August 5, 2023 • 43 mins
Closing in on Dirk Nowitzki's official induction into the Basketball Hall of Fame, Marc Stein previews the week ahead with lots of buildup to Springfield ... including a one-on-one conversation with Nowitzki himself. Marc also covers all the latest with Luka Dončić and the Slovenian national team and Kyrie Irving's bold proclamations for next season.
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
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Friends, Good Saturday to you.Welcome in to the latest edition of the
Saturday Stein Line, presented by PanniniTraining Cards and Collectibles Only on ninety seven
one. The freak Mark Stein herespeaking to you, this time from Las
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Vegas, our first ever road show. It emanates from the famed decadent Vegas
Strip where USA Basketball, albeit withoutany Dallas Mavericks on the twelve band roster.
They're holding a training camp here inLas Vegas, four days worth of
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practices ahead of Monday nights exhibition gameagainst Puerto Rico at tam Mobile Arena,
the first warm up game. It'sthe first warm up game for this all
new, totally untested group of playersunder Steve Kerr that will be repping the
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United States in the Fever World Cup, which takes place later this month in
Asia. We're in the Menden HallCenter now, but you know there's three
gyms all right next to each other. There's the fame Thomas and mac Cox
Pavilion, Menden Hall Center, Andfor me, it's always a nostalgic crip
to come back because when I wasin college at cal State Fullerton, Vegas,
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the best teams that Vegas ever hadthey were in my conference. So
I've been coming to Vegas. Don'ttell anybody since I was underage. Used
to sneak in here with older guys, because man, when I was eighteen
and nineteen and twenty, I lookedtwelve. But somehow had some vets who
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took me under their wing to getme in. I love being back here.
Great to see there's a lot ofNBA people in a gym. They
opened it. They opened the practicesbasically to team executives and coaches, So
there's a lot of people here watchingthese guys, watching these open training sessions
basically, and it's a chance forstalkers like me to see executives, see
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coaches and try to get some timewith them. I also, I keep
saying this, I'm not sure youguys believe me. With the weather here
in the Vegas Desert, given therelative lack of humidity compared to Dallas,
it's actually easier to take walking aroundhere. And I think you guys know
by now you have a sense atleast of how much I love the Vegas
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life. We can't do a pollquestion today because the way this show had
to be put together. While I'mon the run, it precludes us from
making proper use of the steinline textline and shout out by the way to
Johnny Pollard of Waxahatchie. Johnny textedin last week, I wanted to get
to that text and I ran outof time. Johnny was proud that he
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woke up in time for last Saturdayshow, which had me wondering, Johnny,
how good are these Friday nights ofyours? If our noon tip off
is hard for you to make?Anyway, we will get back to that
on another occasion, and I promisethat retroactively on a forthcoming show we are
going to We're we're gonna discuss this. How many days would you say represents
the perfect amount to spend in Vegason one trip? How much is too
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much? How much is just right? Five days, seven days, three
days. Okay, We're gonna getinto all that down the road, because
this is a very special and avery personal show. This hour we're going
to spend together because one week fromtoday, Dirk Navitsky, the most beloved
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and decorated Dallas maverick in team history, officially will take his place in Springfield
for local purposes. Surely he isthe staries of stars in an absolutely glittering
class of Hall of Fame inductees.I've been teasing it all week on Twitter,
and now at last we're gonna beable to run my interview with Dirk
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and full in the second segment rightaround twelve twenty Central time. There is
so much to talk about this week, friends. I wrote a piece about
this Tuesday, and we did getinto this a little bit during last Saturday
show. Yes, the NBA seasonis a long long way off, but
I would also make the argument thatthis August it does have the capacity to
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entertain NBA addicts a little bit morethan usual. And this next week,
I mean the next week starting fromtoday, so tasty. First of all,
non basketball matter. I am indeedgoing to be rushing back home tomorrow
in hopes of being able to finda way in to Toyota Stadium to see
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the spectacle that will be Lionel MessiFC Dallas with the honor of playing host
to Lionel Messi's very first away matchwithin her Miami, a round of sixteen
match in the New League's Cup.But it takes a messy for some.
The goat of international soccer, notmy goat. That's still play. But
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for many of you, I know, MESSI is the goat. You've got
to be that big time to getme to detour away from Dirk talk for
even a second. I promised youguys last week that ninety seven one the
Freak was going to be the stationin town, the outlet, audio,
visual, print, whatever, theplace to go for Hall of Fame coverage.
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And check it out. Next nextsegment, I'm going one on one
with Dirk Navitsky and he's got somegems to share in that interview on Tuesday
noon to one Ben and Skin.If I've got my facts right, and
I hope I do. I hopeI'm not speaking out of turn here.
I believe that is a commercial freehour with Dirk Tuesday at the official unveiling
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of his new restaurant in the Cterminal at DFW Navitsky. Sources say that
is the name of the restaurant,Navitsky. And then next Saturday, a
week from today, technology permitting alive edition of the Saturday Stein Line for
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you direct from Springfield, Massachusetts,just hours before the actual enshrinement ceremonies.
I mean, do you guys seewhat a big week is materializing here.
Absolutely an emotional week, and Ihave to say a time of great reflection.
I've been playing This Is Your Lifefor days now, thinking about everything
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that has happened since June twenty fourth, nineteen ninety eight. I will never
forget the date that the Mavericks acquiredboth Dirk Navitsky and Steve Nash Believe me,
I know it better than anyone.How lucky I've been. I am
so so so fortunate to have beengiven this opportunity for a quarter century now
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to cover number forty one from suchclose range. Dirk Navitsky and the two
Hall of Fame point guards who willbe up there with him on stage next
Saturday as his presenters, Steve Nashand Jason Kidd. These guys did not
have to give me the access they'vegiven me. They did not have to
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let their guards down. They didnot have to let me pester the hell
out of them for all these years, show up in their hometowns or their
countries. Of course, Dirk fromGermany Nash from Canada let me tag along
to places I probably didn't belong,put them under the microscope when they did
not want to be psychoanalyzed you know, and with Dirk, especially twenty one
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years with one team in one city, I really feel like that is a
record that will never be broken.And to me, it's always going to
count on his resume. To me, on my scorecard, that is a
championship unto itself. I actually sawPacers coach and former Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle.
We were both en route to Vegas. We cross paths, and we
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were talking about how crazy it isthat Carlyle got to coach Reggie Miller and
Dirk Nivitsky. We are talking aboutreally two of the five or six all
timers in terms of one team guys, and Dirk went three seasons past Reggie's
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tenure in Indiana. Just an absolutelyunmatched run for Dirk as a Maverick.
And listen, I know how muchhe means to so many of you listening,
and it wasn't always that way.After the championship is when Dirk became
a universally loved figure. On theroad to the championship, all those years
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to get there, there was somuch criticism, so much negativity. He's
soft, he can't get it done, he can't lead a team to a
championship. So look, I amby no means a Cowboys expert. I
always admit that, even after allthese years living here, even with a
high school junior at home who theNFL is his favorite sport. So on
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Sundays, the house is his andevery TV is tuned to the NFL.
I never would have thought that wasgoing to happen, but that's the way
it is. I'm convinced though.Cider myself a pretty keen observer of things.
I do think that's one of mystrengths. And look, I'm gonna
always believe this. He is upthere in stature I would say, Dirk
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Navitsky stature wise, he exceeds anysingular cowboy that you wish to name.
I know, the nineties cowboys.Who is that one cowboy who can match
Dirk Star in this city? Now, when I was young, Roger Stauback
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and Tom Landry were you know,I was not even close to living here,
and they were huge, huge,huge names. But Navitsky, to
me, is the modern day RogerStauback in this city. For years,
I've been calling him the godfather ofDallas sports. And look, okay,
if you don't want to agree withthat stance. Fine, I will fight
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anybody who tries to tell me thatDirk Navitsky is not one of the greatest
twenty player years in the history ofbasketball his sport. Sure, he has
but one championship ring, but thenyou add in that longevity, peerless longevity
with one franchise, one city,his standing as the NBA's sixth all time
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leading scorer thirty one thousand, fivehundred and sixty career points. The man
is one slot ahead of Wilt Chamberlain. And above all, he changed his
position people. He literally changed theway the power forward position is played in
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the NBA. By year three ofthe Dirk era in Dallas, every other
team on the NBA map scouring theglobe for the next Nvitsky, their own
Nvitsky. The trouble is, justas you rightfully say with Lionel Messi,
there is only one Dirk wearing numberforty one or number fourteen, one of
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one. And it's been my absolutehonor to have worked the Navitzky beat from
the very beginning, having gained histrust and the trust of those close to
him to be able to tell hisstories. It's really been a tale mlike
we've ever seen in the NBA,not merely because he came from far away
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Germany amid great skepticism to make hiscase alongside a chem Elijuan as the sports
finest ever for an import. Beyondthat, you have to factor in the
journey too. How Dirk seemingly climbedto the top of the NBA mountain in
two thousand and six when he ledthe Mavericks to that unforgettable Game seven triumph
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at San Antonio, outdueling Tim Duncanto lead Dallas to Game seven road glory
on San Antonio's court, only toslip back down the mountain when the Mavericks
unraveled against Miami in the two thousandand six finals, And then he needed
five more years to finally finally tastechampionship glory, leading the Mavericks to the
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first and only championship in franchise history, beating those same Miami heaters in the
title round. It's a career arcreally like no other, and trust me,
we're going to be celebrating it forthe next seven straight days here on
ninety seven one the Freak. InSegment three, I promise we'll delve into
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some slightly more current events We've gota report from Slovenia, direct from Slovenia
from d Magazines, Iztalk Franco.We're going to talk about some of the
comments we saw this week from KyrieIrving in response to his critics, what
that means for Kyrie's forthcoming first seasonin Dallas. From Istok, We're gonna
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hear more about the first game Lucadon Chich, the first game of real
basketball that Luca played in a spanof nearly four months. I'm sure we'll
have more messy talk before to morrownight's massive match at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
I told you, guys, somuch happening on this edition of the
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Saturday Stein Line, presented by ourgood friends at Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles.
August are supposed to be slow.We, however, can no longer
wait. After the break, getready, I go one on one with
Dirk Navitsky next on ninety seven oneThe Freak. Thanks everyone for sticking with
us on the Saturday Stein Line.Here on ninety seven one The Freak.
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All right, friends, it's time, as promised our special guests this week,
in one more week, you willhave to address him as a hall
of Famer on all first references,but he joins us now from a top
secret location cannot be revealed, faraway from his spiritual home in Dallas.
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Is this audience ready for a goodten twelve minutes? With almost a Hall
of Famer Kirk Werner the visky,Wow, you are actually on the show.
This is really happening. This isbig, This is big. I'm
excited for the new show. Ican't wait to listen in. But like
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you said, I'm still overseas andI'm working my way home so I can
get ready for Springfield. Excited.I mean it's crazy. Jersey retirement International
Jersey retirement statue unveiling. I thinkthere was a street named after you in
there somewhere. And now, likeyou said, all you have to say
in basketball is the word Springfield.Everyone in the game knows what that means.
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But has it sunk in yet?Are you ready for this? I
mean as ready as I can get. I guess I'm super excited, obviously
a little anxious already. I thinkit's gonna be a super cool a couple
of days. We have family andfriends coming from all over the world.
Um, so yeah, I'm I'malready a little nervous. Obviously I'm not
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a great speaker and holding a bigspeech there and then just the whole hooplah
there, and you know, thelimelight is not really my thing, so
it's it's gonna be a little bituncomfortable at times, but I'm gonna I'm
gonna just try to really enjoy itand enjoy it. My family and my
kids are not old enough to reallyunderstand what's happening, and so I'm looking
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forward to to a great time.And and like you said, all this
stuff, all the honorings and streetnaming and all that, people are now
like we got to celebrate you again, Like when when is this over?
This this retirement tour. And Iwould say this to me, the Hall
of Fame is like the absolute tipof the iceberg, and it's the coolest
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thing. It's an honor to bethere, and and sort of I think
things will sort of for me atleast slow down after that. There's been
literally one thing after the next,and I'm extremely proud of all these things.
So you're gonna have Steve Nash andJason Kidd there with you on stage,
and the way presenters work for theHall of fame for people who don't
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know. You have to be aHall of Famer to be eligible as a
presenter. You knew those guys weregoing to say yes when you ask them,
But what was it like to actually, you know, are you nervous
asking them? Hey, guys,will you come up there with me?
Because it's also weird for the presenters. They don't get to say anything.
They just they just sit on theseabool. They just sit there. Yeah,
you know, you know me,I wasn't. I wasn't doing it
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all formal. I wasn't, Steven, do you mind that? So I
just kind of threw it out.And when we talked about all of fame
and sandwich a kidd, you know, obviously they're they're not only teammates of
mind, they're really really good friendsand friends for life, and so,
you know, it was sort ofinformal. I kind of threw it out,
Hey, I'd love for you guy, or for love, would love
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for you to be up there withme. And they both were kind of
no brainer obviously, And uh,and so they're they're looking forward to it,
and I'm looking forward to seeing them. I'm seeing their families and uh
and and just spending incredible three fourdays up and U up in Springfield.
You know, I always say thiswhen people ask me about the early days,
and you know, you and Steveboth had a rough first year in
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Dallas, which was a long longtime ago, but having been there,
I'm certainly not gonna forget it whenyou think back. I mean, how
crazy does it sound to you thatthere were two mv two future MVPs and
two future all of famers on thatlockout nineteen ninety nine MAVs team when you
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and Steve first were teammates. Man, it's it's almost twenty five years ago.
Yeah, crazy, crazy how thetime has flown by, and also
crazy how that worked out. Youknow, you know me, I'm always
a little negative. I'm shy,you know, it's my German in me,
and so I that first year,I just I wasn't sure am I
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gonna make it? I had tooutscreeping. And of course there were games
you were there. There were gameswhere I didn't play at all. I
was I was frustrated. I was, you know, I was. I
was basically questioning myself, did Imake the right decisions here and to come
over, or should I have stayedin Europe. Should I have gone to
college? And I guess all that'snormal when things don't really um, you
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know, work out well or orwork out as planned. And and then
all we really did was Steve andI would saying, hey, all we
can do is is is you know, work hard and and we'll we'll we'll
go from there. That's all youcan do is control which you can control.
We used to go back to thegym every night, to the old
Landry Center there we didn't even haveour own practice facility, uh, and
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just you know, played horse playedone on one, played shooting games,
played uh, played with other guysthree on three and just you know,
just trying to work hard as hardas we can and get extra sessions in.
And so we you know, itwasn't really if it didn't work out,
then people can't say, well,you didn't work hard enough. So
that's that's what we both didn't want. And so we just really busted our
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tails and trying to get better andtrying to make it. And then you
know, I always mentioned and youwere there at the end of my first
year when we were finally out ofthe playoffs. We were never really in
it. I think we're like fouror five games out of the playoffs at
all times. But then when wewere finally eliminated, Nellie came up to
me and say, hey, listen, I'll start you again. We have
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whatever ten games left. Why don'tyou just you know, get adjusted to
the game and have some fun andreally love playing. And that stretched to
me, was one of the biggestturnarounds in my career. And Steve obviously
started playing well a little earlier,but for me, that was that was
a big turnaround. I got toI got to be comfortable. I had
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one game I had like twenty eightand that kind of showed me, hey,
if you actually work hard and youhave the skills to succeed, and
obviously in Delhi will put you inpositions with us with this mismashed style,
that that even my body I wasa little underdeveloped, I can be in
a position to play well and contribute. And so that that meant that meant
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the world to me. That toldthose last ten games on my first year,
that really changed everything. The oneand only Dirk Navitsky joining us here
on the Saturday steinline on ninety sevenone. The Freak presented by Panini America,
and you guys should know this showhas now moved into its second month.
Dirk volunteered to be the first guestsin show history, our very first
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show. But I told no,I wanted to wait. I wanted to
wait to do this right before hisinduction into the Hall of Fame, and
we are doing this now one weekbefore that induction. With I'm I'm you
know, I can't say I'm asexcited as you, but I'm pretty damn
excited too. I just I can'twait. I can't wait to see all
because it's not just you going in, but everyone you're going in with two
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Like, just what do you thinkit's gonna be like to be You're with
all your rivals, Pow, Tony, Pop, your buddy Wade, like
to go in with all these guystoo at the same time, I mean,
unbelievable at times. You know,there there were times where where all
of us didn't really get along andgreat, but I think that's that's part
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of part of competing at the highestlevel and part of you know, trying
to win and at all costs,and so there were times where it didn't
speak with pole Mush. There weretimes where it didn't be a we Dwayne,
Uh, Tony and I were alwayspretty okay. But it's just that
it just funny how that works outthat now all of a sudden, we're
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all together in this class. Anduh, we talked about it a little
bit when we got an um introducedin uh in the final four and you
stand they announced us. We spenda couple of good days together there,
and uh, it's just funny howthat worked. And Wei, I competed
against poweing Tony since we were Idon't know, twenty nineteen, twenty years
older national teams and um, soit was it was super cool to be
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part of their crew. And youknow how much I expect Pop. I
mean to me, he was He'sprobably one of the goals of coaching.
And the respect that and all thestuff they's done for me in my last
game, and I mean, Ican, I can go on minutes about
the guys. So um, supersuper humble to be part of this,
uh, this amazing class. Andlike I said, we're gonna have some
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fun. We're going there. Ithink we have some We're gonna golfing one
day with the whole class, andso it's it's gonna be a fun,
fun couple of days, and I'mgonna I'm gonna enjoy it. Yeah,
I gotta ask you this one becauseI've got MAVs fans asking me all the
time, like, are we arewe supposed to know? Are you and
Dwayne Wade now buddies? Are youguys? Friends? Is that how we
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are supposed to refer to you too? I think friends. I mean,
obviously, friends reach out to eachother all the time, they talk all
the time. I wouldn't say we'refriends. I think there's a mutual sense
of obviously respect for each other's career, and obviously we're cordial. We were
sitting actually in Houston at that onedinner, we were sitting at the same
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table. Our family sat together,and so there's just no there's no bad
blood obviously anymore people have We allmoved on. Things were said on both
sides are done that neither neither sidelight. But you know, that's like
I said earlier, that's part ofcompetition at the highest level, it's there.
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To me, I'm still old school. There were really no friends at
at the highest level. I understandnowadays everything is a lot different in the
league, but at the you knowwhere when I came in there were really
no friendships at the highest level andand so that's that's where that comes from.
So are we friends. No,we don't text each other, but
I think where there's a lot ofrespect there and we're both happy to go
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on the Hall of Fame together.I'm gonna have to do a poll among
the audience. How many how manylisteners have moved on? That'll be a
good uh, that'll be something good. I through out there now. Actually
you did. It was in therecent past a year maybe a year ago,
maybe more, maybe a little bitless, but you did a podcast
with Tony Cruse and Felix Cruce's brother, the both professional soccer players. Obviously
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everyone knows Tony still playing for RealMadrid, and you talked about you were
really candid with with that. I'mguessing in your own language and with fellow
athletes, maybe it was easier.And you you talked about how you said
something to the effect that the lastcouple of years you were questioning were they
worth it, because you know,you've you've had some some foot issues since
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playing and I think you said somethingalong lines of you could probably move better
today had you retired earlier, butwith a little bit more time. How
do you feel about that part?And how you know? Because you stayed
twenty one years, but that gaveyou that also gave you an incredible record
that may never be broken. Twentyone years with one franchise. How do
you look at that now? Uh? Yeah, sort of the same.
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You know. I think it's normalto go back and ask yourself questions and
when you that's part of reflecting.If you're done with something in life,
and then you kind of look backand reflect a little bit, and it's
normal to ask questions, Hey,what if? What if if I would
have quit two years earlier? Wouldthat I've made a difference. Honestly,
it doesn't really matter. I'm super, super proud of having played twenty one
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years or for one franchise. Nobodycan ever take that away from me.
And of course the last years werea little tough. I mean, in
my last season I could barely Ididn't practice anymore. I missed the first
thirty games. It took forever froma somewhat played the basketball. So those
times were not not necessarily fun.Um, but you know, um,
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like I said, it's uh,it's part of my career now, and
I'm proud of it, to playtwenty one years at an older age and
trying to keep up with, youknow, guys that were half half your
age, and so I'm proud thatI made it this long. And of
course here and there, I havesome some ankle issues, but I think
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that's just you know, even ifI would have quit after nineteen, I
would have still had some issues.It's just part of part of sports.
Our last few moments here on ninetyseven one the Freak with the one and
Only Jerk Navitsky, one week awayfrom his Hall of Fame induction, I
asked Tyson Chandler this a couple ofweeks ago, when we had Tyson on
the show actually having a championship ring. Is it do you do you look
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at it? Do you just keepit away and try not to think about
it? Or how much on it? How much on a daily basis can
you feel yes, I'm a championbecause obviously in your case, I think
you know, you you heard forso long when you hadn't won, I
mean, you were just reminded aboutit constantly, constantly, So how much
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on a daily basis can you feelyes? I actually have that ring,
so I don't. I don't lookat the ring a lot, only when
I really have new guests or whateverand they come over and they want to
see it, But it's usually ina safe place, so I don't see
it myself much. Maybe every coupleof weeks, every couple of months.
But I am reminded of the championshipevery day. I mean, I have
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a photo at home in my littleman cave where obviously hoisted trophy and the
whole team is behind me, andI have the banner somewhere around that,
the remake of the banner with allthe names on it, So I am
reminded of it daily, which isof course amazing, and it puts me
in a smile on my face everyday. But the ring, I would
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say, only every couple of weeks, every couple of months I'll look at
it. So actually a matter offact, I haven't seen it now and
in months now, since we traveleda bunch, So when I get home,
I might I might have to layeyes on it before I come to
Springfield. Incredibly happy for you thatyou have that ring, Incredibly happy for
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you for what awaits this coming week, Huge week for you, you've got
a restaurant opening at DFW, andthen we all make our way to Springfield
for this incredible ceremony. Still can'tbelieve it's happening, but huge, hugely
grateful to catch up with you todayand have you on the show, and
thank you honestly for I mean,there's no thank you as I can say.
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They're sufficient for the twenty five yearsthat you've let me pastor you.
I actually been thinking about it thatSeptember is going to be twenty five years
since I came the work word forthe first time, which is just what
happened to us. Man. Yeah, no, thank you, thank you
for coming along on this journey.And you know, at the beginning we're
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kind of you know, we bothstarted to talk soccer and we had a
great bond there and so I reallyappreciate you being part of this journey and
it's been it's been so much fun. So thanks thanks to you as well
for being part. Dirk Navitski.Everyone the future Hall of Famer, and
future means only one week. Aweek from today, he will be eternally
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referred to as the Hall of FamerDirk Navitsky. Stay tuned lots more of
the Saturday SpineLine. Here next onninety seven one, the Freak thanks so
much everyone for sticking with us.Here on ninety seven one, the Freak
profuse thanks to Dirk Navitsky making timefor us when really zillions of people want
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to interview him as he's about totake his rightful place in Springfield. Lots
of candor on numerous topics for thesoon to be Hall of Famer. This,
as you can tell, yet anotheredition of the Saturday Steinline, with
tons to talk about, not enoughtime to get into it all. I
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did want to make sure though,that amid all this Navitsky nostalgia, wanted
to make sure that we cover currentevents with the Mavericks as well, because
yes, there has been a lotgoing on with the team this week.
For starters, Luka Doncich back ona basketball court Wednesday in actual game conditions,
(31:32):
making his return to the Slovenian nationalteam, but for the first time
as the captain, and so Iwanted to get a first hand take.
So I dialed up my good buddyis Talk Franco Dallas's second favorite Slovenian as
my former ESPN teammate Tim McMahon hasbeen known to refer to him is top.
(31:53):
You guys all know him. Experton all things Mavericks, Slovenian national
team, very loud and informative voiceon MAVs Twitter, a frequent contributor to
D magazine. So I asked himto assemble a brief audio dispatch direct from
Lubiliana so we could work in Iztoc'simpressions from a firsthand perspective of how Luca
(32:22):
looked, and I am going torun his thoughts. But Slovenia had another
game Friday night, again against Greece, this time on the road, and
there was a bit of a scarewhen dontchich Bang knees with a Greek opponent
in the second quarter. He alreadyat eighteen points at that point, but
he hobbled off the floor. Naturally, everyone fears the worst. I hope
(32:42):
you guys saw my report via TwitterFriday afternoon while the game was still going
on. No, Luca did notsustain a knee injury of note in that
sequence. Sources with knowledge of theSlovenian team's plans told me Luca was always
scheduled to play only the first WhenLuca got back on the floor for the
(33:05):
first time, and I counted itup one hundred and nineteen days between games
for Luca. Don Luca looked greatphysically. He's in great shape, looks
very lean, showing burst on hisdrives, blowing by bigger and bullying smaller
Greek defenders. Especially in the firsthalf. He looked like he didn't miss
a beat, dominating and controlling thegame with scoring, rebounding, and especially
(33:30):
passing like he usually does in Americ'suniform. But as one would expect,
there was also plenty of rust,a reasonable thing after probably the longest break
in his career. Don't She struggledwith his shot, faced some of his
old demons at the free throw line, going only nine of seventeen from the
line and two of eight from beyondthe arc. At one point in the
(33:52):
game, he missed six consecutive threebis, waving his arms at the basketball
guards at the top of the arenaafter he finally made one on his seventh
try late in the first quarter.But what might be more interesting for fans
in Dallas is that the Slovenian teamfacing similar challenges as the Mavericks do so
(34:12):
mostly playing undersized with the lack ofa true big to anchor their defense,
try to play a bit faster,don't Chich found his teammates for several easy,
fast break layups and dunks on crosscourt kikahead passes with surgical precision.
Whether this trend continues remains to beseen, but there is no doubt that
Jason Kidd and his staff probably likedwhat they saw from Luca in his first
(34:37):
game back and would love to seemore of this style of play when he
returns to Dallas. The good newscoming out of these two games, both
for the Slovenian national team and theMavericks, it's that Luca is fine,
not hurt. Quickly chipping away therust with some of the dimes he uncorked
(34:58):
in the Wednesday game, again eighteenquick points before he exited the second game.
But I honestly don't think Luca isthinking about any of that right now.
There is just way too much goingon for Slovenia and Slovenians everywhere on
and off the floor. In termsof basketball. Vlatko Chanchar of the Denver
Nuggets. He's expected to be Slovenia'ssecond best player given his presence in the
(35:22):
NBA with the newly crowned champs fromDenver, but chan char He did sustain
a knee injury Friday away in Greece, and that very much did not look
good. And this Slovenian team doesnot appear to have as much firepower around
Luca as it has had in thepast, compared to the group that was
good enough to get to the bronzemedal game in Tokyo. In the best
(35:45):
case scenario this summer, Luca wasgoing to have to do a lot more
to get this team into metal contention, because in addition to the United States,
France and Australia will be strong.Canada looks like it might finally be
ready to fulfill some measure of itsconsiderable potential as a basketball nation. Spain
(36:06):
and Greece still here even though itis it's really hard to picture Jannis into
the Kumpo playing for the Greeks thissummer after a recent surgery on his left
knee. The Greeks have not officiallyruled Janis out, but it would be
hard to imagine Janni's being ready toplay games here in a couple of weeks.
But when you take the whole picture, Slovenia, which has a huge,
(36:30):
huge fan base in Dallas because ofLuca's presence. There's no more gore
On Drag on this team. Dragnow thirty seven not going to be there
to lead the second unit or runthe offense when Luca goes to the bench.
No edomodis due to injury, chanchar Now out indefinitely end. To
this point, they have not yethad Mike Toby, the American, the
(36:52):
naturalized American playing for Slovenia. Tobyis due to join the national team this
coming week, I'm told. Butit was really noticeable in these first two
games that Luca didn't have his favoritepick and roll, pick and pop partner.
It's just a really limited team outsideof Luca. And let's be honest,
everything I just said, all ofit completely secondary, not even secondary,
(37:15):
further down the list than secondary.Because the devastating flooding torrential rains that
hit Slovenia on Friday, the country'sprime minister has termed the situation catastrophic.
The basketball team, as I understandit, was forced to stay in Greece
(37:37):
after the game. It's a nationalcrisis, and I think that's really what
Slovenians all over the globe are focusedon right now, our warmest wish's best
wishes to everyone they're dealing with sucha scary situation. I don't even really
know how to continue a basketball discussionwhen you look at the footage of how
(38:00):
severe the flooding is. Slovenia,such a small country, only an independent
nation since nineteen ninety one. Thisis just a terribly difficult crisis for that
whole country to be dealing with.There's no elegant or clean way to go
back to basketball. I'm going totry, at least briefly to talk a
(38:21):
little more hoops, because I knowthere was great interest this week in the
various posts on Instagram from the Mavericksnew number eleven Kyrie Irving on more than
one occasion praising hyping up Luca's nationalteam displays with Slovenia. Even before that,
Kyrie took great exception to a socialmedia post. He spotted a tweet
(38:47):
that pointed out his very limited successsince the twenty sixteen NBA Finals, since
he was side by side with LebronJames, and Kyrie fired back, quote,
pin this tweet and see what happensin the next few years, Irving
wrote, now on one hand.These are just words. It's just talk
(39:13):
that Kyrie. We'll have to backup because it has been seven years since
Kyrie played that huge role in Cleveland'shistoric rally from three one down in the
NBA Finals against the seventy three WindWarriors. Seven years with a lot of
turmoil and only flashes of the greatnessthat he's capable of. Since all that
(39:37):
said, this is August training campis almost two full months away. The
fact that Kyrie is thinking about thisstuff and being so publicly supportive of his
co star while there's really nothing thatcan be done right now to back any
of it up. Nothing he saysat this stage of this summer is especially
(39:58):
binding. These are encouraging signs becauselike it or not, it has been
availability and reliability and the notion ofwanting to lead in foster good chemistry.
There frankly has been precious little ofthose things in recent seasons witnessed in Brooklyn,
(40:22):
and that's why people are second guessingthe Mavericks decision to commit three years
and one hundred twenty plus million toKyrie Irving after the three and a half
seasons of chaos that we just sawwith the net. Someone out there is
still going to have to explain tome why the third year of the Mavericks
new deal with Kyrie is a playeroption. For me, it one zillion
(40:45):
percent should have been a team option, a two plus one in which the
team, rather than the player,has control entering the twenty five twenty sixth
season, just like Fred van Vleet'snew content in Houston. That would have
made a lot more sense. Kyrieultimately can only live up to the new
(41:05):
contract on the floor for starters bybeing on the floor much more than he's
been lately. But some unforeseen hopefulsigns after a thirty eight and forty four
season that so routinely extinguished Hope.I understand the optimism, I get it.
(41:30):
The excitement that these various postings andpronouncements have generated totally understandable. I
know where you're coming from, allright, everyone, that will essentially do
it for the sixth, yes,sixth episode of the Saturday Stineline Season one.
Let's see now if I can makeit back to town in time for
(41:52):
Lionel Messi's first ever road game inan Inner Milanch shirt, even if it's
in the League's Cup rather than MLSPlay itself. Stay tuned. Let's be
honest, It's going to be anamazing spectacle, whether or not I get
there or not. And what iscertain, I will be in Springfield a
week from now. I have allthe requisite classifications and travel documents to make
(42:16):
sure that happens. Remember Tuesday,it's the Faces of the Franchise, Ben
and Skin at DFW with drk Navitskyfor the official unveiling of his new restaurant,
Navitsky in the C terminal. Sourcessay it is called Navitsky and our
commercial free with those guys. Andthen next Saturday, this show, the
(42:36):
Saturday Steinline will be back live fromSpringfield, hours before Durk Naviski gives his
Hall of Fame induction speech, withSteve Nash and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd on
stage with him as the silent presenters. There will be things happening in Springfield
on Friday as well. I willbe covering it all like a blanket,
(42:58):
sneaking notes in my BlackBerry when nobody'slooking. I will share those behind the
scenes tales with you next week asthis unexpectedly busy August rolls on. Thanks,
as always, friends for joining ushere on the Saturday Steinline presented by
Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles,
Friends, Good Saturday to you.Welcome in to the latest edition of the
Saturday Stein Line, presented by PanniniTraining Cards and Collectibles Only on ninety seven
one. The freak Mark Stein herespeaking to you, this time from Las
(00:20):
Vegas, our first ever road show. It emanates from the famed decadent Vegas
Strip where USA Basketball, albeit withoutany Dallas Mavericks on the twelve band roster.
They're holding a training camp here inLas Vegas, four days worth of
(00:43):
practices ahead of Monday nights exhibition gameagainst Puerto Rico at tam Mobile Arena,
the first warm up game. It'sthe first warm up game for this all
new, totally untested group of playersunder Steve Kerr that will be repping the
(01:04):
United States in the Fever World Cup, which takes place later this month in
Asia. We're in the Menden HallCenter now, but you know there's three
gyms all right next to each other. There's the fame Thomas and mac Cox
Pavilion, Menden Hall Center, Andfor me, it's always a nostalgic crip
to come back because when I wasin college at cal State Fullerton, Vegas,
(01:27):
the best teams that Vegas ever hadthey were in my conference. So
I've been coming to Vegas. Don'ttell anybody since I was underage. Used
to sneak in here with older guys, because man, when I was eighteen
and nineteen and twenty, I lookedtwelve. But somehow had some vets who
(01:47):
took me under their wing to getme in. I love being back here.
Great to see there's a lot ofNBA people in a gym. They
opened it. They opened the practicesbasically to team executives and coaches, So
there's a lot of people here watchingthese guys, watching these open training sessions
basically, and it's a chance forstalkers like me to see executives, see
(02:10):
coaches and try to get some timewith them. I also, I keep
saying this, I'm not sure youguys believe me. With the weather here
in the Vegas Desert, given therelative lack of humidity compared to Dallas,
it's actually easier to take walking aroundhere. And I think you guys know
by now you have a sense atleast of how much I love the Vegas
(02:36):
life. We can't do a pollquestion today because the way this show had
to be put together. While I'mon the run, it precludes us from
making proper use of the steinline textline and shout out by the way to
Johnny Pollard of Waxahatchie. Johnny textedin last week, I wanted to get
to that text and I ran outof time. Johnny was proud that he
(02:58):
woke up in time for last Saturdayshow, which had me wondering, Johnny,
how good are these Friday nights ofyours? If our noon tip off
is hard for you to make?Anyway, we will get back to that
on another occasion, and I promisethat retroactively on a forthcoming show we are
going to We're we're gonna discuss this. How many days would you say represents
the perfect amount to spend in Vegason one trip? How much is too
(03:22):
much? How much is just right? Five days, seven days, three
days. Okay, We're gonna getinto all that down the road, because
this is a very special and avery personal show. This hour we're going
to spend together because one week fromtoday, Dirk Navitsky, the most beloved
(03:49):
and decorated Dallas maverick in team history, officially will take his place in Springfield
for local purposes. Surely he isthe staries of stars in an absolutely glittering
class of Hall of Fame inductees.I've been teasing it all week on Twitter,
and now at last we're gonna beable to run my interview with Dirk
(04:11):
and full in the second segment rightaround twelve twenty Central time. There is
so much to talk about this week, friends. I wrote a piece about
this Tuesday, and we did getinto this a little bit during last Saturday
show. Yes, the NBA seasonis a long long way off, but
I would also make the argument thatthis August it does have the capacity to
(04:36):
entertain NBA addicts a little bit morethan usual. And this next week,
I mean the next week starting fromtoday, so tasty. First of all,
non basketball matter. I am indeedgoing to be rushing back home tomorrow
in hopes of being able to finda way in to Toyota Stadium to see
(05:02):
the spectacle that will be Lionel MessiFC Dallas with the honor of playing host
to Lionel Messi's very first away matchwithin her Miami, a round of sixteen
match in the New League's Cup.But it takes a messy for some.
The goat of international soccer, notmy goat. That's still play. But
(05:30):
for many of you, I know, MESSI is the goat. You've got
to be that big time to getme to detour away from Dirk talk for
even a second. I promised youguys last week that ninety seven one the
Freak was going to be the stationin town, the outlet, audio,
visual, print, whatever, theplace to go for Hall of Fame coverage.
(05:54):
And check it out. Next nextsegment, I'm going one on one
with Dirk Navitsky and he's got somegems to share in that interview on Tuesday
noon to one Ben and Skin.If I've got my facts right, and
I hope I do. I hopeI'm not speaking out of turn here.
I believe that is a commercial freehour with Dirk Tuesday at the official unveiling
(06:18):
of his new restaurant in the Cterminal at DFW Navitsky. Sources say that
is the name of the restaurant,Navitsky. And then next Saturday, a
week from today, technology permitting alive edition of the Saturday Stein Line for
(06:39):
you direct from Springfield, Massachusetts,just hours before the actual enshrinement ceremonies.
I mean, do you guys seewhat a big week is materializing here.
Absolutely an emotional week, and Ihave to say a time of great reflection.
I've been playing This Is Your Lifefor days now, thinking about everything
(07:01):
that has happened since June twenty fourth, nineteen ninety eight. I will never
forget the date that the Mavericks acquiredboth Dirk Navitsky and Steve Nash Believe me,
I know it better than anyone.How lucky I've been. I am
so so so fortunate to have beengiven this opportunity for a quarter century now
(07:27):
to cover number forty one from suchclose range. Dirk Navitsky and the two
Hall of Fame point guards who willbe up there with him on stage next
Saturday as his presenters, Steve Nashand Jason Kidd. These guys did not
have to give me the access they'vegiven me. They did not have to
(07:47):
let their guards down. They didnot have to let me pester the hell
out of them for all these years, show up in their hometowns or their
countries. Of course, Dirk fromGermany Nash from Canada let me tag along
to places I probably didn't belong,put them under the microscope when they did
not want to be psychoanalyzed you know, and with Dirk, especially twenty one
(08:13):
years with one team in one city, I really feel like that is a
record that will never be broken.And to me, it's always going to
count on his resume. To me, on my scorecard, that is a
championship unto itself. I actually sawPacers coach and former Mavericks coach Rick Carlisle.
We were both en route to Vegas. We cross paths, and we
(08:37):
were talking about how crazy it isthat Carlyle got to coach Reggie Miller and
Dirk Nivitsky. We are talking aboutreally two of the five or six all
timers in terms of one team guys, and Dirk went three seasons past Reggie's
(09:01):
tenure in Indiana. Just an absolutelyunmatched run for Dirk as a Maverick.
And listen, I know how muchhe means to so many of you listening,
and it wasn't always that way.After the championship is when Dirk became
a universally loved figure. On theroad to the championship, all those years
(09:28):
to get there, there was somuch criticism, so much negativity. He's
soft, he can't get it done, he can't lead a team to a
championship. So look, I amby no means a Cowboys expert. I
always admit that, even after allthese years living here, even with a
high school junior at home who theNFL is his favorite sport. So on
(09:50):
Sundays, the house is his andevery TV is tuned to the NFL.
I never would have thought that wasgoing to happen, but that's the way
it is. I'm convinced though.Cider myself a pretty keen observer of things.
I do think that's one of mystrengths. And look, I'm gonna
always believe this. He is upthere in stature I would say, Dirk
(10:11):
Navitsky stature wise, he exceeds anysingular cowboy that you wish to name.
I know, the nineties cowboys.Who is that one cowboy who can match
Dirk Star in this city? Now, when I was young, Roger Stauback
(10:31):
and Tom Landry were you know,I was not even close to living here,
and they were huge, huge,huge names. But Navitsky, to
me, is the modern day RogerStauback in this city. For years,
I've been calling him the godfather ofDallas sports. And look, okay,
if you don't want to agree withthat stance. Fine, I will fight
(10:52):
anybody who tries to tell me thatDirk Navitsky is not one of the greatest
twenty player years in the history ofbasketball his sport. Sure, he has
but one championship ring, but thenyou add in that longevity, peerless longevity
with one franchise, one city,his standing as the NBA's sixth all time
(11:16):
leading scorer thirty one thousand, fivehundred and sixty career points. The man
is one slot ahead of Wilt Chamberlain. And above all, he changed his
position people. He literally changed theway the power forward position is played in
(11:37):
the NBA. By year three ofthe Dirk era in Dallas, every other
team on the NBA map scouring theglobe for the next Nvitsky, their own
Nvitsky. The trouble is, justas you rightfully say with Lionel Messi,
there is only one Dirk wearing numberforty one or number fourteen, one of
(12:00):
one. And it's been my absolutehonor to have worked the Navitzky beat from
the very beginning, having gained histrust and the trust of those close to
him to be able to tell hisstories. It's really been a tale mlike
we've ever seen in the NBA,not merely because he came from far away
(12:20):
Germany amid great skepticism to make hiscase alongside a chem Elijuan as the sports
finest ever for an import. Beyondthat, you have to factor in the
journey too. How Dirk seemingly climbedto the top of the NBA mountain in
two thousand and six when he ledthe Mavericks to that unforgettable Game seven triumph
(12:43):
at San Antonio, outdueling Tim Duncanto lead Dallas to Game seven road glory
on San Antonio's court, only toslip back down the mountain when the Mavericks
unraveled against Miami in the two thousandand six finals, And then he needed
five more years to finally finally tastechampionship glory, leading the Mavericks to the
(13:07):
first and only championship in franchise history, beating those same Miami heaters in the
title round. It's a career arcreally like no other, and trust me,
we're going to be celebrating it forthe next seven straight days here on
ninety seven one the Freak. InSegment three, I promise we'll delve into
(13:28):
some slightly more current events We've gota report from Slovenia, direct from Slovenia
from d Magazines, Iztalk Franco.We're going to talk about some of the
comments we saw this week from KyrieIrving in response to his critics, what
that means for Kyrie's forthcoming first seasonin Dallas. From Istok, We're gonna
(13:48):
hear more about the first game Lucadon Chich, the first game of real
basketball that Luca played in a spanof nearly four months. I'm sure we'll
have more messy talk before to morrownight's massive match at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.
I told you, guys, somuch happening on this edition of the
(14:09):
Saturday Stein Line, presented by ourgood friends at Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles.
August are supposed to be slow.We, however, can no longer
wait. After the break, getready, I go one on one with
Dirk Navitsky next on ninety seven oneThe Freak. Thanks everyone for sticking with
us on the Saturday Stein Line.Here on ninety seven one The Freak.
(14:33):
All right, friends, it's time, as promised our special guests this week,
in one more week, you willhave to address him as a hall
of Famer on all first references,but he joins us now from a top
secret location cannot be revealed, faraway from his spiritual home in Dallas.
(14:58):
Is this audience ready for a goodten twelve minutes? With almost a Hall
of Famer Kirk Werner the visky,Wow, you are actually on the show.
This is really happening. This isbig, This is big. I'm
excited for the new show. Ican't wait to listen in. But like
(15:20):
you said, I'm still overseas andI'm working my way home so I can
get ready for Springfield. Excited.I mean it's crazy. Jersey retirement International
Jersey retirement statue unveiling. I thinkthere was a street named after you in
there somewhere. And now, likeyou said, all you have to say
in basketball is the word Springfield.Everyone in the game knows what that means.
(15:46):
But has it sunk in yet?Are you ready for this? I
mean as ready as I can get. I guess I'm super excited, obviously
a little anxious already. I thinkit's gonna be a super cool a couple
of days. We have family andfriends coming from all over the world.
Um, so yeah, I'm I'malready a little nervous. Obviously I'm not
(16:08):
a great speaker and holding a bigspeech there and then just the whole hooplah
there, and you know, thelimelight is not really my thing, so
it's it's gonna be a little bituncomfortable at times, but I'm gonna I'm
gonna just try to really enjoy itand enjoy it. My family and my
kids are not old enough to reallyunderstand what's happening, and so I'm looking
(16:32):
forward to to a great time.And and like you said, all this
stuff, all the honorings and streetnaming and all that, people are now
like we got to celebrate you again, Like when when is this over?
This this retirement tour. And Iwould say this to me, the Hall
of Fame is like the absolute tipof the iceberg, and it's the coolest
(16:52):
thing. It's an honor to bethere, and and sort of I think
things will sort of for me atleast slow down after that. There's been
literally one thing after the next,and I'm extremely proud of all these things.
So you're gonna have Steve Nash andJason Kidd there with you on stage,
and the way presenters work for theHall of fame for people who don't
(17:14):
know. You have to be aHall of Famer to be eligible as a
presenter. You knew those guys weregoing to say yes when you ask them,
But what was it like to actually, you know, are you nervous
asking them? Hey, guys,will you come up there with me?
Because it's also weird for the presenters. They don't get to say anything.
They just they just sit on theseabool. They just sit there. Yeah,
you know, you know me,I wasn't. I wasn't doing it
(17:37):
all formal. I wasn't, Steven, do you mind that? So I
just kind of threw it out.And when we talked about all of fame
and sandwich a kidd, you know, obviously they're they're not only teammates of
mind, they're really really good friendsand friends for life, and so,
you know, it was sort ofinformal. I kind of threw it out,
Hey, I'd love for you guy, or for love, would love
(17:59):
for you to be up there withme. And they both were kind of
no brainer obviously, And uh,and so they're they're looking forward to it,
and I'm looking forward to seeing them. I'm seeing their families and uh
and and just spending incredible three fourdays up and U up in Springfield.
You know, I always say thiswhen people ask me about the early days,
and you know, you and Steveboth had a rough first year in
(18:25):
Dallas, which was a long longtime ago, but having been there,
I'm certainly not gonna forget it whenyou think back. I mean, how
crazy does it sound to you thatthere were two mv two future MVPs and
two future all of famers on thatlockout nineteen ninety nine MAVs team when you
(18:45):
and Steve first were teammates. Man, it's it's almost twenty five years ago.
Yeah, crazy, crazy how thetime has flown by, and also
crazy how that worked out. Youknow, you know me, I'm always
a little negative. I'm shy,you know, it's my German in me,
and so I that first year,I just I wasn't sure am I
(19:07):
gonna make it? I had tooutscreeping. And of course there were games
you were there. There were gameswhere I didn't play at all. I
was I was frustrated. I was, you know, I was. I
was basically questioning myself, did Imake the right decisions here and to come
over, or should I have stayedin Europe. Should I have gone to
college? And I guess all that'snormal when things don't really um, you
(19:30):
know, work out well or orwork out as planned. And and then
all we really did was Steve andI would saying, hey, all we
can do is is is you know, work hard and and we'll we'll we'll
go from there. That's all youcan do is control which you can control.
We used to go back to thegym every night, to the old
Landry Center there we didn't even haveour own practice facility, uh, and
(19:52):
just you know, played horse playedone on one, played shooting games,
played uh, played with other guysthree on three and just you know,
just trying to work hard as hardas we can and get extra sessions in.
And so we you know, itwasn't really if it didn't work out,
then people can't say, well,you didn't work hard enough. So
that's that's what we both didn't want. And so we just really busted our
(20:15):
tails and trying to get better andtrying to make it. And then you
know, I always mentioned and youwere there at the end of my first
year when we were finally out ofthe playoffs. We were never really in
it. I think we're like fouror five games out of the playoffs at
all times. But then when wewere finally eliminated, Nellie came up to
me and say, hey, listen, I'll start you again. We have
(20:36):
whatever ten games left. Why don'tyou just you know, get adjusted to
the game and have some fun andreally love playing. And that stretched to
me, was one of the biggestturnarounds in my career. And Steve obviously
started playing well a little earlier,but for me, that was that was
a big turnaround. I got toI got to be comfortable. I had
(20:57):
one game I had like twenty eightand that kind of showed me, hey,
if you actually work hard and youhave the skills to succeed, and
obviously in Delhi will put you inpositions with us with this mismashed style,
that that even my body I wasa little underdeveloped, I can be in
a position to play well and contribute. And so that that meant that meant
(21:18):
the world to me. That toldthose last ten games on my first year,
that really changed everything. The oneand only Dirk Navitsky joining us here
on the Saturday steinline on ninety sevenone. The Freak presented by Panini America,
and you guys should know this showhas now moved into its second month.
Dirk volunteered to be the first guestsin show history, our very first
(21:45):
show. But I told no,I wanted to wait. I wanted to
wait to do this right before hisinduction into the Hall of Fame, and
we are doing this now one weekbefore that induction. With I'm I'm you
know, I can't say I'm asexcited as you, but I'm pretty damn
excited too. I just I can'twait. I can't wait to see all
because it's not just you going in, but everyone you're going in with two
(22:08):
Like, just what do you thinkit's gonna be like to be You're with
all your rivals, Pow, Tony, Pop, your buddy Wade, like
to go in with all these guystoo at the same time, I mean,
unbelievable at times. You know,there there were times where where all
of us didn't really get along andgreat, but I think that's that's part
(22:30):
of part of competing at the highestlevel and part of you know, trying
to win and at all costs,and so there were times where it didn't
speak with pole Mush. There weretimes where it didn't be a we Dwayne,
Uh, Tony and I were alwayspretty okay. But it's just that
it just funny how that works outthat now all of a sudden, we're
(22:52):
all together in this class. Anduh, we talked about it a little
bit when we got an um introducedin uh in the final four and you
stand they announced us. We spenda couple of good days together there,
and uh, it's just funny howthat worked. And Wei, I competed
against poweing Tony since we were Idon't know, twenty nineteen, twenty years
older national teams and um, soit was it was super cool to be
(23:15):
part of their crew. And youknow how much I expect Pop. I
mean to me, he was He'sprobably one of the goals of coaching.
And the respect that and all thestuff they's done for me in my last
game, and I mean, Ican, I can go on minutes about
the guys. So um, supersuper humble to be part of this,
uh, this amazing class. Andlike I said, we're gonna have some
(23:38):
fun. We're going there. Ithink we have some We're gonna golfing one
day with the whole class, andso it's it's gonna be a fun,
fun couple of days, and I'mgonna I'm gonna enjoy it. Yeah,
I gotta ask you this one becauseI've got MAVs fans asking me all the
time, like, are we arewe supposed to know? Are you and
Dwayne Wade now buddies? Are youguys? Friends? Is that how we
(24:00):
are supposed to refer to you too? I think friends. I mean,
obviously, friends reach out to eachother all the time, they talk all
the time. I wouldn't say we'refriends. I think there's a mutual sense
of obviously respect for each other's career, and obviously we're cordial. We were
sitting actually in Houston at that onedinner, we were sitting at the same
(24:23):
table. Our family sat together,and so there's just no there's no bad
blood obviously anymore people have We allmoved on. Things were said on both
sides are done that neither neither sidelight. But you know, that's like
I said earlier, that's part ofcompetition at the highest level, it's there.
(24:45):
To me, I'm still old school. There were really no friends at
at the highest level. I understandnowadays everything is a lot different in the
league, but at the you knowwhere when I came in there were really
no friendships at the highest level andand so that's that's where that comes from.
So are we friends. No,we don't text each other, but
I think where there's a lot ofrespect there and we're both happy to go
(25:10):
on the Hall of Fame together.I'm gonna have to do a poll among
the audience. How many how manylisteners have moved on? That'll be a
good uh, that'll be something good. I through out there now. Actually
you did. It was in therecent past a year maybe a year ago,
maybe more, maybe a little bitless, but you did a podcast
with Tony Cruse and Felix Cruce's brother, the both professional soccer players. Obviously
(25:33):
everyone knows Tony still playing for RealMadrid, and you talked about you were
really candid with with that. I'mguessing in your own language and with fellow
athletes, maybe it was easier.And you you talked about how you said
something to the effect that the lastcouple of years you were questioning were they
worth it, because you know,you've you've had some some foot issues since
(25:56):
playing and I think you said somethingalong lines of you could probably move better
today had you retired earlier, butwith a little bit more time. How
do you feel about that part?And how you know? Because you stayed
twenty one years, but that gaveyou that also gave you an incredible record
that may never be broken. Twentyone years with one franchise. How do
you look at that now? Uh? Yeah, sort of the same.
(26:18):
You know. I think it's normalto go back and ask yourself questions and
when you that's part of reflecting.If you're done with something in life,
and then you kind of look backand reflect a little bit, and it's
normal to ask questions, Hey,what if? What if if I would
have quit two years earlier? Wouldthat I've made a difference. Honestly,
it doesn't really matter. I'm super, super proud of having played twenty one
(26:44):
years or for one franchise. Nobodycan ever take that away from me.
And of course the last years werea little tough. I mean, in
my last season I could barely Ididn't practice anymore. I missed the first
thirty games. It took forever froma somewhat played the basketball. So those
times were not not necessarily fun.Um, but you know, um,
(27:04):
like I said, it's uh,it's part of my career now, and
I'm proud of it, to playtwenty one years at an older age and
trying to keep up with, youknow, guys that were half half your
age, and so I'm proud thatI made it this long. And of
course here and there, I havesome some ankle issues, but I think
(27:25):
that's just you know, even ifI would have quit after nineteen, I
would have still had some issues.It's just part of part of sports.
Our last few moments here on ninetyseven one the Freak with the one and
Only Jerk Navitsky, one week awayfrom his Hall of Fame induction, I
asked Tyson Chandler this a couple ofweeks ago, when we had Tyson on
the show actually having a championship ring. Is it do you do you look
(27:51):
at it? Do you just keepit away and try not to think about
it? Or how much on it? How much on a daily basis can
you feel yes, I'm a championbecause obviously in your case, I think
you know, you you heard forso long when you hadn't won, I
mean, you were just reminded aboutit constantly, constantly, So how much
(28:11):
on a daily basis can you feelyes? I actually have that ring,
so I don't. I don't lookat the ring a lot, only when
I really have new guests or whateverand they come over and they want to
see it, But it's usually ina safe place, so I don't see
it myself much. Maybe every coupleof weeks, every couple of months.
But I am reminded of the championshipevery day. I mean, I have
(28:33):
a photo at home in my littleman cave where obviously hoisted trophy and the
whole team is behind me, andI have the banner somewhere around that,
the remake of the banner with allthe names on it, So I am
reminded of it daily, which isof course amazing, and it puts me
in a smile on my face everyday. But the ring, I would
(28:57):
say, only every couple of weeks, every couple of months I'll look at
it. So actually a matter offact, I haven't seen it now and
in months now, since we traveleda bunch, So when I get home,
I might I might have to layeyes on it before I come to
Springfield. Incredibly happy for you thatyou have that ring, Incredibly happy for
(29:18):
you for what awaits this coming week, Huge week for you, you've got
a restaurant opening at DFW, andthen we all make our way to Springfield
for this incredible ceremony. Still can'tbelieve it's happening, but huge, hugely
grateful to catch up with you todayand have you on the show, and
thank you honestly for I mean,there's no thank you as I can say.
(29:41):
They're sufficient for the twenty five yearsthat you've let me pastor you.
I actually been thinking about it thatSeptember is going to be twenty five years
since I came the work word forthe first time, which is just what
happened to us. Man. Yeah, no, thank you, thank you
for coming along on this journey.And you know, at the beginning we're
(30:03):
kind of you know, we bothstarted to talk soccer and we had a
great bond there and so I reallyappreciate you being part of this journey and
it's been it's been so much fun. So thanks thanks to you as well
for being part. Dirk Navitski.Everyone the future Hall of Famer, and
future means only one week. Aweek from today, he will be eternally
(30:29):
referred to as the Hall of FamerDirk Navitsky. Stay tuned lots more of
the Saturday SpineLine. Here next onninety seven one, the Freak thanks so
much everyone for sticking with us.Here on ninety seven one, the Freak
profuse thanks to Dirk Navitsky making timefor us when really zillions of people want
(30:51):
to interview him as he's about totake his rightful place in Springfield. Lots
of candor on numerous topics for thesoon to be Hall of Famer. This,
as you can tell, yet anotheredition of the Saturday Steinline, with
tons to talk about, not enoughtime to get into it all. I
(31:11):
did want to make sure though,that amid all this Navitsky nostalgia, wanted
to make sure that we cover currentevents with the Mavericks as well, because
yes, there has been a lotgoing on with the team this week.
For starters, Luka Doncich back ona basketball court Wednesday in actual game conditions,
(31:32):
making his return to the Slovenian nationalteam, but for the first time
as the captain, and so Iwanted to get a first hand take.
So I dialed up my good buddyis Talk Franco Dallas's second favorite Slovenian as
my former ESPN teammate Tim McMahon hasbeen known to refer to him is top.
(31:53):
You guys all know him. Experton all things Mavericks, Slovenian national
team, very loud and informative voiceon MAVs Twitter, a frequent contributor to
D magazine. So I asked himto assemble a brief audio dispatch direct from
Lubiliana so we could work in Iztoc'simpressions from a firsthand perspective of how Luca
(32:22):
looked, and I am going torun his thoughts. But Slovenia had another
game Friday night, again against Greece, this time on the road, and
there was a bit of a scarewhen dontchich Bang knees with a Greek opponent
in the second quarter. He alreadyat eighteen points at that point, but
he hobbled off the floor. Naturally, everyone fears the worst. I hope
(32:42):
you guys saw my report via TwitterFriday afternoon while the game was still going
on. No, Luca did notsustain a knee injury of note in that
sequence. Sources with knowledge of theSlovenian team's plans told me Luca was always
scheduled to play only the first WhenLuca got back on the floor for the
(33:05):
first time, and I counted itup one hundred and nineteen days between games
for Luca. Don Luca looked greatphysically. He's in great shape, looks
very lean, showing burst on hisdrives, blowing by bigger and bullying smaller
Greek defenders. Especially in the firsthalf. He looked like he didn't miss
a beat, dominating and controlling thegame with scoring, rebounding, and especially
(33:30):
passing like he usually does in Americ'suniform. But as one would expect,
there was also plenty of rust,a reasonable thing after probably the longest break
in his career. Don't She struggledwith his shot, faced some of his
old demons at the free throw line, going only nine of seventeen from the
line and two of eight from beyondthe arc. At one point in the
(33:52):
game, he missed six consecutive threebis, waving his arms at the basketball
guards at the top of the arenaafter he finally made one on his seventh
try late in the first quarter.But what might be more interesting for fans
in Dallas is that the Slovenian teamfacing similar challenges as the Mavericks do so
(34:12):
mostly playing undersized with the lack ofa true big to anchor their defense,
try to play a bit faster,don't Chich found his teammates for several easy,
fast break layups and dunks on crosscourt kikahead passes with surgical precision.
Whether this trend continues remains to beseen, but there is no doubt that
Jason Kidd and his staff probably likedwhat they saw from Luca in his first
(34:37):
game back and would love to seemore of this style of play when he
returns to Dallas. The good newscoming out of these two games, both
for the Slovenian national team and theMavericks, it's that Luca is fine,
not hurt. Quickly chipping away therust with some of the dimes he uncorked
(34:58):
in the Wednesday game, again eighteenquick points before he exited the second game.
But I honestly don't think Luca isthinking about any of that right now.
There is just way too much goingon for Slovenia and Slovenians everywhere on
and off the floor. In termsof basketball. Vlatko Chanchar of the Denver
Nuggets. He's expected to be Slovenia'ssecond best player given his presence in the
(35:22):
NBA with the newly crowned champs fromDenver, but chan char He did sustain
a knee injury Friday away in Greece, and that very much did not look
good. And this Slovenian team doesnot appear to have as much firepower around
Luca as it has had in thepast, compared to the group that was
good enough to get to the bronzemedal game in Tokyo. In the best
(35:45):
case scenario this summer, Luca wasgoing to have to do a lot more
to get this team into metal contention, because in addition to the United States,
France and Australia will be strong.Canada looks like it might finally be
ready to fulfill some measure of itsconsiderable potential as a basketball nation. Spain
(36:06):
and Greece still here even though itis it's really hard to picture Jannis into
the Kumpo playing for the Greeks thissummer after a recent surgery on his left
knee. The Greeks have not officiallyruled Janis out, but it would be
hard to imagine Janni's being ready toplay games here in a couple of weeks.
But when you take the whole picture, Slovenia, which has a huge,
(36:30):
huge fan base in Dallas because ofLuca's presence. There's no more gore
On Drag on this team. Dragnow thirty seven not going to be there
to lead the second unit or runthe offense when Luca goes to the bench.
No edomodis due to injury, chanchar Now out indefinitely end. To
this point, they have not yethad Mike Toby, the American, the
(36:52):
naturalized American playing for Slovenia. Tobyis due to join the national team this
coming week, I'm told. Butit was really noticeable in these first two
games that Luca didn't have his favoritepick and roll, pick and pop partner.
It's just a really limited team outsideof Luca. And let's be honest,
everything I just said, all ofit completely secondary, not even secondary,
(37:15):
further down the list than secondary.Because the devastating flooding torrential rains that
hit Slovenia on Friday, the country'sprime minister has termed the situation catastrophic.
The basketball team, as I understandit, was forced to stay in Greece
(37:37):
after the game. It's a nationalcrisis, and I think that's really what
Slovenians all over the globe are focusedon right now, our warmest wish's best
wishes to everyone they're dealing with sucha scary situation. I don't even really
know how to continue a basketball discussionwhen you look at the footage of how
(38:00):
severe the flooding is. Slovenia,such a small country, only an independent
nation since nineteen ninety one. Thisis just a terribly difficult crisis for that
whole country to be dealing with.There's no elegant or clean way to go
back to basketball. I'm going totry, at least briefly to talk a
(38:21):
little more hoops, because I knowthere was great interest this week in the
various posts on Instagram from the Mavericksnew number eleven Kyrie Irving on more than
one occasion praising hyping up Luca's nationalteam displays with Slovenia. Even before that,
Kyrie took great exception to a socialmedia post. He spotted a tweet
(38:47):
that pointed out his very limited successsince the twenty sixteen NBA Finals, since
he was side by side with LebronJames, and Kyrie fired back, quote,
pin this tweet and see what happensin the next few years, Irving
wrote, now on one hand.These are just words. It's just talk
(39:13):
that Kyrie. We'll have to backup because it has been seven years since
Kyrie played that huge role in Cleveland'shistoric rally from three one down in the
NBA Finals against the seventy three WindWarriors. Seven years with a lot of
turmoil and only flashes of the greatnessthat he's capable of. Since all that
(39:37):
said, this is August training campis almost two full months away. The
fact that Kyrie is thinking about thisstuff and being so publicly supportive of his
co star while there's really nothing thatcan be done right now to back any
of it up. Nothing he saysat this stage of this summer is especially
(39:58):
binding. These are encouraging signs becauselike it or not, it has been
availability and reliability and the notion ofwanting to lead in foster good chemistry.
There frankly has been precious little ofthose things in recent seasons witnessed in Brooklyn,
(40:22):
and that's why people are second guessingthe Mavericks decision to commit three years
and one hundred twenty plus million toKyrie Irving after the three and a half
seasons of chaos that we just sawwith the net. Someone out there is
still going to have to explain tome why the third year of the Mavericks
new deal with Kyrie is a playeroption. For me, it one zillion
(40:45):
percent should have been a team option, a two plus one in which the
team, rather than the player,has control entering the twenty five twenty sixth
season, just like Fred van Vleet'snew content in Houston. That would have
made a lot more sense. Kyrieultimately can only live up to the new
(41:05):
contract on the floor for starters bybeing on the floor much more than he's
been lately. But some unforeseen hopefulsigns after a thirty eight and forty four
season that so routinely extinguished Hope.I understand the optimism, I get it.
(41:30):
The excitement that these various postings andpronouncements have generated totally understandable. I
know where you're coming from, allright, everyone, that will essentially do
it for the sixth, yes,sixth episode of the Saturday Stineline Season one.
Let's see now if I can makeit back to town in time for
(41:52):
Lionel Messi's first ever road game inan Inner Milanch shirt, even if it's
in the League's Cup rather than MLSPlay itself. Stay tuned. Let's be
honest, It's going to be anamazing spectacle, whether or not I get
there or not. And what iscertain, I will be in Springfield a
week from now. I have allthe requisite classifications and travel documents to make
(42:16):
sure that happens. Remember Tuesday,it's the Faces of the Franchise, Ben
and Skin at DFW with drk Navitskyfor the official unveiling of his new restaurant,
Navitsky in the C terminal. Sourcessay it is called Navitsky and our
commercial free with those guys. Andthen next Saturday, this show, the
(42:36):
Saturday Steinline will be back live fromSpringfield, hours before Durk Naviski gives his
Hall of Fame induction speech, withSteve Nash and Mavericks coach Jason Kidd on
stage with him as the silent presenters. There will be things happening in Springfield
on Friday as well. I willbe covering it all like a blanket,
(42:58):
sneaking notes in my BlackBerry when nobody'slooking. I will share those behind the
scenes tales with you next week asthis unexpectedly busy August rolls on. Thanks,
as always, friends for joining ushere on the Saturday Steinline presented by
Panini Trading Cards and Collectibles,
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