Today, ESPN had the worst (best?) idea in the history of sports television. Stephen A. Smith, lead man of First Take and notoriously boisterous debate analyst, was paired with the infamous LaVar Ball. To no one’s surprise, it got a bit out of hand.

This is the best part of the interview. Stephen A. and Max spoke for about 20 minutes with the father of the Ball brothers, but this segment is where it blew up. Stephen A. absolutely UNLEASHES on LaVar for a variety of topics including the fact that LaVar would beat the GOAT one on one and that Lonzo is better than Steph. The eldest Ball, in classic fashion, stood firm on those claims unapologetically. He even gave a wry grin as Stephen A. brought up the MJ one-on-one  battle. Ultimately, ESPN got what they wanted and the two unapologetic, energetic, opinionated men exploded. Below is a still showing the climax of the encounter.

If you want a good laugh, go on Zach Harper’s twitter, @talkhoops, for some memes his followers have been making from this picture. Regardless, the main thing everyone learned (once again) is that LaVar Ball really believes what he says. He is not a man that will ever back down from a hot take, even if he has to look like the alien in Alien to get his point across. Ultimately, he is beginning to finally receive his rewards. After berating Ball for the majority of the segment, Stephen A. ended with a claim of, “I’m not mad at that.” At the end of the clip, Stephen A. even closed with outstanding support for LaVar and the Ball clan. He sang praises of LaVar’s work as a father and a marketer, and he hoped that the Balls have the careers LaVar is claiming they will have.

Nick Wright has also shown support with some of the most interesting insight on LaVar yet.

The beginning of the clip is all about the eldest Ball. Wright’s main point states that from the time each of the Ball sons were born, LaVar predicted they would be ballers, they would go to UCLA, and they would be first round picks. He has not been wrong to this point in his life, so what makes everyone think that he will be wrong in the future about his sons. Cowherd also gave LaVar love when he was a guest on The Herd. Today on Sportscenter Coast to Coast, national treasure Cari Champion even said LaVar was a good guy. Everywhere LaVar is going, he is beginning to make people believe what he is saying. Yet, we are all still saying he is crazy.

Is there a point where we can step back and look at LaVar Ball as what he really is? LaVar Ball is a father. In terms of what he is doing for his children, I think it isn’t that outlandish to say he is a damn good father. Without LaVar, Lonzo would have gone to UCLA and been a probable top-2 pick. He is a fantastic talent that is similar to John Wall in being an elite athlete, but still a pass-first guard. That is a rarity, especially to pair it with the confidence and poise that Lonzo has. Still, that confidence was instilled in him by his father every day they trained and every day LaVar told him he was better than everyone else.

Additionally, think about the other guys in this draft and how people speak about them off the court in the general media. If you gave someone that doesn’t watch college hoops a list of the top 20 prospects in this year’s class, Lonzo Ball would be the most recognized name on the list. Fultz played for a nine-win Washington squad and is stuck in the Pacific Northwest. Tatum is the third-most noteworthy guy on Duke. Jackson’s only off-the-court publicity was about a traffic accident. Isaac and Markkanen are sort of enigmas.

Lonzo is huge because of LaVar. His name is one of the biggest in sports right now. He is getting Lonzo’s name on a level with some of the NBA’s superstars. LaVar is building a brand in a way a parent hasn’t done since Tiger’s father. He is doing the same for his sophomore-in-high school son LaMelo, who won’t play a college minute for another three years. Of course the brand isn’t worth a billion dollars, LaVar just has too many B’s in his head. Still, the brand is being built for his sons, and it is BIG.

The one thing to knock him other than his enthusiasm, is the fact that this is for him. He is living vicariously through his sons’ successes. Look at the things he has said that have been in the media. One has been about him. Only the Michael Jordan comment, which of course is absurd. Outside of that, the only ones are passing mentions of how he demands respect from his sons, or the matter of who will be cashing checks. Those are things that your father has probably said to you. This guy is just a normal dad with a big mouth. He loves his kids, expects them to succeed, and that confidence shows through their demeanor and their play. Let’s let LaVar be a dad in his own, obnoxious way, market as he wants for his brand and his sons’ brand, and let his organized madness take its course, strap in, and see where it takes the Ball Boys.