Your Opinion Doesn’t Matter Podcast
Welcome to YODM Podcast, your gateway to engaging conversations and thought-provoking debates. With every episode, we bring you a fresh perspective on a wide range of intriguing topics. Join our panel of passionate debaters as we explore the issues that matter most to you. From relationships and societal dilemmas to personal growth and pop culture, our discussions are designed to inspire curiosity, spark dialogue, and encourage you to see the world from different angles. Tune in for entertaining and enlightening conversations that leave you pondering, questioning, and wanting more. Join the YODM community, share your thoughts, and let the debates begin!
Your Opinion Doesn’t Matter Podcast
Financial Dynamics and Social Pressures: Insights from Lamont and Sterling
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to question societal norms from your childhood? This week, Mr. Lamont and Big Sterling kick off with some summertime nostalgia, reminiscing about celebration traditions during school and the Pledge of Allegiance. We then shift gears to a timely critique of the current political scene, questioning the capabilities of aged leaders like Trump and Biden and advocating for fresher, younger faces in politics. The conversation takes an intriguing turn as we examine a recent political assassination attempt and its murky impact on public perception and forthcoming elections.
In relationships, can financial imbalance coexist with mutual respect and love? We tackle this complex topic head-on, discussing whether men should accept financial help from wealthier women and how societal expectations shape these dynamics. We also stress the importance of mutual support and respect, regardless of who holds the purse strings. Through this lens, we explore the balance of traditional gender roles and the wisdom gained from past relationship experiences, emphasizing the necessity of clear boundaries to ensure both partners feel valued.
From the NBA draft's touchy subject of familial nepotism to the personal challenges of navigating social gatherings without alcohol, we cover it all. Bronny James' entry into the NBA under the shadow of his father, LeBron James, sparks a heated debate on readiness and influence. We then shift to personal stories about resisting the social pressure to drink and dealing with anxiety in social settings. Wrapping up, we extend our heartfelt support to the resilient people of Carriacou, a small Caribbean island ravaged by Hurricane Baryl. Join us for a dynamic discussion filled with insights, reflections, and a message of solidarity.
Welcome. Welcome to the your Opinion Doesn't Matter podcast. I am one of the hosts, mr Lamont, and I'm here with none other Big Sterling.
Speaker 2:What's going on, bro? How are you? What's good? What's good, family Always a pleasure to be in your presence. Talk about some issues that we're dealing with in society, you know.
Speaker 1:Yes, for sure, for sure, for sure, man Same here. Pleasure pleasure. You know, yes, for sure, for sure, for sure, man Same here. Pleasure pleasure, pleasure to be around too son Always always yeah, man. So what's going on with you, man? How's your summer turning out for you, man?
Speaker 2:Summer, summer been all right. Always had a love for summer. Since I was a kid, you know. Always got excited when I knew summer was coming up.
Speaker 2:You always got excited when I knew something was coming up, you'd start hitting the gym a little more trying to get you know where the muscles going pump up a little bit you know what I'm saying so you could kind of peel off when they get warm outside. You know what I'm saying. But I really haven't been outside like I expected, you know. But I still enjoyed the warm weather, the sights you know what I'm saying the greenery, you know. Hearing the birds chirp, you know things like that. I love summertime, I'm a summer baby. Nice, nice, nice, nice. And you know hand the birds chirp, you know things like that. I love summertime, I'm a summer baby.
Speaker 1:Nice, nice, nice, nice. And you know, summertime for me. You know, I was like, I was one of those kids in school and I couldn't celebrate my birthday during school like everybody else. Oh, it's my birthday today, you know. I had to wait till summertime. It's my time, summertime, july. My birthday just passed.
Speaker 2:Oh, oh yeah yeah, yeah. You didn't get to party. You didn't get to pizza party with the cake, or nothing in school.
Speaker 1:Nah, nah nah, nah, nah, nah. Actually, when I was in school, in elementary, they used to over the system, pa system, yeah, yeah, they say happy birthday to whoever it was. I'm like dang man, but that's during the time when they used to have to sing the Pledge of Allegiance used to have to um, sing the um the pledge allegiance pledge allegiance yeah, yeah, yeah, used to have to do that in class. Yeah, mandatory, yeah mandatory.
Speaker 2:When did that stop? I have no idea, but I'm sure it's probably sometime around the mid-90s the mid-90s.
Speaker 1:You was doing that in um the mid-90s, it's. Oh, you mean, they forced that in elementary? Yeah, because I don't remember that when I was in junior high.
Speaker 2:In junior we had assembly and when we went to assembly I went to orthosomas. When we went to assembly we had to stand up and do the pleasure legions joint too.
Speaker 1:Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what, you know what I'm wrong. But this is different. They used to have us do it.
Speaker 2:From the classroom, from the classroom, oh, okay, okay.
Speaker 1:They used to have us all doing it in the classroom, like I played Jealousy instead.
Speaker 2:But I'm like come on, man Nah, man Nah man and you know people started getting woke in the mid to late 90s. You know, right, right, right.
Speaker 1:We was like yo man, never mind, we fight the power, fight the power man with with this um guy who's trying to, you know, get re-elected, man and um, you know you mean the movie fake assassination attempt? Right right, right, right right. What's your thoughts on that?
Speaker 2:my thoughts. What are my thoughts on that? Uh, I don't have any real favorites when it comes to the election. I mean between Trump and Biden. To me it's all same devil you choose one. You know I'm tired of us voting for these old 80-year-old men.
Speaker 2:I think something needs to change as far as how we go about picking the leaders of our countries, Because these guys you see the cognitive decline on Biden already. I'm sure Trump is probably going through something of the same manner. You know, and I don't think it's a good idea to have these old men with these old way of thinking running our country. It's time to get some new blood in.
Speaker 2:You understand what I mean. And I'm not talking about too young, where you're naive. I'm talking about, maybe you know, between 40, 50s. You know somebody that has the experience of life and knows how to deal with issues, and nobody that's going to panic, you understand. But these guys, they're so old now I think they just have one way of thinking that they can't see. I think they sort of have tunnel vision on how to run the country.
Speaker 1:Right, right, right right. I feel that it's a strange thing, man, something violent happened to him. And now look at this, everybody's saying, oh, he won, now he won Well that definitely propelled him to the finish line. Yeah, catapulted him, man, there's so much videos of him. They got one with him Boys in the Hood when Biden is in the car. And then you know, he said you know that famous scene With Ricky yeah, Ricky yeah.
Speaker 1:And then yeah, and Donald Trump gets shot. Or even the one I just saw another one today 50 Cent and Game One. You know what I mean when you're not on top. Yeah.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, but it was something definitely fishy about that assassination attempt. I'm a movie buff and I watched a lot of movies. Do you realize the caliber of the gun that was shot? I think a semi-automatic rifle. Don't quote me if I'm wrong, but the bullet for that is about that big Pause. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, so how could they just end up nipping his ear from? And he's supposed to have the scope and everything. You know what I'm saying? I think Trump just had to catch a packet.
Speaker 1:They bust his shot, bust the packet Right right, right right. You know what I'm saying. Oh, we need to make a scene.
Speaker 2:Yeah, something is not right about that, man. It don't add up to me.
Speaker 1:A body got to drop, a body got to drop.
Speaker 2:We got Mayday, mayday and he was still resilient after, like, I just got shot.
Speaker 1:But yeah, I'm still for the people.
Speaker 2:Yeah, power to the people.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, yeah, trump, whatever.
Speaker 2:And then Biden. He just fumbling over words and falling all over. He look like he's going to be sort of a paraplegic in about a year to no disrespect to the people out there, but he doesn't look like he's in good shape. He needs to sit down and rest himself and enjoy the rest of his life without the pressure of running the country.
Speaker 1:Yeah, he needs to go sit down somewhere, man. Go sit down somewhere, man. Yeah, I need your advice, man, I had asked another one of the homies about a certain situation and they say yo man, you bugging man, speak on it. Well, it's this thing, this, this, this thing about prenups. Um, well, the situation is is this is a gentleman. Um, both of them, him and his girlfriend, they graduated, they just graduated college. Okay. And so they've been together. They began at three, four years. Okay.
Speaker 1:So she knows his struggles and this, that and the third, and he knows her struggles. Yes, if she has anything, well, some people have struggles. It might not just be in the fact that you need money. Yes, you know anything. Well, some people have struggles. It might not just be in the fact that you need money. Yes, they got other things, other struggles.
Speaker 2:Yeah, could be mental type of shit going on.
Speaker 1:So his situation is that she is very, very rich. She's very, very rich.
Speaker 2:Elaborate on rich Millionaire very, very rich rich and um Elaborate on rich millionaire, wealthy her family, wealthy generations, generational, generational generational.
Speaker 1:And um, and you know she, you know he pays for dinner. Sometimes she pays for dinner sometime. And um, she invited him to go to Amsterdam or something like that, and the ticket is $1,000. And he said no, I want to feel like.
Speaker 2:I'm going to you know I'm earning my keep Right, right, right, right, right, right right.
Speaker 1:But before we get to the prenup, right, I'm going to ask you a question. If you were the woman, right? Is it okay, as a man, is it okay to um take money from your woman, and especially if she's wealthy?
Speaker 2:absolutely absolutely absolutely, especially if you have that type of relationship and especially if she she's all for to help you out. I mean, the relationship is about a balance anyway anyway. So maybe just her end of the scale is the financial, but I'm sure you balance it in other ways. As far as you know, emotional stability, support, things that, as such, you know helping If there's kids involved, being a good father, being a good husband, and it's just us putting into the pot and we're going to cook a big stew. Anyway we're going to eat regardless. So therefore, therefore, you know it's just investing into us.
Speaker 2:So I wouldn't feel a way asking now if it becomes a habit and I'm doing all the time, of course, but once in a while, if she's going to give you monetary to help something that's going to benefit us also benefit us both. As far as, like my car, I need fixing and we both ride in that car, you know we helping each other out. You understand what I'm saying. I think when it becomes a habit, you know, and repeats itself, and then if you start thinking you're getting over it, that's when it becomes a problem, because she's going to see that too. Obviously you know what I'm saying.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but that's what I say is like, the expectations of, like, say, a woman, it's already supposed to be. It's like mandatory, a man is supposed to take care of her Mandatory, but it's not mandatory. If a nigga's broke, the dude is broke and he can't take care of his woman. But like I don't understand. I don't understand it. Like, why is it not that same type of pressure that a man gets when he has money to provide? It might not be pressure. Why is it that the woman always thinks that the money is hers, my money is my money, my money. And then, when they get their money, they want to move up. They want to move up and deal with dudes.
Speaker 2:That that has paper yeah, yeah, I mean in that profession or whatever I don't think that's a no-win situation. I mean the way society is now, I mean that's how, sadly, that's how most women think Like your money is their money and you're supposed to take care of them and wine and dine them and all of that. And if it's the other way around, if they have all the money and they wine in and dine you around, they feel like they're the head of the household and you really can't speak too much. So therefore, you around, they feel like they're the head of the household and you really can't speak too much. So therefore, you know it's a tricky situation as far as you having money and you taking care and you buying all these things. I mean that's a little old fashioned.
Speaker 2:I think you know back in the islands with my grandparents, that's when you know the man took care of the household. You know he went out, he worked or he farmed and then he took care of the wife and kids. But the economical times is different and you know you could you could survive or not that much money. But now, with all the other vices that you know yourself and your woman have, with the gucci and the louis and the jewelry and the flying out and all that that becomes pretty costly that becomes?
Speaker 1:I definitely think that becomes costly and you know right now, the economy is very it's shaky.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's very shaky, very unstable, you know. So, in order, if I'm paying for everything, you got to balance it out. Meaning, when I come home, I want my slippers by the door. You know what I'm saying. I want my food cooking hot. You know what I'm saying. I want my food cooking hot. You know what I'm saying. I want warm bath after that.
Speaker 1:And when nighttime come, lingerie time.
Speaker 2:Yeah, lingerie time, you don't know.
Speaker 1:You see, now that's like what men would want, right. Yeah. Some men, majority, majority.
Speaker 2:Majority, majority men yeah, a lot of these men is different, now too.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so now, like what's the um? A woman you can't. Can you even think of a woman that has those same terms Like I want this clean, I want that clean. I rub my shoulders.
Speaker 2:Well, if a woman telling you that, that means she see you as a woman, you understand. That means the roles. The roles have switched.
Speaker 1:I can't deal with that I can't deal with that.
Speaker 2:I can't deal with any woman that's going to try to put me under manners like that.
Speaker 1:What would your negotiation be if you was the man at home and your woman was the one holding things down?
Speaker 2:Yeah, well, in order for me to be in that situation, I'm still going to have to be the man in her eyes and in the household, meaning like you can't talk to me in any type of way and you can't expect me to do things that are not masculine. You understand what I'm saying. And at the same time, you have to be submissive. There's ways you could still be the man of the house, even though you're not making all the bread. You understand what I'm saying. And if she's submissive and she buys into that, then I think things could work. You understand, yeah, but if, if she's taking this I'm the man to switch role, identity, like I'm the man now, you, you do what I tell you to do, or your ass is out I can't deal with that I know there's different type of men now that deal with that, but I'm I'm not that breed no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Speaker 1:I mean, I can't even see myself being under any woman's thumb. I can't do it. The question I have is like suppose she wants you to sign a prenup?
Speaker 2:I don't have any problem signing a prenup. I mean, what's yours is yours. And if you came in and you feel a way a little insecure and you think I'm out there to take it from you, I'll I'll gladly sign a prenup just to prove that I'm not even about that. I wouldn't feel no way, I wouldn't take it as an insult. You know you got in, you got to take care, what's yours. Sometimes you got to be safe. You know it's a, it's a sort of insurance policy and the other way around.
Speaker 2:If I had my brother and I met a regular woman, I would want to sign a prenup too, just to make sure what we came in with we leave with. You understand what I'm saying and if I choose to give you a little more, that's up to you. Yeah, but I don't want you to ever have the intentions like yo. I'm trying to run gay and I'm just trying to get you for your paper. That's not who I am, you understand. Some people might get assaulted and I feel the only ways you're going to get assaulted is if you had the intentions of trying to take a foot of bread anyway, you understand, I get it, I get it, man, but I don't think that I could.
Speaker 1:I don't think, I don't think I could do a prenup. I can't do it not less, like say I'm in a relationship now but I'm like say, hypothetically, say I ran up on, say, jay wasn't with Beyonce, or something yeah. I mean certain things like that is understandable, you know what I'm saying like oh, she's a billionaire stuff like that certain things is understandable, yes, but but, but you know, I mean cause, cause that's not what I'm in it for.
Speaker 1:So I mean, there's certain things, is just it. Just it makes you think like all right, yeah, hold on, I'm not in here for that. And when we leave, I don't want that.
Speaker 2:When I leave. I mean, yeah, but mom, but how does she know that? We anyway, because it could, it could go left at any time that's true.
Speaker 1:And and then I want to know what's the um, the percent for divorces?
Speaker 2:the divorce rate is high too it's very high and I think, united states has one of the highest percentages in the in the world so let's don't, let's just let's don't get married. That's this playhouse it's too late for me, bro right now I'm thinking about speaking of that.
Speaker 1:I'm about to get married this year, bro.
Speaker 2:Yo, congratulations. Let me tell you something. Those are people that down talk marriage. It all depends on your mate man. If you found that right person, you good. You know me. Getting married is one of the best decisions I ever made in my life. I'm 12 years in and I don't regret a thing. I do it all over again. You heard I got me a good one.
Speaker 1:I'm happy for you bro.
Speaker 2:And I wish you the same blessings with you and your fiance.
Speaker 1:Yeah, man, I'm happy for you, man. I mean, you know it's time to just settle down. You know what I mean. Yes, yes, you know you can't be Batman forever. Yeah, yeah yeah, you know what I mean. I went from Batman to Robin, to the who else, to the regular guys. You know what? I mean. You know what I mean, that's life.
Speaker 1:I remember like say a starter, then I'm a game to bench player, then a reserve player. Then your boy don't even go. He's not even on the court, no more man. He got bad knees and all you know what I mean.
Speaker 2:I'm telling you, man, we had that phase of life. Man, you don't want to get a stroke now. You don't got nobody to come to the hospital clean your ass for you, and give you a bath. You understand what I'm saying I know a friend that's a nurse and she told me that happens all the time. A lot of old players come there with their stroke and then they're lonely, nobody comes to see them and they suffer until they pass away. You understand.
Speaker 1:And that's the thing, that's why people need to think about I have a family member that's older than me and he kind of lives in DR yeah yeah, yeah. He lives in DR and his concerns is not about having a woman. I mean, you could do your DR thing, your Spain thing, but have somebody Like on the days when you're sick who's going to make you soup?
Speaker 1:Don't pay for a chick to come through and give you soup. Yes, you know, this is a certain to me, to me, you, you have to have somebody that you could be fat skinny, tall short. Whatever you need somebody to care for you and you care for them, care for you in a companions.
Speaker 2:Yeah, a little love, you know, and the nurturing part.
Speaker 1:You understand, yeah, yeah, those prostitutes is only good for, like you know, until you pay them.
Speaker 2:That's it and then that's it. When the money going to love going. Now you back to square one Facts plus tax, kid. Yeah, you know.
Speaker 1:Facts plus tax man. And, interesting, that same guy was older than me, right Years years back before I was with my fiancee. Yeah, um, he used to always want me. That's how me and him fell out. He used to always want me to go to dr with him, but, but then. But then it's like his. His motivation is like he'll show me pictures of of chicks at that time, my age, I'm like like yo, what are you doing, bro? I said yo at that time. I think I was in my, I was in my, like my, my late 30s, yeah, or something like that. How old was duke?
Speaker 1:huh, how old was him he's three years older than me okay, okay so but but he's showing these chicks yeah, yeah I'm like what? Yeah, yeah, I'm gonna go out of town, I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go to another country to get a chick my age. Yeah, yeah, I wouldn't even deal with a chick here in the us, but I'm gonna go out there. I said no no, no, no, no, no. And folks, I ain't talking about no young little girls, I'm talking about respectful. Respectful in the 22 and up, when I was that age, Nah, so he discouraged me, man. I'm like nah, bro.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, his priorities wrong as seem. He probably living a life of regret right now.
Speaker 1:I ain't heard from him.
Speaker 2:But if you speak to him now he probably would have been like damn, I wasted all that time doing that.
Speaker 1:No, he's still doing it Still doing it for life. He's committed man, he's committed.
Speaker 2:I know there's a few dudes like that.
Speaker 1:He got his payola badge because he works for a flight, the airport, oh, okay, okay, so you know. You get them what? $120 flights? Yeah, yeah, yeah. You know what I'm saying? Yeah, yeah, and you in there.
Speaker 2:Yeah, I did the DR thing, me and my crew. We used to do that in our early 20s. I've been there three, four times, you know what I'm saying. But we had dudes in the crew that fell in love with it and it kept going back, it kept going back. We even had a few dudes that almost got married and I had to be like yo bro, what you doing? Oh word, can't bury him, you can't bring him down here, because you know when you're not there, she not yours, no more.
Speaker 1:You heard she's taking everything. Anything moving, yeah, and if you bring her down here.
Speaker 2:it's only a matter of time before she end up in a A brothel. You know what I'm saying? Shit.
Speaker 1:I never went to DR. Dr was a lick in the 90s.
Speaker 2:I never went there with the crew and none of that like that we went to. We kept it local Virginia Atlanta.
Speaker 1:Philly.
Speaker 2:Greek Fest and shit like that, oh yeah.
Speaker 1:You talking about with Freak Nick.
Speaker 2:Yeah, freak, nick, greek Fest Me and the Cruise Brothers. Yeah, the Cruise Brothers, the Notorious Cruise Brothers, big up the Cruz brothers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, big up the Cruz brothers. Yo, we had some fun kid. I can't wait. Once these guys get together and they come on here and we tell them our stories. Yeah, yeah, yeah, we can't?
Speaker 1:well, all of us. Them two is married. No, three of them is married. You know, I'm engaged but we can't really give the, we can't give the whole play. Yeah, yeah, but yeah, we could just, you could just like be a little discreeter we, just we, we, we discreet and we just like you know, we're not trying to offend our family by talking our crazy shit yeah but just know it was a movie yeah, yeah showtime at the palo man. But those are the good times, man.
Speaker 2:I heard about yeah, I heard, I heard I heard there's a showtime at the palo.
Speaker 1:Man, we had a lot of good times, man we had a lot of good times and, um, you know, hey, that's part of part of life. Yeah, you know, that's.
Speaker 2:That's where I um, I overstayed my drinking back then I was whoo yeah, well, whenever you, whenever you go on a greek fest or freak nigga, it's drinking and smoking 24-7 the whole time I drank more than I ate.
Speaker 1:I drank more than I ate kid A lot of weed. I springy that too.
Speaker 2:Looking for breakfast, lunch and dinner, oh man.
Speaker 1:You're waking up the homies. Yo, let's take some shots. Yeah, yeah, yeah. And then you're feeling that freedom. Like oh yeah, I'm back yeah.
Speaker 2:The Invincible Youth Days.
Speaker 1:Yeah, the Invincible Youth Days, man, it's a lot of fun, a lot of fun, man, I'm glad that you know my numbers add up as far as good things Through my times and travels of going to clubs and stuff stay out. Of thousands and thousands of places we only probably got into like two, three fights. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, because you know, know, and the thing about is, we was well how we used to do, we used to go in clubs like, and we first, we'll just see how it is once we walk in, we'll know how it is the next. You know, we don't stay together, we all, we all separate boom, boom, boom, boom and having fun, man, that's how parties, that's how parties was. I don't know how it is now, but, um, you know, yeah, the best part is when you can walk away from your homeboys. You don't see them for like a good two hours yeah, yeah yeah, the good old days.
Speaker 2:I don't think it's like that. No more. I don't even see the party scene. I don't know if they still even got clubs no more, or not late night clubs anymore. You know what I'm saying cause I live in Jersey. When I leave Brooklyn, I drive through the city. I don't see nothing, you know. You know, usually 3-4 o'clock in the morning you're driving back in the days you see people getting out to the club, hitting the restaurants. I think it's all about bar lounges now. You know little small stuff like that. But you know, sign of the times you know, sign of the times.
Speaker 2:We talked about where the woman was holding a man down or the man holding a woman down financially. Now what about if you meet at the median and go 50-50? How do you feel about going 50-50 in a relationship, Meaning you probably could hold it down by yourself if you want, but it'll be a struggle. But if she helps and she puts something in, it'll make it easier for both of us. Could you see yourself doing 50-50? And it's never really 50-50.
Speaker 1:It's 45-55, but you know, that's just a hypothetical number.
Speaker 2:You know Right, right, right, right, right.
Speaker 1:Now I see myself. I go by what's actually going on. Yeah. I go by what's going on, like you know. I mean certain situations. Okay word, okay, you didn't work that much this month, blah, blah, blah. It's like okay, I got this and you got that.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying. But, like, if it's like, say it's a pre thing, like you tell her, you say holler at that shorty, and then she's talking about yo listen, I want to be taken care of man, I got a good job, but what's mine is mine. I'm like you got to go that way darling, and you know I don't. If you don't agree to do it like, suggest it at least you know.
Speaker 2:I mean, once a woman's talk about what's mine is mine, that's a very selfish woman and she's not even in it for love. You understand what I'm saying. A woman that comes at you like that, I don't believe she really loves you. Because once a woman really loves a man, or likewise they they're willing to bend, you know, or meet you in the middle. You understand right? That means she's just worried about she's. She probably had a bad experience before and she's just worried about her finance. That means she's broken on the inside and she needs to be fixed before she could go on for relationship anyway.
Speaker 1:You know right, right, right, right, right. So now, nelson, you're saying that 50, 50. Now you know the girl got paper, so so so still 50, 50 say, if she if she got paper, we could, we could still.
Speaker 2:I mean, I know my 50 going to be different. Hold on, hold on.
Speaker 1:Your 50 is going to be different. Yeah, it's 50% of what.
Speaker 2:I got. You know it can't be 50% of the whole equation. It got to be 50% of what I got compared to 50% of what she got. Right right, right, right right. You know, but I definitely want to contribute. You understand what I'm saying Right, right, right. And once she's willing to contribute.
Speaker 1:Yo, it's like the 50% your 50 is 50 of whatever she put in.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's like her 50, if she a millionaire, her 50% is $500,000. You know my $80,000, my 50 is $40,000.
Speaker 1:You know what I'm saying yeah, right, right, right, right it evens out, you know.
Speaker 2:But at least I'm putting forth the effort to let her show that I'm committed to make the relationship move forward, you understand.
Speaker 1:Right right, right right.
Speaker 2:And I'm not just here for it to get carried.
Speaker 1:Right right, right, right, right, right, right, right, yeah, shit, but yeah, but 50-50,.
Speaker 2:It should be like you know, nowadays, these women out here, they be having these high, these high High expectations. Yeah, man, and you know why I'm blaming all y'all scammers man y'all messed up the game.
Speaker 2:Man whining and dining these chicks when you first meet them, flying them out. Now they think that's the standard. Everybody can't do that. You know, I'm just speaking to the other brothers out there. I'm good. You know I'm saying I'm out of the game, but I see now on social media these girls making these demands I need this, I need that. And they're not willing to even negotiate down and like if you can't give me that, don't waste my time. And I think that really messed up the game.
Speaker 1:Yeah, messed up the game, man. I mean you corrupt the mind of the woman man. Yes, sometimes, a lot of times, y'all make the way men go about, how they get the drawers and stuff. You'll make a chick that look like a six. You treat her like a nine, just to get the trim. So then, now, she figured this is standard.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, this is standard, I'm a standard. Nine now.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, Like okay, oh, he paid for this.
Speaker 2:He paid for it yeah.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So then you know it's weird man, it's weird. It's weird Certain things. They mess up the game and you buying a woman expensive stuff.
Speaker 2:Yeah, everything is for monetary gain. Now it seems like it's not even any emotions. No love, no love, things of that sort. Yeah, it's no court. You're not courting the person. You understand? Put the money involved. What I'm waiting? You're not going to wait a month. If you're spending bread, you know what I'm saying. You're going to be like boom, you're making demands now. Yo, what's up? I just spent that bread.
Speaker 1:Let's talk sports man. Let's talk sports man. There's some things that I had a discussion with some of the homies months back, months months back, and we talked about LeBron James' son Bronny, yeah, and I was saying to them then this was before he even went to USC. Yes, this was before that and I said this guy, this kid, is not that good man, and I said that respectfully. He's not that good to a sense that he's too much hype. It's not fair to the kids.
Speaker 1:That's there's thousands of kids, that's, there's thousands of kids that's working hard out there, yeah, and it's coming from the hood yeah, you know what I'm saying and really need that break, really need that for their family.
Speaker 2:Yeah.
Speaker 1:You don't know what's going on at home Feed their family, yeah.
Speaker 2:I dig it, taking that spot and um, and and I and I didn't um.
Speaker 1:You know he caught a um, something was wrong with his cardiac arrest, but then he winds up going into the draft. Yeah, again unproven four points, four points a game. He played 10 more games or something like that. Unproven four points a game average. And then, and yes, under six, two, how are you? How is he? Even though he was picked? I think 52.
Speaker 2:55th. 55th 55th. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Second round, 55th. Yeah, but how? And then they, and then the big, there's a big, there's a big dude from, I think, south.
Speaker 2:The big dread dude. Yeah, yeah, I know who you're talking about. I forgot his name, I can't remember. And he got and he started doing Way better numbers.
Speaker 1:Yeah, and he had some. He was so impressive, he had major NIL deals through that and I'm like and he didn't get drafted.
Speaker 2:He didn't get drafted. Lebron took that spot.
Speaker 1:John Bonney took a lot of people's spots. Man, yeah, yeah. What's your thoughts on this situation?
Speaker 2:I'm conflicted when it comes to that because you know, as fathers we're supposed to work to get our sons in where they need to be. We put in that work, we get there, we place our sons there and then it keeps going on and on to make sure everybody in the family line is taken care of, you understand. So I'm conflicted In a way. I felt like I don't blame LeBron for bringing his son in, but I just think his son wasn't ready and he's going to do more harm than good putting him out there. Because now you're putting him out there, the lights and the cameras, and you know there's a lot of critics. And I agree with you when I say Bronny's not ready yet.
Speaker 2:I didn't see anything that tells me he could be a pretty good NBA player or a starter, or even last in the league for more than three years. You understand what I'm saying, but I guess he's an untitled little boy, you know. And LeBron wants to show I have the power to do this. Lebron has to have a hold on that Laker organization. That's like he must know something that we don't know because he has everybody. He really big up to LeBron. I don't like him as a player, but you know that power move. He's a very powerful black man and he showed that you understand what.
Speaker 2:I'm saying I'm happy he got his son in there, but I think it's going to do more harm than good psychologically to Bronny. Because you know, if I'm one of them dudes, and Bronny got a guaranteed contract in the second round, which is million, I think, yeah, imagine me, I'm fighting to get on the team and this, this dude, I can't really. I'm going at him. Yeah, and I'm supposed to clear it out. Yeah, I'm gonna expose you. Yeah, you know what I'm saying. So I feel, after it's all done, brownie might be a little messed up psychologically. Maybe he flips the script and gets better and, and you know, makes it in the league. But I just I wish him the best, but I just don't see it, man Right.
Speaker 1:I see it. You know what I see. I see it like that. It's a high-level nepotism and it's more or less that I mean. I ain't going to lie. If my nephew or if I had a son, I would try to push to get him in. Yes definitely I would put him in a position where he won't get exposed. That's the key. If you're going to do high-level nepotism, you got to put him in a place where you can hide his weaknesses. Yes, With sports you can't do it. Imagine if it was football. Yes.
Speaker 1:See, now it's like say it's football and he's a running back or the—.
Speaker 2:That defensive line is going to crush you. Yeah, you're going to get them killed.
Speaker 1:Yeah, so it's like you know you can be fundamentally sound as you want. Yes. But you cannot hide your real skill set when you got good players around you. Yes, you can't, you can't, even. He couldn't even get away with in college he couldn't even do it in college.
Speaker 2:Yes, yes. So if I was LeBron, I more so probably would have try to get him a job in the organization, doing something other than, you know, playing. Make sure he's stable. But as far as putting him out there, I mean he's going to be like a deer in the headlights now, when I seen it, you know he's realizing the speed of the game is different in the NBA. You know he didn't really get to play any college ball so he really didn't get that experience he needed to take it to the next level. You know everybody coming after prove, like everybody going to come after him now. Right, right, right.
Speaker 2:So, do you?
Speaker 1:think that his run is going to last as long as LeBron is in the league. Nah, LeBron. If LeBron leave next year, is Bronny going to be able to stay in the league Once?
Speaker 2:LeBron is out next week, bron Bronny going to be able to stay in the league Once LeBron is out next week. Bronny's out Because, whatever hold he had on them, once it's over that organization, once they cut ties with them, bronny's just a part of the package deal to me. You understand, we're just going to throw it.
Speaker 1:You'll throw that in, right, we're going to throw that in his father yeah, but let me ask you a question would you do it if your father was pushing for you to go into it and sort of see basketball that you then play? Would you accept that role, knowing that there's dudes out there that crack your ass?
Speaker 2:you well, I don't, I don't, I don't I think brownie is oblivious to the situation he's going into. I think he's just young and he just thinks he could play ball right, and he probably was like you, like you know, dominating them AAU leagues which aren't as strong as they used to be back in the day. No, he wasn't dominating, so I think he has a false sense of security or he actually thinks he's really better than he is. So I don't think he's even aware that he's taking spots from other people.
Speaker 1:I think he knows I'm not knocking a hustle man. Yeah, yeah, LeBron is getting his 40 acres in the mule.
Speaker 2:Yeah, or maybe Brown is like yo. You know what Brown is. My dad Hold that down. Yeah, you know what I'm saying, dad holding me down. So what Y'all don't like it. So what, brown run the NBA anyway. It's right before ours, you know yeah so hold that down, yeah. Maybe they're just flexing.
Speaker 2:And it'll be like I ain't going to stay there until Bryce come in yeah, yeah, yeah, and Bryce actually look like he's going to be a better prospect than Bronny, and he's taller too. My main concern with Bronny is you know, he's really short. Yeah, he's small, he's small, he's too small. The big are going to expose him. Yeah yeah, rich people problems. Ronnie was already set.
Speaker 1:Right, but then he took a spot from a broke person.
Speaker 2:He took a spot from a broke person. I'm with you with that. You know, and these guys got to go overseas and show yeah, but again that's flexing because you know people do it all over the world, Company-wise you know Nepotism.
Speaker 1:Nepotism is a big thing.
Speaker 2:There's a bunch of it in the NBA on its own, you know, yeah, yeah. So, like I said, I'm conflicted, I'm not against it, but I'm not with it. Right right, right. If it was me, I would rather I wouldn't. My way of thinking, I'm a little more old fashioned. If my son, if I feel my son wasn't ready, I would analyze his skills and I'd be like yo listen, you're not ready yet.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying. I'm not going to put you in a position to fail and get embarrassed. Yeah, so yo, I had a ill weekend, man. I pulled a double header this weekend. I went to two parties simultaneously. I ain't do that in years simultaneously.
Speaker 2:I ain't do that in years you know, what I'm saying and my body's beat from the alcohol. I ain't even going for it. You know what I'm saying and you know, then, while I'm suffering with the after effects, I think like damn, I should be like Mont and be able to strong enough to just cut that shit out. I'm a work in progress. If you remember from the last podcast I shit out. I'm a work in progress. If we remember from the last podcast, I told you I'm going to work in progress. This is the first weekend I really did that.
Speaker 2:You know what I'm saying but you know I'm, I'm getting there, but again, you, you, you're one of my motivations to want to do that. So let's tell me how things been going since the last. Have you been tempted to dip? I know you have to be tempted sometimes, especially in the social space, you understand what. I'm saying how do you fight those temptations?
Speaker 1:Let me tell you what happened. You know what I mean. It's like now that I'm trying to be more out and about because I'm promoting my programs, I'm promoting my game and your opinion doesn't matter. You can get that at wwwyodmcom. Yeah, go get that.
Speaker 1:So I'm out and about socializing and one time, the homie, when the cruisers came in town, I wound up going on a boat ride and I'm like I really don't want to go to myself. But then now, when I get there, first off, I don't know, since I'm getting older, sometimes I suffer with anxiety, Like I feel like yo, I don't even want to be, I don't want to be someplace too long where I can't leave.
Speaker 2:I feel trapped when I just can't leave Yo man, let me tell you a lot of people suffer with anxiety, including myself, so don't feel no way, my bro.
Speaker 1:So I'm like you know it's one of the flights and MRI machines. Those are the two, oh the MRI.
Speaker 2:I can't stay there for long. I have to set myself up.
Speaker 1:I got to go in then they got to take me and I got to do for me, put me under yeah, oh, you got to get put under I gotta put me, they gotta, they gotta put me under wow, so that's it's real bad. It's real bad, yeah so so, um so anxiety was kicking in for me, man you have to get sedated you mean sedated.
Speaker 1:Right, I had to get sedated in order to do the mri machine. Yeah, yeah, okay, I'm a wimp. I'm a wimp, whatever you know. I mean, you see, the crazy thing is they got so much technology. You could fly to the moon, you could do this, you could do that.
Speaker 2:Yeah, why they still got to put you in a coffin to get there.
Speaker 1:Am I right? You got to?
Speaker 2:stay in there for a half an hour.
Speaker 1:Yeah, right, well, you know. So I'm feeling the anxiety. And then I get on the boat and it's like I'm like yo, I really want to get off of this. You know, strobe lights hit the boat, strobe lights hit Loud music. Yeah, I said oh shoot. I said I need a drink. Yo, I need a drink and I'm not seeing no seats. I said, oh shoot, you wasn't in a party mood.
Speaker 1:No, no. So now I'm going down and sitting down and stuff like that, but not only that. There was another situation where I just start to feel that Not that I want to drink, but this is when I would drink, this is the vibe I would drink in. You know what I'm saying? I felt that a couple times during this little summer me here, me there, I'm like this would be perfect for me to drink, but I won't.
Speaker 3:But this would be the for me to drink, but I won't.
Speaker 1:Yeah, but this, but this will be. This will be the perfect thing to drink. And it's like you know alcohol you never really know how strong you are until you get tempted. Yeah, you never know how strong you are, cause I mean, I was able to, I was so strong and um drinks by ducking places.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, that's how it was easy. Staying out of social settings. Staying out, yeah, avoiding it.
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know I was on that. You know you see me when you see me, but now I'm outside. You know what I mean. I'm around and then, like I just went to a nice birthday party for one of the homies and I see people with bottles and walking around with bottles and nice, nice, niceness, Niceness, Vibes, yeah, vibes, and it was like it was a lot of us there. It was just, everything was positive and I'm like I just felt that and then, but the only thing that was weird, it was like everybody was like a looking contest, Everybody's standing around, but it was standing around. But it was weird. It was like everybody was like a looking contest, everybody's standing around, but but it was standing around, but it was love it's not like, it's like nobody was, nobody was like really dancing, yeah, yeah so I'm like I said I feel weird up in here.
Speaker 1:Man, I'm gonna lie yo, I said, said I'm out of here. Yo, I told the homies. I said I'm out, see your mom, you leaving, yeah. And then I saw another one, another one, uh, associate. He says yo, man, I didn't see you in a long time. Bro Yo, before you leave, you got to take this shot with me. Oh, that's crazy. I said nah, bro, I'm done, I don't drink no more. Kid, I don't drink no more. And he said oh, wow, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:It's strong, we don't tend to say, but you know alcohol is a big drug and a lot of people suffer from it. And you know there's different kind of alcoholics. There's weekend alcoholics, there's social alcoholics. I know you remember when you and the guys, when you had the liquor store and we used to see people with suits come in, you know what I'm saying. Get a pint of Georgie, turn around, take that shit to the head and then walk out and go to their job and you see that on an everyday basis Teachers and all that, teachers, everything.
Speaker 2:Yeah, alcohol is a hell of a social drug and you know, especially West Indians, it's rites of passage. I mean, I remember the first time my father said I could drink I was 12. But when I was 10, he was giving me little beers here and there and it made me feel manly. You know, you thought it was the thing to do. You know what I'm saying and it's carried on. But I'm trying to break that cycle Like I don't even want my son and my daughter. I keep them away from it. You know what I'm saying and hopefully you know they.
Speaker 2:They could end this curse because father, grandfather, back in islands, you know my family's from caracool grenade, a big up caracool, you understand and when you go to caracool none but rum house and drinking from morning to night, and if you turn the drink down, the man won't diss you like you're a punk, you know. Yeah, a lot of peer pressure, you know.
Speaker 1:I seen these guys in there sitting at a bar at like 10.30 in the morning bro that's regular on the islands and then I told one of the homies from Trini. He said yo, that's nothing, man, we got a lot of rum holes that's nothing. I mean, I heard the rum hole that was on Linden, but I didn't really understand what is a rum hole.
Speaker 2:A rum hole is derived from the West Indies, the islands. It's a little shack. This body puts up and they sell liquor there from morning till night and it's a constant flow.
Speaker 1:So it is a real thing. I thought it was just a nickname for the spot on Linden.
Speaker 2:Don't quote me, but I think it's derived from because in Caracol they got little rum shops. It might be the size of a bathroom and you go there, you buy your own. A work.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, you know. Yeah, and that's the culture, that's the custom. It's coping Like. You know. We spoke about it before. It's a coping mechanism, super mechanism. You know everybody, you know you're suffering, you're going through all this, or you take a little shot, you feel better for a little while, you know, and then you go home and you do it all over again, you know.
Speaker 1:Shit.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's a tough cycle, you know.
Speaker 1:Yeah, man, I mean, well, you know, I'm still fighting that fight.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, You're doing good man. How long has it been again months. I'm two and a half years, I'm sorry, two and a half years.
Speaker 1:That's what's up man, big up to that, yeah, man, but you go to that, you know. But sometimes I do want to indulge, but, um, but hey I know yeah, yes, yes, man, this was a very good episode. Episode 83, man that your opinion doesn't matter. Podcast, man, derived from the game your opinion doesn't matter, it's the ultimate debating game Very good debating game for family and friends. And you know you could get that at wwwyodmcom. Yeah, go get that.
Speaker 1:Yeah. So my closing statement is, man, you know, don't let temptation lead you. Don't let temptation lead you. Let your wisdom guide you and then lead you. Don't let temptation lead you. You, let your um, your wisdom guide you and then lead you. You know, um, I've been, I've been in a positive, very positive space this last two weeks of things. This is happening for me, man, and it's like I just think that if you stay, you stay, you stay in a positive place and, um, positive things should happen for you. Man, just keep that mojo alive, man. And you know, they say, if you knew better, you'd do better.
Speaker 2:That's right, that's right. My closing statement, I'm going to have to give a shout out to a little island of Caracool. I don't know if you was aware, but Hurricane Barrel, you heard of it.
Speaker 3:Yeah, I heard about heard it. That was in the caribbean.
Speaker 2:It did a number on caracool and people. They lost about 90 90 percent of the island was flattened, so a lot of people lost their homes. A few lost their lives. I just want to give a shout out and tell the people of caracool that you know we're with them. Stay strong, stay resilient. You know what I'm saying. You know, as long as you got life and health, you could build everything back up. You know what I'm saying. And that goes to show that life is unpredictable, because I was just there for Carnival in February and now it literally looks like a hurricane hit it. Everything is tore up. So you know, I'd like to give a shout out to my people in caracool stay strong. We love you. Stay resilient, we'll build, we'll get there nice, nice, nice.
Speaker 1:Yes, this is your opinion, doesn't matter. Podcast episode 83 and we are outie. Peace, peace, peace, yeah, yeah, peace.