1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: My first guest is one of the most opinionated people 2 00:00:02,920 --> 00:00:06,760 Speaker 1: in sports commentary today and he's also a soap opera star. 3 00:00:09,000 --> 00:00:13,760 Speaker 1: Please work with the money making conversations ESPN. Stephen A. Smith. 4 00:00:14,760 --> 00:00:16,840 Speaker 1: What's going on the time. How are you man? I'm 5 00:00:16,920 --> 00:00:19,400 Speaker 1: doing very well. I know you're the New York market 6 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:21,319 Speaker 1: up there. I've done in used to Texas doing my 7 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,200 Speaker 1: live show on Monday. Uh. We talked a couple of 8 00:00:24,280 --> 00:00:28,120 Speaker 1: times while you were vacationally relaxing. But every time you 9 00:00:28,160 --> 00:00:30,520 Speaker 1: look around, man, there's all about money. Brother, It's all 10 00:00:30,560 --> 00:00:34,960 Speaker 1: about big money in sports. Well, there's no doubt about that. 11 00:00:35,040 --> 00:00:37,440 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, when I'm on the lecture circuit 12 00:00:37,479 --> 00:00:40,360 Speaker 1: a lot of times when I'm giving a speech, one 13 00:00:40,440 --> 00:00:42,880 Speaker 1: of the things I tell people every chance I get 14 00:00:43,760 --> 00:00:45,960 Speaker 1: of all the goals I have, and I have many, 15 00:00:46,000 --> 00:00:49,199 Speaker 1: as you well know, there there are two goals that 16 00:00:49,320 --> 00:00:53,880 Speaker 1: stand out when I'm working for somebody. Old number One. 17 00:00:54,440 --> 00:00:57,279 Speaker 1: I walk into work every day thinking about how I 18 00:00:57,320 --> 00:01:02,000 Speaker 1: can make my bosses more money. Gold number two, how 19 00:01:02,040 --> 00:01:06,679 Speaker 1: can I get my share of it if it all 20 00:01:06,880 --> 00:01:11,679 Speaker 1: starts from there? Because if you don't have that mentality 21 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:16,200 Speaker 1: and you're not paying attention to value, not just the 22 00:01:16,280 --> 00:01:19,440 Speaker 1: value of the corporation that you represent and you work for, 23 00:01:19,920 --> 00:01:23,200 Speaker 1: but you're not paying attention to your own value because 24 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: when you think about monetizing things for somebody else, it 25 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:29,800 Speaker 1: breeds from the fact that you're trying to elevate your 26 00:01:29,840 --> 00:01:34,000 Speaker 1: monetary value. And when you understand that mode of thinking, 27 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: then it makes everything purposeful in terms of your approach 28 00:01:38,840 --> 00:01:40,920 Speaker 1: to doing the things that you do on a daily basis, 29 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:44,039 Speaker 1: and it inspires you to move forward and to make 30 00:01:44,120 --> 00:01:47,400 Speaker 1: things happen because you're planning on reaping the benefits of 31 00:01:47,440 --> 00:01:51,920 Speaker 1: your productivity. I'm on the phone with ESPN or Steven A. 32 00:01:52,040 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: Smith from First Take, a show that I actually record 33 00:01:56,080 --> 00:01:58,040 Speaker 1: if I missed if I missed You Live, I got 34 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,320 Speaker 1: to record it. Okay, So DVR makes what makes you 35 00:02:01,360 --> 00:02:03,760 Speaker 1: not in fancies? Give Payless? Is on that now you're 36 00:02:04,080 --> 00:02:06,600 Speaker 1: doing your thing with Max and Molly as the host 37 00:02:06,600 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: co host. What makes that show so special? First Take? Well, 38 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,000 Speaker 1: for me personally, UM, I think it's a combination of 39 00:02:13,040 --> 00:02:17,280 Speaker 1: a couple of things. Number One, everybody believes they're an 40 00:02:17,440 --> 00:02:21,280 Speaker 1: arm chair quarterback for lack of a better phrase. You 41 00:02:21,480 --> 00:02:24,760 Speaker 1: especially you actually when you know your sports. So I'm 42 00:02:24,760 --> 00:02:27,959 Speaker 1: not gonna aide on you. The reality is clear. It's 43 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,120 Speaker 1: like it doesn't matter. I remember I told this to 44 00:02:31,200 --> 00:02:34,320 Speaker 1: Max one day when I was I was debating him 45 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:37,720 Speaker 1: about the art of the Bay off the Air, and 46 00:02:37,760 --> 00:02:40,320 Speaker 1: I said to him, you got friends, don't you? He said, 47 00:02:40,320 --> 00:02:42,200 Speaker 1: of course? I said, Jay, you hang out buddies, right, 48 00:02:42,440 --> 00:02:46,520 Speaker 1: He said absolutely. I said, you're the foremost authority on 49 00:02:46,760 --> 00:02:50,399 Speaker 1: boxing and you're an insider. Isn't that correct? He said, yeah, 50 00:02:50,440 --> 00:02:52,880 Speaker 1: that's why I work on HBO. I said, how many 51 00:02:52,919 --> 00:02:56,800 Speaker 1: times do your boys argue with you every day? I said, 52 00:02:56,880 --> 00:03:00,600 Speaker 1: because they think they know. Even though you're in the profession, 53 00:03:00,960 --> 00:03:03,960 Speaker 1: you have access and as a result, you have a 54 00:03:04,040 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: license to pontificate and editorialize and open, etcetera, etcetera, because 55 00:03:08,560 --> 00:03:12,040 Speaker 1: you're coming from an informed perspective. But you still can't 56 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:15,600 Speaker 1: tell them anything because they think they know. That's the 57 00:03:15,639 --> 00:03:17,960 Speaker 1: world of sports. And so what happens is is that 58 00:03:18,000 --> 00:03:20,320 Speaker 1: when you look at First Take, First Take is a 59 00:03:20,360 --> 00:03:23,800 Speaker 1: debate show where folks are supposed to give you multiple angles. 60 00:03:24,240 --> 00:03:27,040 Speaker 1: Chances are ninety nine point nine percent at the time 61 00:03:27,360 --> 00:03:32,760 Speaker 1: you are going to agree or disagree with somebody. Let's show. 62 00:03:33,160 --> 00:03:36,200 Speaker 1: And so that's one of the compelling elements. The other 63 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:39,520 Speaker 1: one is you know. And I take pride in this. 64 00:03:40,120 --> 00:03:42,880 Speaker 1: I don't wake up every day thinking about what I 65 00:03:42,920 --> 00:03:45,760 Speaker 1: want to talk about. I wake up every day thinking 66 00:03:45,800 --> 00:03:48,520 Speaker 1: about what you want to hear about. And those are 67 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,800 Speaker 1: the subjects that I tackle. I don't. I don't sit 68 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,960 Speaker 1: up there and I it's it's my show. And because 69 00:03:55,040 --> 00:03:57,440 Speaker 1: of that, I'm gonna talk about what I want to 70 00:03:57,480 --> 00:04:00,640 Speaker 1: talk about. I read the papers, I was in the radio, 71 00:04:00,840 --> 00:04:04,640 Speaker 1: I watch television. I know the news, I know current events. 72 00:04:04,680 --> 00:04:07,680 Speaker 1: I know what's going on, and based off of that, 73 00:04:07,760 --> 00:04:12,440 Speaker 1: along with my journalistic background it spans twenty five years. 74 00:04:12,480 --> 00:04:15,120 Speaker 1: Even a lot of people want to ignore that the 75 00:04:15,200 --> 00:04:18,720 Speaker 1: journalist in twenty five years. It's my job to know 76 00:04:19,320 --> 00:04:24,640 Speaker 1: what's resonating and percolating in the mind's eye of the viewing, listening, 77 00:04:24,760 --> 00:04:28,039 Speaker 1: in reading public. And those are the subjects that I tackle. 78 00:04:28,120 --> 00:04:31,239 Speaker 1: So you come, you combine the interests of the fan, 79 00:04:32,160 --> 00:04:36,840 Speaker 1: collaborating that with the art of debating, knowing that you're 80 00:04:36,839 --> 00:04:40,520 Speaker 1: gonna touch somebody's trigger points and pulses, and I believe 81 00:04:40,560 --> 00:04:43,160 Speaker 1: that's what makes the show successful. It is successful. Now, Okay, 82 00:04:43,240 --> 00:04:46,760 Speaker 1: this is money making conversations. So let's get started. You've 83 00:04:46,760 --> 00:04:50,280 Speaker 1: been seeing them on the media tour Four Cities, Econo McGregor, 84 00:04:50,560 --> 00:04:53,839 Speaker 1: flaw Wave Made Weather promotion the tour. Your thoughts and 85 00:04:53,920 --> 00:04:57,320 Speaker 1: your thoughts on who actually gonna win? Well, first of all, 86 00:04:57,400 --> 00:05:00,280 Speaker 1: to answer the second question. First, if Floor it may 87 00:05:00,360 --> 00:05:02,599 Speaker 1: whether losers, it will be the biggest upset in the 88 00:05:02,680 --> 00:05:06,159 Speaker 1: history of boxing, because you're you're having somebody who is 89 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,000 Speaker 1: universally recognized as one of the best who have ever 90 00:05:09,080 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: done it, who would lose to a guy that has 91 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:14,719 Speaker 1: never been in a boxing ring in his career. It's 92 00:05:14,760 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: something that's never happened. It's something that no one on 93 00:05:17,440 --> 00:05:20,440 Speaker 1: the planet would predict would happen with any sense in 94 00:05:20,480 --> 00:05:24,920 Speaker 1: their brain. Floyd Money maywhether in a boxing ring, should 95 00:05:24,920 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: completely outclass and destroy an embarrass Conor McGregor, Steve. Let 96 00:05:31,440 --> 00:05:33,279 Speaker 1: me just say this, but a lot of rumors out 97 00:05:33,279 --> 00:05:36,800 Speaker 1: there saying that, hey, is he lose there's a bigger 98 00:05:36,920 --> 00:05:39,520 Speaker 1: check in a rematch. Well, you could say that it's 99 00:05:39,560 --> 00:05:42,200 Speaker 1: a bigger check in a rematch, but it doesn't negate 100 00:05:42,279 --> 00:05:44,640 Speaker 1: the fact that it would still be the biggest upset 101 00:05:45,080 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: in the history of boxing and an extreme level of 102 00:05:48,040 --> 00:05:51,640 Speaker 1: embarrassment for Floyd Money. Mayweather he does now. If he 103 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:55,359 Speaker 1: doesn't care about that, that would be different. But other 104 00:05:55,480 --> 00:05:59,000 Speaker 1: than his money, what does Floyd money? Maywether brag about 105 00:06:00,040 --> 00:06:03,120 Speaker 1: the fact that he's undefeated, that forty nine have tried 106 00:06:03,160 --> 00:06:06,040 Speaker 1: and forty nine have failed, even though some guys before twice. 107 00:06:06,440 --> 00:06:08,560 Speaker 1: In the end, what it comes down to is that 108 00:06:08,560 --> 00:06:13,880 Speaker 1: that unblemished record is attached to his legacy, and if 109 00:06:13,920 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: you're going to compromise it. It would be one thing 110 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:19,200 Speaker 1: to lose to Canelo Alvarez. It would be one thing 111 00:06:19,200 --> 00:06:21,520 Speaker 1: to lose to Triple G. It would be one thing 112 00:06:21,520 --> 00:06:24,360 Speaker 1: to lose to a young lion like Errol Spence Jr. 113 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:27,360 Speaker 1: Or a Terence Crawford, But to lose to a guy 114 00:06:27,400 --> 00:06:32,359 Speaker 1: who's never boxed in boxing ring in his career, it 115 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:37,600 Speaker 1: would be the greatest and biggest embarrassment any boxer has 116 00:06:37,680 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: ever experienced in history underword embarrassment? Has the promotional tour 117 00:06:43,240 --> 00:06:47,320 Speaker 1: been an embarrassment? Not to me? Um, It's a pugilistic sport. 118 00:06:47,360 --> 00:06:50,040 Speaker 1: If this with basketball, football, baseball, things of that nature, 119 00:06:50,360 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: I would be ashamed of what I'm seeing. But in 120 00:06:54,040 --> 00:06:57,040 Speaker 1: boxing it's it's a It's a pugilistic sport. You have 121 00:06:57,120 --> 00:07:01,400 Speaker 1: a license to assault, but also the license to be assaulted. 122 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:04,359 Speaker 1: And as a result, anything that you can do to 123 00:07:04,400 --> 00:07:08,080 Speaker 1: get inside of somebody's head and mind, to mess with them, 124 00:07:08,120 --> 00:07:11,840 Speaker 1: to make them over anxious, to energize and invigorate them 125 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:15,000 Speaker 1: in a way that may compromise their level of ploise, 126 00:07:15,520 --> 00:07:18,800 Speaker 1: there's absolutely nothing wrong with it, especially if you're econom McGregor. 127 00:07:18,840 --> 00:07:21,240 Speaker 1: And here's why. As much as people may have been 128 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,400 Speaker 1: put off by his comments towards Floyd Money maywhether, I 129 00:07:24,440 --> 00:07:28,400 Speaker 1: didn't embrace it as an indictment against black people because 130 00:07:28,400 --> 00:07:31,960 Speaker 1: he kept calling Floyd Money Maywell boy. And I don't 131 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:33,800 Speaker 1: like it. I please, don't get me wrong. I don't 132 00:07:33,840 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: like it one bit. As a black man, I don't 133 00:07:35,440 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: like it. But I wasn't offended by it because I 134 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:44,080 Speaker 1: didn't believe his comments were geared towards me. It was 135 00:07:44,120 --> 00:07:47,040 Speaker 1: geared towards that guy he's going to be in that 136 00:07:47,160 --> 00:07:50,160 Speaker 1: ring against on our August twenty six and econom of 137 00:07:50,240 --> 00:07:58,360 Speaker 1: Gregor that I have seen has religiously and perpetually antagonized, irritated, humiliated, 138 00:07:58,800 --> 00:08:03,800 Speaker 1: and denigrated every single opponent that he has gone against. 139 00:08:04,040 --> 00:08:07,240 Speaker 1: What he's doing with Floyd is nothing that he hasn't 140 00:08:07,280 --> 00:08:10,080 Speaker 1: done against any other fighter. And then on top of 141 00:08:10,120 --> 00:08:13,320 Speaker 1: it all, he backs it up by going into the 142 00:08:13,400 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: ring and or the octagon knocking dudes out. The Floyd 143 00:08:19,880 --> 00:08:23,000 Speaker 1: but he's done it, and he's funny too. Yeah, but 144 00:08:23,160 --> 00:08:25,080 Speaker 1: I'm not even going by that so much for Shaan 145 00:08:25,240 --> 00:08:27,200 Speaker 1: is just that for me, you know, you have to 146 00:08:27,240 --> 00:08:29,680 Speaker 1: look at things from a contextual perspective. You got to 147 00:08:29,720 --> 00:08:33,120 Speaker 1: look at it and say, Okay, this dude is doing this. 148 00:08:33,280 --> 00:08:35,480 Speaker 1: What is it that we're talking about? With Floyd, We're 149 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,720 Speaker 1: not just talking about a great, undefeated champion. We're talking 150 00:08:38,760 --> 00:08:42,520 Speaker 1: about a guy, no matter how bright the lights shine, 151 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:49,000 Speaker 1: he is ultra cool, emploised under pressure. But he is 152 00:08:49,040 --> 00:08:52,679 Speaker 1: the guy that has been primarily responsible for the promotional 153 00:08:52,720 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 1: and marketing arm of his fights for the last decade. Now. 154 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,479 Speaker 1: I know Floyd personally. I've spoken him on many occasions, 155 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,400 Speaker 1: and Floyd was looking so much to this fight, not 156 00:09:03,520 --> 00:09:06,920 Speaker 1: just for the money. He was like stephen A, for once, 157 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:11,400 Speaker 1: I don't have to work. This guy will promote all on, 158 00:09:12,000 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: so he said, And I've never had that available to me, 159 00:09:14,880 --> 00:09:18,480 Speaker 1: and he doing it. He promotion and mcconnom McGregor is 160 00:09:18,520 --> 00:09:21,560 Speaker 1: doing it. Give the man credit forward. Awesome, Awesome. Now 161 00:09:21,559 --> 00:09:24,000 Speaker 1: we gotta go to a break, steven A. As usual, 162 00:09:24,480 --> 00:09:26,559 Speaker 1: you can talk brother, and I love you about that. 163 00:09:26,640 --> 00:09:28,440 Speaker 1: But when we come back from the break on moneymaking, 164 00:09:28,679 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: money making conversations, I gotta ask you about because we 165 00:09:31,480 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: always talk about it. That's soap opera career. I'm I'm 166 00:09:34,840 --> 00:09:37,520 Speaker 1: head General Hospital. If you don't know about this soap 167 00:09:37,559 --> 00:09:40,600 Speaker 1: opera career, you're about to learn about stephen A starring 168 00:09:40,640 --> 00:09:43,040 Speaker 1: on General Hospital. And he's gonna tell you the history 169 00:09:43,320 --> 00:09:46,440 Speaker 1: or why he has a passion for General Hospital. Ladies 170 00:09:46,440 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 1: and gentlemen, will be right back with stephen A Smith 171 00:09:48,320 --> 00:09:52,280 Speaker 1: money making conversations. Were also gonna ask about the Ball family, 172 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:59,400 Speaker 1: Laval and lavon cool. We're back on my special guest, 173 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:03,080 Speaker 1: ESPN's first take. Stephen A Smith be listening to money 174 00:10:03,160 --> 00:10:07,040 Speaker 1: making Conversations, steven A. He had him on the show 175 00:10:07,640 --> 00:10:12,160 Speaker 1: The Daddy. He's been making the headlines everywhere you go 176 00:10:13,360 --> 00:10:15,320 Speaker 1: and I and I thought about this, What is the 177 00:10:15,360 --> 00:10:18,600 Speaker 1: difference between Laval Ball and what he's doing with his 178 00:10:18,679 --> 00:10:22,120 Speaker 1: son and what Richard Williams did for Venus and Serena 179 00:10:22,160 --> 00:10:25,480 Speaker 1: william Well, what Richard when Richard Williams was making noise. 180 00:10:25,559 --> 00:10:29,160 Speaker 1: It was after his daughters had established their greatness um 181 00:10:29,280 --> 00:10:31,320 Speaker 1: and the fact that they had arrived on the scene. 182 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:35,840 Speaker 1: Laval Ball was prognosticating and pushing his son forward, and 183 00:10:35,920 --> 00:10:38,840 Speaker 1: he made his son more relevant than he actually was. 184 00:10:39,320 --> 00:10:43,679 Speaker 1: Richard Williams capitalized orfer relevance that had already been established. 185 00:10:43,920 --> 00:10:48,040 Speaker 1: Laval Ball used his mouth to make his son relevant 186 00:10:48,120 --> 00:10:49,880 Speaker 1: even though his son was gifted. Even though he was 187 00:10:49,920 --> 00:10:53,560 Speaker 1: playing well at U c. L A. He became more 188 00:10:53,679 --> 00:10:56,480 Speaker 1: of a cult like figure and more of a box 189 00:10:56,520 --> 00:10:59,720 Speaker 1: office individual because his dad was running his mouth about 190 00:10:59,800 --> 00:11:03,360 Speaker 1: him as opposed to his game. Whereas Venus and Serena, 191 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:07,320 Speaker 1: their game showed up long before Richard Williams mouth did. 192 00:11:09,160 --> 00:11:12,120 Speaker 1: I'll say that, can the Knicks ever play basketball? The 193 00:11:12,160 --> 00:11:14,199 Speaker 1: New York Knis Can they ever play basketball? And again 194 00:11:14,679 --> 00:11:18,360 Speaker 1: not for the foreseeable future. Uh they stink, let's be real. 195 00:11:18,880 --> 00:11:22,040 Speaker 1: Uh they're awful. But at the same time, UM, I 196 00:11:22,080 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: do think that they took a huge step in the 197 00:11:23,840 --> 00:11:26,640 Speaker 1: right direction by getting rid of Phil Jackson. Uh. He 198 00:11:26,720 --> 00:11:29,400 Speaker 1: was an absolute joke and an abomination as an executive, 199 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:32,000 Speaker 1: even though he was an eleven time champion as a 200 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: head coach. He was horrible as an executive. He never 201 00:11:34,960 --> 00:11:38,320 Speaker 1: wanted the job. He laughed to confidante about how he 202 00:11:38,360 --> 00:11:41,120 Speaker 1: never wanted the job, but he couldn't help himself because 203 00:11:41,240 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: James Dolan just kept up in the anti and throwing 204 00:11:43,800 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: more and more money. And as a result, he took 205 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: the job simply to be the face of the organization, 206 00:11:50,080 --> 00:11:52,720 Speaker 1: to keep pressure off of James Dolan, so James Dolan 207 00:11:52,760 --> 00:11:55,800 Speaker 1: could play his guitar and and and run his businesses 208 00:11:55,840 --> 00:11:58,920 Speaker 1: outside of Madison Square Garden and be happy with that. 209 00:11:58,920 --> 00:12:01,280 Speaker 1: That's why Phil Jackson took the job. He didn't take 210 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,400 Speaker 1: it to do the work. A perfect example was shocks 211 00:12:04,440 --> 00:12:07,520 Speaker 1: unveiling of the Shock statue at the Staples Center a 212 00:12:07,559 --> 00:12:10,280 Speaker 1: few months ago. Jack gave me that shout out. I 213 00:12:10,320 --> 00:12:12,720 Speaker 1: was watching that's my that's my brother. You know that 214 00:12:12,760 --> 00:12:16,120 Speaker 1: he and our type, and um he was. He was there. 215 00:12:16,559 --> 00:12:19,560 Speaker 1: And what was very very telling is that the great 216 00:12:19,640 --> 00:12:23,080 Speaker 1: Irvin Magic Johnson was not in attendance. There was a 217 00:12:23,160 --> 00:12:26,560 Speaker 1: video that was played and Magic said, I would love 218 00:12:26,600 --> 00:12:28,400 Speaker 1: to be them. I'm sorry that I couldn't be their 219 00:12:28,480 --> 00:12:30,679 Speaker 1: big fellow. But you know, I got this new job. 220 00:12:31,320 --> 00:12:34,760 Speaker 1: It's called President of Basketball Operations for the Lakers here 221 00:12:35,080 --> 00:12:38,000 Speaker 1: and I got to be out scouting that night. You 222 00:12:38,160 --> 00:12:41,120 Speaker 1: c l A was scheduled to play Kentucky in the 223 00:12:41,280 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: n C Double A Tournament, okay, and Jick Johnson and 224 00:12:46,120 --> 00:12:51,120 Speaker 1: Magic Johnson couldn't be at Shocks statues unveiling because he 225 00:12:51,160 --> 00:12:56,160 Speaker 1: was out scouting. Yet somehow Phil Jackson, who never travels 226 00:12:56,480 --> 00:12:59,559 Speaker 1: anywhere but to l A by the way for road trips, 227 00:13:00,040 --> 00:13:04,040 Speaker 1: He's sitting next to x Beyonce Jeannie on the podium 228 00:13:04,400 --> 00:13:08,120 Speaker 1: with Shack and Kobe, and I'm like, why the hell 229 00:13:08,160 --> 00:13:12,840 Speaker 1: ain't you Scotland. That Magic Johnson provided to us, not 230 00:13:12,920 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: an excuse, but the same reasoning that Magic Johnson provided. 231 00:13:16,080 --> 00:13:18,880 Speaker 1: That's exactly what Phil Jackson should have done, but he 232 00:13:18,920 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: didn't do it. And it was it was just it 233 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,000 Speaker 1: was metaphorically speaking, it was just one of those things 234 00:13:24,040 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: where you just said, this is the difference. Magic's out 235 00:13:26,800 --> 00:13:29,320 Speaker 1: there doing the work, fills out there pretending to do 236 00:13:29,360 --> 00:13:33,080 Speaker 1: the work. Step in the right direction. And I'm happy 237 00:13:33,080 --> 00:13:34,920 Speaker 1: about it. Now now that we saw the collapse of 238 00:13:34,960 --> 00:13:38,559 Speaker 1: the Clippers, now this is Houston talk. Now Houston Rockets. 239 00:13:38,880 --> 00:13:42,160 Speaker 1: They just gave James Harden the biggest extension and I 240 00:13:42,200 --> 00:13:44,800 Speaker 1: have nothing wrong with that. I'm getting that money. They 241 00:13:44,920 --> 00:13:48,679 Speaker 1: deserves it. He deserves it, Okay, but ken Chris Paul, 242 00:13:49,600 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: James Harden, who has to have the ball all the time. 243 00:13:53,800 --> 00:13:56,760 Speaker 1: Can they put a dent in Golden State Warriors? And 244 00:13:57,720 --> 00:13:59,560 Speaker 1: no they can't, No, they can't. They can put it 245 00:13:59,600 --> 00:14:01,880 Speaker 1: in every body else. Uh, they can get to the 246 00:14:01,960 --> 00:14:05,040 Speaker 1: Western Conference Finals, but ultimately they're gonna run into the 247 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:06,880 Speaker 1: Golden State Warriors. And you have to remember that's the 248 00:14:06,960 --> 00:14:09,920 Speaker 1: Achilles here. Yes you have James Harden, okay, but if 249 00:14:09,960 --> 00:14:12,680 Speaker 1: you're Golden State, you also have Clay Thompson. Yes you 250 00:14:12,720 --> 00:14:14,520 Speaker 1: have Chris Paul, but if you go to State, you've 251 00:14:14,559 --> 00:14:17,880 Speaker 1: got Steph Curry. And there is no answer for Kevin Durant. 252 00:14:18,160 --> 00:14:22,920 Speaker 1: Now it doesn't stop here for Houston because Carmelo Anthony 253 00:14:23,000 --> 00:14:25,120 Speaker 1: desperately wants to be in Houston. He's informed the New 254 00:14:25,200 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: York Knicks that he wants to get traded, that he's 255 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: willing to waves is no trade Clauds for one of 256 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:33,400 Speaker 1: two teams, either the Cleveland Cavaliers or the Houston Rockets. 257 00:14:33,720 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: He prefers to go to Houston. The problem is all 258 00:14:36,200 --> 00:14:38,960 Speaker 1: Houston has to offer, basically as a contract of Ryan Anderson, 259 00:14:39,240 --> 00:14:41,240 Speaker 1: and that's not nearly enough. The New York Knicks are 260 00:14:41,280 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: not going to take that. That's why you're hearing all 261 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,400 Speaker 1: of these stories about these multi team deals. Three or 262 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,520 Speaker 1: four teams are involved in the mix, because what the 263 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: Knicks are looking to do is they're looking to get 264 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:54,600 Speaker 1: equitable compensation for Carmelo, Anthony and Houston Kent offer that 265 00:14:54,680 --> 00:14:58,600 Speaker 1: straight up. Now, Melo desperately wanted to leave because his 266 00:14:58,640 --> 00:15:02,520 Speaker 1: relationship with Phil was pretty much over. But now that 267 00:15:02,680 --> 00:15:06,280 Speaker 1: Steve Mills is the president of MSG and he hired 268 00:15:06,320 --> 00:15:09,840 Speaker 1: this dude, Scott Perry, who is a longtime league executive, 269 00:15:10,640 --> 00:15:15,560 Speaker 1: African American well deserving of this opportunity. Certainly waited too 270 00:15:15,600 --> 00:15:18,880 Speaker 1: long to get this opportunity he deserved the years ago. 271 00:15:19,240 --> 00:15:21,840 Speaker 1: He's now the new general manager for the New York Knicks. 272 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:24,960 Speaker 1: So because of that, they're hoping that they can change 273 00:15:25,040 --> 00:15:28,480 Speaker 1: Mellow's mind. But from what I'm told, even though Mellow 274 00:15:28,880 --> 00:15:32,320 Speaker 1: has no problem with them, he wants to go to Houston. 275 00:15:32,720 --> 00:15:36,040 Speaker 1: So if Darryl Morey and those other guys are able 276 00:15:36,080 --> 00:15:38,840 Speaker 1: to pull off something get up a multiple teams involved, 277 00:15:39,040 --> 00:15:41,320 Speaker 1: including the Phoenix Suns, who just want a second round 278 00:15:41,360 --> 00:15:42,960 Speaker 1: pick and they're willing to give that up for Eric 279 00:15:42,960 --> 00:15:46,080 Speaker 1: Bledsoe then find so be it. It's good, but it's 280 00:15:46,120 --> 00:15:48,560 Speaker 1: going to take a multi team deal in order to 281 00:15:48,600 --> 00:15:51,200 Speaker 1: get Mellow to Houston. We'll see if they can pull 282 00:15:51,240 --> 00:15:54,440 Speaker 1: it off. But that is definitely number one on his list. 283 00:15:54,800 --> 00:15:57,880 Speaker 1: He wants to be in Houston with Chris Paul, one 284 00:15:57,920 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: of his best friends in the world, along with James Harden. 285 00:16:01,040 --> 00:16:04,760 Speaker 1: That's where Mellow wants to go. But still shot Raymond Green. 286 00:16:05,800 --> 00:16:08,880 Speaker 1: I agree, um, but at the same time, you got 287 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:12,440 Speaker 1: bounced out in the Western Conference semifinals. Some imposta wearing 288 00:16:12,520 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: James Harden's jersey did show up for Game six of 289 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,560 Speaker 1: the semifinals against the Spurs. I don't know who the 290 00:16:19,560 --> 00:16:21,720 Speaker 1: hell that was, because, I mean, James Harden was my 291 00:16:21,800 --> 00:16:24,560 Speaker 1: leading league MVP candidate. I love this game. I love 292 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 1: him as a person. He's a great guy. But that 293 00:16:26,880 --> 00:16:29,480 Speaker 1: particular night, I didn't even recognize him. I mean, think 294 00:16:29,480 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: about this, James Harden, who averaged twenty nine eleven and eight, 295 00:16:34,600 --> 00:16:38,040 Speaker 1: went the first eighteen minutes of the game without attempting 296 00:16:38,200 --> 00:16:41,280 Speaker 1: a shot in a playoff game. Now, that don't make 297 00:16:41,280 --> 00:16:44,400 Speaker 1: any sense. Something was wrong. I think somebody spiked his drink, 298 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:46,840 Speaker 1: they did they like at the raid, or they stole 299 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:51,120 Speaker 1: his jersey. Son happened and they played because that wasn't 300 00:16:51,120 --> 00:16:53,560 Speaker 1: the James Harden that I know and love. All I'm 301 00:16:53,560 --> 00:16:57,560 Speaker 1: saying is that that with CP three, especially if Mello arrives, 302 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,840 Speaker 1: there's no doubt in my mind, it will be good 303 00:16:59,840 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: at enough for them to get to the conference finals. 304 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: So long as they don't have to run in the 305 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,560 Speaker 1: Golden State before then, I think they would get to 306 00:17:07,560 --> 00:17:10,919 Speaker 1: the conference finals. But that's it. Now With the NBA, 307 00:17:12,119 --> 00:17:15,080 Speaker 1: for some reason, I'm so excited about the NBA because 308 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:20,480 Speaker 1: I've actually been watching Summer League basketball. Well, listen, you 309 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,399 Speaker 1: got young talent and he's a young cats want to 310 00:17:23,440 --> 00:17:26,120 Speaker 1: come up. But I gotta tell you something. You want 311 00:17:26,160 --> 00:17:27,600 Speaker 1: me to tell you the real reason why you were 312 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:33,159 Speaker 1: watching Summer league basketball laval ball. Laval Ball made you 313 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:37,600 Speaker 1: want to watch Alonzo, and wanting to watch Alonso made 314 00:17:37,640 --> 00:17:41,399 Speaker 1: you want to watch de Aaron Fox out of Kentucky, 315 00:17:41,920 --> 00:17:45,720 Speaker 1: Malik Monk out of Kentucky. Uh, and you know all 316 00:17:45,760 --> 00:17:49,760 Speaker 1: of these other guys. It makes Jackson, Josh Jackson is 317 00:17:49,800 --> 00:17:52,600 Speaker 1: gonna be special. Uh. This kid, Dennis Smith junior out 318 00:17:52,640 --> 00:17:55,360 Speaker 1: of a line of states. Long can keep his head 319 00:17:55,400 --> 00:17:58,119 Speaker 1: on straight and get rid of those ridiculous tweets like 320 00:17:58,160 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: Mark Human made him do, He'll be on. But I 321 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,080 Speaker 1: think those guys, I think you've got. What Lonzo Ball 322 00:18:04,240 --> 00:18:06,560 Speaker 1: made you want to do is not just watch him 323 00:18:06,600 --> 00:18:09,919 Speaker 1: and imagine and fantasize him running the Lake Show. It 324 00:18:10,040 --> 00:18:12,320 Speaker 1: also makes you want. It made you want to look 325 00:18:12,359 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: at the other talents that have been ignored, comparing them 326 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 1: to him and seeing what everybody has and imagining what 327 00:18:20,200 --> 00:18:22,960 Speaker 1: they're going to do on the next level. I give 328 00:18:23,119 --> 00:18:26,159 Speaker 1: all that credit to laval Ball. Well, I would tell 329 00:18:26,160 --> 00:18:28,880 Speaker 1: you this the talent I've seen talent like this. I'll 330 00:18:28,920 --> 00:18:31,520 Speaker 1: be honest with what you says since Lebron came into 331 00:18:31,520 --> 00:18:34,480 Speaker 1: the league. I'm talking you know, when they're first ten. 332 00:18:35,160 --> 00:18:37,639 Speaker 1: Even more because I think Kuzman that that boy is 333 00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:41,840 Speaker 1: gonna clown with LaVar lavon Uh being his point guard 334 00:18:41,880 --> 00:18:46,320 Speaker 1: in l a Laker uniform. Luno, I apologize Lonzo Ball, 335 00:18:46,800 --> 00:18:49,720 Speaker 1: the point guard, rookie, second round checking pick in the draft, 336 00:18:50,040 --> 00:18:53,000 Speaker 1: so so it all wounds up to be special. But 337 00:18:53,040 --> 00:18:54,919 Speaker 1: before I get off the air, because I know I 338 00:18:54,960 --> 00:18:57,639 Speaker 1: got to talk about this. Your soap oper career. I 339 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:00,440 Speaker 1: gotta shifting the gears from money making conversation and talk 340 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:04,159 Speaker 1: about something you love because you've actually had prolonged conversations 341 00:19:04,200 --> 00:19:06,080 Speaker 1: about your acting, because you've called me to reach out. 342 00:19:06,080 --> 00:19:09,959 Speaker 1: Did you see the episode? What do you think? Well, listen, 343 00:19:10,200 --> 00:19:14,119 Speaker 1: um General Hospital. Here's the star of General Hospital, stephen A. Smith. Well, 344 00:19:14,400 --> 00:19:17,840 Speaker 1: I was certainly not take that reached Bernard A Ka, 345 00:19:17,920 --> 00:19:22,800 Speaker 1: Sonny Corinthos and the crew. I know, Um General Hospital 346 00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:24,640 Speaker 1: is a soap oper I've been watching for more than 347 00:19:24,680 --> 00:19:27,800 Speaker 1: forty years. I was raised by five women, and you know, 348 00:19:27,920 --> 00:19:32,520 Speaker 1: my my mom recently passed along my folds, you know. 349 00:19:32,680 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: And so what you have is, you know, you got 350 00:19:34,520 --> 00:19:36,320 Speaker 1: fo older sisters, and you come into the house and 351 00:19:36,359 --> 00:19:38,760 Speaker 1: you're not allowed to watch TV unless you're gonna watch 352 00:19:38,800 --> 00:19:42,119 Speaker 1: the soaps. Because all the TVs was on General Hospital. 353 00:19:42,600 --> 00:19:45,800 Speaker 1: And so I started watching it before before I was 354 00:19:46,040 --> 00:19:49,280 Speaker 1: eight years old, and I never stopped, you know, I mean, 355 00:19:49,320 --> 00:19:51,600 Speaker 1: I go back to the days of Luke and Laura Franks, 356 00:19:52,240 --> 00:19:55,080 Speaker 1: the machine and and and and all of that stuff. 357 00:19:55,119 --> 00:19:57,600 Speaker 1: I mean, I mean everything, and so you know, I 358 00:19:57,640 --> 00:19:59,959 Speaker 1: remember I showed up for a cameo in two thousand 359 00:20:00,040 --> 00:20:02,399 Speaker 1: and seven and two of the oldest characters on the 360 00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:04,719 Speaker 1: show cornered me and they said, you're supposed to be 361 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:07,680 Speaker 1: some expert in general hospital, and they were bringing up storylines. 362 00:20:07,840 --> 00:20:11,080 Speaker 1: I said, actually, that's incorrect. That was this was the storyline, 363 00:20:11,119 --> 00:20:13,120 Speaker 1: and this is the year it happened, and they could 364 00:20:13,160 --> 00:20:16,119 Speaker 1: have believed and so, you know, that was the only appearance, 365 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:18,480 Speaker 1: but it was. It was only for ten seconds. But 366 00:20:18,920 --> 00:20:21,240 Speaker 1: they saw me on first take one day and everybody 367 00:20:21,320 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: was teasing me about General Hospital. I'm like, I'm not 368 00:20:23,040 --> 00:20:26,000 Speaker 1: apologized of anything. I love the show, and they asked 369 00:20:26,040 --> 00:20:28,959 Speaker 1: me to come on. And when I came on and 370 00:20:28,960 --> 00:20:32,200 Speaker 1: did a couple of scenes, Maurice Bernard, the star of 371 00:20:32,240 --> 00:20:34,920 Speaker 1: the show, who was just incredible. He's an incredible act 372 00:20:34,960 --> 00:20:38,119 Speaker 1: of plus he's incredibly generous to me, spent time with 373 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,600 Speaker 1: me going over the lines and everything like this, and 374 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:44,320 Speaker 1: he was shocked I knew my lines and he felt 375 00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:47,560 Speaker 1: like doing it the camera didn't phaze me and that 376 00:20:47,640 --> 00:20:50,159 Speaker 1: I was a natural at it. So he had so 377 00:20:50,280 --> 00:20:54,119 Speaker 1: the executive director, Frank Valentini, was said, could you do 378 00:20:54,200 --> 00:20:57,120 Speaker 1: a few more lines? And the next time I came back, 379 00:20:57,160 --> 00:21:00,159 Speaker 1: they gave me a few more lines and I that, 380 00:21:00,480 --> 00:21:03,000 Speaker 1: and they said, we want to make this a recurring 381 00:21:03,119 --> 00:21:06,040 Speaker 1: role for you. My character's name is Brick. I'm a 382 00:21:06,080 --> 00:21:09,800 Speaker 1: surveillance expert for the Mob, and they wanted me to 383 00:21:09,840 --> 00:21:11,959 Speaker 1: come on in the third time. I came on, how 384 00:21:12,040 --> 00:21:15,800 Speaker 1: almost panicked because they sent me the script and it 385 00:21:15,880 --> 00:21:19,280 Speaker 1: was four pages of lines. I had over thirty lines, 386 00:21:19,880 --> 00:21:22,840 Speaker 1: and I was in like five or six different scenes 387 00:21:23,480 --> 00:21:27,320 Speaker 1: spanning two days. And you gotta remember, because of budget 388 00:21:27,400 --> 00:21:30,080 Speaker 1: issues and everything like that, because it's the money making conversation. 389 00:21:30,720 --> 00:21:33,080 Speaker 1: The soap opera industry isn't what it used to be 390 00:21:33,160 --> 00:21:34,919 Speaker 1: here as some of those shows that are canceled. But 391 00:21:34,960 --> 00:21:37,040 Speaker 1: you still got Young and the Restless with my man 392 00:21:37,119 --> 00:21:39,000 Speaker 1: Very grad and who stars as Victor Newman. He's a 393 00:21:39,000 --> 00:21:41,399 Speaker 1: personal friend of mine. And you've got my Reese Bernard 394 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,480 Speaker 1: on General Hospital. Those are the two most successful soap operas. 395 00:21:44,520 --> 00:21:47,919 Speaker 1: But they cut back from the standpoint that instead of 396 00:21:48,000 --> 00:21:51,159 Speaker 1: having multiple takes and stuff like that, you need to 397 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:52,879 Speaker 1: be able to do stuff in one or two takes 398 00:21:53,960 --> 00:21:59,520 Speaker 1: and move on. And so for a very novice, inexperienced amateur, 399 00:22:00,119 --> 00:22:03,240 Speaker 1: I like myself, who had very little interest in acting, 400 00:22:03,640 --> 00:22:07,320 Speaker 1: I mean, I was sweating bullets man. But but but 401 00:22:07,560 --> 00:22:10,040 Speaker 1: the star of the show was coaching me through it, 402 00:22:10,080 --> 00:22:13,280 Speaker 1: and he was like, I've been with people whose profession 403 00:22:13,400 --> 00:22:16,480 Speaker 1: is acting. They've going to Juilliard, they've gone to other schools, 404 00:22:16,760 --> 00:22:20,679 Speaker 1: they've studied this stuff. They don't have what you have. 405 00:22:20,960 --> 00:22:24,480 Speaker 1: When the lights come on and the cameras rolling, he said, 406 00:22:24,520 --> 00:22:28,679 Speaker 1: the poise that you show, it's a natural, natural gift. 407 00:22:28,760 --> 00:22:31,000 Speaker 1: Ice Cube and others just looked at me. They're like, 408 00:22:31,040 --> 00:22:33,640 Speaker 1: when you're going to Hollywood. So suddenly I'm a little 409 00:22:33,640 --> 00:22:36,720 Speaker 1: bit more interested in acting. But it's it's awful fun. 410 00:22:36,800 --> 00:22:41,560 Speaker 1: I'd actually just enjoy being around folks who are doing 411 00:22:41,600 --> 00:22:44,119 Speaker 1: it because they're so exceptional and it's so great, and 412 00:22:44,160 --> 00:22:45,920 Speaker 1: plus you can get away with anything because you're playing 413 00:22:45,920 --> 00:22:50,480 Speaker 1: a role. Absolutely. Hey Steven Ain't hey man, you promisibly 414 00:22:50,520 --> 00:22:52,960 Speaker 1: too breaks. You're giving me more than I canna ask 415 00:22:52,960 --> 00:22:55,120 Speaker 1: for my brother. I know you're busy. You got your 416 00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:58,480 Speaker 1: your your one point, your radio show starting in about 417 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,760 Speaker 1: thirty minutes. Correct, I'm vacation until next week, man, next 418 00:23:01,800 --> 00:23:05,080 Speaker 1: next week, So so you you broadcast on New York 419 00:23:05,080 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 1: and l A vacation next week. I'm New York l 420 00:23:08,640 --> 00:23:11,560 Speaker 1: A Terrestrial. I'm nationwide on Serious Sex M Channel eighty 421 00:23:11,560 --> 00:23:13,440 Speaker 1: one to three pm Eastern Time every week day to 422 00:23:13,480 --> 00:23:15,960 Speaker 1: Stephen A. Smith Radio show, and of course I'm on 423 00:23:16,080 --> 00:23:18,280 Speaker 1: First Take every weekday Wanted from ten am to twelve 424 00:23:18,359 --> 00:23:21,240 Speaker 1: newon I returned to the airwaves for First Take July. 425 00:23:22,760 --> 00:23:25,760 Speaker 1: I appreciate you, love you as a friend, as a 426 00:23:25,800 --> 00:23:29,320 Speaker 1: younger brother. Keep doing what you're doing. Man, don't change. Okay, alright, 427 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:30,560 Speaker 1: my brother, We'll talk soon.