Sport Tolliver- The Brand, The Mindset, The Identity..

Founded by Rachel Tolliver, SPORT TOLLIVER was created during a time of adversity, devastation and calamity. Tolliver, meaning Fierce Fighter, Ferocious Warrior. 

“From that day forward, I’d run towards everything I was ever afraid of facing, every conversation I was hesitant to have, establish every boundary that I let others violate and every battle, all physical, mental and spiritual, I would fight if ever I’d get knocked down, I’d get right back up and Keep Fighting.”

After a dramatic series of losses, I found myself back in my hometown of San Francisco- the  place I'd left in an attempt to escape childhood trauma and pain which I’d left unaddressed. February 2021, in my Dad’s one bedroom, one bathroom apartment in the Tenderloin

neighborhood of San Francisco where my bedroom was a 4'x12' living room closet which would be where I’d spend the next few months in isolation and depression. I had no money, no job,  only the clothes on my back, a California ID, and a Venmo debit card to my name. My credit was not in a place for anything more. Not a secured credit or even a basic checking account for that matter. I was stuck! I had no family wealth or savings to fall back on and I’d ignorantly burned bridges by disposing of all my friendships to please my significant other who I was no longer with anymore. Family ties with my siblings had been broken due to being separated in Foster Care when we were children (amongst other things) and talking to them sometimes felt like talking to strangers.The only person that could throw me a lifeline was my Dad. 

It took two months to break through a dark, painful and lonely depression. See, it wasn’t just the disappointment of no longer having the personal shopping business “Are You Shopping With Rachel?” that I’d started from the ground up, or the loss of all my friends and pretty much anything and anyone that meant anything to me. It was also the fact that I was now face to face with all of the thoughts and emotions of the miscarriage I’d recently had in November. It was also being flooded with memories of my childhood that I worked really hard to forget because they were all to painful.

In November 2020, excruciating cramps would wake me from a mid-day afternoon nap. I remember feeling the cold, wet feeling so I touched down at myself. As I looked at my hand and realized that there’s blood, I quickly came to myself. I look down and see large, chunky remnants of what would’ve been a child and realize that  I’d miscarried. Alone, in a tent (because I was homeless at the time) and left to deal with the devastation on my own because the person I would bet my life on, doesn’t do well with emotions. So we don’t speak of it. 

Being back in San Francisco, I would inevitably have to face the people and the pain that I once ran away from, one being my mother- to whom, I am her Junior.  From an early age, I never understood why she hated me so much. I am one of her four children and it seemed she’s always treated me differently, and by different, I mean the worse. Because of the scar on my face, I will always remember the Sunday night that she stabbed me in my leg and poured nail polish remover on the womb in place of rubbing alcohol. This was the same night she’d taken my head and thrown it into a glass coffee table. My face was pouring out blood and nothing would stop it. The damage was so severe that with a slight movement of my skin, you could see my brow ridge. Though the scar is a constant reminder of that traumatic night, thankfully, it’s perfectly aligned with my eyebrow so no one ever notices. 

Unfortunately, this is not the worst of experiences I’ve had with my mother. My mother had a special way with words, and because of those words, I’d spent years believing that I was an evil child (as she would put it) and therefore deserving of the abuse I’d been experiencing under her care. It wasn’t until I was much older that I realized, I was being manipulated into believing that love and abuse went hand in hand and that actually, no child deserves to be abused but not before that manipulation and abuse followed me throughout other relationships. Needless to say, I had a lot of unpacking and healing to do.

In April of 2021, I woke up one morning after another night of laying on the floor of my Dad's living room closet in his one-bedroom apartment, eyes swollen from crying all night. Exhausted by this never-ending cycle of depression and grief. A thought came to my mind, “What if this is what the rest of your life is going to look like?” I paused thinking about the question. Pondering, first, because I wasn’t sure if I’d asked myself this question or if this was one of my many taunting thoughts. Really thinking about if every day of my life is destined for the same routine of crying, being mad, sad and angry at the world. I said to myself, I’m gonna spend every day trying to make it better. If I never progress to anything more than where I'm at, I will definitely try to make the most of the day because being down and dreary was exhausting and miserable. So I made the decision to “Keep Fighting”.

From that point on, I began to get out of the house and find ways to make things better for myself. In some ways, I think I secretly love a challnge without the competition. I began to walk any and everywhere throughout Downtown San Francisco. It didn't have to be anywhere specific as long as it kept me outside of the house and kept my mind off of what I knew I'd be going back to. I downloaded UberEats and began walking deliveries throughout the area. I set a goal of 10 deliveries a day. I started seeing that workout for me because people would tip me very generously. One woman, who's order had been the 10th delivery for my day. I hesitated to accept her order becayse it meant me walking uphill for10 minutes and you've never seen a San Francisco hill until you've been to California and Eddy street, that hill is so steep, you need help even walking it, but because I didn't want to cheat myself, I took it. 

I finally made it to the drop-off address when she asked me, "Did you walk here?". "Yes, ma'am" I replied. She was shocked and wanted to know why I'd been walking deliveries. I simply told her, "Its the only way for me to make an honest living at the moment". Curious of my story, she had a lot more quested and we ended up talking for about 30 more minutes. When I'd walked away from that conversation, she'd tipped me an additional $500. Aint God good! 

 

I realized I found a way to do both what I love and make money with UberEats. Because I was walking my deliveries, that allowed me to stay fit and make momey. When I was 19 years old, one might've thought I had an addiction to physical fitness. I would workout in the morning, then head to Lake Merrit for 5 miles of Cardio and then head back to the gym to wrap up the evening. There was no specific rhyme or reason, I just simply enjoyed it. Perhaps I'd become so bitter over the years that I'd forgotten just how much fitness had been apart of my life and I never really let it go, but after the past couple of years that I'd had, It was mine again. Not something that I shared or did with anyone else, but myself and that I loved.

 

October 2021, I created Sport Tolliver- The Brand, The Mindset, The Identity.

The Brand, Sport Tolliver, is a line of Sportswear and accessories meant to equip you (physically, mentally or spiritually) for life on the go! No matter when, no matter where, Sport Tolliver has what you need to remain prepared. One of Sport Tolliver’s featured products includes the Sport Tolliver Hip Bands. A compact, portable yet effective set of bands containing three levels of resistance of up to 120lbs. Gym membership is not required.

The Identity, of Sport Tolliver, is that of a Fierce Fighter or Ferocious Warrior. Tolliver or Taliaferros (also spelled Talliaferro, Tagliaferro, Talifero,Taliafero or Taliferro and sometimes anglicized to Tellifero, Tolliver or Toliver), is the surname Taliaferro which is of Italian origin. Derived from the Italian term "tagliaferro," which translates to English as "iron cutter; identifying the occupations of the Taliaferro men. The name was also used as a nickname meaning“Fierce Warrior” or “Ferocious Fighter” to describe the physical appearances of the Taliaferro men who were considered strong in stature. This is how "Fierce, Fighter, Ferocious Warrior" came about.

The Mindset, Sport Tolliver, and purpose to encourage, uplift and remind  you that you are a fighter, you have everything you need to be victorious and to #keepfighting. Our brands logo of a Shield and two spears serves as a visual reminder that you have the tools you need fand are therefore prepared for "battle". Whethere the battle be health related, fitness related, or one you can't see, Sport Tolliver, the mindset will get you through.

Sport Tolliver Warriors and Fighter are courageous and aren’t afraid of struggle. They engage in warfare head on! They fight for what they want and possess the will to fiercely protect what is theirs. By adopting the Sport Tolliver mindset, you become empowered,  strengthened, and equipped to keep fighting!

Follow up on Social Media and Use our hashtags #SPORTTOLLIVER / #KEEPFIGHTING to become apart of the community. Find inspiration, motivation, and purpose to carry you though your daily battles. 

#KEEPFIGHTING