- 2 days ago
Carl and Mike come back and react to reports of the NBA cancelling the Hawks' "Magic City Night" promotion.
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00:01Well, you thought the day was interesting. It just got a little bit more interesting.
00:05It's Dukes and Bell, Sports Radio 92.9 The Game.
00:09We have spent extensive time over the last two weeks talking about Magic City Monday.
00:18That was scheduled, you heard me, to happen next Monday night.
00:24The NBA, according to Sham Serenia, has put out a statement from Adam Silver.
00:30Who is the commissioner of the NBA.
00:32Guys, if you're tuning in and you're talking about Tua, stay there.
00:35We're going to get back to it.
00:37We certainly want to hear your thoughts on the things that the Falcons have done today.
00:40But this is also front and center because it's been such a huge promotion that everybody around the country was
00:47talking about.
00:48So I just want to read this real quick, Mike, and then we respond.
00:52The statement from Adam Silver reads,
00:55When we became aware of the Atlanta Hawks' scheduled promotion, we reached out to the Hawks' leadership to better understand
01:01their plans and rationale.
01:04While we appreciate the team's perspective and their desire to move forward,
01:09we have heard significant concerns from a broad array of league stakeholders, including fans, partners, and employees.
01:17I believe canceling this promotion is the right decision for the broader NBA community.
01:23Magic City Monday is not happening now.
01:26And, Mike, this speaks to a lot of things that the NBA does not stand up for and has not
01:34had any say.
01:35And Adam Silver doesn't want to get involved in some of the things that he needs to.
01:38But what are you thinking now?
01:41Because we just had Steve Coonan on the show, the Hawks' CEO.
01:44He comes on every Friday with us, guys, explaining this.
01:48I got to call BS on one part of this.
01:52When we became aware, they approved the design that was on the Magic City hoodie.
02:02NBA has been aware of this for months.
02:03For months!
02:05So this idea, like, all of a sudden somebody called the New York office and went,
02:09did you hear what they're trying to do down there in Atlanta?
02:11I got to call BS on that.
02:12Sorry.
02:14Outside of that, Mike, what are you thinking about this?
02:16Well, I mean, my first reaction is a spineless amoeba jellyfish commissioner like Adam Silver,
02:21who's never rendered a decision in his life, is the antithesis of his predecessor, David Stern,
02:26who knew what was best for the fan, more importantly than the players.
02:29And this guy, all he does is acquiesce to the players.
02:31You know, can't get them to do their jobs and, you know, again, they've got a lot of problems.
02:35They've got tanking, they're trying to change all that.
02:37Okay, again, to your point, they were aware of this.
02:39So I don't know.
02:40I don't know who the voice was, if there was one specific NBA owner, if there was a women's group.
02:44Look, obviously, we always do the pros and cons to Magic City.
02:48We said, look, we can have a fun tweak, you know, wink, wink, risque night.
02:51But on a school night when there's no kids going anyway, people really objected.
02:56We saw the feedback on this day.
02:57It got even worse when you were on vacation to our producer.
02:59And a lot of folks pushed back.
03:01And the NBA is image conscious to the point where they said they've got to push back in their mind
03:05because it doesn't line up with, I guess, their vision.
03:08So image conscious that you can't get your own guys to play?
03:11Exactly.
03:12I mean, again, look, the NBA's got a million problems.
03:14The last one is Magic City's night.
03:15And again, he's such a wimp.
03:18You can stand with your team, stand with the other that came up with this,
03:21the uniqueness of Atlanta culture.
03:22We talked about this.
03:23But again, he basically, Adam Silver bows in the 11th hour.
03:26Because now, again, I don't know what level of pressure and who reached out and what it was.
03:30Because as we said, other than talking heads on television, that's about it.
03:33I haven't seen any spokesperson for any specific groups saying there's going to be a boycott of the NBA or
03:39anything like that.
03:39Mike, neither have I and neither have you.
03:42You haven't seen it either because it's not happening.
03:45Anyways, we have to talk about it because, again, it affects our team.
03:49It affects our city.
03:50And let's keep it real, Mike.
03:52This was a brilliant promotion.
03:54This got more run than anything else you've heard about all season long in the NBA.
03:59Matter of fact, you haven't heard anything else about any promotion in the NBA except this.
04:04So from that standpoint alone, kudos to the Hawks.
04:07It hasn't even happened.
04:08I said to Carl, if you're one of those people that pre-ordered the Magic City swag, whether it's a
04:12t-shirt and sweatshirts, priceless.
04:15That's going to be a hell of a keepsake.
04:16Because, again, if you want to put some money on that for a rent.
04:20It better show up.
04:21Don't y'all send me no damn refund.
04:22It better show up.
04:23Well, that's just it.
04:23Is the NBA going to squash that?
04:26And they're going to refund you your money?
04:27You'll get another piece of Hawks swag of equal or lesser value.
04:30Didn't Koen say the league approved those?
04:32Of course he did.
04:33Yes.
04:33He said this two weeks ago, Mike, when you were out.
04:35They approved them.
04:36The league was aware of this.
04:37When you were out, and the question was, when this came across your desk, did you have to ask the
04:44league for approval?
04:45And he said, no, but we did have to inform them about the design of the hoodie.
04:50That was his comment to us.
04:52Matter of fact, Abe was filling in for you.
04:54And we said, oh, okay.
04:55So you can make those kind of decisions as long as the NBA is aware of what's going on and
05:00the design.
05:02And because, again, now you're talking about the merchandising and the infringement of the other NBA teams.
05:09Bottom line was, he said, that's all we had to do.
05:11So that's why I'm calling BS on that front part of that statement where when we became aware, when you've
05:17been aware.
05:17Right.
05:18So, as we said, I think you can promote basketball, youth sports, and the WNBA and all that.
05:25And I guess this was always going to be, for some, maybe the NBA headquarters, a difficult decision to roll
05:31with.
05:32You know?
05:32And look.
05:33There have been some dumb promotions, though, that have happened over the years.
05:36I really thought you cleared the hurdles because, again, to go forward with producing the gear, to have it official,
05:42the NBA signed off on it.
05:43So, anyway, Adam Silver, spineless amoeba jellyfish.
05:47You know, not standing with his team, but bowing to whatever pressure.
05:51And we're still not aware where that pressure came from.
05:54All right.
05:54Magic City Monday, not happening now.
05:59As far as the game, by the way.
06:01Don't misunderstand.
06:02You think an advertiser, somebody came and said, this is something we don't align with?
06:05I mean, that is a possibility.
06:06I have no idea.
06:07The game, obviously, is still going to happen.
06:09That's a given.
06:09This was a promotion as part of the game experience.
06:12And, by the way, as Steve Coonan laid out, they were going to add lemon pepper wings.
06:17Like, if you're familiar.
06:19Do we still have the wings?
06:20Well, I hope.
06:21I hope.
06:22Yes.
06:22And TI was scheduled to perform.
06:23So, I don't know if those things change.
06:26Maybe not, because TI's got this new album.
06:28TI, that is, has this new album out.
06:30But, Mike, that was really what this was in addition to the game itself.
06:35The game will still happen, but the promotional stuff surrounding that will not.
06:38You know it's not going to change.
06:40What's that?
06:40Magic City Monday that night.
06:43Right on.
06:44The price probably just went up to get into Magic City Monday.
06:46It's still going to go down.
06:47We're still going to represent it.
06:50404-726-0929.
06:51You can text us.
06:52Let us know what you think.
06:53Mike, can anything else happen today?
06:57Is there anything else that anybody wants to drop on us?
06:59So, Magic City has been pulled.
07:01They pulled a rug out on Magic City night from us.
07:02We also got Tua Tungabailoa, an organization, the Falcons, that have a problem with an oft-injured,
07:09left-handed quarterback, have just signed another oft-injured, left-handed quarterback.
07:13In this case, it's not knees.
07:15It's obviously the concussion and everything else he's dealt with.
07:17It's very cheap.
07:18The Dolphins were paying Tua not to work for them anymore.
07:21It comes out to, according to our man Armando Salguero, around $1.3 million.
07:26So, it was cheap.
07:27It's a gap situation.
07:29It's cheaper than anybody else, if we're honest, that was out there.
07:32No, no, no.
07:33Including Joe Flacco.
07:33That you can't debate.
07:35What you can debate is, what is it?
07:37And can he really come here and help you and win games for you to start the season?
07:42Is he over the injuries he suffered last year?
07:45Because he had his own injuries.
07:46And where's his head at?
07:48Because he went from being a franchise quarterback, Mike, who got a big bag, to being benched.
07:52And, look, you can say, all right, that doesn't affect guys.
07:56These guys have huge egos.
07:58These guys are as competitive as it gets.
08:01And especially when you talk about being a starting quarterback in the league.
08:03I think I'm just trying to take this in.
08:05You guys know.
08:06You follow me.
08:07I put him up.
08:08See, Dukes.
08:08I've been against this all morning.
08:10All day.
08:10I said, I'm out on this.
08:12I don't like this idea.
08:13I'm not all four smallish quarterbacks.
08:15I gave you all the reasons why.
08:17And I said, he regressed.
08:19He hasn't gotten better.
08:20A lot of guys are asking us, you know, you're already taking the cap.
08:24Why didn't we keep Kirk Cousins?
08:25Okay.
08:26And it's something that you and I have talked about.
08:28And I guess, you know, coming from Matt and Matt Ryan and Ian Cunningham's point of view,
08:31it's time to just turn the page on that.
08:32Yes.
08:33Can I say something?
08:34They didn't want to be in the same situation that the franchise had been in the last two years
08:38with the uncertainty of everybody thinking the same thing about the guy that was still here.
08:43That is why.
08:44So, Mike, new face.
08:46Right.
08:46Same uncertainty.
08:48Right.
08:49I mean, look, guys.
08:50I mean, Michael Penix, look, two is hit, one hit.
08:52There's a lot of players in the NFL that are one hit away.
08:54But, I mean, we've really got the guys that are one hit away.
08:57Yes.
08:57We've got two quarterbacks that are the literal one hit away from probably not playing again.
09:02Don't wish that on anybody.
09:03We like Michael Penix Jr.
09:05There'll be, I presume, a competition.
09:07Because the one thing, guys, and the Falcons, I'm sure, know this, and they have a date,
09:11and they've got specifics.
09:11We don't.
09:12Is when Michael Penix Jr. will be available to practice and then compete.
09:16And so, in the meantime, we're going with a guy.
09:19Look, he's over .500 for his career.
09:21He's thrown 120 touchdowns.
09:22His brand is just crap right now.
09:24And that's two.
09:25I'm talking about a low up.
09:26Tinker's been holding patiently.
09:28I want to grab his thoughts on this.
09:29And, again, we're taking your comments as well.
09:32And here's the thing I love.
09:33I had a guy hit me up.
09:34Can't believe y'all this excited about a backup.
09:36Is he?
09:38We've been talking about this quarterback situation for months.
09:40I just told you, guys, we don't know when Penix, Penix, is Penix, yes, I know what Penix said.
09:45He's trying to pump it up.
09:46He didn't say he'll be ready August 1st.
09:48He said he'll be ready when the season begins.
09:49And to start this season, you must practice and know this playbook and be able to throw to your new
09:54receivers.
09:54We talk about practice.
09:56I mean, look, this is not the worst.
10:00Would you be more excited if we were talking about Joe Flacco right now?
10:03No, because he's old.
10:05Yeah.
10:05I mean, that's what I'm telling guys.
10:06I think we roll with it.
10:08I mean, this is always going to be a weird start to the 2060s.
10:11No, it was.
10:11No, that absolutely is true.
10:13All right, Tinker, man, what's on your mind?
10:14Appreciate your patience.
10:15So much going on today.
10:16How do you feel about this Tua situation?
10:19I can't have anything.
10:21That's messed up.
10:23But, no, the two of them, hey, look,
10:25I knew they was going to have to make the move with the monies.
10:29I already knew it wasn't going to be a popular decision, whoever they pick.
10:34I'm not excited about it.
10:36But I feel like this team is just snake bit.
10:38And I feel like the woman on the movie Airplane, where everybody takes a turn slapping her.
10:44And all these things, like the dominoes, just keep turning.
10:48And I just keep getting slapped.
10:49Next person, slap.
10:51And just keep, I don't know, man.
10:53Just frustrated.
10:54See you all.
10:55Appreciate you, Tinker.
10:57Hey, in other news.
10:58Yep.
11:00Travis Kelsey's coming back.
11:02One-year deal with the Chiefs, $12 million.
11:04The Chiefs also have a deal in place for Kenneth Walker, who was a Super Bowl MVP.
11:09So they're trying to improve that run game.
11:11Remember, Mahomes is coming off the injury.
11:12All right, we got to go through all, as much as we can, in the next segment.
11:18Some of the moves that have happened in the NFL, right?
11:20Max Crosby got traded over the weekend.
11:22He's going to the Ravens.
11:23We know that.
11:24Everybody was wondering where Tua would land.
11:26He's landed in the ATL.
11:27But we're going to get you caught up on what else is going on around the NFL with all these
11:31teams when we come back on Sports Radio 92.9 The Game.
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