Malika Rose Andrews has established herself as a well known presence in broadcast sports activities journalism, so it is likely to be arduous to imagine that her first job out of school was simply seven years in the past, in 2017. And in November of that 12 months, she met with fellow NBA journalist David Christopher McMenamin.
On August 24, the 2 have been married on the base of the Golden Gate Bridge. As writers, exchanging vows was the spotlight of their marriage ceremony day – though Ms Andrews mentioned her vows have been the toughest story she’s ever written… as a result of it is her favorite.
The duo is an influence couple in basketball journalism. Ms. Andrews, host of two ESPN basketball exhibits, “NBA In the present day” and “NBA Countdown,” grew to become the primary girl to host the 2022 NBA Draft.
Mr. McMenamin, who goes by Dave, has been an NBA reporter for ESPN since 2009. He at the moment covers the Los Angeles Lakers and has been protecting LeBron James and his groups since 2014.
The couple admits to competing with one another, so when it got here to their vows, they knew they needed to preserve them. Mr McMenamin, 41, had even began an electronic mail thread to himself with the topic “vows” in March 2022 – months earlier than he proposed – as a spot to gather his ideas over time.
Ms Andrews, 29, admitted he might need had a greater speech, notably for mentioning some recommendation his godfather Gasper Barone, often known as Uncle Buster, had given him.
“He advised me that love is seeing that Eating regimen Coke is all within the fridge – or in our case, soda – and going to the pantry to refill it so he can get a chilly one when open the fridge later,’ he learn aloud to Mrs Andrews as she cried by his speech. “In that spirit, I pledge to proceed to be one step forward in anticipating your wants and contemplate you my most vital individual.”
The 2 met at Madison Sq. Backyard in November 2017 whereas protecting a recreation between the New York Knicks and Cleveland Cavaliers. On the time, Ms. Andrews was a contributor to The New York Occasions, protecting sports activities.
After a pregame apply that morning on the Backyard, Ms. Andrews interviewed LeBron James. Mr. McMenamin was in his fourth season protecting Mr. James and was intrigued by Ms. Andrews as a result of reporters do not normally get one-on-one interviews with the basketball star.
“There appeared to be a superb relationship between the 2 of them,” Mr McMenamin mentioned. Whereas he wasn’t wiretapping per se, he mentioned, a part of his job was to know what was being reported about Mr. James. He seen that Mrs. Andrews had a number of poise and requested good questions. “So I made a notice to myself like, ‘Okay, who is that this woman?'” Mr. McMenamin recalled.
Later within the day, simply earlier than the sport began, he noticed her once more. This time she talks to veteran basketball reporter Howard Beck, who can also be his good friend. He determined to strategy them, understanding that Mr. Beck must introduce him to Mrs. Andrews. (She already knew who he was and had learn his work for years.)
The 2 chatted for a bit, and through their dialog she mentioned she seen that “he is actually humorous” and “actually fast.” They adopted one another on social media after the match.
The next month, Mr. McMenamin, who lived in Cleveland, made a rapid go to to New York together with his brother, Jeffrey McMenamin. He determined to movie his shot with Mrs. Andrews.
“If I can spend a while with Malika within the course of, why not?” Mr McMenamin mentioned. He requested her to satisfy. As soon as the plans have been set, she requested him, “Is that this a date?” (It was.)
They met in Bryant Park in early December, when Christmas decorations, together with the close by Rockefeller Heart tree, enlivened the world. The 2 had espresso at a kiosk within the park, then went for an extended stroll. They shortly bonded over their shared ardour for journalism and basketball.
The date ran out by a number of hours, and Mr. McMenamin was so late watching the Knicks-Lakers recreation together with his brother that “he might need made it to halftime,” he mentioned.
This Christmas, Ms. Andrews traveled to Philadelphia to cowl a recreation between the 76ers and the Knicks. She did not know anybody on the town, and he recommended she spend the vacation together with his sister, Shona McMenamin, who lives in Philadelphia (and later grew to become a bridesmaid).
“I bear in mind once I advised my dad about it, he was touched,” Ms Andrews mentioned. “He at all times has a wholesome skepticism concerning the guys I date. However he by no means desires me to be alone for the vacations. (Two years later, in 2019, Ms. Andrews was “absolutely indoctrinated” into Mr. McMenamin’s household vacation traditions, which they name “McMena-mas.”)
After their first date, they noticed one another in individual about as soon as a month, work allowing. They spent a number of time on FaceTime, messaging one another and even correcting one another’s tales.
In October 2018, when Mr. James signed a free agent contract to hitch the Lakers, Mr. McMenamin moved to Los Angeles. Typically he and Mrs. Andrews questioned how their relationship would play out as career-focused folks dwelling on reverse coasts.
“It is like the place is that this going? We’ll proceed to develop our careers as finest we are able to and take care of one another,” Mr McMenamin mentioned. “However none of us would simply ask the person to make a sacrifice.”
In 2021, at age 26, Ms. Andrews was tapped to host ESPN’s new day by day NBA present, “NBA In the present day.” It was her dream job and it was positioned in Los Angeles.
“Our complete life form of modified after that,” Ms Andrews mentioned. After she moved to Los Angeles, they lastly noticed the total scope of what their relationship may very well be.
The coincidence of all of it made Mr McMenamin consider a message from Paulo Coelho’s The Alchemist, certainly one of his favourite books.
“While you actually need one thing, the entire universe conspires to make it occur,” he mentioned.
Drink more Vows columns here and read all our wedding, relationship and divorce coverage here.
Ms. Andrews moved to Los Angeles in September 2021. The week her present opened, her dad and mom traveled to her home from Oakland, California. Along with Mr. McMenamin, they rewatched the primary episodes of “NBA In the present day” as they sat on cushions and carpet in her barely furnished home.
“I felt like all the pieces was simply coming collectively and all the pieces was nice,” Ms Andrews mentioned.
A number of months later, in January 2022, Mr McMenamin moved into her home.
He mentioned their home gave him the primary feeling of being “house since I used to be in my home rising up.”
That 12 months, on Thanksgiving Day, Mr. McMenamin proposed close to her grandfather’s house in San Francisco.
“We began speaking 5 years in the past and I do not need the dialog to ever finish,” he mentioned, dropping to at least one knee. He had written his proposal on a chunk of paper which he later gave to her. She retains it in her pockets.
Ms. Andrews graduated from the College of Portland in Oregon with a BA in Organizational Communications. Mr. McMenamin graduated from Syracuse College with a BA in Print Journalism.
On August 24, the couple married at Cavallo Level Lodge, a resort subsequent to the Golden Gate Bridge. They mentioned they discovered that a number of the metal from the bridge was shipped from simply outdoors of Philadelphia, the place Mr. McMenamin is from. Ms. Andrews grew up in Oakland.
The date of the marriage was additionally vital, particularly for Mr. McMenamin, as a result of it is usually often known as Kobe Bryant Day. Mr. Bryant spent 10 years with No. 8 and 10 years with No. 24 for the Lakers. Mr. McMenamin deeply admired the late basketball star and lined his crew for six seasons.
Diane Reike, an in depth good friend of the bride’s mom, Karen Andrews, whom Ms. Andrews calls her “fairy godmother,” carried out the ceremony in entrance of 170 friends. She was ordained by the Common Life Church for the event. The seven blessings have been carried out by seven folks of their lives who have been in long-term marriages who served as inspiration for love. Mrs. Andrews is Jewish.
“Dave is a man who grew up subsequent to my brother,” mentioned Kendra Andrews, Ms. Andrews’ youthful sister and an NBA reporter for ESPN who covers the Golden State Warriors. “And seeing him standing there beneath the Golden Gate Bridge, with water in his eyes, stuffed me with love and emotion.”
The couple entered the reception, which adopted Beyoncé’s “Love on Prime.” As they approached their desk, Ms Andrews spoke into the microphone and recalled her late grandmother Cathy’s saying: “Benefit from the magic of tonight perpetually.”
Mrs Andrews danced together with her father Mike Andrews to ‘Candy Child James’ by James Taylor, a music he sang to his daughters once they have been infants.
For an after-hours disco with DJ D Sharp on the decks, Ms Andrews swapped her long-sleeved lace gown for a silver mini gown and Mr McMenamin turned into his Nike Mambacitas as a nod to Mr Bryant.
On the Monday after the marriage, as she sat in white Adirondack chairs on Stinson Seashore, about 17 miles from the place they have been married, and ate a slice of her carrot marriage ceremony cake, Mrs. Andrews mentioned: ”I preserve Dave’s hand and a marriage ring. I’m so pleased. It is that tacky, complete physique bliss you see within the films however do not assume can really seep into actual life. Oh, that is proper.’
On at the present time
When August 24, 2024
The place Cavallo Level Lodge in Sausalito, California.
First dance playlist Whereas preparing in a red-roofed home on the venue’s property, Ms Andrews’ sister performed all of the songs the bridesmaids danced to as their first dance songs at their weddings. She additionally performed “That is Love” by Bob Marley, which was their dad and mom’ first dance music.
“Excellent” efficiency On the reception, Elliot Yamin, a good friend of Mr. McMenamin’s and a former “American Idol” contestant, sang their first dance music, “I Will Cowl You” from “Lease.” The couple beloved “American Idol” rising up, they usually each love musicals.
A hoops-inspired seating plan The seating sample resembled an NBA match bracket and was accompanied by a basketball hoop with a internet made from crystal beads and an indication that learn: “Collectively we make the proper crew. Please be positioned.” The couple posed for images there and snapped a couple of photographs earlier than dinner. The ball is life.
