Michael Phelps, Jay Glazer and the ‘Battle Buddies’ Who Lean on Each Other Through Darkness
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It was a little before 11 p.m. on the last day in May when Michael Phelps texted a friend.
“Went to a dark place today….Going to bed now…just wanted to keep you in the loop … love ya homie”
Within the hour, Jay Glazer, Fox’s NFL Insider and a longtime MMA trainer, texted back:
“I love you for telling me! Need to talk?? I can if you need. PROTECT YOUR FORTRESS!!! You deserve to protect yourself. I f– love the s- out of you!!! Call or Facetime if you need, I’m here for ya”
Phelps and Glazer met 13 years ago, when Phelps, the most decorated Olympian in history, was still chasing gold medals in the swimming pool. But they reconnected in 2022, bonded by a shared history with anxiety and depression. thier long conversation about their similar struggles soon turned into steady text updates, FaceTime calls and video messages.
“We’re lifelines for each other,” Glazer said.
As the friendship bloomed, the two realized their bond had become a source of strength, a simple way to reframe their thinking during depressive episodes and anxiety attacks.
They wanted others to experience that kind of connection, too. What started as a small group chat sprouted into a loosely connected community of athletes and celebrities who lean on each other in different ways.Phelps calls the network his “mental health buddies.” Glazer has another term: “battle buddies.”
The sprawling roster includes everyone from NFL head coaches Sean McVay and Dan Quinn to former Pro Bowl offensive tackle Andrew Whitworth to UFC Hall of Famer Mark Kerr to The Rock – as in professional wrestler and actor Dwayne Johnson.”These are some of the baddest dudes on the planet,” Glazer said.
And yet they have cried and vented and let each other in during their hardest and darkest moments.
The check-ins are constant.One day earlier this month, Glazer was in the midst of a long road trip to visit NFL training camps, wich meant he was out of his routine. McVay called to make sure he was good. Phelps reached out three times the first week. Johnson touched base twice.
“What I’ve realized is when you show up for your friends, not just when times are good but when s- goes sideways, it also allows you to show up for yourself,” Johnson told The Athletic. “It’s like this alchemy that happens. You begin to become a little bit stronger, and you begin to get your emotional calluses.And you begin to learn how to deal with things.”
The earliest origins of the “battle buddies” started in an unlikely place: A Subway commercial.
Phelps was starring in a series of ads in the lead-up to the 2012 Olympics in London. His comedic foil for the ads happened to be Glazer, the gregarious NFL reporter who moonlighted as an MMA trainer for athletes and celebrities. The two formed an easy friendship and stayed in touch.
Three years ago, Glazer invited Phelps on his podcast, where they opened up about enduring many of the same mental health struggles: feelings of isolation, negative thoughts, sudden impulses to harm themselves.
They stayed in contact, reaching out when either started to spiral, realizing they weren’t always looking for words of encouragement or advice or even reciprocity, just someone to listen.
“Never onc have we felt ashamed,” Glazer said. “Never once have we regretted sending.”
“I can go to him and f– say absolutely anything,” phelps said.
The Power of Vulnerability: How Jay glazer Became a Lifeline for NFL Coaches
“Why have you never told me?”
“Dude, I was ashamed,” Glazer recalled saying.”I was ashamed as you and I are so competitive, we’re brothers.”
“Yeah,” Strahan said, according to Glazer.”But you took away my chance to be your best friend for 30 years.”
That moment helped him realize people want to listen.
Before Dan Quinn returned to the NFL as head coach of the Washington Commanders, he had been fired by the atlanta Falcons during the 2020 season.
“I went from somebody that was trying to give the encouragement, and then all of a sudden in 2020, I’m the one that needed it,” Quinn recalled.
Within 48 hours, Glazer told Quinn that he needed him to hop on a Zoom call. Secretly, he had coordinated for 50 of Quinn’s former players, coaches and friends to be on the call. The Zoom call lasted for over an hour, as everyone took turns sharing how Quinn impacted their lives.
“It was overwhelming,honestly,” Quinn said.
“He cried his eyes out,” said Glazer.
After that day, Quinn continued to lean on Glazer.
“It didn’t mean he had to fix it,” Quinn said. “He’s like, ‘Just call me.’ And so I did. It just helped having somebody to talk to on a random Tuesday at 11 in the morning. Especially when for the last 25 years of my life,I knew exactly what I was doing that day at 11 o’clock,and then didn’t.”
Those calls affected Quinn so much that he eventually started reaching out to other fired coaches because he knew how much it had meant to him.
Late in 2022, Glazer and Whitworth consistently checked in with McVay, the head coach of the Rams. The calls were constant.
McVay was in the middle of what he later called the hardest year of his life. Less than 10 months after becoming the youngest coach to win the Super Bowl, he felt lost. The Rams were en route to a 5-12 season, and his identity was so tied to results that each loss only increased his self-doubt.
He knew how to say the right things, to mask the insecurity and the doubt.But he didn’t feel right inside.
“I was a lot more fragile than I’d ever“`html
US Open 2025: Dates, Location, and What to Expect
The US Open, the final grand Slam event of the year, is a highly anticipated tournament in the world of tennis. Here’s a complete guide to the 2025 edition,covering dates,location,key details,and what fans can expect.
Dates and Schedule
The 2025 US Open is scheduled to take place from August 25 to September 7, 2025. The main draw begins on Monday, August 25th, with the men’s singles final scheduled for Sunday, September 7th. Qualifying rounds will precede the main draw, typically starting the week before.
Location: USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center
The US Open is held at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows-Corona Park, Queens, New York City. The USTA (United States Tennis Association) oversees the tournament. The complex features 22 courts, including:
- Arthur ashe Stadium: The largest tennis stadium in the world, with a seating capacity of over 23,700.
- Louis Armstrong Stadium: A fully enclosed stadium with a retractable roof, seating approximately 14,000.
- Grandstand: A smaller, more intimate venue seating around 8,126.
- Numerous outdoor courts used for qualifying and early rounds.
Key Players to Watch
Predicting the contenders for the 2025 US Open is challenging, but several players are expected to be in contention. Based on current rankings and recent performance (as of November 2023), potential favorites include:
- Carlos Alcaraz: The 2023 US Open champion and current world number one. ATP Tour Profile
- Novak Djokovic: A four-time US Open champion and one of the greatest players of all time. ATP Tour Profile
- Jannik Sinner: A rising star with a powerful game and increasing Grand Slam experience. ATP Tour Profile
- Iga Świątek: The dominant force in women’s tennis and a consistent Grand slam contender. WTA Tour Profile
- Coco Gauff: A rising American star with immense potential and a growing fanbase. WTA Tour Profile
Tickets and How to Attend
Tickets for the US Open are highly sought after and can be purchased through several channels:
- Official US Open website: https://www.usopen.org/tickets/ This is the primary source for tickets.
- Ticketmaster: The official ticketing partner.
- Authorized Resale Marketplaces: Be cautious when purchasing from resale markets and ensure they are authorized to avoid fraudulent tickets.
ticket options range from daily grounds passes to reserved seats in Arthur Ashe Stadium. Prices vary depending on the session and seat location.
What’s New for 2025?
While specific changes for the 2025 tournament haven’t been announced as of November 2023, the USTA consistently invests in improvements to the fan experience. Potential updates could include:
- Enhanced food and beverage options.
- Technological advancements for ticketing and stadium access.
- Continued improvements to the player facilities.