1 00:00:01,040 --> 00:00:03,440 Speaker 1: Welcome to good Game with Sarah Spain, where our only 2 00:00:03,480 --> 00:00:05,960 Speaker 1: intention for the new year is making it out alive. 3 00:00:06,480 --> 00:00:09,000 Speaker 1: Twenty twenty five couldn't kill us, and we'll be damned 4 00:00:09,039 --> 00:00:12,879 Speaker 1: if twenty twenty six thinks it can. It's Friday, January two, 5 00:00:12,960 --> 00:00:15,280 Speaker 1: and we're closing out our week of favorite twenty twenty 6 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:18,400 Speaker 1: five conversations. Today we're running back my discussion with South 7 00:00:18,400 --> 00:00:21,920 Speaker 1: Carolina head women's basketball coach Don Staley from late September. 8 00:00:22,280 --> 00:00:24,240 Speaker 2: We discussed the pressure of coaching. 9 00:00:23,880 --> 00:00:27,120 Speaker 1: In the new nil and House versus NCUBLEA era, her 10 00:00:27,160 --> 00:00:30,720 Speaker 1: advocacy for equity and women's athletics, and the emotional strength 11 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:34,159 Speaker 1: required to support friends and family through health challenges, including 12 00:00:34,200 --> 00:00:36,680 Speaker 1: breast cancer. It was interesting to go back and listen 13 00:00:36,680 --> 00:00:39,600 Speaker 1: to her thoughts just before the NCUBLEA hoops season began, 14 00:00:39,880 --> 00:00:42,120 Speaker 1: while she was adjusting to a new roster and welcoming 15 00:00:42,120 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: in some big name transfers. Stick around to hear my 16 00:00:44,840 --> 00:00:55,400 Speaker 1: chat with Dawn after this quick break joining us. Now, 17 00:00:55,440 --> 00:00:57,920 Speaker 1: she's the head coach of the South Carolina Gamecocks women's 18 00:00:58,000 --> 00:01:01,120 Speaker 1: basketball team, a squad she's led to three national titles 19 00:01:01,160 --> 00:01:03,720 Speaker 1: in twenty seventeen twenty twenty two and twenty twenty four. 20 00:01:04,040 --> 00:01:06,480 Speaker 1: A former pro hooper, she played college ball at Virginia 21 00:01:06,520 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: before playing three seasons in the ABL and then eight 22 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:11,640 Speaker 1: seasons in the WNBA. She was an All Star in 23 00:01:11,760 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: six of those eight. A three time Olympic gold medalist 24 00:01:14,240 --> 00:01:16,000 Speaker 1: as a player on TMUSA, she went on to coach 25 00:01:16,040 --> 00:01:18,600 Speaker 1: that Olympic squad to another gold in twenty twenty one. 26 00:01:18,880 --> 00:01:20,680 Speaker 1: The only person to win the Naysmith Award as a 27 00:01:20,680 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: player and a coach, she's a four time Naysmith Coach 28 00:01:22,840 --> 00:01:24,640 Speaker 1: of the Year, a two time AP Coach of the Year, 29 00:01:24,840 --> 00:01:27,520 Speaker 1: and the highest paid coach in women's hoops, either college 30 00:01:27,600 --> 00:01:30,520 Speaker 1: or the WNBA. She's in the Virginia Sports Hall of Fame, 31 00:01:30,680 --> 00:01:32,839 Speaker 1: the Women's Basketball Hall of Fame, and the Good Game 32 00:01:32,880 --> 00:01:35,640 Speaker 1: of Sarah Spain Hall of Fame. She's gone viral for 33 00:01:35,720 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: her cornhole dominance. She's got a damn statue. It's Don Staley. Hi, Don, 34 00:01:40,640 --> 00:01:41,640 Speaker 1: thanks for joining us. 35 00:01:41,680 --> 00:01:44,119 Speaker 3: Oh, thank you for having me. It's a great introduction. 36 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,000 Speaker 1: We're kind of obsessed with the cornhole stuff, to be honest. 37 00:01:48,240 --> 00:01:50,720 Speaker 1: That's the outlier that we didn't see coming. But that 38 00:01:50,840 --> 00:01:52,480 Speaker 1: viral clip just keeps coming up. 39 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:54,400 Speaker 2: So we're well aware. 40 00:01:54,640 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 3: They asked me to do cornhole. Probably that was my 41 00:01:57,560 --> 00:02:02,360 Speaker 3: second time doing it over tost like four years, and 42 00:02:02,400 --> 00:02:06,680 Speaker 3: that was actually my second time playing over the past 43 00:02:06,720 --> 00:02:10,880 Speaker 3: four whiles. Like it's something that once I'm playing, I'm good. 44 00:02:10,919 --> 00:02:14,720 Speaker 3: Once I'm there at the at the monament, I'm good. 45 00:02:15,720 --> 00:02:18,040 Speaker 2: Instant champions. It's very impressive. 46 00:02:18,880 --> 00:02:20,640 Speaker 1: I want to start a big picture because we're talking 47 00:02:20,680 --> 00:02:22,560 Speaker 1: in late September, we're about a month and a half 48 00:02:22,560 --> 00:02:24,880 Speaker 1: out from the start of the new college basketball season. 49 00:02:25,120 --> 00:02:26,399 Speaker 2: I'm wondering what level. 50 00:02:26,200 --> 00:02:29,240 Speaker 1: Of intensity you're at when it comes to practice, game planning, 51 00:02:29,280 --> 00:02:31,280 Speaker 1: scouting other teams, prepping for the year. 52 00:02:31,560 --> 00:02:34,360 Speaker 3: I'm pretty chill, Like I don't get too high with 53 00:02:34,400 --> 00:02:36,600 Speaker 3: the highs and too low with the lows. And I 54 00:02:36,680 --> 00:02:41,560 Speaker 3: actually go by really how we practice, and we really 55 00:02:41,600 --> 00:02:45,200 Speaker 3: haven't had bad practices, like since the summer until now. 56 00:02:46,560 --> 00:02:49,720 Speaker 3: And when we've had bad practices, I say it and 57 00:02:49,760 --> 00:02:52,359 Speaker 3: then we move on or I make them admit to it. 58 00:02:53,560 --> 00:02:56,600 Speaker 3: So it's not just me having to feel a bad practice. 59 00:02:56,680 --> 00:02:58,920 Speaker 3: Is everybody feeling a bad. 60 00:02:59,000 --> 00:03:01,560 Speaker 2: We're all on the same that it didn't go great today. 61 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:04,359 Speaker 1: How similar or different does it feel this year in 62 00:03:04,480 --> 00:03:06,800 Speaker 1: terms of talent and style from last year's team another 63 00:03:06,800 --> 00:03:08,880 Speaker 1: great run, but different look this year. 64 00:03:09,360 --> 00:03:12,200 Speaker 3: Different look, I mean, same talent, Like I think we're 65 00:03:12,560 --> 00:03:16,800 Speaker 3: I think we're pretty talented. I think we also have 66 00:03:16,880 --> 00:03:20,200 Speaker 3: a team that we haven't been together, you know, as 67 00:03:20,280 --> 00:03:24,520 Speaker 3: a as a unit very long, meaning we got our 68 00:03:24,760 --> 00:03:29,160 Speaker 3: entire team together in August when we returned to school. 69 00:03:29,800 --> 00:03:33,120 Speaker 3: That was the first time that we were together, like 70 00:03:33,200 --> 00:03:37,920 Speaker 3: all eleven of us. So because of that, we're probably 71 00:03:37,960 --> 00:03:42,040 Speaker 3: a little bit behind, but we more than make up 72 00:03:42,080 --> 00:03:45,160 Speaker 3: for it because there's a certain cohesion with this team. 73 00:03:45,200 --> 00:03:50,560 Speaker 3: There's a certain thirst for actually coaching, which is really 74 00:03:50,680 --> 00:03:54,840 Speaker 3: an anomaly in this day and age where where everybody 75 00:03:54,880 --> 00:03:58,040 Speaker 3: wants to be a star, everybody wants where do I 76 00:03:58,120 --> 00:04:02,280 Speaker 3: fit in, Everybody wants to ball, everybody wants to be 77 00:04:02,360 --> 00:04:06,480 Speaker 3: the focal point. And this particular team just wants to win. 78 00:04:06,880 --> 00:04:10,440 Speaker 3: They want they want to get better individually and they 79 00:04:10,440 --> 00:04:14,520 Speaker 3: want to win. And when you have that kind of perspective, 80 00:04:15,080 --> 00:04:17,240 Speaker 3: it's it's a lot easier on coaches. 81 00:04:18,000 --> 00:04:21,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, for sure, You've got returning folks Joyce Edwards, Raven Johnson, 82 00:04:22,000 --> 00:04:24,479 Speaker 1: Chloe Kats, Tessa Johnson who are trying to turn the 83 00:04:24,480 --> 00:04:27,200 Speaker 1: page after that loss at the end of last season, 84 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,440 Speaker 1: but coming off more success, and then you've got Tanaya Latson, 85 00:04:30,839 --> 00:04:33,480 Speaker 1: who led all of Division One in scoring last season, 86 00:04:33,560 --> 00:04:36,080 Speaker 1: had over twenty five points per game. How are you 87 00:04:36,440 --> 00:04:38,800 Speaker 1: taking the new talent, mixing it in with the old 88 00:04:38,839 --> 00:04:41,080 Speaker 1: talent and making sure everyone is equally as hungry to 89 00:04:41,120 --> 00:04:41,719 Speaker 1: get a title. 90 00:04:42,320 --> 00:04:46,160 Speaker 3: Everybody's coming really just wanting to win and wanting to 91 00:04:46,200 --> 00:04:49,479 Speaker 3: get better. Tanaya, Danaya just wants to get better. And 92 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:51,760 Speaker 3: you know, I had to say this to our media 93 00:04:51,839 --> 00:04:55,680 Speaker 3: today and that it's it's Florida State did everything they 94 00:04:55,680 --> 00:04:59,760 Speaker 3: could do to put Tanaya in this position, and they 95 00:04:59,839 --> 00:05:02,760 Speaker 3: need her to play that role of having to score 96 00:05:02,800 --> 00:05:05,840 Speaker 3: a lot of points and playmake for them, and we 97 00:05:05,880 --> 00:05:08,919 Speaker 3: need her to do the same things. But also just 98 00:05:09,040 --> 00:05:11,440 Speaker 3: watching her play over the years, and I you know, 99 00:05:11,520 --> 00:05:13,719 Speaker 3: I watched her play when it got close to the tournament 100 00:05:13,760 --> 00:05:16,279 Speaker 3: times just in case we got matched up with them. 101 00:05:16,680 --> 00:05:22,400 Speaker 3: She's gifted. She can score the basketball. Tanaya came here 102 00:05:22,480 --> 00:05:26,480 Speaker 3: probably for a different look, for different probably a responsibility, 103 00:05:26,520 --> 00:05:29,159 Speaker 3: but also to put her in a position where she 104 00:05:29,160 --> 00:05:31,640 Speaker 3: can learn some things to be a better pro and 105 00:05:32,440 --> 00:05:37,000 Speaker 3: a change of just just a change of environment will 106 00:05:37,400 --> 00:05:40,400 Speaker 3: help to do that, you know, but I feel a 107 00:05:40,480 --> 00:05:44,840 Speaker 3: responsibility to help her become her better passer to counter 108 00:05:45,400 --> 00:05:48,080 Speaker 3: the fact that she can score points and score points 109 00:05:48,080 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 3: and bunchets, to help her to be more accurate from 110 00:05:51,360 --> 00:05:55,600 Speaker 3: shooting outside the three. And then probably the last part 111 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,279 Speaker 3: of it is we need her to continue to do 112 00:05:58,320 --> 00:06:01,599 Speaker 3: what she's doing with play of defense, like really locked 113 00:06:01,720 --> 00:06:06,120 Speaker 3: in defense, because she's going to a world where you. 114 00:06:06,279 --> 00:06:10,920 Speaker 3: It has to exist. Both worlds have to exist. And 115 00:06:11,279 --> 00:06:13,760 Speaker 3: when you go to the next level, because you could 116 00:06:13,760 --> 00:06:17,880 Speaker 3: be the greatest score but if you're giving up as 117 00:06:17,920 --> 00:06:20,760 Speaker 3: many or more points than your scoring, then you got 118 00:06:20,800 --> 00:06:21,800 Speaker 3: a problem. 119 00:06:22,120 --> 00:06:22,320 Speaker 1: Yep. 120 00:06:22,480 --> 00:06:25,520 Speaker 2: You'll end up on the Globetrotters, on the and one circuit. 121 00:06:25,680 --> 00:06:28,400 Speaker 1: You'll have plenty of places to score, but probably not 122 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,240 Speaker 1: the w How has the introduction of house versus n 123 00:06:32,279 --> 00:06:34,839 Speaker 1: C double A and the payments made directly from school 124 00:06:34,880 --> 00:06:38,120 Speaker 1: to players affected how you recruit and manage and put 125 00:06:38,160 --> 00:06:39,120 Speaker 1: together this team. 126 00:06:39,760 --> 00:06:43,480 Speaker 3: I mean it's a part of our conversations when recruiting 127 00:06:43,520 --> 00:06:49,600 Speaker 3: now it is, you know, I think we're probably a 128 00:06:49,600 --> 00:06:52,440 Speaker 3: lot more fortunate than other teams. I do think our 129 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:57,800 Speaker 3: new ad, Jeremiah Nadi, I mean, he really gets it 130 00:06:57,839 --> 00:07:02,320 Speaker 3: I mean, he really gets the importance of of women's sports, 131 00:07:02,680 --> 00:07:05,520 Speaker 3: you know, not just women's basketball, but women's sports in general. 132 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,080 Speaker 3: And I know he's charged with, you know, getting football 133 00:07:09,120 --> 00:07:11,960 Speaker 3: to where it needs to be and getting into contending 134 00:07:12,000 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 3: for a national you know, championship. But at the same time, 135 00:07:16,480 --> 00:07:21,080 Speaker 3: you know, he he's had some programs on this campus, 136 00:07:21,520 --> 00:07:24,920 Speaker 3: and specifically women's programs that have you know, that have 137 00:07:25,000 --> 00:07:28,160 Speaker 3: been the final fours, that have won national championships, that 138 00:07:28,280 --> 00:07:32,200 Speaker 3: have been pretty much the cornerstone of this athletics department 139 00:07:32,240 --> 00:07:36,160 Speaker 3: by having success, like on court success and in the 140 00:07:36,200 --> 00:07:39,760 Speaker 3: classroom success. So when you get an ad that really 141 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,800 Speaker 3: just sees all of it and it's unafraid to put 142 00:07:43,840 --> 00:07:48,360 Speaker 3: his money where his mouth is and pouring into women's sports, 143 00:07:48,400 --> 00:07:53,400 Speaker 3: So is it great? No, it's competitive, and that's what 144 00:07:53,440 --> 00:07:55,680 Speaker 3: we need to be in this space. It's competitive with 145 00:07:55,760 --> 00:07:58,239 Speaker 3: other women's basketball programs around the country. 146 00:07:59,040 --> 00:08:00,680 Speaker 2: You said you were lucky, and it's true. 147 00:08:00,720 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: Every school will get to decide how they want to 148 00:08:02,800 --> 00:08:05,120 Speaker 1: dole out that twenty million or so every year, and 149 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,200 Speaker 1: a lot of schools, a lot of places are very 150 00:08:07,200 --> 00:08:10,560 Speaker 1: worried about whether the women's programs will be forgotten. That's 151 00:08:10,600 --> 00:08:11,960 Speaker 1: not the case for you, but you do have the 152 00:08:11,960 --> 00:08:15,120 Speaker 1: added responsibility now of dealing with how the players are 153 00:08:15,160 --> 00:08:18,160 Speaker 1: impacted not just by NIL deals from outside the program, 154 00:08:18,200 --> 00:08:21,120 Speaker 1: but buy money that's coming from inside the house. In 155 00:08:21,160 --> 00:08:23,920 Speaker 1: an episode of the IMO podcast with Michelle Obama and 156 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,920 Speaker 1: Craig Robinson, you talked about how you have essentially NDAs 157 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:28,960 Speaker 1: with your players. They're not supposed to talk to each 158 00:08:28,960 --> 00:08:31,760 Speaker 1: other or anyone about how much of that pie they're getting, 159 00:08:32,080 --> 00:08:35,680 Speaker 1: presumably to keep them all from you know, being jealous 160 00:08:35,760 --> 00:08:37,400 Speaker 1: or I want more of this or more of that. 161 00:08:37,440 --> 00:08:39,240 Speaker 1: But you did say you have a certain amount of 162 00:08:39,280 --> 00:08:41,600 Speaker 1: money to work with, but you're within budget well staying 163 00:08:42,000 --> 00:08:44,040 Speaker 1: innovative in the ways you help your players out. 164 00:08:44,080 --> 00:08:45,200 Speaker 2: What are some of the things that you're. 165 00:08:45,080 --> 00:08:47,280 Speaker 1: Doing to offset maybe not having all the money that 166 00:08:47,320 --> 00:08:48,079 Speaker 1: you wish you could give. 167 00:08:48,320 --> 00:08:50,560 Speaker 3: Yeah, and let me just say this, you know, when 168 00:08:50,600 --> 00:08:55,000 Speaker 3: I say things like that, the NDAs, you know, then 169 00:08:55,080 --> 00:09:02,120 Speaker 3: our athletics department is flooded with follow requests. And I 170 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:07,000 Speaker 3: made our playing side n DA's you know, like two 171 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:11,720 Speaker 3: years ago. So it's not something that we do every year. Obviously. 172 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:13,760 Speaker 3: We just want to protect me, you know. We we 173 00:09:13,840 --> 00:09:17,120 Speaker 3: try to just run a program in which we can 174 00:09:17,559 --> 00:09:22,800 Speaker 3: we can stay in a place where it's not entering 175 00:09:23,360 --> 00:09:26,160 Speaker 3: the locker room, because once it gets to your locker room, 176 00:09:26,520 --> 00:09:29,000 Speaker 3: it's not a it's not a great place. What we 177 00:09:29,080 --> 00:09:32,720 Speaker 3: had to do this year was front load everything like 178 00:09:32,920 --> 00:09:35,040 Speaker 3: and I give a shout out to our donors who 179 00:09:36,200 --> 00:09:39,040 Speaker 3: really put us in a position where we could we 180 00:09:39,040 --> 00:09:45,280 Speaker 3: We basically front loaded everybody's nil money except three of 181 00:09:45,280 --> 00:09:48,200 Speaker 3: our players. So the money that we have in REP 182 00:09:48,240 --> 00:09:52,040 Speaker 3: share we gotta. We got a certain amount that if 183 00:09:52,080 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 3: we needed to frontload some players returners, if we needed 184 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:59,840 Speaker 3: to go out and get a transfer like a ton 185 00:10:00,040 --> 00:10:04,199 Speaker 3: and lasting, we got enough money to play with to 186 00:10:04,640 --> 00:10:08,080 Speaker 3: go get those players or to front low our players 187 00:10:08,120 --> 00:10:10,839 Speaker 3: for the following season and then still have the money 188 00:10:10,840 --> 00:10:13,839 Speaker 3: that we'll receive next year as far as reps year. 189 00:10:14,200 --> 00:10:17,720 Speaker 3: So I'm hoping we could keep that cycle going because 190 00:10:17,800 --> 00:10:21,760 Speaker 3: it allows us just more opportunity to be creative in 191 00:10:21,800 --> 00:10:27,079 Speaker 3: the space. Because I do think women will get shafted. 192 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:32,600 Speaker 3: I'm not saying we're not, but across the country women's 193 00:10:32,600 --> 00:10:36,680 Speaker 3: basketball teams and programs are getting shafted like we're good 194 00:10:36,720 --> 00:10:41,400 Speaker 3: on our own, Like the house settlement hurts women's sports 195 00:10:41,559 --> 00:10:45,160 Speaker 3: to be to me because I could go out and 196 00:10:45,200 --> 00:10:47,640 Speaker 3: ask a donor for one hundred grand here or one 197 00:10:47,720 --> 00:10:51,679 Speaker 3: hundred grand there, they give to our program. We could directly, 198 00:10:51,960 --> 00:10:55,079 Speaker 3: just not directly, you got to go through the collective 199 00:10:55,200 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 3: and has to play the play. So we could have 200 00:10:58,040 --> 00:11:01,280 Speaker 3: done that a great deal. And we had enough money, 201 00:11:01,280 --> 00:11:05,520 Speaker 3: and we had seven figures more than seven figures to 202 00:11:05,559 --> 00:11:09,320 Speaker 3: give out the front load, so it was more than 203 00:11:10,000 --> 00:11:14,720 Speaker 3: the rep share that we're getting. So it hurts us. 204 00:11:15,080 --> 00:11:17,080 Speaker 3: It hurts us now. And if we ask a donut 205 00:11:17,120 --> 00:11:19,600 Speaker 3: for money, it can't go to the players. It has 206 00:11:19,640 --> 00:11:24,000 Speaker 3: to go to enhancing our program, which enhancing our program 207 00:11:24,080 --> 00:11:27,760 Speaker 3: is signing players, right that's the name of the game. 208 00:11:28,000 --> 00:11:32,959 Speaker 3: So I'm hoping that that ads and presidents do right 209 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:37,320 Speaker 3: by women's sports, like do right bys make it competitive 210 00:11:37,360 --> 00:11:39,640 Speaker 3: to where we could go out and get players. You 211 00:11:39,679 --> 00:11:43,000 Speaker 3: can't go fill the roster with one hundred grand or less, 212 00:11:43,320 --> 00:11:45,600 Speaker 3: or two hundred grand or three hundred or four hundred 213 00:11:45,640 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 3: or five hundred. You really can't. You really can't. It's 214 00:11:48,760 --> 00:11:53,000 Speaker 3: really impossible. So we got to keep pleading, and I'm 215 00:11:53,000 --> 00:11:56,920 Speaker 3: going to keep pleading the case for specifically women's basketball programs, 216 00:11:57,400 --> 00:12:03,520 Speaker 3: even if it's at our detriment because the better my my, 217 00:12:04,120 --> 00:12:09,520 Speaker 3: you know, my competitors are maybe the worse we are. 218 00:12:10,120 --> 00:12:11,880 Speaker 3: But it's better for the better. 219 00:12:11,920 --> 00:12:13,360 Speaker 2: The game is better for the game. 220 00:12:13,559 --> 00:12:19,000 Speaker 3: So you know, it's a tough business. You always have 221 00:12:19,120 --> 00:12:22,840 Speaker 3: to think creatively or else we're going to lose some 222 00:12:23,000 --> 00:12:26,680 Speaker 3: great coaching because you just can't survive in a space 223 00:12:26,760 --> 00:12:26,960 Speaker 3: like that. 224 00:12:28,080 --> 00:12:30,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, it's fascinating to talk to college coaches. 225 00:12:30,200 --> 00:12:33,079 Speaker 1: I remember talking to Corey Close of UCLA about how 226 00:12:33,080 --> 00:12:36,400 Speaker 1: you're not just a coach anymore. You're a business manager. 227 00:12:36,480 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: You're a GM. You're the person that goes between the 228 00:12:39,559 --> 00:12:42,000 Speaker 1: players and the school and the boosters and the I mean, 229 00:12:42,000 --> 00:12:43,439 Speaker 1: I would have spent if I were you, my whole 230 00:12:43,480 --> 00:12:47,839 Speaker 1: summer just reading up on the specifics of house versus NCAA, 231 00:12:48,000 --> 00:12:50,320 Speaker 1: the payments, the structures. I mean, it is a whole 232 00:12:50,400 --> 00:12:53,040 Speaker 1: nother job that hopefully you have people on your staff 233 00:12:53,080 --> 00:12:55,319 Speaker 1: to help work you through. But I mean, the difference 234 00:12:55,320 --> 00:12:57,439 Speaker 1: between what you had coming up and what it meant 235 00:12:57,440 --> 00:12:59,800 Speaker 1: to commit to a school and play there versus now 236 00:12:59,880 --> 00:13:03,400 Speaker 1: is is absolutely night and day. I know you did 237 00:13:03,440 --> 00:13:06,520 Speaker 1: probably do a lot of that this summer, working and 238 00:13:06,520 --> 00:13:08,280 Speaker 1: looking ahead to this year but you also spent some 239 00:13:08,280 --> 00:13:11,120 Speaker 1: of your time promoting your book Uncommon Favor Basketball in 240 00:13:11,160 --> 00:13:13,440 Speaker 1: North Philly, My Mother, and the Life Lessons I learned 241 00:13:13,480 --> 00:13:16,800 Speaker 1: from all three instant New York Times bestsellers, So congrats 242 00:13:16,840 --> 00:13:20,160 Speaker 1: on that. I know you've got a lifetime of lessons 243 00:13:20,200 --> 00:13:23,440 Speaker 1: to share, advice to impart. How do you decide what 244 00:13:23,480 --> 00:13:25,520 Speaker 1: you want to include and what you want in black 245 00:13:25,559 --> 00:13:27,200 Speaker 1: and white as part of your legacy. 246 00:13:28,320 --> 00:13:31,200 Speaker 3: I mean, I mean, writing a book, you're you know, 247 00:13:31,240 --> 00:13:33,720 Speaker 3: you're you're vulnerable, you don't know how it's going to 248 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:39,200 Speaker 3: be received. But I mean I pretty much lived my 249 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,880 Speaker 3: life like as an open book, Like I don't have 250 00:13:43,480 --> 00:13:48,760 Speaker 3: anything to be ashamed of, and obviously I put stuff 251 00:13:48,800 --> 00:13:51,360 Speaker 3: in the book that some people could be ashamed of, 252 00:13:51,480 --> 00:13:56,880 Speaker 3: like not being a great student my first year. I mean, 253 00:13:56,880 --> 00:14:00,000 Speaker 3: there are things in there that you know, I mean, 254 00:14:00,120 --> 00:14:04,960 Speaker 3: there are peer pressures, there's failure, there's you know, obviously 255 00:14:05,040 --> 00:14:09,760 Speaker 3: some achievements in there, and it's very much like anybody 256 00:14:09,800 --> 00:14:13,920 Speaker 3: else that has the highs and lows of life, and 257 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:18,080 Speaker 3: how you fight through those experiences is what makes you. 258 00:14:18,280 --> 00:14:21,080 Speaker 3: And I don't I don't mind sharing, like again, even 259 00:14:21,120 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 3: to the detriment of me. I don't mind you. I 260 00:14:22,680 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 3: don't mind sharing because these are life lessons that everybody 261 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:33,600 Speaker 3: goes through. And fortunately for me in writing uncommon favor 262 00:14:34,240 --> 00:14:38,560 Speaker 3: like I haven't had a bad review, like not one person. 263 00:14:39,080 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 3: Actually I did look up on Amazon. There was there 264 00:14:42,760 --> 00:14:46,440 Speaker 3: was one person that wrote a bad review because of 265 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:49,480 Speaker 3: the condition that their book came in. 266 00:14:51,400 --> 00:14:54,400 Speaker 2: Like, that's not my ball, that's I'm like. 267 00:14:54,440 --> 00:14:56,520 Speaker 3: Five point those stars. You know what I'm saying. I 268 00:14:56,520 --> 00:14:59,200 Speaker 3: don't like. I don't like anything less than perfection when 269 00:14:59,240 --> 00:15:00,120 Speaker 3: I can control it. 270 00:15:01,320 --> 00:15:03,480 Speaker 1: You said you're an open book, but I would say 271 00:15:03,480 --> 00:15:05,560 Speaker 1: your private life is pretty private. So how did it 272 00:15:05,600 --> 00:15:08,800 Speaker 1: feel to either be pushed by your publisher to share 273 00:15:08,840 --> 00:15:11,440 Speaker 1: more about that or to decide like here's what I 274 00:15:11,440 --> 00:15:13,000 Speaker 1: am willing to share. And even this, maybe it's a 275 00:15:13,000 --> 00:15:15,120 Speaker 1: little uncomfortable for me when I want to want to 276 00:15:15,120 --> 00:15:15,880 Speaker 1: talk about hoops. 277 00:15:16,040 --> 00:15:21,800 Speaker 3: Yeah, well I would say this. I mean, I'm I 278 00:15:21,840 --> 00:15:25,960 Speaker 3: guess I've built enough armor because when you're when you 279 00:15:26,120 --> 00:15:30,720 Speaker 3: when you're over fifty, life just really leans out for 280 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:33,280 Speaker 3: you and it clears up for you. So no matter 281 00:15:33,320 --> 00:15:38,480 Speaker 3: what happened prior to me being less than fifty, we're 282 00:15:38,920 --> 00:15:42,760 Speaker 3: lessons like like and and I want to share like 283 00:15:42,840 --> 00:15:46,880 Speaker 3: I did, like like like God has has blessed me 284 00:15:47,000 --> 00:15:51,680 Speaker 3: with like so much like my cup went over to 285 00:15:51,720 --> 00:15:54,360 Speaker 3: the point of I'm like, I got to share it. 286 00:15:54,360 --> 00:15:56,880 Speaker 3: Now is the time, like I you know, I talked 287 00:15:56,880 --> 00:16:00,520 Speaker 3: to Charlemagne like when we want to champions in twenty 288 00:16:00,560 --> 00:16:03,640 Speaker 3: twenty two, he was like, you should write a book. 289 00:16:04,400 --> 00:16:06,440 Speaker 3: I'm like, okay, I heard this. 290 00:16:07,000 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 2: I heard this. 291 00:16:07,960 --> 00:16:10,320 Speaker 3: I mean I've heard this pretty much all my life. 292 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:11,640 Speaker 2: To write a book thirty years ago. 293 00:16:11,960 --> 00:16:15,320 Speaker 3: Yeah, so I'm like, yeah, okay. But then he was 294 00:16:15,400 --> 00:16:20,000 Speaker 3: really persistent about writing it. Obviously he's got a publishing company, 295 00:16:20,720 --> 00:16:26,040 Speaker 3: and I think he being in the space, he knows 296 00:16:26,080 --> 00:16:29,200 Speaker 3: a lot more about books than I do, and a 297 00:16:29,240 --> 00:16:32,000 Speaker 3: lot more about people because that's his that's his job 298 00:16:32,120 --> 00:16:35,520 Speaker 3: to get to know people and ask people questions. And 299 00:16:37,800 --> 00:16:40,000 Speaker 3: that wasn't my first time being on the Breakfast Club, 300 00:16:40,120 --> 00:16:43,520 Speaker 3: so you know, obviously he finds me interesting or he's 301 00:16:43,560 --> 00:16:45,600 Speaker 3: just giving me, you know, some space because I'm a 302 00:16:45,600 --> 00:16:49,280 Speaker 3: South Carolinian. But he was just really persistent on writing 303 00:16:49,280 --> 00:16:52,600 Speaker 3: a book. And then when we won in an undefeated fashion, 304 00:16:52,720 --> 00:16:56,280 Speaker 3: I'm like, this is the time, Like, this is really 305 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:57,520 Speaker 3: the time to do it. 306 00:16:58,680 --> 00:17:03,200 Speaker 1: I love the BF and before fifty and after fifty. 307 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:05,160 Speaker 1: I've been saying forty because I think a lot changes 308 00:17:05,200 --> 00:17:07,679 Speaker 1: after forty, But I'll let you know when. 309 00:17:07,520 --> 00:17:11,560 Speaker 2: I get to fifteen. Glad to hear it. 310 00:17:12,400 --> 00:17:14,440 Speaker 1: You know, some of the battles that you fought outside 311 00:17:14,440 --> 00:17:18,400 Speaker 1: the arena, outside the basketball court include fighting for loved ones, 312 00:17:18,440 --> 00:17:21,840 Speaker 1: friends and family. You advocate for cancer research and bow 313 00:17:21,920 --> 00:17:26,040 Speaker 1: marrow donations. Your sister Tracy was diagnosed with leukemi in 314 00:17:26,080 --> 00:17:29,280 Speaker 1: twenty twenty, and your former assistant coach, teammate, dear friend 315 00:17:29,359 --> 00:17:32,920 Speaker 1: Nicki McCray Penson passed away after struggling with breast cancer. 316 00:17:33,320 --> 00:17:35,600 Speaker 1: So your efforts in that have earned you the twenty 317 00:17:35,640 --> 00:17:38,560 Speaker 1: twenty four Jimmy V Award for Perseverance At the ESPIS. 318 00:17:38,960 --> 00:17:41,800 Speaker 1: You've made a lot of headlines working in hospitals, working 319 00:17:41,800 --> 00:17:45,200 Speaker 1: with sponsors to advocate for research. What did you learn, 320 00:17:45,240 --> 00:17:47,800 Speaker 1: I wonder from being around people you loved so much 321 00:17:47,960 --> 00:17:51,080 Speaker 1: during those battles. What did you learn, specifically being by 322 00:17:51,119 --> 00:17:53,360 Speaker 1: your own sister's side as she took on a life 323 00:17:53,400 --> 00:17:54,200 Speaker 1: threatening disease. 324 00:17:55,000 --> 00:18:01,480 Speaker 3: I mean what I learned is you activate, like activate 325 00:18:01,560 --> 00:18:05,400 Speaker 3: for your loved ones, like you know, my sister when 326 00:18:05,440 --> 00:18:09,200 Speaker 3: she was diagnosed that. I mean, that's such a personal thing, 327 00:18:09,560 --> 00:18:13,960 Speaker 3: Like it's something that that consumes you as the person 328 00:18:14,040 --> 00:18:18,680 Speaker 3: that has been diagnosed. Right, I don't want to die, right, 329 00:18:19,280 --> 00:18:23,760 Speaker 3: So for loved ones, it is who do you know? Like, 330 00:18:25,119 --> 00:18:30,720 Speaker 3: so for me, I really did. I contacted Sylvia Hatchell, 331 00:18:31,200 --> 00:18:36,800 Speaker 3: who had leukemia Coach k. I had my doctor that 332 00:18:37,000 --> 00:18:41,360 Speaker 3: treated me at Cleveland Clinic and he was a cardiologist. 333 00:18:43,760 --> 00:18:48,320 Speaker 3: I spoke with someone that that had cancer here, like 334 00:18:48,359 --> 00:18:51,800 Speaker 3: one of our one of our donors, her her husband 335 00:18:51,840 --> 00:18:54,640 Speaker 3: had cancer and he got treated at m D Anderson. 336 00:18:55,560 --> 00:18:57,600 Speaker 3: So I got a chance to speak to a doctor 337 00:18:57,680 --> 00:19:01,399 Speaker 3: that treated him at m D Anderson. And then you're 338 00:19:01,480 --> 00:19:04,760 Speaker 3: talking to Mayo Clinic like I Sloan, like I talked 339 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:08,359 Speaker 3: to doctors from all of those places. When to visit 340 00:19:08,680 --> 00:19:13,000 Speaker 3: doctor Raziri at Duke and he was really so kind, 341 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:20,639 Speaker 3: so loving, so just gave up so much information and 342 00:19:20,680 --> 00:19:22,560 Speaker 3: then he did a lot of them, so it wasn't like, 343 00:19:23,000 --> 00:19:26,480 Speaker 3: you know, it wasn't an unknown for him. So my 344 00:19:26,520 --> 00:19:29,240 Speaker 3: sister was very comfortable with him, and we decided to 345 00:19:29,240 --> 00:19:30,800 Speaker 3: stay a little bit close to the home where we 346 00:19:30,800 --> 00:19:33,960 Speaker 3: could drive you know, we could drive up and if 347 00:19:33,960 --> 00:19:36,679 Speaker 3: she could get home, we could drive home, and so 348 00:19:36,840 --> 00:19:39,879 Speaker 3: I think you have to activate and I just my 349 00:19:40,000 --> 00:19:44,080 Speaker 3: sister was just really positive throughout it, like she never 350 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:47,800 Speaker 3: she never had a bad day like I would say. 351 00:19:47,840 --> 00:19:51,399 Speaker 3: She did have a bad day probably after her after 352 00:19:51,480 --> 00:19:57,080 Speaker 3: her fourth chemo treatment, after she had the. 353 00:19:56,119 --> 00:19:57,879 Speaker 2: Bone marrow transplant, and. 354 00:19:58,000 --> 00:20:00,800 Speaker 3: She had lesions on her lips that were is hanging off. 355 00:20:01,040 --> 00:20:04,560 Speaker 3: That was probably she felt the worst. And it was 356 00:20:04,720 --> 00:20:07,600 Speaker 3: more so because she could actually see it. Before she 357 00:20:07,920 --> 00:20:11,159 Speaker 3: couldn't really see it, but you had to tell it. Look, 358 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,480 Speaker 3: you won't die from leukemia, like you really, we got you, 359 00:20:14,560 --> 00:20:17,000 Speaker 3: Like we got the best people, the best doctors, we 360 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:20,080 Speaker 3: got the best care. You won't die from leukemia. So 361 00:20:20,080 --> 00:20:23,320 Speaker 3: if you could just keep a positive outlook, we get 362 00:20:23,359 --> 00:20:26,400 Speaker 3: you open the hump and where they got we're over 363 00:20:26,440 --> 00:20:27,840 Speaker 3: five years from that place. 364 00:20:28,080 --> 00:20:28,679 Speaker 2: Incredible. 365 00:20:28,920 --> 00:20:32,160 Speaker 1: Well, and you used your network to really reach out 366 00:20:32,200 --> 00:20:33,399 Speaker 1: and say, I know we're going to get you the 367 00:20:33,440 --> 00:20:35,280 Speaker 1: best that's available, and then it's just on you to 368 00:20:35,280 --> 00:20:39,760 Speaker 1: stay positive. You obviously everyone wants to do that for 369 00:20:39,960 --> 00:20:42,760 Speaker 1: loved ones to go through those things, but for NICKI, 370 00:20:43,400 --> 00:20:44,760 Speaker 1: she wasn't able to be saved. 371 00:20:44,800 --> 00:20:46,440 Speaker 2: What did you learn from losing her? 372 00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:50,440 Speaker 3: I mean what I learned is Nicki gave up an 373 00:20:50,440 --> 00:20:55,119 Speaker 3: incredible fight, like she gave it all she had. And 374 00:20:56,200 --> 00:21:00,560 Speaker 3: to tell Nikki's story, Nikki didn't want kids, like at 375 00:21:00,560 --> 00:21:04,720 Speaker 3: all somehow, and Nikki did a lot of stuff to 376 00:21:04,840 --> 00:21:08,280 Speaker 3: not have a kid. And then you know, when she 377 00:21:08,480 --> 00:21:12,960 Speaker 3: found out she was pregnant, you know, it was miraculous 378 00:21:12,960 --> 00:21:15,520 Speaker 3: and a lot of people don't know this. You know, 379 00:21:15,720 --> 00:21:18,280 Speaker 3: the year that she was pregnant, and then she had 380 00:21:18,320 --> 00:21:23,960 Speaker 3: her son, little Thomas. She didn't get her mammogram that 381 00:21:24,160 --> 00:21:27,240 Speaker 3: year for some reason, and she used the up on 382 00:21:27,320 --> 00:21:29,800 Speaker 3: it because cancer runs in her family. And then when 383 00:21:29,840 --> 00:21:33,800 Speaker 3: she got her mammogram, she found the spot. And then 384 00:21:34,000 --> 00:21:38,400 Speaker 3: we were with her, Me and Coach Boyer were with 385 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:42,879 Speaker 3: her with every treatment that she sat through. Nicki again, 386 00:21:43,080 --> 00:21:48,320 Speaker 3: Nikki didn't have a bad day, meaning meaning we were 387 00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:51,720 Speaker 3: taking best as to when Nikki would have her surgery 388 00:21:52,119 --> 00:21:54,359 Speaker 3: and when she would get back into the office, Like 389 00:21:54,400 --> 00:21:58,760 Speaker 3: she had a surgery on a Wednesday, right, I said, 390 00:21:58,840 --> 00:22:02,199 Speaker 3: Niggy's probably going to be back Monday, like Monday, and 391 00:22:02,200 --> 00:22:04,040 Speaker 3: if she could have been back Friday, she would have 392 00:22:04,040 --> 00:22:07,879 Speaker 3: been back Friday. But the lose Nikki, you know is 393 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:13,480 Speaker 3: I mean, it was tough like Nikki is her smallest infectious. 394 00:22:14,040 --> 00:22:18,040 Speaker 3: She absolutely loved basketball. She loved her family, she loved 395 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:21,480 Speaker 3: being a mom, she loved being a wife. She loved 396 00:22:21,480 --> 00:22:26,879 Speaker 3: the sun shining like she loved life. And when we 397 00:22:26,960 --> 00:22:31,600 Speaker 3: lost her, it was super sad. Like I I at 398 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:34,680 Speaker 3: her funeral at a service, I asked you if I 399 00:22:34,720 --> 00:22:37,840 Speaker 3: could have one of her plants. That that was at 400 00:22:37,880 --> 00:22:39,959 Speaker 3: the funeral, and I still have her plant, Like I 401 00:22:40,000 --> 00:22:44,280 Speaker 3: talked to her plant. I talked to Nikki. I, you know, 402 00:22:44,720 --> 00:22:48,480 Speaker 3: I don't have a green thumb, but but but it's 403 00:22:48,520 --> 00:22:50,800 Speaker 3: still going strong. It's probably because of Nikki. 404 00:22:51,760 --> 00:22:53,440 Speaker 2: We have to take a break plenty more with Don 405 00:22:53,520 --> 00:22:54,520 Speaker 2: coming up right after this. 406 00:23:03,480 --> 00:23:06,480 Speaker 1: You know you're wearing the necklaces that you never seem 407 00:23:06,560 --> 00:23:07,600 Speaker 1: to be without. 408 00:23:07,760 --> 00:23:10,080 Speaker 2: Can you share the story of why you wear those? 409 00:23:10,600 --> 00:23:14,720 Speaker 3: Oh yeah, really cool story. I believe. I met Blakely 410 00:23:15,040 --> 00:23:21,359 Speaker 3: Thompson in twenty twenty two at UVA Children's Hospital. I 411 00:23:21,400 --> 00:23:24,280 Speaker 3: got a partnership with AFLAC and AFLAC they have this 412 00:23:24,520 --> 00:23:28,639 Speaker 3: like automatic duck that when little kids aren't able to 413 00:23:28,760 --> 00:23:32,600 Speaker 3: verbalize because they're going through their treatments what they're feeling. 414 00:23:33,200 --> 00:23:36,240 Speaker 3: These ducks have these emojis that you put on their stomach. 415 00:23:36,640 --> 00:23:40,399 Speaker 3: It tells doctors how their young patient is feeling. So 416 00:23:40,480 --> 00:23:43,160 Speaker 3: we took Blakely and a few of her friends through 417 00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:45,400 Speaker 3: a scavenger hut. At the end of it, they got 418 00:23:45,440 --> 00:23:48,440 Speaker 3: their duck. And then that after they got their duck, 419 00:23:48,480 --> 00:23:51,760 Speaker 3: they were able to make necklaces for their duck. And I, 420 00:23:52,000 --> 00:23:54,840 Speaker 3: you know, you wouldn't know that she was sick, like 421 00:23:55,520 --> 00:23:59,520 Speaker 3: like probably deathly sick, but you wouldn't know it because 422 00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,760 Speaker 3: we're having a conversation. She's just talking and she's just carefree. 423 00:24:04,280 --> 00:24:08,440 Speaker 3: And I'm sitting there thinking like, how brave of her. 424 00:24:08,760 --> 00:24:14,080 Speaker 3: I know her parents are so consumed with their child's 425 00:24:14,119 --> 00:24:19,280 Speaker 3: health like every day, and I just woren in her honor. 426 00:24:20,600 --> 00:24:23,920 Speaker 3: And then when we were on our way to winning 427 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:28,680 Speaker 3: our championship, she knew it was getting pretty worn down. 428 00:24:29,080 --> 00:24:32,320 Speaker 3: She ended up sending me another one, and we ended 429 00:24:32,400 --> 00:24:37,159 Speaker 3: up winning the championship in twenty twenty two. And then 430 00:24:37,160 --> 00:24:40,840 Speaker 3: I went this other one again because Athleck took me 431 00:24:40,920 --> 00:24:44,720 Speaker 3: over to Columbia's Children Hospital for sick of cel so 432 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:49,359 Speaker 3: same thing scavenger hunt, met this dude and we just 433 00:24:49,440 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 3: had a really good time. And I wear it for 434 00:24:52,640 --> 00:24:56,000 Speaker 3: pediatric cancer and pediatric cica self. 435 00:24:57,320 --> 00:24:58,320 Speaker 2: It's really incredible. 436 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:04,120 Speaker 1: I wonder sometimes being empathetic to people like that does 437 00:25:04,160 --> 00:25:06,800 Speaker 1: give you perspective, but you also carry their stories with you, 438 00:25:06,920 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: and it can be a lot to feel what they're feeling. 439 00:25:10,080 --> 00:25:12,879 Speaker 1: You're going to talk to these kids, you're fighting on 440 00:25:12,920 --> 00:25:15,000 Speaker 1: behalf of your friends and family, and through it all 441 00:25:15,040 --> 00:25:19,200 Speaker 1: you're still coaching. How do you compartmentalize, find your focus, 442 00:25:19,800 --> 00:25:22,359 Speaker 1: stay strong enough to show up for your players during 443 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:23,360 Speaker 1: those moments. 444 00:25:23,760 --> 00:25:28,680 Speaker 3: I really draw strength, you know, and perspective from those 445 00:25:28,680 --> 00:25:32,960 Speaker 3: who have to go through a disease, Like every day, 446 00:25:33,560 --> 00:25:37,600 Speaker 3: you know, like sometimes my knee hurts doesn't compare to 447 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:40,840 Speaker 3: what they go through. I would say sometimes I have 448 00:25:40,880 --> 00:25:43,040 Speaker 3: a bad day, but really I don't have bad days. 449 00:25:43,720 --> 00:25:46,639 Speaker 3: I really, you know, in comparison to other people, I 450 00:25:46,680 --> 00:25:49,960 Speaker 3: don't have bad days. So I don't feed into bad days. 451 00:25:50,280 --> 00:25:52,480 Speaker 3: Every day is a good day. Every day I try 452 00:25:52,520 --> 00:25:56,639 Speaker 3: to share my passion, Like I really love my job. 453 00:25:57,400 --> 00:26:00,800 Speaker 3: I really love working with young people. I really love 454 00:26:00,880 --> 00:26:04,080 Speaker 3: being a dream merchant for my players, Like I really 455 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:07,600 Speaker 3: love that part of what I do. I do walk 456 00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:11,320 Speaker 3: with a limp because of just the years of playing basketball. 457 00:26:11,400 --> 00:26:15,679 Speaker 3: But I'm God in pain and it doesn't compare to 458 00:26:15,720 --> 00:26:19,720 Speaker 3: what other people have to go through on a daily basis. 459 00:26:19,760 --> 00:26:24,080 Speaker 3: So you know, I'm counting my blessings while also praying 460 00:26:24,680 --> 00:26:29,080 Speaker 3: for those who are afflicted by you know, cancer, sick 461 00:26:29,160 --> 00:26:33,280 Speaker 3: of sell, any other debilitating disease to where it consumes 462 00:26:33,280 --> 00:26:39,480 Speaker 3: your your every day like your everyday thoughts. That's exhausting. 463 00:26:39,880 --> 00:26:43,600 Speaker 3: Like I pray for their peace, even if it's for 464 00:26:43,800 --> 00:26:46,840 Speaker 3: an hour, even if it's for half a day, that 465 00:26:46,960 --> 00:26:50,800 Speaker 3: they have the piece to be normal, like think it's 466 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:52,840 Speaker 3: not be consumed with what they're going through. 467 00:26:54,600 --> 00:26:58,520 Speaker 1: You mentioned your relationship with your players, which is incredibly special. 468 00:26:58,640 --> 00:27:01,720 Speaker 1: Y'all really do ride for each other, whether that's supporting 469 00:27:01,720 --> 00:27:05,520 Speaker 1: each other's books, shoes, showing up at games. Two of 470 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:07,919 Speaker 1: your former athletes, Ali Sha Gray and Asia Wilson were 471 00:27:07,960 --> 00:27:11,679 Speaker 1: finalists for WNBA MVP this season, Asia obviously going on 472 00:27:11,720 --> 00:27:14,879 Speaker 1: to win her record fourth MVP. Asia currently facing off 473 00:27:14,920 --> 00:27:17,520 Speaker 1: against another game Cock star in Aleiah Boston in the 474 00:27:17,560 --> 00:27:21,280 Speaker 1: WNBA semi finals. So hard for you, presumably to figure 475 00:27:21,280 --> 00:27:23,119 Speaker 1: out where to put all your allegiances. But what do 476 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:26,440 Speaker 1: you think you do specifically to help your players succeed 477 00:27:26,440 --> 00:27:28,520 Speaker 1: at the next level? Why are there so many former 478 00:27:28,600 --> 00:27:30,720 Speaker 1: Don Staley players that are thriving at the. 479 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:35,360 Speaker 3: W I would say this, You know, young people come 480 00:27:35,400 --> 00:27:40,080 Speaker 3: to South Carolina for a reason. One is just the 481 00:27:40,119 --> 00:27:46,879 Speaker 3: history of the known, which is we continue to work 482 00:27:46,920 --> 00:27:51,520 Speaker 3: pro habits. Pro Habits are the driving force of what 483 00:27:51,600 --> 00:27:54,719 Speaker 3: we do here at South Carolina. All of our players 484 00:27:54,760 --> 00:27:59,440 Speaker 3: want to be pros. And if you as a coach, 485 00:28:00,880 --> 00:28:03,960 Speaker 3: if you haven't put anybody you know in the w 486 00:28:04,160 --> 00:28:07,400 Speaker 3: n b A, you really don't know. But until you do, 487 00:28:07,520 --> 00:28:11,600 Speaker 3: you'll understand, and you you understand what that process is 488 00:28:11,640 --> 00:28:15,119 Speaker 3: for those players or those type of players, that type 489 00:28:15,119 --> 00:28:17,920 Speaker 3: of talent, and you know what works and what doesn't work. 490 00:28:18,800 --> 00:28:21,840 Speaker 3: So for us, we figure out what works. One is 491 00:28:22,640 --> 00:28:28,160 Speaker 3: just really clear communication clear and that is that is 492 00:28:29,520 --> 00:28:33,480 Speaker 3: you know, whether something's going great or not so great, 493 00:28:33,880 --> 00:28:35,960 Speaker 3: we're gonna we're gonna give it to you just like 494 00:28:36,680 --> 00:28:40,280 Speaker 3: just like it is. Whatever whatever that moment deserves, we're 495 00:28:40,280 --> 00:28:43,040 Speaker 3: gonna give it to you. And we've conditioned our players 496 00:28:43,040 --> 00:28:47,000 Speaker 3: to take that. Whereas some people you gotta coddle, some 497 00:28:47,040 --> 00:28:50,640 Speaker 3: people you just gotta make sure you gotta walking on eggshells, 498 00:28:50,680 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 3: there's none of that here. Like this is the training 499 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:56,960 Speaker 3: ground to being successful at the next level. Tell me 500 00:28:57,000 --> 00:28:59,880 Speaker 3: when you when you don't like something, tell me if 501 00:28:59,880 --> 00:29:02,760 Speaker 3: you think we should play a certain way. Now, when 502 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:05,320 Speaker 3: you suggest something that we need to change in what 503 00:29:05,320 --> 00:29:07,640 Speaker 3: we're doing, you got to back that thing up with 504 00:29:07,680 --> 00:29:10,440 Speaker 3: some film. Because we're watching film. We're watching You probably 505 00:29:10,480 --> 00:29:13,800 Speaker 3: won't watch as much as we watch it, but we listen. 506 00:29:14,520 --> 00:29:17,880 Speaker 3: And I mean we got pros. You just mentioned it. 507 00:29:18,040 --> 00:29:22,960 Speaker 3: Like Aliyah. I do think Aleah Boston will be should 508 00:29:23,000 --> 00:29:25,400 Speaker 3: be on the at least the first and second team 509 00:29:25,400 --> 00:29:31,760 Speaker 3: of all WNBA. Alisha Gray continuously comes back and practices 510 00:29:31,800 --> 00:29:37,280 Speaker 3: with us and share exactly what's happening at the next level, 511 00:29:37,760 --> 00:29:40,920 Speaker 3: right like when she came. When she comes back, I 512 00:29:40,960 --> 00:29:44,760 Speaker 3: always ask her to talk to the team. What can 513 00:29:44,800 --> 00:29:47,360 Speaker 3: our players do to prepare themselves, you know, for the 514 00:29:47,400 --> 00:29:51,520 Speaker 3: next level. For someone that used to not talk a 515 00:29:51,520 --> 00:29:58,000 Speaker 3: whole lot Atleisha Gray, Leish said talking vets don't want 516 00:29:58,000 --> 00:30:00,280 Speaker 3: to play with anybody that doesn't talk out on the 517 00:30:00,280 --> 00:30:05,000 Speaker 3: floor like like they will. They will remove you from 518 00:30:05,000 --> 00:30:07,720 Speaker 3: the floor, not even the coach, they will remove you 519 00:30:07,800 --> 00:30:13,080 Speaker 3: off the floor. So Agel always talks about off season workouts. 520 00:30:13,360 --> 00:30:16,400 Speaker 3: What she does, like the amount of time that she 521 00:30:16,600 --> 00:30:21,280 Speaker 3: spends working out getting better and being specific and what 522 00:30:21,320 --> 00:30:26,440 Speaker 3: she's working out with Aliyah, she's always talking about just 523 00:30:26,520 --> 00:30:30,120 Speaker 3: getting better, like and the type of shape that you 524 00:30:30,240 --> 00:30:35,160 Speaker 3: need to be in the Like. Aliah doesn't go overseas 525 00:30:35,200 --> 00:30:39,720 Speaker 3: to play, but she's always around basketball. She's commentating. She's 526 00:30:39,760 --> 00:30:43,920 Speaker 3: an analyst, so her mind is always thinking the game 527 00:30:44,480 --> 00:30:48,000 Speaker 3: and thinking the ways and how what she's seeing could 528 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:52,920 Speaker 3: help her when she's playing out there in the w NBA. 529 00:30:53,280 --> 00:30:56,000 Speaker 3: Like all of our players, Zaya Cook, I talked to Zaia, 530 00:30:56,480 --> 00:31:01,280 Speaker 3: I talked to La Like they they are all learning, 531 00:31:02,200 --> 00:31:04,040 Speaker 3: but they're still there because a lot of people in 532 00:31:04,080 --> 00:31:06,520 Speaker 3: the league. Tiffany Mitchell was, you know, one of our 533 00:31:06,560 --> 00:31:09,760 Speaker 3: first to get drafted. She's still in the league. Is 534 00:31:09,800 --> 00:31:13,000 Speaker 3: she still in the league because she's smart and she 535 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:15,360 Speaker 3: created these people habits. Even if she doesn't play a 536 00:31:15,400 --> 00:31:19,560 Speaker 3: whole whole lot, she brings value. She brings value to 537 00:31:19,600 --> 00:31:24,640 Speaker 3: the locker room. So that's why I, you know, I 538 00:31:24,720 --> 00:31:27,640 Speaker 3: choose to stay on this level, is because I'm able 539 00:31:27,640 --> 00:31:32,400 Speaker 3: to shape their lives in a way that it protects 540 00:31:32,880 --> 00:31:37,160 Speaker 3: us continue to have a women's professional league. 541 00:31:37,400 --> 00:31:39,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, and at the level you're at too, it's so 542 00:31:40,120 --> 00:31:43,960 Speaker 1: necessary and important to set a precedent for women coaches. 543 00:31:44,400 --> 00:31:47,880 Speaker 1: We know all the statistics about post Title nine, and 544 00:31:47,960 --> 00:31:51,440 Speaker 1: as more money got into the game, fewer women were given. 545 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:52,360 Speaker 2: Opportunities to coach. 546 00:31:52,360 --> 00:31:54,719 Speaker 1: There is such a need for more women coaches across 547 00:31:54,720 --> 00:31:57,080 Speaker 1: every level of basketball and every other sport. And not 548 00:31:57,120 --> 00:31:59,479 Speaker 1: only are you doing it and setting an example, but 549 00:31:59,520 --> 00:32:03,080 Speaker 1: your demand the pay that your accomplishments call for. How 550 00:32:03,120 --> 00:32:05,760 Speaker 1: do you summon the courage and the fearlessness it takes 551 00:32:05,800 --> 00:32:08,760 Speaker 1: to walk into an office at South Carolina and ask 552 00:32:08,880 --> 00:32:11,120 Speaker 1: for what you deserve, ask for more than what anyone 553 00:32:11,160 --> 00:32:11,840 Speaker 1: else is getting. 554 00:32:12,600 --> 00:32:15,040 Speaker 3: Well, I don't do it. I get somebody to do 555 00:32:15,080 --> 00:32:20,760 Speaker 3: it for me. I mean, here's the reason why if 556 00:32:20,760 --> 00:32:22,960 Speaker 3: I if I gonna do it, it's easy. It's probably 557 00:32:23,040 --> 00:32:25,880 Speaker 3: easy to tell me no, right, no, we don't have it, 558 00:32:25,960 --> 00:32:29,360 Speaker 3: budgets whatever, whatever, Right. I mean, you get somebody that 559 00:32:29,720 --> 00:32:34,360 Speaker 3: that really believes that it should happen, right, and then 560 00:32:34,400 --> 00:32:38,239 Speaker 3: they have the expertise. You know, you got to get 561 00:32:38,320 --> 00:32:42,000 Speaker 3: lawyers involved. Just make sure that that you know, we 562 00:32:42,120 --> 00:32:46,160 Speaker 3: all speak in the same language. Because the budget is 563 00:32:46,200 --> 00:32:50,720 Speaker 3: the budget, you know, I'm sure the budget doesn't call 564 00:32:50,840 --> 00:32:55,040 Speaker 3: for any coach to get an increase. But when you 565 00:32:55,120 --> 00:32:58,680 Speaker 3: have the type of success that we've had, I do 566 00:32:58,880 --> 00:33:02,440 Speaker 3: understand my worth like I do. I have a pretty 567 00:33:02,440 --> 00:33:05,440 Speaker 3: good understanding of my worth. And it'll be quite honest, 568 00:33:05,480 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 3: I'm not driven by money. I am driven by principle. 569 00:33:09,520 --> 00:33:13,080 Speaker 3: I am driven by principle, and I am an example 570 00:33:13,240 --> 00:33:16,200 Speaker 3: for our players, like I tell them all the time, 571 00:33:16,240 --> 00:33:20,280 Speaker 3: don't settle right if you got some non negotiables, Like 572 00:33:20,600 --> 00:33:24,400 Speaker 3: I recruit young people all the time, what are your 573 00:33:24,400 --> 00:33:27,720 Speaker 3: non negotiables? That's what I asked, What are your non negotiables? 574 00:33:28,200 --> 00:33:32,280 Speaker 3: And if we aren't able to deliver their non negotiables, 575 00:33:32,440 --> 00:33:35,840 Speaker 3: then we're not the school for them. What my non 576 00:33:35,840 --> 00:33:41,480 Speaker 3: negotiables are, It's principal. I'm principled in knowing that if 577 00:33:41,520 --> 00:33:46,200 Speaker 3: we've had sustained success, sustained you know, and I'm not 578 00:33:46,280 --> 00:33:50,360 Speaker 3: talking just success, We've won like we've won like we've 579 00:33:50,400 --> 00:33:53,959 Speaker 3: been the last team standing. And if you're the last 580 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:59,280 Speaker 3: team standing on any campus, you deserve a raise, no 581 00:33:59,280 --> 00:34:01,760 Speaker 3: matter if y'all want them back to back, don't matter 582 00:34:01,760 --> 00:34:03,680 Speaker 3: if y'all won like I don't know how many Connecticut 583 00:34:03,760 --> 00:34:08,439 Speaker 3: one like in a row, but Gino deserve the race 584 00:34:08,600 --> 00:34:13,200 Speaker 3: every single time. Because if football or men's basketball, if 585 00:34:13,239 --> 00:34:18,120 Speaker 3: they've ever won back to back, they're rich people right there. 586 00:34:18,200 --> 00:34:24,120 Speaker 3: They're people and it's and it's the conversations aren't very long. 587 00:34:25,239 --> 00:34:29,879 Speaker 3: They don't out for months or you know, months on end. 588 00:34:30,400 --> 00:34:34,239 Speaker 3: They get it done. A football coach, if he has 589 00:34:34,280 --> 00:34:39,000 Speaker 3: success and the last game is on whatever it is, 590 00:34:39,200 --> 00:34:44,759 Speaker 3: last last week of November, there's a month between that 591 00:34:45,000 --> 00:34:48,560 Speaker 3: and the ball game, it's getting done within that within 592 00:34:48,600 --> 00:34:52,399 Speaker 3: that time crame. So I mean, that's why I do it, 593 00:34:52,440 --> 00:34:56,120 Speaker 3: because I want my players to know for the same 594 00:34:56,160 --> 00:34:59,640 Speaker 3: type of work that they'll mal counterparts may do in 595 00:34:59,680 --> 00:35:03,800 Speaker 3: the few future. Then it's okay to bed on self. 596 00:35:03,920 --> 00:35:08,040 Speaker 3: It's okay to have hard, uncomfortable conversation. It's okay to 597 00:35:08,040 --> 00:35:08,600 Speaker 3: know their work. 598 00:35:09,760 --> 00:35:11,680 Speaker 1: We have to take one more break. The conclusion of 599 00:35:11,719 --> 00:35:23,799 Speaker 1: my conversation with Don is coming up. You have a 600 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:26,520 Speaker 1: special relationship with South Carolina. You've been there a long time, 601 00:35:26,520 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 1: You've had a lot of success. We were at an 602 00:35:28,560 --> 00:35:30,640 Speaker 1: event together in Portland. You talked about how you call 603 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:34,120 Speaker 1: the fans fams instead because they're part of the family. 604 00:35:34,600 --> 00:35:36,399 Speaker 2: But you did interview for the next job. 605 00:35:36,600 --> 00:35:40,239 Speaker 1: How much of you was really interested and drawn to 606 00:35:40,320 --> 00:35:43,520 Speaker 1: the idea of coaching the New York Knicks in the MNBA. 607 00:35:44,080 --> 00:35:46,200 Speaker 3: Well, well, one, let me just say this. I'm a 608 00:35:46,239 --> 00:35:51,319 Speaker 3: people's person, So I mean, I know Leon, I know 609 00:35:51,640 --> 00:35:54,320 Speaker 3: we're all wild with I've known him for thirty years. 610 00:35:55,080 --> 00:36:00,960 Speaker 3: And when I got the call, you know, I'm like, yeah, right, Leone, 611 00:36:01,040 --> 00:36:03,400 Speaker 3: Like I'm talking to Leone, like yeah right, okay what 612 00:36:04,640 --> 00:36:07,040 Speaker 3: Then he was like I'm serious. And when he told 613 00:36:07,120 --> 00:36:10,640 Speaker 3: me why, he was serious, and then I was like, okay, 614 00:36:10,680 --> 00:36:14,320 Speaker 3: well okay, let's do it. Part of me, you know, 615 00:36:14,600 --> 00:36:20,279 Speaker 3: was like, really, this isn't this isn't what I've ever wanted, right, 616 00:36:20,840 --> 00:36:23,040 Speaker 3: And then the other part of me was a little intrigued, 617 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:27,399 Speaker 3: you know, because it was a challenge. And then when 618 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:30,399 Speaker 3: I was preparing for the interview and I'm having these 619 00:36:30,400 --> 00:36:34,440 Speaker 3: conversations with different people and I'm taking my notes and 620 00:36:34,480 --> 00:36:37,080 Speaker 3: I'm preparing myself and then I'll go and do the interview, 621 00:36:38,520 --> 00:36:41,920 Speaker 3: I wasn't nervous at all, Like and part of me 622 00:36:42,080 --> 00:36:46,040 Speaker 3: was doing it for a female coach, if if ever 623 00:36:46,080 --> 00:36:50,080 Speaker 3: there's somebody that is going to be interviewed and taking seriously, 624 00:36:50,560 --> 00:36:52,840 Speaker 3: I got all the notes and I'm keeping them and 625 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:55,400 Speaker 3: I'm going to share them. Yeah, but then you're in 626 00:36:55,440 --> 00:36:58,279 Speaker 3: the interview and you're talking. I'm just doing what I 627 00:36:58,360 --> 00:37:02,600 Speaker 3: normally do is speaking on who I am one as 628 00:37:02,640 --> 00:37:07,839 Speaker 3: a leader, as a collaborator, as a unifier. Like, if 629 00:37:07,880 --> 00:37:11,279 Speaker 3: you want all of those things, that's what I've done 630 00:37:11,400 --> 00:37:15,760 Speaker 3: my entire career, my time, not as a coach, Okay, 631 00:37:16,360 --> 00:37:19,400 Speaker 3: I mean as as somebody in my neighborhood, in in 632 00:37:19,440 --> 00:37:23,200 Speaker 3: the projects. I did those things. So I gotta not 633 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:29,719 Speaker 3: just experience coaching doing it. I experience outside of coaching. 634 00:37:30,239 --> 00:37:32,960 Speaker 3: This This thing is real simple, to be quite honest, 635 00:37:33,480 --> 00:37:37,040 Speaker 3: to be successful, it's really simple. To be a collaborator, 636 00:37:37,200 --> 00:37:41,480 Speaker 3: is simple to be a unifier. It's really simple. It 637 00:37:41,640 --> 00:37:45,000 Speaker 3: looks sound feel Something looks sounds to feel off, you 638 00:37:45,080 --> 00:37:48,759 Speaker 3: address it. If it looks sounds to feel good and positive, 639 00:37:49,080 --> 00:37:51,400 Speaker 3: you encourage it and you want more right and you 640 00:37:51,480 --> 00:37:51,920 Speaker 3: praise it. 641 00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:54,640 Speaker 2: Yeah, I was excited for the interview. 642 00:37:54,880 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 1: I was torn because I think it's a great thing 643 00:37:57,320 --> 00:37:59,640 Speaker 1: to keep having women in those interviews, even if they 644 00:37:59,640 --> 00:38:02,200 Speaker 1: don't get the job, to normalize the idea that the 645 00:38:02,239 --> 00:38:06,040 Speaker 1: pool should include great former players and current coaches like yourself. 646 00:38:06,320 --> 00:38:08,880 Speaker 2: I also worry about whether you're ever being. 647 00:38:08,800 --> 00:38:10,760 Speaker 1: Used as a token to say, oh, yeah, we interviewed 648 00:38:10,760 --> 00:38:12,799 Speaker 1: a lady, but we're never gonna hire her. 649 00:38:13,000 --> 00:38:14,680 Speaker 2: You know, that's always my concern. 650 00:38:14,920 --> 00:38:18,319 Speaker 3: I don't think so. I don't think that's what their 651 00:38:18,320 --> 00:38:22,600 Speaker 3: intentions were. But when it was all said and done, 652 00:38:23,880 --> 00:38:27,279 Speaker 3: you have to be prepared as a franchise. You have 653 00:38:27,400 --> 00:38:31,239 Speaker 3: to think differently. You can't think the same because you're 654 00:38:31,239 --> 00:38:34,080 Speaker 3: not hiring the same. If I'm the coach, if we 655 00:38:34,200 --> 00:38:36,799 Speaker 3: go on the five game skid, it ain't gonna be 656 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:40,120 Speaker 3: because I'm a bad coach. It's gonna be because I'm 657 00:38:40,160 --> 00:38:43,920 Speaker 3: a woman. Right. But people come and it has nothing 658 00:38:43,960 --> 00:38:47,920 Speaker 3: to do with like all these coaches they go on 659 00:38:48,040 --> 00:38:51,520 Speaker 3: five game skid, three game skid, The conversation around that 660 00:38:51,600 --> 00:38:52,600 Speaker 3: will be a lot different. 661 00:38:52,760 --> 00:38:53,960 Speaker 2: Yeah, you gotta be ready for that. 662 00:38:54,320 --> 00:38:56,000 Speaker 1: You gotta be ready if you are going to hire 663 00:38:56,040 --> 00:38:57,799 Speaker 1: and be one of the first how do you plan 664 00:38:57,880 --> 00:38:59,680 Speaker 1: to support that? You know, I want to ask you 665 00:38:59,680 --> 00:39:02,840 Speaker 1: about your early time in I mentioned you were in 666 00:39:02,880 --> 00:39:05,080 Speaker 1: the ABL for a couple of years before the WNBA, 667 00:39:05,160 --> 00:39:08,200 Speaker 1: and you have been on the forefront of the firsts 668 00:39:08,280 --> 00:39:11,319 Speaker 1: of things and the early times of things, and of 669 00:39:11,400 --> 00:39:13,680 Speaker 1: course the growth in the w is fantastic. Of course 670 00:39:13,719 --> 00:39:16,239 Speaker 1: we love the increased investment and all the attention and 671 00:39:16,280 --> 00:39:20,080 Speaker 1: all the hype, but there were some pretty legit attendance records, 672 00:39:20,600 --> 00:39:23,200 Speaker 1: moments of history that happened back in the early days. 673 00:39:23,200 --> 00:39:26,080 Speaker 1: And when you hear people talking about the current time 674 00:39:26,640 --> 00:39:28,279 Speaker 1: as the end all be all, what do you wish 675 00:39:28,360 --> 00:39:31,040 Speaker 1: they knew about those early years too? And some of 676 00:39:31,080 --> 00:39:33,640 Speaker 1: the records we're seeing get broken now that you got 677 00:39:33,680 --> 00:39:35,680 Speaker 1: to go pretty far back to see when they were set, 678 00:39:35,719 --> 00:39:36,600 Speaker 1: when it was thriving. 679 00:39:36,640 --> 00:39:42,360 Speaker 3: Then well, I mean women's basketball has been thriving for 680 00:39:42,480 --> 00:39:46,160 Speaker 3: a very long time. Like we have a tendency to 681 00:39:46,200 --> 00:39:49,480 Speaker 3: think that it's just started like now, like we've been 682 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:56,560 Speaker 3: doing this, We've been doing this forever, Like people were 683 00:39:56,680 --> 00:40:01,040 Speaker 3: intentionally not looky, intentionally not for and then like like 684 00:40:01,360 --> 00:40:06,319 Speaker 3: calculatingly not doing it. So when it's when it's like that, 685 00:40:06,960 --> 00:40:11,000 Speaker 3: you're only gonna you're only gonna see what you what 686 00:40:11,040 --> 00:40:16,200 Speaker 3: you tell your eyes to see. And and now people's 687 00:40:16,239 --> 00:40:20,839 Speaker 3: eyes are wide open because they see we're there. When 688 00:40:20,840 --> 00:40:23,719 Speaker 3: you put in resources behind us, oh we're gonna take 689 00:40:23,760 --> 00:40:26,360 Speaker 3: you to another level, you'll you'll get a return in 690 00:40:26,400 --> 00:40:29,600 Speaker 3: your investment, and then some and then and then you 691 00:40:29,680 --> 00:40:34,359 Speaker 3: want to do more, well, well, you can't continue to 692 00:40:34,400 --> 00:40:36,839 Speaker 3: do more. But this could have been you. You could 693 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:40,160 Speaker 3: have been sitting fat and happy at home, retired, all 694 00:40:40,200 --> 00:40:43,640 Speaker 3: because you bought it to women's women's basketball, women's sports 695 00:40:43,680 --> 00:40:44,200 Speaker 3: in general. 696 00:40:44,520 --> 00:40:48,200 Speaker 2: Welcome to the party, guys. We've been waiting. Uh, we 697 00:40:48,320 --> 00:40:49,359 Speaker 2: do something on this show. 698 00:40:49,400 --> 00:40:51,359 Speaker 1: It's kind of like bench start cut, but you don't 699 00:40:51,400 --> 00:40:55,600 Speaker 1: have to cut anything. It's just good, good, good or goodest. 700 00:40:56,200 --> 00:40:59,360 Speaker 1: So starting with good and then getting better. We know 701 00:40:59,440 --> 00:41:03,360 Speaker 1: that you're Asian Wilson's number one hype woman. So good, Gooder, goodest, 702 00:41:03,600 --> 00:41:09,000 Speaker 1: Asia's statue, Asia's shoes, Asia's pink hair. 703 00:41:10,200 --> 00:41:18,120 Speaker 3: As Ooh, I'm gonna say, goodest is the statue. Oh right, 704 00:41:19,200 --> 00:41:24,680 Speaker 3: good is the shoe, and then the pink hair. The 705 00:41:24,719 --> 00:41:26,640 Speaker 3: pink hair got to go. You can get cut. 706 00:41:27,080 --> 00:41:30,320 Speaker 1: Oh okay, okay, so we got good is the pink hair, 707 00:41:30,480 --> 00:41:33,600 Speaker 1: Gooder is the shoes, and goodest is the statue. 708 00:41:33,800 --> 00:41:37,000 Speaker 2: Yes, I love it all right. Last question for you. 709 00:41:37,040 --> 00:41:42,560 Speaker 1: If you look at Don Staley beyond the arena, you'll find. 710 00:41:42,120 --> 00:41:46,680 Speaker 3: I'm really a homebody, simply I love being at home. 711 00:41:47,239 --> 00:41:50,319 Speaker 3: And then I would say this, I'm gonna like I 712 00:41:50,360 --> 00:41:54,040 Speaker 3: love TVs. I got TV's all over, like all over 713 00:41:54,080 --> 00:41:54,520 Speaker 3: my house. 714 00:41:55,640 --> 00:41:58,240 Speaker 1: If you look beyond the arena, you'll find TVs. 715 00:41:58,520 --> 00:41:59,440 Speaker 3: That's what still find. 716 00:42:00,080 --> 00:42:03,480 Speaker 2: I love it. What's on the TVs just basketball or 717 00:42:03,520 --> 00:42:04,000 Speaker 2: something else. 718 00:42:04,600 --> 00:42:08,280 Speaker 3: I mean, I like crime like, I like crime, war movies, 719 00:42:08,320 --> 00:42:12,200 Speaker 3: I like. I don't mind blood. I don't mind any 720 00:42:12,239 --> 00:42:15,240 Speaker 3: of that. Like a dateline is one of my favorite shows. 721 00:42:15,800 --> 00:42:17,960 Speaker 3: I fall asleep the floor Forensic flows. 722 00:42:18,520 --> 00:42:22,360 Speaker 1: So I'm just picturing you in a beautiful house, covered 723 00:42:22,760 --> 00:42:26,440 Speaker 1: in all TVs everywhere, just like blood, guts, gore. 724 00:42:27,160 --> 00:42:30,280 Speaker 2: Okay, you're special, your special. I knew you were special. 725 00:42:30,440 --> 00:42:32,680 Speaker 2: You're even more special than I thought. Thank you don 726 00:42:32,800 --> 00:42:34,480 Speaker 2: for coming on. Really appreciate it. 727 00:42:34,719 --> 00:42:35,200 Speaker 3: Thank you. 728 00:42:38,400 --> 00:42:40,920 Speaker 1: Good Game with Sarah Spain is an iHeart women's sports 729 00:42:40,920 --> 00:42:44,080 Speaker 1: production in partnership with Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You 730 00:42:44,080 --> 00:42:46,840 Speaker 1: can find us on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or 731 00:42:46,880 --> 00:42:50,080 Speaker 1: wherever you get your podcasts. Production by Wonder Media Network, 732 00:42:50,160 --> 00:42:53,640 Speaker 1: our producers are alex Asie Grace Lynch, Taylor Williamson, and 733 00:42:53,719 --> 00:42:57,600 Speaker 1: Lucy Jones. Our executive producers are Christina Everett, Jesse Katz, 734 00:42:57,680 --> 00:43:00,960 Speaker 1: Jenny Kaplan and Emily Rudder are edit yours are Emily Rutter, 735 00:43:01,040 --> 00:43:05,360 Speaker 1: Britney Martinez, and Gianna Palmer. Production assistants from Avery LOFTUS 736 00:43:05,560 --> 00:43:07,160 Speaker 1: and I'm Your Host Sarah Spain