1 00:00:00,360 --> 00:00:02,880 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Heat Pivots on Flavor Flame. 2 00:00:13,720 --> 00:00:17,240 Speaker 2: Welcome back to she Pivots, the podcast where women share 3 00:00:17,360 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 2: bold career moves and personal turning points that changed everything. 4 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,120 Speaker 3: I'm your host to Emily Tish Sussman. 5 00:00:29,760 --> 00:00:32,840 Speaker 2: This past February, both the US women's and men's hockey 6 00:00:32,840 --> 00:00:35,680 Speaker 2: teams won gold medals at the Winter Olympics. The men 7 00:00:35,760 --> 00:00:38,440 Speaker 2: got an official invite to the White House, the women 8 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,480 Speaker 2: got mocked by the President. Somebody stepped up for those 9 00:00:42,520 --> 00:00:46,400 Speaker 2: women and extended an invitation for them to really celebrate 10 00:00:46,440 --> 00:00:49,760 Speaker 2: their win, and I'll be honest, it was not who 11 00:00:49,800 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 2: I expected. This week's special episode is frankly completely different 12 00:00:54,320 --> 00:00:57,279 Speaker 2: from any other episode we've ever done, because today, for 13 00:00:57,320 --> 00:00:59,480 Speaker 2: the first time in the history of this show, I'm 14 00:00:59,520 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 2: sitting as from a man. This is our first ever 15 00:01:03,800 --> 00:01:08,520 Speaker 2: episode of he Pivots, and we're featuring none other than 16 00:01:08,720 --> 00:01:12,840 Speaker 2: Flavor Flave. You've probably seen him in his signature clock 17 00:01:12,959 --> 00:01:16,400 Speaker 2: necklace and the occasional Viking helmet. He's a founding member 18 00:01:16,440 --> 00:01:19,280 Speaker 2: of Public Enemy, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, and 19 00:01:19,360 --> 00:01:23,520 Speaker 2: Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner. He turned reality TV into 20 00:01:23,600 --> 00:01:25,360 Speaker 2: an empire before anyone. 21 00:01:25,080 --> 00:01:26,280 Speaker 3: Realized the cultural power. 22 00:01:26,280 --> 00:01:29,759 Speaker 2: It would have, but lately the most iconic hype man 23 00:01:29,760 --> 00:01:33,880 Speaker 2: in music history is hyping up a new group female athletes. 24 00:01:34,480 --> 00:01:37,480 Speaker 2: Flave has become a well known champion for women's sports. 25 00:01:37,920 --> 00:01:41,039 Speaker 2: He sponsors the US women's water polo and bob sled 26 00:01:41,160 --> 00:01:45,000 Speaker 2: skeleton teams, supports the women's hockey team, and this weekend 27 00:01:45,280 --> 00:01:49,000 Speaker 2: he's throwing the twenty twenty six female Olympians and Paralympians 28 00:01:49,040 --> 00:01:53,480 Speaker 2: a celebration party in Las Vegas. Today's conversation is with 29 00:01:53,560 --> 00:01:57,400 Speaker 2: the man, but we're still capturing the true she pivots spirit. 30 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:00,280 Speaker 2: This man has played a major role in shift the 31 00:02:00,280 --> 00:02:05,120 Speaker 2: cultural conversation around women's sports, showing up for the underappreciated, 32 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:07,240 Speaker 2: top tier female athletes. 33 00:02:08,120 --> 00:02:09,120 Speaker 3: He is doing the thing. 34 00:02:09,200 --> 00:02:13,079 Speaker 2: This whole show is about supporting women through their pivots. 35 00:02:13,960 --> 00:02:18,079 Speaker 2: This is Flavor Flav and this is how he pivots. 36 00:02:22,240 --> 00:02:27,200 Speaker 2: Welcome to the podcast, the very first he pivots we 37 00:02:27,280 --> 00:02:27,840 Speaker 2: have ever done. 38 00:02:28,080 --> 00:02:29,680 Speaker 3: You are a groundbreaker in many ways. 39 00:02:29,840 --> 00:02:36,000 Speaker 1: Wow, I'm honored. He pivots, he pivots, she pivots, They 40 00:02:36,040 --> 00:02:36,760 Speaker 1: all pivots. 41 00:02:37,320 --> 00:02:38,720 Speaker 3: What is your name and what do you do? 42 00:02:39,240 --> 00:02:41,799 Speaker 1: My name is Flavor Flav. I'm from a rap group 43 00:02:41,880 --> 00:02:44,320 Speaker 1: called Public Enemy, and I am an entertainer. 44 00:02:44,960 --> 00:02:48,080 Speaker 2: You have a new identity. You've become the face of 45 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:49,640 Speaker 2: the champion of women's sports. 46 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:52,440 Speaker 1: I'll take that one. 47 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:57,040 Speaker 2: We've actually met once before where around men's sports. At 48 00:02:57,080 --> 00:03:00,480 Speaker 2: the Giants super Bowl. After the Giants won the Suit Bowl, 49 00:03:00,639 --> 00:03:02,600 Speaker 2: there was a parade in Lower Manhattan. 50 00:03:02,880 --> 00:03:04,080 Speaker 3: Uh huh do you remember this? 51 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:08,119 Speaker 1: One of the fellas from the Super Bowl he said, playing, Yeah, 52 00:03:08,120 --> 00:03:09,120 Speaker 1: you want to come up here. 53 00:03:09,320 --> 00:03:11,560 Speaker 3: You went up on the bus, on the bus with 54 00:03:11,680 --> 00:03:12,280 Speaker 3: the team. 55 00:03:12,360 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: That was yep, And I was in the parade. 56 00:03:14,240 --> 00:03:15,160 Speaker 3: That is amazing. 57 00:03:15,240 --> 00:03:17,440 Speaker 2: The only thing I knew was that when the parade ends, 58 00:03:17,720 --> 00:03:20,960 Speaker 2: everyone empties off into City Hall at the end, and 59 00:03:21,040 --> 00:03:23,400 Speaker 2: so we have a family picture of like our family. 60 00:03:23,600 --> 00:03:25,800 Speaker 3: And you were you a big Giants fan? Is that 61 00:03:25,840 --> 00:03:26,720 Speaker 3: how you ended up there? 62 00:03:27,080 --> 00:03:29,720 Speaker 1: Well, I've always been a big fan of all my 63 00:03:29,840 --> 00:03:33,880 Speaker 1: New York teams, the Giants, the Jets, the Yankees, the Mets, 64 00:03:34,000 --> 00:03:38,800 Speaker 1: the Knicks, the Nets, the Liberty, the Islanders, the Rangers, 65 00:03:39,000 --> 00:03:39,840 Speaker 1: the Bills. 66 00:03:40,160 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 3: And now we'll get you to Gotham the women's soccer team. 67 00:03:42,200 --> 00:03:44,640 Speaker 1: Yes, yes, but I've always been a big support of 68 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:47,160 Speaker 1: my New York team, so I always loved the Giants. 69 00:03:47,600 --> 00:03:49,760 Speaker 2: Okay, so we're going to go back up a little 70 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:50,800 Speaker 2: bit into how we got here. 71 00:03:50,880 --> 00:03:52,480 Speaker 3: I mean, you have had. 72 00:03:52,360 --> 00:03:54,760 Speaker 2: One of the most long and storied careers in hip 73 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:56,000 Speaker 2: hop with Public Enemy. 74 00:03:56,080 --> 00:03:57,160 Speaker 3: What was it like at the top? 75 00:03:57,600 --> 00:04:00,400 Speaker 1: Well, honestly, to tell you the truth, I don't know 76 00:04:00,440 --> 00:04:02,920 Speaker 1: what it was like at the top because I don't 77 00:04:02,920 --> 00:04:05,200 Speaker 1: feel like I've been to the top yet. But it's 78 00:04:05,360 --> 00:04:08,000 Speaker 1: been a maze of journey so far. We came on 79 00:04:08,040 --> 00:04:11,040 Speaker 1: the scene in nineteen eighty six, we kind of blew up, 80 00:04:11,400 --> 00:04:14,840 Speaker 1: made some major accomplishments with our music. It's been a 81 00:04:14,840 --> 00:04:18,200 Speaker 1: real great journey. It helped to give me a wider 82 00:04:18,360 --> 00:04:21,400 Speaker 1: TV audience when I got into reality TV. A lot 83 00:04:21,400 --> 00:04:25,119 Speaker 1: of my fans for Public Enemy followed me in reality TV. 84 00:04:25,279 --> 00:04:28,480 Speaker 1: But then also reality TV gave me a new general 85 00:04:28,520 --> 00:04:31,560 Speaker 1: of fans, which is the younger generation. I ain't gonna lie. 86 00:04:31,600 --> 00:04:35,080 Speaker 2: I love it when you say that you haven't made 87 00:04:35,080 --> 00:04:37,160 Speaker 2: it to the top yet. What will signify for you 88 00:04:37,240 --> 00:04:38,839 Speaker 2: that you've made it? Like, what are you still working 89 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:39,320 Speaker 2: for now? 90 00:04:40,080 --> 00:04:43,040 Speaker 1: Well, when I make it to the top, that means 91 00:04:43,160 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: I did everything that I wanted to do in life 92 00:04:45,440 --> 00:04:47,479 Speaker 1: before I go in the ground. You know what I'm saying. 93 00:04:47,520 --> 00:04:49,960 Speaker 1: So until I get to do every single thing that 94 00:04:50,040 --> 00:04:51,719 Speaker 1: I want to do in life, I haven't made it 95 00:04:51,720 --> 00:04:52,159 Speaker 1: to the top. 96 00:04:52,279 --> 00:04:53,679 Speaker 3: Yeah, what's left on the list? 97 00:04:54,040 --> 00:04:58,680 Speaker 1: A lot? Okay, a whole Lot'll take about four podcasts 98 00:04:58,760 --> 00:05:01,200 Speaker 1: and go through all of that. But there's still a 99 00:05:01,279 --> 00:05:03,360 Speaker 1: lot on the bucket list that I want to knock off. 100 00:05:03,800 --> 00:05:06,400 Speaker 2: Were there some things that had been on your list 101 00:05:06,480 --> 00:05:08,480 Speaker 2: and you were able to accomplish them, Like was win 102 00:05:08,520 --> 00:05:10,039 Speaker 2: a Grammy at the top of your list? 103 00:05:10,279 --> 00:05:13,680 Speaker 1: Now that's on my bucket list. I want to know 104 00:05:13,720 --> 00:05:17,400 Speaker 1: what it feels like to win a Grammy. I was 105 00:05:17,640 --> 00:05:21,560 Speaker 1: awarded a Grammy, which is Lifetime Achievement Award, and to me, 106 00:05:21,720 --> 00:05:25,600 Speaker 1: that Grammy is bigger than any other Grammys. Like Jay 107 00:05:25,720 --> 00:05:28,080 Speaker 1: Z he got a lot of Grammys, Beyonce, he got 108 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 1: a lot of Grammys, Ludacris got a lot of Grammys. 109 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:33,560 Speaker 1: Everybody got Grammys. But my one Grammy, to me, is 110 00:05:33,600 --> 00:05:36,560 Speaker 1: bigger than all of their Grammys put together. Because it's 111 00:05:36,600 --> 00:05:39,760 Speaker 1: not easy to get the Lifetime Achievement Award. But I 112 00:05:39,760 --> 00:05:41,800 Speaker 1: want to see what it feels like, though, to win 113 00:05:41,880 --> 00:05:44,599 Speaker 1: a Grammy, So I'm going after that Grammy this year. 114 00:05:45,160 --> 00:05:46,320 Speaker 3: Are you recording more music. 115 00:05:46,400 --> 00:05:48,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, I'm recording more music. I'm gonna put out a 116 00:05:48,880 --> 00:05:50,240 Speaker 1: solo R and B album. 117 00:05:50,360 --> 00:05:50,880 Speaker 3: Very cool. 118 00:05:51,080 --> 00:05:52,920 Speaker 1: It's gonna be my new venture. I mean, I'm still 119 00:05:52,960 --> 00:05:55,520 Speaker 1: gonna do rap music too. But you know, there's another 120 00:05:55,680 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 1: side of me that a lot of people don't know, 121 00:05:58,040 --> 00:06:00,000 Speaker 1: and I want them to get to see this side 122 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:01,120 Speaker 1: before I die. 123 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:03,520 Speaker 3: You were trained in many instruments. 124 00:06:04,000 --> 00:06:06,719 Speaker 1: I taught myself how to play all of the instruments 125 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,520 Speaker 1: that I do play. You know, every instrument that I play, 126 00:06:09,560 --> 00:06:12,200 Speaker 1: yourself taught. You're gonna laugh at this what I tell 127 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:14,640 Speaker 1: you this, But most of the instruments that I learned 128 00:06:14,800 --> 00:06:17,760 Speaker 1: I learned in school, cutting my classes, hanging out in 129 00:06:17,800 --> 00:06:20,200 Speaker 1: the bandroom. I used to cut my classes and just 130 00:06:20,240 --> 00:06:23,280 Speaker 1: hang out in the badroom. Man, just stay in at badroom. 131 00:06:23,360 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 1: And you know what the teachers knew I was cutting. 132 00:06:25,760 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: I was real good, you know, at picking up instruments 133 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:30,880 Speaker 1: and playing them, you know, on my own. I got 134 00:06:30,920 --> 00:06:33,640 Speaker 1: so good. One time my teacher said, let them cut. 135 00:06:35,120 --> 00:06:37,080 Speaker 3: What are all the instruments you think that you can play? 136 00:06:37,120 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: Now? Piano? I played drums, I can play bass, guitar, 137 00:06:41,800 --> 00:06:46,400 Speaker 1: counga's cow bells. I can play a sax, trumpet, xylophone, 138 00:06:46,600 --> 00:06:50,120 Speaker 1: a cello, upright bass, and these instruments that I'm naming 139 00:06:50,160 --> 00:06:52,640 Speaker 1: to you right now, I can play good enough to 140 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:55,560 Speaker 1: make a statement, But then I would give it to 141 00:06:55,640 --> 00:06:58,240 Speaker 1: somebody that's real good. You know what I'm saying to 142 00:06:58,279 --> 00:06:59,960 Speaker 1: be like, hey, can you you know? But my maid 143 00:07:00,160 --> 00:07:04,039 Speaker 1: instruments and my main four instruments though, was the piano, bassed, drums, 144 00:07:04,120 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: and cushion instruments. 145 00:07:08,560 --> 00:07:11,720 Speaker 2: Before flave was pool side and a team USA swim 146 00:07:11,840 --> 00:07:14,760 Speaker 2: cap are hurdling down a Bob's led track. He was 147 00:07:14,800 --> 00:07:17,800 Speaker 2: a kid in Freeport, Long Island cutting class to teach 148 00:07:17,880 --> 00:07:21,200 Speaker 2: himself every instrument in the band room. He left New 149 00:07:21,240 --> 00:07:24,720 Speaker 2: York with one rule. He wasn't coming back until he 150 00:07:24,840 --> 00:07:28,280 Speaker 2: made it onto a screen. He starred in shows like 151 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,160 Speaker 2: The Surreal Life, Strange Love, and Flavor of Love, and 152 00:07:32,200 --> 00:07:36,880 Speaker 2: they post the biggest numbers VH one ever saw. So 153 00:07:37,040 --> 00:07:39,600 Speaker 2: you alluded to this moving into reality TV. Can you 154 00:07:39,640 --> 00:07:42,360 Speaker 2: tell us how that came about? Reality TV wasn't really 155 00:07:42,360 --> 00:07:43,840 Speaker 2: a big thing when you started it. 156 00:07:44,440 --> 00:07:47,640 Speaker 1: I left New York near the end of two thousand 157 00:07:47,720 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: and two. I got to LA. To make long story short, 158 00:07:51,200 --> 00:07:53,560 Speaker 1: I said, I am not going back to New York 159 00:07:53,640 --> 00:07:55,800 Speaker 1: until I get on TV or until I'm in a 160 00:07:55,880 --> 00:07:59,280 Speaker 1: movie or something. So God had fixed it for me 161 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,280 Speaker 1: and he allowed need a manifested. I was hanging out 162 00:08:02,320 --> 00:08:05,560 Speaker 1: with my boy, Sir Jinks. Sir Jinks was the DJ 163 00:08:05,760 --> 00:08:08,040 Speaker 1: for ice Cube. There was a guy that came over 164 00:08:08,120 --> 00:08:10,760 Speaker 1: to his house and he was an editor for Fox 165 00:08:10,880 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: five for Steve Harvey's Big Time Show. That's when Steve 166 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,360 Speaker 1: Harvey used to have all of these different types of 167 00:08:17,400 --> 00:08:19,600 Speaker 1: acts coming on his show and everything, you know what 168 00:08:19,680 --> 00:08:22,800 Speaker 1: I'm saying. So my boy Norris was like, Flaith, come on, 169 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,240 Speaker 1: you gotta come with me. Just come down, Come down 170 00:08:25,320 --> 00:08:27,240 Speaker 1: to the show with me. Man. So I said, Okay, 171 00:08:27,440 --> 00:08:29,760 Speaker 1: went down, sat in the audience. Next thing you know, 172 00:08:29,920 --> 00:08:32,720 Speaker 1: here come to cameras. Put him on flav About ten 173 00:08:32,760 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: minutes later, my phone was blowing up your flaive, we 174 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:38,839 Speaker 1: see you on Steve Harvey Show. I'm like, wow, Wow, 175 00:08:38,920 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: that's crazy, just that fast, you know what I'm saying. 176 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:45,520 Speaker 1: So anyway, that was my first TV appearance. Then Bernie Mack, 177 00:08:45,679 --> 00:08:48,160 Speaker 1: God bless my boy. Bernie got mess Bernie, And my 178 00:08:48,240 --> 00:08:50,960 Speaker 1: second TV appearance was with The Bernie Mack Show. When 179 00:08:51,000 --> 00:08:54,319 Speaker 1: I did a golfing episode with him and Monique. That 180 00:08:54,480 --> 00:08:58,360 Speaker 1: was my second TV appearance. Damen Wayiams my wife and kids. 181 00:08:58,400 --> 00:09:00,960 Speaker 1: They had me on that show, and then after that, 182 00:09:01,280 --> 00:09:03,280 Speaker 1: I had a friend that worked up at the v 183 00:09:03,480 --> 00:09:05,880 Speaker 1: H one offices and everything. She took me up to 184 00:09:05,920 --> 00:09:09,840 Speaker 1: the offices. I want to everybody's cubicle. Hey, what's up everybody? Yo? 185 00:09:09,880 --> 00:09:11,560 Speaker 1: What's up? Yo? Hey? What's your name? You know, I 186 00:09:11,720 --> 00:09:14,760 Speaker 1: just went around in cubicles messing with everybody. So the 187 00:09:14,800 --> 00:09:18,800 Speaker 1: world got around to her. Chris Abrago and Mark Cronin 188 00:09:19,080 --> 00:09:23,440 Speaker 1: and a lady named Laurie Muslow. She walked me into 189 00:09:23,480 --> 00:09:26,200 Speaker 1: a meeting with Chris Abrego and Mark Cronin and they 190 00:09:26,240 --> 00:09:28,800 Speaker 1: asked me did I want to do Surreal Life? I 191 00:09:28,880 --> 00:09:31,079 Speaker 1: was like, I don't know. I think that show is 192 00:09:31,120 --> 00:09:34,040 Speaker 1: for has beens. The people that were on there, they 193 00:09:34,040 --> 00:09:35,800 Speaker 1: were hot at one time, but then they got cold. 194 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:38,319 Speaker 1: Vanilla Ice nell Ice was hot at one time, but 195 00:09:38,440 --> 00:09:41,760 Speaker 1: he cooled off. MC hammer can't touch this. My boy 196 00:09:42,000 --> 00:09:45,120 Speaker 1: was hot as fish crease at one time, but then 197 00:09:45,240 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: he cooled off and he did the Surreal Life too. 198 00:09:48,400 --> 00:09:50,679 Speaker 1: So I said, I don't think I want to do this. 199 00:09:50,800 --> 00:09:53,800 Speaker 1: Chris Abrego said, ask him. I asked him what happened 200 00:09:53,800 --> 00:09:56,800 Speaker 1: with him? I called up him. I said, Yo, Hammer, Yo, Man, 201 00:09:56,840 --> 00:09:59,560 Speaker 1: you think I should do this show? You men, I 202 00:09:59,559 --> 00:10:01,760 Speaker 1: think you you do the show because I'm telling you 203 00:10:01,880 --> 00:10:04,800 Speaker 1: good things happened to me. Man after the show. So 204 00:10:04,880 --> 00:10:07,600 Speaker 1: that's what you're working for. Flaving you working for after 205 00:10:07,679 --> 00:10:10,439 Speaker 1: the show, big things can happen for you. So I said, 206 00:10:10,559 --> 00:10:12,880 Speaker 1: all right, I'll give it a try. Hamma talked to 207 00:10:12,880 --> 00:10:15,400 Speaker 1: me into doing it. I did Surreal Life three. They 208 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,800 Speaker 1: put me in the house with these other five celebs. 209 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:23,000 Speaker 1: Dave Coolier cause my boy Dave was my boy, Jordan Knight, 210 00:10:23,160 --> 00:10:25,400 Speaker 1: lead singer from New Kids on the Block, my. 211 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,040 Speaker 3: Boy also hot again having a big resurgence. 212 00:10:28,320 --> 00:10:31,080 Speaker 1: Yeah yeah, they coming back, Yeah doing it then, you 213 00:10:31,120 --> 00:10:33,920 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. And one of my favorite people 214 00:10:34,000 --> 00:10:36,200 Speaker 1: in the world that I used to watch when I 215 00:10:36,480 --> 00:10:38,760 Speaker 1: was young, I used to watch The Love Boat. I 216 00:10:38,800 --> 00:10:41,800 Speaker 1: always loved The Love Boat. My girl Chiro, she was 217 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:45,280 Speaker 1: there and then it comes this big, tall lady and 218 00:10:45,280 --> 00:10:47,760 Speaker 1: I'm like, I know you from somewhere. I know you 219 00:10:47,800 --> 00:10:50,360 Speaker 1: from somewhere. I didn't know who she was. I was 220 00:10:50,360 --> 00:10:54,000 Speaker 1: bridget Nielson ended up doing Surreal Life three. Then on 221 00:10:54,120 --> 00:10:56,920 Speaker 1: surrel Life three ended up falling in love. Me and 222 00:10:56,960 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: bridget fell in love for real and we we had 223 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:03,680 Speaker 1: our show straight. Every season that I did on VH 224 00:11:03,800 --> 00:11:07,200 Speaker 1: one was number one. Then when Bridgett was going back 225 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: to Italy to be with a family, the producers said, well, Flave, 226 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:13,040 Speaker 1: what are you going to do for love now? I said, 227 00:11:13,200 --> 00:11:16,040 Speaker 1: I don't know, man. They said, well, you know about 228 00:11:16,080 --> 00:11:18,600 Speaker 1: the Bachelor. I said, yeah, I know about the Bachelor, 229 00:11:18,640 --> 00:11:21,120 Speaker 1: but I don't never watch it. They said, good, okay, 230 00:11:21,120 --> 00:11:22,880 Speaker 1: this is what we want to do, Flave. We want 231 00:11:22,920 --> 00:11:25,600 Speaker 1: to put you in the house with twenty five girls. 232 00:11:25,640 --> 00:11:27,640 Speaker 1: All you gotta do is narrow it down to one. 233 00:11:27,679 --> 00:11:30,240 Speaker 1: And I'm like, huh, Like, how am I going to 234 00:11:30,320 --> 00:11:32,800 Speaker 1: do that? They said, play. All you gotta do is 235 00:11:32,920 --> 00:11:36,559 Speaker 1: just narrow it down to one. Said okay, I'll give 236 00:11:36,600 --> 00:11:39,240 Speaker 1: it a try. That's when Flavor of Love was born. 237 00:11:39,360 --> 00:11:42,920 Speaker 1: Season number one was number one. Season number two was 238 00:11:42,960 --> 00:11:46,640 Speaker 1: the biggest season. That season brought VH one it's most 239 00:11:46,800 --> 00:11:50,240 Speaker 1: view was ever in its history, seven point five million viewers. 240 00:11:50,360 --> 00:11:53,559 Speaker 1: They never ever see those numbers ever again. They tried 241 00:11:53,559 --> 00:11:56,239 Speaker 1: it with Ray J. They tried it with Brett Michaels. 242 00:11:56,280 --> 00:11:59,120 Speaker 1: They tried it with some of everybody, but nobody could 243 00:11:59,160 --> 00:11:59,840 Speaker 1: touch flames. 244 00:12:00,800 --> 00:12:03,480 Speaker 2: What do you think it was about you and about 245 00:12:03,480 --> 00:12:05,400 Speaker 2: the show that popped off? 246 00:12:05,960 --> 00:12:09,720 Speaker 1: Personality period? Believe me, if you turned on the TV, 247 00:12:10,240 --> 00:12:13,640 Speaker 1: somebody's personality is sparking you and you're gonna sit there 248 00:12:13,640 --> 00:12:16,199 Speaker 1: and watch them. So that's what my personality did. It 249 00:12:16,320 --> 00:12:18,000 Speaker 1: sparked a lot of people. 250 00:12:18,640 --> 00:12:21,080 Speaker 2: Do you think it was people connecting to you? Do 251 00:12:21,120 --> 00:12:23,800 Speaker 2: you think it was people finding like an unpredictability. 252 00:12:24,440 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 1: I think it was a little bit of both. You know, 253 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:29,160 Speaker 1: a lot of people that did watch me, they kind 254 00:12:29,200 --> 00:12:31,959 Speaker 1: of knew my character mainly from being on stage with 255 00:12:32,040 --> 00:12:35,160 Speaker 1: Public Enemy. A lot of people liked to watch me 256 00:12:35,280 --> 00:12:38,280 Speaker 1: too because I was unpredictable. You didn't know what play 257 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,560 Speaker 1: was going to do next, so they would watch to 258 00:12:40,640 --> 00:12:42,840 Speaker 1: see what I would do next. Was a little bit 259 00:12:42,880 --> 00:12:43,240 Speaker 1: of both. 260 00:12:43,559 --> 00:12:45,199 Speaker 3: Were you conscious of that at the time and were 261 00:12:45,200 --> 00:12:46,040 Speaker 3: you leaning into it? 262 00:12:46,600 --> 00:12:49,199 Speaker 1: Nah? All I was doing was just having fun and 263 00:12:49,400 --> 00:12:52,600 Speaker 1: just shooting TV shows. All of this reality TV. I 264 00:12:52,679 --> 00:12:54,840 Speaker 1: never sat back and watched any of it. Now, I 265 00:12:54,840 --> 00:12:57,600 Speaker 1: haven't watched any of it. I watched little bits and 266 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:00,760 Speaker 1: pieces of some shows, but I never sat and just 267 00:13:00,800 --> 00:13:01,720 Speaker 1: watched what I did. 268 00:13:01,960 --> 00:13:03,360 Speaker 3: Why not, you're just kind of moved on. 269 00:13:03,880 --> 00:13:06,880 Speaker 1: Yeah, just have fun making it. I wanted to stay 270 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:09,640 Speaker 1: somewhat out of the ordinary. And the reason why I 271 00:13:09,720 --> 00:13:12,560 Speaker 1: say that is because it wasn't ordinary somebody to be 272 00:13:12,600 --> 00:13:14,080 Speaker 1: doing what I was doing with reality. 273 00:13:14,360 --> 00:13:16,680 Speaker 3: Yeah, you were setting culture, but all of the rest 274 00:13:16,679 --> 00:13:17,200 Speaker 3: were following. 275 00:13:17,360 --> 00:13:20,280 Speaker 1: Yeah. I didn't want to feel rehearsed. I wanted everything 276 00:13:20,360 --> 00:13:23,360 Speaker 1: to feel spontaneous. You know what I'm saying, because I'm 277 00:13:23,440 --> 00:13:25,480 Speaker 1: very spontaneous. 278 00:13:27,440 --> 00:13:30,200 Speaker 2: At this point. Flavor flav is a household name and 279 00:13:30,240 --> 00:13:33,960 Speaker 2: a cultural and music icon. So how did he end 280 00:13:34,080 --> 00:13:36,800 Speaker 2: up becoming one of the most well known champions for 281 00:13:36,880 --> 00:13:52,680 Speaker 2: women's sports. We'll find out right after the break, which 282 00:13:52,720 --> 00:13:56,720 Speaker 2: is a perfect transition into this new era of women's sports. Superfan, 283 00:13:57,160 --> 00:13:58,920 Speaker 2: How did this come about? It seems like it was 284 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:00,520 Speaker 2: kind of a spontaneous decision. 285 00:14:01,200 --> 00:14:06,680 Speaker 1: Well, honestly, it was kind of a spontaneous decision for me, 286 00:14:06,840 --> 00:14:10,640 Speaker 1: But the decision came to me from someone, my manager. 287 00:14:11,080 --> 00:14:16,480 Speaker 1: My manager has her head in everything. Nothing slips past her, 288 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:20,200 Speaker 1: you know. And there was a story that Maggie Stephens 289 00:14:20,200 --> 00:14:22,720 Speaker 1: put out. You know, these girls are telling the story 290 00:14:22,760 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 1: about how they're living their lives when they're not in 291 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:28,680 Speaker 1: the water, you know, when they're not playing and practicing 292 00:14:28,720 --> 00:14:31,800 Speaker 1: and all of that stuff. I mean, they're home, living 293 00:14:31,880 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: active lives, two and three jobs. They're not making money, 294 00:14:35,160 --> 00:14:37,320 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. Olympians ain't making no money. 295 00:14:37,400 --> 00:14:40,320 Speaker 1: So Rhiannon came to me and she said, hey, Flave, 296 00:14:40,480 --> 00:14:42,400 Speaker 1: check the story out. I want you to check out 297 00:14:42,440 --> 00:14:44,800 Speaker 1: the story, and I think you should sponsor this girl. 298 00:14:45,000 --> 00:14:48,280 Speaker 1: So I wrote the story and I'm like, hey, yo, 299 00:14:48,400 --> 00:14:50,560 Speaker 1: you know what, it will be a good idea, not 300 00:14:50,680 --> 00:14:53,440 Speaker 1: just to sponsor the girl, but sponsor the whole team. 301 00:14:53,880 --> 00:14:55,760 Speaker 1: I just wanted to take on the whole team. You know, 302 00:14:55,800 --> 00:14:58,560 Speaker 1: I didn't want to separate anybody. I just wanted to 303 00:14:58,680 --> 00:15:01,800 Speaker 1: keep everything together. I don't want to show no favoritism. 304 00:15:02,200 --> 00:15:04,400 Speaker 1: So I mean that's why I ended up taking on 305 00:15:04,440 --> 00:15:07,360 Speaker 1: the whole team. And not only that, but also I 306 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:11,120 Speaker 1: want to say, water polo was definitely one of the 307 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:16,520 Speaker 1: least watch sports, and mainly women's water polo was mainly 308 00:15:16,880 --> 00:15:21,160 Speaker 1: one of the least watched sports, and I wanted to 309 00:15:21,240 --> 00:15:23,720 Speaker 1: make that sport known, you know what I'm saying, because 310 00:15:23,760 --> 00:15:25,840 Speaker 1: I mean, you know, these girls, man now out here 311 00:15:25,840 --> 00:15:28,400 Speaker 1: working hard, and they want to feel they want to 312 00:15:28,440 --> 00:15:31,080 Speaker 1: feel recognized, you know, they want to feel like they 313 00:15:31,120 --> 00:15:34,280 Speaker 1: achieved something. That's why I stepped in and I said, 314 00:15:34,320 --> 00:15:36,360 Speaker 1: you know what, let me see if I can bring 315 00:15:36,400 --> 00:15:40,040 Speaker 1: more attention to the water polo sport, women's water polo sports. 316 00:15:40,080 --> 00:15:41,120 Speaker 1: So that I did. 317 00:15:41,840 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 2: And why have all the stories that you've read, of 318 00:15:45,040 --> 00:15:48,000 Speaker 2: all the things that have come to you, why did 319 00:15:48,040 --> 00:15:49,360 Speaker 2: this hit for you? 320 00:15:49,480 --> 00:15:49,560 Speaker 1: Like? 321 00:15:49,600 --> 00:15:51,720 Speaker 2: Why did you say I am the right person for 322 00:15:51,800 --> 00:15:53,160 Speaker 2: this thing at this moment. 323 00:15:53,880 --> 00:15:56,600 Speaker 1: The reason why I said that I'm the right person 324 00:15:56,920 --> 00:16:00,160 Speaker 1: is because I'm the only person. You know what I'm 325 00:16:00,160 --> 00:16:02,360 Speaker 1: saying in the hall nine I think I think right 326 00:16:02,440 --> 00:16:05,160 Speaker 1: now my presidence bought a lot of attention. You know 327 00:16:05,200 --> 00:16:08,400 Speaker 1: what I'm saying because everywhere I go now, you know, Fleay, 328 00:16:08,440 --> 00:16:11,280 Speaker 1: thanks for what you're doing for women's sports. Flay. Thanks 329 00:16:11,280 --> 00:16:13,800 Speaker 1: for what you did for the women's hockey team. Flay. 330 00:16:13,880 --> 00:16:17,360 Speaker 1: Thanks for what you did for the women's water polo team. Flay. 331 00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:20,160 Speaker 1: Thanks for what you're doing with the Pops to let Teeth. 332 00:16:20,360 --> 00:16:23,840 Speaker 1: So people are recognizing what I'm doing, and the way 333 00:16:23,840 --> 00:16:26,880 Speaker 1: that I'm getting recognized is the way I want these 334 00:16:26,920 --> 00:16:31,080 Speaker 1: girls to feel recognized women's sports is just as important 335 00:16:31,080 --> 00:16:33,360 Speaker 1: as men's sports, you know what I'm saying in the 336 00:16:33,440 --> 00:16:36,280 Speaker 1: hall nine. Not only that, but hey, if it was 337 00:16:36,320 --> 00:16:39,000 Speaker 1: it for women, we wouldn't be here playing those sports. 338 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:41,520 Speaker 1: You're brought us here, you know, And I want to 339 00:16:41,640 --> 00:16:44,280 Speaker 1: give you all your flowers. So anything that you do 340 00:16:44,440 --> 00:16:47,080 Speaker 1: that's good, I'm going to let you know that you 341 00:16:47,120 --> 00:16:50,440 Speaker 1: did a good job. Great job. I applaud you, and 342 00:16:50,520 --> 00:16:51,880 Speaker 1: if you want to, I know you could do it 343 00:16:51,920 --> 00:16:54,360 Speaker 1: even better. And that's what this is about. I got 344 00:16:54,440 --> 00:16:57,400 Speaker 1: four daughters, you know, have eight children, four girls and 345 00:16:57,480 --> 00:17:02,840 Speaker 1: four boys. My girls know how they feel when they 346 00:17:03,040 --> 00:17:06,879 Speaker 1: want to feel recognized for doing something good. You know 347 00:17:06,920 --> 00:17:09,880 Speaker 1: what I'm saying. Nothing wrong with letting somebody know they 348 00:17:09,880 --> 00:17:13,359 Speaker 1: did a good job. You know, it's nothing but encouraging me. 349 00:17:13,680 --> 00:17:17,040 Speaker 2: Are any of your kids athletes, No, that's fine, it's 350 00:17:17,080 --> 00:17:17,760 Speaker 2: fine of mine either. 351 00:17:17,920 --> 00:17:20,560 Speaker 1: The only when I got that's closest to an athlete 352 00:17:20,600 --> 00:17:23,320 Speaker 1: my son Karmen. He boxes, He's in and out of 353 00:17:23,320 --> 00:17:25,680 Speaker 1: the ring every now and then. That's the only athlete 354 00:17:25,760 --> 00:17:27,160 Speaker 1: that I really got right now. 355 00:17:27,800 --> 00:17:30,760 Speaker 2: So when you decided to take on the women's water 356 00:17:30,800 --> 00:17:33,640 Speaker 2: polo team, did you decide from the beginning, you said, 357 00:17:33,640 --> 00:17:35,959 Speaker 2: if I go, I'm going all the way in, And like, 358 00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:37,880 Speaker 2: what did all the way in mean for you? 359 00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:40,880 Speaker 1: He check this out. My thing is this, if you're 360 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,200 Speaker 1: going to do something, you go all the way. You 361 00:17:43,320 --> 00:17:46,480 Speaker 1: don't go halfway. The only way you're going to get somewhere. 362 00:17:46,720 --> 00:17:49,840 Speaker 1: You gotta take full steps. If you have step, you 363 00:17:49,840 --> 00:17:52,119 Speaker 1: ain't gonna get no place. So if you're going to 364 00:17:52,200 --> 00:17:54,679 Speaker 1: do something, put your heart and soul into it and 365 00:17:55,080 --> 00:17:55,480 Speaker 1: do it. 366 00:17:56,000 --> 00:17:58,399 Speaker 3: So, what was the first contact you had with the 367 00:17:58,440 --> 00:17:59,560 Speaker 3: water polo team? 368 00:18:00,000 --> 00:18:02,639 Speaker 1: Honestly, my manager did that for me. She did that 369 00:18:02,680 --> 00:18:04,360 Speaker 1: for us, not for me. I say for us. 370 00:18:04,400 --> 00:18:06,880 Speaker 3: We are nothing without the people around us, you know. 371 00:18:06,880 --> 00:18:09,080 Speaker 1: For me and her, because I'm not doing this for me. 372 00:18:09,119 --> 00:18:12,000 Speaker 1: I'm doing this for me and her for us. With teams, 373 00:18:12,160 --> 00:18:13,560 Speaker 1: teamwork makes the dream work. 374 00:18:14,320 --> 00:18:16,320 Speaker 2: What was the first contact you had with them? Did 375 00:18:16,359 --> 00:18:17,720 Speaker 2: you go meet the players first? 376 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: I ain't gonna lie, y'all, but I'm gonna tell you 377 00:18:20,040 --> 00:18:22,880 Speaker 1: something about flave. My memory is the length of a peanut. 378 00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:26,320 Speaker 1: I ain't gonna lie. And you know what y'all know. 379 00:18:26,440 --> 00:18:29,360 Speaker 1: Elephants eat peanuts, right, But you know what I say. 380 00:18:29,600 --> 00:18:32,560 Speaker 1: Even though my memory is the length of peanut. But 381 00:18:32,720 --> 00:18:35,879 Speaker 1: don't never underestimate me, because this peanut can eat up 382 00:18:35,920 --> 00:18:40,440 Speaker 1: the elephants. Yo. Just to let you know absolutely, I've 383 00:18:40,440 --> 00:18:42,840 Speaker 1: been doing so much stuff to where it's like it's 384 00:18:42,840 --> 00:18:45,240 Speaker 1: hard for me to, you know, to keep up. That's 385 00:18:45,280 --> 00:18:47,760 Speaker 1: why I turned to Rihanna, and I turned her for answers. 386 00:18:48,000 --> 00:18:49,960 Speaker 1: He's the one that got me doing all of this stuff. 387 00:18:50,000 --> 00:18:52,080 Speaker 1: I mean, she puts me in the arena and then 388 00:18:52,119 --> 00:18:53,080 Speaker 1: I knock it out. 389 00:18:53,560 --> 00:18:55,439 Speaker 2: So do you remember, like, did the players know that 390 00:18:55,520 --> 00:18:57,320 Speaker 2: you were coming the first time you met them? 391 00:18:57,560 --> 00:18:59,879 Speaker 1: No, they didn't know. No, No, they didn't know I 392 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:00,840 Speaker 1: was coming to meet them. 393 00:19:00,920 --> 00:19:01,800 Speaker 3: Were they shocked? 394 00:19:01,880 --> 00:19:04,280 Speaker 1: I think they were. I mean they seemed like they 395 00:19:04,280 --> 00:19:06,720 Speaker 1: seemed like they was excited to meet me and everything. 396 00:19:06,800 --> 00:19:09,520 Speaker 1: You know what I'm saying. You know, when people meet me, 397 00:19:09,600 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: I don't really check to see if they're shocked or 398 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:15,000 Speaker 1: anything like that. I just look at their face and 399 00:19:15,080 --> 00:19:17,399 Speaker 1: I see if it's real or not. A lot of 400 00:19:17,400 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: people's giving me some real love. Yeah, yeah, there was 401 00:19:20,119 --> 00:19:21,320 Speaker 1: a little shocked a little bit. 402 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:23,879 Speaker 2: Did you have to learn the rules to follow along 403 00:19:23,960 --> 00:19:25,920 Speaker 2: or it's sort of an intuitive game because you said 404 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:27,359 Speaker 2: you went to the first game then you went to 405 00:19:27,359 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 2: the second game, and then you got in the pool. 406 00:19:29,320 --> 00:19:32,560 Speaker 1: I sure did, But that didn't mean that I needed 407 00:19:32,600 --> 00:19:33,439 Speaker 1: to know the rules. 408 00:19:33,600 --> 00:19:34,720 Speaker 3: So anybody could watch. 409 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,040 Speaker 1: Anybody can watch, just like you go to a football game, 410 00:19:38,200 --> 00:19:39,560 Speaker 1: just like you go to a baseball game. 411 00:19:39,600 --> 00:19:40,480 Speaker 3: Well, just like you. 412 00:19:40,480 --> 00:19:42,960 Speaker 2: You just put the two hardest examples of sports, football 413 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 2: and baseball. 414 00:19:43,720 --> 00:19:45,560 Speaker 3: I think people have the most trouble following if they 415 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:46,280 Speaker 3: are the rules. 416 00:19:46,560 --> 00:19:49,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, but to watch a baseball game, you don't have 417 00:19:49,600 --> 00:19:52,240 Speaker 1: to know the rules. Go and watch the game, Emily. 418 00:19:52,400 --> 00:19:55,040 Speaker 1: Let me tell you something. I got in that pool, 419 00:19:55,400 --> 00:19:58,520 Speaker 1: and I was in the pool for seven minutes, seven minutes. 420 00:19:58,600 --> 00:20:02,400 Speaker 1: I ain't gonna lie. That was the hardest seven minutes 421 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:05,040 Speaker 1: ever in my life. They taught me how to do 422 00:20:05,080 --> 00:20:06,919 Speaker 1: the egg beating and all of that, to stay up 423 00:20:06,960 --> 00:20:09,560 Speaker 1: on the water and everything, and they gave me the ball. 424 00:20:09,800 --> 00:20:13,560 Speaker 1: They said, try to score. I tried. I tried. First 425 00:20:13,560 --> 00:20:16,480 Speaker 1: time I threw the ball went over to that. Okay, cool. 426 00:20:17,640 --> 00:20:20,000 Speaker 1: The second time I threw the ball, it hit the 427 00:20:20,040 --> 00:20:23,040 Speaker 1: top of it. That cool. Third time I threw the ball, 428 00:20:23,200 --> 00:20:26,600 Speaker 1: I got it in. I think. Actually, really let me 429 00:20:26,960 --> 00:20:29,480 Speaker 1: do that, just to give me some encouragement, you know, 430 00:20:29,520 --> 00:20:31,399 Speaker 1: what I'm saying, and to make me feel good. The 431 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:34,480 Speaker 1: fourth time I threw the ball, I scored on Ashley 432 00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,040 Speaker 1: for real this time because she tried to block it 433 00:20:37,080 --> 00:20:39,960 Speaker 1: and I got through. I was like fly. And then 434 00:20:40,000 --> 00:20:42,520 Speaker 1: after that you had to see me racing for the 435 00:20:42,600 --> 00:20:45,320 Speaker 1: side to get out the water, because man, that water, 436 00:20:45,359 --> 00:20:47,639 Speaker 1: you ain't touching the ground. No, you're not touching the 437 00:20:47,680 --> 00:20:49,639 Speaker 1: bottom at all. So you had to see me racing 438 00:20:49,680 --> 00:20:51,679 Speaker 1: for the side man, because yeah, I was kind of 439 00:20:51,680 --> 00:20:54,920 Speaker 1: tired after that seven minutes. Yeah, but it was fun knowing. 440 00:20:55,000 --> 00:20:58,000 Speaker 1: It was a great experience, great experience, you know. And 441 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:00,920 Speaker 1: I say, out of all of the sports being played 442 00:21:01,359 --> 00:21:04,480 Speaker 1: mainly in the Olympics, water polo is the hardest, the 443 00:21:04,560 --> 00:21:06,720 Speaker 1: hardest sport out of all of them. And the one 444 00:21:06,720 --> 00:21:10,240 Speaker 1: that got the hardest job in water polo is the goalie, 445 00:21:10,280 --> 00:21:13,120 Speaker 1: because the goalie is just standing there treading water, treading water, 446 00:21:13,240 --> 00:21:15,720 Speaker 1: waiting for something to happen. So a while team is 447 00:21:15,760 --> 00:21:17,920 Speaker 1: all the way down at the other end, this goalie 448 00:21:18,040 --> 00:21:20,520 Speaker 1: is down here by herself. Man, it's like waiting for 449 00:21:20,600 --> 00:21:21,040 Speaker 1: some action. 450 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:22,760 Speaker 3: Did you think about trying, goalie? 451 00:21:23,280 --> 00:21:25,639 Speaker 1: Nah, I just tried scaring and that's it, and I 452 00:21:25,680 --> 00:21:27,920 Speaker 1: got my butt right out of the water, right out 453 00:21:27,960 --> 00:21:30,240 Speaker 1: of there. I had to get out. 454 00:21:31,600 --> 00:21:35,040 Speaker 2: Flavor Flavor hasn't just been sponsoring the US women's water 455 00:21:35,080 --> 00:21:37,720 Speaker 2: polo team. He's also been a vocal supporter and a 456 00:21:37,760 --> 00:21:40,720 Speaker 2: fan of a multitude of other women's sports. So I 457 00:21:40,800 --> 00:21:44,280 Speaker 2: asked him how he chooses which sport to support next. 458 00:21:45,800 --> 00:21:50,359 Speaker 1: Well, things just randomly happen. It's not like I said, Okay, 459 00:21:50,359 --> 00:21:52,280 Speaker 1: I'm going to go and help this team, and I'm 460 00:21:52,280 --> 00:21:54,520 Speaker 1: going to go and help that team or whatever. I mean. 461 00:21:54,720 --> 00:21:57,959 Speaker 1: Things just comes along and I just take things in 462 00:21:58,040 --> 00:22:01,399 Speaker 1: as it comes. Any team might now that I sponsor. 463 00:22:01,760 --> 00:22:04,760 Speaker 1: Is the team that I offered to sponsor? They didn't 464 00:22:04,800 --> 00:22:07,240 Speaker 1: ask for? Is this something that I offered? 465 00:22:11,720 --> 00:22:15,120 Speaker 2: Flavor Flav was already planning on honoring the female athletes 466 00:22:15,280 --> 00:22:17,800 Speaker 2: sponsors in Vegas, but when he heard about the way 467 00:22:17,840 --> 00:22:20,399 Speaker 2: the United States women's hockey team was snubbed by the 468 00:22:20,400 --> 00:22:22,880 Speaker 2: White House, he knew he wanted to make sure they 469 00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:26,280 Speaker 2: were celebrated too, and he wanted to do it big. 470 00:22:27,240 --> 00:22:30,159 Speaker 2: When we come back, we'll hear about the genesis of 471 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:34,520 Speaker 2: Flavor Flav's She Weekend, a three day celebration honoring US 472 00:22:34,560 --> 00:22:39,440 Speaker 2: female Olympic and Paralympic medalist happening in Vegas this weekend. 473 00:22:39,440 --> 00:22:40,280 Speaker 3: Be right back. 474 00:22:53,359 --> 00:22:56,040 Speaker 2: The whole kerfuffle with the women's team winning and the 475 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:59,120 Speaker 2: men's team winning, and Trump, you were with them before that, right, 476 00:22:59,359 --> 00:23:00,720 Speaker 2: the hockey team man? 477 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 1: Sure enough, sure enough, I was there way before, Simon 478 00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:06,159 Speaker 1: Boss Sinister, That's what I called Trump. 479 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:07,720 Speaker 3: Can you explain the context? 480 00:23:08,080 --> 00:23:11,919 Speaker 1: Okay, Simon Boss Senister is a character from Underdog and 481 00:23:11,960 --> 00:23:16,680 Speaker 1: he used to say, Okay, Underdog, I'm gonna take over 482 00:23:16,840 --> 00:23:19,960 Speaker 1: the world. That's Donald Trump. So he's the new Simon 483 00:23:20,040 --> 00:23:22,320 Speaker 1: Boss Sinister. And I'm not afraid to say it. I'm 484 00:23:22,359 --> 00:23:25,040 Speaker 1: proud to voice it. So I'm not really a politician. 485 00:23:25,359 --> 00:23:27,840 Speaker 1: I don't do the politics thing, you know what I'm saying. 486 00:23:27,880 --> 00:23:30,520 Speaker 1: But when there's something wrong and I see it, I'm 487 00:23:30,520 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: going to speak up. 488 00:23:31,720 --> 00:23:36,080 Speaker 2: So tell me how it turned into you throwing this 489 00:23:36,160 --> 00:23:38,920 Speaker 2: big party in Vegas for the women's Olympians. 490 00:23:39,359 --> 00:23:43,600 Speaker 1: Well, the United States, both men and women hockey teams 491 00:23:43,720 --> 00:23:47,760 Speaker 1: won gold, and Trump invited the men to the White House, 492 00:23:47,880 --> 00:23:51,679 Speaker 1: but he didn't give the women an official invitation, you 493 00:23:51,720 --> 00:23:54,040 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying. And the invitation that the women 494 00:23:54,200 --> 00:23:57,320 Speaker 1: got it was like, we don't need your invitation. You know, 495 00:23:57,720 --> 00:24:00,040 Speaker 1: I said, you know what, let's make this worth it. 496 00:24:00,160 --> 00:24:01,960 Speaker 1: Let's make this word for you a while. I'm gonna 497 00:24:01,960 --> 00:24:03,560 Speaker 1: bring you guys to Vegas. You know what I'm saying. 498 00:24:03,560 --> 00:24:05,439 Speaker 1: I want you all all come out to Vegas and 499 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: let me throw you all a party. I want you 500 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,919 Speaker 1: all to feel recognized, feel good about you know what 501 00:24:10,000 --> 00:24:11,840 Speaker 1: y'all did about your gold medals and all of that. 502 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: So that's what I did. Stepped in and MGM stepped 503 00:24:15,119 --> 00:24:17,880 Speaker 1: in to help us out, gave us on twenty eight rooms. 504 00:24:17,960 --> 00:24:21,400 Speaker 1: Delta stepped in and they're helping them fly out the athletes, 505 00:24:21,600 --> 00:24:23,879 Speaker 1: them and their families. I'm going to give the girls 506 00:24:23,880 --> 00:24:26,919 Speaker 1: a parade Vegas, also getting them the key to the 507 00:24:26,960 --> 00:24:30,360 Speaker 1: city and the proclamation. So I think the girls got 508 00:24:30,400 --> 00:24:33,440 Speaker 1: a better invitation with me than they would have with 509 00:24:33,560 --> 00:24:39,400 Speaker 1: Simon Bossonist without question. Yeah, Simon Bossister gave the guys McDonald's. 510 00:24:39,680 --> 00:24:41,360 Speaker 2: And why has this been the thing that you used 511 00:24:41,359 --> 00:24:43,800 Speaker 2: your voice for? Why has women's sports been the thing 512 00:24:43,800 --> 00:24:44,680 Speaker 2: that you've decided to say. 513 00:24:44,720 --> 00:24:45,560 Speaker 3: I speak up on this. 514 00:24:46,200 --> 00:24:49,080 Speaker 1: Because nobody else was doing it. Nobody else was speaking 515 00:24:49,119 --> 00:24:51,320 Speaker 1: up for the women. And right now I feel that 516 00:24:51,400 --> 00:24:53,840 Speaker 1: I'm still one of the only ones until we can 517 00:24:53,920 --> 00:24:56,520 Speaker 1: get some more people to come in and help sponsor 518 00:24:56,600 --> 00:24:58,120 Speaker 1: some of these women's sports. 519 00:24:58,520 --> 00:24:58,800 Speaker 3: Yeah. 520 00:24:59,000 --> 00:25:02,520 Speaker 2: Actually, the recognition for the team is something that you 521 00:25:02,600 --> 00:25:05,359 Speaker 2: and I also have in common that the US Soccer League, 522 00:25:05,400 --> 00:25:08,359 Speaker 2: the NWSL, the champions had never been invited to the 523 00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:10,920 Speaker 2: White House ever, like even Little League gets invited to 524 00:25:10,960 --> 00:25:13,119 Speaker 2: the White House for a recognition, and the NWSL had 525 00:25:13,160 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 2: never been invited. When Gotham won in twenty twenty three, 526 00:25:16,480 --> 00:25:17,960 Speaker 2: we had just bought the team and I was like, well, 527 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:18,639 Speaker 2: we're going to change this. 528 00:25:19,000 --> 00:25:21,040 Speaker 3: So I went to the Biden. 529 00:25:20,800 --> 00:25:23,040 Speaker 2: Administration and said, we need to change this if we 530 00:25:23,119 --> 00:25:25,760 Speaker 2: need to get these champions here. It took us nine months, 531 00:25:25,760 --> 00:25:27,560 Speaker 2: but we did it, and it was the first time 532 00:25:27,920 --> 00:25:31,040 Speaker 2: the White House had ever acknowledged women's soccer to get 533 00:25:31,040 --> 00:25:33,320 Speaker 2: them there. And then our team won again this year 534 00:25:33,480 --> 00:25:35,720 Speaker 2: in twenty twenty five, and it was the first time 535 00:25:35,720 --> 00:25:37,480 Speaker 2: that New York had a parade, So we had the 536 00:25:37,480 --> 00:25:39,080 Speaker 2: same parade as the Giants, same one that you. 537 00:25:39,040 --> 00:25:40,920 Speaker 1: Went to own. Oh, that's slamming. 538 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:42,919 Speaker 2: My sister is the president of the team, and that 539 00:25:43,040 --> 00:25:44,439 Speaker 2: was one of the things that was most important for 540 00:25:44,480 --> 00:25:46,240 Speaker 2: hers that we had lived through the Giants Parade and 541 00:25:46,280 --> 00:25:48,280 Speaker 2: we knew exactly what that looks like, and we said 542 00:25:48,359 --> 00:25:50,199 Speaker 2: everything the men are going to get the women are 543 00:25:50,200 --> 00:25:50,760 Speaker 2: going to get it. 544 00:25:51,040 --> 00:25:53,000 Speaker 1: Well, I'm going to tell you like this, Like I said, 545 00:25:53,040 --> 00:25:55,159 Speaker 1: I don't do politics and all of that stuff. You 546 00:25:55,200 --> 00:25:57,640 Speaker 1: know what I'm saying, I just want to feel proud 547 00:25:57,840 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: Tuesday that I did get to make friends with the 548 00:26:02,600 --> 00:26:07,880 Speaker 1: First Lady of the United States, doctor Jill Biden. That 549 00:26:08,040 --> 00:26:11,280 Speaker 1: woman treated me so good, man, that she gave me 550 00:26:11,359 --> 00:26:14,000 Speaker 1: so much love. She let me meet her whole family, 551 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:18,159 Speaker 1: her grandkids and everybody. I didn't even have an idea 552 00:26:18,200 --> 00:26:20,359 Speaker 1: this woman knew who I was. And we were over 553 00:26:20,400 --> 00:26:23,000 Speaker 1: in Paris. I was at the water polo game. The 554 00:26:23,160 --> 00:26:26,080 Speaker 1: manager comes over to me and says, Hey, the first 555 00:26:26,119 --> 00:26:27,720 Speaker 1: Lady wants to meet you. She wants to meet you. 556 00:26:27,760 --> 00:26:30,200 Speaker 1: I'm like, huh, Like how did this lady know who 557 00:26:30,200 --> 00:26:32,120 Speaker 1: I am? You know what I'm saying. In the whole 558 00:26:32,240 --> 00:26:35,119 Speaker 1: nine But anyway, she took me over there and I 559 00:26:35,119 --> 00:26:37,560 Speaker 1: got to meet doctor Biden. She had a family with 560 00:26:37,600 --> 00:26:39,840 Speaker 1: her and everything, and it was a real good moment, 561 00:26:39,960 --> 00:26:41,879 Speaker 1: real good moment for me. You know what I'm saying 562 00:26:42,200 --> 00:26:45,879 Speaker 1: That moment led to an invitation to where me and 563 00:26:45,920 --> 00:26:48,000 Speaker 1: my kids got to go to the White House and 564 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:51,400 Speaker 1: go bowling. And when we went bowling, they got two 565 00:26:51,440 --> 00:26:55,120 Speaker 1: bowling lanes in there. One of the lanes has two lanes. 566 00:26:55,440 --> 00:26:57,479 Speaker 1: I guess that's for the guests and all of that, 567 00:26:57,600 --> 00:27:00,480 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. Then they got another special 568 00:27:00,600 --> 00:27:04,080 Speaker 1: one bowling lane, a room with one bowling lane in it. 569 00:27:04,359 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 1: That's the President's own personal That was real great. I 570 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:10,400 Speaker 1: got to play the piano with the White House all 571 00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:12,359 Speaker 1: of that great stuff, you know what I'm saying. But 572 00:27:12,800 --> 00:27:15,480 Speaker 1: you know, Doctor Joe Biden, she made sure I got 573 00:27:15,480 --> 00:27:18,119 Speaker 1: to meet the president all of that great stuff. So 574 00:27:18,400 --> 00:27:21,600 Speaker 1: I'm proud of that. I'm for free Port Long Island. Okay, 575 00:27:21,840 --> 00:27:24,120 Speaker 1: I'm for free Port Long Island, and not too many 576 00:27:24,200 --> 00:27:26,800 Speaker 1: people for Freeport Long Island get to take their kids 577 00:27:26,880 --> 00:27:29,720 Speaker 1: to the White House and go bowling. So it's a big, 578 00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:32,800 Speaker 1: big moment for me. That's right. That's when Joe Biden 579 00:27:32,840 --> 00:27:35,960 Speaker 1: and Doctor Biden was in office. That's when I came 580 00:27:36,000 --> 00:27:38,159 Speaker 1: around and started helping out the teams. 581 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:40,480 Speaker 2: Well, one of the producers on this show used to 582 00:27:40,520 --> 00:27:42,920 Speaker 2: work for Doctor Biden, and she said that doctor Biden 583 00:27:43,040 --> 00:27:45,760 Speaker 2: was equally as excited to meet you, like you were 584 00:27:45,800 --> 00:27:48,000 Speaker 2: one of the people she was most excited too. 585 00:27:48,359 --> 00:27:52,000 Speaker 1: And you know what, I would agree with that because 586 00:27:52,040 --> 00:27:55,600 Speaker 1: I've seen that, and I've seen it was real. That's 587 00:27:55,600 --> 00:27:59,960 Speaker 1: why I loved that woman to death. Man. I love her, man, 588 00:28:00,040 --> 00:28:03,720 Speaker 1: and I love her because her love for me was real. Yeah. 589 00:28:03,880 --> 00:28:05,879 Speaker 2: Well talk about you know, the highest honor for the 590 00:28:06,000 --> 00:28:08,919 Speaker 2: United States. You wanted to be the torch bearer at 591 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:10,800 Speaker 2: the Olympics. You still want to do it in. 592 00:28:10,920 --> 00:28:13,240 Speaker 1: La Yeah, yeah, I just want to just do it. 593 00:28:13,400 --> 00:28:16,280 Speaker 1: Just it's on my bucket list. Yeah, you know. And 594 00:28:16,320 --> 00:28:21,159 Speaker 1: I'm saying two of my godchildren, the grandsons of Muhammad Ali, 595 00:28:21,359 --> 00:28:26,240 Speaker 1: Nico Ali Walsh and Biagio Ali Walsh, those are my godsons, 596 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:29,480 Speaker 1: and I got to meet their grandfather. It was such 597 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:32,720 Speaker 1: a big moment for me when I met him. I 598 00:28:32,760 --> 00:28:35,680 Speaker 1: thought about all of the box and stuff that he did, 599 00:28:35,840 --> 00:28:38,320 Speaker 1: but one of the main thoughts that came through my 600 00:28:38,440 --> 00:28:41,800 Speaker 1: mind was him holding that torch. I said, you know what, 601 00:28:41,840 --> 00:28:44,760 Speaker 1: I want to be the next Ali holding the torch. Yeah, 602 00:28:44,840 --> 00:28:46,760 Speaker 1: I don't care if I carry it for five feet, 603 00:28:46,840 --> 00:28:48,800 Speaker 1: they can put it in my hand. Let me walk 604 00:28:48,840 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 1: three feet with it. Take it back. I don't care. 605 00:28:50,600 --> 00:28:53,160 Speaker 1: At least I carried it. At least I'm touching it. 606 00:28:53,320 --> 00:28:55,600 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to doing that in twenty twenty eight. 607 00:28:55,760 --> 00:28:56,440 Speaker 3: Oh, I love that. 608 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:58,880 Speaker 2: Well, we actually do have a torch later at Gotham, 609 00:28:58,960 --> 00:29:00,880 Speaker 2: so we'd love to invite you to practice at a 610 00:29:00,920 --> 00:29:01,520 Speaker 2: Gotham game. 611 00:29:01,800 --> 00:29:04,120 Speaker 1: Okay, okay, I can I can carry the torch. I 612 00:29:04,160 --> 00:29:10,680 Speaker 1: can go and like to think, please, do you. 613 00:29:10,880 --> 00:29:13,240 Speaker 3: Think you'll pivot again? Pivoted so many times? Do you 614 00:29:13,280 --> 00:29:14,080 Speaker 3: think you'll pivot again? 615 00:29:14,120 --> 00:29:16,320 Speaker 1: I'm never going to stop. I'm never going to stop 616 00:29:16,400 --> 00:29:17,360 Speaker 1: until I go in the ground. 617 00:29:18,120 --> 00:29:20,239 Speaker 3: Is there anything we haven't covered that you want us 618 00:29:20,280 --> 00:29:20,600 Speaker 3: to cover? 619 00:29:21,240 --> 00:29:23,240 Speaker 1: One thing that I do want to say, though, that 620 00:29:23,360 --> 00:29:26,560 Speaker 1: we should mention being that we did mention me bringing 621 00:29:26,600 --> 00:29:29,880 Speaker 1: the hockey team out to Vegas. Not only that, but 622 00:29:30,080 --> 00:29:33,160 Speaker 1: some of the Paralympians too, you know, and and all 623 00:29:33,160 --> 00:29:35,520 Speaker 1: of the girls that won medals. No, we're bringing them out, 624 00:29:35,720 --> 00:29:39,520 Speaker 1: you know what I'm saying. That's gonna be July sixteenth 625 00:29:39,800 --> 00:29:42,360 Speaker 1: through the nineteenth. I want to thank She'll e two 626 00:29:42,440 --> 00:29:43,400 Speaker 1: for coming to the table. 627 00:29:43,920 --> 00:29:44,920 Speaker 3: Oh that's very cool. 628 00:29:45,080 --> 00:29:47,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, you know she's gonna come out and do some performance, 629 00:29:48,120 --> 00:29:50,840 Speaker 1: you know, saying, me and my partner Chuck d Public Enemy, 630 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:53,200 Speaker 1: We're going to perform. And also I got a couple 631 00:29:53,280 --> 00:29:56,240 Speaker 1: of other surprise guests that I'm not going to mention. 632 00:29:57,360 --> 00:30:00,080 Speaker 1: This is that she got Game weekend. Baby, let's do it. 633 00:30:00,160 --> 00:30:02,880 Speaker 1: Not only he got Game, but she got game too. 634 00:30:03,000 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 1: That's what that weekend is going to be about. It's 635 00:30:05,040 --> 00:30:07,760 Speaker 1: going to be all about she got Game. Because we 636 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:09,840 Speaker 1: had a record called he Got Game, and we wrote 637 00:30:09,880 --> 00:30:13,440 Speaker 1: that record for Spike Lee's movie He Got Game. Well, 638 00:30:13,520 --> 00:30:17,480 Speaker 1: women's sports, you know what I'm saying, women's empowerment. You guys, 639 00:30:17,560 --> 00:30:20,320 Speaker 1: y'all got game. You know what I'm saying. So, hey, 640 00:30:20,360 --> 00:30:22,960 Speaker 1: y'all couldn't win the medals if you didn't have game exactly. 641 00:30:23,200 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 1: So everybody needs to recognize that she got game. Women's sports. 642 00:30:27,760 --> 00:30:30,880 Speaker 2: Thank you so much, Flave, our very first he Pivots episode. 643 00:30:30,960 --> 00:30:32,280 Speaker 2: Maybe I'll consider having more men on. 644 00:30:32,400 --> 00:30:35,680 Speaker 1: Maybe Wow, Well, if you don't have any more men on, 645 00:30:35,800 --> 00:30:36,600 Speaker 1: bring me back. 646 00:30:38,960 --> 00:30:41,240 Speaker 3: Years ago before any of this flavor. 647 00:30:41,280 --> 00:30:44,920 Speaker 2: Flavor I met after the Giant Super Bowl parade. Men's 648 00:30:44,960 --> 00:30:48,040 Speaker 2: sports put us in the same room back then. Women's 649 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:50,760 Speaker 2: sports is what put us in this one Flavor Flavor 650 00:30:50,840 --> 00:30:53,480 Speaker 2: is a hype man at his core. He wants female 651 00:30:53,520 --> 00:30:57,000 Speaker 2: athletes to be encouraged and to be celebrated for their accomplishments, 652 00:30:57,320 --> 00:30:59,880 Speaker 2: and the reason he does it is personal. This is 653 00:30:59,880 --> 00:31:02,400 Speaker 2: a man who was hands in a Lifetime Achievement Grammy 654 00:31:02,640 --> 00:31:04,640 Speaker 2: and still talks about wanting to know what it would 655 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:08,000 Speaker 2: feel like to actually win one, to be recognized. So 656 00:31:08,120 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 2: he decided to hand recognition to the women who've earned 657 00:31:10,720 --> 00:31:14,000 Speaker 2: it and rarely get it. The water polo team, the 658 00:31:14,040 --> 00:31:17,920 Speaker 2: bobs led skeleton team, the hockey team, and beyond. He 659 00:31:18,040 --> 00:31:21,000 Speaker 2: gives them their flowers because he knows what it costs 660 00:31:21,000 --> 00:31:23,880 Speaker 2: to go without and it's getting more eyes on these 661 00:31:23,880 --> 00:31:28,000 Speaker 2: female athletes who deserve recognition. Gotham FC, New York and 662 00:31:28,040 --> 00:31:30,840 Speaker 2: New Jersey's women's soccer team is breaking a women's sports 663 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:35,000 Speaker 2: attendance record Today, Flavor Flave She Weekend kicks off in 664 00:31:35,080 --> 00:31:38,800 Speaker 2: Vegas right after It's a big week for women's sports. 665 00:31:39,120 --> 00:31:41,880 Speaker 2: So go watch a game because, like Flavor Flave says, 666 00:31:42,400 --> 00:31:43,560 Speaker 2: anyone can be a fan. 667 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:45,200 Speaker 3: See you next week. 668 00:31:46,880 --> 00:31:50,200 Speaker 2: Thanks for listening to She Pivots. If you like this episode, 669 00:31:50,360 --> 00:31:52,719 Speaker 2: follow the show so you never miss a pivot story. 670 00:31:53,000 --> 00:31:54,800 Speaker 2: And share it with one woman in your life who 671 00:31:54,880 --> 00:31:57,560 Speaker 2: might need to hear it. To learn more about our 672 00:31:57,560 --> 00:32:00,520 Speaker 2: guests and join our community, follow us on in Instagram 673 00:32:00,560 --> 00:32:04,280 Speaker 2: at she pivots the podcast our. Subscribe to our substack 674 00:32:04,320 --> 00:32:07,720 Speaker 2: for exclusive content and behind the scenes conversations. You can 675 00:32:07,760 --> 00:32:12,760 Speaker 2: also find us at shepivotspod dot com. This episode was 676 00:32:12,800 --> 00:32:16,560 Speaker 2: produced and edited by Paige Davis Janatt, with sound editing 677 00:32:16,600 --> 00:32:20,280 Speaker 2: and mixing by Nina Pollock. Logistics and planning by Amastopic 678 00:32:20,320 --> 00:32:24,480 Speaker 2: and Kendall Crupkin. Research by Christine Dickinson. She pivots is 679 00:32:24,560 --> 00:32:27,240 Speaker 2: proud to be a part of the iHeart Podcast Network. 680 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,240 Speaker 1: I endorse she Pivots