Episode 2

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Published on:

17th Jul 2025

All-Star Game Highlights and Insights with Noel White

In this episode of PSP, host Nii Wallace-Bruce welcomes Noel White from 92.9 The Game in Atlanta to discuss the recent Major League Baseball All-Star game in Atlanta. They dive into the significance of the event (05:58), including a moving tribute to Hank Aaron (02:30).

The conversation also touches on the WNBA All-Star Weekend (11:48), the potential return of NHL hockey to Atlanta, and the growth and challenges facing women's sports (17:31). The episode also features insights into the broader sports landscape, including TV deals and the economics of sports franchises (22:24).

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Opening and closing music courtesy of Jeremiah Alves - "Evermore".

Transcript
Speaker:

. PSP: Welcome into another episode of PSP.

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I am the host with the most Mr.

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Knee Wallace Spruce, and it

is hot across North America.

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It is hot in the north here in Toronto,

and hot Atlanta, Georgia, where they

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just had the Major League All-Star game.

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And that is a story itself that was

also quite hot on the field of play.

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So to take us through that and more,

it is the host, producer, the creator.

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She does pretty much everything

over at 92 9, the Game in Atlanta.

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It is friend of the show,

Noelle White how you doing?

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A. Noel White:

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I am doing great.

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It's so great to be back on with you

to discuss all things Atlanta, which

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is my favorite topic as you know.

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PSP: No doubt.

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And there was even a bit of soccer

down there at the Mercedes-Benz

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Stadium when the club woke up.

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I won't have much time to get into that.

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But let's talk about the event du jour,

which is Baseball's Midsummer Classic.

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You were able to get in and

around, so the event at the

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Battery or in the City of Atlanta.

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A. Noel White:

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So once I finished the Sam and Greg show

on Saturday, I immediately jetted over.

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To Cobb Galleria where they set up this

amazing MLB experience where you go

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inside and you kind of greeted with.

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A history of the league exhibit.

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You get like a Negro League breakdown.

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You get a Latino breakdown,

Pacific Islander breakdown and

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how they kind of joined the

Negro League and what they mean.

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Well, how they joined the MLB

and what they mean to the MLB.

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And then you go inside to where

all the exciting stuff is.

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I mean, they had a, a.

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A ballpark indoor, where kids were running

around and hitting balls and things.

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They had a virtual MLB show experience.

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You could get a hat made, you

could check out all the home run

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derby chains from the past years.

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I mean, it was, it was incredible.

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There was so much to

see and so much to do.

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I think I was there for

like three, four hours.

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PSP: Fantastic.

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And there was quite a bit of

anticipation going into this one.

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Atlanta was slated to host

the event a few years ago.

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It wasn't meant to be, but

they got it done in:

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How big of an impact does this Star

Week have on the city in your opinion?

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A. Noel White:

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It, we see us as we see the city

of Atlanta as the southeast sports

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capital of the world, right?

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So in, in saying that and in, you know,

crowning ourselves with that title,

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these are the types of events that

prove it, that we can host M-L-B-W-W-E.

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, Club World Cup and Beyonce

within a 10 day time span.

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PSP: Yeah, I almost Beyonce concert.

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I saw some, some.

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The, the 15th of July, which

is seven 15, and that was

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A. Noel White:

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Yes.

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PSP: in a special way.

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I don't know if this is by design , but

, that was the day that the Allstar game

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itself was hosted, and at the end of

the sixth inning, there was a really

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great tribute to Hank Karen who is.

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Braves legend, a baseball legend,

the home run record for so long, and

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there was tribute to him Breaking

Babe Ruth's record at the time when he

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hit the 715th home run of his career.

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Was that by design, the fact that

they hosted it on seven 15 or

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was it just a happy coincidence?

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A. Noel White:

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I think that was amazing synergy, but I

applaud whoever realized that seven 15

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was a very significant day in Atlanta.

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And taking the seventh inning stretch,

which is a big deal all over the league.

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But here in Atlanta we do

the seventh inning stretch.

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We do it up big.

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And so to take that moment to recreate

Hank Aaron's night and Relive seven 15.

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On seven 15 while we

host the Allstar game.

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Was it, it was incredible.

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It was incredible to see.

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I re-watched it again right before we

hopped on, just so I could get that

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feeling again of what it was like.

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It was, it was a great use

of digital layovers as well.

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And then when you had

the, the fireworks shot.

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To represent that last home

run going over the fence.

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It was, it was amazing.

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That's the best of what

sports can give you, right?

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So congratulations to whoever

realized that and gave us that

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special moment because we've seen

leagues drop the ball like that, like.

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PSP: Yeah.

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A. Noel White:

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The National Basketball Association

and not scheduling the Hawks or

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the Memphis Grizzlies on MLK day.

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We've seen oversights like that.

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It's like, oh, oops.

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But they did it right and looked

amazing, and I don't think that

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MLB or Nike celebrates Hank

Aaron enough, to be honest.

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So to see that moment was incredible.

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Loved it.

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Put it in the Louvre.

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PSP: Hang it in the Louvre.

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Yeah, I was, you know what, they should

hang in the Louvre, the image of Mrs.

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Aaron observing the event.

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It is almost like over a shoulder.

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The seven 15 is in the background.

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The lights.

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The lights show.

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That was special because I was fortunate

enough to read Terrence Moore's book

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about Hank Karen, and that really gave

me an appreciation of the story, how

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he , took the torch from Jackie Robinson

and plays a trail for of color in the

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league, and not only doing that through

his voice, but doing that through.

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His performances on the field of play.

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The way that he held the bat, the way that

he ran the bases, he, just gonna make a

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stand , with his voice, but he is also

gonna do , his performances to bring that

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excellence to the field of play, to show

that people of color deserved a place

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so yeah, I really appreciated what

they did on the on All Star Game Day.

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A. Noel White:

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Yes, that's exactly why it's

important and why I don't feel like

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Hank Aaron is celebrated enough.

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Because there is that great

moment of him breaking the record.

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But there's all the stuff in the

background that Terence Warren mentions

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in his book that makes that moment

that more poignant and that makes Mrs.

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Aaron watching that recreation

of that moment that much poignant

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because you see the sacrifices

they went through to get there.

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It's not just the record,

it's everything behind it.

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And so that's what makes that

moment so incredible in my opinion.

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PSP: Absolutely.

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Yeah.

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It takes , a of work to be able to be

in the league for that long, to get to

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firstly seven 14, and then to set the

record at the time , to do it without

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any, , medical assistance if you will.

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That's a record that

definitely is up there and.

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I know Bonds has since broken that record.

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He did it in his own right,

but he couldn't have done that

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without Hank breaking down some

barriers to get there first.

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So a great tribute by the

city of Atch when the MLB.

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Now, if we go to the game itself,

it was quite entertaining.,

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The National League took a lead nothing.

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League came back That was quite a finish.

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Six.

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Six.

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I thought we were done,

but apparently not.

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There was some new content called a,

a Swing off, I've never heard of, but

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essentially it's a, a home run derby in

the style of a soccer penalty shootout.

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So each league put out representatives

that were gonna swing for as

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many home runs as they could

with a set number of pitches.

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And National League four.

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The American League scored three.

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I gotta ask, what are your

thoughts on that concept to,

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finish an all-star game like that?

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A. Noel White:

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In an all star game.

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I think it's kind of fun, right?

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It's kinda like ending an NBA game, like

68, 68, and they're going, okay, gimme

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your best dunkers, everybody dunk it out.

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Right?

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Everybody, you know, three pointed out,

it's, it's something kind of fun and,

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quirky you can add at the end of the game

and like everybody likes home runs, right?

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So isn't that a great way to end it?

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The national in, in my opinion, you

couldn't have scripted the game any

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better like the National League.

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Takes a lead, which almost never happens.

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They usually get beat up on by the al,

only for the, al the roar back and then

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put us in this really never before scene.

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Weird home run off as I'm calling it.

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And I thought it was pretty fun actually.

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I thought it was something I might

poo , or be down on, but when I actually

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saw it in action, I was like, you know

what, this is actually pretty fun.

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My only complaint not enough.

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Ronald Koya.

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PSP: Not enough.

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Ronald Kuya?

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Yes, it's his home.

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Ballpark.

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Yes.

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I co-signed that because.

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There are, there are a few

Atlantic connections over the week.

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You had Mr.

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Olson, the home run derby.

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Freddy Freeman also came back with the

Dodgers, and he is a, a brave legend in

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his is an all right part of the World

Series winning team a few years ago.

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yeah, in terms of guys from the

present day team, not enough.

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Ronald Kuya on the night and playing

in the National League ballpark, that

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would've been on the cherry on top.

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To have him play more of a role.

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I know that it was won by Carl Ian,

which is a little bit awkward given

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that he's a traditional rival.

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But yeah,, you can never have too

much Ronald Koya, that's for sure.

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A. Noel White:

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Never, never.

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Hopefully that was just a precautionary

choice on his point, why he pulled

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himself out of the home run derby.

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But still the hometown

team wanted to see more.

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Number 13 out there running around

and hitting home runs and things.

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But it was a, it was a great weekend.

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I really enjoyed it.

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I think Atlanta really set the stage

for them hosting another one, maybe,

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you know, within the decade and

within the next eight to 10 years.

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But we really put our best foot

forward and I think everybody

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had a really great time.

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PSP: Yeah, and I really think that

the, the ball club has set the bar

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with the, the battery district and

the amenities around the stadium.

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It really centralizes things in

a way, so it definitely puts.

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Future hosts or future host candidates,

or notice that this is the way if

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you want to host an All star game.

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It's not about just setting up the

bases, making the grass look nice and

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get the players out there to play ball.

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You gotta have the events coming

correct from, Friday or Saturday,

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right through the game on the Tuesday.

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You gotta be ready to go and make

a real entertainment destination.

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the baseball world when they come through.

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Now I have a couple of

quick hitters for you.

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Should the All-star game count?

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'cause back in my day to sound like an

old man, the All-Star game counted for

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Homefield Advantage in the World Series.

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Should that be a thing?

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Once more.

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A. Noel White:

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I think maybe until it all shakes itself

out, right, because this is the one time

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the Nation League finally won the thing.

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It could have got the home field

advantage and all that good stuff.

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But no, I think it's best to just

keep it as a fun, expedition.

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I don't think it really needs the

extra to get the guys up to play.

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I think they're already ready

to go and kind of beat up on

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each other in a, fun exposition.

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I don't think it's like the NBA

where they kind of mail it in and

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just just run around the court and.

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Get their cardio up and just

play around with each other.

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I think MLB has a more serious

competition where they can still find

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the fun in it and don't have to be

coerced into actually playing the game.

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So now we can take it off the table,

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PSP: Yeah, fair enough.

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I mean, were a handful of position

players that pulled out, I get it when

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a pitcher can't play because their

previous start is too close to the.

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All Star game.

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Something like Max Free, for example,

a former Atlanta legend in himself.

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But yeah, some of the

position players pulled out.

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, Some may have some, injuries,

but there is a little bit came

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to that NBA, laissez-faire.

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, The big guns showed up.

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So we liked that.

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We definitely liked that.

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Now, one more question I have for you.

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I know that baseball is a bit more

international in the NBA, in the sense

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that they have a World Baseball Classic.

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Could you see an All-Star

game in the future?

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That's a bit like the Hockey Four

Nations, where maybe you have versus

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the Weld or some concept like that.

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Do you see that could work for

the MLBs Midsummer Classic.

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A. Noel White:

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Ooh.

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Yeah, I do think it can work

'cause we've seen hockey do it.

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It got really exciting and we've

seen the NBA do it, but more like

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with the rising stars, they've done

world versus America or NBA players

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or however you wanna phrase that.

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So I do think more sports

could lean into that because.

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Sports are getting more international.

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You have more American players

playing internationally.

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You might have more international players

coming and taking over American markets.

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I mean, look how much America

loves Shhe Tani, right?

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We can't get enough ohtani

around here apparently.

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So I think a game like that

could do, could do wonders.

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PSP: Yeah, I, I love to see that,

although the National League, US American

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League bringing back the uniforms that

they did, there is a romance to that.

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So I do like to see

that each year as well.

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I have no doubt that Rob

Manfred will work something out.

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I think that's as a condition,

he's done a fine job of the game.

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He's definitely tapped into

the international markets.

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As I say, with Tani, you can

never have too much showtime.

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It seems.

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And with this All Star Week, he

definitely was able to get a few

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concepts in there that drew more

eyes to the game than usual.

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And yeah, as a commissioner, I think

he's done a pretty good job with the

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commercialization and the marketability.

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I just wish that he took away

the:

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Anyway, before I get into a rant about

that, you're listening to PSP with

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myself, Neil Willis, Bruce, and our guest.

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White from 92 9, the game in Atlanta.

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And Atlanta is the home of the dream who

are having reasonable season at the WNBA.

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They had some lean seasons prior,

but:

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They've had a couple of rookies come

in to help them, and they're now

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heading into their own all-star break.

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After the 16th of July, all the teams will

break up and selected players will go to.

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Indianapolis, which seems to be the

center of the basketball universe

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to play in the All Star Weekend is

also where the NBA finals are held.

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It's home to one Kaitlyn Clark.

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You may have heard of her.

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Apparently she's pretty good

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A. Noel White:

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Yeah.

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PSP: the perimeter, but yeah, in

Indianapolis is definitely isn't

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living up to the sier state and

the the basketball stereotype.

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Now, are you going to

Indianapolis for any chance?

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A. Noel White:

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No, I'm not gonna make it to Indianapolis.

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I do know a reporter that

will be there when Megan L.

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Hall, so we will probably try to

check in with her and get an update on

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what's going on out in Indianapolis.

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But your Alicia Gray and Ryan Howard

will be in Indianapolis though

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Ryan will not play unfortunately.

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PSP: Sadness.

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Time you came on the show, you said she's

possibly one of the coolest in the league.

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I, believe that I watched a

few games and , I believe that,

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I think she's got some swag.

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She's got some quiet and also overt

confidence about her, so it's a shame

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A. Noel White:

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Yeah.

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PSP: her on the court.

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Chloe Peterson, a reporter for

the Indie Star Indianapolis, is

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reporting that Kaitlyn Clark is

day to day for All Star Weekend.

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Can the WNBA survive

without Kaitlyn Clark?

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Okay.

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Wait, wait.

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Can WNBA Twitter survive without Kaylene

Clark with All Star Break if for some

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reason she's , unable to take part.

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A. Noel White:

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I love that caveat.

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So as far as the WNBA.

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Yeah, that'll be fine.

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Caitlyn will be there.

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I don't see her not being there, taking

up all type of, of camera ability, right?

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So you'll get all the Kaitlyn

Clark in the world that she want.

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It's kinda like those years when

like Shaq didn't play or maybe a, a

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LeBron or KD was injured or whatever.

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They're there, they're visible, but

they're just not gonna be on the floor.

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And I think that's what you're

gonna see from Kaitlyn and Ryan.

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As far as the Twitter is concerned, if

they understand that she's an, that she

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has an injury and she's literally not

playing right now due to that injury,

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then you know, maybe that will quell

some of the discourse by her not playing

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because she physically literally can't,

it's not because nobody wants her to, or

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anybody's trying to be mean or subjugate

her or any of those things, is that

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she literally can't due to, I think,

she reaggravated a calf injury, so.

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You got a few players that will be out.

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She'll be one, but I think she will

be front row, center and visible.

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I mean, 'cause she has

plenty of teammates I think.

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Lexi Low, my favorite fever player,

Lexi Low Lexi Hall will be there.

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And I think Aaliyah Boston will be there.

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So she has teammates to cheer on as well.

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PSP: Mm, and that sounded very rational.

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Noel.

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A. Noel White:

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I know I'm way too rational.

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PSP: I delved into WNBA Twitter and

they're not very rational when it

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A. Noel White:

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Ooh.

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PSP: thing, so I, wish I had some

similar faith that such opinions will

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be shared, that why she's injured.

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But I can see some PPO stuff

coming up in the next couple

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days about this, that, the other,

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A. Noel White:

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yeah,, it's gonna be interesting.

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But her rookie counterpart will

be there also, angel Reese.

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And that was why I bring that up because

that was somebody along with Ryan

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Howard that I was kind of fearful was

gonna get lost in the shuffle of them.

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Taking on new roles and responsibilities

this year, Ryan being more of a

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leader and trying to share the

ball playing point guard a bit.

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Angel Reese, picking up the point

guard mantle trying to down the

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ball and run the floor a bit.

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I think Angel Reese came on right on

time to get enough votes to be at All

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Star and if you look at the past month

of play, it backs up her all star voting.

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So I'm glad all of that

worked out for her.

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I think that everything is just better

when her and Kaitlyn are around.

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There's more eyes,

there's more conversation.

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There's more care about

what's going on in the league.

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So the two of them being there at the

same time, is, is better than one.

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One is better than none, right?

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So you'll have two of them there.

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One on the court.

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PSP: good.

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And yeah, Reese has definitely been

on a tear in the lead up to the break.

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She's, she isn't racking

up the double doubles.

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She's really been putting in

the work in terms of getting the

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points and getting the boards.

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Is it possible that when it's all

said and done into the season that

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Reese has maybe some MVP votes

from some of the, the voters?

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A. Noel White:

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Ooh, she have to continue this play

right here 'cause like two weeks ago.

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I, I had Alicia Gray in

the MVP conversation.

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She cooled off a bit,

heated back up today.

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We'll see what an all star

brink will do for her.

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But things are shifting now, to

your point, and if Angel Reese

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can continue that play, I think

Naisia Collier is gonna win it.

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But if you can be two or three two and

Necia Collier in year two of your career,

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I mean, like , we're talking future

Hall of Famer, legend status stuff here.

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PSP: Yeah, yeah, I hear that.

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I, I have no doubt that Clark and

Reese will get into the Hall of Famer.

380

:

I think that when 2028 comes around,

they, they have to be on that team USA

381

:

list, at the very least, a short list.

382

:

They're gonna be in that conversation.

383

:

And as it stands, team USA is still

pretty hard to beat in, in world

384

:

basketball on the women's side.

385

:

So.

386

:

Yeah, I, I definitely see them

punching a ticket to, to Springfield

387

:

when it's all said and done.

388

:

The Naysmith Hall of Fame

named after a great Canadian,

389

:

A. Noel White:

390

:

Well look at.

391

:

PSP: great Canadian who actually put in

his work I believe they can, I believe,

392

:

A. Noel White:

393

:

We love it.

394

:

We love it.

395

:

PSP: the game using, buckets

or baskets for peaches.

396

:

So there we go.

397

:

A. Noel White:

398

:

Yes.

399

:

Baskets for peaches.

400

:

Yes, that is correct.

401

:

PSP: we go.

402

:

Canada connection.

403

:

You didn't know you needed,

but we got, and that's how we

404

:

got the game of basketball.

405

:

Now, the game of basketball

, and the WNBA has evolved.

406

:

It's definitely expanded exponentially

over the last couple of seasons.

407

:

Many will point to Caitlyn Clark and

of the other players that come through.

408

:

Angel Reese, Paige Beckers

is now on the scene.

409

:

I go to ask Noel.

410

:

Despite all this growth, are we still

gonna get a CBA done in time before

411

:

the deadline at the end of the year?

412

:

Or is 2026 gonna be a

potential lockout situation?

413

:

A. Noel White:

414

:

I think I might be the first media

person to go on record and say,

415

:

I think I see a lockout coming.

416

:

PSP: Hmm.

417

:

A. Noel White:

418

:

And for several reasons, there's

clearly contention between.

419

:

The head of the WNBA, you know, Kathy,

you got the players organization and the

420

:

players themselves, and there seems to be

421

:

they don't seem to be on the same

page about how to move forward

422

:

and who deserves what, and a CBA

lockout is nothing new, right?

423

:

We've seen baseball go through it,

we've seen football go through it.,

424

:

It's all about the players trying to

get what they feel like they're worth.

425

:

Out of the league and the league is

in a weird spot because, you know,

426

:

all of this growth is new, right?

427

:

So it's kind of the worst time for

a CBA to come up, in my opinion.

428

:

'cause it, it hasn't really given the

league time to get their footing together

429

:

before they can pivot and say, okay,

what does this mean for the players?

430

:

But it is what it is the CBA time.

431

:

And so these players, they see their

own profiles growing their own, their

432

:

own celebrities growing their own.

433

:

Business is growing mean.

434

:

Angel Reese is a business

upon herself right now, right?

435

:

Like they're making so much

money outside of the sport.

436

:

Some of them are making more money

overseas, and they have to figure out

437

:

how to make the WNBA the place to play.

438

:

And that's gonna start with

how these women get paid.

439

:

PSP: Angel Reese is not a businesswoman.

440

:

She's a business.

441

:

A. Noel White:

442

:

Exactly.

443

:

Exactly.

444

:

That's exactly where she is, and that's

where Caitlyn is, and that's where Paige

445

:

Buckers is, and that's where the WNBA is.

446

:

And it's kind of in a, in a similar spot

to where the late eighties, early nineties

447

:

was where, you know, Michael Jordan wasn't

making the big NBA money, nobody was.

448

:

He was getting his money from Gatorade

and Nike and Hanes and on and on and on.

449

:

And that's kind of exactly

where these women are.

450

:

The league has to kind

of catch up with them.

451

:

I mean, Jordan's biggest NBA

paycheck first big NBA paycheck

452

:

came in like the, the 98 season.

453

:

He's pretty much done in

Chicago at that point.

454

:

He's had a whole career at that point

before he saw like a, a a million dollar

455

:

figure kind of check from the NBA.

456

:

And that's kind of where the WR

right now, they're seeing, you know,

457

:

a hundred thousand dollars checks.

458

:

You know, you was getting two

quarter of a million dollar

459

:

checks from unrivaled, whoa.

460

:

That's a side job.

461

:

So what is your day job gonna pay you?

462

:

And that's what the

WNBA has to figure out.

463

:

And so I do think that that's heading

towards a lockout 'cause I don't think

464

:

that's an easy question to answer.

465

:

PSP: No doubt and.

466

:

I'm sure there'll be some

observations when it comes to TV.

467

:

Rights deals, broadcast deals.

468

:

I'm sure that will weigh into it as

469

:

A. Noel White:

470

:

Yep.

471

:

PSP: Apparently the players that

will be heading to Indianapolis

472

:

for the All Star Weekend, they will

be meeting with The Players Union.

473

:

There'll be a bit of a,

town hall on the situation.

474

:

So watch the space and see the

direction that comes outta that Noel,

475

:

what else should we be looking for?

476

:

This WMVA All Star weekend, , what

else is standing out to you?

477

:

A. Noel White:

478

:

Oh, we got the skills challenge,

the three point challenge.

479

:

I know people.

480

:

Probably disappointed that Kaitlyn

Clark will be subbed out, but what I

481

:

am looking to see is if Alicia Gray

can do the impossible and repeat

482

:

her performance from last season.

483

:

I think the 2024 All Star game gave

her a different level of visibility

484

:

and star power, to be honest.

485

:

I mean, I'm seeing kids walk around

with 15 jerseys and goggles now.

486

:

It's crazy.

487

:

And so if she can replicate, some

of that magic from last season,

488

:

bring it into this season and win.

489

:

You know, , she doesn't have to win both

this time, but if she can win one of

490

:

those competitions there and keep her

visibility that high on this big stage

491

:

of All Star Weekend, I think that would

do wonders for not just the League and

492

:

Alicia Gray, but for the Atlanta Dream.

493

:

You know, we're kind of a small

market in a small WNBA area.

494

:

If you think about it.

495

:

The only teams in the South

right now are the dream.

496

:

The wings.

497

:

That's it.

498

:

So we have , a lot of growing to do, to

be visible, to make people want to watch

499

:

Atlanta Dream basketball and players

like Alicia Gray and Ryan Howard and Ena

500

:

Pow Pow will go a long way towards that.

501

:

And I'm hoping Alicia Gray

continues that this weekend in

502

:

Indianapolis for All Star Weekend.

503

:

PSP: Well, I'm gonna

correct you there, Noelle.

504

:

'cause Atlanta's not a small

505

:

A. Noel White:

506

:

Okay.

507

:

PSP: LAN's a big market.

508

:

A. Noel White:

509

:

I agree with you.

510

:

I agree with you.,

511

:

I think, you know, sometimes I try to

fall into where people see Atlanta,

512

:

but you're right, Atlanta's a top

seven sports market in the world.,

513

:

It's not a small market at

all, but can we get these eyes?

514

:

On our teams and not so spread out, and

that's what we're working on right now.

515

:

Getting more eyes on jerseys that say

Atlanta on the front and not so much, you

516

:

know, New York, golden State, la that's,

that's what we're trying to do right now.

517

:

We're trying to turn a big

market into our big market.

518

:

PSP: I, I hear what you're saying 'cause

there's some similarities with Toronto.

519

:

Toronto's being the largest

520

:

A. Noel White:

521

:

Mm-hmm.

522

:

PSP: one of the most popular

cities in North America.

523

:

But yeah, at times the sports teams,

it feels like they're, they have a

524

:

small market mentality and you quite

often see rival jerseys in such a

525

:

big city when I feel like we should

be seeing more of the local teams.

526

:

Anyway, we can get into

that another day, but.

527

:

A sport we might see more

of in Atlanta is hockey.

528

:

Before I get you out of here, Noel, you

may have seen some reports that there

529

:

could be another return of the NHL to add

what your thoughts on that, just quickly.

530

:

A. Noel White:

531

:

So right when I decided I was gonna get

into the Thrashers, I went to my first

532

:

game and a week later they sold the team.

533

:

PSP: Okay.

534

:

A. Noel White:

535

:

So this is my chance to finally

get into Atlanta hockey.

536

:

I wasn't old enough for the flame

the Thrashers were taking from me

537

:

before I could really get into them.

538

:

So this is the second

chance to relive that.

539

:

And it's funny you asked me that because

I'm working on a project right now for

540

:

grad school about how Ted Turner's merger

with Time Warner ruined Atlanta sports.

541

:

And that's a big piece of it.

542

:

We lost the Thrashers.

543

:

PSP: Wait, wait, wait.

544

:

See, I was about to wrap things up

and now you've opened something up.

545

:

'cause Ted Turner, he owned the Thrashes.

546

:

He also owned the Braves, is that right?

547

:

A. Noel White:

548

:

He on the Thrashers, the Braves,

the Hawks, and technically WCW.

549

:

PSP: Yes.

550

:

WCWI remember that.

551

:

'cause I mean, you

could say that he tanked

552

:

A. Noel White:

553

:

Yeah.

554

:

PSP: right?

555

:

A. Noel White:

556

:

Well, not necessarily.

557

:

Well, okay.

558

:

And we can talk about

that mess another day.

559

:

But ultimately the merger with

Time Warner ruined Atlanta Sports.

560

:

'cause they didn't want

any of the sports teams.

561

:

He had to add the sports teams to

make the money work, but Time Warner

562

:

didn't care about the sports teams.

563

:

And so they got sold off to

other individuals that didn't

564

:

really care about owning a team.

565

:

They just cared about the

revenue from the team.

566

:

And I feel like a lot of, a lot

of those teams are still trying to

567

:

get their footing from that sale.

568

:

From almost 25 years ago.

569

:

So all of that said, I am super excited

to maybe have the Thrashers back or

570

:

some other team if we don't get to

have our own intellectual property.

571

:

I don't even know how that works yet.

572

:

Super excited about the idea

of hockey back in Atlanta.

573

:

PSP: Great.

574

:

Well, that's good,

575

:

A. Noel White:

576

:

I.

577

:

PSP: Because yeah,, we always wonder up

in Canada if, folks in the Really are

578

:

into hockey because there's many other

sports, there's outdoor activities,

579

:

so that's just refreshing to hear.

580

:

If you ever wanted , another example of

a conglomerate owning sports teams, you

581

:

can look no further than Toronto because

has just acquired Maple Leaf Sports.

582

:

So Ed Rogers now owns the Blue Jays, the

Maple Leaf, the Raptors, and Toronto Sea.

583

:

So your case study could be prophetic.

584

:

I have my concerns.

585

:

We can talk about that another day.

586

:

A. Noel White:

587

:

We, we really could actually,

it's actually a really good topic.

588

:

PSP: he just closed the sale.

589

:

Around Canada Day, actually July 1st.

590

:

So just for your long weekend,

yeah, you're gonna wanna

591

:

read up on that for sure.

592

:

But in the meantime, well where, where

can we read up and listen to your work?

593

:

A. Noel White:

594

:

Well, me and your soccer pal, Jason

Longshore, they have given us an

595

:

hour of radio for whatever reason

on Thursday nights at:

596

:

can hear that on the Odyssey app

or anywhere you get your podcast.

597

:

You can find us in the

Sam and Greg folder.

598

:

We will be labeled Intersection

where me and Jason break

599

:

down all headlines going on.

600

:

All the fun stuff around us and we

throw darts at people at the bar.

601

:

So yes, join us at the corner of sports

and everything else at:

602

:

Thursday nights on 9 2 9, the game.

603

:

PSP: Fantastic.

604

:

And yeah, the, the out there,

they do fine work in the sports

605

:

capital of the southeast.

606

:

You're gonna wanna check that out and.

607

:

Into all that good stuff.

608

:

the meantime, I've been your

host, Neil Wallace Bruce, and

609

:

this is another episode of PSP.

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About the Podcast

Pro Sports Podcasters
No Sport Left Behind
The Pro Sports Podcasters is hosted by Nii Wallace-Bruce, and Justen Williams. On this podcast there is no sport too big, or too small for us to cover. You'll learn something every episode!

#NoSportLeftBehind

Our guests include the top athletes in their sport, coaches, sports broadcasters, sports agents, league administrators, and dedicated fans. We cover every sport from every angle, and provide perspectives that other podcasts ignore. Each host has expert knowledge in a number of sports. So when the opportunity arises to educate our audience, we take every opportunity.

Our hosts Nii Wallace-Bruce, and Justen Williams have all spent time in front of the camera as well. Having appeared in commercials, dramatic roles, music videos, public events, and Live performances. The Pro Sports Podcasters are more than the voices you have come to recognize hearing twice a week.

Enjoy the podcast, and to connect with the Pro Sports Podcasters there are links in the show notes of every episode!
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