{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"Kings vs Hawks: Ep. 4 \u2014 Sydney's Three-Peat Response To Wollongong\u2019s 2001 Title","description":" We continue diving deeper dive into one of Aussie hoops\u2019 fiercest rivalries \u2014 Sydney vs Illawarra \u2014 picking things up from the Wollongong Hawks\u2019 historic 2001 championship and tracking how the Kings and Hawks battled for New South Wales bragging rights through the mid-2000s. Host Dan Boyce revisits Wollongong\u2019s underdog run to become the first NSW club to win an NBL title, then jumps into Sydney\u2019s response \u2014 the arrival of Brian Goorjian, the recruitment of Chris Williams and Kavossy Franklin, and the three-year stretch that saw the Kings finally shed the \u201cViolet Crumbles\u201d tag and dominate the league. Featuring first-hand accounts from Glenn Saville, Shane Heal, Bill Tomlinson and Brian Goorjian, this episode blends locker-room stories, X-and-O breakdowns and playoff memories to show how the \u201cFreeway Series\u201d evolved from a regional feud into a clash between genuine title contenders. Topics include: How the 2001 Hawks title changed the rivalry and put a target on Wollongong\u2019s back (02:00) Glenn Saville on trying to defend the crown in 2001\u201302 and suddenly becoming the hunted (05:00) Brett Brown to the Spurs, the Titans folding and how Brian Goorjian ended up in Sydney (13:50) Bill Tomlinson on recruiting Chris Williams, early doubts about the Kings\u2019 chemistry and fixing the \u201cViolet Crumbles\u201d reputation (16:00) Shane Heal\u2019s version of the 2003 title run \u2014 ownership drama, Chris Williams\u2019 rise and finally delivering a championship to Sydney (21:30) Goorjian breaks down the 2003 finals, the comeback vs Perth and how the Kings\u2019 culture flipped overnight (27:00) Inside the 2003\u201304 repeat: Nielsen\u2019s MVP breakout, CJ Bruton\u2019s arrival and losing Jason Smith mid-season (32:30) 2004\u201305 sees both clubs become true championship at the same time and culminate with an all-NSW grand final (38:30) Goorjian on the 1\u20131\u20133 zone that Wollongong \u201chad no answer for\u201d and how the Kings swept the 2005 series (48:00) Glenn Saville\u2019s memories of facing that Kings juggernaut and what the 2005 grand final meant to Hawks players and fans (54:00) Visit dunk.com.au for your next set of basketball uniforms. Head to Aussie Hoopla to check out previous podcasts featuring: Australian Basketball Legends: Luc Longley, Andrew Gaze, Shane Heal, Mark Bradtke, David Andersen, Andrew Vlahov, Phil Smyth, CJ Bruton, Chris Anstey, Brett Maher, Glen Saville, Sam MacKinnon, John Rillie, Tony Ronaldson, Damian Martin, Brad Newley Current NBL Stars: Bryce Cotton, Chris Goulding, Xavier Cooks, Tyler Harvey, Dejan Vasiljevic, Jordan Hunter, Flynn Cameron, Keli Leaupepe, Jason Cadee, Mitch McCarron, Anthony Drmic, Luke Travers, Sam Froling, Jesse Wagstaff Our Finest Coaching Minds: Brian Goorjian, Barry Barnes, Joey Wright, Adrian Hurley, Adam Forde, Aaron Fearne, Rob Beveridge, Ian Stacker, Shawn Dennis, Dean Vickerman, Trevor Gleeson, Lindsey Gaze, Ken Cole, Will Weaver, Bruce Palmer NBA Stars Past & Present: Andrew Bogut, Matthew Dellavedova, Stephen Jackson, Jack McVeigh, Randy Livingston, Torrey Craig, Jack White, Acie Earl, Josh Childress, Reggie Smith, Todd Lichti, Ryan Broekhoff, Doug Overton The NBL's Greatest Imports: Leroy Loggins, Darryl McDonald, Ricky Grace, Cal Bruton, Derek Rucker, Leon Trimmingham, Scott Fisher, Lanard Copeland, Dwayne McClain, Darnell Mee, Shawn Redhage, Al Green, Steve Woodberry, Doug Overton, Kevin Lisch The Men In Control: Larry Kestelman, Mal Speed, Paul Maley, Vince Crivelli, Jeremy Loeliger, Chris Pongrass, Jeff Van Groningen, Bob Turner, Danny Mills Follow @AussieHoopla on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook or email us at info@aussiehoopla.com ","author_name":"Aussie Hoopla NBL & NBA Podcast","author_url":"http:\/\/aussiehoopla.com","html":"