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In all Airness - Michael Jordan era NBA history

Basketball

Conversations with former-NBA players, coaches and media. Topic-based episodes, too. Adam's focal point is Michael Jordan, but he covers the history of basketball with his unique Australian humour.

Location:

Australia

Description:

Conversations with former-NBA players, coaches and media. Topic-based episodes, too. Adam's focal point is Michael Jordan, but he covers the history of basketball with his unique Australian humour.

Language:

English


Episodes

Tom Chambers - NBA All-Star MVP, 16-year veteran and Basketball Hall of Fame candidate - AIR135

2/6/2024
Let's welcome the legendary Tom Chambers to the show. A massive thanks to our mutual friend, Jeff Wells. Jeff was my guest on episode 128. We detailed his campaign for Tom to enter the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. We also spoke at length about Jeff’s awesome YouTube channel, TC24, devoted to the life of Tommy C. Without Jeff, today’s episode would simply not be possible. I strongly encourage you to subscribe to TC24 – it features a wealth of excellent clips and features on Mr. Chambers. This episode is sprinkled with audio snippets that add more context to my conversation with Tom. In some instances, the audio is edited for brevity. Where applicable, most clips are available to watch – or listen to - in full on TC24. Please note that our conversation was recorded on January 21, 2024. As of that date, the stats I discuss with Tom - re the number of 60-plus point scorers - are correct. In recent weeks, remarkably, an additional five such games have been added to that exclusive list. TC discusses a wealth of topics in this episode. From a personal point of view, it may be the most enjoyable conversation in the history of my podcast. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:01:37:26

Walter Davis - The life and times of North Carolina legend and six-time NBA All-Star (retrospective) - AIR134

11/22/2023
On November 2nd, 2023, six-time NBA All-Star Walter Davis died of natural causes while visiting family in Charlotte. Today, I welcome back Adam Beechen - a great friend of the show. We discuss Walter’s life on-and-off the basketball court. Amidst his innumerable accomplishments, Davis was certainly no stranger to adversity. Despite battling substance abuse for the majority of his Phoenix Suns tenure, Walter averaged 20-or-more points per season in six of his 11 campaigns in the Valley of the Sun. A quick sidebar. Per Basketball Reference.com, on July 6, 1988, Walter Davis was the second player in NBA history to sign as an unrestricted free agent. He joined the Denver Nuggets one day after another would-be Suns legend, Tom Chambers, signed w/ Phoenix. In the lead-up to recording this conversation, I put out a call for listener contributions. Tim Gallagher kindly answered the bell. Tim has collected sports autographs for more than 50 years and is a Consignment Director for Robert Edward Auctions. You’ll hear Tim’s reflections on Walter Davis as an interlude within the episode. Tim will also feature as a future guest on my podcast. He has a wealth of incredible stories to tell. RIP, Walter Davis. The Man with the Velvet Touch. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:40:20

Reggie Lewis' tragic death (1993) and impact on the Boston Celtics [expanded re-release] - AIR133

8/6/2023
Reggie Lewis tragically passed away 30 years ago (1993) at the age of just 27. This is an updated re-release of episode 27 with my great mate, Todd Spehr. We recorded our chat ten years ago to mark the 20th anniversary of Lewis' sudden passing. I’ve added numerous audio clips for greater context, edited our original conversation and improved its sound quality. We discussed the life and times of Reggie - from his days at Dunbar High School, to his tenure at Northeastern University and ultimately, rise from seldom-used NBA rookie to captain of the famed Boston Celtics. Todd mentioned the poem that Reggie’s widow, Donna Harris-Lewis, read to the Boston Garden faithful on Reggie Lewis Night in 1995. Audio of that poignant moment also now features. This is a fresh listening experience even for the most-diehard fan clamoring for a new episode – of which, to be sure – many more are planned for release throughout the rest of 2023. Most of the additional audio in this episode was sourced from TV broadcasts aired at the time of Lewis’ passing. They were thankfully preserved by Tim Theriault. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:30:39

Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) - 2023 Conference Finals, NBA lottery, Ja Morant and Rick on Isiah - BB6

5/22/2023
The legendary Beef Brothers (Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland) return for episode six. 01:49 2023 NBA Draft Lottery - Wemby to San Antonio Spurs 06:21 Ralph Sampson (and Bill Walton) - similarities to Victor? 07:16 Manute Bol was how old when he joined NBA?! Chuck Nevitt mention! 08:37 Bill Garnett ('82 Draft - pick #4) and Jeff Ruland have beef! 09:09 Rick offers Jeff tissues to get over the incident! 09:33 Ja Morant brandishing a weapon (again) on social media 13:27 Lakers and Nuggets - West Finals discussion 15:03 Mile-high (in Denver) or just high? 16:28 76ers' woes - fallout from Embiid's comments after ECSF G7 18:21 Heat and Celtics - East Finals breakdown (Beef Brothers masterclass) 20:12 Do the Heat need a Herro? 20:42 Coach Erik Spoelstra's impact 21:22 Setting Suns? 21:58 Rick and Jeff's on documentaries (don't ask Horn about The Last Dance!) 24:01 Adam looks like Andy Cohen?! It's an Aussie roast! 24:20 Listener question: Rick's opinion of Isiah Thomas (after The Last Dance) 25:38 Listener question: Jeff on battling Darryl Dawkins and Buck Williams 26:45 Rick's a big Chocolate Thunder fan. Buck Williams? Not so much! 27:50 Horn does his best impression of the Aussie accent! Watch conversations online - episodes live on the Beef Brothers' YouTube channel. Here's episode six. We encourage your interaction - ask questions or add comments on YouTube and the Beef Brothers will respond in future episodes. If you prefer e-mail, reach Rick and Jeff by e-mailing Adam: inallairness@gmail.com - he'll collate your submissions to read out to the guys. A quick warning that ocassional language during this series is not safe for young ears. Follow: Instagram [Rick / Jeff / Adam] | YouTube [Beef Brothers / Adam] Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:28:15

Bill Willoughby: High school phenom to the 1975 NBA Draft (eight-year veteran) - AIR132

5/17/2023
Let's welcome Bill Willoughby to the show. There are many more strings to his bow – as you’ll hear in my introduction - however, Bill rose to national awareness during the 1981 NBA Playoffs, by virtue of his excellent defense against the legendary Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Willoughby is one of only a few to ever reject The Captain’s iconic skyhook. A topic we certainly cover in this refreshingly open and honest conversation. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:01:29:59

Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) - 2023 Playoffs (round one winds-up), Rick and Jeff's fun / frivolities - BB5

4/28/2023
The legendary Beef Brothers (Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland) return for episode five. 01:12 2023 NBA Awards thus far 03:23 Rick Mahorn nominated for Washington Wizards President?! 05:12 Players who find a great fit on the right team 06:23 Kyrie conundrum 06:37 Jeff and Rick's role on 1980s Bullets 08:55 2023 Playoffs - 76ers, Nuggets and Suns advance to round two 09:47 Trae Young shocks Boston (Game 5) 10:30 Celtics vs 76ers / Heat vs Knicks (round two preview) 11:50 Heat's reliance on Jimmy Butler - who else can help? 12:45 Importance of good health in the playoffs, Embiid's return 14:18 Dillon Brooks' value and impact on Grizzlies' chemistry 16:30 Whining to refs / Dick Bavetta and Joey Crawford stories 18:33 Can the Kings dethrone the Warriors? 19:51 Hat-tip to Butler and Booker / Suns vs Nuggets (round two preview) 21:42 Rick and Jeff's funniest teammates! 26:23 Listener question: Rick and Jeff's relationship with Wes Unseld 28:04 Listener question: Origin of Rick's patented "pull-the-chair" move 29:44 Listener comment: Appreciation for 1980s Bullets making playoffs 31:54 Frank Johnson and Gerald Henderson brawl (1984 Playoffs) Watch conversations online - episodes live on the Beef Brothers' YouTube channel. Here's episode five. We encourage your interaction - ask questions or add comments on YouTube and the Beef Brothers will respond in future episodes. If you prefer e-mail, reach Rick and Jeff by e-mailing Adam: inallairness@gmail.com - he'll collate your submissions to read out to the guys. A quick warning that ocassional language during this series is not safe for young ears. Follow: Instagram [Rick / Jeff / Adam] | YouTube [Beef Brothers / Adam] Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:33:34

Adam on Hard Quiz (TV). Michael Jordan, Scouts Australia, The Incredibles and Penny Farthings - AIR131

4/26/2023
Watch Adam's TV debut. Or, listen to this audio and learn how his adventure went. Can he justify his self-proclaimed title of Michael Jordan / NBA-history obsessive?! I recently made my first - and perhaps last - appearance on television. I was a contestant on Australia's top-rated game show, Hard Quiz. The Australian Broadcasting Corporation's on-demand TV streaming service, ABC iview, describes Hard Quiz thusly: "Not satisfied with winning the 2022 AACTA Award for Best Comedy Entertainment Program, Tom Gleeson has combed the nation to find a new bunch of self-nominated experts willing to undergo the HARDEST test there is". My Hard Quiz appearance aired on April 12, 2023. It was recorded in-front of a live studio audience in early September, 2022. The description for episode 10 of series eight: 'Four contestants are after one Big Brass Mug and host Tom Gleeson is in the way. Expert topics this week are Scouts Australia, animated film The Incredibles, NBA superstar Michael Jordan and penny farthing bicycles!' No prizes for guessing my specialty topic. Thanks to my best mate of over 40 years, Nicholas, for encouraging me to apply for the show. A special thanks to Hard Quiz Contestant Producer, Zim, who ensured each contestant had a fantastic time on the day of recording. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:34:36

Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) - 2023 Playoffs, Jeff denies MJ ('84) and Zeke punches Rick ('90)! - BB4

4/18/2023
The legendary Beef Brothers (Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland) return for episode four. 00:50 NBA reg-season recap (best records, league leaders) 01:18 NBA MVP picks for 2023 season 02:41 League parity 04:03 Did Suns win Durant trade? 04:52 Will Kyrie and Luca remain a duo, win a title? 06:28 Dwane Casey's replacement as Pistons coach 07:17 Josh's Giddey nether regions / Beef Brothers inflicting pain 08:13 Fashion sense (or lack thereof) in today's NBA 09:47 2023 Play-in Tournament (last two games) 11:43 2020 NBA Playoffs - Round one preview 15:28 Wizards' outlook / free agency across the NBA 18:59 Beef Brothers washing uniforms in the sink or shower? 19:58 Who will win Wembanyama Sweepstakes? 20:55 Kangaroo meat for Wemby?! 21:10 Rick's and Jeff's off-the-court interests 22:50 Listener question: Jeff on denying Jordan's first NBA jam ('84) 23:56 Beef Brothers were "built to make posters", put players on their a$$! 24:32 Listener question: Rick on Isiah Thomas punching him in the head ('90) [Ryan Van Dusen's awesome YouTube channel] 25:46 JEFF UNFILTERED - Rules doesn't mince words re Isiah! 27:25 Listener question: Beef Brothers t-shirts (latest re availability) 28:21 Episode frequency to increase / special guest appearances, too! 29:29 Power to the people, avoid kangaroo meat and subscribe to Beef Brothers! Watch conversations online - episodes live on the Beef Brothers' YouTube channel. Here's episode four. We encourage your interaction - ask questions or add comments on YouTube and the Beef Brothers will respond in future episodes. If you prefer e-mail, reach Rick and Jeff by e-mailing Adam: inallairness@gmail.com - he'll collate your submissions to read out to the guys. A quick warning that ocassional language during this series is not safe for young ears. Follow: Instagram [Rick / Jeff / Adam] | YouTube [Beef Brothers / Adam] Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:29:46

Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) on All-Star Game fixes, Rick's Pistons trade (1985) and Jeff's 1984 ASG - BB3

3/20/2023
The legendary Beef Brothers (Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland) return for episode three. - NBA season thru Mar 1, 2023 - All-Star Game fixes? - Rick's trade from the Washington Bullets to Detroit Pistons (1985) - Jeff's 1984 All-Star Game memories - Listener-submitted questions Please note that Rick was absent from part of this recording (when Jeff recalls his ASG memories and responds to listener feedback). Watch conversations online - episodes live on the Beef Brothers' YouTube channel. There's 24 minutes of video from episode three. The remainder is a separate audio-only upload. We encourage your interaction - ask questions or add comments on YouTube and the Beef Brothers will respond in future episodes. If you prefer e-mail, reach Rick and Jeff by e-mailing Adam: inallairness@gmail.com - he'll collate your submissions to read out to the guys. A quick warning that ocassional language during this series is not safe for young ears. Follow: Instagram [Rick / Jeff / Adam] | YouTube [Beef Brothers / Adam] Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:39:42

Beef Brothers (Mahorn and Ruland) on today's NBA, Paul Silas, Manute Bol and more - BB2

12/25/2022
The legendary Beef Brothers (Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland) return for episode two. - NBA season thru Dec 11, 2022 - Rick and Jeff's iconic Beef Brothers photo shoot - Paul Silas' recent passing (3x NBA Champ) - Manute Bol memories (2x Block Champ) Watch conversations online - episodes live on the Beef Brothers' YouTube channel. Though there's no (full) video of episode two, select clips will be added soon. We encourage your interaction - ask questions or add comments on YouTube and the Beef Brothers will respond in future episodes. If you prefer e-mail, reach Rick and Jeff by e-mailing Adam: inallairness@gmail.com - he'll collate your submissions to read out to the guys. A quick warning that ocassional language during this series is not safe for young ears. Follow: Instagram [Rick / Jeff / Adam] | YouTube [Beef Brothers / Adam] Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:38:18

Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland - Meat the Beef Brothers (new series) - BB1

10/30/2022
The debut episode of a new series featuring the legendary Beef Brothers, Rick Mahorn and Jeff Ruland. Our goal is to regularly release episodes of 45 minutes or less. Rick and Jeff share their opinions on today's NBA, before we go back in time to explore the wonders of NBA history. The Washington Bullets' Beef Brothers were arguably the NBA's most-fearsome duo from 1982 through 1985. They teamed with Greg Ballard (RIP) to form an imposing front-line. Select episodes may feature special guests, Bullets-era teammates or adversaries from the halcyon days of Rick's and Jeff's careers. The audio is delivered here in podcast form, but you can watch our conversations online. Full episodes will live on the Beef Brothers' channel (episode two onwards), whilst an old-school-only-edit will appear on Adam's YouTube channel. Relevant links also appear beneath the video. Follow: Instagram [Rick / Jeff / Adam] | YouTube [Beef Brothers / Adam] We encourage your interaction - ask questions or add comments on YouTube and the Beef Brothers will respond in future episodes. If you prefer e-mail, reach Rick and Jeff by e-mailing Adam: inallairness@gmail.com - he'll collate your submissions to read out to the guys. A quick warning that ocassional language during this series is not safe for young ears. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:33:12

1993 NBA Eastern Conference Finals - Bulls vs Knicks (What if?) - BTG-9

7/19/2022
A sliding doors moment from the 1993 NBA Playoffs would have significantly impacted the course of NBA history. Though I’m not normally a fan of what-if scenarios, let’s entertain one. Specifically, an examination of Game 5 of the 1993 Eastern Conference Finals (Knicks v Bulls). Behind the Game - this episode details the would-be ramifications on NBA history had the Knicks held on to win the ECF and advance to the 1993 Finals. People mentioned include Charles Smith, Scottie Pippen, Michael Jordan, Horace Grant, Pat Riley, David Robinson and Nick Anderson. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:11:55

Memorable NBA Games: Detroit's Dumars dazzles in Cleveland (Apr 18, 1989) - Pistons at Cavaliers - AIR130

5/2/2022
We journey back to 1989 and discuss a key matchup between Central Division rivals, the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons. Let's welcome a new friend to the show – Ryan Van Dusen – an archivist and curator of Detroit Pistons and NBA-history content at-large. Over 80,000 fans already subscribe to Ryan's YouTube channel. It’s the final week of the 1989 NBA regular season. This contest had significant implications on postseason play. For added context, we cover a few incidents that happened earlier in the season that had an impact on this game – including a late-January fight between the Cavs’ Brad Daugherty and the Pistons’ Bill Laimbeer. Plus, a second fight, when Detroit’s Isiah Thomas mixed it up with Chicago’s Bill Cartwright, less than two weeks before the game we’re covering today. This conversation was a lot of fun and there are numerous audio drops to enjoy, too. After the recap, we briefly discuss Ryan’s YouTube channel. He kindly created a dedicated playlist of this game. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:55:35

Brian Burnsed: Shawn Bradley wrestles with life at 7'6" in a wheelchair (Sports Illustrated) - AIR129

1/22/2022
Brian Burnsed is a contributing writer for Sports Illustrated. We do a deep dive into the process behind his brilliant – yet sobering - profile of 12-year NBA veteran, Shawn Bradley. Existing fans of my show will likely know that I’ve been a big fan of Shawn Bradley since 1994. I briefly elaborate on my fandom during this chat, however, we largely cover how Brian’s profile came to be, his process throughout, its impact on him and of course, how Shawn’s terrible accident has forever changed the course of not only his life, but that of his family. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:29:01

One fan's campaign for Tom Chambers to enter the Basketball Hall of Fame - AIR128

1/8/2022
Jeff Wells is a Tom Chambers superfan. This is a super-fun conversation about Jeff’s excellent YouTube channel – TC24 – devoted to showcasing Tom’s fantastic career and advocating his worthiness for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. You’ll soon realise Jeff’s importance in relation to Tom Chambers being named a first-time nominee and candidate for the Hoop Hall’s Class of 2022. Our conversation covers the origin story of Jeff’s NBA fandom and the unique details behind his fascination with Tom Chambers. We talk about his YouTube channel and do a deep dive into the process behind the tremendous features he produces. We reference Pete Croatto's FanSided feature, too. This episode is filled with information on Tom’s journey from high school to the NBA. You’ll also hear some snippets of audio from Jeff’s videos that demonstrate the care and precision he takes with each upload. It’s a really fun and informative conversation. You can subscribe to Jeff’s channel by searching ‘TC24’ on YouTube. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:01:13:44

Tom Chambers' [Hall of Fame] dunk on Mark Jackson (Jan 27, 1989) - BTG-8

12/23/2021
The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame recently announced the list of eligible candidates for the Class of 2022, including high-profile first-time nominee, Tom Chambers. Behind the Game - this episode details one of the NBA’s all-time greatest slam dunks. Learn why Tom Chambers and Mark Jackson are forever linked in NBA history. New York Knicks @ Phoenix Suns [01-27-1989] | Game highlights People mentioned include Jerry Colangelo, Eddie Johnson, Jeff Hornacek, Kevin Johnson, Mark West, Tyrone Corbin, Larry Nance, James Edwards, Jay Humphries, Dan Majerle, Tim Perry, Andrew Lang, Patrick Ewing and Gerald Wilkins. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:08:12

Adam on 200 episodes and how fans can support the show

12/1/2021
Hey, it's Adam here. A quick podcast update for you as we near the end of 2021. It's official. My recent conversation with the great Jerry Colangelo was episode number 200 overall. It was the 127th edition of 'In all Airness'. The remaining episodes are a combination of detailed season-recaps, short-form stories and a few podcast updates. My great mate Aaron Stehn has featured regularly throughout the history of the show. We released a 30-episode series called #NB85 (devoted to Michael Jordan's rookie season). Our #NB86 series (you guessed it, chronicling the 1986 NBA seaon) is comprised of 15 episodes and #NB87 is a 13-episode run detailing the 1987 season. We're currently five episodes into #NB88 and hope to resume the series early next year. Shout-out to another great friend, Todd Spehr, for his support over the years, too. I created this show in 2012 because I couldn't find a podcast that offered what I wanted to hear as a diehard fan of old-school basketball. Looking back on the extensive episode list, I'm very proud of my podcast. There's been an incredible array of guests on the show - Hall of Famers, All-Stars, role players, journeymen and those who have made significant contributions to the history of the game, from off the court, too. I've also made some fantastic friendships and acquaintances over the years. Recent updates to my website now allow fans of the show to support the podcast monetarily. Completely optional, of course. There are numerous costs involved to produce this show and with the recent rise of crowd-funded podcasts, I've finally jumped on board. You can 'Buy Me a Coffee' (more so a donation similar to the price of a cup of coffee). You can make one-off PayPal donations - if you'd prefer to make recurring payments, please contact me and that can be arranged. In the show notes of this episode, there are various affiliate links to basketball-related retailers here in Australia and the USA. By clicking on those links, you can support my show at no extra cost to you. If you make a purchase within 24 hours of visiting a link, I'll receive a small commission. I also offer a free 30-day trial to Audible. Sign-up using my link and you'll get a credit to purchase any premium title (regardless of price). For example, if you're a fan of the legendary columninst - and repeat podcast guest - Bob Ryan, you can obtain his excellent book Scribe, by taking advantage of this Audible trial. Best yet, you can cancel anytime and still keep your purchase. If you wish to sponsor an episode of the show, that is also possible. Reach out to me and we can discuss specifics. Your support will help offset some of the costs involved in producing the show, which is now in its tenth year. Those costs include my website / podcast hosting fees and my newspapers.com and audio- Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:04:19

Jerry Colangelo: Chicago Bulls, Phoenix Suns, Team USA and more - Godfather of Arizona Sports - AIR127

11/10/2021
Let's welcome ‘The Godfather of Arizona Sports’, Jerry Colangelo. Jerry’s contributions to professional sports are immeasurable. In this conversation, we focus primarily on his incredible basketball journey. Jerry discusses his high school, college and semi-pro career, before detailing how he became involved with the birth of Chicago’s NBA franchise in 1966. He recalls how the Bulls nickname came to be and what it was like to be a day-one employee. We cover his move to Arizona where he was named GM of another expansion franchise, the Phoenix Suns. Jerry talks about the famed coin flip to obtain the services of Lew Alcindor (later, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar), and how the Suns worked their way to an NBA Finals appearance in 1976 versus the mighty Boston Celtics. Jerry describes how he built the mid-to-late 80s Suns into title contenders and the big trade that brought Sir Charles Barkley from the Philadelphia 76ers to the Valley of the Sun. We briefly cover Jerry’s vital role in rebuilding Team USA. For more context, listen to this great conversation that Jerry had on The Crossover NBA Show (with Chris Mannix). He discussed how he turned the entire program around. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:00:55:07

Joanne Borzakian Ouellette: Reebok Global Marketing Director NBA Basketball (former) - AIR126

10/27/2021
Joanne worked with Reebok for over 15 years. Her family has links to the Boston Celtics dating back nearly five decades. Joanne details what it was like to grow up within the confines of the Boston Garden and the unique relationships she has developed with the franchise and its players throughout her lifetime. Our conversation covers a wide range of Joanne’s amazing experiences working with Reebok. She joined the team in the mid-1980s and talks about the development of the brand and how Reebok managed to compete – and then thrive - in an intensely-competitive market for shoes and apparel. You’ll hear some tremendous stories about some of the NBA’s biggest names of the era – Larry Bird, Dominique Wilkins, Shawn Kemp, Dee Brown and Shaquille O’Neal, to name just a few. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:01:12:52

Dave Cowens: Hall of Fame legend, 2x NBA Champion, MVP, 8x All-Star and Boston Celtics great - AIR125

10/6/2021
I’m excited to welcome Basketball Hall of Fame legend, Dave Cowens. The first NBA Most Valuable Player to appear on the podcast. In this fun, insightful and wide-ranging conversation, Dave discusses his days at Newport Catholic HS and run-ins with the assistant principal, who also doubled as his basketball coach. Dave details his recruitment to Florida State University – where he was a four-year standout with the Seminoles. Dave recounts an intriguing letter he wrote to Celtics legend – and then-Cincinnati Royals coach, Bob Cousy – ahead of the 1970 NBA Draft. Cowens was a busy man in the lead-up to his rookie debut with the Celtics. During the week, he played in Boston’s Neighborhood Basketball League (BNBL) and on weekends commuted to New York to play in the famed Rucker League. For good measure, Dave teamed with ‘Pistol’ Pete Maravich and stole the show at the Maurice Stokes Memorial Basketball Game. Of course, there’s plenty of NBA and Celtics discussion. We chat about the two titles Dave won with Boston in the 1970s, how he prepared for games and battled with all-time great centers that often had significant height advantages over him. We even found time to talk about Larry Bird, too. This conversation primarily covers Dave’s on-court days. Hopefully he’ll return to the show to discuss his post-playing career and life after basketball. This is a candidate for my favorite episode yet. If you enjoy this chat and you’re on Twitter, I’d be most grateful if you’d consider a quick tweet to Bob Ryan (@GlobeBobRyan), thanking him for the connect with Mr. Cowens. This conversation would not have happened without Bob’s continued generosity. Support: Buy Adam a coffee | Amazon: USA / Australia | Audible | PayPal Listen: Apple Podcasts | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Overcast Follow: Instagram | Twitter | YouTube | Facebook Subscribe (free): NBA-history newsletter [as an Amazon Associate, Adam earns from qualifying purchases - you'll be supporting his podcast at no extra cost]

Duration:01:26:08