Russ White 0:00
I caught up with MSU basketball all American NBA champion and the Olympic gold medalist Steve Smith, at that Spartan sports journalism classic,

Unknown Speaker 0:10
I think first of all, you know, the university is has a special place in my heart. And then obviously, this is the third year, I think they've done a fantastic job. I transitioned into the media never thought for sure us, you know, back in my days in college, and I'd be on the other side, I should call it you know, when your athlete and young, you're always like running away from the media, but I've definitely enjoy it. And then this has been fantastic to have something like this. I know for the students, but I think also for the alumni, there's so many different people that I've read their articles, seeing them on TV, and the next thing you know, I see them here I go, oh, Lord, you're Spartan, you know me, because there's so many different Spartans and, and this communications field that we're in, in so many different ways print, radio, and TV, and now social media is so many different platforms now. So I think it's a fantastic idea. The third year, it keeps growing and growing and growing, I think we've doubled, and alumni come back and doubled in students. So it's been successful. So far,

Russ White 1:10
Smith's advice for the students he encounters at the Spartan sports journalism classic, involves passion and hard work. And he learns from the students and fellow alumni to

Unknown Speaker 1:21
well, you know, some of my message for them is, obviously, network with all these terrific alumni. So you got to have put your hard hat on and do the extra passion for what you want to do. And then also, a lot of young journalists, sometimes they want to go into the field, but I think sometimes you got to be able to do other fields to be able to lead up into the field, you might be able to one day, get a chance to be successful in what you really want. But I think honing your skills in writing and honing your skills and being in front of the camera behind the camera. And one day, you'll get a chance to maybe have that opportunity. But um, and I think for me, I get to pick the brains of some of these people. They've been doing it so long, and some that haven't, it's been so successful. So I'm still getting the chance to learn from everybody. In a couple years, I've learned some tips for some kids, though. It's a learning process and I think a great melting pot for everybody to get just get a chance to come together and have a good time learn network, and then just keep the Spartan way going this way on a roller coaster ride here from education from athletics. As does we do it the right way. In 1997, Smith donated $2.5 million toward the construction of the Clara Belle Smith student athlete Academic Center. This donation in memory of his mom is the largest gift to ever be given by a professional athlete to any college or university. This donation helped fund the construction of a comprehensive study center for student athletes among the best of its kind in the country. You know, we were the first back then so that was very special. And then I also understood of being an athlete before the student Athletic Center was built on campuses and how much I saw the future of how much it will help and how much that you'll get a chance to interact with your professors and how much you know as for now for me even personally to have student athletes come and say thank you. And then I think also for me, it was a way to give back to this community. Community why I grew up in Detroit. so fond of and have a scholarship fund also attached to it. And then also to get a chance to see how well it's done. And I was helped recruiting not just basketball I mean all sports and not recruiting for so much for the kids come here to athletics, but to hear the parents talk about you know, I love that for my child, you know, outside of basketball and obviously we're student athletes, but I always tell people, the student because before athletes, so take that very seriously because it's gonna be a student in life. What's longer, you'll be an athlete, if you have a long career, we'll always live learning students in my in my opinion, Smith's

Russ White 4:00
generosity set an example for other Spartans to give back to MSU

Unknown Speaker 4:05
you know, I told the story, that Hall of Fame and people say why and some of the reasons I've told you but I think also is contagious. You take after my gift to the universities, we have just two guys I know and it's been tremendous a lot of them that I think you know, obviously we should give everybody credit but the highlight some of the irvan has done so much and then flows they'll Adams and then obviously we're almost brought a tear to my eye when I got the news about Dre mind even though I gotta knew there was something in the works to know when it was actually coming but for me to be at the Hall of Fame and receive an award kind of forgiven and then to hear the Dre mine and then for me to be proud and stick my chest out and say now a lot of universities are doing this and then to come back the next day I came to the Oregon game and to get a chance to you know, to tell him I'm proud of him. And obviously we speak a lot but I've been knowing him He was junior high school and just to see the way he's developing these Oh man, he's his own man. It wasn't him following my act. It was him. That's trademark. You know, that's Draymond Green. I tell people that that that was him. I, you know, I had my day, and I can step back and be proud, like, Uncle Steve out and get a chance to see all the the development and then for me is is funny. A friend of mine, lived across the street from me in Portland, worked for the blazers. He's here on campus right now, what is key of visiting Michigan State and he says, Steve, you know, this is a phenomenal place. And I said it is, you know, he said, they're not done with their tour yet. And he's halfway through his tour and he and they've been to some other schools and he said, it feels different. And I go, it's hard to explain it's just feels different.

Russ White 5:47
Steve Smith says his path to MSU began with fellow Detroiter, Greg kelser, and the Spartans 1979 National Championship, you know, obviously, growing up in Detroit.

Unknown Speaker 5:59
The first, I guess my first connection to Michigan State was, you know, and obviously in 7879, and I tell people, I'm great kelser first, because Greg Kelso was a kid from Detroit that I used to hear about my brothers and they talked about his game and then obviously, the headliner and Earvin Magic Johnson, so those two guys and then they won a national championship and I can remember, I was young, I think it was 10 in my family jumping around and just has gathered around the television and obviously, you throw in the Larry Bird as Big Bird versus magic and Greg Kelsey got a chance to win a national championship from the city of Detroit. So that was my first love and then, obviously, me playing basketball and as time went on, this little guy just kept coming around Tommy's offices kept coming around. He won me over and I was his first recruit. I was actually first recruit he ever signed and because you we all know and I can speak candidly about this job wasn't really recruiting back then he did I want to come you come. But Tom put in the hard work and and then the combination of what I learned on the court with Joe and Tom and the coaching staff and I tell people look at my coaching staff I had here I mean, I had Jim Boylan, junior and senior both has been very successful in college level and and obviously in the pros. I had heard Williams who was just fantastic. I had Tom Crean and Tom Izzo and Brian Gregory. And then I had the general the crazy man injured. So I learned a lot about life. Tough Love, but is what I was used to. And it drew me to Michigan State

Russ White 7:42
follow Steve Smith on twitter at Steve 21 Smith Singh

Unknown Speaker 7:49
for all

Unknown Speaker 7:52
night breezes

Unknown Speaker 7:56
as he you

Transcribed by https://otter.ai