June 19, 2025 • 26 mins
Rob and Kelvin lament the fact that these NBA Finals still don’t have any real buzz as the Oklahoma City Thunder find themselves on the brink of a championship, tell us if it’s fair to compare Oklahoma City Thunder forward Jalen Williams to Scottie Pippen, and tell us if it’s imperative for sports figures and organizations like the Los Angeles Dodgers to speak up on social and political issues.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
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Speaker 2 (00:19):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Game six potential close eye game for the Thunder tipping
off in about ninety minutes. Everybody's excited about it, we think,
or so we've been told, but maybe not the casual
NBA fan because we've been talking about this for weeks now,
and these NBA Finals unless you are a die hard
basketball fan, just have not rated in any kind of way,
(00:47):
shape or form.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
No matter how you fudge the numbers.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
Because you know, the other thing is, we haven't had
an NBA press release since that one. We had another one,
like you remember when they came out trying to diffuse
the what.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
It was but the viewers eighteen to thirty four and
what the young said.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Since then, we haven't seen anything. They couldn't even do that.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
So, guys, through five games in this series, the finals
are averaging just over nine million viewers on ABC. That's
down nineteen percent from last year's Finals, which ended in
five games. Recalled, bost was up three to zero in
that series, so that one was even. But there's no
reason for people to watch, right, So that would make
(01:27):
this series outside of the bubble by far the lowest
rated in the Nielsen era. And here's the worst part
about it, guys. This year's NBA Finals is the first
time that Nielsen has this expanded out of his own
viewing measurement, which.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Said never used they look.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
It used to be there are people at sports bars
that don't count, you know, all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
So now they're including that, and it's still low and
it's still the worst outside of the bubble in NBA history.
Of guys, to make it even worse, especially tonight, Monti
mentioned Tyre's hallow and he's banged up. His CAP's giving
a lot of problems. He's gonna give it a go,
but he's clearly limited. All signs points are okay, see
big Lee Tonay.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
And here here's why this is the worst case scenario.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Just what Monty said, like it's word, we started small
market uh players that people don't know like the casual
right that the names we know him if you follow
basketball and you watch the NBA, but Sga, Halla Burnon,
they did not household name.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
So that was number two. Number three.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
If Sga who had this incredible season and is the
MVP and can't get people juiced up off of, like
what season? And what would he have to do to
get people jacked up about him? Is what I'm saying,
Like this was the year you're coming out party.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
People should know who you are.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
And then the kicker is the one guy who made
Indiana viable with all the great shots and moments of
this twenty five twenty twenty five postseason. Now he's not
even really available for the biggest game, which is to
try to force a Game seven, and then who knows
(03:16):
if he'd be able to play.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
That's why this is the worst case scenario.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Everything is bad for the NBA small markets not having
the big marquee names.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
As far as players.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Your MVP and star for one team, people really don't
know despite all he's accomplished this year. And lastly, the
hero of the postseason is now banged up and can't
be himself.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
It is the worst case Well, I think sometimes things
are coming right down the pipeline. There's nothing you can
do about it. It's an inevitability. And when you got
Lebron and Luca Locke kicked out not only their names
but also the name of which we just spent time
talking about yesterday because they were sold for tim billion
dollars the Lakers. When you're going, okay, least we have
the raining champs. They should do their part, they should
(04:04):
get to the finals. Okay, at least we'll have a
big mark, bigger market in Boston, and then we'll have
the raining chance for that storyline, A legacy and blue
Blood and the Celtics. They get kicked out, and then
you're all right, well, shoot, maybe there's a long shot.
Jimmy Butler now a warrior and they've been playing very
well with him a boom.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
They get knocked out.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So the star power having Steph and Jimmy and Draymond
has gone, the familiarity of the warrior. So this is
one of those things. It was coming down the pipeline.
We saw it coming. You and I had discussions about it,
and now here we are. But if you're the NBA,
A couple of things to know one, you've been here before.
You've had you know, the seasons where we talked about it.
You beat it up to nauseum, you keep bringing it up.
The Spurs have been in you know, some of the
(04:42):
three lowest rated finals.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
You know, you had the nets, you had.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
So it happens where you get these finals that are down,
people aren't watching, and then hopefully you bounce back with
something good, something juicy. And I think what also is
in favor Number one, you got the Lakers being sold
because now maybe the Lakers are able to do some
things which being some juice ac well, I mean that's
what the that's what that ownership has done, you know that,
you know. Covering the Dodgers also, I think they have
(05:08):
come become where some of the real juice like other
sports like soccer or football as the world calls it, Uh,
it's some of the movement of stars that you're blown
away or moving.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
NFL.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Every now and again you get some big stars moving,
a quarterback or two. They the move and you're like, oh, shoot,
Aaron Rodgers the talk of the summer, and to see
where he ends up now with the Steelers. So if
Giannis gets out there, if KD starts to becoming the
move and becomes a spur or a rocket. I think
that is where they also get some juice during the offseason.
So I think the NBA has also become where now
(05:41):
the movement of big time players adds a little bit
of flair and juice to the summer. But as far
as his finals, yeah, I mean there's nothing you can do.
SGA has been in the top what two to three
finals MVP picks finalists the last few years till he
fining won it.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
This year.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
You got a team that's an all time defensive team,
at all time point differential team.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
But the thing that hurts and you really continue.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
You can look at it as if this were John Morant,
if this were Anthony Edwards. So far as young guys,
the difference is they play above the rim each night.
You're saying, I may see something you hardly see jumping
literally jumping over guys dunking on him or Edwards. He's
shot he more threes than anybody in the NBA. He
goes nine to ten into three point from the three
(06:24):
point line. Something that's spectacular. Something you know, he's jawing
with people, he's talking smack with fans, there's something to it, SGA.
It works to the disadvantage that he's the model of consistency.
You're just gonna get thirty points every night, quietly, some
mid range jump shots, some free throws, good defense, no issues,
no arguing with the refs. I'm gonna go about my business.
(06:45):
And that is great for him. It's gonna get him
a bunch of money. He's gonna make him in All
NBA several times over. But for the fans and for
the juice, you don't get anything with that. And Haler
Burton is inconsistent, too inconsistent to be that superstar because
during the regular seas dissipate here disappeared in the regular
season for twenty games because he's just you know, eighteen
and six, and that's nothing spectacular about that until this
(07:06):
postseason run. So yeah, this is you didn't hope for it,
but you hope that you get to bounce back next
season and that the summer is interesting with trades and
and free agency.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
Good look, just I hear you with all that, but
it's still about market size and people are regionalized.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
People in New York.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Once the Knicks got knocked out, not interested people in
Boston once l like, this is a reality. If you
don't have anybody who's really compelling, that's that's the issue.
I mean, we can sit here and go like, oh
I love ball, Okay, bout it's the square gun. Don't
don't I know Nick fans because I'm friends from people
in New York, they're not watching.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Not after the Knicks got knocked out. They were totally
turned off.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
It was it was their team that lost to that team.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
And they like, I'm not I can't watch, you know
what I mean, And you wind up losing people.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
It's a it's a tough one. It's a tough and
we kind of it's nothing. There's nothing you can do.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
You try.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Like they're interviewing Mike Epps as we speak, because he's
the big Vegas, Indiana Pacer fan aging muster up. If
this were the Knicks, can you imagine all the you know,
all the fans, they have, all the stars, so let
you can.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Be juiced up.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Who look at all these people there and all of that.
This is the best we got, is Mike EPs.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
Dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Jalen Wims, of course a big wing, defensive minded wing,
and he's clearly the number two behind the superstar player
in SGA, so naturally the comparison has always been, well,
he could be Scotty to SGA's Michael.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
That's gonna be the comparison.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
For his part, Jalen Wims was asked about He's a
very flattered, you know, kind of downplayed it a little
bit when they asked Scotty directly, though, in credit to
ESPN forgetting him on the record, here's what he said.
He is pretty special. I'm enjoying watching him. I see
a lot of me and him, for sure. I see
a guy rising to be one of the top players
in this league. He's definitely a player that is capable
of being able to lead the franchise to multiplechampionships, him
(09:00):
and Shay and I don't even want to put a
cap on him to say that he's going to be me,
because I see him being greater.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
So first off, I want to say shout out to
Pippen for not being just a naturally defensive person although
he was on the court to be like, oh, well,
you know, I mean he got he I don't know
if he can be me, but I see he's pretty good.
Like the idea that he could possibly be better than me.
Him saying that is really, you know, refreshing to here.
He has a long way to go because Pippen did
(09:29):
it for a very long time, and obviously.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Jay Louis, I'm glad you said that. You know, that's
a bald statement, and we'll see.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
But I will say, Rob, it's one of those things
where if I told you this skinny kid who you
know was a three pick would be the greatest of
all time for North Carolina, and then it happens, Right,
if I told you this other skinny kid would be
drafted at seventeen years old and would be the closest
thing to Michael Jordan and Kobe Yeah, right, a high
school kid. So it does happen where you kind of go,
I don't know about that, And then it could potentially
be he has the makings. He's defensive minded, he's team oriented,
(10:01):
he doesn't mind that. I know for sure I have
the guy that's better than me in front of me,
and I'm okay with that. And he comes out and
he can score. So to me, he has the making.
And this is also partly why I said it the
other day, if they're able to stick together for a
handful of years. When you get two defensive minded wings
who can score like this, we've seen kind of the
(10:21):
formula and Jordan and Pippin and Lebron and d Wade
and Lebron and Kyrie of guys who can Klay Thompson
and stuff. When you get two wings like this who
can lock in together and are that dynamic, you can
have a run Jayalen Brown and Jason Tatum where you
can have a run of a successful five, six, seven,
eight years, And so they have the making for that. Again,
a long way to go, but physically, attitude wise and
(10:44):
want and will power.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
I think Jaylen Williams has to do that.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
And that's what makes his Oklahoma City Thunder team scary
because you always there's a bunch of stars and talented
guys and SGA looks like gonna be a MVP candidate
for five, six, seven years. But when you have that
second guy that's locked in and is that good and
only getting better and entering into his prime here in
a little bit, that's a scary combination.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
I just have just an issue with them. It's just
way premature. It's just I get it. I want something
to talk about or throw it out there, and I
always bring up the Devin Bookers, Kobe Bryant, and Chris
paul Is in the top three now point guards. And
he just passed like like that was a real conversation, right,
(11:25):
senator around.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Oh okay with the CP than the Booker. No, but
but the Booker one was there?
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Am I right? Was that not the conversation? Yeah? People
just trying to project yeah.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
Yeah, like he oh no, he's the next Kobe or
what really? Like like seriously, and I get it. You
want to make comparisons, try to throw it out there,
be the first one to say it, you know.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
But you got to be careful with that kind of stuff.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
We know, Chris on this radio show that Patrick Mahomes
was Jordan esk. I don't I don't know if he
could really after last year's loss or whatever, do you
know what I mean? But but does he feel the
same as he did off his first three years?
Speaker 4 (12:02):
I don't think he does. Is that fair? Ish?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
It's fair because I only it's rob super Bowl at
so I get that's why I said this age.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
I get he's not putting up forty fifty times. That's
what the first three years want to say. Jordan Ess,
the numbers match the winning. The numbers don't match the winning.
Now do you see what I'm saying. So I'm not
taking anything away from him. He also got his butt
kicked in the Super Bowl, like like there it's starting,
Michael Jordan never got his butt kicked.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I'm just saying.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
So that's the one thing about Mike that's gonna be
hard to careys that he never literally never lost, and
it wasn't even Game seven.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
And that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
The early start of that was that he was Jordanesque,
and I just don't think that that applies. As time
is going on and there's some chinks in the armor,
I still think he's jordan Esque.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Has said heavy on the esque, just because it's the style,
it's the way, it's the kind of the Bravado doing something.
And he's throwing no look passes, he's doing behind the backpack.
He just left hand, right hand. That's not that's not Jordan's.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
But that was Jordan.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
The first little bit, remember the first Jordan was flying
through the air Tony doing stuff.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Sixty three, and.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Then it became so he kind of did the opposite
where he started with the winning and had the flare,
and now he's in the Jordan fader era where it's
just gonna be in the fishing thirty and I might
not have the crazy flying through the air stuff like
I did. You might get mid rains for the rest,
you know, in your face all night. I really want
to see what like it could be. Don't if you
bring up the nine year gap Homemable doesn't win again.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
You lucky.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
You had to start this segment with love and peace
because otherwise I'll jump over this table on you right now.
All right, but and uh so the conversation too is
just preamature.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Yeah that's fair.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
But I think quick last point I think while we
got here is because there was a point, especially if
you all we all recall we're all sitting home or
in quarantine watching the Last Dance where everyone acknowledged, including
the Pistons who they had a tart time to get passed.
They were like, oh, once Scottie Pippin became Scottie Pippen,
we knew it was a rap because the first couple
(14:13):
of years we played the bulls. We knew, all right, Mike,
go Mike, as long as we put our Jordan rules
on him and we'll win.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
And I think that's what we're witnessing.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
We're now the arrival of Jalen Williams, which is why
this conversation became warranted, because he has arrived and he's
a beast twenty five was it twenty seven forty? And
who knows what he's gonna do here in the next
twenty minutes or so. And that's why we got to
this point where he oh, it's pipping, like, oh, he
has he arrived. Now where I got my solidified Robin.
(14:40):
Y'all better buckle up, And I think that's why we're here.
And the conversation becomes can he become one of the
best twos? The number two? We got to solidify one
in SGA. Can he be the best number two? And
who are those lists of best number twos?
Speaker 4 (14:53):
You know?
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Is it Lebron and Kyrie? Because I think we both
agree Shaq and Kobe. Once Kobe we became co he
was one A one B that was he wasn't quite
no such.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Thing somebody's gotta be a b I'm sorry you mean it. Two. Yeah,
somebody gotta be Yeah. There's no one ao one b oh.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
That might be the one time I don't know, Rob,
I disagree I was allowed to deal with. Shaq was unstoppable.
Ain't no question that you can say whatever you want
to be, no question in that Shaq was unstoppable at
that time.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot Com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live guys.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
As you know here in LA and across the country,
social media has been buzzing both positively and negatively with
regards to these ice rays that were going on in
all of basically all the major cities, but especially here
in Los Angeles where we do our show from and
earlier on Thursday, after days of silence, basically the Los
Angeles Dodgers finally I guess engaged because they announced on
(15:57):
their social media that ice agents at tempted to enter
Dodger Stadium for reasons that are still unknown up to
this point, and Dodger security said no, they blocked them.
Since then, Department of Homeland Security and ICE representatives in
LA have said that that is not true.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
We did not have anybody.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Stationed there, even though there is video and photographic evidence
that shows there are some ICE Border Patrol individuals right there.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
They're just killing them.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Yeah, you know what I mean, Like, oh, no, that
we didn't do that, and then they got the video
of it, like like like, this is why you need
the media every time people talk.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
About seriously like like that.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
This is why because if you just go by a
government's recollection, that's what they would tell you, and you
got to this is where the difference between this country
and so many others press yes, oh that never happened
or whatever.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
This is why you hope and pray for, you know,
fair and impartial news. Just still straight back. I'm not
trying to lean your left right up down. I'm just
telling you what it what it is. So, guys, the
Dodgers are expected at some point in it. I don't
think we've seen a to announce a plan to assist
the immigration community impacted by these raids going on here
in Los Angeles. And as a result, if you look
(17:08):
at the Dodger social media pages, there is a war
going on, for lack of a better term, between two sides,
those that are saying thank you Dodgers for getting involved
and finally standing up for your community you're in Los Angeles,
and those that are Dodger fans who and now we're saying,
we are former Dodger fans because you are stepping yourselves
(17:30):
into a social political issue.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
It has happened through the from the beginning of time.
We're a part of a society. You can't just sit
by and act like well an act like nothing's going on.
This has happened forever. And I do believe that your responsibility,
(17:54):
no matter what you are, is as a human being first,
and if something really affects you and the people around
you and you have some sort of influence. I'll tell
you a story. Willie Horton story in Detroit with the
riots going on. He was a popular player, black player.
(18:20):
Riots break out in Detroit. He goes out there to
try to calm people in his Tiger uniform. Because he
was so popular. People were worried about how you're gonna
get hurt out there, whatever, But he felt that he
had to try to do something that compelled to try
to help the community. That was going through something at
that point, you know what I mean, And I think
that that's important. People can do whatever they want. I
(18:43):
hear it all the time, and I'm just gonna be
straight up. When people don't hear what they want to hear,
they'll say athletes shouldn't say anything, they should just whatever.
But then when they invite athletes who are saying what
they want to hear, they put those athletes on and
they don't have any issue with it, or those entertainers, right,
(19:08):
you know what I mean, Like, so which one is it?
Speaker 4 (19:11):
So nobody?
Speaker 5 (19:12):
So you shouldn't put athletes on who are pro whatever
your spiel is and then be negative towards the other
ones who are saying something that you don't believe in.
I mean, that's my biggest issue. I think we all
have a responsibility. Yeah, I'll give you an example of
what you're just talking about. Blue lives matter, Blue lives matter.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Storm the state capital injure, you know, and abuse and
end up lives being taken at the state capital. Blue
lives no matter now because you're beating up all the
hundreds of police who are there. So it's you know,
blue lives matter, Blue lives matter, storing the Capitol, we
beat up to the Capitol police. So it happens all
the time, all right. So for me, I think this
is always an interesting conversation because it becomes where does
(19:53):
a business, an organization, and athlete and entertainer responsibility lie.
Because you have some entertainers. Mancis Michael Jordan. We know
privately he is giving some money to folks and try
to help out all this criticized his plane because he
was not publicly standing up for this, standing up for that,
speaking up for this.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Nobody wants you.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
To be uh speaking on every situation that comes on,
and I don't in a rupt I do want to
say this Tiger Woods when he's at the Masters, but
they had no black members.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
To nineteen eighty nine.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
That that's where Tiger Woods should voice. Hey, if you
can't I'm black, okay, no matter what he called itself.
If you won't allow black members here, I don't think
I'm going to skip the Masters.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
That's how you force change.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Couple with that, you and I have talked about this
off air, knowing what he went through walking into clubhouses.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
You're not allowed to be in here? Don't you remember
was it was?
Speaker 5 (20:51):
It fuzzy Zeller said, they've got fried chicken and collar
greens and watermelon.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
This is what So, knowing what you dealt with, you
would think you would have this this ambition to UH,
to speak up and be a part of change.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Which is why.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
But here's the why some people don't rob and ultimately
why they become heralded in praise later. Everybody loves a
fuzzy warm story of Muhammad Ali. Do you know it
wasn't like that. He went through hell standing on business.
He went through hell standing on what he believed in,
standing up for his community, telling y'all want me to
go and you know, injury and kill black, brock and
(21:26):
brown people in Vietnam when I can't get.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Treated my people can't get treated right here fairly.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
People hated him, bashed them, who's the thig is all
this death threats? And then yes, twenty thirty years, Oh
we love Mohammed Ali. Happens all the time. He lived
the Olympic torch. He lit the Olympic torch in ninety six.
Bill Russell stood on business. People hated him to his death.
He had a hate love hate relationship with the city
of Boston, not the Celtics. He loved his team, but
(21:54):
he said the way they treated, the way that city
treated him coming home, the feace he spread all over
his house, how broken in death threats to his family
in the city of Boston. He never loved the city
of Boston. He loved his Celtic He was very adamant
about that. My point is, so you have people who
speak up, who stand up, and there are oftentimes sacrifices
that come with it, penalties that come with it which
(22:15):
scare some people. The loss of money, the loss of fame,
the loss of notoriety, the you know, and just feeling
as if they're you know, I'm a death threats I
have to go through this. But then you get the
other side of people who say, uh, I'm just gonna,
you know, go out there and play it. And I
can understand feeling why do I have to speak up?
And oftentimes what happens in these big issues and these
(22:36):
big matters, especially here in the States, it always falls
on the black athlete to have to speak up. Hey,
Kareem Louiel Sander in sixty eight, Hey, Bill Russell.
Speaker 5 (22:46):
Hey, I understand that because we're the minorities and the
majority is never gonna why they need to speak up
when they're not involved. They're not being deprived of.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
But because do you know what I mean, what is
the first thing you said? They're humans first, and your teammates.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
I agree what I'm saying, you not looking for them
to do it is what I'm saying, You're gonna have to.
And there are some people could say whatever they want
about Aaron Rodgers. At the time when the controversy went
on about Colin Kaepernan, he was the first white quarterback
I heard said it wasn't about uh, the military, you
know what I mean, Like like he said something.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
And that's what I mean.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
So when you say, of course, it's always incumbent upon
I'm just saying. But I'm saying, as you you always
tell me. If I was in that room as the media,
I would ask already know. If I was in that room,
I would say, Hey, Peyton Manning, why aren't you speaking
up on blah blah blah. Hey Tom Brady as I'm
not familiar with, I don't really know.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Yeah, teammates who kneeled and Tom Brady act.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
So my point is it always And then I asked
I had a chance to ask Kareem Abdul Jabbard this
a few years ago when we was live. It was
during George Floyd summer and the protests and then it
turns the you know, chaos here in Los Angeles, and
we had them live near and asked him, said, why
was it always coming upon you? Why was it always
coming upon other black athletes and no one else ever
has to do it? And he said that was just
a burden, that was honest, and we had to do it.
(24:09):
But this is where organizations, what's your ethos, what matters
to you, what's your role in the community. And thankfully
there are a lot of organizations who stand up, who
speak up, who are part of the community, who are
willing to take the heat.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
For a little bit.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
You know, people are gonna be honest, who are willing
to you know, have a certain part of the fan
base that might be upset with you, But when you
stand on what your team, your organization is about, what
your organization believes in, ultimately, I think things work out
for you and you become endeared and beloved in your
city and your community and your town.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
There were teams, you know, when Jackie Robinson broke into
baseball that just what no part, no part of it
and their fans and all that kind of stuff, and
the Dodgers still went along with it. And I'm not
saying that the Dodgers were strictly because they were.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
This uh franchise.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
Pry right, Uh Brench Rickey saw all these black people
in Brooklyn walking past the stadium and not buying tickets,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
And I'm not mad at him. He's a businessman, right.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
And sometimes it takes a spark sometimes, Hey, sometimes it
is a business there that turns to doing the right
thing that changes the game. But yeah, you you definitely
want at some point organizations, people athletes who do what's
right to speak up the committee for the community, because
for humanity. And like I said, that's why I gave
examples of Muhammad Ali. He did it when it wasn't popular.
(25:36):
Uh Lebron to his credit and now he jumps in everything.
But to this you don't want to that that's what
he does. But he stood up when he at the peak,
and people would be like, wow, I'm shocked this guy
would do that. Like we said, when Tiger Woods wouldn't,
when Michael Jordan wouldn't. Often Billy Jeane King. You know,
there's just people who have been about standing on things
that matter, standing for the good of humanity, standing for
(25:56):
the good of people. And you love to see it
because it costs people. It's going to cost you something.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
You got that, But that's life like that, that's there's
a sacrifice you have.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
To give to get.
Speaker 5 (26:08):
I've said a million times people don't understand that the
oppressors are not going to just go, oh, you know what,
we just figured it out, man, wead this is wrong.
Here you go, no, and you got a pressure and
some players how they get their big deal.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
Dealer, we want to deal. Yeah, no, we want to deal.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
No, no yet, Okay you know what, no World series.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
Okay, now what they get they got a deal. NFL
doesn't have a good union.
Speaker 5 (26:29):
You know why, because they refuse to stop the money
that like, you have to have a sacrifice.
Thanks for listening to the Best of the Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to check us out live every weekday from
four to seven pm Pacific seven to ten pm Eastern
on Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The
Odd Couple on Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream
us every day on the iHeartRadio by searching FSR.
Speaker 2 (00:19):
You're listening to the Best of the Odd Couple.
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Game six potential close eye game for the Thunder tipping
off in about ninety minutes. Everybody's excited about it, we think,
or so we've been told, but maybe not the casual
NBA fan because we've been talking about this for weeks now,
and these NBA Finals unless you are a die hard
basketball fan, just have not rated in any kind of way,
(00:47):
shape or form.
Speaker 4 (00:48):
No matter how you fudge the numbers.
Speaker 5 (00:49):
Because you know, the other thing is, we haven't had
an NBA press release since that one. We had another one,
like you remember when they came out trying to diffuse
the what.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
It was but the viewers eighteen to thirty four and
what the young said.
Speaker 4 (01:04):
Since then, we haven't seen anything. They couldn't even do that.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
So, guys, through five games in this series, the finals
are averaging just over nine million viewers on ABC. That's
down nineteen percent from last year's Finals, which ended in
five games. Recalled, bost was up three to zero in
that series, so that one was even. But there's no
reason for people to watch, right, So that would make
(01:27):
this series outside of the bubble by far the lowest
rated in the Nielsen era. And here's the worst part
about it, guys. This year's NBA Finals is the first
time that Nielsen has this expanded out of his own
viewing measurement, which.
Speaker 4 (01:43):
Said never used they look.
Speaker 5 (01:44):
It used to be there are people at sports bars
that don't count, you know, all that kind of stuff.
Speaker 3 (01:50):
So now they're including that, and it's still low and
it's still the worst outside of the bubble in NBA history.
Of guys, to make it even worse, especially tonight, Monti
mentioned Tyre's hallow and he's banged up. His CAP's giving
a lot of problems. He's gonna give it a go,
but he's clearly limited. All signs points are okay, see
big Lee Tonay.
Speaker 4 (02:07):
And here here's why this is the worst case scenario.
Speaker 5 (02:10):
Just what Monty said, like it's word, we started small
market uh players that people don't know like the casual
right that the names we know him if you follow
basketball and you watch the NBA, but Sga, Halla Burnon,
they did not household name.
Speaker 4 (02:32):
So that was number two. Number three.
Speaker 5 (02:37):
If Sga who had this incredible season and is the
MVP and can't get people juiced up off of, like
what season? And what would he have to do to
get people jacked up about him? Is what I'm saying,
Like this was the year you're coming out party.
Speaker 4 (02:53):
People should know who you are.
Speaker 5 (02:55):
And then the kicker is the one guy who made
Indiana viable with all the great shots and moments of
this twenty five twenty twenty five postseason. Now he's not
even really available for the biggest game, which is to
try to force a Game seven, and then who knows
(03:16):
if he'd be able to play.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
That's why this is the worst case scenario.
Speaker 5 (03:20):
Everything is bad for the NBA small markets not having
the big marquee names.
Speaker 4 (03:27):
As far as players.
Speaker 5 (03:29):
Your MVP and star for one team, people really don't
know despite all he's accomplished this year. And lastly, the
hero of the postseason is now banged up and can't
be himself.
Speaker 1 (03:44):
It is the worst case Well, I think sometimes things
are coming right down the pipeline. There's nothing you can
do about it. It's an inevitability. And when you got
Lebron and Luca Locke kicked out not only their names
but also the name of which we just spent time
talking about yesterday because they were sold for tim billion
dollars the Lakers. When you're going, okay, least we have
the raining champs. They should do their part, they should
(04:04):
get to the finals. Okay, at least we'll have a
big mark, bigger market in Boston, and then we'll have
the raining chance for that storyline, A legacy and blue
Blood and the Celtics. They get kicked out, and then
you're all right, well, shoot, maybe there's a long shot.
Jimmy Butler now a warrior and they've been playing very
well with him a boom.
Speaker 4 (04:19):
They get knocked out.
Speaker 1 (04:20):
So the star power having Steph and Jimmy and Draymond
has gone, the familiarity of the warrior. So this is
one of those things. It was coming down the pipeline.
We saw it coming. You and I had discussions about it,
and now here we are. But if you're the NBA,
A couple of things to know one, you've been here before.
You've had you know, the seasons where we talked about it.
You beat it up to nauseum, you keep bringing it up.
The Spurs have been in you know, some of the
(04:42):
three lowest rated finals.
Speaker 4 (04:44):
You know, you had the nets, you had.
Speaker 1 (04:45):
So it happens where you get these finals that are down,
people aren't watching, and then hopefully you bounce back with
something good, something juicy. And I think what also is
in favor Number one, you got the Lakers being sold
because now maybe the Lakers are able to do some
things which being some juice ac well, I mean that's
what the that's what that ownership has done, you know that,
you know. Covering the Dodgers also, I think they have
(05:08):
come become where some of the real juice like other
sports like soccer or football as the world calls it, Uh,
it's some of the movement of stars that you're blown
away or moving.
Speaker 4 (05:18):
NFL.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
Every now and again you get some big stars moving,
a quarterback or two. They the move and you're like, oh, shoot,
Aaron Rodgers the talk of the summer, and to see
where he ends up now with the Steelers. So if
Giannis gets out there, if KD starts to becoming the
move and becomes a spur or a rocket. I think
that is where they also get some juice during the offseason.
So I think the NBA has also become where now
(05:41):
the movement of big time players adds a little bit
of flair and juice to the summer. But as far
as his finals, yeah, I mean there's nothing you can do.
SGA has been in the top what two to three
finals MVP picks finalists the last few years till he
fining won it.
Speaker 4 (05:56):
This year.
Speaker 1 (05:57):
You got a team that's an all time defensive team,
at all time point differential team.
Speaker 4 (06:01):
But the thing that hurts and you really continue.
Speaker 1 (06:04):
You can look at it as if this were John Morant,
if this were Anthony Edwards. So far as young guys,
the difference is they play above the rim each night.
You're saying, I may see something you hardly see jumping
literally jumping over guys dunking on him or Edwards. He's
shot he more threes than anybody in the NBA. He
goes nine to ten into three point from the three
(06:24):
point line. Something that's spectacular. Something you know, he's jawing
with people, he's talking smack with fans, there's something to it, SGA.
It works to the disadvantage that he's the model of consistency.
You're just gonna get thirty points every night, quietly, some
mid range jump shots, some free throws, good defense, no issues,
no arguing with the refs. I'm gonna go about my business.
(06:45):
And that is great for him. It's gonna get him
a bunch of money. He's gonna make him in All
NBA several times over. But for the fans and for
the juice, you don't get anything with that. And Haler
Burton is inconsistent, too inconsistent to be that superstar because
during the regular seas dissipate here disappeared in the regular
season for twenty games because he's just you know, eighteen
and six, and that's nothing spectacular about that until this
(07:06):
postseason run. So yeah, this is you didn't hope for it,
but you hope that you get to bounce back next
season and that the summer is interesting with trades and
and free agency.
Speaker 5 (07:15):
Good look, just I hear you with all that, but
it's still about market size and people are regionalized.
Speaker 4 (07:23):
People in New York.
Speaker 5 (07:24):
Once the Knicks got knocked out, not interested people in
Boston once l like, this is a reality. If you
don't have anybody who's really compelling, that's that's the issue.
I mean, we can sit here and go like, oh
I love ball, Okay, bout it's the square gun. Don't
don't I know Nick fans because I'm friends from people
in New York, they're not watching.
Speaker 4 (07:41):
Not after the Knicks got knocked out. They were totally
turned off.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
It was it was their team that lost to that team.
Speaker 5 (07:48):
And they like, I'm not I can't watch, you know
what I mean, And you wind up losing people.
Speaker 1 (07:52):
It's a it's a tough one. It's a tough and
we kind of it's nothing. There's nothing you can do.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
You try.
Speaker 1 (07:57):
Like they're interviewing Mike Epps as we speak, because he's
the big Vegas, Indiana Pacer fan aging muster up. If
this were the Knicks, can you imagine all the you know,
all the fans, they have, all the stars, so let
you can.
Speaker 4 (08:07):
Be juiced up.
Speaker 1 (08:08):
Who look at all these people there and all of that.
This is the best we got, is Mike EPs.
Speaker 2 (08:12):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at Foxsports Radio
Dot com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live.
Speaker 3 (08:24):
Jalen Wims, of course a big wing, defensive minded wing,
and he's clearly the number two behind the superstar player
in SGA, so naturally the comparison has always been, well,
he could be Scotty to SGA's Michael.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
That's gonna be the comparison.
Speaker 3 (08:38):
For his part, Jalen Wims was asked about He's a
very flattered, you know, kind of downplayed it a little
bit when they asked Scotty directly, though, in credit to
ESPN forgetting him on the record, here's what he said.
He is pretty special. I'm enjoying watching him. I see
a lot of me and him, for sure. I see
a guy rising to be one of the top players
in this league. He's definitely a player that is capable
of being able to lead the franchise to multiplechampionships, him
(09:00):
and Shay and I don't even want to put a
cap on him to say that he's going to be me,
because I see him being greater.
Speaker 1 (09:08):
So first off, I want to say shout out to
Pippen for not being just a naturally defensive person although
he was on the court to be like, oh, well,
you know, I mean he got he I don't know
if he can be me, but I see he's pretty good.
Like the idea that he could possibly be better than me.
Him saying that is really, you know, refreshing to here.
He has a long way to go because Pippen did
(09:29):
it for a very long time, and obviously.
Speaker 4 (09:30):
Jay Louis, I'm glad you said that. You know, that's
a bald statement, and we'll see.
Speaker 1 (09:35):
But I will say, Rob, it's one of those things
where if I told you this skinny kid who you
know was a three pick would be the greatest of
all time for North Carolina, and then it happens, Right,
if I told you this other skinny kid would be
drafted at seventeen years old and would be the closest
thing to Michael Jordan and Kobe Yeah, right, a high
school kid. So it does happen where you kind of go,
I don't know about that, And then it could potentially
be he has the makings. He's defensive minded, he's team oriented,
(10:01):
he doesn't mind that. I know for sure I have
the guy that's better than me in front of me,
and I'm okay with that. And he comes out and
he can score. So to me, he has the making.
And this is also partly why I said it the
other day, if they're able to stick together for a
handful of years. When you get two defensive minded wings
who can score like this, we've seen kind of the
(10:21):
formula and Jordan and Pippin and Lebron and d Wade
and Lebron and Kyrie of guys who can Klay Thompson
and stuff. When you get two wings like this who
can lock in together and are that dynamic, you can
have a run Jayalen Brown and Jason Tatum where you
can have a run of a successful five, six, seven,
eight years, And so they have the making for that. Again,
a long way to go, but physically, attitude wise and
(10:44):
want and will power.
Speaker 4 (10:46):
I think Jaylen Williams has to do that.
Speaker 1 (10:48):
And that's what makes his Oklahoma City Thunder team scary
because you always there's a bunch of stars and talented
guys and SGA looks like gonna be a MVP candidate
for five, six, seven years. But when you have that
second guy that's locked in and is that good and
only getting better and entering into his prime here in
a little bit, that's a scary combination.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
I just have just an issue with them. It's just
way premature. It's just I get it. I want something
to talk about or throw it out there, and I
always bring up the Devin Bookers, Kobe Bryant, and Chris
paul Is in the top three now point guards. And
he just passed like like that was a real conversation, right,
(11:25):
senator around.
Speaker 1 (11:26):
Oh okay with the CP than the Booker. No, but
but the Booker one was there?
Speaker 4 (11:30):
Am I right? Was that not the conversation? Yeah? People
just trying to project yeah.
Speaker 5 (11:33):
Yeah, like he oh no, he's the next Kobe or
what really? Like like seriously, and I get it. You
want to make comparisons, try to throw it out there,
be the first one to say it, you know.
Speaker 4 (11:44):
But you got to be careful with that kind of stuff.
Speaker 5 (11:47):
We know, Chris on this radio show that Patrick Mahomes
was Jordan esk. I don't I don't know if he
could really after last year's loss or whatever, do you
know what I mean? But but does he feel the
same as he did off his first three years?
Speaker 4 (12:02):
I don't think he does. Is that fair? Ish?
Speaker 1 (12:07):
It's fair because I only it's rob super Bowl at
so I get that's why I said this age.
Speaker 5 (12:13):
I get he's not putting up forty fifty times. That's
what the first three years want to say. Jordan Ess,
the numbers match the winning. The numbers don't match the winning.
Now do you see what I'm saying. So I'm not
taking anything away from him. He also got his butt
kicked in the Super Bowl, like like there it's starting,
Michael Jordan never got his butt kicked.
Speaker 4 (12:32):
I'm just saying.
Speaker 1 (12:33):
So that's the one thing about Mike that's gonna be
hard to careys that he never literally never lost, and
it wasn't even Game seven.
Speaker 4 (12:41):
And that's what I'm saying.
Speaker 5 (12:43):
The early start of that was that he was Jordanesque,
and I just don't think that that applies. As time
is going on and there's some chinks in the armor,
I still think he's jordan Esque.
Speaker 1 (12:54):
Has said heavy on the esque, just because it's the style,
it's the way, it's the kind of the Bravado doing something.
And he's throwing no look passes, he's doing behind the backpack.
He just left hand, right hand. That's not that's not Jordan's.
Speaker 4 (13:06):
But that was Jordan.
Speaker 1 (13:07):
The first little bit, remember the first Jordan was flying
through the air Tony doing stuff.
Speaker 4 (13:10):
Sixty three, and.
Speaker 1 (13:13):
Then it became so he kind of did the opposite
where he started with the winning and had the flare,
and now he's in the Jordan fader era where it's
just gonna be in the fishing thirty and I might
not have the crazy flying through the air stuff like
I did. You might get mid rains for the rest,
you know, in your face all night. I really want
to see what like it could be. Don't if you
bring up the nine year gap Homemable doesn't win again.
Speaker 4 (13:39):
You lucky.
Speaker 1 (13:39):
You had to start this segment with love and peace
because otherwise I'll jump over this table on you right now.
All right, but and uh so the conversation too is
just preamature.
Speaker 4 (13:50):
Yeah that's fair.
Speaker 1 (13:51):
But I think quick last point I think while we
got here is because there was a point, especially if
you all we all recall we're all sitting home or
in quarantine watching the Last Dance where everyone acknowledged, including
the Pistons who they had a tart time to get passed.
They were like, oh, once Scottie Pippin became Scottie Pippen,
we knew it was a rap because the first couple
(14:13):
of years we played the bulls. We knew, all right, Mike,
go Mike, as long as we put our Jordan rules
on him and we'll win.
Speaker 4 (14:18):
And I think that's what we're witnessing.
Speaker 1 (14:20):
We're now the arrival of Jalen Williams, which is why
this conversation became warranted, because he has arrived and he's
a beast twenty five was it twenty seven forty? And
who knows what he's gonna do here in the next
twenty minutes or so. And that's why we got to
this point where he oh, it's pipping, like, oh, he
has he arrived. Now where I got my solidified Robin.
(14:40):
Y'all better buckle up, And I think that's why we're here.
And the conversation becomes can he become one of the
best twos? The number two? We got to solidify one
in SGA. Can he be the best number two? And
who are those lists of best number twos?
Speaker 4 (14:53):
You know?
Speaker 1 (14:54):
Is it Lebron and Kyrie? Because I think we both
agree Shaq and Kobe. Once Kobe we became co he
was one A one B that was he wasn't quite
no such.
Speaker 4 (15:03):
Thing somebody's gotta be a b I'm sorry you mean it. Two. Yeah,
somebody gotta be Yeah. There's no one ao one b oh.
Speaker 1 (15:09):
That might be the one time I don't know, Rob,
I disagree I was allowed to deal with. Shaq was unstoppable.
Ain't no question that you can say whatever you want
to be, no question in that Shaq was unstoppable at
that time.
Speaker 2 (15:19):
Fox Sports Radio has the best sports talk lineup in
the nation. Catch all of our shows at foxsports Radio
dot Com and within the iHeartRadio app search FSR to
listen live guys.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
As you know here in LA and across the country,
social media has been buzzing both positively and negatively with
regards to these ice rays that were going on in
all of basically all the major cities, but especially here
in Los Angeles where we do our show from and
earlier on Thursday, after days of silence, basically the Los
Angeles Dodgers finally I guess engaged because they announced on
(15:57):
their social media that ice agents at tempted to enter
Dodger Stadium for reasons that are still unknown up to
this point, and Dodger security said no, they blocked them.
Since then, Department of Homeland Security and ICE representatives in
LA have said that that is not true.
Speaker 4 (16:14):
We did not have anybody.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
Stationed there, even though there is video and photographic evidence
that shows there are some ICE Border Patrol individuals right there.
Speaker 4 (16:23):
They're just killing them.
Speaker 5 (16:25):
Yeah, you know what I mean, Like, oh, no, that
we didn't do that, and then they got the video
of it, like like like, this is why you need
the media every time people talk.
Speaker 4 (16:33):
About seriously like like that.
Speaker 5 (16:35):
This is why because if you just go by a
government's recollection, that's what they would tell you, and you
got to this is where the difference between this country
and so many others press yes, oh that never happened
or whatever.
Speaker 1 (16:47):
This is why you hope and pray for, you know,
fair and impartial news. Just still straight back. I'm not
trying to lean your left right up down. I'm just
telling you what it what it is. So, guys, the
Dodgers are expected at some point in it. I don't
think we've seen a to announce a plan to assist
the immigration community impacted by these raids going on here
in Los Angeles. And as a result, if you look
(17:08):
at the Dodger social media pages, there is a war
going on, for lack of a better term, between two sides,
those that are saying thank you Dodgers for getting involved
and finally standing up for your community you're in Los Angeles,
and those that are Dodger fans who and now we're saying,
we are former Dodger fans because you are stepping yourselves
(17:30):
into a social political issue.
Speaker 5 (17:33):
It has happened through the from the beginning of time.
We're a part of a society. You can't just sit
by and act like well an act like nothing's going on.
This has happened forever. And I do believe that your responsibility,
(17:54):
no matter what you are, is as a human being first,
and if something really affects you and the people around
you and you have some sort of influence. I'll tell
you a story. Willie Horton story in Detroit with the
riots going on. He was a popular player, black player.
(18:20):
Riots break out in Detroit. He goes out there to
try to calm people in his Tiger uniform. Because he
was so popular. People were worried about how you're gonna
get hurt out there, whatever, But he felt that he
had to try to do something that compelled to try
to help the community. That was going through something at
that point, you know what I mean, And I think
that that's important. People can do whatever they want. I
(18:43):
hear it all the time, and I'm just gonna be
straight up. When people don't hear what they want to hear,
they'll say athletes shouldn't say anything, they should just whatever.
But then when they invite athletes who are saying what
they want to hear, they put those athletes on and
they don't have any issue with it, or those entertainers, right,
(19:08):
you know what I mean, Like, so which one is it?
Speaker 4 (19:11):
So nobody?
Speaker 5 (19:12):
So you shouldn't put athletes on who are pro whatever
your spiel is and then be negative towards the other
ones who are saying something that you don't believe in.
I mean, that's my biggest issue. I think we all
have a responsibility. Yeah, I'll give you an example of
what you're just talking about. Blue lives matter, Blue lives matter.
Speaker 1 (19:30):
Storm the state capital injure, you know, and abuse and
end up lives being taken at the state capital. Blue
lives no matter now because you're beating up all the
hundreds of police who are there. So it's you know,
blue lives matter, Blue lives matter, storing the Capitol, we
beat up to the Capitol police. So it happens all
the time, all right. So for me, I think this
is always an interesting conversation because it becomes where does
(19:53):
a business, an organization, and athlete and entertainer responsibility lie.
Because you have some entertainers. Mancis Michael Jordan. We know
privately he is giving some money to folks and try
to help out all this criticized his plane because he
was not publicly standing up for this, standing up for that,
speaking up for this.
Speaker 4 (20:13):
Nobody wants you.
Speaker 5 (20:13):
To be uh speaking on every situation that comes on,
and I don't in a rupt I do want to
say this Tiger Woods when he's at the Masters, but
they had no black members.
Speaker 4 (20:27):
To nineteen eighty nine.
Speaker 5 (20:28):
That that's where Tiger Woods should voice. Hey, if you
can't I'm black, okay, no matter what he called itself.
If you won't allow black members here, I don't think
I'm going to skip the Masters.
Speaker 4 (20:40):
That's how you force change.
Speaker 1 (20:43):
Couple with that, you and I have talked about this
off air, knowing what he went through walking into clubhouses.
Speaker 4 (20:49):
You're not allowed to be in here? Don't you remember
was it was?
Speaker 5 (20:51):
It fuzzy Zeller said, they've got fried chicken and collar
greens and watermelon.
Speaker 1 (20:56):
This is what So, knowing what you dealt with, you
would think you would have this this ambition to UH,
to speak up and be a part of change.
Speaker 4 (21:03):
Which is why.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
But here's the why some people don't rob and ultimately
why they become heralded in praise later. Everybody loves a
fuzzy warm story of Muhammad Ali. Do you know it
wasn't like that. He went through hell standing on business.
He went through hell standing on what he believed in,
standing up for his community, telling y'all want me to
go and you know, injury and kill black, brock and
(21:26):
brown people in Vietnam when I can't get.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
Treated my people can't get treated right here fairly.
Speaker 1 (21:31):
People hated him, bashed them, who's the thig is all
this death threats? And then yes, twenty thirty years, Oh
we love Mohammed Ali. Happens all the time. He lived
the Olympic torch. He lit the Olympic torch in ninety six.
Bill Russell stood on business. People hated him to his death.
He had a hate love hate relationship with the city
of Boston, not the Celtics. He loved his team, but
(21:54):
he said the way they treated, the way that city
treated him coming home, the feace he spread all over
his house, how broken in death threats to his family
in the city of Boston. He never loved the city
of Boston. He loved his Celtic He was very adamant
about that. My point is, so you have people who
speak up, who stand up, and there are oftentimes sacrifices
that come with it, penalties that come with it which
(22:15):
scare some people. The loss of money, the loss of fame,
the loss of notoriety, the you know, and just feeling
as if they're you know, I'm a death threats I
have to go through this. But then you get the
other side of people who say, uh, I'm just gonna,
you know, go out there and play it. And I
can understand feeling why do I have to speak up?
And oftentimes what happens in these big issues and these
(22:36):
big matters, especially here in the States, it always falls
on the black athlete to have to speak up. Hey,
Kareem Louiel Sander in sixty eight, Hey, Bill Russell.
Speaker 5 (22:46):
Hey, I understand that because we're the minorities and the
majority is never gonna why they need to speak up
when they're not involved. They're not being deprived of.
Speaker 1 (22:57):
But because do you know what I mean, what is
the first thing you said? They're humans first, and your teammates.
Speaker 5 (23:04):
I agree what I'm saying, you not looking for them
to do it is what I'm saying, You're gonna have to.
And there are some people could say whatever they want
about Aaron Rodgers. At the time when the controversy went
on about Colin Kaepernan, he was the first white quarterback
I heard said it wasn't about uh, the military, you
know what I mean, Like like he said something.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
And that's what I mean.
Speaker 1 (23:27):
So when you say, of course, it's always incumbent upon
I'm just saying. But I'm saying, as you you always
tell me. If I was in that room as the media,
I would ask already know. If I was in that room,
I would say, Hey, Peyton Manning, why aren't you speaking
up on blah blah blah. Hey Tom Brady as I'm
not familiar with, I don't really know.
Speaker 4 (23:44):
Yeah, teammates who kneeled and Tom Brady act.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
So my point is it always And then I asked
I had a chance to ask Kareem Abdul Jabbard this
a few years ago when we was live. It was
during George Floyd summer and the protests and then it
turns the you know, chaos here in Los Angeles, and
we had them live near and asked him, said, why
was it always coming upon you? Why was it always
coming upon other black athletes and no one else ever
has to do it? And he said that was just
a burden, that was honest, and we had to do it.
(24:09):
But this is where organizations, what's your ethos, what matters
to you, what's your role in the community. And thankfully
there are a lot of organizations who stand up, who
speak up, who are part of the community, who are
willing to take the heat.
Speaker 4 (24:24):
For a little bit.
Speaker 1 (24:24):
You know, people are gonna be honest, who are willing
to you know, have a certain part of the fan
base that might be upset with you, But when you
stand on what your team, your organization is about, what
your organization believes in, ultimately, I think things work out
for you and you become endeared and beloved in your
city and your community and your town.
Speaker 5 (24:42):
There were teams, you know, when Jackie Robinson broke into
baseball that just what no part, no part of it
and their fans and all that kind of stuff, and
the Dodgers still went along with it. And I'm not
saying that the Dodgers were strictly because they were.
Speaker 4 (25:00):
This uh franchise.
Speaker 5 (25:05):
Pry right, Uh Brench Rickey saw all these black people
in Brooklyn walking past the stadium and not buying tickets,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 4 (25:12):
And I'm not mad at him. He's a businessman, right.
Speaker 1 (25:14):
And sometimes it takes a spark sometimes, Hey, sometimes it
is a business there that turns to doing the right
thing that changes the game. But yeah, you you definitely
want at some point organizations, people athletes who do what's
right to speak up the committee for the community, because
for humanity. And like I said, that's why I gave
examples of Muhammad Ali. He did it when it wasn't popular.
(25:36):
Uh Lebron to his credit and now he jumps in everything.
But to this you don't want to that that's what
he does. But he stood up when he at the peak,
and people would be like, wow, I'm shocked this guy
would do that. Like we said, when Tiger Woods wouldn't,
when Michael Jordan wouldn't. Often Billy Jeane King. You know,
there's just people who have been about standing on things
that matter, standing for the good of humanity, standing for
(25:56):
the good of people. And you love to see it
because it costs people. It's going to cost you something.
Speaker 5 (26:01):
You got that, But that's life like that, that's there's
a sacrifice you have.
Speaker 4 (26:06):
To give to get.
Speaker 5 (26:08):
I've said a million times people don't understand that the
oppressors are not going to just go, oh, you know what,
we just figured it out, man, wead this is wrong.
Here you go, no, and you got a pressure and
some players how they get their big deal.
Speaker 4 (26:20):
Dealer, we want to deal. Yeah, no, we want to deal.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
No, no yet, Okay you know what, no World series.
Speaker 4 (26:25):
Okay, now what they get they got a deal. NFL
doesn't have a good union.
Speaker 5 (26:29):
You know why, because they refuse to stop the money
that like, you have to have a sacrifice.
Hosts And Creators
kelvin washington
Rob Parker
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