Not to be a Luddite or an alarmist or anything, but it might be time to put the brakes on the whole crypto experiment. Aside from the ecological effects, which look pretty bad overall, I never wanted to type the words “Azealia Banks sex tape” at any point in my career — and yet, here we are.
The controversy magnet — who was at one point famous for making the romping 2012 hit “212” and is now much more liable to go on a bigoted rant or try to start a beef with whichever female rapper is currently closest to the top of the charts — decided the non-fungible token (NFT) game was too good to miss out on and found the perfect (in her mind, I’m sure) way to capitalize: the aforementioned sex tape. According to Vice and NFT marketplace Foundation, the first-ever audio sex tape NFT was created by Banks and sold for quite the sum.
Of course, being Azealia Banks, she had to throw some troll-ish curveball on it. The tape, which features Banks and her fiance, conceptual artist Ryder Ripps, is audio-only. I’ll leave whether that’s a good or a bad thing up to you, but there’s one thing it absolutely is: profitable. The 24-minute recording apparently sold for well over $17,000 — or 10 Ethereum, technically speaking. The buyer, Rulton Fyder, received full ownership, distribution and display rights, and a signed LP vinyl record.
Only time will tell if Fyder’s (a play on Fulton Ryder, a pseudonym of Richard Prince’s) NSFW NFT investment will pay off. Crypto-art is still relatively new and the element that gives traditional art its value, generally speaking, is time. However, with this new technology running rampant and the internet re-writing all the rules faster than anyone can learn them, it’s the wild west and we might be looking at a whole new ballgame, where ownership comes with two-factor authentication.
Foo Fighters have been making a lot of appearances and doing a lot of press as they celebrate their 25th anniversary as a band. Their latest stop was an interview with Apple Music’s Zane Lowe, during which they revealed that the group came pretty darn close to breaking up while recording one of their most recognizable songs, “Times Like These.”
Grohl said, “We were making that record, and it just wasn’t really happening for whatever reason. The recordings weren’t what we wanted them to be, the enthusiasm wasn’t really there.” Chris Shiflett added, “I thought the band was going to break up and it’s funny you bring up that song because I remember, I think literally the first time we ever played it was at a rehearsal at [Nate Mendel’s], after the Queens Of The Stone Age tour. And it was actually there that we all got in a huge argument and it was maybe the closest the band actually ever really did come to breaking up but then didn’t.”
Taylor Hawkins then noted, “We were just still trying to figure out kind of how to be a band still, and like Dave said earlier, the record that we made just sounded sort of phoned in and [we were] trying Pro Tools for the first time and Dave was really excited about the Queens stuff. And it was just a sh*tty time for the band.”
Piers Morgan may very well regret finally going too far with his endlessly controversial stances. This time, he launched a vigorous defense of the British Royal Family after Meghan Markle and Prince Harry spoke with Oprah Winfrey to tell-all. He first got thrashed by a Black Good Morning Britain colleague because his defense dismissed what Meghan described as troublesome remarks that appeared to be racially charged, and which led the couple to leave the U.K. for California. Piers also stormed off set when confronted by a co-host about the seemingly personal nature of Piers’ beef with Meghan, who he briefly dated, and as Alex Bereford declared, “I understand you’ve got a personal relationship with Meghan Markle, or you had one and she cut you off.”
CNN now reports that Piers is now officially leaving the ITV building (for good) following his storm-off episode. The decision to leave (by official word) was made by Piers, although the ITV network that hosts Good Morning Britainaccepted the decision:
Piers Morgan, who prompted furious controversy and an investigation from the UK’s media regulator over his sharply critical comments of Prince Harry and Duchess of Sussex Meghan Markle, will depart “Good Morning Britain,” ITV abruptly announced Tuesday.
“Following discussions with ITV, Piers Morgan has decided now is the time to leave Good Morning Britain,” ITV said in a short statement. “ITV has accepted this decision and has nothing further to add.”
At apparent central issue with these complaints was Piers’ disbelief over Meghan feeling suicidal — “I wouldn’t believe Meghan Markle if she gave me a weather report,” he tweeted, and expressed the same sentiment on air — which led to an enormous outpouring of complaints to ITV. Meghan very plainly had expressed gratitude toward Harry, who she credited with saving her life, as Hollywood Reporterrevealed on Tuesday, U.K. broadcasting regulator Ofcom was investigating Piers’ on-air remarks after receiving 41,015 complaints about violations of “harm and offence” rules.
The Grammys are less than a week away and while many musicians are either gearing up for performances or potential wins, others are calling out the Recording Academy for its exclusionary practices. The Weeknd recently made headlines when he outed the Academy for snubbing his After Hours album, which had the best-selling song of 2020. Now, former One Direction member Zayn is the latest artist to air their grievances with the Academy.
Zayn returned this January, following the birth of his first child with Gigi Hadid, to share his anticipated third LP Nobody Is Listening. Since the album was released in 2021, it is not eligible for this weekend’s Grammy Awards. But that didn’t stop Zayn from slamming the ceremony in a recent tweet.
The singer condemned the Grammys for gatekeeping nominations. “F*ck the grammys and everyone associated. Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations. Next year I’ll send you a basket of confectionary,” he wrote.
Fuck the grammys and everyone associated. Unless you shake hands and send gifts, there’s no nomination considerations. Next year I’ll send you a basket of confectionary.
Of course, The Weeknd has a similar sentiment when it comes to the Academy. After the singer received no nominations for his chart-topping album After Hours, The Weeknd called out the “corrupt” Grammys. “The Grammys remain corrupt,” he wrote in a tweet. “You owe me, my fans and the industry transparency…”
Aren’t you tired of ketchup and mustard? Even vinegar-based hot sauce on your fried chicken can get boring. Americans love their condiments, sure, but let’s be real: the repetition of dipping, dunking, saucing, and slathering the same ubiquitous flavors on food can get pretty stale. Palates are meant to be broadened, after all — that’s what makes eating fun.
It’s time to shake things up, and there are plenty of condiments that typically get relegated to the “international aisle” just waiting to give your mouth a fresh flavor bomb. To find some standouts, we asked our diverse team of writers to rave about the condiments they love, beyond ketchup, mustard, and standard mayo. Their entries (and the fact that most of these are widely available) provide a nice reminder of just how culturally rich and diverse America’s food scene actually is.
I love dumplings. Steamed or pan-fried. Stuffed with pork or veggies, chicken or shrimp—it doesn’t matter, I want to eat them. If you put a platter of them in front of me, I will inhale that platter and leave not a single one for you. I will order them from anywhere at any time on any day or night. I will hop on the train to Chinatown when it’s 20 degrees and snowing just to eat my weight in Shanghainese Soup Dumplings at Nom Wah Tea Parlor, and I won’t feel the least bit bad for placing a second order to go.
Shumai? Goyza? Potstickers? Frozen dumplings from my local grocery store? Give them to me. I’ll eat those too.
Naturally, as a self-proclaimed dumpling enthusiast, I know that the best way to enjoy dumplings is with the proper sauce. You could go the traditional soy-sauce route (trust me, I do that, too), but nothing quite brings out the flavor of the filling or compliments the dough quite like the salty, sweet, sometimes spicy, sometimes tangy dumpling sauce. Most have a dash of sesame oil that punches up the flavor with a little nuttiness, and there’s a barely-there sweet aftertaste that’s a little more satisfying to the senses than straight-up soy sauce.
There are plenty of dumpling sauces that exist in this world, but my go-to is Wei-Chaun. I prefer the hot flavor, but there’s a mild version for those who can’t stand the heat.
How I Use It:
I quite literally bathe my dumplings in this stuff. The way it enhances the dumpling’s natural taste, I need it on every bite. But you can use this sauce for more than that. Drizzle a little on the top of a burger hot off the grill. Are you eating veggie and meat kabobs? Dunk those suckers in that sauce, too.
Where I Buy It:
You can a find some of brands and styles of dumpling sauce in the international food-aisle of most grocery stores, and there’s always Amazon. But for the most variety, hit up your local Asian market.
Fish Sauce — Zach Johnston
Amazon
Why I Like It:
Fish sauce, specifically Squid Brand, has been a part of my life for a very long time. I’d like to say I picked up using the fishy-smelling juice when I lived in Southeast Asia back in the mid-aughts, but I’d already been using it for years before that. I was sort of always aware of fish sauce — having grown up in the Pacific Northwest where a decent bowl of tangy soup or fried noodles were never far away — then started using it heavily for myself in Prague in 2003, when I lived there.
There’s a large Vietnamese community in Prague (mostly thanks to those two countries both being communist regimes in the 20th century) and that means there are a few markets around the outskirts of the city devoted to imports from Vietnam and Southeast Asia, in general. Those spots turned me on to a lot of good food. My addiction only grew once I actually lived and worked in Southeast Asia.
These days, fish sauce is something I use all the time. So much so, I buy the big bottle of Squid Brand — the one that’s the same size as a whisky bottle. And it only lasts about as long as a bottle of good whiskey. Put simply, it’s one of the most versatile condiments/flavor enhancers there is. It’s like Worchestershire times a million or soy sauce with a nice funk that’s somehow lighter while also bringing more umami. An absolute must for any serious home cook.
How I Use It:
A trick I learned working in kitchens in Europe was that chefs would use Squid Brand fish sauce in place of more expensive anchovy in recipes from all over the continent (fish sauce used to be huge in Roman cuisine, for instance). It’s basically anchovy essence that’s also pure umami. So I started adding it to yolk-based salad dressings. It also works in things like meatballs when you want that extra savory oompf. Dash some on rice when you fluff it to add new depths. Hell, dash some on freshly popped popcorn.
Of course, there are soups, stews, and dry noodle applications. One of my favorite uses is a cold noodle side that’s just fish sauce, crushed garlic, diced green onion, brown sugar, sesame oil, and sesame seeds. Spritz it all with lemon juice and you have one of the best sides for steak or salmon ever.
The point is that, yes, this is very much a necessity if you’re trying to figure out dishes from the eastern reaches of Asia. But don’t stop there. Umami is a key flavor component in cuisines the world over (anchovies were a huge trading commodity of my father’s people around the Salish Sea before Europeans showed up) and fish sauce really makes almost everything savory better.
Where I Buy It:
Generally, the Costco-like store I do my weekly shopping at has Squid Brand for around $4 for a big bottle. You can find it in any Korean, Chinese, Thai, or Vietnamese supermarket in the States if you’re in a region where those pop up. Otherwise, you can grab a bottle on Amazon.
Maggi — Loan Hoang
Amazon
Why I Like It:
Growing up, I didn’t really pay attention to the various brown liquids in my mother’s pantry besides the xì dầu (soy sauce) and nước mắm (fish sauce). In our house, the soy sauce that my sisters and I loved on our rice and eggs, lived in a small bottle with a bright yellow label and red lettering spelling out “MAGGI.”
How I Use It:
In 2006, I had the chance to go to France and Italy at the end of my high school senior year as part of a special trip for AP Gov. While preparing for my trip, my aunts asked me if I could bring them back Maggi Sauce from France and to “make sure it’s the French version.” I was surprised that out of anything they could have asked me to buy, they asked for something so readily available in our supermarkets.
It was only then that I learned Maggi wasn’t soy sauce at all. Maggi is a seasoning sauce (made from hydrolyzed vegetable protein instead of soy) and different countries produce different versions. For my aunts, the French version was the best and it was not yet available in our markets at that time.
I like to use the Chinese Maggi in my everyday cooking—it has a strong, salty, umami profile that goes well with stir-frys and soups.
Where I Buy It:
Luckily today, you don’t have to travel far to try out the different versions of Maggi. They’re readily found in supermarkets and online. As a standalone condiment, I prefer the Maggi Arome Saveur French version, which is a bit milder. If you’re able to get your hands on the Mexican version “Jugo Maggi Limon,” you’ll be able to taste a nice kick of lime in your seasoning sauce.
However…I have yet to get my hands on the Filipino version of Maggi, which is supposed to have more of a garlic flavor to it. Perhaps a trip to the Philippines is in order, post-Covid. As high school me learned: This is a sauce worth traveling for.
S&B Umami Topping-Crunchy Garlic With Chili Oil — Vince Mancini
Instacart
Why I Like It:
A friend introduced me to this stuff from the Asian market a while back and I haven’t gone a day since without it in my fridge. It’s great because while I love any and all things spicy, my stomach and bowels don’t always agree. This stuff comes in “spicy” and “mild,” but neither are really what I would call “hot.” They add a deep, rich concentrated spice flavor that I can eat as much as I want of without worrying that it’s going to put me on the toilet all morning.
How I Use It:
Frying up garlic is definitely something that you *can* do on your own, but having it pre-prepared in a jar is my kind of labor saver. I most often use it on salmon, pork tenderloin, or noodle soups (ramen, pho, etc) but I’ve yet to find a food that it doesn’t improve.
Where I Buy It:
I buy mine at the Asian market in Fresno, but it’s available on Amazon.
Harissa — Janice Williams
My Panier
Why I Like It:
During my brief tenure as a waitress in New York City, I worked at a dashing restaurant in the West Village named Bar Bolonat. It was the sister restaurant to the highly acclaimed Balaboosta, owned by the feistiest, sassiest and liveliest woman I’ve ever met, chef and cookbook author Einat Admony.
It was at that little restaurant, which specialized in Israeli and Mediterranean cuisine, where I learned the value and significance of harissa—a vibrant and beautiful red hot chili pepper paste that set my mouth on fire the first time that I had it slathered atop of slice of grilled eggplant with a little tahini, tagarashi, and crispy shallots. I was hooked!
Spicy and aromatic, harissa is commonly used in North African and Middle Eastern cuisine. The recipes for the condiment vary from country to country, but the classic components are usually the same across the board: hot and smoked chili pepper, olive oil, garlic, and a blend of spices like cumin, caraway, and coriander.
My waitressing days are behind me, and Bar Bolonat no longer exists (you can still visit Balaboosta, though!). So now I get my harissa fix via Les Moulins Mahjoub, a Tunisian company that produces a variety of tasty natural grains and spices.
How I Use It:
Use it as a spread. Use it as a dip. Blend it into your soups and stews. Use it to marinate your grilled meats and fish, too. Got bread? Scoop it up and get it in your mouth. There really is no wrong way to use harissa, but one of my favorite ways to use the condiment is as a baste for baked chicken legs and thighs. Spread it over the chicken along with a little salt, pepper and garlic. Toss it in the oven for a good 45 minutes and—BOOM!—dinner is served.
But beware: this condiment lands high on the hot and spicy meter. So a little goes a long way.
Where I Buy It:
I order jars of harissa from my favorite online artisanal grocery shop, My Panier, but you can find Les Moulins Mahjoub and other brands at Whole Foods and Middle Eastern Markets.
Lizano Salsa — Steve Bramucci
Lizano
Why I Like It:
In Costa Rica, they have these beans in a bag — also made by Lizano — that are cult-famous. Especially among surfers. And because the various styles of beans (red, black, and pinto) aren’t exported, the only way to get them is to bring them home from a trip or have someone lug a few packs along when they visit you. At my wedding, two friends brought me an entire suitcase full — but it never made it through customs.
For years, I’ve tried to figure out what makes Lizano beans so good. Mostly, I figured it was lard. And I’m sure that’s pretty much correct. But by contacting the company for an article, I learned that this salsa is also a core ingredient. Since that discovery, I’ve used the stuff pretty much every day.
How I Use It:
I pour a little bit into the bases for many of my foods — it’s sort of like a liquid soffrito. It’s in every single bean-based recipe I make, bar none. I also put it into my ground beef during the cooking process if I’m making tacos or sloppy joe’s. Used as a traditional condiment, without being cooked down, it’s pretty potent. I’ll often add some a little to a simple rice and bean dish to amp up the umami or treat it like a salad dressing for greens. It’s also fantastic as an additive to your guac or any storebought salsa.
A true umami bomb that I refuse to live without.
Where I Buy It:
There are Costa Rican shopping sites that carry it (and the beans!), but the shipping costs are exorbitant. I most often rely on Amazon, which sells the full-sized three-pack for $22.
LA-based songwriter Lily Lizotte has been making music under the moniker The Blossom for some time now. After gaining momentum with a handful of singles released in 2020, Lizotte is gearing up for the release of The Blossom’s debut album, 97 Blossom. Offering another preview of the upcoming release, Lizotte shares The Blossom’s alt-rock-inspired single “Shapeshifter.”
The mind-bending visual released alongside the song echoes its theme. As Lizotte sings of picking up and trying out various identities, their image is distorted and warped on screen. “I can be anything no matter who’s around / The fire burning at my feet is burning me out,” they sing.
In a statement about the single, Lizotte says the song is meant to ease their insecurities:
“‘Shapeshifter’ is a reminder I’m not worthless and neither are you. It’s a celebration of insecurities. It’s sonically and lyrically the energy of mixed emotions, my gender dysphoria, disconnection, anxiety and yearning for something more than what is. It’s my cutting and devious grin at 3am when I tip my head back and laugh on the subway. It’s a spark of time captured where just for a moment my shadow feels 10ft tall….only to dip and duck in and out of that light. Forever shapeshifting just to say… ‘Hi’.”
The video for HER’s “Fight For You” is here. HER’s soulful Judas And The Black Messiah soundtrack single invokes the lasting legacy of the Black Panther Party, so it’s only right that the video does the same. Following a loose storyline, the video observes how the tragic cycle of state violence against Black Americans plays out across the decades, with a shooting in 1971 laying the foundation for an uprising HER and her father try to organize in 2021.
Using their shoe shop’s stature as a clear focal point of the community, HER delivers boots stamped “I am a revolutionary” to friends and family throughout the city, prompting former Panthers to remember their revolutionary calling. However, their activities attract the wrong kind of attention, causing the cycle to play out as it always has. Even then, hope is seen in a future generation that has already absorbed the lessons taught by the elder Panthers, proving that the system can kill a revolutionary but can’t kill the revolution.
Indie music has grown to include so much. It’s not just music that is released on independent labels, but speaks to an aesthetic that deviates from the norm and follows its own weirdo heart. It can come in the form of rock music, pop, or folk. In a sense, it says as much about the people that are drawn to it as it does about the people that make it.
While we’re at it, sign up for our newsletter to get the best new indie music delivered directly to your inbox, every Monday.
Ian Sweet – Show Me How You Disappear
Each song on Ian Sweet’s third album marks a different stage in Jilian Medford’s journey toward embracing and understanding her anxiety. It’s an intense, but ultimately rewarding listen as the album’s ten tracks depict “the path to healing through music, delicately unpacking anxiety, depression, and trauma, while showing how Medford was able to rise above it all,” writes Carolyn Droke for Uproxx.
Tigers Jaw – I Won’t Care How You Remember Me
It’s hard to believe that Tigers Jaw have been around for the better part of 15 years at this point. I Won’t Care How You Remember Me is their sixth studio album to date, and also their most expansive. Throughout the album, the Scranton quartet finds inspiration from their early days playing in basements, as well as by looking toward the future of the band. “The result is a dense and impressive work from one of the most consistent (and underrated) bands in the indie punk scene,” I wrote in a recent interview for Uproxx.
Biitchseat – I’ll Become Kind EP
Talor Smith’s vocals sound almost theatrical on the latest effort from Cleveland’s Biitchseat. I’ll Become Kind is full of catchy indie-pop gems that would fit in as well in a Broadway venue as they would a sweaty club. It’s a demonstration of the group’s versatility and knack for anthemic songwriting that is not easily forgotten.
St. Vincent – “Pay Your Way In Pain”
In a statement announcing her anticipated new album, St. Vincent said that Daddy’s Home was inspired by “music made in New York from 1971 to ’76, typically post-flower child, kick the hippie idealism out of it, America’s in a recession but pre-disco, the sort of gritty, raw, wiggly nihilistic part of that.” Lead single “Pay Your Way In Pain” has that aesthetic on full display, a quirky and spastic number that reflects Annie Clark’s 2012 effort with David Byrne.
Japanese Breakfast – “Be Sweet”
With her new excellent and devastating memoir Crying In H Mart set for release next month, Michelle Zauner has returned to Japanese Breakfast for something a bit more joyful. The first single from her upcoming album Jubilee is what Derrick Rossignol calls for Uproxx “an upbeat and optimistic new tune,” which was written alongisde Jack Tatum of Wild Nothing.
Rostam – “4Runner”
After a string of production projects and standalone singles over the last year, Rostam has officially announced his sophomore solo album Changephobia. “4Runner” showcases Rostam’s cutting-edge indie pop production, with breezy acoustic guitar and subdued percussion accented by a dreamy lead guitar.
Although not an official release from Mitski, the songwriter is back with new music, in the form of a graphic novel soundtrack. “The Baddy Man” is what Caitlin White calls for Uproxx “a pretty straightforward, rollicking country track,” and is the first of many to come as part of the project.
Big Red Machine – “A Crime” (Sharon Van Etten cover)
Sharon Van Etten is commemorating a decade of her sophomore album Epic with a version of the album comprised of covers. The first taste of the effort is Big Red Machine’s rendition of “A Crime.” Where Van Etten’s original track was mostly just accompanied by an acoustic guitar, Justin Vernon and Aaron Dessner’s version gives the number more of a full-band makeover, embracing thrashing percussion and distorted lead guitars.
Islands – “(We Like To) Do It With The Lights On”
Five years after announcing his retirement from new music, Nick Thorburn is back with… new music! “(We Like To) Do It With The Lights On” is the first taste of Islands’ “reunion” album Insomnia, a dance track drenched in shimmer guitars and Thorburn’s infectious vocal.
Proper – “Aficionado.”
We just named Proper one of the indie rockers to watch in 2021, and now they’re back with a new track. “Aficionado” isn’t linked to a larger release, but it wouldn’t be surprising if it ultimately ended up on the forthcoming Proper LP. The track makes the best of its lo-fi production, utilizing lyrical storytelling to keep the listener engaged, before diverting into an electronic spoken word section.
Jhariah – “Debt Collector”
Jhariah’s new single “Debt Collector” sounds like it was made specifically to be included in a video game (a good thing). After a quick opening with fast-paced chiptune flourishes that would be perfect for a Nintendo game, the full band kicks in to transform the song into a soundtrack for a skateboard game. It’s an incredibly exciting song, a signal of a bright future for the 20-year-old Bronx native.
Pollard – “Overhead”
Kyle Luck took a break from music after the demise of his legendary (in my eyes, at least) emo outfit Oliver Houston. He moved from Michigan to New York and took a few years to get settled. Now, he is ready to begin focusing on music once again with his solo project Pollard. His first solo single “Overhead” incorporates the intricate math-rock guitars that made Oliver Houston so exciting, but dials back the intensity to allow Luck’s introspective lyrics to step forward.
Sophie Coran – “S P A C E”
On her first track of 2021, Philadelphia songwriter Sophie Coran flexes her classical music training, seamlessly melding jazz and R&B into something truly fun and unique. Throughout “S P A C E,” there are flourishes of strings and unexpectedly pleasing chord progressions that are just added layers onto the impressive production and scope of the music.
Before Better Call Saul, before Breaking Bad, even before Mr. Show with Bob and David, Bob Odenkirk worked as a writer on Saturday Night Live. He was hired in 1987 and stayed on the sketch series until 1991 when he departed to write for Get a Life (an all-time comedy classic) and The Ben Stiller Show (ditto), where he met David Cross.
In a recent interview with PeopleTV‘s “Couch Surfing,” Odenkirk was asked what goes through his mind when he sees footage of himself from his SNL days (he occasionally appeared on camera, like during Catherine O’Hara’s monologue in a 1991 episode). “I was such a prick back then,” he answered. “I was so opinionated. I was a very opinionated comedy writer. I was a writer on the show and Lorne [Michaels] would sometimes have me do a part in the scene, a small part like that. And of course I was starstruck at Catherine O’Hara, who was just the best.” Still is the best.
Odenkirk has expressed regret with the way he acted in the early 1990s before, although last time, the soon-to-be action movie star used “dick” instead of “prick.” Same difference, I suppose. As he said on Michael Ian Black’s podcast back in 2015:
A big part of the challenge I had at Saturday Night Live was my own immaturity. I brought a lot of challenge to the show just because I was a person who was confrontational and suspicious of the establishment. When I was there I treated Lorne like a boss, like the boss of some dumb job I had. Only after I left did I go: the guy’s a creative guy and he created that show and he oversees the creative side of it, and he does overall a pretty damn good job… but I was like, ‘Who the f*ck is this guy to tell me who’s funny, f*ck him.’ I was a dick.
That’s good advice from Bob: don’t be a prick. Or a dick.
March is the best time of year for college basketball fans. Hell, even if you don’t consider yourself someone who loves the sport, there is nothing quite like when conference tournaments beget the NCAA Tournament, and throughout the month, people get the chance to sit down and watch college basketball played by those with aspirations of winning a conference or national title.
Individuals who go on to have incredible careers in things that have nothing to do with the NBA become synonymous with this month due to the sheer chaos that comes from a collection of win or go home tournaments. When those moments happen, they get burned into our collective conscience. I can sit here and type out names like Ali Farokhmanesh and Kris Jenkins, and even if you have not thought of those names in years, you remember exactly where you were when the former hit the most audacious three in tournament history for 9-seed Northern Iowa to knock off 1-seed Kansas, or the latter drilled a triple at the buzzer to give Villanova a national championship over North Carolina.
One man who has made a career out of bringing a special gravity to these moments is Gus Johnson, the revered broadcaster now with Fox Sports who will be on the call when the Big East does its annual tradition of descending upon Madison Square Garden for the conference tournament. Johnson’s work in numerous sports has made him one of the most versatile and highly-regarded broadcasters of his generation, but it’s his work calling college basketball games in particular that has made him a legend. Seemingly every basketball fan can think of a call that Johnson has made that has stuck with them over the years — they may not be a Gonzaga fan, for example, but they know that the slipper still fits.
After last year’s tournament was canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Johnson will head to Madison Square Garden to work alongside Jim Jackson and Bill Raftery while the Big East sorts out a champion. It’ll be the second time this season Johnson has been in-arena calling a college basketball game, along with a Michigan State-Iowa tilt from earlier in the year.
“To have a chance to go to the Garden and watch the guys play in the tournament, which was canceled last year, it’s a big deal,” Johnson told Dime. “Even if there aren’t that many people there, it’s just nice to be out there at the Garden watching some good ball.”
Before that good ball takes place — the festivities begin on FS1 on Wednesday when No. 8 Georgetown and No. 9 Marquette tip off at 3 p.m. EST — Johnson and Dime spoke about the tournament, who interests him the most this year, his broadcast partners, and a recent award he won for his contributions to college athletics.
A few years back, I asked Raf this question, and before I tell you what he said, I want to ask you, what is it about the Big East tournament that makes it so special?
Well, it’s New York City, at the heart of New York City, the center of the world, as we like to say. The energy in the city when Big East basketball is played is just really special. New York fans know basketball, East Coast fans know basketball and love basketball. And they’re playing on hallowed grounds. It’s the world’s most famous arena. It’s just a special environment and atmosphere, and I think more than anything, that’s what makes it just a really special thing to be a part of.
Yeah. And it’s interesting because I went to the Big Ten tournament there. I actually got a very good game, I know you were calling it, the Penn State-Ohio State game a few years back where Penn State won on that last-second dunk. But for some reason, even amid all that excitement, I don’t know if you would agree with this, something just feels different about when the Big East is playing at Madison Square Garden.
Well, those are those people so they know it and they’ve been doing that and watching that for years, or going to the games for years. I was a part of that Big Ten Tournament and it was great, but it’s not the same feeling. You’re right about the Big Ten as it was for the Big East, because the Big East has been doing it for years there. It’s just home, and I think that’s why it’s a special thing to be a part of.
So what excites you the most about this year’s tournament? Obviously, it’s a little bit different because of the lack of fans, but it still has some of that gravity to it that is always going to come from being the Big East Tournament.
What I like about it is that hopefully we’re going to play it, more than anything. Last year’s was canceled. We missed out on that tournament and those seniors missed out on having a chance to play in their final Big East Tournament. So I think that them having a chance to actually play the tournament this year at the Garden and wrap up the regular season in the conference is a special thing.
I’m just hoping that everything goes right. It’s been a long, hard-fought journey dealing with COVID-19 for everybody, sports world included, Big East conference included, college basketball included. So it’s just a nice … hopefully everything will go off without a hitch and we’ll get some basketball.
I have one question about one specific team, and it’s how we got a really unfortunate piece of news earlier this week about Villanova’s Collin Gillespie not being in it. As a broadcaster, what sorts of things do you look out for when you’re calling the games for a team right when they start playing after being thrown a gigantic curveball — not specifically what you’re looking for with Villanova, but just as kind of a general thing?
What you’re looking for is who’s the next man up? Who’s going to take over? Now Justin Moore has to step up [ed. note — since our interview, Moore has suffered a sprained ankle and is doubtful to play in the tournament]. He’s a sophomore, replacing a senior, captain, national champion in Collin Gillespie, heart and soul, leader. So who steps up? Brandon Slater, [Bryan] Antoine, somebody’s got to step up in that role. And you know Villanova always has great players sitting on the bench ready to get an opportunity, waiting for their turn. So I think more than anything, talk about what happened with Collin and how great he was, but now Villanova’s still got to go out there and try to win a championship. You just focus on the next guy that’s going to take his place.
So what team interests you the most in this tournament, not necessarily the one you think is going to win, but the one you’ve watched this season, you’ve studied up on, and you’re really curious to see what they end up looking like once they get to the Garden?
Well, you always think about Villanova because they’ve won two national championships, and now they’re going to go into the tournament without maybe their most important player, their brain, Collin Gillespie. You think about him and you wonder what he could do. You look at Creighton, and coach McDermott got himself into hot water last week, and his team came out after that and played flat against Villanova on the road. You wonder how they’re going to adjust heading to the tournament from Omaha.
St. John’s is always an interesting story. They’ve had some good moments this year, and they’re playing at home. And then some other teams, like Xavier. Xavier’s got a good team. They’ve beaten some good teams this year. Travis Steele, their head coach, you wonder if Paul Scruggs and the rest of the X-men can come up here and go on a run. So a lot of interesting stories, but you just got to see. I think the Big East Tournament, more than anything, is just wide open for a team that gets hot.
Yeah. It always seems to be a mix of that, and then after the first game or two, you can just tell one team has that little extra swagger to their game and they always seem to be the one that’s there at the very end. Whether or not they win, it’s something completely different.
That’s true.
I want to ask about the two guys you’re calling the games with. First is Jim Jackson — my main focus is NBA, and I think he’s been one of the fastest rising stars in hoops broadcasting over the last couple of years, both college and in the NBA. What is it about him that makes him so good?
I taught him everything he knows. That’s what makes him so good. I taught him. He needs to pay me for that. [laughs]
No, Jimmy is just a great student of the game of basketball. He was an incredible player, college player of the year, first-round draft pick, lottery pick. Unfortunately, he hurt his ankle, but he had great moments in the NBA. And he’s just a good man and loves the game and loves broadcasting, brings a youthfulness to it. And he’s the All-American. That’s Jimmy Jackson, man. Midwest values, low-key, engaged. Those are all the things … and he’s a detail guy. To me, those are all the things that make him special.
And then Raf, best in the business, guy you’ve called a million games with. Could you just talk about the joy that you two seem to have working together and what it’s like working with someone who matches, every single night, your passion and your energy on calls?
I’ve been working with Raf for 25 years, and I just think that dating back to my days at … no, actually for longer than 25 years, because I used to work with Raf before I went to CBS when I was with the Big East Network. So damn near 30 years of working with Coach, and he’s just a good man, and he’s a coach, he knows the game without even thinking about it, just looking at it.
I love his stream of consciousness, man. He can go into stories and detail and technique and history in one sentence. And he has boundless energy and boundless enthusiasm. I still can’t hang with him, seriously. So I’m very fortunate to have two men like Raf and Jimmy that I work with on a regular basis. They make my job really easy.
Then the last thing I want to ask is you recently won the Jake Wade Media Award from CoSIDA. What was it like getting that call and learning that you’re getting an award for just how synonymous Gus Johnson is for bringing a sense of gravity to whatever game you’re calling?
Well, man, there’s some great men that are on that list that were there, and I’m so honored to be able to join them, men like Keith Jackson and Verne Lundquist and Dick Enberg and Dick Vitale and Robin Roberts, Jim Nantz, Tim Brando, Steve Scheer. Just to be on that list, for me, man, for a broadcaster that’s been doing college sports for many, many years, as a broadcaster, to me, that was like winning the Heisman Trophy. I don’t think I could put it any other way. It’s just one of the greatest honors of my life, greatest honors of my career. I’m very appreciative and I have so much gratitude. Words can’t express how much gratitude I have to be able to be chosen for something like the Jake Wade Award.
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy
Privacy Overview
This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
