Consider This Our One Shining Moment

…No, literally. It’s the best date spot, says Inside Hook’s Logan Mahan. It’s guaranteed entertainment, the crack of the bat fills the silence so you don’t have to, and it’s nice and casual. What’s that? You want me to go with you? Buy me some peanuts and Cracker Jacks first, come on. 

In “news that you swear was an April Fools' prank,” rapper J. Cole announced he’s playing pro hoops abroad (again). This time, for the Chinese Basketball Association. Honestly, respect. Usually, they do basketball first and then start a rap career. 

ESPN’s Brian Windhorst says the player-podcast era and the lack of real storytelling have resulted in a weakened connection between players and fans. You know what? He’s right. Someday I’ll write at length about this, but today’s your lucky day — I will spare you.

I can’t believe I’m even saying this, but Nike isn’t doing so hot. Numbers are down in most categories, but in fairness, it kinda seems like everything everywhere all at once is down in every category. Anyway, if Mbappé leaves (and it’s still a big if), it could be a bitter pill to swallow for the sportswear Goliath. The Real Madrid star is physically on the move as we speak.  

You’ll be seeing a new face on the OffBall socials, because we’re so happy to announce that content creator Aliya Kisivo has joined our team! Her first order of business is manifesting a season of Summer House featuring pro athletes. 

It’s Joever. March Madness is about to come to an end. Which means you’re one month older, and also means we are one month closer to summer (which Caleb Hearon says will be a movie).

Anyway, it ain’t officially over ‘til the One Shining Moments. So let’s do our own One Shining Moment. With memes and reactions. 

First, check out the pain index of each men’s team. You can guess who’s at the top. 

In the beginning, it was all-consuming. 

On the men’s side, the psychopaths (positive) were out. 

And so were their parents.

And the women’s side had some psychopaths (positive) of their own. 

The UCLA women dusted their choreography off. 

Kyrie Irving showed out for the women of UConn, and as always, the WNBA stars were in the stands for Notre Dame. 

After the men of Duke lost, this meme made the rounds again. I’m sorry, Duke, it’s just too good. 

 And we were all once again forced to reflect on the harsh sting of a ticking clock. 

You are welcome for the exhilarating walk down Memory Lane. Check out the women’s Final Four tonight. The men play tomorrow. 

Trysta Kryck is a hustler. That’s how she got here. Along with working for free, sending 200 LinkedIn messages which ultimately landed her a big-time hosting gig at USA Today. She’s been at other major media organizations like Barstool and Audacy, too. But like many creators, she realized she was getting those gigs because of the platform she created. They needed her more than she needed them (my words, not hers). 

So, she went out on her own and hasn’t looked back or slowed down. She’s everywhere. Covering all sports. On seemingly every platform. “The freedom of being able to choose what opportunities I take and don’t was new and exciting and fulfilling to my soul,” she tells me. 

She’s in a league of her own because she’s just as much an assured analyst as she is a comedian. She’s loud, boisterous, and she has wit for days. Her content (whether on Good Follow, The Daily W, or otherwise) is so engaging because she doesn’t speak in TikTok voice (you know the one), and she isn’t posting to impress anyone; she’s covering what she likes, in the way she likes it. 

But for some time, she was afraid of that. “The reason I feared 'going there' (losing my job or potential opportunities) was the reason I had to lean into it. It’s authentically me, and most of my peers will never seek to replicate that brazen style. That style became attractive to the same places that once looked over me and told me I was too raw. That rawness became a superpower,” she says. 

And unlike other high-energy, high-octane on-air hosts and talent, her content isn't bait or just for shock value. She’s clear in her stance, she backs it up, and she maintains her integrity. At a time when content feels “very commercial,” as she put it, it’s nice to know authenticity isn’t dead. 

Follow Trysta here. Or here. 

Celebrate Black love with A’ja Wilson and “You, Me & Tuscany.” Comes out April 10th, get your tickets now!  

Watch the WNBA Expansion Draft today at 3pm ET. Then watch the Final Four at any of these watch parties. 

NYCers, get your collage on.With Fitted WBB, Flagrant Mag, and Wilkas.