1 00:00:10,640 --> 00:00:12,880 Speaker 1: I'm please rite now in this episode of Politics, which 2 00:00:12,920 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: is also being broadcast live over YouTube, to be joined 3 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:21,880 Speaker 1: by my friend, by my sister, one of the foremost 4 00:00:22,120 --> 00:00:25,560 Speaker 1: basketball analysts in this world, not just the country, but 5 00:00:25,640 --> 00:00:29,400 Speaker 1: the world, Craig the World. Very pleased to be joined 6 00:00:29,960 --> 00:00:33,000 Speaker 1: by ms LA China, Robinson China. 7 00:00:33,080 --> 00:00:33,960 Speaker 2: How are you doing. 8 00:00:34,560 --> 00:00:37,040 Speaker 3: I'm doing well. Wow, that was a great intro. 9 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:39,280 Speaker 2: I had to put some sauce on it. 10 00:00:39,320 --> 00:00:40,720 Speaker 1: I had to put some sauce on I feel the 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:42,239 Speaker 1: energy coming from the West Coast, you know. 12 00:00:42,400 --> 00:00:45,040 Speaker 3: I appreciate that. Thank you so much. As always a 13 00:00:45,159 --> 00:00:47,879 Speaker 3: joy to chop it up with you. So I'm excited. 14 00:00:48,280 --> 00:00:50,080 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's been way too long. 15 00:00:50,200 --> 00:00:53,120 Speaker 1: I mean usually we're having a lot of these conversations 16 00:00:53,159 --> 00:00:56,760 Speaker 1: socially and not necessarily in public view. 17 00:00:57,280 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 3: If you will. 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:02,120 Speaker 1: But given the news of the week, which is Diana Tarassi, 19 00:01:02,160 --> 00:01:04,360 Speaker 1: who many consider to be the greatest of all time, 20 00:01:04,480 --> 00:01:08,479 Speaker 1: with her deciding to retire, I felt like you were 21 00:01:08,520 --> 00:01:12,040 Speaker 1: the appropriate person to have one to discuss her legacy, 22 00:01:12,080 --> 00:01:14,280 Speaker 1: and not just her legacy, but also you know, talk 23 00:01:14,319 --> 00:01:17,039 Speaker 1: a little women's hoops in general and talk about like 24 00:01:17,040 --> 00:01:18,800 Speaker 1: where the league sort of goes from here, so like 25 00:01:18,840 --> 00:01:21,759 Speaker 1: There's a couple different kind of conversations that I want 26 00:01:21,800 --> 00:01:26,160 Speaker 1: to get to you on this particular live episode of politics, 27 00:01:26,200 --> 00:01:29,480 Speaker 1: but I'll just start at the beginning. How did you 28 00:01:29,600 --> 00:01:34,039 Speaker 1: feel about Diana Tarassi deciding to retire now? 29 00:01:34,240 --> 00:01:35,160 Speaker 2: Was this the right timing? 30 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,800 Speaker 1: It was the right timing, Jammelle, It's actually it feels 31 00:01:38,800 --> 00:01:40,959 Speaker 1: like it's been bubbling for the last few years. 32 00:01:41,040 --> 00:01:42,119 Speaker 3: And it's interesting. 33 00:01:42,160 --> 00:01:44,319 Speaker 1: I feel like we have all these pre records of 34 00:01:44,400 --> 00:01:47,720 Speaker 1: everyone's thoughts on Diana Tarassi's career over the last few 35 00:01:47,800 --> 00:01:49,680 Speaker 1: years because we never knew what was going to happen, 36 00:01:50,080 --> 00:01:52,360 Speaker 1: and she always said, you know, I'm just gonna up 37 00:01:52,360 --> 00:01:54,280 Speaker 1: and do it. There's not gonna be a lot of fanfare. 38 00:01:54,960 --> 00:01:56,840 Speaker 1: What you used to tell us for a while was 39 00:01:56,880 --> 00:01:58,920 Speaker 1: it depends on how she felt in the off season, 40 00:01:59,040 --> 00:02:02,080 Speaker 1: Like if she wasn't motivated to get up and work 41 00:02:02,120 --> 00:02:04,120 Speaker 1: out and to be the best, then she would know 42 00:02:04,120 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 1: it was time to quit. But she sounded at peace 43 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,120 Speaker 1: with it, and in terms of the timing from a 44 00:02:10,200 --> 00:02:12,360 Speaker 1: league standpoint, it's a good time. 45 00:02:12,560 --> 00:02:16,040 Speaker 3: She's passed the torch. The WNBA is in good standing. 46 00:02:17,000 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: You know, Diana had been pushing through some injuries over 47 00:02:19,240 --> 00:02:22,160 Speaker 1: the last few years. Obviously the configuration of Phoenix is 48 00:02:22,160 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: a little bit different. Britney Grinder's gone, so that may 49 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: have played into it as well. I don't know if 50 00:02:27,720 --> 00:02:30,760 Speaker 1: DT at what forty forty one is up for rebuild. 51 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:34,200 Speaker 1: So I think it was It was a good time 52 00:02:34,240 --> 00:02:38,160 Speaker 1: and definitely hated to see it, but we've been waiting. 53 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:39,200 Speaker 3: We knew what was coming. 54 00:02:39,919 --> 00:02:43,200 Speaker 1: Yeah, you said something that was interesting about like this being, 55 00:02:44,440 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: you know, her retiring without any fanfare. Some people, I 56 00:02:47,840 --> 00:02:49,239 Speaker 1: don't know, I got the feeling some people are a 57 00:02:49,240 --> 00:02:51,959 Speaker 1: little bit disappointed about that. I mean, do you think 58 00:02:52,040 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: she should have gone through the you know, the ceremony 59 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,840 Speaker 1: we often see of like taking a whole year to 60 00:02:58,919 --> 00:03:01,760 Speaker 1: so call and so everything in you know, maybe this 61 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: last upcoming season, maybe that being her final season and 62 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:08,480 Speaker 1: you know, allowing people in every city to celebrate her. 63 00:03:08,680 --> 00:03:11,200 Speaker 1: I mean, did she do the fans of disservice by 64 00:03:11,440 --> 00:03:12,519 Speaker 1: choosing to do it this way? 65 00:03:13,200 --> 00:03:15,679 Speaker 3: I think she did herself a disservice. Jamelle. I would 66 00:03:15,720 --> 00:03:16,320 Speaker 3: have loved to. 67 00:03:16,240 --> 00:03:18,600 Speaker 1: See her have a farewell tour because I don't think 68 00:03:18,680 --> 00:03:22,799 Speaker 1: Diana really really understands or feels her impact the way 69 00:03:22,800 --> 00:03:23,560 Speaker 1: that she should. 70 00:03:24,880 --> 00:03:27,000 Speaker 3: With us I don't think she does. 71 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:29,000 Speaker 2: You know, what do you think that is? 72 00:03:29,240 --> 00:03:33,680 Speaker 1: I mean, well, quite honestly, you know, for a long time, 73 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: Diana to Rozsi was the spotlight, not just in it, 74 00:03:36,920 --> 00:03:39,000 Speaker 1: but she was it, right Like, she was the player 75 00:03:39,200 --> 00:03:41,320 Speaker 1: that was on top of everyone's list when you mentioned 76 00:03:41,360 --> 00:03:43,920 Speaker 1: women's basketball. I mean, quite honestly, her name is synonymous 77 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: with the game of women's basketball, synonymous with the WNBA, 78 00:03:47,200 --> 00:03:51,480 Speaker 1: always on everyone's mount Rushmore and so. But over the 79 00:03:51,520 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: last few years, right as Phoenix was not as competitive, 80 00:03:56,440 --> 00:03:58,760 Speaker 1: you know, as I mentioned, Diana was fighting through some injury, 81 00:03:58,880 --> 00:04:03,120 Speaker 1: so it wasn't at her best case consistently, other stars arising, 82 00:04:03,520 --> 00:04:07,120 Speaker 1: arriving and rising in the league took the spotlight off 83 00:04:07,160 --> 00:04:07,920 Speaker 1: of her a little bit. 84 00:04:07,960 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 3: And then you add on top of that. 85 00:04:09,240 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: That she wasn't a huge piece of the Olympics team 86 00:04:12,920 --> 00:04:16,360 Speaker 1: run to gold medal, at least not between the lines. 87 00:04:16,400 --> 00:04:20,839 Speaker 1: And so I think she was a little bit forgotten 88 00:04:20,880 --> 00:04:23,400 Speaker 1: about over the last few years. And many would say 89 00:04:23,480 --> 00:04:25,480 Speaker 1: for good reason, right like, if you're not on top 90 00:04:25,520 --> 00:04:27,560 Speaker 1: of her game, if they're not in the championship. I mean, 91 00:04:27,600 --> 00:04:29,280 Speaker 1: the last time they played was a few years back 92 00:04:29,320 --> 00:04:31,320 Speaker 1: against Chicago, But you. 93 00:04:31,279 --> 00:04:33,279 Speaker 3: Know, she kind of seemed to disappear from. 94 00:04:33,120 --> 00:04:35,200 Speaker 1: The limelight a little bit, and I wish that we 95 00:04:35,240 --> 00:04:38,000 Speaker 1: would have been able to give her the proper goodbye 96 00:04:38,080 --> 00:04:42,040 Speaker 1: and that the fans could all share their sentiments with Diana, 97 00:04:42,080 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: because I think there was still people that have some 98 00:04:44,800 --> 00:04:47,200 Speaker 1: flowers to give her. And I want to say to 99 00:04:47,320 --> 00:04:49,720 Speaker 1: all the folks joining us right now on the stream 100 00:04:49,800 --> 00:04:52,400 Speaker 1: that if you have a question, you have a comment, 101 00:04:52,839 --> 00:04:55,440 Speaker 1: feel free to share. I'll be reading off some of 102 00:04:55,480 --> 00:04:58,400 Speaker 1: those and we'll be responding and reacting in real time 103 00:04:58,920 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: so that you guys feeling goat as and part of 104 00:05:01,000 --> 00:05:04,600 Speaker 1: the discussion. You know, that's interesting that you would say that, 105 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:07,880 Speaker 1: because you know, it's kind of hard for me as 106 00:05:07,920 --> 00:05:11,960 Speaker 1: a basketball fan imagining a league or a basketball mosaic 107 00:05:12,080 --> 00:05:16,200 Speaker 1: without Diana Tarasi because she has just been so important 108 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:18,279 Speaker 1: to the sport. You know, from the time she was 109 00:05:18,320 --> 00:05:21,359 Speaker 1: in college where she won what three ships there? You know, 110 00:05:21,480 --> 00:05:24,320 Speaker 1: she won what three in the WNBA, three or four, 111 00:05:25,960 --> 00:05:30,480 Speaker 1: six time Olympic gold medalists. I mean, her career accomplishments 112 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:32,200 Speaker 1: are just insane. 113 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:34,480 Speaker 2: So the main question is. 114 00:05:34,400 --> 00:05:37,160 Speaker 1: And I know that on the men's side of thing, 115 00:05:37,880 --> 00:05:41,680 Speaker 1: this debate can always go left. But I feel like 116 00:05:41,720 --> 00:05:46,680 Speaker 1: on the women's side, it's so hard to determine who 117 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:48,000 Speaker 1: is the greatest of all time. 118 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 2: Now, naturally, her former coach, you know, Ariama. 119 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:53,040 Speaker 1: He told Time Magazine and he said it consistently. It's 120 00:05:53,080 --> 00:05:54,039 Speaker 1: not like it's the first time. 121 00:05:54,080 --> 00:05:55,360 Speaker 2: But she's a goat. 122 00:05:56,040 --> 00:05:58,560 Speaker 1: Do you consider Diana Tarassi to be the goat of 123 00:05:58,600 --> 00:06:02,000 Speaker 1: women's basketball in China? Well, first and foremost, you know, 124 00:06:02,080 --> 00:06:09,120 Speaker 1: gets paid and graduated from Connecticut, So she would say that, 125 00:06:10,120 --> 00:06:13,360 Speaker 1: I do believe that she is in the conversation when 126 00:06:13,440 --> 00:06:16,800 Speaker 1: I share my goat list, She's not number one on 127 00:06:16,839 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 1: my list. 128 00:06:17,640 --> 00:06:18,800 Speaker 2: She's not number one. 129 00:06:19,040 --> 00:06:22,200 Speaker 1: She's not number one, but she is the greatest score 130 00:06:22,400 --> 00:06:24,680 Speaker 1: we've ever seen in the game of women's basketball, Okay. 131 00:06:24,839 --> 00:06:26,920 Speaker 1: And the reason why I use the word score, Jamel, 132 00:06:27,160 --> 00:06:31,200 Speaker 1: is because your girl, I lean a little bit more 133 00:06:31,240 --> 00:06:34,080 Speaker 1: into the defense end of the floor, right, not more 134 00:06:34,120 --> 00:06:36,440 Speaker 1: so than offense. But I do believe that there are 135 00:06:36,480 --> 00:06:40,320 Speaker 1: players that have had more of a ninety four foot impact, 136 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: like a Sheryl scoops, like a Tabika catchings and this 137 00:06:44,240 --> 00:06:47,159 Speaker 1: is splitting hairs, right, So Diana is right there in 138 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:49,960 Speaker 1: the conversation. But I have to keep it real in 139 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:52,880 Speaker 1: terms of how I see it, you know, my subjective 140 00:06:52,880 --> 00:06:55,720 Speaker 1: opinion as an analyst, and that Yeah. 141 00:06:55,680 --> 00:06:57,600 Speaker 3: I feel like she's the greatest scorer we've ever seen. 142 00:06:58,400 --> 00:07:00,360 Speaker 3: Is she number one for me? 143 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:01,360 Speaker 2: No? 144 00:07:01,839 --> 00:07:05,320 Speaker 1: But that does not diminish her impact on the game 145 00:07:05,640 --> 00:07:08,159 Speaker 1: could have Could she be the player that's had the 146 00:07:08,200 --> 00:07:11,760 Speaker 1: greatest impact on the growth of women's basketball. Absolutely, and 147 00:07:11,800 --> 00:07:14,000 Speaker 1: I think we should talk about that more often. But 148 00:07:14,320 --> 00:07:20,280 Speaker 1: in terms of like the analyst side, the X and os, 149 00:07:20,360 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 1: it's like a Cheryl Swoops to make a catchings competition 150 00:07:23,080 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: for me, it started to push her way in there 151 00:07:25,320 --> 00:07:28,120 Speaker 1: a little bit late, but okay, so that's what I 152 00:07:28,360 --> 00:07:30,640 Speaker 1: of course. Naturally this leads to the next question and 153 00:07:30,960 --> 00:07:32,960 Speaker 1: those again who are out there, and then the chat. 154 00:07:33,240 --> 00:07:35,400 Speaker 1: You please feel free to comment on who you think 155 00:07:36,040 --> 00:07:38,920 Speaker 1: the greatest women's basketball player of all time is. 156 00:07:39,240 --> 00:07:40,480 Speaker 2: So who is your number one? 157 00:07:41,880 --> 00:07:42,760 Speaker 3: Ah? 158 00:07:43,400 --> 00:07:44,720 Speaker 2: In this moment, I should. 159 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:49,120 Speaker 1: Say, because you said, yeah, you know, I really really 160 00:07:49,240 --> 00:07:53,880 Speaker 1: lean Cheryl Swoops. I do you know as a player 161 00:07:54,040 --> 00:07:58,760 Speaker 1: that could match MVPs with Defensive Player of the Year awards, 162 00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:04,920 Speaker 1: four championships in the W Like, it's hard to dispute that, 163 00:08:05,640 --> 00:08:08,840 Speaker 1: But like I said, there's some really close second thirds 164 00:08:08,880 --> 00:08:11,120 Speaker 1: in there, and I would throw Timika Catchings in there. 165 00:08:11,160 --> 00:08:12,920 Speaker 1: I would throw Maya Moore in there. I mean, what 166 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:15,520 Speaker 1: she did and what it's a lot of love for 167 00:08:15,600 --> 00:08:18,840 Speaker 1: my more in the chat by the oh, I would 168 00:08:18,880 --> 00:08:21,920 Speaker 1: have to throw Maya Moore in there as well. So yeah, 169 00:08:21,920 --> 00:08:26,360 Speaker 1: I would say my conversation is usually Ryl Top. 170 00:08:27,840 --> 00:08:29,880 Speaker 3: Tamika, Maya Candice. 171 00:08:30,960 --> 00:08:33,600 Speaker 2: Yeah, that's just Tamika get lost. 172 00:08:33,440 --> 00:08:36,720 Speaker 1: In this Tamika Catchings Because any anytime we have the 173 00:08:36,760 --> 00:08:41,040 Speaker 1: discussion about who is the greatest women's player ever, a 174 00:08:41,040 --> 00:08:43,120 Speaker 1: lot of the names you mentioned come up, and even 175 00:08:43,240 --> 00:08:46,440 Speaker 1: some people say Cynthia Cooper, right, they'd throw her in there, 176 00:08:46,880 --> 00:08:50,360 Speaker 1: But Tamika's name doesn't come up as often as it 177 00:08:50,480 --> 00:08:51,199 Speaker 1: probably should. 178 00:08:51,440 --> 00:08:51,839 Speaker 2: It doesn't. 179 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:53,600 Speaker 3: She was a five time defensive Player of the Year. 180 00:08:53,600 --> 00:08:57,040 Speaker 1: I mean, Jamelle, I loved watching Timika Catchings play the game. 181 00:08:57,040 --> 00:09:00,440 Speaker 1: Anybody's ever watched her. She exhausted herself on the court. 182 00:09:00,480 --> 00:09:02,320 Speaker 1: I mean there was not a play that happened on 183 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,400 Speaker 1: either end of the floor that she didn't impact. Now, 184 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: the fact that she only won one championship in the WNBA, yes, 185 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:12,320 Speaker 1: that weighs heavily. Like that is to me the single 186 00:09:12,360 --> 00:09:15,760 Speaker 1: factor as to why she's not higher on some people's list. 187 00:09:16,480 --> 00:09:18,720 Speaker 1: I would also throw out there Sylvia Fowls, who I 188 00:09:18,760 --> 00:09:23,040 Speaker 1: think has been also forgotten in these conversations as well. 189 00:09:23,040 --> 00:09:25,920 Speaker 1: But yeah, I think Tamika Ketching absolutely gets lost in that, 190 00:09:25,960 --> 00:09:27,960 Speaker 1: and I think it's because she only won one championship. 191 00:09:27,960 --> 00:09:31,760 Speaker 1: But and this is the eye test again. I think 192 00:09:31,800 --> 00:09:33,880 Speaker 1: we need to use the eye test more when we 193 00:09:33,960 --> 00:09:37,559 Speaker 1: have these conversations because championships, yes, they mean a lot, 194 00:09:37,640 --> 00:09:38,520 Speaker 1: but they're not everything. 195 00:09:38,600 --> 00:09:41,679 Speaker 3: And she dominated the game in so many. 196 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:45,000 Speaker 1: Facets and the both ends part is key. Here's a 197 00:09:45,040 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: comment from Troy Wilson. I'm a major fan of Jamail 198 00:09:47,559 --> 00:09:49,240 Speaker 1: Hill for years. That's not why I posted this, but 199 00:09:49,240 --> 00:09:51,720 Speaker 1: thank you lovey on this platform. 200 00:09:51,840 --> 00:09:52,439 Speaker 2: Thank you again. 201 00:09:52,520 --> 00:09:55,040 Speaker 1: This is great and informative interview. But real talk, Maya 202 00:09:55,200 --> 00:09:58,840 Speaker 1: Moore is the one. How do you feel about where 203 00:09:58,840 --> 00:09:59,679 Speaker 1: Maya fits in this? 204 00:10:00,280 --> 00:10:01,160 Speaker 3: I think Maya's there. 205 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:03,800 Speaker 1: I mean, first of all, I don't know that there's 206 00:10:03,840 --> 00:10:07,120 Speaker 1: a player in such a short span of a career 207 00:10:07,280 --> 00:10:09,160 Speaker 1: that had as much as success as she did. 208 00:10:09,160 --> 00:10:11,840 Speaker 3: Once she played eight years, four championships. 209 00:10:13,160 --> 00:10:17,079 Speaker 1: I mean, she was dominant, like literally changed the Minnesota 210 00:10:17,240 --> 00:10:18,119 Speaker 1: Lynks franchise. 211 00:10:18,360 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 3: She did play with a lot of talent. So that's 212 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:21,120 Speaker 3: the other thing. 213 00:10:21,440 --> 00:10:24,800 Speaker 1: So when I start splitting hairs, Jamelle, I started looking 214 00:10:24,840 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 1: at rosters, trying to figure out what kind of support 215 00:10:27,120 --> 00:10:29,400 Speaker 1: you had, what kind of the all stars, things like that. 216 00:10:29,559 --> 00:10:32,280 Speaker 1: Tamika Ketchings did not have a lot of support of 217 00:10:32,320 --> 00:10:33,840 Speaker 1: her team. I mean, she was a number one pick, 218 00:10:33,880 --> 00:10:36,400 Speaker 1: but not a lot of lottery picks came after her. 219 00:10:36,960 --> 00:10:40,080 Speaker 1: Maya More obviously was surrounded by a lot of talent. 220 00:10:40,880 --> 00:10:44,320 Speaker 1: Diana Tarazzi was, Cheryl Swoops was, let's be honest, like 221 00:10:44,440 --> 00:10:48,760 Speaker 1: Cheryl Swoops had, Cynthia had, Tina had, Janette Arkane like, 222 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:51,040 Speaker 1: we could go down the roster. So when you start 223 00:10:51,040 --> 00:10:53,520 Speaker 1: splitting hairs, there are other factors that couldn't come into 224 00:10:53,520 --> 00:10:54,239 Speaker 1: that conversation. 225 00:10:54,559 --> 00:10:57,600 Speaker 3: But Maya Moore, Yeah, she's she's there, She's on my 226 00:10:57,600 --> 00:10:59,000 Speaker 3: Mount Rushmore. She's top four. 227 00:10:59,400 --> 00:11:02,040 Speaker 1: Now when you when you have this conversation about great, 228 00:11:02,240 --> 00:11:04,880 Speaker 1: it's funny again how different this is from having this 229 00:11:04,960 --> 00:11:07,359 Speaker 1: conversation on the men's side, because I think the women. 230 00:11:07,520 --> 00:11:09,000 Speaker 2: Their college career matters. 231 00:11:09,480 --> 00:11:12,640 Speaker 1: In part of this discussion, in large part because you know, 232 00:11:12,720 --> 00:11:15,760 Speaker 1: we have some old time grades that did not have. 233 00:11:15,720 --> 00:11:17,079 Speaker 2: The benefit of the WNBA. 234 00:11:17,559 --> 00:11:21,080 Speaker 1: Like Cynthia Cooper, definitely a great player in college, but 235 00:11:21,240 --> 00:11:24,240 Speaker 1: she wasn't as great as some of the other people, 236 00:11:24,280 --> 00:11:27,199 Speaker 1: Like her college career wasn't as great as Diana Tarasi's 237 00:11:27,200 --> 00:11:29,720 Speaker 1: in my opinions, right, okay, or like some of the 238 00:11:29,800 --> 00:11:31,760 Speaker 1: or Tamika Ketchers or some of the other people you mentioned. 239 00:11:31,760 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: But as a pro she was ridiculous. You know what 240 00:11:34,040 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: I'm saying, so insane And that's why this conversation is 241 00:11:39,280 --> 00:11:40,960 Speaker 1: so fun to have and there's so much depth to 242 00:11:41,000 --> 00:11:43,480 Speaker 1: it because Cynthia Cooper didn't get a lot of the 243 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:47,040 Speaker 1: years to play in the WNBA, Lisa Leslie didn't get 244 00:11:47,080 --> 00:11:50,559 Speaker 1: a ton of years to play like Diana played twenty years. 245 00:11:50,840 --> 00:11:53,080 Speaker 3: So your chances to get the Something's done in a 246 00:11:53,080 --> 00:11:54,319 Speaker 3: twenty year career. 247 00:11:54,120 --> 00:11:58,520 Speaker 1: Are pretty good, right, And so Laura Jackson is another player, right, 248 00:11:58,600 --> 00:12:01,160 Speaker 1: feel like her career was short. She could be in this, 249 00:12:01,320 --> 00:12:04,960 Speaker 1: but like injuries forced her out earlier than we would 250 00:12:05,000 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 1: have liked. 251 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:07,480 Speaker 3: So no, you're absolutely right the way you're looking at that. 252 00:12:07,640 --> 00:12:10,160 Speaker 1: And college does come into play, and that's where Diana, 253 00:12:10,200 --> 00:12:13,600 Speaker 1: I'm telling you. Look at the teams Diana one with 254 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:15,480 Speaker 1: and I'm gonna I know this. People like to bring 255 00:12:15,559 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: us up all the time. So when you look at 256 00:12:18,000 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: where who Diana won with was, she was at Connecticut, right, Yeah, 257 00:12:22,400 --> 00:12:26,800 Speaker 1: they were McDonald's, all Americans. Yes, they were talented, but 258 00:12:27,120 --> 00:12:29,520 Speaker 1: keep in mind the class that was right before her. 259 00:12:29,760 --> 00:12:34,800 Speaker 1: Their starting lineup was Swim Cash, Tamika Williams, Sue Bird 260 00:12:35,320 --> 00:12:40,680 Speaker 1: like that, Asia Jones like that class was insane in 261 00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: terms of their level of talent. 262 00:12:42,440 --> 00:12:45,280 Speaker 3: And so they were all lottery picks in the WNBA. 263 00:12:45,440 --> 00:12:47,280 Speaker 1: And then Diana comes and she's kind of got to 264 00:12:47,320 --> 00:12:48,559 Speaker 1: go through this rebuild and she. 265 00:12:48,760 --> 00:12:52,640 Speaker 3: Was carrying them. She was carrying them Jamale. 266 00:12:53,160 --> 00:12:56,319 Speaker 1: So again, just looking at the different layers of it 267 00:12:56,080 --> 00:12:58,440 Speaker 1: is a good conversation because she could be one of 268 00:12:58,440 --> 00:13:00,600 Speaker 1: the greatest college players if you start. 269 00:13:00,400 --> 00:13:01,920 Speaker 3: Looking at it like that of all time. 270 00:13:02,000 --> 00:13:04,840 Speaker 1: Quite honestly, in that regard, she stands apart from typical 271 00:13:04,880 --> 00:13:08,559 Speaker 1: Yukon players is because she inherited a different situation than 272 00:13:08,640 --> 00:13:10,679 Speaker 1: a lot of them come into where it's like, Okay, 273 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:12,240 Speaker 1: I just got to get in where I fit in. 274 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:13,800 Speaker 1: Then it's gonna be my turn, and then it's gonna 275 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:16,440 Speaker 1: be other you know, other Avengers with me and it 276 00:13:16,520 --> 00:13:19,280 Speaker 1: was a little bit a little bit different, you know, 277 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,880 Speaker 1: for her now, you know, with somebody who has accomplished 278 00:13:22,880 --> 00:13:24,480 Speaker 1: as much as she has and where she's leaving with 279 00:13:24,559 --> 00:13:28,520 Speaker 1: her place in the game, would you say that Diana 280 00:13:28,559 --> 00:13:31,960 Speaker 1: Tarassi that I know she was a face of the league, 281 00:13:32,520 --> 00:13:35,600 Speaker 1: but it feels like in some way she was, but 282 00:13:35,640 --> 00:13:37,199 Speaker 1: in some way she wasn't, you know what I mean? 283 00:13:37,400 --> 00:13:39,520 Speaker 1: I think it's what you were talking about in terms 284 00:13:39,559 --> 00:13:43,760 Speaker 1: of how to some degree she went under you know, appreciated, 285 00:13:43,840 --> 00:13:47,560 Speaker 1: like like it felt like her reign as face of 286 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:51,040 Speaker 1: the league was not as significant as she as it 287 00:13:51,080 --> 00:13:53,240 Speaker 1: should have been. As am I reading this wrong, but 288 00:13:53,280 --> 00:13:55,800 Speaker 1: it just kind of felt that way. So I do 289 00:13:55,920 --> 00:13:58,800 Speaker 1: feel like her reign as the face of the league 290 00:13:58,960 --> 00:14:01,480 Speaker 1: was good, right. I do think she had a good 291 00:14:01,480 --> 00:14:05,960 Speaker 1: stretch of time where every media person that didn't know 292 00:14:06,000 --> 00:14:09,560 Speaker 1: anything about the WNBA, but I do know about Diana Tarrozzi. 293 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:12,520 Speaker 1: So she was the lead story, even in some cases 294 00:14:12,559 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: where it should have been another player, right, because we 295 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:17,120 Speaker 1: know that about the coverage of the WNBA that you know, 296 00:14:17,200 --> 00:14:19,520 Speaker 1: it's grown over time, but you've come a long way, 297 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:23,760 Speaker 1: and so for many years, Diana was the only name 298 00:14:24,280 --> 00:14:27,240 Speaker 1: and she did enjoy a good stretch of time there. 299 00:14:27,600 --> 00:14:30,160 Speaker 1: But again I thought towards the end of her career 300 00:14:30,640 --> 00:14:31,720 Speaker 1: and maybe probably happened. 301 00:14:31,760 --> 00:14:33,120 Speaker 2: Maybe that's what I'm thinking about more. 302 00:14:33,200 --> 00:14:35,280 Speaker 1: Yeah, the end of her career, it just it felt 303 00:14:35,320 --> 00:14:38,040 Speaker 1: like that really kind of fizzled out. Yeah, And in 304 00:14:38,080 --> 00:14:39,880 Speaker 1: her time as the face of the league, what I 305 00:14:39,920 --> 00:14:46,360 Speaker 1: think was so just incredible is that she was not 306 00:14:46,440 --> 00:14:48,720 Speaker 1: just the face of the league here the WNBA, but 307 00:14:48,760 --> 00:14:51,080 Speaker 1: she was the face of international basketball as well. 308 00:14:51,080 --> 00:14:51,920 Speaker 3: I mean, she played. 309 00:14:51,680 --> 00:14:55,400 Speaker 1: Overseas for twelve seasons where the game has been buzzing. 310 00:14:55,480 --> 00:14:57,960 Speaker 1: Like over here things are just starting to really get 311 00:14:58,040 --> 00:15:00,640 Speaker 1: jumping with the WNBA, but the game is been popular 312 00:15:00,640 --> 00:15:03,120 Speaker 1: overseas for a very long time. I called the game 313 00:15:03,160 --> 00:15:05,720 Speaker 1: for the Olympics this summer, and every time I was 314 00:15:05,760 --> 00:15:09,440 Speaker 1: scouting and looking at other countries, like their their feeds, 315 00:15:09,480 --> 00:15:11,880 Speaker 1: so listen to them talk about their players. Diana would 316 00:15:12,120 --> 00:15:15,440 Speaker 1: check in the game and these people went nuts. And 317 00:15:15,480 --> 00:15:18,160 Speaker 1: they're supposed to be the commentations for the for the 318 00:15:18,160 --> 00:15:20,560 Speaker 1: other country, and they're like, there she is. 319 00:15:21,040 --> 00:15:23,640 Speaker 3: It's Diana Tarassi. She's checking into the game. 320 00:15:23,680 --> 00:15:25,800 Speaker 1: And I'm like, Diana, nineteen years in the game and 321 00:15:25,880 --> 00:15:30,560 Speaker 1: y'all still but that is the reverence, like the respect 322 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,360 Speaker 1: that she gets for the game of basketball. So it's 323 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:36,440 Speaker 1: not just women's basketball, it's not just basketball, and it's 324 00:15:36,440 --> 00:15:39,880 Speaker 1: not just in this country. Again, her name is synonymous 325 00:15:39,920 --> 00:15:43,240 Speaker 1: with the sport and even on every playground, Like I 326 00:15:43,320 --> 00:15:46,560 Speaker 1: would say Jamel that Diana was one of those first 327 00:15:46,600 --> 00:15:51,000 Speaker 1: players that you know, on the playground, you know, people 328 00:15:51,080 --> 00:15:53,640 Speaker 1: would say, oh, it's women's basketball, you know, like it's 329 00:15:53,680 --> 00:15:57,360 Speaker 1: kind of okay, you know, little sister basketball. When Diana 330 00:15:57,400 --> 00:15:59,960 Speaker 1: stepped up and stepped through the line, the respect level 331 00:16:00,280 --> 00:16:03,400 Speaker 1: was insane. Like the way she played the game, the 332 00:16:03,480 --> 00:16:06,880 Speaker 1: swagger she would trash talk, and so people started to 333 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:10,680 Speaker 1: really change and embrace what a female athlete could look 334 00:16:10,760 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: like and walk like and play like. And she opened 335 00:16:13,400 --> 00:16:16,560 Speaker 1: the doors for this game to be better and for 336 00:16:16,640 --> 00:16:19,320 Speaker 1: it to be more authentic. I think, yeah, I would 337 00:16:19,360 --> 00:16:21,400 Speaker 1: agree with that. She talked her shit like straight up, 338 00:16:22,720 --> 00:16:24,800 Speaker 1: she talked her shit and. 339 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:25,560 Speaker 3: Did not care. 340 00:16:25,680 --> 00:16:28,400 Speaker 1: And I kind of and in some ways I compare her, 341 00:16:28,440 --> 00:16:30,640 Speaker 1: Like I say this about past Summit, like Pat Summit 342 00:16:30,800 --> 00:16:33,640 Speaker 1: changed the way we see female leaders, right because Pat, 343 00:16:34,120 --> 00:16:37,080 Speaker 1: you knew Pat when she was mad, she was not 344 00:16:37,160 --> 00:16:38,360 Speaker 1: trying to appease people. 345 00:16:38,480 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 3: Wasn't warm, nice and fuzzy. 346 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:42,080 Speaker 1: She was coaching tough, and we knew that we could 347 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:44,600 Speaker 1: see it in her face, and so people started to say, Wow, 348 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:45,520 Speaker 1: this lady's scary. 349 00:16:45,800 --> 00:16:47,400 Speaker 3: No, she's a she's a very good coach. 350 00:16:47,880 --> 00:16:52,880 Speaker 1: And women have all of these different emotions and tactics 351 00:16:52,880 --> 00:16:55,200 Speaker 1: for which they use in coaching and all these things. 352 00:16:54,960 --> 00:16:57,680 Speaker 3: Just like men do. Well. Then same thing with Diana. 353 00:16:57,800 --> 00:17:00,200 Speaker 1: She kind of broke the mold because it was like, oh, 354 00:17:00,320 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: you know, girls of women's basketball, that's cute. 355 00:17:02,440 --> 00:17:03,840 Speaker 3: Diana bustle up on the scene. 356 00:17:03,920 --> 00:17:06,640 Speaker 1: It was a cold blooded killer, like I will beat 357 00:17:06,680 --> 00:17:09,040 Speaker 1: you and your little brother, right. So it kind of 358 00:17:09,119 --> 00:17:13,639 Speaker 1: changed the way we see the demeanor of women athletes, 359 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:16,439 Speaker 1: and I thought Diana was a leader in that. I 360 00:17:16,480 --> 00:17:19,320 Speaker 1: know this will probably be difficult, and I'm not asking 361 00:17:19,359 --> 00:17:21,320 Speaker 1: you to rank it as their number one memory, but 362 00:17:21,359 --> 00:17:24,280 Speaker 1: what's your favorite or some of your favorite memories of Diana. 363 00:17:24,320 --> 00:17:26,560 Speaker 2: They could be either on the court or off the court. 364 00:17:26,760 --> 00:17:32,520 Speaker 3: Oh man, some of my favorite memories of Diana. Number 365 00:17:32,560 --> 00:17:35,720 Speaker 3: one is really. 366 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:39,399 Speaker 1: The fact that she was the most physical offensive player 367 00:17:40,000 --> 00:17:42,040 Speaker 1: I have ever seen play the game, and she got 368 00:17:42,080 --> 00:17:45,399 Speaker 1: away with a lot like now that we can really 369 00:17:45,440 --> 00:17:46,239 Speaker 1: say what it was. 370 00:17:47,400 --> 00:17:50,720 Speaker 3: She got more Jordan calls than Jordan. Like Diana was 371 00:17:50,720 --> 00:17:54,560 Speaker 3: out there pushing, shoving. She didn't care off the ball too. 372 00:17:54,920 --> 00:17:57,000 Speaker 1: If you ever called a game with Diana's playing, if 373 00:17:57,040 --> 00:18:00,239 Speaker 1: you heard a whistle off the ball, it was dianauh 374 00:18:00,240 --> 00:18:03,200 Speaker 1: somebody down. She didn't kick somebody on the other team. 375 00:18:03,800 --> 00:18:07,560 Speaker 1: She she did something right. So that's number one. The 376 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:12,440 Speaker 1: other was during the season where the WNBA was playing 377 00:18:12,440 --> 00:18:16,679 Speaker 1: in the Bubble. Diana, per usual, had had some misunderstanding 378 00:18:16,760 --> 00:18:17,679 Speaker 1: with some officials. 379 00:18:17,920 --> 00:18:21,120 Speaker 2: Oh, some misunderstanding understanding with. 380 00:18:21,119 --> 00:18:25,520 Speaker 1: Some officials, and so because everybody was staying on this 381 00:18:25,640 --> 00:18:29,480 Speaker 1: campus together, they would see the officials sometimes out walking 382 00:18:29,760 --> 00:18:32,040 Speaker 1: and you know, enjoying their lives, which you never see 383 00:18:32,119 --> 00:18:34,439 Speaker 1: in normal sports, right you only see the officials in 384 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:35,960 Speaker 1: the game that you never see it again. You might 385 00:18:35,960 --> 00:18:38,400 Speaker 1: catch them on a flight. But because they were all 386 00:18:38,440 --> 00:18:40,159 Speaker 1: living in this space together. I don't know what the 387 00:18:40,200 --> 00:18:42,320 Speaker 1: official said to Diana, but she was upset, and she 388 00:18:42,359 --> 00:18:44,600 Speaker 1: basically looked at him and said, I'll see. 389 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:45,080 Speaker 2: You in the lobby. 390 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:47,800 Speaker 3: Because they were saying they were staying at the same place. 391 00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:50,199 Speaker 2: Not i'll see you in the lobby. 392 00:18:50,480 --> 00:18:52,880 Speaker 3: She did, she did, She did, she said, I'll see 393 00:18:52,880 --> 00:18:54,720 Speaker 3: you in the lobby. So that was always one of 394 00:18:54,760 --> 00:18:55,560 Speaker 3: my favorite dianas. 395 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:58,080 Speaker 1: And then there was like the famous Simonagusu's kids where 396 00:18:58,119 --> 00:19:00,520 Speaker 1: her moon were getting into it and she just kissed 397 00:19:00,520 --> 00:19:02,879 Speaker 1: her on the fla face. You just never knew what 398 00:19:03,000 --> 00:19:06,439 Speaker 1: to expect from her, like literally and off the court 399 00:19:06,760 --> 00:19:10,600 Speaker 1: she is so sweet. I mean, just the nicest person, kind, 400 00:19:10,800 --> 00:19:15,760 Speaker 1: thoughtful whoo. But when she touched the court boy, I mean, 401 00:19:15,800 --> 00:19:19,879 Speaker 1: she wasn't playing to lose. Yeah, no, she she definitely 402 00:19:19,960 --> 00:19:23,040 Speaker 1: wasn't winning all cass type of player. I'll uh, I 403 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:26,720 Speaker 1: bring up another name here. Ellison Burley says, Cheryl Miller 404 00:19:26,800 --> 00:19:31,159 Speaker 1: has hands down as his goat and I had I 405 00:19:31,200 --> 00:19:34,439 Speaker 1: gotta be honest, and this is this is where I 406 00:19:34,560 --> 00:19:38,360 Speaker 1: struggle because Cheryl Miller is my number one. But it's 407 00:19:38,359 --> 00:19:41,520 Speaker 1: like I'm holding on to Cheryl just just like a little. 408 00:19:41,560 --> 00:19:44,879 Speaker 1: I'm like, I got to let to let Cheryl go, probably, 409 00:19:46,000 --> 00:19:47,640 Speaker 1: but I just can't because I. 410 00:19:47,600 --> 00:19:50,720 Speaker 2: Just love her so much. Where is Cheryl? 411 00:19:51,560 --> 00:19:54,520 Speaker 1: She she kicked out the conversation just because the game 412 00:19:54,600 --> 00:19:59,119 Speaker 1: of alls, the game does evolve Jamel, and it doesn't 413 00:19:59,119 --> 00:20:01,760 Speaker 1: take away from how dominant she was. Like if she 414 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,800 Speaker 1: would have had a longer career, we would be having 415 00:20:04,800 --> 00:20:08,760 Speaker 1: a very different conversation. Like people forget how short Cheryl's 416 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:11,320 Speaker 1: careers was. I mean, she was basically retired in her 417 00:20:11,359 --> 00:20:16,000 Speaker 1: early twenties, right, And what a shame because she was 418 00:20:16,359 --> 00:20:18,560 Speaker 1: such a great player. I mean obviously the impact she 419 00:20:18,560 --> 00:20:21,560 Speaker 1: had at USC and what she did with the USA, but. 420 00:20:22,000 --> 00:20:26,120 Speaker 3: We also didn't have the platform to really appreciate Cheryl 421 00:20:26,359 --> 00:20:28,879 Speaker 3: the way we can look back and do right now. 422 00:20:29,000 --> 00:20:29,240 Speaker 2: Right. 423 00:20:30,280 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 3: But yeah, she in there, but Jay, I know. 424 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:34,159 Speaker 1: Let her. 425 00:20:34,200 --> 00:20:36,520 Speaker 2: I'm gonna let her go because I was struck because 426 00:20:36,560 --> 00:20:37,720 Speaker 2: Diana made me rethink it. 427 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:37,960 Speaker 1: I was. 428 00:20:38,359 --> 00:20:40,760 Speaker 2: It's probably not. I just can't let her. 429 00:20:40,760 --> 00:20:43,479 Speaker 1: God know, I can't know it, I know. But I'm 430 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:45,600 Speaker 1: also glad you brought up the other Cheryl, as in 431 00:20:45,720 --> 00:20:49,880 Speaker 1: Cheryl Swoops, because I think a lot of people, and 432 00:20:50,359 --> 00:20:53,920 Speaker 1: especially living it in real time, it's hard to explain 433 00:20:53,960 --> 00:20:56,400 Speaker 1: to people what it was like to see her drop 434 00:20:56,440 --> 00:20:59,160 Speaker 1: that forty seven on Ohio State in the National title game. 435 00:20:59,200 --> 00:21:01,120 Speaker 1: The fact that she had a shoe commercial, the fact 436 00:21:01,119 --> 00:21:04,280 Speaker 1: that she had a shoe, It's like air swoops was 437 00:21:04,320 --> 00:21:07,320 Speaker 1: a thing, you know, I mean, you talk about doing 438 00:21:07,359 --> 00:21:10,120 Speaker 1: it on her own can you name anybody else from 439 00:21:10,200 --> 00:21:14,920 Speaker 1: her contest actional championship team took Texas Tech to a 440 00:21:15,040 --> 00:21:17,800 Speaker 1: national title? To me, love it, that's worth like three 441 00:21:17,920 --> 00:21:25,080 Speaker 1: Yukon titles. Yeah, we talk about Lubbock, Texas. Okay, dominant. No, 442 00:21:25,280 --> 00:21:29,000 Speaker 1: I'm with you, I mean I've I've again. I am 443 00:21:29,040 --> 00:21:32,400 Speaker 1: grateful to have lived during these times, been around. 444 00:21:32,080 --> 00:21:32,720 Speaker 3: For a minute. 445 00:21:32,800 --> 00:21:33,399 Speaker 2: I'm old. 446 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,960 Speaker 1: Didn't watch Cheryl Miller live, right, so I will say 447 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: that in those early years, but I watched swoops and 448 00:21:42,440 --> 00:21:44,840 Speaker 1: what she did. Even you throw in there the fact 449 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,840 Speaker 1: that she she missed time to become a mother and 450 00:21:48,080 --> 00:21:52,840 Speaker 1: still four championships, still MVPs, three MVPs, I believe three 451 00:21:52,920 --> 00:21:56,480 Speaker 1: Defensive Player of the Year. Like, that's dominant. So dominant 452 00:21:56,520 --> 00:21:59,880 Speaker 1: in the game has grown. So that's where you hear 453 00:22:00,080 --> 00:22:02,119 Speaker 1: a lot of other opinions when it comes to Diana 454 00:22:02,160 --> 00:22:05,160 Speaker 1: Torazzi in the Canpas Parkers is the game some people 455 00:22:05,200 --> 00:22:08,280 Speaker 1: feel like wasn't as good. Then that's not true. The 456 00:22:08,320 --> 00:22:11,320 Speaker 1: game was grown. Women basketball by then at that point 457 00:22:11,359 --> 00:22:14,520 Speaker 1: because they were twenty five. Cinthy Cooper was thirty by 458 00:22:14,560 --> 00:22:16,960 Speaker 1: the time she got into WNBA, thirty four years old. 459 00:22:17,200 --> 00:22:20,119 Speaker 3: In her early thirties, So these women had. 460 00:22:19,960 --> 00:22:23,880 Speaker 1: Gone overseas and they had vast experience that they brought 461 00:22:23,920 --> 00:22:24,320 Speaker 1: to the game. 462 00:22:24,359 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 3: So I would say it was different now. 463 00:22:26,320 --> 00:22:28,880 Speaker 1: The game is faster, more athletic, we know all of that, 464 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:32,719 Speaker 1: but it was great basketball even then, just different from 465 00:22:32,760 --> 00:22:35,760 Speaker 1: what we see now. So there is I don't know 466 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:39,560 Speaker 1: if you've noticed this, there's some interesting conversations happening right 467 00:22:39,560 --> 00:22:43,000 Speaker 1: now about the NBA. After Anthony Edwards said that he 468 00:22:43,040 --> 00:22:45,119 Speaker 1: didn't want to be the face of the league and 469 00:22:45,440 --> 00:22:50,280 Speaker 1: Lebron James he piped in with some thoughts last night 470 00:22:50,680 --> 00:22:55,520 Speaker 1: after Dallas's win over min Minnesota, where Lebron essentially said, 471 00:22:55,560 --> 00:22:58,080 Speaker 1: I'm paraphrasing, but this was legiti just stuff it. He said, 472 00:22:58,520 --> 00:23:01,040 Speaker 1: why would anybody want to be the face of the 473 00:23:01,160 --> 00:23:06,080 Speaker 1: NBA when the media that covers the NBA is constantly 474 00:23:06,119 --> 00:23:10,000 Speaker 1: talking shit about the players down in the players? Why 475 00:23:10,880 --> 00:23:14,040 Speaker 1: why would anybody want to be the face of the league. 476 00:23:14,359 --> 00:23:16,600 Speaker 1: And he is the face of the league, you know, 477 00:23:16,640 --> 00:23:18,560 Speaker 1: and he has been for some years right now, even 478 00:23:18,560 --> 00:23:20,520 Speaker 1: at forty years old, Lebron James is the face of 479 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:25,440 Speaker 1: the NBA. I jokingly call him the commissioner, the unofficial commissioner, 480 00:23:25,520 --> 00:23:29,280 Speaker 1: of the NBA because he is right and so, but 481 00:23:29,359 --> 00:23:32,760 Speaker 1: what do you think about this idea that a young 482 00:23:32,800 --> 00:23:37,200 Speaker 1: player like Anthony Edwards does not want to embrace being 483 00:23:37,280 --> 00:23:39,919 Speaker 1: considered or does not want to be a face of 484 00:23:39,920 --> 00:23:42,040 Speaker 1: the league, Like, does Lebron have a point that. 485 00:23:42,240 --> 00:23:44,040 Speaker 2: Because of the toxicity that. 486 00:23:44,040 --> 00:23:47,680 Speaker 1: Is sometimes around in NBA conversations, that it's making that 487 00:23:48,280 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: mantle a little less appealing. Heavy is the head that 488 00:23:53,560 --> 00:23:56,919 Speaker 1: wears the crown and at the point, right right, And 489 00:23:57,080 --> 00:24:01,200 Speaker 1: so I understand why Anthony Edwards feel that way because 490 00:24:01,320 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 1: you know that as the face of the league. I mean, 491 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,320 Speaker 1: look at what all Lebron has had to go through. 492 00:24:05,359 --> 00:24:08,040 Speaker 1: I feel like he's more celebrated now. But all I 493 00:24:08,080 --> 00:24:10,679 Speaker 1: remember is every team he played on early on his career, 494 00:24:10,960 --> 00:24:14,240 Speaker 1: he always defers. He never wants to take the winning shot. 495 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:17,240 Speaker 1: Jordan always wanted the winning moment. I'm like, this man 496 00:24:17,280 --> 00:24:19,359 Speaker 1: is putting up a triple double almost every night, Like 497 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: where's the respect? So I get why he would say that. 498 00:24:24,119 --> 00:24:26,440 Speaker 1: I do feel like this was an opportunity for him 499 00:24:26,760 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: to get another agenda out. You know, I don't know 500 00:24:29,680 --> 00:24:35,760 Speaker 1: that these two things would necessarily coincide on another day, 501 00:24:35,800 --> 00:24:37,800 Speaker 1: because it sounds like on that media side of thing, 502 00:24:37,880 --> 00:24:40,240 Speaker 1: that he's been hearing some things that he doesn't really appreciate, 503 00:24:40,440 --> 00:24:41,280 Speaker 1: and not that there's. 504 00:24:41,119 --> 00:24:44,280 Speaker 3: Not true to this, but I think Lebron would agree 505 00:24:44,400 --> 00:24:48,880 Speaker 3: that the level of responsibility, take the media out of it, 506 00:24:48,960 --> 00:24:51,880 Speaker 3: take all of that, but the level of responsibility, pressure 507 00:24:52,119 --> 00:24:56,040 Speaker 3: expectation that is put on the face of the league 508 00:24:56,400 --> 00:24:58,840 Speaker 3: is a lot. It's a lot, you know, even if 509 00:24:58,880 --> 00:24:59,720 Speaker 3: the media wasn't. 510 00:25:00,000 --> 00:25:03,040 Speaker 1: I mean, Lebron has been carrying the popularity of the 511 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,880 Speaker 1: game for a very long time. Fans even have things 512 00:25:06,880 --> 00:25:09,040 Speaker 1: to say, take me out of it. There's everyone's got 513 00:25:09,040 --> 00:25:13,000 Speaker 1: an opinion about Lebron, right, So that's how I feel, 514 00:25:13,040 --> 00:25:13,680 Speaker 1: I understand. 515 00:25:14,160 --> 00:25:17,440 Speaker 2: So here I have a few thoughts on this one. 516 00:25:17,760 --> 00:25:21,199 Speaker 1: I do think this generation of players, and this is 517 00:25:21,200 --> 00:25:24,760 Speaker 1: for anybody in sports, is that the criticisms are so 518 00:25:24,920 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 1: much louder to them because of social media, you know, frankly, 519 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,600 Speaker 1: and it used to be a little bit of a 520 00:25:31,640 --> 00:25:34,080 Speaker 1: separation where certainly you would hear for the fans in 521 00:25:34,119 --> 00:25:37,199 Speaker 1: the arena and from the media, but now it's just 522 00:25:37,280 --> 00:25:41,200 Speaker 1: like Joe Shmo twenty two seven could just be like Lebron, 523 00:25:41,280 --> 00:25:45,200 Speaker 1: you ain't shit any people like immediately see this as 524 00:25:45,200 --> 00:25:47,040 Speaker 1: opposed to there being like a little bit of a 525 00:25:47,119 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 1: layer between. So I think the criticism for his generation 526 00:25:50,920 --> 00:25:54,919 Speaker 1: just feels that much more sharp, right because when he 527 00:25:54,920 --> 00:25:57,440 Speaker 1: says the media, I think he's lumping against social media too. 528 00:25:57,760 --> 00:26:00,119 Speaker 1: He's not just thinking about the people who come for 529 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:02,360 Speaker 1: the game, you know what I'm saying. Yeah, So that 530 00:26:02,560 --> 00:26:04,480 Speaker 1: he did say, I think though the people that cover 531 00:26:04,560 --> 00:26:08,359 Speaker 1: our game. I think he did actually, But I agree, 532 00:26:08,400 --> 00:26:10,000 Speaker 1: I think social media is. 533 00:26:09,920 --> 00:26:11,800 Speaker 2: Looped in there as well. He's looked in there as well. 534 00:26:11,920 --> 00:26:14,800 Speaker 1: And then I think it was his way of uh 535 00:26:15,000 --> 00:26:20,720 Speaker 1: sub tweeting, but in in commentary inside the NBA, because that's. 536 00:26:20,520 --> 00:26:23,280 Speaker 2: It what he's really talking about, right, you know. 537 00:26:24,240 --> 00:26:28,280 Speaker 1: And and there have I've heard this criticism about Chuck, 538 00:26:28,400 --> 00:26:33,960 Speaker 1: Kenny e J and Shack uh more recently that I 539 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:36,000 Speaker 1: might say, but I think it's been said across the years, 540 00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:38,879 Speaker 1: is that you know, these guys are brutally honest. 541 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,440 Speaker 2: You know, they have very accomplished careers. 542 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,399 Speaker 1: We got championships, MVPs, you know, all of that in 543 00:26:44,440 --> 00:26:48,360 Speaker 1: that in that group, and they have the most popular 544 00:26:48,480 --> 00:26:51,959 Speaker 1: NBA show, so that most popular studio show. Rather and 545 00:26:52,000 --> 00:26:56,200 Speaker 1: so because of the way that they talk about today's players. 546 00:26:56,560 --> 00:26:59,760 Speaker 1: People love the honesty, but some people have a c 547 00:27:00,160 --> 00:27:04,439 Speaker 1: them of not necessarily always being the greatest ambassador because 548 00:27:04,480 --> 00:27:07,959 Speaker 1: they're so honest. And I think some of this of 549 00:27:08,000 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 1: what he's saying is really directed at them, because this 550 00:27:11,040 --> 00:27:16,119 Speaker 1: is the NBA's flagship show, you know, in terms of commentary, 551 00:27:16,119 --> 00:27:18,639 Speaker 1: it's them, and so they the players are you know, 552 00:27:18,840 --> 00:27:21,920 Speaker 1: every night they're getting somebody getting called out. 553 00:27:23,440 --> 00:27:25,560 Speaker 3: Well, But you bring up an interesting point. 554 00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:29,639 Speaker 1: I would ask you, how much of the responsibility of 555 00:27:29,680 --> 00:27:32,480 Speaker 1: the media do you think is to be an ambassador? 556 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,200 Speaker 1: So I think the former players they're going to carry 557 00:27:36,200 --> 00:27:40,760 Speaker 1: that responsibibility more than I would. And because you know, 558 00:27:40,840 --> 00:27:42,879 Speaker 1: we don't work for the league, like that's not really 559 00:27:43,440 --> 00:27:45,680 Speaker 1: you know, and maybe it gets a little bit tricky 560 00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:47,639 Speaker 1: when you're working for a network like a TNT, the 561 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:51,080 Speaker 1: or ESPN, because you know, I don't know, actually the 562 00:27:51,200 --> 00:27:54,160 Speaker 1: China I would ask you this. Now, I know you're 563 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:58,560 Speaker 1: a former player, but you're largely associated with being in 564 00:27:58,600 --> 00:28:03,440 Speaker 1: the media, like when you're common on college and professional 565 00:28:03,480 --> 00:28:06,760 Speaker 1: games and hosting, like, do you consider that a part 566 00:28:06,840 --> 00:28:09,280 Speaker 1: of your job is to be an ambassador for the 567 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:12,640 Speaker 1: women's game. That's a great question, Jamille, and I'll tell 568 00:28:12,640 --> 00:28:16,960 Speaker 1: you why. I feel like times have changed. When I 569 00:28:17,040 --> 00:28:22,280 Speaker 1: first started covering women's basketball almost two decades ago, everybody 570 00:28:22,400 --> 00:28:25,639 Speaker 1: was talking bad about women's basketball. No one had anything 571 00:28:25,760 --> 00:28:28,680 Speaker 1: good to say about women's basketball. In fact, for most 572 00:28:28,680 --> 00:28:33,040 Speaker 1: of the larger networks or media entities that didn't actually 573 00:28:33,040 --> 00:28:35,320 Speaker 1: care to cover the sport, they would wait for something 574 00:28:35,400 --> 00:28:38,120 Speaker 1: bad to happen and then jump in and try to 575 00:28:38,160 --> 00:28:43,120 Speaker 1: have commentary around women's basketball. So in that regard, I 576 00:28:43,240 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 1: did feel like it was my job not to be 577 00:28:46,760 --> 00:28:49,840 Speaker 1: an ambassador, but to ensure that I was pointing. 578 00:28:49,520 --> 00:28:51,960 Speaker 3: Out the positives of the sport, right that. 579 00:28:52,000 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 2: You are providing the counter narrative correct, okay. 580 00:28:55,800 --> 00:28:57,720 Speaker 1: And not like intentionally like, oh, I'm gonna get on 581 00:28:57,760 --> 00:28:59,800 Speaker 1: here and I'm gonna talk positive about women's basketball. 582 00:29:00,040 --> 00:29:03,440 Speaker 3: But I did feel a tug on me to point. 583 00:29:03,200 --> 00:29:06,520 Speaker 1: Out the positives of the game because everybody else was 584 00:29:06,640 --> 00:29:10,560 Speaker 1: like crapping on women's basketball. Now what has happened over 585 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:15,680 Speaker 1: time is we have more voices, more types of commentary, 586 00:29:16,440 --> 00:29:20,880 Speaker 1: whether it be criticism or you know, critique, or even 587 00:29:20,960 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 1: different aspects of the athlete's life. 588 00:29:22,880 --> 00:29:25,720 Speaker 3: They're casual, like they're fashions, so there's more breadth of 589 00:29:25,880 --> 00:29:30,720 Speaker 3: coverage for women's basketball to get varying perspectives, so I 590 00:29:30,760 --> 00:29:33,600 Speaker 3: don't feel like since I'm only one of the few voices, 591 00:29:34,280 --> 00:29:36,720 Speaker 3: I need to ensure that we are pointing out the 592 00:29:36,760 --> 00:29:39,600 Speaker 3: positive the game. I now feel like there's more balance. 593 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:42,400 Speaker 1: I feel like, you know, because the coverage of women's 594 00:29:42,400 --> 00:29:45,720 Speaker 1: basketball has grown, we're getting different types of perspectives that 595 00:29:45,800 --> 00:29:49,600 Speaker 1: are drowning out the people somewhat that just want to 596 00:29:49,600 --> 00:29:52,720 Speaker 1: be negative about it because it's women's sports, because it's 597 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:55,880 Speaker 1: women's basketball, because it's a predominantly black league, whatever your 598 00:29:56,000 --> 00:29:59,880 Speaker 1: reason is. I feel like those voices are starting to immer, 599 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:04,520 Speaker 1: and so it allows people to then settle into just 600 00:30:04,640 --> 00:30:10,880 Speaker 1: being you know, active subjective if you will, like commentary, commentator, 601 00:30:12,400 --> 00:30:16,840 Speaker 1: and to not feel like they got a counterbalance to negativity. 602 00:30:17,640 --> 00:30:19,880 Speaker 1: I feel like you would appreciate this. Next timing, I'm 603 00:30:19,880 --> 00:30:22,560 Speaker 1: gonna have to throw up here. Bring the China's mom on. 604 00:30:22,720 --> 00:30:27,120 Speaker 1: She always has great sports takes. That's from LW. 605 00:30:28,920 --> 00:30:30,680 Speaker 2: When I'm let me tell you this. 606 00:30:30,760 --> 00:30:33,320 Speaker 1: My mom hit me up the other day, jamlle. This 607 00:30:33,400 --> 00:30:36,040 Speaker 1: was after South Carolina actually was at halftime. South Carolina 608 00:30:36,120 --> 00:30:37,880 Speaker 1: was losing the game. I know it wasn't. She is 609 00:30:37,920 --> 00:30:43,120 Speaker 1: a Dawn stay stand okay, not a fan. She texts 610 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:46,760 Speaker 1: me and says, I cannot believe this. What I'm watching, 611 00:30:46,760 --> 00:30:48,960 Speaker 1: oh is when they play in Yukon, she said, I 612 00:30:48,960 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 1: cannot believe this what is happening. It's only halftime right, 613 00:30:51,600 --> 00:30:54,560 Speaker 1: more game to go. This is just terrible and losing 614 00:30:54,600 --> 00:30:58,560 Speaker 1: to gino Iu. I mean, she had a whole like 615 00:30:59,240 --> 00:31:01,760 Speaker 1: just dump all the way down and she said after 616 00:31:01,760 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 1: the game, she said, and I heard what Don said, 617 00:31:03,400 --> 00:31:05,440 Speaker 1: she said, this isn't about winning. So what that tells 618 00:31:05,480 --> 00:31:07,400 Speaker 1: me is there's some drama going on in the locker 619 00:31:07,480 --> 00:31:10,560 Speaker 1: room and Don is addressing it. And I was like, Okay, 620 00:31:10,600 --> 00:31:12,800 Speaker 1: anything else you want to share with us about what's. 621 00:31:12,640 --> 00:31:14,280 Speaker 3: Going on in South Carolina. 622 00:31:14,880 --> 00:31:17,480 Speaker 1: Jay, she's out of control, but I appreciate the love 623 00:31:17,520 --> 00:31:18,040 Speaker 1: for my mom. 624 00:31:18,120 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 3: She's unfiltered and she gonna make it do what to do? 625 00:31:22,080 --> 00:31:24,120 Speaker 2: I love it, Love your mom? All right? This from 626 00:31:24,120 --> 00:31:26,520 Speaker 2: Ellison Burley. Let's have any on this convo. 627 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:30,000 Speaker 1: People knocked the NBA truly because there's no American born 628 00:31:30,040 --> 00:31:33,240 Speaker 1: white player that's a three to four player in the 629 00:31:33,320 --> 00:31:38,920 Speaker 1: game itself. Bird is not walking through that door. Now 630 00:31:40,000 --> 00:31:43,920 Speaker 1: there is definitely some tension in basketball because what the 631 00:31:44,000 --> 00:31:47,040 Speaker 1: last six MVPs have been foreign born players in the NBA, 632 00:31:47,560 --> 00:31:50,160 Speaker 1: and it looks like it's headed for seven because you know, 633 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:55,360 Speaker 1: SGA Shay Gilgis is gonna probably you know, somewhat run 634 00:31:55,360 --> 00:31:58,600 Speaker 1: away with the Saints. He's having a phenomenal season. Okay, 635 00:31:58,600 --> 00:32:00,160 Speaker 1: so he's got the top spot in the West. Like 636 00:32:00,160 --> 00:32:04,520 Speaker 1: they've been great pretty much all year. But you know, 637 00:32:04,560 --> 00:32:06,719 Speaker 1: and there's been a lot of conversations about what's happening 638 00:32:06,760 --> 00:32:13,440 Speaker 1: at the grassroots of American basketball because people have noticed, certainly, 639 00:32:13,840 --> 00:32:17,440 Speaker 1: and there's always been polarizing opinions about AAU, but now 640 00:32:17,880 --> 00:32:20,920 Speaker 1: the focus in youth basketball on specialized training, on all 641 00:32:20,920 --> 00:32:24,040 Speaker 1: these other things that are coming into it. I think 642 00:32:24,080 --> 00:32:27,959 Speaker 1: there's a lot of concern from fans from coaches that 643 00:32:28,160 --> 00:32:32,040 Speaker 1: American basketball is sort of losing its grip. I'd love 644 00:32:32,080 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 1: to hear your thoughts on that about whether or not 645 00:32:34,480 --> 00:32:38,959 Speaker 1: you feel like the game. It's a global game, and 646 00:32:39,000 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 1: on the women's side, it's a lot different, right. It's like, 647 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:44,480 Speaker 1: you know, they're that pipeline looks looks a lot healthier, 648 00:32:44,760 --> 00:32:48,440 Speaker 1: I have to say, But what are your thoughts about 649 00:32:48,680 --> 00:32:53,120 Speaker 1: where American kind of basketball stands right now. Yeah, it's 650 00:32:53,160 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 1: tough for me to comment on where it is on 651 00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:57,880 Speaker 1: the men's side, just because I you know, IM not 652 00:32:58,160 --> 00:33:01,880 Speaker 1: as as close to the men's game. But I do 653 00:33:02,000 --> 00:33:05,120 Speaker 1: understand his comments, right, Like, one thing that has helped 654 00:33:05,120 --> 00:33:08,880 Speaker 1: the WNBA over time is that we are watching these 655 00:33:08,880 --> 00:33:13,720 Speaker 1: players literally grow up from college into the league. Women's 656 00:33:13,760 --> 00:33:16,480 Speaker 1: basketball players can't leave college early, so they're gonna be 657 00:33:16,520 --> 00:33:19,080 Speaker 1: there until they turn twenty two, the year the draft 658 00:33:19,240 --> 00:33:22,360 Speaker 1: or their eligibility is done. And so what happens then 659 00:33:22,920 --> 00:33:26,720 Speaker 1: is these fans have an opportunity to really fan their 660 00:33:26,760 --> 00:33:30,240 Speaker 1: college years into the WNBA, And so there's connection and 661 00:33:30,280 --> 00:33:34,200 Speaker 1: there's longevity, and that has helped the league. And I 662 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:36,240 Speaker 1: think on the flip side of that, when it comes 663 00:33:36,280 --> 00:33:38,800 Speaker 1: to the NBA, it's very different. I mean, you even 664 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:43,520 Speaker 1: look at men's college basketball right now with the one 665 00:33:43,560 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 1: and done's or you know, just their ability to go 666 00:33:46,080 --> 00:33:49,400 Speaker 1: pro or the transfer portal which is affecting both sports. 667 00:33:49,920 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 1: It kind of makes it hard to be a fan 668 00:33:52,600 --> 00:33:54,920 Speaker 1: a little bit, right, So I could understand if you 669 00:33:54,960 --> 00:33:58,600 Speaker 1: bring the international scene into that, like where's that fandom? 670 00:33:58,760 --> 00:34:02,760 Speaker 1: One thing I used to say, the Atlanta Dream when 671 00:34:02,760 --> 00:34:04,960 Speaker 1: they ran, they had like three they went to three 672 00:34:05,000 --> 00:34:09,480 Speaker 1: w NBA finals, and a majority of their starting lineups 673 00:34:09,480 --> 00:34:13,880 Speaker 1: for those final runs were international players. And so Atlanta 674 00:34:14,440 --> 00:34:17,400 Speaker 1: had a different fan base, not as large of a 675 00:34:17,440 --> 00:34:19,560 Speaker 1: fan base as some of the teams where their starting 676 00:34:19,600 --> 00:34:24,320 Speaker 1: lineups were predominantly of college players. Who's you know, fans 677 00:34:24,320 --> 00:34:26,960 Speaker 1: had followed them to the w NBA where there was 678 00:34:27,000 --> 00:34:30,520 Speaker 1: longevity with that connection, and so I guess there isn't 679 00:34:30,560 --> 00:34:33,400 Speaker 1: a sense something to say about that connection and that 680 00:34:33,440 --> 00:34:35,200 Speaker 1: it may be missing on the on the men's. 681 00:34:35,000 --> 00:34:35,640 Speaker 3: Side of things. 682 00:34:36,760 --> 00:34:39,520 Speaker 1: So, you know, we were talking a lot about this 683 00:34:39,520 --> 00:34:42,520 Speaker 1: this face of the league issue in the w NBA. 684 00:34:42,640 --> 00:34:45,240 Speaker 2: Who do you consider to be the face of the league? 685 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:49,360 Speaker 1: Now, this is not a hard question for me, Jamille, 686 00:34:49,400 --> 00:34:53,360 Speaker 1: because I'm a basketball analyst. It's Asia Wilson, it's Adrian Bluhman. 687 00:34:53,840 --> 00:34:56,319 Speaker 1: We don't need to take for granted what she is 688 00:34:56,440 --> 00:35:00,880 Speaker 1: doing right now between the lines. As Dinahs reminded us 689 00:35:00,880 --> 00:35:03,040 Speaker 1: of the other day, the main thing is still the 690 00:35:03,040 --> 00:35:04,600 Speaker 1: main thing, and that's the basketball. 691 00:35:04,960 --> 00:35:07,480 Speaker 3: She's a three time MVP. Is she even twenty eight 692 00:35:07,560 --> 00:35:07,920 Speaker 3: years old? 693 00:35:08,000 --> 00:35:10,040 Speaker 1: Right now, There's only been four players in the history 694 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:12,600 Speaker 1: of the league to be three time MVP. She's the 695 00:35:12,640 --> 00:35:15,840 Speaker 1: first player to score over a thousand points in a season. 696 00:35:16,120 --> 00:35:18,799 Speaker 1: She also led the league in rebounding this year. She 697 00:35:18,960 --> 00:35:20,799 Speaker 1: just came off a back to back run with the 698 00:35:20,840 --> 00:35:23,839 Speaker 1: Las Vegas Aces. Like, it's not even it's not even 699 00:35:23,880 --> 00:35:29,040 Speaker 1: close right now, because she is History is always the mark, 700 00:35:29,560 --> 00:35:32,360 Speaker 1: and she is setting history not just with her team 701 00:35:32,560 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 1: but in her individual performance night in the night out. 702 00:35:36,040 --> 00:35:38,960 Speaker 1: Not to mention in Paris she was the Female Athlete 703 00:35:39,000 --> 00:35:40,799 Speaker 1: of the Year, the team won gold and these are 704 00:35:40,800 --> 00:35:42,239 Speaker 1: the best players of the world. 705 00:35:42,320 --> 00:35:44,960 Speaker 3: So it always comes back to basketball for me. Now, 706 00:35:44,960 --> 00:35:45,960 Speaker 3: if you want to say. 707 00:35:45,840 --> 00:35:48,440 Speaker 1: Who is the face of the popularity of the league 708 00:35:48,560 --> 00:35:51,440 Speaker 1: or the economics of the league, all those things, and 709 00:35:51,560 --> 00:35:54,280 Speaker 1: you start talking about the Angelses and the Caitlyn Clarks, 710 00:35:54,320 --> 00:35:56,560 Speaker 1: and that's with all due respect. I think Caitlyn Clark 711 00:35:57,040 --> 00:35:59,799 Speaker 1: is an MVP caliber player, Like she will win an 712 00:35:59,880 --> 00:36:03,000 Speaker 1: MVP in her career, maybe even in the next few years, 713 00:36:03,960 --> 00:36:09,000 Speaker 1: but as is proven and it's it's sustained success over 714 00:36:09,040 --> 00:36:11,640 Speaker 1: the course of her career that I think makes her 715 00:36:11,760 --> 00:36:15,520 Speaker 1: the face right now. Yeah, because I think what sometimes 716 00:36:15,520 --> 00:36:17,880 Speaker 1: people do is confused face of the league with popularity 717 00:36:18,160 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: and those are not necessarily the same things. 718 00:36:20,200 --> 00:36:22,279 Speaker 2: I think it could be a combination of both. 719 00:36:22,520 --> 00:36:28,080 Speaker 1: Yeah, and you know, because obviously Caitlin Clark her popularity, 720 00:36:28,440 --> 00:36:31,040 Speaker 1: we know what that is, Like, it's it's astronomical. She's 721 00:36:31,080 --> 00:36:35,360 Speaker 1: brought so much new attention, deserved attention to the w NBA. 722 00:36:36,160 --> 00:36:38,279 Speaker 1: But to your point, it's like, you know, she's just 723 00:36:38,320 --> 00:36:41,400 Speaker 1: one season in and even though she had a fantastic 724 00:36:41,480 --> 00:36:45,640 Speaker 1: college career, and like you, I expect her to definitely 725 00:36:45,680 --> 00:36:48,760 Speaker 1: win an MVP, to be honest, the way they build 726 00:36:49,120 --> 00:36:51,440 Speaker 1: this team in the off season, she might be winning 727 00:36:51,440 --> 00:36:52,640 Speaker 1: the MVP this year, like. 728 00:36:52,640 --> 00:36:54,840 Speaker 2: She she in the conversation right now. 729 00:36:55,320 --> 00:36:57,319 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying, have Stephanie White, and they 730 00:36:57,320 --> 00:36:58,200 Speaker 1: got Stephanie White. 731 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:02,080 Speaker 3: Is a heck of a coach to take you this. Yeah, 732 00:37:02,480 --> 00:37:04,520 Speaker 3: there's a good chance to fever could win the championship 733 00:37:04,520 --> 00:37:04,799 Speaker 3: this year. 734 00:37:04,880 --> 00:37:09,320 Speaker 1: Yeah chance like this might be that, that will be that, 735 00:37:09,320 --> 00:37:11,240 Speaker 1: that combination might happen. 736 00:37:11,280 --> 00:37:14,399 Speaker 2: But if it does, feel a little premature. So I'm 737 00:37:14,440 --> 00:37:14,759 Speaker 2: with you. 738 00:37:14,880 --> 00:37:17,520 Speaker 1: I think it's Asia because she's the gold standard of 739 00:37:17,560 --> 00:37:19,440 Speaker 1: the league, and Asia is coming back with something to 740 00:37:19,480 --> 00:37:22,640 Speaker 1: prove herself. Like I know, she's already won titles, MVPs 741 00:37:22,680 --> 00:37:26,080 Speaker 1: and all of that. But we know that last season 742 00:37:26,160 --> 00:37:28,520 Speaker 1: left a bad taste, uh you know, kind of in 743 00:37:28,560 --> 00:37:31,160 Speaker 1: her in her mouth. Before I get you out of 744 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:33,000 Speaker 1: here the China, I'd be remiss if I didn't ask 745 00:37:33,040 --> 00:37:36,319 Speaker 1: you about college shops right now, women's college shops. Man, 746 00:37:36,400 --> 00:37:40,440 Speaker 1: it feels wide open, like, especially after we're recording this. 747 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:43,800 Speaker 1: It's a Friday. What last night you had, LSU losing, 748 00:37:44,440 --> 00:37:49,200 Speaker 1: Notre Dame lost, Notre Dame, I lost, yep, yeah, Florida State. Yes, 749 00:37:49,400 --> 00:37:52,880 Speaker 1: I mean it feels like the most wide open this 750 00:37:52,920 --> 00:37:55,600 Speaker 1: thing has been a in a few years. What's your 751 00:37:55,719 --> 00:37:59,359 Speaker 1: take on who you considered be the quote? Is there 752 00:37:59,360 --> 00:38:02,440 Speaker 1: a favorite? As we head, you know, into March and 753 00:38:02,480 --> 00:38:06,280 Speaker 1: get ready for the tournament, man, Jamil, it's exciting, right 754 00:38:06,480 --> 00:38:11,600 Speaker 1: because to see teams like a Notre Dame vulnerable at 755 00:38:11,600 --> 00:38:14,600 Speaker 1: this point of the year, like you hit your stride 756 00:38:14,640 --> 00:38:17,240 Speaker 1: at the end of February like this you pushing into March, 757 00:38:17,280 --> 00:38:19,840 Speaker 1: like this is go time. So to see them lose 758 00:38:19,920 --> 00:38:22,840 Speaker 1: to Florida State, who's a very good team at this point, 759 00:38:22,880 --> 00:38:25,080 Speaker 1: like it's supposed to be all go systems check. 760 00:38:25,640 --> 00:38:27,840 Speaker 3: So that kind of what it's said. 761 00:38:27,640 --> 00:38:30,239 Speaker 1: To me, is that there's still vulnerability at the top, 762 00:38:30,680 --> 00:38:33,320 Speaker 1: Like these teams are still vulnerable to get plucked off, 763 00:38:34,280 --> 00:38:36,360 Speaker 1: you know, by anybody. I would say, right now, outside 764 00:38:36,360 --> 00:38:39,000 Speaker 1: of the inside the top thirty thirty five and maybe 765 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:40,759 Speaker 1: beyond that. And I'll be honest with you, I have 766 00:38:40,920 --> 00:38:44,400 Speaker 1: watched at the very top level this year. The team 767 00:38:44,640 --> 00:38:49,279 Speaker 1: that I believe in myself. There's two teams that I 768 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:51,360 Speaker 1: think are ahead of the game, and I'll tell you why. 769 00:38:52,360 --> 00:38:53,319 Speaker 3: One is. 770 00:38:53,440 --> 00:38:57,480 Speaker 1: I think UCLA has something special. They're center Lauren Bets 771 00:38:57,480 --> 00:39:01,040 Speaker 1: at six seven, no one can do what she does. 772 00:39:01,320 --> 00:39:03,560 Speaker 1: No one in the country right now, Okay, I think 773 00:39:03,600 --> 00:39:05,800 Speaker 1: she could go pro today. Now, don't get me wrong. 774 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:08,560 Speaker 1: You know, w gonna she's gonna have a tough trends 775 00:39:08,600 --> 00:39:12,040 Speaker 1: and she's like everybody else. But at six seven, she's 776 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:16,600 Speaker 1: so skilled and just plays extremely hard. Like as a 777 00:39:16,640 --> 00:39:19,759 Speaker 1: post player myself, it's rare that you see a post 778 00:39:19,800 --> 00:39:22,760 Speaker 1: player as physical as she is. She's learning to switch 779 00:39:22,800 --> 00:39:26,480 Speaker 1: out on the perimeter and contain like her footwork is phenomenal, 780 00:39:26,960 --> 00:39:29,480 Speaker 1: and when you have a player that is can be 781 00:39:29,719 --> 00:39:32,560 Speaker 1: unguardable like that with the support she has right like, 782 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:37,040 Speaker 1: she also has veteran guards versatility, size on the perimeter, 783 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:39,280 Speaker 1: and Corey Close is very good, is a great coach. 784 00:39:39,520 --> 00:39:41,680 Speaker 3: So that team stands out in my mind. 785 00:39:42,440 --> 00:39:45,720 Speaker 1: The other team that really stands out in my mind 786 00:39:46,120 --> 00:39:49,720 Speaker 1: is Notre Dame. Now, I know they just lost last night, Jamelle, 787 00:39:50,120 --> 00:39:53,239 Speaker 1: I know that, but I do believe that they have 788 00:39:53,320 --> 00:39:56,320 Speaker 1: the best backcourt in the country. I believe that Olivia 789 00:39:56,400 --> 00:39:59,480 Speaker 1: Miles and Hannah Hidalgo are exceptional where they need to 790 00:39:59,520 --> 00:40:02,200 Speaker 1: clean something on the defensive end, and no doubt Neil 791 00:40:02,239 --> 00:40:04,279 Speaker 1: Ivy will get them there. But those two teams, in 792 00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:07,880 Speaker 1: my mind feel like a lock. I would have said 793 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:14,080 Speaker 1: this about South Carolina a few weeks back. I need 794 00:40:14,120 --> 00:40:16,840 Speaker 1: to see some more from the game box right, like 795 00:40:16,920 --> 00:40:21,719 Speaker 1: they are way too talented and it's just taking longer 796 00:40:21,760 --> 00:40:24,680 Speaker 1: than I expected for some of their younger players, which 797 00:40:24,719 --> 00:40:26,880 Speaker 1: is now their time to kind of step in and 798 00:40:26,920 --> 00:40:30,680 Speaker 1: step up to do so consistently. But again, no doubt 799 00:40:30,719 --> 00:40:33,640 Speaker 1: don will have them ready. Texas you can't sleep on. 800 00:40:33,840 --> 00:40:38,000 Speaker 1: But I would say Ucla and Notre Dame because of 801 00:40:38,280 --> 00:40:41,720 Speaker 1: those factors. The backcourt that you just can't do anything 802 00:40:41,719 --> 00:40:44,040 Speaker 1: with for Notre Dame and then six seven Loren Bets 803 00:40:45,280 --> 00:40:48,760 Speaker 1: for Ucla. Yeah, I am president of the Olivia Miles 804 00:40:48,840 --> 00:40:51,360 Speaker 1: fan Club for sure, and. 805 00:40:51,520 --> 00:40:54,839 Speaker 2: I love it. I mean, you know, every now. 806 00:40:54,800 --> 00:40:56,800 Speaker 1: And again, as they say, I like to bet the ponies, 807 00:40:57,120 --> 00:40:59,560 Speaker 1: and uh, a few months ago I put money on 808 00:40:59,600 --> 00:41:04,160 Speaker 1: Notre Dame to win it all. Jamel, you still you 809 00:41:04,280 --> 00:41:06,000 Speaker 1: are right? 810 00:41:07,160 --> 00:41:07,600 Speaker 3: I was not. 811 00:41:07,960 --> 00:41:11,840 Speaker 1: I was not at all discouraged by their loss to 812 00:41:11,960 --> 00:41:16,560 Speaker 1: Florida State. Yeah, they just lost NC State too, so 813 00:41:16,640 --> 00:41:18,360 Speaker 1: that says a lot that both of us are still 814 00:41:19,040 --> 00:41:23,680 Speaker 1: writing because adjustments do need to be made, and they 815 00:41:23,680 --> 00:41:26,080 Speaker 1: got a little exposed, to be quite honest, like they're 816 00:41:26,080 --> 00:41:29,439 Speaker 1: they're they're perimeter defense needed to be exposed, and I'm 817 00:41:29,480 --> 00:41:32,520 Speaker 1: sure Deale is gonna work on that asap. Yeah, and 818 00:41:32,760 --> 00:41:35,040 Speaker 1: as a as I mentioned with recording this on a 819 00:41:35,080 --> 00:41:37,600 Speaker 1: Friday and then tomorrow, I'm going to see u C 820 00:41:37,719 --> 00:41:43,880 Speaker 1: L a USC, So I'm really yeah, well you do 821 00:41:44,160 --> 00:41:46,560 Speaker 1: is Well, I was going to ask you about USC 822 00:41:46,680 --> 00:41:50,640 Speaker 1: because that was not a team that you mentioned necessarily, 823 00:41:50,760 --> 00:41:55,160 Speaker 1: as we think about who has an opportunity in it all, 824 00:41:55,360 --> 00:41:58,359 Speaker 1: what are they missing because it feels like they're missing something. Experience, 825 00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:03,480 Speaker 1: they're missing experience they really need and their freshmen are growing, 826 00:42:04,080 --> 00:42:06,960 Speaker 1: you know, they got Keiki Erie fin They've got Raa Marshall. 827 00:42:07,000 --> 00:42:09,640 Speaker 1: Of course they've got Juju, But that next kind of 828 00:42:09,640 --> 00:42:12,080 Speaker 1: tier of players that they would need to step up 829 00:42:12,120 --> 00:42:15,280 Speaker 1: and show up consistently is their freshmen. 830 00:42:15,400 --> 00:42:17,080 Speaker 3: They have the number one freshman. 831 00:42:16,800 --> 00:42:20,640 Speaker 1: Class in the in the nation, and I think two 832 00:42:20,719 --> 00:42:23,920 Speaker 1: words don't go together, consistent and freshmen. It just does 833 00:42:23,960 --> 00:42:26,600 Speaker 1: it like it's rare, especially when we talk about NCAA 834 00:42:26,760 --> 00:42:30,800 Speaker 1: tournament rounds. So I could be surprised in that way. 835 00:42:30,840 --> 00:42:33,960 Speaker 1: And I'm not counting out a USC run by any stretch. 836 00:42:33,960 --> 00:42:36,120 Speaker 1: Any Time you got a player like Juju could drop fifty, 837 00:42:36,480 --> 00:42:39,040 Speaker 1: you gonna be in some games, right, But I do 838 00:42:39,120 --> 00:42:42,840 Speaker 1: think that they need a wee bit more experience in 839 00:42:42,920 --> 00:42:45,959 Speaker 1: their depth to really take on some of the top 840 00:42:46,000 --> 00:42:48,320 Speaker 1: teams as we look and head towards April. 841 00:42:48,719 --> 00:42:51,239 Speaker 2: You also didn't say you got. 842 00:42:51,840 --> 00:42:58,360 Speaker 1: You know, I didn't and what Yukon by all means 843 00:42:58,520 --> 00:43:01,160 Speaker 1: they're very talented, you know, as a great coach, all 844 00:43:01,160 --> 00:43:03,720 Speaker 1: those things. You got Paige Beckers, you got Sarah Strong. 845 00:43:04,239 --> 00:43:06,319 Speaker 1: I don't want to put that type of pressure on 846 00:43:06,400 --> 00:43:09,880 Speaker 1: Azy Fud. I don't because she has had such a 847 00:43:09,960 --> 00:43:13,200 Speaker 1: tough time with her injuries, but she's it if she 848 00:43:13,480 --> 00:43:17,440 Speaker 1: plays the way that Aisy we know can play, no 849 00:43:17,480 --> 00:43:20,160 Speaker 1: doubt Yukon is in this conversation. I just don't feel 850 00:43:20,160 --> 00:43:21,680 Speaker 1: like it's that it's fair to put that kind of 851 00:43:21,680 --> 00:43:23,400 Speaker 1: pressure on her at this point because we all know 852 00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:25,680 Speaker 1: what her journey has looked like, right, so we're just 853 00:43:25,719 --> 00:43:28,840 Speaker 1: happy she out here playing. I'm not saying, you know, 854 00:43:28,960 --> 00:43:30,960 Speaker 1: we don't want Azy to do too much out here, 855 00:43:31,000 --> 00:43:33,759 Speaker 1: but we do. We need her to if you can 856 00:43:33,840 --> 00:43:37,839 Speaker 1: definitely run. Yeah, So I think when when so much 857 00:43:37,880 --> 00:43:40,920 Speaker 1: of your success really honestly hedges on one player, I 858 00:43:40,960 --> 00:43:44,680 Speaker 1: don't like to you know, Yukon could be there, but 859 00:43:44,719 --> 00:43:46,719 Speaker 1: they're not in my top two. 860 00:43:47,360 --> 00:43:47,520 Speaker 2: Mm. 861 00:43:48,080 --> 00:43:51,399 Speaker 1: Okay, look at that China with the hot takes better. 862 00:43:51,520 --> 00:43:55,320 Speaker 1: Did you burn that past your mama? Because when she 863 00:43:55,360 --> 00:43:57,520 Speaker 1: found out you ain't pick in South Carolina, it's gonna 864 00:43:57,520 --> 00:44:00,640 Speaker 1: be some problems. She fobbly on my phone on right now, 865 00:44:01,920 --> 00:44:04,080 Speaker 1: she'll look for some stuff. Okay, she'll see my name 866 00:44:04,120 --> 00:44:05,000 Speaker 1: and just start clicking. 867 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:08,040 Speaker 3: So, oh my god, that is hilarious. 868 00:44:08,040 --> 00:44:10,480 Speaker 1: Well, listen, China, thank you so much for taking some 869 00:44:10,520 --> 00:44:13,080 Speaker 1: time out to break down a little hoops with me. 870 00:44:13,600 --> 00:44:14,080 Speaker 2: I'm sure. 871 00:44:14,400 --> 00:44:18,759 Speaker 1: As the w NBA season progresses certainly as we see 872 00:44:18,760 --> 00:44:20,640 Speaker 1: how this what I think is going to be an 873 00:44:20,640 --> 00:44:23,120 Speaker 1: incredible march madness for the women. 874 00:44:23,160 --> 00:44:25,680 Speaker 2: As we see how that plays out, I'll be I'll 875 00:44:25,680 --> 00:44:26,399 Speaker 2: be blowing up. 876 00:44:26,280 --> 00:44:28,719 Speaker 1: Your phone again, like come in, come and talk, Yes, 877 00:44:28,840 --> 00:44:30,120 Speaker 1: come and talk some hoops with me. 878 00:44:30,840 --> 00:44:33,919 Speaker 2: Tell mom I said hello, and I will. 879 00:44:34,680 --> 00:44:37,000 Speaker 3: So we're having a drink. What time is it Friday? 880 00:44:37,239 --> 00:44:41,600 Speaker 2: I know. I was like, yeah, I'm gonna put that 881 00:44:41,680 --> 00:44:43,319 Speaker 2: on my bucket list. I need to have a drink 882 00:44:43,360 --> 00:44:44,160 Speaker 2: with your mama. 883 00:44:44,600 --> 00:44:47,440 Speaker 3: As Jamail, you have some folks that have talk to 884 00:44:47,480 --> 00:44:51,960 Speaker 3: Tarika already. 885 00:44:52,080 --> 00:44:53,040 Speaker 2: Is that what you're telling me. 886 00:44:53,239 --> 00:44:55,720 Speaker 1: I had to escort my mom out of the lobby 887 00:44:55,960 --> 00:44:59,640 Speaker 1: post game at a lot of hotels because she just 888 00:45:00,600 --> 00:45:01,480 Speaker 1: she's a mess. 889 00:45:01,719 --> 00:45:05,640 Speaker 3: But yeah, yeah, I see with caution, you know how 890 00:45:05,680 --> 00:45:06,080 Speaker 3: that is. 891 00:45:06,120 --> 00:45:10,640 Speaker 1: It's like everybody's mama is always cooler everybody else, everyone else. 892 00:45:10,680 --> 00:45:12,799 Speaker 1: But because you got to deal with it, Like why 893 00:45:12,880 --> 00:45:13,880 Speaker 1: you ain't bring your mom? 894 00:45:14,000 --> 00:45:16,000 Speaker 3: I'm like, did you see what she did last night? 895 00:45:16,200 --> 00:45:18,080 Speaker 3: Did you did you hear what she said? 896 00:45:18,360 --> 00:45:22,359 Speaker 1: And you just yeah, she's off the chain. Yes, if 897 00:45:22,400 --> 00:45:24,160 Speaker 1: y'all gonna babysit her, That's what I say. Now when 898 00:45:24,160 --> 00:45:25,960 Speaker 1: they say you bring your mom. I'm like you babysitting. 899 00:45:27,640 --> 00:45:31,640 Speaker 1: That's the question. So question j y'all gonna kick it. 900 00:45:31,640 --> 00:45:32,040 Speaker 3: It's on me. 901 00:45:32,239 --> 00:45:33,279 Speaker 2: The responsibilities on me. 902 00:45:33,360 --> 00:45:35,600 Speaker 3: I accept that I will in charge of the girl, 903 00:45:36,360 --> 00:45:36,839 Speaker 3: charge her. 904 00:45:37,160 --> 00:45:38,040 Speaker 2: All right, Well, thank you. 905 00:45:38,080 --> 00:45:41,640 Speaker 1: The China will be watching for your expert analysis as always, 906 00:45:41,680 --> 00:45:43,759 Speaker 1: and thank you to all those who joined us live 907 00:45:43,840 --> 00:45:46,880 Speaker 1: here on YouTube. Thank you to my regular and consistent 908 00:45:47,040 --> 00:45:52,680 Speaker 1: politics listeners. Welcoming all the new listeners to Politics on Politics. 909 00:45:52,880 --> 00:45:55,000 Speaker 1: You know what the slogan is. It's for sports and 910 00:45:55,040 --> 00:45:59,160 Speaker 1: politics mix because they matter. All right, I'll catch y'all 911 00:45:59,200 --> 00:46:08,800 Speaker 1: on the flip side. Spolitics is the production of iHeart 912 00:46:08,840 --> 00:46:12,640 Speaker 1: Podcast and the Unbothered Network. I'm your host Jamel Hill. 913 00:46:13,160 --> 00:46:16,800 Speaker 1: Executive producer is Taylor Chicoigne. Lucas Hymen is head of 914 00:46:16,840 --> 00:46:21,239 Speaker 1: audio and executive producer. Original music for Spolitics provided by 915 00:46:21,320 --> 00:46:23,400 Speaker 1: Kyle VISs from wiz FX