The BCF Podcast with BCF (Byrd, Craig, & Farnan) - who are the BCF (BC Family) - dives deep into both our unique backgrounds and our shared experiences (at BC & beyond.)
Amidst the current racial challenges in the world, we'll have unfiltered discussions about pain & hope.
As great friends/Brothers, we'll also share some laughs & classic stories. And we'll be joined by some great guests.
Thanks for listening, and Let's Go Eagles...
BC's All-Time Leading Scorer (and the old Big East's Leading Scorer!) Troy Bell, a First Round NBA Draft Pick in 2003, joins the show! Check it out as we discuss:
Fatherhood & differences between raising a Boy and a Girl (1:05)
Getting recruited, and trying to earn more respect, out of Minnesota (5:26)
Coach Skinner's Recruiting Visit to see Troy (9:07)
Being from Minneapolis, and in the wake of the George Floyd killing, how has Troy Been affected? (11:27)
Troy's first/notable interactions with Police (15:14)
Leaving MN for college, how prepared did Troy feel from an athletic, academic and social standpoint? (20:41)
Troy's favorite memories from playing at BC (25:33)
What does Troy remember about being a rising Senior, and having Byrd & Craig join the team? What were your first impressions of these guys? What about the famous scrimmage? (29:31)
FARNAN’S FABLES: Calling Troy, and...Al Skinner watching Ryan's DVDs? (43:56)
What was Draft Day like for Troy, the #16 Overall Pick? (49:53)
What was your first major purchase? Best purchase? Worst purchase? (54:45)
Rookie Troy's Fables: Krispy Kreme Donuts and getting his car filled with Popcorn...TWICE?!? (56:22)
How did Troy get into Boxing? (1:15:41)
Boxing vs. Basketball (1:18:45)
Troy's playing experience in Europe, including Real Madrid. And what was it like being a black man in Europe? (1:20:05)
How Troy managed money after growing up without a lot as a young African American kid (1:25:40)
What gives Troy hope that his Son & Daughter will grow up in a better world? (1:33:29)
Welcome to a very exciting Episode 4 of the BCF Podcast, ft. WNBA LEGEND Cappie Pondexter - a two-time WNBA Champion, who was recently named one of the 20 Best Players in league history!
In this episode, we cover:
Intro to a legend (0:00)
How Craig & Cappie met - USA Basketball (2:30)
Cappie's upbringing in Chicago, as a child of a Marine (6:40)
What (and Who) kept young Cappie on a path to succeed? (8:15)
How did "Gangster Nerd" Cappie grow at Rutgers, including learning from legendary Coach Vivian Stringer? (11:05)
Cappie's one immature mistake in not appreciating the importance of college (14:34)
Don Imus's infamous "Nappy Headed Hoes" remark, about Cappie's former teammates - how did she handle that? (17:06)
Lessons from how Cappie's friends & Rutgers dealt with "Nappy Headed Hoes" fallout (20:39)
Instead of "Nappy Headed Hoes," how would Cappie describe her Rutgers teammates? (24:03)
Cappie's (#2 Pick in the 2006 WNBA Draft!) thoughts on the WNBA (25:34)
Best Women's Basketball Signature Shoes? (28:23)
Cappie's Greatest Career Accomplishment (32:22)
Who did Cappie most need to get geared up to play? (33:29)
What was it like Winning Titles? (35:15)
How have you dealt with systemic racism? (36:40)
Thoughts on the three point dominance of modern basketball? (41:35)
How tough was your transition from WNBA player into retirement? (44:39)
Financial Literacy - can the WNBA & NBA help players more? And shouldn't American schools cover this?!? (48:26)
Financial Literacy once you make some money - ballin' out, or microwave chicken nuggets? (56:27)
Cappie's experiences as a black woman/athlete across the U.S. and the World - great experiences...but also non-melodious jazz discrimination (59:22)
Athletes' Privilege - is it real? (1:03:58)
Farnan's Fables - Cappie's Manager Friends / Reading for Free Throw success? (1:08:13)
Cappie's controversial 2011 Tweet, and how it was amplified in the media (1:16:48)
To Kneel, or Not To Kneel? / What's the ACTION? (1:27:10)
What gives Cappie hope for the future? (1:34:03)
Former Boston College and Sacred Heart Basketball Player Tavio Hobson Joins The Podcast To Discuss Various Topics. Best Player In Seattle? Steve Ballmer? What An Episode! Episode Highlights (time stamps):
Tavio's journey from Seattle to BC, including "You're not going to play in the NBA" (0:50)
What could Brandon Roy's career have been, if healthy? (3:10)
Tavio as an ultimate competitor, driven by his Dad/Coach (4:15)
Lou Hobson: Seattle Basketball Legend (7:25)
Which Seattle guy are you taking w/ you to win one game? (11:50)
Adjusting to life at Boston College (15:30)
Transferring to Sacred Heart, and playing more at a lower level (17:44)
What was it like going back to BC to play against us?/Reflection on Coach Skinner (22:20)
Comparing experiences as a minority at BC & Sacred Heart (30:12)
Experiences at OTE, Freshman year at BC (33:40)
An ode to Hung J. Lam (36:10)
Tavio's post-college life as an agent, coach, & mentor (41:00)
Getting, losing, and getting a high school coaching job (45:00)
Tavio's relationship & friendship with Steve Ballmer / work with Clippers (50:08)
Tavio's passion for, and work with, fighting social injustice (59:00)
Thoughts on the NBA returning, and ties to equality movements? (1:10:40)
Craig's experience with Donald Sterling (1:17:40)
The autonomous zone in Seattle (1:22:42)
Farnan's Fables - Tavio Edition (1:26:04)
What's realistic policies could be enacted to create immediate change? (1:28:23)
What gives Tavio hope for the future? (1:31:00)
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BC (Basketball) Legend Uka Agbai joins the podcast, and shares stories around:
The "Contract" that his Mom made him sign, in order to play basketball
Being profiled for being black
Our "every 80 years" defining historical event
Memories of a Big East Championship and personal/basketball growth at BC
Overcoming a scary injury (which didn't seem that scary...at first)
Playing with, and mentoring, Byrd & Craig
His hopes for his children and their respective futures
It was a true honor for us to have Uka, one of the most respected players/humans in BC Basketball history, join us - and we hope you enjoy hearing from him. Check it out, and let us know feedback/recommended future guests... - BCF
Episode 1 of the BCF Podcast with BCF (Byrd, Craig, & Farnan) - who are the BCF (BC Family) - dives deep into Byrd's & Craig's backgrounds & experiences, amidst the current racial challenges in the world. (Note: There is very occasionally some PG-13+ language)
We cover:
Our Friendship/Brotherhood
Experiences with - and black family members in - Law Enforcement
How Boston College changed & shaped all of us
Ryan's experiences with diversity
Craig's & Byrd's experiences living in Minneapolis & Europe
Potential Policies that could drive real change
Hope for the Future