Author: Sports Radio Service

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: ESPN returns 37 Emmys after investigation

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Stephen A Smith who is considered the face of ESPN and is the highest paid talent at the Sports Network. ESPN recently had to return 37 Emmys because of using ineligible on air talent sending in fake names for the awards. (photo from onmilwaukee.com)

ESPN returns 37 Emmys after investigation

That’s Amaury News and Commentary

By Amaury Pi-González

From the department of “Who can you trust today in media”.

According to the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) ESPN has returned dozens of Emmys. They (ESPN) were involved for decades in securing trophies for ineligible on-air personalities by submitting fake names for consideration.

It was found that employees at ESPN had been submitting made-up names to the Emmys organization to obtain more than 30 extra trophies and give them to broadcast talent who were not eligible to receive them.

The shocking part of this scheme is that this has happened at ESPN since 2010. The employees at the sports network attached fake names to award entries.

An internal investigation conducted by the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and ESPN found that employees at the sports network had been submitting made-up names to the Emmys organization to obtain more than 30 extra trophies for broadcast personalities who were ineligible to receive them.

This is according to ESPN who is admitting and now is coming clean with the whole story. More specific details could be revealed in the future.

ESPN began operations and went on the air on September 7, 1979. In 2024, Stephen A. Smith is the most popular on-air talent on ESPN today, making $12 million annually. CBS Judge Judy is the highest paid in all of television, with $47 million per year for her top-rated show.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez does News and Commentary podcasts Tuesdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Condors early third period blitz sink Barracuda in 3-2 win

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San Jose Barracuda forward Tanner Kaspick and Bakerfield Condors center Brad Malone battle for position during a 3-2 win by the Condors at Tech CU Arena on Friday evening JAN 12, 2024. (San Jose Barracuda)

by Marko Ukalovic

SAN JOSE — The Bakersfield Condors three unanswered goals, including two early goals in the third period, and held on at the end to defeat the San Jose Barracuda 3-2 on Friday evening at Tech CU Arena.

San Jose has lost four games in a row. Bakersfield has won three games in a row and five of its past six games.

San Jose (11-17-5-0) drew first blood with an even strength goal just past the halfway mark of the first period. Kyle Ray centered a pass from the behind the net out to Ethan Cardwell who beat Condor’s goalie Olivier Rodrigue with a quick shot to the short side for his 10th goal of the season at the 12:12 mark.

Cardwell snapped a six-game goal draught after getting off to a hot start to the season.

Bakersfield (14-10-1-2) out shot San Jose 12-9 in the opening frame but were kept off the scoreboard thanks to ‘Cuda goalie Magnus Chrona making key saves late in the period.

The Condors scored the equalizer with a power play goal near the halfway mark of the second period. Raphael Lavoie centered a pass out to an unmarked Seth Griffith and the veteran forward beat Chrona with a wrist shot for his fourth goal of the season at the 7:47 mark.

Bakersfield gained its first lead of the game 66 seconds into the third period with a short-handed goal. Former ‘Cuda forward Lane Pederson collected a loose puck inside the Barracuda zone. Pederson centered a pass over to Ben Gleason who buried a wrist shot past Chrona for his sixth goal of the season.

That killed us, absolutely killed us,” said ‘Cuda head coach John McCarthy on trailing while on the power play. “It comes down to details, we didn’t have…it was the short-handed goal against it was one guy (on the play). We had three back and lost it. That’s the type (of goal) that’s going to lose you games.”

Gleason is on a four-game goal streak in which he has scored five goals.

The Condors scored their third unanswered goal with its second power play goal of the game over two minutes later. Griffith set up Dylan Holloway, who made his season debut for Bakersfield, who tapped home the puck into an open net for his first goal of the season at the 3:15 mark.

“That’s always a key to our game is staying out of the (penalty) box. We’re not taking retaliation penalties. It’s something we’ve worked on year long. We gotta continue to clean up, we have to get our stick on the puck. We get our stick tied up on people’s feet. No one is going out there trying to trip somebody, but if you get your stick caught in someone feet, you’re playing with fire,” McCarthy said.

Nathan Todd made it a one-game with a 6-on-5 goal when the ‘Cuda pulled Chrona for an extra attacker with 37 seconds remaining in the game. Oskar Lindblom’s wraparound attempt leaked out to the left and Todd cleaned up the rebound for his eighth goal of the season.

Rodrigue (7-2-3) finished the game stopping 36 of the 38 shots he faced to earn his seventh victory of the season. Chrona (4-8-3) made 28 saves on 31 shots in the losing effort.

GAME NOTES: San Jose finished 0-for-2 on the power play. Bakersfield was 2-for-4.

It was the second of the three Tigers Del Mar nights of the season as the Barracuda donned a specialty jersey that consisted of the color purple with orange trim and a tiger logo in the center. The first one was back on October 28, 2023.

The Three Stars of the Game: 1) Gleason 2) Griffith 3) Cardwell.

UP NEXT: San Jose and Bakersfield conclude their home-and-home series on Saturday 1/13 at 7:00pm at Mechanics Bank Arena.

Warriors Top Bulls Thanks To a Third Quarter Blowout – Winning 140-131

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Golden State Warriors guard Stephen Curry (30) is jubilant after hitting a three pointer in the closing minutes against the Chicago Bulls at the United Center in Chicago on Fri Jan 12, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Golden State Warriors (18-20) had an incredible win over the Chicago Bulls (18-22) 140-131. Golden State trailed at halftime 75-62 but came roaring back in the second half. They won the second half convincingly 77-56. Klay Thompson had a terrific game finishing with 30 points. Jonathan Kuminga had 24 points off the bench.

Game recap: The Warriors held a slim lead after the first quarter 33-30 but the Bulls came roaring back winning the second quarter 45-29. Chicago took a 75-62 lead going into the locker room at the half. Andrew Wiggins, who started in tonight’s game, and Jonathan Kuminga (off the bench) really saved the day for the Warriors in the first half. The Warriors would have been looking at a far greater deficit had it not been for Wiggins and Kuminga. 

The Warriors really got going in the third quarter winning it 48-20 and taking a 110-95 lead. It was a terrific turnaround scoring 48 points in the quarter while holding the Bulls to only 20 points. Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson turned this game around in the second half. Golden State also did a great job protecting the ball in this game. They would eventually finish with only five turnovers .

The Bulls did pull to within six points in the fourth quarter but the Warriors held on losing the quarter to the Bulls 36-30 but winning the game 140-131. It was the third quarter that set the game up for the Golden State win.

It was a slow start for Curry and Thompson who missed ten of their first 11 shots. It all turned around in the second half. Thompson finished with the game high of 30 points with six rebounds. Curry also turned things around in the second half shooting for 27 points and five rebounds. Kuminga had 24 points off the bench.

The Bulls finished with some great stats. Demar Derozan had the game high with 39 points. Coby White and Zach Lavine both shot for 25 points and the Warriors had to fight hard to contain all three of these guys. 

Post game notes: Friday night the Golden State Warriors (18-20) took on the Chicago Bulls (18-22) at United Center. They came into this game after getting slammed by the New Orleans Pelicans Wednesday night 141-105 at Chase Center. The Bulls won an overtime game against the Houston Rockets 124-119 on Wednesday. The Warriors have been frustrated with their play over the past few games losing to the Pelicans and the Raptors and barely beating the Pistons last Friday night.

It will be a quick turnaround for the Warriors taking on the Milwaukee Bucks tomorrow night at Fiserv Forum. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 5:00 PM.

Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah Salmonson: Harris helps 76ers stay in front of Kings in 112-93 win at Wells Fargo Arena

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The Philadelphia 76ers small forward Tobias Harris (12) dunks in front of the Sacramento Kings Sabonis Domantas (10) in the first half at the Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia on Fri Jan 12, 2024 (AP News photo)

On the Sacramento Kings podcast with Jeremiah:

#1 The Philadelphia 76ers (21-13) small forward Tobias Harris scored a team leading 37 points to help beat the Sacramento Kings (23-15) 112-93 at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia.

#2 It was pretty much was the Sixers who were in command all game long over the Kings.

#3 The Sixers also got scoring from point guard Tyrese Maxey who finished second in scoring with 21 points.

#4 The Kings leading scorer was De’Aaron Fox who had 21 points but the offense just didn’t have enough to catch the Sixers.

#5 The Kings are slipping a bit of late and their task doesn’t get any easier as they take on the Milwaukee Bucks in Milwaukee on Sunday at 4pm PT.

Join Jeremiah Salmonson for Kings podcasts each Friday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Kings Outplayed by Philadelphia 76ers Losing 112-93

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The Philadelphia 76ers Tyrese Maxey (0) shows some confidence as the Sacramento Kings Sasha Venzenkov (7) runs in front up the court at Wells Fargo Arena in Philadelphia on Fri Jan 12, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Barbara Mason

Friday night the Sacramento Kings (25-25) lost to the Philadelphia 76ers (24-13) being outplayed at every turn. They trailed at the half 65-46 and the Sixers refused to letdown from start to finish. The Kings trailed close to twenty points throughout the entire fourth quarter. The final was 112-93.

Game recap: Philadelphia jumped all over the Kings in the first half of play. The Kings hung in the first quarter although ended up falling short as the quarter came to an end trailing 29-21. The Sixers began to really pour it on in the second quarter leading at halftime 65-46. 

They were outplaying the Kings offensively and the ten turnovers were also an issue. The Sixers had the advantage from the field as well as from beyond the arc. At the half Domantas Sabonis only had two points so Philadelphia had suffocated him. The Kings really struggled in the first two quarters of play and they had two quarters left to turn things around.

The third quarter was a close one which didn’t do much for the Kings cause since they had trailed by 19 points at the half. Sacramento had a huge mountain to climb if they wanted back in this game.

The Kings continued to turn the ball over and after three quarters had 14. Three’s were not falling for Sacramento only shooting 25% from downtown while the Sixers were at 52%. The Kings were having an improved offensive effort but weren’t able to provide many stops.

 Sacramento continued to plug away and after three quarters cut the Sixers lead to 87-73. The Kings won the third quarter 27-22 and they were also forcing Philadelphia turnovers.

Sacramento needed a whole lot more in the fourth quarter if they wanted to pull this game out and it would all start with more stops. It had been an uphill climb for the Kings all night as the 76ers continued their offensive dominance.

 Every time the Kings made a move the 76ers answered outscoring Sacramento 9-2 in the early minutes of the fourth quarter refusing to letup. The final was 112-93 and Philadelphia’s three game losing had come to an end.  

Tobias Harris was gave the Kings all sorts of problems finishing with 37 points. The absence of Embiid didn’t seem to hurt Philadelphia at least in this game. Tyrese Maxxy also gave Sacramento a lot of grief scoring 21 points.

It was a slow start for Sabonis although he did pick it up in the second half finishing with 12 rebounds and 14 points. The high for the Kings was De’Aaron Fox with 21 points. Sacramento had 17 turnovers were 8 of 38 from beyond the arc. It was not a great offensive night for Sacramento.

Post game notes: Friday night the Kings took on the 76ers at Wells Fargo Center. The Sixers came into this game sitting in third place in the Eastern Conference while the Kings are in fifth place in the Western Conference. 

The Kings won on Wednesday night beating the Hornets 123-98. The 76ers lost an overtime game on Wednesday losing to the Atlanta Hawks 139-132. They snapped their three game losing streak and they it without Joel Embiid who was out for a third straight game with a knee injury. 

The Kings have now lost two of their last six games with Friday night’s defeat and couldn’t take advantage of the absence of Joel Embiid. Sacramento has lost nine straight meetings against Philadelphia.

It doesn’t get any easier for the Kings heading into Milwaukee to take on the Bucks Sunday. The Bucks are currently in second place in the Eastern Conference. Tipoff for that game is scheduled for 4:00 PM.      

  

Oakland A’s Relocation podcast with Jim on Bases: How City of Oakland will handle Ballers being denied use of Coliseum

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Oakland Ballers manager Mitch Franklin speaks with the media upon introducing the Pioneer League team’s first year in Oakland (AP News photo)

#1 Jim, the Pioneer League Oakland Ballers were denied use of the Oakland Coliseum for one game on June 29th. The Ballers co-founder Paul Freedman was rather shocked about not being able to play at the Coliseum. The latest word is from inside sources the A’s are not budging from their decision to deny the Ballers to play at the Coliseum on June 29th.

#2 One of the discussed reasons for the denial by the A’s is they don’t want to have the Ballers come in and draw say 30,000 and making a statement that baseball isn’t dead in Oakland whereas the A’s are expected to draw no more on average 5,000 a game.

#3 The Ballers who are scheduled to play their games at Laney College in Oakland wanted to get their name out there and have a good start. The A’s don’t want to be embarrassed having a Pioneer League team come in and make them look bad in their marketing and attendance.

#4 The idea of the Ballers playing at the Coliseum didn’t come cheap as they would have to pay the Coliseum Authority to cover the grounds crew, security, concessions, engineers, technicians, and employees and also insurance costs and other miscellaneous departments working the Coliseum.

#5 The Ballers were planning to give tickets away to colleges, high schools and elementary schools and wanted to establish a relationship with Bay Area Schools and communities as a good will gesture. With the A’s denying the Ballers access to the Coliseum the Ballers will have to try and do this from Laney College.

Jim on Bases was filling in for Daniel Dullum who does the Oakland A’s Relocation podcasts at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

That’s Amaury News and Commentary: A’s 2024 season, Adios Coliseum?

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Aerial view of the Oakland Coliseum Complex which will no longer be in use if the Oakland A’s vacate after the 2024 season and refuse an extension for 2025. (photo by Sky 7 ABC 7 News)

A’s 2024 Season, Adiós Coliseum?

Amaury Pi-González

OAKLAND–According to their lease, this year is the final year for the Oakland A’s to play at the Oakland Coliseum. They will need a home field from 2025 until 2028 when they plan to inaugurate their new ballpark in Las Vegas. Where will the A’s play after 2024, like in 2025?

The options are as follows: their current home, the Oakland Coliseum, Oracle Park San Francisco, home of the Giants, or possibly Las Vegas Ballpark, currently home to the A’s Triple-A affiliate, Last Vegas Aviators.

However, getting the players’ union to vote in favor of playing in a minor league park could present a real dilemma for the A’s and the other teams scheduled to play the A’s in Las Vegas with just 10,000 capacity. If the A’s want to play at Oracle in San Francisco, they know renting out there will not be cheap.

 One fact remains for this season because of all the circumstances and unknowns in the future of this franchise. The 2024 season could be the last for the A’s at Oakland Coliseum, where they have won four World Series.

Depending on how everything develops, like the construction of the new park, the A’s would be one of the most exciting teams to cover in the major leagues. It will attract nationwide and international curiosity.

We might see more media covering the Oakland A’s in 2024 than in the previous four to five seasons. The A’s will still have many young players, and they will not be expected to be in the race for a playoff spot, but all the stories written about 2024 could make the Oakland Coliseum historical Adiós a very special one.

There have been highs and lows for the Oakland A’s. In 1979, only 653 fans showed up at Oakland Alameda County Stadium to watch the A’s beat the Mariners 6-5. In 1979, the A’s total attendance at the Coliseum was 306,763, their lowest. In the last three years, 2021, 701,430, followed by 787,902 in 2022 and the previous season in 2023 the total home attendance was 832,352. The high, 1972,73-74, and  1988-89-90.

Those six years, A’s won four World Series and were the envy of baseball. I do not remember anybody complaining about the Oakland Coliseum because the team was winning, and when you win, who cares where you play? Winning is what brings the fans to the park.

To think the A’s could attract 1 million this next season is the dream of the most optimist among optimists. But because this 2024 could be a historical last season it will make it much more interesting, many memories will be rehashed and some new ones could come to fruition at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum, the fifth oldest park in the major leagues.

Note: Dodger Stadium, Los Angeles, home of the LA Dodgers, is older than the Oakland Coliseum. It is the third oldest park in the major leagues, but in impeccable condition, it is still one of the best and most beautiful ballparks to watch a game.

The park doesn’t make the team. In the Dodger’s world, they have both the park and the team, and the team that leads the majors in attendance will be jumping again this year with many sellouts and a heck of a team.

Amaury Pi Gonzalez is the lead play by play voice on the Oakland A’s Spanish radio network at 1010 KIQI San Francisco and 990 KATD Pittsburg and does News and Commentary at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Cardinal hold off Beavers in OT 88-84

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Stanford Cardinal guard Michael Jones is excited after an overtime win over the Oregon State Beavers at Gill Coliseum in Corvallis on Thu Jan 11, 2024 (AP News photo)

By Daniel Dullum

Thursday, January 11, 2024

Stanford used big scoring nights from Canaan Carlyle and Brandon Angel, combined with a double-double for Maxime Reynard to earn an 88-84 Pac-12 men’s basketball overtime victory over Oregon State at Corvallis, Ore.

Carlyle led the Cardinal with 22 points and Angel scored 19 points, including a go-ahead 3-pointer in OT. Raynaud had 18 points and 13 rebounds before fouling out.

Tyler Bilodeau’s jump shot gave the Beavers (9-7 overall, 1-4 Pac-12) a 76-75 lead with 3:28 remaining in overtime. Carlyle then made 1 of 2 free throws to tie the game, Angel connected on a 3, and Stanford (8-7 overall, 3-2 Pac-12) maintained the lead over the final 2 minutes and 49 seconds.

Carlyle made his 22 points on 5 of 12 field goals with two 3-pointers and hitting 10 of 16 at the line; he also had six rebounds and six assists. Angel connected on 7 of 9 field goals along with two 3s, Michael Jones drained three from behind the arc and finished with 11 points.

Jordan Pope led the Beavers with 21 points on 8 of 14 field goals, including two 3-pointers. Bilodeau finished with 17 points, and Dexter Akanno added 14 points off the bench. KC Ibekwe contributed 11 points and six boards for OSU.

With the win, the Cardinal took a 77-76 lead in the all-time series. Stanford has won three of its last four games.

Stanford returns home to host Utah on Sunday. Tipoff is at 2 p.m.

NHL podcast with Len Shapiro: Gauthier leaves Flyers, coach called him a cancer, fans sent him death threats; Blackhawks Bedard out 6-8 wks; plus more news

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Former Philadelphia Flyer Cutter Gauthier received death threats from Flyer fans and head coach John Tortorella said he was a cancer was dealt to the Anaheim Ducks for Jamie Drysdale and a second round draft pick on Wed Jan 10, 2024 (Getty image)

On the NHL podcast with Len Shapiro:

#1 Two questions Len how surprised were you that Cutter Gauthier (goat-chee-a) wanted out of Philadelphia. Gauthier was reportedly was not happy in pre season camp. Gauthier is going to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for defenseman Jamie Drysdale and a second round pick. A source said that head coach John Tortorella and other team leaders felt he was a cancer in the dressing room. Cutter was soured on the team and there is not much surprise that he and Tortorella were not happy with each other. Tortolrella can have a salty personality and Gauthier was not happy with his style of coaching. Gauthier had also received death threats from fans according to one story.

#2 The Chicago Blackhawks took a big hit when they learned that their No.1 pick Connor Bedard will be out for six to eight weeks with a fractured jaw. Bedard was injured when he took a hit by New Jersey Devils defenseman Brandan Smith on Jan 5th Bedard skated into the offensive zone and was holding his mouth. Bedard was leading the Hawks and all NHL rookies with 33 points.

#3 The Boston Bruins lost their goaltender Linus Ullmark when he suffered a lower body injury at 2:40 of overtime in a 4-3 loss to the Arizona Coyotes at Mullet Arena in Tempe last Tuesday. Ullmark stretched out on a shot by the Coyotes forward Logan Cooley which went over the crossbar. It would appear that Ullmark suffered a pull. He had saved 32 shots before the injury. His back up Jeremy Swayman allowed a goal on the first shot he faced.

#4 The Flyers Jamie Drysdale didn’t waste anytime getting to work after joining the Flyers from Anaheim in the Gauthier exchange. Drysdale had an assist in setting up the tying goal and the Flyers went onto defeat the Montreal Canadiens 3-2 in a shootout. On the other hand the Habs goaltender Cayden Primeau stopped 37 shots.

#5 The Dallas Stars Nils Lundkvist scored a goal and an assist. The contest wasn’t even close on Wednesday night at the Stars took no prisoners in their 7-2 blasting of the Minnesota Wild. It was the Wild’s Jesper Wallstedt’s NHL debut at the American Airline Center in Dallas. Wallstedt faced 34 shots and allowed seven goals.

Join Len Shapiro for the NHL podcast Thursdays at http://www.sportsradioservice.com

Golden State Warriors podcast with Jerry Feitelberg: Is it time for Draymond to go?

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The Golden State Warriors Draymond Green runs off the floor after being ejected by officials for hitting the Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face on Tue Dec 12, 2024. Green returned Sun Jan 7, 2024 after an indefinite suspension and missing 12 games. (AP News photo)

On the Warriors podcast with Jerry F:

#1 Jerry, Draymond Green said after Golden State’s 141-105 drubbing by the New Orleans Pelicans that the state of the team was his fault.

#2 Green said that he discussed with NBA Commissioner Adam Silver during his indefinite suspension that lasted 12 games that he wanted to retire and he had had enough. Silver told Green he wouldn’t let Green retire and that this was not the path to take to retirement.

#3 Steve Kerr said that Green’s career hangs in the balance and Green knows that. Kerr said that based on altercations he had from last season and this year Green is aware of that. This most recent altercation hitting the  Phoenix Suns center Jusuf Nurkić in the face got him the indefinite suspension.

#4 Jerry, is it time now for Draymond Green to retire and get out of the game. He could finish this season but his temper and emotions get the best of him and if this happens again it’s not going to be a good exit for him.

#5 Kerr said that the Warriors have put him on notice and Green had put himself on notice and that’s the way it has to be according to Kerr.

Join Jerry Feitelberg for the Warriors podcasts each Thursday at http://www.sportsradioservice.com