Episode 307
Knicks, Baseball & Basketball: Charlie Ward, Ken Davidoff and Tom Crean
Hosted by Mike Guidone and Chris Caputo , the guys begin the show by welcoming former New York Knicks guard Charlie Ward, who shared insights about his time with the Knicks during their championship run and his current role as head coach at Florida A&M. The conversation highlighted the significance of teamwork and character in achieving success on the court.
Next, sportswriter Ken Davidoff joined the show to discuss his book, 101 Lessons from the Dugout, exploring life lessons from baseball and softball.
Mike and Chris wrapped things up talking with college basketball coach Tom Crean, who reflected on the NBA draft and the promising future of his former player, OG Anunoby.
Takeaways:
- Charlie Ward shared his experiences as a former NBA player and current coach, reflecting on the Knicks' championship run and the team's connection to New York.
- Ken Davidoff discussed his book, '101 Lessons from the Dugout', emphasizing how lessons from baseball and softball can apply to life.
- The show featured Tom Crean, who highlighted OG Anunoby's growth and potential as a player, particularly during the Knicks' playoff success.
- The hosts and guests reminisced about the significance of the Knicks' championship for the city of New York, celebrating the team's history and achievements.
- Discussion included the challenges teams face in playoffs, with insights from Charlie Ward about team dynamics and leadership during critical moments.
- The episode closed with a reflection on the unique atmosphere of playing in Madison Square Garden, especially during playoff games.
Transcript
The views expressed in the following program do not necessarily represent those of the staff, management or owners of wgbb.
Speaker A:Live from the WGPB studios in Merritt, New York, this is Sports Talk New York.
Speaker B: FM: Speaker B:5166-231-240 Is our number again.
Speaker B: -: Speaker B:Got a power packed show tonight.
Speaker B:Charlie Ward, former New York Knick, current Florida A and M head coach, going to join us, talk a little bit about the Knicks, his time there and their championship run.
Speaker B:At 8:30 our old friend Ken Davidoff is going to join us just to talk a little bit about his book again and his book tour and then we're going to finish it all off tonight, Cap, with coach Tom Crean who was the coach at Indiana University for our now hero OG Anunoby.
Speaker B:So I kind of let the cat out of the bag.
Speaker B:But Cap, welcome tonight.
Speaker B:Great guests for you on your end and can't wait to start the show.
Speaker C:It's going to be a fun show.
Speaker C:Congratulations to the New York Knicks as the city finally gets to celebrate a championship and we're going to talk that tonight and hopefully we'll enjoy ourselves and go down memory lane a little bit.
Speaker B:Yeah, you know, just an amazing series.
Speaker B:It brought New York together unlike anything.
Speaker B:Ken.
Speaker B:You know, sports has a way of doing that no matter where you are and especially in New York City.
Speaker B:I know, you know, we were kind of concerned as fans that based on the reactions after games that, you know, there might not be much of a New York City left.
Speaker B:But everybody did a great job.
Speaker B:Although the parade I heard was a tough go, a lot of people had to get turned around.
Speaker B:It was like 2 to literally 3 million people.
Speaker C:Yeah, that's a tough spot because the parade route only went a certain amount of blocks and therefore people are trying to get through.
Speaker C:But one thing I will say is I think it was good that the Knicks won on the road.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker C:Because that night there was a five seconds of summer concert going on at Madison Square Garden.
Speaker C:So people were there for a reason not to be there for the Knicks game.
Speaker C:Some watch parties, but I think it would have been crazy if they would have won at the Garden.
Speaker C:It gave the people some time to kind of settle back.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker C:But then it gave people the time to be like where am I going to be on the parade route?
Speaker C:And you know, that was like five days of people sketching it out, figuring out where they're going to go.
Speaker C:Mike, quick question.
Speaker C:Do you think if they would have made it a mile and a half long that it would have been a little bit easier or do you think it still would have been crazy?
Speaker B:Well, I think it still would have been crazy, but it certainly couldn't have hurt.
Speaker B:You know, they had.
Speaker B:New York Knicks had won twice before.
Speaker B:They didn't have a ticket tape parade for them, which I found very interesting.
Speaker B:So of course they wanted to do it.
Speaker C:Budgetary reasons.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker C:The mayor didn't want to do it.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:It was just back in the 70s there were all sorts of issues.
Speaker B:Now I know why they do it on this route because it's called the Canyon of Heroes.
Speaker B:It goes to, you know, downtown to City Hall.
Speaker B:So in theory it's really good.
Speaker B:But I would say if there's another, you know, New York team that wins, you know, o', Rangers, although, you know, Giants, Giants, we don't even mention the jets, but who knows?
Speaker B:Yeah, they're going to have to make an adjustment because now it just, it got ugly.
Speaker C:But do you think that making it longer is just going to like.
Speaker C:Because now these guys have to be in a longer parade and it's just going to take longer to get to City Hall.
Speaker C:I just think that there's going to be however many people, no matter what.
Speaker C:Now, if the Knicks were to repeat.
Speaker C:I know I'm getting ahead of myself.
Speaker C:Do you think the same amount of people show up next year?
Speaker B:I don't think the same amount.
Speaker B:Do I think you'll, you'll get an amazing amount still.
Speaker B:But I get having it go to City Hall.
Speaker B:Yeah, but what is the, you know, what's the steadfast rule that it's got to go there?
Speaker B:Why not just.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:Make it through midtown and maybe, maybe because of business traffic or whatever else.
Speaker B:I, I don't know.
Speaker B:It's going to be an interesting question if the question.
Speaker C:Who stays away because of the amount of things that happen the first time and who's just not coming because it's a repeat.
Speaker C:And we've done this before.
Speaker B:Well, apparently.
Speaker B:And, and this, this came straight from, from a friend of mine who went.
Speaker B:He, he and his group got there or to the parade route at 6:30 out of the subway.
Speaker B:They, they were like the last group.
Speaker C:Well, I was going to say there was a lot of people, six o' clock.
Speaker B:People said they, they couldn't even make it.
Speaker D:Yeah.
Speaker B:And they had, they were stuck in subways, they had kids who needed to get to class to take Regents.
Speaker B:It was, you know, they just couldn't win.
Speaker C:But I knew people were going to skip regions to go to this town.
Speaker B:Sure, why not?
Speaker C:I mean, it's just, it's a really tough situation.
Speaker C:But, but, but you know that people are upset that certain people, VIPs and cops friends are getting through when other people are not.
Speaker C:But I think if you, you would take in the day and getting there at three o' clock in the morning, it probably was a memorable experience.
Speaker C:I don't know if I would do it for the Knicks, but I may do it in other situations.
Speaker E:Sure.
Speaker B:You know, I was thinking back to when, when this journey first started for the Knicks and we had the Long Island Railroad strike.
Speaker D:Oh, yeah.
Speaker B:We were on the air, you know, talking about that.
Speaker B:And that seems like going to the Knicks game, right?
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker B:And against the Hawks, that seems like, you know, a million years ago.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:And it's just, is, it's amazing to think of where the team went, where they came from.
Speaker B:The amazing run of rattling off all those wins in a row and being so dominant and then getting the first two games on the road, coming home and kind of laying flat.
Speaker B:Unfortunately.
Speaker B:I think the moment, maybe it's just not that it was too big for them, but it was definitely a different kind of atmosphere at the Garden.
Speaker B:And then, you know, of course, the world famous tip in Game four, that's going to go down, people tell me the greatest moment in New York sports history since Game 6 of the 86 World Series.
Speaker B:Who knows?
Speaker B:You know, it's, it's, it's all, it's all lore, but what a, what a, what a play.
Speaker B:And that's why I'm very excited we're going to have Tom Crean on who coached OG Anunoby, that, that whole thing.
Speaker C:Was just absolutely crazy.
Speaker C:The amount of people who probably were writing the Knicks off in so many different ways so they had gotten a 20 lead.
Speaker C:If they lose that, now it's down to 2 1.
Speaker C:And people are talking about what's going to happen when it goes back to, to San Antonio and could it be tied up at that point.
Speaker C:So the strange part was if you kind of listen to, you know, Josh Hart and Brunson, they did a little show where basically they were saying, well, how loud was it in there?
Speaker C:Like, oh, you know, really loud.
Speaker C:But they were talking about how Josh Hart missed that wide open layup.
Speaker B:Yes.
Speaker C:And he was like, well, you know, I missed that wide open layup just so OG can have that, that tipping.
Speaker C:Because if I didn't, it would have been a tougher situation.
Speaker C:But man, to come back from 29 points down and then there's still 1.2 seconds to go, that was an absolutely electric situation.
Speaker B:You know, you as the math teacher and statistically, I mean, what they were.
Speaker C:At one point with nine minutes to go down, 29 and a half minutes to go down 20.
Speaker C:I was sitting there going, they have less than 2%.
Speaker B:Yeah, it was, it was under, I believe under 2%.
Speaker B:Which is, which is just wild.
Speaker C:Everything had to go right.
Speaker B:And you know, from a basketball standpoint and from coaching standpoint, San Antonio did everything possible to allow the Knicks to win that game.
Speaker B:You know, I was saying, not that this would ever happen, but if San Antonio had just taken 24 second violation after 24, if they had just done that, the Knicks probably wouldn't even have a chance to score.
Speaker B:I mean, it's.
Speaker B:They came down, took quick threes, turned the ball over.
Speaker B:I mean, they did everything possible.
Speaker B:And then, you know, de' Aaron Fox, my goodness, instead of dribbling it out, he goes to the basket, gets his shot blocked.
Speaker B:I mean, it was literally for anybody out there who is interested in coaching basketball, take a look at this game and see A, how to come back and believe in yourself, but, but B, also how to not play with a lead late in the game.
Speaker B:Because you cannot go down and take quick threes in the shot clock and turn the ball over.
Speaker B:You gotta run clock.
Speaker B:And it's not about playing not to win.
Speaker B:You know, it's about playing smart.
Speaker B:And I just don't, I don't get how a professional basketball team in any way, shape or form could have,.
Speaker E:You.
Speaker B:Know, maneuvered themselves into a position to lose that game.
Speaker C:The Knicks, throughout the playoffs.
Speaker C:I mean, think about this, Mike.
Speaker C:16 And three and three games they lost were by one one and four.
Speaker C:They were dominant.
Speaker C:And I'm going to put them down as one of the most dominant playoff teams to ever be out there.
Speaker C:So this is a great situation.
Speaker C: ng to have a former Nick from: Speaker B:Yeah, pretty.
Speaker B:Pretty amazing stuff.
Speaker B:And just, you know, kind of amazing how it worked out against the spurs, against the spurs again.
Speaker B:And just, you know, is it, is it kismet?
Speaker B:Is it, is it fandom?
Speaker B:You know, whatever you want to call it just.
Speaker B:Just exciting stuff.
Speaker B:But I.
Speaker B:A team.
Speaker B:You know, Cap, you said about them being so dominant, but got down in these games so quickly and so unbelievably fast.
Speaker B:But, you know, we'll hit on that later.
Speaker B:But we are very happy right now and honored to be joined by, as you mentioned, Charlie Ward, member of the New York Knicks, was on the team the last time the team had made the playoffs.
Speaker B:Currently now the head men's basketball coach at Florida A and M. Charlie, Mike and Chris here in New York.
Speaker B:How you doing tonight?
Speaker E:I'm doing well.
Speaker E:Sounds like you guys are really excited about the Knicks winning.
Speaker E:A lot to talk about.
Speaker B:We are excited.
Speaker B:I mean, listen, you spent a lot of time here in New York.
Speaker B:Sometimes when things aren't going well and we finally get a team here that's winning, it is amazing stuff.
Speaker B:But we are, you know, admittedly, both Knick fans and this city is electric.
Speaker B:I'm sure for you, as a former player and someone who is, you know, part of the Knick family, it had to be exciting for you as well.
Speaker E:Most definitely.
Speaker E:It's like, you know, when you're alum of something and you see them have success, you're always going to be excited because you know what you put into it and how much you love and adore the organization or the school.
Speaker E:And so just to see all the heartache, heartbreaks that we've had over all these years of getting close to actually seeing it happen, you know, just very happy for those guys.
Speaker C:So, Charlie, from.
Speaker C:From your vantage point, how much did you grasp onto this team as they were making this run, knowing that you had done this 25 years or more ago?
Speaker E:Well, one of the things that was very evident was, you know, they were well connected, you know, guys willing to play their roles, which is always a great characteristic to have as a team.
Speaker E:And they had superstars, guys that could take over a game whenever they needed to.
Speaker E:And when you have those types of characteristics as a unit, you have a chance to be successful.
Speaker E:And there was no fluke.
Speaker E:When you win 13 or how many games they won 13 in a row in the playoffs, you know, that's definitely a team that's destined for greatness.
Speaker E:And, you know, I do believe that those.
Speaker E:That momentum carried them throughout those playoffs to win a championship as well, because they really didn't play their best basketball the entire series and ended up winning the series, you know, four games to one.
Speaker E:So that's normally a sign of a great team.
Speaker C:You talk about a great team.
Speaker C: York Knicks point guard, the: Speaker C:At what point during that playoff run do you remember that that locker room truly believed, you know, we can do something special?
Speaker E:Well, it wasn't really until the last five or six games in the regular season because it was a lockout year, and of course, it was shortened.
Speaker E:And we had some new additions to the team that had to get used to the culture, the coaches, and that took us some time to jail.
Speaker E:But it wasn't until the last five or six games where I think we won five in a row to make it into the playoffs or get the ac.
Speaker E:And once we got into the playoffs, it gave us renewed energy, and we actually, you know, went through, got a sweep against Atlanta in the second round, beat Miami at the buzzer, game five.
Speaker E:And so it was one of those very similar situations where, you know, it was just things were happening and it was more destined for us to get to where we got to.
Speaker E:But of course, we just didn't have enough in the end.
Speaker B:Charlie, we wanted to ask, you know, in these games in the finals, obviously teams were preparing so much, spending, you know, inordinate amount of time, filmed coaching staff, all sorts of things, but it just seemed that the Knicks constantly, obviously got out to slow starts.
Speaker B:And what do you think it was about, just San Antonio being able to game after game, get out to such quick leads when the Knicks were as good as they were?
Speaker E:I mean, it's kudos to San Antonio for, you know, making that a reality.
Speaker E:I mean, they put the energy in, and the Knicks, of course, you know, in the field of games, they missed makeable shots.
Speaker E:San Antonio was either hot or on fire.
Speaker E:And so they kind of had their moments.
Speaker E:But the thing that was most impressive was, you know, the leadership and experience of the Knicks, you know, working to cut the lead, you know, throughout the game.
Speaker E:But you see a lot, a lot in the NBA because there's a lot of time that's left in the game.
Speaker E:And so the starts normally aren't the biggest thing.
Speaker E:It's how you continue to progress throughout and make adjustments.
Speaker E:And that's what you saw the Knicks do.
Speaker B:Is it too simple to say that the spurs, with their youth, you know, late in games, did get a little tight and had trouble closing it out, or is that kind of overstated, do you think?
Speaker E:Well, at some point, you know, when you don't have those type of experiences, you do kind of make some mistakes here and there and maybe guys either not making shots or the ball is in the wrong guy's hands at certain, certain times.
Speaker E:And you started to see that even in Game 5, where San Antonio was getting to the basket or getting shots, and they just weren't making them.
Speaker E:And.
Speaker E:But you saw the Knicks on the opposite end.
Speaker E:They knew who to get the ball to, and Jalen, you know, was the guy that made everything run.
Speaker E:And so it was important.
Speaker E:It's always important to have a guy like a Jalen Brunson who can take over a game, but also can get everyone else shots because of his ability to.
Speaker E:To make baskets and take over games.
Speaker E:And so I think, you know, that's something the spurs will continue to build upon, and they'll have a guy like Wendy, who they rely on a lot.
Speaker E:He'll understand his spots, and he'll understand how to command double teams and make plays for other guys while making those shots like Jalen was making consistently to keep his team in.
Speaker E:So that's what experience does.
Speaker E:And I was just surprised that, you know, the experience factor didn't come up earlier against the spurs, but they did what they need to do, and it was a great learning experience for them.
Speaker E:So they'll be tough moving forward because of the experience that they had, you know, in the finals.
Speaker C:Charlie, first off, I want to say happy Father's Day to you.
Speaker C:We follow you on social media and see all the great things that you do.
Speaker C:So I hope you're enjoying that time right now.
Speaker C:And secondly, thank you.
Speaker C:How did the leadership of Patrick Ewing come about?
Speaker C:Especially he had an injury during the 99 finals.
Speaker C:And the second part of that question is kind of like, were you happy to see him as an ambassador with this team, be able to get a ring this year?
Speaker E:Yes.
Speaker E:I mean, you know, Patrick was first.
Speaker E:First overall pick for the Knicks back.
Speaker E:I think it was in 84, whenever he came out.
Speaker E:And, you know, he's definitely a New York Knick through and through.
Speaker E:It was tough when it was time for him to move to a different school, I mean, different organization, just didn't seem real, but that's the business of it.
Speaker E:But it was just great to be able to have him back, you know, in his rightful place as being an ambassador.
Speaker E:All the years he was at the Knicks, he got close, of course, in 9 and 9, but he was there in 9 and 4.
Speaker E:But at 9 and 9, he was injured and get a chance, a second chance at it.
Speaker E:But just for him to be able to be there and get this experience winning the championship, you know, he was just as proud as the guys.
Speaker E:He was like one of the coaches, like, on the sideline.
Speaker E:And just to have him around is another great blessing for a lot of those guys as well.
Speaker E:So I was happy for him and, you know, happy that the Knicks gave him this opportunity to be an ambassador and glad that he was able to see it through.
Speaker B:So, Charlie, a little over 14 months ago, you're named the head coach at Florida A and M University, a place where your parents met, if I have that correct.
Speaker B:And, you know, sort of a homecoming for you.
Speaker B:Tell us a little bit about your first season, you know, the experience of that and just where you feel your program's going at the moment.
Speaker E:Yes, we had a really good first year.
Speaker E:A lot of people didn't expect us to finish second.
Speaker E:We were picked to finish eighth in the league and finished second overall in the regular season, and then lost in the semifinals of the tournament at the buzzer to a team that we beat twice during the regular season.
Speaker E:And it was a great learning experience for us.
Speaker E:You know, we took the job last April and we worked to put together the best roster we could at that late junction.
Speaker E:Was blessed to be able to put a good group together, but we just weren't able to overcome in the end.
Speaker E:This year, we're looking forward to a new whole, pretty much a whole new roster.
Speaker E:We have three guys potentially coming back from last year's roster and the 12 new guys, which we're excited about because we were able to do a little bit more homework on the guys and bring in, you know, guys that we felt could help get us to that next level, especially after the experience we had in our first year in the swac.
Speaker E:And so we're excited to see this team gel just like any other team.
Speaker E:They have to be connected and find ways to connect.
Speaker E:But it all starts with a willingness to be a part of a group, and we're excited about the attitudes that the guys have along with the talent.
Speaker C: f the defining moments of the: Speaker C:Brown.
Speaker C:What do you remember most about that moment of him in the know tossing you?
Speaker C:And did you think it was going to affect the series that much?
Speaker E:That was not 99.
Speaker E:It was 1 of the other series.
Speaker E:I'm not sure which year it was, but that was just unfortunate.
Speaker E:You know, we.
Speaker E:We actually beat the Heat three out of the four series we played, and that's the reason we were up three to one, I do believe, and ended up losing.
Speaker E:You Know, in seven games.
Speaker E:But, yes, that was a turn.
Speaker E:That was a turning factor of the series because we had guys suspended, you know, for the last two games.
Speaker E:And it was a challenge for us, but we all live and learn, and so PJ and I, good friends, so it wasn't anything malicious after that.
Speaker E:It was just a part of the competition.
Speaker E:But it was good that we had that because we didn't have.
Speaker E:We didn't have to experience that again.
Speaker C:Can you talk about what it's like playing at Madison Square Garden?
Speaker C:Because, you know, I'm sure for Jalen Brunson, it's got to be electric to have all these people cheering you on and winning games by large amounts and winning games at the buzzer.
Speaker C:What's it like playing a game at Madison Square Garden in the playoffs?
Speaker E:One of the things best experiences, you know, you can help anyone, any player can have, is when you're on the team, a winning team in Madison Square Garden, because they're.
Speaker E:They're very loud and they're.
Speaker E:They're excited about life and, you know, they're very rambunctious in a lot of ways and very passionate.
Speaker E:And so it's just one of those situations where you just enjoy the experience.
Speaker E:You don't want to be on the team when you're not playing well, which I've been on that.
Speaker E:Been on that side as well.
Speaker E:But it's just amazing, you know, to see, because even today, everywhere I go, there's always going to be a New York Knick fan.
Speaker B:Sure.
Speaker E:And they're going to come up to you regardless of where you go.
Speaker E:And so it's just a great blessing.
Speaker E:I was grateful that I had an opportunity to be there for nine and a half seasons.
Speaker E:So those things are going to always be valuable, but anyone that plays there and on a good team, you're going to be loved.
Speaker B:So you see on television the amount of celebrities that are at the games, and I mean, I think without being there, Charlie, it's hard to really kind of comprehend so just what it's like.
Speaker B:But early in this final series, Game three, Game four, especially Game three, when the team struggled.
Speaker B:Can it be a distraction to you as a New York Knick?
Speaker B:I mean, are you pulled in a thousand different directions before the game to talk to people and meet with celebrities and take pictures and everything?
Speaker B:Or is it pretty much kind of standard procedure throughout the season and once you get into the playoffs, it's the same thing, but just a little bit more exaggerated just because of the amount of people and the amount of celebrities that are there.
Speaker B:Is it tough to manage?
Speaker E:No, it's not.
Speaker E:I mean, it's.
Speaker B:I'd like to have that problem.
Speaker E:It's what you expect.
Speaker E:You do see people that you normally don't see.
Speaker E:But, you know, a lot of times that's.
Speaker E:I mean, people see you the same way, and so it's just a matter of, you know, just taking it in and not allowing it to distract you from what you're doing.
Speaker E:Because most times you see it.
Speaker E:See them, and you may say hello, but also it's, you know, it is what it is.
Speaker E:They're the game, and they're there to watch you play.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker E:And perform.
Speaker E:And so that shouldn't distract you.
Speaker E:It normally doesn't distract you from doing what you're supposed to do.
Speaker B:The only thing I was going to follow up with is Spike Lee is basically like the sixth Knick on the court.
Speaker B:I mean, he's been around, he's yelling, he's up, he's jumping.
Speaker B:I'm sure after a while, you kind of.
Speaker B:Even though he's such a great fan, you kind of tune that out.
Speaker E:Correct.
Speaker E:I mean, he's a guy that, you know, you get excited with and.
Speaker E:Because, I mean, he's getting on the other team and he's for you.
Speaker E:For you.
Speaker E:And, you know, that's the same way, you know, Dan Stiller, a very similar type of celebrity.
Speaker E:Yeah, there's quite a few that's there consistently.
Speaker E:But, I mean, those guys, you like them.
Speaker E:I mean, after the games, you get an opportunity to take pictures with them or, you know, just say hello.
Speaker E:And those are all, you know, great moments for the future.
Speaker E:But, you know, you're excited because you do know that you're in New York and you're going to get random celebrities coming to the games when they're in New York, no matter if they live there or not.
Speaker B:Right.
Speaker E:So just to be able to see, you know, those.
Speaker E:Those people in the stands, you know, it kind of, you know, I'm from Thomasville, Georgia, so you normally don't get a chance to see those people.
Speaker E:You see them on television, but you don't get to see them in person a lot.
Speaker E:So it's always fascinating.
Speaker C:Charlie, did this run surprise you that the Knicks went on this year in the playoffs?
Speaker E:Not really.
Speaker E:I mean, you know, they had a good year, you know, when it came down to the season.
Speaker D:Right.
Speaker E:They had a good year, and they were number three in the conference, so.
Speaker E:And, you know, top two teams had relatively good years.
Speaker E:And just like any team you Want to build towards something.
Speaker E:And so throughout the year, they had, you know, games where they won, put together good streaks, and that's kind of what you want because those are good building habits throughout the season.
Speaker E:They got an opportunity to play different guys throughout the year because that's part of evaluation, making sure that you have the depth that you need.
Speaker E:And so when it came down to the playoffs, you know, it was just a matter of getting on a run.
Speaker E:And you saw that happen during the playoffs.
Speaker E:After they lost two games to Atlanta, they found a way to, you know, put it together and go on another run.
Speaker E:They won like 13 or so in a row.
Speaker E:But those are things that you build during the season, those habits.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:So, Charlie, before we let you go, as we mentioned, head coach at Florida A and M coming into this season, scheduling wise, anything to look out for any big games or tournaments that we should keep an eye on for your team.
Speaker E:Yes, we have Milgram ii.
Speaker E:We're opening up with Florida State against Florida State in Tampa.
Speaker B:Alma mater.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker B:That's fantastic.
Speaker B:Good for you.
Speaker E:Iranian 180 tip off classic.
Speaker E:So we're in a double header with Florida.
Speaker E:Florida's playing Miami.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker E:And then Florida State is playing famu.
Speaker B:There we go.
Speaker B:Very nice.
Speaker E:So we're excited about that.
Speaker E:And then we play the University of Florida in December as well.
Speaker E:So we're excited about those opportunities that we have to compete.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:Some great, some great interstate rivalries.
Speaker B:You know, as Chris just mentioned, your alma mater playing against Florida State.
Speaker B:So that's very exciting.
Speaker B:Coach Charlie Ward, again, we can't thank you enough for coming on tonight, for giving us a couple of minutes talking about your experience with the New York Knicks and your joy in watching them win and your excitement with your team this year.
Speaker B:We wish you all the best.
Speaker B:Good luck with those games.
Speaker B:We'll be keeping an eye and, you know, again, hopefully we can have you on again to talk about your team and maybe the Knicks making another run next, next season.
Speaker E:I would love to hear it all.
Speaker B:Yes, sir.
Speaker E:So I'm here for it.
Speaker B:Okay, thanks, Jolly.
Speaker E:All right.
Speaker E:Thank you, guys.
Speaker B:Thank you so much.
Speaker B:Once again, Charlie Ward, former New York Knicker.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:And you know what I. I love, I love the insight, the attitude.
Speaker B:And he's like, yeah, we're playing Florida State.
Speaker B:We're gonna play Florida.
Speaker B:God bless him.
Speaker B:That's fantastic.
Speaker B:So when we come back off the break, we're going to talk to Ken Davidoff once again about his book and finish it up with Tom Crean tonight, Coach of OG Anunoby from his college days.
Speaker A:You are listening to Sports Talk New York.
Speaker A: FM: Speaker A:You're listening to Sports Talk New York on Long Island's wgb.
Speaker A:And now back to the show.
Speaker B: : Speaker B:And very happy right now to be joined by our old friend, author of the book 101 Lessons from the what Baseball and Softball Can Teach Us about the game of life, Mr. Ken Davidoff.
Speaker B:Ken, Mike and Chris here in New York.
Speaker B:How are you doing tonight?
Speaker B:Do we have you.
Speaker B:I'm sorry,.
Speaker C:You there, Ken?
Speaker B:You hear Ken having a little bit of technical difficulties I think at the moment.
Speaker B:We'll see if we can, we're going to see if we can pull them up.
Speaker B:But Cap, we had, we had Ken on when a couple of months ago when he wrote the book.
Speaker B:And I wanted to mention to him, oh, we lost him.
Speaker B:Hopefully we can get him back on.
Speaker B:Great read.
Speaker B:Quick, quick.
Speaker B:Well, I'm kind of doing it a disservice by saying it's a quick read.
Speaker B:It's a really, it's a great book for any sport.
Speaker C:Short chapters just to be able to take on different lessons from each one.
Speaker B:Okay.
Speaker B:Well, we're just, we're trying to get Ken back on and not to ruin it, but I was actually towards the end of the basketball season, when my season was done, I gave this book to my seniors.
Speaker B:And even though it's, you know, about softball, actually both of them are softball players.
Speaker B:And I thought it was great, just about, you know, the lessons of life.
Speaker B:And I think we are.
Speaker B:Ken, do we have you on?
Speaker D:Hey, guys.
Speaker E:There we go.
Speaker B:Not to worry at all.
Speaker B:First of all, welcome back to the program.
Speaker B:And what I was saying was that right after we had you on, I ordered your book, two copies.
Speaker B:I had two seniors on my basketball team this year who, who were also softball players.
Speaker B:And my going away gift to them was the book.
Speaker B:And as we were at our party, they were thumbing through it and reading and the girls were looking at, they were just really excited.
Speaker B:So great success on your book.
Speaker B:And from a personal standpoint, I really enjoyed it.
Speaker F:That's very, very kind of You, I very much appreciate that.
Speaker F:And yeah, I mean, I've been at it now for nearly five months.
Speaker F:February 5th was the release date.
Speaker F:I'm going to go at least through October, through the end of the Major League Baseball playoffs.
Speaker F:And it's just been a lot of fun hearing stories like that and connecting with coaches who are just looking out for their young players best interests.
Speaker C:So Ken, tell us, give us an idea of what it's like for you to be going on the tours, to be signing copies, to be talking about the book.
Speaker C:What's it like and what's been the best part for you.
Speaker F: I quit my job covering MLB in: Speaker F:I was really trying to stay off social media and I was teaching at a college.
Speaker F:And this book, we sold it in roughly January of 25.
Speaker F:So the last year has been busy ramping up, but still pretty tame compared to what I've been doing.
Speaker F:So yeah, it's been great getting back in the grind, but in a much different way.
Speaker F:Just talking about this book and also talking about my career.
Speaker F:And then you asked the best part, the best part is just the connections I'm making.
Speaker F:So the last visit I did was this past Friday night two days ago at the Long Island Duck Stadium.
Speaker F:They were kind enough to allow me to set up shop there with a table.
Speaker F:And so I met a gentleman who works for Fan who helps produce the Boomerangio show and was familiar with my work.
Speaker F:And I got to meet a security guard at the ball park who used to read me when I wrote for Newsday.
Speaker F:And then another young man came over.
Speaker F:I was like autographed Trevor Bauer photo night or something.
Speaker F:He said, well, like he came in the seventh innings and I'm so glad you're still here.
Speaker F:You know, my, my first priority was the autographed Trevor Bauer photo, but you were my second priority and he bought a book.
Speaker F:So it's just individual stories like that and just people from my childhood, from college, from my hometown in New Jersey just coming up and supporting me at these various venues has really just been thrilling.
Speaker B:That's great.
Speaker B:So this Thursday, I believe, June 25th, you're going to be at Theodore's Books in Oyster Bay, is that correct?
Speaker F:That is correct.
Speaker F: was a first round pick in the: Speaker F:And then Mark Roseman, if you know him.
Speaker F:He's a, he's a Suffolk county sports journalism legend of sorts.
Speaker F:He has the website kinerscorner.com where he just, he writes about all sorts of Mets issues.
Speaker B:Yeah, Craig Hanson.
Speaker B:Now, he's significantly younger than me, but he was, as you mentioned, Glen Cove.
Speaker B:I grew up in the town next to him, Locust Valley.
Speaker B:So we had.
Speaker B:He was on our radar from when he was a young kid and really he shot through the ranks.
Speaker B:And I know he pitched for the Red Sox and he had some issues, but, you know, physically.
Speaker B:But he was a fantastic pitcher in his day.
Speaker F:Oh, without a doubt.
Speaker F:I was with Newsday when he rose, just as you're discussing.
Speaker F:And so I wasn't covering high schools, but when he reached, even when he became professional, he was a big deal.
Speaker F: about him interviewing him in: Speaker F:He was on the Double A team.
Speaker F:And, you know, he was such a big deal for Newsday that they paid for me to fly up to Portland and interview him while he was injured.
Speaker F:That's what a big.
Speaker F:How big a deal Craig was back in the day?
Speaker C:Can you talk about injuries?
Speaker C:I'm sure you're following some of the New York teams.
Speaker C:The Yankees have done at least winning baseball, if not excelled without their superstar, Aaron Judge.
Speaker C:Do you think this season that's probably, that's one of the biggest things about them is they're able to fill holes when their superstar is out.
Speaker F:It's huge.
Speaker F: I mean, when you go back to: Speaker F:Right.
Speaker F:I was the only year of Aaron Boone's nine seasons where they missed the playoffs.
Speaker F:But because they were, they were a train wreck, right.
Speaker F:They couldn't score any runs and, and they really just fell to pieces when once Judge got injured.
Speaker F:So, yeah, the fact that they were able to win two of three in Toronto and beat Cleveland two of three and the White Sox two out of three, that's a big deal for them.
Speaker C:And a follow up to that, do you think now that the Knicks run is over, that people are going to now start to focus on the fallacies of the New York Mets?
Speaker F:That's a great question.
Speaker F:You know, I was so back in 99, the last time the Knicks made the Finals, I was covering the Yankees.
Speaker F:And I remember just it was like working in a bubble, you know, because even the Yankees were defending champs, you know, coming off that record setting 98 season and they had plenty going on and like nothing would, would connect with people.
Speaker F:Right.
Speaker F:Because people were so fixated on that, that Knicks run and now the fact that Knicks actually won it this time and it's another 20, what, seven years since then and obviously 53 years overall.
Speaker F:I still think there's going to be a little period here where people are just floating.
Speaker F:Right.
Speaker F:I mean tell me if you disagree but like I think, I think people are just going to ride this Knicks high for a little longer before they finally sit down and say, oh my God, the Mets stink.
Speaker C:Yeah.
Speaker C:But at some point I think it's going to turn to, you know, are the Mets going to be sellers and start to get rid of things and then you know, how far do they go in making changes?
Speaker C:Because Ken, it's really bad.
Speaker F:It's really bad and I'm not crushed that I'm not there to cover it.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker F:But you know, it's interesting you mentioned the Mets selling.
Speaker F:Now obviously Freddie Peralta is an interesting piece, right.
Speaker F:I think also obvious he's number two at best behind school.
Speaker F:Right.
Speaker F:On that market.
Speaker C:Right.
Speaker F:And you know, he's doing himself no favors.
Speaker F:He just got clobbered last night, right.
Speaker F:At 10 runs.
Speaker F:So you know, he's, he's not horrible.
Speaker F:But it hasn't been a great walk year for him, you know, great platform season as he enters free agency and beyond him, who are we really talking about in terms of who they can trade?
Speaker F:I mean David Peterson is now his walk year which when I saw that, that kind of blew my mind because you know that was the last full season I covered was 21 when he was a rookie.
Speaker F:Just hit me personal like, wow, I've been out for a while how this guy's about to be a free agent.
Speaker F:So.
Speaker F:But you know, I don't, I'm not sure David Peterson is going to bring back tremendous return if they shop him.
Speaker F:So you know, they, they won't.
Speaker F:There's always a team that runs the deadline, right.
Speaker F:Like a team.
Speaker D:One.
Speaker F:Now of course I'm blanking on who it was last year, but even like the year the Yankees traded Andrew Miller and roll this Chapman with which is back in 16.
Speaker F:But like the Mets won't be that team, it'll be the Tigers, right.
Speaker C:With Scubal on a New York front.
Speaker C:This run that the Knicks made, is this the, I mean what is it like if you're covering a team like the Knicks during something like this.
Speaker C:I mean, we really didn't have it much during your time as a writer.
Speaker C:So what is this situation like?
Speaker F:Yeah, that's a great question.
Speaker F:I'm not sure I can offer a comparable just because of the special place that the Knicks have in the heart of New York, which we saw this last couple months and with the parade and everything and the time gap, you know, 53 years, my God, even the Mets are only at 40.
Speaker E:Right.
Speaker F:So, you know, the Knicks are to the point where who was at the games?
Speaker F:Clyde.
Speaker F:And was he the only one from that team?
Speaker F:Because everyone else sadly has either passed away or probably isn't well enough to attend.
Speaker F:So.
Speaker F:Pretty remarkable.
Speaker F:Yeah.
Speaker F:I mean, and the COVID that had to be quite magical.
Speaker F: I mean, I covered the two: Speaker F:But 53 years, I mean, that's really, that's beyond generational.
Speaker F:That's two generations or maybe three.
Speaker F:So, yeah, really just an incredible story.
Speaker F:And I just happened to be at the Yankees game Wednesday night when Brunson and Hart threw out the first pitch and just the reaction they got again, just really a magical run.
Speaker F:And just the vibe in the entire Tri State area has really been incredible.
Speaker B:So once again, this Thursday night at 7pm you're going to be talking about your book and signing 101 lessons from the Dugout at Theodore's Books in Oyster Bay, 17 Audrey Avenue, along with Craig Hanson and Mark Roseman.
Speaker B:So once the tour is over here, and I know you got a ways to go here with the book and going to sell a ton more what's on the horizon for you for your next project or what you're looking into?
Speaker B:I know I don't want to rush.
Speaker F:You, but the first person to ask me, I honestly don't know, I'm just sprinting through the tape.
Speaker F:I mean this.
Speaker F:When this book sold in January 25, I had other books in process also, and I hit the pause button on all those once this one sold.
Speaker F:So we'll see.
Speaker F:Hopefully this book will have sold well enough to give me some leverage in the decisions I make moving forward.
Speaker F:But honestly, I'm 55 years old and this is the first book I've sold.
Speaker F:I could never figure out how to write a book when I was working full time and still see my family at all.
Speaker F:So it really just was such a delight for me, a victory lap, if you will.
Speaker F:And so I'm just focused on enjoying this lap and when it's over, I'll sit down with my brain trust and figure out the next move.
Speaker B:Well, so many hours of hard work and lessons that you're telling everybody.
Speaker B:And as I mentioned before, great book for the softball or baseball player or coach or parent, whatever.
Speaker B:Just so many great things.
Speaker B:I'll be down there Thursday night because I live close and.
Speaker D:Oh, wonderful.
Speaker B:Yeah, Looking forward to meeting with you.
Speaker B:And I'll bring as many friends as I can to pack in the place and, you know, hopefully once again, the book continues to be a huge success as it is.
Speaker B:Thank you so much for being on.
Speaker B:We'll continue as the program goes on tonight to talk about your appearance.
Speaker B:But all the best, travel safe and hope to have you on again when your next best seller hits the market.
Speaker F:You guys are the best.
Speaker F:I really appreciate the sport and I look forward to seeing you Thursday night and then hopefully many more.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:100%.
Speaker B:Ken Davidoff, thanks again so much and all the best.
Speaker B:I'll see you Thursday evening.
Speaker E:All right, thanks.
Speaker F:Take care.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:So right now, just kind of switching gears back to the Knicks.
Speaker B:Very happy to be joined by former NCAA coach and broadcaster.
Speaker B:Coach Tom Crean, who was coaching OG Anunoby of the New York Knicks at Indiana University, is all over media right now talking about the NBA draft and his experiences.
Speaker B:So having.
Speaker B:I know he's.
Speaker B:He's getting ready to board a flight to Tampa and we're lucky to steal a couple of minutes with him tonight.
Speaker B:Coach Tom Crane.
Speaker B:This is Mike and Chris here in New York.
Speaker B:How you doing tonight?
Speaker D:I'm great.
Speaker D:I'm great.
Speaker D:I wish I was in your city by now traveling, but I've had a few delays out of Florida.
Speaker D:That gets me going now in the morning.
Speaker D:But it's great to be with you guys.
Speaker B:Oh, you can.
Speaker B:Where you heading to?
Speaker D:I'm coming in for the draft.
Speaker D:Yeah, that's what NBA radio for three days, interviews in the morning and then the shows with Justin Termin and Eddie Johnson on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.
Speaker D:And then we cover the draft.
Speaker D:So it's my third year doing it.
Speaker D:I love it.
Speaker D:Keeps me really busy.
Speaker D:I love working with Sean o' Brien and those guys there.
Speaker D:They're awesome.
Speaker D:We've had some shows leading up to it for the draft, so it's fun to be a part of it.
Speaker B:You know, I listen to JT and Eddie all the time.
Speaker B:Can you, can you tell Justin that he's up a little bit?
Speaker B:He's, he really likes to.
Speaker B:I Mean, I know it's all, it's all in good, in good fun but such a great program and I'm sure you know what you're going to bring to it now.
Speaker B:The NBA draft is just a fantastic time of year coming.
Speaker B:It feels obviously just like the finals ended and now we go into, you know, one A of the season right here.
Speaker B:Getting ready for next year already.
Speaker D:Yeah, no question.
Speaker D:And a part being a part of NBA radio, it's not only the draft which is so huge, but you're still talking about the Finals, you're talking about Giannis, you're talking about other potential trades and free agency and it's just, it's great.
Speaker D:I gotta, I always watch the NBA.
Speaker D:I have a son that was with the Dallas Mavericks for the last four years, head video coordinator last year and he just went with Sean Sweeney to Orlando as an assistant.
Speaker D:So like I always watch them.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:And yeah, it's awesome.
Speaker D:I always watch them.
Speaker D:But I did pre and post game for probably about 35 games for the Bucks and the Timberwolves this year.
Speaker D:And so being a part of that, doing these different shows leading up, I mean I had such a education of the NBA this year in so many different areas that it's fun to be able to talk about it even now in the off season because you feel very connected not only to the people you know and to your own players, but you feel connected to really of diving into the team.
Speaker D:So I feel real good talking about those things.
Speaker C:Coach, you were able to come to New York, you're able to watch Knicks and Spurs in the finals and you know, one of your former players had a huge part in the New York Knicks winning a championship.
Speaker C:So can you first talk about the experience of coming to a game, you know, watching a 29 point comeback and having one of your players be the man on the court.
Speaker D:Absolutely.
Speaker D:Well, first off, I wasn't at that game actually I was at game five.
Speaker C:Correct.
Speaker D:Because I was a part of the MVPA players top 100 camp and rock Hill.
Speaker D:So I, the only game I could really get to was, was game five and I did not want to miss it if they were going to win it.
Speaker D:But watching that game in a hotel room, you know, at the camp, I didn't go into the, to where everybody was watching it.
Speaker D:You know, when you're watching one of your own players sometimes like watching your own sons, you're locked into it.
Speaker D:Right.
Speaker D:You don't want to be distracted, you want to study it.
Speaker D:It never looked to me, even with the Way Seattle was.
Speaker D:I mean, Seattle, San Antonio was playing.
Speaker D:It never looked to me like the Knicks had give up in them.
Speaker D:It never looked to me like they weren't.
Speaker D:That they didn't have an opportunity to turn things around.
Speaker D:And one of the things about San Antonio, they won all the first quarters.
Speaker D:There's times that they could be going at like 120, right?
Speaker D:But there was also times that they could drop into that 60 to 75 range speedometer, right?
Speaker D:And that's what the Knicks kind of took over with.
Speaker D:But OG Looked very confident.
Speaker D:He looked efficient.
Speaker D:You know, none of the team looked frustrated.
Speaker D:They looked.
Speaker D:They look concerned.
Speaker D:You know, when you watch them on tv, they didn't look as frustrated.
Speaker D:And as they kept coming back and that crowd kept getting louder, OG Never wavered, but that's exactly who he is.
Speaker D:And I think those last two plays of the game that he made showed not only his athleticism, his grit, you know, the determination that he has to make plays, but it shows how well he uses his athleticism, like big strides.
Speaker D:You know, he's got great length, so he's.
Speaker D:He really stretches out, but he's always down and ready.
Speaker D:He's not one of those guys that's a late reactor because he's standing straight up and he gets the block in that way.
Speaker D:And then the offensive board watching that play happen, I mean, it looked to me the way they were defending, okay, he's going to be open at the top of the key because it didn't look.
Speaker D:He could cut, but that was not something that they usually did in that situation.
Speaker D:So he's going to be open at the top.
Speaker D:But I think as soon as he saw Brunson take that dribble right with the double team, I don't think it would have mattered if there was a double team or not.
Speaker D:As soon as he saw Brunson put the ball down, he was gone.
Speaker D:And he didn't waste any steps.
Speaker D:That's the thing that's so important for people to see in a game, literally of inches, which is what you're trying to get in games like that in the NBA.
Speaker D:He darted, he turned inside, he didn't round it off, he didn't waste motion, and he got his hand straight up and there was the ball.
Speaker D:I mean, so it was combination of being in the right place at the right time, but being highly efficient and highly alert and aware and using his athleticism and skill at a high level.
Speaker C: mour tournament in Atlanta in: Speaker C:Can you talk about the recruiting search?
Speaker C:Because you weren't even there to scout him.
Speaker C:I think you had to go find his name on a roster and eventually it came down to a nice phone call afterwards that you had with him.
Speaker C:So can you talk about the recruiting process with him?
Speaker D:Sure.
Speaker D:Every bit of that's true.
Speaker D:We go into a tournament in Under Armour and we're going to see a lot of different players.
Speaker D:But on that team, particularly the team fading team that was coached by coach Norton Hurd, it was a team that was sponsored by NBA player Thaddeus Young, we were going to see a young man, 611 player named Nick Marshall, who ended up going to Memphis.
Speaker D:So we go to see Nick and there's some other really good players on the team that we knew about, but we did not know about OG and as soon as the game, we're sitting there in the baseline and he's just spreading out, using his length, guarding the ball, on the ball, he's trapping his recovery, he's going to the offensive blast.
Speaker D:He's physical around the paint.
Speaker D:He didn't shoot a lot of shots.
Speaker D:We watched him shoot some free throws.
Speaker D:I love how it came off his hand, but the length, the lower body, legs that he had, his explosiveness to the basket like that just stood out to you.
Speaker D:So we go at the half and we just see the score sheet because his name is not on the roster.
Speaker D:It's not in the book that the three of us had paid basically $750 for to get in.
Speaker D:And it just says an anoby.
Speaker D:So, you know, you got to do some research on a name like an anobi.
Speaker D:Well, we did, and before I talked to him and we watched some more games there and there's no question, like I was totally intrigued.
Speaker D:But I got film, right?
Speaker D:And film was harder to get 10, 12 years ago than it is now.
Speaker D:I mean, it was.
Speaker D:You could get it, but now, man, you can just google anything you want and you're going to get what you want.
Speaker D:So we got the film.
Speaker D:It was like a 12 minute teaching tape, right?
Speaker D:It wasn't just a dunk show, which a lot of those tapes can be.
Speaker D:It wasn't just a highlight tape, it was a teaching tape.
Speaker D:Here's what he looks like coming off screens.
Speaker D:Here's how he gets the ball in the post.
Speaker D:Here's how he's defensively.
Speaker D:The coach did a tremendous job putting the tape together because that's when I knew we were offering him as soon as I got on the phone and we talked for about an hour, maybe an hour and 10 minutes, it was awesome.
Speaker D:He had people that they knew in Bloomington, which I got excited about.
Speaker D:And as OG reminded me last week in San Antonio, we're standing there with my daughters and his brother and agents and people like that.
Speaker D:And he said he got 12 offers.
Speaker D:Shortly after we offered him at Indiana, which was pretty cool.
Speaker D:Yeah, but we beat Ole Miss, we beat Georgia, we beat Iowa.
Speaker D:And a lot of schools looked at him.
Speaker D:The only school that recruited him in the state of Missouri was Missouri State, if you can believe that.
Speaker D:And he's from Jefferson City, Missouri.
Speaker B:Yeah.
Speaker D:You know, he didn't have the ranking.
Speaker D:You know, he.
Speaker D:He was one of those late 200 guys.
Speaker D:280, 290, Something like that.
Speaker D:Man, I didn't care.
Speaker D:Once we offered him, he was a priority to myself and our staff.
Speaker D:I mean, he was an absolute priority.
Speaker D:And I felt like the big thing when we talked is the NBA.
Speaker D:The NBA big to all the kids, that it was extremely important to him to know that I believed the way that he believed.
Speaker D:Right.
Speaker D:Because he truly believed he was going to be an NBA player.
Speaker D:And it wasn't just, yeah, I want to make the NBA.
Speaker D:He wanted to absolutely know the plan and how we were going to get it.
Speaker D:And the big thing to me, and I sold him on this because I felt I was right with the experience that we had with other guys.
Speaker D:You will not be here four years.
Speaker D:The max, three years.
Speaker D:And if it goes right, you'll be out of here in two.
Speaker D:And he did it.
Speaker D:Plus he left.
Speaker D:He left.
Speaker D:He left basically academically.
Speaker D:I don't talk about this enough.
Speaker D:He left basically academic after two years.
Speaker D:He was supposed to be in a mid junior, really, by the time he left.
Speaker D:He did a great job in school.
Speaker D:Oh, he's so smart, man.
Speaker E:He's so.
Speaker D:He's so smart.
Speaker D:He's got humility.
Speaker D:What you see is what you get.
Speaker D:Right?
Speaker D:He's not a.
Speaker D:He's not an actor.
Speaker D:That's who he is.
Speaker D:Right?
Speaker D:I mean, that's absolutely who he is.
Speaker D:He's not going to run at the mouth.
Speaker D:He's not trying to be in every photo.
Speaker D:He's not trying to be at every party.
Speaker D:At least he wasn't until last week.
Speaker D:Now he's at every party.
Speaker D:He wasn't like that.
Speaker D:And he's not like that.
Speaker D:Yeah, he deserves this.
Speaker D:He deserves to be having this fun.
Speaker B:I was going to ask you.
Speaker B:He doesn't turn 29 years old until mid next month.
Speaker B:You know, he seems very wise beyond his years.
Speaker B:Very cool, calm and even keeled.
Speaker B:Always like that, I assume.
Speaker D:Absolutely.
Speaker D:And that's how they were raised.
Speaker D:You know, his dad, who passed away in his second year in the NBA in Toronto, the year they won the championship, he had had.
Speaker D:He'd had illness.
Speaker D:I mean, he had sickness, he had injury, and he lost his father.
Speaker D:I mean, you can't imagine a much worse year.
Speaker D:And that's why this championship was so special, because even though he was a part of that championship, he never felt disconnected to it.
Speaker D:The year before, he had started 60 some odd games on the number one seed in the East.
Speaker D:When DeMar DeRozan was there, Kyle Lowry, I mean, he was guarding guys like John Wall and Bradley Beal in the first round of the playoffs.
Speaker D:And then they play Cleveland and his assignment is LeBron.
Speaker D:I mean, and he's like 20, right?
Speaker D:Like that's.
Speaker D:And he's doing all that.
Speaker D:And that's coming off the knee injury that I really don't believe.
Speaker D:Toronto probably thought he was going to play at all that year because of the injury, but he recovered.
Speaker E:But.
Speaker D:No, but that's who he is.
Speaker D:That's why his work ethic is.
Speaker D:You don't see that.
Speaker D:He gets a lot of videos of other people and he gets his videos taped, but you don't ever see him putting his stuff out.
Speaker D:He's very, very private.
Speaker D:He's very subdued.
Speaker D:But he is a vicious worker.
Speaker D:And when it comes to the summertime, I'm sure it won't be too long from now.
Speaker D:He will get back, he will get to his two days.
Speaker D:He doesn't need to do it yet, but he will get to those two days and he will be rolling.
Speaker D:And you will continue to see a guy.
Speaker D:New York will continue to see a guy that just has.
Speaker D:He believes he has no limits to his game.
Speaker D:He wants to be a great player.
Speaker D:He wants to be known as a great player that wins.
Speaker D:He's proven that.
Speaker D:And I think he'll come back and I hope that whole team does.
Speaker D:I think they'll come back hungrier than ever.
Speaker D:I know OG will coach.
Speaker C:We don't have much time.
Speaker C:Banana.
Speaker C:Again, we appreciate your time, but when did you know he was going to be this good?
Speaker C:Was it after the knee injury in college when he won his first NBA championship?
Speaker C:When did you know he was going to be this OG well, we could.
Speaker D:See it coming his freshman year.
Speaker D:And then he missed a lot of time leading up to his sophomore year, but he went into the sophomore year as a lottery pick and then he missed eight his last 18 games.
Speaker D:He missed those for us.
Speaker D:So I would say this.
Speaker D:I knew that I always felt he was going to be a really good pro.
Speaker D:But I would go to his rookie year because the way he came back from that injury, the way he started, I mean his assignments at that point, he's guarding Dwyane Wade, he's guarding Paul George, he's guarding Victor Oladipo.
Speaker D:Like I said, he's switching between John Wall and Brad Beal.
Speaker D:The first round of Guardian LeBron.
Speaker D:That's when I knew that there, there is no limits to what he can do.
Speaker D:If he can come back from the injury and be able to play at that level, there's no doubt he is going to be a great player.
Speaker D:He should have already been an all star.
Speaker D:He should have already been first team, all defense.
Speaker D:I hope now that people see him in a different light that he gets those things earlier.
Speaker D:But we saw it early, there's no doubt about that.
Speaker B:Well, coach, we can't thank you enough for being on safe travels.
Speaker B:Eventually when you get up here to New York, enjoy the draft and congratulations to you on OG success.
Speaker D:Absolutely.
Speaker D:Thanks for having me.
Speaker D:Hit me anytime.
Speaker B:Absolutely.
Speaker B:Really our pleasure.
Speaker B:So Tom Cream, Ken Davidoff, Charlie Ward.
Speaker B:A power packed hour.
Speaker B:This is.
Speaker B:This would be a three hour show any other time that.
Speaker B:Thanks so much again.
Speaker C:Soon.
Speaker C:We'll do it again soon.
Speaker B:And go New York, go New York, go.
Speaker B:The Views Express in the the previous program did not necessarily represent those of.
Speaker A:The staff, management or owners of wgbb.
