Here’s what ESPN analyst Chiney Ogwumike should have for his March Madness tour – Andscape

Before he steps on the court, ESPN basketball analyst Chiney Ogwumike makes sure his bag is full of goals – equal parts preparation, health and attitude.

In the center of his bag is his notebook, a daily essential that keeps his publishing schedule, travel and life in sync during the chaos of March Madness.

To stay healthy on the road, he also has Thorne vitamins, as well as a soft lacrosse ball that doubles as his recovery tool, to help him work on tight muscles between long days of travel and production meetings.

His iPad is where the inspector works; it’s full of facts, statistics and comments he says on the air. He also uses it to watch his favorite TV shows.

“If you know me, I love television shows Outlander. Even now I’m watching The Pitt,” Ogwumike said.[If] It’s a good TV show, I’m here. Paradise it’s back. I watch everything and anything. ”

He also intends to make a New Year’s resolution to read more. Ogwumike, a Houston native, has delved into books tied to her home — the biography of Basketball Hall of Famer Hakeem Olajuwon “Toro: The Life and Legacy of Hakeem Olajuwon” and Tina Knowles’ memoir “Matriarch.”

When his last TV time comes that night, Ogwumike reaches into his bag to get his anti-glare glasses. He likes to wear them to protect his eyes while watching LED TV and computer screens, but they are also popular with “Nerd Nation” at his alma mater, Stanford University. He credits his friend and fellow ESPN basketball analyst Monica McNutt for helping him use the glasses to his advantage for the late-night broadcasts.

“I don’t want to save this for any broadcast girl out there. … [Monica said] if you wear glasses and make sure your hair is done and you put on glitter, people won’t know you don’t have makeup on when you work from home,” Ogwumike said: “So whenever you see me on the air with glasses, it’s because I was just lying on the couch watching the game. They called me, and so far it hasn’t hurt me.”

However, the most important thing in his bag is a Bible with his full name written on the front. A gift from her parents when she left for college, the Bible contains handwritten notes from each of her sisters—Nneka, Erica and Olivia—that provide encouragement she still relies on today.

Tucked carefully into her bag is one of her most painful possessions: a small statue her parents gave her called “The Joy of Courage.” It is a tribute to his full name, Chinenye Joy, which means “God gives joy,” a reminder he takes wherever the game takes him.

Ogwumike said: “When I feel weak, they gave me this, and I put it next to my bed at night. “It just reminds me that despite the challenges life throws at us, it takes courage to be happy.

“When they go down, you know, you go up, it takes courage to hold your head up in very difficult situations. This is a reminder of my backbone, which is my family. [and] my biggest group of friends.”