

shouting from their platforms, on sports shows, athletic ceremonies 

and games, shedding light on inequity the historic 

and continued injustices in their communities. You cannot 

just use their black bodies and reject their voices. In 2018, 

it seems like there has never been a more exciting time to be 

black, with much thanks to black athletes. 

Black gold is controversial because it refuses to do what it’s 

been told. It breaks the mold and uses the very platform that 

its owners designed for it to be auctioned and sold, to shout 

truth to the world, — they shine. Black gold, to be seen and 

not heard, worn and adorn but if it ever shines, it’s scorned, 

critiqued and punished, — sold. Black Gold, mistaken for 

powerless because scattered bricks of gold produce very little 

shine, but when combined they build a road that’s sure to 

blind #theblackdollar. Black gold, a prized jewel collected 

for its qualities and simultaneously hated for its shines. An 

ungrateful symbol is dissatisfied with its place upon the kings 

head. This crown speaks volumes and now elevated by this 

powerful dome, its message is heard. Heated, beaten and 

crafted into the crown that you see. Even in silence, it speaks. 

Our shine is involuntary so, who are you to call it bold, or 

“ thankless pieces of black gold”, “On America’s pedestal; 

prized, and this what you show?” 

The haughtiness of our shine offends, but sets 

trends, Ungrateful? Hell no. Black athletes 

elevated on stages meant for their ornamental 

display, uttering sounds of defiance, 

sends their buyers into a rage. Especially 

today. Be it a raised fist or a 

humble knee, or the way we float 

like a butterfly and sting like 

bee, Once MJ had his ball 

there was no telling what 

he was going to do with 

it, only that he would 

score. Black gold, 

Statement pieces that 

can’t speak, The silent 

truths they reveal were never 

supposed to be told. Black 

gold, self-defining, resilient, 

tried and true. Defiantly shing on 

raised platforms, given to us— by you.

Stay up to date with all of the latest from 

The Quintessential Gentleman by following us online at: 

theqGentleman.com

Michael Vick | Sports Issue 2018

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?