Most Insane March Madness Stories Told by the Players Who Lived It | All The Smoke Compilation - All The Smoke

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This episode is presented to you by DraftKings. The crown
is yours. All we all do is get hot.

Speaker 2 (00:05):
At the right time, we knew he was gonna win
the national championship.

Speaker 3 (00:10):
I'm playing with guys that work for Fortune five hundred
companies against NBA players.

Speaker 4 (00:16):
These guys are still some of my closest friends today,
and I love those guys so much, and I love
what we had so much that we ended up going back.

Speaker 5 (00:24):
To school another year. You win, you're able to do.

Speaker 1 (00:28):
Something that's bigger than you.

Speaker 6 (00:41):
Besides Syracuse, who else was going to running to get you?

Speaker 5 (00:43):
In college?

Speaker 6 (00:45):
Yeah, I committed to like five schools.

Speaker 5 (00:49):
Trying to figure it out.

Speaker 7 (00:50):
I committed because I was just happy.

Speaker 6 (00:52):
Like what, I'm walking around school with the book bag
full of letters in my bag every day it's a
new school.

Speaker 1 (01:00):
I'm like, I'm coming. But I committed.

Speaker 2 (01:03):
I committed early to Serracuse my junior year on my birthday.
That was like my birthday president to me. And I
was still at Tuson. So when I get the old kill,
I'm like, you get millions or left. This is what
I'm saying. When you walking, you walk in the gym.
Every college coach in Americas in there, so they looking
at me like, yo, why you signed with while you
committed Syracuse And they're like, you know you only committed.

Speaker 1 (01:24):
You know you did a verl you don't have to go.

Speaker 8 (01:26):
You don't have to go.

Speaker 2 (01:26):
So I'm saying that, and were playing and NBA scounselors
in there. Every practice. The practice was like games. It
was better than games.

Speaker 6 (01:34):
So at that point I'm like, oh, let me just
let me just try it. I'm gonna open it back up.
And then like I committed to like I went like Georgia,
Georgia Tech.

Speaker 2 (01:44):
Jerry Jack and Chris Bosh was going down Junia Tech,
so you know that that was one of the schools.
Jay Wright was just at just got the job at Villanova.
So I wanted to go to Villanova, but they already
had people. Carolina already had people in my in my
spot forgot who was there. Jawa Williamson was dead at
that position.

Speaker 1 (02:03):
Your senior year of high school was two.

Speaker 2 (02:05):
My senior was, oh two, right, So then Serrah Chuse
was like they had Preston Shumper three and he was leaving.
So I was like, oh, I can come right in
and play right away. And that's why I really stuck
with So what was that experience?

Speaker 1 (02:19):
Like, I mean, you guys caught magic in the bottle?
Uhu keen Warwick with a Jerry McNamara. You guys made
that run and uh, you know, you're one year in college,
you win the championship.

Speaker 6 (02:29):
I ain't never think I would do that shit. I'm
gonna be honest, Like we wasn't. We was a good team,
but I ain't never think we was going to be
that good, you know, like you know we to go
seventeen and oh at home, we never I never lost
any carrier doing People don't talk about that enough. It's
hard to do, you know what I'm saying. So especially
the Big East, right and the biggest This was the
Big East was the biggest right point in time. This

(02:51):
was the Big East, you know, the heart of it.
So being at Serrah Choose and just that whole experience, Man,
we just clicked. Like it was just something that that clicked.
We wasn't doing nothing special. We clicked.

Speaker 2 (03:02):
And then once we started feeling more confident about ourselves.

Speaker 6 (03:05):
Like we can beat this team, or we can beat them.
Oh should we just beat misjority? It was number five.
We just beat Georgia Tech. It was number seven.

Speaker 1 (03:12):
Oh okay, were.

Speaker 2 (03:14):
Going into the tournament and I'm like, look, all we
all to do is get hot at the right time.

Speaker 1 (03:19):
So that's it.

Speaker 6 (03:21):
And at that point it was like we we knew
we at that point, we knew we.

Speaker 1 (03:24):
Was gonna win the national championship. What was your what
was your mental I mean, obviously the NBA is the goal,
but College of Pitstops? Did you ever think about jumping
stats the league? When you dig into college? Was it
one and done? Like what was your mindset there?

Speaker 2 (03:36):
I could have came out of high school. But again,
like people don't understand, like NBA never was my goal,
Like it never was. I just felt like we can
never I can.

Speaker 1 (03:45):
Never reach that.

Speaker 6 (03:46):
And you hear so much, Oh you hear the stats.

Speaker 8 (03:50):
Oh one out of every thousand.

Speaker 2 (03:52):
You know what I'm saying, he chance to get struck
by like this. There's no chance in hell I'm gonna
make the league. So I ain't even thinking about the league.
Let me just get to college. So when I got
to college, I'm on campus, I'm like, I never want
to leave this shit.

Speaker 6 (04:04):
Like Sarah, she's big East. It's popping up here like
I'm staying. And if you go back to the footage,
even like my press conferences, I'm like, yo, like, forget
one more year, like I.

Speaker 1 (04:17):
Thought you stay in school for four years, like I'm
coming back.

Speaker 6 (04:21):
And bay Hou was like, man, if you don't get
your shit off my campus, man, we ain't trying to
hear that. So he really kicked me off the campus man, rightfully,
So right there, So right it makes sense. Winning has

(04:43):
always been a part of your DNA, only winning high school, champion, college,
McDonald's All America, and Michigan State. So this is the
question I got, asked, how many bags were thrown at
you when you went to Michigan State.

Speaker 5 (05:00):
A lot of people offered me money.

Speaker 9 (05:01):
I knew, I knew, Oh they were big bags.

Speaker 5 (05:07):
And uh, you know what, my.

Speaker 9 (05:09):
Father he always gave me life lessons. So here I am.
He said, we're not taking no money. I said, okay, cool.
So I decided to stay close to home because my
mother and father and all my brothers and sisters had
never missed none of my games, and I wanted that
to continue. And I'm a mama's boy, so I loved

(05:30):
my mother, so I wasn't giving up her Fried chicken
and none of the other stuff she.

Speaker 7 (05:35):
Brought to the table, them hugs and everything.

Speaker 5 (05:37):
Right.

Speaker 9 (05:39):
So my freshman year, we win the Big Ten, go
all the way to the final eight, Kentucky beat US.
Kansas City had the number one pick, so they called
me and said, hey, we want to draft you number
one Kings. Yeah, they were Kansas City Kings at that time.
So I flew down and met with a dude named
Joel Akason, the general manager, and he said, hey, I'm

(06:00):
gonna want to give you a six year deal, two
hundred thousand a year. So you know, I got excited.
I've been broke my whole life. I'm like, oh man,
this is great.

Speaker 5 (06:08):
And so.

Speaker 9 (06:11):
I got I jumped up, said oh I think that's good.
My father grabbed me and he pulled me drug me
outside the door. He said, hold on, we'll be right back.
He said, you've been broke for eighteen years. You can
be broke one more year. I said, yes, sir, So

(06:34):
you're going back to school. So I went back to school,
and I'm glad I did because I finished what I
came to college for, which was to win the national
championship and play against Larry Bird and the unbelievable final,
the most.

Speaker 5 (06:50):
Watched college championship ever.

Speaker 9 (06:52):
That's right to this day, still the most watched. And
so to be link with this dude, who you know?

Speaker 5 (07:00):
You saying?

Speaker 10 (07:00):
Man?

Speaker 5 (07:01):
First?

Speaker 9 (07:02):
When I first met him, I said, I must see
this dude, This white cat can really.

Speaker 1 (07:06):
Go like is always out on white boys. It's always out.

Speaker 5 (07:11):
It's respect. This ain't nothing bad.

Speaker 11 (07:14):
So I said, let me see what he can do.

Speaker 6 (07:15):
But Larry had something that most white boys don't have.

Speaker 8 (07:18):
That man different now, a little.

Speaker 12 (07:25):
Different, very different.

Speaker 5 (07:26):
Now that boy he could play man. He turned it out.

Speaker 9 (07:31):
We played on a team in college, uh, in a
tournament together. This is the first time I ever sat
on the bench. Him and I were on the bench
and we were like, the guys in front of us
wasn't better than enough. But Kentucky head coach was coaching
the team, so he started three guys from Kentucky. But
when we got in the game, we turned it out.

(07:54):
But I saw this dude eat Jack givings up. He
was player of the year that year Kentucky, right, yes,
from Kentucky, and Larry Bird was just slicing them, dicing them.

Speaker 5 (08:02):
And I said, I called home.

Speaker 9 (08:05):
I said, It's true about this.

Speaker 5 (08:10):
This dude can play. So that was my first.

Speaker 9 (08:14):
Time seeing them, and then to be out on the
court with him in college for that national championship game,
and then of course what happened in the NBA.

Speaker 5 (08:22):
But I would say that we got a.

Speaker 9 (08:24):
Chance to change the league. You know what, what a
blessing it was. He ended up in Boston and then
I ended up out here. My personality was La Hollywood,
His personality was Boston, and it worked for the whole league,
you know, so everything was good.

Speaker 1 (08:50):
Coming from a mid major. Did you ever think that
Steph Curry would change the face of basketball the way
it's place?

Speaker 8 (08:59):
What do you think? Did you ever dream?

Speaker 5 (09:02):
You know what I mean? He dreamed of it.

Speaker 13 (09:03):
We all dreamed of playing in the league and doing
amazing stuff.

Speaker 8 (09:06):
But I never dreamed of changing the game. That's what
I'm saying.

Speaker 13 (09:09):
I said playing in the league. I dreamed of playing
in the league. Yeah, playing the way that I know
how to play the game. When I was at Davison, Man,
I was six to one, one hundred and sixty pounds
when I got there, and I found a coach that
believed in me and gave me an opportunity to you know,
just go out and hoop and learn how to learn
through my mistakes. I had thirteen turnovers my first game

(09:30):
at Davison, and he didn't say nothing. He said, just
keep hoping next play, mentality and all that type of stuff.
So I took that confidence through my college career into
the league. And though I was still scrawning, when I
showed up backing on nine playing nelly ball, like I
knew what I was capable of and just put the
work in. I think four years later when it started

(09:53):
hitting on the threes and like pushing the record book
and that in that respect, and like you know, changing
my range and uh and just seeing the quarter a
little different, that's when I knew this could be how
I can summit myself in the league. And uh, nobody
was really like using it as a weapon like the.

Speaker 14 (10:09):
Way that I thought I could.

Speaker 13 (10:10):
And it's a confidence thing, though, like you put the
work in, but it's a confidence thing. And uh, now
you got little kids in high school, middle school and
younger just jacking up threes and parents and coaches getting real.

Speaker 1 (10:23):
It was crazy because I mean we had a tournament
this past weekend and you know, my boys they've been around,
Like we get out there early in Isaiah shooting from
behind it point like before he ribbels or anything like, bro,
what are you doing? Is like that, I'm just getting warm.
I'm like, you don't want to start close? He's like, no,
I'm good.

Speaker 13 (10:37):
I was like, you got to listen to the whole story,
right because like when I that's my pops taught me
the way to work on your game, like starting the pain,
get your confidence, see how it goes, work work your
way out, Like I learned that from a young age.
And so now everybody sees the finish result and they
want that process.

Speaker 8 (10:52):
It's like the.

Speaker 13 (10:53):
Processes there is just lost and so hopefully they they
understand that.

Speaker 8 (10:57):
I mean, everybody can can figure it out.

Speaker 1 (10:59):
Take So not very many people, like I said, you've done.
You've changed the face of the game coming from a
mid major, you know what I mean, There hasn't been
too many guys that have been able to do that.

Speaker 5 (11:08):
You know. C J.

Speaker 1 (11:08):
McCollum, Dame Morant, tell me what that was like was
coming from you. So you weren't really highly recruited, and
you know, you weren't in a top college. But we
started seeing you come on the scene when you face
these big schools and to be able to take that
mid major game and really translated and played in the NBA.
It's a huge credit to how hard you had to work.

Speaker 13 (11:26):
Yeah, I think, like you said, coming from mid major,
it's about who you get to play against in like
that competition. Obviously our conference we played in the Southern Conference.
I bet you couldn't name two other schools in that conference,
Like that's just that's part of the journey. But we
you know, coach McKillop, who's still there, is like are
you still coaching already?

Speaker 10 (11:47):
This year.

Speaker 13 (11:50):
They moved on to the Atlantic Ten, so they moved
up a little bit in terms of Like when I
was there, we played against the Dukes of Carolina, senc
States came out here and played UCLA and got exposed
and understood what it took to be at that level.
Once we got to the tournament, it was gonna take
to win. My freshman year, I was thrown into the fire.
I was playing like thirty seven minutes a game at

(12:12):
the two spot. We had another point guard, Jason Richards,
who was two years older than me and was like
our best player.

Speaker 5 (12:20):
At the time.

Speaker 13 (12:20):
It was like the steady guy, the steady hand. I
got to learn from him. That next year, my sophomore
year kind of just took off. We had the guys
that knew their role. Everybody you know, came selfless, did
what they supposed to do. We were two and six
in the first like what eight games and playing those
teams I was talking about, and we took that, learned

(12:42):
from it, put in our back pocket, got to the tournament,
and then we started beating everybody, and so it's just
a conference. Then you got to know like that you
can play with the best. It's not you get lay
with that. You know, mid major, D one whatever, that's
just you know, just the history of it. Us not
going to talk about what we're about to do this
year and whatever. And so you got like you said,

(13:02):
you know, Dame CJ Jah and you can name them.
There's there's guys that just want an opportunity to play,
and they got the talent, they got the skill, they
got the killer instinct and now you know, more and
more guys are shown it in the league.

Speaker 1 (13:14):
It's funny you mentioned confidence because the four the three
other guys you named without yourself, they all carry themselves
with high confidence, and I think it's kind of probably
like that that chip on my should like I don't
give a a major. I'm still a killer out here exactly.

(13:35):
Talk us about your experience at Florida, obviously the back
to back championships, but just life in that ecosystem because
there was a lot of professional athletes the time you
were there, No Gainesville.

Speaker 4 (13:46):
That time was as special as it come. You know,
it's your first time leaving home, being away from your family,
and you know we had there was all those guys
that you mentioned where we all lived in.

Speaker 8 (13:59):
The same dorm, the same place. You know.

Speaker 4 (14:04):
The stories are like where do I start?

Speaker 5 (14:08):
Where do I start?

Speaker 4 (14:10):
But I actually watched the documentary not long ago, and
there was a moment in that documentary where one of
the kids got caught smoking a joint and they kicked
him off the team and.

Speaker 5 (14:22):
He went home and he got killed.

Speaker 4 (14:25):
And urban Meyer touched on it and he was like,
you know what, I have to live with that as
the leader of this ship. I have to live with
that knowing that I kicked off a kid and this happened.
So he was like, never again, will that happen to
any of my kids. I will never kick one of
my if they if I recruit them, they're staying with me.

(14:48):
And I think that it gave them a bond that
you know, it allowed them to go all the way
and win a championship.

Speaker 5 (14:59):
It's deep.

Speaker 4 (15:00):
You know, we were able to obviously, you know, my
roommate was Al Horford and Corey Brewer and I had
Toryren Green, Lee Humphrey, see Rich Walter Hodge, like, these
guys are still some of my closest friends today. And
it was so we win the championship after sophomore year,

(15:25):
and this was my first time where people were like, yo,
you could be a top pick. You know, it's time
for you to go. It's time for you to go
to the NBA. And I love those guys so much
and I love what we had so much that we
ended up going back to school another.

Speaker 1 (15:39):
Year because you al who else would have left and
we ended up staying another year.

Speaker 4 (15:49):
Because you know, you can't. Chemistry is just something you can't.
You can't deny. You can't deny when when you're open,
you're getting the ball. You know, Oh, your guys tendencies
just you just love hooping with the guys, so much
and the brotherhood just becomes It's like second nature, you know,
and I'm really proud of that that, you know it was.

(16:12):
It was not about the money, and we showed it.
You know a lot of people say, oh, it's not
about the money. No, but you know what, we let's
run it back. There was no nil shit. We were
paying money. We were paying the Lloyd's of London the
insurance to stay. You know, that's what those years.

Speaker 5 (16:31):
Meant to us.

Speaker 4 (16:32):
You know, you can there was real sacrifice in it,
and I think you know you can't. Those years were
as special as they come.

Speaker 1 (16:40):
Obviously, you know, back to back champs and in the bonds.
But you know we went to school right over the
hill in Westwood at UCLA, And although I had a
ton of fun playing basketball, I probably had more fun
not playing basketball. What were those Knights?

Speaker 5 (16:55):
Like?

Speaker 1 (16:56):
Any stories you could share? I don't want to get
nobody in trouble. I mean we mentioned some heavy name.
You ever see Tea out there smoking the joint? What's happening?

Speaker 15 (17:04):
Like?

Speaker 1 (17:04):
What'd you see out there that you can speak on?

Speaker 5 (17:06):
It was wild?

Speaker 4 (17:07):
T Bow was not wild at all, No, he was.

Speaker 1 (17:11):
It's what made him him.

Speaker 4 (17:12):
Though you know, he was probably like on Fridays, he
was probably reading his Bible and he was serious.

Speaker 5 (17:19):
He was we had a class together.

Speaker 4 (17:20):
He was always doing the extra credit.

Speaker 5 (17:23):
You know.

Speaker 4 (17:23):
I was like, Yo, you're a square bro, like extra credit.
But you know, but like talk about like his competitive spirit.
You couldn't you couldn't deny that, you know, especially Okay,
you're going to school in the.

Speaker 8 (17:39):
South, you know, that was a real that was crazy
to me.

Speaker 4 (17:44):
It's like, you know, you're going down University Avenue and
that's like the main main road on campus and you
got the black kids on one side and you got
the white kids on one side party and it's just
like nobody mixed. And that to me that it was
just like we were able because of.

Speaker 1 (18:02):
The sports thing to crossover.

Speaker 5 (18:04):
It bridged a little.

Speaker 4 (18:06):
Bit more, you know, and that's the power of sports
and what we do on the platforms that we have
is like you win, it becomes so much bigger than rich, poor, black,
white all that stuff.

Speaker 1 (18:18):
You know, you're able to.

Speaker 16 (18:20):
Do something that's bigger than bigger than you, bigger than you.

Speaker 1 (18:33):
What was your college experience like just as far as
you know, being a real student athlete and then being a
superstar on a smaller team. What was that experience?

Speaker 3 (18:41):
Like it was like a movie. Man Like it was
literally it's literally like a movie. Like I would do
my whole college career over again.

Speaker 17 (18:49):
It was.

Speaker 18 (18:49):
It was a great time, but it taught me how
to balance life.

Speaker 3 (18:53):
Like the academic course load was crazy at the high
Like the amount of studying you had to do to
survive was unbelievable. Like it taught you how to balance
your time. It taught you how to do the impossible.
You know, write twenty I was journalist of major thirty
page papers. I started off in the business school learning
about accounting and econ. Like, it was crazy the amount

(19:14):
of dedication focus you had to put into it. It
was also crazy that I was. I didn't spend a
lot of time in the librarly, I ain't gonna lie.
I spent my time in the gym, and I dug
myself in a hole. And then I had to like
start going to the library, start trying to catch up,
start trying to get ahead and figuring stuff out.

Speaker 18 (19:31):
But in terms of.

Speaker 3 (19:34):
Hooping, I used to I used to go out, Like
let's say I went out with some of my friends
or whatever, we'd go out till twelve thirty one. I
would come back and I'll go to the gym at
one am and I would work out. And I feel
like I was still able to do the college student
life but also working towards becoming a professional.

Speaker 18 (19:50):
I think that's what kind of separated me, because I could.

Speaker 5 (19:52):
Balance the.

Speaker 3 (19:54):
Life that comes with being a college athlete with basketball,
with academics, and then eventually figuring out, you know, the
social aspect.

Speaker 18 (20:04):
Of you know who, like who you going to spend
the rest of your life with.

Speaker 3 (20:07):
But I think it was a perfect combination of things
that kind of fell into place for me. And I
struggled early, which is why I probably succeeded late because
I had always struggled in life and I was just like,
all right, what do I have to do to kind
of succeed, And I'll do it.

Speaker 1 (20:20):
So your junior year, the fifteenth seed against the number
two Duke seed, take us back to that game and
talk to us about it. You scored a game hight thirty.

Speaker 3 (20:29):
So we When we drew Duke in the selection Sunday show,
I was geeked. I was super hype because, for one,
I hate Duke. I hate everything about him, just a
full disclosure. I always been a North Carolina fan, but
I hate everything about him, and I felt like I
felt like that was my chance to kind of solidify

(20:50):
who I thought I was. Like I always thought I
was the man, but the rest of the world hadn't
seen me. People that watched the mid major basketball teams
in mid rajior programs, they knew I had NBA qual talent,
but they weren't sure if it translated, and they weren't
sure if I could sustain a high level play against
high level athletes.

Speaker 18 (21:06):
And I was like, this is my perfect chance. I'm
playing against Duke.

Speaker 3 (21:09):
They got Austin Rivers, they got Mason Plumbley, they got
Miles Plumbly, they got three other NBA they had Quinn Cook,
they had like six seven NBA players, And I was like,
I was like, this is my chance to show who
I am and the show I can elevate my team,
like I'm playing with. I always joke I said that
my friends, my friends work on Wall Street, and I'm

(21:30):
playing with like guys that work for Fortune five hundred
companies against NBA players, Like the guys I played with
are the accountants for the for the Duke players in
three years from now. So if I can uplift them
and play against them, this was solidify who I am.
So I actually told my mom that we're gonna beat
Duke and beat and beat whoever playing the second round.

(21:51):
I said, we'll probably lose to Baylor because Baylor got
Pierre Jackson. They had all this Quincy Quincy Millity, had
all these like super super athletes, and I like, I
don't know, like we ain't really athletic around here at
a Patrio Legue school. So I went out there and
in warm ups they was talking crazy, like you know
how you go to half court and they just talking

(22:11):
out of pocket, like just saying ridiculous, reckless stuff, trying
to like punk us in warm ups, and I'm like,
man like, like y'all, y'all ain't even built like that,
Like like, first of all, Duke players don't even really
be nice like that when they get to the league.

Speaker 1 (22:27):
Ain't know gangs is going to Duke, right.

Speaker 18 (22:30):
So they was talking crazy at wordmups.

Speaker 3 (22:32):
But then like once the game started, like I let
him know, I was here talking to the bench. I'm
talking to coach k after shots like I'm letting them
know I'm here, like I don't know WHI ch'all been
doing in the ACC but ain't none of these Ain't
none of these like me, you know what I'm saying,
And we.

Speaker 5 (22:45):
Ended up going to win.

Speaker 3 (22:46):
I think that was like the signature game for me
to kind of solidify that, like I can play in
the league and I can hold my own, I can
be a league guard, I can play off the ball,
like I can give you whatever you want.

Speaker 1 (22:54):
So after doing what you did to Duke, how did
that kind of catapult you into the national eye and
it start kind of getting the respect you always felt
you deserved.

Speaker 3 (23:03):
I think it put me in that like mid major
startum role to where you know, you had the Steph Curry's,
you had the Jimmer for Dats, you had the George
Hill situation. You had a lot of Eric Mayner, a
lot of players who were in similar situations, you know,
where they are able to beat a higher ranked team,
a higher seed in the NCAA tournament. You had the

(23:24):
Steve Nasz situation when he was a fifteen to beating
the two seeds kind of put me in that same
light to where it was like, you know, he has
NBA potential X y Z, these types of players have
done this this, These are what his numbers are like
compared to them. And then it kind of set me
up to where I was the next season. I'm a
preseason All American.

Speaker 18 (23:42):
I had.

Speaker 3 (23:42):
I entered the draft that year and had basically heard
that I would be a late first round pick.

Speaker 18 (23:47):
And I had to decide if I wanted to leave
or go back to school.

Speaker 3 (23:50):
And I was like, I'm going back, Like I always
wanted to be the man, this is my chance to
beat a man.

Speaker 18 (23:54):
Go to a small school.

Speaker 3 (23:55):
I wanted to. You know, some people don't want too
much film on him. I was like, they can get
as much film.

Speaker 18 (24:00):
They want on me. Like I believe in my game.

Speaker 3 (24:03):
I know that I can get back to where I
was at and take my team even further. And I
firmly believe if I didn't fracture my foot, like we
was going to like the lead eight. Like we had
a bunch of seniors. We were a good team. We
were about to be ranked in the country. We had
a pretty good schedule. He was playing VCU, we were
playing high major teams, well, the high major teams that
would play us most of them was afraid.

Speaker 18 (24:24):
I Also the backstory funny part.

Speaker 3 (24:27):
Is so as I went to a small school like
Lee High, and I wanted to play every school that
didn't offer me. So I wanted to play Penn State,
I wanted to play Ohio State. I wanted to play
the Dukes in North Carolina's but every school in Ohio
I didn't recruit me. I really wanted to play them.
And then I got cut from the USA team. Matt
Painter was the head coach, was at Purdue Behein was

(24:50):
on the staff and two other coaches. So I went
back home and I told our coaching staff I wanted
to play Purdue, I wanted to play Syracuse. I want
to play all those schools, and they said that will
play you when c J leaves.

Speaker 5 (25:07):
Yeah.

Speaker 18 (25:09):
Thanks. So that's that's kind of how it went.

Speaker 3 (25:11):
After that Dude game, I was I was just locked in,
like determined to get to the next level. And I
got to go to CP three, I got to go
to Bronz Skills Academy. I got to go to all
those things and really expose myself to like what it's
like to play at the next level.

Speaker 1 (25:34):
Do a sport athlete? Quarterback what was your style like
you would throw a runner?

Speaker 8 (25:38):
Both? Yeah, both, Yeah.

Speaker 5 (25:39):
I could throw it.

Speaker 6 (25:40):
Yeah.

Speaker 19 (25:41):
You know, back then we were in a lot of
options too, but I could throw it. You know, it
wasn't a typical just run all the time an athlete.

Speaker 8 (25:47):
I could throw it.

Speaker 1 (25:48):
It's something about football though, because I played football too,
and I was yeah.

Speaker 20 (25:53):
Yeah, But to think about when you go through your
couple of touchdowns, go to the.

Speaker 1 (26:00):
Stadium, you see eighty five thousand or one hundred thousand.
I mean, I love basketball. I'm glad I chose basketball,
but there's nothing that I get chills thinking about just
them being in them stadiums and you almost committed to
actually play high major college football.

Speaker 19 (26:12):
Yeah, that's my only regretting life that I never got
a chance to play football at one year.

Speaker 8 (26:18):
Yeah, and I and to be.

Speaker 19 (26:19):
Honest, I was gonna My freshman year was so so
it was like ten points of five sis, So.

Speaker 8 (26:24):
It was all right.

Speaker 19 (26:24):
But you know, coming in as a McDonald's, you know,
it's a lot of hype, but people didn't know I
went through the back issues and all that stuff. So
me and Coachio met with Nick Saban. He was the
football coach at Michigan State. At the time, I was
gonna play football. If I didn't have a great sophomore season,
I was gonna play football that next year. But what
happened was I was a big team player of the year,

(26:45):
I was All American and it just took off.

Speaker 1 (26:48):
The exact same thing. You see, after my sophomore year.
My sophomore year, I went out there, Bob Toledo cameing
down that team. I went out there and did springball,
ran routes for the first time in last year.

Speaker 8 (26:58):
Was dope.

Speaker 1 (26:59):
And then they started talking all this change of dorms,
not captain, won't start on the basketball. I'm just like, God, damn,
just because I want to play a little football. So
but that was one thing too. I mean, to this day,
I'm just like, what if I would have just gave
it for a year and saw what it would have happened. So, yeah,
it was, it would have been dope. Draymond told us
a great story about being recruited by Izzo. Just a

(27:19):
straight shooter. Uh, what was your recruitment process like with
Michigan State. Who were some of the other schools you
were considering going to?

Speaker 5 (27:25):
Oh Man?

Speaker 8 (27:26):
Back then?

Speaker 19 (27:27):
I was my top schools was like Syracuse, Cincinnati, you
had Huggins.

Speaker 8 (27:32):
He recruited dogs, you.

Speaker 10 (27:33):
Know what I mean. He went after all the dogs.

Speaker 19 (27:35):
Back then, Georgia Tech, they was pumping out point guards.
You know, you look at the history of Georgia Tech
point guards. It had you go back from Mark Price
to uh AA, Travis Best and Steph k and I
would have been like right behind him.

Speaker 8 (27:53):
Who else was it?

Speaker 10 (27:55):
Uh?

Speaker 19 (27:55):
Michigan Uh Louisville, Florida State was another big one, and
that was mainly football. Yeah, back then they had a run.

Speaker 8 (28:04):
They was on national.

Speaker 19 (28:05):
TV every week, Yeah, every week, And so I was
looking at them. But being recruited by isoe what separated him?

Speaker 21 (28:12):
Man?

Speaker 8 (28:12):
He was in front every day.

Speaker 19 (28:14):
When I say every day, Man, he recruited me higher
because back then they ain't had nothing, you know, So
Draymond recruiting was a little different. You know, he could
be a straight shooter with him with me, he was
damn they're big. And to be honest, you know, because
the people don't realize, like I took a chance on
Michigan State. Michigan State wasn't the prominent program that is
they it wasn't They ain't had like no top players there.

(28:36):
Michigan had six or seven McDonald's, all American on the rockster.
Michigan State didn't like Coachinzo didn't make the tournament before
I got there. He was in this second year when
I committed. So Michigan State wasn't what it was.

Speaker 1 (28:49):
And what was it like building that team out though,
with Charlie and Mo And this is back when you
were to college for you know, at least three years
sometimes four. Yeah, what was it like kind of just
going along that path because I say all the time
like that some of the best funniest times of my life.

Speaker 10 (29:02):
Bro.

Speaker 19 (29:03):
Yeah, this star, no doubt about it. I would never
change it for the world.

Speaker 10 (29:07):
You know.

Speaker 19 (29:07):
Antonio Smith, he was people forget about him. He was
the first one to go, Tom Big Tom. We played
together at Michigan State. He went and then Mopete went.
I came in and Charlie came And the reason I
loved them my brothers, you know what I'm saying. And
it was special on how we did it because we
got it from the mother, like we wouldn't knowing that

(29:28):
Michigan State wasn't shit.

Speaker 5 (29:29):
You know what I mean.

Speaker 19 (29:30):
And we came in there and grinded coach starting with coaching,
so he was a grinder too, But we just came
in grinded, you know what I mean.

Speaker 5 (29:37):
That's that's what it was.

Speaker 19 (29:38):
Every day when I got there, I started the first
thing I said, I got to change the mentality.

Speaker 22 (29:43):

Speaker 19 (29:44):
I could just tell people was used to losing, and
I wasn't with that, you know what I mean. Like
even like the open gym games, they're played and you lose,
it wasn't no, they didn't nobody care.

Speaker 8 (29:53):
So I'm like, let's start keeping tracked. Let's start keeping.

Speaker 19 (29:55):
Tracks of wins and losses, you know what I mean.
So that started making winning important, you know. And then
just to just me saying I beat you every day.
It got real competitive, you know what I mean. And
we started changing it slowly but surely, and and and
then they clicked, you know what I mean, Like we
got something special here. And I told coaches, start going
to recruit some dogs, you know what I mean. And

(30:17):
and and even when we like in the schedule, like
I had a big part of that. People don't know
that tough schedule they have. Me and coaches talked about
that years. I went to him saying, start lighting them up.
Let's clay.

Speaker 8 (30:27):
Yeah, let's scratch.

Speaker 5 (30:29):
Yeah, let's scratch.

Speaker 19 (30:31):
Because you know, when you play some of them big schools,
some of the other cats deer in the headline.

Speaker 5 (30:36):
They're nervous.

Speaker 19 (30:37):
So I'm like, go line them up first, get them going,
and now when we play them in the tournament, we're
gonna be ready to roll.

Speaker 8 (30:42):
Cats ain't in awe Like when we played Vince.

Speaker 19 (30:45):
Garden my sophomore year. Cats there they want the actual
autograph before the gas.

Speaker 23 (30:50):

Speaker 8 (30:51):
They wasn't used to none.

Speaker 24 (30:52):
Of that, that crew they had.

Speaker 8 (30:56):
Yeah, so they was like almost fanboying.

Speaker 19 (30:58):
But at the a we started lying them, you know
them tough games up early in the season.

Speaker 8 (31:02):
That changed everything.

Speaker 1 (31:10):
I heard some interesting stories about your recruiting process and
how you committed somewhere and then you decommitted when the
coach left, and then some shit in Michigan and then
you got a low key got into it with izz
Oh and tell me what that ended up, because you
ended up getting your jersey retired just not too long ago,
December third of last year. Tell me about the recruiting process,

(31:31):
and then we'll finally get to what the honor it
was to have see your jersey hung in the raptors
of Michigan State.

Speaker 24 (31:37):
So the recruiting process for me was different a lot,
a lot like the NBA for me, honestly, where you know,
I'm coming up in Saginaw and there was there was.
We had a guy who's sixteen named Josh Southern, and
we had a guy named Larry Wright who was Larry's
about six three wing could shoot the fuck out of

(31:57):
it was athletic. And so that was my sophomore year
and like you have all the coaches in the country
coming in to see those guys. Josh end up going
to Boston College, Larry went to Saint John's, and but
you had Tuppy Smith time. It's on like all the
coaches in the country coming through the Alpen gyms and
I'm just young.

Speaker 1 (32:13):
I'm ninth going to tenth grade.

Speaker 24 (32:15):
I'm out there, rocket And like my high school coach
would tell me, like, yo, these coaches are coming to
see Josh and Larry and IT'SO even told me this before,
but they'll leave talking about you. But at the time,
I'm six, I'm still six', Five i'm. Undersized planning the
four and SO i would kind of just get LIKE
i started getting offers from, men majors and. People you,
know you see the write ups and stuff, like, oh

(32:36):
he's a mid major player at best.

Speaker 5 (32:38):
And all of.

Speaker 1 (32:38):
This then my junior, year you.

Speaker 24 (32:41):
KNOW i lost some, WEIGHT i got more, athletic AND
i really started. Rocking my junior year end up being
my best year of high school because my senior, year
my ankle was fucked.

Speaker 8 (32:48):
UP i was fat as, hell and SO.

Speaker 24 (32:52):
I always wanted to go To Michigan statetion AS i
was a. Kid my aunt went. There she was a
number one player in the country and like eighty nine that.

Speaker 5 (32:59):
Time she went.

Speaker 24 (33:00):
There AND i used to go up as a little,
kid AND i was scared Of, sparty BUT i always
used to tell my, mama, Like i'm gonna.

Speaker 11 (33:05):
GO i.

Speaker 24 (33:08):
WAS i was the little badass, kids scared The, spartan
scared Of. CHUCK i was scared of, everything and you,
know SHE'S i used to always tell, Them i'm gonna
go To Michigan.

Speaker 8 (33:18):
State you know What i'm.

Speaker 5 (33:19):
Saying and.

Speaker 24 (33:22):
Then WHEN i got to high, School coachino kinda offered.

Speaker 25 (33:25):
Me but.

Speaker 24 (33:25):
DIDN'T i, committed Thinking i'm committed but they weren't really honoring.
It so it's LIKE i felt like they was kind
of teeter in that line and like keeping me at
bay but not going too far with.

Speaker 5 (33:36):
Me and SO i went.

Speaker 24 (33:37):
Down To kentucky my junior year and they were Playing
florida and this One Joe kim knowing, them was, There
like that bitchy college game they was.

Speaker 5 (33:48):
There they went back to. BACK i think, Yeah and.

Speaker 8 (33:51):
So college game day was.

Speaker 5 (33:52):
There we walking in Rupp arena and.

Speaker 24 (33:55):
Like i'm standing next to my assistant, coach my head
coach in high school and Like we're literally this close
to each other and got to scream at each other
ear to hear. It i'm, Like, yo this shit. Live
so you, know we go. On we watched the game that,
Night florida end up. Winning then we stay. Over we
meet With tubby earlier that day and they offered. Me i'm, like,
yo this is WHERE i want to, Be SO i.

(34:15):
Committed my mom didn't even. Know she didn't she had no,
idea she had never Met tubby at.

Speaker 8 (34:23):
Nothing SO i get back. Home we drive back home That.

Speaker 24 (34:27):
Sunday After sunday, EVENING i get. Home my mom was
always on the. Blogs just like she on Fucking twitter.

Speaker 8 (34:34):
Now and so WHEN i get, home.

Speaker 24 (34:40):
Like Maybe, Wednesday, thursday start hitting the blogs Like Draymond
green committed To. Kentucky Now i'm mind. YOU i still
didn't tell my, mom so we so.

Speaker 1 (34:51):
Are you thinking about this, Though like, DAMN i need
to tell HER i need this or you're trying to hide.

Speaker 24 (34:55):
It i'm trying to hide, it like she never gonna
find out.

Speaker 8 (34:58):
Until this time for me to. Go SO i get
home like that.

Speaker 24 (35:02):
Thirsdday, yeah and she's standing there like waiting on, me
like you did what, like And i'm, like. Huh she
showed me the computer like you you committed To, kentucky
and she fucking went crazy like how dare you do?
That you never fucking talk to me about? It, this,
that and the, other like lou who's my high school.

(35:22):
Coach they don't fucking run, You i'm your fucking, mom
all this, stuff And i'm just LIKE. Whoa so for,
me it's like the happiest time of my. Life you
feel me Like i'm committed To, kentucky but she's fucking grilling.
Me so like a weekend and a week and a half,
later she goes she drived down and go to a
game by herself with my. Father they met down, there
went to the, game and she came back and she

(35:44):
was in tears and she was, like, Yo i'm, Like
i'm not happy that you did that without, me.

Speaker 5 (35:48):
BUT i, see like why you committed. It it's fucking amazing.

Speaker 8 (35:52):
Down, there And i'm happy for.

Speaker 24 (35:54):
You and So tom went, on you know What i'm.
Saying then we get To march And tubby called. Me
we in the we in the state. Playoffs we end
up winning. Championship But tubby called me and he, Said,
HEY i wanted to call you and let you know
That i'm gonna be Leaving kentucky tomorrow And i'm Gonna
I'm i'm gonna go coach At, minnesota BUT i wanted
to call you first and let you know that and

(36:15):
not find out on.

Speaker 26 (36:16):
Blogs and So i'm, like, wow that's.

Speaker 24 (36:18):
Great you know What i'm. SAYING i appreciate you letting me.
Know stand Up god to up he is and you,
Know i'm gonna reopen my, recruitment But i'll definitely look
at minnesota'll definitely be at the top of that. List
and SO i reopened my recruitment and the first CALL
i get that next, morning seven in the, morning this
coach is, Today, Hey i'm, like what's?

Speaker 5 (36:36):
Up he, like how in the fuck could?

Speaker 1 (36:39):
You?

Speaker 5 (36:40):
Like this is?

Speaker 24 (36:40):
Me is relationship? Forever like how in the fuck could
you commit To? Kentucky is fucking? Bullshit, this, that and the.

Speaker 5 (36:47):
Other And i'm, like, yo, like you didn't fucking offer.

Speaker 24 (36:51):
Me so NOW i started back going at him like
you ain't fucking offer. Me you full of, shit y'all
act LIKE i was fucking coming there AND i committed
to you and you. Ain't you fucking pulled this stuf
like fuck, That and he's, like whan the fuck said?

Speaker 5 (37:02):
That, well you.

Speaker 24 (37:03):
Didn't have a fucking, Offer and Now i'm telling you
know you got a fucking. Offer so we're having a streaming.
Match he's offering me a. Scholarship it's a full streaming.
Match and so you, KNOW i ended up reopening recruitment
and it eventually comes down To, Michigan Michigan state In.
Indiana and this is like the summer after That, march

(37:27):
AND i was prob, like not many people NOTICED i
was gonna go To, michigan and my mom wanted me
to go To michigan because of you, know the education
and all of. That i'm really trying to get to the,
least SO i ain't really tripping about the. Education BUT
i was gonna go To. Michigan it's felt good and
B i hatches got there like. It i'm, like all,

(37:48):
Right i'm gonna go To. Michigan so they called me
and they begged me to come down to open gym
on This, now this Is. Thursday i'm committing on the Following.
Thursday they begged.

Speaker 1 (38:02):
You was just gonna. COMMIT i had been.

Speaker 24 (38:05):
Before It's. Michigan it's an hour, away you know What i'm.
Saying So i've been there a bunch of, times and
they begged me to come one last time on That monday.
Before so It's thursday, evening they're begging me to. COME
i go That. Monday i'm committing that follow On. Thursday
BUT i don't tell them i'm committing. There they just
know my press conference Is. Thursday and SO i go.

(38:27):
DOWN i plan in the open gym with. Them i'm
busting they Ass i'm talking and like nobody talking back
like that at that. Time Manny fresh was, There pet was.
THERE pd ain't a big. Talker you know What i'm.
Saying pet From Detroit many not a big. Talker they real,
niggas but they ain't big. Talkers and then like the,
rest Like Kevin grady was school but like there was

(38:49):
a lot of squares on the, team and So i'm
busting their ass and talking shit and like nobody's saying nothing.
Back But i'm going To Michigan state And i'm talking
shit and like trying to try and fight, me like
everybody trying, fight And i'm, like, yeah that's, me you
know What i'm, Saying like everybody talking, ship we about
to fight in this open.

Speaker 5 (39:05):
Jail that's more me.

Speaker 24 (39:07):
Than fucking talking to everybody just looking at. Me and
So Michigan state just swe more at home from. Me
BUT i Have michigan left my ass at home and
not fucking caught me.

Speaker 5 (39:16):
DOWN i went To.

Speaker 1 (39:18):
Michigan you, guys did you know accomplish so much in
such a short amount of, time you, know with all the,
accolades big, games, losses like you said the time, out

(39:40):
what is the one thing you take is at that
moment right? There is that the one when you say
when you look. Back Chris, Webber michigan in The fab.
Five what's the one thing that you hang your hat
out and stands out to you that it is just
that that sums up that.

Speaker 8 (39:55):
Moment that was a.

Speaker 6 (39:59):
Lot, yeah that was a. Lot yeah, STUCK i. KNOW
i don't THINK i could pick. One, yeah that was a.
LOT i don't THINK i could. Pick now you're putting a.
Lot you're putting with a loaded. Question, yes a lot of,
music personal, situation you putting, Music you putting a whole

(40:21):
culture just on y'all backs at that, time you know
WHAT i, Mean, like that was a, lot and.

Speaker 1 (40:27):
It was to, me LIKE i, said it was a
Small it was a two year window to be real with,
you you know WHAT i, mean because he was too
and done so to effect to have a lifelong effect
on culture as a whole when it pertains to, basketball
you know WHAT i. Mean to have one of the
greatest young teams in the history of the. Game unfortunately

(40:47):
fell short two years in a. Row but LIKE i,
said you guys did so much for the game and for.
Culture that's WHY i was, wondering is there any one
thing that sticks out or is just that whole?

Speaker 8 (40:56):
Moment is what it?

Speaker 6 (40:57):
IS i think it's the whole, moment, man because it's
many things you do, Now like their players are look
at rob men with.

Speaker 1 (41:04):
Two tattoos and be, like he ain't got no. Tattoos
but they.

Speaker 6 (41:07):
Don't realize at that, day it was like having a
tattoo on your, face.

Speaker 5 (41:10):
Right you know WHAT i.

Speaker 6 (41:11):
Mean so it was the small things like at that, time,
MAN i felt like the world was, changed and like
even with little things like And Living color was ON.
Tv you know What i'm, Saying little things like. That
SO i definitely want to take the. Credit and we did,
it but it was the energy of everybody at that.
Time black people was coming. Up you wasn't taking it no.
More we saw all these other, expressions all these other,
Things LIKE i remember we won the game and, all

(41:33):
and we jumped on the scores table and then hip
HOP i ran had the whole crowd doing.

Speaker 5 (41:37):
It.

Speaker 6 (41:37):
Right i'm just doing it BECAUSE i love hip hop
AND i want to feel like a. RAPPER i want
TO i want to know how y'all do. It AND
i remember the criticism they came, after you know WHAT i, Mean,
like WHEN i really think about, it, man, DOG i
was eighteen getting death.

Speaker 5 (41:50):
Threats, dog you.

Speaker 1 (41:52):
Know WHAT i, Mean i'm having fun though for people you.

Speaker 6 (41:56):
Ain't letting these five black guys what these niggas up
here doing Like i'm talking about like it was, crazy you,
know to the point Where i'm. Worried and NOW i
got my boys from the come and sit by my parents.

Speaker 1 (42:05):
Again it's you know WHAT i. Mean but it's a
different time, though web. Too not to cut you off
because it's common now because social, media any coward has a,
Voice but back then they had to, like really somehow
get that. Ship this is the early, nineties SO i
had to be like a handwritten.

Speaker 8 (42:17):
Letter, time you know.

Speaker 1 (42:21):
Something there was, more there was more hate behind.

Speaker 6 (42:23):
It yeah, yeah and it makes you, too you know
at that. Time now these are all good things because
you can't have courage without. Fear so So i'm not
gonna act like nobody was a scar these. Times BUT
i really have to thank our parents because your question
stack what what got it? Was we were built for.
IT i, Hell i'm gonna cry about. This my father
came from you.

Speaker 5 (42:45):
Know What i'm.

Speaker 1 (42:45):
Saying it was built for, it you know WHAT i.

Speaker 6 (42:46):
Mean my mother she like WHEN i went To, duke she, like,
yeah you like, that you like, architecture, Right so you
like that. Architecture i'm, like, yeah well she's like a
black man designed all of. It he don't get no
credit for, it you know WHAT i? Mean like they,
are we are ready for, it you know WHAT i.
Mean and that's why it doesn't surprise me j ON tv,
now it doesn't surprise me other. Things so you, KNOW
i can't take one, MOMENT i just take all of.
Us it did a lot for, us man because growing,

(43:10):
up we, like we watched y'all one than we watched
THE nba because we felt like we were.

Speaker 5 (43:15):
Y'all like these are five.

Speaker 1 (43:16):
Guys that's the, best come from the, bottom that's the best.

Speaker 6 (43:19):
Confidence and they supporting each. Other and another, thing we
talk About big, three you can never duplicate The fab.

Speaker 8 (43:26):
Five though we.

Speaker 6 (43:28):
Talk About big three right now they talking About big three.
Teams why ain't nobody talking about The fab Five because
you can't duplicate. That y'all was meant to be the
cornerstone and the culture at that. Time, bro you know
WHAT i, Mean we appreciate it because it did a
lot for. US i appreciate the fact you said that
you saw yourself and.

Speaker 1 (43:45):
US i promise.

Speaker 6 (43:46):
You that's WHY i used to be like at the,
GAME i used to have tears in my. Eyes our
mom is watching the, game or you, know even, commentating
like some of the reasons and some of the WAYS
i commentate is on purpose BECAUSE i know what they
said about. Us we cut our, hair we cut our yair.
Dog it's like my father always you, know my, father my.
Father people Think juan my father Is juwan did my

(44:06):
father looked Like muhammad Al Lee juan Will smith like all.
That he had the same army. Haircut and we're, like
we're gonna make you cut your, hand pretty. Boy you
know we go to the final, four you gotta cut his.
Hair ball all of us cut out. Hair AND i
remember the. Game you know my mother she just, says you,
KNOW i was messed. Up you know they said y'all
look like. Thugs but she wanted me to hear. That
and he's, like, oh you you want to see you

(44:28):
want to see what this is on the? Court well
that's really, SHOW i asked. Today so we were built for,
it and we had a lot of. People so many
people support, us man and give us that energy because
it was a lot to. Carry maybe maybe not you
really don't, remember BUT i remember the.

Speaker 1 (44:41):
Love especially for your age. Though that's a lot to
have on your. SHOULDERS i got the.

Speaker 6 (44:44):
Pictures my whole team ninety, four ninety, five ninety six state,
championship all whole team Ball head because y'all did.

Speaker 5 (44:52):
It.

Speaker 1 (44:53):
Yeah, Yeah so obviously there's been. Talks and SINCE i
feel like you're my big, Brother i'm gonna go ahead
and ask you there the thirty for thirty doc came,
out you weren't involved in. It where did The fab
five situation gone? Wrong and is it righted today in
twenty twenty.

Speaker 6 (45:10):
One, yeah SO i don't think The fab five situation
ever went? Wrong, okay you, know LIKE i, SAY i,
MEAN i talked to a great time right on the
outside looking. It, yeah, YEAH i talked to cats too.
Much you, know if if they if this was, loud
they he turned to text nine fuck up the. Interview

(45:30):
BUT i would say THAT i would say that the
deterioration of me And Jay rowse relationship could probably have
an effect on, everybody you know What i'm, Saying and
So i've always tried to be, Careful but you're my,
brother and this you're just gonna do. It i've tried
to be careful of how to talk about my relationship.

Speaker 5 (45:52):
Because you don't.

Speaker 6 (45:54):
Understand i'm the oldest of, Five so my mother taught
me a couple of. Things If i'm fighting my brother
in the street and the strange try to break us
up deep they ass and get back to, Fighting ain't.

Speaker 5 (46:04):
Nobody like how do? You how the hell you getting?

Speaker 1 (46:06):
Off you know WHAT i?

Speaker 6 (46:07):
Mean, well we love each, other we, fight so that's one.
Thing and then just it's not fair to save my
side without someone there saying that. Side AND i feel
like the whole time it has been a negative coming at,
Me LIKE i felt, like damn at all are people
to hate me out all the white, people all, this

(46:27):
all that that's been trying to get me for.

Speaker 1 (46:28):
Years you you, yeah you? Yeah that shit hurt me
to my.

Speaker 6 (46:34):
Court, Dog i'm holding me in tears right, now, right
But i'm not. Perfect i'm not saying. That so this
ain't no sides or. Nothing it's just something on my
brother's show telling me what. Happened so with, that And
i'm a big, brother SO i know how to get
out the. Way matter of, FACT i get out the
way too.

Speaker 5 (46:52):
Much SO.

Speaker 6 (46:55):
I just want people at the end of the day
that the brothers to remember they don't love. Us that's.
All that's. All THAT'S I i know they don't love.
Me and you can be a good man knowing they
don't love.

Speaker 1 (47:09):
You, yeah, Right. Yeah my mother used to have a,
saying you, know who are they to be equal? To mm?
Whatever that whatever that?

Speaker 6 (47:18):
Means a basketball player for forty years is just a?
Businessman who is he to be equal?

Speaker 10 (47:22):
To you?

Speaker 1 (47:23):
Know we we you, know you, know so you KNOW i,
was you, KNOW.

Speaker 15 (47:30):
I.

Speaker 6 (47:30):
WAS i think that me being like, damn you know
WHAT i? Mean like things said you called time out
on purpose things and it said like you lied in
court like. That w that would hurt any real one
with knowing that you, righteous with knowing that you don't
do nothing to you to especially to your brother in

(47:52):
that form, we LIKE i, said we not, perfect but
in that form to initially hurt you as a, brother
that should hurt. Brow it's this Song stars is a dope.
Song it's an old song in the. SEVENTIES i think
in this Giant JAN i don't know her, name but janis.
Iron it's Not. JOPPLIN i know what you're talking. ABOUT

(48:14):
i probably chopping this girl name. Up but she, says
how do you make amends without? Defending like IF i
say to, you you, know stack, man you ain't never you,
know you have a comeback and come to the point
you address. It at some, point you're gonna have to be, like, hey,
dog you know what, happened?

Speaker 5 (48:31):
Right you know What i'm.

Speaker 12 (48:32):
Saying AND i.

Speaker 5 (48:32):
DON'T i.

Speaker 6 (48:33):
DON'T i don't want to do that Because i'm working
On i've been working on forgetting this, dog BECAUSE i
Want god to forgive, me you know WHAT i. Mean
like when it talks about forget seven times seven, times
like it just clicked with.

Speaker 1 (48:47):
Me it ain't forget that many.

Speaker 6 (48:48):
Times it's that might take that might that might be
how many times you gotta?

Speaker 5 (48:53):
Forgive you know WHAT i?

Speaker 6 (48:54):
Mean BECAUSE i could be late again, today like you
have to forgive me. Again you have to forgive me,
again you. Know AND i Want god forgive. ME i
won't forgive this for my. BROTHERS i want you know and,
so but What i've learned IS i can forgive you
without fucking with.

Speaker 1 (49:08):
YOU i love you from a. Distance, yeah AND i
will tell you.

Speaker 6 (49:11):
This we're, brothers AND i know it'll IT'LL i know
you know again were, brothers so you, know But i've
never said nothing about, it And i'm just, like you
got the biggest media company in the, world y'all biggest doc.
EVER i hope you're on the, story. RIGHT i hope

(49:32):
you're on that because but but but that's you see
me being laid, back trying to be cool and not say.
Nothing that's got also saying, Like, okay you better quit
running from confrontation and tell your story because you got
a son coming.

Speaker 1 (49:47):
Up you're gonna let him think that's what.

Speaker 5 (49:48):
Is that's WHY i got the book.

Speaker 6 (49:49):
In the doc And i'm gonna inspire some mother fun
kids Because i'm gonna really show you what it's. Like
Like i'm not embarrassed in what my father came.

Speaker 5 (49:55):
From he all, right what part did you pay in the?

Speaker 6 (50:08):
Swag LIKE i know everybody had their own, input the
baggy shorts of shoes you.

Speaker 27 (50:13):
Played it's hard for me to like say it without
people thinking Like i'm trying to make it about.

Speaker 1 (50:20):
Me but you was the fashionable one.

Speaker 27 (50:22):
THOUGH i was look at it one that. CARED i cared,
More that's All juwan. Didn't jawan was, like, No i'm
trying to. Ball jawan's a. Professional jawan was always ten
years older than, us.

Speaker 1 (50:36):
But the same, age but the same.

Speaker 27 (50:38):
Age never had a not a fresh, cut always had
a big gold, tee always had a crease in his.

Speaker 8 (50:43):
Pants like we all kept our.

Speaker 27 (50:45):
Originality and so many times people talk about us all
wearing bad.

Speaker 8 (50:50):
Heads he ain't cut his hair.

Speaker 5 (50:52):
Ball he didn't.

Speaker 8 (50:53):
Know, yeah he was, LIKE i love, Y'ALL i ain't
cutting my hair. Ball I'M i ain't cutting my.

Speaker 27 (50:58):
Hairball so LIKE i started wanting to wear the shorts
Because Doug Smith, Missouri Steve Smith's, Syracuse Anderson HUNT u
n L. V Steve, Smith Michigan. State they used to
all come home in the summer and bring me, shorts,
Right SO i used to have those satin shorts down
on my knees with. All they get heavy when you

(51:22):
start sweating in.

Speaker 8 (51:23):
Them but they were so.

Speaker 27 (51:24):
Cold so, like by the time we got to, College i'm,
like y'all got A nike. CONTRACT i know y'all can
get us a longer. Shorts that's really what it. Was Bobbie,
BLAND i remember his. Name our, Equipment, like we want
some longer. Shorts and then the other thing y'all, Know
Nike rep came. In welcome to the. School everything's, great.

(51:45):
Man he put out some power for. Shoes, man back,
Up power forward.

Speaker 1 (51:48):
Shoes back.

Speaker 8 (51:49):
Up, yeah we're not wearing them with a bow.

Speaker 27 (51:55):
Jacket we we ain't wearing no high. Tops up to my,
Cap i'm not wearing. Them and so that's when The hirachis.
Came they didn't even want us to wear them because
they felt like it wasn't a basketball shoe because your
ankles were out. Right and so we wore them and
they's like you got to get your ankles tape before every,
practice before every game for a, lawsuit like. Ok and

(52:19):
then we signed a little wafers so we could wear those.
Shoes and that's where like the whole fashion thing with
the shoes came from the ball. Heads it was more
like just, solidarity one for, all all of.

Speaker 5 (52:33):
One.

Speaker 8 (52:33):
Whatever the Socks Ray jackson.

Speaker 27 (52:37):
Really, yes, indeed we were about to play In. TEXAS
i forgot the FIRST i forgot one of Them texas.

Speaker 1 (52:46):
Schools And.

Speaker 27 (52:49):
Ray's homeboy came to the. Hotel ray was, like da da,
Dah i've been, traveling bring me some. Socks and he
Brought ray a gray pair with Blue, nike AND i
was in the room playing Uh, madden And ray came
in the room and he pulled out the. Socks i'm,
like what you get do? Fun it's like you just
got it for the. Mall and then we all looked like.

Speaker 8 (53:11):
They have some Black.

Speaker 27 (53:16):
So we went to the mall and now just think about,
this they didn't have five pairs of black socks out
of an entire. Mall the first, GAME i wore dress
socks on top of my white.

Speaker 8 (53:27):
Sox true story on dress.

Speaker 27 (53:31):
Socks we went to the little, stall we put on our,
unis covered up the, socks D. D we ain't gonna
snap off our pants until right before the tip, off
so they won't tell.

Speaker 1 (53:42):
Us.

Speaker 8 (53:42):
No you know how that. Worked we do it prior
gotta get.

Speaker 27 (53:46):
It we're gonna shut it, down.

Speaker 8 (53:52):
So we're gonna make sure it can't shut it.

Speaker 27 (53:54):
Down so that that's how we did.

Speaker 5 (53:56):
It that's.

Speaker 1 (53:57):
Dope, yeah Oh.

Speaker 8 (53:59):
Rice that's who he's.

Speaker 1 (54:00):
Playing he's what's your relationship?

Speaker 8 (54:03):
NOW i love.

Speaker 27 (54:03):
Him he should be in The hall Of. Fame three,
final FOUR Us National. Championship he should be in The
hall Of. Fame did great With San Diego state brought
their program back to. Life Brian, dutcher who now, coaching
was the lead. Recruiters juwan signed with him, first now
their head. Coach he was giving our tickets on. Campus
now they got a real. Program he should be in
The hall Of. Fame he's got many championships As Jim

(54:25):
beahan and my Guy Michigan, state WHO i. LOVE i,
mean he got many, championships has, them SO i feel
like he deserves.

Speaker 1 (54:34):
It what's your relationship With? Web we touched on it
In atlanta when we had him recently disintroducted The hall Of.
Fame saw that shout, Out but what's your relationship With?

Speaker 27 (54:46):
WEB i Love web And i'm almost, sure especially Since
juwan just re signed That i'll see him in that.

Speaker 8 (54:52):
Arbor i'm back living in the d AND.

Speaker 27 (54:54):
I see he just did it something incredible donation to
cannabis and al killing them In detroit, too shot the.

Speaker 8 (55:04):
VIOLA i just love how.

Speaker 27 (55:06):
Strip clubs and we used to be taboo even though
everybody else was doing. It now we started Doing it's
great to see us getting profit off of, it and
SO i believe we be able a break bread this
year or whatever at a Game i'm GLAD i got
a chance to be there when he got inducted in
The hall Of. Fame i'm glad he got a chance
to be on the show right AFTER i lost my,

(55:28):
mom and so we're. GOODIE i have no, problems no
ill will with my. Brother of, course we need to
probably sit down and talk about some dotsormize and cross
some teas or. Whatever but you, Know i'm taking the
bullet for, see, well that's my.

Speaker 1 (55:41):
BROTHER i love to hear. That being big fans of
both y'all and he was kind of my big brother
coming up through the league and just being big. Fans
so obviously at this, POINT i, mean tomorrow's never, Promised
so to be able to see that bridge being rebuilt
or not even that it was, broken but just being
able with like you, said cross it, TOGETHER i think that's, dope.
Man so we definitely commend you for. That McDonald's All

(56:09):
American state champions scored forty three points in the championship.
Game those are Your Al bundy days recruited you ended
up Choosing. Duke what was it About duke that spoke
right to?

Speaker 11 (56:22):
You By Olt bundy, days you.

Speaker 1 (56:25):
Know when he reminisces about his Polk hi. DAYS i
used to do this in high school and do that
in high, school but you really had the. Accolades, yeah.

Speaker 28 (56:33):
HONESTLY i MEAN i was A duke fan SINCE i
was like, eight SINCE i first started playing, basketball and
my first year of basketball was when they had had
won their second national championship against.

Speaker 11 (56:49):
AGAINST i guess it Was michigan that.

Speaker 28 (56:52):
Year, yeah because in ninety one they Beat, Kansas so
they Beat michigan in ninety, two AND i probably watched
that game like twenty. Times somebody had had taped it
ON vhs at our house and then it ended up
getting taped over by the sound of.

Speaker 11 (57:05):
MUSIC i was FUCKING i had that game memorized for
like two.

Speaker 29 (57:10):
Years and so it was like by the TIME i
got to high, school, man LIKE i was getting recruited
by a lot of, teams you, know LIKE, uva AND
i was From VIRGINIA'S uva Was omnyard And Texas Stanford Billy.
Donovan it was A florida at the, time AND i
was really interested in going, there but it was always
a situation where if coach k And duke.

Speaker 11 (57:31):
Had made me an, offer LIKE i was going to go,
there you know it.

Speaker 28 (57:35):
Was it was the hardest part for me was saying
no TO uva BECAUSE i did feel some sense of.
Loyalty my family had lived In charlottesville for a few
years before we moved To, roanoke and you, KNOW i
had some friends that were going to go TO. Uva
my best friend in high school was going to go
play baseball and football. There so it was that was
the hardest, part was just saying no to. Them but
going To duke was it was the dream come. True you,

(57:57):
KNOW i.

Speaker 5 (57:58):
DIDN'T i.

Speaker 28 (57:59):
DIDN'T i didn't, REALLY i didn't really bad AN I
it was, like you have a chance to, come here's
your you, know here's your. Offer and then like three
days LATER i Called COACH k AND i, said.

Speaker 5 (58:08):
All, Right i'm.

Speaker 1 (58:09):
Coming that's. DOPE i, mean with the rich history At,
duke with all The All americans AND nba, players they turned,
out you, know two TIME Icc player of The, year
all Time duke leading. Score what was your experience like,
There and tell us About COACH. K what was like
playing with him and what did you learn from.

Speaker 28 (58:27):
HIM i feel LIKE i HAD i had two chapters
of My duke, career and it was you, know my
freshman and sophomore year and my junior and senior, year and.

Speaker 11 (58:36):
My first chapter was really.

Speaker 28 (58:38):
Hard this was the chapter that Made Matt barnes THINK
i was an, asshole and most Of america THOUGHT i
was an. Asshole you, know you're you're eighteen years old
as a, freshman AND i you, KNOW i, played and
at that, POINT i played.

Speaker 11 (58:54):
In a lot of big, games but it's never in
front of.

Speaker 28 (58:57):
Fans and you go on your first road game and
it's that you're like twelve games into your freshman year
and the entire student section is yelling profanities at. YOU
i had in college my first two, YEARS i had
this like bad acne and shoulder. Acne and so you
see kids like wearing these Mock duke for number four

(59:17):
jerseys and they've painted these red dots all over their
shoulders and their signs about your, family and you're, like holy.

Speaker 11 (59:24):
Shit what DID i just sign up?

Speaker 28 (59:26):
For and you, Know i'm, Not I'm i'm not somebody
that's gonna like back down from. That so THEN i
sort of started creating this persona on the, court.

Speaker 11 (59:38):
And there was a lot of head, bobbing a lot
of trash.

Speaker 28 (59:41):
Talking it was it was a lot like How jack
played in THE, nba ONLY i was just a just
a fucking cocky white, kid you know WHAT i.

Speaker 11 (59:49):
Mean so everybody hated, me.

Speaker 28 (59:52):
And you, know by the end of my sophomore, YEAR
i was so distraught about, it AND i had gone
to a really bad place and had had. MISBEHAVED i
would SAY i misbehaved my sophomore. YEAR i tried to.
QUIT i told my SISTERS i wanted to. Quit like
this Was december of my sophomore.

Speaker 1 (01:00:07):
Year.

Speaker 28 (01:00:07):
DUKE i was, like, this this is not for, me
is not WHAT i signed up. For AND i had
basically a come To jesus moment with coach k in
Late may of my sophomore. YEAR i guess it was
after my sophomore, year summer between sophomore and junior, year
and he sat me down the office and he just, said, look,
man he's, like you've been, good like you you, know

(01:00:28):
you Were all acc last year and you were third
Team All, american we made The final.

Speaker 11 (01:00:32):
Four it's like you've been, good but what you're doing
isn't good. Enough and Coach, collins who's.

Speaker 28 (01:00:38):
Now At, Northwestern Chris Collins Duck coollin's son he, Said
i'll never. Forget he, said the sad thing is we'll
never know how good you can.

Speaker 11 (01:00:46):
Be AND i was, like the fuck that. Hurts that.

Speaker 28 (01:00:50):
Hurts and that SUMMER i had them make me a
schedule to the. HOUR i still have the fucking spreadsheet
in a notebook in my. House they had met to the,
hour you, know eight, am wake, up eight, thirty, breakfast nine,
am checking with Coach, collins ten am Class and it
was down the, line you, know, lifting, conditioning, basketball court,

(01:01:12):
work study, hall lights, out ten. Pm and oh AND
i had to carry a jug of water around the entire.
SUMMER i had to have like a gallon jug of water.

Speaker 11 (01:01:20):
With me at all.

Speaker 1 (01:01:21):
Times was that to replace the?

Speaker 11 (01:01:22):
Beer, yes it was to replace the. Beer i'll take
you guys want to know.

Speaker 28 (01:01:25):
STORIES i feel like this is the type of podcast
WHERE i tell, Stories yes about my sophomore, year but so,
yes As i'm walking around campus with the jugg of.

Speaker 11 (01:01:33):
Water SO i did that all. Summer they didn't let
me PLAY usa.

Speaker 28 (01:01:36):
Basketball they're, like we want you, here we want you
in our, environment and, man it was the best thing
that ever happened for.

Speaker 11 (01:01:41):
ME i lost like twenty three POUNDS i.

Speaker 28 (01:01:43):
WAS i was over two fifteen at that, time In
may of my sophomore. YEAR i started my junior year
at like one ninety. TWO i was in unbelievable. SHAPE
i won every preseason conditioning thing our team had that,
year AND i Got National player of The year my
junior year AND Acc player of the. Year we were
we were undermanned. Squad we ended up getting a number
one seed in THE ncaa. Tournament we won THE Acc,

(01:02:05):
championship lost in the sweet.

Speaker 11 (01:02:06):
Sixteen like it was.

Speaker 28 (01:02:07):
An it was absolutely that year was the turning point
in my. Life and it was all that that jugg
of fucking, water that's all it.

Speaker 5 (01:02:14):
Was, hey what? What what?

Speaker 8 (01:02:16):
Was the N, c N c And duke ribery was, Like.

Speaker 28 (01:02:19):
Oh my, Gosh i'm gonna mix two stories. Here i'm
gonna miss mix two. TOPICS i Know matt wants to
hear some. Stories so the N c N c, double The,
DUKE q AND c rivalry was was was.

Speaker 11 (01:02:31):
Crazy there was nothing else like.

Speaker 28 (01:02:33):
It and you, know growing up A duke, fan you
have such an appreciation for that. Rivalry and my first
time playing in it was A duke game at home
against you AND. C my freshman year and the crowd
was just, different the, buzz the energy was just. Different
and you, know looking, back it feels like A game
seven of a playoff. Game and that's what A duke

(01:02:53):
qu AND c game feels. Like my sophomore, year we're.
Playing we're we're gonna win the A sec regular season
where the number one team of the COUNTRY us In,
yukon we're basically number one or number two the whole,
season so we're gonna win THE.

Speaker 11 (01:03:07):
Acc and it's the night before The DUKE q AND c.

Speaker 28 (01:03:11):
Game and it's game days, there so they got like
the whole set up out In. Shoskville they got all
the thus out.

Speaker 11 (01:03:20):
There oh it's.

Speaker 28 (01:03:21):
Popping So i'm in My i'm in my dorm room
On West, campus AND i have a few friends. Over
we we have a few beers or, whatever and so
we get the idea that we should go down To
shishiskville because that's where the party is.

Speaker 11 (01:03:32):
Tonight this is A friday, night it was A saturday night.

Speaker 28 (01:03:35):
Game so we go down there and LIKE i ended
up playing beer pong with UN c, fans my roommates
running Through shozhskiville screaming at, people waking them, up making
them take shots Of Captain Morgan's oh this is pre
cell phones with, cameras you, know this is pre social.
Media like like looking, back LIKE i would have got

(01:03:58):
kicked off the.

Speaker 11 (01:03:58):
TEAM i would have been a. Wrap it would have
been a, rap.

Speaker 1 (01:04:01):
Right how did you play in that? Game? Though how
did you play in that game that? Night next?

Speaker 28 (01:04:05):
Night not great in the first, half not great in
the first, half BUT i.

Speaker 11 (01:04:08):
Had a good second. HALF i ended up with fifteen.

Speaker 28 (01:04:10):
Points uh and and uh made the made the made
the the game winning defensive.

Speaker 11 (01:04:16):
Play believe it or.

Speaker 28 (01:04:17):
Not we stripped with shot McCants and then dove on
a loose, ball got, fouled and and hit the game
clinching free.

Speaker 14 (01:04:23):
Throw what was your recruiting? Process, like.

Speaker 30 (01:04:36):
You, know it was, good it was you, KNOW i
mean for, me it was it was it Was Carolina.
Georgetown those were the two schools THAT i.

Speaker 6 (01:04:43):
Loved dad wanted you to go TO. Unc, Yeah mama
wanted you to go To. Georgetown, man that's.

Speaker 30 (01:04:48):
Right so we had we had we had we had season,
tickets so we would go To georgetown. Games AND i
don't know if you Remember Michael jackson played with point.
Guard so he went to my high. School he used
to work for my mother in the. Summers my mom
Introduced Pat ewing to his. Wife SO i was SO
i was entrenched With, georgetown LIKE i was all, in

(01:05:10):
like we all. WERE i think at that time Black.
TEAM i thought it WAS i thought it WAS hbcu back.
THEN i didn't realize it was like, eleven you, KNOW
i didn't realize it was a private. School but So, Georgetown, Carolina,
Michigan virginia And duke AND i made my first visit
and it was To duke And COACH k just kind

(01:05:31):
of blew me. Away AND i knew right then THAT
i wanted to be. There and and the genius of
COACH k AND i, know you, know love Hate duke
and all. That and obviously now he's had he had
great success at the end and coached The olympic. Team
but his ability to get people to buy. In he
wasn't a, great excellent old, coach but like if he,

(01:05:52):
sat he looked you in the eye like you believed in.
Him and that was his, genius getting everybody to kind
of like buy in to him and buy into one.
Another and so do du really wasn't my, fate but
like you, know it just felt, right and you, know
made that, decision and you, know fortunately we made.

Speaker 6 (01:06:12):
History you win titles in ninety one and ninety, two
the Famous Christian layton.

Speaker 5 (01:06:18):
Shot how big was that?

Speaker 30 (01:06:19):
Moment, Man it's, crazy you, know it's crazy to think
that was thirty years ago and people still people still
talk about.

Speaker 5 (01:06:27):
It But.

Speaker 30 (01:06:31):
Christian was a great college. PLAYER i Mean Alonso, SHACK
i mean everybody he, faced he Dominated shack twice and.

Speaker 5 (01:06:44):
He and we had a good.

Speaker 30 (01:06:46):
TEAM i, Mean bobby was a great college point CAUD
i was you, KNOW i was a good. Player he
had three he had three guys in The College Basketball
hall Of fame and so so those moments were. INCREDIBLE
i don't think we realized while we were doing it
the significance of what was. Happening we were just trying to.
Win we WERE i was, NINETEEN i was a, kid
and but that passed The. Laightner that. Shot laydenon didn't

(01:07:12):
miss a shot the whole. Game Laden it was Cocky.
Lighten it was like he talked. Trash he also had
A he was a great teammate as. WELL i remember
we had a GAME i talked about in the.

Speaker 5 (01:07:24):
Book we had a.

Speaker 30 (01:07:25):
Game we went To buffalo to Play cantius and it
was a game for, him going back to his. Hometown
and at halftime he had like one or two shots
And Coach k's, like, Like, christian what's going, On like
this game's for. You you act like you don't want to,
play And he's, LIKE i want my hometown to see
how good my teammates. Are and so you, know you

(01:07:45):
you coming back, home college player of the, year you
want to try to show. Out but he was trying
to show us out and so he. He you, know
you don't hear about that side Of. Christian you just
hear the you, know the, crazy and there was a
lot of. Craziness but but he. Was he was a great,
competitor you, know he he he and he did his.
Work he did his thing with.

Speaker 6 (01:08:05):
All the noise and knowing how everybody feel About, duke
is the brotherhood tight enough to block out the noise
and stay?

Speaker 8 (01:08:13):
Strong you?

Speaker 7 (01:08:14):
Know?

Speaker 30 (01:08:15):
YEAH i mean it's, funny, man BECAUSE i don't think
we were aware of what people's perceptions were back then
A duke AND i looked At duke no different THAN
i looked At Wake, Forest Georgia, Tech. Georgetown these are
p w y s that have good basketball, teams and
SO i get it with the you, KNOW us Beating

(01:08:37):
vegas and The Fab five and Obviously jalen's documentary and
how they felt towards. Us BUT i wasn't aware of,
that like, honestly like we we got along with every,
like you, Know web was my. GUYS i talked some
stories About weber and there when we were in high.
School he used to come visit me In. Virginia you,

(01:08:57):
know we didn't have social media and read the newspaper back,
then so we were In. Durham we'd go To. Durham
we go to, cookouts, barbecues. Barbershop everybody showed. Love SO
i don't THINK i was aware that there was this. Stigma,
yeah like this, NOW i should have known better BECAUSE
i didn't like The celtics for the very reason people
didn't like. US i was A laker, fan AND i

(01:09:18):
identified with The. Lakers BUT i think because we had
really good white players and had a very latner, pearly
MAYBE i fit, this like you, know my parents and you,
know people thought what they thought about. ME i think
that might have contributed to the. Narrative but at the,
time LIKE i was totally oblivious to that, narrative and

(01:09:42):
not until years LATER i even thought the hate Towards
duke later on was Because duke has success like The
yankees or like.

Speaker 8 (01:09:51):
You, know The.

Speaker 5 (01:09:51):
COWBOYS i didn't.

Speaker 8 (01:09:53):
REALIZE i didn't really realize.

Speaker 1 (01:09:54):
That you could have used a better. Example BUT i
feel you over.

Speaker 30 (01:09:57):
The forty nine, ers you, know you, know and so
BUT i get it, now LIKE i, understand and it
was an interesting, time and you, know and so you,
KNOW i get the we had a brotherhood. Strong coach
k moved, on you, Know shires recruited, well.

Speaker 8 (01:10:13):
You, know we hope to stay. Relevant. Man that's that's
that's the main.

Speaker 6 (01:10:16):
Thing in ninety One final, four y'all started thirty, FOUR i,
know before losing The Duke Grant Hill Barba, Hariley Christian
latna talk about that.

Speaker 12 (01:10:35):
Shout out To. Duke, NO i played in. IT i
played in, it you. Know and the only THING i
can say about, IT i say this all the. TIME
i lost the. GAME i lost the, game AND i
say it's a GRIG a go bullshit and everybody go. Bullshit,
no we did, this we did. That but being the
number one playing college that. Year everyone here all the.
SMOKE i lost the. GAME i didn't play. HARD i

(01:10:57):
was out There, ladlergagon you, know on seventy eighty, percent
thinking we're playing somebody just beat about thirty the year.
Before but it was closed the whole, game AND i.
Wasn't it wasn't with. Me were up, four we up,
five then they're tied. Up we, go we going that
little run. Again BUT i was loud. AGAIN i was
thinking about the. League, yeah, MAN i said this. Before
i'm not snitching. HIM i said this. BEFORE i always

(01:11:19):
SAY i lost that. Game and at the end WHEN
i anybody else saw the end of that, GAME i
know you two did. Right SHOULD i shot the?

Speaker 4 (01:11:27):
Ball?

Speaker 5 (01:11:29):
ABSOLUTELY i should have shot the.

Speaker 28 (01:11:30):
Ball choke point, out he's gonna send five men to the.

Speaker 11 (01:11:33):
Boards Larry johnson brings the.

Speaker 28 (01:11:35):
Ball, up looks like he wants to go all the
way with.

Speaker 31 (01:11:38):
Him he's outside, now stopping his.

Speaker 1 (01:11:41):
Trouble later on Him hunt will have to do something.
Great hurling's gone two cost two cuts up to touch
you AND, o, BABE i never.

Speaker 5 (01:11:52):
Heard THAT i. SHOT i should have shot the. Ball
choke say that all the.

Speaker 1 (01:11:56):
Time talk a little bit about you touched on it,
earlier but Just tark versus the, world the mentality of the.
Team what kind of Dude tark, Was how he captivated
people just like you guys did as a, team and
just how good then obviously his wife and.

Speaker 8 (01:12:11):
Everything how good was he to you?

Speaker 12 (01:12:12):
Guys, again you're talking to someone who never met his.
Father so every coach was almost, like that's who's telling
me what to do day in and day, out, Right
so as a, man so he was that and me
and coach was real. Close AND i know people, saying,
yeah he was a number one player on the, team
but it don't matter who you. Are when you see
the way he treated people and treated, you that's what

(01:12:33):
a respect comes. In because he was bigger than we.

Speaker 5 (01:12:35):
Was.

Speaker 12 (01:12:36):
Now now we were some bad motherfuckers and everybody loved the,
team but Coach tark was an. Outcome you got to
remember to. Everyone, now you, guys what The raiders, There
you got the girls team, there you got that badass
hockey team, there, right forget about. It when we was AT,
unlv there was no professional team. Nowhere it was just

(01:12:58):
that college right there in that basketball.

Speaker 1 (01:13:00):
Team how important is it? Too because we do have
some some high school kids and some college kids in
that just falling in love with the. Game obviously you're IN,
unlv and like you, said the world was right, there
but you really loved the game and talked about being
in the gym all the. Time how important was.

Speaker 5 (01:13:13):
That aspect for?

Speaker 8 (01:13:14):
You it was very.

Speaker 12 (01:13:15):
Important THAT'S i, mean you know how when you love the.
Game these youngsters know how it. Is when you love,
it you don't never want to be away from. It
AND i saw an opportunity to get my moms no
matter what we was. In you, know we all got that,
story you know how that. IS i was that dude
so and and anybody again when you put up them two,
dude that was wilder. Up there was two. Squares it

(01:13:38):
was two. Squares if it wasn't a female or gym
or now you, know you only want to get something neat,
man that's all we. Did so IF i IF i
had a coach that was like, this that was that
was that saw the vision and it was gonna help
me with.

Speaker 5 (01:13:53):
It, man you KNOW i took.

Speaker 1 (01:13:54):
It so when do you feel like you were on
the map? Then and it was In college of The
arizona's when you put yourself on the.

Speaker 20 (01:14:10):
Map even even even even WHEN i went To, arizona.

Speaker 1 (01:14:17):
You, KNOW i got.

Speaker 8 (01:14:17):
Fault you, know there's you, Know i'm on a team
with four you know.

Speaker 1 (01:14:22):
What was your?

Speaker 8 (01:14:22):
Team we had A Jason GARDNER.

Speaker 5 (01:14:27):
I was at the.

Speaker 20 (01:14:27):
Two we Had Richard jefferson at the, Three Michael right
at the, Four Warren woods at THE fivet And Pig.
Woods ship my my my freshman. Year we had Little
record who came in From. Iowa and then we had
Uh lithuania kid who who holds a record you know
for Like duncan twelve six or thirteen feet you. Know
so we had so much, talent SO i was getting red.

(01:14:49):
Short we had a juco player co runner for the,
Year Lamon, fraser you.

Speaker 8 (01:14:53):
Know so we had some boys coming. In SO i
was the young, buck you, know like they're gonna red
shirt me and COOL i can, learn and my asshole
ism kicked.

Speaker 14 (01:15:05):
In, asshold, yeah my asshole doesn't kicked.

Speaker 5 (01:15:08):
In SO i was, like, Man i'm about to go
for the.

Speaker 20 (01:15:10):
Position bro because, coach you, know coach will be like all,
right so, listen the four and a five is set,
one two, three fight for, it.

Speaker 8 (01:15:19):
Like, oh SHIP i started training fun that school, SHIP.

Speaker 1 (01:15:25):
I ain't what you was supposed to go, there, right that's.

Speaker 6 (01:15:27):
What you was on, too, Right, YEAH i WISH i
could have got An annoucal. CHAMPIONSHIP i ended up losing
by not getting. In they wanted theysed to my fresh. Year,
okay my baby fresh, yea, yep that's. CHAMPIONSHIP i missed
it not taking the, test showing up late.

Speaker 5 (01:15:44):
Hungover SO i.

Speaker 20 (01:15:46):
DIDN'T i JUST i just started, training watching the habits
of you, know Like Ruben. Douglas and then like people,
said Like Ruben, douglas we played.

Speaker 8 (01:15:54):
Against each other the high. SCHOOL i was, faster he was, stronger.

Speaker 20 (01:15:59):
Bigger BUT i WAS i was more, athletic and he
just didn't know my skill LIKE i improved since high.
School so when coach threw that ball, UP i was
a whole nother. Demon so WHEN i stole a, position
he was, Like i'm, Transferring and then Lou record, said
Should i'm?

Speaker 8 (01:16:16):
Transferring? Oh should don't have no?

Speaker 20 (01:16:19):
Competition, YEAH i have no competition now LIKE i don't
have NO i don't have to fight with. Anybody so
now you, know NOW i have no. Worries NOW i
can just play a free. Game and then once that
free game came, in and you, Know i'm leading the
team scoring, now AND i was like Should i'm four years,
fast AND i THOUGHT i was going.

Speaker 5 (01:16:37):
To be who's recruiting you Besides? Arizona, uh North?

Speaker 8 (01:16:44):
RIDGE i was. LOW i was North it was North.

Speaker 20 (01:16:51):
RIDGE i was being recruited by North. Ridge and the
guy from North ridge got a job At Kansas. State
So Kansas state came, in you, know, like, yeah we're
gonna give you a thousand thousand minutes as a. Freshman i'm,
like ship, WHATEVER i just you, know just let me
do WHAT i. Do and then The Paul paul came in.

Speaker 1 (01:17:11):
Squad then right before they had still que.

Speaker 8 (01:17:14):
And, yeah SO i was gonna go be the point guard.

Speaker 1 (01:17:16):
There Look michael McPherson. Too and Then Pat.

Speaker 20 (01:17:21):
Kennedy Pat kennedy the, coach and my dad had ties
from you, Know, florida so they, was you, know working
their little.

Speaker 8 (01:17:27):
Deal so SO i was gonna go.

Speaker 20 (01:17:32):
There so right BEFORE i was gonna, go, Uh Pat
kennedy's mother, died so they had to cancel the. Trip
and Then ludelsen came in and, SAID i mean he
came into the house and, said, Listen i've never seen
you play UNTIL i got on the. Plane you're you
have the kind of STYLE i, like if you want to,

(01:17:53):
come you, know it's whoever you know the sides first between, You.

Speaker 8 (01:18:00):
Kevin gaines And Jimmy.

Speaker 5 (01:18:02):
Hayward AND i was, like.

Speaker 20 (01:18:05):
Okay SO i went to go take a trip and
it had like some little scrimmage There Michael dickerson, them
AND i was. BAWLING i was, like, oh, Yeah i'm coming.
Here i'm coming. Here you didn't get the pancakes from Miss.
OLSEN i don't know she.

Speaker 6 (01:18:22):
Madcakes, yeah come, on don't tell me experience.

Speaker 1 (01:18:28):
That the trip in a.

Speaker 20 (01:18:31):
Pancake what kind of bond did you build With? Luke
what's the Funny IS i Hope i'm a coach like
him because you gotta, Remember I'm i'm, immature LIKE i
Was dennis the, Minutes Like i'm, like there was no
WAY i should have Been first of, ALL i should

(01:18:52):
have been kicked out.

Speaker 1 (01:18:52):
The school or.

Speaker 20 (01:18:54):
Bench and he never he never punished me on that basketball,
court like he never let some out WHAT i was
doing outside affect my playing. Time, no the only way
that you, know like IF i was gonna get bench
is because SOMETHING i didn't, practice like IF i didn't
go to.

Speaker 5 (01:19:11):
Class he's, like all, right you don't want to go to?

Speaker 20 (01:19:13):
Class five miles five, miles six am under thirty, minutes all,
right you know WHAT i? Mean you, know so you
know that's how you know that's BUT i looked at
us Like i'm just getting in. Shape but he never he,
never he, never like he never punished me for WHAT
i was, Doing like he just you, Know AND i

(01:19:34):
gotta respect that, because for the most, part in any other, coach,
YES i would have been deep sitting on the, bench
and he was, like you're gonna have to you, know
if you don't want to go to, class you're gonna
have to deal with that.

Speaker 8 (01:19:44):
SUIT i ain't got nothing to do with.

Speaker 5 (01:19:45):
Me you're gonna have to deal with that.

Speaker 8 (01:19:46):
Suit you got an old point.

Speaker 5 (01:19:47):
Two you're gonna have to deal with.

Speaker 1 (01:19:49):
That.

Speaker 2 (01:19:52):
No, no.

Speaker 1 (01:19:55):
It was crazy two thousand and. One you guys go
to the N C DOUBLE A final and lose a
heartbreak of The duke talked to us about that, game
Because i've heard you AND rj go back and forth
on this.

Speaker 8 (01:20:05):
Game, man he Let dunleavy man kick his ass up
and down the. Court, man it's Dune, leavy.

Speaker 5 (01:20:09):
MAN i believe. IT i, BELIEVE i.

Speaker 8 (01:20:11):
Believe what was so, funny it's Dune.

Speaker 5 (01:20:12):
Leavy LIKE i had a.

Speaker 8 (01:20:14):
COLD i had a Cold au roommates. Group it was,
me Dun levy And Luke. Ritt now that was my
that was my age.

Speaker 1 (01:20:23):
At Luke ritt a.

Speaker 5 (01:20:24):
Game that's WHAT i.

Speaker 20 (01:20:25):
Said that was my little like when we when we
go to like the pump cansus, something that was that
was my little that was my.

Speaker 5 (01:20:30):
Trio so.

Speaker 32 (01:20:34):
When you when you grew up with dun levy's your your,
teammate and then you playing in The western name and
then you come ON, rj it's you, know first of,
all he's been playing bad this whole.

Speaker 8 (01:20:45):
Tournament he should have got.

Speaker 20 (01:20:46):
Happiness on the other, side the super, athlete the man
hit five threes in the game night, off you know
WHAT i, Mean, like come, on, Man.

Speaker 8 (01:20:55):
SO i blame that on.

Speaker 20 (01:20:56):
HIM i, MEAN i was. LISTENING i was four for.
Seventeen But i'm not going to play. Myself i'm not
gonna you, know it's me Against duke at this. Point,
becall you're just happy to be.

Speaker 1 (01:21:10):
Here, Yeah.

Speaker 8 (01:21:13):
But that's that's how we talk to each.

Speaker 20 (01:21:17):
Other, yeah come, on, man ain't help me. Out it was, like, yo,
bro you're four for four for twelve right, NOW i
Got i'm going against five, players expects me against?

Speaker 5 (01:21:31):
Them who they have to?

Speaker 1 (01:21:33):
Do who's on the due?

Speaker 5 (01:21:34):
TEAM a bunch of sorry Players Duke yeah sorry as
a bunch of, dukeies you, KNOW a bunch of.

Speaker 20 (01:21:43):
Snobs they had a young young, boozer they had j Will, Duhan.

Speaker 5 (01:21:53):
Shane, battier a whole bunch of proper. Talking, mom that's
a bunch of, squares all much improper.

Speaker 1 (01:22:01):
Talking about outside of that, game how Will how good
Was Jason williams before he got in that motorcycle? Accident to?

Speaker 20 (01:22:07):
You, SEE i ask You i'm biased because our first
introduction was the, turn you know WHAT i? Mean so
the finals was so from there it was basically fuck him,
right and then it became a double fuck him when

(01:22:30):
he's coming into the. Draft, so you, KNOW i get
the starting spot after my during my rookie, season So
i'm coming into my sophomore year as the. Starter, well
rumor hits that you, know if they get the number
two picking the, draft they're going After Jason.

Speaker 5 (01:22:47):
Williams So i'm sitting here, like.

Speaker 1 (01:22:51):
Wait hold, on, wait this Is golden Stated.

Speaker 20 (01:22:53):
State So i'm sitting, there you, know with with you,
know with the oldest smith who was you, know the
now he was the player of.

Speaker 8 (01:22:59):
Development So i'm, like wait a.

Speaker 20 (01:23:01):
Minute if they drave, him he still got to beat, me,
Right and it was, like he's gonna be the number
two pick in the. Draft you think they're going to
start a second rounder over the number two. PICK i, said,
yeah he gonna have to beat it's my. Position he's
had to he has to beat. Me he, said he
don't have to do. NOTHING i, said, oh oh that's

(01:23:23):
how You, oh that's how.

Speaker 5 (01:23:23):
You want to.

Speaker 20 (01:23:24):
Play So i'm lifting working on my, line like, YEAH
i can't. WAIT i can't wait TILL i can't wait.
DRAFT i hope y' all. DRAFTED i hope we get
the number two. Pick we end up getting the number three.
Pick so uh so we end up getting Done. Levy
but when we played the, bulls ah over, nah get him,
quick quick double. Double he asked the ta is he
mad at?

Speaker 5 (01:23:43):
Me, Yes i'm.

Speaker 20 (01:23:46):
MAD i don't like, you but yeah he, was you
know it was he wasn't explosive as D rose was
but it was that type of that type of, shiftiness
you know WHAT i, mean quick crossover and when he.

Speaker 5 (01:23:58):
Hit the, hole he hit the whole.

Speaker 8 (01:23:59):
Dunk and that was the sneaky part of it because
he didn't look like he.

Speaker 1 (01:24:05):
Didn't guess, you he had a nice jumper. TIME i
really liked. HIM i was JUST i. WAS i was
sad that you, know obviously through that accident we didn't
get a chance to see. Him but that's, funny your little,
person it was a.

Speaker 20 (01:24:14):
Person it was so funny that he had no idea
THAT i THAT i THAT i envied him because of,
that because they were fighting for that number two.

Speaker 1 (01:24:22):
Spot college, freshman you get a chance to start and
win a national. Championship we were talking about before we got.
STARTED i, mean obviously the league is the, ultimate going the,
prize BUT i had a blast in. College uh you

(01:24:42):
talk to us about where'd you go to college?

Speaker 5 (01:24:45):
At?

Speaker 1 (01:24:46):
Uh you the dr backyard. University the streets are. Hard
not as a freshman starting getting a chance to win
a national championship At. Villanova talked to us about that.

Speaker 25 (01:24:58):
Experience it was that you it was Fun AND i
say it was fun because it was it was up
ups and. Downs like as a, Freshman, NAH i was
An All american and so Like i'm, thinking Like i'm
gonna go Like i'm gonna do my, thing and LIKE i,
know obviously WHEN i got To, villanova it was like
it was team. Oriented those dudes. Were he had a

(01:25:20):
bunch of older. Dudes BUT i KNEW i had a
chance to come in and, compete to start and. Everything
So Coach wried didn't give me. ANYTHING i KNEW i
was gonna have to compete for. Everything but coach writes
another one who like everything was, mental like your mental approaches,
everything and so like he would come into practice some
days and try and break you and see where you.
Were and that was his, goal to see where we

(01:25:41):
were as a. Team and with, ME i JUST i
could not let that happen in my three. YEARS i was,
like this man would never be able.

Speaker 1 (01:25:46):
To do that do. That but.

Speaker 25 (01:25:50):
And we, fought, man we fought like. Hell we had
like little things going on throughout the. Season but the
one THING i realized that our practices were way harder
than our. Games we're way. Harder so we got the game.
Time we're, thinking these these dudes aren't playing as hard
AS i was, like they may be more, talented but
they're not going to outdog.

Speaker 5 (01:26:09):
Us so that's HOW i.

Speaker 25 (01:26:11):
Mean we obviously had different terminology and stuff like, that
but that was basically what we. Did and So Coach
wright had that mentality for, us and it was it
was fun because we just knew the other dudes weren't
going to just do the little things that we were gonna.
Do so if we made, shots we were. Winning but
if things weren't going well for. Us but it's kind
of kind of tough en, up and he implemented implemented

(01:26:31):
that into our minds and.

Speaker 5 (01:26:35):
Obviously every way.

Speaker 10 (01:26:37):
Is ironic, School LIKE i know he's, married but he's
the ladies.

Speaker 22 (01:26:40):
Man.

Speaker 6 (01:26:40):
Like the ladies love him like you know who Love
coach right ellen them that she Bro she called me
and asked, me DO i know him? Really i'm, like,
NAH i don't. KNOW i was just looking at a
picture of, Him, like but she's. Not but she's not
the first. One i've had other older ladies from When
i'm working somewhere talk about.

Speaker 5 (01:26:58):
Him so like you must be man or. SOMETHING.

Speaker 25 (01:27:00):
Gqjq everyone everyone sees you nothing like. This everyone sees
That Jay wright when he walks into practice sometimes and he's,
like hair's a little messed, up and he got that
scowl on his. Face his first name Is, Gerald gerald jailed,
Right so he was all, right everyone else.

Speaker 5 (01:27:19):
Sees jay, right but we See gerald.

Speaker 8 (01:27:21):
Right you know you don't want to see cheryld.

Speaker 1 (01:27:23):
Right jerald's on some. Ship how did you learn how
to play off two feet? With as A villanova that
come earlier very skilled off two?

Speaker 5 (01:27:30):
FEET i learned a.

Speaker 25 (01:27:30):
LITTLE i learned it with obviously work with my, dad
BUT i think At villanova it was like, polished polished
it because everyone did. It it was something we did
every single, day like, kids you. Not that's how we started,
Practice that's how we ended practice like. That we started
just doing our footwork. Stuff and So Coach wright was,

(01:27:51):
LIKE i want you guys to have this in your,
repertoire knowing that you guys can play the other, way
but you will always have this style of.

Speaker 5 (01:27:57):
Basketball and then it. Works oh, yeah it.

Speaker 25 (01:28:01):
Works and then when we won that my freshman, year
coach said his line with, Us he's, like now THAT
i know this ship, works and it's going to be
hell for you guys next.

Speaker 5 (01:28:10):
Year, yeah all, right so we really.

Speaker 25 (01:28:11):
Gotta but he really implemented that to us because we
knew that sometimes people are going to be, athletic more
athletic than we. Are but like so about how smart
we are having in our footwork and all.

Speaker 5 (01:28:24):
Themself so he, yeah he every.

Speaker 25 (01:28:27):
Day how many prosals on that team for twenty, sixteen yea,
Me Michael Ryan. Archidiac you Know Josh, hart our big,
Man Daniel cheffy played in the league for a little.
Bit who red shirted that year Is Dante Stephen, James
Eric pascal red shirt that year because he.

Speaker 8 (01:28:47):
Transferred so.

Speaker 1 (01:28:51):
Six, Seven, yeah that's you guys get a chance to
win another one twenty, eighteen so two time champ Also
National player of The. Year you knew it was time
to go after that.

Speaker 5 (01:29:02):
Change, YEAH i had no. Choice, also that's part about.
It my mom like.

Speaker 1 (01:29:07):
THIS i graduated that year, too SO i.

Speaker 5 (01:29:08):
FINISHED i finished in three, years finishing, three finishing. Out but,
yeah it was that was the.

Speaker 25 (01:29:15):
Plan LIKE i be thought about it my Sophomore but
that's that's.

Speaker 1 (01:29:19):
Mom that's, work. MAN i love.

Speaker 25 (01:29:21):
THAT i can't give That dad, Said dad wanted me
to do, it But mom was, like, nah on you make.

Speaker 5 (01:29:25):
Sure you did.

Speaker 6 (01:29:25):
It, YEAH i wonder how hard is that to graduate three? Years,
yeah it took me four AND i still didn't forty
five AND i even thought about. IT UV A university Of.
Virginia you left. There you was three Time All, american

(01:29:46):
finished At virginia's all time leading score and all time leading, assists.

Speaker 33 (01:29:51):
But both of those haven't broken since. Then how did
it feel going TO? Uva and was it any other
options Besides.

Speaker 5 (01:30:01):
YEAH i MEAN i was.

Speaker 18 (01:30:02):
RECRUITED i.

Speaker 34 (01:30:03):
WAS i was actually the number one high school player
in the. COUNTRY i MEAN i don't EVEN i don't
know how you do, that but they chose. ME i
never ACTUALLY i went on maybe ONE aau circuit like.
ONE i actually put participated in the very first.

Speaker 5 (01:30:20):
One SO.

Speaker 34 (01:30:23):
I WAS i was the high school player of the.
Year SO i, mean every every school came after, me
like like hundreds of. THEM i chose TO i chose
to go To virginia for.

Speaker 8 (01:30:37):
For two.

Speaker 34 (01:30:37):
Reasons and one of, them, OBVIOUSLY i didn't want to
go to a school that had already won.

Speaker 21 (01:30:42):
A national championship BECAUSE i wanted to be a part
of that.

Speaker 34 (01:30:45):
Legacy and then the other thing WAS i, mean it's
the strangest thing that attracts. Us BUT i didn't want
to go to a school that had like traditional, dorms
like you, know like you, go you got a roommate
and then you got to take your bucket down the
hall and go shower and like like that WAS i,

(01:31:08):
MEAN i lived in the, Project SO i WANTED i
wanted college to be a step, up, right, RIGHT i
MEAN i had to share a room with my, sister
and that's as far AS i wanted to go share
room with. Someone and Then virginia had these dorms where
there were four. Rooms you share the room with the,
roommate and then you had you had two, showers and

(01:31:28):
he had two, stalls and then you had like a common.

Speaker 21 (01:31:32):
Area so it was it was almost like an.

Speaker 34 (01:31:34):
Apartment and then the other schools THAT i the other
school THAT i was very serious about Was Penn, state.

Speaker 5 (01:31:41):
And they had the old the all old school, dorms
AND i.

Speaker 26 (01:31:48):
Really couldn't do.

Speaker 4 (01:31:48):
It so the non.

Speaker 5 (01:31:50):
Negotiable was the.

Speaker 18 (01:31:52):
Dorms SO i went TO i went To.

Speaker 1 (01:31:54):
Virginia that's a Crazy i've heard a lot of reasons
why people chick. Schools i've never heard such like that
with us. GOOD i feel you BECAUSE i was AT.
Ucla they had a set up nice there AND i
couldn't imagine like some schools they had like but in
the summer school one TIME i had the situation where
you had a roommate and you had to walk down
the hall to. Shop like, HELL i left summer. SCHOOL

(01:32:15):
i shouldn't do.

Speaker 6 (01:32:16):
It you ended up winning a national championship in twenty
seventeen With South. Carolina do you feel like that made
up of you not winning one while you was playing
from you being so good AND i bringing one back
to THE.

Speaker 34 (01:32:28):
Uva, yeah it actually did because it Took it took
almost like twenty seven years and went one AND i
had to get into coaching to do.

Speaker 35 (01:32:36):
That but it was it was so.

Speaker 5 (01:32:38):
Special it was so special that when we, WON i
made sure that.

Speaker 34 (01:32:47):
Every like former player of mine BECAUSE i coached that
temple And i'm coaching At South. Carolina when we, won
every every player prior to twenty, SEVENTEEN i got them a,
miniature a miniature national championship. TROPHY i got all of
My virginia teammates miniature national championship, trophies all all of

(01:33:10):
the people that coach with me At temple In South.

Speaker 5 (01:33:13):
CAROLINA i got the miniature national.

Speaker 34 (01:33:16):
Championship trophies because this was a dream far beyond twenty,
seventeen AND i HAD i had teammates AND i had
former players that believed in that dream.

Speaker 31 (01:33:31):
That we didn't get it.

Speaker 34 (01:33:32):
Done SO i WANTED i didn't want them to miss
out on the opportunity of feeling. That and then on
the back of, IT i put their name AND i just,
said because of, you simply.

Speaker 1 (01:33:42):
That's really you don't hear stuff like that too. Often
that's what's.

Speaker 8 (01:33:45):
UP i knew she was a real.

Speaker 5 (01:33:46):
ONE i told you.

Speaker 1 (01:33:47):
THAT i knew. That so tell me, this what was
the feeling when you went back for Your jersey.

Speaker 5 (01:33:52):
RETIREMENT i don't even remember.

Speaker 34 (01:33:58):
THAT i really don't remember, that like LIKE i, mean really,
HONESTLY i know that that. STUFF i mean there it's,
nice BUT i mean it's, nice BUT i MEAN i
Wanted hall Of. Fame ask me About hall Of, fame,

(01:34:20):
like ask me About hall of like that. Is And
i'm not trying to take ANY i, Mean i'm, grateful,
grateful but there are just things that are like near and,
dear like You're i'm in The hall Of fame with
the greatest of the.

Speaker 5 (01:34:36):
Great, yeah one of the.

Speaker 1 (01:34:39):
Best, yeah we'll talk about. It what's it, like what's
it like being in The hall Of.

Speaker 34 (01:34:43):
Fame IT'S i mean it's, Cool LIKE i don't always
go back to the, ceremonies but WHEN i do go,
LIKE i feel, proud LIKE i feel LIKE i. Belong
AND i, STARTED i started an autograph collection SO i.
CAN i can get all the greats WHEN i go.
There so it's it's pretty, cool like LIKE i, MEAN

(01:35:05):
i got. IT i got a pretty extensive collection of all.

Speaker 1 (01:35:10):
Favors your biggest basketball influence growing, up whether it be
male or, female biggest basketball?

Speaker 23 (01:35:27):
Influence mmmm.

Speaker 36 (01:35:29):
SEE i really didn't like basketball growing.

Speaker 2 (01:35:30):
Up.

Speaker 1 (01:35:31):
REALLY i didn't like to sweat WHAT i.

Speaker 8 (01:35:33):
Hate AND i still like a girly. Girl what AM? I,
YES i, said, yes, yes.

Speaker 5 (01:35:38):
Yes still because she's still. BASKETBALL i can.

Speaker 36 (01:35:40):
TELL i hated basketball with a, passion like everything with.
IT i hated the color of the. BASKETBALL i hated.

Speaker 1 (01:35:46):
EVERYTHING i was, like this is it's.

Speaker 36 (01:35:48):
DISGUSTING i love the guys that played, it you, know
LIKE i was just, like oh, wait they're kind of,
cute but playing it absolutely. Not but my father obviously
played and he was, like you about to do something
LIKE i. Didn't it was kind of like y'all didn't
birth you for you just sit. Here SO i was,
like all, right let me try. It so after WHEN
i started getting, INVOLVED i LOVE i was a huge
Blake griffin.

Speaker 5 (01:36:07):
FAN i.

Speaker 8 (01:36:07):
LOVED i just don't know what it.

Speaker 1 (01:36:08):
WAS i was a big Blake griffin.

Speaker 36 (01:36:10):
FAN i guess the fancy part of. It Obviously Kobe
lebron like all of. Them and THEN i Met Don
staley and Obviously candice was my growing up And Lisa,
leslie even THOUGH i didn't get a chance to See lisa.
Play but THEN i Met don and she influenced my
whole career and it was like on something THAT i was, like,

(01:36:31):
no this woman has really changed my. Life and that
right there was all the, inspiration all the INFLUENCE i
need to be me and, yeah she killed.

Speaker 5 (01:36:38):
It, Don, yeah.

Speaker 14 (01:36:41):
Yeh was there ever doubt in your mind that you
were you were not going To South?

Speaker 8 (01:36:46):
Carolina?

Speaker 10 (01:36:49):
Yes, yes what else school you thinking about pulling up?

Speaker 8 (01:36:51):
TO i really wanted to go to The university Of Chapel.

Speaker 1 (01:36:54):
Hill, oh hold, up hold, up hold, on hold, On
because the boys were. Cute, okay, okay wasn't even.

Speaker 10 (01:37:05):
Guy hell, oh y'all THOUGHT i was talking about?

Speaker 36 (01:37:10):
Basketball, absolutely, YEAH i was about to sign that dotted
line on my official visits BECAUSE i was, like, oh,
yeah see me.

Speaker 1 (01:37:17):
Here what who was not to say that that was
who you was crushing? On but who?

Speaker 5 (01:37:22):
Was?

Speaker 1 (01:37:22):
What?

Speaker 5 (01:37:23):
What?

Speaker 1 (01:37:23):
What what kind of team was there at that?

Speaker 36 (01:37:24):
TIME i have no, idea, okay BUT i just knew
WHEN i got to that, CAMPUS i was, Like i'm
just right up my. Alley but, yeah that was the only.
Time BUT i remember WHEN i had to call my,
coaches call the coaches to SAY i wasn't. Coming my
mom was, like, well if you don't go want to
go To South, carolina you're gonna have to Call Dawn,
staley a black woman, yourself and tell her that you're

(01:37:46):
not wanting to be coached by. Her AND i was, like,
Whoa when you put it like, that this basketball there
might be some. Good so, Yeah South carolina was my strong,
second And i'm so.

Speaker 6 (01:37:56):
Glad THAT i chose best. Choice you were the number
one in the. Nation Don staley moved you to the
bench after your first. Game she was pissed, off or
did you deserve.

Speaker 8 (01:38:07):
IT i deserved. IT i know what she was doing.

Speaker 36 (01:38:10):
Too, YEAH i stuck it up my first, time like
my first collegiate. Game it was so, bad like it was.
Horrific SO i was, Like, okay maybe the bench is for.
Me let me try, this give it a, try and then,
yeah the rest of the rest is history of that.

Speaker 8 (01:38:24):
Point do you think that she sent you to the
bench to wake you up?

Speaker 36 (01:38:30):
Mentally she really didn't start getting to me mentally until
like sophomore junior. Years she started from mental. Games but
LIKE i think she knew like that was just gonna
be the.

Speaker 8 (01:38:39):
Best fit for.

Speaker 35 (01:38:39):
Me LIKE i needed time to see, that see the, Game.

Speaker 36 (01:38:42):
LIKE i couldn't just throw My she couldn't throw me
out there because the game was too.

Speaker 8 (01:38:46):
Quick.

Speaker 36 (01:38:47):
Problem, YEAH i would have never probably been the same
player if she would have just let me be out.
There so, YEAH i think she just kind of pulled
me because she was, like, nah you just need to
see it and then you can kill them now.

Speaker 1 (01:38:58):
Right look at. You what was it like when you
first met? Her, ooh it was just like, coach they keep,
it keeps it.

Speaker 36 (01:39:07):
Real so it's just like honesty and like she just
really Feels she felt like my second mother then and
now she still feels like my second mom. Now so
like she was in gyms WHEN i wouldn't have been
playing BECAUSE i was terrible at, basketball but she was.

Speaker 8 (01:39:17):
There like the loyalty she.

Speaker 36 (01:39:18):
SHOWED i was, like, nah LIKE i gotta you got something,
else like want TO i want to? Grow, YEAH i
need to, grow and that you're the best.

Speaker 6 (01:39:26):
Basketball we know she's a big part of your career
and your, success but what does she teach you about?

Speaker 36 (01:39:31):
Life be your pro and be disciplined in everything that you,
do like don't take anything, lightly don't take anything, Off
like always be a pro the way you carry yourself
because you never know who's. Looking but just being in
spaces that you feel, safe but never lose. YOURSELF i
think that was the biggest thing with.

Speaker 10 (01:39:48):
Her she let me be.

Speaker 36 (01:39:49):
Me Like it'll be days WHERE i would come into
her office crying because my boyfriend takes me back and she's, like,
like take it, off like it's a. Lot so she
just allowed me to be. Human AND i think you
see that also in her when she's in the, community
when she's talking and she's tweeting with, fans like you
never lose sight of just getting into the celebrity, vibe
but always stay humble and stay within.

Speaker 8 (01:40:08):
Yourself so she always taught.

Speaker 6 (01:40:10):
Us we spoke about it a little, bit but let's
touch on it and on its. Own how many people
seven years, old how many people get this and you
have your own? Statue, yeah that just take us through that.

Speaker 1 (01:40:23):
Day you go buy and clean it. Off, Ever, yeah Dust.

Speaker 36 (01:40:28):
On it was in a crazy experience because they told
me at, graduation BUT i thought it was a.

Speaker 8 (01:40:36):
Joke LIKE i was on my phone during, graduation all
these cameras pulled up AND i was, like what are
you go going?

Speaker 36 (01:40:40):
On and so that's when the president of the school was, like,
yeah we want to give agent. Statue SO i thought
it was a. Joke i'm starting to laugh like, whatever
like y'all not because people always, say, oh they need a.

Speaker 23 (01:40:49):
Statue So i'm.

Speaker 36 (01:40:51):
Chilling and then that's when it really hit. Me the
lady that sculpt sculpted. Me she Did Michael jordan's as,
well and.

Speaker 5 (01:40:58):
SO i had to go to.

Speaker 1 (01:41:00):
All, right, yeah and so they came and.

Speaker 36 (01:41:04):
Right when she she name dropped when she came to
my face and like not my. Face she came To
chicago and she literally scaled my whole, face like my,
teeth LIKE i had like all these things around my.

Speaker 10 (01:41:15):
Face she's, like, YEAH i had to do this FOR.

Speaker 36 (01:41:17):
Mj AND i was, like, girl you can't just say,
that like's nothing, Right, like, No you're in good. Hands
and THEN i went AND i saw. IT i was,
like oh my, god my legs are, Nice LIKE i like,
this this is.

Speaker 16 (01:41:28):
Cute so.

Speaker 36 (01:41:30):
Yeah then FINALLY i watch a lot of scary, movies
SO i was, LIKE i hope nobody trying to take
me out When i'm up here trying to say my.
SPEECH i got nervous, there but, no AND i saw.
It it was truly amazing and like you, know like you,
said Like i'm young and to have something like that
to be.

Speaker 10 (01:41:44):
Immortalized it's.

Speaker 16 (01:41:45):
Crazy when you hear the Name Dane, smith what comes to.

Speaker 5 (01:41:58):
Mind conscious. Brother he was a conscious. Man you.

Speaker 17 (01:42:05):
Know he really used his platform too to enroll you
into what was possible in your. Life he developed good,
citizens and you see that not With michael And sam
AND i And. Vince you see it with all his
lettermen who have done. Well he took us to play

(01:42:27):
a game With North Carolina State. Prison we went in
there and this was in eighty and you, KNOW.

Speaker 5 (01:42:38):
I wasn't.

Speaker 17 (01:42:38):
COMFORTABLE i, mean they were looking at us in different
ways than.

Speaker 5 (01:42:46):
Basketball but he.

Speaker 1 (01:42:48):
Was he.

Speaker 17 (01:42:48):
Was he's that kind of, guy you, know he's it
didn't matter if you Were Michael jordan Or michael The Tower.
Boy so he used his platform very well to kind
of prep you for for life and keep you.

Speaker 16 (01:43:01):
Humble did he make you feel not only, wanted but
like family and your recruiting.

Speaker 17 (01:43:09):
Process he's very, honest so you, know and a lot
of people don't believe it's WHEN i tell, him but
he was strictly by the. BOOK i mean you can ASK.
Mj sam. Anybody there was no you, know money or anything.
Involved but he'd come in and tell your. Parents he
got to know your parents really. Well he promised you three.

(01:43:30):
Things she's, LIKE i promise you son and. Graduated if
he stayed four, years promise you that you, know.

Speaker 5 (01:43:40):
He'll go to.

Speaker 17 (01:43:40):
Class and if he's a, freshman we require you to
go to the church your first. Semester and my mom
was sitting over, there AND i, KNOW i know when
she heard, that she was, like, damn that's where he's.
Going but he was really honest AND i had always

(01:44:02):
loved him since he Bought Charlie scott was the first
BLACK acc player to come to THE, acc And Coach smith.

Speaker 5 (01:44:12):
Took a lot of.

Speaker 17 (01:44:13):
Heat they tried to fire, Him they hung him in
F g after a, game but he used to take
stands like. That Took Charlie scott the church with, him
took him to restaurants in sixty seven.

Speaker 5 (01:44:27):
Where blacks weren't still. Allowed SO i knew about him.

Speaker 17 (01:44:31):
Early AND i got to go to basketball camp W
i fell in love with guys Like Phil, Ford Walter,
davis guys like, that you. Know so you, Know mitch
Cup check was, there SO i. WAS i was kind
of tied, in locked in from like fifteen years.

Speaker 6 (01:44:46):
Old is it true that he left EVERY unc players
money for a stake diner when he passed two hundred?

Speaker 17 (01:44:53):
Dollars, yeah every letterman that played for, Him AND i
think he was like sticking it to THE.

Speaker 5 (01:44:59):
Ncaa, YEAH i take care of my.

Speaker 17 (01:45:02):
Player, yeah find Out i'm gonna do, something you're not
gonna be to do anything about.

Speaker 5 (01:45:05):
It but, uh and then you know he's the write personal.

Speaker 17 (01:45:08):
Notes he'd have his secretary type him up and then
at the bottom it would always be ps and he
would write it a few.

Speaker 5 (01:45:18):
Lines so he had he had special special touches.

Speaker 17 (01:45:21):
Like that and a memory like you wouldn't, believe which
was which was sad to see him have dementia at
the end of his.

Speaker 5 (01:45:28):
Life but, yeah he had a memory that it was like.

Speaker 15 (01:45:31):
Amazing everybody talk About MJ's championship shot nineteen eight three
Against georgetown the, championship but you had twenty eight thirteenth
or seventeen from the.

Speaker 5 (01:45:42):
Field why don't talk about? That it was on your.
Shoulders but what's your take on?

Speaker 17 (01:45:45):
That, well you, Did Joe. John you, know if you
watch the The Michael jordan, documentary it was A chicago
not the hair. MOVIE i had a statement With Michael.
Kane uh To, CAROLINE i tell EVERYBODY i WAS i
was better Than. Michael, yeah, yeah you know for about three.

(01:46:08):
Weeks for about three, weeks, MAN i knew he had.

Speaker 5 (01:46:16):
It when you're an athlete and you guys are both.
TOUGH i watched. YOU i watched your whole. Career you,
know when.

Speaker 17 (01:46:23):
You're when you're tough and you're not going back down from,
anybody and you're gonna take him. On but then when
somebody comes along that this the fucking tougher than, you they're,
like he was an. Assassin and he bullied. Me he
because you, know he's he sought out the best and.
Everything if you were the best backgamming player in the,

(01:46:44):
dorm he wanted to. Know if you were the best card,
player he wanted to find. Out and he took everything
as if he was losing a game. Seven losing just
WASN'T i didn't care what it. Was he'd break a
table if he lost the Backgam and so he sought me,
out and you, know we practiced two, hours two and
a half. Hours you guys know how some college. Practice
are you ready to get out of?

Speaker 5 (01:47:05):
There and he.

Speaker 17 (01:47:06):
Would i'd be walking off the court and he, pushed
where you're, going, young young, Fella that's what he called.

Speaker 16 (01:47:10):
Me so you were junior when he was juniors freshman.

Speaker 17 (01:47:13):
Year and so, yeah you, know he wanted to know
and uh and throughout that, year even THOUGH i, was you, KNOW,
mvp there were some games Against virginia in THE acc
tournament Where michael kept us in the, game some big
shots against you, Know Ralph sampson and those. Guys and
then Against, georgetown we only had really five players Against

(01:47:38):
Patrick ewan and my home boys sleeping floor and they were. Tough,
uh But michael hit some big shots and kept us,
in you. KNOW i and then at the end of the,
Game Coach smith wanted me to be like a, decoy you.
Know you know we had we had lost To indiana
the year Before Isaiah thomas And Bobby, knight so getting

(01:47:59):
back was was special AND i wanted to win or.

Speaker 5 (01:48:03):
Lose he'd been punching On. MIKE i, BEAT i.

Speaker 17 (01:48:06):
BEAT i would always Beat mike Doesn't, yeah you, know
zeke zekes opinionated.

Speaker 5 (01:48:14):
Alone, man you had a good. Career it was.

Speaker 17 (01:48:18):
Awesome uh but, yeah, man uh you, know because you
know they expected me, to you, know to take the.
Shot you, know we run a high low against their.
Zohn Patrick ewhan was a, beast AND i wanted to
win and. Lose Because michael was a. FRESHMAN i didn't you,
KNOW i didn't know if he had it in his,
veins but, UH i was to flash in the. Mill

(01:48:41):
Coach smith didn't call it up like, that but he
knew it would work out that. Way we ran our offense,
properly so we ran the high, Low sam went down.
LOW i flashed in and three guys collapsed And michael
was wide. Open now he he didn't draw it up like.
That but at the end of the time, out you,

(01:49:01):
know when you're walking back on the, Court michael was
one of the last. Guys AND i Heard Coach smith
kind of if you get, it if you get it clean,
looking knock.

Speaker 1 (01:49:08):
At, it you, know you know.

Speaker 17 (01:49:09):
What so and, Yeah se, knew he Knew michael had
it in his, veins and, uh, yeah that was the.
Beginning we called Him, Mike Mike.

Speaker 16 (01:49:20):
Jordan kenny said he had no handle when he came
to when he first got.

Speaker 5 (01:49:23):
There no, handles, no not, Well kenny had.

Speaker 16 (01:49:27):
Him.

Speaker 17 (01:49:28):
Uh AFTER i, Left kenny still mad at me BECAUSE
i Recruited. Kenny he wanted to play with me AND
i left after my junior.

Speaker 5 (01:49:34):
Year he And Brad.

Speaker 17 (01:49:36):
Dougherty but, yeah he he didn't have a lot of
fundamentals when he. CAME i think he was a better
baseball player coming out of high. School and you, know
you've heard the story of him getting cut from his
high school team, once so he had a lot to work.

Speaker 5 (01:49:51):
On he had raw, talent though raw. Talent but when
he got the.

Speaker 17 (01:49:56):
Fundamentals down after his freshman, year and he worked at
it because we had drill after drills after. Drills whatever
his weakness, was he was willing to work on, it
and SO i can't remember him having UH i, mean
back then we ran four. Corners there wasn't a twenty
four second shot clock his freshman, year so he was

(01:50:18):
okay in, that BUT i don't remember him ever having
the ball handling skills that our guard has to POSSESS
u N C u N c summer. Runs, yeah how was?
That Lawrence taylor played in some of those football players
And wool And Jim la was. Nice, yeah Well Lorene

(01:50:40):
taylor was a. Beast you get the, rebound you just
move out of the. Way, yeah he was, coming he was,
coming but, yeah to pick up games because a lot
of guys From duke came.

Speaker 5 (01:50:49):
Over that's seven miles. Apart we.

Speaker 1 (01:50:51):
Go oh, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 17 (01:50:55):
And Wooland jim but they were like they were like iconic.
Games you, know you guys probably faded some of the
games over AT U c L. A you, know you
don't want to you don't want to. Lose so, yeah
there was two courts you always had when THE lt,
came he was for a good. Player, uh but, yeah
he was a.

Speaker 1 (01:51:14):
Beast you ended up Choosing North. Carolina who else was
in the mix for Colleges for?

Speaker 7 (01:51:28):
COLLEGE i Was duke and at school From durham we
don't say that. Name And virginia those are SCHOOLS i.
Visited BUT i always want to play THE Acc at that,
time that was when the conference was to, me THE
acc had the best.

Speaker 8 (01:51:42):
CONFERENCE i wanted to play against the.

Speaker 7 (01:51:43):
Best BUT i Chose North carolina because WHEN i went
to the practice AND i Saw Sam, Perkins Brad, Dougherty Michael,
JORDANS i looked at it AND i, SAID i don't
know IF.

Speaker 8 (01:51:52):
I could play. HERE i was a little.

Speaker 7 (01:51:55):
NERVOUS i had never seen seven footage like they. Had
they had they Had tim McDonald Wall americans the.

Speaker 5 (01:52:00):
Team.

Speaker 8 (01:52:00):
MAN i was, like, DAMN i don't know.

Speaker 7 (01:52:02):
IF i could play. HERE i, SAID i KNOW i
could go To duke and. PLAY i could play It
virginia AND i, SAID i gotta go here BECAUSE i.
CAN'T i can't be there thinking that they're better than.
Me and SO i wound up Going at that, Time
you know which is now if you don't do. IT
i was only the fifth freshman that ever start at the. University,
like but now if you don't start as a, freshman

(01:52:23):
people like the. Transfer but that was unusual to start
as a, freshman you, know for for, Me SO i
Chose North carolina because of that.

Speaker 5 (01:52:35):
Reason.

Speaker 7 (01:52:36):
Uh and they had, everything like all the schools, like
oh we got a good academic, school good social, life
it was a good basketball like they had.

Speaker 8 (01:52:43):
Everything WHEN i was.

Speaker 5 (01:52:44):
It was like a.

Speaker 7 (01:52:45):
Movie you know how you see those college. Movies you
see like the fraternities and the kids walking through. Campus
it just it just felt like a. MOVIE i was,
like this isn't. Real Like i'm coming From New. York
it's like there's no. Campus Saint john's doesn't have a,
campus like Really like SO i was like they were,
like they use the city's your.

Speaker 8 (01:53:05):
Campus i'm, like, nah, Bro i'm. NOT i would have
had to take the same bus THAT i took the high.

Speaker 5 (01:53:12):
School to take To Saint.

Speaker 8 (01:53:14):
JOHN'S i was, like, NAH i, Can't i'm not having
a bus Pass.

Speaker 5 (01:53:18):
St.

Speaker 1 (01:53:18):
Johnson, YEAH i mean your freshman year team that to
name a, Few Michael, Jordan Brad, Dougherty Sam, perkins, YOURSELF i,
mean what were those, Practices.

Speaker 37 (01:53:26):
Like you know what the crazy part was, That, no
that wasn't a question who was the best Playoff i'm
gonna get.

Speaker 8 (01:53:32):
THAT i want to hear that one want the best.

Speaker 7 (01:53:34):
Player Sam perkins was the best player in my freshman,
year like Because sam was a four Time All american
that you know that wouldn't happen today anither like first
team first team For sam was the best. Player michael
was the most, dynamic but he didn't have a. Handle
he couldn't handle the rock like in. College, no he

(01:53:55):
couldn't handle the. Rock so like even even at Times
i'd be, like you beat, me play pick up LIKE
i Got mike BECAUSE i Know i'm, like get up under.

Speaker 8 (01:54:01):
You like you can't handle the, rock and uh what?

Speaker 5 (01:54:05):
Happened and then and then he's the only guy THAT
i know that.

Speaker 7 (01:54:13):
His weaknesses that he had at the end of his
career was a. Stress the only Person i've Ever lebron's
not like, THAT, Kd, no, Nobody he's the only ONE i.
Did his handle was crazy and his jump shot was.
PURE i, said how do you miss a jump? Shot
you got a perfect for? Him but we talked about.

Speaker 1 (01:54:31):
It AND i was, like this is not.

Speaker 7 (01:54:33):
Competitive we talked about competitive With, mike SO i used to.
SAY i was, like it's, like, oh you think you could.
Go it's like, yeah because your handles.

Speaker 8 (01:54:39):
WACK i used to say your handles, WHACK i could
guard you and like blah blah. Blah so now we
we're doing.

Speaker 6 (01:54:46):
That we.

Speaker 7 (01:54:47):
Playing he goes to The, olympics comes, back goes to the,
league comes back for the summer because all the, players
with Every northlina player, came but we all come back and.
Play so the gym is the doodles like it's like
ANY nba. Team we would beat like in that gym without.
Question and he's my, Moment he's, Gone i'm, like, damn gang.

(01:55:11):
Out he's, like my, handle been working on, it BUT.

Speaker 5 (01:55:14):
I forgot accept.

Speaker 33 (01:55:15):
THAT i really.

Speaker 7 (01:55:16):
FORGOT i said, it and he's, like my, handle, right
you're talking about my. Handle but he was like the
stories are true about his. Competitiveness like we were we
were playing pick up one. Day so this is when
you knew you MADE i MADE i made it, too
because the juniors and, seniors you, know even at y'all
school probably picked the.

Speaker 1 (01:55:34):
Team yeah, yeah, yes right straight out of high school
went To, mexico, right so they.

Speaker 11 (01:55:38):
PICKED i don't get a lot Of this is how
we do.

Speaker 7 (01:55:45):
It so the pros go on one hand and they
players college players on the, other and then you pick your.
Team but you could you could pick the pros across.
Over you could cross. Over So michael and Or sam
whoever they, were have senior leaders and junior. Leaders they
the team and the first, day you, know you, know
as a, freshman you're just. Sitting they're not picking. You

(01:56:06):
so you get on the quarter. End so about two weeks,
later bout a week, Later, Uh michael was picking and he's, LIKE.

Speaker 8 (01:56:15):
I GOT i Got New. York they used to call
Me New.

Speaker 7 (01:56:18):
YORK i Got New. YORK i was, like oh, SHIT
i got picked. First he was like firsts twenty pros
in the. GYM i was, like oh IT'S i was,
like so my my confidence was Boost so now we're playing,
right and we went. In we went in games and
so every time we, win you, know you go get.
Water And i'm Watching mike and he's standing in the

(01:56:40):
middle of center. Court i'm, LIKE i walk, up, like,
yo what are you. Doing he's, LIKE i want the
Mother beckers to know That i'm never leaving the. Court
i'm gonna be the first to stand here to. LAST
i was, like all, right so we.

Speaker 5 (01:56:52):
Both like we.

Speaker 8 (01:56:55):
Do this is how we're doing. IT i, mean he was,
LIKE i, mean he was the first dude THAT i
met that could back up his.

Speaker 37 (01:57:03):
Trash like every day every, day always a, talker always a,
talker and always backed it up, though like and he
really took more, pride especially than his.

Speaker 7 (01:57:13):
Defense he's, Like Walter, davis you're not scoring. Today you're
not scoring, Today Walter. Davis like he that's the type
of energy.

Speaker 5 (01:57:21):
He was on all the.

Speaker 7 (01:57:23):
Time he and when he got to the. League so
we had, dorms and our dorm numbers don't. Change so
if you had dorm number, eight it's the same phone
number next.

Speaker 8 (01:57:34):
Year you're just a different. Person so all when he
comes in, town this.

Speaker 7 (01:57:39):
Is before The, instagram and you'd hear the phones go
bring and somebody hang up bring and you just hear
it going.

Speaker 1 (01:57:48):
Down so it's.

Speaker 8 (01:57:49):
Him all he say is schools in, session.

Speaker 7 (01:57:51):
Boochoo so everybody come in the, hallway be, Like mike's,
Here mike's, here, Right. Mike so he go and he
called each room to let her know would come to
the gym schools and it was in, session so the
gym would be.

Speaker 8 (01:58:03):
Packed we got four thousand people watching our pickup. Games that's,
crazy four. Thousand that's dopest hell it.

Speaker 1 (01:58:09):
Was it.

Speaker 7 (01:58:10):
Was it was unbelievable that time basketball was a Different
there was No Charlotte, hornets so like people would and
this is no social media and people that all hold
word them out and they would be for it would
be four thousand people when he came in that.

Speaker 1 (01:58:26):
Gym good OLD i mean obviously with his competitiveness and
his desire to get better at a young, age did
you see him possibly being a GREAT.

Speaker 8 (01:58:35):
I knew he would be. GREAT i never thought he'd
be the greatest because.

Speaker 7 (01:58:39):
WHEN i first saw, him and then WHEN i saw
him when we even in, practice like you don't, LIKE
i guess it's like you have a beautiful wife and
you like take it for granted.

Speaker 5 (01:58:51):
Because she's there every.

Speaker 8 (01:58:52):
Day you see, It you see it every. Moment you,
know you see every moment you know a beautiful person you're.
Around you see that bad side, too you see the
days that they're in the.

Speaker 7 (01:59:01):
Mood so for, HIM i saw those moments AND i was,
like but then when he when he left and he came,
BACK i saw that the energy that he put into his,
game like he never stopped.

Speaker 8 (01:59:14):
Working Man like his stuff is not an. Accident like
it's not, like oh he was.

Speaker 7 (01:59:19):
Gifted, no he was the most fundamentally sound player that
ever played the. Game if you watch the, videos his
his left handed is in the correct paths and, lane
his footwork is. Unapeckable the offensively you, know his jab
step is he's the always ball, moved, beat stay still
like all of those things were all the.

Speaker 8 (01:59:38):
Time and then he was the best.

Speaker 7 (01:59:39):
Athlete most guys who were athletic didn't rely on. That you,
know his greatest even you, know and this is not
a not but his Greatest Claude drexler. Was that was
the difference between him And. Mike to, me it's just
the fundamentals of jab step and that's you, know the
stuff That Dean smith. Learned but, uh and It mike
gets a lot of credit, for like his, quotes but

(02:00:02):
it's Just Dean smith's. Quotes it's. Stolen it's it's just
he just, adds explicives everything everything That Coach smith said to.
Us that's What mike, said every know you you can pull.
It it's every. Interview it's plagiarism.

Speaker 1 (02:00:21):
To THE i mean speaking To Coach, smith what was
it like some of the stories and memories you have
rest in? Peace obviously one of the greatest to ever do,
It Dean.

Speaker 8 (02:00:29):
Smith he was to, me it was like playing For
gandhi mm, hmm like you know WHAT i.

Speaker 5 (02:00:37):
Mean he.

Speaker 7 (02:00:38):
Was it was so real about his inner person who he.
Was my favorite story is is not even with. Me it's,
uh it's With mac Taw enjai who played At North.
Carolina he was From, africa played At michigan transfer in
and went To.

Speaker 8 (02:00:55):
Oki he went To.

Speaker 7 (02:00:56):
Okill So Mac mac, was you, know having a tough
time in. Practice So Roy williams was assistant coach at the,
time and he's In bill guthriche and so they're getting
On matt Like, mac what's wrong with?

Speaker 5 (02:01:10):
You blah blah.

Speaker 7 (02:01:10):
Blah Coach smith's never cussed, ever excuse me ever ever,
ever never. Cussed so they're getting on, him and so
they throw him out of. Practice, Right So Coach smith
after practice goes to, him Says, mac because everything all,
right like homesick like and he's, like no, coach and he's.
Not he's not looking at. Him he's, like he's, Like,

(02:01:32):
matt look at me When i'm talking to.

Speaker 5 (02:01:33):
You he's, like, no.

Speaker 7 (02:01:35):
Coach i'm just not Feeling, matt look at me AS
i talk to. You he, said, coach and my culture
to look at an adult in the eye. Isspect it's
trying to. Disrespect So's coachman, says, Oh, okay walks. Out
so next day in, practice there's no Coach guthridge who

(02:01:56):
threw him out of. Practice Coach guts is not there
for a. Week So max, said he gets a call
because from his. Mom she's, Like, matt this is man
here In, africa says he's your coach. Assistant. COACH i
know it's Coach. SMITH i don't know. Him, well he's
been here for a, week saying he's learning our. Culture

(02:02:19):
he sent Coach guthridge to learn his culture so he could.

Speaker 8 (02:02:24):
Never make that mistake. Again that is what Coach smith.

Speaker 5 (02:02:28):
Is that's The.

Speaker 1 (02:02:29):
Yes two year Pit stock you win a Champion National
championship in eighty, one dropped twenty three Versus Sam perkins
And James worthy over In North. Carolina what was your
favorite on the court moments in? College was it that?

(02:02:52):
Championship two. Favorites the first favorite Was february fourteen In,
Iowa Mike whitson's return because my freshman year he had back.

Speaker 5 (02:03:05):
Surgery we were ranked number.

Speaker 38 (02:03:07):
One whitson goes, Down whitman goes, Down boushie goes, down and,
we like you, know were. Faltering, Right woodson comes back
and that's his first, game and it's In Iowa, city
and this is my freshman year and my whole my
whole time, now you, know playing for Coach. Night i'm

(02:03:30):
waiting for this genius, moment, Right i'm waiting for him
to grab the, clipboard you, know and draw up some.
Stuff BUT i ain't seen no clipboard and like you,
KNOW i ain't seen the clipboard like SINCE i got. There,
Right so we, Down we down one In. Iowa it

(02:03:50):
Was wody's first game, back and we called time out
and Now i'm, like, okay this this is the. MOMENT
i got no getting ready to drop a play, now,
right this was the play he, Said, whitson can you
make a?

Speaker 8 (02:04:08):
Shot what he?

Speaker 38 (02:04:10):
Said, YEAH i knock it. Down coach he, said he
called me pee. Wee he said, okay pee. WEE i
want you to move the ball Around. TOBERT i want
you to set a screen For. Whitson, WHITSON i want
you to get open pee. Weee when he gets, OPEN
i want you to hit. It woody knocked the shot.
Down i'm, like on the left, side the right, Side,

(02:04:33):
well wh Where's whatson gonna?

Speaker 1 (02:04:35):
Be i'm.

Speaker 5 (02:04:37):
Scared i'm like.

Speaker 8 (02:04:39):
Scared i'm like walking down on the.

Speaker 1 (02:04:40):
Floor i'm, like, okay how we gonna get the ball?

Speaker 6 (02:04:43):
There?

Speaker 39 (02:04:43):
Right he wants you to put everybody in. Place i'm, like, hey,
man just All i'm. Doing SO i passed it AND
i run over there and get it. Past So i'm
waiting For woody To woody come. Off tobah sets a,
Downscreen whitson comes off on the left. SIDE i hit
him boomom and he banks it right off the.

Speaker 38 (02:05:03):
Glass and to, me that was the most that was
one of the most beautiful MOMENTS i have, experienced because
what he recruited.

Speaker 1 (02:05:11):
Me that was my senior.

Speaker 31 (02:05:12):
Year he had back.

Speaker 38 (02:05:13):
Surgery you, know he's coming, back you, know and SO
i was, like. Okay second best moment, was you, know
Be North carolina in that final. Game so two things
happened in that. Game in the first, Half North carolina
got out to a good, start AND i knew we
didn't have the talent to play with them right talent for,

(02:05:36):
talent they were Better James, Worthy Sam. PERKINS i would
that's the back. Line worthy was a number one. PICK
i Think perkins was, like you, know five or, six
AND I will was like ten or. Something But North
carolina they played that platoon, system SO i was just

(02:05:59):
they got up AND i was, like, okay we just
got a hold on fellas because five minutes they're gonna
Take worthy. Out they're gonna Take worthy And perkins. Out
and when they took them, out so that's when we
was able to come. Back but one of the biggest
PLAYS i thought in that game clocks running. Down we

(02:06:20):
got the last shot out the half And whitman's in
the in the in the right corner And i'm standing.
There we're you, Know i'm dribbling the, ball trying to you,
know make sure like everybody is set doing what they're
supposed to, do trying to start, time And whitmen AND
i make eye contact and you, know we run the clock,

(02:06:41):
down kick it over The. Whitmen he knocks down the
shot in the in the first. Half they gave us
crazy momentum going in BECAUSE i think we either went
up one or was down. One we come back out
the third to start the second, half and THEN i take.

Speaker 8 (02:06:58):
Over so you know.

Speaker 38 (02:07:00):
That BUT i thought that shot was one of the
biggest moment in the.

Speaker 5 (02:07:03):
Game how many back boys have you shot?

Speaker 1 (02:07:15):
It just?

Speaker 5 (02:07:16):
ONE i brought a lot of.

Speaker 22 (02:07:18):
Rims just shot at one boy at the right, time
at the right time of the, tournament.

Speaker 5 (02:07:22):
At the right.

Speaker 22 (02:07:23):
Time, man talk about. That my Man Jason sassi bro
shout out To Jay. Sass his Nephew marcus is a
hell of a player place at The university Of. Houston
marcus sas his. Nephew my man J martin point guard From.
Inglewood uh he, hit he hit jail on you At. Jason, yeah,
Bro i've been doing j for over thirty, years J.

Speaker 5 (02:07:45):
Martin so, Yeah.

Speaker 22 (02:07:48):
Jay went hit hit Hit sass in the post And
vince was guarding. Me antoine was Garden sass And SaaS
threw up the right jump. Hook vince went to go double.
ONE i had a straight line right to the. Rim
man was caught off as a rebound and the rest
of his mother fucking down, too and that actually tied
the game. Up like we was going back and, forth
AND i think that might have made it sixteen to.

(02:08:10):
Sixteen they had had my man who want to see
later on the. Night they Had jeff. McGinnis they Had,
Uh Antoine, Jamison Vince, Carter sir S Quicker Shaman. Williams
That carolina team was, strong ye, ka dont you know
WHAT i? Mean they had A they had a, strong strong.
Squad and we Had Tony, battiz, Myself saz J, Mark Corey,

(02:08:32):
carr Uh Coy smiths and they. Cook we had we
had a pretty tough squad, too but it was one
of those. Things, man we're going back and. Forth when that,
happened we had to stop the game forty five, minutes
watch the ice glass out our. Back we had to take,
showers and my Man corey came, out went on a
three point. Barage corey came out and hit like four straight.

(02:08:55):
Threes man just opened the game. Up we ended up
winning by twenty ninety two to seventy. Reading and they
drug tested me. FEVERISHLY i gotta be on something.

Speaker 5 (02:09:07):
Right everything came back, clean. KIDS i was just On
Steak milk And Broci.

Speaker 40 (02:09:19):
JACK i can tell you a funny, story, man after
we won the national. Championship and this is before the
social media era that you, know nobody really knew or talked.
About but we just won a national, championship, Right so
we're going to Uh so we're on campus and colleg
comes up to. Me it's, like, Hey, rip let's go
To hartford right to get some gear because that's where
all the hip hop you, know you get all your

(02:09:40):
hip hop clothes and get. Fresh he was, Like, yo
my man got a store, there you, Know let's go
down there and get some. Clothes So i'm, like all, right,
cool you. Know so we go to the store and
get some gear whatever. Whatever, Right so we get back
in the. Car now we on our way back to.
Campus So colie, like oh, man you know, what, Man,
rip let's right through the. Hood you know What i'm
saying from the.

Speaker 31 (02:09:59):
People So i'm, Like i'm, like, hey.

Speaker 5 (02:10:01):
Let's just get.

Speaker 40 (02:10:02):
Back let's get back to. Camp he's, like, nah let's
just ride through real. Quick i'm, like all, right, cool
let's do. It so we riding through the. Neighborhood you
know What i'm, saying you, know everybody in the neighborhood
giving us love, whatever, whatever high, five, whatever. Whatever so
we stopped by this little, project you know What i'm
saying over, there, right and a couple of homies you
know in the, neighborhood you, Know new k and they was, Like,

(02:10:22):
yo what's, up, man, congratulations you, know just give him, love,
right shake your, hands napping over the.

Speaker 5 (02:10:27):
Whatever.

Speaker 8 (02:10:27):
Right so we're in the car and one.

Speaker 5 (02:10:30):
Dude comes over and he says a k uh.

Speaker 40 (02:10:34):
Huh, man you know What i'm, saying and reaches in
a car and acts like he gives him. Debt but
then he pulls his hand back, right and then the
homie was, like, hey you know, what just give it to.

Speaker 1 (02:10:46):
Him.

Speaker 40 (02:10:47):
Man the dudes won the national, championship AND i don't
know what the hell is they you know What i'm, saying,
like just give it to him whatever.

Speaker 5 (02:10:51):
Whatever. Right so then k was, Like, Nah i'm cool whatever.

Speaker 11 (02:10:54):
Whatever homies, like, nah give it to.

Speaker 5 (02:10:56):
Him.

Speaker 40 (02:10:56):
Boom gave him high, five you know What i'm. Saying
and it was two dying bags of, weed, Right.

Speaker 26 (02:11:01):
Kate ky takes it, Right kay takes it, right puts
it in his pocket.

Speaker 5 (02:11:08):
Boom.

Speaker 40 (02:11:08):
Right so Now we're in a, car, Right so we sped.
OFF i mean we going thirty miles an. Hour as
soon as we hit the, Corner, bro the sirens go.
Off police come out on foot. Sprinting run stop, them they,
Ran they ran stop sign and they've.

Speaker 5 (02:11:31):
Been speeding or.

Speaker 26 (02:11:31):
Whatever i'm, like, bro we ain't been, Speeding like what
the hell going?

Speaker 8 (02:11:34):
On like you know What i'm.

Speaker 5 (02:11:35):
Saying ONCE i see, Police i'm. Shook. Right so Then kate, like, oh.

Speaker 40 (02:11:41):
Man like, damn like you know WHAT i, MEAN i
got this on me like like you know WHAT i,
mean we cut college kids at this. Time you, know
marijuana was a big thing back, then like like. Child
so the cop come out, right so he like he's
put this one, Cock come take me and put me
in a cop. Car they take him and put him
in a cop. Car i'm, like, yo what the hell's going?

(02:12:02):
On so the cop Car i'm, in the police is, like, Man, britt,
like why are y'all?

Speaker 8 (02:12:06):
Here And i'm, like, bro we just came here.

Speaker 31 (02:12:08):
To get some, clothes like you know What i'm, Saying
like you, know we just had a cruise around.

Speaker 40 (02:12:12):
Neighborhood he's, like, bro you know we've been having a
sting operation on this project for the last four.

Speaker 5 (02:12:17):
Months i'm, Like i'm.

Speaker 40 (02:12:21):
So Then i'm like then he's, like y'all shouldn't be out.
Here y'all shouldn't be out. Here so Now i'm looking
through the police police, uh And i'm in the back.
Seat i'm looking through the police. Window so they Pulled
kindli out the car, first but they separate, us AND
i know what pocket he put the dining bags, In
And i'm, like, like, bro, like please don't go in
the pocket right first team they. Did so they had

(02:12:42):
some mean ass. Cameras, MAN i don't know where where
the hell they got this camera. At the first place
they checked was inside his sweatsuit.

Speaker 26 (02:12:49):
Pocket he going to sweat suit, pocket, boom pulls it.

Speaker 40 (02:12:52):
OUT i don't see what was being said BECAUSE i
just see a whole lot of hands Because i'm in.

Speaker 26 (02:12:57):
There they put him in the, car they pulled me.

Speaker 5 (02:12:59):
Out they was, like what the hell you got in your?

Speaker 26 (02:13:01):
Pocket i'm, like, BRO i ain't got.

Speaker 40 (02:13:02):
Nothing they pat me down whatever whatever they, checked they
checked the, car, whatever, whatever and then they.

Speaker 26 (02:13:09):
Take him right to the police. Station So i'm, like, yo,
like what's going?

Speaker 5 (02:13:13):
On you know?

Speaker 40 (02:13:13):
WHAT i mean Cause i'm Macadumb i'm, like, yo what's going?

Speaker 5 (02:13:15):
On he was, like oh, man he had marijuana on.

Speaker 31 (02:13:18):
Him he's going to.

Speaker 5 (02:13:18):
Jail So i'm, like, well, well like, yo like like
what about? Me they was, like, oh, well well you,
off like but he's going to. Jail And i'm, like,
bro like like where we just won a national, championship.

Speaker 26 (02:13:29):
Like like, y'all y'all can't let us?

Speaker 40 (02:13:32):
Off like and he like he like hell, nah like
in a POLICE i, mean everybody in the neighborhood out, like,
yo let them kids.

Speaker 8 (02:13:38):
Go let them kids.

Speaker 40 (02:13:39):
Go so you, Know i'm an hour from, campus, man
And i'm, like, yo all, right, man can you just
give me the keys SO i can drive back to
the to the. Campus they, like hell, now but we
can give you a ride to the police. STATION i,
said you know, What i'll walk back to campus, Man
AND i. WALKED i walked out a mile when somebody
came and getting picked. Up you know this before the
cell phone here, Somebody, yeah ride back to. Campus so

(02:14:02):
that was just a crazy situation Because coline school his sophomore.
Year that was the same year THAT i, left you
know What i'm. Saying but he was going to leave that,
year but he ended up coming back for.

Speaker 1 (02:14:13):
Junior your senior year begins the journey of you winning.
Hardware your senior, year you guys go, undefeated you win
a state champion, chip and then you head on To.
Yukon who were some of the other schools you possibly

(02:14:34):
thought about.

Speaker 41 (02:14:36):
Joining, YEAH i Visited, Stamford, vanderbilt and then Like duke
And Notre dame or like the kind of like the
fourth and.

Speaker 21 (02:14:43):
FIFTH i didn't even visit. Though it was Really yukon
from the, start like that was?

Speaker 22 (02:14:47):
It?

Speaker 21 (02:14:47):
Yeah the other ones kind of crept, in you, know
because like they wind and dine, you but it was A.

Speaker 26 (02:14:52):
Yukon what was?

Speaker 1 (02:14:55):
IT i mean obviously at the long line of great
men and women. There what did it? Mean the first
time you actually got to put that? Uniform? Mom it was.

Speaker 21 (02:15:03):
Crazy because they still do really well in.

Speaker 41 (02:15:06):
Attendance but WHEN i was in, school it was Like
gamble was ten thousand so and we sold that out
and then we would play in the arena In hartford
and that's like sixteen thousand sold that. Out and whether
we were playing like our art rival or we were
playing LIKE i don't, know SOME d two team in
like a preseason.

Speaker 21 (02:15:24):
Game, yeah it didn't.

Speaker 41 (02:15:25):
Matter so to, me that was like the fans that
was the crazy. Part so you put the uniform, on
you run out to all these.

Speaker 21 (02:15:31):
People that was. Wild that Was that was the wildest.

Speaker 8 (02:15:34):
Part do you think Your yo Yu contein could be
SOME wnba?

Speaker 26 (02:15:39):
TEAM i mean, yeah.

Speaker 21 (02:15:40):
Because it's like five wa like top five picks.

Speaker 5 (02:15:45):
For.

Speaker 21 (02:15:45):
Real my senior year, Loaded, yeah we were.

Speaker 1 (02:15:48):
Loaded Were so you had a little setback your freshman
year tearing your Acl what was that like for the
first time basketball tea being taken away due to.

Speaker 26 (02:15:59):
Injury, yeah it was, terrible.

Speaker 21 (02:16:03):
ALTHOUGH i also so like talking about the bubble and
needing a.

Speaker 41 (02:16:06):
BREAK i figured out quickly even my freshman, year LIKE
i love, basketball but LIKE i can balance, it you.

Speaker 26 (02:16:12):
Know so it was tough that it was.

Speaker 41 (02:16:14):
Taken away BECAUSE i didn't have a. CHANCE i hadn't
proven myself, yet LIKE i, was you, know like there
was no nothing to back it. Up you get hurt
now or like later in your, career people kind of
know who you are and know what you can. Do it's, like,
okay she'll be. Fine but this was LIKE i hadn't done,
Anything so that was probably the hardest, part but it's
probably the thing that like shaped me, now like going through,

(02:16:37):
that having to prove myself kind of overcome. Something you,
Know i'm back in nineteen ninety, eight tearing your acl
was like a death. Wish now it's, like oh.

Speaker 21 (02:16:45):
Yeah, Fine but back, then, yeah back then.

Speaker 1 (02:16:48):
It was, scary. Scary so did you get one of
those big old, scars like from your shin to the
top of your they have those Scary franken STYLE i,
Remember BUT i had toe surgery and it was supposed
TO i thought it was a skull. Open there's like
a scar on my toe like the size of my.
Foot i'm, like what the fuck was this? Like and
that was in nineteen ninety, eight like, surgery medical, that you,
know the medical stide was much different back. Then so

(02:17:10):
you were you were able to establish you, know winning
two championships there playing with The diana And Swing. Cash
what was it like being able to win with your?

Speaker 26 (02:17:19):
Friends that was the best part we.

Speaker 41 (02:17:22):
Had we had a really it was like a it
was a close, group like my class is super tight
group chats still popping, now but then even so And
d's class was two years younger and they we had
five in my, class well ended up being four at the,
end but and they had. Five so it was like
these two like like in, numbers you know WHAT i,
mean these two groups and they kind of ride or.
Died but when we came, together we still had so much.

(02:17:44):
Fun so it's, like as like you guys can it's
like the memories aren't the. Winning it's nice that you,
win but it's like all the other stuff so to do,
that and, REALLY i mean you mentioned two people FOR
d And, Swin it's Like i've literally gone through everything with,
them starting in College.

Speaker 21 (02:18:00):
Swin actually we played together.

Speaker 1 (02:18:01):
In the W.

Speaker 21 (02:18:02):
Nba me AND d played Me Dan swin with the national,
team then me AND d went To.

Speaker 41 (02:18:07):
Russia it's just like our careers are so, intertwined and
it's they're like sisters for.

Speaker 21 (02:18:12):
Sure so it's it's always amazing doing and winning with your.

Speaker 1 (02:18:16):
Family that's what's up played for legendary Coach Gina, ariyama
who once said you were the best point guard in the.
World how did this is the two? Part how did
that make you? Feel and then what is some of
the best advice he gave you during your time?

Speaker 21 (02:18:30):
There he definitely didn't say that shits in my.

Speaker 26 (02:18:31):
Face gino is such a g MAN i.

Speaker 1 (02:18:35):
LOVE i never met, HIM i just SAW i could
just feel his energy from THE. Tv i've always fucked
with him even THOUGH i never met.

Speaker 21 (02:18:42):
Him he shoots it, straight that's for.

Speaker 41 (02:18:44):
Sure, no it's for him to say, that Like i'm,
joking but he gives you compliments to your, face but not.

Speaker 21 (02:18:50):
When you're in, college not even shortly.

Speaker 41 (02:18:52):
Thereafter but to have him say, that to know who he's,
coached who he's been, around it's obviously an amazing.

Speaker 21 (02:18:57):
COMPLIMENT i think the thing he taught me that to
this DAY i take with me is it's.

Speaker 41 (02:19:03):
Like a classic line of his basketball is not a
game of how, to it's a game of when, to
and THAT i think.

Speaker 21 (02:19:11):
Is like true for all, players but especially for me
at the point guard. Spot Like i'm kind of you,
Know i'm not out. There i'm not gonna dazzle you
with my. Athleticism i'm not going to rely on those,
things SO i have to be.

Speaker 5 (02:19:23):
Really it really is about When i'm.

Speaker 41 (02:19:26):
Doing this, stuff not not how, right like everybody can,
shoot dribble, pass but it's like when and being really
like smart about. It and, calculated and that's.

Speaker 1 (02:19:33):
Like my.

Speaker 5 (02:19:42):
What was your recruiting? Process like, school we.

Speaker 42 (02:19:46):
Started to get on the, map SO i really could
have chose ANYWHERE i wanted to. GO i chose you
call my junior. Year SO i didn't even. WAIT i was,
like what y'all want?

Speaker 21 (02:19:54):
ME i want you, to, like let's let's do.

Speaker 42 (02:19:56):
This but it actually wasn't even in the. BEGINNING i
was more so leaning Towards maryland because that's where my sister.
Lives So i'm, like all, RIGHT i can go TO.
Umd they got a good program, there and THEN i
just went TO i went to my visit To. Yukon
this is kind of. CRAZY i had all the other
visits lined. UP i even Put hawaii on there BECAUSE
i just wanted, to.

Speaker 1 (02:20:15):
You, KNOW i want.

Speaker 42 (02:20:15):
TO i want, to all, right so you already. KNOW
i went To yukon and signed with them right after.
Kids so all the other trips those were terrible calls to.
Make just letting everybody Know West virginia through a fit
BECAUSE i didn't take my trip TO. WVU i, knew
like WHEN i went, there they didn't roll out the
red carpet for. Me you, know everybody else was, like,

(02:20:37):
yeah you're gonna come, Here you're gonna start for. Years i'm,
like how many people they telling us?

Speaker 6 (02:20:41):
Too?

Speaker 34 (02:20:41):
Though you, know LIKE i JUST i like.

Speaker 42 (02:20:43):
Transparency so Coach arima was, like, look we already got
a point. Guard we know you're. GOOD i don't know
if you're gonna, start you, know like he's if y'all
know coach R, amma he's the same way for. Recruiting
SO i think the players that go, THERE i think
it says a lot about the players because you got, People,
yeah you got people promising you the. World so people
that go To yukon coach are in but just does
a move like, That so that that says something about the.

Speaker 26 (02:21:05):
PLAYERS i, think, yeap what was your college?

Speaker 1 (02:21:07):
Experience, LIKE i, mean going to a legendary, program having
a legendary, coach able to capture one title your senior.
Year But i'm sure the experience is something you'll never,
forget something you'll never.

Speaker 42 (02:21:18):
FORGET i, mean, WELL i already went there knowing the
point guards that were before. Me so it's LIKE i
think that's that.

Speaker 1 (02:21:25):
That's what push not to cut you? Off who was
there when you came.

Speaker 42 (02:21:27):
In so WHEN i came in it Was Keisha, swanyer
so she was she was one year ahead of, me
so we. Didn't it was it was almost wide open
in a. Sense so that's kind of HOW i was making.

Speaker 1 (02:21:37):
Mine.

Speaker 42 (02:21:38):
Yeah but WHEN i say before, ME i meant like
a Superb Jennifer, rizzotti just that group of caliber of point.
Guards so for, me for, me LIKE i, SAID i
welcome that type of, Chang i'm, like, dang it's lit.
Here so you have to you have to do something
big to make an impact at a school like that And,
yukon while everyone knows that we are good at, partying

(02:21:58):
we played. Good we played in basketball. Too BUT i,
think but it's like, No AND i say that because
a lot of times it's like Stores, connecticut people are
like what do you do up there other than? Party
BUT i MEAN i think that the players we have a.
Sisterhood you see us, now like we're all still, Close
like it's not it's not like we're all still, Cool
like we're all still. Close we got a group. Chat

(02:22:19):
AND i think that's just the ties that we, Built
like we build a real sisterhood. There AND i think
that's the culture that they make you have because practices
is so. Hard everything is so hard that you got
a band, Together like we all got to be mad
at coach together because we're not gonna beat him, Otherwise
like they make you figure it out. Together so that's
the THING i THINK i learned best At yukon just
that He coach would do so many different. Things we

(02:22:41):
have practice. Guys there will be like eight practice guys
against us are five and we'd have to figure out
a way to beat the trap and we'd have to
do different. Things so he would always, say LIKE i
don't really care what the circumstances give me a. Solution
SO i think that's kind of my mentality now moving
forward on, everything like all, right whatever the, circumstances there
is a, Solution, like, YEAH i gotta find.

Speaker 1 (02:22:59):
It what was it like playing for him in, particular
and maybe some advice that stuck with you early on
that that they got you through.

Speaker 42 (02:23:07):
It there's so, much BUT i would say playing for
him early, on people you, know they always say coach has,
favorites and people like to label me as one of,
those BUT.

Speaker 25 (02:23:17):
I, WAS i.

Speaker 42 (02:23:19):
WAS i still THINK i got yelled at. Song playing
for him is like no other because everyone else on
the other side hates, him and then you see like
he's so down for you and he makes people math
like he'll say whatever you probably think you're thinking as a,
player he, say oh, yeah he's gonna say, it and
he's gonna look at you in the face and be
like and, like you, know he's gonna he's about that.

(02:23:40):
Life and so playing for him it makes you like,
proud like you want to prove, It like if he
says something to the media like, listen, y'all you already
Know coach said, That so like let's do our. Thing
like just the advice that he always just gave us
was that no one, Cares like like people think that

(02:24:00):
people care about your. Situation no one, Cares like they don't.
Care if we're battling, injuries they don't. Care if we
have no. Seniors people never. Care and so once you
realize that in all aspects of, life like your boss don't,
care what's going on at, home you, know, like no one.
Cares and so That's i've always kept that, mentality like
people don't care why you're. Late you, late like people
don't you know WHAT i, Mean like you just if

(02:24:21):
you keep that mentality that no one cares figure it
out and do it. Right that that's kind of what stuff.

Speaker 8 (02:24:26):
With, yeah what was your.

Speaker 5 (02:24:30):
First impression of? Life?

Speaker 42 (02:24:31):
MORE i remember SHE i remember playing pick up with,
her And i'm, like she's, Different like you, know you
can just or you just see people do stuff just
like like what was? That like you know WHAT i
mean when and then she does something else and you're, like,
oh she's like she's legit and you just KNEW i,
mean and She's and there's a lot of players that
come out and just real. Talk there's a lot of

(02:24:51):
players that get all kinds of hype and then when
you see, them you'd be, like they're, okay you, know
like they might be the best in that, class but
that might be a weak, class so they're all. Right
she had all the. Hype so you come in looking
at her in that, lens and she had all the. Game,
YEAH i mean as good as. Advertising just some of
the stuff she would, do LIKE i would really just be, Like,

(02:25:12):
MAMA i know you. Lying AND i got TO i
got to play with her in college and in the,
pros and so to see her in, college she already
had that just raw natural. Ability she can do, everything
but then to see her in the pros and like
she had honed it, on like she knew she was a,
killer and she was killing every. Night not that she
wasn't in, college but you could just, tell you, know

(02:25:33):
she's like one of those generational players that you talk.
About you're not going to seem any more like.

Speaker 5 (02:25:37):
Her did you play With simon?

Speaker 1 (02:25:38):
Too?

Speaker 42 (02:25:39):
Oh you KNOW i?

Speaker 31 (02:25:39):
Did, yeah Our minnesota, TEAM i had a.

Speaker 8 (02:25:43):
MOB i Met Sylvia.

Speaker 42 (02:25:44):
Fowls was on that team as.

Speaker 1 (02:25:46):
Well we.

Speaker 22 (02:25:47):
Were we.

Speaker 42 (02:25:48):
Were that's why people THOUGHT i was crazy.

Speaker 1 (02:25:52):
Deep your senior year thirty nine and oh national champions
anything that any doubt ever creeping anyone ever come close
to knocking that crown off during that.

Speaker 42 (02:26:05):
RUN i, mean think about this going To yukon and
not winning a. CHAMPIONSHIP i mean every TIME i tell,
somebody go to you, con how many you? Want like
that's the first question everybody. Asked my junior, YEAR i
was sitting in the Gooseg so my senior, YEAR i
WAS i would say. SCARED i was terrified to go
down as the worst in. History they let us know
we would be the worst, Two like the coaching staff
would let us. Know like we always went, here you,

(02:26:27):
know like you guys got to do. It SO i
remember the. Preseason it started in preseason like WHERE i
was turned up LIKE i, WAS i was, crazy Like
i'm gonna lie LIKE i was on one BECAUSE i
just didn't want to be that one that left without.
It and then you get halfway through the, season we
haven't lost the, game And i'm, like all, right that's.
Dope but once you get towards the end of the
season you haven't, won you don't want to be that

(02:26:48):
first loss in the tournament you get bounced. Out SO
i would say the whole SEASON i was we were.
Tight and WHAT i mean by tight is, like you,
know like we got to do everything right because we
don't have any more. CHAIR i didn't have any more,
chances and so my teammates treated it like they didn't have.
Anymore and that was the dopest thing to. Me we
had A Tina charles on that team may am more

(02:27:10):
AND i think they wanted it more than me sometimes
in the way that they would be offended if people
weren't doing things, right because they would be like this
is her last, year you, know like they would get
onto people using that as the incentive and so that
was probably the coolest part about that year is how
much everyone wanted it for.

Speaker 1 (02:27:25):
Me you still were able to have fun, though even
though you were okay.

Speaker 42 (02:27:31):
My senior, Year so let's be.

Speaker 10 (02:27:33):
Clear Coach, Johnson, man we was Playing villanova and dude
had a sign that Said alan iverson the NEXT mj
and HAD mj crossed out and HAD oj and it

(02:27:55):
was three, DUDE i mean four dudes in the stands
and they had on all orange jump shoots with chains
and shackles and all, that And Coach thompson was, like,
no if y'all don't get them out of, here if
y'all don't get them out of this gym right, now
we not, playing and they escorted them out of there

(02:28:18):
and the game went. On that, dude LIKE i remember
just being at the free throw line WHEN i WHEN
i came To georgetown and everybody just screaming jail, bird jail,
bird jail. Bird AND i had to deal with all,
that and he was so protective of, me, man you

(02:28:38):
know WHAT i, Mean like even the first night THAT
i was on, campus he came up, there they and,
Everybody Coach, thompson you, Know i'm doing the ship THAT
i don't supposed to.

Speaker 8 (02:28:48):
Do you know WHAT i, Mean.

Speaker 10 (02:28:52):
I'm, Smoking you know WHAT i, Mean i'm all back, Then, yeah, yeah,
Man i'm smoking. Whatever Coach tom came up there and
it was Like Coach thompson looking at.

Speaker 1 (02:29:02):
You.

Speaker 10 (02:29:04):
MAN i, remember just trying to get myself, together went
washed my.

Speaker 1 (02:29:08):
Face you know WHAT i, Mean you can't watch the
high off.

Speaker 24 (02:29:12):
Man, no but he.

Speaker 38 (02:29:15):
Ain't, no he like you think he.

Speaker 5 (02:29:18):
Ain't he, knew, bro.

Speaker 8 (02:29:21):
Come, on you KNOW i came on.

Speaker 10 (02:29:24):
There he was like you, alright a little man like,
YEAH i was trying to get away from him so,
fast Like i'm.

Speaker 8 (02:29:32):
Cool.

Speaker 10 (02:29:32):
Coach he telling, me why you standing so far back?
There come come? Here so now you're telling me he probably.
Knew probably this little motherfucker high as hell.

Speaker 1 (02:29:45):
Man you know WHAT i, Mean like you, said, protected
but he.

Speaker 10 (02:29:49):
Was he was like and he always talked about the
fact THAT i never complained about them people throwing me
in jail like that when people try to at. HOME
i LOVE i Love virginia AND i rep it to the.
Fullest but they tried to ruin. Me they didn't want
they didn't want me to be what you just described

(02:30:10):
and WHO i am to the. Masses you know WHAT i.
Mean they didn't want for me to go to any
country in the. World as soon AS i get off the,
plane everybody in the airport.

Speaker 8 (02:30:20):
Know WHO i.

Speaker 10 (02:30:21):
Am they didn't want. That it was certain people that
didn't want. That the the guy that locked me, up
that threw me in, jail he, died and me and
my baby girl sent his family.

Speaker 5 (02:30:32):
FLOWERS.

Speaker 10 (02:30:32):
Mm you ain't do nothing but make me.

Speaker 5 (02:30:35):
Stronger straight.

Speaker 10 (02:30:36):
Up that's all you did was made me. STRONG i
needed you in my. LIFE i needed. You you was
you Was you was monumental in my. Life you was
you was an intricate part of my. Life you touched
on my next, Question what did you?

Speaker 1 (02:30:49):
LEARN i, mean that was obviously a highly publicized incident
in the bowling alley, that like you, said nearly injured
you before you really got. Started what did you learn
about yourself and your views on just what kind of
threat they saw you?

Speaker 23 (02:31:02):
As?

Speaker 10 (02:31:02):
Matt WHAT i learned WAS i knew THAT i was
young and immature because of being in. JAIL i wasn't
even scared LIKE i wasn't EVEN i would like, now
you know WHAT i, mean if IF i was to
go to Jail right, NOW i would be terrified Because i'm.
Older i'm not immature LIKE i was back. Then back,
THEN i was just man's what? Up back, THEN i

(02:31:23):
would do a dumb. Ass first of, ALL i was
the worst rapper in the, world you know WHAT i.
MEAN i was doing. IT i wouldn't say, that BUT
i was doing it because my. Homeboys that was what
they wanted to. Do so the opportunity presented itself AND
i could help. Them so that's WHY i did, it
you know WHAT i. Mean LIKE i learned from. Them

(02:31:45):
didn't learn, well BUT i learned from, them you know
WHAT i. Mean but back, Then, MATT i was so,
nonchalant and the only thing THAT i was scared of
is that my dream of being Who mo molded me
to be as an athlete was gonna be. Over like

(02:32:06):
the old head people in my, LIFE i just never
wanted to disappoint, them you know WHAT i. Mean you
KNOW i had that, fear not Of mo kicking my.
Ass he did that a couple of. Times it almost
threw me through a windshield, before you know WHAT i,
Mean but just not being Who god gave you the

(02:32:26):
talent to be, You, Matt. Barnes, You Steve, jackson you
supposed to be What god gave you the talent to
end up, being you know WHAT i. Mean and that
was my. Fear that was my fear letting, down letting them.
Down and then the fact of Like Coach thompson used
to tell, me, oh you of this. Motherfucker you eating

(02:32:49):
three times a.

Speaker 5 (02:32:50):
Day?

Speaker 10 (02:32:50):
Huh you eating, Breakfast you ain't, lunch you ain't. Dinner
but your mom down there and some days she don't even,
eat she living down, there and that the.

Speaker 5 (02:32:59):
Week.

Speaker 10 (02:32:59):
Uh my homeboys used to tease, me they called it
the dods affect ship straight from the sewer because in our,
crib we had the, uh we had the crib and
we never could be bad for it in our house
because the sewer from up under the. House he used to. Do,
yeah and it's just, wet like you're walking through the

(02:33:20):
motherfucking crib and it's just you know WHAT i, Mean
and it's stinking like a. Motherfucker cut the lights. On
roaches running there and god damn where no, water no hot,
water you know WHAT i? Mean no, food baking, soda
what baking?

Speaker 5 (02:33:34):
Soda and.

Speaker 10 (02:33:36):
Warfare cheese and the. Motherfucker and he used to you,
Know that's what was his way of getting to. Me,
oh you want your mama.

Speaker 6 (02:33:44):
To stay right by fucking, around that's what you're. Doing,
yeah keep keep living like, this. RIGHT i ain't gonna
argue with. YOU i ain't gonna cut you, out you
know WHAT i. MEAN i ain't GONNA i ain't gonna
talk no shit to. You i'm just gonna tell, you
this is what you want for your mom and your.

Speaker 10 (02:33:59):
Sisters. Right AND i could just snap out of The
steve m you know WHAT i, mean and go get
right back on on on on my.

Speaker 5 (02:34:09):
Path BUT i don't.

Speaker 10 (02:34:10):
KNOW I i KNOW i went all over the place
from what you aksed.

Speaker 1 (02:34:13):
Me but, nah we needed. That we want. That what's
what we wanna. Learn we spoke on two people obviously
want being Here mo and Then John. Thompson it sounds
like to me from the outside looking, in with two
integral figures in your life and kind of kept you
from making all these lefts and rights and kept you going.
Straight talk to us a little bit about both. Them
obviously we just, lost you, know one of the greatest
coaches of all, time rest In. Peach Coach, Thompson BUT

(02:34:35):
i know he was intricral, in you, know keeping you
on the right. Path what he used to tell me
about all the time is the shit THAT i was
just talking to you. About he, SAID i ain't never
complain for what they did to. Me he always talked
about how he admired me for what they did for
me and being that young and not.

Speaker 10 (02:34:56):
Complain but my whole thing Was god gave me an another,
chance so it won't no need to complain BECAUSE i
got a. Chance Like i'm recruited by everybody in the
whole country and both, sports, everybody and the situation happened with,
me and they almost got away with, It, Steve they

(02:35:17):
almost got away with it because if my mom didn't
go up there and beg him to save my, life
it wouldn't be No Alan, harrison the cultural. Icon did
everybody know if he didn't give me a. Chance he
gave me a. Chance you remember What John thompson was

(02:35:40):
known As Alonzo, patrick the ken bade the big man Coach.

Speaker 6 (02:35:45):
Marcus, ALLEN i mean Not Marcus, Allen alan so another
big man they had another seven for the last name
Was allen from my.

Speaker 5 (02:35:52):
Hometown well it was.

Speaker 10 (02:35:54):
It was big, man and and everybody always talked about
how he could coach. Guards but, then all of a,
sudden when you think Of, georgetown much AS i Love
pat much AS i loved Long as so much AS
i love To ken, bait, man It's bubba.

Speaker 6 (02:36:15):
Chump you're, six five or thirteen years, old fellow lovels
hoop and Watching patrick?

Speaker 5 (02:36:26):
Ewing what role Did? Patrick you didn't play on your
on basketball FOR.

Speaker 43 (02:36:30):
I, mean he played an incredible role because at that,
time you KNOW ncaa, basketball what's?

Speaker 1 (02:36:38):
Huge back?

Speaker 43 (02:36:40):
Then five slam In. GAMA i, MEAN i, mean You,
david you Know georgetown back Then? CAROLINA i, mean come, on,
man it was. Everything so as a, KID i was
tuned in right so and back doing that championship game
when they Played, carolina uh and Watching patrick block all those. Shots,

(02:37:02):
MAN i was enamored by. THAT i was, LIKE i
want to do, that AND i kind of pattered my
game after. Him and you, KNOW i loved the starter
jackets and the gear and all that. Stuff growing. UP
i was attracted to the joy with everything everything that Represented.

(02:37:22):
GEORGETOWN i was attracted to it and the rest's. History you,
Know patrick ended up being somewhat a mentor to. Me
AND i remember being in The NIKE abcd camp In,
princeton AND i Remember Sean, Kemp Billy, ONES i, mean
the whole crop was. THERE i mean it was we
were all on display In princeton And Big john h

(02:37:49):
Called patrick. Up patrick drove down From New york and
uh he was sitting in the stands With Big. John
and AS i was on the floor, stretching getting ready
for the, games AND i felt somebody tap me on
the shoulder and it was it Was.

Speaker 5 (02:38:05):
PATRICK i was, like SO i had to put on
THE i had to put on the. Show yeah, yeah,
yeah yeah yeah.

Speaker 43 (02:38:16):
Man so, Yeah now we've developed this brotherly type of,
relationship you, know between uh, myself him and the kentbe you.

Speaker 5 (02:38:28):
Know and, Uh Big john instilled a lot in, us
a whole lot of us over the.

Speaker 43 (02:38:33):
Years god rest his soul Because Big john played the
center position and he played behind one of the greatest
to ever do, it In Bill. Russell So Big john
instilled all of, that all of that knowledge in us
through throughout his tutelage of. Doing during my years At.

Speaker 6 (02:38:53):
GEORGIA i got a short story About Big. John we
was In Golden state together AND i just came from
the team AND i. BEHIND i had a little trouble
the two seasons, before BUT i had an interesting story
AND i was coming back playing well and. Junk they
wanted to do. It jones working for TN t and
they was doing through That sunday special On Baron. Davis,
well he convinced them to do it on me and

(02:39:14):
tell my. Story had my mom come because it was
A Mother's day, game and he did a story on me.

Speaker 5 (02:39:19):
And my mom For Mother's. Day but he FORCED t
AND t to do, That so that shows the.

Speaker 6 (02:39:23):
Character, yeah and it meant a lot to me BECAUSE
i needed at the time BECAUSE i was getting so
much bad. Press he wanted to get me some good
press On Mother's day with my. Mama so, yeah, yeah
and like my mama tell this story to, hus she
gets tear outed because she knew WHAT i was going
through at the. Time so for me and her to
do that on NATIONAL, tv it was. Great SO i
was at The Big.

Speaker 43 (02:39:43):
John, yeah you know when When john walked out of
that that game Protesting prop forty. Two that was huge
for all young black athletes and it just defined the

(02:40:06):
character of Who Big john was all, about you, know
he was about bringing up the next generation man and he,
knows he knew that if that was, implemented then that
would have kept a lot of young people of color
from getting quality education and experience.

Speaker 5 (02:40:25):
In higher learning and getting an. Opportunity you.

Speaker 43 (02:40:29):
Know so that kind of speaks to the man that he,
was you, know and he taught us, accordingly you, know
based on those.

Speaker 5 (02:40:37):
Things his gym was like his.

Speaker 43 (02:40:38):
Classroom he received a lot of criticism because he closed his,
doors he didn't allow any, media and because he wanted
to teach us the way actions without a, distraction without
being dissected or. Ridiculed for his teaching tactics they worked for.

(02:40:59):
Us we all turn out, all you, know because of.
It you know What i'm, saying it was tough love.
Too it was a tough love type of teaching type of.
Coaching what we, needed, though.

Speaker 1 (02:41:12):
Was love behind. Them AND i feel like that's what
can't be translated these. Days everything we're saying is coming
from a place of, love but it just it's not
translated the, same you, know individuals are trying to give
it To.

Speaker 5 (02:41:22):
No, no you're, Right you're definitely right about.

Speaker 1 (02:41:24):
That and then now.

Speaker 43 (02:41:28):
Players don't receive it quite like we received it back.
Then LIKE i, said you, know the word fragile is
used quite a bit because unfortunately it's hard.

Speaker 5 (02:41:41):
To say the things that need to be said to.

Speaker 43 (02:41:44):
People it's hard to say those things that need to
be said to these, players you, know because they take
offense to, it and you know they're fragile from that,
perspective you, know when ultimately it's about helping you improve
your way of.

Speaker 1 (02:41:59):
Thinking that's, right that's what we were talking to.

Speaker 5 (02:42:03):
Prove your way of, thanking you, know so you can be.
Successful that's all it's.

Speaker 1 (02:42:08):
About you LED sc to back to back national titles
and we're named. TOURNAMENT i was.

Speaker 35 (02:42:21):
ONE i was one of many on that.

Speaker 1 (02:42:23):
Team yeah you, helped thank, You, yes thank. YOU i.

Speaker 35 (02:42:27):
ASSISTED i love THAT i. Assisted but you.

Speaker 1 (02:42:30):
Were also NAMED mvp both, times so you did a
little bit more than. That what was the environment like back,
THEN i, mean obviously the. Press i'm A ucla, guy
but always had a lot of respect for WHAT sc
has always meant in the sports. World what WAS la
like back then for?

Speaker 35 (02:42:45):
You and this is the one thing that did bother,
me you, know forget you SAID la you, know just the.
Rivalry what really used to mess with all the, sisters
like the female athletes AT. Sc why did all the
good looking brothers go TO U s L.

Speaker 1 (02:43:02):
A i don't, know, REAL.

Speaker 33 (02:43:08):
I don't, KNOW i don't, KNOW i don't Know, Jack,
like that's not just you, KNOW i, mean oh my,
god DID i need to hear this?

Speaker 5 (02:43:18):
Today this is this is why Our.

Speaker 35 (02:43:20):
Liz was, like come, on but, yeah, yeah but, Anyways
i'm just thinking about all the guys that, okay cat
me go Somewhere russian.

Speaker 1 (02:43:37):
Never you're, saying huh what was? THAT i, MEAN i,
remember you, know us playing. There we never really looked at.
IT i don't think maybe the school or that the
students looked at. It LIKE i didn't have an issue
with nobody on S. C i actually LOVED sc football
because that's back when they Had Reggie bush and all those. Guys,
like did you guys look at it as like F
U c L. A or was it just more? Fun it?

Speaker 35 (02:43:58):
Was it Was it was a RIVALRY usc in the, hood,
though ain't.

Speaker 24 (02:44:02):
It?

Speaker 35 (02:44:02):
Yeah oh back in the. Day, oh back in the.
Day it was, like you, know you get your game
on like this and then you, know you cross the.

Speaker 8 (02:44:09):
Street yeah, yeah, YEAH i heard, yeah.

Speaker 5 (02:44:13):
Making sure you, know in the middle of.

Speaker 1 (02:44:15):
It it was no.

Speaker 35 (02:44:18):
Joke you turned down that wrong alley if you want.
To and that was another. Thing, yeah we we lived
in Real Los.

Speaker 5 (02:44:27):
Angeles you got up on the, yeah, yeah, Yeah I'm
i'm more usc yeah yeah about.

Speaker 35 (02:44:38):
That but when it came when it came to to
basketball And, reggie, YEAH i MEAN i wouldn't wear anything
you se l. A BUT i made sure that there
was nobody up in the stands that had a thought
in their.

Speaker 5 (02:44:53):
Mouth, yeah, YEAH i love, it do.

Speaker 1 (02:44:56):
It this is the SAME i, mean the same time
you're you're winning, championships The Showtime lakers are winning championships as.

Speaker 5 (02:45:03):
Well so what we.

Speaker 8 (02:45:06):
Were.

Speaker 35 (02:45:06):
Showtime, look our our practices were. Brutal i've Got Cynthia
cooper running her. Mouth Tracy, longo nobody, remember well she
was my, height white girl that could jump out the,
gym and we battled each other throughout high. School you
had the McGee, twins and you, know we Had Ronda,

(02:45:27):
windham a point guard from The. Bronx so we had
a little bit of. Everything so our, practices coach just
basically rolled out the ball was. Great in allowing us
to be who we. Are our personalities would step in
when we you, know got a little. Twisted but the
games were the fun, part practices where we honed, ourselves

(02:45:49):
our skills and everything. Else we had to check our
egos at the you, know and that was our, Captain Juliet.
Robinson check your ego at the. Door and once we
stepped on the, floor it was about.

Speaker 8 (02:46:01):
Business it.

Speaker 35 (02:46:03):
Was and then you had the you, know we Had
magic and The lakers and you know them coming in
occasionally watching us. Play and we were playing at the
time at The Sports. Arena so, yeah we were. SHOWTIME
i love.

Speaker 1 (02:46:18):
IT i love. It i'm gonna give you some. NAMES
i want you to tell me what you. Think Debora, robins,
oh just like a.

Speaker 35 (02:46:25):
Brother she was A rebounders sister. Right pam McGee did
her dirty in the in the championship game because she
got in her ear started talking to, her, SAY i
can't Believe Kim molky just missed.

Speaker 8 (02:46:46):
That you were wide.

Speaker 35 (02:46:47):
Open you had me pinned talking to her throughout the.

Speaker 8 (02:46:49):
Game, MAN i.

Speaker 35 (02:46:50):
Can't Believe Kim molky just Sat Janice, lawrence won't you
even pass You out's a high loan and you got
me pinned behind and then all of a sudden she starts,
talking why did you give any the ball? Him now
there's A i mean so she, talented but she, yeah
she she had some things going on.

Speaker 8 (02:47:07):
Like, her like her.

Speaker 1 (02:47:07):
Brother. Uh pam McGee one of my former, Teammates Mom
JaVale McGee's, Mom.

Speaker 35 (02:47:13):
Pam hardest working, block the, block, hustle, rebounder will not
be denied on the. Boards physical funny with you, know
she would pause to things Sometimes i'm, like are you hearing?
Something BUT i now know she was just pausing the.

Speaker 1 (02:47:32):
Thing you.

Speaker 35 (02:47:33):
Know, yeah great, Teammate great.

Speaker 1 (02:47:35):
Teammates Cynthia cooper who.

Speaker 35 (02:47:41):
We could not SEE i to eye on.

Speaker 8 (02:47:46):
Anything Shacking. Kobe oh it, Was AND i will say she.

Speaker 5 (02:47:53):
Was she Was.

Speaker 35 (02:47:54):
Kobe AND i had some shock in her BECAUSE i
HAD i had some shock in Mere. Kobe you can be,
you but you ain't gonna tell me how to, do.

Speaker 5 (02:48:06):
You?

Speaker 35 (02:48:07):
Know AND i WOULD i would sit, There i'm, Like,
cooper do you ever shut? Up let me just ADD
i just do you ever shut? Up and?

Speaker 8 (02:48:16):
Older?

Speaker 35 (02:48:17):
Older and AND i was, look coming out of high,
school you're hearing you the end all be. ALL i
started drinking my kool laid at a very young. Age
so NOW i got this other mouth who wants to
go at. Me i've, got you, know And i'm. LOOK

(02:48:37):
i KNEW i was, good BUT i didn't BELIEVE i was.

Speaker 8 (02:48:39):
Good SO i WAS i was.

Speaker 35 (02:48:41):
Insecure so you're gonna challenge. ME i ain't.

Speaker 5 (02:48:43):
Gonna ain't no.

Speaker 35 (02:48:44):
PUNK i mean live At, riverside BUT i ain't no.
Punk so she would come out from watch and she
would say That i'm From i'm.

Speaker 1 (02:48:50):
Like an.

Speaker 5 (02:48:53):
Taste the, same, yeah.

Speaker 35 (02:48:56):
The, same want to you, KNOW i mean we were,
SITTING i, mean you, know and you know the twins
are Like. Suerrel she's From watson that With.

Speaker 8 (02:49:05):
PAPA i don't, care no no.

Speaker 35 (02:49:06):
Da but on the, court. Simpotico, yeah. Simpotico BUT i
will say one, thing a couple of things About, CYNTHIA
a self, made driven Superstar hall Of, famer so well.

Speaker 1 (02:49:27):
Deserved, last but not, Least kim Moulk oh.

Speaker 35 (02:49:33):
COACH i used to call her dead Of. South you
just dead Of South South, South brilliant basketball, mind TREMENDOUS,
iq great floor, general fierce, competitor is the one one

(02:49:55):
of the should have been the starter of The olympic.

Speaker 8 (02:49:58):
Team hands. Down, really who was the? Starter Lee? Henry? Hmm,
Interesting and.

Speaker 35 (02:50:09):
That Was pat's, Player Pat, summit the late Great Pat.
Summits But Kim, maulky hands, down should have been the
starter Because i'm telling you when when she would come,
in she's, Like, MILLER i just need you to, fly
you just. Fly i'll get the ball to. Her she
would get that. Ball she already knew where everybody was

(02:50:30):
because she could play the game with her eyes closed
and would know what, passed when it hit, it timing
and everything. Else barking, this knew your, position your, cut
where you should have. BEEN i can't believe you're still out.

Speaker 1 (02:50:43):
HERE i mean.

Speaker 35 (02:50:44):
Everything so to watch her and to play against, Her
playing against her was a. Pain playing with her a.
Joy no surprise at her success as a head.

Speaker 5 (02:50:56):
Coach is she?

Speaker 1 (02:50:57):
Misunderstood she kind of gets a bad rap now, swaggy
she's doing her.

Speaker 8 (02:51:01):
Way, Man kim is, Killed, Kim kim.

Speaker 31 (02:51:03):
Wait kim is never never broke.

Speaker 1 (02:51:05):
Character huh my, love that never broke.

Speaker 35 (02:51:09):
Character.

Speaker 27 (02:51:10):
Character what you see is what you get if you
don't like, it fuck it fresh, Too oh, yeah.

Speaker 35 (02:51:15):
Oh, yeah she just you, know she's she's the Female.

Speaker 1 (02:51:19):
Labaraci shequille O'Neill comes TO l S. U what's your
first early memories Of?

Speaker 44 (02:51:32):
Shock gigantic guy like in, shape, confident. Playful oh AND
i remember him saying in the dorm one, day this
is before contracts even exploded the way they. Did He's
i'm gonna be the first guy to make eighty.

Speaker 23 (02:51:50):
Million he wait made way.

Speaker 8 (02:51:53):
More but he was. Man he was he was he was.

Speaker 44 (02:51:57):
Relentless you could see the passion in his. Game he
was a people's. Person you know the way he is,
now very, playful. Comical BUT i knew that we you,
know we had something, special but we just couldn't put it.

Speaker 1 (02:52:12):
Together, obviously you were highly, touted. Decorated shack was. SHOCKED
i Think Stanley roberts gets lost in the. Mix how
good Was Stanley?

Speaker 6 (02:52:21):
Roberts not for me BECAUSE i grew up lived a
couple of miles from. There, no they had the original
two big fellas in. Him Like stanley did not get.
Overshadowed if you WATCHED l S u and if he
was from that, area he was just as big As.

Speaker 8 (02:52:36):
Shaq trust, me he was just as big.

Speaker 1 (02:52:37):
As shock From california in the. Area that's just the
big As. Shack, yeah but in the grand scheme of
Things nationwide talked to us About Stanley robinson what his
game was.

Speaker 44 (02:52:47):
Like, stanley by far was way more talented and skillful His.
Shack stanley could shoot, it he could shoot.

Speaker 23 (02:52:59):
His free, throw and he can take you.

Speaker 44 (02:53:01):
Down and now he didn't have the shock bringing it
up home. Corner but outside of, that and Even shack
Admitted shack, said, Look stanley dominated.

Speaker 23 (02:53:12):
Him, uh the only thing Was, stanley. Man and he'll
tell you to this.

Speaker 44 (02:53:16):
Day we're At we're at a convention at l S
u some years ago BECAUSE i hardly ever get. Back
And stanley was eating in a ball you, know we're basketball.
Players was a ball roll.

Speaker 23 (02:53:27):
By we're gonna grab it and touch. It sam was
eating talking ball rolled, by looked at. It he just
kept on me like AND i, LOOK i, said this, dude,
seriously he.

Speaker 8 (02:53:39):
Don't want nothing to do with the game of.

Speaker 5 (02:53:41):
Basketball but that's just.

Speaker 44 (02:53:42):
Him even when he was playing, man he JUST i
had to And i'm NOT i could beat this, dude
BUT i had to sometimes piss him.

Speaker 23 (02:53:50):
Off coach was, like, man.

Speaker 8 (02:53:52):
Get him in the.

Speaker 23 (02:53:52):
Scams ain't.

Speaker 1 (02:53:55):
He's.

Speaker 44 (02:53:55):
Eating give me the, Ball give me the, ball but
he'll go, off but he'll be missed two three.

Speaker 23 (02:54:00):
Days he just show YOU i can do, this and
then he.

Speaker 5 (02:54:03):
Won't so he didn't have.

Speaker 23 (02:54:04):
That discipline in that.

Speaker 44 (02:54:05):
Work AND i remember telling him one Timmer, MAN i, says,
STAY i had tears of Mis.

Speaker 23 (02:54:09):
Man we talked to him BECAUSE i knew, HIM i
Said Stanley.

Speaker 45 (02:54:12):
MAN i, said, man if you just work, hard be.
CONSISTENT i, said, man you can write your, ticket you
can name your. Price he looks at, me he, Said.
Man at the, time my name Is, green Said Chris.
MAN i appreciate.

Speaker 5 (02:54:24):
You.

Speaker 23 (02:54:24):
Man he, said, man but he's.

Speaker 8 (02:54:26):
Angle, listen he's A AND i knew he was telling the.

Speaker 23 (02:54:30):
TRUTH i seen even man make my eyes water WHEN
i think about.

Speaker 8 (02:54:33):
IT i, said, man this.

Speaker 5 (02:54:34):
Dude as so much. Man so.

Speaker 1 (02:54:38):
Uh and the, Documentary shack spoke to a particular performance
where you had forty points Against Mississippi state on the,
Road confederate flags in the, stands, yelling going. Crazy he
said that was the single greatest performance he's ever, seen
playing With, kobe playing in the league all these. Years he,
said what you did in that game he'll always remember

(02:54:59):
is the greatest single performance taught to us about that
game and just the environment when you're coming back home
and it seems like your home is against.

Speaker 5 (02:55:05):
You it ain't no.

Speaker 44 (02:55:06):
Scene, yeah it would definitely gets as soon AS i
walked out and they saw my feet coming out of
the tunnel started.

Speaker 5 (02:55:16):
That was a great.

Speaker 44 (02:55:17):
GAME i WOULDN'T i would have thought that would be
the game that he. Say, HOWEVER i do remember that,
game AND i Remember dale got extremely upset because he
didn't like going To. Mississippi he didn't like if it
was his, preference he wouldn't have he would have flew,
in played and, left wouldn't have, bought wouldn't have spent
money in the. Hotel he spent money in a. Motel
we said the. Motel he wanted to spend the least.

(02:55:37):
Amount but that was appeared in the game With dale was,
like you know, what AND i felt kind of. Awkward he, Said,
okay y'all don't want to, play come down and shoot
it every. Time i'm, like, YEAH i came down AND
i was. Playing but if somebody's, OPEN i gotta give
it to. Him BUT i THINK i don't know if
we won that, game that particular, game but it was

(02:55:59):
a stretch WHEN i JUST i just took control and went.
Off And i'm definitely thinking that's what he's referring. To
so it's good that he at least remembers.

Speaker 1 (02:56:08):
It, Yeah can you speak to the importance Of Dale,
brown because even in the documentary he was just still
so high on you and have so much love for
who you were the, man not just a basketball. Player
but speak to his importance in your, journey, Man.

Speaker 44 (02:56:22):
Dale they came to recruit me In, mississippi and one
of the, reasons the main REASONS i.

Speaker 23 (02:56:27):
Went there actually is BECAUSE.

Speaker 1 (02:56:31):
I know better.

Speaker 44 (02:56:32):
Now you, KNOW i do believe that athletes should get paid,
Right BUT i was a little. SCARY i didn't want
anything to mess up my. Career and they just came
off OF i think, suspension something Hot williams out OF
i forget his name out Of. California but, man they

(02:56:52):
never when he came to everybody else is offering you
stuff like you're gonna come and you're gonna start right,
away blah blah, Blah and my young, Mind i'm said to,
myself we don't even know what tomorrow's gonna. Bring how
could you offer me, something somebody else may come in
And i'll play. Me AND i just always felt funny about.
That but they came in and he, said, listen we
got fair. Serving you, know we believe that you can

(02:57:12):
play about believing your. Talent if you show us that this.

Speaker 5 (02:57:17):
Is who you, are you gonna.

Speaker 44 (02:57:17):
Play and you, Know i'm kind of like old, school
you know WHAT i, mean like, Okay and they was
just straight up with, me AND i just. SHOOK i
just shook that head AND i, said, Listen i'm coming TO.
Lsu BUT i kept a quiet for a while BECAUSE
i was told In mississippi you want to Keep mississippi
schools BECAUSE i was.

Speaker 23 (02:57:35):
OUT i wasn't out of high school, yet so.

Speaker 44 (02:57:37):
They say keep one of them or so on the
list because you don't want them to start giving you,
problems you. Know so that's WHY i kept The mississippi
school on the.

Speaker 1 (02:57:44):
List BUT i.

Speaker 44 (02:57:45):
Already knew THAT i wanted to go out as you
and so the other thing That clinchton was coach. Cars
we talked like thousands of, hours about a thousand. Hours
ninety something percent of them had nothing to do with,
basketball and so to me that meant a lot like these.
People you, know potentially you're gonna you, know they're gonna
they're gonna care for.

Speaker 5 (02:58:02):
Me more than the.

Speaker 23 (02:58:03):
Game and uh he held true to his. Promise, UH
i mean to to his.

Speaker 5 (02:58:10):
Word AND i got.

Speaker 44 (02:58:11):
There he saw it and he just, said, hey, MAN
i want you to go for broke and uh and
he trusted me. Too he knew, That, OKAY i wasn't
just gonna be a releegaate with, it you. Know and
uh so and he, also, man he gave. Me he
was the one that influenced, me that led me to
more and so to a slam because he gave me

(02:58:31):
the autobiography because he.

Speaker 5 (02:58:32):
Read he.

Speaker 44 (02:58:36):
Read all the, time and he had so many connections
whether you know different, people, man whether It's Dick, Gregory
pharaoh coh and you name.

Speaker 23 (02:58:42):
It and he would always hand us material to read
and tell us what we.

Speaker 8 (02:58:46):
Thought you.

Speaker 44 (02:58:47):
Know BECAUSE i came, OUT i almost didn't make, it,
MAN i, failed uh THE A C t the first
time and then the second. Time and if it wasn't
for a doctor that instilled in this woman to have
the classes, PRIVATELY i probably would have been a prop
forty eight Like. Stanley BUT i was able to pass,

(02:59:08):
it AND i came. In but the whole time AT,
Lsu man they put me in a remedia reading. CLASS
i could, READ i could, spell you, know but my
comprehension skills wasn't, great my critical thinking. Skills so they
would ask me questions prior to my being admitted in the, classes.

Speaker 8 (02:59:25):
Like what does have me to read?

Speaker 44 (02:59:26):
Something and said what does this? Mean oh, no what
does this word? MEAN i don't KNOW i can spell,
WORDS i ain't even know what they?

Speaker 23 (02:59:34):
Meant what does this word?

Speaker 5 (02:59:34):
MEAN i don't?

Speaker 23 (02:59:35):
Know what are you getting from the?

Speaker 44 (02:59:37):
STORY i was just, reading, MAN i was sounding, good
AND i felt so humiliated, though and So Dale brown
began to give me a little material here and THEN
i would read.

Speaker 23 (02:59:47):
It what do you think about? This what do you
think about?

Speaker 44 (02:59:50):
That and even WHEN i would give, interviews there were
times he would, stop, hey, man tell them what you think,
right because he saw me pussy footing.

Speaker 1 (02:59:59):
Around and so he would challenge all the smoke.

Speaker 23 (03:00:03):
Right then he put me in a summer.

Speaker 44 (03:00:04):
Job my summer job was with this guy Named Gus,
wiles who was an author who had.

Speaker 5 (03:00:09):
To play his.

Speaker 44 (03:00:10):
Plays presenter of one of his plays presented On. Broadway
So gus would come in and every MORNING i would
sit my whole. THING i would come in five to
ten minutes every. MORNING i would sit with him and
we just, talked and in our conversations, informally he just
injects certain ideas in terms of speech and.

Speaker 23 (03:00:29):
Everything and THEN i sit in my office And i'd
read and they.

Speaker 8 (03:00:32):
Take me to.

Speaker 5 (03:00:33):
Lunch my whole day was reading and having.

Speaker 44 (03:00:35):
Conversations and then that next year WHEN i came and
it was time to do, INTERVIEWS i was more, well
more seasoned THAN i was here. Before and then that
started to process me of wanting to know more and
read more and to become more vocal and. Confident so,
Yeah i'm indebted to him for.

Speaker 1 (03:00:52):
That college and SIX sec player of The year had
to run to the final four for some badass school
out there in That west coast with light skinned. Kids
uh the. Tournament, yeah talk to us about. COLLEGE i

(03:01:13):
CAN'T i Enjoyed washington BECAUSE i was already in the,
league but you was.

Speaker 8 (03:01:16):
Putting in work in. College, BRO i can't stand, you.

Speaker 5 (03:01:19):
Motherfuckers.

Speaker 8 (03:01:20):
MAN i really can't like if you think about, That
LIKE i got a.

Speaker 5 (03:01:25):
Problem With Jordan.

Speaker 6 (03:01:26):
Farmart you know WHAT i, MEAN i should we were
supposed to beat them, boys but they were just so well.

Speaker 8 (03:01:32):
Coached the well they were so well, coached and that
was just a great. EXPERIENCE i THINK i was.

Speaker 40 (03:01:39):
So caught up in the lights, too because you think
four like they, had we was doing all type of,
promo you know that your first tastes of the.

Speaker 8 (03:01:48):
Business, yeah like we're young, kids you, know we.

Speaker 6 (03:01:50):
DIDN'T i think the lights were so big for, us
and you, know we we didn't expect to get, there,
Right we know we were, good you know WHAT i,
Mean but we did it some crazy stuff in college
and we you, know lost to you.

Speaker 1 (03:02:03):
Guys best part of college for, You god damn LSU ls.

Speaker 8 (03:02:09):
Shoe they they showed a lot of.

Speaker 5 (03:02:11):
Love you was at, home but they.

Speaker 8 (03:02:15):
Were still, through you know WHAT i.

Speaker 27 (03:02:16):
Mean LIKE i just missed the atmosphere because you, know
college was a Different college was like the pros for.

Speaker 8 (03:02:22):
Me it was like a BABY G league for, me you.

Speaker 2 (03:02:25):
Know WHAT i.

Speaker 8 (03:02:25):
MEAN i had a lot of. Fun like you, know
we're a football, school so it was like.

Speaker 6 (03:02:31):
Basketball it was like, okay like a, surprise you, Know
so you, KNOW i had some great.

Speaker 5 (03:02:38):
FUN i had a lot of fun in. COLLEGE i
did my.

Speaker 6 (03:02:40):
Thing people don't understand how crazy those football games. Be
like you can hit like the city like rumbles like miles.
Away you can hear rumbles on the ground like an
earthquake from that. Stadium, Bro, Bro Saturday night And Tiger
stadium crazy as a basketball right that made me come
to the.

Speaker 8 (03:03:00):
School yeah, right because.

Speaker 1 (03:03:02):
WHEN i went on my, visit you, know right around
the corner AND i, WENT i seen, that and THEN
i seen all the tramp girls in one, sanction and
THEN i just seen all the.

Speaker 26 (03:03:10):
JOINTS i had to.

Speaker 5 (03:03:12):
Stay you, know it's, crazy you know What i'm.

Speaker 20 (03:03:15):
Saying unless you had you, know you, know and the
prone bangs selling right down the.

Speaker 5 (03:03:23):
STREET i had to.

Speaker 8 (03:03:26):
Stay, yeah, yeah, yeah, YEAH i did. It yeah true or?

Speaker 1 (03:03:31):
False back to basketball right, house and by locked you
up in that. Game oh that's.

Speaker 22 (03:03:35):
CAP i was about to, Say, bro about to, say
you know you ain't letting.

Speaker 5 (03:03:39):
That Ryan hollins And.

Speaker 8 (03:03:42):
Moote, no there's a double.

Speaker 1 (03:03:44):
Team they still can't do. Nothing then they can't do
nothing with, me, man right, now it's still in his.

Speaker 5 (03:03:50):
Stay they can't do.

Speaker 1 (03:03:52):
Nothing you end up playing With Rick patino On Kentucky
were there any other colleges you really thought about going?
To or is Always Kentucky.

Speaker 46 (03:04:06):
Midwest, guy so OBVIOUSLY i was. COMING i was right
behind That michigan, run so definitely thought about going To.
Michigan BUT i did like all of us. Did BUT
i had ten home. VISITS i went on five Visits, Michigan,
kentucky you N Lv. Illinois SO i took my regular
tip five, visits have my ten and home visits and

(03:04:26):
really kind of let the process play itself. Out BUT
i just Love kentucky style. Play Mass buran was one
of my favorite. Players Mass burn was, there AND i
liked it because he was able to know he can
handle he could shoot the. Three SO i felt, like,
MAN i could fit into that that system right. There
and then coach was telling me that mass was coming
out that so we're gonna have room for you to
come in and be able to play right. Away so

(03:04:47):
that's what really intrigued me to go to go To
kentucky because of the style of. Play AND i saw Mass,
burn SO i was, like, man he gonna let me
do and they't gonna take my game away from.

Speaker 1 (03:04:56):
Him talk to us About Rick patino and just your
Whole kentucky.

Speaker 46 (03:04:59):
Experience love him the, yeah, man it was unbelievable for.
Me WHEN i came, IN i, was you, know like
an all of. US i was a young high, head
you know WHAT i, mean THOUGHT i knew, everything and
he humbled me and taught me how to work hard
and put me in a good position to be the
best basketball.

Speaker 5 (03:05:14):
Player BECAUSE i THOUGHT i was a point.

Speaker 8 (03:05:16):
Guard NO i.

Speaker 46 (03:05:18):
DID i was a point, GUARD i, mean BUT i
THOUGHT i wanted to play the. Point he was, like,
Look i'm gonna put you at this point forward stack.
RIGHT i played the four me and watch. McCarty so
we played you, Know walching not y'all know how wal
was was kind of a four, two and we played the,
four and he was, Like i'm gonna still let you.
Handle i'm gonna let you do all your things and
let you shoot the, three but we're gonna have a

(03:05:39):
traditional point guard on the. Floor AND i the only
THING i could do was stank, him, man and even
take it a step. Further after my rookie, year you guys,
know he came To boston and coached me In boston
and made The All star, team turned me, loose put
me at the. Four WHEN i came into the, PROS
i was at the, three AND i MEAN i had
a good rookie. Year every team and half made first

(03:06:01):
Team All rookie, team played. Well but he was, like
your advantage is.

Speaker 5 (03:06:04):
At the fool.

Speaker 46 (03:06:05):
Quickness he was, like, look you gotta go to the.
Four he, SAID i know you don't want, to but he,
said that's what you're gonna.

Speaker 1 (03:06:10):
Be was what was your playing weight when you first
came in the.

Speaker 5 (03:06:13):
League came in at two thirty.

Speaker 46 (03:06:14):
FIVE i think WHEN i went in the, draft got
to like two forty five and tapped out with the
heat you, know you Know pat right, on that's. Around
SO i played at like two fifty but the heat
on the on the on the low seven eight percent
body sack with past.

Speaker 5 (03:06:29):
Solid.

Speaker 46 (03:06:29):
Yeah but In boston WHEN i first came, IN i
was like two thirty, five got to like two forty,
five played around and wait and just stayed. There stayed
in between two fifty, five like no more than two
fifty five WHEN i, played BECAUSE i had to guard some,
threes you know WHAT i. Mean that year we won a,
Championship i'm guarding that, run the whole. Run i'm Going Richard,
Jefferson Josh, howard you, know y'all, NIGGAS i can't chase y'all.
Around i'm chasing y'all, around. Y'all i'm chasing y'all. Around,

(03:06:56):
man these Screens Richard, Jefferson josh, chawdee boys like this.
Moving that's how We but that's if coach loved YOU.
D it was like twenty if you want to you
want these. MINUTES i ain't budget on YOU. D you
know you had a special special love for U. D
So i'll moved to the, three whatever it.

Speaker 1 (03:07:11):
Takes but before we get back to the, league ninety
Six National championship loaded TEAM td McCarty.

Speaker 46 (03:07:17):
Nine, pros nine pro nine. PROS i was just talking
to somebody earlier about this. Today just unbelievable. Team the
best thing that ever happened to us was that year
and people and you guys can understand. Us in college
we went on Our european. Trip so we got a
chance that year to go on To european. Trip was
going to be ranked number, one but that trip gave

(03:07:37):
us idea of what we can really. Be and to
be honest with you, MEAN i practice was tougher than our.
Games and that's not bragging. Pros but our practice used
to be strong because we was fighting for. Minutes, YEAH i,
mean you, KNOW i let the team in minutes AND
i THINK i only average like twenty seven twenty eight.
Minutes but we our. Marching the victory was twenty four
to twenty, five you know WHAT i. Mean so we

(03:07:58):
blew out a lot of, teams so we didn't get
a chance to finish a lot of.

Speaker 5 (03:08:00):
Games BUT i love that. Team we're still together. Today.

Speaker 46 (03:08:04):
Man we got a group chat that we all stay,
on you, know wishing each other happy, birthday, holidays. Everything,
man we stay in really good, contact really special group
and that we still all friends too to this.

Speaker 5 (03:08:16):
Day SO i loved that about that.

Speaker 1 (03:08:17):
Group did y'all have like AN a team and A b?

Speaker 5 (03:08:20):
Team, like let me tell you what's.

Speaker 46 (03:08:23):
Funny we didn't have AN amb, team but you know
what he did start that, Year he started A jv.

Speaker 6 (03:08:27):
Team so let me tell you Why i'm asking you.
THAT i know why you asked, me because we bust
they ass WHEN i was their old. Kid, YEP i
was a.

Speaker 31 (03:08:33):
Senior high school and they brought up seated because.

Speaker 5 (03:08:36):
Y'all didn't play. Y'all y'all was THE a team to? Me, yeah, no, no,
no this is what.

Speaker 46 (03:08:39):
Happened Nazi, Muhammad, Yes Nazi muhammad came in and signed WITH.
Us nazi people don't. Notice naves was like three fifty
three sixty when he came into, college lost one hundred.

Speaker 8 (03:08:50):
Pounds coach he used to be on him every.

Speaker 46 (03:08:52):
Day, man he had to work out twice a day plus,
practice get all his way. Off but he created A
jv team for nas really so That nis had his own.
Schedule so he had him and Like Wayne, Turner wayne
played a couple of. Games but stack don't get you.
Busted it wasn't. Y'all y'all wasn't. There there was some
managers on the. Team it was like we.

Speaker 31 (03:09:12):
Was we was in high. SCHOOL i know that everybody's in.

Speaker 5 (03:09:15):
College that's, true that's you know What i'm.

Speaker 31 (03:09:16):
Saying so in my, mind oh, yeah it's going.

Speaker 5 (03:09:19):
Down we bust that.

Speaker 31 (03:09:20):
Ass but but at the same, time you, Know i'm
gonna keep it. Funking we, knew y'all wasn't, there you
know What i'm.

Speaker 8 (03:09:24):
Saying we knew all the best players and starters wasn't.

Speaker 31 (03:09:26):
There but that still was a game for us to get.

Speaker 5 (03:09:27):
Up that was doff for ours so he could be
out of.

Speaker 6 (03:09:29):
Play that's, crazy huh right true facts you, Right okay
was a regularigh school, Either that's.

Speaker 46 (03:09:36):
True Ron, Mercy, YEAH i heard, stories but Now i'm
saying that. That but that team was. CREATING i never knew.
That nobody know. That that was created to get him in. Shape,
yeah get him in, shape and to give him some playing,
time you, KNOW i, MEAN i think it was another
player on the. TEAM i can't think of start that.
Year ye want, Year we wanted t D Tony, Delk walter, McCarty,

(03:10:00):
Myself Derek, Anderson derek that.

Speaker 8 (03:10:03):
Was WHAT i was thinking.

Speaker 46 (03:10:04):
About And Mark pope with none of them in The
Screenwach Mark, Pope Mark pope and Sometimes pope won That Jeff,
shepherd you know we got? Ship is that his the
sons That, kentucky that's his.

Speaker 1 (03:10:19):
Son that's that's his. Son jumped back to, college, man
because you had a motherfucking legendary, career legendary, teammates legendary.
Coach tell me what that experience. Is Because jack went
straight to the. League BUT i went to U.

Speaker 5 (03:10:39):
C L.

Speaker 1 (03:10:39):
A and it was the best time of my dumb
dumb you want to.

Speaker 5 (03:10:47):
You never keep riding with. YOU i can't fant, that damn, Tests.

Speaker 8 (03:10:49):
Bro.

Speaker 26 (03:10:51):
You ain't telling me. NOTHING i don't.

Speaker 47 (03:10:52):
KNOW i know a lot of people that go over
seas for that, day, right but that one THING i wouldn't, say, Though,
jackie you ever had the, Opportunity, bro that would have
been your best time.

Speaker 26 (03:11:02):
Ever Man like for, ME i KNEW i was going.

Speaker 47 (03:11:05):
For eight, months you know WHAT i. Mean but Like i'm, like,
Yo i'm here to win a. CHAMPIONSHIP i don't win it,
cool But i'm gonna have this most fun never and
to being able to go to, class to get up
and grind every, day man like we. Had, bro WHEN
i tell you coach won the crazy coach at like two,
WEEKS i see. YOU i THINK i picked the wrong.
SCHOOL i want to. TRANSFER i call my. Mom she was,
like she was, like, boy you stink like. This every
morning we had to be on a suicide. Line we

(03:11:28):
had twenty suicides in twenty minutes at six am.

Speaker 26 (03:11:30):
Every day with summer.

Speaker 47 (03:11:32):
School so like our first ten suicides is like the
basic one free throw. Line then then the last team
was baseline baseline other free throw line like And i'm.

Speaker 26 (03:11:42):
Like, yo DID i like this is not?

Speaker 47 (03:11:45):
Basketball yeah type. Thing SO i tell you one of
the funnyest stories is we run a. Suicide we got
like four left and like the guards had to, finish
like twenty eight bigs had to finish like thirty.

Speaker 26 (03:11:55):
Five the markets feet caught on, fire like stopped, running
like he, really he's mean. Suicide he mean.

Speaker 47 (03:12:03):
Suicide he run to the silence AND i, Quit, MAN i,
quit like my feet.

Speaker 26 (03:12:07):
BURN i ain't doing it no.

Speaker 47 (03:12:08):
More Coach, kyle he was one to be All, billies
so he was, like you know what if he would
have finished the, SUICIDE i don't give you.

Speaker 26 (03:12:14):
All tomorrow, off knowing he wasn't gonna give us, off
just trying to use.

Speaker 47 (03:12:17):
It so we got suicide this. Morning, man the market
is sitting at half. Court he ain't got a. Run
you know the reason why we gotta run to. That
he's sitting at half, court no. Running we all look
at him, like, yo we gotta jump him after this because,
like no, way we gotta run. Suicide he ain't got a.
Run but we don't want about beating the markets up back,
then no. Way but, yeah Like jack that that.

Speaker 5 (03:12:37):
School.

Speaker 47 (03:12:38):
Man it was the most fun, ever, man just being
able to prepare every, week having maybe two or three,
games and the.

Speaker 26 (03:12:43):
Most fun with me was going on the, Road like
you don't get.

Speaker 47 (03:12:46):
That you don't get that atmosphere and that that coach
they brought well talking trash and it's just you and
your your fourteen guys and you're going out there to
go to batle and go to war and it's like
you gotta win and survive out. Here ain't nobody on your,
side and you, Know kentucky fans, trays but it feels
like it still didn't feel like a home game because
the way they were.

Speaker 26 (03:13:04):
Treating but it was. Dope. Man you couldn't ask for nothing.
Better and like, everyone for me.

Speaker 47 (03:13:07):
Being number one, PICK i wanted to go back to
school just when The National championship just to get that
atmosphere and that like fun and high sighting that.

Speaker 1 (03:13:14):
Was tell me about what that team was like because
you played with a lot OF nba players in. College
your team was rock star, status you. KNOW i mean
that's what social media just started hitting like y'all was
the ship you lived, Buggies like what was? That?

Speaker 47 (03:13:29):
Like it was so man, like we stayed in The Wildcat,
lodge and like we walked like outside our building where we.

Speaker 26 (03:13:34):
Stayed in the practice Was Wildcat.

Speaker 47 (03:13:36):
Live it's like where the players, stay but we got
to let like ten regular students, states so the like
you get extra. Benefits it's like where we, stayed like
have an, apartment so we had like a game room
and all in. There but like from here to like ten,
steps it's like where we practiced, at but it would
be like sixty seventy cars and people even auto grads
every day.

Speaker 26 (03:13:53):
And we couldn't get away from.

Speaker 47 (03:13:54):
Them so it was, like, yo we can't even want to,
class BUT i so like we started like using a
golf cart go to.

Speaker 26 (03:14:00):
Class football team got. Mad they told her we couldn't.

Speaker 5 (03:14:02):
Use it no, more so we had to.

Speaker 26 (03:14:03):
Walk it's like it was so cold walking backwards the.

Speaker 47 (03:14:07):
Class but what was so fun about that year was you,
know nobody like the returning players that, came Like Patrick
pattinson And Ramon harris And Darris.

Speaker 26 (03:14:15):
Miller none of these gotten never played For.

Speaker 47 (03:14:17):
Cols so like the freshman's in there in the upper,
classmen it's all something new for all of. Us so
like they didn't know what Coach kyle was looking. For
we didn't know what Coach kyle's looking, for so we
all had to bond and come. Together but we did everything.

Speaker 26 (03:14:28):
Together.

Speaker 47 (03:14:29):
Bro we went bowling, together out to eat, together like
we treated like you do as a league team that
has great commoderie and one of those good teams because
they hang out.

Speaker 26 (03:14:36):
Together it was a league.

Speaker 5 (03:14:38):
Team just about to say.

Speaker 47 (03:14:44):
Like we had all the other guys that've kind of,
like you, know like if you got like, Me pat
the markets he bled, like we, know were about to.
Go but all the other guys, like, man they ain't
gonna hang with. Us they don't really walk with. Us
but we're, like, nah, bro we all the brothers all
like we go on the water fight every. Night if
one guy get, hurt the fift team guy gonna hang with.
Him so they have like the guy they didn't think
they was a part of our crew all to get.
Together that's why our team was so fun and having

(03:15:05):
so much and we were just doing whatever man like we.
Could nothing was wrong for us to do in college
at the. Time we walked in the corner stores, like oh,
man that them guys, again.

Speaker 1 (03:15:15):
Right we're, here that's us college college was the outside
of having children and being blessed to play in the,
League like college was the funnest time of my. Life,
man you in L.

Speaker 8 (03:15:25):
A you AT u S, la SO i know you
was having a.

Speaker 1 (03:15:27):
Blast, yeah but, SEE i THINK i think different Because
la IS la and it's so big and there's so
much other shit to, do you know WHAT i. Mean
so it's not you went to where motherfucking religious. RELIGION
i remember the best. Part obviously going there was. Dope
but my freshman year in ninety eight was THE nba,
lockout so we had everybody at our. Game So i'm

(03:15:51):
tripping coming from Like, Sacramento, like. Motherfucker we Got shaq
And kobe at our. Game we got movie stars like
and we Got snoop coming to our, game And i'm, like,
damn this is WHAT ucla is. About, like this ship
was a, trip but it was because there was THE nba,
lockout so we had hell OF nba players at our
game front and, center And i'm just, Like, yo this
ship can't be. Real like it was just like that
Real Li lah laying type. Ship and that's WHAT i

(03:16:12):
just fell in love. With this, ship, Bro that ship
was a. Blast that was my plan to go TO.

Speaker 33 (03:16:19):
I had we had the number of recruiting class that
year At, arizona, Me Mike, bibbie And Eugenie. Kinson we
had the number class.

Speaker 26 (03:16:25):
Year, okay, yeah y'all was. Loaded, YEAH i remember that class.

Speaker 33 (03:16:27):
Yea and we already Had Michael, Dickinson Miles. Simon we
had all them guys. Already so we was going there
and they end up winning national. Championship so it was
supposed to work out my. ASS i couldn't stay. Out
the club test was at. Eight i'm leaving the club
at five. Thirty that that wasn't gonna.

Speaker 26 (03:16:44):
WORK i ain't gonna.

Speaker 25 (03:16:45):
Lie.

Speaker 26 (03:16:45):
Man first TIME i take that, test, MAN i fell.

Speaker 47 (03:16:47):
ASLEEP i was, like, MAN i don't need they come.

Speaker 5 (03:16:50):
Back all.

Speaker 47 (03:16:51):
Right i'm gonna tell you what day you're gonna be
figuring something. ELSE i, said all, right, NOW i gotta
lock it. Up brought me and snacked the second. Time first,
time ain't bring no, Snack no.

Speaker 26 (03:16:59):
CAUL i got. This, YEAH i mean feeling names, wrong
doing all. That you better get this. Right are you
gonna be hurting.

Speaker 1 (03:17:12):
You as the head. Coach former head coach Of Saint
pete made a HISTORICAL ncaa run this Past. March before
we talk about that, run tell us how that job came.

Speaker 5 (03:17:21):
About, oh you the.

Speaker 48 (03:17:24):
Ad that we used to be THE ad At Saint.
Peter's he worked with me At Seaton hall for eight
years and we got the job over.

Speaker 5 (03:17:31):
There he called me.

Speaker 48 (03:17:32):
Up you, KNOW i trust, him you, KNOW i believe
in his. Vision gave my first opportunity and then the
rest is kind of.

Speaker 1 (03:17:38):
History what was that experience, like, obviously you, know coming
From Seaton, hall going to a smaller, college but then
being able to build them up not only into A
cinderella story but just a well disciplined team that played,
hard had a lot of.

Speaker 5 (03:17:53):
Heart what was.

Speaker 1 (03:17:54):
That talk to us about that process and how that.

Speaker 48 (03:17:56):
Happened you know it was at first it was, tough,
right anytime you go from a high major to a low, Major,
right things that you're not used, to you, know far
as budget and how you travel and you, know having
the strength coach and things like. That SO i had
to work through all that. Stuff but at the end
of the, day to be honest with, you met which
we just got a dude that won the, ball, Right
this dude that was, hungry had chip on his shoulder

(03:18:18):
that was. Underrecruited people didn't believe in. THEM i bought them.
In you, KNOW i like tough. GUYS i played a certain,
way SO i want gods to fit my, personality, Right
so WHEN i was going through the process of recruiting,
GUYS i wanted guys like, That gods that you, know
just hungry and it's got something to prove that wanted
to you, know eat your, food you feel. Me and
that's kind of the GUYS i bought. In and you,

(03:18:39):
know it was a build up for three years and
to be hones, YOU i thought year two we had
a good chance of doing something special WITH covid hit
and then year, three you, know we kind of went
up and. Down then you, know fourth year we kind
of payed together and kind of made this run.

Speaker 1 (03:18:54):
Beautiful, obviously situations with situations like this are always bittersweet
when you're working with the lower major program because when
you do find when you do get that, success you
know you're going to, go you, know up up to
the major, league so to. Speak, uh being you built
such an amazing energy and identity for, it how hard
was it and what did you tell your?

Speaker 5 (03:19:15):
Guys?

Speaker 1 (03:19:16):
Uh when you decided to take the seat and draw
seat and seat the hall head.

Speaker 5 (03:19:19):
Spot, Well i'll be honest with, you it.

Speaker 1 (03:19:21):
Was it was.

Speaker 14 (03:19:21):
Easy right, NOW i say easy in this.

Speaker 48 (03:19:24):
Point the guys made it easy for. Me RIGHT i
went in the locker room and we were in there
for three, hours, bro just chopping it, up kicking.

Speaker 8 (03:19:31):
It and Now god was, like, coach you gotta. Go you,
know that's.

Speaker 48 (03:19:34):
Home you work your butt off of this. Opportunity that's
something that we would do if we had the. Opportunity
so when they told me, that you, know it, was
it made it easy for. Me and then the next
two hours we were just in there just reminiscent of the,
journey and they making fun of me the WAY i
coach and WAY i talk and you know all the
other stuff that you know the players love to.

Speaker 31 (03:19:55):
Do but not it was, easy.

Speaker 8 (03:19:57):
Man they made it easy for, me For.

Speaker 1 (03:19:58):
Sureness that's beautiful looking back on the, journey on the,
experience what particularly stood out to you about this tournament?

Speaker 8 (03:20:06):
Run you know?

Speaker 48 (03:20:07):
What just right for these, guys you, Know and Obviously
i'm sitting here and told to you, Guys i'm blessed
to be, Here but it wasn't for those, GUYS i
went and bebre today talking to you, guys, Right so for,
me for, them it was like everything. Right you know
you at admit, major you, know you work your butt,
off you look at this type of stuff ON tv growing,
up and for them guys to be in that spotlight

(03:20:27):
and perform the way they, performed LIKE i just was
sitting back taking it in like for, real for, Real
Like i'm sitting there like these guys getting a chance
to build their brand right, now. Right you, know we
got the white kid on my team to doug at
it like he's making a killer right, now right with the,
name image and likeness because his beard and where he
played In america loved. Him and these guys are like
now starting to get the everything that the hot majors, get,

(03:20:51):
right all their attention and stuff like.

Speaker 8 (03:20:53):
That SO i just love their attention for.

Speaker 48 (03:20:55):
Them and to be, honest you just playing against the
best teams and knocking them.

Speaker 1 (03:20:59):
Off real, talk what was it like to finally sign
your name on that dotted, line you, know getting a
chance to play, there going, back going down and then coming. Back,
now what was it like when you signed your name
as the head coach at.

Speaker 48 (03:21:13):
The right, Right So i'm gonna be you, know this
is a real, show so you got to be be, real,
right it's real fake stuff, here, Right so you, KNOW
i had to make sure they understand that they wasn't
gonna hit me with the hometown hero, nonsense, right because you,
know when you're going back To Alma, mata it's, like
oh you come back. Here so now they did yan
to short change. You i'm, like now you're not gonna
hit me with the hometown, Hero like we're gonna do.

(03:21:33):
This we're gonna do, this.

Speaker 8 (03:21:34):
Right it got to make sense for both of, us,
man for me to tell you.

Speaker 48 (03:21:38):
Truth WHEN i looked at, IT i had to make
sure it was good because this is, home and with,
home you don't want to mess it, up right when
you want to go in there and make sure it's
the right situation with the right. People AND i trust
the people that was here at the time right, now
AND i can't mess it. Up it's too important for.
Me SO i had to make sure everything was. Right
so WHEN i, signed like it was just like a

(03:21:58):
sign of, relief right because it's just so much going,
on like that run we made and coming back and
everybody's happy but at the same, TIME i had to
make sure it was right on both ends for, me
for the school and financial to keep it.

Speaker 31 (03:22:31):
Speaks to the. PLANET i go by the name Of
Charlamagne Tha.

Speaker 49 (03:22:33):
God and guess, WHAT i can't wait to see y'all
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(03:22:56):
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Speaker 31 (03:23:00):
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Most Insane March Madness Stories Told by the Players Who Lived It | All The Smoke Compilation

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Stephen Jackson

Matt Barnes

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.css-14f5ked{margin:0;word-break:break-word;display:-webkit-box;-webkit-box-orient:vertical;box-orient:vertical;-webkit-line-clamp:2;overflow:hidden;}Most Insane March Madness Stories Told by the Players Who Lived It | All The Smoke Compilation