WEBVTT 00:00.000 --> 00:01.000 >> female announcer: This is a 00:01.000 --> 00:03.000 production of WKNO, Memphis. 00:03.000 --> 00:05.000 Production funding for "Sports 00:05.000 --> 00:07.000 Files" is made possible in part 00:07.000 --> 00:09.000 by.. 00:15.000 --> 00:17.000 >> Gaston: My guest today on 00:17.000 --> 00:19.000 "Sports Files" is former Memphis 00:19.000 --> 00:20.000 Tigers All-American and NBA All- 00:20.000 --> 00:24.000 Star Anfernee "Penny" Hardaway. 00:24.000 --> 00:37.000 >> (instrumental music) 00:37.000 --> 00:40.000 ♪♪♪ 00:40.000 --> 00:42.000 >> Gaston: Happy New Year 00:42.000 --> 00:43.000 everyone. 00:43.000 --> 00:44.000 The city of Memphis, and the 00:44.000 --> 00:46.000 surrounding metro area, has been 00:46.000 --> 00:48.000 known for many years as a haven 00:48.000 --> 00:50.000 for some of the best round ball 00:50.000 --> 00:51.000 players in the country. 00:51.000 --> 00:53.000 In sports terms, when asked for 00:53.000 --> 00:54.000 a Memphian to describe their 00:54.000 --> 00:56.000 home, the usual response is 00:56.000 --> 00:57.000 "It's a basketball town". 00:57.000 --> 00:59.000 The list of star basketball 00:59.000 --> 01:00.000 players that have called the 01:00.000 --> 01:02.000 area home is both extensive and 01:02.000 --> 01:03.000 impressive. 01:03.000 --> 01:05.000 But the three names that will 01:05.000 --> 01:06.000 stand the test of time are 01:06.000 --> 01:08.000 Larry, Keith and Penny. 01:08.000 --> 01:09.000 As in Finch, Lee and Hardaway. 01:09.000 --> 01:11.000 Today, the legendary Penny 01:11.000 --> 01:12.000 Hardaway joins me to talk about 01:12.000 --> 01:14.000 his impact on the University of 01:14.000 --> 01:15.000 Memphis then and now. 01:15.000 --> 01:17.000 His commitment to the community 01:17.000 --> 01:19.000 and his financial stake in the 01:19.000 --> 01:20.000 Memphis Grizzlies. 01:20.000 --> 01:22.000 And later Penny and I will be 01:22.000 --> 01:23.000 joined by Travis Haddock, the 01:23.000 --> 01:25.000 creator of one of the top high 01:25.000 --> 01:27.000 school basketball tournaments in 01:27.000 --> 01:28.000 the country, which just so 01:28.000 --> 01:30.000 happens to bare the name of 01:30.000 --> 01:31.000 Penny. 01:31.000 --> 01:32.000 It's a full out, full court 01:32.000 --> 01:34.000 press with Anfernee "Penny 01:34.000 --> 01:35.000 Hardaway" next on "Sports 01:35.000 --> 01:37.000 Files." 01:37.000 --> 01:46.000 >> (instrumental music) 01:46.000 --> 01:49.000 ♪♪♪ 01:49.000 --> 01:51.000 >> Gaston: Penny, happy New 01:51.000 --> 01:52.000 Year. 01:52.000 --> 01:53.000 Thanks so much for being with 01:53.000 --> 01:54.000 us. 01:54.000 --> 01:55.000 >> Hardaway: Thanks. 01:55.000 --> 01:57.000 >> Gaston: I know you're always 01:57.000 --> 01:58.000 up to a lot of different things 01:58.000 --> 02:00.000 but right now you're coaching 02:00.000 --> 02:01.000 this Lester Middle School. 02:01.000 --> 02:02.000 And it's become a big story 02:02.000 --> 02:03.000 nationally. 02:03.000 --> 02:05.000 Tell us about coaching and how 02:05.000 --> 02:06.000 much you enjoy going back to the 02:06.000 --> 02:07.000 roots. 02:07.000 --> 02:09.000 >> Hardaway: Well it started 02:09.000 --> 02:10.000 last year. 02:10.000 --> 02:11.000 I joined a team. 02:11.000 --> 02:12.000 We had such a successful season 02:12.000 --> 02:14.000 that CNN got interested, came in 02:14.000 --> 02:15.000 and did an article on the team. 02:15.000 --> 02:17.000 The article got so many hits on 02:17.000 --> 02:18.000 the website. 02:18.000 --> 02:19.000 So we're writing a book right 02:19.000 --> 02:20.000 now. 02:20.000 --> 02:22.000 And then the movie will be 02:22.000 --> 02:23.000 coming out in the near future, 02:23.000 --> 02:25.000 "Behind the Lester Middle Team." 02:25.000 --> 02:26.000 So I'm very excited about that. 02:26.000 --> 02:28.000 >> Gaston: So it will be more 02:28.000 --> 02:29.000 like a documentary? 02:29.000 --> 02:30.000 >> Hardaway: A documentary and a 02:30.000 --> 02:31.000 movie. 02:31.000 --> 02:32.000 >> Gaston: Wow! 02:32.000 --> 02:33.000 >> Hardaway: Yes. 02:33.000 --> 02:35.000 >> Gaston: You going to play 02:35.000 --> 02:36.000 yourself? 02:36.000 --> 02:37.000 >> Hardaway: Yes I am. 02:37.000 --> 02:38.000 No, really-both are going to 02:38.000 --> 02:39.000 happen. 02:39.000 --> 02:41.000 >> Gaston: How about that? 02:41.000 --> 02:42.000 Now is this something?-the 02:42.000 --> 02:43.000 coaching aspect. 02:43.000 --> 02:45.000 Because you didn't jump in to it 02:45.000 --> 02:46.000 once you retired from the NBA. 02:46.000 --> 02:47.000 Do you see yourself coaching 02:47.000 --> 02:49.000 down the line?-maybe in college 02:49.000 --> 02:50.000 or high school or anywhere. 02:50.000 --> 02:52.000 Or do you just like what you're 02:52.000 --> 02:53.000 doing? 02:53.000 --> 02:54.000 >> Hardaway: I'm not sure. 02:54.000 --> 02:56.000 I really like what I'm doing 02:56.000 --> 02:57.000 right now because I really went 02:57.000 --> 02:58.000 back to my community and the 02:58.000 --> 03:00.000 Binghampton community to try to 03:00.000 --> 03:02.000 give back to the school and to 03:02.000 --> 03:03.000 the community and it ended up 03:03.000 --> 03:04.000 having a great team. 03:04.000 --> 03:05.000 And a lot of people came in 03:05.000 --> 03:07.000 nationally and recognized that. 03:07.000 --> 03:08.000 And I really haven't thought 03:08.000 --> 03:09.000 further than that. 03:09.000 --> 03:11.000 But I really like what I'm doing 03:11.000 --> 03:12.000 right now with Lester Middle. 03:12.000 --> 03:14.000 >> Gaston: Well as I said 03:14.000 --> 03:15.000 earlier, I don't know when you 03:15.000 --> 03:16.000 sleep because you're always 03:16.000 --> 03:17.000 doing things. 03:17.000 --> 03:19.000 And now you've made a financial 03:19.000 --> 03:20.000 commitment to the Memphis 03:20.000 --> 03:22.000 Grizzlies. 03:22.000 --> 03:24.000 What do you think about being a 03:24.000 --> 03:25.000 part owner of an NBA team? 03:25.000 --> 03:27.000 >> Hardaway: It's a dream come 03:27.000 --> 03:28.000 true. 03:28.000 --> 03:29.000 I mean, to be able to play 03:29.000 --> 03:30.000 basketball for a living was 03:30.000 --> 03:32.000 great but to be able to be paid 03:32.000 --> 03:33.000 and play basketball was even 03:33.000 --> 03:34.000 better. 03:34.000 --> 03:36.000 But to be able to buy in to the 03:36.000 --> 03:37.000 team is unbelievable to even 03:37.000 --> 03:39.000 fathom because I never thought 03:39.000 --> 03:40.000 that I would be an owner. 03:40.000 --> 03:41.000 You know, my dream was to play. 03:41.000 --> 03:43.000 And after I played, I never 03:43.000 --> 03:46.000 thought that this opportunity. 03:46.000 --> 03:48.000 >> Gaston: Once Robert Pera took 03:48.000 --> 03:49.000 over, they brought in a lot of 03:49.000 --> 03:51.000 owners for this minority group- 03:51.000 --> 03:52.000 Justin Timberlake, a fellow 03:52.000 --> 03:53.000 Memphian, and other. 03:53.000 --> 03:55.000 They're in entertainment and 03:55.000 --> 03:56.000 some are in business but you're 03:56.000 --> 03:57.000 a former player and a star 03:57.000 --> 03:58.000 player at that. 03:58.000 --> 04:00.000 And your friend Elliot Perry, 04:00.000 --> 04:01.000 another former Tiger great and 04:01.000 --> 04:02.000 NBA player. 04:02.000 --> 04:04.000 So do they look at you in a 04:04.000 --> 04:05.000 different light 04:05.000 --> 04:07.000 >> Hardaway: Well what happened 04:07.000 --> 04:08.000 initially, they wanted me to 04:08.000 --> 04:10.000 come and be involved just from 04:10.000 --> 04:11.000 the community standpoint of 04:11.000 --> 04:13.000 trying to bridge the gap between 04:13.000 --> 04:14.000 the fans, the community and the 04:14.000 --> 04:15.000 Grizzlies. 04:15.000 --> 04:17.000 And while I was doing so, the 04:17.000 --> 04:18.000 opportunity came about to be in 04:18.000 --> 04:19.000 the minority ownership. 04:19.000 --> 04:20.000 But yeah, definitely. 04:20.000 --> 04:22.000 I'm going to bring hopefully my 04:22.000 --> 04:23.000 basketball knowledge to the 04:23.000 --> 04:26.000 situation. 04:26.000 --> 04:28.000 But being able to just loan some 04:28.000 --> 04:29.000 things to the player and to the 04:29.000 --> 04:30.000 coaching staff and to the 04:30.000 --> 04:32.000 organization from my knowledge. 04:32.000 --> 04:33.000 >> Gaston: So you're coaching 04:33.000 --> 04:34.000 Lester. 04:34.000 --> 04:36.000 You're obviously keeping an eye 04:36.000 --> 04:37.000 on what the Grizzlies are doing 04:37.000 --> 04:39.000 as a part owner of the team. 04:39.000 --> 04:40.000 And of course, your beloved 04:40.000 --> 04:41.000 Memphis Tigers. 04:41.000 --> 04:43.000 You're at many games. 04:43.000 --> 04:45.000 What do you think about this 04:45.000 --> 04:46.000 Tiger team that again, was 04:46.000 --> 04:47.000 nationally ranked, dropped out 04:47.000 --> 04:49.000 very quickly after they 04:49.000 --> 04:50.000 sputtered in the Bahamas, and 04:50.000 --> 04:51.000 now trying to get their legs 04:51.000 --> 04:52.000 back. 04:52.000 --> 04:54.000 What do you think of this team 04:54.000 --> 04:55.000 this season? 04:55.000 --> 04:56.000 >> Hardaway: Well it's been 04:56.000 --> 04:58.000 interesting because a lot of 04:58.000 --> 05:01.000 guys haven't really stepped up. 05:01.000 --> 05:02.000 I mean, especially on the 05:02.000 --> 05:03.000 defensive end. 05:03.000 --> 05:04.000 I think everything that's been 05:04.000 --> 05:06.000 in the history of Memphis 05:06.000 --> 05:07.000 basketball has restarted with 05:07.000 --> 05:08.000 defense first and then offense 05:08.000 --> 05:09.000 second. 05:09.000 --> 05:11.000 And I think this year's team has 05:11.000 --> 05:12.000 to buy in to that effect. 05:12.000 --> 05:14.000 And I'm sure Josh is screaming 05:14.000 --> 05:15.000 and telling them that but it has 05:15.000 --> 05:17.000 to transfer over in to the games 05:17.000 --> 05:19.000 because you have to win games. 05:19.000 --> 05:20.000 >> Gaston: Penny, you were one 05:20.000 --> 05:21.000 of the guys who lived in 05:21.000 --> 05:22.000 Memphis, played for your 05:22.000 --> 05:24.000 hometown team and had a lot of 05:24.000 --> 05:25.000 success. 05:25.000 --> 05:27.000 There have been others that have 05:27.000 --> 05:28.000 struggled. 05:28.000 --> 05:29.000 How hard is it for the Memphian 05:29.000 --> 05:31.000 to stay at home and play for the 05:31.000 --> 05:32.000 University of Memphis? 05:32.000 --> 05:33.000 >> Hardaway: It's very hard 05:33.000 --> 05:35.000 because a lot of kids can't 05:35.000 --> 05:36.000 handle that pressure. 05:36.000 --> 05:37.000 If you do decide to stay at home 05:37.000 --> 05:39.000 and you're a superstar player, 05:39.000 --> 05:40.000 there's going to be a lot. 05:40.000 --> 05:41.000 You carry the entire weight of 05:41.000 --> 05:43.000 the city on your back and that's 05:43.000 --> 05:45.000 something that I welcome because 05:45.000 --> 05:46.000 I felt like I could handle it. 05:46.000 --> 05:47.000 But it's not for everybody. 05:47.000 --> 05:49.000 It's just once the pressure 05:49.000 --> 05:50.000 starts to build when you're not 05:50.000 --> 05:52.000 playing well, you have to be 05:52.000 --> 05:53.000 able to handle that and channel 05:53.000 --> 05:55.000 it towards working harder and 05:55.000 --> 05:56.000 >> Gaston: A lot of the blame 05:56.000 --> 05:57.000 when the team struggles-and 05:57.000 --> 05:59.000 there's a number of Memphians on 05:59.000 --> 06:01.000 the team-but it happens to fall 06:01.000 --> 06:02.000 on the shoulders of Joe Jackson. 06:02.000 --> 06:04.000 Joe Jackson's playing terrific 06:04.000 --> 06:05.000 basketball right now. 06:05.000 --> 06:06.000 He seems to have weathered the 06:06.000 --> 06:07.000 storm. 06:07.000 --> 06:09.000 What do you think about this 06:09.000 --> 06:10.000 young man and the pressure he's 06:10.000 --> 06:12.000 had, the King of Memphis. 06:12.000 --> 06:13.000 They don't expect you to be an 06:13.000 --> 06:14.000 all-American. 06:14.000 --> 06:16.000 So there's been a lot of heavy 06:16.000 --> 06:17.000 weight that he's had to carry. 06:17.000 --> 06:18.000 >> Hardaway: Well, the city 06:18.000 --> 06:20.000 expects a lot out of Joe. 06:20.000 --> 06:21.000 It's not something that, you 06:21.000 --> 06:22.000 know, that it's a surprise to 06:22.000 --> 06:24.000 him because he expects a lot out 06:24.000 --> 06:25.000 of himself. 06:25.000 --> 06:26.000 Like you said, he's weathered 06:26.000 --> 06:27.000 the storm. 06:27.000 --> 06:29.000 They were very hard on him. 06:29.000 --> 06:30.000 I mean, some of them was 06:30.000 --> 06:31.000 rightfully so. 06:31.000 --> 06:33.000 But a lot of it was unfair. 06:33.000 --> 06:34.000 But that's the title that you 06:34.000 --> 06:36.000 get when you stay at home and 06:36.000 --> 06:37.000 you're a hometown hero. 06:37.000 --> 06:38.000 And they expect for you to come 06:38.000 --> 06:39.000 in and win. 06:39.000 --> 06:41.000 And I'm so happy to see him 06:41.000 --> 06:42.000 playing well right now. 06:42.000 --> 06:43.000 >> Gaston: You are a terrific 06:43.000 --> 06:44.000 alum of the University of 06:44.000 --> 06:46.000 Memphis not only with your 06:46.000 --> 06:48.000 support, being at games. 06:48.000 --> 06:50.000 Everybody knows the million 06:50.000 --> 06:51.000 dollars you gave to the hall of 06:51.000 --> 06:53.000 fame which is now in your name, 06:53.000 --> 06:54.000 the Anfernee Penny Hardaway 06:54.000 --> 06:55.000 Athletic Hall of Fame. 06:55.000 --> 06:57.000 How cool is it to drive by that 06:57.000 --> 06:58.000 street and see your name up 06:58.000 --> 07:00.000 there knowing-Hey, that's me! 07:00.000 --> 07:01.000 >> Hardaway: It's unbelievable 07:01.000 --> 07:02.000 man. 07:02.000 --> 07:04.000 I tell my friends these type of 07:04.000 --> 07:05.000 things don't happen to people 07:05.000 --> 07:06.000 until they pass away. 07:06.000 --> 07:08.000 You know you get the greatest 07:08.000 --> 07:09.000 things when you pass away which 07:09.000 --> 07:10.000 is the saddest thing. 07:10.000 --> 07:12.000 But to be able to drive by and 07:12.000 --> 07:13.000 see my name on the building and 07:13.000 --> 07:15.000 be able to enjoy it and go 07:15.000 --> 07:16.000 inside of there and see some of 07:16.000 --> 07:18.000 the things that we've done-the 07:18.000 --> 07:19.000 athletes have done-over the 07:19.000 --> 07:20.000 history of the University of 07:20.000 --> 07:22.000 Memphis makes me feel great 07:22.000 --> 07:23.000 because it's right behind the 07:23.000 --> 07:24.000 dorm room that I stayed in my 07:24.000 --> 07:26.000 freshman year. 07:26.000 --> 07:27.000 I mean, it's great. 07:27.000 --> 07:28.000 It just took back the memories 07:28.000 --> 07:29.000 back. 07:29.000 --> 07:30.000 >> Gaston: if you could change 07:30.000 --> 07:32.000 one thing from your playing days 07:32.000 --> 07:34.000 at the University of Memphis-one 07:34.000 --> 07:35.000 moment, one game-what would it 07:35.000 --> 07:36.000 be? 07:36.000 --> 07:38.000 You could change one thing. 07:38.000 --> 07:39.000 >> Hardaway: When I played? 07:39.000 --> 07:40.000 >> Gaston: Mhmm. 07:40.000 --> 07:41.000 >> Hardaway: That Cincinnati 07:41.000 --> 07:43.000 game that we lost in the Elite 07:43.000 --> 07:44.000 Eight. 07:44.000 --> 07:45.000 I wish that I could have just 07:45.000 --> 07:47.000 changed that just to get to the 07:47.000 --> 07:48.000 Final Four. 07:48.000 --> 07:49.000 I wanted to win a championship 07:49.000 --> 07:50.000 that year. 07:50.000 --> 07:52.000 I mean, it was all Memphis guys 07:52.000 --> 07:53.000 on the team. 07:53.000 --> 07:54.000 That was something that was 07:54.000 --> 07:56.000 unheard of-everybody being from 07:56.000 --> 07:57.000 the same city on one team. 07:57.000 --> 07:58.000 And we went so far. 07:58.000 --> 08:00.000 If I could change that, I would. 08:00.000 --> 08:01.000 >> Gaston: How tough was that?- 08:01.000 --> 08:03.000 knowing you were that close. 08:03.000 --> 08:04.000 >> Hardaway: Well when we got 08:04.000 --> 08:05.000 the draw, you know, when 08:05.000 --> 08:07.000 Cincinnati-I think they beat 08:07.000 --> 08:08.000 UTEP. 08:08.000 --> 08:09.000 UTEP almost beat them that game. 08:09.000 --> 08:11.000 I was hoping for UTEP because I 08:11.000 --> 08:12.000 understood the dominance that 08:12.000 --> 08:14.000 Cincinnati had against us but 08:14.000 --> 08:15.000 when we got Cincinnati it was 08:15.000 --> 08:17.000 like-Hey, we know what we have. 08:17.000 --> 08:18.000 They used to us. 08:18.000 --> 08:19.000 We used to them. 08:19.000 --> 08:20.000 Let's go out and play the game. 08:20.000 --> 08:21.000 And they were just-they were 08:21.000 --> 08:23.000 just better. 08:23.000 --> 08:24.000 We just didn't get over the hump 08:24.000 --> 08:26.000 but I wish I could get that game 08:26.000 --> 08:27.000 over. 08:27.000 --> 08:28.000 >> Gaston: Do you have any 08:28.000 --> 08:30.000 regrets from your playing days? 08:30.000 --> 08:31.000 Is there anything that you would 08:31.000 --> 08:32.000 change? 08:32.000 --> 08:34.000 >> Hardaway: At University of 08:34.000 --> 08:35.000 Memphis? 08:35.000 --> 08:36.000 >> Gaston: Mhmm. 08:36.000 --> 08:37.000 >> Hardaway: No, not at all. 08:37.000 --> 08:39.000 I mean, I think I left school in 08:39.000 --> 08:40.000 a timely fashion and when I had 08:40.000 --> 08:42.000 to because I was going to be a 08:42.000 --> 08:43.000 top three pick. 08:43.000 --> 08:44.000 Academically I had achieved 08:44.000 --> 08:45.000 things that I wanted to achieve 08:45.000 --> 08:47.000 because I was on the Dean's 08:47.000 --> 08:48.000 list. 08:48.000 --> 08:49.000 There really wasn't anything 08:49.000 --> 08:51.000 left but my family being in the 08:51.000 --> 08:52.000 situation that we were in. 08:52.000 --> 08:53.000 But I really don't have any 08:53.000 --> 08:55.000 regrets at the University of 08:55.000 --> 08:56.000 Memphis. 08:56.000 --> 08:57.000 It was one of the best times of 08:57.000 --> 08:59.000 my life being there because I 08:59.000 --> 09:00.000 was able to be home. 09:00.000 --> 09:01.000 I was very successful there. 09:01.000 --> 09:02.000 And we were winning. 09:02.000 --> 09:03.000 What more could ask for? 09:03.000 --> 09:05.000 >> Gaston: You move on to the 09:05.000 --> 09:06.000 NBA. 09:06.000 --> 09:07.000 Success right there from the 09:07.000 --> 09:08.000 get-go, all all-star. 09:08.000 --> 09:10.000 And then obviously you had the 09:10.000 --> 09:11.000 injuries later in your career. 09:11.000 --> 09:13.000 I would guess if I ask you the 09:13.000 --> 09:14.000 question about regrets for the 09:14.000 --> 09:16.000 professional career, it would be 09:16.000 --> 09:17.000 having to cut the career a 09:17.000 --> 09:18.000 little bit short, right? 09:18.000 --> 09:20.000 >> Hardaway: Well I think the 09:20.000 --> 09:21.000 biggest regret I have was that I 09:21.000 --> 09:23.000 didn't get my self well after my 09:23.000 --> 09:24.000 first surgery. 09:24.000 --> 09:25.000 I kept playing--trying to be 09:25.000 --> 09:27.000 tough, trying to play through 09:27.000 --> 09:28.000 the pain. 09:28.000 --> 09:29.000 And it ended up haunting me. 09:29.000 --> 09:31.000 Like now, I see guys sit out for 09:31.000 --> 09:32.000 long periods of time. 09:32.000 --> 09:34.000 Like Derrick Rose is out and the 09:34.000 --> 09:35.000 Bulls are saying don't come back 09:35.000 --> 09:36.000 until you're ready. 09:36.000 --> 09:38.000 >> Gaston: Yeah, it wouldn't 09:38.000 --> 09:39.000 happen today. 09:39.000 --> 09:40.000 >> Hardaway: No, back when I 09:40.000 --> 09:41.000 played, they kind of was like 09:41.000 --> 09:43.000 -"Hey, we need you on the floor. 09:43.000 --> 09:44.000 "At 50 percent, you're better 09:44.000 --> 09:46.000 than what we would have out 09:46.000 --> 09:47.000 there." 09:47.000 --> 09:48.000 So you were kind of, you know, 09:48.000 --> 09:50.000 pushed in a direction of going 09:50.000 --> 09:51.000 back out on the floor. 09:51.000 --> 09:52.000 And I hate that I did that. 09:52.000 --> 09:54.000 >> Gaston: Best player you 09:54.000 --> 09:55.000 played with, best player you 09:55.000 --> 09:56.000 played against in the NBA. 09:56.000 --> 09:58.000 >> Hardaway: Best player I 09:58.000 --> 09:59.000 played with was Shaq. 09:59.000 --> 10:00.000 >> Gaston: Sure. 10:00.000 --> 10:01.000 >> Hardaway: And the best player 10:01.000 --> 10:03.000 I played against was Michael 10:03.000 --> 10:04.000 Jordan. 10:04.000 --> 10:05.000 >> Gaston: That's some pretty 10:05.000 --> 10:06.000 good choices. 10:06.000 --> 10:08.000 Alright, let's take Shaq and MJ 10:08.000 --> 10:09.000 out of it. 10:09.000 --> 10:10.000 Who would be second then? 10:10.000 --> 10:11.000 >> Hardaway: I would say Jason 10:11.000 --> 10:13.000 Kidd was the second best player 10:13.000 --> 10:14.000 I played with-unbelievably 10:14.000 --> 10:15.000 awesome. 10:15.000 --> 10:17.000 And the second best player that 10:17.000 --> 10:18.000 I played against would have been 10:18.000 --> 10:19.000 - 10:19.000 --> 10:20.000 Gary Payton. 10:20.000 --> 10:22.000 >> Gaston: Gary Payton-Glove. 10:22.000 --> 10:23.000 >> Hardaway: Gary was very tough 10:23.000 --> 10:25.000 defensively and offensively. 10:25.000 --> 10:26.000 >> Gaston: Penny, how did Little 10:26.000 --> 10:27.000 Penny come about? 10:27.000 --> 10:29.000 >> Hardaway: Little Penny came 10:29.000 --> 10:30.000 about because of my shyness. 10:30.000 --> 10:32.000 I wasn't really like outspoken 10:32.000 --> 10:33.000 and there was an advertisement 10:33.000 --> 10:35.000 agency called Wieden and Kennedy 10:35.000 --> 10:36.000 that worked for Nike. 10:36.000 --> 10:37.000 Came up with the idea that-Hey, 10:37.000 --> 10:39.000 we should get an alter ego, 10:39.000 --> 10:40.000 someone that's going to talk 10:40.000 --> 10:41.000 smack because you won't. 10:41.000 --> 10:43.000 And your game-I just let me game 10:43.000 --> 10:44.000 talk for itself. 10:44.000 --> 10:45.000 So they were like-We'll let 10:45.000 --> 10:47.000 somebody talk your game for you. 10:47.000 --> 10:48.000 And I was like-You know what? 10:48.000 --> 10:50.000 That sounds pretty good because 10:50.000 --> 10:51.000 I thought I love comedy and I 10:51.000 --> 10:52.000 knew it would be funny. 10:52.000 --> 10:54.000 And it just ended up just being 10:54.000 --> 10:55.000 a great idea. 10:55.000 --> 10:56.000 >> Gaston: Do you have a Little 10:56.000 --> 10:58.000 Penny puppet in your house? 10:58.000 --> 10:59.000 >> Hardaway: I do have one. 10:59.000 --> 11:01.000 I do have a Little Penny puppet. 11:01.000 --> 11:02.000 >> Gaston: Do you have any idea 11:02.000 --> 11:04.000 how many were made?-how many 11:04.000 --> 11:05.000 were manufactured. 11:05.000 --> 11:06.000 >> Hardaway: I think they made 11:06.000 --> 11:08.000 them way too late because we 11:08.000 --> 11:09.000 didn't really jump on it when we 11:09.000 --> 11:10.000 needed to. 11:10.000 --> 11:12.000 But I don't know how many were 11:12.000 --> 11:13.000 made. 11:13.000 --> 11:14.000 >> Gaston: Do you remember any 11:14.000 --> 11:15.000 funny outtake from the 11:15.000 --> 11:17.000 commercials or anything you were 11:17.000 --> 11:19.000 involved with with Little Penny? 11:19.000 --> 11:20.000 Of course the voice, Chris Rock- 11:20.000 --> 11:22.000 that was something that would 11:22.000 --> 11:23.000 never air because it was an 11:23.000 --> 11:24.000 outtake. 11:24.000 --> 11:25.000 Anything that you an bring up? 11:25.000 --> 11:27.000 >> Hardaway: No, not really 11:27.000 --> 11:28.000 because I never filmed on set 11:28.000 --> 11:29.000 with Chris. 11:29.000 --> 11:31.000 He did his part, his voiceover, 11:31.000 --> 11:32.000 and I heard the voiceover as I 11:32.000 --> 11:33.000 was talking. 11:33.000 --> 11:35.000 And that was my first time 11:35.000 --> 11:36.000 hearing it as well as everyone 11:36.000 --> 11:37.000 else. 11:37.000 --> 11:39.000 And I laughed every take because 11:39.000 --> 11:40.000 I was laughing at what Little 11:40.000 --> 11:41.000 Penny was saying because I 11:41.000 --> 11:43.000 hadn't heard it until the point 11:43.000 --> 11:44.000 and when I got in to the 11:44.000 --> 11:45.000 commercial. 11:45.000 --> 11:47.000 So the outtakes were me probably 11:47.000 --> 11:48.000 laughing at what Chris was 11:48.000 --> 11:49.000 saying. 11:49.000 --> 11:50.000 (laughter) 11:50.000 --> 11:52.000 >> Gaston: How different is the 11:52.000 --> 11:53.000 game today? 11:53.000 --> 11:54.000 I mean, we talked about 11:54.000 --> 11:55.000 injuries. 11:55.000 --> 11:56.000 Obviously if you got hurt in 11:56.000 --> 11:58.000 this day and age, you would not 11:58.000 --> 11:59.000 have played through it. 11:59.000 --> 12:01.000 They would have taken care of it 12:01.000 --> 12:02.000 medically before you were back 12:02.000 --> 12:03.000 in the game. 12:03.000 --> 12:04.000 But other than that, what 12:04.000 --> 12:06.000 different do you see in the game 12:06.000 --> 12:07.000 today in 2012 than when you 12:07.000 --> 12:08.000 played? 12:08.000 --> 12:10.000 >> Hardaway: I think it's our 12:10.000 --> 12:11.000 game was a lot tougher. 12:11.000 --> 12:12.000 You could hand check. 12:12.000 --> 12:13.000 You could play more physical. 12:13.000 --> 12:15.000 It took a lot more to get a 12:15.000 --> 12:16.000 foul. 12:16.000 --> 12:17.000 Nowadays Commissioner Stern 12:17.000 --> 12:18.000 wants the points to be up and 12:18.000 --> 12:20.000 not down, you know, for 12:20.000 --> 12:21.000 entertainment. 12:21.000 --> 12:22.000 So every little touch foul now 12:22.000 --> 12:23.000 is a foul. 12:23.000 --> 12:25.000 And that makes the game, to me 12:25.000 --> 12:26.000 and the old school guys, a lot 12:26.000 --> 12:27.000 worse but it helps the fan 12:27.000 --> 12:29.000 understand that it's about 12:29.000 --> 12:30.000 offense. 12:30.000 --> 12:31.000 They want it to be more 12:31.000 --> 12:32.000 offensive in the NBA versus when 12:32.000 --> 12:33.000 I played. 12:33.000 --> 12:35.000 >> Gaston: We're going to go 12:35.000 --> 12:36.000 back to the University of 12:36.000 --> 12:37.000 Memphis and again, you're not 12:37.000 --> 12:39.000 only involved with financial 12:39.000 --> 12:40.000 commitment but I'm sure there 12:40.000 --> 12:42.000 are a lot of times when they 12:42.000 --> 12:43.000 confer in you, they ask you 12:43.000 --> 12:44.000 about things. 12:44.000 --> 12:45.000 What is your take on this Big 12:45.000 --> 12:47.000 East situation? 12:47.000 --> 12:48.000 >> Hardaway: You know, it's 12:48.000 --> 12:49.000 really hurtful seeing what's 12:49.000 --> 12:51.000 happening, you know, right now. 12:51.000 --> 12:52.000 >> Gaston: Once you got in, 12:52.000 --> 12:53.000 right? 12:53.000 --> 12:55.000 >> Hardaway: Yeah, once you got 12:55.000 --> 12:56.000 in. 12:56.000 --> 12:57.000 I love the move because the move 12:57.000 --> 12:58.000 is needed. 12:58.000 --> 13:00.000 You know we needed to get to a 13:00.000 --> 13:01.000 bigger conference and we did so. 13:01.000 --> 13:03.000 And then all of a sudden, the 13:03.000 --> 13:04.000 teams that we were going to play 13:04.000 --> 13:05.000 against are leaving. 13:05.000 --> 13:07.000 But there's nothing we can do 13:07.000 --> 13:08.000 about it. 13:08.000 --> 13:09.000 I mean, I love making that 13:09.000 --> 13:10.000 change though. 13:10.000 --> 13:12.000 It gives us recruiting in that 13:12.000 --> 13:13.000 area, you know, in the east 13:13.000 --> 13:15.000 where we really couldn't recruit 13:15.000 --> 13:16.000 the New York kids and the DC 13:16.000 --> 13:17.000 kids. 13:17.000 --> 13:18.000 Now we can recruit those kids. 13:18.000 --> 13:20.000 And the Big East is still better 13:20.000 --> 13:21.000 than where we are right now. 13:21.000 --> 13:23.000 Not to dog our conference but 13:23.000 --> 13:24.000 it's still going to be better 13:24.000 --> 13:25.000 teams. 13:25.000 --> 13:27.000 >> Gaston: There's always the 13:27.000 --> 13:28.000 question whether or not a player 13:28.000 --> 13:30.000 plays, goes to the school for 13:30.000 --> 13:31.000 the school or for the coach. 13:31.000 --> 13:33.000 And most of the time, our answer 13:33.000 --> 13:34.000 is the coach. 13:34.000 --> 13:35.000 But would you have come? 13:35.000 --> 13:36.000 Would you have stayed at home 13:36.000 --> 13:38.000 and played for Memphis no matter 13:38.000 --> 13:39.000 who the coach was? 13:39.000 --> 13:41.000 >> Hardaway: Yes, I would have 13:41.000 --> 13:42.000 stayed home because I was just a 13:42.000 --> 13:43.000 home guy. 13:43.000 --> 13:44.000 I love the University of 13:44.000 --> 13:45.000 Memphis. 13:45.000 --> 13:47.000 The teams with Andre Turner and 13:47.000 --> 13:48.000 Keith Lee and those guys really 13:48.000 --> 13:50.000 sold me on the University of 13:50.000 --> 13:51.000 Memphis. 13:51.000 --> 13:52.000 And I bled blue and grey. 13:52.000 --> 13:53.000 So I wasn't going to go 13:53.000 --> 13:54.000 anywhere-even today. 13:54.000 --> 13:56.000 >> Gaston: So you were an easy 13:56.000 --> 13:57.000 sell? 13:57.000 --> 13:58.000 >> Hardaway: Yes. 13:58.000 --> 13:59.000 >> Gaston: I could have 13:59.000 --> 14:00.000 recruited you. 14:00.000 --> 14:01.000 >> Hardaway: Yes, it was easy. 14:01.000 --> 14:03.000 >> Gaston: Alright, you have a 14:03.000 --> 14:04.000 passion for golf now. 14:04.000 --> 14:06.000 And I know you still play pick- 14:06.000 --> 14:07.000 up basketball and you love the 14:07.000 --> 14:08.000 game of basketball. 14:08.000 --> 14:09.000 But you really have fallen in 14:09.000 --> 14:11.000 love with the game of golf. 14:11.000 --> 14:12.000 Why?-What's the connection? 14:12.000 --> 14:14.000 >> Hardaway: It's so competitive 14:14.000 --> 14:15.000 and a lot of people don't 14:15.000 --> 14:16.000 understand you can't beat the 14:16.000 --> 14:17.000 game. 14:17.000 --> 14:19.000 You can go out one day and shoot 14:19.000 --> 14:20.000 a low score. 14:20.000 --> 14:21.000 And the next day, it's a high 14:21.000 --> 14:22.000 score. 14:22.000 --> 14:24.000 And that drives me crazy because 14:24.000 --> 14:26.000 basketball comes so easy to me. 14:26.000 --> 14:27.000 And golf is so difficult. 14:27.000 --> 14:28.000 And I think it drives me to be 14:28.000 --> 14:30.000 perfect in an imperfect game. 14:30.000 --> 14:31.000 So that's why I love golf so 14:31.000 --> 14:32.000 much. 14:32.000 --> 14:34.000 >> Gaston: Do you have your own 14:34.000 --> 14:35.000 instructor? 14:35.000 --> 14:36.000 >> Hardaway: I do. 14:36.000 --> 14:37.000 >> Gaston: So you work hard on 14:37.000 --> 14:38.000 it. 14:38.000 --> 14:40.000 You just don't go out there and 14:40.000 --> 14:41.000 play and have fun. 14:41.000 --> 14:42.000 You want to be good and you want 14:42.000 --> 14:44.000 to be the best you can be when 14:44.000 --> 14:45.000 you go out there on the links, 14:45.000 --> 14:46.000 right? 14:46.000 --> 14:48.000 >> Hardaway: Absolutely. 14:48.000 --> 14:49.000 Like I said in sports, 14:49.000 --> 14:50.000 everything has come to me very 14:50.000 --> 14:51.000 easily. 14:51.000 --> 14:53.000 And then to get in to golf and 14:53.000 --> 14:54.000 everything be a struggle, I had 14:54.000 --> 14:56.000 to get instruction and try to 14:56.000 --> 14:57.000 get myself to a scratch level or 14:57.000 --> 14:59.000 a plus handicap level so I can 14:59.000 --> 15:00.000 enjoy the game. 15:00.000 --> 15:01.000 >> Gaston: Well it's a fantastic 15:01.000 --> 15:03.000 career that you've had. 15:03.000 --> 15:04.000 Obviously it's a great life that 15:04.000 --> 15:06.000 you have and we're real happy 15:06.000 --> 15:07.000 that you've done so much for 15:07.000 --> 15:08.000 this community and helped out 15:08.000 --> 15:09.000 everybody here, Penny. 15:09.000 --> 15:11.000 It's been an absolute pleasure. 15:11.000 --> 15:13.000 We like to end our interviews. 15:13.000 --> 15:14.000 And of course you'll be here 15:14.000 --> 15:15.000 when Travis joins us to talk 15:15.000 --> 15:17.000 about Penny Hardaway's Hoop 15:17.000 --> 15:18.000 Fest, another thing certainly 15:18.000 --> 15:19.000 you're involved in. 15:19.000 --> 15:21.000 But we end our interviews with 15:21.000 --> 15:22.000 five for the road. 15:22.000 --> 15:23.000 So five questions from me. 15:23.000 --> 15:24.000 Real quick answers. 15:24.000 --> 15:25.000 Whatever comes to mind first. 15:25.000 --> 15:27.000 Favorite professional team as a 15:27.000 --> 15:28.000 kid growing up? 15:28.000 --> 15:29.000 >> Hardaway: Dallas Cowboys. 15:29.000 --> 15:31.000 >> Gaston: Dallas Cowboys! 15:31.000 --> 15:32.000 Still a Cowboys fan? 15:32.000 --> 15:33.000 >> Hardaway: Yes, yes. 15:33.000 --> 15:34.000 >> Gaston: Tough one. 15:34.000 --> 15:35.000 >> Hardaway: Yeah. 15:35.000 --> 15:36.000 >> Gaston: Fan of Tony Romo? 15:36.000 --> 15:37.000 >> Hardaway: I am, I am. 15:37.000 --> 15:38.000 (laughter) 15:38.000 --> 15:40.000 >> Hardaway: But I've been a 15:40.000 --> 15:41.000 Cowboys fan for a very long 15:41.000 --> 15:42.000 time. 15:42.000 --> 15:44.000 >> Gaston: Favorite professional 15:44.000 --> 15:45.000 athlete-any sport. 15:45.000 --> 15:46.000 >> Hardaway: Deion Sanders. 15:46.000 --> 15:47.000 >> Gaston: Primetime! 15:47.000 --> 15:49.000 Favorite musician or singer or 15:49.000 --> 15:50.000 group or band? 15:50.000 --> 15:51.000 >> Hardaway: That's tough. 15:51.000 --> 15:52.000 Favorite musician of all time? 15:52.000 --> 15:53.000 >> Gaston: Yes. 15:53.000 --> 15:55.000 Are you more old school music or 15:55.000 --> 15:56.000 new school? 15:56.000 --> 15:57.000 >> Hardaway: I'm old school. 15:57.000 --> 15:59.000 I could say someone like - 15:59.000 --> 16:00.000 You can't go wrong with Marvin 16:00.000 --> 16:01.000 Gaye. 16:01.000 --> 16:03.000 >> Gaston: Marvin Gaye-Alright. 16:03.000 --> 16:04.000 Final two. 16:04.000 --> 16:05.000 Favorite television show of all 16:05.000 --> 16:06.000 time. 16:06.000 --> 16:08.000 >> Hardaway: Man, I'm a TV Land 16:08.000 --> 16:09.000 guy! 16:09.000 --> 16:10.000 I love TV. 16:10.000 --> 16:11.000 That's hard to do. 16:11.000 --> 16:12.000 Favorite TV show of all time. 16:12.000 --> 16:13.000 >> Gaston: Tough one. 16:13.000 --> 16:14.000 >> Hardaway: Yeah. 16:14.000 --> 16:15.000 I would say- 16:15.000 --> 16:17.000 >> Gaston: You said you have a 16:17.000 --> 16:18.000 sense of humor. 16:18.000 --> 16:19.000 Is there a comedy you like? 16:19.000 --> 16:21.000 >> Hardaway: Yeah, it's going to 16:21.000 --> 16:22.000 be, 16:22.000 --> 16:23.000 I love, like, "Red Fox"-like 16:23.000 --> 16:24.000 "Sanford and Son" and those 16:24.000 --> 16:26.000 shows. 16:26.000 --> 16:27.000 >> Gaston: I watched that with 16:27.000 --> 16:28.000 my father when I was a kid. 16:28.000 --> 16:30.000 >> Hardaway: I would say 16:30.000 --> 16:31.000 "Sanford and Son." 16:31.000 --> 16:32.000 >> Gaston: It was back to back. 16:32.000 --> 16:33.000 You're too young. 16:33.000 --> 16:34.000 You watch the replay. 16:34.000 --> 16:35.000 You watched the reruns. 16:35.000 --> 16:37.000 I watched the first run with my 16:37.000 --> 16:38.000 father when it was "Sanford and 16:38.000 --> 16:40.000 Son" and "Chico and the Man" 16:40.000 --> 16:41.000 when it was back to back. 16:41.000 --> 16:43.000 Alright, favorite movie of all 16:43.000 --> 16:44.000 time? 16:44.000 --> 16:45.000 It has to be-does it not? 16:45.000 --> 16:46.000 Blue Chips? 16:46.000 --> 16:47.000 >> Hardaway: Blue Chips is one 16:47.000 --> 16:48.000 of them. 16:48.000 --> 16:49.000 There might be one. 16:49.000 --> 16:51.000 One could be A Soldier's Story. 16:51.000 --> 16:52.000 >> Gaston: A Soldier's Story- 16:52.000 --> 16:53.000 great movie! 16:53.000 --> 16:55.000 What was that like, by the way?- 16:55.000 --> 16:56.000 real quick. 16:56.000 --> 16:57.000 We're running out of time. 16:57.000 --> 16:59.000 But playing in a movie-Blue 16:59.000 --> 17:00.000 Chips. 17:00.000 --> 17:01.000 Nick Nolte, of course. 17:01.000 --> 17:02.000 >> Hardaway: Nick Nolte was 17:02.000 --> 17:03.000 great. 17:03.000 --> 17:04.000 It was fun. 17:04.000 --> 17:05.000 It was a lot of hurry up and 17:05.000 --> 17:06.000 wait. 17:06.000 --> 17:08.000 But I really enjoyed being in LA 17:08.000 --> 17:09.000 for the summer filming that 17:09.000 --> 17:10.000 movie. 17:10.000 --> 17:12.000 >> Gaston: Have you, by the way, 17:12.000 --> 17:14.000 had a chance to go and play pick 17:14.000 --> 17:15.000 up with Jason Levien and the 17:15.000 --> 17:16.000 guys over at the Grizzlies? 17:16.000 --> 17:17.000 >> Hardaway: Not yet. 17:17.000 --> 17:19.000 We will do that this year for 17:19.000 --> 17:20.000 sure. 17:20.000 --> 17:21.000 >> Gaston: Absolutely. 17:21.000 --> 17:22.000 Thank you, Penny. 17:22.000 --> 17:23.000 >> Hardaway: Thank you for 17:23.000 --> 17:24.000 having me. 17:24.000 --> 17:25.000 >> Gaston: Hang in there. 17:25.000 --> 17:27.000 We're going to get Travis 17:27.000 --> 17:28.000 Haddock. 17:28.000 --> 17:29.000 We'll talk about Penny 17:29.000 --> 17:30.000 Hardaway's Hoopfest in just a 17:30.000 --> 17:31.000 moment. 17:31.000 --> 17:32.000 We'll take a quick break. 17:32.000 --> 17:34.000 When we come back, time for 17:34.000 --> 17:35.000 Overtime. 17:35.000 --> 17:37.000 Memphis entrepreneur Travis 17:37.000 --> 17:38.000 Haddock came to Penny two years 17:38.000 --> 17:40.000 ago to be a part of what Travis 17:40.000 --> 17:41.000 was hoping would become one of 17:41.000 --> 17:43.000 the nation's top prep basketball 17:43.000 --> 17:44.000 tournaments. 17:44.000 --> 17:45.000 The result? -- the Penny 17:45.000 --> 17:46.000 Hardaway National Hoopfest. 17:46.000 --> 17:48.000 This year's second annual event 17:48.000 --> 17:49.000 will take place next week, 17:49.000 --> 17:52.000 January 10th through the 12th, 17:52.000 --> 17:53.000 Travis, last year was 17:53.000 --> 17:54.000 sensational-your first year 17:54.000 --> 17:55.000 around. 17:55.000 --> 17:57.000 Second year-You're getting ready 17:57.000 --> 17:58.000 for bigger and better things. 17:58.000 --> 18:00.000 You've changed around a little 18:00.000 --> 18:01.000 bit. 18:01.000 --> 18:02.000 >> Haddock: We changed a little 18:02.000 --> 18:03.000 bit. 18:03.000 --> 18:05.000 We decided to regional. 18:05.000 --> 18:06.000 We already knew it was 18:06.000 --> 18:07.000 recognized nationally very well 18:07.000 --> 18:08.000 but we wanted to also 18:08.000 --> 18:10.000 regionalize the event to 18:10.000 --> 18:11.000 include-add-another day so we 18:11.000 --> 18:14.000 can get some more Memphis teams. 18:14.000 --> 18:15.000 You know, and we like the way 18:15.000 --> 18:16.000 this is turning out. 18:16.000 --> 18:18.000 >> Gaston: So Dyer County for 18:18.000 --> 18:19.000 the first two days. 18:19.000 --> 18:20.000 The White Station High School. 18:20.000 --> 18:21.000 >> Haddock: That's correct. 18:21.000 --> 18:23.000 >> Gaston: You've also added an 18:23.000 --> 18:24.000 event in Las Vegas. 18:24.000 --> 18:25.000 >> Haddock: the Penny Hardaway 18:25.000 --> 18:27.000 in Las Vegas National Hoopfest. 18:27.000 --> 18:29.000 Superbowl weekend we're going to 18:29.000 --> 18:30.000 have. 18:30.000 --> 18:31.000 >> Gaston: And why add that? 18:33.000 --> 18:35.000 Why add the one in Las Vegas? 18:35.000 --> 18:36.000 >> Haddock: It's more like why 18:36.000 --> 18:38.000 not Las Vegas because, you know, 18:38.000 --> 18:39.000 we had talked when we first 18:39.000 --> 18:41.000 start getting towards expand out 18:41.000 --> 18:42.000 and to brand the event. 18:42.000 --> 18:44.000 And we really-The most important 18:44.000 --> 18:45.000 thing is to do something that 18:45.000 --> 18:46.000 nobody else has done. 18:46.000 --> 18:48.000 You know, and that's when you 18:48.000 --> 18:49.000 take the best teams in America, 18:49.000 --> 18:51.000 having good relationships with 18:51.000 --> 18:53.000 those teams and you take them to 18:53.000 --> 18:54.000 Therefore it develops an 18:54.000 --> 18:56.000 emotional attachment to the 18:56.000 --> 18:57.000 event that you wouldn't 18:57.000 --> 18:58.000 typically see. 18:58.000 --> 18:59.000 They're not just other games. 18:59.000 --> 19:01.000 These games really mean 19:01.000 --> 19:02.000 something to the teams. 19:02.000 --> 19:03.000 And it becomes very community- 19:03.000 --> 19:05.000 oriented because the fans in 19:05.000 --> 19:06.000 those cities don't want their 19:06.000 --> 19:07.000 local teams to lose. 19:07.000 --> 19:09.000 >> Gaston: Alright, let's talk 19:09.000 --> 19:10.000 about some of those big boys 19:10.000 --> 19:12.000 that will be coming to Dyer 19:12.000 --> 19:13.000 County and White Station High 19:13.000 --> 19:14.000 School for this year's event. 19:14.000 --> 19:16.000 >> Haddock: Well you know 19:16.000 --> 19:17.000 obviously Chicago's sending in 19:17.000 --> 19:18.000 Derrick Rose's former high 19:18.000 --> 19:20.000 school that featured Jabari 19:20.000 --> 19:21.000 Parker on the third high school 19:21.000 --> 19:23.000 player in history to be featured 19:23.000 --> 19:24.000 in Sports Illustrated. 19:24.000 --> 19:26.000 They're going to be re-matching 19:26.000 --> 19:27.000 number eight ranked Southwind. 19:27.000 --> 19:29.000 So you've got two top ten teams 19:29.000 --> 19:30.000 playing that first game. 19:30.000 --> 19:31.000 Then you're going to have number 19:31.000 --> 19:33.000 one ranked Finley Prep playing 19:33.000 --> 19:34.000 right behind that at 7:00 19:34.000 --> 19:35.000 against Memphis Melrose. 19:35.000 --> 19:37.000 And you've got Whitney Young 19:37.000 --> 19:38.000 who's ranked number four in the 19:38.000 --> 19:40.000 nation playing number 11 ranked 19:40.000 --> 19:41.000 White Station. 19:41.000 --> 19:42.000 That's just the last three games 19:42.000 --> 19:43.000 on the last day. 19:43.000 --> 19:45.000 You know, we've got nine ranked 19:45.000 --> 19:46.000 teams playing, six in the top 19:46.000 --> 19:48.000 ten, six state championships, 19:48.000 --> 19:49.000 six state champions from last 19:49.000 --> 19:50.000 year. 19:50.000 --> 19:52.000 And that's just off the top of 19:52.000 --> 19:53.000 my brain. 19:53.000 --> 19:54.000 >> Gaston: Alright, so how do 19:54.000 --> 19:56.000 you get this gentleman involved? 19:56.000 --> 19:57.000 What do you when you come up and 19:57.000 --> 19:59.000 approach Penny Hardaway to ask 19:59.000 --> 20:00.000 him to be a part of it? 20:00.000 --> 20:01.000 >> Haddock: Well we have a 20:01.000 --> 20:02.000 mutual friend. 20:02.000 --> 20:04.000 And last year I had already kind 20:04.000 --> 20:05.000 of signed on and then we've 20:05.000 --> 20:07.000 really kind of been building 20:07.000 --> 20:08.000 this thing over the past few 20:08.000 --> 20:09.000 years. 20:09.000 --> 20:11.000 And again a mutual friend of us 20:11.000 --> 20:12.000 said-"Hey, you two really should 20:12.000 --> 20:13.000 sit down and talk." 20:13.000 --> 20:14.000 And I said okay. 20:14.000 --> 20:16.000 So we ended up having lunch at 20:16.000 --> 20:17.000 Houstons one day and here we are 20:17.000 --> 20:18.000 ever since. 20:18.000 --> 20:20.000 >> Gaston: Penny, a lot of 20:20.000 --> 20:21.000 people probably approach you to 20:21.000 --> 20:23.000 have your name to something. 20:23.000 --> 20:24.000 Why this? 20:24.000 --> 20:25.000 >> Hardaway: Well first of all, 20:25.000 --> 20:26.000 we have a mutual friend. 20:26.000 --> 20:27.000 And Travis had such an 20:27.000 --> 20:29.000 unbelievable idea because 20:29.000 --> 20:30.000 basketball is Memphis. 20:30.000 --> 20:31.000 And to bring these nationally 20:31.000 --> 20:33.000 ranked teams in to play against 20:33.000 --> 20:34.000 our teams-our local teams-I 20:34.000 --> 20:35.000 wanted that for our kids. 20:35.000 --> 20:37.000 And he wanted it for our kids. 20:37.000 --> 20:38.000 And that's why, you know, we 20:38.000 --> 20:39.000 partnered up. 20:39.000 --> 20:40.000 I loaned my name to this 20:40.000 --> 20:41.000 tournament. 20:41.000 --> 20:43.000 >> Gaston: Travis, there are 20:43.000 --> 20:44.000 some, as you know, high school 20:44.000 --> 20:46.000 basketball tournaments around 20:46.000 --> 20:47.000 this country. 20:47.000 --> 20:48.000 Some have succeeded. 20:48.000 --> 20:49.000 Some have failed. 20:49.000 --> 20:50.000 Why did you feel so confident 20:50.000 --> 20:52.000 that this was going to be big 20:52.000 --> 20:53.000 and in just a short time has 20:53.000 --> 20:54.000 become one of the best 20:54.000 --> 20:55.000 tournaments in the entire 20:55.000 --> 20:56.000 country? 20:56.000 --> 20:58.000 >> Haddock: Because I don't quit 20:58.000 --> 20:59.000 and I usually don't take no for 20:59.000 --> 21:01.000 an answer. 21:01.000 --> 21:02.000 You know, but really it took 21:02.000 --> 21:03.000 three of four years of just 21:03.000 --> 21:04.000 strictly networking out, 21:04.000 --> 21:06.000 developing relationships around 21:06.000 --> 21:08.000 the country with these teams and 21:08.000 --> 21:09.000 coaches because everybody wants 21:09.000 --> 21:10.000 them to play in their event. 21:10.000 --> 21:12.000 You know, and once you've 21:12.000 --> 21:13.000 established those friendships, 21:13.000 --> 21:15.000 then, you know, you can open the 21:15.000 --> 21:16.000 door to having a big event like 21:16.000 --> 21:18.000 this and then moving on to other 21:18.000 --> 21:19.000 cities, too, and taking these 21:19.000 --> 21:21.000 teams kind of with you. 21:21.000 --> 21:22.000 >> Gaston: Alright, folks who 21:22.000 --> 21:24.000 want to see these games-What do 21:24.000 --> 21:25.000 they need to do? 21:25.000 --> 21:26.000 >> Haddock: Well January 10 and 21:26.000 --> 21:27.000 11 at Dyer County, the game 21:27.000 --> 21:28.000 start at 4:00. 21:28.000 --> 21:30.000 It will be $12 for adults, $10 21:30.000 --> 21:31.000 for students at the door. 21:31.000 --> 21:33.000 >> Gaston: Now prices for the 21:33.000 --> 21:34.000 entire session? 21:34.000 --> 21:35.000 >> Haddock: The Saturday event 21:35.000 --> 21:37.000 because, you know, because we do 21:37.000 --> 21:38.000 have six top ten teams is the 21:38.000 --> 21:39.000 most expensive day. 21:39.000 --> 21:41.000 You know it's going to be 15 for 21:41.000 --> 21:42.000 adults and 10 for students. 21:42.000 --> 21:43.000 >> Gaston: Okay, is there a 21:43.000 --> 21:45.000 website they can go to? 21:45.000 --> 21:46.000 >> Haddock: It's Haddocksports- 21:46.000 --> 21:47.000 dot-com. 21:47.000 --> 21:48.000 >> Gaston: Haddocksports-dot- 21:48.000 --> 21:50.000 com. 21:50.000 --> 21:51.000 Alright, talk about the reaction 21:51.000 --> 21:53.000 when you were dealing with local 21:53.000 --> 21:54.000 teams and some of these terrific 21:54.000 --> 21:56.000 teams that we have, some of 21:56.000 --> 21:57.000 these terrific coaches that you 21:57.000 --> 21:58.000 bringing this tournament. 21:58.000 --> 22:00.000 And we go back to last year when 22:00.000 --> 22:01.000 it was inaugural tournament. 22:01.000 --> 22:03.000 What was the reaction when you 22:03.000 --> 22:04.000 said we're going to bring in 22:04.000 --> 22:05.000 these national powers. 22:05.000 --> 22:07.000 We're going to match them up 22:07.000 --> 22:08.000 with you. 22:08.000 --> 22:09.000 It's going to be a tournament 22:09.000 --> 22:11.000 where they-"Sure, let's see it 22:11.000 --> 22:12.000 when it happens." 22:12.000 --> 22:13.000 Right? 22:13.000 --> 22:14.000 What was the reaction like? 22:14.000 --> 22:16.000 >> Haddock: Well you know, they 22:16.000 --> 22:17.000 were like at first, when you 22:17.000 --> 22:18.000 first tell them about it, 22:18.000 --> 22:20.000 everybody's like-"Yeah, I'll 22:20.000 --> 22:21.000 play. 22:21.000 --> 22:22.000 "I'll play." 22:22.000 --> 22:23.000 And then when it's really going 22:23.000 --> 22:25.000 to happen, some people are like 22:25.000 --> 22:26.000 -"You know, remember when I told 22:26.000 --> 22:27.000 you I'd do it?" 22:27.000 --> 22:28.000 (laughter) 22:28.000 --> 22:30.000 >> Gaston: They probably didn't 22:30.000 --> 22:31.000 think you were able to 22:31.000 --> 22:32.000 accomplish it. 22:32.000 --> 22:33.000 >> Haddock: Well you know, I 22:33.000 --> 22:35.000 don't know but your best coaches 22:35.000 --> 22:36.000 in this area will play anybody 22:36.000 --> 22:38.000 because the biggest focus is to 22:38.000 --> 22:39.000 win state championships. 22:39.000 --> 22:41.000 You know, look at Chicago Simeon 22:41.000 --> 22:42.000 up there. 22:42.000 --> 22:43.000 They've won the last three 22:43.000 --> 22:44.000 state. 22:44.000 --> 22:46.000 They could care less what their 22:46.000 --> 22:47.000 national ranking is. 22:47.000 --> 22:48.000 They're so good but they're main 22:48.000 --> 22:49.000 focus is to win state. 22:49.000 --> 22:51.000 And it's really the same concept 22:51.000 --> 22:52.000 here. 22:52.000 --> 22:53.000 So to get your self better, you 22:53.000 --> 22:55.000 really have to go out and play 22:55.000 --> 22:56.000 these national games when the 22:56.000 --> 22:58.000 opportunity arises because, you 22:58.000 --> 22:59.000 know, that's what gets you 22:59.000 --> 23:00.000 better. 23:00.000 --> 23:02.000 And you've noticed the teams 23:02.000 --> 23:03.000 that win state tournaments 23:03.000 --> 23:05.000 usually come out of Memphis and 23:05.000 --> 23:06.000 it's usually the teams that went 23:06.000 --> 23:08.000 out there and played games and 23:08.000 --> 23:09.000 maybe dropped some. 23:09.000 --> 23:10.000 >> Gaston: I would imagine as a 23:10.000 --> 23:12.000 young basketball player in this 23:12.000 --> 23:13.000 community, you're already 23:13.000 --> 23:14.000 playing great teams going 23:14.000 --> 23:15.000 against each other. 23:15.000 --> 23:17.000 But to have a chance to play 23:17.000 --> 23:18.000 some of the best national teams, 23:18.000 --> 23:20.000 you've got to fire up these 23:20.000 --> 23:21.000 young men. 23:21.000 --> 23:22.000 >> Hardaway: Absolutely. 23:22.000 --> 23:23.000 I mean, you want to measure your 23:23.000 --> 23:25.000 talent against the rest of the 23:25.000 --> 23:26.000 country. 23:26.000 --> 23:27.000 And win you're playing the top 23:27.000 --> 23:29.000 teams, what defines the top 23:29.000 --> 23:30.000 teams from the Memphis teams? 23:30.000 --> 23:31.000 How did they get ranked? 23:31.000 --> 23:33.000 So when they come to town, these 23:33.000 --> 23:34.000 kids are like they're going to 23:34.000 --> 23:36.000 prove to us that they're really 23:36.000 --> 23:37.000 number one or they're a top ten 23:37.000 --> 23:38.000 team. 23:38.000 --> 23:40.000 And the talent here thinks that 23:40.000 --> 23:42.000 we can play with anybody in the 23:42.000 --> 23:43.000 country. 23:43.000 --> 23:44.000 So we're like-Okay, bring them 23:44.000 --> 23:45.000 to town. 23:45.000 --> 23:46.000 And we're ready to play. 23:46.000 --> 23:48.000 So the kids are very fired up. 23:48.000 --> 23:49.000 >> Gaston: I said that the young 23:49.000 --> 23:51.000 men but also you've had young 23:51.000 --> 23:52.000 women involved with the women's 23:52.000 --> 23:53.000 tournament as well. 23:53.000 --> 23:55.000 Is that part of this year's 23:55.000 --> 23:56.000 Penny Hardaway's Hoopfest or is 23:56.000 --> 23:58.000 that just the Bragging Rights 23:58.000 --> 23:59.000 tournament when you had the 23:59.000 --> 24:00.000 girls teams? 24:00.000 --> 24:01.000 >> Haddock: Well we do have a 24:01.000 --> 24:03.000 girls game at Dyer County the 24:03.000 --> 24:04.000 first day to kick off the event, 24:04.000 --> 24:06.000 especially for that area. 24:06.000 --> 24:07.000 They really want it. 24:07.000 --> 24:08.000 And we said that's fine. 24:08.000 --> 24:09.000 Knowing that we were doing such 24:09.000 --> 24:11.000 a big broad day in Memphis, we 24:11.000 --> 24:12.000 couldn't do. 24:12.000 --> 24:14.000 We did eight games the last day 24:14.000 --> 24:15.000 last year and it was really 24:15.000 --> 24:16.000 tiring for everybody, including 24:16.000 --> 24:17.000 the teams. 24:17.000 --> 24:19.000 And everybody kind of hung in 24:19.000 --> 24:20.000 there and was a trooper. 24:20.000 --> 24:21.000 But we figure six games was a 24:21.000 --> 24:22.000 great amount. 24:22.000 --> 24:24.000 And we've got such high 24:24.000 --> 24:25.000 nationally ranked teams. 24:25.000 --> 24:26.000 Let's just go with what we see, 24:26.000 --> 24:28.000 you know, there and we thought 24:28.000 --> 24:29.000 that would probably be the best 24:29.000 --> 24:30.000 idea. 24:30.000 --> 24:32.000 >> Gaston: Alright, so Thursday 24:32.000 --> 24:33.000 January 10. 24:33.000 --> 24:34.000 Friday, January 11. 24:34.000 --> 24:35.000 Dyer County High School. 24:35.000 --> 24:37.000 Tip off time for the first game 24:37.000 --> 24:38.000 is when? 24:38.000 --> 24:39.000 >> Haddock: 4:00. 24:39.000 --> 24:40.000 >> Gaston: 4:00 24:40.000 --> 24:41.000 And then it culminates on 24:41.000 --> 24:42.000 Saturday, January 12 at White 24:42.000 --> 24:43.000 Station High School. 24:43.000 --> 24:44.000 Action begins when? 24:44.000 --> 24:45.000 >> Haddock: 1:00 24:45.000 --> 24:47.000 >> Gaston: 1:00 on Saturday the 24:47.000 --> 24:48.000 12. 24:48.000 --> 24:49.000 And again, one more time and our 24:49.000 --> 24:50.000 final moment. 24:50.000 --> 24:52.000 I know you want to thank some of 24:52.000 --> 24:53.000 your sponsors because without 24:53.000 --> 24:55.000 that, there probably would not 24:55.000 --> 24:56.000 be Penny Hardaway's Hoopfest. 24:56.000 --> 24:58.000 >> Haddock: Obviously Dave 24:58.000 --> 24:59.000 Slight and Jamie Robinson with 24:59.000 --> 25:01.000 American Residential Services 25:01.000 --> 25:02.000 and John Conway and Greg Siskin. 25:02.000 --> 25:04.000 You know there's a mile of 25:04.000 --> 25:05.000 people and also Penny as well. 25:05.000 --> 25:07.000 You know we have a good core 25:07.000 --> 25:08.000 group around us and we're very 25:08.000 --> 25:09.000 thankful for it. 25:09.000 --> 25:11.000 >> Gaston: Well we are looking 25:11.000 --> 25:12.000 forward to it. 25:12.000 --> 25:13.000 I know it's going to be 25:13.000 --> 25:14.000 sensational. 25:14.000 --> 25:15.000 It was last year. 25:15.000 --> 25:16.000 It was a great way to start off 25:16.000 --> 25:18.000 this new national high school 25:18.000 --> 25:19.000 tournament. 25:19.000 --> 25:20.000 I know it's going to be even 25:20.000 --> 25:21.000 bigger and better this year. 25:21.000 --> 25:23.000 And then of course heading out 25:23.000 --> 25:24.000 to Vegas for the first time. 25:24.000 --> 25:25.000 Nothing but the best. 25:25.000 --> 25:27.000 You've done a fantastic job 25:27.000 --> 25:28.000 bringing some of the best high 25:28.000 --> 25:29.000 school basketball in the 25:29.000 --> 25:30.000 country. 25:30.000 --> 25:32.000 Travis, thank you so much- 25:32.000 --> 25:33.000 pleasure! 25:33.000 --> 25:34.000 Penny, I can't reach you here. 25:34.000 --> 25:36.000 I wish I had your reach but 25:36.000 --> 25:37.000 thank you so much. 25:37.000 --> 25:38.000 Absolute pleasure as well. 25:38.000 --> 25:39.000 Thank you both for being with us 25:39.000 --> 25:41.000 on today's program. 25:41.000 --> 25:42.000 And that will do it for this 25:42.000 --> 25:43.000 week's show. 25:43.000 --> 25:44.000 Remember you can see any of our 25:44.000 --> 25:46.000 past shows by simply going to 25:46.000 --> 25:47.000 our website, WKNO-dot-org, and 25:47.000 --> 25:49.000 clicking on KNO Tonite. 25:49.000 --> 25:53.000 And we'll see you next time.