March 27, 2024 • 36 mins
Former Magic big man and fan favorite Marcin Gortat joins Dante, George and Jake to discuss the role the late, great Brendan Malone played in his life and career, his impressions of the current Magic core, what he's up to now and when he realized he could have a long and successful NBA career.
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Speaker 1 (00:03):
On this episode of Magic Pod Squad, we catch up
with former Magic Man marchin Gortont. The Polish Hammer stopped
by to catch up with myself, George Galante, and Jake
Chap before the Department of Transportation reminds you the fans.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Don't let fans drive drunk. If you've been drinking, don't
get behind the wheel. Instead, find a sober driver or
catch a ride service. Remember, drive sober or get pulled over.
Have a great night and drive safe.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Lots of cover in this episode of Magic Pod Squad
with March and gor Tot, including that great day when
he first showed up in City Beautiful. What he thought
is he was driving around town, and then that first
quote unquote press conference where he was introduced as a
member of the Orlando Magic then his time here in
City Beautiful, what it meant to him to be a
(00:47):
part of this magic organization, and the incredible bond that
he had with his father figure Brendan Malone, an incredible man,
great assistant coach and the guy that marchin Gortont credits for.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
His NBA success.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
So a great story on Brendan Malone and what Marching
is up to now Tons to cover.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Are this edition of Magic Podsquad? Those fawns long enough
they Orlando Magic. This is Cole Anthony, mister Jennings Suggs.
This is Paulo man Carroll of the Orlando Magic And
you're listening to the Pods Squad.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
And what who everyone to Magic Pods Squad?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Dante Marctelli, George Delante, Jake Chapman and the Polish Hammer
Martin Gort Todd kind.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It up to join us.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
That never gets old, by the way, March, I love it.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
I love the Polish Hammer.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
He played twelve NBA seasons three plus right here in
City Beautiful, the fifty seventh overall pick in two thousand
and five. He was in Orlando from two thousand and
seven till twenty ten. How is it almost twenty years
since you were drafted to the NBA? March that I
all tell me.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
That because that thought that's real? Almost twenty years?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Is that? How is that possible? Man? I don't know.
I'm still obviously living my dream. I literally remember the
first days when I arrived in Orlando. I was walking
on this old carpet in Orlando Airport and literally, you know,
(02:17):
I went to Maitland to the RDV Sport Flex Facility
and after that, after practice, I remember I went but
for the first time to Disney Downtown and I was
enjoying everything I see and it was just it was
just it was a dream, man, I honestly it was
a dream. Now I live here twenty years and you know,
(02:38):
thank God that you guys are in the team. Seriously,
thank God that you are. You guys are still in
the organization. So at least I know people, because the
players that are joining the league right now I had
I don't know anybody. I mean, I literally don't know anybody.
Even the rookies that play with me right now, they
are like, oh geez, Like there are team fifteen year
(02:59):
years of veterans in the team in the league. So
I'm telling you, man, the only people that and the
best and the last memory that there are left in
the NBA are the actually people work in the organization
like you guys and sid and and and a few
other girls in the organization.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Well, we we love in March and we're big fans
and always will be. But you got to tell everybody, uh,
the story, my favorite story about when you got here.
George Galate arranged for you to come here and have
a big, big media gathering and welcome you, to welcome
you properly tour.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
And it was literally, uh one guy from the organization
actually uh photo photographs for for the organization. So hey, listen,
just hold that jersey. You were just going to take
a picture. And and the jersey didn't even have a
number on. You know. It was like I'll mean listening,
you know, it was it was it was great, man.
I mean I had this this super fancy shirt. Uh.
(03:59):
You know today we are laughing that, you know, people
asking me like, hey, where you got this shirt from? Man,
it was like did you did you? Did you get
it from Lost and Feld? You know, from the airport
because this thing was just bad and and just my look,
you know the hair I was I had, and just
just the young luke I had back then. But listen, honestly,
(04:21):
I didn't really care, like of course, of all, I
didn't know how it's supposed to be. Like first of all,
like I didn't know that I supposed to have you know,
whatever three four or five you know, media reporters or whatever,
you know, three cameras or four cameras. I didn't know
anything about that that's one. Two. I was just excited
(04:43):
and I was drafted the NBA. That's that's it. That
was just the biggest thing. And I didn't really care
back then. But obviously later when I made a team
and I start learning how everything works in the NBA,
and you know, I start next year and next couple
of years forward, I've seen I've seen how how teams
(05:03):
are welcoming their their draft picks. I was like, damn.
I think I was like damn. I said, well that'd
be I mean, I kind of understand. I was fifty
seventh pick, Like, hey, listen, you know, don't bring everybody
on board, you know, like, we don't need so much
offense to.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
This guy, George fold On.
Speaker 6 (05:22):
Know that not only not only not only fifty seventh pick,
but I think we weren't even sure if you were
coming over at the time, right right, right right, I mean,
because let's not put off. Put this all on the
pr right.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
No, that's the whole point of it.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
That's what we can tell the story however we want.
Speaker 6 (05:39):
Yeah, because I mean we weren't even sure. I mean,
fifty fifty seventh pick. Here comes March and Gortat and
I'm like, well, is he is he coming?
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Is he? Here?
Speaker 6 (05:47):
Is he even in America? And next thing I know,
here comes March right through, right through the doors. He's like,
I'm ready for my press like you were.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Probably you were probably about to leave, you know, go
go home, off to work, because like, hey, hey, there's
one more coming in. He just landed. We sent a
driver to pick him up. He's about to come to
the so just just hang on for a couple more minutes.
So but you know what, back then, I remember, I remember,
and I actually think that just the whole attention about
(06:17):
fran Vascus that was drafted I think it was a
year before me or the same year he was drafted
with eleventh pick. Uh. Just the whole attention about friend, uh,
and people say, oh, were waiting for friend, friend is
gonna be amazing.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
I'm still waiting for him.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
By It kind of pushed me. It kind of pushed
me to work harder, you know, honestly, And I think
it was a great uh. It was. I think it
was a great uh situation for me because obviously, you know,
it was an open spot for me. That's one and two.
It was always in the back of my mind, like, hey,
(06:55):
I gotta work extra hard because there's this guy coming in.
And I remember after my I think it was a
second year in Orlando, I went back to Europe to
play national team and I had to play against him,
and may I destroyed this guy. I was like, no,
I worry about this guy anymore. I'm like, come on, man,
I'm an NBA player. Now wait a second.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
I think guys, I think we know why Frand never came.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
I think I just I think they just got.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Found out. I want to be part of that.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Pod squad exclusive right there, exactly, Sparty.
Speaker 7 (07:27):
When you think about that time, you know, we've talked
a lot about sort of you getting to the point
where you knew you belonged. Was there a moment a
person who wasn't Dwight every day in practice? Was it
stand lighting the fire under you? What kind of guy
did what kind of clicked it into place like, oh, yeah,
I'm where I'm supposed to be and I could have
(07:48):
a pretty long and successful career here.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Well, first of all, I was very I was very lucky.
I made it to very good organization. And you know,
I'm not gonna I'm not trying to, you know, kiss
anybody now, but I'm saying that we had professional people
in the weight room, in and coaching staff, PR people,
(08:12):
people from organizing trips and everything. We were really on
top of the game. And the reason why I know
that is because when I went to a different teams
later on it was a Phoenix, it was Washington and
the Clippers. I've seen how unorganized our teams in a
certain areas, and we as a Rolatto Magic, we were outstanding.
(08:34):
I gotta I gotta say, and uh, of course we
had few stuff coming out to the media, but you know,
obviously at the end of the day, you couldn't stop
stand or Dwhite going to the media playing certain things.
You know, obviously I pop accidentally a few things, but
at the end of the day, we had guys coming
in and telling me, hey, listen, come down, relax, you know,
(08:56):
go talk to stand Go talk to the coaches, go
go talk to the players. You know, everything will be fine.
You know, in one two days, everything's going to come
back to normal situation and you're going to continue to
practice and play hard. But that was the time when
I realized after my first and obviously second year, after
second year, when we made it to the NBA Finals,
(09:17):
and I made a name for myself. I knew it that,
you know, I have a big opportunity to be in
the league at least ten years if everything's gonna obviously
from the physical standpoint, everything's gonna go well with me.
So that was the time when I understood that, Yeah,
I have a big chance. And like I said, I
would say, the biggest reason why is because we just
(09:38):
had outsending people in the organization, you know, coaching staff,
the strength conditional coach who was working with me extremely hard,
and the right people, you know, and the right people.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
Marshan.
Speaker 6 (09:52):
One of the guys that worked with you specifically was
was Brendan Malone, who obviously passed away here recently talked
about your relationship with Brandan, how he pushed you. I
mean he really, he really took you under his wing
the minute you walk through the door here in Orlando, right.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Well, I mean he's like I said, you know, he's
like my dad. You know, we recently went to his
funeral and there was this quote, actually stay and use it,
and I'm trying to find that quote that that quote
is actually outstanding. I mean, he that that quote exactly
(10:31):
described Brandon is that the quote goes, if your president
doesn't make an impact, your absence won't make a difference.
And and that's that's how Brandon was, you know, that's
how Brandon was. I mean, Brendon was more than just
a coach. Uh. You know, you you go to practice
with Brendan and then you go work on your right hook,
(10:53):
left hook, You're gonna work on your you know, mid
jump shot. Then you're gonna work on the picker rolls
and to that. You know. When we're down with practice,
we're about to sit down, and and he, you know,
he sits next to me. He said, okay, young man,
So tell me, so what did you do with the
with the with the money the first check that came in,
you know. And I started telling him, Oh, I went
(11:14):
and buy a car, you know, for the one hundred
thousand dollars car. You know, It's like, have you lost him? Smart? Yes? Right,
He's like, have you lost your mind? Like why can't
you just buy you know, a cheaper car, you know,
thirty forty thousand dollars card just a good solid car
that you can go to practice, you know, and and
and just work hard on your game. And and I said,
did you, did you buy a house. I'm like, no,
(11:36):
I'm actually renting right now. Good good, that's good, you know.
And he was actually teaching me what to do out
of the basketball court also, you know, how to manage everything.
Then you know, at the end of the season, we
have exit meetings. He said, young man, come to me
after practice, after after meeting with stant please come to
my office. So I went to his office. You know,
I said, Dad, what's going on? He said, Okay, I
(11:58):
need you to go home. I want you to forget
about basketball for about you three weeks and then you're
going back to work. And don't forget right now. When
you're gonna go back to you, I need you to
go to your mom, your dad, buy them something nice,
buy them something they're gonna make feel It's gonna make
them feel good. You know. Just just thank them for
everything they've done for you. That they raise you as
a good man, and they raise you as a you know,
(12:21):
strong human being, and and just thank them for everything
they've done for you. And after two three weeks, come
back to tow Or like, no, we're gonna work hard.
And I was like, all right, coach, that's what I'm
gonna do. So the first thing I did is go
back home, you know, buy you know, buy a car
to that, buy a you know, buy something to mom.
And and that's how Brandon right. And that's how Brandon was,
(12:43):
you know, and he was he was extraordinary. Man. I
definitely miss him and makes me feel even more bad
because when I was in Washington, I actually gave him
a call. I gave him a call and I I
asked him, can I there was a situation Washington when
Tommy Shepherd GM he's not with the Wizards, he's not
(13:06):
with Washington anymore. But the GM that was there, he
told me, like March, if you want to fly to
New York with the team, I was kind of like
a part show, kind of like a temporary coach, maybe
not temporary, but like a just assistant, you know, helping
out with the Biggs. But I wasn't traveling with the team.
(13:26):
And he said like, hey, if you want to go
to New York, just let us know, just let us know.
We will we will arrange the whole trip for you. Also,
and I gave a call to Brenda. I said, listen, Brenda,
I have an opportunity to go to New York. I
will go to New York if you allow me to
come and visit you. And back then he said, no,
now I don't want to really do that. I really
(13:48):
appreciate it, I really you know, I definitely thank you
for this opportunity, but I don't feel good. I don't
look good. I don't want you to see me this
way and that just you know, stay on the phone
and just you know, keep in touch on the phone
with me. I was like, I said, Brendan, you are
you're literally breaking my heart right now, Like, come on, man,
I can I don't even have to enter the house.
(14:10):
I'm just gonna be standing in front of the window.
Just come to the window, let me talk to you.
So he was like, nah, no, you know, marine doesn't
feel good and and we just don't feel like this
is the right time to to to to make a
visit like that. And literally two months later, uh Stan
went to see him and a couple of days or
(14:31):
whatever week two weeks later he passed away. So it
was it was devastating. It was devastating. I was crying,
and you know, it was devastating because there was a
man that made me, you know, he was a man
that made me Uh, in every possible way, you know,
basketball as as a man. He raised me also as
almost as he saw every time when I see Michael Malone,
(14:54):
I was literally saying to him, was up broader, you know,
like and not like just just a laying like a broader.
I really treat him like my broader because Brandon was
our fodder. You know. That's so that's how I act
with him. So yeah, it was, it was. It was
unbelievable to have Brandon around me, uh for so many years.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
March.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Where does that? Where does that come from? I mean
You've always been that way. You're incredibly loyal and you
have never forgot where you came from. You never forgot
the people that helped you along the way, and you
still do incredible things now to help everybody that you
come in contact with. That guys, right, I mean that
that has always mean you.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
What what this is saying? What comes around? Go? Uh?
What go there? There? You go? There you go? Thank you?
You know good guys. You guys are the same way,
you know. I mean every time when I ask Orlando
Magic Organization, I'm receiving so much love from you guys,
and and not only we've been through a lot. You know,
we know each other for twenty years now. You know
(15:54):
we've been NBA Finals together. We won't met a playoff games.
We went through ups and downs, we went to through
you know, hell and the media. And also you went
through you know, beating bustles and coval years in the playoffs,
you know, and it was fun. You know, those those moments,
those bottles create incredible bond. And what I'm receiving from
(16:15):
Orlando Magic Organization, from you guys, you know, the help
and the camps, you know, all the all the support
with the kids when they coming here to the United States,
the opportunities to watch the game, the opportunities to visit
the facility. This is something that you know, I look
like a god back at Poland just to let you know,
you know, because when kids coming here, they seek the
(16:36):
facility that looks like a literally a shopping center because
this is so huge. I mean, you know, this is
this is unbelievable. So uh, I'm just giving my love
back to the organization that is supporting me so much,
you know. Uh. And and and that's just how I feel.
If if if you treat me well and you give
me love, I give you you know, even more love.
(16:58):
You know, I give you back even more law And
and that's how I feel about Orlando. I'm excited that
Orlando is finally in the playoffs. I'm excited that the
team is building something special. I think, you know, there's
a couple of guys, a couple of pieces in the
team that like uh Powlo Banchera that is extremely great player,
(17:19):
and I think he's going to be a start in
this league for many, many years. I'm just hoping that
we're gonna make finally a big moves free agency moves
like we did back back in the time with with
Russhard Lewis. I think there's going to be a time
we will have to throw some money at somebody and
and finally build a team that's going to compete in
this league for the next three, four five years. You know, and.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Martin, think about when you first got to the playoffs,
right that first taste. Obviously you get your first start,
and you have a double double, four steals, and and
you help eliminate the Sixers. So the Sixers aren't feeling
a whole lot of love for you from that. If
you got you got a bunch of guys on this
magic team.
Speaker 5 (17:55):
Po is one of them.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Frowns is one of They never bet at the playoffs?
What did What are they going to experience that they
couldn't possibly imagine right now? What is that first taste
of the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Like, oh, there's good they got, especially in France who
is on the ball a lot, and obviously Paulo that
that's the main player in the team. They gotta be
ready because they get they're gonna get hit. They gonna
get hit, They're gonna get a lot of hard, strong
files and they got to keep their composure. That's number one.
They can lose their head and they can, you know,
(18:25):
start fighting or start throwing you know, stupid files around.
They can't do that. They got to focus on the
basketball game. I'm hoping there are other guys in the
team that will they will come in and give a good,
strong foul in order to protect the stars from the team.
But uh, a's their moment. This is it. This is that,
that's what you're working for, you know, seven eight, nine
(18:47):
months a year to come in and play these games
at the top the best possible level. You know that
you can, I mean, there's no excuses there's no uh oh,
I thought this. I thought that there's no miscommunication. Dude,
you have eighty two freaking games to learn your communication.
(19:08):
There are eighty two games to learn your places, to
to to know your spots. If you didn't build that
chemistry until now, man, we gotta stand in. Brandon told me, Man,
we gotta find somebody else who can help us with
bottom line. That's a bottom line. You gotta you gotta perform.
(19:28):
That's what we pay you to to perform. Right now.
This is uh, this is a I would say, maybe
not Christmas, but I would say it's a uh it's
a special time for the fans. Playoffs are here finally
and we have a chance to go further than the
first round. And uh yeah, and hopefully these guys understand
(19:50):
that you know that or done, Jake, I think March,
I think Martin wants in. I think you want to
look it's just a playoff action, right, I will I
start talking about that. I had a goosebomb on my back.
Speaker 6 (19:59):
You know, listen, I get see him in your stuff,
right start right, Hey, listen, I didn't get one of these.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Let me just finish. Let me just finish my coffee
and I'm about to go.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
Man, I don't think coffee right.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Oh no, well listen, I get I can get you
good strong eighteen to twenty minutes, literally eighteen point two.
That's a lot of it. It's hardly just give me
a day off tomorrow, all right, But but I give
you twenty good minutes, and I promise you I keep
I keep. Uh. The main statistic that will follow me,
(20:34):
uh follow me my entire life, which means rebound every
three minutes. That's something I didn't care about. I mean, okay,
I did care about points to our life. If I
say I didn't.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
I was gonna say you're a liar.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Yeah, but they were, they were. They were less important
than my rebounds. The rebounds kept me in the league.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
Does somebody break it down to you that simple where
somebody told you, like, listen, every two to three minutes
around the floor, you better be grabbing one readount like random.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
That was the guy who h I think I told
you got I told you, I told you this story
a couple of times. Already went after before the game,
we have a shoot around, I mean we we before
the game, we have the warm up, and obviously my
warm up was like four hours before the game, not
two hours, but like four hours before the game. Not
the cheaters were not even in the building yet, you know,
(21:26):
like I was already getting warmed up, and and after
warm up, we were sitting at the chairs at the
bench of it there, and he would come to me
with a piece of paper, you know, two three papers.
He printed it out and he was like, read it,
you know. And the first time, obviously I folded and
(21:46):
put in my back pocket. So he comes back to
me fifteen minutes later it's like, did you read it?
I was like, yeah, yeah, I read it. Okay, So
what was there? Like ow, you know, just like like
obviously I didn't read it. But he was like he
looks at me, He's like, hey, man, like why are
you wasting my time? Why did I print this? Why
did I why? Why did I find that article? And
(22:07):
I was looking for this, uh put this article in
the internet for you know, for many minutes, for a
couple of minutes, like come on, read it. This is
this is your homework. I'm like, all right, coach, apologize
for that. Give me ten minutes. I'll come back to you.
So I read all that stuff and it was about
Dennis Rodman and He's and his ability to rebound, his
passion for rebounding, So obviously I read the whole article,
(22:30):
came to him. We started talking back and forth, and
he told me from now on, from now on, I
need you to rebound the basketball every three minutes. If
you're gonna rebound every three minutes, you're gonna be the
best rebounder in the league. Well, he forget to mention.
There was one guy named Dhight freaking Howard. It was
rebounding every like two minutes twenty seconds, and I was like,
(22:53):
I was like, that's the possible to do, you know,
Then up with this guy. I'm like, keep up with
that guy. You know, I'm like, that's impossible to do.
But but's still by the minutes, and you know, by
all these statistics coming off the bench, playing those ten
twelve minutes, I was averaging three three and a half
three about I was right there around that three minute mark,
(23:14):
which was great.
Speaker 7 (23:15):
That's such a good story, though, because Dennis Rodman is
a perfect example of how much in between the ears matters, right,
I mean, the greatest rebounder arguably of all time. Physically,
he was no Dwight Howard, but not the way that
ball was coming off the rim, and he played the
angles and that was all he wanted to do when
he was on the floor, was defending rebound. Marge, you've
(23:35):
worked with with young Biggs and obviously you're not very
far removed from the league. You played during a very
interesting time where the back to the basket post offense
sort of died. But then biggs are kind of reborn.
Now we have guys like nicolea jokicch In Towns and
MB who play a lot differently than than your style
of play. What what is your state of the of
(23:56):
the young NBA big man, young biggs entering the league
right now? What are they not being taught? What are
some characteristics of them? Just give me your sort of
overall view of young begs. I think first we have
a we need to have big that uh have the
will and the right mindset. And if we're gonna get
(24:17):
these guys, and if we're gonna find these.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Guys, then these guys need to continue to prove that
they can do stuff with the back to the basket
that they need to demand the ball. I understand to
follow the rules, follow the coach what he wants to do.
I understand that, But there's gonna be a time in
a game when guy is catching six offensive free bounds
(24:40):
around the rim and he's kicking those six basketballs. You know,
he's kicking them to the point guard. Come on, man,
you are three feet from the basket. Give me a putback,
right back. You know what I'm saying. Muscle the muscle
up the guy to the basket. You know, do a move,
do a shake, whatever finished left right hand, Give me something,
you know what I'm saying. I understand not every offensive
(25:01):
freeball needs to be a bucket for you. At least
give me half and half. People don't want to do that.
People don't want to do that. And listen, that shows
me that you don't want to play I'm literally speaking
like Brandon right now. You should. That shows me you
don't want to play basketball. And if you're not gonna
do that, then don't expect we're gonna have bigs around
(25:22):
the league that only running and setting screens and rolling
to the basket.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
Bottom line, what would your game look like? Mark, that's
a great breakdown, by the way that that's phenomenal, terrific insight.
But how would you have adapted your game. Obviously we
know the work. The thing that's amazing to me, and
you guys know this, But you know, March in eighty
one games, eighty games, sixty six games during a walkout,
played all sixty six, eighty one, eighty two, eighty eighty two,
(25:47):
eighty two and if you're healthy, you were play it right.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
What would you mean that was two biggest That was
the biggest thing, you know, uh, while also GM said
the biggest, the biggest, uh being available available, availability is
the biggest, the biggest reason I was also in the
league for twelve years. You know, I'm quite sure I'll
(26:12):
be doing the same thing in the league what I
was doing back in the day I was at great screens.
I'm quite sure I will come up with two more
extra screens that people haven't seen. And I think I'm
not gonna tell this to anybody, but now that I'm
trying to sell myself and sign a contract right now,
that's not about that. But I'm saying I see things
that I could do on the court that other bigs
(26:34):
are not doing it. Right now. I could do those things,
and I worry about my physicality. I wear about my
skills around the rim. I could definitely shoot the ball
to you know, sixteen seventeen feet. I'm definitely not gonna
shoot threes, even that I can make three in the practice,
I will not shoot threes because that's not my job.
(26:56):
And I definitely believe I could help the team. I
could help the team, and I could definitely be a
better pro in the locker room that I was, you know,
fifteen years ago. I mean, obviously, because I'm an older
person now and I see things different, I will definitely
resolves many situations in the locker room different way than
(27:17):
I was doing this, you know, fifteen years ago.
Speaker 6 (27:20):
So, Marsh, before we got on the air here, you
were telling us what you have going back on going host.
Let me try this again, what you have going home
in Poland. You have a lot of big things going
on because you spend half your time now in the
States in Orlando, and then half the time you head
back home. Tell everybody what you have going on when
you get back to Poland.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Here in a couple of weeks, so we're coming to
the point where, you know, all my events, main events
are starting in Poland soon in the next three four months,
We're going to do basketball camps, we're going to do
basketball camps. In the winner of those camps, the MVP
from each camp is actually coming to the United States
and it's coming to Orlando to watch m be a
game and and then you know, see hopefully see the facility,
(28:03):
go to NASA, NASA, go to Disney Downtown and see
couple parks. We're also gonna have a big celebrity game
between we used to have in the past ten years
we had Poland versus I mean, I'm sorry, a Gorda
team versus Polish Army. But because this year we have
twenty fifth anniversary of joining NATO, we're actually gonna have
(28:25):
soldiers from NATO and we're gonna have all from all
nations we we we're gonna have We're gonna have a
soldier coming in. The funny story is I can tell
you this one last year we had the game against
Polish Army, but because we uh the Court of Celebrities
where we we had three Ukraine four Ukrainian soldiers joining
(28:50):
our team Gorda celebrity team. And the reason why is
because they are not they are not NATO yet, so
they couldn't join the army. But in order but then
we said, all right, just because Ukrainian soldiers joined my team,
let's call a couple of American guys and let them
join the Polish Polish army. So you ain't gonna believe me.
(29:14):
I had probably about ten or fifteen different calls to ambassadors,
different people United States. I spoke with some generals, you know,
like high rank officers. We could not bring one soldier
from American soldier from Poland, and we had probably about
twenty five thousand of them in Poland right now, we can.
(29:35):
We could not bring even one one soldier. So we
brought security guard from embassy. And right before, right before
when we had the you know, right before the game,
we we had to announce every soldier the name and
the rank, you know, we have the We asked the soldier,
(29:56):
We asked the guy, the security guard. I was like, listen,
you know, how can we you know present you he's
his name is whatever. Mike. I'm like, but are you
like I don't know general mayor colonel. He's like, uh,
I'm just security guard. I'm like, hell, I'm like, listen,
I said, we got to come up with something. He listen.
(30:16):
So so I'm like, we got to come up with something. Man,
He's like, all right, just call me a special agent.
I'm like, all right, man, let's see a special agent.
You know. So this this this thing was hilarious. But yeah,
but this year is better. We we finally have a
contact and we're gonna have American soldiers and we're gonna
have different soldiers from different countries and it's gonna be outstanding,
(30:39):
outstanding event. Uh. And also after that event, we will
finish uh the season in my schools. We I have
five schools, five sports schools in my country, in my
in Poland, and we're gonna finish a year for them.
So I do have a lot of responsibilities now when
I go back to Poland And and there's a lot
(31:00):
of work in front of me right now, and then
probably I will go to front lines again to help
out a couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah, March, I was gonna ask you about that. Let's
let everybody know it's it's phenomenal the work that you're doing.
And I know it's it's a it's big, it's a
big passion of yours and you've done it since you
were a player here and even before you came to
the States. But uh, you work with the Polish Army.
I mean, you've done unbelievable work with that, and I
know what's happening in the Ukraine is is gut wrenching
for you as well and for Infra AID, right.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
So yeah, I'm I'm certified medic. A couple of months
ago I've done uh it was almost a year now,
I've done the whole training to be a certified medic
military medic, so you know, I know everything how to
do ivs and injections and you know basically how to
rescue people, you know, on the field. And hopefully I
(31:49):
won't have to do that. But uh, yeah, I trained.
I've been working with the special forces uh from Poland
for many years now, and and we finally have opportunity
to go and help out. I've doubted already twice, didn't
really have too much action. Haven't seen too much action yet.
(32:11):
Hopefully I will have to. But again, uh, we still
got to continue to support them. Ukraine is in a
very bad situation right now, as everybody knows. They kind
of hanging out there now alone, and Pauland is the
one of the lost countries that is actually helping Ukraine,
and we got to continue to do that because guess
what if they're going to go through Ukraine, we are next.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
Well we we we certainly continue to pray for you
and and everything that's going on over there, March and
keep up the great work and all the support that
you've done. And at some point, George, we've got to
get out there. We've got to visit marchin and we
got to see what. I just can't even imagine what
this guy's like back here.
Speaker 6 (32:49):
You know, I expect if I go over there that
they're some like people are literally going to carry me around,
like literally carry me around.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
We're gonna we.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
Gota people throwing flowers right in front of you when
you alter.
Speaker 5 (33:05):
It's exactly right, grapes. I picture them feeding the grapes.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Oh my god.
Speaker 7 (33:11):
And then we'll go to the photo op and then
the photo op in the empty.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Room bare we gonna have the pay baker.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
Well listen, and the last thing we'll say Marching is
you're gonna be recognized in the arena on March twenty ninth.
It's gonna be against the Clippers and other team that
you're familiar with and that you played for, and it'll
be special. The fans will love seeing you there. It'll
be a great interaction. And I know the fans mean
so much to you here and Central Fida from.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
All your time here in Orlando. Yeah, I love it.
I'm excited, and I'm looking forward and especially to see
the Clippers theme. Uh and and hopefully obviously we're gonna
get a nice, juicy win. That's that's That's what I'm hoping.
And and yeah, it's gonna be a special moment. It's
funny because the game is on Friday, and I should
(33:59):
leave Saturday, so it's gonna be uh, you know, the last,
the last, the last event here in the States for me. Uh,
looking forward, I'm looking forward. I'm hoping everybody is gonna play. Uh,
everybody's gonna play. I know how it works that towards
the end of the season, people are coaches are resting
their stars. But I'm hoping everybody is gonna play.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
All right, Always great to see Mark Joyce. Hold on,
is it isn't everything better when things are juicy? Like,
things are way better when they're juicy, right, are down
juicy winds?
Speaker 5 (34:30):
Everything better?
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Remember that? And remember you always have to take your
shirt off in a wait throom. Just it just grows,
it grows better. Man, don't George, don't you think so
you don't know how you do it.
Speaker 5 (34:43):
I think that's my problem. I get my shirt on,
it's my never and you proud of it.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
And you probably do that with with the music turned down.
You gotta, I gotta, I gotta go.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
All be interested to know exactly what your work aut
team is these days.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
George.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
I think in the next episode, In the next episode,
I can tell you what it's not juicy. I can
tell you that. Sure, I'm chick up, workout hard.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
I love it. I still hope you guys have my
summer league jersey hanging in the in the rafters something there.
You know. I'm hoping he's hanging somewhere at least in
his office, you know. I mean that is never.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
You can't play nine summer leagues and not get it retired,
right right, And the best thing is that you guys
canceled there orlandose family leagues, so summer league so nobody
can beat my record like this over he's gonna stand
over there for centuries, you know, Like.
Speaker 6 (35:33):
The first thing he says, the first thing we said
when we were in the meeting to cancel and we're like, well,
Gore Todd lives on forever.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
That's how you build legends, man, that's how you build
legends of this. Just because of this one decision, one call,
my legend will live forever, forever. I love it. Margin
you the best. Great to see you, buddy, and we'll
talk to you soon. Appreciate you, guys, Thank you very much.
That'll do it for this edition.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
Imagine Pod Squad will see you next time.
On this episode of Magic Pod Squad, we catch up
with former Magic Man marchin Gortont. The Polish Hammer stopped
by to catch up with myself, George Galante, and Jake
Chap before the Department of Transportation reminds you the fans.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Don't let fans drive drunk. If you've been drinking, don't
get behind the wheel. Instead, find a sober driver or
catch a ride service. Remember, drive sober or get pulled over.
Have a great night and drive safe.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
Lots of cover in this episode of Magic Pod Squad
with March and gor Tot, including that great day when
he first showed up in City Beautiful. What he thought
is he was driving around town, and then that first
quote unquote press conference where he was introduced as a
member of the Orlando Magic then his time here in
City Beautiful, what it meant to him to be a
(00:47):
part of this magic organization, and the incredible bond that
he had with his father figure Brendan Malone, an incredible man,
great assistant coach and the guy that marchin Gortont credits for.
Speaker 3 (01:00):
His NBA success.
Speaker 1 (01:02):
So a great story on Brendan Malone and what Marching
is up to now Tons to cover.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
Are this edition of Magic Podsquad? Those fawns long enough
they Orlando Magic. This is Cole Anthony, mister Jennings Suggs.
This is Paulo man Carroll of the Orlando Magic And
you're listening to the Pods Squad.
Speaker 2 (01:20):
And what who everyone to Magic Pods Squad?
Speaker 4 (01:22):
Dante Marctelli, George Delante, Jake Chapman and the Polish Hammer
Martin Gort Todd kind.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
It up to join us.
Speaker 4 (01:29):
That never gets old, by the way, March, I love it.
Speaker 3 (01:31):
I love the Polish Hammer.
Speaker 4 (01:33):
He played twelve NBA seasons three plus right here in
City Beautiful, the fifty seventh overall pick in two thousand
and five. He was in Orlando from two thousand and
seven till twenty ten. How is it almost twenty years
since you were drafted to the NBA? March that I
all tell me.
Speaker 5 (01:51):
That because that thought that's real? Almost twenty years?
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Is that? How is that possible? Man? I don't know.
I'm still obviously living my dream. I literally remember the
first days when I arrived in Orlando. I was walking
on this old carpet in Orlando Airport and literally, you know,
(02:17):
I went to Maitland to the RDV Sport Flex Facility
and after that, after practice, I remember I went but
for the first time to Disney Downtown and I was
enjoying everything I see and it was just it was
just it was a dream, man, I honestly it was
a dream. Now I live here twenty years and you know,
(02:38):
thank God that you guys are in the team. Seriously,
thank God that you are. You guys are still in
the organization. So at least I know people, because the
players that are joining the league right now I had
I don't know anybody. I mean, I literally don't know anybody.
Even the rookies that play with me right now, they
are like, oh geez, Like there are team fifteen year
(02:59):
years of veterans in the team in the league. So
I'm telling you, man, the only people that and the
best and the last memory that there are left in
the NBA are the actually people work in the organization
like you guys and sid and and and a few
other girls in the organization.
Speaker 4 (03:17):
Well, we we love in March and we're big fans
and always will be. But you got to tell everybody, uh,
the story, my favorite story about when you got here.
George Galate arranged for you to come here and have
a big, big media gathering and welcome you, to welcome
you properly tour.
Speaker 3 (03:35):
And it was literally, uh one guy from the organization
actually uh photo photographs for for the organization. So hey, listen,
just hold that jersey. You were just going to take
a picture. And and the jersey didn't even have a
number on. You know. It was like I'll mean listening,
you know, it was it was it was great, man.
I mean I had this this super fancy shirt. Uh.
(03:59):
You know today we are laughing that, you know, people
asking me like, hey, where you got this shirt from? Man,
it was like did you did you? Did you get
it from Lost and Feld? You know, from the airport
because this thing was just bad and and just my look,
you know the hair I was I had, and just
just the young luke I had back then. But listen, honestly,
(04:21):
I didn't really care, like of course, of all, I
didn't know how it's supposed to be. Like first of all,
like I didn't know that I supposed to have you know,
whatever three four or five you know, media reporters or whatever,
you know, three cameras or four cameras. I didn't know
anything about that that's one. Two. I was just excited
(04:43):
and I was drafted the NBA. That's that's it. That
was just the biggest thing. And I didn't really care
back then. But obviously later when I made a team
and I start learning how everything works in the NBA,
and you know, I start next year and next couple
of years forward, I've seen I've seen how how teams
(05:03):
are welcoming their their draft picks. I was like, damn.
I think I was like damn. I said, well that'd
be I mean, I kind of understand. I was fifty
seventh pick, Like, hey, listen, you know, don't bring everybody
on board, you know, like, we don't need so much
offense to.
Speaker 5 (05:21):
This guy, George fold On.
Speaker 6 (05:22):
Know that not only not only not only fifty seventh pick,
but I think we weren't even sure if you were
coming over at the time, right right, right right, I mean,
because let's not put off. Put this all on the
pr right.
Speaker 3 (05:35):
No, that's the whole point of it.
Speaker 4 (05:37):
That's what we can tell the story however we want.
Speaker 6 (05:39):
Yeah, because I mean we weren't even sure. I mean,
fifty fifty seventh pick. Here comes March and Gortat and
I'm like, well, is he is he coming?
Speaker 3 (05:46):
Is he? Here?
Speaker 6 (05:47):
Is he even in America? And next thing I know,
here comes March right through, right through the doors. He's like,
I'm ready for my press like you were.
Speaker 3 (05:54):
Probably you were probably about to leave, you know, go
go home, off to work, because like, hey, hey, there's
one more coming in. He just landed. We sent a
driver to pick him up. He's about to come to
the so just just hang on for a couple more minutes.
So but you know what, back then, I remember, I remember,
and I actually think that just the whole attention about
(06:17):
fran Vascus that was drafted I think it was a
year before me or the same year he was drafted
with eleventh pick. Uh. Just the whole attention about friend, uh,
and people say, oh, were waiting for friend, friend is
gonna be amazing.
Speaker 5 (06:34):
I'm still waiting for him.
Speaker 3 (06:35):
By It kind of pushed me. It kind of pushed
me to work harder, you know, honestly, And I think
it was a great uh. It was. I think it
was a great uh situation for me because obviously, you know,
it was an open spot for me. That's one and two.
It was always in the back of my mind, like, hey,
(06:55):
I gotta work extra hard because there's this guy coming in.
And I remember after my I think it was a
second year in Orlando, I went back to Europe to
play national team and I had to play against him,
and may I destroyed this guy. I was like, no,
I worry about this guy anymore. I'm like, come on, man,
I'm an NBA player. Now wait a second.
Speaker 4 (07:14):
I think guys, I think we know why Frand never came.
Speaker 5 (07:17):
I think I just I think they just got.
Speaker 3 (07:21):
Found out. I want to be part of that.
Speaker 5 (07:23):
Pod squad exclusive right there, exactly, Sparty.
Speaker 7 (07:27):
When you think about that time, you know, we've talked
a lot about sort of you getting to the point
where you knew you belonged. Was there a moment a
person who wasn't Dwight every day in practice? Was it
stand lighting the fire under you? What kind of guy
did what kind of clicked it into place like, oh, yeah,
I'm where I'm supposed to be and I could have
(07:48):
a pretty long and successful career here.
Speaker 3 (07:50):
Well, first of all, I was very I was very lucky.
I made it to very good organization. And you know,
I'm not gonna I'm not trying to, you know, kiss
anybody now, but I'm saying that we had professional people
in the weight room, in and coaching staff, PR people,
(08:12):
people from organizing trips and everything. We were really on
top of the game. And the reason why I know
that is because when I went to a different teams
later on it was a Phoenix, it was Washington and
the Clippers. I've seen how unorganized our teams in a
certain areas, and we as a Rolatto Magic, we were outstanding.
(08:34):
I gotta I gotta say, and uh, of course we
had few stuff coming out to the media, but you know,
obviously at the end of the day, you couldn't stop
stand or Dwhite going to the media playing certain things.
You know, obviously I pop accidentally a few things, but
at the end of the day, we had guys coming
in and telling me, hey, listen, come down, relax, you know,
(08:56):
go talk to stand Go talk to the coaches, go
go talk to the players. You know, everything will be fine.
You know, in one two days, everything's going to come
back to normal situation and you're going to continue to
practice and play hard. But that was the time when
I realized after my first and obviously second year, after
second year, when we made it to the NBA Finals,
(09:17):
and I made a name for myself. I knew it that,
you know, I have a big opportunity to be in
the league at least ten years if everything's gonna obviously
from the physical standpoint, everything's gonna go well with me.
So that was the time when I understood that, Yeah,
I have a big chance. And like I said, I
would say, the biggest reason why is because we just
(09:38):
had outsending people in the organization, you know, coaching staff,
the strength conditional coach who was working with me extremely hard,
and the right people, you know, and the right people.
Speaker 5 (09:51):
Marshan.
Speaker 6 (09:52):
One of the guys that worked with you specifically was
was Brendan Malone, who obviously passed away here recently talked
about your relationship with Brandan, how he pushed you. I
mean he really, he really took you under his wing
the minute you walk through the door here in Orlando, right.
Speaker 3 (10:10):
Well, I mean he's like I said, you know, he's
like my dad. You know, we recently went to his
funeral and there was this quote, actually stay and use it,
and I'm trying to find that quote that that quote
is actually outstanding. I mean, he that that quote exactly
(10:31):
described Brandon is that the quote goes, if your president
doesn't make an impact, your absence won't make a difference.
And and that's that's how Brandon was, you know, that's
how Brandon was. I mean, Brendon was more than just
a coach. Uh. You know, you you go to practice
with Brendan and then you go work on your right hook,
(10:53):
left hook, You're gonna work on your you know, mid
jump shot. Then you're gonna work on the picker rolls
and to that. You know. When we're down with practice,
we're about to sit down, and and he, you know,
he sits next to me. He said, okay, young man,
So tell me, so what did you do with the
with the with the money the first check that came in,
you know. And I started telling him, Oh, I went
(11:14):
and buy a car, you know, for the one hundred
thousand dollars car. You know, It's like, have you lost him? Smart? Yes? Right,
He's like, have you lost your mind? Like why can't
you just buy you know, a cheaper car, you know,
thirty forty thousand dollars card just a good solid car
that you can go to practice, you know, and and
and just work hard on your game. And and I said,
did you, did you buy a house. I'm like, no,
(11:36):
I'm actually renting right now. Good good, that's good, you know.
And he was actually teaching me what to do out
of the basketball court also, you know, how to manage everything.
Then you know, at the end of the season, we
have exit meetings. He said, young man, come to me
after practice, after after meeting with stant please come to
my office. So I went to his office. You know,
I said, Dad, what's going on? He said, Okay, I
(11:58):
need you to go home. I want you to forget
about basketball for about you three weeks and then you're
going back to work. And don't forget right now. When
you're gonna go back to you, I need you to
go to your mom, your dad, buy them something nice,
buy them something they're gonna make feel It's gonna make
them feel good. You know. Just just thank them for
everything they've done for you. That they raise you as
a good man, and they raise you as a you know,
(12:21):
strong human being, and and just thank them for everything
they've done for you. And after two three weeks, come
back to tow Or like, no, we're gonna work hard.
And I was like, all right, coach, that's what I'm
gonna do. So the first thing I did is go
back home, you know, buy you know, buy a car
to that, buy a you know, buy something to mom.
And and that's how Brandon right. And that's how Brandon was,
(12:43):
you know, and he was he was extraordinary. Man. I
definitely miss him and makes me feel even more bad
because when I was in Washington, I actually gave him
a call. I gave him a call and I I
asked him, can I there was a situation Washington when
Tommy Shepherd GM he's not with the Wizards, he's not
(13:06):
with Washington anymore. But the GM that was there, he
told me, like March, if you want to fly to
New York with the team, I was kind of like
a part show, kind of like a temporary coach, maybe
not temporary, but like a just assistant, you know, helping
out with the Biggs. But I wasn't traveling with the team.
(13:26):
And he said like, hey, if you want to go
to New York, just let us know, just let us know.
We will we will arrange the whole trip for you. Also,
and I gave a call to Brenda. I said, listen, Brenda,
I have an opportunity to go to New York. I
will go to New York if you allow me to
come and visit you. And back then he said, no,
now I don't want to really do that. I really
(13:48):
appreciate it, I really you know, I definitely thank you
for this opportunity, but I don't feel good. I don't
look good. I don't want you to see me this
way and that just you know, stay on the phone
and just you know, keep in touch on the phone
with me. I was like, I said, Brendan, you are
you're literally breaking my heart right now, Like, come on, man,
I can I don't even have to enter the house.
(14:10):
I'm just gonna be standing in front of the window.
Just come to the window, let me talk to you.
So he was like, nah, no, you know, marine doesn't
feel good and and we just don't feel like this
is the right time to to to to make a
visit like that. And literally two months later, uh Stan
went to see him and a couple of days or
(14:31):
whatever week two weeks later he passed away. So it
was it was devastating. It was devastating. I was crying,
and you know, it was devastating because there was a
man that made me, you know, he was a man
that made me Uh, in every possible way, you know,
basketball as as a man. He raised me also as
almost as he saw every time when I see Michael Malone,
(14:54):
I was literally saying to him, was up broader, you know,
like and not like just just a laying like a broader.
I really treat him like my broader because Brandon was
our fodder. You know. That's so that's how I act
with him. So yeah, it was, it was. It was
unbelievable to have Brandon around me, uh for so many years.
Speaker 5 (15:15):
March.
Speaker 4 (15:15):
Where does that? Where does that come from? I mean
You've always been that way. You're incredibly loyal and you
have never forgot where you came from. You never forgot
the people that helped you along the way, and you
still do incredible things now to help everybody that you
come in contact with. That guys, right, I mean that
that has always mean you.
Speaker 3 (15:32):
What what this is saying? What comes around? Go? Uh?
What go there? There? You go? There you go? Thank you?
You know good guys. You guys are the same way,
you know. I mean every time when I ask Orlando
Magic Organization, I'm receiving so much love from you guys,
and and not only we've been through a lot. You know,
we know each other for twenty years now. You know
(15:54):
we've been NBA Finals together. We won't met a playoff games.
We went through ups and downs, we went to through
you know, hell and the media. And also you went
through you know, beating bustles and coval years in the playoffs,
you know, and it was fun. You know, those those moments,
those bottles create incredible bond. And what I'm receiving from
(16:15):
Orlando Magic Organization, from you guys, you know, the help
and the camps, you know, all the all the support
with the kids when they coming here to the United States,
the opportunities to watch the game, the opportunities to visit
the facility. This is something that you know, I look
like a god back at Poland just to let you know,
you know, because when kids coming here, they seek the
(16:36):
facility that looks like a literally a shopping center because
this is so huge. I mean, you know, this is
this is unbelievable. So uh, I'm just giving my love
back to the organization that is supporting me so much,
you know. Uh. And and and that's just how I feel.
If if if you treat me well and you give
me love, I give you you know, even more love.
(16:58):
You know, I give you back even more law And
and that's how I feel about Orlando. I'm excited that
Orlando is finally in the playoffs. I'm excited that the
team is building something special. I think, you know, there's
a couple of guys, a couple of pieces in the
team that like uh Powlo Banchera that is extremely great player,
(17:19):
and I think he's going to be a start in
this league for many, many years. I'm just hoping that
we're gonna make finally a big moves free agency moves
like we did back back in the time with with
Russhard Lewis. I think there's going to be a time
we will have to throw some money at somebody and
and finally build a team that's going to compete in
this league for the next three, four five years. You know, and.
Speaker 4 (17:40):
Martin, think about when you first got to the playoffs,
right that first taste. Obviously you get your first start,
and you have a double double, four steals, and and
you help eliminate the Sixers. So the Sixers aren't feeling
a whole lot of love for you from that. If
you got you got a bunch of guys on this
magic team.
Speaker 5 (17:55):
Po is one of them.
Speaker 4 (17:56):
Frowns is one of They never bet at the playoffs?
What did What are they going to experience that they
couldn't possibly imagine right now? What is that first taste
of the playoffs?
Speaker 3 (18:05):
Like, oh, there's good they got, especially in France who
is on the ball a lot, and obviously Paulo that
that's the main player in the team. They gotta be
ready because they get they're gonna get hit. They gonna
get hit, They're gonna get a lot of hard, strong
files and they got to keep their composure. That's number one.
They can lose their head and they can, you know,
(18:25):
start fighting or start throwing you know, stupid files around.
They can't do that. They got to focus on the
basketball game. I'm hoping there are other guys in the
team that will they will come in and give a good,
strong foul in order to protect the stars from the team.
But uh, a's their moment. This is it. This is that,
that's what you're working for, you know, seven eight, nine
(18:47):
months a year to come in and play these games
at the top the best possible level. You know that
you can, I mean, there's no excuses there's no uh oh,
I thought this. I thought that there's no miscommunication. Dude,
you have eighty two freaking games to learn your communication.
(19:08):
There are eighty two games to learn your places, to
to to know your spots. If you didn't build that
chemistry until now, man, we gotta stand in. Brandon told me, Man,
we gotta find somebody else who can help us with
bottom line. That's a bottom line. You gotta you gotta perform.
(19:28):
That's what we pay you to to perform. Right now.
This is uh, this is a I would say, maybe
not Christmas, but I would say it's a uh it's
a special time for the fans. Playoffs are here finally
and we have a chance to go further than the
first round. And uh yeah, and hopefully these guys understand
(19:50):
that you know that or done, Jake, I think March,
I think Martin wants in. I think you want to
look it's just a playoff action, right, I will I
start talking about that. I had a goosebomb on my back.
Speaker 6 (19:59):
You know, listen, I get see him in your stuff,
right start right, Hey, listen, I didn't get one of these.
Speaker 3 (20:05):
Let me just finish. Let me just finish my coffee
and I'm about to go.
Speaker 5 (20:09):
Man, I don't think coffee right.
Speaker 3 (20:11):
Oh no, well listen, I get I can get you
good strong eighteen to twenty minutes, literally eighteen point two.
That's a lot of it. It's hardly just give me
a day off tomorrow, all right, But but I give
you twenty good minutes, and I promise you I keep
I keep. Uh. The main statistic that will follow me,
(20:34):
uh follow me my entire life, which means rebound every
three minutes. That's something I didn't care about. I mean, okay,
I did care about points to our life. If I
say I didn't.
Speaker 5 (20:46):
I was gonna say you're a liar.
Speaker 3 (20:48):
Yeah, but they were, they were. They were less important
than my rebounds. The rebounds kept me in the league.
Speaker 6 (20:54):
Does somebody break it down to you that simple where
somebody told you, like, listen, every two to three minutes
around the floor, you better be grabbing one readount like random.
Speaker 3 (21:04):
That was the guy who h I think I told
you got I told you, I told you this story
a couple of times. Already went after before the game,
we have a shoot around, I mean we we before
the game, we have the warm up, and obviously my
warm up was like four hours before the game, not
two hours, but like four hours before the game. Not
the cheaters were not even in the building yet, you know,
(21:26):
like I was already getting warmed up, and and after
warm up, we were sitting at the chairs at the
bench of it there, and he would come to me
with a piece of paper, you know, two three papers.
He printed it out and he was like, read it,
you know. And the first time, obviously I folded and
(21:46):
put in my back pocket. So he comes back to
me fifteen minutes later it's like, did you read it?
I was like, yeah, yeah, I read it. Okay, So
what was there? Like ow, you know, just like like
obviously I didn't read it. But he was like he
looks at me, He's like, hey, man, like why are
you wasting my time? Why did I print this? Why
did I why? Why did I find that article? And
(22:07):
I was looking for this, uh put this article in
the internet for you know, for many minutes, for a
couple of minutes, like come on, read it. This is
this is your homework. I'm like, all right, coach, apologize
for that. Give me ten minutes. I'll come back to you.
So I read all that stuff and it was about
Dennis Rodman and He's and his ability to rebound, his
passion for rebounding, So obviously I read the whole article,
(22:30):
came to him. We started talking back and forth, and
he told me from now on, from now on, I
need you to rebound the basketball every three minutes. If
you're gonna rebound every three minutes, you're gonna be the
best rebounder in the league. Well, he forget to mention.
There was one guy named Dhight freaking Howard. It was
rebounding every like two minutes twenty seconds, and I was like,
(22:53):
I was like, that's the possible to do, you know,
Then up with this guy. I'm like, keep up with
that guy. You know, I'm like, that's impossible to do.
But but's still by the minutes, and you know, by
all these statistics coming off the bench, playing those ten
twelve minutes, I was averaging three three and a half
three about I was right there around that three minute mark,
(23:14):
which was great.
Speaker 7 (23:15):
That's such a good story, though, because Dennis Rodman is
a perfect example of how much in between the ears matters, right,
I mean, the greatest rebounder arguably of all time. Physically,
he was no Dwight Howard, but not the way that
ball was coming off the rim, and he played the
angles and that was all he wanted to do when
he was on the floor, was defending rebound. Marge, you've
(23:35):
worked with with young Biggs and obviously you're not very
far removed from the league. You played during a very
interesting time where the back to the basket post offense
sort of died. But then biggs are kind of reborn.
Now we have guys like nicolea jokicch In Towns and
MB who play a lot differently than than your style
of play. What what is your state of the of
(23:56):
the young NBA big man, young biggs entering the league
right now? What are they not being taught? What are
some characteristics of them? Just give me your sort of
overall view of young begs. I think first we have
a we need to have big that uh have the
will and the right mindset. And if we're gonna get
(24:17):
these guys, and if we're gonna find these.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Guys, then these guys need to continue to prove that
they can do stuff with the back to the basket
that they need to demand the ball. I understand to
follow the rules, follow the coach what he wants to do.
I understand that, But there's gonna be a time in
a game when guy is catching six offensive free bounds
(24:40):
around the rim and he's kicking those six basketballs. You know,
he's kicking them to the point guard. Come on, man,
you are three feet from the basket. Give me a putback,
right back. You know what I'm saying. Muscle the muscle
up the guy to the basket. You know, do a move,
do a shake, whatever finished left right hand, Give me something,
you know what I'm saying. I understand not every offensive
(25:01):
freeball needs to be a bucket for you. At least
give me half and half. People don't want to do that.
People don't want to do that. And listen, that shows
me that you don't want to play I'm literally speaking
like Brandon right now. You should. That shows me you
don't want to play basketball. And if you're not gonna
do that, then don't expect we're gonna have bigs around
(25:22):
the league that only running and setting screens and rolling
to the basket.
Speaker 4 (25:25):
Bottom line, what would your game look like? Mark, that's
a great breakdown, by the way that that's phenomenal, terrific insight.
But how would you have adapted your game. Obviously we
know the work. The thing that's amazing to me, and
you guys know this, But you know, March in eighty
one games, eighty games, sixty six games during a walkout,
played all sixty six, eighty one, eighty two, eighty eighty two,
(25:47):
eighty two and if you're healthy, you were play it right.
Speaker 3 (25:51):
What would you mean that was two biggest That was
the biggest thing, you know, uh, while also GM said
the biggest, the biggest, uh being available available, availability is
the biggest, the biggest reason I was also in the
league for twelve years. You know, I'm quite sure I'll
(26:12):
be doing the same thing in the league what I
was doing back in the day I was at great screens.
I'm quite sure I will come up with two more
extra screens that people haven't seen. And I think I'm
not gonna tell this to anybody, but now that I'm
trying to sell myself and sign a contract right now,
that's not about that. But I'm saying I see things
that I could do on the court that other bigs
(26:34):
are not doing it. Right now. I could do those things,
and I worry about my physicality. I wear about my
skills around the rim. I could definitely shoot the ball
to you know, sixteen seventeen feet. I'm definitely not gonna
shoot threes, even that I can make three in the practice,
I will not shoot threes because that's not my job.
(26:56):
And I definitely believe I could help the team. I
could help the team, and I could definitely be a
better pro in the locker room that I was, you know,
fifteen years ago. I mean, obviously, because I'm an older
person now and I see things different, I will definitely
resolves many situations in the locker room different way than
(27:17):
I was doing this, you know, fifteen years ago.
Speaker 6 (27:20):
So, Marsh, before we got on the air here, you
were telling us what you have going back on going host.
Let me try this again, what you have going home
in Poland. You have a lot of big things going
on because you spend half your time now in the
States in Orlando, and then half the time you head
back home. Tell everybody what you have going on when
you get back to Poland.
Speaker 3 (27:38):
Here in a couple of weeks, so we're coming to
the point where, you know, all my events, main events
are starting in Poland soon in the next three four months,
We're going to do basketball camps, we're going to do
basketball camps. In the winner of those camps, the MVP
from each camp is actually coming to the United States
and it's coming to Orlando to watch m be a
game and and then you know, see hopefully see the facility,
(28:03):
go to NASA, NASA, go to Disney Downtown and see
couple parks. We're also gonna have a big celebrity game
between we used to have in the past ten years
we had Poland versus I mean, I'm sorry, a Gorda
team versus Polish Army. But because this year we have
twenty fifth anniversary of joining NATO, we're actually gonna have
(28:25):
soldiers from NATO and we're gonna have all from all
nations we we we're gonna have We're gonna have a
soldier coming in. The funny story is I can tell
you this one last year we had the game against
Polish Army, but because we uh the Court of Celebrities
where we we had three Ukraine four Ukrainian soldiers joining
(28:50):
our team Gorda celebrity team. And the reason why is
because they are not they are not NATO yet, so
they couldn't join the army. But in order but then
we said, all right, just because Ukrainian soldiers joined my team,
let's call a couple of American guys and let them
join the Polish Polish army. So you ain't gonna believe me.
(29:14):
I had probably about ten or fifteen different calls to ambassadors,
different people United States. I spoke with some generals, you know,
like high rank officers. We could not bring one soldier
from American soldier from Poland, and we had probably about
twenty five thousand of them in Poland right now, we can.
(29:35):
We could not bring even one one soldier. So we
brought security guard from embassy. And right before, right before
when we had the you know, right before the game,
we we had to announce every soldier the name and
the rank, you know, we have the We asked the soldier,
(29:56):
We asked the guy, the security guard. I was like, listen,
you know, how can we you know present you he's
his name is whatever. Mike. I'm like, but are you
like I don't know general mayor colonel. He's like, uh,
I'm just security guard. I'm like, hell, I'm like, listen,
I said, we got to come up with something. He listen.
(30:16):
So so I'm like, we got to come up with something. Man,
He's like, all right, just call me a special agent.
I'm like, all right, man, let's see a special agent.
You know. So this this this thing was hilarious. But yeah,
but this year is better. We we finally have a
contact and we're gonna have American soldiers and we're gonna
have different soldiers from different countries and it's gonna be outstanding,
(30:39):
outstanding event. Uh. And also after that event, we will
finish uh the season in my schools. We I have
five schools, five sports schools in my country, in my
in Poland, and we're gonna finish a year for them.
So I do have a lot of responsibilities now when
I go back to Poland And and there's a lot
(31:00):
of work in front of me right now, and then
probably I will go to front lines again to help
out a couple of weeks.
Speaker 4 (31:08):
Yeah, March, I was gonna ask you about that. Let's
let everybody know it's it's phenomenal the work that you're doing.
And I know it's it's a it's big, it's a
big passion of yours and you've done it since you
were a player here and even before you came to
the States. But uh, you work with the Polish Army.
I mean, you've done unbelievable work with that, and I
know what's happening in the Ukraine is is gut wrenching
for you as well and for Infra AID, right.
Speaker 3 (31:27):
So yeah, I'm I'm certified medic. A couple of months
ago I've done uh it was almost a year now,
I've done the whole training to be a certified medic
military medic, so you know, I know everything how to
do ivs and injections and you know basically how to
rescue people, you know, on the field. And hopefully I
(31:49):
won't have to do that. But uh, yeah, I trained.
I've been working with the special forces uh from Poland
for many years now, and and we finally have opportunity
to go and help out. I've doubted already twice, didn't
really have too much action. Haven't seen too much action yet.
(32:11):
Hopefully I will have to. But again, uh, we still
got to continue to support them. Ukraine is in a
very bad situation right now, as everybody knows. They kind
of hanging out there now alone, and Pauland is the
one of the lost countries that is actually helping Ukraine,
and we got to continue to do that because guess
what if they're going to go through Ukraine, we are next.
Speaker 4 (32:35):
Well we we we certainly continue to pray for you
and and everything that's going on over there, March and
keep up the great work and all the support that
you've done. And at some point, George, we've got to
get out there. We've got to visit marchin and we
got to see what. I just can't even imagine what
this guy's like back here.
Speaker 6 (32:49):
You know, I expect if I go over there that
they're some like people are literally going to carry me around,
like literally carry me around.
Speaker 5 (32:57):
We're gonna we.
Speaker 3 (33:00):
Gota people throwing flowers right in front of you when
you alter.
Speaker 5 (33:05):
It's exactly right, grapes. I picture them feeding the grapes.
Speaker 3 (33:10):
Oh my god.
Speaker 7 (33:11):
And then we'll go to the photo op and then
the photo op in the empty.
Speaker 3 (33:14):
Room bare we gonna have the pay baker.
Speaker 4 (33:20):
Well listen, and the last thing we'll say Marching is
you're gonna be recognized in the arena on March twenty ninth.
It's gonna be against the Clippers and other team that
you're familiar with and that you played for, and it'll
be special. The fans will love seeing you there. It'll
be a great interaction. And I know the fans mean
so much to you here and Central Fida from.
Speaker 3 (33:38):
All your time here in Orlando. Yeah, I love it.
I'm excited, and I'm looking forward and especially to see
the Clippers theme. Uh and and hopefully obviously we're gonna
get a nice, juicy win. That's that's That's what I'm hoping.
And and yeah, it's gonna be a special moment. It's
funny because the game is on Friday, and I should
(33:59):
leave Saturday, so it's gonna be uh, you know, the last,
the last, the last event here in the States for me. Uh,
looking forward, I'm looking forward. I'm hoping everybody is gonna play. Uh,
everybody's gonna play. I know how it works that towards
the end of the season, people are coaches are resting
their stars. But I'm hoping everybody is gonna play.
Speaker 6 (34:20):
All right, Always great to see Mark Joyce. Hold on,
is it isn't everything better when things are juicy? Like,
things are way better when they're juicy, right, are down
juicy winds?
Speaker 5 (34:30):
Everything better?
Speaker 3 (34:31):
Remember that? And remember you always have to take your
shirt off in a wait throom. Just it just grows,
it grows better. Man, don't George, don't you think so
you don't know how you do it.
Speaker 5 (34:43):
I think that's my problem. I get my shirt on,
it's my never and you proud of it.
Speaker 3 (34:48):
And you probably do that with with the music turned down.
You gotta, I gotta, I gotta go.
Speaker 4 (34:57):
All be interested to know exactly what your work aut
team is these days.
Speaker 3 (35:01):
George.
Speaker 5 (35:01):
I think in the next episode, In the next episode,
I can tell you what it's not juicy. I can
tell you that. Sure, I'm chick up, workout hard.
Speaker 3 (35:09):
I love it. I still hope you guys have my
summer league jersey hanging in the in the rafters something there.
You know. I'm hoping he's hanging somewhere at least in
his office, you know. I mean that is never.
Speaker 4 (35:20):
You can't play nine summer leagues and not get it retired,
right right, And the best thing is that you guys
canceled there orlandose family leagues, so summer league so nobody
can beat my record like this over he's gonna stand
over there for centuries, you know, Like.
Speaker 6 (35:33):
The first thing he says, the first thing we said
when we were in the meeting to cancel and we're like, well,
Gore Todd lives on forever.
Speaker 3 (35:41):
That's how you build legends, man, that's how you build
legends of this. Just because of this one decision, one call,
my legend will live forever, forever. I love it. Margin
you the best. Great to see you, buddy, and we'll
talk to you soon. Appreciate you, guys, Thank you very much.
That'll do it for this edition.
Speaker 4 (35:59):
Imagine Pod Squad will see you next time.
Host
Dante Marchitelli
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