May 30, 2025 • 37 mins
Amin El Hassan joins the show to talk all things NBA, from the pending NBA Finals, to the return of the Sonics, is OKC forming a dynasty and much more. Marc and Christopher hit the text line and read back messages from listeners, and close the show with Ian Furness as he shares what he has planned on his show.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Covering the Heat and Knicks series, and uh, excuse the Knicks.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
It was no, it wasn't the Heat Knicks.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
That's well, yeah, the Heat did play the Knicks that year,
but it was the Heat and Nuggets NBA Finals.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And he was basically uh.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
In Mason Square Garden last night at the world's most
famous arena, covering Game five, aman Al Hassen right here
for the first time, not the last time on MJ
in the midday. I mean, what was what was the
atmosphere last night at the garden?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It seemed like it was rocking.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Oh, by the way, did you notice the Knicks are
two and oh undefeated in the playoffs When Kylie Jenner
comes to the games, I.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Did notice that we're tracking that earlier in the playoffs
and say, hey, chalame by himself doesn't work challamet with her.
All of a sudden they win it. It was a
great atmosphere, it was, I'll be honest, I thought free game.
I was like, it's not quite as loud as I
thought it would be. But once the game got started,
(01:07):
you know, and obviously as brunts and made big plays
and Colsey Towns had a big first half and all
that it was roaring and rocky. You know, it's a great.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Environment, no doubt about it. What did you think last night?
See to me? And here's what I saw.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
And I just looked at it and said, well, it
just seems like Indye didn't bring their a game. I mean,
if the Knicks expect Tyres Halliburn and Aaron E. Smith
and Miles Turner to combine for sixteen points in game
six at home, they got another thing coming. And I
felt like, I mean, they just sort of they were like, hey,
we'll wrap it up Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Did it feel that way to you?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I don't know. That's I would go down well, but
definitely there.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Was not the sense of urgency was a sense of urgency,
that's it. And you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
A Pascal Siakam said, hey, they played harder than we
did last night.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
He said it.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yep, he said it, where Carlo said it, Tyreus Caliburn
said it, and all three of them, like I said,
I didn't get the feeling from them, like, man, we
blew a great opportunity. We should have just come in
the end of this thing. And you can't give a
team life like that. They didn't have any of that.
It was kind of like, yeah, they just played this,
and you know they played harder, and we just gotta
(02:17):
look at the film and we'll be better on Saturday.
I thought it was like on the one hand, I
guess it depends on how you are glass how full.
It's kind of reassuring they're not panicking, they don't seem
scared or worried at all. Gots have empty I kind
of like wanted to have a little bit of that
desperation and panic and energy so that you know that
(02:38):
this thing is going to be wrapped up.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
No question about it.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
In terms of the pressure though, for Game six, is
it more on the Pacers? I mean the Knicks, we
know you lose season over, but is the pressure just
sort of, you know, get it done tomorrow night. But
remember they did win Game seven on the road last
year at Madison Square Garden.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, and this is a team that's been tremendous on
the road. I think this was their first road loss
since the first round of the playoffs, since Milwaukee, So
they are very comfortable going into any building and going
out there and feeling like they have a legitimate shot
(03:19):
of winning the games. Like again, I think that's one
way to look at it. The other way to look
at it is you're the one that's up three one
and you lost game five and say five, but now
if you lose game six, regardless of whether you're playing
at home in game seven or nine, it's not about
we're not The worry isn't hey, you've got to go
on the road for this. The worry is you were
(03:41):
up three to one. Now we're here. And so obviously
it hasn't happened, though I've only happened thirteen times in
the issue of the Sport. But you know, we had
a lot of recent examples, whether it's the Nuggets and
the Clippers and the bubble, or the Warriors and the
Cavs in twenty sixteen, or the Warriors in the Thunder
(04:02):
in twenty sixteen. A lot of people forget that one.
So it's happened enough. Well, it feels like it's a
legitimate concern that as it goes past against.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
It, no question about it me and al Hassen.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Meanwhile, on the other side, you got the wagon that
is Oklahoma City Thunder, And I mean, I mean, is
there really anything I'm looking at them right now and
I'm seeing the Warriors ten years ago, you know what
I mean. I mean, I'm looking at this is the
start of the next dynasty in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Am I far off on saying that.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I think here's a problem. You know, the Warriors what
allowed them to be a dynasty in part was the
rules were different, and then they had the one trump
card that they had was Steph Curry is not making
what he should be making because he had ankle injuries
(04:58):
early in his career. The extension was like, it was
far from that. It was decent. It was like eleven
a year or something like that, whereas the matches eighteen
or nineteen a year. So at that point he had
the advantage. They had the advantage of, oh, we've got
some subsidy here, and with that subsidy that allows us
(05:18):
to go ahead and spend and end up getting Kevin
Durant and all that stuff. Right, So the Thundery don't
have that right now like they have the subsidy in
the sense that Seth Holgen and Jalen Williams are still
on their rookie contact but their extensions are coming up
very soon. And so I think realistically from a financial
(05:39):
keep this band together standpoint, I could see the thunder
they win this year winning next year as well. But
I think two years from now there's gonna be some heavy,
heavy decisions that they'll have to make that'll make it
so that they can't keep everybody because again, the rules
have changed so dramatically it makes it really hard to
keep the band together, so to speak. Now, the flip
(06:00):
side is they also have a million draft picks, so
they can continue to kind of like package and send
and bring in other guys. And you know, they've got
a lot of to play with, a lot of leeway.
But in terms of being a dynasty, you know, if
we're talking about winning more than two titles, right, I
will probably put it on the under on that.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Ooh, well, there's a lot of people here in Seattle
that like to hear the sound of that of me, now,
hassen they like that.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Wow, I will I would go the other way, but
we'll see.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
How about this though, Let's just say the Pacers take
care of business tomorrow night, which I expect them to do.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Listen to this.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
I mean, and I'm sure you know this, but this
kind of came across my radar. This will be the
Paul George Finals. And what do I mean by that?
The Pacers traded Paul George to Oklahoma City for Victor
Oladipo and ar Vedas and Sibonis and Sabonis developed as
a player, and then they traded him for Tyrese Halliburton. Meanwhile,
(06:59):
the thunder tra rated Paul George for Shay Gildess, Alexander
and seven picks, one of them turning out to be
Jalen Williams. This will be the both of these teams
will have gotten to the NBA Finals on the trade
equity of Paul George. Can you imagine that?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Yeah, And Paul Darren somewhere is like, I go champions.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I mean more teams than my win a title.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Odd trading Paul George than trading for him amazing.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
That is pretty incredible. It's incredible because also he's he's
a great player. That's the sad part of that. It's
not like he's a ball. But but yeah, it feels
it feels almost surreal to look at those two organizations
and for them to both be able to say, thank you,
Paul George, you got us. He basically got us our
franchise players. You know, as you mentioned like Tyr's Halliburton
(07:56):
is an Indiana pacer because of the Savonah trad and
Sabonah Shradans was able to happen because of the Paul
George trade. And so yeah, it is a crazy footnote
in history. I don't I wonder there's anyone that's ever
happened before right by that. I didn't have to think
about it. But it's got to, you know it. It
is kind of crazy.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
It's it's truly unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Now, we talked the other night and I want to
just get your thoughts, and you have a lot of
connections within the NBA and obviously everybody here in Seattle.
I mean that everybody is waiting with baited breath after
having the Green and Gold. The Sonics ripped away seventeen
years ago in July two thousand and eight, and it's
(08:38):
been seventeen long years, and you know, and everyone's just
kind of waiting. NBA got their new collective bargaining agreement there.
They're huge package with Amazon and ESPN and NBC. So
the biggest question is are the Sonics coming back, and
if so, amin Al Hassen, when will Adam Silver make
(09:00):
some sort of announcement.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Well, first let me answer the first part. Yeah, very easily.
Whenever expansion happens in the NBA, there will be the
next team that comes in is going to be in Seattle. Yes,
I think everyone recognizes it. It's for all the reasons, right, Yeah,
for the reasons of how how the people Seattle got
did dirty right by the removal Sonics, For the reason
(09:26):
that Seattle is the best market in the NBA that
does not have an NBA team currently, and also when
it gets to the NBA team, it will be one
of the best markets in the NBA from a fan
bose standpoint, the absoluence of the region, the number of
Fortune five hundred companies for sponsorships and then partnership deals
(09:46):
and all that stuff. And they've got an NBA ready facility,
uh right there in arena where the crack and play.
Everything about it is like, yes, it's got an international
airport with a gazillion direct flights. And then obviously, by
the way, this is one of the underrated things. It
brings a little geographical balance. Back. Used to be teams
(10:08):
to go on a road trip in Northwest. You played Portland,
you played Seattle, you play Vancouver, and they had all
those cities there and then two of those teams moved
and so now Portland is kind of like this way
out of whack trip where you know, it's just kind
of out of the way. So Seattle is getting a
team for sure. The next part is difficult. The win
(10:30):
is difficult. First of all, the expansiency is expected to
be upward of three and a half to four billion dollars. Right,
that's just that's the get in place for what, like,
you have a team, you've got to play the NBA
that much, and then whatever it costs you to actually
have a team. So that's that's a hefty price. I
do believe that when they do expansion, they want to
(10:51):
do it with two teams and not one. So they've
got to figure out where the second location is going
to be.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And I asked you the other night, I mean, and
I through this out there, because everybody seems to sort
of just package Seattle with Vegas. But you you say
you pull the league courso min Al Hassen you kind
of said not so fast, my friend.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Right, Yeah, So there's a couple of things. Number one
for me, and listen, this is just me with the
operating logic that I know. This is not I'm not
reporting anything. This is just me kind of connecting the dots.
So the NBA is not fond of the T Mobile
(11:33):
Arena in Vegas. They don't think it's up to the
standard of NBA arena. So any team that goes into
Las Vegas would need a permanent home. Maybe it's temporarily
be a T Mobile wide they build a permanent home,
but they've got to build a permanent home. Here's the problem.
Las Vegas is not a big city, not a large population,
right Las Vegas, outside of the handful of casino companies,
(11:58):
not a lot of huge multinational conglomerate you know companies.
So you're saying, I've got to build a building in
a city that already has a million venues for listeners.
Right now, when you think of an arena right or
a stadium the way they pay for themselves, it's like, okay,
(12:20):
so let's take let's take the arena where the Craft
can play forty one nights out of the year, the
Crack can have home games and maybe three more preseason games.
That's forty four. Let's say playoffs. Everyone loves the playoffs.
That they're not guaranteed. But let's say an average about
five or six playoff games a year, so that thinks
about fifty nine the year. That's three hundred plus nights
(12:40):
where there aren't any events. So how do you make
sure that the life on off, that we don't have
any dog days? By having the circus, by having Disney
on ice, by having Katie Perry concept, by having the Rodeo,
whatever it is, a monster truck, Derby, whatever it is.
We're booking dates, so every other night there is something
(13:02):
happening in our building. That's how it pays for itself. Now,
if you are, for instance, Seattle and I'm Katie Carey,
I'm coming on tour, but there's only one really, areing
other good enough for me to play in? Maybe I
played where you don't plays, that's a little smaller and
a little older. I want to play the nice Anama, right,
(13:22):
So that's the one place. Now, if I'm k Perrol,
go to Vegas. I've got t mobile, I've got the Sphere,
I've got the MGM.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Grant, I've got Old Palace.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Jesus, there's so many venues in Vegas. And by the way,
they're building a Baseball stadium. And by the way, they
also have Allegiance Stadium, where the where the greatest player.
And so now you're saying, I'm building a new arena,
and now I have to compete with over ten venues
for every single concert, every Disney on Ice, every every rodeo,
(13:56):
all these things. That's tough. So you're saying, hey, I'm
going to market where it's not like there's ten million
people like New York City. As I can find enough
fans or a bunch of fortune five hundred companies, I
can find enough sponsors, I'm going into a very small
statuated market fighting against everybody else. I just don't see
Vegas being a good option in that way. And that
(14:18):
leads me to what's the other place? I know for
a fact because they have a G League team out there,
this is where the day wants to be Mexico City.
So I could see Mexico City and Seattle being the
two teams. But Mexico City has its own set of
like obstacles and conundrums that are very different because it's
it's you know, pretty much a brand new market in
(14:38):
terms of country. So I think until it sort out
what that second location is gonna be We're gonna be
on hold a little bit as far as having expansion.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Interesting Mexico City, you know, I could see that they're
they're very international. The NBA has been international way before
the NFL has been. Now the NFL is really trying
to to brought in its horizons and and maybe get
a team, you know, across the pond or wherever. So
that that's interesting. I mean, it's you know, this city
is just so deserving. It's such a great basketball city.
(15:11):
I mean, it's so many I mean you remember the
days of Key Arena with Sean Kemp and Gary Payton,
and you know, it's just there's so many things that
this city could bring to the table. And it's like,
and I even thought ahead of like, hey how about
bringing home Paalo Banco.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
He's from here, right, There's.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
A lot of it. There's a lot of guys, all
stars from from the Seattle area. It's a hot bed
of basketball. It's always been very respected as far as
you know. The joke goes the two worst trades in
NBA history are Seattle for Oklahoma and Vancouver Formental because
you know, everyone loved those young trips, love going there
(15:52):
and then as far as like the fan base, it's,
like I said, super educated. I remember I remember going
to thunder Blazers in Portland and seeing like there's a
group of fans every year they go to those two
games in their Sonics jerseys and bring bring back our Sonics.
And it's a sad story. It makes me like really
(16:17):
happy when I hear Gary Payton refuse to have as
jersey retired because he said, I never played for anyone
in Oklahoma. I played, I played in Seattle. My jerseys
retirement will happen when they get the Sonics back. So
I think it's one of those things where everybody knows
what the right thing to do is and and the
good thing, the good move is we have precedent for this.
(16:37):
The Charlotte Hornets were beloved in Charlotte and everyone loved them,
and then their owner moved them in New Orleans. Uh.
And then you know, when time came to get an
expansion team, they put it back in Charlotte. And one
of the things that eventually after that was that Michael
Jordan said, give me back to Hornet's history and that
the Colors and the jerseys like New Orleans, you could
(16:58):
do whatever you want to be in you, but it
means something to the people in this reason, and that's
why they're back to being the Charlotte Hornet. So I
always imagine that whatever Spanzantine comes into Seattle, the thunder
who technically still own they own the sonics history and
the jerseys and the throwbacks and everything that now they've
been classy and not using any of that because they
(17:19):
know that would be a very bad look.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Right, which is which is unlike, which is unlike what
the Titans do to Houston with the oilers and those uniforms.
You've seen that, right, Yeah, that's that's not good. I mean,
you're so right man, And listen, I mean, and that's
the thing about it. And I understand, you know, the
pain and what everybody's gone through here. But at the
same time, if you can and everybody will always you know,
(17:45):
And I get the animasy towards Clay Bennett and Howard
Schultz and all those and even David Stern, but shake Gildess, Alexander,
Jalen Williams, you know, Isaiah, Joe chet Hoolme, Grin Lou Door.
They didn't have anything to do with they just got listen.
If you just take away what market they play in.
Like from a Seattle standpoint, this is a very likable team.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
They are.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
This is what I'll say. Most of these guys were
seven or eight years old or younger when this happened.
Like you are basically angry at If you're angry at them,
you're angry at children. Having said that, I will never
ever tell anyone in Seattle, hey man, this kind of
root cap. Cheryl Wahlder, No, I'll never say because even
(18:31):
though you're right, these are great guys, and they play
the right way, and they're an exciting team, and it's
good basketball and all those things. I know how much
that franchise meant to that place, and how they were
caught in the middle of a high stakes poker game
between Clay Bennett, Howard Chultz, the NBA mayor McNichols, like
(18:51):
all these characters, that none of them really had the
people's best interests at heart. Absolutely, And for that reason,
I'm like, I get it, if you're if you're from Seattle,
and like the hell with the thunder, I get it.
I'm not gonna trany and convince you anything else. You
of all people, have earned the right to have that attitude.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
No question before I let you go, I mean, I
appreciate making time. The Dallas Mavericks made one of the
dumbest trades of all time, training a top five player
in the word Luka doncic to the Lakers. They had
a one point eight percent chance of getting the number
one pick, and so and lo and behold they get
the number one pick, which everybody supposes and more than
likely be Cooper Flag. Do you believe and I got
(19:35):
to tell you to me, there's too much smoke near
this fire, that there's something untoward about the NBA draft
lottery process? Do you believe that that may be the
fixes in? No, you don't.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Don't believe it, not even for a second. It's so hot.
First of all, there's a couple of things. Number One,
they do the lottery, Ernst and Young does like overseas
the lottery, right, The lottery is done in a room
like what we see on TV. That's not the lottery,
that's the lottery results, right, right. The actual lottery happens
behind the scenes in a room that has not only
(20:11):
Ernst and Young, but representatives from every team or in
there and also media members. So in order to have
a conspiracy to rig it, which by the way, it's
like four digit combinations coming up and depending on what
the combination is, that's how we know that the year
where the Spurs got the according to lottery, the first, second,
(20:32):
and third pick because their numbers kept hitting. So like
it's like I said, it's very it's almost impossible to
rig you have all these people who are witnesses to it, right,
and then on top of that, even if you like
you would say, all I can get the people in
the room to be complicit, why would teams be complicit?
Like why would the Charlotte Hornets be like, you know what,
(20:52):
you're right, Dallas does deserve to get ahead of us
in mine?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
No right.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
So it's just like inherent me in it is a
a conflict of interest that prevents any sort of chicannery
from happening, because why would anyone go along with that?
Like yes, and if they're trying to fool the public pool,
but it's like, hold on, I'm all for fooling the public.
If I'm a Sellow Hornets, why didn't I Why isn't
(21:17):
it rigged for me? Why isn't Why don't you guys
rigg it for me, or if you're the Sixers or
whatever team was in the lottery that didn't win it,
they have a legitimate claim and like, wait a second,
I kind of need help too. Why don't you rig
it for me? They've been that for a year. I
think that after a decade. So it's just it doesn't
make any logical sense why there would be any sort
(21:40):
of conspiracy. Other we just like the like we like conspiracy.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
All right, fair enough, you've made a compelling testimony here,
mister l Hassen. You have, so I won't say I'm
completely convinced the other way, but the way you broke
it down, with all the teams being there, the media
being there, my biggest issue, why not show it? Why
not show that process? Behind closed?
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Boring? What ignoring?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
No, no, it's not boring.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
It would be I'm telling you. I'm telling you I've
never been I just been describing me. It is incredibly
tedious and boring. The reason why they do what they
do is because they have to make a TV version
that people would find fun and compelling that received yeah,
actual things, no, absolutely zero drama, Dade. It's just it's
(22:27):
just all.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Right, all right, fair enough, Hey, I mean Hey, have
safe travels, my man, and always a pleasure to talk
to you.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
We'll have to do it again sooner and later. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Thanks for that, all right, aminel Hassen Here on MJ
in the midday what do you say? Text of the day?
Four nine four or five one? Four nine four five one?
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (22:46):
What you heard? Lane Lambert? What's your thoughts on that? Uh?
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Just does anybody out there even? There are some people
I've seen on the text line that said, hey, I
don't care anymore. I'm you know, who cares the thunder
winds at all? It doesn't have any And then other
people are like f them. So I've seen a different
So four nine four five one, Christopher kidding me, we
will jumped. Uh, we'll get into that next and the
what do you say text of the day right here
(23:10):
on MJ in the midday Sports Radio ninety three to
three kJ RFM. All right, it'll be a quick one
and we don't have much time here on the what
do you say texts of the day?
Speaker 2 (23:23):
So Ladasa off kid.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Regarding stars from the two o six, the Mariners ownership
has never paid to keep their stars. Griffy Gone, a
Rod Gone, Randy elsewhere, they let them go. They never
have paid a star salary keeper, so you better look
elsewhere for star power in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
A couple of things here from the two o six,
If you let me see your hold on, Uh, let's see.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Oh yeah, the four two five.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Actually, I know Julia wasn't a are when he used
his age as an excuse for underperforming a couple of
years ago. Yes, you're young, You're not the youngest, and
plenty other young players have performed and excelled. It had
just the opposite feel of what a superstar mentality would
slash should be.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
This is from the four two five. You guys act
like Julio is a finished product. He's twenty four. He
entered the MLB at twenty one. Devers had a total
war of six point six his first three seasons in
the league. Freddy Freeman nine total war his first three years,
Bryance Hopper nine point eight, Akunya eleven point seven, Betts seventeen.
(24:41):
Julio had a fifteen point six war's first three seasons.
Mooki is the only one of those five that had
a higher WAR to begin their career. Very few players
hit the MLB and our superstars again, Julio's twenty four
not a finished product, and he's had a better start
to his career than many other stars.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
All right.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
From the four two five, I love the package for
trade you just proposed. I hope Jerry Depoto is listening.
I proposed trading Julio a starter and one of your
prize prospects and getting a star here, like an everyday
bona fide superstar.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
That's what I proposed.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Interesting history from the two six mark, Has anyone told
you that once every five hundred or so years, earthquake
is overdue? There is a reason there's a force at
the bottom of Lake Washington. Having most I five on
steals doesn't bode well. Hopefully Elliott Bay won't decide to
join you at the studios. Have a great weekend. Yes,
(25:46):
I hope so too. I hope so too.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Although nothing could be worse than getting stuck in an
elevator for me, that would be the worst for me.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
I like, can't you yeah, clutophobic? Are you claustrophobic a
little bit? You know?
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Listen, you'll know you are if you ever get stuck
in elevator. Happened to me twice, and I said, Okay,
I'm claustrophobic.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I am.
Speaker 5 (26:08):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
I don't want to find out. I'll just leave it
at that.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, exactly, Mark, How can MJ? How can you say
we have no stars from the three six zero? We
have World Series champion Mitch Garver.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Lol?
Speaker 5 (26:22):
This next one is from Marcus. Let's go okay, see
three pete only because I'm tired of hearing about the
Sonics and all the complaining.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
From the two oh six, wy are ten and seven
rams with aging, fragile quarterback and much tougher schedule getting
so much love. Hawks are ascendent in the division with
weakness on every other team. Okay, but Devanta Adams and
Bukaakua I don't look pretty weak to me.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
They don't look weak to me. Neither Jared Verst, Brayden
Fisk and Camp Kitchens. They don't look weak to me.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
But all right, from the two oh six, which John
gets five first, John Lynch or Schneider.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Lynch Lynch, because I think John Schneider, he's been here
for fifteen years, he's.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Won a title. They're gonna wait this out a little bit.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
And see now, I'm not saying he's gonna get a
five year extension. But I would go at Lynch on
that's a great question. I would go with Lynch on
that one. From the two oh six, Ryan Grubb didn't
abandon the run. The offensive line abandoned him. Go look
at PFF and look at the rankings at the very
bottom thee I say.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
More from the two oh six, last one from me,
did those star receivers receive superstar contracts based on potential? A?
Speaker 1 (27:41):
No, No, I don't think they did. I really don't.
From the three six, oh, Jerry Depoto was right, we
should be thanking him. Mariners didn't spend money. They're at
fifty they're at fifty four percent and in first place. Oh,
he'll never I heard that after he did that fifty
four percent interview.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
He never did an interview. He's not done one since then. MJ.
Speaker 1 (28:03):
From the four two five, let's see here, who from
the team is in the room for the NBA Draft.
I know the NBA has league wide revenue sharing for
smaller market teams to remain financially competitive. Would that make
the conspiracy of the draft not a conspiracy and just
a way to make more money.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
That's a great point. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
And last one two oh six they're going to build
a basketball arena in Vegas and it's being done by
the same people that were in on Climate Pledge arena.
End quote. All right, thanks appreciate the text. Four nine
to four five one. We will do cross talk with
the mayor to close out on a Friday right here
on mj in the Midday Sports Radio ninety three to
(28:48):
three kJ RFM. All right, thank you to John Foreslynn
and l Hassen for joining us today. The mayor is
in the house and I want to just say.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Oh, Conn Connor mc david's great. Oh Ed Minton. They're
gonna win it. Man, They're gonna They're a team of destiny.
I I just can sense you, just sense it. I'm
(29:27):
oh God, I'm looking forward to Wednesday night.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Should be fun.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Uh winns Game six for the NBA tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Yeah, and then game There won't be Game seven, but
if there was, it would be Monday. There won't be
a Game seven, but if there was, it would be
in Indianapolis. Game seven. Game six tomorrow is in Indy.
Game seven would be in Madison Square Garden. There won't
be Game seven.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
It's over what did what did your guest at eleven
say about anything with an expansion say anything? I missed
it because you know, we don't have the ability here
on radio station here sometimes.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Do you mean like for NBA, Yeah, oh, I mean
now Hassen, Yeah, he said, he said that he doesn't think,
he said Seattle is going to get it.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
He said, we all know that.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
No, but he just but he also said that he
talked about the infrastructure. He goes now he can't exactly
say when, but he said he doesn't think Vegas is.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Going to be the other team.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
It's going to be Seattle and maybe Mexico City because
Vegas doesn't have the infrastructure. They don't like they have
to build a new arena, right, which, now someone on
the text line maybe they're right. They said that people
who helped build Climate Pledge are the ones that would
help build the.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
They were already well down the road on that, but
they're waiting. Last I checked, and I haven't checked for
a while. Last I checked, they were waiting on some
final you know, environmental impact stuff and all that.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
At one point, you know, a few months ago they
had hired the original GM of Timobil Arena in Vegas.
They had hired the former gm of I want to
a Mandola Bay maybe so, because there's gonna be a
hotel slash should be a whole complex, including the arena, right,
and they'd hired people to run that. So like they're
(31:09):
down the road. I think they're just waiting us some
final approvals and I don't think they've broken I'll check
on that.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
But but what do it?
Speaker 1 (31:14):
But okay, fair enough with the arena, But who's gonna
be the by the team.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
It's I believe it's the Fenway Park group with John Henry?
With John is it with that?
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Is that the group?
Speaker 4 (31:24):
The Lebron's involvement? Yes, yeah, John Henry my former boss.
So he owns Pittswick Penguins. Yeah, he owns uh Liverpool, Yeah,
and he in the Red Sox Lebron's Lebron's and Lebron
is involved.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Oh well there it's interesting to see. We still see
is a hard sell man. I don't know how you do.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
He brought up a good point.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
I mean, did that Okay, Like, all right, so you're
gonna build an arena, so that arena needs to provide
in like the off season, you could go to concerts
at the Sphere, MGM, Grand Garden, Caesar's Palace, Team Mobile,
Like you're you're competing against a lot of different venues
(32:04):
where if you go to somewhere else that you're just
you're the only game in town.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Right.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
But but like two things. One, Vegas doesn't matter because
everybody goes there. I mean, who doesn't have a what
do they call it when they they're playing there for months?
You know, like usidency, who doesn't have that right? And
to lay Yeah, And you know it feels like the
UFC is always battling with an arena. So you can
you know, maybe get the UFC for a couple of years,
you know, because it's like they're pissed at Caesars or
(32:30):
pissed it. They're pissed it. Dana does that all the time.
There's a million concerts going on with the hotel attached
to it. That's the plan. Then, I mean they're in
pretty good shape. Mexico City to me is a hard
one because you know, an NFL teams play down there
and have played down there. There's just like this massive
concern for security. You're talking about the I mean like
(32:53):
the trainer makes more money than anybody in Mexico City, right,
you know what I'm saying, like like like like you're
just such a target it for everything there with the
cartel and stuff, and it's just you know, like like
they've talked about like how security is such a huge
issue anytime you played international game.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Right there, especially when Raider fans go down there.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
Imagine like like the lowest paid guy in the NBA
roster's making you know, millions, right sure, I mean I
guess what, it's the second round pick. So oh he's
only making seven or and fifty grand or whatever will
be right? Like how I don't know, I just I
can't you're can attract a free agents go down to
go down there, like really there are some there are
some benefits to Mexico though for you know, they're for
(33:32):
single guys.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
You're not playing Cobbo.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
No, No, that's you're you're walking down the beach.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Yeah, I mean you're not doing that. You're not You're not.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
At Cobbo going down to the office on the beach
and having a margarita. Right, You're not going to that bar.
You're not going to you know, Cobbo Wabbo there with
Sammy Hagar they ain't Cobo.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Man, You're going to Mexico City. Yeah, that's a different,
that's a different.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Hey.
Speaker 4 (33:53):
Now I can see the NBA playing against another Like
i've heard Nashville if they get their arena situation, I
guess we're putting a bunch money to be Rena. I've
heard something for them for baseball, Yeah, in the Rays
or whatever. And that's hurt, you know. And I don't
think Vancouver is in it. I know there's been talk
about that. Yeah, I don't think they're in it the
(34:13):
situation ownership wise, probably wouldn't. There's a lot of things,
a lot of layers there. But uh yeah, and they
could go thirty one. They did that once before in
the NBA, I know in the NHL obviously did too.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
You got your show coming up, so, like, what was
your reaction when you found out Laine Lambert is the
head coach.
Speaker 4 (34:28):
Okay, yeah, I mean let's let's let's see see what happens.
I just I didn't think there was anybody that really
you'd expect Rick Tockett to come. Well, Rick Talcket's you know,
it's funny with.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Rick Tockett his hill Quenville. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
Well Joe Quenble was never gonna get hired, Okay, no
chance was he gonna get Hireday, Like, I'm surprised he
got hired, period, But the not with the other event
in Chicago, like the sexual assaults and stuff like, there's
no way he was gonna get hired here. But the
you know, if you really look at do a deep
dive in Rick talks resume, it ain't very impressive. And
I would just point out this with Rick Cockett and
(35:03):
that listen, he's he's a name I thought Chuck or
I think yeah Chuck, and Bucky said, this is one
of a great point. One of those guys mentioned it
because it's not the most recognizable sexy name, and those
guys would have been you know, Tortorella, Tackett, whatever would be.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:17):
People aren't going to be excited, which is fine. It's
a hockey coach. Most people don't know one of the
coaches anyway. But in the sense of like Talckett, his
his real success has been fairly limited in his nine
years as a head coach. And I would just point
out to what happened last year. He lost the room
like he's in the locker room I mean, look what
happened with EP forty and they had to trade Jason Miller.
(35:41):
That team was far more talented than they liked that.
You don't like that when you lose the locker room.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
I listen.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
I think one thing that I have a glimmer of
hope is that this is Jason Barrow's decision. It's his,
it's his guy, just like John Schneider, he got his
guy Mike McDonald.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Right, So let's see how it works out.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
There's far better talent on this team than they showed
last year. I think that's why. I mean, people get
all up tight. Oh three coaches in three years, and okay, well,
there's a lot of reasons hackstills let go that are internal.
Then you look at you know, they bring it in
bi asma and it just it didn't work. That team
was far better. The structure was zero and and they
(36:17):
should have been a better hockey teams.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Courts and Bright Stars Shane Wrtz to Bright Start. Now,
let me ask you this, how aggressive will they be
in free agents?
Speaker 4 (36:24):
They're gonna be very I mean we talked to Bottrow
a couple weeks ago. Not so much free agency. I
think free agency slash trades. Okay, they're going to use
a lot of those draft picks that ten they have
in the first two rounds the next three years and
can use a lot of those, So they're gonna they're
gonna be a better hockey team.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
So what do you got coming up?
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (36:37):
Speaking of that, Jordan Eberley, captain of the Kraken's gonna
joins it too, so he'll be on. And he played
with for Lambert in on this island. So we'll talk
to coming up at two o'clock today, Dannie O'Neil his
weekly visit at one twenty.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
All right, I fornass have a great weekend everyone, don't
forget bet the Pacers Tomorrow night.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
I'll have the dumbest thing you'll ever hear coming up
at one forty five. All right, I already spoke, So
that's not all this besides just one I can tell
you this will top be anything you've done, not everything.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Hey hey, if we can't laugh here and we can't laugh, you.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
Know what I mean, it's close, it won it might
you know what, take a list at one forty you decide,
I will take the Pacers minds three and a half
and bet on the Edmonton Oilers to win Lord Stanley
Cup and bring it back home to Canada for the
first time in thirty two years.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
See on Monday
Covering the Heat and Knicks series, and uh, excuse the Knicks.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
It was no, it wasn't the Heat Knicks.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
That's well, yeah, the Heat did play the Knicks that year,
but it was the Heat and Nuggets NBA Finals.
Speaker 2 (00:18):
And he was basically uh.
Speaker 1 (00:22):
In Mason Square Garden last night at the world's most
famous arena, covering Game five, aman Al Hassen right here
for the first time, not the last time on MJ
in the midday. I mean, what was what was the
atmosphere last night at the garden?
Speaker 2 (00:35):
It seemed like it was rocking.
Speaker 1 (00:37):
Oh, by the way, did you notice the Knicks are
two and oh undefeated in the playoffs When Kylie Jenner
comes to the games, I.
Speaker 3 (00:44):
Did notice that we're tracking that earlier in the playoffs
and say, hey, chalame by himself doesn't work challamet with her.
All of a sudden they win it. It was a
great atmosphere, it was, I'll be honest, I thought free game.
I was like, it's not quite as loud as I
thought it would be. But once the game got started,
(01:07):
you know, and obviously as brunts and made big plays
and Colsey Towns had a big first half and all
that it was roaring and rocky. You know, it's a great.
Speaker 2 (01:15):
Environment, no doubt about it. What did you think last night?
See to me? And here's what I saw.
Speaker 1 (01:20):
And I just looked at it and said, well, it
just seems like Indye didn't bring their a game. I mean,
if the Knicks expect Tyres Halliburn and Aaron E. Smith
and Miles Turner to combine for sixteen points in game
six at home, they got another thing coming. And I
felt like, I mean, they just sort of they were like, hey,
we'll wrap it up Saturday night.
Speaker 2 (01:39):
Did it feel that way to you?
Speaker 3 (01:44):
I don't know. That's I would go down well, but
definitely there.
Speaker 2 (01:47):
Was not the sense of urgency was a sense of urgency,
that's it. And you know what I mean.
Speaker 1 (01:52):
A Pascal Siakam said, hey, they played harder than we
did last night.
Speaker 2 (01:56):
He said it.
Speaker 3 (01:56):
Yep, he said it, where Carlo said it, Tyreus Caliburn
said it, and all three of them, like I said,
I didn't get the feeling from them, like, man, we
blew a great opportunity. We should have just come in
the end of this thing. And you can't give a
team life like that. They didn't have any of that.
It was kind of like, yeah, they just played this,
and you know they played harder, and we just gotta
(02:17):
look at the film and we'll be better on Saturday.
I thought it was like on the one hand, I
guess it depends on how you are glass how full.
It's kind of reassuring they're not panicking, they don't seem
scared or worried at all. Gots have empty I kind
of like wanted to have a little bit of that
desperation and panic and energy so that you know that
(02:38):
this thing is going to be wrapped up.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
No question about it.
Speaker 1 (02:42):
In terms of the pressure though, for Game six, is
it more on the Pacers? I mean the Knicks, we
know you lose season over, but is the pressure just
sort of, you know, get it done tomorrow night. But
remember they did win Game seven on the road last
year at Madison Square Garden.
Speaker 3 (02:59):
Yeah, and this is a team that's been tremendous on
the road. I think this was their first road loss
since the first round of the playoffs, since Milwaukee, So
they are very comfortable going into any building and going
out there and feeling like they have a legitimate shot
(03:19):
of winning the games. Like again, I think that's one
way to look at it. The other way to look
at it is you're the one that's up three one
and you lost game five and say five, but now
if you lose game six, regardless of whether you're playing
at home in game seven or nine, it's not about
we're not The worry isn't hey, you've got to go
on the road for this. The worry is you were
(03:41):
up three to one. Now we're here. And so obviously
it hasn't happened, though I've only happened thirteen times in
the issue of the Sport. But you know, we had
a lot of recent examples, whether it's the Nuggets and
the Clippers and the bubble, or the Warriors and the
Cavs in twenty sixteen, or the Warriors in the Thunder
(04:02):
in twenty sixteen. A lot of people forget that one.
So it's happened enough. Well, it feels like it's a
legitimate concern that as it goes past against.
Speaker 2 (04:11):
It, no question about it me and al Hassen.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
Meanwhile, on the other side, you got the wagon that
is Oklahoma City Thunder, And I mean, I mean, is
there really anything I'm looking at them right now and
I'm seeing the Warriors ten years ago, you know what
I mean. I mean, I'm looking at this is the
start of the next dynasty in the NBA.
Speaker 2 (04:32):
Am I far off on saying that.
Speaker 3 (04:37):
I think here's a problem. You know, the Warriors what
allowed them to be a dynasty in part was the
rules were different, and then they had the one trump
card that they had was Steph Curry is not making
what he should be making because he had ankle injuries
(04:58):
early in his career. The extension was like, it was
far from that. It was decent. It was like eleven
a year or something like that, whereas the matches eighteen
or nineteen a year. So at that point he had
the advantage. They had the advantage of, oh, we've got
some subsidy here, and with that subsidy that allows us
(05:18):
to go ahead and spend and end up getting Kevin
Durant and all that stuff. Right, So the Thundery don't
have that right now like they have the subsidy in
the sense that Seth Holgen and Jalen Williams are still
on their rookie contact but their extensions are coming up
very soon. And so I think realistically from a financial
(05:39):
keep this band together standpoint, I could see the thunder
they win this year winning next year as well. But
I think two years from now there's gonna be some heavy,
heavy decisions that they'll have to make that'll make it
so that they can't keep everybody because again, the rules
have changed so dramatically it makes it really hard to
keep the band together, so to speak. Now, the flip
(06:00):
side is they also have a million draft picks, so
they can continue to kind of like package and send
and bring in other guys. And you know, they've got
a lot of to play with, a lot of leeway.
But in terms of being a dynasty, you know, if
we're talking about winning more than two titles, right, I
will probably put it on the under on that.
Speaker 4 (06:20):
Ooh, well, there's a lot of people here in Seattle
that like to hear the sound of that of me, now,
hassen they like that.
Speaker 2 (06:26):
Wow, I will I would go the other way, but
we'll see.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
How about this though, Let's just say the Pacers take
care of business tomorrow night, which I expect them to do.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Listen to this.
Speaker 1 (06:36):
I mean, and I'm sure you know this, but this
kind of came across my radar. This will be the
Paul George Finals. And what do I mean by that?
The Pacers traded Paul George to Oklahoma City for Victor
Oladipo and ar Vedas and Sibonis and Sabonis developed as
a player, and then they traded him for Tyrese Halliburton. Meanwhile,
(06:59):
the thunder tra rated Paul George for Shay Gildess, Alexander
and seven picks, one of them turning out to be
Jalen Williams. This will be the both of these teams
will have gotten to the NBA Finals on the trade
equity of Paul George. Can you imagine that?
Speaker 3 (07:19):
Yeah, And Paul Darren somewhere is like, I go champions.
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I mean more teams than my win a title.
Speaker 4 (07:28):
Odd trading Paul George than trading for him amazing.
Speaker 3 (07:33):
That is pretty incredible. It's incredible because also he's he's
a great player. That's the sad part of that. It's
not like he's a ball. But but yeah, it feels
it feels almost surreal to look at those two organizations
and for them to both be able to say, thank you,
Paul George, you got us. He basically got us our
franchise players. You know, as you mentioned like Tyr's Halliburton
(07:56):
is an Indiana pacer because of the Savonah trad and
Sabonah Shradans was able to happen because of the Paul
George trade. And so yeah, it is a crazy footnote
in history. I don't I wonder there's anyone that's ever
happened before right by that. I didn't have to think
about it. But it's got to, you know it. It
is kind of crazy.
Speaker 2 (08:16):
It's it's truly unbelievable.
Speaker 1 (08:18):
Now, we talked the other night and I want to
just get your thoughts, and you have a lot of
connections within the NBA and obviously everybody here in Seattle.
I mean that everybody is waiting with baited breath after
having the Green and Gold. The Sonics ripped away seventeen
years ago in July two thousand and eight, and it's
(08:38):
been seventeen long years, and you know, and everyone's just
kind of waiting. NBA got their new collective bargaining agreement there.
They're huge package with Amazon and ESPN and NBC. So
the biggest question is are the Sonics coming back, and
if so, amin Al Hassen, when will Adam Silver make
(09:00):
some sort of announcement.
Speaker 3 (09:03):
Well, first let me answer the first part. Yeah, very easily.
Whenever expansion happens in the NBA, there will be the
next team that comes in is going to be in Seattle. Yes,
I think everyone recognizes it. It's for all the reasons, right, Yeah,
for the reasons of how how the people Seattle got
did dirty right by the removal Sonics, For the reason
(09:26):
that Seattle is the best market in the NBA that
does not have an NBA team currently, and also when
it gets to the NBA team, it will be one
of the best markets in the NBA from a fan
bose standpoint, the absoluence of the region, the number of
Fortune five hundred companies for sponsorships and then partnership deals
(09:46):
and all that stuff. And they've got an NBA ready facility,
uh right there in arena where the crack and play.
Everything about it is like, yes, it's got an international
airport with a gazillion direct flights. And then obviously, by
the way, this is one of the underrated things. It
brings a little geographical balance. Back. Used to be teams
(10:08):
to go on a road trip in Northwest. You played Portland,
you played Seattle, you play Vancouver, and they had all
those cities there and then two of those teams moved
and so now Portland is kind of like this way
out of whack trip where you know, it's just kind
of out of the way. So Seattle is getting a
team for sure. The next part is difficult. The win
(10:30):
is difficult. First of all, the expansiency is expected to
be upward of three and a half to four billion dollars. Right,
that's just that's the get in place for what, like,
you have a team, you've got to play the NBA
that much, and then whatever it costs you to actually
have a team. So that's that's a hefty price. I
do believe that when they do expansion, they want to
(10:51):
do it with two teams and not one. So they've
got to figure out where the second location is going
to be.
Speaker 1 (10:57):
And I asked you the other night, I mean, and
I through this out there, because everybody seems to sort
of just package Seattle with Vegas. But you you say
you pull the league courso min Al Hassen you kind
of said not so fast, my friend.
Speaker 3 (11:13):
Right, Yeah, So there's a couple of things. Number one
for me, and listen, this is just me with the
operating logic that I know. This is not I'm not
reporting anything. This is just me kind of connecting the dots.
So the NBA is not fond of the T Mobile
(11:33):
Arena in Vegas. They don't think it's up to the
standard of NBA arena. So any team that goes into
Las Vegas would need a permanent home. Maybe it's temporarily
be a T Mobile wide they build a permanent home,
but they've got to build a permanent home. Here's the problem.
Las Vegas is not a big city, not a large population,
right Las Vegas, outside of the handful of casino companies,
(11:58):
not a lot of huge multinational conglomerate you know companies.
So you're saying, I've got to build a building in
a city that already has a million venues for listeners.
Right now, when you think of an arena right or
a stadium the way they pay for themselves, it's like, okay,
(12:20):
so let's take let's take the arena where the Craft
can play forty one nights out of the year, the
Crack can have home games and maybe three more preseason games.
That's forty four. Let's say playoffs. Everyone loves the playoffs.
That they're not guaranteed. But let's say an average about
five or six playoff games a year, so that thinks
about fifty nine the year. That's three hundred plus nights
(12:40):
where there aren't any events. So how do you make
sure that the life on off, that we don't have
any dog days? By having the circus, by having Disney
on ice, by having Katie Perry concept, by having the Rodeo,
whatever it is, a monster truck, Derby, whatever it is.
We're booking dates, so every other night there is something
(13:02):
happening in our building. That's how it pays for itself. Now,
if you are, for instance, Seattle and I'm Katie Carey,
I'm coming on tour, but there's only one really, areing
other good enough for me to play in? Maybe I
played where you don't plays, that's a little smaller and
a little older. I want to play the nice Anama, right,
(13:22):
So that's the one place. Now, if I'm k Perrol,
go to Vegas. I've got t mobile, I've got the Sphere,
I've got the MGM.
Speaker 2 (13:30):
Grant, I've got Old Palace.
Speaker 3 (13:33):
Jesus, there's so many venues in Vegas. And by the way,
they're building a Baseball stadium. And by the way, they
also have Allegiance Stadium, where the where the greatest player.
And so now you're saying, I'm building a new arena,
and now I have to compete with over ten venues
for every single concert, every Disney on Ice, every every rodeo,
(13:56):
all these things. That's tough. So you're saying, hey, I'm
going to market where it's not like there's ten million
people like New York City. As I can find enough
fans or a bunch of fortune five hundred companies, I
can find enough sponsors, I'm going into a very small
statuated market fighting against everybody else. I just don't see
Vegas being a good option in that way. And that
(14:18):
leads me to what's the other place? I know for
a fact because they have a G League team out there,
this is where the day wants to be Mexico City.
So I could see Mexico City and Seattle being the
two teams. But Mexico City has its own set of
like obstacles and conundrums that are very different because it's
it's you know, pretty much a brand new market in
(14:38):
terms of country. So I think until it sort out
what that second location is gonna be We're gonna be
on hold a little bit as far as having expansion.
Speaker 1 (14:49):
Interesting Mexico City, you know, I could see that they're
they're very international. The NBA has been international way before
the NFL has been. Now the NFL is really trying
to to brought in its horizons and and maybe get
a team, you know, across the pond or wherever. So
that that's interesting. I mean, it's you know, this city
is just so deserving. It's such a great basketball city.
(15:11):
I mean, it's so many I mean you remember the
days of Key Arena with Sean Kemp and Gary Payton,
and you know, it's just there's so many things that
this city could bring to the table. And it's like,
and I even thought ahead of like, hey how about
bringing home Paalo Banco.
Speaker 2 (15:28):
He's from here, right, There's.
Speaker 3 (15:30):
A lot of it. There's a lot of guys, all
stars from from the Seattle area. It's a hot bed
of basketball. It's always been very respected as far as
you know. The joke goes the two worst trades in
NBA history are Seattle for Oklahoma and Vancouver Formental because
you know, everyone loved those young trips, love going there
(15:52):
and then as far as like the fan base, it's,
like I said, super educated. I remember I remember going
to thunder Blazers in Portland and seeing like there's a
group of fans every year they go to those two
games in their Sonics jerseys and bring bring back our Sonics.
And it's a sad story. It makes me like really
(16:17):
happy when I hear Gary Payton refuse to have as
jersey retired because he said, I never played for anyone
in Oklahoma. I played, I played in Seattle. My jerseys
retirement will happen when they get the Sonics back. So
I think it's one of those things where everybody knows
what the right thing to do is and and the
good thing, the good move is we have precedent for this.
(16:37):
The Charlotte Hornets were beloved in Charlotte and everyone loved them,
and then their owner moved them in New Orleans. Uh.
And then you know, when time came to get an
expansion team, they put it back in Charlotte. And one
of the things that eventually after that was that Michael
Jordan said, give me back to Hornet's history and that
the Colors and the jerseys like New Orleans, you could
(16:58):
do whatever you want to be in you, but it
means something to the people in this reason, and that's
why they're back to being the Charlotte Hornet. So I
always imagine that whatever Spanzantine comes into Seattle, the thunder
who technically still own they own the sonics history and
the jerseys and the throwbacks and everything that now they've
been classy and not using any of that because they
(17:19):
know that would be a very bad look.
Speaker 1 (17:21):
Right, which is which is unlike, which is unlike what
the Titans do to Houston with the oilers and those uniforms.
You've seen that, right, Yeah, that's that's not good. I mean,
you're so right man, And listen, I mean, and that's
the thing about it. And I understand, you know, the
pain and what everybody's gone through here. But at the
same time, if you can and everybody will always you know,
(17:45):
And I get the animasy towards Clay Bennett and Howard
Schultz and all those and even David Stern, but shake Gildess, Alexander,
Jalen Williams, you know, Isaiah, Joe chet Hoolme, Grin Lou Door.
They didn't have anything to do with they just got listen.
If you just take away what market they play in.
Like from a Seattle standpoint, this is a very likable team.
Speaker 2 (18:08):
They are.
Speaker 3 (18:09):
This is what I'll say. Most of these guys were
seven or eight years old or younger when this happened.
Like you are basically angry at If you're angry at them,
you're angry at children. Having said that, I will never
ever tell anyone in Seattle, hey man, this kind of
root cap. Cheryl Wahlder, No, I'll never say because even
(18:31):
though you're right, these are great guys, and they play
the right way, and they're an exciting team, and it's
good basketball and all those things. I know how much
that franchise meant to that place, and how they were
caught in the middle of a high stakes poker game
between Clay Bennett, Howard Chultz, the NBA mayor McNichols, like
(18:51):
all these characters, that none of them really had the
people's best interests at heart. Absolutely, And for that reason,
I'm like, I get it, if you're if you're from Seattle,
and like the hell with the thunder, I get it.
I'm not gonna trany and convince you anything else. You
of all people, have earned the right to have that attitude.
Speaker 1 (19:12):
No question before I let you go, I mean, I
appreciate making time. The Dallas Mavericks made one of the
dumbest trades of all time, training a top five player
in the word Luka doncic to the Lakers. They had
a one point eight percent chance of getting the number
one pick, and so and lo and behold they get
the number one pick, which everybody supposes and more than
likely be Cooper Flag. Do you believe and I got
(19:35):
to tell you to me, there's too much smoke near
this fire, that there's something untoward about the NBA draft
lottery process? Do you believe that that may be the
fixes in? No, you don't.
Speaker 3 (19:49):
Don't believe it, not even for a second. It's so hot.
First of all, there's a couple of things. Number One,
they do the lottery, Ernst and Young does like overseas
the lottery, right, The lottery is done in a room
like what we see on TV. That's not the lottery,
that's the lottery results, right, right. The actual lottery happens
behind the scenes in a room that has not only
(20:11):
Ernst and Young, but representatives from every team or in
there and also media members. So in order to have
a conspiracy to rig it, which by the way, it's
like four digit combinations coming up and depending on what
the combination is, that's how we know that the year
where the Spurs got the according to lottery, the first, second,
(20:32):
and third pick because their numbers kept hitting. So like
it's like I said, it's very it's almost impossible to
rig you have all these people who are witnesses to it, right,
and then on top of that, even if you like
you would say, all I can get the people in
the room to be complicit, why would teams be complicit?
Like why would the Charlotte Hornets be like, you know what,
(20:52):
you're right, Dallas does deserve to get ahead of us
in mine?
Speaker 2 (20:55):
No right.
Speaker 3 (20:56):
So it's just like inherent me in it is a
a conflict of interest that prevents any sort of chicannery
from happening, because why would anyone go along with that?
Like yes, and if they're trying to fool the public pool,
but it's like, hold on, I'm all for fooling the public.
If I'm a Sellow Hornets, why didn't I Why isn't
(21:17):
it rigged for me? Why isn't Why don't you guys
rigg it for me, or if you're the Sixers or
whatever team was in the lottery that didn't win it,
they have a legitimate claim and like, wait a second,
I kind of need help too. Why don't you rig
it for me? They've been that for a year. I
think that after a decade. So it's just it doesn't
make any logical sense why there would be any sort
(21:40):
of conspiracy. Other we just like the like we like conspiracy.
Speaker 1 (21:44):
All right, fair enough, you've made a compelling testimony here,
mister l Hassen. You have, so I won't say I'm
completely convinced the other way, but the way you broke
it down, with all the teams being there, the media
being there, my biggest issue, why not show it? Why
not show that process? Behind closed?
Speaker 3 (22:02):
Boring? What ignoring?
Speaker 2 (22:04):
No, no, it's not boring.
Speaker 3 (22:06):
It would be I'm telling you. I'm telling you I've
never been I just been describing me. It is incredibly
tedious and boring. The reason why they do what they
do is because they have to make a TV version
that people would find fun and compelling that received yeah,
actual things, no, absolutely zero drama, Dade. It's just it's
(22:27):
just all.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Right, all right, fair enough, Hey, I mean Hey, have
safe travels, my man, and always a pleasure to talk
to you.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
We'll have to do it again sooner and later. Thank you.
Speaker 1 (22:36):
Thanks for that, all right, aminel Hassen Here on MJ
in the midday what do you say? Text of the day?
Four nine four or five one? Four nine four five one?
What do you think?
Speaker 2 (22:46):
What you heard? Lane Lambert? What's your thoughts on that? Uh?
Speaker 1 (22:50):
Just does anybody out there even? There are some people
I've seen on the text line that said, hey, I
don't care anymore. I'm you know, who cares the thunder
winds at all? It doesn't have any And then other
people are like f them. So I've seen a different
So four nine four five one, Christopher kidding me, we
will jumped. Uh, we'll get into that next and the
what do you say text of the day right here
(23:10):
on MJ in the midday Sports Radio ninety three to
three kJ RFM. All right, it'll be a quick one
and we don't have much time here on the what
do you say texts of the day?
Speaker 2 (23:23):
So Ladasa off kid.
Speaker 5 (23:26):
Regarding stars from the two o six, the Mariners ownership
has never paid to keep their stars. Griffy Gone, a
Rod Gone, Randy elsewhere, they let them go. They never
have paid a star salary keeper, so you better look
elsewhere for star power in Seattle.
Speaker 1 (23:48):
A couple of things here from the two o six,
If you let me see your hold on, Uh, let's see.
Speaker 2 (23:57):
Oh yeah, the four two five.
Speaker 1 (23:58):
Actually, I know Julia wasn't a are when he used
his age as an excuse for underperforming a couple of
years ago. Yes, you're young, You're not the youngest, and
plenty other young players have performed and excelled. It had
just the opposite feel of what a superstar mentality would
slash should be.
Speaker 5 (24:19):
This is from the four two five. You guys act
like Julio is a finished product. He's twenty four. He
entered the MLB at twenty one. Devers had a total
war of six point six his first three seasons in
the league. Freddy Freeman nine total war his first three years,
Bryance Hopper nine point eight, Akunya eleven point seven, Betts seventeen.
(24:41):
Julio had a fifteen point six war's first three seasons.
Mooki is the only one of those five that had
a higher WAR to begin their career. Very few players
hit the MLB and our superstars again, Julio's twenty four
not a finished product, and he's had a better start
to his career than many other stars.
Speaker 2 (25:02):
All right.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
From the four two five, I love the package for
trade you just proposed. I hope Jerry Depoto is listening.
I proposed trading Julio a starter and one of your
prize prospects and getting a star here, like an everyday
bona fide superstar.
Speaker 2 (25:24):
That's what I proposed.
Speaker 5 (25:25):
Interesting history from the two six mark, Has anyone told
you that once every five hundred or so years, earthquake
is overdue? There is a reason there's a force at
the bottom of Lake Washington. Having most I five on
steals doesn't bode well. Hopefully Elliott Bay won't decide to
join you at the studios. Have a great weekend. Yes,
(25:46):
I hope so too. I hope so too.
Speaker 1 (25:49):
Although nothing could be worse than getting stuck in an
elevator for me, that would be the worst for me.
Speaker 2 (25:55):
I like, can't you yeah, clutophobic? Are you claustrophobic a
little bit? You know?
Speaker 1 (26:02):
Listen, you'll know you are if you ever get stuck
in elevator. Happened to me twice, and I said, Okay,
I'm claustrophobic.
Speaker 2 (26:08):
I am.
Speaker 5 (26:08):
Yeah, I don't.
Speaker 2 (26:09):
I don't want to find out. I'll just leave it
at that.
Speaker 1 (26:10):
Yeah, exactly, Mark, How can MJ? How can you say
we have no stars from the three six zero? We
have World Series champion Mitch Garver.
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Lol?
Speaker 5 (26:22):
This next one is from Marcus. Let's go okay, see
three pete only because I'm tired of hearing about the
Sonics and all the complaining.
Speaker 1 (26:33):
From the two oh six, wy are ten and seven
rams with aging, fragile quarterback and much tougher schedule getting
so much love. Hawks are ascendent in the division with
weakness on every other team. Okay, but Devanta Adams and
Bukaakua I don't look pretty weak to me.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
They don't look weak to me. Neither Jared Verst, Brayden
Fisk and Camp Kitchens. They don't look weak to me.
Speaker 5 (26:54):
But all right, from the two oh six, which John
gets five first, John Lynch or Schneider.
Speaker 1 (27:03):
Lynch Lynch, because I think John Schneider, he's been here
for fifteen years, he's.
Speaker 2 (27:08):
Won a title. They're gonna wait this out a little bit.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
And see now, I'm not saying he's gonna get a
five year extension. But I would go at Lynch on
that's a great question. I would go with Lynch on
that one. From the two oh six, Ryan Grubb didn't
abandon the run. The offensive line abandoned him. Go look
at PFF and look at the rankings at the very
bottom thee I say.
Speaker 5 (27:28):
More from the two oh six, last one from me,
did those star receivers receive superstar contracts based on potential? A?
Speaker 1 (27:41):
No, No, I don't think they did. I really don't.
From the three six, oh, Jerry Depoto was right, we
should be thanking him. Mariners didn't spend money. They're at
fifty they're at fifty four percent and in first place. Oh,
he'll never I heard that after he did that fifty
four percent interview.
Speaker 2 (27:59):
He never did an interview. He's not done one since then. MJ.
Speaker 1 (28:03):
From the four two five, let's see here, who from
the team is in the room for the NBA Draft.
I know the NBA has league wide revenue sharing for
smaller market teams to remain financially competitive. Would that make
the conspiracy of the draft not a conspiracy and just
a way to make more money.
Speaker 2 (28:23):
That's a great point. I don't know.
Speaker 1 (28:27):
And last one two oh six they're going to build
a basketball arena in Vegas and it's being done by
the same people that were in on Climate Pledge arena.
End quote. All right, thanks appreciate the text. Four nine
to four five one. We will do cross talk with
the mayor to close out on a Friday right here
on mj in the Midday Sports Radio ninety three to
(28:48):
three kJ RFM. All right, thank you to John Foreslynn
and l Hassen for joining us today. The mayor is
in the house and I want to just say.
Speaker 4 (29:06):
Oh, Conn Connor mc david's great. Oh Ed Minton. They're
gonna win it. Man, They're gonna They're a team of destiny.
I I just can sense you, just sense it. I'm
(29:27):
oh God, I'm looking forward to Wednesday night.
Speaker 2 (29:29):
Should be fun.
Speaker 4 (29:29):
Uh winns Game six for the NBA tomorrow.
Speaker 1 (29:34):
Yeah, and then game There won't be Game seven, but
if there was, it would be Monday. There won't be
a Game seven, but if there was, it would be
in Indianapolis. Game seven. Game six tomorrow is in Indy.
Game seven would be in Madison Square Garden. There won't
be Game seven.
Speaker 4 (29:48):
It's over what did what did your guest at eleven
say about anything with an expansion say anything? I missed
it because you know, we don't have the ability here
on radio station here sometimes.
Speaker 1 (30:00):
Do you mean like for NBA, Yeah, oh, I mean
now Hassen, Yeah, he said, he said that he doesn't think,
he said Seattle is going to get it.
Speaker 2 (30:10):
He said, we all know that.
Speaker 1 (30:11):
No, but he just but he also said that he
talked about the infrastructure. He goes now he can't exactly
say when, but he said he doesn't think Vegas is.
Speaker 2 (30:18):
Going to be the other team.
Speaker 1 (30:19):
It's going to be Seattle and maybe Mexico City because
Vegas doesn't have the infrastructure. They don't like they have
to build a new arena, right, which, now someone on
the text line maybe they're right. They said that people
who helped build Climate Pledge are the ones that would
help build the.
Speaker 4 (30:36):
They were already well down the road on that, but
they're waiting. Last I checked, and I haven't checked for
a while. Last I checked, they were waiting on some
final you know, environmental impact stuff and all that.
Speaker 2 (30:47):
Okay.
Speaker 4 (30:48):
At one point, you know, a few months ago they
had hired the original GM of Timobil Arena in Vegas.
They had hired the former gm of I want to
a Mandola Bay maybe so, because there's gonna be a
hotel slash should be a whole complex, including the arena, right,
and they'd hired people to run that. So like they're
(31:09):
down the road. I think they're just waiting us some
final approvals and I don't think they've broken I'll check
on that.
Speaker 2 (31:14):
But but what do it?
Speaker 1 (31:14):
But okay, fair enough with the arena, But who's gonna
be the by the team.
Speaker 4 (31:19):
It's I believe it's the Fenway Park group with John Henry?
With John is it with that?
Speaker 2 (31:24):
Is that the group?
Speaker 4 (31:24):
The Lebron's involvement? Yes, yeah, John Henry my former boss.
So he owns Pittswick Penguins. Yeah, he owns uh Liverpool, Yeah,
and he in the Red Sox Lebron's Lebron's and Lebron
is involved.
Speaker 2 (31:36):
Yes.
Speaker 4 (31:37):
Oh well there it's interesting to see. We still see
is a hard sell man. I don't know how you do.
Speaker 2 (31:43):
He brought up a good point.
Speaker 1 (31:44):
I mean, did that Okay, Like, all right, so you're
gonna build an arena, so that arena needs to provide
in like the off season, you could go to concerts
at the Sphere, MGM, Grand Garden, Caesar's Palace, Team Mobile,
Like you're you're competing against a lot of different venues
(32:04):
where if you go to somewhere else that you're just
you're the only game in town.
Speaker 3 (32:09):
Right.
Speaker 4 (32:09):
But but like two things. One, Vegas doesn't matter because
everybody goes there. I mean, who doesn't have a what
do they call it when they they're playing there for months?
You know, like usidency, who doesn't have that right? And
to lay Yeah, And you know it feels like the
UFC is always battling with an arena. So you can
you know, maybe get the UFC for a couple of years,
you know, because it's like they're pissed at Caesars or
(32:30):
pissed it. They're pissed it. Dana does that all the time.
There's a million concerts going on with the hotel attached
to it. That's the plan. Then, I mean they're in
pretty good shape. Mexico City to me is a hard
one because you know, an NFL teams play down there
and have played down there. There's just like this massive
concern for security. You're talking about the I mean like
(32:53):
the trainer makes more money than anybody in Mexico City, right,
you know what I'm saying, like like like like you're
just such a target it for everything there with the
cartel and stuff, and it's just you know, like like
they've talked about like how security is such a huge
issue anytime you played international game.
Speaker 2 (33:07):
Right there, especially when Raider fans go down there.
Speaker 4 (33:10):
Imagine like like the lowest paid guy in the NBA
roster's making you know, millions, right sure, I mean I
guess what, it's the second round pick. So oh he's
only making seven or and fifty grand or whatever will
be right? Like how I don't know, I just I
can't you're can attract a free agents go down to
go down there, like really there are some there are
some benefits to Mexico though for you know, they're for
(33:32):
single guys.
Speaker 2 (33:32):
You're not playing Cobbo.
Speaker 4 (33:34):
No, No, that's you're you're walking down the beach.
Speaker 2 (33:39):
Yeah, I mean you're not doing that. You're not You're not.
Speaker 4 (33:41):
At Cobbo going down to the office on the beach
and having a margarita. Right, You're not going to that bar.
You're not going to you know, Cobbo Wabbo there with
Sammy Hagar they ain't Cobo.
Speaker 1 (33:49):
Man, You're going to Mexico City. Yeah, that's a different,
that's a different.
Speaker 2 (33:52):
Hey.
Speaker 4 (33:53):
Now I can see the NBA playing against another Like
i've heard Nashville if they get their arena situation, I
guess we're putting a bunch money to be Rena. I've
heard something for them for baseball, Yeah, in the Rays
or whatever. And that's hurt, you know. And I don't
think Vancouver is in it. I know there's been talk
about that. Yeah, I don't think they're in it the
(34:13):
situation ownership wise, probably wouldn't. There's a lot of things,
a lot of layers there. But uh yeah, and they
could go thirty one. They did that once before in
the NBA, I know in the NHL obviously did too.
Speaker 1 (34:23):
You got your show coming up, so, like, what was
your reaction when you found out Laine Lambert is the
head coach.
Speaker 4 (34:28):
Okay, yeah, I mean let's let's let's see see what happens.
I just I didn't think there was anybody that really
you'd expect Rick Tockett to come. Well, Rick Talcket's you know,
it's funny with.
Speaker 2 (34:39):
Rick Tockett his hill Quenville. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (34:42):
Well Joe Quenble was never gonna get hired, Okay, no
chance was he gonna get Hireday, Like, I'm surprised he
got hired, period, But the not with the other event
in Chicago, like the sexual assaults and stuff like, there's
no way he was gonna get hired here. But the
you know, if you really look at do a deep
dive in Rick talks resume, it ain't very impressive. And
I would just point out this with Rick Cockett and
(35:03):
that listen, he's he's a name I thought Chuck or
I think yeah Chuck, and Bucky said, this is one
of a great point. One of those guys mentioned it
because it's not the most recognizable sexy name, and those
guys would have been you know, Tortorella, Tackett, whatever would be.
Speaker 3 (35:16):
Yeah. Yeah.
Speaker 4 (35:17):
People aren't going to be excited, which is fine. It's
a hockey coach. Most people don't know one of the
coaches anyway. But in the sense of like Talckett, his
his real success has been fairly limited in his nine
years as a head coach. And I would just point
out to what happened last year. He lost the room
like he's in the locker room I mean, look what
happened with EP forty and they had to trade Jason Miller.
(35:41):
That team was far more talented than they liked that.
You don't like that when you lose the locker room.
Speaker 2 (35:45):
I listen.
Speaker 1 (35:46):
I think one thing that I have a glimmer of
hope is that this is Jason Barrow's decision. It's his,
it's his guy, just like John Schneider, he got his
guy Mike McDonald.
Speaker 2 (35:55):
Right, So let's see how it works out.
Speaker 4 (35:57):
There's far better talent on this team than they showed
last year. I think that's why. I mean, people get
all up tight. Oh three coaches in three years, and okay, well,
there's a lot of reasons hackstills let go that are internal.
Then you look at you know, they bring it in
bi asma and it just it didn't work. That team
was far better. The structure was zero and and they
(36:17):
should have been a better hockey teams.
Speaker 2 (36:19):
Courts and Bright Stars Shane Wrtz to Bright Start. Now,
let me ask you this, how aggressive will they be
in free agents?
Speaker 4 (36:24):
They're gonna be very I mean we talked to Bottrow
a couple weeks ago. Not so much free agency. I
think free agency slash trades. Okay, they're going to use
a lot of those draft picks that ten they have
in the first two rounds the next three years and
can use a lot of those, So they're gonna they're
gonna be a better hockey team.
Speaker 2 (36:36):
So what do you got coming up?
Speaker 3 (36:37):
Uh?
Speaker 4 (36:37):
Speaking of that, Jordan Eberley, captain of the Kraken's gonna
joins it too, so he'll be on. And he played
with for Lambert in on this island. So we'll talk
to coming up at two o'clock today, Dannie O'Neil his
weekly visit at one twenty.
Speaker 1 (36:48):
All right, I fornass have a great weekend everyone, don't
forget bet the Pacers Tomorrow night.
Speaker 4 (36:52):
I'll have the dumbest thing you'll ever hear coming up
at one forty five. All right, I already spoke, So
that's not all this besides just one I can tell
you this will top be anything you've done, not everything.
Speaker 2 (37:03):
Hey hey, if we can't laugh here and we can't laugh, you.
Speaker 4 (37:07):
Know what I mean, it's close, it won it might
you know what, take a list at one forty you decide,
I will take the Pacers minds three and a half
and bet on the Edmonton Oilers to win Lord Stanley
Cup and bring it back home to Canada for the
first time in thirty two years.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
See on Monday
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Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com