Sheryl Swoopes on WNBA Mt. Rushmore, ICONIC Nike deal, J. Cole in China & Caitlin Clark’s MVP chances

26:41Must be 21 plus and physically present in Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, New Jersey, Ohio, Tennessee, or Virginia to play. Terms and conditions apply. Concern about gambling? In Florida, call 1-833-PLAYWISE. In Indiana, if you or somebody you know has a gambling problem, wants help, call 1-800-9-WITH-IT. In Arizona, Ohio, Virginia, call 1-800-MY-RESET. Gambling problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER. Hey, everyone. It's Cal Penn. I'm the host of Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook Project Hail Mary, massive sci-fi adventure about survival and science and what happens when you wake up alone very far from earth.

27:30I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections. And it's like, okay, yo, yo, yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no, at this point, it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it. But there's places in this book that deeply emotionally affected me. and I left it on the mic. That's great. Because it served the story. People will say like, oh my God, I cried at the end. It's like, yeah, dude, me too.

28:02Listen to Ear Say, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you ever feel like you're drinking from a firehouse? PayCore's intelligent HR solution empowers leaders to turn down the pressure. Their unified platform includes payroll, talent management, compliance software, and a lot more, connecting you to the people, data, and expertise you need to drive long-term business results. Visit paycor.com slash leaders and go from workflow to workflow. That's paycor.com slash leaders. This is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless?

28:46Here's a secret. Getting ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Just lightly wet the counter beforehand so the paper grips and stays in place. Then lay down the Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper so drips and spills stay on the paper, not all over your kitchen counter. You can roll out dough, prep a party spread, or cook alongside family. When you're done, cleanup is as simple as lifting the paper and revealing that clean counter underneath. Effortless. You can use it for cooking and baking prep, and even crafting, especially when you need extra working space.

29:26Because when the mess is already handled, you can focus on what matters, the food, the people, and the moment. It may look effortless, but now you know, it's Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Take a tip from me, wet it, set it, prep it, done. Make it easy. Make it with Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Available now in the Reynolds Wrap Aisle in Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Costco. If your best finance people are doing expense reports, chasing receipts, or spending time on month-end clothes, it's time to get Brex AF, a gentic finance that eliminates that work before it starts. Learn more at brex.com slash AF.

30:13Now let me ask you a question Did they pay you more for your sneaker Than what you was getting paid for the league At the time? Or was it more like a look? Well you know I had a Nike contract But even Even my Nike contract back in the day Wasn't like I mean it wasn't an Asia Wilson Kate McClark 28 million dollar deal I had a number one song I was getting$500 a show They played me legend But the thing is, honestly, I didn't even like you could give me a hundred thousand dollars and I was like, oh, that's a lot of money. That was a lot of money for me, like the way I grew up, where I was from. But that wasn't the thing that was important.

30:55What was important to me was like, this shit is really happening. Greatness. Like somebody is thinking outside of the box. And to come from. Yeah, I know. I'm going to let you talk. I want to just finish what I'm saying. Let her finish. All right, go ahead. Go ahead. Okay. No, I forgot what I was saying. Go ahead. Oh, I'm sorry about that. I forgot. $1 ,800. I wanted to say$1 ,800. I wanted to say, yeah, get back at that brown. Yeah, girl. Yo, listen. That's not brown. Now, what is it, 10, base? It's clear. Growing up. Right, growing up. You grew up in Texas, correct? Mm-hmm. And practicing and then you finally get to college and you become a superstar.

31:42That's what I want to allude to. Like, did you ever, ever have an idea that you was going to make it to that level? Like, did you ever look back in time, like, looked at the court and say, yo, I remember when I was a kid and I could never believe I would be under these bright lights? I think so. Like, I grew up in a very small town and I played ball with my brothers and my brother's friends. But I knew there was something special about my talent and my ability on the basketball court. There was nothing else I wanted to do. It was me, a basketball, if that was playing with guys, not playing with guys, on the court by myself.

32:31I had a goal and a dream of I'm going to change my mom's life. And I knew the only way to do that was to get an academic scholarship and go to college, get an athletic scholarship. And I just, I never allowed failure to like, it wasn't an option. I never allowed like negative thoughts, any of those things to enter my mind of what if this doesn't work out? What if wasn't an option for me? This was it. it was it. You know, I think because, you know, sometimes I get to thinking, you know, I'm still in the same neighborhood. I live in a different place, but my car drives around the same neighborhood I grew up in almost every day.

33:24So I think about going with my mother to welfare, hard times, free cheese. Like, I just can't escape it. Because, you know, unlike a lot of other places when you really get to know New York, it's like one giant get them. So it's like, you know, like wherever you go, you remember, you know, oh, this way I used to come with my mother and father, B-State Charlie, this way I, you know. So for me, like, it's insane for me to just understand, like, the life we're living now. It's like, it just don't make sense. Like, I'd just be like, wow, this is crazy. Well, but I also think this. So when I go back home where I grew up, I think it's good for them to be able to see people like yourself and Jada and myself.

34:16So they can look at us and say, if they did it, we can do it. I was the same. My mom was on welfare. We had the free cheese. My mom worked the cafeteria. She cleaned houses. Days where we come home, the lights weren't on. Like I had all of those things. And I think at any point we could allow that. to define us and have an excuse of saying, well, this is all I know. This is all I've seen. So this is what my life is going to be. But I think we chose differently, right? But I don't think it's a bad thing to be in your neighborhood, to go back to your neighborhood, but to be able to show all of the people in your neighborhood, this is where I came from.

35:00But that doesn't mean this is who you have to be as you get older. I love that. I love that moment. That's official. Life is hard, though. Definitely. Life is hard. It never gets easy. Ever. But I have moments where I have two older brothers and a younger brother. I don't have any sisters. But there are times, anytime I get together with my brothers, and we sit and we're having drinks or, like, we're having a nice dinner. And some people may look at this or hear this and be like, what? But it means something to me to be able to sit down. Oh, God, I would cry. But to sit down and have a nice$1 ,000 meal with my brother.

35:48You know, and to say, growing up the way we did, I don't think any of us ever thought that would be possible. You know, so to be able to do that now and like not think twice about it, it means something. Yeah, absolutely. this big time. And so... I'm probably the only person to sit on this couch and cry with y 'all. No, no. I might have cried. No, I'm not going to cry. No, no, but I like that, though, because it's showing you truth. And that's where I was trying to get to because, for no disrespect, we from the big city. And I'm looking at you with all that excellence. I'm like, she from a little town in Texas.

36:30Very small. What was that? Walking on the side of the highway. I was just in Houston. and the other thing. I be thinking about, we talk about J. Cole. J. Cole from Fayetteville, North Carolina. That's his little, little, little, little town. He does stadiums to talk and everything. That's a big fucking deal. At least us, we saw Grandmaster Flash. Yeah. Or you seen Fat Joe on Fordham. You just, I mean, to come from like the littlest town. I like that. I see Fat Joe on Fordham. I see Fat Joe on Fordham. Yeah. Fuck yeah. I see that Joe on bottom. And maybe smile. He's like four years younger than me, so he likes to, you know, rub that in.

37:14Four is a lot when he back in the days. Yeah, yeah. Back in the days. Yeah. Four is a lot when he start, it would come up. I was telling somebody on Easter, we were sitting around and they were like, yo, but how did you get bullied? Like when I was younger, I used to get beat up every day. And I was like, yo, I was like 12, 13, and my brother was already like 18. So that little six-year, he can't come beat up 12-year-olds or 13-year-olds. He's a grown man already. He's already 18. So that age difference you talking about, it really is the difference. They were like, why you ain't calling your brother?

37:54I said, my brother can't come beat up these kids. These kids 12, 13, 14. He 18. I couldn't even get my brothers. They was too big. That's crazy. that don't matter they coming outside facts yeah facts any age any age you gotta get your brother mmhmm I used to see mothers come in there and start beating the teachers up and on you ever see that when they coming with the Vaseline on that face be like Miss Wiggins you bring your ass outside we gonna see it my son oh I'm busting your ass nah I seen the most ratchet you said Vaseline on the face I seen the Vaseline on the face That's a lean on the face.

38:37Come outside, bitch. I bust your ass. That's crazy. That's a lean on the face. That's true, though. How did it feel to win four championships back in a row? Four in a row. That's like, how did it feel? Did it start feeling like Slaughter after three and two? I felt like this AC in the back of my neck is Slaughter right now. We got it cool. I got it cool. I said like the fall. Yeah, it cool. It cool. Don't warm it up. No, no, no. We need you. I got a fan. Toasty. I'm good. Was the feeling the same after the first one? Oh, yeah. Yeah. They all felt. Oh, yeah. Yeah. Well, I think once you get a taste of winning, then you want more and more and more.

39:26And I do think, in a way, I think that's what's a little bit different about like this generation right now that's playing, you have some that are hungry. Like they got that dog, they want to win and they want to keep winning. But for us back then with the comments, it was like, we weren't going to lose, you know? And when you have players, myself and Coop and Tina and Kim Perade and Wanda Guyton and Jeanette Arcane from Brazil, by the way, who's one of the best that's ever played the game. When you see the work ethic that we brought, can y 'all turn this air? Now I need a Poo Shiesty mask. Because my boy's trying to pull it.

40:16This shit goes back to my neck. I'm enjoying it, bud. I need a Poo Daddy. You got a Poo Shiesty with you? Because this shit on the back of my neck is legendary. Wait a minute. I can't even I can't I can't I can't I can't finish answering cause y 'all warming up cause my boy is like it's on it how proud of you that'll warm you up though coach Dawn Stanley oh that's mine girl listen I love Dawn Stanley oh you said Stanley I didn't hear Stanley I just heard Dawn you don't get nobody's name Staley take the N out yeah I know she throw that shit on facts She fly the fuck on that sideline. One thing she gonna do, throw that shit on.

41:05Like every game, she ain't playing with them. I love, that's my girl. I love me some Donners. Since you asked me that question, did you watch the Final Four? Yeah, I did. Yes, I did. Did you? No, I did. What's the Final Four girls? What were the guys? No, no, no, no. I'm talking about the girls. Yeah, I watched the girls. Connecticut and all that. Did you watch the Connecticut, South Carolina guy? Yes. Did you watch to the end? Yes, when the man didn't want to give up. What did you think about that? Gino. Yeah. Gino. You talking to the wrong guy because they'll throw us off of Netflix. I got a different, you know, my shit.

41:40I be trying to tell these guys, I'm radical. Like, y 'all, I read through the lines like a motherfucker. What was that? All that shit bothered me. Today I went to an Hermes cell. They fucking, they checked my fucking social security number. They damn near look. in my ass and asked me what the fuck I was walking in there with. I got one. And you know who the fuck. I got one. I got one. I got one. Yeah, you got one, but let me tell you something. I'm going to tell you one thing. I'm going to tell you one thing all them people knew. I'm rich as fuck. Come on. Talk about it. No, for real. Talk about it.

42:16Nah, nah. Don't get it fucked up. They know who the fuck I am. They know my shit. They know I'm holing. They know what's up. Yeah. Yeah. How could it fuck? Yeah. Talk about it. Come on. Let's hear about this. Social security, cue card, this, that, here's a diss. Wait, excuse me, sir. Let us email the diss, this, that. They didn't do all that. Yes. All that shit. That bothers me. Right? Because I believe in all of us are one. Right? That ain't happening. I don't care how much you believe. That's how I believe. True. I believe too. No matter what the history of this country is, I never forget. But I like to take people at face value.

43:07And when the guy told me to get on the prison, you didn't slip like that for that. No, but I know. That's the same thing. No, I got to tolerate it, but it was hard. I walked in the airport, the old man said, put him in the prisoner line. like there's a line apparently about you yeah we was at the NASCAR with MJ flex how about that come on and when we go home he got his security and his and his partner and his manager with him and one of his two cuts playing TSA guys said nah the prisoner entrance is over no yeah yeah yeah you prisoner that way yeah yeah yeah and he didn't get that I should have called Ben Crump, goddammit.

43:55We could have had a 47. Okay, wait. We could have had 47. We could have had some shit. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Wait. Did that really happen? Yes. And he didn't get mad at Hermes school. But shout out Hermes. I love you guys. No, but hold on, because I want to come back to that. Because I want to come back to that. The security process is a bit too much for me for this sale. But I do love you guys at Hermes. So what did you do? I ain't talking about Hermes. I'll come back to that. I looked at the dude. Oh, they ran. It was a lady there named Tanisha. Sister ran over so fast. She heard that.

44:34She said, we're not like that. That's just him. That was the thing. She knew I'm the mouth of the South. She knew I'm, what's your man, Jimmy? What was my man from wrestling? The mouth of the South. Jimmy Hart. She knew that motherfucker got a podcast. He ran over. Don't talk on the podcast, please. We're not like this guy. Don't go there. It's Tanisha. I said, no, Tanisha, I'm going to make sure you out the smoke. But this guy right here, you know, I seen a picture of him because we took a picture of him. The other day, I'm looking through my phone, the airplane, you know, because I look at my phone when the airplane comes.

45:10The lawsuit's still available. Nah, I ain't fucking with that. You know what I'm saying? But yeah, I know about it. I wish you could transfer lawsuits. How about, let me give you a nice one. Okay, no, it is. But I do want to know. You said that you didn't like it. Oh. I don't like it. Do an assessment, please. I don't like it. You tell me what you thought about that. Where he didn't respect Coach Dane. That was the same thing as Gino. Oh, I let my feelings be known. All right, but I want to know. But you ain't answered my question again. I feel horrible. But you didn't like it. What did you not like about it?

45:47You know what he made me feel like. It made me feel like, you know, we black and brown going to prison in line. I couldn't have just been a normal person who purchased the ticket. That's what he did to me. And he doubled down on the shit. Enough where everybody and their mother ran over and was like, yo, I'm sorry about what... Holy shit. Like, I went on the plane. They opened the door back up. I would have gotten fired immediately. I would have said, I can't fly. Elizabeth, uh-huh. I would have taken to the max. story. I would have took it there. Listen, I'm good with letting somebody, some co-worker who see this show come up to the band and be like, you know, the guy, look.

46:28It's the guy you see. Obviously one of the guys, because he was probably like an Archie Bunker. He do that shit every day. Yeah, you know, when you got that in you, you got that in you. You know what I'm saying? So, you know, so what you thought about him not dapping up the coach? Well, first of all, I think the whole story of she didn't shake my hand before the game. But she did. She did. But here's my question. He was just mad he got his ass. That is true. But here's my question. So what if she didn't shake your hand? It's a handshake. It's a handshake. If you don't want to shake my hand, I'm cool with it.

47:07I'm going to beat your ass and we'll keep it moving. Yes. But you said you got that worked up over a handshake when at the end of the day, it was all about you got beat. But the part that really bothers me, though, is as a black person, in particular, a black woman, we're always expected to take the higher road. We're always expected to just be like, oh, well, it's OK. We'll sweep it under the rug. Because if I went crazy at the airport, they would have made me the animal on the 12 o 'clock news. They would have been like, rapper, it's going crazy in the airport. Or this, that. They would have did that to her.

47:48Well, yeah. But my point is this. At some point, like, when do we say, like, enough is enough, though? It's just a question of conversation because I know Dawn came out and, you know, she said the season's over. It's time to turn the page. And I respect Dawn for that. Like, I'm ride or die. I'm always going to hold it down for Dawn. But my thing is, like, I'm not ready to turn the page. I don't have to turn the page. but because that's what she does. I get all of that. I just, we're always making excuses for, oh, well, Gino probably did this. Somebody else is ignorant. Yeah. And I just, I thought it was so disrespectful.

48:31But in that moment, you took away one of the most special part of a college athlete's career. And that's playing in the final four. and they had just beaten an undefeated team. Like let those young ladies enjoy that moment and stop making it about you because it wasn't about you. It was about Dawn had a better game plan, right? And she out-coached you in that game. And I'm not going to sit up here and say, Gino's not a good coach. He's one of the best that's ever coached our game. But that moment alone, to me, really put a stain on his coaching career. Oh, no, for sure. Fact. It was very ugly, and sometimes you can't apologize enough.

49:25Sometimes you're already, damn, going on it like that. Well, and my thing is, I would just make sure that you not even apologize. Based off of— Stand on it. No, no, no, no, you got to apologize. No, but the reason I say that, though, but based off of that initial apology that you put out there, where you didn't even call her name and say, I apologize to Dawn, like, if that's the apology that you're putting out there, I don't want that. Yeah. You know, we've been through some shit, but let me tell you something. Them 51 points you scored in that game, man, you had them dizzy that game, man. One game.

50:06I've seen the game. I'm looking at the Sheryl Swoops highlight. It was a game you scored 51, right? Am I correct? Well, I don't know what game you're talking about. How many 51? It was 53, though. It was 53. And that's what I mean. You just shooting unconscious, bro. Like, that shit was crazy. I mean, to me, you know, to have a game like that. But you know, this is what I was saying the other day. I don't want people to kill me. You want me on the podcast? You don't want me in the podcast. You want me to talk, not to talk. This, Sheryl Swoops with 53, is very, very understandable. Bam, bam out the bio.

50:49Don't do that. Don't do that. Don't do that. Bam, bam. Don't do that. Don't do that. Yo, Bam, I'm sorry, Bam. Bam, you know I got mad love for you. You did not know that David Ford, let me ask you a question, Sheryl. You being honest, right? Mm-hmm. Mm-hmm. The day before he scored 83, was it in your, what they call that board? Was it in there? What they call that? Was it in your bingo card that Bam Bam out of fire was going to score 83 the next day? But it wasn't in my bingo card that I was going to score 53 either. Yeah, but I knew you, but you can. And you're a superstar, four-time champion, Olympic, this, this, this, this, that.

51:25Bam Bam out of the bio. Yeah, he earned it out of the bio. Whoa. But I said it the other day. People got upset with me because I'm like, it wasn't in my bingo card. Now, the top five, who's on that top five list? Kobe, Willis Reed, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. This, these are all swirls troops. These are names that you expect to score 53 and be on the top of the list. Disappointing me. I got love for bad. How? You just said he's not capable of... No, he did. Being the second highest scorer in the NBA. And let me tell you what I did just to let you know. After I said that shit, I went back and watched that whole game again.

52:09I watched it originally the last, the fourth quarter. I went back. He came. He was pulling. He came up. I think his first shot of the game. Who were they playing? What game was that again? I forgot. Who were they playing? I watched it and Wizards. You know, they might have had J. Cole on that team. You agree? I do. I don't know what this guy's doing. What? 83. It's 83. That's hard to do. What? This team's can't score 83. I'm just saying maybe a little more defense or something, perhaps. Well, that's not his fault. No, it's not. That's just like I get upset when people talk about all of Angel Reese's offensive rebounds.

52:50We'll box her ass out. I love it. If you don't want her to rebound, box her out. Angel is doing exactly what she's supposed to do. I'm going to go rebound because I know y 'all can't stop it.

53:03Joe and Jada show.com. We got new merch fresh off the presses. Go get it. Bang. Out of big. Bang. Joe and Jada show.com. You can get these. A little cold for a t-shirt. Where the hoodies at? It's my favorite right there. I need an extra large. Joe and Jada show.com. Go there and get it.

53:33Hey, everyone. It's Cal Penn. I'm the host of Earsay, the audible and iHeart audiobook club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook Project Hail Mary, massive sci-fi adventure about survival and science and what happens when you wake up alone very far from Earth. I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections. And it's like, OK, yo, yo, yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no, at this point, it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it.

54:17But there's places in this book that deeply emotionally affected me. And I left it on the mic. That's great. Because it served the story. People will say like, oh my God, I cried at the end. It's like, yeah, dude, me too. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you ever feel like you're drinking from a firehouse? PayCore's intelligent HR solution empowers leaders to turn down the pressure. Their unified platform includes payroll, talent management, compliance software, and a lot more, connecting you to the people, data, and expertise you need to drive long-term business results.

54:57Visit paycor.com slash leaders and go from work flood to workflow. That's paycor.com slash leaders. This is Martha Stewart from the Martha Stewart podcast. Ever wonder how to make hosting look effortless? Here's a secret. When prepping for cooking and baking, get ahead of the mess with new Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Just lightly wet the counter so the paper grips. Lay it down, and drips and spills stay on the paper, not on your counter. Cleanup is as simple as lifting it away to reveal clean counters. Effortless it is, thanks to Reynolds Kitchen's countertop prep paper. Wet it, set it, prep it, done.

55:45Available in the Reynolds Wrap Aisle at Walmart, Target, Amazon, and Costco. Ask yourself, what are your best people spending their time on right now? Expense reports, receipt chasing, month-end close that takes weeks. You become what you spend on, and that's not what you're building toward. Brex is the intelligent finance platform that eliminates that work before it starts. AI agents that handle the manual stuff automatically, so your team can spend their time on what actually compounds. It's time to get Brex AF. Learn more at brex.com slash AF.

56:23It's Angel Aja Is Angel what? Aja Oh no Asia Asia That's her boyfriend Nobody Nobody in the league is Asia Asia is Asia Asia is Asia Asia is her She's a pro For real Shaw Swoops What's up? Top five WNBA players of all time Top five WNBA players I think you're top five favorites. Because you over there, so you ain't... Am I putting myself in or no? No. Okay, I'm not putting myself in. You already on the man's top five. We don't do that. We top five. I'm putting myself in or no? No. You already... You already... You already... You already... Fucking pull yourself in. Fucking she want to put herself in.

57:08You already... Okay.

57:12Lisa Leslie. Okay. Cynthia Cooper. Who are you? Diana Taurasi. Woo-hoo! Tina Thompson One more

57:29I know I hear somebody saying Maya I love Maya I'll tell you why I'm not putting her there We love the 1800s Lauren Jackson Lauren Jackson You don't even know who that is I'm not familiar with Let me tell you something When I was going to the WNBA, I've been going to the WNBA since day one. I was the only guy in the audience. They looking at me like I'm crazy. Yeah, yeah. Cut that shit out. Yo, listen, you can throw the flag. You ain't got to hit me in my face. I ain't hit you. I did not hit you in the face. Stop that. Stop that. Find the footage when he was the only person at the WNBA. The only man.

58:18The only man. Yeah. The only man. I'm telling you. I'm telling you, there was a time when I was going to the WNBA where men were scarce in there. That sounds bad. Very scarce. That's different. When the player came up to me and was like, yo, thank you for supporting our sport. It wasn't like it is now. No, no. Back then, it was. They do. Yes, they do. Back then was Witherspoon, Sue Bird. What's my girl, Becky Hammond? They was all getting busy out there. Like, I've been a WNBA fan. I dig you. You don't got one. Google the pics. I got a hoodie. When did it start? When you were the first WNBA? 97.

59:02Go find a picture of me in 97 in the fucking WNBA. See if I'm fucking lying. You take all your flags back.

59:12No, no, no. But you said you were the only man. That's why we were winning the court of law. What did he say? That he was the only man at the NBA game. I rest my case, Your Honor. Object. Object. I'm talking in theory, context. Who was your favorite Liberty player? I used to love Witherspoon. I loved Witherspoon. I loved, well, now I love Sabrina. I love Stewie, Sabrina. I love John Quill. I love the other shit. But because you said back in the day, you were the only man. So I'm just asking. I was one of the only men. I got Spoon. Get him. Get him, mama. What's the name? Becky Hammond. A couple of them.

1:00:05Like, I used to love all of them. Becky Hammond was on the limit? Yeah. Yeah. I mean, that's where she... Early, though, right? Early. Before coaching. Way before we... But I would agree with two of your top five. See, if I made my list, you'd be in it. But it's Lisa Leslie. You told me I couldn't put myself in it. Lisa Leslie was different. You can't put yourself in your own list, but you can be in the other. Lisa Leslie... Okay, sir. Was she the first woman to dunk? Mm-hmm. She was different. Definitely. Lisa Leslie was different. she's definitely in the Rushmore for me she's on mine too huh?

1:00:44no she's on Mount Rushmore she's on your Mount Rushmore yeah she's for sure what was it like when you seen her dunk for the first time did you see her like in practice or you saw her live you watching a game ESPN and you seen her dunk what the hell well I seen her dunk before like um the Olympic team like in practice and stuff so y 'all knew she could dunk For me, it was like, it's a matter of time before she does it in the game. Like, Lisa is really, really like that. You know, when you talk about, like, the WNBA today and the growth of the game, no doubt about it, like, the talent level is there today.

1:01:28But the thing that bothers me is when people tend to forget, like, there have been players that have come through this league, like Elisa Leslie that was the first to do it. But I'm, you know, I'm saying no, the sponsorships, the brand deals, the opportunities, like all the eyes, like it wasn't like it is today. But I will say we sold arenas out. All the time. But let me explain something to you, right? When they gave Magic Johnson a million dollars, they put him on the cover of time. Now you got a bum making$239 million that he don't even play. These guys that don't even play that make$200-something million.

1:02:16And you can't even compare. I had a hit. Number one in the country, Flo Jaws get$500 a show. I was doing three shows on Friday. I was hustling my ass off to make$1 ,500. What are you talking about, brother? Is that$1 ,800 touch the cerebellum in a different way. The touch is what? His cerebellum. You know I'm fried. Cheryl, if nobody... Is your publicist here? They didn't warn you that I'm fried. I'm fried. Huh? Lori tried. Lori tried. Lori tried. You already know. Yeah. Lori tried. Lori warned me. Lori warned me. Don't mind me. I'm fried now because it's hot up in this. How you feel about... How you feel about the new expansion teams coming to the...

1:03:01Oh, I love it. Love it. Well, so this season... Put that AC back on. Put that AC back on because every time you even... You put it on, it's the back of my neck. You jerk it off, she's sweating bullets. Put that AC back on. I'm going to be a gentleman about this. Because I was a lady when I... No, because that shit was cold as fuck one second. It felt good to me though. Woo! That's all right. Maybe that AT. Wake it up. Well, you know, so this season we'll have

1:03:30Toronto and Portland, which I'm happy about. As far as hell, Portland. And then we have... T, what year do we get Philly, Detroit, and Cleveland? 29 and 30. So those three. Wow. And T, who do we get next year? Houston next year, baby. I'm just saying that because Houston comes at the expense of my Connecticut son, which is the team that I work for. So the Suns is over, and Commons come? Yeah. That ain't why. So they move into Houston. You know, Connecticut ain't, yeah, Connecticut ain't, you know. That's like the Brooklyn Giants went over there. I do, too. Yeah, I do, too. Cheers. Yeah, but they talking about the.

1:04:13Change gonna come. They talking about the fluidity. If Joe Lostein can sell out that stadium every weekend, you guys got a good chance over there with the commons. Connecticut, they ain't got that type of fluidity out there. They lose all that money at the casino. Did you say Joel Osteen could sell out the church? Joel Osteen sells out every weekend in Houston. A stadium. Every fucking weekend. I was just in Houston. I wanted to. I swear to God I almost stood an extra day to go to Joel Osteen. Joel Osteen, my favorite, man. Your favorite what? Favorite what? Favorite pastor. Joe Lowstin I don't hold it out of resin bowling you know how much trouble Joe Lowstin got me out of you know how many times the guy was going to the parking spot the guy cut me off like and I'm I'm like Joe says to chill baby God got you God got a better spot for you I can't I fucking love Joe Lowstin if you look at Joe Lowstin's Instagram I like every picture I love Joe Lowstin I would go you can't I'm telling you I'm so bold Every I've ever experienced I'm sorry for this Oh my gosh Jake Creflo Mace Everybody That's some nerve Yeah Wait a minute Did you put Creflo Did you put Creflo in it?

1:05:46Creflo everybody did Yo y 'all gotta watch that movie Honk if you see Jesus Oh my gosh When you see that movie Come back and talk to me No that was This shit is I want to ask a serious question. Did your brothers make you tough? Did they prepare you? That's it. Y 'all said, we got you. Y 'all said, look at this. Did they help you? They're ready to be, you know. No doubt. No crying in basketball. Yeah, yeah, yeah. My, yeah, like I didn't like my brothers. I love them. But I didn't, yeah, yeah, yeah. I didn't like them. And every time they left to go play ball, I was like right behind them. Because my mom didn't want me to play.

1:06:30She was like, oh, that's for boys and you're going to get hurt. And I was like, I got to go. So my brothers would always say to me, don't you dare cry. If you get hurt, if you fall, you better not cry. And I was like, that was words of wisdom. But I was like, why can't I cry if I get hurt? And they were like, because we'll get in trouble. If you cry and mama finds out, we're going to get in trouble. But where I grew up, there were never a lot of girls that wanted to play basketball. So I grew up in Brownfield, Texas, West Texas. We had a place we called Tiger Bowl. So it was across the tracks.

1:07:11Every Sunday after church, we would walk home, change clothes, and we would walk back across the tracks to go play in the Tiger Bowl. It was just an outside court, no nets. And I was the only girl that was playing. So it was my brothers and then just a lot of dudes that played. And that's where I learned how to play basketball. Like the toughness that I got was from playing with all of those dudes. And, you know, I always tell people when I watch basketball, even today, I think the women's game, like fundamentally, I think we're better because we really spend the time like working on our craft, like the ball handling and the shooting.

1:07:55And that's why we have really good shooters. But it's just natural that men are going to be tougher, stronger. They're going to jump higher. They're going to be quicker. And so when I played against the guys, those were things that I really worked on, like on defense. And honestly, I think that's why I was a really good defender, because I always went and played against the guys because I knew they were going to jump higher than me. So I had to be able to stay in front of them. I knew they were quicker. I had to be able to box them out. That's where I really think I became the player that I was.

1:08:33You know what's crazy is the last game I played. 1770.

1:08:43They didn't let you?

1:08:48No, no, no, wait a minute. No. Because the defense... I'm about to... Can I explain? Yes, please do. Let him explain. Come on, explain. Come on, Joe, explain. They didn't let me score, Cheryl. You might... That just hurt me. Yeah, take your shot. Go ahead. What I'm trying to explain is... Okay. It's one thing you play in the game, you shoot, you score. When I tell you, every time I try to shoot, all five guys, all sides of the court jumped so high in the air, they refused to let me. They were swinging at that shit Like yo like They did not want me to get A basket They were in that air like I remember Motherfucker was flying up to the circle They was It was like yo we're not gonna let Fat Joe score It was like I don't know maybe cause I'm a rapper Or something but I'm trying to tell you I remember shooting And all the fire players Jumping up in the air like yo Let me get a message.

1:10:02Let me get a message. I need you to come out of retirement and coach. And I need them before, while my knees still got fluidity, I need to get in the Celebrity All-Star Game NBA. If I can still let that happen. Let's go. Yeah, let's go. They told me I had to do something with Lethal Shooter. I had to go, I had to do charity. I did everything they told me to do. I paid my tithes to the church. that was there. And you still haven't been in... Hopefully this year they call me. Let's go. I only got enough. It's only about 18 months. I'm going to be courtside for that one. Yeah. Joe, you playing in the Celebrity All-Star game?

1:10:44I coached and won every time by 40. You don't know I'm a legendary coach. Wait a minute. You coached and won by 40 every time? Street basketball. I am the number one winningest coach at the record in the history of mankind. All Rock Bet. I won seven chips. All Rock Bet. All Rock Bet. All Rock Bet. In the NBA. In the NBA. They let me coach two celebrity basketball games and I won by 40 points both times. They don't want me to coach. All Rock Bet. I was in jail and I coached the team. They were the bad news bear. They were dribbling like this. Uh-huh. And I went and almost won the chip. They sent me home.

1:11:24They were dribbling like this. They was like this. The motherfucking bitch even dribbled. I felt bad for the motherfucking motherfucker working in the kitchen with me. Every Saturday I was out there. Oh, is he dribbling? Let me tell you the number one. Let me see how they be dribbling him with. Oh, my God. Let me tell you something. And you let him dribble like this. I got friends that go to jail for a living. Yo! They gave me like... Hard, right, bet. They gave me like the 10 jail commandments. And one of them was like, don't argue about basketball don't get into basketball don't play basketball because that's where the fights happen somebody fire you you fight you argue over the Knicks you this this this I had a pamphlet I couldn't take it every Saturday morning I walked out there them guys was getting beat by 10 ,000 they were dribbling like this so I went out there I said you stand here you stand there you here you cut when the guy they wind up winning they start winning every game Now the nice guys joined our team.

1:12:25They thought it was like a rock in that motherfucker. We start winning every game. I got to the chip, but they let me home. They taught a week before the chip. I don't lose. Just don't let me stay. Listen, that's all. And I just last week I coached the game. Just last week I coached the game. That's all coaching. What? Yes, I'm coaching. I know. Just last week I coached the game. They had like a Jordan Puerto Rican shit. They got a young Puerto Rican rapper. He's threatening me. We beat that ass by 40.

1:13:06Hey, everyone. It's Cal Penn. I'm the host of Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club. This week on the podcast, I am sitting down with Ray Porter, the narrator of Andy Weir's audiobook Project Hail Mary. massive sci-fi adventure about survival and science. And what happens when you wake up alone very far from Earth? I really had to make a decision because I caught myself getting that frog in my throat and starting to get teary as I'm narrating some of these sections. And it's like, OK, yo, yo, yo, is this indulgent? And I really thought about it. I was like, no, at this point, it would kind of be betraying the trust the author and the listener have in telling this story if I don't go through it.

1:13:49But there's places in this book that deeply emotionally affected me. And I left it on the mic. That's great. Because it served the story. People will say like, oh, my God, I cried at the end. It's like, yeah, dude, me too. Listen to Earsay, the Audible and iHeart Audiobook Club on the iHeartRadio app or wherever you get your podcasts. Do you ever feel like you're drinking from a firehouse? Paycor's intelligent HR solution empowers leaders to turn down the pressure. Their unified platform includes payroll, talent management, compliance software, and a lot more, connecting you to the people, data, and expertise you need to drive long-term business results.

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1:15:56I don't play that. All right. All right. He wants to hard rock. This is the draft. This is 7-0. The knowledge of the WNBA. Early predictions. What do you think they're going with this year? Just ball. Well, I mean, the Aces are the defending champions, so you can't ever go against them. I really, if New York can stay healthy, I like New York. Maybe. Let's go. But I'm going to tell you a team, and I said this last year, but they had so many injuries. Indiana Fever. Indiana. They got the pieces. Okay. And they did really good in the draft. I'll fuck with you. Don't mind me. Okay. Don't mind me. This is the menopause.

1:16:47This is the reverse menopause. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. This ain't the hot glass. This is cold as fuck up in this motherfucker. This is the reverse menopause. One old season. She got a shot at him. At MVP? Oh. That means no. No, no, no, no, no. So Caitlyn Clark don't have a shot at MVP? What it means? She didn't say no, she said. No, I didn't say it like that. Because here's what it means to me. She got to go and take it from Asia Wilson. Because Asia's the take, okay. Because Asia... Shit is the real deal. And Asia ain't just going to let it go like that. Uh-uh. But I would say... The light-skinned girl...

1:17:34Now, Fee's is hurt. She's hurt? She'll be back, but I don't know how healthy she'll be. Fee's really good. Yeah, Fee's good. But my... I would say Asia for sure is the top for me. I absolutely think if Caitlyn can stay healthy, I think Caitlyn has a really good shot. I don't know. I don't know what's going on with Stewie. I was just about to say. You know? So I'm not... I love Stewie. But I don't know what's going on with Stewie. Stewie's good, man. She come from over there, Connecticut. Well, she played college in Connecticut. Yeah, yeah, you come from upstate New York. No, Stewie's really good.

1:18:17No, she dead nice. And I'm going to say something right here. Kaitlyn Clark is dead nice. She got to be healthy. Her best ability is availability. Say it again? Her best ability is availability. No doubt. With the fluidity to have the new entity. Here's why I think Indiana has a really good shot to win a championship. Because you re-signed Kelsey Mitchell, which to me was... Perfect. Kelsey Mitchell is the truth. She is. You got Aaliyah Boston. You got Kaitlyn, if she can stay healthy. Lexi Hull I think is a key part of what they do defensively I absolutely loved their draft pick, Raven Johnson Raven because I think Raven's a true point guard and to me one of the best parts of Caitlin's game is her passing ability but I think when she's playing off the ball is when she is really good at scoring.

1:19:30And Raven Johnson running the point can move Kaitlin off the ball. And because when Kaitlin has the ball in her hands, everybody just kind of stands around. And they're like, let's see what she's going to do. When she's playing off the ball and you have a true point guard like Raven, there's going to be a lot of movement. You got to guard Kaitlin, Kelsey, Aaliyah, whoever that fourth player is going to be. Yeah, I like the pieces that they got. They will absolutely make some noise. Let me tell you something. I'm going where I always go with the Liberty. And that's a hard rock bet. My Liberty, we get busy.

1:20:08We picked up. My Liberty. Look at this. Say that. My Liberty. And that's a hard rock bet. Yeah, listen. My Liberty.

1:20:18That's the top five. My Liberty is dead nice. We picked up. great pickup this shit. Stabu. She gets busy, man. I like her. She's the better sister. And we beat Asia. We beat Asia two, three years ago. Well, Asia beat y 'all. Yeah, but I just want you to know it ain't like she's four chips in a row. She's beatable. She's beatable. I'm just trying to tell you my liberty, they don't play that shit. You know what I'm saying? Then we got the best mascot in the whole fucking league. Yeah, Ellie ain't no job. Ellie get busy, huh? Yeah, Ellie. Do you know about... Do you know who Ellie is inside the con?

1:21:00Don't be telling nobody. I don't want to know. Do you know? I'm just asking. Do you know? I don't know. Do you know? I don't know. I like it. I like it. I like... Legendary! Listen. Ellie's a rapper. You said you don't want to know. Don't be telling nobody. Gangsta rapper inside the con. She's the best. I know. I know you don't know I know nah nah I'm gonna fuck the whole shit up it's not good but I know who Ellie is don't tell it don't tell it I know who Ellie is but Ellie's the best mascot in the motherfuckers hands down hands down Cheryl what's the name of your podcast Levels to This Levels to This Levels to This I love that name and it's just Tariqa and I just talking about all the different levels to shit that women go through best guess.

1:21:53Tarika. Anytime. Tarika, you're next to Julie. Set it up. Julie. He full of shit. We're going on their podcast. Scheduling it. He full of shit. So just know. Set it up. Tarika. We are too. I'm giving you our word. Yeah. Yeah. I like that. Our word. I like that. Fuck. Yes. Let me ask you a question. NBA. Yeah. What are your predictions out the East, out the West? Ooh, hard rock! I can't, it's all this hard rock! Ah! Hard rock! What'd you say? I haven't been watching the NBA. Oh, I take that. I take that also. Look at this face. I'm just, like, I, like, no disrespect to anybody. I just... I thought you was just addicted to basketball.

1:22:42Like, no? I love basketball. What are you watching now that you retired? Are you watching Jeopardy? Paradise. You're in black? Paradise is shit. Paradise. I didn't understand that. Beauty and black. Have you seen the Imperfect Woman yet with Kerry Washington? I got you. I got you. You're going to love that shit. I don't think I've seen that one. I'm telling you Imperfect Woman on Apple TV with Kerry Washington. Okay, that's on my list. That's that shit. I'm watching that on the show. You know how the love stories go? You kill a husband, the husband kill a wife, everybody going after the real, the same shit.

1:23:17I'm tired of Lifetime Channel. Okay, yeah. I can do this blind. They can throw on the show in Lifetime. I can pause it and be like, all right, the husband killed the wife or the wife killed the husband. Somebody's going after the money. Yeah, Lifetime. Yeah. That's all Lifetime is. I don't know how they watch that shit all day. You know, Netflix put out some stats. You know, Breakfast Club. It's the new Breakfast Club. They were number one. They got like 50. I don't know their numbers. Okay, I'm going to tell you. In Netflix standings right now, The Breakfast Club was number one. Number two was Bridgington.

1:23:57You know, that's the number one show in the world. They got the actors. Number three was How I Kill My Husband. This shit is on Lifetime. This is a three podcast. Number four was Peter Davidson. Number five was Joe and Jay. Yeah. Not bad for the rookies of the year. Yeah, let's go. Top five. Top five dead or alive. Yeah, top five. Cheers. I'm toasting to y 'all being top five. We're number one everywhere else too. You glass empty? Hold up, I got it. Y 'all trying to get me twisty. I got my last little bit. White 1800, girl. 1800.

1:24:39This ain't that. That ain't this. Cracky kids. Make some noise for Cheryl Sloan! I remember you!

1:24:49Let me say a song! No, no, no. I'm almost through! That's fucked up. Do you ever feel like you're drinking from a firehouse? Paycor's intelligent HR solution empowers leaders to turn down the pressure. Their unified platform includes payroll, talent management, compliance software, and a lot more, connecting you to the people, data, and expertise you need to drive long-term business results. Visit paycor.com slash leaders and go from work flood to work flow. That's paycor.com slash leaders. This is Sophia Donner from OK Storytime. This summer, find your next obsession on Prime Video. And listen, we're not saying you need another obsession, but there could be a lot worse ones.

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