Here’s what went down Thursday on Gambo & Ash…

A Perfect Afternoon in Chicago…Chicago White Sox pitcher Mark Buehrle pitched a perfect game Thursday afternoon against the Tampa Bay Rays at U.S. Cellular Field.  This comes on the heels of Buehrle’s no-hitter back in 2007 against the Rangers.  This marked the first perfect game since Randy Johnson’s back on May 18, 2004 against the Braves in Atlanta.  G&A agree defensive replacement Dewayne Wise saved the day robbing Gabe Kapler of a homer in the top of the ninth to help ensure perfection.  Perfect games happen approximately once every 11,000 games.

We were joined by former Diamondback LUIS GONZALEZ, who discussed Buehrle’s perfect game, the 16th in recorded baseball history, and what it’s like to be a part of such a historic event.  Gonzo was a part of Randy Johnson’s perfect game back in 2004.  He said there’s a great deal of pressure on every play and even, every pitch during the baseball milestone.  He says it’s especially satisfying for the catcher because he works so closely to the pitcher the entire game.

Dumping a Diamondback?…With the trade deadline just around the corner, Gambo reported teams are calling Josh Byrnes for a couple different players - with closer Chad Qualls gaining the most attention.  The Tampa Bay Rays are one team interested.  Ash knows Qualls holds extra value because he is under contract thru the 2010 season.  The guys agree Byrnes better be blown away by an offer if he’s going to deal the club’s most consistent reliever.

Weekend Draft Dodgers…The NFL announced Thursday they will be moving the draft from the weekend to primetime during the week starting next year.  The new three-day format will start April 22, 2010 with complete coverage of only the first round starting at 4:30 Arizona time.  Rounds two and three of the draft will take place the following night with rounds four thru seven taking place Saturday the 24th at 7:00AM Arizona time.  Gambo and Ash don’t like the new schedule, although they admit Roger Goodell will get more exposure getting the event in primetime and stretching it out an extra day.  John thinks any way the NFL can expand and, in the process, make more money, they will pursue it.

Speaking Out…Steelers Super Bowl champion quarterback Ben Roethlisberger spoke out publicly for the first time this afternoon regarding the sexual harassment suit brought against him stemming from an alleged incident last July in Lake Tahoe.  John is happy Big Ben came forward and defended himself publicly, instead of releasing a statement like athletes tend to do.  Ash is confident nothing will become of this and still questions what took so long for the defendant to file the suit in the first place, especially since published reports say she has been mentally unstable for the past several months.

Look Who Joined the Party!…ESPN, after initially refusing to report on the Roethlisberger alleged sexual assault case, finally went with the story on the same day Big Ben commented on the incident.  On a Tweet today, Cards defensive tackle Darnell Dockett feels there’s a bit of racism by ESPN not reporting on this story, knowing full well they had no problem running with the story when black athletes Kobe Bryant, DeShawn Stevenson and Mike Tyson were accused of similar charges.  Gambo believes Dockett may actually have a point.  Ash is annoyed how one of the world’s largest news outlets is quickly becoming big news themselves.  Case in point: the Roethlisberger ordeal and the Erin Andrews nude video saga.

Our baseball insider TIM KURKJIAN from ESPN discussed Buehrle’s perfect game, the amazing run of the Dodgers, the streaking Astros and Yankees and the likelihood of Toronto ace Roy Halladay and A’s slugger Matt Holliday getting dealt before next week’s deadline.

Mannywood!…Manny Ramirez is at it again.  The Dodgers’ slugger stepped off the bench ice cold and jacked a tie-breaking pinch-hit grand slam as LA beats the Reds 6-2.  Man-Ram, even after serving a 50-game suspension, is on pace to drive in 100 runs this season.  Ash knew before the season started the Dodgers were clearly the team to beat in the NL West.  Gambo feels, hands down, he is the most feared hitter in baseball.  Mark says the Dodgers and now red-hot Yankees are on a World Series collision course this fall.

We were joined by Suns assistant coach DAN MAJERLE.  “Thunder Dan” shared his thoughts on coaching the Summer League Suns in Vegas and the play of young players Robin Lopez, Goran Dragic and rookie Earl Clark.  He also previewed the new Majerle’s Sports Grill, which is set to open Monday in Goodyear.  It will be Majerle’s third Valley-based restaurant.

Out of Jail, Straight to the Strip Club?…Reports say Michael Vick may have celebrated his new-found freedom at a Virginia Beach, Virginia with good friend Allen Iverson.  Both parties’ lawyers have since denied the allegations saying Vick and AI have not seen each other since Vick’s release.  Gambo has absolutely no problem with Vick hitting the strip club, especially since he was away in jail for the past several months.  Mark believes, if true, this is a lapse in judgment by Vick because the NFL and strip clubs have a negative connotation right now.  See Pacman Jones.  In related news, Roger Goodell could reinstate Vick to the NFL, but not before serving a four-game suspension levied by the NFL.

Friday we’ll be joined by former Diamondback, now Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf at 3:10 and Diamondbacks closer Chad Qualls at 5:10.

 

 Luis Gonzalez [11:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (20)

 

 Tim Kurkjian [11:16m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (17)

 

 Dan Majerle [9:58m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (33)