1 00:00:05,640 --> 00:00:27,080 Speaker 1: M H. Welcome back all the smoke, l A Season 2 00:00:27,240 --> 00:00:32,839 Speaker 1: four Jack. We got a special guests, someone very important 3 00:00:32,880 --> 00:00:35,040 Speaker 1: to us and kind of getting in our start in 4 00:00:35,080 --> 00:00:41,239 Speaker 1: this whole space. Emmy Award winning journalists. It's been a 5 00:00:41,240 --> 00:00:43,760 Speaker 1: minute since you've been on here, and you haven't been 6 00:00:43,800 --> 00:00:48,240 Speaker 1: talking to nobody. Welcome everybody who has something to say, 7 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:53,360 Speaker 1: comes through all the smoke. Let's not get right before 8 00:00:53,400 --> 00:00:56,400 Speaker 1: we get to what we're gonna get to. We would 9 00:00:56,400 --> 00:00:59,040 Speaker 1: like to officially welcome me to the Showtime family. Yeah, 10 00:00:59,040 --> 00:01:00,840 Speaker 1: you're making the announcement. I mean you're part of the 11 00:01:00,840 --> 00:01:04,880 Speaker 1: game now. Rachel is here to join the show Time 12 00:01:04,880 --> 00:01:08,640 Speaker 1: Basketball team and really kind to help guide this ship. 13 00:01:08,760 --> 00:01:11,560 Speaker 1: So with an honor to have you on board, and 14 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:14,720 Speaker 1: we're excited to be working with you. I mean, I 15 00:01:14,760 --> 00:01:18,560 Speaker 1: am so thrilled. For twenty five years, I have gotten 16 00:01:18,720 --> 00:01:20,960 Speaker 1: to do what I love for a job, which is 17 00:01:21,160 --> 00:01:23,760 Speaker 1: also kind of crazy in and of itself. And to 18 00:01:23,840 --> 00:01:27,280 Speaker 1: have this next step be with Showtime Sports, to get 19 00:01:27,280 --> 00:01:30,560 Speaker 1: to work with crazy, cool, talented people I admire and 20 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:33,280 Speaker 1: respect both in front of and behind the camera. I'm 21 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:35,800 Speaker 1: so excited to join you guys. Can you take a 22 00:01:35,800 --> 00:01:38,600 Speaker 1: few minutes, Let's get straight to it to tell us 23 00:01:38,640 --> 00:01:43,200 Speaker 1: about your departure from ESPN. Yeah, I mean, look, it 24 00:01:43,280 --> 00:01:46,880 Speaker 1: all started really good a few years ago. Um, we 25 00:01:46,920 --> 00:01:50,480 Speaker 1: can go back to three years ago. ESPN gave me 26 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: a new contract. I already been there with The Jump, 27 00:01:52,960 --> 00:01:55,560 Speaker 1: and in the contract was that I was going to 28 00:01:55,640 --> 00:01:58,880 Speaker 1: host the NBA Finals. And you guys have known me 29 00:01:59,280 --> 00:02:03,680 Speaker 1: for years, I have covered the sport for decades. The 30 00:02:03,720 --> 00:02:06,200 Speaker 1: idea that I was going to host the NBA Finals 31 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:09,080 Speaker 1: everything my dream job. That was going to be your 32 00:02:09,120 --> 00:02:11,560 Speaker 1: first time, to be my first time doing it. It 33 00:02:11,639 --> 00:02:13,399 Speaker 1: just it meant the world. I mean I called every 34 00:02:13,400 --> 00:02:16,080 Speaker 1: executive involved personally to take them. I mean, I was 35 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,600 Speaker 1: just I was so so excited. Um. They put everything 36 00:02:19,639 --> 00:02:21,640 Speaker 1: in writing in the contract, they put out a big 37 00:02:21,720 --> 00:02:25,040 Speaker 1: press release about it. Um. One of the things I 38 00:02:25,080 --> 00:02:27,760 Speaker 1: asked for in the contract was that any pregame show 39 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:31,400 Speaker 1: I did would be a continuation of our daily show, 40 00:02:31,520 --> 00:02:35,640 Speaker 1: The Jump, because it was something we started together. I 41 00:02:35,680 --> 00:02:39,600 Speaker 1: was so proud of. And I just also didn't want 42 00:02:39,639 --> 00:02:42,560 Speaker 1: any confusion. There's a lot of politics at ESPN, and 43 00:02:42,680 --> 00:02:44,880 Speaker 1: I knew that the NBA Countdown job was still open, 44 00:02:45,360 --> 00:02:48,400 Speaker 1: and I didn't want anyone to think that I was 45 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:50,640 Speaker 1: trying to horn in on NBA Countdown. I wasn't. I 46 00:02:50,680 --> 00:02:52,560 Speaker 1: wanted to stay with the Jump. It was important to me, 47 00:02:53,080 --> 00:02:56,440 Speaker 1: so I thought making that distinction would really help things. 48 00:02:56,919 --> 00:02:59,920 Speaker 1: And Maria Taylor ended up getting the NBA Countdown job. 49 00:03:00,200 --> 00:03:03,000 Speaker 1: I really wanted to make an effort to welcome her, 50 00:03:03,520 --> 00:03:06,120 Speaker 1: to open my door to her. I sent her flowers 51 00:03:06,240 --> 00:03:08,560 Speaker 1: when she got the job because I was really really 52 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,960 Speaker 1: happy for her. What changed on how you felt in 53 00:03:11,960 --> 00:03:16,760 Speaker 1: the workplace, Well, things got complicated later that season, y'all 54 00:03:16,760 --> 00:03:21,720 Speaker 1: know it was right. So we had a pandemic. There 55 00:03:21,880 --> 00:03:25,280 Speaker 1: was the tragic murder of your friend George Floyd, a 56 00:03:25,280 --> 00:03:28,120 Speaker 1: lot of difficult conversations with this country looking itself in 57 00:03:28,160 --> 00:03:30,280 Speaker 1: the face, seeing what had to change and be different. 58 00:03:30,880 --> 00:03:34,560 Speaker 1: And The New York Times did an expose in July 59 00:03:35,680 --> 00:03:39,600 Speaker 1: on racism at ESPN and the lack of opportunities for 60 00:03:39,640 --> 00:03:43,240 Speaker 1: people of color, and the executivety Is p N said, 61 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:45,920 Speaker 1: what I think people would expect all the right things 62 00:03:45,920 --> 00:03:48,440 Speaker 1: about we'd like to give more people more opportunities. We're 63 00:03:48,520 --> 00:03:51,840 Speaker 1: continuing to grow all of those things. And around the 64 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:55,560 Speaker 1: same time, I got a phone call asking me would 65 00:03:55,600 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: I step aside for Maria to host the NBA Finals 66 00:04:00,320 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: and have me go back to being a sideline reporter. 67 00:04:03,480 --> 00:04:05,880 Speaker 1: And they stressed it was my choice. They weren't telling 68 00:04:05,880 --> 00:04:07,840 Speaker 1: me to do this because it was in my contract, 69 00:04:08,320 --> 00:04:10,160 Speaker 1: but they were putting a lot of pressure on me. 70 00:04:10,280 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: You know. I was being told, well, you're not a 71 00:04:12,720 --> 00:04:17,360 Speaker 1: team player, which any woman in business knows is code right. 72 00:04:17,520 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: Women are supposed to be kumbaya and team players and 73 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,880 Speaker 1: helpful and men are aggressive sharks and all of that. 74 00:04:23,000 --> 00:04:28,000 Speaker 1: And I just felt like, hey, I worked so long 75 00:04:28,160 --> 00:04:31,640 Speaker 1: decades for this job. I have done everything that was asked. 76 00:04:31,680 --> 00:04:33,920 Speaker 1: We put on some great shows leading up to the playoffs, 77 00:04:34,480 --> 00:04:37,400 Speaker 1: and I wanted a chance to do it. And at 78 00:04:37,400 --> 00:04:39,720 Speaker 1: this time, I was also getting ready to leave for 79 00:04:39,760 --> 00:04:42,760 Speaker 1: the Bubble and went down there and it was a 80 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:44,880 Speaker 1: different set of equipment than I have been using to 81 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:47,920 Speaker 1: broadcast at home. So my very first day i'm there, 82 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:52,080 Speaker 1: I'm using the new equipment. And I didn't know that 83 00:04:52,200 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 1: if you leave a particular app running in the background, 84 00:04:56,240 --> 00:04:59,440 Speaker 1: that the line from my hotel room looking into my 85 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:04,000 Speaker 1: hotel room them to Bristol would stay open. So I 86 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:07,440 Speaker 1: thought I was done for the day. I did the 87 00:05:07,440 --> 00:05:08,760 Speaker 1: things you would do on your first day in a 88 00:05:08,760 --> 00:05:13,440 Speaker 1: hotel room. I spent hours unpacking. UM, called my husband, 89 00:05:13,640 --> 00:05:17,919 Speaker 1: called talk to my kids, called some friends, called my doctor, 90 00:05:18,480 --> 00:05:25,239 Speaker 1: And unfortunately, that entire time, nobody back at ESPN told 91 00:05:25,240 --> 00:05:27,839 Speaker 1: me that there was an open line to my hotel 92 00:05:27,920 --> 00:05:29,919 Speaker 1: room and anyone who looked at the feed could see me. 93 00:05:30,360 --> 00:05:33,520 Speaker 1: No one shut it off, decided, oh, she clearly doesn't 94 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:37,880 Speaker 1: know she's getting watched unpacking or doing all these other things. Um, 95 00:05:37,920 --> 00:05:42,520 Speaker 1: And at least one person, uh, decided to just sit 96 00:05:42,680 --> 00:05:46,159 Speaker 1: and watch and started spying on me like I was 97 00:05:46,200 --> 00:05:50,400 Speaker 1: their own personal television show. And when they heard something 98 00:05:50,520 --> 00:05:53,679 Speaker 1: they thought was juicy, they picked up their cell phone 99 00:05:54,279 --> 00:05:57,880 Speaker 1: and they started recording my conversation on their cell phone. 100 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:03,080 Speaker 1: A personal conversation. Yeah, this was a conversation between me 101 00:06:03,240 --> 00:06:06,159 Speaker 1: and a friend. We talked about a lot of different things, UM. 102 00:06:06,200 --> 00:06:08,680 Speaker 1: But then he brought up the article that had been 103 00:06:08,680 --> 00:06:11,640 Speaker 1: in the paper about the lack of opportunities for people 104 00:06:11,680 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: of color at ESPN, and we started talking about how 105 00:06:15,440 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 1: my situation may intersect with some of the race and 106 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:23,160 Speaker 1: gender history of a network that is again well documented, 107 00:06:23,240 --> 00:06:26,640 Speaker 1: is complicated history with both of those kinds of things 108 00:06:26,640 --> 00:06:31,560 Speaker 1: and those issues. So we started talking about it, and um, 109 00:06:31,680 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: I wanna I want to try to get if I 110 00:06:33,600 --> 00:06:36,520 Speaker 1: have it here exactly what I said, because I think 111 00:06:37,279 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 1: there's a lot of confusion over that, and there's been 112 00:06:40,400 --> 00:06:44,360 Speaker 1: some a lot of bad headlines. So let's just get 113 00:06:44,400 --> 00:06:46,800 Speaker 1: it clear, and so here it is. I called Maria 114 00:06:46,880 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: Taylor incredibly talented. Then I said, I wish Maria Taylor 115 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:54,240 Speaker 1: all the success in the world. She covers football, she 116 00:06:54,320 --> 00:06:56,640 Speaker 1: covers basketball. If you need to give her more things 117 00:06:56,640 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: to do, because you ESPN are feeling pressure about your 118 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:03,159 Speaker 1: crappy long time record on diversity, which, by the way, 119 00:07:03,240 --> 00:07:05,880 Speaker 1: I know personally from the female side, well, then go 120 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:08,400 Speaker 1: for it. Just find it somewhere else. You're not going 121 00:07:08,440 --> 00:07:11,280 Speaker 1: to find it from me taking my thing away. This 122 00:07:11,360 --> 00:07:14,040 Speaker 1: is in my contract, This job is in my contract 123 00:07:14,160 --> 00:07:17,679 Speaker 1: in writing, and I want to just kind of touch 124 00:07:17,760 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 1: on the female side of it. Part of that quote 125 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:23,400 Speaker 1: and the frustration in my voice when I was talking 126 00:07:23,440 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: about it, because you guys are players. You know what 127 00:07:27,600 --> 00:07:31,000 Speaker 1: it's like for women in this business. And y'all know 128 00:07:31,080 --> 00:07:33,080 Speaker 1: when I started. I mean, things are a lot better 129 00:07:33,120 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: now than when I started years ago, and I have 130 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,720 Speaker 1: been through a lot. I have fought through a lot 131 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: of things in this business to get to where I am, 132 00:07:44,240 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: And to me, it felt like, hey, if you have 133 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: a problem, if it is this article, if it is 134 00:07:53,320 --> 00:07:57,760 Speaker 1: something else, whatever it is, why are you coming to 135 00:07:57,840 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 1: the two women here to solve it? Like? Why is 136 00:08:00,760 --> 00:08:03,680 Speaker 1: this a switch? And you know one thing I said 137 00:08:03,760 --> 00:08:07,440 Speaker 1: in that conversation that didn't get publicized as much is 138 00:08:07,680 --> 00:08:10,520 Speaker 1: um you know, Maria worked on college football at the time. 139 00:08:10,640 --> 00:08:12,960 Speaker 1: She was the sideline reporter on college football and Rees 140 00:08:13,040 --> 00:08:15,040 Speaker 1: Davis was the host, just like I was the host 141 00:08:15,280 --> 00:08:17,600 Speaker 1: of the NBA Finals and the host of the NBA 142 00:08:17,640 --> 00:08:21,080 Speaker 1: pregame show. And I asked my friend on the phone, 143 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:25,000 Speaker 1: I said, do you think ESPN would ever say to 144 00:08:25,040 --> 00:08:27,880 Speaker 1: Reese Davis, Hey, we want to give Maria this opportunity, 145 00:08:28,240 --> 00:08:30,840 Speaker 1: you go be the sideline reporter. Do you guys think 146 00:08:30,840 --> 00:08:34,640 Speaker 1: that what ever happened, they don't say that to men. 147 00:08:35,480 --> 00:08:38,280 Speaker 1: So when I said go somewhere else when I was 148 00:08:38,559 --> 00:08:42,440 Speaker 1: feeling so frustrated, that's what I was talking about and 149 00:08:43,840 --> 00:08:47,720 Speaker 1: things kind of progressive. ESPN HR did a full investigation 150 00:08:48,040 --> 00:08:51,000 Speaker 1: into it. They told me that I had done nothing 151 00:08:51,200 --> 00:08:54,680 Speaker 1: wrong that required any kind of discipline. Then six months later, 152 00:08:54,960 --> 00:08:58,120 Speaker 1: they actually gave me a contract extension and a race, 153 00:08:59,000 --> 00:09:02,720 Speaker 1: and they actually elevated Maria in that same period as well. 154 00:09:02,800 --> 00:09:08,120 Speaker 1: So I thought we had put things behind us, And unfortunately, 155 00:09:08,400 --> 00:09:12,359 Speaker 1: I think there were still some people who had bad feelings, 156 00:09:13,080 --> 00:09:17,640 Speaker 1: and they held onto this tape for a year, just 157 00:09:17,760 --> 00:09:21,280 Speaker 1: kept it in their pocket, and then when there was 158 00:09:21,320 --> 00:09:24,800 Speaker 1: a point they wanted some leverage with their own situations, 159 00:09:25,600 --> 00:09:32,160 Speaker 1: they fed it to the press and the story that 160 00:09:32,280 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 1: ran again in the New York Times. And I will 161 00:09:35,120 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: say now what I said then, which is I feel 162 00:09:39,520 --> 00:09:44,040 Speaker 1: very sorry that any of this touched Maria Taylor, because 163 00:09:44,600 --> 00:09:47,640 Speaker 1: she's a fellow woman in this business. It wasn't her 164 00:09:47,679 --> 00:09:51,400 Speaker 1: fault what was going on. I wasn't talking about her actions. 165 00:09:51,440 --> 00:09:54,400 Speaker 1: I was talking about someone else. And to even bring 166 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:58,000 Speaker 1: her into it, um, that was a mistake on my part. 167 00:09:58,440 --> 00:10:02,400 Speaker 1: And if I caused her to be upset in any way, 168 00:10:02,840 --> 00:10:04,760 Speaker 1: that stinks. I don't want to be that person, right, 169 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:08,000 Speaker 1: I don't want to do that. So I called, I texted, 170 00:10:08,240 --> 00:10:11,040 Speaker 1: I asked our supervisors to set up a meeting, and 171 00:10:11,080 --> 00:10:13,400 Speaker 1: I was just told she wasn't interested in talking to me, 172 00:10:13,400 --> 00:10:16,079 Speaker 1: which is, of course, you know, that's her thing. And 173 00:10:16,800 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: I thought that when this became public, I should also 174 00:10:20,320 --> 00:10:32,800 Speaker 1: apologize on air, and I did that. Imagine yourself working 175 00:10:32,840 --> 00:10:37,080 Speaker 1: somewhere twenty five years for a job and they want 176 00:10:37,080 --> 00:10:39,599 Speaker 1: to use you as a scapegoat to pick something that 177 00:10:39,640 --> 00:10:41,600 Speaker 1: they've been sucking up for years. It don't work like that, 178 00:10:41,640 --> 00:10:43,760 Speaker 1: and that's not fair to nobody at no race. And 179 00:10:43,760 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: that's how I took it, you know what I mean, 180 00:10:45,679 --> 00:10:47,840 Speaker 1: And and that and then it just wasn't right. And 181 00:10:47,840 --> 00:10:51,200 Speaker 1: that's why I didn't mind um jumping out there and 182 00:10:51,280 --> 00:10:53,079 Speaker 1: standing up for you, because I love you and I 183 00:10:53,200 --> 00:10:55,880 Speaker 1: and I know you, and like we said earlier, we 184 00:10:55,880 --> 00:10:58,400 Speaker 1: wouldn't be here without you. But people just gotta put 185 00:10:58,440 --> 00:11:01,320 Speaker 1: theirself in somebody else's shoes sometime before you just jump 186 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,760 Speaker 1: out there and judge and just already and make it racial. 187 00:11:04,080 --> 00:11:05,880 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying. If I would be, I 188 00:11:05,880 --> 00:11:08,480 Speaker 1: would be upset the same goddamn way. If I've been 189 00:11:08,480 --> 00:11:10,840 Speaker 1: working my life for a job for twenty years and 190 00:11:10,920 --> 00:11:12,760 Speaker 1: just because you've but you've been messing something up your 191 00:11:12,800 --> 00:11:15,400 Speaker 1: whole last twenty years. You want to use my situation 192 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:17,160 Speaker 1: to make it look better and make me take a 193 00:11:17,160 --> 00:11:19,080 Speaker 1: step back on the job that I've been working for it. 194 00:11:19,080 --> 00:11:21,280 Speaker 1: Don't work like that, and that wasn't fair. So I 195 00:11:21,320 --> 00:11:23,480 Speaker 1: understood it, and that's why I stood up for you. Well. 196 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,320 Speaker 1: It was especially too in a time where there was 197 00:11:26,480 --> 00:11:28,840 Speaker 1: so much racial tension, you know what I mean, Like 198 00:11:28,880 --> 00:11:30,600 Speaker 1: we knew what was in the air at the time, 199 00:11:30,640 --> 00:11:33,240 Speaker 1: So that's why I kind of felt like, and that's 200 00:11:33,240 --> 00:11:34,719 Speaker 1: the media. I mean. I had to learn the hard 201 00:11:34,720 --> 00:11:36,679 Speaker 1: way on the email joker thing. You know. I jumped 202 00:11:36,679 --> 00:11:39,160 Speaker 1: out there without knowing everything and and tried to be like, 203 00:11:39,520 --> 00:11:40,920 Speaker 1: you know, if this is what I think it is 204 00:11:40,960 --> 00:11:43,560 Speaker 1: from what everyone was hearing, this is not all that. 205 00:11:43,640 --> 00:11:45,440 Speaker 1: And then I kind of here and I'm just like, oh, ship, 206 00:11:45,920 --> 00:11:48,080 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. But it's it's the media 207 00:11:48,080 --> 00:11:49,600 Speaker 1: will take stuff. And we know we're all a part 208 00:11:49,640 --> 00:11:51,240 Speaker 1: of the media. The media will take stuff and and 209 00:11:51,520 --> 00:11:53,719 Speaker 1: take what they need and and and run with that, 210 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:56,320 Speaker 1: you know what I mean, And no matter who it 211 00:11:56,400 --> 00:11:59,439 Speaker 1: hurts or effects that it's not about being right, It's 212 00:11:59,440 --> 00:12:02,000 Speaker 1: about being first, you know, So who wants to be 213 00:12:02,080 --> 00:12:06,120 Speaker 1: able to break that? I will say that in the 214 00:12:06,240 --> 00:12:09,000 Speaker 1: days after all of this sort of became more public, 215 00:12:09,800 --> 00:12:15,199 Speaker 1: I was really moved by you. By you, Matt. You 216 00:12:15,280 --> 00:12:18,080 Speaker 1: got on a plane at five in the morning to 217 00:12:18,200 --> 00:12:21,480 Speaker 1: come be next to me on television, remember, and you 218 00:12:21,480 --> 00:12:23,640 Speaker 1: give me chills to think about it when we're in Phoenix, right, 219 00:12:24,559 --> 00:12:29,120 Speaker 1: And with no hesitation, I talked to him, yeah, because 220 00:12:29,240 --> 00:12:31,880 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, we know it's it's always hard 221 00:12:31,920 --> 00:12:34,480 Speaker 1: because you know, obviously this is a crazy business. The 222 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:38,240 Speaker 1: NBA is a crazy business. But you really find very 223 00:12:38,360 --> 00:12:42,200 Speaker 1: few real friends. I'm cool with everybody, but real friends 224 00:12:42,400 --> 00:12:43,839 Speaker 1: is hard to come by. Some when I heard it, 225 00:12:43,880 --> 00:12:46,000 Speaker 1: started hearing you know that Rachel's racist and this is 226 00:12:46,080 --> 00:12:48,480 Speaker 1: not just like fuck no, and that's why I felt 227 00:12:48,480 --> 00:12:49,760 Speaker 1: like I had to speak on it. Like I said, 228 00:12:49,840 --> 00:12:51,960 Speaker 1: you kind of you know, you definitely helped start Jack 229 00:12:52,080 --> 00:12:53,760 Speaker 1: and with the jump at the same time, and then 230 00:12:53,800 --> 00:12:55,280 Speaker 1: as soon as I was ready to come, like you 231 00:12:55,400 --> 00:12:58,160 Speaker 1: were like a almost a mother figure from a standpoint, 232 00:12:58,200 --> 00:12:59,679 Speaker 1: you know, this is your camera. If you need help 233 00:12:59,720 --> 00:13:01,440 Speaker 1: with that, U saw practice, you know, call me, here's 234 00:13:01,480 --> 00:13:03,480 Speaker 1: my cell phone. We can do that. I'm just like, oh, ship, well, 235 00:13:03,480 --> 00:13:05,400 Speaker 1: because she's given me the kind of the blueprint. So 236 00:13:05,480 --> 00:13:08,000 Speaker 1: you were always so welcome me because I felt like 237 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,559 Speaker 1: you wanted to see us succeed in this space, which 238 00:13:10,640 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: was which was dope, you know, And it's a cutthroat business, 239 00:13:13,640 --> 00:13:15,120 Speaker 1: you know what I mean. Not all athletes are cut 240 00:13:15,160 --> 00:13:16,319 Speaker 1: out for this ship, you know what I mean. So 241 00:13:16,440 --> 00:13:18,840 Speaker 1: you you know, you kind of let us know earlier, like, hey, 242 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:20,400 Speaker 1: you know, this is where you gotta be, and you know, 243 00:13:20,480 --> 00:13:22,199 Speaker 1: if you need help, I'm here. So that's why, you know, 244 00:13:22,280 --> 00:13:23,800 Speaker 1: I really kind of went out there and just like, no, 245 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,240 Speaker 1: this is not she's I can personally tell you for sure, 246 00:13:27,360 --> 00:13:29,480 Speaker 1: she's not racist. So it's just hard because, like I said, 247 00:13:30,000 --> 00:13:33,640 Speaker 1: the tension in the air at that time was just there. 248 00:13:33,960 --> 00:13:36,600 Speaker 1: It was a real division because of what literally happened 249 00:13:36,600 --> 00:13:40,319 Speaker 1: on in the streets. And and I do feel that 250 00:13:40,440 --> 00:13:43,920 Speaker 1: if I got anything sort of in that really rotten week, 251 00:13:44,240 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 1: it was what you said publicly, you're getting on that plane. 252 00:13:47,880 --> 00:13:50,960 Speaker 1: It was Chris Paul, the head of the Players Association, saying, 253 00:13:51,320 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: I want to sit down with an interview with you still, 254 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,559 Speaker 1: like let's be on camera together. Kareem Abdul Jabbar went 255 00:13:57,600 --> 00:13:59,880 Speaker 1: on camera with me just a couple of days later. 256 00:14:00,800 --> 00:14:03,720 Speaker 1: That meant the world to me, given his position, everything 257 00:14:03,880 --> 00:14:08,160 Speaker 1: he's fought through. Um, you know, Adam Silver made some 258 00:14:08,480 --> 00:14:12,880 Speaker 1: comments I really appreciated about the situation, and it made 259 00:14:12,920 --> 00:14:15,400 Speaker 1: me feel like, oh, these twenty years, the people in 260 00:14:15,520 --> 00:14:19,400 Speaker 1: the league know me, they know, they know, they know 261 00:14:19,560 --> 00:14:22,560 Speaker 1: who who you are, they know what you're about, and 262 00:14:23,560 --> 00:14:27,480 Speaker 1: that that's something I took with me. Um past the 263 00:14:27,520 --> 00:14:31,840 Speaker 1: job at ESPN was Okay, you know this foundation what 264 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:33,760 Speaker 1: I have done. It's not like I built the whole 265 00:14:33,800 --> 00:14:36,120 Speaker 1: thing at ESPN. I worked at the Washington Post, I 266 00:14:36,640 --> 00:14:38,840 Speaker 1: worked at CNN, I worked at t N T, I 267 00:14:38,960 --> 00:14:42,360 Speaker 1: did baseball on TVs. I have done it all. So 268 00:14:42,560 --> 00:14:45,960 Speaker 1: I covered football for years. You know that's me. It's 269 00:14:46,000 --> 00:14:50,240 Speaker 1: not ESPN granting me my career, and that, um it 270 00:14:50,360 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: sort of opened up for me what I could do 271 00:14:53,200 --> 00:14:56,080 Speaker 1: somewhere else and sort of all the things I had 272 00:14:56,120 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: been wanting to do. But where could I do that? 273 00:14:57,880 --> 00:15:00,000 Speaker 1: How could I make that fun? What would you say 274 00:15:00,040 --> 00:15:02,440 Speaker 1: you learned from all this, Rachel? I learned to be 275 00:15:02,840 --> 00:15:07,760 Speaker 1: particularly careful with my words. That even if what I say, 276 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:10,960 Speaker 1: the exact words and I read you that quote aren't 277 00:15:11,840 --> 00:15:15,280 Speaker 1: if those words aren't so incendiary, they can make people 278 00:15:15,520 --> 00:15:18,320 Speaker 1: feel a kind of way. They can make people feel 279 00:15:18,400 --> 00:15:22,520 Speaker 1: like you're implying something that brings up that hurt, right, 280 00:15:22,680 --> 00:15:25,720 Speaker 1: that brings up other experiences that brings up their own 281 00:15:25,800 --> 00:15:28,600 Speaker 1: frustration with things that have been told to them throughout 282 00:15:28,600 --> 00:15:32,480 Speaker 1: their long career or things like that, and that whether 283 00:15:32,520 --> 00:15:36,880 Speaker 1: it's in private public that it matters to me that 284 00:15:36,960 --> 00:15:39,240 Speaker 1: I don't cause that kind of hurt and I want 285 00:15:39,280 --> 00:15:42,680 Speaker 1: to make sure that I get better every day at 286 00:15:42,920 --> 00:15:46,400 Speaker 1: choosing what and how I say things and expressing who 287 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:50,960 Speaker 1: I really am. So I learned that. I also learned, frankly, 288 00:15:51,120 --> 00:15:53,520 Speaker 1: that one of the things that was important to me 289 00:15:53,720 --> 00:15:57,000 Speaker 1: in terms of the next job I did was, as 290 00:15:57,040 --> 00:16:00,720 Speaker 1: you just mentioned, working with a team of people where 291 00:16:00,760 --> 00:16:03,920 Speaker 1: everyone else wanted each other to win, right that that 292 00:16:04,200 --> 00:16:08,480 Speaker 1: close group where people are having fun, loving what they 293 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:11,760 Speaker 1: do and trying to support each other in a way 294 00:16:12,320 --> 00:16:14,680 Speaker 1: that makes everyone better and kind of brings new ideas 295 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:16,320 Speaker 1: and all of that. So that was a big thing 296 00:16:16,680 --> 00:16:19,120 Speaker 1: that I was looking for. And then also, you know, 297 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:23,000 Speaker 1: the media world is changing, and you know, I grew 298 00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:25,760 Speaker 1: up on newspapers, and I grew up in the Washington, 299 00:16:25,840 --> 00:16:28,160 Speaker 1: D c. Area, and I thought, if I could work 300 00:16:28,200 --> 00:16:30,720 Speaker 1: for the Washington Post, that was it. That's all I 301 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,560 Speaker 1: wanted to do. That's how I first met you, and uh. 302 00:16:33,800 --> 00:16:38,440 Speaker 1: I worked there for ten years, but newspapers changed right 303 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:41,200 Speaker 1: with the Internet and all the stuff, and it was like, huh, 304 00:16:41,560 --> 00:16:43,440 Speaker 1: I can reach more people and talk to more people 305 00:16:43,720 --> 00:16:48,160 Speaker 1: if I do television. And now media is changing again. 306 00:16:48,720 --> 00:16:53,080 Speaker 1: So yes, television, linear television is still a big part 307 00:16:53,120 --> 00:16:56,360 Speaker 1: of how we all consume sports. But I'm also excited 308 00:16:56,440 --> 00:17:01,120 Speaker 1: to be with a place that is really interested in Hey, 309 00:17:01,280 --> 00:17:04,280 Speaker 1: we want to reach people. What are the not just one, 310 00:17:04,520 --> 00:17:06,800 Speaker 1: but four different ways that we can do that. How 311 00:17:06,840 --> 00:17:10,200 Speaker 1: do people actually absorb sports into their life? Is it 312 00:17:10,240 --> 00:17:11,960 Speaker 1: with one screen? Is it with two screens? Is it 313 00:17:12,040 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 1: with something like you guys right, this is a podcast, 314 00:17:15,080 --> 00:17:17,800 Speaker 1: but also it's on, it's on. I see a lot 315 00:17:17,840 --> 00:17:21,400 Speaker 1: of television cameras here, but this kind of plays Foster's Hey, 316 00:17:21,800 --> 00:17:24,600 Speaker 1: just come to the table as you are where you are. 317 00:17:24,960 --> 00:17:27,960 Speaker 1: We're excited and happy. Do you have us having you 318 00:17:28,240 --> 00:17:31,440 Speaker 1: join us? What are your goals in the next few years? Well, look, 319 00:17:31,600 --> 00:17:34,440 Speaker 1: I think that showtime is in such an exciting point 320 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,680 Speaker 1: because y'all got the players. First thing, when I talk 321 00:17:38,720 --> 00:17:40,280 Speaker 1: to you, you said your first job to make us 322 00:17:40,320 --> 00:17:43,520 Speaker 1: look good. I did, actually that is what I said. 323 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,000 Speaker 1: But I always think that's my job. I mean, that's 324 00:17:46,000 --> 00:17:49,280 Speaker 1: what Matt was saying I mean that is that is 325 00:17:49,320 --> 00:17:52,920 Speaker 1: how I go about this stuff. And and you guys 326 00:17:53,440 --> 00:17:55,800 Speaker 1: do this incredible stuff on the court. Well, I don't 327 00:17:55,800 --> 00:17:57,440 Speaker 1: know anymore. I don't know how your back is. But 328 00:17:58,760 --> 00:18:01,320 Speaker 1: I'm on the golf course now. But the reason we 329 00:18:01,440 --> 00:18:03,400 Speaker 1: want to hear what you have to say is because 330 00:18:03,400 --> 00:18:05,520 Speaker 1: of what you've accomplished, Because of what you have done. 331 00:18:05,800 --> 00:18:08,879 Speaker 1: I want to show that off. I want you guys 332 00:18:09,040 --> 00:18:11,800 Speaker 1: to win and look your best and kind of succeed here. 333 00:18:11,960 --> 00:18:13,680 Speaker 1: And it is the first thing I said to you. 334 00:18:13,720 --> 00:18:15,040 Speaker 1: It is probably the first thing I said to you 335 00:18:15,119 --> 00:18:16,800 Speaker 1: when you came to the jump. It's probably the first 336 00:18:16,800 --> 00:18:18,040 Speaker 1: thing I said to you. It's the first thing I 337 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:20,879 Speaker 1: said to t Mac. You know, I am here to 338 00:18:21,760 --> 00:18:25,639 Speaker 1: make this a success and to have fun, because I 339 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,119 Speaker 1: think that across the sports landscape, we have kind of 340 00:18:29,160 --> 00:18:31,720 Speaker 1: gotten into a point with studio programming, with things that 341 00:18:31,760 --> 00:18:35,600 Speaker 1: aren't just the game, where yes, there's absolutely a place 342 00:18:35,680 --> 00:18:38,879 Speaker 1: for reporting on the business of sports. Yes there's absolutely 343 00:18:38,920 --> 00:18:44,000 Speaker 1: a place for investigative journalism. I believe that. But people 344 00:18:44,119 --> 00:18:47,680 Speaker 1: sit down and watch a game because it's fun, because 345 00:18:47,720 --> 00:18:50,159 Speaker 1: they want to escape for a few hours, because they 346 00:18:50,200 --> 00:18:52,840 Speaker 1: want to scream, because they want to see the hero 347 00:18:53,119 --> 00:18:57,840 Speaker 1: and the villain drink do other things. Um, they want 348 00:18:57,880 --> 00:18:59,840 Speaker 1: to see whoever they think is the hero, whoever they 349 00:19:00,000 --> 00:19:01,840 Speaker 1: think is the villain, go at it. It's a story 350 00:19:01,920 --> 00:19:05,080 Speaker 1: in front of them, playing out in real time. And 351 00:19:05,560 --> 00:19:07,600 Speaker 1: I just think that on the Jump, one thing we 352 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:10,399 Speaker 1: were able to capture was the fun of sports, and 353 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,040 Speaker 1: that's one of my real big pillars for what we 354 00:19:13,119 --> 00:19:16,800 Speaker 1: do going forward here at showtime is let's have some fun. 355 00:19:16,920 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: Let's invite people in to have fun with us. Let's 356 00:19:20,160 --> 00:19:23,840 Speaker 1: tell some great stories. Stack. We haven't even gotten to 357 00:19:24,000 --> 00:19:26,880 Speaker 1: half the stories of your playing days. Same with you, Matt. 358 00:19:26,960 --> 00:19:29,120 Speaker 1: What about what about? How? What about how he used 359 00:19:29,119 --> 00:19:31,120 Speaker 1: to dress when he first came on the Jump? Oh boy, 360 00:19:31,480 --> 00:19:38,920 Speaker 1: like l a gangster, Dicky's Penaltyon's chains on top, I'd 361 00:19:38,960 --> 00:19:41,000 Speaker 1: be I'd be getting ready for a game like what 362 00:19:41,200 --> 00:19:46,880 Speaker 1: the funk is Jack wearing on the Jumps? Everyone's allowed 363 00:19:46,880 --> 00:19:50,800 Speaker 1: to have their own style came around, you know, like that. 364 00:19:50,960 --> 00:19:52,880 Speaker 1: But yeah, I think I just think there's so many 365 00:19:52,960 --> 00:19:55,240 Speaker 1: things we can do that play on people's love of 366 00:19:55,280 --> 00:19:58,440 Speaker 1: the game and have a good time. So that's really 367 00:19:58,800 --> 00:20:01,439 Speaker 1: the thing I want to do and focused on going forward. Well, 368 00:20:01,480 --> 00:20:03,000 Speaker 1: we just want to give you your flowers. I mean, 369 00:20:03,119 --> 00:20:05,119 Speaker 1: Richel like you. So we're you've been so instrumental and 370 00:20:05,200 --> 00:20:07,480 Speaker 1: not only us, but but a lot of different people. 371 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:12,280 Speaker 1: That again for sure us first and foremost us. Um. 372 00:20:13,320 --> 00:20:15,760 Speaker 1: But again like you said, and and it resonated with me. 373 00:20:16,160 --> 00:20:19,199 Speaker 1: You know around the league, your work has spoken for itself. 374 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,080 Speaker 1: And I think that's why. You know, the people that 375 00:20:21,160 --> 00:20:23,480 Speaker 1: didn't know you may have condemned you, but the people 376 00:20:23,520 --> 00:20:25,120 Speaker 1: who know you And that's what I really care about, 377 00:20:25,160 --> 00:20:26,840 Speaker 1: is how the people who know me and love me 378 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 1: feel about me. That's the only people that matter. And 379 00:20:29,119 --> 00:20:31,159 Speaker 1: and you really found out who did that and and 380 00:20:31,440 --> 00:20:34,800 Speaker 1: who did and who does and to me that's the 381 00:20:35,040 --> 00:20:37,879 Speaker 1: most important. But you're you know, you're very special to us, 382 00:20:37,960 --> 00:20:40,120 Speaker 1: You're very special to the NBA. You know all you've 383 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,840 Speaker 1: done and and and geors you've open and your approach 384 00:20:42,920 --> 00:20:45,040 Speaker 1: to the game. Um, So we just want to let 385 00:20:45,080 --> 00:20:46,520 Speaker 1: you know that you know, you've had a year off you. 386 00:20:46,800 --> 00:20:48,680 Speaker 1: I'm sure you're not too rusty. It's like riding a bike, 387 00:20:48,720 --> 00:20:50,880 Speaker 1: but we obviously want to thank you for what you've 388 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:53,800 Speaker 1: done and welcome to you and and excited to you know, 389 00:20:54,720 --> 00:20:57,119 Speaker 1: partner up and move forward with you. We're going to 390 00:20:57,240 --> 00:21:02,960 Speaker 1: have so much ever richel You know, I love you, 391 00:21:03,040 --> 00:21:06,240 Speaker 1: but like it's deeper than just the show. We know 392 00:21:07,040 --> 00:21:09,480 Speaker 1: a lot of guys that wasn't Hall of Famous or 393 00:21:09,600 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: wasn't NBA stars the whole career, we don't get those opportunities. 394 00:21:15,240 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 1: So and Gina tell you, you know, when when y'all 395 00:21:18,359 --> 00:21:19,639 Speaker 1: called me, I was in a I was in a 396 00:21:19,680 --> 00:21:21,720 Speaker 1: position where I didn't know what I was doing, you 397 00:21:21,760 --> 00:21:22,720 Speaker 1: know what I mean, I don't know what I was 398 00:21:22,760 --> 00:21:24,760 Speaker 1: gonna do going forward. So to get that call from 399 00:21:24,760 --> 00:21:26,879 Speaker 1: you and Gena, get the opportunity, it was like a 400 00:21:27,720 --> 00:21:29,720 Speaker 1: It was a moment where I felt like that I 401 00:21:30,080 --> 00:21:33,680 Speaker 1: really was appreciated for what I did in a relationship 402 00:21:33,720 --> 00:21:36,800 Speaker 1: we had my whole career and being a guy like 403 00:21:36,920 --> 00:21:38,600 Speaker 1: that that wasn't All Star, that wasn't one of the 404 00:21:38,760 --> 00:21:40,600 Speaker 1: commerce guy on the commercials. To be able to get 405 00:21:40,640 --> 00:21:42,560 Speaker 1: this opportunity and get that call from it meant the 406 00:21:42,600 --> 00:21:45,840 Speaker 1: world because guys like me don't get these calls. So 407 00:21:46,040 --> 00:21:49,080 Speaker 1: I'll ride for you and love you. And that's why 408 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:51,200 Speaker 1: I didn't hesitate to have your back, because the opportunity 409 00:21:51,200 --> 00:21:53,679 Speaker 1: to give me as prices and no dollar or anything 410 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,520 Speaker 1: you can put on it. Just the phone call and 411 00:21:56,880 --> 00:21:58,680 Speaker 1: just thinking about me. Man, everything. So I love you 412 00:21:58,760 --> 00:22:00,720 Speaker 1: and I always got you back. Well, appreciate that, but 413 00:22:00,840 --> 00:22:04,600 Speaker 1: that's you. You earn that, and that is also being 414 00:22:04,680 --> 00:22:08,760 Speaker 1: invested in the game. We know that having an exceptional 415 00:22:08,800 --> 00:22:12,440 Speaker 1: basketball team that wins a title does not just have 416 00:22:13,200 --> 00:22:16,040 Speaker 1: all stars, right, it has the glue guys. That has 417 00:22:16,119 --> 00:22:24,680 Speaker 1: the guys, the fan favorites, the two of you and 418 00:22:24,920 --> 00:22:28,359 Speaker 1: you know, and the Tracy mcgrady's right, and the Allen Iversonce, 419 00:22:28,440 --> 00:22:30,320 Speaker 1: which we you know. I mean, by the way, the 420 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:34,960 Speaker 1: fact that Showtime has partnership with my personal hero Alan Iverson. 421 00:22:36,240 --> 00:22:38,320 Speaker 1: Just talked to Chuck the other day. Man, our greatest 422 00:22:38,359 --> 00:22:40,960 Speaker 1: living American. I just want to make that clear. I 423 00:22:41,080 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 1: love you too, but I will throw you. I will 424 00:22:44,359 --> 00:22:47,640 Speaker 1: throw you aside. I will throw you aside for Allen Iverson, 425 00:22:47,720 --> 00:22:51,400 Speaker 1: the idea that yes, uh team Allen Iverson and again 426 00:22:51,440 --> 00:22:53,360 Speaker 1: here at show Time. They both have partnerships, the Showtime, 427 00:22:53,680 --> 00:22:57,439 Speaker 1: the two of you, Kevin Garnett, Paul Pierce. These are 428 00:22:57,440 --> 00:22:59,800 Speaker 1: guys who all have different role on a basketball team, 429 00:23:00,000 --> 00:23:02,000 Speaker 1: and they all have different roles when you're talking about 430 00:23:02,040 --> 00:23:04,639 Speaker 1: basketball and they're all the showtime and we need we 431 00:23:04,760 --> 00:23:08,159 Speaker 1: need all of those voices, h you know, and you 432 00:23:08,320 --> 00:23:10,800 Speaker 1: kind of you don't kind of help me and Jack 433 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:13,520 Speaker 1: get here from the standpoint of you allowed us to 434 00:23:13,600 --> 00:23:16,200 Speaker 1: talk on TV, you know what I mean, opening the 435 00:23:16,280 --> 00:23:18,000 Speaker 1: door for us to talk, because, like I said, people 436 00:23:18,080 --> 00:23:20,040 Speaker 1: didn't I didn't even know I wanted to do this. 437 00:23:20,119 --> 00:23:21,560 Speaker 1: When I was done, he didn't know what he wanted 438 00:23:21,560 --> 00:23:23,280 Speaker 1: to do. We would talk like what's next, and it 439 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:25,560 Speaker 1: was just like we started talking on TV and people like, oh, 440 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:27,199 Speaker 1: you know, you guys are good, you guys are real, 441 00:23:27,320 --> 00:23:29,879 Speaker 1: you guys this and that was that's what made me think, well, 442 00:23:29,960 --> 00:23:31,720 Speaker 1: let's do something together, you know, I mean. So that's 443 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:33,720 Speaker 1: how kind of, you know, all the smoke came about, 444 00:23:33,840 --> 00:23:35,880 Speaker 1: was because we had an opportunity to talk on TV 445 00:23:36,080 --> 00:23:37,600 Speaker 1: when we didn't know that we could really we do. 446 00:23:37,720 --> 00:23:39,000 Speaker 1: We could talk ship, but we didn't know what we 447 00:23:39,080 --> 00:23:42,200 Speaker 1: could really talk, you know, and say stuff that people want, 448 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,240 Speaker 1: you know, need and want to hear. So well, this 449 00:23:44,400 --> 00:23:46,600 Speaker 1: is perfect. So I was in a way always helping 450 00:23:46,680 --> 00:23:48,320 Speaker 1: to create things at show time, and now I get 451 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 1: to get paid for it. Well, Rachel, welcome, Thank you, 452 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:57,920 Speaker 1: I appreciate you. Thank you excited to move forward and 453 00:23:58,320 --> 00:24:02,120 Speaker 1: uh man, welcome to death Row, I mean show Time man. 454 00:24:02,240 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: That's a wrap. Rachel Nichols special edishing to all the Smoke. 455 00:24:05,400 --> 00:24:07,720 Speaker 1: You can catch us on Showtime Basketball, YouTube and the 456 00:24:07,840 --> 00:24:11,560 Speaker 1: I Heart platform Black Effects. See you all next week. 457 00:24:12,080 --> 00:24:12,480 Speaker 1: Gio