Sports 620 KTAR reporter Johnny V checked in from Cardinals camp in Tempe to talk about the Cardinals first practice after winning the NFC Championship. As you can imagine, there were many cameras and reporters out at the facility. There were a few players available to talk to the media today, but not everyone.
Archive for January, 2009
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 (117) John Felix [8:10m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (101) Calais Campbell [10:41m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (108) Tim Legler [16:00m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (123)Sports 620 KTAR reporter Johnny V checked in from Cardinals camp in Tempe to talk about the Cardinals first practice after winning the NFC Championship. As you can imagine, there were many cameras and reporters out at the facility. There were a few players available to talk to the media today, but not everyone.
Here’s what went down Wednesday on G&A
Short show before Suns’ basketball in the NYC.
Haters - We played the latest Cardinal-hater song which says the Birds “don’t deserve to play the Steelers” and Pittsburgh’s “a better city than Phoenix.” Right. Gambo says bring it on. The cheap shots and verbal abuse have fueled this team the entire post-season and nothing will change over the next ten days. Ash is sure the Steelers’ fans loved the rap, just as Cards’ fans would be if they slammed The Steel City.
“Q”uite the “Q”uandry - Anquan Boldin and offensive coordinator Todd Haley are still in the news for their heated sideline exchange during the NFC Championship game against the Eagles. Both are publicly saying there are no issues, but Gambo doesn’t believe any of it. There is more than just a little friction between the two, but the Red Birds’ organization is hoping this distraction will disappear as quickly as the FOX cameras picked up on it Sunday afternoon. G&A agree Boldin’s super-agent Drew Rosenhaus has a game plan ready to get what’s best for “Q” this off-season. The guys both feel next Sunday will the final time we see Boldin is a Cards’ uniform. We took calls.
We were joined by Arizona State Director of Athletics Lisa Love who previewed the 15-3, 4-2 Devils’ showdown tonight in Tucson against UofA and everything else making headlines around Tempe. She knows tonight will be a big challenge for Herb Sendek’s team in the ‘Ole Pueblo.
Changing Places - There is a big game tonight in Tucson and believe it or not, the Sun Devils are a 2 ½ point favorite at McKale Center against the once-mighty Arizona Wildcats. Gambo is amazed that ASU’s monster win over then 7th-ranked UCLA Saturday was buried because of “Cardinal Mania.” Ash thinks James Harden made an extremely wise move coming back for his sophomore season, but can’t see him returning to Tempe next fall and, honestly, why should he when he’ll likely be a top-three pick in this summer’s draft? The guys discussed how the basketball climate has changed in Tempe and Tucson. Ash believes this is a bigger game for the ‘Cats than the Devils. We took calls.
Uniform Decision - The Steelers will be wearing their white jerseys next weekend and the Cards their home reds. Ash sees this as a good thing because Ken Whisenhunt’s team tends to play better in their home threads. Gambo thinks this could give the Cards a mental edge to this game simply by the color of their uniforms.
Thursday: Steelers starting cornerback Ike Taylor and Cards’ defensive end Calais Campbell
Here’s what went down Tuesday on G&A…
Disrespected - We all know the Cards have been living off the “they think we don’t belong here” mantra the entire post-season and, to this point, it’s worked. Gambo is sick of hearing it, but thinks if it continues to serve as motivation for the Birds, so be it. Ash feels Mike Tomlin’s Steelers won’t overlook the Cards, especially with Whiz, Russ Grimm, and former players Sean Morey, Mike Gandy, Clark Haggins on the other sideline. G&A believe Whiz knows Ben Rothlisberger’s tendencies better than anyone. Will the ole’ “chip-on-the-shoulder-thing” work for one more game? We took calls.
We were joined by NFL Hall-of-Famer and Card’s Ring of Honor inductee Charley Trippi. The former Georgia Bulldog star and Chicago Cardinal great was a rookie on the Red Birds’ 1947 NFL Championship team. He took us back to the Golden Era of Cardinal football. He discussed tales of playing both ways in leather helmets and little padding which was the norm “back in the day.”
Remembering Your Roots - You may not know it, but there is Cardinal tradition. After the guys caught up with Trippi, Ash explained why it’s important to remember these “trailblazers” from when the franchise was located in Chicago and “Billy” Bidwill was a ball boy. Gambo is still amazed that players of that era played both ways. The guys agree there is tradition and history, but people here in Arizona, and possibly in St. Louis as well, don’t know much, if anything, about it.
The guys also caught up with Cards’ offensive coordinator Todd Haley who downplayed his 4th-quarter sideline altercation with Anquan Boldin Sunday. He also discussed the published reports of him becoming a head coach somewhere next year. Both Kansas City and Dallas are rumored to be interested in Haley, even though both teams currently have head coaches. He previewed how the Cards might look to attack a very good, battle-tested Steelers’ defense.
Time to Fly? - Todd Haley is the latest assistant coach rumored to be heading to a heading coaches’ office near you. G&A are happy to see Ken Whisenhunt’s previously relatively unknown assistants, sans Russ Grimm, are getting love for promotions around the NFL. Haley told G&A he is happy here in Arizona and with five kids, doesn’t know if re-locating to another state is the right move right now if a head coaching gig is offered to him, Is being the coach of the Chiefs a better job being the offensive coordinator for the high-scoring Cardinals? They discussed and took calls.
Charley Trippi was a rookie on the Cardinals 1947 NFL Championship team. Trippi is a NFL Hall of Famer and in the Cardinals Ring of Honor.
Here’s what went down Monday on G&A
THE CARDINALS ARE SUPER BOWL-BOUND!!!
We caught up with Sports 620 KTAR reporter Johnny V. LIVE at Cardinal headquarters to discuss Coach Whisenhunt’s press conference earlier today and how the team is preparing for the Pittsburgh Steelers next weekend in Tampa.
That Just Happened - Pinch yourself Cardinal fans, your team is headed to Tampa. Stunning. Ash said yesterday was the happiest day of his life even though he didn’t technically see the final four minutes of the game. Although he was in the stadium, he was just too nervous to watch. Gambo relayed the happy story of watching the Yankees win the World Series and the Giants upsetting the Patriots on the same field where the Red Birds punched their ticket to Tampa. Ash thinks the “casual” NFL fan will be cheering for the Birds to beat the all-mighty Steelers. The guys think Pro Bowl wide receiver Anquan Boldin’s sideline blow-up with offensive coordinator Todd Haley pretty much guarantees the Super Bowl will be his final game in a Cards’ uniform. We took calls.
We were joined by Cards’ starting outside linebacker and team captain Karlos Dansby who tied a team-high with seven tackles in yesterday’s 32-25 win over the Eagles. Dansby also had a pass deflection in the victory. He reiterated that he hopes to remain with the club for several years because the team was built the right way. Dansby was franchise tagged by the team this past summer.
I Want Winners! - The Cardinals are in the Super Bowl and this team is no longer a NFC West-fraud. Gambo thinks Denny Green deserves credit for changing the culture of the roster by drafting players from schools who were used to playing, and winning, big games in college (Dansby-Auburn, Dockett-Florida State, Rolle-Miami). Ash is sick of hearing all the “Cinderella stories” with the 2008-09 Cards because they made it and that’s the most important thing…or at least it should be.
Cards’ analyst and Sports 620 KTAR morning show host Ron Wolfley discussed his emotions calling the game yesterday and how he sees the Super Bowl XLIII match-up against the Steelers playing out. Wolf said he never envisioned the Cards making it all the way to Tampa. He feels getting the new stadium has helped the franchise in more ways then we’ll ever know.
Worst of the Best? - The critics are still bashing the Cards even though they are a win away from being Super Bowl Champions. They say the Cards are one of the “worst” big game participants ever. Ash thinks people remember the Cards because of their unlikely run, their likely Hall-of-Fame quarterback, and all the other unique traits of the Red Birds. Gambo is happy for the long-suffering Cardinal fans and the current players who helped change the perception of the once-laughable franchise.
Tuesday: NFL HOF’er and former Chicago Cardinal great Charley Trippi
Johnny V. [6:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (78) Karlos Dansby [13:49m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (67)The Cardinals are going to the Super Bowl. Sports 620 KTAR reporter Johnny V checked in from Cardinals camp in Tempe to talk about the Cardinals the day after winning the NFC Championship. As you can imagine, there were many cameras and reporters out at the facility. There were a few players available to talk to the media today, but not everyone.
Here’s what went down today on G&A
We caught up with Sports 620 KTAR reporter Johnny V. LIVE at Cardinal headquarters to discuss the health status of Anquan Boldin and everything thing else newsworthy as the Red Birds make their final preparations for Sunday’s game. V. reported Ken Whisenhunt addressed a large cast of media today in the same large auditorium he did two years ago today when he was hired as head coach.
We were also joined by Ann Fredrick from The Stretch to Win Center in Tempe. She stretches nearly two dozen Cardinal players - including Darnell Dockett and Karlos Dansby, but also Eagles’ Donovan McNabb and Brian Dawkins. She even flew to New York last week for Philly’s game against the Giants. She is pulling for
We were joined LIVE by ESPN 950 host Mike Missanelli in Philly, who gave us a pulse of how the Eagle fans are approaching Sunday’s game. Do they still believe the Cards will be little more than a “walk thru” for the Super Bowl? Gambo & Ash called Missanelli out on a Super Bowl bet, but the Philly cheese steak backed down.
We went LIVE to the Sports 620 KTAR Studios with Dave Burns as Freddy Gutierrez tattooed “Gambo & Ash” on his posterior for a pair of lower bowl tickets to Sunday’s game in Glendale. Gutierrez later reported soreness, but didn’t regret his decision to have Gambo & Ash with him - permanently.
Former Eagles quarterback, now MNF analyst and good friend of the program Ron Jaworski shared his thoughts on Championship Sunday and what the Cards need to do to reach the Super Bowl for the first time in franchise history. The guys admitted it wasn’t just a coincidence that Jaws left the show as our NFL insider and the Birds are a win from their ultimate goal. Jaws likes the Eagles to spoil the Cinderella ride.
Second-year wide receiver Steve Breaston joined us to talk about his breakout season and how the Red Birds plan to attack the stingy Eagles defense. The former Michigan star had 77 catches for 1,006 yards and 3 touchdowns in the regular season. He said “after the first hit, all the nerves will be gone.”
Our ESPN NFL analyst Mark Schlereth broke down Sunday’s game in Glendale. Schlereth is predicting a Cardinal win this weekend. He thinks Brian Westbrook is more hurt than he or the Eagles are leading on and believes the Cards will be able to move the ball on Philly’s defense if they can protect Kurt Warner.
Both G&A picked the Birds to book their flight to Tampa after a victory Sunday!
Ann Fredrick [10:08m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (126) Mike Missanelli [10:02m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (194) Ron Jaworski [15:17m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (162) Steve Breaston [11:37m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (116) Mark Schlereth [17:25m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (120)The Arizona Cardinals anthem … Go Big Red
To see the lyrics so you can sing along click here.
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