The Stephen A. Smith ShowFull Show: Sue Bird get your Facts Straight! Diddy vs R. Kelly. Alabama Killer, QB Pavia.
Stephen A. Smith is a New York Times Bestselling Author, Executive Producer, host of ESPN's First Take, and co-host of NBA Countdown.
Stephen A. discusses Sean Combs’s legal team accusing the federal government of leaking the Cassie Ventura assault tape. He interviews Vanderbilt University quarterback Diego Pavia about the team’s thrilling win over Alabama, and SNL funnyman, Kenan Thompson. He also addresses Sue Bird’s comments about WNBA playoff ratings, and answers view questions.
On The Stephen A. Smith Show, Smith gives you his renowned point of view, breaking barriers beyond the world of sports, and tackling pertinent issues across entertainment, pop culture, society, business, and politics. Three times a week, you'll hear his LIVE unfiltered opinions on the day's biggest headlines as well as straight-shooting interviews with top celebrities, game-changers, and thought leaders across the societal arena. The Stephen A. Smith Show is sure to entertain, inform, and motivate anyone who tunes in.
Oh yes, I'm loving this show. A couple of interviews I got coming your way. I got funny man Keeny Thompson from Saturday Night Live. I got Diego Pavia, the star quarterback for the week from Vanderbilt who.
Knocked off Alabama. Got to talk about that, but of course did. He's in the news again. There's a court date. He ain't getting out, at least not right now.
But you got a court date and it's set for me. There's a lot of stuff that's going on in the world. Who else better than your boy to talk to you about it?
Steven A. Smith showing the hounds. Let's roll. What's up? Everybody? Welcome to the latest edition of The steven As Smith Show.
Coming at you as I love to do over the digital airways with YouTube and of course iHeartRadio at very least three times a week. Thanks again, as always to my subscrit robbers, my followers. We've now clipsed over eight hundred and seventy seven thousand subscribers on YouTube. On our YouTube channel obviously, we've eclipsed over three million downloads on iHeartRadio. Can't thank y'all enough for the support and love. Keep it coming and I'm gonna keep on coming, all right. If you want to continue to like and follow the show, just cook the bell and YouTube could be the latest member of the stephen A. Smith Show family. And why you're doing that. If you're gonna take the time to do that, at least pick up a copy of my New York Time's bestselling memoir, Straight Shooter, a Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes now in paperback. Just go to straight Shooter book dot com to get yourself a copy of my book. Once again, that straight Shooter book dot com to get yourself a copy of my book. Looking forward to talking to Diego Pavio from Vanderbilt and at that Big Time upset.
That guy's got a.
Really, really good story. Y'all need to watch that. In off you Keenan Thompson from Saturday Night Live. He's got some interesting things to talk about. Make sure you look for him. I'll get into Sue Bird and talking about me and downgradeing the WNBA.
See, I'm sick of this. I'm really sick of this.
I'm really sick of having to deal with stuff where I'm getting accused of.
Doing stuff that I didn't do. When it comes to.
The WNBA, who I fully and wholeheartedly support and I love Sue Bird.
I can't believe that she said what she said.
I'll bring that up in just a minute, but before I do, let me get to the news of the world of pop culture and entertainment. Even though there's nothing about this that's entertaining per se, We're getting started with the latest on showan Diddy Combs, who's currently sitting in a federal jail awaiting trial on sex traffic and conspiracy and racketeering charges. At a hearing on Thursday, his trial date was tentatively set from May fifth, two thy and twenty five. In addition, prosecutor said Combs may be facing additional criminal charges down the road.
So damn They still building a Morva case. Still build a Marva case.
According to new legal documents obtained by TMZ, who Else, Comb's attorneys are accusing the Feds of misconduct, alleging they orchestrated the leak of the Cassie Venturia tape to CNN. The tape from twenty sixteen, if you remember, showed did he throwing Cassie to the floor, kicking her twice while she was trying to get on an elevator at a Los Angeles hotel. In the legal documents, did They's attorneys are specifically blaming the Department of Homeland Security, not the US Attorney's office. They also contend that the Department of Homeland Security is likely the source of the leak for a few reasons, namely, the DHS agents Department of Homeland Security, for those of you who don't know, were often quoted in news stories about the raids on Diddy's homes in Los Angeles and Miami.
Okay, y'all, okay, y'all.
First things first, according to the prosecution, they didn't have a copy of the tape and tell he get a copy of the tape until they saw it on CNN. Prior to that, they had no knowledge of it. Could they be lying, sure? Does it really really make a difference?
Now? One could easily.
Argue no, because the tape did show him beating up Cassie Venturro. We do have a video tape of Pete Diddy saying up that's what Those are his.
Words, not ours.
He was on video admitting that he was messed up, that he did what he did, that it was undeniably inexplicable, unex inexcusable, and that he was wrong.
We see it right there.
That was the video he already said he admitted it, so we can't. I mean, nothing changes that. Once you on video, you on video. I will remind y'all that when Ray Rice got into his situation with his then fiance in Atlantic City back a decade ago, he never played another game in his NFL career.
Cause video matters.
Video matters, and so to me, my initial reaction was, why bring up if you are the defense, why even bring up the tape again talking about how it was leaked by the government to try to buffer your case, try to buffer your argument.
To me, initially, initially.
It made no sense. I just thought it was dumb. I just thought it was dumb. I'm looking at his attorney's like, what the hell are you thinking. You're just reminding everybody of how egregious his actions were.
That's what I was thinking. But then I said, ah ah.
The court of public opinion is one thing they trying to get this brother off. Their next move is to say that if you can prove that the prosecution leaked the tape to the public, then you could get the tape removed as evidence to be presented by the prosecution, and the defense wins because you don't have.
To worry about twelve jurors seeing that damn tate.
While they're trying to judge whether or not to confiscate this man's freedom for.
The rest of his natural life. So it's two modes of thinking.
On one hand, all right, they leaked the videos that was very egregious. See public you understand I'm saying, trying to take the black man even further, trying to take him down is what they're trying to do, Trying to make him look bad, trying to convict him to the court of public opinion.
We've got to give p Diddy some reprieve.
We got to give him some support because there are still ladies and gentlemen, even with the video of him and Cassie Ventoria's ex girlfriend in that hotel lobby by the elevator, even with that, y'all, do you know there's still millions of people who.
Support Pee Diddy Ray?
You do know there are people that are saying he's being railroaded, right, you do know that there are people that are leading or leaning on conspiracy theories because of this case where he was suing Diagio, which owned Shirak, and they supposed to owe him money. And then you got people speculating about private investigators being hired to take them down because they were pissed off that he sued them after all of this money they helped him make.
Blah blah blah blah blah.
All of that stuff, while in low likelihood unprovable, is conceivable to the mind, especially to a mind of people who support somebody that's being prosecuted by our government who happens to be a black man.
You are gonna have people that look at that.
Now, keep in mind, there were people outside the court house supporting R.
Kelly. You remember that they were women.
So if that's the reality, right, and you have people outside the courthouse, grown ass women with daughters supporting him, is it not conceivable that there's gonna be a bunch of people that's supporting did he?
Yes? It is, Yes, it is.
Now.
I understand they're talking about and I know my research is looking at me, and they're talking about underaged people with Diddy. I know they were sex workers, but I'm talking about the actual charges against them, sex trafficking, racketeering, etc. There's nothing about underage folks that There have been civil cases that people have hinted might be coming down the pike that could involve underage people or people who were under age at the time, but we haven't seen that yet in this particular case against them. So you got people out there that's supporting back two all of this today court date May fifth, twenty twenty five. Twin daughters Jesse James and Delilah Starr held hands as they walked into the Lower Manhattan Courthouse just before the two pm hearing. The Bad Boy Records founder entered the courtroom through a side door wearing ten jail clothes.
He flashed a.
Smiling wave to his son, King Combs, who was sitting in the second.
Row of the courtroom gallery.
Is good that his children are there, have no doubt about it, giving them all the support that he needs, Okay. And of course his mother, Jani's Comb showed up walking into the federal courthouse as well, so his family's there in full support of him. I was just taken aback by them making noise about the video being leaked.
Because I was like, how the hell is that gonna help him?
But In the end, when you really think about it, it does kind of help him in the court of public opinion, because whenever a black man is being prosecut and we think that the government has done something salacious or unethical in their pursuit of him, we gonna side with him, at least to a degree in terms of pointing out the kind of links they will go through to take them down. We're also hearing that they're coming with additional charges down a pike.
This is just the start, it ain't the finish line.
But by doing this, their belief is that that's going to help him in the court of public opinion.
I don't know if they're wrong.
They might be right about that, but they especially win if they get that tape removed and it's not allowed to be seen by the twelve jurors that's going to be assigned to decide whether or not he's going to jail for twenty twenty five years, the forty years the rest of his life, or whether he's gonna be made to be a free man. He still ain't been let out on bail. If I remember correctly, a judge jud was removed from a case and a different judge came about.
Still ain't removed from jail. They still haven't granted him bail.
But this revealing of the tape and the accusations that it was leaked by the government to assist the prosecution, were they ordered the prosecution the government, it does make sense. It might not be that bad of a strategy. And if you can get that tape removed, they don't have to see what he did to his ex girl.
It's interesting. I'm just saying. I'm just saying.
Coming up, he led the historic upset of the Crimson Tie last week and knocking off Alabama.
I've got Vanderbilt quarterback Diego Pavia joined us us in just a moment.
Plus, he's a funny man that's been making us laugh for decade, y'all decades.
Was that you that did Kendrick Perkins? Was that you that did Kent Trick Perkins?
Come on, you know I got Big Perk. Shout out to Big Perk.
That's now a funny man. Keenan Thompson joins the show.
We'll get the breakdown on all his impersonations and more ahead right here on the Stephen A.
Smith Show. In a minute.
Okay, everybody you know what Tom it is. It's Tom for stephen A's weekly sports picks. In case you didn't already know, I've teamed up with Prospects to bring you my favorite picks on every Big Tom game or sporting event you see. Prize Pects is a skill based, real money daily fantasy sports game where you select two or more players and predict if they'll have more or less on their projected stats for the game on contest. It's not only super exciting but incredibly easy to play. It takes only sixty seconds.
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Now, let's look at my winning picks.
We're switching it up with only two picks for this one because I want to focus on a Sunday showdown between the Washington Commanders and the ball Timore Ravens. Two of the most electric quarterbacks in the National Football League, rookie sensation Jayden Daniels and two time league MVP Lamar Jackson, will face off for the first time.
Some like to focus on their running, but I'm focused.
On how well they throw the damn football, So let's get right to it. Jade and Daniels more or less than two hundred and twenty eight and a half passing yards. Have you seen the way the Common Commanders have been playing. Have you seen him in McLaurin hooking up. Have you seen the offense, the offensive opportunities the defense has been giving up. Have you seen this brother run with the football? He makes plays, the extensive plays, he makes things happen. I'm not holding that brother to two hundred and twenty eight and a half yards, especially going up against Lamar Jackson.
He's got that.
Kind of moxy where he'll want to answer the call and show that Lamar Jackson ain't the only quarterback to be looking forward to watching in the DMV. I'm gonna go with more on this one with Jaden Daniels. Next up, Lamar Jackson, the reigning League MVP, the two time league MVP. More or less than two hundred and twenty five and a half passing yards. See, I understand why they do two hundred and twenty five and a half as opposed to that's even less than you're anticipated from Jaden Daniels. I understand why they're doing that with Lamar Jackson. You know why because he handed off the football of that stud, that damn Derek Henry.
That's what that's about.
So they saying, Derek Henry gonna run rough shot over everybody, so he won't need to throw the football much, but he will need to throw it some against these Washington Commanders, and he will light it up. I think Lamar Jackson's gonna throw over three hundred yards in this game. All right, I'm going with more. He sees the kid on a come up, Jayden Daniels making noise, handling his business, trying to be the man in the DMV. Lamar Jackson ain't having that. He's gonna answer the challenge, answer the call. He's gonna make sure he does his thing, whether or not Jaden Daniels does his thing or not, I'm gonna go with more than two hundred and twenty five and a half passing yards for Lamar Jackson on this one. More on Jaden Daniels, More Lamar Jackson. It's more with prize picks.
That's what we do here. It's what we do. Welcome back to the steven A. Smith Show.
Let me get right into it, all right, because I've been waiting to talk to this man. My next guest has a story that sounds like it came from a Hollywood movie. He's five for eleven, a zero star recruit, beating the number one team in the country last week, Alabama forty to thirty five. Please welcome the starting quarterback of the Vanderbilt Commodores, the one and only Diego Pavia.
What's up man? How you doing, my brother? How's everything going?
Yeah? I appreciate you having me, stephen A.
You know, I love feel good stories, I really really do. But I appreciate how you ruled my weekend. I ain't expect Alabama to be losing to a team that had a loss to in the last twenty three context in the last forty years, but you come on the scene and all of a sudden just ruined everything for Alabama.
Major props to you. Got to give it to you.
Talk to me about how much this victory meant to you and the program.
What has been like for you this last week.
It means a lot for sure, you know, I mean, I'm a Juco kid and then now finally we're getting rewarded for the hard work that we put in, Like we ain't finished though, we want something way bigger than this, and you know this is just the start.
Talk to me about what the conversation was like for you guys going into this game against Alabama. Nobody gave y'all a chance to what have you? But you're knowing that you know, you got a lot of MOCKX, you got a lot of courage. Your former wrest left I remember correctly. You don't back up from anybody. Your love challenges. Everybody brags about this mystique that you bring to any place that you touched.
So what were you doing.
With your teammates the week leading into the Alabama game?
Sure, I would be right up. I was sitting on my couch. I was watching. I think it was a Liberty game, and I'm next to Eli or tight End. I pop up to see, like, you know, ESPN what they gotta say. I see Stephen a pop up talking about hell nah, don't don't take Vandy, and I was like, he must, he must know you know what I mean?
And Eli's like I did.
He's like, I haven't seen you lose by that many points ever, And I was like, smart man, well, Betty.
Well, I didn't.
I'm not mad Dog Russ. So that man bets and loses money every week. I keeps my money. I keep to my money.
Okay, but I.
Didn't give y'all us snowballs. I didn't give y'all a snowballs chance.
In hell.
I thought y'all were gonna lose by about thirty I really really just a year damn show made me out.
To be a liar.
Props to you before I go any further, I just want to I wanted you to take a moment to tell the nation who you are when they think about Diego Pavia. If you had to describe yourself, describe yourself to America, describe yourself to the football world.
I'm a winner. I'm electric. I'm gonna bring everything I got every single game. My family's inn show out. We're gonna we're gonna play hard, and my family's gonna party hard after.
And that's how we run stuff around here.
And you say that you know what your family? You know, I read up about your brothers. Now I meant I read up about your brothers. And obviously you got a sister that's gonna be a star at New Mexico State, if I remember correctly, Am I right of been saying that she's gonna be a star in New Mexico State?
Am I right?
No, she's she's a she just started eighth grade, she got her first division on office at uh un M. She hasn't committed or anything, but you know she's she's You think I'm good that girl is is dominant, Like she's gonna be the next big thing.
She's gonna be up there.
Now, what do you believe you would be as a football player if you didn't have those family members of yours in the tender's raising holy and make it all the noise in the world and psyching you up. What would you be if you didn't have your parents and your brothers and everybody in.
The stands and it was just you playing without those family members.
Dear, I think intimidating folks in a very very beautiful way.
By the way, Yeah, now, if I didn't have my family members, like a lot of a lot of stuff. You know, that's where my mentality comes from. They set the standard. And my brothers, you know, used to beat me up when I was little, but I hated losing, and they knew that. We used to, you know, put our pads on before the season and go smashing each other on the grass, you know, next to the house. And so that that really started. And my mom knows I hate losing. She hates losing. And you know, if I go home a loser that night, you know, like no one wants to talk to me.
And that's just reality. And so I just got to keep the standard, keep going. You know.
They pushed me to be a better person overall. But I can't I can't wait to get on this journey, continue this journey.
Hold up, did you just say even Mama don't speak to you when you lose? Is that what you just said? You just said that Mama, even Mama doesn't speak.
To you when you lose.
Yeah, yeah, it's it's different. It's different, is.
Different than the Pavia House, So it's different like that.
What about I mean, listen, your brothers, they gonna beat there no matter what, and what have you. I remember reading the story where you talked about how they you know, they would kick your butt, but ultimately you got bigger than all of them, and then you started beating it. But when did that start happen? When did you start beating up on your brothers.
It'd probably be like freshman year. We wrestled. All of us wrestl when we were little. I was a big, big recruit when I was very very little, like sixth grade, and then once I turned ninth grade, that's when they really stopped beating up on me. And I was able to hold my own and you know, not man handle them, but it I'd always beat them.
What got you started with football?
My brother so at six years you can only start playing football when you're seven. In New Mexico, my mom lied on my birth certificate when I was six so I could play up. I played there for like four years, and then when everyone went off, you know, to ahead to high school, you know, I went back down to my own League. And you know, I love football though, like I have a genuine love for it.
I love I love the game.
I just love what it love what it brings, you know, love the team, love the people I'm around.
You know, I got to meet people like you because of football.
You know, I'm listening and reading your story and I'm looking at you. I'm looking at one of your receivers, Eli Stoles twenty five receptions, three hundred and thirty three yards thus far this season. You're leading receiver when you wearing Juke ar If. I remember correctly, he wasn't he the quarterback, wasn't he ahead of you?
He so he transferred in from New Mexico State thinking that he was gonna take my job, and then he ended up becoming a tight end because I want over the job. And you know, Eli's a freak athlete. People are gonna freak out, how crazy that kid, how high he jumps, how fast he is when he comes pro that he's gonna jump if he's already not like the top ten pick, he's gonna jump up the board.
Now you talked about him and then reading stories and doing research, and you talked about how your relationship is and what have you and how y'all have gotten pretty close?
Uh?
Is he the one that's got you going to church? Is he the one that got on you for missing church one day? Is that him?
That is? That is him?
Uh?
You know that that kids different, He's wired different. He keeps my mental. I keep him on the game. So it's like a perfect balance, you know, with roommates. So we just spend a lot of time together. And I don't got a car right now, so he's been taking me bagging forward to practice.
So how does that work? Exactly?
Because you know, going to church and having the Good Lord in you, you know that can take away some of the edge that you might want to bring on the football field. Did you ever talk to Eli about that? Do you ever bring that to the equation and say to him, I gotta let I gotta I gotta let that rebel.
Out of me? Or are you just acclimated yourself accordingly?
Yeah, So I tell him, I'm like, hey, like this music gets me in the mode to go out and do like and feel like the man you know what I mean. He's like, Nah, man, you can be listening to like, listen to gospel music, listen to this listen to this, and he gives me other options, variations, ask something that I need to tweak and put the switch on. But yeah, there's there's different ways around it that he's taught me. But you know, Eli, you know, keeps that standard of God, which is you know, that's what I'm here for for the eternity.
I want to live in heaven with him.
I got a transition back to the football field in this regard. Dion Sanders, the one on only Prime Time shout at you out on social media after the game. Now, you were being recruited by Prime Time at Jackson State and HBCU before landing at in New Mexico State. Talk about what that recruitment was like and how you ended up making your decision to go elsewhere, you know, before ending up at Vanderbilt.
Yeah, he's he called me and he was real that's why I like, you know, coach Prime.
He said, you know, hey, I got a backup spot for you, my kids, the quarterback, Like, if you want to come, you could be the backup. And I was like, shoot, I feel like I'm better than than anyone in the world. You know That's how I feel. But you know, for him, keeping it real. You know, I appreciate people like him in the world that won't lie to you. And that's why I feel like, you know, Colorado, they turned over the page and they're look at them.
They're doing They're a very good team. They got everyone watching them.
But yeah, coach Prime is a prime example of keeping it real like a coach Kill them too is kind of on the same page, you know what I mean.
And you talked about coach Lily because I mean he came over with you, damn near brought the tie staff that seemed like to come there with you. How comfortable has that made the transition for you? Talk to me about the character of those individuals and how helpful they've been to your career thus far, especially at Vanderbilt.
Coach Kill is like like my pops for real. You know, when when I'm negotiating, when I was negotiating what I wanted coming to Vanderbilt, he was the one negotiating for me. And you know, whatever he says go around this thing. But you know, Coach Kill, he puts me in a in a position to go win every Saturday, and then on the sideline here is keep me calm, tell me just play my game, what I need to do, you know, just being the person that I am. And then you know he brought the offensive coordinator coaching back here too, and they just let me play free. Really, they let me check in and out of plays and do no like an NFL quarterback.
Would you know, it's interesting you just brought up negotiate your deal for you. I've waited so long for the day where you can hear college athletes talk about because I am a propos of college athletes getting taken care of, because you're getting robbed for decades and decades and decades, and that's not that's no longer going to be the case.
How has it been?
How do you feel about the whole n NIL name, image, likeness, being able to negotiate deals profit off of your exploits on the football field.
Speak to what level of importance that is to you, that is to college college athletes, and.
What do you believe that's ultimately done for the sport of college football.
I feel like it's a business now, you know what I mean? It's no more fun football. You either win and you're in or you're losing and you're out. But I think the NIL should move more to an incentive base because there's kids getting paid who aren't even playing. But like, you know, the kids who are are dominant, you know, they deserve that money. Who are bringing in money to the university, they should be getting paid high dollar. That's that's the reality of it. That's what I think is should move to more of an incentive base in your production.
Did you want to go and renegotiate whatever it did you got after you beat Alabama last week?
Did you try that?
I wish it worked. I wish it worked that way. I wish it worked that way for sure. But yeah, my contracts it's already written.
I got you oh in sixty that was your record versus top five teams before you win versus number one Alabama. What do you believe this victory has done for the program and what it ultimately has done for you.
I think people thought that we could do it. Outside of us, we knew we could do it, and now it's just shifts the mindset of the fans. They need to, you know, come out more support. You know, our stadiums, you know, seventy five to eighty percent filled with the other fans.
But yeah, that that video is dope. That video is dope. You know.
The student section shows out though and on third down this week, and I got honestly say, like it got pretty loud, and.
Listen, Nashville's the hell of a town. I mean, you win it, you could do some things. And by the way, you are good. You're in good shape. Because I'll be damn that the Tennessee Titans going win for you. I'll tell you that much. Y'all might have a city. Y'all might had a city on lock. Y'all keep winning because I ain't expected much from them. But I gotta ask you this. You got a game coming up against Kentucky. Both of y'all are three and two. You beat Alabama last week, but you turn around and lose this week. You gotta have people out there talking about y'all are one hit wonders or what have you?
What's your mindset?
What have you told your teammates about this upcoming game against Kentucky?
I told them this is the biggest game of our lives right now. Where we want to go. We cannot, you know, afford to come out flat. We cannot afford to not bring our best football. You know, we gotta come out swing, first hit, first, and you know, lamb punches, counterpunches, and just keep going every single time. You know, next play, best play.
Some people joke, but not really joke. They talk about Vanderbilt being the Ivy League school of the South. That's what they say, right and you being the star quarterback at Vanderbilt, the face of the program right now, there's no question about that. What would you say to people who would considering coming to Vanderbilt? I mean, if you had to recruit on behalf of the school, what would you say?
First off, I'll tell you what I told Coach Lee when I first got here. I had my degree in Mexico State, and I told him I come here to do a school. I'm come here to play football. And that's just real.
That's what you would say, Playing it simple, Playing it simple. By the way, Johnny Manziel surprised you doing a live appearance on College Football Live, if I remember correctly, right, what was that like for you?
At Man's elite?
You guys know that in college he was the most sotyball player, if not the greatest quarterback of all time in college. So for him to pop out, you know, show me some love. You know, that's a much respect to Johnny and you know that's my guy, watches HIGs before the game and then watch my highlights after.
I'm looking at you last question here, I'm looking at your schedule. Man, you got a chance, you gotta pay chance, Diego. I mean, if you show out against Kentucky, yeah, y'all got ball state after that, then Texas is number one now in the nation. I mean, my lord, if y'all end up being two of the top ranked, two number one ranked teams in the nation in the same season, could you imagine that this Auburn is South Carolina, you got LSU and Tennessee to close out the season. I mean, you show out in these games, Diego Pavia. I mean you a household name right now, but I can assure you it's gonna elevate to another level you handle your business against those schools.
Have you thought about that at all?
I'm worried about this game, and the game's at night, and you know what they say, the stars come out at night, So let's see it on Saturday.
Stars come out at night. I like that answer.
I appreciate you, Diego pop your man. Congratulations on your success. Man, thank you for coming on the show. Continue to do great things.
I'm rooted for you.
And listen, I hear that you know what you be trying to disguise your brothers with teezing you about how you be trying to disguise your height. You really five to ten, but you be standing on your tippy toes. Don't worry about that. The tallest quarterback is the one who wins. Tell him that. Tell him that.
Amen. Amen, you feel.
All the best of you A man, I see you down the road.
Congratulations again, I appreciate you, Steven Nate, thank for having me always. Man, take care of yourself. Congratulations. The one and only Diego Pavia brother got a chance. Look at this schedule, ladies and gentlemen, I mean, just fantasize about this for a second. We ain't expect Vanderbilt to beat No damn Alabama and Jaylen Milroe on the boys. We didn't expect that, but he did it. Forty to thirty five. You come back and you beat Kentucky, You beat Texas a number one, You got yours or manning at the quarterback spot and you win that game. Or but South Carolina's nothing to sneeze at LSU. You go beat them, you close out against then to see you beat them, diego Pavia. I mean, everybody will be talking about this brother if he pulls or I mean if they dare, I say, they win most, if not all, the rest of these games. That's just where I'm coming from. That's just where I'm coming from. Coming up SNL funny Man himself, Keenan Thompson joins me next right here on the steven A.
Smith Show. Don't go away.
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Welcome back to steven Ing Smith Show right here with the digital it was with YouTube, and of course iHeart radio again thanks to Diego Pavio. I'm rooting for that brother. Love his personality. It's beautiful, beautiful to see. I think it's gonna help the program immensely. Anyway, let me move on to an interview I taped earlier this week. I love people who make me laugh. I love people who make all of us laugh, and I know very few people who have done it as successfully over the course of the last couple of decades than the man I'm about to show you right now. My interview with him earlier this week with Saturday Night Lives very own Keenan Thompson, check it out. My guest does an Emmy Award winning actor, comedian, producer, author, and the longest running cast member of the iconic Saturday Night Live. My man, the one and only Keenan Thompson. Welcome to the Steven Asmith Show. What's up, Big Time? How are you man?
I'm good, my brother. How are you doing? Man?
Saturday Night Live is absolutely phenomenal. This is your twenty second season on the CNL. Did you think you would still be there after all of these years?
No?
I mean I didn't think I would ever be there in the first place, you know, So to like get the job number one was a dream come true. To do the job semi well and make it out of the first season was another milestone. And then all of a sudden, twenty one years is gone buy and I'm starting my twenty second season. It's just it's insane, man Like, As an actor, you know, you lucky to get one season out out let alone decades worth.
So yeah, I'm very blessed.
Educate me about what it's like to be in your industry at this day and age, because I ask comedians and actors about this all the time. The world is so sensitive now compared to what it used to be. I can't imagine that it's been more difficult to make people laugh than it is today because you never know what everybody's sensibilities are.
What is that like for you?
It's tough, you know.
I mean we're usually up to the challenge, but it can be deflating when you get it right and somebody's still mad, you know what I'm saying.
So like.
You try not to get deterred or too down on it or too unforgiving and just start stepping on people's toes again, you know what I'm saying. Like, some people get frustrated and be like, all right, forget it. I'm gonna just go back to just doing me and not really caring about being politically correct or sensitive to things. But that doesn't necessarily do society any favors. So we try to just say on our toes. But yeah, it's tough because yeah, somebody's always not as happy with it as the majority of everybody else, and that could be confusing or frustrating or whatever. But you know, I know in my heart, you know what I'm saying. I'm just trying to do good for the world. So that's how I approach it.
Listen.
I remember I once saw you or it was it was on social media and they showed a clipper you talking to Mike Tyson. And I only bring that up because it typified during that interview.
What you just described yourself as being your heart being in the right place.
You know, you're trying to do good for the world, and that's how you were explaining you looked at things a little bit differently, and you was telling him how you'd always look at him, et cetera, et cetera. And I'm thinking about the world that we live in right now. If you, specifically I'm talking about you had.
To give the world advice.
Or in terms especially your guys in your industry and girls in your industry, about what they need to do to be half as successful as you have been.
What would that advice be?
Knowledge? My brother? Knowledge?
You know what I'm saying, because when you know about what you're talking about, you know, I think where the infractions will be.
You know what I'm saying.
The more you know about other cultures and other struggles and stuff like that, the more accurate you can be with poking fun at it, you know what I mean, Because poking fun should only be a thing to tighten you up, you know what I'm saying, Like we're only pointing out kind of you know, just it's not necessarily a shortcoming as a bad term for it, but it's it's you know, it's a whole of your defense, you know what I'm saying. So people kind of poking at you like that and like trying to get you maybe to tighten up or you know, relax or whatever it is about whatever situation is kind of being you know, talked about in a joking kind of manner, you know what I'm saying, Like most jokes come from a soft point basically, you know what I mean. So I think you just have to like be aware other wise, you know, they gonna teach you.
You know, Twitter is gonna teach you. Get after you.
Yeah, you said said Twitter, you ain't even get specific for our purposes like black twining, Lord have mercy. The stuff that they'll forget about it, You forget about that is that's what is understood.
The one you know, you gotta be able to take it.
You gotta have thick skin, no doubt about it, you know es. And now I'm talking getting back to SNL. The show kicked off it's fiftieth season on sept twenty September twenty eighth with five point three million viewers, the most watched s n L ever. I'm thinking about I'm thinking about its relevancy, all the great actors and actresses throughout the years. How do you believe it's maintained its relevancy for half a century.
How would you answer that question?
It has a revolving door of talent happening there, you know, so it will always stay current, it will always feel fresh, and the fact that it's live, you know, there's no chance for to get stale. It's always something exciting to look forward to. Is unpredictable. In their calibers of host and musical guest talent is top notch. And then in every other department, you know what I mean, they try to make sure it's that kind of level of professionalism, so that being the corner foundation, and built on top of that is a family feeling. You know, there's generations of one family on our crew kind of thing. Maybe a couple few, you know, very like unified effort man, and yeah, keeping it fresh naturally because it's live, and naturally because it's sketch comedy, you know what I mean. Like sketch just goes in so many different directions. And yeah, there's a lot of talented people in the world, and you know, a lot of people have had a chance to come through there and you know, show the world what they can do. And I think that's how they keep it fresh. They keep finding young, fresh, new voices to kind of mirror what's going on in society.
You've done various impressions throughout the years, Reverend Al Shofton, Charles Barkley, Steve Harvey, Dion Sanders, LaVar Bell. One of my favorites is when you did Michael Irvin. Okay, and let me tell you some Was that you that did Kenchrick Perkins. Was that you that did Kenchrick Perkins?
Come on, you know I got.
I needed you. You have no idea I needed.
You for that because that damn listen, he had that meme mug on this space. I was like this, if you're not scaring nobody, big Perk, And then I turn it on Saturday night loud, but you imitate them?
I said, he got you, and then he starts cracking up, laughing, big perk, loved you imitating them. Who's your favorite? Who's your favorite to imitate?
I mean, you know, favorites are tough, but people like him that are jolly, that definitely have a tone. You can recognize it, like as soon as I start doing it, Like, I just love how he says your name, Steve. Wait a minute, hold up, now give me, give.
Me, don't forget. He said that keep a cool booty, keep a cool budy. That's what he tells me.
So him, Charles Barkley, you know, David Ortiz, Steve. I mean, I just try to, you know, bring the jolly out of the impression that I see in people, and those are the most fun to do.
Have you ever given an impression like this? I might be in trouble. If this person running to me, I might be in a little bit of trouble.
Has there been anybody like that? Who's that person?
It started with Searn Jones because I used to do a lot of ladies in the beginning, right, and I remember I was making fun of a very you know, pivotal sensitive moment, and I was talking about her wedding.
You know what I'm saying.
So she had typed a few messages I think, into social media in that time. This was two thousand and three, so I feel like it went straight to the news. There wasn't even no social media back then. But yeah, she didn't love it, and Steve didn't love it either in the beginning, you know what I'm saying.
But he grew to notice that it wasn't out of malice.
So you know, yeah, the only time I've ever been met at an impression about me is if they ain't funny.
If they funny, it don't walk it off.
Today is to waste the time.
How about that? How about that?
Listen before I let you get on out of here. You already know that's the name of your podcast. Want you to tell me about that? What you've been doing with that?
Bro?
Thank you, sir.
Yeah, me and my buddy started it, you know, during COVID probably like ninety nine percent of the other podcast, and uh, yeah, we just enjoyed talking about movies and you know, being young black men in America. And yes, it's been uh, it's been a fun kind of you know, It's almost like therapy for me because it's the one platform where I can, you know, pretty much just be my total normal kind of thing, you know what I mean. So it's been a lot of fun for that. Thanks for shouting that out.
No question, I'm wait for an invite, dammit, I'm wait for an invite. I mean feel free. I'm a coming, I'm come day. I'm gonna come on.
Ain't no problem at all before I let you get last question, Atlanta, Georgia your native correct?
Yes, sir?
Does that mean you're in Atlanta? Falcons fan?
You gotta know it.
You ain't seen my story I posted the other day Falcons Friday day.
It was Falcons Friday.
Now, how'd you feel about my man Harry Douglas that works with me in ESPN doing the damn video skit from the bathroom of an airplane.
That's what he did, Keenan. He went in.
He went in and started making some bird noises in the bathroom of an airplane. Never mind the smell and the stitch from.
Strangers that's living up in there. He went up in there. Anyway. That's how exciting he was about the dead falcons. Keenen, I don't know what's wrong with him, but that's what he did. That's what he did.
He's swallowing up a whole lot of other people's stenchs shouting in the bathroom. You're absolutely right about it. But that's how exciting Falcons fans. It's feeling right now. Man, it's we having a real moment, and it feels good because our fandom is loyal.
Man, We loyal to the soil. So it's good to see you feel worry about the Hawks two.
All of them, man, Hawks braves. I was a Fastress fan for a little quick minute. You know all of it.
I got you, I got you.
Listen, man, keep up the great work, keep doing what you've been doing on SNL your podcast.
You already know.
Yes, I will come on if invited, no doubt about it. I'm a fan of your work. Keep up the great work. Keep doing what you're doing, my man. We're all proud of you, my man. Keep making it happen.
Thank you, sir.
Invite coming soon and like I'm proud of you on a new revenue stream.
Man, this is nice. Got a little set in there, that's what's.
Up, trying to make it happen. Trying to make it happen.
I appreciate you.
Thanks a lot, my man.
You take it easy man, Thank you brother. Good to see you, no doubt.
The one and only Keenan Thompson, who you can catch every week.
On Saturday Night Live.
I know I don't miss him, my man, Keenan Thompson, smart brother, got a lot to say, got a lot.
Of respect for him.
You know a lot of times when you talk to these comedians, everything about ain't about making them laugh, for them making you laugh any second. Sometimes you want to see other faces as of their personalities, and you know what that tells me something about their acting ability too. Like, for example, hasn't Eddie Murphy proven he's a hell of an actor? Hasn't Martin Larmon's proven he's a hell of an actor? When the great Richard Pride was alive, didn't he prove he was a hell of an actor? You remember Hall the Nights with Eddie Murphy, Red Fox and Richard Pryor all acting in the movie, and how great that was. It's a lot of things. A lot of these comedians they ain't just funny. They can act. That's what I love. I love seeing what they bring to the screen. Okay, Martin Lawrence. I know people are looking at them and saying, you know, he don't look that healthy or whatever.
Man Bad Boys for was great and he was hysterical, hysterical. He's still a great mart Lawrence. Let's not forget that.
And oh, by the way, Will Smith, let me give him some love, because Will Smith fresh Prince of brother are He is supposed to be a comedian. He was a rapper that turned an actor. But he was funny on that show, and he damn sure is funny a lot in the Bad Boys movies too.
Can't forget that. Can't forget that.
So thanks again the funny man Keenan Thompson for joining the show. Much appreciate it. I got a transition. I wasn't gonna bring this up, but I saw it and then I read the article, and to be quite honest with you, I'm disgusted. I'm disgusted with Sue Byrd. Okay, Sue Bird Hall of Fame caliber, Sue Byrd WNBA college basketball. Matter of fact, one of the best people that I've ever met, or one of the best women I've ever met in professional.
Or collegiate sports. I love her.
But I didn't appreciate this article that I read. Okay when it came to her talking about yours truly, because you see farbeit, this is the headline job. Supe Bird calls out ESPN hosts for quote hating on w NBA playoff ratings after Caitlin Clark's exit.
You said why, but why y'all? Really, this is where we have to go.
Can we put her quotes up on the screen, please, because I want everybody to know.
What she said, what she said about your boy.
Okay, this is the wonderful, the marvelous Sue Bird.
I love her to death, love her interviewed the a few times. I'm such a fan. But this is what she said. Fewer ship numbers with Caitlyn Clark are astronomical.
She is a big drawer. She brings in all the things. And yes, the games where she's not playing have lower viewership, But in the WNBA playoffs, and we'll use the semifinals where Caitlyn obviously is not in it, because her team lost are still breaking records from previous WNBA years and are still cracking a million viewers, she continues, because she brings up my name. So these numbers are still really high, and they're still really meaningful, and.
Yet some people continue to flip that. I've seen Steven A.
Smith talk about it, I've seen Shannon Shot talk about it. And what I don't understand is they work for ESPN, So why are you hating on a business ESPN is in. I want to say, the semifinals games are up like one hundred and thirty percent, and that's without.
Caitlin end quote.
I'm going to dial it back and be as respectful as I can possibly be.
Once again.
Sue Bert's champion, Hall of Fame caliber and a beautiful person. I am a huge fan of her as a person and a player. One of the great pleasures I've had was interviewing her in the past. I'm only addressing her points about me and what she said in relation to the whole Caitlyn Clark story respectfully, Sue Bird, you are inaccurate.
It is just that simple.
First things First, we cover sports, right do we cover sports? Looking at one of my versins, sary do we cover sports? Do we cover sports? And do we cover sport grift? Do we cover sports? I think we cover sports. So if somebody got arrested, I can't bring that up. When Britney Grinder was taken prisoner in Russia unfairly, we didn't touch that. When ray Rice got in trouble, we didn't touch that. When ray Carutes did what he he did, that was a crime. He was convicted of killing the mother of his child, of his unborn child.
Did we cover that? When raiding?
Is it through the roof and we gonna cover it? When DeMar Hambling nearly died on the field.
Did we cover it?
Go outside the world of sports, the popping entertainment coach the world.
They ain't talking about p Diddy.
The Hollywood Report ain't talking about him, TMD ain't talking about him, Entertainment Tonight ain't talking about him.
CNN ain't talking.
About him, c NBC ain't talking about him. We ain't talking about the story. Is the story, Sue Bird? What was Stephen A. Smith and Shannon guilty of exactly? You know everybody John Stewart, who I love, by the way, calling.
Monica McNutt on his show, You know.
She rolling out there like she just they just made a big Tom movie and she's a guest rolling up on late night television. Why because we got an argument about the WNBA and Postal don't get this matches. And there's a whole bunch of people that was produced not for them. My Shane Navor, it's a whole bunch of paper.
I my gun is, my gun is.
Oh my godness, there's a whole bunch of paypo out there that has been contributed to the WNBA. What was Shanning and I saying, we were saying, do y'all see these numbers? Thanks to Caitlan Clark, Indiana led the league in attendance both at home and on the road. The Indiana Fever Nobody cared about Them average seventeen thousand and thirty five at home this season with Caitland Clark and over fifteen thousand in arenas on the road.
Four teams four moved home.
Games to bigger arenas when Indiana came to town to accommodate more fans.
I'm not finished.
Attendance for the entire league is up nearly fifty percent this year, according to data from Across the Timeline and Indiana Lite. All teams within average attendance of seventeen thy thirty five, up three hundred and nineteen percent from a year ago. All other teams still grew by double digit percentages, but not like that.
And then we said.
Merchandise sales are also up four hundred and fifty percent for the WNBA according to Fanatics, and Clark was the top selling player.
In his fifth amongst athletes across all sports.
Fanatics also reported a one hundred percent increase in sales for WNBA specific merchandise. What's the problem, superb, I don't know that you gave her props and you acknowledged how phenomenal she was in terms of a drawer. What Shannon Sharpe and I were guilty of saying was that not enough folks were appreciating it and riding the tide.
A rising tide lifts all boats.
People weren't doing it, not you, not most of the league, but some was that not proven by the way Ryl Swoops acted.
We showed it to you now.
Stories were exaggerated, stories were embellished, people knocking it into the ground, trying to accuse Carrington or pokingon and I intentionally and all of that stuff.
We know some of it was excessive.
We also know that some members of her fan base can be racially insensitive. Dare I say we know all of that. Guess why we know because we covered it. We're in the news business. What do you mean, ESPN? So because I work at my day job on ESPN, I'm supposed to ignore the facts. I'm supposed to ignore the astronomical impact she has had compared to others. How Team USA was stupid for not putting on a team to make sure you help uplift the sport even more.
Don't y'all want a greater profile. Don't y'all want more notoriety, Don't y'all want more hype? I understand that this is going on still without her, now.
That she's out of the playoffs, because.
The games have been great.
But the fact of the matter is she swelled the interest in the sport that made people stick.
Around and want to watch the others.
A rising tide lifts all boats, which is what we were saying, both Shannon Sharp and myself when we.
Address that issue. Why would you say a quote like that.
We work for ESPN, so I'm supposed to turn a blind down a death far to the facts.
That ain't what we do.
And while I am quite sure, Sue Bird that you could educate me on a game of basketball, even though I've been covering it for thirty years because you are phenomenal.
You are one beautiful human being. I love you to death. You know I do. You know I do, But I would say this to you respectfully, Sue Berd.
You know basketball, I kind of know news, and I damn sure no, ESPN. It doesn't matter who we have a league rights deal with, who we have a contract.
With, what games we air.
We cover sports, the in and outs, the good, the bad, the ugly.
That's what we do. You've been around long enough to know that that's how it goes. And to imply that we should just ignore.
The impact that Caitlyn Clark had and still continues to have on this team, this league, this sport, Nah, it doesn't work that way. It doesn't work that way. Sue Bird, you are one of the many who have contributed to the upliftment of the sport in a phenomenal incomparable way. You should have our gratitude, our appreciation, And any time I think about the WNBA, I think about you, I think about Diana Tarassi, I think about a host of other candas Parkers, Lisa Leslie, Chryl Swoop, Cynthia Cooper, the list goes on and on and on. I get all of that, but you know something, Magic Johnson.
Did great, great things for the NBA. Larry Bird did great, great things for the NBA.
But when that brother Michael Jordan came along, they stood down not on a basketball called competing against them, But nobody complained about the shine he received.
One reason was because they knew he deserved it. You know what.
The other reason was it built the profile of the NBA. It made the ratings blow up, and took it off of tape delay and put it on primetime television and ultimately assisted in it becoming and international global line.
That's the brand. That's what happened. That's what happened.
And if the ladies, meaning all of you, collectively grasp that concept fully devoid of resentment, you too shall reap the benefits of somebody like katelen Clark coming along and anybody with a similar impact who follows.
Let us all get paid. That's the game. It's a game I like to play. You should too. And by the way, listen, I don't run from conversations. Superd.
If you got a point that you want to come on to show, you are welcome on the Steven Asmith Show. Anytime you like you know that, and you know I love you, you know I do.
I just didn't agree with that tape that you gave, that's all.
But I am happy to talk to you about that subject anytime you like you are more than welcome to come right here on this show to discuss it. Let's go to the tweet before we get on out of here for the day. Please let me see what we got here at s Strickland MMA as in Sean Strickland, the MMA Fighter like him, he said, he says some arbitrary tweet my team wanted me to see.
He said.
When men say I'm not happy, you're a man. You're not supposed to be happy. Being happy is for women and children. You're meant to endure hardship. Instead of saying I'm not happy, say what can I do to make the people I care about happy?
That's being a man.
Sean Strickland, my brother, I'm not gonna throw complete shade on that tweet. In principle, what you're saying is that being a man is prioritizing the happiness of your loved ones around you. I respect that, bro, I truly do. But I still would modify your statement. I'd ask you to consider the same. If you're not happy, how could you possibly make the loved ones around you happy? Because see, doing for them is one thing and one source of happiness. But remember, if they're your loved ones, that means they have love for you too, which means seeing you unhappy won't do it for them.
So how does that work? So I would say to you modify that thinking.
It's beautiful that you prioritize the happiness of your family and loved ones around you. But remember your man, Stephen A. Smith said this, my brother, in some instances, not all, not most, but in some instances not at the price of you. There is no y'all without you. Remember that next tweek, let me get it at not Brendan Hogan, Right, Steven A.
Smith.
If you could dispense a different liquid out of each finger on one hand, what would your five liquids be? Good Lord, good lord, Man, good lord? Or write five liquids. I'd want gas so I don't have to buy any for my car. I want water so I don't have to buy any. I'd want something like a Gatorade or something like that.
For energy.
I'd love some milk because I like my cereal the Chief from time to time. But I also like milk and my tea milk and my hot chocolate.
All that other stuff. So that's four.
So I said gasoline, water, energy drink that kind of stuff, milk and uh, I'm not gonna say tea because I included that with the milk. Uh, I'm gonna say protein drink. How about that? But you know what, no, no, let me take that back, damn it. Let me get a little alcohol in me some head and seeing coke from time to time, hennesseee and coke, got'll do it, or Cavarsier and coke or Remy and coke. At least one alcoholic drink.
I can do that. Let's do that next to week. What's up?
What we got at? Tranquilized end Zoe write Stephen A. Smith says my brother. Last night, at around eleven pm, I was walking through tom Square along with two AirPods in a brother snuck up behind me and tickled me, then ran away. What would you do in that situation? Not a damn thing people crazy out here in these streets.
If all he did was tickle you and kept it moving.
I would have been ready to punch him in the face, no doubt, But in the same breath, I ain't gonna chase after him because if he's sick enoughing crazy enough to do some shit like that, what else might he do if I approached him? So be happy that he didn't do more than that. And next time, they don't have your damn AirPods in while you walk in the streets, because when you walk in the streets, you need to hear, think, cause you got to have your head on the swivel and pay attention, especially with the craziness is going on in the streets of New York. What the hell are you doing walking around where you're compromising your own hearing and alertness.
That is not smart. So the tickling dude, we'll.
Call him the tickler, Okay, he's really not the problem that end at this moment. The problem is you keep the damn AirPods out of your ear until you're getting a car and you're in a safe place, or you're.
In private, not in public, bro not in public. Last tweet, what we got Steven A. Smith. This is at Teddy fresh Filo. Steven A.
Smith three point on the line for five hundred million. Who do you have taking the shot? I don't know any of these characters really by name. I mean, I've seen some of them, I just don't remember the names. But I know that SpongeBob. Who's the bottom left again, Jimmy Neutron. That's what I'm gonna do. I'm gonna roll with Jimmy Neutron. I have no freaking idea why I'm picking him. I'm just guessing, but we.
Gonna go with that.
I gotta get on out of here, ladies and gentlemen, I.
Got work to do. That's it for this edition of The stephen A. Smith Show.
I hope you all have a lovely weekend. Thanks again to Diego Pavio. All right, thanks again to Keenan Thompson. I'm sorry, Sue Bird, I had to address that matter, but it was necessary.
I'm damn sure sorry.
I gotta address p Diddy and the latest with him, but that story we.
Ain't going anywhere.
You gotta do what you gotta do in this business in terms of the items that you're talking about.
Appreciate your tweets as well. Enjoy your weekend.
Hope you have a fabulous one and a safe and happy one, Peace and love everybody. I'll be back Monday, even on my birthday. I'm coming to you. Until then, Peace of love, take care of God, bless
