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All-New, All-Different
Your source for sports
No. 275
Athlete Edition
An Exclusive Preview!
Sam Wilson: Being the Best
An in-depth interview about his career and his rivalry with Bucky Barnes.
What is Wilson's Routine?
Find out what Sam Wilson does to keep in shape!
Barnes responds to "There's a rivalry?" comment by Sam Wilson!
Bucky opens up about the history of their rivalry!
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All-new, All-Different Contents: April 2023 | no. 275
Running + Fitness + Food
31 Running tips from Sam Wilson
15 Getting the v-shape: Joaquín Torres
People see the "V", but it doesn't appear out of nowhere. Joaquín Torres is here to tell people how he got his body to adonis levels.
20 Working out is hard: Bucky Barnes
It's hard to get into a workout routine. Bucky Barnes, the Comeback Kid, discusses how he gets out in the morning and goes to the gym outside of work.
05 Editor's Note
On a recent trip to her hometown of Delacroix, LA, Elite Runner editor-in-chief Leila Taylor talks about going back home and seeing childhood sweetheart, Sam Wilson.
10 A Day in the Life of the Falcon
On a recent trip to her hometown of Delacroix, LA, Elite Runner editor-in-chief Leila Taylor talks to Sam Wilson about his routines and meals, and his life.
22 What They Cook
A variety of athletes, from Bucky Barnes to Yelena Belova, tell us their favorite foods to eat as well as give recipes for their favorite healthy meals.
40 Exclusive! A Strange and Wonderful rivalry?
Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes have one of the most curious relationships in the history of the sport. Are they rivals? Enemies? Friends? In love? Leila Taylor will get to the bottom of it.
18 Life After the Game
Maria Rambeau and Carol Danvers sit down with Leila at their country home as they discuss their secret relationship during the game and their marriage after.
36 Sibling VS. Sibling
Shang-Xi and Xu Xialing are siblings. They are also playing on different teams in the same League. Shang-Xi and Xu Xialing talk about the sport that brought them together and what it's like to both be professionals in the game.
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The Suave Dresser:
Sam Wilson Talks about his iconic fashion moments on and off the field. Read More on Page 7…
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Joaquín Torres
The rising star in the league, the "Baby Falcon" of the D.C. Avengers
An exclusive interview on Joaquín's humble start in Arizona to his promising career. Read more on Page 9…
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Player of the Week: Sam Wilson
"Out of all the Avengers, Sam Wilson is the most loved by fans and has the best record."
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Once a Captain, Now a Friend? Sam's Ex Steve Talks With Sam's Ex Taylor.
A sit-down chat with Editor-in-Chief Leila Taylor and previous Captain of the Avengers, Steve Rogers, about Steve's time on the Avengers, his secret relationship with Sam during that time, and his relationship with Sam now. Read more on page 13...
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Sam Wilson: Being the Best - From Sports to Ball.
The story of a man who became one of the best in his field and the Captain of the Avengers.
By Leila Taylor
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The Falcon of Delacroix
Hometown hero, Samuel Thomas "Sam" Wilson, was born the youngest son and middle child to Paul and Darlene Wilson, owners of Delacroix cornerstone Wilson Family Seafood. Witty, charming, and bright, Sam was always loved by his classmates.
Sam first became interested in the sport when he saw his older brother, Gideon, playing it. Sam found that he was a natural, helping his first team, the Falconers, make it to State.
There was never a year when Sam was not an all-star. Sam earned a full-ride on a sports scholarship, taking the LSU Tigers to nationals. Sam could have gone into robotics, working with NASA, but instead, he chose to join the District of Columbia Avengers out of college. Sam has since gone from fresh meat to the Captain of the Avengers.
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Shang-Xi
Deep into the Mind of The Second in Command on the Avengers.
In the world of sports, few come close to Shang Xi and his working relationship with his captain, Sam Wilson.
Look out, he's Here! And ready to talk about how Sam and Bucky are totally dating. He has been in the background...And he knows all! On Page 16!
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Misty Knight: The Art of Relaxation
How Misty Finds Time to Play and Relax.
Between seasons, Misty has found a balance between keeping in shape for the sport and what helps her destress. Misty allows a glimpse into her relaxation routine, from morning stretches to 10-minute face masks to nighttime yoga. Read more on page 27…
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Talking the Talk
By Leila Taylor
Sam Wilson and Bucky Barnes discuss the pressures of living in the limelight and how to give the perfect interview. Read More on Page 11...
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Those Who Wander: A Guest Column by Yelena Belova on Page 29...
What to do to prepare for a hike...And a story about her last hike!
Favorite hikes across the Country! For beginners and expert hikers!
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Bucky Barnes: The Comeback Kid
Getting up when you're down.
By Leila Taylor
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James Buchanan "Bucky" Barnes: The Comeback Kid
Bucky Barnes was the golden boy of his hometown of Shelbyville, Indiana. He was the kind of athlete people thought could go the distance. That is, until he got into his infamous motorcycle accident that took his arm. After years of PT and a life-like prosthesis, Bucky has rejoined the game.
No one thought Bucky Barnes would be able to come back from the motorcycle injury that took his arm. But here he is now, exceeding everyone's expectations as he returns to the game. He has risen through the ranks of the game, proving himself to be a formidable opponent. He has climbed through the ranks and is neck and neck with his rival, Sam Wilson.
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What They Cook
A Peek into the food athletes cook for themselves. Read more on page 22...
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From Player to Owner: How Rhodey went from Player to Contender.
A sit down about transitioning from the game to the business. Read more on Page 31...
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Goofing Off with Bucky Barnes
Leila Taylor hangs out with infamous weirdo Bucky Barnes as he goes about a seemingly normal day-off in his life now that he's part of the league again. Read more on page 3...
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At the top of her game: Does Monica Live Up to the Hype?
The daughter of two legends making a legacy of her own. Read more on page 25...
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A Strange and Wonderful Rivalry? Rivals? or Lovers?
By Leila Taylor
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A Strange and Wonderful Rivalry?
"I don't know when I started feeling this way, But I have."
"I love him."
The strange tale of two rivals finding love in each other after broken hearts, years apart, and growing into a relationship.
By Leila Taylor
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Rocky Beginnings
Out on the salt marshes of Delacroix, Sam Wilson sits with Bucky Barnes on his sister's porch, gazing at the sunset on the gulf as they hold hands.
If you asked a casual fan of The Falcon or the White Wolf, this scene might seem like a surprising turn of events to you, but if you're a Falconer or part of the Wolfpack, you might feel like Charlie Day in front of a board filled with yarn and madness, feeling vindicated after seeing the signs.
Because Sam and Bucky? They might seem like rivals to the casual viewer, but they are indeed a couple.
"It started in college," Sam said as he sat on his sister's porch sipping an Arnold Palmer, "It was Bucky's sophomore year in the League and I was still being recruited. It wasn't a good idea. Or smart. But we met each other before I even knew he was on the Avengers back then."
"I admit, I should have stopped the relationship the moment I saw him at tryouts," said Bucky, "I was the one in a position of power. I should have thought that through. I was a mess back then, and I've already apologized to Sam about this a while back."
"We weren't ready at first."
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"We kept it under wraps for the short time we overlapped on the team, but it was... messy. It wasn't the right time for us," explained Sam with a shrug, "It was exciting to have that secret, but it was so soon after Riley had died. I was raw from that. I pretended I just wanted a casual partner. We should have had more conversations about what kind of relationship we wanted instead of, well..."
"It didn't help when I got into the motorcycle accident a year after we started 'not dating'," said Bucky as he squeezed Sam's hand, "I lost my arm. My pride was hurt. I felt ugly. I assumed I lost my career. I fell into myself and lashed out at Sam. Sam was there for me at my lowest moment, and my insecurities and pain got the better of me. I lashed out. I broke up with him. I let my career fall by the wayside. I wasn't in the right place to love myself. I definitely wasn't in the right place for a relationship."
That marked the moment they broke ties with one another. From the moment Bucky was pushed out of the Avengers 10 years ago after his accident to the moment the Miami Thunderbolts took a chance on Bucky, Sam and Bucky had no contact with one another.
"I stopped breathing the first time I saw him after 10 years.”
"I had been in an on-and-off relationship with Steve Rogers for the first few years after that," said Sam, "Which was also me falling into a relationship with someone with a power imbalance with me. Steve never used that against me. Steve's not - he's not that kind of guy. While I'm not sure if it was the best idea, he was... good to me. I needed that. Don't look at me like that, James." Sam laughed at the grumbly noises Bucky made.
There was a glint there. Like Bucky was doing it on purpose.
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"I know. Stevie's nice, Stevie's cool. Who doesn't like Stevie?" said Bucky, "Ignore me, please. Ignore this."
"He's just being this way because Steve's his childhood friend," said Sam, "He's both of our best friends."
"Unfortunately so," said Bucky halfheartedly as Sam snorted, "I suppose I can admit that he's okay sometimes."
"Then I dated Misty [Knight] for a few years, but that didn't really work out," Sam said, glancing over at the sunset, "She's on the New York City Defenders, and the long distance wasn't good for us. We're still good friends, though."
"I fell back into a relationship with Nat [Romanoff], but that fell apart quickly too," explained Bucky, "It took me a few years to figure myself out. It took me a few more years to believe in myself enough to try again for the league. Which was where I met Sam again."
They smiled at each other.
Not So Fresh Starts
"I was genuinely angry when I saw him," said Sam, "That first time he was on the field again. Hindsight is twenty-twenty and I understood it wasn't my fault when he acted that way, but I was still mad that he treated me like that."
"Understandable," said Bucky, laughing as he added, "I stopped breathing the first time I saw him after 10 years. He was as gorgeous as the first time I laid eyes on him."
"It was the right time, finally."
"I didn't talk to him. Even when Steve was the worst and the best and invited Bucky to his after-game party, I avoided him," explained Sam, "I don't think I talked to him until the game in Miami three months later." "The Miami game," said Bucky softly.
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"We were facing each other and I was reaching a boiling point," explained Sam, "All these feelings boiled over that I never worked through when I was with Bucky. I finally stopped avoiding Bucky in order to tell him how much he hurt me. Because I would have been there for him. I would have come out right then and there, I would have supported him. And he broke my heart. I saw him at Yelena's party after the game and I strode straight up to him."
"I started with an apology," said Bucky honestly, "And, I don't know. We sat down and we had a very adult conversation about our past relationship. Not to say it was the only talk we had. We had a lot of talks after that. But it was a start."
"It was," said Sam, his head resting on Bucky's shoulder, "And those talks became hours on the phone talking to each other about our days. And when both of our teams made it to the end of the season, well..."
It felt too intimate. The way their gazes met - it felt as if they were reliving that day.
"I knew," whispered Bucky, "All those years ago. I knew it would always be you. It wasn't the right time then, but it was the right time that night. And I'm just so lucky to be with you. I love you."
"I didn't know then. But I knew that night."
"I didn't know then," said Sam as Bucky let out a laugh, "But I knew that night. I gazed into your eyes when you were at my hotel door, soaked for some reason - ?"
"Steve had shoved me into my shower to see if cold water would shock my system and make me see sense," said Bucky, "I guess it helped."
"But I knew right then that you were a very, very strange man and I kind of wanted to hang out with you forever," said Sam warmly as he gave Bucky a peck on the cheek, "That and the floundering speech you gave me."
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Beginning Again
"And I've been lucky enough to date this man ever since," said Bucky as he lifted Sam's hand to his lips and kissed it.
"It's not so bad, dating you," mumbled Sam, and they were in their own world.
The way they smiled at each other. The way they were lost in each other's eyes. I could have left them on that porch alone and I was sure they wouldn't have noticed. I did leave them there, getting myself more Arnold Palmer from the kitchen before returning to the porch, dusk upon us.
"You know this could have all just been about the sport," I reminded them, "It's okay if you don't want me to write about this."
They smiled at me.
"I wouldn't change a thing."
"Me Neither."
"No, this is as good of a time as any," said Sam, "And I trust you, Leila. I know you wouldn't do me wrong."
"I know we sound messy. I know everything about us seems like it started in the completely wrong place," said Bucky, "I wouldn't change a thing."
"Me neither," whispered Sam.
Many people see rivals. And to some extent, they are still that. Both are very competitive men. But there is also a beautiful love story here, and I am honored that my good friend and ex-boyfriend allowed me to tell his and his partner's story.
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All-Different, All-New
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