Location: New York City
Date: February 1st, 2019
STEPHEN A. SMITH: “So, Zari! Zari Aliyah LeCavalier!”
Iconic ESPN First Take juggernaut, Stephen A. Smith, shouted at the tippy top of his lungs in the direction of the #7 ranked fighter of Union Grand Prix’s Lightweight division…
Let us preface this by saying Zari Aliyah, one half of Union Grand Prix’s first ever all female main event, sat in hostile territory. She was seated at a lovely circular glass table between First Take’s usual lineup of sports media stars: Will Cain, Molly Qerim Rose, and the legendary Stephen A. himself. Noticeably, Max Kellerman was absent from today’s broadcast.
ZARI ALIYAH: “That’s my government name, Stephen A! What can I do for ya?”
STEPHEN A. SMITH: “Let me tell you RIGHT OFF THE BAT! You really have the unmitigated GALL to set foot in New York City on the eve of what’ll be the biggest fight between two women of color that we have seen PERIOD?”
The world class amateur wrestler, Zari, raised an eyebrow at the question.
MOLLY QERIM ROSE: “I guess we know whose side Stephen A. is on!”
With a spice of humor, Molly managed to draw a slight giggle from the Antiguan-born, Canadian bred Aliyah.
STEPHEN A. SMITH: “No disrespect to you whatsoever, Zari. This fight so happens to come RIGHT AFTER the New York Knicks took the gamble with implications of them possibly being AWFUL for the next DECADE. Misty DeMeans is an athlete that we, as New Yorkers, can truly get behind, as Max can attest to. She’s gritty, she came up from NOTHING. NOTHING. She came up for nothing in order to the one shot knockout artist that she is today. Now, with a well-respected camp, HILITEFC, behind her, she’s looking more and more like a potential title contender. How do you expect to handle that come Saturday night in Kingston, ZaRI?”
Stephen A. asked with a bit of a sarcastic emphasis on Aliyah’s name. With another genuine smile, Aliyah folded her arms.
ZARI ALIYAH: “Y’know...That’s the thing I respect about you, Stephen A...You’re never unloyal towards your city. You always go with the hometown option no matter how mind bogglingly foolish it is to do so. But, I’ll say one thing, people have the misconception that talking a big game means anything once it’s time to put that talk into play.”
ZARI ALIYAH: “The reason why I’ve been quiet to this point, even through Misty DeMeans talking all that trash about my team with her Kill-A-Killa parties, is because I wanted to prove to you, this city, and people around the world that ZARI ALIYAH LECAVALIER doesn’t need to chitter chatter her way into top billing. I don’t need to belittle Misty’s team. I don’t have to broadcast my study of Misty’s amateur fights, her pro fight, or anything like that…"
Will Cain, someone who took the stance against Misty DeMeans, firmly backed Team Zari in this endeavor. He couldn’t hold back that typical half-smirk he had become well-known for in sports journalism.
WILL CAIN: “Preach it!”
Cain said as Zari spoke.
ZARI ALIYAH: “Because guess what?...All that shows is the same tired shtick we’ve seen in combat sports forever. Desperation. And, Stephen A., I know dang well you, as a New Yorker, know what desperation feels like because your city’s been desperate for a winner for almost ten years! Misty, this Saturday, isn’t gonna be the winner you guys are expecting her to be. And Misty? Well, she isn’t gonna see the gameplan she’s expecting to see from ME.”
Taking a pause, Zari continued her thought.
ZARI ALIYAH: “Up until now, I haven’t said a bad word about Misty or her team. She’s been doing all the talk. All the putting down. Making my team feel a certain type of way. And what does she have to show for it now? A lopsided poll that says ZARI is gonna take her out in that cage. The people know I’m too good to be beaten by a one dimensional fighter who lives and dies by a punch. The people know that we’re going to Jamaica because I’m the type of name that can move the needle there in a MEANINGFUL way beyond hosting a useless F*BLEEP* afterparty."
MOLLY QERIM ROSE: To interrupt for a second, Zari, earlier you said going to Jamaica had more value to you than the fact that it’s your culture, right?
ZARI ALIYAH: "Yes, Molly. I really did. This is first ever international event. The first sporting event to feature two women of color headlining a Mixed Martial Arts card. Screw what Laila Ali versus Anne Wolfe could’ve been in the two thousands. We’re about to make up for that and then some. Going to Jamaica isn’t about ME per say. It isn’t about being the best talker, having the best clothes, being the next James Shark or Marissa Kane. This is about Black people all over the world."
Aliyah said as she glared over to Stephen A. Smith.
ZARI ALIYAH: "I’m using my name to carve out a legacy for us Black people during THIS political climate. During a time where kids all over the States, Canada, and the Caribbean who look like myself and Misty need someone to look up to. They need an example to show that they can make it out of whatever situation they’re going through. And regardless of how I feel about Misty’s antics, regardless of whether or not I think I can take her out, I respect the fact that, as Stephen A said, she came from absolutely nothing. That’s the endgame of Saturday night, guys."
After a pause, Zari, visibly filled with passion, got up from her seat and proceeded to walk away from the table.
-END-