Here’s what went down Wednesday on Gambo & Ash…

Streak Intact…The American League extended their streak against the National League with a come-from-behind win Tuesday night in St. Louis. Ash pointed out the fact several of the players on the field last night don’t have the “sex appeal” of All-Star rosters from the past. He points back to the 1988 squads that featured Paul Molitor, Wade Boggs, Cal Ripken, Ozzie Smith, Dave Winfield, and George Brett among others. Gambo feels there will be a solid core of modern day stars which will land in Cooperstown when it’s all said and done. Some locks include Ichiro, Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter, and Albert Pujols. Ash felt bad for 43-year old Tim Wakefield who made his All-Star debut, but never made it onto the field last night in St. Louis. Mark says it’s just not right. Gambo knew they likely held Wakefield back because he’s a knuckleball pitcher, something the AL All-Star catchers would not be accustomed to.

Lessons Learned…Justin Upton was able to take in the All-Star experience and that included facing the greatest closer of all-time Mariano Rivera. Gambo believes even the most feared hitter in baseball would love to face Rivera, even if only once. J-Up grounded out sharply to short and finished 0-2. Ash compares it to facing Randy Johnson in his prime back in the late-90’s, early 2000. Rivera’s All-Star numbers are staggering and G&A know it will be an experience the 21-year old Upton will never forget.

Decisions to be Made…Chase Field will host the All-Star Game in just two short years. Last night in St. Louis, the Cardinals introduced Ozzie Smith, Lou Brock, Bob Gibson, among others. G&A know the D-backs are in an interesting situation with no history and no tradition. Do you bring back Gonzo and Jerry Colangelo? How about the amazing duo of Randy Johnson and Curt Schilling? One e-mailer suggested they honor the tragedy of 9-11 which will be the ten-year anniversary in 2011.

Keeping an Eye on Amare…Steve Kerr confirmed earlier reports that the Suns will take a wait-and-see approach on Amare to see how his eye and knee responds when the regular season rolls around. Gambo still believes the Suns will look to deal STAT and that will be easier if he returns at full-strength. Mark knows the Suns are stuck and Kerr is taking the right approach because the state of the franchise’s success moving forward could depend on what happens with Stoudemire.

We were joined by Suns forward Grant Hill who agreed to a 2-year deal late last week. The 36-year old spurned offers from the Knicks and Celtics to return to Phoenix. He played in all 82 games last season averaging 12 points, 5 rebounds, and 3 assists. G-Hill couldn’t give one exact reason why he chose to return to the Suns-simply saying he felt most comfortable here in Phoenix and knew he could get the most minutes here. He said he was also courted by George Karl and the Nuggets, as well as the Miami Heat this summer.

“I Just Want to Play”…Grant Hill told Gambo & Ash he heavily considered joining the loaded Celtics as a reserve this offseason, but expressed he just wants to play which was a significant reason why he returned. John doesn’t have any problem with Hill coming back to a team where he can play and contribute on a quality team. Ash wonders if Hill is simply content knowing he won a National Championship in college at Duke. G&A don’t doubt him for returning, but think most veterans who have made millions would take a pay cut for a chance to win an NBA title.

Hockey at Fenway!…The NHL will continue their annual outdoor experiment in January in the shadow of The Green Monster. The Bruins and Flyers are expected to draw a big crowd (as many as tiny Fenway can fit for hockey) and hopefully big television numbers for the struggling NHL. G&A love the idea of watching hockey outside in Boston in chilly January.

We caught up with our ESPN baseball insider Tim Kurkjian from St. Louis who broke down last night’s All-Star Game, his thoughts on the Diamondbacks second half goal of finishing the season .500, and the upcoming trade deadline.

Thorny Rose…Bud Selig hinted that Pete Rose may wind up in Cooperstown after all saying he would review the situation when he addressed the media in St. Louis. Ash thinks, as a player and for what he did between the lines with a bat in his hand, Rose deserves to make the HOF. Gambo doesn’t feel much sympathy for Rose because he knew the rules when he bet on baseball-even for and against the Reds.

Two More Weeks, Please…Brett Favre announced he will wait two more weeks before making a final decision as to whether he will be the Vikings quarterback next season. G&A are beyond tired of talking about this saga and both are certain Favre will be wearing purple in the fall. Gambo had no problem when #4 returned to the Jets last year, but lost all respect when the Packer great expressed interest in playing for rival Minnesota. Mark is wondering what the current Vikings’ quarterbacks must be thinking as this never-ending soap opera continues.

Vick-tory, finally?…Troubled Michael Vick might be playing pro football after all this year…in the UFL. Ron Mexico can make up to $620,000 playing in the new league which begins shortly. Gambo is willing to give Vick another shot because he served his time for murdering dozens of dogs, just not in the NFL…at least not yet. John feels Vick is a perfect fit in the “Wildcat Offense” which took the NFL by storm and was started by Ronnie Brown and the Miami Dolphins. Ash is thinking Vick would jump at the chance to play in the UFL because he’s thinking Roger Goodell will suspend him for possibly 10 games this season. Mark still feels Vick needs to prove he can play at a high level, even if it’s the UFL. Vick could end up playing for a familiar face Cardinal fans…remember Denny Green?

Two Devils, Two Different Tales…Terrell Suggs signed a $38 million guaranteed deal with the Baltimore Ravens today. Suggs’ ASU teammate Andrew Walter could be released by the Raiders in the coming days. Ash sees this is as a tale of two great college players whose pro careers have gone in different directions. G&A reflected back on the day the Cards had their shot at T-Sizzle, instead electing to trade down for what turned out to be Calvin Pace and Bryant Johnson-neither of which are still with the team.

Suggs’ Factor…Cards’ linebacker Karlos Dansby will earn over $9 million playing under the franchise tag this season. He will be eligible for free-agency following the upcoming season. G&A know Dansby will make a killing on the market, but probably not the type of dollars Suggs pulled in from the Ravens. The guys agree Dansby will never be the pass-rusher Suggs is, but offers more in run-support and pass coverage.

Here’s what went down Tuesday on Gambo & Ash.

Lacking Intensity…The mid-summer classic is Tuesday night in St. Louis and G&A are looking forward to seeing if the American League can extend its win streak.  They are 11-0-1 in the past 12 games.  The guys concur there isn’t much “sizzle” in the MLB All-Star Game, even with World Series home-field advantage on the line.  Gambo believes a lot of this stems from the fact that players jump teams, and leagues, so frequently in this extreme salary-driven era.  Ash enjoys the MLB All-Star game because the scores aren’t skewed (like in the NBA and NHL) and the players care (unlike in the NFL).

Bon Voyage Big Ben…The Suns have bought out the contract of Ben Wallace, freeing up millions for the cash-strapped team as they continue their roster and financial transition.  When it’s all said and done, the club could save close to $18 million by dumping Wallace.  The veteran is already drawing interest from one of his former clubs, the Detroit Pistons.  G&A feel this makes sense for several different reasons.  Mark feels, in a way, the Suns traded Shaq for what turned out to be Channing Frye.  Gambo knew all along Wallace wasn’t in the Suns’ plans, especially since he was never formally introduced to the media here in the Valley.

Off-Season Work…With Shaq in Cleveland, the time is now for second-year Suns’ center Robin Lopez who did little to impress during his rookie year.  Lopez dropped 24 points and grabbed 16 rebounds in Monday’s Vegas Summer League win over the Mavericks.  Ash is taking a wait-and-see approach to all this…especially since Lopez is playing against rookies and free-agents.  Gambo feels that’s the reason why we should be optimistic, because he’s dominating when he should be.

Not Loving LA?…One of the last high-profile free-agents left is Lamar Odom.  The versatile forward is mulling an offer from the Lakers and one of his former teams, the Miami Heat.  G&A are hoping, for the Suns and all teams in the Western Conference, that Odom changes addresses this summer.  Gambo has always been impressed with Odom’s skill-set and length.  Mark loves Odom’s dimensions, but questions whether he’s lived up to his pro potential.

Backing Bobby Bowden…Florida State and 79-year-old head coach Bobby Bowden is in hot water with the NCAA regarding several violations which could strip the team of past Seminole victories.  One coach who hopes FSU is not stripped of victories is Penn State coach Joe Paterno.  Joe Pa sits atop the all-time FBS victories list with 383.  Bowden has 382.  G&A applaud Paterno for defending Bowden and know he could easily pull away from Bowden if as many as 14 victories are dropped.  Mark feels if the Seminoles are stripped of victories, this will be Bowden’s final season on the sidelines.

Extreme DUI for Diana…Mercury star guard Diana Taurasi was busted July 2nd for what now appears to be an extreme DUI on three separate charges.  D-Tar was pulled over around 7th Street and Camelback and blew a .17, which falls into the extreme DUI violation and likely jail time for one of the most marketable players in the WNBA.  Taurasi leads all players in fan voting for the July 25th WNBA All-Star Game.  The Mercury has yet to comment.  Taurasi has since pleaded innocent to the charges.  Gambo is confused why Taurasi would attempt to get a plea bargain in what certainly appears to be an open-and-shut case.  They both wonder why Taurasi and the team haven’t spoken publicly since the incident.  Gambo hopes the Mercury and WNBA step up and suspend Taurasi as she deserves.

We caught up with Dbacks’ skipper A.J. HINCH who is spending some down time during the break in Flagstaff with his family.  He is hopeful the team will bounce back with a strong second half and knows the team can build momentum for 2010 with a .500 finish this summer.

Finding Themselves…The Diamondbacks are enjoying their All-Star breaks at various locations around the country.  Skipper A.J. Hinch told Gambo & Ash that “it’s important for us to get our identity back.”  G&A know this is the right approach to take for a team buried in the standings.  G&A went over the long list of disappointments this season which includes Eric Byrnes, Chris Young, Conor Jackson and Chris Snyder, among others.  John is still optimistic this team can regain their 2007 playoff form, just not this year.

Summer Hoops in Vegas…Robin Lopez wasn’t the only player to impress Suns coaches in Vegas recently.  Gambo reported one roster spot may be available at the end of the club’s bench and a number of players are in the mix.  John believes Carlos Powell is one player to keep your eye on this summer.

Size Shopping…Even with the addition of Frye, Gambo reports the Suns would be interested in signing free-agent Chris Wilcox if he’s not snagged by another team and available for the veteran’s minimum.  Ash thinks the majority of top-tier free-agents are already off the board, with the exception of Odom, who’s out of the Suns’ price range, regardless.  G&A know Wilcox would bring experience, size and rebounding to a team in need of all three.

California Dreamin’…With the All-Star Game Tuesday night, Ash remembers back to that beautiful summer night in Anaheim 20 years ago when Bo Jackson homered and stole a base making his national coming out party, eventually winning the game MVP.  Mark was in California with his family at the time and knew we were seeing something special, at least for awhile.  Gambo was impressed that Jackson was a star in both pro baseball and pro football, but knows his career was cut short by a rash of injuries.  John’s not sure if the kids of today even know who Bo Jackson is.  The guys debated.

We were joined by the newest Sun CHANNING FRYE.  The former St. Mary’s High and UofA star inked a two-year free-agent deal after playing last season in Portland.  He said, being a local product, he’ll take pride wearing a Suns uniform and feels the club’s depth and scoring ability will prove invaluable next season.  Frye also said he expects big things from new coach Sean Miller and his beloved UofA Wildcats in the future.

Wednesday we’ll be joined by ESPN baseball insider Tim Kurkjian from St. Louis at 3:25 and Suns’ forward Grant Hill.

 

 A.J. Hinch [14:26m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (9)

 

 Channing Frye [10:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (18)

Here’s what went down Monday on Gambo & Ash…

Summer Break - The D-backs hit the All-Star break 13 games under .500 and miles behind the Dodgers in the National League West. Gambo says Josh Whitesell will get the majority of the reps at first base, while Chad Tracy will assume Clark’s back-up roll. Ash feels Whitesell could be a quality major league hitter with more at-bats. The guys concur recently acquired Brandon Allen will be the everyday first baseman next season. Gambo believes the team would like to move Felipe Lopez, Chad Tracy, and Chris Snyder before the deadline later this month.

We were joined by former Diamondbacks first baseman Tony Clark who was released after the D-backs 8-1 loss to the Marlins at Chase Field. The 37 year-old Clark hit .255 with 59 homeruns during his five-year stay here in Arizona. “TC” said he understood why the decision was made (lack of production) and does not hold any hard feelings towards the organization. He is hoping to continue playing but knows retirement is coming regardless of if he wants that or not.

Goodbye T.C. - The Diamondbacks released Tony Clark Sunday. Gambo believes Clark, if he played his last MLB game, has had a productive 15-year career hi-lighted by 251 career homeruns. Ash feels “TC” will definitely be a coach and eventually a manager somewhere down the road. Both agree cutting Clark won’t hurt an already-struggling bench which has declined greatly since the 2007 season.

No Start in St. Louis - San Francisco ace Tim Lincecum will start Tuesday’s All-Star game over the D-backs Dan Haren. Both G&A believe National League manager Charlie Manuel made the right choice picking the 10-2 NL strikeout leader, although take nothing away from Haren’s amazing first-half which frequently included shoddy defense and poor support from his teammates.

Chip off the Old Brock -The UFC is still celebrating their big PPV weekend event which pulled in millions while making headlines around the world. The person in the middle of the headlines is new MMA superstar Brock Lesnar. The former WWE star infuriated President Dana White flipping off the fans and infuriating sponsors taking shots at both. Gambo loves the fact Lesnar is a true “love him or hate him” fighter, something all sports need. Although Kimbo Slice caught everyone’s attention, Ash is certain the massive Lesnar is the real-deal in MMA. The former college wrestler is quick, athletic, and most importantly for the UFC, marketable.

Should the Hall Finally Call? - 2-time MVP and 4-time All-Star Roger Maris isn’t in the Hall of Fame, but should he be? Maris is no longer eligible to enter the Hall of Fame, but Ash feels he has an argument. He hit a single-season record 61 homeruns which was eventually broken by PED user Sammy Sosa. Gambo doesn’t believe Maris’ overall body of work is strong enough to include him into the toughest shrine in all sports-the National Baseball Hall of Fame. In short, don’t put cheaters in the Hall of Fame. On the eve of the All-Star Game in St. Louis, Cards’ slugger Albert Pujols insists he’s clean from PED’s and he’ll put his money behind it to prove it. Gambo feels Dale Murphy had a very good career, but not Hall of Fame-worthy career.

LPGA means ESL? - The women’s U.S. Open took place over the weekend in Pennsylvania, but you likely didn’t get much out of the post-round press conference. The winner was South Korean Eun-Hee Ji who spoke thru an interpreter following the victory. Non-English speaking tournament winners are becoming more commonplace on the LPGA. Earlier Monday LPGA Tour commissioner Carolyn Bivens resigned and was replaced by in the interim by Marsha Evans. In short, the sport is in trouble with sponsors backing out (particularly McDonald’s) and, in return, an increasing shortage of events. Ash points his finger and criticism at Michelle Wie who seems more concerned with making the men’s cut, than the women’s. He also thinks there’s no “female Tiger Woods,” although Lorena Ochoa, the best LPGA player, doesn’t hold the “sex appeal” of Tiger. Gambo thinks Bivens dug her own grave almost demanding all LPGA players speak English when addressing the media.

Disco Demolition - Sunday marked the 30th Anniversary of Disco Demolition Night at the old Comiskey Park in Chicago where a near riot ensued between games of a Tigers-White Sox day-night doubleheader. The historic promotional night turned ugly and is still being talked about three decades later. Gambo remembers it like it was yesterday. We fired up the jukebox and spun some of John’s favorite disco tracks. Ash ripped Gambo for being a “mean roller skater” back in the day. John took it like a man saying he did it to impress chicks.

Another Sports Tragedy - 37-year boxer Arturo Gatti was found dead in a Brazil hotel room over the weekend. He was reportedly strangled to death by his wife after the two had a headed argument the night before. If this sounds familiar, it should be following the death of Steve McNair on the 4th of July. Both were slain to death by their female companions. Ash wondered where it all went wrong for Gatti and McNair which prompted such horrific acts. He feels worst for the five kids involved (four of McNair’s). Gambo wonders why neither athlete simply divorced their wives to avoid incidents.

Is Older Better? - The Celtics won the NBA two seasons ago with a veteran group of players. The Spurs have had great success building around veterans, while mixing in young talent. The latest Western Conference team trying to capture the fountain of youth is the Dallas Mavericks who traded for Shawn Marion last week. Gambo finds this interesting because so much is made of age in professional sports. Ash thinks playing with vets is a two-way street. Yes, seasoned players may have more post-season savvy, but also have shorter playing windows later in their career. Some of the high-profile vets this offseason include Shaq, Rasheed Wallace, and Marion among others. Allen Iverson is likely the next to be added to the list. Memphis and Miami, among others, are interested.

Best in Baseball - The Dodgers are making it look easy right now running away with the NL West and sporting the best record in baseball. Say what you want about Manny Ramirez, but Gambo can’t help but notice the numbers following his 50-game suspension. G&A agree no one in baseball sees the ball better than Man-Ram. The guys know the D-backs need bench help and a perfect example is Dodger outfielder Juan Pierre who stepped in and produced during Ramirez’s absence. Ash is curious to see just how good this Dodger team is as the season plays out. Gambo believes if their starting pitching stays strong, LA will be the National League representative in the 2009 World Series.

Improbable No-No - Jonathan Sanchez threw a no-hitter and near perfect game Friday night against the Padres. Sanchez had struggled this season and actually made his return as a starter replacing the injured Randy Johnson. G&A are impressed the Giants continue to win under-the-radar and could snag the NL Wild Card, especially with Tim Lincecum and Matt Cain at the top of their rotation and a reliable closer in Brian Wilson.

Tuesday we’ll be joined by D-backs’ skipper A.J. Hinch at and the newest Sun Channing Frye.

Here’s what went down Thursday on Gambo & Ash…

Mavs Land Matrix…Mark Cuban and the Mavs completed a complicated four-team deal which brings Shawn Marion to Big D.  Gambo thinks the addition of ‘Trix makes Dallas an immediate contender in the Western Conference.  Ash knows the Mavericks have a nice blend of youth and experience heading into next season.  G&A are astonished Marion landed a five-year, $40 million deal and think it is fine in the short-term, but will Cuban regret this deal in the future?  G&A know Cuban’s not really concerned about spending the big dollars and he proved it once again with the 31-year-old Marion.

Waiting on Grant…The Suns and Knicks continue to wait free-agent Grant Hill’s playing destination next season.  Mark won’t blame Hill for taking more money, years and playing time in The Big Apple and believes in the long run it might be best for the Suns, as well.  Gambo doesn’t know what to think of Hill re-enrolling his kids in a private Scottsdale school, especially since he said in the past re-locating his family from Orlando to Phoenix was extremely difficult.

We caught up with the newest Dallas Maverick, SHAWN MARION.  The long-time Sun said he’s excited to go to an established, winning team like the Mavs.  ‘Trix said it will be great to play with a pass-first point guard like Jason Kidd and talented scores like Dirk Nowitzki, Jason Terry and Josh Howard.  He thanked the city of Phoenix for their support and said he will never forget his time with the Suns.

We were joined by Diamondbacks starter DOUG DAVIS.  Double-D discussed his impressive season which included a win Tuesday night against the Padres at Chase Field, dropping his ERA to 3.13 on the year.  He looked ahead to his future here in Arizona or possibly elsewhere with the trade deadline approaching.  Davis said he would like to stay or - if he is traded - possibly return to the organization as free agent in 2010.

Staying or Going?…Doug Davis has been the center of trade talk for the past several weeks.  Gambo reported the Diamondbacks have gotten calls from some teams, including Double D’s former club the Milwaukee Brewers.  Problem is, teams are low-balling the D-backs in hopes of “getting something for nothing.”  Gambo is hoping the club deals him, but only if the price is right.  Ash says the time to deal Davis is now because his value will likely never be higher - especially with a sparkling ERA on one of the worst teams in baseball.

Dunked On…LeBron James is back in the news.  Xavier guard Jordan Crawford reportedly dunked on King James at a Nike Camp, but nobody will ever see it, unless you work for “The Swoosh.”  Reports say LeBron didn’t put up a fight when Nike officials snagged the tapes.  Gambo is starting to wonder if LBJ is turning into a sore loser - not shaking hands with the Magic or addressing the media following the Eastern Conference Finals and now this.  Ash isn’t sure James is a sore loser, but thinks Crawford will become a minor celebrity - especially at a basketball tradition-rich school like Xavier.  The guys agree Nike missed a golden marketing opportunity and wonder if they’d re-think the whole thing if they could.

Our ESPN baseball insider TIM KURKJIAN checked in to break down the red-hot Diamondbacks, the upcoming trade deadline, and next week’s All-Star festivities in St. Louis.  He said the NL wildcard race should be interesting between the Giants and Rockies, and it’s going to take quite a bit to pry ace Roy Halladay out of Toronto.

Ciao?…Reports say veteran free-agent point guard and former Sun Stephon Marbury may be headed to Italy to continue his professional playing career after the Celtics decided not to bring him back.  Gambo knows “Starbury” has been thinking about this for quite some time - even before being dealt to the Knicks several years back.  Both agree this may be the right decision for a player who may have worn out his NBA welcome.

Bad Timing…As people mourn the loss of Steve McNair, news broke today that McNair recorded a Nashville public service announcement regarding youth suicide prevention.  The former Titans and Ravens quarterback was found shot to death in what was later determined a murder-suicide.  McNair’s 20-year-old girlfriend shot him several times, then turned the gun on herself.  The guys find the PSA news eerie and reflected back on where it all went wrong for Air McNair.  Gambo said it all starts with him not being honest with his long-time wife and four kids.

Men in the Mirror…McNair’s tragic death came just days after we lost one of, if not, the greatest entertainers of all-time, Michael Jackson.  Ash found it interesting that McNair has come under scrutiny for cheating on his wife, yet Jackson is being lauded and praised for all that he did, even though rumblings of inappropriate behavior with underage kids have existed for years.  His message to both is simply rest in peace.

Hide and Seek…Now former Cowboys linebacker Greg Ellis told Michael Irvin on his daily radio show that fellow linebacker DeMarcus Ware hid from Cowboy coaches during games last season so Ellis could get more playing time in his contract year.  Both Ellis and Ware had become increasingly frustrated with Ellis’ lack of playing time.  G&A are amazed by this and wonder how the Cowboys can consider themselves a Super Bowl contender when antics like this are going on behind the staff’s backs.

Friday we’ll be joined by Diamondbacks pitcher Brandon Webb.

 

 Shawn Marion [11:32m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (28)

 

 Doug Davis [12:55m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (14)

 

 Tim Kurkjian [9:23m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (15)

Here’s what went down Wednesday on Gambo & Ash…

Short show after the D-backs broke out the brooms against the Padres at Chase Field.

Five in a Row! - The D-backs completed their first sweep of 2009 beating the Padres 6-2 this afternoon at Chase Field. It marked another come-from-behind victory for A.J. Hinch’s club who climbed out of the N.L. West cellar for the first time in months. G&A concur this team deserves credit for fighting back in numerous games during the current streak. The one negative Gambo has is Chris Young who continues to look lost at the plate. G&A agree it might be time to send “CY” to Reno.

Soap Opera - Amare Stoudemire spoke about his future and that of the Suns this afternoon at U.S. Airways Center. Gambo is calling this whole mess a soap opera as both parties play the guessing game as to what the other is thinking. Ash knows Steve Kerr doesn’t want to see arguably their most popular walk without getting close to market value or, worse, nothing in return.

Spend Wisely - Teams around the league are putting together multi-million dollar offers and trade proposals in hopes of fielding a better a team come November. This doesn’t necessarily include your Phoenix Suns who have been anything but “active” following the Lakers championship run. Yes, the traded Shaq and drafted Earl Clark, but have done little else. The guys debated what the chances are of getting Shawn Marion back in a Suns’ uniform and how they got in this financial mess in the first place.

Help from Hill? - It appears it’s down to the Suns and Mike D’Antoni’s Knicks for the services of free-agent forward Grant Hill. The Celtics appear to be on the outside looking in. Ash won’t blame Hill if he takes the promised playing time, more money, and three-deal from the Knicks. Gambo is hopeful the Suns won’t overpay, or more importantly, over-commit to the aging Hill-especially with the roster, and franchise, in-flux.

Thursday we’ll be joined by Dbacks’ starter Doug Davis at 2:10 and ESPN baseball insider Tim Kurkjian at 3:25.