This past Thursday afternoon, I received a frantic message from my friend Freda Knight, the wife of Sammy Knight, retired NFL strong safety who played with the Saints and Dolphins, among others. She and her three little divas (with another one on the way) were leaving for New Orleans on Friday to attend Sammy’s Hall of Fame Induction at the New Orleans Saints, and she wanted something cool and sparkly for each of them to wear to the events of the weekend.
I, of course, couldn’t let her and her little fashionistas go to the events without some sparkle and fabulosity. I immediately went to the mall to get her 3 pairs of ugg boots and 4 shirts to add sparkle and frills to for Saturday delivery to her hotel in New Orleans. We worked frantically all day Friday to get them done in time for overnight Saturday delivery. Once the package arrived, Sammy was thrilled to see his princesses all dolled up and cheering on their dad.
Sammy and Freda have God to thank for their pairing. They met before they were two years old in church in Riverside, California. After knowing each other for many, many years but dating other people for a long time, they had a brief courtship and Sammy proposed to her in New Orleans while he was in his rookie year with the Saints.
After a twelve year NFL career, Sammy is now the defensive backs coach for USC and Freda, being the WONDER WOMAN that she is, owns a company called Beyond Etiquette, is a mother of three (going on four) AND is finishing her first book called Blitz, to be published in 2012.
Beyond Etiquette was founded with the mission to bring business savvy and social decorum to the athletic arena. With the sole purpose of providing professional growth and organization image enhancement, B.E. has established itself as the leading business etiquette resource in the athletic industry. (www.beyondetiquette.com).
Bella Artistry and I were honored and privileged to be a small part of the Knights’ BIG DAY! Congratulations on a career well played, Sammy and Freda!
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Leah J. Miller made her name as a personal designer and custom outfitter to MLB, NBA and NFL families with the launch of Bella Artistry. Known affectionately throughout the professional sports industries as “The Diamond Duchess”, she has been custom tailoring and embellishing the official jerseys and wardrobes of ballers’ significant others and children with Swarovski crystals since 1999. Her designs have been featured in the 2008, 2009, and 2010 HBO Hard Knocks football training camp special as well as the Washington Post, and the Diamond Duchess will make her debut as a Costume Designer this Fall for the ABC-TV drama Ghostbreakers. You can learn more about Bella Artistry and see many of Leah’s creations by clicking here.
