WEBVTT - #thisleague UNCUT: Dirk Nowitzki interview

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<v Speaker 1>Welcome to this league and cut rule a twenty four

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<v Speaker 1>hour NBA news miters you lou Chris hands, it's no time,

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<v Speaker 1>works time, It's so time. This league un cut is

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<v Speaker 1>underway in on fire. This should be a good one.

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<v Speaker 2>All right, friends, it's time. As promised, our special guest

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<v Speaker 2>this week. In one more week, you will have to

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<v Speaker 2>address him as a Hall of Famer on all first references.

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<v Speaker 2>But he joins us now from a top secret location

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<v Speaker 2>cannot be revealed, far far away from his spiritual harm

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<v Speaker 2>in Dallas. Is this audience ready for a good ten

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<v Speaker 2>to twelve minutes with almost a Hall of famer? Girk

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<v Speaker 2>Werner VI, Ski, Wow, you are actually on the show.

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<v Speaker 2>This is really happening.

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<v Speaker 3>This is big, this is big. I'm excited for the

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<v Speaker 3>new show. I can't wait to listen in. But like

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<v Speaker 3>you said, I'm still overseas and I'm working my way

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<v Speaker 3>home so I can get ready for Springfield.

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<v Speaker 2>Excited, I mean it's crazy jersey retirement international jersey retirement

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<v Speaker 2>statue unveiling. I think there was a street named after

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<v Speaker 2>you in there somewhere.

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<v Speaker 4>And now, like you said, all you have to say.

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<v Speaker 2>In basketball is the word Springfield. Everyone in the game

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<v Speaker 2>knows what that means. But has it sunk in yet?

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<v Speaker 2>Are you ready for this?

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<v Speaker 3>I mean as ready as I can get. I guess

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<v Speaker 3>I'm super excited, obviously, a little anxious already. I think

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<v Speaker 3>it's going to be a super cool, fun couple of days.

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<v Speaker 3>I have family and friends coming from all over the world.

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<v Speaker 3>So yeah, I'm already a little nervous. Obviously I'm not

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<v Speaker 3>a great speaker and holding a big speech there and

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<v Speaker 3>then just the whole hoopla there, and you know, the

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<v Speaker 3>limelight is not really my thing, so it's, uh, it's

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<v Speaker 3>gonna be a little bit uncomfortable at times, but I'm

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<v Speaker 3>gonna I'm going to just try to really enjoy it

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<v Speaker 3>and enjoy my family. And my kids are now old

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<v Speaker 3>enough to really understand what's happening, and so.

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<v Speaker 5>I'm looking forward to to a great time. And and

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<v Speaker 5>like you said, all this stuff, all the.

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<v Speaker 3>Honorings and the street naming and all that, people are

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<v Speaker 3>now like we got to celebrate you again, Like when when.

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<v Speaker 5>Is this over?

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<v Speaker 3>Uh, this this retirement tour. And I would say this

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<v Speaker 3>to me, the Hall of Fame is like the absolute

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<v Speaker 3>tip of the iceberg, and it's the coolest thing, and

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<v Speaker 3>it's an honor to be there, and and sort of

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<v Speaker 3>I think things will sort of for me at least

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<v Speaker 3>slow down after that. But it's been literally one thing

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<v Speaker 3>after the next, and I'm extremely proud of all these things.

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<v Speaker 2>So you're gonna have Steve Nash and Jason Kidd there

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<v Speaker 2>with you on stage.

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<v Speaker 4>And the way presenters work.

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<v Speaker 2>For the Hall of Fame for people who don't know,

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<v Speaker 2>you have to be a Hall of Famer to be

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<v Speaker 2>eligible as a presenter. You knew those guys were going

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<v Speaker 2>to say yes when you ask them, But what was

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<v Speaker 2>it like to actually, you know, are you nervous asking them? Hey, guys,

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<v Speaker 2>will you come up there with me? Because it's also

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<v Speaker 2>weird for the presenters. They don't get to say anything.

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<v Speaker 2>They just they just sit on a stool.

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<v Speaker 5>They just sit there.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, you know, you know me, I wasn't.

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<v Speaker 5>I wasn't doing it all formal. I was Steven, do

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<v Speaker 5>you mind that? So I just kind of threw it out.

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<v Speaker 3>And when we talked about Hall of Fame and Sandwich

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<v Speaker 3>a kid, you know, obviously they're they're not only teammates

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<v Speaker 3>of mine, they're really really good friends and friends for life,

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<v Speaker 3>and so you know, It was sort of informal.

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<v Speaker 5>I kind of threw it out.

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<v Speaker 3>Hey, I'd love for you guys, or for love, would

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<v Speaker 3>love for you to be up there with me, and

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<v Speaker 3>and they both were kind of no brainer obviously, And

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<v Speaker 3>uh and so they're they're looking forward to it, and

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<v Speaker 3>I'm looking forward.

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<v Speaker 4>To seeing them.

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<v Speaker 5>I'm seeing their families.

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<v Speaker 3>And just spending an incredible three four days up up

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<v Speaker 3>in Springfield.

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<v Speaker 2>You know, I always say this when people ask me

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<v Speaker 2>about the early days, and you know, you and Steve

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<v Speaker 2>both had a rough first year in Dallas, which was

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<v Speaker 2>a long long time ago, but having been there, I'm

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<v Speaker 2>certainly not going to forget it when you think back.

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<v Speaker 2>I mean, how crazy does it sound to you that

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<v Speaker 2>there were two future MVPs and two future Hall of

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<v Speaker 2>Famers on that lockout nineteen ninety nine MAVs team when

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<v Speaker 2>you and Steve first were teammates. Man, it's almost twenty

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<v Speaker 2>five years ago.

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<v Speaker 3>Yeah, crazy, crazy how the time has flown by, and

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<v Speaker 3>also crazy how that worked out. You know, you know me,

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<v Speaker 3>I'm always a little negative. I'm shy, you know, it's

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<v Speaker 3>my German in me, and so I that first year,

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<v Speaker 3>I just I wasn't sure gonna make it. I had

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<v Speaker 3>doubts creeping. And of course there were games you were there,

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<v Speaker 3>there were games where I didn't play at all.

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<v Speaker 5>I was, I was frustrated. I was you know, I was.

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<v Speaker 3>Uh, I've just basically questioning myself.

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<v Speaker 5>Did I make the right decisions here and.

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<v Speaker 3>Uh to come over? Or should I have stayed in Europe?

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<v Speaker 3>Should I have gone to college? And I guess all

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<v Speaker 3>that's normal when things don't really you know, work out

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<v Speaker 3>well or or work out as planned. And and then

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<v Speaker 3>all we really did was Steve and I was saying, Hey,

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<v Speaker 3>all we can do is is is you know, work

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<v Speaker 3>hard and and we'll we'll we'll go from there. That's

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<v Speaker 3>all you can do is control what you can control.

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<v Speaker 3>We used to go back to the gym every night,

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<v Speaker 3>to the old Landry Center there. We didn't even have

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<v Speaker 3>a own practice facility, uh, and just you know, played

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<v Speaker 3>horse played one on one, played shooting games, played uh,

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<v Speaker 3>played with other guys three on three and just you know,

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<v Speaker 3>just trying to work hard as hard as we can

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<v Speaker 3>and get extra sessions in and so we you know,

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<v Speaker 3>it wasn't really if it didn't work out, then people

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<v Speaker 3>can't say, well, you didn't work hard enough. So that's

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<v Speaker 3>what we both didn't want, and so we just really

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<v Speaker 3>busted our tails.

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<v Speaker 5>And trying to get better and trying to make it.

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<v Speaker 3>And then, you know, I always mentioned and you were

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<v Speaker 3>there the end of my first year when we were

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<v Speaker 3>finally out of the playoffs.

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<v Speaker 5>We were never really in it.

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<v Speaker 3>I think we're like four or five games out of

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<v Speaker 3>the playoffs at all times. But then when we were

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<v Speaker 3>finally eliminated, Nellie came up to me and say, hey, listen,

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<v Speaker 3>I'll start you again. We have whatever ten games left.

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<v Speaker 3>Why don't you just you know, get adjusted to the

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<v Speaker 3>game and have some fun and really love playing. And

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<v Speaker 3>that stretch, to me, was one of the biggest turnarounds

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<v Speaker 3>in my career. And Steve obviously started playing well earlier,

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<v Speaker 3>but for me, that was a big turnaround.

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<v Speaker 5>I got to be comfortable.

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<v Speaker 3>I had one game I had like twenty eight and

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<v Speaker 3>that kind of showed me, hey, if you actually work

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<v Speaker 3>hard and you have the skills to succeed, and obviously

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<v Speaker 3>Nellie will put you in positions with us with this

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<v Speaker 3>mismatched style, that that even my body I was a

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<v Speaker 3>little underdeveloped, I could be in a position to play

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<v Speaker 3>well and contribute.

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<v Speaker 5>And so that that meant, that meant the well to me.

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<v Speaker 3>That thought those last ten games of my on my

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<v Speaker 3>first year that really changed everything.

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<v Speaker 2>One and only Dirk Noovitski joining us here on the

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<v Speaker 2>Saturday Steinline on ninety seven to one The Freak presented

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<v Speaker 2>by Panini America, And you guys should know this show

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<v Speaker 2>has now moved into it second month.

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<v Speaker 4>Dirk volunteered to be.

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<v Speaker 2>The first guests in show history, our very first show.

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<v Speaker 4>But I told no I wanted to wait. I wanted

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<v Speaker 4>to wait to do this right before his induction into

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<v Speaker 4>the Hall of Fame. And we are doing this now

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<v Speaker 4>one week before that induction.

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<v Speaker 2>With I'm I'm you know, I can't say I'm as

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<v Speaker 2>excited as you, but I'm pretty damn excited too.

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<v Speaker 4>I just I can't wait.

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<v Speaker 2>I can't wait to see all because it's not just

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<v Speaker 2>you going in, but everyone you're going in with to like,

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<v Speaker 2>just what do you think it's going to be like

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<v Speaker 2>to be You're with all your rivals, Pow, Tony, Pop,

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<v Speaker 2>your buddy Wade, like to go in with all.

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<v Speaker 4>These guys too at the same time.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean unbelievable at times, you know, there there were

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<v Speaker 3>times where where all of us didn't really get along great,

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<v Speaker 3>but I think that's that's part of part of competing

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<v Speaker 3>at the highest level and part of you know, trying

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<v Speaker 3>to win and at all costs. And so there were

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<v Speaker 3>times where it didn't speak with pal Mush, there were

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<v Speaker 3>times where did in speak with Dwayne, Uh, Tony and

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<v Speaker 3>I were always pretty okay. But it's just that just

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<v Speaker 3>funny how that works out that now all of a sudden,

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<v Speaker 3>we're we're all together in this class and uh, we

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<v Speaker 3>talked about it a little bit when we got introduced

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<v Speaker 3>in uh in the final four in Euston when they

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<v Speaker 3>announced us, and we spent a couple of good days

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<v Speaker 3>together there, and uh, it's.

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<v Speaker 5>Just funny how that worked.

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<v Speaker 3>And we competed against Power and Tony since we were

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<v Speaker 3>I don't know, twenty nineteen, twenty years old on national

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<v Speaker 3>teams and so it was it's super cool to be

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<v Speaker 3>part of the crew. And you know how much I

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<v Speaker 3>inspect Pop. I mean, to me, he was he's probably

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<v Speaker 3>one of the goats of coaching and the respect that

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<v Speaker 3>and all the stuff they's done for me in my

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<v Speaker 3>last game, and I mean, I can I can go

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<v Speaker 3>on minutes about the guy. So I'm super, super humble

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<v Speaker 3>to be part of this, this amazing class. And like

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<v Speaker 3>I said, we're gonna have some fun.

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<v Speaker 5>We're going there.

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<v Speaker 3>I think we have some We're going golfing one day

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<v Speaker 3>with the whole class and h so's It's gonna be

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<v Speaker 3>a fun, fun couple of days and I'm gonna I'm

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<v Speaker 3>gonna enjoy it.

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<v Speaker 5>Yeah.

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<v Speaker 2>I got to ask you this one because I've got

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<v Speaker 2>MAVs fans asking me all the time, like are we

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<v Speaker 2>are we supposed to know?

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<v Speaker 4>Are you and Dwayne Wade now buddies? Are you guys? Friends?

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<v Speaker 4>Is that how we are supposed to refer to you two?

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<v Speaker 5>I think friends.

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<v Speaker 3>I mean, obviously friends reach out to each other all

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<v Speaker 3>the time, talk all the time. I wouldn't say we're friends.

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<v Speaker 3>I think there's a mutual sense of obviously respect for

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<v Speaker 3>each other's career, and obviously we're cordial. We were sitting

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<v Speaker 3>actually in Houston at that one dinner. We were sitting

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<v Speaker 3>at at the same table. Our family sat together, and

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<v Speaker 3>so there's just no there's no bad blood obviously anymore people.

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<v Speaker 3>We all moved on. Things were said on both sides

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<v Speaker 3>are done that neither neither side light But you know.

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<v Speaker 3>That's like I said earlier, that's part of competition at

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<v Speaker 3>the highest level, it's there. To me, I'm still old school.

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<v Speaker 3>There were really no friends at at the highest level.

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<v Speaker 3>I understand now it is. Everything is a little different

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<v Speaker 3>in the league, but at the you know where when

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<v Speaker 3>I came in, there were really no friendships at the

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<v Speaker 3>highest level. And and so that's that's where that comes from.

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<v Speaker 5>So are we friends, No, we don't text.

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<v Speaker 3>Each other, but I think where there's a lot of

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<v Speaker 3>respect there and we're we're both happy to it to

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<v Speaker 3>go in the Hall of Fame together.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm gonna have to do a poll among the audience.

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<v Speaker 2>How many how many listeners have moved on? That'll be

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<v Speaker 2>a good that'll be something good? I threw out there. Now,

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<v Speaker 2>Actually you did the It was in the recent past,

0:11:14.440 --> 0:11:17.160
<v Speaker 2>a year maybe a year ago, maybe more, maybe a

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<v Speaker 2>little bit less, but you did a podcast with Tony

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<v Speaker 2>krus and Felix Kruse's brother, you know, both professional soccer players.

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<v Speaker 2>Obviously everyone knows Tony's still playing for Real Madrid, and

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<v Speaker 2>you talked about you were really candid with with that.

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<v Speaker 2>I'm guessing in your own language and with fellow athletes,

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<v Speaker 2>maybe it was.

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<v Speaker 4>Easier, and you you talked about how.

0:11:36.320 --> 0:11:39.040
<v Speaker 2>You said something to the effect that the last couple

0:11:39.040 --> 0:11:42.679
<v Speaker 2>of years you were questioning were they worth it?

0:11:42.760 --> 0:11:45.880
<v Speaker 4>Because you know, you've you've had some.

0:11:46.480 --> 0:11:49.640
<v Speaker 2>Foot issues since playing, and I think you said something

0:11:49.679 --> 0:11:52.080
<v Speaker 2>along lines of you could probably move better today had

0:11:52.120 --> 0:11:55.839
<v Speaker 2>you retired earlier, but with a little bit more time.

0:11:55.960 --> 0:11:57.720
<v Speaker 4>How do you feel about that part?

0:11:57.800 --> 0:12:00.199
<v Speaker 2>And how you know because you stayed twenty one years,

0:12:00.200 --> 0:12:02.640
<v Speaker 2>but that gave you that also gave you an incredible

0:12:02.720 --> 0:12:05.880
<v Speaker 2>record that may never be broken. Twenty one years with

0:12:06.040 --> 0:12:08.120
<v Speaker 2>one franchise. How do you look at that now?

0:12:09.800 --> 0:12:10.880
<v Speaker 5>Yeah, sort of the same.

0:12:11.000 --> 0:12:13.120
<v Speaker 3>You know, I think it's normal to go back and

0:12:13.559 --> 0:12:17.479
<v Speaker 3>ask yourself questions and when you that's part of reflecting.

0:12:17.720 --> 0:12:19.880
<v Speaker 3>If you're done with something in life, and then you

0:12:19.960 --> 0:12:22.000
<v Speaker 3>kind of look back and reflect a little bit, and

0:12:22.000 --> 0:12:23.439
<v Speaker 3>then it's normal.

0:12:23.200 --> 0:12:24.600
<v Speaker 5>To ask questions, Hey, what if?

0:12:24.960 --> 0:12:27.360
<v Speaker 3>What if if I would have squit two years earlier?

0:12:27.480 --> 0:12:31.160
<v Speaker 3>Would that I've made a difference? Honestly, it doesn't really matter.

0:12:31.240 --> 0:12:35.520
<v Speaker 3>I'm I'm super, super proud of having played twenty one

0:12:35.640 --> 0:12:39.760
<v Speaker 3>years for one franchise. Nobody can ever take that away

0:12:39.760 --> 0:12:42.800
<v Speaker 3>from me. And of course the last years were a

0:12:42.800 --> 0:12:45.120
<v Speaker 3>little tough. I mean, in my last season, I could barely.

0:12:45.160 --> 0:12:47.960
<v Speaker 3>I didn't practice anymore. I missed the first thirty games.

0:12:47.960 --> 0:12:52.000
<v Speaker 3>It took forever from me to somewhat play decent basketball.

0:12:52.040 --> 0:12:56.480
<v Speaker 3>So those times are not necessarily fun. But you know,

0:12:57.240 --> 0:13:01.079
<v Speaker 3>like I said, it's part of my career now, and

0:13:01.360 --> 0:13:03.720
<v Speaker 3>I'm proud of it. Played twenty one years at an

0:13:03.800 --> 0:13:06.360
<v Speaker 3>older age and trying to keep up with, you know,

0:13:06.440 --> 0:13:10.320
<v Speaker 3>guys that were half your age, and so I'm proud

0:13:10.400 --> 0:13:13.719
<v Speaker 3>that I made it this long. And of course here

0:13:13.720 --> 0:13:17.200
<v Speaker 3>and there I have some ankle issues, but I think

0:13:17.240 --> 0:13:19.199
<v Speaker 3>that's just you know, even if I would have quit

0:13:19.240 --> 0:13:21.040
<v Speaker 3>after nineteen, I would have.

0:13:21.000 --> 0:13:24.000
<v Speaker 5>Still had some issues. It's just part of part of sports.

0:13:25.280 --> 0:13:27.600
<v Speaker 4>Our last few moments here on ninety seven to one.

0:13:27.600 --> 0:13:30.680
<v Speaker 2>The Three with the one and Only Jerk Davitsky, one

0:13:30.760 --> 0:13:34.439
<v Speaker 2>week away from his Hall of Fame induction, I asked

0:13:34.440 --> 0:13:36.600
<v Speaker 2>Tyson Chandler this a couple of weeks ago, when we

0:13:36.640 --> 0:13:40.840
<v Speaker 2>had Tyson on the show actually having a championship ring.

0:13:41.440 --> 0:13:43.400
<v Speaker 2>Is it do you do you look at it? Do

0:13:43.440 --> 0:13:46.240
<v Speaker 2>you just keep it away and try not to think

0:13:46.280 --> 0:13:49.400
<v Speaker 2>about it? Or how much on it? How much on

0:13:49.440 --> 0:13:53.800
<v Speaker 2>a daily basis can you feel yes, I'm a champion,

0:13:53.840 --> 0:13:56.080
<v Speaker 2>because obviously in your case, I think you know you

0:13:56.280 --> 0:13:59.200
<v Speaker 2>heard for so long when you hadn't won, I mean

0:13:59.200 --> 0:14:02.160
<v Speaker 2>you were just remind I get about it constantly, constantly,

0:14:02.240 --> 0:14:05.560
<v Speaker 2>So how much on a daily basis can you feel yes,

0:14:05.640 --> 0:14:06.880
<v Speaker 2>I actually have that ring?

0:14:07.720 --> 0:14:09.760
<v Speaker 5>So I don't look at the ring a lot.

0:14:10.400 --> 0:14:12.960
<v Speaker 3>Only when I really have new guests or whatever and

0:14:13.000 --> 0:14:14.520
<v Speaker 3>they come over and they want to see it, But

0:14:14.600 --> 0:14:17.160
<v Speaker 3>it's usually in a safe place, so I don't see

0:14:17.160 --> 0:14:20.200
<v Speaker 3>it myself much, maybe every couple of weeks, every couple

0:14:20.200 --> 0:14:23.800
<v Speaker 3>of months. But I am reminded of the championship every day.

0:14:23.880 --> 0:14:26.040
<v Speaker 3>I mean I have I have a photo at home

0:14:26.080 --> 0:14:27.520
<v Speaker 3>in my little man.

0:14:27.440 --> 0:14:30.240
<v Speaker 5>Cave where obviously hoisted trophy and the whole.

0:14:30.040 --> 0:14:34.720
<v Speaker 3>Team is behind me, and I have the banner somewhere

0:14:34.720 --> 0:14:38.800
<v Speaker 3>around that, the remake of the banner with all the

0:14:38.920 --> 0:14:39.560
<v Speaker 3>names on it.

0:14:40.680 --> 0:14:43.080
<v Speaker 5>So I am reminded of it daily.

0:14:43.160 --> 0:14:45.960
<v Speaker 3>Which is of course amazing, and it puts me a

0:14:46.000 --> 0:14:47.520
<v Speaker 3>small on my face every day.

0:14:48.600 --> 0:14:50.440
<v Speaker 5>But the ring, I would say.

0:14:50.240 --> 0:14:52.480
<v Speaker 3>Only every couple of weeks, every couple of months, I'll

0:14:52.520 --> 0:14:54.800
<v Speaker 3>look at it. So actually a matter of fact, I

0:14:54.800 --> 0:14:58.000
<v Speaker 3>haven't seen it now in months now, since we traveled

0:14:58.000 --> 0:15:00.720
<v Speaker 3>a bunch, so when I get home, I might have

0:15:00.760 --> 0:15:04.320
<v Speaker 3>to lay eyes on it before I come to Springfield.

0:15:05.280 --> 0:15:09.040
<v Speaker 2>Incredibly happy for you that you have that ring, Incredibly

0:15:09.120 --> 0:15:12.680
<v Speaker 2>happy for you for what awaits this coming week, huge

0:15:12.720 --> 0:15:16.400
<v Speaker 2>week for you. You've got a restaurant opening at THEFW

0:15:16.480 --> 0:15:19.600
<v Speaker 2>and then we all make our way to Springfield for

0:15:19.640 --> 0:15:21.120
<v Speaker 2>this incredible ceremony.

0:15:21.760 --> 0:15:23.480
<v Speaker 4>Still can't believe it's happening.

0:15:23.160 --> 0:15:28.480
<v Speaker 2>But huge, hugely grateful to catch up with you today

0:15:28.600 --> 0:15:31.320
<v Speaker 2>and have you on the show, and thank you honestly

0:15:31.400 --> 0:15:34.120
<v Speaker 2>for I mean, there's no thank yous I can say.

0:15:34.120 --> 0:15:38.120
<v Speaker 2>They're sufficient for the twenty five years that you've let

0:15:38.200 --> 0:15:40.360
<v Speaker 2>me pester you. I actually been thinking about it that

0:15:40.440 --> 0:15:43.040
<v Speaker 2>September is going to be twenty five years since I

0:15:43.160 --> 0:15:46.560
<v Speaker 2>came to work word for the first time, which is

0:15:46.720 --> 0:15:48.760
<v Speaker 2>just what happened to us.

0:15:48.800 --> 0:15:49.120
<v Speaker 5>Man.

0:15:49.680 --> 0:15:53.160
<v Speaker 3>Yeah, no, thank you, thank you for coming along on

0:15:53.160 --> 0:15:56.400
<v Speaker 3>this journey. And you know, at the beginning we kind of,

0:15:56.880 --> 0:15:59.560
<v Speaker 3>you know, we both started talk soccer and we had

0:15:59.600 --> 0:16:02.480
<v Speaker 3>a great bond there and so I really appreciate you

0:16:02.600 --> 0:16:05.360
<v Speaker 3>being a part of this journey and it's been, uh,

0:16:05.400 --> 0:16:08.240
<v Speaker 3>it's been so much fun. So thanks thanks to you

0:16:08.280 --> 0:16:12.160
<v Speaker 3>as well for being part Dirk Navitski.

0:16:12.240 --> 0:16:16.640
<v Speaker 2>Everyone the future Hall of Famer, and future means only

0:16:16.720 --> 0:16:20.840
<v Speaker 2>one week. A week from today, you will be eternally

0:16:20.920 --> 0:16:23.960
<v Speaker 2>referred to as the Hall of Famer Jerk Davitski.

0:16:25.960 --> 0:16:28.160
<v Speaker 1>And that'll do it for us. See you next time.

0:16:29.800 --> 0:16:38.160
<v Speaker 1>This league un Cuttage and iHeartRadio production Christine and Mark

0:16:38.240 --> 0:16:38.600
<v Speaker 1>Stein