1 00:00:02,279 --> 00:00:04,720 Speaker 1: I'm a homegrow that knows a little bit about everything, 2 00:00:04,800 --> 00:00:07,200 Speaker 1: and everybody don't know if you don't. 3 00:00:07,120 --> 00:00:07,600 Speaker 2: Lie about that. 4 00:00:07,680 --> 00:00:11,719 Speaker 1: Right, Hey, y'all, what's up. It's Laura l Rosa. This 5 00:00:12,080 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: is the Latest with Laura l. 6 00:00:13,920 --> 00:00:14,320 Speaker 3: Rosa. 7 00:00:14,400 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: This is your daily dig on all things pop culture, entertainment, news, 8 00:00:18,440 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: and all of the exclusives that shake the room. Speaking 9 00:00:22,400 --> 00:00:26,480 Speaker 1: of rooms, today I had the amazing opportunity to attend 10 00:00:27,040 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: the US Open here in New York. It was in 11 00:00:30,680 --> 00:00:33,959 Speaker 1: Queens and oh my god, what a day with a day, 12 00:00:34,000 --> 00:00:36,000 Speaker 1: with a day with a day. So first of all, 13 00:00:36,080 --> 00:00:38,000 Speaker 1: I just want to say I talk about it a 14 00:00:38,000 --> 00:00:41,600 Speaker 1: lot here and everywhere I go. Being a part of 15 00:00:41,840 --> 00:00:45,680 Speaker 1: the HBCU alumni conversation has not only been like an 16 00:00:45,720 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: eye opener to me, but it's been it's really been 17 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,920 Speaker 1: like a life experience and like a game changer for me. 18 00:00:52,080 --> 00:00:54,120 Speaker 1: So today I was able to go to the US 19 00:00:54,240 --> 00:00:58,880 Speaker 1: Open and celebration of all things HBCU historically Black College 20 00:00:58,880 --> 00:01:02,680 Speaker 1: and University, but also in spirit and honor of ALTHEA. 21 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:05,560 Speaker 1: Gibson is Authia Gibson. So Monday would have been her 22 00:01:05,640 --> 00:01:09,280 Speaker 1: ninety eighth birthday, but this week this year actually celebrates 23 00:01:09,319 --> 00:01:13,440 Speaker 1: seventy five years since Althea Gibson made her debut in 24 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:16,280 Speaker 1: what would have been now the US Open, but it 25 00:01:16,319 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: was called something different back then. But seventy five years ago, 26 00:01:18,920 --> 00:01:21,960 Speaker 1: she became the first black tennis player to play in 27 00:01:22,000 --> 00:01:25,640 Speaker 1: a major tennis competition. Now, since then, of course, the 28 00:01:25,680 --> 00:01:28,319 Speaker 1: sport has grown. But if you think about, you know 29 00:01:28,560 --> 00:01:31,240 Speaker 1: what you think about when it comes to tennis and 30 00:01:31,280 --> 00:01:33,080 Speaker 1: black tennis. I think, for all of us, the first 31 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:35,680 Speaker 1: thing we think of Venus and Serena Williams one hundred 32 00:01:35,760 --> 00:01:39,360 Speaker 1: percent their story, their trials, their tribulations, their critiques, the 33 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,360 Speaker 1: hatred they got, the ups that we've seen them celebrate, 34 00:01:42,440 --> 00:01:44,800 Speaker 1: the barriers they've broken, all of the things. But Athia 35 00:01:44,840 --> 00:01:47,760 Speaker 1: Gibson was you know, she is the originator of black 36 00:01:47,840 --> 00:01:50,400 Speaker 1: woman on a tennis court, showing y'all how to get 37 00:01:50,440 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: it done. 38 00:01:51,560 --> 00:01:52,880 Speaker 3: Now here's the thing. 39 00:01:53,000 --> 00:01:55,240 Speaker 1: So there's been a lot of coverage of the fact 40 00:01:55,240 --> 00:01:58,000 Speaker 1: that the US Open would be even paying tribute to 41 00:01:58,040 --> 00:01:59,560 Speaker 1: her because a lot of people feel like this. 42 00:01:59,640 --> 00:02:02,440 Speaker 3: Was well, well, well, well well overdo a lot. 43 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:04,440 Speaker 1: Of people, even in the headlines and in the reporting 44 00:02:04,480 --> 00:02:08,040 Speaker 1: of this celebration or celebratory year for the US Open 45 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:11,600 Speaker 1: and honoring Miss ALTHEA. Gibson are reporting this as they've 46 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:14,919 Speaker 1: finally broken their silence or they've finally given just due 47 00:02:14,960 --> 00:02:18,280 Speaker 1: to a woman who literally broke down doors or broke 48 00:02:18,400 --> 00:02:21,760 Speaker 1: racks tennis racks. That is for all of the black 49 00:02:21,760 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: tennis players to come behind her. Tennis players of color, 50 00:02:24,400 --> 00:02:26,880 Speaker 1: to be honest with you, but of course black tennis 51 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,160 Speaker 1: players to come behind her. Now, a lot of people 52 00:02:29,200 --> 00:02:31,440 Speaker 1: will say the sport of tennis, and I mean a 53 00:02:31,440 --> 00:02:35,399 Speaker 1: lot of people tone deaf enough to say this, will 54 00:02:35,440 --> 00:02:38,040 Speaker 1: say that, you know, tennis is still a sport that 55 00:02:38,160 --> 00:02:40,720 Speaker 1: is very much white. And when I say that, I 56 00:02:40,760 --> 00:02:42,880 Speaker 1: don't mean like it's only for white people. I mean 57 00:02:43,000 --> 00:02:46,320 Speaker 1: the conversations and you know, a lot of the major 58 00:02:46,440 --> 00:02:50,080 Speaker 1: tennis players over the years, it's been it's almost like 59 00:02:50,240 --> 00:02:52,520 Speaker 1: a I wouldn't even say it's a unicorn anymore. But 60 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:54,920 Speaker 1: you can right now in your mind think about the 61 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,120 Speaker 1: major black tennis players, both men and women, and probably 62 00:02:58,200 --> 00:03:00,360 Speaker 1: name them because we hear about the same ones all 63 00:03:00,360 --> 00:03:02,400 Speaker 1: the time. That does not mean that they're not more. 64 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:07,640 Speaker 1: You know, young rising fire black tennis players all across 65 00:03:07,639 --> 00:03:09,680 Speaker 1: the nation, all across the world. Right, But what I'm 66 00:03:09,680 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: saying is when you think of mainstream tennis tournaments, people 67 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,040 Speaker 1: playing in those tournaments, competing at you know, these high 68 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:18,200 Speaker 1: levels being talked about by press. When it comes to 69 00:03:18,480 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 1: the competitions and things of that nature, you can literally 70 00:03:21,080 --> 00:03:24,360 Speaker 1: probably name the majors. It was such a big deal 71 00:03:24,520 --> 00:03:29,799 Speaker 1: this year that Venus Williams actually returned to the US Open. 72 00:03:30,000 --> 00:03:32,360 Speaker 1: She actually made history this year, returning to the US 73 00:03:32,400 --> 00:03:35,520 Speaker 1: Open as the oldest singles player in the tournament since 74 00:03:36,560 --> 00:03:39,800 Speaker 1: forty seven year old Renee Richards competed back in nineteen 75 00:03:39,880 --> 00:03:42,280 Speaker 1: eighty one. Venus Williams is forty five years old. But 76 00:03:42,360 --> 00:03:44,560 Speaker 1: I mean, no matter her age, Like you know, Venus 77 00:03:44,560 --> 00:03:47,240 Speaker 1: gets out there, she's gonna she got busy. She didn't advance, 78 00:03:47,400 --> 00:03:49,520 Speaker 1: but she did play at the top of the week. 79 00:03:49,600 --> 00:03:52,680 Speaker 1: The reason why I bring up Venus Williams, Serena Naomi 80 00:03:52,760 --> 00:03:56,200 Speaker 1: osaka Coco gov are because again, and I'm only bringing 81 00:03:56,240 --> 00:03:57,880 Speaker 1: up the women because y'all know, I am so like 82 00:03:58,000 --> 00:04:00,320 Speaker 1: brown girl grinding. But there's you know, there are men 83 00:04:00,480 --> 00:04:02,600 Speaker 1: as well that have been out here represented that are 84 00:04:02,640 --> 00:04:05,240 Speaker 1: also you know, very prevalent and present in the US 85 00:04:05,320 --> 00:04:07,360 Speaker 1: Open this year. But bringing them up is to make 86 00:04:07,400 --> 00:04:11,440 Speaker 1: the point that when we talk about major tournaments in tennis, 87 00:04:11,520 --> 00:04:14,280 Speaker 1: there's always just a handful of US. So this year 88 00:04:14,400 --> 00:04:17,640 Speaker 1: attending the US Open was such an eye opening experience 89 00:04:17,680 --> 00:04:21,160 Speaker 1: for me because there was a whole room full of 90 00:04:21,200 --> 00:04:24,320 Speaker 1: people who looked like me, very successful in their careers, 91 00:04:24,360 --> 00:04:27,839 Speaker 1: professionals across all genres from entertainment both on camera behind 92 00:04:27,839 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: the camera, to business, politics, sports, all of the things, 93 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,520 Speaker 1: and we were all brought together to extend this experience. 94 00:04:34,640 --> 00:04:36,680 Speaker 1: Some of the people that I, you know, got to 95 00:04:36,760 --> 00:04:40,280 Speaker 1: meet today, got to see today. Monica McNutt. I didn't 96 00:04:40,279 --> 00:04:42,719 Speaker 1: get to meet her, or it was brief. I just 97 00:04:42,760 --> 00:04:44,320 Speaker 1: need to sit a bag down at the table she 98 00:04:44,360 --> 00:04:47,560 Speaker 1: was at. But Monica McNutt, she also hosted a panel 99 00:04:47,680 --> 00:04:50,680 Speaker 1: that was HBCU based and they you know, had a 100 00:04:50,680 --> 00:04:53,440 Speaker 1: conversation prior to a lot of the matches beginning. Evonna 101 00:04:53,520 --> 00:04:57,280 Speaker 1: Rigi Molly from Insecure was also there as well too. 102 00:04:57,320 --> 00:05:00,719 Speaker 1: Didn't get a chance to see Venus on the court 103 00:05:00,760 --> 00:05:03,839 Speaker 1: at all, but this year, in one of her opening matches, 104 00:05:03,880 --> 00:05:07,520 Speaker 1: she did pay tribute to Miss Authia Gibson. She wore 105 00:05:07,680 --> 00:05:11,279 Speaker 1: the white polo collared style shirt with the white tennis 106 00:05:11,320 --> 00:05:14,120 Speaker 1: skirt which is there's so many iconic photos of Auttha 107 00:05:14,160 --> 00:05:16,360 Speaker 1: Gibson in this outfice, So it was a nod to her, 108 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,480 Speaker 1: very timely, very on brand, very you know, it made 109 00:05:19,520 --> 00:05:22,000 Speaker 1: sense for what this year is. But also those photos 110 00:05:22,000 --> 00:05:26,000 Speaker 1: were all around the venue today, like everywhere you turned, 111 00:05:26,480 --> 00:05:28,920 Speaker 1: you could not escape see miss Authia Gibson. It was 112 00:05:29,000 --> 00:05:31,440 Speaker 1: so black and so brilliant to that at the US Open. Lord, 113 00:05:31,640 --> 00:05:34,640 Speaker 1: I am just I'm so happy to be Gang. I 114 00:05:34,680 --> 00:05:36,839 Speaker 1: am just so happy to be Gang. Shout out to 115 00:05:37,040 --> 00:05:41,320 Speaker 1: Melissa Butler from the Lip Bar. We had talked to 116 00:05:41,360 --> 00:05:44,560 Speaker 1: her on Breakfast Club and then you know, so I 117 00:05:44,600 --> 00:05:46,800 Speaker 1: met her there but ran into her today. She was 118 00:05:46,839 --> 00:05:50,520 Speaker 1: also part of the HBCU Live initiative that was you know, 119 00:05:50,760 --> 00:05:53,520 Speaker 1: the They were kind of like our chaperones today. They 120 00:05:53,640 --> 00:05:56,560 Speaker 1: welcomed us into the US Open and made sure we 121 00:05:56,600 --> 00:05:57,080 Speaker 1: had a good time. 122 00:05:57,120 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 3: But it was just fired. 123 00:05:58,240 --> 00:06:00,560 Speaker 1: I didn't even know that the US Open and had 124 00:06:00,760 --> 00:06:04,440 Speaker 1: an HBCU initiative at all. Number one and number two 125 00:06:04,640 --> 00:06:08,960 Speaker 1: to be there this year, celebrating and honoring seventy five 126 00:06:09,040 --> 00:06:11,880 Speaker 1: years since Athia Gibson walked onto the you know court 127 00:06:12,040 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: in the Majors with all these people who look like 128 00:06:14,640 --> 00:06:17,159 Speaker 1: me that are celebrating breaking barriers and the careers that 129 00:06:17,160 --> 00:06:20,599 Speaker 1: they are in. Man, it was just fire like it was. 130 00:06:20,279 --> 00:06:20,480 Speaker 2: It was. 131 00:06:20,680 --> 00:06:21,600 Speaker 3: It was amazing. 132 00:06:21,640 --> 00:06:26,480 Speaker 1: So upon entry coming in to the US Open, everywhere 133 00:06:26,520 --> 00:06:30,200 Speaker 1: you turned there was artwork. You had a lot of 134 00:06:30,240 --> 00:06:33,440 Speaker 1: It was like silhouette ish and I didn't know it 135 00:06:33,520 --> 00:06:37,160 Speaker 1: was like very silhouette. It was very like. There were 136 00:06:37,240 --> 00:06:40,960 Speaker 1: carve outs. There was a statue of Miss Athia Gibson. 137 00:06:42,240 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: Everywhere you turned there were like different quotes because the 138 00:06:45,480 --> 00:06:49,000 Speaker 1: actual theme itself was celebrating seventy five years or breaking barriers, 139 00:06:49,040 --> 00:06:52,120 Speaker 1: so there were a lot of quotes circulating. Even like 140 00:06:52,160 --> 00:06:55,200 Speaker 1: the Arthur Ash tennis area that we were in where 141 00:06:55,320 --> 00:06:58,359 Speaker 1: a lot of the main matches went down, that saying 142 00:06:58,440 --> 00:07:00,520 Speaker 1: was everywhere. It was, you know, on and all of 143 00:07:00,560 --> 00:07:03,720 Speaker 1: the boards. The jumbo trons hersilhouette was there as well too. 144 00:07:03,760 --> 00:07:06,560 Speaker 1: There were photos along the walls. There was like a 145 00:07:06,560 --> 00:07:08,320 Speaker 1: comic book at one point that was being given out. 146 00:07:08,320 --> 00:07:10,960 Speaker 1: There was merch as well, but I didn't know. You 147 00:07:10,960 --> 00:07:14,120 Speaker 1: can see the pictures of miss Gibson, and of course 148 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:16,040 Speaker 1: you know it's her, but when you're seeing when you 149 00:07:16,040 --> 00:07:18,240 Speaker 1: first walk in and you're seeing all these silhouettes and 150 00:07:18,280 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: you know, all the things. I didn't really know what 151 00:07:20,200 --> 00:07:22,840 Speaker 1: I was looking at. And then I did some digging 152 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: the artists who actually made all of the artwork for 153 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,120 Speaker 1: this year. Her name is Melissa Kobe. So Melissa Kobe. 154 00:07:30,160 --> 00:07:32,800 Speaker 1: She is the first black themed artist in the history 155 00:07:32,840 --> 00:07:33,600 Speaker 1: of the US Open. 156 00:07:33,760 --> 00:07:37,680 Speaker 3: Look when I walking. 157 00:07:37,280 --> 00:07:40,160 Speaker 1: Into the US Open today, the first area that I 158 00:07:40,200 --> 00:07:43,000 Speaker 1: went to was like an area where you could like eat, 159 00:07:43,160 --> 00:07:45,560 Speaker 1: and there were bars, and everybody was like, you know, 160 00:07:45,840 --> 00:07:49,960 Speaker 1: talking and fellowship and and vibing and taking pictures. And 161 00:07:50,080 --> 00:07:51,920 Speaker 1: I walked out was there by myself. So I literally 162 00:07:51,920 --> 00:07:53,720 Speaker 1: sat at the table with a bunch of people I 163 00:07:53,760 --> 00:07:56,920 Speaker 1: did not know. But it felt like home. It felt 164 00:07:56,960 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 1: like homecoming. It was out my mind blown. The last 165 00:08:01,080 --> 00:08:02,920 Speaker 1: time I attended the US Open, I think I was 166 00:08:02,960 --> 00:08:05,000 Speaker 1: about ten or eleven years old. I went with one 167 00:08:05,000 --> 00:08:06,800 Speaker 1: of my tennis camps. I played tennis for a couple 168 00:08:06,800 --> 00:08:10,040 Speaker 1: of years. I went with a tennis camp and I 169 00:08:10,080 --> 00:08:12,560 Speaker 1: forget which sister it was, but one of the William's 170 00:08:12,640 --> 00:08:13,880 Speaker 1: sisters were actually playing. 171 00:08:13,920 --> 00:08:15,800 Speaker 3: That's why they took us. They wanted us to see 172 00:08:15,800 --> 00:08:17,440 Speaker 3: her on the tennis court. 173 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: We were a tennis camp of a bunch of young 174 00:08:20,080 --> 00:08:24,000 Speaker 1: kids from the inner city, all black, of course, and 175 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,480 Speaker 1: I remember what it felt like to see her on 176 00:08:26,520 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: the court and see all of the people cheering and 177 00:08:29,400 --> 00:08:31,960 Speaker 1: all of the ooh. 178 00:08:31,080 --> 00:08:32,960 Speaker 3: Like all of that, all the things. Right. 179 00:08:33,160 --> 00:08:36,280 Speaker 1: So to be back now, thirty three years old walking 180 00:08:36,320 --> 00:08:39,559 Speaker 1: into this you know, arena with all of these other 181 00:08:39,720 --> 00:08:42,720 Speaker 1: HBCU and black because not even people that just went 182 00:08:42,760 --> 00:08:46,560 Speaker 1: to HBCUs, but just black people in general, it was 183 00:08:46,600 --> 00:08:47,440 Speaker 1: just it was deaf. 184 00:08:47,559 --> 00:08:49,440 Speaker 3: It was it was I can't I don't even know. 185 00:08:49,440 --> 00:08:51,280 Speaker 1: If I'm describing it to you guys well enough, but 186 00:08:51,320 --> 00:08:54,320 Speaker 1: it was such an experience. Now, one of the things 187 00:08:54,320 --> 00:08:56,560 Speaker 1: that I thought was fire today that was also laid 188 00:08:56,559 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: out was there were these comic books. So there was 189 00:09:00,160 --> 00:09:04,439 Speaker 1: books that were actually made by Marvel in celebration of ALTHEA. Gibson, 190 00:09:04,440 --> 00:09:07,280 Speaker 1: which were also things that you could purchase, and you know, 191 00:09:07,360 --> 00:09:10,480 Speaker 1: they were being giving given away at some different locations 192 00:09:10,520 --> 00:09:12,800 Speaker 1: as well to today. But I also got to do 193 00:09:12,840 --> 00:09:15,120 Speaker 1: the coin toss. I got to do the coin toss 194 00:09:15,200 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 1: on the second match. It was Taylor Fritz versus Lloyd Harris, 195 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:22,640 Speaker 1: and this was within the Lewis Armstrong Stadium, so it 196 00:09:22,679 --> 00:09:24,360 Speaker 1: wasn't in the main stadium. It was in like a 197 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:26,560 Speaker 1: side stadium. But that was fire as well. And then 198 00:09:26,600 --> 00:09:28,840 Speaker 1: I want to go watch some of the other matches. Now, 199 00:09:28,960 --> 00:09:33,720 Speaker 1: let me tell y'all. Amongst my coin tossed peers was 200 00:09:33,760 --> 00:09:37,040 Speaker 1: Gladys Knight. Now, we had been covering a story or 201 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:39,520 Speaker 1: I'd been covering a story over on the Breakfast Club 202 00:09:39,559 --> 00:09:42,200 Speaker 1: and just following a bit the story of Gladys Knight 203 00:09:42,240 --> 00:09:45,600 Speaker 1: and her son alleging that she is being taking advantage 204 00:09:45,640 --> 00:09:49,960 Speaker 1: of mentally and physically by you know, someone that she 205 00:09:50,120 --> 00:09:53,880 Speaker 1: is currently in a relationship with, and also alleging that 206 00:09:53,960 --> 00:09:55,840 Speaker 1: she should not be on the road touring. Let me 207 00:09:55,840 --> 00:09:57,760 Speaker 1: tell y'all something, Okay, I didn't get a chance to 208 00:09:57,760 --> 00:10:00,040 Speaker 1: have any words with Mss Gladys Knight because I I 209 00:10:00,120 --> 00:10:02,000 Speaker 1: was watching the match that she actually came out and 210 00:10:02,000 --> 00:10:03,880 Speaker 1: through the coin toss for. But I have video of her, 211 00:10:03,960 --> 00:10:06,080 Speaker 1: so make sure you guys go check the video out. 212 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:08,600 Speaker 1: I'll be posting it to the Brown Girl Grinding Instagram. 213 00:10:09,240 --> 00:10:12,760 Speaker 1: She looked fine to me. She was there, she did 214 00:10:12,800 --> 00:10:14,640 Speaker 1: they brought her out, she did the coin toss. She 215 00:10:14,720 --> 00:10:17,120 Speaker 1: was very alert, very aware, she knew what was going on. 216 00:10:18,000 --> 00:10:20,480 Speaker 1: Waving to the crowd. All of the things, Like she 217 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:22,840 Speaker 1: walked out on her own. She didn't have like handlers 218 00:10:22,840 --> 00:10:24,040 Speaker 1: with her and stuff like that. I mean, she is 219 00:10:24,080 --> 00:10:26,600 Speaker 1: an older woman. Also she's glad at night, so she 220 00:10:26,600 --> 00:10:29,080 Speaker 1: did have handlers with her. But she walked out on 221 00:10:29,080 --> 00:10:31,200 Speaker 1: her own. It wasn't like she needed to be directed 222 00:10:31,280 --> 00:10:33,280 Speaker 1: where to go, as if she was just completely lost 223 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,720 Speaker 1: and didn't know direction anymore. She you know, was interacting 224 00:10:37,760 --> 00:10:39,720 Speaker 1: with the tennis players. They took a photo because you 225 00:10:39,760 --> 00:10:42,040 Speaker 1: do a photo after you do your coin toss, and 226 00:10:42,160 --> 00:10:43,640 Speaker 1: on her way out, she even stopped it did a 227 00:10:43,640 --> 00:10:47,040 Speaker 1: little dance like she knew she was so well aware 228 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:49,680 Speaker 1: of what was going on, and you know, the fans 229 00:10:49,720 --> 00:10:52,000 Speaker 1: and the audience is stopping and looking around and making 230 00:10:52,000 --> 00:10:54,120 Speaker 1: sure she got to everybody when it came to waving 231 00:10:54,160 --> 00:10:56,400 Speaker 1: to the fans. Because the way that the tennis matches 232 00:10:56,440 --> 00:10:58,520 Speaker 1: are set up, the seating kind of comes down on 233 00:10:58,559 --> 00:11:01,120 Speaker 1: the incline and then at the bottom of the incline 234 00:11:01,240 --> 00:11:02,080 Speaker 1: is the tennis court. 235 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:03,880 Speaker 3: So she's looking up at all the. 236 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:06,200 Speaker 1: Fans and like waving in one area, making sure she 237 00:11:06,280 --> 00:11:09,440 Speaker 1: turns around the waves to another area. Working the stage, 238 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,680 Speaker 1: she looked fine to me. Now, granted, you know, I 239 00:11:12,679 --> 00:11:14,280 Speaker 1: didn't get a chance to talk to her. I'm not 240 00:11:14,280 --> 00:11:16,520 Speaker 1: spending days with her. I'm not you know whatever. I'm 241 00:11:16,559 --> 00:11:18,680 Speaker 1: just telling you guys what I saw with my own eyes. 242 00:11:18,960 --> 00:11:21,079 Speaker 1: She looked good, and when I saw when I heard 243 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:23,880 Speaker 1: them announce her, I expected to kind of be like, 244 00:11:24,120 --> 00:11:27,120 Speaker 1: you know, maybe like to see her be fully guided 245 00:11:27,160 --> 00:11:29,559 Speaker 1: out and not be able to understand which way she's 246 00:11:29,559 --> 00:11:32,640 Speaker 1: supposed to turn and all the things because of the reports, 247 00:11:33,320 --> 00:11:35,640 Speaker 1: because of the recent you know, documents that her son 248 00:11:35,720 --> 00:11:38,240 Speaker 1: filed down into Carolina stating that, you know, she's just 249 00:11:38,320 --> 00:11:40,560 Speaker 1: kind of being put in positions right now that aren't 250 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:43,040 Speaker 1: fair to an older woman who's, as he alleges, like, 251 00:11:43,080 --> 00:11:45,840 Speaker 1: basically out of it and should be home relaxing. Oh baby, No, 252 00:11:45,880 --> 00:11:47,760 Speaker 1: Miss Gladys Knight was on point. She was not to 253 00:11:47,800 --> 00:11:50,040 Speaker 1: be played with. The day honey looked amazing as well, 254 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:54,480 Speaker 1: but she was giving Superstar very much. So now as 255 00:11:54,520 --> 00:11:56,800 Speaker 1: we wrap this, I just want to say, the whole 256 00:11:56,800 --> 00:11:59,040 Speaker 1: point of spending the time telling you guys about today 257 00:11:59,520 --> 00:12:01,960 Speaker 1: was because as of twenty twenty three, there has been 258 00:12:01,960 --> 00:12:06,600 Speaker 1: a twenty percent rise in black people in the sport 259 00:12:06,640 --> 00:12:09,760 Speaker 1: of tennis per NBC News, right, And what I want 260 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:11,679 Speaker 1: us to do is I want us to take more 261 00:12:11,760 --> 00:12:15,080 Speaker 1: time to like I'm guilty of this as well. Like 262 00:12:15,720 --> 00:12:18,840 Speaker 1: I got a chance to go and watch Cocoa Golf 263 00:12:18,880 --> 00:12:21,800 Speaker 1: on one of the practice courts, and I was probably 264 00:12:21,880 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 1: watching her for about maybe like all of ten to 265 00:12:23,840 --> 00:12:26,520 Speaker 1: fifteen minutes. I just wanted to see her with my 266 00:12:26,640 --> 00:12:29,440 Speaker 1: own eyes in person because I report on her so much. 267 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:31,200 Speaker 3: I report on nam yo Osaka so much. 268 00:12:31,520 --> 00:12:33,880 Speaker 1: But what I realize is that you know every now 269 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:36,520 Speaker 1: and then, you know, you report like the big wins 270 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:39,320 Speaker 1: that they do, right, so when they're making these history 271 00:12:39,360 --> 00:12:42,080 Speaker 1: breaking wins and all the things. But I'm like, Yo, 272 00:12:42,640 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: I might really in tune with their game for real 273 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:49,559 Speaker 1: and following their game for real. And I think anytime 274 00:12:49,640 --> 00:12:52,240 Speaker 1: you see a person that is breaking barriers, whether it's 275 00:12:52,280 --> 00:12:55,600 Speaker 1: a black person, person of color, you know, a woman 276 00:12:55,640 --> 00:12:57,800 Speaker 1: no matter what her skin color is, but a woman 277 00:12:57,920 --> 00:13:01,760 Speaker 1: anybody who is you know, at a deficit or perceived 278 00:13:01,800 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 1: because these we we are not a deficite baby. We 279 00:13:03,400 --> 00:13:05,880 Speaker 1: are showing up and showing out, but we sometimes are 280 00:13:05,920 --> 00:13:08,960 Speaker 1: perceived that way. I'm always rooting for, you know, people 281 00:13:09,000 --> 00:13:11,480 Speaker 1: that are that are put in a position where people 282 00:13:11,559 --> 00:13:14,480 Speaker 1: underestimate what they can do because of whatsoever, and a 283 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:16,920 Speaker 1: lot of times it's because of race and what all 284 00:13:16,960 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 1: of the microaggressions that come with that, especially black women, right. 285 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:21,760 Speaker 1: I mean black men have their thing too, but I 286 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:24,520 Speaker 1: personally can only speak to as a Black woman with 287 00:13:24,520 --> 00:13:27,040 Speaker 1: those are because I've experienced them. But I was sitting 288 00:13:27,080 --> 00:13:30,400 Speaker 1: there and I'm just thinking, like I know so much 289 00:13:30,400 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 1: about their personal lives, all their business, all their tea, 290 00:13:33,880 --> 00:13:36,080 Speaker 1: but I don't really know much about their game. 291 00:13:36,120 --> 00:13:36,719 Speaker 3: I don't know much. 292 00:13:36,760 --> 00:13:39,880 Speaker 1: Like I couldn't run down what Coco technique is, where 293 00:13:39,920 --> 00:13:41,600 Speaker 1: she's strong at on the court and all those things. 294 00:13:41,640 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 1: And I'm like, hmm, I don't know if that's really fair, 295 00:13:44,679 --> 00:13:46,439 Speaker 1: laur Like, if you're seeing you out here and you 296 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:48,640 Speaker 1: support in and you repping and it's you know, us 297 00:13:48,720 --> 00:13:52,360 Speaker 1: open HBCU, all things black, and you know all the things. 298 00:13:52,800 --> 00:13:56,400 Speaker 1: Imagine if someone only ever talked about miss Althea Gibson 299 00:13:57,120 --> 00:14:00,640 Speaker 1: because of the drama she experienced and all the great 300 00:14:00,679 --> 00:14:03,000 Speaker 1: things she did, not all of the you know, matches 301 00:14:03,080 --> 00:14:05,400 Speaker 1: she won, not all of the barriers she broke. Where 302 00:14:05,400 --> 00:14:08,319 Speaker 1: would that leave space for any of these black women 303 00:14:08,600 --> 00:14:11,280 Speaker 1: or black players that you were here so excited to 304 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:14,280 Speaker 1: see and support today. So I'm challenging, challenging us to 305 00:14:14,280 --> 00:14:16,200 Speaker 1: do better. I'm challenging myself to do better. I even 306 00:14:16,200 --> 00:14:18,360 Speaker 1: told myself, like, you know, next year, you know when 307 00:14:18,360 --> 00:14:22,120 Speaker 1: the US Open comes, especially when it comes to supporting 308 00:14:22,320 --> 00:14:25,920 Speaker 1: all of the black athletes, and I'm unapologetically always rooting 309 00:14:26,000 --> 00:14:27,760 Speaker 1: for everybody black. I want to spend more time at 310 00:14:27,800 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: the US Open actually diving into the matches. I was 311 00:14:30,200 --> 00:14:32,400 Speaker 1: so in and out today because I, you know, worked 312 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:34,240 Speaker 1: this morning. But I want to do more, do better. 313 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,280 Speaker 1: But I want you guys to take a listen really 314 00:14:36,320 --> 00:14:40,760 Speaker 1: quick as we wrap to Venus Williams talking about miss 315 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: Althia Gibson and the impact that she had on her life. 316 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:47,720 Speaker 4: I had an opportunity to feel proud who who I was, 317 00:14:47,760 --> 00:14:50,680 Speaker 4: who I am because of people like Altha. Of course, 318 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:54,440 Speaker 4: there's different kinds of ways you're perceived or sometimes treated 319 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:56,200 Speaker 4: because of the color of your skin, but it never 320 00:14:56,240 --> 00:14:56,760 Speaker 4: stopped me. 321 00:14:57,160 --> 00:14:58,840 Speaker 1: And I also want you guys to take a listen 322 00:14:58,880 --> 00:15:02,000 Speaker 1: to Coco go Off talking about the Agipson and the 323 00:15:02,120 --> 00:15:03,160 Speaker 1: impact their. 324 00:15:03,360 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 2: First three tennis players are new for Serena and Venus 325 00:15:06,480 --> 00:15:08,920 Speaker 2: and Anthia Gibson. You know, my dad always looked up 326 00:15:08,920 --> 00:15:11,400 Speaker 2: to Althea. It was important for him to educate me 327 00:15:11,480 --> 00:15:14,000 Speaker 2: as a black woman. She had to face like real 328 00:15:14,040 --> 00:15:18,120 Speaker 2: pressure of just brutal like racism, and I'm very grateful 329 00:15:19,120 --> 00:15:19,440 Speaker 2: for her. 330 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:20,960 Speaker 3: After matches, I do get. 331 00:15:20,840 --> 00:15:25,440 Speaker 2: Some some crazy stuff, but mine. Yeah, online, did Venus 332 00:15:25,480 --> 00:15:27,480 Speaker 2: or Serena ever give you advice on how to deal 333 00:15:28,040 --> 00:15:32,200 Speaker 2: with some of the vitriol? Yeah? Venus always. I played 334 00:15:32,200 --> 00:15:34,400 Speaker 2: doubles with her once and you know, she just said, 335 00:15:34,480 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: be authentically yourself and. 336 00:15:35,760 --> 00:15:38,720 Speaker 1: Keeping you representation matters. And I know that that it 337 00:15:38,760 --> 00:15:43,480 Speaker 1: sounds so cliche, but I literally to this day, sometimes randomly, 338 00:15:43,720 --> 00:15:47,240 Speaker 1: whenever I hear any of the Williams sisters' names, remember 339 00:15:47,720 --> 00:15:51,920 Speaker 1: being a kid sitting in the stands and watching them 340 00:15:52,000 --> 00:15:55,440 Speaker 1: play at the US Open and looking around at the 341 00:15:55,480 --> 00:15:57,840 Speaker 1: crowd and realizing, like, I don't know exactly what I 342 00:15:57,880 --> 00:16:00,240 Speaker 1: want to do. Maybe tennis is not it, but the 343 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:04,280 Speaker 1: way that they are captivating and entertaining and you know, 344 00:16:05,240 --> 00:16:07,800 Speaker 1: and being like, you know, they got their braids, like 345 00:16:07,840 --> 00:16:09,400 Speaker 1: they're black girls doing it. 346 00:16:09,920 --> 00:16:10,640 Speaker 3: I want to do this. 347 00:16:10,920 --> 00:16:14,320 Speaker 1: And now years later, I'm here, I'm at the US Open, 348 00:16:14,440 --> 00:16:18,600 Speaker 1: and you know, we're celebrating breaking barriers and you know 349 00:16:20,000 --> 00:16:23,520 Speaker 1: all the things. So cheers to you know, seventy five 350 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:27,120 Speaker 1: years since ms Athia Gibson walked on that court in 351 00:16:27,120 --> 00:16:29,720 Speaker 1: that tennis match and showed the world it's not about 352 00:16:29,800 --> 00:16:31,760 Speaker 1: your skin color. But if we're gonna talk about it, 353 00:16:31,760 --> 00:16:33,960 Speaker 1: I'm gonna give you guys something to talk about. I'm 354 00:16:34,000 --> 00:16:36,440 Speaker 1: Laura la Rosa. This is the latest with Laurnoza. This 355 00:16:36,440 --> 00:16:39,160 Speaker 1: has been a special episode straight from the US Open 356 00:16:39,560 --> 00:16:41,760 Speaker 1: and all of the things. I also did an interview 357 00:16:41,960 --> 00:16:44,160 Speaker 1: with the US Open. We're trying to track that down now. 358 00:16:45,200 --> 00:16:47,320 Speaker 1: It was live, so it was love to tape, so 359 00:16:47,360 --> 00:16:49,160 Speaker 1: we're trying to get that. When I get that, I'll 360 00:16:49,200 --> 00:16:52,400 Speaker 1: make that a bonus episode for you guys. And yeah, 361 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,960 Speaker 1: I'll be back our next episode with all of the 362 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:55,720 Speaker 1: news run down. 363 00:16:56,040 --> 00:16:57,600 Speaker 3: I'll see you guys in the next episode. 364 00:16:57,600 --> 00:16:59,520 Speaker 1: At the end of the day, y'all know, there's always 365 00:16:59,560 --> 00:17:01,520 Speaker 1: a lot that's talk about and y'all could be anywhere 366 00:17:01,520 --> 00:17:04,040 Speaker 1: with anybody talking about it, but you choose to be 367 00:17:04,240 --> 00:17:06,640 Speaker 1: right here daily, my lowriders. 368 00:17:06,760 --> 00:17:09,320 Speaker 3: I appreciate you guys for that. See you in my 369 00:17:09,359 --> 00:17:10,120 Speaker 3: next episode.