June 2, 2026 • 23 mins
Former Seattle SuperSonics voice Kevin Calabro joins Dave Softy Mahler and Dick Fain on the 30-year anniversary of the Sonics’ Game 7 win against Utah in the West Finals, and reminisces about that game and the 1996 team that went to the NBA Finals, shares stories from that roster and year, including George Karl and who kept that team together then Kevin gives insight into the current Spurs team and the timeline of NBA expansion.
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Now back to Softie and Dick on your home for
the Huskies, Krakin and the twelfth Man Sports Radio ninety
three point three kJ R FM.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hello over the Rebound live seconds four Oussell who Russell
gets off the three won't go come over God, rather
way to Chicago. Here they come with a ninety eighty
six win over the Dass in the summers game of
the Western Conference Finals. The Sonics, after a seventeen year
after are facts in the bus, manay, and we're on
(00:35):
our way to the Windy City.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Ah God, I love it. I love it. I love it.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
It just makes the hair on your forearms stand straight up,
the hair on the back of your neck. I'm getting
tears thinking about that night at the Key Arena January,
excuse me, June second of nineteen ninety six, and the
Sonics exercise the demons guys, and they knock off Karl Malone,
John Stockton, Jerry Sloan and they win Game seven to
(01:03):
go to the NBA Finals for the first time since
nineteen seventy nine.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
In joining us right now on the air, he was a.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Spry forty year old broadcast by the way, thirteen years
younger than I am. Now and he's back with us
on the radio show to reminisce and talk a little
basketball as well. Our friend, the great Kevin Collabor, How
are you a kse.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Good softy Hello, Dick. Thirty years Wow.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Unbelievable, amazing, amazing, believable.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
I mean, obviously for a lot of us, highlight of
our lives as Sonic fans. I was, you know, five
when they won the championship in seventy nine. Jackson wasn't
even born di'x about the same age as me. So
for you as a Sonic broadcaster, that was obviously at
the top of the mountain in a lot of ways.
But let's just give you the floor. As we sit
here thirty years later and think about that Game seven
(01:52):
win against Utah, Man, what comes to mind for you Pel.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Well, you know, we hadn't even been in Seattle ten years.
I think it was my ninth season with the Sonics,
and of course went through the bitter disappointment of losing
the previous two years when they were heavily favored, remember
to Denver in the five games, and then to the
Lakers the previous year in the four games, and then
in the offseason they go out and they acquire Hersey Hawkins,
(02:19):
and they go out and they get Frank Berkowski, and
they were just a machine. I mean, the thing that
stands out to me is a thirty eight to three
home record. I was watching today on YouTube the fourth
quarter of Game seven, and it was the noise was
deafening in there. That was at a time when NBC
got the decibel meter. I think it was one of
(02:41):
the first little gizmos that they had on the broadcast,
the decibl meter.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Of course, it was off the it was just off.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
The chart, and it was it was just thrilling to
watch that broadcast and watch that fourth quarter play and
just see how that whole series unfolded over over seven games.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
You know, it was thrills and spills to see.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
And began with them just getting clubbed in Utah, just
getting hammered in the regular season, and then of course
it progressively got better for the Blazers of the Sonics.
They went twenty six and fifteen on the road, the
number one offense that year and the number two defense
that year, with a net rating of eight point two,
meaning they'd beaten people by an average of better than
(03:20):
eight points per ball game. They were just that dominating.
It was really it was just something to see that
group come into an opposing building and just take command
of the opponents and of their audience as well. You know,
the likes of Peyton and Kemp, a deadlophant, Sam Percy, obviously,
(03:41):
Nate McMillan, Vincent asked you, Frank Berkowski, David Wingate, Steve
Scheffler had a rookie by the name of Pooky Snow
on the on the team at that time, Irvin Johnson.
That was just a fun group to be around. They
were very athletic, but they were also very cerebral. They
were smart, they were discipline and they were above all,
(04:02):
they were unselfish and they had they had earned their
stripes because of the previous two years. And George carl
just was a much better coach after the experiences that
they had as a team as a collective unit over
the previous two years, and to his credit. Wally Walker,
the general manager at the time, I think there were
(04:22):
a number of people that thought George was going to
get fired when they lost to Denver. There are a
number of people that were sure he was going to
get fired when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers,
but Wally hung in there with him even though they
had a sort of a tempetuous type of relationship to
two and George just just proved to be just a
terrific coach and brought that team to greatness and unfortunately
(04:46):
played a seventy two win Chicago Bulls team with Michael
Jordan who was obviously on a real mission as he
had set out the previous year and a half, and
they were just just an indomitable force that unfortunately the
Sonic siste and they have the matchup for Okase.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
He's always great to hear your voice.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
And you mentioned the difference between ninety four, ninety five
and ninety six. Jim Gray asked George flat out in
the post game on the court, you know, were you
nervous because of what you had gone through those last
two years? And I thought George's answer was interesting. He
said no, because this team, and I think he was
making a point. He said, this team has always been together,
almost kind of alluding to the other teams weren't always together.
(05:26):
So what do you think got them over the hunt
that year? Was it more the additions you were talking
about or was it just maturity?
Speaker 5 (05:33):
I think it was maturity, and I think it's the
collective experience that they had dick over the previous two
years of that question. I mean, they could see what worked,
they could see what didn't work, and clearly there were
some things that did not work. Being tardy for practice,
sometimes being late for flights, sometimes being late for a game.
(05:54):
I mean, you didn't you didn't really see that. The
year they went to the finals. You saw a tight
knit group that was responsible and responsible to one another.
They played, and then that interview, It's interesting you mentioned
that because in my notes, George had something else. It
was very interesting there. He says he played relaxed basketball.
And that was so key because remember how tight it
(06:18):
seemed that George would get on the bench, and that
seemed to just he seemed to exude that sometimes and
it seemed to be catching on with his team. There
was just this tightness, sort of self doubt.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
But there was.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
None of that in the final, even though, of course
they got up to the three to one lead and
lost a close one home and then went to Utah
in Game six.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
And just got waxed.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
And I remember thinking back then, you know, jeez, they
just lost this game by better than thirty points. Are
we going to experience this again? In Game seven? Was
just an absolute delight that people. If you're not acquainted
with the team or the time or what we were
talking about, do yourself a favor, get on YouTube and
(07:05):
just watch the fourth quarter of that game. Just some
spectacular basketball between Stockton and Gary Payton. That matchup was
crucial in the fourth quarter and Sean Kemp, a seventy
five percent free throw shooter, making some clutch free throws
late in that fourth quarter of play, and just his
style of play, the style of play of the Blazers.
(07:26):
You've got Sam Perkins and del of Shrimp out on
the floor, and in today's game, I can't imagine how
lethal they would be with the emphasis on the three
point shot. But those two guys, Detlip at six' ten
And sam at sixty, nine stretched the floor and they
played such an unconventional game with inverting the big guys
and having them out on the, perimeter With kemp down
(07:48):
on the, post catching it deep and then kicking it.
Outside And Gary, payton of, course with his at six,'
four his ability to.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Post up.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
I'd forgotten he loved that left side of the lane
where he could go drop step of his right foot
and go with his left hand to. The rim he
loved to use the, left hand and He victimized stocked
in a couple of times late in the fourth quarter
with that same type. Of, move yeah it was just
it just it was a clinic down the stretch against
two rosters with a Number of Hall of fame players
(08:18):
on Their potential Hall of fame players And current Hall
of fame players going.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
At, it yeah It's Funny casey kevin collabor. With us
today is the thirtieth anniversary Of that game seven Win
Against utah, june second nineteen. Ninety six sonics Win the
west and knock Off the jazz ninety. Eighty six and first,
of all you Mentioned a game six they got beat
by thirty five Points In Salt. Lake city and then,
number two you mentioned How tight george had been. AT
(08:42):
times i don't know if you Guys remember game Two
against sacramento, That year remember that series they lost To,
The kings and that's the GAME where, I mean i'm,
Twenty Three george carl called me an a hole in
the locker ROOM because i asked about Not Playing, irvin
johnson and he's going after a twenty three year old
nobody in, The media i'll pissed off about questions. He's
(09:06):
getting do you think there was anything during that series
or During the rocket SERIES that i, don't know maybe
had him chill out a, little bit like what was
his demeanor off, the, court, practice hotel.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
TEAM plane, i mean you observed all.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
That, stuff well, you remember there was a.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
There was a misconception that after this season of greatness sixty,
four wins kept being a highly highly ranked defensive player
on a, team that as we, just mentioned is number,
two defensively there was the thought That the sonics might
be Better. Without camp in the first couple of Games,
(09:47):
AGAINST sacramento, i mean it was. JUST ridiculous i do
remember once that was just a key series and just
because of what had occurred the previous two years in,
the playoffs and once they got past, that series THEY
seemed i go back to that word. Relaxed again they.
Seemed relaxed and then they just just murdered a very,
(10:11):
good use a Very good houston team that would win,
the championship, you know a couple of times back to
back and beat them four to H and i just
remember When the sonics won down There in Houston in.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Game four.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
On our way to, the flight it was decided that
we would have. A celebration we stopped at a seven
to eleven Down.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
In houston the. Bus emptied everybody went.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
In and they grabbed all the beer that they could,
possibly drink all, the pop all the.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Ice refreshments.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
It was it was absolute wild and took it all
on the bus and.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
We had a great little party on the. Way back,
you know that's, four hour five.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Hour flight Back from houston To, to seattle and just
had ourselves a great party because and it just felt
like everybody was relieved at that point and they were
going to take on a team that they knew very,
very Well The, UTAH.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Jazz i mean stocked in.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Them alone they were very familiar with. The team both
teams very familiar by the time they got to that.
Game seven they knew one, another's sets they knew, their
tendencies they knew.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
The matchups. It was it was interesting.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Because again going back and looking at that, fourth Quarter
remember antoine car matched Up. Against camp there was a
misconception that was It Was carl malone And. The sonics in,
the Meantime stationed perkins Over, on malone so that was a. Key,
matchup Well antoine car picks up four fouls early in
the it was late in the, third quarter get to the,
(11:43):
fourth quarter And the sonics went back at him time and.
Time again it goes back to just the cerebral approach
That the. Sonics took they Went At antoine car and
got him fouled out to a pointment about couple of
minutes Left And greg foster's summing off the Bench and
camp had a couple of big move inside draws files
AND as, i mentioned he hit those clutch free throws
(12:04):
down the stretch in the last couple of minutes.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Of play but that was just kind of.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
The THOUGHT process i think Of the sonics at. The
time they knew those teams so, extraordinarily well and Particularly The.
Utah jazz it just came down to just a beautifully.
Played Game in, game, seven well.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
They were such a Combustible, GROUP casey, i mean much
more similar to the last iteration Of the seahawks versus
this iteration Of. The seahawks so what or who was
the glue that kind of kept that combustible group from imploding.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
On, itself.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
Well, YOU know i think the Dynamic between George and
gary ultimately is what drove, this team which is kind
of scary, to say because you got two guys who are,
absolutely headstrong could, be moody but two very brilliant basketball people,
without question and then you've got just the raw Athletic
(13:00):
Of sean Kemp AND camp i think found control of
his faculties in some some real discipline in that year
because of what had happened the previous two years To,
the sonics, you had, you know you had those two forces,
of nature and then you you Bring On. Hersey hawkins
(13:21):
We mentioned hersey was an interesting addition because, this guy
of course led the nation and Scoring at bradley a.
Senior year he's a, tremendous shooter could spread, the floor
and he was an outstanding defender, as well a terrific.
Weakside guy looking at, That tape i'd forgotten just how
Much the sonics love to trap and. Then rotate and
(13:43):
once they, would trap that ball would swing cross Court
And hersey hawkins and always be on the weak side picking,
stuff off deflecting, a ball coming up with a with a.
KEY stop I think hawkins gave you some real seriousness
without question Detal of Shrimp And. SAM perkins i mean, Their,
leadership uh their, MATURITY certainly i think bound that.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Team.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Together uh and then you, you know you had a
pretty good. Bench Too david wingate off the end of
the bench was, a guy, a raw raw guy that
was Always In sean kemp's ear getting the best out.
Of him he, DID it, i think just a. Terrific
job although he didn't play. A Lot steve shuffler was
an outstanding practice player who used to pound camp. IN
(14:25):
practice i mean that's when they in, the league that's
when they went at it. And practice, in fact kept
one time at practice Called Him barney, rubble looking and
so when you think, about it he does look like
he did Look Like, barney. Rubble right you know it
Was just vincent asked you the FIDDLER just, i mean
the dude was just a, cold blooded uh hard pipe
(14:50):
dude just would come in and victimize guys coming in
off the bench as a defensive stopper and a guy
that could occasionally get you a bucket. OR two i
remember we Go To, san antonio So the spurs had
a very good basketball Team Featuring sean elliott and he'd
go in There And, seawan elliott which just You Knew
sean elliott was going to have an. Off night he
wanted no part of its ad ask you we just go,
(15:12):
in there And the sonics would just handle them because
many had that kind of ability to defend one, on
one so they were all just it was just a,
terrific roster good collection, of guys and and, of Course
look nate McMillan another one of those guys that added,
great maturity a cerebral approach to. The game, YOU know
(15:34):
i still Think had nate not been dinged Up and
gary obviously had the, Calf injury nate just couldn't play
in the Finals, against chicago.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
JUST couldn't, i mean.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
He was, back knee everything, was going he'd had given.
EVERYTHING up i Think if nate had been Healthy and
gary one, HUNDRED percent i THINK the i Think the
sonics would have made that a seven game series and
may have won and may have Beaten The. Chicago BULLETS so,
i think, YOU know i think those, THREE guys I,
THINK nate I, THINK sam I, Think Dettluff. Hersey hawkins
when you think about those, FOUR guys, i mean that's
(16:04):
just a.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Real mature.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Group that really played without any kind of ego at
all and knew that this Combination of Peyton to kemp
was going to, take them, you know where they wanted,
to go and that is the sixty plus wins into.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
The, Finals Well kevin collaboro's, with us and both of
you guys mentioned watching that fourth quarter Speaking. Of scheffler
one of the greatest mysteries in Life That, steve Scheffler
somehow someway Won The Big ten player Of the year
when he Was. At Purdue, hey, SHAW like i have
no idea how. That happened and then, number two go
back and watch those camp free, Throws, again kevin when
they're up one and he makes the two, of them
(16:41):
and there's a Shot of scheffler on the bench with
his eyes closed Praying to God that sean makes the.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Free throws it's just Quite.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Essential scheffler, but dude before, YOU go, i mean this
is all getting tied, Together Here kevin collaboro with us
that thirtieth Anniversary of. Game, seven now the son of a,
FORMER son Jj, John Jensen mitch johnson is Leading the
spurs INTO The nba finals and they just knocked out
The zombie Sonics on Saturday In, oklahoma city right in
(17:10):
front of their. Fat face so give me a thought
on how surprised you Were That mitch Johnson And wembin
yama pulled. That off and should they be on upset
alert Against the knicks and, the finals, you.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
THINK yeah i mean either team could win. This thing
wouldn't be shocked If the knicks, WON this i think
just because of the fact that they've got older players who've,
you know tasted real disappointment before and don't want that
taste Again in brunson And In Karl. Anthony towns But Point,
(17:42):
san antonio you Got De aaron FOX and i Was a,
fox doubter but he was outstanding in the fourth quarter
OF game i think It was game six and seven in.
That SERIES and I think fox has gotten to that
point now where he can he can lead, a team
and if, he can't it'll be It'll Be. Steph castle
(18:05):
what a terrific player. He Is dylan harper is just
a stud and just a rookie, this Year And. DEVIN vessel,
i mean they've got some outstanding young players on that.
BASKETBALL team i just wouldn't be Shocked If san antonio,
won That and i'm just so happy for mits because
he's such a nice young man and really recognizes everybody that,
(18:28):
you know he has come in contact with and had
associations with on his way up through the. COACHING ranks
i remember talking to him when he was like the
third assistant There In, san antonio and he was just
terrific and he always would give me some little insights
and so forth into their. Ball club and of course
there's a great disciplinarian in his own right and a
(18:48):
Disciple Of. Greg Popovitch So i'm i'm thrilled. For him
and just one other THING before I Forget, frank perkowski
let's not Sleep On frank prakowski on that team him
up thirty. Years Ago frank brikowski another guy that was
added to the club after that year that came in
and gave us just some quality minutes as a backup at.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
The five He And, Irvin Johnson.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
STEVE scheffler, i mean you think about some of the
bigs that were Playing Behind sam perkins And And.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Sean Kep but.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Frank was always a, lively guy kept people on, their
toes was, a prankster, mischievous laugh was one of those
veteran guys that Gave the sonics some.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Real, toughness casey before we let, YOU go i got
to talk about The, future SONICS And I Melina Frintz
gates gates maybe some indirect good news That the sonics
got with her Joining The kraken.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Investment.
Speaker 6 (19:42):
Group here what do you think we'll Hear From adam
silver both during this final series and later on this year.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
About, EXPANSION well i think he.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
HIT it i think it'll be later on. THIS year
i think it's as, he mentioned it will be in
the twenty six if they make, an announcement and based
on his, last comments it sounds like it will be
the fall meeting between the owners when it's, finally ANNOUNCED
which i think.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Is good, you know It allows seattle to get.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
Everything, in order not that they don't have everything, in
order but it just gives them a little, more time
a little more, breathing room, of course to reach out
and get their. Group Together andy jasse's a part of.
That Group Melinda french gates is, you know THAT'S just
i read that news with great optimism for the FUTURE
(20:31):
of nba Basketball, in SEATTLE and i think that's something
That That adam silver wants to. SEE you i think
he wants to see an ownership group that features some
some dynamic women at. The TOP so i Think With
samantha holloway And with melinda joining, the group they certainly
got a well. HEALED group i, don't think, you know
(20:53):
coming up with that money is going to be. An
issue they, you know they BROUGHT On, jp MORGAN And
jp morgan.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Will be out there.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Canvassing to make sure that they've got the right kind
of ownership. Group there AND so i think met some
very very very smart people with great ACUMEN that i
think are going to make. It happen i'm looking Forward
to SEATTLE having nba basketball. ONCE again i just think it's,
you know everything comes. Full circle, and yeah and, you're
(21:22):
right it's interesting we celebrate thirty years with the announcement
today that she's going to be. On board that's just a,
great addition.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
No, question yeah there's a lot of, Signs, here pal,
all Right the vatican is. Reporting in we're getting, close,
Here buddy so no, white smoke but we're, not yet
but we're.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Getting. Close man the conclave.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Has.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Begun listen we love having.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
YOU on I know we're still a few, weeks away
but happy early, seventieth birthday.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
MY friend i hope you, enjoy that and.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
We hope we hear a lot more of your voice
on this radio station very. Very soon and you know
what we're, Talking about so enjoy the rest of. Your summer,
great stuff let's talk and we, Appreciate.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
That macy, All, Right, fellows yeah thanks. FOR remembering. I
appreciate it's always great talking to. You guys you're.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
The best kevin collaboro with us on the. Radio show
and you think about. That series one thing we didn't mention.
Is That and jackson again has no idea what the
hell we're talking about because he. Wasn't here but They
lost game seven Against The phoenix suns three, years earlier
so they got to game seven In The western, Conference,
finals jackson and then lost in the. FIRST round i
have two years in, a, row, no Right but i'm
(22:29):
saying to not live, through, IT right, i mean they touched,
it right it was, right there and then they got
beat by the Referees In charles barkley and then fell
short two years in a row and then finally busted
through in. Ninety six so it was emotional. For everybody,
it was.
Speaker 6 (22:43):
And after what we went through in, ninety FOUR which i,
remember vividly, how convinced, not CONFIDENT convinced i was they
were going to win the championship in, Ninety FOUR like, i,
was like we're the. One seed we almost got by
feel we are winning. The title jordan is. Not around
we are winning the title. This year and they should
have and they just it just Collapsed and denver got
(23:05):
him and then we were able to come back two.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Years later they. Should have they should have won two.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Of them they.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Blew it man, all right
Speaker 4 (23:10):
We'll get a break a little fun with audio And
Then john wilder joins At Four Stanley Cup hockey game
one at five on ninety THREE three kjrfm
Now back to Softie and Dick on your home for
the Huskies, Krakin and the twelfth Man Sports Radio ninety
three point three kJ R FM.
Speaker 2 (00:10):
Hello over the Rebound live seconds four Oussell who Russell
gets off the three won't go come over God, rather
way to Chicago. Here they come with a ninety eighty
six win over the Dass in the summers game of
the Western Conference Finals. The Sonics, after a seventeen year
after are facts in the bus, manay, and we're on
(00:35):
our way to the Windy City.
Speaker 3 (00:37):
Ah God, I love it. I love it. I love it.
Speaker 4 (00:40):
It just makes the hair on your forearms stand straight up,
the hair on the back of your neck. I'm getting
tears thinking about that night at the Key Arena January,
excuse me, June second of nineteen ninety six, and the
Sonics exercise the demons guys, and they knock off Karl Malone,
John Stockton, Jerry Sloan and they win Game seven to
(01:03):
go to the NBA Finals for the first time since
nineteen seventy nine.
Speaker 3 (01:07):
In joining us right now on the air, he was a.
Speaker 4 (01:10):
Spry forty year old broadcast by the way, thirteen years
younger than I am. Now and he's back with us
on the radio show to reminisce and talk a little
basketball as well. Our friend, the great Kevin Collabor, How
are you a kse.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
Good softy Hello, Dick. Thirty years Wow.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Unbelievable, amazing, amazing, believable.
Speaker 4 (01:31):
I mean, obviously for a lot of us, highlight of
our lives as Sonic fans. I was, you know, five
when they won the championship in seventy nine. Jackson wasn't
even born di'x about the same age as me. So
for you as a Sonic broadcaster, that was obviously at
the top of the mountain in a lot of ways.
But let's just give you the floor. As we sit
here thirty years later and think about that Game seven
(01:52):
win against Utah, Man, what comes to mind for you Pel.
Speaker 5 (01:57):
Well, you know, we hadn't even been in Seattle ten years.
I think it was my ninth season with the Sonics,
and of course went through the bitter disappointment of losing
the previous two years when they were heavily favored, remember
to Denver in the five games, and then to the
Lakers the previous year in the four games, and then
in the offseason they go out and they acquire Hersey Hawkins,
(02:19):
and they go out and they get Frank Berkowski, and
they were just a machine. I mean, the thing that
stands out to me is a thirty eight to three
home record. I was watching today on YouTube the fourth
quarter of Game seven, and it was the noise was
deafening in there. That was at a time when NBC
got the decibel meter. I think it was one of
(02:41):
the first little gizmos that they had on the broadcast,
the decibl meter.
Speaker 1 (02:46):
Of course, it was off the it was just off.
Speaker 5 (02:47):
The chart, and it was it was just thrilling to
watch that broadcast and watch that fourth quarter play and
just see how that whole series unfolded over over seven games.
Speaker 1 (02:58):
You know, it was thrills and spills to see.
Speaker 5 (03:00):
And began with them just getting clubbed in Utah, just
getting hammered in the regular season, and then of course
it progressively got better for the Blazers of the Sonics.
They went twenty six and fifteen on the road, the
number one offense that year and the number two defense
that year, with a net rating of eight point two,
meaning they'd beaten people by an average of better than
(03:20):
eight points per ball game. They were just that dominating.
It was really it was just something to see that
group come into an opposing building and just take command
of the opponents and of their audience as well. You know,
the likes of Peyton and Kemp, a deadlophant, Sam Percy, obviously,
(03:41):
Nate McMillan, Vincent asked you, Frank Berkowski, David Wingate, Steve
Scheffler had a rookie by the name of Pooky Snow
on the on the team at that time, Irvin Johnson.
That was just a fun group to be around. They
were very athletic, but they were also very cerebral. They
were smart, they were discipline and they were above all,
(04:02):
they were unselfish and they had they had earned their
stripes because of the previous two years. And George carl
just was a much better coach after the experiences that
they had as a team as a collective unit over
the previous two years, and to his credit. Wally Walker,
the general manager at the time, I think there were
(04:22):
a number of people that thought George was going to
get fired when they lost to Denver. There are a
number of people that were sure he was going to
get fired when they lost to the Los Angeles Lakers,
but Wally hung in there with him even though they
had a sort of a tempetuous type of relationship to
two and George just just proved to be just a
terrific coach and brought that team to greatness and unfortunately
(04:46):
played a seventy two win Chicago Bulls team with Michael
Jordan who was obviously on a real mission as he
had set out the previous year and a half, and
they were just just an indomitable force that unfortunately the
Sonic siste and they have the matchup for Okase.
Speaker 3 (05:02):
He's always great to hear your voice.
Speaker 6 (05:04):
And you mentioned the difference between ninety four, ninety five
and ninety six. Jim Gray asked George flat out in
the post game on the court, you know, were you
nervous because of what you had gone through those last
two years? And I thought George's answer was interesting. He
said no, because this team, and I think he was
making a point. He said, this team has always been together,
almost kind of alluding to the other teams weren't always together.
(05:26):
So what do you think got them over the hunt
that year? Was it more the additions you were talking
about or was it just maturity?
Speaker 5 (05:33):
I think it was maturity, and I think it's the
collective experience that they had dick over the previous two
years of that question. I mean, they could see what worked,
they could see what didn't work, and clearly there were
some things that did not work. Being tardy for practice,
sometimes being late for flights, sometimes being late for a game.
(05:54):
I mean, you didn't you didn't really see that. The
year they went to the finals. You saw a tight
knit group that was responsible and responsible to one another.
They played, and then that interview, It's interesting you mentioned
that because in my notes, George had something else. It
was very interesting there. He says he played relaxed basketball.
And that was so key because remember how tight it
(06:18):
seemed that George would get on the bench, and that
seemed to just he seemed to exude that sometimes and
it seemed to be catching on with his team. There
was just this tightness, sort of self doubt.
Speaker 1 (06:35):
But there was.
Speaker 5 (06:35):
None of that in the final, even though, of course
they got up to the three to one lead and
lost a close one home and then went to Utah
in Game six.
Speaker 1 (06:43):
And just got waxed.
Speaker 5 (06:45):
And I remember thinking back then, you know, jeez, they
just lost this game by better than thirty points. Are
we going to experience this again? In Game seven? Was
just an absolute delight that people. If you're not acquainted
with the team or the time or what we were
talking about, do yourself a favor, get on YouTube and
(07:05):
just watch the fourth quarter of that game. Just some
spectacular basketball between Stockton and Gary Payton. That matchup was
crucial in the fourth quarter and Sean Kemp, a seventy
five percent free throw shooter, making some clutch free throws
late in that fourth quarter of play, and just his
style of play, the style of play of the Blazers.
(07:26):
You've got Sam Perkins and del of Shrimp out on
the floor, and in today's game, I can't imagine how
lethal they would be with the emphasis on the three
point shot. But those two guys, Detlip at six' ten
And sam at sixty, nine stretched the floor and they
played such an unconventional game with inverting the big guys
and having them out on the, perimeter With kemp down
(07:48):
on the, post catching it deep and then kicking it.
Outside And Gary, payton of, course with his at six,'
four his ability to.
Speaker 1 (07:55):
Post up.
Speaker 5 (07:56):
I'd forgotten he loved that left side of the lane
where he could go drop step of his right foot
and go with his left hand to. The rim he
loved to use the, left hand and He victimized stocked
in a couple of times late in the fourth quarter
with that same type. Of, move yeah it was just
it just it was a clinic down the stretch against
two rosters with a Number of Hall of fame players
(08:18):
on Their potential Hall of fame players And current Hall
of fame players going.
Speaker 4 (08:22):
At, it yeah It's Funny casey kevin collabor. With us
today is the thirtieth anniversary Of that game seven Win
Against utah, june second nineteen. Ninety six sonics Win the
west and knock Off the jazz ninety. Eighty six and first,
of all you Mentioned a game six they got beat
by thirty five Points In Salt. Lake city and then,
number two you mentioned How tight george had been. AT
(08:42):
times i don't know if you Guys remember game Two
against sacramento, That year remember that series they lost To,
The kings and that's the GAME where, I mean i'm,
Twenty Three george carl called me an a hole in
the locker ROOM because i asked about Not Playing, irvin
johnson and he's going after a twenty three year old
nobody in, The media i'll pissed off about questions. He's
(09:06):
getting do you think there was anything during that series
or During the rocket SERIES that i, don't know maybe
had him chill out a, little bit like what was
his demeanor off, the, court, practice hotel.
Speaker 3 (09:18):
TEAM plane, i mean you observed all.
Speaker 1 (09:20):
That, stuff well, you remember there was a.
Speaker 5 (09:26):
There was a misconception that after this season of greatness sixty,
four wins kept being a highly highly ranked defensive player
on a, team that as we, just mentioned is number,
two defensively there was the thought That the sonics might
be Better. Without camp in the first couple of Games,
(09:47):
AGAINST sacramento, i mean it was. JUST ridiculous i do
remember once that was just a key series and just
because of what had occurred the previous two years in,
the playoffs and once they got past, that series THEY
seemed i go back to that word. Relaxed again they.
Seemed relaxed and then they just just murdered a very,
(10:11):
good use a Very good houston team that would win,
the championship, you know a couple of times back to
back and beat them four to H and i just
remember When the sonics won down There in Houston in.
Speaker 1 (10:25):
Game four.
Speaker 5 (10:27):
On our way to, the flight it was decided that
we would have. A celebration we stopped at a seven
to eleven Down.
Speaker 1 (10:34):
In houston the. Bus emptied everybody went.
Speaker 5 (10:37):
In and they grabbed all the beer that they could,
possibly drink all, the pop all the.
Speaker 1 (10:41):
Ice refreshments.
Speaker 5 (10:44):
It was it was absolute wild and took it all
on the bus and.
Speaker 1 (10:50):
We had a great little party on the. Way back,
you know that's, four hour five.
Speaker 5 (10:53):
Hour flight Back from houston To, to seattle and just
had ourselves a great party because and it just felt
like everybody was relieved at that point and they were
going to take on a team that they knew very,
very Well The, UTAH.
Speaker 1 (11:04):
Jazz i mean stocked in.
Speaker 5 (11:05):
Them alone they were very familiar with. The team both
teams very familiar by the time they got to that.
Game seven they knew one, another's sets they knew, their
tendencies they knew.
Speaker 1 (11:16):
The matchups. It was it was interesting.
Speaker 5 (11:20):
Because again going back and looking at that, fourth Quarter
remember antoine car matched Up. Against camp there was a
misconception that was It Was carl malone And. The sonics in,
the Meantime stationed perkins Over, on malone so that was a. Key,
matchup Well antoine car picks up four fouls early in
the it was late in the, third quarter get to the,
(11:43):
fourth quarter And the sonics went back at him time and.
Time again it goes back to just the cerebral approach
That the. Sonics took they Went At antoine car and
got him fouled out to a pointment about couple of
minutes Left And greg foster's summing off the Bench and
camp had a couple of big move inside draws files
AND as, i mentioned he hit those clutch free throws
(12:04):
down the stretch in the last couple of minutes.
Speaker 1 (12:05):
Of play but that was just kind of.
Speaker 5 (12:07):
The THOUGHT process i think Of the sonics at. The
time they knew those teams so, extraordinarily well and Particularly The.
Utah jazz it just came down to just a beautifully.
Played Game in, game, seven well.
Speaker 6 (12:20):
They were such a Combustible, GROUP casey, i mean much
more similar to the last iteration Of the seahawks versus
this iteration Of. The seahawks so what or who was
the glue that kind of kept that combustible group from imploding.
Speaker 1 (12:36):
On, itself.
Speaker 5 (12:39):
Well, YOU know i think the Dynamic between George and
gary ultimately is what drove, this team which is kind
of scary, to say because you got two guys who are,
absolutely headstrong could, be moody but two very brilliant basketball people,
without question and then you've got just the raw Athletic
(13:00):
Of sean Kemp AND camp i think found control of
his faculties in some some real discipline in that year
because of what had happened the previous two years To,
the sonics, you had, you know you had those two forces,
of nature and then you you Bring On. Hersey hawkins
(13:21):
We mentioned hersey was an interesting addition because, this guy
of course led the nation and Scoring at bradley a.
Senior year he's a, tremendous shooter could spread, the floor
and he was an outstanding defender, as well a terrific.
Weakside guy looking at, That tape i'd forgotten just how
Much the sonics love to trap and. Then rotate and
(13:43):
once they, would trap that ball would swing cross Court
And hersey hawkins and always be on the weak side picking,
stuff off deflecting, a ball coming up with a with a.
KEY stop I think hawkins gave you some real seriousness
without question Detal of Shrimp And. SAM perkins i mean, Their,
leadership uh their, MATURITY certainly i think bound that.
Speaker 1 (14:04):
Team.
Speaker 5 (14:04):
Together uh and then you, you know you had a
pretty good. Bench Too david wingate off the end of
the bench was, a guy, a raw raw guy that
was Always In sean kemp's ear getting the best out.
Of him he, DID it, i think just a. Terrific
job although he didn't play. A Lot steve shuffler was
an outstanding practice player who used to pound camp. IN
(14:25):
practice i mean that's when they in, the league that's
when they went at it. And practice, in fact kept
one time at practice Called Him barney, rubble looking and
so when you think, about it he does look like
he did Look Like, barney. Rubble right you know it
Was just vincent asked you the FIDDLER just, i mean
the dude was just a, cold blooded uh hard pipe
(14:50):
dude just would come in and victimize guys coming in
off the bench as a defensive stopper and a guy
that could occasionally get you a bucket. OR two i
remember we Go To, san antonio So the spurs had
a very good basketball Team Featuring sean elliott and he'd
go in There And, seawan elliott which just You Knew
sean elliott was going to have an. Off night he
wanted no part of its ad ask you we just go,
(15:12):
in there And the sonics would just handle them because
many had that kind of ability to defend one, on
one so they were all just it was just a,
terrific roster good collection, of guys and and, of Course
look nate McMillan another one of those guys that added,
great maturity a cerebral approach to. The game, YOU know
(15:34):
i still Think had nate not been dinged Up and
gary obviously had the, Calf injury nate just couldn't play
in the Finals, against chicago.
Speaker 1 (15:40):
JUST couldn't, i mean.
Speaker 5 (15:41):
He was, back knee everything, was going he'd had given.
EVERYTHING up i Think if nate had been Healthy and
gary one, HUNDRED percent i THINK the i Think the
sonics would have made that a seven game series and
may have won and may have Beaten The. Chicago BULLETS so,
i think, YOU know i think those, THREE guys I,
THINK nate I, THINK sam I, Think Dettluff. Hersey hawkins
when you think about those, FOUR guys, i mean that's
(16:04):
just a.
Speaker 1 (16:05):
Real mature.
Speaker 5 (16:08):
Group that really played without any kind of ego at
all and knew that this Combination of Peyton to kemp
was going to, take them, you know where they wanted,
to go and that is the sixty plus wins into.
Speaker 4 (16:20):
The, Finals Well kevin collaboro's, with us and both of
you guys mentioned watching that fourth quarter Speaking. Of scheffler
one of the greatest mysteries in Life That, steve Scheffler
somehow someway Won The Big ten player Of the year
when he Was. At Purdue, hey, SHAW like i have
no idea how. That happened and then, number two go
back and watch those camp free, Throws, again kevin when
they're up one and he makes the two, of them
(16:41):
and there's a Shot of scheffler on the bench with
his eyes closed Praying to God that sean makes the.
Speaker 3 (16:47):
Free throws it's just Quite.
Speaker 4 (16:49):
Essential scheffler, but dude before, YOU go, i mean this
is all getting tied, Together Here kevin collaboro with us
that thirtieth Anniversary of. Game, seven now the son of a,
FORMER son Jj, John Jensen mitch johnson is Leading the
spurs INTO The nba finals and they just knocked out
The zombie Sonics on Saturday In, oklahoma city right in
(17:10):
front of their. Fat face so give me a thought
on how surprised you Were That mitch Johnson And wembin
yama pulled. That off and should they be on upset
alert Against the knicks and, the finals, you.
Speaker 5 (17:21):
THINK yeah i mean either team could win. This thing
wouldn't be shocked If the knicks, WON this i think
just because of the fact that they've got older players who've,
you know tasted real disappointment before and don't want that
taste Again in brunson And In Karl. Anthony towns But Point,
(17:42):
san antonio you Got De aaron FOX and i Was a,
fox doubter but he was outstanding in the fourth quarter
OF game i think It was game six and seven in.
That SERIES and I think fox has gotten to that
point now where he can he can lead, a team
and if, he can't it'll be It'll Be. Steph castle
(18:05):
what a terrific player. He Is dylan harper is just
a stud and just a rookie, this Year And. DEVIN vessel,
i mean they've got some outstanding young players on that.
BASKETBALL team i just wouldn't be Shocked If san antonio,
won That and i'm just so happy for mits because
he's such a nice young man and really recognizes everybody that,
(18:28):
you know he has come in contact with and had
associations with on his way up through the. COACHING ranks
i remember talking to him when he was like the
third assistant There In, san antonio and he was just
terrific and he always would give me some little insights
and so forth into their. Ball club and of course
there's a great disciplinarian in his own right and a
(18:48):
Disciple Of. Greg Popovitch So i'm i'm thrilled. For him
and just one other THING before I Forget, frank perkowski
let's not Sleep On frank prakowski on that team him
up thirty. Years Ago frank brikowski another guy that was
added to the club after that year that came in
and gave us just some quality minutes as a backup at.
Speaker 1 (19:10):
The five He And, Irvin Johnson.
Speaker 5 (19:12):
STEVE scheffler, i mean you think about some of the
bigs that were Playing Behind sam perkins And And.
Speaker 1 (19:19):
Sean Kep but.
Speaker 5 (19:20):
Frank was always a, lively guy kept people on, their
toes was, a prankster, mischievous laugh was one of those
veteran guys that Gave the sonics some.
Speaker 6 (19:31):
Real, toughness casey before we let, YOU go i got
to talk about The, future SONICS And I Melina Frintz
gates gates maybe some indirect good news That the sonics
got with her Joining The kraken.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
Investment.
Speaker 6 (19:42):
Group here what do you think we'll Hear From adam
silver both during this final series and later on this year.
Speaker 1 (19:49):
About, EXPANSION well i think he.
Speaker 5 (19:52):
HIT it i think it'll be later on. THIS year
i think it's as, he mentioned it will be in
the twenty six if they make, an announcement and based
on his, last comments it sounds like it will be
the fall meeting between the owners when it's, finally ANNOUNCED
which i think.
Speaker 1 (20:08):
Is good, you know It allows seattle to get.
Speaker 5 (20:11):
Everything, in order not that they don't have everything, in
order but it just gives them a little, more time
a little more, breathing room, of course to reach out
and get their. Group Together andy jasse's a part of.
That Group Melinda french gates is, you know THAT'S just
i read that news with great optimism for the FUTURE
(20:31):
of nba Basketball, in SEATTLE and i think that's something
That That adam silver wants to. SEE you i think
he wants to see an ownership group that features some
some dynamic women at. The TOP so i Think With
samantha holloway And with melinda joining, the group they certainly
got a well. HEALED group i, don't think, you know
(20:53):
coming up with that money is going to be. An
issue they, you know they BROUGHT On, jp MORGAN And
jp morgan.
Speaker 1 (20:59):
Will be out there.
Speaker 5 (21:01):
Canvassing to make sure that they've got the right kind
of ownership. Group there AND so i think met some
very very very smart people with great ACUMEN that i
think are going to make. It happen i'm looking Forward
to SEATTLE having nba basketball. ONCE again i just think it's,
you know everything comes. Full circle, and yeah and, you're
(21:22):
right it's interesting we celebrate thirty years with the announcement
today that she's going to be. On board that's just a,
great addition.
Speaker 4 (21:29):
No, question yeah there's a lot of, Signs, here pal,
all Right the vatican is. Reporting in we're getting, close,
Here buddy so no, white smoke but we're, not yet
but we're.
Speaker 3 (21:38):
Getting. Close man the conclave.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
Has.
Speaker 3 (21:40):
Begun listen we love having.
Speaker 4 (21:42):
YOU on I know we're still a few, weeks away
but happy early, seventieth birthday.
Speaker 3 (21:46):
MY friend i hope you, enjoy that and.
Speaker 4 (21:49):
We hope we hear a lot more of your voice
on this radio station very. Very soon and you know
what we're, Talking about so enjoy the rest of. Your summer,
great stuff let's talk and we, Appreciate.
Speaker 1 (22:00):
That macy, All, Right, fellows yeah thanks. FOR remembering. I
appreciate it's always great talking to. You guys you're.
Speaker 4 (22:07):
The best kevin collaboro with us on the. Radio show
and you think about. That series one thing we didn't mention.
Is That and jackson again has no idea what the
hell we're talking about because he. Wasn't here but They
lost game seven Against The phoenix suns three, years earlier
so they got to game seven In The western, Conference,
finals jackson and then lost in the. FIRST round i
have two years in, a, row, no Right but i'm
(22:29):
saying to not live, through, IT right, i mean they touched,
it right it was, right there and then they got
beat by the Referees In charles barkley and then fell
short two years in a row and then finally busted
through in. Ninety six so it was emotional. For everybody,
it was.
Speaker 6 (22:43):
And after what we went through in, ninety FOUR which i,
remember vividly, how convinced, not CONFIDENT convinced i was they
were going to win the championship in, Ninety FOUR like, i,
was like we're the. One seed we almost got by
feel we are winning. The title jordan is. Not around
we are winning the title. This year and they should
have and they just it just Collapsed and denver got
(23:05):
him and then we were able to come back two.
Speaker 3 (23:07):
Years later they. Should have they should have won two.
Speaker 1 (23:08):
Of them they.
Speaker 3 (23:09):
Blew it man, all right
Speaker 4 (23:10):
We'll get a break a little fun with audio And
Then john wilder joins At Four Stanley Cup hockey game
one at five on ninety THREE three kjrfm
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