WEBVTT

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This is a
production of WKNO-Memphis.

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Production funding for 'Sports
Files' is made possible in part

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by..

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My guest today on Sports Files
is the Head Coach of the Memphis

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Grizzlies Lionel Hollins.

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♪♪♪

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The Grizzlies find themselves
down two games to none to the LA

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Clippers in their best of seven
first round playoff series.

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Game three is taking place
at FedExForum as we speak.

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In game one the Grizz
were embarrassed by their

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counterparts but came
back strong in game two,

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only to lose on a last second
off balance bank shot by Clips

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superstar guard Chris Paul.

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To win this series and advance
the Grizz now have to win four

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of the remaining five games.

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A tall order to say the least.

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But no matter what
happens the rest of the way,

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the biggest question for the
team this off season is arguably

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the fate of Head
Coach Lionel Hollins.

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His contract runs
out at season's end,

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and CEO Jason Levien has made no
indication on whether or not the

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organization plans to
re-sign the veteran coach.

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Levien became the CEO and
managing partner of the Grizz

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just prior to the start of the
season and understandably wants

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ample time to evaluate Hollins.

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Now there's no telling
what Levien is looking for,

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or whether or not The Grizz have
to advance in the playoffs for

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Hollins to get a new deal.

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If the decision was solely based
on the regular season then it's

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a no-brainer.

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The team set franchise records
for total wins in a season with

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56.

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In addition they set marks
for home and road victories.

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Today I go one on one with
the coach of the Grizzlies.

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A man who speaks his mind and
is not afraid to ruffle some

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feathers.

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It's Lionel
Hollins on the season,

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the challenge of beating the
Clippers and his future next on

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'Sports Files'.

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♪♪♪

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Well Lionel, thank you so much
for spenidng some time with me.

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I appreciate it.

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56 wins for everything that's
going down this season with off

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the court, on the court,
player personnel changes.

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You have to be very impressed
with what this team was able to

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do.

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Well, I'm happy with
what we've accomplished.

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I told them that last night.

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I said, "You know, we've
overcome a lot of adversity and

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we were able to survive and keep
going and be in strong as it is

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a testiment to your character,
to your mental toughness and

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your will to want to win."

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And it's been a hard season.

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I mean, we started out with
double D's death on opening day

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of training camp.

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And then Kenny Williamson
passed away shortly after that.

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And we had already dealt with
Gene Bartow's death last year.

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Right.

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And then there was
the ownership change.

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And we had a couple of players
who had family members passed

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away during the season.

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And then, you know, all the
trade rumors swirling around,

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the trades.

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And then Mike Heisley having
a stroke and going in a coma.

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And adding all the new
players that we added.

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But I always said that when
you go through adversity,

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it really shows
what you're made of.

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And when you still
succeed, it is very gratifying.

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And the other thing is
that everybody has a story.

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And the people that succeed
are talking about what they

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overcame.

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And the people that fell are
talking about what kept them

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from being success.

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And you know, it's powerful to
go and tell what you overcame

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and still became a success.

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And I thought we had a
very successful season.

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With all that said, all
the things you brought up,

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is this the most gratifying
coaching season for you?

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And was it the most
challenging as well?

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They're all challenging and I
wouldn't say the most and most

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gratifying.

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Every year is gratifying
because every year is different.

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Every year has it's own
challenges and you always have

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adversity that you
have to deal with.

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And you know, we've had
injuries in the past.

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And we've had to
deal with those things.

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And you know, they're
probably, I won't say the most.

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We had a lot of stuff to go
off, a lot of different things.

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And some of it, you know,
is out of your control.

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And you know, you
just keep going.

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But when somebody gets injured
and misses the whole season or

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misses a big part of the season
like we had Zach get hurt last

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year.

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You know, that was
a lot to overcome.

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And you know, we've been where
Rudy Gay gets hurt just before

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the trade deadline.

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And we overcome that.

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So every year it's something
and it's all gratifying when you

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overcome and succeed.

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You build up this incredible
chemistry especially with the

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core players.

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And I remember
the old mid season,

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the trade is made.

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And there were a couple of tough
games right off the bat with the

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new players coming in
which is to be expected.

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But the chemsitry you found
very quickly with Tayshaun

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coming in and Austin and Ed.

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Why did it seem easy?

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I know it probably
wasn't but to us watching,

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it seemed like that chemistry
came together very quickly.

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Well, I think that it's a
testiment to who they are.

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Tayshaun, Ed and
Austin are all good kids.

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And our players took to them
right away and embraced them and

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tried to help them with
their learning curve.

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And they were willing to allow
us to coach them and try to

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help.

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They didn't come in
with an ego and say,

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"I need this", "I need that".

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They just fit in
where ever they could.

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And their roles have kept
expanding as we've gone along.

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As I've gotten more
comfortable with them,

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the players have gotten
more comfortable with them.

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And we understand what they
bring to the party a little

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more.

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They've contributed more.

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The Clippers first round, the
team you played last year in the

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first round and lost a tough
seven-game series to them.

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What makes them such
a difficult opponent?

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They're talented.

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They have one of the best power
forwards in the game and they

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have one of the best
point guards in the game.

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I mean, they have a lot of role
players that are pretty good.

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I mean, Jamal Crawford has
been six man of the year before.

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Right.

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And he's a very talented kid.

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You know, Deandre Jordan is an
up and coming center who is long

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and blocks shots and atheltic,
runs the court very well.

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They added Lamar Odum.

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They added Grant Hill.

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They have Chauncy Billups
who's won championships.

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When you start going down
the list of players they have,

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they have a lot of players
that have had very good resumes.

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And so, talent makes them tough
and they're competitive will

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makes them tough.

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And what's interesting is just
the year seperating the last

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time you played
them in the play-offs,

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a lot of the cast of characters
have changed for them.

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Some of the role players that
were instrumental in helping

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them beat you
last year are gone.

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So the personnel has
changed a bit for them.

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Well, that happens every year.

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That's why I said
people talk about,

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"Well, you had a losing streak
against this team for the last."

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Well, everybody's not here.

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You know, the guys that are here
don't know about that and really

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don't care about it.

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It just it is.

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And it's the same
now because, you know,

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every year, things change.

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We have a lot of personnel turn
over from last year as well.

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I think they went
a little quicker.

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They had Martin and they had
Reggie Evans who are two banged

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and really were
physical with us last year.

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Both of those guys are gone but
they brought in Lamar Odum who

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can play and shoot threes on the
ball and transition and become a

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more of another play maker for
their team as they have enough

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already.

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But they add another guy.

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So, you know, they have the
improvement of the players that

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are remaining.

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Deandre Jordan has made
significant improvment.

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So has Blake Griffin.

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And so they become better
just from within and with the

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additions that they made.

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We talked earlier about some of
the changes that you guys have

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made.

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This is not a change but a big
difference from going in to the

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play-offs last year
and this year is a..

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It seems like a 100 percent
healthy Zach Randolph as opposed

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to the situation he
was in last year.

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Well, of course.

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I mean, Zach had just come back.

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I think we had like six or seven
games before the season ended

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and he was coming off the
bench until the last season.

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And he really wasn't ready
strength wise and conditioning

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wise to be what he wanted to be.

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So you know, that was a little
bit of a glitch in our game

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plan.

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But you know, we had a good
year and it was a tough play-off

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series and they
are going to win.

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You know, people talk, "Well,
you blew a 27 if you hadn't done

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that.' Well, we did.

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That's all part of it.

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And you know, we went to
LA and beat them in LA.

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And then we came home and we
couldn't win in the seventh game

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at home.

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We didn't play
particularly well.

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And they earned the
right to move on.

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And you know, here
we are at it again.

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Contrasting styles for the most
part but I would think you look

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at the series as a pretty
evenly matched up series.

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Oh, it's been evenly matched up.

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You know, even
during the season.

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You know, they've beaten us
three our of four times but the

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games are often
relatively close.

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And you know, they..

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As they said the last
game they had here,

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they had been talking
about it for a week.

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And they wanted that game.

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And they almost gave it back
playing Sacramento last game of

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the season.

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But they overcame and they
got home court advantage.

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You guys, and I'm sure
you're probably not in to this.

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But does the team look
at LA as their rival,

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their main rival?

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Is it Oklahoma City?

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Do they even care about
something like that or is that

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something for the fans?

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I don't know who
the main rival is.

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I thought, you know, a couple of
years ago it was supposed to be

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Oklahoma City.

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You know, now it's
the Clippers, You know,

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when you play
somebody in the play-offs,

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it becomes a
rivalry for a while.

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But this one's going to grow
because we're going to play them

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two straight years
in the play-offs.

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So it could develop in to one.

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Lionel, the development of
Mike Conley is incredible.

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We know what he
can do on the court.

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He's become now, seems
like more of a scorer.

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Once the trade
was made with Rudy,

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he's taken big shots down
the stretch in close games.

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But his leadership also.

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We're seeing the
leadership of Mike Conley.

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Can you talk about
his development?

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Well, it's all
growth and maturity.

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I mean, when he
came in the league,

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he was a
19-year-old kid, you know,

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weighed about 165 pounds and
wasn't really ready for the NBA.

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And you know, he's matured.

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He's worked on his shooting
to become a fabulous shooter.

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He worked on defense.

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He worked on his body.

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And as he's been around and you
get comfortable with the people

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you're around and they start
allowing you to be yourself and

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allowing you to lead.

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And he's stepped up
in that area as well.

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How can you look back at a
season after you put together

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the season you did
winning 56 games,

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setting records
for home victory,

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setting records for
wins on the road.

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But if you lose this
series, is it a disappointment?

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Is it still successful season?

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How do you look back at it?

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Well, losing the series would be
disappointing but they still had

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a successful season.

11:04.298 --> 11:08.164
Every team that goes in is going
to lose a play-off series at

11:08.164 --> 11:09.164
some point.

11:09.164 --> 11:10.164
Except for one, right?

11:10.164 --> 11:11.164
Except for one.

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And people have expectations
because of your record.

11:15.564 --> 11:19.464
And you know, a few years
ago, San Antonio won 61 games.

11:19.464 --> 11:22.798
They lost to us in
the first round.

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It happens.

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You got to go out and win and it
doesn't matter what your record

11:26.264 --> 11:27.264
is.

11:27.264 --> 11:28.431
It doesn't matter
what your seeding is.

11:28.431 --> 11:30.364
It doesn't matter about
home court advantage.

11:30.364 --> 11:34.298
It means you know, you start out
and you get the first two games

11:34.298 --> 11:36.864
at home and you have the seventh
game home if it goes seven

11:36.864 --> 11:37.864
games.

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But it's not a
guarantee of winning anything.

11:41.498 --> 11:44.598
And too often, people go, "Oh,
they got the number one seed."

11:44.598 --> 11:46.264
"They're going to
win the championship."

11:46.264 --> 11:48.598
Doesn't mean that Oklahoma City
is going to win the championship

11:48.598 --> 11:49.598
for having the number one seed.

11:49.598 --> 11:51.864
They've got to go through the
process just like every body

11:51.864 --> 11:52.864
else.

11:52.864 --> 11:53.864
Exactly.

11:53.864 --> 11:55.131
How do people around the country
whether it be in the media or

11:55.131 --> 11:57.231
just fans in general are
starting to catch on to this

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Grizzlies team,
this Grit and Grind,

11:59.464 --> 12:02.064
this physical team that goes
out there and brings their lunch

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pail to basketball games?

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And you may not care Lionel, but
do you feel you get the credit

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that you deserve as a team,
as a very formidable team?

12:10.864 --> 12:13.631
Well, Obviously
media in general,

12:13.631 --> 12:17.698
especially the national media,
they don't know every team and

12:17.698 --> 12:19.031
what they have.

12:19.031 --> 12:23.764
They know the
star-studded teams,

12:23.764 --> 12:26.831
you know, Oklahoma City
with Durant and Westbrook,

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Miami.

12:28.031 --> 12:29.331
Paul with the Clippers.

12:29.331 --> 12:32.731
Chris Paul, Kobe Bryant with
the Lakers and Howard and Nash.

12:32.731 --> 12:36.664
I mean, those guys are going to
the championship in LA when the

12:36.664 --> 12:37.664
trades were made.

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But you know, it's..

12:39.164 --> 12:41.531
you've got to go play.

12:41.531 --> 12:43.831
And it doesn't matter
what people think of you.

12:43.831 --> 12:47.531
It's what you think of yourself
and what your opponents think of

12:47.531 --> 12:49.198
you after they've played you.

12:49.198 --> 12:50.364
That's really important.

12:50.364 --> 12:53.098
You go out there and you make
them come and pat you on the

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butt, win or lose, and let them
know that they've been in a dog

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fight and that you're going to
be there every night and they're

13:00.398 --> 13:01.764
going to have to bring
their best to beat you.

13:01.764 --> 13:02.764
And that's what's important.

13:02.764 --> 13:06.531
Right, this interview is
airing during game three.

13:06.531 --> 13:09.531
And game four coming up
this Saturday at FedEx Forum,

13:09.531 --> 13:14.831
the home court with the fans
euphoria in Memphis about this

13:14.831 --> 13:15.831
team.

13:15.831 --> 13:18.464
How imporant is it that you play
the gamed the game a long time

13:18.464 --> 13:21.731
to have that in the back ground,
to hear the cheers for you?

13:21.731 --> 13:26.798
Well, you derive energy
from it when you come in.

13:26.798 --> 13:31.398
As soon as you come in and the
crowd is all in white and the

13:31.398 --> 13:34.164
towels are swirling
and the crowd is loud.

13:34.164 --> 13:39.098
And everything you
do is, you know,

13:39.098 --> 13:40.098
honored.

13:40.098 --> 13:41.098
Right.

13:41.098 --> 13:42.531
You know, when
you go on the road,

13:42.531 --> 13:44.098
it's a totally different story.

13:44.098 --> 13:45.898
But it's nice to
go on the road and,

13:45.898 --> 13:50.564
you know, make
the crowd be quiet.

13:50.564 --> 13:54.064
So you know, it's a
little bit of both.

13:54.064 --> 13:55.064
Exactly.

13:55.064 --> 13:57.731
I think, you know, certain
players play better when the

13:57.731 --> 14:01.631
crowd roars every time
they do something well.

14:01.631 --> 14:03.231
Bad call, everybody boos.

14:03.231 --> 14:04.864
You know, good
call, everybody cheers.

14:04.864 --> 14:06.798
Somebody get in the third
fire, everybody cheers.

14:06.798 --> 14:10.264
But the reality is you got to
still go out there and play and

14:10.264 --> 14:12.431
earn those wins at
home or on the road.

14:12.431 --> 14:14.298
And the good teams do that.

14:14.298 --> 14:16.998
And that's why, you know,
looking at our team and this

14:16.998 --> 14:20.331
year, we won 24
games on the road.

14:20.331 --> 14:22.531
And we won 32 games at home.

14:22.531 --> 14:23.731
We earn those wins.

14:23.731 --> 14:26.631
And when we lost, we earned
those losses whether we play

14:26.631 --> 14:29.331
well or didn't come out ready
or whatever may be the case,

14:29.331 --> 14:31.164
we earn those losses
and we earn those wins.

14:31.164 --> 14:32.898
And when you get
to the play-offs,

14:32.898 --> 14:33.898
it's the same thing.

14:33.898 --> 14:36.964
Let me take a step back from
the match-up and talk about you

14:36.964 --> 14:37.964
personally.

14:37.964 --> 14:40.531
You've been in this community
a long time and you've done an

14:40.531 --> 14:42.231
awful lot for the community.

14:42.231 --> 14:44.831
Lionel Hollins charities
is very important to you.

14:44.831 --> 14:47.464
Can you talk a
little bit about that?

14:47.464 --> 14:50.798
Well, it's just something that
being here from the beginning,

14:50.798 --> 14:52.198
wanting to get
involved with the community.

14:52.198 --> 14:54.131
I didn't know the
community very well.

14:54.131 --> 14:55.131
They didn't know me.

14:55.131 --> 14:58.698
I was just an assistant coach
and I started a bowling event.

14:58.698 --> 15:03.798
And it has taken off and
it's spawned other events.

15:03.798 --> 15:05.731
My role models dinner.

15:05.731 --> 15:11.531
We also have a big gala the
night before the bowling event.

15:11.531 --> 15:16.398
I started giving away
bikes at Christmas time for,

15:16.398 --> 15:18.231
you know, under served kids.

15:18.231 --> 15:22.364
And we're just trying
to grow, partner with..

15:22.364 --> 15:24.164
FedEx, I mean Saint Jude's..

15:24.164 --> 15:25.398
Saint Jude.

15:25.398 --> 15:27.498
I have to get that right.

15:27.498 --> 15:28.498
Yes, exactly.

15:28.498 --> 15:31.164
And you know, when I
was out of basketball,

15:31.164 --> 15:33.031
I did some stuff for Saint Jude.

15:33.031 --> 15:35.731
And now that I'm the
head coach, you know,

15:35.731 --> 15:39.164
I try to do as much as I can
whenever I can for them and help

15:39.164 --> 15:40.264
raise money.

15:40.264 --> 15:43.831
They're important in our
community and also nationally

15:43.831 --> 15:47.731
and internationally in helping
the fight against cancer and

15:47.731 --> 15:48.998
especially childhood cancer.

15:48.998 --> 15:54.898
But so, its just trying to
do what you feel is right.

15:54.898 --> 15:58.264
And it doesn't
have to be, you know,

15:58.264 --> 16:00.098
have 5000 people attend.

16:00.098 --> 16:02.231
It's just going in the
community and doing something.

16:02.231 --> 16:05.598
And I tell people all the time,
you can give back without any

16:05.598 --> 16:06.598
money.

16:06.598 --> 16:08.031
It's time and passion.

16:08.031 --> 16:13.164
You can see older people needing
somebody to mow their lawn.

16:13.164 --> 16:14.164
Go mow their lawn.

16:14.164 --> 16:15.631
You can see older people
that can't get to the store.

16:15.631 --> 16:16.698
You can go shopping for them.

16:16.698 --> 16:18.398
You can help
somebody cross the street.

16:18.398 --> 16:20.698
I mean, there's all kinds
of ways of giving back.

16:20.698 --> 16:23.931
You can organize cleaning vacant
lots that's full of glass and

16:23.931 --> 16:25.031
trash.

16:25.031 --> 16:27.864
You know, all types of
things that you can do and it's

16:27.864 --> 16:31.964
important that we help our
community stay strong by giving

16:31.964 --> 16:33.431
back.

16:33.431 --> 16:37.431
I know, um, that you could
coach anywhere in the league.

16:37.431 --> 16:38.831
You have proven it.

16:38.831 --> 16:41.064
It's not even a
question anymore.

16:41.064 --> 16:43.164
How much do you want to
be back here next season?

16:43.164 --> 16:46.431
Well, I just told
somebody last night,

16:46.431 --> 16:49.231
"You know, when you lay a
foundation and you take it from

16:49.231 --> 16:51.698
the beginning stages
and you build it up,

16:51.698 --> 16:53.698
you want to see it
to the fruition."

16:53.698 --> 16:56.431
The fruition is
winning a championship.

16:56.431 --> 16:57.531
Can we do it this year?

16:57.531 --> 16:58.531
I don't know.

16:58.531 --> 16:59.898
But we're shooting for it.

16:59.898 --> 17:02.631
And will we be
back there next year?

17:02.631 --> 17:03.631
Possibly.

17:03.631 --> 17:07.331
And why would I want to leave
and go and start on the bottom

17:07.331 --> 17:09.064
because that's
usually what happens.

17:09.064 --> 17:12.031
And start over again
when I don't have to.

17:12.031 --> 17:14.698
I mean, if it came to
that, it came to that.

17:14.698 --> 17:16.164
But that's not my goal.

17:16.164 --> 17:17.164
That's not my intent.

17:17.164 --> 17:21.564
My intent and thought process is
being here in Memphis and with

17:21.564 --> 17:24.998
the group that we have and
building on what we started and

17:24.998 --> 17:27.731
ultimately, you know,
dancing on Beale Street.

17:27.731 --> 17:28.731
Absolutely.

17:28.731 --> 17:30.364
Alright, Lionel, we're going to
end the interview with 'Five for

17:30.364 --> 17:31.364
the Road'.

17:31.364 --> 17:32.464
Quick questions, quick answers.

17:32.464 --> 17:34.064
First thing that comes to mind.

17:34.064 --> 17:35.564
Your favorite, and you
can't say the Grizzlies.

17:35.564 --> 17:37.798
Your favorite
professional franchise,

17:37.798 --> 17:39.131
any sport.

17:39.131 --> 17:40.931
New England Patriots.

17:40.931 --> 17:41.931
Wow, okay!

17:41.931 --> 17:43.631
Thought you'd go
basketball somewhere,

17:43.631 --> 17:45.131
maybe Portland.

17:45.131 --> 17:47.531
Maybe Philadelphia where
I remember you playing.

17:47.531 --> 17:52.498
How about your favorite
professional athlete?

17:52.498 --> 17:53.498
Bill Russel.

17:53.498 --> 17:57.931
Bill Russel who dissed me for
an autograph in 1969 but I won't

17:57.931 --> 17:59.331
hold that against him.

17:59.331 --> 18:04.198
Well, I have his autograph on a
pair of sneakers that he wore.

18:04.198 --> 18:05.198
Gosh!

18:05.198 --> 18:06.764
Favorite music,
musician, genre of music?

18:06.764 --> 18:07.864
I like jazz.

18:07.864 --> 18:09.864
I like rhythm and blues.

18:09.864 --> 18:11.531
Do I have a favorite musician?

18:11.531 --> 18:12.798
I mean, I like a lot of people.

18:12.798 --> 18:16.898
But I'll say, you know, Earth
Wind and Fire off the top of my

18:16.898 --> 18:17.898
head.

18:17.898 --> 18:18.898
Very good!

18:18.898 --> 18:20.431
I like all types of artists.

18:20.431 --> 18:21.798
Favorite movie of all time?

18:21.798 --> 18:23.398
Hmm, there's been a ton of them.

18:23.398 --> 18:24.398
I just saw, um..

18:24.398 --> 18:29.131
Gosh, what was the
movie that I just saw?

18:29.131 --> 18:31.931
Have you seen 42?

18:31.931 --> 18:33.031
I saw Argo.

18:33.031 --> 18:35.931
Oh, Django!

18:35.931 --> 18:37.531
Oh, I haven't seen that yet.

18:37.531 --> 18:39.864
The most favorite movie for me
is always the next one but I had

18:39.864 --> 18:43.964
to go back to Breakfast at
Tiffany's and those types of

18:43.964 --> 18:44.964
movies.

18:44.964 --> 18:46.631
I love old movies, black and
white that are turning in to

18:46.631 --> 18:47.631
color.

18:47.631 --> 18:48.631
But you got to see 42 though.

18:48.631 --> 18:51.064
It is fantastic story
of Jackie Robinson,

18:51.064 --> 18:52.064
of course.

18:52.064 --> 18:53.664
And your favorite
TV show of all time?

18:53.664 --> 18:56.664
I don't really watch TV
and even when I was younger,

18:56.664 --> 19:00.931
I had to go back maybe shows
like Leave it to Beaver and..

19:00.931 --> 19:02.698
You're old school!

19:02.698 --> 19:05.798
I mean, you know, I
don't watch much TV.

19:05.798 --> 19:09.664
I hate getting in to TV and you
can't watch it because we play

19:09.664 --> 19:11.364
different nights
of the week so..

19:11.364 --> 19:13.631
TiVo!

19:13.631 --> 19:15.431
I don't do that
too often either.

19:15.431 --> 19:16.631
Hey Lionel, thank you so much.

19:16.631 --> 19:17.631
Really appreciate it.

19:17.631 --> 19:19.198
Good to see you.

19:19.198 --> 19:19.231
Alright.

19:19.231 --> 19:45.298
♪♪♪

19:45.298 --> 19:47.431
The Memphis Tigers baseball team
is getting ready for the stretch

19:47.431 --> 19:48.631
run of the season.

19:48.631 --> 19:51.098
They have put together a very
impressive year to date but

19:51.098 --> 19:53.364
their fate will be determined
over the course of the next

19:53.364 --> 19:54.364
month.

19:54.364 --> 19:56.764
Last year the Tigers made an
impressive run in the Conference

19:56.764 --> 20:00.231
tournament, falling in the
championship game to UAB.

20:00.231 --> 20:02.464
This time around they're hopeful
they can take it one step

20:02.464 --> 20:05.631
further, and if not, still have
won enough games to receive an

20:05.631 --> 20:08.431
at large bid into
the NCAA tournament.

20:08.431 --> 20:10.798
The key to the Tiger's
success thus far has been the

20:10.798 --> 20:13.131
consistency of their
starting pitching.

20:13.131 --> 20:16.331
St. Benedict product Sam Moll is
the Tiger's number one hurler,

20:16.331 --> 20:19.698
and not surprisingly, is
pitching to rave reviews.

20:19.698 --> 20:22.798
But it's fellow area pitching
product Eric Schoenrock who has

20:22.798 --> 20:24.864
been the team's most
pleasant surprise.

20:24.864 --> 20:27.131
The former Collierville High
School pitcher was a middle

20:27.131 --> 20:30.198
reliever last season and has
dealt with some back issues,

20:30.198 --> 20:32.631
but Schoenrock, who just so
happens to be the head coach's

20:32.631 --> 20:36.698
son, is 100 percent healthy and
has put together a sensational

20:36.698 --> 20:37.698
season.

20:37.698 --> 20:41.831
He's five and three with an era
of 2.87 and has given up only 48

20:41.831 --> 20:45.631
hits and 22 earned runs
in 69 innings pitched.

20:45.631 --> 20:48.431
Schoenrock will be a key for
the tigers the rest of the way.

20:48.431 --> 20:52.798
And I recently had a chance to
chat with the sophomore lefty.

20:52.798 --> 20:54.831
Eric, the obvious question,
what's it like playing for your

20:54.831 --> 20:55.831
dad?

20:55.831 --> 20:56.831
It's awesome.

20:56.831 --> 20:59.464
I mean, coming in to college,
I didn't really know what to

20:59.464 --> 21:00.531
expect.

21:00.531 --> 21:01.531
Just being around him everyday.

21:01.531 --> 21:02.631
but it's been awesome so far.

21:02.631 --> 21:06.631
And he treats me like everybody
else so it's been awesome.

21:06.631 --> 21:09.664
You have had an
outstanding season to date.

21:09.664 --> 21:12.431
Last year, you had, you we're
coming off of a back injury.

21:12.431 --> 21:14.031
So you didn't pitch as much.

21:14.031 --> 21:15.631
But then you went to
the Cape Cod league.

21:15.631 --> 21:16.631
Right.

21:16.631 --> 21:19.731
And that was very influential
in getting you ready for this

21:19.731 --> 21:20.731
season.

21:20.731 --> 21:23.164
Talk about what that meant to
you pitching up at Cape Cod.

21:23.164 --> 21:25.731
I didn't pitch as
much as I wanted to.

21:25.731 --> 21:27.464
Last year,
obviously the back injury.

21:27.464 --> 21:30.831
So going up to the Cape, I was
around great players every day.

21:30.831 --> 21:33.998
And I just want to work
hard so I get ready to,

21:33.998 --> 21:36.598
you know, help our team this
year which I did this past

21:36.598 --> 21:37.598
summer.

21:37.598 --> 21:40.031
But just being around those
great guys every day this summer

21:40.031 --> 21:42.464
and seeing what they do to
get themselves ready to pitch

21:42.464 --> 21:43.764
everyday, it was good.

21:43.764 --> 21:44.964
What are your strengths?

21:44.964 --> 21:47.831
Um, I say this year it's
been a big strike thrower.

21:47.831 --> 21:49.864
I can get a
strike-out when I need it.

21:49.864 --> 21:52.864
But just pitching deep in games
and saving our bull pen so far.

21:52.864 --> 21:55.964
Three complete games which is
kind of rare for Memphis Tigers

21:55.964 --> 21:56.964
baseball.

21:56.964 --> 21:58.564
We see a lot of times going in
to the pen but you've been able

21:58.564 --> 21:59.731
to go the distance three times.

21:59.731 --> 22:02.464
Right, um, I think what's really
helped that is I've devloped a

22:02.464 --> 22:03.464
change up.

22:03.464 --> 22:04.931
And it's helped me, you know,
get more ground balls and keep

22:04.931 --> 22:05.931
my pitch count down.

22:05.931 --> 22:08.898
It allowed me to
pitch deeper in games.

22:08.898 --> 22:11.531
But just overall, just throwing
strikes and just hitters

22:11.531 --> 22:12.531
basically.

22:12.531 --> 22:15.731
This is one of the better staffs
we have seen in a long time here

22:15.731 --> 22:16.831
in Memphis.

22:16.831 --> 22:20.064
Talk about this starting staff
for oyu guys and kind of leaning

22:20.064 --> 22:22.364
on also the number one
guy in the rotation,

22:22.364 --> 22:23.364
Sam Moll.

22:23.364 --> 22:24.831
Right, Sam Moll, I watch
him pitch every Friday.

22:24.831 --> 22:27.631
I keep a chart so I kind of
get an advantage to see how he

22:27.631 --> 22:28.898
attacks the hitters on Friday.

22:28.898 --> 22:30.764
And I can kind of do the
same thing on Saturday.

22:30.764 --> 22:34.498
And I know Sunday we're going to
get a good start on Alex Gunn.

22:34.498 --> 22:36.031
And then our
starter Micheal Wills.

22:36.031 --> 22:37.298
He's beat Ole Miss twice.

22:37.298 --> 22:38.298
And I don't know.

22:38.298 --> 22:41.364
If it gets to our bull pen,
I'm pretty confident with him,

22:41.364 --> 22:42.364
too.

22:42.364 --> 22:43.364
We've got a really deep staff.

22:43.364 --> 22:44.664
So it's been good so far.

22:44.664 --> 22:46.431
You've played your prep
ball at Collierville.

22:46.431 --> 22:48.964
Did you have Hopkins, Hoppy
the former Memphis Tigers head

22:48.964 --> 22:49.964
coach.

22:49.964 --> 22:50.964
What was that like?

22:50.964 --> 22:53.298
And I know, again, you had
a back issue as a junior.

22:53.298 --> 22:56.598
So you came back strong from
that in your senior year to get

22:56.598 --> 22:57.598
ready for colllege.

22:57.598 --> 23:00.398
Yeah, Coach Hop helped me a
lot develop over my four years

23:00.398 --> 23:01.398
there.

23:01.398 --> 23:02.698
I missed my junior
year like you said.

23:02.698 --> 23:04.931
But you know, I just worked real
hard and tried to come back for

23:04.931 --> 23:07.098
a strong senior year and
had a pretty good year.

23:07.098 --> 23:08.098
So it was good.

23:08.098 --> 23:09.831
Do you think the back
issues are behind you?

23:09.831 --> 23:10.831
Right, I think they are.

23:10.831 --> 23:13.931
In the past, I've just kind of
hoped they woldn't come back.

23:13.931 --> 23:16.098
But now I do, you know, physical
therapy every two or three days

23:16.098 --> 23:18.898
just to make sure my back
stays strong and ready to go.

23:18.898 --> 23:20.731
As you're making
your college decision,

23:20.731 --> 23:21.931
obviosuly here's Memphis.

23:21.931 --> 23:25.764
And here's your dad as the
coach but there were other

23:25.764 --> 23:26.764
opportunities.

23:26.764 --> 23:27.764
Did you discuss with him?

23:27.764 --> 23:28.764
How did it go?

23:28.764 --> 23:32.364
He's obviously recruiting you
as a coach but you're looking at

23:32.364 --> 23:35.264
Middle Tennessee and Vanderbilt
and other opportunities.

23:35.264 --> 23:36.598
Talk about that whole procedure.

23:36.598 --> 23:39.264
Right, he kind of left it all
up to the assistant coaches.

23:39.264 --> 23:42.864
He took his hand out of it and
told me the only rule he had for

23:42.864 --> 23:46.064
me was I couldn't go
anywhere else in Conference USA.

23:46.064 --> 23:48.098
But I'm glad I made the decision
to come here because once I took

23:48.098 --> 23:50.731
a visit here, I loved it
and loved all the people.

23:50.731 --> 23:52.331
So I'm happy with my decision.

23:52.331 --> 23:53.664
What about this
beautiful field you play on?

23:53.664 --> 23:54.664
It's unbelievable.

23:54.664 --> 23:55.831
I mean, I've seen over..

23:55.831 --> 23:56.831
what?

23:56.831 --> 23:59.564
Nine years now since my families
been here the change this place

23:59.564 --> 24:00.631
has been through.

24:00.631 --> 24:01.964
And I mean, it's awesome
to see where it is now.

24:01.964 --> 24:03.198
Alright, you're a left hander.

24:03.198 --> 24:04.198
So are you quirky?

24:04.198 --> 24:05.198
Are you weird?

24:05.198 --> 24:06.198
I'm a little different.

24:06.198 --> 24:08.631
Not too weird like some of
the other lefties out there.

24:08.631 --> 24:10.331
But I guess I'm a
little different.

24:10.331 --> 24:11.331
Do you have superstitions?

24:11.331 --> 24:12.331
Uh, not really.

24:12.331 --> 24:14.031
I like to chew gum when I pitch.

24:14.031 --> 24:15.264
I guess that's
something superstituous.

24:15.264 --> 24:16.764
But I don't have too many.

24:16.764 --> 24:20.198
Just try to stick to a routine
and that's kind of what I base

24:20.198 --> 24:21.198
myself off of.

24:21.198 --> 24:22.664
So nothing about
jumping over the chalk?

24:22.664 --> 24:24.398
It's alright to
step on the line.

24:24.398 --> 24:26.131
Nah, I try not to do that.

24:26.131 --> 24:27.864
But I'm not real
superstituous about it.

24:27.864 --> 24:29.598
I think chewing gums
probably the thing.

24:29.598 --> 24:31.564
I have to chew gum when I pitch.

24:31.564 --> 24:34.764
If you continue to pitch the way
you are and hopefully you will,

24:34.764 --> 24:37.731
after this season there may be a
decsion to be made because more

24:37.731 --> 24:40.864
than likely, you're going to be
a pretty decently high drafted

24:40.864 --> 24:41.864
player.

24:41.864 --> 24:46.664
What will that be like talking
with your pop about possibly

24:46.664 --> 24:49.431
going pro or staying
for a senior season?

24:49.431 --> 24:52.098
Right, he supports my
decision 100 percent.

24:52.098 --> 24:54.531
He knows that my whole life
I've wanted to play major league

24:54.531 --> 24:57.798
baseball But if that
opportunity was to come around,

24:57.798 --> 24:59.364
he'd be behind me 100 percent.

24:59.364 --> 25:01.498
How far do you think
this team can go this year?

25:01.498 --> 25:03.764
With our pitching and
defense, and I mean,

25:03.764 --> 25:04.798
the way we're
playing offense this year,

25:04.798 --> 25:05.798
we can go a long way.

25:05.798 --> 25:07.398
We just got to, you know, take
it one game at a time like we

25:07.398 --> 25:10.398
have been and you know, keep
doing things we've been doing.

25:10.398 --> 25:13.798
You've had great competition in
Conference USA and it continues

25:13.798 --> 25:14.798
this year.

25:14.798 --> 25:16.731
Next year though, it's a
move to the American Athletic

25:16.731 --> 25:17.731
Conference.

25:17.731 --> 25:19.531
Some of the teams will be the
same but there will be some new

25:19.531 --> 25:21.998
teams as well.

25:21.998 --> 25:23.531
So new challenges.

25:23.531 --> 25:25.398
Right, it will be interesting.

25:25.398 --> 25:26.531
A lot more travel.

25:26.531 --> 25:29.731
That might be a little tougher
on us but looking forward for if

25:29.731 --> 25:32.531
I'm back next year to, you know,
see the different cities we're

25:32.531 --> 25:35.098
going to be going to and
the different teams we'll be

25:35.098 --> 25:36.098
playing.

25:36.098 --> 25:37.098
Eric, thank you so much.

25:37.098 --> 25:38.831
Continue success and we look
forward to watching you pitch.

25:38.831 --> 25:39.831
Thank you very much.

25:39.831 --> 25:42.131
One last thing, congrats to
Grizzlies center Marc Gasol who

25:42.131 --> 25:44.464
just yesterday was named the
NBA's Defensive player of the

25:44.464 --> 25:45.464
year.

25:45.464 --> 25:46.798
And that will do it
for this week's program.

25:46.798 --> 25:49.831
Remember you can see any of our
previous shows by heading to our

25:49.831 --> 25:52.264
website, WKNO-dot-org and
clicking on KNO Tonite.

25:52.264 --> 25:54.264
Have a great week, and
we'll see you next time.

25:55.064 --> 25:59.064
♪♪♪