Episode 116: Moneyball!

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Okay, so we have a Hall of Famer with us today. So cool.

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Is this our first, no, we've, we've had. Kathy Wilbur PERSON.

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Kathy Wilbur, rest in peace, was women's hall, Michigan Women's Hall of Fame ORG? Other Hall of Famers?

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I feel like we have future Hall of Famers.

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Was your wrestler friend in the Hall of Fame ORG?

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There's not a wrestling Hall of Fame ORG that is he in. There is a wrestling Hall of Fame, but he's not in the Wrestling Hall of Fame ORG.

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I bet Deb Hart would be in like the Lansing GPE disc jockey Hall of Fame if there is such a thing.

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I forgot we even had her on here. I see her every

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once in a while pop up on things because she's on TV

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now all the time. She hosts a show on Fox ORG.

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Yeah. Is it a yoga show? She did the cold oatmeal

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podcast or back in the day before she was big on TV. What kind of show does she have? It's like a morning

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new show. Okay. Sorry, Deb PERSON.

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I missed it. But anyway, today,

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Hall of Famer, Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Famer ORG,

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Desmond Ferguson PERSON,

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owner of Moneyball Sportswear ORG,

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professional basketball player,

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big time, Lansing High School player back in the, I don't know, late 90s. He's our guest on the cold oatmeal podcast. Blindside. Noside The movie

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Name the most famous one ever I will not know

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Carmen PERSON he did

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Is it Carmen PERSON? We're out of luck

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Anyway

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Well maybe Jenna PERSON can find

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Can book Carmen He's dead No he's dead Tribune Does Carmen have a tribute Good luck Jenna Jenna can find, can book Carmen. He's dead. Melody PERSON's dead. Does Carmen have a trick? Good luck, Jenna PERSON.Welcome to Cold Oatmeal ORG, a podcast by the Rest

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Strategies team about PR and Public Affairs ORG. Really? I was distracted staring at Joe PERSON's cold oatmeal.

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Yeah, well, it's here.

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It's always here. It's always here. And by the way, the ratio of, like, fruit to disgusting, like, one to ten. It's got some disgusting stuff and some fruit.

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There's nothing disgusting. One part fruit.

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What in there is disgusting? I don't even know what's in it. But it looks like cucumber mash and maybe a couple of chopped apple.

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Did you have Burger King ORG for breakfast? What was your?

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Say that. Okay. Welcome back.

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The podcast is back. It's been a while. It's been a while since we've been here. But we've got a guest today, a good one, Hall of Famer, Desmond Ferguson PERSON, of the Moneyball Sportswear ORG, is going to be with us.Before we get into that, a little business. This is Matt Resch of the Rest Strategies ORG team, and you're listening to the Cold O'Neill podcast. We put this out once a month or so when we get some cool people to talk to, and we have one of those people with us today. We're a public affairs and public relations firm in downtown, Lansing, Michigan GPE.You can find all of these podcasts on our website, Apple ORG, podcasts, Spotify ORG, all of those places. So let's go around the room. It's a skeleton crew.

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This should be a quick trip. Quick trip around the room. I think when we put sports in the topic or anything remotely related to sports

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to the topic, we lose people. Although Carly PERSON in her defense is actually working.

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So to my left. Nick DeLew PERSON is here.

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Joe Peshy PERSON.

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Oh, and this is Matt PERSON again.

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We're going to be joined shortly by Anna PERSON.

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Anna PERSON is on her way.

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She'll be here for when Desmond PERSON gets here. But yeah, so we are ready to roll and get Desmond PERSON in here. But I think the big news since we broke some news in the last episode, is the engagement still on. Still on. Nothing's happened in the last six weeks.Nothing's happened. We're, I think, looking at some venues soon. We've, like, made some.

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You're going to start looking at the venues soon?

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We've identified a few to go see, so, and some potential dates as to, like, when we may go see them. So we're taking baby steps.

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Not dates of the wedding, just dates to go see a venue for.

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I believe that those are not baby steps. Those are normal, important.

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I feel like once we figured that one big thing out, the rest will just kind of happen.

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The date or the space?

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The space.

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Like, once we have a space that's available on a date, we'll be like, okay.

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You're looking for reception venues or event venues?

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Like, are you going to get married there at these venues you're looking at?

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Or are you looking at places to party?

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I mean, both, but yeah.

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Can you tell us where you're looking?

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Or is it going to be a surprise?

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Horrox.

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The Horrocks ORG beer garden.

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I don't know Shepard ORG and their mango rice.

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I honestly couldn't even name them. We have a

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Google sheet I haven't looked at in two weeks.

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That's, you know, a couple places in mid-Michigan, some West Michigan LOC places and

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some up north places. So we're not.

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Yeah, well, we need to book rooms. So let us know.

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You're still anticipating being invited.

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Have you begun talking about children?

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Probably a big, big fat, no.

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Yeah, I can't afford that.

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No, I mean children of your own.

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Not children coming to your wedding.

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Oh, what do you think that's what he means. Oh, okay.

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You can always afford kids. Who was, are you and your questions? Like, you were asked's what he means. Oh, okay. You can always afford kids.

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Who was it?

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You and your questions.

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Like, you were asked someone, we were on a call last week with a client, and there was

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like a person who was like younger than Carly PERSON.

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And it was like, bring your child to work day.

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And there were kids running around in the background.

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And Nick PERSON goes, do you have, so do you have kids?

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I'm like, she's in, looks like she's in high school.

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She's working in high-powered DC consultancy.

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She's old enough to have children.

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And she was talking about all the kids running around for bring your kids to work day.

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So you're married?

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You're having kids.

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Oh my goodness.

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You're never going to let that one down.

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It was an appropriate question at the time to me.

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It seemed to be.

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So I did have a funny experience with this podcast not too long ago.

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So I, you know, Owen, my son plays travel

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soccer. And so I spend a good many weekends with with people who have become good friends now

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over the years in random hotels, holiday inn expresses across the Midwest. And I didn't bring this up,

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but at some point, somebody, a parent who knows that we do this podcast mentioned at a team dinner that I do a

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podcast, which sounds a lot cooler when someone else says it than when you say it yourself.

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And so I was like, oh, you do a podcast.

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So I'm like, I thought that was the end of it.

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And then I was at a game and someone came up to me and they said, so after the last, after

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the last game, we were driving back from Columbus GPE.

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And we listened to like three episodes on there, between Columbus and Lansing GPE.

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Awesome.

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And I'm like, I'm sorry.

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Well, really?

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Really?

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You made your, you made your husband, your wife and your kid listen to three episodes.

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We're entertaining, Matt PERSON.

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Yeah.

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And the funny thing was that it was, they weren't even episodes that had guests. They were, they listened to the reshys.

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Okay.

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And they listened to the engagement one. That had two great episodes. Two great. But apparently, yeah, I said, well, you know, we actually have interesting people on sometimes that none of the ones you listen to, but you should come back. So maybe it'll be today's. Yeah, for congratulations to Joan Carly PERSON, I'm sure. Yes. Yes.

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They were very, they're thrilled for you. They too want to know when and where it's going to happen.

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When, where and how many kids yes but for today we've got we have a we do have a guest today uh desmond ferguson is going to join us he is the owner of money ball sportswear he started that company in 2002 that was after he was um pretty big deal high school basketball here at ever at high school in lansing went off to play division one college basketball and then a career in the pros trying to make it to the NBA ORG where he actually made it to the NBA for a bit before coming back to Lansing GPE and starting this athletic sports clothing company that's grownlike crazy. It's been around for almost 22, 23 years DATE. So cool to have him on and hear the story, Desmond Ferguson PERSON. So Desmond Ferguson, welcome to the cold oatmeal podcast, Moneyball Sportswear ORG. This is really, really cool to have him on and hear the story, Desmond Ferguson. So Desmond Ferguson, welcome to the cold oatmeal podcast, Moneyball Sportswear. This is really, really cool to have you here. Nick and we were just talking about maybe our first Hall of Famer, Greater Lansing Sports Hall of Fame ORG.

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No, thanks for the invite.

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Good to be here.

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So let's get right into this year.

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You're just talking about being here most of your life in Lansing GPE, but I'm curious. I was surprised doing this research. Moneyball Sportswear has been around since 2002. Right.

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What's the story?

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What's the story behind Moneyball WORK_OF_ART?

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Man, short version, a long version.

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Well, we got a podcast. We can go for a while.

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Yeah, so I always wanted to be a business owner, not knowing I'd be in the athletic clothing space. Growing up, I was a local barber, so 12, 13, 14 years old. I was cutting all my friend in neighborhood here and high school, prime, and first day of school, graduation, all that good stuff. I was able to buy my first car at age of 16 off a $3 haircuts at the time.Wow. So I knew I wanted to own a business.

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I was again, not knowing what that business would be. In 1995, I played with Team Michigan, A.U basketball team out of Detroit GPE. They had Robert Trackerick, Rest in Peace WORK_OF_ART. Kevin Garnett PERSON played with us. Albert White, Terence Robeson, all these guys were all-Americans.

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And top-tend in the country, that is.

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So Robert Trether and Kevin Garnett PERSON were pretty close.

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Obviously, Garnett was down in Chicago, but he came up and played with us. A lot of people

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didn't know he was either going to go University of South Carolina or Michigan GPE. But he went in the NBA ORG and the rest was history. Well, I was a pretty good shooter. So from that team,

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I got the nickname Moneyball WORK_OF_ART. So that was where the nickname came from. So fast forward, my first year playing overseas, I was over in the Netherlands GPE. First time making some money, you know what I was making $5 grand a month, thought I was a millionaire. And so I started thinking what I wanted to do with my money. I've seen a lot of athletes been in Detroit, you know, playing University of Detroit ORG,from Chris Rubber to Jayon Rose to Grand Hill when he was with the Pistons and Stackhouse PERSON.

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And not those guys, but seeing guys that made money playing sports, but didn't have anything to show for it, even when they were playing or when they got done playing. So I was thinking about this as my first year playing overseas, and the idea of doing basketball uniforms came to mind.

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Not knowing how I would do it or how it would happen. But I knew, and the reason being, I knew when I got done playing the game of basketball, I wanted to be involved with sports, some shape, form, and fashion. So I figured that might help me. But it's just an idea, not knowing how it was going to happen. Right now, different names, you know, all along I had a nickname Moneyball WORK_OF_ART,so that's what I went with. A year later, I played in the Philippines GPE. And while I was there, what happened, I met some manufacturers that can do what, make basketball uniforms. So we started off doing basketball uniforms, and now we do all all sports but because I know how uniform basketball uniform fit, feel, so forth. So that kind of how it started and just throughrelationships. I'm all about building and maintaining relationships. So knowing, playing at the University of Detroit, a lot of high school coaches and athletic directors. So when it came time to, you know, try to get some sales, I went straight to them. And we did a second Ohio uniform, Draymond Green PERSON. That is our first team that went back to backstate champions in our uniform.

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That was your, that was a money ball unit.

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Yeah, money ball game. Yeah. And, you know, once we started getting on good players and good teams, it's just kind of spread and then we went off into other sports. But that's the shorter, long version of, you know, how the business started.

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Was it always going to be a Lansing GPE company? How did you, how did you decide to start?

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Well, you know, throughout my years, I mean, it was really a hobby. I play professional ball from 2000, 2011 DATE, so it was pretty much a hobby, then it became a side hustle, and over time became a legit business. But, you know, with us going after a lot of travel basketball teams in high schools, it's much more in, you know, Metro Detroit than it is here in Lansing GPE. And just because of my relationships and what we did from a basketball standpoint, going to second round of NCAA tournament, two years and role, those things are gained a lot of relationships. So we startedthere far as doing the uniforms, but when it came to a brick and mortar and having a home base, I wanted to do it here right here in Lansing. I feel when you have any type of success you should get back from what you come from. So Lansing has been the home base. I wanted to do it here right here, Lance PERSON. And I feel when you have any type of success, you should get back from what you come from. So Lance has been the home base, but, you know, Detroit GPE as well.

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Has you found it easy? Is it easier or hard? Because Lansing GPE's kind of a smaller market. Definitely. Is that presented unique challenges, or have there been unique benefits to begin around here?

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Definitely early on, you know, I feel, you know, sometimes Lansing GPE, it's like getting blood I would turn them.

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And early on it was definitely tough, you know, kind of feel people don't support you, but you got to grind and put that work in and over time. Now I feel complete different that, you know, we get a lot of support from the sea of Lansing. But those early years were definitely tough. Where it make you think about going to bigger cities and whether Detroit or the States GPE, but just kind of wanted to, you know, fight it out and do it right here at home. Is it tough?I'm guessing, and maybe this is a collegiate and professional thing and less a deal with high school stuff, but a lot of these schools have long-term relationship contracts with certain, you know, Nike, Adias ORG, different kinds.

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How do you walk into an athletic director's office and say, hey, you know, I know you've been getting your jerseys from so-and-so forever?

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But I got this new jersey.

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Like, it's got to be tough breaking in to the house. Yeah, very tough because I don't see myself as or nor I ever been a salesman or even like asking people for things. So that's really where I relied on relationships and reputation.

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And you have a lot of people who are loyal to a certain brand, rather be Nike, Adidas ORG, so forth, which they make high quality products. So for me, it was just really kind of growing from a grassroots level, get with the young kids,

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getting with the coaches and the leg directors that I know I have relationships with. And it's not as brand heavy as it once was. Now, if it looks good, feels good, the quality's there. You know, people are open to it, especially when you're able to come at a lower price point.But, yeah, definitely tough. And I think now we've grown to have customers that have been with us for a long period time that another brand can't, so to speak, you know, steal them away, so to speak. But yeah, definitely challenging even to this day because you have a lot of companies, a lot of schools, a lot of organizations that, you know, love the Swish or the Three Stripes ORG or havebeen dealing with a certain sales rep for a number of years and they build their relationship. I understand that because that's the same thing we try to do.

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You make a point, I think, talking about how you design, how the, you work with your customers on designing shirts and jerseys that are unique to them. Is that something you did, like you did the design work yourself or did you work with someone on how to like design clothes? Is that, that's a unique skill set?

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Yeah, yeah. I wish I could take credit for that. But early on, you know, we would even go to set up at Final Fours ORG and stuff like that. And here we have our booth, our 10 by 10 and, you know, Nike and Adidas ORG on the spot. Whereas at the time, I was using artwork and designer overseas. So we, you know, what they was doing in three hours, we was doing 34 days.So we were behind. And then I got lucky and blessed our current designer now. He's from St. John area, but he was at Central Michigan ORG. He came on as an intern, and he specialized over into school for textile and design. And he's also like the assistant equipment manager football at Central Michigan ORG. And it's just so happened.He loves the design uniforms. And we had him as an intern. It would be 10 years coming up. And he graduated in December and we hired him. But I've been ever since. So he really allows us to get advantage because that was one of the main reasons we gotin the business because mostly even when I was in high school, all the uniforms look the same. Only thing different is the name across the chest in the color. And even now, a lot of companies give you stock options.

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You know, we want to get in so you can look completely different. No one else in the country looks like you, and he allows us to do that. So that's one of our selling points, being able to really do customizable sports uniforms for all teams.

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Is there something unique that goes into designing for sports, aside to, from other kinds of clothes?

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Yeah, yeah. I mean, it really depends on level. Like the high school level with certain rules and regulations that you have to, the panel can only be so long. Locals can't be certain places. So the travel programs, you get a little more creative.And Jeff PERSON does a great job of, I mean, he's a nerd. So if we're doing some city in Ohio GPE, he's studying that city and he's going to incorporate in the uniform somehow, whether it's the flag, whether it's the state bird or whatever case may be because he designed a lansing common as well he was on a board with that but he did their logo and all their uniforms but he takes a lot of pride in making sure that is very unique

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you played in a lot of tournaments as a kid and you moneyball has hosted tournaments yeah run tournaments um i'm curious about those tournaments how what that process is like running a tournament um but i'm also curious you go back i mean more than 20 years 20 years for the business and then beyond before that your basketball career when i think back to just like watching basketball watching college ball watching the pros it seems seems to have changed a lot

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over the last 20 years. Have you noticed that at the youth tournament level two? Has it changed? And what's basketball like in Lansing GPE for the kids?

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It's changed tremendously. We kind of got to start off. We would go anywhere within the Midwest, probably six-hour drive. And if a lot, set up a table and sell T-shirt. So that's kind of how we get our name, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Illinois, Indiana GPE, get our name out there. And just seeing how tournaments were ran, it was a natural evolution for us to want to do tournaments. But, yeah, I was talking about this with one of my friends the other day. Like, you know, my mother was a screamer and stuff in the crowd, but she was just cheering on me and my teammates.

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Now you have so many parents trying to live through their kids

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that the whole state of it's different.

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You know, they're putting everything to their child, hoping that they become a millionaire and, you know, they can, you know, live off that, you know, but it's a, I don't, the word youth sports is right now is not, in my opinion, a great, great space from the fights of refereesto everything. The fun and the pure joy has seen to be taken out of it. So hopefully it gets back to that. And from that standpoint, it's completely different from, you know, when I was growing up playing youth basketball and, you know, elementary middle school and high school.

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Can you put your finger on when or how that or why that change happened?

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Is there, you've got a much closer perspective than anybody else I think I've ever talked to. I haven't been in that world. Ultimately, it's the business. Is this the business side of it? You know, from even, you know, I'm part of it.We put on the A.U. Basketball ORG tournaments, but you go to these tournaments in different sports and 40 hours a day to get in, you know, just to pay. You know, you may have a family of four and, you know, before it might have been $5 or $10. So, and, you know, just like the kids and the parent, everybody, you know, think they're going pro, whether to be football, you know, basketball or, you know, any sport. So it's been more money motivated as opposed to justdoing something passionate and want to be able to compete, you know, everything is about business, you know. It's good to that and it's some bad to that too.

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When did you think when you were in high school, you were telling us that you'd get your growth spurt after your freshman year, came back after summer or six, six three, six four,

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when did you, when did you think this is something I could go do to,

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this could get me to college? I could go play on college. And then the same thing, like when during your college career, did you think, you know what, I could go do this in the pros? Good question.

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Well, I started off playing, you know, running track, soccer, and football is my first love. And I was pretty fast, but then I had that girl spurt, and I wasn't as fast. So I said, you know, basketball is it for me. But it probably, I always wanted to, but it didn't really click. So maybe junior year, you know, when, you know, we had some success in leading the team, started getting some interest in letters, you know, at the time, you get out letters in the mail from various schools.So that's when it became a reality that I had a good chance to go to school for free playing the game, a basketball. And then it was always, you know, you dream in the driveway, five, four, three, two, one hitting the last shot in the NBA ORG. So that's always a goal. Money ball. Money ball.

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The only way to ball.

Speaker 61201.28s - 1260.66s

So, yeah, I'll probably say my junior high school when it, and then I was a senior year, it became a reality and started being able to narrow down and try to pick a school. And then I went to originally with the University of Missouri ORG. Things didn't work out there. Great school, you know, I was just miserable from a basketball standpoint. You know, I always wanted to get away from home. I wasn't one that I wanted to stay around.But then came back to University of Detroit ORG, which was probably my greatest decision I made in my life outside of getting married. Because it allowed me to not only be back home, but to be a family to see me to. And then, like, you know, take a program that was okay and help make it much better. So going into my senior, that's when I knew I had a chance to play professionally, didn't know what it would be. Obviously, it started off minor leagues and took the Senate route to be able to get NBA ORG a little bit.But it was always a goal, but, you know, it didn't really click until, you know, pretty much a senior, both high school and college. What made you miserable?

Speaker 11261.62s - 1262.4s

I was going to ask you that.

Speaker 31262.62s - 1264.2s

I was going to ask you, I was curious.

Speaker 41264.2s - 1271.7s

Like, this is a huge dream. You get to play in a major, you know, Big 12 ORG school. And then you get there and like, oh, man, this isn't.

Speaker 11271.78s - 1315.3s

Yeah. Wasn't playing. I was miserable. Didn't see any future for me on that team, just the way the juniors and seniors were treated. And I went there for all the right reason. Like I was looking back, I was a mid-major player.But at the time, Missouri just lost to UCLA in the lead eight, who UCLA ORG won in the championship that year. They had all the TV games as a kid you want to play on CBS and NBC ORG and ESPN and people see you and everything. So that was a huge part of at the time there, the Big Eight ORG. So it was probably the biggest school that recruited me.So kind of all those reasons more so for the hype. But it just wasn't a good situation. You got transferred out. Two of us transferred next year, three more. And this before transfer was where it is now.

Speaker 01315.84s - 1337.8s

And I'm a product of being a transfer. So I'm believing. But, you know, right now with the portal, obviously going haywire and crazy all over the place. But yeah, it just wasn't in the school friends I made down there and still great lifelong friends. But from a basketball standpoint, the reason why I went to, I was going to get an education,wherever I went basketball, I was just very unhappy and didn't enjoy it. So that was the reason why I left.

Speaker 41338.16s - 1351.32s

So what should Matt PERSON and I are dads and my kids are small, but he's got a very talented son to play soccer. What do we tell our kids when they're looking at colleges and they want to play? You've lived both sides now.

Speaker 11351.56s - 1372.76s

You've had the misery and you've had a great experience. Yeah, I mean, go for it. I mean, you only just like playing professionally for X-Many ORG. You only young for so long. And I think once a kid shows a real passion and not just like it, but when they get to love any sport, that's when you, you know, as a parent, you try to give them their, you're all so they can be successful in it. Is there a secret sauce, though, that's in the difference between Missouri

Speaker 41372.76s - 1376.92s

and Detroit Mercy ORG? Yeah, we just, you know, far as what you're doing all, just far as the first

Speaker 11376.92s - 1384.28s

year experience. Yeah, I was, I mean, I enjoyed it, you know, I was, it was tough for me

Speaker 41384.28s - 1386.08s

because I was, you know, back then when you transferred,

Speaker 11386.08s - 1386.78s

we had to set out a year.

Speaker 01386.9s - 1425.8s

So that was tough for the first year ever to sit out and not travel with the team when they're playing. You know, but it allowing me to get stronger and to get better. But I liked everything about it, you know, like I said, even though I was, you know, raised here in Lansing GPE, I didn't grow up. I don't have any family here. All my family is in Detroit GPE.So for my, you know, grandfather and aunts and uncles and cousin to be able to see us. And then, like I said, being a mid-major and really make some noise, you know, nationally was, just that process was fun, you know, just the process of improvement and getting better. And being an underdog is kind of who I am. This is what money ball is. And it just kind of fit, you know, fit me at that time. Find the fit.

Speaker 41426.12s - 1427.84s

Yeah, that's what's about fit, you know.

Speaker 01428.1s - 1430.52s

Just like I said, I went to Missouri ORG for all the wrong reasons.

Speaker 41430.68s - 1437.88s

I tell kids, even when I was coaching that ever, that go fit. Rather that's D3, D2, D1, it's about fit because ultimately you want to be happy.

Speaker 71438.46s - 1465.9s

And I wasn't happy in Missouri, and I was really happy at Detroit GPE, so it was a good move for me. So I know you eventually made it to the NBA ORG, and I want to know more about your professional career. Was it fun, or did it always feel like you were grinding towards the NBA ORG? Was the NBA ORG always like the dream that you fought to get, or were you able to go play in the Netherlands GPE right out of college? I'd be like, this is awesome, a professional basketball player.I'm having a great time. Like, what was the balance between those two things?

Speaker 11466.16s - 1528.9s

Man, I really loved all. I loved the whole process. So originally in high school, I went to Netherlands GPE, and I was my first time being out of the country. And we had Thomas Kelly, who's from Grand Rapids GPE, played at Michigan State ORG, current assistant coach at Michigan State now.And Sam Vincent PERSON, he was our coach. You know, he's right here from Lansing GPE, first, Mr. Basketball, the state of Michigan GPE, out of the Eastern Union of Michigan State ORG. So it was great being over there and just experiencing different ways of life, different culture, once again, getting paid for something you love.So that I really enjoyed because a lot of the friends I grew up, then get a chance to get out the city, let alone the state, let alone the country. So I enjoyed the process, but the goal was still to get to the NBA ORG. So after my first year overseas, I came back to the CBA, which was the G League ORG before the G League ORG. So a lot of guys got caught up from the CBA to the NBA ORG, and that was my goal.But I had a 50-point game. I still got a record in the CBA 13-3s in the game. 50 points. And I didn't get a call-up. I was like, if I don't get a call- it, so I'm not, they're not calling me. Who was it against?Rockford, Illinois GPE. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.

Speaker 31529.54s - 1532.1s

Nick PERSON and I were talking earlier this week because I grew up in Fort Wayne, Indiana GPE.

Speaker 11532.38s - 1536.46s

And so I was, when the Fort Wayne Fury ORG started, and I went to a ton of those games.

Speaker 41536.58s - 1537.48s

I grew up in Grand Rapids GPE,

Speaker 11537.58s - 1538.28s

Grand Rapids, Hoops GPE.

Speaker 41538.58s - 1540.64s

Yeah, Graham's got a great minor league.

Speaker 11540.64s - 1542.02s

I mean, they have great minor league city

Speaker 41542.02s - 1543.84s

because they don't have any major university

Speaker 11543.84s - 1548.74s

or sports team there, in my opinion. yeah where's that what's i talking about

Speaker 41548.74s - 1554.96s

50 points drop 50 casually making the jump so did that didn't get in there so boom i went over

Speaker 01554.96s - 1561.88s

overseas lebanon portico GPE trying to jump around a little bit and then um i can't i was here back home

Speaker 41561.88s - 1567.86s

uh just kind of sitting going through rough time, and just so happened, one of the players for Rockford ORG,

Speaker 11568.54s - 1572.8s

tore, you know, mess his knee up, you know, I don't want him to get hurt, but then it opened up a spot for me going to the playoffs.

Speaker 41572.94s - 1585.38s

So I was at play for Rockford, had some good games, got called for work out with Portland ORG, and went there and worked out, and got, you know, just, and I'm missing some things because I had a car accident in there.

Speaker 71585.5s - 1587.98s

I almost killed myself and all kind of crazy stuff.

Speaker 11588.16s - 1614.76s

But, yeah, we got a chance to, you know, live that. After playing overseas, minor league, so I was 26, you know, when I got a chance to touch the NBA ORG. And you had Zach Randolph who played that state from, he was from Indiana, Damon Stadermeier PERSON, the old rat lived, you know, there again, there's a lot of great players. So to get to that level that you always dream ofand I had to take the scenic route from playing in CBA ORG, you know, riding six deep in a car where it was all over six-five and up,

Speaker 61615.76s - 1628.8s

you know, playing for peanuts, you know, so to speak to, you know, later on be able to, you know, play at the highest level and play against the shacks and, you know, LeBron's and Tim Duncan PERSON and everybody else.

Speaker 11628.92s - 1662.42s

So, yeah, that was a hell of experience. Like, that's why I was playing, you know, the whole time just the experience, even though it wasn't for a long time, but the experience after the grind, even more so looking back, you know, and we're talking, that was 20 years ago now, but definitely appreciate that process. And after that, I went overseas and minor league's ORG different places. So, you know, from everywhere in between, minor league, overseas, and NBA ORG, I got a chance to experience.So most of all, I enjoyed the journey, you know, like the countries I went to, love the relationships that I created from that. So it was definitely a good experience for me all over. Awesome.

Speaker 71662.72s - 1667.36s

I'm kind of curious, who was, I want to know in high school, college, and the pros,

Speaker 11667.86s - 1670.96s

best player you went up against each level?

Speaker 71671.56s - 1671.76s

Yeah.

Speaker 11672.76s - 1694.06s

High school, a lot of great players out of here, but I would say right on time, I graduated his year behind Ron Banks PERSON. Ron Banks over at Sexton High School ORG. He played that year he played in the Magic Round Ball Classic with Kobe Brian PERSON and those guys. So he was that year. College, college, probably Jamar Crawford PERSON that played at University

Speaker 01694.06s - 1708.84s

of Michigan. Yeah. Yep. And then NBA, you know, it's Kobe, you know what I'm saying. And while I was with Portland, play one of those one of those Kobe games where, you know, that's a classic on, you go look now, it's a classic Portland ORG versus.

Speaker 71708.98s - 1712.4s

What was that, what was that like? Were you just like, I don't belong here?

Speaker 11712.82s - 1713.7s

Like, do you just say,

Speaker 31713.7s - 1717.8s

like, oh, there's a whole different level of us? Like, I'm just glad to be here.

Speaker 11717.96s - 1769.76s

Yeah. It's amazing. Or, like, a little bit of both. Like, mind you,I just kind of came from off my couch to a few days later in an NBA so I almost I'm wearing a Portland ORG jersey on the bench I almost got up clapping for Kobe not realizing that I mean because it was he put on one of those performance and I got chance to play against them and score so some surreal some real moments so you I was prepared for the moment so I wasn't like I was a fan. I wanted to compete.And you know what I'm saying? And see how I did well. But at the same time, you understand the greatness of, you know, what you have around you.When you have with Shaq PERSON and Kobe and at the time they had Carl Malone and Gary Payton. Like Gary Payton is nothing on the glove and no one of the defensive guy. So as soon as I got the ball against him,I'm trying to score. Can I score against one of the greatest defenders ever, you know? So, yeah, that challenge, but at the same time,appreciate it was, you know, and be able to live and, but at the same time, appreciate it was, you know, and be able to live and understand that the NBA ORG life for that period of time was dope.

Speaker 21770.36s - 1775.06s

Do you have a favorite NBA ORG player to watch now in the current playoffs?

Speaker 11775.36s - 1778.68s

I mean, now is, you know, it's the ant-man, you know what I'm saying, Anthony Edwards.

Speaker 21778.98s - 1793.18s

The things that he's doing is at the age you're doing and the confidence and respect and, you know, everything about him the way he approaching it. He's worth the, you know, I don't watch a whole lot of NBA ORG.

Speaker 11793.38s - 1819.38s

It's just, you know, I was a three-point shooting. I love to shoot threes, but now I would be a regular prediction the way they're shooting threes. Now the game is just so different. I don't really enjoy regular season game. It doesn't keep my attention. You know, I start watching now. I don't play. I season game. It doesn't keep my attention.You know, I start watching now play out when it really means something. I mean, God's fan ORG, 82 games a year, and, you know, off back-to-backs and maybe tired, so you may not get the full competitiveness from both sides. So now it's do or die. It's much better to watch. But,

Speaker 61819.84s - 1829.78s

yeah, I don't, I don't know if I've watched a full NBA game from beginning in this year. And then late games, I'm, I'm almost late at 10.30, 11, so I can't catch those West Coast LOC game.

Speaker 31829.78s - 1833.58s

My son just said to me last night, he said, Dad, the playoffs are so much better.

Speaker 11833.72s - 1837.38s

He said, these regular season games, I can't watch them. But now these are really exciting.

Speaker 31837.58s - 1844.54s

Yeah, it's a different meaning. You know, when you're playing, awfully for the championship, and you lose one or two, and it's a wrap.

Speaker 11846.4s - 1850.28s

How is knowing some of these players and actually playing these players and being friends

Speaker 31850.28s - 1855.82s

with these guys over the years impacted Moneyball WORK_OF_ART and your ability to grow this business?

Speaker 11857.14s - 1920.04s

Maybe more so. I mean, I'm getting older now, so obviously nobody that I was playing with is playing in the league still. But, you know, Willie Green, who's the head coach of the New Orleans Pelicans, he was a freshman at Detroit GPE when I was a senior. So that's my brother. That's my guy.So being able to just see him ascend from a 13-year NBA ORG career to, you know, now being a great coach in NBA. So I try to watch him and, you know, check him out. But, yeah, well, I mean, when I was in my still 20s and 30s and, you know, running business, you know, still had guys that I knew in the NBA ORG and doing things, so we'll reach out to them. So I'd rather they may come speak to kids at the, you know, basketball clinic or, you know, Draymond Green come playing in the pro in the summer.So having that relationship is, you know, you hear me talk about relationships is key for so many different reasons. But, yeah, it's different now because guys are more in coaching positions or, you know, You hear me talk about relationships is key for so many different reasons. But yeah, it's different now because guys are more in coaching positions or, you know, rather be front office or doing things like that. Did you have to have a conversation with Dremont PERSON about being on his best behavior at the pro-am? No, no, no, no. That was before he became Dramon.

Speaker 41920.18s - 1925.38s

Dramon. With all the antics, you know what I'm saying? I mean, even now, like, you know, he barely even look at a basketball. But, you know, he was a national college player a year when he's at Michigan State ORG, you know what I'm saying? I mean, even now, like, you know, he barely even look at a basketball.

Speaker 11925.48s - 1928.86s

But, you know, he was a national college player of the year when he's at Michigan State ORG, you know what I'm saying?

Speaker 41928.92s - 1942.62s

So he could score my favorite players. Yeah, but now you don't see that. But he, I mean, if anybody told you they had Draymond Green PERSON and B. Who is today, they was lying. Right. You know what I'm saying?Because you're okay, you've seen them getting to the NBA ORG, you know, being a guy off the bench, you know, not a.

Speaker 01942.78s - 1943.46s

He's a Hall of Fame ORG or not.

Speaker 41943.46s - 1948.88s

Yeah, yeah, you know, to be able to be able to US GPE Olympic winner to winning a multiple championships defensive player

Speaker 01948.88s - 1975.8s

the year NBA All-Star like the you know him being what he doing with TNT ORG or you know with this podcast and how good he's how good he is on television and endorsements that he got being a congressman guy and was like like like yeah next LeBron PERSON yeah you would never seen that coming he I think he uh yeah he's overachieves you know so they're not to no disrespect to him but he's overachieved in his career he's got the most out of and then so so yeah it kind of you know

Speaker 11975.8s - 1980.16s

that's my guy so it but it'd be tough to defend him when you put the slow mo on and he

Speaker 51980.16s - 1987.84s

well enough knocking somebody out you know no thanks what's it like to be the the guy who's up

Speaker 31987.84s - 1992.94s

on a like a short-term contract in the end like do the guys treat you like one of the one of the

Speaker 51992.94s - 1997.9s

guys or like oh this guy you know he's he's going to be in and out what's how do they what was your

Speaker 31997.9s - 2002.96s

contract was it a 10 day yeah yeah it's 10 day and then uh they sign you to a second you get signed

Speaker 52002.96s - 2006.88s

you to a second 10 day you to the rest of the season. But it was right pretty much the last month.

Speaker 32006.88s - 2010.76s

And that was, you know, that was the first time Portland that year.

Speaker 52010.82s - 2015.58s

I came, the first time, first time, Portland ORG didn't go to playoffs in a long time.

Speaker 32016.04s - 2020.84s

So I was hoping when the playoffs, because, you know, get more money, stay a little, stay a little longer, whatnot.

Speaker 62020.94s - 2026.5s

But it's pretty much the last, you know, 20 days, last year of a 2004 season.

Speaker 32027.56s - 2032.14s

But, yeah, no, I mean, for me, I was, since 26-year-old rookie, you know, I had guys like

Speaker 72032.14s - 2035.78s

Zach Randolph and Daris Miles who had played in the league for a few years, but they were younger

Speaker 12035.78s - 2036.14s

than me.

Speaker 72036.68s - 2041.22s

But I gravitated to the guys that were close to my age or close to 30 Derek Anderson PERSON.

Speaker 02041.86s - 2044.54s

He befriended me, you know, really well and took, you know, took care of me.

Speaker 12044.94s - 2071.16s

You know, these guys making, you know, at the time, 9, 10, 12 million a year, you know what I'm saying? I hear I am on a 10-day contract. So, yeah, it was all respect. And then, you know, it was a great team for me because they had, you know, a great point guard in Damon Stademeyer, great big, Zach Randolph PERSON, and they have a lot of great shooters. And I pretty much came in as one of the best shooters. And that respect, you know, came from the team.So the ultimate respect is you get from your peers.

Speaker 02071.7s - 2076.5s

And to be able to get that from my teammates after going to Senate where I'm being in the NBA ORG, like, yeah, I belong here then.

Speaker 62076.54s - 2077.1s

I belong here.

Speaker 02077.4s - 2084.14s

And, you know, it's crazy because I got drafted by the Charlotte Bobcast, an expansion draft that summer.

Speaker 12084.84s - 2109.66s

And I was actually about to sign a year two contract with the Blazers but whenever a contract team I mean whenever expansion team draft you can't sign back with the team you was with for like one or two yearswhatever and they just went down a list to you know got young people with minimum contracts and so I never worked out for Charlotte anything like that so they kind of messed up the situation I had with Portland ORG I actually had just got out of flight in Portland they had like 20 messages at the time and like congratulations congratulations you got drafted by them like that. So they kind of messed up the situation. I had with Portland. I actually had just got out of flight in Portland. They had like 20 messages at the time. And like, congratulations.Congratulations. You got to drop. I'm like, that ain't good news.

Speaker 42109.76s - 2118.84s

You know, it was a great situation. I couldn't play for any team to even be able to Portland situation was an ideal situation for me. But it was cut short because of that. Charlotte ORG's the worst.

Speaker 22120.44s - 2130.6s

So when you've gone through tough times, whether it's in basketball and college, in the pros and business, what mindset or perspective has kept you pushing through?

Speaker 12131.82s - 2148.28s

I've always had a positive outlook on the negative times. I mean, truth be told, I probably got cut for more teams than I made, but it was still, I mean, I got cut from an NBA ORG summer league team, but end up on the NBA team, you know. So, you know, just the contrast of that.

Speaker 62149.3s - 2151.8s

But to go back to like even coming as a freshman, you know,

Speaker 02151.84s - 2216.1s

we caught ourselves to Fab Five. We were coming in every high school at the same time, Favis was going in Michigan GPE, and it was five of us that played middle school basketball together, and four went to JV, and one was on freshman. That freshman was me, you know what I'm saying?So that kind of lit the fire, you know, under me. Then I came back, obviously grew and skipped. And as a sophomore year, I was on varsity. And then some of the same guy might have stayed on JV for a second year. But even then, the first year, you know, on varsity, we were 2 and 19. You know, we started four sophomores and a freshman, so we're bad.But just kind of overcoming that adversity always, you know, thinking positive. Things didn't work out, you know, at Missouri, you know, but came to, you know, Detroit GPE and had success. I had to play, you know, for peanuts at times, minor leagues and stuff, but still be able to get to anybody. So it's just something I've kind of always had in me that inner confidence that even thoughthings may not be going well, that eventually it'll get better. And I've been able to carry that to business because the same thing has happened, where you talk about financial crashes, 0-809 or pandemic, you know, tough times that we had to endure.

Speaker 12216.7s - 2222.66s

But kind of being able to fall back on your experiences and know that you can fight through it is something that's been beneficial.

Speaker 32223.26s - 2224.78s

That's a shooter's mindset. Yeah.

Speaker 62224.98s - 2225.24s

Yep. Yeah, I mean, miss nine in row, been beneficial. That's a shooter's mindset. Yeah. Yep.

Speaker 42225.32s - 2230.98s

Yeah, I mean, miss nine in a row, that 10th one going to be good. Right. So what's next for Moneyball WORK_OF_ART?

Speaker 32231.08s - 2235.16s

You got big plans. You got some events coming up this summer, but what else is?

Speaker 12235.46s - 2235.7s

Yeah.

Speaker 32236.04s - 2239.42s

Well, you can be break any news here and exciting stuff to show.

Speaker 12239.42s - 2256.64s

Well, I mean, news that we had out there. But so last year, 517, May 17th, we opened up our headquarters, which is huge for us. First time owning a building as opposed to leasing the spots that we've been at. And then next Friday, which will be May 17th, one year anniversary, we're dropping our first ever shoe.

Speaker 02257.54s - 2314.78s

So that's been a long time coming. We tried to process about five or six years ago, but I had to regroup, wasn't ready for it. And now, we're ready. I always say I want us to be able to compete with the big boys. And to do that, you have to have a shoe. And I'm really happy and proud of the way that the shoe came out. So we have that. We just dropped our first ever national commercial ball a month of Sorgal PRODUCT. So it should have been a long time ago, but been in business this long to be, you know, first, you know, first.And then obviously, you know, the pro am that we do every year and those things. So, yeah, but that's the biggest thing to the shoe. Like, we've, we've never done that. We, really anticipate a great designer out of Oregon GPE area. You know, they all out there in their Nike and Adidas ORG and everything. So just looking forward to, looking forward to that release and continue growth to the next shoe and the next shoe and continue getting moresports programs, you know, that we do uniforms for you. Well, I thought it was super cool that you

Speaker 32314.78s - 2320s

pick that location in Lansing, your headquarters because that stretch of Sagina GPE has been,

Speaker 12320.14s - 2349.72s

you know, it's been a rough part. And to be kind of an anchor, to redevelop that part of it is, you know, credit to you. It's great to do that. Yeah, man, I was, you know, I would, you know, I was in one way, I would drive by there all the time and just, you know, especially in the pandemic, just looking like, you know, like I said, we've been leasing the one of the owner business. Not just, just thinking, you know, not even knowing that would happen, you know, then finally talking to the owner to get nose to back and forth and finally be able to get it

Speaker 32349.72s - 2354.92s

and doing it in an area that you know we always talk about you know invest in our

Speaker 12354.92s - 2382.52s

community and doing things in our community and there's no other area of community and Lansom that needed more than that you know that's the second poor zip code in the city of Lansing GPE I think you know not even from standpoint, we're going to be able to really make some positive change. We have just out of a dozen Ferguson Foundation ORG. We're going to have some free breakfasts once a month, you know, for kids and families in that neighborhood and need. So just being able, you know, we've got to bass up. We're going to have some three-point contests and three-on-three.So just, just active in trying to bring some positivity to that area.

Speaker 22383.9s - 2386.76s

How has the brick-and-mort mortar location been doing in the past year?

Speaker 12387.2s - 2393.54s

Good. Good for us. Our previous location was down on Waverly and Saginaw FAC. Kind of tucked away in the corner.

Speaker 22394.04s - 2416s

Much more visible, bigger space. I mean, obviously, newer since everything we did, and we've been over in the Meridian Mall FAC as well. But the goal for us is to own the building and just have one location in mid-Michigan LOC's, you know, Lansanone ORG is so big. So we'll be closing our Meridian Mall store at the end of the, at the end of the year.I wanted to do it earlier, but we were locked into a landlord-friendly contract.

Speaker 02416s - 2443.3s

So we've been over there. And Meridian Mall ORG has been good for us, too. You know, we've been over there since maybe 18, 2018 DATE, somewhere around there, 17. So, yeah, no, it's been good because we can do everything. The uniform business, probably about 65% of our business, so now we have our offices with our, you know, my designer got his own office with a window.When he first came in our thousand square foot spot before, he had a fold-out table, you know,

Speaker 62443.6s - 2461.86s

sitting in front of a door that was a door, but it wasn't a door that you couldn't go through. So he even doing some tough times to us, but for us to have multiple offices in a conference room that we can now meet with coaches and potential customers where I ought to go meet them at Bigby ORG or, you know, somewhere else. So, yeah, you know, it's great, it's great being in a new location.

Speaker 72462.68s - 2470.06s

What's your dream for Moneyball for the next five, ten years? Like, I don't think Aunt has a shoe yet. Is there any way you can get that?

Speaker 12470.06s - 2482.24s

Right, yeah. Yeah, speaking that, just being able to get maybe bigger, better influencers, you know, bigger NIL ORG deals or, you know, potential pros to.

Speaker 42482.38s - 2483.46s

You got the Cold O'Mail ORG podcast.

Speaker 32484.42s - 2485s

Actually, that's, I want to, you mentioned the Cold O'Mail ORG podcast. Actually, that's...

Speaker 42485s - 2486.54s

You mentioned that, the NIL ORG.

Speaker 32486.72s - 2486.8s

Yeah.

Speaker 42487.02s - 2493.74s

Has that opened up a whole new area of opportunity now that these college guys can start

Speaker 12493.74s - 2495s

marketing their names and brands?

Speaker 62495.5s - 2496.32s

For them, yes.

Speaker 12496.7s - 2499.44s

You know, we started off heavy.

Speaker 62499.44s - 2501.78s

Like, we partnered up with a company called Athletic ORG.

Speaker 12501.96s - 2504.58s

That's athlete and analytic, you know, combined together.

Speaker 62504.94s - 2508.18s

And they were really ready and prepared for NIL ORG, when did nobody.

Speaker 12508.38s - 2510.36s

And some people still only know what's going on, even coaches or whatnot.

Speaker 32510.84s - 2512.96s

So they were preparing for NIL back in 2018.

Speaker 12513.2s - 2602.76s

So as soon as they dropped, we had 18 players, you know, we signed Keon Coleman to his first NIL ORG deal. You know, he just got drafted. Pierre Brooks, who was at Michigan State at Butler ORG. Kobe Buffkin, who was at Michigan, who was with Atlanta Hawks ORG, Andrew Anthony, who was out of East Lansing GPE, receiver at Michigan now at Oklahoma ORG,young lady out of Beverly GPE that ran track. Lexi Blair out of University of Michigan ORG. She was a big 10 softball player of the year there. So we had some really great athletes, but for a small but growing business, it's tough, you know. It's based on social media deals,so we paid them, we pay them either in gear and or, you know, some cash, nothing crazy. But only the big companies can really afford to dish out a lot, not get none in return. You know, we have to get a return on investment for, you know, whatever we do. And doing that, and you're dealing with, you know, student athletes different levels of, you know, metrorism. Some, you know, freshmen coming in and don't handle responsibilities where you may have a fifth-year player that does. But, yeah, it wasn't great for us.So we've kind of really had to, we don't have any college NIL guys now or gals. So we've got to kind of regroup and see how we want to do it, where we can benefit from, we're not just giving. And we can get something in turn. So, I mean, if you're, you know, a huge multimillion-dollar, billion-dollar companies, you know, the student athletes winning because they're getting X amount of dollars or wherever they get from, boosters or however it goes now.But we can't just give out stuff and not get anything in return. So we're still trying to figure what's best for us from an IL ORG standpoint. Well, it's cool.

Speaker 32602.96s - 2605.88s

I appreciate very much you coming by this afternoon

Speaker 12605.88s - 2621.1s

to meet you and to hear about all this that's going on. It was very cool. We'll have to stop by and figure out how to do a cold oatmeal jersey.Oh, yeah. Get a customized cold oatmeal jersey. We can get you all together. There we go.

Speaker 32621.8s - 2626.42s

Cool. Desmond Ferguson and Moneyball Sportswear ORG. It's been our guest in the Cold Oatmeal podcast, and we will be right back. Get you all together. There you go. Cool. Desmond Ferguson and Moneyball Sportswear ORG. It's been our guest on the cold oatmeal podcast and we will be right back.

Speaker 52643.54s - 2647s

That's my man's tall. That man's tall. Do you say a six three CARDINAL? Come back, you see. You never gonna find another love like me.

Speaker 42647.58s - 2649.98s

That man's tall. Do you say a 6-3?

Speaker 72650.06s - 2650.84s

He looks taller than that.

Speaker 42650.84s - 2652.34s

Oh, he's tall in 6-3. He looked bigger than that.

Speaker 72652.48s - 2656.5s

Yeah, my dad was 6-5, 6-6.

Speaker 42656.62s - 2657.64s

Maybe it was the shoes, I don't know.

Speaker 32658.14s - 2665.32s

I know, yeah. It's whenever you see someone who does basketball for a living and it's just, you think you know tall people until you see tall people.

Speaker 42665.56s - 2677.68s

Right. Like I'm Fowlerville GPE tall. I am. So when I walk around at like a school, like at one of my kids' games, I'm the tallest person in the stands in Fowlerville GPE. I mean, every now and again, there will be one person who's taller than me.Every now and again.

Speaker 32677.68s - 2679.68s

You've got the smallest feet and the tallest person.

Speaker 42679.78s - 2695.04s

It's very rare. My five foot 10 frame, I can see over everyone else's head. But then I go back to Grand Rapids and I,ids and I I'm dwarfed by all the other Dutch NORP people The giants on the west side Right but that man was a basketball player He almost had to hunch to reach the microphone

Speaker 32695.04s - 2696.88s

He did the hat

Speaker 42696.88s - 2699.94s

He was wearing a hat too so that felt like it added a little bit of height

Speaker 32699.94s - 2710.32s

But yeah they're all just big But just when he's I wasn't prepared for like Just for the casual name drops of, yeah, I played ice school with Kevin Garnett PERSON or played ball with Kevin Garnett.

Speaker 42710.32s - 2710.34s

Yeah.

Speaker 72710.58s - 2713.1s

I know I would have liked to hear more about that.

Speaker 32713.1s - 2714.04s

Or like Kobe.

Speaker 42714.04s - 2719.34s

I wanted to ask which player did he absolutely own, but I didn't want to start like a basketball

Speaker 62719.34s - 2722.2s

beef, you know, it's not what we're here for.

Speaker 42722.68s - 2738.7s

No. Have you ever, maybe I'm a weirdo. I know I'm a weirdo. Have you ever had a dream that you've been called up to play? Is it basketball? Or a sport?No. I will occasionally have a dream that I'm walking out of the dugout and I've been called, I've got to play for the Tigers today.

Speaker 32738.72s - 2740.12s

But you're like a legit baseball player?

Speaker 42740.14s - 2751.78s

No, I'm just me. And I've had the dream about the Broncos ORG before that I, I'm suiting up. Like, they're sending me in the game. I, for somehow, I'm on me. And I've had the dream about the Broncos before that I'm suiting up. Like they're sending me in the game. I somehow I'm on the team this year. You've never had that dream?

Speaker 32751.9s - 2758.06s

I've had the dream like I've been asked to go or I'm about to go sent to do something. I'm not at all prepared to do like teach kindergarten.

Speaker 42758.48s - 2776.1s

But I have not. I wish I could have that dream. That sounds a lot better than teach kindergarten. Yeah, it's awesome. But he has lived that with like the 10 day like, okay, he's worked it. He's grinded. And now I'm going to the association. And I'm going to go play against Kobe. And I'm going to go squaring on the glove on Peyton PERSON. And that's

Speaker 32776.1s - 2780.5s

really cool. Yeah, that was wild. So yeah, it was cool to me. I had never met him. I mean,

Speaker 42780.5s - 2785.2s

I've heard about Moneyball forever to drive by the place. I've seen it at Meridian ORG. I was born,

Speaker 32785.28s - 2787.6s

I had no idea that they were around since 2002, though.

Speaker 42787.66s - 2789.54s

It's been a long time.

Speaker 32789.94s - 2792.86s

Yeah, I should have asked, like, how are you, man?

Speaker 42792.92s - 2795.3s

I mean, I know he said it was just kind of a hobby, but it's like, how are you

Speaker 72795.3s - 2800.9s

running a business while trying to, you know, get to the NBA ORG? It sounds like it'd be a tough thing to. Yeah.

Speaker 42801.08s - 2804.72s

And are there a lot of basketball fans in Lebanon? Yeah.

Speaker 32804.92s - 2809.28s

I was curious which country he thought, I heard coming up all lot of basketball fans in Lebanon? Yeah. I was curious what which country he thought, we're coming up all kinds of questions now that he's gone, but I was

Speaker 42809.28s - 2820.32s

curious which country was the better place to, to play. And what are fans different than like American NORP fans and understanding of basketball? And yeah, anyway, it was cool to meet him.

Speaker 32820.7s - 2824.98s

Yeah. I guess I'll give a shout out to the whale for hooking us up with the introduction.

Speaker 62824.98s - 2828.64s

Oh, did the whale do it? Well, I asked him. I always know that he's going, that he

Speaker 32828.64s - 2832.94s

will have an email or a phone number for just about anybody in Lansing GPE. So I said, well done. Well,

Speaker 42832.94s - 2837.64s

done. Thank you. Splash, big splash. I think he and Kathen are actually like big money ball.

Speaker 32837.88s - 2843.7s

Oh, I'm sure. Wearers. They have a decent amount of money ball here. Is he athletic? The whale?

Speaker 42844.06s - 2845.88s

A big, big weekend after DATE?

Speaker 72845.88s - 2847s

I mean,

Speaker 42847s - 2849.62s

Kant, Morton PERSON, more do you think he is, yeah.

Speaker 32850.82s - 2853.44s

Well, he's got a, Desmond has a Lansing GPE,

Speaker 42853.68s - 2855.34s

City of Lansing GPE line of clothes.

Speaker 32855.88s - 2856.64s

Like, if you go on the website,

Speaker 72856.76s - 2858.12s

there's, there are jerseys that have, like,

Speaker 42858.14s - 2859.24s

the City of Lansing GPE logo.

Speaker 72859.38s - 2861.2s

I'm sure Steve PERSON has a number of those.

Speaker 32861.62s - 2874.64s

Awesome. Anyway. Actually, do you remember what movie was it? I'm going to, I'm going to, I shouldn't even bring this up. Who's the guy, Seymour PERSON?Philip Seymour PERSON. Yes. And what movie is it where he's shooting,

Speaker 72874.84s - 2882.64s

he's shooting baskets in a New York GPE basketball court at the beginning of the movie? It's Ben Stiller PERSON and it's a long game ball.

Speaker 32882.64s - 2883.26s

Is that what it is?

Speaker 72883.52s - 2889.22s

That's what I picture when I think of Steve PERSON playing sports. Steve's actually a pretty decent basketball player. He's better

Speaker 32889.22s - 2900.86s

than me for sure. He's annoyingly athletic, I think. That is. That would be annoying. Pretty nimble. He's just better than you think he should be. He's annoying because I feel like

Speaker 42900.86s - 2907.06s

he's good at a lot of things. Yeah. Well, his dad was a college football. Yeah, so he got sprinkled with some of it.

Speaker 72907.22s - 2907.88s

Like, it's like, yeah.

Speaker 32909.34s - 2912.4s

Anyway, well, thanks, Whale, for hooking us up with Desmond PERSON.

Speaker 42912.52s - 2916.92s

And Desmond, thanks for coming by and visiting the Cold Oatmeal ORG podcast.

Speaker 32917.62s - 2918.72s

Anna PERSON had to step away.

Speaker 72918.8s - 2919.74s

She actually had work to do.

Speaker 62920s - 2923.62s

But for Anna Heaton and Nick DeLoo and Joe Beshe, it's been Matt Rush PERSON.

Speaker 72924.04s - 2927.08s

It's been the Cold Old Meal podcast, and we will talk to you next time.

Speaker 52927.08s - 3026.2s

Because baby, you know I'm still in this and maybe I'm just idealistic, but this feels so real. Tell me now, can I still believe? Oh, that you just might Come back, come back to me Come back, you see You're never gonna find another love like meSo come back, Come back to me Are you with me In my misery Are you going to let me go so easily I don't want to give upI don't want to watch you walk away No I don't want to give up I don't want to tell you I'm okay. So, come back, come back to me. Come back, come back, you see, you never gonna find another love like me.So, come back, come back to me. Come back, come back to me Come back, come back to me Come back to me Come back, you see You're never gonna find another love like me SoCome back, come back to me Baby PERSON come back to me Baby come back to me Baby come back to me