Jason & Amin discuss HBCUs playing in the NCAA Men's & Women's Basketball Tournaments. Alabama State will move forward to play overall #1 Auburn & the guys talk about how schools benefit from being in the tournament and how the exposure introduces kids to those schools. It's a great recruiting tool. The guys also discussed if HBCU schools are underrated in the tournament. Some coaches are down on the fact that HBCU seem to always be a sixteen seed even if their season suggests they should seed higher than that. The guys remember legendary author, journalist, sportswriter & colleague John Feinstein. John was a guest on the program a few years ago promoting his book 'Raise A Fist, Take A Knee: Race & The Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports'. The guys end the show discussing LA Sparks star Cameron Brink as she expressed frustration with recruiting male practice players as some men want more than just to hoop.

John Feinstein, Author - Raise A Fist, Take A Knee: Race & The Illusion of Progress in Modern Sports (From December 2021)

- John wrote the book in hopes of gaining a better understanding of the racial polarization going on in the country through the lens of sports.

- There has been progress in modern sports in terms of race relations, but there are people who think that enough has been done and there isn't any more progress to be made, which isn't true.

- Race is an issue and we see it every day. It would be lovely if it wasn't.

- One day, folks may look at Colin Kaepernick the same way we look at John Carlos and Tommie Smith.

- John explains why he wrote the book and its origins beginning with a conversation with John Thompson.

- John has spoken to many black players and coaches over the past 18 months examining the inequality in professional athletics.

- Several people blew John away when working on this book. One, in particular, was Mike Tomlin. Mike was so brutally honest. Another was Tony Dungy.

- Coach K was very passionate about the issue. Coach K admitted, despite being around many black men, he had not been aware of many of the issues black men deal with.

- John also spoke to folks who couldn't express themselves as much as they wanted to due to backlash which would have caused issues with their current jobs.

- There is a lot more to be done and hopefully there are people out there capable to making things better.

Jason and Kirk begin by remembering former NBA player and entrepreneur, Junior Bridgeman. Junior had a solid NBA career, but he also turned into a billionaire entrepreneur post- career. All players should strive to do some of what Junior accomplished after his playing career ended. The discussion turns to Jax's alma mater, Bowling Green University, hiring former Tennessee State head coach & NFL running back Eddie George as their new football coach. The guys are excited for the former Forward Progress guest as he continues progressing upward on his head coaching journey. Another HBCU program has started the progression of a promising head coaching career. Jax is beyond excited about the Falcons program. The show ends with a discussion on Angel Reese's comments on her podcast suggesting WNBA players should boycott when they begin labor negotiations. The players want & deserve higher wages among other things. Jason & Kirk both feel the union and the league will settle all issues way before it gets to the point of striking.

Jason and Kirk reunite and begin the programme by recapping Kirk's week at the NFL Combine in Indianapolis. Kirk had a chance to chat with Shedeur Sanders and Cam Ward, who are expected to be top picks in this year's draft. The guys also talk about the performance at the combine by Bhayshul Tuten, a running back who began his career at North Carolina A&T and then transferred to Virginia Tech. Tuten ran an amazing 4.32 40, the fastest time at the combine. Kirk points out how rare that is. Tuten has opened some eyes and will be looked at by NFL teams ahead of the draft. The discussion then turns to Serena Williams joining the ownership of the new WNBA team, the Toronto Tempo. The Tempo will make its debut in 2026. Next, the guys discuss an article that discusses Black athletes' voices are needed more now than ever to continue championing social justice. The article also mentions the repercussions for Black athletes who use their platform to speak out. It is a danger always faced by Black athletes such as Muhammad Ali and more recently Colin Kaepenick. The show ends with the guys talking about their favorite hobby, golf. Eight-time NFL Pro Bowler Patrick Peterson has founded Gold Links Golf Club and wants more Black representation in golf.

Jason and Amin start by discussing their attendance at the NBA All-Star Weekend National Basketball Retired Players Association Media Event during All-Star Weekend. The guys were visited by many legends of the NBA. As part of the NBA Radio Black History Month Special, Jax was able to chat with many of these legends including NBA Champion as both an assistant coach & as a player, Clifford Ray. Discussion turns to the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles and the various reports on whether or not they will visit the White House. Next, the guys debate the WNBA pay scale and the Caitlin Clark effect, as her agent feels she deserves to be paid her value in the WNBA. Finally, the guys also recognize the Andre Dawson Classic, an annual round-robin collegiate baseball tournament designed by MLB to highlight HBCU baseball programs.

Clifford Ray - Former NBA Champion Player & Assistant Coach (courtesy of NBA Radio's Black History Month Special)

Clifford talks about how challenging life was for Black Americans growing up in the South. Clifford shares the story about how and why he went to Oklahoma to play basketball. Today, he loves that former athletes are giving back to HBCUs. Black History Month is about education. It's important to know where we came from because things still need to be changed.

Jason and Kirk discuss NBA All-Star Weekend and the fallout, as many called for a change in the league's mid-season event. From there, the guys discuss the HBCU Classic that Jason called on Saturday of All-Star Weekend. The game between Tuskegee and Morehouse was fun to call and watch, and the large crowd in attendance had an absolute ball at the event. Adam Silver's comments about how proud the league is of the HBCU Classic each year were echoed by everyone in attendance.

Bruce Lincoln, Executive Director & Nathan Ford, Senior Program Director Uptown Lacrosse

The guys joined the show to promote their event in Harlem this weekend as well as introduce the world to what Uptown Lacrosse is all about. Bruce Lincoln, a Harlem native and serial entrepreneur who was the only African American player on his Maryland State Championship-winning high school lacrosse team at Towson High School. He went on to play at Princeton University in the late 1970s and has long envisioned expanding lacrosse within the African American community. Nathan Ford, Esq., is an attorney and former standout player at Hackley School, a renowned private school lacrosse powerhouse. After attending Vanderbilt University and earning a law degree from Rutgers University, Ford remains committed to fostering academic and professional opportunities through lacrosse. Both men began playing lacrosse while playing basketball (Bruce) & football (Nathan) in HS. Lacrosse has emerged as a sport that families are embracing. Uptown Lacrosse was founded to ensure that children in grades 3 through 8 have access to high quality lacrosse training allowing them to start as early as those folks in Baltimore & Long Island. The event on Saturday will introduce the sport with a day of community engagement, skill building and exciting demonstrations.

Kirk returns from Pro Bowl & Super Bowl duties and shares his stories at those events. So much was talked about involving the Chiefs attempt at a three-peat and the Eagles attempt to win a Super Bowl, their third in seven years. As divided as the country is, everyone was either an Eagle or a Chief in New Orleans the whole week. This is the forward progress we have been talking about. Jalen Hurts has overcome a lot of different coaches & schemes to finally get to the point of winning a Super Bowl and being named the MVP. The guys acknowledge Autumn Lockwood for becoming the 1st black woman coach to win a Super Bowl. Autumn is the strength and conditioning coach for the Eagles. Kirk also defends his colleague on NFL Radio, Jim Miller, who had received threats for not having Lamar Jackson higher on his MVP ballot. Discussion turns to the President's executive order banning transgender athletes from participating in women's sports. The guys end the show discussing the HBCU Classic this weekend during NBA All-Star Weekend in the Bay Area pitting Morehouse against Tuskegee. The Inaugural Las Vegas HBCU Classic for college football occurs at Allegiance Stadium pitting Grambling against Jackson State on October 25th.

Jason & Amin discuss the NFL continuing its support of DEI. Roger Goodell spoke about how opening up the talent pool at all levels has benefited the league. The guys point out that it's weird that Roger Goodell makes those comments, yet they also decide to no longer place 'End Racism' in the end zones at this year's Super Bowl, all the while the President, who is making ending DEI a priority, will be in attendance. Amin feels the timing is just a little too coincidental. Discussion turns to the NBA gambling investigations and how some college teams, including HBCUs, are involved in unusual wavering activity. Every sport needs to do whatever it needs to do to protect its integrity. The show wraps with a conversation on how some colleges & pro teams are celebrating Black History Month.

Amin Elhassan joins Jason to discuss the impact of the new administration's executive orders & reported plans for the future and how it affects the sports world. These include eligibility of transgender athletes; sports media companies' joint ventures & antitrust enforcement; college athletes as employees; Title IX & the DOJ's statement of interest in the House, Carter and Hubbard antitrust lawsuit against the NCAA. The guys end the show discussing the introduction of new New York Jets Head Coach and former 1st round draft pick of the Jets, Aaron Glenn.