It would be easy for JJ Redick, a relative newcomer to sports media, to clear out for Chris “Mad Dog” Russo, a radio legend and pioneering voice in the “hot take” movement. But that’s not what happened on Wednesday’s First Take, with the former NBA sharpshooter taking exception to Russo’s criticism of Warriors forward Draymond Green, who, in a defiant post-game press conference, expressed little regret for flipping off fans during Tuesday night’s game in Memphis.
“He’s so hard to root for. Shut up and play, will you please?” said Russo of Green, who has had an eventful series, getting ejected for a flagrant foul in Game 1 before taking a blow to the face Tuesday night, opening a gash below his eye that would ultimately require stitches. “America is tired of Draymond Green.”
Redick clapped back at Russo for his emphatic dismissal of Draymond, calling him out for his condescending tone while defending Green for giving players a voice and embracing his true authentic self. “He signed a talent deal with Turner because people want to hear what Draymond has to say. The reason they want to hear what Draymond has to say is because, just like in his press conference, he is real, authentic and unfiltered,” expressed Redick, a 15-year NBA vet whose 1,950 career three-pointers rank as the 16th-most in league history. “It’s what makes him great. It’s what makes him a future Hall-of-Famer. It’s the reason he is who he is. It’s just like saying, ‘Hey, Ja Morant. Stop dancing when your teammate makes a three.’ The reason Ja Morant is great is because he plays with joy and fun and a carefree attitude and a fearlessness. You can’t take away what makes a player great.”
Russo’s “shut up and play” criticism is eerily similar to a phrase coined by conservative pundit Laura Ingraham, who, in 2018, implored LeBron James and Kevin Durant to “shut up and dribble,” arguing athletes shouldn’t be activists or voice their political beliefs. When Russo opined that Green’s brash behavior might not sit well with an older generation who grew up idolizing stars like Walt Frazier and Earl “The Pearl” Monroe, Redick immediately pushed back on that narrative, insisting he doesn’t care about those fans. “People on Fox News talk about athletes that way,” said Redick. “I don’t actually care about the fans that watched Bob Cousy play or watched Wilt [Chamberlain] play. I appreciate that they’ve been NBA fans that long. But I don’t appreciate the undertone.”
While Russo adamantly denied his analysis being influenced by race or politics, conscious or not, the appearance of a white, 62-year-old media personality from a bygone era in sports radio coming down on a black athlete for being too outspoken would suggest otherwise.
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