Category Archive for ‘Mark Asher’ at Gambo & Ash

Archive for the 'Mark Asher' Category

Ash: A free dinner, Gambo is the worst driver

Published on January 28, 2009 in Mark Asher. 0 Comments

Well here we are on day 3 of Radio Row. Things are definitely starting to pick up a bit. It has been a little dead the first two days, but we were still able to get some great guests. We had a chance to talk with Lee Roy Selmon who is basically the king of Tampa. In fact, he invited us to his restaurant tonight for a free meal! That should make the accountants at KTAR happy!!!

We went to the Tampa Bay Lightning game last night. It was cool to see another arena and how their fans react to hockey.

The highlight of the trip so far, besides watching Gambo frantically look for the car keys to the rental car only to find them in the car with it still running, was media day yesterday.

I have seen media day on TV many times, but to actually be there in person was really cool. I will post some of my photos for you to see. The Cardinals did a really good job at media day. They were loose and having fun and answered all the serious questions and some of the ridiculous ones too!

I am looking forward to start taking in a little of the Tampa nightlife and getting to some of the parties that will start happening here. More of the fans are starting to arrive and the town is starting to buzz a little more now about the game. Oh yeah last thing today from Tampa. Gambo is the worst driver ever!!!

Gambo & Ash arrive in Tampa

Published on January 26, 2009 in Mark Asher. 0 Comments

Well, the Gambo and Ash show has arrived in Tampa. Our flight landed in Tampa Sunday around 4pm and we immediately went to the Tampa convention center to pick up our credentials. Of course, on the whole ride over we had to listen to Gambo talk about the hot Russian chick who he sat next to on the plane. Can you imagine that conversation? Two people who don’t speak English! For more on that listen today.

Monday’s are usually slow here on radio row. So far we have seen some old timers - like Jack Youngblood (who looks like he could still lay you out in a heartbeat!). We also have some current NFL stars rolling around - Drew Brees and Warrick Dunn. The mass of stars will start rolling into town soon. Our booth is set up right behind Mad Dog Russo’s from Sirius radio. He used to be the other half of Mike and the Mad Dog in NY at WFAN. Gambo is in heaven. Actually, Mad Dog is a really good guy, but he is loud! I can’t even concentrate trying to get ready for the show. I am going to try and keep updating you guys as we go. Don’t forget to check out the web cam to watch us interview our guests this week LIVE from Tampa. I attached a photo of a giant Larry Fitzgerald mural that is on radio row. Pretty cool!!!!

The day I’ve waited for my whole life

Published on January 15, 2009 in Mark Asher. 9 Comments

The day I’ve waited my whole life for is almost here!

OK, maybe not my whole life, but at least since the Monday night my dad took me and my brother to the Cardinals’ first game against the Dallas Cowboys, September 12th, 1988. I still have the ticket! Nowadays I have a lot of tickets as I am a season ticket holder to the Arizona Cardinals and haven’t missed many games over the last ten years or so. I love this team! This is the one sport that I actually go to on my own dime. I go to many Suns, D-backs, Coyotes and ASU games. I use my press pass to get in and watch the teams do their thing. Now, a few times a year I will buy some tickets to each of these games, but I don’t have season tickets. For the Cardinals, I do, I even have extra tickets to each game that I have never even sat in. I give them to friends and family and only sold them once (Monday night Bears game as I needed some beer money!) I tailgate for hours before each game and have made some very good friends over the years inside and outside of the stadium.

I’ve been in some pretty cool sports moments over the years. I was in the locker room in San Francisco in 1999 when the D-backs clinched their first ever NL West title. Champagne in the eyes does really burn by the way! I was also on the field just seconds after the D-backs won the 2001 World Series and couldn’t believe what my eyes were watching! I’ve been at so many Suns playoff games; it would be hard to list them all. I’ve seen Coyotes Whiteouts, which are awesome and I’ve been with the ASU Sun Devils on the road for some big games including, bowl games.

With all that being said….I have never been more excited to go to a game in my life than I am for this Sunday’s NFC championship game! I can’t wait! The Arizona Cardinals are one home game win away from the Super Bowl. Are you kidding me? I’ve always felt this town would go nuts if the Cardinals ever did something like this and I think I am right and I hope I am proven right this Sunday. I will be there Sunday bright and early to tailgate with my fellow Cardinals fans and hopefully party well into the night after the Cardinals once again shock the world and beat the Eagles and head to their first ever Super Bowl. I can’t wait!

Chirp Chirp

ASH

Ash’s Championship Series Predictions

Published on October 10, 2008 in Column and Mark Asher. 3 Comments

Okay, like I said I know baseball and it showed in my last round of predictions! ONE series right??? Wow! Not very good. I will try to at least get one of these right.

ALCS

Boston Red Sox vs. Tamp Bay Rays

This is an interesting series. Complete David vs. Goliath scenario. The Rays and Sox have no lost for one another as they have brawled a few times over the years including this year when Coco Crisp and James Shields threw some air balls at each other. I was surprised how well the Rays played in round one, but I think the nerves might catch up to them a bit in this series.

Prediction: Boston in 6

NLCS

L.A. Dodgers vs. Philadelphia Phillies

These two teams had an easy route to the championship series and now have an opportunity to return to the World Series for the first time in a while. Everyone and their grandmother wants to see the Red Sox play the Dodgers so we can get the Manny return to Fenway… Me too! However, I think quietly the Phillies are a dangerous team and since I picked them at the beginning of the playoffs to make the World Series, I’ll stick to my guns.

Prediction: Phillies in 7

Ash’s Divisional Series Predictions

Published on October 2, 2008 in Column and Mark Asher. 0 Comments

It’s that time of the year again, time for me to act like I know what is going to happen in the baseball postseason. There are some really good series’ in the first round and I can’t wait to see how it all plays out. Feel free to email me your predictions at ash@ktar.com and don’t wait too long like Gambo will!

American League

Tampa Bay Rays vs Chicago White Sox

How ’bout them Rays? They finally sold out a game at beautiful Tropicana Field. Too bad it took until the playoffs for the fans to realize what a great season this team had. I think the Cinderella story ends here. The White Sox have a lot of talent and have guys that have been there before.

Prediction: White Sox in 4

Boston Red Sox vs LA Angels of Anaheim or whatever they call themselves these days.

The Angels wrapped up their division about 3 months ago so they haven’t really played a meaningful game in some time. The Red Sox were trying like crazy to catch the Rays for the division, but fell a little short. This is a tough one to call!

Prediction: Angels in 5

National League

Philadelphia Phillies vs Milwaukee Brewers

It is great to see the Brew Crew back in the post-season considering the last time they were there I was 8! Can C.C. Sabathia pitch every game??? No? O.K I will take the Phillies then.

Prediction: Phillies in 4

LA Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs

Manny Ramirez almost single handedly got the boys in blue back to the playoffs. He is a clutch postseason performer and the Cubs are not! This one should be fun.

Prediction: Cubs in 5

Check back after the Divisional Series for more of my bad predictions for the LCS!

ASH

Ash: To Rake Or Not To Rake

Published on April 2, 2008 in Mark Asher. 0 Comments

To rake or not to rake? That is my question.

I have a little bit of a dilemma going on in the NCAA tournament. As most of you know, John and I were challenged by the JV squad - Doug and Wolf - to another Bracket Beatdown. They got extremely lucky last year and beat us and I haven’t heard the end of it for a year.

As of right now, we are winning, but it really is going to come down to the Final Four and who wins this weekend. More on that in a minute. As most of you know, John and I also host the Andrew Jackson pool every year. This year about 140 people entered the pool, including some of our athlete friends like Gonzo, Shane Doan, Jeremy Roenick, Mark May and Derrick Hall. I am proud to say I am beating all of them.

In fact I am beating almost everybody in the pool, but with my alternate bracket. I know I know…you can’t do two brackets, but you can in the Andrew Jackson pool - so I did.

Well, my No. 2 bracket has a chance of winning the whole thing if UCLA beats UNC in the championship game and first place would net me a lot of Andrew Jackson’s. Like 70 of them.

Sounds great, right? Well, back to the bet with the morning boys. We bet that the losing team would:

1. Have to hear about it for a year and

2. Be a part of the grounds keeping crew at a D-Backs game this year.

Sounds like it could be fun, but I don’t even do the yardwork at my house and now I have to go manicure a Major League infield? In the morning bet and my No. 1 bracket, I have UNC beating UCLA. If that happens, John and I win and Doug and Wolf get out the rakes, but I would also lose the Andrew Jackson pool. So, there’s the dilemma!

Who do I root for? Do I endure the wrath of the morning show and rake the yard with Andrew Jackson’s falling out of my pocket? Or, do I take one for the team and hope that we get the bragging rights? What’s a bigger accomplishment? Winning an office pool with more than 140 participants or beating Doug and Wolf?

Any suggestions are welcome at ash@ktar.com. Watch Memphis win the whole thing and screw everything up! Thanks for listening.

Ash: NCAA Tournament Bracket

Published on March 19, 2008 in March Madness and Mark Asher. 0 Comments

Click here to download (.pdf)

Ash: Suns Finally Get Their Center

Published on February 6, 2008 in Mark Asher. 0 Comments

I’m not sure what I think of this proposed trade just yet.

I have been saying it was time for the Matrix to go for a while - look back at my blogs.

His numbers are down and he is always unhappy, which has led to major tension in this locker room.

Nash was fed up and when the star and leader is fed up, it is time to do something.

Marcus Banks in the deal is a positive. See you dude!

At least your orange Lamborghini will still work in South Beach and the color still fits too. As for Shaq, I am a huge Shaq fan. A huge Shaq getting 27 points and 14 rebounds fan - that Shaq doesn’t exist anymore, but do the Suns need him to do that to win a title? I say no.

They need him to defend the post and allow Amare to go back to the 4 spot and hopefully dominate again.

This will help them if they play the Spurs or the Lakers in the playoffs - it will also hurt them if they play Golden State.

It will be weird to see the Big Aristotle in a Suns uniform. Phoenix, you finally have your center for the first time in the franchises’ 40-year history - problem could be that he is closer to 40 too.

Ash’s NBA 2007-’08 Predictions

Published on November 3, 2007 in Mark Asher and Suns. 7 Comments

Western Conference Standings:

1. Dallas Mavericks - The Mavs are still stinging from their embarrassing loss in the first round of the playoffs to Golden State. The regular season will prove nothing to the critics as Dallas will have to win in the playoffs to erase that memory. They still win 64 games this year.

2. Phoenix Suns - Tim Donaghy you piece of *%$@. OK, maybe it’s not all his fault. David Stern you piece - you get the idea. The Suns got jobbed last year and look for redemption this year. The addition of Grant Hill was nice, now let’s hope coach D’Antoni doesn’t forget about his bench during the regular season. Suns win 60.

3. San Antonio Sterns – Err…the Spurs. I can’t even write anything nice about them, so if you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all. Thanks Mom.

4. Denver Nuggets - A full year of A.I. and ‘Melo together and Kenyon Martin coming back into the mix. That’s nice and won’t be so nice for some of the teams in the West. Hey, it happened for the Rockies, why not the Nuggets?

5. Utah Jazz - Tough, physical team who made it to the Western Conference Finals last year. They need to keep a pacifier close for Kirilenko and everything should be fine.

6. Houston Rockets - If T-Mac stays healthy, this spot could be as high as No. 3 in the West, but I’m thinking that won’t happen. Is this finally Yao’s team?

7. Golden State Warriors - What a great run they gave us last year. Getting rid of Jason Richardson was not smart. Nellie’s back and so is the run and gun in the Bay area.

8. Memphis Grizzlies - There’s my shocker. I think Marc Iavoroni brings a fun style to a fun city and gets the Grizz back into the playoffs. Oh yeah, a healthy Pau Gasol will help.

9. New Orleans Hornets - The Hornets spent a lot of money last season and it didn’t work. I think this could be a playoff team this year if some of those busts turn into even decent players once again. Chris Paul is a star on the rise.

10. Los Angeles Lakers - I don’t think they make the playoffs with or without Kobe. I’m still guessing that he gets traded and it gets even worse in La La Land. How does Mitch Kupcake have a job?

11. Portland Trail Blazers - It’s too bad the Blazers made the wrong pick at No. 1. I said all along that Durant was the pick, but no one listens to me. The Blazers will still be improved as Brandon Roy and LaMarcus Aldridge lead this young team back to respectability.

12. Seattle Sonics - Sonics are on their way out of the Pacific Northwest, but they are on their way up with the addition of Kevin Durant. Too bad Oklahoma City will be reaping the benefits in a year!

13. Sacramento Kings - Ron Artest will punch something this season – it just might be his ticket out of Sac-Town.

14. Los Angeles Clippers - Welcome back to the Lottery Clips. We all missed Elgin Baylor on Lottery night.

15. Minnesota T-Wolves - Do I really need to explain this one?

Eastern Conference Standings:

1. Chicago Bulls - I think the Bulls are legit whether they get Kobe or not. They got off to a rough start last year and that hurt them in the long run.

2. Boston Celtics - The big winner in the off-season moves. KG and Ray Allen give the Celtics their best chance to be relevant again since Larry the Legend was lighting it up!

3. Detroit Pistons - They really didn’t do much to improve, but they have played in five straight Eastern Conference Finals. I think that streak ends this year.

4. Cleveland Cavaliers - They sure didn’t do much to build off last seasons success. LBJ might win the MVP, but the team will be hard pressed to repeat last season’s run.

5. Orlando Magic - That’s right, I said Orlando. I think Dwight Howard will be an MVP candidate and the addition of Rashard Lewis gives them a great 1-2 punch.

6. New Jersey Nets - This could be the last hoorah for Jason Kidd and Vince Carter. The star power is there, but a deep run in the playoffs isn’t.

7. Toronto Raptors - Chris Bosh is really starting to come into his own as a star. The Raptors will be good, but the East got better and that will knock them down a bit.

8. Washington Wizards - Agent Zero will score 60 points in a game this year – guaranteed.

9. Miami Heat - The end is here for the Heat. They won’t make the playoffs this year.

10. Charlotte Bobcats - The Bobcats picked up a pure scorer in Jason Richardson and re-signed Gerald Wallace. Unfortunately Adam Morrisson is out for the year with a sprained mustache.

NBA Finals & Awards

* Rookie of the Year - Kevin Durant

* Coach of the Year - Stan Van Gundy

* MVP - LeBron James

* NBA Finals - Chicago Bulls vs. Phoenix Suns

* This time the right team wins - Suns in 6.

Ash’s Western Conference Standings Predictions

Published on November 3, 2007 in Mark Asher and Suns. 3 Comments