Vince Carter hosts his Mom, Dr. Michelle Carter, reacting to the Lakers getting swept by the Nuggets, why LeBron playing with Bronny may be a bad idea, comparing Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown to Vince and T-Mac and Vince’s mom’s new book!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
The VC Show is presented for the people by Caesars Sportsbook,
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you must be twenty one or older. The v Speed Show.
Let's go doing the part with Roz. We got the
sports on Dick for all the youngs. Whether it's big news,
hot topics, update, straight fact, storytelling, breakdown, so special guest,
(00:24):
VC Show, Let's go, It's time to turn it out.
The VC Show. Let's go. Welcome to the VC Show,
presented by Caesar's Sportsbook. As you know, I'm the host,
Vince Carter. Roz is doing what Roz does is always.
She's busy. She's covering the Celtics heat right now, so
we're letting her do it. But I'm holding it down
(00:46):
today because why I have some lady that has hopped on.
I don't know how she got this link, but nevertheless
she's on. I call her my mother. Some people know
as doctor Michelle Carter. I know her as mom. Hi Mom,
how you doing? Hi good, Welcome to the show. On
your show, it's about absolutely Hey, Hey, you know what
(01:07):
they say, Timing is everything, Yes, timing is everything. I
think this is the perfect time because you have a
book out that you've been doing the making Vince Carter
Basketball Mom's Memoir. And first of all, do you listen
(01:29):
to the show? I mean, okay, I just had to ask.
We have to make sure you know, are you saying
that because people are listening and the comments can be like, dang,
it's messed up, Vince's mom doesn't listen, or you actually listen. Actually,
never mind, I take that back. I do know you
listen because you on some of the good stuff. My bad,
it's technical.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Follow have a hiccup and a subject and a verb.
Don't agree, you know how I am?
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, blah blah blah, yeah yeah yeah, we
get it, we get it. Uh yeah yeah yeah. Anyway,
So what anyway, but let's talk about's get right into
it about this book. You know, I I'm going to
ask these questions or some thoughts as like I don't
know you like you do know. But at the same time,
(02:15):
what what made you or convinced you to write a book,
particularly from from you? Okay? I know people have talked
about the two of us doing it together. But you
know how I am and how I feel about books.
I just you know, I'm a little hesitant about it.
But for you, you know, where did it come from?
(02:37):
Because I think back to the day you called asking
me questions, you know about different parts that I'm like,
what you know? And when did that actually start? When
did it become a reality.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, the whole thought and the concept started many many
years ago. As your select grew, as the things you
were doing were successful, people would come up to me
and say, well, how did you all do this? And
how did you decide to do that? And at some
(03:15):
point it almost seemed to me like people thought there
was some kind of magic wand and I just waved
it over your head and all of a sudden, you're
Vince Carter, eight time NBA All Star, Slam Dunk Champion, YadA,
Rookie of the Year, YadA, YadA, YadA. And I said,
you know, we are no different from other families. Whether
(03:39):
your child is trying to be successful in sports or
in entertainment or in science or anything. They're not born
knowing which route to take and what to do. They
have to learn. Parents have to learn because you know,
in this business, I'd never been down on this road before.
(04:01):
So people would tell me you need to write a book,
you should write a book. And I mean people have
been saying this to me because you had such a
long career in the NBA. People have been saying this
to me ten fifteen years, and I kept saying, thinking
about it, I said, well, you know, yes, I probably
need to do that. But of course life happens. You
(04:23):
get busy, and I had a whole lot of other
stuff going on, you know, because I run the foundation
and all this kind of stuff. And actually COVID in
twenty twenty helped me to just settle down and write
right well, right well, And we didn't know anything about
(04:48):
this COVID, and you know, the speculation early on was Okay,
this will be around for a few weeks, a couple
of months, and it just went on and on and on,
and you know, try to stay healthy, trying to stay
out of other people's ways. Thought you know how I
am about eating out in restaurants every day. So I
(05:09):
had so much time on my hands. The events that
I would normally go to because all of those were canceled,
The events that we would have with our foundation and
things in basketball camps, all of that was canceled. So
in that time, to take up some of that space,
(05:30):
I said, well, this is as good a time as
any to start on this book. So that's how I started.
And it took me two and a half years to finish,
which was a bit surprising to me because I'm telling
my story, I'm telling what I lived through. But I guess, well,
(05:56):
people who are real writers and have done this before,
they probably wouldn't be surprised, but others would probably be
surprised at the number of times I just hit a wall,
I just hit a rope plock, and I couldn't think
I would write something and I'd read it and I
said that's crappy. I'd tear it up and start over,
(06:16):
and these I was writing about things that actually happened.
I was there, but for whatever reason, it just didn't
come out like I wanted it to. So you do
a lot of rewriting and rewriting and pausing and going back,
and I finally got it finish, but it took a
lot longer than I thought it would.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Two and a half years was start to finish, yes,
as far as far as writing, or two and a
half years was writing it, getting it done to we
see what we have today.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Two and a half years was writing the draft, rewriting
and rewriting, finding a company that would publish the book,
which was very difficult because I didn't know anything about
how that process worked. Found Paris Media Group and Paris
Driding and they helped me navigate through all of that process.
(07:18):
And of course, you know, I always look outside the box.
So with the help of Paris Media, we developed sort
of a hybrid I call it, way to get the
book out, to get it published, and so that's what
we did. My biggest concern was giving up the control
(07:41):
of my telling my story. So find a company that
would allow me and not even allow me because allowed
this is my story, so allowed doesn't even feel like
the right word, but would be would work with me
and telling the story the way I wanted to tell it,
(08:03):
to getting the book out in the community the way
I wanted to get the book out in the community.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
So but yet them telling you what makes sense by
doing so coming to a happy meeting, you.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Know, I'm willing to listen because this is all new
territory for me. But within it, just like when anything,
there are things that you're going to feel comfortable with
doing and things that you're not going to feel comfortable doing.
And some people would sort of sell the soul to
the devil and do something that didn't really fit well
(08:37):
with me. Well, you know, you know me, I'm not
a sell my soul to the devil person, So I'm
not doing that. That's not happening. So so we have
a good relative working relationship with Parisia.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
All right, all right, let's let's move forward. You what
what made you choose this picture?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, I wanted to not really.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
The one in the background, but this one.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Well, you know, I wanted a photo not of you now,
of Vince Carter now, and not school or your first
or college because I knew I wanted to use that.
I knew that graduation commissment photo would be somewhere in
this book because that was.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
The time, what we went through.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
In my life as your mom, that I probably couldn't
have been more proud and.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
And frustrated at the same time.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
And then, of course we have to consider all that
you went through. And you know, I always told you
from the beginning, Vince Carter, You're not in this by yourself.
When you do good, that good reflects on your face family.
When you do not so good, that not so good
reflects on your family. So just to be there to
(10:08):
witness my child, my first child, to walk across the
stage and get his degree was extremely poor, important not
only to me but to everybody in our family. And
of course that's important to you. So I knew that
would be there, So I wanted to picture that would
appeal to young people. I'm hoping that this book is
(10:32):
of interest to young people young, all young people, but
especially young athletes and their parents, because I can recall
decisions that early on that your parents had to make
as parents, and then as you got older you had
to make, and then all of us had to make
(10:52):
and there was no guide book. There was no set
of step by step this is what you do, this
is what you don't. So I tell the story, some
stories about what we went through and the decisions we made,
and hopefully that will be helpful to young athletes and
(11:15):
their parents and to fans who are just Vince Carter fans,
because it's curious stuff in there. As you know.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Yeah, no, I asked about the picture because I mean,
I still look the same, you know, and but I
remember this picture because of that sweat cereus. You know,
it's oversized, but you know, yeah, it looks good there.
But the logo in the basketball, so that takes me
back from a time some time ago when we shot
when this was was taken. So I mean, it's just
(11:44):
a great memory. And I just you know, I look
through the pictures, you know, first and foremost, and I just, man,
they bring back memories because like every picture I look at,
from being the patrol to playing at the at the
rect to the picture with the red shorts on, to
(12:05):
that one volleyball picture I took, I had you know,
I had the glasses on and I remember taking it. It
was like, hey, we need to get your picture of
you real quick because I was playing at the time.
I was in band, volleyball and basketball, Russian Russian, Russian,
and that's when that picture was taken. So you know,
we just because they needed something for the yearbook too.
I remember the band like I remember them all. You know.
It's cool seeing rc Buttford's letter. I mean, this is that.
(12:28):
That's the one from rCBF, right, yeah, yeah it is
yeah with the spurs. But man, let me tell you
going forward back here, when I look at uh, you know,
the picture of Automoli and I and Automobile and twenty nine.
I remember that. But looking at and I remember the Olympics.
(12:50):
Like I said, every picture I look at, it's just
you know, a memory comes comes up, comes about like
being a part of of all of this was just
pretty cool. But the one that kind of gave me chills, man,
was that picture of STU with Stuart Scott. And not
because you know, you just a couple of days ago,
talk about how you heard the interview I did with
(13:11):
the uh rich Is and you know, Rich, we talked
h extensively about about Stewart Scott and about this moment
graduation uh day, and how he spoke at the commencement.
And I mean I remember the picture, uh you know
us sitting there talking. That's like kind of right before
(13:34):
or you know, during the during the downtime of before
we showtime and and and you know, starting our day
of a bit a busy day, you know, if you would,
and and you know this picture of Stuart just kind
of all the time. It gives me chills because, like
I told Rich, it was it was refresh freshing but
(14:00):
motivating hearing what he said to me right before but
mostly after, how proud and how he was in the
fight with me, like he was an uncle, you know,
and that's just kind of how he was. Obviously he's
a tar Tar Hill to the core. You know. For
those who don't know him or do know him, you
(14:21):
know how much he loved his Tar Hill. If you
read his book, it it talks a lot about obviously
his life, but he mentions the Tar Hills. And there
again he gave me a shout out in his book,
which was pretty darn cool as well. I mean to
that that picture of the the Coke zero four hundred,
(14:45):
that picture, you know, we laugh about it as a
family because that picture I see on my face was
total fear. Uh what I took that picture?
Speaker 2 (14:59):
When and you signed up to or accepted the invitation
to be the pace car driver, you didn't know. I
didn't know, because you know, all of those kinds of
requests come through my desk and then I come to
you and see what we're gonna do. Well, we're not
gonna do Nowhere in all of that did we know
the car was stick shift and you had the Riven
(15:22):
a stick shift. And I stayed to people today I said,
you know, my parents taught me how to drive a
stick shift in the parking lot of the mall in Miami,
North Side Mall in Miami. Who learns how to drive
a stick shift at the speedway inside the Daytona Speedway.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
So I'm gonna tell that story. You did that run
through and there's one of our storytimes, good people, I'll
give a storytime to that. So the story goes. The
request was, you know being in Daytona mean that Daytona
five hundred, which we all know, and how historic you
know the race the race track is the hundred. Yeah,
(16:09):
that's what I'm saying. I got the opportunity to do
the Coke four hundred, which is prior to the five hundred,
and I was asked to be the pace car driver.
So I was like, okay, cool, you know a little
nervous if you know, if any you know anything about
the races, It's like, you know, yes, cars go around
and around around fast. Okay, cool. I remember driving in there.
(16:32):
This is the first day, so it was kind of
the day before. You know, you're meeting everybody, kind of
getting to lay of the land. They're going through all
that were you know, you know all of the information.
You meet the guy that and you see the picture.
I met the guy who I was driving with you're
going to take a practice run the whole nine. They
started talking and I remember first seeing this new camera.
This is when the Camara was coming out, and when
(16:57):
they opened the door, I sit there. I say, sir,
is it possible that we can get uh, you know,
an automatic? Because you know, I've never ever, like I
never even thought about driving a stick shift. Okay. So
he's like, oh, yeah, this is what they sent. We'll
(17:19):
see what we can do. I'm pretty sure we can. Okay,
So we're going around. I'm like, whoa, this is not
gonna be good. So we go through, We'll go around,
go around. You know, we didn't drive that day. I
remember calling Derek, who worked for a car dealership, because
later after it was all said and done, they told
(17:40):
us told me that they could not get one in time.
You're talking about terrified that day before, Like, I didn't
sleep well after that, So I remember calling Derek, who
worked at the car dealership, to see if he can
get me. I don't care if it was any car.
I literally I learned how to I a stick shift
(18:00):
the night before the Coke four hundred in front of
two hundred and fifty plus thousand people. This, you know,
one of the second the second biggest race that's in
that Daytona. You know that that comes around in Daytona.
I mean obviously the fuck the Daytona five hundred is
obviously in b all, but the Coke four hundred is
(18:23):
right there. So I am literally from this is like
from early evening through the night, I'm driving up and
down my street, trying to get comfortable driving or feeling
comfortable with the stick shift. Understanding this now, this is
outside of the anxieties of doing this okay, and thinking
(18:47):
about everything he told me. I remember telling me, you know,
straightaways are easy, they're fine, and you know, kind of
the the one must dos if he would was on
the turns on the high end bank I had to
keep I had to keep at least I had to
keep at least fifty five miles an hour, which get
can't you kind of up midway through of the embankment.
(19:10):
Obviously you're the pace car driver, so you can't go
seventy five one hundred miles an hour. You have to
kind of keep it around the fifty five. No, you know,
sixty at best, and then he says anything below that
the car will slock, you know, tend to slide down
and you could possibly tip over. All right, you know
that's awesome, that's great. So now I'm the night before.
(19:32):
I'm worried about making sure the car doesn't jerk the
whole you know, and just you know, and just you know,
I'm naxious in you know, all of this. I'm trying
to make sure it's a smooth transition, as you know,
because for me, I think the hardest is from getting
into first. To me was the most difficult. So fine,
I get there, I do a practice run, he brings
(19:53):
the car, he leaves the car over. I do a
practice one, a couple of runs in the morning. And
then I get there and I see all these people,
and I remember getting in that car and when I
sat in the car. But you remember this, You can
remember this because I have such big feet. I could
(20:14):
not drive the car with my shoes on because they
kept bumping each other and getting stuck under the little
piece of you know that's under the you know, above
the pedals that kept getting stuck. So I wasn't able
to shift and do it smoothly for me, So I
had I did this with no shoes on. I took
(20:34):
my shoes off, do it in the back seat, and
I took this picture and I had that look. And
I remember sitting there and my heart was beating so fast,
so hard and so loud. I had headphones on, the
headphones on. The guy was saying something to me, and
(20:56):
I couldn't hear him, Like my heart was beating so
loud in my headset, I could just like he was like,
but he was actually talking to me, and I couldn't
have because I was I was not nervous, I wasn't uncomfortable.
I was scared. I was terrified. So I took it
(21:16):
off and he was like, yeah, yo, you know you're
ready to go. Like I was like, oh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
I couldn't hear you.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
So we take the picture, get in the car. So
now I'm just like, smooth drive, come on, you can
do it, just like we practiced, you know, whatever, go.
It was all good. I got started and then we
stopped and he's talking to him. He's like, oh, by
the way, this is when I knew it was gonna
be bad. And and here's the funny part of the story.
(21:41):
He says to me, Jimmy Johnson, I'll never forget who
was the number one car on my left, He says
to me. Sometimes, you know, the guys like the joke
and play you know, funny jokes and bump or tap
the front of the car, typically particularly Jimmy Johnson. I
say to him, sir, this is my first time, and
(22:04):
you want this to go smooth. I said, if he
taps me in the back, you might want to tell somebody.
If he taps me in the back, this race will
start early because I will pull over. I'm off the
road because if he taps it. I'm just like, it's
just like in an automatic car, it's not that much
to think about, you know, keep it under the control. Whatever.
This this is my second day, my second day doing this,
(22:27):
so it's like, okay, if he hits me and I
need to speed up or slow down, do I down
ship it. It's just a lot to think about. So
the anxiety of seeing all of these people, I'm I'm
in I'm in control of the start of the Coke
four hundred that is on TV that people are watching,
you know, so I'm worried about that.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
To me, you said, Mom, I can't mess this up.
Do you realize this is their super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
This this is their Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It's gonna be all right, It's gonna be yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
So I'm worried about that, and then I'm worried about
the e bankment. I'm like, Okay, don't embarrass yourself. You're
on live TV. You don't go fast enough, you go
dipping over. So I just met, you know, I remember
just going up and my car sworeing down and up,
down and up, and we finally got there. And I
never felt more relieved getting around that track and seeing
that exit and put oh man and pull off to
(23:23):
the side, and I just said, sir, y'all can have
this car. I'm gonna leave it right here. And I
haven't been in this stic ship since, not me driving,
not me driving, but you know, I just I just
see that and it just makes me laugh and you know,
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Speaker 3 (23:58):
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Speaker 1 (25:21):
Now we're gonna transition into basketball and what's been going
on in the playoffs. I know you've been watching the playoffs.
We talked, We text back and forth about plays, about situation,
good bad plays. What's going on? Obviously your thoughts, my
thoughts about it. So, uh we'll start Obviously Lakers Denver,
Lakers being swept coming into the playoffs. I said, who what?
(25:45):
Whoever won their matchup between Yokic me Anthony Davis would
win the series because of what what will come off
of that? Meaning? What could you know? Jokis if he's
going in one on one, you have to double to you.
He's such a great plaster. He makes plays for everyone.
(26:09):
Then it's Jamal Murray. So now I said the duo.
You know if individual matchup, if he's winning his matchup,
good things can happen. If they Jamal Murray and Jokic
are dominating, that means they're dominating the duo of Anthony
Davis and Lebron James. Then is like, who will be
the X factor? Because even if the duos cancel each
(26:32):
other out, we always know it's an X factor. It's
an X factor to it. Just somebody else is going
to step up to the floyd and see for me,
I said, Michael Porter Junior was the guy that needed
to be to have a great series because of his
his he's six ' ten, he can score, he could
do a little bit of everything. Defensively, Okay, he wasn't.
(26:53):
That's not what he does. He's an offensive threat. That's
what he does. And I felt like if he is
knocking down shots, it opens the floor up because now
that's a third guy you have to account for. Little
did I know KCP contain it's called a pope. Aaron Gordon?
He didn't, you know. I mean, obviously his numbers wouldn't
(27:14):
wile you. He still shot above fifty percent, maybe even
in the sixties, and he had a great game four.
But I thought what he did defensively, like his job
was to contain I'm not I would dare not use
the word stop or shut down, contain Lebron James. Make
it tough for him, wear him down. And I thought
(27:36):
he accomplished that goal. And yes, some will say, well
he dominated him in the first half. Yes he did, Yes,
Lebron did. But what he did he made it tough
for him. Every basket that Lebron had had to get,
he had to beat him. It wasn't just just jabb
and jump shot. He had to work hard for it.
(27:57):
And I thought, yes, you have to kind of take
the punt, take the beaten. In the first half, Lebron
had thirty one. Lebron was going. He exerted a lot
of energy to do so because he wanted to keep
his team afloat. And that's the greatness of Lebron man,
like he deserves all the credit. And you can you know,
people say, ah, but we started to see the decline. Okay,
(28:20):
the man is thirty eight years old, has logged in
a lot of minutes, and some days are going to
be better. Than others. It's the reality, this man has
done it all year. He played a lot of minutes
all year. It's when he was hurt or when he
was not hurt and he was just trying to keep
his team afloat. I thought he was playing. I mean,
he was playing in the high thirties, low forties, Like
(28:43):
that's a lot of minutes and it's all great, and
he's bionic and all that, but when would it kind
of catch up to him as far as wearing him
down and fatigue started to set in. That's why I
thought Anthony Davis was so so huge in this series
because he needed to be out for dog one. One
thing I've said on TV all the time, he needs
to be the go to guy. No give me the
(29:04):
damn ball Lebron, you chill out and then their X factor.
I've said Austin Reeves, that man showed up and showed out.
Shout out to Austin Reeves and Ruy Hotchi Moore was
great and the last thing and I'll give it. I'll
give it to you. Those four guys that I just
named played great. Denver just played better. Like if you
(29:27):
look at matchups, Anthony Davis played very well, I mean
he had like he had the forty two point nine,
but jo Kis had a thirty five point triple double.
Lebron James played pretty darn good. Jamal Burry was very good.
Austin Reeves played very good. Michael Porter Jr. You know,
(29:47):
played great, plus Kentuck KCP, plus Bruce Brown plus Ruey Hotchimore.
So it's just whatever the Lakers did, it was offset
by the great play of the Denver Nuggets, and they
deserve all the in the world. Were they disrespected by many? Yes,
disrespected by many. Yes, they were the number one seed
(30:07):
coming in, But it's just like I want people to understand,
it wasn't more disrespectful more so than they've been in
the situation before, and didn't get over the hump. They
weren't able to, And it's more so, can they do it?
You're just going off of trend. Yes, we see what
we see. It's like, oh, yes they were good regular season,
(30:28):
but playoff is a different beast. What were your thoughts
on the on the suite? You know, I know I
said a lot there.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
First of all, I like to say with the Lakers,
for them to even be in the Western Conference Finals,
based on where they started to see.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
I'll give it to you two and ten and they
were thirteenth in the West.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Yeah, it's commendable. With that being said, I often hear
people say Lebron is superhuman, he's bionic, he's is, he's that.
Lebron is a stellar athlete, but he is human and
he is thirty eight. And you know you can dig
(31:11):
that ditch and dig that ditch and dig that ditch.
You're eventually going to get tired or you know that
thirty one point first half, well you ain't got a
whole left left in the tank for the second half.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
And that's why you need your other guys to kind
of step up. You need Anthony Davis to step up
to take the ring and.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
That and then Gordon you know, I think he was
asking like nine points and then he had that stellar
Game four and he was given doing you know, defending Lebron.
You can't expect me to be you know, that.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Type of dude.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
That's not human. Okay, So you needed Anthony Davis to
be over the top outstanding and it was great, but
he needed to be over the top outstanding and he wasn't.
And that's the difference.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah. And like I said, I thought, I thought Lebron
did what we expected him to, come out aggressive early,
and I wanted to see Anthony David say, okay, tag,
I got you're tired. You gave us up a half
third quarter. I got a tag, you know, particularly when
he saw that, you know, we could, I mean visibly
(32:29):
see Lebron had, you know, gassed out like he was like,
you know, I need I need a moment here. And
you know, I respect Lebron going. You know, they talk
about the foot injury and he needs surgery or whatever.
That man played all but four seconds and he still
gave them what he had and he set the tone
for everyone else. That just I mean, it's just like
I said, they just ran into a very tough team.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
To me is like I mean, every time I see
him bring the ball down court, it's like this this
eat This man is the eighth one do the world
a man that size with those handles and copass and I.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
Mean, it's like what And and here's the crazy thing
about it. Every time he would get the rebound and
start to break like it didn't look like a blue
It wasn't like you know, slow, he was moving up
the where you can see defensive sprinting back to get
in front of the ball. You know, it's like you're
taught to sprint back. That's what I'm saying, Like, hes o,
(33:29):
I'm gonna make you have to sprint back. That's it
is what he does. But like it's just like like
that's something that the sprinting back is. Usually when your
guards get the ball, it's a long outlet. You gotta
get back. No, you're getting back because the center, the
point center is in a dead sprint with the basketball.
Like that's not just here.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
He's gonna take it coast to coast and that's gonna
really look bad.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
You know. Yeah, are you buying this is the talks
today all across TV and obviously his postgame interview. Are
you buying Lebron considering retirement? Like you know, like I
(34:08):
know how, I know what I'm thinking, But what are
you What are your thoughts on that? Like, did you
see the post game interview?
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Yeah, here's here's my thoughts on that. Obviously Lebron was
very emotional. You just played your heart out and you
came up short. So obviously he's emotional for anybody, whether
it's a basketball player. Whatever is after after going through
(34:37):
that emotional stress and to make such a big decision
immediately after that, I'm not buying it. Lebron, go take
a couple of vacations with your family or or he
did have a good time, you know, refresh and renew,
then talk about.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
That, which he did not. So he did, he didn't.
He didn't do interviews today with the team, you know.
So yeah, okay, so you know he's taking the right
steps to the organization is doing the right thing. Just
giving him space because like you said, Lebron is accustomed
to going to the finals. He said it, I don't
(35:18):
get excited about this. I mean, and it's a flex
but it's the truth, right. You know, you know, you
rarely don't see in twenty years, you don't. You don't
not see him in the finals of some sort. So
it's more annoyance that he could not get it done
for his team. I know that, you can see it.
(35:39):
It's like, I don't want to answer these questions now.
I don't know. I mean, I didn't get it done.
He you know, that's Lebron's thinking, So I don't. I
don't think he's contemplating. I don't I just don't think
he's contemplating. He's just keeping us on edge. It's got
you right here till I'm ready to tell you what
I want to tell you.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
And him it's a hell of a sound bite. Yeah,
he knows that I was talking about it.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Yeah, he knows that. And that's the point. And to me,
that is the point. He wants to give you, give
us something to talk about. The Lakers are out, but
we're gonna still talk about Lebron James and his decision
and you know, shout out to him because he knows
his power, the power that he has and what you know,
what comes out of his mouth, you know it's gonna
it can It's gonna start these storylines. And the other
(36:27):
thing beside about that is he talked about he has
talked about, uh, him wanting to play with his son,
So you know, uh he's his son's getting close. Is
he good enough to go one and done? We'll see
and and to make it happen. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
So yeah, Ah, Mark thought on that too. I mean,
it's it's nice to say that. Okay, if he can
play with his son, that would be great. But the
power that you have to have to make that happen.
You're on a team, your son, you gotta navigate him
(37:04):
be on the same team. I mean, that's a lot
of power.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
You can do it, just so you know, I don't
know if you know you can do it, you know,
and then think about this. I'm gonna say this, particularly
how if if if Brownie is not a high draft pick. Yeah,
if he's not a lottery pick, I mean, I don't
know where they're gonna fall in the draft. So I'm
just saying, if he's not a guaranteed top five pick,
(37:33):
where he can go like it could possibly happen. So
I mean, they can move up the draft, you know,
use that. I don't know what accets they have and
all that stuff, but they can manipulate it. Or if
he doesn't get drafted at all.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Yeah, that's my point. Depending on what the situation is,
there's a lot of pieces that's got to move for
that to happen. Oh yeah, and I know you're Lebron James,
but you got that kind of power to maneuver that.
So I mean that's a whole another chapter in that discussion.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
But I'm gonna say, yes, speaking of power, I'm gonna
talk about Rob Blinka GM. I think he has one
done a great job because I think he was heavily
criticized with the team that was displayed in the beginning
of the season, which you know, obviously put them in
a situation where they were thirteenth place. But he was
able to make the moves to get the help they needed.
(38:30):
And yeah, yeah, you know, and that says a lot
about him, you know, being able to whether he said
I'm wrong about it, but he recognized that something needed
to be done, whether it was Lebron and a d
or someone. I'm sure Lebron and AD had a lot
to say. But I'm sure you hear it. You're in
l A. You're gonna hear it every day. You can't
turn on the TV and not hear about particularly in LA,
(38:52):
about the Lakers in what they're not doing. So I
thought he did unbelievable job and and and the pieces
they picked up, it was just like, okay, all right,
you know they have a little bit more of everything.
They need some shooting, some defenders. You know, they can play,
(39:12):
you know, guard different positions, they can do all of
these different things. But is it enough. Well, it wasn't enough.
I mean, look, at them. Like I said, they were
able to turn that around with I mean this this
wasn't this wasn't a team that came in they got
They got this team at the trade deadline and put
them in the conference finals. Like It's just it says
(39:33):
a lot about you know, the organization. Coach Darvin Ham
his first year still able to you know, figure it
out this like this is the first year coach not
you know, not going having a smooth first year like there.
I mean he went through the bumps and bruises, like
the ebbs and flows of like of like of what
(39:56):
the coach never wants to do. That's what I'm saying. Yeah,
that's what I'm say say And you know, so you
know to hear like oh, you know they thought, oh
he got out coached. Okay, you know, but they ran
into a very good basketball team. And I have to
say it, and I know you said it. Like coaches, players, people,
we don't walk into new situations and just automatically have
(40:19):
the experience. You have to go through. You know, you
got to take your licks, you got to learn it,
you got to go through. I had LP coach Lloyd
Pierce on the here. That's what he said, He's like,
I was prepared for the opportunity, not for what comes
with the job. And that's you know, everything is just
like your throats, like, oh, okay, this is new, this is
new experience.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Experience in anything you have to have the first time. Yeah,
that it's experience everybody.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
Yeah, Greg Popovich had to go through it like the
great coaches, you know, the first time and gain the
experience in understanding this is how I'm going to coach
Eric Sposter like he had to go through it. Look
where he's I'm from, regardless of if you were on
the bench as an assistant coach or not necessary. The
same with Joe Miszula, regardless of that. Like like Lloyd said,
until you sitting in the captain see where the captain
(41:12):
has the final word all the time. This is a
different like all the pologies taking off, It's like, ooh,
this is what I say is going to be the
final decision. Like it's it's a difference. It's a huge difference.
So lastly, I was gonna say about Lebron is I
want to mention is that you know I think about
(41:32):
for me when I said twenty twenty was gonna be
my last year, and I said it, but I didn't
believe it. I wasn't no, let me, let me rephrase it.
I said it, but I wasn't sure. And I think
Lebron is kind of going through those situations like Okay,
when he's talking, he's talking through this like in real time,
(41:54):
because that's what I was doing. I was literally for
five years, maybe longer, maybe longer, talking to whatever. I
was literally talking through it in real time. It's like
he always like, oh, you know, when when's it over?
I don't know, like two more years. It just felt right,
a couple of years, A couple of years like and
not realizing people want to actually hang on to that. Okay,
(42:14):
two years up, like nah, I'm good. A couple more years,
like you know. And I think Lebron is kind of
talking through this in real time because one thing he
said that resonated to me is like, I have a
lot of decisions to make because it's like, Okay, you
know a lot of analysts have talked about it's like
he does he want to and willing to and have
(42:36):
the want to continue to go through this and maybe
the teams aren't good enough to even make it to
the conference. Finals and be okay with that, because, like
he said, this is not it. I'm like, I'm not cool.
I mean, I'm not happy we made it to the
conference final. But it's amazing. It's to us, it is
amazing what they did. But there again is that aspect
(42:56):
of aspect of it, the aspect of wanting to play
with his son. Somebody made a good point. Maybe he's
realizing Brownie doesn't want to go through that, you know,
that's another thing.
Speaker 2 (43:08):
And I was like, well, and I think and I'm
glad you said that, because when I heard him say that,
wanting to play with his son, my first impression was, oh.
Speaker 1 (43:21):
No, but it's just as daddy.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Yes, you would be proud I'm playing with my son.
But now sit in the different seat, different bantage point,
and think about what your son is going to go
through when you do that.
Speaker 1 (43:38):
You know, you know who will be a great person
I'm to think of. I'm thinking of two people immediately.
I think of King Griffrey Jr. Who did play with
his dad. Yes, and it'll be interesting or it's cool.
I mean, it's been documented about playing with his dad
his house. His dad enjoyed it. But Junior also enjoyed it,
you know, it was kind of a thing, you know,
but this is a different time, different time, you know,
(44:01):
But still it would be cool to, you know, for
Lebron to sit and talk to to Griff and hear
what he has to say. Now I think of the
other side, Doc rivers Son, Yes, I think of Austin,
you know, who kind of went through a lot, you know,
playing for his dad and being in the league and
this that and the fourth and you know, Austin traded,
(44:22):
his dad traded, you know, you know so but it's just,
you know, it's just it just depends to me, it
depends on the kid, because I tell you what, Lebron
not Lebron, sorry, Bronni. The way he handles himself is amazing.
It's amazing because it's a lot of pressure on him
(44:45):
and people are waiting, I think sometimes are waiting for
him to crack yes, you know, and and just kind
of just because at one point they're like, oh man,
he's not and you can relate to this when I
say this, oh man, he's not like his dad, and
that can send him left, yes, and searching for something else,
(45:09):
you know. And but Bronnie as well as mellow son.
Those two guys have been because their dads are still
we're still killing it in the league, and now they're
going through the circuit, you know, and kids like if
I'm playing against you know, Lebron's kid or Carmelo's kid,
I'm trying to get any advantage I can to dog you,
(45:32):
Oh man, you're not as good whatever, you know, whatever,
events like, he has to go through that every time,
every time he goes on the road. Yes, I mean,
you know it was like for me to go on
the road in high school, but this is next level.
Speaker 2 (45:45):
They have to be physically tough, they have to, and
they've got to be mentally tough.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
He is, yes, And I give him all the credit
in the world, man, you know, because it's just like
he's you know, he's screwed nine for his game? Is
he top? You know? And I was one of those
guys like, all right, you know he deserved Obviously it's
gonna be you're Lebron's kids, so that's gonna come with it.
You're gonna get the national attention. But if he's good enough,
(46:13):
give him his just due. If he's not good enough,
don't put him on just because. And I thought he
handled not only did he handled the McDonald's thing to
like perfection. He made a lot of people say they
made the right decision, and I said, because I think
he was out of the top twenty four at the time,
(46:35):
but they put him in obviously obvious reason. But he
showed up and showed out also, right, So, and so
I'm happy for for those guys. So I just I'm
just curious about that, and I just think about my
you know, my experiences with with with retirement, and just
so many things to think about. And he has, he mean, Lebron,
(46:57):
who was still playing at an unbelievable level, has a
lot to decide. So I saw a lot of that
in that postgame interview, and I was just curious if
you if you saw that as well, Yeah, do you
think they should keep Austin Reeves resign him? Oh?
Speaker 2 (47:13):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 1 (47:17):
I think is another one.
Speaker 2 (47:19):
He is an outstanding shooter, He's got that touch. But
you know what else I like about him. I like
that he picks his moments, he mixes it up. He
knows he can get to the line, he can score
on the paint, and he knows how to draw that file.
And then he's an excellent free throw shooter. I mean, yes,
(47:41):
they they to me they'd be crazy.
Speaker 1 (47:43):
To let him go, and then you know we can't.
I'll be remiss if we do not talk about the
Denver Nuggets. And I know a lot of Nuggets fans
I see you on Twitter when you guys are talking,
you're junk uh you know, But the Nuggets fans here,
you have a reason to be proud. And I want
to give this moment here to the Denver Nuggets and
(48:04):
and say this under the radar all season, but still
number one in the West, and you were able to
prove and sustain it because after all that has been
said about you, can they can they be the same
team that they were in the regular season. And that's
I think that's what people wanted to see before they
just put all pushed all their chips into Denver. Yes,
(48:26):
you know, everybody kind of oh the Phoenix Suns and
Devin Booker like you're like, yes, I mean, these guys
are playing great. Devin Booker was playing unbelievable. You know,
they just did not have enough, you know, but everybody's
fascinating because of who Kevin Durant is. Like it just
what it is what it is. And you know, then
there's the Memphis Grizzlies and and and you know what
(48:47):
would happen there. Then it's the Golden State Warriors. So
there's a lot of teams that are historically has had
success in the postseason. So it's like, Okay, you know,
you never can count the Golden State Warriors out, can't
regardless of all that happened. And you still didn't count
them out until you actually shut them out. Yea, So
Devin Nuggets are here. Now let's go back to the
other side. You know, you're a Miami girl and all
(49:10):
of that, and the Boston Celtics in the Miami Heat
are battling it out, And what are your thoughts on
what you've seen from the Miami Heat from regular season?
Because I know we had this conversation when the Hawks
(49:30):
beat the Miami Heat. We were like, man like, they
did not look good. Then all of a sudden we
get this, what are your thoughts in the Miami.
Speaker 2 (49:41):
Well, the battle is not the battle I thought we
were going to see. Number One. Disappointed in the Boston Celtics.
They seem to not be playing with energy, effort purpose.
You know, there's a there's a pretty big purpose you
(50:03):
should be playing with in in this playoff, Miami Heat, Jimmy,
Jimmy Butler. I just would say, Jimmy Butler bowl all casts,
estimation point esclamation point esclamation point and his supporting cast
because you can't do it by yourself. And they have
(50:29):
grooved and jibed and uh playing together and like I
didn't even imagine and I and I thought and and
I thought the resistance that they would get from the
bus and Celtis would have been greater.
Speaker 1 (50:50):
Mm hmm what really just a quick one? What do
you what? Run has impressed you more? Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat.
He I think I think the same for me. It's
just like you never count Jimmy out and Kyle Allows
my guy, don't count him out. You know, he had
injuries and you know, I think it started with him
(51:12):
from his sacrifice from when he got injured and said, no,
I'll come off the Vince let Gabe continue to start
and I'll bring it. I'll bring I'll work with the
second unit. You know, his energy, the way he plays
was infectious from the beginning. And Miami Heat, I got
a chance to sit with supposed to and hearing him
talk about how important Kyle has been to their organization.
(51:34):
But man, the empowerment UH listening to gave vins and
talk about the empowerment of the superstars. They're allowing those
other guys Duncan, Robinson, Max Struce, Caleb Martin allowing those
guys to beat themselves and go out there and get
buckets and not feel hesitant when they're trying to go
one on one or taking a shot and look over
(51:57):
like see if everybody's like, man, what you're doing, give
me the ball? It's none of that. And I think
when you get guys can play freely. You get this,
you get this, and that's and that's what they're doing
because their their leader. Man, their leader is playing off
the charge. And Bam has responded to I thought Band
would have to have a great series to help for
for the for the Miami Heat to uh to do
(52:18):
what they're doing, because if Band was not playing well,
Jimmy couldn't do it by himself.
Speaker 2 (52:23):
Yeah, and think about this, if it's Miami, which it
looks like it's going to be, and it's genver my
hat some both coaches.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
Have coach Mike Malone normal.
Speaker 2 (52:38):
Coach Malone had to do a phenomenal job because you
talked about Denver and under the radar, we don't see them,
you know, East Coast drives the television. We don't see
them a whole lot on television. But to keep them
on a string, to keep them focused, to keep them
(52:59):
not and when anybody says, who counting us out? And
da da da da da, and to play, to continue
to play the where they're playing. And look at with
what Spostra is doing with the Miami Heat. You got
some strong personalities on that Miami Heat team and that
can get you know, go hey wider, and yet it
(53:24):
has not. But there again, I think it's Jimmy Butler
being the leader. I'm not afraid to say what he
needs to say. And Kyle Lowry as well.
Speaker 1 (53:40):
You know, so.
Speaker 2 (53:44):
That's gonna be a good good finals.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
I should This is this is one for me that
I've been hearing people talk about. Do you think the
Boston Celtics should break up the Tatum Brown tandem duo?
If you choose, do you think that do you think
Boston should break up the Tatum Brown duo?
Speaker 2 (54:08):
People ask that question, and my question is, I know
you don't answer a question with the question, But my
question would be why, I mean, give me your reasoning
for for asking that question.
Speaker 1 (54:18):
Why? See? To me, I think it's more of the player.
What what does what does uh not even Tatum? What
does Jalen Brown want? Because what is he tried? What
is he looking for? Like? And you know, as he
moves forward because he can make the most money with Boston,
They've accomplished a lot. Yes, they've fallen short, but they've
(54:40):
made that tandem work because he's been just as important
to Boston as their superstar Tatum. When Tatum has not
played bad, Guess who has saved the day? Guess who
was playing the best? Jalen Brown, And he didn't feel
like he was hindered at it by any by any
means to go out there and do his thing, because
Jason Tatum has allowed and he understands how important he is.
(55:02):
So I think it's Jason is Jalen Brown who has
to figure out what does he want now? And it
kind of reminds me of the t Mac thing. It
was kind of like what you know, everybody's like they
felt that t Mac and I should have stayed together,
and yeah, obviously we I mean that's family. But we
I hoped so as well. But I understood him moving
(55:23):
forward because he wanted to be the number one. He
wanted to be the guy to make the decisions and
have another guy to go for it. And we can't
hate him for that. Like we as fans kind of want,
you know, we want what we want. It's like, oh, man,
but y'all are good together. We're great together, like yeah,
and you and hearing TMAC talk about it now, he's like, man,
you know, yeah, it had been good, Like, you know,
(55:44):
sometimes I wish we did stay together. But what t
mac accomplished, he felt mentally it was the best decision
for him to come out of his shell to be
the Hall of Famer that he is now. Right, because
we're making this assumption or assessment off of the Tamac.
We saw that move moved on. You know, when he
(56:08):
got to Orlando, he was a monster, like and then
when he got to Houston, like he was like insane.
So people are like, dang if Vin's like doing what
he's doing and Mac doing what he's doing, like and
and it was like he had to go kind of
like what Lebron did. He had to go to Miami
to learn how to win and grow and came back
to Cleveland. It's kind of it's kind of that situation. Well,
(56:29):
thank you again, guys. Go check out the book, pre
order it, do what you gotta do. It's gonna be
in everywhere, not just local libraries. It's gonna actually be
on Amazon. She's gonna be in you. You're gonna be
at Walgreens. Look at you. You're gonna be everywhere you go. Girl.
All right, guys, appreciate you, guys VC Show fans. With
(56:49):
signing off, let's go
The VC Show is presented for the people by Caesars Sportsbook,
the greatest sports betting app of all times. Downloaded, but
you must be twenty one or older. The v Speed Show.
Let's go doing the part with Roz. We got the
sports on Dick for all the youngs. Whether it's big news,
hot topics, update, straight fact, storytelling, breakdown, so special guest,
(00:24):
VC Show, Let's go, It's time to turn it out.
The VC Show. Let's go. Welcome to the VC Show,
presented by Caesar's Sportsbook. As you know, I'm the host,
Vince Carter. Roz is doing what Roz does is always.
She's busy. She's covering the Celtics heat right now, so
we're letting her do it. But I'm holding it down
(00:46):
today because why I have some lady that has hopped on.
I don't know how she got this link, but nevertheless
she's on. I call her my mother. Some people know
as doctor Michelle Carter. I know her as mom. Hi Mom,
how you doing? Hi good, Welcome to the show. On
your show, it's about absolutely Hey, Hey, you know what
(01:07):
they say, Timing is everything, Yes, timing is everything. I
think this is the perfect time because you have a
book out that you've been doing the making Vince Carter
Basketball Mom's Memoir. And first of all, do you listen
(01:29):
to the show? I mean, okay, I just had to ask.
We have to make sure you know, are you saying
that because people are listening and the comments can be like, dang,
it's messed up, Vince's mom doesn't listen, or you actually listen. Actually,
never mind, I take that back. I do know you
listen because you on some of the good stuff. My bad,
it's technical.
Speaker 2 (01:50):
Follow have a hiccup and a subject and a verb.
Don't agree, you know how I am?
Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yeah, yeah, yeah, blah blah blah, yeah yeah yeah, we
get it, we get it. Uh yeah yeah yeah. Anyway,
So what anyway, but let's talk about's get right into
it about this book. You know, I I'm going to
ask these questions or some thoughts as like I don't
know you like you do know. But at the same time,
(02:15):
what what made you or convinced you to write a book,
particularly from from you? Okay? I know people have talked
about the two of us doing it together. But you
know how I am and how I feel about books.
I just you know, I'm a little hesitant about it.
But for you, you know, where did it come from?
(02:37):
Because I think back to the day you called asking
me questions, you know about different parts that I'm like,
what you know? And when did that actually start? When
did it become a reality.
Speaker 2 (02:53):
Well, the whole thought and the concept started many many
years ago. As your select grew, as the things you
were doing were successful, people would come up to me
and say, well, how did you all do this? And
how did you decide to do that? And at some
(03:15):
point it almost seemed to me like people thought there
was some kind of magic wand and I just waved
it over your head and all of a sudden, you're
Vince Carter, eight time NBA All Star, Slam Dunk Champion, YadA,
Rookie of the Year, YadA, YadA, YadA. And I said,
you know, we are no different from other families. Whether
(03:39):
your child is trying to be successful in sports or
in entertainment or in science or anything. They're not born
knowing which route to take and what to do. They
have to learn. Parents have to learn because you know,
in this business, I'd never been down on this road before.
(04:01):
So people would tell me you need to write a book,
you should write a book. And I mean people have
been saying this to me because you had such a
long career in the NBA. People have been saying this
to me ten fifteen years, and I kept saying, thinking
about it, I said, well, you know, yes, I probably
need to do that. But of course life happens. You
(04:23):
get busy, and I had a whole lot of other
stuff going on, you know, because I run the foundation
and all this kind of stuff. And actually COVID in
twenty twenty helped me to just settle down and write
right well, right well, And we didn't know anything about
(04:48):
this COVID, and you know, the speculation early on was Okay,
this will be around for a few weeks, a couple
of months, and it just went on and on and on,
and you know, try to stay healthy, trying to stay
out of other people's ways. Thought you know how I
am about eating out in restaurants every day. So I
(05:09):
had so much time on my hands. The events that
I would normally go to because all of those were canceled,
The events that we would have with our foundation and
things in basketball camps, all of that was canceled. So
in that time, to take up some of that space,
(05:30):
I said, well, this is as good a time as
any to start on this book. So that's how I started.
And it took me two and a half years to finish,
which was a bit surprising to me because I'm telling
my story, I'm telling what I lived through. But I guess, well,
(05:56):
people who are real writers and have done this before,
they probably wouldn't be surprised, but others would probably be
surprised at the number of times I just hit a wall,
I just hit a rope plock, and I couldn't think
I would write something and I'd read it and I
said that's crappy. I'd tear it up and start over,
(06:16):
and these I was writing about things that actually happened.
I was there, but for whatever reason, it just didn't
come out like I wanted it to. So you do
a lot of rewriting and rewriting and pausing and going back,
and I finally got it finish, but it took a
lot longer than I thought it would.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
Two and a half years was start to finish, yes,
as far as far as writing, or two and a
half years was writing it, getting it done to we
see what we have today.
Speaker 2 (06:50):
Two and a half years was writing the draft, rewriting
and rewriting, finding a company that would publish the book,
which was very difficult because I didn't know anything about
how that process worked. Found Paris Media Group and Paris
Driding and they helped me navigate through all of that process.
(07:18):
And of course, you know, I always look outside the box.
So with the help of Paris Media, we developed sort
of a hybrid I call it, way to get the
book out, to get it published, and so that's what
we did. My biggest concern was giving up the control
(07:41):
of my telling my story. So find a company that
would allow me and not even allow me because allowed
this is my story, so allowed doesn't even feel like
the right word, but would be would work with me
and telling the story the way I wanted to tell it,
(08:03):
to getting the book out in the community the way
I wanted to get the book out in the community.
Speaker 1 (08:09):
So but yet them telling you what makes sense by
doing so coming to a happy meeting, you.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Know, I'm willing to listen because this is all new
territory for me. But within it, just like when anything,
there are things that you're going to feel comfortable with
doing and things that you're not going to feel comfortable doing.
And some people would sort of sell the soul to
the devil and do something that didn't really fit well
(08:37):
with me. Well, you know, you know me, I'm not
a sell my soul to the devil person, So I'm
not doing that. That's not happening. So so we have
a good relative working relationship with Parisia.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
All right, all right, let's let's move forward. You what
what made you choose this picture?
Speaker 2 (09:04):
Well, I wanted to not really.
Speaker 1 (09:07):
The one in the background, but this one.
Speaker 2 (09:09):
Well, you know, I wanted a photo not of you now,
of Vince Carter now, and not school or your first
or college because I knew I wanted to use that.
I knew that graduation commissment photo would be somewhere in
this book because that was.
Speaker 1 (09:31):
The time, what we went through.
Speaker 2 (09:34):
In my life as your mom, that I probably couldn't
have been more proud and.
Speaker 1 (09:42):
And frustrated at the same time.
Speaker 2 (09:45):
And then, of course we have to consider all that
you went through. And you know, I always told you
from the beginning, Vince Carter, You're not in this by yourself.
When you do good, that good reflects on your face family.
When you do not so good, that not so good
reflects on your family. So just to be there to
(10:08):
witness my child, my first child, to walk across the
stage and get his degree was extremely poor, important not
only to me but to everybody in our family. And
of course that's important to you. So I knew that
would be there, So I wanted to picture that would
appeal to young people. I'm hoping that this book is
(10:32):
of interest to young people young, all young people, but
especially young athletes and their parents, because I can recall
decisions that early on that your parents had to make
as parents, and then as you got older you had
to make, and then all of us had to make
(10:52):
and there was no guide book. There was no set
of step by step this is what you do, this
is what you don't. So I tell the story, some
stories about what we went through and the decisions we made,
and hopefully that will be helpful to young athletes and
(11:15):
their parents and to fans who are just Vince Carter fans,
because it's curious stuff in there. As you know.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
Yeah, no, I asked about the picture because I mean,
I still look the same, you know, and but I
remember this picture because of that sweat cereus. You know,
it's oversized, but you know, yeah, it looks good there.
But the logo in the basketball, so that takes me
back from a time some time ago when we shot
when this was was taken. So I mean, it's just
(11:44):
a great memory. And I just you know, I look
through the pictures, you know, first and foremost, and I just, man,
they bring back memories because like every picture I look at,
from being the patrol to playing at the at the
rect to the picture with the red shorts on, to
(12:05):
that one volleyball picture I took, I had you know,
I had the glasses on and I remember taking it. It
was like, hey, we need to get your picture of
you real quick because I was playing at the time.
I was in band, volleyball and basketball, Russian Russian, Russian,
and that's when that picture was taken. So you know,
we just because they needed something for the yearbook too.
I remember the band like I remember them all. You know.
It's cool seeing rc Buttford's letter. I mean, this is that.
(12:28):
That's the one from rCBF, right, yeah, yeah it is
yeah with the spurs. But man, let me tell you
going forward back here, when I look at uh, you know,
the picture of Automoli and I and Automobile and twenty nine.
I remember that. But looking at and I remember the Olympics.
(12:50):
Like I said, every picture I look at, it's just
you know, a memory comes comes up, comes about like
being a part of of all of this was just
pretty cool. But the one that kind of gave me chills, man,
was that picture of STU with Stuart Scott. And not
because you know, you just a couple of days ago,
talk about how you heard the interview I did with
(13:11):
the uh rich Is and you know, Rich, we talked
h extensively about about Stewart Scott and about this moment
graduation uh day, and how he spoke at the commencement.
And I mean I remember the picture, uh you know
us sitting there talking. That's like kind of right before
(13:34):
or you know, during the during the downtime of before
we showtime and and and you know, starting our day
of a bit a busy day, you know, if you would,
and and you know this picture of Stuart just kind
of all the time. It gives me chills because, like
I told Rich, it was it was refresh freshing but
(14:00):
motivating hearing what he said to me right before but
mostly after, how proud and how he was in the
fight with me, like he was an uncle, you know,
and that's just kind of how he was. Obviously he's
a tar Tar Hill to the core. You know. For
those who don't know him or do know him, you
(14:21):
know how much he loved his Tar Hill. If you
read his book, it it talks a lot about obviously
his life, but he mentions the Tar Hills. And there
again he gave me a shout out in his book,
which was pretty darn cool as well. I mean to
that that picture of the the Coke zero four hundred,
(14:45):
that picture, you know, we laugh about it as a
family because that picture I see on my face was
total fear. Uh what I took that picture?
Speaker 2 (14:59):
When and you signed up to or accepted the invitation
to be the pace car driver, you didn't know. I
didn't know, because you know, all of those kinds of
requests come through my desk and then I come to
you and see what we're gonna do. Well, we're not
gonna do Nowhere in all of that did we know
the car was stick shift and you had the Riven
(15:22):
a stick shift. And I stayed to people today I said,
you know, my parents taught me how to drive a
stick shift in the parking lot of the mall in Miami,
North Side Mall in Miami. Who learns how to drive
a stick shift at the speedway inside the Daytona Speedway.
Speaker 1 (15:44):
So I'm gonna tell that story. You did that run
through and there's one of our storytimes, good people, I'll
give a storytime to that. So the story goes. The
request was, you know being in Daytona mean that Daytona
five hundred, which we all know, and how historic you
know the race the race track is the hundred. Yeah,
(16:09):
that's what I'm saying. I got the opportunity to do
the Coke four hundred, which is prior to the five hundred,
and I was asked to be the pace car driver.
So I was like, okay, cool, you know a little
nervous if you know, if any you know anything about
the races, It's like, you know, yes, cars go around
and around around fast. Okay, cool. I remember driving in there.
(16:32):
This is the first day, so it was kind of
the day before. You know, you're meeting everybody, kind of
getting to lay of the land. They're going through all
that were you know, you know all of the information.
You meet the guy that and you see the picture.
I met the guy who I was driving with you're
going to take a practice run the whole nine. They
started talking and I remember first seeing this new camera.
This is when the Camara was coming out, and when
(16:57):
they opened the door, I sit there. I say, sir,
is it possible that we can get uh, you know,
an automatic? Because you know, I've never ever, like I
never even thought about driving a stick shift. Okay. So
he's like, oh, yeah, this is what they sent. We'll
(17:19):
see what we can do. I'm pretty sure we can. Okay,
So we're going around. I'm like, whoa, this is not
gonna be good. So we go through, We'll go around,
go around. You know, we didn't drive that day. I
remember calling Derek, who worked for a car dealership, because
later after it was all said and done, they told
(17:40):
us told me that they could not get one in time.
You're talking about terrified that day before, Like, I didn't
sleep well after that, So I remember calling Derek, who
worked at the car dealership, to see if he can
get me. I don't care if it was any car.
I literally I learned how to I a stick shift
(18:00):
the night before the Coke four hundred in front of
two hundred and fifty plus thousand people. This, you know,
one of the second the second biggest race that's in
that Daytona. You know that that comes around in Daytona.
I mean obviously the fuck the Daytona five hundred is
obviously in b all, but the Coke four hundred is
(18:23):
right there. So I am literally from this is like
from early evening through the night, I'm driving up and
down my street, trying to get comfortable driving or feeling
comfortable with the stick shift. Understanding this now, this is
outside of the anxieties of doing this okay, and thinking
(18:47):
about everything he told me. I remember telling me, you know,
straightaways are easy, they're fine, and you know, kind of
the the one must dos if he would was on
the turns on the high end bank I had to
keep I had to keep at least I had to
keep at least fifty five miles an hour, which get
can't you kind of up midway through of the embankment.
(19:10):
Obviously you're the pace car driver, so you can't go
seventy five one hundred miles an hour. You have to
kind of keep it around the fifty five. No, you know,
sixty at best, and then he says anything below that
the car will slock, you know, tend to slide down
and you could possibly tip over. All right, you know
that's awesome, that's great. So now I'm the night before.
(19:32):
I'm worried about making sure the car doesn't jerk the
whole you know, and just you know, and just you know,
I'm naxious in you know, all of this. I'm trying
to make sure it's a smooth transition, as you know,
because for me, I think the hardest is from getting
into first. To me was the most difficult. So fine,
I get there, I do a practice run, he brings
(19:53):
the car, he leaves the car over. I do a
practice one, a couple of runs in the morning. And
then I get there and I see all these people,
and I remember getting in that car and when I
sat in the car. But you remember this, You can
remember this because I have such big feet. I could
(20:14):
not drive the car with my shoes on because they
kept bumping each other and getting stuck under the little
piece of you know that's under the you know, above
the pedals that kept getting stuck. So I wasn't able
to shift and do it smoothly for me, So I
had I did this with no shoes on. I took
(20:34):
my shoes off, do it in the back seat, and
I took this picture and I had that look. And
I remember sitting there and my heart was beating so fast,
so hard and so loud. I had headphones on, the
headphones on. The guy was saying something to me, and
(20:56):
I couldn't hear him, Like my heart was beating so
loud in my headset, I could just like he was like,
but he was actually talking to me, and I couldn't
have because I was I was not nervous, I wasn't uncomfortable.
I was scared. I was terrified. So I took it
(21:16):
off and he was like, yeah, yo, you know you're
ready to go. Like I was like, oh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 2 (21:20):
I couldn't hear you.
Speaker 1 (21:21):
So we take the picture, get in the car. So
now I'm just like, smooth drive, come on, you can
do it, just like we practiced, you know, whatever, go.
It was all good. I got started and then we
stopped and he's talking to him. He's like, oh, by
the way, this is when I knew it was gonna
be bad. And and here's the funny part of the story.
(21:41):
He says to me, Jimmy Johnson, I'll never forget who
was the number one car on my left, He says
to me. Sometimes, you know, the guys like the joke
and play you know, funny jokes and bump or tap
the front of the car, typically particularly Jimmy Johnson. I
say to him, sir, this is my first time, and
(22:04):
you want this to go smooth. I said, if he
taps me in the back, you might want to tell somebody.
If he taps me in the back, this race will
start early because I will pull over. I'm off the
road because if he taps it. I'm just like, it's
just like in an automatic car, it's not that much
to think about, you know, keep it under the control. Whatever.
This this is my second day, my second day doing this,
(22:27):
so it's like, okay, if he hits me and I
need to speed up or slow down, do I down
ship it. It's just a lot to think about. So
the anxiety of seeing all of these people, I'm I'm
in I'm in control of the start of the Coke
four hundred that is on TV that people are watching,
you know, so I'm worried about that.
Speaker 2 (22:47):
To me, you said, Mom, I can't mess this up.
Do you realize this is their super Bowl.
Speaker 1 (22:53):
This this is their Super Bowl.
Speaker 2 (22:57):
It's gonna be all right, It's gonna be yeah.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
So I'm worried about that, and then I'm worried about
the e bankment. I'm like, Okay, don't embarrass yourself. You're
on live TV. You don't go fast enough, you go
dipping over. So I just met, you know, I remember
just going up and my car sworeing down and up,
down and up, and we finally got there. And I
never felt more relieved getting around that track and seeing
that exit and put oh man and pull off to
(23:23):
the side, and I just said, sir, y'all can have
this car. I'm gonna leave it right here. And I
haven't been in this stic ship since, not me driving,
not me driving, but you know, I just I just
see that and it just makes me laugh and you know,
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Speaker 3 (23:58):
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(25:04):
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Speaker 1 (25:21):
Now we're gonna transition into basketball and what's been going
on in the playoffs. I know you've been watching the playoffs.
We talked, We text back and forth about plays, about situation,
good bad plays. What's going on? Obviously your thoughts, my
thoughts about it. So, uh we'll start Obviously Lakers Denver,
Lakers being swept coming into the playoffs. I said, who what?
(25:45):
Whoever won their matchup between Yokic me Anthony Davis would
win the series because of what what will come off
of that? Meaning? What could you know? Jokis if he's
going in one on one, you have to double to you.
He's such a great plaster. He makes plays for everyone.
(26:09):
Then it's Jamal Murray. So now I said the duo.
You know if individual matchup, if he's winning his matchup,
good things can happen. If they Jamal Murray and Jokic
are dominating, that means they're dominating the duo of Anthony
Davis and Lebron James. Then is like, who will be
the X factor? Because even if the duos cancel each
(26:32):
other out, we always know it's an X factor. It's
an X factor to it. Just somebody else is going
to step up to the floyd and see for me,
I said, Michael Porter Junior was the guy that needed
to be to have a great series because of his
his he's six ' ten, he can score, he could
do a little bit of everything. Defensively, Okay, he wasn't.
(26:53):
That's not what he does. He's an offensive threat. That's
what he does. And I felt like if he is
knocking down shots, it opens the floor up because now
that's a third guy you have to account for. Little
did I know KCP contain it's called a pope. Aaron Gordon?
He didn't, you know. I mean, obviously his numbers wouldn't
(27:14):
wile you. He still shot above fifty percent, maybe even
in the sixties, and he had a great game four.
But I thought what he did defensively, like his job
was to contain I'm not I would dare not use
the word stop or shut down, contain Lebron James. Make
it tough for him, wear him down. And I thought
(27:36):
he accomplished that goal. And yes, some will say, well
he dominated him in the first half. Yes he did, Yes,
Lebron did. But what he did he made it tough
for him. Every basket that Lebron had had to get,
he had to beat him. It wasn't just just jabb
and jump shot. He had to work hard for it.
(27:57):
And I thought, yes, you have to kind of take
the punt, take the beaten. In the first half, Lebron
had thirty one. Lebron was going. He exerted a lot
of energy to do so because he wanted to keep
his team afloat. And that's the greatness of Lebron man,
like he deserves all the credit. And you can you know,
people say, ah, but we started to see the decline. Okay,
(28:20):
the man is thirty eight years old, has logged in
a lot of minutes, and some days are going to
be better. Than others. It's the reality, this man has
done it all year. He played a lot of minutes
all year. It's when he was hurt or when he
was not hurt and he was just trying to keep
his team afloat. I thought he was playing. I mean,
he was playing in the high thirties, low forties, Like
(28:43):
that's a lot of minutes and it's all great, and
he's bionic and all that, but when would it kind
of catch up to him as far as wearing him
down and fatigue started to set in. That's why I
thought Anthony Davis was so so huge in this series
because he needed to be out for dog one. One
thing I've said on TV all the time, he needs
to be the go to guy. No give me the
(29:04):
damn ball Lebron, you chill out and then their X factor.
I've said Austin Reeves, that man showed up and showed out.
Shout out to Austin Reeves and Ruy Hotchi Moore was
great and the last thing and I'll give it. I'll
give it to you. Those four guys that I just
named played great. Denver just played better. Like if you
(29:27):
look at matchups, Anthony Davis played very well, I mean
he had like he had the forty two point nine,
but jo Kis had a thirty five point triple double.
Lebron James played pretty darn good. Jamal Burry was very good.
Austin Reeves played very good. Michael Porter Jr. You know,
(29:47):
played great, plus Kentuck KCP, plus Bruce Brown plus Ruey Hotchimore.
So it's just whatever the Lakers did, it was offset
by the great play of the Denver Nuggets, and they
deserve all the in the world. Were they disrespected by many? Yes,
disrespected by many. Yes, they were the number one seed
(30:07):
coming in, But it's just like I want people to understand,
it wasn't more disrespectful more so than they've been in
the situation before, and didn't get over the hump. They
weren't able to, And it's more so, can they do it?
You're just going off of trend. Yes, we see what
we see. It's like, oh, yes they were good regular season,
(30:28):
but playoff is a different beast. What were your thoughts
on the on the suite? You know, I know I
said a lot there.
Speaker 2 (30:34):
First of all, I like to say with the Lakers,
for them to even be in the Western Conference Finals,
based on where they started to see.
Speaker 1 (30:46):
I'll give it to you two and ten and they
were thirteenth in the West.
Speaker 2 (30:50):
Yeah, it's commendable. With that being said, I often hear
people say Lebron is superhuman, he's bionic, he's is, he's that.
Lebron is a stellar athlete, but he is human and
he is thirty eight. And you know you can dig
(31:11):
that ditch and dig that ditch and dig that ditch.
You're eventually going to get tired or you know that
thirty one point first half, well you ain't got a
whole left left in the tank for the second half.
Speaker 1 (31:22):
And that's why you need your other guys to kind
of step up. You need Anthony Davis to step up
to take the ring and.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
That and then Gordon you know, I think he was
asking like nine points and then he had that stellar
Game four and he was given doing you know, defending Lebron.
You can't expect me to be you know, that.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
Type of dude.
Speaker 2 (31:48):
That's not human. Okay, So you needed Anthony Davis to
be over the top outstanding and it was great, but
he needed to be over the top outstanding and he wasn't.
And that's the difference.
Speaker 1 (32:07):
Yeah. And like I said, I thought, I thought Lebron
did what we expected him to, come out aggressive early,
and I wanted to see Anthony David say, okay, tag,
I got you're tired. You gave us up a half
third quarter. I got a tag, you know, particularly when
he saw that, you know, we could, I mean visibly
(32:29):
see Lebron had, you know, gassed out like he was like,
you know, I need I need a moment here. And
you know, I respect Lebron going. You know, they talk
about the foot injury and he needs surgery or whatever.
That man played all but four seconds and he still
gave them what he had and he set the tone
for everyone else. That just I mean, it's just like
I said, they just ran into a very tough team.
Speaker 2 (32:53):
To me is like I mean, every time I see
him bring the ball down court, it's like this this
eat This man is the eighth one do the world
a man that size with those handles and copass and I.
Speaker 1 (33:07):
Mean, it's like what And and here's the crazy thing
about it. Every time he would get the rebound and
start to break like it didn't look like a blue
It wasn't like you know, slow, he was moving up
the where you can see defensive sprinting back to get
in front of the ball. You know, it's like you're
taught to sprint back. That's what I'm saying, Like, hes o,
(33:29):
I'm gonna make you have to sprint back. That's it
is what he does. But like it's just like like
that's something that the sprinting back is. Usually when your
guards get the ball, it's a long outlet. You gotta
get back. No, you're getting back because the center, the
point center is in a dead sprint with the basketball.
Like that's not just here.
Speaker 2 (33:44):
He's gonna take it coast to coast and that's gonna
really look bad.
Speaker 1 (33:48):
You know. Yeah, are you buying this is the talks
today all across TV and obviously his postgame interview. Are
you buying Lebron considering retirement? Like you know, like I
(34:08):
know how, I know what I'm thinking, But what are
you What are your thoughts on that? Like, did you
see the post game interview?
Speaker 2 (34:14):
Yeah, here's here's my thoughts on that. Obviously Lebron was
very emotional. You just played your heart out and you
came up short. So obviously he's emotional for anybody, whether
it's a basketball player. Whatever is after after going through
(34:37):
that emotional stress and to make such a big decision
immediately after that, I'm not buying it. Lebron, go take
a couple of vacations with your family or or he
did have a good time, you know, refresh and renew,
then talk about.
Speaker 1 (34:58):
That, which he did not. So he did, he didn't.
He didn't do interviews today with the team, you know.
So yeah, okay, so you know he's taking the right
steps to the organization is doing the right thing. Just
giving him space because like you said, Lebron is accustomed
to going to the finals. He said it, I don't
(35:18):
get excited about this. I mean, and it's a flex
but it's the truth, right. You know, you know, you
rarely don't see in twenty years, you don't. You don't
not see him in the finals of some sort. So
it's more annoyance that he could not get it done
for his team. I know that, you can see it.
(35:39):
It's like, I don't want to answer these questions now.
I don't know. I mean, I didn't get it done.
He you know, that's Lebron's thinking, So I don't. I
don't think he's contemplating. I don't I just don't think
he's contemplating. He's just keeping us on edge. It's got
you right here till I'm ready to tell you what
I want to tell you.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
And him it's a hell of a sound bite. Yeah,
he knows that I was talking about it.
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Yeah, he knows that. And that's the point. And to me,
that is the point. He wants to give you, give
us something to talk about. The Lakers are out, but
we're gonna still talk about Lebron James and his decision
and you know, shout out to him because he knows
his power, the power that he has and what you know,
what comes out of his mouth, you know it's gonna
it can It's gonna start these storylines. And the other
(36:27):
thing beside about that is he talked about he has
talked about, uh, him wanting to play with his son,
So you know, uh he's his son's getting close. Is
he good enough to go one and done? We'll see
and and to make it happen. I don't know.
Speaker 2 (36:42):
So yeah, Ah, Mark thought on that too. I mean,
it's it's nice to say that. Okay, if he can
play with his son, that would be great. But the
power that you have to have to make that happen.
You're on a team, your son, you gotta navigate him
(37:04):
be on the same team. I mean, that's a lot
of power.
Speaker 1 (37:12):
You can do it, just so you know, I don't
know if you know you can do it, you know,
and then think about this. I'm gonna say this, particularly
how if if if Brownie is not a high draft pick. Yeah,
if he's not a lottery pick, I mean, I don't
know where they're gonna fall in the draft. So I'm
just saying, if he's not a guaranteed top five pick,
(37:33):
where he can go like it could possibly happen. So
I mean, they can move up the draft, you know,
use that. I don't know what accets they have and
all that stuff, but they can manipulate it. Or if
he doesn't get drafted at all.
Speaker 2 (37:44):
Yeah, that's my point. Depending on what the situation is,
there's a lot of pieces that's got to move for
that to happen. Oh yeah, and I know you're Lebron James,
but you got that kind of power to maneuver that.
So I mean that's a whole another chapter in that discussion.
Speaker 1 (38:03):
But I'm gonna say, yes, speaking of power, I'm gonna
talk about Rob Blinka GM. I think he has one
done a great job because I think he was heavily
criticized with the team that was displayed in the beginning
of the season, which you know, obviously put them in
a situation where they were thirteenth place. But he was
able to make the moves to get the help they needed.
(38:30):
And yeah, yeah, you know, and that says a lot
about him, you know, being able to whether he said
I'm wrong about it, but he recognized that something needed
to be done, whether it was Lebron and a d
or someone. I'm sure Lebron and AD had a lot
to say. But I'm sure you hear it. You're in
l A. You're gonna hear it every day. You can't
turn on the TV and not hear about particularly in LA,
(38:52):
about the Lakers in what they're not doing. So I
thought he did unbelievable job and and and the pieces
they picked up, it was just like, okay, all right,
you know they have a little bit more of everything.
They need some shooting, some defenders. You know, they can play,
(39:12):
you know, guard different positions, they can do all of
these different things. But is it enough. Well, it wasn't enough.
I mean, look, at them. Like I said, they were
able to turn that around with I mean this this
wasn't this wasn't a team that came in they got
They got this team at the trade deadline and put
them in the conference finals. Like It's just it says
(39:33):
a lot about you know, the organization. Coach Darvin Ham
his first year still able to you know, figure it
out this like this is the first year coach not
you know, not going having a smooth first year like there.
I mean he went through the bumps and bruises, like
the ebbs and flows of like of like of what
(39:56):
the coach never wants to do. That's what I'm saying. Yeah,
that's what I'm say say And you know, so you
know to hear like oh, you know they thought, oh
he got out coached. Okay, you know, but they ran
into a very good basketball team. And I have to
say it, and I know you said it. Like coaches, players, people,
we don't walk into new situations and just automatically have
(40:19):
the experience. You have to go through. You know, you
got to take your licks, you got to learn it,
you got to go through. I had LP coach Lloyd
Pierce on the here. That's what he said, He's like,
I was prepared for the opportunity, not for what comes
with the job. And that's you know, everything is just
like your throats, like, oh, okay, this is new, this is
new experience.
Speaker 2 (40:41):
Experience in anything you have to have the first time. Yeah,
that it's experience everybody.
Speaker 1 (40:49):
Yeah, Greg Popovich had to go through it like the
great coaches, you know, the first time and gain the
experience in understanding this is how I'm going to coach
Eric Sposter like he had to go through it. Look
where he's I'm from, regardless of if you were on
the bench as an assistant coach or not necessary. The
same with Joe Miszula, regardless of that. Like like Lloyd said,
until you sitting in the captain see where the captain
(41:12):
has the final word all the time. This is a
different like all the pologies taking off, It's like, ooh,
this is what I say is going to be the
final decision. Like it's it's a difference. It's a huge difference.
So lastly, I was gonna say about Lebron is I
want to mention is that you know I think about
(41:32):
for me when I said twenty twenty was gonna be
my last year, and I said it, but I didn't
believe it. I wasn't no, let me, let me rephrase it.
I said it, but I wasn't sure. And I think
Lebron is kind of going through those situations like Okay,
when he's talking, he's talking through this like in real time,
(41:54):
because that's what I was doing. I was literally for
five years, maybe longer, maybe longer, talking to whatever. I
was literally talking through it in real time. It's like
he always like, oh, you know, when when's it over?
I don't know, like two more years. It just felt right,
a couple of years, A couple of years like and
not realizing people want to actually hang on to that. Okay,
(42:14):
two years up, like nah, I'm good. A couple more years,
like you know. And I think Lebron is kind of
talking through this in real time because one thing he
said that resonated to me is like, I have a
lot of decisions to make because it's like, Okay, you
know a lot of analysts have talked about it's like
he does he want to and willing to and have
(42:36):
the want to continue to go through this and maybe
the teams aren't good enough to even make it to
the conference. Finals and be okay with that, because, like
he said, this is not it. I'm like, I'm not cool.
I mean, I'm not happy we made it to the
conference final. But it's amazing. It's to us, it is
amazing what they did. But there again is that aspect
(42:56):
of aspect of it, the aspect of wanting to play
with his son. Somebody made a good point. Maybe he's
realizing Brownie doesn't want to go through that, you know,
that's another thing.
Speaker 2 (43:08):
And I was like, well, and I think and I'm
glad you said that, because when I heard him say that,
wanting to play with his son, my first impression was, oh.
Speaker 1 (43:21):
No, but it's just as daddy.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Yes, you would be proud I'm playing with my son.
But now sit in the different seat, different bantage point,
and think about what your son is going to go
through when you do that.
Speaker 1 (43:38):
You know, you know who will be a great person
I'm to think of. I'm thinking of two people immediately.
I think of King Griffrey Jr. Who did play with
his dad. Yes, and it'll be interesting or it's cool.
I mean, it's been documented about playing with his dad
his house. His dad enjoyed it. But Junior also enjoyed it,
you know, it was kind of a thing, you know,
but this is a different time, different time, you know,
(44:01):
But still it would be cool to, you know, for
Lebron to sit and talk to to Griff and hear
what he has to say. Now I think of the
other side, Doc rivers Son, Yes, I think of Austin,
you know, who kind of went through a lot, you know,
playing for his dad and being in the league and
this that and the fourth and you know, Austin traded,
(44:22):
his dad traded, you know, you know so but it's just,
you know, it's just it just depends to me, it
depends on the kid, because I tell you what, Lebron
not Lebron, sorry, Bronni. The way he handles himself is amazing.
It's amazing because it's a lot of pressure on him
(44:45):
and people are waiting, I think sometimes are waiting for
him to crack yes, you know, and and just kind
of just because at one point they're like, oh man,
he's not and you can relate to this when I
say this, oh man, he's not like his dad, and
that can send him left, yes, and searching for something else,
(45:09):
you know. And but Bronnie as well as mellow son.
Those two guys have been because their dads are still
we're still killing it in the league, and now they're
going through the circuit, you know, and kids like if
I'm playing against you know, Lebron's kid or Carmelo's kid,
I'm trying to get any advantage I can to dog you,
(45:32):
Oh man, you're not as good whatever, you know, whatever,
events like, he has to go through that every time,
every time he goes on the road. Yes, I mean,
you know it was like for me to go on
the road in high school, but this is next level.
Speaker 2 (45:45):
They have to be physically tough, they have to, and
they've got to be mentally tough.
Speaker 1 (45:53):
He is, yes, And I give him all the credit
in the world, man, you know, because it's just like
he's you know, he's screwed nine for his game? Is
he top? You know? And I was one of those
guys like, all right, you know he deserved Obviously it's
gonna be you're Lebron's kids, so that's gonna come with it.
You're gonna get the national attention. But if he's good enough,
(46:13):
give him his just due. If he's not good enough,
don't put him on just because. And I thought he
handled not only did he handled the McDonald's thing to
like perfection. He made a lot of people say they
made the right decision, and I said, because I think
he was out of the top twenty four at the time,
(46:35):
but they put him in obviously obvious reason. But he
showed up and showed out also, right, So, and so
I'm happy for for those guys. So I just I'm
just curious about that, and I just think about my
you know, my experiences with with with retirement, and just
so many things to think about. And he has, he mean, Lebron,
(46:57):
who was still playing at an unbelievable level, has a
lot to decide. So I saw a lot of that
in that postgame interview, and I was just curious if
you if you saw that as well, Yeah, do you
think they should keep Austin Reeves resign him? Oh?
Speaker 2 (47:13):
Absolutely absolutely.
Speaker 1 (47:17):
I think is another one.
Speaker 2 (47:19):
He is an outstanding shooter, He's got that touch. But
you know what else I like about him. I like
that he picks his moments, he mixes it up. He
knows he can get to the line, he can score
on the paint, and he knows how to draw that file.
And then he's an excellent free throw shooter. I mean, yes,
(47:41):
they they to me they'd be crazy.
Speaker 1 (47:43):
To let him go, and then you know we can't.
I'll be remiss if we do not talk about the
Denver Nuggets. And I know a lot of Nuggets fans
I see you on Twitter when you guys are talking,
you're junk uh you know, But the Nuggets fans here,
you have a reason to be proud. And I want
to give this moment here to the Denver Nuggets and
(48:04):
and say this under the radar all season, but still
number one in the West, and you were able to
prove and sustain it because after all that has been
said about you, can they can they be the same
team that they were in the regular season. And that's
I think that's what people wanted to see before they
just put all pushed all their chips into Denver. Yes,
(48:26):
you know, everybody kind of oh the Phoenix Suns and
Devin Booker like you're like, yes, I mean, these guys
are playing great. Devin Booker was playing unbelievable. You know,
they just did not have enough, you know, but everybody's
fascinating because of who Kevin Durant is. Like it just
what it is what it is. And you know, then
there's the Memphis Grizzlies and and and you know what
(48:47):
would happen there. Then it's the Golden State Warriors. So
there's a lot of teams that are historically has had
success in the postseason. So it's like, Okay, you know,
you never can count the Golden State Warriors out, can't
regardless of all that happened. And you still didn't count
them out until you actually shut them out. Yea, So
Devin Nuggets are here. Now let's go back to the
other side. You know, you're a Miami girl and all
(49:10):
of that, and the Boston Celtics in the Miami Heat
are battling it out, And what are your thoughts on
what you've seen from the Miami Heat from regular season?
Because I know we had this conversation when the Hawks
(49:30):
beat the Miami Heat. We were like, man like, they
did not look good. Then all of a sudden we
get this, what are your thoughts in the Miami.
Speaker 2 (49:41):
Well, the battle is not the battle I thought we
were going to see. Number One. Disappointed in the Boston Celtics.
They seem to not be playing with energy, effort purpose.
You know, there's a there's a pretty big purpose you
(50:03):
should be playing with in in this playoff, Miami Heat, Jimmy,
Jimmy Butler. I just would say, Jimmy Butler bowl all casts,
estimation point esclamation point esclamation point and his supporting cast
because you can't do it by yourself. And they have
(50:29):
grooved and jibed and uh playing together and like I
didn't even imagine and I and I thought and and
I thought the resistance that they would get from the
bus and Celtis would have been greater.
Speaker 1 (50:50):
Mm hmm what really just a quick one? What do
you what? Run has impressed you more? Denver Nuggets, Miami Heat.
He I think I think the same for me. It's
just like you never count Jimmy out and Kyle Allows
my guy, don't count him out. You know, he had
injuries and you know, I think it started with him
(51:12):
from his sacrifice from when he got injured and said, no,
I'll come off the Vince let Gabe continue to start
and I'll bring it. I'll bring I'll work with the
second unit. You know, his energy, the way he plays
was infectious from the beginning. And Miami Heat, I got
a chance to sit with supposed to and hearing him
talk about how important Kyle has been to their organization.
(51:34):
But man, the empowerment UH listening to gave vins and
talk about the empowerment of the superstars. They're allowing those
other guys Duncan, Robinson, Max Struce, Caleb Martin allowing those
guys to beat themselves and go out there and get
buckets and not feel hesitant when they're trying to go
one on one or taking a shot and look over
(51:57):
like see if everybody's like, man, what you're doing, give
me the ball? It's none of that. And I think
when you get guys can play freely. You get this,
you get this, and that's and that's what they're doing
because their their leader. Man, their leader is playing off
the charge. And Bam has responded to I thought Band
would have to have a great series to help for
for the for the Miami Heat to uh to do
(52:18):
what they're doing, because if Band was not playing well,
Jimmy couldn't do it by himself.
Speaker 2 (52:23):
Yeah, and think about this, if it's Miami, which it
looks like it's going to be, and it's genver my
hat some both coaches.
Speaker 1 (52:34):
Have coach Mike Malone normal.
Speaker 2 (52:38):
Coach Malone had to do a phenomenal job because you
talked about Denver and under the radar, we don't see them,
you know, East Coast drives the television. We don't see
them a whole lot on television. But to keep them
on a string, to keep them focused, to keep them
(52:59):
not and when anybody says, who counting us out? And
da da da da da, and to play, to continue
to play the where they're playing. And look at with
what Spostra is doing with the Miami Heat. You got
some strong personalities on that Miami Heat team and that
can get you know, go hey wider, and yet it
(53:24):
has not. But there again, I think it's Jimmy Butler
being the leader. I'm not afraid to say what he
needs to say. And Kyle Lowry as well.
Speaker 1 (53:40):
You know, so.
Speaker 2 (53:44):
That's gonna be a good good finals.
Speaker 1 (53:47):
I should This is this is one for me that
I've been hearing people talk about. Do you think the
Boston Celtics should break up the Tatum Brown tandem duo?
If you choose, do you think that do you think
Boston should break up the Tatum Brown duo?
Speaker 2 (54:08):
People ask that question, and my question is, I know
you don't answer a question with the question, But my
question would be why, I mean, give me your reasoning
for for asking that question.
Speaker 1 (54:18):
Why? See? To me, I think it's more of the player.
What what does what does uh not even Tatum? What
does Jalen Brown want? Because what is he tried? What
is he looking for? Like? And you know, as he
moves forward because he can make the most money with Boston,
They've accomplished a lot. Yes, they've fallen short, but they've
(54:40):
made that tandem work because he's been just as important
to Boston as their superstar Tatum. When Tatum has not
played bad, Guess who has saved the day? Guess who
was playing the best? Jalen Brown, And he didn't feel
like he was hindered at it by any by any
means to go out there and do his thing, because
Jason Tatum has allowed and he understands how important he is.
(55:02):
So I think it's Jason is Jalen Brown who has
to figure out what does he want now? And it
kind of reminds me of the t Mac thing. It
was kind of like what you know, everybody's like they
felt that t Mac and I should have stayed together,
and yeah, obviously we I mean that's family. But we
I hoped so as well. But I understood him moving
(55:23):
forward because he wanted to be the number one. He
wanted to be the guy to make the decisions and
have another guy to go for it. And we can't
hate him for that. Like we as fans kind of want,
you know, we want what we want. It's like, oh, man,
but y'all are good together. We're great together, like yeah,
and you and hearing TMAC talk about it now, he's like, man,
you know, yeah, it had been good, Like, you know,
(55:44):
sometimes I wish we did stay together. But what t
mac accomplished, he felt mentally it was the best decision
for him to come out of his shell to be
the Hall of Famer that he is now. Right, because
we're making this assumption or assessment off of the Tamac.
We saw that move moved on. You know, when he
(56:08):
got to Orlando, he was a monster, like and then
when he got to Houston, like he was like insane.
So people are like, dang if Vin's like doing what
he's doing and Mac doing what he's doing, like and
and it was like he had to go kind of
like what Lebron did. He had to go to Miami
to learn how to win and grow and came back
to Cleveland. It's kind of it's kind of that situation. Well,
(56:29):
thank you again, guys. Go check out the book, pre
order it, do what you gotta do. It's gonna be
in everywhere, not just local libraries. It's gonna actually be
on Amazon. She's gonna be in you. You're gonna be
at Walgreens. Look at you. You're gonna be everywhere you go. Girl.
All right, guys, appreciate you, guys VC Show fans. With
(56:49):
signing off, let's go
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