[MUSIC PLAYING]
Hey!
Number one show in late night.
You know what it is.
Mero, who do we have in the building today?
Yo, yo, yo, yo, yo.
Listen, man, we got you favorite broadcaster's
favorite broadcaster, Taylor Rooks
in the motherfucking building.
Sports Journalist of the Year, yeah, cause I said so.
Let's go!
That's right.
We've got Taylor Rooks, the homie in the building
from Bleacher Report.
That's right.
Taylor, most important question, before we even start,
did you wake up in time for continental breakfast
this morning?
I woke up in time for my coronavirus test,
which is very important.
How often are you getting-- every day?
Every single day.
Are you getting--
Every single day.
Are you getting the swab in the cheek,
or the hardcore in the nose joint?
So we get both.
We get the mouth swab and the nasal swab,
but I'm so used to it at this point.
But it's not that nasal swab that, like, touches your brain.
You know, it's just like, right here.
Like, someone's picking your nose,
and then they do left, right, middle,
and then you just hope and pray that when
you wake up in the morning, you have an email.
Because if you don't have an email,
that means you're getting a call.
Yeah, which is not the move.
So--
What is bubble life like?
Like are you-- is it-- because you--
you know, you're a traveler, you're used to hotels,
you're used to traveling.
How different is it now, and are you becoming, like, paranoid?
Are you starting to, like, spot people not wearing masks,
or like, wondering if, like, is this my cup,
and all types of weird stuff?
Right.
No, you know, I think that originally,
the cool thing was for everybody to be like,
oh, the bubble sucks.
But now that you're here, it's like, I am enjoying it so much.
It's like summer camp, and I wake up every single day,
and I get to watch the greatest basketball
players in the world.
There's tons of practice you go to every day.
There's scrimmages, soon there will be games,
and then very soon after that, it'll be the playoffs.
So everyone wears a mask at all times,
so it's kind of the safest place that you could be.
Like, I'm past feeling fearful of COVID
right now because we're all taking the precautions.
So as long as we all continue to be safe, wear our masks,
get our tests, take our temperature, check our pulse,
which we have to do every morning, you know,
I think that that sanctity of the bubble
will be able to stay intact.
Nobody out here wiling?
You know what I'm saying?
Trying to-- you know?
Yeah, there's definitely not a magic city inside
of Disney World, so yeah. - Right?
Listen--
Honestly, you've been doing this for a long time.
Have you ever seen anything like this?
Like, any-- like, even close?
No.
And that's one of the reasons I was like, sign me up,
I'll do it.
When they asked me to do it, I am there.
Because there's very few times in life
you'll be able to be a part of a first and an only.
And so to know that, like, I was a part of this Disney World
campus where the NBA did this amazing job of organizing
this whole thing in the middle of a pandemic-- like,
people are going to write books about this.
There's going to be documentaries.
Like, I'm gonna be all up in that 30 for 30,
you know what I'm saying?
You might-- you might get a Disney
animated film off of this.
Like--
Oh, 1,000%.
It's like, I take notes at the end of every day,
just because I'm like, one day this is going to come in handy,
and I want to have these journals
and document every single thing that happened.
Because we're just-- we're seeing some really cool stuff,
and seeing, like, guys in ways that we haven't.
You know, like, we watch the games courtside.
We hear everything.
We hear LeBron telling people their assignment.
We hear players talking shit.
We hear them arguing with the refs.
Like, in a way that we never have.
So--
What's the energy like at the scrimmages and the practices?
Is it completely different than how it used to be in the NBA?
Is this, like, more intimate?
Because like, I saw online somebody
was describing it as almost, like, college or high school
level.
Like, not so much athletes, but just kind of
like, boys playing with their boys,
playing pickup basketball?
So the the best comparison for me was summer league.
It feels a lot like summer league.
And in all honesty, not having fans
isn't as wild as I thought it was going to be.
Like, sometimes I forget that it isn't
just people playing basketball.
Because like, the guys aren't playing, like, we're
in the middle of the pandemic.
They're just playing.
Like, games feel exactly like they do at any time,
but it's cool to see, like, the benches get so into it.
For them to clap and cheer to, like, fill that silence.
But there's music playing, there's definitely things going
around as they play basketball.
So is there any-- is there any time where you're like--
where you hear-- like you said, like you're hearing
more than you're used to?
Like, is that--
Yeah.
Like, are you taking notes about that?
Because there's the super cut of Melo grabbing rebounds.
Yes.
We all know about the super cut of Melo.
Motherfucker, give me that shit.
Get the fuck out of here.
Like, how many give me that shits
and get the fuck out of here's do you hear, like, in a--
Every-- every possession.
Every possession.
And it was funny because-- so we--
I can't remember who we were watching the Lakers play.
We were watching, like--
I want to say maybe it was the Mavs, the scrimmage,
but I can't remember.
But Bron dunks, he runs down the sideline,
and he goes, you know I'm still the fastest man out here.
But we were debating, did he say fastest, or did he say baddest?
And there was this whole debate on media row.
So then afterwards, when we saw LeBron, I said, listen,
Bron, we were all debating, after that dunk,
did you say fastest or baddest?
And he goes, which one you think I said?
I said, well, baddest makes sense in the context,
but it sounded like farces.
And he just, like, smiled and just mysteriously walked away.
Wow.
So it is still TBD, but people say that when you watch
the TV feed, it is fastest.
But it's like, hey, listen, either word works,
so I just think he just kind of wanted
to leave it up to every--
Your man LeBron out here doing triple entendres.
Yeah.
You gotta appreciate that.
Listen, with the whole thing with Lou,
I gotta ask you your opinion--
are Magic City wings that good?
Honestly, they are.
I'm not saying they are good enough
to jeopardize the bubble.
I am not saying that.
I think that the number one responsibility of everybody
should be to do what you can, individually,
so that collectively the group succeeds.
DESUS: Right.
But both things can be true.
DESUS: Right.
The wings can also be a bomb as shit.
Like, they're so good, OK?
And like, I-- I think it's kind of known, in general,
strip club food tends to be kind of good.
They be hitting.
Especially if you're in Atlanta.
Like, I'm from Georgia, so everyone
from Atlanta, or metro Atlanta, has been to Magic City.
Like, it's not this, like--
They graduated at Magic City.
You've been--
Like, that's--
That's a regular place.
Every summer.
Yeah.
And the wings are good.
And not just the wings.
I mean, they have catfish nuggets.
Like, their crinkle fries are good.
Like-- so I understand, like, he should not-- like,
it's just a thing that we can't have.
It's the optics, but it's also, like, you want to minimize
risk, and all of these things.
But he is not lying in saying that the wings are very good.
And it's also very true, if you ask anybody
that's ever played with Lou, they'll
say his favorite restaurant--
That's right.
He had the interview with Roslyn about a year ago,
where right off the jump, he was just, like, yo,
the wings, those are my go to.
So--
He loves Magic City.
Like, there's Lou Will wings on the menu at Magic City.
Like, it's his-- it's his thing.
So shouldn't have gone, shouldn't have jeopardized
everybody, but also, next time you're in Atlanta
and the pandemic passes--
MERO: Them Lou Will wings.
Go to Magic City.
MERO: Get you some Lou Will wings.
Yes, get-- get the lemon pepper wet.
You know what I'm saying?
Like--
Get come crinkie fries on the side.
Yeah!
Yeah, you gotta bump it up when you grab your order.
Gotta be like, yo, get the fuck outta here.
You gotta box out the body.
Like, yo, give me that shit.
You know what I'm saying?
Yes.
So how does the NBA snitch line work?
Is there, like, a laminated poster all around?
It's like, dial 999, or something?
Like, how-- can you call it?
It's just, like, for anybody?
Is there a reward?
Is Caruso snitching?
Is Caruso snitching on LeBron's behalf?
You know what I'm saying?
Right, and like, I don't know who is snitching,
and I know I don't have the snitch hotline number,
but I did ask players, I'm like, where do you get the number?
Like, they gave the number to all players.
So they just have it on hand.
I wonder if people are still calling.
I know there's reports, like, the first week
that the snitch hotline was getting, you know, some calls.
I don't know if that-- the volume
of calls is saying the same, but I will say, like--
I mean, you know, number one rule, you know, like,
no snitching, for sure.
Right.
But I do think that if someone is doing something egregious
that could actually hurt people in the bubble,
it's worth trying to handle.
I mean, first say something to them, but if it continues,
it's like, we got a championship we're trying to get to.
You know what I mean?
But I think a lot of things could be handled
by just communicating before you have to call
and make it a big thing. - Right.
So not the NBA snitch line, but have you
had to call the front desk on any of your neighbors
for being too loud?
Loud parties, anyone stuck in there with the Pacquaio,
got the floor smelling like dank?
You know what I'm saying?
No.
We actually got, like, security called
on us, us being the media.
Yeah?
We were at the pool, and I love games,
so I, like, forced everybody to play Heads Up.
And so we're at the pool playing really loudly,
and I guess the surrounding buildings were like,
can you go there and tell them to be quiet?
So then we had to just--
Oh, wow.
I haven't gotten called-- or I haven't called on anybody,
but--
For Luke.
You know what I'm saying?
Like-- - Yes.
A rebel.
Cone of silence.
Gangsters with the silence.
Like lasagna.
That's--
Yes.
Do you-- can you get to any of the rides?
Like, how close to actual--
like, do they close it down and let you--
let people in the bubble go on the rides?
Or how does that work?
No.
So the players can do things like golf, fish, eat--
there's some good restaurants.
MERO: What do y'all do for fun?
So they're working on, right now, letting us
have a day where we can golf.
I'm very excited about that.
To give us an activity.
They also have, like, media Mondays,
where we can get our hair done, or our nails done.
So they're opening the things up to us, which is very nice.
But mainly-- like, we are doing basketball so much.
I mean, we wake up, there's like,
three practices you go to, and then you
would go to, like, a scrimmage.
So it's fairly non-stop.
I'm exhausted by the end of the day,
but we are going to have, like, little leisure activities
that they're giving us.
I was about to say, because like,
what's the grooming situation looking like up there?
Because just like, you know, you want to minimize the amount
of people in the bubble.
Who's necessary, who's not necessary.
I know somebody has to trim James Harden's beard.
But like, other than that-- like,
what are the shape ups looking like down there in the bubble?
Is it rough, or--
Yeah.
Yeah, so shape ups are rough.
Everybody, I think, is looking a little rough at some point.
I know Tobias Harris went and got his hair cut.
It looks great.
I know CJ McCollum was telling me that he got
his pedicures and manicures.
That's like, his routine that he does, so he got--
he got 'em done in the bubble.
They get it, like, for free, but they tip the people.
DESUS: As they should. Yes.
So you know, it's absolutely worth their while.
Yeah, absolutely.
So my thing is right when I saw that we
were going to be quarantined--
I mean, in March--
I got braids instantly.
DESUS: Smart.
Cause I was like, listen, I'm not about to do this
to my hair every single day.
This is-- this is the first time I have ever
gotten braids, like, this year.
And I'm like, why haven't I done this earlier?
It is the best decision I have ever made in my life.
So I likely do not have to go to the groomer
because I got my fake hair in.
You know what I'm saying?
How much time are you saving every morning
by having the braids?
I can't explain it to you.
I just-- the fact that you can wake up and do nothing--
I mean, except laying the edges.
I hope y'all can really see.
We see the bubble baby hair.
You know what I'm saying? Like--
Hit it with a toothbrush.
Feel it.
We roll-- we roll slick.
Real slicked out.
She got the baby toothbrush in there, like, yeah.
Yes.
Yes, I got my toothbrush, I got my little comb.
- There you go. - It's an art.
You know what I'm saying?
I got-- I got my do-rag.
I-- - Satin joint.
Yeah.
We feel you. - Come on.
You know.
Yes.
Do-rag goes crazy.
But-- so that's all I do every morning.
She goes to the front desk, like,
y'all got satin pillowcases?
Nice.
Oh, you can't see it because it's black,
and I didn't want to upset the shot--
DESUS: Nice. - But it is under my--
Gotta be prepared.
Have you guys in the bubble-- are you
able to see what's going on with Major League Baseball?
Because like, even today they just announced another Yankees
game is canceled, and like, corona's kind of like,
running through the MLB.
Like-- TAYLOR ROOKS: Wild.
Being inside the bubble, you guys
are actually pulling it off.
Have the players spoken about that,
or has that even come up in conversation?
Yeah, so I would assume that today's media cycle,
when we go to the practices, that's probably when
we'd be talking about it more.
I haven't heard people talk specifically about it,
but I think that whenever anybody on this Orlando campus
hears things about sports and corona,
you tense up a little more, because like,
you don't want that to happen here.
Right.
But at this point, like, I think that the NBA got
past the biggest hurdle, which was that initial report saying
that there was no positive COVID test for any of the players.
Like, that was a very crucial part, and there was zero.
So at this point, as long as everybody is tested every
day and it's negative, it's--
I don't really know how it would be breached.
It would only be breached by somebody coming that had COVID.
So I think we're on a good path.
I hope that baseball can get there.
I don't want any league to be, you know,
not able to come back because of this pandemic.
But I think it's also very fair, and a conversation that
needs to be had that maybe some of these
sports cannot be played.
Maybe it's just not worth the risk.
So I don't know if we're there yet with baseball,
but I just don't think that we should
be afraid to talk about potentially getting there.
What's your food looking like?
Because we've seen NBA players posting, like, yo,
what is this, yo?
I've got pouches of fruit.
This ain't kindergarten.
What is your food looking like?
So I think the food's good.
Like, they have these really good scalloped potatoes,
the chicken tenders are fire, the grilled cheese tomato soup
is good.
Like-- but I'm, like, low maintenance.
As long as it is edible, and like,
has spices and some seasoning--
You're good to go?
I'm gucci.
But I haven't had one thing that I've been like, this is bad.
Not one. - There you go.
You know what I'm saying?
Appreciate it.
Where's the-- where's the first place you want to go
when this is all said and done?
When you're out the bubble, where's
the first place you're headed?
Oh, my god.
Magic City.
No, I'm just kidding.
[LAUGHTER]
Yeah!
Get the wings!
No, no.
First place I want to go-- it definitely has to do with food,
I'm sure, but there's so many spots I'd want to hit.
You know, I miss sushi.
Sushi's my favorite food.
I miss sushi.
Might get some takeout from, like, Momoya or someplace
in New York when I'm back.
But I-- I miss--
Nice.
That sushi.
Get that tempura!
Yes.
I'm saying.
Unhealthy.
Yeah, shrimp tempura-- that's it.
Yeah, so I think--
I think that's what I would do. Is get--
Sushi.
Nice, nice.
How busy is your day?
Like, how busy is your day? Run us through your day.
Like, how early do you have to get up, and like,
what time do you finish up?
Want to get a full experience of the bubble life.
So it varies.
But OK, the first thing I do when I wake up,
I actually have right here, because I do it every day.
I have to take my temperature.
I also have to take my pulse.
The oximeter.
Yep.
And it's like, Bluetooth connected to the NBA health
app, so they monitor what the--
So you can't even lie.
Can't even be like, oh, naw, naw.
Can't even lie.
Don't be saying 98.6 when you feel a little hot.
Yeah.
They will know.
So-- and you can't even leave the room until you do that.
Oh, wow.
So you enter all that in, the app tells you that you're
green, and you have these wristbands that
are the key to your door, but they're
also the thing that you have to press
if you go into any building.
So you put it up, and if it's green, you can enter.
Because green means you were negative for COVID.
Your temp is good, your pulse is good.
So you have to wear those bands.
So I put my band on, I leave.
I'll go to a practice.
Like, today I have Bucks practice, Pelicans practice.
But some media members are going to go
to practices and scrimmages.
But today, I'm just doing practices.
Like, tomorrow I have Lakers practice, Clippers practice,
and then Jazz practice.
And then Thursday, actual games are going to begin.
So I might have a practice in the morning,
but then I'm going to go to a game at night.
So it varies, but it's just, like,
different combinations of practices and scrimmages,
and games.
And are the guys focused on, like, right now, right now
this bubble, this championship, this season,
is there's still talks about like, yo, free--
like, free agency, and like, the next coming?
You know, we don't know when it's
coming, but the next coming season,
and all that type of stuff?
Because Thibs just got hired--
It's crazy that you say that.
Yeah.
Yes.
Maybe you can talk to some guys out there.
Tell them what a great city New York is.
One-- one pandemic at a time.
One pandemic at a time!
One crisis at a time.
Like, we might beat COVID.
I don't know about the whole Knicks situation.
Listen, I'm just trying to be optimistic here, you know?
No, it's--
Silver lining.
You know?
Everybody's together, talking.
It's funny you say that, because I was
just having this conversation.
It's like, usually right now, we're
talking about drafts, and like, next season,
and who's going where.
I haven't heard one person say one
thing about anything other than what's happening, like--
And LaMelo Ball is in this draft.
Everything is just frozen right now.
And you know how much media loves the Ball brothers.
I ain't heard LaMelo's name in years.
Not once!
So I'm like, yo, the Knicks got a shot now.
They ain't even talking about 'em.
Knicks got a shot.
Yeah, it's crazy.
Listen.
So I'm like--
it's-- it really is just this new world with basketball right
now, and probably sports in general, but it's definitely
taking some getting used to.
Like, all the things that would have been happening
this summer, that aren't.
And like, sometimes it's crazy to me how we've adjusted.
Yeah?
Yeah, yeah.
You know what I mean?
Like, a lot of this stuff is so incredibly abnormal,
but we're just going through days--
I wouldn't say like normal, but just, like--
- Going with the flow. - So casually.
Listen, we're literally interviewing
you wearing shorts.
Like, life is weird right now.
We're just-- we're just out here.
Thigh-- thigh game.
You know what I'm saying? - Yeah.
Yo.
I have on sweats.
You can't see 'em. - There you go.
Casual life.
You know the vibe.
Casual life.
Yo, Taylor, thank you for taking time out
of your busy schedule to talk to us.
Stay safe in the bubble, keep eating good.
When you get out, we're all going to meet up and get
some wings at Magic City.
- Yo. - You know the vibes.
You know what I'm saying?
Keep writing that diary, though.
I wanna hear-- that memoir's gonna flap.
For real.
I got you.
Listen, we have nothing but illustrious
guests on this show.
As an illustrious guest, you get a neon sign.
What would you like your neon sign to say?
I want my neon sign to say listen to black women.
There you go.
A banger!
Give it up for Taylor Rooks.
Taylor Rooks, y'all.
In the bubble.
Eating chili cheese and scalloped potatoes, yo.
Yeah!
And chicken tenders.
Yeah!
But the seasoned joints.
You don't even need sauce.
And she making mad noise by the pool.
Do what you want, Taylor!