♪ ♪
Bomani: I DON'T KNOW WHAT
THE NBA WILL LOOK LIKE IN 40
YEARS BUT IT AIN'T GOING TO
SOUND LIKE ENGLISH.
IF YOU GUYS HAVE NOT BEEN PAYING
ATTENTION, WE'RE LOSING THE
RECIPES.
TOP THREE PLAYERS IN THE LEAGUE
FROM OTHER PLACES, WE AIN'T GOT
THAT MANY DUDES COMING UP THE
PIKE, WE AIN'T GOT THAT MANY
YOUNG DUDES, THE NBA IS GOING TO
LOOK LIKE EUROPE IF EUROPE HAD A
LOT MORE BLACK PEOPLE.
[LAUGHTER]
♪ ♪
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
Bomani: WELCOME TO GAME
THEORY!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU.
I CAN'T BELIEVE I'M SAYING THIS
IN MARCH, BUT WE'RE STARTING THE
SHOW WITH SOME BASEBALL.
THE WBC, JAPAN, USA.
ALL THE MARBLES COMING DOWN TO A
FINAL AT-BAT FOR THE AGES.
OHTANI AGAINST HIS ANGELS
TEAMMATE, MIKE TROUT.
THE TWO BEST PLAYERS IN THE
WORLD.
3-2 GAME, 3-2 COUNT, PURE FILTH.
WIFFLE BALL SLIDER TO END IT.
OHTANI SAID, I BELIEVE THIS IS
THE BEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE.
Bomani: AND IT SOUNDED LIKE
THE BEST MOMENT OF MIKE TROUT'S
LIFE TOO.
AFTER THE GAME HE SAID, "THIS
WAS PROBABLY THE FUNNEST 10 DAYS
I'VE EVER HAD."
HE'S A 31 YEAR OLD MAN SOUNDING
LIKE HE WAS JUST CAME BACK FROM
SLEEPAWAY CAMP.
HERE'S WHAT WE LEARNED FROM THE
WORLD BASEBALL CLASSIC: EVERYONE
IN THE WORLD ENJOYS PLAYING
BASEBALL.
BUT US.
WHEN WE SAY THAT BASEBALL IS
BORING, WE GOTTA THROW ON THAT
NASTY LITTLE MODIFIER:
"AMERICAN."
AMERICAN BASEBALL IS BORING.
AND IT'S THE PLAYERS' FAULT.
THEY'VE GOT ALL THESE UNWRITTEN
RULES THAT PREVENT ANYONE FROM
HAVING AN OUNCE OF FUN.
THEY GET ALL PISSY AND ORNERY IF
SOMEONE HITS A HOME RUN AND
LOOKS THEM IN THE EYE BY
ACCIDENT.
MEANWHILE THE REST OF THE WORLD
IS SIGNING AUTOGRAPHS DURING
GAMES!
AND EVERYONE LOVES IT!
AND WHAT'S SO FUNNY, IS THAT I
NEVER SEE AMERICAN BASEBALL FANS
COMPLAIN ABOUT THE AESTHETIC OF
ASIAN AND LATIN AMERICAN
BASEBALL.
THEY ACTUALLY SEEM TO LIKE IT!
BUT FOR SOME REASON, WE DON'T
ADOPT IT.
IT'S LIKE HOW EVERYBODY
LOVES HBCU BANDS, BUT NO WHITE
SCHOOL WILL EVER LET THEIR BAND
SCRUB THE GROUND!
[LAUGHTER]
WHY ARE WE THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO
DON'T WANT TO HAVE FUN?
IT'S CUZ THE PROBLEM WITH
BASEBALL, ON THIS LEVEL, IS THE
PLAYERS THEMSELVES.
IT'S NOT LIKE THE
LEAGUE SUSPENDS PEOPLE FOR
STARING SOMEONE DOWN AFTER A
STRIKEOUT.
THE PLAYERS ENFORCE THAT.
THEY'RE THE ONES WHO THINK THERE
SHOULD BE A PUNISHMENT FOR FUN.
AND THAT THE PUNISHMENT SHOULD
BE YOUR SKULL GETS FRACTURED BY
A 100 MILE PER HOUR FASTBALL.
AFTER WATCHING THE WORLD
BASEBALL CLASSIC, IT'S CLEAR TO
ME THAT YOU PLAYERS HAVE GOTTA
START TAKING SOME RESPONSIBILITY
FOR THE SORRY STATE OF BASEBALL
IN AMERICA.
BOTTOM LINE-- I DON'T KNOW IF
THEY MAKE A SATIVA CHEWING
TOBACCO, OR MAYBE Y'ALL NEED
SOME CASA MIGOS IN THE DUG OUT,
BUT RIGHT NOW AMERICAN
BASEBALL'S LOOKING REAL SALT AND
PEPPER TO TASTE.
I'LL TELL YOU WHO IS KEEPING IT
SPICY IN THE NBA.
DILLON BROOKS.
SUSPENDED FOR ONE GAME
BECAUSE HE PICKED UP HIS 16TH
TECHNICAL FOUL OF THE SEASON
LAST NIGHT.
OFFICIALS SAY HE TAUNTED THE
MAVERICKS PLAYERS AFTER A SHOT.
HE'S UP TO NEARLY $250,000 IN
FINES THIS YEAR.
WHEN ASKED ABOUT IT HE SAID
"IT'S JUST PAPER."
THE MEDIA GAVE ME THE ABILITY
VILLAIN ROLE SO I'M TAKING IT
AND DOING WHAT I NEED TO DO WITH
IT.
Bomani: I NEED BUDDY TO
RELAX.
THE MEDIA DIDN'T GIVE HIM THE
VILLAIN ROLE, HE CAST HIMSELF.
DILLON BROOKS CRAVES THIS
ATTENTION AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
LET HIM HAVE IT.
BECAUSE AS ANNOYING AS HIS GAME
IS, THE NBA NEEDS PLAYERS LIKE
HIM.
IF YOUR LEAGUE HAS NO VILLAINS,
IT ALSO HAS NO HEROES.
HOWEVER, LET US NOTE THAT HIS
STRAIN OF VILLAINY ONLY EXISTS
IN A WORLD WHERE NOBODY WILL PUT
HIM ON THE GROUND.
BACK IN THE DAY, ONE FALSE SLIP
OF THE TONGUE TOWARDS A PLAYER
LIKE XAVIER MCDANIEL WOULD'VE
GOTTEN DILLON A 2 PIECE AND A
BISCUIT.
THEN THEY STARTED CALLING THE
PLAYERS THUGS.
AND, YANNO, THE PACERS PUT THE
PAWS TO THE PAYING CUSTOMERS IN
DETROIT.
SO NOW, NOBODY FIGHTS, NOBODY
THROWS CLOTHESLINES, NOBODY DOES
NOTHING.
SO DILLON BROOKS CAN TROLL HIS
WAY TO FAME AND FORTUNE WITH
ZERO FEAR OF CONSEQUENCE.
BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR: YOU
MIGHT NOT WANT NO PROBLEMS WITH
DILLON BROOKS.
I HAVE NO IDEA.
BUT IF HE CAN FIGHT, HOW COME
HIS BRAIDS ARE ALWAYS PERFECT?
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
IF YOU HAVE BRAIDS, THEY NEED TO
BE SHAGGY FOR ME TO BELIEVE YOU
GOT HANDS.
SEE THIS GUY?
HE LOOKS LIKE HE CAN FIGHT.
AND HE WOULDN'T SAY A WORD THE
ENTIRE TIME HE WAS KNOCKING YOUR
ASS OUT.
WITH THOSE HEAVY ASS HANDS.
YOU KNOW WHO I WANT TO SEE
DILLON BROOKS FIGHT?
GRAYSON ALLEN.
CUZ SOMEBODY'S GOTTA LOSE, SO WE
ALL WIN.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
AND NOW, IT'S TIME TO TALK ABOUT
MONEY MAKING MIKE!
HORNETS OWNER MICHAEL JORDAN
IS IN NEGOTIATIONS TO SELL HIS
MAJORITY STAKE IN THE TEAM.
THAT'S ACCORDING TO ADRIAN
WOJNAROWKSI.
THE PROSPECTIVE BUYERS ARE
INVESTMENT BANKER GABE PLOTKIN,
WHO ALREADY HAS A MINORITY STAKE
IN THE HORNETS, AND PRIVATE
EQUITY EXECUTIVE RICK SCHNALL,
WHO HAS A MINORITY STAKE IN THE
ATLANTA HAWKS.
JORDAN HAS BEEN THE NBA'S ONLY
BLACK MAJORITY OWNER SINCE HE
BOUGHT THE TEAM 13 YEARS AGO.
Bomani: TO HONOR HIM, THE
HORNETS WILL LIGHT A GIANT CIGAR
LIKE AN OLYMPIC TORCH AND PUT A
STATUE OF A CRAPS TABLE OUTSIDE
THE ARENA.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
BUT OF COURSE MICHAEL JORDAN'S
TRYING TO SELL THE TEAM.
YOU THINK HE DIDN'T NOTICE WHEN
THE BUCKS SOLD FOR THREE AND A
HALF BILLION?
OR WHEN THE SUNS WENT FOR FOUR?
OH HE NOTICED.
AND HE TOOK THAT PERSON TO
[LAUGHTER]
JORDAN WAS
THE SECOND-EVER BLACK OWNER
AFTER BET CO-FOUNDER BOB JOHNSON
SOLD HIM THE CHARLOTTE FRANCHISE
IN 2010.
AND I'D LIKE THE NBA TO CARRY ON
THE TRADITION BY SELLING THE
TEAM TO ANOTHER BLACK
BILLIONAIRE.
TYLER PERRY!
JUST IMAGINE IT.
TYLER PERRY'S: THE CHARLOTTE
HORNETS.
HOOOOOOO BOY GET READY FOR A
WHOLE LOT MORE GRANDMAS AT THE
GAMES, TITHING DURING TIMEOUTS,
CHURCH PLAYS AT HALFTIME.
IT'D BE JUST LIKE ONE OF HIS
MOVIES!
LAMELO BALL IN A BAD WIG AS THE
EVIL LIGHT-SKIN LOVE INTEREST.
KELLY OUBRE IN A MADEA SUIT.
GRANDMAMA MADEA, IF YOU WILL.
AND OF COURSE, GORDON HAYWARD AS
THE TOKEN WHITE GUY SITTING AT
THE THANKSGIVING TABLE, BUT
REALLY DOESN'T WANT TO TALK
ABOUT POLITICS.
WHO WOULDN'T LOVE THAT?
C'MON NBA.
SAY GOODBYE TO MICHAEL JORDAN
AND HELLURRRRRRR TO TYLER PERRY.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
THIS WEEK, THE SEC CHARGED A
BUNCHA CELEBRITIES FOR BOOSTING
CRYPTO ASSETS WITHOUT DISCLOSING
THEY WERE BEING PAID TO DO SO.
INCLUDING YOUR MAN, JAKE PAUL.
BUT JAKE'S NOT THE ONLY
ATHLETE WHO LOOKS LIKE AN IDIOT
FOR GOING BIG ON CRYPTO.
EVEN THE ONES WHO PUMPED IT ON
THE UP AND UP SEEM LIKE CHUMPS
NOW.
SO LET'S TAKE A MOMENT
TO REMEMBER THE SPORTS FIGURES
WHO LOST THEIR DIGNITY HYPING
THAT FUNNY MONEY.
I'VE ALWAYS BEEN IN THE
CRYPTO, ALL OF THAT.
I'M NAOMI OSAKA AND I'M PROUD
TO PARTNER WITH FTX.
BUY, SELL, TRADE.
I'M GETTING IN THE CRYPTO.
I'M IN.
I'M INTO THE WHOLE
CRYPTOCURRENCY BECAUSE I THINK
IT'S THE FUTURE.
IT'S DEFINITELY THE FUTURE.
THE RICHEST PEOPLE IN THE
WORLD ARE TALKING ABOUT IT.
ARE YOU?
CAN I ASK WHICH CURRENCY?
NO.
THE CRYPTO SPACE CAN BE
MIND-BOGGLING AT TIMES.
WHAT EXACTLY DOES IT DO?
HOW DO THEY MONETIZE?
WHAT YOU DO IS-- I APOLOGIZE
I'M KIND OF NERVOUS.
IT'S EARLY IN THE MORNING.
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
MY GUEST TONIGHT IS THE
HOST OF "FIRST THINGS FIRST" AND
THE PODCAST "WHAT'S WRIGHT WITH
NICK WRIGHT," HE'S A FRIEND OF
MINE AND THE SHOW, AND HE'S GOT
GREAT HAIR.
MAKE SOME NOISE FOR NICK WRIGHT!
[CHEERS AND APPLAUSE]
WE TALK A LOT ABOUT MY GUY JOKIC
AND THE MVP RACE, I WOULD LIKE
TO KNOW YOUR GUY LUKA NOT IN THE
DISCUSSION.
MY GUY JOKIC IN THIS BUT THERE'S
SOMETHING IRONIC THAT HAPPENED.
THE WHOLE KENDRICK PERKINS-J.J.
REDICK THING HAPPENED AND IT
TURNED INTO A TOXIC FIRESTORM
BUT IT ALSO ALTER THE DIRECTION
OF THE CONVERSATION AND WHAT
SEEMED LIKE A SLAM-DUNK JOKIC
NBP MIGHT BE MORE AMBIGUOUS.
YOU SAID TOXIC, THE REASON
FOLKS WERE SAYING THE MVP VOTE
HAS GOTTEN TOXIC, THEY HAVE BEEN
TRIED TO GET OUT IN FRONT OF
WHAT'S COMING AT THEM IF HE
LOSES IN ROUND 1.
IF THEY ARE PLAYING THE LAKERS
OR THE WARRIORS OR LUKA IN THE
MAVS PICK OF THE OTHER THING
THAT CHANGED THE CONVERSATION IS
JoELLEN PETERS SCORED 35 EVERY
NIGHT, YANA SAI-- WE WILL KEEP
GIVING IT TO JOKIC BECAUSE WE
LOVE TRIPLE DOUBLES AGAIN.
Bomani: THE NUGGETS ARE
GOING TO WIN THE WEST.
I'M GOING TO HOLD TRUE TO MINE.
IF ANYBODY CAN WIN IT AND YOU'VE
GOT THE BEST PLAYER IN THE
LEAGUE THIS SEASON BECAUSE I
THINK GIANNIS IS THE BEST PLAYER
IN THE LEAGUE YOU WILL WIN THE
WEST.
OF COURSE!
Bomani: WHO WAS BETTER THAN
HIM IN THE WEST.
LUKA IS BETTER THAN HIM.
Bomani: KEVIN DURANT CAN'T
PLAY BECAUSE HE'S ALWAYS HURT--
TELL ME HOW IT LUKA IS BETTER.
THIS IS MORE FUN WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT TWO WHITE GUYS, THERE'S
USUALLY ONLY ONE AT A TIME.
IF YOU HAVE TO GET A BUCKET,
THERE IS NO ONE IN THE LEAGUE
INCLUDING GIANNIS YOU WOULD
RATHER HAVE THEM LUKA.
Bomani: LET ME ASK YOU
THIS.
THE MICHAEL JORDAN MOVIE WHICH
ISN'T REALLY ABOUT
MICHAEL JORDAN BUT WE TALKED
ABOUT THIS, I'M KARIS WHAT YOUR
THOUGHT IS ON THIS.
I WANT TO KNOW WHEN WE TALK
ABOUT MICHAEL JORDAN, WHAT ARE
WE TALKING ABOUT?
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT THE
ENTIRETY OF HIS CAREER?
OR ARE WE ONLY TALKING ABOUT THE
HIGHS.
BUT I AM CALLED UNFAIR WANT TO
MAKE THESE POINTS.
MICHAEL JORDAN PLAYED FIVE YEARS
OF HIS CAREER WITHOUT
SCOTTIE PIPPEN.
ALL FIVE OF THOSE YEARS, HE WAS
BELOW .500.
IN THOSE FIVE YEARS HE WON
ONE-- NOT ONE PLAYOFF SERIES,
ONE PLAYOFF GAME.
CALEB YOU'RE COUNTING THE
WIZARDS YEARS?
YOU'RE RIGHT I'M COUNTING
WIZARDS YEARS!
IT WAS PART OF HIS CAREER.
HE HAD THE WHOLE LEAGUE ON LOCK.
DID NOBODY WIN TITLES?
IN YEARS HE PLAYED BASKETBALL
THE FOLLOWING PEOPLE HELD THE
TROPHY.
MAGIC JOHNSON, KAREEM, WORTHY,
BIRD, ISAIAH, CLYDE, DUNCAN,
ROBINSON, SHAQUILLE O'NEAL.
WHEN PEOPLE SAY JORDAN HAD THE
LEAGUE ON LOCK, DID HE HAVE
REGGIE MILLER, KARL MALONE,
PATRICK EWING AND CHARLES
BARKLEY ON LOCK?
ARE WE GOING TO TALK?
Bomani: HERE'S WHAT WE ARE
GOING TO DO, ALL YOU PEOPLE
CLAPPING MUST BE 14.
WHEN HE PLAYED FIVE YEARS
WITHOUT SCOTTIE PIPPEN, HE WAS
SO GOOD THAT ALL HE NEEDED WAS
SCOTTIE PIPPEN.
YOU SAY THAT LIKE HE DIDN'T DO
IT WITHOUT KAREEM OR HE DIDN'T
DO IT WITHOUT JAMES WORTHY.
HE DIDN'T DO IT WITHOUT
SCOTTIE PIPPEN.
THAT MAN WAS SO DESPERATE FOR
HELP IN THOSE EARLY YEARS THAT
ALL IT TOOK WAS SCOTTIE PIPPEN.
WERE NOT TALKING JUST TO WIN
CHAMPIONSHIPS WE ARE TALKING
ABOUT BEING ABOVE .500.
WIN A ROUND IN THE PLAYOFFS, HE
DIDN'T JUST HAVE SCOTTY, HE HAD
THE GREATEST COACH EVER END ON
THE SECOND THREE PT HAD HOW MANY
HALL OF FAMER'S?
DENNIS RODMAN IS IN THE IN THE
HALL OF FAME, 22 COACHES IN THE
HALL OF FAME, JORDAN IS WITHOUT
QUESTION ONE OF THE THREE
GREATEST PLAYERS EVER-- I'M NOT
HATING ON MICHAEL JORDAN I'M
JUST SAYING I GOT TO HEAR PEOPLE
BE LIKE IN THE GOAT DEBATE, LOOK
AT SHOE SALES-- LOOK AT
OWNERSHIP RECORD.
HE'S FINISHING A DISASTROUS RUN
WITH THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS SO
WHEN LeBRON OWNS A TEAM IN
LAS VEGAS AND THEY MAKE THE
CONFERENCE FINALS DOES THAT HELP
HIS GOAT CASE?
ASHOE SALES TEAM TO HELP
MICHAEL JORDAN YOU GOT ME RILED
UP.
Bomani: GET YOU A FRIEND
THAT LOVES YOU SO MUCH YOU CAN
COME ON HIS SHOW JUST AHEAD ON
MICHAEL JORDAN.
I'M GOING TO THROW SOME THINGS
AT YOU I WANT YOU TO TELL ME
SOMETHING THAT IS WORTH 95% LESS
THAN WHAT I TELL YOU.
A LOBSTER STATE DINNER.
HOTDOG.
Bomani: FRONT ROW SEATS AT
A BEYONCE CONCERT.
>> MY PAYCHECK?
Bomani: HOW ABOUT A
ROLLS-ROYCE?
95% LESS THAN ROLLS-ROYCE?
THE CAR THAT I DRIVE, A JEEP
CHEROKEE.
Bomani: FIRST CLASS FLIGHT
ON EMIRATES.
MEGA BUS TO D.C.
Bomani: FIRST-CLASS FIGHTS
ON EMIRATES AIRLINES.
MEGA BUS.
Bomani: MEGA BUS TO WHERE?
FOR SOME REASON I WANT TO SAY
D.C.?
Bomani: BARRETT IS.
WHAT'S WORTH 95% LESS THAN THE
BROADCAST RIGHTS TO THE MEN'S
NCAA TOURNAMENT?
A SUBSCRIPTION TO MY ONLY
FANS.
MY BAT MITZVAH VIDEO.
THE BROADCAST RIGHTS TO THE
NCAA WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT?
Bomani: THAT IS CORRECT I
GUESS IT DOESN'T APPRISE YOU TO
FIND THIS OUT.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU KNOW
THIS, PEOPLE HATE WOMEN.
THAT'S NOT SURPRISING.
Bomani: AT THIS POINT, WE
ARE ALL FAMILIAR WITH THE NCAA'S
WRAPS, TAKING ALL THE MONEY
WHILE KEEPING THE TALENT BROKE.
LIKE BARRY GORDON.
AND GUESS WHAT!
THERE ALSO WILDLY INCOMPETENT!
PARTICULARLY WHEN IT COMES TO
THE WOMEN'S NCAA TOURNAMENT.
AND IN 2021, IT WAS IMPOSSIBLE
TO IGNORE.
IT STARTED WITH THIS
BEHIND-THE-SCENES VIDEO FROM
UNIVERSITY OF OREGON BASKETBALL
PLAYER SEDONA PRINCE.
THIS IS OUR WEIGHT ROOM.
LET ME SHOW Y'ALL THE MEN'S
WEIGHT ROOM.
THE INDIANAPOLIS FACILITY FOR
MEN FILLED WITH EQUIPMENT.
OTHER DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE
MEN AND WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT?
LESS RELIABLE COVID TESTS AND
LESS ONLINE PROMOTION.
ANOTHER MAJOR COMPLAINT?
THE FOOD.
THE MEN GOT GOURMET MEALS.
THE WOMEN DIDN'T.
AN EGG IN A BAG.
[LAUGHTER]
Bomani: SOON AS YOU SEE
THAT EGG IN A BAG, YOU CAN JUST
SMELL THE SEXISM.
PRINCE'S POSTS HIGHLIGHTED THE
INEQUITIES BETWEEN MEN'S AND
WOMEN'S COLLEGE BASKETBALL THAT
MOST PEOPLE DIDN'T REALIZE
EXISTED.
AND WHEN THEY DID REALIZE IT?
OH, THEY WERE OUTRAGED.
THE BLATANT DISRESPECT SHOWN
TO THE WOMEN WAS JUST
JAW-DROPPING TO ME.
IT'S RIDICULOUS TO THINK THAT
THESE WOMEN HAD LIKE A COUPLE OF
YOGA MATS AND LIKE ONE SET OF
WEIGHTS WHEN THESE ARE STAR
ATHLETES.
THEY HAVE NO DEFENSE.
THEY DID YOU DIRTY.
STAR STEPH CURRY NOT A FAN
EITHER, TWEETING WOW, COME ON
NOW, MARCH MADNESS, NCAA, Y'ALL
TRIPPIN.
Bomani: HE'S AT HOME LIKE
"I DON'T TALK LIKE THAT."
BEEN THERE.
BUT ON THE PLUS SIDE, THIS
OUTRAGE ALSO CREATED ONE OF THE
GREATEST MOMENTS OF LOCAL NEWS
COVERAGE IN HISTORY.
NCAA LEADERS
PROMISED TO DO A BETTER JOB OF
PLAYING FAIR AFTER A SOCIAL
MEDIA EXPLOSION COMPARING THE
DIFFERENT TREATMENT BETWEEN MALE
AND FEMALE ATHLETES.
EYEWITNESS NEWS REPORTER SUE
CALBERG JOINS US LIVE WITH THE
ANGER AND SOME ANSWERS.
SUE?
THERE'S A TRAIN COMING BY.
SORRY ABOUT THAT.
I WANT TO TALK ABOUT-
[TRAIN HORN]
HA HA HA.
YEAH!
Bomani: EVEN FREIGHT TRAINS
ARE TALKING OVER WOMEN.
LOOK-- THIS MISTREATMENT OF THE
WOMEN'S GAME BY THE NCAA GOES
BEYOND JUST SUBPAR FACILITIES
AND BAD FOOD.
THEY HAVE SYSTEMATICALLY CAST
ASIDE THE WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT IN
FAVOR OF THE MEN'S ON A
STRUCTURAL, ECONOMIC, AND
PROMOTIONAL LEVEL.
THEY DIDN'T EVEN ALLOW THE
WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT TO USE "MARCH
MADNESS' BRANDING UNTIL 202 THE
MIDDLE OF THE COURT JUST READ
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL.
THINK ABOUT HOW BASIC THAT IS.
BUT ITS BETTER THAN THEIR OTHER
THREE CHOICES: "SPORTS GIRLS"
"FEMALES."
AND OF COURSE: "BREASTESES."
IT SURE SEEMS AS THOUGH THE ONLY
REASON THE NCAA DIDN'T WANT TO
CALL THE WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT
"MARCH MADNESS' IS BECAUSE THEY
BELIEVED IT WOULD TARNISH THE
BRAND.
THEY ACT LIKE THE "MARCH
MADNESS" BRAND IS A CAR THEY'RE
AFRAID TO LET A WOMAN DRIVE.
BUT THEY'RE WRONG.
CUZ THE WOMEN'S GAME IS
CURRENTLY HAVING A MOMENT.
THIS YEAR'S NCAA MEN'S AND
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENTS
HAVE TIPPED OFF AS THE SPORT IS
GETTING THE HIGHEST TELEVISION
RATINGS IN YEARS.
THE BIG10 NETWORK ALSO HAD
ITS HIGHEST-RATED SEASON OF
WOMEN'S HOOPS EVER.
UP 41%.
RATINGS ARE HIGHER THAN
THEY'VE EVER BEEN, WE'RE HAVING
GREATER ATTENDANCE IN COLLEGE
GAMES THAN WE'VE EVER HAD AND
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SELL OUR
SPORT RIGHT NOW IS REALLY HOT.
Bomani: INCREASED RATINGS
AND ATTENDANCE?
NAH, DEFINITELY NOT SOMETHING
THE NCAA SHOULD BE INTERESTED
IN.
THE 2021 WOMEN'S FINAL GOT
DOUBLE THE RATINGS OF THE
DUKE-UNC MEN'S RIVALRY GAMES
THAT YEAR.
[APPLAUSE]
IT GOT HIGHER RATINGS THAN THE
ACC FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.
AND IT HAD HIGHER AVERAGE
RATINGS THAN THE NBA PLAYOFFS
THAT YEAR.
DESPITE WHAT THE NCAA'S ACTIONS
MIGHT LEAD YOU TO BELIEVE,
PEOPLE LOVE WOMEN'S COLLEGE
BALL.
MEANWHILE, INTEREST IN THE MEN'S
COLLEGE GAME HAS FALLEN OFF.
A LOT.
VIEWERSHIP FOR LAST YEAR'S MEN'S
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME WAS 36%
LOWER THAN THE 2015 FINAL.
BUT VIEWERSHIP FOR THE WOMEN'S
NCAA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME?
IT'S UP 57% SINCE 201 YOU'D
THINK THERE WERE DRAGONS AND
WHITEWALKERS RUNNING AROUND ON
THE COURT.
[LAUGHTER]
AND THE WOMEN'S GAME HAS
QUALITIES THAT WE LOVE.
SOME OF THE CHARM THAT FIRST
DREW US TO THE MEN'S GAME.
RECOGNIZABLE PLAYERS.
LIKE ALIYA BOSTON AND CAITLIN
CLARK.
TEAMS THAT HAVE REAL CONTINUITY.
ICONIC COACHES LIKE GENO
AURIEMMA, DAWN STALEY, AND KIM
MULKEY.
WHO DRESSES LIKE THE GUEST
PASTOR AT PEPTO BISMOL BAPTIST
CHURCH.
THE 102ND DALMATION.
LOOKING LIKE SHE ENDS HUDDLES
WITH "PIMPS UP, HOES DOWN ON
THREE!"
MEANWHILE THE NCAA MEN'S COACHES
ROCKING THAT STEPDAD SHEIKH.
THE ONE NOT WEARING A QUARTER
ZIP IS GETTING HIS PETEY PABLO
ON.
POINT IS-- NCAA
WOMEN'S BASKETBALL BRAND IS
ALREADY STRONG.
AND WE HAVE EVERY REASON TO
BELIEVE IT WILL ONLY GET
STRONGER.
AND YET, THE NCAA IS STILL OUT
HERE SLEEPING ON HOW TO PROMOTE
IT IN SUCH A WAY THAT REFLECTS
ITS ACTUAL VALUE.
JUST LOOK AT THE DIFFERENCE IN
THIS YEAR'S FINAL FOUR CONCERT
EVENTS.
THE MEN GOT BIG NAMES LIKE MEGAN
THEE STALLION AND LIL NAS X.
BUT, WITH THE CONCERT ONE WEEK
AWAY, THE WOMEN STILL JUST HAVE.
WE DON'T KNOW!
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, PUT YOUR
HANDS TOGETHER FOR.
TBA!
YOU NEVER KNOW, THAT COULD BE A
K-POP GROUP.
AND THIS DISCRIMINATION RUNS
FAR DEEPER THAN WHETHER OR NOT
THE MEN OR WOMEN GET TO SEE LIL
NAS X.
THE NCAA IS HOLDING BACK THE
WOMEN'S GAME ON A STRUCTURAL AND
ECONOMIC LEVEL.
THE NCAA HAS NOT LIVED UP TO
ITS OWN STANDARDS ON GENDER
EQUITY AND INCLUSION.
THAT'S THE CONCLUSION FROM A
DAMNING NEW REPORT BY A LAW FIRM
HIRED TO INVESTIGATE GENDER
EQUITY CONCERNS IN COLLEGE
BASKETBALL.
BLASTED THE NCAA FOR NOT
RECOGNIZING THE GROWING VALUE OF
THE WOMEN'S GAME AND WROTE THAT
Bomani: AFTER
SEDONA PRINCE'S VIDEOS CAUSED A
CONTROVERSY, THE NCAA HIRED AN
OUTSIDE FIRM TO STUDY THE MEN'S
AND WOMEN'S TOURNAMENTS.
THE RESULT, CALLED THE KAPLAN
REPORT, WAS 352 PAGES
HIGHLIGHTING MASSIVE INEQUITY
BETWEEN THE TWO.
AND A LARGE PART OF THIS HAS TO
DO WITH THE WAY THE NCAA HAS
STRUCTURED THEIR MEDIA RIGHTS
FOR MARCH MADNESS.
WHICH HAS HAD A DIRECT IMPACT ON
THE EXPERIENCE OF FEMALE
PLAYERS.
CBS AND TURNER PAY THE NCAA
NEARLY 800 MILLION DOLLARS FOR
THE MEDIA RIGHTS TO THE MEN'S
GAME, AND IN 2025 THAT FIGURE IS
MEANWHILE, THE NCAA SOLD THE
RIGHTS FOR THE WOMEN'S
TOURNAMENT AND OTHER SPORTS TO
ESPN IN A PACKAGE WORTH ONLY 34
MILLION DOLLARS.
BUT THAT 34 MILLION DOLLARS IS
CRAZY, BECAUSE THE NCAA HAS
SEVERELY UNDERVALUED THE WORTH
OF THE WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT.
THE KAPLAN REPORT ESTIMATED THAT
IN 2025, A YEAR AFTER THE
CURRENT ESPN DEAL IS UP, WOMEN'S
MARCH MADNESS WILL BE WORTH AS
MUCH AS $112 MILLION DOLLARS PER
YEAR.
NOW, TO USE THESE ECONOMICS
DEGREES FOR A SECOND, 34 MILLION
AND 112 MILLION ARE WHAT IS
KNOWN AS "NOT EVEN FUCKING
CLOSE."
[LAUGHTER]
BUT THE NCAA DISCRIMINATION
[APPLAUSE]
AGAINST THE WOMEN'S GAME DOESN'T
STOP THERE.
WE GOTTA TALK ABOUT
SOMETHING CALLED "THE UNIT.'
WHICH SOUNDS PHALLIC, BUT IS
ACTUALLY THE WAY THE NCAA
DISTRIBUTES MARCH MADNESS
REVENUE.
THINK OF THE UNIT LIKE A CHECK
THAT GETS WRITTEN TO A TEAM THAT
WINS A GAME IN THE TOURNAMENT.
THIS YEAR, EACH WIN IN THE BIG
DANCE IS ESTIMATED TO BE WORTH
MORE THAN 2 MILLION DOLLARS.
SO HERE'S HOW IT WORKS.
TAKE DUKE, FOR EXAMPLE.
HYPOTHETICALLY OF COURSE.
CUZ THEY ALREADY LOST.
FOR EVERY GAME
THOSE CORNBALLS PLAY DURING
MARCH MADNESS, THEIR CONFERENCE,
THE ACC, IS REWARDED A UNIT.
THE FURTHER THOSE BLUE DEVILS
MAKE IT IN THE TOURNAMENT, THE
MORE UNITS THEY EARN.
AND THE MORE PISSED OFF I GET.
THE ACC THEN DISTRIBUTES THAT
MONEY TO ITS MEMBER SCHOOLS, WHO
CAN SPEND IT HOW THEY WANT.
IF YOU'RE DUKE, YOU'RE PROBABLY
GONNA INVEST THAT REWARD MONEY
BACK INTO THE MEN'S TEAM TO EARN
MORE UNITS THE NEXT YEAR.
GUESS HOW MANY UNITS THE WOMEN
GET?
WE GET ZERO.
AND THE MEN, OF COURSE, ARE
MAKING MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF
DOLLARS.
SO IF THERE'S A WAY THEY CAN GET
SOME OF THOSE UNITS OVER TO THE
WOMEN'S SIDE, I THINK THAT WILL
BE SOMETHING THAT WOULD REALLY
HELP THE GENDER EQUITY.
Bomani: TALK YO SHIT,
MUFFET.
[LAUGHTER]
THE MEN HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE
MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
AND THE WOMEN DON'T EVEN HAVE A
CHANCE.
THERE IS NO DIRECT FINANCIAL
REWARD FOR INVESTING IN THE
WOMEN'S GAME.
SO WHAT YOU GET IS A VICIOUS
CYCLE THAT KNEECAPS THE WOMEN'S
TOURNAMENT, SKEWS THE
CONVERSATION ABOUT ITS WORTH,
AND PERPETUATES THE FALSE IDEA
THAT THE WOMEN'S GAME ISN'T
VALUABLE.
BUT WHAT'S WILD IS THAT MAKING
CHANGES TO PROMOTE GENDER EQUITY
WOULD NOT ONLY BE THE RIGHT
THING TO DO, IT WOULD MAKE THE
NCAA MORE MONEY!
THEY'RE MISSING OUT ON A BAG AND
GOOD P.R.
AND ISN'T THAT EVERY BRAND'S
DREAM?
AND I'M NOT THE FIRST PERSON TO
POINT THIS OUT.
NEITHER WAS THE KAPLAN REPORT.
ACCORDING TO A LETTER TO THE
NCAA FROM CONGRESS, THERE HAVE
BEEN MULTIPLE REPORTS OVER THREE
DECADES WITH CONCRETE
RECOMMENDATIONS ON EXACTLY HOW
TO MAKE MORE MONEY.
WHICH THE NCAA HAS IGNORED.
AND THAT IS WILD.
BECAUSE WE KNOW THEY LOVE THEIR
MONEY!
THEY'RE IN COURT RIGHT NOW
FIGHTING TO MAKE SURE ATHLETES
CAN'T BE CALLED PROFESSIONALS SO
THEY DON'T HAVE TO PAY THEM.
AND STILL, THE NCAA IS LETTING
TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
SLIDE WHEN IT COMES TO THE
WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT.
A PRODUCT THAT HAS PROVEN VALUE.
AND LOOK, SURE, THERE HAVE BEEN
SOME POSITIVE CHANGES TO THE
TOURNAMENT.
THE WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT CAN NOW
CALL ITSELF "MARCH MADNESS."
THEY ADDED MORE SUPPORT STAFF
AND ARE PAYING REFS EQUALLY
ACROSS TOURNAMENTS.
AND, DRUMROLL PLEASE.
YOU REALLY DID IT.
THE WOMEN HAVE A PASTA STATION,
JUST LIKE THE MEN!
[LAUGHTER]
[APPLAUSE]
BUT THE CORE ISSUES REMAIN THE
EXACT SAME AS THEY DID SINCE
SEDONA PRINCE'S VIRAL VIDEO.
THE WOMEN HAVE NO UNITS.
THEIR MEDIA DEAL IS WHACK.
AND THERE'S AT LEAST $80 MILLION
DOLLARS ON THE TABLE.
SO I HAVE A QUESTION FOR THE
NCAA.
ARE Y'ALL A BUNCH OF MORONS?
OR ARE Y'ALL SEXIST?
OR IS IT BOTH?
CUZ BEFORE A BALL HAS EVEN BEEN
BOUNCED, YOU ARE SELLING
THE WOMEN'S GAME SHORT.
AND UNTIL YOU ADDRESS THE
STRUCTURAL CAUSES OF GENDER
INEQUITY, AND RUN THESE WOMEN
THEIR DAMN MONEY, YOU CAN ADD
THE WORDS "MARCH MADNESS' TO
WHATEVER YOU WANT, IT'S NOT REAL
CHANGE.
[APPLAUSE]
AND WITH THE SWEET 16 UNDERWAY,
WE WANTED TO ADD SOME HYPE OF
OUR OWN TO THE WOMENS' GAME WITH
THE HELP OF SOMEONE VERY
IMPORTANT.
IT'S THAT TIME OF YEAR, WHEN
DREAMS ARE MADE TO.
LEGENDS ARE BORN.
YOU HAVE TO REMIND THE WORLD
THAT YOU EXIST.
WRONG SPORT.
AS A WOMAN, YOU DON'T JUST HAVE
TO BALL, YOU HAVE TO DO IT ALL.
YOU GOT TO SWEAT IT OUT IN THE
GYM.
NOT THIS GYM, THIS GYM.
YOU GOT TO EAT A LOT OF SHIT.
BECAUSE IF YOU'RE A WOMAN,
THAT'S WHAT THEY ARE SERVING.
YOU GOT TO TEACH YOUR PARENTS
WHERE TO FIND YOUR GAMES.
IT'S THE NCAA APP, NOT THE MARCH
MADNESS APP.
WHAT CHANNEL IS THE APP ON?
IT'S NOT A CHANNEL.
THE ROAD DOESN'T END HERE, NO
MATTER HOW GOOD YOU GET TO THE
REAL MONEY IS OVERSEAS.
[SPEAKING NON-ENGLISH LANGUAGE]
YOU STILL GOT TO DO IT ALL.
NO MATTER HOW MANY BUCKETS YOU
SCORE, YOU WILL ALWAYS HAVE THE
DEAL WITH THIS GUY.
WHY WHAT I WATCH?
WOMEN CAN'T DUNK.
DID I MENTION YOU'VE GOT TO
BE INSANELY GOOD AT BASKETBALL?
LIKE THE TOP 0.02%.
FOR THE WIN, GOOD!
IT'S MARCH MADNESS, UNLEASH
YOUR MADNESS.
[SCREAMING]
JUST TELL US THE CHANNEL.
Bomani: ALL RIGHT, THAT
THAT IS OUR SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR WATCHING.
I THINK I MIGHT HAVE SOME PASTA
NIGHT!
GOOD NIGHT!
SO WE'RE GOING TO PLAY A GAME
CALLED WHO IS MESSING UP YOU
GUESS WHO THE ORGANIZATION IS.
DURING COVID, THE WOMEN WORKING
FOR THIS ORGANIZATION WERE
GIVING LESS RELIABLE COVERT
TESTS THAN THE MEN.
THE BOSTON CELTICS.
[LAUGHTER]
Bomani: YOU MUST HATE THE
CELTICS.
I'M A KNICKS FAN.
Bomani: THIS ORGANIZATION
SPENT LESS THAN HALF AS MUCH FOR
THE GIFTS THEY GAVE
PARTICIPATING IN THE BIGGEST
EVENT OF THE YEAR THAN THE MEN.
HAS MOREL.
Bomani: THERE IS NOT EQUITY
IN TRANSFORMERS!
WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD, MEN GOT
FILLET AND LOBSTER
MAC AND CHEESE WHILE WOMEN GOT
MYSTERY MEAT AND SOGGY
VEGETABLES.
DALL DALLAS MAVERICKS.
Bomani: YOU EARNED EVERY
SINGLE ONE FROM THEM.
IT TOOK UNTIL 2022 TO LET THE
WOMEN TOURNAMENT USE THE PHRASE
MARCH MADNESS.
NCAA.
I GET THEM CONFUSED WITH THE
NAACP.
Bomani: THAT'S LIKE MIXING
UP SOMALI AND SAMOA.