Friday at the Cleveland Food Bank with Coach J.B. Bickerstaff

After a huge win in Brooklyn on Thursday, the Cavaliers coaching staff (along with Isaac Okoro) were right back to work on Friday at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank. Coach Bickerstaff, along with special guest, Jessica Morgan stopped by to talk about the Cavs big day in the community.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:18):
Blaxton into Alan, mister Sean as Alan got a hand
up up to her back to Curry extra pat to
Watton abbey her. He wanted to shoot that thrown away
Rankle of Vernon. Mitchell has his head up pickla Pupaman
Mitchell and trying puppy blush hearn Burtley Cutter cut to

(00:39):
everybody in the broadcasting live from Rocket Mortgage field House,
all the sunny shores of beautiful Lake Erie. Me did
get my throo minto not getting into I'm he had
no cop carries. I don't suck on down town Cleveland. Hello,

(01:17):
you've tuned in to Wine and Gold Radio and boom
goes to dynamite. No, you're your host, Rafa and Joe Gi.
I'm a man, I'm for you you Hey, everybody, Hey,
welcome to my boys. You a little a batman. Oh god,
you gotta be still flying. Welcome to Wine and Gold

(01:41):
Radio Radio. Yes, one of the Wine and Gold shows.
I am Joe Gi to my right. Always where you belong,
Always is Rafa Nandez Brito. Fresh off what I thought
was the best win of the season, Letter Game of
the Year game the I thought it was even though
the Cavaliers got their fifteenth come from a double digit

(02:05):
deficit from come from behind and also the eleventh time
they do it in the in the second half and
this time in the fourth quarter. It was an amazing
way to to finish up this the third or four
Mini serieses. And believe it or not, that they were
looking at all the calendars and everything when we looked
at these four Mini Baseball serieses that that we were

(02:26):
we had in the schedule. We're five on one in
those series. Those I love those. I think that's as
far as the NBA in you know, we talked about
saving wear and tear hand guys, that's a good way
to do it where you can we drop off in
the city and let them, you know, let the team
drop their luggage and get settled in it all around.

(02:48):
And I'm I'm on a lot for wards in terms
of the last stretch of games. We're finally showing how
we can win on the road and difficult games too,
because we won that second gaming against Brooklyn and Charlotte
with all the adjustment. We talked about all the benefits
and learning and an opportunity to learn for the guy,

(03:09):
what's going to come in the playoff with the adjustment
with the same team and saying in the same city
like a little like a little mini walked through for
the playoff. Yes, and the game that we lost, we
had a fourteen point meeting in the third quarter. So
it's again things that need to be worked on. But
I am thrill with what I'm seeing on the court,
fund the guys, and also off the court. You know,

(03:29):
we'll get back to that in a second. We started
out very serious here, we jumped well, we got into me.
First of all, it's great to be next to you,
and like, I have to break your jobs about being
a podcast mercenary because we're here at the food Bank,
at the Cleveland foot Bank, Greater Cleveland Food Bank, the

(03:52):
Greater Cleveland Food Bank, very special show. We have a
special guest in the next segment. But I was going
to break your chops about being a podcast mercenary. And
then just before we went in the air, you agreed
to do another podcast. Yeah. I can't believe you're cheating
on me. Man, I'm so loyal. I'm so loyal. Another

(04:14):
one coming up. See you're gonna go with a C
and uh and Jones. But we just I'm exclusive we
just thought our relationship was exclusive. And just before we
went on the air, Lisa Sands, who's here at the
food bank with us, who is the creator host of
cl Foodcast right Clee Foodcasts. No, I was gonna, I

(04:37):
was gonna listen to the podcast. I was thinking about
listen to me. I was listening, listening, thinking about listening
to the podcast. And then when when when she thought
that you were Hayden Grow, I was like, damn, I'm
I'm listening now. I know I'm not even like I
feel bad. I'm not even close to Hayden Grow. I
don't have hair, I can't sing. I'm like, like, we're

(04:58):
like the bouleg We're like the good Oh Blues. And
that makes me so I had to say that about
about you being on every podcast in Cleveland and anybody
out there, if you have a podcast, or if you're
thinking about starting a podcast, Rafa will be on. Wait
a minute, let's talk. Let's talk to Lisa. Sit down

(05:20):
and join us. So you actually thought that we were
hating gromping. I don't guy, I don't mind men no,
because I know that you know that they're like, are
they like a bootleg podcast? Because you're the real deal. Yes,
of course we're the official one. Know I feel ashamed. No,
you shouldn't. There are a ton of wine and gold,
you know, like it's where they say often imitated and

(05:41):
never duplicated, So that's kind of what we're hoping for.
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattering exactly. But we're
not imitating them. But it is a common name, so
I understand the confusion. So you're the host Leap podcast podcast,
but you also wore for the Greater Cleveland You I'm
in corporate relations, which is on the development teams, so
it feels a little bit we were talking to you today.

(06:02):
But thanks for inviting me over. I really appreciate it.
Do you have a nice setup? Do you feel good today? Yeah?
We're ready to go. Yeah. We are not only happy
to be here, but happy about being part a little
bit a small part of what this amazing, the amazing
job that the Greater Cleveland Foodbank gas. And we thank
miss Lucy Vas for inviting us. You know, every time
she sent the email for volunteering, I always like to

(06:23):
be on Tom team Lucy, and and today it was
finally she always she always schedules this thing when the
team is on the road so I can be part
of it. But now here we are and we're hoping
that we can help a little bit in raising money
and making people aware of the needs of the great
Greater Cleveland Food Bank and how they can help. Yeah. Well,

(06:45):
and you're going to be talking to a very special
guest here from our team, Jessica Morgan, and she's going
to tell you what you guys are doing today and
how you're volunteering and the impact that you're actually going
to make. So definitely throw all of those questions so
for you though, before can anybody volunteer or there has
to be up to be like an also member of
the Wine and Goal Radio right well, and pretend that

(07:07):
they're hate and grow up. I will never live this down.
You know what. Here's the thing. The best thing to
do is to go to Greater Cleveland Foodbank dot org.
There's a volunteer portal. There's a place where you can
read about all the opportunities you can get yourself in
our system. And then there are just plenty of volunteer opportunities.

(07:27):
There's multiple shifts a day. We have some special weekend things,
you know, last Friday night I was just down with
a group of volunteers at the Wizards game doing the
fifty fifty raffle for the food bank. So you know,
there's just so many fun ways to get involved, rolling
up your sleeves here at the Partner distribution hub, or
you know, heading out to events and our summer feeding

(07:48):
at schools with kids. I mean, there's just whatever you like,
we can find a place for you. Thank you so much.
You'll make my day and we'll be talking about like
doing the Cli Foodcast. Yeah, we're going to start our
own podcast, right perfect, Yes, okay for sure. Time there
you go. One more podcast for me. Man. She asked me, like,
thank you, Lisa, thank you, thank you for Jody. Lisa

(08:08):
ask me what what else do you got go and
I said, nothing I do. But before we go any further,
I got I want to tell our fans to please
visit cabs that come Slash Food Drive and help us
reach our number. We have a goal close to hit
the community. And then you know me, I'm this is
not joking around. Whatever. It is time to help and
get back to the community. And my grandmother used to say,

(08:30):
throw the throw the rope back if you get out
you do say that. Well, I'm trying to every day
and this is a good opportunity cabs that come slash
food drive to donate and help those people in need.
And you know, because fulls capsity is a reality and
it's not nothing to do just with the pandemic. It
means and every day and everyday thing. Absolutely, And we

(08:51):
have till the end of the month next Friday, yep.
So it's like a telethon. It's like a you know,
so we got to raise that money before. I mean,
you can get any money rest of the march. Uh,
let's talk real quick about it before we have our
special guest. Last night, or I should say Thursday night
in Brooklyn. Really one of the greatest endings. CAPS close
on a twelve two run over the last two minutes

(09:13):
they went and Isaaca Coro's game winner. Can we play
Let's go ahead and play the whole show. I mean,
let's we're gonna get okay, let's go guys, carries I

(09:40):
Saccardo coming and Cleveland. By the way, at this point,

(10:02):
I was watching the guy in the blue shirt with
the blue hair, like I made the whole play. I
couldn't help watch it. What a great play, you know what,
Like I was watching that play, and I mean cass
LeVert like willed the Calves to that victory last night.
He really he did. Like I'm not saying the team
had given up. They hadn't, but Carris really in another

(10:24):
gear he did. You know what it is, though, what
I like about Harris that even though when he doesn't
have those like games on what he's setting with his shot,
because there's one thing, there's nothing you can do about
the shot going in or not or not. But he
gets to his spot and he looks for his shot.
But he always affects the game in different ways. And

(10:44):
defensively lately he's been all over the place. And yes
we're talking about ice hitting the dagger and the big apple,
but god damn evil movely man, oh Man. Each game
in Brooklyn he took covering that's second quarter to calling
double digits in both second quarters and double double last night.

(11:06):
But he's just he's getting woman into his own. Man.
He's getting a little more evil too, and I love
the fact that he's being and he's giving him back.
That's what I mean. I like it, oh Man. It's
so good. I would go back, going back to Carres
real quick. A lot of guys in that situation would
have kind of panicked and shot that shot. Yeah, when

(11:27):
Carris got the ball kind of leaked out. When Jared
kind of tapped it out. The fact that he dribbled
out and threw that incredible for them. He picked up
the loose ball before he crossed half court, which I
think didn't matter, but he picked it up, Knoll got
into a double team and split it. It's a great
shooter he's been. He had a hot hon lately, but
he's so Isaac in his spot where he has been deadly.

(11:51):
As much as they killed Acora for his shooting, he
has been deadly from that corner. And like he said,
you know what, I shoot hundreds of those every days,
like hey, and they and they trust him, and you
know J's again jab talks about being unselfish and stuff.
That's that's talking to talk and walking the walk. That's
a guy in the last second could have taken a shot.
Car's been shooting. Well, he didn't. He made the right play,

(12:13):
the right pass and a tough pass cross court hit
Isaac and just the defense was awesome in the second quarter,
in the in the second half, and you know Donovan
Mitchell again missing the freethrop intentionally twice. He had a chance.
He was flat on his back. It couldn't believe it
missed the two put back. I could if you if
you listen to my play, I'm like, oh, oh, hear

(12:36):
what happened because everybody got up in front of me
and it was chaos. I didn't see the ball, I
didn't see him missed the second put back, and then
I just picked it up with Carrie's picked up the
loose ball. So it was just made him. And it
was crazy because a lot of people were leaving with
like a minute to go, and then they just stopped
behind us, and I was literally in the middle of

(12:58):
a ton of Cavs fans and Nets friends. But it
just I'm one of those endings that we have a
few of those in the playoff and in regular seasons.
But last night was just amazing for the comeback win,
incredibly great for for It's a cook who's been through
ups and down, but that dude, you know, he he
scored no point in the in the game before then

(13:20):
everybody's like, oh my god, zero point. But he had
a plus double digit plus or minus and and just
answered the bell man whenever, whenever, whenever we ring for him.
And I mean, they're right now. This is exactly what
you want to be doing. You want to be playing
good basketball heading in the playoffs. And now you're seeing
Ricky starting to look like himself again. You're seeing January

(13:41):
and Ricky Lavert, Ricky Lavert and Jeddy are starting to
come into a unit of their own. It doesn't matter
who the other two are. And last night they all
came in at the same time, because that's what JB
feels now that that second unit, finally the gunpowder is dry,
but it was a little wet for a little while there. Yes,
they finally, yeah, the second unit is gelled. It's like,

(14:04):
and I have news for you, bad news. I think.
I spoke to the Fro and he never considered wearing goggles.
I told him. I said, dude, he goes no way,
I told them. And then Sydney Law, consistent coach for
the Cavs, told us that the first thing the Frow
told the staff was like, there's no freaking way I'm
wearing goggles. I said, man, you would look great. Maybe

(14:25):
we bring the Larry Birth short shorts. And then you
with with the with the jabbar goggles, like we told
him brand them as the Frogals. So then I said
to him yesterday, hey, what if I get like three
or four different types of goggles so we can give
the fans what they what they didn't get, just just
to see what you would look like. It's like, no

(14:46):
freaking way. I'm like, okay, So I'm gonna I'm gonna
have to go AI and and and do at official
Intelligent Frogal pictures. Oh my god. Yeah, I would think
he'd be into it. I think everybody expected that and
he didn't want them at all. Okay, well that's kind
of we have to have to have him on the
show and convince him. You know, Guan and Gold Radio
has a lot of power. We have changed the landscape

(15:06):
of entertainment exactly. We might as well. Let's let's let's
flex our muscles. Let's have Jared Man and convincement whether
it needs him or not. Man, it's like kind of good. So, uh,
real quick playoff picture in the weekend calves. Could I
think the magic numbers now one? So I think they can.
They can. We own our destiny and that's the best

(15:27):
position to be in. Yeah, and next Friday night against
New York should be a wild one because I'm introducing
the starting lineup in Spanish because we're playing I don't care.
You don't even know who we're playing, but I am
excited for it. That's no no celatina and let's fighting
man and and it's gonna be I'm hoping that we
keep that. I had an event with Karis and I

(15:50):
asked him and I said, you know, see you that
has requested to be introduced as from Columbus, Ohio, or
it's it a Mark who doesn't want to, you know how.
He is like whenever they whenever Ohio state places Michigan,
everybody doesn't use the letter M, which is kind of
like suspect to me. It's really um. I asked Carries,

(16:11):
and he goes, well, yeah, I like Columbus. And then
he's brother. He's like, no, man, say Michigan. So I'm
hoping can't do it well if he starts hell, yeah,
Michigan Wolverine Carried, I'm gonna do uh, I'm doing I'm
doing Evil Mobile, I'm doing Lara Mitchell, I'm doing Yellow

(16:35):
I cannot wait. So and then I still, you know, DGPG.
I don't have a I don't have a thing that's
a good one. You know what I was thinking about, DGPG.
You know what quality has that a good qual point
guard has. I think he's as happy for when you
look him look at him in videos or or photos
after the post game win or after a big shot,

(16:57):
he's as happy for the guy succeeded and hit the shot.
That's as happier. That's true. But I mean like Darius
really takes joy in Isaac's success and Lamar's success. Information
that Isaac is one of the most one of the
most Belova guys, right right. Everybody think he's a quiet dude. No,

(17:18):
the first thing he was saying yes last night was
like what town man is brand new brave when everybody
was throwing one on him. Yeah, So, hey, late, we
are at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and we are
going to be back with many special guests, but starting
out with Jessica Morgan, the Chief Programs Officer. That's a

(17:40):
good that's a good title. I know, that's a good
one right way up there for us. Yeah, So we
will be back right after this break Wine and Gold Radio.
You see I sing, hey, This is Camas Beat reporter
Chris Feedorf. I never listen to one in Gold radio?
Does anyone? I mean, they're so many other options these days,

(18:01):
including my own podcast that has a very similar name.
If I were you, I just listened to that. There's
more of this. Give me how come quickie on w
h K. I need a quickie on WhK after this
on Wine and Gold Radio. Where on this wonderful, wonderful station.

(18:42):
Just take Lively party Star, Welcome back to the joke,

(19:08):
Take Perts. It's time for Chunk Tap than the Magnificent.
Thank you Ed. What is the question? We've got questions
from Twitter again? Follow us on Twitter, Twitter, at Cavs
Audio Verse at caf Audio Versions and chop Tack. The
Magnificent will provide the answer. Boom moving guard. They're killing you,

(19:32):
Alex Toma. Alex Thoma has asked on Twitter, alexone which cavalier,
Which cavalier will lead the team in three point percentage
to three point percentage? I'll tell you Wade is on
a is on track. He's shooting sixty five percent from
three point range. But I'm gonna put my hopes in

(19:52):
Young Garland, a pure shooter, Garland before the season over.
We'll lead this team at three point shooting. All right.
Our next jolting Zack the Magnificent question. Jeremiah Jindra asked
how many many points points tonight? Tonight? Well, Garland and

(20:13):
Mitchell combined for I won't answer that. That sounds like
one of those betting apps right there to me. Don't
to Jeremiah joon zach tonice the question. Thirty five twenty
seven Javaliers. Now back to Wine and Gold Radio. Hello, Jah, hey, everybody,

(20:40):
welcome back to segment two, Wine and Gold Radio of
Wine and Gold Radio. Here we have our own song, Jica.
We have a pretty fancying song. We have a pull
cup Wine and Gold Radio here. Yeah, I put the
polka and you can kind of hear why. Actually we
are at the as we said in segment one, we're

(21:01):
at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank and we are joined
by Jessica Morgan. And normally I get titles completely wrong,
but we're gonna get this one right. If you are
the chief programs officer at the Greater Cleveland Food Bank,
what does that do? But I am so we're a
couple of different hats here. I oversee all of our
programming essentially, so we serve six counties in northeast Ohio.

(21:23):
We serve Kyahaga right here where we're located, but then
we go all the way to the Pennsylvania border and
serve Lake through Ashbiella County and then down south to Giaga,
and then we also serve Asheland and Richeland and we
have about a thousand programmatic partners across those six counties.
So my team oversees all of those program partners. I
help with the food sourcing and advocacy. We're communications, special events,

(21:47):
just a little bit of everything, and we really appreciate
everything you do. And we have being involved with the
Cleveland with the Greater Cleveland Food back, at least in
my case, since around the pandemic. It was like makes
clear everybody became aware of the oh yeah problem that
ex filixis and you have a campaign Harvest for Hunger
that it's doing an amazing job and we are so
proud to be a little bit of it, a little

(22:09):
part of it, but tell us about it so people
so are millions of listeners can actually jump on. So first,
thank you for being a part of it. It is
a great campaigns. We're in our thirty second year of
the Harvest for Hunger campaign, so it's gone on for
quite some time. It is a partnership between four food
banks in northeast Ohio and it serves twenty one counties,
So the Greater Cleveland Food Bank coordinates it locally, but

(22:32):
we also work with the Second Harvest Food Bank of
North Central Ohio in Lorraine, we work with the Second
Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley in Youngstown, and
then the Akron Canton Food Bank, and you know the
it's a food and funds drive to bring awareness to
the need. So you know, the need we are seeing
right now is unlike the need that we've ever seen before,
even at the height of the pandemic. We are serving

(22:54):
more people than we did at the height of the pandemic.
So the past four months November through February, we've served
more people than we ever have before. There's a lot
of different reasons for that, but so this year's campaign
almost feels more urgent than others just to help us
best meet the need. Is why isn't the need greater

(23:15):
now than it was during the pandemic? That's surprising, sure,
and we get that question a lot, and there's a
couple of different reasons. I think the biggest reason, at
least to start is inflation. So we know when we
go to the grocery store, food is more expensive than
it's ever been before. So if your family who might
be struggling, who might be having a hard time making
ends meet, and you go to the grocery store to

(23:36):
get your your typical groceries there, you know in some
cases twenty five thirty percent more expensive depending on the item,
of course. But most recently, just within the last month,
month and a half, a lot of the families that
we serve are faced with a new challenge, which is
the ending of the emergency SNAP allotments. So when the

(23:56):
pandemic hit, families who are receiving SNAP or food Stamps
UM as it's formerly known as, received an extra allotment
each month, so they got their primary allotment and then
got a second later on in the month. UM that
second allotment has now ended, So families UM at a
time when inflation is very high, are seeing reduction in
the benefits that they're receiving. And um you know a

(24:18):
number of families that we work with are working poor families.
They're working, they're just not you know, their jobs just
aren't paying them enough money. And so um, we are
seeing continued high need because of because of those benefits
and day and a lot of things that people don't
realize too. You know, the pandemic took a hit on
families tool so a lot of a lot of families
lost the provider or lost the you know, a goose
size of the income that was coming into. The need

(24:41):
is there and we are happy to be here to
help with the calves. You know, we have a few
games left in the month of March and we are
collecting foods wonderful and we're asking our fans when they
come to the Rocket Markets field house for all our
event for monsters and and and and calves, to bring
food for for our collection and also to visit calves
calm slash food dry. But I know there's other ways.

(25:02):
Took on three view and help us, help us, help
you with our listener. How can we actually get everybody
to have a little heart and be part of this sure, so,
first and foremost thank you. That is wonderful that you're
doing that, and we are very grateful. We say there's
kind of three ways to give back, give, advocate, and volunteer.
Our top three giving specifically money, one dollar can help

(25:27):
us to provide three meals. So we use our buying
power because we buy food in bulk, because you can
see behind you or behind me, Rather that we can
use those dollars most efficiently in source food in bulk
and get more food here. So that is that is
first and foremost. Secondly, we talk about advocacy work and
advocating for the work that we do. We are always

(25:47):
in need of champions, folks that want to talk to
people about the work that we're doing, help us to
secure really important dollars in the federal and state budget
for programming that is critically important. And then, last but
certainly at least as volunteering. We cannot do what we
do without the assistance of volunteers um and there's a
number of different avenues to volunteer. You know, we've got

(26:09):
opportunities here at the Food Bank, both in our repack
area and also our production kitchen. We have a production
kitchen that's providing about seven thousand ish meals a day.
But then we also have opportunities in the community, both
through Food Bank specific distributions and also through our network
of partners, and all of those opportunities are on our website.
We have the Calves that I've been here for nine

(26:32):
season and I have first of all always been grateful
for the way of the city that adopted me basically
and I may I made it my home, and the
Calves as an organization has been amazing in help even
up the opportunities to help the community. Today, we have
our coaching staff and someone some members of the of
the of the Calves coming in here. We're doing the

(26:53):
packing toy. So what's the process. Yeah, now you get
the donation thankfully to all the people, don't any but
what's the process of getting from you buying the fools
to making it to people's home. Sure, so you know
the food comes in here, but then it's really the
work of the volunteers that helps us to get it out.
So the assistance that the CAVS coaching staff and team

(27:14):
will help with us. Today our packing boxes for seniors. Specifically,
we distribute about thirty five hundred of these boxes a
month and they go to seniors across our service territory
who are struggling and who are eligible to receive them
and they get about thirty pounds each time, and sometimes
we also provide them with some fresh produce. But things
in these boxes are cereal. It's healthy food, right, it's cereal,

(27:36):
it's low sodium, vegetables, low sugar, fruit, whole grains, things
that really help to contribute to an individual's diet. But
then once those boxes are packed, we rely on our
network of partners that I mentioned, those over one thousand
partners to either come here and pick up that food
or we have a fleet of over twenty trucks now
I think it is that go out to each one

(27:57):
of our counties every single day and deliver that food
to our partners who then get it into the hands
of people who need it. And how do you how
much are you enjoying this new facility that you have?
Very different, different, very different. So we've been here six months.
It's kind of surreal that we've been here six months already,
um and already we through I think February, we've been

(28:17):
able to distribute one point seven more million pounds of
food than we did the same time period last year.
So what that tells us is that, Okay, our new
space is working. We've been able to get even more
donated food in, which is which is so important. You know,
food banking as a whole is based off of food
rescue back you know, when food banks started, it was

(28:38):
really to help rescue food and get food out into
the hands of folks that needed it and eliminate food waste.
And since then, you know, food banking has evolved so much,
but we're still at our roots, you know, we still
want to make sure that there is as less food
waste as possible. And so this new building has allowed
us to get even more donated food in and also
just do some some new and special projects and really

(28:58):
help our partners. But it's wonderful well as as members
of the seniors community, we appreciate you telling that fiber. Yeah,
I need some roughage. No, that's good, that's good. Some

(29:22):
syrial would be good. Ye. No, we are really grateful
to be here, seriously, you know, we have fun at it,
but I jump at the opportunity to come. This is
like my second or third time that I get first
time here in this beautiful facility. But we appreciate you.
Can anybody come in and volunteers to be through an
organization or really I mean, we welcome individuals, we welcome

(29:44):
corporate groups, we welcome you know, school groups. UM. All
of the stipulations to volunteer, there's a whole list of
those on our website. UM. We do we have family nights,
you know, for families with younger children. UM. And so
we really do want to encourage volunteering as much as possible.
It's a great way to learn about what we do,
especially if you've never been here before. I think what

(30:04):
happens sometimes, especially for new volunteers if they've never been
here before, they truly don't understand the scope and the
breadth of what we do, and walking into the facility,
especially our new one, it's kind of like, oh my goodness, Wow,
you know, the impact is pretty great. And I think
once you see and you hear the numbers of what
electually does, I mean, it's just right. Yeah. And fans
can again, I want to make sure that fans can

(30:26):
bring can goads to the game. Correct. Yes, we have
two more home games in the month of March. Month
of March, so Rococo mortgods Field Health. Yeah. I can't
say it in English because I have my read is
translated like like nope, I com which mean it doesn't
expire or canned food. Yeah, that's yea. I translate everything

(30:48):
into Spanish, but now now I gotta translate back on
the fly, and it's really hard. I help them out.
We want to talk about you have what do you
have coming up? And I have like a big event
to end of April. Correct, we do. So it's a
signature event of our Harvest for Hunger campaign that I
spoke about earlier. It's called Market at the Food Bank. UM.

(31:08):
I believe we're in our twenty eighth or twenty ninth
year of Market, So it's an event that we've held
for a number of years, UM, but this will be
the first time we have it at our new building.
So I think that there's some excitement around it. We
have some opportunity to do something new and exciting and different. Um.
This space is bigger, UM, so we hope to see

(31:29):
lots of people here. UM. And and just because it's
a tasting event, really yeah, it's a it's a great
tasting event. So we host about forty ish restaurants and
beverage purveyors. So we'll come in and they'll set up
tables and you can graze if you need all the
food you want, drink all the drinks you want responsibly.
Of course. No, I have a contact with Lee Foodcast

(31:49):
that can help you. That's a great podcast that might
be Yeah, we'll have to we'll have to compare numbers
and see if we know the same person. UM. But
it is. UM, it's a great it's it's a fun event.
You know, it's not a sit down. You can come,
you can mingle. UM. You get to see the work

(32:10):
that we do, and I think that that's really important
is to bring awareness to some of that work. UM,
and just really lay eyes on the facility, in the
scope and the impact that we have. UM. So it's
April twenty ninth, UM, the last Sunday in April from
six to eight thirtieth. I'm sorry, thank you, Lisa, April thirtieth.
I keep saying the twenty ninth. It's not the twenty ninth.
It is April thirtieth, the last Sunday in April from

(32:32):
six to eight thirty pm. UM, and tickets around sales
so you can visit our website Greater Cleveland Foodbank dot org,
slash market. We still use flip phones. Yeah, I'll have
to fix that. But we will go home and going
through our through our PC. Jessica, thank you so much
for joining Wine and Gold Radio. Are sad and feed

(32:53):
or couldn't be at the interview like that? You know what,
They've got nothing on you, guys. They've got nothing on
Rob even sings better than Hayden too. Greater Cleveland Food
Band dot org, slash harvest and alsocup dot com slash.
I'm telling you, I'm having issues to translating back to English.
That's food Drive for information, how to participate, how to

(33:16):
volunteer or how to advocate, most importantly, how to donate.
Thank You's like, let's come out and thank you so much.
Appreciate that. Okay, everybody, we're back here at the Greater
Cleveland Food Bank. Is that what? Yeah, that's where we are,
the Greater Food flood Bank. And we're done. We're done packing.
We are joined a special guest coach JB. Bickers to

(33:40):
have coach, thanks for joining us here. I wanted to
say hey, Gaby, hey before we even get going. Before
we even get going. Speaking of that, the woman who
set us up here at Lisa's saying, Stut, we were
the road for Feeders podcast. Yeah, yeah, she said, so

(34:06):
when when does the talent get here? We're like, well, yeah,
she thought it was gonna be fiedoors. They didn't know
you guys were the talent. Coach, coming off one of
the that I thought was the best win of the
season on a Thursday night in Brooklyn, how are you
feeling after after that one? You feel good about it,
But it's more about the guys and the things that

(34:26):
they've had to go through in order to get there. Um,
you know, obviously with Isaac being the guy to make
the final shot and four to be a corner three,
like all the time that he's put in working on
that shot over and over again. You look at Carris,
you know how he's been so reliable for us, but
in so many different roles, and then you know him
being the guy that comes up with the big steals

(34:48):
and then the assistant Isaac on the three. Like, there's
so many layers to it that made it so much
bigger than just that one win. So much has been done,
Coach to get to where we are right now, and
it all started with the five core values that you
gave these guys two seasons ago, and you can see
it now everybody understanding and the best party that I
like at what you said was that not only those

(35:09):
five wars when you look him up in the dictionary,
they relate to basketball, but also nobody needs any help
to get them accomplished, to get them done. And yesterday,
I think last night the perfect example of playing together
and toughness. Carrigs could have easily taken a shot with
the shot with the clock running out, and then he
no trusts his teammate that together part of it. I mean,

(35:30):
it was beautiful to see finally everything coming along. Yeah,
I mean again, that's what it was going to be
a process. You know, people always get excited about the
young talent and all those things and want to skip steps,
but you can't skip steps in this process. So it
was gonna take time. And building a team takes time.
You add a dynamic piece like Donovan to the group,

(35:51):
like it takes time for everybody to figure each other out,
where they kind of settle in and what exactly the
team is going to look like. But again, from day one,
the guys have been bought in. They've been you know, committaled,
they've been you know, they've made mistakes, but they've learned
to trust each other through those mistakes, They've gained invaluable
experience together and now we're continuing to grow. You talked
about being happy for those two guys, and I think

(36:14):
any Cavs fan would be because Carris, again, it took
him a while to kind of get his confidence and
no one has had to sacrifice more than him. And
then Isaac guy you talk about, works his ass off
all season in the weight room, you know, and he
takes a lot of heat for not being a big score.
You had to be really happy for those two guys
just for persisting and for making it through the season.

(36:36):
I mean, it just sets an example. Yeah, and it
gives guys the reward that you're looking for right when
you're doing all those things like Carris for example, when
you're sacrifice and time and time again. You know you've
used to being the primary score ball handler, but you've
been willing to sacrifice your game and do other things
like you want to see some sort of fruits from that.
And I think last night was a great example. Same

(36:57):
thing with Isaac, Like you know, people miss don't know
how much he means to us and how important he
is because of all the little things that he does.
But you know, he's not a twenty point score and
we know, you know, offense is cute, it's fun, it's celebrated,
but you know, he does so much more for us
that don't show up, doesn't show up in the stat
sheet to go out knock down that big corner three, uh,

(37:18):
you know, is the fruits of his labors. And I
just kind of pump your tires for a second here,
and that, like those guys have to really look at
you and say, hey, man, you know, no matter how
much people complain about us, you know in the outside world,
you've stuck with him. Man, you you've been true the
whole way through. So I don't know, that's kind of
a testament to you. Yeah, and it's just but it's

(37:40):
also I appreciate that. But it's also about the type
of people that they are, you know what I mean,
Like I believe in them so much and I trust
in them so much just because of their character that
we're gonna do whatever we possibly can to help him
be successful. And we know that with that belief and
with that confidence, they're the type of people that are
going to get through it. Yeah, Coach, you know, we

(38:00):
so much about the Cavs finding ways to win this season.
We leave the league in a ten point win, to
any point wins, overtime, wins, come from behind. I mean,
your name may we got it, but we finally went
in on the road in a consistent basis. And what
do now, I mean, how do you keep us a
coaching staff, these guys in this level, in this move

(38:21):
going into the last seven games of the season and
obviously preparing and hopefully for having like a little week
off to prepare and get them ready for that first
round series. Well, I think they see, you know, the
light at the end of the tunnel, so to speak.
You know, as coaches, every single game to us is
you know, one of the eighty two. That's extremely important.
But when you narrow it down to ten games, seven games,

(38:43):
and you see exactly where you're standing and what you're
fighting for, you know, it's easier for guys to see
and focus and understand like just how important the moment is.
And that's typical around the NBA. And you know, everybody's
excited about what's coming next. So we're really really focus storing,
preparing ourselves, and each of these last seven games means

(39:04):
something to us. They're all matter matter, matter folds at
a word. I don't know, but they're all, but they do. Yeah,
that all matters. So uh, you know, it gives us
an extra opportunity to kind of hone in and continue
to focus and then get better because we know there's
bigger things coming. And then these mini baseball series is
you know, five on one could easily have been five
six an hour with the fourteen point league we had

(39:24):
in Miami in the second game. But on the coaching
staff side, were you happy? Were obviously happy with what
you learned the way these guys were able to adjust
to the game too and responded to the where you
laid out. Yeah, I think it was. Um, you know,
it's a perfect preparation for what we're going to face.
And you know, I don't know if the league was
thinking that, but I think for young teams in particular,

(39:47):
who you know, haven't had a lot of playoff experience
where you play a game, have a day, but then
you got to adjust, you know, the next day to
a different scheme or a different coverage or whatever it
may be. So it's great preparation and great practice for us.
And he's sending us down to Miami to get us
really kind of ready. Yeah, but then again, you know
we're all talking about Isaacs, you know, boss or Beater

(40:08):
almost Eva marveling man. I mean, we you have to,
we have to, we have to hear what you have
to say about this young guy because he he I
have never seen a player that responds so well even
after no starting of well last those two second quarters
that we had like from him in Brooklyn with just incredible,
and how he stays in the game mentally, yeah, he is.

(40:31):
You know, there's not been a moment that's just too
big for him. He doesn't allow emotions to play a
part in how he performs. You know, if he misses
one shot, that shots over with and he moves on quickly,
which is rare for young guys. But I mean he
was dominant and that's the only way you can put
it on both sides of the floor. Offensively, you know,

(40:51):
he was beasting guys getting to his spot in the post,
facing him up, going buy him, getting to the free
throw line. And then defensively, he was everywhere. He was rebound,
you know, all over the floor. Yeah, he was blocking
shots at the rim. But then you know at the
end of the game, we switched him on a spencer
Dinwitty and now he's on the perimeter and you know,
he ended up taking shots he couldn't see the rim. Yeah,

(41:11):
because Evan was draped on top of him. We ended
up getting those boards and getting stops there. So you know,
it can't say enough about his performance. And you know,
as a group, we've all talked about like what's coming,
But now I think Evan has you know, he's got
that belief in himself on the impact that he can have. Uh,
and he's going out and trying to dominate every time
we have a favor to ask you. You know, I

(41:33):
hear one on Gold Radio even though we get mistaken
by Hayden Grove and Chris Feeder, uh the road. We
thought not only would get mistaken by them, but they
think we are setting up for them. But that on
the show, Um, Jared Allen left everybody hanging here in
Cleveland because we all wanted to see him playing with

(41:54):
goggles and he said he didn't want to wear him.
And we're trying. I want to get like at least
like three for sets. Different said, just to see what
he would look like. We think you can help us
like trying to get into at least we try. He
may do it for the photop Yeah, he won't put
him on in the game. He just put him on
in the game. But if you find him in the
back of the training room somewhere, he may slide him

(42:14):
to pair for you. I mean, don't you think he'd
be perfect. He's kind of It's like a throwback kind
of guy. Man and the headband and the right up
his alley, he'd be perfect. Eye socks. Yeah, exactly, coach,
thanks for stopping by. Man, appreciate We appreciate you, and
we appreciate all the work of doing here for the community.

(42:35):
I mean, I know here at the food banks and
we know, yeah, exactly know that's yeah, no, it's it's
I mean, you know, we all were helped in one
way or another, and I think it's a priority for
all of us to do for each other. Yeah. Um,
you know what we believe in, you know what we
stand for all that stuff. We can have our differences opinion,
but we need to look out for one another and
be respectful of one another. So this is our opportunity

(42:56):
to do that. Grandmother always said, if you get out
throw the rope back down exactly. It out exactly. When
you're working on the food line, here are you? Are
you the head coach of the food lane, You're like,
come on, Walton, put the buns on top. He got
a little sloppy towards the right. But we had a
tough job. We were carrying the thirty pound boxes and
at the end of it, you know, he was a
little exhausted. But hello, Sloppys, thank you so much for joining.

(43:20):
Thank you. Hi. This is Kelsey Russo from the Athletic.
I'd rather listen to Chris Feudor's podcast than Wine and
Gold Radio. There's more of this, I mean, how come

(43:43):
quickie on WhK after this on Wine and Gold Radio.
Hey there, this is Dirty Kurt, and I gotta be
honest with you. I never listen to Wine and Gold Radio,
but I hear it's awesome. Now back to Wine and

(44:13):
Gold Radio. Hey, everybody, welcome back to segment three of
Wine and Gold Radio. Wine and Gold Radio, if we're
setting stuff back, have you finished setting up this equipment
yet for the Gold Show? I'm sorry. We're happy because

(44:33):
we're giving back and that is the best feeling in
the world. And I'm not. I'm not joking about that.
I love to get back and I love our next guest.
We always introduce her the best human, the best human
in Cleveland. And also because she she puts us in
her team in the Caps first team. I know, I know,
and thank you thanks for letting us first of all,

(44:54):
Lucy Varius, Hello, you hear in the thank you says
like drop Us says every week we say you're the
greatest human Cleveland, because you are, and you've set us
up here at the Food Bank. And this was just
a great day. It was so we had a wonderful afternoon.
We recorded Wine and Gold Radio, We had a great
Jessica Morgan on the air and to talk about Harvests

(45:15):
for Hunger, and then we all came together. There were
thirty of us that packed hundreds of meals for seniors
in our community for Harvest for Hunger. And we are
excited because our campaign is coming to an end. We
have two more home games and we are excited to
partner with our lovely Food Bank. Talk to us about

(45:35):
that because I know as an organization is very important
everything we do at the community level. And one of
the things that attracted me to come to Cleveland. Was
literally that that the cavaliers had an intention, a real
intention to hit the Hispanic community, to approach the Hispanic community,
and not only the Hispanic community, but everybody. But this
one hits everybody, right, sure, yeah, I mean food scarcity

(45:58):
is a real problem, especially the city of Cleveland. And
that's why it's so important to not only come and
volunteer and physically be here to show your moral support,
but to also give food if you have extra food,
or give money, even three dollars like it can help.
So it's important now more than ever, especially with food
inflation and rising costs. Amongst food, a lot of families

(46:21):
find that they have to choose between medicine or meals
and things like that. It should never happened in this country, shouldn't,
and you just don't see it. So when you're here
and you realize how much of a need there is,
it really hits home. When we were just now, we
were packing up, I guess Crates, you know, to send
off you said for packing for seniors, right, yes, And

(46:42):
as I'm doing it, I'm kind of like colleague, right right,
our fellow seniors. So as I'm packing, I'm thinking kind
of flippantly, I'm like, man, all this food smelling is
making me hungry, and I thought, it's it's just awful
that people are hungry in this country, that there are
people that you know, and of all ages, of all

(47:05):
ages that you know. I'm thinking of it like man,
and I just ate before I got here, and I thought, man,
you know how how awful it is to be hungry,
And it's uh, it's so great that the food bank
is you know, is doing this. So what can our
fans do, Lucy, what can't where do they go? What
can they do? I know we talked about their home game,
but they can bring I gotta help me with the

(47:26):
English portion of these peoples. I always say, like, no
comedia comedia, that's nonperishable. Yeah, it canned foods. So there's back.
There's baskets on every entrance of the of the Rocomortas
field House. Correct for there are bins. There are bins,
their collection bins at the field house. However, food is important,
but nowadays a dollar can be stretched to three meals,

(47:49):
so money is going to make a bigger impact than
the traditional canned foods. So and there's a convenient way
setting from your couch. You can just go to cavs
dot com slash food Drive and we are having a
campaign for Cavs fans right now. It is ending one
week from today on the thirty first, so any donation helps.

(48:11):
If you just donate directly there, you can be part
of the Calves Food Drive presented by a Trusted Suck
and it's ending at the end of March. That'll be
our the end of the Calves Food Drive, which has
been the whole month long. Harvests were Hunger Buy the
Food Bank last until May, but our specific drive to
help support the food banks ending at the end of March.
Do you do you guys choose the thirty first because

(48:33):
you wanted to finish with a bang on Noche Latina
and he'd be against the Knicks still, so it'd be
a big game and we invite everybody to come to
the fieldhouse and enjoy. Yeah, a pre playoff game, help
get back and Friday and Night should be Friday and
Night should be huge. Well, you know, last every year.

(48:54):
Last year we heard from our fans and from people
involved that note Latina was like the best theme nine
of the season because it wasn't felt like a party
oh sure you so, so what's the halftime show for
no Chi Latina? I don't know. Last year it was
Christian in school. We're trying to get a monkey. Still
were trying with we're doing we're one monkey short of competing.

(49:14):
O our like our our masterpiece for the season because
we got to Now now we got JB trying to
get Jared out and to work goggles. Right, yeah, so
now we added one to the man. We can get
that monkey. Getting a monkey for halftime is our goal
this year. If you can help, if you know of
anybody that has a show with a month the clock

(49:35):
is ticking, we'll pay for it. But RAF's thinking. Raf
had actually the best idea for I don't appreciation to
have monkeys handing out the it's the jerseys, like jersey,
like dressed in jersey, dressed in jerseys and then yes,
a monkey couple okay, stopping Cavs gear. Oh yeah, like
working work friends and handing out shoes. Yeah yeah, yeah,

(50:01):
that would be that would talk about and I know
you would understand this because you were part of the
original Big three of the computer team. You know, talk
about getting fans engage with contact, right, that will get
us everywhere. Oh my god. Right, if we can do that,
if we can get the monkeys for appreciation, then really
then Wine and Gold Radio will be like above the

(50:24):
law will be a h I'm worried about what next.
I know we'll get big heads. I know. Hey, Lucy,
you wants to stick around for thank you? Oh of course. Okay,
let's wrap this show up RAF before you go, Okay,
before you go, I have an update for you. Okay.
A couple of months ago, and I think we talked
about in Wine and Gold Radio here at school, third

(50:44):
graders from a school in Rhode Island send the community
of the relations department a letter with a flat Stanley. Yeah,
flat Stanley. I don't know, if you don't know, it's
a book. It's a kid that likes to want to
travel the world. So it gets inside a book and
you know, obviously flattened and that way he travels around.
So they send it and Lucy was cool enough to
give it to me. So I took flax Stanley out,

(51:07):
put him on the cockpit of the plane, put him
on taking the Boston, Toronto, Chicago. We went to different countries,
tooking to Mexico. So I made a book of it. Oh,
and it's gonna be ready so we can send it
to the children at at the Rode Island School. I
forget the brink. No, I have it. The book is
being published and I'm gonna send it back to the

(51:29):
kids with the inside the book, so they are going
to be amazing. I know those four kids are like, hey, Wins, Ralph,
I'm gonna get back. No. I called him and told
the teachers that I was in the process of finishing
the project, but I wanted to make it special. You know,
how do you know when how do you know when
Stanleys like adventures finished? What's well? Because I have to

(51:50):
send him back otherwise I will keep it, I said,
no keeping keeping, So I thought we get we had
an extra couple of things. Took it to Boston Garden
and I show him around, you know the banners and
have you ever taken him to the Equestrian Club and
Garfield Heights? No, No, I couldn't get into the country
flow Garfield Heights. Okay, we gotta thank for getting this JB.
Even though no representative is here the pr well the

(52:13):
Pierre Department. Nick Burne was here, so he's a part
of the PR Department is part of the player players
shout out to Nick Burn Okay, well either way, he
did it because and Paul right, and they probably do
it just out of respect because bj runs the PR department.
As you know, ironed fist lose you right through the
earned fist. Do we have to thank Shio Mowens who

(52:37):
just he's the best, really is, don't you think? Oh yes,
I love okay? And then Slinging Sammy who cost himself
no longer right, he cost himself Rookie of the Year,
but just by just by spilling the beans man, all
he had to do is keep his much but he
was honest. So now, but Devin Booker, the Cav's own

(52:57):
Devin Booker, is now one week away from complaining her
Rookie of the Year campaign. Yeah, so you know, Swinging
Sammy say Lincoln. Sammy told me once again that if
we played the Celtics in the second round, there's no
way to Roman smelling Boss I like, he's just he's
taking control of buzz, you know, I kind of like it.

(53:18):
That's why he's so tough. Boo Banks, we have to
thank Boo I hope, who's still okay with us because
you said she got the bill from AC's AC's birthday
party in Miami, So talk about a little sticker shock
for boo. Robert J. Hageman, who is not a proponent
proponent of Macintosh, he calls him macin trash. Our head

(53:41):
of it calls him macintrash. What do you think a
wrestling fan? He likes to fake stuff. Very good. Well
that we have to thank our special guests Lucy Varis, Yes,
thank you the best right and also second appearance on
the show. Yeah, he's a two timer now, so we
were trying to think what we can give you. Maybe
a red Lobster gift certificate. I don't know. We're trying

(54:03):
to figure out what to give two time two time guests.
We have to thank Jessica Morgan, who is the chief
programs officer here. Yes, um, we have to thank Lisa
who welcomed who welcomed us and uh and made me
uh wine and gold talk ROADI Yeah, she's she's gonna

(54:24):
be waiting here all night for the talent to show up.
I'm too bad. A havn't haven't at least tried to
do like he's beginning to look a lot like Chris
because that's a very nice Yeah yeah, maybe next time
you can catch me in Croco Park with a duo
with withy. We have to thank Joe Richard, Joe, I

(54:44):
love you. Mane the best here are the best. Uh.
Since we have the best human, the best female human
in Cleveland, we have to thank the best male human
in Clue, the glue guy cool d mac No, he's
the guy that holds it all the he's the best.
I love it to go. He's a Michigan fan that
on the way here, I saw a maclattin street. I

(55:06):
saw a street. Yeah, so I'm wondering maybe because his
family is probably as accomplished as he is, and maybe
they named the street after him. Ye well yeah, I know, impressive,
right and Macalhattan Macaelhatton. He probably never knew that was
his last name. Right. And then we have to think,
of course, the dynamic duo of Dirty Kurt and Marty Allen.

(55:28):
You know, and we're talking about guy. Since we're talking
about Marty Allen, I have to real quick before I
have to apologize to the hotel we stayed at because
I said they didn't have a bid day. But I
went back in my room and they did have a
bid day in Miami. In Charlotte, Charlotte. Okay, in Miami,
the hotel didn't have a bi day. Okay, but they
did in Charlotte. Marty, Marty, you know how the bilow guy,

(55:50):
My pillow guy. You know that, My pillow guy, Marty.
So I apologize to the hotel for saying they didn't
have an I call and I called me who billy
apologize They didn't. They didn't have the heat on. Well
they did. They had that on too by the time
we got back to a room. But I'm not gonna
apologize for saying that our kids would kick the crap

(56:11):
out of their halftime because we would. I won't apologize
for that. Yeah, and our and our choires too, and
our pimple and our pimple face choir is better than
the choir. We'll see you guys next week because we're
on a cadence come to Magic Town. Yeah, that's right,
the Cobra Show. I know it's exciting. Yes, and as always,

(56:34):
good night, Freddie macdi. Wherever you are, you're listening to
Wine and Gold Radio, Mills will again trying to win
file the ball that s a corn here was like
hot rodsfield, the ball, hot rod, stolen, slam that can't

(56:59):
leave five. Oh, how yo, America. Let me get that
taste O. Let me get that taste. Awesome,