Steve's Dad Calls In

In case you missed it ...

Now that I know a little bit about sound file editing, I'm going to make an effort to post all of Steve's interviews and interesting calls on here as a supplement to his show.
-Alex

POETIC HATRED by Steve Tannen

My dad taught me that it's wrong to hate. He's lived almost all his life in New Jersey and doesn't have to watch Pac-10 refs in hoops & football week in and week out. It's crude, but these guys really suck. The pass interference call on Jairus Byrd in the end zone late in the 3rd quarter in the UCLA game was a new low even for these clowns. Yes, these knuckleheads should be outfitted by Barnum & Baily instead of Nike or whoever provides those stripes. I have no issue with a zebra who blows a tough call that could be reversed on review. This call was a complete and total fabrication. To make matters worse, it was late. A conspiracy theorist would assume the referee had the Bruins and the 17 points. I don't buy that because that would mean these morons had an excuse for their ineptitude. I simply think they're bloody awful at their jobs. Pac-10 commissioner Tom Hansen was at the game and while he might have been napping at the time after a nice, hot cup of tea, perhaps this will demonstrate how pathetic things have gotten. Let's put it this way, I thought things bottomed out with the horrifying way the Oklahoma game went 2 years ago. Just goes to show that we should never asume things can't get worse.
That said, I have no idea what to make of the Ducks. UCLA isn't good, but Oregon beat them. Looking around the country, it's getting tough to just lock in a win against almost anyone because parity has spread like bad stocks. I look forward to your thoughts when we rally in a bit for SportsTalk.

Update on UCLA Reciever Terrence Austin

UCLA said "he was fitted for a neck collar, placed on a board and transported from the field to RiverBend Hospital. While on the field, he was conscious and able to move his arms and legs.
Tests at the hospital were negative. He was diagnosed with a neck strain and a mild concussion and released from the hospital in time to fly home to Los Angeles with the UCLA football team late Saturday night.
Thank God! We've seen enough of that in Autzen, frankly.

Did everyone else see Joe Montana on the sideline last night? Yes, I know we were all occupied with Dennis Dixon, but my second favorite QB of all-time (behind Steve Young) was on the Oregon sideline last night during the first half. I know one of his sons walked on at Notre Dame, and his son Nick is a junior QB at vaunted Oaks Christian in LA. That leaves one wondering what team he was in town on a trip with. You have to think Oregon because he was on the Ducks sideline, but you never know. I did notice he and his wife talking with Kilkenny for a while, so ... Ducks, maybe? When waiting in line to take the bus home after the U-Dub game, a Washington escort (booster) was with four recruits in line with me. I know, right! Way to go all out and take your recruits on public transportation; beside the point.
-Alex

If this wasn't made by a Beavers fan ...

But my God is it funny!
-Alex

Excited about basketball

When Rudy Fernandez bounced a pass through a Sacramento King's legs to LaMarcus Aldridge for a huge stuff, basketball thrust itself back into my brain like it hadn't since the late 90s. When was the last time you were really excited about the NBA, or the Blazers for that matter? Well, other than last season before Oden's surgery. Finally the Blazers have a team we Oregonians can embrace! No more jailblazers, no more weed in tinfoil, no more freakin' Zach Randolph! The team has class, a ton of talent, and a big man who can bang with the best of 'em. Any Blazer fan who wasn't excited when he or she saw Fernandez dunk over Dwight Howard in the Olympics (note video at the bottom of the post) when he was playing for Spain was either crazy or blind, but if that was the case, he or she wouldn't have seen it anyways. I'm not sure if you all noticed it, but there was an interesting picture being painted in the Rose Garden last night. On one side there were Oden and Fernandez, the two newcomers for Portland, playing quiet, yet powerful ball and finally bringing Portland back into the spotlight as a team that does it the right way. On the other side was Sacramento, a team that just traded away Ron Artest after several years of distractions and problems. Average Joe/Jill Blazer fan almost feels bad for the Kings because he or she knows how the team's fans feel. So, Kings fan, Blazer fan has a message: be strong, keep the faith, but don't stop loving, or you'll go the way of Supersonics fan.
A lot of credit goes to Kevin Pritchard for stepping in and making the right moves to create a cohesive team with good people who won't clash. I know we're only a few games in to the preseason, but boy is this a team I want to back.
-Alex

Some UCLA Links

Ken Goe of the Oregonian wrote an extremely interesting story about his relationship with UCLA coach Rick Neuheisel.

The Orange County Register discusses the road-game woes of UCLA this season and the concern caused by its first road test since the team's 59-0 loss to BYU.

A GREAT, GREAT MONDAY by Steve Tannen

Wow! What a start to the week. Just as you catch your breath from the college & NFL action over the weekend, it's time for 3 tremendous events on a Monday. It begins with the improbable run to the American League Championship Series by the Rays. Very ironic that I've been to Florida about 100 times since I was 12(1972), yet never travelled to the western part of the Sunshine State until this April. Got to spend some time reading and listening about this upstart team. Some guys in the media I spoke with were ultra sincere in their belief this was not going to be the typical doormat this franchise was known for. Upon arriving at The Score in late April I passed along what I'd learned about their young, talented front 5, solid defense and this young buck, 3rd baseman Evan Longoria. It's been a joy to watch, even at the expense of my beloved Yankees. My wife & I even got to see Yankees/Rays at the Trop in St. Pete. I don't have to tell you who I'm rooting for in this series with the Red Sox.
I'm a huge admirer of both managers from the ALDS between California & Boston, but think each guy bricked huge last night. Sox skipper Terry Francona elected to allow Justin Masterson to pitch to Torri Hunter with Mark Texiera and Vlade Guerrero on base in that 8th inning with a 2-zip lead. Masterson had walked both guys after getting ahead 0-2 then uncorked a wild pitch to put the duet in scoring position. If his closer Jonathan Papelbon was available as he'd said pre-game, what's the major difference between a 4 out or 3 out save? Rare bad move by a heck of a manager. Then Mike Scocia, perhaps the finest manager in baseball decides to take a shot at a squeeze play with the game tied at 2 in the 9th. That's a gutty call in mid-July, not so much with the season on the line. Erick Aybar was up with Reggie Willits on 3rd with one out. It wasn't even close and Bosox catcher Jason Varitek tagged out Willits before Aybar grounded weakly to first to end the threat. With a guy on third and a young pitcher in Manny Delcarmen on, why take that risk? You eliminate the chance of an error, wild pitch, passed ball or base knock to get that run in. Surprisingly brutal by Scocia.
In the Vikings thrilling 30-27 win over the Saints in MNF you had a special teams coach check his brain at the gate. Reggie Bush had already returned a punt for a touchdown, and by a shoelace(thanks Idol) almost had another. So with the game tied early in the 4th quarter, Minny special teams co-ordinator Paul Ferraro decides it's okay to punt at Bush again. The result was a 64-yard TD. What a chucklehead. Of course he got bailed out with the win, but how he has a job this morning is a stunner.
Ton to get to on the big show today. Look forward to your input.