30 for 30 focused on the Shaq/Penny Magic team is on tonight. 8:00 ESPN

I just watched this... It brought back memories of cheering for the Magic during their playoff run. I really liked this 30 for 30.

Yes.

Great episode but also gut wrenching to see how close Penny got to winning a ring only to come up short. It was nice to hear how Penny would have been one of the greatest to ever play the game if not for the injuries.

It was a great episode. Made me miss watching Penny play ball. Bar none, he is still the best basketball player I have seen in person. That Magic team was loaded for bear back then. The organization just mishandled the entire deal.

In 94 I was with a group of people that went in early April to see Penny and the Magic play at Atlanta in the old Omni Arena. It was really cool how many Memphis people made the trip for that Saturday afternoon game. That weekend all of us stumbled inadvertently into something that used to go on in Atlanta called 'Freaknik'. Believe me, that's another story for another day.

(04-14-2016 10:46 PM)UofMark Wrote:  In 94 I was with a group of people that went in early April to see Penny and the Magic play at Atlanta in the old Omni Arena. It was really cool how many Memphis people made the trip for that Saturday afternoon game. That weekend all of us stumbled inadvertently into something that used to go on in Atlanta called 'Freaknik'. Believe me, that's another story for another day.

Talk about leaving us hanging...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Freaknik

(04-14-2016 10:46 PM)UofMark Wrote:  In 94 I was with a group of people that went in early April to see Penny and the Magic play at Atlanta in the old Omni Arena. It was really cool how many Memphis people made the trip for that Saturday afternoon game. That weekend all of us stumbled inadvertently into something that used to go on in Atlanta called 'Freaknik'. Believe me, that's another story for another day.

Haha....good ole Freaknik.

I saw them play the Clippers in '95 at Orlando. Love Penny.

(04-14-2016 10:46 PM)UofMark Wrote:  In 94 I was with a group of people that went in early April to see Penny and the Magic play at Atlanta in the old Omni Arena. It was really cool how many Memphis people made the trip for that Saturday afternoon game. That weekend all of us stumbled inadvertently into something that used to go on in Atlanta called 'Freaknik'. Believe me, that's another story for another day.

Lol I know what you mean! I went to freaknik a couple of years later. Apparently it had lost it's edge, so to speak, during the year I went, but it was wild enough.

Penny Hardaway was Memphis' first NBA franchise. All hardcore Memphis fans know what I mean.

Yep, i became an instant orlando fan when penny got traded to them. That 94-95 magic team is one of my favorite teams ever. Everyone would go to different bars around the city and watch penny and shaq. When shaq left, i didn't like him for a long time. I still think jealousy had a lot to do with it, and also the nba wanted shaq in a market like LA vs a young franchise like orlando.

If his knees had held up, i truly believe penny would have been one of the top guards ever in the nba.

He was so damn good

I just remember thinking back then, when I watched him play in the NBA, how much better he was in the NBA vs college. If that is even possible. But he was. Many players like he, Vince and grant were all better in tbe NBA. I missed a lot of his prime though due to being in the army back in the 90's....but at least I missed the tic price years...lol

Nick Anderson
Scott Skiles
Tree Rollins
Brian Shaw
Dennis Scott
David Vaughn
Horace Grant

Those teams were great

(04-14-2016 10:25 PM)memphistiger89 Wrote:  Great episode but also gut wrenching to see how close Penny got to winning a ring only to come up short. It was nice to hear how Penny would have been one of the greatest to ever play the game if not for the injuries.

Penny's greatness was well known before his injuries.

Scores of players have mentioned he was their role model going back to Tracy McGrady and others of that era.

He was well on his way to being the next Magic Johnson before his body failed him.

(04-14-2016 10:39 PM)bluetiger Wrote:  It was a great episode. Made me miss watching Penny play ball. Bar none, he is still the best basketball player I have seen in person. That Magic team was loaded for bear back then. The organization just mishandled the entire deal.

I was in Houston's a few years ago with my family and Herb Wright was sitting at the table next to us. Keep in mind that Herb and Larry were VERY tight and that Larry was Lorenzen's godfather.

Anyway, my boys and I were arguing about Larry Finch or Derrick Rose being the best Tiger ever.

As we were leaving, I brought them over to Herb and said, "Mr. Wright, would you please tell these 2 knuckleheads who the was the best Tiger ever?"

His answer: "You mean Penny Hardaway?"

My response: "No! Larry Finch!"

His response: "Larry was the best shooter."

From that moment on, I had to concede Penny was the best, and Larry was my favorite.

God Bless Herb and RIP Ren.

(04-14-2016 10:46 PM)UofMark Wrote:  In 94 I was with a group of people that went in early April to see Penny and the Magic play at Atlanta in the old Omni Arena. It was really cool how many Memphis people made the trip for that Saturday afternoon game. That weekend all of us stumbled inadvertently into something that used to go on in Atlanta called 'Freaknik'. Believe me, that's another story for another day.

Spring '94 Freaknik was the most epic one of all. Oh, the memories.....

Nick Anderson