Author Archives: Kenny Roda

“The Shot” Podcast With Craig Ehlo and Brad Sellers

May 7th, 2020 was the 31st anniversary of Michael Jordan’s legendary shot that beat the Cavaliers in game 5 of the first round of the 1989 NBA playoffs. It launched MJ’s career towards the greatest of all-time(G.O.A.T.), but knocked Cleveland out of the playoffs and just a year later led to the disastrous trade of Ron Harper that would haunt the Cavs for years to come.

We’ve seen “Air Jordan” describe “The Shot” many times. What I wanted to do was talk to the other two key players involved in “The Shot” and get their perspective of what was supposed to happen from both huddles prior to “The Shot”, and then get their reaction immediately after the play, and then all these years later.

So I set up a Zoom call with former Bulls forward Brad Sellers, who inbounded the ball to Michael, and former Cavaliers guard Craig “Eggs” Ehlo, who had the unenviable task of trying to guard Michael on the legendary play.

The guys broke it down and shared great stories, some never told before, in this 45 minute Zoom video podcast:

LeBron James Greatest Game?

It’s always great talking LeBron James and Cavs basketball with Michael Reghi and JT on the Kenny and JT show on 1480 WHBC. We broke down Game 5 of the 2007 NBA’s Eastern Conference Finals – Cavs at Pistons, when King James scored 48pts – including Cleveland’s final 25 points and 29 of the Cavaliers last 30 points in the 109-107 double overtime win at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Detroit. We talked about it from two different perspectives:

  1. Michael and I were there in person at the Palace to witness it first hand.
  2. JT was at home watching on TV.

Listen to our Podcast here by copying and pasting this link in your browser – https://www.whbc.com/kenny-roda-podcast/?futurishared=3689&station=WHBCAM#.Xq2rFVr6Gio.twitter

Be Smart, Be Safe, Stay Healthy

I’m trying to do my part, are you doing yours?

We all need to work together to help defeat this horrible coronavirus pandemic that has attacked our families, friends, neighborhoods, co-workers, cities, states, country and the world!

Do your part with social distancing, wearing masks if you have them, washing your hands, staying home and following all the guidelines given to us by Ohio Governor Mike DeWine and Dr. Amy Acton and hopefully we can defeat this coronavirus pandemic sooner rather than later.

Kenny Roda

2018 OSU Captains Announced

(Official OSU Press Release)

Seven Named 2018 Ohio State Football Captains

Group includes three receivers, Isaiah Prince and defenders Nick Bosa, Jordan Fuller and Tuf Borland

COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio State football team has voted on and selected seven players to serve as its captains for the 2018 season. This year’s group includes a pair of returning captains from 2017 – WRs Terry McLaurin and Parris Campbell – along with a third fifth-year senior WR in Johnnie Dixon, OT Isaiah Prince, DE Nick Bosa, SAF Jordan Fuller and LB Tuf Borland.

The players voted on captains Friday. Campbell led the way with the most votes with Dixon just one vote behind. Fuller led all defensive vote getters.

Campbell, a fifth-year senior, has played in 34 games during his career with 24 starts. A dynamic pass catcher and returner, he started 12 games in 2017 and led the team with 18 plays of 20-or-more yards, including long receiving touchdowns of 74 yards vs. Indiana, 69 yards vs. UNLV and 57 yards in the Big Ten title game win over Wisconsin. He enters the 2018 campaign second on the team in career receptions with 53 and second in receiving yards with 705. On special teams, Campbell averaged 36.6 yards per kick return. He was a third-team All-Big Ten performer at wide receiver and second-team as a return specialist.

McLaurin has played in 40 career games and is a returning 14-game starter from the 2017 squad. He enters his fifth year in the program with 40 receptions for 550 yards and a 13.8-yards per reception average. His eight touchdown receptions were tied for the team lead last year, including an 84-yard catch-and-run TD against Wisconsin in the Big Ten Championship Game. McLaurin graduated last December with a degree in communication.

Dixon, a fifth-year senior, has battled injury and adversity throughout his career but had his best statistical year in 2017, tying for the team lead with eight touchdown receptions while averaging 23.4 yards per catch. Named a “champion” nine times by the coaching staff, Dixon had multi-TD performances against Rutgers (three receptions, career-high 115 yards, two TD), Penn State (three receptions, 56 yards, two TD) and Iowa (four receptions, 81 yards, two TD). Already viewed by his teammates as a leader on and off the field, Dixon was one of 56 Ohio State student-athletes across 17 sports to take part in the Fourth Annual Wolstein Leadership Academy Retreat this May

Prince was a third-team All-Big Ten performer last year and is a veteran of 40 career games with 27 consecutive starts. He’s been Ohio State’s starting right tackle in 2016 and 2017 and the Buckeyes have led the Big Ten in rushing in each of those seasons. A sport industry major, Prince interned last summer with Ohio State’s social media and fan experience department.

Bosa is universally regarded as one of the best defensive players in the country, coming off first team All-American honors from the American Football Coaches Association. He led the Buckeyes last year in tackles for loss (16.0), sacks (8.0) and was the Big Ten Conference Smith-Brown defensive lineman of the year. Bosa was named a game “champion” by the Ohio State coaches for his efforts in all 12 wins last year, the only defensive player to achieve the feat.

Fuller is the unquestioned leader in the back end of Ohio State’s defense, a returning 13-game starter from 2017 who had 70 tackles (57 solo) to earn third team All-Big Ten honors. He had what was essentially the game-deciding interception against Michigan and was a game “champion” by the coaching staff seven times. A business marketing major, his work in the classroom has been equally impressive – last season, Fuller became the program’s fifth CoSIDA Academic All-American in the last four years.

Borland, a third-year sophomore, saw his first extensive playing time in last season’s third game against Army and went on to start nine of the final 11 games of the season at middle linebacker. He finished with 58 tackles – fourth most on the team – and was twice voted by the coaches as the team’s defensive player of the game. His spring was cut short due injury but all signs point to him returning for action in 2018. An exercise science major, Borland earned Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Scholar-Athlete honors.

QB Chugunov Joins Team

Former West Virginia quarterback Chris Chugunov has joined the Ohio State football team as a graduate transfer. He will work on a master’s degree in hospitality management after earning his bachelor’s degree from WVU in finance. He will have two years of eligibility.

Chugunov, who is 6-1, 203 pounds and will wear jersey No. 4, is from Skillman, N.J., and Montgomery High School. He was a January 2015 enrollee at WVU and spent three seasons with the Mountaineers. He played in eight games, including starting twice last season in place of an injured Will Grier, and completed 45 of 95 passes for 551 yards and three touchdowns with three interceptions.

Pronunciation: CHUG uh nov

Gordon Returns To Browns

Wide receiver Josh Gordon is back with the Browns after missing all of training camp to this point to focus on his physical and mental health. However, Gordon has not yet been cleared to practice and the Browns have placed him on the active/non-football illness list.

Gordon has only played in 10 games over the last 4 seasons for the Browns because he violated the NFL’s substance abuse policy numerous times and was suspended.

The Browns and Gordon released this joint statement:

Statement from John Dorsey on Josh Gordon’s return:

First off, we are pleased for Josh. His overall health and well-being is what is most important. We commend Josh for his hard work, commitment and focus on becoming the best version of himself. We are glad Josh has reached a point where he can return to our organization, be in our building and be around his teammates. As he assimilates back to our team, Josh will initially participate in meetings and conditioning and will gradually resume all football activities as deemed appropriate.

A message from Josh Gordon:

Dear Cleveland Browns and NFL family,

Thank you for your love, support, and most importantly your patience as I took the time needed to ensure my overall mental and physical health.

More specifically, I would like to thank the NFL, NFLPA, the entire Cleveland Browns organization, the University of Florida, and my friend and business manager Michael Johnson Jr for playing such pivotal roles during this process. This has by no means been an easy road and I’m extremely grateful to have all of you in my life.

As I humbly return to being a member of this team with an opportunity to get back to playing this game I love, I realize in order for me to reach my full potential my primary focus must remain on my sobriety and mental well-being.

Let’s get to work!

Much love,

JG

Last season after coming back from a suspension, Gordon played in 5 games for the Browns, catching 18 passes for 355 yards and 1 touchdown.

Gordon’s best year to date was in 2013 when grabbed 87 passes for 1,646 yards and 9 touchdowns in 14 games.

KEN’S TOP TEN COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS

KEN’S TOP TEN COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAMS

(as of 11-21-17)

 

10 Notre Dame             (9-2)

9   USC                           (10-2)

8   Ohio State               (9-2)

7   Georgia                    (10-1)

6   Auburn                     (9-2)

5   Wisconsin               (11-0)

4   Miami                      (10-0)

3  Oklahoma                (10-1)

2   Clemson                  (10-1)

1   Alabama                 (11-0)

 

 

RISKY BUSINESS – CAVS GM DEALS KYRIE TO CELTICS

by Kenny Roda

Was new Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman channeling his inner Joel Goodson from the hit movie “Risky Business”? More on that later. Let’s get right to the surprising trade of Kyrie Irving to the Cavs biggest threat in the East, the Boston Celtics.

Koby Altman photo courtesy of fearthesword.com

This is a very risky trade for the Cavs considering that they gave up a four-time all-star in Kyrie Irving who they controlled for two more years even if he was unhappy, for Isaiah Thomas, an undersized, currently injured point guard, who’s terrible on defense and in the final year of his contract. And oh yeah, they made this deal with their Eastern Conference rival, the Boston Celtics!

Yes the Cavs got a decent role player, who’s calling card is defense, in Jae Crowder, plus an unproven rookie center, in Ante Zizic. But I’m not sure how much they will really help the Cavaliers this season, which possibly could be the final season for LeBron James in Cleveland.

If the Cavaliers are in a must win now mode, I feel, especially with the uncertainty of the hip injury Isaiah Thomas is dealing with, that this trade does not help them for this year, with the exception of owner Dan Gilbert reportedly saving $29 million in the luxury tax.

However, if Isaiah Thomas and his seriously injured hip, that forced him to miss games 3, 4 and 5 of the Eastern Conference Finals against the Cavs, is able to get back to being 100% healthy, and Derrick Rose does the same, the Cavaliers will continue to be the best the Eastern Conference has to offer. But as they are constructed right now, I don’t think that the Cavaliers will be good enough to defeat the defending champion Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals.

Maybe the most exciting thing about this trade is the draft pick the Cavs got from the Celtics. It is actually the Brooklyn Nets draft pick, and Brooklyn could be the worst team in the NBA the season. That would mean the Cavaliers could end up with the most ping pong balls in the hopper (#APPBITH) with a chance to get the number one overall pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Or the Cavaliers could take this Nets draft pick and potentially flip it for a big-time player which could mean a whole another story.

I was hoping that somehow someway new GM Koby Altman would find a way to trade for Eric Bledsoe, Josh Jackson and a draft pick from the Suns, or if Phoenix continued to be steadfast on not giving up Jackson, I might’ve taken TJ Warren and Jared Dudley and a draft pick along with Bledsoe. But the Suns wouldn’t budge, so Altman took, I guess, the next best deal.

Could he have done worse? Sure! Could he, or maybe David Griffin, if he were still the Cavaliers GM have done more? I think so! Now I’ve been wrong before on trades, but I’ve also been right.

But Altman is the man in charge and it looks like he took the mental approach of  Joel Goodson, Tom Cruise’s character in the movie “Risky Business” and went with, “Sometimes you gotta say, what the f***, make your move”! And boy did he ever!

Is this the end of the “Soap Opera” that is the 2017-18 Cleveland Cavaliers? I highly doubt it. I’m sure there’s plenty more drama to come.

Stay tuned!

 

CAVS OFFICIAL PRESS RELEASE ON THE KYRIE IRVING TRADE

CAVALIERS ACQUIRE NBA ALL-STAR GUARD ISAIAH THOMAS, JAE CROWDER, ANTE ZIZIC AS WELL AS THE 2018 BROOKLYN NETS UNPROTECTED 1ST ROUND DRAFT PICK

CLEVELAND, OH – The Cleveland Cavaliers have acquired guard Isaiah Thomas, forward Jae Crowder, center Ante Zizic and the Brooklyn Nets’ 2018 unprotected first round pick from the Boston Celtics in exchange for guard Kyrie Irving, Cavaliers General Manager Koby Altman announced today from Cleveland Clinic Courts.

“This trade needed to include both players and assets that we felt strongly could help us continue to compete for championships and we believe it does,” said Altman. “We look forward to Isaiah, Jae and Ante joining us and also felt that the unprotected first round pick in the deal was very important for us and our future as well.”

“On behalf of the entire franchise, I want to thank Kyrie Irving for the six impressive years he spent in Cleveland wearing the Cavaliers uniform,” said Cavaliers Chairman Dan Gilbert. “From the moment we won the 2011 NBA lottery that put us in position to draft Kyrie to the ‘The Shot’ that sealed our first NBA championship and all of the electrifying play that made him a joy to watch, ‘excitement’ was always in the air when it came to Kyrie Irving. We wish him and his family well as he moves on to the next phase of his NBA career.”

Thomas (5-9, 185) appeared in 76 games (all starts) for the Celtics in 2016-17, averaging a career-high 28.9 points, 2.7 rebounds and 5.9 assists in 33.8 minutes. He finished as the third-leading scorer in the NBA and had the second highest scoring average in Celtics history, trailing only Larry Bird’s 1987-88 mark of 29.9 points. Thomas also set career highs in field goal percentage (.463), three-point percentage (.379) and free throw percentage (.909, 2nd in NBA) this past season, while setting the team record with 245 three-pointers. An NBA All-Star in each of the last two seasons, Thomas was an All-NBA Second Team selection in 2016-17. He scored at least 20 points or more on 71 occasions, which includes a stretch of 43 consecutive contests hitting that mark (11/19/16-2/26/17), the longest in Celtics history. The six-year NBA veteran out of the University of Washington was originally drafted by Sacramento as the 60th overall pick in the 2011 NBA Draft and has gone on to hold career averages of 19.1 points, 2.6 rebounds and 5.2 assists over 441 games (309 starts) with the Kings, Phoenix and Boston.

Crowder (6-6, 235) played in 72 games (all starts) for Boston this past season and averaged 13.9 points on a career-high .463 shooting from the field, including a career-best .398 from three-point range, 5.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.0 steal in 32.4 minutes. He also went .811 from the charity stripe, while scoring in double figures on 54 occasions and posting seven double-doubles. The five-year forward from Marquette was the 34th overall pick in the 2012 NBA Draft by Cleveland before being traded on draft night to the Mavericks. In 383 career games (186 starts) with the Mavericks and Celtics, Crowder has averaged 8.9 points and 3.8 rebounds in 23.2 minutes.

Zizic (7-0, 250), who was selected 23rd overall by the Celtics in the 2016 NBA draft, competed internationally with Darussafaka Dogus Istanbul in Turkey and KK Cibona Zagreb in Croatia last season. He took park in five different competitions in 2016-17, which include the Euroleague, Basketball Champions League, Adriatic League, the Turkish BSL and the Croatian A-1 league and played a total of 65 games. In 21 contests for Darussafaka Dogus in the Turkish BSL, Zizic averaged 8.9 points on .688 shooting from the field and 4.3 rebounds in 17.8 minutes per game. Zizic also played in 20 games for Darussafaka Dogus in the Euroleague, helping them reach the quarterfinals after averaging 9.0 points on .649 shooting from the field and 6.7 rebounds in 21.9 minutes. He had his highest scoring average in the Adriatic League for KK Cibona where he averaged 20.0 points, 9.2 rebounds and 1.23 blocks in 29.8 minutes per game. Zizic was named as the 2015-16 Adriatic League Top Prospect which is given to the league’s best young player, aged 22 or under. Previous winners of this award include current NBA players Nikola Jokic and Dario Saric.

Irving (6-3, 193) played in 72 games (all starts) for the Cavaliers in 2016-17, averaging a career-high 25.2 points (11th in NBA) on .472 shooting, including .401 from beyond the arc, 3.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists in 35.1 minutes. He also shot .905 from the free throw line (3rd in NBA). Irving has spent his entire six-year professional career with Cleveland, appearing in 381 games (all starts) with averages of 21.6 points, 3.4 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 1.32 steals in 34.2 minutes.

CAVS RELEASE 2017-18 FULL SCHEDULE

Whether Kyrie Irving is there to play with LeBron James or not, the Cleveland Cavaliers know who, when and where they will be playing their 82 regular season game for the upcoming 2017-18.

Cavaliers 2017-18 Printable Schedule

 

 

FRANCONA HAS HEART PROCEDURE, WILL MISS ALL STAR GAME, EXPECTED TO RETURN JULY14TH FOR THE INDIANS

Here is the latest update on Indians Manager Terry Francona and his medical situation via the Tribe’s official press release:
MEDICAL UPDATE ON TERRY FRANCONA – July 7, 2017
CLEVELAND, OH – Medical update on Cleveland Indians Manager TERRY FRANCONA:
Thursday afternoon at the Cleveland Clinic, Terry Francona underwent a cardiac ablation procedure to correct a cardiac arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat). The arrhythmia was detected through diligent monitoring of Terry’s heart rhythm over the past several weeks.
Terry is resting comfortably at the Cleveland Clinic following the successful cardiac procedure. Terry is expected to make a full recovery and will be discharged within the next day or two. It is expected he will resume managing the team beginning Friday, July 14th and Major League Baseball has been informed he will not manage the All-Star Game in Miami.
The Cleveland Indians Organization would like to express sincere gratitude to the entire staff of professionals at the Cleveland Clinic for their care and treatment of Terry.
 
 
***According to the Plain Dealer’s Paul Hoynes, current Indians bench coach and acting manager, Brad Mills will manager in place of Francona for the American League in Tuesday’s Major League Baseball All Star Game.***