♪ ♪
YOU GOING TO WATCH THE XFL?
Bomani: WHY WOULD I DO
THAT?
EVERY TIME SOMEONE THEY ASK ME
THINK ABOUT THE WORST
QUARTERBACK OF THE NFL, DO YOU
WANT TO WATCH HIM?
I DO EVERY DAY FOR MY TEAM,
THE JETS.
Bomani: I'M SAYING THIS,
THE WORST QUARTERBACK IN THE NFL
IS BETTER THAN ANYBODY IN THE
XFL.
THE DUDE THAT YOU WOULD BOO IN
THE NFL WOULD BE THE MVP IN THE
XFL-- FOOTBALL DON'T RUN ME.
WE HAVE TO STAND UP FOR FOOTBALL
AT SOME POINT PICK OUT THE NFL,
WHO DOES RUN ME?
HBO?
♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Bomani: WELCOME TO "GAME
THEORY"!
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THERE WAS A
BIG BOXING MATCH OVER THE
WEEKEND THAT WAS A BIT PERSONAL
FOR YOUR BOY!
FORMER BRITISH REALITY TV
STAR TOMMY FURY DEFEATED
YOUTUBER JAKE PAUL IN ONE OF THE
MOST ANTICIPATED MATCHES BETWEEN
TWO NOVICES IN BOXING HISTORY.
SUNDAY NIGHT'S FACE OFF IN SAUDI
ARABIA WAS THE FIRST DEFEAT OF
PAUL'S FRESH BOXING CAREER.
SICK REALLY BAD TWICE IN THIS
CAMP INJURED MY ARM, SO IT
WASN'T MY BEST PERFORMANCE, BUT
I LOST.
I'M NOT MAKING EXCUSES.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
Bomani: HOLD ON-- WHAT'S
FUNNY ABOUT THIS FIGHT AS LAST
TIME I TALKED TO JAKE HE TOLD ME
THIS WASN'T GOING TO HAPPEN.
AFTER TOMMY THEORY WHERE YOU
GO FROM THERE, WHAT HAPPENS IF
YOU LOSE ONE OF THESE FIGHTS?
I DON'T PLAN ON LOSING, I
DON'T TRAIN TO LOSE.
MAY BE I FEEL LIKE THAT'S
PROBABLY YOUR MIND-SET.
Bomani: BUT ONE THING I
NOTICED, YOUR MAN HAD A REMATCH
CLAUSE WITH TOMMY THEORY IN THE
CONTRACT IN CASE HE LOST!
WHICH HE DID!
IT SEEMS LIKE LOSING IS ACTUALLY
YOUR MIND-SET, JAKE!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
BUT LET'S TALK ABOUT A RICH
WHITE JACKASS WHO IS WINNING.
AS DAN
SNYDER CONTINUES TO ACCEPT BIDS
TO SELL THE WASHINGTON
COMMANDERS,
FEDERAL PROSECUTORS
IN VIRGINIA ARE INVESTIGATING
THE TEAM'S ALLEGED FINANCIAL
MISCONDUCT.
ONE AREA THAT INVESTIGATORS ARE
NOW FOCUSED ON IS A SECRET $55
MILLION DOLLAR CREDIT LINE THAT
SNYDER TOOK OUT WITHOUT THE
KNOWLEDGE OR APPROVAL OF
SNYDER'S THREE FORMER PARTNERS.
THE PARTNERS INVESTIGATED THE
TEAM'S FINANCES AND CLAIMED
SNYDER HAD USED THE TEAM AS HIS
PERSONAL PIGGY BANK, INCLUDING
CHARGING THE TEAM $3 MILLION IN
ADVERTISING FEES TO PUT ITS LOGO
ON HIS PERSONAL AIRCRAFT FOR ONE
YEAR.
Bomani: THAT IS THE MOST
EXPENSIVE RACIST BUMPER STICKER
I'VE EVER HEARD OF IN MY LIFE.
IT'S NOT JUST OF THE LOGO ON THE
JET.
SNYDER ALSO ALLEGEDLY TRY TO
CHARGE THE TEAM A MILLION
DOLLARS FOR VEHICLES AND EXTRA
SECURITY WHILE TRAVELING ABROAD,
AND ALSO ALLEGEDLY CHARGE THE
TEAM TO THROW A YACHT PARTY IN
THE SOUTH OF FRANCE WITH
JERRY JONES.
NOW SNYDER'S REPS AREN'T
DIRECTLY ANSWERING QUESTIONS
ABOUT ANY OF THESE SPECIFICS BUT
THEY HAVE SAID HE HASN'T DONE
ANYTHING WRONG AND THE TEAM IS
COOPERATING WITH FEDERAL
PROSECUTORS.
LET'S NOT LOSE SIGHT OF THE
CRAZIEST PART OF THIS.
DAN SNYDER WAS ABLE TO GET A
LOAN FOR $55 MILLION WITHOUT
REQUIRING SIGNATURES FROM HIS
FORMER PARTNERS.
THE BANK APPROVED IT.
THE NFL APPROVED IT.
THAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN
BILLIONAIRES AND PEOPLE LIKE US.
YOU GOTTA GET YOUR MAMA TO
CO-SIGN AND TAKE A BLOOD OATH
JUST TO BUY A USED CAR!
THE BILLIONAIRE WALKS IN THE
BANK AND THEY HAND HIM THE KEYS
TO GO PLAY SUPERMARKET SWEEP IN
THE BALTIC.
TWO YEARS AGO, SNYDER BOUGHT OUT
HIS SUPERPOWERFUL PARTNERS OUT
OF THE TEAM FOR $875 MILLION,
NOW HE'S TRYING TO SELL THE TEAM
FOR A REPORTED $7 BILLION.
WHICH WOULD MEAN HIS PUNISHMENT
FOR USE IN THE COMMANDERS AS HIS
PERSONAL PIGGY BANK WOULD BE
BILLIONS OF DOLLARS IN PROFIT.
GOD BLESS AMERICA.
I DON'T KNOW WHY Y'ALL CLAPPING,
THAT MAKES ME UNCOMFORTABLE.
[LAUGHTER]
THE NFL IS LETTING THIS ALL
HAPPEN.
WHICH BEGS THE QUESTION: WHAT
DOES DAN SNYDER HAVE ON THE
LEAGUE?
HE GOT A TAPE OF TONY DUNGY OPEN
MOUTH KISSING PEYTON MANNING OR
SOMETHING?
BECAUSE IT KIND OF FEELS LIKE
SNYDER IS WINNING THIS WHOLE
SITUATION.
THE ONLY COMMANDERS FAN TO WIN
AND 24 YEARS.
AND NOW UNFORTUNATELY I GOT TO
TALK ABOUT DEION SANDERS AGAIN,
BECAUSE HE'S HAD SOME WILD STUFF
ABOUT HIS RECRUITING PROCESS.
QUARTERBACKS ARE DIFFERENT.
WE WANT MOTHER, FATHER, YOU
KNOW, DUAL PARENT, WE WANT THAT
KID TO BE 3.5 AND UP BECAUSE YOU
GOT TO BE SMART.
NOT BAD DECISIONS OFF THE FIELD.
DEFENSIVE LINE IS TOTALLY
OPPOSITE.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
SINGLE MAMA, TRYING TO GET
IT.
HE'S ON FREE LUNCH.
I MEAN LIKE, I MEAN, I'M TALKING
ABOUT JUST TRYING TO MAKE IT.
HE TRYING TO RESCUE MAMA.
I WANT HIM TO JUST GO GET IT.
Bomani: I'M GOING TO PULL
BACK THE CURTAIN AND TELL YOU
SOMETHING ABOUT "GAME THEORY."
WE GOT A RULE HERE.
IF THE WHITE PEOPLE EVER LAUGHED
THAT HARD AND THE BLACK PEOPLE
LOOK LIKE HARRY STYLES JUST WON
OVER BEYONCE, WE AIN'T SAYING
THAT.
[APPLAUSE]
[LAUGHTER]
I GOT BIG PROBLEMS WITH THE WAY
DEJAN TALKED ABOUT KIDS BEING
RAISED BY SINGLE PARENTS, HE
SOUNDS LIKE HE'S ABOUT TO SHOW
UP AT JUVENILE HALL WITH A BIBLE
AND A BUNCH OF ORANGE CONES
TRYING TO SCOUT.
FIRST PRAY WITH THEM, THAN THEY
LINE UP FOR THE OKLAHOMA DRILL.
HIS BROKEN HOME DEFENSIVE LINE
WOULD BE LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE,
BRUCE WAYNE, PETER CORY
VITO
CORLEONE,
HARRY POTTER, THE KID
FROM JUNGLE BOOK, THE WHOLE
FAMILY FROM PARASITE, AND HIS
OWN SON, A QUARTERBACK WHO CAME
FROM A BROKEN HOME.
HAVEN'T THOUGHT ABOUT THAT, HAVE
YOU?
I GUARANTEE YOU DEION HAS NEVER
SAT ACROSS FROM ANYBODY'S MAMA
AND SAID, "I'M SO EXCITED HIS
FATHER WALKED OUT OF HIS LIFE.
ONE INCOME IS BETTER THAN TWO.
KEEP YOUR HEAD UP."
I'VE BEEN CRITICAL OF DEION
LATELY.
I TOOK A LOT OF HEAT FROM PEOPLE
WHO THOUGHT I WAS TRYING TO TAKE
A GOOD BLACK MAN DOWN AND I
UNDERSTAND WE ARE COMING FROM.
BUT HOW GOOD IS THAT BLACK
MAN IF HE GETS ON TV SOUNDING
LIKE THE WHITEST WHITE MAN?
THINK ABOUT WHAT HE SAID.
NOW IMAGINE A WHITE MAN SAYING
IT.
ANY OL WHITE MAN.
BOBBY BOWDEN.
ANDY REID.
YOSEMITE SAM.
YOU COULD IMAGINE ANY OF THEM
SAYING THAT SAME NONSENSE.
THAT'S HOW IT SOUNDED WHEN HE
TRASHED JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI,
WHILE PRAISING BOULDER,
COLORADO, FOR ITS LACK OF CRIME,
REMEMBER THAT?
IS DOING THE SAME THING AGAIN.
THE ONLY BLACK COACH IN THE
PAC-12 THINKS IT'S OKAY TO
RELEGATE PEOPLE TO A LOWER CASTE
BECAUSE OF SOMETHING THEY HAVE
NO CONTROL OVER: THEIR PARENTS.
AND HE THINKS IT'S FUNNY.
AND THINK WHITE PEOPLE THINKS
IT'S FUNNY TOO.
THIS IS MY THING WITH DEJAN, HE
INSISTS WE CALL HIM COACH PRIME.
PLEASE SAY THE COACH.
WITH THAT, COMES SOMETHING ELSE.
RESPONSIBILITY.
WE'RE GOING TO TAKE DEION
SANDERS MORE SERIOUSLY THAN WE
EVER HAVE.
AND IN THIS JOB, IN THIS
POSITION, YOU CAN'T PLAY LIKE
THAT.
[APPLAUSE]
IT IS OFFICIALLY MARCH, WHICH
MEANS THE NCAA MEN'S AND WOMEN'S
BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS BEGIN AND
YOU GET WAY TOO ANGRY AT ABOUT
19-YEAR-OLDS.
AND NO ONE GETS MORE EXCITED FOR
MARCH MADNESS THAN THOSE FOLKS
ON CAPITOL HILL.
♪ ♪
WE HEAR IN CONGRESS ARE
GIVING A NEW MEANING TO MARCH
MADNESS.
NORMALLY IT MEANS HOOPS AND
BASKETBALL.
BUT FOR OUR NATION'S SENIORS
IN THE MIDDLE CLASS THE REAL
MARCH MADNESS IS HAPPENING HERE.
PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT SAY
THERE IS NO PLACE IN WASHINGTON
FOR MARCH MADNESS.
THIS MADNESS ISN'T RESTRICTED
TO THE BASKETBALL COURT.
WE AREN'T GOING TO TALK ABOUT
THIS.
WHAT WE ARE GOING TO TALK
ABOUT HOWEVER IS MARCH MADNESS.
MARCH MADNESS.
THIS IS THAT, WE ARE IN THE
MIDDLE OF MARCH MADNESS HERE TO
USE A BASKETBALL METAPHOR, THIS
IS A LAMP.
MARCH MADNESS.
MATCH MARDNESS.
IF THE DEMOCRATS ARE THROWING
UP ANOTHER AIRBALL WITH THIS
LEGISLATION.
YOU KNOW WHAT WE ARE GOING TO
DO?
WE'RE GOING TO KEEP A DUNKING
THAT BALL, WE'RE GOING TO PUT
THAT BALL IN THE BEST POSSIBLE
HOOP AND WIN THAT GAME.
GO SYRACUSE.
Bomani: MY GUEST TONIGHT
WAS ONE OF THE MOST EXCITING AND
MOST HAD TO THE PLAYERS IN THE
NBA DURING HIS 16 SEASONS.
TODAY, HE'S A LIBERAL ARTS MAJOR
AT NORTH CAROLINA A&T, AND A
WALK-ON ON THE GOLF TEAM.
I AM LOVING THIS BROTHERS
JOURNEY.
GIVE IT UP FOR JR SMITH!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I THINK A LOT OF PEOPLE KNOW
THAT YOU COMMITTED TO PLAY
BASKETBALL AT NORTH CAROLINA,
THEN AFTER THE McDONALD'S
NORTH CAROLINA GAME EVEN ROY
WILLIAMS TOLD YOU YOU CAN COME
HERE IF YOU WANT BUT YOU'RE
GOING TO THE LEAGUE.
WHILE YOU WERE THERE DID YOU
WISH YOU HAD GONE TO COLLEGE?
AT A CERTAIN POINT FOR SURE.
FIRST I WOULD SAY 20, 25 GAMES I
BARELY PLAYED IF I PLAYED AT ALL
AND IT WAS DEMORALIZING BECAUSE
I'M WATCHING CAROLINA BE THE
NUMBER 1 SEED AND WATCHING
MARVIN, MY CLASSMATE AND
ROOMMATE, HE'S HAVING ALL OF MY
SUCCESS AND I'M SITTING ON THE
BENCH ON A TEAM THAT WON 18
GAMES MY ROOKIE YEAR.
I'M LIKE I PROBABLY SHOULD'VE
WENT TO SCHOOL, I PROBABLY
SHOULD HAVE DID THAT.
HIM I THINK I MADE THE RIGHT
DECISION I GOT TO DO SOMETHING I
LOVE THE DUE FOR A VERY LONG
TIME AND A LOT OF PEOPLE DON'T
GET THE OPPORTUNITY.
MY FORTUNATE.
Bomani: I ALWAYS WONDER
ABOUT YOU IN PARTICULAR, HE WENT
FROM LIVING IN NEW JERSEY TO
LIVING IN NEW ORLEANS AND I
CAN'T IMAGINE A BIGGER CULTURAL
CHANGE IN LIFE.
NOT ONLY A CULTURE CHANGE BUT
I'M 17 AT THE TIME, I CAME UP
FROM A STRONG TWO-PARENT
HOUSEHOLD.
AT THAT POINT IN TIME I'M MAKING
MY FIRST MONEY, I'M KIND OF LIKE
TOPS, SLIDE BACK A LITTLE BIT.
OUT OF ALL CITIES COMMITS
NEW ORLEANS.
XAVIER COLLEGE DOWN THERE,
DILLARD DOWN THERE--
Bomani: YOU WERE DOING IT
RIGHT.
YEAH, I WAS SHY OF OLDER
PEOPLE BECAUSE I WORK WITH THEM
GROWN MEN WHO MAKE SURE I KNOW
THERE IS AN AGE GAP AND THERE'S
A DIFFERENCE.
WROTE, YOU'VE GOT TO GO EAT AT
THE LUNCH TABLE TYPE STUFF.
FOR ME IT'S I WANT TO BE HANGING
AROUND PEOPLE MY AGE.
I WANT TO WORK OUT WITH
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS OR STUFF LIKE
THAT, WATCH D.J. AUGUSTINE IN
HIGH SCHOOL, BUT WHEN I STARTED
TURNING 18-19 I REALLY STARTED
VENTURING OUT.
Bomani: IF I WAS AN NBA
PLAYER ONLY 18 YEARS OLD, THEY
WOULD KNOW ME ON THE YARD.
I WOULD BE LIKE JUST EVERY OTHER
DUDE ON THE YARD, THEY WOULD
KNOW ME.
IT WAS HARD TO MISS ME, AT
THE TIME I HAD A CHAIN THAT WAS
PROBABLY AS BIG AS MY CHEST, IT
WAS REALLY HARD TO MISS.
Bomani: THE NEWS IS JUST
COMING OUT FROM LeBRON AND THE
TENDON INJURY HE'S GOING TO BE
OUT FOR A FEW WEEKS BUT WHAT DO
YOU THINK IT'S LIKE FOR GUYS TO
BE PLAYING WITH THIS OLDER
VERSION OF LeBRON JAMES, GUYS
WHO GREW UP WATCHING HIM I KNOW
HE'S RIGHT THERE NEXT TO YOU?
SHIT.
[LAUGHTER]
HONESTLY IT'S A GIFT AND A CURSE
PLAYING WITH BRON, I LOVE
PLAYING ON HIS TEAM BECAUSE I
FEEL LIKE I THRIVE MORE UNDER
THE PRESSURE.
A LOT OF GUYS DON'T LIKE IT
BECAUSE IT CAN GO 1 OF 2 WAYS.
IT'S EITHER WHAT DID YOU NOT DO
TO HELP HIM WIN?
AND WHO ELSE IT DIDN'T HELP WIN?
IT'S LIKE DON'T GET ME WRONG,
YES HE HAD 40-15-9-8 THAT SHE
MISSED THE FREE THROW TOO.
DON'T JUST LOOK AT ME BECAUSE I
MISSED AN OPEN SHOP, WE'RE ALL
MISSING OUT HERE!
I THINK FOR A LOT OF GUYS IT'S
HARD ESPECIALLY IN THE DAY AND
AGE WE ARE IN WITH SOCIAL MEDIA,
YOU'VE GOT ANALYSTS RUNNING
AROUND TALKING CRAZY, WHEN
YOU'RE PLAYING ON THAT TEAM I
THINK 12-13, STILL THE MOST
TALKED ABOUT TEAM ON TV.
I THINK IT'S ALWAYS GOING TO BE
THAT SUPPORTING CAST OF WHO'S
NOT DOING WHAT.
IF YOU AREN'T BUILT FOR THAT
IT'S GOING TO EAT YOU ALIVE.
Bomani: J.R. SMITH I
APPRECIATE YOU SO MUCH, MAN,
THANKS A LOT.
WHAT'S A COUNTRY YOU WON'T GO TO
FOR MORAL REASONS?
I'M GOING TO SAY IRAN OR
CHINA.
SAUDI ARABIA.
NORTH KOREA.
MASSACHUSETTS.
[LAUGHTER]
THEY DON'T APPRECIATE CULTURE.
Bomani: WHAT IF THEY
PROMISE YOU A NEW RIHANNA ALBUM?
SOLO?
I'M LOOKING AT FLIGHTS.
Bomani: WAS THE MOST EVIL
COUNTRY IN THE WORLD?
VATICAN CITY IS A COUNTRY,
RIGHT?
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
Bomani: IS THERE A LIVE
EVENT THEY COULD HAVE AT THE
VATICAN WERE IF THEY GAVE FREE
TICKETS YOU WOULD GO?
I MEAN, IT'S GOT TO BE THE
STROKES.
Bomani: YOU WOULD DO IT FOR
THE STROKES?
I WOULDN'T SAY THEY CAN
CONTINUE THEIR ACTIVITIES.
Bomani: WHAT IF THEY GOT
OUT CAST BACK TOGETHER, YOU
THINK YOU'D WANT TO GO TO
TEHRAN?
OUTCAST I CAN SEE AT AN
ARBY'S SOMEWHERE HERE.
I FEEL LIKE THEY ARE LOOKING FOR
GIGS.
Bomani: I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU
SAID THAT OUT LOUD!
IF I GET A STROKES CONCERT
I'M DOWN WITH WHAT THEY ARE
DOING BUT I WOULD GO, I WOULD DO
IT.
HIM I'M HOPING ON THAT DAY THEY
ARE DOING WHAT THEY ARE DOING.
Bomani: TAKE THE DAY OFF
FOR THE STROKES.
TONIGHT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT
SPORTS WASHING WERE COUNTRIES
AND REGIMES USE SPORTING EVENT
TO COVER UP THE VILE STUFF THEY
DO, WAS THE FIRST LACE YOU THINK
OF WHEN YOU THINK OF SPORTS
WASHING?
RUSSIAN, CHINA, NAZI GERMANY.
YOU WANT TO START WITH THAT.
CHINA, THE TYPE OF COUNTRY
THAT HAS THE RESOURCES TO DO A
LOT OF SPORTSWASHING.
Bomani: YOU DON'T THINK
ABOUT AMERICA?
GOOD POINT.
Bomani: AMONG US.
[APPLAUSE]
LOOK HERE, WHEN I WAS GROWING
UP, IT WAS THE COOL KIDS THAT
CAME UP WITH THE NEW TRENDS.
NEW WORDS.
NEW SLANG.
BUT IN SPORTS, IT'S THE DORKS
COMING UP WITH NEW WORDS.
OVER THE LAST YEAR THERE WAS ONE
WORD I KEPT HEARING A
PARTICULAR.
SPORTSWASHING.
SPORTSWASHING!
HOLD ON, HOLD ON, HOLD ON,
HOLD ON.
EXPLAIN THAT.
THIS CONCEPT CALLED SPORTS,
WASHING.
CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THIS IS?
Bomani: THANK YOU FOR
ASKING, I CAN!
SPORTSWASHING IS A TACTIC
EMPLOYED BY CONTROVERSIAL
GOVERNMENTS OR SHADY ACTORS
WORKING WITH THEM.
THEY HOST SPORTING EVENTS, OR
PURCHASE PROMINENT SPORTS TEAMS,
OR CREATE NEW LEAGUES, TO
GET US TO LOOK AWAY FROM ALL
THAT SKETCHY STUFF THEY ARE
DOING JUST OUT OF SIGHT.
OR TO USE A LESS TECHNICAL TERM:
THE OKEY-DOKE.
THINK ABOUT SPORTSWASHING LIKE
YOUR COMPANY CHRISTMAS PARTY.
THEY'RE GIVING OUT DRINKS,
MUSIC, FREE FOOD, TRY TO MAKE
YOU FORGET HOW MUCH YOU HATE
YOUR BOSSES.
AND THIS WINTER, THE COUNTRY OF
QATAR TRIED TO HOSTED THE
BIGGEST "DRY' CHRISTMAS PARTY.
THE WORLD CUP.
EVER!
THEY PROMOTED IT LIKE IF YOU
IT WAS DISNEYLAND, THE COUNTRY.
THIS IS QATAR.
THIS IS A COUNTRY FULL OF
MEMORABLE EXPERIENCES SET
AGAINST
A BACKDROP OF
FASCINATING TRADITIONS.
THE MODERN AND TRADITIONAL
ARE FUSED TO CREATE SOMETHING
REALLY SPECIAL.
QATAR REALLY IS AN INCREDIBLE
PLACE TO SPEND A FEW DAYS ON A
STOPOVER.
WHO ARE YOU?
ON THE OFFICIAL MASCOT OF THE
FIFA WORLD CUP.
PLEASURE TO MEET YOU!
Bomani: LOOKING LIKE A
LITTLE CHILD OF A MANTA RAY A
PILLOWCASE.
BUT QATAR'S WORLD CUP IS A PRIME
EXAMPLE OF SPORTWASHING: THEY
HOSTED AN EVENT THAT BROADCAST
AN IMAGE OF QATAR TO BILLIONS OF
PEOPLE THAT IT WAS A NATION OF
INCLUSIVE, MODERN, AND FUN.
BUT IT ALSO SHOWED HOW THAT CAN
BACKFIRE, ALL THAT SPECTACLE AND
ATTENTION CAN SHINE LIGHT ON THE
EXACT STUFF A REGRESSIVE NATION
LIKE QATAR MIGHT WANT TO KEEP
COVERED UP.
LIKE HUMAN RIGHTS ABUSES.
QATAR IS FACING NEW SCRUTINY
FOR MIGRANT WORKER DEATHS AFTER
THE CEO OF THE 2022 WORLD CUP
DOWNPLAYED A RECENT MIGRANT
WORKER'S DEATH.
AMNESTY INTERATIONAL CLAIMS
AUTHORITES FAILED TO PROPERLY
INVESTIGATE THE DEATHS OF
THOUSANDS OF MIGRANT WORKERS.
A RECENT REPORT FROM THE
HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH DETAILS
SEVERAL CASES OF GAY PEOPLE IN
QATAR BEING SUBJECTED TO SEVERE
BEATINGS AND FORCED INTO
CONVERSION THERAPY.
Bomani: THE SPORTS WASHER
DIDN'T WORK, WE ARE STILL
TALKING ABOUT ALL THE MESSED UP
STUFF THEY DID OVER THERE AND
THEY ARE STILL DOING.
THIS WORLD CUP IS THE LATEST OF
A STRING OF FAILED EXPORTS
WASHES.
THE OLYMPICS IN 2014 DIDN'T MAKE
THE WORLD FORGET ABOUT
VLADIMIR PUTIN'S SINS, THE
BEIJING OLYMPICS DIDN'T MAKE THE
WORLD FORGET THEY ARE CONDUCTING
A STATE-SPONSORED GENOCIDE IN
CHINA.
SAUDI ARABIA FUNDING A GOLF
LEAGUE DIDN'T MAKE THEM FORGET
ABOUT MURDERING A JOURNALIST IN
"THE WASHINGTON POST."
ALL IT
DID WAS JUST MAKE US WORRIED
THAT PHIL MICKELSEN WAS DYING.
HE'S GOT THEM TRUE DETECTIVE
EYES.
BUT YOU WANT TO KNOW A
SPORTSWASH THAT DID WORK?
ADOLF HITLER ATTEMPTS TO TURN
THE SUMMER OLYMPICS INTO A
PROPAGANDA PLATFORM FOR THE NAZI
DOCTRINE OF ARYAN SUPREMACY.
Bomani: DOLPH THOUGHT HE
WAS IN HIS BAG WITH THAT ONE.
HE TRIED TO USE THEIR LIMERICKS
TO GAIN CREDIBILITY AND
LEGITIMACY ON THE NATIONAL STAGE
WHICH IS PRETTY MUCH RUINED WHEN
THE LASTING IMAGE OF THE GAMES
WAS BLACK ASS
JESSE OWENS STUNTING ON
THE PODIUM HOLDING FOUR GOLD
MEDALS!
THEY WERE SUCCESSFUL SPORTS
WASH, JUST NOT FOR GERMANY.
AMERICA USED HIS SUCCESS AT THE
OLYMPUS TO CONDUCT A SPORTS WASH
OF ITS OWN.
IT WAS OUR COUNTRY THAT SPUN HIS
VICTORIES AND FOUR GOLD MEDALS
IN A NATIONAL VIRTUE IS.
HEROISM, OVERCOMING ODDS.
BEING THE GREATEST.
THAT LEGACY IS STILL BEING
TALKED ABOUT TODAY.
SPORTS IS ACTUALLY A UNIFYING
FACTOR FOR OUR COUNTRY.
UH, JESSE OWENS IN THE OLYMPICS.
I WAS THINKING TODAY
ABOUT JESSE OWENS BACK IN 1936
THERE'S ALWAYS SOME HEALING
MOMENTS THAT CAN COME OUT OF
THESE OLYMPICS.
JESSE OWENS IN THE OLYMPICS.
I THINK EVERYBODY, REPUBLICAN
AND DEMOCRAT, CAN APPRECIATE
THOSE MOMENTS THAT BIND US
TOGETHER AS AMERICANS.
THE HISTORY OF JESSE OWENS IS
AMERICAN HISTORY ABOUT
AMERICANS.
[LAUGHTER]
Bomani: IF YOU CONSIDER
MAKING WHOLESOME TELEVISION A
SPORT, THAT LAST GUY IT MIGHT BE
ONE OF THE MOST SUCCESSFUL
SPORTS WASHERS OF THE PAST 50
YEARS.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED SOMETHING
MISSING FROM ALL THOSE PEOPLE
TALKING ABOUT JESSE OWENS.
LIKE THE FACT WHEN HE WAS RACING
IN AMERICA, HE WASN'T ALLOWED TO
STAY AT THE SAME HOTELS AS HIS
WHITE TEAMMATES.
AND THE FACT HE DIDN'T EVEN
RECEIVE A CONGRATULATIONS
TELEGRAM FROM FDR.
OR THE FACT THAT WHEN HE WAS
BEING HONORED FOR HIS
ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE OLYMPICS, HE
HAD TO ENTER HIS OWN CEREMONY
VIA A FREIGHT ELEVATOR.
THAT'S THE SPORTSWASH.
AMERICA USED IT JESSE OWENS
VICTORIES TO SPORTSWASH THE
COUNTRY'S RACISM.
WHILE CONTINUING TO BE RACIST
TOWARDS JESSE OWENS HIMSELF.
IT'S NOT JUST AMERICA AS A WHOLE
THAT SPORTS WASHED, REGIONS OF
OUR COUNTRY HAVE USED SPORTS TO
REWRITE HISTORY.
LOOK AT COLLEGE FOOTBALL IN THE
JIM CROW SOUTH.
FOOTBALL WAS STRONGLY
IDENTIFIED WITH THE NEW SOUTH
MOVEMENTS.
THIS WAS A MOVEMENT OF BUSINESS
PROGRESSIVES WHO WANT TO REMAKE
THE SOUTH IN THE IMAGE OF THE
NORTH.
WE NEED TO INDUSTRIALIZE,
URBANIZE, REMAKE OUR SOCIETY.
FOOTBALL WAS GOING TO TEACH
MODERNITY, LEADERSHIP AT A TIME
WHEN THE U.S. WAS REACHING FOR
GLOBAL POWER.
Bomani: IN THE SAME DECADE
AS THE BERLIN OLYMPICS, THE
SOUTH REALIZED SOMETHING ABOUT
THE SPORTSWASH THOSE SLOW FOOTED
GERMANS DID NOT-- IT REALLY
HELPS IF YOU WIN.
YOU NEED AN ATHLETE OR A TEAM
FOR PEOPLE TO RALLY BEHIND.
LIKE JESSE OWENS IN THE "36
GAMES.
OR, IN THE SOUTH'S CASE, ONE
COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM IN
PARTICULAR.
ALABAMA'S ROSE BOWL GAMES
PARTICULARLY THAT FIRST ONE
THAT'S WHEN ALABAMA FOOTBALL
STOPPED BEING A TOTALLY REGIONAL
AFFAIR AND BECAME A NATIONAL
AFFAIR.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE 1926
ROSE BOWL AS THE MOST
SIGNIFICANT EVENT IN SOUTHERN
FOOTBALL HISTORY.
IT WAS A SUBLIME TONIC FOR
SOUTHERNERS WHO WERE BUFFETED BY
A LEGACY OF DEFEAT, MILITARY
DEFEAT, A LEGACY OF POVERTY, AND
A LEGACY OF ISOLATION FROM THE
Bomani: ANYTIME I SEE WHITE
PEOPLE CELEBRATING IN SEPIA, I
GET A LITTLE NERVOUS.
[APPLAUSE]
HERE'S THE THING, ALABAMA WON.
ALL THE WINNING THEY DIDN'T DO
IN THE CIVIL WAR, THEY HAD TO
GET DONE ON FOOTBALL FIELD.
IN DOING SO, THEY CEMENTED
SOUTHERN COLLEGE FOOTBALL AS
LEGITIMATE.
IT BECAME A SOURCE OF REGIONAL
PRIDE THAT ALLOWED THE SOUTH TO
HAVE A COUNTER NARRATIVE TO THE
TERROR OF JIM CROW AND THAT'S
WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE REMEMBER
TODAY.
BECAUSE NOW, PEOPLE PROMOTE
SOUTHERN COLLEGE FOOTBALL JUST
LIKE QATAR PROMOTES THE
WORLD CUP.
THERE'S A PLACE KNOWN FOR ITS
BEAUTY AND UNIQUE CULTURE WHERE
TRADITION RUNS DEEP.
HERE WE SWEAT THE SMALL STUF
STUFF.
THE ATTENTION TO TRADITION.
I'M HERE TO VISIT WITH SPIRIT
TO THE BALL EAGLE
WHO SOARS OVER JORDAN HARE
STADIUM BEFORE AUBURN GAMES IN
ONE OF THE MOST MAJESTIC
TRADITIONS IN ALL OF COLLEGE
FOOTBALL.
Bomani: I CAN'T EVEN FRONT,
THAT'S A COLD ASS EAGLE RIGHT
THERE.
TRADITION IS CODE FOR SUCCESSFUL
SPORTSWASH.
A.K.A., WE'RE NOT CHANGING
ANYTHING SO YOU MAY AS WELL
ENJOY IT.
AMERICA'S WHITE FOLKS, THEY
DON'T SPORTSWASH COME BUT IT'S
SOMETHING COMING THIS DO OR
RUSSIANS OR OR MIDDLE EASTERN
OIL NATIONS WITH STRANGE
WORLD CUP MASCOTS.
WHY ISN'T IT JUST A SOCCER BALL?
THAT'S RIGHT, SPORTSWASHING IS
JUST WHITEWASHING.
AMERICA'S EXPORTS WOULD LOOK A
LOT DIFFERENT IF WE DIDN'T
EXEMPT OURSELVES FROM THE MORAL
ACCOUNTING WE SUBJECT OTHERS TO.
IF THERE'S SOMETHING MESSED UP
GOING ON IN THE WORLD, AMERICA
IS DOING IT BIGGER AND BETTER.
EVEN ON AN INDIVIDUAL LEVEL, OUR
BILLIONAIRE OWNERS SPORTSWASH,
TURNING FRANCHISES INTO PERSONAL
P.R. MACHINES.
IN LOS ANGELES THERE WAS A
FORMER CLIPPERS OWNER DONALD
STERLING A RACIST REAL ESTATE
MAGNET WHO PAID A RECORD-SETTING
SETTLEMENT FOR HOUSING
DISCRIMINATION BUT OWNED AN NBA
TEAM, EVEN A SORRY ONE, MADE ALL
OF THAT SEEM LESS IMPORTANT.
OVER IN DETROIT YOU GOT TOM
GORES, OWNS THE BELOVED PISTONS
FRANCHISE AND SOMEHOW LESS KNOWN
FOR HIS FIRM █THAT CHARGES
INMATES PREDATORY PHONE CALLS
AND ALSO PRIVATE CONVERSATIONS.
WE'VE ALSO GOT TO TALK ABOUT THE
ORLANDO MAGIC WHICH IS BEEN
OWNED BY A SHADY DYNASTY THAT
BUILDS THEIR FORTUNE AND NAMED
THEIR ARENA AFTER AMWAY, A
MULTILEVEL MARKETING CORPORATION
THAT IS DEFINITELY NOT A CULT
BECAUSE THEY SAY SO ON THEIR
WEBSITE.
THAT'S SPORTSWASHING, BABY!
YOU WATCH SPORTS LONG ENOUGH YOU
START TO REALIZE ONE THING.
ALL SPORTS ARE WASHES.
FROM THE WORLD CUP AT QATAR TO
SOUTHERN COLLEGE FOOTBALL, THE
DONALD'S CLIPPERS.
THAT'S WHY I HATE HEARING THESE
DORKS WHO DON'T EVEN SOUND LIKE
THEY WATCH SPORTS TALK ABOUT
THIS LIKE IT'S A NEW CONSPIRACY.
IT'S CONDESCENDING TO SPORTS
FANS.
WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO NEXT,
POLITICIANS ARE BAD?
HEROIN IS ADDICTIVE?
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO WASH YOUR
LEGS IN THE SHOWER?
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
I'M JUST SAYING, YOU THINK HE IS
GOING TO EAGLE OUT OF THE ROUGH
AND SUDDENLY SPORTS FANS ARE
GOING TO BE LIKE POPPING UP A
JOURNALIST, IT AIN'T SO BAD?
NO!
THERE'S A FANTASY AT THE HEART
OF ALL THESE PUNDITS TALKING
ABOUT SPORTSWASH, IT'S ONE THAT
IMPLIES MAJOR SPORTS COULD EVER
JUST BE ABOUT SPORTS, SEPARATE
FROM THE AGENDAS OF GOVERNMENTS
OR THE MEGA-WEALTHY.
THE MEGA-WEALTHY THEY AID TO GET
THAT MONEY BY BEING GOOD TO
PEOPLE.
AS LONG AS PEOPLE WITH THE MOST
MONEY CONTROL SPORTS, THERE IS
GOING BE SPORTSWASHING.
AND FOR NOW, AT LEAST, THAT'S
JUST SPORTS.
BUT THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
WATCHING.
BY THE WAY THERE WERE NO HUMAN
RIGHTS ABUSES COMMITTED DURING
THE MAKING OF THIS TELEVISION
SHOW, GOOD NIGHT!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
I WASN'T WILLING TO COMPROMISE
NO MORALS.
I LIKE THE STROKES.
Bomani: YOU KNOW THEY STILL
DO CONCERTS AND STUFF THAT WOULD
BE A SPECIAL OCCASION, IT'S NOT
LIKE MARVIN GAYE IS SINGING
THERE.
IF THEY GOT OUT CAST BACK
TOGETHER, THEY HAVEN'T DONE A
SHOW TOGETHER SINCE 2014, I'D
WOULD GO TO THE VATICAN FOR
THAT.
I DON'T KNOW IF ANDRE CAN
WRAP ANYMORE.
Bomani: SAY THAT AGAIN.
I HAVEN'T SEEN HIM ON A
FEATURE FOR HOW MANY YEARS?
Bomani: THE LAST FEATURE I
SAW HIM ON WAS 2019 AND IT WAS
INCREDIBLE.
SO HE CAN WRAP ON SOMEONE
ELSE'S SONG.
Bomani: YOUR TELLING ME
DON'T WANT--
I LIVE OUT CAST MY LIVE OUT
CAST.
Bomani: BUT THEY ARE NO
STROKES!
I WANT YOU TO KNOW FOR REAL,
I WAS THE SAME TITLE ON THE WAY
HERE.
Bomani: I GOT TO SAY IT'S