♪ ♪
Bomani: ROCKY TOOK SEVEN
PUNCHES IN EVERY MOVIE THAT
LITERALLY SHOULD HAVE KILLED
HIM.
WOULD THAT CHANGE YOUR
OPINION ABOUT HOW TOUGH WHITE
PEOPLE ARE IN GENERAL?
Bomani: ABSOLUTELY NOT I'VE
SEEN SCIENCE FICTION BEFORE.
IT'S A BUNCH OF WHITE DUDES OUT
HERE I'M NOT TRYING TO FIGHT I
WANT TO BE ABUNDANTLY CLEAR BUT
NOT TO WHERE I THINK YOU CAN
BEAT APOLLO CREED.
CHECKMATE.
♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Bomani: THANK YOU,
THANK YOU!
WELCOME TO "GAME THEORY"!
ONE MAN'S BEEN DOMINATING NBA
CONVERSATION THIS WEEK AND HE
NEVER EVEN STEPPED ON THE COURT.
JA MORANT.
HE'S CURRENTLY SPENDING TIME
AWAY FROM THE MEMPHIS GRIZZLIES
WHILE THE NBA INVESTIGATES AN
INSTAGRAM LIVE VIDEO THAT HE
POSTED EARLY SATURDAY MORNING
AND IN THE VIDEO, JA DISPLAYED
WHAT APPEARED TO BE A GUN WHILE
AT A NIGHT CLUB.
HEAD COACH TAYLOR JENKINS
TOLD REPORTERS SUNDAY, THERE IS
NO TIMELINE FOR MORANT'S RETURN.
Bomani: YOU ARE AT A STRIP
CLUB, YOUNG MAN.
BE PRESENT!
LIVE IN THE MOMENT!
WHY ARE YOU
FLASHING A GUN ON INSTAGRAM
LIVE?
WHY ARE YOU DOING ANYTHING ON
INSTAGRAM LIVE?
THE ONLY TWO THINGS TO COME UP
ON IG LIVE WERE VERZUZ AND
D-NICE.
BACK IN THE DAY WE USED TO SAY,
NOTHING'S GOING DOWN AFTER 12
BUT DRAWS.
NOW NOTHING'S GOING DOWN ON
INSTAGRAM LIVE BUT YOUR NET
WORTH.
AND WHAT'S CRAZIEST ABOUT ALL
THIS, IT SHOULD BE SO EASY FOR
JA TO WIN.
BECAUSE THE NBA AND AMERICAN
BASKETBALL WANT HIM TO WIN.
THEY NEED HIM TO WIN.
JUST TAKE A LOOK AROUND THE
LEAGUE.
NOW THINK OF THE STARS UNDER 30.
NOW ONLY THINK ABOUT THE
AMERICANS.
THAT'S A LOT HARDER THAN YOU
EXPECTED, ISN'T IT?
NOW I IMAGINE MOST OF YOU
THOUGHT ABOUT ZION WILLIAMSON
BUT HE CAN'T STAY HEALTHY.
,
AND THERE'S JAYSON TATUM, BUT
THE MOST INTERESTING THING ABOUT
HIM IS THAT
HIS SON CAN APPARENTLY JUST
WANDER ON THE COURT WHENEVER HE
WANTS AND HAS NO BEDTIME.
SO YEAH, JA ISN'T JUST THE
GRIZZLIES FRANCHISE PLAYER.
HE IS THE MAIN YOUNG AMERICAN
SUPERSTAR.
THAT'S WHY THIS WHOLE THING IS A
NATIONAL CRISIS.
AND LET ME TELL YOU ONE MORE
THING I NOTICED.
THE WORLD HAS CHANGED A LOT
SINCE ALLEN IVERSON WAS SCARING
THE PANTS OFF DAVID STERN.
BACK THEN, THE MOST PROMINENT
CRITICISM OF A.I.
WAS THAT HE WAS "A THUG."
NOW?
JA'S RAISING A RUCKUS AT FINISH
LINE AND FIGHTING TEENAGERS, AND
THE KNOCK ON HIM IS THAT HE'S
NOT A THUG!
WE HAVEN'T CALLED ANYBODY A
STUDIO GANGSTER LIKE THIS SINCE
WE FOUND OUT RICK ROSS WAS A
C.O.
ANYWAY, CALL IT PUNISHMENT.
YOU CAN CALL IT A MENTAL HEALTH
BREAK.
BUT IT'S TIME FOR DRAMA RANT TO
CHILL NO MATTER WHAT IT MESSES
UP FOR ANYBODY ELSE.
'CAUSE IF HE DOESN'T GET THE
POINT NOW, HE NEVER WILL.
IN OTHER NBA NEWS, THE MVP RACE
HAS BECOME LESS ABOUT NIKOLA
JOKIC, AND MORE ABOUT...
RACE.
WHAT WE'VE JUST WITNESSED IS
THE PROBLEM WITH THE SHOW.
WHERE WE CREATE NARRATIVES THAT
DO NOT EXIST IN REALITY.
THE IMPLICATION, WHAT YOU ARE
IMPLYING, THAT THE WHITE VOTERS
THAT VOTE ON NBA ARE RACIST,
THAT THEY FAVOR WHITE PEOPLE.
YOU JUST SAID THAT YOU, YES, YOU
DID.
I DID NOT.
YES, YOU DID.
THAT IS EXACTLY WHAT YOU
IMPLIED, KENDRICK PERKINS.
I STATED THE FACTS.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOU IMPLIED
THE OTHER DAY.
WE ALL KNOW WHAT YOU IMPLIED.
I STATED...IT'S THE FACTS.
IT'S THE FACTS.
Bomani: WHEW, GLAD I WASN'T
AT THE STUDIO THAT DAY!
PRO-TIP: IF YOU'RE TRYING TO
MAKE THE ARGUMENT THAT SOMETHING
DOESN'T INVOLVE RACE, IT MIGHT
NOT BE THE BEST LOOK TO TALK
OVER A BLACK MAN ON LIVE
TELEVISION, TELL HIM HIS
ARGUMENT WAS FLAT OUT WRONG, AND
CUT HIM OFF OVER AND OVER AGAIN!
LET'S BE FAIR.
WHITE PEOPLE AREN'T ALWAYS BEING
RACIALLY BIASED.
BUT YOU CAN NEEEEEVER BE
100 PERCENT SURE.
ACTING LIKE PERK'S CRAZY FOR
BRINGING IT UP...THAT IS CRAZY!
THIS IS AMERICA, JACK.
AND YEAH, PERK AND JJ ARE JUST
TALKING ABOUT THE NBA MVP, BUT
CHASTISING US FOR SAYING
SOMETHING MIGHT BE RACIST, IN
THE LAND WHERE RACISM WAS
PERFECTED?
THAT'S HOW YOU GET PATTED ON THE
BACK BY PEOPLE I KNOW JJ REDICK
DOESN'T WANT ON HIS SIDE.
THING IS, YOU CAN SEE WHERE PERK
WAS COMING FROM, EVEN IF HE GOT
IT WRONG ABOUT THREE DIFFERENT
WAYS.
YOU CAN UNDERSTAND WHY IF LEBRON
JAMES AND MICHAEL JORDAN NEVER
WON 3 MVPS IN A ROW, IT LOOKS A
LITTLE WEIRD WHEN NIKOLA JOKIC,
A WHITE MAN WITH THE PHYSIQUE OF
A BAGUETTE WINS 3 TIMES IN A
ROW,
AND THE LAST TIME SOMEONE WON 3
TIMES IN A ROW, IT WAS
WHITE GUY WITH THE PHYSIQUE OF A
WET NEWPORT.
I SEE WHY SOMEBODY MIGHT
WONDER.
EVEN THOUGH THE SOLUTION TO THE
CONFUSION IS PRETTY EASY--
WATCH THAT BIG ORNERY SUMBITCH
PLAY.
I DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW THAT GUY
DOES THOSE THINGS, EITHER, BUT
HE DOES.
AND THAT ENDS THE DISCUSSION.
BUT THE PEOPLE KILLING PERK NEED
TO UNDERSTAND SOMETHING...THE
PEOPLE WHO THINK FOLKS LIKE ME
TALK ABOUT RACE ALL THE TIME
DON'T REALIZE HOW MUCH WE LET
SLIDE.
IF I REALLY DID THAT, THERE
WOULDN'T BE NO TIME ON HERE FOR
JOKES.
EVERY EPISODE WOULD BE LIKE A
PUBLIC ENEMY ALBUM.
BUT GUESS WHAT?
SOMETIMES, WHEN WE TALK ABOUT
RACE, WE'RE GONNA GET IT WRONG.
AND WHEN WE DO, SOMEBODY SHOULD
SAY IT.
BUT NOT LIKE THAT.
NOT LIKE WHITE PEOPLE DESERVE
THE BENEFIT OF THE DOUBT UNLESS
YOU'RE 100 PERCENT SURE.
NOT LIKE A CHILD GOT OUT OF
LINE.
EVEN IF HE IS ROLLING HIS EYES
AT YOU ON TELEVISION.
SPEAKING OF THINGS THAT MIGHT BE
RACIST, THE OSCARS ARE THIS
WEEKEND!
AND IF HISTORY IS ANY
INDICATION, THIS YEAR WILL BE
ANOTHER CELEBRATION OF AMAZING
PERFORMANCES.
BUT WE HERE AT GAME THEORY THINK
THERE'S SOME WHITE EXCELLENCE
THAT IS ACTUALLY BEING
OVERLOOKED.
WELCOME TO THE BOSCARS.
BEST RACIST PERFORMANCE IN A
SPORTS FILM, AND THE NOMINEES
ARE POINT GUARD WHO KNOWS ALL
LIVES MATTER.
YOU THINK IT'S EASY BEING ON
THIS TEAM, TAKING A BACKSEAT TO
YOU EVERY DAY?
WE ARE THE MINORITY!
APARTHEID TED LASSO.
THEY LET HIM OUT.
REMEMBER THIS DAY, THIS IS A DAY
OUR COUNTRY WENT TO THE DOGS.
ARYAN RACE, COOL RUNNING'S.
YOU HAVE NO BUSINESS HERE,
YOU AND YOUR STUPID FRIENDS.
WHY DON'T YOU TOURISTS GO BACK
TO WHERE IT IS YOU CAME FROM,
IT'S UPSETTING TO THE REAL MEN.
MR. YOUR SKIN IS YOUR JERSEY,
THE EXPRESS.
HERE YOU GO, PEEWEE, PUT IT
ON.
I'M SORRY BOYS, THAT'S ALL THERE
ARE.
DON'T WORRY, THE OTHER TEAM
WON'T HAVE ANY TROUBLE
RECOGNIZING YOU.
AND FINALLY, ALL TWO HOURS
AND 9 MINUTES OF THE BLIND SIDE.
AND THE AWARD GOES TO.
ALL TWO HOURS AND 9 MINUTES OF
THE BLIND SIDE, A MOVIE WHERE A
SCRAWNY WHITE BOY TEACHES A
BLACK KID HOW TO PLAY FOOTBALL
USING FOOD JARS.
CONGRATULATIONS TO THE BLIND
SIDE AND ALL OUR NOMINEES,
BECAUSE WITHOUT THESE MOVIES,
WHITE PEOPLE WOULD THINK RACISM
IS A MYTH.
Bomani: TONIGHT'S GUEST
TURNED SIX SEASONS IN THE NFL, A
STINT AS PRESIDENT OF THE
LEAGUE'S PLAYERS ASSOCIATION,
AND AN MBA FROM THE HARVARD
BUSINESS SCHOOL INTO ...
A PODCASTING CAREER.
GIVE IT UP FOR QUESTIONABLE
QUESTIONABLE CAREER CHOICES AND
DOMONIQUE FOXWORTH!
THE RAVENS PUT THE FRANCHISE TAG
ON LAMAR JACKSON, THAT MEANS
THAT SOMEBODY ELSE CAN SIGN HIM,
YOU AND I BOTH TALKED ABOUT
THIS.
WE WERE SURE HE WOULD STAY WITH
THE RAVENS BECAUSE THE RAVENS
AREN'T STUPID TO.
I WOULD LIKE TO SAY NO, THEY
GAVE ME A BIG CHECK I THINK THEY
ARE A SMART ORGANIZATION.
THE THING THAT DRIVES ME CRAZY
AND IT HAPPENS EVERY TIME
SOMEBODY GETS PAID IS I'M
REMINDED HOW MUCH Y'ALL ARE
HATERS AND HOW MUCH IT DISGUSTS
ME AND THE CORE OF MY BEING THAT
PEOPLE ARE FINDING WAYS TO ARGUE
WHY SOMEBODY WHO HAS OVERCOME
TREMENDOUS ODDS AND THAT GOES
FOR EVERYONE IN THE NFL, WHY
THEY DON'T DESERVE A CERTAIN
AMOUNT OF MONEY, WHY THEY
HAVEN'T EARNED A CERTAIN AMOUNT
OF MONEY.
IT MAKES ME SO ANGRY BECAUSE
THAT'S LIKE THE SOLDIERS OF
CAPITALISM.
EVERY PLAYER EXISTS IN A SYSTEM
THAT ALREADY CAPS THEIR WAGES
WHERE THERE IS NO OTHER WAY
PLACE YOU CAN TAKE IT AND THE
LEAGUE IS A LEGAL CARTEL WHERE
WAGES ARE CONTROLLED AND
SUPPRESSED.
YOU HAVE A DRAFT, YOU PUSH
PEOPLE DIFFERENT PLACES AND THEN
WHEN A GUY FINALLY DOES
EVERYTHING HE'S SUPPOSED TO DO
AND GETS TO FREE AGENCY YOU'RE
TALKING ABOUT WHAT HE DESERVES
AND HOW RISKY A MOVE IT IS.
WHERE WERE YOU WHEN HE WAS
GETTING AN MPP SEASON ON A
ROOKIE DEAL?
WERE YOU MAD THEN?
[APPLAUSE]
Bomani: THERE'S ANOTHER
LEVEL TO THIS, THOSE FIVE TEAMS
IT SAID THEY DID NOT WANT HIM,
AT LEAST TWO OF THEM LITERALLY
DO NOT HAVE A QUARTERBACK.
AND AT LEAST THREE OF THEM MADE
A PLAY FOR DESHAUN WATSON,
THAT'S THE PART THAT GETS ME.
THERE'S A GUY THAT'S AVAILABLE
BUT APPARENTLY HE'S NASTY.
NASTY, NASTY IT'S A PROBLEM,
HE IS PROBABLY GOING TO BE
SUSPENDED-- WHAT CAN WE GIVE UP
TO GET HIM?
LAMAR JACKSON IS OUT HERE AT 26
YEARS OLD.
IF YOU DON'T WANT TO BELIEVE
IT'S COLLUSION GIVE US A REASON
IT MAKES SENSE.
I'M LOOKING FOR A REASON.
HOW IT DOES NOT FEEL LIKE THE
ATTENTION IS BEING PAID IN THE
RIGHT WAY.
WE LOOK AT TV AND WE LISTEN TO
PEOPLE.
I HEARD IT ON THE TRAIN ON THE
WAY UP HERE.
PEOPLE ARE LIKE I GET IT, HE
DESERVES HIS MONEY-- BUT
THERE'S A RISK.
YEAH!
IT'S FOOTBALL.
YOU KNOW WHO IS REALLY TAKING A
RISK?
LAMAR JACKSON.
WHEN PEOPLE ARGUE AGAINST HOW
MUCH MONEY IS GOING TO THE
PLAYERS I UNDERSTAND THERE IS
SOME JEALOUSY FRANKLY WHAT IT'S
LIKE I DON'T WANT THE PLAYERS TO
GET ALL THIS MONEY BECAUSE I
DON'T HAVE IT EVEN THOUGH
THEY'VE OVERCOME SO MUCH AND
THERE'S ALSO THE IDEA LIKE WHAT
ARE THEY GOING TO SPEND IT ON--
CHAINS AND RIMS AND WHATEVER?
IT GOOD TO, YOU DESERVE IT.
YOU ALSO HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THAT
THAT MONEY IS GOING SOMEWHERE
ELSE.
I KNOW THIS FROM MY PERSONAL
EXPERIENCE.
I GOT MY ONE BIG CHECK AND THE
MARKET WENT IN THE TANK.
MY PEOPLE, MY FAMILY, SENDING
KIDS TO SCHOOL, PULLING PEOPLE
OUT OF FORECLOSURE, THAT IS WHAT
PEOPLE LIKE LAMAR JACKSON WOULD
DO WITH THE MONEY.
Y'ALL FOOLS ARGUING THE
OWNERSHIP SHOULD KEEP THE MONEY,
THEY ARE NOT DOING THAT!
Bomani: LAMAR JACKSON IS AN
EASY GUY FOR ME AND YOU TO GET
BEHIND IT SO IT'S FLIP IT UP AND
TALK ABOUT KYRIE.
ONE OF MY HOMEBOYS USED TO
SAY NEVER TRUST ANYBODY WHO
TALKS WITH RAPP HANDS-- IF YOU
COULD TURN IT ON MUTE YOU WOULD
THINK HE WAS SPINNING-- YOU
KNOW WHEN THE BLADES COME OUT,
THEY ARE THERE TO CUT THROUGH
THE BULLSHIT.
AND I APPRECIATED THAT AND I
APPRECIATE AT NO POINT DID HE
SAY ANYTHING ANTI-SEMITIC IN
THAT RANT, THAT'S NICE.
Bomani: EVERY NOW AND THEN
IT HAPPENS WITH AARON RODGERS
ALSO, IT HAPPENS WITH KYRIE--
EVERY NOW AND THEN YOU'VE GOT A
POINT AND WHERE HE HAD IT WAS
WITH THE GAMBLING.
HE USED THE WORD "PURITY" OF THE
SPORT AND PURITY IS A DANGEROUS
CONCEPT BUT THE WAY WE COVER
SPORTS NOW AND HOW SO MUCH OF
THIS IS EMPHASIZED AROUND
GAMBLING, NONE OF US GOT INTO IT
FOR THE GAMBLING.
YOU MIGHT HAVE ONE YOU GOT THERE
BUT THE REASON THE GOVERNMENT
SUBSIDIZES ALL THIS STUFF, IT IS
MORE ABOUT PRINCIPLE, NOT FOR
THIS IS A PLACE YOU CAN TRY TO
MAKE SOME MONEY.
WHAT THE TV PEOPLE HAVE
DEFINITELY SEEN AND BELIEVE THE
REVENUE IS, GIVING YOU SPREADS,
GIVING YOU OVER-UNDER.
YOU'RE JUST GOING TO GUESS AND
HOPE THAT YOU WIN.
NONE OF THAT INFORMATION IS
CHANGING YOUR LIFE YOUR GUILT IF
IT WAS THEY WOULD CHARGE YOU
MORE FOR IT TO.
THE FACADE THAT EXISTS IN
ENTERTAINMENT IS SOMETHING THAT
IS NECESSARY, WE GAIN VALUE FROM
AND WE DON'T RECOGNIZE IT.
WHEN WE PULL THAT DOWN AND YOU
START TALKING ABOUT CAT MINUTIA
AND YOU START TALKING ABOUT
GETTING THE MOST OUT OF PLAYERS
AND OPTIMIZING FOR THEM, START
TALKING ABOUT CAN YOU WIN A BIT
ON AN ANCILLARY FIRST DOWN-- TO
ME, THAT GETS LESS FUN.
IT'S FUN WATCHING BARRY SANDERS
SHAKE SOMEBODY ALL THE WAY DOWN
AND GET TO THE CRIB.
THAT'S FUN TO ME TALKING ABOUT
HOW YOU CAN GET AN EDGE AND OVER
UNDER, IT BUSINESS THE GAME.
LIE TO ME, I WANT TO FEEL LIKE
I'M WATCHING A HIGH SCHOOL
COMPETITION WHERE THEIR HEARTS
ARE INTO IT, YOU KNOW HOW PEOPLE
USED TO TALK ABOUT COLLEGE
SPORTS?
I KNEW IT WAS A LIE I REMEMBER
WHEN WE WENT TO THE ORANGE BOWL
AND WE GOT BACK I HAD A SACK
THAT SAID ORANGE BOWL.
MY COACH GOT A BRAND-NEW
CADILLAC.
Bomani: DOMINIQUE FOXWORTH,
MY MAN, THANK YOU.
ONCE A W WENT TO A BASEBALL
GAME?
I THINK FOUR YEARS AGO.
TEN YEARS AGO.
THIRD GRADE TO.
Bomani: THAT LONG?
YANKEES VERSUS OREOS?
Bomani: THE ORIOLES.
WE ARE TALKING ABOUT BASEBALL ON
THE SHOW CAN YOU THINK ABOUT
WAYS THE BILLIONAIRE OWNERS CAN
MAKE BASEBALL BETTER?
MAKE IT MORE PHYSICAL IN SOME
WAY.
Bomani: AROUND SECOND AND
SOMEBODY HITS YOU?
MAKE IT A LITTLE MORE
CONTACT.
I WANT TO DRINK $2 BEERS, GET
HOT DOGS.
Bomani: YOU'RE FROM
CINCINNATI YOU DON'T WANT TO GO
TO A BASEBALL GAME, IS THAT THE
ONLY THING YOU DO?
NO, NO, WE HEROIN--
OUTFITS.
Bomani: MY FAVORITE THING
IN TALKING ABOUT SPORTS WITH
PEOPLE WHO DON'T DO SPORTS LIKE
THAT IS OUTFITS.
COSTUME?
WHAT IS IT CALLED?
UNIFORM!
IT'S A BORING GAME, IT'S
SLOW-MOVING, IT TAKES TOO LONG,
I DON'T KNOW WHO ANY OF THOSE
PEOPLE ARE.
Bomani: YOU'RE SAYING THE
PROBLEM WITH BASEBALL IS THAT IT
BASEBALL?
WHAT IF YOU FOUND OUT THAT
BASEBALL IS SOMETHING THE
BILLIONAIRES CAN MAKE BETTER?
HOW?
Bomani: STICK AROUND AND
I'LL LET YOU KNOW.
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Bomani: FIRST THING I EVER
LOVED IN THIS WORLD WAS THE
ATLANTA BRAVES.
THEN I LOOKED UP ONE DAY AND
REALIZED I HADN'T WATCHED A
BASEBALL GAME IN TEN YEARS.
AT SOME POINT, I JUST STOPPED
CARING ABOUT BASEBALL THE WAY I
USED TO.
AND IT SEEMS LIKE I'M NOT THE
ONLY ONE.
FANS LOVE FOR THE GAME
ACTUALLY APPEARS TO BE AT A LOW
RIGHT NOW.
32% OF AMERICANS OLDER THAN 45
YEARS OLD ARE FOLLOWING THE
GAME.
WHILE ONLY 22% OF YOUNG ADULTS
SAY THEY ARE.
IF YOU LOOK AT WHERE THE
SPORT IS RIGHT NOW, YOUR
DEMOGRAPHIC, ESSENTIALLY, IS
LIKE 65 TO DEAD.
[LAUGHTER]
Bomani: LITTLE KNOWN FACT,
65 TO DEAD WAS THE ORIGINAL NAME
FOR "THE GOLDEN GIRLS."
WE'VE GONE FROM "TAKE ME OUT TO
THE BALLGAME" TO, I'M AT A
BALLGAME...
SOMEBODY TAKE ME OUT.
BASEBALL USED TO BE SO HUGE THAT
MICHAEL JORDAN WAS AT THE HEIGHT
OF HIS BASKETBALL CAREER LIKE,
"IT'S WAAAAY MORE GAMES TO
GAMBLE ON OVER HERE."
AND NOW THE GAME'S ABOUT AS
IMPORTANT CULTURALLY AS
LANDLINES.
BUT THANKFULLY FOR MLB, A BALLER
HAS COME TO SAVE THE DAY.
BILLIONAIRE HEDGE FUND
OPERATOR STEVE COHEN IS THE NEW
OWNER OF THE METS.
HE IS NOT ONLY THE RICHEST OWNER
IN BASEBALL, HE'S RICHER THAN
THE NEXT THREE COMBINED.
THE METS ARE POISED TO
DESTROY ALL PAYROLL RECORDS.
IN SALARIES AND LUXURY TAXES,
THEY'LL PAY OUT OVER $400
MILLION THIS YEAR.
I HAVE CERTAIN HIGH
EXPECTATIONS AND IF IT REQUIRES
ME TO INVEST IN THIS CLUB, I'M
GOING TO DO IT.
WHEN I DO SOMETHING, I DON'T DO
IT HALFWAY, OKAY?
WHEN I'M IN, I'M ALL IN.
Bomani: SCARED MONEY DON'T
MAKE NO MONEY!
THAT IS STEVE, THE OWNER OF THE
NEW YORK METS.
HE'S A HEDGE FUND MANAGER WITH A
17 BILLION DOLLAR NET WORTH AND
A CONNECTION TO ONE OF THE
LARGEST INSIDER TRADING SCANDALS
IN HISTORY.
HE'S ALSO THE BIGGEST SPENDER IN
BASEBALL RIGHT NOW.
A FAMOUS RAPPER ONCE SAID, 'I'M
STANKY RICH, IMA DIE TRYING TO
SPEND THIS SHIT.' THAT'S COHEN
IN REAL LIFE.
I REALLY DISLIKE STEVE
COHEN 'THE BUSINESSMAN,' BUT I
DO REALLY ENJOY STEVE COHEN,
BASEBALL'S BIGGEST TRICK.
BUT IS IT TRICKING IF YOU GOT
IT?
I NEVER WANTED TO SAY THESE
WORDS OUT LOUD, LET ALONE ON
TELEVISION, BUT...
THAT MAN'S A SUGAR DADDY.
ZADDY IF YOU WILL.
AND THE METS ARE HIS
SUGAR BABIES.
THE METS PAYROLL THIS YEAR IS
ESTIMATED TO BE NEARLY $500
MILLION AFTER PENALTIES.
THAT'S 41% HIGHER THAN THE NEXT
TEAM.
HE'S SPENDING SO MUCH CASH THAT
PEOPLE BEGAN REFERRING TO THE
HIGHEST PART OF THE LUXURY TAX
AS THE "COHEN TAX".
YOU KNOW WHAT HE SAID WHEN THEY
ASKED HIM HOW HE FELT ABOUT IT?
"IT'S BETTER THAN A
BRIDGE BEING NAMED AFTER YOU."
TALK YO SHIT STEVE!
ALL THAT WAS BEFORE HE DID THIS:
JUST WHEN YOU THOUGHT THE
METS COULDN'T SPEND ANY MORE,
OWNER STEVE COHEN SAID THINK
AGAIN AND BOUGHT A 30- SECOND
COMMERCIAL DURING SUPER BOWL 57.
NEW YORK METS TICKET CENTER.
THIS IS BRANDON.
IN SECTION 139?
YEAH, YOU CAN SEE MY HAIR FROM
THERE.
YOUR TICKETS ARE CONFIRMED.
YES!
THE CLOSER.
Bomani: WE'VE ALREADY HEARD
OF THE METS, SIR.
STEVE COHEN IS TRYING TO MAKE
HIS TEAM EXCITING.
BUT FOR SOME REASON, OTHER
OWNERS IN THE LEAGUE DIDN'T WANT
HIM TO BUY THE METS.
AND IT APPEARS LIKE THEY REALLY
WANT HIM THROWING NINE FIGURE
CONTRACTS AT EVERY BASEBALL
PLAYER THAT MOVED.
AND WHY WOULDN'T THEY WANT HIM
TO BALL OUT ON HIS TEAM?
THESE OTHER OWNERS DON'T WANT
STEVE COHEN TO MAKE
THEM LOOK BAD FOR BEING CHEAP AS
HELL.
WHICH IS EXACTLY WHAT HE'S
DOING.
GOT EM LOOKING LIKE THEY
LIVE OFF COSTCO SAMPLES!
AND THEY HAVE NO REASON TO LOOK
LIKE THAT.
'CAUSE THE BUSINESS OF BASEBALL
IS BOOMING.
MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL IS A
REALLY GOOD BUSINESS NOW.
IT'S MAKING UPWARDS OF $10
BILLION A YEAR
I ALWAYS THOUGHT BASEBALL WAS
A DYING SPORT BECAUSE IT'S SO
LONG, SO BORING, STATISTICS
DRIVEN.
THEY'RE MAKING RECORD-SETTING
MONEY.
FOOTBALL IS OVER 15 AT THIS
POINT.
NBA IS UP TO EIGHT BILLION,
BASEBALL'S AT ABOUT TEN BILLION.
SO YOU'RE SAYING, HERE, ON
NATIONAL TV, THAT MAJOR LEAGUE
BASEBALL IS CURRENTLY MORE
POPULAR THAN THE NBA.
YEAH.
THE NUMBERS PROVE IT.
Bomani: BASEBALL IS LIKE
SKINNY AL SHARPTON.
LOOKS DEAD BUT IT'S ACTUALLY
JUST FINE.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
ALMOST 40% OF MLB'S REVENUE IS
FROM MASSIVE BROADCAST DEALS.
'CAUSE FOR BASEBALL, TV IS
THE REAL GAME.
BASEBALL IS ALWAYS ON AND PEOPLE
WATCH IT.
FROM APRIL UNTIL SEPTEMBER MLB
HAVE YOUR GRANDPARENTS IN A
CHOKE HOLD.
PEOPLE ARE TUNING IN.
AND THE MONEY THEY MAKE FROM ALL
THEIR BROADCAST DEALS GETS
REDISTRIBUTED TO THE TEAMS TO
THE TUNE OF $100 MILLION.
WHICH ALLOWS TEAMS TO MAKE A TON
OF MONEY NO MATTER WHO'S
SWINGING THE BAT.
I'M PRETTY SURE THE ORIOLES'
INFIELD IS AN EXTRA FROM THE
WIRE, A PILE OF OLD BAY
SEASONING, AND TWO COPS PLANTING
COKE ON CEDRIC MULLINS.
IT'S ALL PART OF MLB'S REVENUE
SHARING.
WHICH IS JUST LIKE ROBIN HOOD,
IF HE STOLE FROM HIS FANS AND
GAVE TO THE RICH.
IN ADDITION TO THE BROADCAST
DEALS, ABOUT 48% OF REVENUE OF
THINGS LIKE TICKET SALES AND
MURCH IS ALSO DISTRIBUTED
AMONGST THE TEAMS.
WHICH CAN ADD ANOTHER
$110 MILLION TO WHAT THEY'RE
ALREADY GETTING.
THIS IS SUPPOSEDLY TO ENSURE
EACH TEAM HAS A FAIR CHANCE TO
COMPETE FOR A WORLD SERIES.
BUT IT'S REALLY SOCIALISM!
IT'S THE TYPE OF THING THAT'D
MAKE FIDEL CASTRO
LOOK DOWN FROM HEAVEN AND SMILE.
BUT INSTEAD OF SPENDING THIS 200
MILLION ON PLAYERS,
MANY OF THE CHEAPEST TEAMS AND
OWNERS IN THE LEAGUE ARE
HOARDING THEIR CASH.
THEY COULD BE SIGNING NEW
PLAYERS.
ALL THAT MONEY, THEY COULD
INSTALL HEATED BASIS.
THEY COULD EVEN HAVE VERSACE T
SHIRT CANNONS.
THEY GOT IT LIKE THAT!
'CAUSE IN ANY GIVEN YEAR, ABOUT
HALF THE TEAMS EARN MORE MONEY
FROM REVENUE SHARING THAN THEY
SPEND ON PAYROLL.
THERE'S 14 TEAMS RIGHT NOW
ACROSS THE LEAGUE.
THEY HAVE A PAYROLL UNDER $100
MILLION.
YOU MEAN TO TELL ME--
THOSE TEAMS THEY HAVE THE MONEY
TO PAY THEIR PLAYERS.
THEY'RE JUST CHOOSING NOT TO.
SOME OF THESE OWNERS ARE JUST
NOT COMPETITIVE AND I WOULD
TOTALLY AGREE WITH THAT BY THE
WAY THEY'RE SPENDING.
YOU CAN LOOK AT THE NUMBERS AND
YOU CAN TELL THAT.
Bomani: IN A SPORT WITHOUT A
SALARY CAP, MORE REVENUE THAN
EVER, AND TEAMS MAKING A
GUARANTEED $200 MILLION A YEAR,
BASEBALL SHOULD BE RIPE FOR
OWNERS BLOWING MONEY.
BUT INSTEAD, THERE'S A BUNCH OF
CHUMPS IN THE LEAGUE BEING
STINGY.
THEY'RE DOING WHAT THEY ALWAYS
ACCUSED POOR PEOPLE OF DOING.
BEING LAZY AND TAKING A FREE
RIDE ON THE SYSTEM.
IT'S LIKE WHITE SOX OWNER JERRY
REINSDORF IS A
WELFARE KING PULLING UP IN HIS
CADILLAC OUTSIDE THE SOCIAL
SERVICES BUILDING.
WOODGRAIN KITTED, SITTING ON
TWENTY-FOURS, RIMS JUST
SPINNING.
RICH FRANCHISES AREN'T RUINING
BASEBALL.
CHEAP ASS, BROKE BOY OWNERS WHO
ARE SPENDING UNDER THE LEAGUE
AVERAGE ON PAYROLL ARE.
DESPITE BEING BILLIONAIRES.
LET'S CALL OUT SOME NAMES!
I'M TALKING TO YOU,
GUARDIANS OWNER LARRY DOLAN.
WITCHO STINGY ASS.
I'M TALKING TO YOU, NATIONALS
OWNER, MARK LERNER.
HANGING OUT THE PASSENGER SIDE
OF HIS BEST FRIEND'S RIDE.
SCRUB LOOKING BOY.
AND DON'T FORGET PIRATES OWNER
BOB NUTTING...
LOOKING LIKE HE'S HEARD THAT
JOKE ABOUT HIS LAST NAME BEFORE.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
Y'ALL ARE THE ONES HURTING THE
GAME WITH YOUR BANK ACCOUNTS
THAT SAY WEALTHY, BUT ACTIONS
THAT SAY GOFUNDME.
THAT'S WHY I SAY IT'S TIME FOR
YOU TO GET THE HELL OUT OF THE
WAY.
MAKE ROOM FOR SOME BALLERS LIKE
OUR MAN STEVE COHEN.
HE'S GOT EXACTLY THE TYPE OF
RUBBERBAND MAN ENERGY BASEBALL
HAS BEEN MISSING.
AND HE'S JUST DOING WHAT YOU'RE
SUPPOSED TO DO WHEN YOU'RE A
BILLIONAIRE OWNER OF A SPORTS
TEAM.
HE'S GIVING THE FANS SOMETHING
TO BE EXCITED ABOUT.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, MAKING IT
RAIN LIKE ANYONE WHO'S EVER
SHOPPED AT TARGET ON AN EDIBLE.
AND THAT'S WHY METS FANS AND
METS PLAYERS ACTUALLY SEEM TO
LIKE HIM.
THE COHENS HAVE BEEN NOTHING
BUT FAMILY TO US.
I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING HARDER
TO FIND THROUGHOUT THE LEAGUE
WITH OWNERSHIP.
IT'S NOT JUST, YOU KNOW,
AN INVESTMENT OF HIS, THIS MEANS
A LOT TO HIM.
WHAT MORE COULD YOU WHAT MORE
COULD YOU WANT FROM AN OWNER AS
A PLAYER THAN THAT?
HE'S GONNA DO WHATEVER IT
TAKES TO WIN, THAT'S MUSIC TO MY
EARS.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FOLLOW
ANIMAL SHOWS AT ALL.
THE SNAKE SHEDS ITS SKIN.
IT'S LIKE MOLTING.
WE HAVE SHEDDED OURSELVES OF THE
WILPONS' SKIN.
[LAUGHTER]
Bomani: I DIDN'T KNOW THEY
LET CRAIG CARTER WATCH ANIMAL
PLANET IN PRISON.
I SAID THAT!
[LAUGHTER]
NOW, ONE THING YOU ALWAYS HEAR
FROM SCRUB OWNERS IS THAT THEY
"CAN'T COMPETE WITH THE LARGE
MARKET TEAMS TO SIGN THE BEST
PLAYERS."
BUT LOOK AT WHAT'S HAPPENING IN
SMALL MARKET SAN DIEGO.
IT IS UNBELIEVABLE THE AMOUNT
OF MONEY THE SAN DIEGO PADRES
ARE SPENDING, A TEAM THAT NOT
LONG AGO WAS BUILT ON THE WAIVER
WIRE AND THE RULE 5 DRAFT.
IN 2023, THE PAYROLL IS GOING
TO BE NORTH OF $250 MILLION.
THEY HAVE OPENED UP THE
CHECKBOOK AND WHILE IT CANNOT BE
SUSTAINABLE PERHAPS FOREVER, IF
YOU WIN NOW AND YOU WIN SOON,
I'D SAY IT'S MONEY WELL SPENT.
Bomani: WHAT'D I TELL YOU!
SCARED MONEY DON'T MAKE NO
MONEY!
DUDE I LOVE THIS.
PETER SEIDLER IS PUTTING THE
OTHER CHEAP ASS OWNERS TO SHAME.
HE'S NOT WORTH $17 BILLION.
HE DOESN'T LIVE IN NEW YORK
CITY.
BUT HE'S STILL CHUCKING 280
MILLION AT XANDER BOGAERTS.
WHO MIGHT BE THE 4TH BEST
SHORTSTOP ON THEIR TEAM!
AND HE WENT EVEN FURTHER THAN
THAT WITH HIS OTHER MOVES.
THEY HAVE A 10-YEAR CONTRACT
WITH MANNY MACHADO.
THEY HAVE A 14-YEAR CONTRACT
WITH FERNANDO TATIS, JR.
FOR $340 MILLION.
THEY NOW HAVE AN 11-YEAR
CONTRACT FOR $289 MILLION TO
XANDER BOGAERTS.
YOU COULD PUT IT ALL TOGETHER,
ALMOST ONE BILLION DOLLARS IN
SALARY TO THREE PLAYERS.
Bomani: FIRST TIME A WHITE
MAN IN CALIFORNIA GOT THREE
LATINOS TO WORK ON HIS LAWN AND
ACTUALLY PAID A FAIR WAGE.
POINT IS, SMALL MARKET TEAMS
HAVE NO EXCUSE NOT TO BALL LIKE
THE BIG BOYS.
IF THE PADRES OWNER CAN OFFER
AARON JUDGE A $400 MILLION
DOLLAR CONTRACT
THAT MEANS YOU CAN BALL TOO,
CINCINNATI.
YOU TOO, BALTIMORE.
PITTSBURGH, DETROIT, OAKLAND,
KANSAS CITY.
COME OFF IT!
FLOSS A LITTLE!
MAKE IT RAIN ON YOUR CITY!
NOW I KNOW, MAYBE YOU'RE
WONDERING: WHY TELL RICH PEOPLE
TO BLOW MONEY ON SOMETHING SILLY
LIKE A BASEBALL TEAM.
THEY SHOULD SPEND THEIR MONEY ON
PAYING THEIR TAXES, OR ENDING
HOMELESSNESS, OR SOLVING WORLD
HUNGER.
FUCK OUTTA HERE.
THEY AIN'T DOING THAT.
THIS IS AS CLOSE AS THEY'LL COME
TO GIVING BACK.
BUT I DO HAVE ONE WEAPON ON MY
SIDE: SHAME.
'CAUSE ONE THING REALLY RICH
PEOPLE HATE IS WHEN YOU ACT LIKE
THEY'RE NOT REALLY RICH.
SO MAYBE, JUST MAYBE, I CAN
SHAME THESE ONE-PLY TISSUE
BUYING DEADBEAT DADS INTO
GETTING 87 WINS AND A WILD CARD
BERTH.
AND THAT MAYBE IS KEY.
THE METS AREN'T GUARANTEED TO
WIN ANYTHING JUST 'CAUSE COHEN
IS SPENDING MONEY LIKE MR. MET'S
GOT A GUN TO HIS HEAD.
BUT WHAT IT DOES DO IS MAKE
BASEBALL A LOT MORE LIT!
AND A LOT MORE INTERESTING!
WHICH IS SOMETHING THE GAME
DESPERATELY NEEDS.
THAT IS OUR SHOW, THANK YOU SO
MUCH FOR WATCHING.
AND FOR ANYONE WHO THINKS I WAS
CAPPING ON TONIGHT'S EPISODE,
JUST REMEMBER
IT'S THE FACTS!
[LAUGHTER]
Bomani: GOODNIGHT!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
WHAT COULD THEY SHOOT OUT OF A
T-SHIRT CANNON TO MAKE YOU GO TO
A BASEBALL GAME?
MAY BE A T-SHIRT THAT SAID I
WENT TO A BASEBALL GAME.
RED BULLS?
Bomani: LIKE A FULL CAN?
I NEED SOME ENERGY.
WEED.
LET'S GO ALL IN.
MAY BE PIGS IN A BLANKET?
Bomani: IF THEY SHOT PIGS
IN A BLANKET OUT OF A T-SHIRT
CANNON?
PEOPLE WOULD FIGHT OVER THOSE
THEY WOULD FIGHT OVER THAT MORE
THAN THEY FIGHT OVER T-SHIRTS
AND I'VE SEEN PEOPLE FIGHT OVER
T-SHIRTS.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Bomani: A FIGHT.
THIS WHOLE EPISODE IS ABOUT
BASEBALL?
Bomani: KIND OF.
Bomani: YOU'RE NOT GOING TO
WATCH IT ARE YOU?