2005 NBA Finals Media Moments

Will Perdue hard at work on Finals Media Day. (John Robbins/Spurs Photo)

Spurs.com – So what is your Finals prediction?

Will Perdue - Well, in my unbiased opinion, I think it’s going to be San Antonio in six.

Spurs.com – What has been favorite Finals moment?

Will Perdue - Probably actually winning it in San Antonio, even though I didn’t really get to play a lot. I won three in Chicago and I always thought that, you know, as long as Michael’s (Jordan) playing and this team stays together, you know we’re going to keep winning championships. Well Michael’s father dies, he retires, we don’t win any more championships. All the sudden the respect I had for just getting there, winning a championship, thinking about the guys that don’t even have the opportunity or have never won one just made me appreciate it that much more.

Spurs.com – What is you least favorite part of covering a Finals?

Will Perdue - I’m still working on that part. I used to always give the media a hard time, you know, about their job. I have a lot more respect for what they do because of what the difficulties they have getting it done.

Spurs.com – Toss up: Charles Barkely or Bill Walton?

Will Perdue – Holy Cow! That’s like the egg or the chicken, which one came first? Well, Let’s see here. That is a toss up because if I made suits it’d be about the same because Walton’s height and Charles’ width use about the same amount of material. That is a tough one. That’s kind of like a gimme isn’t it?

Bill Schoening after the Spurs 2003 Championship. (John Robbins/Spurs Photo)

Spurs.com – What has been favorite Finals moment?

Bill Schoening - Obviously when they won game six against the Nets. I kind of went crazy. We were all pumped up about that because remember they (the Spurs) were down in the fourth quarter of that game and they stormed back. That’s probably my favorite Finals moment. Malik Rose’s dunk over Dikembe Mutombo was a lot of fun and that was one of the defining moments during that three game stretch in New Jersey in ’03.

Spurs.com – How many finals have you attended?

Bill Schoening - I’ve been with the Spurs four years and they got to the Finals in ’03 so that was my only Finals.

Spurs.com – What is you least favorite part of covering a Finals?

Bill Schoening - (Laughing) The amount of media! You know I used to go to shoot around during the regular season and I‘d pretty much be the only media person there. Then of course late in the practice session a few more would stream in, but I guess the amount of media here is overbearing almost.

Spurs.com – Toss up: Charles Barkely or Bill Walton?

Bill Schoening - I’d say Charles Barkley. I think they’re both true to themselves, I think that they both express themselves pretty well. I think Charles in funnier, so I’d go with Charles.

Mike Tirico on stage with David Robinson after the Spurs 2003 Championship. (Bill Baptist/NBAE/Getty)

Spurs.com – How many Finals have you covered?

Mike Tirico – This is my fifth, and third for TV. I did two for ESPN Radio in the late 90’s.

Spurs.com – What has been your favorite moment?

Mike Tirico – For me personally, it’s the last two because I’ve been lucky enough to do the trophy presentation after the finals, which is such an honor to be around guys at that moment of accomplishment. With David and Tim two years ago, David’s really final moment in a Spurs uniform, was a great memory.

Spurs.com – What is your least favorite part of covering the Finals?

Mike Tirico – It’s not a best of 14. The games are great, the build up to the games is fun, I wish the series could go on forever. I love these series, they are so much fun and really there is nothing about it I don’t enjoy.

Spurs.com – What is you series prediction?

Mike Tirico – If I’m working the broadcast of the series I don’t predict. The only I will predict is that it will go seven.

Spurs.com – Toss up: Charles Barkely or Bill Walton?

Mike Tirico – Am I getting a rebound or taking a shot?! They’re different, that’s for sure. Since I work with Bill I got to take Bill because the team comes first. But that doesn’t mean I don’t love Chuck also.