Archive for March, 2008

Upset Friday

Published on March 21, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Friday on the 620 Sportsline…

* Jon Bloom covered for the “injured” Burnsy but was sick himself. Bloomer was quick to inform every one of his nostril therapeutic techniques. Bloom felt a lot better throughout the show and covered upset Friday. San Diego and Western Kentucky both won with last second shots.

* Cardinals in San Antonio? One caller came on to tout the Trees and speak highly of their towering centers. However, Bloomer took him down and pointed out the Lopez “Sisters” (Brooke and Robin) were better suited for the Women’s team. At least the Stanford’s Women’s team has a better shot of winning it all.

* ASU Head Coach Herb Sendek joined the program. Coach once again made it aware that he and his team are completely devastated by missing March Madness. He confessed that he has not watched much of the tournament but is not surprised with the Pac-10’s .500 start. Herb disagrees with Bloomer that Friday is a better day for an upset than Thursday. Also the Coach said that if Florida had magically made March Madness, he wouldn’t be surprised if they went all the way to the Sweet 16. Competition in the NIT is fierce.

“Sugar on the Ice Cream”

Published on March 21, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Here’s what went down Thursday on the 620 Sportsline:

* Burnsy made a special exemption on the first day of the NCAA tournament for Jim O’Connell, the award winning college basketball writer for the Associated Press. The “gym rat” was allowed on the opening segment which Dave only does for people he really likes. Jim was in Raleigh, NC where Duke fans were sweating out a nail bitter against #15 seeded Belmont.

* Duke won 71-70 and avoided being the first No. 2 seed to lose in the opening round since 2001 when Iowa State was upset by Hampton. That Cyclone team was led by New York City PG Jamal Tinsley.

* Tick, Tick, Tick. Less than 24 hours until Burnsy loses his manhood. Dave is excited for the occasion because he is going to get to sit around and watch college basketball for three days. I think he has lost his mind. The topic leads to a discussion of the best excuse to skip work to watch the NCAA tournament. A caller stole the show when he said “that would put the sugar on the ice cream.”

* Steve Kerr called in for his weekly “Talk to the Suns” segment. The Raja Bell injury does not seem to be that serious as “the swelling was pretty minimal.” Bell will likely miss the Rockets game on Saturday and then it will be day-day.

* Kerr also said that “Bell was the heart and soul of this team.” Bell brings a presence and defensive intensity that no one else on the Suns brings. Burns and Kerr talked about Phoenix’s two dimensional game. With the addition of Shaq the Suns have “developed into a team that can play two different styles,” a half court game when O’Neal is on the court and a run and gun style when he is on the bench.

* The Arizona Republic sports columnist Paola Boivin also checked in. They talked about the field of 64, the Suns and if the NBA winding down is as exciting as March Madness. Both thought the tournament is much better.

Dave Burns: NCAA Tournament Bracket

Published on March 19, 2008 in Uncategorized. 0 Comments

Dave Burns NCAA Tournament Bracket



Click here to download (.pdf)


							
 

		
 

	
		
		

			

				
620 Sportsline: The 10 Holy Days In Sports


				

					
						Published   on March 14, 2008					

					
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Farmer Rod’s List:


1. Selection Sunday


2. NFL Draft Saturday


3. Opening Thursday of the NCAA Tournament


4. Opening Sunday in the NFL


5. Opening Day in Baseball


6. Rivalry Saturday in College Football


7. Michigan-Ohio State game (week before Rivalry Saturday)


8. Thanksgiving Day in the NFL


9. Super Bowl Sunday, FBR Finale


10. NFL Conference Championship Sunday


11. Honorable Mention


Kentucky Derby Saturday


Sunday at the Masters


Opening Night in the NFL


Opening Saturday in College Football


New Years Day in the College Football


WNBA Draft


 


Dave Burns’ List:


1. First round of NCAA tournament


2. Opening Day of Baseball Season (especially when national championship game same day)


3. Selection Sunday


4. Conference Championship Sunday


5. New Year’s Day


6. Michigan-Ohio State


7. First Saturday of College Football


8. Honorable Mention


Kentucky Derby


Sunday of Masters


Opening Sunday in the NFL


Final Four Saturday


							
 

		
 

	
		
		

			

				
Burns: Things Sun Devil Fans Must Realize


				

					
						Published   on March 13, 2008					

					
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Call it preemptively peeved.  ASU fans are already ticked and nothing has happened yet.  


As the Pac-10 Tournament gets underway and selection Sunday still days away, Sun Devil Nation is irked.   Their Sun Devils are more of a bubble team than their southern neighbors in the OP (Old Pueblo).  If you look at Joe Lunardi’s Bracketology on ESPN, the Sun Devils are one of the last four teams out while the boys from North Mexico are a No. 10 seed with one of those little red arrows next to their name that points upwards, indicating their stock is actually rising.


Since ASU is 2-0 against the OP this year, ASU fans figure it’s UA that should be sweating this out.  Devil fans are bracing to get screwed.  


ASU fans need to realize two things.  


One: ASU is not competing exclusively against UA for the last spot in the tournament.  It may feel like it - ASU is 2-0 against them and has a better record, both in conference and out of conference.   But ASU is also competing against the likes of Maryland, Villanova, Ohio State, South Alabama, New Mexico, etc.  There are probably 14 bubble teams that the Sun Devils will be compared to, but none have the same hate appeal as the ‘Cats.


But, if you insist on making it “us vs. them”, then realize this:  you’ll be happier if UA doesn’t get in than you will if ASU does.   And, if you can’t admit that then you’re lying to yourself.  Hate to have a Dr. Phil moment, but look in the mirror and be honest with yourself.  What will make you happier?  They’re out or you’re in?  


If ASU gets in…that’s a wonderful achievement but either way, with Harden returning, next year will be the season of high expectations.  This year is likely a one-and-done.  If UA doesn’t get in, well that’s the beginning of the end in Tucson, isn’t it?  The end to a 23 year streak?  A vision of what life will be like without Lute?  


Besides, ASU is a football school.  Basketball is just a bonus.  In Tucson, basketball is all they have.  Take that away from them, and honestly, what’s left?


							
 

		
 

	
		
		

			

				
620 Sportsline: Beating The Spurs And The Return Of RJ


				

					
						Published   on March 10, 2008					

					
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* Suns coach Mike D’Antoni joined Burnsy a day after the Suns’ biggest win of the Shaq era.  Coach thinks the Suns’ improved D’ and overall play is a testament to Shaq getting more comfortable and the rest of his teammates getting comfortable with the fact “that they have a force in the middle.”  Coach also talked about Shaq’s two shining moments versus San Antonio:  his swan dive into the third row and his rebuttal of Tim Duncan.  On the latter point, D’Antoni compared Duncan’s actions to a strategy that Michael Jordan used to employ on Joe Dumars to “soften him up.”  As for whether Coach’s technical in the fourth quarter was a strategy to inspire his team to go on a 14-2 run to close the game, D’Antoni said “he wishes (he) were that smart.”    


* Steve Kerr also joined Burnsy to talk about the Suns’ big win, and how the talk of the “disastrous” Shaq trade may have been quelled (for a moment at least):  “I knew it was premature for everyone to say (the Shaq deal) was a disaster, just like it’s premature, now, to say it’s a success based on a win over the Spurs.”  Kerr also talked about the disaster that is U of A basketball, which is in danger of missing the NCAA tournament for the firstt time since Steve Kerr was a freshman at that fine institution.   (Sidebar:  Henry Lopez was celebrating his 15th year with KTAR back then.)  That’s old.  Speaking of old, Lute Olson is welcome to return to the bench according to Kerr, although he did express sympathy for Kevin O’Neill, given “all he’s been through, with the Lute stuff, and all the injuries.”  I also feel for Mr. O’Neill:  He lives in Tucson!!!


* Speaking of Tucson, maybe for the first time ever, two big stories broke from Phoenix’s neighbor to the south.  One was the return of RJ, who got off to a rough Cactus League start against the Rockies.  Burnsy doesn’t read much into Johnson’s first start, nor does he think the D-Backs need RJ to get to the playoffs.  Advancing in the playoffs, however, may be a different story.  And the other major story, of course, was Lute Olson’s pending return to the Wildcats.  Watching U of A play this season must have given Mr. Olsen his fair share of white hair.  Nevermind.




* And Burnsy also weighed in on the Suns-Spurs showdown.  Ironically enough, are the Spurs now a better match-up for the Suns?  And in the ultimate irony, will the Suns slow-down style be enough to keep up with some of the teams that they will play before getting to San   Antonio in the later rounds of the playoffs?  We may find out on Thursday, when the Suns host the Warriors.


 


							
 

		
 

	
		
		

			

				
Where Does Favre Rank Among The Best QBs Ever?


				

					
						Published   on March 4, 2008					

					
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Here’s what went down on the one hour Tuesday edition of the 620 Sportsline….

 


*Brett Favre has called it a career.  Favre won one Super Bowl, three MVP’s, and holds the records for most career passing yards, touchdowns, and victories for a quarterback.  Does this put him on the Mount Rushmore of QB’s?  Burnsy has two conditions; he had to watch them play and their playing career must be over.  Dave’s top 4 are John Elway, Joe Montana, Dan Marino, and Brett Favre.  He really wants to put Steve Young in there, but he can’t bring himself to do it.  Maybe if Young did not spend two years with the hapless Tampa Bay Buccaneers (when they had those awful orange jerseys) and get stuck behind Joe Montana in San Fran he would have a better shot.  The argument gets a lot more interesting once Tom Brady and Peyton Manning hang up the cleats.


*Today was Dave Burns’ 37th birthday.  He will be getting the present that every married male man is waiting for.  Its 23 days away and we will call it V-day.  The countdown has begun and Burnsy is already seeking out advice.  The first caller suggested a latex glove filled with ice and Fab Five shorts.  The next caller told Dave to run.