Monthly Archives: August 2014

WHEN LOVE COMES TO TOWN

So what happens when Love comes to town? The Cavaliers are hoping it leads to an NBA championship one day soon.

Kevin Love BR

photo courtesy of bleacher report

U2 and B.B King sang about it years ago. Everybody else has been talking about it recently. And now the biggest trade in the NBA this off season finally happened.  Love is coming to town.

Cleveland has acquired Kevin Love from Minnesota for this year’s first overall pick, Andrew Wiggins, last year’s #1 pick Anthony Bennett and a 2015 first round draft pick they acquired from Miami as part of the LeBron James trade back in 2010.

Per ESPN.com and Yahoo Sports, the Timberwolves also get power forward Thaddeus Young from Philadelphia and a reported $6.3 million trade exception as part of this three team swap, and in turn will send Luc Mbah a Moute and Alexey Shved plus a first-round pick to the 76ers.

Kyrie Uncle Drew and Kevin Wes photo

photo courtesy of thebiglead.com

Love, just 25 years old, comes to Cleveland and gets to reunite with Olympic teammate LeBron James and street ball teammate “Uncle Drew”, Kyrie Irving. It creates a “Big 3” that Cleveland has been looking for since “King James” first tenure with the Cavaliers.

Love averaged over 26 points per game along with 12 rebounds a game last season for the Timberwolves, while also dishing out over 4 assists per contest.

LeBron and Kevin Love Olympics photo

photo courtesy of unz.com

 

 

Love gives Cleveland three different 20 points per game scorers in David Blatt’s starting lineup which right now looks like Irving at the point, Dion Waiters at shooting guard, James at small forward, Love at power forward and Anderson Varejao at center.

 

It’s no secret that LeBron James wanted Love in Cleveland as he spoke highly of his high basketball IQ and what a great teammate he was in the 2012 London Olympics at his recent homecoming party in Akron, Ohio. James and Love helped Team USA win the gold medal in London.

On the flipside, James never spoke to, or about Andrew Wiggins, and didn’t mention him in his Sports Illustrated essay when he announced he was returning home to Cleveland. So the writing was on the wall that James had no problem with the Cavs dealing Wiggins, a possible future All-Star, for Love, already an All-Star 3 times over and a 2-Time All-NBA second teamer.

For Wiggins, a kid with enormous potential, he finally gets to call someplace home as he goes to Minnesota and will be the focal point in their rebuilding process.

Bennett will get a fresh start with the T-Wolves after having a disastrous rookie season a year ago, after he was selected first overall.

Love can opt out of his contract and be a free agent at the end of the 2014-15 season and like LeBron James, will probably do so. It will allow Love and James to take advantage of getting a max deal worth max dollars after a new TV contract is expected to be signed by the NBA, which would then raise the league’s salary cap and max free agents will be able to make more money on those deals.

Kevin Love JerseysLove will wear the number #0 and you can already buy his jersey at the Cavaliers Team Shop at Quicken Loans Arena.

A press conference to introduce Love to the media will be held on Tuesday, August 26th at 3pm at Cleveland Clinic Courts.

MY 1 ON 1 WITH THE CREATOR OF ARENA FOOTBALL – JIM FOSTER

Who invented it and how was Arena Football born? The answers to those two questions are revealed in this 1 on 1 interview with the architect  of Arena Football – Jim Foster.

Jim Foster 2 Arena Football League Creator

 

KENNY RODA 1 ON 1 WITH GLADIATORS KICKER AARON PETTREY

I had a chance to catch up with former OSU kicker and current place kicker for the Cleveland Gladiators, Aaron Pettrey and we talked about possibly making that game winning kick in Arena Bowl 27 and the pressure that comes with it.

Aaron Pettrey - Gladiators - OSU Kicker

KENNY RODA 1 ON 1 WITH ARIZONA RATTLERS QB NICK DAVILA

At Arena Bowl 27 Media Day today I caught up with former Cincinnati Bearcats, turned Arizona Rattlers starting quarterback Nick Davila to get his thoughts on playing QB in the AFL and trying to lead the Rattlers to a third consecutive Arena Bowl Title.

Nick Davila - Arizona Rattlers

KENNY RODA 1 ON 1 WITH GLADIATORS QB SHANE AUSTIN

At Arena Bowl 27 Media Day today I had a chance to go 1 on 1 with Cleveland Gladiators record setting quarterback Shane Austin to see what makes him tick mentally and to get his thoughts on playing for an Arena Bowl Championship in C’Town.

Shane Austin - Gladiators QB

PODCAST – KENNY RODA WITH CLEVELAND GLADIATORS COACH STEVE THONN ON WHBC

My interview with Gladiators head coach and the Arena Football Legaue’s Coach of the Year, Steve Thonn as heard on 1480 WHBC on August 20, 2014.

Steve Thonn 2

PODCAST – TALKING HOYER-MANZIEL ON FOX SPORTS RADIO WITH JAY MOHR 8-20-14

Here’s my conversation talking Browns, Brian Hoyer and Johnny Manziel with Jay Mohr on his national radio show on Fox Sports Radio on Wednesday, August 20, 2014.

Jay Mohr 2

 

OHIO STATE MEN’S BASKETBALL SCHEDULE 2014-15

Ohio State Logo

Date Opponent / Event Location Time / Result
11/09/14 vs. Walsh # TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
11/14/14 vs. UMass-Lowell TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
11/18/14 vs. Marquette TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
Buckeye Classic (Value City Arena)
11/23/14 vs. Sacred Heart TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
11/26/14 vs. Campbell TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
11/28/14 vs. James Madison TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
ACC/Big Ten Challenge (KFC YUM! Center)
12/02/14 at Louisville TV Louisville, Ky. 9:30 p.m. ET
Buckeye Classic (Value City Arena) cont.
12/06/14 vs. Colgate TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
12/10/14 vs. High Point TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
12/13/14 vs. Morehead State TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
Game Played at Nationwide Arena
12/17/14 vs. North Carolina A&T TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
CBS Sports Classic (United Center)
12/20/14 at North Carolina TV Chicago, Ill. TBA
12/22/14 vs. Miami (Oh) TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
12/27/14 vs. Wright State TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
12/30/14 vs. Iowa * TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
01/03/15 vs. Illinois * TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
01/06/15 at Minnesota * TV Minneapolis, Minn. 9:00 p.m. ET
01/10/15 at Indiana * TV Bloomington, Ind. TBA
01/13/15 vs. Michigan * TV Columbus, Ohio 7:00 p.m. ET
01/17/15 at Iowa * TV Iowa City, Iowa TBA
01/22/15 at Northwestern * TV Evanston, Ill. TBA
01/25/15 vs. Indiana * TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
01/29/15 vs. Maryland * TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
02/04/15 at Purdue * TV West Lafayette, Ind. TBA
02/08/15 at Rutgers * TV Piscataway, N.J. TBA
02/11/15 vs. Penn State * TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
02/14/15 at Michigan State * TV East Lansing, Mich. TBA
02/22/15 at Michigan * TV Ann Arbor, Mich. TBA
02/26/15 vs. Nebraska * TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
03/01/15 vs. Purdue * TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
03/04/15 at Penn State * TV State College, Pa. TBA
03/08/15 vs. Wisconsin * TV Columbus, Ohio TBA
Big Ten Tournament (United Center)
03/11/15 TBA * TV Chicago, Ill. TBA
03/12/15 TBA * TV Chicago, Ill. TBA
03/13/15 TBA * TV Chicago, Ill. TBA
03/14/15 TBA * TV Chicago, Ill. TBA
03/15/15 TBA * TV Chicago, Ill. TBA

PODCAST – STEVE HELWAGEN FROM BUCKNUTS.COM ON BRAXTON MILLER INJURY

Listen to my interview on 1480 WHBC with Steve Helwagen from Bucknuts.com on how the season ending shoulder injury to Ohio State’s Braxton Miller affects the Buckeyes 2014 season.

Steve Helwagen photo

 

JOHNNY MANZIEL REACTS TO HOYER BEING NAMED THE STARTER

Johnny Manziel Sideline Throw

On his initial reaction to Head Coach Mike Pettine’s decision to name the season’s starting QB:

“It’s obviously disappointing but at the same time I said this from day one from the very first day I got here is that don’t let this competition overcome anything, just come out and try to get better. I feel if I would have (come) out and played better it would have been a different outcome. I don’t think that I played terrible but didn’t really do anything to jump off of the page. I think I made strides and got better throughout the training camp and that’s what I wanted to do. It’s disappointing but at the same time I want what’s best for this team moving forward and I’m going to continue to come out here every day and give my all and continue to get better as a quarterback. That’s all I can do.”

On whether there was any anger shown in his disappointment:

“No…at the same time, I need to get ready to play whenever that is. I wouldn’t say that there was anger; there was no reason to be angry. It was a fair chance on both sides and they went with who they thought was right for the first week. For me I know that football is a game of crazy things and anything can happen so I need to practice and perform like I will be playing.”

On whether he would have done anything differently leading up to the decision:

“Not a single thing. There’s nothing that I would’ve changed, nothing that I would’ve done differently. If I would’ve gone out and made some plays in the last two weeks than it could have been a different outcome but no I don’t feel that I would’ve gone back and done anything differently.”

On the difference in playbooks between the NFL and Texas A&M University:

“It’s exactly what I thought it would be. I knew it would be a big step. I obviously didn’t know exactly what it entailed, but I knew that it would be a big jump for me, a big learning process and the thing is people have really followed me since I already established myself at (Texas)  A&M. If people would have seen me my first year at A&M they would’ve said no way this kid could get to where I’m at today. People don’t understand that my first year-and-a-half at A&M I was terrible. I would’ve never gotten to this point if I played like did that first year-and-a-half. I just continued to try and get better, learn the playbook, got more comfortable around everybody around the coaches with the system and then good things happened for me.”

On how he’ll get better during the season without taking game reps:

“I’m still getting plenty of reps that I’m getting at practice and I think that I need to make every opportunity that I have throughout the season count. Whether its practice, whether it’s getting a chance to get in the game, whatever it is, take mental reps. See, for me I still need to learn how to prepare for an NFL week. I haven’t even got a chance to do that yet. These are preseason games; they’re not pouring time in our opponent like we will in a regular season game so there’s still a lot for me to go through, a lot for me to experience, and a lot for me to learn.”

On whether the decision on the starting quarterback to start the season makes him more focused to become the starter:

“I think, obviously like I said, it’s disappointing off the bat and I think that it does. I need to get better and I need to try and speed up that process up as much as I can. The season is getting here so you never know when your number can be called throughout the season. For me I know I just need to continue to learn and to continue to adapt to anything that’s thrown my way.”

On whether it lights his fire to compete:

“I wouldn’t say necessarily. It’s disappointing, I didn’t want this to be the outcome but at the same time, I didn’t necessarily feel like I was ready. I felt like there were steps that I needed to take, and I need to take, to get better. Down the road as the weeks continue to go on I think that it will get better. So, does it light a fire? I don’t really know if it does or not.”

On whether he consciously tried to resist the urge to scramble and run:

“No.”

On whether Pettine gave him a possible timeframe when he might play in the future:

“I think that I need to earn everything for me to get in. I need to earn it. I need to earn my place in this offense if there is place for me in that, with whatever packages – whatever could come down the road but I need to earn everything. Nothing should be given to me and I completely understand that. I need to continue to come in here every day, day-in and day-out, and get better, be around these guys and continue to let them know who I am and how I am. That’s all I can really do.”

On if Pettine explained his decision to him:

“No. (He) said that they were going with (QB Brain Hoyer) and to make the most of every rep that I’m given and the time that I have in this building and just get better, that’s all that I need to do. I know that and he didn’t need to come in and say that for me to know what I need to do going forward. I’m smart enough to know that I didn’t play to the best of my abilities the last week and I need to get better. That’s really it.”

On whether watching from the sidelines once the regular season starts help him with his development:

“I think that it will be great. Like I said, when I first got to A&M, if people would’ve seen me they would have said no way this guy goes on to do what I’ve done in the past two – three years. For me, sitting back, I remember a time when I was at A&M and I had to sit there and redshirt. It was hard, it was frustrating but at the same time a got a lot better in that year-and-a-half that I had to sit, learn and watch. Whenever my number is called and whenever it’s my time, I’ll be ready.”

On evaluating what steps he needed to take to possibly be ready against the Pittsburgh Steelers as a starter:

“I’m not sure, I just know that you don’t go from playing two years in college to playing two preseason games and then saying that you can come out and play the Pittsburgh Steelers and their defense. It just doesn’t happen that way. I don’t think that should’ve have been much of a shock that I wasn’t necessarily ready. It was a game into the preseason now we’re going into our third preseason game (and) better, fourth preseason game get better and as the season continues to go on get better in practice, get better in each and every day. That’s all you can do.”

On any words or thoughts shared with QB Brian Hoyer being named the starting quarterback:

“Me and Brian really didn’t talk much about it. It was a competition, good for Brian though. He’s a hometown guy, a guy that’s been around this area for a long time. I know that (with) me being (from) Texas – a Texas job like that would mean the world to me, so props to him.”

On what he’s learned about the speed of the NFL game during the preseason:

“It’s faster, it’s the NFL. It’s extremely fast and you have to be decisive and quick with your decisions.”

On forgetting the Monday Night Football game and refocusing:

“I think that you learn from it and move on. I don’t think you flush it. I think there are good things to be learned from that game. Whenever your offense isn’t moving the ball you’re kind of getting stuck and you have to learn what you’re doing wrong and figure out how to fix it. That’s what you have to do.”

On whether he learned anything from getting sacked during Monday night’s game:

“Yeah, I didn’t even really notice that. I was trying to get through my progressions on the first sack it just kind of broke down and I really didn’t notice it. There are going to be lanes somewhere, you just have to be able to find them and I need to be able to do a better job of that if I am going to take off.”

On whether he would do anything differently based on the factors of the coaches decision:

“No. I think I will continue to learn how the season goes. I learn how things go and next time I come into training camp I won’t be surprised by it next time that I come into OTAs I won’t be surprised by it. But to say I wouldn’t go back after the draft to now and change a single thing. I’m going to continue to live my life and the offseason is the offseason. I’m going to travel places I’m going to go places and do things and that’s going to have no effect. Obviously, I need to do it in the proper way but I’m still going to continue to have fun in my life and to live my life. I don’t think that any of that slowed me in this competition. I think that more than anything if you come out and play well, it makes the decision a lot easier. If you don’t, then it (clouds it up) and what happened-happened.”

On whether he thinks that the spotlight on him will lesson with him not starting at this time:

“I mean I’m the back-up quarterback I shouldn’t be in the spotlight. Who knows if that will actually be the case, but it would be nice. I don’t think it’s going to happen though.”

On rookie quarterbacks starting immediately in the NFL:

“It doesn’t mean anything, you don’t have to come in from your first day of your rookie season and play right away. You don’t have to do that. There’s no exact guideline to how this process works with young quarterbacks. You’ve seen it each and every different way. Some ways it works, some ways it doesn’t. So I think it’s all about that person in that situation and how you handle your time with the scout team, how you handle your time with the (second team) how you handle your time not getting those reps. You need to get them some way whether it’s mentally, watching the film, whatever it may be. It’s all about how you react to the decision that was made today. For me, I need to continue to do what I need to do to get better as football player and get smarter and learn more about the game and really make the most of the situations that I have. Control what I can control and I think that everything will work out fine for me.”