1 00:00:06,667 --> 00:00:10,547 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,707 --> 00:00:11,907 Speaker 1: from News Talks, EDB. 3 00:00:12,827 --> 00:00:15,907 Speaker 2: And Weekend Sport. Though it's time to get your state side. 4 00:00:15,987 --> 00:00:17,667 Speaker 2: Our man Lyon Buzby is here. 5 00:00:17,747 --> 00:00:22,427 Speaker 3: Hello, Leon, afternoon, Jason the Servaly mak mate. Got a 6 00:00:22,427 --> 00:00:24,427 Speaker 3: lot to hit to ray, So let's jump right into it. 7 00:00:24,907 --> 00:00:28,387 Speaker 2: Let's do it. Made NBA. We know our champions, okayc 8 00:00:28,707 --> 00:00:32,187 Speaker 2: we're into trade season in the NBA. Couple of big 9 00:00:32,227 --> 00:00:35,387 Speaker 2: ones Kevin Durant first of all, from the Phoenix Suns 10 00:00:35,587 --> 00:00:36,747 Speaker 2: to the Houston Rockets. 11 00:00:38,587 --> 00:00:42,307 Speaker 3: Yeah, so kad as he's affectially known, who's the first 12 00:00:42,307 --> 00:00:45,267 Speaker 3: big Domino to four, so the two time champion, two 13 00:00:45,307 --> 00:00:48,787 Speaker 3: time finals MVP, and he's also a fifteen time All Star. 14 00:00:48,867 --> 00:00:51,747 Speaker 3: He was traded to the Rockets, making them a genuine 15 00:00:51,747 --> 00:00:55,347 Speaker 3: contender after finishing second in the Western season. So Durant 16 00:00:55,387 --> 00:00:58,027 Speaker 3: adds vast experience to a youthful side who are on 17 00:00:58,107 --> 00:01:01,187 Speaker 3: the rise. And he also joins big Qy Stephen Adams, 18 00:01:01,227 --> 00:01:03,947 Speaker 3: who began his career with Katie at OKAC back in 19 00:01:03,987 --> 00:01:07,067 Speaker 3: twenty thirteen. So yeah, I think they're going to do 20 00:01:07,267 --> 00:01:09,667 Speaker 3: a lot better this year, well next season anyway. The 21 00:01:09,707 --> 00:01:10,907 Speaker 3: Eastern Rockets, definitely. 22 00:01:11,547 --> 00:01:15,867 Speaker 2: Okay, Miles Turner traded by the Indiana Pacers to the 23 00:01:15,907 --> 00:01:16,867 Speaker 2: Milwaukee Bucks. 24 00:01:18,507 --> 00:01:20,547 Speaker 3: Yes, this is a bit of a hitch scratcher. This 25 00:01:20,947 --> 00:01:23,227 Speaker 3: the Indiana Pacers there, so they just came off short 26 00:01:23,227 --> 00:01:26,027 Speaker 3: in the final duty too, oksee in Game seven. But 27 00:01:26,507 --> 00:01:28,107 Speaker 3: I guess the trader was a bit of a shock 28 00:01:28,147 --> 00:01:30,587 Speaker 3: trade because they shifted their key big man, Miles Turner 29 00:01:30,627 --> 00:01:34,947 Speaker 3: to their fierce Eastern rival Milwaukee Bucks. And if you 30 00:01:35,067 --> 00:01:37,867 Speaker 3: missed at him with star playmaker Torres Halliburton, so he 31 00:01:37,947 --> 00:01:41,787 Speaker 3: suffered a torn Archilly's meaning Hill miss likely most of 32 00:01:41,787 --> 00:01:44,547 Speaker 3: the entire twenty five to twenty six seasons. So yeah, 33 00:01:44,587 --> 00:01:47,267 Speaker 3: there's a lot of people sort of speculating that with 34 00:01:47,387 --> 00:01:49,867 Speaker 3: this Turner trade that they could possibly divide the locker 35 00:01:49,947 --> 00:01:52,387 Speaker 3: room and that won't be good for the Indiana Paces. 36 00:01:52,387 --> 00:01:57,067 Speaker 2: Moving forward, all right, the NBA Draft, we've been keeping 37 00:01:57,067 --> 00:01:59,747 Speaker 2: eyes on that. What were the main features from your 38 00:01:59,787 --> 00:02:00,347 Speaker 2: point of view? 39 00:02:02,147 --> 00:02:05,987 Speaker 3: Yeah, So the NBA Draft, I've got to be honest here, 40 00:02:06,027 --> 00:02:08,387 Speaker 3: Pine it actually it was a bit of a dude. 41 00:02:08,667 --> 00:02:12,107 Speaker 3: But I'll tell you and I'll explain why. Because everyone 42 00:02:12,147 --> 00:02:14,107 Speaker 3: knew before and who was going to get first pick 43 00:02:14,107 --> 00:02:17,627 Speaker 3: overall anyway, So the Dallas Mavericks, as expected, they signed 44 00:02:17,627 --> 00:02:20,347 Speaker 3: the best college player, power forward, Cooper Flag of Duke 45 00:02:20,427 --> 00:02:24,187 Speaker 3: University to their roster, now the twenty twenty five national 46 00:02:24,187 --> 00:02:27,467 Speaker 3: college player. He's a skilled two way player, has huge potential, 47 00:02:27,547 --> 00:02:30,227 Speaker 3: and he's a generational player as well, So he'll make 48 00:02:30,267 --> 00:02:32,347 Speaker 3: a big difference to the man's and they'll build their 49 00:02:32,387 --> 00:02:35,147 Speaker 3: team around him. Wrong term. So, as I mentioned earlier, 50 00:02:35,827 --> 00:02:38,107 Speaker 3: after Flag was taken off the board, no one should 51 00:02:38,147 --> 00:02:41,027 Speaker 3: really name any of the other players drafted, which is 52 00:02:41,067 --> 00:02:43,907 Speaker 3: a real shame because this is a real life change 53 00:02:43,907 --> 00:02:45,787 Speaker 3: and event for most of these young men in terms 54 00:02:45,787 --> 00:02:48,907 Speaker 3: of providing generational wrath for them and their families who 55 00:02:48,907 --> 00:02:52,547 Speaker 3: have sacrificed so much bull then to have this opportunity now, punny, 56 00:02:53,067 --> 00:02:54,667 Speaker 3: I'm going to go a little script here. I'm going 57 00:02:54,707 --> 00:02:58,107 Speaker 3: to ask you, so I'm going to compare a professional 58 00:02:58,107 --> 00:03:00,227 Speaker 3: sports team to a board game. Are you familiar with 59 00:03:00,267 --> 00:03:01,507 Speaker 3: a board game called Katan? 60 00:03:02,667 --> 00:03:05,227 Speaker 2: I've heard of it, but I don't think i've ever 61 00:03:05,267 --> 00:03:05,747 Speaker 2: played it. 62 00:03:06,747 --> 00:03:08,827 Speaker 3: Yeah, so AKA, for those of your listeners you have 63 00:03:08,907 --> 00:03:12,387 Speaker 3: not heard of Katan. It's a hugely popular multiplayer board 64 00:03:12,387 --> 00:03:16,387 Speaker 3: game where built where players build settlements, they trade resources 65 00:03:16,427 --> 00:03:19,107 Speaker 3: and they compete. They compete to reach a set number 66 00:03:19,107 --> 00:03:22,347 Speaker 3: of Vikki points to win. So much like a sports 67 00:03:22,347 --> 00:03:24,907 Speaker 3: team you're trying to construct. You have resources at your 68 00:03:24,947 --> 00:03:29,867 Speaker 3: disposal like athletes, financial backing, sponsorship, growing your fan base, 69 00:03:29,867 --> 00:03:32,627 Speaker 3: et cetera. Now, if we relate this to say, okay, 70 00:03:32,627 --> 00:03:35,427 Speaker 3: see Thunder, they're a perfect example. Over the last five 71 00:03:35,507 --> 00:03:38,267 Speaker 3: years their front office, they have moved pieces around, built 72 00:03:38,347 --> 00:03:42,147 Speaker 3: up considerable resources, and established a foundational culture within the 73 00:03:42,187 --> 00:03:45,387 Speaker 3: team environment which has finally brought them along over due, 74 00:03:45,427 --> 00:03:48,267 Speaker 3: made an NBA championship. Now, if we relate that example 75 00:03:48,307 --> 00:03:50,547 Speaker 3: close at the home, we can see that the All 76 00:03:50,587 --> 00:03:53,067 Speaker 3: Blacks head coach Scott Robertson, he's sort of doing the 77 00:03:53,107 --> 00:03:55,467 Speaker 3: same thing here with his staff. He's trying to build 78 00:03:55,507 --> 00:03:58,587 Speaker 3: a strong team culture within the All Blacks, utilizing all 79 00:03:58,627 --> 00:04:01,467 Speaker 3: the resources at his disposal leading up to the ultimate goal, 80 00:04:01,707 --> 00:04:04,027 Speaker 3: which is lifting the men's Rugby World Cup trophy in 81 00:04:04,067 --> 00:04:06,347 Speaker 3: late twenty twenty seven. So if we think about the 82 00:04:06,427 --> 00:04:09,187 Speaker 3: results in between now and the Rugby World Cups, it's 83 00:04:09,227 --> 00:04:11,187 Speaker 3: really the Rugby World Cup that matters, isn't it Pining? 84 00:04:11,627 --> 00:04:14,827 Speaker 2: Absolutely right, absolutely right, Hey, just on before we move 85 00:04:14,867 --> 00:04:18,067 Speaker 2: to the WNBA Shay Gil Just Alexander and the Oka 86 00:04:18,227 --> 00:04:22,067 Speaker 2: See Oklahoma City Thunder. I see they've they've given him 87 00:04:22,147 --> 00:04:25,907 Speaker 2: a record setting contract extension. He's not going to be 88 00:04:26,507 --> 00:04:28,147 Speaker 2: not going to be short of a bob for a while, 89 00:04:28,227 --> 00:04:29,267 Speaker 2: Leon by the looks of it. 90 00:04:29,587 --> 00:04:32,147 Speaker 3: No, No, I think he'll he'll be okay, Well, he'll 91 00:04:32,147 --> 00:04:36,427 Speaker 3: get by Okay. He signed a historic four year so 92 00:04:36,587 --> 00:04:38,587 Speaker 3: this is a two hundred and eighty five million what 93 00:04:38,667 --> 00:04:42,347 Speaker 3: they call a supermax contract extension with low Casey. So 94 00:04:42,387 --> 00:04:44,427 Speaker 3: it keeps him with the team through to the thirty 95 00:04:44,467 --> 00:04:47,387 Speaker 3: thirty one season. So he'll be paid in average seventy 96 00:04:47,427 --> 00:04:50,587 Speaker 3: one point two five million per season, making it the 97 00:04:50,667 --> 00:04:53,747 Speaker 3: richest annual salary in NBA history. And the new contract 98 00:04:53,827 --> 00:04:56,107 Speaker 3: kicks in for the twenty twenty seven to twenty eighth season. 99 00:04:56,507 --> 00:04:58,427 Speaker 3: And then as we look at the past season, Hgear 100 00:04:58,547 --> 00:05:01,427 Speaker 3: was paramount to okay See winning their first title, and 101 00:05:01,467 --> 00:05:04,307 Speaker 3: this extension solidifies his role as a cornerstone of the 102 00:05:04,347 --> 00:05:07,947 Speaker 3: funder franchise, reflecting the TAM's commitment to building around them 103 00:05:07,987 --> 00:05:11,347 Speaker 3: as they continue to develop their roster. The financial commitment 104 00:05:11,347 --> 00:05:14,827 Speaker 3: also indicates the Thunder's confidence in his ability to lead 105 00:05:14,827 --> 00:05:18,387 Speaker 3: the team to future successes, especially after a record sitting season. 106 00:05:18,427 --> 00:05:21,667 Speaker 3: So in summary, this year's new contractor is a significant 107 00:05:21,667 --> 00:05:24,827 Speaker 3: mast for both the player and okay see marking a 108 00:05:24,827 --> 00:05:28,027 Speaker 3: new era of potential success for the franchise. Now, pony, 109 00:05:28,067 --> 00:05:30,027 Speaker 3: can I just bring up a real funny story quickly 110 00:05:30,067 --> 00:05:35,627 Speaker 3: before we go to WNBA. Yeah, so the champions Thunder team, 111 00:05:35,627 --> 00:05:38,667 Speaker 3: they were actually the second youngest team ever to win 112 00:05:38,707 --> 00:05:41,987 Speaker 3: an NBA title. Now there's a really funny story to 113 00:05:42,027 --> 00:05:44,507 Speaker 3: this whole thing. So what happened is, as we know, 114 00:05:44,587 --> 00:05:47,107 Speaker 3: when they end up winning the championship and the team 115 00:05:47,107 --> 00:05:49,187 Speaker 3: all they go back to the locker room and they celebrate, 116 00:05:49,867 --> 00:05:53,027 Speaker 3: they get up the old champaign bottles. Right, this team 117 00:05:53,107 --> 00:05:55,627 Speaker 3: was so young, fourteen of the fifteen players had no 118 00:05:55,747 --> 00:05:59,747 Speaker 3: idea how to pop corks or for champaign battles. Most 119 00:05:59,787 --> 00:06:03,827 Speaker 3: weren't even going onto YouTube inch of tutorials. So thankfully 120 00:06:03,947 --> 00:06:06,307 Speaker 3: the oldest player on the team, Alex Caruso at thirty one, 121 00:06:06,867 --> 00:06:09,347 Speaker 3: had previously won an NBA tital so he probably shared 122 00:06:09,347 --> 00:06:11,067 Speaker 3: the sco on how to get it done. How funny 123 00:06:11,107 --> 00:06:13,107 Speaker 3: as that. 124 00:06:12,747 --> 00:06:14,667 Speaker 2: I thought you were going to say they weren't legally 125 00:06:14,667 --> 00:06:16,387 Speaker 2: old enough to have a sip of it, which is 126 00:06:16,427 --> 00:06:20,467 Speaker 2: probably true in some cases as well, but yeah, brilliant stuff. 127 00:06:20,547 --> 00:06:23,267 Speaker 2: Let's go to the WNBA. It seems to be all 128 00:06:23,307 --> 00:06:25,187 Speaker 2: about the Indiana Fever. Leon. 129 00:06:26,427 --> 00:06:29,627 Speaker 3: Yeah, so earlier the Smith Indiana Fever upset the defending 130 00:06:29,707 --> 00:06:32,867 Speaker 3: champion Minnesota linked fifty nine to seventy four to win 131 00:06:32,907 --> 00:06:35,467 Speaker 3: the Commissioner's Cup. So when we relate that to the NBA, 132 00:06:35,907 --> 00:06:38,107 Speaker 3: they have the NBA Cup, which is like the n 133 00:06:38,187 --> 00:06:41,947 Speaker 3: season tournament. So what's even more impressive though, was Indiana 134 00:06:42,027 --> 00:06:44,867 Speaker 3: did it without their superstar, the face of the Caitlin Clark, 135 00:06:45,307 --> 00:06:47,587 Speaker 3: who's dealing with another injury. Have we now missed ten 136 00:06:47,667 --> 00:06:51,587 Speaker 3: games this season? So sticking with the fever, Sophie Cunningham, 137 00:06:51,707 --> 00:06:55,227 Speaker 3: she's a teammate of Caitlin Clark. She'd me making headlines, 138 00:06:55,267 --> 00:06:58,467 Speaker 3: but unfortunately for all the wrong reasons. So having been 139 00:06:58,547 --> 00:07:01,827 Speaker 3: involved with on court violent incidents, the controversial comments on 140 00:07:01,907 --> 00:07:05,947 Speaker 3: expansion plans to eighteen teams by twenty thirty, Cunningham has 141 00:07:05,987 --> 00:07:09,867 Speaker 3: become somewhat polarizing to w NBA fans. The former Phoenix 142 00:07:09,947 --> 00:07:13,387 Speaker 3: Mercury player was traded to Indiana on January thirty one 143 00:07:13,427 --> 00:07:16,547 Speaker 3: this year and it certainly made a presence start on 144 00:07:16,627 --> 00:07:18,947 Speaker 3: and off the court. She's productive as a two way 145 00:07:18,947 --> 00:07:21,707 Speaker 3: plan seems to be. I guess cashing inside to speak 146 00:07:21,747 --> 00:07:25,187 Speaker 3: on numerous social media platforms due to her actions, which 147 00:07:25,227 --> 00:07:27,827 Speaker 3: many of her growing fan base are appording Piney. I 148 00:07:27,827 --> 00:07:29,587 Speaker 3: guess it's the world we live in now that even 149 00:07:29,667 --> 00:07:32,107 Speaker 3: bad news is good news. That people are at least 150 00:07:32,107 --> 00:07:32,707 Speaker 3: talking about you. 151 00:07:33,347 --> 00:07:36,907 Speaker 2: Yeah, well that's they say that the anything worse than 152 00:07:36,947 --> 00:07:39,307 Speaker 2: being talked about is not being talked about, or some 153 00:07:39,507 --> 00:07:43,627 Speaker 2: words to that effect. And what's up with this Red Panda? Good? 154 00:07:43,667 --> 00:07:44,027 Speaker 2: What's this? 155 00:07:45,507 --> 00:07:45,707 Speaker 1: Yeah? 156 00:07:45,867 --> 00:07:48,707 Speaker 3: I shouldn't really laugh because it was an unfortunate intluence. 157 00:07:48,707 --> 00:07:52,267 Speaker 3: So yeah. So. One of the more usual headlines that 158 00:07:52,387 --> 00:07:55,187 Speaker 3: came out this week was the injury sustained by legendary 159 00:07:55,187 --> 00:07:59,267 Speaker 3: halftime entertainer. She's known as Red Panda, and she performed 160 00:07:59,307 --> 00:08:02,467 Speaker 3: during the Commissioner's Cup Final during the half time entertainment slog. 161 00:08:02,947 --> 00:08:05,587 Speaker 3: She lost their balances to really fractured her risk while 162 00:08:05,587 --> 00:08:10,067 Speaker 3: performing the fifty something fourth generation acrobat and unicycle artist. 163 00:08:10,387 --> 00:08:12,747 Speaker 3: It's been over eleven hours in hospital and was released 164 00:08:12,747 --> 00:08:15,347 Speaker 3: to begin her rehab expected to take a few months, 165 00:08:15,547 --> 00:08:17,827 Speaker 3: but our agency she was grateful for all of the 166 00:08:17,907 --> 00:08:21,747 Speaker 3: kind wishes and alba overwhelming support, which meant the wilcare. 167 00:08:22,067 --> 00:08:25,267 Speaker 3: So after the final ended, the Victoria's Indiana Fever ten 168 00:08:25,667 --> 00:08:27,987 Speaker 3: sent their love on socral media and thoughts to the 169 00:08:28,027 --> 00:08:31,147 Speaker 3: beloved Chinese American performer. So am I sending to another 170 00:08:31,147 --> 00:08:32,827 Speaker 3: wise unforeseen misst deer Pony. 171 00:08:33,147 --> 00:08:35,587 Speaker 2: Yeah, well we wish you're all the beast in her recovery. 172 00:08:35,747 --> 00:08:39,227 Speaker 2: And finally to the NFL, which is not far away 173 00:08:39,227 --> 00:08:42,347 Speaker 2: from starting. I know you're looking forward to this, as 174 00:08:42,467 --> 00:08:45,547 Speaker 2: am I a major signing in college though, that you've 175 00:08:45,547 --> 00:08:46,467 Speaker 2: got to tell us about. 176 00:08:47,387 --> 00:08:50,587 Speaker 3: Yes, So there was a young offensive tackle. His name's 177 00:08:50,627 --> 00:08:53,867 Speaker 3: fridix Ojo, so he made headlines this week. So he's 178 00:08:53,947 --> 00:08:56,827 Speaker 3: what they call a five star recruit from Texas and 179 00:08:56,907 --> 00:08:59,027 Speaker 3: he's entering a senior year at a high school. So 180 00:08:59,067 --> 00:09:01,667 Speaker 3: he's still in high school. But he committed to a 181 00:09:01,707 --> 00:09:06,107 Speaker 3: fully guaranteed three year contract with the Texas Tech University 182 00:09:06,147 --> 00:09:09,107 Speaker 3: and worth over five million dollars. Now they're highly sought 183 00:09:09,147 --> 00:09:12,507 Speaker 3: after six foot seven, one hundred and thirty kilogram recruits. 184 00:09:12,507 --> 00:09:16,547 Speaker 3: Signed the contract just days ago on his seventeenth birthday. So, 185 00:09:16,667 --> 00:09:20,027 Speaker 3: as I've mentioned before, the sporting landscape in American college 186 00:09:20,067 --> 00:09:23,027 Speaker 3: sports has totally changed since NIL, which its name, image 187 00:09:23,027 --> 00:09:26,947 Speaker 3: and likeness, the transfer portal, and more recently the federal 188 00:09:26,987 --> 00:09:30,427 Speaker 3: courts allowing colleges to directly pay their athletes as historical 189 00:09:30,667 --> 00:09:33,387 Speaker 3: and there's no limit to what these student athletes can 190 00:09:33,427 --> 00:09:35,747 Speaker 3: now end. So the money being thrown around is real 191 00:09:35,787 --> 00:09:38,187 Speaker 3: crazy pinty, but I feel it's a positive. As the 192 00:09:38,267 --> 00:09:41,747 Speaker 3: NC double A once considered a titan in college sports, 193 00:09:41,947 --> 00:09:44,827 Speaker 3: it's really weakened with the PowerShift to the colleges now, 194 00:09:45,707 --> 00:09:49,587 Speaker 3: oh oh, other things. You alluded to the role that 195 00:09:49,747 --> 00:09:51,947 Speaker 3: the best news of a college football and the NFL 196 00:09:52,027 --> 00:09:55,107 Speaker 3: regular season kicks off on only sixty days time life 197 00:09:55,147 --> 00:09:56,547 Speaker 3: doesn't get any bit of their pinting. 198 00:09:57,627 --> 00:09:59,187 Speaker 1: I know you've got to love on you all ly on. 199 00:09:59,267 --> 00:10:01,747 Speaker 2: You're chalking off the days we'll talk to you as 200 00:10:01,747 --> 00:10:05,627 Speaker 2: it draws closer the NFL season in early August. Always 201 00:10:05,667 --> 00:10:08,067 Speaker 2: good to get the the state side lowdown from you, 202 00:10:08,547 --> 00:10:13,347 Speaker 2: Leon Busby, our American sport expert here on Weekend Sport. 203 00:10:13,947 --> 00:10:17,147 Speaker 1: For more from Weekend Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 204 00:10:17,227 --> 00:10:20,547 Speaker 1: to News Talk set B weekends from midday, or follow 205 00:10:20,587 --> 00:10:22,187 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio,