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>> TONIGHT, "THE GREAT ONE," NHL LEGEND WAYNE GRETZKY, RECENT
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE, "THE BIG HURT," FRANK THOMAS,
NBA RISING STAR, INDIANA PACER PAUL GEORGE, LFL QUARTERBACK AND
DAUGHTER OF A SUPER BOWL MVP, ANGELA RYPIEN, AND NBA ALL-STAR,
T-WOLF POWER FORWARD KEVIN LOVE.
AND ON "THE FORUM," HOST OF "THE INSIDER," KEVIN FRAZIER,
HEAD FOOTBALL COACH OF THE UCLA BRUINS, JIM MORA, AND THE
MOST ENTERTAINING VOICE IN GOLF, DAVID FEHERTY.
NOW HERE'S YOUR HOST, JIM ROME.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> HEY, NOW!
WELCOME TO 2014 AND WELCOME TO OUR THIRD SEASON ON SHOWTIME.
WE WILL CONTINUE TO CRANK THE VOLUME ON THE BIG STORIES WITH
THE BIGGEST NAMES AND NEWSMAKERS IN SPORTS AND, OF COURSE, WE
WILL TAKE THE TIME TO TEE OFF ON A FEW TOOLS ALONG THE WAY.
DON'T WORRY, "A-ROD," YOU'LL GET A TURN.
BUT I KICK THINGS OFF BY CALLING IT HOW I SEE IT.
THESE ARE MY "QUICK HITS."
AMERICA'S SWEETHEART WON'T BE ON AMERICA'S SKI TEAM IN SOCHI,
BECAUSE WHILE LINDSEY VONN REHABBED IN 2010 BY WRAPPING
CHEESE AROUND HER LEG, THERE IS NO SLAB OF GOUDA STRONG ENOUGH
TO CURE A JACKED MCL AND GET HER BACK INTO THE SPANDEX.
AND FOR THE REMAINING MEMBERS OF THE "VONN-TOURAGE," THIS STINKS
LIKE LIMBURGER BECAUSE THE GAMES ARE LOSING THE BIGGEST STAR.
OH, DON'T MEAN LINDS.
I MEAN HER BOY TOY, ELDRICK.
WHAT I WOULD HAVE GIVEN TO SEE THAT ROBOT IN RUSSIA, STANDING
SLOPESIDE IN A PARKA, PRETENDING THAT HE WANTED TO BE THERE.
HOW PUMPED DO YOU THINK HE WAS WHEN HE FOUND OUT THAT HE DIDN'T
HAVE TO MAKE THAT ROADIE?
HE'S PROBABLY LIKE THE HUSBAND WHOSE WIFE TELLS HIM SHE JUST
DOESN'T THINK IT'S A GOOD IDEA TO FLY EAST TO HER MOTHER'S FOR
THANKSGIVING THIS YEAR.
"AW, REALLY, HONEY?
WELL, IF YOU'RE SURE.
YES!" I GUARANTEE ELDRICK BROKE OUT
THAT SUNDAY RED POLO AND THAT MASSIVE FIST PUMP AFTER THAT
CHAT, BECAUSE WHILE IT IS A HUGE LOSS FOR THE OLYMPICS, IT IS THE
BIGGEST WIN IN YEARS FOR ELDRICK.
IF THE NFL IS REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT REDUCING THE NUMBER OF
HEAD INJURIES IN THE GAME, IT SHOULD START WITH BANNING THE
"LAMBEAU LEAP," BECAUSE GREEN BAY PACKER JOHN KUHN
NEARLY CONCUSSED HIMSELF TRYING TO CLEAR THE WALL.
>> A SLIP ON THE LAMBEAU LEAP ATTEMPT.
>> COME ON, "KUHNIE."
YOU CAN PULL A SHIRTLESS PACKER FAN OUT OF THE STANDS, AND HE
WOULD STILL GET HIGHER THAN THAT AFTER A CUBE OF
MILWAUKEE'S BEST.
SERIOUSLY, "HEFTY" MICKELSON GETTING AN INCH OF AIR ON THE
18th GREEN THINKS THAT YOU CAN'T JUMP.
AND GUS FREROTTE IS READY TO WELCOME YOU TO THE "DUDES WHO
BROKE THEMSELVES CELEBRATING" CLUB.
I GET IT, "JOHN BOY" -- YOU'RE PAID FOR BLOCKS, NOT FOR HOPS,
BUT YOU HAVE TO AT LEAST GET ENOUGH FOR THE FANS TO BAIL YOU
OUT ON A PULL-UP.
BETTER YET, JUST TOSS IT TO THE REF, SAVE YOUR NECK AND YOUR
REP.
BAD NEWS FOR BRUNO MARS.
SUPER BOWL HALFTIME IS BEING HIJACKED BY A HYBRID OF TWO
AMERICAN OBSESSIONS -- CUTE DOGS AND FANTASY FOOTBALL.
THAT RIDICULOUS DROOL FEST KNOWN AS THE PUPPY BOWL IS IN ITS 10th
YEAR NOW, AND NOW THEY'RE ALLOWING FANS TO DRAFT DOGGIES
AND FORM A FOUR-LEGGED FANTASY TEAM.
I'VE GOT NO IDEA HOW THEY'RE GONNA SCORE THIS THING.
I MEAN, DO YOU GET POINTS FOR YOUR PUPPIES *** AND
DUMPING?
'CAUSE THAT'S ALL THAT GOES DOWN.
BUT, AS ALWAYS, I'VE GOT YOUR DRAFT ADVICE.
YOU LOAD UP ON LABS EARLY.
THEY'RE HIGH-ENERGY.
YOU SNAG A SLEEPER BEAGLE.
AND DEFINITELY AVOID DOBERMANS.
THEY'RE ALWAYS GETTING FLAGGED FOR INTENTIONAL GROWLING.
SORRY, BRUNO, YOU MAY BE LOCKED OUT OF HEAVEN, BUT DOG LOVERS
AND FANTASY LOSERS ARE ABOUT TO BE LET IN.
MOVE OVER, KATHERINE WEBB.
FOR THE SECOND STRAIGHT YEAR AT ALABAMA'S BOWL GAME, A STAR WAS
BORN IN THE STANDS.
KATHY LOOKED HOT, BUT THE BAMA MOM WAS COMING IN HOT.
FIRE IN THE HOLE, FRAT BOYS.
>> HEY! HEY! HEY!
>> INSANE.
I CAN'T DECIDE IF SHE'S "SUPERFLY" SNUKA OR A STAGE
DIVER AT A SOUNDGARDEN SHOW.
AND SHE INSISTS THAT SHE WASN'T DRUNK.
AND YOU KNOW WHAT?
I BELIEVE HER.
YOU NEED TO BE ON SOMETHING A HELL OF A LOT STRONGER THAN
*** TO JUST DIVE-BOMB NINE S.A.E.s, YOU KNOW, LIKE *** OR
BATH SALTS OR BOTH.
BECAUSE NO FEMALE FAN HAS GONE THAT HARD SINCE THAT SOUTH BEACH
COUG FLIPPED THE BIRD TO JO NOAH.
THAT IS ONE BAD MOTHER.
ROLL TIDE AND SEE YOU NEXT SUMMER SLAM, MOMS.
AND LET ME WISH A VERY HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO A PAIR OF LADIES
AND THE MOST INCREDIBLE AND BIZARRE SPORTS STORY EVER.
IT HAS BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE ONE OF TONYA HARDING'S GOONS BOUNCED
A LEAD PIPE OFF THE KNEE OF ARCHRIVAL NANCY KERRIGAN.
AND AFTER ALL THIS TIME, I STILL CANNOT BELIEVE THAT THESE
CRIMINAL MASTERMINDS DIDN'T GET AWAY WITH IT.
I MEAN, I DEFY YOU TO FIND A FAULT IN THAT PLAN -- HUSBAND
HIRES A THUG TO ASSAULT HIS OLD LADY'S RIVAL, THUG CLUBS RIVAL,
THUG HITS THE GETAWAY CAR.
IT'S GENIUS.
I JUST WONDER WHY MORE ATHLETES HAVEN'T DONE THIS.
I MEAN, WHY DOESN'T MANNING JUST HIT BRADY WITH HIS CAR?
WHY DIDN'T ARNIE EVER TAKE HIS 9-IRON TO "THE GOLDEN BEAR"?
IT'S BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T WANT IT BADLY ENOUGH.
TANYA DID.
HER ONLY MISTAKE WAS NOT DOING IT HERSELF.
BUT, LOOKING AT HER LATELY, LET'S JUST SAY IT'S A GOOD THING
SHE DIDN'T OR KERRIGAN WOULD HAVE NEVER WALKED EVER AGAIN.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, LADIES.
THE PERFECT CRIME IS AGING LIKE WINE.
AND THOSE ARE MY "QUICK HITS."
NOW I GET TO SPEND A LITTLE BIT OF TIME WITH A BIG MAN WHO JUST
HAD HIS TICKET PUNCHED TO COOPERSTOWN.
HE WENT TO AUBURN ON A FOOTBALL SCHOLARSHIP BUT ENDED UP AN SEC
MVP IN BASEBALL.
DRAFTED BY THE WHITE SOX IN '89, HE TORE UP THE LEAGUE FOR ALMOST
2,500 HITS AND OVER 500 HOME RUNS.
FOR 19 SEASONS, HE WAS THE BIG HURT.
NOW FRANK THOMAS IS A HALL OF FAMER WHO TAKES HIS SEAT
IN "THE FRONT ROW."
[ APPLAUSE ] AND I AM JOINED RIGHT NOW IN
STUDIO NOT ONLY BY THE NEWEST MEMBER OF THE
BASEBALL HALL OF FAME BUT THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THE
HALL OF FAME, AS WELL.
FRANK THOMAS JOINS US.
FRANK, IT'S GREAT TO SEE YOU.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> JIM, THANKS FOR HAVING ME HERE.
IT'S BEEN A LONG WEEK, MAN, BUT YOU SEE THE BIG SMILE ON MY
FACE.
I CAN'T PUT IT INTO WORDS. >> TRY AND DO IT FOR ME.
TAKE ME THROUGH THIS WHOLE EXPERIENCE.
I MEAN, THEY TELL YOU THE TELEPHONE CALL IS GOING TO COME
BETWEEN 11:45 AND 12:15.
TELL ME ABOUT THE CALL.
>> OTHER END, JACK O'CONNELL.
"FRANK, THIS IS JACK O'CONNELL."
I WAS LIKE, "YES!" 'CAUSE THEY HE CALLED ME A
COUPLE TIMES BEFORE FOR LEAGUE MVP -- SAME VOICE.
SO, HE SAID, "I'VE CALLED YOU A COUPLE TIMES, BUT THIS IS THE
BIG ONE.
YOU'VE BEEN VOTED INTO THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME."
>> NOW, IS GETTING INTO THE HALL OF FAME THE THING OR DOES
IT MEAN MORE THAT YOU WENT IN ON THE FIRST BALLOT?
>> I MEAN, I'M ECSTATIC THAT I GOT IN ON THE FIRST BALLOT, MAN.
THAT'S ONE HECK OF AN ACCOMPLISHMENT.
I DIDN'T KNOW IT WAS THAT FEW OF FIRST-BALLOT HALL OF FAMERS.
I THINK THERE'S ONLY AROUND 40.
SO I FEEL BLESSED, MAN.
I HAD ONE HECK OF A CAREER.
I WORKED MY BUTT OFF.
I JUST THANK GOD, YOU KNOW?
>> WHEN YOU FIRST BROKE IN, YOU WERE KILLING IT IMMEDIATELY, BUT
YOUR FATHER SAID TO YOU, AT THAT TIME, "YOU'RE OFF TO A GREAT
START, BUT YOU'RE NO HANK AARON."
NOW, YOUR FATHER PASSED AWAY IN 2001, UNFORTUNATELY, SO HE'S NOT
HERE RIGHT NOW.
WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR FATHER WOULD SAY IF HE WERE HERE, THAT
YOU ENDED UP IN THE SAME PLACE WHERE HANK AARON IS?
>> YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD PUT A BIG SMILE ON MY FACE, BECAUSE,
YOU KNOW, I GREW UP IN A SMALL SOUTHERN GEORGIA TOWN, AND IT
WAS ALL ABOUT HANK AARON.
WHEN HE BROKE THAT HOME-RUN RECORD, IT WAS BIG.
I MEAN, WE FELT THE IMPACT DOWN IN SOUTH GEORGIA.
SO, WHEN I GOT TO THE BIG LEAGUES, I TOOK OFF VERY FAST,
BUT MY DAD WAS LIKE, "YOU KNOW, STAY HUMBLE, BECAUSE YOU'RE
STILL NOT HANK AARON."
AND THAT STUCK WITH ME FROM THAT DAY ON.
I WANTED TO WORK HARDER JUST TO PROVE TO MY DAD I WANTED TO BE
AT THAT LEVEL.
>> YOU KNOW, FRANK, YOU PLAYED IN THE P.E.D. ERA, OF COURSE,
AND YOU'VE GOT THIS FEELING, THIS OPINION THAT YOU, IN SOME
WAY, MAY HAVE INFLUENCED OTHERS TO USE.
HOW SO?
>> I THINK SO.
COMING IN A YEAR AFTER BO JACKSON, THE BIGGEST PACKAGE
OF POWER, SPEED, SOMETHING LIKE SUPERHUMAN THAT NO ONE HAS EVER
SEEN, AND THEN I CAME TWO YEARS BEHIND HIM, THIS BIG FOOTBALL
PLAYER, TIGHT END, 6'5", 250 AT THE TIME WITH ALL THIS POWER.
YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT SEVEN-YEAR STRETCH I HAD RIGHT OUT OF THE
WAY, I MEAN, I'M SURE GUYS WERE SAYING, "MAN, I WANT TO BE ABLE
TO PERFORM LIKE THAT, TOO."
SO, I DON'T MAKE ANY EXCUSES FOR THE OTHER GUYS, BUT THE IMPACT
WE HAD WITH POWER AND STRENGTH, FROM A MAJOR COLLEGE FOOTBALL
PROGRAM, I THINK THAT KIND OF MADE GUYS WONDER WHAT THEY COULD
DO TO COMPETE AT THAT LEVEL.
>> IN 1997, YOU HAD A HUGE YEAR.
YOU WON A BATTING TITLE.
YOU HIT 35 HOME RUNS.
I MEAN, THAT WAS A MONSTROUS YEAR.
THE NEXT YEAR, MARK McGWIRE HIT 70 HOME RUNS.
HE DOUBLED THE NUMBER OF HOME RUNS THAT YOU HIT.
WHEN YOU SAW HIM DOING THAT AND IT WAS GOING DOWN, WHAT DID YOU
THINK?
>> I DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO THINK.
I WAS SAYING, "MAN, I GUESS MY 40 HOME RUNS IS NOT GOOD
ANYMORE."
YOU KNOW, MY GOAL EVERY YEAR WAS TO HIT 40 AND 120.
WHEN I FIRST CAME IN THE LEAGUE, PEOPLE WOULD SAY, "YOU'RE A
SUPERSTAR IF YOU CAN HIT 30 HOME RUNS AND DRIVE IN 100 RUNS."
SO, FOR ME, MY GOAL WAS SET TO HIT 40 AND 120 AND HAVE A
FANTASTIC SEASON.
BUT, AT THAT POINT, IT WAS REALLY NOTHING FOR ME TO SAY.
I WAS JUST WAS, LIKE, STUNNED.
>> NOTHING TO SAY, BUT WHAT DID YOU THINK?
DID YOU THINK SOMETHING SHADY WAS GOING ON?
>> WELL, I KNEW IT WAS SHADY WHEN SAMMY SOSA HIT 60 HOME
RUNS.
SAMMY SOSA WAS MY TEAMMATE FOR THREE YEARS COMING UP, SO, YOU
KNOW, WATCHING HIS CAREER AND WATCHING HIM GROW, FIRST THREE
YEARS, HE WAS CAPABLE OF ONLY BETWEEN 25 AND 27 HOME RUNS, AT
THE MOST.
>> SO YOU KNEW SOMETHING WAS GOING ON OR YOU STRONGLY
SUSPECTED SOMETHING WAS GOING ON.
>> WELL, WITH SAMMY, I'M JUST -- YOU KNOW, THERE'S NO WAY HE'D
DOUBLE ME UP.
THAT'S ALL I COULD THINK.
"WELL, NO WAY SAMMY DOUBLED ME UP."
>> I MEAN, YOU WERE THE GUY IN CHICAGO, AND, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
SAMMY SOSA'S LEAVING THE YARD AND HE'S DOUBLING YOU UP.
LIKE, WHAT WAS THE MEDIA DOING?
AND HOW'D IT COME BACK TO YOU AT THAT POINT?
>> OH, IT WAS TOUGH.
THEY CRITICIZED ME FOR UNDERACHIEVING.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE ONLY THING THAT BOTHERED ME.
YOU KNOW, I WAS AVERAGING AROUND 40 HOME RUNS AND 120 RBIs, AND
THEY'RE LOOKING AT ME -- "YOU'RE UNDERACHIEVING, 'CAUSE EVERYONE
ELSE IS HITTING 60, DRIVING IN 150."
SO, IT WAS A TOUGH PILL TO SWALLOW, BUT I WOULD HAVE NEVER,
NEVER DONE ANYTHING TO HURT THE INTEGRITY OF BASEBALL.
>> WERE YOU NEVER, EVER TEMPTED TO TRY SOMETHING?
>> NEVER, JIM.
>> HOW COME?
>> I HAVE TO THINK OF MY BACKGROUND WITH MY PARENTS AND
MY COLLEGE.
YOU KNOW, I GOT TO AUBURN -- WE HAD A FRESHMAN-ORIENTATION
MEETING, AND THEY PUT IT ON THE SCREEN FOR YOU -- "THE EFFECTS
OF ANABOLIC STEROIDS."
IT SHOWED THE DEATHS, IT SHOWED WHAT IT WOULD DO TO YOUR BODY,
AND THEY ALSO TOLD YOU, "YOU WILL LOSE YOUR SCHOLARSHIP IF
YOU'RE CAUGHT USING."
AS A POOR COUNTRY KID, THAT'S ALL I HAD WAS MY COLLEGE
SCHOLARSHIP.
I WOULD NEVER JEOPARDIZE THAT.
SO, EARLY, WE LEARNED ABOUT RULES AND REGULATIONS.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> YOU LEARNED EARLY.
YOU DID THE RIGHT THING.
NOW, YOU LOOK AT THIS, FRANK.
YOU HAD AN AMAZING CAREER.
YOU MADE A LOT OF MONEY.
BUT YOU KNOW HOW THIS THING WORKS.
I MEAN, YOU PUT UP NUMBERS, YOU MAKE A LOT MORE MONEY.
I CAN ONLY IMAGINE WHAT FRANK THOMAS WOULD HAVE MADE IF
HE HIT 70 HOME RUNS.
IS THERE ANY PART OF YOU THAT CAN SEE WHY GUYS CHEAT, EVEN
REALLY TALENTED GUYS?
>> WELL, IF YOU LOOK AT IT NOW, YEAH.
I MEAN, IF I'D HAVE TAKEN STEROIDS, I PROBABLY LEFT
$150 MILLION OFF THE TABLE THERE.
BUT I WASN'T ONE OF THOSE GUYS THAT NEEDED TO BE THE RICHEST
GUY IN PROFESSIONAL SPORTS.
I WILL ALWAYS GO TO MY OWNERSHIP AND SAY, "YOU KNOW, I DON'T HAVE
TO BE THE HIGHEST-PAID PLAYER.
LET'S GET SOME MORE TALENT AROUND.
LET'S WIN SOME MORE RINGS."
BUT IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS THAT -- WHEN YOU DANGLE A CARROT
LIKE THAT, THERE'S A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT THERE WOULD GO AFTER
THAT MONEY SITUATION.
>> YOU KNOW, YOU'RE IN NOW.
YOU'RE A PART OF THIS VERY EXCLUSIVE CLUB.
IN FACT, YOU'RE THE YOUNGEST MEMBER OF THIS CLUB.
WHEN YOU LOOK AT BONDS AND YOU LOOK AT CLEMENS, THERE IS THIS
THEORY THAT THEY WERE GOOD ENOUGH TO GET IN WITHOUT IT.
THEY WERE ALREADY IN THE HALL OF FAME BEFORE THEY STARTED
TO USE.
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON THAT?
SHOULD THEY BE IN WITH THE REST OF YOU?
>> YOU KNOW, I HATE TO SAY THIS, BUT I FELT LIKE YOU AND OTHERS
ON THAT SAME SITUATION.
I FACED THOSE GUYS SO MUCH THROUGHOUT THE '90s AND I KNOW
THEIR TALENT LEVEL.
BUT AFTER SPENDING THE LAST TWO SUMMERS WITH THE ACTIVE
HALL OF FAMERS, GUYS THAT DIDN'T MAKE A GAZILLION DOLLARS, THEIR
LEGACY AND BEING A PART OF THE NATIONAL BASEBALL HALL OF FAME
IS ALL THEY HAVE.
SO, FOR THOSE GUYS, THEY DRILLED IT TO ME -- "WE DO NOT WANT
STEROID USERS IN THE HALL OF FAME."
AND IT TOOK ME BACK A LITTLE BIT.
AND I BROUGHT UP, YOU KNOW, BARRY AND "ROCKET," AND THEY
SAID, "WELL, WE KNOW HOW GREAT THEY WERE.
WE KNOW HOW GREAT THEY WERE.
BUT THEY MADE A CHOICE, AND THAT CHOICE IS GONNA KEEP THEM OUT OF
THE BASEBALL HALL OF FAME."
AND I WAS, LIKE, THROWN BACK.
SO, THAT'S WHY I FEEL SO BLESSED THAT I DID THE RIGHT THING AND
DID NOT USE, AND THAT'S WHY I TELL PEOPLE, I PUT IT OUT THERE,
"I'M 100% CLEAN."
[ APPLAUSE ] >> PEOPLE OUT 10, 15, 20 YEARS
AND WE LOOK BACK ON THE STEROID ERA, HOW ARE WE SUPPOSED TO VIEW
THIS?
HOW DO WE SEE IT?
HOW DO WE RECONCILE IT?
>> YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU CAN RECONCILE IT.
I MEAN, SOME GREAT PLAYERS CAME THROUGH THAT ERA, BUT EVEN
PEOPLE QUESTIONED ME.
YOU KNOW, AND I HEARD -- I HATE TO BRING UP NAMES, BUT
SKIP BAYLESS IS ONE OUT OF CHICAGO WHO COVERED ME IN THE
MEDIA.
I HEARD HIM SAY, LAST WEEK, "HOW DID I WALK THROUGH THE DOOR
WITHOUT ANY SUSPICION?" AND I WOULD LIKE TO HAVE A
CONVERSATION WITH HIM, BECAUSE FROM DAY ONE, I WALKED THE WALK
AND TALKED THE TALK.
AND WHEN PEOPLE BROUGHT UP MY NAME, I WAS THE FIRST ONE ON THE
FRONT LINE.
YOU WANT TO LIE-DETECTOR ME, YOU WANT DO ANYTHING WITH ME, I WILL
DO IT NOW.
AND THAT'S WHY, YOU KNOW, THE SENATOR MITCHELL, WHEN HE HAD
THE MITCHELL REPORT SUMMONSED ME THREE TIMES, AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT
THE HECK'S GOING ON HERE?
I HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH P.E.D.
OR STEROIDS."
BUT I WENT AND TOOK THE MEETING.
AND I TOOK THE MEETING WITH THE LATE MICHAEL ***.
WHEN I WALKED IN THE DOOR, HE SAID, "FINALLY, SOMEONE ANSWERED
THE SUBPOENA."
AND I'M LIKE, "WHAT?" I SAID, "I'M THE FIRST GUY TO
COME IN HERE?" HE SAID, "YES, YOU'RE THE FIRST
ONE."
SO, AT THAT POINT, I'M LIKE, "WHOA.
I MEAN, WHAT'S GOING ON HERE?" HE ASKED CERTAIN QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE P.E.D. USAGE.
"HAVE YOU HEARD OF ANY GUYS?
HAVE YOU SEEN ANY GUYS?" I'M LIKE, "NO."
YOU KNOW, I'VE NEVER REALLY CARED ABOUT THE OTHER GUYS.
SO, HE SAID, "WE ALREADY KNOW."
HE SAID, "WE ALREADY KNOW YOU'RE CLEAN, BUT THERE'S A LOT GOING
ON IN THIS GAME THAT YOU DON'T KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT."
>> BOTTOM LINE -- BUD SELIG HAS WORKED VERY, VERY HARD TO TRY TO
CLEAN THAT GAME UP, BUT YOU GO BACK TO LAST YEAR, THERE WERE 14
GUYS WHO WERE SUSPENDED AS PART OF THE BIOGENESIS SCANDAL, A
COUPLE OF MVPs -- RYAN BRAUN AND ALEX RODRIGUEZ.
IS THE GAME REALLY CLEANER NOW THAN IT WAS WHEN YOU PLAYED?
>> IT CAN'T BE.
LAST YEAR WAS 14 PLAYERS.
I'D SAY IT WAS A DRUG RING.
IT'S NOT JUST ALEX.
IT WAS 14 OTHER GUYS.
BUT ALEX WAS THE DEFIANT ONE WITH THIS WHOLE SITUATION.
HE'S GONNA SUFFER FROM IT.
RYAN BRAUN, I THINK, DID THE RIGHT THING, FINALLY FESSING UP.
BUT ALEX HERE -- HE'S FIGHTING AND TALKING ABOUT SUING BASEBALL
AND ALL THIS OTHER STUFF.
MAN, I THINK HE SHOULD JUST TAKE THE PUNISHMENT, DEAL WITH IT,
AND MOVE FORWARD, BECAUSE THERE'S NOTHING HE CAN DO RIGHT
NOW BUT GET HIMSELF IN MORE AND MORE TROUBLE.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
GOOD TO VISIT WITH YOU, THE NEWEST AND YOUNGEST MEMBER OF
THE HALL OF FAME.
>> THANK YOU, JIM.
I REALLY APPRECIATE IT, MAN.
I REALLY BELIEVE, YOU KNOW, YOU'VE BEEN ONE OF THOSE
STAND-UP GUYS IN THIS SPORT FOR A VERY LONG TIME.
SOME PEOPLE SAY YOU'RE VERY OPINIONATED, BUT I'VE ALWAYS
LOVED YOUR PROGRAM BECAUSE YOU'RE TRUE AND YOU'RE TRUE TO
THE HEART OF THE SPORT.
SO, THANKS FOR HAVING ME ON ONCE AGAIN, AND THANK YOU GUYS FOR
COMING OUT.
>> I APPRECIATE THAT, FRANK.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
GREAT TO SEE YOU.
>> "TEN QUESTIONS" YOU'LL LOVE FOR A TIMBERWOLF POWER FORWARD.
WE'LL HIT "THE HEADLINES" WITH THE PACE-SETTER IN THE NBA EAST
AND A LIVING LEGEND ON THE ICE.
PLUS, A SIT-DOWN WITH THE LFL DAUGHTER OF AN NFL CHAMPION.
AND JIM PENS A LETTER TO "A-FRAUD."
BUT NOW WE FIND OUT WHO WILL BE "SKLARRED FOR LIFE."
[ APPLAUSE ] >> THEY ARE TWO OF A KIND, BUT
THIS IS WHERE THEY GET UNKIND.
FOOLS ARE ABOUT TO BE PERMANENTLY SKLARRED.
JASON, RANDY, FELLAS, ARE YOU READY?
>> THIS IS 2014.
WE ARE READY TO DO THIS '14 STYLE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT, LET'S DO THIS THING.
TMZ REPORTS THAT BRUCE JENNER CONSULTED A PLASTIC SURGEON
ABOUT REDUCING HIS ADAM'S APPLE -- A COMMON STEP ON THE
ROAD TO GENDER REASSIGNMENT.
THE FORMER U.S. OLYMPIC CHAMPION HAS SINCE CANCELED THE PROCEDURE
AND HAS DENIED RUMORS THAT HE'S CHANGING TEAMS.
>> HE'S DEFINITELY CHANGING TEAMS.
HE WEARS MORE LIP GLOSS THAN MILEY CYRUS.
>> YEAH, DEFINITELY.
>> AND HE'S GOT A MORE FEMININE HAIRCUT.
NO ONE'S GONNA ARGUE THAT ONE.
>> AND HE DOESN'T HAVE THAT FAR TO GO.
I MEAN, THINK ABOUT IT -- EVER SINCE HE'S BEEN MARRIED TO KRIS,
HE'S BEEN LIVING WITHOUT HIS BALLS.
SO WE KNOW THAT ABOUT HIM RIGHT THERE.
AND, LOOK, IF ENDS UP BEING ONE OF THOSE WOMEN WHO STILL LOOKS
LIKE A MAN, HE PROBABLY STILL HAS A SHOT WITH LAMAR ODOM.
>> THAT'S HIS TYPE.
>> I'M JUST TALKING ABOUT HIS TYPE.
>> THAT'S HIS TYPE.
>> I'M JUST TALKING HIS TYPE.
>> GENO SMITH MISFIRES AGAIN.
THIS IS INCREDIBLE.
DUDE SENT A JUNK SHOT TO A GIRL WHO HE WAS GETTING BUSY WITH,
SHE FOUND OUT HE ALREADY HAD A GIRLFRIEND, AND WE GET ANOTHER
NEW YORK SEXTING SCANDAL.
WHAT IS WITH THESE GUYS TEXTING THEIR JUNK?
>> WELL, WITH THAT, ANTHONY *** IS NOW A JETS
FAN.
SO WE KNOW THAT ABOUT THE SITUATION.
BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
ALTHOUGH, CHRIS CHRISTIE WAS UPSET.
HE DOES NOT LIKE THE WAY THIS WHOLE THING REFLECTS ON THE
STATE OF NEW JERSEY.
HE WAS SO UPSET, HE ACTUALLY LIMITED ACCESS TO GENO SMITH'S
-------, WHICH I THOUGHT THAT WAS OUT OF SPITE, MAN.
HEY, YOU BE CAREFUL.
A WOMAN DIED GETTING OUT OF THAT -------.
I'M JUST GONNA SAY THAT.
>> SHE WAS TRYING TO GET OUT.
>> BOTH THE HEAT AND THE NETS WORE NICKNAME JERSEYS IN A
RECENT GAME.
IS THIS GOING TO START A TREND IN THE NBA?
>> I HOPE SO, BECAUSE THERE ARE A LOT OF PLAYERS THAT I FEEL
LIKE WOULD HAVE GREAT NICKNAME JERSEYS, LIKE CARMELO ANTHONY
COULD BE "MR. HONEY NUT CHEERIO."
>> THERE YOU GO.
>> OH.
>> ANTHONY DAVIS COULD BE "CHIEF RUNNING BROW."
>> THAT'S A COMMON NATIVE AMERICAN NAME.
>> I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO CALL ANDERSON VAREJAO "SIDESHOW BOB."
HE LOOKS LIKE HIM.
>> AND I WOULD SAY RUDY GAY -- "RUDY NOT YET IN UTAH."
PENDING LEGISLATION.
>> WE DON'T KNOW.
WE GOT POLITICAL HERE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> I LOVE IT.
YOU GUYS ARE GONNA LOVE THIS NEXT ONE.
ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS FACES ON THE PLANET, LeBRON JAMES, GOT
CARDED.
BOYS, HE GOT CARDED AT A HOTEL BAR WHILE TRYING TO WATCH THE
OHIO STATE GAME.
THAT GUY.
>> YEAH. EVEN IF YOU DON'T KNOW WHO LeBRON IS, DUDE'S LIKE 6'8",
260.
HE'S GOT THE HAIRLINE OF A 45-YEAR-OLD ACCOUNTANT.
>> FLOAT THAT GUY A PASS.
>> YOU GOT TO THINK LeBRON -- LeBRON WAS BUYING COLLEGE KIDS
BEER WHEN HE WAS IN THIRD GRADE.
>> THAT'S RIGHT. EXACTLY.
THAT'S RIGHT.
>> YOU'RE CARDING LeBRON.
>> NO, YOU CAN'T.
>> ALL RIGHT, NOW, I GUESS IF "JESSE THE BODY" CAN BECOME
JESSE THE GOVERNOR, THEN ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.
SO, NOW YOUR GUY, STEVEN SEAGAL IS TALKING ABOUT RUNNING FOR
GOVERNOR OF ARIZONA.
>> OKAY, WHAT'S THE OVER/UNDER ON HOW MANY TIMES HE SAYS, "OUR
BORDERS ARE 'UNDER SIEGE.'" >> HE'S GONNA DO THAT A LOT.
LOOK, I HONESTLY THINK HE DID THIS BECAUSE HE HAS NOWHERE TO
LIVE.
HE'S LIKE, "I NEED THE GOVERNOR'S MANSION OR A HOMELESS
SHELTER."
EITHER WAY, THE TAXPAYERS OF ARIZONA ARE GONNA PAY FOR HIS
HOUSE NEXT YEAR.
THAT'S ALL I'M SAYING.
>> GUYS, "THE WORM" HAS COME A LONG WAY SINCE HE WAS IN A
WEDDING DRESS.
IN FACT, I SPOKE TO HIM WHEN HE DID IT.
THE FACT IS -- DENNIS RODMAN WENT ALL THE BACK TO NORTH KOREA
TO SERENADE THEIR DICTATOR WITH THIS.
>> ♪ HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU ♪ >> I THINK MARILYN MONROE JUST
DIED AGAIN.
>> YEAH.
>> BY THE WAY, I'VE NEVER CLAPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF HAPPY
BIRTHDAY.
EVEN IN AN OLIVE GARDEN, YOU DON'T CLAP LIKE THESE PEOPLE ARE
CLAPPING.
WHAT THE HELL IS GOING ON?
>> IT'S SO UNCOMFORTABLE.
>> OH, MY GOD.
>> REMEMBER WHEN RODMAN WAS JUST VEGAS' PROBLEM.
LIKE, THE WORST HE COULD DO IS, LIKE, TRIP AND FALL IMPALE,
LIKE, A STRIPPER'S *** WITH HIS LIP RING.
THAT WAS THE ONLY PROBLEM.
NOW...
LET IT AFFECT YOU, LET IT ROLL OVER YOU.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> NOW IF HE GETS STRUCK WITH KIM JONG-UN, WE COULD HAVE
MISSILES GOING TOWARDS TAIWAN.
>> YOU DON'T WANT THAT.
YOU DON'T WANT THAT.
I MEAN, HERE'S THE THING ABOUT RODMAN.
AND I LISTENED TO THAT SONG, AND IN LISTENING TO HIM SING THAT
SONG, I NOW SEE THAT HE AND KIM JONG-UN ACTUALLY HAVE
SOMETHING IN COMMON.
THEY'VE BOTH MERCILESSLY TORTURED MILLIONS OF PEOPLE.
>> THAT'S TRUE.
>> FELLAS, YOU'VE DONE IT ONCE AGAIN, AND THANK YOU FOR
REMINDING FOLKS THAT THERE IS NOWHERE TO RUN.
THERE IS NOWHERE TO HIDE.
YOU WILL BE FOUND AND YOU WILL BE SKLARRED.
FROM THE COMICS TO THE FRONT PAGE, IT IS TIME TO GET TO OUR
"HEADLINERS."
AND WE HAVE THE MAN WHO OWNS ENTIRE CHAPTERS OF THE NHL
RECORD BOOK, BUT WE BEGIN WITH AN NBA SUPERSTAR FROM INDIANA,
WHO IS JUST SCRATCHING THE SURFACE OF HIS POTENTIAL.
PAUL GEORGE NEARLY LED INDIANA TO A STUNNING UPSET IN LAST
YEAR'S EASTERN CONFERENCE FINALS, PUSHING LeBRON AND MIAMI
TO THE BRINK IN GAME 7.
NOW HE'S BACK AND BOTH HE AND THE PACERS ARE BETTER THAN EVER.
NOW, YOU'VE GOT THE BEST RECORD IN THE EAST RIGHT NOW.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE NOT GONNA TAKE THE REST OF THE SEASON FOR
GRANTED, BUT IS THERE JUST A SMALL PART OF YOU THAT WOULD
LIKE TO FAST-FORWARD RIGHT THROUGH THE REGULAR SEASON AND
GET STRAIGHT TO A SEVEN-GAME SERIES AGAINST MIAMI?
>> OH, YEAH.
I MEAN, I WOULD LOVE TO.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS SUCH, YOU KNOW, A FUN AND EXCITING POSTSEASON
FOR US LAST YEAR.
I THINK WE, YOU KNOW, TO BE HONEST, NEED TO GO THROUGH A
FULL SEASON AND, YOU KNOW, STILL IRON OUT ALL THE CRINKS AND THE
WRINKLES THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PROGRAM, YOU KNOW, TO GET READY
TO FACE THEM, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE THEY ARE A TWO-TIME DEFENDING
CHAMPION.
AND TO BEAT THEM, YOU GOT TO BE ALMOST PERFECT.
SO I THINK WE NEED A FULL SEASON TO GET READY FOR THEM.
>> HOW ABOUT THIS?
IF YOU GET THE HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE, CAN YOU SEE THE HEAT
BEATING YOU FOUR TIMES IN SEVEN GAMES?
>> WE DON'T.
I MEAN, WE KNOW HOW WELL WE PLAY AT HOME.
YOU KNOW, WE WERE ONE OF THE BEST TEAMS IN THE POSTSEASON
LAST YEAR DEFENDING OUR HOME COURT.
YOU KNOW, WE JUST KNOW HOW BIG HOME-COURT ADVANTAGE IS WHEN IT
COMES DOWN TO POSTSEASON, SO THAT'S ONE OF OUR MAIN GOALS
THIS YEAR IS TO, YOU KNOW, LOCK UP THE FIRST SEED SO WE CAN HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PLAY AT HOME, YOU KNOW, THROUGHOUT THE WHOLE
PLAYOFFS.
>> THE WHOLE QUESTION'S BEEN WHETHER OR NOT YOU GUYS HAVE AN
ANSWER FOR LeBRON.
LET ME ASK YOU THIS -- HAS THAT QUESTION BEEN ANSWERED?
AND ARE YOU IT?
>> I MEAN, I DON'T KNOW.
YOU KNOW, IT'S HARD TO NEUTRALIZE LeBRON.
I MEAN, HE'S ONE OF THE BEST PLAYERS IN THIS GAME, IF NOT THE
BEST.
THE ONLY THING FOR ME IS JUST TO, YOU KNOW, BATTLE HIM AND,
YOU KNOW, SHOW HIM THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE LEVEL I'M
TRYING TO GET TO, AND, YOU KNOW, IT WON'T BE EASY IF HE'S TRYING
TO COME THROUGH US.
>> PAUL, YOU WERE THE MOST IMPROVED PLAYER IN THE NBA
LAST YEAR AND YOU'VE TAKEN THIS TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL THIS YEAR.
CAN YOU SEE YOURSELF GOING FROM MOST IMPROVED TO MVP IN A SINGLE
SEASON?
>> I DO, YOU KNOW, ESPECIALLY WHAT, YOU KNOW, MY TEAM IS
DOING.
IT'S JUST ABOUT, YOU KNOW, WHAT WE DO AS A TEAM, I THINK, THAT
WILL, YOU KNOW, SEPARATE ME AND, YOU KNOW, AT THE END, MAKE ME AN
MVP.
>> SO, IT'S GONNA BE A GAME OF MATCHUPS, AND YOU'VE TURNED INTO
A REALLY, REALLY STRONG DEFENSIVE PLAYER.
IN YOUR OPINION. WHO IS THE TOUGHEST PLAYER FOR YOU TO STOP
AND WHY?
>> PROBABLY DURANT.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, K.D. JUST MOVES A LOT, YOU KNOW, AND HE'S
LONG.
YOU KNOW, HIS ABILITY TO DO EVERYTHING ON THE FLOOR, AS
WELL, AT HIS SIZE, HIS HEIGHT.
HE HAS GOOD QUICKNESS.
YOU KNOW, HE SHOOTS THE BALL PROBABLY THE BEST IN THE LEAGUE.
HE HAS SO MANY MOVES TO GET, YOU KNOW, HIS SHOT OFF.
I THINK HE'S PROBABLY THE TOUGHEST COVER FOR ME.
>> ALL RIGHT, YOU ARE THE SELF-PROCLAIMED "NBA 2K" CHAMP,
AND YOU'VE GOT THE BELT TO PROVE IT.
NOW, IF THE REAL PAUL GEORGE IS GOING UP AGAINST THE "2K"
PAUL GEORGE AND YOU'VE GOT TO STOP HIM, WHICH PLAYER ARE YOU
SENDING TO LOCK HIM UP?
>> I DON'T KNOW.
I THINK, YOU KNOW, WHEN YOU PLAY WITH ME, YOU'RE GUARANTEED A
GOOD 50 OR 60 POINTS.
SO I'LL PROBABLY HAVE TO GO PICK THE OLD-SCHOOL JORDAN TO TRY TO
LOCK ME UP ON THE GAME.
>> [ LAUGHS ] ALL RIGHT, YOU TELL THIS GREAT
STORY ABOUT A WHILE BACK IN PRACTICE, WHERE LARRY BIRD WALKS
IN, HE ROLLS UP HIS SLEEVES, HE KNOCKS DOWN 15 JUMPERS IN A ROW,
AND WALKS RIGHT OUT.
WHEN YOU SAW THAT, WHAT WAS YOUR REACTION?
>> IT WAS JUST CRAZY.
YOU KNOW, HE DIDN'T SAY NO WORDS.
YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE JUST KEPT FEEDING HIM A BALL, AND, YOU
KNOW, HE JUST KEPT KNOCKING SHOTS DOWN.
SO, IT WAS PRETTY CRAZY.
YOU KNOW, WE UNDERSTAND HOW GREAT OF A SHOOTER HE WAS OFF OF
THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT.
HE WAS OR STILL IS?
FOR INSTANCE, YOU'RE THE BEST PLAYER ON ARGUABLY THE BEST TEAM
IN THE LEAGUE, BUT COULD YOU TAKE "LARRY LEGEND" IN A GAME OF
HORSE RIGHT NOW?
>> I THINK SO.
YOU KNOW, I THINK SO.
AS LONG AS HE SAY, YOU KNOW, I CAN DUNK, I THINK I GOT HIM.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT, LET ME ASK YOU
THIS -- IS IT TRUE THAT, BACK IN THE DAY, YOU PLAYED YOUR FIRST
BASKETBALL GAME AT THE YMCA IN CUT-OFF JEANS?
TRUE OR FALSE?
>> THAT'S TRUE. THAT IS TRUE.
YOU KNOW, I DON'T KNOW WHAT MADE ME DO IT, I DON'T KNOW WHY MY
PARENTS LET ME DO IT, BUT THAT IS A TRUE STORY.
I MEAN, I PUT ON A SHOW.
I AIN'T GONNA LIE.
I PUT ON A SHOW, YOU KNOW, AND I THINK IT WAS A TREND.
IT WAS A TREND AFTER THAT.
YOU KNOW, ALL THE KIDS WAS COMING IN WITH JEAN SHORTS.
>> GOT TO LEAD FROM THE FRONT.
ALL RIGHT, PAUL, GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD LUCK THE REST OF THE YEAR.
AND WE'LL RUN YOU DOWN AGAIN SOON.
>> APPRECIATE IT. THANKS, JIM.
>> WAYNE GRETZKY MAY BE THE MOST DOMINANT PLAYER IN THE
HISTORY OF TEAM SPORTS.
HE WON FOUR STANLEY CUPS.
HE STILL OWNS NEARLY EVERY OFFENSIVE RECORD IN HOCKEY.
HE WAS ALSO THE ARCHITECT OF CANADA'S GOLD MEDAL-WINNING TEAM
IN 2002.
HE JOINS US NOW.
WAYNE, IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M DOING WONDERFUL, AND IT'S A PLEASURE TO BE HERE AND IT'S
GREAT TO TALK TO YOU.
>> YOU, TOO, WAYNE.
NOW, WHEN YOU WERE TRADED FROM EDMONTON TO LOS ANGELES JUST
OVER 25 YEARS AGO, COULD YOU HAVE EVER SEEN TWO SoCal TEAMS
PLAYING AN OUTDOOR GAME AT DODGER STADIUM?
>> [ LAUGHS ] THIS IS DEFINITELY SOMETHING
THAT I DIDN'T SEE COMING.
YOU KNOW, I CAME HERE IN 1988.
WE WERE JUST HOPING, AS A GROUP, THAT WE COULD GET ONE SOLID
FRANCHISE AND ONE FRANCHISE THAT WOULD BE SUCCESSFUL AND GROW THE
GAME AS MUCH AS WE COULD AS AN ORGANIZATION.
BUT TO SEE THE SUCCESS OF BOTH THE KINGS AND THE DUCKS OVER THE
YEARS AND BOTH BECOME STANLEY CUP CHAMPIONS AND THEN,
OF COURSE, THE SHARKS ORGANIZATION IS DOWN IN
SAN JOSE -- NOBODY WOULD HAVE EVER THOUGHT THAT THREE OF THE
BEST TEAMS AND THREE OF THE TOUGHEST PLACES TO PLAY WOULD BE
TEAMS IN CALIFORNIA.
SO, THAT'S REALLY EXCITING FOR THE NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE AND
NOTHING BUT A POSITIVE FOR OUR GAME.
>> SO, ARGUABLY, NONE OF THIS HAPPENS WITHOUT THAT TRADE.
I MEAN, TAKE ME BACK.
YOU WERE HOUSE-SITTING AT ALAN THICKE'S PLACE, LOOKING
AFTER 11-YEAR-OLD ROBIN THICKE WHEN THAT TRADE WENT DOWN.
WHAT DO YOU REMEMBER ABOUT THAT NIGHT, WAYNE?
>> I REMEMBER THAT ROBIN THICKE WAS GONNA BECOME A
GREAT SINGER.
[ LAUGHS ] YOU KNOW, IT WAS REALLY
INTERESTING, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO ANTICIPATE.
WE DIDN'T KNOW WHAT TO EXPECT.
BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS -- I JUST LEFT PROBABLY, IF NOT ONE
OF THE GREATEST HOCKEY TEAMS THAT WAS EVER ASSEMBLED, WITHOUT
QUESTION, THE MOST EXCITING TEAM THAT WAS EVER ASSEMBLED, TO COME
PLAY FOR A TEAM THAT WAS AVERAGING 7,500 TO 8,000 PEOPLE,
TO A TEAM THAT, I BELIEVE, WAS 20th OUT OF 21 TEAMS THE YEAR
BEFORE.
AND I REMEMBER THE VERY FIRST DAY OF TRAINING CAMP THINKING,
"OH, MY GOODNESS.
THIS IS GONNA BE A REAL TOUGH BATTLE HERE.
WE GOT TO REALLY DO A LOT OF THINGS TO MAKE THIS ORGANIZATION
SUCCESSFUL AS A GROUP."
IT WAS A BATTLE AND IT WAS A HILL CLIMB AT TIMES, BUT IT WAS
SOMETHING THAT WAS VERY, VERY WORTHWHILE.
>> LET ME ASK YOU -- YOU'VE BEEN REGARDED AS THE GREATEST PLAYER
TO HAVE EVER PLAYED YOUR SPORT.
IT'S A CLUB THAT ONLY A FEW OTHER GUYS, LIKE MICHAEL JORDAN,
FOR INSTANCE, ARE MEMBERS OF.
SO, I GOT TO KNOW -- WHAT'S IT LIKE?
WHAT'S IT'S LIKE TO BE KNOWN AS THE GREATEST WHOEVER DID THE JOB
THAT YOU DID?
>> [ LAUGHS ] OH, I NEVER THINK THAT.
I REALLY DON'T.
I DON'T JUST SAY THIS PUBLICLY.
I SAY THIS TO MY FRIENDS.
I SAY THIS TO MY KIDS.
THE TWO GREATEST PLAYERS TO EVER PLAY THE GAME WERE GORDIE HOWE
AND BOBBY ORR, AND YOU CAN PICK AND CHOOSE WHO YOU THINK WAS
BETTER.
I'M HAPPY TO BE THREE OR FOUR IN THE CONVERSATION.
HE ONLY THING I DO SAY IS -- I KNOW WHAT I DID.
NOBODY CAN TAKE THAT AWAY FROM ME.
AND I HOPE SOMEBODY COMES ALONG AND BREAKS MY RECORDS, BECAUSE
THAT WILL BE A POSITIVE FOR OUR GAME AND SOMETHING THAT PEOPLE
SHOULD GET EXCITED ABOUT.
>> YEAH, STEVE YZERMAN PUT TOGETHER A STACKED ROSTER FOR
TEAM CANADA AT OLYMPICS.
THEY ARE REGARDED AS THE CO-FAVORITES, ALONG WITH RUSSIA.
HOW ABOUT A PREDICTION RIGHT NOW FROM YOU?
WHO DO YOU LIKE FOR THE GOLD?
AND WHO IS YOUR DARK HORSE FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES?
>> YOU KNOW, THE AMERICANS HAVE GOT A REALLY GOOD TEAM, AND
RIGHT NOW, RYAN MILLER MIGHT BE AS GOOD AS ANY GOALIE IN THE
NATIONAL HOCKEY LEAGUE.
THEY GOT BEAT BY ONE GOAL IN OVERTIME IN 2010.
THE RUSSIANS ARE PLAYING AT HOME.
THEY'RE GONNA BE EXCITED ABOUT PLAYING AT HOME.
THEY DIDN'T HAVE A GREAT 2010 WINTER OLYMPICS.
ONE OF PRESIDENT PUTIN'S FAVORITE SPORTS IS THE GAME OF
HOCKEY, SO I KNOW THESE PLAYERS ARE GONNA BE EXCITED TO PUT ON A
SHOW FOR HIM.
BUT I LIKE OUR TEAM IN CANADA.
I THINK THAT WE'RE A VERY GOOD TEAM.
AND I ALWAYS SAY THIS -- WHEN YOU HAVE THE BEST PLAYER IN THE
WORLD ON YOUR TEAM, YOU ALWAYS HAVE A CHANCE TO WIN.
AND CROSBY, RIGHT NOW, IS THE BEST PLAYER IN THE GAME.
AND I GIVE CANADA AS GOOD A CHANCE TO WIN THE GOLD MEDAL AS
ANYBODY THAT'S IN THE OLYMPICS.
>> YOUR SON TREVOR PLAYED ON THE SAME HIGH-SCHOOL FOOTBALL TEAM
AS NICK MONTANA, SON OF JOE, AND TREY SMITH, SON OF WILL.
SO, IF THE GREAT ONE, "JOE COOL," AND
"THE FRESH PRINCE" ALL SHOW UP AT THE SAME HIGH-SCHOOL GAME,
WHO IS GETTING ASKED FOR AN AUTOGRAPH FIRST?
>> [ LAUGHS ] WELL, LISTEN, LET ME TELL YOU
THIS.
I'LL BE REALLY HONEST.
IT USED TO BE REALLY NICE THAT WILL AND JOE WOULD BE THERE,
BECAUSE, LISTEN, FIRST AND FOREMOST, EVERYBODY LOVES WILL
AND HE'S GOT SO MANY FANS ALL AROUND THE WORLD AND HE'S VERY
NICE TO EACH AND EVERY PERSON THAT COMES BY HIM.
JOE IS A LEGEND AND HE'S A FOOTBALL ICON.
SO IT WAS ALWAYS NICE FOR ME.
I COULD JUST SLIP AROUND AND KIND OF STAY IN THE BACKGROUND.
I DIDN'T GET BOTHERED TOO MUCH AT FOOTBALL STADIUMS BUT ALWAYS
HAD A LOT OF FUN GOING TO THE GAMES.
>> YOUR DAUGHTER PAULINA IS ENGAGED TO PGA GOLFER
DUSTIN JOHNSON.
YOU LIKE TO PLAY SOME GOLF, AS WELL.
IF YOU AND YOUR FUTURE SON-IN-LAW ARE ON THE COURSE,
HOW MANY SHOTS ARE YOU LOOKING FOR?
>> [ CHUCKLES ] LET ME TELL YOU THIS, JIM -- I'M
A REALLY SMART PERSON.
IF WE'RE EVER ON THE COURSE, WE'RE ALWAYS PARTNERS.
SO TAKE THAT.
>> THAT'S SMART. THAT IS SMART.
YOU KNOW, WAYNE, YOU'VE GOT A RESTAURANT IN TORONTO THAT GOES
BY YOUR NAME, WAYNE GRETZKY'S.
IF WAYNE GRETZKY GOES INTO WAYNE GRETZKY'S RESTAURANT, WHAT
DOES WAYNE GRETZKY ORDER?
>> WELL, THE FIRST THING I DO IS -- EVERY TIME I GO IN THERE,
I ALWAYS SIGN THE TABLE I'M SITTING AT, SO WHEN I LEAVE
THERE, PEOPLE COME IN.
THEY'LL SEE THAT I WAS ACTUALLY SITTING THERE AND THEY ALWAYS
WONDER IF IT WAS REALLY MY AUTOGRAPH.
BUT I ORDER THE SAME THING ALL THE TIME.
I ALWAYS HAVE GRANDMA GRETZKY PIEROGIES.
IT'S ON THE MENU.
IT'S SOMETHING THAT MY GRANDMOTHER USED TO MAKE ME WHEN
I WAS A CHILD, AND I STILL ORDER THE SAME THING 20 YEARS LATER.
>> I'LL TELL YOU WHAT, WAYNE -- IT'S GREAT THAT WE COULD FINALLY
COME TOGETHER AND GET CAUGHT UP.
EVEN BETTER THAT AT THE VERY END OF THE INTERVIEW, YOU GOT
VIDEO-BOMBED BY TOMMY LASORDA AND PROBABLY DIDN'T EVEN KNOW
IT.
SO, GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.
>> [ LAUGHS ] >> IT'S FUNNY THAT AFTER 25
YEARS, YOU COMES FULL CIRCLE AND THE NHL COMES TO DODGER STADIUM
AND IT ENDS ON THAT VIDEO-BOMB.
>> [ LAUGHS ] THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
NICE TALKING TO YOU, JIM.
>> YOU TOO, WAYNE.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
>> BYE-BYE, GUYS.
>> BEST OF LUCK.
[ APPLAUSE ] NOW IT'S TIME TO BRING IN SOME
OTHERS TO BREAK DOWN THE BIG ISSUES, TO TAKE THE HOT TOPICS,
AND TOSS THEM AROUND.
IT'S TIME TO TURN THINGS OVER TO "THE FORUM."
[ APPLAUSE ] HE IS ONE OF THE BEST FOOTBALL
COACHES IN AMERICA AND HE IS FRESH OFF A 10-WIN SEASON AT
UCLA.
PLEASE WELCOME BACK BRUINS HEAD COACH JIM MORA.
[ APPLAUSE ] HE IS A VETERAN SPORTS AND
ENTERTAINMENT JOURNALIST AND THE CO-HOST OF "THE INSIDER,"
KEVIN FRAZIER.
[ APPLAUSE ] AND HIS DISTINCTIVE STYLE AND
OPINIONATED VOICE MAKE HIM ONE OF THE MOST UNIQUE PERSONALITIES
IN ALL OF TELEVISION.
DAVID FEHERTY ALSO IS HERE.
[ APPLAUSE ] ALL RIGHT, GUYS, GREAT TO YOU
HAVE ALL HERE.
LET ME FIRST TALK ABOUT FORMER NFLer CHRIS KLUWE.
AND HE'S NO LONGER IN THE LEAGUE, AND HE WOULD ARGUE THAT
IT'S BECAUSE OF HIS STANCE ON SAME-SEX MARRIAGE.
THE VIKINGS DENY THIS.
THEY SAY IT'S NOT THE CASE AT ALL.
YOU KNOW, ON THIS ONE HAND, WE'RE PUSHING THESE GUYS TO BE
MORE SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS -- JIM, LET ME START WITH YOU -- BUT, IN
DOING SO, DID IT COST HIM HIS JOB AND HIS CAREER?
>> NO. NO.
GUYS DON'T GET CUT IN THE NFL BECAUSE THEY'RE OUTSPOKEN.
THEY GET CUT IN THE NFL BECAUSE THEY MAKE TOO MUCH MONEY FOR
PRODUCTIVITY THEY MAY HAVE.
YOU KNOW, HE WAS THE 22nd-RANKED PUNTER IN THE
NATIONAL FOOTBALL LEAGUE, I BELIEVE, LAST YEAR, SO THAT PUTS
HIM IN THE LOWER ONE-THIRD OF THE LEAGUE, YET HE WAS MAKING A
LOT OF MONEY.
I MEAN, HE SAID WHEN THEY WERE IN THE MIDDLE OF A PLAYOFF HUNT
LAST YEAR.
THE FOCUS IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON TEAM, WINNING AS A TEAM, THE
CHAMPIONSHIP THAT WE'RE ALL AFTER, COLLECTIVELY, NOT ON MY
INDIVIDUAL OPINIONS.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I FEEL FINE WITH A GUY VOICING HIS INDIVIDUAL OPINIONS.
I AGREE WITH CHRIS KLUWE, OKAY?
BUT I THINK THERE'S A TIME AND A PLACE TO MAKE YOUR OPINIONS
PUBLIC, AND I DON'T THINK THAT HE'S PICKED THE RIGHT TIME.
>> HE'S GOT 36 WEEKS WHERE HE'S NOT WORKING.
>> RIGHT.
>> COULD HE NOT HAVE MADE IT, YOU KNOW, DURING THAT TIME?
>> THAT'S WHAT I THINK.
YOU KNOW, THAT'S MY OPINION.
THERE'S A LOT OF TIME TO SAY WHAT HE WANTS TO SAY AND GET HIS
POINT ACROSS, AND I JUST DON'T KNOW IF THAT'S -- HEY, THE FOCUS
IS SUPPOSED TO BE ON OUR TEAM WINNING THE NEXT GAME, TRYING TO
WIN A CHAMPIONSHIP, NOT ON THE OTHER THINGS.
>> IF YOU LOOK BACK AND YOU LOOK AT GUYS LIKE, YOU KNOW,
JIM BROWN IN THE '60s, KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR, AND THOSE
GUYS WHO REALLY MADE A PUSH WHEN THEY BOYCOTTED THE OLYMPICS AND
THE PUSH WITH CIVIL RIGHTS.
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT JIM BROWN, THE GREATEST FOOTBALL
PLAYER EVER, NOT A PUNTER.
>> I UNDERSTAND, BUT WHAT I'M SAYING IS THAT, YOU KNOW, THAT
WAS THE LAST TIME YOU HEARD SOMEONE OUTSPOKEN, AND IT WAS
OKAY.
AND IF CHRIS KLUWE HAD BEEN A BETTER PLAYER, MAYBE IT WOULD
HAVE BEEN OKAY.
>> YOU KNOW, TO YOUR POINT, THOUGH, WHAT IF IT WERE LeBRON?
I MEAN, WHAT IF THIS WERE A SUPERSTAR ATHLETE THAT SAID WHAT
HE SAID?
HOW DIFFERENT WOULD IT BE?
>> IT WOULD HAVE BEEN COMPLETELY DIFFERENT.
THAT'S MY POINT -- PRODUCTION.
ARE YOU PRODUCTIVE?
>> SO DON'T HAVE AN OPINION LIKE THAT UNLESS YOU'RE VERY GOOD.
>> NO, HERE'S MY POINT.
I SAID FROM THE VERY START, I DON'T THINK WHAT HE HAD HAD
ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIM BEING CUT FROM THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS.
HE WAS CUT FROM THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS BECAUSE HIS
PRODUCTION DID NOT MATCH HIS SALARY -- BOTTOM LINE, PERIOD.
HE CAN ARGUE FOREVER THAT THAT'S NOT THE CASE, AND I WOULD ARGUE
FOREVER THAT IT IS THE CASE.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, IF IT'S A FOOTBALL DECISION THEN, HE WOULD
ARGUE THAT HIS HEAD COACH SAID, "STOP TALKING ABOUT IT."
HE WOULD ARGUE THAT HIS POSITION COACH SAID, "STOP TALKING ABOUT
THIS."
>> MAYBE.
>> WELL, THEN IT'S NOT JUST FOOTBALL, RIGHT?
THEY WANT HIM TO STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.
>> NO, THEY CAN HAVE THAT OPINION.
"HEY, PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT IT.
IT'S TAKING AWAY FROM THE FOCUS OF OUR TEAM AND WHAT WE'RE
TRYING TO ACCOMPLISH TOGETHER."
>> "OPINION" IS THE KEY WORD, TOO.
AND I'M IN A GLASS HOUSE HERE, BUT I'M GONNA THROW A STONE,
ANYWAY.
BUT IT SEEMS TO ME THAT A LOT OF THESE KIDS -- YOU KNOW, THEY'RE
PADDED THEIR WAY THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL, YOU KNOW, THEIR GRADES
ARE SO THEY'RE ELIGIBLE TO PLAY, AND THEN WE GET THEM INTO A
COLLEGE THAT THEY WOULDN'T NORMALLY, YOU KNOW, GET INTO.
AGAIN, THEIR GRADES ARE, YOU KNOW, PADDED SO THAT THEY MAKE
THE TEAM.
AND WHETHER THEY GRADUATE OR DON'T GRADUATE -- YOU KNOW, WE
GIVE TENS OF MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, YOU KNOW, TO AN
UNEDUCATED PERSON THAT BASICALLY HAS NO IDEA WHAT THEY'RE TALKING
ABOUT, YOU KNOW, AND THEN WE EXPECT SOME KIND OF SOCIAL OR
RELEVANT OPINION FROM THEM.
YOU KNOW, IT'S -- >> BUT YOU KNOW WHAT?
CHRIS KLUWE IS A SMART GUY, BUT I JUST THINK -- I'M TAKING AN
OBJECTIVE LOOK AT IT AS A FORMER NFL COACH.
>> RIGHT. I'M SAYING WE SHOULD TAKE A GRADE POINT AVERAGE WITH
THAT.
>> MAYBE.
>> YOU KNOW, "WHAT WAS YOUR GRADE POINT AVERAGE?"
>> "BEFORE YOU SHARE YOUR OPINION, I NEED TO SEE THE GPA."
IS THAT WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, DAVID?
>> YES, EXACTLY, REALLY.
IF YOU'RE A MORON, CARRY ON.
NOBODY CARES.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> IT'S AN INTERESTING
CONVERSATION, BECAUSE STILL, YOU DON'T SEE A PLAYER IN THE NFL
WHO HAS COME OUT AND SAID, "I AM A GAY ATHLETE AND I DON'T MIND
PLAYING IN THE NFL."
AND HERE'S A MAN WHO SPOKE OUT ABOUT IT, AND, ALL OF A SUDDEN,
HE DISAPPEARS, SO YOU WONDER WHY WE HAVEN'T SEEN -- AND WE KNOW
THERE ARE GUYS IN THOSE LOCKER ROOMS WHO ARE GAY, BUT THEY
DON'T WANT TO COME OUT BECAUSE OF THE FEAR THEY END UP LIKE
CHRIS KLUWE.
>> NOT IN GOLF.
WE DON'T HAVE ANY.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> LISTEN, I MEAN...
KEVIN, TO YOUR POINT, THOUGH, IT USED TO BE JIM BROWN HAD HIS
SAY.
KAREEM ABDUL-JABBAR HAD HIS SAY.
I MEAN, WE USED TO PUSH ATHLETES TO BE MORE SOCIALLY CONSCIOUS.
IS THE MESSAGE HERE NOT, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
KEEP YOUR MOUTH SHUT.
NOBODY WANTS TO HEAR YOUR OPINION."
>> LET'S THINK ABOUT BILL WALTON AT UCLA, GOING DOWN TO THE
SIT-IN, AND, YOU KNOW, BACK THEN, THERE WASN'T A PROBLEM.
COACH WOODEN ACTUALLY WENT DOWN.
HE SAID, "HEY, BILL, YOU KNOW, MAKE SURE YOU COME TO PRACTICE,
BUT YOU HAVE YOUR SAY."
BUT, REALLY, NOWADAYS, WHETHER IT'S A CORPORATION, WHETHER IT'S
THE TEAM, IT DOESN'T BENEFIT ATHLETES TO SPEAK OUT.
IT HURTS THEM IF THEY SPEAK OUT.
>> THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
THEY CAN ADVANCE CHANGE.
DO WE WANT THEM TO PUT THEMSELVES OUT THERE AND USE
THAT PLATFORM OR DO WE WANT THEM TO SHUT UP AND JUST PLAY BALL?
>> I THINK THAT THE GOAL OF THE TEAM IS TO WIN, AND IF YOU'RE
TAKING AWAY FROM THE ABILITY OF THE TEAM TO WIN, THEN YOU HAVE A
CHOICE TO MAKE, OKAY?
I CAN SAY WHAT I WANT, OKAY?
AND I CAN BECOME A DISTRACTION, BUT I HAVE TO LIVE WITH THE
CONSEQUENCES, WHICH MIGHT BE THE ORGANIZATION OR THE TEAM
DECIDES, "YOU KNOW WHAT?
HE'S A PRETTY GOOD PLAYER, OKAY?
BUT HE'S NOT GOOD ENOUGH THAT HE CAN BECOME THAT KIND OF
DISTRACTION.
HE'S HURTING OUR ABILITY TO REACH OUR GOAL."
>> WELL, JIM'S DEAD RIGHT.
SAID, YOU KNOW, IT'S A BUSINESS
DECISION, WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO IT, YOU KNOW IN FOOTBALL.
GOLFERS ARE INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS.
THERE ARE NO TEAM OWNERS.
I MEAN, THEY ARE THEIR OWN BOSSES, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT.
YOU KNOW, BUT THE POINT THAT I WANTED TO MAKE IS -- I GREW UP
IN NORTHERN IRELAND IN THE '60s AND '70s, AND I'LL TELL YOU --
IT DIDN'T TAKE ME LONG TO FIGURE OUT THAT THERE IS ENOUGH HATE IN
THE WORLD TO GO AROUND.
WE DON'T ACTUALLY NEED ANY MORE.
AND IF YOU FIND TWO PEOPLE WHO LOVE EACH OTHER, I DON'T CARE
WHAT THEY ARE, WHAT DENOMINATION, WHATEVER.
I MEAN, I DON'T EVEN CARE IF THERE'S A SMALL FARMYARD ANIMAL
INVOLVED.
[ LAUGHTER ] YOU KNOW?
THE LEAST WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO DO FOR THEM IS TO LEAVE THEM
ALONE, YOU KNOW?
>> THAT'S HOW YOU CLOSE A TOPIC, DAVID.
WELL DONE.
EXCELLENT STUFF ALL AROUND.
WE WILL GET INTO A LOT MORE LATER ON IN THE PROGRAM.
NOW WE BRING IN THE MAIN MAN IN MINNESOTA.
HE WAS AN ALL-AMERICAN AT UCLA BEFORE FOLLOWING HIS OLD MAN
INTO THE ASSOCIATION.
AN OLYMPIC CHAMPION AND TWO-TIME ALL-STAR, WHO IS AMONG THE
LEAGUE LEADER IN POINTS, BOARDS, AND 3s.
TIMBERWOLF KEVIN LOVE IS A WALKING DOUBLE-DOUBLE.
NOW HE SITS DOWN FOR "TEN QUESTIONS."
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] KEVIN, IT IS TREMENDOUS TO HAVE
YOU ON THE PROGRAM.
ARE YOU READY FOR YOUR 10?
>> I HOPE SO. LET'S GET INTO IT.
>> I KNOW YOU ARE.
LET'S DO THIS.
ALL RIGHT, QUESTION NUMBER 1, KEVIN.
FOR THE THIRD STRAIGHT YEAR, YOU WON WHAT YOU CALLED THE
"WHITE GUY AWARD."
IT'S FOR THE GUY WHO GETS THE MOST OUT OF HIS SKILLS.
SO, ANSWER THIS QUESTION ONCE AND FOR ALL -- WAS WESLEY SNIPES
WRONG OR WAS HE RIGHT?
CAN WHITE MEN JUMP?
>> I CAN'T SIDE WITH SIDNEY DEANE ON THAT ONE.
I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO WITH "BILLY HO," YOU KNOW, BECAUSE
THERE'S GUYS AROUND THE LEAGUE -- WHITE GUYS,
PRIMARILY -- THAT CAN REALLY JUMP.
I JUST DON'T HAPPEN TO BE ONE OF THEM.
SO I'M GONNA HAVE TO GO WITH, YOU KNOW, WITH BILLY HO ON THIS
ONE.
THERE'S DIFFERENT GUYS AROUND THE LEAGUE, LIKE I MENTIONED,
THAT CAN REALLY JUMP AND BREAK THAT RACIAL BARRIER.
>> ALL RIGHT THEN.
BILLY HO FOR THE WIN.
QUESTION NUMBER 2.
YOU ARE A HUGE "SPACE JAM" FAN.
LeBRON SAYS HE WANTS TO STAR IN A SEQUEL.
NOW, M.J. HAD EWING.
HE HAD BARKLEY. HE HAD MUGGSY, LARRY JOHNSON, SHAWN BRADLEY AS
HIS CO-STARS, IF THE SEQUEL GETS THE GREEN LIGHT, WHO SHOULD
LeBRON'S FIVE BE?
>> IF I HAD TO JUST GO OFF THE TOP OF MY HEAD WITH PLAYERS, YOU
KNOW, PROBABLY "CP3" AT THE 1, KEVIN DURANT PROBABLY AT THE 2,
MAYBE A GUY LIKE "MELO" AT THE 3, YOURS TRULY, MYSELF AT THE 4,
AND THEN ROUNDING OUT THE FIFTH SPOT, YOU KNOW, MAYBE A GUY LIKE
DWIGHT.
I KNOW THAT'S AN ALL-STAR, YOU KNOW, SUPPORTING CAST, BUT, YOU
KNOW, SOME OF THOSE GUYS COULD TRANSITION AS MONSTARS, I GUESS,
PRETTY EASILY.
>> ALL RIGHT, NEXT QUESTION.
YOUR UNCLE MIKE LOVE, OF COURSE, IS A MEMBER OF THE BEACH BOYS.
I COULD ASK YOU, KEVIN, YOUR FAVORITE SONG OF THEIRS, BUT LET
ME GO THE OTHER WAY.
WHAT IS THE ONE BEACH BOYS SONG THAT YOU NEVER HAVE TO HEAR EVER
AGAIN?
AND IS IT "KOKOMO"?
>> NO, NO, NO, NO.
IT'S NOT "KOKOMO."
I'VE ACTUALLY GROWN TO REALLY LIKE MY UNCLE'S MUSIC.
I GUESS THE CORRECT ANSWER WOULD BE ANY SONG MY UNCLE DOESN'T
SING ON OR DIDN'T HELP WRITE.
SO I GUESS A SONG LIKE MAYBE "DANCE, DANCE, DANCE" WOULD BE
ONE OF THEM.
BUT I ACTUALLY DON'T MIND THAT SONG AT ALL.
BUT, YEAH, IT'S A TOUGH ANSWER TO HAVE WITHOUT, YOU KNOW, MY
FAMILY BEING UPSET WITH ME.
>> I GOT YOU.
YOU GOT TO DO WHAT YOU GOT TO DO.
SO, THE ANSWER'S "KOKOMO," RIGHT?
[ LAUGHTER ] >> YEAH, THERE YOU GO.
YEAH, I'LL JUST ROLL WITH THAT.
>> ALL RIGHT, QUESTION NUMBER 4.
ONE OF THE BIG QUESTIONS, KEVIN, AROUND THE NBA, OBVIOUSLY, IS,
"WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO?" I MEAN, YOU'RE FREE TO OPT OUT
OF YOUR DEAL NEXT SUMMER.
DO YOU FEEL LIKE YOUR LONG-TERM FUTURE IS IN MINNESOTA?
>> YOU KNOW, AT THIS POINT, I DO.
I DON'T SEE ANYTHING THAT'S POINTING THERE OTHERWISE.
YOU KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, THERE'S GONNA BE A LOT OF TALK AND, YOU
KNOW, WHAT I'M GONNA DO IN 2015 OR BEYOND, BUT AS OF RIGHT NOW,
I JUST WANT TO WIN BASKETBALL GAMES AND I WANT TO DO IT HERE.
>> ONE EASTERN CONFERENCE EXECUTIVE TOLD cbssports.com --
AND I QUOTE, KEVIN -- "NO ONE THINKS HE'S STAYING.
EVERYONE KNOWS HE WANTS TO GO TO THE LAKERS."
WHAT'S YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT?
>> YOU KNOW, EVERYBODY ALWAYS WANTS TO SAY THAT BECAUSE, YOU
KNOW, OBVIOUSLY, I PLAYED AT UCLA, YOU KNOW, SPENT MY TIME IN
L.A. IN THE SUMMER.
SOME OF MY FAMILY IS FROM THERE.
BUT, YOU KNOW, I ALSO HAVE FAMILY IN, YOU KNOW, PORTLAND
AND ALL AROUND THE COUNTRY, AS WELL.
PEOPLE JUST LIKE TO TALK.
AND, YOU KNOW, MY DAD PLAYED FOR THE LAKERS.
THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO DO WITH IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, RIGHT NOW, I'M HAPPY BEING A TIMBERWOLF, AND,
LIKE, I MENTIONED, WE JUST WANT TO CONTINUE TO KEEP WINNING
BALLGAMES.
>> QUESTION NUMBER 5.
YOU'VE TAKEN YOUR COMEDIC TALENTS TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT
COMMERCIALS.
IN YOUR OPINION, WHO IS THE BEST PRO-ATHLETE PITCHMAN OF ALL
TIME?
>> YOU KNOW, FIRST COMES TO MIND IS PROBABLY MICHAEL JORDAN.
JUST THE WAY HE BRANDS HIMSELF.
BUT IN TODAY'S DAY AND AGE, WHEN IT COMES TO, I GUESS, COMEDIC
TIMING AND, YOU KNOW, JUST OVERALL BRANDS THAT HE WORKS
WITH, I LOOK AT A GUY LIKE PEYTON MANNING AS BEING PROBABLY
THE BEST PITCHMAN.
AND IF THAT FAILS, MAYBE I'LL GO WITH SHAQ AND SOME OF HIS
GOLD BOND COMMERCIALS.
[ LAUGHTER ] >> ALL RIGHT.
DURING THE OLYMPICS, YOU ASCENDED TO THE SOCIAL-MEDIA
ELITE, WHEN YOU SNAPPED THIS PICTURE OF YOUR TEAMMATES ASLEEP
ON THE PLANE WITH THE CAPTION "GOT 'EM ALL.
EVEN COACH K. I WIN."
FACT IS -- YOU DID WIN.
THAT'S BETTER THAN A SHOT OF BIGFOOT.
CAN YOU WALK ME THROUGH THE MOMENT WHEN YOU SNAPPED THAT
PICTURE?
>> AT THAT TIME, EVERYBODY WAS A LITTLE BIT TIRED.
WE WERE FINALLY GETTING GOING TO THE OLYMPICS IN LONDON, AND THAT
WAS OUR LAST PLANE FLIGHT TO GET THERE, SO GUYS WERE KIND OF
WIPED OUT.
I SAW AN OPPORTUNITY AND I TOOK IT AND I WAS TO, YOU KNOW, GET
COACH K. AND ALMOST JERRY COLANGELO INTO THE FRAME.
YOU KNOW, IT WAS KIND OF THE HOLY GRAIL OF "GOT 'EM" PHOTOS,
I GUESS.
>> IT WAS.
I HOPE YOU PUT ON THE CHAMPIONSHIP BELT AFTER THAT.
THAT WAS TREMENDOUS.
YOU EARNED IT.
ALL RIGHT, QUESTION NUMBER 7, KEVIN.
YOU ARE A WEST COAST GUY, BUT THE FIRST ALBUM THAT YOU EVER
BOUGHT WAS "READY TO DIE" BY EAST COAST ICON
NOTORIOUS B.I.G.
SO, WHERE DO YOU COME OUT ON THE RAP WAR?
TUPAC OR BIGGIE? WHO'S THE GOAT?
>> MY, YOU KNOW, KIND OF FAVORITE RAPPER GROWING UP AND
MY INTRODUCTION TO HIP-HOP, BECAUSE MY BROTHER LISTENED TO
HIP-HOP, WAS BIGGIE, SO A PART OF ME WANTS TO SIDE WITH, YOU
KNOW, THE EAST COAST IN THAT, BUT I'VE ALWAYS BEEN A
WEST COAST GUY.
SO I'LL KIND OF JUST STICK TO THE MIDDLE.
BUT I'D SAY, AS FAR AS, YOU KNOW, BODY OF WORK GOES AND,
YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT HE'S STILL DOING IT, I'D SAY JAY-Z IS
PROBABLY THE BEST OF ALL TIME.
>> HMM. ALL RIGHT, QUESTION NUMBER 8.
WHEN YOUR FORMER TEAMMATE JASON COLLINS CAME OUT, YOU
TWEETED THAT YOU WERE HAPPY FOR HIM IN HIS DECISION.
GUYS LIKE KOBE BRYANT, DWYANE WADE, TONY PARKER DID THE
SAME THING.
IS HOMOPHOBIA DYING IN THE NBA OR DO YOU SEE AND HEAR THINGS
THAT TELL YOU THAT IT'S STILL ALIVE AND WELL?
>> NO, I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY, DEFINITELY DYING IN THE NBA AND,
YOU KNOW, AS A COUNTRY AND GLOBALLY, TOO.
AND I FEEL LIKE THERE'S ALWAYS, YOU KNOW, A BAD EGG THAT CAN
SPOIL THE BATCH, BUT, YOU KNOW, NO MATTER YOUR RACE OR GENDER OR
SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS OR *** PREFERENCE, WHAT REALLY MATTERS
IS, YOU KNOW, HOW GOOD OF A HUMAN BEING ARE YOU?
AND JASON COLLINS IS A TREMENDOUS HUMAN BEING, LET
ALONE A GREAT BASKETBALL PLAYER, WHO IS A GREAT VET AND, YOU
KNOW, A GUY THAT I'M VERY HAPPY FOR.
HE GETS TO LIVE HIS LIFE AND BE A HAPPY HUMAN BEING.
SO, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT'S GREAT.
>> WELL SAID.
EXTREMELY WELL SAID.
ALL RIGHT, NEXT.
OTHER THAN YOURSELF AND YOUR FAMILY, WHO IS THE GREATEST LOVE
OF THEM ALL?
COURTNEY LOVE, JENNIFER LOVE HEWITT, QUESTLOVE,
OR *** STAR SINNAMON LOVE?
[ LAUGHTER ] >> MY NATURAL INCLINATION IS TO
GO WITH THE LATTER OF THE FOUR, BUT I'M GONNA PROBABLY GO
WITH -- I DON'T KNOW.
PROBABLY QUESTLOVE.
>> KEVIN, IT'S A TOUGH QUESTION, BUT I THINK YOU HAD IT RIGHT THE
FIRST TIME.
I THINK YOUR FIRST INSTINCT WAS RIGHT.
>> [ Laughing ] ALL RIGHT.
>> ALL RIGHT, QUESTION 10.
WE'RE ALMOST THERE.
THIS PAST FALL, ELI MANNING THREW THREE PICKS.
HE THEN LOOKED *** ON THE SIDELINE, AND YOU COMPARED HIM
TO JEFF SPICOLI ON INSTAGRAM.
SO, DO THIS FOR ME -- CAST YOUR OWN MOVIE.
WHO PLAYS KEVIN LOVE IN YOUR LIFE STORY?
>> YOU KNOW, I'D HAVE TO GO WITH PROBABLY A GUY LIKE
DANIEL DAY-LEWIS, JUST BECAUSE HE'S A METHOD ACTOR, AND I'D
LIKE TO SEE THE LENGTHS THAT HE'D GO TO BE KEVIN LOVE.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT'S THE BEST ANSWER I GOT FOR THAT ONE.
I THINK YOU'D HAVE TO OBVIOUSLY WORK SOME WAYS WITH THE CAMERA
IN ORDER TO BE THAT TALL, BUT I THINK, YOU KNOW, SEEING WHAT
HE'S BEEN ABLE TO DO WITH "LAST OF THE MOHICANS" AND
"LINCOLN" AND "GANGS OF NEW YORK" AND
"MY LEFT FOOT," SO ON AND SO FORTH.
HE'S A PRETTY SPECTACULAR ACTOR, SO I'D HAVE TO CHOOSE HIM.
>> WELL, THERE'S YOUR 10, KEVIN.
IT'S GREAT TO HAVE YOU ON THE SHOW.
THANKS SO MUCH.
WE'LL DO IT AGAIN SOON.
>> ALL RIGHT, THANKS, JIM.
APPRECIATE IT.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> TIME TO DIG IN ONCE AGAIN TO
THE TOPICS THAT HAVE EVERYBODY TALKING.
TIME TO BRING BACK "THE FORUM."
[ APPLAUSE ] WE ARE BACK WITH JIM MORA,
KEVIN FRAZIER, AND DAVID FEHERTY.
GUYS NEXT TOPIC -- YOUTH SPORTS.
DAVID, LET ME START WITH YOU.
TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL.
THE TIME COMMITMENT THE KIDS ARE EXPECTED TO MAKE RIGHT NOW --
UNBELIEVABLE.
THE PARENTS HAVE LOST THEIR MINDS.
IT'S NOT THE WAY IT WAS WHEN WE ALL GREW UP.
SOMETHING CHANGED DRAMATICALLY.
EXACTLY WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?
>> IT'S GOT TO BE ABOUT MONEY.
THAT'S THE ONLY THAT THING I CAN THINK OF.
BUT GOLF, FOR INSTANCE, HAS GOTTEN TO THE STAGE --
MICHELLE WIE CAME ON TOUR WHEN SHE WAS 13 YEARS OLD.
A 13-YEAR-OLD LITTLE GIRL.
YOU KNOW, I MEAN, IF IT CONTINUES TO GO THE WAY IT'S
GOING, WE'RE GONNA GET -- I DON'T KNOW -- A *** BATTING
AROUND AN UNFERTILIZED EGG IN THE WOMB.
[ LAUGHTER ] I MEAN, IT'S RIDICULOUS.
>> IT'S FUNNY -- YOU TALK ABOUT GOLF.
THERE'S A FANTASTIC NEW DOCUMENTARY CALLED "SHORT GAME"
ABOUT THE 6-, 7-, AND 8-YEAR-OLD WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS, AND THEY
FOLLOW EIGHT KIDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
ANNA KOURNIKOVA'S BROTHER IS THE TOP 7-YEAR-OLD PLAYER.
HE GETS UP EVERY MORNING TO TRAIN -- IN THE MORNING -- AT
6:00 A.M.
HE'S OUT THERE AND HE'S TRAINING.
HE'S LIFTING TIRES.
HE'S STRETCHING.
HE GOES THROUGH THE WHOLE NINE YARDS.
BUT THESE KIDS ARE SO DEDICATED.
THEY'RE PLAYING THREE, FOUR, FIVE HOURS A DAY.
BUT, I MEAN, THEY WANT TO BE WORLD CHAMPIONS.
>> FIRST OF ALL, DOES HE WANT TO BE A WORLD CHAMPION OR DOES HIS
PARENTS WANT HIM TO BE THE WORLD CHAMPION?
THAT'S THE QUESTION HERE.
>> VICARIOUS LIVING.
>> YEAH, YOU KNOW, I DON'T LIKE THE FACT THAT WE START
SPECIALIZING OUR KIDS AT SUCH AN EARLY AGE.
YOU KNOW, FOR ME, PERSONALLY, I WANT THE WELL-ROUNDED ATHLETE.
>> BUT IS IT THAT FOOTBALL, YOU CAN BE A GIFTED ATHLETE AND YOU
CAN PLAY?
YOU KNOW, SOMETHING LIKE GOLF OR TENNIS, YOU NEED THE TRAINING.
YOU NEED TO SPEND THE TIME ON THE COURT.
YOU NEED TO BE OUT THERE SPECIALIZING IN THIS SPORT, AND
SO PARENTS GET CAUGHT UP.
>> LOOK AT THE PRODIGIES.
TIGER WOODS DID IT.
ANDRE AGASSI DID IT.
THE WILLIAMS SISTERS DID IT.
YOU'VE SEEN THAT CLIP OF TIGER WOODS GOING ON
"THE MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW" WHEN HE WAS WHAT?
>> HE WAS 2 YEARS OLD.
>> HOW MUCH DAMAGE DO YOU THINK THAT DID?
I MEAN, PARENTS ARE LIKE, "LOOK.
SEE? LOOK AT THAT KID.
THEY PUT A GOLF CLUB IN HIS HAND RIGHT WHEN HE WAS IN THE CRIB
AND IT GOT OUT AND IT WORKED FOR HIM."
DO PEOPLE SEE THAT AND THINK, "HEY, WE SHOULD DO THAT"?
>> YEAH, WELL, YOU KNOW, I THINK IT CERTAINLY HAD AN EFFECT ON
OTHER PARENTS, BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY DIDN'T REALIZE, AT THE
TIME, THAT THEY WERE LOOKING AT A SMALL CREATURE FROM ANOTHER
PLANET, YOU KNOW, THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY A HUMAN BEING.
I'M NOT SURE HE'S A CARBON-BASED LIFE-FORM.
YOU KNOW, AND TIGER WENT FROM "THE MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW" TO
KINDERGARTEN TO GOLF TO PRESCHOOL TO GOLF TO HIGH SCHOOL
TO GOLF TO STANFORD, WHERE HE WAS THE NERDY KID, YOU KNOW,
WITH THE BIG, THICK GLASSES, YOU KNOW, THAT NEVER GOT A
GIRLFRIEND.
WELL, HE FIXED THAT, YOU KNOW?
[ LAUGHTER ] BUT, YOU KNOW, THE AGENCIES
THAT REPRESENT THESE KIDS, AS WELL -- THEY WANT TO PUSH -- YOU
KNOW, THEY PUSHED MICHELLE WIE TO GO AND PLAY ON THE PGA TOUR,
ON THE MEN'S TOUR.
ADD WHEN YOU ADD THAT LAYER ON TOP OF THE PARENTS, YOU KNOW,
THE WHOLE THING, AND THEY START ARGUING AMONGST EACH OTHER, IT'S
LIKE LISTENING TO THE FLEAS, YOU KNOW, ARGUE ABOUT WHO OWNS THE
DOG.
>> IT'S NOT JUST SPORTS, EITHER.
>> OKAY, OKAY, OKAY.
>> "TODDLERS & TIARAS," "DANCE MOMS," I MEAN, THE
SPELLING BEES.
>> JIM, WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE ALL THAT STUFF?
>> OH, IT'S A JOKE.
I DON'T WATCH IT.
I HATE IT, YOU KNOW?
THAT'S NOT THE TYPE OF PARENT I AM, AND I DON'T WANT TO WATCH
IT.
>> EASY NOW. I COVER THAT STUFF.
>> WELL, GOOD FOR YOU, BUT I DON'T LIKE IT.
NO, I MEAN, IT'S JUST THIS WHOLE CULTURE -- WE NEED TO TAKE A
FREAKIN' BREATH HERE -- OKAY? -- AND HELP OUR KIDS BECOME WHAT
THEY WANT TO BE, NOT WHAT WE WANT THEM TO BE.
>> ALL RIGHT, GUYS, THE LAST TOPIC.
YOU MENTIONED TIGER WOODS.
DAVID, BOTTOM-LINE THIS FOR ME.
NUMBER-ONE PLAYER IN THE WORLD, WINNING A LOT OF TOURNAMENTS,
MAKING A LOT OF MONEY, STILL THE GUY, BUT HAS NOT WON A MAJOR IN
FIVE YEARS.
>> YEAH.
>> OBVIOUSLY. WHY CAN'T HE WIN THE BIG ONE?
>> VERY GOOD QUESTION.
I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO IT.
BUT I DO KNOW THAT IF YOU LOOK AT THIS COMEBACK, YOU KNOW,
SINCE HE JUST FELL OFF THE CLIFF, WHATEVER, IT'S BEEN
GRADUAL.
YOU KNOW, YEAR BY YEAR, HE'S JUST PLAYED BETTER AND BETTER
AND BETTER.
AND THE MOST COMMON QUESTION THAT I GET ASKED IS, YOU KNOW,
"WHEN DO YOU THINK TIGER WILL MAKE IT BACK?"
HE'S BEEN NUMBER 1 IN THE WORLD FOR THE LAST 18 MONTHS, WON
ABOUT NINE EVENTS.
HOW FAR BACK DO YOU NEED TO GET?
>> HE'S GOT TO WIN THE MAJOR.
THAT'S WHEN HE'S BACK-BACK.
>> YEAH.
>> I MEAN, HE SAID IT HIMSELF.
HE'S IN IT TO WIN IT.
HE'S IN IT FOR THOSE EVENTS.
HE HIMSELF WOULD SAY THAT, RIGHT?
>> OH, YEAH, HE WOULD.
AND I THINK IF YOU LOOK AT HIS PROGRESS OVER THE LAST FEW YEARS
THAT I WOULD BET THE HOUSE THAT HE'LL WIN ONE THIS YEAR.
I REALLY WOULD.
>> YEAH, BUT WOULD YOU HAVE NOT BET THE HOUSE THAT HE WOULD HAVE
WON ONE LAST YEAR?
>> YEAH, I WOULD HAVE LOST MY HOUSE.
[ LAUGHTER ] YEAH.
>> YOU KNOW, WE SAY THIS -- FAIR ENOUGH.
WE SAY IT EVERY SINGLE YEAR, THOUGH -- "THIS IS THE YEAR.
THIS IS THE YEAR."
I MEAN, HE'S SUCH AN AMAZING PRESENCE STILL YET.
WHEN HE'S NOT KILLING IT AND HE'S NOT JUST DOMINATING, DO
PEOPLE CARE ABOUT THE SPORT?
DO PEOPLE WATCH THE SPORT WHEN HE'S NOT THERE?
>> NOT NEARLY AS MUCH.
THE GOLF SEASON HAS STARTED.
>> DO YOU GUYS CARE?
>> NO, I LIKE TO SEE IF HE'S IN THE HUNT AT THE END.
THEN I'M WATCHING IT.
I'M MAKING MY KIDS WATCH IT 'CAUSE I WANT MY KIDS TO WATCH
THIS GREAT COMPETITOR.
I'M NOT JUDGING THE MAN.
I'M JUDGING THE COMPETITOR.
>> RIGHT.
>> AND I WANT THEM TO SEE THAT.
I WANT THEM TO SEE THE WAY THAT HE ATTACKS EVERY HOLE AND THE
LOOK IN HIS EYE AND THE EMOTION THAT HE PLAYS WITH AND THE
PASSION HE HAS FOR THE GAME.
>> BUT IF HE'S NOT PLAYING ON SUNDAY, YOU'RE NOT DIRECTING
YOUR KIDS TO THAT TELEVISION.
>> NO, NOT REALLY. NOT REALLY.
>> AND THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT.
THE NUMBERS SHOW THAT THEY NEED HIM THERE.
EVEN WHEN IT WAS AT ITS WORST, EVERYBODY WAS WAITING FOR HIM TO
GET BACK ON THE COURSE.
THE COMMISSIONER TO EVERYONE WAS LIKE, "PLEASE, TIGER, COME
BACK."
WHEN HE CAME BACK FOR THE MASTERS, IT WAS THE GREATEST
THING EVER.
>> HE'S MADE A LOT OF PEOPLE A LOT OF MONEY.
THERE'S NO QUESTION ABOUT THAT.
GENTLEMEN, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
GOOD TO SEE YOU ALL AND GOOD TO VISIT WITH YOU ONCE AGAIN.
[ APPLAUSE ] GREAT OPINIONS, GREAT GUESTS
TONIGHT, BUT I'VE GOT ONE MORE SPECIAL PERSON THAT I WOULD LIKE
TO BRING IN.
>> ---- THEM UP!
---- THEIR *** UP! LET'S GO!
>> IT'S GONNA BE A "---- YOU" ACROSS THE BOARD.
>> THE LFL IS AMONG THE FASTEST-GROWING SPORTS LEAGUES
IN THE COUNTRY, AND SHE HAS BECOME ITS POSTER GIRL -- THE
DAUGHTER OF A SUPER BOWL MVP, WHO IS LOOKING TO MAKE A NAME
FOR HERSELF ON THE FIELD, A QUARTERBACK WHO IS TAKING THE
LEAGUE BY STORM WITH HER ARM, HER LEGS, AND EVERYTHING ELSE.
WE WELCOME BALTIMORE CHARM QB ANGIE RYPIEN.
[ CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ] ANGELA, IT IS SO GOOD TO HAVE
YOU.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> I'M GOOD.
YOU KNOW, I MADE IT ALIVE, SO THAT'S A PLUS.
>> THAT'S A PLUS. THAT'S GOOD.
HEY, YOU NEED TO KNOW -- AND I'M NOT SURE IF YOU DO KNOW THIS --
BUT THIS IS A BIG LFL HOUSE.
I LIKE THE BRAND.
I LIKE THE LEAGUE.
I LIKE THE PRODUCT.
THAT'S WHY YOU'RE HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
WELL, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
[ APPLAUSE ] >> ALL RIGHT, SO, YOU SAW THE
LINGERIE FOOTBALL LEAGUE, NOW THE LEGENDS FOOTBALL LEAGUE FOR
THE FIRST TIME.
WHEN YOU SAW IT, WHAT DID YOU THINK?
>> TO BE HONEST, MY OPINION, I WAS LIKE, "WTF?"
LIKE, "WHAT THE ----?" [ LAUGHTER ]
I MEAN, SERIOUSLY.
I WAS LIKE, "YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDING ME.
LIKE, REALLY?
THESE WOMEN HAVE TO TAKE OFF THEIR CLOTHES TO, YOU KNOW, BE
RESPECTED AS ATHLETES AND, YOU KNOW, PLAY FOOTBALL?"
BUT I ENDED UP -- YOU KNOW, I WAS SITTING ON THE COUCH, JUST
WATCHING TV WITH MY DAD, AND I SAW THAT THEY WERE PLAYING REAL
FOOTBALL AND I WAS REALLY EXCITED.
IT CAUGHT MY INTEREST INSTANTLY.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, IF YOUR REACTION WAS, "WTF?", WHAT WAS
YOUR SUPER BOWL-WINNING QUARTERBACK FATHER -- WHAT WAS
HIS REACTION TO IT?
IF YOU WERE "WTF?", WHAT DID YOUR FATHER, MARK RYPIEN, THINK?
>> I MEAN, HE INSTANTLY LAUGHED.
HE WAS JUST LIKE, "OH, GREAT.
LIKE, PLEASE DON'T TELL ME YOU'RE INTERESTED."
[ LAUGHTER ] AND I WAS LIKE, "WELL, I HATE TO
BREAK IT TO YOU, BUT..."
YOU KNOW, I WANTED TO BE INVOLVED AND I TOLD HIM THAT,
AND HE DEFINITELY WAS NOT HAPPY AT FIRST, BUT HE SAW HOW SERIOUS
I WAS TAKING IT WHEN I DID GET INVOLVED THAT HE, YOU KNOW,
STARTED BACKING ME.
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, THE FIRST TIME HE SAW YOU IN THAT UNIFORM, WHAT
WAS HIS RESPONSE?
>> I WAS DEFINITELY NERVOUS.
I WAS A LITTLE SCARED, 'CAUSE WE DIDN'T EVEN END UP PUTTING THE
UNIFORMS ON UNTIL PROBABLY OUR FIRST GAME THAT I HAD TO, YOU
KNOW, SHOW UP AT THE ARENA.
SO, HE CAME DOWN AND WAS GONNA GIVE ME A PEP TALK RIGHT BEFORE
THE GAME.
AND I THINK, YOU KNOW, I WAS A LITTLE MORE NERVOUS, 'CAUSE I'M
LIKE, "OH, THIS IS PROBABLY PRETTY AWKWARD FOR HIM.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO."
>> ALL RIGHT, SO, AND YOU'VE HEARD SOME OF THESE THINGS.
LET ME HIT WITH YOU SOME OF THE RAPS THAT I KNOW YOU'VE HEARD
FROM OTHER PEOPLE.
"IT'S DEGRADING.
IT'S BELITTLING.
IT'S NOT SELF-RESPECTFUL."
WHAT'S YOUR REACTION TO THAT?
>> MY REACTION, I THINK, WOULD BE -- I MEAN, MY REACTION IS --
I MEAN, NO ONE'S PRESSURING ME TO DO THIS.
NO ONE IS SITTING THERE, YOU KNOW, HYPOTHETICALLY HOLDING A
GUN TO MY HEAD, SAYING, "YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE TO GO PLAY
FOOTBALL WITH NO CLOTHES ON."
SO, FOR ME, IT'S JUST LIKE -- I LOVE IT.
I'M GONNA DO IT EITHER WAY.
SO, YOU KNOW, IF YOU ARE SOMEONE WITH AN ISSUE, THEN, YOU KNOW,
TURN THE CHANNEL OR DON'T LISTEN, DON'T WATCH.
I DON'T REALLY GIVE A ----.
[ LAUGHS ] >> SO, YOU'RE DRIVING THE BALL
AND YOU'RE DOING YOUR THING, BUT YOU'RE NOT WEARING A LOT.
IS THERE ANY CONCERN ABOUT WARDROBE MALFUNCTION?
IS THERE ANY CONCERN THAT SOMETHING MIGHT POP OUT THAT
SHOULDN'T POP OUT?
>> AN OOPS?
>> AN OOPS.
ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT THE OOPS?
>> I MEAN, WE DEFINITELY HAVE OOPSES.
I'VE NEVER HAD AN OOPS, BUT, YOU KNOW, I THINK THE GIRLS ARE --
THEY HAVE A RULE NOW THAT IF PEOPLE ARE TARGETING TO DO THAT,
YOU KNOW, IF THEY'RE GOING TO -- >> DO THEY?
DO THEY TARGET OOPSES?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
I MEAN, 'CAUSE GIRLS GO IN AND, YOU KNOW, MAKE THE TACKLE.
IF THEY DON'T GET THE TACKLE, THEY'LL GO FOR YOUR TOP OR YOUR
BOTTOM, YOU KNOW, 'CAUSE KNOWING THAT THE GIRLS ARE -- OKAY,
THEY'RE GONNA STOP TO, YOU KNOW, COVER -- I MEAN, SOME GIRLS ARE
GONNA STOP TO COVER BACK UP.
BUT, YOU KNOW, THEY NOTICE THAT SOME GIRLS ARE TARGETING THAT,
SO THEY NOW, LIKE, A WARNING, AND THEN IF YOU CONTINUE TO DO
IT, THEY'LL TAKE YOU OUT OF THE GAME.
>> HMM. ALL RIGHT THEN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S SOMETHING -- [ LAUGHTER ]
>> WELL...
>> THE THING THAT'S AMAZING TO ME ABOUT YOU GUYS ON THE
FIELD -- I'VE NEVER HEARD SO MUCH ---- TALKING IN MY LIFE.
>> RIGHT? OH, MY GOSH.
>> I MEAN, TAUNTING IS ONE THING, BUT TWERKING ON AN
OPPONENT'S HEAD IS ANOTHER.
I'VE SEEN THIS.
ANGELA, IS THERE NOT A LINE?
IS THAT NOT CROSSING THE LINE?
I MEAN, LOOK AT THIS.
[ LAUGHTER ] IS THAT NOT OVER THE LINE?
I MEAN, IT'S AWESOME, BUT IS THAT NOT OVER THE LINE?
>> THAT'S, LIKE, HER SIGNATURE MOVE, SO, YOU KNOW, DON'T GET
CAUGHT IN THAT SITUATION, I GUESS.
>> THAT'S CLASSIC.
IF YOU DON'T WANT SOMEBODY TO TWERK ON YOUR HEAD, DON'T BE
CAUGHT IN A SITUATION WHERE SOMEBODY COULD TWERK ON YOUR
HEAD.
[ LAUGHTER ] ANGELA, SO GOOD TO HAVE YOU ON
THE SHOW.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL DO IT AGAIN SOON, I'M SURE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
>> ALL RIGHT THEN.
[ APPLAUSE ] GREAT STUFF FROM ALL OF OUR
GUESTS TONIGHT, BUT, AS ALWAYS, WE END WITH MY PARTING SHOT IN
THE FORM OF AN OPEN LETTER.
THIS "SINCERELY YOURS" GOES OUT TO THE MAN WHO WANTED 800 HOME
RUNS BUT ENDED UP WITH 162 GAMES, THE GUY WHO APPARENTLY
CAN'T HANDLE A NEEDLE AND CERTAINLY CAN'T HANDLE THE
TRUTH.
DEAR ALEX RODRIGUEZ, I ALWAYS KNEW YOU WERE A LIAR, A CHEATER,
AND A FRAUD, BUT WHEN DID YOU TURN INTO A ZOMBIE?
YOUR BODY IS ROTTING AND YOUR EYES ARE BLANK, AND WORST OF
ALL, YOU JUST WON'T DIE.
FORGET "THE WALKING DEAD."
YOU'RE THE REAL ZOMBIE -- "THE ROIDING *** BAG."
MLB THINKS THEY FINALLY BLEW A HOLE IN YOUR HEART WITH 162
GAMES, BUT WHAT THEY DON'T REALIZE, ALEX, IS THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE A HEART.
BUT YOU DO HAVE A PLAN.
YOU SAY YOU'RE STILL SHOWING UP TO SPRING TRAINING?
YOU KNOW YOU'LL HAVE TO JUMP THE WALL TO PLAY ANY BALL, AND IF
YOU RUN ONTO THE FIELD, YOU'RE GOING TO GET TASED.
WE GET IT -- YOU HAVEN'T TESTED POSITIVE.
WE JUST DON'T CARE.
NOBODY CARES. YOU CHEATED.
I KNOW IT. YOU KNOW IT.
EVERYBODY KNOWS IT.
NOW END IT. STOP FIGHTING.
YOU LOST. THE GAME IS OVER.
NOBODY HAS YOUR BACK.
NOBODY WANTS YOU BACK -- NOT YOUR TEAM, NOT THE
PLAYERS ASSOCIATION, NOT THE FANS, NO ONE.
GO BACK TO YOUR MIRROR, YOUR CENTAUR PAINTING, AND YOUR
STACKS OF MONEY AND NEVER, EVER LET US SEE YOU AGAIN.
SINCERELY YOURS, JIM ROME.
[ APPLAUSE ] THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR TONIGHT, BUT
YOU CAN SEE MORE, INCLUDING AN 11th QUESTION FOR KEVIN LOVE,
BY GOING ONLINE TO sports.sho.com.
I WANT TO THANK ALL OF MY GUESTS FOR HELPING US KICK OFF
SEASON NUMBER 3 IN STYLE.
AND I WILL SEE YOU ALL NEXT TIME.
[ APPLAUSE ]