Tremendous Bowl week is at all times a whirlwind, and much more so for Taylor Rooks. Rooks took the time to talk with SB Nation’s Kyle Posey about Tremendous Bowl predictions, who needs to be the NFL MVP and why, the wildness of the NBA commerce deadline, and her participation in Proctor & Gamble’s Battle of the Paddles, the place celeb followers like Rooks shall be teamed up with NFL gamers in a ping-pong extravaganza.
NFL MVP typically goes to a quarterback, however Rooks makes a powerful case for Saquon Barkley to win this 12 months.
“What he’s been in a position to do that 12 months, the information that he was in a position to break and simply the story of it, proper? The frustration with the Giants, the frustration that was happening with the Giants, and for him to go to the Eagles, have this phenomenal first 12 months, they’re going to the Tremendous Bowl, whatever the group that wins, it’s a really, excellent story, and I’m a member of the media, so I like tales,” Rooks stated.
And though the Chiefs are the Chiefs and Rooks tends to not wish to wager in opposition to Patrick Mahomes, she’s nonetheless selecting the Eagles to win this 12 months.
Battle of the Paddles is in its third 12 months, and this 12 months, Rooks (a lifelong Falcons fan and Georgia native) is paired up with Falcons QB Kirk Cousins. In order that needs to be enjoyable!
Battle of the Paddles shall be broadcast stay Wednesday, Feb. 5 from 6 to eight p.m. CT on Advanced’s YouTube channel.
Kyle and Taylor’s full dialog is wide-ranging, and so they get into the wild NBA commerce deadline, faculty sports activities, and extra. You may learn the total interview beneath.
This interview has been evenly edited for size and readability.
Kyle Posey: Thanks everyone for becoming a member of us. My title is Kyle Posey of SB Nation. I’m joined by a really particular visitor, Taylor Rooks joins us on behalf of Battle of the Paddles. Taylor, everybody’s an athlete till they play a sport they don’t have any enterprise enjoying. Let’s be actual right here. Have you ever ever dipped your toes into the pickleball area?
Taylor Rooks: So I’m fairly aware of ping pong, and once I say fairly acquainted, that’s possibly a little bit of a stretch. I’m acquainted in the way in which that if I’m going to a spot and so they have a desk, I’ll play. I’m an extremely aggressive individual, so I care loads about successful. I’m not gonna say I’m an knowledgeable, however I’m not a newbie, however I’m undoubtedly an knowledgeable winner. I’ll say that.
KP: May you maintain your individual? How about that?
TR: I might maintain my very own, however fortunate for me, I received’t should. I’ll be paired with an elite athlete who shall be, it’ll be a give and a take. I’ll assist their weaknesses and their strengths will assist mine, and we’re gonna determine it out.
KP: As quickly as I noticed Battle of the Paddles, all I might consider was that clip of Saquon going backwards and forwards. Simply inform me your general ideas about Battle of the Paddles.
TR: I imply I believe it’s gonna be a lot enjoyable. It’s the third 12 months that P&G is placing on Battle of the Paddles. Each single 12 months has been a variety of enjoyable, excessive depth, a variety of trash speaking. All people desires to win, and it’s simply gonna be a extremely nice time. I like that they’re pairing an NFL participant with a celeb fan and we’re gonna be going backwards and forwards. I do know that everyone cares loads about placing their finest foot ahead, getting that win and I believe that when we start, it’s simply gonna be full go, no breaks, and it’s gonna be a extremely enjoyable time. And with P&G, it’s additionally for the followers too. They’re, after all, partnering with Lowe’s for this occasion and followers will get offers as a result of from now via Might. You’ll get $10 off by spending $50 or extra on PNG merchandise like Bounty, Swiffer, Tide, should you go to Lowes.com. So it’s a variety of enjoyable for everyone.
KP: The followers are gonna be most likely fairly loopy simply watching, I think about, simply simply seeing whoever is there.
TR: I don’t know the all of the company, all of the athletes which are gonna be there, but when it’s one of many groups that they root for, please imagine that they’re gonna be getting in for them.
KP: After I noticed the place you went to high school, I virtually wore a Hawkeye shirt as a result of that’s the place I reside. I didn’t wish to troll you too early although. Do you miss protecting the chaos that’s faculty sports activities day-to-day?
TR: Oh, what a superb query. Nicely, first off, you must know, anytime a Huge 10 college is enjoying a non-Huge 10 college, I at all times root for the Huge 10. There was many a time that I’ve really rooted for Iowa. I clearly really feel like I can’t say the identical for you. No, however I imply, I, I miss the surroundings of faculty sports activities. I might say I believe the followers clearly are very passionate. They really feel, they really feel very tied to their faculties in a method that’s distinctive compared to, you recognize, totally different sports activities and. In numerous leagues, so yeah, I miss it. I believe fortunately I nonetheless get to dabble in it some. I do a variety of interviews with faculty athletes, generally I do sideline for some faculty video games, which is enjoyable, however, you recognize, the regularity of it and the eagerness of it’s one thing that I might say I miss for certain.
KP: Why on this planet do faculty basketball groups wait till 3 minutes earlier than tipoff to announce that they’ve scratched the very best participant? That drives me loopy. You coated faculty sports activities, clearly. Have you learnt why that that occurs? Why can we not do one thing about that?
TR: I do know you must have the petition, get everyone on board. And it drives me nuts.
KP: OK, so that you went to highschool in Georgia, you went to varsity in Illinois. Who’re your favourite professional groups?
TR: So I root for the Falcons, which I’m very comfortable I’m gonna be paired with Kirk Cousins for PNG Battle of the Paddle. So placing Atlanta on our again, you recognize, however I’m a Falcons fan, I root for the Hawks as properly. I went to UI for faculty, so after all I root for Illinois paramount, however I’m additionally a UGA fan as a result of anyone from Georgia is a UGA fan. My sister went there, been rooting for the Dawgs a variety of my life, so I’m very Georgia-centric in terms of the groups that I root for along with UI.
KP: By the way in which, primarily based on like a a 2-minute clip of Kirk Cousins, he has a critical future in broadcasting. He was rattling good on Thursday Night time Soccer. Had been you shocked by that?
TR: I don’t suppose I used to be shocked. No, I’ve been actually lucky to — I labored with Kirk on a industrial earlier than. I’ve additionally interviewed him a couple of occasions and he’s tremendous insightful and like, he at all times says his swag is just like the dad’s swag, and it undoubtedly is, nevertheless it works for him. He’s tremendous entertaining. He has like a extremely attention-grabbing humorousness. He can speak to anyone, so seeing him shine on TV is just not one thing I used to be, I used to be shocked about. He has that method about him. He’s very relatable and in all of the ways in which matter in broadcast. He undoubtedly leans into the, let’s name it the goal model.
KP: Oh, OK, so the a part of the rationale I requested you concerning the fandom is like — how is that helped or damage simply by protecting sports activities as a result of you must do it objectively, proper? You may’t say, properly, Illinois needs to be doing like as you’re on the sidelines, so how do you cope with that so far as, you recognize, protecting the Falcons on the sideline and, you recognize, simply being goal.
TR: Yeah, I imply you undoubtedly have on, you recognize, your fan hat and you’ve got in your broadcaster hat, and also you by no means put on two hats on the identical time. So if I’m working, you’re by no means saying, OK, oh, I’m so upset the Hawks misplaced as a result of that’s simply not what you do as a broadcaster. I do have some totally different, you recognize, shops the place we get to form of lean into fandom, like if I’m doing streams of TNT and stuff, they prefer it to be enjoyable and lightweight and and use your character, however there’s by no means a time the place you might be being biased in the direction of your group and that actually shines within the broadcast, but in addition for me, you recognize, I’ve been been doing this for therefore lengthy that I by no means actually received to completely be a fan. Like, even once I was at school at College of Illinois, I used to be working. I coated the groups, so I solely went to a sport and never working thrice in my total time at College of Illinois. So from once I began in faculty in 2010 to now, I’ve been doing broadcasting at some degree, and so I’ve turn into used to not having that at all times present, however now I actually get pleasure from these occasions the place I get to go to video games as a fan, trigger I really feel like I’m doing issues in reverse a bit. I can stay my fandom a bit bit extra now than I used to be in a position to once I was first beginning.
KP: So from Huge 10 Community to TNT and clearly much more issues sooner or later, might you pinpoint if someone have been to ask you, hey, pinpoint a time or pinpoint an space that actually helps you get to the place you might be, what, what would you level to? What do you suppose actually helped you alongside the way in which?
TR: I might say two issues: One, it’s relationships, like relationships that I constructed once I first began or relationships that I nonetheless lean on and love at this time. In some ways, each within the NBA and NFL, that has been very useful. You need to be good to individuals. Your status, I believe, is every part on this enterprise, however then I might additionally say doing issues which are your individual. How can your character shine? How are you going to present individuals who you might be and what you’re really like, and why they need to hear and why it’s entertaining, and why you’re informative and all these alternative ways, simply what’s what’s totally different about you. I believe that the extra you’ll be able to determine that out, the extra every part continues to open up for you. So yeah, I’d say, I’d say relationships after which additionally simply figuring out your self, like what makes you you within the enterprise are the 2 issues.
KP: Yeah, it sounds it sounds easy, proper? Simply don’t burn bridges, be good to individuals, be form to individuals. But additionally be your self, and I believe that’s the most important wrestle. I believe I see with lots of people is how will you be your self, toe the road, however not let individuals see like the total loopy facet of you that, you recognize, so it it’s type of attention-grabbing.
OK, so that you’ve been uncovered to loads. You’ve been uncovered to a variety of athletes, and varied leagues. Inform me a few time that you just have been starstruck. And does that also occur to this present day, and it doesn’t should be like, clearly a LeBron James or a Tom Brady. It may be any like several actor or actress.
TR: I wasn’t starstruck, however I used to be actually comfortable to fulfill Allen Iverson, simply trigger it, it’s Allen Iverson. So I believed that was cool. After which just like the Georgia in me, once I met Michael Vick, that was additionally actually cool as a result of that’s simply who I grew up watching down there on the top of Michael Vick. He was like nothing you’ve ever seen. You had your No. 7 jersey costume and everyone was sporting theirs. Michael Vick was actually vital to my formative childhood soccer expertise. So assembly him was actually, actually cool, and in order that’s extra so what I skilled, like, oh, it’s so it’s cool to fulfill this individual. I can’t consider a time that I’ve been starstruck, possibly once I like noticed Beyonce in individual. So yeah, that’s, that’s what I say. Allen Iverson and Michael Vick.
KP: I bear in mind on the Tremendous Bowl final 12 months, in Vegas, strolling by and seeing Michael Vick there and like triple-taking like, wait, is that — ought to I — what do I, so I actually know precisely what you imply there.
OK, so large week in sports activities, clearly — NBA, NFL. What number of occasions do you must refresh your Twitter?
TR: This previous Saturday once we noticed the Luka commerce. Loopy. Nicely, it’s like each group chat was going insane, and then you definitely’re actually checking since you’re considering, wait, is that this an actual tweet? I simply needed to carry on going to point out this web page and say, OK, is there a tweet that claims, oh, I’m hacked, regardless of the case could also be, however when it was confirmed as actual, it was simply — you don’t usually get these moments the place just like the world stops, it feels just like the panorama modified, however that was for certain a kind of occasions the place you’ll suppose, the place have been you when the commerce occurred? It was nuts. I’m actually excited to see what that is how that is gonna play out for each groups, however I’m additionally clearly so concerned about, you recognize, what Luca actually feels about how this occurred and there’s been a various reviews, however I’m excited to listen to it from him, his ideas on the commerce. The potential for touchdown the face of the NBA who’s nonetheless a child, proper? Like he’s actually wild, yeah.
And like, why wouldn’t he simply flip the swap, proper, and say, hey, you, you suppose I’m commerce worthy? You suppose you’re gonna commerce me? After which he simply takes it to a different degree after which it helps to have LeBron in your facet. Yeah, I believe it will probably go a variety of alternative ways.
KP: In order an OKC fan, I simply need Chet again. I don’t actually need anything throughout this commerce deadline. Is there a commerce that you just wish to see occur? And the observe as much as that’s: Is there gonna be anyone within the West to take down my boys this 12 months?
TR: I imply, so far as a commerce I wish to see occur, I believe that each the Warmth and Jimmy wanna be executed with each other. I believe that all of us are like, OK, you guys wish to separate, let’s see it. Daily it felt prefer it was one thing new. They each need it to be executed. I additionally need it to be executed. I additionally suppose the followers need it to be executed. They only need a decision to it, since December, man. I might like to see the place Jimmy finally ends up. I believe it’s going to make each side comfortable. I would like all sides to be comfortable. After which so far as OKC, y’all look actually, actually good. It’s such a enjoyable group to observe. Shay is Phenomenal. You watch him and, it’s simply he makes it look so easy, though what he’s doing is genuinely unreal, and we talked about clearly youth, what they’ve been in a position to do with that group. It’s gonna be scary, and the cool factor about OKC is y’all shall be good for a very long time, it appears. So the long run is brilliant and the current is brilliant. So shout out to everyone in that entrance workplace, trigger y’all have executed it proper for certain.
KP: Do you suppose we take these performances with no consideration as a result of such as you’ll hearken to the printed and it’s, oh properly, Shay, 33, 7 and 6 tonight, and it’s like ho-hum, however he does that like each evening. Like, at what level will we acknowledge the greatness as a result of it does really feel like he’s being taken with no consideration.
TR: I believe that generally in sports activities individuals take every part with no consideration, proper? I believe particularly when whenever you’re a participant that’s nice or a group that’s nice, after which your expectation turns into greatness, individuals then turn into numb to what they’re seeing as a result of they’re seeing it a lot, however simply since you’re seeing one thing a lot doesn’t imply that it isn’t extremely spectacular and extremely laborious and it’s on the heels of someone who was extremely extremely proficient, so I really feel that about sports activities simply usually, I believe what athletes do. It’s loopy and now we have turn into simply very desensitized to it. So yeah, I’d say that about Shay, I might say that concerning the Chiefs, I might say that about something, that I believe greatness is one thing that we are able to take with no consideration as a result of we predict that once we watch sports activities, however we’re at all times seeing one thing that we’ve by no means seen earlier than.
KP: That’s an ideal segue, so it’s Tremendous Bowl week, proper? And followers of each groups, they’re gonna inform you it’s us in opposition to the world, which that’s what delusion does to you as a fan, however the narratives are type of loopy and I might say lazy if something, so that you’re listening to the refs need the Chiefs to be right here. Like, do you purchase into any of that nonsense? Do you purchase into, just like the Chiefs and the Eagles? No one desires to observe that.
TR: What occurred to appreciating greatness? These are the 2 finest groups within the sport. Yeah, I believe it’s gonna be nice and I like that with the sport, we’re both going to see the Chiefs get a 3-peat or we’re going to see the Eagles full what has been a extremely nice season, each for Jalen getting again to the Tremendous Bowl and for Saquan having a textbook magical 12 months — that’s who truthfully I believe needs to be the MVP.
I perceive the MVP is a quarterback award, that’s what it has turn into, however what he’s been in a position to do that 12 months, the information that he was in a position to break and simply the story of it, proper? The frustration with the Giants, the frustration that was happening with the Giants, and for him to go to the Eagles, have this phenomenal first 12 months, they’re going to the Tremendous Bowl, whatever the group that wins, it’s a really, excellent story, and I’m a member of the media, so I like tales. So I simply suppose it’s gonna be a enjoyable one regardless.
KP: OK, earlier than we get you out of right here, you stated MVP Saquon, and, and that might be, for my part, one of the simplest ways it will come out, proper, as a result of Patrick Mahomes has executed this a number of occasions and for every part that Saquon’s been via, proper, for having to spend your rookie contract with the Giants, I really feel such as you deserve a Tremendous Bowl win with the Eagles. Give me your rating prediction.
TR: You understand, I haven’t actually thought of my rating prediction. I’ll should get again to you. I do suppose the Eagles can get this one. I believe the Eagles can win. Now it’s very laborious for me to say that trigger I’m not an individual that bets in opposition to Patrick Mahomes. I’ve at all times been like, oh, the Chiefs are gonna win. Yeah, however I’m gonna go Eagles, and I’ll get I’ll get again to you on the rating. I haven’t thought of my rating prediction but.
