JJ Redick offers argument for debate shows existing: embarrassing the hosts

JJ Redick’s appearance on First Take provided this morning’s viral sports media video.

During the course of a discussion on Draymond Green, Redick took exception to regular co-host Chris “Mad Dog” Russo’s admonishment of Green by pointing out Russo was falling into the “shut up and dribble” camp.

Yo @jj_redick got at @MadDogUnleashed on #FirstTake!
He had @Money23Green’s back and is tired of that BS “shut up and play” rhetoric. pic.twitter.com/zlkmUBHpIu

— Marcus Dash (@DashOfNews) May 4, 2022

The whole exchange here is truly great, featuring Redick accurately pointing out that the market has in fact dictated that plenty of people do care what Draymond Green has to say, as evidenced by a successful podcast and a deal with Turner for studio appearances despite still being an active player.

Where Redick really shines here, though, is the end, as he just completely shuts down a long Russo rant about how the oldest generation of fans wouldn’t like it. Bonus points to Stephen A. and Molly Qerim for sitting back and letting Redick have him, too.

The Chris Russo-JJ Redick dynamic is great because Russo will chime in with "I've been watching the NBA since 1965" and Redick will respond with "Nobody cares. Everybody you loved is dead." https://t.co/4M15dWs0K7

— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) May 4, 2022

jj drove mad dog to a nice farm upstate https://t.co/yniaUDVFGT

— jason concepcion (@netw3rk) May 4, 2022

My brother @jj_redick had to straighten Mad Dog like a flat iron! God Bless America.

— Kendrick Perkins (@KendrickPerkins) May 4, 2022

he just had to stop hanging out with those bad influences from his college days. that’s literally all it took. https://t.co/jh9dwUK47a

— bomani (@bomani_jones) May 4, 2022

https://twitter.com/icedbrew2/status/1521885786983088128

Most of the time, these morning sports debate shows are pablum at best, actively harmful at worst. Redick, though, offered an excellent potential justification for their ongoing proliferation: the chance to see guests stop by and destroy the main hosts.

If First Take featured more people dropping by to point out with palpable frustration how problematic and vacuous a lot of the arguments can be on a daily basis, that would truly be a show worth watching.

You know, actual debate, instead of empty theater designed to soullessly manufacture conflict and outrage from one camp or another for the sake of the all-powerful “engagement” metric.

Anyway, First Take is back tomorrow, probably without an ex-athlete accusing one of the regular hosts of parroting racist arguments, which will be a shame.