October 30, 2025 • 32 mins
With the NBA season just getting started, Jimmy sits down with Utah Jazz legend Thurl “Big T” Bailey for a wide-ranging, heartfelt conversation. Thurl looks back on being the No. 7 pick in 1983, falling in love with Utah and its fans, and the lessons his mom taught him about letting basketball open doors to serve the community. He also relives NC State’s iconic 1983 title run with Jimmy V—manifesting by “practicing” cutting down the nets, the game plan against Phi Slama Jama, and why leadership, belief, and defense still win.
The conversation turns deeply personal as Thurl shares his journey of faith and conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, meeting his wife, and how their love endured family pushback before ultimately bringing everyone together. They wrap with candid Jazz talk—young core optimism, what it takes for small-market contenders today, ideas to spice up the NBA (U.S. vs. World All-Star), and why Ryan Smith’s vision across Utah sports has Thurl genuinely excited.
00:00 Introduction
01:30 Thurl Bailey on joining the Utah Jazz and embracing Utah
06:30 The legendary NC State championship run with Jim Valvano
13:00 Thurl’s faith journey and conversion to the LDS Church
17:00 Love, family challenges, and lessons in forgiveness
22:00 Finding purpose beyond basketball and serving others
23:00 The future of the Utah Jazz and today’s NBA
31:49 Outro
The conversation turns deeply personal as Thurl shares his journey of faith and conversion to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, meeting his wife, and how their love endured family pushback before ultimately bringing everyone together. They wrap with candid Jazz talk—young core optimism, what it takes for small-market contenders today, ideas to spice up the NBA (U.S. vs. World All-Star), and why Ryan Smith’s vision across Utah sports has Thurl genuinely excited.
00:00 Introduction
01:30 Thurl Bailey on joining the Utah Jazz and embracing Utah
06:30 The legendary NC State championship run with Jim Valvano
13:00 Thurl’s faith journey and conversion to the LDS Church
17:00 Love, family challenges, and lessons in forgiveness
22:00 Finding purpose beyond basketball and serving others
23:00 The future of the Utah Jazz and today’s NBA
31:49 Outro
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:02):
Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Jimmy Rex Show.
And with basketball just around the corner, guys, I want
to get one of the legendary Utah Jazz players of
all time here on the podcast, mister Thorough Bailey. And
not only was he a star in college became the
seventh pick in the draft, but also was a staple
for the Utah Jazz power forward for multiple multiple years
and it was a part of so many special teams
(00:22):
and moments, but also won the national championship at his
run at NC State, and we get into all that
on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We also talk about.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
His conversion to Mormonism, a really cool story that I
hadn't heard before, and talk about when he first started
dating his wife and originally was not accepted by the
family and kind of how that all played out. So
just an amazing story. I really enjoyed being able to
sit down and have this conversation with one and only
mister Thurrele Bailey. Today's podcast is brought to you by
(00:50):
Bucked Up Supplements. You guys, you know doing these athlete
podcasts it can be a little bit draining sometimes because
I usually do five or six in a day. I
got to LA and take advance my opportunity to be
able to get these amazing guests. And when I'm doing it,
I'm trying to stay hydrated, but I'm also trying to
stay in shape, and so Bucked Up Protein.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
They come with me.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
I actually found them at a gas station out there
and took a few every single day while I was
doing these podcasts. So as you listen today's podcast, just
remember that it is sponsored by Bucked Up Protein.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Anywhere Bucked Up products per sold, Big T. Good to
have you here, Matt, Thank you good to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, it's funny we had to come to LA to
do a podcast. We probably lived about ten minutes for me.
Well you've had man, You're such a legend in Utah.
You know, not only from your playing days, but there's
you know, so much that you've done after it in
the community. I think you above probably every jazz player
I think that's ever existed. It pours more into the
community than anybody.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Well you know, nobody keeps score. But I think.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
When I think of my my career there, I think,
I mean, I can even go back to eighty three
and think about when the Jazz drafted me. I was
so excited. Didn't know anything about Utah, right. I heard
about Mormons, I heard about the culture there, didn't know
a lot about the team because I was kind of
a late bloomer in basketball, but I was I made
(02:18):
it to the highest level, so I didn't care where
I was going Utah. And when I was drafted and
I was walking down to meet the commissioner and get
my hat, only a couple thoughts in my mind. One
of them was where's Utah? And the other one I
was just so excited that once I got there, I realized,
(02:42):
first of all, the.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Beauty of the city itself.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
You take it for granted when you live there, but
when you come from outside, it's unbelievable, I know.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
And so I got to know the fans and the
people really quickly, and you know, it's one of those
things where I've been fortunate. I've been fortunate to to
to work hard to earn a place in the NBA.
But my mom always telled me, told me, don't let
(03:12):
it define you. What will define you is what you
do with it. And so, uh, it's kind of a promise,
but I think I was raised that way and making
sure I knew who I wanted to serve. And that's
that's the youth. That's people who who came out to
see me play and in the community that that I'm
(03:32):
in and so it's my home now.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Well, Utah really I think has taken you in too.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It's you know, a lot of times people that don't
know Utah, it gets a little bit of a bad rap,
you know, and we don't have that many black people,
let's just be honest.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
And so a lot of people have more than we
used to that they do.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
And so it's you know, I think a lot of
you know, players come to Utah and they do fall
in love with it and starts.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
You know.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
I've had Darren Williams on the podcast Boozer, a couple
other people that and all of them love you.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I'll keep homes they don't want to leave, right, And
it's incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
And I understand partly, I understand the stigma, you know,
when you lot of times you're afraid of what you
don't know, right, But once you understand, once you once
it's about people. Once it's about It's not so much
about what isn't there, but what is there? What can
you embrace, what can you bring to the community, because
(04:29):
you know, I think nowadays we're so caught up into
what we see or what we hear on social media,
what other people are saying. And I know for a
fact that most people who I know that have come
to Utah and have spent some time there really enjoy it,
and they've stayed or they always come back. So I
(04:50):
totally agree.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You can make almost any place seem like the worst
or the best place in the world if.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
You want to.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
If I was making a social media page and I
wanted to highlight any city, you could really make it
like horrible or great.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I mean, look at we're in Los Angeles right now,
and this morning I woke up on the pier and
got yelled at by a homeless guy. But I also
was looking at one of the most beautiful pieces that
were state in Utah or in the country. Is I'm
like overlooking the beach and the pyer exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
And I like the way you put that, because there's
there's kind of beauty in everything if you're looking for it, yeah, right, and.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Can find what you're looking for, that's right.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I would say there's evidence for whatever you look for.
So if you're looking for everything, going wrong in the world.
It's not hard to find it.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
And I met my wife in Utah. So okay, there
you go, there you go.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Well you I mean, speaking of mentors and things, I mean,
when you were in college and c State, you guys
had your magical run. You had one of the greatest
coaching mentors of all time, Jimmy by that. I remember
when I was watching the documentary Survive in Advance, I
think it was called I didn't even know until that
point that you were on that team. I didn't know
anything about the team. I just knew the shot at
the end, that the alubes or whatever, and that was
(05:53):
pretty much the extent.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Of my knowledge.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
But take us back to that little magical you guys
were beaten everybody during that.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
We were And let me preface that to say it
really wasn't about that one game.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I mean, yeah, we win the whole ACC tournament just
to get into the NCAA.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Was it was Actually it was really about the journey,
and it was about a journey that started almost three
years before that when the coach who recruited me at
NC State, Norm Sloan, left after my freshman year and
he put the rest of the team in an uproar.
We didn't know what to do. I mean, everybody was
trying to figure out what they were going to do
(06:30):
or they're going to leave, they're going to stay, go
with him. I was going home, called my mom said mom,
I'm coming home. Coach Sloan left. My mom said to me, son,
you may be going somewhere, but you ain't coming here.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
You're going to get your education wherever it ends up being.
You're going to get that degree you and get your education.
So be patient. See who they hire. So we're sitting
in this room waiting on the new coach to come in.
We don't know anything about the Jim Balvano. So you
know our postures like arms crossed, head down.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Prove yourself.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
We don't want to hear it. Yeah, which, what do
you got were you bringing? We don't owe you anything.
So he comes in and the first thing out of
his mouth after he introduces himself was guys, I know
I'm going to win a national championship. And he said
it that way. I know. So if you heard somebody
talking to their team and said I know I'm going
to win, that's kind of selfish.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, can be Yeah, that's how I took it.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Yeah, So he just began to He said, I got
twenty minutes to talk here. When I'm done, if you
still want to go, i'll sign your releases. So he's
taking a risk right there in twenty minutes whether he's
going to lose his whole team, and that dude said.
He says, guys, I know I'm going to win one.
I've dreamt about it, I know how it looks, it feels.
(07:43):
I hope this is the team. And I promise you
that if you stay here with me, we're going to
do it together. And so he said, there won't be
a day that goes by and I won't remind you
of the ultimate goal, and that's to win the national championship.
The first one of the first practices we had with
this dude, he brought a lot out of the practice
bro he put it under the hoop, brought a bunch
(08:03):
of nets, had you guys cut them down. He said,
we're going to practice for two hours. We're going to
practice cutting down the nets. That's all we're going to do.
And it was the most awkward thing any of us
have ever done.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
He was ahead of his time about you know, manifesting,
envision and everything.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Was he was, And we did it twice a month.
The fifth time maybe we started to get we started
to get into it. So some of those pictures you
see of the championship where Cozl McQueen and Ernie Myers
were on top of the rim.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
They practiced getting up that quick. True story.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
So that run was it was incredible because I think
we prepared. We prepared for it. I we there's some
luck that has to happen. Of course, things have to
fall in line, but we were good.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Yeah. Well, and you had been battle test in the
a SEC.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
I me and you're talking to Georgia's North Carolina, you know,
James Worthy and uh you know Virginia had Ral Samson
and all talked about Yeah, it's like you guys were
literally I mean the ac SEE was probably tougher than
the rest of the college combined that time.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
It was, and I think that year we had the
number one or number two toughest schedule in uh in
in college basketball with Carolina and with Virginia, and then
we went out and played Louisville, We played Notre Dame
that year. So yeah, we were battle tested. We had
some you know, some pit moments that weren't very good
for us. Derek Wittenberg broke his foot part way through
(09:25):
the season. But what it helped us realize was that
guys grew up. Lorenzo Charles grew up. Cozell McQueen, Terry
Gannon came in and was a great sixth man. But
it was it was the leadership in Valvano that made
us really look ahead and see what could be and
(09:49):
all we had to do is put the work in.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Well, that's the best leaders. They basically just paint a
vision of what can be right. I mean, that's how
you get people to get behind you and get on board.
Was there anything specific he did before that Houston game?
I mean that was you know, maybe a lot of
people that was the greatest team ever. It was, and
you guys are getting ready to play him and you're
coming in.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
It's like an eleven day.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
And he built it. Coachbo built it up. In the press,
he said, guys, because we didn't have a shot clock.
I remember him, he said we might hold the ball
till Wednesday. So he had everybody believe and even us
to a certain extent, that if we can get some
kind of a lead. We're just going to play corner, right,
(10:29):
We're going to play some ugly basketball. And the day
of the game, we had beaten Georgia, and so he
burst into the locker room and he said, if you
think we're going to hold this bleeping ball out of
your mind, and he's knocking down chalkboards and he said,
we're going to go out and run with him. We're
(10:49):
going to show them that we can run them, but
we cannot let them dunk. That is there, that's their
power right there. They want to get out and dunk.
The semi final game with Houston and Louisville, people ever
seen it, but it was a dunk fest. Unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
That was the fi Sam.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Yeah, and so he said, if we can get more
dunkst then they can get I think we got a
great chance. So we came out. I mean I got
the first dunk of the game on the misshot and
I think a Lodju one got away got one, and
then at the end, of course Lorenzo Charles dunks it.
But yeah, it was it was an amazing culmination of everything,
(11:29):
even starting back to when we bought in, when he
first walked into that room to be champions. I still
think I know I'm biased, but I still think that
forty something years later, people knew where they were. People
remember it. Whoever wasn't born, they've seen it through the documentary,
or they've talked to their parents about it, their grandparents.
(11:51):
I think it's going to be always one of the
most iconic victories, but it is.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I had Wintenberg on my podcast a couple of years ago,
and it was funny because people are like, who is he?
Remember the shot from the state.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
He didn't. It was a past he says, it was
a path. Of course he always does. I just let
him have thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
But I it was funny because as soon as I
said to people that are like, who is he? And
I was like, remember that, you know that lu but
to win the game over Houston.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Yeah of course.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
I was like the guy that shot it through the
shot the air ball, Yeah, yeah, yeah, pretty much, And yeah,
of course I heard that is Yeah, Well, when you
were in Utah, I think something I've actually never heard,
like how did you end up becoming a member of
the Church of Jesus Christ. I mean, obviously you're in Utah,
you're getting hearing about it. Every single day. But that
was a big part of your story. And then you
you know, I know, you do a lot of firesides
(12:38):
and singing and things like that. What was the first
part of that that that led you to the church.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
I think the first part of that started before I
even came to Utah. I think, if you're raised in
a righteous family, in a righteous atmosphere. And then my
parents weren't every Sunday church goers, but they made sure
that their kids went to Sunday school every Sunday.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We didn't miss.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Gave us some little change to putting the you know,
putting the cup that came around in the tray. And
so I had always been intrigued with this man they
called Jesus Christ. And so I think as I grew
up and I grew older as a Baptist man, my
Baptist upbringing was the best thing that could have ever
(13:26):
happened to me.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I used to watch the older.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Women and men on the front row find what I
found out because I asked, find the holy ghosts right
there in church. And I kind of enjoyed watching it.
And always in my mind, you know, I asked my parents, well,
can I can I do that? Can I get that right.
So because they were, I felt like they were happy,
(13:51):
they were jubilant. Who wouldn't want that? Sure, And so
I think throughout the course of my my growing up
and my my search, some some of it being internal,
I knew there was I think I always felt that
there was there was more right. It had nothing to
(14:15):
do with a a religion being wrong, because my Baptist
upbringing will always be the root of where I came from.
But I just I felt like I had always been
on this search for something that had been I don't know,
I can't say nagging at me, but I felt like
(14:36):
I was on this crusade, this journey. And so throughout
my college days, throughout my professional career, I've always tried
to put Christ first, and being in that environment and
that culture in Utah just gave me more information, right,
(15:01):
it gave me more information. I mean, I was reading,
I was studying, I was going to churches, non denominational,
if you will, Baptist churches. I would even go to
LDS churches being invited by friends, especially on fast and
testimony meetings, and I'd watch people get up there and
bear their testimonies. And there were times when I wasn't
(15:24):
a member. I just got up there and I had
felt like I had something to say.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
You'd go up, I would go that's awesome. Yeah, I
would go on.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
This when you were a player? Was this afterwards I
was a player? Wow, Okay, you would have brought the
internet nowadays?
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Absolutely, And so I think, in a nutshell a lot
of it were influences. But the bottom line was I
had to find answers to questions for myself. And yeah,
I could ask people, but a lot of the answers
(16:04):
that I got weren't from mortals. They were for me
getting down on my knees and asking a greater power.
And I I left Utah. I think one of the
reasons I left Utah to go play overseas was because
I needed to go. The NBA has a lot of noise.
It's a lot of good noise, but there's a lot
of distractions, a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Can imagine the temptations.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Absolutely, yeah, And you know a lot of that wasn't me,
and so I had to make tough decisions. So I
could have stayed in the NBA after my three years
at Minnesota, but I got a deal over in Europe
in Greece and it was okay, but I came back
and I didn't they want to go back over to Europe.
(16:49):
The money was great, but there were some things going on.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I met my.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Wife from Richvielle, Utah. She was one richild born and
raised in the church, and so great influence on me.
She got disowned by her parents because she's dating a
black guy. Wow, I wasn't white and I wasn't old.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Yeah, if you were in the culture, you get how
Yeah that can Espec a small town.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
But the biggest thing for me was the black part,
right because you know, I went down one time to
pick her up and they wouldn't let me in the house.
And it ultimately came down to when we were dating.
They had her come home. She was playing basketball at
(17:37):
at UVSC, which is SHEVU now, and the whole family
knew we were dating, and mom and dad brought everybody together.
And it's on a Monday and what we call family
home evening. That's what she thought when she got there,
but no, it was a bunch of chairs and a
chair in the middle intervention. So she walks in a
(17:57):
little little surprised and and they let her have it.
They went person to person, there was only one advocate
and that was her younger brother. Everybody else was like,
I can even repeat some of the things that they
were saying. And then it came down to an ultimatum,
it's either us or him, and she stands up and
(18:19):
walks to the front door and she says, I choose him.
That takes a hell of a lot to do to
stand up in your family and say I choose this
man because I see what you guys don't. And that
(18:39):
was the beginning of kind of a tough road for
her family wise, because they didn't other than her younger brother,
they didn't speak to her for like four years.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Wow, did they ever accept you? Yeah, they came around.
Now they love me more than they love her. Man.
Do you guys laugh about it?
Speaker 3 (19:00):
We don't laugh about it, because too well we we
all learned something and it really is a great story,
because you know, I believe that the Lord teaches us
things like forgiveness, unconditional love. There's no way I would
(19:24):
ever not talk to Mike. I don't care what they
came to me with. There's no way I would ever
not love them.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
I might not agree your children, you mean my children.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
But but I'm always going to love them, I'm always
going to communicate with I'm always going to keep that
door open for them. And so that was a tough
thing for her. And you know, even today, I'm I'm
not sure she's one hundred percent over, although she's civil
with her folks.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
What a gift, though, for you two to be able
to just know that your love was that deep.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
You know, we're going on thirty two years. Man, amazing.
I said it wouldn't work. Kids. You're probably the first
from Richel. You're probably the first black guy that ever saw.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
I think I saw one stroll through there. I don't
know if he was just strolling through or he had
a place there. But we joke about that a lot.
Fourth of July is we're always go bat Oh. Yeah,
they go all out. Yeah they do, they go all out.
But yeah, I mean it ended up being a great journey.
My father in law baptized me in Italy.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Wow, how many years after that did you get bad tized?
Speaker 3 (20:25):
It was nineteen ninety five, so it was probably got
to had a civil wedding in Vegas. We had all
of our friend there and matter of fact, her mom
actually came in a black dress to our wedding, like
a morning type thing.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yeah, yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
But eventually I got I mean, I got some sweet
please forgive me letters from her mom.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
It's beautiful. Yeah, it was just just awesome stuff.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
So you said some them really Well, it's like we're
all afraid of the thing we don't know, right, I remember.
I mean, growing up in Utah, I traveled the world
a lot, and I love to get out, so I've
been over one hundred countries and so I've seen a
lot of different types of people now, but growing up,
I'd never met a Muslim until I went.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
To Egypt, you know.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
And I went with my buddy who's from Palestine actually,
and we go to Egypt and his family was there
and they treated me like absolute gold. I mean, one
of the highlights of my life was his mom coming
up and she's crying. She says, I haven't seen my
son in fourteen years. But knowing he has a friend
like you, it makes me feel so good.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
And it was like these people just wanted to love
their families and love each other. And it's like, it's
why now I've spoken out on gods and some of
these other things, because It's like I think sometimes we
forget that this these are like real people and unless
we are willing to put ourselves out there and go
out there, it doesn't feel real. But it's like, these
are all people and we need to like figure out
how to live in peace with each other.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
No, And that's truth, dude. And I think.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
I talk a lot when I go to the different
speaking engagements. One of the things that I talk about
is purpose.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
We all are kind of trying to find out purpose
in this world and who we have been meant to serve, right,
I mean, I got all of these things, I've been
blessed with, playing at the highest level, having notoriety, earning money,
But what is it? What am I doing with this?
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Right? What's my purpose? Right?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
And so yeah, we have our lives to live, our
jobs to do, and our families and things. But you know,
I think if we could figure out that our purpose
involves each other, it's like what you said, you know,
those kind of feelings, then we'd be making some progress.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Yeah, so, well you've probably helped a lot in Utah.
I mean again, it's I think again, when people just
be even a little more familiar with something, right, Like
then all of a sudden, it's not you don't have
to be afraid of things that maybe you just aren't
as comfortable to.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Right, So, how does all right?
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Going back to basketball a little bit, I mean, the
Jazz are kind of in a bad spot right now.
They've been in the bottom of the league for a
couple of years in a row.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Now.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
People don't realize how good we had it with the
Jazz from basically the time you joined the team. I
think it was thirty out of thirty one years we
made the playoffs. That's an insane run. I always would
say to people, They like, you know, is it kind
of suck being a Jazza eam when the NBA Championship
this is you know, eight nine years ago, and.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
I'm like, are you crazy?
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Every single game till the last game of the year
has mattered in every year, even the year you missed
the playoffs. I think it came down at the last
game of the year. So it's like, what more can
you ask for out of your team? But how does
a team like the Jazz, the franchise with everything's going
on with the NBA now it's you know, I think
it's harder and harder for a small market team. Although, okay,
so he just built their little monster. But how does
the Jazz get back to being a top franchise.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Well, I think there's more hope than ever now. And
let's let's be real about where the Jazz are. The
Jazz made a clear decision on what direction they wanted
to go. Yeah, there's no question every body in Jazz Nation,
everybody in basketball knows exactly the direction of Jazz were
going to go. I think it was coach well hearted
(24:00):
and said, look, pups can't raise pups, so we're going
to give the team to the young guys, but we
need these older guys.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
To help them along. All right.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
That's Jordan Clarks and that's John Collins, right, that's all
the veterans. And so after Quinn's gone, after Rudy Gobert's gone,
right after Donovan Mitchell's gone, this is what you're left with.
So let's take last year when you made that decision.
(24:32):
You're basically trying to get that first picking the draft right, right,
You're playing that game to try to make your odds.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
The best they can. Wait. It was the right move.
I believe it was the right move, But there's no.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Didn't work out well and originally didn't work out, and
then somehow Bailey still failed to the Jets. Right, it
was kind of a miracle. There was basically three guys
that you really wanted in this draft, and people forgot that,
and all of a sudden, the other guys started getting drafted.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
And that's right. Give props to for somehow pulling that.
That is exactly right.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
So I think that there's hope to me, even more
so because of the finals last year. You've got two
young teams and the Pacers and the true Okay see
who they don't have what we know what we know
as super teams. They don't have a superstar, superstars, a superstar,
(25:24):
and there's not enough balls to go around. They've got
young players who have committed to play defense, yeah, and
who they have great players, great role players, and that's
really I think in today's NBA that's what makes the
NBA team look SGA is freaking amazing. People may not
like his style, but the dude, and the dude puts
(25:45):
points on the board. He's efficient, he's efficient, he plays
at his own pace. You're not going to speed him up,
and he gets it done. And he's got some great,
great cast of characters around him. But the bottom line is,
those dudes were the old saying about defense wins championships.
They proved it right, and normally the best teams are
(26:08):
the best defensive teams. They've got scores. So I think
the Jazz they did very well. I think they they
may have been they may have gotten a couple of steals.
Walter Clayton Junior is.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Dealks like, yeah, well, I mean you watch him in
the tournament. That's well.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I mean you ended up getting drafted seventh and that
was all because of what you guys did those last
three weeks, you know, and so you start seeing players
all of a sudden you're like, oh, we might have
missed something here.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
I agree as a fan, I was pumped when they
when they drafted him, because when there's just something to
be saiding you would know this much better than me.
But there's certain guys that are just winners. There's guys
that just you just know how to win, and you
want to get those guys on your team.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
So I believe the core of what they're building right now.
They talked a couple of years ago about three years.
But we're going to be a better I think a
better team overall this coming season, because if I'm a
vet last year, I'm frustrated.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah right, well, and I mean we're literally sitting guys
when they're healthy, and it's just it's not a fun
product to watch. This year, at least, you go and
you're like, oh, these guys aren't any good, but they're
going to be really good. You know, you can kind
of see the little glimpses and.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
We're not thinking about future draft picks right now. We're
going to play, right, We're going to go out.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Well they said they're no longer getting tread to. Yeah. Yeah.
So I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
As a broadcaster, I'm excited because it was hard last year, dude,
and I knew, I knew the direction, I knew what
was going on. So I had to find something. I
had to tell the truth, but I had to find
something positive. A lot of positive things. Isaiah Collier, Kyle
Philipowski's that dude, man, he won. I saw what's coming
(27:46):
coming even before they drafted them. I was hoping he
was going to be there when the Jazz had that pick.
I know he's he's slid a little bit, but I
think that has helped him prove that he belongs in
this leagu He's gonna have a great season.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Well, it seems like it might be a little bit
more hopeful if you were the NBA commissioner.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I mean, there's a couple of things.
Speaker 1 (28:03):
As a fan, you know, I had first row tickets
for five years straight, front row tickets, and you know,
I just loved going to the games. It's been the
last few years. Most of my buddies we kind of
feel the same. None of us have that same drive
to go watch and none of us even can pinpoint
exactly what does you hear different things? Yeah, I don't
know what it is, but how do they get the
fan like me back that was all in and now
(28:24):
it's very much like more of an afterthought.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
I think Adam's trying, you know, he's trying to put
his touch on this league like David Stern did. He
took it global, and I think Adam Silver is really trying, right,
He's did.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
He share with you guys some of the things they
got kind of working.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
On or doing well, course, expansions coming.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
I think they wanted to get the TV deal done,
but Seattle and Vegas have been really talked about. I
think that's coming. I'm hoping within the next couple of years.
And you've seen other things like the playing tournament the
mid the end.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Yeah, kind of like they do International song.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Yeah, the the nd season tournament around Christmas. So those
are things that are I think bringing in bringing back
some of those fans, but also bringing new ones in.
This game is global for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I mean, if you look at the top ten players,
half of them are your best.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Sure that's right.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
There's no more Dream Team bro, Yeah right, I mean,
and I.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
Would like to see us versus the world.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
I think they should have made the All Star game.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
That I do too, That's what that's what needs. Yeah,
the game I went.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
You know, Dana actually got me front row seats when
it was in Utah, so I got to sit with
Doctor Jay and watch that game, and and you know
it's you just wish the product could somehow be a
little bit different or better.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Yeah. I think guys like Mike McClung has made it exciting.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Yeah, so fun to watch the Dunks always to get himself.
They need to get Americans versus Europeans and let that
thing be something special.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Yeah, let them play just like they do with baseball.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
In the World Baseball Classic, those guys said that the
atmosphere felt exactly like a World Series. It was that
important to them. And you see how they react when
they want.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
And I think, I think we're on the something. But
I like what Adam's doing. I really like that he's
not afraid to try things right.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
And so I like Ryan as an owner. You know,
he seems to really care. He seems to really want
to invest, and he really seems to I mean, you
always want your owner to be a fan first. You
look at again baseball, the biggest problem is half the
teams are not trying to win. They're trying to make money.
And I'll take an owner trying to win all day long.
You can criticize whether it's working or not, but man,
the dudes doing everything he can to win. And I'll
(30:45):
take that guy off.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
He really is and he's he's progressive, he's aggressive. Look,
we got the Utah Mammoth.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
That Yeah, And.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
I think that this team, this hockey team is going
to be They're going to be great. And I don't know,
you know, I don't know a lot about hockey. I
love watching it, so I'm trying to learn bit more.
But I think they're going to get closer to a
Stanley Cup than quicker than people think they are. But
(31:16):
it's just great to see Utah on the map in
so many ways. Of course, you know we got the
Olympics coming again.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
You so now, and we'll just look the last few years.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
I mean, the arena was still full for basketball, whereas
most teams that were in our position, nobody goes to
the game and people just they want to. I mean,
ticket prices were more expensive than ever I was looking.
I'm like, because I was going to go to a
couple of times, and I'm like, I don't know if
I'm going to go for that.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Hit me up. Got you? Well? I appreciate you coming on.
Thank you so much. Man. Such a pleasure, and I'm
sure I'll see you plenty of job. I appreciate you,
Thank you, thank.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
You, Thank you again for listening to The Jimmy Rex Show.
If you liked this episode, please do me a quick favor.
Just go online, leave us a review, subscribe to our
show both on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and on Spot, and
if you would share this with somebody, else. Also, if
you're looking to make a real change in your life,
or if you have a man in your life that
you know, could you know, just use a brotherhood or
(32:10):
some men around him to help him level up in
every area of life.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
I encourage you to look at we are the day.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
This is my men's coaching program I started several years
ago and we have been able to help close to
one thousand men now that have joined this program and
had a life changing, transformational experience. Several of these episodes
we talked to members of this group. We talk about
this group and if you are interested in learning more,
go to join what That's joined watt dot com
Hello, and welcome to another episode of The Jimmy Rex Show.
And with basketball just around the corner, guys, I want
to get one of the legendary Utah Jazz players of
all time here on the podcast, mister Thorough Bailey. And
not only was he a star in college became the
seventh pick in the draft, but also was a staple
for the Utah Jazz power forward for multiple multiple years
and it was a part of so many special teams
(00:22):
and moments, but also won the national championship at his
run at NC State, and we get into all that
on the podcast.
Speaker 2 (00:29):
We also talk about.
Speaker 1 (00:30):
His conversion to Mormonism, a really cool story that I
hadn't heard before, and talk about when he first started
dating his wife and originally was not accepted by the
family and kind of how that all played out. So
just an amazing story. I really enjoyed being able to
sit down and have this conversation with one and only
mister Thurrele Bailey. Today's podcast is brought to you by
(00:50):
Bucked Up Supplements. You guys, you know doing these athlete
podcasts it can be a little bit draining sometimes because
I usually do five or six in a day. I
got to LA and take advance my opportunity to be
able to get these amazing guests. And when I'm doing it,
I'm trying to stay hydrated, but I'm also trying to
stay in shape, and so Bucked Up Protein.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
They come with me.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
I actually found them at a gas station out there
and took a few every single day while I was
doing these podcasts. So as you listen today's podcast, just
remember that it is sponsored by Bucked Up Protein.
Speaker 2 (01:19):
Anywhere Bucked Up products per sold, Big T. Good to
have you here, Matt, Thank you good to be here.
Speaker 1 (01:31):
Yeah, it's funny we had to come to LA to
do a podcast. We probably lived about ten minutes for me.
Well you've had man, You're such a legend in Utah.
You know, not only from your playing days, but there's
you know, so much that you've done after it in
the community. I think you above probably every jazz player
I think that's ever existed. It pours more into the
community than anybody.
Speaker 2 (01:51):
Well you know, nobody keeps score. But I think.
Speaker 3 (01:57):
When I think of my my career there, I think,
I mean, I can even go back to eighty three
and think about when the Jazz drafted me. I was
so excited. Didn't know anything about Utah, right. I heard
about Mormons, I heard about the culture there, didn't know
a lot about the team because I was kind of
a late bloomer in basketball, but I was I made
(02:18):
it to the highest level, so I didn't care where
I was going Utah. And when I was drafted and
I was walking down to meet the commissioner and get
my hat, only a couple thoughts in my mind. One
of them was where's Utah? And the other one I
was just so excited that once I got there, I realized,
(02:42):
first of all, the.
Speaker 2 (02:44):
Beauty of the city itself.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
You take it for granted when you live there, but
when you come from outside, it's unbelievable, I know.
Speaker 3 (02:51):
And so I got to know the fans and the
people really quickly, and you know, it's one of those
things where I've been fortunate. I've been fortunate to to
to work hard to earn a place in the NBA.
But my mom always telled me, told me, don't let
(03:12):
it define you. What will define you is what you
do with it. And so, uh, it's kind of a promise,
but I think I was raised that way and making
sure I knew who I wanted to serve. And that's
that's the youth. That's people who who came out to
see me play and in the community that that I'm
(03:32):
in and so it's my home now.
Speaker 2 (03:35):
Well, Utah really I think has taken you in too.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
It's you know, a lot of times people that don't
know Utah, it gets a little bit of a bad rap,
you know, and we don't have that many black people,
let's just be honest.
Speaker 2 (03:45):
And so a lot of people have more than we
used to that they do.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
And so it's you know, I think a lot of
you know, players come to Utah and they do fall
in love with it and starts.
Speaker 2 (03:56):
You know.
Speaker 1 (03:57):
I've had Darren Williams on the podcast Boozer, a couple
other people that and all of them love you.
Speaker 2 (04:01):
I'll keep homes they don't want to leave, right, And
it's incredible.
Speaker 3 (04:06):
And I understand partly, I understand the stigma, you know,
when you lot of times you're afraid of what you
don't know, right, But once you understand, once you once
it's about people. Once it's about It's not so much
about what isn't there, but what is there? What can
you embrace, what can you bring to the community, because
(04:29):
you know, I think nowadays we're so caught up into
what we see or what we hear on social media,
what other people are saying. And I know for a
fact that most people who I know that have come
to Utah and have spent some time there really enjoy it,
and they've stayed or they always come back. So I
(04:50):
totally agree.
Speaker 1 (04:51):
You can make almost any place seem like the worst
or the best place in the world if.
Speaker 2 (04:55):
You want to.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
If I was making a social media page and I
wanted to highlight any city, you could really make it
like horrible or great.
Speaker 2 (05:01):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (05:02):
I mean, look at we're in Los Angeles right now,
and this morning I woke up on the pier and
got yelled at by a homeless guy. But I also
was looking at one of the most beautiful pieces that
were state in Utah or in the country. Is I'm
like overlooking the beach and the pyer exactly.
Speaker 3 (05:14):
And I like the way you put that, because there's
there's kind of beauty in everything if you're looking for it, yeah, right, and.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Can find what you're looking for, that's right.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
I would say there's evidence for whatever you look for.
So if you're looking for everything, going wrong in the world.
It's not hard to find it.
Speaker 2 (05:27):
And I met my wife in Utah. So okay, there
you go, there you go.
Speaker 1 (05:32):
Well you I mean, speaking of mentors and things, I mean,
when you were in college and c State, you guys
had your magical run. You had one of the greatest
coaching mentors of all time, Jimmy by that. I remember
when I was watching the documentary Survive in Advance, I
think it was called I didn't even know until that
point that you were on that team. I didn't know
anything about the team. I just knew the shot at
the end, that the alubes or whatever, and that was
(05:53):
pretty much the extent.
Speaker 2 (05:54):
Of my knowledge.
Speaker 1 (05:55):
But take us back to that little magical you guys
were beaten everybody during that.
Speaker 3 (05:59):
We were And let me preface that to say it
really wasn't about that one game.
Speaker 1 (06:06):
I mean, yeah, we win the whole ACC tournament just
to get into the NCAA.
Speaker 3 (06:10):
Was it was Actually it was really about the journey,
and it was about a journey that started almost three
years before that when the coach who recruited me at
NC State, Norm Sloan, left after my freshman year and
he put the rest of the team in an uproar.
We didn't know what to do. I mean, everybody was
trying to figure out what they were going to do
(06:30):
or they're going to leave, they're going to stay, go
with him. I was going home, called my mom said mom,
I'm coming home. Coach Sloan left. My mom said to me, son,
you may be going somewhere, but you ain't coming here.
Speaker 2 (06:43):
That's great.
Speaker 3 (06:43):
You're going to get your education wherever it ends up being.
You're going to get that degree you and get your education.
So be patient. See who they hire. So we're sitting
in this room waiting on the new coach to come in.
We don't know anything about the Jim Balvano. So you
know our postures like arms crossed, head down.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
Prove yourself.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
We don't want to hear it. Yeah, which, what do
you got were you bringing? We don't owe you anything.
So he comes in and the first thing out of
his mouth after he introduces himself was guys, I know
I'm going to win a national championship. And he said
it that way. I know. So if you heard somebody
talking to their team and said I know I'm going
to win, that's kind of selfish.
Speaker 2 (07:20):
Yeah, can be Yeah, that's how I took it.
Speaker 3 (07:22):
Yeah, So he just began to He said, I got
twenty minutes to talk here. When I'm done, if you
still want to go, i'll sign your releases. So he's
taking a risk right there in twenty minutes whether he's
going to lose his whole team, and that dude said.
He says, guys, I know I'm going to win one.
I've dreamt about it, I know how it looks, it feels.
(07:43):
I hope this is the team. And I promise you
that if you stay here with me, we're going to
do it together. And so he said, there won't be
a day that goes by and I won't remind you
of the ultimate goal, and that's to win the national championship.
The first one of the first practices we had with
this dude, he brought a lot out of the practice
bro he put it under the hoop, brought a bunch
(08:03):
of nets, had you guys cut them down. He said,
we're going to practice for two hours. We're going to
practice cutting down the nets. That's all we're going to do.
And it was the most awkward thing any of us
have ever done.
Speaker 1 (08:14):
He was ahead of his time about you know, manifesting,
envision and everything.
Speaker 3 (08:18):
Was he was, And we did it twice a month.
The fifth time maybe we started to get we started
to get into it. So some of those pictures you
see of the championship where Cozl McQueen and Ernie Myers
were on top of the rim.
Speaker 2 (08:31):
They practiced getting up that quick. True story.
Speaker 3 (08:34):
So that run was it was incredible because I think
we prepared. We prepared for it. I we there's some
luck that has to happen. Of course, things have to
fall in line, but we were good.
Speaker 2 (08:48):
Yeah. Well, and you had been battle test in the
a SEC.
Speaker 1 (08:50):
I me and you're talking to Georgia's North Carolina, you know,
James Worthy and uh you know Virginia had Ral Samson
and all talked about Yeah, it's like you guys were
literally I mean the ac SEE was probably tougher than
the rest of the college combined that time.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
It was, and I think that year we had the
number one or number two toughest schedule in uh in
in college basketball with Carolina and with Virginia, and then
we went out and played Louisville, We played Notre Dame
that year. So yeah, we were battle tested. We had
some you know, some pit moments that weren't very good
for us. Derek Wittenberg broke his foot part way through
(09:25):
the season. But what it helped us realize was that
guys grew up. Lorenzo Charles grew up. Cozell McQueen, Terry
Gannon came in and was a great sixth man. But
it was it was the leadership in Valvano that made
us really look ahead and see what could be and
(09:49):
all we had to do is put the work in.
Speaker 1 (09:51):
Well, that's the best leaders. They basically just paint a
vision of what can be right. I mean, that's how
you get people to get behind you and get on board.
Was there anything specific he did before that Houston game?
I mean that was you know, maybe a lot of
people that was the greatest team ever. It was, and
you guys are getting ready to play him and you're
coming in.
Speaker 2 (10:06):
It's like an eleven day.
Speaker 3 (10:08):
And he built it. Coachbo built it up. In the press,
he said, guys, because we didn't have a shot clock.
I remember him, he said we might hold the ball
till Wednesday. So he had everybody believe and even us
to a certain extent, that if we can get some
kind of a lead. We're just going to play corner, right,
(10:29):
We're going to play some ugly basketball. And the day
of the game, we had beaten Georgia, and so he
burst into the locker room and he said, if you
think we're going to hold this bleeping ball out of
your mind, and he's knocking down chalkboards and he said,
we're going to go out and run with him. We're
(10:49):
going to show them that we can run them, but
we cannot let them dunk. That is there, that's their
power right there. They want to get out and dunk.
The semi final game with Houston and Louisville, people ever
seen it, but it was a dunk fest. Unbelievable.
Speaker 2 (11:02):
That was the fi Sam.
Speaker 3 (11:05):
Yeah, and so he said, if we can get more
dunkst then they can get I think we got a
great chance. So we came out. I mean I got
the first dunk of the game on the misshot and
I think a Lodju one got away got one, and
then at the end, of course Lorenzo Charles dunks it.
But yeah, it was it was an amazing culmination of everything,
(11:29):
even starting back to when we bought in, when he
first walked into that room to be champions. I still
think I know I'm biased, but I still think that
forty something years later, people knew where they were. People
remember it. Whoever wasn't born, they've seen it through the documentary,
or they've talked to their parents about it, their grandparents.
(11:51):
I think it's going to be always one of the
most iconic victories, but it is.
Speaker 1 (11:55):
I had Wintenberg on my podcast a couple of years ago,
and it was funny because people are like, who is he?
Remember the shot from the state.
Speaker 2 (12:02):
He didn't. It was a past he says, it was
a path. Of course he always does. I just let
him have thank you, thank you.
Speaker 1 (12:11):
But I it was funny because as soon as I
said to people that are like, who is he? And
I was like, remember that, you know that lu but
to win the game over Houston.
Speaker 2 (12:18):
Yeah of course.
Speaker 1 (12:18):
I was like the guy that shot it through the
shot the air ball, Yeah, yeah, yeah, pretty much, And yeah,
of course I heard that is Yeah, Well, when you
were in Utah, I think something I've actually never heard,
like how did you end up becoming a member of
the Church of Jesus Christ. I mean, obviously you're in Utah,
you're getting hearing about it. Every single day. But that
was a big part of your story. And then you
you know, I know, you do a lot of firesides
(12:38):
and singing and things like that. What was the first
part of that that that led you to the church.
Speaker 3 (12:45):
I think the first part of that started before I
even came to Utah. I think, if you're raised in
a righteous family, in a righteous atmosphere. And then my
parents weren't every Sunday church goers, but they made sure
that their kids went to Sunday school every Sunday.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
We didn't miss.
Speaker 3 (13:04):
Gave us some little change to putting the you know,
putting the cup that came around in the tray. And
so I had always been intrigued with this man they
called Jesus Christ. And so I think as I grew
up and I grew older as a Baptist man, my
Baptist upbringing was the best thing that could have ever
(13:26):
happened to me.
Speaker 2 (13:28):
I used to watch the older.
Speaker 3 (13:30):
Women and men on the front row find what I
found out because I asked, find the holy ghosts right
there in church. And I kind of enjoyed watching it.
And always in my mind, you know, I asked my parents, well,
can I can I do that? Can I get that right.
So because they were, I felt like they were happy,
(13:51):
they were jubilant. Who wouldn't want that? Sure, And so
I think throughout the course of my my growing up
and my my search, some some of it being internal,
I knew there was I think I always felt that
there was there was more right. It had nothing to
(14:15):
do with a a religion being wrong, because my Baptist
upbringing will always be the root of where I came from.
But I just I felt like I had always been
on this search for something that had been I don't know,
I can't say nagging at me, but I felt like
(14:36):
I was on this crusade, this journey. And so throughout
my college days, throughout my professional career, I've always tried
to put Christ first, and being in that environment and
that culture in Utah just gave me more information, right,
(15:01):
it gave me more information. I mean, I was reading,
I was studying, I was going to churches, non denominational,
if you will, Baptist churches. I would even go to
LDS churches being invited by friends, especially on fast and
testimony meetings, and I'd watch people get up there and
bear their testimonies. And there were times when I wasn't
(15:24):
a member. I just got up there and I had
felt like I had something to say.
Speaker 2 (15:29):
You'd go up, I would go that's awesome. Yeah, I
would go on.
Speaker 1 (15:32):
This when you were a player? Was this afterwards I
was a player? Wow, Okay, you would have brought the
internet nowadays?
Speaker 3 (15:38):
Absolutely, And so I think, in a nutshell a lot
of it were influences. But the bottom line was I
had to find answers to questions for myself. And yeah,
I could ask people, but a lot of the answers
(16:04):
that I got weren't from mortals. They were for me
getting down on my knees and asking a greater power.
And I I left Utah. I think one of the
reasons I left Utah to go play overseas was because
I needed to go. The NBA has a lot of noise.
It's a lot of good noise, but there's a lot
of distractions, a lot of things.
Speaker 2 (16:25):
Can imagine the temptations.
Speaker 3 (16:28):
Absolutely, yeah, And you know a lot of that wasn't me,
and so I had to make tough decisions. So I
could have stayed in the NBA after my three years
at Minnesota, but I got a deal over in Europe
in Greece and it was okay, but I came back
and I didn't they want to go back over to Europe.
(16:49):
The money was great, but there were some things going on.
Speaker 2 (16:54):
I met my.
Speaker 3 (16:55):
Wife from Richvielle, Utah. She was one richild born and
raised in the church, and so great influence on me.
She got disowned by her parents because she's dating a
black guy. Wow, I wasn't white and I wasn't old.
Speaker 1 (17:12):
Yeah, if you were in the culture, you get how
Yeah that can Espec a small town.
Speaker 3 (17:17):
But the biggest thing for me was the black part,
right because you know, I went down one time to
pick her up and they wouldn't let me in the house.
And it ultimately came down to when we were dating.
They had her come home. She was playing basketball at
(17:37):
at UVSC, which is SHEVU now, and the whole family
knew we were dating, and mom and dad brought everybody together.
And it's on a Monday and what we call family
home evening. That's what she thought when she got there,
but no, it was a bunch of chairs and a
chair in the middle intervention. So she walks in a
(17:57):
little little surprised and and they let her have it.
They went person to person, there was only one advocate
and that was her younger brother. Everybody else was like,
I can even repeat some of the things that they
were saying. And then it came down to an ultimatum,
it's either us or him, and she stands up and
(18:19):
walks to the front door and she says, I choose him.
That takes a hell of a lot to do to
stand up in your family and say I choose this
man because I see what you guys don't. And that
(18:39):
was the beginning of kind of a tough road for
her family wise, because they didn't other than her younger brother,
they didn't speak to her for like four years.
Speaker 2 (18:52):
Wow, did they ever accept you? Yeah, they came around.
Now they love me more than they love her. Man.
Do you guys laugh about it?
Speaker 3 (19:00):
We don't laugh about it, because too well we we
all learned something and it really is a great story,
because you know, I believe that the Lord teaches us
things like forgiveness, unconditional love. There's no way I would
(19:24):
ever not talk to Mike. I don't care what they
came to me with. There's no way I would ever
not love them.
Speaker 2 (19:31):
I might not agree your children, you mean my children.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
But but I'm always going to love them, I'm always
going to communicate with I'm always going to keep that
door open for them. And so that was a tough
thing for her. And you know, even today, I'm I'm
not sure she's one hundred percent over, although she's civil
with her folks.
Speaker 1 (19:51):
What a gift, though, for you two to be able
to just know that your love was that deep.
Speaker 2 (19:56):
You know, we're going on thirty two years. Man, amazing.
I said it wouldn't work. Kids. You're probably the first
from Richel. You're probably the first black guy that ever saw.
Speaker 3 (20:04):
I think I saw one stroll through there. I don't
know if he was just strolling through or he had
a place there. But we joke about that a lot.
Fourth of July is we're always go bat Oh. Yeah,
they go all out. Yeah they do, they go all out.
But yeah, I mean it ended up being a great journey.
My father in law baptized me in Italy.
Speaker 2 (20:22):
Wow, how many years after that did you get bad tized?
Speaker 3 (20:25):
It was nineteen ninety five, so it was probably got
to had a civil wedding in Vegas. We had all
of our friend there and matter of fact, her mom
actually came in a black dress to our wedding, like
a morning type thing.
Speaker 2 (20:41):
Yeah, yeah, it was.
Speaker 3 (20:43):
But eventually I got I mean, I got some sweet
please forgive me letters from her mom.
Speaker 2 (20:50):
It's beautiful. Yeah, it was just just awesome stuff.
Speaker 1 (20:53):
So you said some them really Well, it's like we're
all afraid of the thing we don't know, right, I remember.
I mean, growing up in Utah, I traveled the world
a lot, and I love to get out, so I've
been over one hundred countries and so I've seen a
lot of different types of people now, but growing up,
I'd never met a Muslim until I went.
Speaker 2 (21:07):
To Egypt, you know.
Speaker 1 (21:08):
And I went with my buddy who's from Palestine actually,
and we go to Egypt and his family was there
and they treated me like absolute gold. I mean, one
of the highlights of my life was his mom coming
up and she's crying. She says, I haven't seen my
son in fourteen years. But knowing he has a friend
like you, it makes me feel so good.
Speaker 2 (21:25):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (21:26):
And it was like these people just wanted to love
their families and love each other. And it's like, it's
why now I've spoken out on gods and some of
these other things, because It's like I think sometimes we
forget that this these are like real people and unless
we are willing to put ourselves out there and go
out there, it doesn't feel real. But it's like, these
are all people and we need to like figure out
how to live in peace with each other.
Speaker 2 (21:46):
No, And that's truth, dude. And I think.
Speaker 3 (21:50):
I talk a lot when I go to the different
speaking engagements. One of the things that I talk about
is purpose.
Speaker 2 (21:57):
Right.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
We all are kind of trying to find out purpose
in this world and who we have been meant to serve, right,
I mean, I got all of these things, I've been
blessed with, playing at the highest level, having notoriety, earning money,
But what is it? What am I doing with this?
Speaker 2 (22:16):
Right? What's my purpose? Right?
Speaker 3 (22:19):
And so yeah, we have our lives to live, our
jobs to do, and our families and things. But you know,
I think if we could figure out that our purpose
involves each other, it's like what you said, you know,
those kind of feelings, then we'd be making some progress.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Yeah, so, well you've probably helped a lot in Utah.
I mean again, it's I think again, when people just
be even a little more familiar with something, right, Like
then all of a sudden, it's not you don't have
to be afraid of things that maybe you just aren't
as comfortable to.
Speaker 2 (22:49):
Right, So, how does all right?
Speaker 1 (22:51):
Going back to basketball a little bit, I mean, the
Jazz are kind of in a bad spot right now.
They've been in the bottom of the league for a
couple of years in a row.
Speaker 2 (22:58):
Now.
Speaker 1 (22:59):
People don't realize how good we had it with the
Jazz from basically the time you joined the team. I
think it was thirty out of thirty one years we
made the playoffs. That's an insane run. I always would
say to people, They like, you know, is it kind
of suck being a Jazza eam when the NBA Championship
this is you know, eight nine years ago, and.
Speaker 2 (23:14):
I'm like, are you crazy?
Speaker 1 (23:15):
Every single game till the last game of the year
has mattered in every year, even the year you missed
the playoffs. I think it came down at the last
game of the year. So it's like, what more can
you ask for out of your team? But how does
a team like the Jazz, the franchise with everything's going
on with the NBA now it's you know, I think
it's harder and harder for a small market team. Although, okay,
so he just built their little monster. But how does
the Jazz get back to being a top franchise.
Speaker 3 (23:37):
Well, I think there's more hope than ever now. And
let's let's be real about where the Jazz are. The
Jazz made a clear decision on what direction they wanted
to go. Yeah, there's no question every body in Jazz Nation,
everybody in basketball knows exactly the direction of Jazz were
going to go. I think it was coach well hearted
(24:00):
and said, look, pups can't raise pups, so we're going
to give the team to the young guys, but we
need these older guys.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
To help them along. All right.
Speaker 3 (24:09):
That's Jordan Clarks and that's John Collins, right, that's all
the veterans. And so after Quinn's gone, after Rudy Gobert's gone,
right after Donovan Mitchell's gone, this is what you're left with.
So let's take last year when you made that decision.
(24:32):
You're basically trying to get that first picking the draft right, right,
You're playing that game to try to make your odds.
Speaker 2 (24:40):
The best they can. Wait. It was the right move.
I believe it was the right move, But there's no.
Speaker 1 (24:45):
Didn't work out well and originally didn't work out, and
then somehow Bailey still failed to the Jets. Right, it
was kind of a miracle. There was basically three guys
that you really wanted in this draft, and people forgot that,
and all of a sudden, the other guys started getting drafted.
Speaker 2 (24:58):
And that's right. Give props to for somehow pulling that.
That is exactly right.
Speaker 3 (25:03):
So I think that there's hope to me, even more
so because of the finals last year. You've got two
young teams and the Pacers and the true Okay see
who they don't have what we know what we know
as super teams. They don't have a superstar, superstars, a superstar,
(25:24):
and there's not enough balls to go around. They've got
young players who have committed to play defense, yeah, and
who they have great players, great role players, and that's
really I think in today's NBA that's what makes the
NBA team look SGA is freaking amazing. People may not
like his style, but the dude, and the dude puts
(25:45):
points on the board. He's efficient, he's efficient, he plays
at his own pace. You're not going to speed him up,
and he gets it done. And he's got some great,
great cast of characters around him. But the bottom line is,
those dudes were the old saying about defense wins championships.
They proved it right, and normally the best teams are
(26:08):
the best defensive teams. They've got scores. So I think
the Jazz they did very well. I think they they
may have been they may have gotten a couple of steals.
Walter Clayton Junior is.
Speaker 2 (26:19):
Dealks like, yeah, well, I mean you watch him in
the tournament. That's well.
Speaker 1 (26:23):
I mean you ended up getting drafted seventh and that
was all because of what you guys did those last
three weeks, you know, and so you start seeing players
all of a sudden you're like, oh, we might have
missed something here.
Speaker 2 (26:32):
Yeah, I was.
Speaker 1 (26:32):
I agree as a fan, I was pumped when they
when they drafted him, because when there's just something to
be saiding you would know this much better than me.
But there's certain guys that are just winners. There's guys
that just you just know how to win, and you
want to get those guys on your team.
Speaker 2 (26:45):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
So I believe the core of what they're building right now.
They talked a couple of years ago about three years.
But we're going to be a better I think a
better team overall this coming season, because if I'm a
vet last year, I'm frustrated.
Speaker 1 (27:05):
Yeah right, well, and I mean we're literally sitting guys
when they're healthy, and it's just it's not a fun
product to watch. This year, at least, you go and
you're like, oh, these guys aren't any good, but they're
going to be really good. You know, you can kind
of see the little glimpses and.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
We're not thinking about future draft picks right now. We're
going to play, right, We're going to go out.
Speaker 1 (27:21):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (27:21):
Well they said they're no longer getting tread to. Yeah. Yeah.
So I'm excited.
Speaker 3 (27:26):
As a broadcaster, I'm excited because it was hard last year, dude,
and I knew, I knew the direction, I knew what
was going on. So I had to find something. I
had to tell the truth, but I had to find
something positive. A lot of positive things. Isaiah Collier, Kyle
Philipowski's that dude, man, he won. I saw what's coming
(27:46):
coming even before they drafted them. I was hoping he
was going to be there when the Jazz had that pick.
I know he's he's slid a little bit, but I
think that has helped him prove that he belongs in
this leagu He's gonna have a great season.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
Awesome.
Speaker 1 (27:59):
Well, it seems like it might be a little bit
more hopeful if you were the NBA commissioner.
Speaker 2 (28:03):
I mean, there's a couple of things.
Speaker 1 (28:03):
As a fan, you know, I had first row tickets
for five years straight, front row tickets, and you know,
I just loved going to the games. It's been the
last few years. Most of my buddies we kind of
feel the same. None of us have that same drive
to go watch and none of us even can pinpoint
exactly what does you hear different things? Yeah, I don't
know what it is, but how do they get the
fan like me back that was all in and now
(28:24):
it's very much like more of an afterthought.
Speaker 3 (28:26):
I think Adam's trying, you know, he's trying to put
his touch on this league like David Stern did. He
took it global, and I think Adam Silver is really trying, right,
He's did.
Speaker 1 (28:41):
He share with you guys some of the things they
got kind of working.
Speaker 2 (28:43):
On or doing well, course, expansions coming.
Speaker 3 (28:47):
I think they wanted to get the TV deal done,
but Seattle and Vegas have been really talked about. I
think that's coming. I'm hoping within the next couple of years.
And you've seen other things like the playing tournament the
mid the end.
Speaker 2 (29:06):
Yeah, kind of like they do International song.
Speaker 3 (29:08):
Yeah, the the nd season tournament around Christmas. So those
are things that are I think bringing in bringing back
some of those fans, but also bringing new ones in.
This game is global for sure.
Speaker 2 (29:23):
Yeah.
Speaker 1 (29:23):
I mean, if you look at the top ten players,
half of them are your best.
Speaker 2 (29:27):
Sure that's right.
Speaker 3 (29:28):
There's no more Dream Team bro, Yeah right, I mean,
and I.
Speaker 2 (29:32):
Would like to see us versus the world.
Speaker 1 (29:35):
I think they should have made the All Star game.
Speaker 2 (29:37):
That I do too, That's what that's what needs. Yeah,
the game I went.
Speaker 1 (29:41):
You know, Dana actually got me front row seats when
it was in Utah, so I got to sit with
Doctor Jay and watch that game, and and you know
it's you just wish the product could somehow be a
little bit different or better.
Speaker 2 (29:53):
Yeah. I think guys like Mike McClung has made it exciting.
Speaker 1 (29:57):
Yeah, so fun to watch the Dunks always to get himself.
They need to get Americans versus Europeans and let that
thing be something special.
Speaker 2 (30:06):
Yeah, let them play just like they do with baseball.
Speaker 1 (30:08):
In the World Baseball Classic, those guys said that the
atmosphere felt exactly like a World Series. It was that
important to them. And you see how they react when
they want.
Speaker 3 (30:15):
And I think, I think we're on the something. But
I like what Adam's doing. I really like that he's
not afraid to try things right.
Speaker 1 (30:25):
And so I like Ryan as an owner. You know,
he seems to really care. He seems to really want
to invest, and he really seems to I mean, you
always want your owner to be a fan first. You
look at again baseball, the biggest problem is half the
teams are not trying to win. They're trying to make money.
And I'll take an owner trying to win all day long.
You can criticize whether it's working or not, but man,
the dudes doing everything he can to win. And I'll
(30:45):
take that guy off.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
He really is and he's he's progressive, he's aggressive. Look,
we got the Utah Mammoth.
Speaker 2 (30:54):
That Yeah, And.
Speaker 3 (30:56):
I think that this team, this hockey team is going
to be They're going to be great. And I don't know,
you know, I don't know a lot about hockey. I
love watching it, so I'm trying to learn bit more.
But I think they're going to get closer to a
Stanley Cup than quicker than people think they are. But
(31:16):
it's just great to see Utah on the map in
so many ways. Of course, you know we got the
Olympics coming again.
Speaker 2 (31:23):
You so now, and we'll just look the last few years.
Speaker 1 (31:25):
I mean, the arena was still full for basketball, whereas
most teams that were in our position, nobody goes to
the game and people just they want to. I mean,
ticket prices were more expensive than ever I was looking.
I'm like, because I was going to go to a
couple of times, and I'm like, I don't know if
I'm going to go for that.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Hit me up. Got you? Well? I appreciate you coming on.
Thank you so much. Man. Such a pleasure, and I'm
sure I'll see you plenty of job. I appreciate you,
Thank you, thank.
Speaker 1 (31:48):
You, Thank you again for listening to The Jimmy Rex Show.
If you liked this episode, please do me a quick favor.
Just go online, leave us a review, subscribe to our
show both on YouTube, Apple Podcasts and on Spot, and
if you would share this with somebody, else. Also, if
you're looking to make a real change in your life,
or if you have a man in your life that
you know, could you know, just use a brotherhood or
(32:10):
some men around him to help him level up in
every area of life.
Speaker 2 (32:14):
I encourage you to look at we are the day.
Speaker 1 (32:16):
This is my men's coaching program I started several years
ago and we have been able to help close to
one thousand men now that have joined this program and
had a life changing, transformational experience. Several of these episodes
we talked to members of this group. We talk about
this group and if you are interested in learning more,
go to join what That's joined watt dot com
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