May 1, 2025 • 35 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, hosts Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby talk about the importance of respecting celebrities’ personal space, sparked by a recent incident with NBA star DeMar DeRozan. They share personal stories, touch on the possibility of stronger security measures within the W, and highlight how respectful interactions can lead to better experiences for both fans and public figures.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Levels to.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Hey, everybody, what's going on? Is s your Girl? Tarrika
Foster Brasby. What's up y'all?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Is Sugarirl Cheryl swoops And this is the levels to
this podcast, the show where we share that it's levels
to the shit that women go through.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
We have such a fun and interesting show for you.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Today because I feel like some people listening might be
guilty of some of the sheet that we're finna talk
about in the show today.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Don't call them out already since.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
From the beginning. But before we get there, let's just
kind of catch up because it's been a minute. We're
recording this show after Easter, So happy Easter to all
of those who celebrate.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
What did you do? Did you do any did you
go to church? Did you do anything special? On Easter? Cheryl?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I traveled. I was in Portland, Oregon. I spoke at
this playmaker summit, and.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I just I traveled.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
But I got home early enough to spend time with
the hobby and the dogs. And so I saw you
posted something was it last week when you were lying
in bed right, and you said, You're all we're always
posting about like the glam side of what we do, right,
the traveling, the party is that, but we never really
(01:28):
post about the not so glam side, meaning just being
Hella tired.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
And needing sleep and rest.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So when you posted that, I so was in that
bed with you in that moment. Yes, when I got
home for Easter, I was tired. I went, I kissed
my husband, said hey to my dogs, got in my bed,
and had the best sleep that I've ever had. Maybe
it's because I'm so tired and don't realize how much
(01:55):
sleep I need. So anyway, my Easter was amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
How about your I sell that I'm tired now to
be honest, but it is what it is, right, like
we just kind of keep moving. So I took this
weekend to try to not do anything right, which is
something that I never get a chance to do, Like
I never have a weekend to just.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Not do nothing.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So this past weekend I took a moment to basically
eliminate myself from everything and everyone and just enjoy a
hobby and a sport and something that folks.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Probably don't know that I love. And this was WrestleMania weekend.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
So I was fully invested in WrestleMania the entire weekend.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Like I know, there was playoff basketball that was going on.
I did not care.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Saturday, I obviously had to watch my Pistons because duh,
but duh. I was invested. I was invested in WrestleMania
all weekend. So I had a great time. Do you
know It's crazy. I've never been a wrestling fan per se,
but back in the day, I used to watch it.
I was a big Junkyard dog fan, right, Yeah, But
(03:09):
I gotta tell you my son Jordan, that was his
thing every Christmas. He wanted something that had to do
with wrestling. I got him the you know, the little
the big ring and the different wrestlers, and I remember
taking him to I guess it was WrestleMania, I don't know,
taking him to a big wrestling match way back in
the day when he was younger and girl, I was.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Like the coolest, best mom ever ever.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yes, yes, ever, if you ever feel like you want
to just relive that, I'm willing to be Jordan.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'm willing to be Jordan, like, yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yeah, no, I'm not. I haven't. I haven't really thought
about that, so like I used to be, like I don't.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I can't even tell you when I first started watching wrestling,
because it was something that was always it was like
baseball in my house. It was like wrestling baseball were
the two things that were always on. And like my parents,
you know, I was raised by my great grandparents. They
were watching like Dick the Bruiser, Dusty Rows the Crusher,
(04:13):
like Undertaker is my favorite wrestler ever of all time.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Fair Now, I hated Rick Flair because my dad was
a big Riff Flair. But I tell you all, Rick Flair,
I hated it. Rick Sir.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
My dad used to just walk around the house and
just be like whoa, like just randomly.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
I was like, come on, shut up, like cut it out.
Like I hated it. I hated it.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
But I had took some time away from wrestling though,
Like I want to say, it was around the time
that the ruthless Aggression era started.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
That was like when John Sena got real popular, and
like it just it wasn't fueling me.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I was like I was in college at the times,
I was like heavy into trying to get my grades right.
I was a student athlete at the time. I was
like heavy into boys. I wasn't thinking about no wrestling.
I was thinking about who these wombs was that was
gonna be calling.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Me all day knows.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
So everything hot, it was a little I was a
hot girl.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
I was a hog girl. So I just didn't have
time to keep up like I used to.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
And then around the time my nephews came along, My
nephew came along, like twenty twelve, twenty thirteen. That was
like when Roman Reigns was like at the top of
his game, like he still is in his prime.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
But like Roman was like that dude.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
So I still had to follow Roman and Slasha Banks
and all like I have to follow for my nieces
and nephews, you know what I mean. But I still
wasn't like watching every show. It was just I'm keeping
up because they remind me of soul propers, right, Like,
no matter how long you ain't watched The Young Restless,
no matter what you put it back on you like, girl,
I know exactly what's happening.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That's how it was for me.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
And then I want to say, over the last like
maybe seven months when Raw Now went to Netflix, there
was so much hype and build up around it and
the bloodline storyline and all this stuff that my frat
brother was on Twitter and was like, cis.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
You really gotta like invest back into it again? Like
it is so good right now. He was like, it's
like Attitude era good. This was like nineties when like
DX was doing this thing. I'm sure this is when
Jordan was probably like, yeah, this is my.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Probably yeaheah, Like this was when it was like like
the Attitude era was stone Cold, Steve Boston the Rock
like it was crazy.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I was like, you know what, I'm gonna give it.
I'm gonna get back into it. I'm gonna give a
full week. I'm gonna watch Wrong Monday, I'm gonna watch
NXT on Tuesday, Smack Donald Friday. I'm gonna give it
a week and see like if I can get my
my wrestling fire back.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
So question for you.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
John Cena is a new age wrestler, right or is
he considered old?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
No?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
John Cena is like I mean, for us, he's like
an older wrestler now, but he's not older like my childhood.
OHD Like he came around I was in college, so
but he's still been wrestling for like twenty years, Like
he's still been around a while, I said, because Jordan
used to just run around the house in his whole
(07:01):
you can't see me and see me.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
And I remember asking him like what are you doing?
He just run around and be like mama, mama, that
is so sarious.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
I was like, what are you doing?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
So finally and I realized where he got it from?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Girl?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
And how about one day he did it to me
and I snatched him up and I said, yeah, I
can't see you see you?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
That is so funny. Oh my god, that is so funny.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Well you're like into it like that, and you know
what what's gonna be great is you and our producer Grace.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Just go have the best time ever.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
I told her she needs to let me be her manager,
like I'm trying to be the one on the sideline,
like hyping everybody up, pulling out chairs on the low key,
low key, hitting people with the belt.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Like you know what I'm saying. I won't. I will be.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Front and center when Grace gets in that ring. Let's go,
I'm let's tell you that. Just give me five minutes
to work on my on my manager name, and it's
I'm telling you, it's about to be crazy out here.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
But I need to know what Grace's wrestling name is
gonna be.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
It can't be Grace, I know. Oh my god, your
manager name her wrestling name, and I need her intro music.
I need her music.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's got to be saying I'm there. I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
It should be some country because she lives in Nashville.
It's gotta be country, some country ship.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Oh my god, Grace, we are just creating a whole
character for you.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Oh my god, that's gonna be so much fun. Can't wait.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
But yeah, no, it was a great weekend. But it
wasn't a great weekend for everybody. Now, I was about
to say speaking of wrestling. I know, speaking of wrestling,
it wasn't. It wasn't a great week end for everybody
because somebody, so I Lody, forgot that they are not
a wrestler, that they are actually a basketball player. And
I'm talking about DeMar de Rosan. I don't think he
(09:07):
forgot Demartin de Rosan out here. Matter of fact, that
wasn't even wrestling, that was boxing. Yeah, I ain't mad
at enough I mean, it's a trip. But on today's episode,
we're about to get into a conversation about what happens
when people kind of cross the line that they probably
shouldn't cross, and what happens when you fa fo On that.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Note, let's go ahead and take this to the next level.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
All right, So Demart de Rosan for those who may
not know who Demarta Rosen is, He's an NBA player.
Plays for the Sacramento Kings, used to play for the Bulls,
used play for the Raptors, but anyway, plays for the
Kings now and on. For Friday, April nineteenth, you know,
Tomorrow was hungry. He decided to go a get something
(09:58):
to eat.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
He went out, you know when I would have I
don't know, a female. I don't I'm not assuming, but
there was a female with him, I'm guessing. And he
was at a sushi restaurant in Calabasas and he was
mad in his business and according to the reports, a
man walked up to him. And the man walked up
to him and put like his cell phone with a
(10:21):
bright light.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
No, no, no, it's start according to reports.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Well yeah, it's according to the video where you can
see the video in it. Yes, you can see him
putting the phone up to his face, and DeMar DeRozan
basically hits the phone out of his face because I
mean it was very clearly unexpected, and you can tell
that he don't know the man, but he puts the
phone in his face, he hits the phone out of
(10:45):
his face. And then the dude now who gets up,
is like demanding for his phone to be back, and
now him and Damar like in this scuffle, and DeMar
is like getting at him for real, for real.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
And then there's this woman who in like this gray sweatsuit.
She's like telling Tomorrow like he's not worth it, trying
to get in between him, trying to back him up,
and she's just like, he's not worth it, He's not
worth it, don't do it, it's not worth it. When
she's right, and then the dude, you know, after getting
his ass whoop, finally gets up, DeMar throws the phone,
and then Damar backs into like this other part of
(11:19):
the restaurant. But yeah, basically, like witnesses segcaus this part
isn't on the video, but the witnesses say that the
man who had on shorts got into an ambulance because
apparently he has sustained some injuries from the fight.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
They had called the police because there was glass and
cutlery and shit that was flying around, and so we
don't know what happened after Deamorrow backed into the thing,
because that's not quite on the video. But this is
what I mean by FAFO, and if you are unfamiliar
with fafoh, it simply means fuck around and find out,
because why are you walking up on people shoving your
(11:53):
phone in their face?
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Period?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Like this has nothing to do with a celebrity Tomorrow anybody,
Like I don't care who you are, Like, what gives
you the right to invade anybody's personal space like that?
And I don't care if they are out in public.
But let me say one thing before we really dive
into this sis.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Whoever the female is with Tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
She looked like she got some hands because she got
in between Tomorrow and this dude and was like, listen,
what we not gonna do is space And so she
holding damarrow back like no, he ain't worth it one
hundred percent degree. But at the same time, she's looking
at old boy like you, I dare you right? Like nah,
(12:42):
we ain't about to do this. She legitimately put body
on old boy. Yeah, like wow, Damar's backing up. She
put body on old boy like you ain't gonna get
around me.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I respect it one hundred percent. But you know that's
what we do as women.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
We go all week, we always be standing in a
gap for everybody. We always go home. O, man down,
whoever it is, tee this just I saw this video
and I immediately went to, why.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Would you do that?
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Like you you're just walking by, you see him? You
just and DeMar actually had his head down, he was
eating or talking, doing whatever. I'm still trying to figure
out what made you want to do what you did
in that moment.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And now trying to act like you're the victim. The
victim is what is? What was crazy?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Because you invaded this person's personal space, You shoved a
phone in their face with a bright ass light, and
now you're upset at the reaction, like we don't know
what that was or what that.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Could have been.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
But at the end of the day, though, I think
the bigger piece of this conversation is and I'm sure
this is something you absolutely can relate to. It's like
fans have to understand that athletes are humans to when
they're out eating, when they are out with their families,
when they're out doing their thing. There's a level of
(14:08):
respect in how you approach someone as a fan to
even like, first of all, read the room.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Right. Does this even look like a.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Moment in which this person is trying to engage fans
or does this look like a moment in which this
person is trying to enjoy their time with whoever they
are with, right, So number one, you need to read
the room. But secondly, be a bit more respectful in
how you approach people.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
If you're a.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Fan and you want a photo or you want to
autograph or something, just walking up on somebody and putting
your phone in their face, not only is it rude
to the common person, but it's especially rude to someone
who probably would give you their time and attention if
you had asked.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
For a better one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Have I experienced moments like that a lot, But I
think people tend to forget to your point that celebrities, actors, athletes, whoever, like,
we're human. And I just remember when I was playing
and Jordan was younger. You know, we go out to eat,
(15:16):
or to a movie or whatever. And I always have,
always will find time for my fans, right because I'm
also very appreciative and grateful that, like you want a
picture with me, you want my autograph, I don't. I
don't take that shit for granted. But at the same time,
(15:38):
I've always just asked that you respect my space, respect
my personal time, and as a mom, right when I
was out with my kid, I remember one time as
Jordan's started getting older, like he felt some type of
way because he was like, dang, I can't even get
some time with my mama, just me and my mama
(15:58):
without everybody coming over and bothering and things like that. Right,
But at the end of the day, I'm going to
be respectful of you and your time.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
So all I ask is for you to do the
same with me.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
And I would be willing to bet to your point
if this dude, and I'm assuming he's a fan of Demorrow, right,
I know he is. I read where he said something
about don't ever meet your childhood hero, like he said
that somewhere based off of what happened, But I would
be willing to bet if he would have just at
some point walked over and just been like, excuse me
(16:32):
when you're done or whatever. I'd love to get a
photo with you or autograph whatever it was he was wanting,
because I still don't know what that is tomorrow, probably
would have acknowledged him and either said I'll do it
later or no, I don't feel like doing it today.
And if he would have said no, that's okay too,
like just respect that. I don't condone violence at all,
(16:52):
but you know what, I do condone somebody doing what
he did because you violated this man's face mm hm,
and DeMar had every right to do what he did.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Just my opinion, I feel that.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Like again, I'm not one that will condone violence either,
but I do think, like, first of all, I think
some things are natural reactions, like I love my husband dearly,
but if but if, even if he comes over and
puts something in my face and I don't expect it,
my natural reaction might be to just wipe my hand
like wet something like Yo're gonna jump back like what
(17:28):
they're doing, Like that's just my natural effect of being
startled by something. So if I would feel that way
with my husband, I'm definitely gonna throw that away with
a total stranger coming in my space putting something in
my face.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
I don't know what this is.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Like, people are crazy in the world these days, right,
and so they come up with all types.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Of things that they put in front.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
I mean I've seen people do that with like autographs,
Like they just literally walk over and just like hand
you a pen and paper or hand you a pen
and a shirt or something. And I'm just like, wow,
Like folks aren't even want to ask or find out
or simply read the room. I have come in contact
with so many dope people out in the street or whatever.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I'm gonna give you an example. We were in an airport.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
We were coming back from New Orleans and I want
to say this was twenty eighteen, I think it was,
but anyway, we were coming back from New Orleans and
we were in the New Orleans airport and literally going
through security. Right behind us was Lamar Jackson, the NFL player,
and at the time he had literally just.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Got drafted to Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
And I believe the prior TSA officer told him, you know,
you're supposed to take off your hoodie when you go through,
but they were like, you know, you don't have to
take your hoodie off, like we know what's good, Just
go ahead. He gets up to the TSA line and
the TSA agent at the front is like being I'm
gonna do my job. So now there's this big thing
because she's asking him to take off his hoodie, take
(18:52):
off his glasses, all of that stuff, and she has
no idea who is. And then finally, so I'm taking
my time putting my shoes because i want to see
how this ship play out. I'm like, oh, this is
gonna be ok. Yeah, what's going wrong? And so finally
dude from the bank, because now he get irritated, he
(19:12):
can take his glasses off. Now people starting to know,
you know, like, wait a minute, I think I know
this dude. He takes a sweater off. He got like
three folks chains on under here. And then finally maybe
a higher officer comes over and says to the agent, hey,
that's Lamar Jackson, Like he ain't got to do all
of that. And so of course now everyone sees who
it is. Now you got folks holding up the TSA
(19:34):
line because they like, oh, I want to see Lamar Jackson.
I want he just got drafted. I want to take
a picture with Lamar. I want to stop Lamar Jackson.
And so I bring up these examples because I'm like,
sometimes athletes, celebrities, sometimes folks just want to be normal folks.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
They just want to go through the.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
TSA line like a regular, regular individual, like everybody don't
always have to be enamored to the point where they
take away a person's ability to just simply be normal. Yeah,
that's I agree with you, But that's like, that's a
(20:14):
difficult one at times because I think I probably look
at it from both sides. Like the very first time
I met Michael Jordan, who is like my all everything one,
I was speechless, I bet right, Like, I was like that, dude,
is youman? Like that's the goat the Michael Jordan. And
(20:39):
so the reason why I say I look at it
from both sides because when you do get that opportunity
to meet that someone that you've seen on television or
you've read about, or you've just loved from Afar admired
from Afar and never thinking that you might meet that person,
and then who's standing in front of you, you really
(21:05):
don't know what to do in that moment, right, And
so I try to respect everybody's face, because it takes
a lot.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
For me to be like, WHOA, that's so.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
And so I was that way with Michael Jordan, with
Oprah when I met her, and with Barack Obama right
next the pemble and Michelle Obama, right, those are people
you should be that way about, though, and I was so,
but there was a part of me that was like,
I may not ever get this opportunity again. And so
that's where I think as a fan, sometimes you don't
(21:40):
quite know how to react or respond. And in this situation,
especially like with TSA, that's their job. So not that
she trying to cause a scene or whatever, but she's like, dude,
I don't know you. And and at times even if
I do, this is my job. Yeah, but you know what,
(22:02):
but in a situation like that, it's kind of a
damn if I do, damn if I don't, because if
you if you don't make him take his glasses off
in the hoodie and hat or whatever, it is, the
next person that comes through probably gonna be like, well,
you ain't make him take all this shit off?
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Why? Right?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
But I also think in that scenario, specifically, old boy
at the front of the TSA line should have done
a better job communicating to the back of the tea.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
That's part I do agree with. Yeah, I totally agree
with you all that one. I do. Yeah, I just
I think people just seem to be more respectful in general.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
And when you know what, I used to tell myself
and I still do it every now and again, especially
depending on where I'm at. If I'm having a shitty
day and I just don't want to be bothered, I
don't leave my house.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Reason being because even if I'm going to the grocery.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Store, and especially if i'm home, right I go to
the grocery store, somebody's gonna recognize me, and because I'm
having a shitty day, I don't want to be bothered.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
But you don't. You don't know that, do you know what?
I'm like, You don't know. I'm having a shitty day
and I don't want to bother.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
So I just gotta I gotta turn it on in
that moment, right because this person's like, oh my god.
Like I've literally had people follow me up and down
the grocery aisle just to just to come up to
me and say, you look so familiar, And I'm like, Okay, who.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Do you think I am, yeah, And then I'm like,
so this is the one that gets me. Are you
who I think you are? And I'm like, I don't know,
because I.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Don't know who you think I am, right right, And
so it's a really tough place to be in, especially when.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
You go out in.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Public, like I don't know if that, if that happened
after a.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Game, I don't know, and not that that should matter.
What should matter is.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
That he, he clearly demark clearly was having some alone time,
whether that's his girlfriend, friend, business manager, partners, sir, whoever
it is, he clearly was just having some alone time
and you chose to interrupt that in a very disrespectful way.
(24:11):
So I can't be mad at how Damar handle that.
I'm mad at how old boy handled it.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
And what's crazy is folks will always get mad at
the response, but never pay attention to what caused you
to act like that, like what led?
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Like how did we get here? Right?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
But when we come back from break, I got a
quick question for you because it actually leads me to
a larger point, like an even more macro point.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
So stay with this, y'all.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
So, Cheryl, I'm curious to know do you think that
because of situations like that, or because even bringing it
to the w situations like what happened to Britney Griner
in the airport, what happened to Caitlin when she was
being stalked, what happened to Angel Like when you think
about situations like this, do you think that there needs
(25:15):
to be more security for athletes or celebrities even on
their like off time, personal time, like should they hire
personal security guards for stuff like this? Because I feel like,
and I'm obviously not a high profile celebrity, I get
(25:36):
a few people every once in a while who would
be like Terika, oh my gosh, you knows sports from Twitter,
and I'm like, oh wow. But for the most part,
if I need a security officer, I'd be like, girl,
my husband is down the street.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
You don't want that smoke. That's it.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
But I'm curious, do you think in people's personal times,
because of the way that things are happening, should there
be or do you think we're getting to a point
where it becomes necessary. I mean, even you I've seen,
I've definitely seen brand didn't have to be.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Like yeah, no, one hundred and here's the thing I'm
glad you brought that up, because I actually was going
to say, like, oh, boy, is lucky Damar didn't have
his security with him, right, because I'm I'm pretty sure
Damar travels with his security when he's on his personal
time going out there with him, and for the most part,
(26:27):
most NBA players they have their extra security for their dude,
whoever that is. So I'm I'm actually very surprised that
DeMar didn't. So to your point, yes I do. But
here's the thing, especially when you look at the w
there's probably only a handful of women two things that
need it outside of playing, and that can afford it,
(26:54):
right because having your own personal security twenty four or seven,
when you're just kind of out on your own thing
like that, shit gets expensive. I know, I know for
a fact that Caitlyn travels with her own personal security
as she should rightfully. So right I know, I've seen
Angel with her security, Asia has her security. Those are
(27:18):
players that absolutely need it. It's sad that you have to,
but in this in this world, in the day and
time we're living in, and people just feel like from
social media or just because they feel like they have
a right to just attack you anytime they want to.
(27:38):
And to your point, like when when I played, we
didn't have like personal security that traveled with us like that,
even even for games. Right, that wasn't until a little
later where they were like, oh okay, we might need
to have some security with them. But even for for
me now, when I travel, most of the time, I
(27:59):
have Brandon's with me, my brother or like my husband
will send a couple of his boys with me depending
on where I'm going.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
I'll be very honest with you, Tea.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
This all kind of happened over the past couple of years,
right with all the hate and all the ugliness and
stuff that came about from from Caitlyn's fans, and when
when you're getting threats on social media, Like I'm one
of those people that, like, I take.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
This shit seriously as you should, so I gotta be prepared.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
For the unknown, right, Like, I don't know who might
try to come in my space, who may try.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
To even pull some shit like oh boy did right?
Speaker 2 (28:36):
And you know me, for the for the most part,
I'm like, listen, I love interacting with people.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
I love my fans. I won't take a picture.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Whatever it is I can do that's going to make
you happy in that moment, like, I don't mind doing it.
I just ask for people to be respectful. I said,
don't don't, don't pull that shit that he did. Yeah,
it just don't just phone out. I'll just put your
phone out, like you know, I've seen things work like
(29:04):
a simple hey, how you doing and swoops, it's nice
to meet you.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Do you mind if we.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Take a photo and I'm like, no, let's go what.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
You want to do. I love it.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
I love being in spaces like that. But but I
will also say this, like you said earlier, just read
the room. If you come into a restaurant and you
can see that you know, we're at a table and
I don't care if that's me and my friends or
me and my husband. If you can see we're enjoying
each other's company, or we're in a good conversation, or
(29:35):
even if I got my food and I'm eating, that's
not the right time to do that, right. And this
goes for media too, because some players are not wrong
when they say that there are some media members who
act like fans, that there are some media members who
don't quite understand the fact that there's your job, and.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Then there is outside of your job.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
And I've got pictures with players and things like that,
So I'm not necessarily being hypocritical or saying like, hey,
you're gonna take pictures with players. Absolutely No, I got
plenty of pictures with players, and I plan to take
plenty more with players.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Right.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
But what I'm never doing is I'm never like fangirling
out when I should be doing my job, or I
also understand very professional when I'm doing my job, or
you know, if we're in a private space. I'm not
like like one of those reporters that's like, listen, we
(30:33):
good when we on the court, we're good when we're sidelining, right,
But the moment I get a drink in my hand, babe,
everything off the record, because it ain't even about you
at this point. It's about me, and I don't need
you talk about to really good act in a day
of food. Yes, I was because I'm at a club
and I had a drink and I was absolutely acting
a fool.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
I wasn't thinking about you or what you was doing.
I was worried about what I was doing. So that's
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
While I'm like, sometimes even media members can be a
little rude and disrespectful with how they ask for photos
or how they don't read the room sometimes and maybe
they you know, do something or capture something or do
something that like you know why people won't build trust
with you and that kind of thing. So I just
think everybody should consider reading the room and understanding how
(31:20):
to move forward. When you see somebody out in public,
it is not always a time for you. I mean, listen,
if I see Barack Obama out in public, you dann ray,
I'm gonna.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Be like by rack as you should, as you should,
I should, but I'm not gonna run up on him.
I president, okay, but I'm not gonna run up on
him a Michelle with my cell phone out, like come
on out. No, he a Leo too, So I know
how he's gonna respond, So I can't.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
We can. You can't even do it like that. Here's
the other thing, though, like you would be people would.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Be surprised at how personable like these celebrities and these
people right if you, if you handle it the right way,
you usually get the the ugly side or the not
so good side when.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
You act a fool with them.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
When you when you're rude, yeah, yeah, all right, Well,
you know what, it's been a great conversation, but let's
go ahead and level this thing on out because we
had a lot to get to over the next couple
of weeks, and I'm excited to talk about it, so
stay with us, y'all. So basically, overall, I just need
(32:29):
people to like respect folks of space, and like respect
where people are coming from, because it's not easy being
a public figure, and it's not easy, like having to
live a lot of your life in the spotlight, like
and sometimes people just need the moment to be normal.
And I think that's pretty much what the overall arching
theme of today's show is.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
So I totally agree. It ain't never gonna be you, shirl.
You ain't gonna never be normal.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
No, no, no, no, it's not even it's not even
about that. I just I think to add on to
what you said, like, but you do have to let
people like, let us be human.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Yeah, you know, we're gonna have bad days, just like
everybody else does.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
But in Damar DeRozan's case and situation, I just thought
the way old boy handle that whole thing, like you
were way out of line, way out of line, and
tomorrow had every right to handle it the way he
handled it.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
So, yeah, is what it is.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Just don't be invading people's face like that. Give me
my three feet of space.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
That's that's it.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
So with that, let's go ahead and a level today's
show on off. What you got for us today, Cheryl, So,
I thought about giving our conversation. I thought about just
singing the song back back, back back, give me fifty
B and then I said, no, maybe not, maybe not,
maybe not.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
This were just kind of stood out to me honestly,
has nothing to do with our conversation. I just you know,
when you when you're setting goals and you have dreams
and aspirations of things you want to achieve, sometimes you
wonder why those things aren't happening. And I found this
quote by Amanda flood Fludd, and it says, some of
(34:11):
your goals are buried so deep in fear it doesn't
have access to what it needs to grow. Oh, I
just there was something about that.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
It just kind of hit me in the right spot. So, oh, yes,
maybe that resonates somebody. Yeah, maybe that resonates with some
of y'all out there.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
Well, friends, it's been an incredible show. As always, we
appreciate all of you for continuing to listen and continuing
to show us love and support. We are going to
be back next week with more next Level conversation. And
when I tell you next week, you do not, absolutely
do not want to miss our guests and who we
(34:52):
are chatting with, because it is absolutely going to be
a phenomenal episode.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
But remember this isn't just our show.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
It is our show and we want to hear from you,
so leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. You can
email us at Levels to This Podcast at gmail dot com.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
You can tell us what you thought of.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
This week's show, what you want to talk about next,
and make sure you're definitely following us on Instagram at lttpod.
But until then, keep your mental's ground level and we'll
be back next week.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Peace showing.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart.
Open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This
with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brasby and start listening
Levels to.
Speaker 2 (00:00):
This is an iHeart women's sports production in partnership with
Deep Blue Sports and Entertainment. You can find us on
the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (00:14):
Hey, everybody, what's going on? Is s your Girl? Tarrika
Foster Brasby. What's up y'all?
Speaker 3 (00:19):
Is Sugarirl Cheryl swoops And this is the levels to
this podcast, the show where we share that it's levels
to the shit that women go through.
Speaker 1 (00:29):
We have such a fun and interesting show for you.
Speaker 2 (00:33):
Today because I feel like some people listening might be
guilty of some of the sheet that we're finna talk
about in the show today.
Speaker 1 (00:39):
Don't call them out already since.
Speaker 2 (00:41):
From the beginning. But before we get there, let's just
kind of catch up because it's been a minute. We're
recording this show after Easter, So happy Easter to all
of those who celebrate.
Speaker 1 (00:54):
What did you do? Did you do any did you
go to church? Did you do anything special? On Easter? Cheryl?
Speaker 2 (00:58):
I traveled. I was in Portland, Oregon. I spoke at
this playmaker summit, and.
Speaker 1 (01:04):
I just I traveled.
Speaker 2 (01:05):
But I got home early enough to spend time with
the hobby and the dogs. And so I saw you
posted something was it last week when you were lying
in bed right, and you said, You're all we're always
posting about like the glam side of what we do, right,
the traveling, the party is that, but we never really
(01:28):
post about the not so glam side, meaning just being
Hella tired.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
And needing sleep and rest.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
So when you posted that, I so was in that
bed with you in that moment. Yes, when I got
home for Easter, I was tired. I went, I kissed
my husband, said hey to my dogs, got in my bed,
and had the best sleep that I've ever had. Maybe
it's because I'm so tired and don't realize how much
(01:55):
sleep I need. So anyway, my Easter was amazing.
Speaker 3 (01:59):
How about your I sell that I'm tired now to
be honest, but it is what it is, right, like
we just kind of keep moving. So I took this
weekend to try to not do anything right, which is
something that I never get a chance to do, Like
I never have a weekend to just.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
Not do nothing.
Speaker 3 (02:15):
So this past weekend I took a moment to basically
eliminate myself from everything and everyone and just enjoy a
hobby and a sport and something that folks.
Speaker 1 (02:28):
Probably don't know that I love. And this was WrestleMania weekend.
Speaker 2 (02:33):
So I was fully invested in WrestleMania the entire weekend.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
Like I know, there was playoff basketball that was going on.
I did not care.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Saturday, I obviously had to watch my Pistons because duh,
but duh. I was invested. I was invested in WrestleMania
all weekend. So I had a great time. Do you
know It's crazy. I've never been a wrestling fan per se,
but back in the day, I used to watch it.
I was a big Junkyard dog fan, right, Yeah, But
(03:09):
I gotta tell you my son Jordan, that was his
thing every Christmas. He wanted something that had to do
with wrestling. I got him the you know, the little
the big ring and the different wrestlers, and I remember
taking him to I guess it was WrestleMania, I don't know,
taking him to a big wrestling match way back in
the day when he was younger and girl, I was.
Speaker 1 (03:32):
Like the coolest, best mom ever ever.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
Yes, yes, ever, if you ever feel like you want
to just relive that, I'm willing to be Jordan.
Speaker 2 (03:42):
I'm willing to be Jordan, like, yeah.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Yeah, no, I'm not. I haven't. I haven't really thought
about that, so like I used to be, like I don't.
Speaker 3 (03:52):
I can't even tell you when I first started watching wrestling,
because it was something that was always it was like
baseball in my house. It was like wrestling baseball were
the two things that were always on. And like my parents,
you know, I was raised by my great grandparents. They
were watching like Dick the Bruiser, Dusty Rows the Crusher,
(04:13):
like Undertaker is my favorite wrestler ever of all time.
Speaker 1 (04:18):
Fair Now, I hated Rick Flair because my dad was
a big Riff Flair. But I tell you all, Rick Flair,
I hated it. Rick Sir.
Speaker 2 (04:26):
My dad used to just walk around the house and
just be like whoa, like just randomly.
Speaker 1 (04:29):
I was like, come on, shut up, like cut it out.
Like I hated it. I hated it.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
But I had took some time away from wrestling though,
Like I want to say, it was around the time
that the ruthless Aggression era started.
Speaker 1 (04:40):
That was like when John Sena got real popular, and
like it just it wasn't fueling me.
Speaker 3 (04:46):
I was like I was in college at the times,
I was like heavy into trying to get my grades right.
I was a student athlete at the time. I was
like heavy into boys. I wasn't thinking about no wrestling.
I was thinking about who these wombs was that was
gonna be calling.
Speaker 1 (04:59):
Me all day knows.
Speaker 3 (05:00):
So everything hot, it was a little I was a
hot girl.
Speaker 1 (05:04):
I was a hog girl. So I just didn't have
time to keep up like I used to.
Speaker 3 (05:09):
And then around the time my nephews came along, My
nephew came along, like twenty twelve, twenty thirteen. That was
like when Roman Reigns was like at the top of
his game, like he still is in his prime.
Speaker 1 (05:19):
But like Roman was like that dude.
Speaker 3 (05:21):
So I still had to follow Roman and Slasha Banks
and all like I have to follow for my nieces
and nephews, you know what I mean. But I still
wasn't like watching every show. It was just I'm keeping
up because they remind me of soul propers, right, Like,
no matter how long you ain't watched The Young Restless,
no matter what you put it back on you like, girl,
I know exactly what's happening.
Speaker 1 (05:41):
That's how it was for me.
Speaker 3 (05:43):
And then I want to say, over the last like
maybe seven months when Raw Now went to Netflix, there
was so much hype and build up around it and
the bloodline storyline and all this stuff that my frat
brother was on Twitter and was like, cis.
Speaker 2 (06:00):
You really gotta like invest back into it again? Like
it is so good right now. He was like, it's
like Attitude era good. This was like nineties when like
DX was doing this thing. I'm sure this is when
Jordan was probably like, yeah, this is my.
Speaker 3 (06:13):
Probably yeaheah, Like this was when it was like like
the Attitude era was stone Cold, Steve Boston the Rock
like it was crazy.
Speaker 1 (06:20):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (06:21):
I was like, you know what, I'm gonna give it.
I'm gonna get back into it. I'm gonna give a
full week. I'm gonna watch Wrong Monday, I'm gonna watch
NXT on Tuesday, Smack Donald Friday. I'm gonna give it
a week and see like if I can get my
my wrestling fire back.
Speaker 1 (06:34):
So question for you.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
John Cena is a new age wrestler, right or is
he considered old?
Speaker 1 (06:41):
No?
Speaker 3 (06:41):
John Cena is like I mean, for us, he's like
an older wrestler now, but he's not older like my childhood.
OHD Like he came around I was in college, so
but he's still been wrestling for like twenty years, Like
he's still been around a while, I said, because Jordan
used to just run around the house in his whole
(07:01):
you can't see me and see me.
Speaker 2 (07:03):
And I remember asking him like what are you doing?
He just run around and be like mama, mama, that
is so sarious.
Speaker 1 (07:14):
I was like, what are you doing?
Speaker 2 (07:16):
So finally and I realized where he got it from?
Speaker 1 (07:21):
Girl?
Speaker 2 (07:21):
And how about one day he did it to me
and I snatched him up and I said, yeah, I
can't see you see you?
Speaker 1 (07:31):
That is so funny. Oh my god, that is so funny.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
Well you're like into it like that, and you know
what what's gonna be great is you and our producer Grace.
Speaker 1 (07:46):
Just go have the best time ever.
Speaker 3 (07:49):
I told her she needs to let me be her manager,
like I'm trying to be the one on the sideline,
like hyping everybody up, pulling out chairs on the low key,
low key, hitting people with the belt.
Speaker 1 (07:58):
Like you know what I'm saying. I won't. I will be.
Speaker 2 (08:02):
Front and center when Grace gets in that ring. Let's go,
I'm let's tell you that. Just give me five minutes
to work on my on my manager name, and it's
I'm telling you, it's about to be crazy out here.
Speaker 1 (08:15):
But I need to know what Grace's wrestling name is
gonna be.
Speaker 2 (08:19):
It can't be Grace, I know. Oh my god, your
manager name her wrestling name, and I need her intro music.
I need her music.
Speaker 1 (08:27):
It's got to be saying I'm there. I can't wait.
Speaker 2 (08:32):
It should be some country because she lives in Nashville.
It's gotta be country, some country ship.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Oh my god, Grace, we are just creating a whole
character for you.
Speaker 1 (08:42):
Oh my god, that's gonna be so much fun. Can't wait.
Speaker 2 (08:46):
But yeah, no, it was a great weekend. But it
wasn't a great weekend for everybody. Now, I was about
to say speaking of wrestling. I know, speaking of wrestling,
it wasn't. It wasn't a great week end for everybody
because somebody, so I Lody, forgot that they are not
a wrestler, that they are actually a basketball player. And
I'm talking about DeMar de Rosan. I don't think he
(09:07):
forgot Demartin de Rosan out here. Matter of fact, that
wasn't even wrestling, that was boxing. Yeah, I ain't mad
at enough I mean, it's a trip. But on today's episode,
we're about to get into a conversation about what happens
when people kind of cross the line that they probably
shouldn't cross, and what happens when you fa fo On that.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
Note, let's go ahead and take this to the next level.
Speaker 3 (09:38):
All right, So Demart de Rosan for those who may
not know who Demarta Rosen is, He's an NBA player.
Plays for the Sacramento Kings, used to play for the Bulls,
used play for the Raptors, but anyway, plays for the
Kings now and on. For Friday, April nineteenth, you know,
Tomorrow was hungry. He decided to go a get something
(09:58):
to eat.
Speaker 2 (09:59):
He went out, you know when I would have I
don't know, a female. I don't I'm not assuming, but
there was a female with him, I'm guessing. And he
was at a sushi restaurant in Calabasas and he was
mad in his business and according to the reports, a
man walked up to him. And the man walked up
to him and put like his cell phone with a
(10:21):
bright light.
Speaker 1 (10:22):
No, no, no, it's start according to reports.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
Well yeah, it's according to the video where you can
see the video in it. Yes, you can see him
putting the phone up to his face, and DeMar DeRozan
basically hits the phone out of his face because I
mean it was very clearly unexpected, and you can tell
that he don't know the man, but he puts the
phone in his face, he hits the phone out of
(10:45):
his face. And then the dude now who gets up,
is like demanding for his phone to be back, and
now him and Damar like in this scuffle, and DeMar
is like getting at him for real, for real.
Speaker 3 (10:58):
And then there's this woman who in like this gray sweatsuit.
She's like telling Tomorrow like he's not worth it, trying
to get in between him, trying to back him up,
and she's just like, he's not worth it, He's not
worth it, don't do it, it's not worth it. When
she's right, and then the dude, you know, after getting
his ass whoop, finally gets up, DeMar throws the phone,
and then Damar backs into like this other part of
(11:19):
the restaurant. But yeah, basically, like witnesses segcaus this part
isn't on the video, but the witnesses say that the
man who had on shorts got into an ambulance because
apparently he has sustained some injuries from the fight.
Speaker 2 (11:31):
They had called the police because there was glass and
cutlery and shit that was flying around, and so we
don't know what happened after Deamorrow backed into the thing,
because that's not quite on the video. But this is
what I mean by FAFO, and if you are unfamiliar
with fafoh, it simply means fuck around and find out,
because why are you walking up on people shoving your
(11:53):
phone in their face?
Speaker 1 (11:56):
Period?
Speaker 2 (11:57):
Like this has nothing to do with a celebrity Tomorrow anybody,
Like I don't care who you are, Like, what gives
you the right to invade anybody's personal space like that?
And I don't care if they are out in public.
But let me say one thing before we really dive
into this sis.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
Whoever the female is with Tomorrow.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
She looked like she got some hands because she got
in between Tomorrow and this dude and was like, listen,
what we not gonna do is space And so she
holding damarrow back like no, he ain't worth it one
hundred percent degree. But at the same time, she's looking
at old boy like you, I dare you right? Like nah,
(12:42):
we ain't about to do this. She legitimately put body
on old boy. Yeah, like wow, Damar's backing up. She
put body on old boy like you ain't gonna get
around me.
Speaker 1 (12:50):
I respect it one hundred percent. But you know that's
what we do as women.
Speaker 2 (12:54):
We go all week, we always be standing in a
gap for everybody. We always go home. O, man down,
whoever it is, tee this just I saw this video
and I immediately went to, why.
Speaker 1 (13:10):
Would you do that?
Speaker 2 (13:11):
Like you you're just walking by, you see him? You
just and DeMar actually had his head down, he was
eating or talking, doing whatever. I'm still trying to figure
out what made you want to do what you did
in that moment.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
And now trying to act like you're the victim. The
victim is what is? What was crazy?
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Because you invaded this person's personal space, You shoved a
phone in their face with a bright ass light, and
now you're upset at the reaction, like we don't know
what that was or what that.
Speaker 1 (13:44):
Could have been.
Speaker 3 (13:46):
But at the end of the day, though, I think
the bigger piece of this conversation is and I'm sure
this is something you absolutely can relate to. It's like
fans have to understand that athletes are humans to when
they're out eating, when they are out with their families,
when they're out doing their thing. There's a level of
(14:08):
respect in how you approach someone as a fan to
even like, first of all, read the room.
Speaker 1 (14:15):
Right. Does this even look like a.
Speaker 2 (14:17):
Moment in which this person is trying to engage fans
or does this look like a moment in which this
person is trying to enjoy their time with whoever they
are with, right, So number one, you need to read
the room. But secondly, be a bit more respectful in
how you approach people.
Speaker 1 (14:37):
If you're a.
Speaker 3 (14:37):
Fan and you want a photo or you want to
autograph or something, just walking up on somebody and putting
your phone in their face, not only is it rude
to the common person, but it's especially rude to someone
who probably would give you their time and attention if
you had asked.
Speaker 1 (14:52):
For a better one hundred percent.
Speaker 2 (14:54):
Have I experienced moments like that a lot, But I
think people tend to forget to your point that celebrities, actors, athletes, whoever, like,
we're human. And I just remember when I was playing
and Jordan was younger. You know, we go out to eat,
(15:16):
or to a movie or whatever. And I always have,
always will find time for my fans, right because I'm
also very appreciative and grateful that, like you want a
picture with me, you want my autograph, I don't. I
don't take that shit for granted. But at the same time,
(15:38):
I've always just asked that you respect my space, respect
my personal time, and as a mom, right when I
was out with my kid, I remember one time as
Jordan's started getting older, like he felt some type of
way because he was like, dang, I can't even get
some time with my mama, just me and my mama
(15:58):
without everybody coming over and bothering and things like that. Right,
But at the end of the day, I'm going to
be respectful of you and your time.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
So all I ask is for you to do the
same with me.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
And I would be willing to bet to your point
if this dude, and I'm assuming he's a fan of Demorrow, right,
I know he is. I read where he said something
about don't ever meet your childhood hero, like he said
that somewhere based off of what happened, But I would
be willing to bet if he would have just at
some point walked over and just been like, excuse me
(16:32):
when you're done or whatever. I'd love to get a
photo with you or autograph whatever it was he was wanting,
because I still don't know what that is tomorrow, probably
would have acknowledged him and either said I'll do it
later or no, I don't feel like doing it today.
And if he would have said no, that's okay too,
like just respect that. I don't condone violence at all,
(16:52):
but you know what, I do condone somebody doing what
he did because you violated this man's face mm hm,
and DeMar had every right to do what he did.
Speaker 1 (17:05):
Just my opinion, I feel that.
Speaker 3 (17:07):
Like again, I'm not one that will condone violence either,
but I do think, like, first of all, I think
some things are natural reactions, like I love my husband dearly,
but if but if, even if he comes over and
puts something in my face and I don't expect it,
my natural reaction might be to just wipe my hand
like wet something like Yo're gonna jump back like what
(17:28):
they're doing, Like that's just my natural effect of being
startled by something. So if I would feel that way
with my husband, I'm definitely gonna throw that away with
a total stranger coming in my space putting something in
my face.
Speaker 1 (17:41):
I don't know what this is.
Speaker 2 (17:43):
Like, people are crazy in the world these days, right,
and so they come up with all types.
Speaker 1 (17:48):
Of things that they put in front.
Speaker 2 (17:49):
I mean I've seen people do that with like autographs,
Like they just literally walk over and just like hand
you a pen and paper or hand you a pen
and a shirt or something. And I'm just like, wow,
Like folks aren't even want to ask or find out
or simply read the room. I have come in contact
with so many dope people out in the street or whatever.
Speaker 1 (18:08):
I'm gonna give you an example. We were in an airport.
Speaker 2 (18:12):
We were coming back from New Orleans and I want
to say this was twenty eighteen, I think it was,
but anyway, we were coming back from New Orleans and
we were in the New Orleans airport and literally going
through security. Right behind us was Lamar Jackson, the NFL player,
and at the time he had literally just.
Speaker 1 (18:27):
Got drafted to Baltimore.
Speaker 2 (18:29):
And I believe the prior TSA officer told him, you know,
you're supposed to take off your hoodie when you go through,
but they were like, you know, you don't have to
take your hoodie off, like we know what's good, Just
go ahead. He gets up to the TSA line and
the TSA agent at the front is like being I'm
gonna do my job. So now there's this big thing
because she's asking him to take off his hoodie, take
(18:52):
off his glasses, all of that stuff, and she has
no idea who is. And then finally, so I'm taking
my time putting my shoes because i want to see
how this ship play out. I'm like, oh, this is
gonna be ok. Yeah, what's going wrong? And so finally
dude from the bank, because now he get irritated, he
(19:12):
can take his glasses off. Now people starting to know,
you know, like, wait a minute, I think I know
this dude. He takes a sweater off. He got like
three folks chains on under here. And then finally maybe
a higher officer comes over and says to the agent, hey,
that's Lamar Jackson, Like he ain't got to do all
of that. And so of course now everyone sees who
it is. Now you got folks holding up the TSA
(19:34):
line because they like, oh, I want to see Lamar Jackson.
I want he just got drafted. I want to take
a picture with Lamar. I want to stop Lamar Jackson.
And so I bring up these examples because I'm like,
sometimes athletes, celebrities, sometimes folks just want to be normal folks.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
They just want to go through the.
Speaker 2 (19:52):
TSA line like a regular, regular individual, like everybody don't
always have to be enamored to the point where they
take away a person's ability to just simply be normal. Yeah,
that's I agree with you, But that's like, that's a
(20:14):
difficult one at times because I think I probably look
at it from both sides. Like the very first time
I met Michael Jordan, who is like my all everything one,
I was speechless, I bet right, Like, I was like that, dude,
is youman? Like that's the goat the Michael Jordan. And
(20:39):
so the reason why I say I look at it
from both sides because when you do get that opportunity
to meet that someone that you've seen on television or
you've read about, or you've just loved from Afar admired
from Afar and never thinking that you might meet that person,
and then who's standing in front of you, you really
(21:05):
don't know what to do in that moment, right, And
so I try to respect everybody's face, because it takes
a lot.
Speaker 1 (21:16):
For me to be like, WHOA, that's so.
Speaker 2 (21:17):
And so I was that way with Michael Jordan, with
Oprah when I met her, and with Barack Obama right
next the pemble and Michelle Obama, right, those are people
you should be that way about, though, and I was so,
but there was a part of me that was like,
I may not ever get this opportunity again. And so
that's where I think as a fan, sometimes you don't
(21:40):
quite know how to react or respond. And in this situation,
especially like with TSA, that's their job. So not that
she trying to cause a scene or whatever, but she's like, dude,
I don't know you. And and at times even if
I do, this is my job. Yeah, but you know what,
(22:02):
but in a situation like that, it's kind of a
damn if I do, damn if I don't, because if
you if you don't make him take his glasses off
in the hoodie and hat or whatever, it is, the
next person that comes through probably gonna be like, well,
you ain't make him take all this shit off?
Speaker 1 (22:17):
Why? Right?
Speaker 3 (22:18):
But I also think in that scenario, specifically, old boy
at the front of the TSA line should have done
a better job communicating to the back of the tea.
Speaker 1 (22:26):
That's part I do agree with. Yeah, I totally agree
with you all that one. I do. Yeah, I just
I think people just seem to be more respectful in general.
Speaker 2 (22:37):
And when you know what, I used to tell myself
and I still do it every now and again, especially
depending on where I'm at. If I'm having a shitty
day and I just don't want to be bothered, I
don't leave my house.
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Reason being because even if I'm going to the grocery.
Speaker 2 (22:54):
Store, and especially if i'm home, right I go to
the grocery store, somebody's gonna recognize me, and because I'm
having a shitty day, I don't want to be bothered.
Speaker 1 (23:02):
But you don't. You don't know that, do you know what?
I'm like, You don't know. I'm having a shitty day
and I don't want to bother.
Speaker 2 (23:09):
So I just gotta I gotta turn it on in
that moment, right because this person's like, oh my god.
Like I've literally had people follow me up and down
the grocery aisle just to just to come up to
me and say, you look so familiar, And I'm like, Okay, who.
Speaker 1 (23:25):
Do you think I am, yeah, And then I'm like,
so this is the one that gets me. Are you
who I think you are? And I'm like, I don't know,
because I.
Speaker 2 (23:32):
Don't know who you think I am, right right, And
so it's a really tough place to be in, especially when.
Speaker 1 (23:41):
You go out in.
Speaker 2 (23:41):
Public, like I don't know if that, if that happened
after a.
Speaker 1 (23:45):
Game, I don't know, and not that that should matter.
What should matter is.
Speaker 2 (23:50):
That he, he clearly demark clearly was having some alone time,
whether that's his girlfriend, friend, business manager, partners, sir, whoever
it is, he clearly was just having some alone time
and you chose to interrupt that in a very disrespectful way.
(24:11):
So I can't be mad at how Damar handle that.
I'm mad at how old boy handled it.
Speaker 3 (24:17):
And what's crazy is folks will always get mad at
the response, but never pay attention to what caused you
to act like that, like what led?
Speaker 1 (24:30):
Like how did we get here? Right?
Speaker 3 (24:33):
But when we come back from break, I got a
quick question for you because it actually leads me to
a larger point, like an even more macro point.
Speaker 1 (24:42):
So stay with this, y'all.
Speaker 3 (24:52):
So, Cheryl, I'm curious to know do you think that
because of situations like that, or because even bringing it
to the w situations like what happened to Britney Griner
in the airport, what happened to Caitlin when she was
being stalked, what happened to Angel Like when you think
about situations like this, do you think that there needs
(25:15):
to be more security for athletes or celebrities even on
their like off time, personal time, like should they hire
personal security guards for stuff like this? Because I feel like,
and I'm obviously not a high profile celebrity, I get
(25:36):
a few people every once in a while who would
be like Terika, oh my gosh, you knows sports from Twitter,
and I'm like, oh wow. But for the most part,
if I need a security officer, I'd be like, girl,
my husband is down the street.
Speaker 1 (25:47):
You don't want that smoke. That's it.
Speaker 3 (25:50):
But I'm curious, do you think in people's personal times,
because of the way that things are happening, should there
be or do you think we're getting to a point
where it becomes necessary. I mean, even you I've seen,
I've definitely seen brand didn't have to be.
Speaker 2 (26:07):
Like yeah, no, one hundred and here's the thing I'm
glad you brought that up, because I actually was going
to say, like, oh, boy, is lucky Damar didn't have
his security with him, right, because I'm I'm pretty sure
Damar travels with his security when he's on his personal
time going out there with him, and for the most part,
(26:27):
most NBA players they have their extra security for their dude,
whoever that is. So I'm I'm actually very surprised that
DeMar didn't. So to your point, yes I do. But
here's the thing, especially when you look at the w
there's probably only a handful of women two things that
need it outside of playing, and that can afford it,
(26:54):
right because having your own personal security twenty four or seven,
when you're just kind of out on your own thing
like that, shit gets expensive. I know, I know for
a fact that Caitlyn travels with her own personal security
as she should rightfully. So right I know, I've seen
Angel with her security, Asia has her security. Those are
(27:18):
players that absolutely need it. It's sad that you have to,
but in this in this world, in the day and
time we're living in, and people just feel like from
social media or just because they feel like they have
a right to just attack you anytime they want to.
(27:38):
And to your point, like when when I played, we
didn't have like personal security that traveled with us like that,
even even for games. Right, that wasn't until a little
later where they were like, oh okay, we might need
to have some security with them. But even for for
me now, when I travel, most of the time, I
(27:59):
have Brandon's with me, my brother or like my husband
will send a couple of his boys with me depending
on where I'm going.
Speaker 1 (28:06):
I'll be very honest with you, Tea.
Speaker 2 (28:08):
This all kind of happened over the past couple of years,
right with all the hate and all the ugliness and
stuff that came about from from Caitlyn's fans, and when
when you're getting threats on social media, Like I'm one
of those people that, like, I take.
Speaker 1 (28:24):
This shit seriously as you should, so I gotta be prepared.
Speaker 2 (28:28):
For the unknown, right, Like, I don't know who might
try to come in my space, who may try.
Speaker 1 (28:33):
To even pull some shit like oh boy did right?
Speaker 2 (28:36):
And you know me, for the for the most part,
I'm like, listen, I love interacting with people.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
I love my fans. I won't take a picture.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
Whatever it is I can do that's going to make
you happy in that moment, like, I don't mind doing it.
I just ask for people to be respectful. I said,
don't don't, don't pull that shit that he did. Yeah,
it just don't just phone out. I'll just put your
phone out, like you know, I've seen things work like
(29:04):
a simple hey, how you doing and swoops, it's nice
to meet you.
Speaker 1 (29:08):
Do you mind if we.
Speaker 3 (29:09):
Take a photo and I'm like, no, let's go what.
Speaker 1 (29:12):
You want to do. I love it.
Speaker 2 (29:13):
I love being in spaces like that. But but I
will also say this, like you said earlier, just read
the room. If you come into a restaurant and you
can see that you know, we're at a table and
I don't care if that's me and my friends or
me and my husband. If you can see we're enjoying
each other's company, or we're in a good conversation, or
(29:35):
even if I got my food and I'm eating, that's
not the right time to do that, right. And this
goes for media too, because some players are not wrong
when they say that there are some media members who
act like fans, that there are some media members who
don't quite understand the fact that there's your job, and.
Speaker 1 (29:56):
Then there is outside of your job.
Speaker 2 (29:59):
And I've got pictures with players and things like that,
So I'm not necessarily being hypocritical or saying like, hey,
you're gonna take pictures with players. Absolutely No, I got
plenty of pictures with players, and I plan to take
plenty more with players.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
Right.
Speaker 3 (30:12):
But what I'm never doing is I'm never like fangirling
out when I should be doing my job, or I
also understand very professional when I'm doing my job, or
you know, if we're in a private space. I'm not
like like one of those reporters that's like, listen, we
(30:33):
good when we on the court, we're good when we're sidelining, right,
But the moment I get a drink in my hand, babe,
everything off the record, because it ain't even about you
at this point. It's about me, and I don't need
you talk about to really good act in a day
of food. Yes, I was because I'm at a club
and I had a drink and I was absolutely acting
a fool.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
I wasn't thinking about you or what you was doing.
I was worried about what I was doing. So that's
what I mean.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
While I'm like, sometimes even media members can be a
little rude and disrespectful with how they ask for photos
or how they don't read the room sometimes and maybe
they you know, do something or capture something or do
something that like you know why people won't build trust
with you and that kind of thing. So I just
think everybody should consider reading the room and understanding how
(31:20):
to move forward. When you see somebody out in public,
it is not always a time for you. I mean, listen,
if I see Barack Obama out in public, you dann ray,
I'm gonna.
Speaker 2 (31:30):
Be like by rack as you should, as you should,
I should, but I'm not gonna run up on him.
I president, okay, but I'm not gonna run up on
him a Michelle with my cell phone out, like come
on out. No, he a Leo too, So I know
how he's gonna respond, So I can't.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
We can. You can't even do it like that. Here's
the other thing, though, like you would be people would.
Speaker 2 (31:49):
Be surprised at how personable like these celebrities and these
people right if you, if you handle it the right way,
you usually get the the ugly side or the not
so good side when.
Speaker 1 (32:03):
You act a fool with them.
Speaker 3 (32:04):
When you when you're rude, yeah, yeah, all right, Well,
you know what, it's been a great conversation, but let's
go ahead and level this thing on out because we
had a lot to get to over the next couple
of weeks, and I'm excited to talk about it, so
stay with us, y'all. So basically, overall, I just need
(32:29):
people to like respect folks of space, and like respect
where people are coming from, because it's not easy being
a public figure, and it's not easy, like having to
live a lot of your life in the spotlight, like
and sometimes people just need the moment to be normal.
And I think that's pretty much what the overall arching
theme of today's show is.
Speaker 1 (32:49):
So I totally agree. It ain't never gonna be you, shirl.
You ain't gonna never be normal.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
No, no, no, no, it's not even it's not even
about that. I just I think to add on to
what you said, like, but you do have to let
people like, let us be human.
Speaker 1 (33:06):
Yeah, you know, we're gonna have bad days, just like
everybody else does.
Speaker 2 (33:09):
But in Damar DeRozan's case and situation, I just thought
the way old boy handle that whole thing, like you
were way out of line, way out of line, and
tomorrow had every right to handle it the way he
handled it.
Speaker 1 (33:23):
So, yeah, is what it is.
Speaker 2 (33:25):
Just don't be invading people's face like that. Give me
my three feet of space.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
That's that's it.
Speaker 3 (33:29):
So with that, let's go ahead and a level today's
show on off. What you got for us today, Cheryl, So,
I thought about giving our conversation. I thought about just
singing the song back back, back back, give me fifty
B and then I said, no, maybe not, maybe not,
maybe not.
Speaker 2 (33:48):
This were just kind of stood out to me honestly,
has nothing to do with our conversation. I just you know,
when you when you're setting goals and you have dreams
and aspirations of things you want to achieve, sometimes you
wonder why those things aren't happening. And I found this
quote by Amanda flood Fludd, and it says, some of
(34:11):
your goals are buried so deep in fear it doesn't
have access to what it needs to grow. Oh, I
just there was something about that.
Speaker 1 (34:22):
It just kind of hit me in the right spot. So, oh, yes,
maybe that resonates somebody. Yeah, maybe that resonates with some
of y'all out there.
Speaker 3 (34:30):
Well, friends, it's been an incredible show. As always, we
appreciate all of you for continuing to listen and continuing
to show us love and support. We are going to
be back next week with more next Level conversation. And
when I tell you next week, you do not, absolutely
do not want to miss our guests and who we
(34:52):
are chatting with, because it is absolutely going to be
a phenomenal episode.
Speaker 1 (34:57):
But remember this isn't just our show.
Speaker 3 (34:59):
It is our show and we want to hear from you,
so leave us a review on Apple Podcasts. You can
email us at Levels to This Podcast at gmail dot com.
Speaker 1 (35:08):
You can tell us what you thought of.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
This week's show, what you want to talk about next,
and make sure you're definitely following us on Instagram at lttpod.
But until then, keep your mental's ground level and we'll
be back next week.
Speaker 1 (35:21):
Peace showing.
Speaker 2 (35:23):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart.
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with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brasby and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
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