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

I was supposed to be at the Lakers season opener tonight (Tuesday) against the Oklahoma City Thunder but this little thing called a ‘lockout’ got in the way! So instead, let’s talk a little college basketball which is quickly upon us after the Pac 12 media day get together last Friday at L.A. Live in Downtown L.A. (across from the same Staples Center where I should be right now).

I spoke with our local head coaches UCLA’s Ben Howland and Kevin O’Neill of USC. O’Neill was on the run as I caught him for the brief interview in which we talked about the loss of his senior star guard Jio Fontan. But word today has it that the Trojans floor leader and top returning scorer is now optimistic that he could return this season after suffering a torn ACL in his left knee in August. He’s aiming for the Jan. 5 game against Arizona State but coach O’Neill says they won’t rush the kid for any reason. USC will face Long Beach State in a closed scrimmage at noon Saturday in the Galen Center for their second and final closed scrimmage this preseason. The Trojans open the real season against Cal State Northridge on Nov. 11.

As for the Bruins, they’ll be playing most of their games this season at the old Sports Arena while Pauley Pavilion gets rebuilt. I asked Howland about his big squad who are ranked 17th in AP’s preseason poll, while media’s pick to win the Pac 12 receiving 14 first-place votes, just ahead of Cal (13) and Arizona (11). We also covered how the late Coach Wooden would see his team right now and life without Coach behind the bench.

The Bruins return three starters and feature one of the most imposing front lines in the country with 6-foot-10 center Joshua Smith, 6-10 twin forwards David and Travis Wear and 6-8 forward Reeves Nelson, who coach told me has been working on his jumper with the same tenacity that he goes after rebounds! UCLA opens the season against Loyola Marymount on Nov. 11.

I also ran into Pac 12 commish Larry Scott who was kind enough to chat for a couple of minutes on his way out as he continues to market this conference like nobody else before him.

And finally I saw Oregon State head coach Craig Robinson standing in the corner of the room. And you certainly can’t miss him, not only because of his size and stature but he also looks so much like his little sister you can’t help but notice. Oh, and by the way…his sis is First Lady Michelle Obama who’s the Beavers’ biggest fan. We nicely got into depth on how the President of the United States wife affects his life as a coach.

He later told me he could kick President Obama’s ass on the court if they ever played one on one. And he should since Robinson was a 6′-6″ forward, and a two-time Ivy League Player of the Year at Princeton (under Pete Carrill) and then drafted in the fourth round of the 1983 NBA Draft by the Philadelphia 76ers. But he never played in the league instead went pro with the Manchester Giants in the British Basketball League for two seasons before turning to a business career in finance along with coaching. He’s quite an engaging guy with a great sense of humor and personality, pretty interesting stuff to me and I hope to you too!…

UCLA coach Ben Howland with Ted Sobel:

USC coach Kevin O’Neill with Ted Sobel:

Oregon State coach Craig Robinson with Ted Sobel:

Pac 12 Commissioner Larry Scott with Ted Sobel:

Trick or treat? What a wild triple-overtime game it was on Saturday night at the Coliseum (the first sellout since 2008) as Stanford outlasted USC 56-48. And it took a final Cardinal touchdown and 2 point conversion to send the betters in Vegas and offshore crazy. The point spread opened at 8 1/2 then quickly dropped to 8 and ended up at mostly 7 1/2, so the emotional roller coaster ride was there for any who had more than a dollar on the game (nobody said betting football was for the stable!) 🙂

This game was like a bowl game that told much about both teams including Matt Barkley being able to move his Trojans down the field just like his Stanford counterpart Andrew Luck who threw an awful pick 6 late in the game but still found a way to get this one into overtime.

I talked with his coach David Shaw after the game and he explained in more detail what makes Luck special (besides his obvious physical attributes) and Cardinal linebacker A.J. Tarpley who recovered the game ending fumble in the end zone. I also met up with SC defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin to get his take on falling just short on national TV. And speaking of the ESPN telecast…yes that was me who had to hustle to get my KFWB mic under Luck’s mouth during his postgame interview with Erin Andrews (who if she married Luck, could go by Erin Andrew’s Luck!) 🙂

You might be surprised that this was the only football game I’ve attended this season but it was a can’t miss on my calendar. The chance to see next year’s top NFL draft pick up close and personal was more than enough to lure my tired body to downtown L.A. after a long week of working the AM drive shift for the vacationing Bret Lewis at KFWB with a daily 3:30am wake-up call. And to think I have 2 more of those weeks to come before the end of the year? I might be put out to pasture before my time?

Stanford coach David Shaw with Ted Sobel:

Stanford ILB A.J. Tarpley with Ted Sobel:

USC coach Lane Kiffin with Sobel et al after loss:

USC defensive coordinator Monte Kiffin with Ted Sobel:

USC QB Matt Barkley and CB Nickell Robey with Sobel et al:

(click on any of the photos to enlarge them)

As always, comments and suggestions below are appreciated to make your experience here the best possible!

Week 8 is in the books and some bad matchups actually ended up some fairly decent contests. No time to write now but the following is our Sports USA Radio network NFL Sunday Wrap up show. It’s shorter than usual do to the length of our late game in Seattle.

Enjoy…

Sports USA Radio NFL Sunday Wrap up with Ted Sobel and Brian Golden:

After really giving it to Notre Dame at South Bend last weekend, USC is now home to 4th ranked Stanford on Saturday night. The 8 point underdog Trojans will be facing the most hyped college quarterback since John Elway (ironically also from Stanford). Andrew Luck who’s deserved every ounce of praise that’s come his way, will be looking to get his Cardinal to 8-0 and remain in the hunt for a BCS bowl game.

I had lunch at the same table as Luck during Pac 12 media day and it was fun conversing with such a down to earth and personable guy who at this time next year will be a mega-millionaire NFL quarterback with likely a verrrrrrrry bad team! He not only was quite humble (as the all-world QB that he is), but a class act who looks you right in the eye when speaking with you (you could easily say very Peyton Manning-like, which is a total compliment!).

Since I’m doing the early morning shift all this week on KFWB, I’m not able to get to USC practice so I got in a couple of questions for SC head coach Lane Kiffin during his Pac 12 conference call. And then his dad Monte (Trojans defensive coordinator) called me today (Wednesday) and we chatted about the game ahead and facing Luck on what is often a ‘Letdown’ week after such an emotional win over the Irish. It will be very interesting to see if USC can avoid that pitfall and play on as they have the past few weeks on the road.

Of course, who else than one of the most highly respected D-Coordinators of all time to ask about one of the most highly regarded college quarterbacks ever? So I appreciate Monte being so gracious with his time for me. He’s my regular go-to-guy after practice each week as he’s the most engaging of the Kiffins. I chatted with him for about a half hour the day they took over at USC 2 years ago and I couldn’t help but ask if Lane was adopted because they cannot be related? At 71, Monte has the more kid-like enthusiasm while his kid acts like an old man sometimes. So when he gets animated over any of my questions, he’s often among my favorite sound bytes of the week. I love it when he said that Luck should’ve gone to the draft so that his guys wouldn’t have to prepare for him this week! Can Luck be stopped? Good luck to the Trojans dee, if you’ll pardon the expression! 🙂 Enjoy…

And football fans, please leave a comment or suggestion at the bottom as I’m always looking to improve my content here for you…Thanks!

Lane Kiffin with Ted Sobel:

Monte Kiffin with Ted Sobel:

The Kings have won 4 straight and thanks to goalie Jonathon Quick, they haven’t allowed a goal at home during his 3 game shutout streak. But tonight, head coach Terry Murray will put Jonathon Bernier in the crease to give him some work with Quick to go next in Dallas on Thursday night.

Coach Murray called me after this morning’s skate to discuss all things Kings including Quick’s incredible roll, how his team is gelling early as hoped, and what to expect against the visiting New Jersey Devils tonight and then on to Dallas on Thursday.

I’m still waiting to see the Kings in person for the first time this season, but filling in for the early 5am-Noon shift at KFWB all this week won’t allow me to be there tonight so it’s up to Murray’s boys to do it without me.

Terry Murray with Ted Sobel:

Welcome to some of my new listeners who are Kings fans and please leave comments or suggestions below, thanks.

Another NFL doubleheader is in the book in week 7 on the Sports USA Radio network starting with the Jets comeback win over the Chargers followed by the Steelers dominating the Cardinals in Arizona. At least the latter left us with just under a 40 minute postgame show so we could give you all the days scores, stats, and fantasy football accounting.e P

The Super Packers remained unbeaten with a 6 point win at Minnesota while the Rams and Dolphins are still win-less. And Miami will likely be cleaning out Head Coach Tony Sparano’s office by the time you hear this! What an embarrassing loss at the hands (and feet) of Bronco’s QB Tim Tebow who went from almost passing himself out of the league during the first 55 minutes to being the superhero in the final few minutes with 2 TD passes and the game tying 2 point conversion run. Enjoy the highlights folks!…

NFL Sunday Wrapup on Sports USA Radio: