March 16, 2021 | BY AAGD STAFF
It’s no surprise that athletes have a passion for their chosen career sport…basketball players love to shoot hoops, for example, and football players love to tackle and score touchdowns. But there are also numerous instances where athletes—even famous athletes—transition from the sports they love into entirely different athletic adventures.
One of the best-known examples is Michael Jordan: He played professional baseball after retiring as one of the greatest professional basketball players of all time. And, interestingly enough, Michael also loves the game of golf—along with many other professional athletes, such as Steph Curry, Pete Sampras and even retired NFL player and Super Bowl winner Justin Watson.
Watson even calls golf his “vacation from reality.” When he’s on the course, he says, he feels peace. And when competing in golf, Watson notes that he experiences a feeling of camaraderie and connection with others that truly satisfies.
Watson’s love for golf started when he began participating in celebrity golf tournaments. The first one was Marshall Faulk’s Celebrity Classic—and Watson was immediately hooked. His naturally competitive nature, he acknowledges, made him want to play (and win) against family, friends and other teammates.
Unlike many other NFL players, Watson did not start playing football at an early age. As a first-generation American (the child of Jamaican immigrants), Watson’s Sundays were filled with work rather than football games—and many readers may be surprised to learn that he played only one year of high school football before earning a scholarship to play at San Diego State University. In addition, he wasn’t drafted immediately after college either, but was able to sign with the San Diego Chargers as a free agent. It was only after several setbacks in his football career that Watson ultimately joined the St. Louis Rams, where he became a Super Bowl champion.
Drawing parallels with his football career, Watson notes that he didn’t start playing golf at an early age either. He attributes his persistence and perseverance as the traits that have allowed him to refine his golf skills and improve at a game he loves. In fact, Watson sees many similarities between football and golf. He recalls one instance in his first preseason game with the Rams, for example, when Coach Dick Vermeil helped him understand that once a play is over, you must forget about it, no matter how bad your mistakes may have been—regain your focus and move on.
This ability is crucial in the game of golf as well. You’re not always going to hit the shot you want to hit. You might be disappointed when you miss or come up short, but you have to remember to push it out of your mind and refocus—that will enable you to once again give your best to the next shot. This ability to focus on the next shot rather than the last one is why Watson says he doesn’t feel as much frustration as he otherwise would when his golf game doesn’t meet his expectations.
Watson has had the pleasure of playing at some of the top golf courses in the country, including Augusta National, Cypress Point and Pine Valley. In addition, he has played in many of the tournaments in the Los Angeles region—Cravens at San Gabriel Country Club, Little Pro at Bel Air Country Club, Kelly Cup at Lakeside Golf Club, the Robin Hood at Sherwood Country Club and the Bull Webster at Annandale Golf Club—and has won several, including four championships at both Lakeside and Annandale Golf Clubs.
On top of enjoying the stunning beauty of these courses, Watson also appreciates their old-school locker rooms as well as their requirements of a coat and tie for dinner. It’s reflective of the elegance and class that surrounds golf.
Watson feels that golf has been a journey for him, and he also connects his love of golf with another of his passions—social justice. Giving back to communities has been central to Watson’s post-football career and a significant component in his entrepreneurial ventures. While his first business focused on fitness, his latest endeavor involves coffee. His newest company, BLQK Coffee, donates a full 25% of its profits to youth and education initiatives in the Black community.
“BLQK Coffee is founded on the core belief that your choice of coffee can change the world,” Watson explains. “The conversations that have taken place, the ideas that have developed and the secrets that have been shared over cups of coffee have formed the very fabric of our society.”
“This product—BLQK Coffee—is a labor of love and a culmination of my career experience to date,” Watson says. “I am proud to put forth a premium product that will provide consistent support to crucial socioeconomic organizations that are essential to the furthering of meaningful progress in our society.”
Watson emphasizes that dedication, perseverance, competition and a commitment to social justice are all defining ideals in his life and foundational to the successes he has achieved—and he credits golf as an opportunity to continue to uphold these principles, both on and off the course.
