New Rory & MAL - Rory & Mal Don't Know Ball | Andraya Carter

Episode Date: March 20, 2025

On this episode of "Don't Know Ball" the guys are joined by ESPN Basketball Analyst, Host, and Reporter, Andraya Carter. Rory and Mal discuss T.I's influence on ATL hip-hop, give props to Andraya for ...recognizing Crime Mob, get Andraya's predictions for Women's College Basketball March Madness, and discuss how Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese helped grow the WNBA #volumeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 This is an I-Heart podcast. Guaranteed Human. On the Look Back at it podcast. From 1979, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick a year, unpack what went down,
Starting point is 00:00:15 and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite authors. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. 84 was a wild year. It was a wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Listen to look back at it on the Outer. My Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Starting point is 00:00:34 A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clivert Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfilled conversations with athletes,
Starting point is 00:00:54 creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Clifford show on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok podcast network on TikTok. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet.
Starting point is 00:01:16 Hey. And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip, just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back of my Honda Odyssey. with all the snacks and drinks. Why did you get hard seltzer instead of beer?
Starting point is 00:01:34 Oh, they hit a bogo. Well, then you got them. Listen to soccer moms on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramos sending on to Ernie Stewart the Chip. Score!
Starting point is 00:01:51 I'm Tab Ramos. I'm Tom Boca. On our podcast, Inside American Soccer, you'll get the real storylines. decisions and the truth about the U.S. national team. It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarterfinals or potentially a great run into the semifinals. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tab Ramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple
Starting point is 00:02:14 podcast, wherever you get your podcast. The volume. All right, Rory, we're back with another episode of Rory Maud don't know ball because we absolutely do not know ball, even though we feel like we do. We're trying. Yeah, we're trying. We're meeting with people that do. Yeah, but people who have.
Starting point is 00:02:39 Absolutely no more about ball than we do. And today we are joined by Lady Vaughal alumni, ESPN basketball analyst, host, and reporter, Andrea Carter. Welcome to our live studio audience. Yes. Andrea, how are you feeling? I'm feeling great. I mean, this is like, it's the most tiring time of year, but it's also the most energizing time of year. Like, just as tired as you feel, you're constantly getting re-energized.
Starting point is 00:03:09 from the excitement of the game in March Madness and what's coming up. So it's, this is, yeah. They work at you right now. They're working you hard. Yeah, yeah, but that's like, you know, this job has a rhythm that changes as the year goes and this is the fastest pace.
Starting point is 00:03:26 You've been preparing and waiting for this time of year. You know it's coming every year. Yeah, exactly. How many family members get ignored in March? How many unread text messages do you usually have by the end of the month? The unread text messages get really high. Luckily for me, like my family and the people I care about the most, they know.
Starting point is 00:03:45 So they really don't even hit me as much during this time of year. But the unread texts are significant. All right. So you're a Georgia native. You went to Beaufort, right? I do, yeah. So we want to get into some of your musical because we don't know ball, but we want to see how much music.
Starting point is 00:04:07 Andrea knows. So let's get into it. So in high school in Georgia, what was some of the artists that you remember listening to and kind of getting prepared for a game? Like who was in your headphones the most? Wow. You know, it's funny. This comes to mind.
Starting point is 00:04:24 Every time we had a away game, we were riding on the bus. And our team, it was my teammate Constance. She was just the life of the party. Always had the- She had the dogs card. Yeah, it was an ox back then. It was a while ago. She always was playing our music,
Starting point is 00:04:40 and we always played We Some Players by Crime Mob. I don't know that time. But that was like... Crime Mob was underrated. Prime Mob was so underrated. We Some Players was that one. Circles was my shit. Prime Mob, Ti.
Starting point is 00:04:57 A lot of Atlanta artists, like Ludacris, we played all the time. Ti, we played all the time. Yeah, but when I think about pregame, that was a song that was like on repeat for me and for my team in high school. Who was your favorite artist out of Atlanta? Yeah. Putting you on the spot. You're going to offend someone.
Starting point is 00:05:19 Yeah, offend somebody. Hackman Jones was on an episode before this. He said fuck Gucci Man. So you have some big shoes to fell as far as. Yeah. Pack went crazy. You have to say something nuts. I grew like I was such a, my favorite artist out of Atlanta.
Starting point is 00:05:35 I probably listened to T.I. the most growing up. Like every album, every song that dropped, anything that T.I. did, I was very locked in. And now, like, as I've gotten older, I play, like, this Outcast. Y'all count Outcast as an artist? Yeah, we can.
Starting point is 00:05:52 I would say, like, Outcast, the group resonates me a lot. Andre 3,000. There was, like, a really rough time in my life where I played Hello by Andre 3,000 and Erica by do, like, daily. Yeah, it's great EP. Every day, every month. morning. So probably I would say Outcast, but growing up I was a
Starting point is 00:06:10 T.I. ludicrous fanatic. Can you give us a detailed review of his flute album? Okay, so it's so funny that you said that, I haven't listened to it. You haven't? It's like everyone's lying. Because I said I
Starting point is 00:06:26 listened to it. I got through like maybe two songs and I was like, I'm cool. Andre, but now, listen, you got the nice nook, little din that you have right there. Yeah, that looks like a flute area. It's the perfect vibe for the, for the three, that Andre D. flute album. That's the perfect like aesthetic right there. Okay. It's like it's great. It's great background
Starting point is 00:06:42 music. Okay. Okay. So I haven't like I might maybe I'll download it to like walk through the airport or like have playing while I'm cleaning. Exactly. Exactly. That's exactly what it's made for. It's not you're not going to sit there and be grooving and jamming and it's like no you're supposed to do something else and just have that in the back. I thought it was great for layup lines but that's just me. Nah. If anybody played that before game they're getting smacked by 30. That's a fact.
Starting point is 00:07:04 It's too. It's too zen. It's too. It's too. It's too zen. It's too mellow. It's not enough uptempo, you know, get height and energy in that music. But I'm big, like, yeah, meditating, reading, cleaning, Zen, so I'll give it a shot at some point. But when I'm, you know, moving as fast pace as I am right now, I'm not. That's not for that. It's not made for March Madness. You should probably listen to future right now. That's who you need to be listening to right now. Yes. Yeah, for sure. Who's your favorite female rapper?
Starting point is 00:07:35 Oh, wow. My first. Favorite female rapper. You're putting you on the spot. That's so hard. Is it, though? That is hard for me. Why? You have a favorite automatically?
Starting point is 00:07:51 Yeah, Nikki. He's a barb. I'm a barb. Nikki's like, Nikki is who I, like, oh, when you, sorry, this just distracted me. Another song that was constantly on my playlist. I actually remember listening to this song on repeat
Starting point is 00:08:07 before one of our state. We've got to Game of Romans Revenge was like one of my just on repeat Dumb Dumb Droom Droom
Starting point is 00:08:15 Yeah That song Honestly like Nikki would probably be Just because of growing up constantly listening to Nikki I can't say I've listened to a ton of anything
Starting point is 00:08:28 that she's released new But like if I had to go with what I've come up on And what I, some go-toes that I have It would probably be be Nikki. She's a bar. A lot of respect to all the new artists. You're a barb, Andrea. That's it. You're a bar. I'm glad you took your time in answering that because the barbs are sensitive. They will pick
Starting point is 00:08:47 apart every word that you say. If you don't say everything she does is the greatest thing that you've ever seen in your life. But I listen to her. I've listened to her the most. So it would be very hard for me to pick. I feel like if I picked anyone else, I would be just trying to be somebody that I'm not. Like, I can't claim that I listen to other artists. Well, we have to put Diamond from crime mob in there then. If you listen to a lot of crime mob, Diamond was the one. Yeah. Like, diamond,
Starting point is 00:09:10 she's underrated. We don't even throw diamond in the mix when we have those female debates. Did she put out a solo project? Not that I'm aware of she may have, but everything she did on crime mob to me, she was the standout. Yeah, no.
Starting point is 00:09:22 Like, she's the one. Yeah, like, as a man, I'm ashamed to say when her part comes on, I know it. Like, I get crazy to that part. What's your favorite diamond bar? We're not doing that. We're not doing that.
Starting point is 00:09:34 What do you think about Dochi? She just won best rap album, the third female artist to win that award. What do you think about Dochi? I love Dochi. The album was great. That is an album that I listened to that I played straight through. I think she's great.
Starting point is 00:09:50 And I think, you know, what she stands for. I love her videos about, you know, she posted a video one time where she was like, I just want to pursue rap. Like, I just want to do what I love to do. But I have bills to pay. And I have things that I need to take care of as an adult. And that resonated a lot with me because there was a time in my life where I just wanted to pursue TV.
Starting point is 00:10:13 But I had bills that I needed to pay. And I needed insurance. And I needed, you know, to take care of life as an adult. I couldn't just dedicate all of my time to TV. And so I had other jobs while pursuing the dream of being an analyst on TV. And so I think I resonated a lot with Dochi. And I love her sound. Her tiny desk was amazing and so much fun.
Starting point is 00:10:35 So, yeah, I like Dochi a lot in the album. It's great. Yeah. If I didn't have bills, I'd be on my third flute album by now. I would not be podcasting whatsoever. I'd be in Union Square with a flute for sure. What other crazy jobs did you have while you were pursuing your career now? I did almost anything you could like, I did. I drove for Uber, drove for Lyft. I was a graduate assistant at our academic center at the University of Tennessee. I worked with the swim team and the softball team. I trained kids. I did like basketball skills training. I was an inside saleswoman at a company called Woodcreen distribution.
Starting point is 00:11:11 I sold Crown molding. You sold Crown moldy? Crown moldy? You have to give us a 30 second pitch of crown molding. Like we just walked into the store. Like this crown molding at the bottom of my loft looks like crown 27 that I used to sell. But I would answer the phone every day. And I would work and I would say, thank you for calling Woodgrain.
Starting point is 00:11:30 This is Andrea. How can I help you? Every phone call. Oh my God. Every day. But then I honestly was fortunate enough. My master's was in kinesiology and I became an Orange Theory fitness coach. Okay.
Starting point is 00:11:43 So I coached fitness for almost four years while doing TV on the side. And I loved that job. And it gave me a lot of purpose and they were really flexible with my schedule. So once I fell into fitness coaching, I was good, but I had a lot of odd end jobs before I fell into that, which then helped me get to TV. But yes, I was selling crown molding. Well, I wasn't selling it. I had an outside salesperson that was making the sell.
Starting point is 00:12:11 Like, he was selling it to the customers. Oh, you were the plan. You were the one that had crown molding king. Take the warehouse, fill the order, answer the phone. If it was damaged, I would send a replacement. Like, that was my job. You drove Uber around Tennessee, University of Tennessee? I did.
Starting point is 00:12:27 Yeah, I drove Uber. So I was like, what? What crazy Uber stories do you have? How many people threw it? threw up in your backseat, there's no way you could drive Uber around a college town and not have insane stories. I had, I had, I only had one person throw up in my back seat. That was a nightmare.
Starting point is 00:12:44 But what's funny is actually, I was in Knoxville and I wanted to move back to Atlanta. And the man that hired me at Woodgrain, he was my passenger in Uber. That's how I got that job. Oh, wow. That's crazy. So, yeah, it was like crazy series of events, but he got in the car. I was like, you know, where are you from? You know, me, I'm a talker.
Starting point is 00:13:03 So I'm like, where are you from? And he's like, I'm from Georgia. I'm like, oh, me too. I went to Beaufort High School. And one of my teammates worked for him at Woodgrain. And he was like, oh, what was your major? I said communication studies. And he was like, oh, well, I work at this company.
Starting point is 00:13:16 Here's my card. And I was so ready to move back to Atlanta. It was full time. It had benefits. It was a salary job. Yeah. And I moved back to Atlanta. So that's probably my craziest Uber story.
Starting point is 00:13:27 Because honestly, the Ubers were pretty chill in Knoxville. I never, I drove during the day a lot. so I never really had any issues. Oh, yeah. During the day, it's safe. I don't want to throw my guy under the bus here. I'm happy he's being respectful to our lovely guest here, but Maul believes that women should not drive Uber.
Starting point is 00:13:44 At night, at night. See, he's trying to frame that like, I don't think women are good drivers. And he ended the sentence with stay in the kitchen. No, I believe that it's not safe for women to drive Uber's at night. I don't think that women should drive Uber's at night. And you said during the day, you drove. So you kind of are on my side there. I drove during
Starting point is 00:14:05 the day because I didn't want to drive at night. I'm also not the greatest driver. But during the day, it makes sense for my schedule. I will just say myself, I know a lot of women that are great drivers. But I don't, I mean,
Starting point is 00:14:21 I think anybody's at risk driving Uber at night, honestly. I see. No, for sure. But it's just like a woman picking up strangers at night. Something about that just doesn't seem right. They should be selling crown molding. From the comfort of their home and their beautiful nook and their loft. Yes, exactly.
Starting point is 00:14:38 That is what women should be doing. So looking at your backdrop, you seem like you have OCD, Andrea. Like you look like you're very like in order. It looked like if somebody takes a book off your shelf, you will notice it immediately. I saw that you have a hundred and ninety-nine career stills at Tennessee. How much is that one steal for 200 careers sitting on you like? fuck. You know what's crazy is I didn't know I had
Starting point is 00:15:04 $199, but as soon as you said that, my OCD, yeah, yeah. When I read it, I have OCD, when I read it, I was like, this has to be killing her. Yeah, that's annoying. I actually wish you wouldn't have told me that. You're going to have her suit up.
Starting point is 00:15:19 Yeah, just see one more game, Andre. Just one more. Just one more. No, no, can't do it. Cannot do it. I would get negative, like, no, can't do it now. But that 200 would have been great. Oh, man.
Starting point is 00:15:30 $199 is just like, that's like scoring 49 and coach takes you out. It's like, what are you doing? Like, I got to get this 50 ball. Speaking of Tennessee, how was it playing for the legendary, rest in peace, the legendary coat patch summit? You were actually one of her, the last signies that I think played on the coach summit. How was it playing for a legendary coach summit? Yeah, you know, Pat was amazing.
Starting point is 00:15:52 So I actually, I committed as a sophomore. Tennessee was where I knew I wanted to go. Like that was my dream school. I was recruited by Pat, got to know her, committed to her. But my senior year was, you know, when she made the announcement about her diagnosis. So my freshman year was actually her head coach emeritus year. So she was still around. Okay.
Starting point is 00:16:16 But Holly, my first four years in college were Holly Wurlick's first four years as a head coach. So it was actually an interesting transition because the coaches, you know, Pat, Deidre Charles Furlow, the coaches that I talked to the most actually weren't my coaches at Tennessee. They got the new staff and they were still great and I had an amazing time. But I can say that in getting to know Pat and spending time with her, although it wasn't necessarily coached player on the court, there was still a lot of influence and connection and closeness and a lot of love and support. I learned a lot from her just in being recruited by her. spending time in her home, spending time with her in Knoxville,
Starting point is 00:17:02 I would go watch their practices because it's a quick drive from Atlanta to Knoxville. So I would go up there a lot and I would get to watch her, obviously, before, you know, everything happened with her and her health. But it's, I never take that time for granted. And the time that I did have is still very influential for me, for sure. Love that. What was the culture difference going from Metro Atlanta up to Knoxville? I don't know. It was pretty different just in terms of the, there was more twang, there was more
Starting point is 00:17:39 country, there was more, you know, culturally that those things were different. But where I grew up in Beaufort and I grew up in Gwlett County and Flowery Branch, I had family in Atlanta and I would spend time with, you know, all of my family. But even that was more Conyers, Covington, Lithonia, like all of those areas. But for me, I think I adjusted well at Tennessee. The high school I went to was very mixed and blended. And, you know, so it wasn't, it didn't feel as much of a culture shock for me when I got to Knoxville. I hear that.
Starting point is 00:18:11 Which one of your, you know, doing analyst work and sideline work with ESPN, obviously you get to spend a lot of time around different people there. Which one of your co-host would you say has the worst take or taste in music? Like, you just hear them, you hear what they're listening to and you're like, please turn that off. You know, I couldn't tell you who has the worst because L. Duncan always has the ox. And Elle has phenomenal taste of music. Honestly, like her taste, no one ever has the ox. Like, no one has ever asked for the ox.
Starting point is 00:18:52 No one has ever, you know, Holly Roe one time asked for the ox. But it was because it was a Sunday and she wanted to play gospel of music, which we were fine with that. So you kind of got to. You got to be fine with that. You can't argue with Jesus. You can't do that. Yeah. Right.
Starting point is 00:19:04 But other than that, El Duncan always has the ox. On the men's college side, Jay Will usually has the ox and he knows what's good. So, yeah, I don't think I've gotten to experience anyone's bad taste in music because we just, we know who. What is Jay Will playing? I'll have the ox and I can match the room. Whatever, whatever the room needs, I can get there. Okay, so you read the room. You kind of see who's in there.
Starting point is 00:19:28 And you're like, okay, I can go with this artist. go with that odds. But Jay Will, I don't know. Something about Jay Will with the Ox, I'm like, he's Jersey, right? Yeah, he's also a Duky, though. But it's, I've never. I don't know if I trust Dukeies with the Oaks card. He's never played a song and I'm like, Jay Will, turn this off. Like, I can honestly say, like, he's never,
Starting point is 00:19:47 he's never just ruined it. My taste in music, I probably would say I have the most range, but that's because I listen to literally everything growing up. Like, people say they have range. And they don't. And they don't. But yeah, I would just give Elle to flip that question because I don't know who has the worst, but Elle is trusted on the odds.
Starting point is 00:20:11 I feel like Jay Will only probably listens to like Nas, Hove, Cameron, because he's older, too. So the age gap has to be different. And culturally, Jersey, I just feel like he wouldn't listen to, if you threw Crime Mob on, I feel like he'd leave the studio. That's the vibe he gives me. I never asked him to listen to. listen to crime bomb. I also feel like Coach K wouldn't allow you to listen to music. So maybe he missed
Starting point is 00:20:33 like a whole gap. No, Coach K, I heard Coach K is cool. I heard he's one that's a quiet locker room. Yeah. No, no, you can't have a quiet locker room. We're not doing a quiet locker room. It is funny though. Like we were at one of Duke's shootarounds and practices and they were playing music while they were warming up and playing all types of music. And Jay Will was like, oh, yeah, this is a little different. Like when they warmed up, it was like, you know, when you're like, one, two, three, you're counting out loud and that was your... Yeah, because Coach K's a military. He's a military guy, so everything has to be kind of like, you know... I do think maybe locker room had music, but the on-court has evolved for, from what I've been told at Duke.
Starting point is 00:21:14 Do you remember when Diana Ross double-tap little Kim's boobs at the VMAs? Or when Kanye said that George Bush didn't like black people. I know what you're thinking. What the hell does George Bush got to do with Little Kim? Yeah. Well, you can find that. out on the Look Back at it podcast. I'm Sam Jett.
Starting point is 00:21:29 And I'm Alex English. Each episode, we pick it here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. Including a recent episode with Mark Lamont Hill, waxing all about crack in the 80s. To be clear, 84 is big to me, not just because of crack. I'm down to talk about crack all day, but just so you all know. I mean, at this point, Mark, this is the second episode where we've discussed crack. So I'm starting to see that there's a through line. We also have AIDS on the table right now.
Starting point is 00:21:56 Thank you for finishing that sentence. I don't think there's a more important year for black people. Really? Yeah. For me, it's one of the most important years for black people in American history. Listen to look back at it on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. A win is a win. A win is a win.
Starting point is 00:22:16 I don't care what I'm saying. Yep, that's me, Clever Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, the reactions, my journey from basketball to college football, or my career in sports media. Well, somewhere along the way, this platform became bigger than I ever imagined. And now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show.
Starting point is 00:22:35 This is a place for raw, unfiltered conversations with some of your favorite athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. One week, I'll take you behind the scenes of the biggest moments in sports and entertainment, and the next we'll talk about life, mental health, purpose, and even music.
Starting point is 00:22:52 The Clifford Show isn't just a podcast. It's a space. For honest conversations, stories that don't always get told, and for people who are chasing something bigger. So, if you've ever supported me or you're just chasing down a dream, this is right where you need to be. Listen to The Clifford Show on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Hey, I'm Jared Adano. You might know me as that loud guy who yells out, help on the internet.
Starting point is 00:23:21 Help! Somebody! Please! But there's so much more to me than that. I'm an actor. I'm a comedian, and recently I've become quite the helper myself. And on my new podcast, Hope from a Hypocrite, I'll be changing lives, helping people in need with my sage advice and thoughtful solutions.
Starting point is 00:23:40 Sike, I'm a comedian. I'm not qualified to give good advice. Join me and my comedian friends as we riff, rant, recommend some of the most legally dubious advice known to man. If I'm calling you, even if you're, On your phone, let it ring twice. One ring is too scary. Cream a chicken suit.
Starting point is 00:23:59 Hey, cream a chicken suit. This is Help from a Hypocrite, the worst advice from the dumbest people you know. Listen to Help from Hypocrite as part of the Mike Coutura Podcast Network available on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're watching the latest season of the Real Housewives of Atlanta, you already know there's a lot to break down.
Starting point is 00:24:23 accusing Kelly of sleeping with a merry man. They holding Kay Michelle back from fighting Drew. Pinky has financial issues. I like the boogie style of Housewives show. I think it looks like it's going to be interesting. On the podcast, Reality with the King, I, Carlos King,
Starting point is 00:24:39 recap the biggest moments from your favorite reality shows, including the Real Housewives franchise. The drama, the alliances, and the team everybody's talking about. As an executive producer in reality television, I'm not just watching it. understand the game. As somebody who creates shows, I'll even say this. At the end of the day,
Starting point is 00:25:00 when people are at home, they want entertainment. To hear this and more, listen to Reality with the King on the IHard Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcast. How much has the women's side of the NCAA, obviously with Caitlin Clark and Angel Reese having their quote-unquote rivalry. I think what they did for women's basketball is amazing on both levels, college and WMBA. I think that they've brought in a whole different audience. But as somebody that's played and now on the sideline watching it, how do you think they've been able to elevate and impact, first of all, the audience and just the way the game is played? Yeah, I think just the the game has grown so much.
Starting point is 00:25:50 And I do think the growth in audience and the way that now it is known and trusted that these players are marketable. And these players will sell whatever product you want them to sell. Like these players and these women are that talented and they're that good and people are that interested in these players on and off the court. Like I think that's probably you don't weed now. We don't have to convince whether it's brands or investors or people buying ads. We don't have to convince them that it is worth buying this or worth investing in this. I think that's, you know, we actually have people wanting in. They want to be involved and they want to know more.
Starting point is 00:26:35 And whether it's even shows, like different shows on ESPN now want women's basketball topics. Right. And more people want in and more people recognize the skills. the value, the talent, the marketability, all of that. So it's been incredible. You know, like I've talked about how a few seasons ago I could go through March Madness and not have many requests outside of the shows that we're doing. And now we're moving through March Madness and it's like, oh, well, this show wants you at this time.
Starting point is 00:27:07 And then can you hop on Good Morning America early in the morning? And can you hop on first take and get up? And, you know, there's a want there and there's an interest there. And I think it was always growing. And I think, you know, that moment with Caitlin and with Angel and that final four and that national championship and all of that and how it's carried over, it's just exploded. And now the wheel is turning and supporting itself. You know, like before it would be like, well, people don't want to invest because there's not that much visibility. If they aren't sure if I'm going to get a return now, there is visibility.
Starting point is 00:27:41 The fans are engaged. And there's investment. and the talent is absolutely ridiculous. So everything is clicking. Yeah, everything's. Yeah, actually the women's, I believe the women's championship game had more viewers than the men's last year, correct? I think so.
Starting point is 00:27:58 Which is crazy. I can't remember the exact number. It wasn't, I mean, high millions. Like, not 20 million, but it was up there. It was very, was it 19 million? I don't want to get that wrong. It was close. I think it was 18 for sure.
Starting point is 00:28:11 I think it was little over 18 million. It was an insane number. Absolutely. Have you chosen a side yet, LeBron James or Stephen A. Smith? I mean, you know, I just let them hash it out. That's between Stephen A and LeBron. That doesn't have anything to do with me. As a broadcaster, though, I mean, we discuss it on our podcast, too, because we go through similar things. We do have relationships with artists and labels or whatever. So we run into stuff like that as well.
Starting point is 00:28:42 but we still need to be able to speak freely because we talk every day about the genre. Do you think broadcasters will hold back a little bit more now now that LeBron is confronting people courtside? I don't know if broadcasters will hold back. I just think, like I know for me personally as a broadcaster, I always just have to make sure what I'm saying is coming from the right place.
Starting point is 00:29:12 Like it's that it's not personal. It's coming from a place of I'm calling it how I see it. Like I'm very much one to if I see a team doing one thing and I call it out and then they change it. I'll be sure to acknowledge the change and acknowledge the improvement and acknowledge that because when I do have to stand in front of a team or I do have to stand in front of a coach that I've spoken about, I can stand strong on my foundation that I'm just calling it how I see it. You know? And I think that maybe this situation. and players calling out broadcasters or LeBron calling out Stephen A. I hope it brings an awareness to everyone that you could get called out.
Starting point is 00:29:50 And if you do get called out, you need to make sure, or you should make sure that you can stand on what you said. And the reason that you said what you said was valid and not personal or not trying to get off on something else, if that makes sense. Like that's kind of my take on all of this because it's not an easy place to be. There are a lot of people who can say a lot of things and never have to face it. the athlete. They never have to face the artist. You know, but I picked final four teams. And unless I get my final four right, I will be interviewing teams that I didn't think they were going to make it in. And so I have to stand on my reasoning for why I didn't think that and then give them credit for making it final four. So it's, it is a tricky place to be. But it's, yeah,
Starting point is 00:30:36 I think just trusting where your information and opinion comes from and standing on that has been the biggest thing. Have you avoided any huddles before based off some things you've said in the past? I've definitely skipped concerts that I wanted to go to because I was like, eh, I said some crazy shit. I probably shouldn't go over there. Yeah, I wanted to go to the pop out myself, but they wouldn't let me go. Definitely. It is. No, they had your picture up. No, I haven't, I haven't avoided anything, luckily. I think it would give me, I think the only way I would avoid anything is if I said something that didn't come from a good place. Like, if I, most of my, I haven't, I, most of my, I, everything I say is from analysis.
Starting point is 00:31:13 It's because I've watched it and I feel it and I believe it. And if I'm right, I'm right. And if I'm wrong, I'm okay with being wrong. So for me, I've never had to avoid anyone. There have been some situations where I'm like, hey, I didn't think y'all were going to make it. Congratulations. Right? Or like, I didn't think that because of this.
Starting point is 00:31:29 Or, you know, but I've never, I haven't had to avoid anything. I think I would only avoid it if I knew I was in the wrong or it came from a bad place. And I haven't, you know, I've been fortunate enough where. You know, because I think sometimes people, not saying that you did this, but sometimes people just get really caught up and then they just say something that maybe they didn't actually think about. I do that all the time. It's fine. I love doing that.
Starting point is 00:31:49 I love doing that. That's actually like the theme of the podcast. Yeah. No, that's not me. So I never had a situation where I've had to be like, hey, I did not mean to say that. I'm really sorry. Like everything that has been very much what I've seen, what I've watched, what I feel. Is there like a secret kind of, I guess,
Starting point is 00:32:10 beef could be the word between because what I've noticed over the last years and I absolutely love it is that more and more former players and athletes are getting these analyst jobs and getting these jobs with these you know these spots on ESPN is there like a little beef between writers and like former players who are now coming in and taking these analyst jobs because I love the fact that you have former players that are able to speak from actually playing the game and actually being in these situations when it comes to, whether it's March Madness or the NBA playoffs versus a writer that's just great at just, you know, writing things about players and teams. And it's like, yeah, but you've never
Starting point is 00:32:51 been in that situation, which I also think is a big part of Stephen A and LeBron's thing. I think that the fact that Stephen A isn't a player or former player, and he speaks about former players the way he does and, you know, things like that. I think that had a lot to do with LeBron's being upset about what he said. But is there like a little, kind of like tension between writers and former players coming and getting these analyst jobs? I've never experienced any tension on the writer's side. I do think that sometimes as an analyst or as a former player, you know, I'll run into a coach or somebody that is very mad about something that a writer put out.
Starting point is 00:33:33 And for me, I'm like, I didn't write that. Like I didn't or I either agree or I don't agree or this is what I think about that. So I have found myself explaining or catching heat for something that's been put out on as an article. Right. But that's that's not how I feel. Right. And so there are there are writers for ESPN that write their opinion and they write their analysis. And sometimes people look at us as the on air and they're like looking at us sideways because of something that came out.
Starting point is 00:34:03 But it's not that wasn't my work. That wasn't my analysis. It wasn't my take. But I don't I don't know. There's no beef on my end. but I don't have very much beef at all. But it is interesting to have different perspectives coming from different outlets. And hopefully the people at home can decide whose opinion or analysis they trust more.
Starting point is 00:34:26 But there are definitely more opinions, more pieces of analysis than there ever has been, especially on the women's side. Like more people want to speak on the women's game and give their thoughts and give their opinions. and a lot of them don't have as much contextual knowledge or historical knowledge as others. And so I think really, if there was beef, it would be from the audience and them deciding who they want to listen to because there's just a lot of noise
Starting point is 00:34:54 and there are a lot of takes that there haven't been before. But now that it is March Madness, who are some of the players that you're looking at and as a former player yourself saying, damn, I wish I had the opportunity to match up against her? I mean, I don't, I don't know if I want to match up against any of these players. Not like these, these players, these women are so talented. Like I haven't once, I've maybe thought of maybe how I would try to guard them or just try to make life difficult on some players.
Starting point is 00:35:30 But for me, like, those players are really just when it comes down to it, the ones I enjoy watching the most. Like I find myself more fascinated by how talented they are and how skilled they are. And as someone that couldn't do a lot of the moves that I'm seeing, I'm not thinking about how to defend them. I'm thinking about how they do them. Like, how do you do that? That is so much harder than people think it is. Like, I don't think people at home understand the degree of difficulty of some of these moves
Starting point is 00:36:03 and how quickly these players, it's almost like, instinct. Like, it is not easy to do a crossover and then switch your feet into a step back and then go right into your shot. Like, that's, that type of stuff is not easy. It's not easy to go off your same foot because it's natural to go off your opposite one, go off the same side leg because you're trying to miss time a block from the defender that's like to me, I, I rarely think about matching up with them because I'm really thinking about like how good they are. Like, it was, it's, so much fun. Like Juju, Paige, Myelage, to full Wiley with how crafty she is. Like,
Starting point is 00:36:43 it would be fun to try to defend them and to try to make life hard on them. But to me, they have the advantage because of how good they are with the ball. Like those are the players that manipulate the defense. Like, you know how as a defender you want to dictate the offensive player? That was my main job at Tennessee was to guard the best player, dictate what she does on offense, take away her tendencies, take away her strengths. Like that was my role.
Starting point is 00:37:10 And these players now dictate the defense. And that's fun for me to watch. This is the girl that plays at Rutgers. Is it Kiomi, McMiller? Yes. Her game is absolutely insane. Like, I don't know if y'all have ever seen this girl play. The shit she's doing is like this is NBA 2K Street.
Starting point is 00:37:36 Jam. Created player. Like, she's doing things that, honestly, if, I would see a men's player doing that and a coach pulling them out the game. Because it's like,
Starting point is 00:37:46 she's doing stuff that's like, you're not supposed to be doing that. Yeah. This is like college basketball. This is not the park. Her game. Skip to my loo. On another level, though.
Starting point is 00:37:55 Like, her game is absolutely like, and I saw her, a friend of mine, he's a scout for the Brooklyn Nets. And he played college in pro ball. And he sent me one of her highlight rails. And I'm like,
Starting point is 00:38:05 I couldn't believe what she was doing at the collegiate level. Also, Jujo is another one of my favorite players to watch. I think that she's obviously along with Caitlin and Angel and Jujo, what they've been able to do for women's collegiate basketball is to me. It made me want to honestly watch women's college basketball a lot more. And I grew up watching it. Shemika Holesclaw from New York City, a Tennessee volunteer. She was another one of the players that I like growing up. on up. But now that it is March Maddis, who are the teams that you're looking at,
Starting point is 00:38:41 Andrea, like, okay, these are the four teams to beat? How many teams? Obviously, South Carolina. Like, the way that Don Staley has depth and talent and more than 40 points coming off of her bench, there's just many teams who can match that. Like, you might play well against the starting five, but whoever's coming in next because your starting five is going to get tired. Whoever's coming in, Don has more starters coming in.
Starting point is 00:39:09 Coach Staley has more, she has another starting unit. So I think the South Carolina, any team that wants to beat South Carolina would have to make a ton of shot. Like there's just such little room for error going against South Carolina.
Starting point is 00:39:24 You have to make the most of every opportunity because of the depth that they have. I'm really interested in, I've said, whoever comes out of the USC Yukon region, which I just can't stand that they're in the same because I think that is a final four matchup. It's not a state matchup.
Starting point is 00:39:43 It's too early in the bracket. But that team, I'm really interested in it being their time to make a run. UCLA is interesting. They have 6-7. They have the size and they have shooters around her. It was Carolyn Peck, I believe, who made the point that UCLA Lash, UCLA this year is similar to South Carolina last year in terms of South Carolina at Camilla Cardoso, who was the anchor, she was 6, 7, and it was so hard to compete with
Starting point is 00:40:15 that in the middle. Yeah. But then you ground that player with a ton of talent. That's what UCLA has. UCLA hasn't been there before. So that's going to be interesting. How do they handle that moment? And I'm interested in Texas and TCU and Notre Dame who comes out of that region.
Starting point is 00:40:31 So those would be probably the teams I'm looking at the most. Is there any team who you feel like people need to pay attention to in this women's tournament? A team that many people may not be speaking about, but as a former player and as analysts, you're looking at like they have pieces and they're not afraid and they might upset one of these bigger programs. Yeah, Florida State is the team. I mean, they have the best score in the nation in tonight, Latson. They've got Timson on the inside who's a workhorse. They're a team that upset Notre Dame at Notre Dame.
Starting point is 00:41:07 And, I mean, Sinaii Latson is putting up 25. She's averaging 25 points a game. So she's the type of player that you let her go off. She is someone that has led the country in scoring all season. And they haven't had as much success as a team, but I don't think people have talked about her enough. TCU is a team that has a big three, this Haley Van Liff and what she's been able to do with that team.
Starting point is 00:41:33 the pick and roll game. They have 6-7 on the inside. So they're a really interesting team to me. I had my eye on Kentucky as a team because Kenny Brooks led Virginia Tech to a final four. And he is an excellent coach. Him and his point guard are very connected. His point guard is a WMBA draft pick
Starting point is 00:41:54 that a lot of coaches have talked to me about when it comes to going to the W. Georgia Amor is her name. I was interested in that team. until I saw that they were in USC and Yukon's bracket and then I was like, yeah, it's going to be tough to get past that. That one might be tough.
Starting point is 00:42:13 But yeah, I think Florida State is a very interesting. LSU is always interesting, and I know people talk about LSU a lot, but the way that Flagee Johnson and Annesomoro and Michaela Williams, when I talk about a big three, like those three, they all average 15.
Starting point is 00:42:27 And then Flage and Michaela Williams, they can go get a bucket at any time. Yeah, there are so many teams. NC State made a run last year. They've got really dynamic guards. So, yeah, it's, I could keep going. So it sounds like you like South Carolina again and Yukon.
Starting point is 00:42:49 If I had to pick a national championship, it's, it is, I would say the line is so thin between Yukon and USC. But there is something about being there before. And almost everyone on this Yukon team has been there before. And even the players that come up the bench, even the role players, they know what it takes. And that, to me, they have a little more experience from the guard position. Their pieces fit. Juju is phenomenal. She is, you know, incredible.
Starting point is 00:43:25 I just think it would take a lot. But I would honestly love to see either of them in the Final Four. But if I had to pick two, I would say. South Carolina, Yukon for the national championship. Before we get out of here, I do want to end with some music questions. We did a versus series with Pac-Man, who's also from Georgia. So I wanted to do an iteration of that with you. You named TI as being one of your favorites, but you also named Ludacris.
Starting point is 00:43:54 You have to pick one out of these two. T.I. or Ludacris. I just have to pick an artist right now. Yep. We're going to go through a list, and it's a versus. Which one you taking? T.I. or Ludacris? Wow.
Starting point is 00:44:14 Ludacris. Interesting. After all the T.I. talk, I thought we go that way. And you know what's funny? We talk about ludicrous a lot and him not being spoken about more. So it is dope to hear you pick ludicrous in that scenario. He deserves his lover. I could just see him like, I don't know, just way more energy with it.
Starting point is 00:44:34 Like, you know, when you talk about a versus or a moment, like, I'm going, like. Absolutely crazy. Yeah. This one might get you jammed up because you said you're from Gwinnett County. Migos or Outcast? Oh. Yeah, I'm still going Outcast. But that's a good one.
Starting point is 00:44:55 I like Andrea. See, I like her. But I don't know she'll be allowed back home for Thanksgiving. That's all right. I like the fact that she went Outcast on that one. I like that. Future Young Thug. This is my...
Starting point is 00:45:08 All right, Andrea, see, this is going to tell me a lot about you in a personal life. Why are you picking a future? Why are you listening to future? I have just, honestly, they're not too, they're not two artists that I listen to often, but I can say I've listened to future more. So like if you're just asking me to pick between the two, I would have to go, yeah, I'd have to go a future. I've just listened to, you know, like my time coming up in,
Starting point is 00:45:38 Oxford College when we were going out and we were outside and we were like future was the only thing playing. And you can play different future song from a different future album every 30 minutes while you were in the club or at the bar. So for me when I'm thinking about my experiences, it would be future. Yeah. Yeah, it would be future. Last question before we get out here. Do you have a top five get ready for the game playlist? What would be on it?
Starting point is 00:46:10 Five songs. Get ready for the game. Yeah. Locker room, shoot around, yeah. When I was playing? Just in general. It could be now for other athletes or what you did at that time. Yeah, like if you had to make the playlist for the championship game and like, all right,
Starting point is 00:46:30 this is what teams are listening to in their locker rooms. What are the five songs, Andre is like, all right, ladies, this is what we're listening to before we hit the floor. what are the five songs? Five songs? Well, I probably go tweaking because everybody loves that song. Andre, you're about to make me walk off the step, man. I hate that fucking record.
Starting point is 00:46:56 Mall is the only person that hates that song. I hate that song. Why do you hate that song? Because it just sounds like Chat. GPT wrote it and somebody said 98 cash money. Give me a 98 cash money record. They smoked it. Yeah, but I, but I just sounds like Chat, Gpti wrote it from.
Starting point is 00:47:08 Yeah. No, it's just not, it doesn't feel authentic. You don't think it feels authentic? Not at all. No. What is it the sound of it or is it the words? A little bit of both. Oh, you can understand them. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:47:22 Oh, I just like the melody. See? I see, and that's the problem right there. I know, whoa, whoa. You can honestly say you listen to the song and you don't want to go, whoa, whoa. Yeah. You never want to do that. It's great.
Starting point is 00:47:31 You never want to. No, Andrea. Well, luckily this playlist is for you. It's for everyone else that. But okay, I respect it. Tweed go. Okay, I respect it. Hey, this is, this is, I honestly, I'm not, you are way more versed probably in the new were
Starting point is 00:47:48 rap music. Yeah. So I would say, why don't you give me one to listen to my next show? Nuck if you buck out the gate, right? What is it? Nuck if you buck for sure. Oh, I thought you wanted it for right, like, no, just in general. Any of your, any songs that you pay.
Starting point is 00:48:05 No, what you would like. Oh, nook if you buck has to be on it. we some players for sure um if i'm going with i would probably pick a ti song okay hmm the one i loved the most growing up was probably one of his most popular ones and you don't know me because sing every single word that's my shit that's my shit um trying to think that might be five yeah we're a good four well yeah we're a good four well yeah if we count Jello. Oh, if we count Tweaking?
Starting point is 00:48:45 Yeah, that's five then. You see how Tweaking just don't sound right in that mix? You don't think it goes with Nuck if you, but? I think it works. I was trying to go with. I thought you all wanted songs like right now. No, just your five. Yeah, either.
Starting point is 00:48:56 Or. And just your five that you would say, all right, this is what, this is what we playing in the locker room. Mm-hmm. Yeah, those three, Nuck if you buck. We some players.
Starting point is 00:49:06 Some players. Probably. Probably. Like, if I, stuck with TI, bring them out. Okay. That makes sense. I'll give you two crime mom, two TI songs to give this wave of pop players songs to listen to.
Starting point is 00:49:24 And then tweaking because they know that one, that's fine. Bring them out makes sense coming out of the line. First rap song that says Albuquerque in it. So that makes absolute. Albuquerque to Chattown. Yeah. Classic. Yeah.
Starting point is 00:49:37 Classic. Classic record. Absolutely. And I have so much respect for you that we. finally gave prime mob their flowers today. I feel like we did some justice here and someone finally brought them up because they don't get brought up enough,
Starting point is 00:49:49 especially with Atlanta music. So I'm very happy that you mentioned them out the gate. I did not expect that. It was like the last one that I thought you'd say, but I'm very happy. Anything else? No, that's it. Andre,
Starting point is 00:50:00 thank you for kicking it with us. We absolutely don't know Bob, but we feel like we learned a little bit more today in talking to you. So we appreciate the time. And have fun during March Madness. Don't let them work you too hard. Don't let any players walk up.
Starting point is 00:50:12 on you. We got your back. Just call us, let us know. We'll pull up and hold you down. But it's been a pleasure talking to you. And congratulations on everything that you're doing. We'll be watching out for you and supporting you along the way. Thank you. I appreciate y'all so much. And I'm using all your picks for my bets. So if it doesn't work out, we're going to have to do another episode. And there's going to be some tension. Let me know. Let me know how it goes. Rory and all don't know ball. That was Andrea Carter. Thank you very much. On the Look Back at it podcast
Starting point is 00:50:44 In 1979, that was a big moment for me 84 was big to me I'm Sam Jay And I'm Alex English Each episode we pick a year unpack what went down And try to make sense of how we survived it With our friends, fellow comedians
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Starting point is 00:51:12 A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor the 4th. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media.
Starting point is 00:51:25 Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifers Show. This is a place for raw, unfills of conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to the Cliford Show
Starting point is 00:51:39 on the IHeard Radio app, Apple Podcast, podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. American soccer is about to explode. The World Cup is coming. Ramers sending on to Ernie Stewart the chip. Score! I'm Tom Bowker. On our podcast, inside American soccer, you'll get the real storylines, the biggest decisions, and the truth about the U.S. national team.
Starting point is 00:52:09 It wouldn't be a huge surprise if our team ends up in the quarter. or finals are potentially a great run into the semifinals. Listen, Inside American Soccer with Tom Bogart and Tabramos on the IHeart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, wherever you get your podcast. Will Ferrell's Big Money Players and IHeart Podcast presents soccer moms. So I'm Leanne. Yeah. This is my best friend, Janet. Hey.
Starting point is 00:52:30 And we have been joined at the hips since high school. Absolutely. A redacted amount of years later, we're still joined at the hip. Just a little bit bigger hips. This is a podcast. We're recording it as we tailgate our youth soccer games in the back. of my Honda Odyssey With all the snacks and drinks.
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