Hour 2: Marv Albert and Mike Lupica

**SPEAKER_1** (0:00)
The Stanley Cup Final on ABC is more than a quest for the cup. It's 134 years of putting it all on the line and the heaviest 35 pounds ever lifted. It's broken curses and broken hearts. But for those chasing it, it's everything. The only question is, who will take it? You just have to watch the Stanley Cup Final presented by GEICO on ABC and the ESPN app.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:31)
This is The Michael Kay Show podcast.

**Michael Kay** (0:34)
I got to get more Kay.

**SPEAKER_2** (0:35)
Listen live weekdays at 1 on the ESPN New York app and your smart speaker.

**Michael Kay** (0:41)
It's always an absolute privilege to get a chance to talk to one of the all-time greats in our business. I mean, when the history of this business is written in 500 years, Marv Albert is going to be in the lead paragraph. He is the Tom Brady of broadcasting. He is the GOAT and I just wanted to talk with Marv about what he is feeling as the Knicks are back in the finals. You know, he was at the mic for their championships in 70 and 73 and he was nice enough to agree to come on with us today. Marv, how are you doing, my friend?

**Marv Albert** (1:13)
I'm good, Michael. Thank you for the very, very kind words. How are you?

**Michael Kay** (1:18)
I'm doing well. How much are you looking forward to watching the game today and do you enjoy watching the game as a fan?

**Marv Albert** (1:26)
Yes, I do very much. In fact, it's more pleasant sometimes watching a game than actually being there, you know, unless you're sitting front row and broadcasting the game. But what I'm fascinated about, and I can't think of any teams who have done this, that a Nick team that had a regular season so different than the playoffs, even though they were good, but we're now seeing a team that is actually nine or ten deep.
That's usually unheard of, and in most cases, it's the starting five plus maybe two or three dependable players off the bench. It's like they've completely changed, turned. You don't see that in any sport.

**Michael Kay** (2:12)
Well, that's for sure. And the one thing that people keep bringing up about this team, you know, you mentioned ten deep, is that it does remind them of the Nick Championship teams. And I think sometimes we get to be prisoners of now, and we try to look back and we try to connect the ears. Do you see any similarities between the two teams?

**Marv Albert** (2:33)
Well, unless they win it all, it's tough to say that.

**Michael Kay** (2:37)
Right.

**Marv Albert** (2:39)
I mean, the team of 1970, of course, the game is so different now. It's so much faster. You have all the three point shots, perhaps too many.
But the team to me in 70 was one of the great teams in the history of the league. And that was, you know, Fraser and Barnett in the backcourt. It was Willis Reed. It was Dave DeBush or Bill Bradley up front and a couple of guys off the bench.
That was, as I said, I don't think, I mean, you have a couple of Celtic teams that were fantastic. And of course people in Boston would disagree. And you had, you know, a number of other teams. Today, the Golden State, I mean, today, you know, a few years ago, the Golden State Warriors were just a tremendous team.
And, you know, Lakers have had great clubs, although they had a time in the 70s where they just couldn't win a championship till they finally beat the Knicks after losing to them twice. So this is a very unusual squad, but shouldn't get their complete due unless they win it all. And that's what it comes down to.

**Michael Kay** (3:50)
When they won in 73, Marv, did it feel like they still had more gas in the tank to go further and to go to more finals? Or did you know that was probably coming to an end at that point?

**Marv Albert** (4:01)
I thought it was coming to an end, because Willis had been getting hurt. In fact, it was not a factor in 73 They had a backup center, John Janelli, who actually wasn't bad that season and really helped them.
They had Jerry Lucas who joined the team in 73 But I didn't think further than that. They might be a contender. They might be decent. But I think it was kind of over Clyde. It was eventually traded to Cleveland. All the guys passed on.
And it's 70 team was just so spectacular. And it caught the eye of the city. It reminds me of what's happening today, but in a bigger fashion. Because you go back, the Knicks, the reason they're so popular because basketball is such a part of New York City. But it's a generational story. So many, I think so many parents, dads and moms went to the games at the garden when you could get tickets. And you know, follow the team. And now it's their sons and daughters who are following the team. It's a real generational type story.