DC ExtraTime: From Athletic Islander to New Challenge Dad

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB/TK

Two years ago this week, Tom Brady was basking in the sixth of his now seven NFL titles in what turned out to be the last with the Patriots & head coach Bill Belichick. And three nights after that Super Bowl LIII triumph, MTV's The Challenge kicked off Season 33 with War of the Worlds as a slew of global competitors joined in on the action. And three of those to come from outside of the U.S. eventually made the final in the springtime, with Turkish Survivor star Turbo taking home the crown.

The two non-American representatives in that WOTW final represented what would eventually be the new kid on the block in American reality TV that summer of 2019: Love Island USA debuted shortly after that Challenge aired, and both came from its original British series - arguably the country's biggest summer guilty pleasure. Those who have been keeping up with the Brits' adventures overseas during this pandemic know what has happened to Georgia Harrison during this time, but she started her reality journey in that famed Casa in Spain, and who was also on the 2020 installment of Ex On The Beach UK.

Also there in the third series of the British Love Island series was Theo Campbell, who took a break from sprinting and aspirations on Olympic & world championship glory in track & field (athletics to them in GB) for love on the British telly. In the WOTW final, he finished 2nd to Turbo but didn't make the WOTW 2 final later on Thailand, where Theo was also with Georgia and Bear during their post-Challenge escapades. And you might also have heard of the scary incident in summer 2019 of him poking his eye with a champagne cork leaving him almost blind in that eye.

But this past week, Theo brought out into the open a secret he's kept totally to himself and his inner circle until now: an Instagram picture posted by him at midweek revealed that he is now a new dad, as he carried the newborn out of a London area hospital after the unidentified mum gave birth to the new baby boy. Theo now joins Ashley C., Esther and Melissa as fellow members of The Challenge's British Invasion to ascend to the role of being parents... and it's something that surprised everyone in the reality community and those who's been with him since he was on the athletics track.

The new father wrote, "Dam, my replacement is here 👶🏽 - 21 hours later and he’s here 🎉 I can’t believe the joy I had looking into the eyes of my baby boy ❤️. I only told a few friends and family so for most people will be massive surprise seeing this 😄 Over the past 4 years having a private life isn’t really a thing so being able to keep this private has been so nice. Massive well done to his mum as-well, the process of having a baby is crazy I literally didn’t have a clue how strong a woman has to be to go through this! Aries Campbell 07/02/2021 ❤️ #minime #daddy"

So many of his fellow Brits and Challengers have welcomed him into this new life of his (as evidenced by the Pulse of this week's Challenge posted earlier), and it was led by Georgia who wrote, "i’m so so proud of you my heart could burst, wish i was home to cuddle my new nephew amd i love the name ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️ so proud balling my eyes out 💜." And Jenny added, "Oh my gosh WHATTTTTTTTT Congratulations Theo and baby mama!!! Life changing experience! Massive well done! 💛💛💛🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉💯💯💯💯👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼💯💯 so happy for you!!!!!!"  And our congrats go out to the Islander.

DC ExtraTime: The British Bear Gets Busted

 *** CAUTION: Content Featured May Be Disturbing to Some Readers *** 

BY DC CUEVA                        

■ @DC408DXTR  @ IG/YT/SC/TB/TK

In the course of the past two weeks, all eyes have been glued to the biggest nation in the free world, as the final days of a turbulent presidency have played out just after what might be the defining moment of a former reality star's occupancy of the White House, and the lingering consequences of a stunning raid of Capitol Hill. But while that has been going on in Washington, D.C., along with today's inauguration of a new man in charge, those who've been wanting to get away from a world where many major countries are still on lockdown have found a haven in the Middle East.

Last week, the world's finest judokas gathered in Doha, Qatar for the first competition of a delayed Olympic year, and this week sees Rory McIlroy and Justin Thomas headline a European Tour golf tournament in this region less than two years it welcomes football's best for the FIFA World Cup. For the past several months next door in the United Arab Emirates, global pop collective Now United and most of its seventeen members came together to create songs, videos and content for their growing Uniters fanbase. And a group NU's Mexican member Sabina Hidalgo idolized back home, boy band and VMA winners CNCO, have also spent their winter vacation in this region.

And as the streets of the United Kingdom remain all but deserted as the pandemic-initiated quarantine continues, the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi have remained vibrant in these uncertain times. During this winter, this UAE and its ideal warm climate have lured British reality TV stars in need to let their guard down to this paradise, including those who have worn the Union Jack on MTV's The Challenge since their invasion of America's fifth major pro sport began on Vendettas. And as the current season of Double Agents enters its second month in Iceland, this past week saw a possible reckoning for one of those who brought his cheeky personality into American airwaves, and his crush on that U.S. debut.