Here’s what went down on Thursday on G&A

Loan Needed - The NBA announced they are borrowing $175 million that will be distributed between 15 different teams (each getting $11.6 million).  Your Phoenix Suns are one of those teams.  The guys continue to stress the poor economic standing in America trickles down to everyone-even our local teams and Universities.  ASU is making school employees take unpaid furloughs.  Gambo noted yesterday’s 21-person staff layoff at prestigious Stanford.  Ash used the example yesterday at Hi Corbett Field in Tucson.  Last year’s spring training opener was packed.  Yesterday, there were plenty of empty seats around the ballpark for the Diamondbacks-Rockies’ game.  Sponsors are pulling out of events nationwide.  When will it all end?  We took calls.

Arizona State director of Athletics Lisa Love checked in for her weekly segment.  All eyes will be on Seattle tonight where Herb Sendek’s team will look to take the Pac-10 lead with a victory over Washington.  She said there has never been more “buzz” on campus for ASU basketball than there is right now.  The Lady Devils (20-6, 12-2) host Washington tonight at 6:30 at Wells Fargo Arena and Wazzu Saturday before embarking on a big road trip next weekend to Cal and Stanford.

Too Much On! - Crucial road games for our local hoops squads tonight at the Suns play the Lakers at Staples Center and ASU is in Seattle to take on Pac-10 leader Washington.  Gambo feels Herb Sendek’s 11th-ranked Devils are still flying under the radar on a national level-even with a 5-2 road record and key regular-season sweeps over UCLA and UofA.  As for the Steve Nash-less Suns, they are looking for a “marquee” win under Alvin Gentry.  Ash will have his main focus on the ASU game because he doesn’t feel the Suns have a shot against Kobe and the gang.  Gambo will lean towards ASU, but will keep his eye on the Suns’ game, as well.  Is ASU getting the exposure they deserve?

Our ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler joined us.  Legs shared his thoughts on today’s news that the league will borrow $175 million which will be available to 15 select teams, looked ahead to tonight’s Suns-Lakers showdown in LA, and the likelihood of free-agent Stephon Marbury signing with the Celtics.  He thinks if Starbury says and does all the right things in Boston and eventually leads them to another title, he will wipe away a lot of the problems that have plagued him-especially most recently with the Knicks.

Better Off Without You - It appears former Suns point guard Stephon Marbury is on his way to Beantown.  Ash flat-out doesn’t want to see Marbury win an NBA championship-so much so he will root against Boston once the playoffs roll around.  Gambo ran the numbers and reported the noted increase in wins the following season once Marbury LEAVES his previous team.

We caught up with Diamondbacks’ left fielder Conor Jackson  He is hoping to improve on both his fielding and hitting this   CoJack hit .300 last season with 12 homers and 75 RBI’s.  He struck out only 61 times in 540 at-bats in 2008.

Keeping Kurt? - Kurt Warner’s agent left town this afternoon without securing a deal with the Cardinals.  Tonight teams can make offers to the free-agent quarterback.  Ash wonders if some team, possibly the Bears, will blow Warner away with an offer he can’t refuse when free-agency officially opens later tonight.  Is 38 too old?  Gambo knows Warner and his camp have leverage (an MVP-type year and Super Bowl appearance in 2008) and will use it to likely hike the bidding war.  He also questioned if there are now hard feelings between Warner and the Red Birds-which is never a good thing when attempting to hammer out a deal.  G&A feel the Cards have no choice but to re-sign him.

Friday we’ll be joined by Suns’ President Rick Welts and National Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt.

 

 Tim Legler [13:39m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (64)

 

 Conor Jackson [13:43m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (61)