12-07-2022, 08:46 PM
(This post was last modified: 12-09-2022, 03:51 AM by shanghai_kid. Edited 1 time in total.)
Code:
1596. Give all royalties to kenny.
SH: Hello, ladies and gents, welcome to Rookie Week here on Shazam! with Shazam Hefner, I’m Preston Hefner, welcome to the show. We’re back in Des Moines, basically because I’m running out of frequent flyers for Delta Air, the premier way to fly in the air. Don’t call me a sellout, damnit, I need money. Anyway, I’m happy this guy came two hours over - Columbus’ Chosen Child, current Dallas Birddogs cornerback, possible first rounder - you never know - anyway, it’s Jamdrian LeBayers (@kenvald)!
JLB: Hey Preston! Thanks for saving a seat for me on the show! I've had a couple of exciting weeks in Dallas, just nonstop action. It's nice to sit down and finally take a breather.
SH: Hey, don’t get too comfortable - you’ll be pressed like hell, haha. Anyway, let’s go with a slider question first - what was the scouting process like for you?
JLB: Very limited, actually. But I did talk to two teams, but before I knew it I was claimed by Dallas without much discussion. With this type of claiming being temporary I figured it was likely just first come, first served. You know, just about who needed a cornerback to fill out the roster. But I want to make clear I'm very grateful to be on the Birddogs! First time meeting the team was awesome. Already feel like I've been there for a long time.
SH: Actually, you have! Now that the seasons over, whats your reaction to the ups and downs the back half of the Birddogs season has given you?
JLB: My main reaction is just “wow!” if I’m being honest haha. I didn’t have too high expectations going into it. I knew I was gonna be a backup back at best. I got to be on the field for a couple of plays and feel like I did well with the opportunities I got. Dallas has been a great introduction to the league for me. I was of course nervous at first, getting to work and practice with some of the best around my age. But they’re good people. Just getting to be on the team, and the sidelines during the games was crazy. Could barely believe it the first game I was out there. Damn near made me teary eyed haha! It’s been an amazing experience already. Looking forward to doing it full time! I’m hoping to have shown some promise, not just to Dallas but to the entire league!
SH: Honestly, in the short time I’ve spent with Dallas, it seems like it’s a sweet place to be in, even as a dumb ‘Yotes fan. Now, my scouting reports here say…yes, they do say that you were a wide receiver in high school, but you changed to cornerback to fill a need. If any team out there needs a wide receiver - which doesn’t look likely, but I digress - do you think you can turn into the second reiteration of Prime Time and go both ways?
JLB: Yeah your research isn't lying. Back in the day I was all about scoring touchdowns and making big plays. Couldn't have cared less about the defensive side of the game. But nowadays I'm trying to prevent those same things from happening. You know, there's just something... I can't really put my finger on it. But there's just something special about ruining someone's dreams of touchdowns over and over again. But yeah, never mind. About your question... Mr Prime Time is definitely someone I've looked up to. So I just can't get myself to give him that disrespect and say that we're the same. If Dallas needs me to step into that role I'll do it. But the way I play the game has shifted too much away from my receiving days that I might be of more use as a distraction if I'm being real.
SH: Ouch, you can’t be worse than Chase Claypool, though, yeah?
JLB: I don't want to disrespect anyone's name. Hah... let's just leave it at that.
SH: What do you feel you bring to the league that other cornerbacks don’t have?
JLB: I've noticed a growing disregard for the slot when it comes to cornerbacks lining up. I don't think there's a single cornerback in the DSFL that specializes in that area. Which is a shame. It gives the best view of the play. And also allows you to almost always affect the play, you know? And that's where I shine. I'm not satisfied with only focusing on a single player, or a single route. I want to do it all. Staring down the quarterback, blocking lanes, patching holes in the d-line, or running deep for secondary coverage. And that's what I bring. It's what I do.
SH: Think fast - favorite food.
JLB: Easy. Pancakes.
SH: I KNEW IT! Damn, man, us cornerbacks all got that dog in us, yknow? We just keep going for it, it’s something in all of us.
JLB: Haha! Yeah you know it! Can't stop, won't stop!
SH: Honestly, like, back when I played for Northern Iowa, right, it was that rush of excitement that I felt from being able to sack people and shit that I YEARN for, man. Sorry if that rained on your parade, Ohio State.
JLB: Ha, not at all. I'm with you all the way no matter where you play, man. I sleep like a baby after a game of running people over and punching the ball right out of their hands. There's nothing I'd rather do.
SH: Actually, this is a great segue into my next topic - what would you rather do OFF the field? Sponsorships, clothing, television, the skies the limit. Now that you have this fame in front of you, what do you plan to do with that fame?
JLB: Oh uh... the first thing I plan to do is learn how to handle it, hah! I'm not used to all this yet, you know? Never spent a lot of time in the spotlight. But I'm excited. Also gotta take that mandatory media training every rookie apparently has to take. Hopefully they're not too mad that I'm talking to you before looking into that one, haha. But what I like to do off the field, well, it varies. I'm just trying to spend time outside if nothing else. I usually just go for a run if I'm bored.
SH: Aw, I’m not THAT bad. Just think of that old SportsCenter commercial. For those of you who don’t remember what I’m talking about, there was this commercial where Stu Scott, rest in peace, and Kenny Mayne were talking with Keyshawn and Kobe about how to talk to the media - be arrogant. Worked every time.
JLB: Haha or if all else fails just go with the now classic "I'm just here so I won't get fined.". That one I've heard works every time.
SH: But, hey, getting outside is always nice, though, no matter the weather. Probably one of my favorite things to do is, oddly enough, shoveling snow, mainly cause it’s just getting outside for a bit.
JLB: Y’know, that reminds me. I gotta get me one of those fancy snow machines or whatever they're called. That's where my first paycheck is going. No way I'm shoveling snow by hand anymore. That's just dangerous. Feels like I'mma pull a muscle just by looking at the driveway. But hey, here's a secret you won't find in any scouting reports. Just for you and your audience: I love Christmas. It's my favorite season. After football season, of course. Can't get enough of the lights and music, you know haha?
SH: Okay, this is a super duper important question that WILL decide whether or not this interview keeps going. Is All I Want for Christmas is You good?
JLB: Woah, now that's the most loaded question I've been asked... My answer is... yes. I love most Christmas music. But I gotta say I don't think I'd survive listening to that song in a mall every day for a month.
SH: Okay, as someone who was a seasonal Best Buy worker for 3 years in high school, I mean this with no disrespect, but fuck you, man.
Listen, listen, you try working 8-hour shifts with Mariah and Bublé blaring in your ears, man! It sucks! No offense to Mariah and Bublé themselves, but, GOD, it is overplayed as FUCK.
JLB: Oh, I bet. It doesn't sound like a good time. So, well, all I can say to that is, thank you for your service.
SH: I’ll take any thank you! Listeners, tell your kids they’re welcome for those TVs that came in, too!
Nah, nah, you know I’m just playing with you. Speaking of playing, you did basketball in high school? What was that all about? I know Joe Buck’s gonna bring that up every broadcast, so sorry in advance.
JLB: Oh yeah, back in the day I just played everything. And basketball was just the one that stuck other than football. Easy access to courts everywhere, you know? It wasn't ever really my favorite though. Stuck with it as long as I did because I had a couple friends on the team.
SH: Alright, alright! We sadly gotta wrap this up, but before we do - do you have anything you wanna say to the crowd?
JLB: All I gotta say is look for number 5 on the field in the future. I've been feeling the energy from fans all over the world, and I can't wait to show them what I can do!
SH: Jamadrian LeBayers, everyone! Thanks to him for agreeing to do this, thanks to you for listening, and we’ll see you next time on Shazam! with Shazam Hefner!
———————