Joe and Jada - Julius "Dr. J" Erving on ABA & NBA glory days, evolution of the dunk & athletes' role in civil rights era

Episode Date: February 19, 2026

Fat Joe and Jadakiss are joined by one of the legends of all basketball legends, Julius "Dr. J" Erving. The Hall of Famer tells Joe and Jada about his glory days in the ABA with the New York Nets and in the NBA with the Philadelphia 76ers, winning 4 MVPs across the different leagues. He also tells unbelievable stories about his star-studded friend group in his earlier years that consisted of jazz legend Miles Davis, tennis great Arthur Ashe, Yankees Hall of Famer Reggie Jackson, and comedian Bill Cosby; his memories of playing during and in the aftermath of the civil rights movement spearheaded by Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X; and what it was like to catch wind of a new genre called "hip hop" when it was first catching on in America. Joe and Jada is now STREAMING ON NETFLIX! All lines provided by Hard Rock BetSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Adventures of Curiosity Cove podcast, what if there's more to the story than we've been told? This Black History Month, Adventures of Curiosity Cove invites families into a playful mystery that blends history, science, and imagination. As Ella and her friends investigate a missing peanut butter case, they uncovered the legacy of a brilliant innovator. George Washington Carver! And learn how curiosity fuels create. In this Black History Month adventure, Adventures of Curiosity Cove shows kids that asking questions, thinking creatively, and imagining what's possible can lead to amazing discoveries. Because history isn't boring. It's full of surprises. Listen to Adventures of Curiosity Cove every Monday from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

Hey everyone, it's Emily Simpson and Shane Simpson from the Legally Brunette podcast. Each week we're bringing you true crime through a legal lens. Whether you want all the facts on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie or you still need to wrap your head around the ditty verdict, we're breaking it all down step by step. And we're not just lawyers, we're also a husband and wife. It makes for some pretty entertaining episodes. Listen to Legally Brunette on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast.

When segregation was a law, one mysterious black club owner, Charlie Fitzgerald, had his own rules. Segregation and the day integration at night. It was like stepping on another world. Was he a businessman? A criminal. A hero. Charlie was an example of power. They had to crush him.

Charlie's Place from Atlas Obscura and visit Myrtle Beach. Listen to Charlie's Place on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When segregation was a law, one mysterious black club owner, Charlie Fitzgerald, had his own rules. Segregation and the day integration at night. It was like stepping on another world. Was he a businessman? A criminal. A hero. Charlie was an example of power. They had to crush him. Charlie's Place from Atlas Obscura and visit Myrtle Beach.

Listen to Charlie's Place on the I-Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. You know, Arthur was a tennis player in the world. Yes. You know, I had my basketball thing going 74. Miles was making music. Miles would bring some music. We listened to it. We couldn't understand nothing.

Two weeks later, it was running up the charts. The biggest song in the world, huh? Running up the charge. Yeah, yeah, what up, y'all? This is Joe Crack to Dawn. Know who it is, your boy, Jada. This is the Joe and Jada show. Every show legendary, every show iconic.

You know what I mean? Live from L.A. All-Star 2026. Today's guest, when you think of the ABA, aha, do your homework before the NBA. When you think of basketball, when you think of adversity, when you think of influence for such a long time. You think of style. Blueprint.

Class. You also would never want to get slapped by this guy. His hands are like you. He'll slot the hell out of you, so don't make a matter. Ladies and gentlemen, make some noise for Julius Dr. J. Irvin. Thank you, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Nice intro.

I appreciate that. You know, I got to make it right for you, my brother. You know, happy to be here with you guys. I appreciate you for calling. I see we brought the fake palm tree from, I said, New York. You said we got the fake palm tree with us. We got the fake tree. Yo, we brought the fake.

Yeah, let me tell you something, Dr. J. I'm thinking if Dr. Dre got inspired by Dr. Jay. We out here in L.A. I'm like, damn, you think Dr. Drake got inspired his name by Dr. J? Dr. J, one of a kind. He's so much. First of all, how's your wife? She's fine.

You guys power couple. Every time I see y'all, every all-star, we can I go back and I be like, damn, they're the flyest couple. Thank you for the compliment. You back at the hotel with her girlfriend, and she got some people out here since. She spent a little time with them being there for me.

Super legendary. See, I don't go by the rules. Like, I don't look at the notes and all that. So me, I'm just shooting this shit off the top. He goes off script. So I'm off script. Right? But when I think of me being a kid and looking at Dr. Jay, you know, the legendary dunks,

was anybody dunking before you or were you the first one to do it with like an exclamation point? That's interesting. Plenty of balls were dunk before I came along. And even as a kid, you know, I just watch Will Chamberlain with TV and dunking the ball. being in New York, you know, Knicks had a guy named Jumping Johnny Green.

Jumping Johnny Green would catch it off, coming off the rim, after a missed shot, throw it back down, run down the court like nothing happened. Whatever. And smooth with it. Yeah, he was smooth with it.

And in my community where I live, I live in Roosevelt, New York. It was like 15,000 people. Roosevelt Island? No, Roosevelt, New York, the town of Roosevelt, between Hempstead and, Uniondale, all that.

Nassau County. Massar County, in Long Island. My point is I used to walk past Johnny Green's house to get to school. And I'd always walk slow when I got to his house. I'm like, I just got to see this guy, man.

Well, I ain't won't go up and knock on the door or anything. And I never saw him coming and going out of that house. But I did go to the garden. And I saw him play. You know, we got something in common. I live in Wesley Snipes. block. You know, Wesley Snipes lives on my block.

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Through day, present time. Yeah. I never seen them in my life. I do walk. I do whatever. I see worldwide west. I see, yo, where's Wesley Snipes? Yo, you know, he's my neighbor. I never seen his wife. I never seen his kids. I never, like, you know how many times I went by then?

Like, yo, where's this guy? But Don Poo live right across the street from me. They'd see him. I never seen him. You do a time in his off. Damn. Yeah. They're both working, though. That would be something.

He might be saying, you need to see you, too. I'm down the block, man. You know, Wesley, you know I live down the block. Knock on the door, baby. Yeah. Knock on the door. So Johnny Green was smooth.

Now, so you didn't invent a dump. My old life, I thought you invented the dunk. They, you credit me with perfecting some of the dunk shots. because it just used to be, you know, fit a bugger then, go it in, and roll on out. And sometimes, you know, I might do a little twist turn, change, that's for the side or whatever,

because I had a real big hand, I could hold a ball with one hand. The swag guys just got us here. Guys came to challenge you, you know, I would just move it back with the phone. So we throw them off, turn to people who would potentially be blocking the shot. for interrupting shot and still complete the plane

and just rolling out of there. So I've been credited with perfecting the dump but not in bedding the dump. There was plenty of dunk and before I came in there. The ABA, what was that like? You know, it's one of the joys

of my basketball life. Having started in the ABA and planned there for five years and during that five years, you know, having something to, you know, take my mind away and my heart away from some of the bad things that were happening in the world

because, you know, I came out of high school with 68. That's when Martin King was assassinated. 69. Malcolm X was assassinated. And 64, J.F.K. was assassinated. I mean, I came up and, you know, with tragic stuff during the teenage years.

So we're going to college and 68 and stand there for three years and having the path carved for a pro career. And the pro career, you know, gave you something to focus on, concentrate on, go through the challenge of being your livelihood, knowing that the other opportunities, the other situations were

I could have got drafted into the arm like a lot of my friends from high school being they got drafted in the army someone went to Vietnam and never came back so there was a lot of bad stuff

the Cold War between us and Russia you know during that time we had we had times where there was fire drills in school where you had to figure out how to go in the basement or hide

just in case there was a plane coming by attacking the United States and dropping bombs, whatever. So when people talk about basketball, basketball was a game. As an amateur, it wasn't a livelihood, but it was a game, and it was a diversion from a lot of the things that were bad about the society that we live. We have an ugly history in that regard, especially regarding race. You know, I was going to ask you right now when you brought them both up.

I didn't realize JFK, then Mon Luther King, I didn't realize it was all in that little five-year run right there. Who's ideology you sided with more? Malcolm or Mon Luther King? Martin Luther King. You know, we were Christians, and we went to Baptist Church. And my mother-father, both from South Carolina. So, you know, they were down in the Bible Belt in that regard.

and moved north, moved to Chicago first, and then into New York. And me and my sister and brother were all born in New York. So, you know, born there, bread there, and we dealt with all that. You said you was just finishing high school, and you watched the news, and it's like Martin Luther King got assassinated.

Then that had to be like real. How did you find out? That's traumatic. You know what I was on TV? I mean, we had TV. So it was from TV, how you found out. We had TV. Yeah, yeah.

Actually, before, that was on my dad's birthday. Yeah. My dad actually lived around the corner. My dad's from Memphis. He got assassinated on one of my dad's birthdays. Oh, yeah. So, though, his whole birthday. That's the hotel, right?

Yeah. At the hotel. The hell is that. So, I mean, and her world heard about it at the same time. And there were various reactions. I was in elementary school with JFK, and we went in school. And then when the shooting happened in Dallas or whatever,

they told all the kids to go home. So we just went out. Some of us went, stayed in the park, stayed on the school grounds. People went home. And when Martin, I mean, it was riots. It was riots. We got ugly out here in suburbs, suburbs, cities. There were riots,

associated with that because people wasn't having it but they couldn't change it and the riots didn't change anything A lot of things don't change

you know because I think of John Lennon he got assassinated his man was singing about roses and fields and

peace it's a lot of ugly stuff man yeah because you know we just had the Super Bowls and your man Bad Bunny

he's the nicest guy in the world and the way they protested this guy And all, like, I was actually scared for him. Like, I was like, because there's so much division and hatred and all that going around. And this guy, just for singing, I was really worried about him. I was really like, yo, they might do something to this guy right here.

And to sing, right? And so you see, like, John Lennon, he got killed. He was the most peaceful guy in the world. So case in point, we got an advocate for. peace, harmony, love. So if you get a platform, you know, you need to promote those things. So I've tried to be about that

through my success and my notoriety. I don't call it fame, per se, because, you know, fame. Now people can be famous. It's somebody to do to jump off a bridge. Now it is. Jump off a bridge and do something crazy. Oh, my God.

And so I think the, topic should be respect. And, you know, you get respect in your genre, the industry, whatever. I mean, you're on your way, so we need to use that platform in a positive thing. I mean, that's what we try to do, especially nowadays. So I look at me and Jadikis, like Shaquille O'Neal with Charles Barkley. So, you know, we've been, we played the game. We won chips.

everything. So we talk about hip hop and lifestyle. And the people respect it in that way. I feel like the hip hop genre grew up now to the point of where we hit that commentary vase where they're like, you know, Jay DeKis, some people think

he's top five rap in the world. And in fact, Joe, we know, he talked a lot of, you know, he took a lot of shit. So they came up in here and they took, you know, it's like Shaq and Charles. But, you know, know, we try to bring positive to everything.

Yeah. We don't even engage. When they got World War III and hip hop, they call us first and be like, yo, we want to come up and curse the other rap out and this and that. We'd be like, yeah, we don't really want that. Like, you know, I'm sorry, guys. Wrong guys. Yeah, we're not taking sides.

We just not. And then people have the misconception, especially now. They have a misconception where they feel like everything has to be negative. Everything has to be clickbait. Everything has to be, you know, and they think that's, they literally think that's the only way to become successful in 2026.

Yeah. Well, you got, you know, people, that's their opinion. It's not everybody. But sometimes it seems like it's everybody because that person has a stage or those people have a stage and they're saying. And, but it's not everybody. I mean, I don't think there's anything.

anything on the planet, but everybody does to freeze, air, drink water, you know, whatever. So, but when you get your chance in your opening, you know, it's important that you step in and be accountable. Accountability is something. I've been hearing more these days, and I think everybody needs to be accountable. And it's not age-related. No, it doesn't matter. I mean, it doesn't matter.

I mean, I'll be 76 next week. You know, great Dr. Chow. Yeah. Yeah. So I get in front of a room of 16-year-olds. It's not like I got to talk to them like a 76-year-old or 50-year-old or 25-year-old or 25-year-old of winners. I kind of say what's in my heart, share what's in my heart, and, you know, open and extend the hand of friendship to him, you know, like Bill Russell did to me. You know, when I was 19, and he had already finished his career, and he extended.

in the hand of friendship. We became friends right up until the time he passed away at 86. I like to do that. I like to mimic and duplicate what somebody has done for me. How important is that, you know, giving back that knowledge and giving back that, some jewels to the youth, things of that nature? So I, you know, I have a documentary out, I have an autobiography out and took a long time

to attend that all the biography because I think I started at 43, 45. I didn't finish until I was 61, 62, you know, in 2012. So I think putting it back in the universe is important. And my initial motivation was to get the story straight,

first person for my family. and the generations that are down the line. So the uncle's aunt's nephew of meases, kids, grandkids, great children. I wanted them to have something first person settled by me so they can know because I knew that the popularity of being a basketball player was going to have a lot of things said about me. Some are going to be. Some is going to be true. So give them the first person and, you know,

affording, allowing yourself to go ahead and go through that process. It was a trying process, man. Have you guys written biographies and autobiography? When you get to the traumatic section and you got to keep going over it and you've got to think of my traumatic stuff to happen, that's hard. And I did it. Yeah. So I had to.

go over. Like, and then my best friend got murdered in front of me. And then this, this, this, and you just relive in that. Yeah. It's almost like peeling the orange. Like, you just like, you keep reliving the trauma back and forth. Some people want to bury it. Just bury it like it never happened.

But it really did happen, you know. And it's part of what makes you who you are. Well, my fear is the reason why originally. got into hip hop journalism, whatever you can call it, right? Start it, IG, whatever. Is I start watching hip-hop documentaries. Not for none, Dr. Jay, use some years in front of me.

When it comes to this hip-hop thing, I was born in the birthplace. You really can't tell me nothing about this thing. Yeah. Like nothing. When you're talking about a hip-hop historian, that's like if they bought a basketball, they stitched it up,

I know who stitched it. Yeah, yeah. And if you wasn't there, I know you wasn't there. And so now they start doing these hip-hop documentaries and they start having so-called historians, they weren't there. So they start telling their own narrative or whatever. And I'm like, and I said, yo, we can't do this. Because if we die in 20 years from now, kids go back to the videotape,

they're not going to get the real answers. They're not getting authentic, right? Yeah, that's why. started interviewing people and doing all this because they were really fabricating different stories. And I'm looking at it. And these were credible people making these documentaries. I was like, yo, this is crazy.

That's why I originally got into it. And then with me writing a book, I just knew for a fact, if I died, they call me a liar, terrible while I'm alive. Yeah, they could. So I had to tell my book before somebody would have came and said, yo, this. this guy's this, this guy's that, this guy's this. And when you let somebody else tell your story, never going to be right.

It could be the closest ones to you, not even in a bad way. They seemed it a different way than you saw it. Yeah. So it's very important that people, you know, document. And also who we were talking about yesterday, about inspiration. Somebody was talking about, we was talking about that bitch.

It's about inspiring, you know, the kids, behind you and letting them know that it's possible. Hope, you know, hope and it's possible. And, you know, a lot of, you know, like you said, I got to, I had to see it to believe it. You know, one thing I've never been was jealous. And so I always looked at everybody else that one, he said, yo, we could do that. Like, always been inspired by greatness and people who won or people made money or people I always was like, yes.

Well, if he did that, he can't be, he can't be a bigger bullshitter than me. I'm going to get to that fucking bag. You know what I'm saying? I'm like, yo, I'm going to get to it. It's doable. It's attainable. I'm going to go for it.

Yeah. You know. You know, just listening to you, it makes me think about one of the things that I learned in my lifetime because through my grandparents, my great-grandparents, and I noticed that there was some Native American heritage

in my great-grandmothers who looked and hair and so on and so whatever I said. That was my curiosity. And, you know, I befriended some Native Americans over the years. And one of the takeaways, one of the biggest takeaways was they talk about doing stuff that will affect seven generations. You know, and they seem to be the only people I run into in my span of time that I've been here who talk about that.

Because once you say that, it makes somebody stop and think. You think about seven generations with family. It's new thing right now. Yeah, it made you think right now. and you guys are probably doing that if you haven't already done that, that's going to have an effect on seven generations.

You know what's so weak. And that's a beautiful thing. You know what's so? Whenever past three generations. I'm thinking about, like, as he said that, I never thought, uh, seven. You know, he thought about seven. Hell no, I can't think of no seven generations.

Yeah, that is. But I could tell you who did. the wicked people who created the laws and did the systemic racism 100 years ago we didn't even have telephones we didn't even have a call we didn't even have a plane but they made laws back at that time that's affecting us

at this time to where everybody can't get to the bag systemic racism they did that a hundred they didn't even have a phone a fax machine number but they thought of okay we're going to F these people up for 100 something years. We're going to make sure he's got

for eternity. They thought of seven generations. Thomas Jefferson and all of guys with the white hair. They thought of it in a negative way. Yes. Each one and they acted on it. Yeah. You know what's crazy is my grandfather,

his sisters used to come visit once every 10 years and they dressed up as Indians. And they wrote it in my book. It used to have moccasins. they were Indians. They were. Now, I'm in the projects in the Bronx looking at them, like,

yo, we got real Indians in our family from Puerto Rico. Yeah. You know, but, you know, I was too little. Hold on. Hold on. Was they Puerto Rican or was the Hindi? They Taino Indians in Puerto Rico. The Puerto Ricans is Spanish, African, and Tayao Indian.

That makes up a Puerto Rican. But what I'm telling you is that I don't know I had some aunts and uncles that used to come in Maccissons dressed like straight Indians in the South Bronx with moccasins. We over there with AJ's and overlaps

tank tops looking at them like, I'm like, yo, they're Indians for real coming up in that joint. Look and learn, look and learn, man. Look and learn. Because from a cultural standpoint, you know, lots of times, they do things differently. And sometimes they do things better.

I never seen them again after my grandfather died. His side of the family, unfortunately, never came back. Once my grandfather died, that was it. Like, they, you know, it's scary because I got, you know, I'm half Cuban. I got a bunch of stepbrothers and sisters. And since my father passed away last year, you know, we lose contact. Like, you know, some of my brothers don't call no more. My sister called yesterday because it was a year anniversary of my father's death.

She was like, yo, how are you feeling, bro? Whatever, boy. You know, sometimes when people die, that whole part of that family... Well, no question about it. You know, my mother was one of 14 children. In Pittsburgh, South Carolina, my father was one of 11. So I had aunts and uncles, leases, and ever's cousins, the whole deal. But once my father passed, we started relating to mom's side of the family.

So that's who we knew. That's he spent the time with that he related to, and that's he became close to. And, you know, Bet does bet. Today's show brought to you by our presenting sponsor Hard Rock Bet, Florida's Best Sports Book. I know it's tough with no football. But like the song says, I will survive.

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has a gambling problem and once held, call 1-800-9 with it. Gambling problem, call 1-800-gambling. That's in Arizona, Colorado, Illinois, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, and Virginia. This month, I-Heart Radio is celebrating the stars of the 2026 Winter Games. Minnesota produced Taylor Hisey the explosive new face of American hockey.

After dominating the collegiate level and world championships, the dynamic forward makes her long-awaited Olympic debut in Milano Cortina. Known for her blazing speed and lethal wrist shot, Heise adds a dangerous new weapon to an already stacked Team USA roster. She hits the ice ready to prove that the next generation of greatness has officially arrived. For more Winter Games gold, search Olympics on the IHeart Radio app. IHart Radio is throwing it back. 2010s the decade

To the days of huge hits And unforgettable items A nonstop stream of the biggest and best Drake, Rihanna, Beyonce Katie Gaga, the weekend And more All your decade defining favorites All in one place

Hi, it's Katie Perry Hey, it's Bruno Mars This is Kesha Find 2010's The Decade On the free IHeart Radio app Preset the station So it's always one tap away What do you do in the headlines

Don't explain what's happening inside of you. I'm Ben Higgins, and if you can hear me, is where culture meets the soul, a place for real conversation. Each episode, I sit down with people from all walks of life, celebrities, thinkers, and everyday folks, and we go deeper than the polished story. We talk about what drives us, what shapes us, and what gives us hope. We get honest about the big stuff, identity when you don't recognize yourself anymore, loss that changes you purpose when success is enough peace when your mind won't slow down fake when it's complicated some guests have answers most are still figuring it out if you've ever felt like there has to be more to the story this show is for you

listen to if you can hear me on the iHeart radio app apple podcasts or wherever you get your podcast this is writer strong and i have a new podcast called the red weather it was many and many a year ago in a kingdom by the sea. In 1995, my neighbor and a trainer disappeared from a commune. It was hard to wrap your head around. It was nature and trees and praying and drugs. So no, I am not your guru.

And back then, I lied to my parents, I lied to police, I lied to everybody. There were years right where I could not say your name. I've decided to go back to my hometown in Northern California, interview my friends, family, talk to police, journalists, whomever I can to try to find out what actually happened. Isn't it a little bit weird that they obsess over hippies in the woods and not the obvious boyfriend?

They have had this case for 30 years. I'll teach you sons of a bitch to come around her in my white. Boom, boom. This is The Red Weather. Listen to the Red Weather on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Segregation and the day integration at night. When segregation was the law, one mysterious black club owner had his own rules.

We didn't worry about what went on outside. It was like stepping on another world. Inside Charlie's place, black and white people danced together. But not everyone was happy about it. You saw the KKK? Yeah, they were dressed up in their uniform. The KKK set out to raid Charlie, take him away from here. Charlie was an example of power.

They had to crush you. From Atlas Obscura, Rococo Punch, and Visit Myrtle Beach, comes Charlie's place. A story that was nearly lost to time. Until now, listen to Charlie's Place on the Iheart radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. I've always been jealous of your era. It's not necessarily, I want to be older. No, but you're right, right? What I mean, like, is when I watch the movies from your era,

they're doing chintillas on, the Frank Lucas movies and Nikki Barnes on the cover of time, you know, they rats. But I'm just saying they were the biggest. What was it like at the time when you the biggest guy? Dr. Jay was the biggest guy on the earth. At that time, When they talk about all this up

Because, you know, we from New York, I don't know about him, but I'm assuming him, we from New York, we think Harlem's the flyers, right? And we think of all that. But that's about your time. This show wasn't going to have no flags. What did I say? No, go ahead.

What I'm trying to say is, what's the flag? That's the cut off. No, no, that means foul on the play. I said something. I didn't agree with you. He didn't agree with it, so he threw the flag. We usually got 100 of them flying.

We've been real gentle with you, Mr. Dr. J. Mr. Irving. I show a respect. My thing is, what was it like in that era? Flyness. Could we see you fly? You fly it in all of it. You got Will Chamberlain bragging, but he wasn't more swagged out than you. And you was Clyde.

You was outside. How about your boy, Clyde? Clyde. You know, he's still way the Cowboys stupid. Right, he got the cow. He's made out of cow. Clyde still rock his same suits. Yeah.

The same suits? He might have them tailored up, but I think it's the same thing. Right? You can't even find some of that. He got some of the finest cow skins and materials that you ever see. You know,

you know, I be trying to dress, right? Well, he was cool. He played the cool card. His management company used to represent him. So, yeah, what's the... Your era, Dr. Jay. I'm trying to get you in this era, right? It's Harlem.

It's New York City. You're from New York. You're the biggest in the world. You're Dr. J. You slam dunking over everything. You're coming to the rocker, shutting it down. You got all these guys that we watched these movies of in the middle of your era. What was that like, Dr. J?

Could you just describe to us what was Dr. G's life at that time? a club in the Harlem that was out of this world that you walked in at 12 midnight and was like Dr. Jay, like, what was that life? I'm tell you the truth. So at a certain hour, you know, I would be in the after hours club. And I look around, I'm thinking, these people don't want to go home or they ain't got nowhere to go. let me get the hell out of here

because I got a home and I was, you know, live in my parents' house because of early 20s, I stayed in New York until I was 26. So birth to 26. And I wasn't trying to be hard. You know, my mom, she raised three kids and pretty much by herself.

She did marry. stepfather, but she she bared the load. And I said, I ain't trying to do nothing to make it harder than her than it already is. I'm not saying being

harder. That was you there, Dr. Jay. Everybody was coming up to your doctor, Jay. This is such and such. Yeah. Your Dr. Jay, this is such and such. They had to be doing that, right? Yeah. Yeah. So,

Me, Reggie Jackson, Arthur Ash, Oh. Miles Davis. Miles Davis. The Bill Cosby. Whoa. So 1974, we would meet frequently at Cosmosters. Right?

And a lot of the discussion was about time and place and what we doing. You know, Arthur was, that's ten. Let's play in the world. Yes. I had my basketball thing going 74. Both the time, MVP and the ABA. Miles was making music, you know, and Miles would bring some music, and he played. There was a thing called Divided Soul.

We listened to it. We couldn't understand nothing. Two weeks later, it was running up the charts. The biggest song in the world, huh? Running up the charge. We saw something. of those. Yeah, yeah,

because you don't know. I mean, it's raw. I had that with Grover Washington Jr., you know, in Philly. He writes something. I'd hear it. Oh, that's all right.

Next thing I know, you know. That's the hat. Huff? What was that gambling huff? Gambling huff. Yeah, Philly. Yeah, they were in Philly.

Yeah, they had Philly. They made great music. Cosby. Cosby got all jammed up. it was very, very unfortunate because, you know, he was a good mentor in my life because he was older than us,

and he hosted us in his house, and this is it 74. So we in our 20s, veggie was a little older, me and Arthur about the same age, and Miles is a little older too. So we had our crew, you know, that's a good crew to have.

Wow, yeah, you ain't got it. You ain't got to, That's a Mount Rushmore of Cruz. You ain't got to go to no club. You can't beat no off the ass, no Reggie Jackson, Mr. October. Bill Cosby, Jello, pudding pops. This man was fat Albert. Yeah.

He had fat Albert. Yeah. So that helped me because I had friends like that. And now, you know, Reggie and I are still friends. He got an event going on in Vegas. beginning the next month. So he just sent me a note, all right, you're going to be here?

Hell yeah, I would be here, you know. You're going to tie me. You were a link to my past, and it was a great time. So you were a link to my past when I was on the top of the world, you know, and being talked about in that conversation,

who's the best basketball player in the world? That's when that conversation was going on? I can be honest with you, Dr. Jay, you're still on top of the world. You're still on top of the world. When they see you, there ain't nobody. I know you might think it was a long.

No. He lights up every roomy steps. Yeah, you walk in there. You swagged out to this day. That's why I asked you about your wife. You always look beautiful. You coming through. You floating.

They know what time it is on another level. And basketball players more than anything, they got to study the tape. They have to study the tape. Basketball players, you know, I always tell a story. I say, Floyd Meweather, who's undefeated and everybody called the greatest box, one of them of all time. I've seen a fight where he was getting beat up for six rounds.

And then he switched up the whole style. And he beat the guy, and at the end, he was like, Jack Dempsey. I watched the videotape when he did this and that. And the point is, it's the same story, Kist, but it's relative to what we're talking about. They got to watch the video tape. Yeah.

You know, and... Give us another thing. That's a wonderful gift. You know, having a video to watch. You know, now, I think some of the stuff that people watch, maybe doesn't necessarily help them. You know, maybe motivates them to just get out there. but, you know, some of the, every, every piss video that's out there ain't good.

No. Say it again. Most are bad. Yeah. Most are bad. The majority probably is. I was more damaged than good. I'm addicted to social media.

Like, you know, if I have a second, I watch my Instagram and this and this and that. But, you know, I'm kind of getting pissed off at all this, like, negativity and everybody fighting each other and everybody, it's just like every day you wake up to see who's fighting, who, who's this, who's that. And it's kind of like played out. What you think, Kiss? What the world needs love is love, sweet love. It's the only thing that there's just too little of.

Good answer. Good answer. Good answer. Today's state of the game. how do you feel about it without you know a lot of people can't take conversation then they

misconstrued or they get emotionally drained or things of that nature when you just ask something like that that's why we like to stay away from the questions that turn into religious arguments or

political debates but just the state of the game where is that today from, you know, how you played it and saved it, you know, how you feel about it. So I'm going to jump over into the racial aspect of it. You know, see, when I was coming up, black athletes got interviewed. You know, sometimes they get played. Somebody who asks stupid stuff, they'd give a stupid answer.

And then suddenly, see, that's why we shouldn't interview the black guys. they representing or whatever. So I was always kind of guarded with my dialogue and delivery and, you know, try to say things the right way or whatever. Because I grew up, you know, seeing some bad interviews. I mean, for some terrible interviews, you know, especially with boxers and shitball players, you know, guys, you know, I was like, no, no, come on, man.

we could do better than that because we are better than that. And that became a reflection on the race. And unfortunately, or fortunately, you know, ABA was a breakthrough in terms of majority of players in the league were black. Wasn't that way in the NFL, wasn't that way of Major League Baseball. Baseball was probably second, you know, with maybe 40%. But the NBA, NBA was like in the 20s. you know, 20s

and so that's where the most work needed to be done and then there were breakthroughs you know certain people coming up and handling it you're black commentators so they weren't going to play the game you know they tried to help

the athlete who they were talking to and so there's a track record that you can follow and you could see you know basketball ball open the stores 1947.

So 47, 57, 57, 67, 77, 87, 87, 87, no, Blacks became the dominant race in the league.

So you got a lot of good interviews. And now comes the international player. You know, the international player has to work his way. Because there's certain people, you know,

they didn't want to get on the microphone because they didn't really own the language. The female golfers that came from China and Japan or whatever. No, you got to learn English if you're going to play over here. You're going to make this money and take this money back. You got to learn the language. They do that to the Latino boxes too. Latino boxes.

They actually analyze that you make less money if you don't talk English. Yeah. You got to learn English. That's what he's saying. Yeah. So they were real times in. was this got recognized, and then suddenly, you know, people made the adjustment so when necessary to max it out, you know, to make maximum money.

Well, I need to. I need to get my stuff together. And part of it is what kind of upbringing you have and what the influences are on you school-wise, you know, I just hated to hear somebody being called a dumb jock. Because that was my space. You know, they called us jocks. And a dumb jock, that was, that was almost being worse than being called the N-word.

It was derogatory. Very. We had it back. Right. And so, you know, I'm going YouTube to watch Puerto Ricans in 1970, man, I don't even know. This is like, you know, when they say your ancestors dream. like I can't think you're talking like that like the way they was talking

in 1970s the broken English they were nothing they was like Spanish they didn't know maybe if they were smart they sounded dumb as hell black people too in the South Bronx I watched in the 70s and I'm like

and now you've got so many you're for articulate smart intelligent billionaires all kind of business owners and all that where I'm just like damn we came a long long way because when you watch that

footage of the Bronx in the 70s, you're just like damn, how did we get here? Yeah. You know, so you were here. It was a miracle. Dr. Jay, you've been around a long time. You hear hip-hop.

Where do you hear it for the first time? And did you know when you heard it around that time did you know, oh, this thing is going to go? No, I had no idea. that it was going to go to where it went, you know, I mean, I was a rhythm of blues guy and a jazz guy. And when I heard hip-hop, I mean, I, you know, I had a cautious ear

because it was all around, came from uptown, and, you know, the characters associated with hip-hop, you know, I got a kick out of, you know, I was like, okay, I ain't trying to be them and then they're not trying to be me so they got their own genre and how far will they go

and it went to the moon it went to the moon man and there was no no turning back because I think the overall acceptance of hip hop in the beginning was

to be determined by the people who were the best at doing it. And they not only grabbed the stage, they didn't let it go, you know. And, you know, I mean, someone, you know, could look like Snoot, you know, for one thing. I mean, he's crossed over it into a dozen different things. He's the host of the Olympics now. And not, yeah.

But he's been doing it. He's been doing golf tournaments. He does so much variation of the theme, but he's still genuine. Because when he's talking, you know what he comes from, where he comes from, and he'll be quick to tell you. So, yeah, what did I feel about it? I mean, you know, my generation was, you know,

the rhythm and blues piece. And even in my house, you know, music my mom would play, whatever, it was just, you know, straight up love songs. It'd be a little mix of rock and roll in there. You know, they'd like the rock and roll. And you want to know what's crazy.

You know, it's ill that he said the music that he grew up and listened to, his son was my man. Yeah, Jay Irvin. I know the brother out of the jail you know what's crazy is I don't know if you've seen recently

Homeboy Gene Simmons said that hip hop shouldn't be in the rock and roll Hall of Fame this is the new talk out you can't deny that

I mean you can't deny that I mean you can't deny hip hop from coming in you know being in a rockerone Hall of Fame is going to recognize the sales you know

and the... Impact. Yeah. Overall impact. Yeah, my thing is, didn't we create rock and roll? Like, originally, Chuck Barry.

Yeah. Black people created rock and roll. I don't got the facts. No, I got the facts. It might have been like that slam dunk country question. Because they didn't invent it, but they perfected it. Effected.

Oh, my facts. You know. Little Richard said, I saw an interview one time, Little Richard named every superstar of a rock person. It was like, y'all, he played in my band. I taught him how to do this. I taught her how to do this. I taught, he dead ass was pointing out all the rock and roll legends talking about it. He taught him everything.

Rape balls are fired. Okay, buddy, with my flag. He got one. Where can we see the new ABA? I know it's on Prime. I already see it. Yeah, Amazon Prime. I watched it last night.

Okay. You know, I had the guy come in. Jerry Rigged my TV. Then I got an Amazon Prime account because I had an Amazon account My business name. And they were like, oh, no, this one's under another one.

So I was under Amazon.com. And then the Amazon Prime, whatever, it's the first month free. Then it's $14 a month. So I got roped into it because I said, I want to watch this last night before I come out today and this weekend. And they got us hooked up to me and my wife,

Dorese. And we watched it from eight to, midnight because it was four episodes in each episode of like an hour and I will see it again. I probably will see it again with friends or family or whatever. We're going to do a big birthday

celebration next week. So I'm get that on in the background. It's a backdrop. That should be good. So you guys need to check it out. And last night I thought I saw it, but I'm realizing I watched the old documentary. Oh. So I watched the documentary on your

Doctor, yeah, yeah. That is called the doctor. I thought I was watching. What he came. I told Lori was there, she was like, yeah, you know what comes out tonight? I said, yeah, I watched it last night. She was like, no. That wasn't it.

You must have watched an old joint. No, the ABA is more than just me in it. There's a lot of people, Spencer Haywood and Rick Barry and, you know, the people who were a part of the nine-year history of the ABA. So started in 1967, then we go back to that time. That craziness was going on in the country. You know, it's nuts. I see it.

I think it's in that documentary where it was segregated. Then they let black and white people play together. And they were showing the fans' reaction. They had white people. And they was like, yeah, I love this guy. And I loved that. And it showed how sports gelled everybody. together at such a horrible time.

Yeah. Well, see, you know, I'm from Long Island, right? So we had a team at the Salvation Army. And me and the guy named Archie Rogers, the two of us, and we had 10 guys who were not black who were white. Those were our teammates. So we were a close-knit group in the suburb, right, over in Hempstead. and sometimes we would go to games that were arranged for our team

and the other coach didn't want his players to play against us. So this is 61, 62, and it would like, well, we play y'all, but they can't play. So our guy, Don Ryan, who's still there in Hempstead, in the community, and he's an angel sent from heaven. He said, let's go, guys. He took the whole team. He took the whole team. He left the building.

We had our team. We just leave the building. And that would happen two or three times a year, during our seasons when I was a member there, and I remember it and I embrace it, you know, because that was so important for what he did. You think Muhammad Ali Jim Brown

you know all these athletes the forefront of the civil rights to me when I look at those times I just think of the courage like the courage you had to have

but people are scared to talk right now kids people are literally afraid this is the only time the president of the United States will clap back on Instagram at you the president of the United States be like yo fat Joe let me

I'll ask you and tell you this. Is it? Like, people are terrified to speak up now. Yeah. And at that time, you know, it pretty much was hard to be, you know, because you, you risking your career, you're risking all that. So when you were seeing guys like Muhammad Ali talked about I ain't going to the war and all like that, and, you know, what you thought at that time.

Okay. So I was a little young for the heart of the movement. but I was well aware of the different players, the Martin Luther Kings, Ahmad Ali, Jim Brown, Long Island guy, Bill Russell. So he was already in basketball. And, you know, he was the ultimate champion in basketball. So kind of watching from the sideline,

but, you know, not being ignorant. about what was going on because, you know, it was life or death. And, you know, like I said, I had friends who went to war. I had friends who followed Malcolm X. I happened to follow Dr. King. So I was trying to, you know, be spiritual,

you know, let religion be different than what was being said by the Muslim movement. And so being, so being, in that and you know what you had you had to believe in something you had to take a stand in some capacity

so I followed Dr. King it's beautiful I follow Dr. King too you know it's crazy because I think of a scene out of the movie Malcolm X right and they're walking through Harlem and you see Revanow

on a box preaching that you see the Muslim saying you'll see the 5% of sin you'll see the Jehovah Witness Like they was Everybody was represented Preaching in one corner Take a sign

Yeah he said you've got to be about something He chose You don't stand for something For for anything Fall for anything I always say Dr. Martin Luther King is the greatest America never lived And

He gave his life for it His courage was incredible He chose love over hate chose peace, you know, and bringing the people together. Yeah. And he was authentic, too. I mean, you know, he just dedicated his whole life to that, and people don't do that anymore.

They're dedicated for a while and then somebody blowing their ear. Next thing you know, they're over there doing something they're supposed to be doing. You got fake activists that get paid off to stop activating no more. And they're gone, huh? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's over. Once they catch that little check and check it out,

I'd be like, huh? And they'd be like, yeah, and then all of a sudden, you know, they took the check, you know. Yeah, we're constantly looking for a new here, you know, a new difference maker. You know, somebody will constantly, and some people will get pushed to that position,

but yeah, I think you have to be born into it. You know, It's not something you learn. It's not something you learn in school. Something God puts in you. Yeah. It says, hey, man, you got me. Don't have no fear.

Go represent your people. And so that's important. This ain't that? That ain't this. It's cracking kids. Make sure y'all check the documentary out on Amazon Prime. Make sure Dr. Jay, the living legend of our icon. Oh, thank you.

Come knowledge your overall. that will make some noise for the doctor. All right, y'all. All right. On the Adventures of Curiosity Cove podcast, what if there's more to the story than we've been told? This Black History Month, Adventures of Curiosity Cove invites families into a playful mystery

that blends history, science, and imagination. As Ella and her friends investigate a missing peanut butter case, they uncovered the legacy of a brilliant innovator. George Washington Carver? And learn how curiosity fuels creativity. In this Black History Month adventure, Adventures of Curiosity Cove shows kids that asking questions, thinking creatively, and imagining what's possible can lead to amazing discoveries. Because history isn't boring.

It's full of surprises. At Curiosity Cove. Listen to Adventures of Curiosity Cove every Monday from the Black Effect Podcast Network on the Iheart Radio app. Apple Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Hey everyone, it's Emily Simpson and Shane Simpson from the Legally Brunette podcast. Each week we're bringing you true crime through a legal lens. Whether you want all the facts on the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie or you still need to wrap your head around the ditty verdict, we're breaking it all down step by step.

And we're not just lawyers. We're also a husband and wife. It makes for some pretty entertaining episodes. Listen to Legally Brunette on the IHeart Radio. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When segregation was a law, one mysterious black club owner, Charlie Fitzgerald, had his own rules. Segregation and the day integration at night. It was like stepping on another world. Was he a businessman? A criminal. A hero.

Charlie was an example of power. They had to crush him. Charlie's Place from Atlas Obscura and visit Myrtle Beach. Listen to Charlie's Place on the IHeart Radio. app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. When segregation was a law, one mysterious black club owner, Charlie Fitzgerald, had his own rules. Segregation and the day integration at night. It was like stepping on another world. Was he a businessman?

A criminal. A hero. Charlie was an example of power. They had to crush him. Charlie's Place from Atlas Obscura and visit Myrtle Beach. Listen to Charlie's Place on the IHeart Radio app. Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.