Keith McCants is a former professional American football linebacker, is our special guest in this episode. He goes into his high school tenure, of how he played basketball, and almost played college basketball. He played for college football for Alabama where he was ALL SEC. He played for six seasons in the National Football League (NFL) for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Houston Oilers, and the Arizona Cardinals from 1990 to 1995. He was selected by Tampa Bay in the 1st round (4th overall) of the 1990 NFL Draft.
Buy Keith McCants book: https://amzn.to/2XAqHQI
Show Notes
Early Life:
-grew up in Orange Grove housing project in Mobile
-saw sports as a way out
-in 8th grade, he smashed backboard during a summer league basketball game
-basketball coach said he would overlook the cost of replacing the backboard if McCants would transfer to Murphy
-during his senior year in 1986, McCants accumulated 130 tackles and 3 INTs
-was named USA Today All-American in high school
-he was originally a Tennessee fan, but changed his mind when teammates Ben Holt and Sam Atkins signed with Alabama
-recruited by Ray Perkins
Alabama:
-had to sit out his first year due to NCAA sanctions
-played in the shadow Cornelius Bennett & Derrick Thomas
-sophomore season, 78 tackles, 7 tackles for loss, 2 forced fumbles, and an INT
-in 1989, he had 119 tackles
-best game came against Auburn
-after a 58-yard gain by Auburn WR Shayne Wasden, McCants chased him down to prevent a touchdown
-holds the SEC record for sacks (27) and tackles for loss (44)
-All-American
-1990 National Defensive Player of the Year
-multi-time SEC Player of the Week
-McCants pioneered the movement of players leaving early for to the NFL, convinced Emmitt Smith to join him
-originally projected to No.1 overall in the 1990 NFL Draft to the Atlanta Falcons
-Questions about his agent, Lance Luchnick, and his knee issue caused his stock to drop
NFL:
-6’3 245lbs at the NFL Combine
-ran 4.5 40-yard dash
-drafted No. 4 overall in the 1990 NFL Draft by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
-McCants received the largest all-cash signing bonus of that time ($2.5 million)
-Former Alabama coach, Ray Perkins, was the head coach of Tampa Bay
-drafted between Cortez Kennedy and Junior Seau
-carried a briefcase full of money, $500K, to a restaurant after being drafted
-played in 15 games as a rookie, started 4 due to knee injury
-knee didn’t heal properly
-had 44 tackles and 2 sacks his first season
-was forced to make a switch from LB to DE, which he despises to this day and attributes as one of the reasons his tenure was cut short
-after his 3rd and best season with the Buccaneers (58 tackles, 5 sacks), they didn’t wish to pick up the remaining two years on his contract. They waived him.
-he went to the Patriots, but was cut
-served a brief stint with the Oilers before being picked up by the Arizona Cardinals
-played for legendary coach Buddy Ryan, who called Keith McCants his 3rd son
-had a 46-yard pick 6
-he was let go after the 1995 season
-played only 6 seasons and was out of the NFL by age 28
-considered one of the great 1st round “busts”
Personal Life:
-forced to retire from the NFL due to knee injury sustained that never healed properly
-playing the DE position aggravated his knee issue
-became addicted to pain killers
-played on one good leg for the majority of his career
-had 33 surgeries
-endured addiction, depression, homelessness, financial ruin
-suffered from early onset dementia
-arrested for drug related charges
-lost more than $17 million due to bad investments
-attempted suicide on multiple occasions
-Darron Patterson feels that a lack of a mentor hurt Keith in the pros
-went to ReAwakenings Wellness Center in Central Florida
-teamed up with them to provide $100K in scholarships to anyone in the state of Alabama suffering from addiction
-wants to use his experiences to save the lives of others
-Robert Blackman helped him put together his autobiography in 2018
-became the first black marine police officer for the state of Alabama
-appeared in the ESPN 30 for 30 series, “Broke”
-co-host of “Hear It Now!” in Tampa
Transcript
Santiago Leon
Welcome to the sports cast. If you haven’t yet, please subscribe to all our channels, YouTube, and iTunes. And if you’re an iTunes, please leave a rating and review it will help us out tremendously. And visit us on the sports cast dotnet the sports cast dotnet for the latest and greatest. This episode is brought to you by it’s the Bible app. You could you could get the instant Bible app on the iOS App Store. And today we have a special show today and my co host, Mr. Justin Riley, welcome to the sports cast.
Justin Riley
Glad to be here. Glad to be here talking to sports. We definitely need it right now and excited to be talking about football. Before we introduce your introduce our guests. What’s going on with Alabama I’ve heard there was three players tested positive for Corona virus. Oh well don’t know a whole lot of detail other than that was what was really Least earlier, five players actually have been tested positive for the Coronavirus. They didn’t give any names or any specifics, but they’re gonna do their best to control the situation and quarantine the players and then get them back on the road to health but nothing to be really, I guess fearful of just yet, but that’s what’s going on so far.
Santiago Leon
Yeah yesterday, three players from Oklahoma State University were tested positive and now today Alabama. So we’ll see how how these big schools will handle the situation but I’m sure they got the protocols ready. And of course they probably had the quarantine for at least two weeks or at most two weeks. Justin, I would like to, for you to introduce our special guest and what is it all about?
Justin Riley
Absolutely, man, I am glad to do this. Ladies, gentlemen, we have a great opportunity today to speak with one of the all time greats from the University of Alabama as well as one of the To play for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. He was a 1989 First Team all American 99 First Team all sec player 1989 Defensive Player of the Year 98 nine iron Bowl MVP. He was a number four overall pick in the 1990 NFL Draft. And one of the most prestigious prestigious awards was I had his poster on my wall, my Alabama wall at my house growing up. That is none other than Keith McCann’s. Welcome to the show, brother.
Keith McCants
Hey, thank you very much, man. That was a great introduction. That was That was awesome. I’m glad to be here to be with you guys.
Santiago Leon
Hey, thanks for coming on all sec player. Keith Keane, tell us a little bit about yourself. And how did you start your life?
Keith McCants
Well, growing up from Orange girl projects man and Mobile, Alabama, the small town in the state out of battle AX, not that small a second was the second largest state city and In the state Alabama and I started off as a basketball player actually love basketball and playing basketball in arms do out throughout the years and stuff of that I was really big my age I always play with older guys. And that made me a lot better left bass a lot stronger. And I’ve kind of stood out and was soft land football. And it is as soon as took off from from Really? Yeah, speaking.
Justin Riley
I’m sorry. I want to ask real quick I heard there’s a story about you an eighth grader and suddenly about playing basketball and you got caught the attention of Murphy coach, can you tell me a little bit about that?
Keith McCants
Yeah, this is this is what got me go. I was going to the schools, the school blocks because I love basketball and Brown was a basketball school. Man, this guy named Johnny Moffitt. Johnny Mack was a bass challenging kid. He got caught up in some trouble. But anyway, I was doing playing somebody basketball. Um, I was in eighth grade. And do we have playing with high school guys? And we’ve lucked out plan and stuff and I shadowed a bank board and I ran out the gym beause I was in trouble you know, I’m saying I’m bummed for kids. I didn’t know no bells. I ran a gym, jumped in the car went home. And so the basketball rather the basketball coach was also the defensive coach for the Boston football teams. And he said Who was that guy who was that kid? Then he came to my door knocking on the door and and there’s a mom came to the door she didn’t know I was playing sports. And he said whatever man keep broke all bank boards is a bag boy, what are you talking about? See when it says force as you know my baby Yeah, I saw working out and loving you though. So you’re not you just go to work goes to a basketball and she didn’t know slam and hammocks over the McCloud closet. So well wait, we began to have some The backboard in his hand, you say yeah, exactly how much is gonna cost me? there man a bag will cost about $10,000. And they break away. They just came up with you said 10,000. I don’t know $10,000 either all he can come to Berkeley High School. Coming up. I guess he’ll be going to the high schools.
Keith McCants
Yeah.
Keith McCants
Go ahead, go.
Keith McCants
Like your passing passed away a couple of years, man, one of the best codes ever I’ve ever had. And it taught me so much about the game of football. And he just Just let me do one thing on appeal. Keith, great.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, sorry. So, so sorry to interrupt you twice. Go ahead. Sorry, finish. I thought
Keith McCants
it I got a lot of stories, man.
Santiago Leon
So yeah, I was doing some research and before we head into a football you had a relationship with Charles Barkley key. Tell us a little bit about that.
Keith McCants
Yeah I’m on a recruiting trip, Tennessee and Auburn and a couple other schools will allow me to play both sports because they know has a passion for basketball but they allowed me to do a Louis Vuitton talk to me while I was there and cat dad showed me that I’d be able to play both sports know basketball and football guys he has to talk to Bo Jackson a little bit and I’ll go he’s a two sport guy one that best is was that they haven’t played a game and that was very impressive. And was that that plan around and stuff like that and and talk about to tell me how great Alden was and stuff like that. And Bo Jackson got a chance with me to him a couple times. And law you to me. It’s close like a movie Alabama, because he was my chaperone. And it was a great experience, man.
Justin Riley
Well, I got to ask them I heard a rumor that you were a Tennessee fan at one point is that true?
Keith McCants
I was a big controversy saying
Keith McCants
that it means is Yes, sir.
Justin Riley
Terrible names there. So, you know, read rest in peace coach majors.
Keith McCants
I’d say like I’d say while I was in Tennessee saying that this guy named Charles kimbrel. He played he played well. That’s why we’ll see ya before. He was my idol. He went to Tennessee, and also the Reggie White was there as well. And I went to visit with Gen Z and I get a chance to meet all these guys and watch them play. And I was a big Tennessee fan. You know that from from from them by idle. And I was just thinking about it. I’m really anathan chief mechanics fan. And I did an interview with I got a radio show here in St. Petersburg. And I didn’t know that he wanted to come to university Alabama because of me. Can that can relate to that because I want to go to Tennessee because
Santiago Leon
we wish which back then Tennessee was definitely a big time College School on Keith key tell us your recruitment experience that led you to Alabama.
Keith McCants
Oh man, yeah.
Keith McCants
One of the grades that I had that I met I got a chance to meet Paul Bell Brian and he told me that what he heard about me and my talent and that you’ll be glad to see me when I come out of Bama when he told me that it was all over West as the great Brian know about Keith McCants. Wow so that’s that that’s that that’s what that’s what happened with that. It was over with
Santiago Leon
it was done and but um, how many schools were looking at you like how many schools out there that express interest?
Keith McCants
Every school in the country?
Keith McCants
Wow, Arizona. Thank you. So receiving that junior colleges boy, your job. Oh Where’s point A all was looking at me
Santiago Leon
who’s your second like
Keith McCants
what was what?
Santiago Leon
Who was your close second?
Keith McCants
close second was I would have to say Tennessee
Keith McCants
Tennessee
Justin Riley
well obviously Alabama was your choice and doors coming there your position you know you’re stepping into a lot of some pretty big names like Derrick Thomas and Cornelius Bennett but we’re with you there really wasn’t like a learning curve at all You just dominated right out of the gate so I gotta ask I guess how’d you escape their shadow and become the next big thing that position?
Keith McCants
Well, okay William follow was was a real cool head area of Mobile, Alabama. He recruited me For a long time they would look at in zooms I was a freshman in high school and when you feel full and then that thing is real slowly away part of that knowledge is that Don’t you want to be great next the next big con has been I said no I want to be the first team who’s a great teams with this guy him so we went to the gym and stuff I was up there on the back. I’m playing my first year so we all went to the gym and so we playing basketball with me Connie’s been at Bobby Humphrey was talking about I know seeing so many challenges in my life. The guy was just like me. And then, like, when I’ve done man, and I’ve jumped up man and volcano 300 jump up, then put it back down. skyrise Oh, you’re like, a like, Wow, man. We can’t wait to get him on the field. He got to be so special. And that was that that was that was a great experience, man. We’re playing playing basketball. Got it was outstanding football player was was a basketball player. And I got a chance also to practice with the whimsy out with the basketball team as well as being to stay in shape and stuff like that. So I kind of fell in is George George University Alabama, one of the bit the best years of my life man.
Santiago Leon
How was your experience with Alabama back then? Was it like a very championship minded type of I mean a championship type of like, organization back then just as it is right now, like how was the ambience
Keith McCants
as long as yours Alabama us expected to win, right? And they just said that we had a winning attitude we had winning championship. We practiced perfection. We know it was perfect, but we practiced for perfection. And we took that dead mentality on appeal and people that are That went to the University of Alabama and play plays there. Even when we we just assessed it that we have steel from the from from the football field here on in light and in our life journey.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, very similar answer. Yes.
Keith McCants
Yeah even if you fall, we learn how to get back up to the bug the most important player the most important game is the next one.
Santiago Leon
Yeah. Which is a very simple answer to when we spoke with George teach, you know, Alabama had that jab jab caliber mentality right Justin?
Justin Riley
Oh absolutely. I mean, year after year, you know like you said to me, you’re expected to win and win now.
Keith McCants
And if you want to win if you want to do if you want to be successful and stuff like that, you go to university Alabama and that’s why they so they have so much great depth on on the bench. And because you have a user you got second and third strains is capable of plant first strain And then he’s just so the challenge is so loaded to the universe Alabama and his critics Nick Saban, because that comes from recruiting. And it’s the performance on the fear from the young man that that they play and now and, and it carries on and that opened up with being an NFL where it’s just like a lot of NFL players. I mean, scout teams, respect and look forward to just you know, universal dumb players. We think
Santiago Leon
Saban is the greatest coach of Alabama. I mean of all time.
Keith McCants
Yeah. I have to say yes, man. He’s one of the greatest coach ever held. The college coaches ever that ever live. That Brian’s in his time he was the greatest and not just Nick Saban time he is the greatest and the head coach saw this. It goes job is not just the exam without the T’s going to take me to football, but went ahead it’s all disappeared to life and he motivate players to play better than what they are he bought a coast to coast better than what they are even great motivated and that’s and that’s what landed with with championships
Justin Riley
absolutely you know after just you know two years Alabama you dominated and you actually regarded as the best player in college football projected to go number one overall in the 1990 NFL Draft. What made you feel like at that point, you know, being just a junior there was time for you to go
Keith McCants
well, well, if I knew I don’t know what to say. But the thing is that you go to college to earn money for your flat family ever, ever, ever a decent living and life is I was already heard I already had a bad leg and and I probably wouldn’t got my chance to to enter the NFL is just one play away. Like both nouns and Yeah was he so he is a college? Yeah he is one player away from from ruin his dream you know you have a $600,000 football players that play cars out there and you trying to get in and you’re trying to trying to get you want to be the banquet of the best of the best. And that’s in the National Football League and that’s where the best or the best not first not not first, not first practice. They paid me stealing all Bobby Humphrey. Bob hoffa came out and footpath layout. I went one way he went the other way. That was it as you seen the cat.
Keith McCants
Bobby was dead.
Keith McCants
Yeah, yes. And that’s what that and then then that universe out of balance Academy. Has that? Yeah. It’s it’s some of the best that you’ll see. You know that you freed us. Some of the guys are practicing the Alabama stuff better some guys don’t necessarily
Santiago Leon
Keith, you mentioned something about you wish you stayed longer. What do you say that?
Keith McCants
Well come when I got drafted to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers it became I didn’t realize what kind of business it was. Ray Perkins Hear me out for as long as he can to this to let my knee heal up because what he has I have I have a degenerative bone disease, and it was till you’re ready, I’ll go ahead and sign the contract. They only knew that I saw it went on for three years. And that was part of my problem because I’m moving to different diseases which caused me of the becoming a common contact with Austin Suleiman almost every play. When I do that, this is just a reference and now back a middle linebacker. I’m able to go satellite and satellite and keep those guys off me and I’ve done j and am very busy making content every play and the Got an NFL you know you got a weakness, they attack your weakness and then as soon as they do so, now I’m playing decent man really prevalent out of position because of the speed guy, I should say a middle linebacker and that is that it cannot be the kind of rant or the double teaming or something like that and it has been getting frustrated because at Alabama I was there all my life I’m used to making plays all over See, now I’m on one side and I’m being isolated or done. And it deals and some people call me a bus but with the seasons I had that then no one no bus. Absolutely. It’s like being in the business forever. I became addicted to drugs, because I end up taking so many pain pills and drink on top of just go out there and play and take a set of cortisone shots and stuff like that. And when when they told me I was adding a business bank it was, I didn’t know what that was. I had nothing. But I didn’t realize I had to add that so I was thinking 100 deals a week just to play. And when I left the lead it kind of pushed me to the curb and I was like, not alone. Because you don’t say enough alone. I wrote a book called my dark side of the NFL I keep against and I talk about the things not to bash the NFL because this is a lifelong journey for a lot of cheat out there but to educate you or what you do to get to the NFL and what are you willing to do the same thing that they just like the steroids thing. You paying? Is this the best you the edge you can get? Well, it’s consequences. Oh, and I paid, I paid a hell of a consequence for the jobs I was taking,
Santiago Leon
which will leave that link of the book below in our description. Go ahead, Keith. Sorry.
Keith McCants
Then and that’s why I thought that through things I do now. Radio key is 8am and sample draw 829 in Tampa, Florida. I mean St. St. Petersburg and Tampa, Florida, and I didn’t mention it. And because the Coronavirus I haven’t had a book tour I had to kind of shut it down but soon I get a chance of going around the country to the push to book and educate people about the techniques overheating people and bringing her plan injured and taking medications.
Justin Riley
Need to teamed up with your friend Robert Bly manky kind of tell us a little bit about that relationship. And again, yeah, make this book really come together.
Keith McCants
Yeah, yeah. Robert, about that one man. Robert. I got a recipe for some. And they’re here in Tampa and Robert reached out to me, I think he was he was at Florida State with oj simpson son, Justin. It was roommates. And he reached out to me and then as you just said, won’t help this guy. And when he did, it’s like, I want to I want to see if you see all the headlines about he pretends I never Ross do cheat lab manipulated anything that was taken out it’s all up to the board. And Robert came in I said I want to share the story they lacking a few decades to get the story out there. And we’ve seen when we saw yet we get on 30 for 30, Rogen and vice fortune, it would be so many interviews and and we really took off and I started telling my side of the story and the more I talked about my story more people came and started
Keith McCants
both people in a VSO
Keith McCants
like he I got the same problem. And I covered some things that actually happened. So I found out that I knew I want to own one, but one of the reasons I want to do it is because When a good friend of mine took his life genius to jump on about two trees, Andre waters, Tama tail, and Wisconsin, cancer I tried to take my life because my live live the ability to live life on life’s terms and 18 questions with that little street for two years, you know the GAVI scandal the media didn’t know what they know I was on drugs and the depression is in suicidal homicidal. And I wrote this book in a because not just for people, but a players who don’t have a voice and a great book. And I and it is a super book. I’m not ashamed about what I’ve been through because all they don’t be will make you stronger. And but I’m Jase. I’m I got a testimony. I just want to wait. I can’t wait to get dance.
Santiago Leon
Keys. Can you tell us about your testimony of how you found Christ?
Keith McCants
Well, I got to wrestle. Witness lives in prostitution and Mobile Alabama and it was solely on consensual I was mad at time because we get a divorce so I’m in the car I want man at the school is because they put that bed that in that room out and it went through what do I do? I took a bell I hung myself somehow broke or something I don’t know what happened. Oh God, I don’t know. But when I came to him when I was sitting up and God kept me down and stuff like that. Yeah, so I said I got a three to seven I’m gonna go home I’m just so ended that God if you real good enough science show me anything. Give me something. Now saying that what happened on a Friday, I was gonna be a winter Celebrate Recovery on Monday. And I looked at the shirt, saw signing autographs taking pictures that I will do will be Alabama. And this guy looks at me and he gives me cash. Yo man Whoa, okay, I think he’s just a regular Alabama fan. And he said, when he came up the hood, kind of tight, God bless you. And I thought it was maybe a little gay or something. There was no problem with that. And he said, I’m gonna tell you that they don’t know you from somewhere they said no, you never seen before in my life. He said, but I know you. And I’m gonna tell you what I know you from you hung yourself in prison jail. And I took just prayed to God that you may live and you rose up like when he told me that I hit my hands and knees and stuff with a four hour surgery at all.
Keith McCants
And that’s my lifestyle change.
Santiago Leon
man.
Santiago Leon
Man that’s
Santiago Leon
like, wow.
Keith McCants
God is real. Spirit is veal. And God In a way install the storm of brain because I couldn’t I didn’t know keep the cans world out of the garbage can take a shower the gas station. I don’t 600,000 in the bank and $100,000 lanta, Hadley load, condo, and out and out of the nowhere I went through a divorce. So I was to have nervous breakdown. So yeah, man, God is real. I’m gonna save the love of money is the root of all evil. Money destroyed everything around me Hello. I know you got to have to live and that’s the biggest dig out of the drug addiction. Money is the biggest addiction in the world at every level of life. And everybody everybody that needed it right need it. And in everybody’s life, everybody try to get it on every level life.
Santiago Leon
And then Keith, wow, that’s a that’s a powerful testimony and I and I pray that people that have listened to it We’ll definitely you know will be inspired by it. We’re winding down Justin a bit on the show, um, Keith. Who, who playing against or playing with who was the greatest player that you’ve ever played with or against?
Keith McCants
Oh man, that’s awesome. Well, only one guy ever scored a touchdown in one game against him. His name was Jerry Rice. You had wondered is that that guy I had to see but they got this do one’s a jerk and I’m gonna tell you something. He knew that I can’t leave a buddy. Although he’s a friend. And smell. And smell is one of the smartest runners I’ve ever seen in my life. He runs right off the golf right off his block of the Day of Silence breaking you’re never going to get a good sat on it. And then it I got that name one mon bears and got those those data sets laid against the Want to play with? Awesome Wow. Warren moon
Keith McCants
Yeah, Jonah. Oh,
Keith McCants
geez, Doug and, and and.
Keith McCants
And it’s given Hayward Geoffrey Webster saw the best wide receiver core ever seen in my life. These guy was super sectionals that knew how to practice and knew how to bring it to the game.
Keith McCants
was one game from the Super Bowl. I’m playing for Houston all
Keith McCants
day. These guys. One of the best coaches out there. The late better Ryan.
Keith McCants
He was a special
Keith McCants
special man. Okay. He was second come in there and motivate and motivate you. He didn’t say much. But when he did, you listen and not only know you listen, he can get he can get to
Justin Riley
He actually stores that he actually considered you to be like his third son. you’re that close Yeah.
Keith McCants
Yeah yeah we were man we were running around actually try to get me going out of college. I do this story. So bless his soul. And David when I came out of college Ed Davis told me to check into a mental institution so I can force them to draft I never heard of stuff like that. That’s how powerful the NFL is.
Keith McCants
Yeah, and
Justin Riley
that’s the thing is you know, we all outside had this, you know, this glamorous image about what pro sports and especially the NFL is you know all about but you know, there’s another reality and course you experienced that and, you know, you suffered through the addiction you suffered through depression, you know, you lost a lot of money. Like you said, You’re on the streets would wish I can say I actually identify with because I went through a hard time my life where I was experiencing the same thing. So I completely understand and you know, you mentioned the suicide attempts and whatnot. But you had a breakthrough and you know, God had another plan. And, you know, how do you feel like God is leading you with this type of ministry to help others who may be facing the same thing? And like you mentioned earlier, who really don’t have a have a voice or really know that there are others out there they are going through what they’re going through?
Keith McCants
Well, you know,
Keith McCants
yeah, it’s not such a lot of Souls was there that we gave me It gave me the experience, that the spirits that come through the things that have come through the wealth, the walk and talk the talk in ama JSON, this is a big world and more people can relate to my addiction story because more people in this world is on job on some kind of addiction. It’s just not just anything that you put before anything for God and good for you. But it stuck with me David did something that you do too much. And it was a See what they can do is dog the day and I’ll do unto another six months and another six months of just doing on the Christmas, stuff like that. If you assume anything too much drinking, alcohol, gambling, eating anything compared addiction to you, and people that suffer from the disease of addiction really shouldn’t be prevented is not the answer for them. They have is not the answer. But these people give the opportunity to get the proper help to learn what addiction is, and how to learn, learn, learn, how does the FY two this this thing, use cocaine cocaine is a middle drug, heroin, there’s a physical Joe and that that’s all so these are things that can keep you and and and and when you when you go and go to these these different rehab schools that they just found out exactly what you’re dealing with. And then you’ll do your billing And there is an answer for answer some some yeah that that big gimmick and they do do a lot of insurance fraud but regardless of that what you put in is what you don’t get out of it this is your love you don’t love it know that take your take your life back and stop letting them droves rule to rule your world and to control your life and you know take this on your life so let’s thank all hijack your brain get hijacked the guy next to me dead draw come first no matter what. No saying that deck they come back we’re going to work with our school will take care of all your possibilities that will come first. It broke up so many relationships and have killed so many people. And some people got dual addiction. That’s and so and so and it’s just it’s just as bad. So knowledge is power. Knowledge is power, and the more you know about it The more you know how to fight against this. And it’s not it’s not that a one way thing is a reprogram there’s a weeping souls out there that suffer drama. Just call my number is 954479 842 I’d be glad to talk to you every day. I’m your church visual review you as the bad cop The key is, I’ll be glad to do those things and spread the knowledge that I have. And I have got learned from that.
Justin Riley
A man Wow, I would have kind of like to ask
Santiago Leon
one more. Yeah,
Justin Riley
of course, you know, accepting Christ is like the number one thing that just completely can, you know, turn your life around but, but it’s much more than that. You know, it’s about going to counseling, but it goes beyond just going to counseling and going to the centers and, and in the facilities. They’re designed to provide the healing. One of the most important things I learned especially when I was overcoming a lot and from my church and when I was in Birmingham. was about surround yourself with the right people and godly people and especially people, men or, or women, whoever you need to who will pour like into you that will hold you accountable who will invest in you can you can’t tell me about a particular person or a person’s, I guess while you were healing and overcome this that they poured life into you and maybe it’s still doing so and how important that is.
Keith McCants
Yes, it is important.
Keith McCants
Robert Blackmon that has been there for me and there’s no matter what my job is to publicize or even a true friend I could tell him anything good bad or ugly. Belinda pulser another public at California she Dinesh efficient, she understand the disease of addiction and all public shopping and and my family members did They did proud of me, they stick by me. And I was one of the few superstars that, that fallen so far so fast. And Leah to tell about it. This is not just my story. This is the story of the people that don’t have a voice. You may be allowed. You may be not there, you have gone through it. It’s my son, let me speak, that will speak for you. You speak to me? Because I’ve been there and I’ve done it. And I made it.
Santiago Leon
Amen. Wow. This is by the,
Keith McCants
by the grace of God.
Santiago Leon
That’s the only way anything is possible.
Keith McCants
By the grace of God. We’ve got to believe, even attach a battle. Because then you lose out you lose hope. And that’s what I say. I say I hope my stories and some of the things I’ve gone through something that bad to some of the things that other people has always I’ve gone through, they relate to my story. So I’m able to touch so many hearts and soul that challenge them by by speaking where they can’t be, don’t be heard. And they did they listen to this podcast, they listen to me on the radio, I know that y’all can relate to it to the thing that I’m talking about being homeless being on show, thinking to taking credit crack cocaine, as they’re doing the things that is unnecessary. This poor people can relate to this story that they did not come at somebody and it’s everybody in the United States. got somebody out there that suffers from the disease of addiction, whether it’s my brother, your sister, your cousin, your uncle, your aunt, and somebody, there’s not one perfect family on this basis deserve and it can be overcall and it will by the grace of God.
Santiago Leon
That’s right. Wow, powerful key this this, this almost became, has become an Insta Bible cast, Justin, but we’re still in the sports guys. Keith, you know, closing the show a little bit. Tell us where you’re up to now. And What is the best way to reach you?
Keith McCants
Well, my number was not so second number.
Keith McCants
The first number is 954-479-8042 the second number
Santiago Leon
get the other phone right
Keith McCants
yeah, hold on hold on one second. Okay
Keith McCants
Well yeah,
Keith McCants
right right now right right done actually that’s that’s that’s my lawyer just called me like that, guys. I’ll have to take this call. But here’s how I got into radio shows. That’s what he said, template St. Petersburg, Florida. I’m doing things like that. And that’s the best way to the retreat is give them a call at that 954 number and at 42. And I’ll be more than happy to come to motivate speaking as talks to kids and churches and stuff like that because of the Coronavirus. I’ve been able to do a book tour. So, Pac Man, but it’s their thing. Going to streaming Well was, was a long day I got it. I got to have a hip replacement. And hope get through it.
Santiago Leon
Keith, thanks for coming on to the sports cast. And we’ll have just a little bit on for the show. But Keith, we appreciate you coming on and hopefully we will see you again soon.
Keith McCants
All right, thank you very much, man. I love you guys, man. Keep good work up. If anybody calls you contact me. Let me know what’s going on.
Justin Riley
Absolutely, man. Glad to meet you. Glad to have you on and appreciate you sharing your testimony with us.
Keith McCants
No problem, man. Thank you. God bless you.
Santiago Leon
God bless you. Well, Justin, there you have it. Keith McCann’s, Alabama legend Tampa Bay Buccaneers legend. What are your thoughts over this interview?
Justin Riley
Just a truly amazing moment. You know, a lot of people only see what they read in the headlines or, or like Keith mentioned the 3430s or you know what the media wants to tell you about what actually happens to the players. But, you know, we were able just to get an intimate Look at a man that, you know, ascended to the highest of highs and then face the lowest of lows, and, you know, attempted to leave this world not once but several times because of just what the addiction and the depression and losing all that money did to him but, you know the power of God restored and and saved him and and like he said Nami people who who have endured what he has endured, survived that and so that this is definitely a God thing. I think it serves as a testimony to a lot of people out there that are facing so many trials, you know, it gives them a reason to continue on, you know, identify with Keith because there was a time that was very dark for me and I was homeless for a long time. I had to live my car or go from hotel to hotel or Are couchsurfing away one good you know, I’ve even had thoughts of taking them online at a time just because how things things were happening but you know I once heard you know a god designs a midnight for all of us to go through but there’s always that joy that comes in the morning and it does come in the morning and hearing key you know just continues to solidify that and it’s just truly powerful this goes beyond football you know, I was excited as an Alabama fan to get a legend you know from my school to come on and talk to us about these things and he’s a guy that of course growing up I looked for I looked up to and you know, just I had the kid the guy’s poster on my wall so it was a big deal but this goes beyond that. I want him on the show for closer. Yeah, I have on this show for the reason of what we just experienced. Because after Realize that we have a platform here not just for sports, but to reach people’s lives that that really need need Christ and really need something. So this this is a big deal and I was very grateful that we had this opportunity.
Santiago Leon
Yeah story hope and I appreciate you having him on the show. Justin gets all the credit I I did not do all the the door knocking or the cold calling. But this story reminds me a lot of Marcus Dupree back in the early 80s. I’m not sure if you remember him. The ESPN did a special movie about him a documentarian, very similar, you know, went to the USFL I believe, and lost all the money. But I mean, well, Keith made it to the NFL, you know, had a short stint. So a little bit better than Marcus Dupree but it’s quite interesting how these players you know, one aspect we didn’t really touch was the whole agents thing. I’m not saying every agents bad, but I’m saying that a lot of people For two new agents that get with the players and and they lose a lot of money, like the players was a lot of money because agents promise this and that if you give me the money I’m invested in, I can triple it. So that’s something to really it’s kind of mind boggling. I’m not sure if it’s happening still, but is an issue that I’ve been hearing for a while.
Justin Riley
Well is something is always ongoing. You know, this is just a site of professional stores that that we tend to overlook, we tend to sweep it under the rug because it’s not glamorous, it’s not the the fame lifestyle that we want to see what you know, we tend to overlook or hide from the, from the bad but there’s a lot of things like what Keith has experienced going on and people need to understand that especially young athletes coming up, they need to understand the dangers that are out there. It’s not just about having a large bank account having you know, several cars or, or anything. It’s your discipline. is facing, like he said, you know, drugs having to take take drugs to just be able to perform, you know, facing a lot of underhanded things within the within professional sports agents, people trying to give you bad investments to make money off of you, you know, there’s just a whole nother side that the kids really need to know about and hearing Keith. It gives them a clearer picture and the realness of of the dangers of professional sports.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, definitely something that we’ll probably do a story on in the near future on the sports cast and Other Stories of done as hard as Gilmore check that out on the sports cast dotnet special that I did. The sports cast did about an unknown batch. A Chicago Bulls legend. back before Michael Jordan was artists Gilmore news today before we close out MBAs back They’ll be resuming in July they all voted today wasn’t as complicated as major league baseball. The plan will have 13 Western Conference teams and nine Eastern Conference teams will play eight regular season seating games, if possible play in tournament for the eight seed and playoffs at the Walt Disney World Resort. Are you glad to see like the NBA coming back in?
Justin Riley
I really do. It’s giving us a return to something normal. And that’s something that we all have been just desperately grasping for the past several months. It gives us something positive. There’s a lot of negative right now in the news and you know, having something positive for us is greatly needed. I’m excited as a sports fan to be able to see that resume. One thing that I really wish could happen I hate that Vince Carter can’t complete his his storybook career and up Amazing fashion. I hate that, you know, into the way it did I wish that he could get on with a team that’s currently a one the 22 just mentioned, to where he could close it out and more, you know, fitting way Hey, no bus
Santiago Leon
to finish on career at Disney World.
Justin Riley
Right.
Justin Riley
But I’m excited to see it all. I’m excited that we’re gonna have a finale to all this, especially as a Lakers fan, you know, they were starting to really do something special. And I just want to see just how far that rabbit hole will go. And it just would have been really horrible as a fan of sports and a Lakers fan, just to not just not being able to see where that that row could have led now we’ll be able to see it.
Santiago Leon
You think there’ll be a I mean, you know, looking down the future years, you know, down the road. There’ll be nastic over this year. Oh, this is like Coronavirus and NBA Finals type of thing or do you think we’ll have the same he equalness to other NBA seasons,
Justin Riley
I think the quality will be there it for sure. I think that of course there will always be blanketed by the Coronavirus is always gonna be associated with it. That goes without saying but I don’t think it takes any of the luster or appeal away from it. I still think it’s gonna be regarded the same way as any finals have in the past. But I definitely think it’s gonna be a lot more appreciated. I really think that NBA viewership is gonna go back up. I think that the, the fan side of things is, is gonna be astronomical, so we’re gonna be really excited. I think that this is probably gonna be one of the best closings to an NBA season we’ve seen.
Santiago Leon
Yeah, this definitely has a field in 1999 season, or that season only had 50 regular season games and then of course the Spurs one but It wasn’t much of an asterick it’s just you know that that shortened season, but I think this season, just like what Justin said think it will be as equal as previous seasons and of course, we’ll be finished off in Disney World and guess what, after this season it’s supposed to and around October 12, the following season will begin probably on December 1, so they only have like two months, one month and a half to to recover. But, you know, you’re just gonna have to do that because it’s just, you know, pandemic and money’s involved. So I understand the implications. But you can read the story on the sports cast dotnet the sports cast on net and another leads coming back is MLS, coming back in July, they’ll have a mini tournament and they’re they’re borderline they had to get started because they’re borderline losing out with money. Of course you can visit at aa via the sports cast dotnet so sports is definitely coming back into rumble NFL Still planning to begin and September but like I said, there’s always contingency plans you never know. And I had a quote that I got from an ESPN reporter that he spoke with Dwayne Wade. And he said that if and if everything goes right with the dolphins and with to have this will become like the city of I mean, Miami will be a a football to Miami dolphin city. Would you agree?
Justin Riley
Oh, absolutely. I think I think the potential is there for to talk about hello to to be just a superstar, not just in the NFL, but in life. I think he has opportunity just to be a nice larger than life figure. If everything pans out, you know, if it’s a his career is healthy, and I just think that he’s gonna have a large impact or as possibility of having a large impact and I guess being the next face in the Miami sports scene to carry on to another generation since then Yeah, I know. Yeah. Well not just Dan Marino I mean, Miami has had you know certain figures that have just define the city sports wise like you said Dan Marino Dwyane Wade and now possibly to a toggle Viola and hopefully for him and for dolphins fans that will be the case.
Santiago Leon
something to definitely look at and of course, to has not come to Miami yet. He’s still in Alabama.
Justin Riley
Well, I just I think that it’s just a cautionary thing, right? Yeah.
Santiago Leon
Wait a second to all his players. That’s why I’ve been here has been text and get to know the wide receivers and things like that. Of course, the big question is, you know, what’s gonna happen, you know, with him coming But anyway, that’s a whole different podcast. Justin Riley what is the best way to reach you online to talk to about the NBA season coming back?
Justin Riley
Well I’m on Twitter at Justin rally seven I’m also on Instagram at Justin Riley underscore seven I also will be seen pretty frequently contributing to our sports cast platforms on twitter at the sports cast one and on Instagram at a sports cast one also will provide articles as well on our website, sports cast dotnet
Santiago Leon
the sports cast dotnet and check out the special on artists Gilmore, Justin Riley did not know who just who artist Gilmore was. The reason why we did that story is that they hadn’t mean well not I mean, but a little challenge on Instagram, about you know, like the best. Like like the very best Laker team against the very best bulls team. And of course the Lakers had Kobe Bryant, shout out LeBron James had Anthony Davis and the bulls of course had Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen and Rose, and also Dennis Rodman and the last one was artist Gilmore, and no one knew who he was. I did my research and he was an ABA legend. And also, we went to the bowls Booth was a young franchise back then, but check out the artists go more special. I did really interesting story. Justin did not know who artist Gilmore was either.
Justin Riley
And then I had to say learn something new and I’m always anxious to to learn new things, especially it comes to sports and especially with stories like that.
Santiago Leon
And of course, we learned a lot from Keith Keith McCants tonight and definitely worth another listen. Well Justin Riley. What a great episode. Great show. And have a good night.
Justin Riley
All right, well, before we close I’d like to remind everybody next Tuesday, we will have a former Alabama head coach Bill curry, who also served as an ESPN analyst coming on the podcast, so please stay tuned for that. It’s gonna be a special event. Next week, of course, a couple guests in the next couple of weeks to keep the you know, to just to fill up with sports until the Premier League comes back. Anyways, Justin Riley, always a pleasure. Definitely man. Have a great night.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai
Santiago Leon is the Founder and CEO of the Sports Cast. He covers NFL, NBA, and world soccer. He’s also founder of sleon productions, which he specializes in technology and serves clients with solutions to make their business grow.
