Mic’d Up, Gimbal Down: My Press Conference Chaos (But We Kept It Pushin’)
Picture this.
It’s USC Women’s Basketball media day.
I’m front row, locked in, right next to Ryan Kartje — the LA Times beat writer for USC football and basketball.
And yes, he’s been on my podcast, so the vibes were already right.
I’ve got my gimbal set up on the table, iPhone in record mode, Bluetooth synced. Everything’s working. Tight.
Alive.
And well.
The press conference kicks off.
Coach Lindsay Gottlieb gives her opening statement — long, thoughtful, and full of insight.
My gimbal? Still holding strong. Not a glitch. Perfectly still.
This thing is locked in.
Then Ryan Kartje asks the first question.
Lindsay answers.
He passes the mic to me…
And then — boom.
My gimbal decides right then is the moment it wants to start playing games.
The Bluetooth disconnects, and suddenly it starts slowly leaning forward.
Fake slow death.
Like it’s tapping out.
Real dramatic. Real disrespectful.
But I’m not new to this — I’m mid-question when I catch it.
I grabbed the iPhone before it tilted all the way to its own death —
and I just kept going.
Now I figured…
I couldn’t do cardiac arrest on the gimbal.
It was dead at that point.
Because to reconnect the Bluetooth mid-press conference?
I would’ve had to stop the video, start a new one, lose my spot…
And that was not about to happen.
So I just kept it pushin’.
I’m holding the mic in one hand, cradling the iPhone in the other, trying to act like everything’s still running smooth.
All the while, trying to stay focused on Coach Lindsay Gottlieb, who’s looking right at me and answering the question like a pro.
And THEN — while she’s still answering, I try to quietly slide the phone out of the gimbal…
Big mistake.
The gimbal slips off the table and hits the floor with a LOUD thud.
Like mic-caught-it, room-heard-it loud.
And it fell right between us — me and Ryan.
But did I flinch? Nah.
Did Lindsay flinch? Nope.
Did Ryan flinch? Not at all.
Ryan had his phone in one hand, filming too — he was locked in.
That gimbal didn’t faze him either.
We all just stayed focused like nothing happened.
And I still had more questions to ask.
So when the mic came back to me later, I had to refocus, stay professional, and keep it pushin’ —
all while holding my phone perfectly still for 30 straight minutes.
Because that’s the hustle.
That’s the moment.
That’s media life.
What I Asked Coach Lindsay Gottlieb
Even with the gimbal trying to sabotage me, I wasn’t leaving without asking some real ones. Here’s what I brought to the mic:
🔸 Offensive Identity Without JuJu Watkins
I asked Coach what she sees from this group offensively while JuJu is out — in terms of style of play, pace, and overall mentality.
Who becomes the initiator? What shifts now that JuJu isn’t on the floor?
🔸 Kara Dunn: The Underrated Killer
I brought up Kara Dunn coming in under the radar — not ranked, not hyped, but you can already tell she’s a dawg.
Coach responded with a great story about being on the recruiting trail, and how ACC coaches would pull her aside and say:
“Kara’s that dog. You got one.”
🔸 Defensive Mentality This Season
USC has athleticism across the board this year — mobile forwards, quick guards, long defenders.
So I asked: can this group take the defense up another notch from last season?
Other Topics Coach Gottlieb Touched On
Coach didn’t just give soundbites — she gave substance. And she touched on a lot of key updates, both on and off the court:
A question was asked about Gerda Raulusaitytė, and how she’s fitting into the system early on. Coach spoke highly of her integration so far.
She reflected on surprises from the offseason — things this team has shown her that she wasn’t expecting, in a good way.
She shared lessons learned from last year’s group and how they’re influencing how she leads this team.
And even though no one directly asked — Coach chose to speak on the frontcourt.
She made it clear:It’s not just about Kiki and Rayah or Clarice anymore.
This is a new frontcourt — a young frontcourt — and it’s going to be impactful across the board.She reminded everyone that fans got used to seeing Rayah and Clarice for four years, but this is a totally different look. A new chapter. A new vibe.
One surprise for me personally?
Coach confirmed that Dayana Mendez is actually part of the guard group, not the frontcourt like many assumed.
This team has depth and flexibility, and Dayana’s positioning shows that the staff is leaning into versatility.In her opening statement, Coach Gottlieb also addressed what everyone in the room was wondering about:
JuJu Watkins.
She made it very clear that she would not be discussing any timeline.
Instead, she emphasized that JuJu is in full rehab mode, remains deeply connected to the team, and continues to lead in her own way — even while off the floor.As the press conference continued and more questions were asked, JuJu was brought up again — this time from a different angle.
Someone asked whether players who are forced to sit out often gain a new perspective and learn the game differently.Could that be true for JuJu as well?
Coach responded by reaffirming JuJu’s maturity, focus, and continued presence.
She didn’t speculate — she simply said what we already know: JuJu’s going to impact this team no matter where she is.Other media in the room also asked about:
Kennedy Smith’s growth into more leadership
How Jazzy Davidson is adjusting as a five-star freshman
Coach handled each topic with calm, clarity, and total control — no hype, just honesty.
Catch the Full Press Conference Below
✅ Gimbal chaos included
✅ Questions asked
✅ Coach Gottlieb locked in and dropping gems
Final Thought
The gimbal dropped — but I didn’t.
And neither did this team.
I’m excited to see this group on the court.
They are underrated.
They are underestimated.
And I believe they’re going to be one of the surprise teams in the NCAA this year.
Make sure you get your season tickets, because this ride is going to be special.
And I look forward to seeing all of you November 4th at Galen Center.
✌🏽❤️💛 Fight On.
