D-backs’ Hall, ASU’s Crow and others: Best of Newsmakers Week Day 4

The fourth day of Newsmakers Week was as provocative as it was entertaining.

ASU president Michael Crow called out Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh. Arizona Diamondbacks president and CEO Derrick Hall discussed the Houston Astros’ cheating scandal. And there was a whole lot more of insight and opinion from some of the biggest names in Valley sports.

Listen to full interviews below or see some of the top quotes from each guest on Thursday’s edition of Newsmakers Week with Doug & Wolf on 98.7 FM Arizona’s Sports Station.

John Chayka, Coyotes’ general manager

On the upcoming NHL trade deadline and where they are:

“I think things are starting to fit together better and that gives me a sense as the manager of things that we can do. We got Nik Hjalmarsson back. He’s come back, he’s paired with [Oliver Ekman-Larsson]. OEL was out for a while so in a lot of ways the thing that’s handcuffed me in some ways is trying to see what we have with our own group. And really if we’re going to make a move at the deadline, it’s gonna be to address a specific need.”

Derrick Hall, D-backs president & CEO

On whether the Astros’ 2017 title is tainted:

“Well, I’ll tell you this: They’re in a real tough spot because they have an absolutely fantastic team and I don’t know how much of that was a part of it and I don’t think any of us really know the full story nor would we want to even go there. I don’t think it’s up to me to decide whether it was tainted or whether it’s legit. That’s up to baseball. The commissioner has had his hands full with this. I think he’s done a tremendous job so has the commissioner’s office with this.”

Dr. Michael Crow, Arizona State University president

On the one-and-done NBA rule:

“I’m not a fan of one-and-done. I think it bastardizes the system a little bit so you can come, not really be a student, play for your one year, then head off, particularly if you’re a super athlete of an Olympic scale athlete. I have no problem with a kid going into play NBA like LeBron, you know, go right out of high school, become a super athlete; same with Kobe — fantastic, unbelievable athletes. I don’t think we should be the training league on a one-year basis for the pros.”

Tim Woods, Waste Management Phoenix Open Tournament Chairman

On why they don’t focus on the overwhelming crowd numbers:

“Yeah you know, ultimately we made the decision that that’s not the number we wanted to concentrate on. I mean, the reason, the whole ‘why’ behind what we do is that charitable give number.”

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