The PGA finds themselves in the same boat: a sport that’s really intriguing to a small group of the population, and can only grow by exposing themselves to a bigger crowd, intrigue them through “odd” events, and then bring them to your REAL events. Well, that’s exactly what they got - albeit thanks to a round-about promotion for his new game by Eldrick Tiger Woods.

Tiger was in New York promoting Tiger Woods 2010, which comes out on gaming consoles very soon (and will be the reason that I’m late to work the rest of that week.) So, like any good athlete he challenged another professional to a match for publicity.

Jimmy Fallon.

And lost.

Ouch.

Of course, it was Wii golf, and it was in the middle of Times Square. So no true harm done. But Woods double bogeyed the first hole, allowed Fallon to birdie the second, and it was game over (in a three hole tourny.)

Tiger: “”It’s about how I played in the (U.S. Open),” he said. “I got schooled at my own game.”

Fallon: “”He needs to change his attitude. He walks around like he’s the best player in the world.”

-rb

Rob Brown General

So, we’ve always wanted to see NASCAR go a little bit more mainstream, and welcome more fans that might not ordinarily have access to the sport.

Well, team Red Bull took that “take it to the fans” mentality very seriously. VERY seriously. Like, “pull a pit stop from a redlight in times square with pedestrians on the side of the road” serious.

Our buddy Jay Busbee reported and pulled the info on this one:

Are you kidding me? That was a 14 second pitstop on the side of an NYC road in Times Square. Good thing they didn’t let Jr. try this. He would’ve probably missed Times Square and had to come around again - and we all know how that goes.

-rb

Rob Brown General

Today, the USA soccer team won its Confederations Cup semi-final matchup against Spain 2-nil (that’s right…I said “nil”), putting the USA in our first FIFA men’s final at any level.

Like their frozen brethren 29 years, four months, and two days prior, the USA soccer team survived a tenacious attack from an ostensibly superior opponent to win in an upset by two goals.

There are corrolaries between the two upsets.  Both the USA hockey team and today’s soccer team were serious underdogs.  Both games took place in the penultimate round, setting up (potentially) anticlimatic final matches.  Both teams won by two goals.  Both were on a world stage (though the 1980 Olympics was athletically and socially a MUCH larger stage).

My question:  where does today’s USA victory over Spain in Bloemfontein, South Africa, rank in relation to the 1980 Miracle on Ice?

I mean, besides the fact that a few million more people watched the Hockey game that February day (tape delay) than even knew about today’s Confederations Cup matchup.

Whatchoo think, sports fans?

Stay smokey,

~ Smokey Joe

Joe Mayes General

Love Darren McFadden.  He was a helluva football player as a Razorback.  The 2008 Miami Dolphins owe much of their success to David Lee’s experience with McFadden at Arkansas.  And, to top it all off, he plays for my beloved Oakland Raiders.

But make no mistake:  as an interview, he makes Tim Duncan look like Charles Barkley.

Here’s an excerpt from his SI.com’s “Road Warriors” segment: 

SI:  What’s one tip you can share with people who travel a lot?

Darren McFadden:  Always double check your bag before you go, make sure you?ve got everything you need.

“Double check your bag?  That’s the deep insight we get from a budding NFL star?

And it goes downhill from there (CAUTION:  A pillow may be required to keep you from smashing your skull against the desk as you fall asleep.)

SI:  What’s your craziest/best travel story?

Darren McFadden:  I can’t think of anything crazy that’s happened.

Fortunately, just as I was beginning to think D-Mac was comatose during the interview, he rallied nicely for the big finish:

SI:  Which city has the best-looking women?

Darren McFadden:  It’s a toss-up between Tampa and Miami.

Whew…turns out #20 is alive after all.

And, frankly, you can’t argue with his conclusions, especially as long as the NFL has teams in Cleveland, Buffalo, and Green Bay.

~ Smokey Joe

Joe Mayes General

..where I have too much money for my own good. You’ll know, because my car will have way too many bells and whistles, because my house will have a swimming pool that’s shaped like the state of Louisiana … and because my man-cave will have one of these:

Seriously, the only way it could get better is if it had flames on it, so it felt like your couch was tearing *** around the living room!!

That’s right, the Dale Earnhardt Jr. couch. To all of you nobodies with your die-cast cars, your collector’s edition Wal-Mart shirts, and trucker’s hats you got back in 1988 .. you ain’t got nothin’ on me.

And just in case you weren’t happy with only the number 3, that’s ok. You have other options including Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Jimmie Johnson, and others!

-rb

Rob Brown General

So yesterday on The Morning Wrap, I asked our listeners the question: what is the best look, trademark, action, reaction, or celebration in sports that “defined” the career or image of one player? Was it Michael Jordan’s iconic “sticking-out-of-the-tongue,” or his epic “Jumpman” pose? Was it Dale Jr.’s “3″ on his car? Well, after three hours of great conversation and reminiscing, you guys came up with a pretty solid list. I’m trying to find videos of all of this, but I wanted to post the results for you in the meantime:

-”The U” throwing up the four fingers to symbolize the start of the fourth quarter.
-Billy “White Shoes” Johnson’s “funky chicken” touchdown celebration.
-The Icky Shuffle.
-Darrel Waltrip DOING the Icky Shuffle.
-Bo Jackson going “Bo knows bats” on his knee and snapping them in half.
-Dawkins breaks the glass, and creates the break-away rim.
-Kirk Gibsons no legged, inverted fist pump, walk off home run.
-Joe Namath’s Superbowl Upset Prediction.
-Dale Earnhardt’s moustache - and a close second - the pit crews lining up after he got his first 500 win.
-Daunte Culpepper’s “keep rollin’ rollin’ rollin’ rollin’” arm wave after a TD. (Salute to Limp Bizkit?)
-Carlton Fisk waving his walk off home run fair in the ‘76 World Series.
-Walter Payton’s elevated high five after he broke the all-time rushing record.
-Jerry West’s NBA logo-crossover.
-Ric Flair’s infamous “WOOOOOOOO!!”
-Ken Griffey Jr.’s infamous “wow I just hit that a ton” stance and trot.
- Rickey Henderson stealing the base that he stole to win the stolen base record.
-The old Houston Oiler’s End Zone Electric Slide.
-Jack holding up the putter on 18 as he sank a tournament winning putt.
-Desmond Howard hitting the Heisman pose heading into the end zone.
-Ozzie Smith’s infamous backflip.
-McGwire and Canseco’s “bash brothers arm bash” celebration.
-Dikembe Mutombo’s finger-wag.
-Le’Roy Butler creating the Lambeau Leap
-Tiger Woods fist pump.
-Keith Jackson’s infamous “whooooa Nelly!” call.
-Richard Petty .. well, anytime he wears the hat with the dead bird on the front of it.
-Carl Edward’s backflip.

But the two I think are, and will forever be, the most famous moments in sports:

2.) Neon Deion Sanders’s “high step” as headed into the end zone. Let’s be honest - who amongst us in a backyard football game haven’t emulated Deion’s high step. Who hasn’t “intercepted” a tossed roll at Thanksgiving dinner and started high stepping across the kitchen? Which among you has never gone pick-six in your old “old guys get together and pretend to remember how to play football” weekend games and “done-the-Deion” back against your oppoenents. We all have. That’s why it’s so epic:

(You can see the high step a number of times through that video.)

And the most famous:

1.) Babe Ruth calls his shot. While there’s much debate about whether the Great Bambino was calling his shot, signaling a pitch, pointing out the count, or just stretching before the next pitch, the legend will never die. The Sultan of Swat, in our minds, raised his bat, pointed it mid-field, called his shot .. and proceeded to belt another of his legendary home runs over the centerfield wall. You can say what you want, but while someo of us may have not ever actually hit the high step, anyone who’s ever swung a bat - in practice, at the cages, against your friends in a backyard wiffle ball game, or in a scrimmage - we’ve ALL “called our shot.” And if anyone in the major leagues ever tries again, not only will they be blasted by us and the media - but the chances of them succesfully pulling it off are slim-to-none. (Let’s not forget: the legend of Ruth himself heps bolster this one up: Unlike many power hitters, Ruth also hit for average: his .342 lifetime batting is tenth highest in baseball history, and in one season (1923) he hit .393, a Yankee record. His .690 career slugging percentage and 1,164 career on-base plus slugging (OPS) remain the major league records.)

(Interesting fact: during World War II when Japanese Soldiers got into close-quarter fights with American Troops, it’s rumored that, in an effort to find the ultimate insult, many of them yelled “To hell with Babe Ruth” in English for the soliders to hear.)

-rb

Rob Brown General

If you’re interested, and care - which none of you do, but that’s alright, I’ll mention it anyway - I’m actively twittering (or tweeting, for those of you more versed in the lingo) during the NBA finals. You can follow me: @RLBrown3. Enjoy!

-rb

Rob Brown General

It is not possible for a person to do something like The Morning Wrap without it being at least a little personal.  That’s what this note is:  my personal note of thanks to you.

First of all, I am leaving the show for one reason and one reason only:  I’m a sissy.  It got to be too much for me to give 100%, the minimum acceptable.  Something had to give and, unfortunately for me, it is The Morning Wrap.

It’s been a genuine honor to spend time with you every morning.  I’ve said many times that those two hours each morning were the highlight of my day.  And they were.  No hyperbole.  I’ve loved my time with the show and am leaving with a heavy heart.  (OK, that may have been a little hyperbolic.)

I want to thank the team at Star Broadcasting and the Hale family in particular for letting me do this.  I want to thank Scott McKinney for letting me come on air in the first place.  I want to thank Mrs Smokey and the Smokette for all their support (and for letting me turn the family office into my ”studio” every morning).

And, of course, I want to thank my little knuckleheaded buddy, Rob Brown.  We had way more laughs than should be legal at six o’clock in the morning.  When I first heard Rob on the air several years ago, I must confess:  I sorta threw up in my mouth a little.  But over the years, he’s grown on me and I’ve learned that with Rob, what you see is what you get.  He is as genuine a man as I know and, frankly, that is the highest compliment I can pay.

Plus, he’s just a big ol’ goofy dude who’s a lot of fun to hang out with.  A cat I’m now proud to call a friend.

Finally – and most importantly – I want to thank all of you who listen to the show.  I’ve gotten to know some of you but all of you welcomed me with open arms – and a wealth of sports knowledge that kept me on my toes.  Without you, it would just be me and Rob shooting the breeze and, well, he’s not that much fun.

There are too many of you to name and if I tried, my well-seasoned brain would likely fail.  So if you’re reading this, know that this sincere thanks is for you.  Thank you for letting me come into your car, office, or home for these past few months.

Marc Ryan will be joining the show and I have no doubt he’ll do a tremendous job.  He is a professional broadcaster and despite a wardrobe replete with jorts, crocs, and a dozen or so pair of Teebows, he seems to be a good egg.  If you welcome him with half the warmth you did me, he’ll be a lucky man indeed.

So, my friends, it’s off to different things.  Keep an eye out for my book(s) and feel free to drop me a line at JoeMayes981@gmail.com.  If you follow me on Twitter (@TheSmokeyJoe) you’ll find out that I am almost certainly the most boring tweeter in history.  But at least the Twitter gods are appeased.  So I got that going for me…which is nice.

You’ll hear me from time to time, as a faithful listener and caller.  And, if I’m really lucky, I’ll get to fill in on the show from time to time.

In the meantime, if you’re out there on 98, clear the road…I’m on my way.

~ Smokey Joe

Joe Mayes General

Late last week, the Arlington Cowboys opened their new stadium - something Marty described as “something the Cylon Warrious would’ve come out of. Nice touch.

Anyway, the stadium - which seats 100,000+ and is the largest arena in American sports to date - also has this monstrosity:

You think there’s any way I can get that into my house? I mean really - best .. man .. pad .. ever.

-rb

Rob Brown General

So during the Big East Tournament, UCONN and USF encountered a rain delay - relatively common in baseball, I’d say.

However, they decided they would settle their on-field problems …. with a good ol’ fashioned dance off.

Like men, these warriors of the hardball took to the field to show, via the “Souljah Boy” and the “Macarena,” amongst various other improved dances, their talent was superior to their opponents.

I want to make more jokes, but I can’t wait to watch this video again, so here goes:

Also, I’ve got to say: holy freaking crap. Are you KIDDING ME? These guys are freaking AWESOME. I mean, really - most teams would’ve taken it behind closed doors, taken a nap, etc..

Not these MEN. These men taunted each other from behind the plate, and ended up having a midfield meeting.

I mean, really: from now on, I vote NO OVERTIMES in sports. If there’s a tie game after four quarters, three periods, nine innings, or two halves …. DANCE OFF!!

-rb

Rob Brown General