IT IS WHAT IT IS - STEPHEN A SMITH & MONICA MCNUTT GO AT IT ON FIRST TAKE & JABARI PARKER'S INTERVIEW | S4 EP32

Episode Date: June 4, 2024

Ma$e, Cam’ron & Treasure "Stat Baby" Wilson are back with another one!! ***NEW MERCH*** https://www.itiswhatitismerch.com Please rate, review, and follow the podcast for more content.  Support the show and sign up for Underdog Fantasy HERE with promo code CAM and get a $100 first deposit match, and a Special Pick'em pick. Follow the show and our hosts on social media: It Is What It Is, Cam'Ron, Ma$e, and Treasure "Stat Baby" Wilson , Producer Ayooo Nick

It's a reunion, hello y'all Uh I was selling crack on a private jet, I've been to hell and back But no confusion, it's a reunion Hello y'all, welcome back Your murder here, he counting money He said, can't man, the hell we're at I'm only here to shit on niggas and piss on bitches

Welcome ass, I bought jewelry And bikes, nigga, black Benz's And white Vigas, now I'm out here And I'm looking for more chandeliers And light fixtures, nah I don't like niggas,'s wrong with me i'm all right nigga but there's 44 turn the mic to jordan i'm looking say take flight welcome back to it is what it is this episode is sponsored by underdog fantasy the app is an easy way to make some cash just by making picks on your favorite players underdog is available in more than 30 states, including California, Texas,

and New York, just to name a few. Make sure to support the show by hitting the link in the bio and downloading the Underdog Fantasy app. They'll also match your first deposit up to $100, and you get a special pick when you sign up. I'm Treasure Wilson, aka Stat Baby Long, with your host Mace, and with our analyst today, Maurice Claret. Stat, do that again. I didn't like that. Let's hear it again. Let's go, baby. I'm starting out with the guns blazing. How are y'all doing, Stat? I'm great, actually. How are y'all doing, Stat? I'm great, actually.

How are y'all? Mo, what's going on, Mo? All is well, baby. All is well. And shout out to Cam. We'll see him tomorrow. He had some little trouble, but he'll be back tomorrow.

What's going on, Stat? Fill me in. Pause. a lot is going on right now okay we got the wmba we got some heated debates but first we're gonna talk about a heated debate this is one of the most trending things right now so i gotta get y'all's opinion on it so on first take in the debate between steven a and Monica McNutt when discussing WNBA. Things got a little heated. Towards the end of the conversation, Stephen A. asked her, who talks about the WNBA?

Who talks about women? Who talks about women's sports more than first take? Monica then responded, Stephen A., respectfully, with your platform, you could have been doing this three years ago if you wanted of course steven a didn't take that very lightly and they went to commercial break of course there's more context to the clip but when hearing that conversation obviously there's a full story what did you guys think of it marie's first yeah this whole discussion uh has been a uh a super nuanced discussion about you know many topics with uh uh people talking about the current and former players of the wmba are jealous

uh but i think all of this uh goes back to one thing and i think it's business and i think it's money and there's a lot of people who don't want to be honest about. There was a lot of people who just weren't attracted to the product, be it the talent or be it the people who they seen on the WNBA floor going out there playing basketball. When I heard the statistics of the people who are going to attend the games, they kept saying that it was single men who were the majority of the ticket holders who went to go see it. single men who were the majority of the ticket holders who went to go see it. And I would imagine that these single men were going to the games to get out of the tickets to either entertain their daughters or if it's a cheap date or some sort of professional entertainment. But the fact of the matter is, and whether we like it or not, Caitlin Clark is a different marketable product. It's wildly known, but not really spoken about, that the WNBA is a big lesbian league, right?

And no matter how you cut it, no matter how you slice it, everybody isn't open to seeing masculine and aggressive women play basketball. Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa. What we're not going to do on this show. No, what we're not going to do on It show. No, we're not going to do on It Is What It Is before it turns into It Is What It Ain't. We're not

going to bash the WNBA. So I'm here as a host, a consecutive host to say, Maurice Opinions does not represent the brand of It Is What It Is, but continue on. So, so let me put that disclaimer out there.

Hey, listen to me. You know, look, so, no, I, so first of all, I respect where you, I respect you put the disclaimer with it, right? Yes. And I should have framed it in context that, okay, let me have another discussion, right? What was the beer company Bud Light, right? Remember when Bud Light came out with the transgender guy or girl or whatever it was that they had promoted and they aligned it with their product, they basically drove sales down on the beer because the mass public wasn't open to that. Now I'm not saying

whether I agree or disagree, but I'm talking about it's the same thing with the WNBA and sponsorships, right? just a better analogy and so everybody no matter how socially acceptable and I know this is pride month everybody wants to say that they they love gays they love they're they're open to everything and that's a socially cool thing to say but when you look up at ownership when you look up at the sponsors who support this game and you look at the people who need to align themselves by the superstars of the league, and then you have to put these people in front of cameras, and you have to do commercials, and you have to sell shoes, and you have to sell products, there's not a lot of people who are saying, hey, let me put my advertising dollars behind all of

these people and these women. And now those are my opinions or my feelings, but when I look at anything and why it's not being supported, I just say, okay, from a business standpoint, who's going to put their marketing dollars behind somebody, right? And when you start to put your marketing dollars behind somebody, you start to say, who does this person appeal to? Or who does this girl, who does this man, who do they appeal to and who can we sell a product to?

And when you think about it, it like and this is wildly known they say the WNBA and all of the women are a large part of the women are lesbians and so that's just my opinion on why that uh either Stephen A. Smith or a lot of the media didn't get behind it so then when you have um Caitlin Clark come in and she's an all-American white girl and she's very talented and she's competing against Angel Reese and you're making one the villain and one the hero, that's a storyline that people can digest, right? But then also when you're talking about people spending disposable income, right? You may say, hey, we have dads in the crowd that are spending $10 or $15 for a

ticket and buying popcorn. But when you look at disposable income, it's going to be middle-aged white people who have it, who can buy a jersey, who can buy shoes, who can advertise a league, and they can get behind it. That's all I'm saying. So I know we were joking a little bit, but those weren't my opinions as to me disliking lesbian women or gay people or anything like that. I just feel that that's why you didn't have mass media or people getting behind the WNBA in general just because

you didn't have a superstar who you can push or a lot of whom you can push that probably aligned with the brands who can basically support and give the product's thing, if that makes sense. You came in explosive. Pause, Mo.

That was really crazy. I mean, I don't know what I need to say after that. But not that I share all those same sentiments, but I think when it comes to the WNBA, they are they are definitely playing down the significance of of just female female sports being portrayed the right way. You know what I'm saying? Like if you want to, we was having this conversation before, if you want brand in Dallas, then you have to be brand appropriate. And I think that's something that people are learning, especially with this generation. Um, one of the things I've learned in music and, and different things that you go further when your brand is clean enough to be marketed on different platforms. So there's certain choices that people are making are making them not as big as Paul's as they could possibly be, for lack of better words. I think when it comes to Kaylin Clark, they are being rough with her. I heard what Monica had to say, and I kind of disagree. I kind of disagree. I

agree with the fact that Stephen A, he could have done it earlier. He could have done it on a bigger platform and done it in a much better way because he has so many followers. Um, so I agree with that, but I disagree with the way that they're treating Kaylin. If somebody came in and they were adding more, more eyes and more marketing dollars, why would you try to make that person not a success? Not that you should be helping her, but you definitely shouldn't be trying to hurt her. Can we agree on that? That all women should be supported, that all women should be protected. Black women should be protected. Latin women should be protected. Asian women should be protected, as well as Caucasian women should be protected. It shouldn't be an over-aggressive nature and an over-aggression towards Caitlyn because it comes across as hating. That's all I'm trying to say. I don't know

everything about everything, but I would say this is coming across as hating. And hate is never good. I don't care if it comes from an all star. I don't care if it comes from a hall of famer. When you're constantly trying to hurt somebody, you're hitting them when it has nothing to do with the play. Pause. That's hate. And that needs to stop. There's no place for hate in the WNBA. And there's no hate for I mean, no room for hate in basketball, period. That's what I would say. And then I'm just curious. So, Maurice, did you have another another point what do you think about that

you're a lady what do you think about what i just said does it come across as hate when you're constantly being aggressive with someone and and potentially to hurt them because you're not yeah it's not basketball plays you're really doing stuff to hurt this person and then they're not, it's not basketball plays. You're really doing stuff to hurt this person. And then they're saying that she's not being effective. But if I was shooting and people trying to swipe my feet, if I was shooting and people are trying to do stuff that could potentially injure me, of course, I'm not going to be focused on shooting. That's dangerous. That's what I'm talking about

but get the right you know playing rough it's a difference between playing rough and could potentially hurt somebody yeah so yeah I mean honestly like I do actually have to agree with what you say because I think like there's just a whole bunch of narratives going around and it's interesting because obviously the topic of conversations in the WNBA now is mainly resolving around Caitlin Clark and what she has to say and what's happening to her and for her too I just know the media has to be annoying because even the clips that they post online are like when she's getting fouled when she falls when she you know what I'm saying it's just like the picture that is being painted like she is you know doing her best that she's

she can she has brought a lot to the league and honestly like through some players at first like some things I'm like all right some people are dragging it but even like the stuff that the girl said about her yesterday like what else does Caitlin Clark bring to the table like it does come across as hate because it's like what do you mean what else does she bring to the table like she's on the fever they're trying their best they did just you know get a couple wins the other day like she's trying the best that she can for her team but she is also one person doing the most that she can as a rookie not saying that the other teammates aren't contributing because they are but i just know how it looks and i just also want to clear because when i say my

certain comments and get asked certain questions people think that i'm hating against caitlyn clark i have no hate against caitlyn clark because she's brought so many eyes to the league and made me tap in more way more than i was before because i wasn't really introduced to the league as much until her and angel reese crossover so i do want to make that clear that was never a secret that I started watching more because of them and that's the facts so people are going to feel some type of way about that but that's just what it is for some of us but that's also why people who have been tuned in feel some type of way because you know there are newer people tuning in now because of things like that. Yeah. And to add on to what I was saying, if you look at one of the clips, the girl,

the young lady you're talking about, she knocks Kaylin to the floor and her big man on Kaylin's team comes and picks her off of the floor. When people are together, you would tell the other person to chill out with what they're doing to your star player. That's what was supposed to happen here. So I really don't like that. It makes it look like like a bunch of people are collectively hating on on Kalen. And I don't like I don't like when anybody is is collectively hating on Kaylin. And I don't like when anybody is collectively hating on people. Me being a person that has been hated on for years, I definitely understand how that feels when you're just trying to be good at what you do and your talents have afforded you favor,

your talents have afforded you certain notoriety and perks that other people are benefiting off of, but secretly behind your back, hating on you because you were chosen. You didn't ask to be chosen. You just did the job so well that people decided to put marketing dollars behind you. So I definitely, maybe I'm a little triggered by that, but I understand what she's going through. And then Maurice, did you have another point? Yeah, I was going to add on to the piece where Monica had like she kind of sneaked this Stephen A when she said, respectfully, you could have done this, right? And I think that for so long,

Stephen A becomes like the Caitlin Clark of the media space. And, you know, he's had the loudest voice. He's had the biggest platform. He's made the most money and he's on TV every day in everybody's face, right? So naturally when you're one of the biggest voices and you're the black person, right, you're naturally going to say stuff that people just don't like. And no matter, just like what May say, right, you may, he may award these other people his platform. They may come on that platform and get shine and get notoriety and

everything else, but they may hold a secret resentment or something towards him and so when she said that respectfully like even when somebody said something to me respectfully and and they followed up with a diss like i was like you said respectfully but i still take it the way she said it you know i'm saying and i'm pretty sure that he was like yo uh you there there had to be something else there for you to say that to try to diss me in the context of what was going on. And I think that she may have been holding on to that, just like a lot of people may have their gripes towards Stephen A. Excuse me. And I'm not to say that people have to agree with everything he says, but that felt a little bit more personal towards him.

And I think that, you know, she got a jab out of that. And oftentimes, like when people get jabs at other people, like these things may be cool for your friend group, but also be mindful of the person's platform you're on and who's allowed you the opportunity to do what you do. Right. And these are just like uh social laws as smart as that that woman may be and as articulate as you sound uh like you know sliding somebody or sneak dissing them on a platform uh you know even though i know it's espn but people come to first take to watch him and so i just thought that wasn't uh the uh tasteful uh but that's just my opinion that's that's kind of interesting, Mo. That's that's really kind of interesting, because what you're basically saying is, are you I don't want to put words in your mouth. Pause. Respectfully, are you saying that she may be fired? What are you what are you getting out of here? but he can cut her water off. You know, he can definitely say, Hey man, um, like ESPN is no shortage of talent, right? Uh,

ESPN does he, he has leverage. He's put his time in, he's made himself as valuable as he is for 30, 40 years. I don't know how long he's been, uh, in the journalism space and he has the leverage. So that means that if you have a stack coming up and he wants that to join him as a co-host, or if he wants anybody to sit in that seat, uh, I just don't, you don't have to kiss somebody's ass, but you don't have to, um, you know what they call it? Yeah. You don't have to do the Freudian slip to slip of the tongue. What happens to be in your, in your mind slips out your mouth in a slick and disrespectful ways.

And so for that, and I just know just being an individual, like you said, okay, I'm going to remember that. Like, I'm not going to spaz on you right now, but please believe that. But I'm going to remember that. Don't take you anywhere important because you may slip out the mouth. Yeah, 1,000%. 1,000%. And I'm just saying, like, but you

don't have to kiss somebody's ass and play a game, but you do have to understand social dynamics, and there's a time and place for everything. What goes on in your head, you might have to deal with that yourself, but trying to... Like, I've seen people make jabs just to get laughs from their friends, not

knowing they fucking themselves over. That's what I'm talking about, and I've seen that in life a whole lot where you cool to the people. I think people do that a lot, especially on podcasts and media and stuff like that. A lot of times people are saying things that are going to close doors for them in the future, but they're laughing now. And somebody may say, you talking about yourself? but they're laughing now. And somebody may say, you talking about yourself? Well, I'm not talking about me because I'm very calculated when I say certain things. I am smart enough to know how to say something without lying on a person or without exaggerating the truth. And I think when she was

speaking, she was coming from a truthful place. I truly believe that. I truly when she was speaking, she was coming from a truthful place. I truly believe that. I truly believe she was coming from a truthful place. But I don't know if she's willing to stand on the truth that she uttered, if that makes sense. See, when I say the truth, I'm willing to stand on what it is that I'm saying. So I take the time to think about what I'm saying before I say it. Yeah, honestly, I have to agree with both of that. And it's like, I know she said how she felt, but I also feel like in that situation, it is true.

Stephen A, I don't know the exact logistics but did give her the opportunity I feel like if it's a place where Stephen A felt disrespected that's a conversation that has to be had between the two because at the end of the day like that's you know if that hurt not hurt his feelings that's not the right term, but if he felt like, you know, I felt like you came at me personally, that needs to be spoken about between them because, you know, she, she has that opportunity. Shout out to him. And that is okay to say that's not a diss at her because she's earned her stripes. You know what she needed to do. She's very knowledgeable and she is respected. But at the end of the day, like the person that you have to answer to is Stephen A.

That is your colleague. But he also, you know, opened a door for you. You have to make sure that you can say how you feel. But it did feel like a personal job, I'm assuming, on Stephen A's point. So it's like I see both sides. Stay true to what you got to say, but also like realize when you might be crossing a line and that might not have came across the way that you have wanted it to. That makes sense. That makes sense. And I'm not switching what I'm saying, but I'm addressing now the different, uh, two other different layers of

this conversation. Number one, if you hire somebody to do a job, you have to let them do the job. She should not be on pins and needles to feel like she can't say what's true to her. Also, that's one point, but then here goes another layer. We have to learn how to talk better to our bosses. This is something that is a problem in a black community. I have to say it, even though I've been on record of saying certain things to my former employer, right? But it took me 20 something years to even say that. And I only said that because I was no longer an employee. Now, as long as I was an employee, that's not a conversation I would have. I'm smart enough to know that, that certain things like Maurice said, you have to internally deal with that in your head and find the right words to use that a person can receive what you're saying because if what you're saying is so truthful

that you don't find the right words it could lead to your termination but back to you stat this is a great convo and then there is a second part to this before we move on to the next episode because i'm interested in you guys's thoughts so basically steven a backtracked on the conversation on his show and he basically explained that you know of Monica because of her being on First Take so he said quote ladies and gentlemen I am the executive producer of First Take you ever heard of Monica McNutt you have now because she's on First Take a lot Sinead absolutely wonderful spectacular basketball analyst ask her how it's been to be on first take how about

andrea carter who's a rising star in this business how much do you think first take helped that what about kimberly martin what about molly q so what do you guys think of steven a's response and basically him saying you've heard of monica mcnutt because of me now and then you know him back tracking on it on his show to explain further mar Maurice first. Yeah, he basically had to let his nuts hang on people. And we don't like when people talk like this all the time because you want your employer or your boss to be humble and socially acceptable. But he felt that she stepped out of line and he had to let her know, like, yo, like you're getting camera time. You're getting direct messages you have people feeling you and you're starting to get aside and beside yourself right but please

believe how like not that i've made you not that i've made you smart not that i've done any of that but i've definitely spot i've definitely had a light that was shined on you that you didn't have before right and i respectfully said myself, right. That's always tell Mason cam. Thank you. They didn't make me, but they damn sure made a whole lot of people pay attention to me who

weren't thinking about me before. And same thing with you, you know what I'm saying? And it's, it's like, it doesn't make you less of a person to say somebody assisted you with something. But when you start to function outside of the things that have created you, you put people in a space to say, yo, my man, I don't disrespect me on my own platform. Make your point. Talk about Kaitlyn Clark. Talk about the

WNBA and talk about all those things, but the fact still remains that Steve and A, and you could have done this three years ago, doesn't make sense, right? Because he could have done a step back and he could have said, you know what? I know we're trying to push this conversation forward and trying to have it real

fast before we have to move on to the next subject. But what he really wanted to say is, like, this shit wasn't making dollars. Like, they don't pay me to talk about, like, this because the sponsorship dollars doesn't support what it is that you want me to talk about. Just because you're passionate about it, these leagues lose money. That's why the NBA subsidizes them. Like, so he should have had that conversation. And oftentimes we don't have conversations with people about the reality. At the end of the day, shit is business.

And if you're losing money, there's nothing to talk about. Like no matter who loves you, no matter whatever it is, it's just if you're losing money, you're losing proposition. Who the fuck is going to support this? Nobody. You know what I'm saying? And I'm not dogging the WNBA, but Steve and A should have a second part

to this. Bring me on, Steve and A, and let me start to talk about the business of it. Because people need to deal with reality. That's what social media has definitely done. We deal in these alternative realities, but at the brass tacks of it, your reality is what bills you paying, what mortgages you paying, what rents you paying,

what responsibilities you have, and the things that help you to take care of your responsibilities will always get promotional dollars. If you are losing proposition, don't nobody want to fuck with you. And that's like my stone coach. It is what it is, truth right there. But that's my opinion. Okay. Now here go another opinion, though. On this same topic, when you think of this, we must not say we're empowering women and then we don't allow them to say what's true to them. There's no such thing as empowering a woman if you're not going to let her say what is true to her. Now, another thing I'm thinking about, because I would think about even with stat, right? Let's say something is bothering stat and she came and said,

hey, Mace, this is this. Well, then we have to have the conversation and she's right there to attest of it from her perspective, because if you're trying to make her feel comfortable, then it got to be what makes sense to her. If you're, if you're trying to just, you know, shift your weight around, then you're not really empowering her. You may say you're empowering her, but let me, let me finish. Cause I let you, I let you fly off. empowering her. Let me finish because I let you fly off. Now, this is pause. This is another thing that I'm thinking about. I think her statement, if that's viewed out of pocket, then what he did will be out of pocket because you can't teach humility while being boastful. It doesn't work that way. If I want to teach humility, then I will go to

the staff and say, you know what? I appreciate you for sharing that. Not, hey, yo, I'm the boss around here. You know what I'm saying? If I say this, this is what it is. No, that's not how I'm going to go to her. I'm going to go to her and say, you know what? I understand these things are an issue. If this is an issue, this is kind of what our goal is. This is what we would like to achieve. And I'm not moving her by power. I'm moving her by vision. When I cast vision to her, then she can see that what I'm saying

is going to be to her benefit. And then she can move along with that versus thinking, like you said, let your nuts hang. And now you're really suppressing her and she's going to follow because you got the money, but she's not following because she respects you. That's why she said respectfully and then led out with what she said. And I know in my household or with this particular brand, we have mutual respect and not respect just because I'm the boss. Each time that I'm walking or I see stat somewhere, I'm going to say, hey, stat, you know what? You can kind of be doing this, and this will help you over here,

and this will help you over there. And if you're constantly building her with vision, you don't have to let your nut sing. She's going to see the plan that you're saying as a great plan for everybody because she sees how it benefits her as well. And that's that's the job of an effective communicator. So if you want humility, the leader have to lead with humility. I don't get upset if she's late. I say know what I gotta do better is that right is that right

stat yeah I do want to add yeah I do want to add is that is that right am I capping or is that right no he's not capping at all and I love that you explain this because perfect example right like like you said I have the opportunity to tell my truth the same way that you guys do people swear up and down oh stat must be mad she didn't like that answer like if i truly felt uncomfortable disrespected didn't disagree and then this is also the difference i have a great relationship where i can come to you all and say like, Hey, you know,

I don't really know how I felt, which doesn't really happen often. Cause I'm truly like, this is an open discussion. This platform is barbershop talk for a reason is what people would say behind closed doors brought to the surface. If there is ever an issue, this is not no fake,

nothing like I can come and address. I can tell Mace, I can tell Cam, even Maurice, like I can call them and say, if there was any ever an issue, something I didn't disagree with, I wouldn't wait to come up on here and be like, well, you know what I'm saying? Like, that's just not who I am. Like we can have those open discussions and that's why this is the most authentic podcast that you all can ever tune in to my podcast show because this is how we really feel you know like this is no fake nothing like

this is how we really feel we can all address different viewpoints and we all respect it no beef no hard feelings none of that and you can and you can correct it on the fly that's empowerment so you could say ohace, I don't agree with that. And I don't feel disrespected because if you I'm a firm believer of if you let everybody's truth sit at the same table, the one with the real truth is going to last the longest. That's why people say what they say. I let them say what they say, long as I can say what I'm saying. And then some people are louder, so they think they're more truthful because they're so loud. You're not more truthful because you're louder. If your truth remains on the table after you declared all this stuff,

truth remains on the table after you declared all this stuff and they can declare all of this stuff, then you have the truth. But if you let them speak for two minutes and you speak for 39 minutes, then you don't have the truth. You're just the one talking the most. That's what I would say. But Mace, so let me add this. But Stat sort of made my point. Stat is saying, hey, I can call everybody individually and I can do it tastefully and with class, right? Yes. But you're also saying that if she, you've given the space, you all have given the space that if she wants to correct it on the fly that she can. But Stat is saying, hey, how I go about my business, I can just call these dudes. There's no reason to do something embarrassing publicly. And that's what I'm saying, right? And so at the core of it, TV, this is entertainment on a lot

of levels, right? And this is my opinion, right? And I believe you need to understand before you step in any arena, what is the dynamics of that entertainment? How many times do I tell you, Mace, they don't come to the show to see me and Stat. They come to see you and Cam's relationship and everybody else is a fixture in that environment. And if you don't get that, the shit don't work. You know what I'm saying? And so I think other people need to be honest when they get to places. When you get anywhere, be honest about what role you play in the bigger picture.

That's just a bigger thing. That might be cap, though, Mo. Let me let me ask you something. Go ahead. Who are you? If Monica McNutt is on the screen and Stephen A is on the screen, who are you paying attention? Not you. I mean, you, you married.

Who do you think guys are paying attention to? You think they're paying attention to Stephen A? Or, and no, no, Steve be smooth. Steve, we not going at you,

Steve. You, you, you have your tire on fire. You know what I'm saying? You got this suits and everything, but I'm saying to guys the normal guys that are watching they're like that's a good looking woman so she has

she has value to the show she's not just um you know an ig model to like what marnice is saying is true because at the end of the day the core like the whole around it like he said not that we're like just added characters but like yeah we are like we were introduced to a bigger picture through you and camp and that is okay like we have our own you know ventures doing things but that is because of y'all like and especially for women in the industry too like and this isn't a diss it women because women are killing it too but like it's still taking a lot of people time to be able to hear you know what a woman has to say about sports because at a time you know women were just hosts like not as you know active in conversation and that is okay like this is not saying women can't that like y'all we already know like we

killing it where we can but like it it's a process and that's okay to understand and have that realization but people want to hear y'all and that's fine like i'm cool with my role rice is cool his role and when it's other roles cool. But like this pieces together through you and Cam. And that is an okay understanding. That's not a diss at me or Maurice. It is what it ain't, actually. But I'm saying I agree with a portion of that. But I still believe if I invite you in this house, I have to allow you to be yourself. See, that's what I'm speaking to. We're in a society where we need new leaders. Now, this is not at ESPN, but just overall, we have a lot of this, you know, just pause, letting your nuts hang. We don't need no more of those leaders. We need leaders that can understand what other people are thinking,

understand that even if you get out of pocket, it's not for me to get out of pocket with you. That's what I'm speaking to. Can y'all hear that? But Mace, remember I talked about last week when we said Where are we going with Media in general Are we talking about when athletes get paid And I start talking about a formula Stephen A. Smith is a formula They probably looked at his brand

Looked at his analytics And they said as long as we put this dude on the screen No matter who surrounds him Is going to produce a result That's what I'm saying. So me having common sense, I'm not about to disrupt the thing that I know that makes everything go. That's just me. I'm not about to do that. I've done stupid shit in the past and I've had to reckon with myself and say, ah, you probably shouldn't have did that. You probably shouldn't

have said that. And you just learned that every person isn't to be disrespected. If you feel like you just want to disrespect everybody, like you'll have a long list of people all throughout life, right? And I know I may have said that wrong, but that's the point I'm making is I just think that if she looks back on it, she could have probably talked to him in the lunchroom and just said, hey, man, you could have done this years ago. And he wouldn't have took it the same way or had that response that he had on his own personal show if she would have said that thing privately that's what like the fact that he went and made a uh 15 20 30 minute i didn't see it but i've seen clips of it the fact that he made the time to address her that way lets you know how he felt about it that's what

i'm talking about so you know you said something wrong so i know if you if you were cool with embarrassing me publicly i know when it's time to advance you i might not say nothing with you but hey man did you see stat let's bring stat in this room that's what i'm talking about yeah i i i get what you're saying. I still stand where I stand. I think, and I'll leave it at your statement. What I'm basically just saying is that I truly believe that if, let's say a woman did that to me, I don't see it as disrespecting me. I see it as she have an issue. I don't, I don't,

I don't put people's flaws on me, but that just may be the opposite way of thinking. And I think that's what keeps me out of conflict. Cause I don't see it like that. And I'm not saying Monica McKnight, I'm not saying Stephen A, but let's say we're somewhere and, and a young lady say something. I look at it like that's her training. That doesn't have anything to do with me. That's not reflective of me. That's what she's dealing with. That's not what I'm dealing with. with. That's not what I'm dealing with. Are you getting what I'm saying? Or else,

we really haven't evolved. That's what I'm really getting at. We really haven't evolved if this is the temperament, because we're still niggas. We're just niggas in suits. That's what I'm getting at. I'm just keeping it real. This this is why I sound so different than everybody else on air, because we're not just niggas in suits, bro. And it's time that we show people a different example. Like, for real, for real. That's that's that's from my heart. Not directed at no one person. Now, and I'm not one of them people that speak around it. If I was speaking straight to Stephen A., I would say Stephen A., so there's no need to reply back to me. I'm saying this for black men in general. It's time for us to show people what a mature

black man looks like. And it's not a nigga. It's not trying to be 20 and you're 50 it's not trying to look 30 and you're 70 it's okay to be a grown masculine black man that's all i want to say stat please get us off this topic yeah good points we gotta move along i do i'll just add though monica is a great analyst i hope they have a conversation off the camera because this is being blown out of proportion who knows like the people are fine with the conversation but i wish them both the best okay and then before we go to break angel reese is facing mixed feedback because of her answer after a game. She said, we got celebrities coming to games, sold out arenas. The reason why we're

watching women's basketball is not just because of one person, it's because of me, too. I want y'all to realize that. Obviously, when she said, it's because of me, too, you know, people got confused about that, but what do you guys make of the response

yeah I'll let Mace go she said they're watching it because oh my she does play a part in what they're watching. But again, this sounds like a direct hate.

Remember, because somebody prioritized someone else, it doesn't mean you're less. It just means you're less in their eyes. But it doesn't have to mean you personally are less than the person that they're choosing a favor because there's a lot of times in life that you're going to be favored. You're going to be the person that get all the press and it doesn't make you better than the other person that doesn't get the press. It just means in this particular area. This is what they choose to focus on.

It sounds like we're at a place where people need to focus more on themselves, celebrate those who are celebrating you, and don't go places that you're tolerated. Go places that you're celebrated. That's what I would say. But don't take it out on other people because they're getting more attention, more likes, more money, or any of those things. Because every time you do it, you're going to sound like a hater, no matter who you are. Take Caitlyn out of this. Anytime somebody does that, it sounds like hate. It sounds like hate. You know, I only knew who Angel Reese was when they went on the national championship run, I think, the first year with, what is her name, Flage?

I hope I didn't mess her name up. But I knew who she was during that year. But a large part was the game that they had beat. What are they called? Iowa. And she was paired as the nemesis of Caitlin Clark. Right. And I get it. You know, she's got enough. She's gotten a lot of attention back to her college days and where they're at now. But I'm pretty sure from a financial standpoint, Caitlin Clark has probably done a lot better and she's probably got a lot more attention. So she feels some sort of way about that. But people know who Angel Reese is. People have seen her go on her worldwide tour. People seen all the attention that she got at the top of the year.

And so they do pay attention to her, but I will agree with Mace on the fact that even when she says something like that, it comes off as hating. But then it comes off as you being self-promotional. One thing I've learned is that you want other people to talk about you and brag about you and talk about who you are. And if you're not the one, do enough or do more to make yourself the one. Talking about you're the one and you should get more attention only makes people question things like this.

I'm like, you know, I don't know. It comes off of like you're self-absorbed. I think that's what I ultimately want to say. It comes off of like you're self-absorbed and you're just not accepting the fact that somebody else is talented and they may have the light on them right now while you want it on you. And let me say this, Mo. Think about brands for a moment. Let's just have a brand intelligent conversation. If you were a company, would you like to, A,

like to a promote to the whole world or would you like to promote to just the nightlife which one would you like to promote to if you're a business mo which one would you promote to yeah this makes my point this is the discussion that we don't want to have and it's uh i want to promote to the whole world to answer your question. But it is the it's the conversation that we don't carry yourself the way you dress. has something to do with your brand. People keep saying I'm a brand, but what kind of brand? Louis Vuitton is a brand. Fubu is a brand. Nike is a brand. Under Armour is a brand. Um, the sneakers nobody wear is a brand. But when it comes to the big dollars and big corporations, big corporations want to be a part of what is more accessible and has more legs and more leverage to sell to more people. And when you look a certain way, when you dress a certain way, when you speak a certain way, when you carry yourself a certain way, you only allow yourself to be marketed to the niggas. Let's be real.

Let's be real. Much of what people like only allow them to be marketed as niggas. That's a huge realization that people got to really start thinking about. You want to be a nigger, you want to carry yourself like one, then that's what your brand is going to be able to reach out to when they want to endorse something urban or they want niggers, they're going to come to you. But when they want something that's for everybody, they're going to get a person that's more clean cut. I hope that makes sense. I don't mean no disrespect to anyone. That's the concept

that is not towards Angel Reese. That's towards anybody that is presenting themselves in a small sense, but want to be viewed in a big way. I had to do the same thing. Look at certain things I'm doing. Look at certain things I'm saying. Look at certain people I hang out with. That doesn't go along with a Coca-Cola. So then don't get upset that Coca-Cola doesn't want you as the ideal person for their brand. You want to still live your life. You want to still turn up. Pepsi is not for turn up. That's what people are not understanding.

Okay, so great discussion. that's what people are not understanding. Okay. So great discussion. We must go to break. In the comments, let us know you guys have thoughts about the discussions that we did have. When we return, we'll talk about Jafari Parker's emotional video.

Woo! welcome back now let's get into our underdog fantasy picks of the day as we know on thursday the mavs will play the celtics we did a pick before but we got some new picks today underdog fantasy has luca at eight and a half first quarter points. Do you have him higher or lower at Mace? Higher. Mo? Maurice? Oh, I'm going higher too.

Yeah, he's going to come out shooting. Okay. Kyrie is at four and a half assists. Do you have him higher or lower? Maurice For the game or the first quarter? For the game Oh, higher

Lower Okay, and Jason Tatum is at 10 rebounds Do you have him higher or lower? Mace Lower Jason Tatum is at 10 rebounds. Do you have him higher or lower, Mace? Lower. I'm going lower, too. Download the Underdog Fantasy app and you can make your picks, too.

The second overall 2014 NBA draft pick Jabari Parker got emotional when asked about his first year overseas and he couldn't finish his interview that interview has since went viral to see him in that state so given his journey just in general what effects do you guys feel overseas players may experience when they were once playing in this state what do you think about that difference how do you guys feel about him getting emotional on camera what is you guys's full-on opinion on that Maurice first yeah his situation is a little bit different uh and I identify with a large part of it right and? And he had won, and I didn't win four state championships in high school, but he had won four state championships in high school.

He was the number one player in the country coming out. I can identify. I was the number one player in the country coming out of high school as well. He went to Duke, had a ton of success at Duke. I went to Ohio State and won a national championship as a freshman. But like him, he ended up going to the NBA as a second round pick or the second pick over on the first round, but he was hindered by injuries. And where I could identify with where he was at with that, and it's a lot of

athletes, it's not like me or him, but there was just certain parts of his journey that I identify with where something that you're doing, something that you're doing that you're passionate about just isn't working out the way that you intended. And we talk about injuries and we talk about stuff that can alter your career and people getting injured and you not end up being in the player that you thought that you would be. And I'm pretty sure, Stat, I don't know if you you old enough to know but grant hill was like that uh penny hardaway was like that uh these were people who everybody thought that they would be spectacular players jay williams i remember when he was playing in college at duke and

he was spectacular playing and then he ended up getting the motorcycle accident then you know he's uh he's a great you know uh tv analyst and personality and he's transitioned but he was one of those people so i'm pretty sure over all these years he's seen peers and people who he knew he was better than he prepared better than and you see these people get max contracts you see these people get two three four five contracts and he's 29 years old and you carry that stuff as you're trying to battle through injury and battle back and you bounce around. I think he played eight years in the NBA, but went to like five or six franchises. And so you go through all that and then you get out to Barcelona, I think, that he's in. And just in that moment, like one thing that I think prison did, prison brought a lot of isolation, a lot of time to think to yourself.

Right. I think when he was in America, you're always around people. prison did, prison brought a lot of isolation, a lot of time to think to yourself, right? I think when he was in America, you're always around people. You have money, you have your house, you have your car, you have women around, you have things that can distract you. But when you go overseas and you start to reflect and you start to say, damn, am I really here playing with this guy I shouldn't be playing with? Pause. Damn, am I really here playing with uh pause damn am i really here playing with uh below average so am i here playing with below average talent and emotionally he probably like you know the guy just asked him a question it's like damn i'm really here and i've really been holding this stuff in and like he just had a moment but on the flip flip side of that, nobody outside of your mother, your father, excuse me, are your immediate loved ones. Nobody cares. And your average person has said, hey,

bro, you made $20 million. Excuse me. You've had a successful NBA career, or not a successful NBA career, but you've made above average money. So you should be grateful that you're even in the position that you're in, right? Where he may be looking at it as I didn't maximize my potential and get everything that I was supposed to get from the space. And that was something for me personally that I had to get over because that thought constantly played through my mind. And I would have moments of solitude and feeling sorry for myself and becoming emotional and getting mad at the world or getting mad at what I didn't have. But you'll stay in that funk, man, if you just start feeling sorry for yourself or beating yourself up over what the fuck didn't happen. Like the shit didn't happen.

You at where you at, like make the most of where you're at and get the fuck out of there and realize that man, sports don't last forever. And maybe you've missed the moment where you have maximum, maximum earning potential for that sport. Like I missed windows with football. I was in prison. I was in prison for four years. So my prime years, you missed it. And that's the reality that you have to deal with, but you have to get past that and move on with your life. And I hope he hears this. And I'm talking as if somebody can clip this up and send it to him. Like, motherfucker, listen to me. It ain't over. Like you're playing basketball, you're getting paid, take what you had, use your

resources through the NBA Players Association or whatever it is. Get with somebody who can help to assist you in transition to life after basketball. But sometimes shit just doesn't work out the way you intended to. Your mother cares, your father cares, your aunt cares, your grandmother cares. But your common everyday person who's dealing with life just doesn't give a fuck. Right. And I'm not saying he wants people to do it, but I would encourage him to move on. And if he needed some strength, man, you can hit me in a direct message, hit me up over the phone and I'll be happy to encourage you, bro. But pick yourself up and, you know, continue on your journey.

What if he can't pick himself up, Mo? What do you think he should do then? I think everybody can pick themselves up if you deal with reality. I think all growth and all evolving of self begins with dealing with your reality, right? Stating the facts. Everybody has the ability. And it comes to, okay, we can go back to last week when I said, what is it about you? Or what was the nuanced discussion when you said where no matter what happens to me, I'm still going to believe in myself, my mindset that I can make it through. Everybody has, yeah. Everybody has the ability to get there.

It's personal choice and discipline and reality. If you're going to say, yo, I'm, I'm going to make more of myself than the situation or you're going to be a victim, I'm going to make more of myself than the situation, or you're going to be a victim. You're going to be like, hey, man, something bad happened to me. And you're going to shop your sad ass story to everybody, hoping somebody commiserates with you. But the people that we have reverence and respect for, those people like, man, no matter what fucking happens, I'm going to continue to move forward and I'm going to be inspired to reach higher because I'm dealing with reality. We don't like to deal with reality. People don't like to say shit just ain't working out. Everybody wants to

tell you a lie and say, oh man, you had all these injuries. You'll get back to being who you were. No, the fuck you won't, nigga. You know what I'm saying? Like, your body's banged up. You're getting older. You know what I'm saying? And that's just what it is. And so I'll let you go. I know I was a little long-winded, but I'm passionate about it because I've been in that fucked up state and when you're in a fucked up state and feeling sorry for yourself, bro,

time can pass you by. Life can pass you by. And motherfucker, get over it. You know what I'm saying? I know that's a harsh way to say it, but you literally have to get to the point where you have to get over it and move on with your life that's that's that's interesting mo this is really good um pause i i think um when it comes to a situation like this number one the way out is gratitude the way way out is saying the things you're thankful for. I think that gives you morale and that gives you strength. So if somebody's watching this, they're like, yo, I'm in a crazy place right now.

The way out is really just telling yourself what's good about what's going on. If there's nothing good, then you got to remember the times that were good. That's going to give you strength. But I'm thinking about when it comes to this situation, he found himself in tears because, like you said, he didn't even think he would play again. So he definitely found himself emotional about that. And you just got to recognize basketball is not a purpose.

Basketball is a talent, but it's not a purpose. And that's why people only do it for a portion of their life. But there will be life after basketball, and you got to kind of find what that is. I don't want to get too in that vein, but basketball is not a purpose. Soccer is not a purpose. It's a sport. It's something you do to entertain people.

But then after you're done entertaining people, you got real life and you got to figure that out. And you start with that, with some of what Mo said. And if you need help, Mo is there. I'm here. And if you need to be cursed out, Cam will be back here tomorrow. Had to throw my nigga killer at Hallyu. Yeah, but, you know, you need some inspiration, talk to Mo.

You need some counseling. Talk to me. And if you need somebody to light the fire under you and curse you out, kill will be back tomorrow, man. Like I said. That was hilarious. OK, and the last follow up question before we close, just given that the video he was clearly very emotional. How do you guys feel about that video being released do you guys think that the reporter maybe should have kept it do you think it was good to see that vulnerability from him how do you guys feel about just that being out there

now i really think it was good that it was out there because it gave other athletes a chance to be thankful you know thinking about just their bodies holding up. Paul, sometimes you got the talent, but either your body or your brain doesn't help you to achieve that goal. And I wanted to go first. So, Paul, so Mo, you can, I know you got something good to say. Oh, it's the same thing man i'm i'm happy that you know like when may said that you know people just need to mature in general like being emotional and being seen being emotional just part of life you know i'm saying and sometimes you just have moments sometimes like shit hurts sometimes you gotta cry uh sometimes just like you like you a fucking human being, you know what I mean?

And shit doesn't feel right all the time. Pause. And you just go through different stages of life. Right. To think that, you know, just because you can, you know, get in this intense mental space to, you know, be a dunk on somebody, condition yourself to run 55 miles or if you're playing football to combat somebody, it doesn't mean emotionally when you're trying to achieve that you don't go through some sort of like strenuous mental development, you know what I mean? So that's part of life. And so I'm pretty sure he may look on it. Like I've looked back on moments where inside of moments, I've been embarrassed when things have come out. But when you reflect on me, you mature, I've been embarrassed when things have come out. But when you reflect on me, you mature,

these moments end up helping to serve you once you start living in that vein of like, hey, I'm a little bit more humble. What did I learn from this? What did this moment do for me to allow me to grow? And so I don't see anything wrong with it. But like I say, much respect to Jabari Parker. If anybody knows him, have him sending parts of this show. Hopefully it encourages my man.

Whatever his potential now is with the talent that he has in his body, I hope that he actualizes it. I hope wherever he's from, he's from Chicago, I hope that he can leverage his celebrity or his personality or whatever it is to assist more people inside of his journey. Great points. Great discussion. Shout out to Bari Parker. We're wishing you the best.

But Maurice, thank you for being here. Mo. My man. Mavs in six. Okay. All right. my man Mavs in six yeah okay alright Mavs in six Mo is that real pink

horsepower are you drinking a gallon of pink horsepower hey listen to me I got a gallon shout out to Cam I got the gallon of pink horsepower hey I forgot to show you I got a gallon. Shout out to Cam. I got a gallon of pink horse power. Hey, I forgot to show you last week, man. And I got Ray and Claude.

We got you, Cam. We got you. Got my guys Ray and Claude, too. So shout out to Cam for the pink horse power. It's going to be an amazing day for me and my lady, you know, and move on with life. And it is what it is. That's all the time that we have for today. Thanks

for watching. And as always, it is what it is. Outro Music