TED SOBEL SPORTS AUDIO VAULT: Your Inside Access to TOUCHING GREATNESS

Sorry if you came here recently and I had no postings, but I’m back from vacation and a long week of getting no sleep as the verrrrrrrrrrry early morning sports guy at KFWB.

I WAS able to get to Monday’s UCLA newser with athletic director Dan Guerrero making the announcement that he was ending the Rick Neuheisel era as of the end of tonight’s first Pac 12 championship game, which the Bruins lost 49-31 (ironically scoring the same amount as the point spread-which they covered nicely!).

I also got my last opportunity on Monday night to interview Neuheisel for the final time as the Bruins coach and I want to take this opportunity to thank Rick for all of his great cooperation. Not all head coaches give you the accessibility that he did and it’s truly appreciated. I asked Rick a few questions during his post-practice media gathering and then again for a quick 1on1 after speaking to his players. They all wanted to win this one for ‘The Gipper’ but they were simply out-manned…something they know about all too well these days. Coach almost lost it when I told him that this game to his players WAS as much about him as the game itself!

The strangest stat is that the Bruins can now become the first team in anyone’s memory that I know of, to finish a season at 6-8 after a possible bowl game (something I asked Guerrero about-because I could). And now the big question is who will be the next football boss in Westwood? It appears the big bucks are finally there to spend, but its not about how much? It’s about who and when the Bruins can start recruiting for the new era as USC gets stronger by the minute (until Matt Barkley leaves for the NFL draft of course). I personally would love to see the two Jim Mora’s take over the Bruin program. Can you see young Jim as a very enthusiastic recruiter with his dad making plans for annual bowl games AKA ‘PLAAAAAYOFFS!!!!!!’ 🙂

So as the 11-2 Ducks take their 3rd straight conference championship to THE Rose Bowl (UCLA’s home turf), the Bruins are possibly headed to the dreaded bowl meccas (he said sarcastically) of either Las Vegas or San Francisco with offensive coordinator Mike Johnson acting as the interim head coach.

The following interviews are from the Bruins’ manic Monday in Westwood where I got reactions to the news of the firing and previews for the Oregon game…better later, than never!

UCLA A.D. Dan Guerrero with Ted Sobel:

Rick Neuheisel with Ted Sobel et al after learning his fate:

Coach Neuheisel with Ted Sobel 1on1 after practice:

Bruins QB Kevin Prince with Ted Sobel:

Bruins RB Johnathan Franklin with Ted Sobel:

Bruins TE Joseph Fauria with Ted Sobel:

Bruins Offensive coord/interim head coach Mike Johnson with Ted Sobel:

It was the 7th time that the L.A. Galaxy played in the MLS Cup championship game but the first time in front of their home fans and they sent them all home to party after a 1-0 win over the Houston Dynamo who seemed to play more not to lose throughout this one. The lone goal came in the 72nd minute off the foot of Landon Donovan with the 2nd assist credited to his ‘buddy’ David Beckham who was all smiles afterward (despite his sore hamstring, back and whatever else is bothering the aging soccer star).

So now the big question is will Beckham go out on top either retiring all together or possibly playing back in Europe next year? And remember that he still hasn’t ruled out wearing the Galaxy uniform again so that is still to be determined.

What he did tell me after the game was strongly intimating that he’ll likely remain a Los Angeles resident with his family very happy in So-Cal. And he’s been such a gentleman that it’s a pleasure to keep him around…whether that’s on the soccer field any longer is anyone’s guess but may David’s decision work out whatever his best for his health and family.

On a personal note, attending this championship game completes my 2011 Media Grand Slam’ plus 1. I ended up reporting from the Super Bowl, NHL Stanley Cup and NBA Finals, and the World Series all in the same year and I guess it was only fitting that the final game was actually in my own city with the L.A. Galaxy crowned the champs! It all starts again in the New Year with the Rose Bowl but until then, it was a full season to remember for sure with sounds and pictures placed here for all to enjoy. Thanks for sharing the ride and let’s do it again next year (at least some of them!)… 🙂

David Beckham postgame with Ted Sobel:

Landon Donovan and David Beckham with Ted Sobel postgame newser:

Week 11 of the NFL is in the books and as heard on the Sports USA Radio network, the Green Bay Packers remain unbeaten after a 9 point win over the visiting Tampa Bay Bucs. The 2nd half of our doubleheader went to the hometeam Chicago Bears who put away the disappointing San Diego Chargers by 11 but then found out they had possibly lost quarterback Jay Cutler for the season with a broken throwing thumb.

The following is our postgame show (including some play by play highlights) which almost had me on IR with a throat issue that cleared up just enough to get my words across…I’d like to thank the lemon growers across America for the fresh juices that kept me speaking instead of whispering on this very long day!…

NFL Sunday Wrap up Week 11 on Sports USA Radio:

During my 5 years as the play by play voice of the old IHL Long Beach Ice Dogs I met many hockey people that I still keep in touch with today. One of the most special is Mark Howe who’s such a down to earth quality guy (maybe not the norm for the son of a legend) who’s always been so easy to get to know. And today was special to take the red-eye from LAX to make it to Toronto just in time to see Mark along with Joe Niewundyk, Ed Belfour, and Doug Gilmour get to show off their rings to the media before their big Hockey Hall of Fame inductions night.

Although Mark’s brother (and longtime teammate) Marty was an assistant coach in Chicago when I was with the Dogs, I had never met him so today Mark introduced us and Marty (who runs all of his father’s business) was just as open and fun as the rest of the family. We exchanged a few IHL and family stories and then it was up to the stage to get a few pictures with his father Gordie, who I once chatted with so long while waiting for our planes to leave after the Montreal NHL All-Star game…that he almost missed his take-off.

Gordie is suffering from a form of dementia that mostly affects him when he’s tired. But he was in rare excellent form on this perfect day for the ultimate hockey family. And he was his old playful self with me too when I asked him a few questions on and off the record. Mr. Hockey told me some stories of several of the older hall of famers while reading their plaques together. But the most fun of all was when he would kid me while taking the pictures you see here. Gordy actually elbowed me (for real) in the chin and I have to give credit to the guy holding my camera to catch that ‘shot’ as he did. I was stunned like the hundreds of skaters who also got that legendary elbow in the kisser.

The following is my scrum with Mark and Gordie Howe and his introduction to pick up his ring. It truly was Hockey Hall of Fame night in Canada…And Howe!…

Mark Howe intro to media:

Mark Howe with Ted Sobel:

Gordie Howe with Ted Sobel:

Sorry for the delayed posting as I’m currently in Toronto for the Hockey Hall of Fame inductions so here is your NFL Week 10 in an audio nutshell. It started out with a Thursday win for the Raiders in San Diego and upsets didn’t stop there. On Sunday, Tennessee, St. Louis, Denver, New England, and Seattle (on Sports USA), and the big one Arizona at Philly all put away the favorites. We have some highlights for you from our NFL Sunday Wrap up show…

NFL Sunday Wrap up on Sports USA Radio:

Week 9 started out slowly with some early blowouts but the afternoon games made up for that in a hurry. Our Sports USA Radio doubleheader opened with New Orleans handling Tampa Bay 27-16 followed by the New York ‘Football’ Giants pulling out a Super Bowl-esq last second 24-20 win at New England. That game ended very late hence our very short 10 minute postgame hightlight show. Enjoy…

Week 9 NFL Sunday Wrap Up on Sports USA Radio: