Jeff Ross On LEGENDARY Roast Jokes, Shaq's Innate Humor

0:00A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what y'all say. Yep, that's me. Clifford Taylor IV. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career and sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilzer conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcast. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcast Network on TikTok. Two percent. That's the number of people who take the stairs when there is also an escalator available. I'm Michael Easter. And on my podcast, two percent, I break down the signs of mental toughness, fitness, and building resilience in our strange modern world. Put yourself through some hardships, and you will come out on the other side, a happier, more fulfilled, healthier person. Listen to two percent. That's T.W.O. percent on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your

1:05podcast. On the look back at it, podcast. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex Egrish. Each episode, we pick you here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. With our friends, fellow comedians, and favorite artists. Like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. I don't think there's a more important year for Black people. Listen to look back at it on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it was good, y'all. You're listening and learning the hard way with your favorite therapists and host care games. This space is about Black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. And many men carry a suit of armor. It's similar to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to listen to learn the hard way on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcast, or wherever you get your

2:09podcast. In 2023, bachelor star Clayton Eckerd was accused of fathering twins, but the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax. You doctor this particular test twice, Miss Ellen, right? I doctor the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Greg, the last the end, Michael Manchini. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trap. Laura, Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Listen to Love Trap Podcast on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Jeff, you were talking about the evolution of roasts. If we're telling the story of comedy, what role does Shaq play in it from all of his all-star stuff over the years? Shaq's role. It's a little different than most athletes because I honestly feel Shaq, like if you weren't who you were as a basketball legend, I think you would have gone in a comment.

3:11I think you would have been either a comic, a producer, an act like you would have been this other thing because it hits you different. You just, those clips you open the show with where you're literally like this, you like couldn't even handle how hard you were laughing. And we were saying some ill, too, like it wasn't like, there's no holes barred. So it's funny, it's funny, brother. But most athletes have their guard up, they're thinking about their deals, they're thinking about their image, and you're just like, my image is that I'm fun, exactly. And I think that you have a special place. We did the Bieber roast together. Oh, that's right. How did I do? You killed. I remember Kevin Hart, you chasing him around the podium. Explain to them. No, it was a classic because Bieber, and I saw him the other day, and he always says, like, it gave him a whole career reboot. He knew he had a good album in the chamber, but he didn't release it yet. He wanted to put all the old news of his life, his kiddie stories behind him, and move

4:14on to a new chapter. So the roast, I think the roast we did for him, and you were funny that night. Thank you. I said, something about the World Trade Center, Pete Davidson's dad, and then I go, I know, Shaq, you're upset, that was your favorite building to climb. You said that, like, okay, because Pete Davidson's dad was a firefighter, that was the first time I was like, okay, Jeff, you went a little bit too far. Like, you're always on the line, but that joke right there, you went too far. So he said it. I didn't want to laugh until I looked at Pete. Pete was laughing. So I was like, okay, well, yeah, he was laughing, so I was like, okay, he yelled out for joke. Good joke. I was like, soon as you said, I was like, no, you know, I had to slow look like, you know, okay, say, start fighting, and he was cracking up, so I was like, okay. I took that clip, and it opens my Netflix spec. Yep, it goes. It's a, I have like a little montage of some of my favorite roast hits, and I put you

5:17and Pete in there, Shaq. So there's a fun one. So when you're writing, is it, same time every day, is it whenever it strikes, is it I'm going to dedicate time? I'm just curious, when do you sit down, pen and paper, before a roast and go, I'm doing work right now? It's like, it's almost torture. The second I find out, we're roasting someone. Soon as Kevin Hart confirmed, everything in my life goes away, and it's like, all I can think about is, who's going to be there, and what am I going to say? So I start watching Kevin's movies. I start listening to his interviews. They call it like method acting. I do method roasting, like constantly training. And sometimes for inspiration, I'll watch my own Dunk Reels of roast, like, you know, just because I want to like go, yeah, what made me, what made, what pushed me? And I think for this one, Kevin Hart coming up on Mother's Day, I think the angle, because my Broadway show, it's on Netflix, it's kind of like the under spelly, the softer side of me.

6:18So I was like, I need to go back to the ruthless, brick city roast masters. So I think I'm going to come really, really hard at Kevin. So your Netflix special, take a banana for a ride. It's funny. Thank you. I like the message you say, oh, guys, you get calling last week. Yes. You're going, but I want you to drop the ditty joke. It was really funny. My question is, why did you make it a one man show? Because I went out when I was young in Jersey, my mom was sick all the time in the hospital. And my dad would take my sister and I to visit her on the weekends. And then he would take us to Broadway shows afterwards to cheer us up. And it worked. And I always said, man, this is my crowd. I like this. This is different than the nightclubs and stuff I do. This I can be more theatrical. I added music to it. I wanted it to be a night out, like breakfast lunch and dinner in one show where a lot of comedy shows, you come out, it's an hour, you're, you're, you're, the trunk of your

7:20car is still hot and you're, you're already done. You're like, what do we do now? I wanted this to be a full experience and always my dream to do Broadway. I love those shows, Billy Crystal, Jackie Mason, I love those shows. So I wanted it to be something special. What do you think the relationship is between comedy and athletes? Do you think it's like a stress relief? Like some guys will go to a strip club, some guys go to a comedy club. It's definitely a stress relief, but you know, I'm a true fan. I don't care what you guys say, because I know it's your job. Yeah. And if it's your job to be funny, so you know, sometimes the joke, you know, the jokes may be personal and some, some of these guys are too high on themselves. They take a person. So glad you remind of me to story to your point. Whatever year it was, we're roasting Emmett Smith for Shaq's charity. And I get a letter. I get a letter. I get a letter from Shaq. And I knew it was really from Shaq because it was spelled S-H-A-C-K. You didn't know how to spell back that, but you've since figured it out.

8:24And asking me to come roast Emmett Smith for your charity. And I come out and I said, I want to do it, but I want, I want you to stop booking white guy. I want to be the white guy on the show. So it's Jamie Foxx. I remember that. Right? The Tory Brothers, a couple others. And I'm like, little walkthrough, rehearsal, sound check. And I meet you and you shake my hand. And I look up, there's a couple of feet between my head and your head and you go, Ross, you're going to leave me hanging and I look down and you try to shake my hand, but it's so far my head's turned this way, but your head, and I shake your hand, I go, Shaq, I'm a little nervous. Like Emmett Smith, what's he like? Like my jokes are pretty raw. Is he going to be okay with this? Are you going to be okay with this because you saw what I was coming with? And you said, no one ever told me to hold back on the court. I would never tell you to hold back on your field. And I was like, wow, that's a champion.

9:26That's great inspiration right there. That's like a coach. Thank you. All right, we got to talk about this week because things are getting real. You got games coming down to the wire. People acting like experts, all of a sudden, first of all, I'm the only expert. Oh, here we go. I am a basketball expert and this is the best part of the rest of the bowl season. The playoffs are officially here and let's get it. And you know, this is actually perfect timing since we teamed up with DraftKings. That's right. Thanks for DraftKings Sportsbooks for sponsoring this. And for new customers, listen up. We've made it so simple that Shaq can read it. At $5, get $300 if you bet wins. A profit boost every day of NBA playoffs. All right, so just for my own brain, you bet $5. You get $300 if you're bet wins and a profit boost every day of the playoffs. Let's do it. If you're in, you can get creative. Same game, Parlay is live betting while the game is happening. Bet player props, point to cis rebounds. The same things you hear discussed on the show or bet live as the adjustments happen in

10:30real time. From the opening tip to the final possession, every bucket, every dime, every clutch take over matters. And DraftKings Sportsbook keeps you locked in all the way through from the first round to the finals. And don't say we never gave you nothing. So make sure you sign up using promo code big pod. Just promo code B-I-G-P-O-D. Don't mess it up. DraftKings Sportsbook. The Crown is yours. Gambling problem called 1-800-GAMBLER. Or in West Virginia, visit 1-800-GAMBLER.net. In New York, call 877-8 hope-and-why or text hope-and-why-467-369. In Connecticut, help is available for problem gambling. Call 888-889-7777 or visit ccpg.org. Please play responsibly. On behalf of Boothill Casino and Resorting Kansas, 21 and over, age varies by jurisdiction. Void an Ontario, bonus bets expire 168 hours after issuance. See dkng.co slash b-ball for eligibility and deposit restrictions terms and responsible gaming resources. Who's on that? Hold on. I gotta take this.

11:30He's picking up his phone during the podcast. Hello? Hey, man. I know you're busy right now, but I just crashed the Shaq Mobile. No need to panic, man. Remember, when you got the general insurance online, the customer service was quick and easy. I did manage him your brick on my car insurance when I needed it the most. I know, but you got nothing to worry about. The general will keep you in the game. Call him up or jump on the app to report your claim now. Trust me. He's going to take care of you. It's cool I got the general insurance. I'm following my claim on the app right now. All right, man. Remember, the general is here to keep you moving forward. I gotta get back to the pot. This episode of The Big Podcast, the Shaq, is brought to you by the general insurance. You know Shaq loves the general. Before the league, before the rings, before I got my big break, I've been rocking with the general since I owned my first car. The general has been offering quarterly auto coverage for over 60 years. And you already know the general was there for Shaq when I needed him, low rates and flexible payment options to keep you covered. If you're ready for your big break, you know what to do. Visit the general.com to get a quote today.

12:30Again, visit the general.com to get a quote today. And it wouldn't be the big podcast without the general insurance. Would you like to see the song? I would. A great low rate. You can get online. Go to the general. Say it sometime. A win is a win. A win is a win. I don't care what you're saying. Yep. That's me. Clifford Taylor the fourth. You might have seen the skits, my basketball and college football journey, or my career in sports media. Well, now I'm bringing all of that excitement to my brand new podcast, The Clifford Show. This is a place for raw, unfilzer conversations with athletes, creators, and voices that not only deserve to be heard, but celebrated. So let's get to it. Listen to The Clifford Show on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. And for more behind the scenes, follow at Clifford and at TikTok Podcasts Network on TikTok. Two percent. That's the number of people who take the stairs when there is also an escalator available. I'm Michael Easter. And on my podcast, two percent, I break down the signs of mental toughness, fitness,

13:30and building resilience in our strange modern world. Put yourself through some hardships, and you will come out on the other side. A happier, more fulfilled, healthier person. Listen to two percent. That's T-W-O percent on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. On the look back at a podcast. In the next episode of 79, that was a big moment for me. 84 was big to me. I'm Sam J. And I'm Alex Egrish. Each episode, we pick you here, unpack what went down, and try to make sense of how we survived it. And we have a lot of friends, fellow comedians, and favorite artists like Mark Lamont Hill on the 80s. It was a wild, I mean, it was a wild, wild year. I don't think there's a more important year for Black people. Listen to look back at it on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. Hey, it was good, y'all. You're listening and learning the hard way with your favorite therapists and host care games. This space is about Black men's experiences, having honest conversations that it's really

14:33not safe to have anywhere, but you're having them with a licensed professional who knows what he's doing. How many men carry a suit of armor? It's similar to the world that you're not to be played with. And just because you have the capability that does not mean that you need to listen to learn the hard way on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts. In 2023, Bachelor star Clayton Eckerd was accused of fathering twins, but the pregnancy appeared to be a hoax. You doctored this particular test twice in selling, right? I doctored the test ones. It took an army of internet detectives to uncover a disturbing pattern. Two more men who'd been through the same thing. Regal, let's be honest, I go around tuning. My mind was blown. I'm Stephanie Young. This is Love Trap. Laura Scottsdale Police. As the season continues, Laura Owens finally faces consequences. Listen to Love Trap Podcasts on the I Heart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you get your podcasts.