Beyond the Sidelines: Women Reshaping Sports Journalism

0:00You're realizing majority of your time is spent at this one place. Not everyone wants to make that sacrifice. And I knew then, like, this is what I wanted. This is what I wanted to do. And I was willing to make the sacrifice. I was willing to do the time for it. If you leave after watching this, if anything you take away, it's just to continue to dream the boldest dreams. Go after them. And then, like, don't be silent about your dreams.

0:34Welcome back to The Bill of God, where authenticity trumps authority. Now, today's guest, she knows what it's like, and I said she, she knows what it's like to compete at the highest level from being a D1 track star, right, from UNC, 400 meter, am I right? 400 meter. On top of that, she is one of the few black sports reporters out there that reports on NBA, NFL. You also are an Edward Murrow Award winner two times. You are on this. I'm on this, girl. Look how good I'm doing. So, I mean, literally, this is the best show we're going to have because I have Ms. Kendra Douglas. She is gorgeous, brains, beauty, athlete.

1:16I mean, I don't think there's anything you don't do. Welcome to the Bilt Bod, girl. Thank you. Oh, my God. That introduction was amazing. So, thank you for that. I appreciate you. Well, thanks for coming on. I mean, we got to just dig right into it because I have so many questions. So we'll start from the way beginning. Yeah. Okay. I know we were talking a little bit about it before backstage, if you will. So how did this all start for you? Like we went from one athlete to a reporter. Yeah. I mean, it's crazy. It's crazy. I, you know, my mom always told me to dream the boldest dreams. And I think that sounds a little cheesy, but like, goodness, it has totally just like transformed my life.

1:55So yeah, so I was an athlete pretty much my whole entire life. I mean, I was running track for so long since I was little. And my dad would wake up with me and like we would go and like go to track meets and go like everything. He was semi my coach. That's probably why I hated him for so long. I love my dad. But it was just one of those things where he just always pushed me. And so I think that's where I got my competitive drive from was like always being pushed to just do my best. so then I get to college and went to UNC ran track but I instantly realized like that's not my future like that wasn't my goal and that's where my mom comes in of like she was a journalist for a majority of her life and then I learned a lot from her and I think because of my competitive drive and just like my journalistic instincts I was like we're gonna combine these two so smart yeah yeah so in college though you also were reporting yeah you did do a gang in college where you went to was it the olympics oh my god yes oh my god that was so fun i know all this i love it i love it um so what was like how did that even like how did that conspire or not conspire but how did that whole thing come about that you went you're in college now you get was an internship or how did that work so this is so cool so my professor at the time um he would go and help out at the Olympics.

3:18And basically they would need students to come in and be quote reporters and interview these athletes for, for the Olympics that like you didn't, that English wasn't your first language. So for London games, they didn't have anybody, but for Brazil, they needed a group. So my best friend and I, and I got to give her a shout out, Jenny, like we were like the only two athletes really like in the journalism school. She played soccer, I ran track and we both went to Brazil and did this internship together along with a few other people who were still very close with too. And yeah, I got to go to Brazil.

3:52That was also when Usain Bolt ran his last competitive meet. So I got to interview him and that was crazy. And it was one of those things where like, I grew up seeing so many of these people. And then also a lot of them were my friends. So I was interviewing some of my friends who had made it to the Olympics and made it to the trials and all that. And it was one of those experiences where I was like, this is something where you're not going to get often and I'm going to make the most of it. And I absolutely loved it. It was so cool. Such a surreal moment to say that, like, I got to go to the Olympics and cover the Olympics.

4:29That is, was that like your aha moment where you were like, this is really what I want to do? I think so because I was long nights, girl. Long nights. Think about this. like Usain Bolt is the fastest man in the world. Everyone wants to speak to him. Everyone from every country. And I was like a like we were quote reporters. So I was typing everything. So we were like last. So I was working these track meets until like 3 a.m. And just to get just to get this guy. Yeah. Because everyone wanted him. So I would go home at 3 a.m. and I would just sit there and be like, this is what I want to do. So you're like, forget it whatever other dream and i mean that's a big dream though it is especially when you're like you're realizing majority of your time is spent at this one place like i was we would we would leave early i would get there maybe at like 3 p.m 4 p.m so like 3 4 p.m to now 3 a.m that's wild not everyone wants to make that sacrifice and i i knew then like this is what i wanted this is what I wanted to do and I was willing to make the sacrifice I was willing to do those do the time for it yeah and now I would say you know just side note that's what makes you more successful than other people is because you're willing to do what a lot of people are not willing to do yeah just to get so it's like true what they show you in the movies that you have to get there way before the athlete gets there yeah stay after just to get that little glimpse or that one quote or just something that they're gonna say those three minutes like you're literally like think about it Like I just said, I was there from three to three and I only needed, what, like three minutes of a like interview from him.

6:04And it's like, but I loved it. I was like, this is what I want to do. All right. So now I'm picturing this. You're doing your internship. You you go to the Olympics. And then from where did you take on with like, where did the whole Orlando magic thing? Oh, God, that came over time. So it's funny. When I got back from Brazil, there were like no sports jobs available. there were like nothing available because it was like when people were hiring during the summer I was in Brazil so I was going back home and I was like I am jobless I don't know what I'm gonna do and my parents were like figure it out like they were like well we'll help you as much as we can but like you got to figure it out and I had a professor tell me look there's a job in Wilmington North Carolina and you have to do news and sports and I was like I don't want to do news like I want to do holy sports so I I did it because I didn't have anything and I had to start somewhere so I started there and instantly I was like okay in order to again set myself apart I need to find more sports stories that can run in this you know in the new shows and I really needed to do that so I did I mean during that time is when there was that um really bad hurricane in Houston Texas and athletes from all over the world were donating their clothes.

7:21Yes, I remember this. There. So I interviewed a lot of students at the local school, UNC Wilmington, and how they were donating clothes. And I remember thinking like, this is going to be a story that can like do very well and I need to keep it on my reel and like I need to have that. And I did. And I did. And I kept doing that. And finally, another station in Kansas, Wichita, Kansas. Do you even know where that is? I know. I know. Yeah, it's like we're Dorothy in the tornadoes. I know. So they were like, hey, we really like what you got going on and we want to bring you on. And there I got to cover the Kansas City Chiefs.

7:57That's cool. And there's where I covered Patrick Mahomes and like his first couple of years, which are amazing years. It was like when he was just starting out. And that's what really set me apart. So when I got an agent and they were like, OK, Orlando wants you. I was like, no offense, Orlando. Sorry. I was like, where Mickey Mouse lives? What? I was like, that's where I'm going? Like, you want me there? And they're like, hear me out, hear me out. They were like, they have basketball. They have, you know, golfing tournaments. They have NASCAR. And they also do a lot with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

8:34And at the time, Tom Brady had not signed yet. So I was like, okay, I'm going to be covering this football team and, you know, whatever. then Tom Brady signed with the Buccaneers and I was like what on earth is happening in my life like weren't you there for that yes like everything is happening for me like everything I'm dreaming up so I got to cover Tom Brady taking the team to the Super Bowl that's incredible so it really is all about I mean not manifesting is one thing yeah but it's waiting also so many people give up before they get their moment to shine they do it isn't a lot easier sometimes to just quit you can go back it is forget it i'm gonna throw in the towel i'll go back to what i know and we'll just call it a day but so many people fail because they won't stick it out yes it doesn't happen right somebody i was one of my good friends he's like you plant a seed not to eat right now but to eat later and that's where it's right and that's where it starts so you know for people that are procrastinating or not procrastinating people that are waiting around keep waiting i mean it's gonna happen but just keep going and doing you kept posting on your stories yeah you believed in yourself.

9:37I mean, there's so many takeaways from what you're saying, which is incredible. And I love this for you, especially because the one parallel that you and I have is that we're both women in a male dominated industry. Girl, girl. Talk about that. Not only are you a woman, but you're a black woman. Yes. I got two things. Yeah. Two things. You're Jewish should be a black Jewish. Everything. I'm losing because I'm Jewish. So I was laughing. But think about this. So you go into these locker rooms, right? You're allowed in there. What is going on like through your head? And what do you think is going on with the player's head?

10:12Because first of all, you're gorgeous. You're absolutely stunning. And then you walk in. Is it uncomfortable for you? Did you ever feel uncomfortable? You know, I think my first locker room was with the Chiefs. And for starters, I was, I think, one of, I think at the time when I was covering the Chiefs, I was the only black woman there. There were other women, but I was the only black woman there. so instantly i think some of the other black sports reporters gravitated and we became like really close so they were so you know gotta show them love because they helped me out a lot they definitely were people who like always also knew the ropes so i think i felt good in that sense where i was like okay they accept me but do they respect me that's i would think is the you know it's not about being intimidated or scared it's like you already know you're walking into the situation it was never a matter of like oh i'm a woman it's like will they respect well They respect me.

11:04So I think that was my biggest thing of like, is she just some girl that's coming up here? We're going to show her the ropes and tell her everything. But can she do her job? And I think my first locker room, I didn't feel intimidated. I think I felt like you've got to go in there and you've got to act like the guys. Like you've got to go in there and you've got to just do it. Yeah. So there I am like with my camera and mic. And here I am sticking the mic in front of like Travis Kelsey's mouth or like Patrick. Well, Patrick goes to like the presser. but like other players who are in the locker room and I'm just like asking questions too I'm like I can do this like I know the game like I know what I'm saying and from there I instantly was like okay I think I've shown them now yes and I did I got so much respect from a lot of the players the staff and also the reporters who were there too that when I moved and I started covering in Tampa, I didn't feel like nervous either.

12:02I didn't feel like, okay, I'm scared to be in this room. I just felt like I deserve to be in this room. I've worked my butt off. I've waited. I've progressed. I've gone through places where like Wichita, little small towns to get to this moment. So it wasn't like you're ready. I was ready. I was ready. Embracing it. It wasn't about being a black woman is just being kendra and being like here i am i've arrived i've worked for it here we and here we go yeah no that's the best way to put it i felt then i was ready and i felt like when it was time for me to move forward leading back to kind of like what you asked of how did i got to the magic i felt ready for the magic i felt ready like i had been covering these players in local television now i know what i'm doing i know what's going on of course it's going to be an adjustment.

12:53Now you need a whole bunch of these guys to trust you. You know, like they're not going to just tell you how they're feeling right away. So I felt like but I felt like I'm ready. Like I'm ready for this moment. Yeah. And you could see it. I mean, I did. I told you I saw you in a magic game and I see you. They're all confident. And you're saying that the boys think that you're really more like a big sister. So I'm sure now it's like you do it with ease and grace and you're just having a good time with it. Yeah. I mean, I think I look at it as like they're ultimately everyone's your coworker. Like I look at them as like, you know, like, I'm just like, they're just my coworkers.

13:25And I, and I think when you look at them like that, one, you guys can now like have the level of respect of like, you're talking to your coworker and you're sharing, you know, what's going on in your life. And you can get like those nuggets and those information about what's happening in their life that you can now give to the audience, which is my job is to like, make sure people at home feel like, okay, I'm learning more about these players that I don't normally know. And I, yeah, I just want everyone to feel comfortable when I'm talking and I want them to feel like, okay, she's doing it. Like she's.

13:57Which you do make people feel like that. Like it's like talking to you for years, but speaking of which, what was like one of your favorite moments or like one, I'm sure there's so many, but what was your favorite or like most interesting moment that you covered? Oh, with the magic or in general? Just in general. You can give me the magic. Oh my gosh, that is tough. Or most memorable moment that you have. I mean, I think covering a Super Bowl is pretty memorable. And covering the Bucks Super Bowl during COVID is one that is so unique because it was like, no one's there. Like it was so different.

14:34This was so unheard of. And on top of that, it was like now covering Tom Brady, which is so insane to say that. Like you got to see basically his end of his career. Like I got to be there for that. So I think that was probably the most memorable moment. And then I think also one of my most memorable moments, and it's funny because you and I talked about this, but I think my most memorable moment was my first year covering a magic game at Madison Square Garden. I think that will always. That is the mother of all mothers. Yes. You go to Madison Square Garden. It's just iconic. It's old in the best way.

15:11it's just one of those places where you're like this is the mecca like we're here yes and i think um when i was walking up this huge ramp to get to the uh court i was like oh my god i'm here i love it's so nostalgic yeah because you see this in movies yeah so like it felt it did it feel like a movie to you oh a thousand percent and it's like they do celebrity row and you're like seeing all the celebrities that are there and you're just like y 'all are here this game like this is crazy and I just think it was amazing and you know being able to also interview our players after a win there it's it's just like an out-of-body experience and I don't think that will ever get old anytime that we go to Madison Square Garden I don't think it'll ever get old I think that will always be like memorable moments always that place is incredible I was just there so I know just walking in there and I've been like quite a few times since I'm a little girl I used to go.

16:06But being there like with my kids and seeing my son's face was like the look on his face was so overwhelming for me that people dream of this moment. And there you are, you're on the court. You know, I was only on the sidelines. You're on the court, you know, seeing everything. And it's such a different, such a different experience, I'm sure, from your end. But with all the good. So let's let's be honest. You know, anywhere we go, there's always bad. So have you ever experienced any form of racism, sexism from the coaches, the players, the industry in general? um yeah um but I would say that a lot of it happened at the beginning of my career yeah because I'm working in places that are more rule that seeing me is different so I think something that I you know was always challenged by was my skin color but I always kind of was like this is who I am like yeah and like I'm good at what I do I think the first place that kind of tested me.

17:05And I don't want to say nothing was bad because I worked with great people who definitely made me feel comfortable. But I think when you move to like a place like the Midwest and you're just kind of like, you are the only one in a sense. I think that was different for a lot of people. And I think viewers had to adjust. And I think they did because it was one of those things where over time you would start to see people recognize you. And I remember one time. Oh my God. I remember this. I was going to Bath and Body Works to just get a candle. And I looked crazy. I looked tired. I was like, I'm just here on my off day trying to get a candle.

17:42And there was a man that came over to me clearly shopping with his wife and had like, had a bag and said, can we talk about those Kansas city chiefs? And I just was like, huh? And he knew who I was. And he wanted us to have while his wife, not like I wanted to go shopping, but while his wife was shopping he wanted to have a full conversation about this NFL team and I think in that moment I felt good because I was like okay like I've arrived I've arrived I love that but also sir I would like to get my mahogany teakwood candle and go home that's so funny that you say that I traveled to Moline Illinois home of the KKK to go watch Snoop Dogg yeah yeah and what kind of people would you think would be at a snoop dogg i not people who are you know i would think like you're young you're probably like in the hip-hop world so black and then like i would also think no no no i sat next to a guy named chadalacosaurus wow what a name i can't even make this up it was the most eclectic crowd that i'd ever seen in my entire life yeah he does you know I think that's so cool about him I do too and he also things out with Martha Stewart yeah you know I met him when he was in Tampa I met him yes yes I met him while he was in Tampa and um he and he like there's a clip I have a clip where like he introduced himself to me I introduced myself and he did this little segment he was like I'm here with Kendra Doug like he did a whole little bit and it was great and we thought we almost could put it on TV but it was like during a commercial break it was hilarious but he was so good and I think like in that moment I was like this is why everyone loves you like you're just like i'm jealous i'm you're just here for it all i absolutely love this guy isn't he cool and he's insane he is my favorite who's your favorite rapper oh i don't know um probably this is gonna sound so like new so snoop is great but gunna is probably my favorite rapper did you see okay so like we need a switch we need a little switch for a quick hot second did you outside of a restaurant in atlanta i just feel like his music is so good yeah everything and then like i'm never here when he is performing in orlando or in the florida area and i'm always like i got to get to a concert one day so one day one day one day that is hilarious but yes sorry so we're gonna move back i know i love it all right so true or false okay so okay i'm gonna all right we're gonna switch gears we're gonna have a little bit of fun love this i'm gonna hit you some statements about sports media okay you're gonna to say whether it's true or false okay all athletes respect female reporters

20:22um true for me that's fine true true like yeah i yeah i haven't had any issues all right social media has made sports journalism better okay hot take false um i think sometimes we live in a world where someone wants to be first all the time and they want to put everything out there first. And sometimes it's better to vet a situation, to ask your sources and see if they're credible and then have the person actually confirm it before you just go off of hearsay. And I think sometimes we're seeing that so much. And also when private conversations become public, I think that's like also just violating.

21:09And I've seen that multiple times where you'll be where like someone will be joking with um an athlete and then they bring it to like twitter and you're just really take it out of context yeah there's a lot of propaganda yeah say something they'll completely switch up with you know what the context of the conversation and then all of a sudden it's gone viral and that's not even what the person and that's not even what they meant i have literally like if i'm about to tweet something i will get like 15 billion people to look at it first because i'd rather just be right yeah then like and then all of a sudden And you're like, oh, I got to reach out.

21:41Yeah. Exactly. So no. So I hate to say it because I love the way that social media has really joined the sports community. But like, Foss, we got to do better. We got to do better. I like what you said about your resources. Yeah. So do better. And people are always looking to put anything on that'll go viral. I would agree. For what? How about this? Athletes today are too sensitive to criticism. I think everybody's too sensitive that's just my opinion um I'd say true I think that like we put these guys sometimes on too high of a pedestal and things that might not have made someone feel some type of way back then make them feel some type of way now yeah and a part of me is kind of one of those things where I'm like just let it go like as long as you're living in your own bubble your own world let it go like don't let it get to you like if you know who you are if you are confident in yourself don't let i agree these things get to you i think that's just a society we live in i think so too um hypersensitive society like what happened to the days where we like made fun of ourselves yeah you can't even you can't say anything anymore without being offensive or too critical and then everybody is walking on eggshells they are it's not even fun anymore.

23:00It's tough. It's very tough. But I, yeah, I hate that because I think that we have some amazing athletes out there, but I guess I would just say like, let it go. Like you're doing, if you know who you are, if you're confident in yourself, just let it go. Just don't let it get to you so much. All right. You have to prove yourself more than your male colleagues. Thousand percent. True. I don't even just, I'm never going to let you finish. True. Go on. Make sure you get the question. My bad, my bad. Sports media is more about entertainment now than journalism. Oh, that's tough. You know, it's weird.

23:34It's like true, but I'm not mad at it. And here's why. I think we're seeing so many cool young guys come out. And when you say like entertainment, I also want to add fashion into that. Yes. Because it's like I like the way that they are incorporating the fashion into the world. So I wouldn't even take it as a bad thing. I think that like I was watching this really cool documentary on Stuart Scott. He was somebody who I looked up to and he passed away due to cancer. But he was part of that group that was actually merging entertainment and sports. So he had great interviews with Shaquille O 'Neal.

24:09And Shaq was like a rapper back in the day as well. So he was like merging those into like his broadcast journalism. And so I think we got away from that. But I like the way that if we can continue to merge it in the best ways. Agreed. then I think it's a beautiful thing because I think with entertainment comes music. And sometimes you'll see like, that means a lot for guys. Yes, and creativity. And creativity. And you can like mesh them all together. And I think you can. Yes, for sure. If it's not done distasteful and it's not propaganda, I think you can absolutely merge them. Yeah. I love seeing the sports reporters, like female or male, when like they're dressed to the nines.

24:43Yeah. Like not schlubberama, but they're coming out like super nice, well-spoken, great interview. I love that. And it's funny, like you get to see their character, like you really get to see their character shine no instead of like the same old questions like how are you feeling today after the game I mean but then they come with like really good questions I think it can be entertaining and then I would say for someone because I'm not a big sports goer I do like I do like basketball but you know even football games for me if you have a reporter on the sidelines that's asking questions that are just like the same old run-of-the-mill then I'm not really that interested yeah but if it's entertaining and it was funny and they were doing like funny stuff or I would have a lot, you know, a lot more.

25:20I'd have a lot more up to want to go to the game. I get that. I get that. I think. Yeah, I think that if you can merge it in the best way and you still hold that journalistic integrity thousand percent, why not? Like, I love it. Agreed. I love it. Male reporters get jealous when women reporters get better access to players. I don't know. I don't know. I say the power of the P is a real thing. use it to your advantage my mom always told me that i don't know i've never i've never it's true i would use it listen i've never had to deal with that that's what i'll say for me like i've never had to deal with it yeah so i can't joking on it but not really i'm kind of i would say use it to your advantage the only reason why i'm saying that is because i'm in sales and women like to talk to women and males like to talk to women so i feel like you already have an advantage going in because you're first of all you're credible you're beautiful you're very smart so when you go in there I feel like you do kind of have the upper hand in the best way not yeah not in anything like no no no no no no no but in the best way possible because statistically it is proven that men like to talk to women and women like to talk to women I think that I try my best to tap into not just wanting to ask players the same questions over and over again but wanting to kind of find what makes them tick a little bit differently love it and like what makes them you know or who around their circle makes them happy or like what coaches and players are around you that like really make an influence on you so try to like go different i like that yeah instead of a different angle i love that i think guys want to go x's and o's all the time and i'm nothing's wrong with that there's still i think a brand out there where people just want to go x's and o's they just want to hear about the game plan they just want to hear the stats and the numbers and I think today's world they want to know a little bit more in depth about that player I agree I think everything is a little less curated and more real yeah like anything even social media today is starting to you know instead of seeing like the b-roll like people want to see the bts yeah they want to see like you know the man behind the player they do they do they do they want to see that so I think that's where I try to take that stance of like let me give you a little bit of the behind the scenes you're so creative i love it i try to be um some athletes intentionally give women reported worse interviews that's just called a bad day i don't think i don't think i don't think that they intentionally i just think that's just like they just had a bad game they're just like they're over it i can't give you the energy right now Here I got another one.

28:00And you're just like, all right. The phrase stick to sports is code for shut up about social justice issues. Stick to sports is, you know, that's a testy subject right there. I would say. I mean, see, I don't know. I don't listen enough to like, are you asking about social issues, social justice issues? Are people trying to like throw that in? Here's the thing. I think that like, and this goes back to our conversation of involving entertainment with sports. these are humans like they're humans yeah they deal with everything we're dealing with they probably don't want to talk about politics well but even if they do i say that to say like they're going through it as well yeah and so like if they see things around the world that could impact them if they weren't at that level they kind of feel like that's not fair yeah i want to say something and i think that in their mind they're thinking i have the voice to say it i'm at the highest level of my career.

28:59I'm doing everything that like I'm supposed to do. I want to talk about the issues that matter the most to me because it could affect my kids. It could affect my cousins. Not everyone's going to know who they're related to. So I think it's like hard. Like, no, I don't think that you should like stick to sports. I think if there's something in your heart that you're passionate about. So, yes, I do think that like, yes, when they say stick to sports, I want you to just like not say what you feel. But I think in this world, everything going on in this world, it's so hard for athletes to say like anybody.

29:33Yeah, cancel. You do. You can't say anything. But I think that like players kind of going back to what we said of like, if you can do it in a tasteful way and if you can show how you are also putting the world on, you know, blast in the best way. What I think I've loved about certain athletes and what they've done is the way they've given back with like their charities and the way they've given back with like within the community to say like, OK, these are the issues that really mean the most to me. And even though you might be telling me to like not speak about it, what I can do is find a way to help give back in that community.

30:06Yeah. To help give back to the young, you know, young black and brown kids out there that really need or who are in need or, you know, you want to see succeed. So I think it's like hard, but I think you're seeing so many athletes figure out a way that if they can't use their voice to talk about social justice, they can do it within the community. Which is fine. I have no issue either way. I think people are just sensitive in general. So it is what it is. How about the NIL deals are running college athletics. We'll talk about that, too. Yeah. They're running college athletics. Yeah. Yeah. True.

30:43It's true. I don't know how on earth we're going to get this back into the ropes. Am I happy players are getting paid? Yes. Do I think that it's like chaotic right now? Yeah. Yeah. I feel like it's just not under control. There's like so many. There's a lot of gray to it. It's not really clearly defined. Like whereas in like the NBA, it's pretty clear. It's pretty clear. Right now, because it's so new. I think it's gray. Yeah, I think it is, too. But I think hopefully they get it under track. I think what people want is when we grew up, we had players who we always like cheered on. And we cheered for them because we knew they were coming back another year.

31:23And we knew they were coming back another year. And I think you're losing like the whole like, well, who do you like cheer for? Yeah, because you don't know if they're going to be there. You don't know if they're going to be there. You don't know how much money they're making. All those things. It's just like a gray area, but I'm happy athletes are getting paid. I will say that. Yeah, I think they should get paid, but I also think they should be kids. They're kids. Enjoy the college experience. Enjoy being a college student. I wouldn't give anything to just go back to being like no responsibilities of adult life and just being a college student.

31:51I think they took that away from the kids. Like after all, like these kids are what? They're 17, 18, 19 years old going to college. And now they're dealing with financial stuff. Like, I don't know. Yeah, I'm happy they're getting paid for sure, but I still think they're kids. no yeah it's just it's a balance you have to figure out how to balance it all all right this is a touchy one okay wmba players deserve equal paid mba players it's more they deserve more um i think that yes i think true i think they do i think they've worked so incredibly hard to build their brand their legacy you look at the women who have laid the foundation for them and i think if anything it shows you that they deserve to be paid i think you're seeing all these women now with shoe deals and brand deals and you know how they can continue to grow the brand for young ladies who look up to them yeah pay them i agree hey the players i mean these are positive influences yeah young women so why not let them get paid i mean arguably some people say well it's not you know not as many people are going to the mb wmba games to watch them yeah well that's just because there's not enough out there for them to go you know also people out there promoting them yeah and i would also say like yeah right like go to a college women's basketball game it is they're they're sold out sometimes go to like the wmba games they're they bring in a great amount and i love what so many people what brands are doing so you see like sephora getting involved in that i love that you see like a lot of like hair brands getting involved i love that you're finding ways to bring people in and when you find ways to bring people in you need to pay your players because they're putting the butts in the seats.

33:32They are putting the butts in the seats. They are doing that. Would you say that there's still this stigma of it's a boy's world in sports media? What would you say on that? I would say there is, but I would say that we are breaking it down and we're not breaking it down. We're sitting at the table with them all. And I would say that we are doing a really good job as women um finding ways to insert ourselves and realize that like we too can do this and i think you're seeing so many women grow our industry and i love it and we just need to continue that's just it just you can't get rid of us guys we're here we're here to stay and who doesn't like a sexy like brains driven like woman yeah to comment like i think every guy secretly wants it too i think they do yeah it's always nice i know for myself i love seeing women sports reporters i love seeing it i love how like you know they'll go out there so confident it's not cockiness it's confident no it go out there you know the game i mean i don't know anything about football so if you're like touchdown i don't even know what that means i know the touchdown but you know what i mean i always think it's so sexy and it says a lot about a woman's character if they can show up in a male dominated space thousand percent and i think that But also, if you know what you're talking about and you love the sport and you love your craft and you're studying your craft, why can't I have a chance?

34:54I think you should. Why can't I? I mean, just speaking to you, I could never have a sports conversation. I'd lose. I would love it. But you, I mean, look, you have definitely, I think what people don't understand is who you really are, too. You've gone from Wichita. You've gone to Orlando. I mean, you've gone here, there. You sacrifice. Like today, you're telling me you're up at 5 a.m. Sometimes you're flying. What are you, flying out tomorrow? Yeah. You're flying out tomorrow. Yeah. Then you have to turn around, do it again over and over. I mean, hasn't that cost you something personally? Yes.