Caitlin Clark, Iowa defeat LSU in Elite 8, Angel Reese emotional postgame | WBB | FIRST THINGS FIRST
Summary
TLDRThe discussion revolves around the exceptional talent of college basketball player Caitlyn Clark, comparing her to legendary figures like Steph Curry and emphasizing her greatness regardless of winning a championship. The conversation also touches on the mental toll of public scrutiny on young athletes, with a particular focus on Angel Reese's experiences. The participants advocate for better regulation of social media and the importance of logging off to protect mental health.
Takeaways
- 🏀 Caitlyn Clark's exceptional performance in the tournament, including her record-breaking scoring and impressive passing skills, has solidified her status as a great player, regardless of winning a ring.
- 🐑 Jay Williams' comment questioning Clark's greatness unless she wins a ring is a viewpoint that many may not agree with, as her skills and impact on the game are undeniable.
- 🥇 The comparison of Caitlyn Clark to other sports legends like Larry Bird and her ability to carry her team through the tournament is a testament to her extraordinary talent.
- 🏆 While the debate on whether a national title is necessary for a player to be considered the greatest is ongoing, Clark's individual achievements and game-changing performances speak for themselves.
- 🤔 The discussion on the impact of social media and criticism on young athletes like Angel Reese highlights the mental toll it can take and the importance of mental health in sports.
- 🌟 Caitlyn Clark's influence on young basketball players, particularly her comparison to Stephen Curry's impact on the game, signifies a shift in how greatness is defined and achieved.
- 🎓 The emphasis on the importance of logging off from social media to protect mental health is a crucial piece of advice for young athletes facing unwarranted criticism and scrutiny.
- 🏅 The debate on the greatest female college basketball player ever includes factors like individual skills, team success, and the ability to perform in high-pressure situations, with Caitlyn Clark being a strong contender.
- 📰 The inappropriate and harmful content directed towards athletes on social media, as well as the lack of regulation, is a pressing issue that needs to be addressed by both the public and tech companies.
- 💭 The mental health struggles of athletes like Angel Reese are not isolated incidents and represent a broader issue within the world of sports and social media.
- 🚫 The responsibility of media and individuals to maintain respectful and appropriate commentary on athletes, as demonstrated by the LA Times article controversy, is essential in fostering a healthy sports environment.
Q & A
What was the main point of discussion regarding Jay Williams' comment on Caitlyn Clark?
-The main point of discussion was addressing Jay Williams' comment that Caitlyn Clark couldn't be considered great unless she wins a ring, with the argument presented that her greatness is already established regardless of the outcome of the tournament.
How does the speaker compare Caitlyn Clark's passing ability to other basketball players?
-The speaker compares Caitlyn Clark's passing ability to that of Allen Iverson and Russell Westbrook, emphasizing that Clark is a real playmaker with court vision and the ability to throw pinpoint passes, often passing players open rather than looking for a bucket as a last resort.
What was the significance of Caitlyn Clark's performance in the game against South Carolina?
-Caitlyn Clark's performance against South Carolina was significant because she broke the scoring record and showcased her all-around skills, including her passing ability, which helped her team achieve a victory against a strong opponent.
How does the speaker describe the impact of Caitlyn Clark's game on young basketball players?
-The speaker describes the impact of Caitlyn Clark's game as inspiring to young basketball players, particularly how she has influenced them to adopt a style of play similar to Stephen Curry's, focusing on skill and precision rather than just size and athleticism.
What was the speaker's opinion on Kim Mulkey's coaching decisions during the game?
-The speaker suggested that while some critics argue Kim Mulkey should have changed the defensive scheme, the difficulty in defending Caitlyn Clark's passing ability and scoring prowess means that such changes might not have necessarily solved the problem.
What is the speaker's stance on the importance of a championship title for a player's legacy?
-The speaker believes that while a championship title is significant, it should not be the sole determinant of a player's greatness. They argue that Caitlyn Clark's skills and impact on the game are already legendary, and a title would not change that.
Who are some of the players mentioned in the discussion as part of the all-time best women's college basketball players?
-Some of the players mentioned include Brianna Stewart, Breanna Clarke, Cheryl Miller, Sheryl Swoopes, Diana Taurasi, Candace Parker, and Britney Griner.
What was the speaker's reaction to the criticism Angel Reese received from the media and the public?
-The speaker expressed sympathy for Angel Reese and highlighted the negative impact of social media and media scrutiny on young athletes. They shared personal experiences and emphasized the importance of logging off social media to protect mental health.
What advice does the speaker give to young athletes regarding social media?
-The speaker advises young athletes to log off social media to protect their mental health, as the constant stream of criticism and scrutiny can be detrimental, even for those who have chosen the spotlight.
How does the speaker describe the challenge of dealing with social media criticism for young athletes?
-The speaker describes it as a challenge that is difficult to ignore and can have serious mental health implications. They note that young athletes are not prepared for the sudden exposure and that the constant barrage of opinions can be overwhelming.
What was the speaker's take on the LA Times article that compared LSU players?
-The speaker felt that the LA Times article was out of bounds and inappropriate, and while the author apologized, the speaker emphasized that the kind of harassment Angel Reese faces online is much worse and often goes unaddressed.
Outlines
🏀 Celebrating Caitlyn Clark's Basketball Prowess
The paragraph discusses the exceptional skills of basketball player Caitlyn Clark, comparing her to greats like Einstein and emphasizing her status as a playmaker with excellent passing abilities. The conversation also addresses the importance of recognizing her talent beyond just scoring, highlighting her assists and court vision. The discussion includes a critique of Jay Williams' comment about needing a ring to be considered great and argues that Clark's greatness is already evident.
🌟 The Rise of a Basketball Icon
This paragraph delves into the influence of basketball icons on young players and how Caitlyn Clark has become a role model, especially for women's sports. The discussion highlights her impact on the game, comparing her to legendary figures like Steph Curry. It also touches on the expectations surrounding her performance and the debate around whether a championship title is necessary to solidify her status as a legendary player.
🏆 The Importance of Championships in Legacy
The conversation in this paragraph centers around the debate of whether a championship win is crucial for a player to be considered the greatest. While some argue that Caitlyn Clark's performance and skills are enough to place her in the conversation of all-time greats, others believe that a championship win could further validate her status. The paragraph also compares Clark to other legendary players and discusses the pressure and expectations on her to win.
💭 Handling Criticism and Mental Health
This paragraph addresses the mental toll of criticism and scrutiny on athletes, particularly focusing on Angel Reese. It discusses the negative impact of social media and traditional media on athletes' mental health. The speakers emphasize the importance of logging off from social media and the responsibility of media companies to regulate harmful content. They also share personal experiences and perspectives on dealing with public criticism and the need for a healthier approach to handling fame and public scrutiny.
📱 The Dark Side of Social Media Fame
The final paragraph continues the conversation on the impact of social media on young athletes, highlighting the severe consequences of excessive praise and criticism. It discusses the need for media literacy and the role of social media platforms in managing harmful content. The speakers share their views on the importance of mental health and the steps individuals, especially young athletes, should take to protect themselves from the negative aspects of public attention and online harassment.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Caitlyn Clark
💡Jay Williams
💡Greatness in sports
💡Passing and Scoring
💡Championship ring
💡Women's basketball
💡All-time rankings
💡Mental health
💡Social media
💡Public scrutiny
Highlights
Discussion on Jay Williams' comment about greatness being tied to winning a ring.
Comparison of Caitlyn Clark's greatness to Einstein's intelligence.
Caitlyn Clark's exceptional passing skills and court vision.
Caitlyn Clark's performance in the tournament with high assists and points.
Debate on Caitlyn Clark being the best player in the country.
Caitlyn Clark's impact on women's sports and her role as a playmaker.
Comparison of Caitlyn Clark's game to Larry Bird's performance in 1979.
Discussion on Kim Mulkey's coaching decisions and Caitlyn Clark's performance.
Caitlyn Clark's legendary performance and her place in history.
Caitlyn Clark's influence on young basketball players, similar to Steph Curry's impact.
Ranking of Caitlyn Clark among the all-time best women's college basketball players.
Debate on whether a national title is necessary for Caitlyn Clark to be considered the greatest.
Angel Reese's struggle with mental health due to criticism and scrutiny.
The impact of social media on young athletes and the need for regulation.
Advice for young people on handling social media and criticism.
Transcripts
you're back live from New York it's a
show that's 100% right about several
things it's first things first today I'm
not sure she had many doubters um I mean
we all know about Jay Williams comment
she can't be great unless she wins a
ring and I I think even deep inside he
would walk that one back I don't think
he has publicly but great if you want to
say the goat okay that's another debate
we'll get to that a little later but
great she's clear great saying Caitlyn
Clark's not great is like saying
Einstein wasn't smart I mean she's that
right she's that great all right I'm
proud I'm proud of that good no but I
think one thing because we can't assume
even though obviously the popularity of
the game for women is is skyrocketing we
can assume everybody knows where her
game is like all right so and
specifically asking me about last night
a lot of people may think she's just a
score because she broke BR the scoring
record right but when you saw last night
she is a great passer too she had in
addition to the 41 points to 12 assists
the game before against Colorado she had
29 Points 15 assists she's averaging 10
assists in the tournament and she is not
just and I don't this I don't mean this
in a negative way on these guys but like
a Allen Iverson Russell Westbrook who
would pass they would be looking for a
bucket draw attention double triple team
and kick it to a teammate kind of as the
last resort for assist she is a real
playmaker like she has court Vision she
throws pinpoint passes sometimes even
kind of passing players open like she is
a great passer in addition stuff
absolutely so I think you had to see
that and also if there was any doubt cuz
some people were throwing out Juju
Watkins Paige Beckers who's the best
player in the country it's clearly
Caitlyn Clark on a night when Angel
Reese was on the court who played well
but she's not as good as Caitlyn Clark
uh Beckers and guj gu played later that
night and Beckers was great and guju
played well too but clearly Caitlyn
Clark is the best player in the country
and this graphic kind of sums it up look
at the number of teammates so these are
the top 50 recruits when they were
coming out of high school like a four or
five star think of that way top 50
recruits I has two including Caitlyn got
one teammate one teammate who was top 50
LSU five of them Yukon seven South
Carolina 7 and she's running through the
tournament so this is somewhat like a
Larry Bird when he carried it's not
quite as much cuz Iowa's been a good
program but the way he carried Iowa or
Indiana State in 1979 so I thought she
showed all of that last night and and I
listen Kim muli is getting some
criticism today a little little bit of
it fair of why didn't you switch up the
defensive scheme maybe a FL on or more
Haley obviously was having a really
rough Haley had a rough tournament I
like Haley vanl I liked her attitude
last year I liked the way she stood up
for her teammates this year she shot 20%
for the tournament and had a rough game
offensively last night and defensively
had no answers so maybe Moi could have
switched some things up but one of the
reasons it wasn't just Blitz Caitlyn
doubler is because of what brw is
talking about such a good passer and
such a willing passer that wouldn't have
necessarily solved your problem this was
a legendary performance by a legendary
player this Caitlyn Clark has two career
40 Point double doubles or triple
doubles they have both come in the Elite
8 in back-to-back years last year
against Louisville and then last night I
Wilds your point yesterday that I didn't
mean to but jumped on you a bit on as
far as well as far as I wasn't really
trying to call you a fool I I didn't
like the discussion
that I was seeing which was essentially
saying her greatness is predicated on
this result cuz to me her greatness was
already established but part of that
point is correct which was you could
argue this was the biggest game of her
career bigger than the national title
game I know that sounds counterintuitive
but because this team had beaten her
because everyone came back because
because this was a team because now she
already was instead of last year she was
player of the year but the story and
Legend was growing now she is a legend
she's broken the records if you then
have the same team beat you back toback
years but this one before even the final
four it's going to feel a little funny
that that's the way the Iowa career ends
instead she had one of I don't think
it's the but one of the greatest games
of her career and here's the other thing
I'm going to say about Caitlyn Clark
which I think is so cool for women's
sports and for Sports in general but
particularly this moment for women's
sports I would argue for a decade Young
basketball players not all but many have
said God dog it I want to be Steph Curry
and no one has succeeded and now she has
that's a good take we have seen so many
male players be like I want to play like
that guy I want to take off the bounce
unbalanced deep threes and have them be
good shots and no one has succeeded
doing it Trey Young's trying young I was
going to BR he's not close he's not
efficient corre he doesn't winre right
and his his his shooting if you Trey
young his assist numbers are excellent
his shooting percentage will shock you
if you actually look at it even on those
great playoff runs his three-point
numbers she's she's doing it she is
doing it as like and it's to me that is
the cool part of this it wasn't it was
that basketball players men and women or
boys and girls in this case young people
looked at Steph Curry and a lot of them
said I'm not going to be the biggest
person out there I'm not going to be the
most athletic how can I be the most
dominant and the first person to kind of
pull that sword from this Stone it's
good take L is is Caitlyn Clark and that
and that that to me is so dope that she
was 11 years old I would imagine
watching Steph Curry be like that's the
game that I'm going to do while a lot of
11 and 12 year old boys are doing the
same thing and she nailed it first you
know what I liked Brew the makes are
obviously the makes she had a few misses
that were still intimidating I think to
LSU it's very steplike where it's like
I'm going to space the floor so deep and
we see Dame do it too so wide and so
deep where it's like now you're going to
have to cover me out here if I make it
you're like oh demoralized like what can
I do if I miss it there's still so much
space for me to operate um I thought it
was great BR do you have a final word or
you want to talk about my take again
from yesterday I want to hear you
so now we move on to uh where does
Caitlyn belong in this ranking of
alltime players and does she need a
title so yesterday I argued that she
does here's Sporting News there's a lot
of different rankings we pick Sporting
News um of Best Player women's college
basketball players ever number one
Brianna Stewart she had three players of
the Year won four titles with Yukon
Cheryl Miller sha Hol cloth Diana trasi
Candace Parker Britney grinder had two
players year only won one now Caitlyn
Clark has one player of the year last
year we expect her to Win It win year so
it be weird if she had zero titles so
here's why so here's why I don't think
she needs to win a title I want to I
want to be the goat I I think to be in I
think to where if you say I don't I want
to be clear here I don't look at Women's
Basketball like hockey where there is an
Undisputed clear greatest ever I don't
look at it like the NBA where there is
an Undisputed clear you can only make an
argument for three guys at most I think
that that list is a fair list and I also
think some people might throw subir on
there I think some you know what I mean
like that list is it is a lot of people
the reason that I think Caitlyn is
already in the conversation is and this
is why I get frustrated with the count
the ring stuff let's show that graphic
again if we could and again in your
mind's eye imagine that there's a two
for naith player of the year for Caitlyn
cuz she's going to win it this year and
then I'm going to add a column and
that's WNBA
teammates and obviously Cheryl is in a
unique spot because the WNBA didn't
exist so take she had tremendous team
yeah that's I mean that's what I would
Cynthia Cooper who might have been the
greatest WNBA player ever but okay so
what you're going to notice is oh so
wait the only person on the list who
doesn't have multiple titles is Britney
Griner she she's the only person on the
list whose entire starting five wasn't
future Pros Caitlyn Clark now again
Caitlyn's number could grow greater than
zero because you know when her class
graduates some of them could go on but
to me Brew she what she did last year
and I and I apologize for going along I
just want your opinion on this beating
South Carolina last year was more
impressive than if someone else beat
South Carolina and then Caitlyn won the
national title South Carolina going into
that game had won 42 straight games
since that game they've won 36 straight
games over the last two years South
Carolina is 72- one the one loss was
Caitlyn Clark South Carolina has Pros
all over it last year the number one
pick of the draft this year's got more
more people she has and we can show you
her numbers in her biggest games if we
can pull that up real quick hubs in a
leite eight final four National
Championship Games what she's averaging
it's she it's not that she hasn't shown
up it's not that she hasn't been great
in the biggest moments here's what she's
done in her four career biggest games oh
pretty good yeah and so that's yes a
national title Brew would be the guy I
don't want to say the icing on the cake
because I know it's more than that but
the circumstance in a team sport has to
be factored into it it's a great
argument brw is going to be with me
watch this yeah I I I was going to say
look it is cuz we're talking goat now
yesterday we were talking established
all time great which you and I were like
she's already that regardless of what
would happened last night goat is a
different conversation and look hon I am
not I don't claim to be an expert on
women's basketball history all right I
don't have the airtight foolproof
indisputed undisputable or indisputable
argument for the women's go like I do
for the men's goge right that was
airtight there's no de all right but for
this what comes to my mind the person
that comes to my mind is Cheryl Miller
me too because she was just I mean she
won two championships now she won them
when she was freshman and sophomore when
she had those great teammates but she
still wanted she was just legendary
mythical I'm not going to sit here and
act like I was watching her all the time
in the early 80s okay or mid 80s but
I'll say this and I have watched you
know a decent amount of the women's
college game and Pro game Caitlyn Clark
is the best player I've ever seen and
I'm keeping it to College I'm not
compared to W she's the best player I've
seen and you're right she is like Steph
she's very much like Steph Curry I mean
he's a great Pastor too you don't see it
as much cuz they're offense but she's
very much like Steph except and we were
talking about this before the show she's
the equivalent of probably a guy that's
six six in the in men's basketball cuz
she's six feet tall in women's
basketball all right so it's like that's
why she fills up the box score and not
like you know Steph doesn't really do it
because of his size and so I think she's
the best I've seen however Nick there's
not a basketball discussion I don't
think where we don't put when we're
talking about goat where we don't
include Rings it's not the end all be
all but we include Rings it's I can't
really say I can't say she's the
greatest college player ever even though
that's what my eyes tell me unless she's
got a ring and I was not Indiana State
not saying I was Vivian Stringer was
there you know they've been a a good
I'll be honest I know Stringer was there
but shout out toer they're not Yukon or
Tennessee but they have been a good this
is where wilds and this is wild was
making fun of me because he was like
your brain works like this on all things
like that that this is that I am not
just process over results on a lot of
things but also taking things to its
furthest logical conclusion which is if
if we are saying you can't be in the
discussion without a ring then we and we
are saying then take it further so if
she average 60 a game yeah no but so so
wait if I'll be impressive if she scores
60 and gets knocked out by Yukon P Pete
average like 40 nobody ever said he was
I understand that's a different that's
to me that's a different story because
we we were saying that he was playing a
selfish brand of basketball that he
wasn't playing winning basketball nobody
thinks that like that do you guys buy
into at all anything that the most
impressive win in the women's game over
the last two years yes was Caitlyn's win
over South Carolina it just came around
early but here's the thing Nick if she
averaged to your your point 60 then you
look at it like okay there's a clear Gap
the other names on that list that that
you both of you showed they're great
players in their own right too now I
think Caitlyn is better but it's not
like you look at them like she already
has by a huge margin the highest scoring
tournament ever last year if she makes
the final this year she's going to break
her own record in that so like she's
going to have the two highest scoring
tournaments ever if I guess my point is
it's like quarterback two games say it
again she's got to win two more games
but South Carolina South Carolina so she
has to so to be the greatest ever in
surpass all to do I'm just well again
I'm not even saying by the way if she
wins she is the greatest ever what I'm
saying is she that if you you cannot
have the conversation about who the
greatest female college basketball
player is without including her
there is not a definitive clearcut
number one I agree with you on Cheryl
Miller but that is just because it's
when I did my NBA list I was able to go
back and watch stuff I can't with Cheryl
I just trust I trust people right I did
I I was at Shmo holdsclaw Final Four
game when the Jolly girl hit all the
threes I watched women's college
basketball growing up I was at some of
those games so I feel like I actually
know a lot about the Yukon and Tennessee
teams I feel like she's the best I've
seen and the idea that well if this
South Carolina team that has lost once
in three years beats her after she beat
him last year she's out of the
discussion well she she can be in the
discussion discussion but that's going
to be I think it would be a
disappointment would it not yeah I think
that's going to be a point that she
can't overcome in the discussion I mean
South car win the title South Carolina
is the best team they've always they've
been the best team they should have won
it last year Friday 9:00 Yukon Iowa uh
okay talking about angel Reese now 17
points 20 rebounds and four blocks after
the game she opened up about the mental
toll of criticism and scrutiny that
she's faced take a listen Brew your
reaction well it's just very sad that I
mean winning the national championship
should be one of the highlights of her
life and for her to say she hasn't had
peace since then it's just it's just
terrible it's heart-wrenching all right
um and we know last year there was a
controver and that's to me kind of when
it began start doing this init people
jumping all over her and saying nothing
about Caitlyn Clark doing it that was
racism and I think it was classism too