Court is Adjourned

Ben Maller starts right now. That it does, and we are in the air everywhere the vast power of podcasting, the global reach of the I Heart podcast network, and we thank you for downloading and subscribing to this particular podcast, a spinoff of the radio show The Overnight Show, The Ben Maller Show on Fox Sports Radio. This a standalone show as a spinoff, and we are here now eight days a week because four hours are clearly not enough, and joined yet again by David Gascon for better or worse,

He is right over there standing. Uh. I don't know if this could be like a standing eight count, Ben, but welcome to the month of July. And uh we are bearing for another month of the coronavirus. And uh, I guess we what we do? We're dipping our toes back in the deep end of the pool today. Well, I've got my tap dance shoes on because we're gonna go do a little tap dance on the third rail.

Oh Mad, it's the third rail. So I'm gonna warn you right now if you are triggered by political conversation and related to sports, this is probably not the podcast for you. Okay. If you don't want to hear that, I understand. Not everyone wants to hear that. I know a lot of people tell me they listen to the show to get away from that. I get it, I completely understand. But if you're into it and you're you want to hear some interesting opinions, I am very excited

about this an interview podcast. You probably know that from looking at it. Uh. And we are going to be joined here in a couple of minutes by the great Lee Terrell. Uh. Now, Leo Terrell and I have had a similar radio games. Now he's had more cool stuff happened in his life. He's an attorney, you know, he's he's actually lived the life I've just been in radio. But Leo very successful civil rights attorney. Fact, he calls

himself the fair minded civil rights attorney. And he was a teacher and he's had a lot of interesting things that he's done in his life. Uh, and he's done very well in education and whatnot. And uh he started at k ABC in Los Angeles around the time I started at the mighty six ninety in San Diego, which is our we learned from Hacksall, uh when when he was on a few while back that it's you know, seventies seven thousand watch it was really in l A station slash you know, San Diego slash l A uh

six night. But anyway, so uh we we've kind of been on the radio at the same time here. I've appreciated from Afar Leo's work. I love good radio. I'm a radio nerd. I love people that do radio well. And I you know, guess on my pet peeve is when people do layup line radio and you know Mount Rushmore and he just don't put any effort into it. I never got that sense from Leo when I've listened

to him over the years. He's always been prepared. He's got passionate opinions, and that to me, that's the most entertaining thing to listen to. Us what I look forward to listening to when I tune into a radio show. Yeah, it's it's fascinating because you know how he connected. He actually has know my dad for decades. And two things that you know, the chief had told me was he said something about Leo that you need to know is

that one he listens and two he cares. And as the first things that popped up to me, Obviously, if you're gonna be if you're gonna be dynamic and radio, you've gotta be able to do those two things because unlike sports, where you can, like you said, mail and it at time to do box score, radio, politics and social issues, no chance. Yeah, you can't. You can't do it. You'll be be called out. And and Leo, I feel like he's getting more and more popular. Is his his

reach is print is getting bigger and bigger. I know he's a contributor at Fox News. He's done some other TV stuff sporadically, but I feel like this last couple of weeks he's really been at the forefront a lot of these issues that we talk about because they're loosely related to sports. Yeah, but I think one of the main reasons outside of what he's doing in terms of content is if you've noticed Ben he has a Lavalier microphone and he has a wonderful backdrop in his studio.

Wait wait, wait, wait wait, I got I got a I'm looking behind me here. I got a beautiful blue background with the Fox Sports Radio logo and my logo. Although I didn't notice the way the people at the company made the logo not to go down a rabbit hole here is uh they made the logo. So where I sit and you can pretty much only see the Fox Sports Radio logo and not not the Ben Mallard Show logo. I find. Somebody pointed that out to me, said, you know, you can't really see your logo. You can

only see the Fox Sports radiogo. And I'm like, no, no, my it was there. It's just my head is covering it up. And so but anyway, and before we get into leo here, I did want to promote us because all about us. This is a fourth US Live weekend. If you if you want a special cameo, shout out you know, I can tell you how patriotic I am and wrap myself in the flag if you want on cameo. If you want that this weekend for the holiday, we are available. We're both on Cameo. I'm on cameo dot com.

Just search my name Ben Mallord. Love to do it if you're super fan, if that's something you would be interested in. It's not free, but still uh not that much. Is certainly cheaper than most of the people that are on Cameo that are just outrageous some of them. I mean, let's be honest here, some of the prices are over the top. And guest and you're on there also, yes, yes, you can follow me on there, David David J. Gasconers

through the search and of course Twitter. I'm on there at David Jay gascon On Instagram is at Dave gascon Yeah, and I'm on all the social media should know that by now, but maybe not Ben Maller on Twitter. That's Ben Maller on Twitter, Instagram, Ben Maller on Fox and Facebook Ben Maller Show. And again, if you see those videos from time to time, please watch him. That helps

out get those views up. I know it seems ridiculous, but the people in our in our company do look at those kind of things, so that doesn't help us out. But right now, enough of us, guess on, let's get right into it and we welcome in on the high Speed Hotline. I don't know we have a name for. This is just the phone. He just called in on the phone. How about this we could call line once?

This one actually works. We have a line one. Hey man, I am very excited to talk to with We have not spoken before, but as I said earlier, a big fan of his work on radio specifically and also television. I've seen a lot of him recently. We welcome in Leo Terrell, who joins us here on the Fifth Hour with Ben Maller and David Guest Gun and Leo. Big fan. I've enjoyed you over there. What have you been up to? Well? Then, first of all, thank you and Dave thanks for having me. Uh,

you're right. I started on radio in about the nineties, mid nineties, and Uh, as much as I am a lawyer, I loved so I've listened to you over the years, and I listened to Dave, and it's just a privilege to be on the air with you guys. All right, Well, it's it's good to have an attorney on because I feel like we need an attorney with what's going on in the world. You know, we have a deal in the sports world obviously, and that has turned very political.

And it's great to have a lawyer on like yourself here to to help enlighten us here. But from a legal perspective, do you think it makes sense for the sports league such as the NFL, the NBA, NASCAR to make the transition into the political world. You know what My answer is, yes and no. I think they intersect. I mean, first of all, people love sports. I love sports to escape from the rat race of the world politics and all the anger. It's a way to escape.

I make the flip side of that, and you experienced it with Kaepernick, and you see what's happening with NASCAR is that the situation is that these people, these athletes, are public figures and they have a conscious to have an opinion, and they can make a tremendous pack. Now the question is the fan. Does the fan want to hear the opinion of of Bubba Wallace or a Colin Kaepernick? And to me, as a civil rights attorney, is an individual issue. For me, I'd rather keep politics out of sports.

But hey, we can't deny it. It exists and it's going to be a continuation of of athletes. Give me opinions on uh civil issues such as the George Floyd murdered. Yeah, and you know, continuing down that line, Leo, I mean, Drew Brees of the Saints said something that many people felt was benign about the national anthem, and he just got trampled on for saying that, and he issued three apologies,

at least three apologies. What did you make of that whole scenario where he had to apologize multiple times for something many people felt it was not something you need to apologize for. Thank you very much for asking that question, Drew. If you're listening to me, you should not apologize. You have a right. Drew Brees had a right to express his opinion. And let me be clear because there's this, and this is your initial question about you know, should

athletes talk about politics and all this stuff? Hey, there is a lot of different opinions on black lives. Now, let me give you a perfect example. I don't support black lives. I do not support black lives because they don't support all black lives, for example, black police officers who are murdered. Now I get away with saying that because I'm black. What would have happened if Drew Brees would have said that, and he oh, he just his

statement was benign. But what it would have happened if Drew Brees would have said Leo Trull just said, he would have been annihilated. And I think that's wrong. I think athletes have a right to express opinions and this sort of gang mentality. Oh, oh my gosh, how dare you? Hey? If any athletes wants to talk to me why I oppose Black Lives matter, give me a call. But I

think Drew Brees was unjustly harassed. Be sure to catch live editions of The Ben Miller Show weekdays at two a m. Eastern eleven pm Pacific on Fox Sports Radio and the I Heart Radio app. Yeah, and going down that same same rabbit hole, Leo, we saw it with an NBA broadcaster, Grant Napier, who had been calling Sacramento Kings games for like thirty years, and he said all

lives matter, and that sent the mob off. And have we now gotten to the point where you can't say anything and it has the thought police taken over here and there's no different opinions? Leo, Yeah, I think you have. And that and that Sacramento announcer in my opinion was treated unfairly. All lives matter, I'll say it. All lives matter. And here's the problem. There is like a mindset and this is what the problem is. Let's here's the elephant

the room. I I compliment Black Lives Matter for dominating social media, but what they have done is they have hijacked the issue of equality in this country. And you got corporations, you got athletes, you got companies just contributing millions and millions of dollars, and you have Black Lives Matter have basically stifle individuals athletes such as Drew Breeds. Yeah,

now it's up in sacrament They've stifled their speech. And as a result, if you don't agree with this perception of Black Lives Matter in totality, you're gonna be punished. And again, the original issue here is this. When I listened to sports, when I listened to basketball and football and baseball, I don't want to deal with politics and political issues. I want to escape, and now that seems

to be impossible. Leo. I mean credential wise, I don't know if a lot of the listeners know your background, know your resume, but I know you went to cal State, Domingus Hills. You've got a master's from Pepperdine and then you've got your j d from from u C. L A. So you're used to a bruin. A lot of people here in southern California might not like that, especially if

they're Trojan friens Um hey ring basketball, Trojan football. The next actually in right of the bread and butter um, what's your what's your thought process behind what the NBA? Because you look at all the leagues, well, it's the NBA, Major League Baseball, the NFL, the NHL, and now NASCAR.

But with the NBA and how progressive they are, they've had the thought and they flowed the idea with the players and the Players Association that they want to once the season does resume in Orlando, is that they want to have the players have an opportunity to not have their last names on their jerseys but have either social issues, social causes, or charity funds that are are named on the back of their jerseys. What's your thought behind all that? And do you feel that that is beneficial for the

sport and and for the general public. Uh, let me let me answer that question. Absolutely not. It's a horrible idea. And again, I'm a civil rights attorney. I got a lot of credibility to speak on issues involving police miscons I have handled some of the biggest police cases in this country for the last twenty five years. And and this this attempt to basically among the NBA players to hijack the NBA and turn into a social conscious issue when in fact they don't even really know what they're

talking about. Again, you know, you know, we got this horrible situation of George Floyd being murdered, but this this leap in logic that oh my gosh, police officers are racist throughout the entire country. I will submit to you the following fact that in democratic cities Chicago, l A, Baltimore, Washington, gul who's running the city minorities, people of color. So back to the social issue, whoever is thinking about this,

they don't understand what the real issue is. I can tell you right now, NBA, help me develop great schools in the minority community. School education is the civil rights issue, not police misconduct. So this this symbolic issue of wearing social justice issues on the back of your jersey. That's a great PR stunt, But it doesn't accomplish anything, and a defeats again the original question you asked me, I want to go watch basketball to escape from problems in

heading not to see it in my face. You know, it's it's fastened that you brought that up with the education system because I had the chance after we had originally taught and I had a chat with what the chief. I had a chat with my dad a few days ago and asked him, you know, background wise that you guys you know connected, and he told me a fascinating

case that you guys were a part of. And then he had mentioned something interesting when he was working in the Southeastern Division and you had a lot of contacts and people you knew and Watts, and he told me a fascinating story about how these black and these mothers would put their kids in in bathtubs at night so they can sleep with protection because there'd be guns sprang bullets all over the place when these kids are going to bed at night. And it was fascinating to me.

What he had told me is that kids would go to school and the first hour they learned nothing, and the last hour of the day in school they learned nothing because they were worried about what happened the night before, and they were worried about what's going to happen at night when they go home, when they're simply trying to survive.

And my question, my question to you for Lee is this is that there aren't players and there are athletes like Ben's talked about this a lot with Kobe Bryant for his well renowned as he was, most of the charity work he did behind the scenes. So my question is, do you feel like enough of these athletes do enough for their communities to make sure that they can get some of the benefits of what they have done professionally

and obviouacy financially. Let me think about that. Give me a say, hell, no, they haven't done nothing, because what you just described goes on every day. That's why, here's another news flash. People of color love the police in the community. You know why it is that buffer zone between them and the criminals. They love the police in community of color. And have they done enough could you imagine? Look, let's be clear again, I'm gonna be very honest with you.

African Americans dominated NBA basketball. They make millions of billions of dollars they're branded. Could you imagine if they put some money into education, improve the school system. The reason why the three of us are talking right now because we went to school, we went to college, we got an education, and we have been able to pull ourselves

up through education. And what I'm saying if these it's everyone from the NBA listen to this podcast, please stop worrying about putting your name on the back of a jersey for branding your own personal benefit. If you really care about people of color, improve the school system. Education is the new civil rights issue. Athletes. Be sure to catch live editions of The Ben Miller Show weekdays at two a m. Eastern, eleven p m. Pacific and LEO.

We've heard a lot of athletes recently, not not a ton, but a few that have said, you know, I don't know if I want to even play. We've heard Dwight Howard, some NBA guys say that until there's major change, that they feel like they're uncomfortable playing their sports because their entertainment for the masses and all that. In your opinion, what do you think they actually want to see happen

before they'd be happy playing? Because I've I've heard a lot of random statements, but I haven't heard any specifics on what really needs to happen for them to be comfortable. You know, I'll tell you right now. Let's set aside the pandemic, and you know, they say they don't want to play the until things change in society. Now what I find amazing when I hear them say this, I hear I'm hearing black multimillionaires basically sitting there and saying,

you know, I want things to change. Are they see discrimination and police misconduct every day? Are they reflecting their views of what their personal experiencing, or are they guessing what's going on out in the communities of color because they know there's a total disconnect there. I'm scratching my head. Because they don't live in the community any longer. They're

insulated from all the issues that they're troubled by. So all these athletes who are not going to play, they're gonna go back to their big mansions and their multiple cards and relax, And they don't say the data in day out problems of the people who they allegedly are concerned with. I find that hard to believe, and I think it's very disingenuous. And all they're doing is drinking the cool aid that we gotta change this racist system that exists. Let me be as clear as possible, because

this systematic discrimination, institutionalized racism. Athletes, let me tell you right now, this is not the nineteen sixties. This is not Bull Connor, Lexter Maddox, George Wallace, the German Shepherds of going after black folks at dining areas. That doesn't exist. This is where you have athletes, superstar celebrities of all different colors, a black president for eight years part of the system. So stop playing that game. There are pockets

of racism. I agree, That's why I'm still working. But come on, athletes from the NBA, NFL, m MLB, they're facing racism, give me a give me a break. Come on, well, and Leo following that up, how much heat are you taking? I mean as a black guy, and I know we've seen a few other people who have crossed the line, if you will, and they take a lot of crap. Are you taking a lot of crap for your position on this? How? How have people been treated me? You know?

One of the reason why I've always been self employed so that I wouldn't have to worry about economic pressure. A self employeed lawyer for thirty years, I don't have to worry about going into the office. And the boss said, hey, man, I just don't like what you said on Ben Mallard

and David Gascone's UH podcast. You're gonna wabout you go so economically, I'm not worried as far as and I have credibility on the left on this so called you know discrimination, So I have tremendous credibility answer your questions and by taking some heat, Yeah, does it bother me? No, hear that Drew Brees. It doesn't bother me because I

can sleep well, it's my conscious. It's clear. I challenge debate anyone on the issues that I'm a articulating on this podcast because I know, I know what I'm talking about. I'm a civil rights lawyer for thirty years, and you've got all these athletes, non athletes, talking about civil rights. Show me your credentials. I'll debate anytime you want to, on the on the arena floor, downtown city hall or the middle of the street. So no, I'm getting heat,

but I'm not bothered by it. I want more heat. Leo. I guess. The one question is when you mentioned athletes, and even if you cross over to celebrities, they're all wealthy and they all have incredible comfort from obviously their

opportunities and what they've credit for themselves. Who do you think or what do you think is the driving force behind this with these athletes, Because as you mentioned, you know, the thought of giving money away or a thought of, you know, providing money for a charity or for a cause is one thing, but to actually support it and to be intelligent to have knowledge behind it is a completely other thing. So why do you think or who do you think is kind of pushing these buttons for

these athletes? And who do you think is steering the ship for them? A good question and it's easy answer. They're insulated by yes people and easy yes people want to uh our only focus on perception. Again, I go back to Black Lives Matter. It's a small fringe organization, but they have control social media and they dominate the

the conversation. To answer your questions, these athletes are misguided by yes people who surround them so and they provide them with advice, in my opinion, bad advice to make sure that they look good but from a substance standpoint, a substance standpoint, nothing, I'll give Lebron I'll get. Let me give Lebron James credit on one issue, one issue, which should be something that all these athletes they really want to do. Something he created that I promise school.

That was powerful. I used to be a school teacher for five years. I know the power of education. Now you now that was substance. And could you imagine all these athletes making zillions of dollars, the pressure they have on corporation and companies that want an endorsement. Okay, let's improve the quality of the school. Let's go private schools. Private school was in the city of l A. That that would be great. We get rid of these horrible

public school teachers, these horrible unions. I used to be a public school teacher. We get rid of these unions who are nothing, are nothing, to have only the interests of their own self interests and not about the kids in minority areas. That's theory to go. But hey, they're insulated by yes people and all these yes people's are concerned about public perception. Period. Now, Leo, you grew up in southern California, went to Guardina High School. Correct me

if I'm wrong on that. Um, what was your first love? Were you a football guy? Or you a basketball guy? Or baseball? Like? Where did you fall in love with first? Let me tell you right now. First of all, I love sports more than you guys. Okay, okay, that's okay. Now, if you're gonna say that, that means that Ben and I love politics more than you. Let me tell you. I'm gonna ask I'm want to ask you a question. All I wanted to do was become a short stop like Mori Wills. That's all I wanted to do in

my life. And I and and to Baseball was my number one favorite old time sports. And and then it transitioned to football in the seventies with Bras Shaw and the Steelers, and then it transitions in the eighties to Magic and the Lakers in basketball. So I basically grew up loving baseball. And really I'm really a three sports person. Baseball, basketball, football, I like the Olympics. I like track and feel. By the way, let me brag a little bit, because, like

I said, I love sports. On February one, February nineteen sixty seven, Muhammad Ali fought a guy for fifteen rounds the Houston nast Dome. His name was Ernie Terrell. I repeat, Ernie Terrell. Do your research. That's my cousin. Oh my goodness, that's pretty cool. Yes, fourth, guys, Yes, I love sports. I love boxing. Well, see the reason why I was asking is this is that you know, a few years

ago I coached in Compton. I actually coached junior college football Compton College, and part of Major League Baseball's Inner City programs is that they helped build a legit baseball diamond in the city of Compton on Compton Camp, Compton's campus.

A few days ago, Ian Desmond of the Colorado Rockies had sent out a giant post on on a blog and put it on Twitter and Instagram about what he grew up and what he felt like and what he saw, what he experienced, and part of it was the lack of engagement with black youth in the game of baseball. Have have you experienced that? And do you see that here in Los Angeles? Because when do you think about baseball?

At least for me, I think about cal State Fullerton, I think Long Beach State, I think U c l A. I think pepper Dyne I think you see Irvine even think Sandy was state. So it's a hot bed for talent here in southern California. But do you think we get enough here from the youth. I think don't we get We have, you know, the Dodgers here, and I think we have the opportunities and the resources here in l A. I didn't. I don't feel that it's something that uh, people of color are not made up or

don't have opportunities to pursue. I think it's I think it's a hotbed of talent here. I think it's a matter of choice. I think right now that the choice in southern California is basically football and basketball. But opportunities, definitely, definitely they exist for baseball and you know, this pursuit or you know, trying to recruit. I think it's the issue is really the preference of the of the students in the community, and they prefer basketball and football. But

I do want to say something on this topic. You know, I would prefer if you asked me. As much as sports has gotten a lot of athletes out of the community and have gone on to bigger and better things, you know, if they're gonna put a nice football still or a basketball diamond in the in the in in the community of color. Can you improve the school against the education aspect? You guys know as well as I do. Athletics is a short term career. And you know I'm

practicing law. I could practice law forever. I got twenty five years in the bank. I could feel I can go out and teach right now. And so I'm looking at and you guys know the percentages of athletes who actually make it to make it to the big time. We want to make sure these athletes have an alternative two sports. And that's what Smith. That goes back to education again. Be sure to catch live editions of The Ben Meller Show weekdays at two a m. Eastern eleven

pm Pacific. Well and Leo following that, I mean, we've had the war on police, which apparently is going on right now, but what about a war on education? When, as you've said, as a teacher, what what would you what are a couple of points you would throw out that need to be done to improve the education in the inner city, in the in the black community. What tangibly can these athletes do that would make a dramatic difference. Thank you NBA, Lebron, Uh, Chris Paul, all you guys

on T and T in all of these states. So let me tell what we should do. Uh, give people of color choice, I mean choice, not sell the kool aid that public schools are great institutions. They're not. They're horrible. Now, don't get me wrong. I went to a public school. But give individuals a choice between public schools and private schools and charter school make it competitive, give an economic incentive. This is what I could imagine. I would imagine a

high school or elementary school. The faculty are professors, college professors. I mean, it would just be amazing what you know as well as I do. Kids can learn so much at a young age. And that to me, Uh, Chris Paul, Uh, Russell Westbrook, Kevin Durant, Kyrie Irving, Lebron, Adam Silver. Improve the qualities of schools. Just challenge public schools. Drive that unions out of there. I'm sorry being now, I'm being political. The unions are just so detrimental to improving schools in

minority areas. That's number one. That's what I'm gonna be pushing for the rest of my life. Do you think it hurts us or helps us that certain universities now are are actually getting rid of the s A T. I think I think it's an insult. I love the innerdized test. And let me tell you what I'm talking about. Yeah, I went to u c. L A Law school. I took the California State Bar, the hardest bar in the country.

Wait before you get in, before you get anything else, LEO, when you took the California State Bar, how much did it cost then? Because I know it's over a thousand dollars now and it's three days, let me tell you about if it's If memories serves me correct, it may have been anywhere between three or four year dollars. And I may be wrong. I just don't remember. But but I took the California State Bar, and this black man past the California State Bar on the first try, and

and and and and all. A standardized test provised is is a level of qualification and competency to eliminate the s a T. To eliminate standardized tests, it gives you a level playing field. And trust me, and I took the this California State Bard thirty some nine years ago, and so I'm i'm I'm against eliminating standardized test. And let me just throw this out because it's gonna happen in California. They's putting on the bill on the legislation

um the eliminate just to reinstitute affirmative action. Oh my gosh. I'm a civil rights journey I believe in the equality, not preferential treatment. This is not nineteen sixty Again, I got these three. Also, if NBA players build up schools in the inner city, those those black and brown kids would be passing the s a T becoming doctors and lawyers in great numbers. Yeah, and I'm gonna go out. You mentioned your your relative there, your cousin with Muhammad Ali.

But some people, so some people are comparing Colin Kaepernick to Mohammed Ali. Where are you on that? There's a Kaepernick has been turned into a deity by certain factions. Where are you on the Kaepernick story? Thank you for asking that question. Uh, it is an insult two Mom Ali's family and everyone who knows the accomplishments of Muhammad Ali to put Colin Kaepernick to even in that category, that's that's an insult. Again, I get the way I get to say that because I guess my color shameful.

Everyone should be able to say what I'm saying if they steel that way. Now, let's let me go on and explain why why I say this, uh, this, this assumption. And let me tell you again, there are bad police officers. Don't dispute that. But when Kaepernick uh presentation the racial injustice among police departments, I don't buy him. I don't buy.

I don't know what his motives was. He has a right to express his motive, but I don't buy his motive that he was protesting this massive across the nation, uh police misconduct we's saying in Chicago, l A. Baltimore. If Mr Kaepernick listened to your podcast, I'd like to talk to him about it. He is a creature of public perception and his timing. He had the perfect storm four years ago. He came out he was a lone ranger. He's been he's been black ball, which I think is

wrong by the NFL. And then the George Floyd situation. Guess what people did. Oh, he's right, No, No, he's not right, because what happened in Minneapolis was three was one rogue police officer with three other knitwith and they murder a black man. But guess what the public perception this if nineteen sixty all over again and everybody said, oh, Colin Kaepernick is right. No, Colin Kaepernick is still wrong.

But you know what, he's a big man now because he just pointed George Floyd and said, look, see I was right. And when Goodell uh said, oh, black lives matter, well again, there was a black retired captain in Saint Louis who was murdered. To send me a pond shop, I didn't see Colin Kaepernick there. I didn't see al sharpened there. I didn't see black lives matter there. But he's his life. He's a black man. See that's that's the hypocrisy of all this. And Drew Brees, if you're listening,

take back your apology. Well absolutely, I agree with you on that. I think the apology was ridiculous. But Leo, what about Lebron? We want to go back to Lebron because some people are some people around his circle or saying this is a future politician, This is a guy that somebody could run for president. You're in the political world, how do you think he would do as a politician? Lebron James. I think there's, uh, there's two key elements

to being a good politician. You gotta have a good heart where people really believe that you care about them. You gotta have a good head, And I think Lebron James has a great heart, and I think he needs to have someone you know, I told you he was

insulated with a lot of yes people around him. People are interested in perception, but he needs to expand his inner circle with people to keep him inform of facts, information and come up with a position because you know, I would disagree with Michael Jordan's years ago he said demographic Republicans both by nikes. Now, I think there's a place for for athletes if they want to pursue the plitical ram, but just don't do it based on your

brand name. Learn the facts, educate yourself because you have people who will follow you because of their association by watching you play sports. So I think Lebron James has a tremendous potential a lot of upside if he goes the political route, but surround himselves with people who have his best interest at heart and what he wants to accomplish at heart. Fox Sports radio has the best sports

talk lineup in the nation. Catch all of our shows at Fox Sports Radio dot com and within the I Heart Radio app search f s R to listen live. And Leo is gonna ask you a question on that note, because Lebron and some of the other stars in the

NBA are forming themselves a a voting rights group. If you're the commissioner, Adam Silver, who has been progressive and has actually looked for for ways to to push the push the envelope a little bit and to get out there into the into the communities, what do you do and how do you as as commissioner the NBA. I know it's a it's a it's a tight tight walk because you're obviously doing's best for the league, what's best for the owners, but also you're gonna look out for

your players too. So when you have, like you said, an insulated group like this, some might perceive that as Lebron's just getting people that want to follow him to the voting you know, to the voting balance. Um, how do you advise these guys then if they don't have the kind of pushback that you were offering for other individuals, that challenge you I think first of all, Silver, You're right, has a very tight rope to sort of walk. Remember

he's employed by the owners. They hire him, and I think Silver has a lot of credibility Donald Sterling situation. I think he has a lot of credibility as far as being decisive, also having the listening ear of the player. But you know, this is the line that he has to draw and and and the players have to understand what their role is. The NBA unlike the other leagues, and you guys would probably agree with this, I hope is that it is player dominated, unlike the NFL where

the owner's control. So there is a a position that Adam Silver and the players reps with Lebron and Chris Paul and they have to work for the total betterment of not only what the NBA stands for, but this idea of going beyond sports into other areas. I have a problem with that. Yeah, and Leo, I guess we'll leave you on this. I saw the other day that President Trump retweated a video that you were in the

other night on on Fox that I know. Trump is very controversial, obviously, that's pretty cool though, to have the president of the United States UH tweet that out. How did that feel? I was, I was, I would listen to me. I was, first of all, very happy. I think what I said in the tweet that the the video, I believe. I believe that you know, I love this country, and I think that there's been a lot of pandering

going on. And what bothers me is that the a lot of people are manipulating, exploiting the George Floyd situation. For the President of the United States to retweet something that I participated in about this country, UH was a great honor. And UH. I think the president right now is UH is a person trying to establish law and

order in this country. And unfortunately, because we're in a political season, UH, he's not any help from the other party, And I think that creates a very unusual election this upcoming year. And I think that Uh, we had the pandemic, the riots, the loss of the Great Kobe Bryant. This has been one of the most unusual years ever in my life. And we still have about four or five months left. Absolutely, Leo, thank you for your time, big fan. Love hearing you on the radio, seeing you on TV,

and continued success. And man, I want to say that. Thank you very much, because I love sports and just to talk about sports, politics and life. This is probably when I really enjoyed the interview. Thank you very much for having me, Leil, thanks for coming on with us. I appreciate it. Take care, have a good day.