New Boston Celtics guard Kyrie Irving appeared on ESPN's First Take on Monday morning, and after a good deal of blah-blah-blahing from hosts Stephen A. Smith and Max Kellerman, Irving actually had something interesting to say.
Irving, an All-Star who was traded from the Cleveland Cavaliers this offseason, spent the majority of his 90 minutes on the show answering questions cryptically about his reasons for leaving the Cavs and wanting to sever his relationship with LeBron James.
Inquiries about his trade request, reports he wanted out from LeBron's shadow, and the league-wide drama that ensued were met with responses along these lines from Irving: "I don't really have an ego. I have a presence and aura about me that's very reality-based," and, "Oh, if you're very much woke, there's no such thing as distractions, especially all this."
But Irving was very clear during one line of questioning.
Smith: "Did you speak to LeBron James before you and your representatives met with ownership and let them know that you wanted out?"
Irving: "No."
Smith: "Why not?"
Irving: "Why would I have to?"
Smith: "If you don't speak to somebody about that, they might take it personally."
Irving: "Yeah."
Smith: "Do you care about that at all?"
Irving: "No."
Irving elaborated:
"I think we're forgetting one important thing. I don't think that you owe anything to another person in terms of figuring out what you want to do with your life. It's not anything personal. I'm not trying to tirade anybody. I'm not here to go at any particular person or the organization, because I have nothing but love for Cleveland.
"There comes a time where you mature as an individual. It's time to make that decision, and there is no looking back from that standpoint. There is no time to figure out how to save someone's feelings when ultimately you have to be selfish in figuring out what you want to do. It wasn't about me not wanting to win. It wasn't anything about that. It was, 'I want to be extremely, extremely happy in perfecting my craft,' and that was the only intent in all of this."
Reading between the tea leaves, it seems Irving's primary reason for wanting out was to realize his full potential as a player, something he can't do on a LeBron-led roster. Twice Irving expressed enthusiasm for being more of the complete pick-and-roll playmaker that Boston is asking him to be instead of the isolation-heavy scoring option that Cleveland wanted him to be.
Asked what he was most excited about in transitioning from the Cavaliers to the Celtics, he said: "Actually playing point guard."
One thing is certain: Celtics vs. Cavaliers is must-see TV in the upcoming season.
What's up, Ronda?
MMA fighter Ronda Rousey has been mum on her future since a one-sided knockout loss to Amanda Nunes at UFC 207 in December. UFC President Dana White has stated he believes it's unlikely she'll fight again.
But her longtime trainer Edmond Tarverdyan is not so certain. He puts the chances at "50-50."
Speaking to The MMA Hour on Monday, Tarverdyan admitted Rousey, 30, struggled with injuries in the latter part of her career, but he did not rule out a comeback.
"It's going to be her decision," Tarverdyan said. "Maybe one more. I've spoken to her; I don't know if she'll do it. If her body does give her one more fight, and she really wants to, mentally, she might. It's 50-50 right now, I'd say."
Tarverdyan, who trained Rousey out of Glendale Fighting Club in Southern California, said he holds out hope for a superfight against current UFC featherweight champion Cris "Cyborg" Justino.
SPORTS QUIZ
How many times has Kyrie Irving earned an All-Star nod in his six-year career?
ANSWER
Four (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017)
Sports on 09/19/2017