In Pick the Pros Gambo tries to bounce back off the mat after a disastrous week 13, whereas Ash aims to continue his winning ways. Though Brandon Lang was proud of Ash, he wasn’t necessarily impressed. The picks …
ASH - Tennessee (-13.5), Pittsburgh (-3.), New York Giants (-7)
Gambo - Pittsburgh (-3.), New England (-4.5), New York Jets (-4)
E - Green Bay (-6), New York Giants (-7), Pittsburgh (-3)
Here’s what went down Friday on G&A
Dark Place - The Suns dropped their fourth-straight game last night in Dallas. Steve Nash said the team is in a “dark place” right now. Gambo wonders if there’s time for this club to get out of this “dark place.” Ash thinks there may be more problems with this team than we are hearing in the media or seeing on the floor. Both agree the Suns will not be able to build around Amare Stoudemire as the centerpiece of the franchise. Time to trade?
Former ASU All-American offensive lineman Juan Roque joined the guys. Roque will be calling tomorrow’s Duel In The Desert between ASU and UofA in Tucson. He thinks the game will be close as it usually is when these two rivals face off. He also expressed his hated towards the Wildcats and the city of Tucson, in general.
Rudy’s Last Stand - Embattled quarterback Rudy Carpenter is looking to beat UofA for the fourth-straight time. The senior signal-caller has had an up-and-down career in maroon and gold. Today, reports say Carpenter was kicked out of a high school girl’s basketball game earlier this week for yelling at the refs. On his way out the door, he got belligerent and allegedly cursed while leaving the gym. G&A both agree Carpenter has been a good quarterback, but nothing compared to for ASU greats Danny White, Jake Plummer, or Andrew Walter. Both think it’s a good time for a change next season for everyone, including Rudy and ASU. We took calls.
Former Alabama and SEC Coach of the Year, now head coach at Division III Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi Mike DuBose discussed his controversial firing at Alabama and why he decided to return to coaching after spending a few years away from the sidelines. Top-ranked Alabama faces 4th-ranked Florida in the SEC title game tomorrow afternoon in Atlanta.
World-renowned sports handicapper Brandon Lang joined the show and shared his insight on all the big college and NFL games around the country this weekend.
Our ESPN NFL analyst Mark Schlereth checked in for his weekly segment to discuss the slumping Cards, who hope to wrap up the NFC West Sunday, and the big Cowboys-Steelers game in Pittsburgh. Stink would not be surprised to see Dallas pull the upset. He also discussed the pending NFL-banned substance abuse suspensions involved Kevin & Pat Williams and three members of the Saints, including Deuce McAllister. The suspensions were blocked Friday afternoon by federal judges.
Juan Roque [9:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (155) Mike DuBose [13:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (139) Brandon Lang [12:31m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (187) Mark Schlereth [16:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (119)Here’s what went down Thursday on G & A
Shorter show this afternoon before Suns’ basketball in Dallas
Wanting his STATs - The short-handed Suns lost their third-straight, last night to New Orleans, minus the under-the-weather Steve Nash and with Shaq sitting out the front half of the back-to-back. Amare wants to be “the man,” but didn’t show it last night when his team needed him most. Amare scored 26, but he and Robin Lopez combined for a measly 4 rebounds in a 61 combined minutes. Gambo thinks it’s quite simple-Amare isn’t as good as he thinks he is. Ash reflected back on the players Phoenix recently drafted for themselves (Lopez, Drajic, Tucker, etc.) compared to who they drafted for other teams (Rajon Rondo, Rudy Fernandez, Luol Deng). The guys discussed if it’s time for the Suns to trade their selfish All-Star, although it may be tough to find suitors and equal value in return.
“Pac-Man” Manny Pacquiao joined the show to discuss his much-anticipated fight with light heavyweight champ Oscar de la Hoya Saturday night at The MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Pacquiao enters the fight 47-3-2 with 35 KO’s. “The Golden Boy” is 39-5 with 30 KO’s.
Worth the Investment? - Pacquiao-De la Hoya might well be the biggest fight in 2008, but initial pay-per-view numbers aren’t particularly high. The guys wonder if these two stars will eventually draw decent numbers just weeks before Christmas when economic times are so stagnant. We took calls.
Our ESPN NBA insider Tim Legler checked in for his weekly segment to discuss the slumping Suns who face the Mavs tonight in Dallas, Toronto’s firing of Sam Mitchell yesterday and the surging Cleveland Cavaliers, who have won 14 of their 15 games. “Legs” thinks the Suns would be wise to re-up Stoudemire before he leaves via free-agency.
Thanks, but no Thanks - Unbeaten Ball State turned down a chance to play Boise State in the Humanitarian Bowl on the blue turf in Boise. Instead, it appears the Broncos will face TCU in the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego. While Ball State is catching flack for backing out, Gambo applauds the decision to play essentially a road game for their bowl. Ash thinks it’s a shame Boise State, a BCS-eligible school, will likely play in the Poinsettia, a 7th place bowl in the Pac-10. Welcome to the wonderful world of the BCS.
Friday we’ll be joined by former Alabama head coach Mike DuBose, ESPN NFL analyst Mark Schlereth and sports handicapper Brandon Lang.
Manny Pacquiao [12:38m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (191) Tim Legler [12:29m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (187)Here’s what went down today on G&A
Abbreviated show before Suns’ basketball here on Sports 620 KTAR.
Sloppy Seconds - Dallas Star Sean Avery was suspended yesterday, but not for anything he did on the ice. Avery called out Calgary’s Dion Phaneuf, who happens to be dating his old girlfriend, Elisha Cuthbert. He wondered why so many fellow NHL players are dating his “sloppy seconds” referring to Phaneuf. G&A discussed how and why Gary Bettman made the Dallas center the first player in the history of the NHL to be suspended for any off-ice comments. Both agree his comments were way out of line. Ash wonders if the highly controversial Avery even wants to be a hockey player with so many interests away from the rink, including designing women’s bags and attending fashion shows. Gambo wishes Bettman would have allowed him to play against Calgary and “settle things” during the game. We took calls.
Former Coyote, now San Jose Shark center and former teammate of Avery, Jeremy Roenick joined the guys to discuss his relationship with Avery. “JR” wasn’t surprised to hear the comments and could sense a comment like this coming from the outspoken and frequently out-of-line Avery.
The guys caught up with former Abilene Christian quarterback Billy Malone. The now 25-year old pro prospect was a Texas high school blue chip recruit who originally signed with Tulane out of high school. Following a number of off-the-field issues, including a heart problem and drug and alcohol abuse, the pro-style signal-caller is on the NFL radars around the league. The husband and father or two once milked cows on a farm to make ends meet.
Arizona State athletic director Lisa Love checked in for her weekly segment to preview The Duel in the Desert Saturday in Tucson, yesterday’s sudden passing of long-time Sun Devil voice Tom Dillon, and everything else making news in Tempe.
Clubbing - Over 2 million college student-athletes are playing club sports. Many look at it as a way of extending their playing career if they may not be quite good enough to play at a D-1 level if the sport is offered at their schools. Some even use it as a way to get noticed by coaches on campus. G&A discussed why club sports are frequently underappreciated, but important towards the development of these student-athletes on, and off, the field. We took calls.
Arizona head football coach Mike Stoops shared his thoughts on Saturday’s match-up against the Sun Devils, reflected back on the careers of seniors Mike Thomas and Willie Tuitama, and expressed his opinion on how a 5th-tiebreaker crowned his former school, Oklahoma, the Big 12 South Champion.
Duel in the Desert - Mike Stoops has a chance to go 8-5 this year or go 6-7 depending on how the ASU and bowl game TBA play out. First things first are the Sun Devils Saturday night in Tucson. Gambo isn’t so sure Stoops saves his job if he loses to ASU-regardless of how the bowl game plays out. Ash thinks UofA will be too much to handle for the offensively inept Devils. Both feel Stoops has turned the program around, but wonder how patient AD Jim Livengood will be if the Cats’ current tailspin continues.
Thursday we’ll be joined by “Pac-Man” Manny Pacquiao, ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler, and former Alabama head coach Mike DuBose.
Jeremy Roenick [11:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (113) Billy Malone [14:24m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (131) Mike Stoops [11:50m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (143)Here’s what went down Tuesday on G&A
Remembering a Legend - Long-time Arizona sportscaster Tom Dillon passed away late last night at the age 65. He called ASU games for 20 years and the Cards for 12. Gambo & Ash shared their favorite “T.D.” memories. Ash discussed his first game working the ASU sidelines with Dillon in the booth. Gambo wishes he could hear him call one more game. Without question, Dillon, an 11-time Arizona Sportscaster of the Year, will be remembered as one of the greatest. We took calls.
The Voice of the Diamondbacks Greg Schulte joined the guys to share some fond memories of his good friend, Tom Dillon. Schulte worked color for ASU football with T.D. on KTAR for several years. He said Dillon loved what he did and was never in a hurry-especially when it came to enjoying one of his favorite guilty pleasures, ice cream.
Plax and Fiction - Giants wide receiver Plaxico Burress is in hot water and may end up in jail after shooting himself in the leg at a Manhattan night club Friday night. Many feel he will never wear a Giants’ uniform again just 10 short months after catching the winning touchdown in the Super Bowl here in Glendale. He was suspended by the team for four games this afternoon. Additionally, Plax could face up to 3 years in jail and Gambo thinks, without question, he’s headed there. Ash is perplexed at how many athletes get themselves into trouble with so little to gain and so much to lose. Gambo is convinced these high-stature athletes don’t carry guns for protection, rather to make a “statement” because other athletes are doing the same thing. We took calls.
Our ESPN college football analyst Mark May shared his thoughts on Week 14 in college football which included Oklahoma leap-frogging Texas in the BCS, Georgia Tech’s comeback win in Athens against Georgia, and Florida’s trouncing of FSU in Tallahassee. MayDay also weighed in on Charlie Weis’ pending future at Notre Dame, Lane Kiffin becoming the new coach at Tennessee, and how the bowl picture may play out when the bids are announced Sunday.
Dunn Deal - Free-agent Adam Dunn is leaving the Diamondbacks and the Snakes are getting absolutely nothing in return-that includes any draft picks. Dunn is the only player to hit 40 or more homers 5-straight seasons. G&A agree this turned out to be a terrible deal by Josh Byrnes-especially giving up a decent young pitching prospect in Micah Owings.
Weis Decision? - Reports say Notre Dame head coach Charlie Weis will be return next season. The guys discussed if this was the right choice. Ash thinks Notre Dame will never return to glory because recruits don’t know/can’t remember the last time the Domers were relevant (they’ve lost 9-straight bowl games). Gambo thinks the Irish will return the top of the college football world, but it might take awhile.
Greg Schulte [6:54m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (157) Mark May - Part I [12:11m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (163) Mark May - Part II [11:34m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (151)Here’s what went down Monday on G&A
For the Birds - The Cards were whacked by Philly Thanksgiving Night to drop to 7-5. Gambo wonders if it’s time to go back to disgruntled Edgerrin James since rookie Tim Hightower has struggled since being named the starter. Ash feels this team has become complacent since their hot start and the fact that the rest of the NFC West is terrible. Both know the Red Birds’ defense has stopped no one recently. G&A broke down the murky NFC playoff picture. We took calls.
Internal Strife - The Suns are reeling after a blowout loss to Miami Friday and last night’s 4th-quarter collapse against the hapless Nets. Amare Stoudemire recently spoke out against Terry Porter’s offense and stated he wants the offense to go thru him. He did little in the off-season to improve his defense and rebounding. G&A are growing tired of STAT’s whining and selfishly popping off to the media. Both agree he is an amazing talent, but wonder if Steve Kerr would pull the trigger on a trade if the club was assured of equal value in return. Could that be a reality if the Suns continue to struggle in the current system?
Big 12 BCS Mess - Oklahoma’s victory over Okie State in the Bedlam Series cemented the Sooners place in the BCS Championship if they take care of business this weekend in the Big 12 Championship Game in Kansas City. This was all decided by a 5-process tie-breaker to decide the Big 12 South champion. Gambo thinks Texas is getting screwed because they beat OU, but if the two teams played right now Boomer Sooner would prevail. Ash believes Oklahoma and Florida are the best two teams in the country and they should meet for all the marbles. We took calls.
Tuesday we’ll be joined by ESPN college football insider Mark May.
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