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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
What's up, everybody? Stephen A Smith here. Recently we made

(00:02):
news because the great Bill O'Reilly announced a tour that's
coming nearest to you in the very very near future.
Get your tickets now for this. It's called Three Americans Live,
March thirtieth at Live Nation's Flag Star at the Westbury
Music Fair on Long Island. Don't miss the very first
show as myself, Chris Crolomo, and yes, that man Bill

(00:25):
O'Reilly take our different ideas, our different backgrounds, our different
beliefs across the country to demonstrate that respectful, meaningful and
even fun conversation. Those are the things that make America
as great as it should be. The show will be spirited, unscripted,
and all three of us will let it fly as
we discussed the topics everyone is thinking about these days.

(00:45):
There'll also be questions from the audience We're not running.
Tickets are officially on sale now with pre sale code
USA at three Americanslive dot com. VIP packages are available
with the opportunity to meet and take photos with myself
and both those fellas. That's Three Americans Live, March thirtieth

(01:06):
at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island. Additional dates
in cities to be announced. Don't miss it. Trust me,
you'll get a kick out of it. What's up, everybody.

(01:31):
Welcome to the latest edition of The Steven Nation Smith Show,
coming at you as I love to do, at the
very least three times a week over the digital airwaves
of YouTube and of course iHeartRadio. As always, I like
to poise a pause to thank my subscribers and followers
for giving me the support that they have given me
and continue to give me. I can't thank y'all enough
for it. Over iHeartRadio, We've had millions of downloads over

(01:52):
the last few months, and courtesy of YouTube, in terms
of subscribers, we've eclipsed more than one point one six
million subscribers total. So I can't thank y'all enough. I mean,
I've been very lucky and very blessed and fortunate to
have your support. Keep it coming, and I'm gonna keep
on coming. To continue to like and follow the show,
just click the bell and get notified for all of
our newest content and you two shab the latest member

(02:14):
of the Stephen Ai Smith Show family. And also while
you're doing that, please take a moment to grab a
copy of my new York Times bestselling book, Straight Shooter,
a Memoir of Second Chances and First Takes, now in
paperback once again. Just go to straight Shooter book dot
com to get yourself a copy that straight shoot Book
dot com to get yourself a copy. I got a
lot of stuff to get into in the world of sports.
The Lakers lost last night primetime, Dion Sanders did some

(02:36):
big news involving him. There's some folks on the left
who have been coming after me politically because of how
they feel about certain positions that I've taken. So I'm
definitely going to touch on all of that, but I
wanted to first broach something before I even get into
the show, and I want to say that we know

(02:58):
what I've been in the news over the last few days,
the last twenty four hours in particular. I'm not about
to get in all of that. I've said what I said,
I meant what I meant, but I do think it's
important to point out that you take no joy in it.

(03:20):
I've been in this business for over thirty years and
I'm not supposed to be the news. I'm supposed to
be talking about the news, and so people in this
industry that have come after me because of that reality,
the fact that I've been in the news as opposed
to somebody talking about the news. I totally get it.

(03:42):
I take no offense to what they're saying. I'm not flawless,
I'm not perfect. I'm very imperfect. I make mistakes just
like anybody else. But I feel what I feel, and
I think that it's incredibly important to be as transparent
one needs to be in order to make sure people
understand where you stand. And what I find funny is

(04:07):
that there are so many people that haven't been a
part of this business, who are former athletes, who are
individuals that have been in the entertainment industry that have podcasts,
and they're literally voluntarily expressing their opinion and either taking
it on as a second job or as a hobby.

(04:29):
When it comes to me, this is what I do.
When I got into the business, into the newspaper industry,
I aspired to be in the newspaper industry. My goal
from day one was to be a general sports columnist.
It was to have the license to open and editorialize
and give my opinion on the news of the day.
One of the things that we do here on the
Stephen a Smith show is we're always paying attention to

(04:52):
what's percolating in the news. I'm going to continue to
do that. I'm never ever ever going to lose sight
of that element of my career. I'm gonna always speak
my truth. And why was it so important for me
to be a columnist Because before the advent of digital

(05:13):
and social media and all of this other stuff, the
newspaper industry was pretty much running the show, even before
talk radio took off. And in two thousand and three,
when I was named the general sports columnists, I was
only the twenty first African American in this nation's history

(05:33):
to be named a sports columnist, to have a license
to actually give my opinion. A lot of you out
there can't comprehend that because everybody could give their opinion today.
That was not the case is recently. It's a little
over twenty years ago. So giving my opinion, sure, but
reporting and everything preceded. That doesn't mean I'm perfect. Sometimes

(05:55):
I've gotten things wrong ninety five to ninety eight percent
of the time. That is not the case. But have
I been in eror in the past, sure have. Will
I make mistakes in the future, You're damn right, I
will because I'm a human. Nobody's perfect. But I'm gonna
always look you in your face and tell you where
I stand as a man and as a professional, what
I believe, how I feel, and it's always going to

(06:18):
be based on a preponderance of evidence that has been
conveyed to me or that I've seen with my own
two eyes. I am not changing in that regard. But
I'm also mindful that I don't just represent myself. I
represent my day job ESPN. I represent Walt Disney, the
company that owns it. And even though I don't work

(06:40):
for the NBA, I'm synonymous with the NBA. I care
about how they feel. And even though I don't work
for my employees, they work for me. I'm mindful of
how they feel as well. And I'm always going to
be thoughtful to everybody, no matter who it is. I
feel what I feel that I'm going to be very
transparent and real resting that, but it's not gonna be

(07:02):
in a fashion that comes across as thoughtless to those
who care about me or care about the impact that
I have. That has always been me and that will
continue to be me, and along the way, it's gonna
be fire and brimstone from time to time, and headlines
are gonna be made and people are gonna ruf for feathers.
And I see people out there talk about he's just

(07:24):
looking for attention or whatever. Those folks are either idiots
or they're jealous, because if you're paying attention, I really
don't need the attention. I already get it. So to
say that I'm doing something for something I'm already getting
doesn't really make sense. But they have to have something

(07:44):
to say to and I get that part. Just want
to let everybody know that now before I get into
the show, however, because I got a lot of NBA
stuff to talk about. Gotta pay the bills with our sponsors.
Take it away, alright, folks, I need you all to
stop what you're doing to listen up. You know. I
love this time of year. The college basketball tournament is

(08:06):
in full effect and with all its action jumping off
to Steven Nick Smith Show wants to make sure you
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(08:28):
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Get ready for the next round of the college basketball Tournament.
Please today, I'll give you my picks for two of

(08:48):
tonight's matchups. The Michigan Wolverines take on the Auburn Tigers,
and of course, the Houston Cougars take on the Purdue
boiler Makers. Okay, with first up, let me look at
this here, Jani Broom. Will he have more or less
than eighteen and a half points? I'm going with less.
I'm going with less. The brother can play. I know this,

(09:10):
but I'm just of the mindset and in the game
like this, I don't know if he's scoring more than
eighteen and a half points. That's just how I feel
about it right now. Will Danny Wolf have more or
less than thirteen and a half points. I'm going with
more on this brother because I like the way he
plays and I think there's gonna be opportunities for him
to put up more than thirteen and a half points,
and I think he's gonna need it in order for
them to end up victorious. Will l J. Cryer have

(09:34):
more or less than sixteen points. I'm going less with
him as well, because again, I expect this matchup to
do I don't expect an offensive explosion in this particular matchup.
I expect to see more defense than usual. But we'll
see what happens. I'm guessing because I haven't seen much
of him, but I'm guessing. Finally, will Braden Smith have
more or less than thirteen and a half points? I'm

(09:55):
going with more. Okay, I ran through these relatively quickly
because I don't I'm not interested in you getting my take.
I'm interested in you getting the tech of My next
guest joining me to talk about the college basketball tournament
is a talented rapper and Prize Picks partner. Please welcome
Toucy to the house. What's going on, big Time?

Speaker 2 (10:15):
How are you man?

Speaker 1 (10:15):
How's everything going?

Speaker 2 (10:16):
Bro? Steven A was going on?

Speaker 1 (10:18):
Man, It's good to see you. How your brackets looking, bro,
how's your brackets looking?

Speaker 2 (10:23):
Man? I ain't gonna live, man, My brackets ain't looking
at back. I'm a Tar heells fan.

Speaker 1 (10:29):
Man, you're a Tarhells fan.

Speaker 3 (10:32):
Yeah, yeah, man, So I ain't gonna lie, man. I
kind of gave up on the brackets.

Speaker 2 (10:36):
Man.

Speaker 3 (10:36):
I listen when when the Tar Hills got knocked off,
I said, okay, listen, I can't even watch this no more.

Speaker 2 (10:42):
This was it was a hard year to watch for us.

Speaker 1 (10:44):
They haven't been the same, man. I mean, damn. A
couple of years ago they played for the national title.
I see this cat Caleb Love at North Carolina. I'm like,
he was there. What the hell is that he was there?

Speaker 2 (10:55):
Yeah? Yeah, yeah, I'm a Caleb Love fan. Man.

Speaker 3 (10:57):
So when I seen I mean when when he made
the transfer. Man, it kind of been rocky for me.
You know, I was, I really want to Arizona to
win that game yesterday, man, but uh it was rough.

Speaker 1 (11:09):
Man, That's how I go sometimes. I understand that, man,
you know, it drives me crazy. I get it would
have been nice, but Duke is no joke. And if
you're a Carolina fan, it hurts to see Duke doing
what he's doing, but that brother Cooper flag is no joke,
no joke at all. We got to stand down and concede. That,
wouldn't you agree?

Speaker 2 (11:26):
Yeah? Nah, for sure, for sure.

Speaker 3 (11:27):
I mean when I when I seen him get the recruit,
I kind of just like took my head off.

Speaker 2 (11:31):
I said, Okay, it's over exactly.

Speaker 1 (11:35):
So now I'm looking at this man and we know
we you know, we've got an Elite eight coming up,
and what have you? I mean, when you think about
what you've where your teams lie, I mean, I know
you try not to pay much attention to the brackets,
but I'm looking at Duke and Bama. They're about to
go up against one against one another, Florida and Texas
Tech is about to go up against one another, Auburn

(11:56):
and Michigan. Got to show us that we're gonna find
out about them Mississippi, Missi State. Obviously they're going up
against one another, so we gotta pay attention to that. Duke,
Alabama's gonna go up against one another, Houston, Purdue and
Kentucky and Kentucky and Tennessee. But let me let me
ask you this right now, because originally you grew up.
You know, if I remember correct, you're from Syracuse, New York,

(12:18):
but grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. That explains your
love for the Cooper flag. Duke is on fire, and
you just talked about you being a fan. It will
be down to eight teams after tonight. Forget about how
your brackets looking, because I'm go ahead, go ahead, give
it to me.

Speaker 3 (12:37):
So honestly, man, I think, all right, I'm gonna just
start with the Duke and Alabama game.

Speaker 2 (12:43):
I think I think the Duke and Alabama game is
gonna be a great game.

Speaker 3 (12:49):
My only concern is this Alabama team is full of veterans.

Speaker 2 (12:56):
You got you got the center that came from Ohio.

Speaker 1 (13:02):
You got that, the point guard you got see it
as well.

Speaker 3 (13:05):
You got you got Mark Sears, that's a veteran. You
got Brent Nelton. I mean, they've been they've been in
this spotlight before. So you got a lot of rookies
going going up against some guys who have been in
that spotlight.

Speaker 2 (13:17):
I think.

Speaker 1 (13:18):
So you're saying that you're giving Alabama hold on, You're
saying you're giving Alabama a chance because of their experience.

Speaker 2 (13:23):
Yeah, yeah, I gotta go with Bema.

Speaker 1 (13:26):
Let me tell you why I think you're wrong about
that one.

Speaker 2 (13:29):
Okay, talk to me.

Speaker 1 (13:30):
I watched Alabama in the SEC tournament. I watched them
against Florida, right, and Florida's size just seemed to be
a bit too much for them. They just seem to
be undersized. Okay. And in case you haven't noticed, Duke's
got some size. Oh yeah, and the Cooper flag the
Brothers six eight in all world. This brother Proctor is

(13:52):
drilling shot. It's drilling shots from all over the place.
Cooper took it to another level on Thursday night, had
thirty seven and six for thirty seven and six. This
is what he does the brother specially he might probably
is probably gonna be the player of the year. I
can't see Alabama beating Duke. I just can't see that.

Speaker 3 (14:10):
I'm gonna tell you this, stephen A.

Speaker 2 (14:13):
Now listen. It's the thing. They got some size.

Speaker 3 (14:17):
But when you got a guy like Grant Nelson, if
Grant Nelson could play how he played last year in
a tournament, if Grant Nelson could step up and play
how he played last year in the tournament with Mark
Seriens doing what he does, because this is the thing,
Tyre's Procter can't play against Alabama how he played he
only had seven points yesterday. They can't play against Alabama
like that, like how he played against Arizona yesterday. So

(14:39):
the thing is they can't rely everything to beat Now.
I can't say they can't rely because Cooper Flagg is
a freaking nature. But the thing is, when you got
some veterans man that's stepping up to the plate mark Siris, Grant, Nelson,
Cliff Clifford, they got somebody mule to watch, somebody got it.
They gotta be able to shut that down in the

(15:00):
post and put two guys on on I would put
two guys on on flag. I would put two guys
on flag and make the rest of the guys work.

Speaker 2 (15:12):
You gotta show me that the rest of.

Speaker 1 (15:13):
The strategy that might be that that might be their
own strategy. I'm going I'm looking at Houston Purdue. I'm
gonna pick Houston in that one. What about you? I
just need to pick Houston Purdue. Who you're gonna go
within that matchup?

Speaker 3 (15:27):
Man, I gotta give it to Houston just because they
got they got the grit.

Speaker 2 (15:33):
They got the grit.

Speaker 1 (15:34):
For some reason even though Kentucky has gotten the best
of Tennessee. I think Tennessee might take them out in
this next matchup. What about you, Yeah, I.

Speaker 2 (15:42):
Like I like Tennessee in this matchup. I like Tennessee
in this matchup.

Speaker 1 (15:45):
Out West, I'm looking at Florida and Texas Tech. Texas
Tech was a number three seed. Everybody acting like John
Calipari and Arkansas losing last night. It was some upset.
Arkansas was a tenth seed, Texas Tech was was a
three seed. I think that listen, Texas Texas nothing to
sneeze at. But I watched how they struggled. They were

(16:05):
down sixteen. I don't expect them to do anything against Florida.
I think Florida is gonna beat them, no doubt about that.
That's where I'm at with it.

Speaker 2 (16:14):
Yep, I gotta go, yep, I got gold Florida on
now one.

Speaker 1 (16:18):
Let me go to the two games tonight. Auburn Michigan.
I'm gonna go with Auburn. Auburn went out early last year.
Bruce Burrow is at some point in time, you got
to get over the hump. He's got a squad. I
think Michigan's gonna give me a run for this money.
I think this might be the best game tonight. But
I'm still going with Auburn to win this game. What
about you?

Speaker 2 (16:37):
Yeah, I'm gonna go with Auburn.

Speaker 3 (16:38):
The only difficult thing is they got those two bigs
man in Golden and Wolf.

Speaker 2 (16:44):
That's the only thing.

Speaker 1 (16:45):
All right, Last, but not least, we got Mississippi sixty
versus Michigan said, you know, I'm going with is though.
I'm going with the coach that's been there for before.
It's going to about seven eight final fours. It's one
of the national Championsip that knows what the hell he's doing.
I'm going with that in the game of this magnitude.
What about you?

Speaker 2 (17:00):
Yeah? Yeah, gotta rock with them. I ain't gonna lie.
It's all about the experience.

Speaker 1 (17:05):
Now for you. You, I heard you had a big
day Prospects pay Day. Talk Talk to me about that
for a second. What happened with that?

Speaker 2 (17:10):
Bro? Yeah? I won. I think I won probably like yesterday. Yesterday,
I think I wont like one.

Speaker 3 (17:15):
Hundred and fifty grand Oh yeah, yeah, we had we
had some okay wins.

Speaker 1 (17:21):
Okay, all right, so so so man, let me get personal,
little bit. What would you do with the money, bron
What did you do with the money? What'd you go
to spend the money? Did you save it? You're investing in,
you're spending it. What you're doing, what you're doing with it?

Speaker 2 (17:31):
Tuci?

Speaker 3 (17:32):
Now listen, I've been me and my manager been getting
into these black trucks, man. So we uh we were
actually working on, uh starting a company man for these,
for these trucks and just car services things in that nature.

Speaker 2 (17:45):
Yeah, luxury car services.

Speaker 3 (17:46):
So any money that I get from yeah, from these winnings,
I'm trying to go buy us a truck man, buy
us some trucks.

Speaker 1 (17:53):
You know what, That's not a bad idea. I'm serious.
I mean, because you're gonna make money, You're gonna make
but hell, I might do that. I might decide that.
I mean, you never know, you never come Look, man,
I appreciate it, man, thanks for being on the show
with me today. Talk about these picks. Man, I really
appreciate it.

Speaker 2 (18:08):
Bro.

Speaker 1 (18:09):
Good luck to you. And I know you're gonna make
some money off of that truck business. I have no
doubt about that. Damn it. Everybody call an uble. Could
you could you imagine that we invested in the uber early.
Oh my god, magic kind of money.

Speaker 2 (18:20):
Yeah, we out of here, We out of here. Damn.

Speaker 1 (18:24):
I hate missing out. I really really appreciate you, bro,
Thanks a lot.

Speaker 2 (18:28):
Ma man, you take it easy, okay, deevenw I appreciate you, man.

Speaker 1 (18:31):
Always take it easy. One and only two. See in
the house for prize picks. That's how we do. Let's
get started in the NBA and the race for the players.
Were just a few weeks left in the regular season.
Did y'all see what happened to the Los Angeles Lakers
last night? I know you saw it because I know
I saw it. LA was up with just ten seconds

(18:53):
left in the game when the Bulls stole and then
bound pass from Lebron James. Be White got the ball
drained the three. The Lakers scored on an Austin Reeves
drive to go up O one with under four seconds left,
and then off the end bounced bass mister Josh Giddy,
formerly of the Oklahoma City thunder Nail's a buzz up

(19:14):
beating half court heave over Lebron James to win the
game for the Chicago Bulls. Now, the Lakers are now
four and six in their last ten games and currently
hold a number four seed in the West via tiebreaker
over the Grizzlies, who have the same record at forty
four and twenty nine. Some breaking news for y'all probably
won't be breaking by the time this post, but the
Memphis Grizzlies have just fired their coach, Taylor Jenkins. They've

(19:37):
just fired them. Okay, they're tied with the Los Angeles
Lakers battling for a fourth or fifth slot in the
Western Conference. Really a fourth spot because Grizzlies at the
fifth spot right now, even though they have an identical
record to the Los Angeles Lakers and Taylor Jenkins, who
I think is a pretty damn good coach. You only
got about nine games left in the season. Why the
hell would you let him go? Now? Then I looked
at some numbers, and I'm sad that he's gone. All right,

(20:00):
But here's the flip side. I think they're like four
and fifteen against the top seven teams, top seven seeds
in the Western Conference playoff pitcher all Right, they're winless
against the Oklahoma City Thunder this year. They're one and
three against the Rockets, they're ower and three against the Clippers.
They're one and two against teams like the Warriors, okay,
and then you look at it. Then you look at

(20:22):
them against the Denver Nuggets, they're one and two as well.
You're looking at this team the way they've been struggling
since the All Star breaking like an eleven or nineteen record,
can't seem to get things going. They felt like now
it was the time for change, light of fire under
the players attached a level of urgency. I saw the
injuries and what have you. John Moran's been out, Jeremy
Jackson Junior has been out. We get that part. And

(20:44):
Jah Moran hasn't looked the same this year. He's looked
at it in moments in spurts. We all know what
an electrifying talent he is, but the Ja Morant that
used to be in terms of how he would just
literally take over. I think if he was having a
greater year, not to say awful because he's job Moran,
it's impossible, but if he had a grady year, I
don't think Taylor Jenkins would be gone. They can talk

(21:07):
about development or lack they'rel for the younger players and
all that stuff. I get out of that, but to
fire the man nine games left in the season, you know,
and he's going to the playoffs. He's a fifth seed
right now. Didn't seem to make that much sense to me.
But when you look at his record against some of
those top tier teams, maybe that's what they're saying. Maybe
that's what they're looking at, and maybe that's the conclusion

(21:28):
that they reached. Let me get back to the Lakers,
because here's what we're talking about right now. Lakers in
a world of trouble. And I'm gonna tell you why.
Because before Lebron James goes down against Boston a couple
of weeks ago and stuffer that groin injury, not only
were the Lakers winning basketball games, the Lakers were considered
one of the top two teams in the Western Conference.
It was a four gone conclusion in a lot of

(21:50):
our eyes that they would beat Denver, whose depth we've questioned,
that they would beat the Houston Rockets, whose youth we questioned,
that they would beat a team like the Los Angeles Clippers, who,
by the way, is playing good ball and James Harden
is really doing this thing. And Norman Powell has been
a stud and Tyd Lucan coaches ass Off and then
you got Jeff Van Gundy, who's really upgraded their defense exponentially.

(22:12):
But the flip side to it is that Kawhi Leonard
has missed fifteen of his nineteen the Clippers. Fifteen of
the last nineteen playoff games for the Clippers, Kawhi Leonard
has missed, So nobody has faith that he's gonna be
somebody that you can trust to rely upon for the
Los Angeles Clippers. No matter how good he may be
looking right now, nobody's gonna trust that, Okay, Which brings
us back to the Lakers. If you're the Los Angeles Lakers,

(22:35):
you were supposed to be looking at it and saying, Yo,
they're in a good spot. They're in a good spot.
But then Lebron goes down, and after he goes down,
everything seems to're falling apart. Yeah, we had Luca doing
his thing and being more assertive offensively, but we're looking
at the Lakers as a defensive unit and they've tailed
off to some degree. Okay, for eight weeks they were

(22:56):
top rated defense in the NBA. Now you're looking at
them on one, what the hell is going on? So
you got that business, and then on top of it,
all you turn around and not only having that situation,
you gotta look at it from the standpoint that you
know what, one of nine from three point range in
the fourth quarter, that's what the Lakers shot Thursday night

(23:20):
against the Bulls one to nine from three point range
eleven percent. Meanwhile a Bulls shot eleven or fourteen seventy
nine percent. Where's this defense going? Austin Reeves was bawling.
Made that shot with under four seconds left. The brother
might be the best third option in the NBA. Had
thirty last night, ten the seventeen shooting all seven free throws,
three or nine for three point range. The Brother can play.

(23:41):
Austin Reeves is a special talent. He's really showing out.
And props to JJ Redick and his staff with the
Los Angeles Lakers for looking the way that they're looking
with them. But right now we got to ask ourselves
that question. When you look at the legitimacy of the
Los Angeles Lakers, it is such a huge, huge question
mark right now because as my man, Big Perk Kendrick
Perkins said to me, if you look at Lebron James,

(24:01):
from what his sources tell him, he's not one hundred
percent healthy. He's only had about seventy five to eighty percent.
Luca plays no defense. Perk keeps bringing up the statistic.
He's absolutely right. Blowbids meaning opponents blowing by you as
a defender. Nobody gets blown by more in the NBA
than Luca Doncik. Since he's become a Los Angeles Laker,

(24:24):
he's leading the league in blowbids. So that's compromising your
defense as well. And as a result, the Los Angeles
Lakers don't look like a sultan themselves. So here we
are ladies and gentlemen. Even though when Luca first arrived,
we said the Los Angeles Lakers is going to be
severely compromised because of defense because Anthony Davis is being gone.
Over time, we looked at them and said, you know what,
this hope dis aspirations for this team. They could get

(24:47):
to the Western Conference finals. Now we're looking at them
and we're saying, wait a minute, if you finished as
a fourth or fifth seed being one and three since
Lebron has returned, if you sit up there and you're
gonna be in a situation where you end up as
a fourth seed or a fifth seed, that means that

(25:09):
first round series, you're in jeopardy of not having the
home court advantage in it. Number two, even if you
were to face the Methodist Grizzlies and you ended up
beating them, you'd get Oklahoma City in the second round,
and nobody thinks you're gonna beat them. So the Lakers
could go home before the conference finals if they fall
to a sixth seed and they were locked in at

(25:31):
the number sixth spot and had to go against number
three Denver, Suddenly people look at them and say, wait
a minute, yo, Kitchen, those brothers would beat them. So
you got all of that going on. So the Lakers
have gone from looking like a bona fide big time
threat to come out of the West and at the
least get in the way and have a face off

(25:53):
against the Oklahoma City Thunder, and in the span of
a week and a half to two weeks they've disintegrated
from that too. You going home in the first of
the second round. That's what we look at right now.
That's what we looking at right now. And by the way,
just a couple of stats. Lakers starting five last night
Thursday night shot a collective eight for thirty one from

(26:15):
three from deep that's only twenty six percent. In the
four games since Lebron James's return, the Lakers are one
and three and have the fourth words defensive rating in
the league. During this stretch, allow one hundred and twenty
six point eight points per one hundred possessions. They got
outscored forty four to twenty six in the fourth quarter.
And oh, by the way, in those last four games,

(26:37):
the Lakers have been a minus thirteen, minus fourteen, minus twelve,
and minus nine with Luca and Lebron on the court,
and they've been outscored by a total of forty eight
points with Lebron and Luca on the court together. Lebron
might have had a brain fought in Chicago last night,
but we know that's not something he will customarily do.

(26:57):
It happens Luca being blown by Luca not playing defense,
Luca not being seeming in good enough shape is a
different problem and a different animal altogether. It's something that
we all need to pay attention to and we cannot
ignore now. The college football and my man one and
only prime time Deon Sanders. After two years when Colorado

(27:20):
head football coach Deon Sanders has landed five years of
significant financial Security. Via Brian Howell of the Boulder Daily Camera,
the school has announced a new five year, fifty four
million dollar deal for Prime Time or Coach Prime. The
ten point eight million per year agreement makes Coach Prime

(27:41):
one of the highest paid college coaches in all of football. Okay,
he makes about ten million in twenty twenty five, ten
and twenty twenty six, eleven and twenty twenty seven and
twenty twenty eight, and twelve million in twenty twenty nine.
Deon Sander's had eighteen point three million left on his
original five year, twenty nine point five million dollar contract.
The deal also features a big buyout numbers ship Prime

(28:03):
want to leave for another job. Major props to him
well deserved. Last season was a good season for him,
much much better than the first go round the first
year when he finished like four and eight. But let's
take into account the magnitude of who Deon Sanders is
and what we're talking about here. The attention he has

(28:23):
brought to this program is what really warrants the dollars. See,
there's a difference between being a star and being box office.
When you're talking about stars, stars are people who show
up and do their job. At a very high level.
They produce, but it doesn't always translate in the box

(28:43):
office appeal generating revenue for for a multitude of platforms
that you may have available to you. Deon Sanders is
that dude for the University of Colorado. When a damn
soul in America outside of Boulder thinking about Colorado before
Deon Sanders arid. Matter of fact, they were one on
eleven before he arrived. They improved by three games his

(29:04):
first year, by four on top of that the next year.
The man the special. The man has done a great
job and his ability to recruit. I don't think anybody
denies it's gonna be a challenge, no doubt about that.
Being in bold of Colorado and my estimation, I've always
been on the record I would love to see him
in the SEC if he's gonna be in college football.
I've always felt that way. But there is no denying

(29:26):
the magnetism that he has. He's a box office dude.
When he walks in, he owns the room. He is
that dude. He's the one and only prime town. I
got a lot of love for him. He deserves this contract.
I'm happy for him and all that noise about his
son and brash and arrogant and all of this other stuff.
Dion said he knows what quarterback coach said that the

(29:46):
bout him, and it was dealt with. In the end,
you're gonna have people hating on Dion and they're not
gonna want to deal with him, and maybe the thought
of having to deal with him is what it's turning
them off about. Schedul But if you want to win,
here's a piece of advice from Stephen A. Get the
hell over it. Prime is a winner and anything he touches,

(30:12):
I think is upward mobility waiting to happen. That's just
me coming up. Cooper flag goes off as Duke advances
to the Elite eight. I'll get into that and what
he could do at the next level. But first, a
blogger for MSNBC accuses yours truly of being a megaphone
for Mega. I'll get into that. I'm not running from it.

(30:35):
That's up next right here on The stephen A. Smith Show.

Speaker 4 (30:37):
Don't go away, hight everybody listen up with all the
big time sports action that's happening each and every day.

Speaker 1 (30:48):
The Stephen A. Smith Show wants to make sure you
are taking advantage of it all. That's why we've partnered
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(31:29):
dollars lineup. Prospects, run your game. Welcome back to the
ce VN A. Smith Show. I want to get to
an article written about me recently by a gentleman from MSNBC.
His name is Johann Jones, and he essentially called me
a mouthpiece for the far right MAGA movement. He cites

(31:53):
the appearances of Candice Owens, Sean Hannity, and other prominent
voices from the right on this podcast. Reasons for his
premise his a portion of what he wrote on MSNBC
dot com in an article titled ESPN Stephen A. Smith
is a megaphone for MAGA propaganda, Jones says, quote Stephen A.

(32:14):
Smith embrace of the MAGA movement and its influencers has
only continued in recent days. For example, he has spoken
with right wing commentators Ben Shapiro, Megan Kelly, and Bill O'Reilly.
You might be thinking that these were adversarial chats between
a left leaning centrist and a conservative, but to adroit listeners,

(32:36):
they can come across more as conservatives in friendly discussion
than anything else. Smith's overt politicism seems to fly in
the face of ESPN's appearent effort in recent years to
deter some of its talent from speaking on controversial political matters.
Either way, the network's most recognizable host is now regularly

(32:57):
platforming MAGA propaganda. At will end quote Now, my team
reached out to Jones to have a discussion about the article.
I wanted to invite him on the show to talk
with me one on one personally. I hope we get
the opportunity to have that dialogue. He was busy. He
didn't avoid to call or anything like that. It was
no common or anything like that. He didn't say anything.

(33:18):
He was just very very busy. What we called it
the last minute. No shade on him. That's why it
didn't happen. But in the meantime, let me express to
you what I think about what he wrote. I think
that's the exact problem with the left. You see, if
I don't agree with you, I must be maga. It

(33:40):
must be the case I'm platforming maga propaganda is that
so I don't view it that way. First of all,
even though Eileen left, particularly with how I vote with
presidential elections, I want to emphasize that I've always been
a centrist my entire life. I've never once described myself

(34:02):
as a Democrat or a Republican. I'm a centrist. I'm
a moderate. I don't trust either side. I'm not on
one side of the other hook line of sinker. You
will see images or you'll hear me rattle off names
of people who've been on this show. Yes you see
Ben Shapiro there, Yes you see Bill O'Reilly there. Yes,

(34:24):
I was recently on Megan's Meghan Kelly's show. Did you
know I'm on News Nation with Chris Cuomo every week?
Did you know that I just appeared with Jake Tapper
on CNN. Do you know I've been on MSNBC on
several occasions? Do you know? Yes, Sean Hannity is my friend.

(34:47):
It's not because of his politics. It's because I known
the man for twenty three years and I know him
outside of politics, and I appreciate the relationship that we have.
I'm not apologizing for that. Let me add another name
so you can further excoriate me. Mark Levin eight one.
That's what they call him on conservative talk radio. I
know him well too. I've also had Klay Travis on

(35:08):
this show before. I know him as well, at least
a little bit, not as well as the other two. Okay,
that is absolutely positively factual. Can I can I give
you a couple of other names, Johanna Jones? Would you
allow me to people that have been on this show? Yes,
Candice Owns was on this show. Absolutely true, and you

(35:28):
brought up the right wingers. You brought up Hannity and
Megan Kelly, And like I said, Ben Shapiro even knocked
me for, you know, saying that Ben Shapiro's a brilliant dude.
Just because you disagree with him, don't make him dumb.
Do this spart He's very smart. But did you bring

(35:49):
up Josh Shapiro, the governor of Pennsylvania. Did you bring
up Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland. Did you bring
up Hakem. Jeffries, the minority leader for the House of
Representatives of the United States of America. He was on
this show. Did you bring up a Rev. Martin, legal
analyst on the left, was a part of Kamala Harris's campaign. Oh,

(36:13):
by the way, on the show on several occasions. Did
you bring up Corey Booker, Senator for the state of
New Jersey, who's also been on this show. How about
Cortnell West remember when he was on the show? He's
been there videos on John Jones. I mean, you're a
very busy guy. I assume you might have missed this.

(36:35):
All of these people were on my show. Michael Cohen,
who's the biggest critic, the former lawyer for Donald Trump
who excoriates him at every turn. He was on the show.
Oh how many times has Roland Martin been on the show.
Let's not forget him. I've had folks from both sides.

(36:58):
Let me tell you something else. Did you know that
Gavin Newsom has been invited here on neumerous occasions and
still hasn't accepted. Did you know that Kamala Harris was
invited on here during the run for the presidents he's
doing the election? She didn't come on. Did you know
Vice president candidate Democratic Vice President of Candida, Tim Wallas,

(37:18):
the governor of Minnesota, he was invited on here, didn't come. Oh,
by the way, did you know that Andrew Cuomo was
on came on the show for an hour? Did you
know that the mayor of New York City, Eric Adams
was on the show for an hour? If they came

(37:41):
on the show and they spoke, is it propaganda or
is it how they feel? See? That's what you're missing
in all of this. Do I agree with everything? Megan
Kelly says no? Do I agree with everything Sean headed?
He says no? Do I agree with anything that any

(38:01):
of those folks on the right feel. So I don't
agree with everything, but they feel that way, And so
now we have to get into a discussion as to
whether or not they have a right to express their
points of views, and whether or not you have a
salient point to debunk what they're going to throw in
our direction before you excoriate them. You work for MSNBC.

(38:24):
Let's talk about MSNBC for a second. Did you know
that Joy Reid was invited on the show. I'm not
happy that the show is going, Johanna, I am not happy.
I respect Joy Reid. Did I agree with everything she said?

Speaker 2 (38:42):
No?

Speaker 1 (38:42):
Do I agree with how she did some things? No,
Because if you come across as too vitriolic as a
black person, I know in corporate America that's going to
be counted against you more than it's going to be
counted for you. I get that part, but I also
knew the you know, the dramatic drop in the ratings

(39:03):
that they said took place since the election ended. I
saw Morning Joe with Joe Scarborough and Miko Prasinski, who
I respect, but they bought in to calling Trump and
eluding to certain things when it came to Trump. Now,
I don't remember whether it's specifically Nazis or other things,

(39:26):
but certainly their rhetoric towards him was incendiary. And what
happened after he won the election. They were at mar
Lago and everybody's joking about how Trump is making folks
come kiss the ring. You know why, because guess what,
he won. Despite being impeached twice, despite thirty four fella,

(39:47):
the convictions, despite the Pope Poia cases that were thrown
against him, he still won. And so what I'm saying
to you is that when we're having that kind of discussion,
that's what we got to take into consideration. These kind
of things happen. And then you're looking at me and
you're saying he's platforming them. No, I am a journalist

(40:12):
by trade. I'm going to interview you and give you
an opportunity to answer the questions that people want to
know and see what they have to see what they
have to say about it, and y'all be the judge.
I'll try to ask piercing and poignant questions. And if
I don't know something, I don't know something, and if
I don't have as much knowledge as you, Johan, I

(40:33):
get that part, but it ain't platforming a listener. What
other people have to say, they gonna say it anyway.
If I interview Trump tomorrow, I'm gonna be accused of
platform and Trump if I ask him about the thirty
four Fellony convictions, if I ask him about being in
peace twice, or if I avoid that because he's the
president despite all of that. And I'm asking them about inflation,

(40:57):
what you're gonna do about that? I'm asking them about
the war Ukraine. Why you coming across to somebody that's
siding against Ukraine and siding with Putin? If I asked
him about illegals or illegal immigrants in this country and
how successful it is or lack thereof. If I see

(41:17):
him trying to push a case of the Supreme Court,
so he should be allowed to deport anybody that he
wants to just here illegally. All you could do is
listen to the answer, bro. But Democrats don't get that.
And when we call and when we talk about me
getting on the Democrats, you want to point out some
of the things that I said. Okay, primarily I have

(41:39):
voted Democrats. This is you quoted me in your blog.
I have voted Democrats throughout my life. But I'm utterly
disgusted on what I'm seeing. Why should not be why
aren't you Jahan? Did you see what the Democrats did
leading into the election. Did you see how Kamala Harris
went on national television and said she doesn't really see

(41:59):
any thing differently that she would do compared to what
Joe Biden was doing. Did you see Obama deport more
illegal immigrants in this country than even Donald Trump did
during his tenure as president, but Joe Biden take office
and literally open the borders. Did you see crime taking

(42:20):
place in the street. Did you see people getting the
rested and getting let out of jail the same day.
Do you see what's happening in California now where there's
reports that the state of California is running low on
money and literally Medicare is jeopardized because of over a
billion dollars that was spent on illegal immigrants. Did you

(42:41):
see this state legislature pass legislation protecting migrants and illegal
immigrants from federal enforcement by the Trump administration. We're paying attention,
We're seeing what's going on. Everybody's not gonna feel what

(43:01):
you feel. The thing is, you ask the question and
you listen. But in the end, this side one, when
I said that they engaged in law fair you're damn right.
I brought it up. Do you know why I brought
it up, Johannes, Mister johann Jones, do you know why
I brought it up. I brought it up because I'm
ticked off that that's what they thought it would take

(43:24):
in order to beat Trump A because it didn't work,
and b where's your bullpen? Kamala's what you had. I
respect our former vice president of the United States. I
wish her luck. I hope she runs for the gubernatorial
seat in the state of California. But when she ran
for president in the twenty twenty she couldn't even make
it to Iowa. And all of a sudden, y'all wanted

(43:46):
us to act like she was a rock star because
you wanted to buy it and gone so badly. After
his debilitating performance on the June twenty seventh debate stage,
Tim Wallas, you picked him when everybody practically in the
party thought, or not everybody, but a lot of people
thought that jos Shapiro would have been a prime candidate.
They said, this guy's a star, and he's running up

(44:07):
at the state of Pennsylvania. Well, and he isn't married
to certain leftist policies, extreme left of progressive policies. The
way Tim Walts would have been, he would have been
a better candidate for Kamala Harris to ultimately win this race.
These are the kind of things that were being said.
These are the kind of things that was going on.

(44:30):
And what I'm saying is pick the best candidate, pick
the best chance for you to win. How do you
believe that Tim Wallas is gonna give you a better
chance to win the Josh Shapiro, Why wasn't Wes Moore,
the governor of Maryland more prolific voice out there on
the scene. I'd vote for him in a heartbeat. But
us pointing out these things that are wrong with the

(44:52):
Democratic Party makes me bad, makes me a megaphone for
the or the mega right. I happen to believe certain
things I don't have a problem with. I don't have
a problem we're trying to address inflation. I don't have
a problem with saying we can't have over twelve million
illegal immigrants crossing the borders and we do nothing about that.

(45:15):
I don't have a problem with people saying folks who
commit crimes but need to have their behinds in jail.
I don't have a problem with that. I don't have
a problem with sitting there and discussing or at least
debating the viability of eradicating all student loans. I have

(45:35):
to pay mine, Most American citizens have to pay theirs.
If we want to have a debate about where the
money should be spent and stuff like that, I get that.
There's certain things that shouldn't be debatable. You shouldn't be
allowed to run free in this country illegally. You shouldn't

(45:56):
be allowed to commit crimes in the street and avoid
the rest. You shouldn't be allowed out of jail the
same day you will put in jail for engaging in
illegal activity. Period. There are certain things that are just
basic and are just general. You don't have to go

(46:16):
into the wheeze. I know the Maga Wright ain't right
all the damn time. I don't trust what comes out
of Donald Trump's mouth. I get that part. But when
we want to sit up there and look at the
latest controversy that they're involved in in terms of national

(46:39):
security information, in terms of attacking the hoodies with mister
hag Seth himself, who to me falls under a DEI
category by the way, and we want to talk about
this man being fired, Well, y'all talking about people being
fired when Biden pulled troops out of Afghanistan, when at

(47:05):
least thirteen lives were lost, when billions and equipment were
left in Afghanistan. The sloppy man in which we parted
ways where you're talking about the same thing then, because
this ain't worse than that it could have been, but
what was it? People are allowed to have their opinions.
At the end of the day, you got the right

(47:27):
leading on the left pointing out the left's hypocrisy and
double talking more effectively than a left is able to
do to the right. Trump's not an admitting he's wrong.
Trump's not gonna come out there and admit I did
this wrong, I did that wrong. He's not gonna do it.

(47:51):
He's likely going to lie out of his teeth every
chance he has he has an opportunity to do so.
Not gonna tell you the truth. He's loaded the Supreme Court.
It's a sixty three majority. We're gonna ignore the role
that Ruth Bede Ginsburg played in that when she refused
to retire while Obama was in office and they wanted
her to depart We're gonna deny the fact that she

(48:13):
refused to do so because she wanted a woman to
insert her successor, assuming Hillary Rodham Clinton would win the election,
willing to take that risk and letting her ego get
in the way. We're just gonna ignore that. God Rest
us soul. But it's the truth. We're gonna ignore that.

(48:34):
We're gonna ignore all the stuff that we've learned since
the election about how they knew how to abilitated Joe
Biden was. We just gonna continue to ignore these things,
not gonna have any discussion. They're on the right, so
there's no reason to listen to them. I'm not that
dude on this platform. It's very very important. Did I

(48:59):
say to y'all on this platform? It's very very important
we understand this. I'm going to talk to everybody that
I can. I have a statement, and I, by the way,
in the same blog, John Jones alluded to me saying

(49:24):
something about the Tea Party that was formed once Obama
was in office, and I gave some weak, lame excuse me.
I don't know what you're talking about. What I do
know is that I think people have a right to
feel differently. We have a Republican and a Democratic party
in the United States of America law with an independent party.
There are people who feel differently. That's just the way
that it goes. I totally understand that. I get it.

(49:49):
But I've been on the record stating in the past
I can interview the ku Klux Klan, and I wouldn't blink.
I can as long as I can ask them what
I want to ask them. Their answers are their answers.
It's for you to absorb in the take on this platform.

(50:12):
I'll interview anybody that's resonating with the masses about significant,
pertinent issues. I will do that left, right, in the middle.
It does not matter to me. I'm always going to
be that way. That's not providing a megaphone for one side.
You're gonna go on recent interviews. You know why the
recent interviews took place because most of the people I

(50:33):
was interviewing was on the left. You didn't write about
it then, And when you see people using sound from
me to milk what they can from it, to publicize
it and create headlines from it, that's just because the
right is doing it more effectively than the left. Because
I'm on left, leftist platforms all the time. I recently

(50:55):
did an interview with Karen Hunter. I've been on a
breakfast Club. I just told you about Jake Tapper. I
told you I've been on ce MSNBC shows. I'm on
News Nation all the time. Laura Coachs and Abbey Phillip.
I've been on both of their shows several times. Let's
not forget that. Let's not forget that. Johanna Jones, just

(51:20):
because you don't publicize it doesn't mean that I didn't
say anything that the left would agree with. You just
don't do a good job. You know why. And I'm
talking about you specifically, Johanna Jones, I'm talking about the
left overall. You know why. Because the right takes what
they can get to disseminate and publicize their message. The

(51:43):
left wants to handpick who they want to be messages
instead of listening to the public. Say to them, excuse me,
this is how we feel, this is where we're coming from,
this is what we stand on. That's who we support.
I've told you many times. The right pick Trump. The
constituency out there, the voters, they said, we want Trump,

(52:05):
not to say it. This is not Christy not Rabmaswami,
not Nikki Harley, none of no we want him. The
Democratic Party is always interfeeding and getting in the way
of what the voters want. That's why y'all lost. And
if you don't learn, you're gonna continue to do this.
And my last point is this, I'm sick and tired
of people bringing up stephen A for ESPN. This is

(52:26):
stephen A.

Speaker 2 (52:27):
Smith Show.

Speaker 1 (52:27):
It has nothing to do with ESPN. This is one
hundred percent owned and operated by me. As my man
Shannon Sharp likes to say about his club, Shayshay, I
am the sole proprietor. This is my shop. This has
nothing to do with ESPN. This is mine. Secondly, I've
always talked about politics, and I've always crossed political and
sports talk number two number three when ESPR arrived, and

(52:51):
they gave that mandate more than seven years ago. Now
about minimizing the political talk they were talking about primarily
over their airwaves, not just their talent. I've been talking
about politics for ages. I've been talking. I've been given

(53:12):
social comment I shouldn't even say politics because I always
give social commentary and I always will as long as
I'm breathing and I'm in this business. It comes with it.
It's not changing. This is not a right wing platform,
this is not a left wing platform. This is Stephen A.
Smith's platform. And I've discussed what I want to discuss

(53:36):
with whomever I damn well please. By the way, Representative
Clyburn is going to be on soon. Representative every Swowell.
Swowell will be on soon. Roe Connor out of California.
I've had the pleasure of meeting him and I appeared
on Real Time with Bill Maher. He's gonna be able
to show.

Speaker 2 (53:52):
Oh.

Speaker 1 (53:52):
By the way, Bill Maher has been on the show,
not once, but twice. He'll be back on the show.
Kamala Harris has been offered to be on the show
since the election. She's declined, I'm still trying to get
Gavin Newsom. He's declined, I'm not finished. Nancy Pelosi want

(54:19):
to get out on one day, She's welcome to come on.
Folks on the left have got to stop blaming other
people for your own self inflicted wounds. The fact of
the matter is most of y'all people don't want to
hear from. Jasmine Crock is welcome on the show. AOC

(54:46):
Alexandri A Cassio Corte. She's definitely welcomed on this show.
Bernie Sanders, He's welcome on the show. Nobody's hiding. I
have never been a fan of listening to Elizabeth Warren.
I respect her as a Senator for the United States,

(55:08):
I expect her work, etc. I got one problem with
Senator Elizabeth Warren, and one problem only, no other problem
other than this. Every time I listen to her speak,
she makes me feel like if you don't agree to her,
you're destined for hell. You have no soul. You have

(55:28):
to agree with every syllable that she's uttering, otherwise you're
gonna hell. Lightning is gonna strike you down. She can't.
There can be no alternative to anything that she says.
It has to be her or something that's wrong with
your soul. That's her, you mean, the one I watch

(55:49):
when I see her talking. That's the only reason that
I've never desired to interview her, because I don' want
to feel like I'm going on the hell just because
I don't. That's it. Nothing else. So, Johan Jones, hopefully

(56:10):
you'll be on the show soon. But I respectfully yet
strongly disagree with your assertion about me. Patrick Bett David
has been on this show relatively Conservative Guy PbD podcast.
I happen to agree with a lot of things, he says,

(56:31):
I happen to agree with something. Sean Hannity says, just
like I agree with somethings. Jake Tapper says, just like
I agree with somethings. Cameron Hunter says, just like I
agree with Chris Cuomo and some things. He says, That's
how I roll. I go on a case by case basis.
I'm not an ideologue. I don't trust that, and I

(56:52):
don't think that's good for this country. That's where I stand.
I definitely agree with some things Andrew Cuomo says, And
as long as Andrew Como or Eric Adams is the
mayor of New York City moving forward, I'm gonna feel
good about New York City. And I'll tell anybody who listens,
I don't give a damn. And to show you wrote

(57:13):
to show you Johann Jones, how much of a centrist
I am? Do you know? In all likelihood? If I'm
in Florida and I'm voting for the next governor, the
next governor of Florida, I would vote for Byron Donald
who's the right. Who's a right wing guy whose support
of Trump I certainly am not fond of, but I'm

(57:35):
fond of him. But nobody would be tops on my
list for the presidency of the United States more than
Wes Moore, the governor of Maryland. He's the one I've
never campaigned for anybody in my life. He's the one
person I would consider campaigning for. I think he's the

(57:56):
real deal. I think that if you're the left, that's
somebody you should rally behind. Wes Moore, the Governor of Maryland,
in my opinion, should be the next president of the
United States of America, not me. Him. I believe in

(58:18):
that brother, I truly truly do. And I think the
more people get to know him, the more they'll believe
in him too. And I'm telling you right here over
these national airways, if you are on the left or
you are a moderate, a centrist, I understand the rights
gonna do what they're gonna do. My God, this is
a man you should get to know. You should rally

(58:39):
behind him. That man right there, I wouldn't hesitate. See
how I think some of it might make says to you.
Some of it might not that's the way it goes.
I'm married to no side. I'm about people, and I'm
about issues, and I'm about compromise because that's what really

(59:05):
makes the world go round in a very positive way.
Coming up, Cooper Flag drops thirty on Arizona as Duke
advances to the Elite eight. But how will his game
translate to the NBA. I'll answer that question before I
close out the show. Next to Stephen Nixsmith show back
on Morning a Minute. What's up everybody? Stephen Aate Smith here.

(59:29):
Recently we made news because the great Bill O'Reilly announced
a tour that's coming nearest to you in the very
very near future. Get your tickets now for this. It's
called Three Americans Live March thirtieth at Live Nation's Flag
Star at the Westbury Music Fair on Long Island. Don't
miss the very first show. As myself, Chris Crolomo, and yes,

(59:52):
that man Bill O'Reilly take our different ideas, I different backgrounds,
I different beliefs across the country to demonstrate that respectful
meanings and even fun conversation those are the things that
make America as great as it should be. The show
will be spirited, unscripted, and all three of us will
let it fly as we discuss the topics everyone is
thinking about these days. There'll also be questions from the

(01:00:15):
audience we're not running. Tickets are officially on sale now
with pre sale code USA at three Americans Live dot Com.
VIP packages are available with the opportunity to meet and
take photos with myself and both those fellas. That's Three
Americans Live March thirtieth at the Westbury Music Fair on

(01:00:35):
Long Island. Additional dates and cities to be announced. Don't
miss it. Trust me, you'll get a kick out of it.
Welcome back to Steven Nasmith Show. Let's get to the
NCAA twenty to me real quick, please, as the final
four will be set after this week. And here's the
latest bracket. After the first two rides of the first

(01:00:56):
day of the Sweet sixteen, the top seeds of Duke, Houston, Alabama,
and Auburn are all still alive heading into today's action.
But I want to focus on Duke's Cooper Flag, who
put up thirty as in thirty points six rebounds, seven
and sist three blocks to lead the Blue Devils past
Arizona last night in the Sweet sixteen ladies and gentlemen,

(01:01:17):
This brother, Cooper Flag is the real deal. He's a
real deal, the legit six' eight with a j with a,
handle with passing, ability with, poise plays on both, ends
plays defense and, offense can, hit goes to the free throw.
LINE i, mean this brother is something special and he's

(01:01:38):
probably gonna Win National player of The year the Way
duke is looking right. Now even THOUGH i was Thinking,
FLORIDA i Think Cooper flag might win the national title
if he does. That even if he doesn't do, THAT
i think he'll be the number one overall pick in
THE nba. DRAFT i think people are salivating. It, Listen

(01:01:59):
i'm trying to figure this, out And i'll let my
producers get in my ear if they Think i'm making
a horrible comparison. Here i'm thinking box. OFFICE i think
this is the greatest white prospect Since Larry. BIRD i
think this is the greatest White american prospect Since Larry.

(01:02:20):
BIRD a matter of, fact in an odd, way he
might end up. BEING i, mean this kid's got superstar
written all over him because he's got a. Game but
his demeanor fits the. Bill he doesn't back. Down he's
rough and, tumble but it's classy in the same, breath

(01:02:42):
can go to his left or his, right can pull
up mid, range long, range finish at the. Basket he's
got all the. Tools but you know what else he
has That Larry bird. Doesn't i'm not saying he can
shoot like a. Liarrary Larry bird is a different. Animal
but who knows.

Speaker 2 (01:02:56):
This?

Speaker 1 (01:02:57):
Brother his, name ladies and, gentlemen they're already marketing. Him
and you see the flag behind, him or you see
him superposed within the bag and within his name Is Cooper.
Flag you put The american flag Behind oh my, GOD i,
mean do you do you have any idea how marketable that?
Is squeaky clean, brother that's a superstar that happens to be,

(01:03:22):
white and his last name Is. Flag, nobody nobody In
america needs needs to even try to compete with him in. Endorsement,
DearS oh my, Lord oh my, goodness it's Crazy Cooper
flag and he got the game to back it, up
the Brother. Special but let me tell you what the

(01:03:43):
interesting part about him. Is we had this discussion this
morning On First take where we were talking about a
mount rushmore Of Duke university players Because duke obviously has had, many,
many many players throughout the. Years, okay and we get that.
PART i don't think you can Touch Christian. Latner just too,

(01:04:04):
successful a, duke just too, Successful, okay the living of
the national, title of the whole, BIT a couple of, them, actually,
Right Grant hill has to be number, One And i'm
gonna tell you why that is Because Grant hill was
the one that enabled The blue The Duke Blue devils

(01:04:28):
to beat un L. V y'all remember the NINETIES, unlv
the Running, Rebels Stacy, Agman Larry, Johnson Anderson, Hunt Greg.
ANTHONY i, mean my, lord these brothers had, it. Okay
And i'm telling you right, now WHEN i think About

(01:04:52):
duke AND i think About Grant, hill this is What
i'm thinking about right, here Because i'm thinking about the
fact that they had gotten annihilated by about thirty THE
unlv in The National championship game the year before this
next go, round same team going up against the Same

(01:05:16):
duke team outside Of Grant, hill And Grant hill is
the reason they were able to BEAT unlv that next.
Year So Grant hill is number. One Grant hills didn't
number One Christian. Latner And i'm gonna put my Man

(01:05:40):
Jay williams FROM, espn who was A National player of
The year and won a national. Championship i'm gonna put
my Man Jay williams up there on That mount rushmore
of great duke, players and fourth is going to Be.

Speaker 2 (01:05:58):
Cooper.

Speaker 1 (01:05:58):
Flag that's HOW i gotta look at, it. Y'all i'm
just trying to look at it right. Now i'm just
saying to, myself my, Goodness i'm trying to look up
these numbers because i want to make sure That i'm,
right you. Know But i'm telling you right, Now i'm
just looking at it right, here right. Now let's go
through the. List we're. Here they had never won a

(01:06:19):
national championship in the program's history until nineteen ninety ninety.
One ninety one ninety two they, won but if you,
remember they lost in the national championship game TO unlv
one three seventy, three and then the very next, year
in nineteen ninety ninety, one is when they won their

(01:06:42):
first national. Title Grand Hill Christian Latna top Two Jay
williams in two thousand and two thousand and, One, Okay Jay,
williams they Beat. Arizona, okay they were thirty five and
four that. Year Shane battier was on that. Team J
wills only had sixteen that. Game Mike dunleavy had twenty.

(01:07:04):
One he led them in. Scoring Shane battier had. Eighteen.
Okay Richard jefferson was on The arizona squad With Gilbert.
Arenas Gilbert arenas had ten that. Game Richard jefferson had.
Nineteen Lauren woods had twenty. Two but they lost that
game eighty two seventy two to The. Duke Jay williams and

(01:07:25):
Now Cooper. Flag they Got booze and other. GUYS i
know That Bobby hurley can't forget all of these. Guys
they had a lot of great, teams no. DOUBT Jj
reddick was, fantastic one of the great, shooters never won
a national, championship but one of the great shooters In duke's,
history no. Doubt BUT i gotta go With Cooper. Flag Cooper,

(01:07:46):
flag he's. On i'm telling you he win a national
Champions he's gotta win a national, championship got win A national,
Championship National player of The. Year that brother's one of
the top four players in the history of The duke.
Program let's get to the tweets BEFORE i get on out.
Here please show it to, me, please which you got
here at The lakers formum, Right STEPHEN. A. Smith who's
the best live Action? Batman Michael, Keaton Christian beal Or

(01:08:09):
Ben affleck? Easily Christian bell. EASILY i Love Michael, keaton
you KNOW i get. That Ben, AFFLECK i love him,
too but they weren't great As. Batman Christian bell spectacular
With Heath ledgers The, Joker oh my, God oh my.
GOD i mean it's. Special definitely Definitely Christian bell. Easily

(01:08:34):
that's the easiest TWEET i could. DO i mean action
pack and Those batman moved The Dark, Knight The Dark
knight rise up in my, God Christian beale. Easily let's
go to the next, one, Please steven They smith or
The Warriors legit. Contenders they're sixteen and four after making
the trade For Jimmy. BUTLER i think they're too, small
BUT i think the greatness Of Steph. Curry If Jimmy

(01:08:57):
buckets comes and he's Playoff, JIMMY i definitely think they
can knock somebody, off and they're good enough to get
to the conference. FINALS i don't think it'll. Happen BUT
i think they're good enough where you can label them
a contender because they can knock somebody off and they
could become a viable. Threat next, up what you? Got
let's see here At Miriam webster as A Webster stevid

(01:09:19):
They smith what word is the? Goat what word is
the goat For webster's? Dictionary you know WHAT i? Think reciprocal.

Speaker 3 (01:09:32):
Or.

Speaker 1 (01:09:32):
Reciprocation you know that that's my cure. Distress people that
work for, me they'll tell you that you stress. Me
i'm gonna stress. You you don't want, stress don't bring no.
Stress excuse the double. Negative that's. Me reciprocation my favorite.

(01:10:00):
Word last one which got At? Smiley why why See?
Wright STEPHEN A? Smith, Hi, stephen you're stuck on a long?
Flight which musician would you want sitting next to?

Speaker 2 (01:10:11):
You?

Speaker 1 (01:10:12):
Thanks BELLA b And. Calgary which musician WOULD i want
sitting next to?

Speaker 3 (01:10:17):
Me?

Speaker 2 (01:10:20):
Well?

Speaker 1 (01:10:20):
Beyonce would it be a bad choice that would come to? Mind? Uh,
well hell Jay z, too even though Jay z would
torture me about the supports knowledge and how he superior
to me in that. Regard so Both hove And beyonce

(01:10:46):
definitely come to. Mind we try to throw out another name.
There let me see WHAT i think about. That, Hmmm Snoop,
dogg because we we we'd be talking sports all day.
Long you go talking sports all day, Long snoop, Though

(01:11:06):
that's WHAT i would tell. You those are my. Answers
that's it for this. Edition that STEPHEN. A Smith. Show
got a slewer N c DOUBLE a games to look
forward to this, weekend So i'm gonna be right on
top of. THAT i hope y'all enjoyed. IT i hope
y'all had a good. TIME i loved y'all joining me.
TODAY i hope you appreciate my comments about, sports politics and.
Beyond always. Appreciated keep the love, coming And i'm gonna

(01:11:27):
keep on. Coming enjoy your, weekend And i'll be back
with you On monday saying bad time and channel until
len Stephen a signing, off peace and, love y'all take,
care