Forward Progress: Recent Episodes
SiriusXM
Hosted by award-winning NBA broadcaster Jason Jackson and former NFL linebacker/broadcaster Kirk Morrison, “Forward Progress” features conversations with athletes and activists about the pursuit for racial equality, social justice, and the intersection between sports and race in America. Each week the show addresses the most important topics impacting our nation and examines how professional, amateur, and retired athletes are using their platforms to help create the change need to improve our communities.
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Jason is joined by Amin Elhassan this week, and the guys discuss the upcoming historic Super Bowl 57 as Jalen Hurts' Philadelphia Eagles & Patrick Mahomes' Kansas City Chiefs will square off. It marks the first time two black players at QB will face each other at the Super Bowl. The guys discuss Meyers Leonard's attempt at a comeback to the NBA. Leonard has not played since 2021 after using an antisemitic slur during a video game livestream. The guys are visited by Greg Taylor, Executive Director of the NBA Foundation. Greg announces the Foundation's extended partnership with the Children's Defense Fund. It is the largest single grant to date, totaling 3.6 million over three years. Through this partnership, the Children's Defense Fund will help identify candidates and support program management for the NBA HBCU Fellowship program. Additionally, Greg talks about the Foundation handing out 31 grants totaling 12 million dollars to 34 nonprofit organizations historically serving the black community.
We take a deep dive inside the Ed Reed situation at Bethune-Cookman University. We listen to Ed's comments courtesy of Roland Martin's show and we are visited by the athletic director of Bethune-Cookman, former NBA great Reggie Theus! Jason and Kirk discuss the Shannon Sharpe incident at the Lakers' game last week and his apology thereafter. The show ends with a chat about F1 racer Lewis Hamilton as he discussed suffering racial abuse at school.
Jason and Kirk discuss the Governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, interfering in the NHL planned diversity job fair that is coming up in February. The governor's office forced the NHL to change how the fair is presented. The guys then discuss the rant from Football Hall of Famer Ed Reed as his video going off on the conditions at Bethune Cookman went viral. The fellas wrap with a nod to the career of Maya Moore who officially announced her retirement this week and a congratulations to Ran Carthon who has been hired to take over as GM of the Tennessee Titans.Gary Linnen, CEO PeerForwardPeerForward is a nonprofit organization that has placed more than 350,000 students from low-income communities on the path to college and career success. The NBA Foundation has recently announced that PeerForward is one of their 2022 grant recipients. This is the 7th round of recipients the NBA has announced. Gary has been CEO of PeerForward for over a decade and has shaped PeerForward's current peer-to-peer structure which, as studies show, has resulted in up to 26% of higher financial aid applications being submitted via partnering and paticipating schools in comparison to those wothout the PeerForwad Program.
The guys discuss the Houston Texans firing Lovie Smith after one season. This marks the 2nd straight season the Texans hired and then fired a Black head coach after one season. After reacting to Stephen A. Smith's comments that all black coaches should avoid the Texans, the guys praise the job Mike Tomlin has done and speculate which black coaches deserves a shot at the open NFL head coaching jobs. Discussion on the history made by Fisk University as their women's gymnastics team became the first HBCU to compete in NCAA gymnastics making their debut at a comeptition in Las Vegas. The program is less than a year old. The school held their own agaisnt some powerhouses in the sport and finsihed 4th overall. The guys end the show discussing the importance of the Martin Luther King holiday.
Megan Perry - Basketball Analyst; Former Player, WNBA/NBA League Exec & VP for Executive Engagement & Women's Initiatives at Sports Innovation Lab
Megan joins the show and shares her experiences as an executive in the league offices that involved working with some of the top African-American women at the highest level within the office. Discussion also include the WNBA taking a leading role in speaking out against controversial issues, both politcally and socially. The WNBA has been a leader since the league's inception. The former Ivy League champion talks about her time at Sports Innovation Lab that focuses on driving growth and investment in women's sports.
Jason and Kirk discuss Brittney Griner returning home from a Russian penal colony and the various reactions surrounding her release. The guys also discuss Kevin Durant and the Durant Family Foundation's 500k donation to renovate the gym at Bowie State. The show ends on a chat about T.C. Taylor, a former JSU standout player and Deion Sanders' WR coach at the school taking over for Sanders as head coach of the Jackson State football team. The guys are joined by Darryl Woods - Executive Director, Coaches vs. Racism. Darryl joins the show to discuss this year's Roundball Classic, hosted by Coaches vs Racism. Coaches Vs. Racism is a national nonprofit leading the charge to end systemic racism through sports. The HBCU Roundball Classic features a series of high profile match-ups between Division 1 schools and HBCUs. This year the particiapting schools are Univeristy of Houston, North Carolina AT&T, Prairie View A&M, Texas Tech & the Univeristy of Montana. There is a little bit of an extra buzz this year as Houston was ranked #1 in the nation and Texas Tech is a top 25 team calibner team. The games seek to amplify awareness of incredible athletic talent from all schools, placing an emphasis on HBCUs who traditionally lack resources and equipment and are routinely overlooked by professional talent scouts. Darryl talks about about how this event has evolved, how CVR is combating racism through sports and what to expect this week as the games take place.
The guys discuss the Georgia runoff elections for senate that saw former NFL running back Herschel Walker lose to the incumbent, Rev. Raphael Warnock. Discussion includes exploring why Herschel, who has zero experience in public service, was even in the race for a senior level position in congress to begin with. The guys react to Deion Sanders officially taking the job as head coach of the University of Colorado and the many reactions from people on both sides of Deion's decision. The guys chat about Nike's decision to end its deal with Brooklyn Nets guard, Kyrie Irving.Steve Wyche, Chief National Reporter at the NFL Network and a graudate of Howard University, joins the show to discuss why folks are disappointed in Deion Sanders' decision to leave Jackson State for the University of Colorado. Deion has done a lot for HBCUs by his many successes at Jackson State, aside from winning games. Folks wanted that to continue. Deion has always wanted to be a coach at a Power 5 school and his opportunity came with the Colorado offer. This isnt a surprise that he took the job. The opportunities are still there for HBCU athletics to grow and for investments to come into those universities. Applications are through the roof at HBCUs. Folks like Deion and VP Kamala Harris have helped the resurgence of HBCUs. Deion will get players at Colorado and Colorado will be turned around quickly. He can motivate young people and they have faith in him. He will just have tougher competition and more attention than he had before.
Jason and Kirk talk about the many protests at the World Cup taking place in Qatar. They also update the latest reports on the poor conditions Brittney Griner is dealing with at a Russian penal colony. From there, the discussion turn to the 1957 photo that has Cowboys owner Jerry Jones (14 years old at the time) looking over a crowd of white students as six black students walked up the steps of North Little Rock High School in Arkansas as the school was being integrated. The show ends with a chat on the job offers Deion Sanders has been getting from FBS schools.
Jason and Kirk react to Dave Chappelle's opening monolugue on Saturday Night Live; discuss the NFL's Racial & Gender Hiring Report Card that was released and we remember the great Fred Hickman, who passed away recently.
Dr. Adam J. Kuban, Professor, School of Journalism & Strategic Communication, Ball State University
Dr. Kuban is the editor of the book 'Facing Social Justice in Sports'. The book follows the lives of over 20 athletes, coaches and sports-media professionals in different stages of their careers, from youth to collegiate to pro. It also captures their experiences and the defining moments that propelled then to advocate for change. The genesis was shortly after the death of George Floyd. Dr. Kuban explains how the project started. Dr. Kuban challenges his students starting with a class in 2022 to explore the ties between sports and social justice. The book was written by Ball State undergraduate students in Dr. Kuban's intermediate Sports & Writing course. The stories deal with topics such as racism, gender equality poverty international-student rights, mental health, disability and LGBTQ+ challenges. Dr. Kuban doesn't want the book to be seen as a criticism of a particular group, but a chance to listen to opposing views respectfully.
Discussion on Jackson State University Football and head coach Deion Sanders. The guys recap JSU's week after appearing on ESPN's GameDay as well as playing great football in front of a large national audience. Deion has made HBCU football bigger than it has ever been. Discussion also includes if Coach Prime would leave JSU for a Big 5 job. In addition, the guys react to what Deion said to his team following the murder of hip hop artist, Takeoff. In addition, the guys discuss Kyrie Irving and his outspokeness which led to many folks calling for disciplianary actions for his promotion of an antisemitc movie. Following that, there is a chat on the reason why LeBron James is no longer calling himself a fan of the Dallas Cowboys.
This week on the show, Jason and Kirk discuss Brittney Griner's appeal being denied by a Moscow court. The guys react to the news that Celtics star Jaylen Brown and LA Rams star Aaron Donald are leaving Donda Sports amid the Kanye West controversy. College GameDay is heading to an HBCU! Discussion on how big it is that ESPN will be at Jackson St. for Jackson St.- Southern's rivalry game Saturday. Discussion on Dusty Baker attempting to win his first World Series as a manager and the third African-American manager to do so. Jason weighs in with his thoughts on last week's code-switching discussion.
Following an awkward exchange between Jackson State football head coach and Pro Football Hall of Famer, Deion Sanders & his interviewer, the guys discuss 'code switching'. Code switching is not just in media but it in all walks of life. The guys react to Steph Curry's opening night speech where he shouted out Brittney Griner on her birthday. The guys explain why it was so important for Steph to do that.
Brandon Copeland, NFL LB, Host Money Music Culture Podcast
The 10-year NFL veteran joins the show and talks about how/why he got into the podcast game. It was finding a different way to get his message and information to the masses. Financial literacy is important to Brandon and for those who are interested in learning and or seeking that knowledge they can listen to MMC. As an educater you learn that people retain information in different ways so Brandon, through MMC, provides a variety of different ways for folks to learn about the conversation about money. The Penn grad came into the NFL with a chip on his shoulder because of not being drafted, and having to deal with the stigma of being an athlete from an Ivy League school. Brandon talks about what you will get when listening to the podcast along with his co-host Ro$$ Mac. Its a down to earth, digestable way to have high level money conversations.
The guys react to Brett Favre releasing a statement denying any wrong doing in the scandal in Mississippi involving money that was allocated for needy families in the state.
Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, Former NBA G
Discusses his memoir, entitled 'In The Blink Of An Eye'. He discusses the process of writing and why he wrote the book. The title was derived from his team that helped him put this project together. It was a name that resonated with him. Reading became a passion of his following his conversion to Muslim. Mahmoud learned so much about America historically. He explains his reason for protesting against the anthem. Nothing has changed, he still protests in his own way to this day. He names the folks that supported him at that time. Mahmoud talks about his love for basketball which is a part of his journey. Talks about how his style of play would translate to today's game.
Greg Kelser, Former NBA F, Current Detroit Pistons TV Analyst
Greg is appreciative of forums like Forward Progress. There is so much more we need to do collectively and the show helps do that. The NBA has done a good job with being at the forefront of this conversation between race and sports. Some sports were late to the party or have slowly backed off, but the NBA is still at the forefront. The players seem to be all in. They recognize their platform is important. The NBA hasnt always gotten it right. Greg uses Greg Hodges and Mahmoud Abdul - Rauf as examples from the past. In terms of Michael Jordan, many wanted him to be the spokesperson against the issues at the time, but not everyone is Bill Russell, Muhammad Ali or Jackie Robinson.
Discussion about a 'slave auction' prank at a HS in Northern California resulting in the cancellation of the school's entire football season. The guys react to Deion Sanders' Jackson State squad earning its highest ranking ever in the FCS Top 25 poll, but 'Coach Prime' says his goal is the Celebration Bowl. The guys discuss Sanders' goal not just for Jackson State but for HBCU Sports. Discussion on the latest accusations of BYU fans chanting racial slurs at athletes. This time it happened during a women's soccer match between USC and BYU when members of the USC team knelt during the anthem.
Discussion on the latest news involving Brett Favre and his alleged involvement with the misuse of state funds in Mississippi. The guys react to Women's College Basketball Head Coach Kim Mulkey's response or lack thereof to the plight of her former player, Brittney Griner. There is a better way she could have answered the question about her former star player.
Dave Sheinin & Michael Lee - Journalists, Washington Post
Dave, Michael, and a team of journalists at the Post have a series on black head coaches in the NFL and the struggles that are keeping the opportunities to a minimum. Their investigation shows that despite the Rooney Rule, teams' hiring practices still disadvantage Black coaches and it is getting worse. The series includes hearing from, via video, 16 of the 24 current and former black head coaches who are still living, to tell their stories. They also analyzed data, provided perspectives, and lists their key findings. They felt that the investigation was needed following the Brian Flores news cycle. It shouldn't have taken that, but in the news world that was the hook to get the investigation going. The reporters didn't want this to just be a 'news cycle story' that will go away after every hiring process. They wanted this to be definitive. The guys explain the process of the investigation and the various angles they pursued. There are some fascinating data that they have uncovered in this study.
The guys discuss the news that Robert Sarver is beginning the process to sell his teams, the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury. In terms of who will buy the team(s), everyone in Phoenix loves Jerry Colangelo and the fans would love to see him return to Arizona in some capacity. The darkhorse may by Grant Hill. Hill, a former Sun who is familiar with the area, has a desire to be an owner. Discussion about Minnesota Timberwolves star Anthony Edwards' fine of $40k for homophobic comments on social media.
Chris Miller - Washington Wizards TV PxP
Chris is the new television play-by-play man for the Wizards. He and Jason discuss the rise of black broadcasters sliding from 'sideline' reporter, to being the lead pxp person on television or radio. Chris talks about how much this job means to him. Chris credits the other broadcasters for helping him get to this point. Chris understands the responsibility...his oldest son is a broadcaster in Denver that watched him growing up. Young broadcasters need to learn how to do the job the right first and put in the work. That means working for little money in small markets. That will eventually lead to big-money jobs, as long as you are willing to put in the work. Chris is surrounded by comfort. He has been around the organization for a long time. Chris talks about the Wizards and previews next season.
The guys react to the suspension of Suns owner Robert Sarver following the NBA's investigation that found Sarver used inappropriate comments and instances of inequitable conduct toward female employees during his time with the Suns/Mercury. The guys then discuss the news that BYU did not find evidence of racial heckling towards Duke volleyball player Rachel Richardson. Show wraps with a chat on Mickey Joseph being named interim head football coach at the University of Nebraska, making him the first black head coach at Nebraska in any sport.
Cynt Marshall - CEO Dallas Mavericks; Author, 'You've Been Chosen: Thriving Through the Unexpected'
Cynt is the CEO of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, the first black female CEO in the NBA. She has been named one of the '30 Most Powerful Women in Sports' by Adweek and one of the '15 World's Most Inspiring Leaders' by Forbes. She is a cancer survivor and a regular speaker at cancer-related events. In this book, Cynt details her path from an abusive household, racism, corporate America, and fighting stage 3 colon cancer. She also discusses her personal struggles as a wife and mother including four miscarriages and the loss of an infant daughter, the opportunities in her life to serve others by being a 'first' (there are several), how to respond to adversities in life, leadership lessons after 40+ years of work and how faith is her anchor and carried her through her biggest challenges. Cynt calls the book the good, great, bad, and ugly of her journey.
Discussion on South Carolina Women's Basketball Head Coach Dawn Staley's decision to pull back her team's games against BYU in light of what happened at the Duke-BYU volleyball game a week ago. The discussion also includes folks who try to downplay the incident and paint Rachel Richardson in a negative way. Discussion on Serena Williams' farewell and a reflection on her great career. The guys also discuss tennis legend Margaret Court's comments that Serena never reciprocated the admiration Court has for her. Additionally, the guys talk about Coco Gauff and how she can be the 'next' Serena if she continues to win. Jason recaps the Orange Blossom Classic held in Miami between Jackson State and FAMU last weekend. It was an extravaganza. It included luncheons, dinners, battle of the bands, and of course the game itself.
Discussion on the Duke-BYU volleyball game where Duke player, Rachel Richardson endured racial slurs from some fans at BYU. Chat includes how the situation was handled, if Duke should have walked off the floor & BYU's response. Discussion on the players at Florida A&M University having issues with the university about a variety of issues with the athletic department. The players did the right thing by writing a letter to the University President. A bunch of young men stood up for themselves.
Dan Taylor, Author Walking Alone, The Untold Journey of Football Pioneer Kenny Washington
Kenny Washington broke the color barrier in the NFL on September 29th,1946 for the Los Angeles Rams. Dan's book focuses on the immeasurable impact on the sport and beyond. Legends of the NFL hailed Washington as one of the greatest players in football history. He was also a baseball star and there were efforts to make Washington the first black player in major league baseball along with Jackie Robinson. Discussion on the abuse Washington has to deal with, his refusal to play in the South, and how he impacted ignorant teammates through his character and talent. Kenny Washington was one of, if not the most popular athletes in Los Angeles throughout the '30s and '40s. The Rams and the NFL should do more to recognize Washington's role in professional football. After reading the book, Dan hopes folks will reflect on how they treat people. We are all God's children. He also wants people to understand Kenny Washington and put him on a much higher platform for all he has done for the sport.
Discussion
Discussion on the news that the NFL is claiming former head coach Jon Gruden sent derogatory emails while serving as head coach. Kirk is curious to know what the end solution will be. Discussion on the little leaguer having cotton placed in his hair. Regardless of why it was done and if there was no ill-intent, you must be aware of the long-standing history of black folks and cotton.
Greg Taylor, Executive Director NBA Foundation
Discusses the 2nd anniversary of the Foundation and how the foundation has grown in 2 years. The 6th round of grants sees 40 non-profit recipients granted more than 20 million dollars. This has been a partnership with the players association. They share the vision of the work of the foundation. Discusses how the resources have been used over the last two years. Greg explains the challenges that the pandemic has caused. Greg discusses the relationship the foundation has with Canada. Explains how to expand while at the same time continuing to work with current partnerships.
Amin Elhassan joins Jason again this week and the guys discuss the 2022 NBA Racial and Gender Report Card. Then, they discuss an article detailing how black NFL retirees have finally been approved for dementia claims. Finally, the guys react to the news that 14 HBCU medical students have been chosen for an NFL diversity initiative.
Discussion on Miami Dolphins owner Stephen Ross and an article that brings up the work he has done to diversify coaching in the NFL, meanwhile he is involved in a disciminatory lawsuit. Discussion on the resignation of Oklahoma Sooners Assistant Coach Cale Gundy, the longest-tenured coach in the BIG 12 for using racially insensitive words toward a student-athlete.
Shamaree Brown, Iowa State Senior Associate Athletics Director
After over a decade at the ACC, Shamaree joins Iowa State and he explains his new position where he will oversee physical and mental health wellness for student-athletes. Wellness has been the #1 priority over the course of Shamaree's career in that space. There are tons of mental health issues facing our student-athletes. Coaches today need to learn how to get the most out of student-athletes without coaching 'the old-school' way which can be perceived as bullying. Today's athletes are a little more sensitive to tone. Discussion on the recent Transformational & Educational Experience for Social Justice trip to Selma, Alabama that was taken by students and administrators of the ACC, BIG 10 & PAC 12. That trip touched everyone that went. It was a life-changing experience.
Kirk & Amin remember the life and legacy of Bill Russell. Bill was a lot more than a basketball player. We listen to a piece where he shares stories from the Civil Rights Movement years. The NBA Finals MVP Award is named after Russell. The guys discuss if more can be done to honor him, like retiring his number universally in the NBA. Discussion on the Miami Dolphins being disciplined by the NFL for a variety of infractions. The guys discuss the Brian Flores lawsuit and how that is impacted by the findings of the league's investigators.
Jason Reid, ESPN, Andscape NFL Senior Writer; Author, 'Rise of The Black Quarterback: What it Means for America'
Quarterback is the ultimate leadership position that is uniquely American. In corporate America, if you are the team leader, you are labeled the quarterback. When you think of the quarterback, you think of intelligence, leadership, toughness & the person who inspires. If black men are excluded from playing QB it says a lot about how far black men can go in this country. It used to be that black college QBs would have their position changed. It was the norm. It has changed to the point that the NFL realizes that black quarterback can help teams win and make money. The Cardinals 'stepped into it' so to speak by having a clause in Kyler Murray's contract about his study habits. It was a mistake by the Cardinals and it will follow Murray for the rest of his career. In the late 80's the NFL could not overlook players that can help them win. The pressure on teams and coaches to win became great. There is a lot swirling around Lamar Jackson and his contract negotiations. He represents so much about where we have come, where we are now, and what the future is for the black quarterback. Jason takes a moment to remember the career of Vin Scully who passed away this week. Jason would like for people to read the book with an open mind and read about the stories of what black QBs have had to go through. Hopefully, they'll gain an understanding that they didn't have coming in and look at things a little differently when they leave.
Discussion on comments made by former President Trump suggesting he wants LeBron to play for his basketball team of women. The jab seemingly is toward men who want to play women's sports and trans athletes. It's unclear where the benefit is of taking a shot at transgender athletes. Discussion on the comments from Charles Barkley regarding his future possibly joining LIV Golf and the criticisms of the golfers who choose to play for the Saudi-backed tour. Discussion on the peculiar contract stipulation in QB Kyler Murray's new deal with the Arizona Cardinals. Is it because Murray needs the work, or is it a racial dog whistle? The guys react to Olympic legend Michael Johnson being accused of racism because he questioned the times at the world championships.
Erica Lafayette, Student-Athlete, Rutgers Women's Basketball Junior
Walks us through the trip. Erica feels that this was one of the best experiences she has ever had. Knew what the trip was about but didn't know what to expect. The journey took the student-athletes back to what folks went through in Alabama. The experience has led Erica to not complain about trivial matters some folks may complain about today. She feels blessed about all she has. Social Justice lawyer Bryan Stevenson addressed the group and his comments really resonated. When voting comes around people need to vote because voting matters. Additionally, people should give back to the community.
Sadio Fenner, Student-Athlete, Nebraska Track & Field
This was a very heavy trip that he will never ever forget. One of the things that stood out was a speaker who said, her generation had to put the unity in community, and she would like to see this generation put human, in humanity. It was an emotional trip and you had to feel something, especially as a black male. Everything was put out for us to see. History books really watered down what happened. It was hard to see that one group of people treated another group of people so poorly, and enjoyed it. The conversation is about how to fix these injustices and inequalities and not relapse. It was an eye-opening experience to share this space with so many others from the other conferences. Hearing other folks' stories, made Sadio empathize with them. We have a network with others from around the country where we can communicate and make a change.
Teresa Gould, PAC 12 Deputy Commissioner Sports Management & Institutional Services
The trip was a once in a lifetime experience. To share the experience with and see the reactions of the student-athletes was intense, emotional, and inspirational al at the same time. What inspired her the most was seeing the student-athletes take in, reconcile and understand the history, but then pivot to a place of inspiration, motivation, and responsibility. A combination of all the different activities on the trip has positioned the student-athletes to be a beacon for change. It was difficult to put words to a lot of what was seen. It was that intense. It was also life-changing. It was great seeing the shared commitment with the student-athletes from all the schools. The PAC-12 Impact initiative is the social outreach initiative of the PAC 12 Conference. It's committed to using the power of sport to promote a culture of diversity and inclusion. The Impact Initiative has been around the PAC 12 for over a decade. It has grown considerably over the last few years and the conference is very proud of it. What's next? In the short term, it's to capture the richness and impact of the experience and share it with those who didn't go on the trip. In the long term, this can be a more regular excursion for staff and student-athletes.
Discussion on the Las Vegas Raiders hiring Sandra Douglass Morgan as the first black woman to be hired as the new team president of an NFL franchise. The guys then talk about HBCU players getting the opportunity to participate is a showcase during the NBA Summer League. This gives the players a chance to perform in front of all the top executives in the league.
Fr3deR1cK Taylor -College Baseball Player Turned Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker
Fr3deR1cK explains what makes a very good sports movie. Fr3d tells us what he likes to see in modern sports movies. One thing that should be done is to have more athletes in the movies. That authenticity is essential. Discussion on sports and how it relates to one's inner self. Discussion on the relationship between socio-economic power and sports; the role of women in a sense of being beacons of social justice and equity. Fr3deR1ck would love to see a movie done on the women's national soccer team. They have consistently been better than the men and are one of the best teams in the world. The story of Sarah Fuller, the young FG kicker at Vanderbilt would be a good smaller budgeted film as well. Fr3deR1ck promotes future projects he is currently working on. The inspiration for his projects flows. Sometimes it comes to him, and sometimes he goes out and looks for it.
Jason and Kirk celebrate Mike Grier as he becomes the first black GM in the NHL. Kudos to the San Jose Sharks organization for breaking that glass ceiling. Mike has paid his dues ans was one of the hot GMs on the market. Mike's older brother Chris works for the Dolphins as their GM. Discussion on Brittney Griner's letter to the President on Independence Day. The diplomacy end of this situation is very delicate. The analogies and frustrations are accurate.
Stars of the TV Series 'Johnson'
Thomas Q. Jones, Actor; Former NFL RB and Deji LaRay, Actor; Creator, Series Co-Writer & Co-Lead
The show revolves around four lifelong friends living in Atlanta, all sharing the same last name (Johnson). The plot centers on what happens when after 25 years of friendship the foursome finds themselves in vastly different places in their lives and it begins to threaten the unity that has always been so strong between them. The genesis behind the show was that Thomas, Deji, and their friends were not seeing anything on TV that represented them. They were seeing a lot of stereotypical programs and at the same time were being cast in very stereotypical roles, so they created something that was representative of them and their community. Discusses how the duo came together and put the series together. The work ethic and dedication are matched by both men. They have worked on multiple projects over the years since they paired up. It's important to portray black men properly in the series and to control the narrative. Thomas discusses how his football career and his acting career are similar. The guys give us a preview of what to expect as season 2 premieres this week.
Discussion about NFL defensive lineman Carl Nassib's donation to the Trevor Project for Pride Month. Carl continues to be an inspiration for LGBTQI athletes of all ages. We take a listen to a portion of Carl Nassib Human, a piece done by the NFL which includes athletes who were inspired by Carl coming out last year. Discussion on F1's Nelson Piquet's use of a racial slur toward Lewis Hamilton. Piquet has since apologized, but there is a fatigue in play with 'teaching moments'. Discussion on San Francisco Giants' manager Gabe Kapler's protest against gun violence. It's reminiscent of Colin Kaepernick's protest and the guys tip their cap to Kapler.
Discussion about advancing news in the NBA as the Phoenix Suns hire Morgan Cato as Assistant General Manager & VP of Basketball Operations. She is the first woman of color to be hired by an NBA team as an assistant general manager. Update on the Brittney Griner situation and the error that was made as Griner was scheduled to have a phone call with her wife. Discussion on Naomi Osaka teaming up with LeBron James' company, SpringHill to launch her new media company called Hana Kuma. Hana Kuma will produce documentaries as well as scripted and unscripted series.
Tunisha Singleton, Ph.D. - President of the Board, Black Girl Hockey Club
Joins the show to discuss the Club partnering with the Colorado Avalanche in a campaign to disrupt racism, and make hockey more inclusive. Tunisha tells how the BGHC came about and what the club's goals are. The club is very diverse. During the pandemic, the club utilized the ability to meet up virtually to reach more people. The club continues to grow & this season has been able to have its meetups in person again. The club has had meetups all over America & Canada. The Avalanche are one of many teams in the NHL that work with the club in a variety of ways. Hockey is a sport that requires a lot of resources so to offset the costs the club offers scholarships. The club is 100% donor-funded and has given out scholarships to many young girls for up to $5,000. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been given out thus far. The club is very proud of its scholarship, leadership, and development programs to help get girls involved in hockey in any way they'd like. Austin Matthews winning the Hart Trophy (2022 NHL MVP Award) really resonated with the club as he is the first player of Mexican descent to win the award.
The guys start off discussing The Players Tribune article written by former 2007 NFL #1 pick JaMarcus Russell. JaMarcus opened up about his life in the article. The guys discuss the pressures Russell was under at 21 years old. It was too much for him to handle & folks were upset because they felt it was a talent wasted. Discussion on Jack Del Rio's initial comments about the January 6th insurrection and the Washington Commanders' decision to fine him for them.
Adewale (Wale) Ogunleye, Head of Sports & Entertainment at UBS; Former NFL Defensive End
Feels that players like JaMarcus Russell were treated as a transaction. This leads athletes down a path of mistrust, so the industry needs to do a better job of understanding where the individual comes from and give them a sustainable financial future. Young players sometimes do not have anyone to confide in. In some cases, teams are getting rid of veteran leaders who can lead and teach. It would be nice if the successful business leaders that own the teams didn't stay away from the players. The entertainer's side of this business is sometimes worse than what athletes go through. The industry does a poor job of showing how short your career is. Wale promotes the release of 'The White Paper', Family Ties- How Athletes & Entertainers Navigate Financial Expectations of Family & Friends. The paper and Wale's efforts help guide athletes and entertainers around wealth management. While athletes and entertainers have good entertainers for their communities, many find themselves facing financial hardship because so many people depend on them for support. Unchecked generosity can put all parties at risk with many athletes losing their wealth.
Angela Hucles - 2x Olympic Gold Medalist; VP Player Development & Soccer Operations Angel City FC (National Women's Soccer League)
Angela's resume is extremely long and she is very blessed to have a fun career in a sport she has loved as a child. Discussion on how she has seen the development of the sport of soccer. Wasnt many girls playing when she was younger, she had to play with boys. When telling her story, where she has been at every level imaginable in the sport, the pathway is what sticks out most when impacting the next generation. Explains how she turned the sport of soccer into her career and how Title IX was enacted around education policy and change first. Women's sports has always made an impact on social change. We are seeing incredible change now & it began over 50 years ago. Sports has been a vehicle in the shift. Discussion on the women in leadership positions making the changes needed. Having these women in positions has made an incredible difference. Chat on how women athletes are now being used by major corporations for marketing. These corporations are investing in women's sports.
Val Ackerman - Big East Commissioner; Naismith Basektball Hall of Famer; First Ever WNBA President
Title IX has enriched the sports world. More girls and women are playing sports and going to games. We have the rise of professional leagues and now women are getting opportunities to be in decision-making positions. It's exciting to see 50 years being celebrated. It's personal for Val because there were very few opportunities for girls when Val was a youth. Val's first chance to play sports was in high school in the seventies. It was hard to be a part of the building process, but she wouldn't trade it away. It was exciting to lead this back then. There has been a lot of progress. There are signs of growth in recent years in all women's sports. Credits Title IX for NIL.
The guys react to the latest mass shooting in this country, this one at an elementary school in Texas. What has been happening the last few weeks has been unreal. It is refreshing to hear Coach Kerr use his platform to advocate for people of power to do something. Discussion on Dion Dawkins and his Buffalo Bills teammates going into the community to help heal in the wake of the Buffalo shootings from last week. Dion Dawkins' foundation, Dion's Dreamers, had already planned to go into the community before the shooting. His goal is to support underserved communities. Followup from last week Reggie Bullock won the 2022 Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award.
Quick follow-up on the Delaware State Lacrosse team bus incident. Many things have happened since last week's interview. It was great to see the support from contemporaries and HBCUs supporting DSU. The NBA lists the 5 finalists for the Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Champion Award. The winner will be announced this Sunday. The finalists are Reggie Bullock, Jrue Holiday, Jaren Jackson, Jr, Karl Anthony-Towns & Fred VanVleet.Discussion on what each of the five finalists has done to earn this honor. Discussion on the collective bargaining agreement reached by the US Soccer Federation and the Women's & Men's National Team Unions.
Pamella Jenkins - Delaware State University Head Coach Women's Lacrosse; Diversity & Inclusion Designee
Describes the trip home from Florida and the issues her team endured after being stopped in Georgia. The reason it took so long for the story to go national was because of the school investigation and end-of-semester work for the student-athletes. The police came on the bus in an accusatory tone, so she felt obligated to try to stay calm to protect her student-athletes. The whole team was in shock. It was a real quiet ride for a while after the incident. As they got closer to home, the team began to talk a little more. Coach is comfortable that everything is coming out now while the team is surrounded by their families and friends at home. There hasn't been an apology given at all from the Liberty County Sheriffs' department to the Delaware State team. Coach is concerned about future road trips for her team. You don't know how each girl will react when they go on road trips.
Dr. T.M. Robinson-Mosley, Counseling Psychologist & Sport Mental Health Expert
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. Dr. Mosley would like to see mental health awareness recognized every month. Lots of athletes' mental health starts off the field or off the court. What happens there impacts the athletes' play. Folks can help athletes by listening and creating an environment of comfort. Dr. Mosley discusses athletes' recovery from major injuries and the mental health implications it can cause. She explains the goals of her signature wellness and peak performance program, Sports Mental Health & Wellness Playbook, which has been used by the NBA, WNBA, NFL, NCAA, and 40 + more organizations. It is important to take a deeper dive into the mental health discussion regarding high-performing athletes and mental health & therapy. Social media has had both a negative and positive effect on athletes' mental health.
Discussion
Discussion on Chicago Bears scout Chris Prescott losing his job for saying Bears 2nd round pick Jaquan Brisker was a good selection because he loves football and is poor, hungry, and desperate. Those comments make you wonder, how do executives rate athletes who love the game, but have other interests and passions outside of football.
Dr. Myron Rolle - Pediatric Neurosurgeon; Former NFL Defensive Back
Discusses his path to becoming a neurosurgeon. Credits his parents for instilling his work ethic into him that has guided him his entire life. The same way he went at playing football is the same way he went at his classes. Explains why he chose Florida State. He knew when he got there that he wanted to be a neurosurgeon and wanted to start a foundation. Bobby Bowden told him to follow that path. Is grateful to have the career he has had. Both journeys, football, and science have fed and continue to feed each other. Discusses his book The 2% Way. The book talks about his journey, including how to deal with obstacles that were in his path. The Rolle Foundation is something he started in 2009 to address childhood obesity and hypertension.
Chad Brown -Entrepreneur; Former NFL Linebacker
Chad was always an entrepreneur at heart. He didn't grow up wealthy so whatever he wanted, he had to figure out a way to work for it and get it. Always loved animals growing up. He developed a passion for animals, especially reptiles at a young age. He got into breeding and was able to sell 'his babies' while in college to make money. It was legal and it didn't get Colorado in trouble with the NCAA. There is enough reptilian diversity to satisfy anyone interested in raising one. Chad compares his business to playing in the NFL, both in-season and off-season. Owners want to hire people they are comfortable with so they may not be comfortable hiring people of color as head coaches. Race isn't the main problem in NFL hiring, nepotism is.
Jason discusses NASCAR driver Denny Hamlin being required to complete a sensitivity training course following posting an anti-Asian meme on social media. At this stage, Hamlin has to know that as a star in his sport, he needs to be more aware of who is taking in his messaging, and how they are taking it in.
Bob Kendrick - President, Negro Leagues Baseball Museum; Host of Black Diamonds Podcast
Promotes the new season of Black Diamonds. Baseball is a global game today and the Negro Leagues were a part of making baseball a global game. Bob is filled with great joy and takes pride in that. This new season of the show will take a deep dive into integration. There was a process that lead up to Jackie Robinson breaking the color barrier. Once MLB was integrated, midwestern negro teams were able to hold on because Major League Teams were too far away for fans to travel, but the eastern teams died almost immediately. There hasn't been much push back from people who want to 'rewrite' history. The story of the Negro Leagues is a story of the American spirit. The relationship between the museum and Major League Baseball has been tremendous. That partnership will do nothing but continue to grow.
Jon Wertheim - SI Writer
Explains how his article came about on two former NBA players, Sarunas Marciulionis and Alexander Volkov working to get young players out of Kyiv. Jon talks about the teenagers in Europe are huge fans of the NBA and love to talk about the league and basketball. Many of the players have left Ukraine with their families and are finding ways to deal with the conflict by playing basketball. It's the same with teens all over the country who has likes in activities like music. Volkov told Jon that he wishes for the kids to continue to play in FIBA tournaments representing Ukraine. Jon explains the difficulty of many from Ukraine trying to flee to places all over Europe and North America. Some countries like Amsterdam have been more friendly than the UK. Jon also heard from people that have had issues coming into America. There is a lot of aid coming in and it is helping. A lot of folks are just helping and worry about the finances later. Many of these institutions will take many years to rebuild. There is a fear that this culture can be erased.
Discussion on Colin Kaepernick breaking his silence on the 'I Am Athlete Podcast'. It was great to actually hear from Colin. Kap's message has been turned and twisted over the last six years. Colin is fine with not making it back to the league, he just wants a chance. Discussion on The Institute for Diversity and Ethics in Sports, Complete 2021 Racial and Gender Report Card that summarizes and analyzes the individual 2021 report cards of the NBA, WNBA, MLS, NFL, MLB, and college sports. The card shows the NBA and WNBA have been leading the way in diverse, equitable, inclusive hiring. While everyone is doing well, there is room for improvement, especially in college sports.
Bomani Jones - 'Host of Game Theory'
Discusses how Game Theory came together and connected with HBO. Bomani first told the developers that the show as it was laid out then, wasn't meant for him, but he also knew that if the show was going to work in the vision they had, Bomani had to host it and cater the show to his style and vision. Bomani looked for ways to add little elements of 'Morning Jones', his old radio show on Sirius Radio. That show was tons of fun and he was very creative then. HBO pushed Bomani to treat the show and make the show, the show Bomani want. The 'blackness' of the show is organic. The show is for the people who like it.
Discussion on the additional coaches added to the Brian Flores lawsuit. Steve Wilks (former HC Arizona Cardinals) and Ray Horton (an NFL Assistant since 1994). It has also come out in the lawsuit, that the Houston Texans retaliated against Flores by removing him from consideration for their head coach vacancy. Discussion on Jackie Robinson Day this weekend in Major League Baseball. MLB will all wear #42 in the style of the Brooklyn Dodgers. Quick chat about the lack of African American youth playing baseball.
Greg Taylor, Executive Director NBA Foundation
Discussion on the HBCU Classic, held All-Star Weekend in Cleveland. The Foundation is always looking for innovative ways to grow the game of basketball. The Foundation's work is to promote economic and educational opportunities for black youth and they accomplished that in Cleveland. There is a shared commitment and a movement of folks who understand that we need to apply opportunities and resources to people. Discussion turns to the success and progression of the NBA Fellowship. Greg highlights two young men who have stood out so far. The Fellowship has big plans and dreams going forward. The fifth round of grants is providing incredible opportunities. There is more to come. Discussion on several programs and organizations and how well they're working in providing real opportunities.
Discussion
Congratulations to Dawn Staley and the University of South Carolina women's basketball team for winning the NCAA Championship. South Carolina invested in their program and in Dawn and she delivered. Watching her navigate this space as a head coach is truly remarkable.
Chris Lamb - Author, 'Stolen Dreams: The 1955 Cannon Street YMCA All-Stars and Little League Baseball's Civil War'
Explains how it came about to write the book. In July 1955 when the 11 and 12-year-olds on the Cannon Street YMCA All-Star team registered for a baseball tournament in Charleston, South Carolina, it put the team and the forces of integration on a collision course with segregation, bigotry, and the Southern way of life. The Cannon Street team won two tournaments by forfeit. If they won the regional tournament in Rome, Georgia, they would have advanced to the Little League World Series. But Little League officials ruled the team ineligible to play in the tournament because they had advanced by winning on forfeit and not on the field, denying the boys their dream of playing in the Little League World Series. It was a national story for a few weeks then faded away. During a reunion years later, the white players told the black players they wanted to play, but it was their fathers that were against it
Fr3deR1cK Taylor - College Baseball Turned Emmy Award-Winning Filmmaker
An Emmy Award-winning filmmaker, Fr3deR1cK's projects have led him to informal settlement villages in Nairobi, Kenya, Lusaka, Zambia and hospitals for the poor in Lima, Peru. Fr3deR1cK has documented kids in India and at-risk people in South Central Los Angeles. Fr3deR1cK’s adventure into content creation started with a film education at Temple University’s highly regarded documentary filmmaking program, where Fr3deR1cK played baseball for half of his college career. Explains the decision to give up baseball to focus on social justice, advocacy, and equality for all people. It's crazy to see how black athletes have made changes in sports throughout history. His civil rights documentary “Counter Histories: Rock Hill,” which is about the black college student group the Friendship 9, is currently screening at the Cannes Film Market. The film was featured on Magic Johnson's television network “Aspire!” as part of the American Black Film Festival series. “Counter Histories: Rock Hill” continues to win the best documentary and audience awards in film festivals around the world. A cornerstone of his philosophy and the mantra for his company is to develop media concepts with diverse and universal appeal with the highest of production standards. Fr3deR1cK actively encourages and demands diversity in staffing and hiring in order to accomplish this goal. His commitment to training and mentoring young people of color, women, and LGBTQ youth is unwavering.
The guys react to the news that the NFL will expand the Rooney Rule. Going forward all 32 NFL teams will hire a minority offensive assistant coach for the 2022 season, part of a series of policy enhancements announced to address the league's ongoing diversity efforts. The league is trending toward offensive assistants and those are the ones getting the head coaching jobs. Discussion on Deshaun Watson's comments at his introductory press conference as a member of the Cleveland Browns. Discussion on the NFL Inspire Change program being ahead of schedule in their 10-year monetary schedule.
Discussion about the National College Players Association filing a civil rights complaint with the US Department of Education against Division 1 athletics. The suit says D-1 colleges are violating Black students' civil rights by imposing a collusive athlete compensation prohibition. The NCPA is looking for fair athlete pay including scholarships for Ivy League Athletes; safety standards to prevent serious injury, sexual abuse & death among athletes; enforce Title IX and preserve all sports. Discussion on the NFL Inspire Change initiative and the pieces done involving Packers defensive lineman Kenny Clark and Dolphins cornerback Byron Jones. Kenny Clark shares his experience of growing up with an incarcerated parent and how that inspired him to get involved with the U.S. Dream Academy, which supports children with parents in incarceration. U.S. Dream Academy is one of the NFL's Inspire Change education grant partners. Byron Jones talks about why it is so important to have people of color in the rooms where decisions are being made in the media and marketing industries, which is why he supports the work done through the Marcus Graham Project. Discussion and update on WNBA star, Brittney Griner. Brittney has been granted and has had access to, a consular from the US Embassy. She is reportedly in good spirits.
Discussion on Colin Kaepernick's recent workouts. Colin is showing that he can still play and should be one of 64 in the league. Kirk would like to see him play in the USFL just to show everyone he still has it. Most teams are not willing to take on the distraction of the backup QB being more famous than the starter. Discussion on the lawsuit filed by the Southern Heritage Classic against Jackson State and the SWAC for breach of contract. Discussion on the way Mark Davis is running the WNBA's Las Vegas Aces. He has been an advocate for women's sports. He is driven to push the sport forward as well as create revenue streams for his team.
Byron Spruell - NBA President, League Operations
Is very excited about The NBA Future Basketball Operations Stars program. The program is designed to develop future diverse basketball operations leaders who identify as women and/or people of color for front office & team opportunities. The program will provide a unique hands-on learning and professional development immersion experience with training and full-time team exposure. Trainees will also participate in virtual educational sessions & assist league operations in executing select NBA events such as the draft combine & summer league. The Business and Basketball Training program was designed to promote & increase diversity in key business areas. Diversity and Inclusion are essential to the future success of the game. The mission statement is to make the game of basketball and business of the NBA synonymous with the principles of inclusion and continue to challenge themselves to do more to achieve it. The foundation has awarded more than 22 million in grants to 78 nonprofit organizations since December 2020.
The guys discuss Lamar Jackson's comments on The Shop, that blacks are still facing racial bias at the QB position. Its dying off but it is still there. Discussion on the situation involving WNBA star Britney Griner's arrest in Russia. We don't have all of the answers. There is so much at play in this situation. We don't know if she really did what she is accused of or is being used as a political carrot.
Allison Feaster - Boston Celtics VP of Player Development & Organizational Growth
Explains her role with the Celtics. She reports directly to Brad Stevens, spends time with the coaching staff and the community. Allison serves as a co-lead for Boston Celtics United, the team’s social justice initiative to impact social and racial inequities in Black and Brown communities in Greater Boston. Mentoring is crucial. Allison had folks see something in her that she didn't see in herself. That's powerful to hear. She hopes to play that role going forward to the youth. The NBA and subsidiary leagues do a great job of putting folks who have benefitted from programs front and center. This leads to the door opening for the next generation. Takes the position seriously and recognizes how important it is that she is in the space she is in. Representation matters. Boston Celtics United prides itself on being a community organization. Celtics United includes a 25 million dollar commitment in the community. In celebration of Women’s History Month, BCU visited the Museum of African American History with female students to learn about historical women leaders. Feels fortunate to be with a caring organization that tries to figure out how to get better.
The guys discuss the Art Briles situation and how his past led to him removing himself from the assistant head coaching job at Grambling State University. Grambling Head Coach Hue Jackson thought enough time has passed, but the backlash especially from Grambling great and Super Bowl Champion QB Doug Williams, who spoke up immediately, was too great. Discussion on the BIG 10 delegation of student-athletes plan to tour Alabama civil rights sites in July. The BIG 10 plans to make similar trips like this annually focusing on an aspect of social justice. Discussion on the fine levied against the NY Liberty for taking chartered flights last season. Some other punishments, including termination of the franchise, were discussed. The WNBA really wants to equal the playing field. The rules are in the bylaws so the players agreed to it. This creates an opportunity for the league to make a change.
Just when you thought Brian Flores' career in the NFL may be over, Mike Tomlin, the Rooney Family, and the Steelers organization, once again show true leadership when it was necessary. The Rooney's have led in a way no other organization has. Discussion on the NBA Future Basketball Operations Stars program that develops a pipeline of future basketball operations leaders who identify as women and/or people of color for front office opportunities.
*Black History Month Spotlight*** Discussion on the University of Maryland being the first FBS school to have an African American President, Athletic Director, and Head Football coach concurrently.
Luke Fedlam - President Anomaly Sports Group; Non-Agent Sports Attorney
Has seen over the course of his career how athletes have been taken advantage of in terms of money. The minute NIL was passed, he knew the athlete needed an education. NIL is an athlete being able to contract with a third party, company, or brand to lend their name image, and likeness. Essentially an athlete making a deal with a company. This is not pay-for-play. Both student-athletes and schools are learning how to deal with NIL. This is uncharted waters for everyone. This is allowing student-athlete to earn money off of their own name image and likeness. This is an opportunity for student-athletes to learn life lessons early in life. Luke explains how social media plays a big part. Studies show women athletes interact more on social media so their opportunities to earn more money increase significantly. NIL is being used as an asset by schools in recruiting. When advising families, Luke tells them to not let NIL be a major part of the decision process. HBCUs will start having some really interesting capabilities because of NIL that will highlight the benefits of HBCUs & potentially change some athletic programs. Financial literacy is key long before a student-athlete is even going to college. Education is power.
The guys recap Super Bowl 56. It was a star-studded event. Kirk, in attendance covering the game for the Rams, has never seen so many celebrities in one spot. The halftime show will never appeal to everyone. There is clearly a bridge being built by the league. Many things resonated with Kirk during the Super Bowl in terms of awareness, especially the pregame honors of the 'Forgotten Firsts'. Regardless of the reports behind it, it was a lightning rod moment when Eminem paid homage to Colin Kaepernick by taking a knee after his performance. This year's halftime show was for the culture. Jason talks about his part in this weekend's HBCU doubleheader. Jason will call a MEAC game during All-Star Weekend alongside HBCU grad and NBA champion, Rick Mahorn. The NBA HBCU Classic presented by AT&T will pit Howard University and Morgan State University. The NBA HBCU Classic was developed by the NBA as part of its ongoing commitment to the HBCU community – specifically around professional development, career advancement, and increased support and awareness for HBCU athletics and institutions.*Black History Month Spotlight*** - The NY Rens. The guys discuss the very first black-owned and operated professional basketball team, The New York Renaissance, aka The NY Rens. This team was founded in 1923, in Harlem, before the NBA was formed. They barnstormed across America which was common for black leagues/teams of that era. At one time this team won 88 consecutive games. Show wraps as the guy discuss Erin Jackson making gold medal history at the Winter Olympics in China this week. Brittany Bowe stepped up to be an amazing teammate.
Rob Jay, Jackson State University Broadcaster
Rob is taking part this weekend in a special HBCU Doubleheader that can be heard on SiriusXM. Rob is calling the HBCU Legacy Bowl. Rob was surprised he got the call to take part. This is going to be exciting for the players of the HBCUs schools that will play in this All-Star game. The 'Deion Effect' has brought great attention to Jackson State as well as the SWAC. Rob, wants to be able to tell the stories about the people at HBCUs. They are fascinating people both on the field/court and behind the scenes.
Deion Sanders used the pandemic to get closer to his players and see exactly what he had. Some schools didn't do anything during the pandemic. You will see just how great the talent level is at HBCUs during this game. This inaugural game will hopefully branch out into other sports. This has the potential to be very special for HBCU athletics. The NIL deals can help level the playing field for HBCUs. The fans bases are very passionate about HBCU athletics. They will show up in New Orleans Rob remembers a true pioneer, Willie Richardson. He and many others would be so proud to see the progress HBCU athletics are making right now. There are some potential draft picks that will be on the field Saturday. If you can play, the league will find you.
You can hear the following interviews in their entirety on the SXM App.
Interviews courtesy of 'Trailblazers: A Celebration of Black History in the NFL'
Franco Harris - Hall of Fame RB, 1st African-American Player To Win Super Bowl MVP
Franco talks about being the first African-American player to win a Super Bowl MVP.
Marlin Briscoe - First African-American QB in Modern Football, College Football Hall of Famer
Marlin shares the story of how he became the Broncos QB in 1968.
Warren Moon - Hall of Fame QB (in America & Canada)
Warren talks about his obstacles in becoming a QB and his legacy.
Discussion on Hue Jackson's comments on incentives being provided to him by Cleveland for losing when he was head coach. Hue is willing to help Brian Flores in Flores' class-action lawsuit. While we are still waiting for an African American to be named head coach, some African Americans have earned spots in high profile positions. It should also be known that guys know which job is right for them. Eric Bienemy has turned down jobs in the past because he knew it wasn't a good fit.
*Black History Month Spotlight*** - Lucy Diggs Slowe, the first Black woman to win a national title in any major sport. She won the first women's national singles championship of the American Tennis Association in 1917. Slowe's legacy is much bigger than sports.
The guys react to former Dolphins Head Coach Brian Flores' lawsuit against the NFL, Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins & the NY Giants. This conversation is bigger than football & the details within the lawsuit are amazing to read. For Flores to bring this up & risk his career, there is something here. Discussion on the Philadelphia fan who taunted Carmelo Anthony and has been banned indefinitely from the Wells Fargo Center. Fans need to realize, you can cheer or boo, but there is a line you cannot cross. You can't say anything you want because you are courtside. Quick chat on the news that Floyd 'Money' Mayweather is getting into the NASCAR game. TMT, The Money Team Racing, will be in select races this year including the Daytona 500 later this month.
*Black History Month Spotlight*** - Emlen Tunnell. The guys discuss the legacy of Emlen Tunnell, who was the first black player inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and a true football pioneer as well as a heroic military man.
It feels like because of their demographics, the NHL has been under the radar on the fight for equality and social justice compared to the other major sports. The guys love that the NHL is working hard toward, and seem determined to, combat racism in the sport. They discuss the initiatives that the NHLPA and the NHL are adopting. The guys discuss Arkansas Senate candidate and former NFL player Jake Bequette's comments about how corporate America and pro sports leagues are unpatriotic with their stances on social issues.
Fellonte Misher, Co-Founder and Program Director, 'In The Streets'
Fellonte was a star collegiate football player. He had a hard time finding a therapist who understood Black, urban trauma, so he decided to become a therapist. Fellonte has supported young men in his community to consider life outside of gangs. Fellonte wanted to make himself a well-rounded individual and interrupt the community norms that dissuade young black men from believing that college is a possibility. Counseling and therapy were never an option once he lost his father at a young age. Explains how 'In The Streets' was developed alongside co-founder Sangeeta Prasad. Fellonte goes into the streets, into the community to reach those in need. Fellonte is a Big Brother to many within the community and is a role model. Discusses the challenges he faces becoming a therapist. Always preaches to be happy. Whatever you do, make sure it makes you happy on the inside. Don't participate if it doesn't make you happy.
Oscar Robertson, NBA Hall of Famer, Courtesy NBA Radio's MLK Day Special
Oscar is pleased to see the NBA continue to provide a platform to discuss the life of MLK. Oscar was the head of the players association at the time of the assassination. He looks back at the day of the assassination and having to play a game that night. In those days, players didn't have the power they do today. What happened to MLK could've happened to anyone. The history of HBCUs are discussed and what MLK would think today if he saw the platform the NBA provides.
Oscar Robertson's fingerprints are all over pivotal and key moments in time. It should be included in his legacy. Has Deion Sanders opened the door for other NFL greats to look to HBCU to get their coaching start? The guys discuss the story that Jerry Rice has thought about coaching at an HBCU. NBA Social Justice Coalition is out working hard for voting rights. The target now is the lawmakers to get them to pass legislation to protect those rights. The NBA opened 23 arenas to help increase voting participation, so this isn't new for the NBA to be involved in.
Discussion on the NFL firings so far, now that the regular season is over. The firing of Brian Flores was a surprise. He had the Dolphins going in the right direction. It seems the coach, GM & owner had a strained relationship. A coach gets fired when he doesn't produce. Coach Flores produced and had the players play hard for him and he still got fired. Does the NFL value black head coaches, in a predominantly black league? The guys remember the life of Sidney Poitier. Discussion about the honors that will take place for Martin Luther King Day. Allan Houston, Muggsy Bogues, Elvin Hayes will be honored as part of the 20th Annual Martin Luther King Jr. Day Celebration Game between the Grizzlies and the Bills.
Mia St. John, 5-Time World Boxing Champion, Mental Health Advocate and Author
Mia has a book out now entitled, 'Fighting For My Life: A Memoir about a Mother's Loss and Grief'. Motivation for writing the book started long before the deaths of her son, Julian, and husband, actor Kristoff to suicides. She coped with her grief of losing her husband, son and career by returning to drinking after 30 years of sobriety. Eventually, she beat that and focused on her daughter. She used her toughness and attitude from her days in the ring, 'you can't beat me!' to help her get through. The toughest part about the book was doing the audio portion. She has no regrets. She got into boxing after her father enrolled her in Taekwondo. She didn't like it at first, but she was really good at it. She even had dreams of going to the Sydney Olympics. There is a stigma when it comes to mental health. There isn't a lot of compassion. There is a lot of help for less severe cases, but when it comes to the more severe cases, we still have a long way to go. There was very little tolerance when her husband was showing signs of issues. The Mia St. John Foundation, 'El Saber Es Ponder' (Knowledge is Power) works to help empower individuals with mental illness, homelessness addiction, and poverty. She created an innovative, holistic youth development program that addresses the most severe health and social challenges facing Latino youth and their families. No matter what you go through, or tragedy, you can cope. That's what Mia wants folks to get from the book.
Happy New Year and welcome back to another year of Forward Progress. Discussion on the Eagles participating in a campaign to end gun violence in the Philadelphia area. Discussion on the Governors of the Brooklyn Nets and New York Liberty, Joe and Clara Wu Tsai being active in NBA and WNBA players' push for the awareness and advancement of social justice, race, and gender issues. They were recognized for their efforts by Commissioner Adam Silver. The Tsai's helped establish the Asian American Foundation (TAAF) to combat discrimination and prejudice.
Jen Fry - JenFryTalks, LLC, Veteran Volleyball Coach, Speaker Educator & Advocate
Explains her background going from college athlete to coach to advocate. Her decision to focus on Diversity and Inclusion was a leap in faith. When Jen decided to focus on D&I, she was prepared to lose things, because she knew what she was doing was right. Jen lost some people on the journey, but the folks she gained were exponentially better. Talks about her e-course on the use of the N-Word. Every word isn't for everybody. Jen explains how there are a variety of words in many cultures that only that culture can use. Check out JenFryTalks.com.
The guys discuss the story about the Louisiana judge casually dropping a racial slur around family. This judge must be removed from the bench. Discussion about forgiveness. Kyle Larson partnered up with the Martin family out of Philadelphia who runs the Urban Youth Racing School Foundation. Kyle has paid for his actions in the past and it's good he is trying to use his experience to educate others and right his wrong. The Martins are heroes in this story. Kudos to J.R. Smith for crushing it his first semester at North Carolina A&T University, earning a 4.0 GPA. The guys react to the news that the nation's #2 football recruit, Travis Hunter is heading to Jackson State University. This is huge for HBCUs as athletes continue to look to HBCUs to further their education as well as play high-level athletics.
The guys follow up on the NBA Social Coalition Initiative. We had James Cadogan on last summer and he mentioned the many things the Coalition had lined up. The Coalition now has a Change the Law, Change the World social media presence. Marcus Freeman taking over at Notre Dame is an amazing thing. Notre Dame did something good for the players. Marcus Freeman was given the job for no other reason other than he deserves and earned it. Congratulations to Deion Sanders and the Jackson State Tigers for winning the SWAC Championship. The guys discuss the chances of Prime leaving for a bigger program.
Dan Grunfeld, Former NBA Player; Author, 'By The Grace of the Game'
This book is a detailed story about the Grunfeld family, what they went through and the role basketball played. This story has always been within Dan. His grandmother who is still alive lost many family and friends during the Holocaust. His grandfather lost everyone. When Dan was young, he knew something happened within his family but didn't exactly know what. His grandmother told the stories as he got older and matured. His grandparents were Holocaust survivors who came to America and were always working. They encouraged Dan's father, Ernie to play basketball. Many people have shared stories with Dan about his family over the years. His grandparents closed their store for two weeks to see Ernie win gold in the 1976 Montreal Olympics. After surviving the holocaust, the family then had to survive Communist rule before coming to America.
The guys react to the Kyle Rittenhouse and Ahmaud Arbery verdicts. Discussion on Enes Kanter changing his name to Enes Kanter Freedom upon receiving his American citizenship. The guys remember the life of golf trailblazer, Lee Elder, who passed away recently at the age of 87.
John Feinstein, Author - Raise A Fist, Take A Knee: Race & The Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports
John wrote the book in hopes of gaining a better understanding of the racial polarization going on in our country via the lens of sports. The national anthem protests in the NFL are what crystallized for him how truly divided our country is when it comes to race in sports. Week after week, John watched Black players kneeling for the anthem and being booed loudly and angrily by mostly white audiences. Almost none of the players kneeling were white, and almost none of the fans booing were Black. There was so much anger. Every time John defended the Black protesters, whether in print, on radio, on TV, or on Twitter, he received angry responses. John has spoken to many Black players and coaches over the past 18 months for this urgent and revelatory examination of inequality in professional athletics.
The guys react to Jon Gruden suing the NFL for the leaked emails that led to his resignation from the Raiders. Kirk is concerned about the players on the Raiders because of all that has happened with the franchise this season. Discussion on the NFL Inspire Change Initiative featuring New Orleans Saints defensive lineman Cam Jordan and his work in New Orleans and with the New Orleans Police Department. It's awesome to watch young athletes buy into their cities and give back. Discussion on Wale performing at halftime of the Seahawks - Washington Football Team's game Nov 29th as the highlight of Washington's spotlight on the NFL's Inspire Change Initiative. The guys give thanks for the past year of doing Forward Progress.
Happy Thanksgiving from Froward Progress.
The guys react to the actual article written by Baxter Holmes, alleging Robert Sarver of misogyny, sexual harassment, and racism. The allegations in the article are alarming. Discussion about LeBron James and Nike's collaboration with Florida A+M University. HBCUs are being treated like the Power 5 conferences with deals like this.
Dr. Kim Johnson, MD - Sr. Director of The African American Health Equity @ Susan G. Komen Oversees The Stand For H.E.R. Initiative
Dr. Johnson explains what the initiative is and what led Susan G. Komen to launch it. Stand for H.E.R. is a health equity revolution to improve breast cancer outcomes in the Black community. She talks about the accomplishments of the initiative thus far. The initiative came about by a report that details systematic racism and barriers to care in the 10 metro areas in the United States. Black women feel ignored or met with disapproval by health care providers and others in the health care system. Stand for H.E.R (Health Equity Revolution) is made possible thanks to the funding of Robert Smith and the Fund II Foundation. The partnerships with MLB, NFL, NBA, and WNBA among others are absolutely essential. Their resources and influence are vital.
Discussion about the NAACP asking pro athletes to not sign with Texas teams because of the recent laws passed in the state. The guys know what the NAACP is trying to do, but they are unsure if this will gain any traction. Discussion about Kirk Cousins' donation of 500k to the Minnesota Vikings Team Social Justice Committee. This committee was formed in 2018, before the unrest in Minnesota. The Vikings' managing partners have put 5 million into the committee and have an annual contribution of 500k. Kirk's donation doubles that annual contribution.
Darryl Woods, Executive Director of Coaches vs Racism
Explains the development of this year's inaugural event, the HBCU Round Ball Experience. The experience brings Big 10 and HBCU Basketball teams together for head to head high profile competitions and anti-racism conversations. The first game pits Prairie View A&M University and the University of Michigan on Nov. 13th. The game is being held in Washington D.C. because more folks will see it and policymakers will see it. Darryl has been contacted by lawmakers in Washington about the event. Coaches vs Racism is a national non-profit leading the charge to end systematic racism in sports. The focus is to shine the spotlight on systematic racism as a root cause of the inherent disparities that exist in sports. CVR is getting support from a variety of coaches. Darryl envisions many major universities participating in the future. It would be a great event if folks learn something from the experience.
Discussion on Suns/Mercury Owner Robert Sarver allegations of sexual harassment, sexism, and racism. Discussion on the investigation by the NFL on the Washington Football Team and the comments from Commissioner Roger Goodell that the findings will not be made public. Discussion on the NBA extending support of all 107 HBCUs to advance educational, career, and economic opportunities. NBA continues to show they are committed to supporting the growth of the next generation of leaders from the black community. Best of luck to Dusty Baker in the World Series!
The guys remember the life and career of Colin Powell. Discussion on the New York Football Classic which will be an annual game beginning next fall involving HBCUs. The first game will be Howard University vs Morehouse College at Met Life Stadium. This is huge for HBCU sports. More eyes will be drawn to the game and its taking place in the largest media market. Chat on Jameis Winston's foundation, Dream Forever, forming a multi-year partnership with The HBCU Legacy Bowl.
Oris Stuart, NBA Chief People and Inclusion Officer
Breaks down what his role is at the league office. Diversity Equity and Inclusion have become central to how we all run our business. These are active topics that involve all of us daily. Discusses the initiative the league has made partnering with LegalZoom to provide capital and legal support to small businesses. Small businesses, especially those run by people of color and women, are undersupported. This partnership will make a difference. Is really excited and encouraged by the number of folks of color to have the opportunity to coach in the NBA this season. There is a robust pipeline of assistant coaches in the league. The process of inclusion should be sustainable. Diversity is essential to the growth of the game.
The guys share their initial reaction to the Jon Gruden situation. Kirk reflects on his time with the Raider family and his feelings on what Gruden has done. Jax shares a story about losing a job because of emails. Discussion on the fallout of Gruden's emails and what's next for the NFL, ESPN, the Raiders, and the Washington Football Team.
Tashan Reed - Raiders Writer, The Athletic
Covering what's happening with the Raiders right now has been hectic. Tashan is just trying to cover the story in the most comprehensive way. The big question is why didn't the Raiders act more quickly. They had all of the emails before Sunday's game and still waited until Monday before announcing Gruden's resignation. It's a bad look waiting because it looks as if they reacted to the backlash vs doing what was right. Mark Davis dropped the ball on this one. There hasn't been much reaction from the players on the record about what happened. For years the Raiders have been champions for diversity. This is a culture. Pretty sure there are more folks within the NFL that agree with what was in those emails. More instances like this need to happen in order for things to change. Raider fans will still be there to support the Raiders.
Chat on former NFL running back Marshawn Lynch's new position as NFLPA brand ambassador. Discussion on some racists antics in a neighborhood in Virginia Beach. This proves that all we are doing to try to create change needs to continue because of people like the Virginia Beach incident. Congrats to Bubba Wallace, driver, and Michael Jordan, co-owner for their historic win this past weekend at Talladega Speedway.
William C. Rhoden, Award-Winning Sports Columnist; The Undefeated
Discusses the feature he did for ESPN on HBCU football. Loves that Jason's son attends FAMU. William is impressed that today's young people can go anywhere and they are choosing to go to HBCUs. It's refreshing. William just took a 2.500-mile road trip in an RV to write stories tracking the legacy of HBCU football. The irony is Deion Sanders and Eddie George are currently trying to convince kids to do something they never did, which was to play at an HBCU school. When you are finished at an HBCU, your perspective on things change. A kid can feel empowered. The trend now seems to be some MEAC and SWAC teams are moving toward big-name conferences in D-1. SWAC is still a pretty solid conference. There is no problem at HBCUs that money can't fix. That's an issue for many schools. If he only has one ticket to see a game it would be the Bayou Classic in New Orleans.
Discussion about the NBA's vaccination policy & the impact it will have moving forward. Hispanic Heritage Month & Roberto Clemente Day; Jason & Kirk discuss the massive impact that Roberto Clemente had on everything from sports to Hispanic heritage
Ray Bellamy, Former Miami Hurricanes WR & an inaugural recipient of the ACC's UNITE Award,
The award was created to honor individuals affiliated with the league who have made an impact in the areas of racial & social justice. Ray is really honored and humbled to know that people thought of him for ACC's Inaugural UNITE Award. It really was some kind of journey at Miami, being their 1st African American football scholarship athlete. It was challenging. There were a lot of things that have never been said publicly that people don't know about. Some things he will never tell anyone. It was a tough journey. Every day there were obstacles to overcome. Some people on the team were more welcoming than others. He has fond memories of the teammates that made his experience worth the ride. Some teammates didn't appreciate the fact that he would be a Freshman scoring 6 TDs in practice against the starting defense. Freshman were looked upon as having to put in their time before they were ready to achieve successes on the field. Actually, becoming Miami's 1st African American Student Body President was not his idea. His peers motivated him to do it because it wasn't just the best thing for Ray, it was the best thing for the University & all parties involved.
Kirk was in Memphis to call a game this past weekend and he shares his thoughts on visiting the Lorraine Motel for the first time. Visiting that historic site was overwhelming. Jason shares his visit to the motel as well. Discussion on the NFL taunting rules and reaction to an article suggesting that the rule is a way to control black athletes.
Keyshawn Johnson, Former WR & Bob Glauber, NFL Writer - Authors of 'THE FORGOTTEN FIRST: Kenny Washington, Woody Strode, Marion Motley, Bill Willis, and the Breaking of the NFL Color Barrier'
This book tells the story of each of the four pioneers of the NFL and all they had to deal with beginning in 1946. Bob had the idea and approached Keyshawn during the unrests last year to write the story of the men who were the first African-American NFL players. This is a part of history that isn't taught in the schools. Folks sometimes take for granted that the NFL is a highly integrated sport. Bob wanted to explore when the league first became integrated. Many people do not know Kenny Washington is the first black NFL player. The NFL played many games in the south just to keep black players from playing. Keyshawn draws the parallels to what happened then to what's happening now. Wonders how quickly the NFL would have been integrated had the NFL been as popular or more popular than baseball at the time. The NFL had to be forced to integrate, unlike the Dodgers who did it willingly with Jackie Robinson. The guys are pushing, along with help from the NFL, to get the message out there of these four men. Hopefully this book educates and show how far black players have come in the NFL.
Jason discusses his weekend at the Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield, MA. Jax shares his thoughts and thankfulness for Bill Russell. Jax has had to deal with a lot in Boston...he could only imagine what Russell went through as a player. We revisit our earlier conversation with NFL Referee Maia Chaka who made her debut this past weekend. It was great to see Maia on the sidelines last Sunday.
Marcus A. Clarke (Director and Exec Producer)& Maryum Ali (Muhammad's Daughter)- Blood Brothers, Malcolm X & Muhammad Ali
Netflix documentary takes a look at the relationship of Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali. The project appealed to Maryum because she was told and promised this project will be done properly and accurately. This documentary will give you a whole new perspective on Malcolm and Muhammad. Malcolm was really a mentor to Cassius Clay between '62-'65. This window in history is important to document. Exploring this relationship will be impactful for the viewers. The way this documentary is put together, the younger generation will learn the characteristics of Malcolm and Muhammad. Marcus talks about the challenges of trying to stay focus on the relationship of these two men and not stray too off path. So much ended up on the cutting room floor.
This weekend is this the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and the guys remember and reflect on that day. Discussion on tennis star Sloane Stephens dealing with harassment on social media after losing in the US Open. Sloane is choosing to focus on positive vibes and not negative ones. This type of hate is exhausting. Its the beginning of the NFL season and the guys discuss this year's NFL Social Justice Initiatives. The NFL must still be cognizant of the fact that we are still in a pandemic.
Discussion on NBA player Jaxson Hayes' situation that led to him being tased and having an officer putting his knee on his neck. Young players, especially of color, need to be more aware of the situations they are in and how to get themselves out of situations that they shouldn't really be involved in. Discussion on the NBA Rookies' social justice panel the NBA and NBPA added to the Rookie Transition Program. Players are learning that they have a platform, whether they want it or not and for the NBA and NBPA to give them the resources needed, is a beautiful thing.
Natara Holloway - NFL VP of Football Strategy & Business Development
Discusses the 2nd Annual NFL + HBCU Open House which began this week. The event is designed to bring together stakeholders across HBCUs and football landscapes to discuss the portfolio of existing NFL initiatives. Participants will hear from speakers in NFL leadership and personnel from all football departments. Campus Connection is part of the ongoing and continuous commitment to celebrating the impact HBCUs have had on the game of pro football. Campus Connection also drives awareness around career opportunities and providing access to the business of the sport. The NFL Experienceship program was designed to connect, develop and assist diverse collegiate candidates at HBCU in establishing a career in football operations and learn the intricacies of the business through practical learning and shadowing. The HBCU Careers in Football Forum brings together students from HBCUs with the objective of inspiring, developing and connecting students with industry and league partners. HBCU is inclusive. Doesn't matter if you attended an HBCU to make an impact. Folks of many diverse backgrounds want to be involved
Discussion on the NFL informing their clubs that player access in the locker room will be limited this season due to COVID concerns. Chat turns to media availability and access in sports. Discussion on Sha'Carri Richardson being humbled in her last race. Sha'Carri has a bullseye on her back from haters AND her fans. Since she is only 21, she has the potential to be a star for several years.
James Cadogan - Executive Director of National Basketball Social Justice Coalition
This past year has presented the opportunity for individuals, communities, corporations and sports leagues to engage and help make this world a better place. To have the NBA from Adam Silver, the NBPA and the Governors come together as a community is exciting. James talks about his work in relation to dealing with the government, given his experience in working in levels of government in the past. This upcoming season, the first full season in 2 years, will set the tone for what happens going forward in the fight for social justice. James explains the goals of the Coalition. Racism and fighting racism didn't start in 2020. Be a student of history. The work today is a continuation of the work that has begun many years ago. The leadership in the Coalition is a powerful group of people in the NBA. This group is diverse and bring different thoughts and opinions to the table. Justice polices has gone backwards in the last four years. Now we have an opportunity with this current administration. There is bi-partisan support for criminal justice reform.
Jason and Kirk discuss the Trevor Bauer's restraining order hearing, and react to MLB broadcaster Jack Morris' apology for his comments about Shohei Ohtani. We also receive a visit from National Race & Ethnicity Writer for the Associated Press Aaron Morrison, who also happens to be Kirk's brother!
Jason and Amin discuss the incident in Colorado where allegedly a racial slur was used toward Marlins player Lewis Brinson.
Misty Buck - Athlete Mental Health Coach & Author 'Athlete Mental Health Playbook'
Sports and Mental Health has always co-existed. Its great that we are having these much needed conversations. We need to - and should - respect the athlete. They are humans, not robots. Everyone on this planet want to feel love, at peace, happy, healthy and safe. Kids need to acknowledge where they are in their feelings. Kids should be offered resources. Take a moment to let them say what's going on. Young children should be able to express themselves when they are feeling pressured.
Nick Sellers and Pam Cook CMO - The World Games 2022
The World Games is an extraordinary international sports event held every four years in the year following each Summer Olympics. The games are celebrating their 40th year in 2022. The games will take place in Birmingham Alabama, the second time the games have been held on US soil. They are preparing for the games with the pandemic in mind. They believe they will be able to have a full event next year. The folks in Birmingham are excited to have the games. The southeast are capable of hosting these games. Birmingham won the rights to the games over cities in Peru and Russia. There are traditional sports at the games as well as other games that aren't familiar to Americans. There are many wonderful initiatives and partnerships that will benefit the children in the Birmingham community. Tickets are going fast for the event.
Xavier runs down his resume and current work with the St. Louis Cardinals as their Diversity and Inclusion consultant. There were so many issues last year, Xavier found himself looking to educate himself more. Now he is using his platform to educate & help give the same platform to others. Discussion turns to the issues in baseball especially at the lower levels in the minor leagues. Major League Baseball has a lot of work that needs to be done when it comes to diversity and inclusion, especially compared to the NFL & NBA, but work is being done. Discussion turns to a conservative political commentator's tweet against Megan Rapinoe following the Women's National soccer team lost to Canada. When you belittle someone who is representing this country at a high level, you are the one that looks bad.
Greg Taylor, NBA Foundation Executive Director
-NBA Board of Governors announced that it will contribute 300 million over ten years in initial funding to establish the foundation. The focus of The Foundation is to help reduce the persistent racial wealth gap by increasing access and support for HS, college-aged and career-ready Black youth. The one-year anniversary of the foundation is this Friday. Greg explains what this money goes toward, what is accomplished and how the money is prioritized. The focus of The Foundation is focused on the NBA markets and Canada. There are too many organizations to name that are supportive of The Foundation.
The guys chat on the lack of compassion shown toward Simone Biles, Naomi Osaka and anyone who has mental health issues. Discussion on the women's soccer teams kneeling before their games at the Olympics in support of social justice. The International Olympic Committee doesn't like protests at the games, but this doesn't seem like protests, its seems more like awareness.
Odessa Jenkins - CEO, Co-Founder & Head Coach, Women's National Football Conference joins the show.
Explains her journey creating the WNFC. Odessa has played football since she was a little girl. Saw that women had the opportunity to do anything in any sport except football. The league is made up of women from all over the country that plays in all sports. Just letting women know its available is enough to get them to come out and play. Her team is undefeated and will be playing in the championship game against San Diego on August 7th in north Texas. It will be a tough game. She explains the coaches that have influenced her. University of North Texas has opened their arms to the league and is hosting many events leading up to the game. There has been a 300% growth in the game since its inception. Sponsorships and partnerships have been huge for the league as well. There was no way for the league to function last year with COVID.
The guys show concern for all of the athletes that will participate in the Olympics beginning this weekend in Tokyo. They expect COVID numbers to rise. They do not have a problem with Jackson State University Football Coach, Deion Sanders wishing to be addressed as Coach Sanders.
Jah Rawlings - Commissioner, Founder & CEO AEBL joins the show. The Atlanta Entertainment Basketball League is a premiere summer pro-am league. For nine years the league has been building and getting bigger. Jah discusses the origins of the league. The native New Yorker wanted to bring the Rucker League down to Atlanta. Jah has been able to get many NBA stars and celebrities to come down to Atlanta. The league is the community. It is the fabric of the Atlanta community. The goal is to redirect kids life and give them and their families the resources needed through basketball.
Reaction to Stephen A. Smith's comments on Nigeria, Shohei Ohtani and the fall out from it. We also hear Smith's apology. Quick discussion on the Rachel Nichols, Maria Taylor controversy and where the blame really lies. The show wraps with a discussion on the Cuba protests.
Delise O'Meally, MBA JD, CEO Institute for Sport and Social Justice
Delise has been involved with international sports for many years and loves the interaction with the folks she has met. There is a lot of respect around the world for the US. The institute has been around for 35 years. Last year was a struggle with all that was happening. The institute is made up of educators who engage and facilitate conversation. Helping people understand that social justice is an issue has been tough. NIL is a good thing, but the issue is and has always been competitive diversity.
Reggie Theus, Former NBA Guard; New Basketball HC & AD at Bethune-Cookman University
Reggie loves the game and wanted to get back into coaching. The process moved rather quickly. During the interview process Reggie went in looking for a head coaching job, and came out with the athletic director job too. Its no longer true that you have to go to a certain school for a chance at the NBA. Leading and getting people to be their best is what Reggie has done his whole life.
Derek Chauvin is reportedly looking for a plea deal and the guys are interested in hearing what he has to say, since he didn't take the stand. The guys react to Gwen Berry's protest at the Olympic trials earlier this week. Dr. Evelyn Carter, joins the guys and discusses the following:
- There are opportunities now that Junteenth is a federal holiday.
- Black history is linked to a broader US history and the two need to be linked into mainstream conversations.
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Diversity and inclusion training is not a one day seminar at work. There is a lot that goes into it and it takes a consistent effort.
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Paradigm partners with organizations who want to do Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) strategies better.
- Explains the work Paradigm has done recently with the NFL.
The guys discuss Raiders defensive lineman, Carl Nassib announcing that he is gay.
Chat on Becky Hammon being a finalist for an NBA head coaching job.
Discussion about St. Cardinals pitcher Jack Flaherty, his story and his outspokenness on social justice.
Jason and Kirk talk about the importance of Juneteenth and how it is celebrated across the country. Then, author Andrew Maraniss pops by to talk about his new book "Singled Out: The True Story of Glenn Burke". Finally, former NFL Tight End Ben Watson joins the guys to talk about his new book "Under Our Skin: Getting Real about Race--And Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations That Divide Us"
Northwestern has hired Dr. Derrick Gragg as their new Athletic Director. Dr Gragg comes to Northwestern with an impeccable resume and should do a fine job at Northwestern. NFL Writer Jim Trotter joins the show to tell his story about an incident at a golf range and the response he has received since tweeting out the story. Rasheda Ali talks about the latest documentary on her father and explains what makes this documentary different from all the other done about Muhammad Ali.
Current broadcaster Bob Brenly thought he was being funny with his comment toward Marcus Stroman, but it wasn't funny. It was ill-advised and shows a racial disconnect. He has since apologized. Dr. Dawn K. Brown, M.D. a Double-Board Certified Sports Psychiatrist joins the show to talk about the Naomi Osaka situation and how all athletes need to take care of their mental health. Finally the guys react to the story tweeted by NFL Writer Jim Trotter, who shares what he experienced at a golf course recently and what he learned from the encounter.
Discussion on where we are a year after the death of George Floyd. Maurice Allen, pro golfer and long drive champion who is giving back to the Black community by creating opportunities for Black golfers in professional golf while expanding diversity in the game he loves. Allen is a Boys & Girls Club of America Ambassador and runs his own MA 360 Foundation, through the foundation Allen just launched the “Grow the Game” initiative to raise money and sponsor 6 Black golfers who want to pursue their dream of playing in the PGA of LPGA. Natasha Scruggs, who is an attorney and a social justice advisor for athletes who want to use their influence and voice to create change. Through her program, QonnectUs she assists athletes who want to work in their communities by providing them with education about the root of racial inequality, police brutality, and mass incarceration. She also provides personalized reports on communities in athletes hometowns and current towns.
Discussion on the new Kareem Abdul-Jabbar Social Justice Award that will be handed out annually by the NBA to a current NBA player for pursuing social justice and upholding the league's values of equality respect and inclusion. Discussion on the controversy surrounding the Northwestern Athletic Director's position and finally, a discussion on LSU's new President, William F. Tate, who is the first black person to lead any SEC school and the storm he has to deal with at LSU.
Jason and Kirk discuss the Olympics banning Black Lives Matter apparel as well as threatening punishment to athletes who use the games to protest; Tim Tebow getting another shot in the NFL, why not Colin Kaepernick; and a visit from the 1st African-American female referee in the National Football League, Maia Chaka.
Award-winning NBA broadcaster Jason Jackson and former NFL linebacker turned broadcaster Kirk Morrison preview their series focusing on the intersection of sports and race in our society.
The guys discuss the lack of diversity in the war rooms during the NFL Draft. Chat on if ex-players are interested in and have a path to become team evaluators, scouts etc. Chat on the head football coaches at HBCU's being down on the fact that zero players from HBCUs were drafted this season. COVID really hurt HBCU football. NFL GMs and evaluators couldn't travel and see teams play - if they played - like years past. Evaluators weren't going to judge a player based off what they saw in the 2019 season.
Chris Walker, Former College Basketball Head Coach; Current CBS CBB Analyst & Author
Chris is promoting his book 'The Elephant In Our Room An In Depth Conversation About Race, Poverty, Education And Sports Within The African American Community'. Chris's years as a coach and recruiting showed him things he didn't like and he felt he needed to do something. Yes there are things that are happening systematically, but there are things we need to talk about and do for ourselves in the community. Lets talk about how we see ourselves within the community. We need to educate on kids on what they can be outside of just making it to professional sports. Yes its uncomfortable to have these discussions with other cultures, but its also uncomfortable to have these conversations within our own culture. The conversation must be had though. We need to eradicate poverty. Poverty is what stops kids from learning and getting opportunities.
Discussion on Rick Santorum's comments & the reaction from the Native American community. The Congress of American Indians really laid into Santorum. Discussion on the silence coming from CNN on Santorum's comments.
Lee Butler, Assistant Commissioner Basketball, ACC
Lee discusses UNITY Week in the ACC. This is the third year the conference have done this. The origins began with the student-athletes and led the movement in advocating for social and racial justices. The ACC has great resources on its campuses to help student athletes navigate the challenges of activism . Activism through sports was the topic for UNITY Week. There were several key messages learned at UNITY Week. There are so many ways to advocate change. Student athletes have a choice for what works best for them. This year, UNITY Week was challenging because everything was virtual. Also, many folks disagree with athletes advocating change. Lee talks about the things the conference does including diversity training for all student athletes. Information and ideas are shared from every ACC school.
Kortne Gosha, Vice President & Athletic Director, Florida A&M University
Talks about what he has done since arriving at FAMU in 2019. It used to be a stigma attached if a student went to an HBCU, but that has since changed. FAMU is the #1 public HBCU in the country. Its just as difficult to get into FAMU as it is Harvard. Doing things like connecting with LeBron's school elevates the branding of FAMU and HBCU. Talks about the move from the MEAC to SWAC. It puts FAMU up with some of the larger HBCUs. Diversity and inclusion is lived everyday at FAMU. Student-athletes have been able to lead the way in those conversations. All of the student-athletes at FAMU were registered to vote and engineered voting initiatives around Tallahassee. Leadership doesn't have an age, skin color or sex.
The guys react to the guilty verdict on all three counts in the Derek Chauvin Trial for killing George Floyd. Emotions were all over the place upon hearing the verdict. Folks should take time to digest all that happened in this trial. There is still work that need to be done going forward.
Frank White, Former MLB Player; Current County Executive, Jackson County Missouri
There was an open seat on the Jackson County Legislature and Frank decided to run because he wanted to give back to the community. Frank wanted to know why things weren't getting done in the community so he thought if he ran, he could change things. By growing up in K.C. and playing in the city his entire career, Frank felt he had built up good will with folks in the area. Its funny how you can put yourself in a position to never receive bad comments, never do anything to hurt your character, or have anything negative directed toward you, then you enter politics, all of a sudden you're corrupt. When he took the job it felt like he was forced to fix everything in one year when it took over 30 to develop. Frank has been catching up on things that should have been done already. The most difficult part of the job is trying to get legislation passed. Like baseball, Frank is surrounded by good people that has helped him get a lot done. When he sees the statue of himself (outside Kauffman Stadium) he feels very proud and wants it to be a symbol of what can be accomplished if you follow your dreams and work hard. Feels he has achieved way more than he has ever dreamed of
Dr. Adolph Brown, Clinical Psychologist, Author & Social Justice Advocate
Explains the emotions that folks are feeling right now after the guilty verdict came down Tuesday. The reactions to the verdict from people of various races were people embracing humanity. Gives us a background of his history to make us understand why he doesn't put a whole lot of faith in trials. He still worries about his children. More people are becoming aware, but awareness without action means nothing. What's concerning is that there are people that are angry about the verdict. He applauds the jury for the verdict, but celebration isn't the right word. We still have a long way to go. Neuroscience need to be a part of everything we do.
The guys react to another shooting of an unarmed black man in Minnesota. The feeling is numbing. Kim Potter has been charged with manslaughter, but something need to change for this to stop.. Guys chat on what can be done to stop having this situation happen again. Chat on Lt. Caron Nazario being pulled over in uniform by a police officer in Virginia.
Bob Kendrick, President Negro League Museum, Host of 'Black Diamonds'
Explains the process that led to the new podcast, 'Black Diamonds'. Bob is excited to tell the stories of the Negro Leagues and its history on the podcasts. The biggest challenge is time. We are losing folks that lived those days & can tell the stories first hand whether its family or players themselves. Bob doesn't ever want the stories to die. Hopefully this project will help in keeping them alive. The mission of the museum isn't to just preserve the history of the league, but to get urban kids play the game. The Royals are probably the last team to play the Negro League style of baseball, which is stealing bases and putting the ball in play. We love traditions in baseball, but its also baseballs traditions that has hurt the league, especially compared to the other sports. MLB can put emphasize on its stars like the Negro Leagues did and other sports are doing. Still waiting on the time frame to get the Negro League stats integrated into MLB history. The exciting part isn't the numbers, but its the acknowledgment from MLB.
Lea B. Olsen, Broadcaster, Minnesota Lynx, Timberwolves & Twins
People feel weighted down in Minnesota. First George Floyd, the lockdown and now this. Feels like nothing was learned from the George Floyd situation. Thought things would change because corporate America and others leading change, yet we are right back where we started from. Is learning that people really do not understand the problem with black men and police. There has been push back on sports reacting to what happening in Minnesota. Steps taken by officials have been ok, so far. People wanted quick action. Loves the professional sports teams speaking up. Lea's major concern is the health of the youth as what's happening in the country is a lot for kids. Players for Wolves & the Lynx are really down about everything and wondering what's next. There is concern about the reaction to the verdict in the Derek Chauvin trail while dealing with Daunte Wright. We need to look at the laws and policing to determine what needs to change.
The voting law changes sweeping the country is revenge for not winning the elections this past November. Discussion on Hubert Davis taking over as the first African-American head coach of the North Carolina men's basketball program.
Doug Glanville, Former MLB Player
It was very important for the commissioner to take ownership in moving the All-Star Game to Denver. Hopefully this is the start of MLB taking charge and taking a position. If you establish from the beginning your principles, you wont have hesitation when a decision is needed. The Braves' statement didn't come off as intended. This is a national question/issue that cost the local community. Hopes a real conversation on voter suppression happens between now and the ASG. That conversation is important. References Heather McGhee's book 'The Sum of Us: What Racism Costs Everyone and How We Can Prosper'. The book goes into detail into how racism effects all people. Both parties need to agree that everyone has to be at the table when it comes to solving issues. We are a complex and diverse society and need to be have constructive engagement.
Chat on the MLBPA considering boycotting or asking that the All Star Game be moved from Atlanta because of the voting bill passed by the state of Georgia. The guys feel that the MLBPA should lead the way on this and not let MLB take charge. Its going to be interesting to see what MLB does going forward not just with the All Star Game in Atlanta, but other issues such as violence against Asian-Americans as well.
Derrick Avery - Football Coach Booker T Washington HS, Atlanta, GA
Coach Avery was named by the Atlanta Falcons as their 2020 H.S. Coach of The Year. It was a surprise to him that the Falcons gave him the honor. It was a great to share the moment with his family, friends and the students. The Atlanta native does his work for the love of the game and the kids. Coach felt obligated to give back to his community. Coach explains his challenges and rewards for coaching during the pandemic. Coach teaches and helps his athletes to make a difference in the community. Works to continuing the conversation on voter education and making the initiative a top priority across all sports at Booker T. Washington. As the 2020 HS Coach of The Year, Coach Avery is a nominee representing the Falcons for the Don Shula NFL High School Coach of The Year award.
Swin Cash - 3x WNBA Champion, Current Pelicans VP of Basketball Operations
Gonna be hard but Fri. night Swin will watch UCONN while she is attending the Pelicans game.Takes her spot as a role model and using her platform very seriously. Being a member of the players union showed her that she was built to be a leader. Loves every aspect of her current job. She enjoys helping young men grow and she learns from them as well. Zion Williamson is a young man that is loving the game and playing at a high level. We have to let our youth lead us in a way that's best for them. Haven't had her Hall of Fame induction ceremony yet. It is scheduled to happen this year. Right now is a movement to hold everyone accountable to make sure men and women athletes are looked at equally. WNBA league sponsors hiring actors to play women basketball players in commercials and ads makes zero sense to Swin.
The guys celebrate the life of Basketball Hall of Famer Elgin Baylor who passed away at 86. Discussion on how Elgin handled Donald Sterling during his time as Clippers GM. Elgin was ahead of his time as a player. He was one of the first black executives and one of the first to speak out against Donald Sterling, before Sterling's racist video came out. Chat on Larry Brown talking about recruiting Charlie Scott, the first black player in the ACC for Dean Smith and the North Carolina Tar Heels. Also a chat on what Dean did to fight for racial equality. The guys discuss how its disgusting that the NCAA didn't take care of the women athletes during the tournament as they have the men.
Mike Hill - Co-Host, Start Your Day w Sharon and Mike on BNC
Considers himself a broadcaster, because he is just into so many things.Talks about his military background and how it lead to his career in media. When people tell him to stick to sports, he hits back with 'I'm more than just sports'. Promotes his morning show 'Start Your Day w Sharon and Mike' on the Black News Channel. BNC started last year and was rebooted earlier this year. Working with Sharon Reed is working out very well and the channel is for all people to watch. BNC gives voices to people you otherwise wouldn't hear from as well as give those you want to hear from more time to be heard. The NCAA looks really bad how they treated the NCAA women athletes during the tournament. The women know that many folks have their back and wouldn't stand for the disparities. We saw the same thing with the WNBA & NBA bubbles. The women have been totally been disrespected. Loves that all the athletes have a platform. All athletes are Colin Kaepernick now. Remembers Elgin Baylor as one of the leagues first superstar. Mike would like to see more black executives. While Mike was working for the Clippers, Elgin always had a smile on his face. Talks about how he decompresses after a work day. Covering college basketball this past year has been great, especially with what they had to deal with this year.
Discussion about LeBron James taking part in an ownership group that has purchased entities including the Boston Red Sox. LeBron has put his family in a position that his grandchildren are set for life. Maverick Carter's business mind needs to be commended as well. Sure its great to be friends with a great athlete, but that isn't what's going to get it done in the business world. Carter is getting it done in the business world. Discussion on the rash of violence geared toward Asian Americans. Dodgers manager Dave Roberts earlier this month has been one of many speaking out against the violence.
Sebastian Joseph-Day - Defensive Lineman, Los Angeles Rams
Sebastian is involved with so many initiatives around the country. Most recently he donated resources to help feed 7,000 children in the Houston area. Sebastian credits his family & faith for having the desire to help so many & do so much outside of football. Saw what was happening to people in Texas and it just hit him to help as many kids as possible. His now former teammate Michael Brockers is a Houston native so the two combined to donate. Tries his best to educate people. It has become a goal of his to use his platform to educate for the better good. Will miss Michael Brockers. He is a brother. The business part of football is tough sometimes, but wishes Brockers nothing but the best. So many players for the Rams exemplify the kind of person you would want to be in life. He learned a lot from them his rookie year. The 'Joseph-Day Master Plan' is to help the next generation and influence them positively in any way he can. Hopes he can get a nice contract, he would do even more. Each year he wants to step it up. Talks about the flexibility he has with a master degree in labor relations which he is currently pursuing.
Discussion on Meyers Leonard & his comments that got him dismissed from the Miami Heat indefinitely. Meyers had no idea what he was saying but it doesn't excuse him for saying it. Meyers has to educate himself going forward. He drop the ball on this one.
Meghan McPeak, PxP Broadcaster
Looking forward to being a part of an all female broadcast crew on March 24th when the Raptors take on the Nuggets. Calling the Mystics during their championship run, calling Della Donne's 54/90 run and calling this Raptors game as a native Canadian are definitely top three achievements of her career. Hasn't called a game since September, so Meghan is chomping at the bit to get behind the mic. Kept sharp by calling games at home watching TV. Canadian basketball is what you see from guys like Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Andrew Wiggins and Jamal Murray. When she was growing up Rick Fox, Stacy Dales and Steve Nash were some of the players Canadians looked up to. Feels Ontario produces the best basketball players in the country. Explains how TSN came about putting the broadcast team together. She is very grateful for the opportunity. Pays homage to the women who came before her, whether its PxP, analyst or sideline reporting. Her mindset is to go after it and do the best she can to prove her supporters are correct.
Rod Woodson, Hall of Famer, Super Bowl Champion Defensive Back
Rod is raising money for his Hope Through Football Foundation. Rod wanted to give back to the sports that has given him so much. Hope Through Football teaches kids (boys & girls) how to do things the right way in life, through football. One of the things the foundation does is teach kids and parents about mental health. There is so much misinformation out there. Sports teaches so much about life. Rod explains the breakout session he has with his kids. Football has to be taught the right way at the grassroots level. Loves to see kids succeed. He shares the story of a kid who came in shy, lacking confidence a little bit and is now a successful college grad flourishing in his community. Rod talks about growing up in a bi-racial family in Indiana during the 60s which wasn't easy. The protests last year gave Rod joy because it was all races, genders etc coming together to fight racism.
Discussion on the insensitive comments made by Creighton Head Coach Greg McDermott. There are different ways he could have motivated his players but what he did wasn't the way. The guys show love to Renee Montgomery, former guest, WNBA player and now part owner of the Atlanta Dream. What she has done over the past year is inspirational to many people. The guys end the show remembering Irv Cross who passed away this week.
Charles Smith, Former NBA F/C; Master Business Facilitator
Discusses how he got involved with Fierce Conversations Inc. and what their aim is using AI (artificial intelligence). Always wanted to be involved with a company that was innovative. Was always an entrepreneur. During his playing days, Charles had a successful marketing company. Talks about the business education he received from individuals from around the world. Changing his mindset was the biggest obstacle he had to deal with when getting into corporate America. Fierce has changed Charles' life in business, relationships and family. Communication is the key. Discusses the challenges he has to deal with in business when people see the NBA player first and not the business man.
The Minnesota Timberwolves made a move at their head coaching position. It was very odd to see an NBA team fire a coach mid-season, have the replacement come from another organization AND receive a long-term deal. Discussion on hiring practices and opportunities for minorities. Chat on the concerns the NBCA have about the Minnesota Timberwolves new hiring.
Stephanie Ready, Turner Sports
Stephanie took part on the NBA TV broadcast of HBCU games this past week in celebration of Black History Month. Was over the moon excited to be a part of the telecast especially being an HBCU grad herself.It gave people a glimpse of what life is like at an HBCU. The women took full advantage of the spotlight and showed out during their game. Hopes to see more of these games aired on television. It was historic in that it was the first time NBA TV aired college basketball games. The day was a huge success. Its good to see student athletes say, what can I do for this HBCU, instead of what can this HBCU do for me. There are lots of D-1 HBCU schools and everything a student athlete is looking for in a school, can be found in a HBCU. We are starting to see billionaires put money into HBCUs. This is a game changer.
Theo Ratliff, Former All Star F/C
Kudos to the players that has stepped up to support Timberwolves assistant David Vanterpool. He should have at least been named interim head coach. Theo has never seen a coach hired mid-season from another organization and signs a long-term deal. Coaching changes are a major distraction for players. Especially when you go out of the organization mid-season for the replacement. Minnesota wasn't thinking about the players when they made this change. The season is starting all over for them. Adam Silver is doing an excellent job of listening to the players when it comes to social justice. Theo reflects on his All Star career. Theo was known as a big time shot blocker and defensive player. Talks about how he got to the University of Wyoming from a small town in Alabama.
Discussion on the power of music in the community growing up. Its not the same today as it was then, but music is really important in the time we are in. Its crazy how the music of Curtis Mayfield & Donnie Hathaway are still relevant 50 plus years later.
Lalah Hathaway, 5x Grammy Award Winner, Daughter of Donnie Hathaway
Discusses being a star in her own right as the daughter of legendary musician.Is excited that people are still influenced by and listening to artists from the past like her father. She struggled singing Donnie's classic 'A Song For You' at first but now its done out of love for the people in the audience. Music has always been a tactile sensual experience. The intent is to catch a moment. Black music influences so many other genres of music. Black music has evolved to tell the stories of not just black folks, but all people. Talks about places where she was inspired to write songs. It can come from anyplace. She chooses not to write about COVID and is taking this time to recharge. Explains how she was able to harmonize with herself since she was a little girl. 'This Christmas' was ranked as the 30th most popular Christmas song. Its been covered by so many over the past 50 years. Its even being done in different languages. Donnie definitely would have been proud because he meant to write the song to be a standard. Is encouraged by what todays musicians are doing today and how far back their going to pull music forward. Is interested in creating the most soulful record she can.
Cheaa Mayfield, Son of Curtis Mayfield
At first it was daunting trying to keep the legacy of Curtis alive. It was a good learning experience. Curtis' music and lyrics come from the environment he grew up in. It takes a whole different meaning when you put yourself in his shoes. Cheaa and his siblings all have the same taste in music that Curtis had. Especially live music. Its amazing how the music he wrote over 50 years ago is still relevant today. 'Superfly' is an excellent piece of work. The single should have won a Grammy. The whole album was great. Curtis' final album, 'New World Order' was the only album Cheaa got to see his father write and compose from beginning to end. Cheaa discusses Curtis' challenges after the accident which left him a paraplegic. For Cheaa, music is a hobby. He plays jazz just for fun. He and Curtis talked jazz often.
Jax congratulates Kirk for picking the Buccaneers. Kirk revels in picking the Bucs, but was down on not getting the score correct. Tom Brady is the GOAT. Whether you love him or not, he is. Discussion on the Dallas Mavericks Owner Mark Cuban's decision to not play the national anthem before Mavs home games.
Charlie Neal, Legendary Broadcaster
Discusses how he got started on BET Sports after meeting Robert Johnson in the early 80s.The chance to do HBCU sports is what made taking the job with BET enticing. He got to tell the stories of all HBCUs, and not just on an athletic level. Always hoped he did a good enough job when he was at Turner, or CBS etc. ,for those to come after him. Has no regrets about not becoming a bigger star on the major networks. The things he has done and seen is good enough. The only sport he hasn't done is volleyball. He's done all including bowling & hockey. Talked about the piece in the Ringer entitled 'The Play-By-Play Pioneer Hiding in Plain Sight' which reflects on his career in this business. The younger generation need to remember and keep alive the legacy of those that have played at HBCUs and played professionally. When ESPN started doing HBCU games in the early 2000's they aired many games over the course of a week, including doubleheaders. Now that its all about revenue, they began to air the bigger conferences that brings in more money. ESPN still air some HBCU games, not nearly as much as they used to. Fans socialized during the first half of football games. At halftime, everyone stopped and watched the halftime show. BET used to show the whole show, ESPN showed a portion.
Stephen A. Smith, ESPN; Executive Producer 'Why Not Us: North Carolina Central University Men's Basketball'
Discusses how he joined with Chris Paul to put this docu-series together. North Carolina Central has a great story to tell. Is enjoying the projects he and his production company are getting in to help HBCUs. Feels compelled to not run away from doing anything that helps HBCUs. All HBCUs are facing challenges financially. This docu-series will highlight those challenges. Describes the differences between the athletic program at an HBCU vs other universities. Discusses what the challenges are to making the transitions from talent to executive producing. Would be nice to see athletes like CP3, Carmelo and others shine a light toward HBCUs. Maybe play pre-season games on the campuses of HBCUs.
Super Bowl Week is here! The guys discuss the game in Tampa this weekend. Brady going for his 7th championship is huge for sports, not just the NFL. It will be great to see African American coaches in power, Todd Bowles, Byron Leftwich and Eric Bieniemy, do their thing on the sidelines. We will see two different generational quarterbacks go at it Sunday. That's a rarity.
Natara Holloway, NFL VP of Football Strategy & Business Development
Discusses the initiatives the league is building with HBCUs. This weekend's event are a part of efforts to strengthen relationships with and engage HBCUs year-round. This Saturday, they've partnered with EA Sports to host a Madden NFL 21 & HBCU Tournament. The league is always looking for ideas and will find ways to implement them. Natara goes in detail about how the tournament will run and the money that can be won. Gamers will love. Down the road there will be scholarships announced as well as other initiatives that cannot be announced as of yet. There isn't an off-season, they get right to work a week after Super Bowl 55.
Paul Tagliabue, Former NFL Commissioner, Member R.I.S.E. Board of Directors
Discusses Champions of Change, a virtual experience RISE has built for Super Bowl 55.Paul remembers players being empowered during the Civil Rights movement in the 60s. Players have the ability today to utilize their platforms unlike the players in the past. RISE's mission is to educate on how to be an advocate and then that will teach empowerment to make change. Bill Walsh became an advocate for getting African Americans opportunities, starting with guys on his staff. Paul is glad to see Andy Reid do the same thing for Eric Bieniemy. Rewarding people for developing talent is important. Talks about threatening to move the Super Bowl out of Arizona if they didn't recognize MLK's legacy almost 30 years ago. Athletes in a sense are part-time activists. Once they retire, they'll be full-time activists. Key thing going forward is to be prepared to change. Talks about handing Tom Brady his first Super Bowl trophy.
Discussion on the Super Bowl and the number of minority coordinators that will be involved and will have a major impact in the game. Head coach is the next step for coordinators and hopefully these guys can get an opportunity. Kudos to Bruce Arians who have hired black coaches and women. Women are making progress in pro sports as well. There are four full-time female NBA referees. Super Bowl 55 will have the first female officiating the game. Sarah Thomas has put in the work and has held her own. Young boys and girls can look and see someone that looks like them which will then inspire them to do it. Kirk reminisces about his first game as a pro looking across the line at Tom Brady. Pat Mahomes has been to more Super Bowls than bowl games when he was in college. Kirk is picking the Chiefs, but he realizes he is picking against Tom Brady. Discussion on the NFL's initiative Inspire Change. The guys listen and react to a few of them . Discussion on the Tangier Project, led by LeBron James. LeBron continues to nail it when it comes to helping young kids and families in his hometown of Akron, Ohio.
The guys react to what they saw and heard at the Presidential Inauguration. Amanda Gorman's spoken word was powerful. This generation is about action when they see injustice. Chat on the previous administration being represented only by Vice President Pence. It was cool to see former Presidents get together. Its a unique energy.
Doug Smith & Will Lowery - Pro Golfers & Hosts, Beyond The Fairway Podcast, NBC Audio joins the show and being by telling us how and where Doug & Will met in LA. Nine years later they have this podcast discussing a sport they love. They wanted to discuss golf from a minority stand point because there weren't many doing it. They want introductory content to get more folks of color into the game. Discussion then turn to the Tiger Woods documentary. They have differing thoughts on how Tiger is presented. The guys express their joy for playing and talking about golf. Doug practiced on baseball diamonds when he was a kid. Being a good player opens doors for anyone. It isn't fair, but once they get on the course and play well, others don't see color.
Sam Pollard - Emmy Award Winning and Oscar Nominated Director, MLK/FBI joins the show and discusses the genesis for this film that takes a look at the FBI watching Martin Luther King. J Edgar Hoover wanted to blackmail and destroy Dr. King. The film uncovers how the FBI surveilled and harassed Dr. King. The FBI and the government also had a history of targeting black activists and contested many cherished ideals. James Comey took part in the film. He says it was a shameful chapter in the FBI's history. In the 60's, black folks had pics of King, Kennedy & Jesus.
The guys discuss the latest on the political scene as it appears the president will be impeached a 2nd time. Its hard to wrap your head around the fact that the most powerful man in the world is banned from social media. People are just asking for equality. Affirmative action was the problem years ago. Inclusion is the issue today. Instead of looking forward, we are still putting fires out on the current administration. Discussion on Mark Emmert opposing the idea to separate FBS football from the NCAA. There is a lot of people making a lot of money off of student athletes. Discussion on other items Mark Emmert brought up during his address. They guys discuss what Martin Luther King Day means to them
The guys react to the riot at the US Capitol Wednesday afternoon. Chat on the players showing unity to express their dissatisfaction with the decision in Kenosha WI. The riots were fueled and fanned from the highest levels of the administration. Clearly we are two different Americas going about trying to be heard in two different ways. Folks really felt privileged to storm the capitol. Peaceful protests were met differently over the summer. We need to stop the divide between these two Americas. Still a lot of work to be done.
Adewale Ogunleye, Former NFL Defensive Back; Head of Sports and Entertainment at UBS
Discusses launching his new financial and social impact initiative in partnership with UBS. Athletes and entertainers division aims to bring a new approach to managing financial situations of these individuals. It was toward the end of his career he realized his needed to go back to school and learn about money. People are raised in different ways when it comes to money. Some people gravitate to the wrong people when it comes to money. Wale's goal is to start at the collegiate level. Ninety-nine percent of those student athletes wont go pro, but they'll have knowledge on making smart investments. There is a lack of diversity in the financial world. True diversity is different people with different ideas. Its imperative that African-American men do the right thing all the time when we get opportunities. Took awhile to watch football after retiring and had to detach. He is now watching it again and is a fan of individuals more so than teams.
LaChina Robinson, Broadcaster; Host of Huuuge Fan Podcast
LaChina recaps how the players of the Atlanta Dream threw their support against their team's co-owner Kelly Loeffler in the Georgia Senate race.Rev. Raphael Warnock's numbers began to go up once the players started supporting him. WNBA players have always been the voice for the voiceless. The players have always been at the forefront when it comes to fighting for justice. Its an incredible and courageous place to be to go against your owner so publicly. The world is now realizing the power these young women have The podcast is fun because she gets to talk to entertainers about their sports love and hoe their fandom affected their lives. Ashley Judd is the biggest Kentucky fan. She did the show sick, and said she wasn't missing a chance to talk about the Wildcats. She knew all of the stats and details. Outside of basketball, tennis is a sport LaChina is a fan of.
Discussion on the start of the NBA season which brings teams back into action who were not in the bubble, therefore giving more players a chance to use their platform to fight for change. Some folks look forward to players using their voice. People will listen to the Draymond Greens & the Steph Currys of the league. There is a safety issue to be concern with as the league deals with COVID.
C.C. Sabathia, Former MLB Pitcher
CC promotes his upcoming documentary on HBO titled, 'Under The Grapefruit Tree: The CC Sabathia Story'. CC narrates the documentary. The idea came to him at the end of 2018 when he had a stent put into his heart. He wanted to document his last season in baseball for his children. Its a very personal story for CC that includes his relationship with his late father and dealing with addiction. Going into rehab helped him and he wanted to help others too by sharing the story. In 2015 CC realized he needed to get help, things were getting out of control. It would be important for him to get into the Hall of Fame as a black pitcher. His accomplishments surprises even him. Discusses the Negro Leagues and wants people to know just how great that league was. The players were big time stars and many were better than the major leaguers. MLB had to integrate because the greatness of those players couldn't be ignored. Is pleased MLB is officially elevating the Negro Leagues to major league status. Young black kids are playing baseball. They're just not getting the opportunities or seen by scouts. A kid cannot get a full scholarship to play baseball in college. Kids would rather play football or basketball to get that full scholarship
Michael Holley, Co-Host Brother From Another on SiriusXM 211
Holley, along with his co-host Michael Smith have been friends for over 20 years and the podcast is just them having their daily conversations for everyone to hear.Sports is the main focus, but they do get into music, politics, food and their personal lives. Its a full dimension of who they are. They wont stay in 'one lane'. Life doesn't work that way. Politics were talked about a lot especially before the election. Politics is such a polarizing topic. It was great to see the players take the lead without the older generation telling them what to do in terms of using their platform to speak out against injustice.
Discussion on disparities in the coverage of athletes in sports at all levels, H.S., college & professional. Chat on when an athlete wants to control their story, but some in the media choose to ignore. There is a huge divide between athlete and media, especially for people of color. Discussion on LeBron James' voting initiative, More Than A Vote. LeBron is pleased with how the initiative is going, but its clear that he has just begun pushing the program.
Amin Joseph, Actor, Star of Snowfall on FX
Loves that athletes & artists are speaking out and using their platform to speak out against racism. Athletes & artists aren't soulless people that will just shut up and 'entertain you'. Discusses how he has evolved in his career and how he chooses roles now . Getting back to work in Los Angeles has been a challenge. This year has felt like three years. Feels like its hard for this country to live up to the documents that were written. It was difficult for them to live up to it when it was written. We can get through the issues in this country. People just need to be heard. Believes we can live in a society with people of opposing views and get to a common good, but can't when leaders are fanning the flames of hate, racism and violence. Explains 'Awareness Movement', a program started by he and fellow actors in L.A. that focuses on creating content in order to facilitate a positive dialogue between local communities and law enforcement as well as giving a voice to disenfranchised voters in urban communities.
Diahann Billings-Burford, CEO R.I.S.E.
Talks about how R.I.S.E. has been prepared for all that has happened in sports especially the last two years. The organization educates and train but it also takes part in major sports events like, Super Bowl & the NBA Finals. Sports has always inspired changed that has played a roll in this country for many many years. There is something about what happened to George Floyd that changed the way folks think. Planned to digitally grow and go virtual to educate even before the pandemic hit. Currently the collegiate space has grown the most, professional space is coming along. Organization doesn't just want to educate, but it seeks to empower
Marcus Lattimore, Motivational Speaker/Life Coach; Former South Carolina RB
Discusses how he impacts lives of young men and what led him to this time in this point in his life. Becoming a life coach fell into his lap. It fulfills him and gives him purpose. Discusses dealing with young kids who only know what life is like with access to social media. Talks about his former teammate Colin Kaepernick and how he saw the leadership in him despite being a calm and quiet guy. Colin always worked hard and he was so intellectual. Marcus isn't surprised at all about Colin accomplishments. Colin is a role model and is what we all should aspire to be like in some capacity. Marcus shares the story of an incident in Nebraska and being accused of running drugs. Nobody should experience what he had to experience. Would tell his younger self to read more growing up and get that insight of what going on in the world.
The guys discuss the NBA Draft and Kirk is excited for his Golden State Warriors. Draft night will be a big night for a lot of young men. Discussion on the exit polls specifically out of Pennsylvania that shows Joe Biden gained with black men over what Hillary Clinton did in 2016, while Trump improved with white men. Discussion on data that shows ratings were down in all sports and it had nothing to do with sports embracing BLM or social justice messaging.
Rod Reid, Director and Chief Instructor, NXG Motorsports
NXG Youth Motorsports, Inc. (Nexgeneracers) is a nonprofit organization offering experiential learning programs using go-kart driving and motorsports as a tool for STEM learning and life skill development. They're entering its 15th season in 2021. The academy presents the essentials of competitive go-kart racing, including proper driving techniques, hands-on classroom instruction, and safety precautions. The organization targets underrepresented communities, primarily Black children ages 11-15 years old. The program is inclusive but designed with a targeted demographic in mind. NXG Youth Motorsports has introduced motorsports and open-wheel racing to more than 211 classes and 2,346 participants and their families since its inception. Rod talks about the financial struggles the organization had to deal with in the beginning.
The guys discuss Covid-19 wreaking havoc over the sports world and the lack of leadership to quell this pandemic. Seems like we are going in the wrong direction in this battle with Covid-19.
Joe Madison, The Black Eagle host on Urban View stops by.
Is very proud that todays athletes aren't afraid to speak up for what right no matter what the costs. Explains that sacrifices has to be made when/while protesting. Forty-Five is selfish and isn't a team player. He needs to do the right thing for this country. When the inauguration comes around, 45 probably wont attend. That says a lot about his character. It says a lot when you can win or lose with grace. He is the opposite of what we teach our children.
Former NBA player Al Harrington stops by.
Discusses his role in NAS' upcoming documentary on cannabis. Al is pushing for more inclusion and diversity in the cannabis business. Its going to be a trillion dollar industry. Explains the work he put in to learn and educate about the industry. Misconceptions about the drug bothers him. If there was a vote marijuana would be legalize in the country. Cannabis has saved lives and those people need to tell their stories. He is virtually pain free because of cannabis. He hasn't taken a pharmaceutical in 7 years. Feels he would have played in the league longer had he used cannabis during his playing years. The guys (NBA players in the bubble) did a great job standing up for rights and he is proud of them.
Warrick Dunn, Former NFL RB, Founder Warrick Dunn Charities
Explains the lack of affordable housing & the funnel that creates wealth through real estate. When he started his program, all he knew was he wanted to do something for the community. He sees the issues regular families goes through because he lives within the community. Warrick's desire is to change generations, not just build houses. Is proud that Deshaun Watson gives back to the community. Deshaun's mom took part in Warrick's programs when Watson was a kid. Warrick believes black men are targeted by bad police officers. He would love to see community policing return. Warrick's mom was a police officer. He saw the effectiveness of community policing.
Discussion
The guys take a deep look inside the numbers of the election results. Kirk cant wrap his head around the fact that this country is preparing for violence because folks may not be happy with the results. We hear powerful comments on the election from Ivy League Professor Eddie Glaude Jr.
Tunisha Singleton, Member Board of Directors, Black Girl Hockey Club
Tunisha explains the genesis of this club created by R. Renee Hess. The club started organically over social media by black women who wanted to watch hockey with other black women. It was recognized that there was a need to make hockey more inclusive for black women. BGHC has lots of initiatives and programs to shake things up and make hockey more inclusive . The goal is to change the narrative that hockey is a 'white guy only' sport
Marc J Spears, Sr. NBA Writer, The Undefeated/ESPN
Discusses his 90 days inside the NBA bubble and explains how he tried to make himself as comfortable as possible. The players had it easy especially compared to the media. It was important to be there especially with the various protests the players embarked on. What Meyers Leonard did brought conversation and we need conversation. There was a lot of education in the bubble. The players being in the bubble made us listen and gave a platform to, those players who we probably would not have listen to outside of the bubble.
Discussion
The guys congratulate the Dodgers on winning the World Series, making Dave Roberts the 2nd black manager to win a World Series. Mookie Betts needs to be the face of baseball. It would help promote black kids to play baseball.
Kirk explains the challenges of being a college football analyst during this pandemic . Jason and Kirk push folks to vote as we come up on a little less than 2 weeks to election day. Each guy talks about how their voting process went & some options voters have at their disposal.
Iain Page, Former Lawyer, Current Broadcaster
Talks about how he went from being a lawyer working in D.C. to entering the broadcasting business and the hurdles he needed to jump to get his first job. Working at the Golf Channel was fun, but it was tough and there were issues. It was tough to work a predominately white sport which was covered by whites. In many cases people weren't insensitive, they just didn't know. Talks about the tough situation to get stories aired & having to explain why they're important to air. Its great to get our stories told now, but we have a long way to go.
Asjha Jones, Former WNBA Champion Player, Current Asst. Washington Mystics Coach
Discusses her early love of basketball. Talks about the stigma attached to Americans when abroad. Tells her story about being one of the first college players that transitioned to the WNBA. Explains her transition to coaching and how she helps teach young women. Asjha won a gold medal, a championship as a player and a championship as a coach. She discusses which one was the most difficult to win. Talks about adjusting from the Wubble to being back home. She is supporting her players that are currently playing overseas. Feels like where she lives, young girls aren't well represented and she hopes to change that.
Brendon Ayanbadejo, 3x Pro Bowler, Super Bowl Champion & Activist
Say we have an opportunity to change the country for the better and get it to where it should be with this upcoming election. A protest of the Iraq war in the early 90s opened Brendon's eyes & inspired him to use his voice. LeBron James is probably the athlete that has carried the torch for all athletes when it comes to speaking out. Sometimes you need to take a step back and listen. Talking to each other, having conversation and dialogue is so critical
Herb Washington, Former MLB Player, Entrepreneur, Activist
Herb explains how he became a designated runner for Charlie Finley's Oakland A's. After his playing days Herb became a McDonald's franchise owner. He saw three guys who looked up to him own several restaurants in the area and he decided to get in on it . Has always been the type of person to call you out something he sees as wrong. Demonstrations taking place today are much different than the 60's and 70's.There are a lot more whites getting involved and that gives Herb hope. Everyone get out and vote.
Chris Bosh, Former NBA Forward, 2x NBA Champion, 11x All Star
Chris talks about the bubble and if would have played in it. Its tough to be away from home for that long. Has to give credit to the league for handling the pandemic and finishing the season. The fight for justice and equality means everything. Chris was taught at a young age about how to deal with it. Compliments the Milwaukee Bucks for deciding not to play. The guys and also the sisters of the WNBA deserve credit. The WNBA players were out in front before the NBA players.
Barry Larkin, Hall of Fame Shortstop; Project Unity - Discusses his initiative launched last month to bring people together during the pandemic. The initiative is bringing to light the issues in our communities with a baseball perspective. He wanted to bring attention to and be part of the solution of bring people together and healing the wounds. He discusses how to get more black folks to play baseball.
Mike Freeman, NFL Writer; Author of Football's Fearless Activists says social issues are still at the top of the players' minds. Its just difficult once the season started. Eric Reid and Colin Kaepernick should be in the league. Its a disgrace. The NFL has been forced to talk about the issues but its good that its on the top of their minds. Many folks knew Kap was right. His message was attacked by the most powerful man in the world and was able to warp his message. The league just had no idea how to handle Kap's message. The vast majority of black athletes are energized to speak out.
Doug Glanville, Former MLB Outfielder; ESPN Baseball Analyst; Author; Activist - Often thinks about how he would react today if he was playing in this space. Would have been very involved today. When you have a chance to make change you must take part. When he played athletes couldn't have gotten involved to this extent. Shared a story of dealing with folks who were against his activism while playing at the Penn. Baseball has been behind for a long time. They are taking steps to be current
Jason and Kirk discuss the beginning of the NBA Finals and how social messaging will be prevalent. Akbar Gbajabiamila joins the show to talk about his efforts to educate folks on finances and making positive change. WNBA star Renee Montgomery chats with the guys about using your platform to promote change and voting initiatives she is taking part in .
The impact of the Breonna Taylor decision will be felt in the days ahead. This is why voices need to speak for those who can't. Commissioner Silver's comments on the NBA continuing to speak out against injustice next season and beyond shows the league has and will always be the leaders in speaking out on social issues. There is still work to be done when it comes to police brutality. There are things the police and the community should do. Jason is feeling pretty done with people who wont listen. The problems are a humanitarian issue. Hall of Fame QB Warren Moon discusses how he still impacts the game today and ESPN broadcaster Jay Harris talks about politics and sports being joined together for a long time.
The guys react to comments from Florida State University Basketball Head Coach Len Hamilton, who says folks are focusing too much on the reaction and not the action. Kudos to the NFL for getting the season underway. It didn't look very good with the pandemic. The NBA has absolutely been the model. The NFL took notes. Kirk could never imagine the league doing what the NFL did this past weekend addressing social issues. The protests were not a distraction from the games. Doug Williams, Legendary QB, Super Bowl XXII MVP and Washington Football Team Executive reflects on his journey and career. He is proud to see the number of black quarterbacks in the NFL today.
Akin 'Ak' Reyes of Fight Nation's Ak & Barak Show discusses social justice in the boxing and mixed martial arts world. The NFL begins its season and the discussion leans toward how the sport will continue to raise awareness about racial inequalities and social justice.
Long time sports broadcaster and current Seattle Mariners play by play man, Dave Sims on current athletes using their platform to speak out on social justice; the Mariners support of players and his journey coming up in this industry. Former NFL Linebacker Dhani Jones discusses how this is a critical time in our society; the importance of education and the NFL's current initiatives to improve racism and social justice.