♪ ♪
>> Announcer: THE FOLLOWING IS
A PRESENTATION OF HBO SPORTS.
>> I DON'T LIKE PLAYING DOUBLES,
BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I'M ALWAYS
APOLOGIZING TO THE OTHER PERSON.
[LAUGHTER]
>> LIKE, "I'M SORRY YOU SUCK."
[LAUGHTER]
>> I'M SORRY, I'M SORRY.
I WOULD HAVE HAD IT.
YOU SHOULD HAVE HAD IT, TOO.
♪ ♪
["ALRIGHT" BY KENDRICK LAMAR]
♪ ♪
>> WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED, WAS
IT VERY NERVE-RACKING?
>> OH, IT'S STILL NERVE-RACKING.
WHEN YOU FIRST START, IT'S JUST
ABOUT THE JOKES.
YOU DO THE JOKES, AND IF THEY
DON'T LAUGH AT THE JOKE, THEN
OKAY, THEY JUST DIDN'T LIKE THAT
JOKE.
BUT THEN ONCE YOU REALLY PUT
YOURSELF INTO IT, IF THEY DON'T
LAUGH, IT'S LIKE OH, SHIT, THEY
DON'T LIKE ME!
[LAUGHTER]
I CAN'T HIDE BEHIND THE JOKE,
THIS SHIT GOT PERSONAL.
>> ANYTHING I SAY, THEY'RE JUST
LIKE, "AAAH!"
HAD BEEN AT SOME WHERE JUST LOOK
AT ME.
YOU ARE WORKING AND TRYING EVERY
THING YOU DID.
>> EVERYTHING BUT STANDING ON
YOUR HEAD, RIGHT?
>> YOU TRY TO BREAK THEM.
WHEN I DON'T GET THEM, I'VE GOT
THE D.J. LIKE THIS, "DROP IT,
DROP IT, LET'S GET OUT OF HERE!"
>> FROM AN ATHLETE PERSPECTIVE,
ARE THERE EVERY TIME'S CROWD MAY
BOO AND YOU ARE LIKE, "I'M
TRYING, MAN."
>> YOU ARE ON THE LOAN DOMINIC
AND ILAN, YOU'RE ISOLATED
I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING WHAT
I CAN'T UPLIFT THEM AND LIFT
THEM UP, BUT AT THE SAME TIME,
SHIT, F I'M SHOOTING 0 FOR 10, I
CAN'T GRAB A FUCKING BOARD TO
SAVE MY LIFE, THEY'RE GOING TO
SEND ME YOUR ASS OUT.
>> TENNIS IS REALLY SPECIAL
BECAUSE YOU DO FEEL LIKE YOU'RE
BY YOURSELF, BUT YOU ARE KIND OF
TRAVELING AROUND THE WORLD WITH
A TEAM.
SO I'M CONSTANTLY WITH MY TEAM,
SO I DON'T FEEL LIKE I'M ALONE
IN THAT ASPECT, BUT WHEN YOU
STEP OUT THERE YOU ARE JUST KIND
OF TRYING TO FIGURE STUFF OUT ON
YOUR OWN.
I GUESS LIKE YOU WERE SAYING,
YOU CAN GET SUBBED OUT, BUT I
FEEL LIKE I CAN'T.
>> THAT'S ANOTHER THING THAT
SUCKS ABOUT TENNIS.
I LOVE TENNIS.
>> HOW DID YOU BECOME A BIG FAN,
BY THE WAY?
>> WHEN A BLACK PERSON WAS ON
THE COURT, I WAS LIKE --
[LAUGHTER]
I WAS THERE, I WAS ON IT.
OTHER SPORTS, YOU GET A COACH,
BUT YOUR COAT ISN'T EVEN
ALLOWED --
>> I HATE THAT RULE.
>> THAT'S A BAD RULE.
>> SOME PEOPLE WANTED TO CHANGE
BECAUSE THEY THINK IT IS MORE
FAN FRIENDLY AND MORE
ENTERTAINING IF YOU CAN SEE A
COACH AND HEAR THEM SAY WHAT THE
PLAYER SHOULD DO.
BUT THEN SOME PLAYERS WANT TO
KEEP IT MORE TRADITIONAL AND TRY
TO FIGURE THINGS OUT BY
THEMSELVES.
>> I THINK WE ALL WOULDN'T BE
SITTING HERE IF WE WEREN'T
STUDENTS OF OUR OWN GENIUS, OF
THEIR OWN PROFESSION.
FOR ME, TO KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON
IN A SPORT WHERE YOU TYPICALLY
DON'T SEE THAT, I THINK IT'S THE
NEXT EVOLUTION.
>> DURING A GAME OR AFTER A
GAME, HOW OFTEN ARE YOU BEING
SELF REFLECTIVE, GOING BACK AND
BEING SUPERCRITICAL?
>> I'VE ALWAYS BEEN MY TOUGHEST
CRITIC.
>> REALLY?
>> EVERYTHING FROM A BASELINE
RESOLVE TO TAKE MY FAMILY OUT OF
AN UGLY EXPERIENCE, SO I'M LIKE,
SHIT, IF I'M NOT PERFORMING, I
AM ADDING NO VALUE TO THE WORLD.
I'M NOT ADDING VALUE TO MY
FAMILY.
MY IDENTITY HAS BEEN SO TIED UP
IN JUST ONE THING, WHICH
HAPPENED TO BE BASKETBALL, THAT
IT REALLY HURT ME.
SHIT, LOOK AT ME, I'M GETTING
GRAY HAIR.
[LAUGHTER]
>> IT LOOKS NICE.
>> WHAT DID YOU HAVE TO GO
THROUGH TO GET IT SUCKS, BUT IT
LOOKS GREAT.
>> I APPRECIATED.
>> DO YOU FEEL THE SAME
ACCOUNTABILITY?
>> IT'S NAILED FOR ME.
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS A HORRIBLE
DIRTY INDUSTRY, BUT IT'S
LUCRATIVE IF YOU'RE ABLE TO GET
LUCKY AND IF YOU HAVE A GOOD
STAFF, A GOOD TEAM AROUND YOU
AND LEARN THE BUSINESS AND DO
THINGS OF THAT NATURE.
BUT IT'S A TIME WHERE YOU CAN
GET VERY DISCOURAGED AND IN A
DARK PLACE WITH MUSIC.
AND THEN THERE'S BEEN TIMES,
LIKE RIGHT AFTER, WHERE I CAN
FEEL LIKE THE KING OF THE WORLD
AND I CAN DO NO WRONG.
>> DOES IT PUSH YOU TO THE POINT
WHERE, "I DON'T WANT TO BE IN
FUCKING MUSIC ANYMORE?"
>> FOR ME, I NEVER SAY THAT.
BECAUSE HE'S LEFT MUSIC THREE OR
FOUR TIMES.
LIKE, "I DON'T FEEL LIKE DOING
MUSIC FOR A WHILE."
THEN, "CAN YOU DO A VERSE FOR
ME?"
>> DO YOU HAVE MOMENTS LIKE
THAT, WANDA?
>> ABSOLUTELY.
IF YOU ARE AT THAT STATUS,
THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE EXPECT FROM
YOU.
IF YOU DON'T MEET THAT, THEY ARE
LIKE, "SHE'S FALLING OFF, WHAT'S
HAPPENING?"
AND I WAS TRYING TO DO TOO MUCH,
I WAS ON "THE NEW ADVENTURES OF
OLD CHRISTINE," THEN I HAD A
TALK SHOW ON FOX, AND IT WASN'T
GOING THE WAY I WANTED IT TO,
AND I GOT TIGHTNESS IN MY CHEST,
I'M HAVING ALL KINDS OF CRAZY
THOUGHTS, AND I THINK PEOPLE ARE
NERVOUS SOMEBODY'S GOING TO
KIDNAP MY KIDS.
WHAT THE HELL?
DON'T NOBODY WANT MY KIDS.
[LAUGHTER]
THAT'S THE LAST THING PEOPLE
WANT.
I HAD TO TAKE A LITTLE SOMETHING
TO EASE OFF THE STRESS I WAS
FEELING, AND THEN JUST REALIZE
WHAT WAS HAPPENING.
I WAS LIKE, "SHIT, I'M GETTING
TOO MUCH.
LET ME PULL IT BACK, FOCUS ON
THE THINGS HE LOVES, AND HEY,
YOU ARE BLESSED RIGHT NOW."
IAM I GOING TO FUCK UP CONTINUIY
IF I GET OUT OF THIS JACKET?
I'M ABOUT TO MELD OVER HERE.
>> CAN WE GET SOMEONE TO GET
WANDA OUT OF THIS JACKET?
>> YOU ARE RELEVANT NOW, BECAUSE
OF --
>> YOU HAVE TO EMBRACE WHAT THE
ELDER STATESMAN DID FOR ME.
>> THE YOUNGER TALENT COMING UP?
>> SOMEONE THINKS THEY KNOW IT
ALL BUT A LOT OF THEM WILL CALL
AND ASK YOURSELF AND WANT TO GET
YOUR OPINION, AND THAT'S A
BEAUTIFUL THING.
YOU CAN'T BE GRUMPY.
WHEN THEY EMBRACE YOU IT GIVES
YOU LIFE.
>> I WAS GRATEFUL TO HAVE A
MENTOR AND I LOVE EVERYTHING
THAT HE PASSED DOWN TO ME.
SO I ALWAYS FEEL LIKE, IF THERE
WAS A YOUNGER PLAYER THAT ANY
NEEDED ANY ADVICE FOR ME, I
WOULD LOVE TO GIVE IT.
IF I WERE TO RETIRE FROM TENNIS,
I WOULD WANT PEOPLE TO REMEMBER
ME, HOW I ACTED TOWARDS PEOPLE.
LIKE, HOW I INTERACTED.
FOR EXAMPLE, SERENA, HER LEGACY
IS MORE THAN HER BEING SERENA.
I STARTED PLAYING BECAUSE OF
HER.
I'M SURE THERE ARE SO MANY OTHER
GIRLS THAT STARTED PLAYING
BECAUSE OF HER.
SHE LITERALLY BUILT CHAMPIONS, I
THINK PASSING IT DOWN IS HOW THE
NEWER GENERATION GETS INSPIRED.
>> I WANTED TO ASK YOU,
JERRY COLANGELO, THE COMMENTS
MADE, THERE'S BEEN A LOT OF
SWIRLING.
>> WHEN HE SAID ABOUT YOU WAS
FUCKED UP.
I AM BIASED BUT HE FUCKING
CROSSED THE LINE.
>> CAN YOU GIVE US CONTEXT OF
HOW WE GOT HERE?
>> I'VE BEEN IN THE USA
BASKETBALL SYSTEM HALF MY LIFE.
HALF MY LIFE WITH USA
BASKETBALL, AND JERRY WAS ALWAYS
PART OF THAT.
SEAN FORD, THOSE GUYS.
FAST-FORWARD TO THE THIS SUMMER.
I REACHED OUT AND TOOK SOME
ADVICE FROM A COUPLE OF GUYS AND
SAID, LISTEN, MY NAME IS THERE,
GIVE ME A GOOD LOOK.
>> FOR CONSIDERATION ON THE
TEAM?
>> WHAT WAS THAT MONTH?
>> THAT WAS IN JUNE.
IT WAS PRETTY APPARENT EARLY ON
THAT I WASN'T WHERE I NEEDED TO
BE, AND FOR ME IT WAS LIKE I
TOLD YOU, I TOOK THAT ON THE
CHIN.
I HAD GONE TO JERRY AND SEAN
FORD AND SAID, LISTEN, MY PRIDE
TOOK ME TO PLACE THINKING I
WOULD BE READY, BUT LET ME TAKE
A STEP BACK AND GET MYSELF
RIGHT, AND YOU GUYS CAN ADD
SOMEBODY AND WIN ANOTHER GOLD
MEDAL.
BECAUSE YOU'VE DONE RIGHT BY ME,
OBVIOUSLY I HAVE A SPECIAL PLACE
IN MY HEART FOR USA BASKETBALL
FOR 10X REASONS, AND HIS
RESPONSE WAS, "I'VE ALWAYS HAD
RESPECT FOR YOU SINCE YOU CAME
INTO OUR PROGRAM.
I HAVE EVEN MORE RESPECT FOR YOU
NOW."
SO I LEFT THINKING, ALL RIGHT,
ALL IS GOOD, THEY'LL PROTECT ME.
THEY SAID VERBATIM, "WE'LL MAKE
SURE WE PROTECT YOU."
BEING USA BASKETBALL.
"I'LL MAKE SURE WE PROTECT YOU."
FAST FORWARD THREE WEEKS LATER,
AND WHAT HAPPENED?
>> JERRY COLANGELO COMES OUT AND
BASICALLY SAYS KEVIN LOVE IS NOT
IN SHAPE, HE WASN'T READY TO
PLAY.
>> WE WERE NEVER GOING TO PLAY
THEM ANYWAY.
>> HE'S NOT HEALTHY.
>> "I DIDN'T THINK HE HAD
ANYTHING LEFT."
>> "I'M NOT SURE HE'LL BE
HEALTHY."
>> I CALLED BEGGING TO PLAY.
>> HERE'S THE PROBLEM WITH THAT,
THERE'S 30 GMs IN THE NBA.
NOW THEY ARE GOING TO SAY, WAIT
A MINUTE, HE IS DAMAGED GOODS.
I WAS LIKE, THIS IS FUCKED UP
FOR THIS GUY TO DO THAT.
>> YOU WEREN'T THE ONLY ONE.
BRON CALLED ME, SAME THING,
"FUCK THAT, THAT SHOULD NEVER BE
SAID.
REGARDLESS OF WHAT WAS SET ON
EITHER SIDE, YOU JUST NEVER DO
THAT."
AND THAT WAS WHAT MELO SAID,
TOO.
HE WAS LIKE, "NAH, FUCK HIM."
NOT ONLY MONEY, BUT IT'S MY
SATISFACTION IN MY JOY.
BUT TO BE A THIEF OF OVERALL JOY
OR LIFE SATISFACTION LIKE THAT,
I WAS LIKE, MAN, FUCK YOU.
THERE WAS NO NEED TO DO THAT.
>> THAT WAS MY POINT.
WHAT DID HE HAVE TO GAIN?
>> HE HAD NOTHING TO GAIN.
HE WAS PROTECTING HIS LEGACY.
HE WANTED SOMETHING TO POINT THE
FINGER AT.
>> IN CASE IT DIDN'T GO RIGHT.
>> WHICH, IT WAS LOOKING BAD.
IT WAS WRONG IN SO MANY WAYS.
I'M SITTING UP HERE BEING THE
NICE GUY RIGHT NOW, BUT HONESTL
HONESTLY, FUCK THAT, FUCK HIM.
>> THAT'S FUCKED HIM.
>> LET ME TELL IT BACK TO THE
CAMERA.
FUCK YOU, JERRY!
♪ ♪
>> I WANT TO TALK "VERSUS"
LITTLE BIT.
CAN YOU TELL US YOUR MINDSET?
>> I KNEW THEY WERE GOING TO TRY
TO USE SWAGGER IN THAT PLATFORM
AND THAT ARENA.
NONE OF THAT MATTERED.
YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
MY THING WAS GOING TO BE USING
HIP-HOP AND THE CRAFTSMANSHIP
AND JUST THE RAW ELEMENTS OF
WHERE HIP-HOP STARTED, WITH A
D.J. AND TWO TURNTABLES AND A
MIC AND WRAPPING.
>> FOR YOUNG PEOPLE TO SEE THAT,
RAPP AIN'T LIKE THAT NO MORE.
>> IT'S ILL, THOUGH.
SO MANY YOUNG ARTISTS CALLED ME
AND SAID THEY WANTED TO SWITCH
THEIR SHOW AND DOING THE WORDS
AS OPPOSED TO JUST ROAMING OVER
THE TRACK.
"I WANT TO SWITCH MY SHOW."
A LOT OF THEM REACHED OUT TO ME.
THAT TOUCHED ME MORE THAN
ANYTHING, YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN?
JUST FOR THE CULTURE OF HIP-HOP.
>> I WANT TO TALK ABOUT THE
FREESTYLE.
I DON'T KNOW IF YOU FELT IN THE
MOMENT.
>> THEY CALLED ME, "WE GOT YOU
20 SONGS?"
AND I SAID, HELL YEAH, I'VE GOT
MORE THAN 20."
HE SAID HE HAD IDEAS.
HE DIDN'T SAY WHICH ONE, HE JUST
SAID, "Y'ALL GOT TO FREESTYLE."
LEE WAS ALREADY THINKING THAT,
BROTHER.
HE HELPED ME SOLIDIFY THAT WE
NEEDED TO DO THAT.
RIGHT AFTER THAT I TEXT MY D.J.
"JUST TRUST ME, I'VE GOT THE GUT
FEELING."
PUFF CALLED ME.
>> THAT FREESTYLE IS FROM 2010.
ALL THESE YEARS LATER, IT'S
CRAZY.
>> IT'S A BEAUTIFUL THING.
>> THAT'S THE BEAUTY OF ART.
YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN SOMETHING
WILL POP, AND WE APPRECIATE
SOMETHING THAT WASN'T
APPRECIATED AT THE TIME, BECAUSE
THE WORLD CHANGES.
>> Wanda: I JUST DID A BIG
BENEFIT OVER AT THE GARDEN FOR ,
AND THERE WAS A JOKE THAT I DID
BACK IN '88 WHEN I FIRST STARTED
DOING STAND-UP.
>> '88?
>> I GREW UP IN VIRGINIA, A VERY
RURAL AREA.
WE HAD A MOSQUITO MAN COME
THROUGH, BASICALLY TO COME
THROUGH AND SPRAY PESTICIDES IN
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND WE WOULD
RUN THROUGH IT AND PLAY IN IT.
SO I DID THAT JOKE BACK IN '88,
AND THE JOKE BOMBED.
LIKE, SHALL OVERCOME A PEOPLE
TURN THEIR CHAIRS AROUND LIKE,
"OH, GOD!
LET ME KNOW WHEN SHE'S OFF!"
IT WAS HORRIFIC.
I GET OFF STAGE AND THEY ARE
LIKE, "THAT'S ALL RIGHT, YOU'VE
GOT A GOOD GOVERNMENT JOB, DON'T
PAY THESE PEOPLE KNOW MIND."
[LAUGHTER]
BECAUSE OF THE VACCINE AND ALL,
PEOPLE AFRAID OF
DASHCAM
>> COME EXACTLY.
>> SO I DID THAT JOKE ON THE
MADISON SQUARE GARDEN STAGE AND
IT KILLED.
THE TIMING, IT'S RELATABLE.
>> BELIEVING IN YOURSELF AND
YOUR MATERIAL.
>> EXACTLY.
>> KISS, AFTER VERZUZ, KANYE HIT
YOU RIGHT AWAY AND SAID TO COME
WORK ON DONDA.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE?
>> WHEN THEY WENT TO THEIR
DRESSING ROOMS OR WHATEVER, I'M
GETTING DMS FROM MY SON SAYING
THAT KANYE'S CAMP IS HITTING
HIM, THEY ARE LOOKING FOR ME TO
BE ON "DONDA."
I'M LIKE, "THOSE IS FRAUDULENT
DMS THAT AIN'T RIGHT."
THEN YE ME, "CONGRATULATIONS, WE
WANTED TO KNOW IF YOU CAN COME
TO ATLANTA, IF Y'ALL CAN COME TO
ATLANTA TODAY RIGHT NOW TO GET
ON DONDA."
LIKE, SURE, SEND A JET.
SNAP YOUR FINGERS LIKE
"BEWITCHED," I'LL BE IN ATLANTA,
MAN.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THERE ARE TWO DIFFERENT YE
PLURAL S.
I'M AT THE PRODUCER AND THEN I
MET YE THE WRAPPER-PRODUCER.
>> WITH THE OTHER YE?
>> I WENT TO CMI BEFORE ICE PICK
PASSED AWAY.
THIS WAS BEFORE HE WAS HAVING
HIS ISSUES WITH THE WORLD.
HE WAS STILL COOL.
HE IS STILL COOL NOW BUT IT'S
DIFFERENT.
I PRAY FOR THE BETTER.
I HOPE HE IS GOOD.
HIS HEALTH AND HIS SPIRIT IN HIS
MIND, ALL THAT STUFF.
>> JADA, IN A WORLD WHERE BEEF
WAS A COMMON DENOMINATOR, HOW
THE FUCK HAVE Y'ALL SURVIVED THE
DECADES OF DRAMA?
>> WHEN WE SIGNED OUR FIRST
DEAL, STUFF THAT BREAKS OTHER
GROUPS UP, WE WEREN'T GOING TO
LET THAT INTERTWINE WITH US, AND
WE WOULD HAVE BEEN ABLE TO DO
GOOD.
NO SOCIAL MEDIA, AFTER THAT TOOK
OVER THE WORLD, AND WE HAVE A
DISCREPANCY, WE GO IN A CLOSED
DOOR AND IRON IT OUT.
AND WE COME OUT.
>> HOW IMPORTANT IS IT TO LOOK
GOOD ON SOCIAL MEDIA AND BE A
CERTAIN WAY ON SOCIAL MEDIA?
>> I HONESTLY GET IT, I GET THAT
WE HAVE TO DO IT.
>> WE NEED IT.
>> BUT THAT'S JUST IT, MAN.
I WOULD LOVE TO GET TO THE POINT
WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO DO IT.
>> I USE IT FOR WORK.
>> ME, TOO.
>> AND I HAVE FAMILY MEETINGS
WITH MY KIDS AND MY WIFE AND
TELL THEM, "HOLD ON, Y'ALL
LETTING THIS SHIT CONTROL, THIS
IS NOT REAL.
YOU'RE CRAZY, YOU ARE BUGGING
OUT."
>> MY WIFE IS ALL OVER MY
INSTAGRAM, WHICH IS GREAT.
IT'S GOOD FOR US TO DO IT,
ESPECIALLY AS A COUPLE, BECAUSE
I KNOW IT IS HELPING ANOTHER
LGBTQ FAMILY OUT THERE TO SEE US
TOGETHER.
>> REPRESENTATION.
>> REPRESENTATION MATTERS,
ABSOLUTELY.
SO THAT'S THE POSITIVE PART OF
IT.
BUT, YOU KNOW, NOW THAT I HAVE
KIDS, I SEE HOW UGLY PEOPLE CAN
BE.
JUST -- I MEAN, TO ME IT HAS
MADE US MORE DIVIDED.
>> YOU FEEL SOCIAL MEDIA HAS
MADE US MORE DIVIDED THAN
UNIFIED US?
>> YES.
>> IF I USE TWITTER, I HAVE TO
INSTALL IT, I TREAT AND DELETE
IT AGAIN.
>> SO SMART.
>> YOU DON'T KEEP IT ON YOUR
PHONE?
>> I DON'T LIKE IT AT ALL.
>> WHY, WHAT IS IT ABOUT IT?
>> I JUST FEEL LIKE IT HAS GIVEN
PEOPLE THE CHANCE TO SAY THINGS
THAT THEY WOULD NEVER SAY TO YOU
IN PERSON, AND I FEEL LIKE IT
JUST GIVES PEOPLE ACCESS TO YOU
IN A WAY THAT I FEEL LIKE A
COUPLE YEARS AGO PEOPLE WOULD
HAVE TO COME UP TO YOU TO AFFECT
YOU IN THAT WAY.
>> I'M THE SAME WAY.
DO I WANT TO SIGN ON, DO I WANT
TO CHECK MY DIRECT MESSAGES, DO
I WANT TO POST THIS?
WHAT ARE PEOPLE GOING TO SAY?
I ALSO FEEL LIKE A LIFE WELL
LIVED DOESN'T NECESSARILY MEAN
EVERY SECOND OF EVERY DAY IS
ACCOUNTED FOR AND WE NEED TO
SHARE ALL OF THAT.
I DON'T THINK WE ARE GOING TO
LOOK BACK WHEN WE ARE SITTING
THERE TAKING OUR LAST BREATHS
AND BE LIKE, YOU KNOW IT?
I WISH I WOULD HAVE POSTED THAT
SHIT.
MISSED THAT OPPORTUNITY WITH
KISS TO GET THAT PHOTO UP.
>> BELIEVE IT OR NOT, THERE'S A
PERCENTAGE OF THE WORLD IT FEELS
LIKE THAT.
>> THE YOUNGER DEMOGRAPHIC OF
THESE KIDS ARE GETTING SO FUCKED
UP ON WHAT THEY ARE READING,
CYBERBULLYING, AND THERE IS SO
MUCH UGLINESS IN IT, I THINK IT
NEEDS TO JUST BE USED TO PEOPLE
BEING BETTER.
>> WHEN WE WERE KIDS WE WERE
TAUGHT NOT TO TALK TO STRANGERS.
AND WE ARE LETTING THEM COME AT
YOU WITH ALL KIND OF SHIT AND
YOU ARE LIKE, WAIT A MINUTE.
AND IT HURTS.
WAIT A MINUTE, I DON'T KNOW
THESE MOTHERFUCKERS!
[LAUGHTER]
BUT OUR LEVEL OF HUMANITY IS NOT
READY FOR WHAT WE SUBJECT
OURSELVES TO ON SOCIAL MEDIA.
IT'S JUST NOT THERE.
>> DO YOU EVER THINK ABOUT, IF I
SAY THIS, A CERTAIN DEMOGRAPHIC
OF PEOPLE JUST AREN'T GOING TO
FUCK WITH ME?
>> I'VE DONE THAT.
YOU KNOW.
[LAUGHTER]
FROM THE JUMP, JUST BEING A
WOMAN, BEING BLACK, AND BEING
GAY, I'VE ALREADY PISSED OFF
TWO-THIRDS OF THE POPULATION
ALREADY.
[LAUGHTER]
I DON'T GO OUT WITH THE
INTENTION OF TRYING TO MAKE
PEOPLE UNCOMFORTABLE.
LIKE YOU SAID, MY FIRST THING IS
TO MAKE PEOPLE LAUGH, BUT I
WOULD ALSO SPEAK MORE ON SOCIAL
ISSUES.
I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE
UNCOMFORTABLE, I JUST WANT YOU
TO THINK.
>> IS THERE A FINE LINE BETWEEN
AUTHENTICITY AND GETTING PAID?
>> MORE MONEY AIN'T GOOD MONEY.
>> CORPORATE GIGS.
THE CHECK IS SO GOOD, AND
SOMETIMES I FEEL LIKE I CAN HEAR
THE ANCESTORS GOING, "
"MOTHERFUCKER, YOU TURNING THIS
DOWN?
WHAT WE'VE BEEN THROUGH TO GET
HERE CONNECT THIS IS A BLESSING,
JUST GO UP THERE, DEAR LITTLE
JOKES, AND GET THE FUCK ON!
WHAT THE HELL?"
[LAUGHTER]
"WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?"
BUT IT HAS TO BE, IF YOU'RE
GOING TO BOOK ME, YOU GET ME AND
NO RESTRICTIONS.
THEN I CAN DO IT.
>> THE U.S. OPEN COME IN THAT
MOMENT, NAOMI, DID YOU FEEL LIKE
YOU ARE DOING TOO MUCH AFTER
THAT U.S. OPEN WIN?
THAT THERE WAS TOO MUCH
HAPPENING AND YOU NEEDED TO SLOW
IT DOWN?
[LAUGHTER]
>> I AM REALLY NOT TRYING TO BE
AN A-HOLE, BUT WHICH TIME?
>> OHHH!
[LAUGHTER]
>> A MAN, GET IT RIGHT?
WHICH TIME?
>> I DON'T EVEN KNOW WHICH TIME
HE TALKING ABOUT!
>> BE MORE SPECIFIC, MAN.
>> WINNING THE FIRST GRAND SLAM.
>> I FELT REALLY OVERWHELMED IN
THAT SITUATION.
BUT IT WAS A BIT WEIRD, BECAUSE
AFTER I WON THE U.S. OPEN THAT
FIRST TIME, I HAD TO IMMEDIATELY
PLAY ANOTHER TOURNAMENT, SO I
DIDN'T REALLY HAVE TO FACE THE
BUSINESS STUFF UNTIL THE END OF
THE YEAR.
BY THEN I WAS JUST SO HAPPY TO
BE GETTING DEALS AND STUFF.
BUT I ALSO FELT LIKE I DIDN'T
REALLY COMPROMISE MY INTEGRITY
THAT MUCH AT ALL.
BUT I WOULD SAY IT IS A BIT WILD
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE PEOPLE START
KNOWING WHO YOU ARE OVERNIGHT,
OVER ONE EVENT.
IT HAS HONESTLY TAKING ME LIKE
TOTWO USED TO ADJUST FROM THAT.
MY BIGGEST DREAM IS TO BE A RICH
PERSON WHO IS NOT KNOWN.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THAT WOULD BE THE GREATEST!
>> YOU SHOULD HAVE BOUGHT
SCRATCH-OFFS!
[LAUGHTER]
>> ARE THERE THINGS YOU ARE
DOING TO TRY TO PROTECT THAT?
HOW ARE YOU DOING THAT?
>> I'M NOT REALLY SURE.
HONESTLY, I DO A LOT OF FASHION
THINGS, LIKE THE VOGUE COVERS
AND STUFF, BUT I DO IT BECAUSE I
GENUINELY ENJOYED A LOT AND I
FEEL LIKE I LEARNED A LOT FROM
EXPENSES, BECAUSE I LOVE
TO VENTURE INTO THAT SIDE OF
BUSINESS.
BUT I ALSO FEEL LIKE -- AND IT
COMES BACK TO THE SOCIAL MEDIA
THINGS, WHEN I FIRST WON THE
U.S. OPEN, A PERSON TOLD ME I
DIDN'T HAVE AS MUCH FOLLOWERS AS
I SHOULD HAVE.
AND THEN I WAS JUST LIKE, AM I
DOING SOMETHING WRONG?
STUFF LIKE THAT.
BUT I'M ACTUALLY PERFECTLY
CONTENT WITH WHERE I AM RIGHT
NOW.
>> THERE IS POWER IN THAT, FOR
SURE.
WHEN IS THE TIME TO SAY, YOU
KNOW WHAT?
I HAVE TO PROTECT MY PEACE.
>> I WANT TO FEEL LIKE I'M
PLAYING FOR MYSELF.
AND I STARTED TO FEEL LIKE THAT
POWER WAS BEING TAKEN AWAY FROM
ME IN THE WAY THAT I FELT LIKE I
WASN'T PLAYING TO MAKE MYSELF
HAPPY AND I WAS MORE CONCERNED
ABOUT -- LIKE, IF I WON OR LOST,
WHAT WOULD PEOPLE SAY ABOUT ME?
AND I USED TO LOVE THE
COMPETITION, AND JUST BEING
COMPETITIVE.
IF I WERE TO PLAY A LONG MATCH,
THE LONGER IT WAS, THE MORE FUN
IT WAS FOR ME.
AND I STARTED TO FEEL LIKE,
RECENTLY, THE LONGER IT WAS, THE
MORE STRESSED OUT I BECAME.
BUT I JUST NEEDED A BREAK TO GO
WITHIN MYSELF AND RECLAIM WHAT
WAS IT THAT -- I'VE BEEN PLAYING
TENNIS SINCE I WAS THREE YEARS
OLD.
I LOVE THE SPORT, I KNOW I'M
GOING TO PLAY AGAIN, PROBABLY
SOON, BECAUSE I KIND OF HAVE
THAT ITCH AGAIN.
BUT IT WOULDN'T REALLY MATTER TO
ME IF I WON OR LOST.
I JUST HAVE THE JOY OF BEING
BACK ON THE COURT.
TO KNOW THAT I'M DOING IT FOR
MYSELF.
>> WIN, LOSE, OR DRAW, YOU WANT
TO BE BACK OUT THERE PLAYING.
THAT'S AMAZING.
FOR YOU, WANDA, WE ARE NOW IN
THIS MOMENT OF INCLUSIVITY, BUT
IS IT REAL OR IS IT A THING THAT
PEOPLE ARE JUST SAYING?
OR IS REALLY HAPPENING?
>> AT FIRST I THINK WE HAVE
BLINDERS ON BECAUSE IN OUR
INDUSTRY WE ARE ACTIVELY TRYING
TO BE MORE INCLUSIVE.
RIGHT?
WE'VE GOT ACTUAL DIRECTIVES OF,
HEY, WE NEED TO SEE THE MAKEUP
OF THE ROOM, THE WRITERS'S ROOM.
>> DID THAT HAPPEN BEFORE?
>> NEVER.
THEY WOULD LOOK AT THE PEOPLE
YOU WANT TO HIRE AND BE LIKE,
YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF GOOD
WHITE GUYS OUT THERE.
[LAUGHTER]
THEY DIDN'T SAY THAT BUT THEY
WOULD START TOSSING ALL THESE
WHITE GUYS' NAMES.
AND I'M LIKE, "NO, WE LIKE
TYRONE.
WE LIKE SHAMIKA AND TYRONE,
WHAT'S WRONG WITH Y'ALL?"
[LAUGHTER]
THEY ARE NOT ONLY QUALIFIED, BUT
MORE QUALIFIED FOR THE
POSITIONS, BUT THEY NEVER HAD
THE OPPORTUNITY.
I'M SORRY, I'M TIRED OF WORKING
WITH MEDIOCRE WHITE GUYS.
I'M JUST SAYING.
MEDIOCRE AT BEST.
>> ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT RIGHT
NOW?
>> NOT YOU.
[LAUGHTER]
>> HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT HOW
MANY YEARS YOU WANT TO PLAY, KE
KEV?
>> PLAY AS LONG AS I CAN COME AS
LONG AS THEY SAY THEY WANT TO
PLAY WITH AVERAGE WHITE DUDES.
[LAUGHTER]
>> THINK OF ALL THE FREE TIME
YOU'LL HAVE TO TO CONTROL JERRY.
[LAUGHTER]
>> KISS MIGHT EVEN M MAKE A
BATTLE.
>> I MIGHT THROW A BAR TWO FOR
JERRY.
[LAUGHTER]
♪ ♪
>> THIS MADE MY WHOLE DAY.
>> I'M SITTING HERE GOING, "I'M
FALLING IN LOVE WITH JADAKISS!
THIS NIGGA IS GIVING ME
BUTTERFLIES, WHAT THE FUCK IS
HAPPENING?"
[LAUGHTER]
♪ ♪