November 13, 2025 • 47 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl Swoopes and Terrika Foster-Brasby tackle the NBA’s gambling scandal—what “inside info” does to the integrity of the game, where accountability belongs, and why timing matters—while drawing a sharp line between fan betting and what players, coaches, and insiders should never touch. Sheryl brings the locker-room lens; Terrika brings the reporter’s receipts, and together they ask what safeguards women’s sports need as wagering grows. They close with a quote that reminds us that faith is SO grounding.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Levels to 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 2 (00:16):
Hey, what's going on? Everybody? It's Your Girl to Rica
Foster Brasby.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
What's up, y'all? Is your girls?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Cheryl swoop Hey and this is the levels to this.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
This is the show where we talked about there's levels
to the shit that women go through. We've got a
very good show coming up today. You're gonna talk about
some recent news that's been hitting the NBA waves, some
new coaching hires in the WNBA. But first, I don't
know if y'all know, But if you didn't know, tell
(00:47):
us Tunder's Day.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yay.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
November twelve, nineteen twenty two is when Signia Ga Moreau
Sorority Incorporated was a stuff at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana,
by seven phenomenal school teachers, educators, doctors, women who stood
at the test of time. Our founders were walking past
the KKK every day to make sure that black women
(01:15):
and all people could be whatever it was that they
wanted to be. They stood through everything and here it is.
One hundred and three years later. We are over one
hundred plus thousand women strong. We got chapters across the
world and Germany, in Africa, in Europe, we everywhere baby
in South America.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
In the Kribean and Canada.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Like there ain't no place you can go in Japan,
in Dubai, We're nowhere that you can go in.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
That thing beautiful.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yeah, amit what you're doing tonight?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Oh my god, Oh my god, oh my god, listen, okay,
because you know me and my emotions, but they're good emotions.
Because I don't know. I don't know if I ever
thought that I would be a sister, a member of
Sigma Gamma Row Incorporated. And to be able to share this,
(02:19):
this moment with you, this conversation with you, happy Founder's Day,
This has meant so much more to me than I
could have ever imagined that, you know, when you and
I had the conversation and I decided to join, like
I knew it was going to be great because I
told you then it was to me it was getting
(02:41):
sisters that I that I've always wanted and never had,
and not just one, but thousands, hundreds of thousands of sisters,
and so it's just been remarkable how even the ones
you don't necessarily know, or the ones you haven't met.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
How they just show up. We just show up for
each other.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
And that is physically show up, that is spiritually show up.
Anytime you need anything, all you got to do is
pick up a phone a text. And I know I've
hit you several times like, Sis, do you know do
we have a soroar that is in insurance, in banking
and real estate and whatever it is?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
And you like, yeah, we do. Let me find out.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Yeah, we everywhere. So it's just been amazing. It's been
an amazing ride for me thus far. And girl, let
me get the tears out, because I can't wait to
go shake my book out.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I am so.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I genuinely am filled with joy when I hear you
say this, because the last thing that I would ever
do is to introduce somebody to Sigma and have them
tell me that they've had a bad experience. I'd be like, no,
that's not what we're about. To know that this sisterhood
has been as welcoming to you as it has been
to me, and you're only four months in. I've been
(04:01):
doing this thing for almost ten years night. So if
we still feel the same way and we got ten
years difference, that's how you know it is real.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
So happy First Founders, stay to you. I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
I know you're gonna have a good time hanging out
with the sores in Houston. I'm about to go up
here at Aka Fool. I'm gonna party hop. I'm going
about full different spots. You know what I mean, because
you know how I get down. Of course, you know
how I get down. I'm going I'm going to New Hashman,
going to Springfield, I'm going airwhere everywhere. Somebody tell me
they celebrating. I'm going to show up at Aka Fool.
I'm already on my second outfit. I got more left.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
You know what I'm saying, Like, that's what we're doing
because I told you.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You know I don't be outside night, but for Founders, don't.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I love it? I love it? Well.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
You know I won't be out too late, but I
am gonna.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Be as like as you ain't outside playing poker straight
outside playing poker with the mob. No, because I mean
I like.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
The little that know you might like a little texes
hold them, but I don't like text holding with the mind.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
No, I don't like nothing.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I'm like no with the mob. So we're gonna have
to go ahead.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I'm gonna leave that alone.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
We're gonna have to go ahead and understand why these
NBA players are out here swindling folks playing poker with
some people who they probably don't have no business playing
poker with. That's that's crazy, crazy at all. Yeah, so
I ain't even no reason for us to even beat around.
Let's just go ahead and take this thing to the
next level, all right, Cherrel.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
I know that you like to play poker because I
like to play poker, yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
And I mean I like the sports petsu gambling is
my like I don't want to say it's my thing,
but like I.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Have fun with it.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
It's fun. Yeah, it's fun. Right, I have fund except
for what I love.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
But I mean, well, yeah, right, I mean, there you go.
I don't want to lose neither.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Now that right. That bussed me off.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
But for the most part, I think you and I
it would be fair to say that we both have
a fever understanding of This is a game, it is
done in an appropriate fashion, it has boundaries, and then
when the game is over, we go home, we mind
our business, and we move on to the next thing. Right,
But why your people don't know it? Well, why why
(06:33):
your people don't know it?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Because I don't know what is going on.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I have felt a certain type of way kind of
on both sides of this whole. NBA referees mafia gamblings crazy.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
So okay, So for those who've been living under a rock,
there has been a federal investigation into a legal gambling
which has led to the arrest of several prominent NBA figures.
Chauncey Billups, who was, you know, a Hall of Famer
and formerly well I won't say formally because technically still
(07:19):
is the head coach of the Portland Trailblazers.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Terry Rozier who.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Plays for the Miami Heat, Damon Jones like these are
just a few of the names that are facing criminal
charges based on this situation. And the alleged scheme involved
rig poker games with mafia ties and then betting on
games using non public information. So there was a scenario
(07:45):
given at one point that Damon Jones had told some
folks about an injury that was existing with Lebron James,
and they were able to use that information to help
them get a little extra money. Or Terry Rozier said,
I think I gonna get hurt around a ten minute mark.
So so when Terry get hurt around the ten minute mark,
(08:07):
they put a little extra something and made a little
something off the injury. So listen, I am not laughing
because I think the scenario is funny. I'm laughing because
in my head, I'm just like, y'all can't be serious.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
At which part, like who are you saying? Who are
you saying? Can't be serious that this investigation is going on?
Or that the.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Players are this entire the entirety of it all.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
So we have, you know, recently had shows where we've
talked about all the things that are going on in
the world right and so a part of me feels
like where people are out here losing resources and benefits
and things of that nature and are furlough from government
from government, you know, oppositions. The last thing folks really
(08:59):
care about is who plan and an illegal I don't care, like, seriously,
we know, I don't give a shit about.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You know why I'm gonna let you finish because here's
my thing.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
I really don't care because what they're doing does not
affect my day to day. It doesn't affect me whatsoever.
You know, what does affect me the government shut down.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I'm also trying to keep in perspective that these are
very different entities within the government structure. So the gambling
and the illegal gambling thing is a different department in
a different whatever than like the folks that ice and
all that. I'm trying to compartmentalize. But the truth is,
(09:46):
I just really don't give a damn about who out
here playing a llegal, illegal poker games. I don't give
a shit about that. Is it your money, It's not
my money, It's not gonna affect me. And I don't
fuck around with the mob. I'm from Detroit. Fact, does
the mob still exists?
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Honey?
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Still, it still exists in Well And if anybody understood
what lakosin Nostra actually means, they would know that the
whole point is for them to be non existent, invisible.
They supposed to be in the back. They operate in
the back. They don't like to be in the forefront.
That was John Gotti and all his foolishness. They don't
(10:20):
like to be in the front.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
So they still exist.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
If y'all want to mess around with the mob, that's
y'all stupid asses.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I'm gonna let y'all have it.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
I'm not just that I watched enough Robert de Niro
and Al Pacino in my day to.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Understand how the mob.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
I last Martin Scorsese taught me among the several films
that I have watched over the years. I don't need
to mess around with them. However, I do think that
it is a different conversation as a journalist and a
reporter and a fan of basketball. When you out here
giving away trade secrets and fucking up the integrity of
(10:55):
the game, now we in a different conversation. So I
like to separate rate the poker games from what you
out here doing with NBA secrets and using and basically
betting on games or throwing games or doing whatever little
props it is that you're doing for the prop bets. Like,
(11:15):
that's where you lost me, Because could you imagine walking
in your locker room, Shirl, and you seeing Tina. You
know Tina straight, but all of a sudden, Tina can't
play for five minutes.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
You'll be like bitch, what you're doing that?
Speaker 1 (11:28):
So so here's here's my thing. And again, because I
wasn't there, I don't know. I don't know none of it, right,
But I don't care about illegal poker games.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
I really don't.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
It ain't my money, that ain't affecting my pocket, that
ain't affecting my household, that ain't putting food or taking
food off my table. There's other stuff going on in
this world that's way more important than that. But to
go back to the whole situation, I do, however, not
(12:03):
really having an issue with it, because again, it ain't
my business, it ain't me. But but to do what
they say Damon Jones allegedly did, right like texting homeboy
whoever said, Yo, this dude ain't playing tonight.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
God?
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yeah, so whatever, And then I ain't mad him for
saying better enough so.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
You can give me a lit bit so you can
put a libit in my pocket.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
No, that's wrong, like that's if that, if that happened,
that's so wrong.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Yeah, My question is.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
How many people are doing that, right, and and how
long has that been going on?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So to your point, to.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Be in a locker room, right, you're getting ready for
a game. And you know, I'll go to your example.
I know that Tina, she been practicing all week, she
is perfectly fine and healthy. All of a sudden, come
game day, she ain't playing. That's kind of and I'm like,
it's just what up?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
What happened? We need we need you, we need you. Ryan.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Nah, I'm gonna sit tonight out like it does make
you question and wonder, like what happened?
Speaker 3 (13:15):
What's going on? Right right, right, right, right right.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I really feel like if all of this stuff is
going on, and I keep saying if, because you know
these are alleged allegations, I just think there's a whole
lot of people that could be involved. Let's go to
the referees. Let's you know what I mean. It's there's
some very interesting things that have come out that makes
(13:39):
you stop scratch your head and.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Say, hmm. That's why I never liked that reff.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Because you remember when the ref there was a situation
with the ref who was involved in some and I
think that's a larger do And I think that's a
larger thing too, because part of the story is that
these illegal pokers games is where some of us. So
if this is how we're trying to connect the dots.
Then these games are when some of these these conspiracy conspiracy. Yes,
(14:12):
it's when they began about providing non public information and stuff.
And listen again, that is where I as a reporter,
do have an issue because you're fucking with the integrity
of the game, and that's not cool and it's interesting
where it's like, you know, if you're better, there's the over,
the under, all that good stuff. So obviously if people
(14:32):
aren't playing, they're missing the under, or if the odds
of somebody you put something on a game and the
odds haven't moved yet, and then later you know, you
stack it, and then later on you find out a
certain player isn't playing. Well, it may be too late
for anyone that's just getting in on the bed.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
But if you've already had your money on, your odds are.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
Where your odds are, so you got to get paid,
and of course you're gonna spread a little something to
the people who gave you the So I think that
the way that sports and sports betting has become a
real thing, Like I don't even there are games and
teams sure that I wouldn't pay a lick of attention
(15:14):
to and the only reason why I watch that shit
is because.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
I might got some money on it.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Yeah, I got like like it does. It has made
the game fund it has made the game interesting, But
it's also one of those conundrums where it's like every
time you turn on the TV, there's fan duel, there's DraftKings,
there's ESPN bet, there's underdogs. There's so many different betting
options that it's like you can't in the same breath
(15:42):
be like, oh, sports betting is ruining the game, while
at the same time saying to folks, you can come
over here and place a bet on anything any hundred
any given moment, like pick your poison.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
So maybe this is an ignorant question, and so help
me says like.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Why why did or is the government involved?
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Right?
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Seriously, do you know what I mean? Like right right,
release release the Epstein files.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Can't we get No, I'm just saying like, like that.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
To me is where we should really be going crazy,
just because there's so much more going on that that
does affect everyday Americans and my life in affected by
this illegal gambling stuff. So I'm really not trying to
be funny like help me with that.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
So I know that there is a division of the
FBI and the that does and handles like illegal gambling
because it falls under like the money laundry kind of stipulations,
which is very similar.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
To which we all know is illegal as hell.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
So part of the charges that Chauncey Billups has is
facing is money laundering because that's part of that whole
that's it's all part of the whole illegal gambling process.
So it's not that I don't understand why this would
fall into your the purview of a.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Government agency, but I.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
Think the biggest thing is the timing is crazy, and
maybe that's the issue timing is Maybe.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
The issue is that it's the timing.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
It's that you guys had all this information already, and
you guys knew when most of these people were doing
because you can find a whole timeline streaming back to
twenty twenty up until now. You also think about how
the Porter Kid was banned by the NBA last year
for betting on games.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
So it seems as if the NBA have been able.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
To handle their own perpetrators as it relates to gambling
and disrupting the integrity of the NBA. But the timing
of it to me is what makes me feel like
I don't care. And maybe I would feel differently if
this was something that happened in March or something that happened,
(18:23):
But to release this information now, when we don't have
the Epstein files, when people are going through a traumatic
experience and not knowing where their.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Next news come from, Yes, that's my point.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
When it's like the timing of it is terrible, and
because it's the NBA, it's going to skyrocket. It's people
are going to pay attention, it's going to dominate the headlines.
And I think I would agree that that's that right there,
is what it really is. It's less of the action
and more of the why you got to do it
right now?
Speaker 3 (18:55):
I mean, NBA season just kind of started.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
We were two days in this, see yeah, two days,
and so my question for you becomes, and I'm definitely
not here to compare, but I'm starting to see with
the popularity of the WNBA and with women's sports, people
are now starting to wager on women's sports WBA And granted,
(19:22):
like we started this conversation, I'm someone who's sports bets,
but I do not at all in any way shape
form of fashion gamble on women's basketball. It feels like
my integrity would be in question because I probably know
something about a player, I probably know something about a
team that everybody else out here don't know. And while
(19:42):
it might give me a leg up, I am a
conscious of a person with a conscious, I am empathetic,
and I would just genuinely feel bad.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
So I just was like, no, I.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Don't gamble on on women's sports, But do you think
that there should start to be some actual laws or
policy within these different organizations or entities like it? Because
there's nothing on the books that says, you know, if
you cover the WNBA, you can't you can't bet on
(20:13):
the way, or like there's nothing that actually says that,
or you know, if you're a coach, you can't gamble
on you know, like there's nothing that actually says it.
So I'm wondering, do you think because of what's happening
in the NBA that there should start to be just
across sports in general, maybe some actually defined policy that says, yeah,
(20:35):
I can't do this.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Well, I do know that players aren't allowed to write
players for games, right, yeah, so you're and I don't
know this, so you're saying like WNBA coaches can bet
on WNBA games.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
I ain't never seen no policy that say WNBA coaches
can't bet on WNBA games. But I'm not suggesting that
WNBA coaches are betting on WNBA No. I know.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
That's just that's interesting though, because my thing is.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
If if it's very clear that players can't, then coaches
shouldn't be able to, right.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I don't know that either. I just think it's very interesting.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
I think this whole idea behind sports betting and gambling
and looking at this NBA situation, yeah, I think it's
bringing more eyes to the w and it wouldn't surprise
me if there's more digging into hmm, let's see what's
going on on the WNBA side. Do we have illegal
(21:33):
shit going on over there too?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
But you you open this door, and I'm talking about NBA.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
You opened this door when you went and partnered with.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
DraftKings, FanDuel Underdog, all the betting apps out there. You
open that door to possibly illegal stuff. I ain't saying
that's right, but.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
T I don't know. I do have a question. I
have a question.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Yes, So, like like everybody else, I heard the news.
I saw the news, and there were certain players right that.
When I saw their pictures and all that, I was like,
there's no way, not him, not him. But then my
question was, is it only black guys that's involved with this?
(22:30):
That's those are the only pictures we've seen. But yet
you say they're tied to the mob or mafia, Well
where are their pictures?
Speaker 2 (22:40):
So here's the thing.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
So I have seen and heard that a lot, and
I will say that this is probably what I just asked.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Yes, I've heard quite.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
A few people say, well if this aside to the
you know Luke that they I mean, they've named the
Lukzy family the Gambino family, like they named all the families.
And I say to myself, as valid as a question
as that is, the reality is you don't know specifically
(23:13):
who these mob type folks are most of the time.
And that's the reason why the mob has existed for
so long, because.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
You don't know who.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
And they will kill you if you decide that you
just you want to tell that's a good point, and
it's incredibly difficult to get people to truly pinpoint who's
doing what and what we're And I'm just like, if
folks are really waiting for someone to show the face
of someone involved in the mafia, y'all gonna be waiting
(23:46):
for a long time. They're never going to expose them
people they're not like they're they're not gonna expose So.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
You can't, right, you can't.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
You better like you can't, like you can't. So it's unfortunate,
you know. And I mean, listen, anything, anything and everything
can happen. There have definitely been some mobsters who have
been caught up enough to where they face timed, they've
been exposed, we've seen them. But I'm just suggesting that unfortunately,
it's very slim that we gonna see the faces of
(24:15):
who the other people are that apparently have mod tized
because they try they do a very good job of
keeping their identities pretty low key. But of course they
weren't gonna hesitate to show them black folks up on
that screen. They weren't gonna hesitate, wasn't gonna hesitate. So
that's that's just kind of how I that's how I
(24:37):
see it, you know. But so I also think that
and the truth is, as I think, you've got to
have a level of decorum and I may be as
much as I ask these questions, I'm actually not one
who blames fan duel, DraftKings, sports betting.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
I don't blame none of them.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
You are grown ass man, You're right, you know right
from wrong, that sport, all of.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Them gambling stuff. That shit is for the fans. It's
not for you. Like if you're.
Speaker 4 (25:09):
Gonna bet bet on football, like bet on something else?
Speaker 2 (25:13):
All what are we doing? Oh are we doing? So?
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Like for me, I'm not one who faults any of
these gambling entities that are out here because it really
ain't for you.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
It's for fans to enjoy and to have fun.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
And we can have a whole different conversation on Yeah, like,
it's not for you, it's not for you. You know
that that type of stuff is not something that you
could capitalize on when you agree to accept the privilege
to play a professional sport. It just comes with the territory.
You're grown ass man, you know better. I'm not finna
blame fan duel on your bullshit.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
I agree with that. I don't either. But where does
Adam Silver fit in all of this?
Speaker 4 (25:54):
I think that's a great question about Adam Silver because
he has made a statement and talking about this isn't
for our league and all this other stuff. But I
do remember that when Porter pled guilty to wirefrag conspiracy
in federal court, they were supposed to sentence him this year.
He could face up to twenty years in prison. Like,
these kinds of things do come with serious consequences. So
(26:15):
I'm sure Adam Silver Is gonna have a lot of
things to say over the next couple of weeks because
as more information comes out about this stuff, they gonna
be facing some real serious federal time and you're gonna
have to get a better handle on what's going on
as it relates to gambling in your league.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Yeah, no, no doubt, John Tay John Tay.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Porter, John Tay Porter. Yes, all of it's.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Very interesting to me.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
And I don't want to make any assumptions yeap that
you know so and so did this or said that.
But since let me answer you this question before we
move on, just say it's you and I in this situation, right,
(26:57):
Are you snitching?
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Girl? I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
I'm just like you, are you going down by yourself?
I'm just asking you're going down by yourself?
Speaker 4 (27:10):
I mean, listen, First of all, I am my mom.
Ain't raised no snitch. Snitches get stitches, is where.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
I can they do? They do, that's what they say.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
But I'm all.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
Gonna tell you that.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
I look good in a lot of colors.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
Orange A one of them, bitch, orange, A one of them.
Na and I and I didn't have to. I didn't
have to put on some navy blues a few times.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
We're gonna leave them.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
We're gonna leave that conversation out. We say that at
the time, we're gonna I don't have to put on
a little little kaki every once in a while.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I don't like to go back to those neither.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
So if I got to go to jail, all y'all,
finna go to.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Jail, you need some happening.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
We about We about to be a whole ass gang
up in here, okay.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Because I think the whole situation is interesting.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
It's just I know, snitches get stitches.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
But I know you've seen New Jack City at the
end was like I got a whole bunch of mothers
I taking down with me.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
And then yeah, American Gangster two with Denzel Washington when
they caught his ass at the end, but he went
to writing down. He was on the board writing down there.
I'm gonna connect the dots. Let me connect the dots
to be I.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Know we're laughing about it, but I just I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
I hope, I hope everything is on the up and
up and we move on from this.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
I really, I really do hope everything comes out and
people and and and they should take these things seriously.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
I just, you know, to put a bowl on this.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
I just think the timing is interesting, and I do
hope that whatever illegal things happen comes to the forefront
and folks, you know, they they they got to handle
their business. If you I love Chauncey Billips as a
player he you know, played for Detroit, won.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
A championship with us.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
Like as a Pistons fan, it was incredibly unfortunate to
see his name tied into it. I saw somebody tried
to put type in Kevin Garnett. Kevin Gardner said, no,
I thought he was going to a party. I walked
in and walked right out.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
He said, don't put me in there. Don't put me in.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
The KG said, ain't no, ain't no holes here.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
I got to go, No, you ain't playing, you ain't
playing KG, she ain't playing.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Ain't here. I got to go on.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
This a't me me.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
But as I bring up women's basketball though, and I
hope this situation never ever ever touches the w n
b A, never ever ever touches the What I do
think is interesting is that there have been some recent
w n B A hires, and when we come back
from the other side of the break, we'll talk about
a couple. Be right back, all right, sis, So before
(30:07):
we get out of here today, we definitely got a
touch on the w NBA coaching carousel. There were five
openings this year. Seattle needed a coach, New York needed
a coach, Dallas needed a coach. Of course, Toronto and
Portland also needed a coach. So I've been wondering what
(30:31):
these coaching replacements were gonna look like, because it wasn't
lost on any of us that a couple of years
ago we had several black women who were head coaches
for former players got an opportunity to be head coaches,
and last year, when we saw those openings be felled,
we did not see an equal balance of us in
those positions. So I was really curious, especially after the
(30:55):
firing of Noel Quinn, who was the only black woman
left at that time. And again, I think you and
I have both had this conversation where we said, we're
not necessarily saying that, No, we shouldn't have been let go,
like it wasn't like her performances, you know, were at
the top of their game. So we weren't necessarily saying,
you know, y'all are being racist by firing the black women.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
No, we weren't saying that.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
But it's just when you get rid of one, to
not replace, to not bring others, to not really make
the league coaching staff feel like it's a diverse place.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Like players notice that, fans notice that. We noticed that.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
But they have hired five of the four of the
five places have hired new coaches. So first Seattle have
hired Sonya Raymond, who was at first the last year
she was on the assistant she was on the bench
as an assistant with Sandy Brondelo in the New York Liberty.
(31:54):
But now she is she's gonna be in Seattle. What
you think about this particular choice, shall I say, for
Seattle or is there somebody else you thought maybe would
have taken that spot or you know, what do you
what do you? What do you think about Seattle's coaching decision?
Speaker 3 (32:17):
So here's what I'll say.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
One, because I don't know Sonia like that, right, I
know she's been on Sandy's staff. What I'm happy about
is that they did hire a woman of color. I'm
happy about that. I think I probably had thoughts in
my head of who I would like for them to
(32:40):
at least talk to.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
Yeah, but I have a question.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
I know you asked me a question and they say
you never answer a question with a question, but I
need to ask.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
You this question. Do you think.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
That because I'm using Seattle right now? Because Seattle had Nooie, right,
they had a black woman and her whole staff was
predominantly black.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
She had pokey ebony.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Do you think Seattle was like, Okay, we had a
black woman, gave her a shot.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
She's been here and I don't even remember how many years. No,
he was the head coach. That they were just like,
we don't want to hire another black woman. We want
to go.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Like in a different direction. And I know they hired
a woman of color, right, but it's I don't know,
you mean like an African American.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Yeah, I get what you're trying to say. Yeah. And
the reason why I asked.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
That question though, well, there's just so many black women
that I can think of off the top of my
head that have put in their their time. Because you know,
so many times people want to say, yeah, but she
doesn't have the coaching experience. Here's my thing to that.
You can take a player who played twenty some odd
(34:03):
years and to me, that's great experience. I'm not saying
that because they played twenty years that makes them better
qualified or that should be the coach. This isn't just
for Seattle, this is all the new hires. I'm just
asking for a fair shot and opportunity, Like did you
even interview the Christy Tolliver's, the Brion Januaries.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
It's Teresa Weatherson who won't get another shot?
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Like That's kind of where my thoughts were when all
these openings came was can we just at least interview
some black women? And I don't know how many of
these open positions actually did that, And that's where I
get disappointed.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
And I understand that to me that makes a lot
of sense because I would agree to an extent that
you definitely should have considered, there were a lot of
people who I think would be great head coaches that
have to displayed that they would be have great head coaches,
have done their time as assistant coaches, have coached in
different levels in differently.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Christie Tolliver has coached in the NBA, the w NA.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
Like she has played her you know, and so and
so has Sonya right, like Sonya. She actually reminds me
a lot of Natalie when it comes to background, Like
Natalie Ka you know, she she had you know, she
was used to be an assistant for the Memphis Grizzlies,
And that to me seems to be the way that
(35:32):
a lot of people are going nowadays, like they're looking
for this NBA validation in their coaches, which is something
that's interesting to me because you know, when I look
on the other side, I don't see a ton of
NBA teams looking at women who have coached at the
collegiate level or the w NBA and asking them to
come over and be coaches in their league.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Not a lot, not a lot at all. So I
thought that that was interesting.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
But to your point, I do agree that I like
the fact that they did at least give this opportunity
to one a woman and to a woman of color,
to at least keep some type of diversity and thought
and practice and action, because it's not just hey, I'm
just trying to say we need to hire a black
woman because she's black. I mean, sure, you want to
(36:18):
show support in that way, but at the same time,
you want a coach that can resonate and can really
understand the experience of these players. And the league is
eighty plus percent black, so it makes sense that black
women leading the charge and leading these teams would be
the ones that would bring the most type of authenticity
and the ones that would bring the most type of
(36:39):
understanding for what these players are doing and going through
than anybody else.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
So that's that.
Speaker 4 (36:43):
And then two, I mean three, just for the basic
concept of it's to WNBA like this should be the
place where women get the opportunities first. And the other
two positions that were open were filled by men. And
that's Jose Fernandez who took the position for Dallas, and
it was Alex Swama.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
I might be saying his name incorrectly.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
I'm not familiar with him at all, so I apologize
if I am, But he's the new coach of the
Portland Fire. Now I am going to give Portland some
love for Henry and my girl, Ashley Battle as the
new GM. Ashley is incredible. I am so proud of
her and I think she's going to be great in
that role. So when we do talk about black women
getting opportunities, it doesn't always have to be in the
head coaching position. They deserve front office opportunities as well.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
So I love the fact that.
Speaker 4 (37:31):
They went that way with that.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
And then obviously Sandy go ahead.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Yeah, well, let me just back up a little bit.
When you talk about it looks like teams are going
more towards the NBA experience or NBA G League experience,
and if that's what we're doing, I mean, Linda Harding
was the head coach of the what was it, the
(37:58):
Sacramento G League, Yeah, right, yeah, and then I think
she was on the Lakers bench. But my point is
there's there's a woman there too that you could have
at least interview, given an opportunity to.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
So I think for me, t it's it almost looks
as if the w n b A when it comes
to like hiring, it almost looks like they're going in
the direction that this country is trying to go in.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
When you you know, the whole let's get rid of
DEI and all those things. But I know that's a
whole different conversation, but I just I don't. I don't
like what I see, point blank, period. And I and
I'm I want to go back to your point. No,
I'm not saying that just because it's a black woman.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
You should hire her. She should be qualified.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
She. My thing is, we as black women, deserve the
same opportunities as our white counterparts. And just because you
coached in the NBA as an assistant or you coached
in the G League as a head coach, that doesn't
make you better qualified than me.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
Right, Yeah, that's the part that I get.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Frustrated with, and I'm tired of trying to figure it
out and understand why.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
Yep, yep, I agree in that aspect.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
I agree, like where you were doesn't necessarily make you
more I mean, because you can equate that to anything
in general, you know what I mean. Somebody could spend
a certain amount of time working for you know, T
Mobile versus somebody who worked a shorter amount of time
in these particular places. Just because you were at a
(39:54):
company that was well known or more popular doesn't mean
you more qualified.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
I don't know what you did while you were there.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
I don't know if your resume actually speaks for what like,
there are so many things that you just where you
were doesn't really take the qualities that you have to
make anything successful.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
But that is no shade on Sonya.
Speaker 4 (40:11):
That's just you know, us saying it does feel like
teams are moving in the direction of NBA type background
or NBA type experience, or the Carl s Mesco situation,
which is what they did at Dallas is they hired
a coach from college who had no professional coaching experience whatsoever.
(40:35):
Not worked out with Carl in Atlanta. They ended up
being the number two seed, and you know, they had
an early exit that none of us expected, but they
did turn their team around. I think Dallas is hoping
that they can do the same thing with Jose Fernandez,
who is coming from USF and he spent twenty five
season coaching at USF.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
So again, same thing with Lynn Roberts. Lynn Roberts coach
of the LA Sparks.
Speaker 4 (41:02):
She spent all her time in college, never never coached
at the professional level, so it looks like they are
trying this new thread of things, which is interesting. And
then of course there's Sandy Brondello, who we know has
the experience, we know what she can do. She's a champion,
she's an Olympian, and she's gonna be coaching the Toronto Tempo.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
So I felt like, you know, she basically had her pick.
Speaker 4 (41:27):
I feel like there just would have been anywhere that
you no one would.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Have lost if they had picked up Sandy Brown.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Yeah, and I actually thought that Seattle might go after Sandy,
you know, but I.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
Think in Portland, do we just have New York? I no,
that doesn't have a coach.
Speaker 4 (41:47):
New York is the only team currently that has not
yet secured a coach.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Oh what if Spoon went to coach in New York?
Speaker 4 (41:56):
Wouldn't that be interesting? I said the same thing to
a group of friends. What happens if Teresa Witherspoon ended
up going to New Yorkiant like that would be That
would be brilliant.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
That would be brilliant. But I also think that New
York needs.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
To figure it out pretty quickly because as much as
we're talking about the CBA and the players not you know,
being on the same page with the league right now.
I do think that when the time comes, who is
coaching where will have a lot to do with who
wants to do what.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
And it's a lot of moving pieces in New York.
Speaker 4 (42:29):
Who gonna be that head coach is gonna be really
important to players like John Quo Jones and Stewie and
Sabrina and folks like that.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
So definitely got to make that move.
Speaker 4 (42:38):
But we will continue to talk about the coaching care
and sale as more information continues to be available. And yeah,
so with that, friends, we'll be back on the other
side to close this thing on out.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
Sure, there's going to still be some more shakeups that
are happening across the w NBA. A few more hires
have been made. We still don't quite know who's going
to be the coach of the New York Liberty, like
we said, and like, that's one that really needs to
go ahead and and and happen pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
But man, it's just there.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
I'm just kind of like, what are what are they
waiting on?
Speaker 1 (43:34):
Like are they are they just waiting for an answer
from one person that they want or have they not
found the right candidate?
Speaker 2 (43:43):
But yeah, I don't know it'll be It's definitely gonna
be interesting.
Speaker 4 (43:46):
But I will say that we do now know that
there will be at.
Speaker 2 (43:52):
The lottery for the Draft Lottery is going to happen.
Speaker 4 (43:55):
It's going to take place this month on November twenty third,
so people be ready to check that out on ESPN.
I forgot the time, but that's the channel that it's
going to be on. So we know the Draft Lottery
is happening, and we do know that they are currently
the WNBA and the league and the players are currently
in an extension, a thirty day extension right now for negotiation,
(44:18):
so we at least know that part as of today,
but anything can change over the course of the next
few weeks, so we will just stay locked in. But
with all of that being said, we just gonna go
ahead and have Sureyl level us on out.
Speaker 2 (44:33):
So, Cheryl, what you got for us today?
Speaker 1 (44:34):
Well, you know, usually I try to find something that
has to do with our topic or conversation for the day.
I guess this in a way can but it was
just one I found and it kind of resonated with me,
and it says strength is choosing calm when chaos wants
(44:59):
to react.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Read that one more time. Hit that one more time.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
Strength is choosing calm when chaos wants a reaction.
Speaker 3 (45:12):
Yeah that's good, that's a good one.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
That's so right on time. That's so right on time.
Speaker 4 (45:17):
That's so right on time. M m, that's so right
on time. I had some foolishness happened last week that
at least took two or three days out my out
my week. And I was like, you know what, M
that right there, that right there, that right there is
retroactively speaking to me because I chose the call.
Speaker 1 (45:39):
So then just for you, just for you, I'm gonna
read it one more thing, and I'm glad you know
you you chose, you chose strength, and I really okay,
you showed strength.
Speaker 4 (45:50):
I showed strength because I really wanted to show strength
in a different way and knock a bitch out.
Speaker 3 (45:56):
Mm hmmm mmm.
Speaker 1 (45:58):
Okay, Yeah, we're gonn talk about this offlout, Okay, but
I am going to read it one more time for
the people in the back in case you need to
hear it again. Strength is choosing calm when chaos wants
a reaction.
Speaker 4 (46:14):
Let that sit with you, Let that one think in marinate.
We gonna let that we gonna let that sink in.
And so with all of that being said, we want
to just say thank you so much for.
Speaker 2 (46:23):
Tuning in two levels to this.
Speaker 4 (46:26):
We love kicking it with you guys, and we love
to hear from you because remember, this isn't just our show,
it's our show, So make sure you leave us a
review in Apple Podcasts. Please make sure that you are
sending us emails. I know someone texted me and said, girl,
I sent you all an email, and I was like, okay,
we keep sending them emails then, so send us an
(46:46):
email at Levels to This podcast at gmail dot com.
Let us know what you thought of this week's show,
what you might want to talk about in the future.
We love to hear from all of you guys, So
thank you again for tuning in. We love y'all, We
appreciate y'all, and and so next time, keep your mentals
ground level and we'll be back next week.
Speaker 3 (47:08):
Peace happy founders.
Speaker 1 (47:10):
Today, 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 Treka Foster Brasbee
and start listening
Levels to 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 2 (00:16):
Hey, what's going on? Everybody? It's Your Girl to Rica
Foster Brasby.
Speaker 3 (00:20):
What's up, y'all? Is your girls?
Speaker 2 (00:21):
Cheryl swoop Hey and this is the levels to this.
Speaker 4 (00:26):
This is the show where we talked about there's levels
to the shit that women go through. We've got a
very good show coming up today. You're gonna talk about
some recent news that's been hitting the NBA waves, some
new coaching hires in the WNBA. But first, I don't
know if y'all know, But if you didn't know, tell
(00:47):
us Tunder's Day.
Speaker 3 (00:50):
Yay.
Speaker 4 (00:53):
November twelve, nineteen twenty two is when Signia Ga Moreau
Sorority Incorporated was a stuff at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana,
by seven phenomenal school teachers, educators, doctors, women who stood
at the test of time. Our founders were walking past
the KKK every day to make sure that black women
(01:15):
and all people could be whatever it was that they
wanted to be. They stood through everything and here it is.
One hundred and three years later. We are over one
hundred plus thousand women strong. We got chapters across the
world and Germany, in Africa, in Europe, we everywhere baby
in South America.
Speaker 2 (01:35):
In the Kribean and Canada.
Speaker 4 (01:38):
Like there ain't no place you can go in Japan,
in Dubai, We're nowhere that you can go in.
Speaker 2 (01:44):
That thing beautiful.
Speaker 4 (01:48):
Yeah, amit what you're doing tonight?
Speaker 1 (01:53):
Oh my god, Oh my god, oh my god, listen, okay,
because you know me and my emotions, but they're good emotions.
Because I don't know. I don't know if I ever
thought that I would be a sister, a member of
Sigma Gamma Row Incorporated. And to be able to share this,
(02:19):
this moment with you, this conversation with you, happy Founder's Day,
This has meant so much more to me than I
could have ever imagined that, you know, when you and
I had the conversation and I decided to join, like
I knew it was going to be great because I
told you then it was to me it was getting
(02:41):
sisters that I that I've always wanted and never had,
and not just one, but thousands, hundreds of thousands of sisters,
and so it's just been remarkable how even the ones
you don't necessarily know, or the ones you haven't met.
Speaker 3 (02:58):
How they just show up. We just show up for
each other.
Speaker 1 (03:01):
And that is physically show up, that is spiritually show up.
Anytime you need anything, all you got to do is
pick up a phone a text. And I know I've
hit you several times like, Sis, do you know do
we have a soroar that is in insurance, in banking
and real estate and whatever it is?
Speaker 3 (03:21):
And you like, yeah, we do. Let me find out.
Speaker 1 (03:25):
Yeah, we everywhere. So it's just been amazing. It's been
an amazing ride for me thus far. And girl, let
me get the tears out, because I can't wait to
go shake my book out.
Speaker 2 (03:37):
I am so.
Speaker 4 (03:39):
I genuinely am filled with joy when I hear you
say this, because the last thing that I would ever
do is to introduce somebody to Sigma and have them
tell me that they've had a bad experience. I'd be like, no,
that's not what we're about. To know that this sisterhood
has been as welcoming to you as it has been
to me, and you're only four months in. I've been
(04:01):
doing this thing for almost ten years night. So if
we still feel the same way and we got ten
years difference, that's how you know it is real.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
So happy First Founders, stay to you. I'm excited.
Speaker 4 (04:13):
I know you're gonna have a good time hanging out
with the sores in Houston. I'm about to go up
here at Aka Fool. I'm gonna party hop. I'm going
about full different spots. You know what I mean, because
you know how I get down. Of course, you know
how I get down. I'm going I'm going to New Hashman,
going to Springfield, I'm going airwhere everywhere. Somebody tell me
they celebrating. I'm going to show up at Aka Fool.
I'm already on my second outfit. I got more left.
Speaker 1 (04:36):
You know what I'm saying, Like, that's what we're doing
because I told you.
Speaker 3 (04:41):
You know I don't be outside night, but for Founders, don't.
Speaker 2 (04:46):
I love it? I love it? Well.
Speaker 3 (04:47):
You know I won't be out too late, but I
am gonna.
Speaker 4 (04:50):
Be as like as you ain't outside playing poker straight
outside playing poker with the mob. No, because I mean
I like.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
The little that know you might like a little texes
hold them, but I don't like text holding with the mind.
Speaker 3 (05:06):
No, I don't like nothing.
Speaker 2 (05:07):
I'm like no with the mob. So we're gonna have
to go ahead.
Speaker 3 (05:11):
I'm gonna leave that alone.
Speaker 4 (05:12):
We're gonna have to go ahead and understand why these
NBA players are out here swindling folks playing poker with
some people who they probably don't have no business playing
poker with. That's that's crazy, crazy at all. Yeah, so
I ain't even no reason for us to even beat around.
Let's just go ahead and take this thing to the
next level, all right, Cherrel.
Speaker 1 (05:45):
I know that you like to play poker because I
like to play poker, yeah.
Speaker 4 (05:50):
And I mean I like the sports petsu gambling is
my like I don't want to say it's my thing,
but like I.
Speaker 2 (05:55):
Have fun with it.
Speaker 3 (05:56):
It's fun. Yeah, it's fun. Right, I have fund except
for what I love.
Speaker 4 (06:00):
But I mean, well, yeah, right, I mean, there you go.
I don't want to lose neither.
Speaker 2 (06:04):
Now that right. That bussed me off.
Speaker 4 (06:06):
But for the most part, I think you and I
it would be fair to say that we both have
a fever understanding of This is a game, it is
done in an appropriate fashion, it has boundaries, and then
when the game is over, we go home, we mind
our business, and we move on to the next thing. Right,
But why your people don't know it? Well, why why
(06:33):
your people don't know it?
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Because I don't know what is going on.
Speaker 3 (06:41):
I don't know. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (06:44):
I have felt a certain type of way kind of
on both sides of this whole. NBA referees mafia gamblings crazy.
Speaker 4 (06:58):
So okay, So for those who've been living under a rock,
there has been a federal investigation into a legal gambling
which has led to the arrest of several prominent NBA figures.
Chauncey Billups, who was, you know, a Hall of Famer
and formerly well I won't say formally because technically still
(07:19):
is the head coach of the Portland Trailblazers.
Speaker 2 (07:23):
Terry Rozier who.
Speaker 4 (07:24):
Plays for the Miami Heat, Damon Jones like these are
just a few of the names that are facing criminal
charges based on this situation. And the alleged scheme involved
rig poker games with mafia ties and then betting on
games using non public information. So there was a scenario
(07:45):
given at one point that Damon Jones had told some
folks about an injury that was existing with Lebron James,
and they were able to use that information to help
them get a little extra money. Or Terry Rozier said,
I think I gonna get hurt around a ten minute mark.
So so when Terry get hurt around the ten minute mark,
(08:07):
they put a little extra something and made a little
something off the injury. So listen, I am not laughing
because I think the scenario is funny. I'm laughing because
in my head, I'm just like, y'all can't be serious.
Speaker 3 (08:26):
At which part, like who are you saying? Who are
you saying? Can't be serious that this investigation is going on?
Or that the.
Speaker 2 (08:33):
Players are this entire the entirety of it all.
Speaker 4 (08:39):
So we have, you know, recently had shows where we've
talked about all the things that are going on in
the world right and so a part of me feels
like where people are out here losing resources and benefits
and things of that nature and are furlough from government
from government, you know, oppositions. The last thing folks really
(08:59):
care about is who plan and an illegal I don't care, like, seriously,
we know, I don't give a shit about.
Speaker 3 (09:08):
You know why I'm gonna let you finish because here's
my thing.
Speaker 1 (09:11):
I really don't care because what they're doing does not
affect my day to day. It doesn't affect me whatsoever.
You know, what does affect me the government shut down.
Speaker 3 (09:25):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (09:26):
I'm also trying to keep in perspective that these are
very different entities within the government structure. So the gambling
and the illegal gambling thing is a different department in
a different whatever than like the folks that ice and
all that. I'm trying to compartmentalize. But the truth is,
(09:46):
I just really don't give a damn about who out
here playing a llegal, illegal poker games. I don't give
a shit about that. Is it your money, It's not
my money, It's not gonna affect me. And I don't
fuck around with the mob. I'm from Detroit. Fact, does
the mob still exists?
Speaker 2 (09:59):
Honey?
Speaker 4 (09:59):
Still, it still exists in Well And if anybody understood
what lakosin Nostra actually means, they would know that the
whole point is for them to be non existent, invisible.
They supposed to be in the back. They operate in
the back. They don't like to be in the forefront.
That was John Gotti and all his foolishness. They don't
(10:20):
like to be in the front.
Speaker 2 (10:21):
So they still exist.
Speaker 4 (10:23):
If y'all want to mess around with the mob, that's
y'all stupid asses.
Speaker 2 (10:26):
I'm gonna let y'all have it.
Speaker 4 (10:27):
I'm not just that I watched enough Robert de Niro
and Al Pacino in my day to.
Speaker 2 (10:32):
Understand how the mob.
Speaker 4 (10:34):
I last Martin Scorsese taught me among the several films
that I have watched over the years. I don't need
to mess around with them. However, I do think that
it is a different conversation as a journalist and a
reporter and a fan of basketball. When you out here
giving away trade secrets and fucking up the integrity of
(10:55):
the game, now we in a different conversation. So I
like to separate rate the poker games from what you
out here doing with NBA secrets and using and basically
betting on games or throwing games or doing whatever little
props it is that you're doing for the prop bets. Like,
(11:15):
that's where you lost me, Because could you imagine walking
in your locker room, Shirl, and you seeing Tina. You
know Tina straight, but all of a sudden, Tina can't
play for five minutes.
Speaker 2 (11:25):
You'll be like bitch, what you're doing that?
Speaker 1 (11:28):
So so here's here's my thing. And again, because I
wasn't there, I don't know. I don't know none of it, right,
But I don't care about illegal poker games.
Speaker 3 (11:40):
I really don't.
Speaker 1 (11:41):
It ain't my money, that ain't affecting my pocket, that
ain't affecting my household, that ain't putting food or taking
food off my table. There's other stuff going on in
this world that's way more important than that. But to
go back to the whole situation, I do, however, not
(12:03):
really having an issue with it, because again, it ain't
my business, it ain't me. But but to do what
they say Damon Jones allegedly did, right like texting homeboy
whoever said, Yo, this dude ain't playing tonight.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
God?
Speaker 1 (12:19):
Yeah, so whatever, And then I ain't mad him for
saying better enough so.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
You can give me a lit bit so you can
put a libit in my pocket.
Speaker 1 (12:28):
No, that's wrong, like that's if that, if that happened,
that's so wrong.
Speaker 3 (12:32):
Yeah, My question is.
Speaker 1 (12:37):
How many people are doing that, right, and and how
long has that been going on?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
So to your point, to.
Speaker 1 (12:46):
Be in a locker room, right, you're getting ready for
a game. And you know, I'll go to your example.
I know that Tina, she been practicing all week, she
is perfectly fine and healthy. All of a sudden, come
game day, she ain't playing. That's kind of and I'm like,
it's just what up?
Speaker 3 (13:03):
What happened? We need we need you, we need you. Ryan.
Speaker 1 (13:08):
Nah, I'm gonna sit tonight out like it does make
you question and wonder, like what happened?
Speaker 3 (13:15):
What's going on? Right right, right, right, right right.
Speaker 1 (13:18):
I really feel like if all of this stuff is
going on, and I keep saying if, because you know
these are alleged allegations, I just think there's a whole
lot of people that could be involved. Let's go to
the referees. Let's you know what I mean. It's there's
some very interesting things that have come out that makes
(13:39):
you stop scratch your head and.
Speaker 3 (13:40):
Say, hmm. That's why I never liked that reff.
Speaker 4 (13:46):
Because you remember when the ref there was a situation
with the ref who was involved in some and I
think that's a larger do And I think that's a
larger thing too, because part of the story is that
these illegal pokers games is where some of us. So
if this is how we're trying to connect the dots.
Then these games are when some of these these conspiracy conspiracy. Yes,
(14:12):
it's when they began about providing non public information and stuff.
And listen again, that is where I as a reporter,
do have an issue because you're fucking with the integrity
of the game, and that's not cool and it's interesting
where it's like, you know, if you're better, there's the over,
the under, all that good stuff. So obviously if people
(14:32):
aren't playing, they're missing the under, or if the odds
of somebody you put something on a game and the
odds haven't moved yet, and then later you know, you
stack it, and then later on you find out a
certain player isn't playing. Well, it may be too late
for anyone that's just getting in on the bed.
Speaker 2 (14:49):
But if you've already had your money on, your odds are.
Speaker 4 (14:51):
Where your odds are, so you got to get paid,
and of course you're gonna spread a little something to
the people who gave you the So I think that
the way that sports and sports betting has become a
real thing, Like I don't even there are games and
teams sure that I wouldn't pay a lick of attention
(15:14):
to and the only reason why I watch that shit
is because.
Speaker 2 (15:18):
I might got some money on it.
Speaker 4 (15:19):
Yeah, I got like like it does. It has made
the game fund it has made the game interesting, But
it's also one of those conundrums where it's like every
time you turn on the TV, there's fan duel, there's DraftKings,
there's ESPN bet, there's underdogs. There's so many different betting
options that it's like you can't in the same breath
(15:42):
be like, oh, sports betting is ruining the game, while
at the same time saying to folks, you can come
over here and place a bet on anything any hundred
any given moment, like pick your poison.
Speaker 3 (15:57):
So maybe this is an ignorant question, and so help
me says like.
Speaker 1 (16:07):
Why why did or is the government involved?
Speaker 2 (16:16):
Right?
Speaker 3 (16:17):
Seriously, do you know what I mean? Like right right,
release release the Epstein files.
Speaker 2 (16:23):
Can't we get No, I'm just saying like, like that.
Speaker 1 (16:26):
To me is where we should really be going crazy,
just because there's so much more going on that that
does affect everyday Americans and my life in affected by
this illegal gambling stuff. So I'm really not trying to
be funny like help me with that.
Speaker 4 (16:47):
So I know that there is a division of the
FBI and the that does and handles like illegal gambling
because it falls under like the money laundry kind of stipulations,
which is very similar.
Speaker 2 (17:02):
To which we all know is illegal as hell.
Speaker 4 (17:04):
So part of the charges that Chauncey Billups has is
facing is money laundering because that's part of that whole
that's it's all part of the whole illegal gambling process.
So it's not that I don't understand why this would
fall into your the purview of a.
Speaker 2 (17:27):
Government agency, but I.
Speaker 4 (17:28):
Think the biggest thing is the timing is crazy, and
maybe that's the issue timing is Maybe.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
The issue is that it's the timing.
Speaker 4 (17:37):
It's that you guys had all this information already, and
you guys knew when most of these people were doing
because you can find a whole timeline streaming back to
twenty twenty up until now. You also think about how
the Porter Kid was banned by the NBA last year
for betting on games.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
So it seems as if the NBA have been able.
Speaker 4 (18:01):
To handle their own perpetrators as it relates to gambling
and disrupting the integrity of the NBA. But the timing
of it to me is what makes me feel like
I don't care. And maybe I would feel differently if
this was something that happened in March or something that happened,
(18:23):
But to release this information now, when we don't have
the Epstein files, when people are going through a traumatic
experience and not knowing where their.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Next news come from, Yes, that's my point.
Speaker 4 (18:34):
When it's like the timing of it is terrible, and
because it's the NBA, it's going to skyrocket. It's people
are going to pay attention, it's going to dominate the headlines.
And I think I would agree that that's that right there,
is what it really is. It's less of the action
and more of the why you got to do it
right now?
Speaker 3 (18:55):
I mean, NBA season just kind of started.
Speaker 4 (18:58):
We were two days in this, see yeah, two days,
and so my question for you becomes, and I'm definitely
not here to compare, but I'm starting to see with
the popularity of the WNBA and with women's sports, people
are now starting to wager on women's sports WBA And granted,
(19:22):
like we started this conversation, I'm someone who's sports bets,
but I do not at all in any way shape
form of fashion gamble on women's basketball. It feels like
my integrity would be in question because I probably know
something about a player, I probably know something about a
team that everybody else out here don't know. And while
(19:42):
it might give me a leg up, I am a
conscious of a person with a conscious, I am empathetic,
and I would just genuinely feel bad.
Speaker 2 (19:50):
So I just was like, no, I.
Speaker 4 (19:51):
Don't gamble on on women's sports, But do you think
that there should start to be some actual laws or
policy within these different organizations or entities like it? Because
there's nothing on the books that says, you know, if
you cover the WNBA, you can't you can't bet on
(20:13):
the way, or like there's nothing that actually says that,
or you know, if you're a coach, you can't gamble
on you know, like there's nothing that actually says it.
So I'm wondering, do you think because of what's happening
in the NBA that there should start to be just
across sports in general, maybe some actually defined policy that says, yeah,
(20:35):
I can't do this.
Speaker 1 (20:38):
Well, I do know that players aren't allowed to write
players for games, right, yeah, so you're and I don't
know this, so you're saying like WNBA coaches can bet
on WNBA games.
Speaker 4 (20:51):
I ain't never seen no policy that say WNBA coaches
can't bet on WNBA games. But I'm not suggesting that
WNBA coaches are betting on WNBA No. I know.
Speaker 3 (20:59):
That's just that's interesting though, because my thing is.
Speaker 1 (21:01):
If if it's very clear that players can't, then coaches
shouldn't be able to, right.
Speaker 3 (21:07):
I don't know that either. I just think it's very interesting.
Speaker 1 (21:11):
I think this whole idea behind sports betting and gambling
and looking at this NBA situation, yeah, I think it's
bringing more eyes to the w and it wouldn't surprise
me if there's more digging into hmm, let's see what's
going on on the WNBA side. Do we have illegal
(21:33):
shit going on over there too?
Speaker 3 (21:34):
I don't know.
Speaker 1 (21:35):
But you you open this door, and I'm talking about NBA.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
You opened this door when you went and partnered with.
Speaker 1 (21:43):
DraftKings, FanDuel Underdog, all the betting apps out there. You
open that door to possibly illegal stuff. I ain't saying
that's right, but.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
I don't know.
Speaker 3 (21:59):
T I don't know. I do have a question. I
have a question.
Speaker 1 (22:03):
Yes, So, like like everybody else, I heard the news.
I saw the news, and there were certain players right that.
When I saw their pictures and all that, I was like,
there's no way, not him, not him. But then my
question was, is it only black guys that's involved with this?
(22:30):
That's those are the only pictures we've seen. But yet
you say they're tied to the mob or mafia, Well
where are their pictures?
Speaker 2 (22:40):
So here's the thing.
Speaker 4 (22:41):
So I have seen and heard that a lot, and
I will say that this is probably what I just asked.
Speaker 2 (22:48):
Yes, I've heard quite.
Speaker 4 (22:49):
A few people say, well if this aside to the
you know Luke that they I mean, they've named the
Lukzy family the Gambino family, like they named all the families.
And I say to myself, as valid as a question
as that is, the reality is you don't know specifically
(23:13):
who these mob type folks are most of the time.
And that's the reason why the mob has existed for
so long, because.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
You don't know who.
Speaker 4 (23:26):
And they will kill you if you decide that you
just you want to tell that's a good point, and
it's incredibly difficult to get people to truly pinpoint who's
doing what and what we're And I'm just like, if
folks are really waiting for someone to show the face
of someone involved in the mafia, y'all gonna be waiting
(23:46):
for a long time. They're never going to expose them
people they're not like they're they're not gonna expose So.
Speaker 3 (23:51):
You can't, right, you can't.
Speaker 4 (23:53):
You better like you can't, like you can't. So it's unfortunate,
you know. And I mean, listen, anything, anything and everything
can happen. There have definitely been some mobsters who have
been caught up enough to where they face timed, they've
been exposed, we've seen them. But I'm just suggesting that unfortunately,
it's very slim that we gonna see the faces of
(24:15):
who the other people are that apparently have mod tized
because they try they do a very good job of
keeping their identities pretty low key. But of course they
weren't gonna hesitate to show them black folks up on
that screen. They weren't gonna hesitate, wasn't gonna hesitate. So
that's that's just kind of how I that's how I
(24:37):
see it, you know. But so I also think that
and the truth is, as I think, you've got to
have a level of decorum and I may be as
much as I ask these questions, I'm actually not one
who blames fan duel, DraftKings, sports betting.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
I don't blame none of them.
Speaker 4 (24:56):
You are grown ass man, You're right, you know right
from wrong, that sport, all of.
Speaker 2 (25:04):
Them gambling stuff. That shit is for the fans. It's
not for you. Like if you're.
Speaker 4 (25:09):
Gonna bet bet on football, like bet on something else?
Speaker 2 (25:13):
All what are we doing? Oh are we doing? So?
Speaker 4 (25:16):
Like for me, I'm not one who faults any of
these gambling entities that are out here because it really
ain't for you.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
It's for fans to enjoy and to have fun.
Speaker 4 (25:27):
And we can have a whole different conversation on Yeah, like,
it's not for you, it's not for you. You know
that that type of stuff is not something that you
could capitalize on when you agree to accept the privilege
to play a professional sport. It just comes with the territory.
You're grown ass man, you know better. I'm not finna
blame fan duel on your bullshit.
Speaker 3 (25:49):
I agree with that. I don't either. But where does
Adam Silver fit in all of this?
Speaker 4 (25:54):
I think that's a great question about Adam Silver because
he has made a statement and talking about this isn't
for our league and all this other stuff. But I
do remember that when Porter pled guilty to wirefrag conspiracy
in federal court, they were supposed to sentence him this year.
He could face up to twenty years in prison. Like,
these kinds of things do come with serious consequences. So
(26:15):
I'm sure Adam Silver Is gonna have a lot of
things to say over the next couple of weeks because
as more information comes out about this stuff, they gonna
be facing some real serious federal time and you're gonna
have to get a better handle on what's going on
as it relates to gambling in your league.
Speaker 3 (26:31):
Yeah, no, no doubt, John Tay John Tay.
Speaker 2 (26:33):
Porter, John Tay Porter. Yes, all of it's.
Speaker 3 (26:36):
Very interesting to me.
Speaker 1 (26:37):
And I don't want to make any assumptions yeap that
you know so and so did this or said that.
But since let me answer you this question before we
move on, just say it's you and I in this situation, right,
(26:57):
Are you snitching?
Speaker 2 (26:59):
Girl? I don't know what you're talking about.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
I'm just like you, are you going down by yourself?
I'm just asking you're going down by yourself?
Speaker 4 (27:10):
I mean, listen, First of all, I am my mom.
Ain't raised no snitch. Snitches get stitches, is where.
Speaker 3 (27:15):
I can they do? They do, that's what they say.
Speaker 2 (27:18):
But I'm all.
Speaker 3 (27:19):
Gonna tell you that.
Speaker 2 (27:22):
I look good in a lot of colors.
Speaker 4 (27:24):
Orange A one of them, bitch, orange, A one of them.
Na and I and I didn't have to. I didn't
have to put on some navy blues a few times.
Speaker 2 (27:32):
We're gonna leave them.
Speaker 4 (27:33):
We're gonna leave that conversation out. We say that at
the time, we're gonna I don't have to put on
a little little kaki every once in a while.
Speaker 2 (27:41):
I don't like to go back to those neither.
Speaker 4 (27:43):
So if I got to go to jail, all y'all,
finna go to.
Speaker 1 (27:49):
Jail, you need some happening.
Speaker 4 (27:52):
We about We about to be a whole ass gang
up in here, okay.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
Because I think the whole situation is interesting.
Speaker 3 (28:00):
It's just I know, snitches get stitches.
Speaker 4 (28:04):
But I know you've seen New Jack City at the
end was like I got a whole bunch of mothers
I taking down with me.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
And then yeah, American Gangster two with Denzel Washington when
they caught his ass at the end, but he went
to writing down. He was on the board writing down there.
I'm gonna connect the dots. Let me connect the dots
to be I.
Speaker 3 (28:27):
Know we're laughing about it, but I just I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:31):
I hope, I hope everything is on the up and
up and we move on from this.
Speaker 4 (28:36):
I really, I really do hope everything comes out and
people and and and they should take these things seriously.
Speaker 2 (28:40):
I just, you know, to put a bowl on this.
Speaker 4 (28:43):
I just think the timing is interesting, and I do
hope that whatever illegal things happen comes to the forefront
and folks, you know, they they they got to handle
their business. If you I love Chauncey Billips as a
player he you know, played for Detroit, won.
Speaker 2 (28:57):
A championship with us.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
Like as a Pistons fan, it was incredibly unfortunate to
see his name tied into it. I saw somebody tried
to put type in Kevin Garnett. Kevin Gardner said, no,
I thought he was going to a party. I walked
in and walked right out.
Speaker 3 (29:13):
He said, don't put me in there. Don't put me in.
Speaker 2 (29:15):
The KG said, ain't no, ain't no holes here.
Speaker 1 (29:18):
I got to go, No, you ain't playing, you ain't
playing KG, she ain't playing.
Speaker 2 (29:24):
Ain't here. I got to go on.
Speaker 3 (29:27):
This a't me me.
Speaker 2 (29:31):
Oh my god.
Speaker 4 (29:31):
But as I bring up women's basketball though, and I
hope this situation never ever ever touches the w n
b A, never ever ever touches the What I do
think is interesting is that there have been some recent
w n B A hires, and when we come back
from the other side of the break, we'll talk about
a couple. Be right back, all right, sis, So before
(30:07):
we get out of here today, we definitely got a
touch on the w NBA coaching carousel. There were five
openings this year. Seattle needed a coach, New York needed
a coach, Dallas needed a coach. Of course, Toronto and
Portland also needed a coach. So I've been wondering what
(30:31):
these coaching replacements were gonna look like, because it wasn't
lost on any of us that a couple of years
ago we had several black women who were head coaches
for former players got an opportunity to be head coaches,
and last year, when we saw those openings be felled,
we did not see an equal balance of us in
those positions. So I was really curious, especially after the
(30:55):
firing of Noel Quinn, who was the only black woman
left at that time. And again, I think you and
I have both had this conversation where we said, we're
not necessarily saying that, No, we shouldn't have been let go,
like it wasn't like her performances, you know, were at
the top of their game. So we weren't necessarily saying,
you know, y'all are being racist by firing the black women.
Speaker 2 (31:17):
No, we weren't saying that.
Speaker 4 (31:18):
But it's just when you get rid of one, to
not replace, to not bring others, to not really make
the league coaching staff feel like it's a diverse place.
Speaker 2 (31:29):
Like players notice that, fans notice that. We noticed that.
Speaker 4 (31:33):
But they have hired five of the four of the
five places have hired new coaches. So first Seattle have
hired Sonya Raymond, who was at first the last year
she was on the assistant she was on the bench
as an assistant with Sandy Brondelo in the New York Liberty.
(31:54):
But now she is she's gonna be in Seattle. What
you think about this particular choice, shall I say, for
Seattle or is there somebody else you thought maybe would
have taken that spot or you know, what do you
what do you? What do you think about Seattle's coaching decision?
Speaker 3 (32:17):
So here's what I'll say.
Speaker 1 (32:19):
One, because I don't know Sonia like that, right, I
know she's been on Sandy's staff. What I'm happy about
is that they did hire a woman of color. I'm
happy about that. I think I probably had thoughts in
my head of who I would like for them to
(32:40):
at least talk to.
Speaker 3 (32:42):
Yeah, but I have a question.
Speaker 1 (32:45):
I know you asked me a question and they say
you never answer a question with a question, but I
need to ask.
Speaker 3 (32:49):
You this question. Do you think.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
That because I'm using Seattle right now? Because Seattle had Nooie, right,
they had a black woman and her whole staff was
predominantly black.
Speaker 3 (33:07):
She had pokey ebony.
Speaker 1 (33:12):
Do you think Seattle was like, Okay, we had a
black woman, gave her a shot.
Speaker 3 (33:17):
She's been here and I don't even remember how many years. No,
he was the head coach. That they were just like,
we don't want to hire another black woman. We want
to go.
Speaker 1 (33:28):
Like in a different direction. And I know they hired
a woman of color, right, but it's I don't know,
you mean like an African American.
Speaker 2 (33:38):
Yeah, I get what you're trying to say. Yeah. And
the reason why I asked.
Speaker 1 (33:42):
That question though, well, there's just so many black women
that I can think of off the top of my
head that have put in their their time. Because you know,
so many times people want to say, yeah, but she
doesn't have the coaching experience. Here's my thing to that.
You can take a player who played twenty some odd
(34:03):
years and to me, that's great experience. I'm not saying
that because they played twenty years that makes them better
qualified or that should be the coach. This isn't just
for Seattle, this is all the new hires. I'm just
asking for a fair shot and opportunity, Like did you
even interview the Christy Tolliver's, the Brion Januaries.
Speaker 3 (34:27):
It's Teresa Weatherson who won't get another shot?
Speaker 1 (34:29):
Like That's kind of where my thoughts were when all
these openings came was can we just at least interview
some black women? And I don't know how many of
these open positions actually did that, And that's where I
get disappointed.
Speaker 4 (34:46):
And I understand that to me that makes a lot
of sense because I would agree to an extent that
you definitely should have considered, there were a lot of
people who I think would be great head coaches that
have to displayed that they would be have great head coaches,
have done their time as assistant coaches, have coached in
different levels in differently.
Speaker 2 (35:07):
Christie Tolliver has coached in the NBA, the w NA.
Speaker 4 (35:11):
Like she has played her you know, and so and
so has Sonya right, like Sonya. She actually reminds me
a lot of Natalie when it comes to background, Like
Natalie Ka you know, she she had you know, she
was used to be an assistant for the Memphis Grizzlies,
And that to me seems to be the way that
(35:32):
a lot of people are going nowadays, like they're looking
for this NBA validation in their coaches, which is something
that's interesting to me because you know, when I look
on the other side, I don't see a ton of
NBA teams looking at women who have coached at the
collegiate level or the w NBA and asking them to
come over and be coaches in their league.
Speaker 2 (35:52):
Not a lot, not a lot at all. So I
thought that that was interesting.
Speaker 4 (35:56):
But to your point, I do agree that I like
the fact that they did at least give this opportunity
to one a woman and to a woman of color,
to at least keep some type of diversity and thought
and practice and action, because it's not just hey, I'm
just trying to say we need to hire a black
woman because she's black. I mean, sure, you want to
(36:18):
show support in that way, but at the same time,
you want a coach that can resonate and can really
understand the experience of these players. And the league is
eighty plus percent black, so it makes sense that black
women leading the charge and leading these teams would be
the ones that would bring the most type of authenticity
and the ones that would bring the most type of
(36:39):
understanding for what these players are doing and going through
than anybody else.
Speaker 2 (36:43):
So that's that.
Speaker 4 (36:43):
And then two, I mean three, just for the basic
concept of it's to WNBA like this should be the
place where women get the opportunities first. And the other
two positions that were open were filled by men. And
that's Jose Fernandez who took the position for Dallas, and
it was Alex Swama.
Speaker 2 (37:05):
I might be saying his name incorrectly.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
I'm not familiar with him at all, so I apologize
if I am, But he's the new coach of the
Portland Fire. Now I am going to give Portland some
love for Henry and my girl, Ashley Battle as the
new GM. Ashley is incredible. I am so proud of
her and I think she's going to be great in
that role. So when we do talk about black women
getting opportunities, it doesn't always have to be in the
head coaching position. They deserve front office opportunities as well.
Speaker 2 (37:30):
So I love the fact that.
Speaker 4 (37:31):
They went that way with that.
Speaker 2 (37:36):
And then obviously Sandy go ahead.
Speaker 1 (37:38):
Yeah, well, let me just back up a little bit.
When you talk about it looks like teams are going
more towards the NBA experience or NBA G League experience,
and if that's what we're doing, I mean, Linda Harding
was the head coach of the what was it, the
(37:58):
Sacramento G League, Yeah, right, yeah, and then I think
she was on the Lakers bench. But my point is
there's there's a woman there too that you could have
at least interview, given an opportunity to.
Speaker 3 (38:13):
So I think for me, t it's it almost looks
as if the w n b A when it comes
to like hiring, it almost looks like they're going in
the direction that this country is trying to go in.
Speaker 1 (38:36):
When you you know, the whole let's get rid of
DEI and all those things. But I know that's a
whole different conversation, but I just I don't. I don't
like what I see, point blank, period. And I and
I'm I want to go back to your point. No,
I'm not saying that just because it's a black woman.
Speaker 3 (38:56):
You should hire her. She should be qualified.
Speaker 1 (38:59):
She. My thing is, we as black women, deserve the
same opportunities as our white counterparts. And just because you
coached in the NBA as an assistant or you coached
in the G League as a head coach, that doesn't
make you better qualified than me.
Speaker 3 (39:19):
Right, Yeah, that's the part that I get.
Speaker 1 (39:22):
Frustrated with, and I'm tired of trying to figure it
out and understand why.
Speaker 2 (39:30):
Yep, yep, I agree in that aspect.
Speaker 4 (39:33):
I agree, like where you were doesn't necessarily make you
more I mean, because you can equate that to anything
in general, you know what I mean. Somebody could spend
a certain amount of time working for you know, T
Mobile versus somebody who worked a shorter amount of time
in these particular places. Just because you were at a
(39:54):
company that was well known or more popular doesn't mean
you more qualified.
Speaker 2 (39:58):
I don't know what you did while you were there.
Speaker 4 (40:00):
I don't know if your resume actually speaks for what like,
there are so many things that you just where you
were doesn't really take the qualities that you have to
make anything successful.
Speaker 2 (40:10):
But that is no shade on Sonya.
Speaker 4 (40:11):
That's just you know, us saying it does feel like
teams are moving in the direction of NBA type background
or NBA type experience, or the Carl s Mesco situation,
which is what they did at Dallas is they hired
a coach from college who had no professional coaching experience whatsoever.
(40:35):
Not worked out with Carl in Atlanta. They ended up
being the number two seed, and you know, they had
an early exit that none of us expected, but they
did turn their team around. I think Dallas is hoping
that they can do the same thing with Jose Fernandez,
who is coming from USF and he spent twenty five
season coaching at USF.
Speaker 2 (40:56):
So again, same thing with Lynn Roberts. Lynn Roberts coach
of the LA Sparks.
Speaker 4 (41:02):
She spent all her time in college, never never coached
at the professional level, so it looks like they are
trying this new thread of things, which is interesting. And
then of course there's Sandy Brondello, who we know has
the experience, we know what she can do. She's a champion,
she's an Olympian, and she's gonna be coaching the Toronto Tempo.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
So I felt like, you know, she basically had her pick.
Speaker 4 (41:27):
I feel like there just would have been anywhere that
you no one would.
Speaker 2 (41:31):
Have lost if they had picked up Sandy Brown.
Speaker 1 (41:33):
Yeah, and I actually thought that Seattle might go after Sandy,
you know, but I.
Speaker 3 (41:40):
Think in Portland, do we just have New York? I no,
that doesn't have a coach.
Speaker 4 (41:47):
New York is the only team currently that has not
yet secured a coach.
Speaker 3 (41:53):
Oh what if Spoon went to coach in New York?
Speaker 4 (41:56):
Wouldn't that be interesting? I said the same thing to
a group of friends. What happens if Teresa Witherspoon ended
up going to New Yorkiant like that would be That
would be brilliant.
Speaker 2 (42:07):
That would be brilliant. But I also think that New
York needs.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
To figure it out pretty quickly because as much as
we're talking about the CBA and the players not you know,
being on the same page with the league right now.
I do think that when the time comes, who is
coaching where will have a lot to do with who
wants to do what.
Speaker 2 (42:27):
And it's a lot of moving pieces in New York.
Speaker 4 (42:29):
Who gonna be that head coach is gonna be really
important to players like John Quo Jones and Stewie and
Sabrina and folks like that.
Speaker 2 (42:36):
So definitely got to make that move.
Speaker 4 (42:38):
But we will continue to talk about the coaching care
and sale as more information continues to be available. And yeah,
so with that, friends, we'll be back on the other
side to close this thing on out.
Speaker 2 (43:07):
Yeah.
Speaker 4 (43:07):
Sure, there's going to still be some more shakeups that
are happening across the w NBA. A few more hires
have been made. We still don't quite know who's going
to be the coach of the New York Liberty, like
we said, and like, that's one that really needs to
go ahead and and and happen pretty quickly.
Speaker 2 (43:27):
But man, it's just there.
Speaker 3 (43:31):
I'm just kind of like, what are what are they
waiting on?
Speaker 1 (43:34):
Like are they are they just waiting for an answer
from one person that they want or have they not
found the right candidate?
Speaker 2 (43:43):
But yeah, I don't know it'll be It's definitely gonna
be interesting.
Speaker 4 (43:46):
But I will say that we do now know that
there will be at.
Speaker 2 (43:52):
The lottery for the Draft Lottery is going to happen.
Speaker 4 (43:55):
It's going to take place this month on November twenty third,
so people be ready to check that out on ESPN.
I forgot the time, but that's the channel that it's
going to be on. So we know the Draft Lottery
is happening, and we do know that they are currently
the WNBA and the league and the players are currently
in an extension, a thirty day extension right now for negotiation,
(44:18):
so we at least know that part as of today,
but anything can change over the course of the next
few weeks, so we will just stay locked in. But
with all of that being said, we just gonna go
ahead and have Sureyl level us on out.
Speaker 2 (44:33):
So, Cheryl, what you got for us today?
Speaker 1 (44:34):
Well, you know, usually I try to find something that
has to do with our topic or conversation for the day.
I guess this in a way can but it was
just one I found and it kind of resonated with me,
and it says strength is choosing calm when chaos wants
(44:59):
to react.
Speaker 2 (45:02):
Read that one more time. Hit that one more time.
Speaker 1 (45:06):
Strength is choosing calm when chaos wants a reaction.
Speaker 3 (45:12):
Yeah that's good, that's a good one.
Speaker 2 (45:13):
That's so right on time. That's so right on time.
Speaker 4 (45:17):
That's so right on time. M m, that's so right
on time. I had some foolishness happened last week that
at least took two or three days out my out
my week. And I was like, you know what, M
that right there, that right there, that right there is
retroactively speaking to me because I chose the call.
Speaker 1 (45:39):
So then just for you, just for you, I'm gonna
read it one more thing, and I'm glad you know
you you chose, you chose strength, and I really okay,
you showed strength.
Speaker 4 (45:50):
I showed strength because I really wanted to show strength
in a different way and knock a bitch out.
Speaker 3 (45:56):
Mm hmmm mmm.
Speaker 1 (45:58):
Okay, Yeah, we're gonn talk about this offlout, Okay, but
I am going to read it one more time for
the people in the back in case you need to
hear it again. Strength is choosing calm when chaos wants
a reaction.
Speaker 4 (46:14):
Let that sit with you, Let that one think in marinate.
We gonna let that we gonna let that sink in.
And so with all of that being said, we want
to just say thank you so much for.
Speaker 2 (46:23):
Tuning in two levels to this.
Speaker 4 (46:26):
We love kicking it with you guys, and we love
to hear from you because remember, this isn't just our show,
it's our show, So make sure you leave us a
review in Apple Podcasts. Please make sure that you are
sending us emails. I know someone texted me and said, girl,
I sent you all an email, and I was like, okay,
we keep sending them emails then, so send us an
(46:46):
email at Levels to This podcast at gmail dot com.
Let us know what you thought of this week's show,
what you might want to talk about in the future.
We love to hear from all of you guys, So
thank you again for tuning in. We love y'all, We
appreciate y'all, and and so next time, keep your mentals
ground level and we'll be back next week.
Speaker 3 (47:08):
Peace happy founders.
Speaker 1 (47:10):
Today, 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 Treka Foster Brasbee
and start listening
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
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