WEBVTT - INTERVIEW: Monica McNutt Talks WNBA, Playoff Predictions + More 0:00:00.480 --> 0:00:02.560 Wake that ass up in the morning. 0:00:02.680 --> 0:00:03.720 The Breakfast Club. 0:00:05.120 --> 0:00:05.880 Morning everybody. 0:00:05.960 --> 0:00:09.160 It's DJ En v Jess, Larry is Charlamagne the guy. 0:00:09.200 --> 0:00:11.360 We are the Breakfast Club. We got a special guest 0:00:11.400 --> 0:00:14.080 in the building. Yes, indeed we have Monica McNutt. 0:00:14.120 --> 0:00:15.360 Welcome, Hi guys. 0:00:15.800 --> 0:00:21.239 Monica is a what are you a sports reporter analyst? 0:00:22.200 --> 0:00:27.479 What we're working cycle instructor on the side and you know, 0:00:27.680 --> 0:00:29.240 just trying to take care of my mentals, my chicken 0:00:29.240 --> 0:00:30.040 shout out to Marshall. 0:00:30.480 --> 0:00:32.400 Now I saw you the other You tweet the other 0:00:32.440 --> 0:00:34.600 day that you misplaced your beach by Dread headphones on 0:00:34.600 --> 0:00:37.159 the plane, and you said that it messed up your 0:00:37.200 --> 0:00:39.559 movie watching the experience very much. Did you have to 0:00:39.640 --> 0:00:40.760 use the airplane headphones? 0:00:40.880 --> 0:00:43.840 So I was worse listen not airplane headphones, so full 0:00:43.960 --> 0:00:47.040 full context. It was before the next loss of the Pacers, 0:00:47.240 --> 0:00:49.080 so it was team travel, Charter Life smooth. 0:00:49.120 --> 0:00:51.000 We love it. I use my. 0:00:50.960 --> 0:00:54.200 AirPods, but the plane is still loud. So it was 0:00:54.280 --> 0:00:56.160 very much like I can kind of hear I want 0:00:56.160 --> 0:01:00.520 to watch this versus you know this around experience watching Uh, 0:01:00.520 --> 0:01:02.200 mister missus Smith on Amazon Prime. 0:01:02.320 --> 0:01:02.760 Is it good? 0:01:03.520 --> 0:01:07.080 I'm getting into it. It took me about three episodes. 0:01:07.520 --> 0:01:10.520 It was a little predictable, but I want to support 0:01:10.680 --> 0:01:12.240 I think, so I'm gonna hang on. 0:01:12.319 --> 0:01:13.520 Did you ever find your headphones? 0:01:14.000 --> 0:01:16.640 I did not, and the locators lost. I'm pretty sure 0:01:16.640 --> 0:01:18.680 I lost them on the trip to Chicago. I'm one 0:01:18.720 --> 0:01:20.160 of them people that I don't lose a lot, but 0:01:20.200 --> 0:01:21.440 when I can't find something. 0:01:21.360 --> 0:01:21.760 I lost it. 0:01:21.840 --> 0:01:22.800 You just left it somewhere. 0:01:22.920 --> 0:01:25.120 Yeah, and somebody got them. I hope they're blessed. 0:01:26.040 --> 0:01:27.760 But when you walked in, you and Charlemagne were having 0:01:27.760 --> 0:01:34.320 a conversation about makeup. Yes, like discussed because he was 0:01:35.760 --> 0:01:37.440 because he was like, did you get this treatment? 0:01:37.440 --> 0:01:39.000 And he was like, I haven't got that. Said, oh 0:01:39.040 --> 0:01:39.479 my god, that. 0:01:39.440 --> 0:01:42.440 Treatment are amazing treatment. 0:01:42.440 --> 0:01:44.279 What you're talking about her? Because I was amazed when. 0:01:44.160 --> 0:01:47.600 She removed the makeup. The removal is incredible. 0:01:47.600 --> 0:01:48.760 I'm gonna have to tap in now. 0:01:49.000 --> 0:01:50.680 The problem, though, is I'll be trying to save her 0:01:50.800 --> 0:01:53.040 the face by Brenda and then she's not in my house. 0:01:53.040 --> 0:01:55.040 And I knew wear in your eyebrows, Charlage, I knew that. 0:01:55.080 --> 0:01:56.360 What do you mean? Absolutely? Mind? 0:01:56.560 --> 0:01:58.720 Now, let's talk Can we talk some sports? For some sports, 0:01:58.760 --> 0:01:59.280 let's let's talk. 0:01:59.560 --> 0:02:00.760 Lets talk about Monica for us. 0:02:00.840 --> 0:02:02.960 Can we get to know Monica before we get into 0:02:03.000 --> 0:02:03.560 the sports. 0:02:03.880 --> 0:02:06.240 You know, she played in bake in college, but. 0:02:06.400 --> 0:02:07.440 Georgetown Hall, I did? 0:02:07.560 --> 0:02:07.880 I did? 0:02:08.000 --> 0:02:09.120 Why did you stop playing? 0:02:09.440 --> 0:02:10.680 You know what? Okay? 0:02:10.840 --> 0:02:14.120 So I was very realistic, right, and I remember saying 0:02:14.120 --> 0:02:15.520 to my dad, like, I don't want to be twenty 0:02:15.520 --> 0:02:18.880 eight coming back from overseas and being at entry level positions. 0:02:19.360 --> 0:02:19.920 I didn't. 0:02:19.960 --> 0:02:21.839 This is the I don't live with a bunch of regress, y'all. 0:02:21.840 --> 0:02:23.240 But it is the one thing that I do regret 0:02:23.320 --> 0:02:25.280 not even trying to see if I could stick on 0:02:25.280 --> 0:02:25.960 the roster in the W. 0:02:26.080 --> 0:02:27.280 I had so much respect for the craft. 0:02:27.280 --> 0:02:29.320 I didn't think I was good enough, and frankly, I 0:02:29.400 --> 0:02:32.880 was ready to put my energy elsewhere. Basketball was like 0:02:33.040 --> 0:02:35.440 third grade every Saturday, every summer. You know what I'm saying, 0:02:35.480 --> 0:02:37.280 that commitment, and so I was kind of like, all right, 0:02:37.280 --> 0:02:38.840 I'm ready to do something else. So I did not 0:02:38.880 --> 0:02:41.160 attempt to go pro. I immediately began my full rate 0:02:41.200 --> 0:02:41.720 into media. 0:02:41.800 --> 0:02:43.000 Do you think you could have win pro? Do you think 0:02:43.040 --> 0:02:44.600 you could have win pro? S? And everybody that the 0:02:44.639 --> 0:02:46.040 way they played and knowing the way that. 0:02:46.000 --> 0:02:49.760 You play, I graduated twenty eleven. I think I could 0:02:49.840 --> 0:02:52.239 have made a roster. I don't know if I would 0:02:52.240 --> 0:02:54.360 have stuck for the entire season. If I'm honest, the 0:02:54.520 --> 0:02:55.640 w was just that tough. 0:02:56.280 --> 0:02:57.080 It's just that tough. 0:02:57.120 --> 0:02:58.400 Why do you feel like you know? 0:02:59.520 --> 0:03:01.519 Like you said, you have regrets, but it's like you 0:03:02.080 --> 0:03:04.880 physically know or spiritually know when it's time to move 0:03:04.919 --> 0:03:05.760 on to the next thing. 0:03:05.840 --> 0:03:07.120 Correct, So if you knew that. 0:03:07.040 --> 0:03:08.200 Like, why do you have regrets? 0:03:08.280 --> 0:03:10.480 I think I trying would have honestly given me some 0:03:10.520 --> 0:03:12.440 intel in terms of the process, for one, which would 0:03:12.440 --> 0:03:14.320 have benefited me now. And then I think it would 0:03:14.320 --> 0:03:15.720 have been like, well, you tried it, now let's move on, 0:03:15.840 --> 0:03:17.240 you know what I mean? Even if the result was 0:03:17.240 --> 0:03:18.840 still you're gonna move on, because if the plan was 0:03:18.840 --> 0:03:20.280 it's time to move on, it was gonna be revealed 0:03:20.280 --> 0:03:22.079 one way or another. So that's the only and I 0:03:22.560 --> 0:03:25.560 use regret lightly. There are a few things that I 0:03:25.600 --> 0:03:28.480 look back and I'm like, I should have done that. Thankfully, 0:03:28.520 --> 0:03:29.480 I don't live with a toitle those. 0:03:29.520 --> 0:03:31.080 So so do you feel tall for no reason? 0:03:31.520 --> 0:03:33.440 No? I love being tall. I feel tall on purpose? 0:03:33.480 --> 0:03:35.160 Okay, baby, Like it took me a long time to 0:03:35.160 --> 0:03:37.560 get comes up on these sides, eleven sides, twelve feet okay, 0:03:37.800 --> 0:03:38.320 come here. 0:03:38.160 --> 0:03:41.240 Because we hugged, but you like lean down. 0:03:41.400 --> 0:03:43.120 That disrespectful to short man, I don't know if you 0:03:43.120 --> 0:03:45.320 know that, But to short king, I feel like that's disrespectful. 0:03:46.440 --> 0:03:47.560 Yes, what I'm I supposed to do? 0:03:47.600 --> 0:03:50.480 Like when tall women kneel down in the picture like that, 0:03:50.640 --> 0:03:51.440 Like why are you doing that? 0:03:51.560 --> 0:03:54.040 I'm not good Like I wouldn't be tall if you 0:03:54.080 --> 0:03:56.960 weren't short, though, so we work together, like we work together. 0:03:57.080 --> 0:03:58.520 I'm surprised you didn't try to post you up. 0:03:58.680 --> 0:04:00.760 Usually any any woman here as toll, he tries to 0:04:00.760 --> 0:04:01.960 post you up like he plays basket. 0:04:02.080 --> 0:04:04.720 Don't do that. Don't do that. We passed that. Don't 0:04:04.720 --> 0:04:05.000 do that. 0:04:05.680 --> 0:04:07.600 Don't do that because he does that all the time. 0:04:07.800 --> 0:04:09.520 The woman I know, I'm not gonna do it. I 0:04:09.560 --> 0:04:10.560 don't know mineel like that. 0:04:10.720 --> 0:04:13.240 He's in the street, right. We try to battle them out. 0:04:13.280 --> 0:04:17.640 We're all accustomed to it. Move no, man, get I'm 0:04:17.640 --> 0:04:18.560 away now. 0:04:18.560 --> 0:04:20.360 How did you get to be in an analystic reporter? 0:04:21.080 --> 0:04:24.120 So when I graduated in twenty eleven, we lost to 0:04:24.200 --> 0:04:27.960 Yukon ironically in Philly and at the Press conference final 0:04:27.960 --> 0:04:28.480 press conference. 0:04:28.520 --> 0:04:30.400 I'm like, yo, like my career is over. I'm trying 0:04:30.400 --> 0:04:31.480 to get in the media. What's up. 0:04:31.960 --> 0:04:33.760 And a couple of folks in the audience actually gave 0:04:33.800 --> 0:04:36.040 me cards and connected, and I think I'm very thankful 0:04:36.080 --> 0:04:38.280 to my parents. Advocating for myself has been something that 0:04:38.400 --> 0:04:40.400 I have never struggled with her to see my parents, 0:04:40.600 --> 0:04:42.640 and so all along the way, I'm meeting these people 0:04:42.640 --> 0:04:44.320 and letting them know what I wanted to do. I 0:04:44.320 --> 0:04:47.240 actually ended up being at a Washington Post event and 0:04:47.279 --> 0:04:49.520 sitting in front of the director of the Phillamol College 0:04:49.520 --> 0:04:53.120 of Journalism or Sports Program for Sports Journalism at University 0:04:53.120 --> 0:04:55.880 of Maryland, again advocating for myself. He's like, come truck 0:04:55.880 --> 0:04:57.560 out our journalism program. At the time, I didn't know 0:04:57.560 --> 0:04:59.840 who he was. Turned out to be George Solomon. That 0:05:00.080 --> 0:05:02.800 gets the wheel rolling in me in terms of opportunities 0:05:02.839 --> 0:05:06.520 to learn the craft of journalism, study it, be able 0:05:06.600 --> 0:05:09.400 to go and perform in various mediums, and then take 0:05:09.440 --> 0:05:11.680 my basketball passion of basketball knowledge and merge the two. 0:05:11.760 --> 0:05:15.320 So twenty twelve, twenty thirteen, I graduated from grad school 0:05:15.320 --> 0:05:17.280 and then it's just kind of been pushing ever since. 0:05:17.520 --> 0:05:20.080 Was there any body that inspired you to want to 0:05:20.080 --> 0:05:21.159 get into broadcast journalism? 0:05:21.440 --> 0:05:24.240 Robin Roberts, like I was the nineteen ninety six ninety 0:05:24.240 --> 0:05:28.840 seven WNBA foundational years, Robin Roberts was still working on 0:05:28.880 --> 0:05:31.640 the call at that point, and I just remember seeing 0:05:31.720 --> 0:05:33.960 her and then following her to ESPN and Sports Center 0:05:33.960 --> 0:05:36.200 and obviously on the GMA, Like it was like yo, 0:05:36.360 --> 0:05:38.039 like that's me, Like I could do that. And so 0:05:38.080 --> 0:05:40.039 I think Robert Roberts is probably my first muse in 0:05:40.040 --> 0:05:41.560 the space. And then I would say somebody like Doris 0:05:41.640 --> 0:05:42.600 Burke probably. 0:05:42.920 --> 0:05:46.040 Does this stigma still exist that women don't know sports 0:05:46.120 --> 0:05:46.800 one hundred percent? 0:05:47.680 --> 0:05:50.719 It's changing, but it's definitely still out there. And I'll 0:05:50.720 --> 0:05:53.200 be honest, y'all. For me, it was so funny this 0:05:53.279 --> 0:05:56.000 week Monday. First take Steve and A Shannon, all those 0:05:56.000 --> 0:05:57.479 guys and Steven that has to take this moment to 0:05:57.480 --> 0:06:00.480 address this whole thing with Jaylen Brown, right, and I 0:06:00.520 --> 0:06:02.240 am listening, and I'm like, Dak, this man have been 0:06:02.279 --> 0:06:05.719 in the industry twenty five plus years, well respected, and 0:06:05.760 --> 0:06:08.560 he's still having to clarify. And so for me, you know, 0:06:08.680 --> 0:06:10.880 less than ten years in at least in doing that 0:06:10.960 --> 0:06:14.680 showing on that platform it was this that's just the 0:06:14.760 --> 0:06:16.960 nature of the beast's moment, because I'm like, I didn't 0:06:17.000 --> 0:06:18.839 say that when people are like tweeting stuff at me, 0:06:18.880 --> 0:06:20.800 like I didn't say that, or that's completely out of context. 0:06:20.960 --> 0:06:23.039 And so I think you learn and you build the 0:06:23.040 --> 0:06:24.839 scar tissue, the tough skin to deal with it, because 0:06:24.839 --> 0:06:25.919 it's just the nature of the beasts. 0:06:26.520 --> 0:06:29.919 I do understand differently, we forget. 0:06:29.600 --> 0:06:32.520 Fanish short for fanatic, and so sometimes when I'm engaging, 0:06:32.560 --> 0:06:35.400 I'm like, all right, is this misogynistic bs or is 0:06:35.440 --> 0:06:38.719 this just a crazy fan right? And you gotta be able, 0:06:39.400 --> 0:06:41.040 I don't want to say hold space, but you gotta 0:06:41.080 --> 0:06:44.400 be able to navigate both because there is still a 0:06:44.400 --> 0:06:45.960 sentiment out there that women just don't know what they're 0:06:45.960 --> 0:06:47.920 talking about. And for me, I'm like, look, we don't 0:06:47.960 --> 0:06:49.800 have to agree. That's the nature of the beast, that's 0:06:49.839 --> 0:06:52.359 the nature of human experience. But don't be nasty for 0:06:52.400 --> 0:06:53.640 no reason. That's my only thing. 0:06:53.720 --> 0:06:56.120 Yeah, I think when it comes to like sports pundents, 0:06:56.360 --> 0:06:58.840 you can immediately tell if you like somebody just by 0:06:59.240 --> 0:07:01.320 listening to him, cause you know what they you know, 0:07:01.360 --> 0:07:03.120 they know what they're talking about. I remember the first 0:07:03.120 --> 0:07:05.960 time I saw you was on I think the Yes 0:07:06.160 --> 0:07:12.760 Network with cas. It was with after the Knicks game, 0:07:13.040 --> 0:07:14.960 and I was like, I remember hitting cats, Like who 0:07:15.080 --> 0:07:17.280 is that? Like, you know she knows what she's talking about, 0:07:17.280 --> 0:07:19.040 not she because she's a woman, just that person knows 0:07:19.040 --> 0:07:21.800 what they're talking about. Yeah, yeah, And I appreciate that 0:07:21.800 --> 0:07:25.800 that that compliment and compliments from basketball people mean no 0:07:25.880 --> 0:07:26.400 world to me. 0:07:26.640 --> 0:07:27.080 Like if this. 0:07:27.040 --> 0:07:29.560 Assistant coach or this coach or this former athlete is like, yo, 0:07:29.600 --> 0:07:31.360 we like what you do, like thank you and it 0:07:31.560 --> 0:07:33.480 and like what you do doesn't mean we always have 0:07:33.520 --> 0:07:35.600 to agree. I'm gonnacros from NASA Rosie two years ago 0:07:35.640 --> 0:07:38.240 at the Women's Final four and she's like, mine, you 0:07:38.240 --> 0:07:39.600 look like you having fun. Though She's like I don't 0:07:39.600 --> 0:07:41.640 always agree, which is fine, but you look like you 0:07:41.720 --> 0:07:44.400 having fun and you've done the work, and that's that is. 0:07:44.360 --> 0:07:45.080 The bottom line. 0:07:45.200 --> 0:07:47.400 Now, I got to ask you, w NBA, let's do it. 0:07:47.440 --> 0:07:50.240 There's been a lot of conversation recently about the w NBA. 0:07:50.400 --> 0:07:53.240 Things have changed in the last year, but I think 0:07:53.280 --> 0:07:56.080 people wanted more and I see them starting to talk 0:07:56.400 --> 0:07:58.960 more and more and more and more trash, right, Caitlin 0:07:59.000 --> 0:08:01.760 Clark for example. Right, you know she's doing well, scoring 0:08:01.800 --> 0:08:04.680 twenty two points. It's difficult, right, d Like, this is 0:08:04.960 --> 0:08:07.440 top level basketball, but people wanted more. They want to 0:08:07.480 --> 0:08:09.280 herd like what she did in college, and they're saying 0:08:09.280 --> 0:08:11.200 that this could actually hurt the wn bab what's. 0:08:11.040 --> 0:08:11.560 Your thoughts on that. 0:08:11.720 --> 0:08:14.080 So two things can be true, and this is why 0:08:14.440 --> 0:08:17.440 the run up to Kaylan getting drafted and becoming a 0:08:17.520 --> 0:08:20.120 pro was so fascinating to watch for those of us 0:08:20.160 --> 0:08:21.120 that have been in the space. 0:08:21.320 --> 0:08:24.480 Right, she's dynamic, she has changed the game. 0:08:24.560 --> 0:08:27.080 She's worthy of all the contracts, the dollars, the Rise 0:08:27.080 --> 0:08:30.080 and Tide raisers, all ships, whatever. Although there is trajectory 0:08:30.080 --> 0:08:31.720 of the WNB in the last four years, some of 0:08:31.720 --> 0:08:33.000 these things were going to happen anyway. 0:08:33.720 --> 0:08:35.760 But the w is also tough. It's one hundred and 0:08:35.760 --> 0:08:36.480 forty four of the. 0:08:36.400 --> 0:08:39.560 Best women in the world period, not in the United States, 0:08:39.559 --> 0:08:42.880 in the world. And so she is fine and talented 0:08:42.880 --> 0:08:44.960 and will be okay. And there's also going to be 0:08:45.000 --> 0:08:46.600 a curve, and I think that's what we're seeing in 0:08:46.640 --> 0:08:48.640 real time. You don't get drafted number one because the 0:08:48.679 --> 0:08:51.240 team just won a championship. The team is straggling, right, 0:08:51.280 --> 0:08:53.520 and the Fever have struggled since they won a championship 0:08:53.559 --> 0:08:55.560 with Tamika Catches. I think that was twenty sixteen, So 0:08:55.920 --> 0:08:57.840 they're trying to get back to the promised lands, so 0:08:57.920 --> 0:09:02.240 to speak. I think the hope is, Okay, we're turning 0:09:02.280 --> 0:09:05.440 in to watch Caitlin Oh, but let me. I'm learning 0:09:05.440 --> 0:09:07.840 about the Connecticut Sign, I'm learning about the La Sparks, 0:09:07.840 --> 0:09:10.040 I'm learning about the Las Vegas Aces, these other teams 0:09:10.040 --> 0:09:11.080 that I now want to follow. 0:09:11.120 --> 0:09:12.760 That's the hope. Now the reality. 0:09:12.800 --> 0:09:14.319 I literally had this conversation a week ago one of 0:09:14.360 --> 0:09:17.600 my bosses is is that fan base for her going to. 0:09:17.559 --> 0:09:20.120 Hang on while the Fever continue to struggle? Now? 0:09:20.200 --> 0:09:23.160 I can't answer that. I can already see growth in 0:09:23.160 --> 0:09:25.440 her first one two weeks the month of the season. 0:09:26.360 --> 0:09:30.199 But I hope that the eyeballs that she's bringing are 0:09:30.240 --> 0:09:32.920 about women's sports at large and not just her, and 0:09:32.920 --> 0:09:35.040 that encourages and boost the WNBA at large. 0:09:35.080 --> 0:09:36.640 I've never rooted for a white woman so much of 0:09:36.679 --> 0:09:40.440 my life. Okay, because she has to be successful. I 0:09:40.440 --> 0:09:42.800 feel like, you know, the more success she has, the 0:09:42.800 --> 0:09:45.720 more success women's basketball is going to have. Like people 0:09:45.760 --> 0:09:48.680 should want her to succeed, but it's kind of weird 0:09:48.679 --> 0:09:50.120 to see people rooting against her. 0:09:50.160 --> 0:09:51.959 So first of all, let's let let charlamne and be 0:09:52.000 --> 0:09:56.000 less unpacked that who who is who is Chuck talking 0:09:56.040 --> 0:09:57.960 to the other day? Like who is Chuck talking to? 0:09:58.040 --> 0:09:58.520 Stop hating? 0:09:59.600 --> 0:09:59.760 Yeah? 0:09:59.800 --> 0:10:02.080 Yeah, right now, if you're talking to the internet, make 0:10:02.120 --> 0:10:02.520 that clear. 0:10:02.640 --> 0:10:05.040 Because I have talked to w players, I've talked to 0:10:05.040 --> 0:10:08.679 her teammates in Indiana, like, folks are excited and thrilled. 0:10:08.960 --> 0:10:11.160 But the idea that the w NBA has to play 0:10:11.240 --> 0:10:13.320 kumbaya and not compete. 0:10:13.040 --> 0:10:14.520 Like whoever said, I'm blank? 0:10:14.800 --> 0:10:16.640 Was it je t They said, y'all should be competing 0:10:16.679 --> 0:10:17.920 because you want to make her look good. 0:10:18.400 --> 0:10:19.680 I don't know if I said one of the podcasts, 0:10:19.679 --> 0:10:20.800 I say, say that, write. 0:10:20.559 --> 0:10:22.520 This clip like cut it out, cut it out, like 0:10:22.559 --> 0:10:25.320 at the base, at the foundation of this this competition, 0:10:25.360 --> 0:10:26.960 and that is beautiful and worthy of celebration. 0:10:27.040 --> 0:10:28.640 If you're listening, you don't know what she's talking about. 0:10:29.120 --> 0:10:31.880 He was saying that the WNBA should fall back off 0:10:31.920 --> 0:10:33.920 and for let her score, let her score thirty forty 0:10:33.920 --> 0:10:37.120 the first two years and get more people involved, and 0:10:37.160 --> 0:10:39.640 then play hard on her but I'm like you, it's competition. 0:10:39.800 --> 0:10:41.880 Like now, I want to show that I can defend her. 0:10:41.920 --> 0:10:43.360 I want to show that when she comes into my 0:10:43.400 --> 0:10:44.680 city that she's scoring two points. 0:10:44.760 --> 0:10:47.840 That's so like, that's no insult to her. She's a competitor. 0:10:48.160 --> 0:10:49.679 She go go get she go go do what she 0:10:49.679 --> 0:10:52.199 gotta do. Do not give this any real rational space 0:10:52.200 --> 0:10:52.640 in your head. 0:10:52.760 --> 0:10:54.800 Don't even do it. I'm like, Jeff might not be 0:10:54.880 --> 0:10:56.840 a little all. You might not be wrong. 0:10:56.679 --> 0:11:02.959 Because I'm saying, for two years, get more, especially to 0:11:03.040 --> 0:11:03.560 go see her. 0:11:03.720 --> 0:11:07.400 It's not like she's not getting shots to be fun. 0:11:07.880 --> 0:11:11.000 She's to me, if i'm her, that's an insult. That's 0:11:11.040 --> 0:11:11.719 an insult. 0:11:12.200 --> 0:11:13.439 And it's only been with five games. 0:11:13.840 --> 0:11:15.559 I got a double check something like that. 0:11:16.520 --> 0:11:18.280 She scored twenty a few times. But I'm looking at 0:11:18.320 --> 0:11:22.640 everything else she's doing. She's getting she's getting reading, cut 0:11:22.640 --> 0:11:25.240 down on the turnover, but she looks like she's doing, 0:11:25.280 --> 0:11:26.400 she gonna, she's doing. 0:11:26.280 --> 0:11:28.120 Anything quite as his cap. I don't I shouldn't say 0:11:28.160 --> 0:11:29.520 quiet as his cap. But it just hasn't been as 0:11:29.600 --> 0:11:32.000 much of a national headline. But her comrade in that class, 0:11:32.040 --> 0:11:34.400 Angel Reae, has been off to a rocket right like 0:11:34.480 --> 0:11:36.599 she's angel is stupid and I'm hooping, And I'll be 0:11:36.640 --> 0:11:38.000 the first to say that. In college, I was like 0:11:38.040 --> 0:11:40.400 a house is going to translate in terms of position, 0:11:40.640 --> 0:11:43.720 but the work ethic, the energy get into the glass, 0:11:43.760 --> 0:11:45.400 like the toughness, all of those things have translated. 0:11:45.440 --> 0:11:47.719 And I'm really excited for her. This rookie class is. 0:11:47.640 --> 0:11:51.120 Dope, and I think the timing of it is really 0:11:51.200 --> 0:11:53.959 unique in terms of the growth of women's sports at large. 0:11:53.960 --> 0:11:57.079 And then you have these personalities that you can lash 0:11:57.120 --> 0:12:00.120 onto and really root for, and they are cool sharing 0:12:00.160 --> 0:12:02.960 their lives, which is super dope. So it's a beautiful combination. 0:12:03.080 --> 0:12:04.800 So right now you're Rookie of the Year. So far 0:12:04.840 --> 0:12:07.520 as injuries, in terms of product, I mean, both those 0:12:07.520 --> 0:12:09.559 teams are struggling. I haven't eve thought about show me 0:12:09.600 --> 0:12:12.480 it's so early. My big thing going into the conversation 0:12:12.520 --> 0:12:15.880 with Rookie of the Year though, is whose numbers are 0:12:15.880 --> 0:12:18.520 going to impact their team's overall improvement. So right now 0:12:18.520 --> 0:12:20.400 you would give a slight edge to Chicago. Both of 0:12:20.400 --> 0:12:23.280 those teams are struggling. Well, not shouldn't struggling. They're still young, 0:12:23.320 --> 0:12:25.120 they're still building, but you would probably give a slight 0:12:25.240 --> 0:12:27.719 edge to Chicago right now, Cardoza not even Yeah, she 0:12:27.800 --> 0:12:30.079 had a shoulder thing, she's getting she's getting back. 0:12:30.480 --> 0:12:32.280 How hard is it being a woman at ESPN? 0:12:33.600 --> 0:12:35.400 So I live in New York, I operate out of 0:12:35.480 --> 0:12:38.160 the Seaport Studio. I have no issues. The times that 0:12:38.160 --> 0:12:40.679 I've been in Bristol, I've had no issues. It is 0:12:42.160 --> 0:12:45.000 that's a ESPN is a great place to work. Every 0:12:45.040 --> 0:12:47.439 no place is perfect, right, and so I don't find 0:12:47.480 --> 0:12:50.360 it to be hard. I think I'm probably hardest on myself. 0:12:50.400 --> 0:12:53.560 And that's just the background of an athlete, right, Like, yeah, 0:12:53.679 --> 0:12:57.800 it's crazy to me. The other day I had a 0:12:57.800 --> 0:13:00.679 conversation with my guys over at Next School and they 0:13:00.679 --> 0:13:02.560 asked me about my most morole moment from the season. 0:13:02.559 --> 0:13:04.120 And this wasn't an ESPN moment, but it was with 0:13:04.200 --> 0:13:06.839 Mike Green. Right, We're doing a game in Golden State, 0:13:07.600 --> 0:13:09.559 second game. I had the opportunity to call for the Knicks. 0:13:09.600 --> 0:13:11.560 I might have been a third and Mike Bring does 0:13:11.559 --> 0:13:13.839 his signature bang on the call and it was like. 0:13:13.840 --> 0:13:16.920 Surreal for me because I'm like whoa, Like whoa. 0:13:17.040 --> 0:13:19.040 And so there's this moment of I'm sitting next to 0:13:19.040 --> 0:13:20.679 this Hall of Famer that has done this for I'm 0:13:20.720 --> 0:13:22.880 ten years or even the other day in the studio, 0:13:22.920 --> 0:13:25.160 like I'm sitting across from you, Donna's Haslam, a three 0:13:25.200 --> 0:13:28.600 time champion, like a dude that played eighteen plus years 0:13:28.600 --> 0:13:30.840 in the NBA, and here I am someone who has 0:13:30.880 --> 0:13:33.120 loved the game of basketball, done my best to study 0:13:33.120 --> 0:13:35.480 and prepare and just bringing my perspective. So whether it's 0:13:35.640 --> 0:13:38.120 ESPN or MSG, there's an innate confidence that you have 0:13:38.200 --> 0:13:41.120 to have in terms of my voice and my perspective 0:13:41.160 --> 0:13:43.199 adds to this conversation. Now, that does not mean I 0:13:43.240 --> 0:13:45.560 don't operate with a ton of difference and respect, because 0:13:45.640 --> 0:13:47.120 I mean I'm riding them off, all these people that 0:13:47.160 --> 0:13:48.920 I have the privilege to work next to, and I 0:13:48.960 --> 0:13:51.560 have a ton of respect for your experience. However, this 0:13:51.640 --> 0:13:53.720 is also what I've observed. Can we have a conversation, 0:13:53.760 --> 0:13:56.520 and so that goes back to basketball people being like yo, 0:13:56.600 --> 0:13:58.719 that was that was solid or on the occasion where 0:13:58.720 --> 0:14:01.000 it wasn't solid, you have the opportun unity to receive 0:14:01.040 --> 0:14:02.640 constructive feedback, adjust and grow. 0:14:02.720 --> 0:14:04.400 So I have not found it to be hard. 0:14:04.440 --> 0:14:06.559 I'm very thankful I've had the opportunity to do a 0:14:06.600 --> 0:14:08.760 bunch of different things, and I think moving forward, for me, 0:14:08.840 --> 0:14:11.320 it's about finding the lane that best suits my skill set. 0:14:11.400 --> 0:14:14.160 And I gotta ask, you said you did a bunch 0:14:14.160 --> 0:14:17.720 of Knicks games, right, it feels like the NBA gets 0:14:17.720 --> 0:14:19.920 a lot better and more talked about. 0:14:19.720 --> 0:14:22.840 When the Knicks are in the playoffs. It feels like that. 0:14:23.920 --> 0:14:27.240 Okay, yes it does. 0:14:27.280 --> 0:14:28.040 Are you crazy? 0:14:28.400 --> 0:14:28.720 Listen? 0:14:29.200 --> 0:14:30.320 I would. 0:14:30.320 --> 0:14:32.520 So this was my first year as a Knicks radio analyst. 0:14:32.720 --> 0:14:36.040 We had a blast, right. This was also probably their 0:14:36.120 --> 0:14:37.920 best year in terms of if you think of January, 0:14:37.960 --> 0:14:40.520 they was on a hot streak. I have learned how 0:14:40.800 --> 0:14:43.320 national television works. There's a few y'all know, it's a 0:14:43.360 --> 0:14:46.120 few markets that hit. And we're gonna keep recycling these topics. 0:14:46.320 --> 0:14:49.280 When the Knicks are playing well, there's definitely more energy, 0:14:49.360 --> 0:14:51.120 Like there's more energy about the teams that are coming 0:14:51.160 --> 0:14:53.640 into the garden. How did the results end up going 0:14:53.680 --> 0:14:55.080 down at the garden like the whole bit? 0:14:55.200 --> 0:14:56.400 So, yes, I think that's a fact. 0:14:56.440 --> 0:14:58.720 And I also got to ask, you know, people have 0:14:58.760 --> 0:15:01.600 been complaining about the refs in it BA recently and 0:15:01.720 --> 0:15:02.960 they're saying they make bad. 0:15:02.880 --> 0:15:05.040 Calls and this, that and the other. What are your 0:15:05.080 --> 0:15:06.080 thoughts on the rest of the NBA. 0:15:06.280 --> 0:15:09.440 I think referring is a thankless job. Your best case scenarios. 0:15:09.440 --> 0:15:11.320 We say nothing about you, right. 0:15:14.360 --> 0:15:16.960 The one time the Pacers complaining seventy eight times is like, 0:15:17.040 --> 0:15:18.600 that's crazy. 0:15:18.240 --> 0:15:19.280