Archive for May, 2009

Rolling on

Published on May 14, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Wednesday on G&A

Somebody Step Up! - The Diamondbacks lost (again), but Gambo & Ash have a bigger problem than the loss itself.  Following a Brandon Phillips homer, Jon Rauch threw two high-and-tight pitches to Phillips his next at-bat.  The following half inning, former D-back Micah Owings plunked Ryan Roberts on the elbow.  Roberts left the game.  The next inning, D-backs reliever Scott Schoeneweis didn’t come close to plunking a Reds batter the following inning.  The guys think it shows just how far the team has fallen.  No one is sticking up for anyone else.  Why a veteran pitcher like Schoeneweis didn’t retaliate is beyond comprehension to the guys.  Ash wonders why new manager AJ Hinch didn’t “prove something” to his new, young team and tell Schoeneweis to hit a batter of his choice in the ninth.  D-backs’ analyst Tom Candiotti knew Owings hit Roberts intentionally because of the way catcher Ryan Hanigan reacted by immediately walking out towards the pitcher.  The guys agree a veteran-laden team would never allow something like this to happen.  Gambo told stories of how the ’01 veteran-filled World Series team would never tolerate something like this.  He said no pitcher on that team stood up for their teammates more than Miguel Batista.

We caught up with former big leaguer and Valley resident TROY O’LEARY  The 10-year MLB vet and Chandler resident is creating a reality television show called “Play Big or Go Home” aimed at baseball players around the country ages 18-22 who are hoping to get noticed by major league scouts with the ultimate payoff being a spring training invite.  Former major leaguers Jeff Cirillo, John Valentin, Darren Lewis and others will serve as judges for the show in an “American Idol” type format.

We were joined by Arizona State Director of Athletics LISA LOVE.  She discussed President Obama’s commencement speech Wednesday at Sun Devil Stadium, ASU baseball’s weekend series against Oregon at Packard Stadium, and the Lady Sun Devil softball squad’s quest to defend their National Championship.  They face San Diego State Friday night in the Tempe Regional.

One For the Ages? - Times couldn’t be much worse for the NHL with attendance down, the Coyotes’ future here in Phoenix uncertain, and general fan apathy across the board.  Tonight the Caps will host the Penguins in a winner-take-all semi-final seventh game.  This a game that the NHL needs - an all-or-nothing playoff game featuring the league’s two best players - Pittsburgh’s Sidney Crosby and Washington’s Alex Ovechkin.  Gambo thinks this is must-see TV - even if you’re not a hockey fan and you may not know where the VERSUS Network is on your cable or satellite provider.  Will you go out of your way to watch tonight?

Our ESPN baseball insider TIM KURKJIAN joined us to share his thoughts on last week’s decision to dump Bob Melvin in favor of AJ Hinch.  He also discussed latest Roger Clemens saga, the Dodgers minus Manny Ramirez, and Ryan Zimmerman’s hit streak - which ended Wednesday in San Francisco at 30 games.

Streak Over  - The Nats beat the Giants 6-3 Wednesday afternoon, getting 12 hits in the process.  Unfortunately, one of those hits was not collected by third baseman Ryan Zimmerman, who saw his hit streak end at 30 games.  The guys feel this was one of more remarkable, yet under publicized, stories of the young baseball season.  Is it because Zimmerman plays for one of the worst teams in baseball?  G&A debated if anyone will come close to breaking Joe DiMaggio’s streak.  Gambo hopes not.  We took calls.

The Master of Panic - The Magic dropped a heart-breaker last night in Boston and star Dwight Howard says it’s head coach Stan Van Gundy’s fault.  “Superman” scored 12 points and got only 10 shots as the defending champion Celtics creped to within one win of the Eastern Conference Finals.  G&A concur Van Gundy, who Shaq ripped earlier in the year, could be on his way out if the Magic don’t win the next two games against the champion C’s.  Game 6 is Thursday in Orlando.

Summer Bird Watching - The Cards are in the news again.  First, Eagles’ coach Andy Reid told a Philly radio station that the Red Birds wanted a 1st, 3rd and 5th-round pick for Anquan Boldin during trade talks last month.  G&A feel Reid may be fabricating the story a bit.  Then there’s Karlos Dansby.  The franchise-tagged linebacker has a new agent and is taking a wait-and-see approach to his contract situation.  He’s said and done all the right things, or simply the opposite of Boldin and Darnell Dockett, and may end up the big winner in all this - even if it means leaving the Cards after the 2009 season.  Will Ken Whisenhunt and Rod Graves get this right?  We discussed and took calls.

Sports 620 KTAR reporter Craig Grialou checked in LIVE from Chase Field after manager AJ Hinch and Ryan Roberts discussed the retaliation, or lack there of, last night at Chase Field with the media this afternoon.  Gree reported Hinch and Roberts said the events were still a “non-issue” and nothing was really made of it.  Hinch seemed more excited about getting the potential tying run to the plate than thinking about “getting even” after Roberts was plunked by Micah Owings.

Thursday we’ll be joined by ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler and reporter/baseball insider Pedro Gomez

Sinking fast

Published on May 13, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Tuesday on G&A…

Sinking Fast - Your Arizona Diamondbacks were embarrassed last night by the Reds at Chase Field to fall to 13-20 on the season  - dead last in the NL West. Ash thinks the season is all, but over. Gambo thinks there’s still hope, but AJ Hinch’s squad need to string together some wins. John is encouraged by the progress at the plate of Eric Byrnes, but knows it’s time for someone to step up and kick some motivation into this team. Mark is disgusted by the Snakes play, and Valley sports in general, sans the NFC Champion Cardinals. This team has given us nothing to be excited for in the first 33 games. Is it safe to say this season is over? We took calls.

Good friend of the program, former Diamondbacks voice, now Reds broadcaster Thom Brennaman joined us. He shared his thoughts on Cincinnati’s solid start to the season, the play of Micah Owings who came over in the Adam Dunn deal, and where it all went wrong for the D-backs in the first month of the season.

Homecoming - Former farmhand and D-backs pitcher Micah Owings is scheduled to take the hill tonight for the Reds. He was part of the Adam Dunn deal last year. Owings has been known more for his bat than his arm, but are the D-backs having second thoughts about letting him go? G&A agree Owings need to develop more as a starter, but wonder if the Snakes will regret this trade in a few years.

Suns head coach Alvin Gentry joined us to discuss becoming the club’s permanent head coach, the upcoming draft, the team’s offseason needs moving forward, and the on-going playoff series around the NBA. He said he will stress better defense, but won’t slow down the “Seven Seconds or Shaq” approach. He also hinted Amare Stoudemire might still be a Phoenix Sun next season despite all the trade rumors.

No Challenges Yet - The Cavs completed their second consecutive playoff sweep-taking out the Hawks last night in Atlanta. Some feel these “easy” games will come back to haunt Cleveland as the post-season unfolds. Gambo doesn’t seem to think. Ash feels LeBron and Company is destined to win it all. If they don’t, will Shaq be on their offseason radar? Deadline rumors back in February had Shaq headed to Cleveland for Wally Szczerbiak and/or Ben Wallace and a 1st-round pick. Would the Cavs been this dominate with O’Neal in the lineup? The guys debated and took calls.

Rocket Launches - Embattled pitcher Roger Clemens spoke out today on ESPN Radio saying he never used steroids and the allegations against him are false. He also said friend and former teammate Andy Petitte “mis-remembered” their conversation about drugs. Clemens said he would never touch steroids because his family has a history of heart problems. One person is The Rockets’ step father. Oh, that makes sense Roger. The guys agree he’s a joke. Who is he fooling or in this case, trying to fool? Will a lie detector test help prove his innocence? If so, would you ultimately believe him or still be skeptical?

Post-Season Drama - The Nuggets-Mavs series has taken a bizarre twist with a series of off-the-court sub-plots including Mark Cuban threatening Kenyon Martin’s mom and Nuggets executive Rex Chapman calling the setting “hostile” and comparing the atmosphere in American Airlines Arena to a game he once attended in Belgrade which included throwing chairs and setting off flairs. Although Cuban apologized (in a blog, of course), Gambo is sick of the circus act surrounding the Dallas owner. The novelty has worn off. He feels K-Mart should not accept his apology and olive branch of having Martin’s family sit in his personal suite if the series extends to a 6th game. Ash says the best way for K-Mart and the Nuggets to end all this controversy is to end the series in Denver tomorrow night. He also thinks Cuban is frustrated by his teams’ recent lack of success-especially in the playoffs.

We were joined by Diamondbacks right fielder Justin Upton. “J-Up” hit a 2-run homer in the 3rd inning to extend his hitting streak to 18 games. He is hitting .307 with seven homers and 18 RBI’s. He talked about playing for AJ Hinch and how, even during his recent tear, he’s still learning from at-bat to at-bat. Upton has also shown great strides in the outfielder.

Compare and Contrast - Justin Upton is starting to develop into one of the best young players in baseball. G&A hope he remains grounded even with continued success as his game matures with more MLB experience. Gambo thinks the kid is for real. Who does Upton remind you of? We took calls.

 
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First win/The future?

Published on May 12, 2009 in Show recap. 1 Comment

Here’s what went down Monday on G&A…

First Win/The Future? - AJ Hinch got his first career win yesterday as the D-backs avoided the sweep. The guys still don’t know what to think about Hinch calling the shots. They host the Reds tonight to start a 3-game series before heading back east for an extended road trip. Mark Reynolds played first yesterday for the first time this season and although Hinch said it won’t be a regular occurrence-G&A aren’t so sure. Gambo feels this could be the beginning of the end for Chad Tracy. He believes this team needs veteran leadership-even if that means signing free-agents Damian Easley or Geoff Jenkins. Ash says the future of this team is Justin Upton and who’s to argue after his recent tear? Gambo loves his low-key/unassuming, yet intense nature once he steps between the lines.

Manny Helping Dodgers? - The Dodgers will be saving up to $7.7 million in salary after Thursday’s ruling of Manny Ramirez’s 50-game suspension. Reports say LA could use this money to get pitching help near the deadline. One name that has floated out there is Padres’ ace Jake Peavy. Ash thinks this makes sense because the Dodgers would love to add a pitcher of Peavy’s ability to their already potent top-to-bottom lineup. Gambo isn’t so sure this is going to happen because why would San Diego trade within the division-much less to the hated Dodgers.

We were joined by one of the great catchers of all-time, Hall-of-Famer Johnny Bench. The 2-time World Series champion, 2-time MVP, 1968 NL Rookie of the Year, 14-time All-Star, and 10-time Gold Glover discussed  Johnny Bench the current state of baseball, his Cincinnati Reds who open a 3-game series tonight at Chase Field, playing for “The Big Red Machine,” and his new book, Catch Every Ball. Bench has a book signing Thursday night at 7:00 at the Barnes & Noble at 10500 North 90th Street in Scottsdale.

Breaking News - The impossible just happened. John Gambadoro was named Bonneville Phoenix Employee of the Month. Ash, like the rest of Sports 620 KTAR, is shocked to hear this development, but happy nonetheless. One anonymous employee wrote this, “I would like to nominate Gambo for Employee of the Month. I know he makes a big joke about not winning. But in all honesty nobody in this station works as hard as he does. Last week he broke every single D’backs story and we got credit all throughout the country. He had the most read opinion piece on KTAR.com, he hosted our first ever live chat and he and Ash are always top ratings performers. If you ask me there is no better choice for Employee of the Month than the guy who helped put this station on the map.” Ash feels slighted. A caller suggested Gambo should hire Rosenhaus to get her a better deal than the standard $100 gift card and 30-day, front row, covered parking space.

Twittering Interest? - Drew Rosenhaus tweeted over the weekend the he’s confident the Cards could get a 1st-round pick and maybe more for disgruntled Darnell Dockett. The Cards said last week they have no intentions of trading D2-who happens to have three years left on his current contract. Gambo thinks this is a classic example of tampering. John went so far as to call him a “joke” especially since the Birds have said they aren’t dealing him. He thought so much of it he sent a direct e-mail to Rosenhaus this afternoon. Ash wonders why Rosenhaus is so open about Dockett and Anquan Boldin, but not Antrelle Rolle who also is due a new deal. He feels Boldin, Dockett, and others need to shut up and play out their contract. You want more money? Put up bigger numbers…when your deal is up, not with three years left.

To Foul or Not to Foul? - The Nuggets are going for the sweep tonight against Dallas, but not without controversy. Antoine Wright tried to foul Carmelo Anthony on the winning three-pointer, but no foul was called. Mavs’ coach Rick Carlisle was irate. The game featured 61 fouls called between the two teams. Mark Cuban was so incensed he shoved a cameraman and talked to trash to Kenyon Martin’s mom. Gambo is sick of Cuban act - who’s yet to win a title. John hopes that trend continues.

Baby Formula - Glen “Big Baby” Davis nailed a jumper as time expired as the Celtics came back to even the series last night in Orlando. Controversy surrounded the conclusion of the game as Davis pushed a kid sitting courtside during the celebration. The kid’s father wants a public apology from Big Baby. The guys find this humorous that someone would actually go to this length over something as silly as this.

“Organizational Advocacy” - Josh Byrnes promised a new, renewed approach from AJ Hinch in his introductory press conference on Friday. The Snakes proceeded to lose two of three to the Nats before the bats came alive yesterday at Chase Field. Gambo doesn’t know the current players are “good enough” although Byrnes disagrees. Ash didn’t see the “spark” he was looking for-at least over the first three games. He understands baseball is a different game in regards to that, but wonders what the fans think of this. That’s the people who need to support this team. Image is everything and the D-backs know that (annoying in-game entertainment, Sedona Red uniforms, a monster HD jumbotron, all-you-can-eat sections of Chase). Do you believe in what’s going on with the “organizational advocacy?” We took calls.

We also caught up with 4-time World Series Champion and 8-time All-Star, Darryl Strawberry. The 1983 Rookie of the Year and 2-time Silver Slugger Award recipient was known as much for his off-the-field controversy, as his play on it. He looked back on those great Mets and Yankees championship teams, talk about his son D.J. who recently played for the Suns, and his new book, Straw which hit shelves late last month.

The Straw That Stirs - Darryl Strawberry is doing good things with his life after success on the field and problems off of it. Buster Olney says no one will be remembered more for what he did off the field, than what he did on. He made 8 All-Star games, but will never make the Hall-of-Fame. Strawberry is one player who never reached his FULL potential-likely from drugs, but not steroids. The guys discussed how popular recreational drugs from the 80’s (cocaine) are replaced today by PED’s (steroids).

Tuesday we’ll be joined by Suns head coach Alvin Gentry, D-backs General Manager Josh Byrnes, and rightfielder Justin Upton

 
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Will This Work?

Published on May 9, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Friday on G&A

Will This Work? - AJ Hinch is the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks as Gambo reported here first Thursday on Sports 620 KTAR.  That was the first of a number of moves made by the organization as Bob Melvin, Rick Schu and Bryan Price are no longer coaches.  Jack Howell will step in for Schu as hitting coach and Mel Stottlemyre, JR as pitching coach after Price’s surprising resignation.  Ash supported Melvin and doesn’t feel the change will make much of a difference.  Gambo can see why the decision was made, but thinks GM Josh Byrnes had more to do with actually managing the team under Melvin than many were led to believe.  He reported that Melvin wanted to part ways with struggling reliever Jon Rauch, but Byrnes wanted no part of it.  The guys agree - no one knows if AJ Hinch will be a successful manager - including Hinch himself.

We had LIVE coverage of the Bob Melvin addressing the media at Chase Field one last time after Thursday’s news that he will no longer be the manager of the Arizona Diamondbacks.  Dave Burns anchored.

We were joined by Arizona State Director of Athletics Lisa Love.  The Sun Devil baseball team hosts Winthrop this weekend as they prepare for Regional play while the 2008 defending Champion softball team gets to host their Selection Sunday party at The Sheraton Phoenix Airport Hotel Sunday at 6:30.  The event is open to the public.

We also had LIVE coverage of the Diamondbacks press conference with Diamond Talk host Dave Burns anchoring from Chase Field as the Dbacks introduced new manager AJ Hinch and the rest of the coaching staff.

Diamondbacks general manager Josh Byrnes joined the guys to talk about the decision to let go of Melvin and hire AJ Hinch.  He said he approached Hinch about a week ago about possibly becoming the 5th manager in franchise history.  He knows this will be known as an “unconventional hire,” but feels it’s what’s best for the franchise moving forward.

Our ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler joined us to discuss the Cavs convincing 20-point win over the Hawks Thursday night in Cleveland, Derek Fisher and Rafer Alston’s 1-game suspensions and how that will affect the outcome of those series.  “Legs” feels there’s more intrigue this postseason than in years past, especially in the Western Conference.  He also feels locking up Alvin Gentry to a new deal would be a smart move by Robert Sarver and Steve Kerr.

The guys caught up with new skipper A.J. Hinch. The former big league catcher says he’s looking for the challenge of motivating the younger players and hopes a new approach will help break the club’s season-long hitting slump.  He said he won’t be afraid to shake things up - even if that means stepping on some toes in the process.  He knows he must prove himself to his new team and the fans as well.

Monday we’ll be joined by Hall-of-Fame catcher Johnny Bench to preview the Reds-Dbacks series, as well as the great Darryl Strawberry

 
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Curtain Falls on Melvin

Published on May 8, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Thursday on G&A

Short show after day baseball at PetCo Park

Curtain Falls on Melvin - Gambo reported at the beginning of the show that skipper Bob Melvin will be relieved of his duties before the homestand starts Friday against the Nationals.  When we hit the air, Melvin had not been told by management that he wouldn’t be coming back.  G&A broke down the move from every angle.  Gambo knows why the organization made the move but wonders if a fresh face and voice in the dugout and clubhouse will make a difference.  Ash hates the move, saying the players need to shoulder the blame for their shortcomings.  In short, he says this team, and its parts, simply aren’t as good as the organization believed.  Who is next in line to replace BoMel?  Matt Williams?  Brett Butler?  Mark Grace?  Kirk Gibson?  The guys discussed and took calls.

Full show Friday with the latest on the managerial situation, the Manny Ramirez suspension, and we’ll talk NBA playoffs with our ESPN analyst Tim Legler.

Dangerously Close

Published on May 7, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Wednesday on G&A

Moving Parts - The Coyotes’ future in Arizona, and as a franchise, is in great flux.  The team has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.  Embattled commissioner Gary Bettman says he wants to team to stay in Phoenix, but how realistic is that?  G&A agree moving the team to Glendale and not putting a competitive team on the ice ultimately killed this franchise.  Gambo doesn’t think an NHL team will ever be profitable here - especially with no clear cut superstar (Alex Ovechkin, Sidney Crosby) - sorry Shane Doan.  Ash wonders if the Valley still wants the team because they support the organization or do they want them here so Phoenix can still have the “big four” sports in the community?  Gambo thinks the City of Glendale, from a financial standpoint, can’t afford to lose the Desert Dogs.

Dangerously Close - The Diamondbacks were swept in their mini two-game series at Dodger Stadium.  They now sit 8 ½ games back in the NL West.  The guys agree this team is dangerously close to being irrelevant…in early May.  The D-backs were 20-8 in 2008, now the hated Dodgers have the same record and don’t appear to be letting up anytime soon.  Gambo’s frustration with Chris Young continues, but he’s not keen on Eric Byrnes replacing him, either.  Ash is wondering how hitting coach Rick Schu still has a job.  No single team is further back in their respective division than the D-backs.  The guys feel bad for Max Scherzer, who put together another solid outing (6 innings pitched, 4 hits, 2 earned runs) but was saddled with the loss…again.  The guys concur Bob Melvin isn’t the problem and he shouldn’t shoulder the blame for his underachieving players.

We caught up with our baseball insider Tim Kurkjian from ESPN.  He discussed the Dodgers’ red-hot play at home, the punch-less Diamondback bats, the surprising Kansas City Royals - who he thinks will be in the race for the remainder of the season.  There are 274 players who have homered and Red Sox slugger David Ortiz isn’t one of them.  Go figure.

The manager of the San Diego Padres, Bud Black, joined us to discuss their season and preview the upcoming 2-game series against the Diamondbacks which starts Wednesday at PetCo Park as his ace Jake Peavy faces Jon Garland.  He has been impressed by the quick start of former Diamondback outfielder, now Padre, Scott Hairston.  He also feels the Padres haven’t played their best baseball yet this season despite starting the season 9-3.

Two Must-Wins Tonight? - The home-favored Celtics and Lakers are down 1-0 in their respective series with a chance to even things up tonight.  Ash isn’t worried about LA and thinks the better team will prevail in their series with the stingy Rockets.  Gambo believes the wild card in all this is Andrew Bynum.  When he plays well, the Lakers usually win.  The Celtics are a different story.  Will their grudge-match series with the Bulls come back to haunt them?  The guys discussed.

We were also joined by former ASU star tackle Levi Jones.  The former walk-on from Eloy shared his thoughts on the recent passing of Bruce Snyder and his uncertain future after the club selected Andre Smith in the 1st-round of this years’ draft.  Jones missed the last 6 games of last season with a leg injury and was released this morning.  He expressed interest in playing here for the Cards and said several teams (Broncos, Lions, Bills, Seahawks) have inquired about his services.  Are you listening Rod Graves?

Please Go Away - Vikings coach Brad Childress is on his way to Mississippi to meet with free-agent Brett Favre.  The guys are sick of Favre’s act.  Gambo thinks signing with the rival Vikings is a slap in the face to all Packer fans who backed Brett through the good and bad times during his storied career in Wisconsin.  Ash agrees this would tarnish his image with Packer Nation.  He also doesn’t want him going to the potent Vikings - who will likely compete for the NFC title with him under center.  Gambo wonders just how healthy Favre is and if he’ll comply with the Vikes’ request to attend all off-season mini-camps.

Short show Thursday after day baseball at PetCo Park in San Diego.

‘Yotes skipping town

Published on May 6, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Tuesday on G&A…

Just Not Good Enough - The Diamondbacks are still struggling at the plate and Gambo’s seen enough. He is running out of patience with Chris Young, Chad Tracy, Chris Snyder, Eric Byrnes, and, to a lesser extent, Conor Jackson. In short, quit pampering these guys. The problem as John sees it is there’s no one, either on the active roster or in the minors, who can step in and replace some of the struggling younger players. Gambo still has faith in Justin Upton and Stephen Drew, but doubts the others listed above will ever be consistent everyday players. Don’t blame Bob Melvin, who joined the show, the players the underachieving. Do you agree? We took calls. Dodgers closer Jonathon Broxton also joined Gambo to preview tonight’s game and talk about the Dodgers early success to the season.

Former Uof A standout, now Jacksonville Jaguar wide receiver Mike Thomas discussed his transition from the college to pro game. The Pac-10’s all-time receptions leader with 259 was selected in the 4th-round last month. “Money Mike” looked back on his four years in Tucson-including beating ASU this past season and leading the ‘Cats to their first bowl game in over a decade.

Poor Planning? - The NHL playoffs are going on and the two of the games best young stars, Sidney Crosby and Alex Ovechkin, are facing off. The games are buried on the Versus network. Too bad few people saw Crosby and Ovechkin EACH record hat tricks in the same game. The best sub-plot to this series is these two guys hate each other. Gambo knows this is just another example of how the NHL is behind the times - two great players in a compelling series on a network that’s hard to find. The league would be better off playing on ESPN for free rather than getting paid to play on Versus.

Taken Down in Tinsel Town - The Rockets upset the Lakers last night at Staples Center and stole home court…at least for now. Houston’s stingy defense seemed to frustrate Kobe and his teammates. Rick Adelman’s team continues to thrive without Tracy McGrady. Although Gambo would love the intrigue of LeBron vs. Kobe in the finals, he is hoping for the Rockets to pull the upset. After the game, the Rocket players didn’t seem to think it was much of an upset and Gambo - to an extent, agrees. Gambo posed the question - would you rather see the marquee finals showdown or see the hated Lakers lose early in the postseason? Are the Lakers not focused on getting back to the winner’s circle? Oh by the way, the defending champion, yet fatigued Celtics relinquished home court as well - dropping their opener to the Magic at Fleet Center.

Breaking News - Reports say the Phoenix Coyotes have filed for bankruptcy and may be relocating to somewhere in Canada. There was no response from the City of Glendale, the NHL, or the Coyotes themselves. Gambo thinks this is a disaster for Glendale as it stands to lose money everywhere. He feels the downfall of the franchise was re-locating to the West Valley and hiring Wayne Gretzky who has done nothing to put the team on the NHL map.

We caught up Glendale City Manager Ed Beasley who shared his thoughts on the pending Coyote news. He said he wants to keep the team here and plan on actively pursuing a plan to do so. When asked by Gambo if the Coyotes will be back in the Valley next season, he said, “Yes.”

Quick Work

Published on May 5, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Monday on G&A…

Ash was off-Gambo flew solo on this busy Monday.

Quick Work - Gambo paid the $60 to watch Manny Pacquiao destroy Ricky Hatton with a 2nd-round knockout Saturday night. He is beyond impressed with Pacman’s speed and quickness in dispatching a quality fighter like Hatton. Gambo hopes the retired Floyd Mayweather watched very closely what happened over the weekend in Vegas. In short, stay retired. Can Mayweather stay away and how many people would buy the PPV to see a Pacquiao-Mayweather? Gambo’s guess? Millions.

JJ’s Revenge - Joe Johnson had 27 points yesterday as the Hawks eliminated the Heat to advance to the 2nd round. Gambo says JJ has turned around a once-terrible franchise and made the Hawks a contender in the Eastern Conference. The Suns, meanwhile, are thinking of re-tooling major pieces of the roster, as they are watching the post-season on TV. Has there been any free-agent signing worth more to their franchise than Johnson? Gambo doesn’t seem to think so. Should he be given all the credit for ATL’s success? We took calls. Some suggested Steve Nash signing with the Suns had a bigger impact than Johnson did with the Hawks.

King James - LeBron James won his first MVP today. His Cavs are about to start the second round of the playoffs and with homecourt advantage throughout, Gambo thinks this could be a special summer for LBJ. The modern day measuring stick in the NBA is Michael Jordan. Gambo wonders who reminds fans more of MJ, LeBron or Kobe Bryant? Does LeBron make players around him better or does Kobe?

Who’s That Horse? - Mine That Bird, a 50-1 long shot won the Kentucky Derby Saturday afternoon. Gambo ripped announcer Tom Durkin for forgetting to mention Mine That Bird until the end of the race after he blew by the rest of the field while Durkin was consumed with following the horses he was familiar with. If you’re an “average sports fan,” did you happen to catch the Kentucky Derby?

We caught up with FOX NFL Sunday analyst and senior writer for FoxSports.com Jay Glazer who shared his thoughts on the futures of Michael Vick and Brett Favre, the on-going Anquan Boldin saga, and his new show “Pros vs. Joes” which airs tonight on Spike TV. Glazer said a 1st & 3rd pick for Boldin is too much to ask for in trade return and up to 15 teams could be interested in bringing back Vick to be a back-up quarterback and run the “wild cat” offense which is the new trend around the NFL.

To the Vick-tor Go the Spoils? - NFL insider Jay Glazer said “up to 15 teams” would be interested in Michael Vick to be a back-up quarterback and use him in different offensive packages. Gambo thinks Glazer makes sense saying Ron Mexico could be a featured weapon IF he’s in shape and IF, most importantly, he gets reinstated by Roger Goodell. Character issues are still a concern and there’s no bigger question mark than Vick. Gambo is intrigued by the wildcat offense and feels this could become an even bigger part of the pro game. He knows Vick was never a great quarterback, but when used correctly, he could help several offenses around the league. Gambo’s is willing to give Vick a second chance for the heinous crime he committed, but will be pulling for his comeback to fail.

Not Budging - The Cards wrapped up their minicamp yesterday with disgruntled Anquan Boldin and Darnell Dockett sitting on the sidelines with “hamstring injuries.” Ken Whisenhunt poked fun at the duo calling them “seasonal injuries” when he addressed the media. Gambo applauds the Cards for holding their ground on this and making the two honor their respective, long-term deals. Both players jumped at their initial extensions and now they want new deals. Gambo says, tough…especially with Adrian Wilson and Karlos Dansby up for new deals in the near future. Dockett now wants to be traded, but Gambo just can’t see that happening because the Red Birds have a Pro-Bowl d-tackle with extended years left on his deal.

Ash is off tomorrow. Gambo will visit with D-backs’ skipper Bob Melvin and the Pac-10’s all-time receptions leader, former UA star, now Jacksonville Jaguar Mike Thomas

 
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Looking back while looking ahead

Published on May 2, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Friday on G&A…

Sports 620 KTAR reporter Johnny V. checked in to discuss Cards’ mini camp and the latest news from Tempe.  V. said Darnell Dockett and Anquan Boldin reported, but both had MRI’s on hamstring issues.  Kurt Warner went thru seven-on-seven drills coming back from offseason hip surgery and V. reported both Karlos Dansby and Adrian Wilson were on the practice field today.  Both are looking for new deals from the Red Birds.

Not Budging - Pro-Bowl defensive tackle Darnell Dockett is looking for a new deal and, as of now, the Cards aren’t willing to re-negotiate.  Dockett has 3 years left on his current extension.  Gambo insists the club is handling this the right way by not granting Dockett his wish.  Ash knows D2 is trying to strike while the iron is hot (coming off a Pro-Bowl season) but says he’s picking the wrong time to get a new deal.

Former Diamondback, now Brewers infielder Craig Counsell checked in to discuss Milwaukee’s 4-1 win last night over the Dbacks at Miller Park.  Counsell scored the go-ahead run after entering the game as a pinch-hitter in the seventh inning as the Dbacks fell to 9-13 with the loss.  He talked about his favorite moments from the 2001 season and how the Brewers are going to go about getting back to the playoffs again this fall.  Only 5 players on the 2001 playoff roster are still playing in the majors (Counsell, Rod Barajas, Miguel Batista, David Dellucci and Randy Johnson).  Bob Melvin is the only remaining active coach.

No Relief in Site – The Diamondbacks got a great start from Max Scherzer, who pitched 6 scoreless innings before getting pulled last night in Milwaukee.  The bullpen faltered, losing a 1-0 lead, in a 4-1 loss.  Gambo said Bob Melvin had a tough decision when Flash Gordon couldn’t escape late-inning trouble.  Ash is more upset with what he’s seeing at the plate - particularly Chris Young, whose pitch selection has been terrible thru the first month of the season.  Is BoMel playing the percentages too much early in the year both at the plate and on the mound?  The guys discussed and took calls.

We were joined by UofA top basketball recruit Solomon Hill.  The 6’6 forward from Fairfax High School in LA, who is a 4-star recruit, signed his letter of intent with new coach Sean Miller earlier this month.  Hill also considered Kentucky, Texas, Gonzaga, Michigan and USC.  He said he’s ready to leave Southern California and create a name for himself at a storied program like Arizona.

Another Classic - The Celtics and Bulls will play a deciding Game 7 Saturday night in Boston following Chicago’s Game 6 triple-overtime 128-127 win Thursday night.  G&A agree this is one of, if not the, greatest series of all-time.  There have been 106 lead changes in six games.  Ray Allen scored 51 last night, but not one person will remember it by the end of the weekend.

Where Are They Now? - We caught up with former Auburn Tigers star and Arizona Cardinal wide receiver Frank Sanders.  Sanders played from 1995-2003.  His best season was 1998 when he led the NFC in receptions with 89 for 1,145 yards and 3 touchdowns.  He currently lives in Birmingham, Alabama doing charity work and helping out at his alma mater, Auburn.  He said he loved playing with Jake Plummer and fellow wideout Rob Moore.

Ash is off Monday…Gambo flies solo.  He’ll be joined by NFL insider Jay Glazer

 
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Beer Me!

Published on May 1, 2009 in Show recap. 0 Comments

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

Ash felt slighted when he wasn’t publicly thanked by KTAR GM Scott Sutherland during the State of the Station meeting this morning. Gambo was thanked for “everything he does” but no mention of the 2nd half of “Gambo & Ash,” Mark Asher. Ash got sweet revenge by “winning” a “drawing” for a $100 gift card.

Shutting it Down - The Swine Flu is causing chaos around the country and the trickle-down is even effecting sporting events. High school sports in Texas, Alabama, and Delaware are being canceled and sporting events in Mexico are taking place without a single person in attendance. KTAR’s Craig Grialou reported yesterday that the AIA will not suspend any statewide sporting events due to any concerns related to the Swine Flu. Gambo, a father of three sports-playing kids, is telling his daughters to constantly wash their hands. Ash isn’t too concerned, but is monitoring the situation like the rest of us. He was planning on taking his son Jackson to the zoo this weekend, but might wait a week or two just to be safe-for him, not Mark.

Our ESPN NBA analyst Tim Legler joined us to discuss the Nuggets series-winning victory last night over New Orleans and preview tonight’s Celtics-Bulls 1st-round Game 6 showdown in Chicago as the champs look to advance. He called the Chicago-Boston series “one of the best he’s ever seen-regardless of what round they’re playing.” Plus, Legs shared his thoughts on Dwight Howard’s one-game suspension and the possibility of a Shaquille O’Neal-Tyson Chandler deal this summer.

Remembering the Alamo - The Suns aren’t in the playoffs, but neither is their most recent playoff nemesis, the San Antonio Spurs who were beaten soundly by the Dallas Mavericks in five games. Ash is calling it the end of a era in The Alamo City. Gambo thinks Pops and the gang should trade Tim Duncan while he still has value left. Ash wonders if Duncan is better off retiring-with plenty of championships, more than enough money, and a Hall-of-Famer in waiting. Could a team like the Hawks use Duncan to elevate them from a playoff contender to a championship-caliber team?

We were joined by Arizona State Director of Athletics Lisa Love who discussed ASU’s 20-3 beatdown of UofA in Tucson yesterday, the top-seeded Sun Devil women’s golf team who will host the NCAA West Regional next week, and everything else making headlines around Tempe.

Power Play - A recent report says the Phoenix Coyotes are being operated by the NHL. The local hockey team, who hasn’t been to the post-season in several years and never advanced past the first round of the playoffs, say the reports are false. President Doug Moss told Gambo as much when reached for comment this afternoon and expressed the team does not plan on re-locating. The team is bleeding money. G&A wonder what investor would pay millions for a team, and to a lesser extent sport, in-flux? Both agree, dropping underachieving Wayne Gretzky and his huge contract, would be a step in the right direction.

Beer Me! - ASU announced you can purchase beer in the suite and Loge level at Sun Devil Stadium and tail-gating hours will be extended in the fall. The guys find this to be an interesting development for one of the top party school in the country. Ash thinks most people, especially students, find ways to get booze in Sun Devil, regardless. Gambo is fine with selling beer in the “rich-people” seats, but thinks the school needs to be careful with this new experiment. The guys agree if they can generate additional revenue, it helps everyone associated with the school. G&A concur the most important thing for this football program is to win games. In Phoenix, relevance equals attendance.

A-Fraud - A new book is coming out regarding Alex Rodriguez and the hot-topics include A-Rod’s alleged high school steroid use, only tipping 15% at Hooters, and tipping pitches to opposing players. Gambo is fine with the first two, but is incensed by the thoughts of Rodriguez helping other players have success against his team. Ash doesn’t know what to think, except A-Rod’s image is taking even more hits and his popularity on, and off the field, is dropping every day.

Friday: Where Are They Now? with former Cardinal wide receiver Frank Sanders, Brewers infielder Craig Counsell, and UofA hoops recruit Solomon Hill

 
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