1 00:00:00,200 --> 00:00:03,840 Speaker 1: Got to change the way we are spending money wastefully 2 00:00:03,880 --> 00:00:05,720 Speaker 1: in this country, and we're going to make sure that 3 00:00:05,760 --> 00:00:12,039 Speaker 1: happened by material year, Corvette. What were you thinking, Lenny. 4 00:00:12,200 --> 00:00:14,040 Speaker 1: We're gonna get a chance to speak on all this, 5 00:00:14,200 --> 00:00:17,599 Speaker 1: God willing soon. But as I said earlier this week, people, 6 00:00:17,640 --> 00:00:20,560 Speaker 1: and by the way, my corvette's in the lock karage, Okay, 7 00:00:20,600 --> 00:00:22,520 Speaker 1: So it's not like you're sitting on the street. We 8 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:24,479 Speaker 1: don't think that Biden is a lawyer and a thief, 9 00:00:24,520 --> 00:00:26,160 Speaker 1: so we give them the benefit of the doubt. That's 10 00:00:26,160 --> 00:00:31,160 Speaker 1: probably what's going on. Freedom is back in style. Welcome 11 00:00:31,840 --> 00:00:40,479 Speaker 1: to the revolution. I'm coming. You'll want to play a 12 00:00:40,560 --> 00:00:47,720 Speaker 1: conscience New Sean Hannity Show Mary behind the scenes, information 13 00:00:47,880 --> 00:00:53,160 Speaker 1: on breaking news and more bold inspired solutions for America. 14 00:00:54,120 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: Our two Sean Hannity Show toll free. It's eight hundred 15 00:00:56,680 --> 00:00:58,080 Speaker 1: and nine four one Sean. If you want to be 16 00:00:58,080 --> 00:01:00,520 Speaker 1: a part of the program. On this Friday, we're gonna 17 00:01:00,520 --> 00:01:03,800 Speaker 1: take a little, a little break, much needed break from 18 00:01:03,960 --> 00:01:08,440 Speaker 1: everything that's going on with top secret classified information, hypocrisy, 19 00:01:08,640 --> 00:01:12,080 Speaker 1: medium mob insanity, and we're going to talk to our friend. 20 00:01:12,160 --> 00:01:14,400 Speaker 1: It's an honor, it's a privilege, it's a pleasure to 21 00:01:14,560 --> 00:01:18,720 Speaker 1: have in studio somebody who's a really genuine, genuinely a 22 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:21,680 Speaker 1: great friend of mine, somebody I have enormous respect for. 23 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:25,160 Speaker 1: But we are friends. He's taken a lot of crap 24 00:01:25,800 --> 00:01:27,560 Speaker 1: for that, more than I've had to take for being 25 00:01:27,640 --> 00:01:30,760 Speaker 1: his friend. I don't know why Stephen A. Smith is 26 00:01:30,800 --> 00:01:33,920 Speaker 1: with us. Uh. You got your new book out. It's 27 00:01:33,959 --> 00:01:37,640 Speaker 1: called straight Shooter. Yeah, a memoir of second chances and 28 00:01:37,760 --> 00:01:39,960 Speaker 1: first takes. And by the way, I want everyone to know, 29 00:01:40,120 --> 00:01:44,360 Speaker 1: it's available on Amazon dot com, Hannity dot com, bookstores everywhere. 30 00:01:44,800 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: And now, before I get into this book shocked me 31 00:01:48,560 --> 00:01:50,440 Speaker 1: and I read it cover to cover and I'm I 32 00:01:50,520 --> 00:01:53,160 Speaker 1: don't get shocked offen. My first question is when did 33 00:01:53,280 --> 00:01:56,680 Speaker 1: we first get to know each other, because I don't remember. 34 00:01:56,840 --> 00:02:02,000 Speaker 1: I'm trying to think. In two thousand and nine, when 35 00:02:02,280 --> 00:02:04,880 Speaker 1: ESPN Let Me Go m I was doing I was 36 00:02:04,960 --> 00:02:08,079 Speaker 1: on the circuit, you know, Fox, MSNBCC, and I was 37 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:10,000 Speaker 1: all over the place, and I was doing interviews because 38 00:02:10,360 --> 00:02:13,239 Speaker 1: I was thinking about a career that expanded beyond the 39 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:16,000 Speaker 1: world of sports. And you know, I used to be 40 00:02:16,080 --> 00:02:19,280 Speaker 1: on ABC Radio and stuff like that, and then you 41 00:02:19,360 --> 00:02:22,960 Speaker 1: had me on and you defended you. Yes, you did well, 42 00:02:23,000 --> 00:02:25,519 Speaker 1: you did that. That is true. You absolutely defended me 43 00:02:25,600 --> 00:02:27,440 Speaker 1: with some of the controversies that I had been involved 44 00:02:27,480 --> 00:02:30,200 Speaker 1: in the years that followed. But at that particular moment 45 00:02:30,240 --> 00:02:31,799 Speaker 1: of time, i go on the air with you, and 46 00:02:32,200 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 1: I'm going back and forth to you about my opinions, 47 00:02:34,360 --> 00:02:36,840 Speaker 1: where you like, wait a minute, this guy's not Office Rocket, 48 00:02:38,720 --> 00:02:41,160 Speaker 1: some left wing zella or whatever. And you found out 49 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:43,720 Speaker 1: that listen, I'm an independent. Yeah, I've got some left 50 00:02:43,760 --> 00:02:45,560 Speaker 1: wing views about things, and I've got some things and 51 00:02:45,639 --> 00:02:47,840 Speaker 1: I'm conservative about and so all of a sudden we 52 00:02:47,880 --> 00:02:50,600 Speaker 1: could have a discussion and it was an agreed to 53 00:02:50,720 --> 00:02:54,280 Speaker 1: disagree kind of relationship without there being any kind of animosity. 54 00:02:54,360 --> 00:02:56,720 Speaker 1: And from that point forward, we've always kept in touch. 55 00:02:56,760 --> 00:02:59,480 Speaker 1: We've always communicated, and you've always invited me on your shows. 56 00:02:59,600 --> 00:03:02,200 Speaker 1: And here here's the thing that shocked me about the book, 57 00:03:02,240 --> 00:03:05,280 Speaker 1: and where I don't get shocked that often. I we 58 00:03:05,520 --> 00:03:09,520 Speaker 1: never had that time to sit as friends and talk 59 00:03:09,720 --> 00:03:13,320 Speaker 1: about life. And I read this book. I will tell 60 00:03:13,360 --> 00:03:15,840 Speaker 1: you I teared up another number of times. I had 61 00:03:15,919 --> 00:03:19,960 Speaker 1: no idea about how how hard your life was when 62 00:03:20,040 --> 00:03:23,359 Speaker 1: you were young, the adversity that you had faced the 63 00:03:23,560 --> 00:03:27,639 Speaker 1: challenges you had to overcome, and now I admire you 64 00:03:27,720 --> 00:03:29,320 Speaker 1: that much more for it. Let me let me give 65 00:03:29,320 --> 00:03:34,079 Speaker 1: an example for in this book, because I read that 66 00:03:34,240 --> 00:03:37,720 Speaker 1: you had left been left back twice. Yes, in fourth grade, 67 00:03:38,200 --> 00:03:41,160 Speaker 1: third grade, I got left back. What happened? I got 68 00:03:41,280 --> 00:03:43,600 Speaker 1: left back in third grade that June, I went to 69 00:03:43,720 --> 00:03:46,360 Speaker 1: summer school, and then I got promoted to the fourth grade. 70 00:03:46,480 --> 00:03:48,360 Speaker 1: And then after I went I completed the fourth grade. 71 00:03:48,360 --> 00:03:50,160 Speaker 1: I got left back again, and this time held back 72 00:03:50,200 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: for the entire fourth grade year. Right, Okay, Now this 73 00:03:53,080 --> 00:03:55,440 Speaker 1: is where it gets really hairy for me, and that 74 00:03:55,720 --> 00:03:59,800 Speaker 1: is that you hear overhear a conversation between your mother 75 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,960 Speaker 1: and your father, and that conversation is your dad pretty 76 00:04:04,000 --> 00:04:07,240 Speaker 1: much dismisses you is dumb and stupid and get over it. 77 00:04:07,320 --> 00:04:09,720 Speaker 1: This is just the way it's gonna be. And then 78 00:04:09,800 --> 00:04:12,280 Speaker 1: your mom heard it and realized that you had heard it. 79 00:04:13,000 --> 00:04:15,000 Speaker 1: She was talking to him in the kitchen, and we 80 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,480 Speaker 1: had a backporch just a few feet away. The door 81 00:04:17,600 --> 00:04:20,720 Speaker 1: was closed, but the window was open, and I was 82 00:04:20,760 --> 00:04:23,520 Speaker 1: sitting on the back porch crying because the kids in 83 00:04:23,600 --> 00:04:26,120 Speaker 1: the neighborhood were all laughing at me because they found 84 00:04:26,160 --> 00:04:28,159 Speaker 1: out I got left back, and I was the only 85 00:04:28,200 --> 00:04:30,040 Speaker 1: one on the block that got left back, and so 86 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,000 Speaker 1: I was pretty embarrassed, and I went to the back 87 00:04:32,080 --> 00:04:34,680 Speaker 1: porch and while I was sitting back there sobbing, my 88 00:04:34,839 --> 00:04:37,239 Speaker 1: mother didn't know I was back there. My father didn't 89 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:38,640 Speaker 1: know I was back there, and they were in the 90 00:04:38,760 --> 00:04:41,400 Speaker 1: kitchen just a few feet behind me. With the door shot. 91 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,000 Speaker 1: Obviously they didn't see me. And my father looked at 92 00:04:44,080 --> 00:04:46,120 Speaker 1: up and he was like, he just da't smart. Just 93 00:04:46,240 --> 00:04:48,680 Speaker 1: get over it. You just got to accept it. That's 94 00:04:48,800 --> 00:04:51,320 Speaker 1: you don't have it. Just just live with that. I mean, 95 00:04:51,440 --> 00:04:55,360 Speaker 1: that's devastating. It was. That's emotionally devastating. You start the 96 00:04:55,400 --> 00:04:59,360 Speaker 1: book out in your introduction talking about the day your 97 00:04:59,400 --> 00:05:02,920 Speaker 1: mom died. Yeah, and talk about that day and the 98 00:05:03,040 --> 00:05:05,080 Speaker 1: difference between your mom and dad in terms of the 99 00:05:05,120 --> 00:05:08,000 Speaker 1: impact in your life and your dad. You actually ended 100 00:05:08,240 --> 00:05:11,679 Speaker 1: that introduction by saying, because of him, I've never taken 101 00:05:11,720 --> 00:05:14,280 Speaker 1: more than three drinks in a week in my life. 102 00:05:15,320 --> 00:05:19,120 Speaker 1: I've never smoked or done drugs, including marijuana what are 103 00:05:19,240 --> 00:05:23,480 Speaker 1: referred to on my show as the weedy I never married, 104 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 1: partly because I'm usually on the road for well over 105 00:05:25,600 --> 00:05:28,360 Speaker 1: half the year, but mainly because I never wanted to 106 00:05:28,440 --> 00:05:32,000 Speaker 1: dishonor my marital vows this place unto your dad. So 107 00:05:32,160 --> 00:05:35,440 Speaker 1: talk about the day your mom dies in your relationship 108 00:05:35,480 --> 00:05:39,280 Speaker 1: with your dad. My mother died June one, twenty seventeen. 109 00:05:39,600 --> 00:05:45,480 Speaker 1: It was opening game for Golden State Cleveland Cavaliers that series, 110 00:05:45,880 --> 00:05:49,200 Speaker 1: and me to this day is the most devastating thing 111 00:05:49,240 --> 00:05:51,679 Speaker 1: that ever happened to me. My mother was my everything. 112 00:05:52,200 --> 00:05:55,120 Speaker 1: We were very very close, very tight, and because of 113 00:05:55,200 --> 00:05:58,360 Speaker 1: the relationship that I have with my father, because of 114 00:05:58,440 --> 00:06:01,840 Speaker 1: the kind of man that he was, it put in 115 00:06:01,880 --> 00:06:05,680 Speaker 1: an ordinate amount of responsibilities on her shoulders and the 116 00:06:05,839 --> 00:06:08,800 Speaker 1: resentment that I had. You know, with my sisters, the 117 00:06:08,839 --> 00:06:11,440 Speaker 1: difference between us is that they looked at his infidelity 118 00:06:11,520 --> 00:06:14,480 Speaker 1: and a womanizing us stuff like that. My biggest thing 119 00:06:14,760 --> 00:06:17,919 Speaker 1: was he didn't pay bills and he left the onus, 120 00:06:18,000 --> 00:06:20,680 Speaker 1: that responsibility on the shoulders of my mother. So my 121 00:06:20,839 --> 00:06:23,600 Speaker 1: mother would work sixteen hours a day, seven days a week. 122 00:06:23,760 --> 00:06:26,280 Speaker 1: She'd work at Queen's General Hospital and then go from 123 00:06:26,360 --> 00:06:28,679 Speaker 1: Queen General Hospital right over the end of Grant Central 124 00:06:28,720 --> 00:06:31,480 Speaker 1: Parkway right down the road to a nursing home and 125 00:06:31,560 --> 00:06:34,880 Speaker 1: she'd work from seven am to eleven pm, seven nights 126 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,000 Speaker 1: a week for twenty straight years, with one week's vacation, 127 00:06:38,320 --> 00:06:40,360 Speaker 1: and to me, we had to do She had to 128 00:06:40,440 --> 00:06:43,120 Speaker 1: do that because of what he didn't do. And so 129 00:06:43,480 --> 00:06:46,120 Speaker 1: for me to get to a point where my career 130 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:48,880 Speaker 1: was ascending and I was able to do things for 131 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:51,240 Speaker 1: her that I never would have dreamed that I would 132 00:06:51,240 --> 00:06:53,480 Speaker 1: have been able to do, and for her to have 133 00:06:53,680 --> 00:06:56,800 Speaker 1: her life cut short after a lengthy battle with cancer. 134 00:06:57,240 --> 00:07:00,040 Speaker 1: It was seven years, seven year battle with cancer. And 135 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:02,240 Speaker 1: then I had been at the house that night. My 136 00:07:02,360 --> 00:07:04,480 Speaker 1: sisters were around or whatever, and we just thought that 137 00:07:04,560 --> 00:07:06,760 Speaker 1: we knew she was transitioning into some degree, but we thought, 138 00:07:06,839 --> 00:07:08,880 Speaker 1: you know what, she survival whatever. So I went home 139 00:07:08,960 --> 00:07:11,000 Speaker 1: to go get some sleep, knowing I was gonna come 140 00:07:11,040 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: back in the morning. And I live about forty five 141 00:07:12,800 --> 00:07:14,920 Speaker 1: minutes away. And I pulled into my driveway at my sister, 142 00:07:15,000 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: come and get back here, now, that's all she said. 143 00:07:17,840 --> 00:07:20,600 Speaker 1: And I didn't even park, I didn't even change. I 144 00:07:20,720 --> 00:07:22,600 Speaker 1: just turned right back around and I drove home, and 145 00:07:22,680 --> 00:07:24,680 Speaker 1: by that time she was gone. And I saw my 146 00:07:24,760 --> 00:07:27,280 Speaker 1: sister Abigail spooning on hugging her, and I just saw 147 00:07:27,320 --> 00:07:29,960 Speaker 1: her that laying the emotionless, and I just collapsed on 148 00:07:30,040 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: the bed and I crumbled, and I don't even remember 149 00:07:32,080 --> 00:07:35,160 Speaker 1: how long I cried. And I remember that for the 150 00:07:35,360 --> 00:07:37,800 Speaker 1: next year, the year and a half, there wasn't a 151 00:07:37,960 --> 00:07:40,600 Speaker 1: day that I didn't cry, and I was just devastated 152 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,600 Speaker 1: all the time going TV. I remember one time you 153 00:07:43,680 --> 00:07:47,240 Speaker 1: interviewed me about something everybody and I was very good 154 00:07:47,320 --> 00:07:50,200 Speaker 1: at being in the moment and handling my business, but 155 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:52,920 Speaker 1: the second I got alone, all I could think about 156 00:07:53,040 --> 00:07:56,440 Speaker 1: was her, and the misery just couldn't I just couldn't 157 00:07:56,440 --> 00:07:58,400 Speaker 1: get out of my head seeing her motionless and knowing 158 00:07:58,440 --> 00:08:00,640 Speaker 1: that she was gone. What didn't make sense to me 159 00:08:01,240 --> 00:08:05,240 Speaker 1: is that your mom wanted your dad next to her. Yes, 160 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:08,520 Speaker 1: And he spent most of this night where she's passing, 161 00:08:09,200 --> 00:08:12,200 Speaker 1: watching I believe the Golden State Warriors against somebody, yes, 162 00:08:12,560 --> 00:08:17,040 Speaker 1: and barely going up there and even saying holding her hand. Correct, Yeah, 163 00:08:17,480 --> 00:08:19,960 Speaker 1: that was that was him. Um. I'm quite sure in 164 00:08:20,040 --> 00:08:22,640 Speaker 1: his own way he believed he loved my mother dearly, 165 00:08:22,720 --> 00:08:27,080 Speaker 1: but the selfishness never escaped him. In my estimation, it 166 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: was difficult for me to say because it's not like 167 00:08:29,040 --> 00:08:30,800 Speaker 1: I didn't love my dad. I wish he was better. 168 00:08:31,520 --> 00:08:35,120 Speaker 1: But the damage that his inactions, the damage that his 169 00:08:35,200 --> 00:08:40,280 Speaker 1: irresponsible behavior caused the family, especially her, was really something 170 00:08:40,360 --> 00:08:43,200 Speaker 1: that resonated with me. And you know from the night 171 00:08:43,280 --> 00:08:45,360 Speaker 1: that she passed away. I mean it was even the 172 00:08:45,440 --> 00:08:48,200 Speaker 1: time before that. It was a couple of months before 173 00:08:48,280 --> 00:08:51,240 Speaker 1: she passed. My sisters in our huddle and we look 174 00:08:51,240 --> 00:08:52,719 Speaker 1: at him and we sent him down. He's like, she 175 00:08:52,880 --> 00:08:55,240 Speaker 1: needs you by hasade and he said, you know, West 176 00:08:55,280 --> 00:08:57,319 Speaker 1: Indian accident and stuff like that. All you don't know 177 00:08:57,960 --> 00:09:00,400 Speaker 1: your mother the way from the Caribbean. That's right, he's 178 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:02,440 Speaker 1: from Saint Thomas. You know, my mother and father were 179 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:05,320 Speaker 1: from Saint Thomas, Virgin Islands. He was really from Antigua, 180 00:09:05,440 --> 00:09:07,079 Speaker 1: but they lived. They was born, she was born in 181 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:08,920 Speaker 1: Saint Thomas. They were both raised in the Saint Thomas, 182 00:09:09,000 --> 00:09:11,080 Speaker 1: Virgin Islands. All my relatives are from the West Indies. 183 00:09:11,360 --> 00:09:12,920 Speaker 1: And he said, all of you don't know you're my 184 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:15,560 Speaker 1: other way that I do. He said, she's not sick, 185 00:09:16,120 --> 00:09:19,199 Speaker 1: it's all in act. And I looked at him and 186 00:09:19,360 --> 00:09:21,079 Speaker 1: I got in his face and I said, what the 187 00:09:21,200 --> 00:09:23,880 Speaker 1: F did you just say? I said, she's sick, she's dying, 188 00:09:23,960 --> 00:09:25,840 Speaker 1: and he looked me dead in my face. He said, 189 00:09:25,840 --> 00:09:27,640 Speaker 1: I got it. I understand, And I said, what do 190 00:09:27,720 --> 00:09:30,560 Speaker 1: you mean you got it? Your daughters, all four your 191 00:09:30,640 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 1: daughters a city right here. They just told you. They 192 00:09:32,840 --> 00:09:35,920 Speaker 1: just told you. And he said, they're not you, they're women. 193 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:38,199 Speaker 1: So he wouldn't listen to my sisters say the same 194 00:09:38,240 --> 00:09:41,000 Speaker 1: thing that I said because they were women. And you know, 195 00:09:41,520 --> 00:09:43,960 Speaker 1: it's just it's just an example of the many, many 196 00:09:44,040 --> 00:09:46,280 Speaker 1: things that you know, I had to deal with and 197 00:09:46,960 --> 00:09:49,040 Speaker 1: growing up, because on one hand, you got this man 198 00:09:49,160 --> 00:09:50,640 Speaker 1: that you want to respect you and you want to 199 00:09:50,679 --> 00:09:52,719 Speaker 1: love you, and you want his approval. But on the 200 00:09:52,800 --> 00:09:56,640 Speaker 1: other hand, I'm a young man who dearly loves my mother, 201 00:09:57,040 --> 00:09:59,480 Speaker 1: my four older sisters, and I have these five women 202 00:09:59,720 --> 00:10:02,079 Speaker 1: who a strong willed black woman who raised me to 203 00:10:02,200 --> 00:10:04,719 Speaker 1: be who I am, who deserve all the credit in 204 00:10:04,800 --> 00:10:06,319 Speaker 1: the world for what I've been able to achieve and 205 00:10:06,360 --> 00:10:08,439 Speaker 1: accomplish in my life. I want to explain that in 206 00:10:08,520 --> 00:10:11,920 Speaker 1: a minute, because there's a story behind that. But overhearing 207 00:10:12,000 --> 00:10:15,200 Speaker 1: that conversation what your dad said, the exact words were, 208 00:10:15,679 --> 00:10:20,280 Speaker 1: he's just not that smart. He'll never succeed. Just accept that, Yes, 209 00:10:20,520 --> 00:10:22,560 Speaker 1: I believe. In the next day, you wrote about how 210 00:10:22,640 --> 00:10:25,240 Speaker 1: your mom took you to see the movie Grease, something 211 00:10:25,320 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: she'd never do. That to me was pretty hard to hear. 212 00:10:30,280 --> 00:10:32,959 Speaker 1: It was hard for me to read that you the 213 00:10:33,040 --> 00:10:34,640 Speaker 1: way it read it was, I thought you got back 214 00:10:34,800 --> 00:10:36,800 Speaker 1: left back twice in the fourth grade, but it was 215 00:10:36,880 --> 00:10:39,080 Speaker 1: third grade. Then you went to summer school. But then 216 00:10:39,120 --> 00:10:40,960 Speaker 1: you got left back in the fourth grade and held 217 00:10:40,960 --> 00:10:42,439 Speaker 1: back in it had to repeat the fourth grade. And 218 00:10:43,000 --> 00:10:45,520 Speaker 1: then there was this guy I don't remember his name 219 00:10:45,640 --> 00:10:48,680 Speaker 1: that you talk about in the book that talk brought 220 00:10:48,760 --> 00:10:52,680 Speaker 1: you and your mom into school. Yeah, and started telling 221 00:10:52,760 --> 00:10:55,040 Speaker 1: your mom. Now you had figured out at some point 222 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:56,800 Speaker 1: they didn't have the word for it at the time, 223 00:10:57,000 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 1: you were dyslexic. Okay, so that's a we know that's real. Yeah, 224 00:11:01,320 --> 00:11:03,600 Speaker 1: they didn't know it then, correct, they didn't have that name. 225 00:11:03,720 --> 00:11:08,800 Speaker 1: That correct. But this this school principal person, teacher, whatever 226 00:11:08,840 --> 00:11:12,040 Speaker 1: it was, mister Caravan. Okay, he brings your mom in 227 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:16,599 Speaker 1: and says, this kid's smart as hell. I said, he 228 00:11:16,679 --> 00:11:19,400 Speaker 1: gets bored easily if he's not interested in that topic, 229 00:11:19,520 --> 00:11:23,240 Speaker 1: he's not interested. Find something he's interested in and watch 230 00:11:23,320 --> 00:11:26,360 Speaker 1: what happens. He will be a start out. A direct 231 00:11:26,400 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: quote is a direct quote. You definitely did read the book. 232 00:11:29,280 --> 00:11:31,599 Speaker 1: I read the book. That's exactly what he said, and 233 00:11:32,000 --> 00:11:34,000 Speaker 1: how right he was. It was. It was life changing 234 00:11:34,120 --> 00:11:37,400 Speaker 1: because he was a teacher that had the power to 235 00:11:37,679 --> 00:11:39,520 Speaker 1: fail me or past me or whatever. And he set 236 00:11:39,559 --> 00:11:41,640 Speaker 1: my mother down and he said, he drifts. He said, 237 00:11:41,679 --> 00:11:44,520 Speaker 1: when he's bored. He doesn't hear you say. People think 238 00:11:44,600 --> 00:11:47,559 Speaker 1: he doesn't comprehend. No, he never heard you because he's 239 00:11:47,600 --> 00:11:49,400 Speaker 1: not listening. It went in one day and out the other. 240 00:11:49,520 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 1: He can't tell you what you said because he paid 241 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:54,839 Speaker 1: no attention to it, he said, because that's how he 242 00:11:55,000 --> 00:11:57,360 Speaker 1: gets he said. But when you find something that he's 243 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:00,280 Speaker 1: interested in, make no mistake. And here's the interest in heart. 244 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:03,319 Speaker 1: I was interested in two things. I was interested in sports, 245 00:12:03,600 --> 00:12:06,360 Speaker 1: and I was interested in politics, but not as a politician. 246 00:12:06,720 --> 00:12:10,400 Speaker 1: I love the issues. I loved watching debates. I love 247 00:12:10,440 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 1: to watch whether it was meryoral figures, it was gontorial figures, 248 00:12:13,440 --> 00:12:16,360 Speaker 1: it was text me and give me so much, or 249 00:12:16,400 --> 00:12:19,240 Speaker 1: your bess time. It's not bus it's I'm usually right, 250 00:12:19,280 --> 00:12:21,319 Speaker 1: showing I'm usually right. To just tell the world I'm 251 00:12:21,360 --> 00:12:23,959 Speaker 1: usually right, but it's okay. Then there was a moment 252 00:12:24,080 --> 00:12:27,679 Speaker 1: where man this is rough stuff where Yeah, I guess 253 00:12:27,720 --> 00:12:30,920 Speaker 1: your sisters were giving you a hard time and you 254 00:12:31,000 --> 00:12:34,200 Speaker 1: were you were the accident. Yeah, they were just played around. 255 00:12:35,160 --> 00:12:36,920 Speaker 1: Oh please, you know because I'm the youngest six. My 256 00:12:36,960 --> 00:12:39,199 Speaker 1: older sister Linda is ten years older than me. My 257 00:12:39,320 --> 00:12:41,480 Speaker 1: sister Allen is eight years older than me. My brother, 258 00:12:41,559 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: my late brother that died in the carcid in the 259 00:12:43,080 --> 00:12:44,640 Speaker 1: nineteen ninety two, he was nine years old than me, 260 00:12:44,640 --> 00:12:47,160 Speaker 1: so he had Linda at ten, Basil at nine, all 261 00:12:47,240 --> 00:12:49,839 Speaker 1: In at eight. My sister Abigail was six years old. 262 00:12:49,880 --> 00:12:52,360 Speaker 1: It's six years older than me, and Carmen is four, 263 00:12:52,920 --> 00:12:56,679 Speaker 1: so four years separated me from Carmon. So they used 264 00:12:56,679 --> 00:12:59,199 Speaker 1: to be like, you know what you're you weren't attentioning you, 265 00:12:59,240 --> 00:13:01,240 Speaker 1: you were an accident, blah blah blah. My mother said, oh, 266 00:13:01,280 --> 00:13:03,079 Speaker 1: you shut up. He was the only one who was 267 00:13:03,120 --> 00:13:09,400 Speaker 1: on purpose. When they figured out that this was a 268 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:13,079 Speaker 1: reading your shoe and it just didn't have the name dyslection. 269 00:13:13,800 --> 00:13:16,679 Speaker 1: Then a number of people, including your sisters, I believe, 270 00:13:17,040 --> 00:13:20,240 Speaker 1: in your life, they made it their business to get 271 00:13:20,280 --> 00:13:22,800 Speaker 1: you up to speed in terms of reading. Primarily my 272 00:13:22,840 --> 00:13:27,959 Speaker 1: oldest sister Linda, Linda was brilliant valedictorian in school. Um, 273 00:13:28,240 --> 00:13:31,079 Speaker 1: and she was somebody that would sit me down and 274 00:13:31,360 --> 00:13:33,599 Speaker 1: and literally taught me how to read. And then on 275 00:13:33,679 --> 00:13:36,320 Speaker 1: the side, when I go from my friend Ronnie Robertson's 276 00:13:36,360 --> 00:13:38,439 Speaker 1: house who lived right around the corner for me, his 277 00:13:38,600 --> 00:13:42,440 Speaker 1: older brother Tiver was also very brilliant, and they would 278 00:13:42,480 --> 00:13:46,040 Speaker 1: they wouldn't collaborate with one another, but separately they both 279 00:13:46,679 --> 00:13:51,000 Speaker 1: worked on me overcoming my reading comprehension impediment. And that 280 00:13:51,240 --> 00:13:53,360 Speaker 1: was when I was able to really really take things 281 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,679 Speaker 1: to a new hype. And then you start in radio, yes, 282 00:13:56,880 --> 00:13:59,400 Speaker 1: and you make your way into television. By the way, 283 00:13:59,559 --> 00:14:01,240 Speaker 1: I made more than you were. My first job you 284 00:14:01,320 --> 00:14:03,760 Speaker 1: made fifteen rand I made nineteen. Yes, that was the 285 00:14:03,800 --> 00:14:06,839 Speaker 1: newspaper though for me fifteen thousand and one was was 286 00:14:06,880 --> 00:14:10,280 Speaker 1: the first one degree. And then you went to my 287 00:14:10,720 --> 00:14:13,840 Speaker 1: bun Philly Inquirer. Philly Inquirer was after the New York 288 00:14:13,920 --> 00:14:16,400 Speaker 1: Daily News as a high school reporter for fourteen months. Uh. 289 00:14:16,600 --> 00:14:19,440 Speaker 1: And then you had your first stint on TV and 290 00:14:19,520 --> 00:14:22,400 Speaker 1: then then very well you went two years being off TV. 291 00:14:22,640 --> 00:14:24,640 Speaker 1: Well that was ESPN in two thousand and nine. I 292 00:14:24,680 --> 00:14:27,360 Speaker 1: mean I started off in television at CNNSI in nineteen 293 00:14:27,480 --> 00:14:29,560 Speaker 1: ninety nine. I went to Fox Sports in two thousand 294 00:14:29,600 --> 00:14:32,520 Speaker 1: and one. I ended up at ESPN in two thousand 295 00:14:32,560 --> 00:14:34,960 Speaker 1: and three, and in two thousand and nine, ESPN decided 296 00:14:35,000 --> 00:14:37,720 Speaker 1: to let me go over a contract dispute. And so 297 00:14:37,880 --> 00:14:40,920 Speaker 1: after and when you know when that happened, um, you know, 298 00:14:41,240 --> 00:14:44,280 Speaker 1: I was. I was out of a job from that 299 00:14:44,640 --> 00:14:49,120 Speaker 1: that May to that February. And then after that, UM, 300 00:14:49,240 --> 00:14:51,600 Speaker 1: I came back on and I was doing radio, and 301 00:14:51,640 --> 00:14:54,080 Speaker 1: then I did radio for a year for Fox Sports Radio, 302 00:14:54,480 --> 00:14:57,600 Speaker 1: and then they brought me back to ESPN radio, but 303 00:14:57,800 --> 00:15:00,960 Speaker 1: they prohibited me from being on television. But that changed. 304 00:15:01,200 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: We'll pick it up, we'll pick up the story from there. 305 00:15:04,000 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: Stephen A. Smith as well. What an incredible I mean, 306 00:15:08,080 --> 00:15:12,120 Speaker 1: he's starting at with a deficit. That's you know, your 307 00:15:12,160 --> 00:15:14,280 Speaker 1: own father thinks you aren't gonna make it. You're not smart, 308 00:15:14,320 --> 00:15:16,920 Speaker 1: you're stupid. Just accept it. And now one of the 309 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:20,440 Speaker 1: biggest stars in all of sports radio, end television. He's 310 00:15:20,520 --> 00:15:23,680 Speaker 1: now out with his own memoir, A straight Shooter, a 311 00:15:23,800 --> 00:15:27,840 Speaker 1: memoir Second Chances and First Takes. It's a phenomenal book. 312 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,160 Speaker 1: It'll bring tears to your eyes and it'll make you 313 00:15:30,320 --> 00:15:32,240 Speaker 1: cheer for this guy more and more as you get 314 00:15:32,280 --> 00:15:34,960 Speaker 1: to know and see what he went through and how 315 00:15:35,040 --> 00:15:37,320 Speaker 1: he's been able to turn his life into this great success. 316 00:15:38,040 --> 00:15:40,440 Speaker 1: There's a lot for everybody to learn, including yours. Truly, 317 00:15:40,760 --> 00:15:43,920 Speaker 1: I've learned a lot in this book. More with Stephen A. Smith. 318 00:15:44,040 --> 00:15:47,320 Speaker 1: His book on Amazon dot com, Hannity dot com, bookstores everywhere. 319 00:15:47,920 --> 00:15:55,680 Speaker 1: As of next week, as we continue the one radio 320 00:15:55,840 --> 00:16:00,280 Speaker 1: show you don't want to miss, Sean Hannity is on 321 00:16:00,800 --> 00:16:05,640 Speaker 1: right now. All right, we continue our buddy Stephen A. 322 00:16:05,760 --> 00:16:08,800 Speaker 1: Smith in studio with us today, Straight Shooter, a memoir 323 00:16:09,040 --> 00:16:11,920 Speaker 1: of second Chances and first takes. Uh. You can get 324 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,880 Speaker 1: at Amazon dot com a first print edition, Hannity dot 325 00:16:15,960 --> 00:16:18,880 Speaker 1: com bookstores everywhere. Don't you have signed copies on premier 326 00:16:19,240 --> 00:16:22,200 Speaker 1: You know what? So I can't believe it's Straight shooterbook 327 00:16:22,240 --> 00:16:24,520 Speaker 1: dot Com. But I cannot believe I still have my 328 00:16:24,640 --> 00:16:28,680 Speaker 1: right arm I signed personally signed twenty five thousand signatures. 329 00:16:28,760 --> 00:16:31,160 Speaker 1: I got your beat. I did eighty you did eighty thousand? 330 00:16:31,480 --> 00:16:36,840 Speaker 1: Yea wow. Straight Shooter Books dot Com. I think I 331 00:16:37,040 --> 00:16:40,040 Speaker 1: think that I would hide from Simon the Shuesday if 332 00:16:40,040 --> 00:16:43,760 Speaker 1: they can. You could question did I not do eighty. Yes, 333 00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:46,920 Speaker 1: your own person is Oh my lord, we love dearly. 334 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:49,000 Speaker 1: All right, quick break right back more with Stephen A. 335 00:16:49,360 --> 00:16:51,560 Speaker 1: Uh and his incredible life story on the other side, 336 00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:54,600 Speaker 1: let me come back more of the best of the 337 00:16:54,640 --> 00:16:57,760 Speaker 1: Sean Hannity Show. Stay tuned. You are listening to the 338 00:16:57,840 --> 00:17:02,240 Speaker 1: best of the Sean Hannity Show. Sean Hannity talks to 339 00:17:02,360 --> 00:17:05,440 Speaker 1: the people involved in the top stories of the day 340 00:17:06,119 --> 00:17:10,800 Speaker 1: every day. Sean Hannity is on all right twenty five 341 00:17:10,920 --> 00:17:13,720 Speaker 1: to the top of the hour. Stephen A. Smith really 342 00:17:13,760 --> 00:17:17,240 Speaker 1: doesn't need an introduction. Uh We His new book is 343 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,960 Speaker 1: out Straight Shooter, a memoir, Second Chances and First Takes. 344 00:17:21,520 --> 00:17:23,879 Speaker 1: You told another story, So we go through this whole 345 00:17:24,400 --> 00:17:28,320 Speaker 1: evolution in your life. Man, you have such a painful childhood. 346 00:17:28,760 --> 00:17:31,359 Speaker 1: What admiration I have for your mom. We've talked about 347 00:17:31,520 --> 00:17:33,520 Speaker 1: we have similar moms. My mom was a prison guard, 348 00:17:33,560 --> 00:17:35,800 Speaker 1: work in sixteen hours a day, seven days a week, 349 00:17:35,880 --> 00:17:39,240 Speaker 1: just like yours. I didn't have the stress that you 350 00:17:39,280 --> 00:17:41,720 Speaker 1: had with your father. And that's tough, and that really 351 00:17:41,880 --> 00:17:45,119 Speaker 1: was Those words that you heard were brutal. But you 352 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:49,800 Speaker 1: overcome this. You find sports as a passion. You start 353 00:17:49,880 --> 00:17:54,000 Speaker 1: looking I think you mentioned names like Brian Gumbel and 354 00:17:54,119 --> 00:17:57,880 Speaker 1: you met Brent Musburger. I think you mentioned Howard. How 355 00:17:57,960 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 1: would speaking us um um? I love Howard no better 356 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:09,120 Speaker 1: being better um. And then you run into a situation. 357 00:18:09,240 --> 00:18:13,879 Speaker 1: You're you're playing basketball yourself in Winston Salem. Yes, okay, 358 00:18:14,480 --> 00:18:17,200 Speaker 1: and you have a coach playing his big house games 359 00:18:17,320 --> 00:18:20,159 Speaker 1: like like a second father to year. Yeah, legend, okay, 360 00:18:20,960 --> 00:18:23,800 Speaker 1: something happens to the coach with his health. Yeah. I 361 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:27,480 Speaker 1: could not believe what I read. I could not believe 362 00:18:27,520 --> 00:18:32,760 Speaker 1: you did this. He has some health issues. I don't 363 00:18:32,880 --> 00:18:34,840 Speaker 1: know what it specifically was. I thought it was a 364 00:18:34,920 --> 00:18:37,399 Speaker 1: mild stroke. Somebody said it could have been cerebro POLSI. 365 00:18:37,440 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 1: I don't know what it was. But sometimes he would 366 00:18:39,320 --> 00:18:41,080 Speaker 1: show up the practice and games with a patch over 367 00:18:41,119 --> 00:18:44,680 Speaker 1: his eye, and he would, you know, he would lose 368 00:18:44,840 --> 00:18:47,399 Speaker 1: conscious to somebody, be like semi conscious at at at 369 00:18:47,680 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: particular moments a time. So I was a member of 370 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,639 Speaker 1: the basketball team. I'm writing for the school newspaper, and 371 00:18:52,840 --> 00:18:54,960 Speaker 1: I said, I always would sit in this office and 372 00:18:55,080 --> 00:18:57,480 Speaker 1: talk with him. You loved him. I loved him dearly, 373 00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:01,000 Speaker 1: always will, and you know I would talk to him 374 00:19:01,000 --> 00:19:04,200 Speaker 1: and I said, coach, you need to retire. You're not healthy. 375 00:19:04,640 --> 00:19:07,680 Speaker 1: And we got into a little argument about it. He said, 376 00:19:07,720 --> 00:19:09,639 Speaker 1: I don't give a damn what you say. Shut the 377 00:19:09,720 --> 00:19:11,520 Speaker 1: f up and get the hell out of my office 378 00:19:11,640 --> 00:19:14,399 Speaker 1: right now. I said, coach, I'm dead serious. I'm not 379 00:19:14,480 --> 00:19:17,000 Speaker 1: gonna watch you collapse on the sidelines and something like that. 380 00:19:17,040 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: You got a long life ahead of you. Add something here. 381 00:19:19,320 --> 00:19:22,960 Speaker 1: You really had a genuine fear he would die. Yes, yes, 382 00:19:23,160 --> 00:19:25,000 Speaker 1: I did. A lot of us did on the team. 383 00:19:25,400 --> 00:19:27,880 Speaker 1: We didn't know. It wasn't educated. We just looked went 384 00:19:27,960 --> 00:19:30,879 Speaker 1: by what we were seeing from him. And so I 385 00:19:30,960 --> 00:19:33,080 Speaker 1: said to him, right for the school newspaper, I said, 386 00:19:33,560 --> 00:19:35,439 Speaker 1: I'm going to write a story that you need to retire. 387 00:19:35,600 --> 00:19:38,119 Speaker 1: And he said to me, you know, I don't give 388 00:19:38,119 --> 00:19:41,240 Speaker 1: a what you right, get the hell out of my office. 389 00:19:41,320 --> 00:19:43,600 Speaker 1: Or I said, okay, I said, you got a problem 390 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:45,440 Speaker 1: with that. He said, do what you want to do. 391 00:19:45,840 --> 00:19:47,919 Speaker 1: And I went and I wrote the story about how 392 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:50,600 Speaker 1: he needed to retire, and so so many people would 393 00:19:50,600 --> 00:19:52,280 Speaker 1: take giving me heat about it. Oh my lord, you 394 00:19:52,359 --> 00:19:54,359 Speaker 1: got you got teammates that were praying that all to 395 00:19:54,440 --> 00:19:56,800 Speaker 1: lose my scholarship. You had coaches that wanted me going 396 00:19:57,080 --> 00:19:59,560 Speaker 1: the chancellor of the school. He later denied that he 397 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:01,720 Speaker 1: had any recall of it whatsoever, but he wanted to 398 00:20:01,760 --> 00:20:04,920 Speaker 1: be gone or whatever. And folks showed up to his 399 00:20:05,040 --> 00:20:07,520 Speaker 1: office one day and Coach Gayes said, leave me alone. 400 00:20:08,119 --> 00:20:10,639 Speaker 1: He said, he looked me in my face, told me 401 00:20:10,720 --> 00:20:14,440 Speaker 1: what he felt and why, and he got my perspective. 402 00:20:14,760 --> 00:20:16,760 Speaker 1: And then he went and he wrote it, he wants 403 00:20:16,760 --> 00:20:18,960 Speaker 1: to be a journalist. This is what comes with it. 404 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: Leave him alone. What was the net result, Well, I 405 00:20:22,840 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 1: stayed on scholarship and we just moved forward. And then 406 00:20:26,720 --> 00:20:31,600 Speaker 1: ultimately a few years later, he was pushed out by 407 00:20:32,080 --> 00:20:34,960 Speaker 1: some alumni members who I'm still salty with because I 408 00:20:35,000 --> 00:20:37,600 Speaker 1: thought they were very shady and how they went about 409 00:20:37,760 --> 00:20:40,080 Speaker 1: dealing with him. They didn't deal with him on an 410 00:20:40,160 --> 00:20:42,040 Speaker 1: up and up, and considering what he had meant to 411 00:20:42,119 --> 00:20:45,000 Speaker 1: that institution, being there for over forty five years, winning 412 00:20:45,040 --> 00:20:48,879 Speaker 1: a national championship, being a perennial powerhouse the black men 413 00:20:49,000 --> 00:20:51,480 Speaker 1: that he had brought to HBCUs, and a contribution that 414 00:20:51,560 --> 00:20:53,200 Speaker 1: he had made to so many of our lives, because 415 00:20:53,200 --> 00:20:54,960 Speaker 1: it wasn't just about the sports. You could be a 416 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:57,360 Speaker 1: great athlete, that's a great, great player, but Coach Gaines 417 00:20:57,440 --> 00:20:59,119 Speaker 1: was the kind of person if that is all you 418 00:20:59,280 --> 00:21:01,480 Speaker 1: were about, he did not want to talk to you 419 00:21:01,840 --> 00:21:04,399 Speaker 1: outside of the basketball court. You had to be about 420 00:21:04,440 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: something more than that. And when in my case, I 421 00:21:06,880 --> 00:21:09,639 Speaker 1: wasn't great on a basketball court, plus I was perpetually injured, 422 00:21:09,880 --> 00:21:11,680 Speaker 1: but he looked at the contribution he thought that I 423 00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:13,920 Speaker 1: would have off the court, and that's why he talked 424 00:21:13,920 --> 00:21:15,640 Speaker 1: to me all the time and he embraced me. Let's 425 00:21:15,680 --> 00:21:18,760 Speaker 1: go back to the teacher. The first identified you had 426 00:21:18,840 --> 00:21:23,040 Speaker 1: this gift, this brilliant so, this passion, and that you 427 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:26,080 Speaker 1: in fact were smart as hell, smarter than anybody knew, 428 00:21:26,119 --> 00:21:29,960 Speaker 1: and that you would be a star. Because it's interesting, 429 00:21:29,960 --> 00:21:31,679 Speaker 1: and I talk a lot about this on the program, 430 00:21:31,840 --> 00:21:34,520 Speaker 1: and for some people that's a little repetitive, but you know, 431 00:21:34,560 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 1: I've studied Latin in high school. The Latin derivative for 432 00:21:37,960 --> 00:21:41,040 Speaker 1: education is to bring forth from within. And what this 433 00:21:41,240 --> 00:21:43,920 Speaker 1: man was identifying to you and your mother is what 434 00:21:44,119 --> 00:21:47,480 Speaker 1: he saw in you, a gift God gave you, which 435 00:21:47,600 --> 00:21:50,639 Speaker 1: is like me, you have a big mouth, but you 436 00:21:50,760 --> 00:21:53,720 Speaker 1: have a passion. Well, I have a passion. I got 437 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:57,760 Speaker 1: behind the radio microphone. That was it, game over, checkmate, 438 00:21:57,920 --> 00:22:00,640 Speaker 1: that's all I wanted to do period, I was done. 439 00:22:01,000 --> 00:22:04,159 Speaker 1: There was nothing else I was gonna pursue. So you 440 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:07,760 Speaker 1: you found it in sports, and once you identified it, 441 00:22:08,119 --> 00:22:10,720 Speaker 1: it was like a rocket ship. It was a rocketship 442 00:22:10,760 --> 00:22:13,200 Speaker 1: because what happened is is that he was a social 443 00:22:13,280 --> 00:22:19,200 Speaker 1: studies teacher and he would see how my interest, my fervor, 444 00:22:19,880 --> 00:22:24,960 Speaker 1: and my knowledge would seem elevated with certain subjects compared 445 00:22:25,000 --> 00:22:28,080 Speaker 1: to others. So he was like, you're interested in this, 446 00:22:28,960 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 1: why is it this way? And I like, this bores me. 447 00:22:31,720 --> 00:22:35,680 Speaker 1: And he figured out that my you know, whatever level 448 00:22:35,760 --> 00:22:38,359 Speaker 1: of excellence I put forth was contingent on what I 449 00:22:38,480 --> 00:22:41,200 Speaker 1: was passionate about. And so when he said that to 450 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:45,720 Speaker 1: my mother, it was like, wow, Okay, now I took that. Well, 451 00:22:45,760 --> 00:22:49,680 Speaker 1: I'm passionate about sports. Dan. I coupled that with the 452 00:22:49,840 --> 00:22:53,200 Speaker 1: insults that still resonated with me coming from my father. 453 00:22:53,560 --> 00:22:55,280 Speaker 1: So all of a sudden he was a Yankee fan. 454 00:22:55,640 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: Now I'm watching baseball and I know base mention medals, 455 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,720 Speaker 1: Chris Chamblist and Ron Gidrey, Goose, Gossage and all of 456 00:23:03,760 --> 00:23:06,320 Speaker 1: these guys. So I'm studying and I'm watching the game, 457 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:08,960 Speaker 1: and all of a sudden, you know, before long. My 458 00:23:09,040 --> 00:23:11,359 Speaker 1: father's like, what the hell is going on here? He 459 00:23:11,720 --> 00:23:14,400 Speaker 1: ain't as dumb as I thought he was. This dude 460 00:23:14,520 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: is telling me about what's going on in sports, he described. 461 00:23:18,760 --> 00:23:20,240 Speaker 1: Your father would sit there. Why did he throw a 462 00:23:20,480 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: Why did he throw a fastball? Should have thrown a slider? 463 00:23:23,200 --> 00:23:25,119 Speaker 1: Why did that idiot swing at this pick? Why did 464 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 1: that third base coach wave the run of home? Which 465 00:23:28,040 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: that grated him more than anything he could, because this 466 00:23:30,640 --> 00:23:33,680 Speaker 1: whole point is, you ain't the manager. You got one job, right, 467 00:23:33,760 --> 00:23:35,520 Speaker 1: How is it that you can't do that one job 468 00:23:35,680 --> 00:23:38,160 Speaker 1: keep this dude from getting thrown out at home? How 469 00:23:38,240 --> 00:23:40,760 Speaker 1: could you mess that up? So my father was real 470 00:23:41,000 --> 00:23:43,800 Speaker 1: big on those things, and he was passionate about it. Well. 471 00:23:43,840 --> 00:23:46,360 Speaker 1: In order to sit up there and debate with him 472 00:23:46,840 --> 00:23:49,400 Speaker 1: or exceed his level of knowledge, I had to really 473 00:23:49,480 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: study the game. And so I used to watch these 474 00:23:52,040 --> 00:23:55,760 Speaker 1: games and watch him over and over and over again. 475 00:23:56,040 --> 00:23:57,520 Speaker 1: And it got to a point where I knew what 476 00:23:57,680 --> 00:24:01,359 Speaker 1: everybody's job description was, and that's how I mastered the sport. 477 00:24:01,400 --> 00:24:03,120 Speaker 1: So when he would come back and say this pitcher 478 00:24:03,200 --> 00:24:05,160 Speaker 1: made that mistake, I said it, no, Dad actually didn't 479 00:24:05,160 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 1: make that mistake. That particular hitter he was throwing the 480 00:24:07,440 --> 00:24:09,960 Speaker 1: ball against. He always is susceptible to the slider. That's 481 00:24:09,960 --> 00:24:11,880 Speaker 1: why he threw the slider. The mistake that he made 482 00:24:11,960 --> 00:24:14,200 Speaker 1: was throwing the fastball because he was waiting for that pitch. 483 00:24:14,480 --> 00:24:16,600 Speaker 1: That's and my father, what the hell is going on here? 484 00:24:16,840 --> 00:24:18,800 Speaker 1: You know? He said, well, why the hell did this guy? 485 00:24:19,200 --> 00:24:21,359 Speaker 1: He can't even hit the single bowl Dad. He always 486 00:24:21,400 --> 00:24:23,439 Speaker 1: swings and he always pulls the ball. So what they 487 00:24:23,480 --> 00:24:25,360 Speaker 1: do is they take the second baseman in the shortstop 488 00:24:25,400 --> 00:24:27,359 Speaker 1: and they lean him over to the left because they 489 00:24:27,440 --> 00:24:29,199 Speaker 1: know he's gonna pull the ball at all times. If 490 00:24:29,240 --> 00:24:31,000 Speaker 1: he just lays off of it a little bit, it'll 491 00:24:31,000 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 1: get a bullet side, it'll go to the other side. 492 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:35,560 Speaker 1: And he sort of he was like, what the hell 493 00:24:35,720 --> 00:24:38,240 Speaker 1: is going on? I can't believe this, And he would 494 00:24:38,240 --> 00:24:40,200 Speaker 1: tell my mother, I can't believe what's going on here. 495 00:24:40,520 --> 00:24:44,600 Speaker 1: One more story about your mom her obviously passing away, 496 00:24:45,119 --> 00:24:48,119 Speaker 1: is when you got fired, she kicked your ass? Yes? 497 00:24:48,359 --> 00:24:50,639 Speaker 1: Did she put you in your place? Yeah? By the way, 498 00:24:50,640 --> 00:24:53,120 Speaker 1: I wish I knew. She sounds so much like my mother. 499 00:24:53,400 --> 00:24:55,840 Speaker 1: I love it. Jennifer is not even listening. You should 500 00:24:55,840 --> 00:24:58,680 Speaker 1: be listening. Jennifer, believe it a lot. She didn't know 501 00:24:58,840 --> 00:25:02,960 Speaker 1: you that well, but she would have loved the relationship 502 00:25:03,040 --> 00:25:05,800 Speaker 1: that you and I have because my mother, this is 503 00:25:05,840 --> 00:25:07,320 Speaker 1: the thing, and this is what I try to tell 504 00:25:07,320 --> 00:25:10,520 Speaker 1: a lot of folks about a lot of African Americans 505 00:25:10,560 --> 00:25:12,480 Speaker 1: and a lot of black people in this country. You 506 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:15,399 Speaker 1: might have a lot of people voting Democrat. That is 507 00:25:15,520 --> 00:25:18,320 Speaker 1: not what goes on in our home. Our homes are 508 00:25:18,440 --> 00:25:21,480 Speaker 1: very very conservative. My mother want to hear about your rights. Yeah, 509 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:22,879 Speaker 1: you gotta write the chef the hell up and do 510 00:25:22,960 --> 00:25:24,600 Speaker 1: what the hell I tell you to do, or your 511 00:25:24,680 --> 00:25:26,560 Speaker 1: father's gonna whip your behind. That's but you ain't got 512 00:25:26,640 --> 00:25:28,720 Speaker 1: the rights here. You get rights when you get grown. 513 00:25:28,800 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 1: This is what we're gonna do. Yeah, we're gonna budget now, 514 00:25:31,080 --> 00:25:33,960 Speaker 1: We're not gonna just spend Excuse me, what do you mean, spend, Spencer, 515 00:25:34,080 --> 00:25:36,920 Speaker 1: you have the money. What's going on here? My mother 516 00:25:37,080 --> 00:25:39,040 Speaker 1: was a stickler for all of those things. You know, 517 00:25:39,119 --> 00:25:41,879 Speaker 1: you got gay rights, transgender, all of this other stuff. No, No, 518 00:25:42,000 --> 00:25:43,560 Speaker 1: my mother's house solf. You want to hear none of that. 519 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:45,920 Speaker 1: It's my household. What that was going out on the streets, 520 00:25:46,040 --> 00:25:48,320 Speaker 1: going out on the streets but in this household, we're 521 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 1: a Christian household. Okay, this is the way I might 522 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,840 Speaker 1: be episcopalian. I'll allow you to be non denomination too, 523 00:25:53,960 --> 00:25:56,400 Speaker 1: But that's about the level of flexibility that we're gonna 524 00:25:56,440 --> 00:25:58,600 Speaker 1: have in this house. Get the hell over it. This 525 00:25:58,680 --> 00:26:00,600 Speaker 1: is the way it was gonna be. My mother didn't play. 526 00:26:00,800 --> 00:26:04,159 Speaker 1: She didn't play at all. There was no compromise. And 527 00:26:04,280 --> 00:26:06,399 Speaker 1: so my mother was that of that ilcause she was 528 00:26:06,440 --> 00:26:08,080 Speaker 1: that type of person. So when I got let go 529 00:26:08,760 --> 00:26:12,240 Speaker 1: by ESPN, I come home and I'm laying down in 530 00:26:12,400 --> 00:26:14,560 Speaker 1: my bunk bed where I grew up. And my mother 531 00:26:15,119 --> 00:26:17,120 Speaker 1: was always good about she wanted I know, she knows. 532 00:26:17,119 --> 00:26:19,440 Speaker 1: I loved my toastered bagels with a little extra butter 533 00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:21,560 Speaker 1: and some scrambled eggs, and my hot tea with milk 534 00:26:21,600 --> 00:26:23,520 Speaker 1: and sugar and stuff like that. Oh man, that's what 535 00:26:23,600 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 1: I loved. Teddy Bear too. She did not, but she 536 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:29,199 Speaker 1: didn't have to. That was my Teddy Bear, that fool. Right. 537 00:26:29,560 --> 00:26:32,280 Speaker 1: So I'm in now in this one particular day, as 538 00:26:32,359 --> 00:26:34,680 Speaker 1: I write in the book, it's a tray. It's a 539 00:26:34,760 --> 00:26:37,000 Speaker 1: tray of the food and the tea and some orange 540 00:26:37,080 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: juice and on there's a handheld mirror, and I was like, 541 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:42,639 Speaker 1: what is this and she said, I'm wondering when you're 542 00:26:42,640 --> 00:26:44,760 Speaker 1: gonna take a moment to look at yourself. It's real 543 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,720 Speaker 1: easy to point the finger at what they did, or 544 00:26:47,760 --> 00:26:49,600 Speaker 1: what about what you did? And then she went in 545 00:26:49,760 --> 00:26:52,960 Speaker 1: on me about times that she overheard me on the 546 00:26:53,040 --> 00:26:55,440 Speaker 1: phone and I was being cynical about the bosses. I 547 00:26:55,520 --> 00:26:58,359 Speaker 1: was being cynical about decisions that was made. Um, I 548 00:26:58,400 --> 00:27:01,120 Speaker 1: would push back and all you a little bit too much. 549 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:04,760 Speaker 1: I was never insuported in a disrespectful but I was. 550 00:27:05,160 --> 00:27:07,879 Speaker 1: I made life a bit uncomfortable. And she was like, 551 00:27:08,359 --> 00:27:10,560 Speaker 1: you're not a Boston You don't like people telling you 552 00:27:10,680 --> 00:27:12,520 Speaker 1: what to do and talking to you like that. She 553 00:27:12,720 --> 00:27:15,840 Speaker 1: was like, why should they want you if you're gonna 554 00:27:15,920 --> 00:27:18,160 Speaker 1: cause them that kind of headache? When are you gonna 555 00:27:18,160 --> 00:27:20,960 Speaker 1: look at yourself? And that's what she said to me 556 00:27:21,040 --> 00:27:22,560 Speaker 1: and she walked out the room. There's nothing I canna 557 00:27:22,560 --> 00:27:24,720 Speaker 1: say quick break more with Stephen A. Smith on the 558 00:27:24,800 --> 00:27:28,000 Speaker 1: other side. Straight Shooter, a memoir of Second Chances and 559 00:27:28,080 --> 00:27:31,000 Speaker 1: First takes us on Amazon dot com. We have a 560 00:27:31,040 --> 00:27:34,000 Speaker 1: big link on Hannity dot com and by the way, 561 00:27:34,040 --> 00:27:37,320 Speaker 1: Straight Shooter Book dot com. If you want an autograph copy, 562 00:27:37,520 --> 00:27:40,040 Speaker 1: we'll continue on the other side. Stephen A. Smith is 563 00:27:40,080 --> 00:27:41,800 Speaker 1: with us. His new book is out man. This is 564 00:27:41,840 --> 00:27:44,560 Speaker 1: a great buck, Straight Shooter, a memoir of second chances 565 00:27:44,600 --> 00:27:47,760 Speaker 1: and first takes. By the way, Amazon dot com, Hannity 566 00:27:47,800 --> 00:27:50,399 Speaker 1: dot com. If you want an autograph copy, it's Straight 567 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:53,800 Speaker 1: Shooter book dot com. It's that simple. You know, my 568 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:56,359 Speaker 1: son is your biggest fan. Although he can't stand it 569 00:27:56,600 --> 00:27:59,240 Speaker 1: when you're going down on his Dallas Calbois happing down. 570 00:27:59,280 --> 00:28:00,960 Speaker 1: He's gonna hate it a lot more in the days 571 00:28:01,000 --> 00:28:02,960 Speaker 1: of weeks to come, because they got a game Monday 572 00:28:03,040 --> 00:28:08,400 Speaker 1: night against Tampa Bay. Yeah, but I want to see Listen, 573 00:28:08,440 --> 00:28:10,760 Speaker 1: I like Tom Brady. That story never ends for me. 574 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,800 Speaker 1: I always cheer for him. But I also like I'm 575 00:28:13,800 --> 00:28:16,440 Speaker 1: a Dak fan. Also, I think he's I think his 576 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:19,199 Speaker 1: time is now, and hopefully this year we'll see who 577 00:28:19,200 --> 00:28:21,520 Speaker 1: he does. So we could talk about all that, but 578 00:28:21,760 --> 00:28:25,320 Speaker 1: that's not why I wanted this interview. After read, I 579 00:28:25,440 --> 00:28:28,400 Speaker 1: thought this interview was gonna be about all these wonderful 580 00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:31,840 Speaker 1: people that you know and and you know work with 581 00:28:32,040 --> 00:28:35,119 Speaker 1: an interview and talk to and and your life and 582 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:37,760 Speaker 1: career a little bit but this isn't really what that 583 00:28:37,840 --> 00:28:40,440 Speaker 1: book is about. To me, The book is really about 584 00:28:40,640 --> 00:28:44,120 Speaker 1: you and about how you were able to overcome all 585 00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: of that to become this huge star. Everybody knows who 586 00:28:48,000 --> 00:28:50,880 Speaker 1: you are. Everybody And it was funny you mentioned at 587 00:28:50,920 --> 00:28:52,760 Speaker 1: one point in the book you might you hosted for 588 00:28:52,840 --> 00:28:56,160 Speaker 1: Jimmy Kimmel is late Night in my future? Yeah, and 589 00:28:56,280 --> 00:28:58,720 Speaker 1: don't ask me to be on your show because dancers. No, please, 590 00:28:58,760 --> 00:29:00,320 Speaker 1: you'll come on if I watch you, I want as 591 00:29:00,360 --> 00:29:01,880 Speaker 1: many times if I appear for you, you come on 592 00:29:02,040 --> 00:29:05,440 Speaker 1: my show. I would, but listen, listen. I like to 593 00:29:05,560 --> 00:29:08,840 Speaker 1: have a good time. Contrary to what people believe I've 594 00:29:08,840 --> 00:29:10,600 Speaker 1: I've always wanted to do Late Night, but I've got 595 00:29:10,640 --> 00:29:13,400 Speaker 1: a lot of different aspirations, whether this Radios podcast is 596 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 1: my production company or whatever. But I think that I've 597 00:29:16,720 --> 00:29:18,800 Speaker 1: I've been blessed and fortunate enough to be in a 598 00:29:18,880 --> 00:29:21,200 Speaker 1: position where I can have an impact. And what I 599 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:23,760 Speaker 1: try to do is just have an impact and encourage 600 00:29:23,880 --> 00:29:26,600 Speaker 1: people to be open to an abundant Suppose that's what 601 00:29:27,720 --> 00:29:30,400 Speaker 1: you promised your mom, that you would not write this 602 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:32,640 Speaker 1: book until she passed away. That was a little weird 603 00:29:32,680 --> 00:29:34,720 Speaker 1: to me. I didn't know why. My mother was incredibly 604 00:29:34,800 --> 00:29:38,160 Speaker 1: private and she did not want everyone to know what 605 00:29:38,440 --> 00:29:40,760 Speaker 1: my father put her through. She did not want to 606 00:29:40,800 --> 00:29:43,520 Speaker 1: be alive when that happened. I think so she asked 607 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:44,959 Speaker 1: me in two the round I think it was two 608 00:29:45,000 --> 00:29:47,640 Speaker 1: thousan ten going into two thousand and eleven, she made 609 00:29:47,680 --> 00:29:50,440 Speaker 1: me swear to her that I would never write this 610 00:29:50,560 --> 00:29:52,560 Speaker 1: book as long as she was alive, because she knew 611 00:29:52,720 --> 00:29:54,840 Speaker 1: I would talk about my father. I only have two 612 00:29:54,880 --> 00:29:56,720 Speaker 1: minutes left, and I want I want to take this 613 00:29:57,000 --> 00:29:59,960 Speaker 1: as an opportunity because I think this is such a power, 614 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:04,680 Speaker 1: powerful life story. What do you say to young people 615 00:30:04,920 --> 00:30:07,560 Speaker 1: that go through adversity. There's a lot of people that 616 00:30:07,680 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: look up to you that are growing up in either 617 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:13,960 Speaker 1: similar circumstances, maybe worse circumstances. There's a lot of pain 618 00:30:14,080 --> 00:30:17,360 Speaker 1: in this country, a lot of there's a lot of violence. 619 00:30:17,440 --> 00:30:19,480 Speaker 1: I keep talking about we need law and order and 620 00:30:19,560 --> 00:30:22,360 Speaker 1: safety and security if you want people to pursue happiness. 621 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:26,040 Speaker 1: There's a lot of crap going on, and but people 622 00:30:26,120 --> 00:30:29,640 Speaker 1: look up to athletes, They look up to people like you. 623 00:30:29,840 --> 00:30:31,239 Speaker 1: My son looks up to you. I don't know why, 624 00:30:31,360 --> 00:30:33,360 Speaker 1: but it looks up to you more than me. And 625 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,120 Speaker 1: but you have a message for people, what is it 626 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:39,680 Speaker 1: to those to the younger people that are facing challenges 627 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:42,960 Speaker 1: and things we can't even imagine. Stop thinking at the 628 00:30:43,000 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 1: world is against you. No matter what we're going through 629 00:30:45,360 --> 00:30:47,040 Speaker 1: in this country, no matter what we're going through in 630 00:30:47,080 --> 00:30:50,200 Speaker 1: this world, there's far more good than bad. I wouldn't 631 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:52,560 Speaker 1: be where I am today if it were not for 632 00:30:52,720 --> 00:30:55,479 Speaker 1: so many people who extended a help in hand. One 633 00:30:55,520 --> 00:30:56,920 Speaker 1: of the things that I bring up in the book 634 00:30:57,080 --> 00:30:59,600 Speaker 1: is my time at the Whitstess LM Journal. The entire 635 00:30:59,640 --> 00:31:03,800 Speaker 1: staff was white, and I remember their name, Steve Steve Man, 636 00:31:04,040 --> 00:31:08,520 Speaker 1: Dan Loaman, Terry Oberlee, Phil Riskshack and these guys you know, 637 00:31:08,920 --> 00:31:11,680 Speaker 1: Lennox Rawlings and all these. They could not have been 638 00:31:11,760 --> 00:31:13,640 Speaker 1: more generous, They could not have been more kind, They 639 00:31:13,680 --> 00:31:15,520 Speaker 1: could not have been more giving of their time and 640 00:31:15,600 --> 00:31:17,760 Speaker 1: their efforts. If it were not for them, I wouldn't 641 00:31:17,800 --> 00:31:20,600 Speaker 1: be here. And the same goals for Kevin Whitmer, the 642 00:31:20,680 --> 00:31:22,600 Speaker 1: former sports head of the New York Daily News, and 643 00:31:23,000 --> 00:31:25,160 Speaker 1: the Gary Howards and the Mike Brutus of the world, 644 00:31:25,200 --> 00:31:27,320 Speaker 1: and so many other people that have helped me along 645 00:31:27,360 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 1: the way. I didn't get here just because of my 646 00:31:30,160 --> 00:31:33,120 Speaker 1: skill set. I had to develop those skills. Somebody had 647 00:31:33,160 --> 00:31:35,600 Speaker 1: to help me do it. Somebody had to see something 648 00:31:35,680 --> 00:31:39,920 Speaker 1: in me, believe in me, and then extend themselves in 649 00:31:40,160 --> 00:31:42,560 Speaker 1: order to help facilitate me being where I am today. 650 00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:46,040 Speaker 1: That's everywhere. I don't care who you are, I don't 651 00:31:46,080 --> 00:31:49,720 Speaker 1: care where you can go. There's always someone willing to 652 00:31:49,880 --> 00:31:54,240 Speaker 1: extend themselves to help you be your best self. And 653 00:31:54,480 --> 00:31:58,400 Speaker 1: that alone should be inspirational enough for you to one 654 00:31:58,640 --> 00:32:01,400 Speaker 1: to be the best that you can be, because you'll 655 00:32:01,440 --> 00:32:04,160 Speaker 1: owe it not just to yourself but to them. And 656 00:32:04,360 --> 00:32:06,320 Speaker 1: that's how you make the world a better place, because 657 00:32:06,320 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 1: it's not just about getting to that place, it's about 658 00:32:08,840 --> 00:32:11,960 Speaker 1: having recall and remembering those folks helped you. I gotta go, 659 00:32:12,520 --> 00:32:14,800 Speaker 1: I gotta wrap things up. I love the book. I 660 00:32:14,880 --> 00:32:17,000 Speaker 1: want everybody to get a copy of it. It's called 661 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:21,080 Speaker 1: Straight Shooter, A Memoir of Second Chances and first Takes. 662 00:32:21,400 --> 00:32:23,800 Speaker 1: The one and only Stephen A. Smith Appreciate your man. 663 00:32:24,040 --> 00:32:25,960 Speaker 1: I can't believe we've been friends us long and I 664 00:32:26,000 --> 00:32:28,920 Speaker 1: didn't know a lot of this. Amazon dot com, Hannity 665 00:32:29,040 --> 00:32:31,479 Speaker 1: dot com, bookstores, everywhere else of next week, all right, 666 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:34,000 Speaker 1: when we come back, we'll change gears back to politics 667 00:32:34,040 --> 00:32:35,400 Speaker 1: and the other issues of the day.