First Ballot: The Hall of Fame Podcast

In the 1999 NBA Playoffs, Larry Johnson became a Knicks legend after completing a skillful 4-pt play against the Pacers. Here to discuss the moment is actor, writer, producer, and comedian Adam Pally, who talks about the vulnerability of trash talking, being a Knicks fan, and an underrated pizza combo.

Showtime Codes: 

(6:55) Sitting courtside at the Knicks game 

(8:52) Exchanging phone numbers with celebs 

(14:38) Adam's basketball game 

(20:20) Adam's fan and champion: Nick Bernstein!

(26:36) The shaky camera test 

(28:25) Adam hated the Pacers at the time

(29:13) The vulnerability of trash talking

(31:10) Larry Johnson does not get enough credit

(34:00) The game today vs 90s games

(36:27) Adam's favorite Knicks phases 

(38:59) Being in Chicago and being a Knicks fan

(39:00) Unwritten Knicks fan rules 

(41:50) The most gracious fan base 

(44:22) Did Larry Johnson get fouled 

(55:35) Game: Twitter Fingers!

(56:46) Adam's pizza hack 

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Many people might not remember Rolando Blackman hitting the game winner for the Knicks but Drew Dixon does. The writer, producer, and activist joins the pod to discuss this nostalgic moment, working on some of the greatest musical hits, and the importance of fighting for survivors. 

Showtime Codes:

7:34 - Drew's basketball career 

12:25 - Making All I Need by Method Man and Mary J Blige

30:40 - Favorite moments in Drew's career

32:20 - Working with Lauryn Hill and Whitney Houston 

32:50 - Being Q-Tip's one call

36:16 - Surviving being a woman in the music industry 

39:20 - Discussing On The Record and the hurdles of sharing the truth 

48:47 - Advice on separating art and artists

54:30 - The impact of memorializing abusers 

55:28 - What Me Too can do 

56:15 - Why Drew fought so hard for On The Record

59:28 - Why Drew chose this moment 

01:02:09 - Drew starts bawling at Rolando Blackman's jumper

01:07:50 - Fun facts about bees

01:08:56 - Drew’s Guiding Philosophy: “Anybody can hit from anywhere.”

01:12:15 - Drew believes you can’t crowdsource culture

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"I just saved my right hand for the Lakers." In 1986, bored of dominating opponents with his right hand, Larry Bird decided to shoot with his off-hand against the Portland Trailblazers. Legendary comedian and former host of Sportscenter, The Daily Show, and The Late Late Show, Craig Kilborn, joins the pod to discuss his basketball and comedy careers, balancing life between Minnesota and LA, and if Larry Bird's left-handed game is worthy of the First Ballot Hall of Fame. 

Showtime Codes:

(6:27) Craig Kilborn can shoot

(7:04) Breaking down D-Lo's Game and the Timberwolves

(14:23) The Northside Magicians

(18:05) Picking apart Neil's Lakers

(21:23) Craig's player comp

(24:28) The Genius of Five Questions

(27:39) Craig's dream of doing comedy

(29:48) Leaving Sportscenter

(34:10) Neil's interview with Mike Gibbons  

(36:40) Craig's favorite late-night guests

(43:20) Meeting Larry Bird

(46:22) "What would Larry do?"

(51:41) NBA Trivia

(53:34) This or That!

(59:14) Craig's Favorite Beverage

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Inside the NBA isn't just a show, it's an institution. In an extra special episode, long-time Inside the NBA producer Tim Kiely joins the pod to talk about his career, working with Shaq and Charles Barkley, and if any iconic Inside the NBA moments are First Ballot Hall of Fame worthy. 

Timecodes:

(03:54) There's no "I" in Team, but there's one in TIM

(05:21) Recruiting Charles Barkley

(11:39) Breaking the formula with Ernie Johnson Jr. 

(16:47) Leaving ESPN and Tim's Dream

(22:52) Bringing in Kenny "The Jet" Smith

(28:55) Shaq's Mumble

(33:23) The Best Cast on TV 

(38:10) Inside the NBA: Honorable Mention Moments

(39:25) The Champions Club

(42:54) The New Year's Eve Party

(44:42) Shaq's Gasoline Logic and Flying to the Moon

(48:46) Chuck Holding his Breath in a Fish Tank

(51:33) "One, two... back to one"

(53:54) The Race

(57:36) Shaq Falling 

(59:04) Shaq Hot Chip Challenge

(01:00:27) Kenny's Jersey Retirement

(01:04:51) The X-Factor behind Inside the NBA

(01:09:15) David joins for a guest question

(01:10:05) The time TK almost got fired

(01:11:54) Inside the NBA Trivia

(01:14:35) The demise of Inside the NBA

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Normally retirements are celebrated with lots of fanfare, jerseys hanging in rafters, gold statues, and maybe even cake. But in August of 2023, NBA referee, Eric Lewis announced his abrupt retirement after NBA Twitter sleuths discovered the ref's burner account. @Mikeyyy_Wyllin, NBA Twitter Detective and newly appointed second-best Laker fan, joins the pod to discuss how his investigation caused an NBA ref to retire, meeting Eric Lewis, and the best NBA Twitter scandals. 

Showtime Codes:

(7:22) @Mikeyyy_Wyllin's Integrity as a Detective

(13:50) Did the legalization of sports betting cost a man his career?

(20:05) Eric Lewis' following list

(22:24) Baiting Eric Lewis

(28:01) Eric Lewis ages himself

(31:43) The Humaness of Eric Lewis

(34:09) Eric Lewis still uses AOL

(46:45) Mikeyyy's theories on Eric's retirement

(50:48) Eric Lewis' Best Tweets

(1:04:58) #1 Brother Behavior

(1:06:49) The KD and Colangelo Burner Accounts

(1:09:06) Mikeyyy meeting Eric Lewis 

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On July 23rd, 2023 Shohei dominated in a double-header against the Detroit Tigers, throwing a one-hitter in the first game and hitting two home runs in the second. Hannah Keyser, National Baseball writer at Yahoo Sports and creator of the Bandwagon podcast, joins the pod to discuss if Shohei's double-header is worthy of the First Ballot Hall of Fame, her favorite tri-colored pasta, and her Baseball Movie Dream Team.

Showtime Codes:

(06:27) The Best Tri-Colored Pasta in the Tri-State Area is in South Jersey?

(09:42) The Nacho that changed Neil's life

(10:17) The magic of unique baseball roles

(17:58) Going back in time: will Shohei get traded?

(21:50) Someone else did it first??

(24:15) We need more Japanese culture in baseball

(29:17) First Ballot Game: THIS or THAT

(32:07) Someone is MAD

(33:18) A "once ever player"

(38:17) Is Shohei better than Ichiro?

(40:39) Angels collide: Ohtani vs Trout

(45:45) Unpacking Neil's fear: fly balls

(47:10) Dream Team!! Baseball Movie Edition

(50:00) Are bat flips disrespectful?

(53:31) Cats kick ass

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“I’m sorry son, but you must have me confused with someone else,” is a famous line from Kareem Abdul-Jabbar’s 1980 appearance in the movie Airplane! Deciding whether Abdul-Jabbar’s piloting of the skies is First Ballot worthy is none other than First Ballot MVP and SVP of Late Night West Coast at ViacomCBS, Nick Bernstein. Nick and Neil talk the strike, Nick's movie basketball player dream team, and if Kareem was wearing a jockstrap. Plus, a special appearance from Rob the editor! 

Showtime Codes: 

(6:43) Recapping Nick's FBHOF W-L Record 

(9:16) A special guest appearance: Rob the editor! 

(11:30) More Important: Nick's surprising movie picks! 

(12:48) Favorite Athlete Cameo in Film and TV

(16:56) Something that kicks ass? Nick's SHOCKING answer

(21:16) Interestings stats: negotiating for a rug. 

(31:12) What never happened with famous people in sports

(34:35): "Busting my buns"

(36:45): Is Kareem wearing a jock?

(44:50): Kareem's acting credits

(53:00) Game Segment: Kareem movie trivia!

(55:23): Dream Team Game: The greatest movie basketball players

(01:02:26) Is Neil on the same level as Marc Maron?

(01:07:50) A special encore

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In 1967, some of the greatest athletes of all-time from Jim Brown to Bill Russell joined in solidarity to support Muhammad Ali's refusal to fight in the Vietnam War. Michael Harriot, writer and podcaster, joins the pod to discuss this historic sports moment, why Bill Russell is the GOAT, and how Twitter is the perfect place for an argument. 

Showtime Codes:

(07:12) Discussing the History of the Term Drapetomania

(19:22) Do Neil and Michael Know Any 22 Year Olds?

(22:18) "There really is no comparison"

(27:20) What is the Cleveland Summit?

(34:09) Bill Russell is the GOAT

(34:41) Was Red Auerbach even a good coach?

(35:36) Is Bill Russell the greatest high jumper of all-time?

(40:12) Bill Russell walked so MJ could run

(40:55) The Butterfly Effect of Bill Russell

(45:18) The Dominance of Jim Brown

(49:38) The Trial of Muhammad Ali

(53:41) The most important clerical error in sports history

(57:43) Ali's return covered up an FBI break-in

(59:34) The magic of "not knowing" 

(01:00:59) Athletes and Racial Justice

(01:07:47) Training with Bruce Lee

(01:11:09) Twitter is a place for an argument

(01:05:39) Michael's Favorite White Person

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“Kobe, tell me how my ass taste" should have been the headline when TMZ broke Shaq's freestyle diss to his former teammate. Joining the pod, the legendary musical storytellers and hosts of of The Blog Era, Jeff and Eric Rosenthal from ItsTheReal break down the moment, talk about what makes a good roast, and if this was really a freestyle. 

Showtime Codes:

(07:05) Best rapper to make mouth gun sounds

(07:53) Favorite rap comedy song 

(14:35) ItsTheReal dream project 

(15:03) This or That! 

(27:50) How good of a rapper is Shaq?

(33:05) What makes a good roast 

(40:19) Was this really a freestyle?

(01:03:07) Biggest moment of ItsTheReal's Career

(01:16:16) Most Important: Best White Rapper?

(01:17:00) Most Important: Funniest rap song

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After bumping into Kevin Durant's chest, Carmelo Anthony completely crumbled! His bizarre decision to continue laying down splayed on the court as the game continued became a hilarious moment in the NBA. Writer for The Athletic, Zach Harper joins the pod to discuss if the collapse is First Ballot worthy and the one player that extraterrestrials should see play. Also, two new game segments!

Showtime Codes: 

(06:07) The best part of the entertainment business: laughter

(08:35) Praise for a First Ballot favorite: Julia Louis Dreyfus 

(13:45) The beginning of Neil and Zach Harper's formal friendship

(15:50) How Jerry Seinfeld made Neil want to get into meditation

(19:58) The vocabulary of this moment: splayed!

(26:40) How J.R. Smith took advantage of the moment 

(28:02) Special segment: The Name Game! 

(54:11) Another Game: This or That! 

(01:01:51) More Important: Quick Hitters

(01:04:11) The one player that extraterrestrials should see 

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