Here’s what went down Thursday on G&A

Winning Ugly - ASU escaped Tucson with a hard-fought, grind-it-out win over hated UA last night at McKale Center.  Gambo is convinced Chase Budinger should have chosen pro volleyball instead of hoops.  Ash is now convinced last night’s game re-assured the fact that Russ Pennell’s squad is nothing more than NIT team.  G&A concur that there are dark days ahead for Arizona basketball.  As for Herb Sendek’s team, they are now 5-2 in the Pac-10 with plenty of home games ahead.  It certainly wasn’t pretty, but it’s a conference road win.  The guys debated if ASU can continue to shoot poorly and find ways to win games like they did last night.  We took calls.

Steelers’ left cornerback Ike Taylor shared his thoughts on their Super Bowl match-up with the Cards’ and how Dick LaBeau’s defense plans to slow down an Arizona offense that is averaging around 33 points a game this post-season.  Taylor was a starter on Pittsburgh’s Super Bowl XL Championship team.  He said you can’t stop Larry Fitzgerald and Kurt Warner, but the Steeler D hopes to stay away from the big plays which has benefited the Cards the entire post-season.

Giving Defenses Fitz - Ike Taylor told Gambo & Ash Larry Fitzgerald has been terrorizing secondaries his whole career, but people nationally are now taking notice because of the Cardinals’ success.  On the big stage, Fitzgerald has come up big and proven worth the $40 million contract he signed after last season.  The guys discussed Fitz’s greatness and how he’s improved each year in the league through hard work and preparation.

Sports 620 KTAR sports reporter Johnny V. checked in from Cards’ Camp with the latest on the rift between Anquan Boldin and offensive coordinator Todd Haley.  Boldin, the players, and coaches say the story is a non-story and the media has blown it out of proportion.  V also said there were several scalpers in front of the practice facility throughout the morning and into the afternoon looking to turn Super Bowl tickets.

We caught up with FBR Open Tournament Chairman John Felix who previewed this year’s field,  the list of events at the TPC of Scottsdale next week, and what The Thunderbird’s have in store at the ever popular 16th hole.

Cards’ rookie defensive end Calais Campbell broke down his first season in Arizona and what he expects heading back to Florida for the Super Bowl next Sunday.  The former Miami Hurricane star was taken with the 50th overall pick in the 2nd round of the draft last April.

Big Red Rage! - Mark McGwire’s brother Jay is “spilling the beans,” or in this case, juice on his sibling regarding his alleged steroid use during his MLB playing career.  The two are no longer on speaking terms.  G&A agree this is not from the heart and for the betterment of Big Mac, but for greed and a quick buck.  Gambo has no interest in reading the novel and thinks the whole thing is sad and distasteful.  The funny thing is Jay is one who first introduced Mark to steroids and HGH.

Our ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler discussed the slumping Suns who suffered another tough loss-this time to Mike D’Antoni’s New York Knicks last night at Madison Square Garden.  He also thinks if Andrew Bynum progresses (he had 42 points last night against the Clippers) on both ends of the floor, LA will win the title this summer.

Defenseless - The Suns dropped their second straight east coast road trip game last night to the Knicks.  G&A are irritated at Amare Stoudemire’s lack of interest at the defensive end of the floor.  Gambo says it’s time for the team to clean house and bring in players who want to defend (Tony Allen, Dontay Jones, Trevor Ariza).  Ash can’t believe how the Phoenix brass goofed in the draft taking two players (Robin Lopez and Goran Dragic) who are little more than projects at this point.  Both agree it’s time to lower the expectations for the 2008-09 Phoenix Suns.  We took calls.

 

 Ike Taylor [9:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (127)

 

 John Felix [8:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (110)

 

 Calais Campbell [10:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (118)

 

 Tim Legler [16:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (133)