July 10, 2020 • 39 mins
Chris and Rob reflect on the Eagles fining DeSean Jackson for anti-Semitic posts but believe he only kept his job because of how the organization handled Riley Cooper in 2013. The guys think the NBA dropped the ball by limiting players in what social justice causes they can put on their jerseys and they discuss JJ Reddick's sentiment that some backlash towards LeBron and Kevin Durant when they left their respective teams was racially motivated.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Thanks for listening to the best of The Odd Couple podcasts.
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(00:21):
s R. Rob Parker. This has been the story of
the week outside of Pat Mahomes, of course, and that
was DeShawn Jackson and his anti Semitic Instagram posts. Our
man Stephen Jackson defended him then apologizing as Deshaun of
course apologized. And now finally we have a punishment, and
(00:44):
it is that the Philadelphia Eagles have fined DeShawn Jackson
for his anti Semitic comments and they released the statement
and it looks like that will be it. And this
is no surprise to either one of us, because we said, look,
once you you set a precedent this country's you know,
(01:06):
judicial system, and I know this wasn't in the courts,
but it's based on precedent for the most part, and
you set a precedent with Riley Cooper, who said the
N word, challenged all these in words out here, that
he'll fight. Why would I mean, that's crazy to say
when you in the locker room to seventy percent black
(01:27):
and like maybe he was just drunk or something, but
he was not. He was not suspended, not cut, and
in fact, a year later got a contract extension from
those Philadelphia Eagles. If they had cut DeShawn Jackson robbed,
(01:48):
it would have been a firestorm that they did not
want to hear. And this is not in any way
justifying what DeShawn Jackson did. Check the record, both of
us been on this air criticizing him for what he did.
No no if SAMs or but Andy criticizing Stephen Jackson.
(02:09):
And so we're not standing by what he's saying, but
we're just saying, you they set a precedent. What Riley
Cooper saying was then was just as bad. And some
would say, you know it was just as bad. Let's
leave it at that. And you didn't cut him, so
you couldn't have cut de Sean Jacks right, if you
would have cut Riley Cooper, Chris, nobody could bat an eye.
(02:29):
No nobody, am I right? Right? What could you say?
But the backlash now because you've already set a precedent
you already you didn't do anything before, it would be
hard pressed then you would. And where the country is
and what's going on, it would have been a mess
for the Eagles, There's no doubt about it. And trust me,
(02:50):
they sat in there, Chris, and they thought about what like,
what can we do here? And they knew they had
no choice. They were painted into a corner. And and
do you think they're doing it too? They in their
heart of hearts, they would have wanted to cut him probably.
I think so, I really do. And I think if
(03:11):
it wasn't for the Riley Cooper thing, and they did
want to cut him, I wouldn't have a problem if
they decided that this wasn't somebody they wanted in their organization.
Teams have people have a right to do that, you
know what I mean? Who you employed, Chris? You represent
the Eagles all the time? The owners Jewish, right, I mean,
(03:32):
there's a lot of stuff that's that's there, yo. The
irony rob is that the owner, Jeffrey Leurie, is Jewish.
And he just wrapped up a documentary. I don't think
it's not released yet, I don't believe, but it's called
Meaning the meaning of Hitler, and so he's you know
(03:53):
it is so it's just the time he's in, right
time that Hitler would be mentioned, right Yeah, And he's
working on a film project with his company. So so
if they wanted to do that Chris and say that's
we don't believe in that. It's not a part of
our organization. He doesn't represent what we believe. He would
have to live with that. I'm not saying he should
(04:14):
be banned from football, could never play again, because I've
always said that when people talk about it, guys Chris
have been involved in a lot of bad stuff and
they get second and third opportunities. And we're talking about
beating up women, I mean beating up women, posting something
is wrong, but yeah, yeah, you know what I mean,
a vehiculo homicide, I mean domestic violence, drug use, yeah,
(04:38):
beating children? Can I go on drugs sales? All? I mean? Yeah,
you're right, you're right. So and and look, I gotta
be honest. Obviously I didn't like what Riley Cooper said. Um,
but I'm a guy that believes in second chances, and
I don't believe in letting somebody just walk all over
you time after time, after time after time. But if
(05:00):
he you know, I get you give somebody a chance
to you know, they said they're sorry, they repented, and
now you know they can turn over a new leaf.
If they show you that their words, their apology was
insincere and they're just going to keep doing it and
nothing has changed. They were just doing it because they
had to get through it. Then that's another thing. Then
(05:22):
repercussions have to come. But I'm with giving somebody a
second chance. So Riley Cooper was on the team, DeShawn
Jackson is on the team. I'm fine. I don't believe
a guy's career has to be taken away for a
first offense of this kind. And so if he could,
if they show you, you know, if DeShawn Jackson does
(05:44):
it again and shows you that this was all just
hogwash his apology, then that's one thing. Then he can
get cut. But for one thing. You know, everybody's made
a mistake that they would like to take back. And
despite so many flete saying I have no regrets, I've
never regretted anything, you know, but everybody's made mistakes. So
(06:05):
I'm fine with that, and you know, hopefully the Eagles
will get on from this and they they are Deshan
is talking about really learning a lot about the Holocaust
and you know, the Jewish people and what they've gone through.
And I hope Riley Cooper did the same, I really
(06:27):
do you know? Yeah? I don't. I don't know. I
haven't seen there the statement from the Eagles on Lourie Lee.
Please see if you can find this, and we'll we'll
talk about we'll mention it later if you can. But
see if you can find the statement from Jeffrey Lourie
about Riley Cooper, because the statement about the Shawn Jackson
(06:48):
talks a lot about learning, educating changing. I hope they
did the same. I don't. I don't remember it. Yeah,
you know what, Chris, that'll be good to take a
look back and see how they handled it, because you know,
and I know, if Michael Vick didn't go in there,
uh and and and and say it's okay or whatever. Yeah,
save him, you know that, Chris, it would have been over.
(07:10):
If the star players from the Eagles went in and said, hey,
uh as he practicing today? Uh? Yeah, well we're not.
It would be all over. It would be done. It
would have been done, no question, no they could have
easily gotten him off the team easily and Michael Vick,
you know, and again Vick, you know, it's interesting you
(07:31):
wonder what some of it because of what he had
gone through and maybe did he feel like he got
a second chance. Um, you know, so he wanted to
give another guy that. But Vic definitely saved Riley Cooper's career. Yep,
there's no if s answer butts about that. I do
know this, uh that Lurie said this about Riley Cooper.
(07:51):
I um, he said that we are shocked and apart
by Riley Cooper's words. This sort of behavior, your attitude
from anyone has no role in the civil society. He
has accepted responsibility for his words and his actions. He
has been fine for this incident. So I don't know
if it went beyond that. The one he released on
Jackson was very long and involved and so both of them.
(08:16):
But do you know what, I think I can understand
why this one was even longer Chris, because it cut
at him, you know what I mean, as a Jewish person,
don't you right? Well, I just definitely think it certainly
was obviously more personal, yeah, because he is Jewish. But
I still think it should have been a similar response.
So I get that. But I'm saying, yeah, I can
(08:38):
understand though why because it cut him. It cut him deep,
you know, and this is what Jewish people have been
going through forever. So well, speaking of all this, uh,
we'll have a guest at the bottom of the hour,
Mark Charles rob who is a Native American. He's a
member of the Navajo Nation and he's actually running for
President of the United States. I was gonna say, of
(09:01):
what America is an independent, but we're gonna talk to
him about, you know, and I know him somewhat, and
I called him because I wanted you heard me. I'm saying,
I wanted to get a Native Americans perspective right on
the leader, you know, a Native American leaders perspective on
(09:24):
these issues. And with the names the team names, the warriors,
the Chiefs and Indians and so on and so forth,
and Chris, I wanted to say that. Speaking of that,
we have a listener, Levi Smith, who is a Cherokeet
and Creek Nation in Oklahoma. Remember we were talking about it,
and he just said that he appreciated that we talked
(09:46):
about Remember I told you about the Supreme Court given
the land to the Native Americans in Oklahoma and talking
about that, and he just added this, and I just
wanted to share this real quick. My opinion and a
lot of my Native friends on the native nicknames being used.
Is only removed the derogatory nicknames, he said, Chris, not chiefs, warriors,
(10:11):
or seminoles or anything like that, but the derogatory ones
in which one we're talking about, obviously Washington's name. He
didn't say Cleveland and the baseball team the name, but
he said not all, not all names. He says, the
ones he likes are warriors, chiefs, and seminars, not braves.
(10:32):
It's braves, he didn't, he said, or the likes. So
he didn't name the braves or Indians, but he just
said the derogatory nick Look, I'm I'm I mean, look,
we're not Native American. When I think the warriors, I
haven't thought of Native Americans. But if I do, I mean,
warriors just seems like a positive, you know what I mean,
Like who doesn't want to be a warrior, you know
(10:53):
what I mean? So somebody would have to tell me
that that was derogatory. Rob would never think that in
chief is somebody in charge, you know, like so, but
we'll see. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and Rob Parker weekdays at
seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
(11:13):
and the iHeartRadio app Let's Let's go to the NBA.
Rob and A Senator Josh Howley looks like he's from Missouri. Yes,
Josh Howley showed me stay yes yeah, US Senator of Missouri.
He sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on
(11:37):
Friday today, and he wrote that the league's positive. For
those that don't know, the NBA is going to allow
their players to put social justice phrases or words on
the back of their jerseys instead of their last name,
so it'll be above the numbers. And the players Association
(11:57):
came up with a list. I don't know if it's
twenty twenty one, twenty two, but they came up with
a list of phrases that they wanted to use. The
NBA approved it, and those are the twenty or twenty
two phrases that they can choose from, and they're all,
you know, justice equality things like the group economics is
(12:20):
one that I believe Andrea Gudala came up with and
things like that, and this. Senator Josh Howley has criticized
the league, and he wrote to Adam Silver that their
policy on social injustice messages quote appears to stop at
the edge of your corporate sponsors sensibilities. Oh, especially when
(12:43):
it comes to matters involving China and support of the
United States military and law enforcement personnel. So he actually
also wrote that Silver has been quote deepening the NBA's
ties to the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party since Rockets
(13:04):
general manager Darryl Morey's tweet in support of the anti
government protesters in Hong Kong in October. So he went
at him, Rob, what do you think some of it is? Uh,
some of it is true on the whole Hong Kong. Chris,
Me and you were probably some of the more critical
of the NBA and what was going on, Am I right, Well,
(13:27):
a lot of people were criticizing the Yeah, we did,
because it's like we talk about we live under democracy.
What don't you understand that's what they were fighting for
in Hong Kong. Yeah. You know, you can say whatever
you want, whether it's our battle or not. It's democracy.
That That's all it was. Don't act like you don't
know what's going on uh in Hong Kong. The one
(13:49):
I totally agree. And the thing I get I said this,
and I've said this. I was on Fox News and
said this. I said it on our station, our radio show.
Right here. I was critical of the NBA because the
justice that we as African Americans are fighting for, and
that the NBA, you know, promotes through their black players,
(14:10):
they're fighting for even more justice over there, right, They're
fighting for the same thing, but they don't have it
even to the close to the degree that we have
it over here. The freedom and so there, you know,
and now here was the out. I gave the NBA,
not the out, but I did have to you gotta
acknowledge this all. Virtually all of the American corporations are
(14:35):
playing ball over there in China. But man, I mean
they're you know, all the American corporations that are doing
business in China are turning a blind eye to what's
going the oppression. And I said, while I disagree with
the NBA's handling of it, I am not going to
judge them harsher than I judge these American corporations who
(14:58):
were doing the same thing. And I'm certainly not while
I was critical of him, Robin, you know it, Lebron,
I'm not gonna judge one individual either harder than I'm
gonna judge these billion dollars and multibillion dollar corporations. And
so while I would have loved for him to stand up,
you know, all these corporations could stand up as well. Uh,
(15:22):
And I and you and I talked about it. It
could have been I mean, Lebron already has a great
reputation off there was a moment. Oh yeah, it could
have went to ali levels. And it really could have
because people all over the world they wouldn't have seen
him and just as a guy that fights for justice
(15:43):
in America, they would have looked at him as a
guy that fights for justice on the world stage, and
that he could have went to another level. I think
he did miss that opportunity, no doubt about it. And
nobody's saying that he has to change the world by himself, right,
But there was a moment there, right, There was a
(16:03):
moment there, Chris when he kind of act like he
didn't know what was going on and whatever, and and
and that and that was disingenuous. Do you know what
I mean? Like like a lot of people, Well, I
gotta read up on it, and I no, no, no,
you don't know. I mean I do think democracy is democracy.
You're right, but I do, and I think you would
agree with this. Right. I'm sure the players, including Lebron,
(16:26):
who is one that knows a lot more that's going
on than the average player, but I'm sure they're not
as well versed. Right. No, I'm not saying that, Jose
to what as well versed as they are with America.
But still, but if you remember Daryl Morey's tweet was
were standing with for democracy? Right, that's what he said freedom.
I can't remember the exact but it was something about
(16:48):
freedom pre humps caring or something like that. But right,
but stem standing with democracy or something. It wasn't like
some involved and he's naming people and you don't know
all the players, you know what I mean? It was
wasn't like of that degree. So so I get what
he was saying. Uh, And we know the NBA and
a lot of these leagues and stuff, Chris, it's not
(17:09):
just sports, as everybody. When there's money involved and different stuff,
there's different rules and you look the other way because
your partners with people. It's that's where conflict of interests
come in, you know what I mean a lot, right,
and you can't get away from it. It's it's the
same thing on how we I think the biggest problem
(17:30):
we have in our business is because you know, networks
have deals with the leagues and what kind of coverage
Chris and what stories are run, you know what I mean.
It's not easy, right And look, and I've said this
before as well, robbed it when you start making political
(17:51):
statements or statements about you know, political statements or the
social state of the country generally. And I'm just gonna
keep it real because I don't want to be a hypocrite.
You like it when the players are or the managers
or the league or whoever it is, are making statements
that you agree with, right right? When you when a
(18:14):
player is making a statement that is really against what
I believe or what I want to see happen, I
don't want to hear it. I'm keeping it real. I
don't want to hear it. Now. You have that right,
but I get you know, like I ain't trying to
hear all that you know, but when I like it,
I agree, Like I like what these players they're gonna
(18:36):
be Black Lives Matter, I agree, I like that, say
their names vote, I can't breathe justice people. I like that.
And honestly, any American, let's keep it real. These aren't
really these should not be controversial statements robe not at all. An,
(18:56):
I don't think any of those are controversial, anti racist.
I am a man, speak up. I mean, who who
question with that that I am a man? You remember
the Civil rights sanitation, right you remember? I mean that
was a big I'm a man. Oh yeah, don't. That's
similar to Black Lives Matter? Right? You know. I am
(19:19):
a man, I'm a human being. I deserve fair and
equal treatment. Um. But I will say this, Rob the
Senator does have a point. While I mean I may
not I don't know his policy. I may not agree
with him, but he has a point that I don't
think if a player, what if a player wanted to
put pro life on the back of the jerk now
(19:40):
pro life, I mean I think that would fit because obviously,
George Floyd, pro life should not just be in the womb,
but it should be from the womb to the tomb.
It should be all life. So don't tell me your
pro life if you if you didn't cringe it what
happened to George Floyd. But what if a player was
to put something like that religious liberty on the back
(20:00):
of your jersey. You know that's not put that. But
but what you know, what I'm saying, well, but this
is what I'm saying is it's not it's not as
liberating Chris, and as open and free. Otherwise you wouldn't
have to other than I'm talking about foul language or something,
you know what, right, right, right, I'm saying. But but
(20:20):
if you just said you can express yourself on your jersey,
and as long as it's not some gutter stuff or
no curse words or profanity, Chris, then this shouldn't have
to be a list. That shouldn't have to be a list.
Just think about it. What list right? Express yourself and
what's okay? What if there was a player that wanted
(20:44):
to say, you know, I say he put on the
back of his jersey there are good cops too. That's fine,
which I think we all agree with. But that's what
the senator is saying, Chris, christ I told you this
before my family's filled with my family. My brothers, an
FBI agent, law enforcement is in my family. Got cousins
(21:06):
who are New York City detectives and cops and all
that I know. They are good cops, Chris, yea, My
problem is the bad cops who get protective. Of course,
that that's my problem. Nobody's saying the blue wall of yes, well,
nobody's saying that all cops are bad. But we gotta
weed out the bad ones, just like they're bad doctors,
bad sports talk show host Chris right, bad cop. You
(21:29):
should weed them out, Yes, you should. You want those
got oath or police oath. They took that oath where
they will do that, so they have to do that,
and it's good that they're being held accountable. But I
do you mentioned it. We were talking about it before
the show. It's just a slippery slope. It's just a
slippery And I remember when Donald Sterling got you know,
(21:50):
he lost his team. I'm a black man. I wanted
him to lose his team, and Mark Human came out
and said, it's a slippery slope. Though I think he
was supporting, you know, Donald Sterling, but it is. It's
a slippery slope. And if you are gonna allow players
to have a slogan on the back of their jersey,
(22:10):
you do have to open it up. And like you said,
anything but profanity and stuff. And I don't think any
players would have put anything on there, to be honest,
you know what I mean that that didn't really agree
with the overall theme that the league is trying to
promote Black lives matter. But you you, like you said,
there shouldn't have been a list. If you want to
(22:31):
say every player, you have until you know, because you
gotta get the uniforms ready, you have until July twelfth
to give us your slogan and then will approve it.
That's fine because you want to make sure there's no
profanity or anything like that, right, that's all. But everybody,
it shouldn't have been limited to twelve. Then don't open
(22:52):
it up. Don't open it up. Just don't do it.
How about that? Just put names on the If you
can't do you know what I mean. If there's gonna
be an issue and you think there's a problem, you're
better off not doing it. This is not a good idea.
We'll put it some signage up, Chris, Right, you're going
to black lives matter, Black lives matter. We can have
stuff up, but but but let's not do it on
(23:14):
the jersey, you know, or let's not do whatever you
want to say instead of your name. That's what they
could have done. And this way, you're not compromising, right,
you're not. You're not compromising people feeling like, oh, well,
I can't say what I want to say. You know
what I mean, that's not what I want and you
gotta pick. That's all? Yeah, all right, you heard my
five five. But the Eye Couple is about to go
(23:36):
toe to toe with our one with I'm not sure
what this is, but we got one of the best
sinners that lead. Come on, bro chrisses, where are your glasses? Yeah?
You can see me right. Fox Sports Radio has the
best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of
our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within
(23:59):
the iHeart Radio app search f s R to listen live.
It is the D Couple. I am Chris, he is Rob.
We're coming to you live from the Geico Fox Sports
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me on social media. I am at Chris Underscore Bruce
(24:22):
hard and on Twitter, Chris Bruce R sixty eight on Instagram.
Rob is at Rob Parker FS one on both Twitter
and The Graham and Rob, you and I can see
each other because of the zoom. Were you watching me?
Because I've been eating. I've been killing some wings man,
Were you watch I was doing something off to the
(24:44):
side of the camera. So that was your dinner tonight?
Some wings? Yes? Yes, delicious? Come on? Did your wife
make them? No? We picked him up from a place
that we go to around here. Yeah, baked wings with
some great Jamaican type jine sauce or something like Yeah,
was it were the hot? Yeah? No, not hot, not hot,
but extra chrismy. I like him, extra chrismy. You always
(25:07):
say that I'm gonna make a steak tonight after the show.
I'll make a little filet okay, little sound. Yeah. I've
been good. Yeah, I'm down to one hundred and eighty
four pounds started at two o five, Chris, So I'm
doing all right the pandemic. But you can't show it
off like you you you do that always for NABJ
(25:30):
I know, and we're like the recent college grads and
all that stuff, Um what you're gonna do? Like, I'm shocked.
I'm impressed though, because you don't have that motivation right
in front of you and you're still doing it. So
I'm impressed only because, you know what, I didn't want
to do, Chris with given that we can't move around
that much and it's not much to do, you could
(25:51):
wind up sitting in your apartment, you know what I
mean and just eating Oh yeah, no, no question. And
I could be two forty now or two twenty five,
you know. So I was like, I was like, I
don't want to do I don't want to go that route.
And you know, normally in the summer I kind of
opened up a little bit and eat some stuff. But
I'm doing all right. I feel good though, Field good. No,
(26:12):
that's good, that's good. All right. Well, interesting comment by
JJ Reddick And he was on a Bleacher Report show
with Taylor Rooks, who Taylor does a great job there
gets a lot of great interviews, and she had a
real interview. Me. See, look at what I'm just saying.
(26:33):
What does that mean? What does that mean? Am I
putting you on the spot. Yeah, forget it all right.
She is a great interviewer, and she talked with JJ Reddick.
They had a candid conversation and Reddick had a probably
to a lot of people, a surprising comment about the backlash.
(26:55):
And that's probably a tame term, especially when you're talking
about Lebron James. But the backlash that Lebron and Kevin
Durant took when they left Cleveland in Oklahoma City to
go join super teams. Here's what Reddick said. But I
think an underlying reason for the sort of the reaction
(27:16):
to Kevin and Lebron making those decisions is because people
were uncomfortable with powerful black men making a decision for themselves,
all right. That I would love to know what her
pushback or follow up question was, because Chris, I would
(27:37):
not allow him to say that without him having to
further explain himself. And what I'm saying is there might
be truth to some of that Chris, in certain situations.
But when you talk about fans and their reaction, and
you know, the word fan is derived from the word
Chris fanatic, people are into it. They live and die,
(28:01):
they spend their their excess money there right, disposable income
to buy tickets and to buy jerseys, and when somebody
walks out on you, and that's the way you could
say whatever you want. He has the right, he's a
free agent. That's not the issue, Chris. If they didn't care,
if Lebron James left the Calves, they wouldn't They wouldn't
(28:24):
be fans. Do you understand what I'm saying. They wouldn't
be fans if they didn't care. Oh, he's going, he's
leaving to go to Miami. Okay, great, Lebron, take it easy.
We'll see you next time. They had their hearts ripped out, Chris,
one of their own from Acquin, Ohio. He was supposed
to deliver a championship. Remember, the job wasn't done when
(28:48):
he left, right the first time, the job wasn't done.
So JJ Reddick, I get what he's saying, Chris. In
certain situations. And the same thing with KD. It wasn't
like that team Chris, with Westbrook and hard they went
to the finals. You know that, guys, they had Golden
stayed down three one, Rob don't make you like down
(29:12):
three one. You should win the series? Right. But but
so the same thing, you have a star player one
of the best two or three players in the league, Chris,
and he walks out on you. Not after he won
a championship. He walked out on you and then joined
the rivals. Come on, I think it in those two cases, Chris,
(29:34):
I don't believe that it was race. And you know this,
go look at the videotape. Black fans were burning Lebron
James Jersey's two people. People in Ohio. We're upside. The
interesting thing about the video is that the videos I
remember from that night that the decision was made. Cleveland
(29:57):
is a city that is over fifty percent sent African American.
But if you watch that video, Rob, you would think
Cleveland was Boise, Idaho. I don't know what bar they
went to, and I get it down in the flats
or downtown at Cleveland's very segregate. I lived in Cleveland.
(30:18):
Cleveland is incredibly Detroit segregated. Chicago's one of the most
I bet you Cleveland. Cleveland has to be one of
the most segregated. I would say Detroit and Chicago right
up there. About ninety more than ninety percent of African
Americans in Cleveland lived on the east side and the
west side has a couple of black little sections, but
(30:41):
it's very split. But downtown, I mean, you remember those
videos right like us. I was like, like there was
like ninety nine percent of the people in the bars
were white. And obviously, as you said, they were crying,
they were burning jerseys, they were calling Lebron out of
their name. Here's what I'll say, Dan Gilbert's letter was racist.
The commed sans letter and I said this on the air,
(31:03):
went on ESPN Sports Center the next morning. I was
on all night, but I went on the next morning
and I said, you know how Sports Center was robed
ninety nine percent of the time it was live, right,
for some reason, we were pre taping. Really yeah, I
don't even remember. Like for some reason we were pre taping,
(31:24):
and I said, they asked me that question. I said,
Dan Gilbert talked about Lebron James like he was a
runaway slave. And the producer, the producer was black, was like,
christ hold up, hold up, hold you know, and he
was like, can you can you say it that? You
(31:46):
can say the same thing. I know what you mean,
but without that phrase get said liberally a little differently.
So we retaped it and I said the same sentiment,
but didn't use that phrase. But I gone on radio
after that and used that phrase and said it, and
I talked about on Colin today, But he did. He
talked about Lebron like he owned him, like he how
(32:06):
dare you leave me? After all I did for you?
And Lebron didn't remember. Lebron played out his contract, tried
his best to win a championship, and I mean he didn't.
He didn't make that last season, just a horrible experience,
like a lot of guys when they leave Anthony Davis, Carmelo,
Anthony when he left Denver, Lebron played it out and
(32:29):
went for it and they came up short. And so
I thought that was racist. But I'll give you that, fans,
because you're right. I even though I didn't really see
any in the video, as I said, but I went
to Cleveland. I'm from Cleveland. I went back talk to people,
and yeah, on the east side, brothers were burning in
that Jersey too. They were mad. Black people were just
(32:50):
black people were calling him Queen James two. You know.
So yeah, it was it was just fans in that regard. Now,
I'll say this, Rob, and this is what happens too
when you hear sometimes black athletes refer to themselves as slaves, right,
or when they say we're on the plantation or something
(33:11):
like that, And a lot of times whites are like,
what are they talking about? You make millions of dollars,
which is true, they're not slaves obviously. However, what was
the dynamics of slavery were economics, power, and race. That's
what slavery was about. It was about economics, power, and race,
(33:32):
and whites got the economics, whites had the power, and
obviously blacks were the labor. So when you look at sports,
even though it's obviously not slavery, the dynamics are the same.
It's economics and as much money as the players make,
the owners make more, and it's right power, right yeah,
(33:57):
and then the race the players doing the labor, so
to speak, our our African American largely in football and basketball.
So that's why, you know, look, let's face it, rob
in America, until we get over this racial issue, there
can always be underlying issues of racing in virtually every
(34:17):
negative interaction between black and white. You know what I mean?
I don't disagree and I said that in JJ Reddick's comments,
Chris that there are clearly situations. I just don't see
when fans react when a guy, when a guy rejects
them and walks out on fans that they shouldn't care
like seriously, I just I think JJ Reddick is not
(34:39):
being a genuine from the standpoint of a fan who's
going to say, that's great, Lebron go to Miami and
have fun and win some championships. That's not all but
real reaction, I think I obviously, and I don't think
JJ could have expected them to be anything but upset.
But had we and and maybe you did see it round,
(35:02):
I don't recall ever seeing jerseys burned. Do you ever?
Did you ever see jerseys burned before Lebron's? I don't
remember a star of that caliber walking out on his team. Well,
Kareem demanded the trade from Milwaukee? Do you have there
was no social media, There was none of that. There
was filmed back then. Say, I'm just saying, and where
(35:25):
we are social media? Uh, totally different. Um, And people
know it because the kid, you know, and people react
to the cameras. We know that, right, played to the
cameras and see that's what I think, And you're but
I think that that's that's the environment we live in.
I don't think that's anything to do with just lebron
(35:46):
Well these and that's the that's what I'm talking about. Like,
because you had the visuals were white people burning his jersey,
calling him out of his name, saying all types of
negative stuff about at him and to him, and whether
they you know, I don't know any of those people,
so whether or not they had any racism in them
(36:08):
up you know when they were doing it. Obviously it
may have been subconsciously, but the optics are like, oh,
now immediately you turned on him and not get it.
You're right right, they're gonna be upset. But immediately you
turned on him, and now you calling him out of
his name, cussing him out, burning his jersey. Could have
(36:31):
been upset without burning the dude's jersey he walked out
on you. And the way it was Chris, I think
it also has something to do with he was from there.
It wasn't like it was a guy who was from
who was originally from he was. He's a home guy.
He was supposed to deliver it, you know. The how
fortunate was Cleveland to get it, to get a guy
(36:53):
from their hometown, who's the best basketball player in the
in the league, to to to give up a throw
his hands up and say I'm out. I'm gonna go
team up with some other guys and go win a
championship elsewhere. I think it was a combination of all
that that made people kind up, you know, freak out
about there's no question. And in Durant's situation, like you said, again,
(37:17):
similar dynamics and that you had, you know, you still
had the economics, the power to race and most of
the fans being white in Oklahoma City and all that.
Maybe it's there subconscious racism. There is that overt racism,
you know, you don't know, it's you don't know what
certain individuals there. But Durant though, a lot of it
was I mean, come on, you you you you joined
(37:40):
a seventy three win team right right, and that you
had just you had had beaten in the playoffs you
had them on. That was Yeah, that was a lot
of that. But I'll tell you what to rob and
And you know, I covered a ton of games in
Cleveland during Lebron's first stint there and when his during
his first stint there, the atmosphere, I'm telling you, Rob,
(38:04):
it was as good as I've ever seen in the NBA,
just for your average regular season game, playoff game, whatever.
It was, the game presentation, the atmosphere. It was awesome.
And when he left to go to Miami and then
came back to Cleveland. I went back to games that
second go round, it was still good. But it was
(38:25):
never the same. Man. It was like the innocence was lost,
you know what I mean, Like it just was it
was not the same. And girl cheated on you. You
know what I mean, you forget, but you still, deep down, Chris,
You're like, I remember when she stepped out on right,
you know what I mean? Right? Yep? It was never
the same. So interesting stuff, all right? There could be
(38:47):
a new star joining the league. Will the Knicks? Rob,
Will the Knicks finally get a superstar? Not thirty seven?
Thanks for listening to the best of The Odd Couple podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
(39:08):
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR
Thanks for listening to the best of The Odd Couple podcasts.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching f
(00:21):
s R. Rob Parker. This has been the story of
the week outside of Pat Mahomes, of course, and that
was DeShawn Jackson and his anti Semitic Instagram posts. Our
man Stephen Jackson defended him then apologizing as Deshaun of
course apologized. And now finally we have a punishment, and
(00:44):
it is that the Philadelphia Eagles have fined DeShawn Jackson
for his anti Semitic comments and they released the statement
and it looks like that will be it. And this
is no surprise to either one of us, because we said, look,
once you you set a precedent this country's you know,
(01:06):
judicial system, and I know this wasn't in the courts,
but it's based on precedent for the most part, and
you set a precedent with Riley Cooper, who said the
N word, challenged all these in words out here, that
he'll fight. Why would I mean, that's crazy to say
when you in the locker room to seventy percent black
(01:27):
and like maybe he was just drunk or something, but
he was not. He was not suspended, not cut, and
in fact, a year later got a contract extension from
those Philadelphia Eagles. If they had cut DeShawn Jackson robbed,
(01:48):
it would have been a firestorm that they did not
want to hear. And this is not in any way
justifying what DeShawn Jackson did. Check the record, both of
us been on this air criticizing him for what he did.
No no if SAMs or but Andy criticizing Stephen Jackson.
(02:09):
And so we're not standing by what he's saying, but
we're just saying, you they set a precedent. What Riley
Cooper saying was then was just as bad. And some
would say, you know it was just as bad. Let's
leave it at that. And you didn't cut him, so
you couldn't have cut de Sean Jacks right, if you
would have cut Riley Cooper, Chris, nobody could bat an eye.
(02:29):
No nobody, am I right? Right? What could you say?
But the backlash now because you've already set a precedent
you already you didn't do anything before, it would be
hard pressed then you would. And where the country is
and what's going on, it would have been a mess
for the Eagles, There's no doubt about it. And trust me,
(02:50):
they sat in there, Chris, and they thought about what like,
what can we do here? And they knew they had
no choice. They were painted into a corner. And and
do you think they're doing it too? They in their
heart of hearts, they would have wanted to cut him probably.
I think so, I really do. And I think if
(03:11):
it wasn't for the Riley Cooper thing, and they did
want to cut him, I wouldn't have a problem if
they decided that this wasn't somebody they wanted in their organization.
Teams have people have a right to do that, you
know what I mean? Who you employed, Chris? You represent
the Eagles all the time? The owners Jewish, right, I mean,
(03:32):
there's a lot of stuff that's that's there, yo. The
irony rob is that the owner, Jeffrey Leurie, is Jewish.
And he just wrapped up a documentary. I don't think
it's not released yet, I don't believe, but it's called
Meaning the meaning of Hitler, and so he's you know
(03:53):
it is so it's just the time he's in, right
time that Hitler would be mentioned, right Yeah, And he's
working on a film project with his company. So so
if they wanted to do that Chris and say that's
we don't believe in that. It's not a part of
our organization. He doesn't represent what we believe. He would
have to live with that. I'm not saying he should
(04:14):
be banned from football, could never play again, because I've
always said that when people talk about it, guys Chris
have been involved in a lot of bad stuff and
they get second and third opportunities. And we're talking about
beating up women, I mean beating up women, posting something
is wrong, but yeah, yeah, you know what I mean,
a vehiculo homicide, I mean domestic violence, drug use, yeah,
(04:38):
beating children? Can I go on drugs sales? All? I mean? Yeah,
you're right, you're right. So and and look, I gotta
be honest. Obviously I didn't like what Riley Cooper said. Um,
but I'm a guy that believes in second chances, and
I don't believe in letting somebody just walk all over
you time after time, after time after time. But if
(05:00):
he you know, I get you give somebody a chance
to you know, they said they're sorry, they repented, and
now you know they can turn over a new leaf.
If they show you that their words, their apology was
insincere and they're just going to keep doing it and
nothing has changed. They were just doing it because they
had to get through it. Then that's another thing. Then
(05:22):
repercussions have to come. But I'm with giving somebody a
second chance. So Riley Cooper was on the team, DeShawn
Jackson is on the team. I'm fine. I don't believe
a guy's career has to be taken away for a
first offense of this kind. And so if he could,
if they show you, you know, if DeShawn Jackson does
(05:44):
it again and shows you that this was all just
hogwash his apology, then that's one thing. Then he can
get cut. But for one thing. You know, everybody's made
a mistake that they would like to take back. And
despite so many flete saying I have no regrets, I've
never regretted anything, you know, but everybody's made mistakes. So
(06:05):
I'm fine with that, and you know, hopefully the Eagles
will get on from this and they they are Deshan
is talking about really learning a lot about the Holocaust
and you know, the Jewish people and what they've gone through.
And I hope Riley Cooper did the same, I really
(06:27):
do you know? Yeah? I don't. I don't know. I
haven't seen there the statement from the Eagles on Lourie Lee.
Please see if you can find this, and we'll we'll
talk about we'll mention it later if you can. But
see if you can find the statement from Jeffrey Lourie
about Riley Cooper, because the statement about the Shawn Jackson
(06:48):
talks a lot about learning, educating changing. I hope they
did the same. I don't. I don't remember it. Yeah,
you know what, Chris, that'll be good to take a
look back and see how they handled it, because you know,
and I know, if Michael Vick didn't go in there,
uh and and and and say it's okay or whatever. Yeah,
save him, you know that, Chris, it would have been over.
(07:10):
If the star players from the Eagles went in and said, hey,
uh as he practicing today? Uh? Yeah, well we're not.
It would be all over. It would be done. It
would have been done, no question, no they could have
easily gotten him off the team easily and Michael Vick,
you know, and again Vick, you know, it's interesting you
(07:31):
wonder what some of it because of what he had
gone through and maybe did he feel like he got
a second chance. Um, you know, so he wanted to
give another guy that. But Vic definitely saved Riley Cooper's career. Yep,
there's no if s answer butts about that. I do
know this, uh that Lurie said this about Riley Cooper.
(07:51):
I um, he said that we are shocked and apart
by Riley Cooper's words. This sort of behavior, your attitude
from anyone has no role in the civil society. He
has accepted responsibility for his words and his actions. He
has been fine for this incident. So I don't know
if it went beyond that. The one he released on
Jackson was very long and involved and so both of them.
(08:16):
But do you know what, I think I can understand
why this one was even longer Chris, because it cut
at him, you know what I mean, as a Jewish person,
don't you right? Well, I just definitely think it certainly
was obviously more personal, yeah, because he is Jewish. But
I still think it should have been a similar response.
So I get that. But I'm saying, yeah, I can
(08:38):
understand though why because it cut him. It cut him deep,
you know, and this is what Jewish people have been
going through forever. So well, speaking of all this, uh,
we'll have a guest at the bottom of the hour,
Mark Charles rob who is a Native American. He's a
member of the Navajo Nation and he's actually running for
President of the United States. I was gonna say, of
(09:01):
what America is an independent, but we're gonna talk to
him about, you know, and I know him somewhat, and
I called him because I wanted you heard me. I'm saying,
I wanted to get a Native Americans perspective right on
the leader, you know, a Native American leaders perspective on
(09:24):
these issues. And with the names the team names, the warriors,
the Chiefs and Indians and so on and so forth,
and Chris, I wanted to say that. Speaking of that,
we have a listener, Levi Smith, who is a Cherokeet
and Creek Nation in Oklahoma. Remember we were talking about it,
and he just said that he appreciated that we talked
(09:46):
about Remember I told you about the Supreme Court given
the land to the Native Americans in Oklahoma and talking
about that, and he just added this, and I just
wanted to share this real quick. My opinion and a
lot of my Native friends on the native nicknames being used.
Is only removed the derogatory nicknames, he said, Chris, not chiefs, warriors,
(10:11):
or seminoles or anything like that, but the derogatory ones
in which one we're talking about, obviously Washington's name. He
didn't say Cleveland and the baseball team the name, but
he said not all, not all names. He says, the
ones he likes are warriors, chiefs, and seminars, not braves.
(10:32):
It's braves, he didn't, he said, or the likes. So
he didn't name the braves or Indians, but he just
said the derogatory nick Look, I'm I'm I mean, look,
we're not Native American. When I think the warriors, I
haven't thought of Native Americans. But if I do, I mean,
warriors just seems like a positive, you know what I mean,
Like who doesn't want to be a warrior, you know
(10:53):
what I mean? So somebody would have to tell me
that that was derogatory. Rob would never think that in
chief is somebody in charge, you know, like so, but
we'll see. Be sure to catch live editions of The
Odd Couple with Chris Broussard and Rob Parker weekdays at
seven pm Eastern four pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio
(11:13):
and the iHeartRadio app Let's Let's go to the NBA.
Rob and A Senator Josh Howley looks like he's from Missouri. Yes,
Josh Howley showed me stay yes yeah, US Senator of Missouri.
He sent a letter to NBA Commissioner Adam Silver on
(11:37):
Friday today, and he wrote that the league's positive. For
those that don't know, the NBA is going to allow
their players to put social justice phrases or words on
the back of their jerseys instead of their last name,
so it'll be above the numbers. And the players Association
(11:57):
came up with a list. I don't know if it's
twenty twenty one, twenty two, but they came up with
a list of phrases that they wanted to use. The
NBA approved it, and those are the twenty or twenty
two phrases that they can choose from, and they're all,
you know, justice equality things like the group economics is
(12:20):
one that I believe Andrea Gudala came up with and
things like that, and this. Senator Josh Howley has criticized
the league, and he wrote to Adam Silver that their
policy on social injustice messages quote appears to stop at
the edge of your corporate sponsors sensibilities. Oh, especially when
(12:43):
it comes to matters involving China and support of the
United States military and law enforcement personnel. So he actually
also wrote that Silver has been quote deepening the NBA's
ties to the CCP, the Chinese Communist Party since Rockets
(13:04):
general manager Darryl Morey's tweet in support of the anti
government protesters in Hong Kong in October. So he went
at him, Rob, what do you think some of it is? Uh,
some of it is true on the whole Hong Kong. Chris,
Me and you were probably some of the more critical
of the NBA and what was going on, Am I right, Well,
(13:27):
a lot of people were criticizing the Yeah, we did,
because it's like we talk about we live under democracy.
What don't you understand that's what they were fighting for
in Hong Kong. Yeah. You know, you can say whatever
you want, whether it's our battle or not. It's democracy.
That That's all it was. Don't act like you don't
know what's going on uh in Hong Kong. The one
(13:49):
I totally agree. And the thing I get I said this,
and I've said this. I was on Fox News and
said this. I said it on our station, our radio show.
Right here. I was critical of the NBA because the
justice that we as African Americans are fighting for, and
that the NBA, you know, promotes through their black players,
(14:10):
they're fighting for even more justice over there, right, They're
fighting for the same thing, but they don't have it
even to the close to the degree that we have
it over here. The freedom and so there, you know,
and now here was the out. I gave the NBA,
not the out, but I did have to you gotta
acknowledge this all. Virtually all of the American corporations are
(14:35):
playing ball over there in China. But man, I mean
they're you know, all the American corporations that are doing
business in China are turning a blind eye to what's
going the oppression. And I said, while I disagree with
the NBA's handling of it, I am not going to
judge them harsher than I judge these American corporations who
(14:58):
were doing the same thing. And I'm certainly not while
I was critical of him, Robin, you know it, Lebron,
I'm not gonna judge one individual either harder than I'm
gonna judge these billion dollars and multibillion dollar corporations. And
so while I would have loved for him to stand up,
you know, all these corporations could stand up as well. Uh,
(15:22):
And I and you and I talked about it. It
could have been I mean, Lebron already has a great
reputation off there was a moment. Oh yeah, it could
have went to ali levels. And it really could have
because people all over the world they wouldn't have seen
him and just as a guy that fights for justice
(15:43):
in America, they would have looked at him as a
guy that fights for justice on the world stage, and
that he could have went to another level. I think
he did miss that opportunity, no doubt about it. And
nobody's saying that he has to change the world by himself, right,
But there was a moment there, right, There was a
(16:03):
moment there, Chris when he kind of act like he
didn't know what was going on and whatever, and and
and that and that was disingenuous. Do you know what
I mean? Like like a lot of people, Well, I
gotta read up on it, and I no, no, no,
you don't know. I mean I do think democracy is democracy.
You're right, but I do, and I think you would
agree with this. Right. I'm sure the players, including Lebron,
(16:26):
who is one that knows a lot more that's going
on than the average player, but I'm sure they're not
as well versed. Right. No, I'm not saying that, Jose
to what as well versed as they are with America.
But still, but if you remember Daryl Morey's tweet was
were standing with for democracy? Right, that's what he said freedom.
I can't remember the exact but it was something about
(16:48):
freedom pre humps caring or something like that. But right,
but stem standing with democracy or something. It wasn't like
some involved and he's naming people and you don't know
all the players, you know what I mean? It was
wasn't like of that degree. So so I get what
he was saying. Uh, And we know the NBA and
a lot of these leagues and stuff, Chris, it's not
(17:09):
just sports, as everybody. When there's money involved and different stuff,
there's different rules and you look the other way because
your partners with people. It's that's where conflict of interests
come in, you know what I mean a lot, right,
and you can't get away from it. It's it's the
same thing on how we I think the biggest problem
(17:30):
we have in our business is because you know, networks
have deals with the leagues and what kind of coverage
Chris and what stories are run, you know what I mean.
It's not easy, right And look, and I've said this
before as well, robbed it when you start making political
(17:51):
statements or statements about you know, political statements or the
social state of the country generally. And I'm just gonna
keep it real because I don't want to be a hypocrite.
You like it when the players are or the managers
or the league or whoever it is, are making statements
that you agree with, right right? When you when a
(18:14):
player is making a statement that is really against what
I believe or what I want to see happen, I
don't want to hear it. I'm keeping it real. I
don't want to hear it. Now. You have that right,
but I get you know, like I ain't trying to
hear all that you know, but when I like it,
I agree, Like I like what these players they're gonna
(18:36):
be Black Lives Matter, I agree, I like that, say
their names vote, I can't breathe justice people. I like that.
And honestly, any American, let's keep it real. These aren't
really these should not be controversial statements robe not at all. An,
(18:56):
I don't think any of those are controversial, anti racist.
I am a man, speak up. I mean, who who
question with that that I am a man? You remember
the Civil rights sanitation, right you remember? I mean that
was a big I'm a man. Oh yeah, don't. That's
similar to Black Lives Matter? Right? You know. I am
(19:19):
a man, I'm a human being. I deserve fair and
equal treatment. Um. But I will say this, Rob the
Senator does have a point. While I mean I may
not I don't know his policy. I may not agree
with him, but he has a point that I don't
think if a player, what if a player wanted to
put pro life on the back of the jerk now
(19:40):
pro life, I mean I think that would fit because obviously,
George Floyd, pro life should not just be in the womb,
but it should be from the womb to the tomb.
It should be all life. So don't tell me your
pro life if you if you didn't cringe it what
happened to George Floyd. But what if a player was
to put something like that religious liberty on the back
(20:00):
of your jersey. You know that's not put that. But
but what you know, what I'm saying, well, but this
is what I'm saying is it's not it's not as
liberating Chris, and as open and free. Otherwise you wouldn't
have to other than I'm talking about foul language or something,
you know what, right, right, right, I'm saying. But but
(20:20):
if you just said you can express yourself on your jersey,
and as long as it's not some gutter stuff or
no curse words or profanity, Chris, then this shouldn't have
to be a list. That shouldn't have to be a list.
Just think about it. What list right? Express yourself and
what's okay? What if there was a player that wanted
(20:44):
to say, you know, I say he put on the
back of his jersey there are good cops too. That's fine,
which I think we all agree with. But that's what
the senator is saying, Chris, christ I told you this
before my family's filled with my family. My brothers, an
FBI agent, law enforcement is in my family. Got cousins
(21:06):
who are New York City detectives and cops and all
that I know. They are good cops, Chris, yea, My
problem is the bad cops who get protective. Of course,
that that's my problem. Nobody's saying the blue wall of yes, well,
nobody's saying that all cops are bad. But we gotta
weed out the bad ones, just like they're bad doctors,
bad sports talk show host Chris right, bad cop. You
(21:29):
should weed them out, Yes, you should. You want those
got oath or police oath. They took that oath where
they will do that, so they have to do that,
and it's good that they're being held accountable. But I
do you mentioned it. We were talking about it before
the show. It's just a slippery slope. It's just a
slippery And I remember when Donald Sterling got you know,
(21:50):
he lost his team. I'm a black man. I wanted
him to lose his team, and Mark Human came out
and said, it's a slippery slope. Though I think he
was supporting, you know, Donald Sterling, but it is. It's
a slippery slope. And if you are gonna allow players
to have a slogan on the back of their jersey,
(22:10):
you do have to open it up. And like you said,
anything but profanity and stuff. And I don't think any
players would have put anything on there, to be honest,
you know what I mean that that didn't really agree
with the overall theme that the league is trying to
promote Black lives matter. But you you, like you said,
there shouldn't have been a list. If you want to
(22:31):
say every player, you have until you know, because you
gotta get the uniforms ready, you have until July twelfth
to give us your slogan and then will approve it.
That's fine because you want to make sure there's no
profanity or anything like that, right, that's all. But everybody,
it shouldn't have been limited to twelve. Then don't open
(22:52):
it up. Don't open it up. Just don't do it.
How about that? Just put names on the If you
can't do you know what I mean. If there's gonna
be an issue and you think there's a problem, you're
better off not doing it. This is not a good idea.
We'll put it some signage up, Chris, Right, you're going
to black lives matter, Black lives matter. We can have
stuff up, but but but let's not do it on
(23:14):
the jersey, you know, or let's not do whatever you
want to say instead of your name. That's what they
could have done. And this way, you're not compromising, right,
you're not. You're not compromising people feeling like, oh, well,
I can't say what I want to say. You know
what I mean, that's not what I want and you
gotta pick. That's all? Yeah, all right, you heard my
five five. But the Eye Couple is about to go
(23:36):
toe to toe with our one with I'm not sure
what this is, but we got one of the best
sinners that lead. Come on, bro chrisses, where are your glasses? Yeah?
You can see me right. Fox Sports Radio has the
best sports talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of
our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within
(23:59):
the iHeart Radio app search f s R to listen live.
It is the D Couple. I am Chris, he is Rob.
We're coming to you live from the Geico Fox Sports
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me on social media. I am at Chris Underscore Bruce
(24:22):
hard and on Twitter, Chris Bruce R sixty eight on Instagram.
Rob is at Rob Parker FS one on both Twitter
and The Graham and Rob, you and I can see
each other because of the zoom. Were you watching me?
Because I've been eating. I've been killing some wings man,
Were you watch I was doing something off to the
(24:44):
side of the camera. So that was your dinner tonight?
Some wings? Yes? Yes, delicious? Come on? Did your wife
make them? No? We picked him up from a place
that we go to around here. Yeah, baked wings with
some great Jamaican type jine sauce or something like Yeah,
was it were the hot? Yeah? No, not hot, not hot,
but extra chrismy. I like him, extra chrismy. You always
(25:07):
say that I'm gonna make a steak tonight after the show.
I'll make a little filet okay, little sound. Yeah. I've
been good. Yeah, I'm down to one hundred and eighty
four pounds started at two o five, Chris, So I'm
doing all right the pandemic. But you can't show it
off like you you you do that always for NABJ
(25:30):
I know, and we're like the recent college grads and
all that stuff, Um what you're gonna do? Like, I'm shocked.
I'm impressed though, because you don't have that motivation right
in front of you and you're still doing it. So
I'm impressed only because, you know what, I didn't want
to do, Chris with given that we can't move around
that much and it's not much to do, you could
(25:51):
wind up sitting in your apartment, you know what I
mean and just eating Oh yeah, no, no question. And
I could be two forty now or two twenty five,
you know. So I was like, I was like, I
don't want to do I don't want to go that route.
And you know, normally in the summer I kind of
opened up a little bit and eat some stuff. But
I'm doing all right. I feel good though, Field good. No,
(26:12):
that's good, that's good. All right. Well, interesting comment by
JJ Reddick And he was on a Bleacher Report show
with Taylor Rooks, who Taylor does a great job there
gets a lot of great interviews, and she had a
real interview. Me. See, look at what I'm just saying.
(26:33):
What does that mean? What does that mean? Am I
putting you on the spot. Yeah, forget it all right.
She is a great interviewer, and she talked with JJ Reddick.
They had a candid conversation and Reddick had a probably
to a lot of people, a surprising comment about the backlash.
(26:55):
And that's probably a tame term, especially when you're talking
about Lebron James. But the backlash that Lebron and Kevin
Durant took when they left Cleveland in Oklahoma City to
go join super teams. Here's what Reddick said. But I
think an underlying reason for the sort of the reaction
(27:16):
to Kevin and Lebron making those decisions is because people
were uncomfortable with powerful black men making a decision for themselves,
all right. That I would love to know what her
pushback or follow up question was, because Chris, I would
(27:37):
not allow him to say that without him having to
further explain himself. And what I'm saying is there might
be truth to some of that Chris, in certain situations.
But when you talk about fans and their reaction, and
you know, the word fan is derived from the word
Chris fanatic, people are into it. They live and die,
(28:01):
they spend their their excess money there right, disposable income
to buy tickets and to buy jerseys, and when somebody
walks out on you, and that's the way you could
say whatever you want. He has the right, he's a
free agent. That's not the issue, Chris. If they didn't care,
if Lebron James left the Calves, they wouldn't They wouldn't
(28:24):
be fans. Do you understand what I'm saying. They wouldn't
be fans if they didn't care. Oh, he's going, he's
leaving to go to Miami. Okay, great, Lebron, take it easy.
We'll see you next time. They had their hearts ripped out, Chris,
one of their own from Acquin, Ohio. He was supposed
to deliver a championship. Remember, the job wasn't done when
(28:48):
he left, right the first time, the job wasn't done.
So JJ Reddick, I get what he's saying, Chris. In
certain situations. And the same thing with KD. It wasn't
like that team Chris, with Westbrook and hard they went
to the finals. You know that, guys, they had Golden
stayed down three one, Rob don't make you like down
(29:12):
three one. You should win the series? Right. But but
so the same thing, you have a star player one
of the best two or three players in the league, Chris,
and he walks out on you. Not after he won
a championship. He walked out on you and then joined
the rivals. Come on, I think it in those two cases, Chris,
(29:34):
I don't believe that it was race. And you know this,
go look at the videotape. Black fans were burning Lebron
James Jersey's two people. People in Ohio. We're upside. The
interesting thing about the video is that the videos I
remember from that night that the decision was made. Cleveland
(29:57):
is a city that is over fifty percent sent African American.
But if you watch that video, Rob, you would think
Cleveland was Boise, Idaho. I don't know what bar they
went to, and I get it down in the flats
or downtown at Cleveland's very segregate. I lived in Cleveland.
(30:18):
Cleveland is incredibly Detroit segregated. Chicago's one of the most
I bet you Cleveland. Cleveland has to be one of
the most segregated. I would say Detroit and Chicago right
up there. About ninety more than ninety percent of African
Americans in Cleveland lived on the east side and the
west side has a couple of black little sections, but
(30:41):
it's very split. But downtown, I mean, you remember those
videos right like us. I was like, like there was
like ninety nine percent of the people in the bars
were white. And obviously, as you said, they were crying,
they were burning jerseys, they were calling Lebron out of
their name. Here's what I'll say, Dan Gilbert's letter was racist.
The commed sans letter and I said this on the air,
(31:03):
went on ESPN Sports Center the next morning. I was
on all night, but I went on the next morning
and I said, you know how Sports Center was robed
ninety nine percent of the time it was live, right,
for some reason, we were pre taping. Really yeah, I
don't even remember. Like for some reason we were pre taping,
(31:24):
and I said, they asked me that question. I said,
Dan Gilbert talked about Lebron James like he was a
runaway slave. And the producer, the producer was black, was like,
christ hold up, hold up, hold you know, and he
was like, can you can you say it that? You
(31:46):
can say the same thing. I know what you mean,
but without that phrase get said liberally a little differently.
So we retaped it and I said the same sentiment,
but didn't use that phrase. But I gone on radio
after that and used that phrase and said it, and
I talked about on Colin today, But he did. He
talked about Lebron like he owned him, like he how
(32:06):
dare you leave me? After all I did for you?
And Lebron didn't remember. Lebron played out his contract, tried
his best to win a championship, and I mean he didn't.
He didn't make that last season, just a horrible experience,
like a lot of guys when they leave Anthony Davis, Carmelo,
Anthony when he left Denver, Lebron played it out and
(32:29):
went for it and they came up short. And so
I thought that was racist. But I'll give you that, fans,
because you're right. I even though I didn't really see
any in the video, as I said, but I went
to Cleveland. I'm from Cleveland. I went back talk to people,
and yeah, on the east side, brothers were burning in
that Jersey too. They were mad. Black people were just
(32:50):
black people were calling him Queen James two. You know.
So yeah, it was it was just fans in that regard. Now,
I'll say this, Rob, and this is what happens too
when you hear sometimes black athletes refer to themselves as slaves, right,
or when they say we're on the plantation or something
(33:11):
like that, And a lot of times whites are like,
what are they talking about? You make millions of dollars,
which is true, they're not slaves obviously. However, what was
the dynamics of slavery were economics, power, and race. That's
what slavery was about. It was about economics, power, and race,
(33:32):
and whites got the economics, whites had the power, and
obviously blacks were the labor. So when you look at sports,
even though it's obviously not slavery, the dynamics are the same.
It's economics and as much money as the players make,
the owners make more, and it's right power, right yeah,
(33:57):
and then the race the players doing the labor, so
to speak, our our African American largely in football and basketball.
So that's why, you know, look, let's face it, rob
in America, until we get over this racial issue, there
can always be underlying issues of racing in virtually every
(34:17):
negative interaction between black and white. You know what I mean?
I don't disagree and I said that in JJ Reddick's comments,
Chris that there are clearly situations. I just don't see
when fans react when a guy, when a guy rejects
them and walks out on fans that they shouldn't care
like seriously, I just I think JJ Reddick is not
(34:39):
being a genuine from the standpoint of a fan who's
going to say, that's great, Lebron go to Miami and
have fun and win some championships. That's not all but
real reaction, I think I obviously, and I don't think
JJ could have expected them to be anything but upset.
But had we and and maybe you did see it round,
(35:02):
I don't recall ever seeing jerseys burned. Do you ever?
Did you ever see jerseys burned before Lebron's? I don't
remember a star of that caliber walking out on his team. Well,
Kareem demanded the trade from Milwaukee? Do you have there
was no social media, There was none of that. There
was filmed back then. Say, I'm just saying, and where
(35:25):
we are social media? Uh, totally different. Um, And people
know it because the kid, you know, and people react
to the cameras. We know that, right, played to the
cameras and see that's what I think, And you're but
I think that that's that's the environment we live in.
I don't think that's anything to do with just lebron
(35:46):
Well these and that's the that's what I'm talking about. Like,
because you had the visuals were white people burning his jersey,
calling him out of his name, saying all types of
negative stuff about at him and to him, and whether
they you know, I don't know any of those people,
so whether or not they had any racism in them
(36:08):
up you know when they were doing it. Obviously it
may have been subconsciously, but the optics are like, oh,
now immediately you turned on him and not get it.
You're right right, they're gonna be upset. But immediately you
turned on him, and now you calling him out of
his name, cussing him out, burning his jersey. Could have
(36:31):
been upset without burning the dude's jersey he walked out
on you. And the way it was Chris, I think
it also has something to do with he was from there.
It wasn't like it was a guy who was from
who was originally from he was. He's a home guy.
He was supposed to deliver it, you know. The how
fortunate was Cleveland to get it, to get a guy
(36:53):
from their hometown, who's the best basketball player in the
in the league, to to to give up a throw
his hands up and say I'm out. I'm gonna go
team up with some other guys and go win a
championship elsewhere. I think it was a combination of all
that that made people kind up, you know, freak out
about there's no question. And in Durant's situation, like you said, again,
(37:17):
similar dynamics and that you had, you know, you still
had the economics, the power to race and most of
the fans being white in Oklahoma City and all that.
Maybe it's there subconscious racism. There is that overt racism,
you know, you don't know, it's you don't know what
certain individuals there. But Durant though, a lot of it
was I mean, come on, you you you you joined
(37:40):
a seventy three win team right right, and that you
had just you had had beaten in the playoffs you
had them on. That was Yeah, that was a lot
of that. But I'll tell you what to rob and
And you know, I covered a ton of games in
Cleveland during Lebron's first stint there and when his during
his first stint there, the atmosphere, I'm telling you, Rob,
(38:04):
it was as good as I've ever seen in the NBA,
just for your average regular season game, playoff game, whatever.
It was, the game presentation, the atmosphere. It was awesome.
And when he left to go to Miami and then
came back to Cleveland. I went back to games that
second go round, it was still good. But it was
(38:25):
never the same. Man. It was like the innocence was lost,
you know what I mean, Like it just was it
was not the same. And girl cheated on you. You
know what I mean, you forget, but you still, deep down, Chris,
You're like, I remember when she stepped out on right,
you know what I mean? Right? Yep? It was never
the same. So interesting stuff, all right? There could be
(38:47):
a new star joining the league. Will the Knicks? Rob,
Will the Knicks finally get a superstar? Not thirty seven?
Thanks for listening to the best of The Odd Couple podcast.
Be sure to catch us live every weekday from seven
pm to ten pm Eastern four to seven Pacific on
(39:08):
Fox Sports Radio. Find your local station for The Odd
Couple at Fox Sports Radio dot com, or stream us
live every day on the iHeartRadio app by searching FSR
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