Team USA Basketball Struggles, U.S. Sprinter Sha'Carri Richardson Olympic Disqualification, Simone Biles Withdrawal for Mental Health

Craig D'Alessandro: 0:24

On this episode of missing the point, we head over to Tokyo and prepare yourself quarantine. As we discussed this year's Olympics will talk about the struggles of the Team USA Basketball team to this point of the games. And it's this is truly the right team to send it over if the USA wanted to win gold, we'll discuss Sha'Carri Richardson's Olympic disqualification over a positive we test, Simone Biles, withdrawing from multiple gymnastic events to cope with our mental health. And we'll discuss who is the more iconic and dominant Team USA swimmer Katie Ledecky, or Michael Phelps. This is missing the point, Episode 76. But it's all relative.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 1:14

So let's just get right into it. So obviously, one of the things that we all follow is definitely the men's basketball team. Right? You know, they kind of came over there. But I mean, I guess of what a b b minus type of team a you know, they've struggled right? So let me know, Mike, I'll start with you. But, you know, what do you think has been the main reason for the USA men's basketball struggles?

Michael Marcangelo: 1:33

Yeah, honestly, though, this may sound like an easy cop out or an easy take. It just doesn't feel to me. Like there's that same desire to come together as a collective body and win a gold medal. It feels to me like they're all there. They all want to get there. They all want to get their points, and maybe they're happy to be there. But this isn't, you know, obviously, the biggest team is the Dream Team 90 t right. Those people were there to beat everybody else. Period. End of story. The team's You know, I think there was one What was it? Is it? Oh, 408. Like, they were good. And they got as far as they did just based off of just pure athleticism and pure talent. Now, there's not a there's not equal talent across the board. But there's enough that will offset if Team USA has a bad night or mails it in. And and and I think one of the things that I've been noticing is that it appears that they just think that because they are who they are, they're going to win. And we saw in the preliminaries, and even was it against France that they just can't show up and just be expected to be given the W. So I think it's mentality. And I think it's a lot of the things that play the league right now. I think when you hear criticisms across the board in the NBA, it's too much of it, allow me to get mine. And then if you get yours, it's fine. And that shows itself more in an Olympic contest, when you have to be like the synergy has to be what it is, for people who don't often play together for just a short period of time. So just sum that entire rant up. I think I think I think they're mentally soft, dude. I think that's what I'm gonna that's what I'm gonna lay. I don't think that they care too much. And I think that they just think that they deserve a W because of who they are.

Rob Kelly: 3:15

Yeah, so I agree that it doesn't feel the same. And I don't know if it's more hard or desire to win or that they're sorry. I just think it's, it reminds me a lot of that year that we came in third in the FIBA in the FIBA World Championships. What year was that with 213 14 right now, even just a couple years ago, they did it where they just kind of you know, sit it was like 17 out of the weather just kind of threw a team of all stars together. And it doesn't feel like an actual basketball team. Like you think about the teams that actually won that gold medal were dominant. They put them together to play international basketball. It gave them the type of point guards that they needed a Chris Paul, they gave him these guys that that like to be ball dominant and distribute. This team is a bunch of slashers with Bradley Beal and Damian Lillard behind this report like, you know, you're not famous. So you know what I mean. But that's the type of team they are is they have those three point sharpshooters. It's not build this year. I don't know. But so I just feel like it's a poorly constructed team. And I hate to say it, man, I know he's the best. I know that he is one of the best coaches we've ever seen in the history. But to bring Popovich and have him be the head coach of this team. I just don't i don't think that was the right move, I don't think is the right voice for these guys at this point. And I just don't see the scheme fit with the people that they brought in. It just it doesn't make sense to me Popovich which is great for actual international basketball competition. But you got to give them the kind of team that Popovich can coach, you know, like Popovich coaches real basketball, not slashers not hero ball. And that's all this is, you know what, actually, you know what this reminds me of? It reminds me a lot of the Celtics this past year, when we had our lowest of lows, when it was hero ball after hero ball after hero ball was just, hey, it's your turn. Hey, this is your turn

Michael Marcangelo: 5:16

now but even then you can say that wasn't malicious, right? They were doing what they thought they could do to make the team win. That like I don't want to I don't want to hijack here, Bobby, but it's doesn't feel like that's what they're doing to us right now. They're just doing it because they're there.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 5:29

No, I mean, I think that that makes sense, right? I think unless we're going to get to the next question I have but it's just like yeah, they're not playing together right and that that it shows through on television it probably shows to their practice and me I'm pretty sure those guys wanted pop. But obviously, you know, once they start losing, you know, is it becomes easy to blame the coach once you start to lose. And you know, what's the guy some of those guys have played football before tears over balls and when the guys played for popping in the national play, so it's just like, I don't understand what the issue was this time around? And once again, you have you mean you don't have Erik Spoelstra there? Right. So maybe Spoelstra should have been the guy right maybe it's for sure. would have been better to leave those guys against, you know, just Indian and national play right? But it's like to me his system does work as a matter of are you actually going to play are you actually going to play team basketball and not best because a few shots thing going when, when you want

Rob Kelly: 6:22

to me the way to go with this team would have been because of the short turnaround because of everything? Is anyone on that 2500 team you know what I mean? Like if you bring in these young guys who actually have this heart they had their you know all about playing for the USA was I'm telling you KD Draymond Green and Dame Lillard are not sitting there like oh my god, I can't believe I'm playing for Team USA. They're like, Oh, man, I can't wait for this to be over. I can't wait for us to win the gold, as Mike was saying, like, they're guaranteed they're gonna win this gold, and it just it he's right where it just doesn't feel like that top notch USA Basketball. And honestly, like, I really do think that they are in trouble coming into the single elimination portion because they're just gonna get caught in that hero ball and international teams are put together to exploit that type of weakness. When you play hero ball, they're gonna make you play hero ball. And they're gonna force you into just bad ISO after bad ISO. And it's, it gets so ugly after a while. But not everything's been bad. I have to say that Jay son Tatum was amazing. Like, we go. Here's the amazing, bro. That was,

Rayshawn Buchanan: 7:38

I mean, when he chooses to dominate, and not to be more lackadaisical? Well, he's, he's, he's a hell of a player. Well, I said, we see it on a nightly basis here, here in Boston. So, you know, but you know, we're just speaking of just how to play and, you know, how you play can affect affect their place that placement in the tournament? You know, Bobby, I'll stay with you. But, you know, so in your opinion, do you think the rest of the world has caught up to USA Basketball? It was also a partial departure. That question is your How do you think they'll fare against I

Rob Kelly: 8:10

do and I don't, talent wise? No, no, I don't. scheme wise and actually playing the game of basketball. Yes, absolutely. Because we flow into a culture, man. And that's what's really killing this whole vibe of like that, that white kitchen, that hero bar is that it's been bred into everyone, since they're a young age that they're the best player, they're the best at international basketball is not played like that, then it's not played. Beyond the three point line. It's not played, you know, run in ISOs. It's played run and pick and rolls run in backdoor streams running the Princeton offense. You know what I mean? Like, to me, when you have a team of all stars, who doesn't want to play together, and not running basketball players, and a b b plus team that is excellent. And making all those extra cuts and doing those little things, that that BB plus team has a good shot to win every single time no matter who you have there. So I do think I don't want to say that they're better than they caught up. But it's a lot closer than it's ever been. I can tell you that without a doubt.

Michael Marcangelo: 9:19

I think Bobby hit the nail on the head there right like talent level wise now No one's close to us, but mentality wise and buy in and maybe even scheming. Yeah, I think that, you know, he used to be rare for Team USA to have back to back off games. It's not rare anymore. We've seen it. Now. It's all about how does this team do what it has to go against adversity? adversity in the NBA means like, if you if you don't do it, you will not win a championship. And that's more that's more guttural reaction right? I don't know how they all feel about about the Olympics. I don't know if being a gold medal winner means that much to them. If it does, awesome if it doesn't, again, like Who am I to say it but it that type of compete level, or lack thereof shows up in games like this when you have Kevin Durant, Damian Lillard Jayson Tatum Exactly. Being all these people Bam Adebayo . Yep. All those people you should when it all depends, like you'll know in the first quarter. How about that you'll do it you'll be able to see them their body language, if this is going to be something They want to win.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 10:25

But I you courting a Doc Rivers line as the first quarter leak. Wow, I can't believe it. But no, I think the biggest differences though USA wants to win these other teams need to win right in your listening to us and that was a great promo right there that you want to win I need to win I need to have this moment how wants to have this my desire to have this moment? So that's what these other guys got. You know, you can't see me. You know, so and I mean, yeah, USA cannot see a lot of these teams right now because they're planning and planning lackluster basketball, but yeah, timing wise. Hell no. This no direction begins 60 mile from the 66 lounge on campus. 10 minute quarters, eight minute quarters. This is not contained. This is real life. And yet a lot. What do I sound like a pompous American right now? Sure. Whatever. That's fine. Once again, keep just keep listening. Right? But it's just like, yo, like, he should be jumping 40 a night tears should be getting 40 you know, say like, it's unbelievable to me.

Rob Kelly: 11:30

I love KD man. I do. I think like we had this whole. Three out. I probably got routed out at my work because of our long conversation about KD today. Listen, everyone knows how I feel about Katie love one of the best basketball players ever. I really think he was the wrong choice to lead this team that he was the wrong guy to anoint the leader. Did you see the clip of when Bam Adebayo, took his layup or did something where he didn't give him the ball back? And how that all went down to me like, Listen, I get it. It's basketball unwritten rule. You give them the shirt. You're like, bro, what's going on? Why would you do that? Like, that's what we do. But then you move on. KD tweeted about it. He made a thing about it. It was a whole thing. And it's just like that's not how you breed a team chemistry. And that when I saw that instantly, I was like, oh, man, we're in some trouble here. This is not going to go that well. Because as great as he is. He's amazing. I feel like someone like I can't even think of anyone off top my head. I'm so bad. It's just give me so it has a lot of intangibles.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 12:36

I mean, we know Mike's gonna say Giannis Antetokounmpo just to be a dick on way too, but he's not an American. I'm sorry. But

Rob Kelly: 12:42

Chris Paul fight Chris Paul would have been the perfect guy to lead this team. Or, you know, just not KD man. I'm sorry. Just not KD you can't bring him in here with the young stars and these guys that think there's also the shit and have him be like this transcendent dude. Like, you're not going to get the guys that go with the next up and coming guys either either. Go get them all. or none of them are going

Rayshawn Buchanan: 13:07

yeah, yeah. I don't know how Donovan Mitchell was last seen either. Just saying. And I once again I get it Damn, well, daytime. So we I went on a rant about Daniel or you know, several episodes of several, several episodes ago, excuse me, about wanting him in in the southern uniform. Like I get that due to special. Well, you're not telling me to Donovan Mitchell like one of the best top plate officing players in this league, right? So like, to me, you'd have been better than me. And I get exactly 166 Good job. The building has improved, it assures the shooter but like, don't like to lose that better. Not to mention, I'm sorry. It's just not

Michael Marcangelo: 13:41

not not his best day. He's and he's not better than Donald. But you're just saying before you transition, I'm gonna see something in here that I want you to quickly transition away from this. Bobby, it sounds to me like you don't think that KD;s the right guy that you can build a team around, which really just hurts your legacy. Go ahead, right.

Rob Kelly: 13:56

Don't even Don't even start it just got it.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 13:59

Yeah. You know, well, you know what, that's not so good. But yeah, but yeah, his leadership definitely is in question right now. And you know, that's not for debate. And you know, I said, but you know, we'll see what happens. Kevin Wayne Duran get us on the block. Jay son Tatum get show us on the block when he made me showing you on these videos on or USA Basketball on Instagram. It was on a block. Do that little spin away, dude, I fade away do something because you got to be a bag and you got to be ready and legs. Like my guard. You said it. You know, the first quarter will tell us you know, they got to be engaged. You know shooting from jump. Well, I said and they just saw him say like, Oh, we want I guess we want to win. I said these other teams need a need that I notified and say okay, we beat you up. And guess what I said so Grenier led by local that they're coming he's looked like this with me Larry Bird right now he's doing whatever he wants to do out there. That's all so they're coming so just listen, get right or get left so myself. We'll leave it at that for you and say he miss basketball. So like no one was about chat. We're gonna get into chapter four. No, we're about men's track and field so we're never gonna bring them up. It's not even it's not even the same as men from Usain Bolt. So Michael Johnson says you know microbrewery we're not doing that I'm not gonna be mercenaries I so that's not meant so much we don't talk about Rob. I even forgot the man's name right?

Rob Kelly: 15:14

Just throw a shade browser.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 15:17

I'm just being honest. Like Miss Jackie fields have been the same since you're saying and some other guys before. Yes. There's other great guys. I don't know about And we'll follow it as much but as we're going to touch on, we're going to touch on a woman. Yeah, we have, we're going to touch on the woman's 100 meter race. So the Jamaicans the yardies. As they say, what are the artists? You know, don't don't repeat also set it terribly wrong. Two minutes, okay? Over no one tells him for that. We do have a couple of sons in Jamaica, actually. But I love you guys. We love you guys. You guys got all they got all the medals. They had all the medals for the 100 meter race. So you know, Bobby, I'll start with you. But you know, do you think you would have been different folds and makers had Sha'Carri Richardson , which since getting here, that's how you say named revers. Head on enemy. So Sha'Carri Richardson do you think would have been different if she had been allowed to be in a race? Yeah, I

Rob Kelly: 16:01

mean, she was already one of the top runners in the world coming into this, you know what I mean? Like she, she has that potential to absolutely knock one of them off the podium. But if you're asking me if it's surprising that the Jamaican swept 100 meter race No. Now is that not? Not even a little bit? They've been dominant in this since since before they had a bobsled team. So you know, anything like this is what they do. This is what they do. I love it.

Michael Marcangelo: 16:33

I mean, she, she probably would have been in the mix. But seeing that was it Elaine Thompson-Herah she broke a record that it stood for 33 years. I don't I mean, I don't think Richardson was gonna break that. So yeah, maybe she would have, you know, to finish second or third. But based on what we saw, I think she's a bigger story because she's not there. Then if she then maybe she would have been if she was no, she's great athlete. understand all that. I think you're by saying by reading that, that question. And the emphasis being on would Richardson had been would it have changed that she was there? You're demeaning the fact that someone from the Jamaican team again broke a record that had stood for 33 years. Now. I don't think she would have I don't think she would have won first.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 17:14

Yeah, I mean, that's you know, that's very fair to say. I mean, obviously she was breaking some records and all right, but mostly I like decision making girls will were coming. I think there was there was you know, they was on the run literally figuratively however you want to boil it down to one and they did their thing and I do like the fact that she you know, gave them credit though and said Congratulations, you know, you know a song black excellence and you know, black woman saw like I'm glad she went that route because there was some nasty rumors because there's tweets this out there about her like she came out very abrasive and brash when it came to LA her opponents like oh, like I'm that girl and you know you're not that good and I'm just going in so I'm glad she went the gracious and humble route you know cuz like you know adversity will humble you but didn't she tweet out on Friday miss me yet? Right right bomb she did she didn't she didn't know why she did but I'm saying but then after your waist though. She said you know shout out to him. So yeah, but then again, I don't know you guys probably don't fall in the shade room to the same room as she did the same room is like black Twitter on Instagram. So hey, DK you can't get into zoom. We

Rob Kelly: 18:21

don't Rachel

Michael Marcangelo: 18:22

Yeah. sundried Okay, cool. I wanted to say the same The room is hard to swallow but it's accurate. Yeah.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 18:33

Honest You know what? I like Joe and Joe we need a T shirt. Megan we need to see start saying hurtful backwards. And we've said that several times in our chat on the show like that is merchandise so missing the point, hurtful but accurate? Well, the same remains the same. I posted that tweet when I say I'll miss me yet. And once again, this shows how fickle no are you doing? Daniel Bryan shows how fickle or once a fickle once fickle. People can be online. Right? She writes that. And these comments dad Taron, however is up in the comments like oh, like, you know, Cole and Kendrick Lamar. Like sit down Bishop and humble. Like, you know, they're saying like, oh, like, you know, I bet you didn't miss that. We'd like Dan going in. So it just goes to show the setting that only is upset for a little while. Yeah, or definitely behind you for maybe 30 seconds if that and then they turn on you quicker then that visual turn heel into WWE just saying like, yeah, maybe third one. Yeah, I know. I can't help but I miss it. I'm I'm ready for summer. So I'm sorry. But you know, August one is earliest legislative veto, but No, me too mad. But yeah, so that's that's what I said. But I said, and then I'm just glad to see that she chose to give credit where it was still but yeah, she they definitely humbled her asked that, so I was like, Whoa, you got to tell but yeah, I mean, hopefully, you know, I know. They haven't like a world trial thing. And they Shan Oregon. Oh, my mommy invited me Joe. Hopefully we go see her out there. She's there. We got to get back on track. Michelle,

Michael Marcangelo: 20:09

is she not a big Well, okay. Let's just I don't want to go into like a huge rant about this, but like, okay, flush. Oh, yes, but she wasn't I mean, she I mean, she wasn't she wasn't doing blow like she she ate weed to cope with her mother's death, right is that it is Isn't that it her biological mother Now I know that she knew that it was on on the list of banned substances. Okay, well, but in the grand scheme of things, what she did, I promise you smoking weed does not make you run faster.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 20:37

Listen, I cannot attest to that God that says that wasn't the issue, right. And as I said, we you know, we have talked about this, I think off the air, obviously, because we're finally going to show about it, thankfully. But it's just like, I don't think that lesson if I was a yes, da, of course, smoking weed isn't a frickin issue da like that does, but it's like, once again, if that was going to mess up your money, which, if this is what we taught, this is what I was. That's what Stephen A Smith talked about. Stay off the weed like, it's what this mostly get. I get it. Like, I've only lost the grandparent, I have not lost the parent I saw I can't even begin right. And once again, I'm not looking to compare if it's on me to compare. But however, this is this goes back to her circle, right? The people on her son got to say, Yo, I know you're hurt. I know this is I noticed, I noticed after I know what it is. However, if you could just get through this moment, daughters for Mom, do this for your grandmother, do it. Find that inner peace somehow, someway anyway, Yo, I'm coming to Tokyo to slay and not to play and I'm gonna run up down around that's got to happen. And that doesn't happen too much in the community that people look like me. And that's why I got so mad. And I had to I had to adjusted I'm glad I found you on the show talking about this. Because I'm just like, yo, like, it has to happen. So yes, Mike, you are 100% correct, sir. Last, but

Michael Marcangelo: 22:00

not for nothing like she's when it's all said and done. SHAN losing out on money. She will be a bigger star because of this than she would have been if she just went and

Rayshawn Buchanan: 22:11

bought. I'm thinking about an endorsement. Like they gave us an endorsement for like some cigar company

Rob Kelly: 22:16

girl. She's gonna say especially in today's America roll

Rayshawn Buchanan: 22:19

backs, but they had the audacity to give her $250,000 endorsement for self cigar company. I'm like, Are you for real? Like, it's just like that to me. And then she shows how backwards we are right life by that she's back to buy Nike so long as Nikes in the corner that she did, right. Like that's done, right. But I saw something on I think I looked it up on Google, but I didn't know it was until last week. Um, I didn't know that for every girl mentor you you get 30,000 every silver medal you get 22,500 in every bronze, you get 15. Yeah. So say if you do for visual for events, and you get all gold, usually 150,000 just like that for 30 seconds. Like, what's like today? That's what I'm thinking. So I'm like, yo, like, you had a chance to get six figures. And it now you keep adding to it because you're doing more stuff off the field. You become you get on a Wheaties box, like do hash the hash to be a bigger picture mentality. Less that hurt grandma and I actually was crazy. I was in Texas the last week I just found out my my cousin was her chat coach, or is that chat coach? I didn't even know that I might well Damn. I think she I said once she came by the house. I said I was. I said I wish I knew who to show. Yeah, different. Yeah, dude, I wish he knew. I wish I knew she wasn't finished or guided me like what is going on? I bet I know. I do. I did. We had a conversation with so that we had a conversation by noon for I didn't know like, Hey, what's up? So just saying

Rob Kelly: 23:55

LeSage Sha'Carri , as a friend of the show. And the show's token pot smoker, I will say that one

Rayshawn Buchanan: 24:04

of them

Rob Kelly: 24:05

literally like that tongue, by the way, token pots won't be like that. So you're supported here, I can tell you that. I think it is so asinine. That something like weed can hold back a world class athlete from from competing in the thing that they love to do and that they worked their whole life for when if they decided that they were in pain, and they wanted to go to the doctor and get some vikan that they can go do that. It's the the level of addiction and the level of how much it messes you up between weed and pills is not even comparable, man. Right? So so I just see it as like, Yes, I get it against the rules. That we turn down a whole tangent about the IOC that I won't even go into at this point. No, I'm sorry. But but but like, it's just crazy to me that we're still sitting here in 2021. When I can walk to the damn store and be like, Hey, give me your strongest weed. Then they're like, Okay, here we go. 45 bucks. And I drive my car drive home. And that's it. But

Michael Marcangelo: 25:12

no, it's just crazy. I understand exactly what you're saying. And I'll turn this back over to right. But when you know that it's on the list,

Rob Kelly: 25:19

I get it. Yeah, no, I get that.

Michael Marcangelo: 25:21

Like, regardless of how stupid it is that it's on it. If you No it you can't do it.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 25:26

Right and that's where I'm at like, once again, I must say I'm not knocking her for coping. Listen, you cope I've got to cope and through all you tell people how to grieve shut Shut up. No one's telling someone how to agree. You're just saying hey, is that you got to chew because you got this and I'm telling you, for us for us many black people. We do not get second third fourth fifth chances. You were seeing this with the rapper called the baby once again, we won't get into that that's a whole nother obviously like when you say things that are hurtful Oh, it what do you say or do things you'll get second, third or fourth chances? they canceled yo black ass immediately. So I'm telling you, you've got to chill. Like that's a PSA for hi Ray. You've got to chill. Please, I'm begging you got to chill. Yes, really? You

Michael Marcangelo: 26:12

gotta chill. We got to show I do just want to ask Kobe Bryant got a second chance. Tiger got a second chance.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 26:20

Oh, hold on. Tight for Okay, Kobe. That's it. That's it. Well, I want to say Dyson Dyson. We know what went down with that. On grade eight. You've made a $20 million. Why exactly. I mean, it went away right but Tiger was just he was he committed infidelity wasn't like he wasn't he was out here taking taking advantage of people. He was taking advantage of people. He was good. He was getting his dick wet and and that that's that's what happened. That's all I have to say. I'm not being honest.

Rob Kelly: 26:50

If Tiger was smoking weed instead of being addicted to pills, I bet you it would have been a bigger deal.

Michael Marcangelo: 26:55

That's actually what I meant more. I will I won't get out. I bet you

Rayshawn Buchanan: 27:01

got you won't. He was getting hosed on one on and off the golf course just saying anyway. But that's the whole nother like holy 50 Yeah, yeah, exactly. Right. You know, you know, par for the course. Ah, but no, but hey, man, I just took double my profit of course, I listen, at the end of the day, you've got to check that that's what I want to go with this move have to chill. Like you just have to you cannot. And yes, there are certain but she she's not. She's not. I'm sorry. She's not Kobe. She's not Tiger Woods. Like, these guys made Nike and like date. I'm sorry that she's not there. So she could have been she could have been two. Very, very well could because she's super young. But this is like Yo, like, it is a Sony one.

Rob Kelly: 27:48

I'm sorry, though. Like it just still comes down to is like the most it's it's so out of touch with the world around you to still take some like, I don't know, I still can't get by. I can't get behind. Like I get that it's against the rules. But like, hey, first of all, I don't blame her too much. Because we it takes a really long time to get out of your system if you guys know that or not. But I just but also, it's just still so ass backwards to me. Is that like, it's crazy? I don't know. I don't know that we have that we have gymnastics coaches out here doing what they're doing or getting accused of what they're getting accused of. But they're still coaching the goddamn team. And she can't hit a blunt. Two weeks before she goes to the Olympics.

Michael Marcangelo: 28:32

It's awesome. Just to be clear, it's not what she did. She ate it.

Rob Kelly: 28:35

Right. So she ate a cookie. Sorry,

Rayshawn Buchanan: 28:37

he smoked it zipped or whatever. I hate it. It is what it is.

Rob Kelly: 28:41

It's better when you hear. So again,

Rayshawn Buchanan: 28:44

I'm worse. Yeah, yeah, I'm with it. Yeah, exactly. That could have went left that way or you put your god yeah, no, that's true. Well, look, what ended up Whoa, whoa, fractured on that for let's go to another, another young star that had to walk away from the Olympics, unfortunately. And that is Simone Biles. So, you know, Simone Biles had received a lot of backlash for our decision to choose mental health over getting another gold medal. So you know, Mike, I'll start with you. But you know, what were your thoughts about Simone Biles walking away? And the follow up question to that is, do you think there's a double standard when it comes to men a woman's mental health?

Michael Marcangelo: 29:22

How dare anyone out there that is sitting on a couch that is that was a JV athlete or a varsity athlete in their high school, talking about how this girl quit on her country. This girl was there for the Larry Nasser IOC Olympic gymnast scandal, the things that she has done and put her body through just to win a gold medal shows you her level of commitment to not only the sport but to the Olympics. I think. I think she has done more for mental health on a celebrity profile from her celebrity profile perspective. In the last three weeks, then we can really measure, right because she literally flew you know, let's just call it 13 hours overseas to Tokyo during the middle of a pandemic where they are locked down and cannot have fans because she was going to compete and then realize that she couldn't do it because it would be more detrimental to her body. She's not fully into it. Listen, I think the things that she's done are heroic. I think it's tough, especially in a world where everyone is so inundated with keyboard warriors and their opinions to put themselves out there. And and to have a moment of, oh god, you know, when you can be frail, and when you can be exposed, and she did it and she did it with grace. And with class, I'm on Team Simone Biles always have been, always will be all those other people out there are the same people, you know, not unlike myself sitting in a chair at my house, talking about it. She's out there living it and doing it. So love you mean it but Shut the fuck up. And listen to what she has to say this woman is a decorated athlete. And she knew enough about what was going on in her life, her headspace and her body that it would not be good for her to go out there and compete. Secondly, is there a double standard? Yes, but there's a double standard in this country for everything, right? Like women are not treated the same as men. They aren't, they should be they aren't. And hopefully we get to a point where they are. But as it's currently constituted, like if this was a guy, if this was a man that did this, he would be just, you know, who knows in today's climate? But let's say everything's rational, right? Wow. Like what courage it takes for them to do that, like that takes so much like heat. Like, that's so great at him. But because she's a girl, oh, she's emotional, or she's this, or she's that. And I honestly think that Yeah, there's a double standard. I think that we're closing the gap on that double standard, though. I wish that it was I wish that it wasn't what it was what it is right now. But yeah, I mean, I could go on for days about her. But I just think we don't know the level of dedication and and pain that she's put herself through to to represent our country. So we owe it to her to give her the respect that she deserves when she tells you that she's had enough.

Rob Kelly: 32:25

I want to go to your second question for us just because what you just said, yes, there is a double standard, but at the same time is like what people aren't seeing is like, Simone Biles is so good. That what was happening was she was going out there and doing things that other gymnast in the world right now can't even fathom doing. They wouldn't even attempt it. Because it's so dangerous and so absurd. But they're like, Listen, because they can't do it. We're gonna judge you as if you're doing what they're and that to me is just absolute blasphemy. You know what I mean? That's like, that's like being like LeBron James or Steph Curry. You hit 70% of your threes. Guess what? Now those threes are two points. You goddamn right. Stephen Korea. You know what? This man, I'm not doing this. I'm not playing with one hand behind my back. Are you out of your mind? Like, the fact that that's happening? Then you add in on top of it. Just everything that everyone's saying about her. Whereas like, she doesn't have the heart. She's not like Kerri Strug, she did this and this, you know, Kerri Strug had heart she was truly great. She shouldn't have fucking jumped either, that that's what my conclusion is coming out of this is the people that are sitting there, like Mike was saying on their couches, the remote warriors that we call them the keyboard warriors are the same people that think that these young girls who are just phenomenal athletes, for some reason, owes them something, owe something to their country. And it's like, Listen, they don't owe you guys jack shit. You know what I mean? Like, it's just crazy to me that we look at these young girls, and we expect them to put literally their lives on the line put the rest of their wellbeing for the rest of their lives on the line. Like you think about what Kerri Strug did in 1996. She is a 14 year old girl with a broken foot doing a vault. That's that is absurd. And she told her coach, I was at your sheet still to this day says listen, I made the decision, blah, blah, blah, to 14 year old girl. I'm sorry, you don't, no matter what man like, even like a 28 year old man at this point, like if you have a broken foot and you as a coach or as a role model or someone in an authority position, recognize that and you see that this could you know and your career this could do this. You don't do it. Now you don't play them. And it's the same thing with this. And the fact that she was going through all this and is like what do they call them? spinneys twisting the twisties that's the most dangerous thing in the world for our agenda. Yeah, it's unbelievable to think about, you're doing four and a half flips in the air and you're over rotating those and because of that the speed and the velocity you're coming down to the mat is just It's mind boggling so it No you can't blame her at all man and anyone that does. Honestly, you should go fuck yourselves because it's it's crazy. It's blasphemy. That's where I was like Florence fucking bus

Rayshawn Buchanan: 35:38

this May. I noticed somebody might laugh my mother say Kurt Angle won a gold metal with his broker frickin neck just saying that's what a word looks like baby. I'm sorry. No, I'm joking. I decided I had to make another reference. So lots of wrestling but yeah, that's right. Yeah, exactly. Right, exactly. But to your point Mike knew Zane about it and there was a guy that came up there I believe someone like if I go Roger Federer said that or a Rafael Nadal . Guys like that. They can't say the hair you know my metal out. Oh man, you know, but if someone like Lebron James said, Hey, I'm done. I just can't. Oh my god. Do you think some old man it actually would have been? Listen? ESPN dumped skin Bet yo, yo, the joke the jokes would have been out of this world. It Out of this world. We probably did an emergency pod about this about he'll never be Jordan. Hell is out even Kobe. He's mentally weak like that would have happened. I'm telling you what would have happened. It is by far the most hated athlete in the world but

Michael Marcangelo: 36:47

he's a lightning rod. But I think the differences here is that the things that Simone's doing out there actually put her physical livelihood at risk.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 36:56

I mean, play playing playing a sport playing a sport good you're just

Michael Marcangelo: 36:59

gonna listen if I'm sorry, but if Jayson Tatum LeBron James Phil Mickelson anyway goes out I can't play the game because in my head when you are vaulting yourself and contorting yourself in all those different variations and you have the ability to either land on your feet or lend your neck and kill yourself I'm sorry like freak accidents happen in every sport. Yeah. That the likelihood that if she's not mentally there that she will hurt herself is higher than in any other sport out there. So I think that she should be given that level you know that that that much rope honestly. And she's not and LeBron is a lightning rod shore and I also understand what you're what you're kind of when you're kind of alluding to to is that you know not for not then it's that you know, people that and I don't want to upset you but people that look like you or I brought it up I'm not much are afforded less of that than people that Lily Bobby and I

Rob Kelly: 37:52

weekly weekly reminder, Rachel is black. Right? Yeah.

Michael Marcangelo: 37:57

And you're 1,000% right. However, if you just strip all of that away, the things that she's doing to compete for the gold medal directly put her physical well being into into question, more so than any other athlete out there.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 38:14

Know this shorter Unfortunately, we can't ship it away, though. I mean, I get it for for the for the content of the podcast show because

Rob Kelly: 38:21

you can't you can't correlate the fact that she like, like I say she's doing things that other people can't do, and they're not and they're not awarding her for that. So so to make that same comparison, if they told LeBron James, you need to play with one arm, and he was like, Fuck you. I'm not playing. I wouldn't blame them. I really wouldn't you know what I mean? Because that that, that takes away your confidence that takes away everything that makes you the greatness and who you are, and makes you overcompensate for that and makes you start doing thinking about it over rotate that one extra time. Should I do this? Should I do that? And just takes away that that greatness and that that swag that these two? have, you know what I mean, when you think about it in that context,

Rayshawn Buchanan: 39:05

right? Because I think and I'm like, once again, this is not a leopard, but this is kind of, there's no one answer. When I think about the relevant to the conversation, right, like, okay, remember, we'll go to Hayward besides here. 2017 everyone's excited. You know, it's not the career essentially is over in five in five minutes and 15 seconds, right. Like comes down. No. Tears zanko I know, I've had so big I know. It sucks. But I didn't realize how fucked up it was until it happened to me, right? Yeah. And then and that's why I'm bringing it up, right? Like we we will sit from afar and we're like, I'm getting you getting all this money, you don't know what you're doing? We're not. And I'm gonna lean in and whisper lay might they're still human. And that's what we forget. Nothing, we think because they're in the public spotlight. And they're getting these millions of dollars are getting all those endorsements. And once again, when you say you're shipping away, we'll ship the money away. Take the money of money, money aside. They are still a human being that eats and breathes and thinks the way we do puts on our hands the same way. They are still human beings just because they're in the spotlight or they chose to be that we chose to be your bum but here we are light. Like Don't say like Don't do that. Don't do that.

Rob Kelly: 40:14

It's that privilege mentality. That's what it is.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 40:19

When you say white privilege, you can say no, but no, it is the privilege does not even just white privilege. privileged anybody that they they could come out there and do what she does, because you can't, I can't do it Mike can do and Bobby can do it. Like none of us on the show that's the sixth was to do the show, we couldn't even think about, we can only maybe just touch the bar and just go from side to side like this. You don't say like that. That's about it. You know, like that would be, you know, one twist that I had to be out for three years, you know, saying so I did that just to me, it's just awful. But I shot yesterday took two steps and we're out for seven months broke. Right. Exactly, exactly. Exactly. Exactly. You know, I'm saying that so it shows all while a while out, you know, but once again, freak freak accident, right? But it's just like, Listen, but listen, the three of us really the six of us, we support with Simone Biles, as done no. And once again, same thing with Naomi Osaka, she died in the electives, but that's another one like, she stepped down for our mental health. Like you have to take care of you. At that level. You have to be able to give your best when your best is required. Right. And if you can't do that, they guess what? The money's not coming. The fulfillments coming like so there's lots of it does not come if you're not, you know, as your best one the best media. So, listen Simone, we stand with you love you care about you, you know, continue to get right because hey, to get better. Um, I said we look forward to seeing you at the next event. And you know, we'll bring it home whether it's gold or you know, whatever bowls again, 25 time medalist seven time world champion, and I said my five I could count on how to do the Booker T thing someone's World Champion, like ridiculous. Oh, yeah, we're

Rob Kelly: 41:54

all proud. She could come in last night balance beam and I'm proud of her for actually getting up there.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 41:58

You know what I mean? Right, right. Yeah, exactly. Facts

Rob Kelly: 42:01

coming back and going through all this and you have the balls to get back on that balancing after all the shit everyone said about you. Like, good for her bad girlfriend?

Rayshawn Buchanan: 42:10

Yeah, for sure. And it looks like you know, so what's Uh, well, we'll close on that because I'm wondering No, no, not that we didn't and now we're going to talk about something happening to ourselves those we got a little more serious but I want to end on on a lighter note. Or more positive note more her getting right as positive but I just know it was a serious all situation but um, Katie Ledecky I hope I'm saying her name right. This girl. Like is part woman. Park dolphin like, like ridiculous rate freakin ridiculous is unreal. You know, Bobby, I'll start with you. And I'll ask you this would be our final thing. But it's just like, you know, is this the arguments would be the greatest Olympian of all time.

Rob Kelly: 42:54

argument. Yes. argument. She's in the conversation with the great suddenly maybe not great Olympians great swimmers, maybe. But she doesn't come close to Phelps then I'm sorry. Like it was a great performance. But if you remember what Michael Phelps was back in 2000, it was 2008 it transcended a donation you remember that? It was like every single night we were watching that it was what was happening. And the way he did it, too, was just unbelievable. I love Katie Ledecky man. And she's so young. She rebounded from that. 1500 freestyle it was it the 15 No, it was the Yeah, 1500 freestyle should rebound from and just dominated that 4000. Man, I have to say I love swimming. It's so fun to watch. And like, it's so cool. Which is watching. It's almost like be I like to get where I told was like beat at the racetrack. You know what I mean? Because it's like, you have like all these different lanes and like, all of a sudden, the guy from the back of the packs come into the front of the pack. And you're like, oh my god. Yeah. You know, it's so cool to hear about it.

Michael Marcangelo: 43:54

It's I mean, it's a cool story with it's not even close. I mean, Michael Phelps entered 24 Olympic races and won gold and all but six.

Unknown: 44:07

And like, again,

Michael Marcangelo: 44:08

I heat it to bath 2004 so that was 2012. But in 2008, he I think he won was it eight gold medals that didn't in that year. Unbelievable. He is the greatest United States Olympian of all time, even though Kurt Angle did win a gold medal with a broken frickin neck. But second, I mean, Carl Lewis man, he was tracking field 84 88 92 96 he won 10 medals, nine gold one silver guys a winner and you did it across two decades. So this is a great story. But But she'd have to do it in four years. And then do it again in another four years for her to even be considered.

Rob Kelly: 44:48

He came back four years later. That's

Rayshawn Buchanan: 44:50

right. Why But no, but she didn't. She's under 2012 to 2016 and she's doing it now right like to see I think she's won 10 so far this year she was 61 states won

Michael Marcangelo: 45:00

seven gold.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 45:01

Yeah, she's seven gold so that's extremely impressive for one

Michael Marcangelo: 45:04

yeah, that's that's I don't want to be dismissive but right.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 45:06

Yeah, I'm just like, yeah, I'm like, let's please go seven more than all of us don't mind just saying so that's one two and a woman's 800 meter 22 different occasions. She's really swimming against her set hope Flexi as all defense reference. Like it's like, Are you kidding me? So Just like it's like it's me against me like how do you how do you want me to get better for while I'm on my greatest opponent like, what do you want me to do keep beating my time? So I mean I listen to media she's up there let's say it's incredible to see what she's done. Yeah listen Phelps took the world by storm you're like, you know Southern right shoulder around Boston for a second but that was for a different reason out whoops.

Rob Kelly: 45:46

All while smoking marijuana

Michael Marcangelo: 45:50

on top of weed,

Rob Kelly: 45:51

but I won't, so we'll get past anyways. So just so to stay on swimming, I have my favorite performance of the whole thing was Bobby Finkel, man, and that 1500 I love you guys watch this, but he was Bobby Finkel like that. Right? Like I saw. But so to see him make that comeback man. He was almost I want to say like a full two seconds behind and then just absolutely took off in the last legs of the race and went from fourth and ended up getting the gold. It was so cool to watch. Like I said, seeing someone come from the back and just take off at the end of a race is so awesome. The other thing too, man, Caleb dressel in that 50 meter. The 50 meters is a sight products women race. I don't know if you guys are watching this. It's literally one length down. So it's just an all out spread. So it's just like absolute chaos the entire time.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 46:49

After about two or three meters out of me lay me out the pool.

Rob Kelly: 46:54

I think he set the world record in it for like the fourth time he's by far the best spread they're enjoying without a doubt. He was awesome. So those are my two favorite swimming stories of the year so far.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 47:06

Okay, any insight good. This is just me be petty. But wasn't Carl Lewis are brought up on on doping charges as well. Was that is that true? Am I wrong? Am I wrong? I've

Michael Marcangelo: 47:15

never proven that. Oh, no, never. Okay.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 47:18

Well, one thing I know you can do is sing the damn national anthem. And he was terrible that what? That That was awful as I hey, but one of the few times it's okay to say stick to your sport. Just Just saying. Just that. But yeah, yeah. Well, that was funny.

Rob Kelly: 47:35

I didn't know the new play. No, no definitive proof that he ever Do you ever

Michael Marcangelo: 47:40

think about this, though? He never finished worse than second. He only finished second once.

Rob Kelly: 47:44

better, better than Michael Johnson. Yeah.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 47:47

Yeah. Marga Johnson is up there too. I can't believe that we had this segment didn't even bring up Jesse Owens. No, Jesse. Oh, yeah. Jesse Owens, Flo Jo. Jackie Joyner. kersee. So there's a lot of people that could be in that role. I just said to me, I'm like, I just thought I said the girl was on. Hello, everyone. And yes, recency bias is a mug. So that's why I brought it up. Like I said, I'm impressed with that Katie ledecky girls doing club wanted to give her I really want to give her a shout out. And I wanted to highlight that women are killing it. Ladies, you guys are awesome. in every sense of the word. You're doing stuff that we can now that we couldn't do even on our best day. And yeah, so y'all keep trucking along, keep you know, keep making history, or keep making her store that as they say now, and then it's only 21. So any final words from get out here?

Michael Marcangelo: 48:32

No matter I think I've been waiting to talk about about Simone. And I think if I can just reiterate, man, like the courage that she's shown and the face that you did you talk we talked about earlier in the show about adversity and how we don't know if if like, the men's team could overcome it. This girl is human, went through all that she went through, has has, you know, you know that she's seen and heard all the shit that everyone's saying about her. And she's still taking the beam. She's still gonna get up on that beam and try to win and try to win the goal. So I'm just I'm floored by her. I mean, that's, that's my final thought.

Rob Kelly: 49:04

Yeah, I was mobiles. I'm wasting my courage and determination that she shows is just unbelievable to me. The loser of this whole thing to me is the United States of America in the general outlook about how we treated her and how this all worked out. I just think we look even more arrogant than we did before. Moving on from that. The one sport no one's talked about. That was the most exciting thing that happened in the Olympics. three on three basketball man, I don't know if you guys watch this, but it was so goddamn fun. It was so cool that believe that's the thing. That's a while. Also while 10 minute games first to 21 it was just like the entire time. You're watching watching Goldman again, the US woman's mind. You're just watching like oh my god. This was like it's half court. First attendant or 21. So it's a 10 minute game. So it was pretty awesome.

Rayshawn Buchanan: 50:00

Yeah, no, that's great. I forgot about that. I forgot that I was the thing. I just read the watch the big three here but that that's pretty cool to see that they do that. I'm assuming American I mean, 707 football, which should be next then if you have that you got to have something that would be pretty crazy, honestly. So we'll see. We'll see what happens with that. But now let's listen. I don't have to add anything to what you guys have said you got articulate everything perfectly in that regard when it comes to some more balls, anything awesome. talked about all tonight but listen you know guys continue to listen to the show you know we appreciate though a little bit listening you know we're reaching on a year milestone coming up on it coming up thank you guys yeah yes as you know we will have some type of posts I will say but now we say you know we say thank you for missing the point so for so for Michael Marcangelo in the world BK Bob Kelly. I'm Rayshawn Buchanan and we will see you next time peace