Meet Mason Brian Barclay, a teen and self-described “very homosexual male.” He recently wanted to attend a sleepover at his “new best friend” Houston’s house, because teens are gonna teen. But he’s a boy, and everyone knows boys aren’t allowed to attend girls’ sleepovers, because of cooties/patriarchal norms.
So he behaved more maturely than most adults, and crafted a long text message to Houston’s mom, Mrs. Shelton, in which he politely asked for permission to attend Houston’s sleepover.
“I think the common meaning behind only allowing the same sex to share sleepovers is due to the typical interest in the opposite sex, when, in this case, I do not like the opposite sex,” he explained in the text.
u201cShe hates this picture but idc. I’m in love with your soul. You pretty cute too.u201d
— May (Tayloru2019s Version) (@May (Tayloru2019s Version)) 1500425804
Mrs. Shelton’s response was so good that Mason tweeted it out and it went viral:
I TEXTED HOUSTONS MOM TO ASK IF I CAN STAY THE NIGHT FRIDAY HAHAHAHAHApic.twitter.com/Ovr74V869W
— May (Tayloru2019s Version) (@May (Tayloru2019s Version)) 1505775519
“Hmm. Well my husband is hot. Should I worry?” she responded.
If you need proof standardized testing is setting students up for failure, just ask the students.
Sydney Smoot has a bone to pick with the Hernando County School Board. The issue? The Florida Standards Assessment Test, or FSA for short. On March 17, 2015, Sydney bravely stood up at her local school board meeting to share how she felt about the test and why she believes it’s failing students and teachers.
“This testing looks at me as a number. One test defines me as either a failure or a success through a numbered rubric. One test at the end of the year that the teacher or myself will not even see the grade until after the school year is already over. I do not feel that all this FSA testing is accurate to tell how successful I am. It doesn’t take in account all of my knowledge and abilities, just a small percentage.” — Sydney Smoot
Can we give this little girl a medal? She was speaking right to my soul with that speech!
I reached out to Sydney and her mom, Jennifer, via email to find out more about what prompted this passionate speech.
What inspired you to write your letter?
“What inspired me to speak all started one day when I came home. My mom asked me how the testing went, and I told her I was told not to speak about the test to anyone. I had not felt comfortable signing something in the test. I had concerns about this test because there was a lot of stress put on students and myself. I was a little nervous before the speech, but when I was called up to the podium, I did not feel nervous because I knew this speech was going to help a lot of people.”
Have you ever thought about running for president? Cause I’d vote for you!
“I’ve thought about running for president because if I’m president, I will be considerate about the people in this state.”
You gotta admit, she looks pretty good up there, right?
Parents have a right to be concerned about standardize testing regulations.
One thing that really stuck out to me in Sydney’s speech was that the FSA prohibits students from talking to their parents about the test. So I was anxious to hear what Sydney’s mom thought about the stipulation. She had this to say:
“When my daughter came home telling me she had to sign a form stating she couldn’t talk to anyone including her parents, I got concerned. Not only that I didn’t like the fact that the last four of her Social Security number was on the test labels along with other personal information. In today’s world of identity theft, it doesn’t take much for people to get a hold of these things and use them.
I would like to tell other parents to learn more before these tests start in your children’s school and know what they are testing. They have options, you can opt out so to speak, and the child can complete alternative testing if they are in the retention grades; or, if the child wants to take the test, support them and let them know that no matter how they do, it does not define them as a person.
It’s a test and a poorly designed one at best.”
Standardized tests are changing the classroom. And not for the better.
As Sydney shared in her speech, she and her classmates are feeling the pressure when it comes to preparing for the FSA. But they aren’t the only ones. Teachers are also struggling to get students ready and are often forced to cut corners as a result.
What standardized tests also fail to take into account is that in many ways, test-taking is a skill, one that not every student is ready for. When I was in school, we spent months gearing up for the dreaded FCAT, the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test. And if months of test prep wasn’t bad enough, if you didn’t pass the FCAT, you couldn’t graduate high school. Talk about stressful! The pressure of your high school career rides on one test, combined with the fact that standardized tests don’t accurately measure what students have learned. Plenty of capable students fail these tests due to increased anxiety and stress. If high school students are struggling to handle the pressure of standardized testing, imagine how difficult it must be for elementary school students like Sydney!
Young Sydney is a testament to how important it is that we listen to students and create curriculum that challenges and educates them, rather than scaring them into “learning.” I think Sydney’s suggestion of three comprehensive tests throughout the year makes way more sense than one big statewide test that interferes with teachers’ schedules and stresses students out. And let’s be real, when’s the last time you heard a kid ask for MORE tests?! Clearly standardized tests aren’t the answer or at least need some serious work. Hopefully Sydney’s message will make an impact and get her school board and schools across the nation to rethink how we measure students’ success.
From a young age, Deddeh Howard was enthralled by fashion and its role in culture. Unfortunately, she was never really able to see herself in it.
“Something that always bothered me when you see these amazing images [was] that very rarely you ever see a black woman on them,” Howard, who grew up in West Africa but now resides in Los Angeles, wrote at her blog, Secret of DD.
“Black girls are almost invisible,” she wrote.
So Howard created “Black Mirror,” a photo series in which she re-creates famous photos with herself in place of models like Kendall Jenner, Gigi Hadid, Gisele Bundchen, and others.
Howard’s partner, Raffael Dickreuter, shot the series. As its title suggests, it holds a “black mirror” up to the fashion world. The project’s goal is both to make people notice the lack of diversity in the fashion world and to provide inspiration to other non-white models.
Of the models featured on the fall 2016 runways, 75% were white. There’s a major need for a diversity boost.
Sometimes, that lack of diversity can be downright embarrassing. Earlier this year, one fashion show featured models walking to Beyoncé’s “Formation,” a song Essence described as a “wholly and undeniable a tribute to Blackness — particularly Black girl power.” The problem: The show didn’t feature a single non-white model.
Diversity, representation, and visibility play key roles in shaping ambition and self-acceptance in the real world.
It’s important to be able to see yourself in the world, and it’s important to know that someone who looks like you can succeed.
“The next generation can only get inspired and reach for the stars themselves if they believe they can do it too,” Howard wrote on her blog. “For that reason diversity in ad campaigns is in my opinion much more important than you might think.”
Though we’re all part of the same species living on the same planet, our experience as humans walking through this world can differ widely. Children see things through a different lens than adults. Women and men have different perspectives on certain issues. And because racism has long been an active element in our society, people with varying amounts of melanin in their skin face specific challenges that others don’t.
As a white American, I don’t instinctively know what it’s like to walk in a black person’s shoes. I can tell you about the legacy of white supremacy laced throughout our country’s history. I can explain the far-reaching effects of slavery, lynch mobs, Jim Crow laws, redlining, mass incarceration, and more. I can intellectually break down the psychological and sociological impact of centuries of race-based oppression.
But I can’t tell you what it feels like to walk through this world, right now, as a black person—which is why it’s so important to listen to the voices of people who can.
David Summers shared a story on Facebook that reflects the experience of many black Americans—one that can help us non-black folks see through a lens we simply do not and cannot have. Perhaps that’s why it’s been shared more than 20,000 times. From the fear that any object he carries might be mistaken as a gun to figuring out how to smile at a stranger just right so he won’t be considered a threat, the “black thoughts” Summers describes during his walk through a beautiful, white neighborhood—presumably a neighborhood most of us would consider “safe”—are heartbreaking.
He wrote:
“I took a black walk this morning. I took a black walk through a white neighborhood. When I take black walks, I think black thoughts. I am conscious of where I’ve placed my gun, my gun, and my gun. I mean, my phone, my wallet, and my keys. Because Peace Officers have a hard time telling the difference. I rehearse what I’ll say if a concerned resident, or a law enforcement employee has questions about why my black body is walking through their white space. And I remind myself to make sure the law enforcement employee has his body camera recording. Sometimes it helps if there is video evidence to accompany the hashtag.
There is no way to be stealthy when you take a black walk. White neighborhoods are blanketed by a sophisticated security system comprised of nosy neighbors, Ring doorbell cameras, and white women walking their dogs. So, I’ve learned to notice the white world through my periphery. To be aware of the dangers without acknowledging them. There is an art to making white people feel safe. To say ‘Good Morning’ and flash a smile that shows confidence and deference at the same time. To being polite because your life depends on it.
I felt the squad car behind me before I saw it.
It moved deliberately. Not like the other cars mindlessly whizzing past. Its tires inched. Crept. Stalked their way toward me.
I kept walking.
“Don’t take your hands out of your pockets,” I thought. Or wait, maybe I should? Maybe it’s better if my hands are clearly empty. But it’s cold outside…maybe it’s nothing. Keep walking.
The car rolled past me and made a slow right turn. I glanced quickly but didn’t stare. The air is still. My ears tuned out everything but the slight scuff of my sneakers on the sidewalk and the fading sound of those stalking tires.
Almost there.
Suddenly the squad car re-emerged. It was a block ahead of me. It made a quick right turn, continued to the end of the street, and then waited. No more stalking. This was a show of force. This was a roar. This was a reminder that I was trespassing.
I kept walking.
“Don’t take your hands out of your pockets,” I thought. Or wait, maybe I should? Maybe it’s better if my hands are clearly empty. But it’s cold outside…maybe it’s nothing. Keep walking.
The car rolled past me and made a slow right turn. I glanced quickly but didn’t stare. The air is still. My ears tuned out everything but the slight scuff of my sneakers on the sidewalk and the fading sound of those stalking tires.
Almost there.
Suddenly the squad car re-emerged. It was a block ahead of me. It made a quick right turn, continued to the end of the street, and then waited. No more stalking. This was a show of force. This was a roar. This was a reminder that I was trespassing.
I kept walking.
As I approached the corner, the front window began to roll down. The occupant didn’t speak. Didn’t smile. Just stared. I was being warned.
I crossed the street and the lion trotted off. He had effectively marked his territory. The brave protector had done his job.
I however, couldn’t help but wonder what I’d missed during my black walk. It’s hard to hear the birds chirping, or to smile at the squirrels playfully darting along the branches when you’re on a black walk. It’s easy to miss the promise of a light blue sky, or appreciate the audacity of the red, yellow, and purple daisies declaring their independence from the green grass when your mind is preoccupied with black thoughts.
I took a walk through a beautiful neighborhood this morning. But I missed the whole thing.”
Thank you, Mr. Summers, for sharing your “black walk” experience. Hopefully, it will prompt us all to ask ourselves whether our words and actions serve to reinforce or remedy what you’ve described.
In the 1988 Disney classic “Who Framed Roger Rabbit,” the titular character is in an unlikely relationship with his voluptuous wife Jessica. Roger is a frantic, anxious rabbit with a penchant for mischief, while Jessica is a quintessential ’40s bombshell who stands about a foot and a half taller and isn’t “bad,” just “drawn that way.”
When private investigator Eddie Valiant asked Jessica what she sees in “that guy?” she replies, “He makes me laugh.”
This type of couple may seem like something we only see in the movies, but don’t underestimate the power of humor when it comes to attractiveness. A new study published in Evolutionary Psychology found that being humorous is the most effective way to flirt for both men and women.
“People think that humour, or being able to make another person laugh, is most effective for men who are looking for a long-term relationship. It’s least effective for women who are looking for a one-night stand. But laughing or giggling at the other person’s jokes is an effective flirtation tactic for both sexes,” says Leif Edward Ottesen Kennair, a professor at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology’s (NTNU) Department of Psychology.
“It is not only effective to be funny, but for women, it is very important that you show your potential partner that you think they are funny,” Rebecca Burch, a co-author from SUNY Oswego in New York, added.
Unfortunately, this study was only conducted on heterosexual couples.
For men, showing off their sense of humor was found to be the most effective way to flirt whether they were looking for a short-term or a long-term relationship. For women, being funny was the most effective tactic when looking for a long-term relationship. For people looking for a short-term fling, appearing available was the most effective tactic.
According to the study, humor is effective regardless of one’s attractiveness. “Individual differences in age, religiosity, extroversion, personal attractiveness and preferences for short-term sexual relationships had little or no effect on how effective respondents considered the various flirting tactics to be,” says study co-author Prof. Mons Bendixen.
If you see someone you like but don’t think you’re good-looking enough for them, give it a shot. You may still have a chance if you can make ’em laugh.
The most effective tactics for those looking for a long-term relationship:
For women:
1. Makes him laugh
2. Shows interest in conversations
3. Spends time with him
4. Engages in deep conversations
5. Kisses on mouth
For men:
1. Makes her laugh
2. Spends time with her
3. Shows interest in conversations
4. Engages in deep conversations
5. Smiles
The study is proof that looks aren’t everything and shows that having a good sense of humor isn’t just about making someone laugh. A great sense of humor is evidence that someone is intelligent, wise, perceptive, confident, can see things from new perspectives and has good intuition. It also helps people quickly build bonds and share experiences, which is a great way to get close to someone in a fast and fun way.
So why wouldn’t Jessica be with Roger? The guy is hilarious.
Rodney Smith Jr., of Huntsville, Alabama, was recently profiled by KMBC for his generous donation to two 11-year-olds who fulfilled his 50 Yard Challenge in Gadsden, Alabama. Ja’Torrian Taylor and Tevin Rice, founders of TJ & JT Mowing Service, completed Smith’s challenge to mow 50 yards for the elderly, veterans, and people unable to care for their lawns for free.
“I’m heading down to Gadsden right now. These are good, hard-working kids that deserve some gratitude,” Smith, known as “The Lawnmower Man,” told KMBC. Smith had been told that Taylor and Rice were sharing an old lawnmower that a neighbor had donated to them.
When he arrived, he gave both teens a mower, a blower and a trimmer for their hard work, hoping they’ll use their new equipment to expand their business. “Giving these boys lawn equipment is teaching them discipline,” Smith said. “If they tell someone they are going to mow a lawn, they need to mow the lawn.”
“Remember, this is not the end; it’s just the beginning,” Smith added. “This could be the beginning of a successful lawn service.”
Smith’s commitment to taking care of people’s lawns started in 2015, and the following year he went viral for helping a 93-year-old woman who could no longer mow hers. The photo of Smith and the woman received over 1 million likes.
Five years ago, Upworthy profiled Smith for setting a bold goal of mowing lawns for free in all 50 states. His goal was to promote his initiative that “provides free lawn care to our elders, those who are disabled, single mothers, and our veterans, who do not have the time, resources, and/or money to manicure their yards.”
As part of this goal, he created the 50 Yard Challenge, which has been a smashing success.
As of May 2023, 4,588 pre-teens and teens are participating in this challenge across the United States. If everyone completes the challenge, that will bring the total number of lawns mowed for free by Smith’s Raising Men & Women Lawn Care Service to 229,400.
Kids and teens can take part in the challenge by sending them a photo holding up a sign that says, “I accept the 50 Yard Challenge,” and in return, they’ll receive a white Raising Men/Women shirt along with shades and ear protection to get started. For every 10 lawns cut, they will get a new color shirt.
• 10 lawns earn an orange shirt
• 20 lawns earn a green shirt
• 30 lawns earn a blue shirt
• 40 lawns earn a red shirt
• 50 lawns earn a black shirt
After completing the challenge, the child or teen will receive a mower, a blower, and a trimmer, just like Ja’Torrian Taylor and Tevin Rice from Alabama.
Smith’s story is an incredible example of how one good deed from a kind-hearted person can lead to an outpouring of kindness across the country. It also teaches young people the values of giving back and self-discipline as well as the entrepreneurial spirit.
Southern food is beloved by many, and those of us raised on it just consider it dinner, not a special cuisine. But since Southern food is pretty geographical, there are plenty of Americans who haven’t had the opportunity to try authentic Southern food. There are a few soul food restaurants that get it right sprinkled across the country, but all are not created equal.
Since Southern cooking isn’t available throughout all of America, it shouldn’t be a surprise that it’s not a staple across the pond. Josh Carrott, author of “Once Upon A Time in Carrottland,” runs the YouTube channel Jolly, where he has people try new foods. He decided to invite a group of British schoolboys to try a few Southern staples. The boys are in year 9 in England, which means they’re between the ages of 13 and 14.
Since Carrott isn’t Southern, or even American for that matter, I can’t say how the food was prepared. What I can say is that my very Southern grandmother would give the sausage gravy preparation the side eye, but other than that, it looked as authentic as possible.
The boys were served biscuits that were perfectly golden, and there was immediate confusion. Apparently biscuits are flat and hard in England, so the boys were sure they were being served scones. It only took one bite for them to come around to the idea of the buttery fluffy delight that is the Southern biscuit. But the taste test for the biscuits wasn’t over—Carrott mixed up some white sausage gravy and smothered the delicious bread.
None of the boys were eager to try a meal that many Southern households eat regularly.
“Let’s call it interesting for now. I’m not going to make a judgment,” one boy says.
“It looks like a chopped-up ferret,” another lamented.
To be fair, if you’ve never seen biscuits and gravy, it doesn’t look instantly appealing, but once you try it, the dish suddenly looks amazing every time you encounter it moving forward. Maybe it isn’t everyone’s favorite thing, but being able to drive through a Whataburger and grab it to go brings me childlike joy.
After trying everything offered, all of the boys agreed that the Southern food was delicious, including the sweet tea. Several of them said they preferred it over their British hot tea—no one tell their parents. It feels like it would be as shocking as finding a Southerner who prefers unsweet tea. You can watch the entire video below.
Towards the end of The Beatles’ illustrious but brief career, Paul McCartney wrote “Let it Be,” a song about finding peace by letting events take their natural course. It was a sentiment that seemed to mirror the feeling of resignation the band had with its imminent demise.
The bittersweet song has had an appeal that has lasted generations and that may be because it reflects an essential psychological concept: the locus of control.
“It’s about understanding where our influence ends and accepting that some things are beyond our control,” Jennifer Chappell Marsh, a marriage and family therapist, told The Huffington Post. “We can’t control others, so instead, we should focus on our own actions and responses.”
This idea of giving up control, or the illusion of it, when it does us no good, was perfectly distilled into 2 words that everyone can understand as the “Let Them” theory. Podcast host, author, motivational speaker and former lawyer Mel Robbins explained this theory perfectly in a vial Instagram video.
“I just heard about this thing called the ‘Let Them Theory,’ I freaking love this,” Robbins starts the video.
“If your friends are not inviting you out to brunch this weekend, let them. If the person that you’re really attracted to is not interested in a commitment, let them. If your kids do not want to get up and go to that thing with you this week, let them.” Robbins says in the clip. “So much time and energy is wasted on forcing other people to match our expectations.”
“If they’re not showing up how you want them to show up, do not try to force them to change; let them be themselves because they are revealing who they are to you. Just let them – and then you get to choose what you do next,” she continued.
The phrase is a great one to keep in your mental health tool kit because it’s a reminder that, for the most part, we can’t control other people. And if we can, is it worth wasting the emotional energy? Especially when we can allow people to behave as they wish and then we can react to them however we choose.
Stop wasting energy on trying to get other people to meet YOUR expectations. Instead, try using the “Let Them Theory.”
Stop wasting energy on trying to get other people to meet YOUR expectations. Instead, try using the “Let Them Theory.” 💥 Listen now on the #melrobbinspodcast!! “The “Let Them Theory”: A Life Changing Mindset Hack That 15 Million People Can’t Stop Talking About” 🔗 in bio #melrobbins #letthemtheory #letgo #lettinggo #podcast #podcastepisode
How you respond to their behavior can significantly impact how they treat you in the future.
It’s also incredibly freeing to relieve yourself of the responsibility of changing people or feeling responsible for their actions. As the old Polish proverb goes, “Not my circus, not my monkeys.”
“Yes! It’s much like a concept propelled by the book ‘The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F**k.’ Save your energy and set your boundaries accordingly. It’s realizing that we only have “control” over ourselves and it’s so freeing,” 60DaysToLive2012 wrote.
“Let It Be” brought Paul McCartney solace as he dealt with losing his band in a very public breakup. The same state of mind can help all of us, whether it’s dealing with parents living in the past, friends who change and you don’t feel like you know them anymore, or someone who cuts you off in traffic because they’re in a huge rush to go who knows where.
The moment someone gets on your nerves and you feel a jolt of anxiety run up your back, take a big breath and say, “Let them.”
Women are often saddled with the mental load of the household in romantic relationships, there are multiple articles covering the topic. It can be daunting to be in charge of remembering all of the things, essentially becoming a house manager by default. Many times this isn’t an arrangement that is discussed, it seems to be either an expectation due to parental modeling or falling into gender roles.
Morgan Strickell was not planning to fall into the trap of being her family’s sole organizer and distributer of information. This was a boundary she and her husband were clear about before getting married but recently had to reinforce. The soon-to-be mom, took to her TikTok page to explain that she is not interested in being her husband’s “kin keeper.”
Strickell is pregnant with her first child and after news was posed on social media, her mother in law’s feeling were hurt after finding out the news second hand. It was this situation that prompted the woman’s video.
“I refuse to be the primary communicator with my husband’s side of the family,” Strickell starts. “A few weeks ago my mother-in-law was on the phone with us and she expressed that she was a little bit hurt because she keeps finding out things about our pregnancy from her sister who sees the posts on social media.”
The woman explains that this is news to her as she assumed her husband had been communicating the news to his mother. So when they had another ultrasound appointment she reminded her husband to send the information to his mom, to which he asked why she couldn’t inform his mom for him. That’s when Strickwell had to reinforce her boundary, reminding him that it is his job to inform his side of the family of important information.
Strickwell has a good relationship with her mother in-law and speaks to her on a fairly regular basis, so it’s not a matter of an unpleasant relationship. The soon-to-be mom is simply not adding additional things to her plate that then become the expectation. Many people in the comments agreed with her approach.
I’m on your side and I’m actually the mom of three boys who don’t communicate with me, but it is their responsibility to keep me in the loop not their wives,” a commenter says.
“Last year my husband told me I was wrong for not including his mom in my Mother’s Day shopping and I kindly reminded him that we in fact do not share the same mom,” another writes.
“Stay strong on this, it only gets worse after the kid is born,” someone declares.
“You are correct and the next thing he’ll have you do is buying birthday presents birthday cards for his family and everything becomes your responsibility,” another person says.
In another video, Strickell clarified that her husband isn’t worried about his communication in with his mother. She also says this isn’t an issue that comes up often in their relationship because he is very good at communicating with his family. But Strickwell’s intention was to use that example as a means to make sure people are aware that the responsibility of communication doesn’t have to fall on the female partner in the relationship.
The NBA officially announced its new national media rights deal on Wednesday, moving forward with plans to add Amazon and NBC as two new partners alongside ESPN. A legal fight could be coming regarding TNT’s effort to match the Amazon package, but the NBA denied that the network can meet the full breadth of the offer from Amazon, which extends far beyond just the dollar amount.
The expectation is that gets resolved prior to an actual court battle and the NBA will get its wish to go forward with the package as planned. What will be most interesting from a fan perspective with the new media deal is how the new networks build out their game and studio coverage. We know what ESPN’s coverage will likely look like, but Amazon and NBC have a chance to build something from scratch, which could breathe some freshness into the national coverage of the league.
The future of the Inside the NBA crew hangs over everything, as every network will be chasing them as the gold standard of sports television. Amazon and ESPN are reportedly interested in the entire crew, although the likelihood of that happening is slim to none by all accounts. The only avenue that seems possible is Charles Barkley’s idea to sign the crew to his production company and then sell the show as a whole to a network, and even that’s iffy given contracts already signed.
Beyond that, every network will be interested in Barkley individually, and Shaq and Kenny Smith figure to garner plenty of interest as well — Ernie Johnson is expected to stay with Turner, continuing in his roles on MLB and NCAA Tournament. It’d be surprising if all four members of the Inside crew were simply not part of NBA coverage in 2025-26, but it’s also hard to figure out exactly who would go where.
As such, we decided to draft game and studio teams for Amazon (Robby) and NBC (Bill) with the Inside fellas excluded, understanding that any of them can basically pick their landing spot if they want. Everyone else was on the table, from established talent at TNT and even ESPN (if you could elevate their role to convince them to leave) to folks from team broadcasts, podcasters, and recently retired players. NBC started with Mike Tirico in the lead play-by-play slot and Maria Taylor in the lead studio host spot, as those seem like locks barring one of them leaving the network altogether. Otherwise, it’s a blank slate for both, and we alternated picks for 3 play-by-play announcers, four game analysts (two for the lead booth), a studio host, and three studio analysts.
NBC
Lead Broadcast Team: Mike Tirico, Jamal Crawford, and Jim Jackson
It’s been reported that Tirico is going to be the lead broadcaster for NBC, which isn’t a surprise, as he is the voice of the network’s NFL broadcasts and has called NBA games in the past when he was at ESPN — he was on the call when Damian Lillard eliminated the Houston Rockets from the playoffs back in 2014.
Crawford was a no-brainer pick for me. I think if either NBC or Amazon are really smart, they’re grabbing him immediately and banking on him to be next big thing in NBA broadcasting — he’s been great in the studio for Turner whenever he’s been in that role, and I thought he was excellent when he moved into the booth for specific games this past season, particularly during the playoffs as a member of a three-man group with Kevin Harland and Reggie Miller. And if NBC wants to pair him with someone more experienced, bringing Jackson over from Turner’s roster of NBA broadcasters as someone who clearly cares and brings a terrific personality to broadcasts is obvious. This would immediately become one of my favorite booths in the sport.
Broadcast Team 2: Noah Eagle and Dwyane Wade
I won’t write too terribly much about this duo since I did that here, but they’re incredibly good together. The only things that I could foresee being issues are Wade being a busy guy who might not be able to dedicate time to this, and one of his off-court ventures being his ownership stake in the Utah Jazz. But there’s time to get both of those figured out.
Broadcast Team 3: Adam Amin and Stacey King
Adam Amin had to be my third play-by-play guy. Every time I have ever watched him call a game in any sport, I’ve been blown away by how good he is at his job — he’s super well-prepared, he’s great at banter during a game, and he’s awesome during big moments. And obviously, if I am getting Adam Amin, I need to get Stacey King, his wonderful partner on Chicago Bulls broadcasts. Would Amin do this when he has NFL and MLB responsibilities for Fox? Would King leave for a national gig? Who knows! But this is all in good fun, and when I want to hear a fun NBA broadcast, I throw on a Bulls game.
Studio Crew: Maria Taylor, Candace Parker, Tim Legler, and Raja Bell
It’s just common sense to put Maria Taylor as the host of the studio show. Assuming she would want to do this right after football season — she hosts NBC’s Big Ten and NFL pregame shows, so it’d make sense if she wants a break — you take the former NBA Countdown host and have her host whatever NBC’s show is.
Parker was always going to be my first pick for a voice in the studio, and if NBC wants to make a splash, giving Legler this platform is the exact sort of move that would apply, as he’s the best analyst ESPN has but has always felt like he doesn’t have a big enough role. The two are incredibly smart, are excellent at discussing the game, and aren’t afraid to be really honest when the situation demands it. As for Bell, I wanted the final spot to go to someone a little more off the wall, and every time I’ve caught him on the “Real Ones” podcast, I’ve thought he’s the kind of big personality who can breathe a little life into a studio show. Or they can just give Charles Barkley a lot of money.
Amazon
Lead Broadcast Team: Ian Eagle, Sarah Kustok, and Blake Griffin
There have been reports already that Ian Eagle is the top target for Amazon’s lead play-by-play spot and for good reason. The 55-year-old is a veteran who is finally getting the spotlight after being elevated to CBS’ lead booth for the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament and has been phenomenal calling NBA games on TNT for years. As for his partners, I’d go with someone he has tremendous rapport with already in Sarah Kustok, who is spectacular alongside Bird on YES Network calling Brooklyn Nets games, and then a guy I think should be on every network’s wishlist, Blake Griffin. He’s incredibly comfortable in front of a mic, and while I don’t know if he has aspirations of calling games, I think he’d be a fantastic fit as part of a booth with Eagle and Kustok.
Michael Grady is a rising star in the play-by-play world and I think one of the new networks needs to scoop him up as a regular national broadcaster. He’s been fantastic in Minnesota and made his national debut this past postseason with TNT. As for who to partner with him, I was going to go Jim Jackson before Bill scooped him up at NBC, but Vince Carter would also be a good fit. Carter is good at just about everything he’s done on TV, from studio to game work, and I think he and Grady could become a fan favorite team.
Studio Crew: Cassidy Hubbarth, Andre Iguodala, Channing Frye, and Jalen Rose
For studio host, I think Amazon might go a similar route they went with Thursday Night Football, going with an established voice in Cassidy Hubbarth but giving her a step up in platform. Hubbarth is fantastic as a studio host and on sidelines, but there’s not a ton of upward mobility available to her at ESPN right now, as Lisa Salters has a lock on top sideline duty for as long as she wants it and Malika Andrews has established herself as the rising star of studio hosts at the network. That could provide an opportunity for Amazon to swoop in and poach her away for a leading role in studio.
I also think they’ll follow a similar route to their TNF construction when it comes to their NBA studio show, looking to go fairly young and lean on personality and fun, with one established analyst alongside. Iguodala and Frye are terrific on camera but aren’t so polished they shy away from saying what’s on their mind at any given time. I think this group would reinvigorate Jalen Rose, who by the end at ESPN seemed pretty beaten down by the revolving door of NBA Countdown, and remind folks that at his best, Rose is one of the more entertaining players turned TV personalities we’ve seen.
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