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Saturday, December 01, 2001
NFL WEEK 12 PREVIEWS... FREE... EVERYGAME permalink Friday, November 30, 2001
Thoughts, Opinions and Notes  By Ben Maller Everyday I keep hearing more and more about Gary Sheffield going to the New York Mets. Steve Phillips would like to sign Juan Gonzalez and get Sheff. That would be a pretty good 3 4 5 in a lineup. Sheffield, Piazza and Gonzalez. Of course we all know Juan is good to miss at least 20 games with a sore toe Would you like be a radio play-by-play guy for a major league baseball team? Call the Anaheim Angels. Daron Sutton who did a two year jail sentence with Disney has jumped ship to the Milwaukee Brewers to replace Matt Vasgersian who is now with the Padres. Its odd the Angels can't keep a radio play-by-play guy. Maybe they should try and pay them up to big league standards.  Bo Belinsky a legend in his day with the Los Angeles Angels passed away this week in Las Vegas. Belinsky is known for having pitched a nine-strikeout, four-walk no-hitter as a rookie for the LA Halos against the Baltimore Orioles at Dodger Stadium in 1962, the first major league no-hitter on the West Coast. Belinsky became part of the Hollywood scene, developing a reputation as a pool-hustling, heavy-drinking playboy. As for his baseball career, it wasn't much. Belinsky was 28-51 with 476 strikeouts and an ERA of 4.10 in an eight-year career that included stints with the Angels, Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds. One reason for the Pittsburgh Steelers' NFL best defense has been the play of super rookie Kendrell Bell. In the month of November, Bell had 23 tackles, three sacks and forced a fumble. Not bad! This is just what America didn't need: Another Women's Pro Football League Ben Maller.com Trivia Question of the week: Who leads the NFL with the fewest sacks allowed? (ANSWER LATER)  I keep hearing the fans in San Diego yelling for Drew Brees and not Doug Flutie. If the Chargers are going to lose they might as well do it playing young studs. Chargers' coach Mike Riley should take the San Diego State job if offered to him. After 1-15 season and now again stinking up the AFC West, Riley will get fired at the end of the year. Most players in the NFL who you would think do steroids are lineman. Someone forgot to tell that to All-Pro DB Shawn Springs of the Seattle Seahawks who was busted for the next four games. Sometimes NFL fans go a little to far. Example A: These Bucs Fans. Nice of UCLA coach Bob Toledo to get around to punishing Cory Paus. Toledo bumped Paus to 3rd string for the rest of the season. Here is hoping the Bruins lose to ASU.  USC Coach Pete Carroll said the Trojans are the best 6-5 team in America. John McKay just turned over in his grave.  Congratulations to coach Paul Westphal and Pepperdine who beat UCLA for the first time in 55 years. UCLA's basketball team wouldn't even rank in the Mid-Major top 25 after losses to Ball State and, this week, Pepperdine. Steve Lavin has built a tradition of losing to teams that have no business beating the Bruins. The last 2 years, UCLA has lost there home openers to CSUN and Pepperdine. That's like the Lakers losing to the Bulls and Memphis.  Lavin has gotten to the final four in 4-of-5 years on the job at UCLA. How impressive is that when you consider the Bruins win two games and then they lose to the first really good team they play. North Carolina has started 0-3 for the first time in 73 years. Yet most Bruins' fans would rather have Matt Doherty as their coach than Lavin.  I don't understand what all this Karl Malone trade fuss was all about this week. Malone told Vic "The Brick" Jacobs back in 1998 that he wanted to be traded from Utah and play with the Lakers. What's going to happen first? The Lakers losing their 10th game or the Bulls winning their 10th game. Ben Maller's Sports Cliche of the Week: Turnovers killed us. (any losing team in basketball or football can say this) Peja Stojakovic of the Kings is being called the next Larry Bird. Of course if you lived in Sacramento you would probably agree.  While the Miami Heat suck out loud this season at 2-12, Anthony Carter the stud point guard from Saddleback College has done a nice job replacing Tim Hardaway. Carter is leading the Heat with 8.2apg and 1.3spg. Carter's 9th in the NBA in assists ahead of Baron Davis and Kobe Bryant. Could you imagine 10 years from now speeding down the 405 at 3am and getting pulled over and having Shaq give you a ticket. It could happen. From the world of the bizarre... Look who wants to get back in the league -- none other than former Clippers' center Bison Dele (Then Known as Brian Williams). His agent, Dwight Manley, has confirmed that he has been told that Dele, who retired from the Pistons before the 1999-2000 season, wants to come back. Manley has been contacting teams to see if there is any interest. The thing Manley apparently doesn't know, though, is that Dele has to give the Pistons the first shot.  Reports out of Chicago indicate that Tyson Chandler has developed into quit a lazy ass. While fellow high schooler Eddie Curry has worked his behind off to get better, Chandler is the first one out the door after practice. Attention Elgin Baylor... The Clippers could get Latrell Sprewell from the New York Knicks for Jeff McInnis and Michael Olowokandi. In case you thought Donald Sterling was changing with age, think again. Sources close to BenMaller.com have confirmed that the only reason the "Paper Clips" traded for Will Purdue from Portland and Vinny Del Negro from Phoenix this year was for salary cap reasons. The Clips traded for the vets so their salary would count against the cap. The Clippers are the Bengals of the NBA, about 10 million below all other NBA Teams on their cap figure. For you guys that are having a tough time picking college football games, here is something to make you feel better. My friend Hunter was 0-for-6 picking games on Saturday. How pathetic is that? The other day I was surfing around ESPN.com when I came across an interesting web page. Fox Sports Radio's super stud Tony Bruno is still part of ESPN? CUT AND PASTE: http://espn.go.com/espninc/personalities/tonybruno.html I got an E mail from old friend Tomm Looney who used to work at 1150am before the blood bath of 2001. Looney was driving on the Pennsylvania/New York border and found a Fox Affiliate. He heard me and also former 1150 update king Jeff Biggs. Normally I'm not in my car between 3pm and 7pm, however If I am I always would flip the dial between Hacksaw on 690am, Leykis on 97.1fm and Papa Joe on 1540am. Papa Joe is about to go the way of the dinosaur 1540 has decided to go with Bob Golic and Chris Myers a couple of my former coworkers at Fox Sports Radio. Golic is amazing, he's still waiting for his first good show on the radio yet he's worked for every sports station and network in Southern California. I guess that says alot about Sports Talk Radio. Exciting news you can now hear the "Ben Maller Show" on FOX SPORTS RADIO via the internet again on Yahoo.com. They carry Fox Sports 850am in Seattle's programming. Also Fox Sports Radio is available around the world on the new XM Satellite Radio. Many people around the Southern California area are upset with the number of calls that my show takes from Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, South Carolina, Florida and every other state in the deep south. I can't make anyone in Los Angeles call. If you want to talk about the Lakers, Dodgers, Bruins and Trojans or get my opinion you need to pick up the phone and call. Or else its going to be more Titans, Volunteers, Gators, Crimson Tide and Gamecock talk. There is nothing worse than listening to callers to a sports talk show call up and kiss the hosts ass for tickets to a game. This sadly has become the best feature on one local LA sports talker.  Now a message from our sponsors... A friendly reminder to listen to my radio show this weekend on your local Fox Sports Radio station. It's me along with Bob Page at the Fox Sports Update desk from 5am till 8am(est) Saturday morning. Sunday morning from 4am till 7am I'll be back again. Sunday nights / Monday Mornings listen to the big weekend rap up show from 10pm till 2am along with Jason Smith on your local Fox Sports radio station. Ben Maller.com Trivia Question of the week Answer: The Chicago Bears OL has allowed an NFL-low 12 sacks.
Big Ben Maller's Five Star College Pick of the Week   Tennessee (9-1) at Florida (9-1) The Line: Florida -17 1/2 Ben's Pick Tennessee and the points! Last Meeting: Despite Tennessee holding a 16-14 lead in the series, Florida has won 12 of the last 15 meetings and the last seven games in Gainesville. Tennessee hasn't recorded a win in Gainesville since 1971, when it beat the Gators, 20-13 Did you know? Florida has been nearly unbeatable at home over the years, posting a 68-4 record at the "Swamp" since 1994, including a 22-0 mark against SEC East foes. Big Ben's Breakdown: Florida is lead by the nation's best offense. QB Rex Grossman who has an outside chance at the Heisman, has passed for 3,534 yards with 32 TD's and 11 INTs. Grossman leads the nation in pass efficiency (176.3), total offense per game (353.4) and yards per play (9.62), points responsible for (21.60), and passing yards per game (353.4). Grossman does have two of the best receivers in the nation to throw to in Soph Jabar Gaffney and Jun Reche Caldwell, Gaffney has 1,090 yards receiving for 12 touchdowns, while Caldwell has 944 yards receiving and 10 scores. As for the Gators' running game, TB Earnest Graham who leads the team with 72.2 ypg will not play in this game because of a knee sprain. That means Robert Gillespie will get the pigskin in this one. On defense, the Gators have been super, ranking seventh in the nation and first in the SEC in total defense (278.2 ypg), while ranking sixth in the country and second in the conference against the run (85.9ypg). Florida leads the conference and is 3rd in the nation in scoring defense (12.1ppg) and 3rd in the conference in pass defense (192.3ypg). The Gators have allowed just 14 TDs this season, second best in the nation. Senior linebacker Andra Davis and sophomore strong safety Guss Scott share the team lead with 58 tackles on the year. Tennessee can match Florida on offense, sophomore quarterback Casey Clausen is 15-2 as a starter, is fifth in the SEC in passing (246.9 ypg) and will be trying to become only the third UT quarterback to throw for 2,500 yards in a season. Currently, Clausen has thrown for 2,469 yards and 19 touchdowns, while throwing seven interceptions. Clauson has a group of receivers as good as the Gators to throw to. Senior Donte Stallworth, has 19 catches for 439 yards and seven touchdowns in the last three games. However, the top receiver for the Vols overall this year has been freshman walk-on Kelley Washington, with 857 yards receiving and four touchdowns. Travis Stephens is the leader of the UT running attack, Stephens has rushed for 1,201 yards and eight touchdowns. Overall Tennessee is sixth in the conference in total offense (403.7 ypg) and fourth in scoring offense (30.1 ppg). The key to this game is the Vols' defense. Tennessee has one of the toughest defensive units in the nation, especially against the run where it allows just 85.4 yards per contest (4th-nation). UT leads the NCAA in fewest rushing touchdowns allowed with four. The Big Orange has also been tough against the pass limiting teams to 209.7 yards per game (48th- nation). Tennessee ranks second in the SEC with 28 sacks. A total of 13 players have recorded at least a half sack this season. Ben's Bottom Line: While Florida was outplayed in their loss to Auburn on the road, Tennessee outplayed Georgia in their loss. The Vols allowed the Bulldogs a rally in the final 90 seconds. So UT should be 10-0 entering this game and thinking of roses. I look for this game to be very close throughout. The Vols have the weapons not only to play with the Gators but to win this game straight up. The key is for the UT defense to show up healthy. BenMaller.com's Final Score: Florida 26, Tennessee 24 Other College Picks: Virginia Tech +14 vs. Miami, Colorado +9 vs. Texas, BYU -4 at Mississippi State, Purdue -1 1/2 vs. Notre Dame, Penn State -5 at Virginia, Arizona State +10 1/2 at UCLA, Oregon State +10 1/2 at Oregon, Fresno State -22 vs. Utah State. Big Ben Maller's Five Star NFL Pick of the Week   Arizona Cardinals (3-6) at Oakland Raiders(8-2) The Line: Raiders -13 Did You Know? Oakland has won 10 in a row against the NFC dating to a 28-24 setback at Green Bay on Sept. 12, 1999. Last Meeting: Oct. 4, 1998; Raiders, 23-20. At Tempe, Ariz., Oakland forced four turnovers and cornerback Charles Woodson returned an interception 46 yards for a touchdown. Big Ben's Breakdown: The Raiders hold a share of the NFL's best record and are the league's only unbeaten team at home. The Silver & Black have a league-best 2 1/2 game lead over second-place Denver in the AFC West. The Raiders have gone 4-0 at home and averaged 34.5 points in those victories and only one of those games was decided by fewer than 10 points. No receiver in the NFL has been hotter over the last four weeks than Tim Brown. Brown has 28 catches for 360 yards in that span. Add to that Rich Gannon the NFL's top quarterback with a 104.0 passer rating and a league leading 18-2 touchdown-to-interception ratio and you can understand why Oakland is so dominant. The Raiders' pass defense has been outstanding of late, allowing opposing quarterbacks to complete just 31 of 65 passes for 282 yards and no touchdowns the last two weeks. Arizona has one player to keep an eye on. David Boston leads the league with 1,065 receiving yards, including five 100-yard games in his last six outings. He has caught four touchdown passes from Jake Plummer in the last three weeks. Boston's hot play has helped the Cards win their last two games against the Chargers & Lions. Ben's Breakdown: Rich Gannon, Tim Brown & Jerry Rice against the next-to-last in the league pass defense that has allowed 744 yards in the last two weeks. The Cardinals have beaten a couple of crappie teams the last two weeks. Look for the Raiders to roll! BenMaller.com's Final Score: Raiders 28, Cardinals 10 Other NFL Picks: Miami -3 vs. Denver, Indianapolis +7 vs. Baltimore, Carolina +10 vs. New Orleans, Cleveland -1 vs. Tennessee, St. Louis -8 at Atlanta, Detroit +7 at Chicago. Dallas +8 1/2 vs. Washington Jason Smith of Fox Sports Radio, NFL Pick of the Week   New England Patriots (6-5) at New York Jets (7-3) The Line: Jets by 4 By BenMaller.com contributor Jason Smith Well, we took Sunday off, much like the Jets and deservedly so after a walloping in Miami. Yes, I know the Broncos didn't cover on Turkey Day, but that was an aberration. You can't trust the Ponies, nor can you bet on them as it turns out. So we'll go elsewhere for the LOCK OF THE WEEK. At 7-3 and peaking (not peeking, like up Ben Maller's girlfriend's skirt) the JETS host the New England Patriots, who are 6-5 and overachieving and feeling gosh-darn it golly-happy and joy-joy in Boston and pouring chowder over their neighbors' heads in celebration. Well the clam party ends here, now, in the Meadowlands, with Mayor Quimby crying in his kickback. All the props in the world to Bill Belichick for getting this team into the playoff hunt, but it's time the new darling of Kenmore Square got re-acquainted with the turf in New Jersey. Remember, Tom Brady came in at the end of Week 2 in the final minute of the game and led a drive that fell short as the Jets hung on to beat New England 10-3. It's a much different Jets team now than it was then, and I think the defense gives Brady fits while the offense relies on Curtis Martin (gee this sounds familiar) to get it done. Brady will give way to Tony Eason, then Steve Grogan, and then Scott Zolak as the Pats look for offense but will be unable to find it. They'll then go to Drew Bledsoe and finally Tempestt Bledsoe who will throw a TD to Malcolm Jamal-Warner late in the 4th but by then it'll be too late. Jason Smith's Final Score: Jets 28, Patriots 13. Take New York and the points, as Martin gets into the endzone three times, John Abraham adds to his AFC leading sack total, and Ben Maller has to live with another Jets victory. Sound Off! Write Back: CLICK HERE permalink Thursday, November 29, 2001
Big Ben Maller's Special Thursday NFL Pick   Philadelphia Eagles(6-4) at Kansas City Chiefs(3-7) The Line: Eagles -3 Ben's Pick: Eagles lay the points Record vs. Spread: Eagles 6-3; Chiefs 3-6. Last Meeting: Chiefs beat Eagles 24-21 on Sept. 27, 1998, in Philadelphia. Did You Know? The Eagles' Brian Mitchell needs 151 yards to join Walter Payton and Jerry Rice as the only players with 20,000 combined yards in league history. Big Ben's Breakdown: This is a rebound game for coach Andy Reid and the Philadelphia Eagles. Reid's club is coming off an embarrasing 13-3 home loss to the Washington Redskins. Donovan McNabb, the MVP caliber QB had his worst game of the year. McNabb completed just 15 of 27 passes for a season-low 92 yards and ran just three times for 39 yards - 33 on the final play. As a team Philadelphia had just seven first downs. Kansas City snapped a five game losing streak last week doing what they always do, beating the Seahawks at Arrowhead Stadium. QB Trent Green played well with 256 yards passing and no interceptions. Green had thrown a league leading 16 INT's in the Chiefs first nine games. RB Priest Holmes made Green's job easier. Holmes ran for 120 yards and caught three passes for 70 yards. Over the last six games Holmes is averaging 112 yards a game. KC has the 7th best offense in the NFL. The Chiefs' defense has played better of late ranking 16th in the NFL but 29th against the run. That could mean a big game for Eagles' RB Duce Staley. This is a similar spot to when the Eagles lost to the Arizona Cardinals at home then bouced back after a week off to upset the New York Giants at the Meadowlands. This is a key game for Philadelphia as their lead over Washington is down to just one game in the NFC East. The Eagles are 4-0 on road and that will continue here. Look for McNabb to bounce back with a 300 yard passing night and more importantly the Eagles' defense ranked 4th in the NFL to control Trent Green and company. BenMaller.com Final Score: Eagles 31, Chiefs 21 Write Back:Send Ben Maller E mail by CLICKING HERE! CLICK HERE FOR THE FREE UCLA VS. ARIZONA STATE PREVIEW permalink Wednesday, November 28, 2001
This Bud's Not For Me  By Ben Maller Let's say you took over a business, a chain of taco stands. Lets call it Bud's Taco Stand and in the first 10 years on the job, 25 of your 30 stands lost money. Then let's say that overall your company lost $500 million dollars. Would you get a vote of confidence and a 3-year contract extension from the guys running the taco stands? OF COURSE NOT! Welcome to the world of Major League Baseball 2001. Its an amazing fantasy land where Commissioner Bud Selig can get a contract extension and then minutes later tell all the game's fans that baseball has never been in worse shape. I was at the Fox Sports Update desk Tuesday afternoon and had the sad job of watching Bud talk: all 45 minutes of his boring-ass newsconference at the owners meetings. Anything positive that I had to say about Selig went out the window after this painful experience. I have been very fortunate to make friends with many people in baseball. It's my favorite sport. Let me tell you that Bud is full of Milwaukee's best if he thinks 25-of-30 clubs lost money last season. From what I understand the numbers are more in the direction of 5 clubs losing money and 25 making a profit. How stupid do these owners think the American sports fan is? These are the best business men that this country has to offer. These men have made billions of dollars in their private work yet when they get to own a ball club they become Stooges? I don't think so. I like to call it Jackie Autry math. The one time Angels' owner used to bitch all the time about the club losing money in the early 90's. Yet friends of mine who worked for the organization said the Halos made about $10 million dollars a season. The problem was that Autry was expected to make at least $30 million. So she said the team lost $20 million dollars. From what I understand this is normal practice in baseball. Bud Selig announced that the numbers of baseball's financial nightmare will be released at a special hearing in Washington on December 6th. I expect alot of funny math from baseball's geeks and lawyers to skew the numbers in the game's favor. I'm a Baseball fan. I don't have to worry about running a club. If the owners can't handle running their business and making a profit they have nobody to blame but themselves! Baseball is fine. Except for guys like Bud Selig. permalink Tuesday, November 27, 2001
Big Ben in Bruno's World  By Ben Maller The morning after Thanksgiving was a special day for me. I had the chance to sit in for one the few guys that I truly respect and look up to in radio, Tony Bruno! Thanksgiving Day I hosted for J. T. The Brick. The show went well and I had a good time talking in the BrickHouse. After my shift had ended at 8pm, I went home for a few hours to get a break before a 2am till 10am shift at the Fox Sports Update Desk. I was not aware that I would be sitting in for the great Bruno. I did updates from 2am till about 4:20 when Jubel, one of the producers for the show came in and asked me If I was ready to do the show. I asked him what the hell he was talking about. He then filled me in. Jim Lampley of HBO sports would be my co-host but that I was going to be the lead guy on the show. I had about 40 minutes to pack as much info as possible into my tired brain to get ready for the show.  What a morning it was. Tony has only the best guests. In the 5am west coast time hour I interviewed Brian Billick head coach of the World Champion Baltimore Ravens who was in the middle of a quarterback controversy with Elvis Grbac.  At 6am Larry Brown from the Eastern Conference champion Philadelphia 76ers came in and bonded with me and Lampley about North Carolina basketball being 0-2. I asked Brown about Matt Geiger retiring and a got a surprising answer that it was in Larry's opinion going to be a blow to their team.  Later on in the morning, we talked with Peter King the football insider from CNN/SI, Pat O'Brian from Access Hollywood and Dave Cowens head coach of the Golden State Warriors.  Jim Lampley was great to work with. I was worried their would be some problems with him because one of my former radio partners took many cheap shots at Lampley for his Boxing work. Jim was cool and luckily had never heard the show or me or my ex partner before I arrived at FOX. When I was younger, I used to listen to Tony Bruno on ESPN Radio when he first started there on weekends and have always respected him as the greatest personality in sports radio. To have a chance to sit in his chair for a morning was truly a highlight of my career. MONDAY NIGHT FOOTBALL IN PICTURES permalink Monday, November 26, 2001
Big Ben's Wild Weekend Review By Ben Maller The Oakland Raiders and Pittsburgh Steelers made the biggest impact in week 11. The Silver & Black dominated the NFC Champion New York Giants at the Meadowlands in a rain storm 28-10. Rich Gannon had three more touchdown passes. Heading into December he's got just 2 interceptions!  While the Raiders looked great they should be careful because Notre Dame lost to Stanford meaning that the Irish are not going bowling this season. That means Bob Davie gets fired and Jon Gruden gets a phone call. Will the Irish eyes be smiling? Kordell Stewart must have made a deal with the devil. Stewart did again for the Steelers against the Tennessee Titans. Stewart had a pair of TD throws and also added a 48-yard TD Run. "Slash" is now 12-3 as a starter over his last 15 games.  Bill Cowher should also get some credit for the Steelers 8-2 start Jim Mora is my favorite NFL coach. After the Colts gave up 23 points on turnovers to the San Francisco 49ers, the Indianapolis coach went off to the Media. You must see this tape at Fox Sports.com Click on "Today's Video Highlight."  The Colts were supposed to be a playoff team. They're 4-6 with a three game losing streak. If Mora can join FOX SPORTS and be as honest as he was on that video, he'll be the greatest sports commentator in the history of TV. Baltimore's Brian Billick is the most hated coach in the NFL. The Ravens beat the Jaguars with 9 seconds left when Elvis Grbac hit Shannon Sharpe in the endzone. Billick after the game ripped writers for questioning his decision to stick with Grbac. It should be noted that Billick is not the most hated coach in all of football. Steve Spurrier of the University of Florida takes the cake. The first team to win 8 games gets the NFC East. Washington upset the Eagles to become the first team ever to go 0-5 and the 5-0 to start a season.  The Washington Redskins could go from worst to first - in the same season. Some how Marty Schottenheimer has found a defense. The Skins held Philadelphia to just 186 yards and seven first downs.  The Chicago Bears are this year's Atlanta Falcons or Baltimore Ravens. After a 10-2 start and back-to-back division road wins at Tampa and Minnesota its time to say Da' Bears are for real. Wonder if Coach Dick Jauron will get a contract extension. Chicago has 8 wins and has yet to play the Lions.  The San Diego Chargers don't have to worry about a playoff game. The Boltz lost in the last second to the Arizona Cardinals 20-17 at home. All Doug Flutie does is win? My ass! Drew Brees will be the starter in San Diego by the end of next season. Big Ben's Game Balls For Week 11: 3.) Tom Brady, Patriots, four touchdowns against the New Orleans Saints. 2.) Jay Fiedler, Dolphins, threw three fourth-quarter touchdown passes, including a 32-yarder to Chris Chambers with 48 seconds. 1.) Chicago Bears' Defense: It was the first time in 98 regular-season games the Vikings did not get into the end zone. Big Ben's 3 Bum's From Week 11: 3.) Panthers Offense: Carolina gained 247 yards against the Falcons, its fifth consecutive game under 300. Panthers lost 10-7. 2.) Jon Kitna & Scott Mitchell, Bengals: Kitna was 8-19 for 85 yards and two picks; Mitchell was 4-12 for 38 yards and three picks. 1.) Peyton Manning, Colts: Four Interceptions against an average Niners' defense? Jim Mora is right: PATHETIC! Other Random Weekend Thought's: Oklahoma should face NCAA sanctions for their performance against Oklahoma State. Roy Williams is the greatest defensive player in college ball today, not Julius Peppers of North Carolina.  Williams will be a star in the NFL and a higher draft pick. Peppers is a good player but not close to the Sooner Safety. They shouldn't give out the Heisman trophy this year. I can't think of any player that really stands out.  Someone should tell the folks at KCBS Channel 2 here in Los Angeles that the Raiders play in Oakland these days. For some reason, Jim Hill was at the Meadowlands in New Jersey for postgame Raiders' coverage. Last time the Silver & Black played in Southern California was 1994. Someone should also point out that one of their punk sportscasters is a San Diego talk show host and does not live in LA. I wonder what the NHL's reaction was when the report came out this weekend that pro-bowling had higher ratings than hockey on ESPN. Derek Fisher looked great in his first game with the Lakers this season against Denver last night. The Lakers look like a 70 win team if Shaq and Kobe can stay healthy. Coming up Tomorrow, I will recap my guest hosting appearance on the "Tony Bruno Radio show". It was an amazing morning of sportstalk radio with Jim Lampley. Pictures of Week 11 in the NFL from BenMaller.com Sound Off! Write Back: CLICK HERE permalink Sunday, November 25, 2001
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