>> Bomani: KYRIE'S SAGE
CEREMONIES HAVE FINALLY PAID
OFF, JIMMY BUTLER ALMOST BEAT
ERIC SPOELSTRA'S ASS ON LIVE TV
THIS WEEK, AND ARKANSAS HAD ONE
JOB, BUT DUKE IS STILL ALIVE IN
THE TOURNAMENT.
LET'S GO!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
THANK YOU.
SINCE THE START OF THE NBA
SEASON THERE HAS BEEN ONE MAJOR
STORY SUCKING ALL THE
POTENTIALLY DEADLY OXYGEN OUT OF
THE ROOM.
>> THE MAYOR OF NEW YORK CITY
TODAY GAVE A SPECIAL VACCINE
EXEMPTION TO PROFESSIONAL
ATHLETES AND ENTERTAINERS.
>> UNVACCINATED PRO ATHLETES
LIKE BROOKLYN NETS SUPERSTAR
KYRIE IRVING CAN NOW PLAY AT
HOME IN NEW YORK CITY.
>> IRVING HAS INFAMOUSLY HELD
OUT AND SAT OUT SOME 30 HOME
GAMES THIS YEAR DUE TO THE
FORMER VACCINE MANDATE HE DIDN'T
COMPLY WITH.
>> Bomani: THIS STORY IS THE
ONLY THING MORE VIRAL THAN THOSE
MONKEY NFTs.
BUT WHAT DOES IT SAY WHEN KYRIE
IRVING NOT PLAYING IS MORE
INTERESTING THAN HIM SETTING
RECORDS ON THE COURT?
HE SCORED 60 IN ORLANDO BUT
INSTEAD OF THE KYRIE CROSSOVER,
EVERYONE IS TALKING ABOUT THIS.
>> SOME PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN TO
CALLING IT THE KYRIE CARVE OUT.
>> THIS SO-CALLED KYRIE
CARVE OUT.
>> KYRIE CARVE OUT.
>> WHO DIED AND MADE HIM KING?
WHY DO THE REST OF US HAVE
VACCINE MANDATES AND HE DOESN'T?
>> Bomani: I THINK SOMEONE WANTS
TO SPEAK TO THE MANAGER
OF NEW YORK CITY.
ALSO, IT DOESN'T REALLY SOUND
LIKE A KYRIE CARVE OUT.
THE KYRIE CARVE OUT SOUNDS LIKE
SOMEONE THREATENING KYRIE
WITH A SWITCH BLADE.
SURE, THE NETS LOBBIED OFFICER
MAYOR ERIC ADAMS.
BUT SO DID THE YANKEES AND THE
METS, TWO TEAMS NEW YORKERS
ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT.
THEY DIDN'T GET TO KYRIE FOUR
MONTHS LATE, THEY GOT TO THE
YANKEES JUST IN TIME.
AND IRVING'S INFAMY HAS NOTHING
TO DO WITH WHAT'S HAPPENING ON
THE COURT, AND THAT SHOULD
TERRIFY NBA COMMISSIONER
ADAM SILVER.
HERE'S WHAT ELSE SHOULD SCARE
HIM: THE REIGNING MVP IS PUTTING
UP EVEN BETTER NUMBERS THIS
YEAR.
BUT I'M SORRY, NIKOLA JOKIC.
UNLESS YOU AND YOUR BROTHERS ARE
TRYING TO SQUARE UP WITH THE
MORRIS TWINS, WE DON'T CARE.
THE MILWAUKEE BUCKS, WITH A STAR
PLAYER OUT OF A 21ST CENTURY
FAIRY TALE MIGHT BE BUILDING A
POTENTIAL DYNASTY AND MORE
PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE SEASON
FINALE OF "YELLOWSTONE"!
AND PEOPLE ARE GETTING HAIRCUTS
DURING TIMBERWOLVES GAMES.
>> WELL, THIS IS THE ULTIMATE
BARBERSHOP HERE TONIGHT.
>> Bomani: ANTHONY EDWARDS LOOKS
SHOCKED THAT MAN LET THE
SPORTSCLIPS BARBER CUT HIS HAIR.
IT SEEMS THE BIGGEST NARRATIVES
REVOLVE AROUND WHO ISN'T PLAYING
ENOUGH, WHO ISN'T PLAYING WELL,
OR WHO ISN'T GETTING ALONG WITH
STAR POWER.
IF THEY WERE CLUB SECURITY, THEY
WOULD CHARGE OKC 20O DOLLARS TO
GET IN THE CLUB.
WELL, YOU WANT TO HEAR ABOUT
SOMETHING YOUNG, FUN, AND COOL
IN THE NBA?
I SOUND LIKE A GOT A POCKET
FULL OF BUTTERSCOTCH.
TURN YOUR EYES TO MEMPHIS,
THE CITY OF YOUNG DOLPH.
YO GOTTI, THREE-SIX MAFIA,
AND THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES.
YOU PROBABLY KNOW ALL THE INS
AND OUTS OF THE TINDER SWINDLER
BUT DO YOU KNOW THAT THE
GRIZZLIES HAVE THE SECOND-BEST
RECORD IN THE NBA RIGHT NOW?
DO YOU?
AND THE WHOLE CITY IS TURNT!
>> NOT ONLY DO WE HAVE THIS
FABULOUS TEAM, WE GOT A TEAM
WITH SUPERSTARS.
>> THEY'VE TAKEN A LOT OF SMOKE,
THEY WANT THE SMOKE, AND THEY'RE
HANDLING THE SMOKE.
>> IF THEY KEEP WINNING, IT'S
JUST GOING TO SET US OFF.
>> WHOOMP THAT TRICK!
WHOOMP THAT TRICK!
>> HE CAN'T WIN A TITLE.
>> SAYS WHO?
>> YEAH, SAYS WHO?
>> SAYS WHO?
>> Bomani: NOW THAT'S MEMPHIS.
THE GRIZZLES SO MEMPHIS
EVEN THE BIG WHITE DUDE
HAS A GOLD TOOTH.
THEY PUT GRIZZLIES' LEGEND TONY
"THE GRINDFATHER" ALLEN'S FACE
ON "THE WELCOME TO MEMPHIS"
AIRPORT SIGNS.
LOOKING LIKE HE'S GONNA UNDERCUT
THE PILOT.
YOU THINK ABOUT THIS:
WHEN FORMER "JAIL BLAZER"
ZACH RANDOLPH
ARRIVED IN MEMPHIS PEOPLE FELT
LIKE THAT MEANT THE LEAGUE HAD
GIVEN UP ON HIM.
AND HOW DID HIS TENURE IN
MEMPHIS END?
THEY RETIRED HIS JERSEY.
>> BIG FELLA, WE ARE GOING TO
LOVE ON YOU TONIGHT.
YOU GAVE TO THIS COMMUNITY.
YOU GAVE TO PEOPLE THAT NEEDED
TO BE UPLIFTED AND YOU DID IT
WITH A HAPPY HEART.
>> Bomani: Z-BO'S SITTING DOWN
ON A THRONE AND HE'S SWEATING
LIKE HE JUST PLAYED 46 MINUTES.
IN TODAY'S CLIMATE OF PLAYER
EMPOWERMENT, WE HEAR LESS ABOUT
CITIES AND TEAMS THAT EMBRACE
EACH OTHER.
OFF-SEASON COVERAGE HAS TURNED
INTO DISSATISFIED SUPERSTARS
TRYING TO ILD THE MON-STARS
WITH THEIR HALL OF FAME-BOUND
HOMEBOYS.
STAR PLAYERS MIGHT AS WELL BE
CUTTHROAT CEOs.
LEBRON HAVE YOUR SHIT
BOXED UP IN FRONT OF
YOUR LOCKER.
DON'T BE MAD.
KEVIN DURANT IS HIRING.
I'M DOWN FOR PLAYERS HAVING
CONTROL, BUT WHEN A CITY FEELS
LIKE A TEAM AND THE TEAM FEELS
LIKE THE CITY?
MUAH.
ALLEN IVERSON'S SIXERS,
MAGIC JOHNSON'S LAKERS,
ADAM MORRISON'S BOBCATS.
I DIDN'T SAY IT WAS ALWAYS GOOD.
THE GRIZZLIES COMBINE GOOD FRONT
OFFICE DECISIONS, GOOD COACHING,
AND A COMMUNITY THAT SCREAMS
"WHOOP THAT TRICK" AFTER
JA MORANT DOES STUFF LIKE THIS.
>> OH, MY.
AS THE KIDS SAY, HE CAUGHT
A BODY.
>> Bomani: CONGRATULATIONS TO
THE TRICK OF THE NIGHT,
JACOB POELTL!
WHEN WE TALK ABOUT GREAT SPORTS
TOWNS, IT'S NORMALLY SYNONYMOUS
WITH MEAN ASS WHITE PEOPLE.
LIKE CLEVELAND, BOSTON AND
PHILLY, WHERE THEY DO SHIT
LIKE THIS.
>> WE'RE HERE TO MENTALLY
TORTURE BEN SIMMONS.
SIMMONS!
YOU STINK AND I DON'T
LIKE YOU.
YOU'RE A BUM!
>> Bomani: THAT'S WHY THEY DON'T
LET WHITE FOLKS
IN THE AUDIENCE AT THE APOLLO.
ALWAYS TAKING SHIT TOO FAR.
CHILL OUT.
BUT WE WATCH SPORTS BECAUSE WE
WANT TO FEEL GOOD.
THE KIND OF GOOD YOU GET FROM
THIS.
>> HOLD THAT POSE.
>> FLOSSING!
>> Bomani: THE KIND OF GOOD
YOU GET FROM THIS.
[CHEERING]
>> Bomani: THE KIND OF GOOD THAT
MAKES AN ATLANTA STRIP CLUB
THROW A GOING AWAY PARTY FOR
MATT RYAN.
[APPLAUSE]
LIVE THE KIND OF LIFE THAT MAKES
THE STRIP CLUB MOURN YOU
WHEN YOU LEAVING.
WHEN I WATCH THE GRIZZLIES, I
FEEL LIKE I'M WATCHING MEMPHIS.
AND EVEN BETTER, MEMPHIS IS
WATCHING THEM.
I DON'T KNOW IF THEY'LL WIN A
CHAMPIONSHIP BUT THEY'VE ALREADY
DONE SOMETHING MUCH HARDER, THEY
WON THE HEART OF THE PEOPLE.
THAT'S SOMETHING THE NBA HAS
BEEN FAILING AT FOR A WHILE NOW.
LET ME TELL YOU SOMETHING THAT
DOESN'T HAPPEN VERY OFTEN: A
FEEL-GOOD STORY IN NEW JERSEY.
BUT SAINT PETER'S UNIVERSITY HAS
RUN THROUGH MARCH MADNESS
ALL THE WAY TO THE ELITE 8.
THEY'RE PLAYING WHILE WE'RE
TAPING THE SHOW, SO ARE THEY IN
THE FINAL FOUR?
YOU KNOW.
AND WE DON'T.
I'LL SEE YOU LATER ON TWITTER.
BUT EARLIER THIS WEEK, I TOOK A
TRIP TO JERSEY CITY TO TALK TO
ST PETE'S STUDENTS, AND MET A
MAN WHO SHOULD BE THEIR
UNOFFICIAL MASCOT.
>> YOU WANT TO TALK TO BIRD
PURDUE FANS?
>> PLEASE REDESIGN.
PURDUE NEEDS TO CEASE TO EXIST.
>> THE SADDEST MOMENT IN THE
HISTORY OF YOUR PROGRAM.
WE'VE GOT 3,000 STUDENTS.
WE BARELY HAVE A FAN BASE.
YOUR FAN BASES WORLDWIDE AND YOU
LOST.
YOU LOST.
>> NO RESPECT FOR PURDUE ON THIS
CAMPUS.
>> NONE.
WHY SHOULD WE RESPECT PURDUE?
THEY ARE A CHICKEN FARM.
THAT'S ALL THEY ARE.
ALL THEY DO IS MAKE CHICKEN
NUGGETS.
>> HAVE YOU GOT ANYTHING ELSE
YOU DON'T LIKE?
>> I DON'T LIKE GAS PRICES.
>> ALMOST LOST MY MIND!
>> I AM A COMMUTER STUDENT.
I AM OVER HERE JUST TRYING TO
SAVE SOME MONEY.
I CAN'T STAND TEXAS ROADHOUSE.
TOO MANY TIMES.
I GOT A RAW CHICKEN.
I'VE GOT MEALS AND I'M STILL
HUNGRY AFTERWARDS.
THE ONLY THING THEY HAVE GOING
FOR THEM ARE THOSE ROLES.
I'M NOT GOING ALIVE.
>> HE'S A FAIR MAN.
I WAS GOING TO BRING UP THE
ROLLS AND HE DID IT BEFORE I
EVEN HAD TO.
>> YOU ARE YOUNG AND 75 YEARS
OLD AT THE SAME TIME.
IT IS SO DOPE.
>> Bomani: MY GUEST TONIGHT IS A
COMEDIAN, A WRITER, AND ACTOR.
HE'S A HUGE FAN OF THE DOLPHINS.
I HAVEN'T HEARD IF IT'S
RECIPROCAL.
PLEASE WELCOME ROY WOOD JR.
[APPLAUSE]
>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
I WILL SAY IT IS SOMEWHAT
RECIPROCAL.
I HAVE A END BITE TO THE DOLPHIN
SITUATION, PRACTICE.
I WAS 40 YARDS FROM DAN MARINO.
>> Bomani: THAT'S HOW FAR WERE
TALKING.
>> Roy: HE WAS THERE.
WHY HAVE YOU GOT TO SPOIL MY
HAPPINESS?
>> Bomani: ONE OF THOSE TEAMS
THAT WHEN IT USED TO MEAN TO
ROOT FOR A TOTALLY DIFFERENT.
THEY USED TO BE GOOD ALL THE
TIME.
>> Roy: IN THE '80s BECAUSE
THAT'S WHEN I STARTED WATCHING
TELEVISION.
THAT'S REGIONAL COVERAGE.
IN THE SOUTH YOU GET A TEAM THAT
WAS GOOD IN THE SOUTH.
>> Bomani: THEY WERE AN HOUR
AND A HALF, TWO HOURS AWAY.
>> Roy: TAMPA BAY BUCS.
TRASH.
DOLPHINS, GOOD.
MIAMI DOLPHINS.
GAINING SAFE COLORS.
THAT'S EITHER THINK PEOPLE
FORGET.
GROWING UP ON THE WEST SIDE OF
BIRMINGHAM, BLACK IS NOT AN
OPTION.
RED IS NOT AN OPTION.
BLUE IS NOT AN OPTION.
THAT KILLS COWBOYS, NINERS,
RAIDERS, STEELERS.
WHAT IS LEFT IS TURQUOISE AND
COAL.
>> Bomani: YOU WERE BANGING IN
THE '80s IN BIRMINGHAM?
>> Roy: THERE WERE MURDERERS
EVERYWHERE.
>> Bomani: I THOUGHT GANGS
WEREN'T GETTING THEIR TOLL
'90s.
>> Roy: IT WAS JUST GANGSTER
DISCIPLES.
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO WEAR BLUE OR
RED.
YOU DIDN'T WANT TO WEAR BLACK
BECAUSE THEY WOULD WALK UP AND
QUIZ YOU WITH THE GANGSTER
QUESTIONS AND I DON'T KNOW ALL
THE GANGSTER QUESTIONS AND THEN
YOU'D GET SHOT FOR PERPETRATING.
I DON'T WANT TO BE SHOT FOR
BEING A GANG MEMBER OR NOT BEING
THE RIGHT GANG MEMBER.
YOU WERE TURQUOISE, NOTHING
BOTHERS YOU.
THAT'S WHY I LIKE THE CHARLOTTE
HORNETS.
>> Bomani: A FRIEND OF A
FRIEND WHO BECAME MIDDLE
MANAGEMENT AND THE GANGSTER
DISCIPLES AND HE SOUNDED LIKE A
MIDDLE MANAGER AND ANY OTHER
JOB.
HE WAS IN CHARGE OF INTACT.
PEOPLE RUNNING TO HIM TO MAKE
SURE THE INTAKE WAS GOING
PROPER.
>> Roy: THAT SOUNDS STRESSFUL.
>> Bomani: WHAT ELSE ARE YOU
DOING IN BIRMINGHAM RIGHT NOW?
>> Roy: BIRMINGHAM RIGHT NOW.
I WENT HOME A COUPLE WEEKS AGO
TO MY ALMA MATER, RAMSEY
HIGH SCHOOL.
I PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL BASEBALL.
GAME-WINNING RBI STRIKEOUT, WALK
OFF.
GAME-WINNING WALK OFF RBI
STRIKEOUT.
I HAVE THE NEWS.
>> Bomani: I'M NOT -- I'M NOT.
I'M GOING TO LET YOU HAVE IT.
>> Roy: THE BASES LOADED, THE
BALL BOUNCES TO THE BACKSTOP.
WE WIN.
>> Bomani: WHAT DID YOU
HAVE --
>> Roy: YOU LOOKED LIKE YOU
DOUBTED ME LIKE IT WASN'T A REAL
THING.
YOU ARE ATTACKING MY HONOR RIGHT
NOW.
I FEEL LIKE A LOT OF BLACK KIDS,
THEY ARE NOT GOOD BECAUSE YOU
DON'T FACE THE SAME LEVEL OF
COMPETITION AND I GOT WITH THE
FOLKS AT META AND OCULUS AND WE
MADE A DOPE BATTING SOFTWARE.
YOU FACE MAJOR LEAGUE PITCHING
IN YOUR HEAD.
THE HOPE THAT IT WOULD GIVE
BLACK KIDS A CHANCE TO BE A
LITTLE BIT BETTER, TO MY
HIGH SCHOOL.
THE OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS.
>> Bomani: I'VE GOT A
DIFFERENT THEORY.
WHEN I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED IS
AS WE SAW INTEGRATION IN THE
SCHOOLS AND EVERYTHING ELSE WE
HAVE SEEN THE LIBERATION OF
BLACK PEOPLE PLAYING FOOTBALL
AND BASKETBALL IN PARTICULAR.
YOU'VE GOT TO LEAVE SOMETHING
FOR THE WHITE KIDS TO PLAY AND
HAVE AS THEIR OWN.
SPRING FOOTBALL MEANS A LOT MORE
THAN IT USED TO.
YOU CAN'T PLAY BASEBALL.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE GETTING READY
FOR FOOTBALL.
AS WE STEER KIDS IN THE
DIRECTION OF PLAYING ONE SPORT,
BLACK KIDS ARE GETTING STEERED
INTO THE ONE THAT MAKES ALL THE
MONEY FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
WHITE KIDS ARE BEING LEFT WITH
ONE SERVED -- SO EVERYONE CAN
HAVE A GOOD TIME.
>> Roy: WHAT HAPPENS WITH THE
BLACK COLLEGE LEVEL.
MOST OF THESE BLACK COLLEGES
HAVE GOT ALL WHITE BASEBALL
TEAMS.
I SAW BAS BETHUNE COOKMAN.
ALL THE WAY PEOPLE ON THE TEAM.
BASEBALL TEAM AIN'T GOT ENOUGH
SCHOLARSHIPS SO IF YOU'RE BLACK
AND YOU ARE GOOD AT BASEBALL.
THERE'S NO BLACK PERSON THAT'S
ONLY GOOD AT BASEBALL.
IF YOU'RE GOOD AT BASEBALL YOU
CAN ALSO DUNK OR RUN AND CATCH
THE BALL.
THOSE SPORTS HAVE MORE
OPPORTUNITIES FOR THEY HAVE A
QUICKER THROUGH LYING TO GET TO
THE PLAYERS THAT MATTER AND I
THINK THAT'S PART OF THE ISSUE.
>> Bomani: I WANT TO KNOW HOW
BAD THE WHITE BOYS WANT TO PLAY
COLLEGE BASEBALL THAT THEY
SIGNED UP TO COME TO THE
BLACK COLLEGES.
IT WOULD BE HARD TO GET WHITE
PEOPLE TO COME TO ANYTHING WE
ARE DOING GENERALLY SPEAKING.
I WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THE
RECRUITING, THE TALK WHEN YOU
GET ON CAMPUS AND THE OTHER
BASEBALL PLAYERS CALL YOU OVER.
MAN, IT'S DIFFERENT HERE FOR US.
[LAUGHTER]
>> Roy: MAKE THAT A MOVING.
>> Bomani: IT'S GOT TO BE
DIFFERENT.
CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU DIDN'T
KNOW NOTHING ABOUT BLACK PEOPLE
AND YOU JUST FOUND OUT AT THE
BLACK COLLEGE.
I LOVE WHEN THESE CATS COME FROM
EUROPE AND THEY LEARN ABOUT
AMERICA IN THE NBA.
>> Roy: ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO,
IF YOU'RE WHITE AND YOU GO TO A
BLACK COLLEGE AND PLAY BASEBALL,
ALL YOU HAVE TO DO IS GO TO
CLASS.
HOPEFULLY YOU GET A ROOMMATE
THAT'S ON THE TEAM, BLACK
ROOMMATE WHO WILL TEACH ABOUT
BARBECUE AND WHATEVER THE
DANCES.
THEN ALL YOU'VE GOT TO DO IS
FOCUS ON SPORTS.
BASEBALL IS UNIQUE IN THAT IF
YOU CAN HIT THE BALL 450 FEET,
NO ONE CARES WHETHER OR NOT YOU
CAME FROM A QUALITY PROGRAM.
IT'S NOT LIKE FOOTBALL OR
BASKETBALL WHEN YOU'RE JUDGED ON
THE COMPETITION THAT WAS ALSO ON
THE FIELD.
BASEBALL IS SUCH AN INDIVIDUAL
SPORT.
IF I CAN THROW THE BALL 95 MILES
AN HOUR, I CAN THROW IT.
IT DON'T MATTER WHO IS STANDING
IN THE BOX.
THAT'S --
THE BASEBALL TEAM WAS TRASH AND
I THOUGHT I COULD WALK ON.
BE QUIET.
YOU'RE DISRESPECTING MY HONOR.
I WENT TO THE SCHOOL AND I HAD
NO IDEA OF THE CONCEPT OF D1
FROM FLORIDA STATE COMING ACROSS
AND DIDN'T HAVE TO SIT OUT A
YEAR.
I DIDN'T HAVE THE CONCEPT OF
JUCO WALKING ON AND I GOT TO
COLLEGE.
OH, EVERYBODY IS GOOD.
I AM GOING TO GO WORK AT
GOLDEN CORRAL NOW.
Y'ALL CAN HAVE THIS BASEBALL
SHIT.
I AM OUT.
I'M GOING TO HELP MORE BLACK
PEOPLE INTO BASEBALL THEM THAT
IS BETTER THAN I EVER WAS.
>> Bomani: THEY WOULD'VE
LAUGHED YOU OUT THE BAND ROOM.
>> Roy: I CAN'T DANCE.
I HAD NO TALENT.
>> Bomani: AT BLACK COLLEGE,
PLAYING THE INSTRUMENT IS NOT
ENOUGH.
YOU'VE GOT TO BE ABLE TO DANCE.
EVEN IF I COULD PLAY AN
INSTRUMENT, I WAS NEVER GOING TO
HAVE A CHANCE.
>> Roy: IN A FUCKING WOOL
SUIT.
THEY ARE NOT DANCING INSURANCE.
CAN'T DO THAT.
THAT'S NOT WHAT I DO.
>> Bomani: ROY WOOD JR..
MY MAN.
APPRECIATE WHAT YOU'RE DOING FOR
BASEBALL.
[APPLAUSE]
>> WE ARE HERE TODAY TO
CELEBRATE MY SON.
HE DECIDES WHICH POWERHOUSE
COLLEGE HE'S GOING TO.
I WANT TO TAKE THE OPPORTUNITY
TO THANK MY FAMILY.
THAT'S MY BABY BROTHER MITCH.
ONE THING ABOUT BABY BRO, HE'S
GOING TO KEEP IT BLACK.
>> MY MOM'S HUSBAND, MY COACHES,
MOST OF ALL MY TRACY.
I LOVE YOU, QUEEN.
OKLAHOMA UNIVERSITY.
I WILL NOT BE ATTENDING YOUR
SCHOOL.
FLORIDA STATE.
THAT RECRUITING TRIP WAS JUST
LIKE THE MOVIE "HE GOT GAME."
WHO WOULD IMAGINE I WOULD MEET
AND FALL IN LOVE WITH MY CAMPUS
TOUR GUIDE.
I WILL NOT BE GOING THERE
EITHER.
THAT LEAVES ALABAMA.
BUT I WON'T BE ATTENDING ALABAMA
EITHER.
NEXT YEAR I WILL BE TAKING MY
TALENTS TO SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
HBCU.
>> NO, NO, WHAT THE FUCK DID HE
SAY?
HBCU.
SHIT.
>> ALABAMA GAVE ME 30,000 IN A
PICKUP TRUCK.
>> RIGHT ON.
KEEP IT BLACK, NEPHEW.
>> IS IT SUPER BLACK, LIKE 100%
BLACK?
I DON'T NEED -- I HOPE I DON'T
NEED A PASSWORD.
>> THESE HONKY TONK
MOTHERFUCKERS.
>> YOU BROUGHT ALL THESE CAMERAS
TO TELL US YOU WANT TO BE ON THE
DRUM LINE?
>> I WANT A NEW SON.
FUCK Y'ALL.
YOU ALWAYS THINKING THE SAME
THING.
>> Bomani: THE INTERESTING
COACHING COLLEGE FOOTBALL IS A
GUY WHO FINISHED HIS SECOND YEAR
AT A SCHOOL WITH ABOUT 7,000
STUDENTS.
IT'S DEION SANDERS, ONE OF THE
GREATEST FOOTBALL PLAYERS OF ALL
TIME.
HE'S NOW HEAD COACH AT JACKSON
STATE, A HISTORICALLY BLACK
COLLEGE IN MISSISSIPPI.
PRIME TIME HIMSELF IS NOW COACH
PRIME.
AND PLEASE SAY THE COACH.
>> SANDERS REPORTEDLY WALKED OUT
OF A ZOOM MEETING AFTER A
REPORTER TWICE CALLED HIM BY HIS
FIRST NAME.
ACCORDING TO THE CLARION LEDGER,
COACH PRIME SAID IN PART,
"YOU DON'T CALL NICK SABAN NICK.
DON'T CALL ME DEION."
>> Bomani: THE REPORTER WAS
LIKE, HIS MAMA NAMED HIM DEION,
I'MA CALL HIM DEION.
JUDGING BY HIS 15-5 RECORD OVER
HIS FIRST TWO SEASONS,
DEION CAN COACH.
BUT WHAT'S MADE EVERYONE SIT UP
SINCE HE ARRIVED ON CAMPUS IS
HIS RECRUITING SUCCESS.
>> ANOTHER SHOCKER
FOR COACH PRIME.
KEVIN COLEMAN COMMITTING
TO JACKSON STATE.
24/7 SPORTS HAS COLEMAN AS THE
FOURTH RANKED WIDE RECEIVER IN
THE COUNTRY.
>> WHY JACKSON STATE?
>> PRIME TIME.
WHY NOT PLAY WITH THE BEST?
>> DEION SANDERS SHOWING WHY WE
CALL HIM PRIME TIME.
THE NUMBER TWO RECRUIT IN THE
COUNTRY IS GOING TO JACKSON
STATE.
CORNERBACK TRAVIS HUNTER FLIPPED
HIS COMMITMENT FROM FLORIDA
STATE TO DEION'S TIGERS.
>> Bomani: LET ME TELL YOU WHY
THIS IS SUCH A BIG DEAL.
TRAVIS HUNTER IS THE SCORE HERE.
HE'S A CORNERBACK, DEION'S OLD
POSITION.
AND HE FLIPPED ON DEION'S
OLD SCHOOL TO SIGN WITH THIS
HBCU INSTEAD.
DEION STILL JUMPING ROUTES.
THIS TIME HE'S PICKING OFF
RECRUITS.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, PEOPLE GOT TO
THINKING THERE WAS A RENAISSANCE
IN HBCU SPORTS UPON US.
>> HOW BIG IS THIS?
>> WELL, IT'S MONUMENTAL.
IT'S HISTORIC.
>> HUGE FOR HBCUs AND ALL OF
COLLEGE FOOTBALL.
>> FUNDAMENTALLY HAS THE
POTENTIAL TO SHIFT THE BALANCE
OF POWER IN FAVOR OF HBCU
ATHLETICS.
>> THIS COULD CHANGE THE GAME
FOR THEM.
>> A NEW ERA OF FOOTBALL
AND THIS IS THE START.
>> IT'S A NEW DAY.
IT'S A NEW DAY.
>> Bomani: IT IS A NEW DAY.
EVEN BEFORE ALL THIS, MY FRIEND
JEMELE HILL WAS CALLING FOR A
BLACK EXODUS.
AND NOW HERE WAS
COACH PRIME, SHOWING UP LIKE
NEON MOSES.
I TOTALLY GET THE HYPE.
I'M A THIRD-GENERATION HBCU
GRADUATE.
IT'S HARD NOT TO GET SWEPT UP
IN THE EXCITEMENT.
WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A NEW DAWN
OF BLACK CONSCIOUSNESS.
STAR ATHLETES ACTING IN THE NAME
OF BLACK SOLIDARITY,
BAILING ON PREDOMINANTLY
WHITE INSTITUTIONS.
POWER TO THE PEOPLE, RIGHT?
>> YEAH!
>> Bomani: THAT'S NOT ABOUT TO
HAPPEN, Y'ALL.
AND I DON'T THINK IT SHOULD.
LOOK, WE DON'T HAVE TO ASK "WHAT
IF THE BEST BLACK PLAYERS WENT
TO BLACK SCHOOLS?"
IT HAPPENED BEFORE, BACK WHEN
SOME OF THE BEST FOOTBALL
PLAYERS IN THE COUNTRY
HAD NO CHOICE BUT TO COME TO
BLACK COLLEGES.
AND THE SCHOOLS WERE AS BROKE
THEN AS THEY ARE NOW.
SO MAYBE HBCUs COULD MAKE MORE
MONEY NOW WITH THOSE PLAYERS?
LET ME REMIND YOU WHAT THE
ESSENCE OF COLLEGE SPORTS IS:
TAKING MONEY FROM THE PEOPLE WHO
DO THE WORK AND GIVING IT TO THE
"OVERSEERS AND SUPERVISORS."
A "NEO-PLANTATION MENTALITY."
WHITE FOLKS HEARD "PLANTATION"
AND JUMPED UP LIKE THE FIRE
ALARM WENT OFF.
MAN, BUT THOSE AREN'T MY WORDS.
THAT'S WALTER BYERS, THE FIRST
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF THE NCAA.
HE STARTED THIS GANGSTA SHIT
AND FELT BAD ENOUGH ABOUT IT
THAT HE TURNED ON HIS OWN
CREATION.
LISTEN TO THE MAN.
WE DON'T NEED HBCUs TO BE THE
NEW SLAVEOWNERS.
AND EVEN IF WE WANTED TO,
YOU THINK THE MAN GONNA GIVE US
40 ACRES THIS TIME?
YOU THINK THEY'RE GONNA SIT BACK
AND LET US MULE KICK THEM IN
FOOTBALL?
CAN YOU IMAGINE WHAT WOULD
HAPPEN IF JACKSON STATE BEAT THE
BRAKES OFF OLE MISS.
THEY'D PULL DEION OVER ON THAT
SCOOTER HE RIDES ON THE SIDELINE
AND PLANT AN EIGHT-BALL IN HIS
POCKET.
YOU DON'T BELIEVE ME?
LOOK WHAT HAPPENED THE LAST TIME
WHITE FOLKS TOOK AN L IN THE BIG
GAME.
THE FACT THAT WE'RE EVEN TALKING
LIKE THIS TELLS ME WE'RE NOT
REALLY GRASPING THE PURPOSE OF
HBCUs OR WHAT THEY COULD AND
SHOULD BE DOING.
MOREHOUSE SHOULDN'T BE WORRYING
ABOUT BEATING GEORGIA
IN A TITLE GAME.
BUT, SHIT, IF THEY DID...
THE AFTERPARTY WOULD BE LIT.
HERMAN CAIN'S GHOST WOULD BE
STROLLIN' LIKE GOLDIE.
WHILE WE'RE ON IT, I REALLY
DON'T UNDERSTAND WHY THE HOMIES
AT MOREHOUSE DON'T WANT TO CLAIM
BROTHER HERM.
THE MAN WAS GONNA BE PRESIDENT
FOR A COUPLE OF WEEKS!
HE LOVED THAT SCHOOL!
AND IT'S MORE OF Y'ALL LIKE HIM
THAN MARTIN LUTHER KING.
AND NOT A DAMN ONE OF Y'ALL
REMIND ME OF
OF NO SAMUEL L. JACKSON.
NOW MOVING ON, LET'S TALK MORE
HISTORY.
HBCUs COME OUT OF
RECONSTRUCTION.
UNLIKE A LOT OF BLACK
INSTITUTIONS, BLACK COLLEGES
SURVIVED THE END OF
RECONSTRUCTION, WHICH IS WHEN
THE USA BECAME THE UNITED STATES
OF APARTHEID.
HBCUs SURVIVED BECAUSE THEY
WERE SEPARATE-BUT-EQUAL BEFORE
SEPARATE-BUT-EQUAL WAS EVEN A
THING.
OF COURSE THE EQUAL WAS A LIE
FROM THE JUMP.
"SEPARATE" MEANT "UNDERFUNDED,
UNDERSTAFFED,
AND UNDER-RESOURCED."
THAT WAS AS TRUE IN 1890
AS IT IS TODAY.
BUT HBCUs KEEP ON KEEPING ON IN
PART BECAUSE THEY'RE ONE OF THE
FEW FORMS OF BLACK
SELF-DETERMINATION EVERYONE CAN
GET BEHIND.
EVEN THIS GUY'S INTO IT.
>> HBCUs HAVE BEEN REALLY
PILLARS OF THE AFRICAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY FOR MORE THAN 150
YEARS.
AMAZING JOB.
>> Bomani: WHITE FOLKS LOVE IT
WHEN WE KEEP TO OURSELVES.
THEY DON'T CARE WHAT MUSIC
WE PLAY.
THERE'S ANOTHER THING YOU HAVE
TO UNDERSTAND.
HBCUs AREN'T WHITE COLLEGES WITH
A PAINT JOB.
THEY'RE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING
ELSE.
BLACK COLLEGES TEACH TWO
CURRICULUMS AT ONCE.
THEY TEACH WHAT YOUR MILITANT
UNCLE MIGHT CALL THE MASTER'S
LANGUAGE.
THAT'S THE QUOTE-UNQUOTE
NORMAL CURRICULUM.
AND AT THE SAME TIME, THEY GIVE
STUDENTS THE INTELLECTUAL
EQUIPMENT TO RESIST THE MASTER.
THAT'S THE COUNTER-CURRICULUM.
AND THERE'S MORE TO IT THAN THE
CURRICULUM.
LET'S HAVE SOMEONE WHO KNOWS
HBCUs EXPLAIN.
I AM HERE TONIGHT WITH AN
ESTEEMED ECONOMICS PROFESSOR
AND HBCU FACULTY MEMBER FOR MANY
YEARS.
THIS IS BARBARA JONES.
SHE'S MY MOM.
SO GREAT TO SEE YOU, DARLING.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> I AM FINE.
I'M VERY GLAD TO HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE WITH YOU
TODAY.
>> Bomani: HOW WOULD YOU SAY THE
HBCU CURRICULUM DIFFERS FROM THE
WHITE SCHOOLS?
>> OKAY, I THINK WHAT IS
DIFFERENT ABOUT HISTORICALLY
BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES,
MORE SO THAN THE CURRICULUM,
ARE THE COURSES THAT ARE BEING
OFFERED, IS THE CULTURE.
AND THAT CULTURE GIVES
AFRICAN-AMERICAN STUDENTS
A SENSE OF BELONGING, A SENSE OF
PURPOSE, A SENSE OF COMFORT THAT
IS NOT THERE WHEN THEY'RE KNOWN
AS "THE BLACK STUDENT."
BUT, RATHER, THEY SEE PEOPLE WHO
LOOK LIKE THEM, WHO HAVE GOALS
THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THEIRS,
WHO HAVE BACKGROUNDS THAT ARE
QUITE VARIED.
BUT THEY FEEL LIKE THIS PLACE IS
WHERE THEY BELONG, AND THEY FEEL
COMFORTABLE IN THEIR
INTERACTIONS WITH OTHER
STUDENTS, THEY FEEL COMFORTABLE
IN THOSE INTERACTIONS WITH
FACULTY, AND I THINK THAT IS A
VERY, VERY IMPORTANT PART OF
WHAT THAT EXPERIENCE BRINGS TO
THEM.
>> Bomani: MAMA, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR JOINING US
ON "GAME THEORY,"
I APPRECIATE IT.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Bomani: SO WE HAVE TO ASK THE
QUESTION: IF CHASING SUCCESS IN
COLLEGE SPORTS CORRUPTS THE VERY
PRINCIPLES HBCUs MEAN TO
INSTILL IN THEIR STUDENTS -- -
REMEMBER, I SAID NEO-PLANTATION
WHY ARE WE EVEN TALKING
ABOUT FOOTBALL PLAYERS?
HOW WILL 20 TRAVIS HUNTERS DO
ABOUT THIS?
>> WE ARE TALKING RATS,
WE'RE TALKING ROACHES, MOLD.
THOSE ARE JUST SOME OF THE
ISSUES THAT STUDENTS HERE AT
HOWARD UNIVERSITY ARE
COMPLAINING ABOUT.
>> VIDEOS SENT TO FOX 5 SHOWS
WATER POURING OUT OF PIPES,
EXPIRED AIR FILTERS WITH MOLD
AND MILDEW, AND MUSHROOMS
GROWING ON CEILINGS AND WALLS.
>> Bomani: MUSHROOMS!
BLACK HARVARD IS OUT
HERE STRETCHIN' AND SURVIVIN'!
AND Y'ALL EXCITED ABOUT
A CORNERBACK?
HOWARD HAD CONTRACTED WITH A FOR
PROFIT PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
COMPANY.
AND WHERE THERE'S A FOR-PROFIT
PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY AND
A BUILDING FULL OF BLACK PEOPLE,
THERE ARE ALWAYS RATS AND MOLD.
WHEN IT LOOKS LIKE IT'S THE
RAT'S PICTURE, AND YOU'RE JUST
IN IT, IT'S OFFICIALLY A
PROBLEM.
NOW WHITE PHILANTHROPY ISN'T THE
ANSWER, BUT MAYBE IT'S TIME TO
ROLL OUT THE RED CARPET FOR
MACKENZIE SCOTT AGAIN.
>> 2020 USHERED IN THE BIGGEST
DONATIONS IN HBCU HISTORY.
$120 MILLION FROM NETFLIX CEO
REED HASTINGS AND HALF A BILLION
FROM MACKENZIE SCOTT,
THE EX-WIFE OF JEFF BEZOS.
>> Bomani: MS. SCOTT COMING
THROUGH WITH THE BIG DONATION
FROM THE JEFF BEZOS WAYWARD DICK
FUND.
LISTEN, SOME PEOPLE WHO'VE BEEN
THROUGH BLACK COLLEGES LIKE TO
TALK ABOUT THE HBCU SCREW.
THE MOLD AND RATS ARE PART OF
THAT STORY.
SCREWED BY THE GOVERNMENT, HBCUs
OFTEN SCREW THEIR STUDENTS
IN TURN.
THAT'S THE SHIT WE NEED TO
ADDRESS ABOUT HBCUs,
ABOVE ALL ELSE.
BECAUSE WHAT'S BEST FOR HBCU'S
ISN'T WHAT'S BEST FOR THE
ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT OR THE
DEVELOPMENT OFFICE OR THE FOLKS
IN MARKETING.
IT'S WHAT'S BEST FOR THE
STUDENTS.
BIG UNIVERSITIES HAVE BEEN
EXPLOITING BLACK ATHLETES FOR
YEARS, BUILDING NICE NEW
STADIUMS AND WEIGHT ROOMS OFF
THE BACKS OF AN UNCOMPENSATED
AND DISPROPORTIONATELY BLACK
WORKFORCE.
NOW LOOK WHO'S GETTING INTO
THE GAME.
>> STATE LAWMAKERS APPROVED
A QUARTER OF A MILLION DOLLARS
TO STUDY THE POSSIBILITY OF
BUILDING JACKSON STATE A NEW
FOOTBALL STADIUM.
$80 MILLION WAS THE INITIAL
PRICE TAG BUT CONSTRUCTION COSTS
HAVE GONE UP IN THE PANDEMIC.
>> WE'RE LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW,
SUITES FOR OUR ALUMNI, WE'RE
LOOKING AT LOCKER ROOM SPACE,
WE'RE LOOKING AT THE PARKING,
TAILGATING FOR OUR ALUMNI
SUPPORTERS,
AND A LOT OF VIP AREAS...
>> Bomani: THAT'S THE MASTER'S
TALK.
DESPITE ALL THESE CHALLENGES,
BLACK COLLEGES DO INCREDIBLE
WORK.
THEY TRAIN THE NEXT BLACK
PROFESSIONAL CLASS.
IF YOU MEET A BLACK BIOLOGIST
OR ENGINEER WITH A PhD,
CHANCES ARE ABOUT ONE IN THREE
THEY GOT THEIR BACHELOR'S FROM A
BLACK COLLEGE.
MAYBE MORE IMPORTANTLY, THEY
TRAIN THE NEXT BLACK
REVOLUTIONARY CLASS.
TRYING TO TURN AN HBCU INTO A
FOOTBALL FACTORY WON'T DO SHIT
BUT MAKE ANOTHER RUTGERS.
THEIR ATHLETIC DEPARTMENT GOES
MILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN THE HOLE,
YEAR AFTER YEAR, AND THE
FOOTBALL TEAM IS STILL OUT HERE
LOSING 78 TO NOTHING.
THEIR BAND DON'T EVEN SLAP.
PRAIRIE VIEW WOULD NEVER.
IS THAT WHAT WE WANT
FOR OUR HBCUs?
YOU WANT THEM TO BE THE GUY
WEARING A GUCCI BELT WITH A SIDE
TOOTH MISSING?
IF WE REALLY WANT TO HELP HBCUs,
FUCK A NEW STADIUM.
THEY NEED FUNDING.
WHY DO YOU THINK ALL THOSE WHITE
SCHOOLS LOOK SO NICE?
DEION KNOWS.
>> ♪ MUST BE THE MONEY ♪
>> YEAH, YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
>> Bomani: THANKS, COACH.
[APPLAUSE]
THESE SCHOOLS NEED BIG MONEY,
BUT WHO ARE WE GONNA GET IT
FROM?
WHERE ARE ALL THE BLACK
BILLIONAIRES?
WE KNOW THEY'RE NOT PLAYING
FULL-COURT BASKETBALL,
BECAUSE THERE'S ONLY 8 OF THEM!
HELL, THERE ARE PROBABLY 8
BILLIONAIRES FROM CHINA WITHIN A
TWO BLOCK RADIUS OF THIS STUDIO!
BUT EVEN IF WE GOT ALL 8 OF THEM
TO PITCH IN ON AN HBCU, THAT
WOULD STILL BE ONE SCHOOL!
FUCK A FOOTBALL, MAN.
THROW ME A SCIENCE LAB.
OR HOW ABOUT A FULLY STAFFED
FINANCIAL AID OFFICE?
I'M PRETTY SURE DENISE HUXTABLE
DROPPED OUT OF HILLMAN BECAUSE
SHE GOT TIRED OF WAITING IN LINE
FOR HER FAFSA PAPERWORK.
>> TALK YO SHIT!"
>> YOU GOD DAMN RIGHT.
>> Bomani: THE MODEL HERE
IS THE IVY LEAGUE.
THEY HAVE GOOD, EVEN COMPETITIVE
SPORTS PROGRAMS, BUT WITH
EXCEPTIONS HERE AND THERE, THE
FOCUS IS ON TURNING THE ATHLETES
INTO DOCTORS, LAWYERS,
AND WAR CRIMINALS.
ANYWAY, I GOT TO SAY, THE WHITE
COLLEGES ARE DOING A PRETTY GOOD
JOB OF GETTING US TO THE LEAGUE.
IT AIN'T ALL GOOD, BUT BIG-TIME
COLLEGE FOOTBALL AND BASKETBALL
ARE THE RARE PLACES WHERE WHITE
FOLKS ARE ACTUALLY INVESTED IN
BLACK STUDENTS' FUTURES.
WE MIGHT WANT TO HOLD ONTO THAT.
FOR THE BEST OF THE BEST,
MAYBE WE ENCOURAGE THEM TO GO TO
ALABAMA OR WHEREVER, LIKE YOU
WOULD IF THEY WERE GOING TO
HARVARD MEDICAL SCHOOL.
LET THE HBCUs RUN WITH THE IVY
LEAGUE MODEL: USE THE ACADEMICS
AS A WAY OF ATTRACTING ATHLETES
INSTEAD OF SPENDING ON SPORTS
IN THE HOPES THAT IT MIGHT
EVENTUALLY BENEFIT THE STUDENTS.
KEEP IT REAL, WE AS A PEOPLE
DON'T NEED NO MORE FOOTBALL
PLAYERS.
WE GOT PLENTY OF THOSE.
AND THAT'S OUR SHOW.
THANKS FOR WATCHING,
AND SEE YOU NEXT WEEK.
'CAUSE WE AIN'T GOIN NOWHERE.
>> TALK YO SHIT!
>> HELL YEAH!
>> IF SAINT PETERS LOSES, WOULD
YOU GIVE A MESSAGE OF THE
PLAYERS?
>> IF SOMEHOW AND SOME UNIVERSE
SOMEWHERE ST. PETER'S LOSES,
WHICH IS VERY UNLIKELY, AT LEAST
ACCORDING TO ME, YOU GUYS PUT ON
FOR EVERYBODY AT ST. PETER'S,
YOU PUT ON FOR JERSEY CITY.
YOU GUYS ARE GOING DOWN IN THE
HISTORY BOOKS BECAUSE YOU GUYS
ARE LEGENDS, STRAIGHT LEGENDS.
>> THIS MAN IS GOING TO BE THE
GOVERNOR OF NEW JERSEY ONE DAY.