The Stephen A. Smith ShowFull Show: Free Gifts gets NYC Mayor Indicted. "Me So Horny" Uncle Luke is Pissed. No NIL Pay, QB Quits.
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 the federal indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. He interviews ESPN’s Paul Finebaum about the biggest college football game of the season between Georgia and Alabama, and UNLV quarterback Matthew Sluka leaving the undefeated Rebels over claims of an unpaid verbal NIL promise. He also comments on the WNBA season end for Diana Taurasi and Caitlin Clark, Alyssa Thomas calling out racist Indiana Fever fans, and previews NFL weekend matchups. Miami Hip Hop legend Luther “Uncle Luke” Campbell also joins the show to talk about the Diddy indictment and the upcoming New Orleans Super Bowl halftime show.
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 damn, Oh damn.
I thought I had a whole bunch of perspectives I already gave you, Okay. I talked to lawyers, I talked to legal analysts. I talked to everybody about PDD. I haven't talked to my man cam Frager how about what the hell was going on with PDD. But it don't get no better than listening to what Uncle Luke himself had to state. The one and only Luke Campbell. You're about to be on the show. You're about to be on the show.
I'm gonna talk to him.
I'm gonna talk about Mayor Eric Adams, I'm gonna talk about some NFL stuff.
I'm gonna talk about George d.
Ala, Bama going up against one another this weekend with my man Paul Firebaugh, all of them.
More coming up. But forgive me for being excited, because I tell you right now.
Uncle Luke, Uncle Luke, Uncle Luke, I shouldn't have asked. I wasn't prepared for what the hell he had to say to be just a few minutes ago.
You about to see that conversation right here next on the Stephen A. Smith Show. How at you?
Boy?
What's up? Everybody.
Welcome to the ladies and listen to the Steph Nate Smith Show coming at you as I love to do at the very least three days a week over the digital airways of YouTube, and of course Iurheartradio. Before I go any further, let me take a moment to thank and show my level of appreciation for my followers and all of that stuff. We have now eclipsed over eight hundred and fifty five thousand subscribers. We continue to grow by the thousands every single day. Can't wait till I get to one million. Can't wait till I get to the one million. Hope y'all help me do that quick, fast and in a hurry. Appreciate the love and support. Can't thank y'all enough. Keep it coming, and also remember to like and follow the Steven Aate Smith Show right here on YouTube.
Just click the bell to get notified for.
All of our new content and bam, you too will be the latest member of the Steven Aate Smith Show family. And while you're doing that, please don't forget to pick up a copy of my New York Times best selling book, Straight Shooter, a memoir of second chances and first takes.
On paperback. Go to straight shooter book.
Dot com to get yourself a copy. Once again straight shooter book dot com. Let's get started with the federal indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams. Yesterday, a fifty seven page indictment was unsealed, charging Mayor Adams with bribery, solicitation of illegal foreign campaign contributions, wire fraud, and conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Most of the indictment centers on the Turkish community and Turkish businessmen who allegedly exerted influence.
On the mayor.
More specifically, the Fed say Adams received luxury travel and other benefits from a Turkish official and later pressured the New York City Fire Department to open a Turkish consular building without a fire inspection in exchange. The indictment alleged illegal activity going all the way back to twenty fourteen, when Adams was Brookman Borough President. Here's a snippet of the chargers in the indictment. Check this out on a full screen for nearly a deck. Adams sought and accepted improper valuable benefits such as luxury international travel, including from wealthy foreign business people, and at least one Turkish government official seeking to gain influence.
Over him end. Quote.
Ladies and gentlemen, this indictment comes from the Southern District of New York, the same organization currently holding Sean Diddy Combs in a federal jail until his trial on sex trafficking and racketeering charges. As for Mayor Adams, here's what his attorney, Alex Spiro said in a statement issued Thursday morning.
Quote.
Federal agents appeared this morning at Gracie Mansion in an effort to create a spectacle again and take Mayor Adam's phone again.
He has not been arrested and looks forward to his day in court.
They send a dozen agents to pick up a phone when we would.
Have happily turned it in.
Adams would face significant prison time if convicted. Of course, first of all, to Mayor Adam's attorney, respectfully, sir, your point, I get your point, but does that really matter. We just had an attorney, an alum of the Southern District of New York on here just a couple of days ago, talking about the Diddy case, and we learned that they get you over eighty percent of the time. So this ain't about how it looks. This is about what is.
The government is coming after the mayor. Now, if you want to have.
An argument, you want to have a beef, you want to have.
A level of annoyance about it.
Okay, you know what Clarence Thomas, the Supreme Court justice, allegedly supposedly took gifts. What kind of legal issues are is he going through? Donald Trump? We talk about him all the time. Impeached twice, thirty four felony convictions. The man is still the GOP nominee for the presidency of the United States, favors kickbacks whatever. Some people may not want to hear that. Some people might look at it and say, this is not a big deal. There's as much ado about nothing. Here's the problem. The Southern District of New York feels otherwise. As a result, the court system is going to feel otherwise, which means that the mayor could.
Be in some trouble.
It's not as definitive, is Diddy in all of this? Who's behind bars? It's not as definitive as that as of yet, But clearly it's one of those situations where Mayor Adams he's in some trouble, so much so that I think one thing.
Is safe to say.
If former Governor of New York Andrew Cuomo decides to run, as has been reported and insinuated over the last couple of weeks, if he does decide to run for mayor of New York City, I think he'd win. If Mayor Adams decides to run for reelection, assume me that is legal issues don't prevent it from doing so, it probably lose. That's what I feel from all of this. Outside of that, watch what you do, watch you you do business with, Watch what favors you incur, Watch what favors you receive.
Everything is getting messy.
And remember this one other thing, ladies and gentlemen, for all of us, myself included, Ignorance of the law doesn't excuse you from the obligations that the law provides.
So you might not even know half the time you doing something wrong. You better find out. You better find out, or.
You better have a damn good lawyer in your ear who's letting you know in real time.
Because it's gotten to a point.
When I hear the Southern District in New York, I damn near fear you are guilty. That's how scary these people are. Because they usually get who they're coming for. That's all I wanted to say about that. Coming up, Uncle Luke joins the show to one and only Luke Campbell. We'll get into his reaction to Diddy and some comments he shared about Kendrick Lamar doing the Super Bowl halftime show.
Obviously that involves Jay Z of course.
Also, Georgia and Alabama face off Saturday in the biggest game of the college football season Todate. I'll get into all that and some other college football headlines with the one and only Paul Finebaum. That's next right here on the stephen A.
Smith Show. Don't go away. Okay, everybody, you know what Tom?
It is?
Is that Tom again? Guess what Tom?
For?
Stephen A's Sports Picks.
It's no secret that I live in breathed sports, and now that the NFL has descended upon us, I can be right here in the middle all that big time action.
But how do I do that exactly? There's only one way. I use prize picks. That's how you see.
Prospects is the largest fantasy sports platform in all the land, with more than three million members. You just choose two, three, even up to six players and then pick more or less on the projected.
Stats for the game.
And the best part, you can pick and choose players from any of the sports you love to watch, whether it's Patrick Mahomes, Caitlin Clark, or show hey Otani and get this sign up a code that say yes, some prospects will give you fifty dollars instantly when you play your first five dollar lineup. You don't need your lineup, you don't need to win your lineup.
To receive the fifty dollars bonus. It's guaranteed.
All you have to do is play a five dollar lineup on prospects and you'll get fifty dollars instantly. Now let's see my winning picks all right today, I'll be picking for this weekend's NFL games. First off, Atlanta Falcons running back b Jon Robinson going against the New Orleans States more or less than seventy three and a half rushing yards. There's a bad brother right here. He can ball, and Atlanta really hasn't looked that bad. I saw them beat Philadelphia Eagles. I saw them lose a tight one to Kansas City. I know what that Atlanta New Orleans rivalry is light. New Orleans is no joke, but neither is Atlanta, and certainly not this brother.
I'm gonna go with more on this one. Be Jean Robinson. More than seventy three and a half yards.
Let's go to the next one right here, coach running back Jonathan Taylor playing against my Pittsburgh Steelers more or less than seventy two and a half rushing yards. Look, Pittsburgh Steelers defense is real, it's legit, it's big time.
But I could see how this could unfold.
You, Anthony Richardson, the Indianapolis coach, you probably wanna go out there flinging that damn football. Okay, the Steelers gonna do everything they can to shut that down. That don't mean you ain't gonna get yours just a little bit in rushing the footballer, right, and I'm thinking about Jonathan.
Taylor, the stud that he is. This brother could pop.
For one point fifty even two hundred yards, but it ain't gonna be against the Steelers. But seventy two and a half rushing yards that ain't too much to ask.
Do I see more here? Yes? I do. I'm gonna go with more for him as well.
Next up, Jaguars running back Travis Etn going up against the Houston Texas defense, which didn't look that damn good last week against Minnesota, by the way, more or less than.
Forty seven and a half yards rushing.
Guess what, I've lost all faith in the Jacksonville Jaguars. This ain't no knock against you, Travis, because I know you could ball. But I can't even say the word more associated with the Jacksonville Jaguars unless we talk about more losses. They suck right now. I don't know what the hell is wrong with them. Okay, and Doug Peters're gonna be lucky to keep his damn job. They keep looking the way that they've been looking, they're gonna start wearing bags over their damn heads for long. They better get their act together. I'm going with less on this one for Traves Etn. Okay, we're gonna get that out the way. Last, but not least, speaking of bags, we're talking about the Carolina Panthers running back Trooper.
Remember Trooper Hubbard, not Chopper, not Chubber. Trooper Hubbard playing.
The Cincinnati Biggs more or less than sixty one and a half rushing yards. I've lost faith in Cincinnati as well, but I never had much faith in the Carolina Pans. I see Andy Dalton out there showing you what the quarterback is supposed to look like with his redhead itself. You understand the freckles and all of that other stuff. Going up against the Bengals, I think they're desperate times called for desperate measures. The Bengals desperate to get in the winning column. They have received their medicine. The Carolina Panthers, I don't care what anybody saying they're all for. I'll give me down by no win last we don't know what the Raiders was going What the hell was going on with the Raiders. I ain't blamed Antonio Pierce, the head coach calling out his team.
No way that was supposed to happen.
I think things come back to earth for the Carolina Panthers this week, going up against a despminate Cincinnati Bengals team who hasn't won a game yet this season. And I think when you look at Chuba Hubbard in this particular instance, I'm gonna go with less.
It's going to be less where he's concerned.
So let's recap all four pixel right, all four pixe that I selected b John Robinson more, Jonathan Taylor, more, Traves etn less.
Toober Hubbard less. That's the way it goes.
You can't get more all the time. Most of the time is good enough, prospects more or less. You can find a way to win as long as you're making the right choices. Welcome back to Steve they Special right here over the digital It was a YouTube and of course iHeart radio. I couldn't wait to get to my next guest of Miami Hip Hop Leisure from the rap group two Live Crew. He's been on the show before and I wanted him back to sort of recap the week of hot topics that have been percolating all over the damn world. Right now, please welcome the one the Only Uncle Luke himself, Luther Campbell aka Uncle Luke.
What's up, Big Time?
How are you?
Man?
How's everything?
Hey man? Everything's great, man. I can't complain man. His football season and you know it's context.
Fuck baby, I ain't mad at you. I know you know your football, I know you love your football. But I'll be damned. That's why I asked you to come on today. I mean, you know, what the hell's been going on all week and all of this other stuff.
I mean, just to recap everything.
When you heard about Diddy and obviously him getting arrested, them taking into jail, denying him bail not once but twice.
What went through your mon uncle.
Let me tell you them.
The first thing that went to my mind was the liquor company when you when you I mean, when you were you staying at a liquor company that's paying you all this money, you.
Know, fifteen million or whatever.
It was right that they're going after you and you call you make racial claims against them.
What those big type of corporations.
Yeah, yeah, they come after you.
You know, they come after you if you're going to go into a court of law and think you're gonna win a fight without them deframing you or making you look like the worst person in the world, you.
Know, start out. The first thing that.
Came to my mind, you know, just thinking that these people are so powerful and they're the politically motivated where they actually own senators who actually get on the phone and call up presidents and tell presidents appoint sir certain people in certain department heads. You know, it's just real easy for them to get on the phone call and say, hey, look at man. Put pressure on that brother there, and I think that's I think that's what he got caught in.
But so so basically what you're saying is you ain't even attaching any guilt or innocence to him. What you're basically saying is he made the wrong damn enemies and now they came for him.
He made the wrong enemies.
I mean, he went and essentially did what our parents always say, never bite the hand that fees you. And so now he's in the world of trouble. You know what I'm saying. I mean, let's think about it, Steve. We all have been to a.
Back of the party, right, that was the back of the party.
I mean, you go to jails for bachelor party if you go to I mean, let's keep it one hundred.
So back to the parties technically illegal.
Now, the thing that he did with Cassie I thought I originally thought California was gonna take up that as a as a kidnapping.
That is where the problem comes in at. But everything else, you.
Know, baby all batchelor, party, freak alls, whatever you want to name it. I mean, guys are setting up freak calls right now because they get ready to get married all over the world. So and they're transporting girls in from different places and gonna be about that life.
That's just the fact of it all.
What about the notion that number one, let's take the let's take the video. Cassie Ventura is her name, that's his ex.
Now, you know we saw on video what he did to her.
What they're trying to say is that ain't the only person.
He's done it too.
You're talking about violence against women, physical violence, et cetera.
You're talking about that.
They're basically calling bad boy entertainment, implying anyway, it's a damn prostitution ring that you got people coming up in there and whatever. Now, last time I checked in certain states. Hell, we don't even know if prostitution is illegal, but what is illegal is drugging them without them knowing, et cetera, et cetera.
It's similar stuff that.
They said about Bill Cosby, similar stuff that you said about Jeffrey Epstein, of the stuff that they said said about Harvey Wanstein. What about the notion of comparing that in some small way, if not more, to all of those names. I just throughout the uncle Luke.
Yeah, I mean that's that. I mean, it's just like it me too. Moving.
You know, when you have a movement in the world and people are moving certain type of ways, and I mean all the people that you named off, all these historic people who got taken down, you know, that is the.
That is the new thing. You know.
Hey, look, you know automatically they they are attached you to child phornography, child you know, underage individuals coming into parties and things like that.
But in this.
Case, I don't think I remember them saying anything about young underage kids. This whole thing of trafficking bringing people sex workers sex workers right those are the girls at the strip club taking them across county line or state line.
That's illegal.
I mean, you know, I'm having a little problem with that one there, because you know, again people are doing that every day. Guys are going to Tuloom, guys are going to Mexico Cosmmel and then I mean going all over the world right now to celebrate their basket party. And they're taking the girl, the so called non new name sex workers across county line, state wine and they're taking them over around the country. So I mean, when you getting to the drug part of it. That is the problem. You can't drug girls. You can't do that. I mean, and take advantage of him.
The thing that he did with Cassidy that's on video, that's a problem. You can't do that. I mean, certain things you just can't do.
I want to make sure because I've known you for years and i want to make sure I'm looking out for you here. I'm certainly not not trying to apply nothing. I want to be straight up and down with this. You're basically speaking against the violence because there's noise use for that. You can't condone that. And the drugs, there's no excuse for that. But a meaning unknown drug is somebody they don't know it. But what you're saying is is shoved that aside. And if there's not any truth to that sex workers you're talking about you comparing that the post of the strip club you're talking about it.
You're basically saying this stuff been going all on time.
You called it a bachelor party. If anybody would know, Uncle Luke would know.
You know.
So I'm asking you, is that what you're saying. You're saying you.
Don't want to hear that nonsense about sex workers and stuff, or you know, they coming across state lines or whatever. Because you're saying this stuff is.
Happening all the time for decades, brod.
This's been happening for one hundred years. I mean, that's facy.
But at the end of the day, man, I just I don't believe in, you know, drugging women.
You I mean, that's out of the question.
Beating women, holding people against that will, doing all that wild stuff.
I mean, you know, look, see I can.
Write a book on what to do and what I have to do, you feel me. But at the end of the day, things are you can't do certain things and if you did, if did he did do that, then he gotta pay.
Did he ever come to you for advice? I mean, considering all these damn parties he was throwing, he did have a crib in Miami, not just La. Did he come to you? Did he come to Uncle Luke and say, yo, man, I mean, how do.
I I mean, did he come to you for advice?
He didn't come to me for advice.
I think what ended up happening is which happened to a lot of guys.
They moved down to.
Miami with the understanding of this big perception of what Uncle Luke has been doing for so many years.
Down here, and they get caught up in Miami.
They get caught up at Tussis, they get caught up at Booby Track, they get caught up at the office, and they think that, you know, that's acceptable, and they get to the point where they say, Okay, I don't want to go to these places and party with the dances so called now sex workers.
I want to have a party at my house.
So I'm gonna do a bigger and better than what they do at the club, a bigger and better than what Uncle Luca probably did. And then they go too far, and he probably should have consulted me with me about the dudes and the dose, because again, at the end of the day, you get caught up with the wrong thing that you're doing at these parties, and hopefully the young fellow have his day in court, and at the end of the day, you.
Know, justice will prevail one way out of.
Damn it, Uncle Luke, what's the don'ts give me? You don't have to give me the dudes. We don't have to give me the dudes. We don't need to go too far. We don't gonna get X ready here. But what are the dolts I like for everybody out there? What are the adults that everybody should know you just don't do?
If you get ready to move to Miami.
Maybe maybe maybe man, I ain't throwing no parties. Though, I ain't throwing no parties. But go ahead, go ahead, but are one.
You do not drug girls. We should be number one, which is the number one too.
You do not bring underage girls into anything whatever you want to call a freak off or basket party or whatever you get ready to do.
You don't hit them three.
You don't hit number three. You you don't.
You don't take advantage of no binding. I mean, guys, get creative. You gotta have a wholesome party. You let the thing happen. Let it happen how it's gonna happen. Let it flow, how it's gonna flow. You don't push the envelope and then start taking advantage of the beautiful women in there because they ain't there to do a job.
Let them flow how they're gonna flow. And and that's how you know.
That's the PG version of it. I can tell you I'm gonna have to get it put you up on game.
And never and never ever ever hit a woman. Let's make sure we never.
No, no, no, absolutely not. You don't put your hand on a woman. Because at the end of the day, man, at the end of the day, it's about.
Having a good time. You don't have a party.
But then now when people get to out hand, whether it's the host or individuals who are in the party, and you gotta then shut it down or you gotta tell them to leave.
You know, sometime the.
Host get a little out of hand, you know, and if somebody has to be responsible the host, homeboy, and look it, man, we need to shut this down because you're getting a little out of hand with this, you know, and you.
Gotta do it like that.
What kind of reputation did p did he have in Miami? If anybody would know, you would know him.
What kind of.
Reputation did he have as it pertained to the parties, but also his reputation within the industry and within the culture, because you would know the answer to that question.
In Miami, he virtually had no reputation in Miami, to be honest with you, asked, when you know when you heard Drake do the record, Hey, tell Uncle luc out in Miami too. It's because I called all of them out. I was like, you guys are living down here, you're moving down here. You know, you're a part of the coaching, you're bringing the girls in, you're dating now women, you're eating the food, you're rolling around.
You need to be a part of the community, you know what I'm saying.
You need to you know, go read a book to some of the kids in the community. You know, feel a little more involved instead of just sitting on the court side at the heat and you.
Know and sucking up all the air. And so at the end of the.
Day, you know, me and him had that conversation, and that was pretty much the only time that I did go to a dinny party.
Which was which was a New Year's Eve.
I went in and went out, okay, because one thing I know, Steve, I know when to go, I know what to know, I know where to leave it. So, you know, we had that conversation and he started getting more involved in the community along with Little Wayne them. Eventually they left, but uh, you know that's just it, you know, you know, as far as the industry itself, he would have his parties.
At his house.
You know, mostly people from around the country and not necessarily Miami folks, you know, because Miami folks just did not feel that he was a part of the culture of Miami and he had embraced Miami like that, so it was more like a transplant.
With that being said, how are they feeling about him now? How's everybody feeling about him now?
In the culture?
Look the culture, I mean as far as the music business man, I hate to see that, you know, the things that are going on, especially with.
The young lady Cassie. I mean, seeing her get beat, you know.
I mean that lady was a part of the music industry to itself, you know, for whatever it was.
I mean, you know, you just don't do that. You know, a lot of people, I.
Mean when they give you a name, and the kids that I coached saying no Diddy.
You know, when you get a label.
Like that and you'll get you become insane no Diddy, you know what I'm saying, Like my my end or whatever.
That that's hard core.
So as far as him and his reputation, you know, is pretty much tarnished because he got to live with that for the rest of his life. The things that he's done. I don't see a comeback for him. You know, I hated for the brother because again I knew this brother when he you know, when he first you know, linked up with Andrea rel and.
Big and all them.
And you know, man, Big, we rolled together like a lot, and so at the end of the day, you know, I saw the things that he was doing it. I mean, you you know his story. I mean his story.
He promoted parties and people die, you know, and and all the different things that happened around them. But then to see him become successful.
You you cheer for a guy like that, You cheer for a guy like that, But to see him now being taken down.
You know, at the end of the day, he did it to hisself. And a lot of people say that had had a lot to do.
With drugs, and you know, when your head get a little too big, you got to be able to humble yourself.
By the way.
You said, don't know, don't do nothing with no underage girls. Let's add gods to don't do anything with no underage guys. Because we had a whole bunch of wild stuff. He said, we got to throw all of that out. We got we gotta make sure we come outside and make all of that. All of that get mentioned, Uncle Luke, All of it gets mentioned.
All of them under no circumstances.
Now, let me ask you this.
The man is worth over half a billion dollars. What resonated with me, Uncle Luke, was damn, they wouldn't even let it. I mean, in a in a time where the economy is suspecting some people's eyes, you got inflation to deal with stuff like that.
The government seemed to be eventing ways to take some of your money, you said, taxes and everything else.
This man offered fifty million dollars bond and they said, hell, no, we don't want it. That resonated with me. I'm saying, oh, damn, this is bad. They ain't playing. My belief though, is they want him and a whole bunch of others. While some people would say they just want him. That bad the culture, what's the culture singing?
Then? The culture is saying.
Something in the milk an't clean, Something definitely in the milk can't clean.
And at the end of the day, it goes.
Back to just like you say, Jeffreys seen Jeffrey Epstein went in jail. Everybody know he had, he had cases on everybody and for him to mysteriously die in jail.
They're looking at it and.
Saying, we can't make the same mistake that we made with Jeffrey Epstein and if Diddy goes out again.
They alleged that he did some witness capering.
He started calling up people saying don't you know, you know, don't talk to prosecuted and things like that. So that's one of the reasons why they don't want him out. But you know, that thing is suicide. That thing is suicide when your back.
Gets the wall. You know, they're really seriously looking at that.
And I mean, you know, if you got fifty million dollars and you just told the house for eighteen million, you become a real serious flight risk at it as well. So you know, I wasn't surprised when they didn't let him out, you know, but it's hard to sluck, I mean, to not let this man.
Out, you know, put an ankle braces on.
I guess they did. They feel like he's he's so superhero that that we can't let they can't let him out, which.
Is a hard core staying on the culture. Last question on this particular subject.
What do you think this is going to do to the hip hop industry the whole music industry.
As a whole.
You see Cats resigning the day he was arrested. You're hearing news that others are gonna resign and they gonna step away.
You hear that Hollywood is on lock. Everybody's fearful. They get it.
Just showed up to a party and still they might get implicated. What do you believe this has done to the music industry and to the Hollywood industry as a whole.
Let me tell you for the exact part of it, and for those people who were in the in crowd, I never was in the end crowd, you know what I'm saying. So, I mean, these parties went everywhere. These parties went on at Marcus Vinion, these parties went on in La these.
Parties went on in Paris. And I mean you've had.
Major executives that went to the party and then if God stayed for the after party and they could be implicated into this whole, this whole bad movie.
I mean, I can see God a lot of these executives, you.
Know, stepping down because again, at the end of the day, you know, on that level. On that level, people know things and are able to say things and say, look, you might need to step down.
You know us regular people.
You know, FBI director ain't gonna call us up and say, hey, look here, we're coming for you. You know buck fuck those people on that happen you know who again who are very politically involved. Somebody made a call to somebody in the worlds the trick that somebody knows somebody that knows somebody that knows somebody that at the end of the day told somebody that you might need to step down, man, because this thing getting ready to get real bad.
Shug Knight was on News Nation with Chris Cuomo the other night.
From prison. Man, he got a podcast. He got a podcast from prison. It's called Collect Call with sug.
I'm trying to lie. It's not exagerate. You got a podcast. He got a podcast. My question to you is this, you know, how much should his words be taken seriously? I take it seriously. He says something about that world. I'm like, he got credits to speak on that he would know. But others are saying, he's been in jail for ten years. How would he know which line of thinking do you take when it comes to listening to what sug Knight says about didn't.
Let me tell you like this, You're still connected to the outside world, you know.
Some shape form of fashion.
You know, guys don't supposed to have telephones in jail, but they do have telephones in jail. But then they get they one or two you know, calls, and they get it done. So those guys are still connected. But I listened to the interview just like you did, and I listen to certain things. When he talked about drugs and the industry drugging, did he again, A lot of my friends who know him real closely, you know, they said, yeah, he got consumed with the drugs. And so when you hear certain things like that from a guy.
That's incocrated, that means he's really really in touched the situation, right, you feel me? And so at the end of the day, you know, and a lot of other things that should said.
I mean, the industry don't change. If you don't if you don't control the industry, the industry will control you. If you don't humble yourself, if you don't let it go to your head, then it will get you. It will eat you up, It will consume you. When you think you're too big, where you can go and file a lawsuit against Yazio, the largest liquor brand they've been around, sayce thro a bit on your rock exactly, you feel like you can go after these type of conglomerates. Some got to your head, Steed, something really got to your hair, grug something the liquor, something really got to your head. When you think you that being where you can take on that.
Giant, well, listen, you damn mean you you you.
Battled people before, you battled.
The government before. What were you? Was you or something? I mean you did it?
Why? Why? Why? Why?
I mean I can understand. Does it have to be drugs?
No, listen, your government one's hand. Give me fifteen million dollars. If the government would give me some TV docs, we'd have been hey, okay, we'd had some little conversation.
But at the end of the day, I had to do it because.
Of hip hop. I had to do it.
I mean I looked at it from the standpoint and saying, look at man, Yeah, I got all this beautiful stuff. And at the end of the day, you know that they're trying to take our rights away.
I had three cases.
Whether it was uh what my record was deemed I've seen by freederal court judge.
And then at the end of the day.
I got parody whether it was protected by the First Amendment if I don't win that case.
So I took I took it at the shot in hip.
Hop because people were doing it before me. You had Millie Jackson, ye had we'd after this. You had you know, artists, I mean, you had comedians saying works of things and that.
And I said, and so I took it as a shot in hip hop. They're trying to stop it.
You know, Tiple Goal and how Go White had this long list, uh where we all want the list go after.
Us and those things, and so it was going on doing those times.
I was like, look, I got to put my body on the line for hip hop. So you know, I'll take quite a bit of my money and I'll fight, uh so that these girls and everybody could do what they're doing right now today on the record.
Uncle Luke right here with Steve and they right there to Steven and they Smith show over the digital It was a YouTube and iHeart radio.
Let me transition you and I have a disagreement, Uncle.
Luke, I read something. Are you ready for this? I mean, we usually don't beats. We usually we get along fun. You've always been good to me.
Uncle Luke. But we gotta we got a disagreement right here. We got a disagreement right here.
What was the problem with jay Z picking Kendrick Lamar instead a little way?
Well? What was the prophet the super Bowl? What's the problem with that?
Uncle Luke.
I just knew you was getting ready to talk about my cowboys.
But I saved that the last I stayed up for the last. No, it's coming up, It's coming up.
Let me say this, Steve.
Yeah, you got thirty two teams in the NFL. Okay, thirty two cities in the NFL. You got moving from city to city. Okay, super Bowl is going to New Orleans. Super Bowl went to LA super Bowl went to Miami. You know it's going to other different city.
Okay.
I mean Patrick Lamar. I love it the death, I think I love it. I love the this song.
I loved all his music outside of the disk song.
But at the end of the day, to have him perform at the halftime of the super Bowl in New Orleans home of No Limit, home of Cash Money, home of Lil Wayne, home.
Of that whole movement.
I mean they did it right after they did it wrong in Miami.
They did it right in La. Why not do it right there?
Okay, Okay, let me come back at you with that, But first I want to read the quote. Put that quote from Uncle Luke right back up on that full screen, please, he said quote. It brought up fed up memories of when the super Bowl happened to Miami because I said something then and I called jay Z out for it. I don't look at it like a distant little Wayne. I look at it as a snub of all New Orleans music. I look at it as snub and Cash Money and No Limit and everything.
That Knew Orleans music is all about. End quote.
Let me come back at you with that. I get where you're coming from. I understand. Here's my issue.
Yeah, you had Shakira and j Lowe in Miami, which, by.
The way, is not a bad visual thing for any of us to look at.
Okay, so let's get that out of the way. Okay, that's not.
Stop that.
Stop that stopped that. Here's the deal. Here's the deal, Uncle Luke, here's the deal.
In reality, man, most performers for the halftime for Super Bowl, they weren't from those respective cities that the super.
Bowl was in.
Now, it happened with Snoop Dogg and Doctor Dre and them in LA.
My point is that's not a normal circumstance. That was. That was an anomaly.
It happened then, And who's to say, all right, next year super Bowl Lil Wayne can't do it then, you know, Master p and all of them cast that wanted.
I'm like, who told you that? Just because in.
New Orleans that there needs to be New Orleans artists. That's why it bothered me when I saw a little wing all emotional.
I'm like, for what you know? I mean, there's plenty of people.
That perform at the super Bowl, and they wanted from those cities.
A matter of fact, that's ninety nine percent of the time.
But Steve, Steve, you gotta understand, you know, you know this better than anybody. You know this better than anyway. How the world moves, how the world changes, how things change in this world. What they did, what they did and in LA with the LA super Bowl and all of these LA artists was absolutely beautiful. Everybody loved it. My point is this, you can have anybody. If you want to do the super Bowl in Tampa, you can have anybody. If you want to do the super Bowl in Jacksonville, you can have anybody. If you want to do the super Bowl in.
Nashville, you can have anybody. You want to do.
It in Arizona. All these places where you can have all these different artists at But when you go to a city like Atlanta. When they went to Atlanta one time, there was a big problem an in Atlanta, but then they did end up making a frank When you go to a city.
Like New Orleans after you sent new president in LA and you bring in another.
Rap artist kendrickmar who just by the way, gets Lil Wayne artists into his hometown. Drake is Lil Wayne's artists last time I checked.
Okay, I don't know what you bring him into New Orleans?
Which agad. I love Kendrick Lamar to death. If you if you're gonna do country western Steve, okay, fine.
If you're gonna have Garth Brooks through the halftime in New Orleans, fine, but you're bringing a hip hop artists into a hip hop city.
And then are you ready for this? Let me tell you why you can't. Let me tell you why I can.
First of all, Kendrick Lamar right now, the hottest ship is hot of ship out.
Let's let's call that what it is.
That's number one, number two, Lil Wayne big Time. I know what he's done, mad love and respect to him always, always all right, But in the same breath. Sometimes your music, you remember, it ain't about New Orleans. That's where it's gonna be. But that's not the audience. The audience is worldwide. The audience is worldwide. So to me, no, no, I'm not saying that, I'm saying that at this moment in time, he ain't the hottest thing out.
That's Kendrick Lamar. That's what I'm saying.
Hold on, hold on, hold on time.
Was was Michael Jackson the hottest thing out was at the time?
Did you.
Give me a heart attack?
Me?
You give me a heart attack? Right now? Did you just asked me the question? Hod Did you just ask me the question? Was Michael Jackson the hardest thing out? Michael Jackson?
Listen, But no, I'm not I'm not you know, I'm I'm we talking about the king, all right, same thing, same thing. Listen, And here's my point. Since I'm pushing back, here's my point. When they brought up the Prince to Miami to perform, that's the whole nothing left.
Whole nother level, whole nother left, hold nothing lefl.
You bringing Kendrick or Mama, who's he go to Lil Wayne in Little Wayne City?
Got you got?
That's my point.
If you brought ain't with us at Tampa to sing the national anthem, that's global, all right, that's global.
The argument there.
If you brought in if you brought in to Miami, if you brought in Beyonce, oh with Secura.
And j Lo, good girls gotta go.
Okay, Okay, So let me ask you this question. I got you, I got you. Guys on the same line, I got you, I got you, I got you fair enough, let me ask you this. What if jay Z had picked himself, that's global? Okay, Okay, I'm okay with that, all right.
J would have picked himself. This would have been the smartest thing he ever could have been with him.
He could have brought in Kendrick Lamar, he could have brought in Little Wayne, and then he could have did some real dawn ship, some real gangster ship and say, come on, Drake, you coming to I'm bringing and I'm gonna put my all's around y'all because yeah, we can have these these beefste records, but I'm the dog.
All y'all gonna sit up here, we tilling together at the table. At the end of the day.
This would have been some I tell you, especially if he would have opened up. Hey, mister Carter, I am him.
Oh no, hold on, I got you. I got you. I feel you. I feel where you're coming from. I feel where you're coming from. But let me say this to you. With all of that being said, right, what about the credit jay Z is.
Not being given like Nicki Minaj's got at me. I ain't want to go out of I respect you know what I'm saying, trying to disrespect her.
I was just talking about Joe. You don't have to be in the respective city.
I ain't trying to get no argument with Nicki minaj a cash money and those brothers.
I know.
I ain't trying to get nothing with now but love for the master p I've known for years, certainly, not that's my brother. Ain't trying to get none with them. I'm just saying, what about y'all saying it's a disappointment, whatever, but going at him to weigh some of them went at him knowing what he's done for hip hop when it comes to getting them.
Involved in the Super Bowl. Because you didn't see.
Hip hop artists or performing at halftime of the Super Bowl until jay Z took over. What about the respect and the consideration that the brother has brought to the industry.
Now you gotta you gotta have you gotta have respect for Ja Ja Jay is on the level of Jay's on the I mean any type of disrespect. You could disagree with iconic figures like Jay, you can disagree, but when you start disrespecting him, that's that's dead as wrong. You know you don't do that because one thing about that dude there, man, you get on the phone and talk to him, you could call him.
He's approachable, he's reachable. You know, he'll he'll have a conversation and he'll tell.
You his old rats and hel behind what he's doing and how he's doing it. But at the end of the day, when you look at him, he's like the Michael Jordan of the hip hop business. I mean he he kind of alluded to that in a couple of interviews when he talked about me, you know, doing what I when I help help the.
Industry to do.
But at the end of the day that it's really him. He's taking the industry to a whole nother levels. He's taking street guys like hisself and all the rest of the street guys of the world who got into this business.
To clean their life up. And he showed the way that you can, you know, do the right thing. And for him to get any kind of back last behind something like this, you know you nah nah, Now he's dead wrong.
You can disagree like I disagree, but then at the end of the day, you can't hate. You can't get on social media talking about he is and heat that and all that. No, that man is there so much.
For this business, you know. And I loved him to depth.
I got you for I'll let you get on out of here, man, because everybody got love for you too. What you got going on with yourself? Man, you always look out for me. You always coming on this show dropping signs. Always appreciate you, man, you know you always welcome on the show. What you got going on with yourself.
Man, Hey, man, look, you as football season, so you know how I coach football during this time and year, you know. And at the end of the day, you know, me and Will Packer, you know, we got together, give you an exclusive. Okay, Will, it's gonna do my movie. Wow, it's gonna be done with Paramount.
Okay. So it's gonna be major and I can't wait for that to come out.
But at the end of the day, you know, uh, you know, just plug, just pound the pavement, man, just pile on the pavement.
Keep doing that. That's gonna be a big time film. I know that much. You got your uncle Luke. I'm scared. I'm scared about what's gonna be in that content. That's gonna be clicy, that's gonna be crazy. You know that, right, I mean, I know you know you doing that on purpose? You do that for when the hell is it coming out? When the hell is it coming out?
Man?
When is it coming out? Man?
You are right, Hey, we don't have to take you. We gotta start shooting there. And I have another project that I'm working with Lebron on. Uh, I get to talk too much about it, but we're getting ready to go into production on that project as well. So you know I work with spring Hill on one project, Warriors the Liberty City, and be partnering up on another one which is gonna be an incredible project.
I'm gonna holler at you soon, man. Always appreciate you, my brother. Thanks a lot, Man, thanks for coming on the show. I talked you soon, No doubt appreciation, no doubt. Uncle Luke in the house, Poor that man is special. He crazy but special. Special Lord that verse I got. I need a few minutes to recover from that end of you all right?
Coming up?
Georgia and Alabama faced off Saturday in the biggest game of the college football season.
Today, I'll get into.
That some other college football headlines with my buddy, the one and only Paul farm Bombs stick around.
This is Stephen nick Smith joke back with more.
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The biggest game of college football this season is going down tomorrow night when Georgia heads to Alabama. And I couldn't think anybody better to break this game down than my buddy, my good friend, my colleague, the mouth of the South, one of the elite football minds in America. We won't get on the fact that he tried to get at me a couple of weeks and go okay, because we're still buddies.
The one and only Paul Farnbahum, what's up man?
How you doing? Hey, David A.
I mean, I don't know where I go for Penton, so I've crought more flak over daring to disagree with you on first take. I don't know what I'll spend the rest of my life offering confession.
I don't think that was the reason, Paul. I don't think it was that you disagreed with me. Is that you associated the words subservient to me when it came to talking about prime time. Dion said this. I think that's what the problem was, Paul.
Well, I was trying to I was trying to to ignore that fact that I use that word. But I will, I will so apologize. I respect you wait too, much.
It was.
What's one of those moments you're on first take, you're a little bit uptight, you're with the man, and you uh, I got it.
I got it.
By the way, it's a nice hanging in your studio last week sometime, really really nice studio set.
Up you got there.
It's pretty pretty nice. Let's get to this game, Paul, because I've been waiting for this. I understand Nick Saban isn't there any longer, but this is probably the biggest game of the year so far as I'm concerned, Alabama versus Georgia. How big of a game is this for new coach Kaitln Devoy in your mind?
Steven, as you well know, has probably done as good a job as I've ever seen in a transition. Yeah, he lost two three players first week, and since then he has just been throwing down dark like I haven't seen it, and I think he's in good shape, and quite frankly, I think he's gonna win this game because he's got Jalen Milroe. And I know that's another story in itself, and Jalen Milroe dared to disrespect you. And by the way, I was on the show that day. We'll get to that in a minute. But Kirby Smarts got the pressure on him. I think that's where all this pressure is because he just has been unable to beat Nick Saban in Alabama.
Why has he been unable to beat Nick Saban and Alabama considering how great they were, particularly since twenty twenty outside of three losses to Alabama and two including two in an SEC title game I think one for the national championship. Of course, outside of that, we're talking about a university has been fifty six and won versus everybody else. What has been the issue with Kirby Smart going up against Nick Saban in the.
Past, Stephen that I think there's just a little bit of tension for him. He's not as he's not relaxed. I mean, Kirby's never relaxed, but Saban just gets in his head. I've had Lane Kiffin tell me that he has blown the game against against Alabama every time because he just lets Nick get into his head. You've seen it with the great Woods. You're friends with Michael, He did it that. It's almost everybody ever played Tiger Woods did it. And I think Nick Saban did that to Kirby Smart, even though Kirby Smart beat him that one time in the National Championship Game. The loss last year may have been among the most costly I've ever seen. Now, Kirby did lose to Saban on a walk off to it to Devonte Smith in the National Championship Game.
But last year everything was on the line.
He had a chance to do something nobody had ever done, a three pat and he just coached a little bit uptight and Saban beat him. And after that game, one of Saban's pop assistants told me privately that he thought Nick Saban was going to retire because he had stopped Kirby Smart from supplanting Saban really as the best coach in the land.
I guess what I'm thinking about when I think about Kaylin de Boor being the new head coach. This man has won ninety percent of his games at four different institutions where he coached, including a couple of national championships in the NAIA Competition, two Tom Pac twelve Coach of the Year National Championship Game last year with Pennix as his quarterback, going to look before losing to Michigan. This man has been highly successful or whatever. When you look at him, particularly in comparison to Nick Saban, knowing football, knowing.
The sec the way that you do.
How do you feel about Kayln de Boer as a coach the success of the Saban The only.
Thing that has concerned me is his ability to deal with the culture. He's done brilliant work. In fact, at Washington he's five and one as an underdog against top ten opposition.
He beat Oregon a couple of times. He's beat Texas. I mean, he has really been masterful in the big game.
The only game he lost was the Michigan game, and that really wasn't even a fair fight last year for the National Championship. Now, you probably were too busy hanging out with all the billionaires in the box. He noticed the final score. We alsow you up there.
But that's okay.
But that's who he is. And the only problem I have, and it's not even a problem, is what happens if things go haywire. I've lived in that state a long time. I don't I'm not there anymore. But I's been thirty years in Alabama, and there's nothing quite like an Alabama team losing on the next Monday.
The place literally is in mourning and the pressure starts to build. He hasn't had to deal with that yet.
We looked at Ohio State and Michigan and we say, if you're Ohio State and your Rye Day, you gotta beat Michigan. Before Harboss started beating them over the last three years before he walked back to the NFL, we like, you gotta beat Ohio State. Is that the situation between Georgia and Alabama, specifically when it comes to Kirby Smart and Georgia at this particular juncture in his career.
Yeah, that's the biggest rivalry right now.
In the SEC.
These two have played for the national Championship, not playoffs, not SEC. They played for the national title twice since twenty seventeen. That's two teams from the same league. And Kirby has mastered the game, but he's not been able to master this. And the only thing I'll offer that in this particular year, it won't matter as much.
Smart has not lost.
A regular season game since Florida in October of twenty twenty.
That was the COVID year. Wow, I mean that's unbelievable.
Stephen.
They you know he's lost those two sec championship games and that those have hurt. But he's been he's been masterful. But if he loses this game, it's not done. But he's in trouble because he still has to go to Texas on October nineteenth. He still has to go play Lane Kiffin in Oxford. Those are no easy games.
When we think about Carson Beck, I've seen the kid play. He can ball, make no mistake about it. I like what I see from him.
How good is he?
What are his prospects looking like considering the next level, and what his capability is at Georgia.
A month ago, I had people telling me he was going to be the number one pick in the draft. I haven't heard anybody say that in a while because he just has not looked good this year's but he looked very tentative. He has one of his top offensive lineman hurt, but everybody goes through that, so he's been a little bit shaky.
He has been terrible.
But in the Kentucky game, he was off and by the way everybody talks about, well, that defense really only held Kentucky to twelve points. If Mark stoops. The Kentucky coach had gone for it with two minutes to go on fourth and eight.
There's a good chance.
Kentucky would have won that game, and this conversation would be upside down right now. But Beck has to get better. He doesn't have Brock Valors as his tight end anymore. That guy was generational Steven. They're one of the best tight ends we've ever seen in college football. He misses him. He's got some great running backs, including etn Over from Florida last year. His brother obviously plays in the NFL. But they've got to get in rhythm. And they have been so slow to start games. I mean, they were only up by Clemson in the first half, I think sixth to nothing.
They did the same thing against Kentucky. If they start like that Saturday night, they're going.
To lose this game.
Alabama's average forty nine game this season thus far. But you know, the stiffest competition was against the likes of Wisconsin, and we saw how that ended up. What are we to make of what we've seen from the offense thus fall under Kaylen depol they've been great.
Not only that Alabama has a couple of new weapons, especially at running back Haynes and freshmen. They don't quite have the wide receivers that they have had in pass but Jyalen Milroe is such an elusive player. He's not the most accurate passer, but he throws one of the best long, long bombs of any quarterback I've seen in college football right now, he just sometimes makes four decisions under pressure.
You know, it's interesting you bring him up. He showed up on first take. I was on vacation.
You were there with him, and he's sitting up there doing social media hits with Steven Ay.
I'm looking for you. You called me out, and I'm going like this. I like the brother. He can play. He's not a scrub. He's an incredible athlete. I give credit with credit is due.
But Bryce Young spoiled me watching him at Alabama, and you're succeeding this brother, and I'm watching you throw with inaccuracy on many occasions last year.
How dare he have his backup over such a.
Thing that I may have said at that particular moment in time, even though I know I give him credit later.
On in the season.
What did you feel about Jalen Milroe before compared to how you feel about him now?
Paul Fine Bump, I want to.
Address that because I was I was. I was on the show that day and I was interviewing him, and I've later found out Stephen. I am not trying to out anybody, but I'm going to you know who is the instigator that day?
It was Jay Williams. Uh.
Jay Williams was hanging.
Around with with Milroe.
He's doing some work for him.
And I have impeccable sources that Jay Williams put him up to dissing you.
So I don't I'm not trying to Milroe, but if you you got a beef with somebody, you got to take it up with Jay, not not Milroe.
How about that?
But how do you feel about him? How do you feel about Milro compared to what you saw? I thought about him.
I like him a lot, but and here here it comes.
Uh.
He makes me uncomfortable sometimes because of his decision making. And you were right what you said. Uh, he's put out of them in some very awkward positions because of that. He's gotten away with it most of the time. Now, you saw in the Michigan game he made some big mistakes. Especially now. I'm not going to blame him for that final play that was that was a boneheaded call from the former offensive coordinates. I think you could just run the ball up the middle on a brick wall defense like Michigan, but ultimately he can lose a game for you. And that's what Kirby Smart is thinking about right now. In relation to Saturday night.
Let me transition to one of the biggest stories going on in college football this week. We talked about it earlier in the week in Our day job on First Take, My day job on First Take. We're definitely going to talk about it now. At UNLV Las Vegas, quarterback Matthew Sluka left Undefeated Rebels on Tuesday overclaims of an unpaid verbal nil promise of one hundred thousand dollars from a UNLV assistant coach. The quarterbacks far the Bob Sluka to DESPN that head coach Barry Odom later said in a phone conversation the offer was a valid because it didn't come from him. UNLV had this to say in a statement quote football player Matthew Sluker's representative made financial demands upon the university, and it's an il collective in order to continue playing. LV Athletics interpreted these demands as a violation of ISCAA pay for play rules as well as Nevada state law.
UNLV does not engage in such activity, nor does it respond to implied threats.
UNLV has honored all previously agreed upon scholarships for Matthew Sluka end quote, Paul, take it from nil, What do you make it? A?
Yeah?
I mean, first of all, that's why people hate lawyers, because we know that was written by an attorney. It was really a disgraceful comment. I mean, they offered him the money, they got him to leave Holy Cross to go out there, and he's a really good quarterback, steven A. And this is over one hundred thousand dollars. Now, in everyday life, one hundred thousand dollars is a lot is a lot of bread. But in college football right now, it is not. There are second string defensive tackles making more than that in the Big Ten.
And the SEC.
And you think about all they had to do is, let's say they coughed up one hundred thousand. You talk about that versus the publicity that they're getting. I mean, they were a featured story today on First Take. They're here on your on your show that equals billions of dollars a bad pub because why why would any player in their right mind go play for Barry OTAM and UNLV.
Right now, That's exactly how I feel.
I think they were absolutely silly to take this public the way that they did, and to conduct themselves the way that they did, And why why would you want to go play for the program? If I'm gonna play, I wouldn't think about playing for the program. Last question here, Alabama Georgia.
Who you got? What score?
I like Alabama?
Uh and uh. I can't lay the game out for you. I think Georgia will start off slow. I think Alabama could be very explosive. I see them getting a reasonably good lead. I think Georgia might come back. But that that minus too that George is favored by. I know a lot of my friends in Alabama are jumping all over that, and I don't blame them.
I don't know if you noticed my man Deon Sand's Prime Time Colorado. I mean three and one oner you, three one of you. I mean they're going against UCF. I know they're gonna have some problems. I mean it's gonna be a big deal. But I'm just wondering, Paul, how you feeling about that right now? How you feel about the job that Prime Time is doing right now? Paul five bam.
Yeah.
I may be begging you to uh with my hat in my hand in a couple of weeks saying Stephen Day, can you get me? Can you get me an audience with with Pope Dion because I need to get down on my knees and say I'm sorry, right, okay, go.
Hold you to it, Paul farm Baumba appreciate you, buddy as always, man, thanks.
So much, Thank you Steven that much.
Well, only Poul Farmbaum right here when the Stephen Nate Smith Show over the digital areas a YouTube and of course I heeart.
Radio coming up. W NBA Playoff action is in full swing.
I'll get into the elimination of Diana Tarassi and Caitlyn Clark.
Ahead.
Also, did you hear what a five time w NBA All Star LISTA Thomas said about Indiana Fever fans.
I'll get into all of that and more. Don't touch that doll, don't go anywhere. It's the Stephen Nate Smith Show in the house, coming right back at you.
Welcome back to Steven Ate Smiths show right here over the digital areas of YouTube. On Wednesday night, Transition, Diana Tarassi walked off the court in what might have been her final appearance in the WNBA as the Lynks eliminated the Mercury with a one O one eighty eight win.
If Tarassi decides to retire, it would be the.
End of an incredible twenty year professional run, one that few athletes in basketball history have ever seen. Let me tell you something, She's one of the great ones. She's one of the great ones. She's a champion on every single level. I don't have enough time to turn you out. You'll see the screen right there. Three time WNBA champion or right two tome NBAWNBA Finals MVP, five time, six time Olympic gold medalist. She's phenomenal. She's just phenomenal. Whenever she walks away, she's a legend. She's a Hall of Famer. She's all out of the bag of chips. Okay, I love Diana Tarassi and I'm gonna miss her. Thank you for the wonderful years you have given us.
That's all I got to say about that.
Let me transition to the next subject, because meanwhile, in Tarassi's old Connecticut stomping grounds. Caitlin Clark season with the Indiana Fever ended with an eighty seven eighty one loss to the Connecticut Connecticut Sun in Game two of their first round series. Afterwards, five time w NBA All Star list of Thomas did not hold back when discussing the abuse she faced from Indiana Fever fans.
Take a listen.
I think in my eleven year career, I've never experienced the racial comments from the Indiana Fever fan base.
It's unacceptable, honestly.
And yeah, there's no place for it.
And we've been professional throughout the whole entire thing, but I've never been called the things that I've been called on social media and there's no place for it.
Let me say this, I would encourage everybody to refer to Thursday mornings episode of First Take on ESPN, where Janey Ogoomaka, who is an outstanding basketball analyst for the network and also a former w NBA player, former WNBA Rookie of the Year. By the way, she's friends with a list of Thomas and went out of her way to highlight how on the court as ferocious as Thomas is off the court, she's a quiet storm. She doesn't say much and doesn't bother anybody, and so for her to feel compelled to speak out in the way that she spoke out shows you how alarm and what she was saying has really been and what attention needs to be brought to it.
Janey ogoom makay. Listen to what she had to say.
As far as Elyssa Thomas goes, you are a wonderful, wonderful woman. You are fabulous, and thank you for bringing up the subject. Because if you are Caitlyn Clark fans, there's no room for any kind of racism.
Now I'm not calling everybody racist. I'm not calling most folks, but the few who are you know, who the hell you are, Calm the hell down.
Support Kaitlyn Clark because recognize that when you act that way, you staining her name as well because of your association to her. Not that anybody would think that she thinks like that, but the point is, what is your problem. She is a phenomenal, phenomenal talent and an even better person. I happened to have met and did with Caitlin Clark. I think she's wonderful. You don't have to act that way, particularly when you're a fan base that represents her. And if you are from the city of Indianapolis, if you are in Indiana, I will remind you all years ago Allen Ivers complained about the same thing.
What he heard from those fans. She does play for the Indiana Fever.
So you need to safeguard yourself from having or developing that kind of reputation. I love going to Indiana to watch games because I think it's an absolute great fan base.
You gotta not act, you gotta not act. I'm just gonna leave it at that.
Before I respond to your tweets, Let's get to some quick NFL hitters or right, because I want to get some of this stuff out.
Of the way.
Vikings packers.
This weekend, we'll start in Green Bay, where the status of Geordan Love may be overshadowing the return of running back Aaron Jones to lambeau Field.
It appears that Love is trending towards a return after a two week absence to face the three.
And O vikis, you'll need them because I can't believe I'm saying that Sam Donald has looked hillatious justin Jefferson, Is that dude? And Addison and Hockerson haven't even been there. Minnesota is a team to be reckoned with. Were about to find out what Minnesota and Green Bay are both made of with a matchup like this on a on next revenge game is gonna be Bengals Panthers, where Andy Dalton will face his former team after replacing Bryce Young and throw off at three hundred yards and three touchdowns.
In the win last week in Vegas.
Meanwhile, the season is going to break for Joe Burrow's own three Bengals. Do y'all know they're from September through October. Joe Burrow is an under five hundred quarterback. It's like twenty one and twenty three and one something like that. This is a man in the two full seasons out of the four years. In the two full seasons when he was fully healthy, they were in the AFC Championship Game both times, and they were in the Super Bowl one time.
Joe Burrow can be that, dude, But that's far. It's a problem. It's a problem.
I think it's primarily their defense. I think it's primarily their coach, Zach Taylor. Why the hell ain't your teams have already at the beginning of the season. I understand you show up in November, December, and in some cases January. What the hell happened to September and October?
You coach then too? Why they not prepared? Zach Taylor?
Just a question finally answer By this Sunday all in Los Angeles, Jim Harbaugh will get his first crack at the two time defending champion of Kansas City Chiefs as the Chargers head coach. Justin Herbert, who left last week's lost in Pittsburgh with an ankle injury, says he quote will he will do quote everything he can end quote to play this week.
Hmm.
I'm gonna say this to you. The Chiefs haven't looked great.
Isaiah Pachec Go's out, Clyde Edwards, Hilaire's out. Hollywood Brown is gonna be I tell January. According to reports, they got a rookie at wire. See who is Xavier Worthy? She Rice has elevated to a number one receiver. Travis Kelcey has been criticized. You got people like former ESPN for College Football analyst Tod mcshaye talking about Travis Kelsey was busy our party and too much throughout the offseason, particularly with Taylor Swift.
I will remind you this is a three time Super Bowl champion. I will remind you this is one of the greatest tight ends in the history of football.
He hasn't played like at the first three games of this season, but coming into this season we were considering him the best tight end in the business. I'm not sleeping on Travis Kelce. I'm not thinking he ain't gonna get it done. What I am gonna remind him of is the off season's over, my brother. Part of the reason Taylor Swift was interested is because you're a pretty fly brother who can ball. And the fact that you are champion ain't hurt. Just the thought to remind you winners usually strike gold.
You feel me.
Last, but not least, Sunday Night, NFL Football AFC Showdown Buffalo Bills at ravens Lamar Jackson, Josh Allen. Josh Allen is balling out league leader in total touchdowns. Alright, no turnovers, passing yards, all of this stuff. Josh Allen is balling. Stephan Diggs is no longer there. It don't matter. He throwing the six seven different dudes. He don't give a damn cause he's Josh Allen. Buffalo's no joke either cause they ain't beating opponents, they stomping them.
What you gonna do about that? Baltimore? You want to two in the season.
You got Lamar Jackson, you got Derek Henry, you got a Baltimore Ravens team.
With that defense, they should be able to do some things. What's the problem.
I know you lost a few assistant coaches in your defensive coordinators.
Now the head coach in Seattle. I get all of that, but damn it.
You in AFC Championship game you got the two time league MVP and Lamar Jackson. Nobody wants to hear those excuses. Baltimore better handle their business. I think they're gonna win this game because it's pure desperation. But what if they don't and they fall to one in three? Something to think about? Something to think about. Now, let's go to the screen and look at some of your tweets before I get on out of here for the day.
I want to check this out right here. Okay, first up at Nick's show, yo, stephen A.
Smith.
Will Derek Rose be a Hall of Famer?
No?
No, you won't.
That saddens me because the only thing, the only reason that is the case is because of injuries.
Derek Rose is one of the greatest.
Talents at the point guard position we've ever seen in NBA history. The only person that ever rivaled this lettericism was Russell Westbrook, and he got the nasty knee injuries that the rail tip. Because Russell Westbroan's a future Hall of Famer, Derek Rose was better than Russell Westbrook.
Spectacular, absolutely spectacular, but the injuries derailed them.
He rolled up into chicag and he succeeded Michael Jordan, and Michael Jordan was telling the Chicago Bulls.
Fans, y'all gonna be a because you got him. But he got hurt and because of.
The injury, it's the only reason he's not gonna be a Hall of Famer. He's a Hall of Fame person though, one of the nicest people you'll ever meet on the planet, and the hell of a player.
He just got hurt.
That's why he wouldn't be a Hall of Famer. Let's go to the next tweet. Please give it to me, Steven A.
Smith.
This is at X Sneaps right, Stephen A. Why don't you answer certain questions.
Respectfully? What the hell are you talking about?
Talk about a vague, damn question that is just dumb. Why don't you answer certain questions? What are the certain questions? I mean, I'm answering you right now.
What are you talking about? I answer question now.
I don't get into my private life, just like I don't get into other people's private life. If something becomes public you're on a police blotters or something like that, that's fine. But other than that, I ain't getting into all that nonsense. I don't play that game. You understand saying don't. I don't feed into all of that. I'm fifty six freaking years old, got time for that bullshit. But if you ask me a direct question, all right, that don't have me delvin into somebody else's business or let you get all up in mind.
Then I don't answer your questions within reason.
But when you say don't answer certain questions, I don't know what the hell you're talking about. And the Queen your guide, honest with you, it is very stupid question on your part because you didn't specify what I didn't answer, which means you wasted my time.
Ask me a damn question that I don't know how to answer. Next week, what's up at Jellisco Junior Rights? Stephen A. Smith? How real are the stealers? The defense is real?
Warren Najie Harris at the running back spot is real, Pickings is real.
Fryar Moveth at the tight end spot is real.
I'm not sold on Justin Fields yet, and I damn sure ain't gonna be sold on Russell Wilson. I believe in Justin Fields. I think he's got potential. He's made some accurate throws, He's moved the chains with his legs. He can run with the football. It's nice to see a quarterback for the Pittsburgh still just being able to.
Run with the damn football. This is a dual threat. I appreciate that.
But am I sold on him when Joe Burrow and Lamar Jackson are in the same division, When Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes and CJ. Stroud are in the same conference.
No, but I am sold on that stealer defense. As long as TJ. Watt is healthy and bawling, I feel good. I feel good about our chances. Next tweet, last one at cham fourth one four to two. Oh my Lord, what is this picture? Stephen A.
Smith?
Do you support love between a man and his anime pillow?
Oh? My god, how am I supposed to answer that? Are you doing some things to the pillow? Are you doing some things to the pillout? Is it all fluffy and cuddly inside?
Is that what you love about it?
Does it wrap your tight and make you feel good? Are you stimulated by rubbing up against the cloth? If you are, that would make you a very very strange individual.
And to that, I say, two eaches on.
You ain't harming nobody by being in love with a pillow. I mean, I'm wondering about you, But you being in love with a pillow ain't harm in nobody. And if it ain't harm in nobody, why should anybody harm you or insult you. I'm not gonna do that. I gotta get on out of here, ladies, gentlemen. And that's it for this edition of the Stephen A.
Smith Joe.
Thanks again to the one and only Uncle Luke. Thanks again to the one and only Paul fine Baum, and of course to you all for your tweets and all of that other stuff. I'm still trying to recover from you being in love with the pillow. I didn't see that one coming, but I recover spent a while week Hey, shit happens. Until next time, peace, love, everybody, have a blessed weekend. Alabama all day, every day roll
See it.
