Tag Archives: Greg Hall
OTC: VCU Takes KU’s Trash Talk & Turns It Into Nylon
“The Jayhawks had developed a reputation as college basketball’s bad boys by getting into a pregame shoving match with Richmond and trash-talking with the Spiders in the tunnel the day before their 20-point victory in the Sweet 16.”Jason King, columnist, YahooSports.com
GH: The Spiders and VCU both call Richmond home. Let’s assume the Spiders were the ones who informed VCU’s Jamie Skeen that the Morris twins were “buttholes on the court.” Read on.
“They’re NBA talent, as everybody already knows. I respect both of them. I came in the game thinking that they were not so cool on the court and I thought they were some buttholes on the court — that’s what everybody told me, at least — but when I got on the court I found out they were really cool.”
Jamie Skeen, who led VCU with 26 points and 10 boards against KU, in his postgame presser, CBSsports.com
GH: Skeen was the best player on the floor Sunday. He drilled three after three to help build VCU’s first-half lead to 18. Was his effort fueled by the twins’ verbal swagger? Hell yeah. Kansas likes to talk and it usually works like it did against Richmond. VCU acted like the trash talking was nectar for their jump shots.
Jamie Skeen, who led VCU with 26 points and 10 boards against KU, in his postgame presser, CBSsports.com
GH: Skeen was the best player on the floor Sunday. He drilled three after three to help build VCU’s first-half lead to 18. Was his effort fueled by the twins’ verbal swagger? Hell yeah. Kansas likes to talk and it usually works like it did against Richmond. VCU acted like the trash talking was nectar for their jump shots.
Take 5: 610 Sports’ Shan To Take His Shariff Badge To Dallas
Shan Shariff is celebrating his 12-month anniversary at 610 Sports by taking a morning-drive gig in the big-hat city of Dallas. This Thursday, March 31st is Shariff’s final show at 610 Sports. Shariff declined to comment on his move to Dallas, simply asking to wait. “I would prefer to wait until both sides send out their releases this week,” said the mid-morning host at 610 Sports.Ryan Maguire, the Program Director at 610 Sports who hired Shariff, confirmed his pending departure. “I can confirm that Shan has resigned.,” stated Maguire. “His last day on the air will be this Thursday. He has accepted a job in another market. It was an opportunity that he wanted to go after and we allowed him to pursue it.”
OTC: Kansas Looks To Battle Richmond / Mizzou Coaching Search Buzz
“I kinda think Kansas might roll in this one. It’s more of a feeling I’m getting from Kansas than anything. … I will tell you that last night I picked Duke and BYU, so what do I know?”Jason King, of YahooSports.com, 610 AM
GH: Our last local team in The Dance and the only Big 12 team remaining takes on Richmond tonight at 6:27 PM (CT). Will they come hungry or play down to Richmond’s sleeper reputation? The experts are pretty certain the Jayhawks will not repeat the Northern Iowa loss in last year’s Sweet 16.
“I think Kansas just jams it inside (against Richmond).”
Doug Gottlieb, ESPN Radio
GH: Kansas will tower over the Spiders’, who are a poor rebounding team. I don’t see the Morris twins playing the game with their backs to the basket, though. That’s Thomas Robinson’s game. Look for the muscular T-Rob to have a big night in the paint.
Doug Gottlieb, ESPN Radio
GH: Kansas will tower over the Spiders’, who are a poor rebounding team. I don’t see the Morris twins playing the game with their backs to the basket, though. That’s Thomas Robinson’s game. Look for the muscular T-Rob to have a big night in the paint.
OTC: Mike Anderson Shows More Snake Than Hog In Leaving Mizzou
“It was handled as bad as it could have been handled on Mike Anderson’s side.”Gabe DeArmond, of PowerMizzou.com, on the head basketball coach’s departure from Mizzou to accept the Arkansas job, 810 AM
GH: DeArmond was a guest on Steven St. John’s and Nate Bukaty’s Thursday morning show and his commentary on what went down in Columbia Wednesday night regarding Anderson’s arrival at the airport and mysterious departure from Mizzou Arena was riveting radio. Apparently, Anderson chose the cowardly way out and bypassed speaking to the media after talking with his the Mizzou players.
“Media admitted (to Mizzou Arena after Anderson/players meeting). Cynics wonder if draw to divert so Anderson could get out. Wonder why he can’t/won’t face situation?”
Vahe Gregorian, of St. Louis Post Dispatch
GH: Anderson leaving Mizzou for Arkansas where he spent 17 years is understandable. His son called it “going home.” But why act like a snake the evening you make your departure official? He hid behind trucks at the airport, tried to lose reporters on his drive the arena and then snuck out of the building before facing the press. These are the same guys who throw a fit when a 17-year-old recruit changes his mind about signing a letter of intent. I lost a lot of respect for Coach Mike last night. Be a man and face the music. He chose to be a wimp and slither off into the night.
OTC: Media Struggles To Solve Whether Mike Anderson Stays Or Goes
“I have never covered a story where both sides are hearing such diametrically things. Anybody who tells you they know, they’re not telling the truth.”Gabe DeArmond, of PowerMizzou.com, on the fluidness of whether or not Mike Anderson is staying or going, in an interview with Steven St. John and Nate Bukaty, 810 AM
GH: The Mike Anderson saga is now in its third year of whether he stays or goes from the Mizzou basketball program he revived after the Quin Snyder debacle. This courtship with Arkansas is easily the most serious of his past affairs. In the past few days reports have swung wildly back and forth that Anderson was gone to Arkansas and also that he had struck a deal to stay in Columbia. It somewhat mirrors his Tigers’ chaotic performances on the court the past two months.
“Overwhelmingly the Missouri fans who follow me on Twitter want him to go.”
Steven St. John, 810 AM
GH: Has Anderson tested the Mizzou faithful fan base one too many times? According to SSJ there may not be much of a home to return to if Anderson does decide to stay.
Steven St. John, 810 AM
GH: Has Anderson tested the Mizzou faithful fan base one too many times? According to SSJ there may not be much of a home to return to if Anderson does decide to stay.
OTC: Nick Wright Gets Inked & It Might Stain Him
“I say this, and I mean it: You could not speak English, and be scanning the radio dial in Kansas City, and you would stop on my show.”Nick Wright, Ink Magazine
GH: Dugan Arnett wrote a feature piece on 610 Sports afternoon sports talk host for The Kansas City Star’s alternative weekly, Ink Magazine. I think Dugan’s piece was fair but a bit confusing. He appears to waffle between whether or not Wright is delusional or credible. One thing rang clear in the story, Wright is high on Wright. Read on.
“As (Nick Wright) spoke, he was nursing a wine cooler and … he had just finished providing a detailed and unsolicited account of how intelligent he happens to be (“I crushed the SATs”), how regularly he is recognized around town (“a lot”) and how, had he not decided to pursue a career in radio, he would have almost certainly become a very successful doctor or lawyer (“I could have gone to Harvard, probably”), and now he was leaning forward in his seat and explaining that, when you really break it down, there isn’t a sane individual on this planet who could listen to his radio show and not conclude that it is, without question, the best sports-talk program in Kansas City.”
Dugan Arnett, writer, Ink Magazine
GH: Makes you wonder why this future Johnny Cochran/Doogie Howser settled for talking sports.
Dugan Arnett, writer, Ink Magazine
GH: Makes you wonder why this future Johnny Cochran/Doogie Howser settled for talking sports.
OTC: Kansas Rolls Into Alamo Looking Like Santa Anna
“The Kansas Jayhawks are in the Final Four in Houston. Just pack your bags and get ready to go.”Frank Boal, on the number of upsets that have left Kansas a seemingly easy road to Houston, TV 41
GH: Kansas fans may cringe to hear such bold talk but almost everyone expects KU to roll through San Antonio this weekend like they were Santa Anna at the Alamo.
“I think this year’s NIT bracket might be tougher than the road Kansas will face to the Final Four.”
Sean Callahan, of Rivals.com, Twitter
Sean Callahan, of Rivals.com, Twitter
“KU sure seems to play better against ‘name’ teams in the NCAAs which should prolly make KU fans worry a bit heading into this weekend.”
Gary Bedore, of LJW, Twitter
Gary Bedore, of LJW, Twitter
“Ohio St probably has to beat Kentucky, UNC & Duke to get to championship game. Kansas? Richmond, Florida State and Florida. What a difference!”
Dirk Chatelain, writer for Omaha World Herald, Twitter
Dirk Chatelain, writer for Omaha World Herald, Twitter
OTC: Frank Martin’s Need To Bully The Media Steps All Over Pullen’s Historic Night
“That’s what you wanted to see? Is that what you were trying to get outta him? Make him cry here in front of people?” Good question!”Frank Martin, to The Star’s Kellis Robinette, after Robinette asked Pullen to talk about his emotions after setting the all-time scoring record, tying his personal game high but being unable to win and advance, in K-State’s televised postgame presser following their loss to Wisconsin
GH: Frank the bully was front and center once again Saturday night. This time he couldn’t help steal the spotlight and moment from one of the greatest clutch players the Big 12 has ever known. Martin is either simply too immature to be the head of Kansas State basketball or simply too inexperienced in handling pressure in big-time sports. Saturday in Tucson he again looked very much like the out-of-control high school coach from which he so adamantly tries to distance himself.
“I think Frank Martin just overreacted. It was a good question. If Frank Martin wouldn’t have said anything, would people still be up in arms about it? I don’t think they would. I think Frank Martin saying something made an issue out of something that never should have been an issue.”
Robert Ford, who covered the K-State press conference in Tucson for 610 Sports
OTC: March Madness Goes Charlie Sheen On Day One!
“The first day of the tournament never lets you down!”Doug Gottlieb, ESPN Radio
GH: Maybe not never but it sure was Christmas on St. Paddy’s Day yesterday! Buzzer beaters become the norm even before Jack Harry’s afternoon nap. Gottlieb and Jay Bilas took turns filling in for Mike Golic this week on ESPN Radio’s popular Mike & Mike morning show. It was not a coincidence that Golic happened to take a vacation during March Madness’ opening weekend. Greenie is weak enough when it comes to discussing college hoops but Golic’s hoops knowledge ends with knowing the games are played indoors.
“Props to Mr. President: On Day 1, Obama correctly picked 14 of 16 winners and is in the 99.7th percentile in ESPN.com Tournament Challenge.”
Seth Davis, Twitter
GH: Maybe the Pres should roll that national debt into Vegas and wipe it out over the weekend. CBS reported about 3:30 PM (CT) on Thursday that there were no perfect brackets remaining of the hundreds of thousands that were submitted online. This was after three games! March Madness on Tigerblood!
Seth Davis, Twitter
GH: Maybe the Pres should roll that national debt into Vegas and wipe it out over the weekend. CBS reported about 3:30 PM (CT) on Thursday that there were no perfect brackets remaining of the hundreds of thousands that were submitted online. This was after three games! March Madness on Tigerblood!
Off The Couch Bracket Challenge Swag From Jardines, Westport Flea and Stanford’s Comedy!
With our Off The Couch Bracket Challenge well underway, I thought it might be appropriate to let you know what the top three finishers will receive. I am currently tied for 38th with Brian Williams, who I am sure took time out of anchoring the NBC nightly news to participate. Some of KCC’s most valued sponsors stepped up and sweetened the swag for our best ball pickers. Here is the breakdown…Take 64: My Thoughts On The Brackets & NCAA Tourney
You would think the schedulers could figure out a way to not start the Mizzou and K-State games with 20 minutes of each other. The Kansas City market housed the NCAA offices for decades and was home to more Final Fours than any other city. So how about showing us some love and spacing the opening round games for our three area teams over two days in a way we can watch them?
- Not only are the Mizzou and K-State games being played at the same time tonight, they are both tipping off at about 9:00 PM (CT). Since we already lost that hour to DST last weekend, some of us are gonna need to be tased to make it through the second half. Can you imagine what Jack Harry must go through to stay awake past 11:00 PM? He’s probably gonna miss the entire set of afternoon games while he’s napping with Gary Lezak’s dogs down at TV-41’s studios.
OTC: The Kim’s English Can Often Be Difficult To Understand
Kim English, when asked by Nate Bukaty and Steven St. John about his controversial comments regarding his Mizzou team quitting against Texas A&M in the Big 12 tourney, 810 AM
GH: I sure wish Kim would have named names – or better yet Bukaty and SSJ could have done a better job in the interview and asked him to name names. Was it Kevin Kietzman on KC radio English thinks burned him? Mike DeArmond’s story in The Star? Jack Harry on TV 41? Does English think the KC media is much tougher than the St. Louis scribes? Lots of good questions went unasked here by 810’s Border Patrol.
“I just didn’t expect us to go out like that. It’s the first time in my however many games I thought we quit.”
Kim English, following Mizzou’s loss to Texas A&M last week, Kansas City Star
GH: This is the quote that brought English so much media attention. I read it and heard English’s recorded voice verbalize this thought on radio. He was not misquoted or taken out of context. But he wants us all to believe it is the media’s fault this is controversial. Read on.
Kim English, following Mizzou’s loss to Texas A&M last week, Kansas City Star
GH: This is the quote that brought English so much media attention. I read it and heard English’s recorded voice verbalize this thought on radio. He was not misquoted or taken out of context. But he wants us all to believe it is the media’s fault this is controversial. Read on.
Take 357: Mike Murphy’s Friends, Folly & Funeral
I met Mike Murphy in 1981 on a drive from Omaha to Sioux Center, Iowa while I was working my sales territory in a two-state area. A fellow salesmen in Kansas City had mentioned to me I might be able to pick up KCMO 810 radio during my daytime drives across Nebraska and Iowa. I dialed in the scratchy sound of Murphy talking to some guy about water pressure.“You know what I like?” Murph said to his guest. “I like that water pressure to be dialed up so high that I can stand in my front yard with my hose in hand and cold-cock a squirrel from 30 or 40 feet!” Yeah. I was hooked.
I left work Monday just after 5:00 PM still debating whether or not I should go to the Garbage Star’s funeral. I do not enjoy anything about funerals. They seem to me to be a cruel reminder to those left behind of their loss. I paused at the intersection of College & State Line Road before turning south toward McGilley’s Funeral Chapel.
OTC: NCAA Gives Colorado Bum Steer & Media Kicks Back
“I wonder if some people on the committee know that the ball is round. That sounds harsh but I wonder. … What I’m saying is these are horrible decisions. We need more basketball people on the committee.”Jay Bilas, on his disappointment in the NCAA men’s basketball committee’s choices for the 68-team field, ESPN
GH: Bilas and the ESPN basketball experts teed up the NCAA selection committee and booted them in the ass for two hours Sunday evening. It was fun to watch and in my opinion well deserved. But would Bilas and his boys been as willing to vent on the committee if ESPN had won the broadcast rights from CBS? When was the last time you heard ESPN’s NFL analysts ripping their league’s bosses like Bilas, Digger and Dickey V did Sunday night? It all comes down to following the money and always will.
“Boy, Jay Bilas last night was just venomous! I’ve never seen him so ticked off!”
Kevin Harlan, 810 AM
GH: Bilas was also tweeting how great a job Digger and Hubert Davis were doing in analyzing the teams in the tourney. Jay’s not quite as frank and honest when it comes to evaluating the work of the stiffs he hangs with on the set. Digger and Hubert are two of the stiffer props on TV.
2011 Off The Couch NCAA Bracket Contest!
Haven’t you read the Comments section of OTC and thought to yourself, "Geez, at least I’m smarter than that idiot." Well, here is your chance to prove it. Click on the link below or copy and paste it into your browser, register online and then fill out your winner. I haven’t decided on what the winner will receive but I am taking suggestions from any sponsors who would like to be affiliated with this well-heeled and strikingly mediocre looking bunch. Good luck to all — especially those who need it most (aka / Harley).
http://otc2011.mayhem.cbssports.com/e
Password: offthecouch
Your 2011 Off The Couch Bracket Challenge!
Haven’t you read the Comments section of OTC and thought to yourself, "Geez, at least I’m smarter than that idiot." Well, here is your chance to prove it. Copy and paste the above link into your browser, register online and then fill out your winner. I haven’t decided on what the winner will receive but I am taking suggestions from any sponsors who would like to be affiliated with this well-heeled and strikingly mediocre looking bunch.Password: offthecouch
Take 5: GH’s Notes On Big 12 Tourney & Surroundings
The Kansas City Live area across the street from Sprint Center looks smaller and smaller to me every year. I know it’s not shrinking but just like when you return to visit your old school’s classrooms, it sure appears to be. It was filling up quickly when I arrived there about 10 AM on Thursday.The unmistakable aroma of freshly poured tap beer in plastic cups cut through the nose-running cold weather inside the Kansas City Live cove. They say the sense of smell is our most powerful memory inducer. My mind quickly returned to Saturday morning pick-up basketball games years ago inside small local gyms where most of the participants had spent Friday night imbibing. The aroma was the same but in those days gone by the beer was coming out of the participants instead of going in.
OTC: Does Bob Davis’ Homer Act Hurt Or Help KU Broadcasts?
“Listen, if you’re a KU fan and you like homers on the radio, these two guys are the best who have ever been. Lew Perkins isn’t sitting right there anymore! He’s not going to bonk you on the head! Those guys really write the book on how to do that. … It bugs me. The problem with Bob (Davis) and Chris (Piper) is when they complain about a call it’s just white noise.”Kevin Kietzman, on the Kansas basketball radio broadcast team, 810 AM
GH: There is no better voice on the radio for play-by-play than Bob Davis. He is the local equivalent to CBS’ Gus Johnson when it comes to mixing volume and adrenaline in a broadcast. But Davis is also a solid 10 when it comes to being an unabashed, blinders-on, Kansas bred, fed and will-be-when-dead homer. I enjoy the hell out of his work but he has slipped to being such a homer for the Hawks that it does detract from the broadcast. I don’t agree with KK on Piper. I think Piper adds some insight to what’s happening on the court and while he roots for his school, he calls the game far more objectively than his partner.
“There’s no way listening to (Bob Davis) that I thought that was the worst call I’ve ever seen because I know those guys get exercised by it. … I have a history of what I think are 50-50 calls that they think are bad calls.”
Danny Clinkscale, on Bob Davis’ call of the late intentional foul on Marcus Morris during the Mizzou game, 810 AM
Take 5: Big 12 Tourney Guide for Fans, Foes & Beebe (Definitely NOT Big 12 Sanctioned)
The second week in March is Kansas City’s Mardi Gras. The Big 12 basketball tourney arrives here once again this week on the doorstep of spring, delivering with it four days of suspended reality. We know we’re still in Kansas City but once you cross the Bond Bridge from the north or exit I-35 from the south, you transform into that long-forgotten college kid — but this time with a credit card and a job with PTO. And what better way to burn some PTO than at Kay Barnes’ Power & Light District shoulder-to-shoulder with some of your best friends and enemies? Here is my guide in how to best experience KC’s version of Fat Tuesday in sneakers. OTC: The Explanation: KCTV5 Style
Bobby “Too Late” Totsch, the Vice President and General Manager of KCTV5, made himself more available Monday to multiple media outlets than Charlie Sheen. Well, maybe not TigerBlood – but close. Kent Babb did an article quoting “Too Late” on what his story was on how KCTV5 and CBS switched Kansas City area viewers from the last few minutes of the KU/MU game. Totsch also made calls into 810’s and 610’s morning talk shows. Here is my OTC column on Totsch’s version of The Explanation. He didn’t out Michael Coleman for kissing the neck of any male coworkers but I did find his remarks – if not informative, at least entertaining.______
“Stuff happens. In this case it was a lot more technical than that.”
Bobby Totsch, 610 AM
GH: This is the best mouthpiece KCTV5 has to send out to speak for the station? Let’s hope Totsch didn’t get his degree from a Big 12 school. Sounds more like an SEC grad to me.
Bobby Totsch, 610 AM
GH: This is the best mouthpiece KCTV5 has to send out to speak for the station? Let’s hope Totsch didn’t get his degree from a Big 12 school. Sounds more like an SEC grad to me.
“When you’ve got three minutes to work a problem like that you typically lose and we did.”
Bobby Totsch, 610 AM
GH: MacGruber laughs at such talk! Three minutes? That’s like four months to McGruber and those guys in Inception’s van.
Bobby Totsch, 610 AM
GH: MacGruber laughs at such talk! Three minutes? That’s like four months to McGruber and those guys in Inception’s van.
