Sports:

Peyton Manning is great in the cluth when it comes to pitching TV products but he’s very average in the cluth when it comes to the NFL playoffs. There has been an extreme amount of Manning jockage the last week and a half in praising the greatness of Peyton and I agree if you’re speaking of his regular season record but Manning’s playoff record as of right now is 9-8 and that’s just slightly above .500 if your counting. The reason for Peyton’s subpar record during his playoff career, its called pressure, he doesn’t like it and he’s never liked it; that’s why aggressive defensive teams like the Steelers, Chargers and the Patriots of the early 2000’s do so well against the Colts. They mixed up the blitz packages by bringing heat from up the middle and on the edges and when that happens Manning gets happy feet and he doesn’t play well (the Jets got away from blitzing Manning in the 2nd half of the AFC Championship and they paid the price for it)

The Saints veteran D.Coordinator, Gregg Williams, understands this premise and will implement smart packages to hurry, rush and knock around Manning and as long as the Saints offense can put up the points, consistently, like they did in the regular season they can walk away with the Lombardi trophy and give the city of New Orleans and the whole Gulf Coast an early sweet Valentines gift…

I’m sure at some point in the next few weeks Brett Favre will announce his retirement and then with about 2 weeks left in the 2010 NFL training camp season Favre will announce his un-retirement and resurface with yet another team (how bout dem Cleveland Browns stitching up a #4 jersey and giving Brett a 1 year deal…Favre and Mike Holmgren are still very close friends)

I know that’s a long shot but not out of the realm of reality for Brett Favre and his yearly off-season shenanigans; but I’m here to say, again, Favre will find a way to throw yet another interception to end a season for him and his desperate team. Its been 3 straight years (Packers, Jets, Vikings) for B.F., can he make it 4 n a row? I’m sure fans in Minnesota don’t want to see it and as much franchise history heartbreak they’ve endured they sure don’t deserve it, but my money is on Favre returning to the Vikings and making it an unprecedented 4-peat, it’s never been done before and we all know how much Brett loves setting new football records

2-6-10
1) During the ‘09 offseason the Los Angeles Lakers decided not to re-sign Trevor Ariza and instead they signed Ron Artest to a moderately lucrative contract. As of this writing, 4 months into the ‘09-’10 season, that move looks wrong. The Lakers are still the best team in the NBA and should at least make it to the NBA Finals as long as Kobe Bryant stays healthy (which is a long shot at this point) but they could really use the younger, quicker, more versatile Ariza on their team. Artest is not as advertised, he’s lost a step in his defensive quickness and he’s very unorthodox offensively which means he doesn’t fit well into the ‘triangle’ offense L.A. runs. It was thought when they signed him he could adapt to the offensive scheme because of his b-ball I.Q. but that has yet to happen not to mention he came into the season out of shape(rumor is he’s been partying waaay to much) Ariza could have been a corner stone of a player for the Lakers, a nice 1-2 punch with Kobe Bryant and even take over the role of being the #1 option once KB retires in about 5 years. Trevor can play 4 of the 5 positions on the offensive side of the court and as the season moves along for L.A. its becoming apparent that a #2 consistent scoring wing man is needed because Kobe is physically being run down and who knows if he will make it through the playoff season

2) If you didn’t believe it before you have to believe it now…the Los Angeles Clippers are officially cursed for a lifetime and they’ll never win a NBA championship unless they change ownership-move out of L.A.-and set up shop in a completely different arena. The season ending injury to their star rookie pick Blake Griffin cemented this fact for me; Griffin played a total of 6 preseason games before he sidelined with knee surgery. The only team with worse injury luck is the Portland Trail Blazers…over the last 4 decades the Trail Blazers have drafted 3 franchise type centers (Bill Walton, Sam Bowie, Greg Oden-3 yrs. ago) out of college and each time the much hyped center has eventually succomb to the pressure of consistent knee ailments and subpar play on the court (Bill Walton is the only center who had a semi-decent Portland career, he at least delivered a championship). Memo the Portland front office, stay away from big men in the foreseeable future and concentrate on power forwards and point guards–you’ll have better luck with that. Btw, as of this writing rumor has it that the Clipper brass r n serious negotiations to bring in Isiah Thomas (yes that Isiah, he of Piston fame and Knick disaster) and give him the title of Coach, GM and President–lets hope that rumor is an early april fool’s joke and the Clippers don’t really bring in Isisah. If they do they can forget about keeping their ever declining fanbase…all 52 fans will jump ’ship’ and promptly walk across the arena to the Laker shop and buy themselves a #24 jersey

3) I wrote about this a full 2 and a half seasons ago but during the playoff Celtic championship run a few years ago they had a early-’thrilling’ roundmatch up with the Atlanta Hawks that went the full 7 games. The Celtics ended up winning the series by blowing out the Hawks in game 7 but I said it then and is really apparent today, that series breathed life back into that Atlanta Hawk organization and since then they have been a powerhouse competitor in the eastern conference…look for them to make some real noise in the playoffs this year, I wouldn’t be surprised if they made it all the way to the Eastern Conference finals–look out Lebron James….!

4) I think its time for Kobe Bryant to check his ego at the Staples Center door and sit out a few games so he can heal his battered body. He’s fighting through injuries to continue to play and eventually he’s going to get to a point where his body will force him to sit out and it could be for a significant time

DJ JokerPace
JokerPace Radio Hour (Sat.’s Noon-2pm)

Hey! If you’re going to a Super Bowl party this Sunday and you know nothing to very little about the professional sport of football, do us all a favor and be very very quiet and go hang in the kitchen with the ladies, the annoying dog and the owner of the house your partying at who’s simultaneously trying to figure out who clogged up the basement toilet while also door buzzing some body in through the front building gate.

Basically what I’m saying is “SHUT THE **CK UP”! Shut up and don’t say a word until halftime and even at that point, you want to keep your non-football talk simple and easy. “Hey, how you feeling? Is your team winning?” Response: “Yes…bye.” That the should be the extent of a conversation that involves a hardcore NFL fan and a somewhat casual party-goer that just happens to be at the party cause he felt compelled to be doing something everybody else is doing.

No real NFL/Super Bowl fan wants to be zoned in on the 1st quarter of the game while answering questions from a sports novice about which player is which (”is that Clayton Manning wearing #12″?) and how many points does one touchdown constitute when Peyton Manning is in position to drive his Colts into the red zone and possibly score the first touchdown of the game.

The real tip here is if you are a hardcore NFL fan and you truly want to focus on the game, stay home, invite 2 or 3 (no more than that) of your truest football friends over–light up the ol’ Wide-Flat Screen TV and watch the Super Bowl in NFL Bliss. This way you can focus, drink and yell at the screen without some ‘American Idol lovin’ Douchebag looking at you all crazy and telling you to “pipe it down a bit, its just a game, its no big deal”. That type of guy will be littered all over Super Bowl parties this Sunday from California to Maine and sometimes they will travel in packs to S.B. parties; these type of people should be eliminated from all sporting activities/viewings, period!

This is more than just a game, this is the final and biggest game of the season for the NFL and we Americans are celebrating like we’re entitled to each and every year and that’s wit National Holiday reverence. After the Super Bowl all NFL fans will go into a hibernation/detox/withdrawal that’s not a pretty sight to see; believe me, I’m in the early stages of it right now–I’m sweating like a pig 24 hours a day, sleeping only 3 hours at night and I”m losing weight rapidly…somebody please mail me a 6 pack of PBR, couple boxes of Bratwurst and a number 1 fan foam finger so I can start my recovery.

I’m already looking forward to the April 24th Draft.

DJ JokerPace
JokerPace Radio Hour (Sat.’s Noon-2pm)

Malcolm Lee has been a real team leader and one of the go-to players on the UCLA basketball team this season. Expected to start at the two-guard position this season, Lee has done a fine job filling the void at point guard and has shown maturity on a team predominantly filled with underclassmen. This season he has had a strong offensive presence, averaging 12.7 points per game (second on the team) while involving teammates with 3.9 assists per game (also second on the team). The sophomore guard has been a steady force for the Bruins, and as the team begins to get on a roll, he will surely be one for fans to keep an eye on. I got the opportunity to speak with Malcolm about the season and how music impacts his performance in games:

What is your greatest UCLA moment so far?

ML: Beating the University of Washington Huskies on a buzzer beater by Mustafa [Abdul-Hamid] at home.

What are your goals for the team and yourself this season?

ML: Team goals are to win the Pac-10 and my personal goals are to stay healthy.

What are your future career goals?

ML: To be in the NBA.

How does music impact your sport/performance?

ML: Music allows me to stay focused and get away from reality.

What are a few songs you’ve been listening to lately?

ML:

Nas | If I Ruled the World

Nas | One Mic

Nas | If Heaven was a Mile Away

Nas | Hope

2Pac | Thugs Mansion

2Pac | Never Be Peace

2Pac | Me Against the World

Notorious B.I.G. | Juicy

I like to listen to songs that have deep messages and meanings in its lyrics before games. 2Pac, B.I.G. Nas, Jay-Z.

Tyler Honeycutt has been on fire lately. After battling multiple injuries early on in the season, the freshman forward has really begun to shine and has become one of the Bruins’ most reliable pieces. He has led the team in rebounding in each of the past five games, averaging 7.8 boards and 5.4 points during that span. As he gets closer to being fully healed, Honeycutt is getting more comfortable with his shot and put up 10 and 8 points against the Washington schools this past week. As the Bruins start to get on a roll, it is clear that the Bruin’s top recruit this offseason is at the front of the surge. I got the chance to speak with Tyler about the season so far and how music influences his game:

1. Trey Songz | Say Ahhh
2. Young Money | Roger That
3. Lil Wayne | My Darlin’ Baby
4. Young Jeezy | Who Dat
5. Young Money | Finale

As discussed on the sports segment during Tuesday night’s News Show on UCLA Radio, Tiger Woods did not have the best Thanksgiving last week, causing quite a stir in the sports world after crashing his Cadillac into a fire-hydrant and then a tree at two in the morning.

Woods’ mastery of privacy and public appearance has been as impressive as his legendary long-game. But this issue raises a few burning questions. What I want to know is this:

Why in the world are you driving a Cadillac!? This is a man who, according to Forbes, makes over $100 million per year and is on his way to the Billionaire Club.  So why is he parading around Orlando in an American SUV?

C’mon Eldrick. A Bentley or Rolls is more befitting for such a regal figure. Queen Elizabeth is chauffeured around England in a customized Bentley limo and you’re driving yourself around in an Escalade? That’s the real mystery here.

Perhaps Tiger felt guilty about driving a Cadillac after a long relationship with GM. What else could explain violently crashing a giant SUV into not one, but two items right next to your house?

Internal combustion choice aside, there are other legitimate questions to be asked. Namely, why Woods doesn’t see that his silence is such a bad play here? Yes, he’s been private, but he’s also the guy who hugged his dad in a tearful embrace after his first Masters, then showed so much emotion after Earl’s death, and literally gritted it out last year in the US Open with a torn ACL. To pretend that his accident was not in the bizarro world-realm of strange is a slight to us all. Even Michael Scott explained how he injured his foot on his George Foreman.

That’s what is so wrong about his decision to play the privacy card. We’ve all driven. We’ve all driven late. We’ve all driven out of our driveway. What in the world could have caused someone to leave home in the middle of the night on Thanksgiving, tear down the street, crash into two obstructions and pass out on a neighbor’s lawn with a busted rear-window? (His wife supposedly freed him from the car by smashing the window with a golf club, but this has not been verified.)

Woods is correct in that it is a private matter. It is certainly understandable for him to ask people to stop speculating. But if this was only a car accident, then why not simply say in his release statement, “Here’s what happened…I fell asleep,” or “I was mad I didn’t win any majors this year,” or “GM wanted me to destroy a Cadillac,” or “I’m Tiger Woods…I should have a driver!”?

All of the above would be acceptable explanations. Talk shows would make jokes, and this story would fade away as a one-liner.

Instead, due to his silence, it has opened a vicious can of speculation-worms. Who can blame sports fans? History has shown that sometimes, the cleaner the facade, the darker the secrets.

Talk, Tiger, talk. Oh, and buy some nicer wheels.

Editor’s Note:Tiger Woods released a statement this morning about the incident:

“I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behavior my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect. I am dealing with my behavior and personal failings behind closed doors with my family. Those feelings should be shared by us alone.”

The full text of Tiger’s statement can be found here (courtesy of BBC News).

Today is Thanksgiving and as most of us prepare to welcome (mostly unwelcome) relatives, indulge in gluttony, add 50 pounds in body mass in one meal, listen to Uncle Jim’s “those-were-the-days-if-only-I-had-done-it-this-way-instead-of-marrying-your-aunt” stories, wondering if Grandpa is asleep or dead while watching the Cowboys play dismally against the Raiders, enjoying in the glutonous joy of the day, and preparing for being trampled by mobs of angry housewives on Black Friday, we here at UCLAradio.com think it’s important to take some time to think about what you’re thankful for.  In this edition of Lakers Recap, let’s look back at the Lakers season and think about what we’re thankful for.

First off, I’m thankful for Ron Artest.  Despite his slow start to the season, Artest is slowly becoming comfortable with the Laker system and as the season goes on, and he becomes more comfortable, he adds a physical and tough attitude to a Laker team that has been dubbed “finess” and “soft” in the last couple years.

I’m thankful for a healthy Andrew Bynum.  If he can keep mentally stable, he’s got my vote for best center in the West.

I’m thankful for Pau Gasol coming back.  It might be Kobe’s team, but having Pau in the lineup makes the Lakers the favorite in every game.

And last, but not least, I’m thankful for the Lakers’ end of November and December schedule, which – if they don’t take games off – can turn into a 17-21 game winning streak (depending on how well they play against Cleveland on Christmas).

The Lakers get Thanksgiving off and are back at Staples to play the Warriors on Saturday.  The Warriors are coming off a win against the Mavs in which they played without coach Don Nelson and with only 6 players.  Take note friends, that’s the kind of depth that wins you championships.

Wait. Wait. Wait. Stop the Lakerwagon. I think some people want to get off.

After two bad losses to two good teams, all of a sudden the Lakers were, as many “fans” put it, in trouble.  It’s still November, Pau’s out, Artest is still trying to learn the system, Odom is off in Candyland and D-Fish is showing some aging.  Oh, and Kobe is playing with a groin injury.

But all excuses aside, is this really surprising?  The Lakers have always had an arrogance about them, showing up to play when it matters, or after they get hammered by an opponent, or lose two straight, and they are notorious for taking nights off and blowing big leads.  Contrary to whatever Andrew Bynum says, the Lakers don’t have the focus or the attitude to beat 72-10.

And if you want proof of the above, just look at what the Lakers did to Detroit and the Bulls in their last two games: demolished them.  I said at the start of the season that there’s no point in watching the Lakers this season; just tune in during the Western Conference Finals. I still don’t see any team in the West beating the Lakers, although the Nuggets can clearly hang with them (despite their loss to the Clippers last night).

In other news: PAU’S BACK! The Lakers take on the Thunder tomorrow night at Staples. Looking forward to a good game…remember Durant took the Lake Show to OT in their last meeting.

–DJ Unibomber
ZOMGradio, Wednesdays 12-2 PM

Last night, I think I may have had several heart attacks simultaneosly when I heard a report that Pau Gasol might be out until Christmas according to Phil Jackson.  The team’s off to a great start without Pau, and there’s no doubt that they can still contend in the West without him, but the thought of not having Pau until Christmas is one that can stir even the most confident Laker fan into a panic.  What if he comes back with Andrew Bynum syndrome?  Will playing half of the season be enough to get him in shape for the playoffs? Does this mean there’s no parade next year?

These worries were put to rest today, when Phil Jackson retracted his statements, saying that he was only joking.  What is of concern is the perplexing circumstances of Pau’s injury:

“Yeah, because with most hamstrings you see bleeding or bruises or holes in the hamstring,” says Jackson in an article on ESPN.com, “His has been one of those things [that] wasn’t a big concern to us, but has turned into a month-long injury.”  Sounds like a job for CSI.

The Lakers have rolled to a 6-1 start (and a 5 game winning streak) without Pau, second best in the West behind division rivals, the Phoenix Suns, who they hope to beat tonight at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

Related topics: If the Lakers were Rappers (from LA Weekly: West Coast Sound)

Get all the second half action from January 31st right here, along with broadcast all-stars Nate Piller and Eric McCoole.

At long last, the battle of two storied Pac-10 programs has been delivered in uclaradio.com broadcast form! Catch up on any exciting play you missed along with Nate Piller and Eric McCoole, all the way to the final buzzer of a thrilling victory.

Where were you? Catch up on everything you missed in Saturday’s extremely close, exciting showdown with ASU, right here in Pauley Pavilion.
Join Nate Pillar and Angel Rodriguez on this play-by-play podcast of the game.

Where were you? Catch up on everything you missed in the conclusion to Saturday’s extremely close, exciting showdown with ASU, right here in Pauley Pavilion.
Join Nate Pillar and Angel Rodriguez on this play-by-play podcast of the game.

Theme from last night’s TTTG show, Sunday Nov 23: TransparencY, especially having to do with government undertakings and where our tax dollars and newly printed money will be distributed to.
Today Mon Nov 24th – CNNMoney.com senior writer Alexandra Twin
Last Updated: November 24, 2008: 6:30 PM ET: Obama economic team: The President-elect held a press conference in the afternoon in which he formally nominated his economic team. He also said that financial markets have reflected at times confusion about what the government’s plan is to provide stability and that in the future there needs to be more TRANSPARENCY.

Conclusion: Barack Obama or his advisors listen to my show for content and how-to information pertaining to government-market relations.
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—–True to the Game Radio – DannyG