1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:02,002 (female announcer)   This is a production 2 00:00:02,002 --> 00:00:03,804 of WKNO-Memphis. 3 00:00:03,804 --> 00:00:06,139 Production funding for   "Sports Files" is made 4 00:00:06,139 --> 00:00:08,442 possible in part by.. 5 00:00:08,442 --> 00:00:09,676 (male announcer)   Infiniti of Memphis has moved 6 00:00:09,676 --> 00:00:13,080 to Germantown road just half a   mile north of Wolfchase Galleria 7 00:00:13,080 --> 00:00:16,316 and is proud to support W-K-N-O   for its quality broadcasting and 8 00:00:16,316 --> 00:00:17,784 service to our community. 9 00:00:17,784 --> 00:00:19,987 Quality and service --   No wonder Infiniti of Memphis 10 00:00:19,987 --> 00:00:23,090 feels at home on W-K-N-O. 11 00:00:23,090 --> 00:00:25,692 The Lighting Source, major line   distributor of commercial and 12 00:00:25,692 --> 00:00:29,196 industrial lighting including   hard-to-find bulbs and fixtures, 13 00:00:29,196 --> 00:00:32,032 as well as a broad   range of L-E-D products. 14 00:00:32,032 --> 00:00:33,734 With 35 years' experience   servicing lighting needs, 15 00:00:33,734 --> 00:00:36,737 The Lighting Source   proudly sponsors "Sports Files." 16 00:00:46,313 --> 00:00:48,815 My guest today on "Sports Files" is Memphis Tigers 17 00:00:48,815 --> 00:00:51,318 Head Basketball Coach Josh Pastner. 18 00:00:51,318 --> 00:01:07,534 [theme music] 19 00:01:07,534 --> 00:01:10,704 Last summer, Josh Pastner added a late component to the Memphis 20 00:01:10,704 --> 00:01:13,307 Tigers roster, bringing in former Missouri standout Michael 21 00:01:13,307 --> 00:01:16,209 Dixon Junior to add some depth and firepower. 22 00:01:16,209 --> 00:01:19,146 The result was mixed with some standout victories and some 23 00:01:19,146 --> 00:01:20,280 devastating losses. 24 00:01:20,280 --> 00:01:22,849 The addition of Dixon to an already loaded backcourt 25 00:01:22,849 --> 00:01:25,719 created, at times, chemistry issues. 26 00:01:25,719 --> 00:01:28,555 Fast forward to present-day, and the Tigers are gearing up for a 27 00:01:28,555 --> 00:01:32,292 new season in which expectations will likely be tapered a bit. 28 00:01:32,292 --> 00:01:35,095 Many players on the team are limited in game experience or, 29 00:01:35,095 --> 00:01:37,664 quite frankly, have none to speak of. 30 00:01:37,664 --> 00:01:38,799 So, what can a coach do? 31 00:01:38,799 --> 00:01:41,802 Well, in Josh's case, go out and get some players who have the 32 00:01:41,802 --> 00:01:42,803 experience. 33 00:01:42,803 --> 00:01:45,038 Enter Kedren Johnson and Calvin Godfrey. 34 00:01:45,038 --> 00:01:48,208 Today, Josh Pastner joins me to talk about the new season, 35 00:01:48,208 --> 00:01:50,210 which is right around the corner. 36 00:01:50,210 --> 00:01:52,045 It's next on "Sports Files." 37 00:01:52,045 --> 00:02:02,122 [theme music] 38 00:02:02,122 --> 00:02:03,156 Josh, great to see you again. 39 00:02:03,156 --> 00:02:03,824 Thanks for being with us. 40 00:02:03,824 --> 00:02:04,758 Thanks for having me, Greg. 41 00:02:04,758 --> 00:02:06,059 Always glad to be able to join ya. 42 00:02:06,059 --> 00:02:08,795 Never too early to talk Tiger basketball but this was a little 43 00:02:08,795 --> 00:02:10,797 bit unusual, as well, because you played some games over the 44 00:02:10,797 --> 00:02:12,799 summer, some exhibition games in Canada. 45 00:02:12,799 --> 00:02:14,267 So, it was a very busy summer. 46 00:02:14,267 --> 00:02:17,537 Not that it isn't always for you with recruiting and all that. 47 00:02:17,537 --> 00:02:20,007 But you got to practice with the guys. 48 00:02:20,007 --> 00:02:22,175 You got to play four games in Canada. 49 00:02:22,175 --> 00:02:24,478 But as you know, this team is going to look a lot different 50 00:02:24,478 --> 00:02:26,880 when you open up practice next month. 51 00:02:26,880 --> 00:02:29,082 With that said, what did you accomplish in Canada? 52 00:02:29,082 --> 00:02:31,818 Well, Greg, the reason we did the foreign trip and the foreign 53 00:02:31,818 --> 00:02:33,820 trip, you know, outside of the United States. 54 00:02:33,820 --> 00:02:36,490 The N-C-A-A allows you to every four years. 55 00:02:36,490 --> 00:02:39,593 I felt it was really important for us to do the trip. 56 00:02:39,593 --> 00:02:41,762 And most teams want to do it for the practices. 57 00:02:41,762 --> 00:02:44,431 I really want to do it for games. 58 00:02:44,431 --> 00:02:48,201 I felt our team was so inexperienced and so non-game 59 00:02:48,201 --> 00:02:50,203 experienced from the previous years. 60 00:02:50,203 --> 00:02:52,773 Because other than Shaq and Austin and Nick King the second 61 00:02:52,773 --> 00:02:55,642 half of the season, nobody's really had game experience. 62 00:02:55,642 --> 00:02:57,911 And I felt we needed to play good competition. 63 00:02:57,911 --> 00:03:01,348 And I checked around and everyone told me teams up in the 64 00:03:01,348 --> 00:03:04,184 Ottawa area of Canada had good competition. 65 00:03:04,184 --> 00:03:07,621 Carlton who's a nine or ten time champion over there in the 66 00:03:07,621 --> 00:03:08,622 Canadian league. 67 00:03:08,622 --> 00:03:10,991 And played University of Ottawa and the Gill University. 68 00:03:10,991 --> 00:03:13,226 But especially Carlton and Ottawa. 69 00:03:13,226 --> 00:03:14,561 It gave us good teams. 70 00:03:14,561 --> 00:03:16,430 We were playing older teams. 71 00:03:16,430 --> 00:03:21,868 And allow our guys to play good minutes in real game situations. 72 00:03:21,868 --> 00:03:25,505 And we were able to evaluate and take that opportunity from the 73 00:03:25,505 --> 00:03:27,040 tape to learn from it. 74 00:03:27,040 --> 00:03:29,443 Which makes perfect sense to get these young guys a taste of what 75 00:03:29,443 --> 00:03:30,444 it's going to be all about. 76 00:03:30,444 --> 00:03:32,446 But it's not just the young guys. 77 00:03:32,446 --> 00:03:34,448 Kuran Iverson last year didn't play. 78 00:03:34,448 --> 00:03:35,449 He's a sophomore. 79 00:03:35,449 --> 00:03:36,450 He barely played. 80 00:03:36,450 --> 00:03:37,451 You know what I mean? 81 00:03:37,451 --> 00:03:38,452 So, all those guys. 82 00:03:38,452 --> 00:03:40,454 Markel Crawford hadn't played in two years. 83 00:03:40,454 --> 00:03:42,456 Pookie Powell didn't play last year. 84 00:03:42,456 --> 00:03:44,458 So, it's not just the incoming guys. 85 00:03:44,458 --> 00:03:46,460 It's the guys that were returning from the team. 86 00:03:46,460 --> 00:03:47,461 Exactly. 87 00:03:47,461 --> 00:03:49,463 But I'd still consider them young as far as playing time. 88 00:03:49,463 --> 00:03:51,465 But now you have to integrate these new guys. 89 00:03:51,465 --> 00:03:52,466 Yes. 90 00:03:52,466 --> 00:03:54,468 And as we sit here and we tape, nothing yet official from the 91 00:03:54,468 --> 00:03:57,037 N-C-A-A on keeping Johnson or Calvin Godfrey. 92 00:03:57,037 --> 00:04:00,140 But we expect that they will be approved with their waivers. 93 00:04:00,140 --> 00:04:03,009 Trahson Burrell, who we knew was going to be part of the team, 94 00:04:03,009 --> 00:04:04,478 finally is officially. 95 00:04:04,478 --> 00:04:06,747 But he didn't practice or go to Canada. 96 00:04:06,747 --> 00:04:08,849 You know, Austin did not play in Canada. 97 00:04:08,849 --> 00:04:11,785 So, is it going to be starting in new once camp opens up? 98 00:04:11,785 --> 00:04:13,787 There's going to be some newness for sure. 99 00:04:13,787 --> 00:04:14,788 And let me say this. 100 00:04:14,788 --> 00:04:16,790 I do believe that if all those guys become eligible, 101 00:04:16,790 --> 00:04:19,459 you know, if the N-C-A-A grants the waiver for, 102 00:04:19,459 --> 00:04:20,460 uh.. 103 00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:21,461 We got Burrell in. 104 00:04:21,461 --> 00:04:23,463 But if they do grant the waiver for Kedren Johnson and Calvin 105 00:04:23,463 --> 00:04:24,464 Godfrey. 106 00:04:24,464 --> 00:04:25,465 And you expect? 107 00:04:25,465 --> 00:04:26,466 I expect it. 108 00:04:26,466 --> 00:04:28,468 I think it's hard for them not to be able to grant it. 109 00:04:28,468 --> 00:04:29,469 But you never know. 110 00:04:29,469 --> 00:04:30,770 But I do expect it. 111 00:04:30,770 --> 00:04:33,940 But if they do, you know, I think that puts us right back in 112 00:04:33,940 --> 00:04:36,743 to a top 25 team right from the start, 113 00:04:36,743 --> 00:04:38,745 you know, right in that area there. 114 00:04:38,745 --> 00:04:40,747 If they don't grant those guys waivers, 115 00:04:40,747 --> 00:04:42,749 we're not going to be a pre-season top 25 team. 116 00:04:42,749 --> 00:04:46,019 You know, we're going to have some work to do to be able to 117 00:04:46,019 --> 00:04:47,020 get there. 118 00:04:47,020 --> 00:04:49,022 We're still waiting on the kid D'Marnier Cunningham. 119 00:04:49,022 --> 00:04:51,391 I'm still waiting on some things academically. 120 00:04:51,391 --> 00:04:53,393 So, we still have some, you know, 121 00:04:53,393 --> 00:04:55,395 pieces out there that we haven't got finalized yet. 122 00:04:55,395 --> 00:04:56,396 And you're right, Greg. 123 00:04:56,396 --> 00:04:58,398 Assuming everything goes through, 124 00:04:58,398 --> 00:05:00,400 knock on wood that all goes through, 125 00:05:00,400 --> 00:05:02,402 um, that it is going to be a little bit different. 126 00:05:02,402 --> 00:05:03,403 We have new guys. 127 00:05:03,403 --> 00:05:05,405 And you're going to have to teach them on some of the 128 00:05:05,405 --> 00:05:06,406 things. 129 00:05:06,406 --> 00:05:08,408 But Kedran Johnson, if he's eligible, 130 00:05:08,408 --> 00:05:09,409 he's had major game experience. 131 00:05:09,409 --> 00:05:11,411 Calvin Godfrey has had major game experience. 132 00:05:11,411 --> 00:05:13,814 Nick King, uh, Kuran Iverson, Markell Crawford, 133 00:05:13,814 --> 00:05:16,917 Pookie Powell, those guys have not had game experience. 134 00:05:16,917 --> 00:05:17,918 Right. 135 00:05:17,918 --> 00:05:18,919 That was so important. 136 00:05:18,919 --> 00:05:19,920 Avery Woodson came to me. 137 00:05:19,920 --> 00:05:20,921 He got a good game. 138 00:05:20,921 --> 00:05:22,923 Didn't play well on some games, played well on some others. 139 00:05:22,923 --> 00:05:25,091 Dominic Magee got good game experience. 140 00:05:25,091 --> 00:05:27,093 And Austin, I wasn't worried about him not playing. 141 00:05:27,093 --> 00:05:28,094 Why? 142 00:05:28,094 --> 00:05:30,096 Because he started all last year, 143 00:05:30,096 --> 00:05:31,097 got major game experience. 144 00:05:31,097 --> 00:05:33,667 The guys that needed to play played and got good experience 145 00:05:33,667 --> 00:05:34,668 out of it. 146 00:05:34,668 --> 00:05:36,937 The late additions, and I mean late finding out in August or 147 00:05:36,937 --> 00:05:38,939 September that you're going to have these players, 148 00:05:38,939 --> 00:05:41,474 is not unprecedented for you because you added Michael Dixon 149 00:05:41,474 --> 00:05:43,643 Junior last year, had to integrate him. 150 00:05:43,643 --> 00:05:45,946 So, with that said, having done that, 151 00:05:45,946 --> 00:05:47,948 I would imagine you're used to it. 152 00:05:47,948 --> 00:05:49,950 But I would think it's still somewhat of a challenge for you 153 00:05:49,950 --> 00:05:50,951 and the coaching staff. 154 00:05:50,951 --> 00:05:53,653 It is a challenge but, you know, I also.. 155 00:05:53,653 --> 00:05:57,791 That's one of the advantages of using the time that the N-C-A-A 156 00:05:57,791 --> 00:06:00,493 allows you, the two hours a week to be able to practice during 157 00:06:00,493 --> 00:06:01,494 the summer. 158 00:06:01,494 --> 00:06:03,630 The summer access rule that we weren't able to do a few years 159 00:06:03,630 --> 00:06:04,631 ago. 160 00:06:04,631 --> 00:06:05,632 Right. 161 00:06:05,632 --> 00:06:07,634 You're able to see some of your strengths and weaknesses you are 162 00:06:07,634 --> 00:06:08,635 as a team. 163 00:06:08,635 --> 00:06:10,637 And during that time, if there's guys out there, 164 00:06:10,637 --> 00:06:12,739 it allows you an opportunity to maybe to get a guy to help you 165 00:06:12,739 --> 00:06:14,407 in an area of a weakness. 166 00:06:14,407 --> 00:06:18,445 And one of our weakness really was our experience factor. 167 00:06:18,445 --> 00:06:19,546 We're bringing two guys in. 168 00:06:19,546 --> 00:06:22,315 If they end up getting through is Kedran Johnson who's a two 169 00:06:22,315 --> 00:06:25,418 year starter from a very well coached team in Vanderbilt, 170 00:06:25,418 --> 00:06:27,420 Calvin Godfrey who's a, you know, 171 00:06:27,420 --> 00:06:30,257 a starter from Southern and played at Ohio State originally. 172 00:06:30,257 --> 00:06:32,259 And they both had some, you know, 173 00:06:32,259 --> 00:06:34,261 missteps along their way, you know, 174 00:06:34,261 --> 00:06:35,262 stubbed their toe. 175 00:06:35,262 --> 00:06:37,264 And they know that they've got to follow the straight and 176 00:06:37,264 --> 00:06:38,265 narrow path. 177 00:06:38,265 --> 00:06:40,267 But they bring great experience. 178 00:06:40,267 --> 00:06:41,268 And let me also say this, Greg. 179 00:06:41,268 --> 00:06:43,270 You know, with all that being said, 180 00:06:43,270 --> 00:06:45,372 it's something that I think with that, 181 00:06:45,372 --> 00:06:49,309 you can't really put a premium or a price tag as I say when 182 00:06:49,309 --> 00:06:50,410 guys who've been through it. 183 00:06:50,410 --> 00:06:52,912 Like, they're not going to go to Connecticut and be phased. 184 00:06:52,912 --> 00:06:55,415 They're not going to be going to a hostile environment. 185 00:06:55,415 --> 00:06:56,483 They've been through it. 186 00:06:56,483 --> 00:06:59,586 And I think that makes a big difference a lot of times when 187 00:06:59,586 --> 00:07:01,588 guys haven't been through that area. 188 00:07:01,588 --> 00:07:04,891 There are some people that have criticized you for taking guys, 189 00:07:04,891 --> 00:07:07,594 taking chances with guys who have had issues in their past. 190 00:07:07,594 --> 00:07:09,129 But it's worked out very well. 191 00:07:09,129 --> 00:07:11,131 You've done a great job with guys like Geron Johnson, 192 00:07:11,131 --> 00:07:12,499 Michael Dixon Junior. 193 00:07:12,499 --> 00:07:15,468 Now you're going with a guy like Kedran Johnson who did not play 194 00:07:15,468 --> 00:07:17,470 at all last year for Vanderbilt. 195 00:07:17,470 --> 00:07:22,142 Then again on the flip side, you have freshmen that come in and 196 00:07:22,142 --> 00:07:24,144 obviously didn't work out with Dominic Woodson. 197 00:07:24,144 --> 00:07:26,379 So, it can happen either way. 198 00:07:26,379 --> 00:07:27,380 Let me say this. 199 00:07:27,380 --> 00:07:30,383 I had no problem giving someone a second chance. 200 00:07:30,383 --> 00:07:31,384 Right. 201 00:07:31,384 --> 00:07:35,755 But I have to believe that one, the reason the previous 202 00:07:35,755 --> 00:07:40,760 institution dismissed them was something that these guys 203 00:07:40,760 --> 00:07:42,762 understand that they're remorseful for. 204 00:07:42,762 --> 00:07:44,764 They understand that this is their second chance. 205 00:07:44,764 --> 00:07:47,467 Obviously I want to make sure that they understand about being 206 00:07:47,467 --> 00:07:50,036 here, that being on the straight and narrow, 207 00:07:50,036 --> 00:07:54,107 that I am not going to let you go to the right or the left. 208 00:07:54,107 --> 00:07:57,143 You're going to have to do this or you're out of here. 209 00:07:57,143 --> 00:07:59,412 And I've also been very, as you know Greg, 210 00:07:59,412 --> 00:08:00,413 I've.. 211 00:08:00,413 --> 00:08:02,949 With guys, if guys aren't going to be on the straight and narrow 212 00:08:02,949 --> 00:08:05,952 or do things I want to do whether you're a second chance 213 00:08:05,952 --> 00:08:08,488 guy or not, I believe in discipline with the program. 214 00:08:08,488 --> 00:08:09,489 I believe in structure. 215 00:08:09,489 --> 00:08:11,524 And if guys don't have two feet in, 216 00:08:11,524 --> 00:08:13,026 they're going to be moved out. 217 00:08:13,026 --> 00:08:14,794 And, um, I had to do it. 218 00:08:14,794 --> 00:08:17,330 You know we've had to do it in the past. 219 00:08:17,330 --> 00:08:18,331 I've done it before. 220 00:08:18,331 --> 00:08:21,134 I don't want to have to do it in the future. 221 00:08:21,134 --> 00:08:24,170 But if it's called for, I have no problem doing it because 222 00:08:24,170 --> 00:08:26,172 nobody is bigger than the program. 223 00:08:26,172 --> 00:08:27,407 Let me also say this. 224 00:08:27,407 --> 00:08:29,709 Starting August 1 in 2015, no longer are any waivers accepted. 225 00:08:29,709 --> 00:08:30,710 If you transfer.. 226 00:08:30,710 --> 00:08:33,513 Let's say a guy like Kedran Johnson or Calvin or any of 227 00:08:33,513 --> 00:08:34,514 these guys.. 228 00:08:34,514 --> 00:08:35,749 This is not just Memphis. 229 00:08:35,749 --> 00:08:36,783 This is all across the country. 230 00:08:36,783 --> 00:08:38,785 There's no more of the waiver process. 231 00:08:38,785 --> 00:08:39,786 It's out. 232 00:08:39,786 --> 00:08:42,355 The only way someone can play right away is if it's a graduate 233 00:08:42,355 --> 00:08:43,356 transfer. 234 00:08:43,356 --> 00:08:45,358 So, anything in the future moving forward, 235 00:08:45,358 --> 00:08:46,993 you will have to sit a year. 236 00:08:46,993 --> 00:08:47,994 Wow, that's interesting. 237 00:08:47,994 --> 00:08:48,995 Starting August 1, 2015. 238 00:08:48,995 --> 00:08:49,996 Okay. 239 00:08:49,996 --> 00:08:51,998 Let's go over some of these guys. 240 00:08:51,998 --> 00:08:54,000 Very briefly give me some thoughts. 241 00:08:54,000 --> 00:08:56,002 Kedran Johnson comes in with experience. 242 00:08:56,002 --> 00:08:58,004 Obviously at the point guard position, 243 00:08:58,004 --> 00:09:00,006 very, very young going in to this season. 244 00:09:00,006 --> 00:09:02,008 Before Kedran, with Pookie Powell, 245 00:09:02,008 --> 00:09:03,009 Markel Crawford. 246 00:09:03,009 --> 00:09:04,010 Does Kedran.. 247 00:09:04,010 --> 00:09:06,012 And I know you're not going to give away your hand here, 248 00:09:06,012 --> 00:09:08,014 but obviously he's going to get a shot to be the starter. 249 00:09:08,014 --> 00:09:10,016 And most people would think with his experience, 250 00:09:10,016 --> 00:09:11,017 he would be. 251 00:09:11,017 --> 00:09:13,019 But I imagine its wide open once you get to camp. 252 00:09:13,019 --> 00:09:15,021 Well, it's going to be wide open. 253 00:09:15,021 --> 00:09:16,022 And I told him this. 254 00:09:16,022 --> 00:09:18,024 He's going to have to earn everything he gets. 255 00:09:18,024 --> 00:09:20,026 We're not going to give anything to him. 256 00:09:20,026 --> 00:09:22,028 And Pookie and Markell are good players. 257 00:09:22,028 --> 00:09:23,029 Dominic Magee is a good player. 258 00:09:23,029 --> 00:09:25,031 And the thing with Kedran is he's been a two year starter 259 00:09:25,031 --> 00:09:27,901 pretty much on a Vanderbilt team that's very well coached with 260 00:09:27,901 --> 00:09:30,837 Coach Stallings and playing in the S-E-C, 261 00:09:30,837 --> 00:09:32,839 you know, has been in the hostile environment. 262 00:09:32,839 --> 00:09:33,840 So, he understands it. 263 00:09:33,840 --> 00:09:35,842 But he's going to have to earn it. 264 00:09:35,842 --> 00:09:37,844 And he's got to be in great shape. 265 00:09:37,844 --> 00:09:38,845 He came in. 266 00:09:38,845 --> 00:09:40,847 He wasn't in basketball shape coming in here. 267 00:09:40,847 --> 00:09:41,848 He was just flat out. 268 00:09:41,848 --> 00:09:43,850 You would have been in better shape than him. 269 00:09:43,850 --> 00:09:44,851 I'm telling ya. 270 00:09:44,851 --> 00:09:45,852 Now he's worked hard. 271 00:09:45,852 --> 00:09:47,854 Strength coach has done a good job with him and he continues to 272 00:09:47,854 --> 00:09:48,855 get himself in shape. 273 00:09:48,855 --> 00:09:50,857 But that's going to be a big key for him. 274 00:09:50,857 --> 00:09:52,859 With the loss of Woodson, you lose some of the depth in the 275 00:09:52,859 --> 00:09:53,860 front court. 276 00:09:53,860 --> 00:09:55,862 And you were already thin going in. 277 00:09:55,862 --> 00:09:57,864 So, Godfrey is going to be important. 278 00:09:57,864 --> 00:09:59,866 Godfrey is going to be very important for us for that depth 279 00:09:59,866 --> 00:10:00,867 in the front court. 280 00:10:00,867 --> 00:10:02,869 But, you know, I don't think we're a big team as in terms of 281 00:10:02,869 --> 00:10:03,870 a wide team. 282 00:10:03,870 --> 00:10:04,871 We are a long team. 283 00:10:04,871 --> 00:10:07,740 And we have to use that to our advantage. 284 00:10:07,740 --> 00:10:09,742 Like, Kuran Iverson's legit six-nine. 285 00:10:09,742 --> 00:10:10,743 Nick King is six-seven. 286 00:10:10,743 --> 00:10:11,778 Austin is long. 287 00:10:11,778 --> 00:10:12,779 He's six-nine long. 288 00:10:12,779 --> 00:10:13,780 Shaq is six-eight. 289 00:10:13,780 --> 00:10:15,782 Calvin Godfrey is six-seven but long. 290 00:10:15,782 --> 00:10:16,783 We've got long. 291 00:10:16,783 --> 00:10:17,784 Like Markel is a big guard. 292 00:10:17,784 --> 00:10:19,853 And you hope that length disrupts teams. 293 00:10:19,853 --> 00:10:22,388 We have to utilize our length and I know a lot of people in 294 00:10:22,388 --> 00:10:24,390 town have always talked about us playing zone. 295 00:10:24,390 --> 00:10:26,392 And are you going to play more zone. 296 00:10:26,392 --> 00:10:28,394 And, you know, obviously our basis is going to have to be 297 00:10:28,394 --> 00:10:29,395 man. 298 00:10:29,395 --> 00:10:31,397 But we are going to be playing some zone. 299 00:10:31,397 --> 00:10:33,766 And we can be a very good zone team because of our length. 300 00:10:33,766 --> 00:10:36,603 The key to being a good zone team is you have to utilize your 301 00:10:36,603 --> 00:10:37,604 length. 302 00:10:37,604 --> 00:10:38,872 You can't have your hands down. 303 00:10:38,872 --> 00:10:41,708 You have to have your hands out and high and we'll extend that 304 00:10:41,708 --> 00:10:43,710 court by using the length to your advantage. 305 00:10:43,710 --> 00:10:45,712 Because even a guy like Pookie Powell, 306 00:10:45,712 --> 00:10:48,481 he's six-one but his arm length is long. 307 00:10:48,481 --> 00:10:51,584 And we need to put that to our advantage as much as we can. 308 00:10:51,584 --> 00:10:53,820 You stressed physicality in the off season. 309 00:10:53,820 --> 00:10:54,854 You want to be more physical. 310 00:10:54,854 --> 00:10:56,856 You don't want to get pushed around. 311 00:10:56,856 --> 00:10:58,858 You bring in a guy like Chris Hawkins, 312 00:10:58,858 --> 00:10:59,859 who's pretty tough. 313 00:10:59,859 --> 00:11:01,861 Chris Hawkins is really good in Canada. 314 00:11:01,861 --> 00:11:02,862 I mean he's a hardnosed guy. 315 00:11:02,862 --> 00:11:04,864 The biggest thing with Chris and, 316 00:11:04,864 --> 00:11:06,866 you know, knock on wood, his whole thing is about staying 317 00:11:06,866 --> 00:11:07,867 healthy. 318 00:11:07,867 --> 00:11:09,936 And, uh, he's got to lose weight and we've got his weight down. 319 00:11:09,936 --> 00:11:14,140 We'll continue to make sure that he keeps his weight down. 320 00:11:14,140 --> 00:11:16,176 The biggest thing is taking care of his body. 321 00:11:16,176 --> 00:11:18,177 And I think the less body fat he has, 322 00:11:18,177 --> 00:11:20,914 the most he's stretching with our strength coach, 323 00:11:20,914 --> 00:11:21,915 the better. 324 00:11:21,915 --> 00:11:23,917 But he's a guy that plays with a great motive. 325 00:11:23,917 --> 00:11:25,184 He's an undersized guy. 326 00:11:25,184 --> 00:11:27,453 He's one of those guys, Greg, that was not highly recruited. 327 00:11:27,453 --> 00:11:30,790 But then people go where'd you find him. 328 00:11:30,790 --> 00:11:32,792 And he's a guy that's going to be a big piece for us. 329 00:11:32,792 --> 00:11:33,793 Alright, quick thoughts. 330 00:11:33,793 --> 00:11:35,795 A number of things we want to get in before we got to let you 331 00:11:35,795 --> 00:11:36,796 go. 332 00:11:36,796 --> 00:11:38,798 Nick King, will he basically be a three this year? 333 00:11:38,798 --> 00:11:39,799 Nick King will play. 334 00:11:39,799 --> 00:11:40,833 He will play at the three. 335 00:11:40,833 --> 00:11:42,101 He will also play at the four. 336 00:11:42,101 --> 00:11:44,904 But Nick King has to be able to guard the perimeter. 337 00:11:44,904 --> 00:11:47,674 But him and Kuran can be interchangeable in a lot of 338 00:11:47,674 --> 00:11:48,675 different areas. 339 00:11:48,675 --> 00:11:49,676 But Nick King. 340 00:11:49,676 --> 00:11:51,678 You will see Nick King on the perimeter. 341 00:11:51,678 --> 00:11:52,679 Yes you will. 342 00:11:52,679 --> 00:11:54,147 That leads in to that question. 343 00:11:54,147 --> 00:11:55,148 So, Kuran is interchangeable. 344 00:11:55,148 --> 00:11:56,649 But where is his best position? 345 00:11:56,649 --> 00:11:58,651 It seems like Iversons better with the ball. 346 00:11:58,651 --> 00:12:00,653 But I think Nick and Kuran are both. 347 00:12:00,653 --> 00:12:02,121 I call it the Kuran box. 348 00:12:02,121 --> 00:12:04,657 We have a box for Kuran where he's not too stretched out on 349 00:12:04,657 --> 00:12:05,658 the floor too far. 350 00:12:05,658 --> 00:12:08,194 I think both guys are very good around the rim. 351 00:12:08,194 --> 00:12:10,196 And that's where they're active. 352 00:12:10,196 --> 00:12:12,231 Nick's got such a great nose for being around the ball. 353 00:12:12,231 --> 00:12:15,034 So, um, they're both different but they both can create matchup 354 00:12:15,034 --> 00:12:17,804 problems for the other team because they can feed off of 355 00:12:17,804 --> 00:12:20,607 each other and they're first tall enough to play either spot. 356 00:12:20,607 --> 00:12:22,609 You mentioned with the new additions, 357 00:12:22,609 --> 00:12:27,513 you could be a preseason top 25 but possibly not. 358 00:12:27,513 --> 00:12:29,949 In years past, you have been. 359 00:12:29,949 --> 00:12:30,950 And you like it. 360 00:12:30,950 --> 00:12:32,952 You said I love being ranked, Greg. 361 00:12:32,952 --> 00:12:35,088 Well, if you're not, do you use that to your advantage? 362 00:12:35,088 --> 00:12:37,090 Well, I think what we're doing.. 363 00:12:37,090 --> 00:12:38,124 And I do believe this. 364 00:12:38,124 --> 00:12:39,258 I prefer to be ranked. 365 00:12:39,258 --> 00:12:41,261 Anyone who says you don't want to, 366 00:12:41,261 --> 00:12:42,262 you're wrong. 367 00:12:42,262 --> 00:12:44,263 I want to be preseason ranked number one. 368 00:12:44,263 --> 00:12:46,766 So, um, I do think if everyone is eligible and I get everyone 369 00:12:46,766 --> 00:12:48,868 through with the waivers, I do believe we're right there at a 370 00:12:48,868 --> 00:12:49,869 top 25 team. 371 00:12:49,869 --> 00:12:51,871 If not, then we're probably not going to be ranked on that. 372 00:12:51,871 --> 00:12:52,872 And that's fine. 373 00:12:52,872 --> 00:12:54,874 I mean we're going to have to earn our way back in there. 374 00:12:54,874 --> 00:12:56,876 And again, you just earn it on the court. 375 00:12:56,876 --> 00:13:00,246 But, um, you know, the biggest thing is it's not about using it 376 00:13:00,246 --> 00:13:02,982 for motivation, I think what we're doing right now is I've 377 00:13:02,982 --> 00:13:05,351 been a big believer in discipline but in disciplining 378 00:13:05,351 --> 00:13:06,352 the individual. 379 00:13:06,352 --> 00:13:09,789 This offseason I have done everything disciplining, 380 00:13:09,789 --> 00:13:11,224 holding the team accountable. 381 00:13:11,224 --> 00:13:14,227 When one person screwed up, the whole team was paying the price. 382 00:13:14,227 --> 00:13:17,930 And I think that's been a big change for us and has really 383 00:13:17,930 --> 00:13:18,931 helped us. 384 00:13:18,931 --> 00:13:20,933 And I think that's going to make us better going in to the 385 00:13:20,933 --> 00:13:21,934 season. 386 00:13:21,934 --> 00:13:23,936 How does Keelon Lawson fit in in your coaching staff? 387 00:13:23,936 --> 00:13:25,938 Keelon has done an excellent job. 388 00:13:25,938 --> 00:13:28,508 You know, I've got two veteran veteran guys in Robert Kirby and 389 00:13:28,508 --> 00:13:30,510 Aki Collins, both future head coached. 390 00:13:30,510 --> 00:13:33,046 Guys have been around they do an amazing job for me. 391 00:13:33,046 --> 00:13:34,647 Keelon comes in. 392 00:13:34,647 --> 00:13:37,050 He's been a head coach, a very successful high school coach. 393 00:13:37,050 --> 00:13:39,218 And the bottom line is, Greg, he's been better than I thought 394 00:13:39,218 --> 00:13:40,219 he's been. 395 00:13:40,219 --> 00:13:41,220 I mean he's been good. 396 00:13:41,220 --> 00:13:42,221 He knows the game. 397 00:13:42,221 --> 00:13:44,223 He's been good with our guys, worked hard. 398 00:13:44,223 --> 00:13:45,224 He's been a sponge. 399 00:13:45,224 --> 00:13:46,225 He wants to learn. 400 00:13:46,225 --> 00:13:48,227 And so, I've been very, very happy and pleased with Keelon. 401 00:13:48,227 --> 00:13:50,229 I know you're very excited about the schedule this year. 402 00:13:50,229 --> 00:13:51,230 Yeah, we are. 403 00:13:51,230 --> 00:13:53,232 And, um, we have a tough schedule. 404 00:13:53,232 --> 00:13:54,267 And it's not easy. 405 00:13:54,267 --> 00:13:57,737 And I know some of the fans locally want us to have every 406 00:13:57,737 --> 00:14:00,106 home game with big names and this and that. 407 00:14:00,106 --> 00:14:03,376 But the teams that we have are good, 408 00:14:03,376 --> 00:14:04,811 good R-P-I games. 409 00:14:04,811 --> 00:14:06,746 That's very important. 410 00:14:06,746 --> 00:14:09,549 And people have to understand I've got to hit 18 home games 411 00:14:09,549 --> 00:14:11,851 for the budget. 412 00:14:11,851 --> 00:14:13,753 We have to hit 18 home games. 413 00:14:13,753 --> 00:14:16,422 Once football starts really getting going, 414 00:14:16,422 --> 00:14:17,423 and it's going to happen. 415 00:14:17,423 --> 00:14:18,424 They're going to get it going. 416 00:14:18,424 --> 00:14:19,425 And we're packing that place. 417 00:14:19,425 --> 00:14:21,594 Maybe we don't have to have as many home games and we can do 418 00:14:21,594 --> 00:14:22,595 more homes and home. 419 00:14:22,595 --> 00:14:25,164 But I can't always do just home and home and get everyone. 420 00:14:25,164 --> 00:14:27,934 Because if it's a name that everyone's still aware of, 421 00:14:27,934 --> 00:14:30,236 they're going to ask us to return it the following year, 422 00:14:30,236 --> 00:14:31,237 which puts you off balance. 423 00:14:31,237 --> 00:14:32,805 You have to have 18 home games. 424 00:14:32,805 --> 00:14:36,109 I'm required to do that due to the budget situation. 425 00:14:36,109 --> 00:14:39,112 So, people have to understand sometimes I just can't go get 426 00:14:39,112 --> 00:14:41,881 this name, that name, this name, that name because I have to get 427 00:14:41,881 --> 00:14:44,584 teams that are not going to require us to return the game 428 00:14:44,584 --> 00:14:45,585 the following year. 429 00:14:45,585 --> 00:14:47,854 But I do know and Tom Bowen said last week on our show that 430 00:14:47,854 --> 00:14:50,223 they're working on a couple of top 25 opponents. 431 00:14:50,223 --> 00:14:51,224 We are. 432 00:14:51,224 --> 00:14:53,526 And getting out of some of the tournaments, 433 00:14:53,526 --> 00:14:57,663 the so-called three or four day tournaments with Orlando or like 434 00:14:57,663 --> 00:15:01,067 Vegas, moving those out and doing an exempted event where 435 00:15:01,067 --> 00:15:04,303 you just do a mutual site game and then play three home games. 436 00:15:04,303 --> 00:15:07,006 Then you have more flexibility to do more home and home. 437 00:15:07,006 --> 00:15:09,008 And that's what we're trying to do. 438 00:15:09,008 --> 00:15:11,010 I would like to be able to get to the point where every year, 439 00:15:11,010 --> 00:15:15,481 we're having two or maybe three marquee home name teams coming 440 00:15:15,481 --> 00:15:16,649 on the non-conference. 441 00:15:16,649 --> 00:15:19,018 Let's not forget this isn't C-U-S-A. 442 00:15:19,018 --> 00:15:20,586 This is the American. 443 00:15:20,586 --> 00:15:23,322 We still got S-M-U coming, Connecticut coming, 444 00:15:23,322 --> 00:15:24,323 Cincinnati, Temple. 445 00:15:24,323 --> 00:15:27,960 We've got some great home teams coming here that it's not like 446 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:29,128 it was back a few years ago. 447 00:15:29,128 --> 00:15:30,129 Hey, Josh. 448 00:15:30,129 --> 00:15:32,131 We're so happy you took the time out to be with us. 449 00:15:32,131 --> 00:15:33,166 I know it's a busy time recruiting wise. 450 00:15:33,166 --> 00:15:34,467 You're back on the road and doing the things you need to do. 451 00:15:34,467 --> 00:15:35,368 Thank you so much. 452 00:15:35,368 --> 00:15:35,868 Thanks, Greg. 453 00:15:35,868 --> 00:15:36,836 I appreciate you. 454 00:15:36,836 --> 00:15:37,970 You do such a great job with this. 455 00:15:37,970 --> 00:15:39,238 Tigers Head Coach Josh Pastner. 456 00:15:39,238 --> 00:15:40,006 We'll take a break. 457 00:15:40,006 --> 00:15:42,441 Overtime is next. 458 00:15:42,441 --> 00:16:02,028 [theme music] 459 00:16:02,028 --> 00:16:02,495 (male announcer)   Three.. 460 00:16:02,495 --> 00:16:03,296 Two.. 461 00:16:03,296 --> 00:16:05,164 One.. 462 00:16:05,164 --> 00:16:06,632 [buzzer sounds] 463 00:16:06,632 --> 00:16:10,570 It's awfully hard to turn on your television in the summer 464 00:16:10,570 --> 00:16:13,873 and not run into the hit program American Ninja Warrior. 465 00:16:13,873 --> 00:16:15,875 These men and women are special. 466 00:16:15,875 --> 00:16:17,977 They're athletic, talented and entertaining. 467 00:16:17,977 --> 00:16:20,646 And one of these special performers resides right here in 468 00:16:20,646 --> 00:16:23,115 the Memphis area and his athletic abilities on a 469 00:16:23,115 --> 00:16:26,886 trampoline are likely familiar to Memphis Grizzlies Fans. 470 00:16:26,886 --> 00:16:29,589 Brent Ruffin is a member of the high flying Kings of the Court 471 00:16:29,589 --> 00:16:32,124 dunk troupe who perform at Grizzlies games. 472 00:16:32,124 --> 00:16:34,694 But Brent is also an American Ninja Warrior, 473 00:16:34,694 --> 00:16:37,296 who goes by the alias "Redneck Ninja". 474 00:16:37,296 --> 00:16:42,635 Recently I met up with Brent at his Cross Kick Gym in Atoka. 475 00:16:42,635 --> 00:16:43,636 Alright, Brent. 476 00:16:43,636 --> 00:16:44,637 I know everybody wants to know. 477 00:16:44,637 --> 00:16:45,638 Redneck Ninja. 478 00:16:45,638 --> 00:16:47,640 Where did that nickname come from? 479 00:16:47,640 --> 00:16:49,809 Um, before I left for Saint Louis this year, 480 00:16:49,809 --> 00:16:51,944 I had a couple of friends who were just like man, 481 00:16:51,944 --> 00:16:53,980 you know, the hunter, the duck hunter guy, 482 00:16:53,980 --> 00:16:54,981 you're the Redneck Ninja. 483 00:16:54,981 --> 00:16:55,982 And I was like, sure. 484 00:16:55,982 --> 00:16:58,184 And it didn't really stick in my mind. 485 00:16:58,184 --> 00:17:00,753 But whenever I got to Saint Louis, 486 00:17:00,753 --> 00:17:02,755 the producers were, uh, they were like, 487 00:17:02,755 --> 00:17:04,757 do you have any kind of nickname or anything. 488 00:17:04,757 --> 00:17:06,759 And I was like the only one that stuck out was like The Redneck 489 00:17:06,759 --> 00:17:07,760 Ninja maybe. 490 00:17:07,760 --> 00:17:09,128 And they were all over it. 491 00:17:09,128 --> 00:17:10,463 You're here at your gym. 492 00:17:10,463 --> 00:17:13,566 So, obviously you work out and stay in shape with things in 493 00:17:13,566 --> 00:17:14,567 this gym. 494 00:17:14,567 --> 00:17:16,936 But this is not like the obstacle course that you went 495 00:17:16,936 --> 00:17:17,937 through. 496 00:17:17,937 --> 00:17:20,506 So, how do you practice for something like American Ninja 497 00:17:20,506 --> 00:17:21,507 Warrior? 498 00:17:21,507 --> 00:17:24,977 You know, like I said in several of my interviews with American 499 00:17:24,977 --> 00:17:27,647 Ninja Warrior, I like to use my natural surroundings. 500 00:17:27,647 --> 00:17:30,449 I like to use trees and just really work on my grip strength. 501 00:17:30,449 --> 00:17:32,451 I'll go out there and do, you know, 502 00:17:32,451 --> 00:17:34,453 like five minute holds on tree limbs and stuff like that. 503 00:17:34,453 --> 00:17:36,455 And I'll gradually increase the size of the tree limb and just 504 00:17:36,455 --> 00:17:38,457 really try to improve my grip strength. 505 00:17:38,457 --> 00:17:41,827 But I've been traveling to several courses this year. 506 00:17:41,827 --> 00:17:43,829 And guys would build these obstacles. 507 00:17:43,829 --> 00:17:45,831 And that's really what's helped me out a lot. 508 00:17:45,831 --> 00:17:47,700 How did you get hooked on this? 509 00:17:47,700 --> 00:17:49,669 Why did you want to do it? 510 00:17:49,669 --> 00:17:52,138 You know, I started kind of watching the show when I was 15, 511 00:17:52,138 --> 00:17:54,140 16 years old when it was in Japan. 512 00:17:54,140 --> 00:17:57,877 And, you know, I thought to myself I could potentially do 513 00:17:57,877 --> 00:17:58,878 that kind of stuff. 514 00:17:58,878 --> 00:17:59,879 And then some time went on. 515 00:17:59,879 --> 00:18:01,881 And I saw that they brought the show over to America. 516 00:18:01,881 --> 00:18:03,883 And I remember sitting over at my girlfriend's house one day 517 00:18:03,883 --> 00:18:06,018 and, um, and her dad was like, you know, 518 00:18:06,018 --> 00:18:07,587 you should really try this. 519 00:18:07,587 --> 00:18:09,588 You should try to get in to this. 520 00:18:09,588 --> 00:18:10,589 I think you could do it. 521 00:18:10,589 --> 00:18:12,591 So, I kind of did some researching and I got together 522 00:18:12,591 --> 00:18:14,593 with a buddy of mine who was a production guy. 523 00:18:14,593 --> 00:18:16,596 And we sent a video in and they gave me a call. 524 00:18:16,596 --> 00:18:18,764 You send a video in for season five. 525 00:18:18,764 --> 00:18:20,900 And you went down to try to qualify in Miami. 526 00:18:20,900 --> 00:18:22,001 It didn't work out for you. 527 00:18:22,001 --> 00:18:23,002 You come back. 528 00:18:23,002 --> 00:18:26,272 You have to do a whole new video for this past season and you 529 00:18:26,272 --> 00:18:27,273 make it. 530 00:18:27,273 --> 00:18:28,341 Now you go to Saint Louis. 531 00:18:28,341 --> 00:18:31,177 Tell us the story, first of all, about the weather in Saint 532 00:18:31,177 --> 00:18:32,178 Louis. 533 00:18:32,178 --> 00:18:33,179 It was ridiculous. 534 00:18:33,179 --> 00:18:35,414 The weather there was crazy. 535 00:18:35,414 --> 00:18:36,415 We got there. 536 00:18:36,415 --> 00:18:39,285 It was like 71 degrees the day we were doing our T-V interviews 537 00:18:39,285 --> 00:18:41,387 and all the paperwork and that kind of stuff. 538 00:18:41,387 --> 00:18:44,156 And we were all just, you know, we were enjoying the weather. 539 00:18:44,156 --> 00:18:45,324 It was extremely nice outside. 540 00:18:45,324 --> 00:18:47,426 One of the guys, Joe the weatherman down there, 541 00:18:47,426 --> 00:18:49,428 one of the competitors was like, hey, 542 00:18:49,428 --> 00:18:51,430 we got a big storm system coming in. 543 00:18:51,430 --> 00:18:53,432 It could potentially change the weather. 544 00:18:53,432 --> 00:18:55,434 That night we were going over the rules and everything. 545 00:18:55,434 --> 00:18:56,435 The big storm came through. 546 00:18:56,435 --> 00:18:59,005 We woke up the next morning and it was snow flurrying outside. 547 00:18:59,005 --> 00:19:01,007 Still had to go on with the show. 548 00:19:01,007 --> 00:19:02,008 Oh, yeah. 549 00:19:02,008 --> 00:19:03,009 Absolutely. 550 00:19:03,009 --> 00:19:04,010 29 degrees or not. 551 00:19:04,010 --> 00:19:06,012 You make that first qualifying run. 552 00:19:06,012 --> 00:19:07,013 You succeed. 553 00:19:07,013 --> 00:19:08,014 You get on there on the top. 554 00:19:08,014 --> 00:19:10,016 You hit that red button there, whatever it is. 555 00:19:10,016 --> 00:19:11,017 How good of a feeling was it? 556 00:19:11,017 --> 00:19:12,018 Oh, it's great. 557 00:19:12,018 --> 00:19:14,020 When I made it up the wall, man, I thought I was about to break 558 00:19:14,020 --> 00:19:15,021 that button off, man. 559 00:19:15,021 --> 00:19:16,022 It was a great feeling. 560 00:19:16,022 --> 00:19:18,057 I had been envisioning that moment, 561 00:19:18,057 --> 00:19:20,059 you know, ever since I applied for season six. 562 00:19:20,059 --> 00:19:22,395 So, it was fantastic to get up there and just smash it. 563 00:19:22,395 --> 00:19:25,197 What was the hardest part of the qualifying run? 564 00:19:25,197 --> 00:19:28,868 The hardest part of the qualifying run was the obstacle 565 00:19:28,868 --> 00:19:29,869 right before the wall. 566 00:19:29,869 --> 00:19:32,905 It's usually a pretty grueling upper body obstacle. 567 00:19:32,905 --> 00:19:34,407 They call it tilting ladders. 568 00:19:34,407 --> 00:19:37,276 And basically, I mean, it's like an upside down seesaw. 569 00:19:37,276 --> 00:19:38,344 The ladders go up and down. 570 00:19:38,344 --> 00:19:40,613 So, you have to climb up backwards, 571 00:19:40,613 --> 00:19:43,649 tilt one ladder down, climb back down it and then reach over and 572 00:19:43,649 --> 00:19:44,650 it's pretty long. 573 00:19:44,650 --> 00:19:47,153 You had to reach over, grab that one and essentially do the same 574 00:19:47,153 --> 00:19:48,154 thing. 575 00:19:48,154 --> 00:19:50,623 And with it being 29 degrees, it was just extra grueling on the 576 00:19:50,623 --> 00:19:51,691 upper body. 577 00:19:51,691 --> 00:19:53,159 You reached the semi-finals. 578 00:19:53,159 --> 00:19:55,761 There's only 30 participating. 579 00:19:55,761 --> 00:19:57,763 And you don't complete the course. 580 00:19:57,763 --> 00:19:58,764 What happened there? 581 00:19:58,764 --> 00:20:00,533 Um, you know, I don't know. 582 00:20:00,533 --> 00:20:03,002 I'm not really sure what it was. 583 00:20:03,002 --> 00:20:06,272 I just didn't feel the same whenever I got on the stage that 584 00:20:06,272 --> 00:20:07,273 night. 585 00:20:07,273 --> 00:20:09,275 I felt a little under the weather. 586 00:20:09,275 --> 00:20:11,277 But I was like, you know, the shows got to go on. 587 00:20:11,277 --> 00:20:13,279 So, I gave it my best and made it through the qualifiers again 588 00:20:13,279 --> 00:20:14,280 and got to the next one. 589 00:20:14,280 --> 00:20:15,281 That started the semi. 590 00:20:15,281 --> 00:20:17,283 In the semi-qualifier, there was a stand up ladder. 591 00:20:17,283 --> 00:20:19,819 I made it up three runs, was going up for the last one and 592 00:20:19,819 --> 00:20:23,522 got my left arm up but the right arm just quite didn't make. 593 00:20:23,522 --> 00:20:25,658 So I tried to fix it, tried to fix it. 594 00:20:25,658 --> 00:20:27,660 The third time I tried to, you know, 595 00:20:27,660 --> 00:20:29,795 get it up over the last run, there I went in to the water. 596 00:20:29,795 --> 00:20:32,698 What's the hardest part about being an American Ninja Warrior? 597 00:20:32,698 --> 00:20:35,234 What would be your advice to somebody who's out there 598 00:20:35,234 --> 00:20:38,370 watching you and wondering if they could do that? 599 00:20:38,370 --> 00:20:42,541 Um, I would say the hardest part is just being committed to your 600 00:20:42,541 --> 00:20:43,542 training. 601 00:20:43,542 --> 00:20:45,544 I mean it's grueling stuff that we have to go through. 602 00:20:45,544 --> 00:20:48,314 The upper body and the fingertip and just the grip training that 603 00:20:48,314 --> 00:20:49,315 you have to do. 604 00:20:49,315 --> 00:20:50,349 I mean it's ridiculous. 605 00:20:50,349 --> 00:20:51,650 I'll tell you this much. 606 00:20:51,650 --> 00:20:54,687 I'm more sore from Ninja Warrior training than I ever have been 607 00:20:54,687 --> 00:20:57,256 from lifting weights or training for wrestling and mixed martial 608 00:20:57,256 --> 00:20:58,557 arts or any of that. 609 00:20:58,557 --> 00:21:00,559 So, really just staying committed. 610 00:21:00,559 --> 00:21:02,761 And for somebody who's trying to get in to the show and wanting 611 00:21:02,761 --> 00:21:04,764 to go out there and try to do this stuff, 612 00:21:04,764 --> 00:21:05,765 start training now. 613 00:21:05,765 --> 00:21:07,767 Get in the best shape of your life. 614 00:21:07,767 --> 00:21:08,767 Lose some weight. 615 00:21:08,767 --> 00:21:10,836 Do that kind of stuff because you're going to be carrying your 616 00:21:10,836 --> 00:21:12,838 body weight throughout the whole thing. 617 00:21:12,838 --> 00:21:13,839 Well, you're a fit guy. 618 00:21:13,839 --> 00:21:15,841 Obviously you have this facility. 619 00:21:15,841 --> 00:21:17,843 But you're already training hard for next season. 620 00:21:17,843 --> 00:21:18,844 You plan to return again. 621 00:21:18,844 --> 00:21:19,845 Oh, absolutely. 622 00:21:19,845 --> 00:21:21,847 I'm already training for season seven. 623 00:21:21,847 --> 00:21:23,849 So, now do you become this local celebrity? 624 00:21:23,849 --> 00:21:24,850 Do people? 625 00:21:24,850 --> 00:21:26,952 I know the beard has been trimmed but they know who you 626 00:21:26,952 --> 00:21:27,953 are? 627 00:21:27,953 --> 00:21:29,522 Yeah, yeah, absolutely. 628 00:21:29,522 --> 00:21:31,724 I just went in to a hair cutting place today. 629 00:21:31,724 --> 00:21:32,725 I had to get my hair cut. 630 00:21:32,725 --> 00:21:35,461 And they were like, hey, you're the Redneck Ninja guy. 631 00:21:35,461 --> 00:21:37,463 And I was just like, oh my gosh. 632 00:21:37,463 --> 00:21:39,999 Not only are you the Redneck Ninja, 633 00:21:39,999 --> 00:21:42,568 but also people may know you from Grizzlies games part of the 634 00:21:42,568 --> 00:21:44,103 King of the Court. 635 00:21:44,103 --> 00:21:47,339 And so, you're one of those guys up there jumping off the 636 00:21:47,339 --> 00:21:49,975 trampoline with Grizz dunking basketballs. 637 00:21:49,975 --> 00:21:51,977 Tell me a little bit about that. 638 00:21:51,977 --> 00:21:52,978 How'd you get involved? 639 00:21:52,978 --> 00:21:55,314 I was training mixed martial arts at the time. 640 00:21:55,314 --> 00:21:59,718 Little did I know that the Grizz mascot was training there. 641 00:21:59,718 --> 00:22:01,720 He was just up there trying to stay in shape. 642 00:22:01,720 --> 00:22:03,722 I did some boxing under his belt. 643 00:22:03,722 --> 00:22:05,724 He said he's been watching these for a couple of weeks. 644 00:22:05,724 --> 00:22:07,726 We got to talking one day and I still didn't know who he was. 645 00:22:07,726 --> 00:22:09,728 And he was like, hey, you know, I'm the Grizzlies mascot. 646 00:22:09,728 --> 00:22:11,730 He was like, I'd like for you to come out and try out for my dunk 647 00:22:11,730 --> 00:22:12,731 team. 648 00:22:12,731 --> 00:22:14,733 And, you know, I had been to a couple of Grizzlies games at the 649 00:22:14,733 --> 00:22:15,734 time. 650 00:22:15,734 --> 00:22:16,735 And I asked him. 651 00:22:16,735 --> 00:22:17,736 I said a dunk team. 652 00:22:17,736 --> 00:22:19,738 You know, the Elvis guy that's on trampolines. 653 00:22:19,738 --> 00:22:20,739 I was like, no way. 654 00:22:20,739 --> 00:22:22,741 And he said, yeah, come out Monday. 655 00:22:22,741 --> 00:22:23,742 I was like, okay. 656 00:22:23,742 --> 00:22:25,744 So, I met him up at the gym that they were training at. 657 00:22:25,744 --> 00:22:26,745 I tried out and made it. 658 00:22:26,745 --> 00:22:27,746 And the rest is history. 659 00:22:27,746 --> 00:22:29,748 You're going in to your fourth season. 660 00:22:29,748 --> 00:22:30,749 Is that correct? 661 00:22:30,749 --> 00:22:31,750 Yep, fourth season. 662 00:22:31,750 --> 00:22:33,752 What's the, uh, the most fun about doing that? 663 00:22:33,752 --> 00:22:35,754 Uh, I would say just, you know, the crowds. 664 00:22:35,754 --> 00:22:37,756 You get to jump off a trampoline and dunk a basketball. 665 00:22:37,756 --> 00:22:38,757 You know what I mean? 666 00:22:38,757 --> 00:22:40,759 And I've never been able to dunk a basketball. 667 00:22:40,759 --> 00:22:42,761 Just to be able to, you know, get up there and learn these 668 00:22:42,761 --> 00:22:44,763 stunts and these tricks and just, 669 00:22:44,763 --> 00:22:45,764 you know. 670 00:22:45,764 --> 00:22:46,765 I love performing. 671 00:22:46,765 --> 00:22:48,767 And performing in front of a crowd and getting to do that 672 00:22:48,767 --> 00:22:50,769 kind of stuff, I mean it's been awesome. 673 00:22:50,769 --> 00:22:52,771 You played a bunch of sports at Mumford High but you didn't play 674 00:22:52,771 --> 00:22:53,772 basketball. 675 00:22:53,772 --> 00:22:54,773 No, not basketball. 676 00:22:54,773 --> 00:22:56,775 Alright, so now the game plan is just to work out to continue to 677 00:22:56,775 --> 00:22:57,776 push yourself. 678 00:22:57,776 --> 00:22:59,778 How do you get to the next level? 679 00:22:59,778 --> 00:23:01,780 You make it through the semi-finals. 680 00:23:01,780 --> 00:23:02,781 Maybe get to the finals. 681 00:23:02,781 --> 00:23:03,916 Become a much bigger celebrity. 682 00:23:03,916 --> 00:23:04,950 Maybe win the darn thing. 683 00:23:04,950 --> 00:23:07,319 What do you need to do to take that next step? 684 00:23:07,319 --> 00:23:09,321 You know, just keep training harder. 685 00:23:09,321 --> 00:23:11,323 Just gradually take my training up to the next level. 686 00:23:11,323 --> 00:23:13,325 You know I stepped it up this year and made it further than I 687 00:23:13,325 --> 00:23:14,326 did last year. 688 00:23:14,326 --> 00:23:16,328 The plan is just to keep stepping it up. 689 00:23:16,328 --> 00:23:18,330 I'm going to try to actually trim a little more weight. 690 00:23:18,330 --> 00:23:20,332 I'm one of the bigger ninjas out there. 691 00:23:20,332 --> 00:23:22,334 So, you know, I'm planning on trying to trim about 10 more 692 00:23:22,334 --> 00:23:24,870 pounds that way I can move my body weight around a little 693 00:23:24,870 --> 00:23:25,871 better. 694 00:23:25,871 --> 00:23:26,872 Alright, last thing for ya. 695 00:23:26,872 --> 00:23:29,541 You and I were talking before we started taping this interview 696 00:23:29,541 --> 00:23:34,079 about what goes on at the taping of American Ninja Warrior. 697 00:23:34,079 --> 00:23:35,080 What can you tell the folks? 698 00:23:35,080 --> 00:23:38,450 What would surprise the people about what happens when you go 699 00:23:38,450 --> 00:23:40,452 up to where ever the destination may be, 700 00:23:40,452 --> 00:23:41,587 in your case Saint Louis? 701 00:23:41,587 --> 00:23:43,989 Uh, probably the most interesting thing about it is 702 00:23:43,989 --> 00:23:46,392 just how back to back to back everything is. 703 00:23:46,392 --> 00:23:49,628 I mean as soon as you show up to the qualifying course, 704 00:23:49,628 --> 00:23:50,629 you're shooting interviews. 705 00:23:50,629 --> 00:23:51,630 You're doing paperwork. 706 00:23:51,630 --> 00:23:53,632 You're going over the rules, going over the obstacles. 707 00:23:53,632 --> 00:23:55,634 You've never seen the obstacles before. 708 00:23:55,634 --> 00:23:57,670 You've never seen the course that they set up. 709 00:23:57,670 --> 00:24:00,873 And I mean, like I said, just back to back to back. 710 00:24:00,873 --> 00:24:02,875 I mean, you know, when you're there, 711 00:24:02,875 --> 00:24:04,376 you better be ready to go. 712 00:24:04,376 --> 00:24:05,711 He is the Redneck Ninja. 713 00:24:05,711 --> 00:24:07,046 Brent, thank you so much. 714 00:24:07,046 --> 00:24:08,380 Best of luck to ya. 715 00:24:08,380 --> 00:24:09,481 I appreciate you. 716 00:24:09,481 --> 00:24:11,650 Great stuff from the Redneck Ninja. 717 00:24:11,650 --> 00:24:13,952 On the Gridiron, the Memphis Tigers did something last 718 00:24:13,952 --> 00:24:15,854 Saturday that is awfully rare. 719 00:24:15,854 --> 00:24:18,390 They won over fans while losing a football game. 720 00:24:18,390 --> 00:24:22,161 But it's the way they lost that had local football fans buzzing. 721 00:24:22,161 --> 00:24:25,164 The 23 point underdog Tigers made a trip to Pasadena, 722 00:24:25,164 --> 00:24:27,900 California where they battled 11th ranked U-C-L-A. 723 00:24:27,900 --> 00:24:32,638 The Tigers lost in a shootout 42-35 but won the admiration of 724 00:24:32,638 --> 00:24:33,639 a city. 725 00:24:33,639 --> 00:24:36,909 Redshirt sophomore Quarterback Paxton Lynch threw for 305 yards 726 00:24:36,909 --> 00:24:39,878 and a touchdown on 27-41 passing. 727 00:24:39,878 --> 00:24:41,613 He added a score on the ground. 728 00:24:41,613 --> 00:24:44,850 Brandon Hayes, Doroland Dorceus and Sam Craft added touchdowns 729 00:24:44,850 --> 00:24:48,887 and defensive back Fritz Etienne added a fourth quarter pick-six 730 00:24:48,887 --> 00:24:50,756 that tied the game at 35. 731 00:24:50,756 --> 00:24:54,760 The Tigers offense finished the game with 469 yards of total 732 00:24:54,760 --> 00:24:55,761 offense. 733 00:24:55,761 --> 00:24:58,230 Memphis will have this weekend off and will return to action a 734 00:24:58,230 --> 00:25:02,067 week from Saturday at home versus Middle Tennessee State. 735 00:25:02,067 --> 00:25:04,203 And finally the Memphis Redbirds' season came to abrupt 736 00:25:04,203 --> 00:25:07,506 end last Saturday as they fell to Omaha three games to one in 737 00:25:07,506 --> 00:25:10,476 the P-C-L Northern championship series. 738 00:25:10,476 --> 00:25:13,812 Omaha advanced to their fourth straight P-C-L championship 739 00:25:13,812 --> 00:25:14,813 appearance. 740 00:25:14,813 --> 00:25:16,815 And that will put a wrap on the show. 741 00:25:16,815 --> 00:25:18,817 Next week we air on a special day, 742 00:25:18,817 --> 00:25:19,818 Friday the 19th at 7:30. 743 00:25:19,818 --> 00:25:21,220 So, go ahead and mark it down. 744 00:25:21,220 --> 00:25:23,589 Until then, have a great week, and we'll see you next time. 745 00:25:23,589 --> 00:25:53,318 [theme music] 746 00:25:53,318 --> 00:25:54,620 (female announcer)   Production funding for.. 747 00:25:54,620 --> 00:25:57,923 "Sports Files" is   made possible in part by.. 748 00:25:57,923 --> 00:25:59,324 (male announcer)   Infiniti of Memphis has moved 749 00:25:59,324 --> 00:26:02,528 to Germantown road just half a   mile north of Wolfchase Galleria 750 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