September 15, 2025 • 37 mins
In this episode of Naked Sports, Cari begins by expressing sadness over current world events, focusing on the political violence underscored by the murder of conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk. She highlights the intense division and mob mentality prevalent in society today, urging listeners to find the middle ground.
The episode then shifts focus to an interview with Tyriq Withers, the star of the upcoming Jordan Peele sports horror film 'Him.' Withers discusses his role, his journey as an actor and athlete, and the film's central themes of hero worship and the human experience of athletes. The conversation touches on Withers' background, the authenticity he brings to his role, and his interactions with co-star Marlon Wayans. We wrap up with Withers sharing his GOAT picks in both football and basketball. Then Cari reflects on finding hope and dreaming big, even in dark times, emphasizing the importance of escape through family, friends, and entertainment.
"HIM" released in theaters exclusively on Friday, September 19, 2025
Watch the trailer: HIM | Official Trailer
Connect: @CariChampion @TyriqWithers
Subscribe: Naked Sports with Cari Champion's YouTube Channel
See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:01):
Welcome to Naked Sports, the podcast where we live at
the intersection of sports, politics, and culture. Our purpose reveal
the common threads that bind them all. So what's happening
in women's basketball right now is what we've been trying to.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Get to for almost thirty years.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
From the stadiums where athletes break barriers and set records.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Caitlin Quark broke the all time single game assist record.
This is crazy for rookies to be doing.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Our discussions will uncover the vital connections between these realms
and the community we create. In each episode, we'll sit
down with athletes, political analysts, and culture critics because at
the core of it all, how we see one issue
shines the light on all others. Welcome to Naked Sports.
I'm your host, Carrie Champion. Hey everybody, welcome to another
(00:52):
edition of Naked Sports. I'm excited about today's show, as
I'm excited about all of the shows, but today I
add an opportunity to interv you Typreek Withers. He is
the star of the upcoming Jordan Pill football horror film
sports horror film. If you will him, you may have
seen it. Marlon Wayans, I know you've seen all the
previews out and about, and they're doing a press blast,
(01:14):
so we have an opportunity to sit and talk with
him about sports, his favorite goats, this being his very
first big role, how he was chosen for this film,
how he was super excited and I appreciated his honesty,
and in short, if I had to talk about the
film or just what I thought was a central point,
(01:34):
it's about be careful when you meet your idols, because
your idols can soon then be your rivals. So tread lightly.
And I think that everybody's experienced that. I've met some
of my idols and thought, oh, let me tread lightly.
And I'm sure people have idolized me or liked me.
I wantly idolized liked me, and thought, oh let me
tread lightly. This isn't don't I'm too close to her.
(01:55):
I'm starting to see how human she is, and that
is what we talk about, being human when you have
been put on a pedestal, being human when you want
to be on a pedestal. All of those things are
very interesting to me. But before we get into that,
I would be lying if I didn't tell you. I
(02:15):
am pretty I'm pretty sad about what's going on in
our world today. I have shared a lot of my
personal life with you all, but professionally as well. I'm
really sad about the world that we are living in,
and I think the two go together. Oftentimes, I've been
told just to stick to sports when I try to
talk about politics, and I don't believe that is my calling.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
I wish it was.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
I wish I could just put my head down and
ignore what's happening in our world today, but I cannot.
And so yesterday, when the video of Charlie Kirk, the
conservative podcaster advocate if you will, whatever title you'd like
to give him, when the video of him being shot
and murdered on a college campus went viral, I thought
(03:01):
to myself, we are in bad times for various reasons. One,
it was horrible to see, horrible to see, and the
fact that we can log on in today's times and
watch it over and over again, to me, talks about
our lack of empathy for one's family, our need to
(03:25):
feel entitled to see death, which is also horrible. I
don't think anybody who's ever dealt with death should witness
it just as casually as we can.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
And then the bigger issue for me was how in fact.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
People immediately immediately divided and went from one side to
the other.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Take a listener.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
I am tired of hearing people say, like Barack Obama did,
like Hillary Clinton did, oh, we.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Condemn this violence.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Guess what. You can't call the president of the United
States for ten years Adolf Hitler, and you can't say
that he's a fascist dictator. And you can't say that
anyone who voted for Trump or advocated for him like you, Me, Riley,
and Charlie Kirk are Nazis. And then when someone tries
to kill us, you can't suddenly say, oh, we condemn
(04:23):
this violence.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
You caused it.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
On the floor of the House, Republican Representative Bobnder of
Missouri describe the political left as quote pure evil.
Speaker 6 (04:34):
Well, everything has changed. If we didn't know it already,
there is no longer any middle ground. Some of the
American left are undoubtedly well meaning people, but their ideology
is pure evil.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
This is detestable. What's happened.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Political violence has become all too common in American society,
and this is not who we are.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
It violates the core principles of our country. The Leapins
was saying, put a bulls on Trump, a bullson Is supporters.
Charlie Kirk's a casualty of war.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
We're in this country.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
We are the assassination of Charlie Kirk risks in uncuirking
of political chaos and violence that we cannot risk in America.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
We cannot risk it.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
All of us have got to work together and de
escalate the hate and the rhetoric in this country. And
remember we're Americans, and you can disagree in a way
that doesn't end in a horrible way today.
Speaker 7 (05:27):
For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful
Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass
murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible
for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today
and it must stop right now.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
And with that being said, I know we can't help
but politicize this death because of who he was as
a conservative and his views as a conservative and this
current administration. And now we're hearing horrible things. HBCUs are
under attack. They've been getting threatening messages about coming on
(06:11):
campus and doing damage. We've been hearing people to say
this is an attack from the left, liberals really are
attacking us. You can't be a conservative in today's age.
We're being attacked. And all I would suggest is caution.
I would suggest that we all tread lightly before we
pick one side. And the only reason why I say
(06:32):
that is because just mere months ago, back in June,
two Democratic officials were two Democratic leaders were shot and
killed in their homes. We're in scary times when people
are dying for what they believe in. History always repeats
this self. This is not unfamiliar in the United States.
(06:55):
But what is also not familiar is the ability to
watch this in real time and anybody can weigh in
and have an opinion, and can rile up the troops
and say they are against us, let's go have at it.
We cannot have a mob mentality, and we do have
a mob mentality on both sides. And that's what scares
(07:16):
me about Charlie Kirk being murdered yesterday. That mob mentality
never wins. And we are in scary times. We aren't
entering scary times.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
We are in scary times.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And if we have that mindset and we are aware
that we cannot give in to mob mentality, my prayer
is that we can change the world. That's my prayer,
that's what I would hope. And there are some people
who disagree with me, and I understand that, but I
need you to understand what happened yesterday is setting the
(07:50):
tone for what will happen in the coming days and weeks,
and I pray that we all find some sort of
middle ground here, because us versus them will only end
up in chaos and destruction, and so I hope that
we take the time to take a beat and understand
(08:10):
where we are.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
You make those decisions. The choice is yours.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
But it was really sad to see what happened yesterday.
And then right after that happened, there was a school
shooting where three or four kids were injured. We couldn't
even talk about that because we were so consumed with
Charlie Kirk. We got a problem, y'all. And it's times
like this where we need an escape. And I'm going
(08:37):
to do a hard turn right here, a hard hard turn.
Escape can be friends, family, fun, entertainment. And here's my
hard turn. It is the escape of this all with
this interview that I had today, because it really and
this interview will take you, guys, out of your downward spiral.
If you're in one, it'll take you out of a
(08:57):
bad mood. It is a story, a drill life story
of a young actor who got a big break and
he is an incredible film with an incredible cast and
a huge, huge following. Anybody who loves get Out Jordan
Peel's films will be locked in. The cinematography, the music,
the acting, all of it amazing. It is a dream
(09:20):
come true. Tyreek is virtually unheard of. He was in
one episode of Atlanta, the TV show, and they found
him from that one episode of Atlanta, literally anitle on
a haystack. This is another example of dreams do come true,
Dreams can come true. I hope you all still believe
and still dream. I'm a big believer in that, especially
(09:41):
in times like this. Especially in times like this, still dream,
Still have hope.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Try not to be discouraged.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
I know it's hard, but this particular moment in time,
I'm happy that I had an opportunity to interview Tyreek Weathers,
star of him, Sit back, relax and enjoyed this episode
of Naked Sports.
Speaker 8 (10:03):
My name is Tyreek Withers, and I am a sensitive
storyteller who's also a Funkle, who's also a former football player,
a former soccer player, a current Ronaldinial lover, a Randy
Moss enthusiast.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, I think that comes good.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
That's good, you do it all.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
That's bad?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, no, it's it's it's fun because usually people don't
like to brag on themselves or talk about themselves, So
it forces you to say things that you are creative
and good at without bragging.
Speaker 8 (10:34):
So now now all I'm worried about is my nephew
telling me I'm not fun you.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
I don't think you'll say that, so you no pressure him.
This film, for me, I think will live at the
intersection of what many athletes would like to talk about
ups and the downs of being an athlete at its
most extreme, at its most extream level. Tell me about
(11:02):
the project and how you were the chosen one for
this particular project, How did Tyreek become him?
Speaker 8 (11:10):
So I'll talk about the process to get in the role,
and then I'll talk about what I feel like this
this project means for me. So you know, I grew
up playing sports, and you know I played on a
winning Division one college football team at Florida State, and
so I have a little background in football, but you know,
I think they were casting this process where they couldn't
(11:30):
find somebody who had the American football intellect or like
the cadence, the you know, the swagger of a football.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Player who could throw a football.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
So, you know, I was in Montenegro shooting a film
and then they reach out to my team saying they
wanted to meet. You know, the time zones were different,
so I was meeting at like two am, after a
thirteen hour workday to talk about this script. And I
got to read the script and I was obsessed with
the script, with themes.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
You know.
Speaker 8 (11:59):
We were on multiple conversations for like hours and they
were like, you know, can we can you throw football?
And I was like, you know, I did what every
actor does, like.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, yeah, I can throw football. And then they're like
let me see.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
Uh So they had me record throwing a football. So
you know how hard it is to get in American
football in Montenegro.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
It took me.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
It sounds difficult, It is difficult. Okay, it took like
a week. And I got the director of that film.
Speaker 8 (12:32):
I finessed him into filming me, and he was like
he made it very like cinematic he was like, all right, we're.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Gonna punch it.
Speaker 8 (12:37):
We're gonna start wide, We're gonna do it. Do Wonner here,
We're gonna swing here, watch the football go. And yeah,
that was just a testament to having good people in
your life. And I sent the video off to Monkey
Paul and they were.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Like, this was the best piece of work. We can
throw this in the trailer.
Speaker 8 (12:55):
But yeah, my throw at the time was not anything
near what you see in the film.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
And then I had to.
Speaker 8 (13:02):
Do the acting chops part of it all, where I
got on a call with Justin Tipping and the casting
director and we workshopped two scenes for about two hours,
and they were really trying to tampion me into becoming
him for this movie, because, you know, not really having
much to stand on other than the illustrious episode for Atlanta.
(13:26):
That was my only really leading project that I could
That was my demo real and they got me into
the role. So shout out Donald Glover. But yeah, and
then a couple of days later I ended up getting
the role. The gas lit me a little bit. They said,
you got one more audition and got on the call
and then that's when Jordan Peele got on the call
and they were like.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Ah, do you know Jordan Pill? I was like, do
I know Jordan's pill? Something was up?
Speaker 8 (13:52):
I was like, he wouldn't be on this call to
tell me I didn't get the role. So mid mid
improv audition with Justin Tipping, he yells out you got
the part and I blacked out, camera knocked over that.
I had like picture this set up on the floor
like I.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Was crying. At one point, I was like, I lost
all aura. I lost all aura.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Yeah, you were like I can't be cool no more.
I just can't and you shouldn't be by the way.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Yeah, exactly so. But yeah, I think this whole journey
reading the script.
Speaker 8 (14:27):
And why I'm drawn to this this movie is because
I think as as spectators, as audience members, we look
at athletes, black athletes and we forget there they're they're
human beings, right, And I think that's one thing I
want people to take away from this film is you know,
it is okay to cries, It is okay to to
(14:47):
to have anxiety attacks, It is okay to take a
second to to nurture your body if you aren't able
to keep moving forward.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
And I think.
Speaker 8 (14:56):
It's to shine a light on anybody chasing greatness and
what it takes to sacrifice to get there. And I
think this movie is bigger than football. It's more than football,
it's more than sports. It's the pursuit of greatness, and
I think you know that journey can look so many
different ways. Where if you want to be a surgeon,
(15:16):
if you want to be the greatest trumpet player, you know,
I think you feel like you have to put your
body and your mind through certain.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Rigorous activities to get there.
Speaker 8 (15:28):
But I think there's a healthy balance and it is
okay to feel those emotions, and it is okay to cry,
it is okay to feel the human experience because a
lot of these athletes, you know, they they perform on
the field and they have probably seconds or millimeters to
prove themselves from good to great theoretically. But it's much
(15:48):
deeper than that. Like I think, it's life is important.
Where are you a great dad?
Speaker 2 (15:54):
You know?
Speaker 8 (15:54):
Are you a great son? Are you a great uncle?
Are you a great person?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
And the the.
Speaker 8 (16:00):
Value at the end of the road isn't the only thing.
I think the full life experience is what is important.
And I think that's what drew me to this film.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I think it's extraordinary.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
While you make fun of the fact that you were
on the team in Florida State from twenty sixteen to
twenty seventeen, shout out to Jimbo Fisher. Yes you played ball,
but you're like, I really didn't play, but you were
still around the atmosphere of a championship level team.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
I'd rather I'd rather not get.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Time on a championship team any day or the year
than be on a great team or okay team and
play all day long. What what did that do for
you in terms of the mentality and the mindset of
going into making him because it is important and you
know every athlete will watch this and say can he
really throw?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Does this look authentic? Which I thought why it was.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Really smart for Jordan to say, we need somebody who
can actually throw the ball.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
But what do you think that you provide in terms
of authenticity for this particular role Having been around that
mindset in college.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
Yeah, I think I make the joke all the time.
I didn't play, but you know, I didn't play on
game day. But I think the cool thing about playing
on a team like that is I'm going up against
the ones and twos every practice like that, that intimidation
that when you have to, you have to block the
current day highest paid defensive end in the league.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
You know what I'm saying. Like Brian Burns was on
our team.
Speaker 8 (17:34):
You had the Marcus Walker and I'm like, seventeen eighteen,
just turned eighteen. I'm like, I'm the weakest on the team.
Bird chest central over here, right, But you were there,
But I was there and I was performing. I always
made the joke like I score more points than all
the teams we played, so good good. Yeah, Like I
(17:55):
wonder if we could pull up the highlight tape from practice.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
You should, that should, don't. I'm not.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
I'm not gonna poo poo that. That's a big deal.
I understand. I don't want you to poo poo that.
And that made it and that arguably made it look authentic.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
But then you you went to for my understanding, you
correct me if I'm wrong. You went to camp.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
You worked in Arizona with Carson Palmer's brother Jordan, who
has his own football camp.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Did that change anything for you?
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (18:21):
His camp was actually in Orange County, so yeah, so
it was a little more accessible so yeah, that that
changed so much for me. Where Like if you look
at my throat at the beginning of this casting process,
it was a because I played wide receiver, and so yeah,
I thought it was gonna be an easy transition.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Uh, you know, I can make it look like I
can throw a football.
Speaker 8 (18:43):
I know the mechanics, but no, I think my level
of integrity I wanted to bring to this this film.
I wanted to make it look authentic as possible. And
shout out to Monkey Pop for really getting me in
the mix with Jordan Palmer.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
And that I who learned right away.
Speaker 8 (19:01):
When you're training along sign Joe Milton, you know Josh
Allen popped in for a little bit, You're like, I
know nothing.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
That's crazy, but that's crazy.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
And you see Joe Joe Milton just casually throw eighty
harsh trying to get a spiral.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I'm trying to just figure it out.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
When I think of something like that, I'm intimidated. But
then you have to go and act alongside someone like Marlin,
who is a legend in his own right, his family
legendary what they've done for actors, for black actors, for
comedian actors, and he has such a different personality. Everyone
asked the question, what is that like? But you have
(19:41):
to understand on so many levels, and you do get this.
I'm watching a seasoned actor work with a new actor,
if you will, and the roles are different. A season vet,
he's playing a season vett, and you're you're a new
guy trying to just before the you know, you're getting
ready to say I'm trying to go to the league.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
I get I get.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Injured or and I don't know how I feel about myself.
What was that exchange like between you and Marlon? Did
he take you aside and say, let me show you
what it looked like rook or did you guys just
naturally have a flow?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (20:10):
I think it was more on the naturalistic side of things,
where like, you know, going into the uh, you know,
we first met each other in training, uh, And I
didn't know how he'd embraced me. I didn't know who
he was personally as a person. I just knew his
work and the iconic movies and sitcoms and whatnot that
(20:31):
you know, I was familiar with. So you know, you
kind of you show up. I showed up. I always
show up in a humble way. And you know, he
embraced me immediately with the love. But what come with
that love comes the jokes, the teasing, which is like,
you know, I always say I lost an older brother,
but I think God sent Marlon into my life at
(20:55):
this time specifically and at a time where I was
yearning for that brotherhood, that that that older brother mentality,
and I think that was the a healing process of
this movie where you know, we got to, you know,
really do this together. And I just learned so much
from him where you know, a newer actor, I hold
(21:17):
onto things tight, like obsess over it and I need
to like prove myself. And then he just taught me
the freedom of it all, where you can you approach
a scene and like not care what anybody thinks, you know.
And I think that was a cool thing where like
you didn't know what you'd get on any take. And
I think that was the beauty of my reacting and
(21:39):
being a vessel for the audience to feel that the
psychological warfare and you know, it was just like this
many times I broke because you know, you don't know
what he's gonna say.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
The crew Labs, Crew Labs.
Speaker 8 (21:55):
Yeah, I learned so much and another thing he taught
me is save your money, and I'm like, I have none.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
I have zero dollars.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I have student loans.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
So every time anytime we go out to dinner, I'm like,
you got this, you got this, Marlon, and He's like, yeah,
I got it.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
So yeah, he's always showing love.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I love that. Okay, So then no pressure. You have
the Jordan Peel of it all.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
And what I love about what he's doing is bringing
in fairly new talent buyd the scenes as well in
front of the camera, you know, to try something different.
I love the idea of finding new talent. So you
have justin tipping. Tell me about what it was like
to work with someone who you talk about yourself not
really having a serious long resume. Someone could say the
(22:38):
same for him to have such an important film, what
was that relationship?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Right? Yeah?
Speaker 8 (22:45):
Seeing Jordan's transition from comedy orror was amazing to witness.
And I think I used to manifest working with Jordan
Peele and I was like, how can I work with
Jordan pill I don't have a resume. But then the
beautiful thing about get Out is ah the reason why
he cast Daniel Clier was off of this one episode
of Black Mirror and then I was like, oh, I
(23:07):
might I might be able to you know, get in
there with Jordan Peele, although Daniel Clier was working before
that as well, but like I think Jordan Peel, his
his risk taking abilities was saw.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
For me like early early on, and yeah.
Speaker 8 (23:27):
It's just cool to be in the mix when you know, yes,
he took a chance chance on me. But also seeing
like the level of work that he's done before, you're like, oh,
he has taste. So I'm it's like really like reassuring
that you, Oh, he has taste and I can do
this and I will do this, and he's seen the
work and he knows I can bring this story to life.
(23:49):
And yeah, I think that's the that's the undertone of
this this movie where it's like the underdog story where
you take me, who I haven't had the longest resume,
and you put me in a leading role, and you
take Marlon, you subvert the audience's expectations for a really grounded,
dramatic performance that's baked in comedy for Marlon and justin
(24:14):
tipping you know, he did his feature kicks but went
into TV.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Now he came out of the cage and.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
Kier Kelly, she really did her thing with the cinematography,
and it just it's an underdog story where everyone kind
of got let out the cage and got to really
come together and you know, bounce off of each other's creativity.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
But yeah, it's definitely a dream come true.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
It is definitely a dream come true. And you talk
about and I'll use the word of validation. Some people
don't like it. It's not so much that you need
a validation, but it's good to see that someone like
Jordan Peel sees you and understand you and uses I
think a successful recipe to finding quote unquote new actors.
I mean, obviously everyone's a ten year overnight success, right
you've been doing it for a while, but then someone
(24:59):
will say you're night success. You find yourself without giving
away anything to the film. For the folks who are listening,
I think that when we hear Jordan Peel is behind
a film, we think get out obviously, and we think
it's going to be different. So you have a benefit
of the doubt. When people sit down and watch this,
(25:19):
they're going in thinking this is going to be different.
I'm not going to know right away what it is
as you watch this film back. First of all, I
hate watching myself on anything. As you watch this film back, what.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Are you thinking. Are you thinking, Damn, I'm fine, Damn
I did that, Damn MI can ball? Oh I messed
up here? Are you super critiquing yourself?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Are you thinking the film is amazing and you can't
wait for everyone to see it because I do believe
you have something special here? And then and then are
you like, oh, I want to go back and do this.
I wish they would have picked something else. I didn't
like that shot. I want this shot. What do you
how are you watching this without feeling like I'm freaking out?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Spiral?
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Are you Spiral?
Speaker 8 (25:56):
You're like you like everybody else did amazing? You're like
you like, do I have like self dysmorphia? Like yeah,
you know, but you just kind of trust. It's a
level of trust you take and hold and like, yeah,
that's a whole This acting has taught me so much
where you like, you know, from booking and like auditioning,
(26:17):
the patience, the.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Commitment, the dedication it takes to do that.
Speaker 8 (26:22):
But then now you have to watch and really really
take in the works, you know, and I think you know,
it is a stressful situation where like it is intimate
and I haven't gotten to watch it with an audience,
and I think that's intimidating in and of itself.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
So yeah, I think there is.
Speaker 8 (26:44):
Always there's always scens like I should have said this,
I should have said that, I should have But like
at the end of the day, I think I always say,
is it was exactly what it needed to be and
you got me at that point in my life where
what came forth was necessary. And before I go into
a scene or take, I always ask God to use
(27:07):
me as a vessel and shine his light through me.
And I think exactly what needed to be was what
you see. And I think the best version of that
movie was me at that time in my life. And
if I were to go back and redo something, it
won't be as authentic, it won't be as real.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
So it's a constant walk mentally where.
Speaker 8 (27:27):
You're like, Okay, I don't like me and that, but
such and such who has never met me, doesn't even
know who I am.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
They're not even thinking of that. They're invested in the story.
Speaker 8 (27:39):
And I think that's the testament to this movie is
once you get on this roller coaster. You're scared to
get on the roller coaster, but once you're on it,
you're like, this is a ride, and then when you finish,
you're like, oh, I want to ride that again.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
I think that's the beauty of this film too, is
the layers.
Speaker 8 (27:53):
You could watch it one time for the story, you
could watch another time for the music. You can watch
another time for cinematography. You get those easter eggs. So yeah,
I'm it's a it's a it's a process trying to
watch your own art.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Well, you said something, and this is just an old
adage that everyone thinks, be careful when you meet your
heroes because they become real people. But even also tread
lightly that to me, I mean that is universal. Anybody
who meets their hero. A hero could be I want
to be an attorney and my favorite lawyer that I've
been watching all my life. But in this particular movie,
(28:30):
when you say be careful when you meet your hero,
your hero being Marlon, Wayne's tread lightly. What do you
mean by that?
Speaker 8 (28:38):
In this film, so you see Cameron meet Isaiah White,
the veteran of the league. But I think that's for
this story specifically. You know, the purity of Cameron Caid
is seen throughout, and you get to see somebody, Oh,
I watched all your games, I watched when you got injured,
(29:01):
like I love you so much, Like can you teach
me everything you know? But I think on the other
side of that is somebody like I'm not being in
Isaiah's shoes, you know, like it's not all fun for him.
It's like, Oh, I've gone through this entire this journey
to reach the top. I've been injured, I've lost, I've
(29:23):
done this, I lost this, I sacrificed this time. And
I think that's the duality of you know, chasing greatness
and the loneliness of it all, and you know you
don't truly know a person's heart. So yeah, I would say, yeah,
be careful on meeting your heroes because if you do,
(29:44):
tread lightly because you don't really truly know that that
person's true intentions. Where in this film, specifically, you see
the idol become the rival, and then the idol has
always felt.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Like the rival and.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
That real life, do you understand me? Like, I'm not.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
I'm just saying that because you're speaking to my spirit.
That's why this film was so great, Like I'm like, yes,
everyone has an idol, but literally literally that idol is
really truly still holding on and you were always.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
The rival to your idol. That's why it's like tread lightly.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
I think of so many, so many real life scenarios
where that happened.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
Without mentioning any names.
Speaker 8 (30:22):
I think whenever I meet anybody I've I've looked up to,
I'm I'm quickly. I'm big on giving flowers because I
just never want them to think, like not saying they're thinking.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
That or anything.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
You never know.
Speaker 8 (30:34):
You never know, so but like I'll be like I've
caught some people off guard, like hey, yo, you know
at the one of the lowest times of my life,
like your your work has spoke to me, or like
I got to watch you you play and that was
a moment that I hold dear to my heart, and
you just I think it's a nice reminder to let
(30:55):
those people.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Know, like oh why why why Dode? Are they a goat?
You know?
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Yeah, speaking of goats. Before I let you go, I
would be I would be remiss if I did not
ask you your top five goats, like I need a
top five in football, you I would be wrong and
I hope.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
You are prepared for this question. I am going to
allow you.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna tap dance a little
bit to allow you think about it. Are you giving
your top three favorite players no particular order? Do you
care if it's football, We're gonna go with football first,
but you know I'm gonna have to lean into basketball
if you want.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
But let's go football.
Speaker 8 (31:31):
Top three, top three football of all time, of all times.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Goat, goa did.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
No pressure?
Speaker 2 (31:39):
All right?
Speaker 8 (31:40):
Uh okay, this is this tough one. You have to
throw Tom Brady in there.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
You gotta throw Tom Brady in there.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
You have to go.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
It's not even a question.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
I'm thinking now I'm gonna go.
Speaker 8 (31:53):
See I'm you have to throw Randy Moss in there.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
You gotta Throwy Moss in there. You gotta throw Randy
Moss in there.
Speaker 8 (32:03):
I'm a receiver's guy. I'm a receiver's guy. But let
me see, I see, I don't know statistics.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
I just know who I who. I like a lot.
That's it.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
It's the eye test. It's what I is, what I
like in my icy.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
You know me, I'm gonna say it, and y'all gonna
get mad.
Speaker 8 (32:25):
I'm gonna say Fred Taylor, Fred Taylor, running back, running
back when he played for the Jaguars.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
I love Fred school.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
No, I'm not even going no, Fred is can I
say something all due respect that is respectful and it
also means you know the game, like you put everybody
different positions you.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
Tom Brady is goaded period A question Randy.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
No one's arguing with Randy as a white out. No
one's gonna argue with that exactly. And you can throw
with somebody that's a personal favorite too, because goats are
your personal goat.
Speaker 8 (32:55):
Fred Taylor came to my elementary school to talk to
the students, and I'm like that that's one of the
first instances with a professional football player.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
I wasn't booing. I was like, oh, like, that's deep.
I wasn't booing.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
I went.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
I was like, oh, you went deep, Like that is deep.
That was a deep cut. I was like, no, booze
deep cut.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
I think like what it means to be a goat.
Speaker 8 (33:19):
It's like, who are you like as a person, you know,
but also as an athlete you know.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
I think you can live in both worlds.
Speaker 8 (33:26):
And people were mad at me because they were like
I played this one challenge and they're like this or that,
and then it was rappers and whatnot. And once Tyler
the Creator came on, I was like, uh, you know
Tyler being.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Out everyone because I'm like, who do you see yourself?
Speaker 8 (33:46):
As you know, he's bigger than everybody's bigger than music.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
But he's a director of visionary.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
You know, he's a creator. He is exactly who he
says he is.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Yeah. Yeah, I think that's cool.
Speaker 8 (33:58):
Conversation about go Some people will pull up the facts
and be.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Like, can't be adult because he never got a ring, Like, well, yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
No, I don't.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
I don't adhere to that. Do you have top three
in basketball?
Speaker 8 (34:11):
Or three in basketball? Can I say Lebron Lebron Lebron.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Let me ask you a question. You like Lebron? I'm
not for sure.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Okay, Lebron, Lebron, Lebron, Lebron.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
I like Lebron. You go, yeah, you have to see.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Michael Jordan or Lebron, Lebron, Kobe Bryan or Lebron.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
See now now you Kobe.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Have to say okay, all right, all right, this interview
is over.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
That's all I was trying to do this interview's done,
work done.
Speaker 8 (34:47):
My work order, so nobody kills me. No specific order? Uh,
Kobe Lebron Jordan.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Kobe Lebron Jordan, no particular order.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Okay, okay, so my order Kobe mj Lebron and I'm
okay with that.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Let's let the gallery continue. We're good, We're good. We're
a family.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
You know mine might have been in order, min.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
Uh tyreek, whether it's star of him, I am so
happy for you. This is going to be a beautiful
time for you. Enjoy this calm before the storm because
your trajectory is so big and bright and you deserve it.
Your soul is in the right place. Make God bless
you and keep you.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Thank you, thank you for taking the time to do this.
Speaker 8 (35:33):
Thank you for taking the time out your scheduled to
meet with me. I don't take that lightly. And I'm
excited to see it all come together.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
I'm excited to see it all come together. So kemper
ninteenth y'all, y'all.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Get ready, y'all, get ready, loud as it can be,
get the feel of it, get scared, scream, watch do
all the things, and.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Then go watch it again, and.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Then go watch it again.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
And then buy it on and then buy it on streaming.
There we did we did it all. Okay, we thank
you very much, thank you all right, family. September nineteenth.
We got to support this film. We really truly do
in so many ways. And I think it's a great escape.
As mentioned before, September nineteenth, him is in theaters. Go
check it out, make it a family venture, enjoy it
when it comes to streaming, by it. Support, support, support.
(36:16):
I think you really will enjoy this particular film.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Tyreek is special. That's a specially young man.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
I'm so happy that I had opportunity to interview him,
and I'm so happy that he seemingly is deserving of
this opportunity because sometimes it's always good to see a
good person win, right, It's always good to see a
good person win, and he seems like a good person.
I love you all for watching, I love you all
for listening, and I love you all period. Take care
(36:45):
of yourselves, Hug someone that you love, Kiss your friends,
Tell them they're the best. Stay in a state of gratefulness,
because we need good people around us. Fine, seek search,
look for those.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
In these uncertain times. We need to have some laughter.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
We need to have light, and most importantly and above all,
we need love. Thank you all for listening to this
edition of Naked Sports. Naked Sports written and executive produced
by me Carrie Champion, produced by Jacques Thomas, Sound Design,
and mastered by Dwayne Crawford. Naked Sports is a part
of the Black Effect podcast network in iHeartMedia
Welcome to Naked Sports, the podcast where we live at
the intersection of sports, politics, and culture. Our purpose reveal
the common threads that bind them all. So what's happening
in women's basketball right now is what we've been trying to.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Get to for almost thirty years.
Speaker 1 (00:19):
From the stadiums where athletes break barriers and set records.
Speaker 2 (00:22):
Caitlin Quark broke the all time single game assist record.
This is crazy for rookies to be doing.
Speaker 1 (00:28):
Our discussions will uncover the vital connections between these realms
and the community we create. In each episode, we'll sit
down with athletes, political analysts, and culture critics because at
the core of it all, how we see one issue
shines the light on all others. Welcome to Naked Sports.
I'm your host, Carrie Champion. Hey everybody, welcome to another
(00:52):
edition of Naked Sports. I'm excited about today's show, as
I'm excited about all of the shows, but today I
add an opportunity to interv you Typreek Withers. He is
the star of the upcoming Jordan Pill football horror film
sports horror film. If you will him, you may have
seen it. Marlon Wayans, I know you've seen all the
previews out and about, and they're doing a press blast,
(01:14):
so we have an opportunity to sit and talk with
him about sports, his favorite goats, this being his very
first big role, how he was chosen for this film,
how he was super excited and I appreciated his honesty,
and in short, if I had to talk about the
film or just what I thought was a central point,
(01:34):
it's about be careful when you meet your idols, because
your idols can soon then be your rivals. So tread lightly.
And I think that everybody's experienced that. I've met some
of my idols and thought, oh, let me tread lightly.
And I'm sure people have idolized me or liked me.
I wantly idolized liked me, and thought, oh let me
tread lightly. This isn't don't I'm too close to her.
(01:55):
I'm starting to see how human she is, and that
is what we talk about, being human when you have
been put on a pedestal, being human when you want
to be on a pedestal. All of those things are
very interesting to me. But before we get into that,
I would be lying if I didn't tell you. I
(02:15):
am pretty I'm pretty sad about what's going on in
our world today. I have shared a lot of my
personal life with you all, but professionally as well. I'm
really sad about the world that we are living in,
and I think the two go together. Oftentimes, I've been
told just to stick to sports when I try to
talk about politics, and I don't believe that is my calling.
Speaker 3 (02:37):
I wish it was.
Speaker 1 (02:38):
I wish I could just put my head down and
ignore what's happening in our world today, but I cannot.
And so yesterday, when the video of Charlie Kirk, the
conservative podcaster advocate if you will, whatever title you'd like
to give him, when the video of him being shot
and murdered on a college campus went viral, I thought
(03:01):
to myself, we are in bad times for various reasons. One,
it was horrible to see, horrible to see, and the
fact that we can log on in today's times and
watch it over and over again, to me, talks about
our lack of empathy for one's family, our need to
(03:25):
feel entitled to see death, which is also horrible. I
don't think anybody who's ever dealt with death should witness
it just as casually as we can.
Speaker 3 (03:36):
And then the bigger issue for me was how in fact.
Speaker 1 (03:40):
People immediately immediately divided and went from one side to
the other.
Speaker 3 (03:47):
Take a listener.
Speaker 4 (03:49):
I am tired of hearing people say, like Barack Obama did,
like Hillary Clinton did, oh, we.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
Condemn this violence.
Speaker 4 (03:59):
Guess what. You can't call the president of the United
States for ten years Adolf Hitler, and you can't say
that he's a fascist dictator. And you can't say that
anyone who voted for Trump or advocated for him like you, Me, Riley,
and Charlie Kirk are Nazis. And then when someone tries
to kill us, you can't suddenly say, oh, we condemn
(04:23):
this violence.
Speaker 2 (04:24):
You caused it.
Speaker 5 (04:25):
On the floor of the House, Republican Representative Bobnder of
Missouri describe the political left as quote pure evil.
Speaker 6 (04:34):
Well, everything has changed. If we didn't know it already,
there is no longer any middle ground. Some of the
American left are undoubtedly well meaning people, but their ideology
is pure evil.
Speaker 2 (04:45):
This is detestable. What's happened.
Speaker 4 (04:48):
Political violence has become all too common in American society,
and this is not who we are.
Speaker 3 (04:54):
It violates the core principles of our country. The Leapins
was saying, put a bulls on Trump, a bullson Is supporters.
Charlie Kirk's a casualty of war.
Speaker 2 (05:04):
We're in this country.
Speaker 1 (05:06):
We are the assassination of Charlie Kirk risks in uncuirking
of political chaos and violence that we cannot risk in America.
Speaker 3 (05:15):
We cannot risk it.
Speaker 5 (05:16):
All of us have got to work together and de
escalate the hate and the rhetoric in this country. And
remember we're Americans, and you can disagree in a way
that doesn't end in a horrible way today.
Speaker 7 (05:27):
For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful
Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass
murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible
for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today
and it must stop right now.
Speaker 1 (05:49):
And with that being said, I know we can't help
but politicize this death because of who he was as
a conservative and his views as a conservative and this
current administration. And now we're hearing horrible things. HBCUs are
under attack. They've been getting threatening messages about coming on
(06:11):
campus and doing damage. We've been hearing people to say
this is an attack from the left, liberals really are
attacking us. You can't be a conservative in today's age.
We're being attacked. And all I would suggest is caution.
I would suggest that we all tread lightly before we
pick one side. And the only reason why I say
(06:32):
that is because just mere months ago, back in June,
two Democratic officials were two Democratic leaders were shot and
killed in their homes. We're in scary times when people
are dying for what they believe in. History always repeats
this self. This is not unfamiliar in the United States.
(06:55):
But what is also not familiar is the ability to
watch this in real time and anybody can weigh in
and have an opinion, and can rile up the troops
and say they are against us, let's go have at it.
We cannot have a mob mentality, and we do have
a mob mentality on both sides. And that's what scares
(07:16):
me about Charlie Kirk being murdered yesterday. That mob mentality
never wins. And we are in scary times. We aren't
entering scary times.
Speaker 3 (07:27):
We are in scary times.
Speaker 1 (07:30):
And if we have that mindset and we are aware
that we cannot give in to mob mentality, my prayer
is that we can change the world. That's my prayer,
that's what I would hope. And there are some people
who disagree with me, and I understand that, but I
need you to understand what happened yesterday is setting the
(07:50):
tone for what will happen in the coming days and weeks,
and I pray that we all find some sort of
middle ground here, because us versus them will only end
up in chaos and destruction, and so I hope that
we take the time to take a beat and understand
(08:10):
where we are.
Speaker 3 (08:13):
You make those decisions. The choice is yours.
Speaker 1 (08:16):
But it was really sad to see what happened yesterday.
And then right after that happened, there was a school
shooting where three or four kids were injured. We couldn't
even talk about that because we were so consumed with
Charlie Kirk. We got a problem, y'all. And it's times
like this where we need an escape. And I'm going
(08:37):
to do a hard turn right here, a hard hard turn.
Escape can be friends, family, fun, entertainment. And here's my
hard turn. It is the escape of this all with
this interview that I had today, because it really and
this interview will take you, guys, out of your downward spiral.
If you're in one, it'll take you out of a
(08:57):
bad mood. It is a story, a drill life story
of a young actor who got a big break and
he is an incredible film with an incredible cast and
a huge, huge following. Anybody who loves get Out Jordan
Peel's films will be locked in. The cinematography, the music,
the acting, all of it amazing. It is a dream
(09:20):
come true. Tyreek is virtually unheard of. He was in
one episode of Atlanta, the TV show, and they found
him from that one episode of Atlanta, literally anitle on
a haystack. This is another example of dreams do come true,
Dreams can come true. I hope you all still believe
and still dream. I'm a big believer in that, especially
(09:41):
in times like this. Especially in times like this, still dream,
Still have hope.
Speaker 3 (09:47):
Try not to be discouraged.
Speaker 1 (09:49):
I know it's hard, but this particular moment in time,
I'm happy that I had an opportunity to interview Tyreek Weathers,
star of him, Sit back, relax and enjoyed this episode
of Naked Sports.
Speaker 8 (10:03):
My name is Tyreek Withers, and I am a sensitive
storyteller who's also a Funkle, who's also a former football player,
a former soccer player, a current Ronaldinial lover, a Randy
Moss enthusiast.
Speaker 2 (10:19):
Yeah, I think that comes good.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
That's good, you do it all.
Speaker 2 (10:23):
That's bad?
Speaker 1 (10:24):
Yeah, no, it's it's it's fun because usually people don't
like to brag on themselves or talk about themselves, So
it forces you to say things that you are creative
and good at without bragging.
Speaker 8 (10:34):
So now now all I'm worried about is my nephew
telling me I'm not fun you.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
I don't think you'll say that, so you no pressure him.
This film, for me, I think will live at the
intersection of what many athletes would like to talk about
ups and the downs of being an athlete at its
most extreme, at its most extream level. Tell me about
(11:02):
the project and how you were the chosen one for
this particular project, How did Tyreek become him?
Speaker 8 (11:10):
So I'll talk about the process to get in the role,
and then I'll talk about what I feel like this
this project means for me. So you know, I grew
up playing sports, and you know I played on a
winning Division one college football team at Florida State, and
so I have a little background in football, but you know,
I think they were casting this process where they couldn't
(11:30):
find somebody who had the American football intellect or like
the cadence, the you know, the swagger of a football.
Speaker 2 (11:38):
Player who could throw a football.
Speaker 8 (11:39):
So, you know, I was in Montenegro shooting a film
and then they reach out to my team saying they
wanted to meet. You know, the time zones were different,
so I was meeting at like two am, after a
thirteen hour workday to talk about this script. And I
got to read the script and I was obsessed with
the script, with themes.
Speaker 2 (11:59):
You know.
Speaker 8 (11:59):
We were on multiple conversations for like hours and they
were like, you know, can we can you throw football?
And I was like, you know, I did what every
actor does, like.
Speaker 2 (12:08):
Yeah, yeah, I can throw football. And then they're like
let me see.
Speaker 8 (12:14):
Uh So they had me record throwing a football. So
you know how hard it is to get in American
football in Montenegro.
Speaker 3 (12:24):
It took me.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
It sounds difficult, It is difficult. Okay, it took like
a week. And I got the director of that film.
Speaker 8 (12:32):
I finessed him into filming me, and he was like
he made it very like cinematic he was like, all right, we're.
Speaker 2 (12:37):
Gonna punch it.
Speaker 8 (12:37):
We're gonna start wide, We're gonna do it. Do Wonner here,
We're gonna swing here, watch the football go. And yeah,
that was just a testament to having good people in
your life. And I sent the video off to Monkey
Paul and they were.
Speaker 2 (12:51):
Like, this was the best piece of work. We can
throw this in the trailer.
Speaker 8 (12:55):
But yeah, my throw at the time was not anything
near what you see in the film.
Speaker 2 (13:00):
And then I had to.
Speaker 8 (13:02):
Do the acting chops part of it all, where I
got on a call with Justin Tipping and the casting
director and we workshopped two scenes for about two hours,
and they were really trying to tampion me into becoming
him for this movie, because, you know, not really having
much to stand on other than the illustrious episode for Atlanta.
(13:26):
That was my only really leading project that I could
That was my demo real and they got me into
the role. So shout out Donald Glover. But yeah, and
then a couple of days later I ended up getting
the role. The gas lit me a little bit. They said,
you got one more audition and got on the call
and then that's when Jordan Peele got on the call
and they were like.
Speaker 2 (13:46):
Ah, do you know Jordan Pill? I was like, do
I know Jordan's pill? Something was up?
Speaker 8 (13:52):
I was like, he wouldn't be on this call to
tell me I didn't get the role. So mid mid
improv audition with Justin Tipping, he yells out you got
the part and I blacked out, camera knocked over that.
I had like picture this set up on the floor
like I.
Speaker 2 (14:12):
Was crying. At one point, I was like, I lost
all aura. I lost all aura.
Speaker 1 (14:17):
Yeah, you were like I can't be cool no more.
I just can't and you shouldn't be by the way.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Yeah, exactly so. But yeah, I think this whole journey
reading the script.
Speaker 8 (14:27):
And why I'm drawn to this this movie is because
I think as as spectators, as audience members, we look
at athletes, black athletes and we forget there they're they're
human beings, right, And I think that's one thing I
want people to take away from this film is you know,
it is okay to cries, It is okay to to
(14:47):
to have anxiety attacks, It is okay to take a
second to to nurture your body if you aren't able
to keep moving forward.
Speaker 2 (14:55):
And I think.
Speaker 8 (14:56):
It's to shine a light on anybody chasing greatness and
what it takes to sacrifice to get there. And I
think this movie is bigger than football. It's more than football,
it's more than sports. It's the pursuit of greatness, and
I think you know that journey can look so many
different ways. Where if you want to be a surgeon,
(15:16):
if you want to be the greatest trumpet player, you know,
I think you feel like you have to put your
body and your mind through certain.
Speaker 2 (15:26):
Rigorous activities to get there.
Speaker 8 (15:28):
But I think there's a healthy balance and it is
okay to feel those emotions, and it is okay to cry,
it is okay to feel the human experience because a
lot of these athletes, you know, they they perform on
the field and they have probably seconds or millimeters to
prove themselves from good to great theoretically. But it's much
(15:48):
deeper than that. Like I think, it's life is important.
Where are you a great dad?
Speaker 2 (15:54):
You know?
Speaker 8 (15:54):
Are you a great son? Are you a great uncle?
Are you a great person?
Speaker 2 (15:58):
And the the.
Speaker 8 (16:00):
Value at the end of the road isn't the only thing.
I think the full life experience is what is important.
And I think that's what drew me to this film.
Speaker 3 (16:15):
I think it's extraordinary.
Speaker 1 (16:16):
While you make fun of the fact that you were
on the team in Florida State from twenty sixteen to
twenty seventeen, shout out to Jimbo Fisher. Yes you played ball,
but you're like, I really didn't play, but you were
still around the atmosphere of a championship level team.
Speaker 3 (16:32):
I'd rather I'd rather not get.
Speaker 1 (16:34):
Time on a championship team any day or the year
than be on a great team or okay team and
play all day long. What what did that do for
you in terms of the mentality and the mindset of
going into making him because it is important and you
know every athlete will watch this and say can he
really throw?
Speaker 3 (16:52):
Does this look authentic? Which I thought why it was.
Speaker 1 (16:55):
Really smart for Jordan to say, we need somebody who
can actually throw the ball.
Speaker 3 (16:58):
You know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (17:00):
But what do you think that you provide in terms
of authenticity for this particular role Having been around that
mindset in college.
Speaker 8 (17:07):
Yeah, I think I make the joke all the time.
I didn't play, but you know, I didn't play on
game day. But I think the cool thing about playing
on a team like that is I'm going up against
the ones and twos every practice like that, that intimidation
that when you have to, you have to block the
current day highest paid defensive end in the league.
Speaker 2 (17:31):
You know what I'm saying. Like Brian Burns was on
our team.
Speaker 8 (17:34):
You had the Marcus Walker and I'm like, seventeen eighteen,
just turned eighteen. I'm like, I'm the weakest on the team.
Bird chest central over here, right, But you were there,
But I was there and I was performing. I always
made the joke like I score more points than all
the teams we played, so good good. Yeah, Like I
(17:55):
wonder if we could pull up the highlight tape from practice.
Speaker 3 (17:58):
You should, that should, don't. I'm not.
Speaker 1 (18:01):
I'm not gonna poo poo that. That's a big deal.
I understand. I don't want you to poo poo that.
And that made it and that arguably made it look authentic.
Speaker 3 (18:07):
But then you you went to for my understanding, you
correct me if I'm wrong. You went to camp.
Speaker 1 (18:12):
You worked in Arizona with Carson Palmer's brother Jordan, who
has his own football camp.
Speaker 3 (18:19):
Did that change anything for you?
Speaker 2 (18:20):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (18:21):
His camp was actually in Orange County, so yeah, so
it was a little more accessible so yeah, that that
changed so much for me. Where Like if you look
at my throat at the beginning of this casting process,
it was a because I played wide receiver, and so yeah,
I thought it was gonna be an easy transition.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
Uh, you know, I can make it look like I
can throw a football.
Speaker 8 (18:43):
I know the mechanics, but no, I think my level
of integrity I wanted to bring to this this film.
I wanted to make it look authentic as possible. And
shout out to Monkey Pop for really getting me in
the mix with Jordan Palmer.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
And that I who learned right away.
Speaker 8 (19:01):
When you're training along sign Joe Milton, you know Josh
Allen popped in for a little bit, You're like, I
know nothing.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
That's crazy, but that's crazy.
Speaker 8 (19:12):
And you see Joe Joe Milton just casually throw eighty
harsh trying to get a spiral.
Speaker 2 (19:18):
I'm trying to just figure it out.
Speaker 1 (19:20):
When I think of something like that, I'm intimidated. But
then you have to go and act alongside someone like Marlin,
who is a legend in his own right, his family
legendary what they've done for actors, for black actors, for
comedian actors, and he has such a different personality. Everyone
asked the question, what is that like? But you have
(19:41):
to understand on so many levels, and you do get this.
I'm watching a seasoned actor work with a new actor,
if you will, and the roles are different. A season vet,
he's playing a season vett, and you're you're a new
guy trying to just before the you know, you're getting
ready to say I'm trying to go to the league.
Speaker 3 (19:57):
I get I get.
Speaker 1 (19:57):
Injured or and I don't know how I feel about myself.
What was that exchange like between you and Marlon? Did
he take you aside and say, let me show you
what it looked like rook or did you guys just
naturally have a flow?
Speaker 2 (20:10):
Yeah?
Speaker 8 (20:10):
I think it was more on the naturalistic side of things,
where like, you know, going into the uh, you know,
we first met each other in training, uh, And I
didn't know how he'd embraced me. I didn't know who
he was personally as a person. I just knew his
work and the iconic movies and sitcoms and whatnot that
(20:31):
you know, I was familiar with. So you know, you
kind of you show up. I showed up. I always
show up in a humble way. And you know, he
embraced me immediately with the love. But what come with
that love comes the jokes, the teasing, which is like,
you know, I always say I lost an older brother,
but I think God sent Marlon into my life at
(20:55):
this time specifically and at a time where I was
yearning for that brotherhood, that that that older brother mentality,
and I think that was the a healing process of
this movie where you know, we got to, you know,
really do this together. And I just learned so much
from him where you know, a newer actor, I hold
(21:17):
onto things tight, like obsess over it and I need
to like prove myself. And then he just taught me
the freedom of it all, where you can you approach
a scene and like not care what anybody thinks, you know.
And I think that was a cool thing where like
you didn't know what you'd get on any take. And
I think that was the beauty of my reacting and
(21:39):
being a vessel for the audience to feel that the
psychological warfare and you know, it was just like this
many times I broke because you know, you don't know
what he's gonna say.
Speaker 2 (21:52):
The crew Labs, Crew Labs.
Speaker 8 (21:55):
Yeah, I learned so much and another thing he taught
me is save your money, and I'm like, I have none.
Speaker 3 (22:02):
I have zero dollars.
Speaker 2 (22:04):
I have student loans.
Speaker 8 (22:05):
So every time anytime we go out to dinner, I'm like,
you got this, you got this, Marlon, and He's like, yeah,
I got it.
Speaker 2 (22:11):
So yeah, he's always showing love.
Speaker 3 (22:14):
I love that. Okay, So then no pressure. You have
the Jordan Peel of it all.
Speaker 1 (22:18):
And what I love about what he's doing is bringing
in fairly new talent buyd the scenes as well in
front of the camera, you know, to try something different.
I love the idea of finding new talent. So you
have justin tipping. Tell me about what it was like
to work with someone who you talk about yourself not
really having a serious long resume. Someone could say the
(22:38):
same for him to have such an important film, what
was that relationship?
Speaker 2 (22:42):
Right? Yeah?
Speaker 8 (22:45):
Seeing Jordan's transition from comedy orror was amazing to witness.
And I think I used to manifest working with Jordan
Peele and I was like, how can I work with
Jordan pill I don't have a resume. But then the
beautiful thing about get Out is ah the reason why
he cast Daniel Clier was off of this one episode
of Black Mirror and then I was like, oh, I
(23:07):
might I might be able to you know, get in
there with Jordan Peele, although Daniel Clier was working before
that as well, but like I think Jordan Peel, his
his risk taking abilities was saw.
Speaker 2 (23:22):
For me like early early on, and yeah.
Speaker 8 (23:27):
It's just cool to be in the mix when you know, yes,
he took a chance chance on me. But also seeing
like the level of work that he's done before, you're like, oh,
he has taste. So I'm it's like really like reassuring
that you, Oh, he has taste and I can do
this and I will do this, and he's seen the
work and he knows I can bring this story to life.
(23:49):
And yeah, I think that's the that's the undertone of
this this movie where it's like the underdog story where
you take me, who I haven't had the longest resume,
and you put me in a leading role, and you
take Marlon, you subvert the audience's expectations for a really grounded,
dramatic performance that's baked in comedy for Marlon and justin
(24:14):
tipping you know, he did his feature kicks but went
into TV.
Speaker 2 (24:18):
Now he came out of the cage and.
Speaker 8 (24:21):
Kier Kelly, she really did her thing with the cinematography,
and it just it's an underdog story where everyone kind
of got let out the cage and got to really
come together and you know, bounce off of each other's creativity.
Speaker 2 (24:35):
But yeah, it's definitely a dream come true.
Speaker 1 (24:38):
It is definitely a dream come true. And you talk
about and I'll use the word of validation. Some people
don't like it. It's not so much that you need
a validation, but it's good to see that someone like
Jordan Peel sees you and understand you and uses I
think a successful recipe to finding quote unquote new actors.
I mean, obviously everyone's a ten year overnight success, right
you've been doing it for a while, but then someone
(24:59):
will say you're night success. You find yourself without giving
away anything to the film. For the folks who are listening,
I think that when we hear Jordan Peel is behind
a film, we think get out obviously, and we think
it's going to be different. So you have a benefit
of the doubt. When people sit down and watch this,
(25:19):
they're going in thinking this is going to be different.
I'm not going to know right away what it is
as you watch this film back. First of all, I
hate watching myself on anything. As you watch this film back, what.
Speaker 3 (25:30):
Are you thinking. Are you thinking, Damn, I'm fine, Damn
I did that, Damn MI can ball? Oh I messed
up here? Are you super critiquing yourself?
Speaker 1 (25:37):
Are you thinking the film is amazing and you can't
wait for everyone to see it because I do believe
you have something special here? And then and then are
you like, oh, I want to go back and do this.
I wish they would have picked something else. I didn't
like that shot. I want this shot. What do you
how are you watching this without feeling like I'm freaking out?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Spiral?
Speaker 2 (25:55):
Are you Spiral?
Speaker 8 (25:56):
You're like you like everybody else did amazing? You're like
you like, do I have like self dysmorphia? Like yeah,
you know, but you just kind of trust. It's a
level of trust you take and hold and like, yeah,
that's a whole This acting has taught me so much
where you like, you know, from booking and like auditioning,
(26:17):
the patience, the.
Speaker 2 (26:20):
Commitment, the dedication it takes to do that.
Speaker 8 (26:22):
But then now you have to watch and really really
take in the works, you know, and I think you know,
it is a stressful situation where like it is intimate
and I haven't gotten to watch it with an audience,
and I think that's intimidating in and of itself.
Speaker 2 (26:42):
So yeah, I think there is.
Speaker 8 (26:44):
Always there's always scens like I should have said this,
I should have said that, I should have But like
at the end of the day, I think I always say,
is it was exactly what it needed to be and
you got me at that point in my life where
what came forth was necessary. And before I go into
a scene or take, I always ask God to use
(27:07):
me as a vessel and shine his light through me.
And I think exactly what needed to be was what
you see. And I think the best version of that
movie was me at that time in my life. And
if I were to go back and redo something, it
won't be as authentic, it won't be as real.
Speaker 2 (27:25):
So it's a constant walk mentally where.
Speaker 8 (27:27):
You're like, Okay, I don't like me and that, but
such and such who has never met me, doesn't even
know who I am.
Speaker 2 (27:36):
They're not even thinking of that. They're invested in the story.
Speaker 8 (27:39):
And I think that's the testament to this movie is
once you get on this roller coaster. You're scared to
get on the roller coaster, but once you're on it,
you're like, this is a ride, and then when you finish,
you're like, oh, I want to ride that again.
Speaker 2 (27:51):
I think that's the beauty of this film too, is
the layers.
Speaker 8 (27:53):
You could watch it one time for the story, you
could watch another time for the music. You can watch
another time for cinematography. You get those easter eggs. So yeah,
I'm it's a it's a it's a process trying to
watch your own art.
Speaker 1 (28:08):
Well, you said something, and this is just an old
adage that everyone thinks, be careful when you meet your
heroes because they become real people. But even also tread
lightly that to me, I mean that is universal. Anybody
who meets their hero. A hero could be I want
to be an attorney and my favorite lawyer that I've
been watching all my life. But in this particular movie,
(28:30):
when you say be careful when you meet your hero,
your hero being Marlon, Wayne's tread lightly. What do you
mean by that?
Speaker 8 (28:38):
In this film, so you see Cameron meet Isaiah White,
the veteran of the league. But I think that's for
this story specifically. You know, the purity of Cameron Caid
is seen throughout, and you get to see somebody, Oh,
I watched all your games, I watched when you got injured,
(29:01):
like I love you so much, Like can you teach
me everything you know? But I think on the other
side of that is somebody like I'm not being in
Isaiah's shoes, you know, like it's not all fun for him.
It's like, Oh, I've gone through this entire this journey
to reach the top. I've been injured, I've lost, I've
(29:23):
done this, I lost this, I sacrificed this time. And
I think that's the duality of you know, chasing greatness
and the loneliness of it all, and you know you
don't truly know a person's heart. So yeah, I would say, yeah,
be careful on meeting your heroes because if you do,
(29:44):
tread lightly because you don't really truly know that that
person's true intentions. Where in this film, specifically, you see
the idol become the rival, and then the idol has
always felt.
Speaker 2 (29:56):
Like the rival and.
Speaker 3 (29:59):
That real life, do you understand me? Like, I'm not.
Speaker 1 (30:03):
I'm just saying that because you're speaking to my spirit.
That's why this film was so great, Like I'm like, yes,
everyone has an idol, but literally literally that idol is
really truly still holding on and you were always.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
The rival to your idol. That's why it's like tread lightly.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
I think of so many, so many real life scenarios
where that happened.
Speaker 3 (30:20):
Without mentioning any names.
Speaker 8 (30:22):
I think whenever I meet anybody I've I've looked up to,
I'm I'm quickly. I'm big on giving flowers because I
just never want them to think, like not saying they're thinking.
Speaker 2 (30:33):
That or anything.
Speaker 3 (30:33):
You never know.
Speaker 8 (30:34):
You never know, so but like I'll be like I've
caught some people off guard, like hey, yo, you know
at the one of the lowest times of my life,
like your your work has spoke to me, or like
I got to watch you you play and that was
a moment that I hold dear to my heart, and
you just I think it's a nice reminder to let
(30:55):
those people.
Speaker 2 (30:56):
Know, like oh why why why Dode? Are they a goat?
You know?
Speaker 1 (31:02):
Yeah, speaking of goats. Before I let you go, I
would be I would be remiss if I did not
ask you your top five goats, like I need a
top five in football, you I would be wrong and
I hope.
Speaker 3 (31:13):
You are prepared for this question. I am going to
allow you.
Speaker 1 (31:17):
I'm gonna, I'm gonna, I'm gonna tap dance a little
bit to allow you think about it. Are you giving
your top three favorite players no particular order? Do you
care if it's football, We're gonna go with football first,
but you know I'm gonna have to lean into basketball
if you want.
Speaker 3 (31:30):
But let's go football.
Speaker 8 (31:31):
Top three, top three football of all time, of all times.
Speaker 2 (31:35):
Goat, goa did.
Speaker 3 (31:38):
No pressure?
Speaker 2 (31:39):
All right?
Speaker 8 (31:40):
Uh okay, this is this tough one. You have to
throw Tom Brady in there.
Speaker 3 (31:45):
You gotta throw Tom Brady in there.
Speaker 2 (31:47):
You have to go.
Speaker 3 (31:48):
It's not even a question.
Speaker 2 (31:50):
I'm thinking now I'm gonna go.
Speaker 8 (31:53):
See I'm you have to throw Randy Moss in there.
Speaker 3 (31:59):
You gotta Throwy Moss in there. You gotta throw Randy
Moss in there.
Speaker 8 (32:03):
I'm a receiver's guy. I'm a receiver's guy. But let
me see, I see, I don't know statistics.
Speaker 2 (32:13):
I just know who I who. I like a lot.
That's it.
Speaker 3 (32:18):
It's the eye test. It's what I is, what I
like in my icy.
Speaker 2 (32:23):
You know me, I'm gonna say it, and y'all gonna
get mad.
Speaker 8 (32:25):
I'm gonna say Fred Taylor, Fred Taylor, running back, running
back when he played for the Jaguars.
Speaker 2 (32:30):
I love Fred school.
Speaker 1 (32:33):
No, I'm not even going no, Fred is can I
say something all due respect that is respectful and it
also means you know the game, like you put everybody
different positions you.
Speaker 3 (32:43):
Tom Brady is goaded period A question Randy.
Speaker 1 (32:47):
No one's arguing with Randy as a white out. No
one's gonna argue with that exactly. And you can throw
with somebody that's a personal favorite too, because goats are
your personal goat.
Speaker 8 (32:55):
Fred Taylor came to my elementary school to talk to
the students, and I'm like that that's one of the
first instances with a professional football player.
Speaker 3 (33:04):
I wasn't booing. I was like, oh, like, that's deep.
I wasn't booing.
Speaker 4 (33:09):
I went.
Speaker 1 (33:10):
I was like, oh, you went deep, Like that is deep.
That was a deep cut. I was like, no, booze
deep cut.
Speaker 2 (33:17):
I think like what it means to be a goat.
Speaker 8 (33:19):
It's like, who are you like as a person, you know,
but also as an athlete you know.
Speaker 2 (33:24):
I think you can live in both worlds.
Speaker 8 (33:26):
And people were mad at me because they were like
I played this one challenge and they're like this or that,
and then it was rappers and whatnot. And once Tyler
the Creator came on, I was like, uh, you know
Tyler being.
Speaker 2 (33:43):
Out everyone because I'm like, who do you see yourself?
Speaker 8 (33:46):
As you know, he's bigger than everybody's bigger than music.
Speaker 2 (33:49):
But he's a director of visionary.
Speaker 3 (33:51):
You know, he's a creator. He is exactly who he
says he is.
Speaker 2 (33:56):
Yeah. Yeah, I think that's cool.
Speaker 8 (33:58):
Conversation about go Some people will pull up the facts
and be.
Speaker 2 (34:01):
Like, can't be adult because he never got a ring, Like, well, yeah.
Speaker 3 (34:06):
No, I don't.
Speaker 1 (34:07):
I don't adhere to that. Do you have top three
in basketball?
Speaker 8 (34:11):
Or three in basketball? Can I say Lebron Lebron Lebron.
Speaker 3 (34:18):
Let me ask you a question. You like Lebron? I'm
not for sure.
Speaker 1 (34:20):
Okay, Lebron, Lebron, Lebron, Lebron.
Speaker 2 (34:25):
I like Lebron. You go, yeah, you have to see.
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Michael Jordan or Lebron, Lebron, Kobe Bryan or Lebron.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
See now now you Kobe.
Speaker 3 (34:40):
Have to say okay, all right, all right, this interview
is over.
Speaker 1 (34:42):
That's all I was trying to do this interview's done,
work done.
Speaker 8 (34:47):
My work order, so nobody kills me. No specific order? Uh,
Kobe Lebron Jordan.
Speaker 3 (34:56):
Kobe Lebron Jordan, no particular order.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
Okay, okay, so my order Kobe mj Lebron and I'm
okay with that.
Speaker 3 (35:06):
Let's let the gallery continue. We're good, We're good. We're
a family.
Speaker 2 (35:10):
You know mine might have been in order, min.
Speaker 1 (35:16):
Uh tyreek, whether it's star of him, I am so
happy for you. This is going to be a beautiful
time for you. Enjoy this calm before the storm because
your trajectory is so big and bright and you deserve it.
Your soul is in the right place. Make God bless
you and keep you.
Speaker 3 (35:31):
Thank you, thank you for taking the time to do this.
Speaker 8 (35:33):
Thank you for taking the time out your scheduled to
meet with me. I don't take that lightly. And I'm
excited to see it all come together.
Speaker 3 (35:40):
I'm excited to see it all come together. So kemper
ninteenth y'all, y'all.
Speaker 1 (35:42):
Get ready, y'all, get ready, loud as it can be,
get the feel of it, get scared, scream, watch do
all the things, and.
Speaker 2 (35:51):
Then go watch it again, and.
Speaker 3 (35:52):
Then go watch it again.
Speaker 1 (35:54):
And then buy it on and then buy it on streaming.
There we did we did it all. Okay, we thank
you very much, thank you all right, family. September nineteenth.
We got to support this film. We really truly do
in so many ways. And I think it's a great escape.
As mentioned before, September nineteenth, him is in theaters. Go
check it out, make it a family venture, enjoy it
when it comes to streaming, by it. Support, support, support.
(36:16):
I think you really will enjoy this particular film.
Speaker 3 (36:20):
Tyreek is special. That's a specially young man.
Speaker 1 (36:22):
I'm so happy that I had opportunity to interview him,
and I'm so happy that he seemingly is deserving of
this opportunity because sometimes it's always good to see a
good person win, right, It's always good to see a
good person win, and he seems like a good person.
I love you all for watching, I love you all
for listening, and I love you all period. Take care
(36:45):
of yourselves, Hug someone that you love, Kiss your friends,
Tell them they're the best. Stay in a state of gratefulness,
because we need good people around us. Fine, seek search,
look for those.
Speaker 3 (37:00):
In these uncertain times. We need to have some laughter.
Speaker 1 (37:03):
We need to have light, and most importantly and above all,
we need love. Thank you all for listening to this
edition of Naked Sports. Naked Sports written and executive produced
by me Carrie Champion, produced by Jacques Thomas, Sound Design,
and mastered by Dwayne Crawford. Naked Sports is a part
of the Black Effect podcast network in iHeartMedia
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On Purpose with Jay Shetty
I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace. I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!
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