Category: Basketball

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Advice for Ja Morant

Ja Morant

Tarlin Ray and Mike Palmer are back from youth volleyball tournaments in Vegas and SXSW EDU in Austin to dig into the ongoing Ja Morant story as we outline a series of incidents that have resulted in his suspension from the Grizzlies. What advice do we have for a “Likes-to-Fight” guy like Ja? What lessons can we draw from the story of Gilbert “Agent Zero” Arenas and Javaris Crittenton bringing guns to the Washington Wizards’ locker room? What other stories of incidents from the past can provide perspective on how Ja can sort things out for himself as the transcendent 23-year-old talent grapples with his season on the brink? Listen in to find out.

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NBA 2023 Trade Deadline Shuffle Up and Deal Edition

NBA Trade - Kyrie & KD

Mike and Tarlin are back to talk about Lessons Learned from the NBA with the recent team shakeups across the league as we prepare for the stretch run after the All-Star Game. Kyrie and KD are no longer Nets and that has set off ripple effects that have transformed the NBA. We get Mike’s reactions to the new look Knicks and Nets and hear from Tarlin about his revamped Lakers before digging into the new Big 4 with the Suns and how they shape up against Jokic’s Nuggets and the new pecking order in the Western Conference. The leadership in the East is clearly Boston, Milwaukee, and Philadelphia. Mike issues an “Intangibles Alert” with the crafty Jae Crowder heading to the Bucks. What have the experiments with Big 3s and so-called “Super Teams” taught us so far and how does this set us up for the rest of this season? We try to answer this while also reflecting on the sale of the Suns from Robert Sarver to bench player for the 2000 NCAA Champion Michigan State Spartans, Matt Ishbia, and what it means for the league.

Then we conclude by reflecting on LeBron breaking Kareem’s All-Time NBA Scoring record in a wide-ranging romp through the exciting and vastly transformed NBA in 2023. Don’t miss it.

Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more amazing lessons learned from the world of sports.

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The Redeem Team

The Redeem Team

Tarlin and Mike are back to break down the recent Netflix documentary, The Redeem Team. What lessons can be learned about leadership, storytelling, and redemption? How does this connect back to the history of US Mens Basketball, the Dream Team, and even the origins of Running It Back? We explore all of this while showcasing one of the most compelling offensive fouls in basketball history.

Are there lessons to be learned from Kobe’s leadership? Or from Coach K’s coaching tactics? And how do even the greatest players in the world have to relearn the game and how they can contribute to the team in new ways to win?

Listen in to find out! Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more amazing lessons learned from sports.

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Sports Protests in the Wake of Uvalde and Buffalo

Steve Kerr

Tarlin and Mike react to the powerful moments from sports leaders in response to the tragic shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York. We listen to what Steve Kerr said and talk about what Gabe Kapler did as coaches and leaders of their teams respond publicly to the unthinkable events.

Then we run it back to the history of sports protests and activism ranging from Kaepernick, to Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf, to the leading role of the WNBA, the Brittney Griner situation, and Muhammad Ali’s historic protest of the Vietnam War, among others, as we try to make sense of the senseless. And there’s plenty of reference to famous soundbites from Marshawn Lynch, Rasheed Wallace, and Allen Iverson along the way to keep things lighter.

What lessons, if any, can we learn from all of this? How can we use sports narratives as tools to work through our response to the unthinkable? And what does this tell us about leadership and acts of conscience in these challenging times? We cover all of this and more on our latest episode. Listen in and enjoy.

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Lessons Learned from the 2022 NBA Season

NBA

Tarlin and Mike are back, this time just ahead of the NBA Finals where two teams will square off for all the marbles. We look for lessons learned from the NBA Season, the end-of-year awards, and what we’ve seen so far in the Playoffs.

We begin by talking about Marcus Smart, the 2022 Defensive Player of the Year. Tarlin runs it back to The Glove as we recognize the energy and other intangibles he brings to the Celtics. Mike explains why he likes the Celtics to take it all as we acknowledge what Ime Udoka, Brad Stevens, and a cohesive, defensively-minded unit from Boston.

From there, we talk Luka and what Jason Kidd and team are doing in Dallas, even though we don’t see them getting past Steph and the Ws. Tarlin fights back the tears as we look back at the disappointing performance of so-called Super Teams like the Lakers, Nets, and Sixers.

We talk about the Suns’ mysterious and embarrassing disappearance in Game 7 at home versus Dallas. We may never know what happened but it doesn’t keep us from speculating.

Tarlin wraps us up with our note of support for the Buffalo community, looking for inspiration from the many successes of Black Coaches in the NBA.

Thanks for listening. Subscribe wherever you get your podcasts.

Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more incredible lessons learned from sports.

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When’s the Right Time for an Athlete to Hang It Up?

Jim Brown

Get your red wine bath ready, Tarlin and Mike are back after a SXSW panel, a Good Morning America appearance, and a bout of Covid-19(!) to talk about the age-old question of what’s the right way to hang it up at the end of a long and successful sports career. Don’t call it a comeback, we’ve been here for (nearly two!) years and we’re not planning to retire any time soon.

We begin with Tarlin recounting conversations with his Dad about Tiger Woods playing past his prime and how he should’ve retired on top like Jim Brown. From there, we span multiple sports looking for heroes who have faced the end of their playing careers in various ways. What can we learn from Barry Sanders or Andrew Luck, who left their sports early? What can we learn from Shaq or Patrick Ewing or others who stuck around longer as their physical abilities began to fade? And what about GOATs who retired and then unretired like Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, and Tom Brady? Plus we show our range by covering Shaun White, Jimmy Connors, Kelly Slater, Serena Williams, Sue Bird and more. We even talk Carl Lewis both as a track star and as a National Anthem singer in a free-flowing romp through the greener pastures of sports retirement. Don’t miss it!

Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.com for more lessons learned from sports.

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NBA All-Star Escapism and the NBA Top 75

All Star Weekend

Tarlin and Mike are back, talking solace in basketball this time on the heels of the NBA All-Star weekend in Cleveland. We reminisce over All-Star Weekends from times gone by, including 1988 and 1992 before fast-forwarding back to the present to talk about a dismal Slam Dunk Contest, the 3 Point Shooting Contest, and the display put on by Stephen Curry during the actual All-Star Game on Sunday. In front of most of the 76 Greatest Players of all time and despite those that couldn’t make it, Steph showed to be the star among stars. And the NBA is being transformed in the process.

We look for lessons in the Top 75 and in ESPN’s as the wet jump shot may be replacing the stunning dunk as the signature move in the NBA today. We discuss all of this, riff on variations of the screenplay for Space Jam 3, and even propose five modern players on the Mount Rushmore of the modern game. Listen in. You might hear some surprises.

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Name, Image, Likeness, and Ed O’Bannon vs the NCAA

Ed O'Bannon

Tarlin and Mike return to talk about the recent changes to the NCAA regulations about college players’ ability to monetize their Name, Image, and Likenesses. We run it back to the case of Ed O’Bannon who was the lead plaintiff in a class-action lawsuit against the NCAA on violation of antitrust regulations based on the use of his image in an EA Sports Video Game in 2009.

In addition to Easy Ed, we reflect on what we’ve seen since the temporary measure was put in place by the NCAA in July as we think about what this means for college athletes, the NCAA, and elitist notions of amateurism. We also talk Azzi Fudd, brainstorm ideas for Space Jam 3, recall Gavin Newsome’s appearance on The Shop with LeBron James and much more.

It’s a fun romp through a significant change to college sports that is opening up opportunities for players and also for sports like women’s volleyball and other women’s sports that may not have traditionally garnered broader support and attention.

Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.com for more amazing lessons learned from sports.

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Scottie Pippen’s Last Dance Memoir Unguarded

Bulls Jordan and Pippen

Tarlin and Mike are back, this time to run it back to a new perspective on the legacy of the 1990s Bulls. This time it’s from Scottie Pippen’s perspective based on his recent memoir, Unguarded. What was it like to be Robin to Michael Jordan’s Batman? How did Scottie demonstrate the flexibility and adaptability that are critical to being an effective teammate and collaborator? And where did he go too far and come across as hurt and a little bit petty in his portrayal of the Bulls Dynasty from the perspective of its “Second Banana?”

We explore all of this and learn the importance of good nutrition while cycling in a whirlwind conversation that even includes some of Scotties deep and soulful DJ voice before concluding.

Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more amazing Lessons Learned from Sports.

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Ben Simmons, Disgruntlement, and The Process

Tarlin and Mike look for lessons learned from the acrimony surrounding Ben Simmons and the Philadelphia 76ers as we head into the 2021-2022 NBA Season. After another disappointing finish for the Sixers in the NBA Playoffs in the Summer of 2021, neither Joel Embiid nor Doc Rivers gave Ben Simmons the support he was looking for. Then after Ben asked for a trade, the drama increased as his request has not yet been granted. Simmons eventually appeared at practice but was so disengaged that Doc ended up sending him home. Ben’s since spoken with the team and is choosing to take time away as he is not mentally ready to play at this time.

What lessons can we find in this developing sports soap opera? What does it tell us about leadership? What can we learn by Running It Back to Sam Henkie and The Process? Who should take the reins and how will this resolve? Will Philly Persevere, Pivot, or Kill at this point? How much can teams cater to delicate stars and at what point does it become toxic?

We cover all of this and even get Tarlin’s lightning round run through a cavalcade of disgruntlement before we wrap up a relevant and insightful dive into the psyches and mindsets of the modern NBA.

Subscribe to Running It Back wherever you get your podcasts. Visit us at RunningItBack.fm for more great content.