BenMaller.com - Ben's Takes

The Day an American Leader was born!

By Ben Maller

Friday was not just a normal day in American history. This was the day that a president turned into a great leader! I have been glued to the television like so many this week. However, during the day I pay extra special attention because I have been doing news updates on the Fox Sports Radio Network.

As I sat in Radio Edit Bay One at the Fox lot and listened to George W. Bush's speech from a church near the Capitol, I started to realize what I was hearing. Then when the president spoke on a bullhorn to rescue workers going through the rubble at the World Trade Center, I knew it was true: George Bush became a man, no, more than a man, a Leader of the Free Human Race.

You can call me a sap if you want, but I started to get tears in my eyes as I listened to the President, using a bullhorn, address the rescue workers in Manhattan. It was better than any Knute Rockne speech you could imagine. To hear those firemen and workers chant, "USA! USA! USA!," was a great moment in American history. I hope the history books were watching.

Now the President must do the right thing and take out Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein. He's gotta take care of the baggage his daddy couldn't handle!

One last thing, as I drove home down Pico Blvd in West L.A., it was great to see a line at least a block long next to, what else, but a flag store!

USA! USA! USA!
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Thursday, September 13, 2001

The Ballparks and Stadiums will stay empty!

By Ben Maller

Its a very hard question to answer. How long is long enough to stop sport?. I completely agree with what Paul Tagliabue, Bud Selig, Gary Bettman and the Nascar folks did. America is not ready to go to a ballpark or stadium. It's too soon. It's too big. It's too sad. I understand the other side: those that are upset because they want to watch their NFL Football on Sunday. I don't think that watching a game, any game will ever be the same.

After the events of September 11th 200, life itself will never be the same. Some good will come out of this tragedy in the pro sports world. I think a lot of eyes have been opened among the millionaire players and billionaire owners. Its simple: how important is all that money and greed in the end? The most important thing in life is life itself.

What Now?

By Ben Maller

We must clean up and we must lay to rest the innocent men, women, and children that lost their lives. Then we must hunt down the men responsible for this and kill them. I'm disappointed to see how some media members pat themselves on the back for their coverage of the attacks.

It's embarrassing to be a part of the media at times like these. I love the ability to give people the latest information on this breaking story. However, it sickens me to think that certain television networks and talk radio stations are smiling at this tragedy because they can get more listeners or viewers. Its not about that. Its about bringing the people of this country together. Trying to make them feel better and letting them express what their thoughts are.

I believe the American people will unite to beat terrorists. It will take all of us, around the country, to keep our eyes open and watch out for these nuts that are living among us. And call the FBI when we see or suspect something! Do it for America! permalink

Tuesday, September 11, 2001

Terror in the Big Apple!!!

By Ben Maller

The saddest day In my life is September 11th 2001. I woke up early to do sports updates all day from the Fox Broadcast center in West LA. I listen to a sports station in the morning, Today though I heard a female news anchor's voice say the World Trade Center had been destroyed! I thought I was dreaming. I jumped out of bed and went to the TV. CNN had pictures of the plane crashing into the second tower. I then flipped over to the Fox News Channel... They showed the same damn thing.

My first concern was my older brother Joe and his wife who live in Manhattan. I knew my brother was not going to be in lower Manhattan at that time. However I was worried that my bro had gone down to the trade center to take pictures after the first plane hit. I tried to call him several times and could not get a hold of him. I had no choice but to leave for work. When I got to the studios I tried calling him again. No luck! I went to his website and saw a message that said to send him a message on the internet. Thank God he was ok and I was able to talk with him and find out that he and his wife were fine.

It was the strangest day in my broadcast career. Tom Lee our great program director at Fox Sports Radio turned the network into a news outfit. Tony Bruno is a broadcasting god and did a great job with Andrew in the morning. Kevin Kiley then did kick ass radio during the midday. My job was to update America on what was happening. Along with the help of Art Martinez and Fish the two producers. We were able to monitor Fox News Channel, CNN, NBC, CBS, ABC and the AP and Fox Wires. So from Seattle to Peoria to Pittsburgh I was at the Fox Sports Update Desk mic providing the most up to the minute information I could find on this tragedy.

I have been to New York City many times over the years and had some of the best times of my life there. If you read this website on a regular basis you know that I was just in Manhattan less than a month ago with my younger brother to see the city and to spend time with my family there. One of my stops took me to the World Trade Center. For those that have never been to the towers you can't begin to imagine the scope of the human loss. It is the worst day in American History.

How could anyone do this? Aren't we all human beings? How can one man do this to another man?

My thoughts and prayers go out to those that have lost loved one's. I have great respect for the men and women that are trying as we speak to rescue survivors.

God Bless Freedom! God Bless America!

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Monday, September 10, 2001

"Ben Maller.com's Monday Morning Quarterback"

By Ben Maller

Herman Edwards is off to a flying start as head coach of the New York Jets. Its gotta be tough to game plan when my radio co-host Jason Smith could start on your Defensive Line.

If Terry Allen keeps running the ball like this he'll be out of the NFL. Allen in his Baltimore Ravens debut ran for 37 yards on 20 carries and also lost a fumble.

I Suck at gambling... I have had to live with this fact for the last 8 years since I got into sports talk radio. I will explain my curse on this website soon. That said how in the hell do the Seattle Seahawks not beat the Cleveland Browns by more than 3? (I had Seattle -3 1/2)

They spent $28 million dollars on Brad Johnson, Changed offensive coordinators again. They still are pathetic on offense. Who are they? Yep the Tampa Bay Buccaners who scored 10 Points against the Dallas Cowboys.

Seeing Terry Bradshaw, Howie, Chris and JB on the FOX NFL pregame life seemed better.

Break up the Cincinnati Bengals... 1-0 and headed towards six wins...

Rob Johnson of the Buffalo Bills was just trying to help a fellow USC Alumni when he tossed 2-of-3 Interceptions to Sammy Knight of the New Orleans Saints.

Are you still on the Kordell Stewart bandwagon? The Steelers QB was 21-for-37 with 181 yards passing. Problem was the Pittsburgh offense scored 3 points Bottom Line!

The Ravens defense, The Raiders offense and my football picks are all in midseason form.

Quincy Carter lived up to the hype. 9-of-19 for 44 yards. How could Dallas not win when you have that kind of passing game.

For you fellow degenerate gamblers out there. It should be noted that Chris Weinke and the Panthers and Carter and the Cowboys covered the point spreads in their first NFL Starts.

Dick Vermeil should feel at home in Kansas City. The Chiefs defense appears to be one of the NFL's worst. The Oakland Raiders racked up 377 total net yards and 27 points.

The Kansas City Chiefs offense looked like a slower version of the Rams attack.

I wonder if coach Jeff Fisher wants to see Steve McNair make a quick comeback to the Tennesee Titans from his shoulder injury?

Zack Thomas of the Miami had the leap of the day. Thomas went head over heels into the end zone after picking off Neil O'Donnell of the Titans.

I said in the preaseason that the Carolina Panthers and Seattle were my suprise teams. Chris Weinke is the wild card for the Panthers. George Seifort's team has done what the Saints did. They have three pro bowl caliber offensive lineman. Its a simple game if you can control the line of scrimage.

*It should be noted that Dante Culpepper of the Vikes three intercepetions did help the Panthers. But in my opinion that was just great defense.

Big Ben's Stat of the NFL Sunday: The Miami Dolphins have won 10 straight season opening games. Only the Dallas Cowboys have a longer streak. The Cowboys won 17 straight openers from 1965 through 1981.

Barry Bonds has 63 homeruns now and will not get to 71. I hope he gets stuck on 70. Its odd that Bonds would hit three homeruns on an NFL Sunday... I wonder if that was because the spotlight was off him.

I was checking out the brand new FoxSports.com over the weekend and I saw one of the funniest video's I've seen in a long time. They have tape of the Chiefs mascot "KC Wolf" tackling a fan that ran onto the field at the Pro Bowl last season. I laughed my ass off!

I was working the Sunday afternoon/night shift at the Fox Broadcast center when a 4.1 earthquake struck the valley. I was 15 seconds away from my first update at the Fox Sports update desk and see my producer Fish run for the door. Jim Daniels who was hosting is running for cover also. I decided I would sit and shake through the update. It was a wild ride. I did get James Brown from Fox NFL Sunday to give me an unbelievable.

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