Yaxel Lendeborg’s ascent in college basketball is deeply intertwined with the unwavering support of his mother, Yissel Raposo, a belief highlighted by espnW on Friday.
The Michigan Daily reported that Lendeborg, a graduate forward projected as a first-round NBA draft pick, initially approached basketball with a casual attitude. “At first, I didn’t take anything serious,” Lendeborg told the publication. “I played the same way that I did outside (when I was) playing stupid with my friends.” However, his mother consistently envisioned a different path for him, regularly purchasing NBA apparel and, as a child, he would declare his ambition to play in the league. Raposo’s faith in his potential remained steadfast even when Lendeborg himself was unsure.
Raposo’s own athletic background contributed to her understanding of the dedication required to succeed in sports. She competed in both basketball and volleyball at the American University of Puerto Rico and continued playing for the Dominican Republic’s national teams in both sports. Lendeborg’s father also had a prominent basketball career in the Dominican Republic, playing for the national team and within the Dominican Republic’s National Basketball League during the 1990s and early 2000s.
In a separate event, Colorado football superfan Peggy Coppom, known affectionately as “Miss Peggy,” celebrated her 100th birthday on Tuesday, following a similar celebration with thousands of fans at Folsom Field on Saturday, according to Fox News. The milestone came after Colorado head coach Deion Sanders flew her to San Antonio to experience the Alamo Bowl, despite recent health concerns. “I haven’t even comprehended it yet, but I cried,” Miss Peggy told reporters. “I just thank God for my life and for all the friends and for everything that’s happened to me.”
Miss Peggy, who has attended Colorado games since the 1940s and missed only three home games since 1966, shared her birthday with a remembrance of her twin sister, Betty Hoover, who passed away in 2020. The sisters were known for their unwavering support of the Colorado Buffaloes.
Colorado Football has been posting footage of Ms. Peggy’s experiences in San Antonio, including interactions with Shedeur Sanders and Shilo Sanders, according to Essentially Sports.
