Local Hour: Chasing The First Jai (feat. George Cloney)

Look at this room, look at this throne—today’s huge, maybe the biggest for us: the Cyclones are in the Battle Court championship, and I’ll be on ESPN Radio tonight plugging that you can watch it on the ESPN app.

It’s the finale at Magic City, last match there, all doubles, first toss at seven p.m. on YouTube, the ESPN app, and ESPN3, and yes, do your show from the fronton—perfect synergy.

I’m late to set that up, so how should I sell it on air?

Keep it straight in the updates and tell people it’s a real title shot; we’ve been chasing that first rush since season one, and I even missed lifting the trophy because I was on a cruise.

If you’re home wondering what to watch, there’s an actual championship tonight—pour a cab and settle in.

Now the part making Mike mad: I can’t go because I’m working, but the rest of you keep tossing out excuses while we’re offering a suite and courtside for a title.

Open invite to the whole back room and somehow I’m hearing moving windows, radio hits, and the worst one—Roy’s going to the practice rink instead of the final, even though it’s free and family friendly.

I’m finally moving back home after a leak and two months in an Airbnb, and today’s the deadline; the timing just stinks.

I’ve got a moving pod coming and the window overlaps tonight; if it lands early, I’ll try to make it.

I only learned to skate a couple months ago and need reps before the Winter Classic media skate; I’m hoping to get several more in, but this might be the only slot.

Deal: I’ll show up at your skate with a lanyard and cheer if you and the family show up courtside for the team you co‑own; otherwise, Roy is number one on my disappointment list.

I can’t make it, but my brother Jason will go in my place.

Fine, let’s lift spirits—mascot’s here; say hello to George Cloney, a slightly terrifying, very expensive cyclone in the room to back the boys.

Pivot to hoops: Howard Beck says Giannis likes Miami if New York doesn’t happen—how real is that?

If Milwaukee moves a top‑five player, they’ll want a blue‑chip piece and heavy draft capital; some teams can offer prospects like Jalen Johnson and picks, but Atlanta probably keeps him, and the Heat’s best package could stack up well if Giannis names Miami.

Teams always start with “we’re not listening,” and there’s noise flying from everywhere, but Heat fans aren’t even leading the hope parade this time—it’s national folks pushing it.

The Bucks’ draft control is messy across the next several years, which only increases their need for picks in any deal; if Giannis wants Miami and the Heat can load up, they’re in the conversation.

Which brings us to Adam Silver and the Hornets, because protections tied to that pick are limiting how many firsts the Heat can move; the league’s sitting on its hands while Miami gets jammed up.

The Hornets should renegotiate in good faith to clear 2027 so Miami can free more firsts under the rules; then you put essentially everything not named Bam on the table.

Quick check—did the air just cut off?

Yeah, it’s getting hot, and Cloney hasn’t moved in a bit—on a sweat scale, how’s our cyclone doing back there?