Orlando Magic Daily Podcast Episode 52: Reviewing ‘This Magic Moment’

Philip Rossman-Reich

Mar 27, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Former NBA player Shaquille O'Neal is introduced as he was inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Shaquille O'Neal, Orlando Magic — Mar 27, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Former NBA player Shaquille O’Neal is introduced as he was inducted into the Magic Hall of Fame during the first half against the Detroit Pistons at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

The Orlando Magic were featured in the latest 30 for 30 documentary, “This Magic Moment.” On this episode of the OMD Podcast, we discuss the film.

There is a bit of nostalgia running through Orlando Magic fans right now.

ESPN recently aired their latest 30 for 30, This Magic Moment, chronicling the rise and fall of one of the most exciting young teams in NBA history. A team that ultimately turned into a tragedy as the team quickly disappeared as soon as it came to power. The Orlando Magic of the 1990s are one of the great what if stories in NBA history.

The movie told a story the rest of the NBA nation may not know fully. They may know parts of the story, but the documentary goes deep into how this team came together, what it meant and how it ultimately fell apart. It told familiar stories for Magic fans and had several players on this stage talking openly about the events that occurred during that celebrated, yet tragic time.

There are a lot of lessons to take from that time with the Magic. And plenty of lessons drawn out in the documentary This Magic Moment.

On this episode of the Orlando Magic Daily Podcast, editors Brett Roberts and Philip Rossman-Reich discuss the documentary, lessons learned from that time and what it all means.

On This Episode:

The impact of Shaq and Penny on the NBA, Orlando and beyond
What did Shaq’s departure mean to fans in Orlando
What is the lesson of the story of the 1990s Orlando Magic?
How did this seemingly perfect partnership fall apart?
How has Orlando and how have the Magic changed since the 1990s?
The shoe wars between Shaq and Penny
A pick-me-up after the downer of this documentary
How do we evaluate the 2016 Magic’s season?
Enjoying the moment of each season, you never know when it will leave

This Magic Moment will be airing on the ESPN family of networks, check your local listings. It should also be available on Netflix soon and likely also available on iTunes very soon if you missed the premiere Thursday!

Check out the next slide for a review of my live tweets during the broadcast!

Next: Live Tweeting 'This Magic Moment'

Live Tweeting ‘This Magic Moment’

Here we go! #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Chip Caray (@kapaya1234) probably narrates my childhood. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Surprised they didn’t tell the Pat Williams story. Williams said he brought his family to Orlando and his daughter said, This place is Magic
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

FAT STUFF IS THE BEST STUFF! #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Play it on repeat: https://t.co/TO1KWyN1RU

Watch out and beware… #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Young Shaq is terrifying. So terrifying. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

I mean it is not like the second pick was a terrible consolation prize. That Alonzo Mourning guy was OK… just not Shaq. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

We have always taken everything Shaq says with a grain of salt… it started from the beginning. Signing him was not easy. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Getting a transcendent center happens only once in a lifetime… except when it happened again in 2005. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Yes, Alex Martins was the #Magic’s PR director those early years. He is truly a Magic lifer. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Shaq once dove out of bounds where my sister was sitting. She kissed him on the head. She was two years old, I think. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Nick Anderson scores 50, Shaq pulls the backboard down. Just a normal night: https://t.co/IbrmZQxj8P #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Next: Lottery luck

Lottery Luck

One ping pong ball on a mission: https://t.co/vDHdCPMAlF #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

I was on the floor in tears because my mom was cheering for other teams. I didn’t understand how a Lottery works. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

This GIF forever: pic.twitter.com/dyZPG7lipq
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Did anyone argue for Shawn Bradley? Seriously. Someone had to. This is Twitter, right? #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

The Rec Center where the #Magic practice is still downtown. Houses some great youth programs like @Page15. Check them out!
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

The three first round picks the #Magic acquired for Chris Webber? Became Todd Fuller, Vince Carter and Mike Miller. https://t.co/dP7ikcZoGf
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Bye-bye Michael! He won’t ever come back, right? #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Skiles fought Shaq. FIGHT! #ThisMagicMoment pic.twitter.com/h8erYzc9hx
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

I am still so upset at my mom for not letting me go to the game where the #Magic clinched their first Playoffs. I will text her that now.
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Next: The Finals Run

The Finals Run

The Garden is closed: https://t.co/fd8sNGyqZh #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

I live tweeted Game One of the 1995 Second Round for its 20th Anniversary. An amazing game https://t.co/5mYSda3SIQ #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

The greatest moment in #Magic history.

THE STEAL #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Remember, Nick Anderson is from Chicago. Don’t think he mentions this in the doc, but his family hated him this series. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Horace Grant was money from just outside the free-throw circle. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Remember when Reggie Miller said at the end of #WinningTime, “It would have been nicer if it were Conference Finals”? Yeah #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

After much deliberation and two or three viewings, I have accepted Rik Smits got the shot off in time. Begrudgingly. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Relive the party that was Game Seven of the 1995 Eastern Conference Finals: https://t.co/3YQoZFwUtC #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Two happiest days of my life… Game Seven 1995 ECF and Game Six 2009 ECF. My Bar Mitzvah is a close third, maybe. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Hope you have enjoyed the movie so far because... #ThisMagicMoment pic.twitter.com/kYjmciWoeL
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Next: The Finals

The Finals

You can watch all of Game One of the 1995 NBA Finals here. Why? I have no clue: https://t.co/wv3IZRxHwM #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

I actually have the entire 1995 NBA Finals in the OMD Video Vault. Watch at your own peril: https://t.co/HNERufqoub #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Nick :-(
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Everyone throwing Nick under the bus, Penny still bit on the pump fake. Just sayin’ #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Dammit, someone is going to do this now, and I will be forced to retweet it. #ThisMagicMoment https://t.co/sfIf9ak9Lt
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

The great irony is Mario Elie is wearing a Magic polo in his interviews about this series. Since he is an assistant coach with the Magic now
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

To my national followers, Nick Anderson is still loved & celebrated in Orlando. Many fans want his jersey retired. We love him here. #Magic
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

We love you Nick (@MagicAmbassador). Thanks for sharing your feelings and memories for #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Kenny Smith is not in #ThisMagicMoment but he and Nick Anderson met again in 2009: https://t.co/vLbJHUKNNY
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Be prepared for the next 40 minutes of #ThisMagicMoment pic.twitter.com/n5gafd0ssM
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

God dammit pic.twitter.com/ctCagwtZVS
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Next: The End

The End

"The secret service couldn’t guard me!” #LilPenny #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Little-known fact, Lil Penny was engineered by Mythbuster Jamie Hyneman! #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Teams win championships, organizations create dynasties. The #Magic are still growing up. Mishandled Shaq… history repeats sometimes.
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

You can watch all four games of the 1996 ECF. Why? I have no clue: https://t.co/g0PaSuHo7k #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Believe who you want from this point on. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

So much naivete… #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

“They were just trying to keep everybody happy. In this business, you can’t keep everybody happen.” -Horace Grant #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Everyone was just so stupid, young and naive back then. Shaq may have gone anyway, Orlando didn’t help at all. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

In today’s NBA, the #Magic would have had the right to match any offer. Screwy CBA at the time. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Shaq admits he left Orlando for money and ego. #Magic hurt his ego and didn’t get him the money. That’s what you get. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

Like most things in life, it’s easy to blame others But when you point a finger at someone, you have 4 pointing back at you #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

In #ThisMagicMoment 2, you will learn how the #Magic learned from their mistakes, did the exact opposite… and still lost the big man.
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

So many What Ifs… My biggest remains: What if Jordan never comes back? Do #Magic defeat Sonics for title? Do they keep Shaq then?
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

It was so hard to find a center after Shaq. Jon Koncak, Felton Spencer, Rony Seikaly, Isaac Austin, Andrew Declercq, old Patrick Ewing...
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

#Magic fans booed Penny for the radio call about to come on. But he gave his heart and soul to this team. #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

“There are short stories and there are long stories. Ours was a short ride.” —Nick Anderson, closing #ThisMagicMoment
— Orlando Magic Daily (@OMagicDaily) April 15, 2016

I hope everyone enjoyed the film! At least, as much as you can.

Philip Rossman-Reich

Philip Rossman-Reich is the senior writer for Orlando Magic Daily and host of Locked On Magic. Philip has been a lifelong Magic fan and covered the team since the 2010 season. He has written for Orlando Magic Daily since 2009. He also covers UCF sports for the Associated Press and was a producer for Spectrum Sports 360 on Spectrum News 13.