May 24, 2021 • 41 mins
Welcome to Getting Real with Grady Jarrett, a podcast in which Atlanta Falcons DL Grady Jarrett and co-host Kelsey Conway “get real” on anything from football, lifestyle, and beyond. Jalen Rose, NBA Countdown Analyst, former player, and host of the Jalen and Jacoby Show, joins us to discuss his journey, the importance of competitive drive on and off the court, and giving back to the community.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:07):
Welcome to the Getting Real with Grady Jarrett Podcasts. Grady
and I have the luxury of having on a very
special guest today and that is Jalen Rose, taken some
time out of his busy schedule with the NBA Playoffs
in full sweeing, taken some time for us. So, Jaylen,
we really appreciate having you on and we're really looking
forward to having this conversation with you, and Grady and
(00:30):
I were excited about having you on because Grady and
I started this podcast about a month ago and one
of our goals was to get our fan base more
in tune with who Grady is as a person, but
also to kind of show Grady the ropes of what
the media life is like, as he obviously is still
in the thick of his career, but just you know,
(00:50):
for after his career, if he decides that this could
be potentially something he wants to do, and there's no
better person who made that transition from a professional career
to becoming one of the media stars. So I'll just
start and Grady you can take it from here. But
how how did the transition happen for you? And can
you just fill us in on your journey. Thanks for
(01:14):
having me you and I appreciate the love. Working in
multimedia is actually something I always wanted to do as
a player. I was really outspoken in a trash talker
on playing video games the exact same way and growing
up in my household and around my family members and
my uncles and stuff like that. When you lost a
(01:34):
video game, you couldn't just like walk off or fall asleep.
You had to stay there and commentate the next game.
Everybody in age and you know, if it's one TV
in the house, he get real. When you lose a game,
I'll tell you like full or five games or something
like that. And so I went to college for it
at the University of Michigan, and it was what I
always wanted to do. I was playing in the league
(01:56):
a member of the Pacers. We made it to the
two thousand finals, and then like two thousand and two,
I got traded to the Bulls, and at that time
it was February. They had nine wins and the worst
record in the league. So I was like, oh, I
guess we ain't going to the playoffs the next couple
of years, so I don't be free during playoff time.
I had beat a couple of BT interviews and was
(02:18):
on Mass Sports and one of those six in Park
and I had a couple of friends over there, so
I pitched him my idea to cover the finals for them.
I said, just send the camera. I got the access.
I had a spot in La. All y'all gotta do
is send the camera. And so they sent the camera.
We shot it. It was wow, show you how long
ago was? It was Lakers in New Jersey nets so
(02:38):
this is like two thousand and two. And they cut it,
they spiced it, they played it on BT. Everybody liked it.
I showed that to the Best Damned Sports Show at
Fox the next year, and then they hired me for
a segment called Jamming with Jalen and I covered the
finals for them. So while I was in the league
from two thousand and two to two thousand and seven,
(02:58):
I was working on every let. I was doing NFL
Network when it started Cole Pizza before it became first
Take TNT doing sidelines and stuff, and then going to ESPN.
Two thousand and seven, they hired me to do NBA
and I appreciate the opportunity, but I was only talking
to NBA because I was on the NBA show NBA.
(03:19):
I'm like, yo, I don't want to just talk about NBA.
Just way more going on in my head that I'm
knowledg in the box exactly exactly. And so I pitched
the idea to Bill Simmons at grant Land at the
time for me to do a podcast. And respectfully, I'm
so very happy to see you doing your podcast. Congratulations
(03:39):
and so many other former athletes actually doing it. Because
I was the first former athlete to have a podcast.
I was doing it on Periscope way before before it
was Spotify. Yeah, and like breaking out barriers, like putting
the background up when I had, you know, the ALI
Summit and Tommy Smith and John Carlos and having Harriet
(04:01):
Tupman and all of that. I wanted the imagery to
represent us. This is ten years in the game. And
it grew from a podcast to a late night TV
show to an ESPN two show. And so now we're
on ESPN every day and I can't. I look down
at the guy and I'm like, we come on at
the Sports Center. Fact, I'm like, I'm waiting to get
(04:23):
the email that somebody's gonna be like, all right, y'all.
We need to put them back on ESPN two. Like Jay,
you got a racket on his head. You got ice
Cube dough Boy in the background. But it's been a
lot of love and uh, it's been a great journey. Yeah,
I tell you, man, it's been you know me, you know,
watching TV a lot a lot of here it takes you.
Always keep it real, man, always love us. I know
(04:45):
when you I know when I know when you're saying it.
I know it's facts. And I'm not just saying that
because you're on a podcast, man, So I definitely appreciate
you coming in. So, um you said something real important. Man,
I think it's really really really good for guys, you know,
in the positions I'm in now. You know, being in
the prom your career, you were always working. You know, Um,
you took you took advantage of that downtime. You just
(05:06):
wasn't sitting back kicking it like and you had a plan,
you knew what you wanted to do. Just just you know,
how how hard was it or you know what was
that thing that just kipt you focused on, like let
me just not be comfortable because you always was a
great player, but that was never enough for you. How
how did you um use the things you learned on
that on the court, you know to keep that competitor
(05:26):
drive off off the court and you know transfer that
into what you're doing now. Absolutely so really early, Like
you know, in order to do this, you got to
tell yourself that you're going to be an all time great. Yeah. Absolutely,
it's all time grazing. Even though you're the underdog, You're
gonna find a way to make a name for yourself
against them. And that's just what being an athlete is about.
(05:50):
And I got humbled real quick because while I was
Jalen Rose and I appreciated all of the accolades that
came with it, my goal was to be Magic Johnson. Yeah,
when I realized I wasn't magic, that kept me humble. Yeah,
it felt about me. I'm like, you ain't magic, dog. Yeah,
(06:10):
but they get you driving for something though, you know
what I'm saying. You know, you know it's always somebody
out there. You know what they'd be like, you know, well,
somebody gonna tell you ain't this, you ain't that. But
in your mind too, I feel like to have success,
you gotta feel like you're the best. You know, even
if I'm everybody telling you to trash and this and
at the highest level of your sport, when you preparing,
you're not working as hard as you work just to
(06:31):
make it, you know what I'm saying, just to survive.
You want to excel, you want to you know, and
at the end of the day, you end up where
you end up. But I always tell people, you know,
do your best and let the rest take care of yourself.
You end up where you post to end up. You
don't have any regrets. So you're yeah, definitely, definitely. I
was just outside hooping with my nephew and like I
was listening to Jay Cole and one of my favorite
(06:53):
songs on There's one hundred Meal and I'm still on
the grind yep. I can relate to that so much
for my life. Yeah, I'm first generation. Moved the family
to the suburbs. Yeah, it wasn't like when I got drafted.
My mother already had a house, you know, my brothers
and sisters were already going to private school. My family
(07:13):
wasn't like that. Yeah, so we had to lift via
my opportunity to go to the NBA. And so now
did I work in the media, and I have that
as a backdrop. It's like I got to continue to
do what I can to give back, pull my people up,
and change the dynamic to the legacy of my family.
And so that what keeps me focused, and that's what
(07:34):
keeps me disciplined. Yeah. Man, it's like the more success
that that that that that you get. And you know,
I feel the same way myself as like it just
motivated me to go harder. You know, even like after
I signed my big deal. You know, my best years
came after that and they gonna keep coming. You know,
before I signed my deal, I never made it to
a Pro Bowl. You know what I'm saying. Now I'm
(07:54):
just made two in a row. You know, I became
all pro and I thank you. I'm a huge family. Yeah,
so man, I appreciate that. So um so, just just
that that the hundred meal mindset, just it don't stop,
you know what I'm saying. And there oh man, the
gouty got a song. He was like, man, I ain't
did none to I touched one hundred meals. So it's like,
(08:14):
you know, I still ain't got the hunted contracts. So look,
we're gonna keep grinding for that, you know, what I'm saying.
We talked about it here first with Jaylen so um
so yeah man, Um Kelsey, Kelsey, you got a couple
of yeah him. So before we get to what you
were talking about, jailing about giving back, UM, and I
want to get to that in a little bit because
I don't You probably don't know this, Um, but Grady
(08:38):
is very, very active in the community in terms of
giving back. He grew up in Conyers, Georgia, and he's
spend in Atlanta his whole life. And one of the
coolest things about Grady is his draft story out. He
can fill you in all on that. But Grady's house
burned down on his draft weekend and he didn't get
drafted where he thought he was going to get drafted.
(08:58):
And it was a weekend that I think you said,
humbled humbled Grady and drove him to be where he is.
But he has taken his platform and all that he
does in the community with his Grady Gives program. I
think I want to hear from both of you guys
about just how important that is. But before we get there,
I just had a couple of questions that I wanted
to ask you. You've talked about your journey to how
(09:20):
you got to having your own show, and of course
all of the ventures that you do. What has been
your favorite job so far, Whether it's been the sideline
reporting your gig on Get Up, your podcast, slash show
that you have with Jacoby, or being on NBA accountdown,
what's been your favorite. I think Jayden and Jacolby is
(09:46):
like my baby. It's like something that came from the mud.
It was like I was watching the media landscape and
at the time, you know, there weren't as many outlets
clearly as it is now, and it wasn't social media,
and I didn't feel like the athletic voice and colored
(10:10):
people in multimedia that had big platforms were being expressed properly.
And I felt like, if I got the opportunity, I
was gonna do that. I noticed that radio shows would
probably have like bobble heads in the background or helmets
or like sports illustrated models and stuff looked like like that.
(10:32):
So I remember talking to Bill and I was like,
when I do the podcast, you're gonna come in here
one day and these walls gonna look a lot different.
And I waited like about three or four, you know,
months before I did it, and I just started ordering pictures,
and one of my favorite pictures at the time it
was like Jay Z with a gold tooth and a
(10:53):
big rope chain and his Yes, his box wasn't freshly done.
It looked like he just came from a trap house
and did a reasonable doctor. And that's the guy that's
a billionaire in marriage to Beyonce. So that was the
image that I had up at first. And so as
we started to get more popular, the people whose pictures
(11:15):
those were started calling and wanted to get pay for him.
And then I was like, okay, so we're growing into something.
And so really, for me, the opportunity to have a
podcast is just to be free, just to express myself,
to show a different side of myself. Grady's doing that also,
and I got a unique example for that right now,
(11:37):
Kwame Brown. Right, you never saw him speak when he
was a player. Yeah, and so whatever he's saying, whether
you agree or disagree, And I ain't here to put
myself in no mess years old. Okay, I ain't trying.
But what I'm saying is he's an example of an
athlete that you didn't really hear him speak. So a
(12:01):
lot of times you underestimate how he feels and what
he might have to set yet. And that's why it's
important for you to do this while you're still at
all pro because you're not in a position of need.
They know you're getting top dollars, they know you steel balling,
they're calling you to do interviews. So now you can
parlay that and say, Okay, I'll come on your show,
(12:22):
you come on my show, or when you talk about
me on your show, make sure you mentioned other things
that I'm doing, make sure you mention what I'm doing
in the community, whatever, and so breaking down those barriers.
It's important for us to do that, especially if we
can be unfiltered. Of course, when you're working in corporate America,
there's always a line you gotta cross. Go get a
check from the NBA or the NFL, or ESPN or
(12:45):
a multimedia conglomerate. There's a way you can be professional
without compromising your integrity. Yeah, without it, doull And I
think I think that's that's that's so big because a
lot of guys when we in it, everybody you know,
so comfortable in the bubble or you be like you know, oh,
I'll do that later, you know, I deal with that later,
you know, and then later comes and it's like, uh, well,
(13:06):
you know it's me. You don't wanta talk to me
the more to like people really like, nah, he's straight,
you know what I'm saying. So you know, I just
see it outside looking in or just seeing guys that's
before me, you know, trying so hard to reach back
into things, and I just think, you know, why not
you know, get a fans or the people listening another
some more insight to you. Because I mean that's how
I like, I'm for me to be doing a podcast. Man,
(13:28):
it's it's it's big because I mean, I'm so comfortable
in my bubble, you know what I'm saying, and I
know I wanted to challenge myself. I know I got
some great things to offer with just just being myself,
you know, And then that's that's that's really um, that's
really what inspires me. And I, you know, appreciate you man,
trail Blaze in that way. Like you know, I didn't
know that you was the first, you know, to really
start the podcast stuff. That's that's that's crazy. When I
(13:50):
can't secret by the way my family has lived, my
kids have lived in Georgia said two and two got
a spot now Freda go to GAC. My oldest daughter
is currently a junior at Georgia and my youngest is
finishing her freshman year. So we are Falcon and Hawks fans.
(14:13):
Have been a lot of your games, all right, Just
so you also know, maybe I've been to some of
the places that lou will like to hang out to.
Whatout a doubt, Jalen Uh. You know, I'm one more
thought on your media career before we move on. But
when I came to creating about the podcast idea, I
(14:36):
got the idea because I saw Russell Wilson had a
podcast and what he's done without on YouTube JJ Reddick.
I've listened to his podcast. I think it's just and
with like you know you see it with like the
way Juju Smith Schuster has made a brand for himself
because of his tick, talking like if you can kind
of make a name for yourself with something else besides
(14:58):
your football career, it just it just makes people know
you more and they might not remember what they saw
in you on field, but they've remember, Oh, doesn't Grady
have a podcast? So when you said that, like you Trailblaze,
I mean, I think it's awesome, and I think that
this is the way that things are going to continue
to go. Where you saw like JJ Watt breaking his
news that he was going to sign with the Cardinals
(15:20):
on Twitter. He's like, you know what, it's my story
to tell. I'm not giving this any reporter. And I
think that since you know, you've kind of started this,
this way of you know, players being able to speak
more freely and have their own platform, I really see
it becoming the norm. So it's really cool to hear
that that was something that you know, you started. Thank you.
I appreciate that. And the other thing is a lot
(15:44):
of times if you're not quotable as a player, you
probably won't be quotable when you retire. Yeah, so this
is your chance to practice too, you know what I'm saying, like,
make your mistakes, to craft your voice. But because here's
the thing, a lot of people are saying stuff impression
sin and posting on ig and stuff like that. The
(16:06):
way you gain credibility ain't even by having like a
lot of people follow you. It's by when you speak,
people know that you're speaking speaking the truth. Yet, because
you want your you want your commentary to age will Yeah,
and so I can't front. I'm looking back at a
lot of Kwamee posts, and I'm looking back at a
(16:27):
lot of my videos that people are posting about what
I had to say about him and Russell Westbrook and
Russell Westbrook just average a triple double for the fourth time. Yeah,
I see what he kind of dealing with. I'm like,
I'm glad those aged. Well, yeah, that's what you want,
so you don't have to try to feel like you
need to reach Yeah, talking back on yourself and you know,
(16:51):
contradicting and stuff like that. Yeah, so you definitely want
to be careful what you put out there, and but
be accurate and truthful. You know. Yes, every moment ain't
ain't in shouldn't be a viral moment, like you create
quality content, Yeah, earthy, that's when people are come back
and then boom, something big happened and oh boom you
say this and people catch on to it. Not not
(17:12):
the oh I'm gonna go into the studio and I'm
gonna create it. You can feel put the song out
and then now he put the song out with a
dance and we don't even know people like the song. Yeah, yeah, No,
you can feel it. You can feel it though, you know,
just being a being a listener and just being a
you know consumer, you know, just just media stuff. As
(17:33):
a you know, away from the field and stuff, you
can feel when something is authentic or when something like
playing and if like like and it's just the worst
of being in that seat when you've just been talking
all this mess about something or just just talking on
something you really don't know about, and you got to
come back and eat them words, man, and then not
everything you look like you just you just blowing smoke,
you know what I'm saying. You don't want to put
that on your name. And that's what I appreciate about
(17:55):
watching you, man, I really appreciate that. Yeah, you in
the Fox hold off. And so just think about this.
If you gain this knowledge and experience, you're already a
smart dude. You're already intelligence dude. Now you're getting this experience,
it's just gonna put you in a position when you
your resume on the desk and somebody else's resume on
the desk that ain't gonna have your background, Yeah, ain't
(18:16):
gonna have your experience, that can't call former coaches or
former players or former teammates. And here's the other thing
that people are gonna appreciate about you that they better
respect about players in the media. We really only say
like twenty percent of what we really know. Yeah, and
that's how the other players respect you, because they're like,
(18:38):
I know, he could have said what he really know,
but he ain't say it. I rock with him, So
it ain't like yo, such and such had ten turnovers,
what do you think happened last night? And I'd be like, well,
last night we was in the a and uh, you
know you don't do that. No, you don't do that.
And so now when you're going to do your commentary
(18:58):
and the players see when they have a good game,
you're showing them love, and then when they have a
bad game, you call them out, but you don't say
what you really know. Yeah, that's how you get to
respect yea without a doubt name person. Absolutely absolutely, Yeah.
I think one of the many reasons that I really
enjoy listening to your show, and I know my brother
(19:20):
listens to it as well, as you're just yourself and
it kind of seems like you're just sitting down and
this is what Grady and I wanted on a podcast.
We didn't want it to seem scripted. You're just given
your thoughts and I think that that's an important and
it's a hard line to dance. But I feel like
before we move on, I personally I'm big NBA person
I have to ask you the thirty for thirty that
(19:42):
you produced one of maybe the best things you've ever
done in terms of your media career. Can you tell
Grady and I a little bit about how you've got
into the role of being a producer there. So at
the University in Michigan, my major was Communications, Radio, TV Film.
So I'm actually one of the people in the United
(20:03):
States that actually has a job in the major that
they went to school for. Usually somebody has a major
in school but end up working in a different field
for whatever reasons. I actually got a chance to work
in the field. So those are the things that I do.
Like currently, I write a column each Thursday in The
New York Post called Renaissance Man. I've been doing it
(20:24):
since September. I've had Adam Silver, Mark Cuban, Nas, Magic
Johnson on the show Katie Current. It's it's been a
terrific opportunity for me to not only write for the
Post and be a columnist and like to curate and
create content and have a theme and an intro and
an outro and do a last call and do a
(20:44):
rapid fire and stuff like that. And so to do
that and to do a podcast, it's an opportunity to
show versatility in the game. That's what you really want
to do it And he said it earlier. You don't
want as an athlete, like people are quick to put
you in the box. And it's like the shut up
(21:04):
in dribble theory. Yeah, it's like, why did I have
opinion about politics? Or why did I have an opinion
about being a cook or a chef. Well, I'm a
taxpaying citizen. I got opinion because I can say what
I want to say when I want to say, and
especially if it's an informed opinion. And so producing is
something I always wanted to do. So radio and podcast
(21:26):
is something I'm doing. Writing is something I'm doing. You
mentioned the shows I'm doing, and so production. I started
three cheer Entertainment and the first thing I did, and
I got it from Tyler Perry because he was starting
at the same time. Almost I created a play called
The Greatest Love Story ever told, and he had Tatiana
(21:46):
Horsford and James Avery. At the time, he had started
having some health issues so he couldn't really tour with
the play, but it was on the Chitlin circuit and
I was touring the play and the story of Mary
and Joseph is basically what it was. The story of
Mary and Joseph and the bike was what the play
was about, but it was a comedic view to it.
So that was like one of the first tours that
(22:07):
I had in producing stuff. And I produced a couple
of things for JEEP with Chris Paul, and then I
pitched the idea to ESPN to do the five five doc.
And the thing that I really like is the director
Jason Hare. That was his first project. He just did
the last Dance, so just a while. He hired him
(22:30):
at ESPN and then now him to be in a
position to do that, or like Aaron Cohen, who's a writer,
has gone on to do like ten or twelve more
projects with ESPN, So like, these are the people that
my production company hired to work on to do this project.
And then we shot it and we were really proud
of it, and it was supposed to have two endings.
(22:50):
It was gonna be one end infc Web did a
current in a more current interview, I wanted it to
be like us with zoot suits winning the Game of Life,
mob style, big champagne, bottles, loster, everything on the table, like.
I wanted it to look like like a Hordle Nights
almost at the end. If he was gonna that's how
like the score of the game and the Game of Life. Yeah,
(23:13):
without a doubt how that. But if he didn't do
a current end of you, it was gonna end kind
of like it ended. So I'm really fascinated about, you know,
creating projects. I'm actually in talks to do like maybe
one or two more. I'll come back and let you
know if it gets green, let you know how it working.
We know, you know, we know you're gonna make it happen.
(23:34):
Third base. Yeah. We ain't even gotta talk about it.
We knew what's going to know. Yeah, man, Yeah that's awesome. Man,
that's awesome. So look, man, everybody listening. Man, you you
step out there, believe me yourself. Man, you could be
a blessing to somebody else like you. You you chasing
your dream. That's gonna help the next person get an opportunity. Man.
So definitely definitely don't be afraid. You know to to
(23:55):
do do A guy put in your heart man, without
a doubt. So, um yeah, Jayla, Man, I know you
from Detroit. I don't know if you know. It's my
mom actually from Michigan. She's from Calambaso, Michigan. That's what's up. Yeah,
I get it. I don't want it, man. She never
took me up there. Man, we talked about it all
the time, Like she still ain't took me to mis
Both my sister's been and uh but I guess when
they go, I'll be working. I don't know what. I
(24:20):
don't know what happened with that. But so I know
you're real real tightum with your community still, um, even
though you know, not not being there all the time. Um,
can you talk about some of the stuff you got
going on there and like you know, um, you know why,
it's kind of important for you to stay in involved
with the community. And that's very, um you know, special
to me as well. So if you can share with
the people, absolutely, and again I got a stress. I've
(24:43):
been having a crib in Atlanta for twenty plus years.
And then Alpharetta. I bought one of the Atlantic Station
when they first popped off, Like you, I know you'd
making moves. Yeah in the A I salute you, Ti
Luda Killer Mike, but he's been on Renaissance Man also, Yeah,
of my peaks and so I salute you. But for me,
(25:03):
the most important initiative is to be the founder of
the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. It's an open enrollment, tuition
free public charter high school and not only serves students
between ninth and twelfth grade, which we currently have four
hundred students, but we also support them during secondary education.
That's college, university, community college, trade school, military. So that's
(25:26):
considered a nine through sixteen model. Usually, when you graduate
from high school and stow you had in the area,
your high school don't support you anymore. So I wanted
to be that bridge that I felt like the eight
most important years of young people's lives are aforded there
in high school, and afforded they should be in college.
Like you ask any adult where the goals or dreams
went awry, it usually happens eight year window. And so
(25:51):
we founded the school in two and eleven, and I
staggered the enrollment so that I could create a culture
and a safe learning environment in the community. And the
goal is we call it bridging an education gap. I
want young people to get eight thousand dollars from the
state to be able to compete in the college classroom
and compete for the same job as students like my
(26:12):
personal students, like my personal kids who have parents that
can afford to pay forty thousand dollars a year for
them to go to school, because that becomes an investment case.
From twel that's four hundred and forty four thousand dollars.
That's a real investment. So the four hundred and forty
four thousand students versus the ninety six thousand students, how
do you put them in the same environment and allow
(26:34):
them to flourish equally. That's kind of the work that
we do life skills, social skills, etiquette, and not just
your aids and bees. And also I'm really into making
sure that they develop a trade. So many times you
don't get to just have one job the rest of
your life. That's unrealistic. I'm trying to get that out
of people's mind. We don't have multiple jobs. You might
(26:54):
play for multiple teams. That's just how it works. And
so you got to be flexible with the times. And
our young people have done a terrific job of believing
in the vision, and the families and the donors have
been terrific supporters and what we do. And I'm really
proud of the work we've done over ten years and running. Man,
that's awesome. That's awesome. Man, I gotta I got a
(27:14):
little something going up like that. You know, I'm out
from kyrge Georgia, like uh, you know, like twenty thirty minutes.
You know, I'm creating a Grady Jared teen Center you
know out there, so um, you know, basically just giving
thee Yeah they need your dog, yep. So that's coming
up this year, you know, giving the kids, um, you know,
the sports, not sports, you know, we canna have everything,
(27:35):
you know for sports, but it also rooms for studying
and just giving them a safe place to go to
and whether they need tutor and stuff. So that's that's
kind of how much just getting my feet with you know,
in that in that realm of things. But um, yeah,
just just you know, I don't know how you do it, man, Man,
that's awesome. Like just just just you know, really have
your hands on somebody, and no, no one really, no
(27:57):
one was going on you know what I'm saying, like,
and uh, but yeah, that's that's that's admirable. Man. We
definitely got to chop chop it off off the podcast
and just you know, you, anything I can do to support,
like I said, I'll be in the ag. Yeah, anything
I could do to support, I'll come and come to represent,
be at your spot, meet the kids, be taught, do
all of that because it's important that we support each other.
(28:19):
And before I go, I gotta ask you a question
on your pot ye, because you're one of the best
people in the league, and I know how this works,
and you know that y'all gonna draft somebody. There's an
email chain of people. They might email, and they might call,
and they might FaceTime to make sure that they're happy.
And I know that when y'all draft away, y'all drafted
(28:40):
at four, that might mean salary wise, Julio may be
getting traded. Are y'all potentially going to trade the Millennium
Falcon Julio Jones? Man, Man, you know what Jay, don't
I don't know, man, I get the I get and
(29:01):
I ain't. I ain't blowing smoke. I get the little
steam alerts that everybody's getting the bleacher report, you know.
But I'll say this, man, I'll say this me growing
up in Atlanta, um and being able to be a
teammate Julio, he's been not only the best at what
he do period since he's been you know, walked with
the Falcons, he's been just a great model for me
(29:25):
and hopeful that he can continue to be for me
on what it is like when you have success and
not letting it go like to your head or just
always head down to work. Man, my man, you come
to practice. Man as a as a rookie, I'm like, man,
this dude right here, boy like animal like you can't.
I'm talking about grinding, you know what I'm saying. So
it always it put me in a mode of no,
(29:45):
no matter how much success I ever have, you the
work gotta be put in, you know what I'm saying,
And just that mindset of just unstoppable. But then be
able to develop a friendship with him, you know, over
these years. You know, he he a friend for me forever.
But he's just somebody to motivate me. So much and
you know, unfortunately he was you know, linked up last year.
But let me tell you something, Uh, Julio Jones will
(30:08):
be good. You know what I'm saying. And he know that,
you know what I'm saying. He knows, he know we
love him, but he knows he knows the business as well.
You know. So I don't I don't know, but I
know I know that's a beast that you don't want
to disturb. You know what I'm saying, So, um correct.
I didn't make sure I say that because and going
to the Mini Falcon games, like just watching you and
(30:31):
watching Michael Vick and watching him like y'all special players, yo,
And what you said is really important. How you always
handled themselves with class. Yeah, because if I was, if
I had a body like his, man, I was as
fast as he is. Man, that's the way, Like I
wouldn't be doing this shirt naked. I've been doing this
(30:53):
interview Naker man. I'm telling him, Man, I don't think
people understand it really takes effort for him to be
that humble. I mean, like, I mean, you know what
I'm saying like that that's to be commended, you know
what I'm saying, when you like as good as you
are and you can really do what you want, and
then you just you know that you can do. I
think the fact that he know that he can do
whatever he want is enough for him. You know what
I'm saying. He's just trying to you know, get his money,
(31:14):
win some games, and you know what I'm saying. So look, man,
that's that's that's that's who you want to model you.
That's that's the standard. You know what I'm saying. Um,
And he'd always been a selfish teammate. He always been
motivating man dum. So yeah, man, that's that's the standard
of greatness. And plenty of plenty of good football ahead
for my boy man. So absolutely so. Jalen, we know
(31:34):
we got we know we gotta let you go, um.
But before we do, I do have to tell you
that we know that you're a big Lions fan. But hey,
the Lions play the Falcons this year in December in Atlanta.
So is there a chance that you could maybe wear
like a half Lions jersey and a half Grady Jared
jersey Now that you've been on the pod, I'm going
(31:56):
to represent my guy because none of them asking me
to be on apod he did. That's why, That's why
I'm here. So no, he trade his tin toes down
as my hometome team. I haven't seen your squad go
to the super Bowl. Let me tell you see, the
Lions have never been we won one playoff game in
(32:17):
sixty one years. I think they'll be okay with me
wearing a half jersey four game for somebody I got
love for all right for the last fifty years. Grady,
well graded, we'll have to figure out how to make
that happen. Well, Jalen, we really, as we said, really
appreciate you coming out. I'm big fans of your work
and we, Grady and I will both look forward to
watching you on NBA Countdown do your thing over the
(32:38):
next couple of months. Thank you. And I'm definitely gonna
be at that Lions game too, and it ain't gonna
be no happen I'm gonna be rocking my guys jersey
because I'm I'm how we do it on the soup
for you too. Appreciate that well. I think I was
a Jayalen Rhodes fan before, but now wow, I mean yeah,
(32:58):
like what hope, like what a smart guy? What an
entertaining guy. And when you talk about like who you
aspired to be in terms of your posts playing career
or for me as a broadcaster, just hearing his versatility,
I mean, he's doing it the right way. And I
thought everything he said was so enlightening. What what was
(33:19):
your favorite thing? He said? I don't know. It's so
it's hard to pick a favorite. You know, so many
things were just just I mean I was just just
just taking it all in, just just in all, you
know what I'm saying, just listening to him. Really really
the most impressive impressive things to me was how he balances,
you know, all these different things in different roles that
he have in life, you know what I'm saying, while
(33:40):
still having a full you know, family at home and um,
you know, so so just whether it's being a producer
or you know, being in front of the camera, behind
the camera, you know, in the community. Um, that's that's
just you know, that's he doing it right. He doing
the right way. You know. Man, that's the gold standard
right there. And uh, and the thing about it is
you hear him speak, he only trying to get better,
(34:00):
you know, and he's just not slowing down, never satisfied mentality,
and you know, that's something I definitely definitely admire about
him and in aspire to be. You know, this just
this whole conversation just motivating me some more, you know
what I'm saying, So just better player or whatever it
may be. And I think what I like most about
him and the way he is on air is he
kind of seems like you're just sitting down to have
(34:21):
like a cup of coffee with someone or just like
you're talking to your friends. Like it's almost like he
has like a level of comfort that he makes his
audience feel. And I think that, as you know, an
aspiring broadcaster, that's a level that I'm trying to get
to where when people listen to me, they're not listening
to me for anything other than they want to hear
what I say and they like hearing the things that
(34:42):
come out of my mouth. Yeah. Yeah, without a doubt,
he's gonna tell you the truth, you know, good, better
and different, and that's what I respecting most. Yeah, for sure. Well,
I thought a really interesting part of our conversation with
Jalen was of course about his community work and what
he's doing with that Jalen Row Foundation he understold what
he's doing. I mean, if like creating a school and
(35:05):
he UM he actually was just back there, UM, you know,
advocating for the students UM and everyone in Detroit to
get vaccinated like he does so much in the community.
UM's it's incredible. But I want to use this time
right now to talk about you and what you do
in the community, because I know that you'll talk a
little bit about it, but Grady, what you do in
(35:27):
the community of of in the city of Atlanta is
just it's really outstanding. And I want to take the
opportunity here to give you UM some time to talk
about some of your upcoming projects and some of the
things that you're most proud of that you've done in
the community. Yeah, so, UM some upcoming things you know,
UM covid I presented some challenges with with things as
(35:48):
far as you know, UM like like fundraising events you know,
to go towards Grady gives to help us UM do
what we need to do in the community. I think
the biggest new addition to UM to you know, our
team gready Gifts is UM were out in Kerns were
building out a team center. You know, it's called a
Gready Jared Team Center. It's a basically just a safe
(36:09):
place for kids out there, you know, whether you're in
athletics and me to places to go study, you know,
just to hang out, you know, basketball courts, football fields,
swimming pool, um, study rooms and um, just just just
something like that just out there that um, you know,
just just getting started, you know. And um in my
pursuit of trying to find ways to continue to impact
(36:31):
the community and positive way. UM. We're also giving our
scholarships this year, um, you know to to a slit
group of kids, um going to universities. So that's something
that we're definitely doing. UM. So just just just you know,
trying to continue to impact lives positively. Go to brand,
you know, all the partnerships you know, a Grady Hospital,
(36:52):
you know Children Health Care of ALNUM um Georgia Power. Uh.
You know, it's so many just where I don't want
to get mad at me for not mentioning it, but
they know it's all love, you know. So just just
trying to find out where we can you know, just
make positive impact and you know, um, whether it's you know,
(37:12):
just have bigger outreach. That's that's that's the great thing
about these partnerships because you got organizations that's trying to
do good as well, and then I'm trying to do good.
So you link up and it's like, let's let's do
it together change the world. Yeah for sure. What how
did you start the Grady Gifts program? Can you can
you talk a little bit about that? Yeah? So it
just really started from, UM, I was big in an
(37:33):
anti bullying you know, big men don't bully and um
and you know, I went to school was talking about
you know, basically just spread the love and just being
a positive role model and just treating people nice. Stuff
like that, because during that time, there was a lot
of kids going through, um through bullying stuff and it's
making like national news and stuff, and and I just thought,
you know, um, you know what better, um, you know,
(37:56):
way to use my platform me as a big dude,
you know, being a defensive line but still you know,
treating people respect. How I can you know make that
into something? And it helped to help a lot of kids.
But I sparked more interests and other things that I
wanted to do, you know, outside of just anti bullying.
Anti bullying still under the umbrella, but you know, um.
(38:17):
You know, whether I wanted to go, you know, visit
some people at a hospital or make them make a
brighter day, you know, or like give give some money
and food here, or to fund this event whatever it
may be, or to feed the homeless here, or give
from kids gifts here, and really just I mean I
wanted to create an umbrella to where you know, greatly
(38:38):
gifts you know they don't stay. Great to givets. It's
great to give that great to give what you need.
You know what I'm saying. If you need to talk,
you know what I'm saying. You need some motivation. You know,
you got to get on a dark place, you know
what I'm saying. Just just whatever it may be. You know,
I think God has blessed me um to to have
a you know, ability to commute the care with people
(39:00):
and just use my story to help motivate somebody else,
you know what I'm saying. And the us the things
that I go through in my life, its motivation for
the next person. You know, everything I go through, you
know everything you know, it's not all you know all good,
you know, and you don't always see the pitfalls that
people have, but you can take those, you know, dark moments,
you know that you're spending your darker time and make
light to somebody else. And that's what Grady Gives is about.
(39:22):
So so yeah, that's that's that's that's what it is.
That's awesome. Hey, you know the podcast is you're giving
back too, because there's there's a lot of people that
are listening to this that are fans of yours that
you know, they see the way that you're handling your
life and I'm sure it motivates them to be just
like you. So I have an idea, why don't we
(39:43):
whenever the Grady Jarrett teen Center comes out with take
the podcast on the road and we can show off
teen Center on the pod. I gotta do that. Definitely
got to do that, you know what I'm saying. But
but just be able to have people listen to you,
you know where the I used to tell people that
it's like nervous also like talking to crowds, because I
always wasn't wasn't the most comfortable, whether it's like public
(40:05):
speaking or whatever. Maybe if you say things you know,
you're worried about everybody catching the message. If you want
to compress everybody, you want to do this, if you
say one thing that impress one person out of the crowd, man,
you can change your life forever. You know what I'm saying.
You're gonna but you're gonna say the things that impress
more than just one person. Or but if you know, um,
the podcast is for you know, people to take what
they take from it, you know, apply to the lives
(40:27):
however they mean. Maybe you know, everybody don't here, not
a football fan, everybody, don't hear, not not an athlete, everybody,
you know, but you can take something from the podcast
and apply to whatever you're into, you know what I'm saying.
So um, so yeah, if you if you like it, awesome,
you know what I'm saying. If you it's not for you,
it's not for you, you you know what I'm saying. So
that's that's That's what I like about the podcast is
just so um you just be real on here. You
(40:48):
don't just just suck it up. Jared, all right, I
feel like the perfect ending. Grady, Appreciate your time as always,
and looking forward to hopping back on the poverty next week.
Lest do it, Lest do It
Welcome to the Getting Real with Grady Jarrett Podcasts. Grady
and I have the luxury of having on a very
special guest today and that is Jalen Rose, taken some
time out of his busy schedule with the NBA Playoffs
in full sweeing, taken some time for us. So, Jaylen,
we really appreciate having you on and we're really looking
forward to having this conversation with you, and Grady and
(00:30):
I were excited about having you on because Grady and
I started this podcast about a month ago and one
of our goals was to get our fan base more
in tune with who Grady is as a person, but
also to kind of show Grady the ropes of what
the media life is like, as he obviously is still
in the thick of his career, but just you know,
(00:50):
for after his career, if he decides that this could
be potentially something he wants to do, and there's no
better person who made that transition from a professional career
to becoming one of the media stars. So I'll just
start and Grady you can take it from here. But
how how did the transition happen for you? And can
you just fill us in on your journey. Thanks for
(01:14):
having me you and I appreciate the love. Working in
multimedia is actually something I always wanted to do as
a player. I was really outspoken in a trash talker
on playing video games the exact same way and growing
up in my household and around my family members and
my uncles and stuff like that. When you lost a
(01:34):
video game, you couldn't just like walk off or fall asleep.
You had to stay there and commentate the next game.
Everybody in age and you know, if it's one TV
in the house, he get real. When you lose a game,
I'll tell you like full or five games or something
like that. And so I went to college for it
at the University of Michigan, and it was what I
always wanted to do. I was playing in the league
(01:56):
a member of the Pacers. We made it to the
two thousand finals, and then like two thousand and two,
I got traded to the Bulls, and at that time
it was February. They had nine wins and the worst
record in the league. So I was like, oh, I
guess we ain't going to the playoffs the next couple
of years, so I don't be free during playoff time.
I had beat a couple of BT interviews and was
(02:18):
on Mass Sports and one of those six in Park
and I had a couple of friends over there, so
I pitched him my idea to cover the finals for them.
I said, just send the camera. I got the access.
I had a spot in La. All y'all gotta do
is send the camera. And so they sent the camera.
We shot it. It was wow, show you how long
ago was? It was Lakers in New Jersey nets so
(02:38):
this is like two thousand and two. And they cut it,
they spiced it, they played it on BT. Everybody liked it.
I showed that to the Best Damned Sports Show at
Fox the next year, and then they hired me for
a segment called Jamming with Jalen and I covered the
finals for them. So while I was in the league
from two thousand and two to two thousand and seven,
(02:58):
I was working on every let. I was doing NFL
Network when it started Cole Pizza before it became first
Take TNT doing sidelines and stuff, and then going to ESPN.
Two thousand and seven, they hired me to do NBA
and I appreciate the opportunity, but I was only talking
to NBA because I was on the NBA show NBA.
(03:19):
I'm like, yo, I don't want to just talk about NBA.
Just way more going on in my head that I'm
knowledg in the box exactly exactly. And so I pitched
the idea to Bill Simmons at grant Land at the
time for me to do a podcast. And respectfully, I'm
so very happy to see you doing your podcast. Congratulations
(03:39):
and so many other former athletes actually doing it. Because
I was the first former athlete to have a podcast.
I was doing it on Periscope way before before it
was Spotify. Yeah, and like breaking out barriers, like putting
the background up when I had, you know, the ALI
Summit and Tommy Smith and John Carlos and having Harriet
(04:01):
Tupman and all of that. I wanted the imagery to
represent us. This is ten years in the game. And
it grew from a podcast to a late night TV
show to an ESPN two show. And so now we're
on ESPN every day and I can't. I look down
at the guy and I'm like, we come on at
the Sports Center. Fact, I'm like, I'm waiting to get
(04:23):
the email that somebody's gonna be like, all right, y'all.
We need to put them back on ESPN two. Like Jay,
you got a racket on his head. You got ice
Cube dough Boy in the background. But it's been a
lot of love and uh, it's been a great journey. Yeah,
I tell you, man, it's been you know me, you know,
watching TV a lot a lot of here it takes you.
Always keep it real, man, always love us. I know
(04:45):
when you I know when I know when you're saying it.
I know it's facts. And I'm not just saying that
because you're on a podcast, man, So I definitely appreciate
you coming in. So, um you said something real important. Man,
I think it's really really really good for guys, you know,
in the positions I'm in now. You know, being in
the prom your career, you were always working. You know, Um,
you took you took advantage of that downtime. You just
(05:06):
wasn't sitting back kicking it like and you had a plan,
you knew what you wanted to do. Just just you know,
how how hard was it or you know what was
that thing that just kipt you focused on, like let
me just not be comfortable because you always was a
great player, but that was never enough for you. How
how did you um use the things you learned on
that on the court, you know to keep that competitor
(05:26):
drive off off the court and you know transfer that
into what you're doing now. Absolutely so really early, Like
you know, in order to do this, you got to
tell yourself that you're going to be an all time great. Yeah. Absolutely,
it's all time grazing. Even though you're the underdog, You're
gonna find a way to make a name for yourself
against them. And that's just what being an athlete is about.
(05:50):
And I got humbled real quick because while I was
Jalen Rose and I appreciated all of the accolades that
came with it, my goal was to be Magic Johnson. Yeah,
when I realized I wasn't magic, that kept me humble. Yeah,
it felt about me. I'm like, you ain't magic, dog. Yeah,
(06:10):
but they get you driving for something though, you know
what I'm saying. You know, you know it's always somebody
out there. You know what they'd be like, you know, well,
somebody gonna tell you ain't this, you ain't that. But
in your mind too, I feel like to have success,
you gotta feel like you're the best. You know, even
if I'm everybody telling you to trash and this and
at the highest level of your sport, when you preparing,
you're not working as hard as you work just to
(06:31):
make it, you know what I'm saying, just to survive.
You want to excel, you want to you know, and
at the end of the day, you end up where
you end up. But I always tell people, you know,
do your best and let the rest take care of yourself.
You end up where you post to end up. You
don't have any regrets. So you're yeah, definitely, definitely. I
was just outside hooping with my nephew and like I
was listening to Jay Cole and one of my favorite
(06:53):
songs on There's one hundred Meal and I'm still on
the grind yep. I can relate to that so much
for my life. Yeah, I'm first generation. Moved the family
to the suburbs. Yeah, it wasn't like when I got drafted.
My mother already had a house, you know, my brothers
and sisters were already going to private school. My family
(07:13):
wasn't like that. Yeah, so we had to lift via
my opportunity to go to the NBA. And so now
did I work in the media, and I have that
as a backdrop. It's like I got to continue to
do what I can to give back, pull my people up,
and change the dynamic to the legacy of my family.
And so that what keeps me focused, and that's what
(07:34):
keeps me disciplined. Yeah. Man, it's like the more success
that that that that that you get. And you know,
I feel the same way myself as like it just
motivated me to go harder. You know, even like after
I signed my big deal. You know, my best years
came after that and they gonna keep coming. You know,
before I signed my deal, I never made it to
a Pro Bowl. You know what I'm saying. Now I'm
(07:54):
just made two in a row. You know, I became
all pro and I thank you. I'm a huge family. Yeah,
so man, I appreciate that. So um so, just just
that that the hundred meal mindset, just it don't stop,
you know what I'm saying. And there oh man, the
gouty got a song. He was like, man, I ain't
did none to I touched one hundred meals. So it's like,
(08:14):
you know, I still ain't got the hunted contracts. So look,
we're gonna keep grinding for that, you know, what I'm saying.
We talked about it here first with Jaylen so um
so yeah man, Um Kelsey, Kelsey, you got a couple
of yeah him. So before we get to what you
were talking about, jailing about giving back, UM, and I
want to get to that in a little bit because
I don't You probably don't know this, Um, but Grady
(08:38):
is very, very active in the community in terms of
giving back. He grew up in Conyers, Georgia, and he's
spend in Atlanta his whole life. And one of the
coolest things about Grady is his draft story out. He
can fill you in all on that. But Grady's house
burned down on his draft weekend and he didn't get
drafted where he thought he was going to get drafted.
(08:58):
And it was a weekend that I think you said,
humbled humbled Grady and drove him to be where he is.
But he has taken his platform and all that he
does in the community with his Grady Gives program. I
think I want to hear from both of you guys
about just how important that is. But before we get there,
I just had a couple of questions that I wanted
to ask you. You've talked about your journey to how
(09:20):
you got to having your own show, and of course
all of the ventures that you do. What has been
your favorite job so far, Whether it's been the sideline
reporting your gig on Get Up, your podcast, slash show
that you have with Jacoby, or being on NBA accountdown,
what's been your favorite. I think Jayden and Jacolby is
(09:46):
like my baby. It's like something that came from the mud.
It was like I was watching the media landscape and
at the time, you know, there weren't as many outlets
clearly as it is now, and it wasn't social media,
and I didn't feel like the athletic voice and colored
(10:10):
people in multimedia that had big platforms were being expressed properly.
And I felt like, if I got the opportunity, I
was gonna do that. I noticed that radio shows would
probably have like bobble heads in the background or helmets
or like sports illustrated models and stuff looked like like that.
(10:32):
So I remember talking to Bill and I was like,
when I do the podcast, you're gonna come in here
one day and these walls gonna look a lot different.
And I waited like about three or four, you know,
months before I did it, and I just started ordering pictures,
and one of my favorite pictures at the time it
was like Jay Z with a gold tooth and a
(10:53):
big rope chain and his Yes, his box wasn't freshly done.
It looked like he just came from a trap house
and did a reasonable doctor. And that's the guy that's
a billionaire in marriage to Beyonce. So that was the
image that I had up at first. And so as
we started to get more popular, the people whose pictures
(11:15):
those were started calling and wanted to get pay for him.
And then I was like, okay, so we're growing into something.
And so really, for me, the opportunity to have a
podcast is just to be free, just to express myself,
to show a different side of myself. Grady's doing that also,
and I got a unique example for that right now,
(11:37):
Kwame Brown. Right, you never saw him speak when he
was a player. Yeah, and so whatever he's saying, whether
you agree or disagree, And I ain't here to put
myself in no mess years old. Okay, I ain't trying.
But what I'm saying is he's an example of an
athlete that you didn't really hear him speak. So a
(12:01):
lot of times you underestimate how he feels and what
he might have to set yet. And that's why it's
important for you to do this while you're still at
all pro because you're not in a position of need.
They know you're getting top dollars, they know you steel balling,
they're calling you to do interviews. So now you can
parlay that and say, Okay, I'll come on your show,
(12:22):
you come on my show, or when you talk about
me on your show, make sure you mentioned other things
that I'm doing, make sure you mention what I'm doing
in the community, whatever, and so breaking down those barriers.
It's important for us to do that, especially if we
can be unfiltered. Of course, when you're working in corporate America,
there's always a line you gotta cross. Go get a
check from the NBA or the NFL, or ESPN or
(12:45):
a multimedia conglomerate. There's a way you can be professional
without compromising your integrity. Yeah, without it, doull And I
think I think that's that's that's so big because a
lot of guys when we in it, everybody you know,
so comfortable in the bubble or you be like you know, oh,
I'll do that later, you know, I deal with that later,
you know, and then later comes and it's like, uh, well,
(13:06):
you know it's me. You don't wanta talk to me
the more to like people really like, nah, he's straight,
you know what I'm saying. So you know, I just
see it outside looking in or just seeing guys that's
before me, you know, trying so hard to reach back
into things, and I just think, you know, why not
you know, get a fans or the people listening another
some more insight to you. Because I mean that's how
I like, I'm for me to be doing a podcast. Man,
(13:28):
it's it's it's big because I mean, I'm so comfortable
in my bubble, you know what I'm saying, and I
know I wanted to challenge myself. I know I got
some great things to offer with just just being myself,
you know, And then that's that's that's really um, that's
really what inspires me. And I, you know, appreciate you man,
trail Blaze in that way. Like you know, I didn't
know that you was the first, you know, to really
start the podcast stuff. That's that's that's crazy. When I
(13:50):
can't secret by the way my family has lived, my
kids have lived in Georgia said two and two got
a spot now Freda go to GAC. My oldest daughter
is currently a junior at Georgia and my youngest is
finishing her freshman year. So we are Falcon and Hawks fans.
(14:13):
Have been a lot of your games, all right, Just
so you also know, maybe I've been to some of
the places that lou will like to hang out to.
Whatout a doubt, Jalen Uh. You know, I'm one more
thought on your media career before we move on. But
when I came to creating about the podcast idea, I
(14:36):
got the idea because I saw Russell Wilson had a
podcast and what he's done without on YouTube JJ Reddick.
I've listened to his podcast. I think it's just and
with like you know you see it with like the
way Juju Smith Schuster has made a brand for himself
because of his tick, talking like if you can kind
of make a name for yourself with something else besides
(14:58):
your football career, it just it just makes people know
you more and they might not remember what they saw
in you on field, but they've remember, Oh, doesn't Grady
have a podcast? So when you said that, like you Trailblaze,
I mean, I think it's awesome, and I think that
this is the way that things are going to continue
to go. Where you saw like JJ Watt breaking his
news that he was going to sign with the Cardinals
(15:20):
on Twitter. He's like, you know what, it's my story
to tell. I'm not giving this any reporter. And I
think that since you know, you've kind of started this,
this way of you know, players being able to speak
more freely and have their own platform, I really see
it becoming the norm. So it's really cool to hear
that that was something that you know, you started. Thank you.
I appreciate that. And the other thing is a lot
(15:44):
of times if you're not quotable as a player, you
probably won't be quotable when you retire. Yeah, so this
is your chance to practice too, you know what I'm saying, like,
make your mistakes, to craft your voice. But because here's
the thing, a lot of people are saying stuff impression
sin and posting on ig and stuff like that. The
(16:06):
way you gain credibility ain't even by having like a
lot of people follow you. It's by when you speak,
people know that you're speaking speaking the truth. Yet, because
you want your you want your commentary to age will Yeah,
and so I can't front. I'm looking back at a
lot of Kwamee posts, and I'm looking back at a
(16:27):
lot of my videos that people are posting about what
I had to say about him and Russell Westbrook and
Russell Westbrook just average a triple double for the fourth time. Yeah,
I see what he kind of dealing with. I'm like,
I'm glad those aged. Well, yeah, that's what you want,
so you don't have to try to feel like you
need to reach Yeah, talking back on yourself and you know,
(16:51):
contradicting and stuff like that. Yeah, so you definitely want
to be careful what you put out there, and but
be accurate and truthful. You know. Yes, every moment ain't
ain't in shouldn't be a viral moment, like you create
quality content, Yeah, earthy, that's when people are come back
and then boom, something big happened and oh boom you
say this and people catch on to it. Not not
(17:12):
the oh I'm gonna go into the studio and I'm
gonna create it. You can feel put the song out
and then now he put the song out with a
dance and we don't even know people like the song. Yeah, yeah, No,
you can feel it. You can feel it though, you know,
just being a being a listener and just being a
you know consumer, you know, just just media stuff. As
(17:33):
a you know, away from the field and stuff, you
can feel when something is authentic or when something like
playing and if like like and it's just the worst
of being in that seat when you've just been talking
all this mess about something or just just talking on
something you really don't know about, and you got to
come back and eat them words, man, and then not
everything you look like you just you just blowing smoke,
you know what I'm saying. You don't want to put
that on your name. And that's what I appreciate about
(17:55):
watching you, man, I really appreciate that. Yeah, you in
the Fox hold off. And so just think about this.
If you gain this knowledge and experience, you're already a
smart dude. You're already intelligence dude. Now you're getting this experience,
it's just gonna put you in a position when you
your resume on the desk and somebody else's resume on
the desk that ain't gonna have your background, Yeah, ain't
(18:16):
gonna have your experience, that can't call former coaches or
former players or former teammates. And here's the other thing
that people are gonna appreciate about you that they better
respect about players in the media. We really only say
like twenty percent of what we really know. Yeah, and
that's how the other players respect you, because they're like,
(18:38):
I know, he could have said what he really know,
but he ain't say it. I rock with him, So
it ain't like yo, such and such had ten turnovers,
what do you think happened last night? And I'd be like, well,
last night we was in the a and uh, you
know you don't do that. No, you don't do that.
And so now when you're going to do your commentary
(18:58):
and the players see when they have a good game,
you're showing them love, and then when they have a
bad game, you call them out, but you don't say
what you really know. Yeah, that's how you get to
respect yea without a doubt name person. Absolutely absolutely, Yeah.
I think one of the many reasons that I really
enjoy listening to your show, and I know my brother
(19:20):
listens to it as well, as you're just yourself and
it kind of seems like you're just sitting down and
this is what Grady and I wanted on a podcast.
We didn't want it to seem scripted. You're just given
your thoughts and I think that that's an important and
it's a hard line to dance. But I feel like
before we move on, I personally I'm big NBA person
I have to ask you the thirty for thirty that
(19:42):
you produced one of maybe the best things you've ever
done in terms of your media career. Can you tell
Grady and I a little bit about how you've got
into the role of being a producer there. So at
the University in Michigan, my major was Communications, Radio, TV Film.
So I'm actually one of the people in the United
(20:03):
States that actually has a job in the major that
they went to school for. Usually somebody has a major
in school but end up working in a different field
for whatever reasons. I actually got a chance to work
in the field. So those are the things that I do.
Like currently, I write a column each Thursday in The
New York Post called Renaissance Man. I've been doing it
(20:24):
since September. I've had Adam Silver, Mark Cuban, Nas, Magic
Johnson on the show Katie Current. It's it's been a
terrific opportunity for me to not only write for the
Post and be a columnist and like to curate and
create content and have a theme and an intro and
an outro and do a last call and do a
(20:44):
rapid fire and stuff like that. And so to do
that and to do a podcast, it's an opportunity to
show versatility in the game. That's what you really want
to do it And he said it earlier. You don't
want as an athlete, like people are quick to put
you in the box. And it's like the shut up
(21:04):
in dribble theory. Yeah, it's like, why did I have
opinion about politics? Or why did I have an opinion
about being a cook or a chef. Well, I'm a
taxpaying citizen. I got opinion because I can say what
I want to say when I want to say, and
especially if it's an informed opinion. And so producing is
something I always wanted to do. So radio and podcast
(21:26):
is something I'm doing. Writing is something I'm doing. You
mentioned the shows I'm doing, and so production. I started
three cheer Entertainment and the first thing I did, and
I got it from Tyler Perry because he was starting
at the same time. Almost I created a play called
The Greatest Love Story ever told, and he had Tatiana
(21:46):
Horsford and James Avery. At the time, he had started
having some health issues so he couldn't really tour with
the play, but it was on the Chitlin circuit and
I was touring the play and the story of Mary
and Joseph is basically what it was. The story of
Mary and Joseph and the bike was what the play
was about, but it was a comedic view to it.
So that was like one of the first tours that
(22:07):
I had in producing stuff. And I produced a couple
of things for JEEP with Chris Paul, and then I
pitched the idea to ESPN to do the five five doc.
And the thing that I really like is the director
Jason Hare. That was his first project. He just did
the last Dance, so just a while. He hired him
(22:30):
at ESPN and then now him to be in a
position to do that, or like Aaron Cohen, who's a writer,
has gone on to do like ten or twelve more
projects with ESPN, So like, these are the people that
my production company hired to work on to do this project.
And then we shot it and we were really proud
of it, and it was supposed to have two endings.
(22:50):
It was gonna be one end infc Web did a
current in a more current interview, I wanted it to
be like us with zoot suits winning the Game of Life,
mob style, big champagne, bottles, loster, everything on the table, like.
I wanted it to look like like a Hordle Nights
almost at the end. If he was gonna that's how
like the score of the game and the Game of Life. Yeah,
(23:13):
without a doubt how that. But if he didn't do
a current end of you, it was gonna end kind
of like it ended. So I'm really fascinated about, you know,
creating projects. I'm actually in talks to do like maybe
one or two more. I'll come back and let you
know if it gets green, let you know how it working.
We know, you know, we know you're gonna make it happen.
(23:34):
Third base. Yeah. We ain't even gotta talk about it.
We knew what's going to know. Yeah, man, Yeah that's awesome. Man,
that's awesome. So look, man, everybody listening. Man, you you
step out there, believe me yourself. Man, you could be
a blessing to somebody else like you. You you chasing
your dream. That's gonna help the next person get an opportunity. Man.
So definitely definitely don't be afraid. You know to to
(23:55):
do do A guy put in your heart man, without
a doubt. So, um yeah, Jayla, Man, I know you
from Detroit. I don't know if you know. It's my
mom actually from Michigan. She's from Calambaso, Michigan. That's what's up. Yeah,
I get it. I don't want it, man. She never
took me up there. Man, we talked about it all
the time, Like she still ain't took me to mis
Both my sister's been and uh but I guess when
they go, I'll be working. I don't know what. I
(24:20):
don't know what happened with that. But so I know
you're real real tightum with your community still, um, even
though you know, not not being there all the time. Um,
can you talk about some of the stuff you got
going on there and like you know, um, you know why,
it's kind of important for you to stay in involved
with the community. And that's very, um you know, special
to me as well. So if you can share with
the people, absolutely, and again I got a stress. I've
(24:43):
been having a crib in Atlanta for twenty plus years.
And then Alpharetta. I bought one of the Atlantic Station
when they first popped off, Like you, I know you'd
making moves. Yeah in the A I salute you, Ti
Luda Killer Mike, but he's been on Renaissance Man also, Yeah,
of my peaks and so I salute you. But for me,
(25:03):
the most important initiative is to be the founder of
the Jalen Rose Leadership Academy. It's an open enrollment, tuition
free public charter high school and not only serves students
between ninth and twelfth grade, which we currently have four
hundred students, but we also support them during secondary education.
That's college, university, community college, trade school, military. So that's
(25:26):
considered a nine through sixteen model. Usually, when you graduate
from high school and stow you had in the area,
your high school don't support you anymore. So I wanted
to be that bridge that I felt like the eight
most important years of young people's lives are aforded there
in high school, and afforded they should be in college.
Like you ask any adult where the goals or dreams
went awry, it usually happens eight year window. And so
(25:51):
we founded the school in two and eleven, and I
staggered the enrollment so that I could create a culture
and a safe learning environment in the community. And the
goal is we call it bridging an education gap. I
want young people to get eight thousand dollars from the
state to be able to compete in the college classroom
and compete for the same job as students like my
(26:12):
personal students, like my personal kids who have parents that
can afford to pay forty thousand dollars a year for
them to go to school, because that becomes an investment case.
From twel that's four hundred and forty four thousand dollars.
That's a real investment. So the four hundred and forty
four thousand students versus the ninety six thousand students, how
do you put them in the same environment and allow
(26:34):
them to flourish equally. That's kind of the work that
we do life skills, social skills, etiquette, and not just
your aids and bees. And also I'm really into making
sure that they develop a trade. So many times you
don't get to just have one job the rest of
your life. That's unrealistic. I'm trying to get that out
of people's mind. We don't have multiple jobs. You might
(26:54):
play for multiple teams. That's just how it works. And
so you got to be flexible with the times. And
our young people have done a terrific job of believing
in the vision, and the families and the donors have
been terrific supporters and what we do. And I'm really
proud of the work we've done over ten years and running. Man,
that's awesome. That's awesome. Man, I gotta I got a
(27:14):
little something going up like that. You know, I'm out
from kyrge Georgia, like uh, you know, like twenty thirty minutes.
You know, I'm creating a Grady Jared teen Center you
know out there, so um, you know, basically just giving
thee Yeah they need your dog, yep. So that's coming
up this year, you know, giving the kids, um, you know,
the sports, not sports, you know, we canna have everything,
(27:35):
you know for sports, but it also rooms for studying
and just giving them a safe place to go to
and whether they need tutor and stuff. So that's that's
kind of how much just getting my feet with you know,
in that in that realm of things. But um, yeah,
just just you know, I don't know how you do it, man, Man,
that's awesome. Like just just just you know, really have
your hands on somebody, and no, no one really, no
(27:57):
one was going on you know what I'm saying, like,
and uh, but yeah, that's that's that's admirable. Man. We
definitely got to chop chop it off off the podcast
and just you know, you, anything I can do to support,
like I said, I'll be in the ag. Yeah, anything
I could do to support, I'll come and come to represent,
be at your spot, meet the kids, be taught, do
all of that because it's important that we support each other.
(28:19):
And before I go, I gotta ask you a question
on your pot ye, because you're one of the best
people in the league, and I know how this works,
and you know that y'all gonna draft somebody. There's an
email chain of people. They might email, and they might call,
and they might FaceTime to make sure that they're happy.
And I know that when y'all draft away, y'all drafted
(28:40):
at four, that might mean salary wise, Julio may be
getting traded. Are y'all potentially going to trade the Millennium
Falcon Julio Jones? Man, Man, you know what Jay, don't
I don't know, man, I get the I get and
(29:01):
I ain't. I ain't blowing smoke. I get the little
steam alerts that everybody's getting the bleacher report, you know.
But I'll say this, man, I'll say this me growing
up in Atlanta, um and being able to be a
teammate Julio, he's been not only the best at what
he do period since he's been you know, walked with
the Falcons, he's been just a great model for me
(29:25):
and hopeful that he can continue to be for me
on what it is like when you have success and
not letting it go like to your head or just
always head down to work. Man, my man, you come
to practice. Man as a as a rookie, I'm like, man,
this dude right here, boy like animal like you can't.
I'm talking about grinding, you know what I'm saying. So
it always it put me in a mode of no,
(29:45):
no matter how much success I ever have, you the
work gotta be put in, you know what I'm saying,
And just that mindset of just unstoppable. But then be
able to develop a friendship with him, you know, over
these years. You know, he he a friend for me forever.
But he's just somebody to motivate me. So much and
you know, unfortunately he was you know, linked up last year.
But let me tell you something, Uh, Julio Jones will
(30:08):
be good. You know what I'm saying. And he know that,
you know what I'm saying. He knows, he know we
love him, but he knows he knows the business as well.
You know. So I don't I don't know, but I
know I know that's a beast that you don't want
to disturb. You know what I'm saying, So, um correct.
I didn't make sure I say that because and going
to the Mini Falcon games, like just watching you and
(30:31):
watching Michael Vick and watching him like y'all special players, yo,
And what you said is really important. How you always
handled themselves with class. Yeah, because if I was, if
I had a body like his, man, I was as
fast as he is. Man, that's the way, Like I
wouldn't be doing this shirt naked. I've been doing this
(30:53):
interview Naker man. I'm telling him, Man, I don't think
people understand it really takes effort for him to be
that humble. I mean, like, I mean, you know what
I'm saying like that that's to be commended, you know
what I'm saying, when you like as good as you
are and you can really do what you want, and
then you just you know that you can do. I
think the fact that he know that he can do
whatever he want is enough for him. You know what
I'm saying. He's just trying to you know, get his money,
(31:14):
win some games, and you know what I'm saying. So look, man,
that's that's that's that's who you want to model you.
That's that's the standard. You know what I'm saying. Um,
And he'd always been a selfish teammate. He always been
motivating man dum. So yeah, man, that's that's the standard
of greatness. And plenty of plenty of good football ahead
for my boy man. So absolutely so. Jalen, we know
(31:34):
we got we know we gotta let you go, um.
But before we do, I do have to tell you
that we know that you're a big Lions fan. But hey,
the Lions play the Falcons this year in December in Atlanta.
So is there a chance that you could maybe wear
like a half Lions jersey and a half Grady Jared
jersey Now that you've been on the pod, I'm going
(31:56):
to represent my guy because none of them asking me
to be on apod he did. That's why, That's why
I'm here. So no, he trade his tin toes down
as my hometome team. I haven't seen your squad go
to the super Bowl. Let me tell you see, the
Lions have never been we won one playoff game in
(32:17):
sixty one years. I think they'll be okay with me
wearing a half jersey four game for somebody I got
love for all right for the last fifty years. Grady,
well graded, we'll have to figure out how to make
that happen. Well, Jalen, we really, as we said, really
appreciate you coming out. I'm big fans of your work
and we, Grady and I will both look forward to
watching you on NBA Countdown do your thing over the
(32:38):
next couple of months. Thank you. And I'm definitely gonna
be at that Lions game too, and it ain't gonna
be no happen I'm gonna be rocking my guys jersey
because I'm I'm how we do it on the soup
for you too. Appreciate that well. I think I was
a Jayalen Rhodes fan before, but now wow, I mean yeah,
(32:58):
like what hope, like what a smart guy? What an
entertaining guy. And when you talk about like who you
aspired to be in terms of your posts playing career
or for me as a broadcaster, just hearing his versatility,
I mean, he's doing it the right way. And I
thought everything he said was so enlightening. What what was
(33:19):
your favorite thing? He said? I don't know. It's so
it's hard to pick a favorite. You know, so many
things were just just I mean I was just just
just taking it all in, just just in all, you
know what I'm saying, just listening to him. Really really
the most impressive impressive things to me was how he balances,
you know, all these different things in different roles that
he have in life, you know what I'm saying, while
(33:40):
still having a full you know, family at home and um,
you know, so so just whether it's being a producer
or you know, being in front of the camera, behind
the camera, you know, in the community. Um, that's that's
just you know, that's he doing it right. He doing
the right way. You know. Man, that's the gold standard
right there. And uh, and the thing about it is
you hear him speak, he only trying to get better,
(34:00):
you know, and he's just not slowing down, never satisfied mentality,
and you know, that's something I definitely definitely admire about
him and in aspire to be. You know, this just
this whole conversation just motivating me some more, you know
what I'm saying, So just better player or whatever it
may be. And I think what I like most about
him and the way he is on air is he
kind of seems like you're just sitting down to have
(34:21):
like a cup of coffee with someone or just like
you're talking to your friends. Like it's almost like he
has like a level of comfort that he makes his
audience feel. And I think that, as you know, an
aspiring broadcaster, that's a level that I'm trying to get
to where when people listen to me, they're not listening
to me for anything other than they want to hear
what I say and they like hearing the things that
(34:42):
come out of my mouth. Yeah. Yeah, without a doubt,
he's gonna tell you the truth, you know, good, better
and different, and that's what I respecting most. Yeah, for sure. Well,
I thought a really interesting part of our conversation with
Jalen was of course about his community work and what
he's doing with that Jalen Row Foundation he understold what
he's doing. I mean, if like creating a school and
(35:05):
he UM he actually was just back there, UM, you know,
advocating for the students UM and everyone in Detroit to
get vaccinated like he does so much in the community.
UM's it's incredible. But I want to use this time
right now to talk about you and what you do
in the community, because I know that you'll talk a
little bit about it, but Grady, what you do in
(35:27):
the community of of in the city of Atlanta is
just it's really outstanding. And I want to take the
opportunity here to give you UM some time to talk
about some of your upcoming projects and some of the
things that you're most proud of that you've done in
the community. Yeah, so, UM some upcoming things you know,
UM covid I presented some challenges with with things as
(35:48):
far as you know, UM like like fundraising events you know,
to go towards Grady gives to help us UM do
what we need to do in the community. I think
the biggest new addition to UM to you know, our
team gready Gifts is UM were out in Kerns were
building out a team center. You know, it's called a
Gready Jared Team Center. It's a basically just a safe
(36:09):
place for kids out there, you know, whether you're in
athletics and me to places to go study, you know,
just to hang out, you know, basketball courts, football fields,
swimming pool, um, study rooms and um, just just just
something like that just out there that um, you know,
just just getting started, you know. And um in my
pursuit of trying to find ways to continue to impact
(36:31):
the community and positive way. UM. We're also giving our
scholarships this year, um, you know to to a slit
group of kids, um going to universities. So that's something
that we're definitely doing. UM. So just just just you know,
trying to continue to impact lives positively. Go to brand,
you know, all the partnerships you know, a Grady Hospital,
(36:52):
you know Children Health Care of ALNUM um Georgia Power. Uh.
You know, it's so many just where I don't want
to get mad at me for not mentioning it, but
they know it's all love, you know. So just just
trying to find out where we can you know, just
make positive impact and you know, um, whether it's you know,
(37:12):
just have bigger outreach. That's that's that's the great thing
about these partnerships because you got organizations that's trying to
do good as well, and then I'm trying to do good.
So you link up and it's like, let's let's do
it together change the world. Yeah for sure. What how
did you start the Grady Gifts program? Can you can
you talk a little bit about that? Yeah? So it
just really started from, UM, I was big in an
(37:33):
anti bullying you know, big men don't bully and um
and you know, I went to school was talking about
you know, basically just spread the love and just being
a positive role model and just treating people nice. Stuff
like that, because during that time, there was a lot
of kids going through, um through bullying stuff and it's
making like national news and stuff, and and I just thought,
you know, um, you know what better, um, you know,
(37:56):
way to use my platform me as a big dude,
you know, being a defensive line but still you know,
treating people respect. How I can you know make that
into something? And it helped to help a lot of kids.
But I sparked more interests and other things that I
wanted to do, you know, outside of just anti bullying.
Anti bullying still under the umbrella, but you know, um.
(38:17):
You know, whether I wanted to go, you know, visit
some people at a hospital or make them make a
brighter day, you know, or like give give some money
and food here, or to fund this event whatever it
may be, or to feed the homeless here, or give
from kids gifts here, and really just I mean I
wanted to create an umbrella to where you know, greatly
(38:38):
gifts you know they don't stay. Great to givets. It's
great to give that great to give what you need.
You know what I'm saying. If you need to talk,
you know what I'm saying. You need some motivation. You know,
you got to get on a dark place, you know
what I'm saying. Just just whatever it may be. You know,
I think God has blessed me um to to have
a you know, ability to commute the care with people
(39:00):
and just use my story to help motivate somebody else,
you know what I'm saying. And the us the things
that I go through in my life, its motivation for
the next person. You know, everything I go through, you
know everything you know, it's not all you know all good,
you know, and you don't always see the pitfalls that
people have, but you can take those, you know, dark moments,
you know that you're spending your darker time and make
light to somebody else. And that's what Grady Gives is about.
(39:22):
So so yeah, that's that's that's that's what it is.
That's awesome. Hey, you know the podcast is you're giving
back too, because there's there's a lot of people that
are listening to this that are fans of yours that
you know, they see the way that you're handling your
life and I'm sure it motivates them to be just
like you. So I have an idea, why don't we
(39:43):
whenever the Grady Jarrett teen Center comes out with take
the podcast on the road and we can show off
teen Center on the pod. I gotta do that. Definitely
got to do that, you know what I'm saying. But
but just be able to have people listen to you,
you know where the I used to tell people that
it's like nervous also like talking to crowds, because I
always wasn't wasn't the most comfortable, whether it's like public
(40:05):
speaking or whatever. Maybe if you say things you know,
you're worried about everybody catching the message. If you want
to compress everybody, you want to do this, if you
say one thing that impress one person out of the crowd, man,
you can change your life forever. You know what I'm saying.
You're gonna but you're gonna say the things that impress
more than just one person. Or but if you know, um,
the podcast is for you know, people to take what
they take from it, you know, apply to the lives
(40:27):
however they mean. Maybe you know, everybody don't here, not
a football fan, everybody, don't hear, not not an athlete, everybody,
you know, but you can take something from the podcast
and apply to whatever you're into, you know what I'm saying.
So um, so yeah, if you if you like it, awesome,
you know what I'm saying. If you it's not for you,
it's not for you, you you know what I'm saying. So
that's that's That's what I like about the podcast is
just so um you just be real on here. You
(40:48):
don't just just suck it up. Jared, all right, I
feel like the perfect ending. Grady, Appreciate your time as always,
and looking forward to hopping back on the poverty next week.
Lest do it, Lest do It
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