The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Sports War with Ronny Chieng and Jordan Klepper | Monica McNutt Breaks Down the Broader Issues in the WNBA

Episode Date: July 5, 2024

Ronny Chieng and Jordan Klepper argue over Caitlin Clark’s WNBA run and the tallest NBA nepo babies. Also, Jon Stewart sits with basketball analyst, Monica McNutt, to explain how gender, race, and class affects the way folks discuss women’s basketball. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey everybody, John Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, the weekly show. It's going to be coming out every Thursday. So exciting. You'll be saying to yourself, TGID. Thank God it's Thursday. We're going to be talking about all the things that hopefully obsess you in the same way that they obsess me. The election. Economics. Earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. And I know that I listed that fourth, but in importance it's probably second. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday?

I mean, talk about innovative. Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart, wherever you get your podcast. You're listening to Comedy Central. Hey there, it's Michael Costa. The Daily Show's on a break this week, but don't worry, we handpick some of our favorite recent moments from the show, in case you missed them. We'll be back with brand new episodes next week. Until then, enjoy today's episode.

Welcome back to our Daily Show. We've been a lot of sports news recently. So for some thoughtful, nuanced debate, we turned to sports war. Get ready, go back. It's time for sports war. Brought you by Gambit. Gantz. I want you to do it. What's up, morons? I'm Ronnie Chang.

And I'm Jordan Clepper, this is Sports War, the show where we are legally not allowed to agree with each other. For example, if I say Ronnie Chang doesn't suck. Oh, well, then I have to disagree with you on that, Jordan. Everybody knows I'm a bad son and a selfish lover. Yes. You left out that you're also rude to service workers. Let's start with the biggest story in sports. The shove around the world. This physical moment involving the WNBA's most high-profile rookie, raising questions.

Chicago's Kennedy Carter, shoulder-checking the fevers Caitlin Clark, knocking her to the ground. Oh! Oh! Oh! Throw the flag, center to the hang! Come on! Caitlin Clark is clearly getting bullied. I'm sick of it. You can't just push people in sports, unless it's football, hockey, dude basketball,

the Little League World Series. Or being drunk, Dad, at the Little League World Series. Well, I hope one of those dad shoves you into traffic, Jordan, because you couldn't be more wrong. As a lifelong WMBA fans, since Caitlin Clark joined the league a few weeks ago, I can say with absolute certainty that that shove was barely a foul. Hey, WMBA needs to get harder if they want me, they're target demographic to keep watching. Okay?

You hear that WMBA? Just because you don't have a penis doesn't mean you can't get hard. Just ask Jordan. Are you saying my penis is soft or non-existent? Whichever hurts your feelings more? Shokes out you, Ronnie, I'm dead inside. Look. I relate to Caitlin Clark.

A superstar at the top of her game, surrounded by jealous peers. Caitlin, I see you. I am you. And we're not going to let bottom feeders like Ronnie Chang push us around. Which brings us to tonight's J. Cleps can't lose lose better the week. What's the source of Ronnie Chang's crippling inferiority complex? Brought to you by gambling. Gambling, you can only lose if you stop. Okay, moving on from the greatest women's basketball player to the greatest men's basketball player to the greatest men's basketball player's son.

Ronnie James, the son of NBA's superstar LeBron James will remain in the NBA draft. His agent confirmed his decision today. James will forego his college eligibility after playing one season with USC. LeBron and Brony James could be the first father and son do it to play at the same time in the NBA. He's projected to be a second round pick primarily because his father is LeBron James. Yo, Broani should not enter the NBA at all, okay? There's zero chance he can live up to a legacy of his father. Go do something else like being a tall dentist or a tall architect or a medium-sized

world's tallest man. Quit while you're not ahead. Oh yeah, that's good advice, Ronnie you should take it. Of course, Brawny to the NBA. The children of great people are always great themselves. Don, Jr., RFK, Jr. thear, all great men. The only pressure here is on LeBron. If his sperm can't produce a 12-time NBA All-Star who reinvigorates the Space Jam franchise,

LeBron is overrated. Overrated. That's just what your mom said to me last night. So you made love to my mother poorly? Like I said, Jordan, I'm a selfish lover. Which brings us to Ronnie's sland-dung bed of the night. Who will be a greater disappointment to their father? Ronnie James or Jordan Clepper?

As always brought to you by gambling. Gambling. It's like taking candy from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from from the candy from the candy from the candy from the candy from the candy from the candy the the the the the the the the the the the their their their their their. their. their their their. You's their. You's their. You's their. You's their. You's the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their. You's their. You's their. You's their. You's their. You's their. You's their their their their their their their their their t. I. I. tank. I. I's tank. tank. ta. tank. ta. the the the their their their their their their their their that father. Ronnie James or Jordan Clepper, as always brought to you by gambling. Gambling. It's like taking candy from a baby, but the candy is money. Finally, we turn to the shocking retirement of a sports legend. Well, he has won the Nathan's hot dog eating contest six times. But Takiru Kowayashi is retiring from competitive eating. He says he has health concerns now he needs to tend to. He's 46 years old and says decades of overeating has left him with no appetite or sensation

of fullness. Holy shit! This guy can't tell when he's hungry or full. It sounds like his stomach just pulled a Jerry McGuire on him. Just grab the goldfish, said adios to the kidney and walked right out. Does not sound like it was worth it. This one is absolutely worth it, okay, Jordan. He got to eat tons of hot dogs and now he has no appetite.

It's like Friozzi's a legend, not to mention he's Asian. Shout out, Asian athletes. That's right. That's right. I've only gotten to use that like four times in my life. And shame on you, Jordan, for not supporting the work of one of our greatest Asian athletes. Hey, and you are wrong, Ronning. I fully support his decision to step away from the game. Which Asian that host this program will retire next? Brought to you by gambling.

Have you lost the ability to experience sensation? Try gambling and see how worse it can get. Well, we are out of time. Well, I'm not retired. Well, it's too late the fans have spoken Roddy. Join us next time on sports war. We'll be debating pickle ban't the thin, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the the their, the tho, the the thooooooomoombuuuuoombill the their, their. thooomorrow, thoomorrow, to to their,. I do. Are you kidding? You're getting? Whoa? Hey, everybody, John Stewart here.

I am here to tell you about my new podcast. The Weekly Show coming out every Thursday. We're going to be talking about the election. Earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? Listen to the voice of the New York

Nix radio broadcast. Please welcome to the program, Monica McNutt. Monica, Monica, welcome. Thank you, John. It's so nice to see you. Everyone is aware there was a huge viral moment in sports reporting. And you, Monica, their to see you. Everyone is aware there was a huge viral moment in sports reporting. And you, Monica, were at the center of it concerning an appearance on Stephen A. Smith's show and a young basketball player on the fever who's apparently generating quite a bit of controversy. Tell us a little bit about that viral moment.

So the conversation, John, it started about this foul over the weekend that Kennedy Carter for the Chicago Sky file Caitlin Clark of the Indiana Fever and I'm not gonna lie to you John if I take you through my day that morning I get the call or the text rather than I'm like are we really leading sports with this are we really leading sports with a foul a person got knocked over in a basketball game in sports in sports all the with colleagues and friends, Stephen A Smith, Shannon Sharp. And my larger point in the conversation was the tenor and the prevailing narrative that has been created around this season's WMBA play

is that it's the league versus Caitlin Clark. And that is just absolutely false. It is unfair to the women that have been's popularity could take it to the next level. And so, by the end of the show, John, the tone had changed, and I just kind of needed to put my foot down a little bit. There was some defensiveness on the part of the individuals. You've covered basketball for many, many years. You played basketball. I did. You follow the NBA for many years.

You know what the conversation as I could tell was, they were saying to you, no, we know what we're talking about, even though we just tuned into this whole thing last Wednesday. And there it is, right? And so as I have said about this, it was a little bit of a challenge, right, to gentlemen that I admire in terms of what they've built. Because if you haven't been, I'm to kind a the gentleman, the gentleman, the gentleman, the gentleman, tho, tho, tho, tho, to, tho, tho, tho, to, to, tho, tho, to, tho, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, tho, tho, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too, too years. I need you to kind of have jumped in when Sedona Prince went viral for calling out the NCAA. I need you kind of to be here as this league has seen its best viewership year to year. Now yes, it has absolutely been taken over the top this year, but this has been a snowballing

effect to get to this moment. And so while Caitlin is fantastic and I think thi-I thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi's thi's thi's thi's thi's thi's thi's thi thi's thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi to be to be thi thi to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be thi to be thi thi thi thi thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. theeateateateateatea. theateateatea. theatea. thea. to be here to be here to be here to be here to be here to be to be to be here there are women that were worthy of coverage prior to her arriving and I just will not be silenced when it comes to that. Right. Beautifully said. Now, and I'm going to tell you this, tell me. I have not particularly followed the WMBA on a day-to-day. I follow women's basketball sometimes more in college, I think, and in the old days, Dawn Staley and those players, I did follow that. But I have incredibly strong opinions about it anyway.

OK. Fair enough? Fair enough. But what did strike me when I started watching the highlots is, is, you know, this is a very physical league. You know, so many people complain about the NBA now as the league is soft and they don't play like they did like the Nix did in the 90s with Oak and with all Mason and all those guys. And then you see this physical league and now they're saying, hey, why so physical? And I guess I'm struggling to understand. Is it because so many new fans are being introduced to this who don't have the context? Bingo? Nailed it. You you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you you th. You th. th. th. th. th. th. th. I I I I I I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I thi th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their. I their. I their. I their. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. th. th. the. the. the. the. thi. the. thi. the. thi. th. th. th. their. this who don't have the context?

Bingo, nailed it. You can have a talk show, John. Let's go, let's get out of it. I nailed it. Let's do it. First take. I'm on first take. All kidding aside, yes.

And listen, again, I am by no means going to be naive to the popularity of Caitlin Clark, but there is a contingent that followed her. And if let's expand it out to bigger other women's college programs that have been terrific. South Carolina, LSU, we'll just go with those three. Stanford if you will, right? If you've only watched the college game for however long and not follow the WNBA, you don't know that not only are the 144 of the world. Most of them in their offseason, they're not kicking it. They're in Europe playing in leagues that are arguably even more physical. And so the brand of basketball just has a level of toughness. Now to me, I think the part of this conversation, John, that has been daunting for me is sports is about competing. It is literally the foundation. We need score. We got to compete. And in the conversation around how we navigate the attention on the women's game,

somewhere in there, competition should be watered down to protect the asset? Yeah, no, that's, but you know in your heart, there is another layer of conversation going on beneath this that has been, that has been introduced onto the stage, and that is, look, we all know everything that underlines society in many ways goes along race, class, and gender. And race, class, and gender has entered the conversation. In a very large way, and I think what is interesting, and I'm hoping that more folks are like, this basketball is great. Like, I want to learn more about these women. Race, culture, gender are things that the women of the WMBA have never shied away from.

Right. A part of the bubble in 2020, they impact the election that goes down in Georgia in terms of standing on their values, right? But if we have a conversation about their that sit at intersectional identities that we just opened up your show, talking about valuing these things, right? That's exactly right. And so there are all these isms that have made the WMBA beautiful for 28 years, including this season, and even the WNBA has had to have its arc in terms of growth and leaning into who they are the the the their their their their their second can take all that out, you're really about to tell women how to compete and you just got

here. Right. What we're doing? But isn't it, and what's so amazing about it is, what I have heard from some of the cometary are people who just got there saying, this is so unfair to the sweet white girl. Now first of all, Kailin Kluck looks like a competitor. She looks like somebody who's really a competitor. But the odd part is I'm always interested in this idea that sports exists outside of the fault lines of regular society and isn't a reflection of those things and a continuation in some respects of those battles.

That existence is for probably like 20% of men's sports. And then you got to deal with race. And then there's other things that you've got to deal with. But like we said, women's sports sits right in the midst of all of that. We could be not talking about basketball. And we got plenty of women's issues that we know have have have have have have have have have have have think it's a beautiful time and I don't think anybody that is a part of this league or has covered this league, sure we lament kind of keeping this little thing that we love to protect it from all of the noise, right?

Right. But in the same breath, yeah. the eyeballs and the visibility and not true well let me tell you this so I am going to tell you this the viral moment maybe brought you to some national attention I have been loving what you do you are such a good basketball analyst and announcer I've been following you on the New Yorkers you and O'Keep. Some of my favorite moments are the two you okay. That'll keep the play by play. I I I I I I I I I I I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I the th. I th. I the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the the the th. th. th. th. the th. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. I I I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I the. I the. I the. I'm the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. I the. I'm, O'Keefe, my partner, the play-by-play guy. I mean, you're so knowledgeable. I love basketball.

I've been following the Knicks for 130 years. I love it. I love it. All right. Yeah. I was in the stands in Madison Square Garden at the very top of it when they played the Celtics in 72 in that, against the Celtics, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I'm, I'm, I'm, and, I'm, I'm, and, I'm the the the the the their, I'm, I'm, I'm their, I'm their, I'm their, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, thi, I, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th against the Celtics when it looks like all the time. Your voice, your knowledge, your passion has cut through it for me. It's very rare that I turn on the radio or hear a new voice and go, oh that person, they

can explain this to me and you really do. I appreciate that. You're a wonderful. I mean that job. Thank you. I mean that. Wholeheartedly, that's how you got here. Thank you. By the way, I'd have had you on every day during the playoffs. Oh, wow. My guy.

We had fun. Is there some sense of like a little bit of like when an indie band hits it big? Are there people within the WNBA community who feel like, I don't want this to belong to everybody. I want it to belong to this band of sisters that have worked so hard to make it something? Oh, Monica McNutt, one of the band. I have had that moment a few time.

Because as much as the conversation has been dictated by the audience, right, we still haven't really set up and talked about the actual basketball of it, John. I don't know how many people just joined the WNBA understand that the Las Vegas aces are chasing down a 3P, which hasn't been done since the formative years of the league in the Houston Comments. I don't know how many people will, how many people know that the Connecticut Sun just lost their first game the other day they were nine and no to start the season, right? What names can I help introduce you to? I mean, if you pick up a Rolling Stone, Asia Wilson and Brandon Stewart are part of the next issue I believe.

And so we've opened the door, but we're still like looking in instead of walking in if that makes, if I may. Absolutely. So I think it's a really unique time. And even with this Olympic team stuff, right? Caitlin Clark, who you have mentioned, is a tremendous competitor, said herself, that's the toughest team to make. Right. Not surprised. And she's a rookie.

She's just coming out of Iowa. She can't say that. And she's thetwo things can be true, right? She's been great for the league, but there were 144 women prior to her and this class that had gotten this thing up to year 28. Right, no question. And I think one of the difficulties of it is because it's a small league, I thinne. there's still two rounds of a draft. And there are guys that get picked up out of a G-League. And there's space on a team, there's a big roster.

When you're in the WNBA, boy, there's just not that many teams. And you're talking about a draft, even when it's 8-D, 12-D, some of those people may this thing they're living, they are not necessarily chasing the financial benefit. The WMVIA High Play player makes $250,000. You know what I mean? And so there is, it's not how Brittany Grunner ended up in Russia. It's because it doesn't make the money. That's exactly it. So many of these women supplement their income in the league that they play out of love

to play at home with their teammates in front of their families and they go get their real money overseas. That is changing. I do think that this class and Clark is all a part of it changing. But I think just to slap on, do this this this this this this this this this this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, this, thus, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, tho, tho, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, thi., tooomomoomoomorrow, is is toooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooomoomorrow, thae., thae., t gotten this league to this point. As a broadcaster in, you know, your story in some ways mirrors the story of the WNBA in terms of having to fight for attention with people who, in some respects, are not particularly humble about their position and and slightly defensive about those who may come at it from a different perspective. Do you see that reflected in what you had to go through and your journey to get to the desk that you're at now? And does that give you hope for the WNBA's future?

I am, first of all, I'm thrilled about the WMBA's future. And yes, right? I didn't go to the WMBA, but I played sports, I played sports, I played sports, I, I'm, I, I, I, I, I'm, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th. And, th. And, thed, thed, th. And, and, thed, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, I, th. And, I, I, th. And, I, th. And, th. And, th. And, to, to, to, to, to, to. And, to. And, to. And, to. And, the. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. And yes, right? I didn't go to the WMBA, but I played sports all the way through college. Shout up to my Georgetown Hoyas, right? And so that foundation, that base, that understanding hard work, improvement, that understanding of competition, all of those things have helped me to be able to stand 10 toes down in these various rooms and these various conversations, right? It's intimidating. It is. And in the same same same same same same same same same same same same same same same same same are well-established television personalities or former athletes, they have done the same in their own way, right? But it is a reminder, because of my background in sports, shout out to keeping young girls in sports for this exact reason, I too can be confident in the work that I've done to get to this

place. And it really brings up the interesting question. Who does have the worst takes? Any given day, John, any given day. All right, final question. I am an enormous Knicks fan. Yes, we know. And I want desperately to know if what I'm seeing, if the love that I am feeling, I have opened my heart again, you know, Monica, it's been so long.

Thank you so much. I've opened up my heart again again the the the the the the the the th th th again th again th again to th again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again again to to to to to to to thank you so much. I've opened up my heart again to a basketball team. I never thought it would happen again. I'm proud of you. That was a big move. But Monica, I have to tell you something. Tell me. I'm afraid to be hurt. It's okay. And will, will the Knicks hurt me? Life is full of surprises. That was a hesitation, Monica. That was not, that was a hesitation. I want them to be great. Listen, I think they are on the right track. All right. But you gotta play the games.

That's why we go to the game. And I don't want to be a sad meme anymore, which is always what happens when I'm at the games. Monica, Monica, what a delight to meet you, and I'm such a fan of yours, and I wish you all the best and continue success. Monica McDonough. Explore more shows from the Daily Show podcast universe by searching The Daily Show, wherever you get your podcasts.

Watch the Daily Show weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central, and stream full episodes anytime on Fairount Plus. Paramount Podcasts. Hey everybody, John Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, The Weekly Show. It's going to be coming out every Thursday. So exciting. You'll be saying to yourself, TGID. Thank God it's Thursday. we're going to be talking about all the things that hopefully obsess you in the same way that they obsess me,

the election, economics, earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. And I know that I listed that fourth, but in importance it's probably second. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? I mean, talk about innovative. Listen to the weekly show with John Stewart wherever you get your podcast.