Collison Confronts Jim Traber
In case you missed it on The Sports Animal today, host Jim Traber’s mission to run Nick Collison out of town hit a climax when Collison called into the station and had a 17-minute conversation with Traber.
For those that don’t know, The Oklahoman’s Jenni Carlson wrote a column Monday about how Collison is using the social networking site Twitter to show his personality, which includes his fondness for the city of Seattle.
Traber took exception to Collison’s tweets and his alleged shots at Oklahoma City and has declared war on the Thunder’s power forward ever since. What transpired today turned into truly unbelievable radio, combining comedy, shock value and downright good entertainment. What makes it so interesting is that neither Traber nor Collison is joking. It would be one thing if this were staged, a big act to drive ratings. But these two are genuinely going at it, airing out their differences for thousands to hear.
The first 15 seconds alone had me in stitches.
Traber: “Craig, we have a guest on the line. You know who it is?”
Craig Humphries: “I was told during the break that Nick Collison might be calling in.”
Traber: “That’s exactly right. Live from I’m sure up in Seattle right now it’s Nick Collison. Nick, I’m Jim Traber (with) Craig Humphries. What are you doing?”
Collison: “Hey Jim, what’s up? I heard you’re trying to run me out of town. What’s the deal?”
Other highlights include:
- Collison’s admitting his hatred for the word, “Tweet.”
- Collison claiming he’s “the sweatiest dude in the league,” which has actually been confirmed by at least one opposing player.
- Traber getting personal by calling out Collison for how much he makes every two weeks.
- Collison calling this ownership group and management the most dedicated to winning of any he’s every played for. (He points out he’s played for five head coaches, two GMs and two ownership groups, all with Seattle/Oklahoma City since he joined the league in 2003.)
- Collison asking Traber if he can stay at his place when he returns for the season since his lease is up.
Listen to the rest yourself by clicking on the link above.
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Open Mike Podcast: Harden, Mullens & Head Fakes
Sports editor Mike Sherman and I are back in the booth with more banter.
In today’s installment, we discuss whether James Harden is fat, if B.J. Mullens is any good and why GM Sam Presti passed on Ricky Rubio.
Join us.
(Oops. Technical difficulties on the first try for anyone who clicked on it. That was an old podcast. Today’s is now posted.)
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Open Mike Podcast: Talkin’ NBA Finals And NBA Draft
Sports editor Mike Sherman and I are back in the booth with more banter.
In this episode we discuss whether the referee’s have allowed Los Angeles Lakers forward Trevor Ariza to bend the defensive rules, whether Kobe Bryant choked and if he is indeed a closer and what the Thunder might do in the June 25 NBA Draft.
Join us.
(Quick house-cleaning note. USC guard Demar DeRozan worked out for the Thunder on Monday, not today. A press release inaccurately included him in today’s group. DeRozan worked out all by his lonesome.)
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Podcast: Open Mike – Should OKC Worry About The Ricky Rubio Situation?
The alleged Ricky Rubio situation can only gain more steam from here out and grow into a much bigger issue. I expect it will as we get closer to the draft. Here we have one of only two players in this draft who is projected to be a star and he is likely headed for one of the two smallest markets.
Sports Editor Mike Sherman and I discussed the topic today on the Open Mike podcast.
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Podcast: Open Mike – Should Thunder draft Thabeet
I’ve got a lot of thoughts on Tuesday night’s Draft Lottery results but not a lot of time today to share them here.
But Sports Editor Mike Sherman and I are back in the saddle in the world of podcasts (finally), and you can listen to our breakdown of the lottery and these NBA playoffs.
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