Court-side moms

When her son was baptized, Iris James remembers something miraculous happened and she had a feeling that he was destined to do something special. Evan Turner, small forward with the Minnesota Timberwolves, certainly fulfilled that prophecy and today Evan’s mom, Iris, joins us to talk about him and his incredible journey.

As a young child Evan faced many health issues. He fought back, worked hard and persevered and in his junior year at Ohio State he won every national player of the year award on his way to the NBA and stardom.

Iris talks about the experiences she’s shared with her son including the many accolades he’s been awarded, the excitement of draft night, his first NBA game on his 22 birthday, and the Rising Stars Game at the NBA All Star weekend in his rookie year.

As well, she gives her thoughts on coping with the many critics that come with the fame and some advice for other moms of elite athletes.

Iris is a fascinating woman and she ends our podcast telling us about her hopes for the future and the new organization she’s started “Woman Orchestrating Wealth – WOW” to help women recognize their strengths and become who they want to be. We loved having her and we know you will love hearing her story.

Today we hear from Cathy Watson, mother of NBA veteran CJ Watson. Cathy talks us through what it was like raising CJ, the many obstacles he overcame to make his dream come true and not just make it to the NBA but play for 10 seasons.  Undrafted in 2006, he now has NBA re-drafts selecting him as high as 14th highlighting the impressive career he went on to have.  We hear about his passions off the court including how his degree in psychology helped him prepare for life after basketball.  As co-founder of the Quiet Storm Foundation and now an author, Cathy shares the many accomplishments her son has achieved and her pride in him shines through. Tune in for another great episode.

Offering a different perspective, this episode focuses on not just what it’s like to be the mom of a professional basketball player but also the wife of one. Wendy welcomes Jazette Lane-English, mother of EuroLeague player A.J. English III and former wife of NBA player A.J. English II. Hear Jazette talk about her experiences in the pro-sports world, including what it was like when her son went un-drafted. With the COVID-19 induced hiatus, Wendy and Jazette talk about what’s next for A.J. and how he’s staying prepared and ready. As a woman of many talents, Jazette talks about the company she and her daughter Aje’ created, SpeakEnglish5, which champions Women in Professional Sports (WIPS) – sharing their stories with the world and the opening of the A.J.English III Sports Academy for underprivileged children that she and her son have started as a way of giving thanks for the blessings in their lives.

At age 3, he started playing organized basketball. By five he was playing in the AAU. At age 14, his number one fan - his dad - died tragically and for Los Angeles Lakers Point Guard Quinn Cook, making it to the NBA was not just a victory for him but also for his father. Wendy is joined by Quinn’s mom, Janet Cook and together they explore the impact of the loss and how basketball saved Quinn and his family.

From playing for a championship team at Duke, through the many ups and downs that followed after he went un-drafted, Wendy and Janet talk about what it was like for Quinn in the G-league, the offer of a two-way contract with Golden State Warriors, the unbelievable experience of winning an NBA championship and then signing with his father’s favourite team, the Los Angeles Lakers, a dream come true for Quinn.

“He’s a young man, a child of God, who plays basketball - he’s not a basketball player”. Telling his story and being a motivation to young players is important to Quinn and what Janet believes will carry him into a promising and exciting future after basketball. His “Cook Book - The Ten Recipes of Success” is just one example of who he is and Janet tells us the inspiration behind its creation and the special meaning of the launch date in August. Quinn Cook’s story is extraordinary and shows us how one can make meaning out of unspeakable loss.

Watching Charlotte Hornets guard Dwayne Bacon fly across the court, one would never guess the road he travelled to get there. In this powerful and moving episode of CSM, we welcome Dwayne’s mom Kennie Crawford. Dwayne, a Florida born native and eldest of five kids, started his basketball journey at a young age, following his heart into the sport he loved. Sports were Kennie’s way of putting her son on the right path, keeping him off the streets and away from the dangers she experienced growing up. From the excitement and joy of draft night to the halt of the season as a result of COVID-19, Kennie and Wendy have a great conversation about what it takes to raise an NBA star, the sacrifices and struggles, the power of faith, and the lengths a mother will go to help her child succeed!

Today we chat with WNBA legend, Kym Hampton, whose 15 year career took her to Europe and back to the US as the 4th overall draft pick in the 1997 inaugural WNBA elite draft. Bringing a different dynamic to the show, we hear about Kym’s basketball journey and the excitement and star power of playing in the WNBA. Kym shares her thoughts on how the league has evolved, the future of women’s basketball and what it might look like for her fifteen year old daughter, AAU basketball star, A'riel Jackson.

Today we welcome Tamiyko Prince, mother of Brooklyn Nets forward Taurean Prince. At age 6 at the local YMCA his love of the game began. Drafted in 2016 his NBA career took off.  Tamiyko tells her son’s story - a young boy who faced many adversities and persevered. We hear about being a “sneaker free agent” and where Taurean’s eclectic taste and fashion sense may lead.  Hear what advice Tamiyko shares with other parents and how overcoming obstacles is possible to help their children fulfill their destiny.

Welcome to Court-side Moms’ conversation with Zanthia Reddish, mom of Cam Reddish of the Atlanta Hawks. After a rocky start to his rookie season, things had turned around for the 6’8” shooting guard. Hear how the current NBA season suspension has impacted him and how he and his mom have managed the challenges. Zanthia shares her thoughts on putting things in perspective and being more grateful than ever that when things return to normal Cam will be able to do the thing he loves most playing basketball

Court-Side Moms host Wendy Sparks had the privilege of chatting with Deena Beasley, actor and mother to NBA star Malik Beasley who plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves.  Join the conversation to hear how they are coping with the COVID-19 pandemic, suspension of the NBA season and how both she and her son have found blessings in the current situation.  Deena also shares how her kind and giving son, at age 19, wanted to give back to his community and create opportunities for those less fortunate.  This led to he and his parents starting the MB5 Pro Academy: Malik Beasley Boys Basketball Camp in Denver building on their belief that team sports are the greatest thing to bring communities together. Tune in now!

In a special sit-down episode, Tidal League's very own Trisha connects with Wendy via phone to discuss the current state of the NBA with regards to the Covid-19 novel coronavirus. Wendy updates Patricia on what she's been up to lately and what the future of Court-Side Moms looks like, tune in now!