Puff puff pick With Wells special guest @monty_moss3

The Spaces features guest Monty Moss—CEO of Global Sports & Entertainment and host of The Rewind—on his journey from Newark to building a sports media brand. He outlines launching the brand in 2020 and formalizing it ahead of The Rewind’s 50th episode, emphasizing team roles, planning an exit from a high-paying but unfulfilling job, and the discipline behind consistent weekly production. Monty discusses platform challenges: creating original angles beyond mainstream shows, not chasing algorithms, and accepting that early hometown support may lag while broader audiences engage. In lively NFL banter, he defends the Patriots’ season and forecasts a defensive Super Bowl versus Seattle, questioning Sam Darnold’s ceiling while expecting New England’s resurgence. On halftime shows, he praises Kendrick and classic lineups, dreams of Lil Wayne, and sees Bad Bunny as a global marketing play. Pivoting to the NBA, he tags Chicago and others as trade winners, doubts a Harden–Cavs backcourt fit, weighs Chris Paul destinations, and praises Utah’s young core, while criticizing modern officiating, ultra-high scoring, gambling influence, and streaming costs. He argues the world has caught up to Team USA due to better development, with NIL (per Nikki’s perspective) opening opportunities for less-hyped youth. He closes with creator advice: consistency, accountability, and paying it forward.

Space overview

A Twitter Spaces session featuring guest Monty Moss (CEO, Global Sports & Entertainment; host of “The Rewind” on YouTube; sports broadcaster from Newark, NJ; New England Patriots fan). The room mixed sports debate (NFL, NBA) with creator-journey insights and audience Q&A, emphasizing consistency, creative differentiation, and mutual support across platforms.

Participants (as identified from intros and dialogue)

• Monty Moss (guest; CEO of Global Sports & Entertainment; host of “The Rewind”) — primary interviewee and analyst
• Host/MC (name not explicitly stated; introduced the show and guests, moderated)
• Ken B (aka “Parlay Jesus”; likely co-host; affiliated with the Parley Syndicate; Seahawks fan) — asked most of the questions, engaged in football banter
• Nikki Tai (audience contributor; “sports mom”) — shared perspective on NIL
• Brian (audience contributor; Chicago/Bears fan; long-time acquaintance of hosts)
• KP (audience contributor; offered brief praise)
• Coach (invited to speak but effectively skipped due to time)

Monty Moss: background and platform

• Origin and launch
  • Born and raised in Newark, NJ; lifelong multi-sport participant with basketball as primary passion.
  • Early inspiration: Stuart Scott; decided in grade school that sports broadcasting would be Plan B if pro sports wasn’t viable (height capped at 5’9”).
  • Founded “Global Sports & Entertainment” in 2020; subsequently formalized the brand (trademarks, structure). Launched “The Rewind” (weekly YouTube show at 9 PM). The night of this Space coincided with Episode 50.
• Team and ethos
  • Credits a small, like-minded team (producer, co-host, business manager, graphic designer) for the lift; he views his on‑air role as the “easiest part,” with most of the heavy lifting behind the scenes.
  • Values “divine alignment,” organic relationships, and culture fit. Went through two producers and an initial graphic designer before finding the right partners.
• Guest/talent pipeline
  • Has hosted figures from ESPN, FOX, NBC, referees, collegiate and pro athletes, producers, and artists (notably Ty Phoenix just released an album).

Building a platform: challenges, mindset, and what he’d change

• Creative differentiation
  • Challenge: saying something different from mainstream shows (e.g., ESPN Radio, Get Up). He avoids rehashing and focuses on unique angles and preparation.
• Algorithm unpredictability and engagement
  • Some posts he’s confident in underperform; others he considers “filler” unexpectedly spike. Learned not to “chase likes” and to let work speak for itself.
• Support dynamics
  • Early disappointment at limited hometown support (e.g., initial hoodie merch drop) shifted to appreciating support from new audiences across platforms (TikTok, Twitter/X, IG, Facebook). Conclusion: people choose what to support; focus on consistency.
• Consistency and discipline
  • Emphasizes showing up every week; planning the next episode immediately after the current one. “Every day is another opportunity to get better.”
  • Framing: stopping cedes ground to your competition. He trains his mindset for sustained output.
• Personal inflection point
  • Spent a year in Rhode Island making “great money,” but was miserable. Wrote an exit plan (Plan B/C/D), moved back to NJ, and prioritized brand legitimacy.
  • Wouldn’t change the journey; sees obstacles and false starts (e.g., producer/graphic designer changes) as necessary steps that sharpened the vision.
• Anti-gatekeeping
  • Advocates paying it forward: others opened doors for him; he intends to do the same for newer creators.
• Data point for creators
  • Cites a stat (from his producer): only ~9% of podcasts make it past 10 episodes; encourages persistence. Acknowledges the Parley Syndicate’s 64 episodes have already beaten the odds.

On-air style: fairness vs. ruffling feathers

• Objective stance over performance
  • Rejects performative hot takes that feed ego. Strives for honesty and balance. If he thinks an opinion is unpopular but accurate, he’ll still present it.

NFL talk: Seahawks vs. Patriots, schedule narratives, halftime shows

• Patriots’ path and narratives (Monty)
  • Pushback on “easy schedule” claims: schedules mirror prior years when New England was a 4‑win team; 2024–25 improvement reflects overcoming adversity, not luck.
  • Sees a Buffalo win as the early inflection point that catalyzed momentum. Admits he didn’t predict 14 wins or a Super Bowl run before the season.
• Seahawks case and matchup (debate with Ken B)
  • Seattle defense flagged as elite (No. 1 over the last 6–8 weeks) with strong schematics under Kubiak; Sam Darnold’s NFC title game was his best of the year (340+ yards, multiple TDs), and Kenneth Walker is a handful behind a solid OL.
  • Monty’s skepticism: despite Darnold’s recent spike, can he deliver late on the biggest stage? Notes this was his first 200+ passing yard game in 11 weeks; defense has been protecting him.
  • Patriots counterpoints: top‑5 defense, stout against the run, staff headlined by Mike Vrabel; sees a low-scoring, defensive game. Questions Darnold’s composure vs. NE (references Darnold’s “seeing ghosts” moment versus the Patriots early in his career).
  • Stakes framing: if NE wins, Monty says it marks the dawn of the next Patriots “era” (renewed dynasty energy). He agrees to return post‑game regardless of outcome.
• Halftime show
  • Dream performer: Lil Wayne.
  • Past favorites mentioned: Kendrick Lamar, Rolling Stones (2006), Janet Jackson/Justin Timberlake/Nelly (2004), Phil Collins (2000); dislikes Prince’s show only because NE lost that Super Bowl.
  • On Bad Bunny as this year’s headliner: not personally enthused but acknowledges NFL’s global strategy and his massive audience reach; notes the league will stage games in seven countries next season. Priority for him remains the game itself.

NBA trade deadline talk: winners/losers and fit questions

Note: The room discussed speculative/rumored deals and roster shifts as they see them (names and destinations were presented as the speakers understand them).

• Winners called out by Monty
  • Philadelphia/OKC (for a “Jared McCain” move as stated; context suggests guard/wing reinforcement).
  • Chicago Bulls: applauded for acting decisively; characterized as “guard heavy” with Ayo Dosunmu and new backcourt pieces; praised the addition of Collin Sexton and “Dane” (as stated) while moving on from Kobe White and Mike Conley Jr. (as said in-room).
  • Boston: lauded for fortifying the frontcourt with a Vucevic-related outcome (as discussed by speakers).
  • Detroit: Jaden Ivey’s rising output (~16 ppg) highlighted as a bright spot.
• James Harden to Cleveland (as discussed)
  • Fit concerns: ball dominance and late-game hierarchy with Donovan Mitchell; questions chemistry and playoff translation given Harden’s recent postseason track record.
  • Injury context: highlighted prior Cavs issues (Mobley and Sexton absences) impacting last year’s playoff exit; noted Donovan performed at a high level in that series.
• Chris Paul landing spots
  • Monty’s criteria: title-contending situation, strong locker-room culture, a role that matters deep in the playoffs.
  • Teams floated: OKC reunion (appeal acknowledged but uncertain), Houston reunion, staying in San Antonio (preferred, but business realities noted). Rejected Toronto for CP3 given contention goals.
• Utah Jazz outlook
  • Praised Utah’s youth/core: Keyonte George, Walker Kessler, Lauri Markkanen’s leap, playmaking from Isaac Collier (as presented in-room), plus draft capital (potential top‑6 pick). Sees a rising path next season.

State of the NBA: style, officiating, gambling, and value to fans

• Viewing experience
  • Monty admits he hasn’t watched a full game this season; prefers highlights due to the pace/score inflation (150+ point games), deeming it difficult viewing.
• Officiating and rules
  • Critical of late-game whistles and inconsistency; believes current rules incentivize freewheeling offense over fundamentals.
• Gambling and integrity
  • Concerned about the gambling era’s effect on perception and behavior (references federal attention and a ref firing over social media conduct as part of broader integrity worries).
• Fan access and economics
  • Ticket prices and streaming fragmentation (League Pass, Amazon, NBC deals) make following teams expensive; worries middle-/low‑income fans are priced out.

USA Basketball vs. the world, youth pipeline, and NIL

• World has “caught up”
  • Global stars cited: Victor Wembanyama, Giannis, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Luka Dončić, Nikola Jokić — young, skilled, and foundational for their teams.
  • USA: calls for a next wave beyond Anthony Edwards and Trae Young; mentions Cooper Flagg as a potential standard-bearer in the near future; laments Ja Morant’s off-court issues.
  • Praises overseas development: strong fundamentals and pro pathways yielding NBA-ready players.
• College/development fit
  • Monty contrasts programs: e.g., “You go to Duke, you’ll play the right way; you go to USC, you’ll play the way you want” (his view on structure vs freedom in player development).
• NIL perspectives
  • Nikki Tai: argues NIL can uniquely benefit less-heralded or younger athletes with strong marketing pull (e.g., equipment endorsements), not just top-ranked prospects. Notes real cases of pre-teen athletes with deals; highlights brands (e.g., The Rock’s Under Armour line) leaning into youth marketing.
  • Hosts and Monty: stress education for parents and athletes; NIL is new and often opaque — families should proactively seek information.

Audience Q&A highlights

• Did Atlanta benefit from trading Trae Young? (Kelly via hosts)
  • Monty: Yes — cites deteriorating relationship with Coach Quin Snyder and a roster not optimized for contention. Predicts Hawks hovering in play-in range but needing additional pieces; praises Jalen Johnson’s development. Interprets sending Trae to Washington as a sign the front office prioritized its own direction over accommodating his preferred destinations.
• Does podcasting make you enjoy sports less? (Kelly via hosts)
  • Monty: No — sports remain his passion. The key is preparation and process (“KYS — know your stuff”). He focuses on the quality of each episode rather than metrics, and balances sports and entertainment within his brand.
• Community support and creator mindset (KP, Brian)
  • KP and Brian offered praise; Monty reciprocated with principles: use your 9–5 to fund your dream, don’t be half-in/half-out, uphold your word, treat people well, and keep compounding small wins.

Memorable lines and recurring themes

• “Consistency is a choice.”
• “Don’t chase the likes; keep building the body of work.”
• “Only ~9% of podcasts make it past 10 episodes — keep going.”
• “Never force alignments — let the right team come together.”
• “Pay it forward — don’t gatekeep.”

Closing and next steps

• Monty signed off to host Episode 50 of “The Rewind” (YouTube, 9 PM). He agreed to return after the Super Bowl to discuss the outcome and continue the NFL/NBA conversations. The room closed with lighthearted banter (“people dem” sign-off) and a reminder to share/follow the space.

Quick reference: topic-by-topic takeaways

• Creator journey: build a trusted team; be consistent; accept uneven engagement; don’t take support personally; plan exits and write goals; align divinely, not forcefully.
• NFL: Debate centered on Seahawks’ late-season defense and Sam Darnold’s ceiling vs a top‑5 Patriots defense; Monty leans NE if it becomes a defensive, late-game test.
• Halftime show: Appreciates Wayne (dream), liked Kendrick/Rolling Stones/Janet-JT; not hyped for Bad Bunny but respects NFL’s global push.
• NBA trades: Praised Bulls’ decisiveness; intrigued but skeptical about Harden‑Mitchell fit in Cleveland; wants CP3 on a contender; bullish on Utah’s youth.
• NBA product: uneasy with whistle/pace/score inflation and gambling shadows; concerned about affordability and streaming fragmentation.
• US vs world: world’s fundamentals/development praised; calls for next-gen USA pipeline (names Edwards and Flagg); NIL can broaden opportunity, especially for non-elite but marketable youth.