February 20, 2025 • 48 mins
On this episode of Levels to This, Sheryl and Tee are live from NBA All-Star. The two talk to Jordan Jackson, Sheryl’s son, about the dunk contest, what it’s like to have a famous parent and how to find your own why? Then Sheryl and Tee talk through the tremendous growth of the WNBA this past year. They acknowledge the positives like new facilities and player resources but also share their concerns around what it would mean for the league if they expand too rapidly. And finally, they have another special guest join them on stage, Rashad McCants. The three talk through all the mens vs women’s basketball debates like dunking, differing media attention, and controversy surrounding lowering the rim.
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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 (00:13):
Hey, Hey, what's going on? Everyone?
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Welcome to Levels to This. I am Trerika Foster Brass.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
V and I'm your girl, Ryl Swoop. So are you're
excited to be here?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
We are?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yes, Please make some noise, show us a love.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We are a very fun podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Our show is one that is super unique because we
talk about all the levels to the shit that women
go through, but we sometimes include men and so you
guys are very lucky to be here because you were
included when we include men today. So we're gonna have
a lot of fun. I'm excited to be here. I
know you're excited to be here. We have a very
special guest. I don't know how often this has happened before,
(00:55):
but we have Jordan Jackson joining us on the podcast today,
who is the son of Cheryl Swoops. Have you guys
ever been on a podcast together before?
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Now?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Never? Oh, I'm about to eat this up. That's why
you're in the middle of us. That's why we're not
sitting together. I'm about to eat this up.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Okay, So, first and foremost, if you know Cheryl's story,
then you know at the beginning of her career, at
the beginning of the WNBA, when she was one of
the primary members to begin the first person to sign
to the WNBA. First of all, make some noise for that,
because the league wouldn't be here without the Hall of
(01:35):
Famer Cheryl Swoops, and that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
But very early on, Cheryl was one of the first.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
To have to deal with being a mom as well
as being a player. And she was pregnant with this
one right here while she was playing. And so, Cheryl,
you and I have had this conversation before, but just
kind of share with those out there what that moment
and what that time was like, especially at the beginning
of such.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
A in a league that we had no idea would
be where it is today.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well, first of all, I'm going to apologize for being tardy.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Y'all didn't tell me. They ain't tell me the traffic
was like that in San Francisco.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
But yeah, I just as a first of all, as
a proud mom of a now twenty seven year old
doing his own thing. I couldn't be more prouder. But
when you talk about when the W first started and
I was, I was scared, Like I was scared to
tell anybody because I didn't and it never been done right.
(02:39):
So I didn't know how the W was going to
deal with it. I didn't know how my sponsors were
going to deal with it. So there was a lot
of pressure on me to first of all, try to
hide it for a little bit until I told everybody.
But then that turned into all right, this is what
(03:00):
women do, right. It's part of our life, it's part
of our career, regardless of what that career is.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
And I said, so this is what we're gonna do.
And I not only wanted.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
To do it for myself and obviously for my son,
but for so many working women out there. And it's
not just athletes, but for so many working women out
there who struggle with career and motherhood or being parents like.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
That, shit, can I say shit? We stationed on the podcast,
not today. You want to ask what we're in person?
It's different. We're recording the show.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Is the show?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Okay, okay, okay, I'll say.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Stuff though, but like it was really scary, but I
knew that it was going to be a challenge, but
I also knew that it was something that I wanted
to be able to show women everywhere that this is
what we do and you two can do it. And
so for me, like it's a full circle moment, but
because I've gone from me being the one taking my
(04:04):
son to All Star to now he's the one bringing
me to All Star and so it's a proud moment
for me today.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
That's definitely dope.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
And you won the Dunk contest last year wearing your
mom's jersey, which is bananas in and of itself. Right,
Just you know, I don't know how many times you've
heard the story or have heard your mom talk about
what that moment or what that time was like for her,
But just kind of it's a two part question. One
(04:33):
just seeing and understanding you know, what Chryl had to
endure it that time and how different that was. How
does that resonate with you and how have that maybe
changed your perspective of like working women.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
Well, first of all, great to be on the show. Yes,
I've been hearing a lot about the show and been
watching the show.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Love everything you guys are doing with the show. So
it's awesome.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
And to answer your question, it's amazing, you know, to
have this woman right here to be your mother.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Oh, let me give.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Y'all a disclaimer before you finish on answer, because you
notice about your mama.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
She's a cry baby, y'all.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
She gonna cry you if you she gonna cry, So
just just bear with us.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
No, Yeah, it's been great. You know, I get that
question all the time. It's just like, what is it
like to have Cheryl Swoops, you know, as your mom?
Speaker 4 (05:24):
And I tell people this all the time.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
It's just like she might be Cheryl'swoops to you all,
but that's mom to me, you know what I mean.
So at the end of the day, it's just like
seeing what she's done and what she's had to overcome
and what she's always, you know, just stayed true to
herself and stay true to her work, and she's trusted.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Her work throughout her whole career, whether that's on the
floor or off the floor, you know.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
So just to have that as a role model and
to be able to watch, you know, what she's done
and what she continues to do.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
When you think about, you know, having been raised in
an environment where you've worked with other ball players that
have been women there. You know, there was a time
where guys didn't even really realize that, like women played
basketball for real. And now there are some kids who
grow up in the world not even realizing anything different.
And that's a beautiful thing for us to be in,
for us to be in that space. But when you
(06:11):
think about, you know, your development and where you've come
from as being a ballplayer, how much of that do
you attribute to your mom?
Speaker 4 (06:19):
A lot?
Speaker 5 (06:20):
I mean, you have to I was going everywhere with her.
I was traveling as a young kid. I was traveling
to all these different countries. I was courtside at every
single one of her games. From things that I can remember,
I'm pretty sure that it's a lot that I cannot
remember because I was too young, But from what I
can remember, it's just it's special, you know, because I'm
able to go back to those moments and to relive
(06:44):
those moments, even when it might not be with her
right like it might be me going on YouTube looking up,
Oh this game, I remember this game, and now I'm
watching those highlights. You know, it's just special things like
that that I'm able to, you know, always go back
to and I love that.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I love being able to share that.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So love me.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I'm gonna interrupt for a second only because we did
start late and he has to get out of here. Okay,
So Jordan is trying to defend his G League Slam
Dunk title. Yes tomorrow. My question is, do you know
what you're gonna do tomorrow?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
I do.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
I've been talking to some people, talking to some friends.
I got some I got some tricks. I think I'm
gonna pull out.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Tomorrow, like you got to bring it because you wore
my jersey last year and you want it, I know,
and I didn't hear you ask for a jersey this year.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
So in some type of way, this flipped real quick.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
This went from the whole Cheryl sloop to the mama
asking you, bro, what you're finna do?
Speaker 2 (07:42):
This is.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
I think we're gonna be good. You know.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
After this, I'm gonna head to the gym, figure out,
you know what I'm gonna do, and then one o'clock
tomorrow you.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
See, Okay, I will be there.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
You'll be ready.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Yeah, our credit center. That's all that matters about.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Love that before you have to get out of here, though,
because I do want to ask you this. You know,
I think sometimes you feel like you can be over
not you specifically, but I know I've spoken to other
people who come sometimes may feel like they've been overshadowed
because they have a celebrity figure or an athlete figure
as their mom or their dad or whomever. Are there
moments where you feel and I'm going to put you
(08:22):
on blasts, are there moments where you feel like, you know, yes,
I love having Cheryl'soops as a mom, but also I
want to make sure it's clear this is this is Jordan,
This is what Jordan does. This is jordan legacy, This
is how Jordan approaches things.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
To a certain extent, you can, you can kind of
say yes.
Speaker 5 (08:40):
But in the past, right like when I was growing
up and I was not as mature as I am
now right mentally, not mentally strong, Yeah, that bothered me
because you know, sometimes I would work so hard, you know,
I work so hard, and the only thing that I
would get out of that is, hey, that's Cheryl's hoops son,
like you know, but now it's you know, as I
(09:02):
just stayed with the process and you know, she's just
my whole family, you know, sitting in the crowd, like
my mom, my dad, Like, it's just everybody. You know
that they they've always been on my side and they
know they know that that's probably a lot of pressure,
right for somebody, But as my mom always tells me,
like it's it's it's no pressure because you're creating your
own legacy, right, like your take, Like I take what
(09:25):
she's done, and I just use that to elevate myself,
like I don't. I don't try to do the comparison.
I don't listen to the I used to. Yeah, right,
who doesn't?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Right? When people talk, it's easy to fall into that.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
But as the years went on and as as more
and more as I talk to my family and I
talk to my mom, and she's always staying in my
ear to just stay true to yourself, you know, and
to just go for who you are.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
So now I still am sure swoop so of course,
but you know.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
Coming out here to all start weekend, you know, walking around,
people are like, hey, it's Jordan. You know that's that's
a slam dunk chap. That's Jordan Jackson. So you know
it's it's it's kind of worked out good for both ways.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I love that I love that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
So last question, there's not a whole lot of people here,
but I tell people this all the time that everybody's
journey is different, and your journey absolutely has been a
different one. What advice would you give to someone younger person,
boy or girl who has goals and dreams of someday
(10:23):
playing in the NBA, playing in the WNBA, and maybe
it hasn't happened as quickly as they would like for
it to happen, because this has been your story, what advice.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Would you give them?
Speaker 5 (10:34):
The first piece of advice, I mean, I know it
sounds cliche, but I would definitely say to just trust
yourself and it always stay true to yourself. There's so
many people that want to tear you down, that want
to see you down, So the more you do that
to yourself, you're just giving them ammunition.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
So stay true to yourself. And number two, trust.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Your work, right, Like, if you're playing this game, you're
playing it for a reason. Yeah, right, Or if you're
whatever you're doing in life, like you're doing it for
a reason. So I'm pretty sure that you put in
work to it. You don't just wake up every morning
it's like, hey, today, I want to do.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
This and you just go do it. No, you work
at it, you know.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
So if you're doing that work, you have to know
that you're doing that work for a reason and so
when that time comes, you'll know.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
You know in that work will show.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
So those are the probably the two biggest pieces of it.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Well, and stay faithful, oh for sure, keep your faith
in it. Uh in the forefront. For sure.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
God has gotten me through a lot of things and
He's he's putting me in so many great places and positions.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
You know, like I'm sitting on the.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Podcast with with Ryl Swoops, like you know that's kind
of fire, right fire people wouldn't be able to say that.
So no, yeah, So those those three things right there,
like trust yourself, you trust your work, stay truat yourself,
and stay faithful always.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Last question for me, what are we doing after you
regain your championship next week?
Speaker 5 (11:56):
You're doing me on the spot, I know, you know,
we'll see she she's a little older now, like I
don't want like she go to.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Bed or Okay, so when I said I'll do that, okay,
So everybody out there, when Cheryl will be on the
podcast trying to come at me, talking about ter Rika.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Why didn't you let me? Let me let me tell
you how to do with me? Okay, Terriica, I love
invit me? How come I get Cheryl?
Speaker 3 (12:20):
When I invited you at eight fifteen you said you
was gonna go. By nine twenty you were in the bed.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
It changes, crept it does, it does. But see the
thing that's gonna help, he's here. See what I'm saying, brother, brother,
that's fact.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
I'm saying, brother's here.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
So that's fact.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
So anytime we all together, that's fat.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Y'all.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Make Branda out there, who always called it down, keep
it up.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Jordan's time for you to go. I love it. I'm
gonna say this last thing so you can't go.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
You know, people always ask me, like throughout my career
and even now, like what's my why?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And my why? It's always the same.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
My why is that one sitting right over there, Like
I couldn't be more proud of not just the basketball player,
but I couldn't be more proud of the young man
you've become. So when I say my why is.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
You, she's gonna do it's your wife.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
So on my wrist, I have, well, I got it
for Christmas it is. See she's trying to do trying
to bring it out.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
No, so she gave me a bracelet with the footsteps
of my firstborn child, which will be here in July
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Oh, leo, oh, he's been the cut up. I'm a leo.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
He about to cut I'm saying he. I know, we
don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet,
but I'm gonna say he. Well, I'm saying she, but
and you're gonna say she, I'm gonna say he. Will
see what happened, we ain't. We already know, but we
don't know. We know, but we don't know. I'm the
only one that doesn't know. And keep it that way
because I heard you are one who also doesn't know
(13:54):
how to like keep water. You know you've been say
I don't want to know, but then maybe a month
later you might side that you do want to see.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
I thought that's what was gonna happen, Like when I
thought I was gonna like go through the day and
at the end of the day, I was gonna be like, Okay,
this is but I think I was okay. I think
I was okay. But it was because I was busy though.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
It's true, but there's a there's a level, there's a
level of excitement that comes when you do find out,
and so don't like, go through the experience, don't spoil
go through the experience. Absolutely very proud of you, Jordan.
Good luck tomorrow and good luck tomorrow. Thanks Jordan's it's
(14:41):
a pleasure to see. There's a sense of pride that
comes along with that, as you you know elaborately stated.
And one of the things that I love being here
is is that there are different people who get different
experiences out of NBA All Star Weekend.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Right.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
You get some who comes specifically for the actual part,
you get some who come for the networking opportunities. I
think it just speaks differently when there's something so personal
that becomes the reason why you're here.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
And also just because.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
The way that we've seen women be incorporated into this weekend,
how W players have begun to be more incorporated into
this weekend has really been amazing.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Do you remember when you were All Star MVP? Okay,
I mean I won so many MVPs so oh the
flat all started.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
No, But you know what, I remember my very first
NBA All Star game that I attended when the WNBA started,
and it was in Phoenix, Arizona, and I was pregnant
with Jordan, So my experience that year was very different
from any other NBA experience because I was pregnant then.
But I will tell you as the time has gone by,
(15:56):
the years have gone by. For me, NBA all start,
it never gets old, yeah, because there's always a different experience.
You're always meeting different people and the fact that it's
in different cities. But for me, it's all about being
able to reconnect with people that you maybe you haven't
seen in a long time, reconnecting with people. And I
(16:18):
know you said party and all that. Yeah, I don't
do that no more. I am going to bed early
and proud of it. But it's it's a great opportunity
to be able to meet new people, reconnect with people,
and especially being here in San Frian this season with
the Valkyries, and yes, you can feel the excitement in
the city. Everybody's talking about it and I personally cannot
(16:42):
wait for the w season to start because I think
the Valkyries they are going to turn up this season.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
You know what, I felt the same way, and I
know that there's this essence of you know, maybe with
them being a new team and starting to like get
their footing, that it may take a little bit of
time for them to jail but early.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
You know.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I have the pleasure of joining Christina Williams on her
show in case you missed it, and we got a
chance to chat with Tiffany Hayes, who's the newest member
of the Valkyries, And I feel like just the energy
from Tip as well as players like Mobilings and having
Kate Martin and then having you know, head coach Natalie Nikassi,
it just feels like there is an excitement and there
(17:24):
is an expectation, right, And I think it might be
it might be a bit of a disservice to the
rest of the league to sleep on the Valkyries just
because they're a new team. Like, there are some hungry
women on that team, and the fans here are excited.
There was a fan who already had a Valkyrie like poster.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Yeah, like they're already excited. Well, they're definitely excited. And
here's the thing that people need to like think about. Yes,
it's a new franchise, new players, the players are new
to the franchise, but they're not new to the league, right,
and when you bring.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Players in who it's a new opportunity for him, right.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Like I look at a player like a Kate Martin
who was a rookie last year, and Kate Kate Martin,
like she just is a hard worker and so for
her to be given an opportunity to, you know, be
a part of this new franchise, it's also an opportunity
to get minutes. And that's what a lot of these
players in the expansion draft weren't necessarily getting that playing
(18:27):
time with their old team. So yep, they're excited about it.
They're going to compete. Natalie is going to do an
incredible job. And I agree with you. I'm not saying
they're going to win a championship this season, but don't
sleep on the VA.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Don't sweep.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
And you know what just to add to that point
before we move on, is I think about a player
like Timmy Fake Mainley.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
She comes from Indiana.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
She was so impactful for that team when Melissa Smith
was out, and I think to myself, like, she's a
player that can quite literally come into a franchise and
make a difference immediately because she'll get an opportunity to
play more So, it's an exciting time, but it's an
exciting time in women's.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Basketball in general.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
There is you know, Athletes Unlimited, which both you and
I cover, that's currently going on in Nashville. There's Unrival
that's going down in Miami.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
There's just so much. There are two other teams.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Portland has a team that's coming, Toronto has a team
that's coming. Y'all see how I say in Toronto, right,
I want y'all to take note of that there is
no d in Toronto. Toronto, Toronto, but there is so
much excitement building. And I know that I've asked you
this before, but I just think that it's important to
get your thoughts because of how much you've given to
(19:42):
this game, to see the league go from where it
was in ninety seven to where it is now. Just
how does that resonate with you?
Speaker 2 (19:52):
And where do you see?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Like this is twenty twenty five now, but like let's
say twenty thirty, right, can we see this being a
twenty team league?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
So I have mixed emotions.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Right, I'm super excited about expansion because I just my
first thought is opportunity, because year after year We're a
lot of these players are missing out on the opportunity to.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Play in the w and it's great talent.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
So that part excites me because there will be more jobs,
more teams, more players.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
The other side is.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
I look at it and say, are we expanding too quickly?
And the reason being is because I personally, I feel
like it helps the league, It helps the team, it
helps the game. If you have two to three stars
on a squad that fans can get behind, and I
mean they get behind everybody, but teams got to have
(20:50):
the two to three stars per team. And if you
start expanding too quickly, do you water that talent down
a little bit? I don't know, it's a question, but
I know there are other players who have like the
same concerns or thoughts on Okay, like let's pump the
(21:10):
brakes a little bit, because what we don't want to
do is get to a point to where we have
so many teams that you don't necessarily have those stars
per se on those teams.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
I get you.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
I think what I would say to that is when
we look at the WNBA draft and we see so
many stars coming from college like stars in the college game, Yeah,
that have the potential to be great, but they either
don't make it to a roster because roster spots are
so few and far between in the league currently, or
(21:46):
they do make a roster, but they're.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Not actually able to develop.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
So I guess my question, not you know, just generally,
would be, would this offer an opportunity for those who
really could play in the league, an opportunity to truly grow,
especially with a new team who probably doesn't have expectations anyway, right, Like,
I think maybe the second or third round players and
(22:11):
specifically third round players who you know maybe could play,
but just know they're not gonna like, you're not gonna
take a spot from Chelsea Gray, You're not gonna take
a spot from you know, some of these other people.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Well, because to me, here's what happens.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Like women's basketball, women's sports in general, but in particular,
women's basketball is like it's hot, right, Like everybody's talking
about it, everybody wants a piece of it, and that's exciting.
But I say, don't start putting all these teams out
there just because because a lot of the players that
(22:46):
get drafted in the third round they're not gonna they're
not even gonna make.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
An expansion team.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
So now you have an expansion team that pretty much
has third round picks.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And they're not gonna be any good. So then what happened?
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Then?
Speaker 2 (23:03):
You know what happened there?
Speaker 1 (23:05):
People start talking about us saying, oh, well, Whomen's basketball.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Well, you know what, I think that's a you know what,
that's a great counter argument too, sure, because when you're expanding,
you want the product to be good where you expand to,
and you definitely want a level of investment. Because that's
another part that's important too when we talk about expansion
right now, Like teams aren't throwing bread at getting is
a good girl Charlott out here drinking a damn lemon
(23:31):
drop Martinist. It's all grown folks in here. It is
all grown folks in here.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
But I shouldn't, somebody said.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
But but no, I do think that you make a
great point with that, because you do want the product
to be competitive and you want it to be good
across the board, but you also want a certain level
of investment, right and I think you only get that
like the Valkyrie's already, like they sold out season tickets
within like weeks. They sold out, you know, the opening
(24:00):
game within days and they hadn't even like they hadn't
even disclosed the name of the team yet, right, And
so that type of excitement I think you want to
generate from every team that you expand to, but you
want the product to be just as good as the
excitement in the marketing. So I totally understand that point.
I guess what I'm saying too, is that as long
as there is an investment in the development of players,
(24:23):
just as much as there is an investment in the
physicality of things and the facilities in the marketing, as
long as there is an actual investment in the development.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Of players too.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
It could be not saying it will or won't, but
it could be because I also think at it from
a coaching perspective, Right, how many people we say should
be coaching on the team should have an opportunity to
work with players and don't because either there's no opportunity
or we got folks who, if we keeping it a buck,
will only deal with their folks, so they don't give
(24:53):
these people an opportunity.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Right.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
So I can see your reservation, is what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
I can see it, But.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Like I'm super excited about it, right if those who
know way better than I do.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
They're like, yeah, we're good and it's the time to
do it. And then I'm like, we'll go ahead and
do it.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
All right, But the product that we put on the floor,
it's got to be it's gotta be good.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
It's gotta be good. All right.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
We know we've worked really hard to get to where
we are today, y'all. It's gotta be good. Y'all did okay,
y'all worked so hard. Matter of fact, I got a
sweatshirt here for anybody who can tell me what team
Sheryl Swoops worked hard.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
With to get to the team where we are. What
anybody know, but the what team raising what you have
to answer? Houston Commas, come on and get your sweater, y'all.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Make that was so easy? And what I mean?
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Listen, we got a warm up.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Okay, okay, okay, I warm them up.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
It was a warm.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Warm up. There, we got tea.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Yes, oh, we have a special guest ready to join
us at this moment.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
But I feel like you had a question. You have
a question. I have a quiz question I'm gonna do.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
I'll do a Beanie do Beanie? You major is easy,
so I'm gonna make mine easy. I have this nice
red eyeheart y'all, this is nice.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
I know.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
I'm gonna have one for myself. For anybody that can
tell me the name of.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
The first female to have her own shoe?
Speaker 2 (26:28):
What was the name of the shoe? Oh? I know,
I know, I know.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
You are you? That one was easy, That one was
very easy. As a matter, you shouldn't even get to answer.
Speaker 6 (26:45):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Yeah, Sheryl paved the way. So now we got our
girl agent post and who got her own shoes?
Speaker 4 (26:49):
Come on, now.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
We have a special getting ready to join us. I
want you all to make some noise for our good friends,
our guy. Look that national champion by the way, Rashan
mccant's come on up here.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Now what first?
Speaker 3 (27:15):
I said national champion and he came up with the
with the Carolina kicks on.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
You said, I saw that. You know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Before you even ask a question, can you explain to
the people why you got the crown on?
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Does it need an explanation?
Speaker 1 (27:31):
I mean not for me, but Mike, somebody might need
an explanation, somebody.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I figured it just looked really really nice on me. Yeah,
I figured it just fit. Told me to take it off.
I don't think you should take it and it just
asked why I got it on.
Speaker 6 (27:49):
You know, it takes a lot of confidence to wear
such a thing it does and.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
That it does, and we know you are not sacking
in any of that figure.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Where it is.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Sometimes you might as well shine a bit, huh.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Got to coordinate.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
You are coordinating.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
It's just a hat with a whole lib's far though.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
I like it well.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
First, yes, thank you, thank you so much for joining
the levels to this podcast. We like to kick it
and be chill and first and foremost, just you know
what has I know, literally the weekend is just kicking off.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
So you probably ain't really got into it got into
it yet.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
But just you know, how have you enjoyed the twenty
twenty five NBA All Stars so far?
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Like?
Speaker 2 (28:30):
What has this experience been like for you so far?
Speaker 6 (28:33):
I haven't been to an All Star since twenty ten. Why,
that's the last time I played in the league.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
So when you retired, you just said I don't want
to do All Star.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
No.
Speaker 6 (28:46):
I mean when I was playing, I was to participated,
you know, So the last one I participated in was
like twenty ten, and then after.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
That it's just hard to it's hard to go to
these things. You competing.
Speaker 6 (29:00):
Yeah, and you know you're a competitor, and if I'm
not in it, I don't want to be around it.
I know I can't do that. So it's been difficult.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
So you don't pay anymore. So we're still feel that.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Way, Yeah, a little bit where you can still play.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Oh so you can still Yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
Man, you could have got that extra for me on
that parlay, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
So it's just a it's a it's a it's a.
Speaker 6 (29:29):
Love hate thing when it comes to All Star and
that competitive drive. But this is my first one, so
I don't see myself staying too much longer.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Oh wow.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
So from two thousand, I think from twenty ten up
until now, just the whole first of all, the whole.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
NBA dynamic has changed and it's very different.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Like what are some of the I don't want to
say some of the changes, but like, as this game
has evolved and as the league has evolved, Like, what
are some things that stand out to you where you like,
you know, as we're a little different then or whereas
like I actually kind of like that, you know, guys,
have this opportunity now, or people have this opportunity now.
Speaker 6 (30:08):
I think that the opportunity to be still available is
just great, you know, for guys to still be able
to go to All Star and play in the NBA
and all that good stuff.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
I wish that it could be a little bit more competitive.
Speaker 6 (30:22):
I think the appreciation for the slots should be a
little bit more appreciated. I think we're turning it into
more of a privilege than something that you work and
strive and you want, right and I think some guys
just expect it and if we're just giving it away
(30:42):
now based on criteria, favors, agents, front offices, they're doing
it for the business. And then you ask yourself, what
is the athlete going to do, you know, going to
do it for. So they need to fix it, they
need to fix the balance.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
So we've had this conversation before, and you know, there's
a lot of talk out there about what can be
done to make all start more exciting like the game.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
What do you think needs.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
To change at NBA All Star for it to be
more competitive and more exciting and to get the fans
more involved and excited about it. Like I used to
really look forward to the three point shooting contest, the
slam Dunk contest, and even.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
The game right and nowadays I'm just like slam Dunk.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
I'm the G League slam Dunk Contest. I am tuning
in to because my son. But like, what do you
think the NBA can do to get it back to
where it used to be?
Speaker 6 (31:45):
I think we need to move forward. I think sometimes
we get what does that mean? We get sidetracked with
the past and we want to go back to how
it was when we were used to it, you know.
I think that's what the new generation complains of out
calling us the old and we used to do the thing.
We used to do the same things to the generation
before us. You think, you know, we should think they
(32:08):
was old, you know. And I think it's just the
evolution of the game. Like I said, the competitiveness is
the one thing I think if All Star MVP is
not enough of a I want to go get that.
It's got to be something that's going to crown you someone.
Someone's going to get a reward at the end. But
also I think in sports, the shame of losing should
(32:33):
also drive you. Not being able to see the reward
should drive you, you know, and I thought, I don't think
it's enough of that. I think having fifty million dollars
a year and not having to perform up to that number.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
Is insane.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Like fifty million dollars should motivate you, like.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
You should need it any more motivation I don't need.
But I don't need fifty million to motivate me.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
You give me one million, you give me fifty k,
and I'm about to go show out.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Okay, Papa shot is in the back, and I'm gonna
show out for fifty k. I'm doing it.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
What this is?
Speaker 2 (33:19):
This real as it gets.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
But you know what, also, I think that from what
I can recall and remember, it was when certain stars cared,
when certain stars kind of motivated folks, then other people
kind of like to me, you couldn't you know, God
rest his soul, But to me, you couldn't tell me,
like Kobe would.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Be like nine about the ball out for real? Like, ma, Kobe,
I don't like loose. I don't remember, damn what is
on a you know what I'm saying right Like, I don't.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Like the loose, And so I think there is I
think of the things that you said, the one things
that's missing is that general that's saying, hey, look, were
not really giving the people what they pay for, we
not really doing what we need to do.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
You just kind of need that person.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
I think you need that one star to take it seriously,
and it might help to motivate some other people to
take it a bit more seriously.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
I think you got to take it a step further
than that because it's come from the vets that's supposed
to be teaching them. Yeah right, right, you know, you
got to be a teacher that teaches teachers, right, right.
So if you want to be called a vet, and
we need a league full of veterans, right because we
consider veterans leaders.
Speaker 4 (34:28):
Yeah right.
Speaker 6 (34:28):
So if you don't have no leadership coming from anywhere else,
they don't know what to do, they don't know how
to lead, they don't.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
Know how to point guys in the same direction.
Speaker 6 (34:39):
So I think collectively, as a culture, I think the
culture of basketball in general, both men and women, I
think we collectively need to come together and strategize, you know,
how to get this thing on the right path.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
Because I think the women's is bring it to me,
come on.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
Their trajectory is better come out it feels better. Come on,
I think if all that would need it was Caitlyn's
little injection of attention to show how structured basketball can
be from a linear side. Look at it like the
(35:22):
women have done it in a way where they still
play real basketball. They play hard. They just haven't been
getting a notoriety for the other side of the men's side,
like we have our side, which is the entertainment the
dunks in the three seasons. But you guys have what
the essence of the game is.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
I say that all the time. I say that all
the time, yo.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Like to me, when I hear people say things like
y'all should lower to Rim. First of all, I want
to throw a tomato at they face when they say that,
because it's crazy to me. But secondly, the reason tomato
just just because it's messy, and it's just it's a mess.
Can you imagine a man in a white and all white,
just fresh like this, and then they say some dumb
stuff to me talking abut y'all shuld lord of Rim.
(36:06):
Just a white red tomato, just blank that whole damn
outfit of it. But the reason why it bugs me
is because I then have to turn around and ask
the question like, well, is the reason that you're watching
the NBA because they're dunking? If they were not dunking
in the NBA or if they were not doing though,
and now you look at the game and because of
(36:27):
the guy that we see on the back of the
wall there donks ain't even what moves people anymore. It's
three point shooting, it's long hour shooting, it's long forms,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
So to your point with the game continuing.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
To evolve, I love that about women's basketball, that the
game is evolving in that realm too, but they still
have not straight away from the fundamentals and the things
that made them who they are as ballplayers.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
I love that well for sure. So I know we
talked about the NBA and all start all that.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
What and I know you know women's basketball because your
sister played and you are a big proponent of women's basketball.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
What do you and you mentioned.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
Caitlin, what do you see is the biggest difference right
now where the women's game is compared to where it
was when the w first started in ninety seven.
Speaker 4 (37:26):
I think the change for me was when it was Shamika.
Speaker 6 (37:35):
And Tamika Tennessee when the branding outside of After You
started to kind of go into the boy girl I
can play with them style, right, And then Candace came
and Candace was big enough and tall enough and she
(37:57):
can move, so she was really like, I can play
with the guy.
Speaker 4 (38:01):
I can play with y'all right.
Speaker 6 (38:03):
And for me, my sister being the similar to Candice,
I always used to tease her about playing with us
and say, look, don't come over here because we're not
taking it easy on you. And I'm definitely not taking
it easy. I'm taking it off from every time if
I can. So it made her tougher and to see
the evolution from her.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
To Maya more to you know, Cappy Pointdexters.
Speaker 6 (38:29):
You know you're talking about like the mixing all of
the eras of men's the men's game and seeing it
in the women's game and saying that they.
Speaker 4 (38:40):
Got just as much shake as we got.
Speaker 6 (38:42):
And if you go back to the rim lowering kind
of thing, it's like if you've never done, have you
ever done?
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Are you asking me? Have my ever? Dun No?
Speaker 4 (38:54):
I stayed in my lane, So when you know what
it feels like the dunk you might just.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Were not lowering, not when not when, candas Parker has shown,
when she can do it.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Stews shown that she.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Can do it. But she can do it.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
Because there are women who can done already. So if
you're talking about lowering the rim on the women's side,
there's a whole lot of changes we need to make
on the men's side.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
Change.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
But you know what the thing is too.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
The thing is with that too, is that the moment
that you do that, right, Let's just say, for hypothetical purposes,
that we did lower the rims, right, then another group
of people will find something else about the women's game
to be like, well, since she lowered the realm, how
about we use how about we.
Speaker 4 (39:47):
Use a smaller ball.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
How about we use like like the ball is already
smaller than you know, how about we use different shorts,
like there's always gonna be t uniforms.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
It's always something.
Speaker 6 (39:56):
Yeah, the men's game, right, they moved the three point
in line, Oh, all right, at a certain point, then
they moved it back. First they had three seconds, then
they had a legal defense. Now they have two nine.
The rules can change only if it benefits the game.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
I don't think it benefits. How does Lord benefit the game.
It doesn't.
Speaker 6 (40:21):
It becomes more like you said, dunks, threes, crossovers.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Right, What don't y'all have out of those three?
Speaker 2 (40:31):
I don't. I have all of them. We have all
of them. There are women who can dunk, just I
don't think.
Speaker 6 (40:37):
Because so when a woman dunks, is it wow, she dunked,
or is it man like John Moran?
Speaker 2 (40:45):
It depends.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Well, first of all, that's an unfair question because how
many men.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
And how many men dunk like John Tucking, like Joahn Moran.
John Moran is a hobby. You can't.
Speaker 4 (40:57):
Like dag Levine.
Speaker 6 (40:58):
I'm talking about some nasty I'm talking about what woman
is going to do a nasty dunk.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
But you remember, though, that they used to have a
dunk contest for exactly remember, and I think.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
We should bring it back. Those dunks were the same,
we too.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
I think you should bring it back, right, All those.
Speaker 6 (41:13):
Dunes were the same. If you, Lord of go, those
girls going to do different dunks. I don't know, they're
gonna look different. Think about coming through the lane. If
you Britney Grinder coming through the lane right, catching it
and dunking it because she's big enough is one thing
juju Watkins coming down the lane, hop stepping and dunking,
Like if you're if you're tuning, ah.
Speaker 1 (41:37):
If you're only tuning in to see if somebody's gonna dunk,
we don't want you.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
That's why we turned it. That's why I think you
watched baseball.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
I think knockouts, that is not why you watch you you.
Speaker 6 (41:54):
Watch football to watch touchdowns. You don't watch him to
get first down.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
Will I think it's I.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
Watched We We watch different sports for different reasons, But
I don't think my love of basketball is dependent on
whether or not somebody doesn't.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
But it adds to the entertainment value of your.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Product when I see every day cross over and go
underneath the people.
Speaker 1 (42:20):
And I'm not saying I want to see more dunking
for the ones that are here. Do you tune in
to watch women's basketball to see how many people are
gonna dunk?
Speaker 3 (42:30):
If they were, but considering they like, they don't have to. Okay,
that's a fair point. That's a fair bub. See what
I'm saying, that's that's what makes the game. And I
think that's that's the point that I was getting ready
to make, right there.
Speaker 6 (42:46):
That right right right, because there's less dunking because they're
less dunk.
Speaker 3 (42:52):
W n b A and the dunk has not increasedship.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
Is down because they're shooting too many three and the w.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
N be A viewership is up and they still ain't
dunking no differently than they were ten years Because.
Speaker 6 (43:06):
Listen, they looking because the women women and looking like women.
Speaker 4 (43:11):
They look like women out.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
There, this right here is about to be serious.
Speaker 4 (43:19):
We're talking about the show.
Speaker 6 (43:22):
Was probably the only one really was wearing the lipstick
playing back and you and.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
You you Glass were red.
Speaker 4 (43:29):
Listen, relative was the only ones giving us now a
little bit. Now it's they out there.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
Looking like So you have taught me two things today,
Like you like basketball.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
Look imagine we're looking at you dunk. You look like
a snack.
Speaker 2 (43:46):
You can play what kind of.
Speaker 4 (43:53):
The snack place on the airplane? Right on the airplane?
Speaker 2 (43:57):
Yeah, opened up a little the mixt.
Speaker 1 (44:03):
Don't be looking at me like I'm a smack. For
no listen, I have I know we got a wrap.
But I have one question for you because I want
to get your honest opinion, because I know a lot
of people had their own opinions on.
Speaker 4 (44:16):
This so.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
Ice Cube.
Speaker 1 (44:21):
I guess last year offering Caitlyn Clark, however much money
was I don't remember, to go and play in the
Big Three.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
My question to you is.
Speaker 1 (44:36):
Basically, what were your thoughts on that, because here's my
thing before you answer, I don't I don't care who
it is.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
I really don't.
Speaker 1 (44:45):
Caitlin Asia Angel, Chelsea Gray, I don't care who it is.
At the end of the day, there's still men and
you're still a female.
Speaker 2 (44:57):
So for him to come and do what he did
to me, it was.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
More of a political stunt, like, oh, well, we know
if she comes, eyes were.
Speaker 4 (45:07):
Going to come.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
So what what was your thought when you read that
or saw that.
Speaker 6 (45:13):
I didn't even think about it from you guys aside immediately.
I think the first thing was how many guys are upset? Yes,
you didn't like you would offer her like you do
you know how much they pay the Big Three players?
Speaker 5 (45:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (45:29):
Hundred thousand, Nope, not even close. So wow, fact that
that would be.
Speaker 6 (45:36):
You're going to give her ten million, yeah, and you're
not even giving them twenty thousand.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
So that was the smack in the face smack, yo,
that's weird. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Yeah, then we do it with.
Speaker 4 (45:50):
A publicity stunt, because you know, million for Caitlin Clark.
Speaker 6 (45:54):
She hasn't proven anything at that point at all, and
it was like, yo, what but then looking at it
from your point to pass over a lot of other
players or not even you know, use that money for
investing bringing the girls side to two three, right.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
Which now we have on rivals, which is essentially you
don't even it's the same thing.
Speaker 2 (46:16):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (46:19):
You could have definitely maximized that without having to pay
Caitlyn Clark anything. You could have just brought Asia Kelsey
and just you could have just brought three, just three,
and you ain't have to really do nothing. But he
swung for the fences, and you know, unfortunately sometimes you miss. Yeah,
(46:40):
he rarely misses, but you missed this time.
Speaker 4 (46:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (46:43):
Yeah, Well, we appreciate you joining us.
Speaker 3 (46:46):
I'm gonna be laughing at you for a good fifteen
minutes talking about the damn snacks.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
I'm gonna be like.
Speaker 4 (46:59):
Looking at us.
Speaker 1 (47:02):
You know, I can't I can't even argue with you
because the last episode we talked about football.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
Football, we did talk about Jalen Hurts.
Speaker 3 (47:12):
I have to put my professional side towards Jalon Hurts
is a damn snack.
Speaker 2 (47:17):
I'm so sorry. I apologize. I'm so sorry.
Speaker 4 (47:22):
I understand.
Speaker 3 (47:25):
It has it has certainly been so much fun hanging
out with y'all. Thank you so much for joining us.
I'm about to touch it. I don't touch it because
you're too smooth. Sure we do this every week since.
Speaker 2 (47:36):
I know we do, and we will be back tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (47:39):
We will be back tomorrow, absolutely, and we will be
joined by Christina Williams for a special crossover episode between
Levels of This and Christina Williams. So if you have
not yet downloaded the show or listened to the podcast,
please tune in to us. We are found on Apple
Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Levels to This
with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brasby.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
It's been a great day. It's all right. One to
enjoy your weekend, guys. Thanks y'all.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart.
Open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This
with Ryl 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 (00:13):
Hey, Hey, what's going on? Everyone?
Speaker 3 (00:16):
Welcome to Levels to This. I am Trerika Foster Brass.
Speaker 1 (00:20):
V and I'm your girl, Ryl Swoop. So are you're
excited to be here?
Speaker 2 (00:24):
We are?
Speaker 3 (00:25):
Yes, Please make some noise, show us a love.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We are a very fun podcast.
Speaker 3 (00:32):
Our show is one that is super unique because we
talk about all the levels to the shit that women
go through, but we sometimes include men and so you
guys are very lucky to be here because you were
included when we include men today. So we're gonna have
a lot of fun. I'm excited to be here. I
know you're excited to be here. We have a very
special guest. I don't know how often this has happened before,
(00:55):
but we have Jordan Jackson joining us on the podcast today,
who is the son of Cheryl Swoops. Have you guys
ever been on a podcast together before?
Speaker 4 (01:05):
Now?
Speaker 2 (01:06):
Never? Oh, I'm about to eat this up. That's why
you're in the middle of us. That's why we're not
sitting together. I'm about to eat this up.
Speaker 3 (01:14):
Okay, So, first and foremost, if you know Cheryl's story,
then you know at the beginning of her career, at
the beginning of the WNBA, when she was one of
the primary members to begin the first person to sign
to the WNBA. First of all, make some noise for that,
because the league wouldn't be here without the Hall of
(01:35):
Famer Cheryl Swoops, and that's for sure.
Speaker 2 (01:37):
But very early on, Cheryl was one of the first.
Speaker 3 (01:41):
To have to deal with being a mom as well
as being a player. And she was pregnant with this
one right here while she was playing. And so, Cheryl,
you and I have had this conversation before, but just
kind of share with those out there what that moment
and what that time was like, especially at the beginning
of such.
Speaker 2 (01:59):
A in a league that we had no idea would
be where it is today.
Speaker 4 (02:04):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (02:05):
Well, first of all, I'm going to apologize for being tardy.
Speaker 2 (02:11):
Y'all didn't tell me. They ain't tell me the traffic
was like that in San Francisco.
Speaker 1 (02:17):
But yeah, I just as a first of all, as
a proud mom of a now twenty seven year old
doing his own thing. I couldn't be more prouder. But
when you talk about when the W first started and
I was, I was scared, Like I was scared to
tell anybody because I didn't and it never been done right.
(02:39):
So I didn't know how the W was going to
deal with it. I didn't know how my sponsors were
going to deal with it. So there was a lot
of pressure on me to first of all, try to
hide it for a little bit until I told everybody.
But then that turned into all right, this is what
(03:00):
women do, right. It's part of our life, it's part
of our career, regardless of what that career is.
Speaker 2 (03:06):
And I said, so this is what we're gonna do.
And I not only wanted.
Speaker 1 (03:13):
To do it for myself and obviously for my son,
but for so many working women out there. And it's
not just athletes, but for so many working women out
there who struggle with career and motherhood or being parents like.
Speaker 2 (03:30):
That, shit, can I say shit? We stationed on the podcast,
not today. You want to ask what we're in person?
It's different. We're recording the show.
Speaker 4 (03:37):
Is the show?
Speaker 2 (03:38):
Okay, okay, okay, I'll say.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
Stuff though, but like it was really scary, but I
knew that it was going to be a challenge, but
I also knew that it was something that I wanted
to be able to show women everywhere that this is
what we do and you two can do it. And
so for me, like it's a full circle moment, but
because I've gone from me being the one taking my
(04:04):
son to All Star to now he's the one bringing
me to All Star and so it's a proud moment
for me today.
Speaker 2 (04:12):
That's definitely dope.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
And you won the Dunk contest last year wearing your
mom's jersey, which is bananas in and of itself. Right,
Just you know, I don't know how many times you've
heard the story or have heard your mom talk about
what that moment or what that time was like for her,
But just kind of it's a two part question. One
(04:33):
just seeing and understanding you know, what Chryl had to
endure it that time and how different that was. How
does that resonate with you and how have that maybe
changed your perspective of like working women.
Speaker 5 (04:46):
Well, first of all, great to be on the show. Yes,
I've been hearing a lot about the show and been
watching the show.
Speaker 4 (04:52):
Love everything you guys are doing with the show. So
it's awesome.
Speaker 5 (04:56):
And to answer your question, it's amazing, you know, to
have this woman right here to be your mother.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
Oh, let me give.
Speaker 3 (05:05):
Y'all a disclaimer before you finish on answer, because you
notice about your mama.
Speaker 2 (05:08):
She's a cry baby, y'all.
Speaker 3 (05:10):
She gonna cry you if you she gonna cry, So
just just bear with us.
Speaker 5 (05:15):
No, Yeah, it's been great. You know, I get that
question all the time. It's just like, what is it
like to have Cheryl Swoops, you know, as your mom?
Speaker 4 (05:24):
And I tell people this all the time.
Speaker 5 (05:25):
It's just like she might be Cheryl'swoops to you all,
but that's mom to me, you know what I mean.
So at the end of the day, it's just like
seeing what she's done and what she's had to overcome
and what she's always, you know, just stayed true to
herself and stay true to her work, and she's trusted.
Speaker 4 (05:40):
Her work throughout her whole career, whether that's on the
floor or off the floor, you know.
Speaker 5 (05:44):
So just to have that as a role model and
to be able to watch, you know, what she's done
and what she continues to do.
Speaker 3 (05:50):
When you think about, you know, having been raised in
an environment where you've worked with other ball players that
have been women there. You know, there was a time
where guys didn't even really realize that, like women played
basketball for real. And now there are some kids who
grow up in the world not even realizing anything different.
And that's a beautiful thing for us to be in,
for us to be in that space. But when you
(06:11):
think about, you know, your development and where you've come
from as being a ballplayer, how much of that do
you attribute to your mom?
Speaker 4 (06:19):
A lot?
Speaker 5 (06:20):
I mean, you have to I was going everywhere with her.
I was traveling as a young kid. I was traveling
to all these different countries. I was courtside at every
single one of her games. From things that I can remember,
I'm pretty sure that it's a lot that I cannot
remember because I was too young, But from what I
can remember, it's just it's special, you know, because I'm
able to go back to those moments and to relive
(06:44):
those moments, even when it might not be with her
right like it might be me going on YouTube looking up,
Oh this game, I remember this game, and now I'm
watching those highlights. You know, it's just special things like
that that I'm able to, you know, always go back
to and I love that.
Speaker 4 (06:56):
I love being able to share that.
Speaker 2 (06:58):
So love me.
Speaker 1 (06:59):
I'm gonna interrupt for a second only because we did
start late and he has to get out of here. Okay,
So Jordan is trying to defend his G League Slam
Dunk title. Yes tomorrow. My question is, do you know
what you're gonna do tomorrow?
Speaker 4 (07:18):
I do.
Speaker 5 (07:19):
I've been talking to some people, talking to some friends.
I got some I got some tricks. I think I'm
gonna pull out.
Speaker 1 (07:26):
Tomorrow, like you got to bring it because you wore
my jersey last year and you want it, I know,
and I didn't hear you ask for a jersey this year.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
So in some type of way, this flipped real quick.
Speaker 3 (07:37):
This went from the whole Cheryl sloop to the mama
asking you, bro, what you're finna do?
Speaker 2 (07:42):
This is.
Speaker 4 (07:46):
I think we're gonna be good. You know.
Speaker 5 (07:47):
After this, I'm gonna head to the gym, figure out,
you know what I'm gonna do, and then one o'clock
tomorrow you.
Speaker 2 (07:54):
See, Okay, I will be there.
Speaker 4 (07:56):
You'll be ready.
Speaker 2 (07:57):
Yeah, our credit center. That's all that matters about.
Speaker 3 (08:00):
Love that before you have to get out of here, though,
because I do want to ask you this. You know,
I think sometimes you feel like you can be over
not you specifically, but I know I've spoken to other
people who come sometimes may feel like they've been overshadowed
because they have a celebrity figure or an athlete figure
as their mom or their dad or whomever. Are there
moments where you feel and I'm going to put you
(08:22):
on blasts, are there moments where you feel like, you know, yes,
I love having Cheryl'soops as a mom, but also I
want to make sure it's clear this is this is Jordan,
This is what Jordan does. This is jordan legacy, This
is how Jordan approaches things.
Speaker 4 (08:36):
To a certain extent, you can, you can kind of
say yes.
Speaker 5 (08:40):
But in the past, right like when I was growing
up and I was not as mature as I am
now right mentally, not mentally strong, Yeah, that bothered me
because you know, sometimes I would work so hard, you know,
I work so hard, and the only thing that I
would get out of that is, hey, that's Cheryl's hoops son,
like you know, but now it's you know, as I
(09:02):
just stayed with the process and you know, she's just
my whole family, you know, sitting in the crowd, like
my mom, my dad, Like, it's just everybody. You know
that they they've always been on my side and they
know they know that that's probably a lot of pressure,
right for somebody, But as my mom always tells me,
like it's it's it's no pressure because you're creating your
own legacy, right, like your take, Like I take what
(09:25):
she's done, and I just use that to elevate myself,
like I don't. I don't try to do the comparison.
I don't listen to the I used to. Yeah, right,
who doesn't?
Speaker 4 (09:33):
Right? When people talk, it's easy to fall into that.
Speaker 5 (09:37):
But as the years went on and as as more
and more as I talk to my family and I
talk to my mom, and she's always staying in my
ear to just stay true to yourself, you know, and
to just go for who you are.
Speaker 4 (09:46):
So now I still am sure swoop so of course,
but you know.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
Coming out here to all start weekend, you know, walking around,
people are like, hey, it's Jordan. You know that's that's
a slam dunk chap. That's Jordan Jackson. So you know
it's it's it's kind of worked out good for both ways.
Speaker 4 (09:59):
You know.
Speaker 2 (10:00):
I love that I love that.
Speaker 1 (10:02):
So last question, there's not a whole lot of people here,
but I tell people this all the time that everybody's
journey is different, and your journey absolutely has been a
different one. What advice would you give to someone younger person,
boy or girl who has goals and dreams of someday
(10:23):
playing in the NBA, playing in the WNBA, and maybe
it hasn't happened as quickly as they would like for
it to happen, because this has been your story, what advice.
Speaker 2 (10:33):
Would you give them?
Speaker 5 (10:34):
The first piece of advice, I mean, I know it
sounds cliche, but I would definitely say to just trust
yourself and it always stay true to yourself. There's so
many people that want to tear you down, that want
to see you down, So the more you do that
to yourself, you're just giving them ammunition.
Speaker 4 (10:48):
So stay true to yourself. And number two, trust.
Speaker 5 (10:52):
Your work, right, Like, if you're playing this game, you're
playing it for a reason. Yeah, right, Or if you're
whatever you're doing in life, like you're doing it for
a reason. So I'm pretty sure that you put in
work to it. You don't just wake up every morning
it's like, hey, today, I want to do.
Speaker 4 (11:08):
This and you just go do it. No, you work
at it, you know.
Speaker 5 (11:11):
So if you're doing that work, you have to know
that you're doing that work for a reason and so
when that time comes, you'll know.
Speaker 4 (11:18):
You know in that work will show.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
So those are the probably the two biggest pieces of it.
Speaker 4 (11:23):
Well, and stay faithful, oh for sure, keep your faith
in it. Uh in the forefront. For sure.
Speaker 5 (11:28):
God has gotten me through a lot of things and
He's he's putting me in so many great places and positions.
Speaker 4 (11:33):
You know, like I'm sitting on the.
Speaker 5 (11:35):
Podcast with with Ryl Swoops, like you know that's kind
of fire, right fire people wouldn't be able to say that.
So no, yeah, So those those three things right there,
like trust yourself, you trust your work, stay truat yourself,
and stay faithful always.
Speaker 3 (11:50):
Last question for me, what are we doing after you
regain your championship next week?
Speaker 5 (11:56):
You're doing me on the spot, I know, you know,
we'll see she she's a little older now, like I
don't want like she go to.
Speaker 3 (12:03):
Bed or Okay, so when I said I'll do that, okay,
So everybody out there, when Cheryl will be on the
podcast trying to come at me, talking about ter Rika.
Speaker 2 (12:12):
Why didn't you let me? Let me let me tell
you how to do with me? Okay, Terriica, I love
invit me? How come I get Cheryl?
Speaker 3 (12:20):
When I invited you at eight fifteen you said you
was gonna go. By nine twenty you were in the bed.
Speaker 5 (12:25):
It changes, crept it does, it does. But see the
thing that's gonna help, he's here. See what I'm saying, brother, brother,
that's fact.
Speaker 4 (12:33):
I'm saying, brother's here.
Speaker 2 (12:34):
So that's fact.
Speaker 5 (12:34):
So anytime we all together, that's fat.
Speaker 2 (12:38):
Y'all.
Speaker 3 (12:38):
Make Branda out there, who always called it down, keep
it up.
Speaker 2 (12:42):
Jordan's time for you to go. I love it. I'm
gonna say this last thing so you can't go.
Speaker 1 (12:47):
You know, people always ask me, like throughout my career
and even now, like what's my why?
Speaker 2 (12:54):
And my why? It's always the same.
Speaker 1 (12:56):
My why is that one sitting right over there, Like
I couldn't be more proud of not just the basketball player,
but I couldn't be more proud of the young man
you've become. So when I say my why is.
Speaker 2 (13:07):
You, she's gonna do it's your wife.
Speaker 5 (13:11):
So on my wrist, I have, well, I got it
for Christmas it is. See she's trying to do trying
to bring it out.
Speaker 2 (13:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 5 (13:21):
No, so she gave me a bracelet with the footsteps
of my firstborn child, which will be here in July
twenty twenty five.
Speaker 4 (13:29):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Oh, leo, oh, he's been the cut up. I'm a leo.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
He about to cut I'm saying he. I know, we
don't know if it's a boy or a girl yet,
but I'm gonna say he. Well, I'm saying she, but
and you're gonna say she, I'm gonna say he. Will
see what happened, we ain't. We already know, but we
don't know. We know, but we don't know. I'm the
only one that doesn't know. And keep it that way
because I heard you are one who also doesn't know
(13:54):
how to like keep water. You know you've been say
I don't want to know, but then maybe a month
later you might side that you do want to see.
Speaker 5 (14:01):
I thought that's what was gonna happen, Like when I
thought I was gonna like go through the day and
at the end of the day, I was gonna be like, Okay,
this is but I think I was okay. I think
I was okay. But it was because I was busy though.
Speaker 3 (14:13):
It's true, but there's a there's a level, there's a
level of excitement that comes when you do find out,
and so don't like, go through the experience, don't spoil
go through the experience. Absolutely very proud of you, Jordan.
Good luck tomorrow and good luck tomorrow. Thanks Jordan's it's
(14:41):
a pleasure to see. There's a sense of pride that
comes along with that, as you you know elaborately stated.
And one of the things that I love being here
is is that there are different people who get different
experiences out of NBA All Star Weekend.
Speaker 4 (14:56):
Right.
Speaker 3 (14:56):
You get some who comes specifically for the actual part,
you get some who come for the networking opportunities. I
think it just speaks differently when there's something so personal
that becomes the reason why you're here.
Speaker 2 (15:10):
And also just because.
Speaker 3 (15:12):
The way that we've seen women be incorporated into this weekend,
how W players have begun to be more incorporated into
this weekend has really been amazing.
Speaker 2 (15:22):
Do you remember when you were All Star MVP? Okay,
I mean I won so many MVPs so oh the
flat all started.
Speaker 1 (15:33):
No, But you know what, I remember my very first
NBA All Star game that I attended when the WNBA started,
and it was in Phoenix, Arizona, and I was pregnant
with Jordan, So my experience that year was very different
from any other NBA experience because I was pregnant then.
But I will tell you as the time has gone by,
(15:56):
the years have gone by. For me, NBA all start,
it never gets old, yeah, because there's always a different experience.
You're always meeting different people and the fact that it's
in different cities. But for me, it's all about being
able to reconnect with people that you maybe you haven't
seen in a long time, reconnecting with people. And I
(16:18):
know you said party and all that. Yeah, I don't
do that no more. I am going to bed early
and proud of it. But it's it's a great opportunity
to be able to meet new people, reconnect with people,
and especially being here in San Frian this season with
the Valkyries, and yes, you can feel the excitement in
the city. Everybody's talking about it and I personally cannot
(16:42):
wait for the w season to start because I think
the Valkyries they are going to turn up this season.
Speaker 3 (16:48):
You know what, I felt the same way, and I
know that there's this essence of you know, maybe with
them being a new team and starting to like get
their footing, that it may take a little bit of
time for them to jail but early.
Speaker 4 (17:00):
You know.
Speaker 3 (17:01):
I have the pleasure of joining Christina Williams on her
show in case you missed it, and we got a
chance to chat with Tiffany Hayes, who's the newest member
of the Valkyries, And I feel like just the energy
from Tip as well as players like Mobilings and having
Kate Martin and then having you know, head coach Natalie Nikassi,
it just feels like there is an excitement and there
(17:24):
is an expectation, right, And I think it might be
it might be a bit of a disservice to the
rest of the league to sleep on the Valkyries just
because they're a new team. Like, there are some hungry
women on that team, and the fans here are excited.
There was a fan who already had a Valkyrie like poster.
Speaker 1 (17:44):
Yeah, like they're already excited. Well, they're definitely excited. And
here's the thing that people need to like think about. Yes,
it's a new franchise, new players, the players are new
to the franchise, but they're not new to the league, right,
and when you bring.
Speaker 2 (18:01):
Players in who it's a new opportunity for him, right.
Speaker 1 (18:05):
Like I look at a player like a Kate Martin
who was a rookie last year, and Kate Kate Martin,
like she just is a hard worker and so for
her to be given an opportunity to, you know, be
a part of this new franchise, it's also an opportunity
to get minutes. And that's what a lot of these
players in the expansion draft weren't necessarily getting that playing
(18:27):
time with their old team. So yep, they're excited about it.
They're going to compete. Natalie is going to do an
incredible job. And I agree with you. I'm not saying
they're going to win a championship this season, but don't
sleep on the VA.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Don't sweep.
Speaker 3 (18:40):
And you know what just to add to that point
before we move on, is I think about a player
like Timmy Fake Mainley.
Speaker 2 (18:46):
She comes from Indiana.
Speaker 3 (18:47):
She was so impactful for that team when Melissa Smith
was out, and I think to myself, like, she's a
player that can quite literally come into a franchise and
make a difference immediately because she'll get an opportunity to
play more So, it's an exciting time, but it's an
exciting time in women's.
Speaker 2 (19:07):
Basketball in general.
Speaker 3 (19:08):
There is you know, Athletes Unlimited, which both you and
I cover, that's currently going on in Nashville. There's Unrival
that's going down in Miami.
Speaker 2 (19:17):
There's just so much. There are two other teams.
Speaker 3 (19:20):
Portland has a team that's coming, Toronto has a team
that's coming. Y'all see how I say in Toronto, right,
I want y'all to take note of that there is
no d in Toronto. Toronto, Toronto, but there is so
much excitement building. And I know that I've asked you
this before, but I just think that it's important to
get your thoughts because of how much you've given to
(19:42):
this game, to see the league go from where it
was in ninety seven to where it is now. Just
how does that resonate with you?
Speaker 2 (19:52):
And where do you see?
Speaker 3 (19:53):
Like this is twenty twenty five now, but like let's
say twenty thirty, right, can we see this being a
twenty team league?
Speaker 2 (20:00):
So I have mixed emotions.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Right, I'm super excited about expansion because I just my
first thought is opportunity, because year after year We're a
lot of these players are missing out on the opportunity to.
Speaker 2 (20:15):
Play in the w and it's great talent.
Speaker 1 (20:17):
So that part excites me because there will be more jobs,
more teams, more players.
Speaker 2 (20:24):
The other side is.
Speaker 1 (20:27):
I look at it and say, are we expanding too quickly?
And the reason being is because I personally, I feel
like it helps the league, It helps the team, it
helps the game. If you have two to three stars
on a squad that fans can get behind, and I
mean they get behind everybody, but teams got to have
(20:50):
the two to three stars per team. And if you
start expanding too quickly, do you water that talent down
a little bit? I don't know, it's a question, but
I know there are other players who have like the
same concerns or thoughts on Okay, like let's pump the
(21:10):
brakes a little bit, because what we don't want to
do is get to a point to where we have
so many teams that you don't necessarily have those stars
per se on those teams.
Speaker 2 (21:22):
I get you.
Speaker 3 (21:23):
I think what I would say to that is when
we look at the WNBA draft and we see so
many stars coming from college like stars in the college game, Yeah,
that have the potential to be great, but they either
don't make it to a roster because roster spots are
so few and far between in the league currently, or
(21:46):
they do make a roster, but they're.
Speaker 2 (21:47):
Not actually able to develop.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
So I guess my question, not you know, just generally,
would be, would this offer an opportunity for those who
really could play in the league, an opportunity to truly grow,
especially with a new team who probably doesn't have expectations anyway, right, Like,
I think maybe the second or third round players and
(22:11):
specifically third round players who you know maybe could play,
but just know they're not gonna like, you're not gonna
take a spot from Chelsea Gray, You're not gonna take
a spot from you know, some of these other people.
Speaker 2 (22:20):
Well, because to me, here's what happens.
Speaker 1 (22:23):
Like women's basketball, women's sports in general, but in particular,
women's basketball is like it's hot, right, Like everybody's talking
about it, everybody wants a piece of it, and that's exciting.
But I say, don't start putting all these teams out
there just because because a lot of the players that
(22:46):
get drafted in the third round they're not gonna they're
not even gonna make.
Speaker 2 (22:50):
An expansion team.
Speaker 1 (22:51):
So now you have an expansion team that pretty much
has third round picks.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
And they're not gonna be any good. So then what happened?
Speaker 1 (23:03):
Then?
Speaker 2 (23:03):
You know what happened there?
Speaker 1 (23:05):
People start talking about us saying, oh, well, Whomen's basketball.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Well, you know what, I think that's a you know what,
that's a great counter argument too, sure, because when you're expanding,
you want the product to be good where you expand to,
and you definitely want a level of investment. Because that's
another part that's important too when we talk about expansion
right now, Like teams aren't throwing bread at getting is
a good girl Charlott out here drinking a damn lemon
(23:31):
drop Martinist. It's all grown folks in here. It is
all grown folks in here.
Speaker 1 (23:36):
But I shouldn't, somebody said.
Speaker 3 (23:40):
But but no, I do think that you make a
great point with that, because you do want the product
to be competitive and you want it to be good
across the board, but you also want a certain level
of investment, right and I think you only get that
like the Valkyrie's already, like they sold out season tickets
within like weeks. They sold out, you know, the opening
(24:00):
game within days and they hadn't even like they hadn't
even disclosed the name of the team yet, right, And
so that type of excitement I think you want to
generate from every team that you expand to, but you
want the product to be just as good as the
excitement in the marketing. So I totally understand that point.
I guess what I'm saying too, is that as long
as there is an investment in the development of players,
(24:23):
just as much as there is an investment in the
physicality of things and the facilities in the marketing, as
long as there is an actual investment in the development.
Speaker 2 (24:31):
Of players too.
Speaker 3 (24:32):
It could be not saying it will or won't, but
it could be because I also think at it from
a coaching perspective, Right, how many people we say should
be coaching on the team should have an opportunity to
work with players and don't because either there's no opportunity
or we got folks who, if we keeping it a buck,
will only deal with their folks, so they don't give
(24:53):
these people an opportunity.
Speaker 4 (24:54):
Right.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
So I can see your reservation, is what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (24:58):
I can see it, But.
Speaker 1 (25:00):
Like I'm super excited about it, right if those who
know way better than I do.
Speaker 2 (25:07):
They're like, yeah, we're good and it's the time to
do it. And then I'm like, we'll go ahead and
do it.
Speaker 1 (25:11):
All right, But the product that we put on the floor,
it's got to be it's gotta be good.
Speaker 2 (25:16):
It's gotta be good. All right.
Speaker 1 (25:18):
We know we've worked really hard to get to where
we are today, y'all. It's gotta be good. Y'all did okay,
y'all worked so hard. Matter of fact, I got a
sweatshirt here for anybody who can tell me what team
Sheryl Swoops worked hard.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
With to get to the team where we are. What
anybody know, but the what team raising what you have
to answer? Houston Commas, come on and get your sweater, y'all.
Speaker 2 (25:41):
Make that was so easy? And what I mean?
Speaker 4 (25:44):
Listen, we got a warm up.
Speaker 2 (25:45):
Okay, okay, okay, I warm them up.
Speaker 6 (25:49):
It was a warm.
Speaker 2 (25:51):
Warm up. There, we got tea.
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Yes, oh, we have a special guest ready to join
us at this moment.
Speaker 2 (26:01):
But I feel like you had a question. You have
a question. I have a quiz question I'm gonna do.
Speaker 1 (26:04):
I'll do a Beanie do Beanie? You major is easy,
so I'm gonna make mine easy. I have this nice
red eyeheart y'all, this is nice.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
I know.
Speaker 2 (26:14):
I'm gonna have one for myself. For anybody that can
tell me the name of.
Speaker 1 (26:22):
The first female to have her own shoe?
Speaker 2 (26:28):
What was the name of the shoe? Oh? I know,
I know, I know.
Speaker 1 (26:35):
You are you? That one was easy, That one was
very easy. As a matter, you shouldn't even get to answer.
Speaker 6 (26:45):
Yes.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Yeah, Sheryl paved the way. So now we got our
girl agent post and who got her own shoes?
Speaker 4 (26:49):
Come on, now.
Speaker 3 (26:59):
We have a special getting ready to join us. I
want you all to make some noise for our good friends,
our guy. Look that national champion by the way, Rashan
mccant's come on up here.
Speaker 2 (27:09):
Now what first?
Speaker 3 (27:15):
I said national champion and he came up with the
with the Carolina kicks on.
Speaker 2 (27:19):
You said, I saw that. You know what I mean?
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Before you even ask a question, can you explain to
the people why you got the crown on?
Speaker 4 (27:28):
Does it need an explanation?
Speaker 1 (27:31):
I mean not for me, but Mike, somebody might need
an explanation, somebody.
Speaker 4 (27:39):
I figured it just looked really really nice on me. Yeah,
I figured it just fit. Told me to take it off.
I don't think you should take it and it just
asked why I got it on.
Speaker 6 (27:49):
You know, it takes a lot of confidence to wear
such a thing it does and.
Speaker 1 (27:54):
That it does, and we know you are not sacking
in any of that figure.
Speaker 4 (27:58):
Where it is.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Sometimes you might as well shine a bit, huh.
Speaker 4 (28:02):
Got to coordinate.
Speaker 2 (28:04):
You are coordinating.
Speaker 4 (28:05):
It's just a hat with a whole lib's far though.
Speaker 2 (28:07):
I like it well.
Speaker 3 (28:10):
First, yes, thank you, thank you so much for joining
the levels to this podcast. We like to kick it
and be chill and first and foremost, just you know
what has I know, literally the weekend is just kicking off.
Speaker 2 (28:21):
So you probably ain't really got into it got into
it yet.
Speaker 3 (28:23):
But just you know, how have you enjoyed the twenty
twenty five NBA All Stars so far?
Speaker 4 (28:29):
Like?
Speaker 2 (28:30):
What has this experience been like for you so far?
Speaker 6 (28:33):
I haven't been to an All Star since twenty ten. Why,
that's the last time I played in the league.
Speaker 2 (28:41):
So when you retired, you just said I don't want
to do All Star.
Speaker 4 (28:46):
No.
Speaker 6 (28:46):
I mean when I was playing, I was to participated,
you know, So the last one I participated in was
like twenty ten, and then after.
Speaker 4 (28:56):
That it's just hard to it's hard to go to
these things. You competing.
Speaker 6 (29:00):
Yeah, and you know you're a competitor, and if I'm
not in it, I don't want to be around it.
I know I can't do that. So it's been difficult.
Speaker 2 (29:11):
So you don't pay anymore. So we're still feel that.
Speaker 4 (29:14):
Way, Yeah, a little bit where you can still play.
Speaker 1 (29:17):
Oh so you can still Yeah.
Speaker 6 (29:21):
Man, you could have got that extra for me on
that parlay, you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (29:27):
So it's just a it's a it's a it's a.
Speaker 6 (29:29):
Love hate thing when it comes to All Star and
that competitive drive. But this is my first one, so
I don't see myself staying too much longer.
Speaker 2 (29:39):
Oh wow.
Speaker 3 (29:39):
So from two thousand, I think from twenty ten up
until now, just the whole first of all, the whole.
Speaker 2 (29:46):
NBA dynamic has changed and it's very different.
Speaker 3 (29:49):
Like what are some of the I don't want to
say some of the changes, but like, as this game
has evolved and as the league has evolved, Like, what
are some things that stand out to you where you like,
you know, as we're a little different then or whereas
like I actually kind of like that, you know, guys,
have this opportunity now, or people have this opportunity now.
Speaker 6 (30:08):
I think that the opportunity to be still available is
just great, you know, for guys to still be able
to go to All Star and play in the NBA
and all that good stuff.
Speaker 4 (30:19):
I wish that it could be a little bit more competitive.
Speaker 6 (30:22):
I think the appreciation for the slots should be a
little bit more appreciated. I think we're turning it into
more of a privilege than something that you work and
strive and you want, right and I think some guys
just expect it and if we're just giving it away
(30:42):
now based on criteria, favors, agents, front offices, they're doing
it for the business. And then you ask yourself, what
is the athlete going to do, you know, going to
do it for. So they need to fix it, they
need to fix the balance.
Speaker 1 (30:58):
So we've had this conversation before, and you know, there's
a lot of talk out there about what can be
done to make all start more exciting like the game.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
What do you think needs.
Speaker 1 (31:13):
To change at NBA All Star for it to be
more competitive and more exciting and to get the fans
more involved and excited about it. Like I used to
really look forward to the three point shooting contest, the
slam Dunk contest, and even.
Speaker 2 (31:28):
The game right and nowadays I'm just like slam Dunk.
Speaker 1 (31:34):
I'm the G League slam Dunk Contest. I am tuning
in to because my son. But like, what do you
think the NBA can do to get it back to
where it used to be?
Speaker 6 (31:45):
I think we need to move forward. I think sometimes
we get what does that mean? We get sidetracked with
the past and we want to go back to how
it was when we were used to it, you know.
I think that's what the new generation complains of out
calling us the old and we used to do the thing.
We used to do the same things to the generation
before us. You think, you know, we should think they
(32:08):
was old, you know. And I think it's just the
evolution of the game. Like I said, the competitiveness is
the one thing I think if All Star MVP is
not enough of a I want to go get that.
It's got to be something that's going to crown you someone.
Someone's going to get a reward at the end. But
also I think in sports, the shame of losing should
(32:33):
also drive you. Not being able to see the reward
should drive you, you know, and I thought, I don't think
it's enough of that. I think having fifty million dollars
a year and not having to perform up to that number.
Speaker 4 (32:53):
Is insane.
Speaker 1 (32:55):
Like fifty million dollars should motivate you, like.
Speaker 2 (32:59):
You should need it any more motivation I don't need.
But I don't need fifty million to motivate me.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
You give me one million, you give me fifty k,
and I'm about to go show out.
Speaker 2 (33:08):
Okay, Papa shot is in the back, and I'm gonna
show out for fifty k. I'm doing it.
Speaker 4 (33:17):
What this is?
Speaker 2 (33:19):
This real as it gets.
Speaker 3 (33:20):
But you know what, also, I think that from what
I can recall and remember, it was when certain stars cared,
when certain stars kind of motivated folks, then other people
kind of like to me, you couldn't you know, God
rest his soul, But to me, you couldn't tell me,
like Kobe would.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Be like nine about the ball out for real? Like, ma, Kobe,
I don't like loose. I don't remember, damn what is
on a you know what I'm saying right Like, I don't.
Speaker 3 (33:47):
Like the loose, And so I think there is I
think of the things that you said, the one things
that's missing is that general that's saying, hey, look, were
not really giving the people what they pay for, we
not really doing what we need to do.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
You just kind of need that person.
Speaker 3 (34:02):
I think you need that one star to take it seriously,
and it might help to motivate some other people to
take it a bit more seriously.
Speaker 6 (34:10):
I think you got to take it a step further
than that because it's come from the vets that's supposed
to be teaching them. Yeah right, right, you know, you
got to be a teacher that teaches teachers, right, right.
So if you want to be called a vet, and
we need a league full of veterans, right because we
consider veterans leaders.
Speaker 4 (34:28):
Yeah right.
Speaker 6 (34:28):
So if you don't have no leadership coming from anywhere else,
they don't know what to do, they don't know how
to lead, they don't.
Speaker 4 (34:37):
Know how to point guys in the same direction.
Speaker 6 (34:39):
So I think collectively, as a culture, I think the
culture of basketball in general, both men and women, I
think we collectively need to come together and strategize, you know,
how to get this thing on the right path.
Speaker 4 (34:55):
Because I think the women's is bring it to me,
come on.
Speaker 6 (35:02):
Their trajectory is better come out it feels better. Come on,
I think if all that would need it was Caitlyn's
little injection of attention to show how structured basketball can
be from a linear side. Look at it like the
(35:22):
women have done it in a way where they still
play real basketball. They play hard. They just haven't been
getting a notoriety for the other side of the men's side,
like we have our side, which is the entertainment the
dunks in the three seasons. But you guys have what
the essence of the game is.
Speaker 2 (35:42):
I say that all the time. I say that all
the time, yo.
Speaker 3 (35:46):
Like to me, when I hear people say things like
y'all should lower to Rim. First of all, I want
to throw a tomato at they face when they say that,
because it's crazy to me. But secondly, the reason tomato
just just because it's messy, and it's just it's a mess.
Can you imagine a man in a white and all white,
just fresh like this, and then they say some dumb
stuff to me talking abut y'all shuld lord of Rim.
(36:06):
Just a white red tomato, just blank that whole damn
outfit of it. But the reason why it bugs me
is because I then have to turn around and ask
the question like, well, is the reason that you're watching
the NBA because they're dunking? If they were not dunking
in the NBA or if they were not doing though,
and now you look at the game and because of
(36:27):
the guy that we see on the back of the
wall there donks ain't even what moves people anymore. It's
three point shooting, it's long hour shooting, it's long forms,
you know what I mean.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
So to your point with the game continuing.
Speaker 3 (36:38):
To evolve, I love that about women's basketball, that the
game is evolving in that realm too, but they still
have not straight away from the fundamentals and the things
that made them who they are as ballplayers.
Speaker 2 (36:54):
I love that well for sure. So I know we
talked about the NBA and all start all that.
Speaker 1 (37:01):
What and I know you know women's basketball because your
sister played and you are a big proponent of women's basketball.
Speaker 2 (37:11):
What do you and you mentioned.
Speaker 1 (37:13):
Caitlin, what do you see is the biggest difference right
now where the women's game is compared to where it
was when the w first started in ninety seven.
Speaker 4 (37:26):
I think the change for me was when it was Shamika.
Speaker 6 (37:35):
And Tamika Tennessee when the branding outside of After You
started to kind of go into the boy girl I
can play with them style, right, And then Candace came
and Candace was big enough and tall enough and she
(37:57):
can move, so she was really like, I can play
with the guy.
Speaker 4 (38:01):
I can play with y'all right.
Speaker 6 (38:03):
And for me, my sister being the similar to Candice,
I always used to tease her about playing with us
and say, look, don't come over here because we're not
taking it easy on you. And I'm definitely not taking
it easy. I'm taking it off from every time if
I can. So it made her tougher and to see
the evolution from her.
Speaker 4 (38:23):
To Maya more to you know, Cappy Pointdexters.
Speaker 6 (38:29):
You know you're talking about like the mixing all of
the eras of men's the men's game and seeing it
in the women's game and saying that they.
Speaker 4 (38:40):
Got just as much shake as we got.
Speaker 6 (38:42):
And if you go back to the rim lowering kind
of thing, it's like if you've never done, have you
ever done?
Speaker 2 (38:50):
Are you asking me? Have my ever? Dun No?
Speaker 4 (38:54):
I stayed in my lane, So when you know what
it feels like the dunk you might just.
Speaker 3 (39:01):
Were not lowering, not when not when, candas Parker has shown,
when she can do it.
Speaker 2 (39:09):
Stews shown that she.
Speaker 4 (39:10):
Can do it. But she can do it.
Speaker 1 (39:16):
Because there are women who can done already. So if
you're talking about lowering the rim on the women's side,
there's a whole lot of changes we need to make
on the men's side.
Speaker 4 (39:27):
Change.
Speaker 2 (39:29):
But you know what the thing is too.
Speaker 3 (39:30):
The thing is with that too, is that the moment
that you do that, right, Let's just say, for hypothetical purposes,
that we did lower the rims, right, then another group
of people will find something else about the women's game
to be like, well, since she lowered the realm, how
about we use how about we.
Speaker 4 (39:47):
Use a smaller ball.
Speaker 3 (39:48):
How about we use like like the ball is already
smaller than you know, how about we use different shorts,
like there's always gonna be t uniforms.
Speaker 2 (39:55):
It's always something.
Speaker 6 (39:56):
Yeah, the men's game, right, they moved the three point
in line, Oh, all right, at a certain point, then
they moved it back. First they had three seconds, then
they had a legal defense. Now they have two nine.
The rules can change only if it benefits the game.
Speaker 2 (40:16):
I don't think it benefits. How does Lord benefit the game.
It doesn't.
Speaker 6 (40:21):
It becomes more like you said, dunks, threes, crossovers.
Speaker 4 (40:27):
Right, What don't y'all have out of those three?
Speaker 2 (40:31):
I don't. I have all of them. We have all
of them. There are women who can dunk, just I
don't think.
Speaker 6 (40:37):
Because so when a woman dunks, is it wow, she dunked,
or is it man like John Moran?
Speaker 2 (40:45):
It depends.
Speaker 3 (40:46):
Well, first of all, that's an unfair question because how
many men.
Speaker 2 (40:50):
And how many men dunk like John Tucking, like Joahn Moran.
John Moran is a hobby. You can't.
Speaker 4 (40:57):
Like dag Levine.
Speaker 6 (40:58):
I'm talking about some nasty I'm talking about what woman
is going to do a nasty dunk.
Speaker 3 (41:03):
But you remember, though, that they used to have a
dunk contest for exactly remember, and I think.
Speaker 4 (41:08):
We should bring it back. Those dunks were the same,
we too.
Speaker 2 (41:12):
I think you should bring it back, right, All those.
Speaker 6 (41:13):
Dunes were the same. If you, Lord of go, those
girls going to do different dunks. I don't know, they're
gonna look different. Think about coming through the lane. If
you Britney Grinder coming through the lane right, catching it
and dunking it because she's big enough is one thing
juju Watkins coming down the lane, hop stepping and dunking,
Like if you're if you're tuning, ah.
Speaker 1 (41:37):
If you're only tuning in to see if somebody's gonna dunk,
we don't want you.
Speaker 2 (41:40):
That's what I'm saying.
Speaker 4 (41:43):
That's why we turned it. That's why I think you
watched baseball.
Speaker 2 (41:48):
I think knockouts, that is not why you watch you you.
Speaker 6 (41:54):
Watch football to watch touchdowns. You don't watch him to
get first down.
Speaker 2 (41:58):
Will I think it's I.
Speaker 3 (42:02):
Watched We We watch different sports for different reasons, But
I don't think my love of basketball is dependent on
whether or not somebody doesn't.
Speaker 4 (42:11):
But it adds to the entertainment value of your.
Speaker 3 (42:15):
Product when I see every day cross over and go
underneath the people.
Speaker 1 (42:20):
And I'm not saying I want to see more dunking
for the ones that are here. Do you tune in
to watch women's basketball to see how many people are
gonna dunk?
Speaker 3 (42:30):
If they were, but considering they like, they don't have to. Okay,
that's a fair point. That's a fair bub. See what
I'm saying, that's that's what makes the game. And I
think that's that's the point that I was getting ready
to make, right there.
Speaker 6 (42:46):
That right right right, because there's less dunking because they're
less dunk.
Speaker 3 (42:52):
W n b A and the dunk has not increasedship.
Speaker 4 (42:58):
Is down because they're shooting too many three and the w.
Speaker 3 (43:01):
N be A viewership is up and they still ain't
dunking no differently than they were ten years Because.
Speaker 6 (43:06):
Listen, they looking because the women women and looking like women.
Speaker 4 (43:11):
They look like women out.
Speaker 2 (43:13):
There, this right here is about to be serious.
Speaker 4 (43:19):
We're talking about the show.
Speaker 6 (43:22):
Was probably the only one really was wearing the lipstick
playing back and you and.
Speaker 2 (43:26):
You you Glass were red.
Speaker 4 (43:29):
Listen, relative was the only ones giving us now a
little bit. Now it's they out there.
Speaker 3 (43:34):
Looking like So you have taught me two things today,
Like you like basketball.
Speaker 4 (43:39):
Look imagine we're looking at you dunk. You look like
a snack.
Speaker 2 (43:46):
You can play what kind of.
Speaker 4 (43:53):
The snack place on the airplane? Right on the airplane?
Speaker 2 (43:57):
Yeah, opened up a little the mixt.
Speaker 1 (44:03):
Don't be looking at me like I'm a smack. For
no listen, I have I know we got a wrap.
But I have one question for you because I want
to get your honest opinion, because I know a lot
of people had their own opinions on.
Speaker 4 (44:16):
This so.
Speaker 2 (44:18):
Ice Cube.
Speaker 1 (44:21):
I guess last year offering Caitlyn Clark, however much money
was I don't remember, to go and play in the
Big Three.
Speaker 2 (44:31):
My question to you is.
Speaker 1 (44:36):
Basically, what were your thoughts on that, because here's my
thing before you answer, I don't I don't care who
it is.
Speaker 2 (44:44):
I really don't.
Speaker 1 (44:45):
Caitlin Asia Angel, Chelsea Gray, I don't care who it is.
At the end of the day, there's still men and
you're still a female.
Speaker 2 (44:57):
So for him to come and do what he did
to me, it was.
Speaker 1 (45:00):
More of a political stunt, like, oh, well, we know
if she comes, eyes were.
Speaker 4 (45:07):
Going to come.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
So what what was your thought when you read that
or saw that.
Speaker 6 (45:13):
I didn't even think about it from you guys aside immediately.
I think the first thing was how many guys are upset? Yes,
you didn't like you would offer her like you do
you know how much they pay the Big Three players?
Speaker 5 (45:29):
Yeah?
Speaker 4 (45:29):
Hundred thousand, Nope, not even close. So wow, fact that
that would be.
Speaker 6 (45:36):
You're going to give her ten million, yeah, and you're
not even giving them twenty thousand.
Speaker 3 (45:42):
Wow.
Speaker 4 (45:43):
So that was the smack in the face smack, yo,
that's weird. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (45:49):
Yeah, then we do it with.
Speaker 4 (45:50):
A publicity stunt, because you know, million for Caitlin Clark.
Speaker 6 (45:54):
She hasn't proven anything at that point at all, and
it was like, yo, what but then looking at it
from your point to pass over a lot of other
players or not even you know, use that money for
investing bringing the girls side to two three, right.
Speaker 3 (46:12):
Which now we have on rivals, which is essentially you
don't even it's the same thing.
Speaker 2 (46:16):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 6 (46:19):
You could have definitely maximized that without having to pay
Caitlyn Clark anything. You could have just brought Asia Kelsey
and just you could have just brought three, just three,
and you ain't have to really do nothing. But he
swung for the fences, and you know, unfortunately sometimes you miss. Yeah,
(46:40):
he rarely misses, but you missed this time.
Speaker 4 (46:43):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (46:43):
Yeah, Well, we appreciate you joining us.
Speaker 3 (46:46):
I'm gonna be laughing at you for a good fifteen
minutes talking about the damn snacks.
Speaker 2 (46:54):
I'm gonna be like.
Speaker 4 (46:59):
Looking at us.
Speaker 1 (47:02):
You know, I can't I can't even argue with you
because the last episode we talked about football.
Speaker 2 (47:10):
Football, we did talk about Jalen Hurts.
Speaker 3 (47:12):
I have to put my professional side towards Jalon Hurts
is a damn snack.
Speaker 2 (47:17):
I'm so sorry. I apologize. I'm so sorry.
Speaker 4 (47:22):
I understand.
Speaker 3 (47:25):
It has it has certainly been so much fun hanging
out with y'all. Thank you so much for joining us.
I'm about to touch it. I don't touch it because
you're too smooth. Sure we do this every week since.
Speaker 2 (47:36):
I know we do, and we will be back tomorrow.
Speaker 3 (47:39):
We will be back tomorrow, absolutely, and we will be
joined by Christina Williams for a special crossover episode between
Levels of This and Christina Williams. So if you have
not yet downloaded the show or listened to the podcast,
please tune in to us. We are found on Apple
Podcasts or wherever you get your podcast. Levels to This
with Cheryl Swoops and Tarika Foster Brasby.
Speaker 2 (48:00):
It's been a great day. It's all right. One to
enjoy your weekend, guys. Thanks y'all.
Speaker 1 (48:07):
Listen to Levels to This on America's number one podcast network, iHeart.
Open your free iHeart app and search Levels to This
with Ryl Swoops and Treka Foster Brasbee and start listening.
Hosts And Creators
Terrika Foster-Brasby
Sheryl Swoopes
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