[Press Conference: “HBCU All-Star Game”]
[00:00:19]
HELLO EVERYONE, AND WELCOME TO HOUSTON CITY HALL.UH, THIS IS AN EXCITING WEEK FOR HOUSTONIANS BASKETBALL FANS, NON BASKETBALL FANS, UM, PEOPLE WHO WANT TO PLAY, PEOPLE DON'T KNOW HOW TO PLAY, AND ANYONE WHO ENJOYS HAVING A GREAT TIME, UH, BECAUSE THERE'S A LOT HAPPENING IN THE CITY.
THIS WEEK, UH, I'M THRILLED TO WELCOME TRAVIS WILLIAMS, WHO IS THE CEO AND FOUNDER OF THE HBCU ALLSTAR GAME.
GIVE IT UP TO TRAVIS, APRIL TAYLOR, THE, UH, COO OF HBCU ALLSTAR GAME.
AND KEVIN GRAND GRAND GRANDEUR, THE VICE PRESIDENT OF INTERCOLLEGIATE ATHLETICS AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND THEN LET ME ALSO ACKNOWLEDGE TWO PEOPLE WHO WILL BE, UH, PLAYING IN AND OUT OF THE GAMES.
UH, THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS, UH, CAROLYN EVANS,
AND THEN THE MAYOR PROTE DAVE MARTIN.
BACK IN JANUARY, I HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO MEET WITH TRAVIS IN, IN, UH, MY OFFICE, AND HE TOLD ME ALL ABOUT THE HISTORY, THE PRIDE, AND THE OUTSTANDING PLAYERS, AND THE MANY EVENTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE SURROUNDING THE HBCU ALL-STAR GAME.
UH, HE MENTIONED ITS MISSION, UH, TO ADVOCATE, EDUCATE AND, UH, MENTOR AND INVEST IN HARDWORKING, UH, STUDENTS, STUDENT ATHLETES, AND TALENTED COACHES AT OUR DISTINGUISHED HISTORICALLY BLACK COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES.
UH, IN FACT, IF, IF YOU ATTENDING AN HBCU, LEMME JUST SEE A SHOW OF HANDS FOR THOSE IN THE ROOM.
UH, THIS IS, UH, ONLY HIS SECOND YEAR AND IT HAS GROWN IN POPULARITY AND PROMINENCE.
I WANT TO GIVE IT UP TO THESE TWO WITH TRAVIS AND APRIL FOR WHAT THEY HAVE DONE IN JUST A SHORT TWO YEARS.
UH, THIS IS THE FIRST YEAR THAT IT WILL BE HELD AT AN HBCU CAMPUS, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
THE GAME IS BEING TELEVISED ON CPS NATIONWIDE AND WILL TAKE PLACE AT TSU ON SUNDAY, APRIL THE SECOND AT 3:00 PM GIVE IT UP FOR TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
THE DOOR IS OPEN AT TWO O'CLOCK.
THERE'S A HUGE HOMETOWN CONNECTION BECAUSE TWO TSU PLAYERS ARE COMPETING IN THE GAME, ALONG WITH ONE PLAYER FROM PRAIRIE VIEW, A AND M UNIVERSITY.
GIVE IT UP TO PRAIRIE VIEW AS WELL.
HOUSTONIANS WILL HAVE A CHANCE TO MEET AND TALK TO SOME OF THE H-B-U-H-B-C-U ALL STAR COLLEGE BASKETBALL PLAYERS AND GET TO KNOW THEM, NOT JUST AS STUDENTS, UH, BUT AS YOUNG MEN WITH BIG DREAMS AND SOME OF THE EVENTS THAT WILL BE TAKING PLACE.
UH, EARLIER TODAY, UH, THERE WAS A YATES HIGH SCHOOL TEACHER APPRECIATION AND RIBBON CUTTING.
I KNOW THE COUNCIL MEMBERS A PRODUCT OF, UH, YS, ALSO A CHEERLEADER THERE, YOU KNOW, AND THERE WILL BE A WELCOMING RECEPTION.
TONIGHT AT, UH, HILTON AMERICAS, UH, THERE'S A MORNING PRAYER WITH FAITH-BASED LEADERS THAT WILL BE HELD ON SATURDAY AND A CUNY HOMES COMMUNITY FUN DAY WITH GUESTS AND THEM THUG WHO WILL BE, WHO WILL HOST A COMMUNITY COOKOUT BASKETBALL CLINIC, AND EXCLUSIVE MEET AND GREET WITH HBCU ALL-STAR GAME PLAYERS FOR THE CUNY HOME RESIDENTS THAT WILL TAKE PLACE ON TOMORROW, AND RESIDENTS WILL ALSO BE GIFTED WITH THE SWAG BAGS.
I ENCOURAGE EVERYONE TO PURCHASE TICKETS.
HOW MANY HAVE PURCHASED YOUR TICKETS? WOO.
AND IF YOU HAVEN'T PURCHASED YOUR TICKETS, YOU STILL HAVE TIME TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS.
OKAY? SO LET'S PURCHASE THE TICKETS AND REALLY LET'S SELL TSU OUT, UH, AND ATTEND THE GAMES AND THEN CHEER FOR THE PLAYERS.
AND EVEN IF YOU IN TOWN FOR THE NCA MEN'S FINAL FOUR, YOU HAVE TIME TO GET TO TSU AND WATCH SOME OF THE NATION'S BEST BASKETBALL PLAYERS IN ACTION.
AND THE WAY THEY HAVE PLANNED IT.
NCAA ON SATURDAY, STARTING AT 5 0 9 2 GAMES THAT NIGHT, AND THEN ON SUNDAY, APRIL THE SECOND, AT TSU, THREE O'CLOCK AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND THEN ON MONDAY, UH, THE FINAL ROUND OF THE NCAA, UH, IN HOUSTON AT EIGHT O'CLOCK.
[00:05:01]
SO THIS IS RIGHT THERE IN BETWEEN, EVERY SINGLE DAY THERE'S SOMETHING HAPPENING IN THE CITY.IN FACT, THERE ARE SEVERAL MAYORS FROM THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYORS ASSOCIATION THAT ARE FLYING IN TO BE AT THE HBCU GAME AT, UH, THREE O'CLOCK, UH, AS MY GUEST.
I'M TRYING TO TELL TRAVIS AND APRIL, THIS IS HOW WE DO IT IN HOUSTON, TEXAS,
NOW, I DON'T KNOW HOW THEY DO IT ANY PLACE ELSE, BUT IN HOUSTON, YOU GO BIG OR YOU GO HOME.
OKAY? SO YOU COME TO PLAY OR YOU DON'T PLAY AT ALL.
AND SO THAT'S HOW WE DO IT IN HOUSTON, TEXAS.
SO LET'S SHOW THEM SOME OF OUR HOUSTON HOSPITALITY, AND THEN IN THE INTERIM, ENJOY EVERYTHING THAT THE CITY HAS TO OFFER, BUT GIVE IT UP TO ALL OF THESE PLAYERS.
THAT WAS A TIME WHEN I COULD GIVE THEM A RUN.
OH, YOU KNOW, WELL, I DON'T KNOW WHY THEY LAUGHING.
YOU KNOW, I'M A ACRES HOMEBOY FROM THE NORTH SIDE, THE FOUR FOLD.
WELL, WE CAN'T HIT, WE KNOW HOW TO FOUL
BUT ANYWAY, THAT'S ON ANOTHER NOTE.
OKAY? BUT, UH, I'M EXCITED ABOUT, UH, ABOUT THIS HBCU ALLSTAR GAME.
I'M EXCITED BY THE FACT THAT IT'S BEEN HELD IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON AND, UH, AND ABOUT THIS WEEKEND.
SO AGAIN, UH, LET ME ENCOURAGE EVERYONE, IF YOU HAPPEN TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS, UH, GO ONLINE, PURCHASE YOUR TICKET, AND LET'S NOT HAVE A SINGLE SEAT OPEN ON SUNDAY AT THREE O'CLOCK AT TSU.
YOU MAY NOT, UM, BE ABLE TO GET INTO THE NCAA.
QUITE FRANKLY, I DON'T WANT YOU TO BE ABLE TO GET INTO, UH, THE HBCU ALL-STAR TICKETS GAME BECAUSE THE SEATS WILL ALL BE SOLD OUT.
SO PLEASE TAKE ADVANTAGE, REGISTER, DO YOUR PART, AND LET'S SHOW PEOPLE WHAT HOUSTON IS ALL ABOUT.
HAVING SAID THAT, LET ME NOW YIELD TO, TO YOU MY YIELDING TO, TO TRAVIS.
THANK YOU FOR THE CITY, HOUSTON, GREAT CITY OF HOUSTON, UH, FOR WELCOMING US TO OPEN ARMS. AND I WANNA SAY THANK YOU, UH, DR.
KEVIN GRANGER FOR REALLY OPENING UP TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
ALSO THANK PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT CROMPTON YOUNG FOR REALLY JUST WELCOMING US WITH OPEN ARM, ALL OF US.
AND LIKE I SAID, THIS IS INCLUSIVE OF ALL US, ALL OUR PARTICIPATING 49 HBCUS ACROSS THE COUNTRY FROM OUR FOUR PREMIER HBCU CONFERENCES AND OUR INDEPENDENT SCHOOLS AS WELL.
AND ALSO THOSE THAT DOESN'T PARTICIPATE IN OUR, IN OUR HBCU GAME, BUT ALSO A PART OF OUR COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FAIR THAT WE DID TODAY ON TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS AS WELL.
SO WE JUST WANNA THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING OUT TONIGHT, OUR ENTIRE HBCU ALL STAR STAFF.
I WANNA MAKE SURE I THANK MY WIFE BECAUSE OF MY WIFE DIDN'T BELIEVE IN THE VISION, I WOULDN'T BE HERE.
CERTAINLY A GOD DRIVEN VISION THAT WAS LAUNCHED IN OCTOBER, 2019.
AND SO, AS I ALWAYS SAY, IT'S ABOUT EAR AND ORE BEING ABLE TO PROVIDE EXPOSURE, ACCESS, RECOGNITION OPPORTUNITIES, RESOURCES AND RESULTS TO YOU GUYS.
AND SO, JUST, I WANTED TO SAY EL LEAST YOU'LL GIVE YOURSELVES A ROUND OF APPLAUSE FOR BEING HERE.
AND AS YOU MENTIONED, APRIL TAYLOR'S MY CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER, HBCU ALLSTAR GAME.
I DON'T MAKE A DECISION WITHOUT HER.
AND SO, YOU KNOW, SHE'S THE GLUE WHEN YOU SEE A LOT OF THIS.
SHE'S THE GLUE AND, UH, LATO LEMON.
WE ARE HERE BECAUSE OF HER RELATIONSHIP WITH THE MAYOR AND ON DOWN AND BEING ABLE TO MOVE US IN IN DIFFERENT CIRCLES AND REALLY GETTING US OUT HERE.
AS MAYOR SAID, HOUSTON DOES IT BIG, AND THIS IS WHAT IT'S ABOUT.
WE TALKED, YOU TALKED ABOUT THE, THE MEN'S FINAL FOUR.
DURING THE PAST 40 YEARS, THERE'S NEVER BEEN A-H-B-C-U ALL-STAR GAME ON A-H-B-C-U CAMPUS.
SO WE'RE MAKING HISTORY ON TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS, AND IF ANYONE CAN SPEAK ABOUT IT, THIS IS DR.
GRANGER WHOSE JERSEY HANGING FROM THE RAFTERS.
IS TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY BEEN A PART OF WHAT IT MEANS AND HAVING THIS PLATFORM.
SO YOU GUYS, WHEN YOU GET A CHANCE, PULL 'EM ASIDE AND JUST HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH IT, YOU KNOW? BUT I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR THE CITY OF HOUSTON FOR WELCOME US.
THIS IS A MOMENT IN TIME WHERE WE MUST CELEBRATE BLACK EXCELLENCE, BLACK HISTORY, BLACK CULTURE EXPERIENCES AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL.
AS MAYOR TURNER MENTIONED, TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY SHOULD BE THE PLACE TO BE ON SUNDAY.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU, IT IS GONNA BE THE PLACE TO BE.
AND THERE'S NOT BE AN OPEN SEAT IN TEXAS SOUTHERN ARENA.
I'M JUST TELLING YOU, THIS IS ABOUT US.
IT'S A CELEBRATION OF US, AND WE KNOW HOW WE WANT TO DO THIS.
[00:10:01]
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU.I THINK, UM, WHAT I WANT TO SAY IS JUST, YOU KNOW, TRAVIS TALKED ABOUT EARLIER, THIS IS FOR US.
WE HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY ON SUNDAY TO SHOW THE WORLD WHAT WE'RE ALL ABOUT.
YOU ALL REPRESENT SEVERAL DIFFERENT INSTITUTIONS AND COLLEGES AND EVERYTHING, TEAMS, COACHES, THIS IS WHAT EVERYONE'S COMING TO SEE.
THOSE WHO ARE BUYING TICKETS, THEY'RE GONNA SEE THE STANDS, THEY'RE GONNA SEE US REPRESENT WHAT IT MEANS TO GO TO AN HBCU.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GO TO AN HBCU GAME, WHAT IT MEANS TO GO AND BE AROUND PEOPLE OF COLOR AND HAVE A GOOD TIME.
AND THAT IS WHAT WE'RE GONNA DO ON SUNDAY.
SO PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I CANNOT STRESS ENOUGH.
PLEASE LET US SHOW THE WORLD SPONSORS, BRANDS, OTHER TELEVISION NETWORKS THAT, OH, IT'S PACKED IN HERE.
THIS IS WHERE WE SHOULD PUT OUR MONEY.
THIS IS WHERE WE SHOULD PUT OUR DOLLARS.
OKAY? LOOK AT THESE AMAZING YOUNG MEN.
LOOK AT THE INTERNS, LOOK AT EVERYTHING AROUND US.
OKAY? SO PLEASE COME OUT AND SUPPORT US.
AND AGAIN, THANK YOU, HOUSTON.
PASTOR GRANT, GOOD AFTERNOON, EVERYONE.
AS YOU SAID, AS YOU HEARD BEFORE, WE SHOULD BE REALLY, REALLY EXCITED ABOUT THIS OPPORTUNITY.
AND WE ARE JUST SO HAPPY TO WORK WITH HBCU ALL STARS, MR. TRAVIS, MISS, MISS APRIL, TO HAVE THIS EVENT AT THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS.
WE REPRESENT HBCU, WE REPRESENT EXCELLENCE.
AS YOU KNOW, WE WON ANOTHER CHAMPIONSHIP THIS YEAR AS WELL.
SO THAT'S THREE PEOPLE FOR US.
SO WHEN YOU THROW UP THAT THREE, YOU'RE REALLY THROWING UP THAT THREE TO MEAN THREE.
PETE, WE DONE WON THREE IN A ROW, AND SO WE ARE EXCITED TO BE A PART OF IT.
WE'RE EXCITED FOR THE OPPORTUNITY.
WE KNOW WHAT IT MEANS TO YOU ALL.
I WAS THANKFUL ENOUGH TO PLAY IN A-N-A-B-C ALLSTAR GAME WHEN I CAME OUT.
I WAS ALSO THANKFUL ENOUGH TO PLAY IN THE BLACK COLLEGE ALLSTAR GAME WHEN I CAME OUT AS A SENIOR.
I KNOW WHAT THIS TYPE OF MOVEMENT, THIS TYPE OF MOMENT, THIS TYPE OF RECOGNITION CAN DO FOR YOU ALL.
I WAS ABLE TO PLAY PROFESSIONAL BASKETBALL.
YOU ALL HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY NOW TO SHINE THAT LIGHT AND LET THE WORLD SEE YOUR TALENTS ON LIVE ON CBS.
SO IF YOU AIN'T MOTIVATED FOR THAT, AIN'T NO FIRE IN YOU.
YES, MAN, WE CAN TAKE THEM RIGHT NOW BECAUSE THEY DON'T HAVE NO FIRE
SO COME OUT, ENJOY THE GAME, ENJOY THE EVENTS, THANKFUL FOR THESE TWO INDIVIDUALS AND THEY WHOLE ENTIRE STAFF ARE DOING FOR THE COMMUNITY HERE AT TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY AND THE HOUSTON SURROUNDING AREAS.
LOOKING FORWARD TO EVERYBODY BEING THERE.
LOOK, DR. CRAIG RANGER IS ALL FIRED UP, YOU KNOW, SO LOOK, I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE, AND, AND, AND, UM, I KNOW TRAVIS MENTIONED, UH, DRISHA, CRUMPTON YOUNG, UH, THE PRESIDENT OF TIGER NATION, YOU KNOW, SO I DO WANT TO ACKNOWLEDGE OR ACKNOWLEDGE HER AND HER LEADERSHIP AND WHAT SHE'S DOING ON THAT CAMPUS.
UM, AND THEN LET ME ALSO SAY THAT, UH, JESSIE JACKSON, UH, IS COMING INTO TOWN AND WILL BE AT THE GAME.
IN FACT, HE'S COMING HERE BECAUSE OF THE IMPORTANCE AND THE SIGNIFICANCE OF IT.
SO HE'LL BE AT THE GAME AND THERE'LL PROBABLY BE SOME OTHERS AS WELL.
AND THEN I KNOW, UH, THE CONGRESSWOMAN AS SHEILA JACKSON.
GIVE IT UP TO THIS VETERAN RIGHT HERE.
AND THEN BEN CRUMP IS COMING INTO TOWN.
SO HE'LL BE COMING ALONG WITH, UH, JESSE JACKSON WILL BE AT THE GAME AS WELL.
SO THERE'LL BE A NUMBER OF, UH, OF PEOPLE WHO WILL BE HERE.
SO, AGAIN, PLEASE COME, PLEASE JOIN, PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS, UH, ON THE CAMPUS OF TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
AND, UH, AGAIN, WE NEED YOUR PARTICIPATION.
AND IT'S AIRING ON ONE STATION, BUT I'M GONNA ASK IF ALL THE STATIONS WILL COVER IT JUST FOR ITS SIGNIFICANCE, YOU KNOW, THAT WOULD MEAN THAT WOULD MEAN A GREAT, A GREAT DEAL.
SO WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH TIME TO TALK ABOUT, OH, WE GOT ONE OF THE STUDENTS.
YEAH, ONE OF THE ATHLETES, ONE OF THE YOUNG, THE TEXAS, ONE OF THE YOUNG BROTHERS HERE.
HOW Y'ALL DOING? MY NAME IS, UM, JORDON NICHOLAS.
I REPRESENT THE TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY.
UM, WE HAVE OTHER SCHOOLS LIKE THE OVC, UM, MEAC, CAC, ALL HERE IN THE CITY.
UM, COACH WILLIAMS, I JUST WANNA SAY THANK YOU FOR GIVING US ALL THIS OPPORTUNITY TO BUILD BONDS AND PLAY ONE MORE GAME AT THIS
[00:15:01]
LEVEL AND GIVING US JUST THIS PRO OPPORTUNITY AND EVERYTHING.THANK YOU FOR, TO THE MAYOR, YOU KNOW, FOR HAVING US HERE TODAY.
AND YOU KNOW, YOU SUPPORT TSU TO THE FULLEST.
AND, UM, TO JUST EVERYBODY COME OUT TO THE GAME SUNDAY, SUPPORT EVERYBODY, YOU KNOW, WE GONNA PLAY HARD AND, YOU KNOW, TRY TO PUT ON A SHOW FOR Y'ALL.
THIS TIME, WE HAVE TIME FOR ABOUT THREE QUESTIONS.
PLEASE JUST STATE YOUR NAME AND YOUR MEDIA OUTLET.
UH, SHAY IS WALKING AROUND WITH THE MIC, SO IF YOU HAVE A QUESTION, THIS IS THE TIME TO DO SO.
JUST FOR YOUR
YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THE FINAL FLOOR RIGHT NOW, AND NOW WE HAVE THIS, UH, BY PEOPLE.
WELL, LOOK, THIS, THIS, THIS IS IMPORTANT, UH, QUITE FRANKLY, UM, IT MAKES THIS WEEKEND COMPLETE.
OKAY? UM, I MEAN, WE CAN TALK ABOUT THE NCAA, UM, MEN'S FINAL FOUR.
UH, I CERTAINLY WANT TO GIVE A KUDOS AGAIN TO TEXAS SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY FOR MAKING IT TO THE NCAA.
AGAIN, SO MUCH, MUCH APPRECIATION, MUCH RESPECT TO THEM.
UM, BUT AT THE SAME TIME, TO HAVE THE HBCU ALL STARS PLAYING RIGHT HERE IN THE CITY OF HOUSTON REALLY COMPLETES THE CIRCLE.
WE STARTED OFF THE WEEK WITH THE MCDONALD BASKETBALL TEAM ON TUESDAY NIGHT.
I MEAN, WELL ATTENDED, UH, OUTSTANDING, UH, WOMEN AND MEN, UH, WHO, WHO PLAYED, AND, AND THAT WAS JUST PHENOMENAL.
UH, AND THEN WE'LL START, AND THEN WE'LL FOLLOW THAT UP WITH, UH, SATURDAYS GAMES WITH THOSE TEAMS PLAYING.
UH, BUT THEN TO F TO FOLLOW THAT UP ON SUNDAY WITH THE HBCU ALL STAR GAME, THAT IS WHAT INTRIGUED SOME OF OUR, OUR BLACK MAYORS TO SAY, HEY,
AND SO THEN, OF COURSE, THEN TO FINISH IT UP ON, ON MONDAY.
SO THIS JUST COMPLETES THE CIRCLE, AND IT SHOWS, FOR EXAMPLE, THIS IS A CITY OF OF CHAMPIONS FROM ALL ARENAS.
AND QUITE FRANKLY, YOU CAN TALK ABOUT ALL THE OTHER UNIVERSITIES, BUT STILL, YOU START INCLUDING HBCUS AT THE TABLE IN A VERY INCLUSIVE FASHION.
YOU HAVE DIVERSITY, BUT YOU DON'T HAVE INCLUSIVITY.
AND SO THIS, THIS JUST MAKES IT REAL, OKAY? AND WE HAVE SOME OUTSTANDING ATHLETES WHO ARE HERE, AND QUITE FRANKLY, THEY DESERVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE IN THE SPOTLIGHT.
AND THIS PUTS THEM IN THE SPOTLIGHT AT THIS PARTICULAR TIME.
SO, I'M, I'M EXCITED, I'M THRILLED.
AND THEN LEMME JUST ON A PERSONAL NOTE, LEMME TAKE A GREAT DEAL OF PRIDE IN IT BEING THE AFRICAN AMERICAN MAYOR RIGHT NOW.
I MEAN, THIS IS SO, SO FOR ME, AND ESPECIALLY IN MY FINAL YEAR, UH, THIS IS JUST LIKE THE ICING ON THE, ON THE CAKE.
OKAY? HOW YOU, HOW Y'ALL DOING? UM, I'M CECE WITH THE SAUCE UNDERNEATH THE NOT SO CHRISTIAN AND ME SHOW WITH KYLK RADIO.
MY QUESTION IS, FIRST OF ALL, THANK Y'ALL FOR HAVING ME.
UM, I WANNA KNOW, I KNOW YOU PROBABLY, THIS HAS BEEN A MOMENT YOU PROBABLY HAVE DREAMED OF, OR YOU KNEW YOU WAS GONNA BE HERE, BUT I WANNA KNOW, WHO ARE YOU MOST EXCITED? WHO DO YOU WANNA PLAY AGAINST? UH, I'M, I'M KIND OF JUST EXCITED TO PLAY AGAINST THE GUYS FROM NORTH FOLKS AND JUST EVERYBODY FROM THAT CONFERENCE.
JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, BEING AT TSU, WE DON'T REALLY GET TO SEE THEM OR PLAY THEM AT ALL.
SO JUST SEEING THEIR TYPE OF SUCCESS MATCHING UP WITH OURS AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
SO, BUT I'M EXCITED TO PLAY AGAINST ALL THESE GUYS JUST BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, WE WAS PLAYING TODAY, SO I WAS ABLE TO SEE THE OTHER TEAM AND STUFF.
IT IS JUST BEING HERE IS JUST AN EXCITING MOMENT TOGETHER.
I'M SIERRA HENRY WITH HBCU GOAL.
THIS MAY BE A QUESTION FOR APRIL.
WE TALKED ABOUT IT BEFORE AT THE PRESS CONFERENCE, BUT I LIKE TO TALK ABOUT THE HISTORY THAT THIS IS GONNA MAKE ON SUNDAY AND THE FUTURE THAT IT WILL BRING FOR THE WOMEN OF HBCU ALL-STAR GAMES IN THE FUTURE.
UM, THAT, THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION.
I THINK WE ALL, I, I THINK WE ALL ARE EXCITED ABOUT WHAT THIS MOMENT, UM, WILL BRING.
AND I THINK IT'S GONNA BRING, UM, ONE THINGS THAT PEOPLE MIGHT NOT KNOW THAT WE'LL LET THE WORLD KNOW.
TRAVIS TEAM IS A GROUP OF POWERFUL WOMEN, UM, MYSELF, HIS WIFE, OUR, UM, LEADERSHIP TEAM ARE WOMEN, RIGHT? AND SO WE KNOW THE POWER AND THE IMPORTANCE OF US BEING HERE.
SO BEING ABLE TO PACK THE PLACE ON SUNDAY HELPS US HAVE THAT CONVERSATION OF WHY WE SHOULD HAVE THE WOMEN'S GAME.
WELL, I'M A FORMER BASKETBALL PLAYER, SO IT'S NOT LOST ON ME, RIGHT? I WOULD LOVE TO GIVE THIS OPPORTUNITY TO A GROUP OF YOUNG LADIES, LIKE THESE YOUNG MEN, BUT
[00:20:01]
PACKING SUNDAY SETS THE GROUNDWORK FOR US TO BE ABLE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS WITH DIFFERENT MARKETS AND BRANDS TO HELP US SUPPORT IT MY FINANCIALLY.SO THANK YOU FOR THAT QUESTION.
NOW YOU SEE WHY SHE'S MY CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER AT HBCU ALLSTAR GAME.
BUT, BUT JUST ELOQUENTLY TO PUT IT, MY DAUGHTER PLAYS BASKETBALL, SO I'M ALWAYS FIGHT FOR YOUNG, YOUNG LADIES LIKE THAT'S IN THIS SPORT.
AND SO DEFINITELY I THINK A APRIL SAID IT ALL.
SO THAT WAS ALWAYS IN THE DISCUSSION, BUT SHE MENTIONED SUNDAY SETS THE TONE OF ALL OF THIS LAST QUESTION.
I, UH, THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME, UH, LATON FOR LETTING ME TELL YOU SOMETHING, PODCAST.
THIS QUESTION IS FOR, UH, COACH TRAVIS.
UH, DO YOU HAVE ANY PLANS TO IMPLEMENT, YOU KNOW, SHOWCASING IN THE BLACK COMMUNITY HOW TO PUT AN EVENT TOGETHER? I KNOW SOMETIMES WE ALWAYS SEE THE PLAYER, THE COACH, AND, YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE REF, BUT HOW CAN WE IMPLEMENT TEACHING, SPORTS MARKETING, SPORTS BRANDING, THROWING AN EVENT TOGETHER IN OUR COMMUNITY? OH, THAT'S GREAT.
I THINK WE SAID IT EARLIER, WE HAVE OVER 150 INTERNS ARE PART OF OUR PROGRAM.
THREE FIVE OH MY BACK, HOW MANY? THREE SEVENTY FIVE, THREE HUNDRED AND SEVENTY FIVE APPLIED.
SO THAT JUST LETS YOU SPEAKS IN VOLUMES HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS TO US, NOT ONLY FROM OUR CBA SPORTS PARTNERSHIP, ANY CORPORATION OR SPONSOR THAT COMES IN IN PARTNERSHIP WITH US.
IT'S IMPORTANT FOR THEM TO ALLOW OUR INTERNS TO BE A PART OF THAT THROUGH THEIR INTERNSHIP AND JOB OPPORTUNITIES, TO THEIR CAREER TRANSITIONS.
YOU KNOW, WITH OUR INTERNSHIP PROGRAM THAT WE ARE HAVING NOW, THAT'S EXPERIENCE THAT THEY'RE GAINING NOW.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS IS IMPORTANT FOR US, NOT ONLY FROM THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS FAIR TO THE IN INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY, ALL OF OUR OUTREACH AT CUNY HOMES, YATES HIGH SCHOOL, EVERYBODY WINS IN THIS.
AND AS SHE MENTIONED EARLIER, I DON'T HAVE A PROBLEM SURROUNDING MYSELF WITH SOME OF THE MOST INFLUENTIAL AND TOP WOMEN IN SPORTS TODAY.
SO, HEY, THIS IS WHAT HBCU ALL STARS IS ABOUT.
AND I JUST GOTTA PIGGYBACK ON THAT.
THAT'S A GOOD, WE RUN THE BEST INTERNSHIP PROGRAM EVER IN THIS CROWD RIGHT NOW.
LIKE WE, WE ARE REALLY SERIOUS ABOUT THE WORK WE'RE DOING.
SO WHEN WE SAY YOU WANNA WORK IN PHOTOGRAPHY, YOU WANNA WORK IN MARKETING, YOU WANNA LEARN HOW TO PUT EVENTS ON, WE GOT A SET OF INTERNS ALREADY SETTING UP FOR THE EVENT THAT WE'RE HAVING TONIGHT.
LIKE WE ARE SERIOUS ABOUT THE WORK.
WE'VE GOT YOUNG MEN ON THIS TEAM, YOUNG MEN'S, AN ENTREPRENEUR HERE WITH US.
IT'S LIKE, HEY, MS. APRIL, HOW DO I GET MY, OKAY, WE GONNA GET HIS STUFF OUT.
WE ARE ABOUT THE WORK AND THIS IS WHY SUNDAY, I'M GONNA KEEP SAYING IT IS SO IMPORTANT WHEN SUNDAY IS PACKED, WHEN TRAVIS GOES AND SITS AT THOSE TABLES AND TRY TO TELL PEOPLE AND NEGOTIATE WHAT WE NEED AND WHY WE NEED IT.
SUNDAY IS GONNA BE THE WAY WE CAN SAY, WELL, NO, WE, WE PROVED IT DROPPED THE WE WE PROVED IT.
UM, CAN YOU TELL TO OUR VIEWERS, WHAT DO WE GOING TO SEE IN THIS GAME? WE'RE GONNA SEE THE BEST PLAYER.
WELL, I'M GONNA GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE.
THIS MORNING WE HAD AT PRO DAY MEASUREMENTS THIS MORNING AND THEY WERE JUST, WE JUST LET 'EM GOT UP AND DOWN THE COURT FOR ABOUT 15 MINUTES.
YOU'RE GONNA SEE HIGH LEVEL TALENT COMPETITION GUYS.
THAT'S ON THE OTHER END REALLY GOING, I THINK JORDAN SAID IT, JORDAN SAID IT EARLIER THAT HE'LL PLAYING AGAINST SOME OF HIS COUNTERPARTS IN OTHER LEAGUES THAT THEY HAVEN'T.
WE HAVE SOME OF THE MOST TALENTED PLAYERS WHEN I SAY HBCU PLAYERS, BUT I'M TALKING ABOUT PLAYERS ACROSS THE BOARD THAT DON'T OTHER OTHERWISE GET THE NATIONAL PUBLICITY, BUT THEY'RE GONNA SHOW THE WORLD HIGH LEVEL GAME, HIGH IMPACT GAME COMPETITIVE GUYS PLAYING WITH A LOT OF HEART INTENSITY, ENTHUSIASM AND PLAYING FOR EACH OTHER, PLAYING FOR THE CULTURE.
THEY UNDERSTAND THE MAGNITUDE OF THIS MOMENT WHEN ALL EYES ARE ON THEM.
YOU GOTTA UNDERSTAND THAT THIS BEEN AROUND THE FINAL FOUR HAS BEEN AROUND FOR 40 PLUS YEARS, AND NOW WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO SHINE ON THE GRANDEST STAGE.
THEY GET A CHANCE TO NOT ONLY REPRESENT THEMSELVES, THEIR FAMILIES, BUT OUR PROUD AND TRADITION AND RICH HBCUS ARE HARDWORKING, TALENTED, AMBITIOUS, INTELLIGENT, AND VERY DESERVING STUDENTS, STUDENT ATHLETES AND SOME OF OUR COACHES THAT DON'T GET TO SHINE.
WE SEE IT ALL ACROSS THE LANDSCAPE.
THIS IS FOR US, THIS IS OUR OPPORTUNITY.
LAST QUESTION BEFORE, CAN WE GET A PICTURE TOO? YES.
WE'RE GONNA DO A PICTURE, BUT LAST THING, WE, WE ALSO GONNA HAVE SOME STROLLING.
WE GIVING AWAY A LOT OF SCHOLARSHIPS.
WE GOT HA WE WE IS GONNA BE A FUN TIME FOR FANS.
[00:25:01]
GREAT.BASKETBALL, LOTS OF GIVEAWAYS, GREAT FOOD THANKS TO TSU.
BEFORE WE TAKE OUR GROUP PICTURE, TRAVIS, I WANT YOU TO BRIEFLY TALK ABOUT WHAT'S TAKING PLACE IN THE MORNING WITH YES, WE HAVE NUMEROUS NBA SCOUTS HAVE CALLED IN CHOIR.
WE HAVE AN HBCU ALL STARS PRO DAY COMBINE.
AND IT'S IMPORTANT THAT WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY BEFORE THE HBCU ALL-STAR GAME.
SO NBA SCOUTS, G LEAGUE SCOUTS, INTERNATIONAL SCOUTS PERSONNEL CAN COME AND WATCH 'EM UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL.
WE DID THE MEASUREMENTS TODAY.
THE MEASUREMENTS ARE THE, THE AGILITY, THE QUICKNESS, THE UH, VERTI, VERTICAL LEAP, ALL THAT STUFF THAT WE, WHEN THE SCOUTS COME TOMORROW, WE JUST HAND 'EM, HERE'S JOHN WALKER ENTIRE BIO, HIS MEASUREMENTS.
WE ACTUALLY HIRED THE SAME COMPANY THAT THE NBA USES FOR THE CHICAGO PRE-DRAFT AND COMBINE CAMP BECAUSE WE THINK THAT IT'S VERY IMPORTANT.
WE'RE NOT GOING TO HAVE OUR GUYS SECOND CLASS.
DID Y'ALL SEE THE HBCU ALL STARS BUS? DID Y'ALL SEE THAT? DID Y'ALL SEE HOW WE RIDE THROUGH THE CITY MAYOR? BECAUSE I FELT LIKE WE WANT THE SAME THINGS AFFORDED TO THE NCA FINAL FOUR TEAMS WHEN THEY RIDE THROUGH HERE IN THAT BUS.
WE DON'T WANT OUR GUYS TO FEEL ANY LESS.
SO THE PRO DAY COMBINED, WE GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE, HEY, IT'S UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL WHERE THESE GUYS CAN REALLY SEE OUR GUYS.