Bobby Manning and Friends

Alex Kennedy of HoopsHype shares inside info on Davis Bertans' drop-out from the Orlando re-start of the NBA season scheduled for roughly one month from today. He's spoken to agents, trainers and players throughout the lockout and believes injuries continue to be the biggest threat in the return. We discuss insurance and early extension possibilities for players like Jayson Tatum and the future of sports media as his pro basketball writer association deliberates closed locker rooms and coronavirus concerns that will almost certainly stretch into next season. Bonus: Anthony Obas calls in from Harlem about the firework controversy. 

Kyrie Irving made his stance on the Orlando bubble clear on a conference call with hundreds of players last weekend and takes have been flying ever since. New York Times writer Sopan Deb weighs in after Bobby and Taylor's and describes writing about his life, work, family and comedy in "Missed Translations."

My Syracuse University classmates Ohemaa Dixon and Cayla Dorsey helped formulate then drive an "Act-A-Thon" last week, informing hundreds of people across at least 46 states how to contact their elected officials. They advocated to encourage action against police brutality as an election year continues and passive social media efforts like the "blackout" fell short of their hopeful effort. While the George Floyd protests entered their third week and the NBA mulls not returning to focus on the Black Lives Matter movement, we weighed in on the tragic death of Rayshard Brooks, deemed a murder, that further incited anger across the country. 

Jayson Buford writes for Passion Weiss and was involved in the New York City George Floyd protests that dominated the American consciousness last week. We discussed what he saw in the streets then dove into a full-length discussion on the most important rap album right now: Freddie Gibbs and The Alchemist's "Alfredo." The album fittingly followed Gibbs' "Bandana" classic with Madlib as a cementing that Gibbs could have improbably become the best rapper alive within the last year. His mix of technical skill, prolific releases and the lack of seriousness he carries his brand with. Jared Weiss caps off the show with our conversation about the stellar album from the beginning of quarantine, Thundercat's "It Is What It Is." 

Music writer Nate Spurlin who runs the platform OldMilk.com addresses the George Floyd protests and his experience with racism and police brutality. He's a Syracuse University graduate and New York City native. On rubber bullets, police departments and solutions the Black Lives Matter movement seeks. Producer Taylor McCloud hosts this special edition. 

Discussing power dynamics, the politics of violence and who should be held accountable in a cascade of blame after George Floyd's universally condemned death at the hands of Minneapolis Police. Police have battered protestors while violence and looting erupted in major cities across the US this week, eroding public sentiment. Mel Smith and Bobby Manning took a break from Music Monday to weigh the arguments presented in coverage of the Floyd protests and the role journalism has to play as reporters stand among the attacked in crowds. 

The NBA will vote next week on a format to continue the season. With gripes about hotel quality and having something to play for holding up some players, it's decision time. It's felt inevitable for weeks that the league will resume in Orlando, but personal interests and ideas need to be put aside. So what will it be? Regular season with conferences? 1-16? World Cup format? Straight to postseason. Jared Weiss joins us to rate the possible scenarios that have been mentioned and grade them on scales of adaptability to future seasons, money-making and the all-heralded "Asterisk" conversation. 

Could "The Last Dance" be replicated? Not to say any other documentary couldn't be better, but the odds of combining a universally beloved, largely clean figure with unseen footage and the grandness of this moment seems unlikely. Even megastars like Kobe Bryant and LeBron James fail to grasp that level of acclaim. We break into the best moments over the last five weeks, the defining message it sends on Michael Jordan and what's next?

A murder in Georgia, the Toni Kukoc chronicles in The Last Dance and why the Knicks could never get over the hump. Rest in peace top Ahmaud Arbery and may his family find some solace in justice. Dome Theory welcomes actress, model and sports superfan/tweeter Lizz Robbins to reminisce about her Knicks during the 1990s and why they couldn't get over the Michael Jordan hump. We also wonder why Charles Oakley has moved his Knicks crusade toward Patrick Ewing and what it's like to watch The Last Dance for someone who lived it and didn't.

Gorman watched the footage, and it seems clear that Isiah Thomas' argument doesn't hold up on the Celtics walkoff against the Pistons in 1988. Thomas argues it inspired their walkoff against the Bulls, but the two situations have different contexts. Mike Gorman checked in from quarantine to remember the first time he knew Michael Jordan would be great, though he says he has seen a better player since. The Last Dance featured Dennis Rodman's antics, a far cry from what's possible today, though not as far as Tommy Heinsohn's 28 preseason games. The Celtics broadcaster talked about the NBA season ending early, as well as what to look forward to in upcoming Last Dance episodes.