Reggie Bush Says He’s Returned Heisman
Coming Home
Nearly two years after the award was vacated, former Southern California running back Reggie Bush acknowledged that he has returned his trophy to the Heisman Trust.
Bush, now with the Miami Dolphins, made the statement in an appearance on The Dan Patrick Show. Despite numerous previous questions on the subject, this was the first time Bush provided a definitive answer.
The Heisman Trust had vacated Bush’s award in September 2010, a few months after the NCAA had taken action against USC for rules violations that included impermissible benefits given to Bush.
The NCAA sanctions included having USC disassociate itself from Bush. The school said it had returned its copy of the trophy in August 2010 and back on July 19 2011, we posted the report that the Bush family had taken it back from a San Diego museum.
Karl Malone Would Start A Team With Scottie Pippen Over Michael Jordan
Mailman Delivers
Karl Malone was best known for his days as a member of the Utah Jazz. He would have won a title too if it wasn’t for those meddling Chicago Bulls, led by Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. Malone was asked which of those two players were the best, and Malone gave an interesting answer to Dan Patrick.
“I would have to start my team with Scottie Pippen,” he said. “This is why I would take Scottie: Do you remember the time that Michael retired? I watched Scottie Pippen when the Chicago Bulls weren’t really good and Scottie led that team in every statistical category, and I just remembered that. Plus, he’s a guy who could care less about scoring. He wants to stop the best player on the other team. That would have been pretty cool, to see Scottie guarding Michael.”
Amani Toomer Says Kurt Warner Trying To Trash NFL
Sensitive Times
A rash of concussions, recent suicides of former NFL players and the BountyGate scandal have Kurt Warner hoping his sons never again play the sport.
But Warner’s opinion is “a little disingenuous,” according to former New York Giants receiver Amani Toomer, who accused Warner of trying to “trash the game.
“What this reminds me of is the guy at the basketball court, who once he gets done playing takes the ball and ruins the game for everybody else,” Toomer said. “I think Kurt Warner needs to keep his opinions to himself when it comes to this. Everything that he’s gotten in his life has come from playing football. He works at the NFL Network right now. For him to try and trash the game, it seems to me that it’s just a little disingenuous to me.”
Warner, the former St. Louis Rams, New York Giants and Arizona Cardinals quarterback, didn’t appear to be trashing the sport when he made his comments earlier Thursday on “The Dan Patrick Show.”He was speaking as a father of sons who love football, and said the idea of them playing an increasingly dangerous sport “scares me.” Asked point blank if he’d prefer they not play the sport, Warner said “Yes, I would.”
“They both have the dream, like dad, to play in the NFL,” Warner said. “That’s their goal. And when you hear things like the bounties, when you know certain things having played the game, and then obviously when you understand the size, the speed, the violence of the game and then you couple that with situations like Junior Seau. Was that a ramification of all the years playing?
“It scares me as a dad. I just wonder. I wonder what the league’s going to be like. I love that the commissioner is doing a lot of things to try to clean up the game from that standpoint and improve player safety, which helps, in my mind, a lot. But it’s a scary thing for me.”
Warner didn’t appear to take Toomer’s criticism personally, though. Via Twitter, Warner later sent a message to Toomer saying “Sorry that u disagree w/ me old friend! But I will always worry about my kids well being . . . Doesn’t affect my love 4 game!”
Steve Nash Wouldn’t Mind Playing For Miami Heat
Blood In Blood Out
Phoenix Suns point guard Steve Nash made it clear he’s sick of losing and hungry for a championship. The two-time NBA MVP, a free-agent this summer, told The Dan Patrick Show on Thursday he’s “not coming back to the Suns if there isn’t improvement.”
While many NBA superstars have requested trades and left teams to join other stars, Nash has been loyal to the Suns organization. But that doesn’t mean the 38-year old won’t entertain other options, particularly with teams capable of winning an NBA title.
When asked about joining the Miami Heat if LeBron James reached out to him, Nash provided a surprising answer.
“I would listen,” he said. “(James) is phenomenal. I love what they’re doing there. A lot of people don’t like them because they put all that talent there. But they’re professional, they play hard, they play together. Their coaching staff has done a great job, so I have a tremendous amount of respect for them.”
The Suns are 25-26 this season. Nash is averaging 12 points and 11 assists a game while shooting 62.7% from the field. Miami is not projected to have much salary cap space next season, so if Nash was to take his talents to South Beach he would have to take a significant pay cut.
Bill Cowher Has Turned Down At Least 3 NFL Teams
The Chin
At least three NFL teams have called CBS analysts and Super Bowl winning head coach Bill Cowher with coaching offers this season only to be turned down. Cower was on the Dan Patrick Show today and, with Bonnie Bernstein subbing as host, was asked whether his coaching offers were over or under two.
Cowher laughed, then said, “Oh, it’s over,” while not specifying which teams were interested.
As for coming back after a five-season hiatus from the coaching ranks as an analyst for CBS, Cowher added:
“I don’t know if I’ve ever been that ready, honestly . . . Let me tell you, if there’s any doubt, then there’s no doubt you’re not ready to come back. You have to be all in to take that job.”
Cowher acknowledged miss some aspects of his 15-year tenure as head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but said:
“That’s all I did my whole life. Right now I have a chance to have an offseason, a chance to do some traveling and do some things I’ve never had a chance to do before, and to be honest with you I’m enjoying that . But with CBS I’m still able to be part of the game, watching the game, watch it evolve, still be somewhat on the inside, but it’s not the all-encompassing part of it.”
A.J. Pierzynski Says Players Need A Rally Beer
Most Hated Player In MLB
Among the inflammatory accusations recently aimed at the Boston Red Sox is that several of the starting pitchers often drank beer in the clubhouse during games in which they didn’t start. Chicago White Sox catcher admits A.J. Pierzynski admits there sometimes is a need for a “rally beer” in the clubhouse during games.
“Yes, absolutely I have before,” Pierzynski said on The Dan Patrick Show when asked if he ever had a drink in the clubhouse. “Sometimes you’re just really struggling and you just say, ‘Hey, you know what, I need something to calm me down and let’s have a beer.’ A couple of us will do it together, and sometimes it works out.
“It’s just, sometimes you just need a rally beer. If you’re in extra innings and you’re in about the 15th inning and you really need to get going again, that sometimes works for you.”
Pierzynski added that he wouldn’t drink an entire beer during a game, but just sips. He also admitted that he and other White Sox players did a shot before one of their 2008 ALDS games against the Tampa Bay Rays, one they lost.
Kevin Garnett Says Los Angeles Lakers In House Fighting Kept Him From Joining
Punch The Ticket Out
Boston Celtics Kevin Garnett went on the Dan Patrick Show yesterday and said he was “pretty close” to joining the Los Angeles Lakers as a free agent 2007, but the tension between star Kobe Bryant and then head coach Phil Jackson made him decide against making the move.
“What disturbed me about the whole Lakers situation was just Kobe and Phil at the time,” Garnett said. “They were at each other pretty bad, and a new situation full of uncertainty wasn’t something that I wanted to get into. There was a lot going on and I didn’t want to be part of it.”
However it seems that Garnett must have forgotten exactly how things went down as he was traded to Boston and immediately agreed to a three-year extension on top of the two years he already had left on his contract.
Joe Montana Says Tim Tebow Shouldn’t Change His Throwing Motion
G.O.A.T.
Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana is not among the critics of Denver Broncos Tim Tebow’s throwing motion. The three-time Super Bowl MVP weighed in on that topic on the Dan Patrick Show and said “I wouldn’t change it,” because:
“If you look at what he did in college, he played in one of the toughest divisions there was . . . He had success throwing the ball. He got it away in time. I don’t remember a lot of balls knocked down at the line of scrimmage . . .
“If you change the thing that really made the guy you take away from his ability to play the game, because now he’s thinking about his delivery as opposed to playing the game and throwing the ball on time, and that’s what it’s all about.”
“If you can throw it accurately and on time, I don’t care what your delivery looks like. Don’t change his delivery. Get his feet right, because he’s never taken a snap from under center. Let’s work on that part and see how the rest goes.”
Montana also reminded listeners that he wasn’t an instant sensation, and that in his first game he had two interceptions returned for touchdowns, including one where he was run over at the 1-yard line.
Mark Grace Rips The Chicago Cubs
Slumpbuster
Former Chicago Cubs star first baseman Mark Grace told Dan Patrick Show on Friday that his former team should have hired Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg as manager after last season, instead of retaining interim manager Mike Quade. The Cubs passed over Sandberg to retain manager Quade in the offseason.
“First of all, the Cubs needed a PR jolt and certainly Ryne Sandberg is a god in Chicago. Chicago’s entertainment is sports, they are so passionate and they love their own. What Hall of Famer goes down and rides buses for five years to pay their dues? … It just made all the sense in the world to give it to Sandberg because he is a hell of a manager.”
Grace was referring to Sandberg’s years as a manager in the Cubs minor league system who later left the organization and became the manager of the Philadelphia Phillies Triple A team.
Quade led the team to a 24-13 finish after taking over on an interim basis following Lou Piniella’s resignation last season.
Former Ohio State Player Back Maurice Clarett Says Athletes Are To Blame
Free Ja Rule
Former Ohio State University running back Maurice Clarett blames athletes rather than coaches and fans for the culture that created problems in the Buckeyes football program.
“There’s no secret regime, there’s no secret congregation of people who sit around at Ohio State who gives young guys money,” Clarett said Wednesday on The Dan Patrick Show. “Anything that any player goes and gets is all based on him and who he meets in the community. The coaches and the university have no control over what the young guy’s doing.”
The NCAA is investigating Ohio State players who allegedly received improper benefits and special deals on cars. Five players have been suspended for the first five games this fall for trading signed jerseys, championship rings and other items for cash and discounted tattoos from a Columbus tattoo-parlor owner.
Buckeyes coach Jim Tressel was forced to resign last week for knowing about the players’ involvement but not reporting it as required by his contract and NCAA rules. Star quarterback Terrelle Pryor, one of those suspended and a subject of the NCAA probe, announced Tuesday that he would not return for his senior season.
Clarett, ruled ineligible after carrying Ohio State to its first national championship in 34 years said the university cannot control everything that players do.
“There wasn’t any coach or any booster or any member in or around Ohio State who helps you get a car,” Clarett said, recalling his own time on campus. “It doesn’t go on. It’s just guys doing what they want to. People will forever do what they want to. It’s nothing more than young guys making mistakes.”
Clarett rushed for 1,237 yards in his only season was suspended the following summer for taking improper benefits, including cars. An investigation ensued and that’s when Clarett accused Ohio State of academic fraud during the improper-benefits case in 2003. But on Wednesday he said he had lied and manipulated the professor to get good grades. He never played in another college game.
“People didn’t reach out to me. I reached out to people,” he said. “Just when you’re traveling around the community, I reached out to people: ‘Hey, I’m struggling with this. Hey, I need help with this.’”
Asked later where his national championship ring is, Clarett said, “That’s at my mother’s house. There’s not one piece of memorabilia that I don’t have.”
Bobby Hurley Says Jalen Rose Would Have Had Hard Time Finding Minutes With Duke
Scoreboard
After Sunday’s ESPN 30 for 30 documentary on the University of Michigan’s Fab 5 we already a good understanding of what the Wolverine players thought of the Duke players. But what did Duke think of the Fab 5? Well, former Duke’s guard Final Four’s Most Outstanding Player in 1992 Bobby Hurley and current Wagner College assistant joined the Dan Patrick Show to talk college hoops and more.
“There was a high level of bitterness,” Hurley said. “Particularly directed at us.” Hurley thought that since Duke was 3-0 against Michigan that had something to do with it.
Additionally, Hurley recalled Chris Webber’s recruiting visit to Duke and said that Jalen Rose might not have played if he had landed at Duke.
“We would have welcomed him (Webber) with open arms. Jalen on the other hand, I can understand why we didn’t recruit him. He might have a hard time hitting the floor because he wasn’t taking my spot and I think Thomas Hill would have given him a hard time to get on the floor, so I can see that.”
Hurley also didn’t recall any specific trash talking directed his way but did seem to remember Jimmy King saying he had no game and recalled how he scored 26 points on them.
Baltimore Ravens Tom Zbikowski Wants To Box Chad Ochocinco
I Aint A Twitter Talker
Appearing on The Dan Patrick Show, Tom Zbikowski safety of the Baltimore Ravens said on Monday that he wants to pursue a boxing career and that there was one particular player in his other profession he wouldn’t mind fight and that was Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Chad Ochocinco.
“Ochocinco talks like he can box,” Zbikowski said. “I’d let it go for about 45 seconds. I’d let him know what a real jab feels like.”
The Ravens safety made his boxing debut nearly five years ago and will fight his second sanctioned cruiserweight bout Saturday in Las Vegas against Richard Bryant, part of the Miguel Cotto-Ricardo Mayorga undercard.
Zbikowski made his professional boxing debut June 10, 2006, while still a player at Notre Dame and within NCAA regulations as he beat Robert Bell on a technical knockout 49 seconds into the fight at Madison Square Garden. Zbikowski was 75-15 as a Golden Gloves fighter, also fought a professional exhibition bout in 2007 before stepping out of the ring to concentrate on football but he expects to be “in the ring full-time” sometime in the future.
Cleveland Browns Peyton Hillis Was Taunted For Being White
The Avalanche
When asked about the novelty of being a white running back in the NFL on the Dan Patrick Show, Cleveland Browns running back Peyton Hillis claimed that he was often taunted during games for being white.
“Every team did it,” Hillis said. “They’ll say, ‘You white boy, you ain’t gonna run on us today. This is ridiculous. Why are you giving offensive linemen the ball?’
He went on to give examples of the nicknames he heard throughout the season. Patrick said his favorite was “The Avalanche.”
“I heard that one,” Hillis replied. “I heard ‘White Rhino.’ I heard … Chuck Norris.’”
Hillis also said that he knows most people “don’t have a lot of faith” in him, but he uses it as motivation.
Dwight Howard Chooses Kevin Durant Over LeBron James
I'm On That Bus
Orlando Magic center Dwight Howard was on the Dan Patrick show and he discussed who he would rather have on his team. The question usually involves Los Angeles Lakers Kobe Bryant and Miami Heat’s LeBron James, but Patrick decided to go a different route and asked between James and Oklahoma City Thunder Kevin Durant.
“I’m going to go with Kevin. I like Kevin. I watched him in high school and had a chance to talk to him at an NBA camp before he got drafted.”
Patrick followed up with that his take from Howard was that he thought LeBron was overrated and Durant is better than him to which he responded,
“Wow. I never said that. LeBron is not overrated.”
Durant told of Howard’s comments responded that he appreciated it but said he isn’t even on LeBron’s level but added “I’m working hard as I can though, believe that I’m a competitor but I’m being real.”
You can listen to Howard’s full interview HERE.
Joe Montana Shoots Down Some Myths About ‘Rudy’
You Know He's The Best Ever, Don't You
I don’t understand the timing of it all but NFL Hall of Famer and Notre Dame quarterback Joe Montana had some interesting things to say about the movie Rudy. Montana who was on the Dan Patrick Show, said the movie about Fighting Irish walk on Daniel “Rudy” Ruettiger getting into the final game of the 1975 season got a few things wrong.
The part in the movie about the crowd chanting “Rudy” at game’s end, in hopes he would get in and the part about coach Dan Devine letting Rudy suit up only after a parade of players came to his office and offered to give up their jerseys to Rudy.
“It’s a movie, remember,” Montana said. “Not all that’s true. The crowd wasn’t chanting. No one threw in their jerseys.”
Montana said that back then Notre Dame set its schedule so that all the seniors would be able to play in the final home game. He even went on to add the movie exaggerated about the final scene.
“He got in. He did get a sack,” but “the guys carried him off, kind of just playing around,” Montana said. “I won’t say it’s a joke, but playing around.”
I still not sure of what prompted the timing of Montana’s revelation but I’m all for correcting inaccuracies.
Chris Myers Blames Katrina Victims
Blaming Victims Is Not Cool Chris
Chris Myers sat in for Dan Patrick radio show and about 2 hours and 30 minutes into the show Myers had this to say about Katrina victims:
“My best is and maybe it’s a little corny, but I like it. It’s a great country here. We have disastrous issues where people pull together and help themselves and I thought the people in Tennessee, unlike and I’m not going to name names. When a natural disaster hits people were not standing on a rooftop trying to blame the government, okay, they helped each other out through this.”
“Middle Tennessee where a lot of hardworking, tax-paying, legal American citizens have been affected by the floods and are trying to rebuild their lives and they are helping out and I think that other people around the country, of course the music industry in and around Nashville helping, without making a big deal out of it and I think that’s a good thing.”
Your better than that Chris Myers.
Mark Grace Prefers Sex To Steroids
Slumpbuster
Former Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks star Mark Grace has a very simple explanation for why he never considered taking steroids, and it’s one every man can relate to.
“I like my sex life,” Grace said on the Dan Patrick Show today.
“I want to be able to perform,” Grace added. “It’s kind of funny, but it’s not. That stuff will tear you up as far as your manhood is concerned.”
Grace said it would have been easy to use steroids during his playing years, from 1988-2003.
“At the time there was no drug testing for that kind of stuff,” Grace said. “You knew it, but it was just common knowledge and you didn’t think twice about it. Mark (McGwire) wasn’t the only guy. Trust me.”
He also said steroids clearly affected performance.
“Guys were just missing balls and they’re still home runs. It’s not fair,” Grace said, adding that McGwire’s contention that steroids didn’t boost his homer totals was “a baloney cop-out.”
But the one thing that Grace and guys like John Kruk fail to mention is that they benefited financially from the era of steroids as the pay scale for Major League Baseball players sky rocketed. How come the guys that want to take you to church because they never want to talk about the greed?
I’m just saying Gracey.
Rodney Harrison Fires Back At Terrell Owens
Mess With The Bull, You Get The Horns
Former New England Patriots safety Rodney Harrison has responded to Buffalo Bills wide receiver Terrell Owens. Owens has been ripping Harrison on his Twitter account for taking human growth hormone.
“When it comes down to it, I’m a champion,” Harrison said on Dan Patrick’s radio program. “He’ll never have that on his resume. He’ll never be a champion. He’ll look at his stats and say I was a great football player, but I was never a champion. You always have to stand up and be accountable for your actions.
“As a football player you have to be accountable. Regardless of whether you had 10 catches or zero catches. I’m not jealous. I’m very happy. I don’t need the attention. I don’t need anyone catering to my ego. I’m just a guy with my opinion. If you don’t want to hear it, go out and play better.”
I’m just running with the evidence that has been called. Salami, are you frustrated that no matter where Owens goes he’s always a talking issue more for what he says off field than what he does on the field? I’m just running with the evidence that has been called. Salami, do you hold still resentment because of his side show workout session in his Philadelphia driveway? I’m just running with the evidence that has been called.
NFL Team In London?
In a recent interview on the “Dan Patrick Show,” NFL commissioner Roger “Godfather” Goodell talked about the state of the league as well making some very interesting comments about the NFL in London.
Patrick asked whether if there would be a team overseas within in 10 years.
“I think it’s very possible,” Goodell said.
Goodell said the popularity of the games in London is growing and they may have multiple overseas games as soon as next year. Is a team in London inevitable was asked? Goodell explained that the owners need to change the CBA.
“The deal is just not sustainable from the owners’ point of view,” Goodell said. There are too many things that need to be changed.”
I understand the fact of gobbling up every dollar you can but if that’s what your after how about tackling the north or south boarders of the United States before jumping over the pond. London is already a market saturated with football and I’m talking about real football. The NFL Europe had it’s time and failed. Even it’s predecessor the World League of American Football eventually ceased operations after only two years even with the shields backing.
If you need an advisor on whether overseas football works, just ask Dallas Cowboys coach Judd Garrett who played for the Monarchs, hell ask his brothers Jason and John who played for the San Antonio Riders. They had first hand experience with your thought process of a NFL team playing in the states and traveling overseas to play a team based in Europe.
Super Bowl in London oh isn’t that going to be awesome. “Godfather” your greed is amazing.
