Sports Illustrated and Empower Onyx spotlight the multi-sport journey of black women in this series, from seasoned athletes to rising stars, coaches, executives and more. Elle-evate: 100 Influential Black Women in Sports.
If you asked Dennis Jones to introduce herself, she’d say she’s a sneakerhead and a fan of all sports in Los Angeles. Her ability to talk and chat with anyone and anything is her secret weapon, which she uses in her myriad professions.
Jones prides himself on his versatility in the sports media industry. As an on-air television host, sports her personality, producer, writer, business developer, and consultant, she’s done it all. Her resume includes notable clients such as Nike, Adidas, Puma and Shoe Palace. But most of all, this young professional attributes her success to her adaptability and hard work.
“I realized the joy of what I do,” says Jones. “I keep deadlines. I thrive in these really awkward moments that turn your stomach into a hump… moments of excitement, moments of tension, moments of defeat. I feel most alive.”
But to understand Jones’ emotions, we have to look back to her beginnings.
Growing up in Compton, California, some of her favorite moments were the Lakers-Celtics battle in the 2010 NBA Finals, Kobe Bryant’s 81-point game, and the 2012 Los Angeles Kings’ Stanley Cup win.
“Those were very important moments for the city … I saw the whole city literally go purple and gold,” says Jones. “You really saw them hug each other and you saw them come together.”
Jones grew up in a close-knit family that was focused on sports and community. Her father was one of her early coaches and her mother attended most games. The Jones family was connected through sports.
Basketball was Jones’ sport of choice, and the skills and mindset she’s taken from the sport are immeasurable. “You have to understand what it’s like to juggle wins and losses, what it’s like to be dependent, what it’s like to work with a team,” she recalls. “There are a lot of lessons that are naturally applicable to any field. If you’ve played a sport, there are some things that you can’t necessarily teach, but the more experience you have, the more naturally you become a different person.”
Another perk to her upbringing was listening to a variety of shows on POWER 106. Jones attended Huntington Park High School, and her commute was filled with Liz her Hernandez and Big Boy daily conversations, and DJ Cool her aid spinning her latest hits. The impact of her commute on her was revealed years later when her mother suggested she should look into the radio.
“I love to talk,” says Jones. “I can chat with anyone, anywhere, and anything… I’ve been listening to almost every show for days and thinking, ‘They talk about anything.’ This is unbelievable. try it. ”
After applying to almost every Southern California radio station, Jones began an internship at KJLH, an independent gospel radio station owned by Stevie Wonder.
“If you know radio, it’s a lot of work,” says Jones. “I was trying to do everything from start to finish: events, programming, running errands. I learned a lot while I was there.”
In addition to his radio internship, Jones worked at a bank and also attended school. Those years laid the foundation for her love of the grind. After her stint at KJLH, Jones began an internship at POWER 106 and worked at POWER for about five years. Ultimately, she became the youngest producer of the all-night show.
After spending time on the radio, Jones began focusing on creating his own and sharing projects on social media. She has made connections with All Def Digital, The Fumble Sports and The Young Turks. Jones broke out by hosting her one of her first Nike functions. “It was so cool because one of her in her first interviews was Devin Booker,” says Jones. “It was a lot of fun… one of the best interviews she’s ever had because you really saw an athlete [persona]”
With those first two events under her belt, the doors began to open. She started building relationships with companies like Dick’s Sporting Goods, Puma, Adidas and Wilson.
Jones currently has a hosting position at a sports media outlet. lakers nation We are committed to fan engagement with the Los Angeles Football Club.
“[Lakers Nation] It’s just a group of fans of the game,” says Jones. “It was thrilling and exciting to be there as a fan for the first time…this is my home team. What a perfect moment.”
During the NBA offseason, he works behind the scenes in business development with many organizations such as Jordan Brand and Cashmere.
Jones admits that in his career so far, being professionally fluid and open to partnering with different types of companies has been essential. Say. “I was really mobile and flexible and could pivot anywhere [needed]”
In addition to Jones’ main role, she’s teamed up with shoe retailer Shoe Palace to give back to the community through her local Los Angeles girls club, called their collaborative podcast. her take.
“Community has always been very important to me,” she says. “I’m a family of six, including my grandmother. Wherever we went, it was always a group…I want to make sure there is still a collective for everyone.”
This year, Jones hopes to develop and connect women in sport through her initiative WITS. The moniker that stands for #WomenInspiredThroughSports derives from Jones’ experience with the natural wit and intelligence of women involved in athletics. Launched in 2018, Jones’ goal is to create a space that connects women (and men’s allies) who are experienced in sports and advocating for communities for women.
“I am always surrounded by women who have overcome adversity,” says Jones. “Resilience, disciplined women. Women who are leaders. They know the power that sport can have on their character, and they know what they learned in competition, whether they pursue it as an adult or not. The lessons are always passed on to them.”
So what keeps Jones honing when she’s already achieved so much? She says she wants others to benefit from her adventures. She finds her own motives in the hope that she will have enough unforgettable moments to share with her others in the future.
“I have a very close relationship with my grandmother and love hearing her talk about her past and share these important moments,” she says. “When I’m that age, I want to make sure I have enough moments to share…I always want to tell a cool story.”
Nyala Pendergrass is a contributor to empower onyxa diverse multi-channel platform that celebrates the stories and transformative power of sports for black women and girls.
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