Is fandom dead?
I worked with a compulsive gambler in my early years of radio. It wasn’t pretty. The phone in the back office would ring, and a voice on the other end said, “Tell ______he has till 4pm to pay up or else(click). Yep, that happened on more than one occasion. Coming up on 41 years in the sports media business, gambling has always been around. It just wasn’t out in the open. When we first started Sports360az in 2011 I hosted a weekly sports gambling segment with the legendary Jimmy Vaccaro. I had a weekly fantasy sports segment with the Hall of Famer, Michael Fabiano. Both are guests I still ask to come on occasionally, but with the explosion in fantasy sports gaming/gambling coming from so many directions, it’s too much. Less is more. I bring this up because, in recent times, I’ve had high school and college-age athletes ask me about games from a betting perspective. I’m not one to use my gambling app often, so I don’t automatically know the line on the Suns game in Boston or the Wildcats playing USC in Vegas. I’m concerned with the ease with which gambling apps are becoming as much a part of the under-21 crowd, much like a log-in credential to any app. Parents give the kids the log-in and some money in their account, and away they go. I hear much less conversation about a fan’s favorite team than about winning the bet. Is fandom dead?…
“Neutral zone infraction, Number 74, offense, repeat first down”…
Las Vegas has never been kind to Arizona State basketball. It’s a good thing the Big 12 tournament will be played in Kansas City…
If Bobby Hurley was thinking of leaving the Sun Devil program, he’s not giving any public signs. He was at the Open Division championship game watching Perry star Koa Peat. This week, Hurley reached out to a high-level sponsor on NIL support. Still, it wouldn’t surprise me if his name surfaces in several circles now that the Sun Devils’ season is over. Just so we’re clear, Bobby Hurley isn’t the problem. I’ve gone over this more than once. Institutional failure and excuse-making are the answers to the issues. Hurley isn’t making the excuses…
I miss hearing Bill Walton on Pac-12 basketball broadcasts…
Bryce Drew leaving Grand Canyon Basketball for a bigger job would not be a shock. But knowing the Big Italian sits in the front row most nights, I’m guessing Drew won’t get onto Camelback Road without Jerry Colangelo having some say…
“False start, Number 74, offense, repeat first down”…
Had lunch with the great Charli Turner-Thorne on Tuesday. So talented and doing so much good in the world. Had Hall of Famer Ann Meyers Drysdale on Monday’s show. It’s a good week when two of the best in sports make time for me…
Will the Diamondbacks announce their local television partner in two weeks before the opener? My guess is yes and that the broadcast partner will not be a surprise. Heard Bally Sports considered coming back into the Phoenix market earlier this year before deciding otherwise. Amazon will take over the Bally’s name before the year is out…
“Illegal hands to the face, Number 74, 3rd down”…
Saguaro doesn’t have a football coach, but they DO have the top in-state baseball prospect showing his stuff.
24’ LHP/OF Cam Caminiti
(Saguaro)@LSUbaseball 🟪🟨 commit and top draft prospect in the state of AZ didn’t disappoint in today’s Win over Bishop Gorman. Explosive fastball, offspeed showed best when working glove side.
5IP/1H/0ER/3BB/9K
FB 94-96 T.97 (2150)🔥
SL 77-80 (2190)… pic.twitter.com/H3kdRUGpTT
— Prep Baseball Arizona (@PrepBaseballAZ) March 14, 2024
Masters of the Air on Apple+ is worth the effort…
The Padres’ landing of Dylan Cease makes the NL West even more of a battle for second behind the Dodgers. If the Diamondbacks win 90 games, will that be enough to get into the postseason?…
