BenMaller.com - Ben's Takes

GET WELL ROSS!

Dodger Press Release:

PORTER TO UNDERGO SURGERY - Longtime Dodger broadcaster Ross Porter, honored on April 29 for his 25 years of excellence in the Dodger broadcast booth, will undergo surgery to correct a cerebral spinal fluid problem and will miss the remainder of the season. The recovery time is expected to be about a month. Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will add to his number of simulcast innings for televised games and will also do innings along with Rick Monday for the radio-only games.

Ben's Take: I want to wish Ross Porter all the best in a quick recovery and return to work. Ross is a Los Angeles broadcasting legend in the Dodger broadcast booth. Last season I had the honor to work along side Ross as co-host of Dodger Talk. It was my most enjoyable year in broadcasting.

Read the Los Angeles Times Story: Ross Porter story in LA Times permalink

Friday, August 31, 2001

Friday Thoughts, Opinions and Notes

By Ben Maller

Good to see Hasim Rahman and Lennox Lewis are getting along well. Their made for TV brawl on "Up Close" was the best TV since Jim Everett took it to Jim Rome years ago.

Do you know what the most entertaining thing to me about their brawl in Anaheim was? Near the end when these guys are trying to rip each others heads off, you can hear a lady in the background at the restaurant yell CAN YOU PLEASE NOT STAND ON THE CHAIRS! Typical female reaction.

Troy Aikman says that he might leave Fox Sports in the future to return to the sidelines. From what I have heard from insiders that might not be such a huge loss. Aikman has a lot of work to become a top level network broadcaster.

I survived BOOT CAMP!. My mom and dad can be proud. Well it was "Fox Sports Radio Boot Camp 2001" but still! The last couple of mornings I have been part of a seminar that included such great Fox Sports Talent as Tony Bruno, Andrew Siciliano, J.T. The Brick, Kiley and Booms, Sarge, Dan Sileo, Craig Sheman, Jason Smith, Patrick O'Neal, Smokey Gifford and the best producers and production people in sports talk radio.

Flipping around the dial... It was great to hear Karl Malone back on Los Angeles Radio again. Malone was a guest Wednesday on the Kiley & Booms show on Fox Sports Radio.

You want inside information? BenMaller.com did it again this week with our Kevin Malone to ESPN Radio 1110 flash on Monday. And Keith Olberman going back to ESPN.Yes, that was the Sheriff on the air Wednesday. Make sure to check rumors and notes several times a week for updated information.

Big Ben Question: What do the San Jose State football team and the Rancho Cucamonga Quakes have in common.

Answer: They both take buses to their games.

San Jose State should try to avoid telling future recruits they bus to games.

Dennis Rodman just wanted to have a good time. Rodman is in trouble with the police after he used a fire extinguisher at a Newport Hooters last Sunday. The most interesting thing about this story to me is that Rodman didn't appear to be intoxicated. Dennis should just pack up and move because the Newport police are out to get him.

Big Ben Trivia Question of the Week: Who has the longest touchdown run by a quarterback in NFL History? Answer later

USC should have said yes when a Seattle Times writer called to ask if Al Martin of the Mariners played football for the Trojans. As a friend told me this week. You would think that Martin could have come up with a better lie. How about backup QB at Notre Dame or middle linebacker at Florida State. Their is nothing worse than a bad liar!

When the Sparks win the WNBA championship and then nobody cares. Do they still get to keep the trophy?

I was supposed to broadcast the American Bowl featuring the Raiders and Cowboys in Mexico City on Monday. Because of some additional commitments at Fox Sports Radio I was unable to attend. Thanks to the National Football League for including me in their press release anyway. NFL Ben Maller Press Release

A lot of hype was given to the return of Kevin Brown of theDodgers and Pedro Martinez of the Red Sox. Oops both LA and Boston lost the first start back of there ace's.

My favorite NFL player is non other than Tony Siragusa of the Baltimore Ravens.

Here is hoping that the Dallas Cowboys decide to run the option during the regular season. Quincy Carter who wouldn't even be the starter at Georgia this year will be a dead man by week three. The speed and size of NFL Defenses will not allow on option attack to have any success.

Big Ben Trivia Answer: Kordell Stewart of the Pittsburgh Steelers 80 yards in 1996

Little Leaguer Danny Almonte is not the only New York City athlete lying these days. NY Jets backup punter Tommy Parks admitted that he lied about his age. Parks told the Jets he was 29 when it turns out he is really 32. Parks also told big apple scribes that he played minor league baseball with the Red Sox and Padres. It turned out that he never played with either, instead Parks played in an independent league.

I have been told by my friends at FOX SPORTS that the brand new website is supposed to be making its debut today. Check it out: FOX SPORTS.com

A friendly reminder to listen to my radio show this weekend on your local Fox Sports Radio station. I'll be on with Patrick O'Neal from 2am till 5am(est) Saturday morning. We'll be talking about the top stories in the day and the best players in college football.

Sunday morning from 4am till 7am the Number #1 Jets fan in Los Angeles Jason Smith will be in the catbirds seat. We'll break down the hot stories as well as the first full Saturday of college football.

Ben Maller's Five Star Pick of the Week

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The Line: Wisconsin +10 1/2 at Oregon

Ben's Breakdown: The Badgers will end the Ducks 20 game home winning streak at Autzen Stadium. Wisconsin beat Oregon 27-23 last season. Joey Harrington tossed for 362 yards in that game and the Quack Attack still lost! Wisconsin's power running game featuring Michael Bennett ran for 290 yards on the ground in that game including an 83-yard run that setup the game winner. Bennett is now in the NFL with the Vikings.

Anthony Davis a freshman stepped in at RB and ran for 147 yards in his debut against Virginia. My former radio partner Dave Smith is a huge Green & Gold fan but sorry to say the smart money in this game is on Barry Alvarez and the Badgers. Wisconsin will at worst cover the spread and i'm picking an upset!

BenMaller.com Final Score: Wisconsin 31, Oregon 28

Write Back: Send questions and comments to Big Ben by CLICKING HERE permalink

Wednesday, August 29, 2001

"BenMaller.com's"
Top 10 Heisman Trophy Candidates

By Ben Maller

10.) Jason Thomas QB, UNLV

Positives: He's a bigger version of former Virginia Tech QB Michael Vick. Thomas (6'4" 230) has NFL Scouts drooling about his potential. He was a one time USC QB who left for the slot machines of Vegas.

Negatives: Thomas battled injuries all year. The fact that UNLV is a building football program will hurt him. The Runnin Rebels don't play enough "Prime Time" games for Thomas to get the eye of Heisman voters.

9.)DeShaun Foster RB, UCLA

Positives:As a freshman Foster averaged 5.3 yards per carry. When he is 100% he resembles a Barry Sanders type back. Playing in LA will help him. UCLA will get plenty of national exposure because of a tough schedule. Alabama, Ohio State and the tough Pac-10 will give Foster a chance to carry the Bruins offensive load.

Negatives:Foster is the Bill Walton of college football. He can't stay healthy long enough to make a major impact. He needs to have a big year to help his NFL Draft status. I look for him to move up this list.

8.) Casey Clausen QB, Tennessee

Positives: UT's offense took off when true freshman Clausen stepped to the controls. The Vols went 6-0 to close the regular season. Tennessee figures to be even better around Clausen this year. Playing in the SEC with a tough schedule are both good things. Casey broke almost all of Peyton Manning's freshman records.

Negatives:Clausen struggled against a tough Kansas State defense in a Cotton Bowl loss. Its going to be tough to match the numbers he put up in a brief ride as TU's starter.

7.) Woodrow Dantzier QB, Clemson

Positives: If healthy, Dantzier figures to become the first QB in NCAA history to rush for 1,000 yards and pass for 2,000 yards in a single season. Clemson is a program on the rise with young coach Tommy Bowden.

Negatives: Dantzier must improve on his 11-7 ratio. Clemson does not have a loaded schedule so that means that Dantzier must shine against Florida State.

6.)Ken Dorsey QB, Miami Fla

Positives:In his first year as a starter Dorsey threw for 3,007 yards with a great 28-7 ratio. Dorsey also has NFL Size. (6-5 200) He is surrounded by some very talented players. Miami is a national title contender, starting the year ranked 2nd.

Negatives:Dorsey is a statue. He has no mobility running for a gross total of just 26 yards rushing. The Hurricanes have tough road games at Penn State, Florida State and Virginia Tech.

5.) Eric Crouch QB, Nebraska

Positives:A perfect fit for the option offense. Crouch has game breaking speed. He rushed for 1,237 yards a year ago. Nebraska is one of the top three football programs in the country. With Kansas State and Oklahoma coming to Lincoln, Crouch will have an advantage.

Negatives: A shoulder injury limited Crouch's ability to throw the football. The dominating Husker option offense showed signs of being human last season. Nebraska needs to be undefeated for Crouch to beat out some of the other big time quarterbacks on this list.

4.)Lee Suggs RB, Virgina Tech

Positives:Suggs lead D-1 with 30 rushing touchdowns. Despite being 6'0 200 lbs he has 4.3 speed. Now that Michael Vick is in a Falcons uniform their is noone left to steal the headlines from Suggs' offense. The fact that Virgina Tech has a chance to go undefeated is also a big factor in Suggs favor.

Negatives: Blacksburgh, VA is not a media center of college football. Suggs will have to put up huge numbers in the 3 big national television games. Suggs also will have a tough time matching his rushing TD's of a year ago without a dominating QB. Defenses will be keying on him.

3.) Rex Grossman QB, Florida

Positives: Grossman in split duty had a 22-9 ratio as a freshman! He tossed for 2,118 yards and a 58.9% completion rate. Playing quarterback for Steve Spurrier is a glamor position. QB's at Florida are automatically contenders for the Heisman. The Gators have a great chance to go undefeated.

Negatives: Brock Berlin is waiting in the wings if Grossman struggles to start the year. The gator defense will put added pressure on the offense to carry the load.

2.) T.J. Duckett RB, Michigan State

Positives: Duckett averaged 5.6yards per carry a year ago. As a freshman he played both RB and LB. Scouts say he is Ron Dayne but faster. Duckett (6'1 252) rushed for 1,353 yards and figures to put up much bigger numbers with a better team around him.

Negatives:Needs to work on his hands. He caught just eight passes last season. The Big 10 looks to be in a rebuilding year so that should help and hurt Duckett at the same time.

1.)Chris Simms QB, Texas

Positives:Simms is the most hyped player in college football in the last 10 years. It would be an upset, if he did not win the Heisman. He replaces Major Applewhite who has 8,000 career passing yards. According to the preseason scouting services the Longhorns have the best receivers in the country. That should only help Simms.

Negatives:Simms has talked the talk now he must walk the walk. Its going to be near impossible for Simms to match the preseason hype. He can flat out play and will have to try to overcome the added pressure. also Texas needs to live up to the hype. permalink

Monday, August 27, 2001

SUPER AGENT DAVID FAULK IS A CLIP FAN?

Agent David Faulk who is the past has publicly ripped the Clippers, came out in support of Donald Sterling's basketball team. Faulk represents Darius Miles, Elton Brand, Quentin Richardson and Corey Maggette.

He was quoted in the Sacramento Bee as giving of all people Bulls GM Jerry Krause full credit for building the Clips:

"I can recall that in 1999, we lobbied Chicago very hard to draft Elton over Odom," Falk said. "I think those were the two guys they were considering. So they (took Brand). The next year, we lobbied very hard for Chicago to draft Miles and Richardson, but they wouldn't give up the seventh pick (in a trade) to do that, and so they gave the Clippers Miles, Richardson and (Keyon) Dooling. And then they gave them back Elton. So anyone who says Jerry Krause can't build a team I take issue with. I think he's done an unbelievable job building the L.A. Clippers."

To read the full article click here:Clip and save

Ben's Take: Falk only made these comments because he is still bitter about the Bulls handling of Michael Jordan. That said he is 100% correct. The Clips would be like the Warriors if it wasen't for the fact the Bulls have no clue how to run an NBA Draft. If Elgin Baylor is smart he should send Jerry Krause a dozen red roses.

What do you think? Click Here to E mail Ben permalink

Coming Soon...

Big Ben's Top 10 Heisman Trophy Candidates!

Benmaller.com will breakdown the top college football players in the nation. Check back on Wednesday for all the inside information on the top college players.

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