Streaming live. I mean, iHeartRadio WAP. This is I on the Ball
with Steve Robera and Jay Gonzalez on Fox Sports fourteen fifty. Hey, welcome
back to iron Ball, you know, Fox Sports fourteen fifteen. I'm Steve,
He's Jay. We have said with breaking news on the ball, breaking
news. All right, we'll start off our breaking news with some stuff that
you guys talked about yesterday. Uh, with Tiger's kid not qualifying for the
PGA Tour event, because what you said, Yeah, we raved about how
good he is and he's gonna be a grape bro and he's fifteen, little
guy. He's really good already. Tiger alone, piss it pisses me off
how good he is already. And you know, Sammy him is the golfing
guy. So we were talking a little bit about him, and then he
went off in this in this qualifier eighty six or did that land and qualifier?
Well, if you're not shooting under par, you're not qualifying. Well
yeah, well, well you have had to shoot like in the sixties.
What was the reason why he did it just to get the experience? I
don't know, because he good? Yeah, you can sign up. Yeah,
I mean, it costs you money to sign up, and you have
to have a you have to have a verified handicap, which is his handicap
is probably you know, low, low enough to be able to play,
because you can't just I could not go sign up for a PK qualifier,
Okay, okay, I've got to have a You gotta be a certain because
they don't want me going out there shooting one hundred and twenty with guys who
are trying to shoot in the sixties. Get the hell get that guy off
the course, right, so you have to prove how good you are.
But he's got eighty six, it's like really bad for them. Oh yeah,
but that that would that would be like me going out to Randolph and
shooting one hundred and twenty. So that was but good for a fifteen year
old eighty six? Yeah eighty six? Yeah, oh yeah, yeah,
you know, but even a even a high school golfer, okay, high
school golfer, just you know, Sunnysider is going to shoot better than that.
But this is also a pro quality, you know, PGA tour quality
of course. So you know they're not gonna shoot eighty six at that course,
but they are. You know he's it was it's a very it's a
very bad round. Yeah, it's a very bad round. Okay, you
know, maybe the pressure got to him, you know all of that.
He's fifteen years old. Uh you know, look Tiger Tiger playing in his
first PGA Tour event at sixteen. So maybe what he was trying to do
is go out there and sure, you know, beat his dad out.
As far as that, well, I don't feel sorry for the kid,
because he's gonna make a ton of money. He's gonna make it. He's
he's a really good golfer. You know if you've seen him play in these
father son events, Yeah, he's really damn good. Well he's your he's
your airport guy. And I'll say this because I can't I swing like Charles
Barkley. He swings like his dad. Yeah, so he's you look at
him. Look, they've showed video of him and his dad's side, the
exacting's airport guy. Yeah. Yeah, especially the little habits of the yeah,
little things. Yeah, it's funny. So yeah, anyways, you
know what, he'll be fine. Yeah, he'll be fine. I'm not
I'm not sitting here making fun of him. I'm not your fit, and
I'm not sitting here feeling sorry for him. He's going to be just fine.
Some big news, probably the biggest news football related. A lot of
teams nowt FBS teams announced and a lot of ESPN personalities announced that they're going
to be in the new college football video game. The players are now able
to opt into being in the game, which as of right now, the
players that opt in will receive six hundred dollars plus a copy of the video
game, and then nil is also being negotiated. Certain players are going to
be ambassadors, so a little more. Yeah, so this is big for
the college football world because the video game I believe the last one was twenty
fourteen. So well, this is what started it all right, Yeah,
you know the Jake Fishers of the world. Yeah, Jake Fisher. Somebody
meant Sam Keller, the quarterback at at ASU. You know who was who
was a part of that. You go back to Charles uh Abandon, you
know uh and so you know that that's what started. That is was the
birth of what ultimately became n I L. It's when these guys college athletes
came out and said I want money if you guys are gonna use, you
know, if you're gonna sell my jersey, if you can use my likeness
all that stuff. So I just got a text. Uh he hit a
twelve and one hole. Other than that, he did pretty well. Okay,
there you go. I can do I can hit it twelve twelve.
No, you know what, I never shoot twelve because when I get to
eight, I pick up stuff. I never shoot at twelve. I usually
shoot at twelve. When I go in the water and my ballwhere I just
pick up or I run over A times I'll pick up at a seven.
I'll just say I'm not walking on and this is Cordole anymore. All right,
got a news first Steve, New Mexico last night upset Umber twenty to
Colorado State at the pit Yeah. I don't know if it was an upset
because they were favored by two or three. But it was a fantastic game.
Fantastic game the full court. I'm not I'm not a lowbo so I
don't really care. We had the a D from them here and he gave
me grief because I'm an eggy, but shame down the last second shot.
They won the pit as. As Jay always thinks of the pit being fantastically
full. It was full last night and a good win for them. They're
gonna make the tournament. I think as far as the Mountain westchools, they
usually do get about you know, two or three in there. So this
year we should be which should see some more. And then another upset was
l s you being Kentucky won that game. Yep, yeah, I didn't
stay out for that. Really, I had it on at Kentucky was was
handling them pretty well. Yeah, I mean it was closed, but I
mean the Kentucky was and they've been stumbling Kentucky. Yeah, they're just the
road. Yeah, that's that's cal Party is not going. He's not trending
in the right route direction and he hasn't been for a while. Did you
were talking about well Eritorius? You know, right before we had him on,
remember, because we talked about it. He had a whole show talking
about who's going to replace CALIPARKI ed Kentucky because he's on his way out,
well him Patino, And you saw Patino walk his stuff back. Baby,
stand by what you said. I love my players, blah blah blah.
Have to ripping them after ripping them publicly for a long time. Got a
spring training started today. Uh, I wanted to talk about kind of the
whole fanatics and MLB uniform situation. I don't know if you guys saw the
teams just starting to do you know, the photo shoots for the year,
and there's been a lot of criticism for you know, fanatics being a part
of the uniforms and the quality of the jersey and and now when when they
had the full shot of the player, a lot of the players pants are
are are see through, they're seeing through them. They're seeing through them,
so you could see the jersey underneath that's tucked in. So there's a get
a lot of backlash right now that's going on, Hope, that underwear,
the the what do you call him? The what do you call sniders?
Yes, sliders. Yeah, I'm glad I'm not an athlete anymore. Girdles.
Okay, So football news, the Chiefs signed Matt Riza, which I
saw that. Yeah, so he was He was actually dropped from the bills
from the elections. The great lawsuit, he was never really charged for it.
Uh. The civil lawsuits were were dropped as well, but he was
dismissed from Yeah, this is uh, since being drafted really from for the
Bills. He is now on the Super Bowl champs. Yeah, you know,
you always wonder, right, did he or didn't he? And that's
that's the unfortunate part because if he didn't do anything, and he's gonna always
have this hanging over him. So let me ask you, are you almost
done? Are you done? You've done? Yeah? Yeah, you got
one more? Go ahead and bring something up. This was pretty recent as
well. I don't know if you saw, but Tim Anderson got a one
year deal with the Marlins, one year, five million Tim Anderson from the
White Sox. So he was he was one of the top shour stops in
and so now he's on a one year deal and trying to prove himself again.
Well okay, all right, good for him. So I was thinking
this and I don't know why, and I know the Jeff thing. I
don't want to talk about the gen thing anymore because it's more than a month.
But I'm gonna bring something up that you may or may not want to
discuss, so along the lines of the punter. It's kind of tense,
gentle, but bear with me. So Delora, right, Delora goes,
she leaves here he was on the roster, he played for half the season,
got hurt, blah blah blah. We know that decided to go to
Texas State. The kids protested. I guess that the administration realized it may
not be Are you surprised? Are in retrospect? Are you surprised that the
student body here didn't put up a fight? They didn't put up a fight,
But I can tell you the student A lot of the student body was
unhappy. And I got that. I got that awareness. I guess for
my daughter. You know. Yeah, But okay, so there was but
it wasn't undated. They weren't really vocal about protesting right, correct, people
talking correct? Just people don't saying, wait, you know, why why
does theirson't to have this guy on their team? There was that you heard
the murmurs. I heard, you could see, you know, I don't
want to support this guy. And I know a lot of the lums were
upset because they did keep him. But I was when I realized that happened
in Texas State. He may never play a game. He might never play
a game. And that's what I just thought of. When the players look
again, you know, if you do something like that, and he clearly
did something right because he's paying something for that. Right now, did he
get criminally charged? No, no, but you know he's he has settled
some sort of lawsuit in this, so he's admitted to something or say,
you know, agreed that something happened and I owe money for this. So
in that case, you know, you know, got to you gotta make
you gotta make good decisions, you know, as as I as we would
tell our kids, make good choices. And he didn't make a good choice.
Well, my question was the it was the there was no in house
uproar from the kids who who eventually who ultimately made the decision down there.
But Steve, we you know, we got callers. He said, no,
sure of course that I'm not you know, until he's gone. I'm
not going to any you some of those people, right, And so there
I heard. I'm not gonna say a lot, but I you know,
it was out there, and I heard people and you know the and you
know, mostly you know, mostly women who are going, what the hell,
what the hell? You know how bad Jed wants to win so bad
that he and he stood by him all the way through, and and he
stood by him longer than most people thought he should have based on his performance.
There was a lot Yeah, during that time when they were starting to
struggle a little bit, and you start saying he not only is he has
he does he have this in his past? He's playing like app right,
Yeah, he was not doing well, you know, and and Jed kept
standing behind him. No, I even when even when Fida was doing really
well. Yeah. Well, I'm not gonna say who's the starter? Right
right? Okay? Now, I yeah, I mean we may never see
him again. I you know, I don't know if anybody knows where he's
even at. Did he go back to Hawaii? Is he trying to get
on the team. Is he still in the portal? I don't know.
I don't know. I don't know. Okay, I don't know. What
do you have that's it for you? Yeah? There was just seeing something
that says the from Adam Schefter, the Chargers are finalizing a deal to hire
the USC running back coach. Yeah, so that was rumored to be happening.
So another another college guy, uh going and taking a NFL job?
Yeah? So yeah, no, we we we And we talked a little
bit about this yesterday with and we got to get I was telling the uh,
Sam, we got to get Pat Finley on because all this stuff with
with fields Field and then you know, I think they're gonna get Caleb Caleb
Willis Williams all that kind of stuff. So very interesting. Okay, let's
stick this call. Oh you can call calls right back. We have about
two and a half minute and give us a call back. If you just
called, We'll pay attention to this. Sorry. Yeah, no, okay,
yeah, Pat Finley would be good to come on, just you know,
because I mean, you know, the Bears have the first round pick.
What are they gonna do? I think people are interested. So uh,
anyways, there we go, Here we go. Here, we're going
to take this call. Hi, you're on the air with that on the
ball, Yes, James, Hey, James, you got about a minute.
We were just talking about you, right because you called us and told
us you weren't going to any more games until De Laura was gone. Yeah.
I did attend the last game of the season, and I'm now probably
to say I'm a season ticket holder once again. Nice. Well, we're
proud of you, James. Thanks thanks for doing that. But you know,
I mean, we're we're talking about the fact that De Laura's just disappeared.
What kind of happens if you have some stuff that's in your past that's
not uh pretty proud upon? Is that what you called? You called the
discussion? Yeah, yeah, I mean that was a big deal to you,
James. Tell me why? Uh you know, you know, I
think it's you of A has pride, you know, classic casts. You
know, we do what things the right way, you know the way tell
me built the program and loud Olsen and Ken Drea and then they have someone
like that on the team. It just it doesn't seem like something that you,
of A would do. See something like a su would pull a player
like that and be fine with it, not you, of A. I
just felt like we had higher class than that. And I'm glad to see
we've moved on to a better coach and someone that wants to be in Tucsons.
Well, I think you're coming in at a good time. I mean
it's gonna be a lot of fun, could be more full next year,
and a lot of hope. What what's your what's your hope for next year?
Uh? Nine and three? All right, that's that's over. That's
down now. All rights for the PAC twelve tournament this year. That are
you going? How are you going? Yes? I am okay, We're
not going to be doing a show there. Yeah, we can't do a
show there. I think you did you go go this year? No,
we're going, but we can't do the show because they've changed the game times
on Friday, and daylight saving times starts before the tournament, so the Friday
game starts at the time that our show would end, so we can't.
Oh, I see it. Yeah, make just a timing issue. But
we will both be there. Cool. Maybe I feel you guys around all
right, Look, okay, James, thanks about We've got to go good.
Let's take our break. Yep. We got Jeff Neil coming up push
Ridge Christian Academy. Let's call him push Ridge Push Ridge Lions uh three,
a boy soccer state champion, So we'll we'll talk to Jeff about his season,
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This is I on the Ball with Steve Rivera and Jay Gonzalez sound Fox Sports
fourteen fifty. Subscribe now to the podcast on the iHeartRadio an just searching I
on the Ball. Hey, welcome back to Why on the Ball Hero Fox
Sports fourteen fifty. I'm Steve Rivera. He's Jacob Sauce. Now on the
phone. We have Jeff Neil, coach. Jeff Neil from the Push Ridge
Boys Christian soccer team, the Lions. How are you, coach? Good?
How's it going fine? Be too excited here, do Jaco Grass.
You must be very happy and as you as your team will be as you
should be. Yeah, No, we're super excited. This is just my
excited voice. Good one. All right, we'll go with that. Coach.
Tell you you know I'm looking at your schedule here and you know you
played in that in that tournament early in the year where you had teams like
Sunnyside, South Point, Micah Mountain, you know, you kind of held
your gownd a little bit, lost a couple of matches there, but then
you go undefeated after that. There had to be some point along the line,
or maybe it was preseason that you thought we're really, really good and
we have a chance at this When did that happen for you? So we
we knew going into the season that we're going to have a strong team,
like we we had the ability to get a lot of good things done this
year. You know, we've going to that Brandon Bean tournament looking to see
where we're at and to make adjustments for there. So you know, we
got to, like you said, we've played Sunnyside, We're excited to play
those guys. We're looking forward to play South Point and have to do that,
play Micah Mountain, play Flowing Wells and all those guys and see where
we're at in what adjustments we need to make. And so we made a
couple of those, and as far as we're guys were playing and how we're
playing, and just from there on, it was what's the next game?
Yeah, no question. So you you mentioned that you played them, I
mean you kind of probably got your butt beat a little and then you get
better because of it. Right, So, so was is there was there
sort of a you know going in what was it seniors that you had?
I mean there was something that you had that you thought, this is why
we're going to be good. What what was that? So, you know,
the last couple of years, we've had this poor group of guys and
we've been working towards that since I started this program, building these guys up
and developing them as a team. And they've been especially this the senior group
and last years as well, where these guys have been playing together for a
long time. I mean they were literally like a family. These guys are
all brothers, just working hard for each other. And so going into this
season, we just knew that that was something special and we wanted to make
sure that we did our part as far as coaches getting them prepared. So
they probably played all year around other leagues and stayed together and then you were
the benefit or you know, got them better, but you helped, you
helped facilitate that. Right. You know, some of these guys I've coached
before when I was coaching club and or coached against the other ones, and
you know, we had the opportunity to because some of these guys in middle
school as well, and they're all, you know, their quality guys with
the good ability, and it's getting them to believe that they had what it
took to go all the way this year. And you know, we told
them like daily in practice, you know, tomorrow's game is the most important
game. Whether it was our first game, third game, first game of
the playoffs, whatever, that was the most important game. So that we're
just looking, you know, one game ahead, but always concentrating on trying
to get it to the to the end of the season, to that final.
So tell us a little bit about about your run in the playoffs.
We're seeing I'm looking at the scores that Scotts Gale Christian you beat him one
nothing that first game. It's kind of like something like that has to be
a little nerve wracking. You know, we've we've done all this stuff where
we've won this winning streak and now we're in a game and it's one zip
in the in the in the first round. Walk us a little bit through
some of the you know, that game, the emotions and what was going
through your head. Is that game is unfolding. I mean, Gray Hairs
were going through my head for a lot of that game, I was getting
you know, we we possessed that game, and we're doing everything we needed
to do except finishing our chances. I mean, we probably left eight or
ten really good chances on the on the field that we should have finished on
and luckily we got the one goal end. But that was just one of
those games where it was like our defeat last year, and in the playoffs,
we possessed most of the game. People that watch it would say we
were dominating that game and then we didn't get the job done. So for
us to come out of that game with a one zero victory, even though
we the score doesn't show how much good stuff we were doing in that was
good for our team and good for our arall because we were kind of getting
to a point where we're just a little bit dry in terms of finishing for
that first game, and then after that we had that confidence, hey,
we can get this done, and it started clicking really well for us.
So what does this mean to the school? You know, a soccer title,
I think typically if I'm wrong, JA correct me. Good golf program,
right, they do well in golf. What does this mean to you
guys and the school the title. I mean, the school was super excited
for us. They showed us some really good support going up to the final
and all that. And you know, I've got coaches coming up to the
guys, coming up to us saying, congrats, We're so happy for you
guys. The boys are getting you know, congratulated in the school. So
it's it's a small community there. So everybody shares in the kids victories.
So you know, when when the kids are doing good in tennis last year,
they get they get support from the soccer guys. When the girls are
doing good and volleyball or basketball or soccer, they get support from all the
other students and athletes. So it's it's a good community of support there.
And I know you confuse those two. I don't know, coach. You
know, going in that Gilbert Christian game, the state championship, it's a
one versus two, uh matchup there? There were number one, you were
number two in the rankings. You know you're thinking going into that game,
did you, you know, did you play it as an underdog? Did
you motivate your guys that way? Did you tell them, you know,
look, we are better than these guys even then they have the ranking.
How did you approach that? So we went into that game knowing that we
were gonna come out on top. I mean, that's the only way you
can approach those games. I think we had played them earlier in the year
in the tournament where we where we won, and we felt like we had
a good game plan going in again to handle what they're going to do.
Uh. They had a really strong group up, pops, and so we
defended well against that. We could have done a better job finishing again,
but in a game of that magnitude, you know, you take what you
get and uh, but no, we we went in there with kind of
like a well not kind of. We had a big chip on our shoulder
and we wanted to get out there and get the work done. And those
guys were super motivated to go out there and work hard for each other.
I mean you could just see it in their their eyes. They were ready
for that game. When we knew we were going to play those guys in
the final, it was like the best matchup we could have hoped for.
Give us a little bit about some of the guys, you know, some
of the key players on your team and you know, maybe you know who
you thought were key to you really throughout the season, certainly you know in
the state tournament, because every team has to have some guys, some guys
or players that stand out and say, okay, we we we were really
good because of this. So you know, we had a strong team and
we got well represented and reading and all that stuff with these are words,
but you know, our captains Evan and Colin were both instrumental in our success
all year. You know, after we were down one zero forty seconds into
that game, we got a ball into Kegan, he turns and scores.
Immediately after that, almost I think it was like thirty seconds or something like
that, Evan gets the ball and it plays this amazing throughtball up into column.
He takes a touch and beats the keeper and we're up to one five
minutes into the game. So those those guys have been instrumental all year.
Defensively, guys like Jackson sal Andrew in the back line doing well. Our
keeper kept us in some games just with some amazing staves like some of the
best days I've seen in high school this year. And then we got some
creative guys up top, like with the with Ben and and Caden in the
middle, and had a freshman come in with Camden's that was just playing super
simple, distributing the ball, doing really well, finding guys in through balls
and you know, I mean, I can't say enough about these guys.
We had lets up top getting in behind people and playing balls across and finishing,
so just all around the top. We had some really good guys that
were creative. So, Jeff, is this the first title for you as
well? Yes? So, so what did it mean to you? After
probably what maybe seemed like a long road. So the best thing it was
just it was a relief for one thing that you know, we were able
to prepare these guys, because the success goes to the guys on the field,
like they're the ones that got it done. And so I was just
so excited to see all the joy on these guys' faces and excitement running around,
just so happy for each other because you know, they love on each
other really well, pick each other up, but they're also the first to
call each other out on stuff, so it's kind of fun. But for
me, and I think for the other coaches as well, it was just
amazing to see all the happiness on their faces and stuff, because we've been
on the other end of that as well, where everybody's you know, defeated
and dejected and all that. So it was amazing for us to see that.
Like I look back at these pictures, you know, a week later,
and it just brings a smile to your face tee and all that.
So when do you guys start talking about next year? Right? You got
to do it again, right, I mean we were talking about it on
the bus ride, were like, you know, hey, why did we
You know, first, you're enjoying the moment and all this stuff. But
I guess just the way we are way coaches are wired anyways, you're analyzing
what we did, right, Hey, we do better next time and all
this. So we're already looking at lineups and stuff the next day and talking
about it. So, you know, getting a championships hard to do.
So yeah, whether you have all the ability and the belief you want,
it's it takes a little bit of all those things coming together. So but
first that's always the goal. But so what do you have coming back?
A good group? Uh? Yeah, we've got I mean we're getting a
lot of seniors, are We're saying goodbye to But you know, they've been
leading away and setting a pass forward for these guys as well, shown them
what training sessions need to look like, how you conduct yourselves, how you
be accountable, how you guys treat each other. And so these guys have
all seen that, and we train the JV and the varsity together so that
they're always seeing what the standard is and you know, what's acceptable as far
as effort and all this kind of thing. So we've we've got a good
group coming up. We've got I think three or four guys returning from the
starting squad and then uh, some good underclassmen come out that they're gonna be
able to contribute. Okay, well, coach, we appreciate your time.
Don't be so excited next time. Please don't let him give you any crap
about it. No, you what I found out about. So he sends
me the mug, let me send let me tell you this, let me
tell you this story about the first time I heard it, let me tell
you the secret. So I said, can you send me a mug?
And it took him a little while. He says, do you want this
one or one with a mullet. It's a say, come on, I
used to wear a mullet too, he was, mister mullet was I love
my I love my head, I said, the one with the mullet.
So he's got that coach again. Congratulations, thanks a whole bunch for your
for your time, and good luck next year. Hey, thanks a lot,
guys the Opportunity Congress, thank you, good stuff. That's fun.
He had more fun at the end of that interview with the bullet. He
did. He did again, good on it. That. Yeah, that
was their first soccer champion chip. And so you know, I pustrate it
with a little bit of a of a of a of a rival in my
days, you know over over at the Gregory School that they were, they
were a division above us. And yeah, and but you know we'd play
them in baseball. Remember Doug Jones pro for the for the Indians. He
was their baseball coach. So I coached the game against him, like guy's
been in the major leagues. What the hell do I know? That's your
that's your your airport thing to talk about. That was married. We didn't
win, No, we didn't, And I nearly got tossed from the game.
Okay, mister Miller at home. I was arguing to call at home
Sewn Miller exactly. Well, you know what, the major league guy gets
all the calls, right, he gets respect that you should. Yeah,
okay, let's take the break. Let's go. We'll have more time on
the other side. Okay, let's take a break. We'll be back.
We'd love to take your calls. Five two zero four, one sixty.
If you're an Arizona Man's basketball fan, you know it's been successful for nearly
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dot net. Steve Braverera and Jacob Salis they have their eye on the ball
on Tucson Sports Stage Chat Fox Sports fourteen fifties. No, we are Hey,
welcome back here. Oh, welcome back back. We were not there
before until you go. Now, all right, Sid, I've got your
evaluation sitting right here. Okay, I'm gonna have to I'm gonna have to
mark you down for this last thing. Let's answer to that. Hey,
welcome to the funny farm. Here at high in the ball the rhino was
a shoe. Yes, sir, here, I'm here. We're gonna believe
this on any term, Yeah, said said Sid. Got some issues.
Hey, hey, thanks for your thanks for your call. What's going on?
Hey, So I was listening in coach Jeff Neil push Ridge Christian Academy
soccer team. Mike Son is a player on that team, and I got
to see twenty two of the twenty four matches, so I've got a pretty
good take on push Ridge and you're right. That was his excited voice.
So he and Tark Doyle and Alex Rossos and Adam Odell, the coaching staff
did an incredible job with these young guys. And what coach Neil didn't really
share with you is great in the great detail is the tremendous character of these
kids. They have grown up together. They've played since they were very little,
and they were they grew through that Brandon Bean tournament, you know,
you guys talked about that, uh, and the loss is to the really
good teams Sunnyside. They played Mason Mountain View over a Christmas tournament, who
just lost in the final four of the six A tournament. It was a
very close min late into that game. So they grew a lot throughout the
year. So that's cool, you know, and again a lot of times
that's how those things come together. You see these kids and they you know,
they get on club teams or summer teams or whatever, and they just
make their way through. You know, we've seen that with some of like
these Little League World Series teams and stuff like that, that they you know,
they've known each other forever and and you know they're out there just hanging
out of each other, and when they get on a team like that,
they can do that. Yeah, in the three A South Region Awards,
when you look at what happened, Push Ridge swept the awards. The Offensive
Player of the Year was Colin Tompkins, the defensive Player of the Year was
Jackson Dubbs, and the player of the year overall in the three A was
Evan Gerrellik playing balls from the back end over the top. So when you
can sweep the awards and you talked about the undefeated season, that really showcased
I think the dominance that Push Ridge had in southern Arizona right, but then
also throughout the state, and coach talked about it in the championship game against
Gilbert Christian. What was funny about the rankings is the rankings does not take
into account at the state level the tournament play, so it only looked at
your in conference records, and Push Ridge and Gilbert Christian played in a tournament
over Christmas and Push Ridge beat them four to one. So even though push
Ridge was the second ranked team in the state, they went into that match
with with the level of confidence that, hey, we've already beat these guys
four to one. But then the chip on their shoulder that coach Neil talked
about is Gilbert Christian knocked out Push Ridge last year in the quarterfinals on penalty
kicks. Well, they had that going for them, So it was kind
of a destined match for Gilbert Christian and Push Ridge to face each other again.
And I think that put Push over the top because of what happened last
year when they ented your season a year ago, these kids remembered that and
took that into the match this year. So so having been a parent player
who plays soccer, the group of you guys must be very proud one and
a good group because you know, it takes a village. It takes a
village, and there was a lot of great parents throughout the season and throughout
the years that have supported this soccer club. You mentioned that Push Ridge.
This is only the third team state championship in school history, so it is
breaking new ground. The first soccer championship, that only the third overall.
The football team won in twenty fifteen, and there was another team that won
I think a few number of years ago, so that's a pretty significant seminal
moment for this small community of great parents and great teachers. The school itself
has created an incredible culture around the students and their servitude towards trying to be
christ Like, and these kids really demonstrated that, guys, and playing at
an excellent level but being a really good group of kids. Okay, the
burning question I have is did you rush the field at the end of the
game. Well, you know. The sad part, guys, is that
of the two games that I missed, I missed the road game in Phoenix
because of a business trip, and I missed the championship. It was the
day of the asu Arizona home basketball game. I was in the Cherry Garage
fitting in my car watching on the live stream. So I was going crazy
in my car. I'm sure everybody walking by and the Cherry garagers like what
is wrong with this guy? Because it was about twenty minutes before we went
on the air for the broadcast for the asu Arizona basketball game. So I
missed the title game. I was there in spirit, though, guys,
Well, I've got you beat on that because one year that my son was
in the state quarter final basketball tournament, they were up in Prescott. I
was in China, and I'm getting I'm getting I'm getting text messages in China
play by play while I'm there, so that I have that merit badge.
Yes you do. So I was there in spirit. Very good. Yeah,
what a memory for these kids. Again, you know a little bit
of my background. So I do have a championship background with the men's basketball
team. And so I texted my son and just said, hey, cherish
the moment of the bus ride back because this group of boys will be bonded
for life over this accomplishment. And it's something special that is so true,
nice, so true. Right now, I have a suggestion for you.
Go ah, I'm ready, go take a nap. You have a late
night. I got a light one. Boys, This gonna be a good
one tonight. I know you guys have talked about what do you look back
on that loss in Pullman and you say to yourself, Hey, maybe that
wasn't as bad as we thought because of how the how well they could play
it. True, very true. Should be a fun one tonight. Yeah,
I mean I I mean I would expect it to be a good game.
Way. Yeah, you've got great freshman and Miles Rice. You've got
Isaac Jones in the post. You've got a really good coach that the changes
the defenses up. I would expect Arizona's role players to play much better at
home. We've seen that kJ Lewis, Jayden Bradley playing better. I think
Arizona. If you look at a couple of things, Arizona scored seventy points,
that's the lowest of the season in Pullman, they shot forty three percent.
That's the lowest. They had thirty two points in the paint. That's
the second lowest points in the paint. So a lot of things offensively did
not go well, and the Cats were one possession away from from winning that
game. So I think I'd like to believe Arizona changes the course of their
offense a little bit tonight. I expect it to be a relatively close game.
But if Arizona does what it normally does, it should find themselves on
the winning side tonight. Number one Seeds should do it right now, right
right, You're exactly right. You know, if you if you want to
win the conference title, you got to hur Old Serve at home and a
big game side against the team that is one game back and has the upper
hand in the in the matchups with you. You gotta take care of business
exactly. Well, thanks for the double analysis soccer and basketball. Go take
a nap and we'll see you later. Thank you, all right, right,
thank you, rad cool off right now. You know, I mean
I've been in his shoes as a parent, right And you have to bill
when your kids play sports. You know, I had three kids that all
played in state tournaments at the Gravy School. Man, you're you're bleeding.
You're you're just bleeding. When you know, those games you live and die,
uh you know, with every point or a goal or and you just
go and then they lose and you go, ah, you know you you
you wish you could be the one that lost instead of them, right,
no, no question. Yeah, my oldest played in college and I wish
he would have continued it and got hurting stuff. But yeah, no,
I get it. It's it hurts when it was great when they win,
yeah, and it stings. And I you know, I mean I didn't
play you know, any high school sports at varsity high school sports put it
that way, so I didn't have that, you know, that feeling.
But you know, you sit there and you go, I wish somehow I
could be the one that lost that game instead of you, so that so
that you don't have to feel this, because man, it's stings and and
and you know, those rides home and you know from Phoenix or Press Cut
or wherever these tournaments are. Just I'll tell you my quick story. So
we were pretty good. So it was like a school at some point went
to Catholic school and stay. So we were the number one team in baseball
for four years. There. Some guys went to college and played very good.
We couldn't win it. Could We didn't know how to win it.
We were just either full of ourselves or whatever, and we could never pull
it off. Yeah, four years straight and we couldn't do it. Yeah,
yeah, it sucks. Well, yeah, I mean, you know
they you know, uh, you know my son's soccer team. You know,
they were they were one or two I'm you know, ranked every year
they you know, and just didn't win win it. The Saint Gravy won
two state championships while my brother was playing my brother my son was playing JV.
And then the in basketball, and then the two years that in varsity.
You know, they got to the state Semis and they didn't win,
So it's just tough. Victory sucks. Got another call this. Hi,
you're on the air and I on the ball. Hey guys, Steven j
how fine? Howard? Hey you know what, Howard? Are you off
during our time? Because we've seen you at our remotes before. We're going
to be out tomorrow. Will about that? Yeah, we're gonna be.
Yeah, where you gonna go? Where you're going tomorrow? I think looks
like we're going to be at the Del Soul doing yeah fun. If I
had some money, I i'd like to see the sports book. Well,
we're gonna be there's a card show tomorrow down there all weekend, so we're
gonna be with our guy George. Are they having a card show? Yeah?
That should get you down there. Oh yeah, that'd be fun.
Okay, Oh yeah that's great. Yeah. Yeah, you know what I
was thinking of that? Today's one. Are those guys gonna do another remote
somewhere? Row thinking of that tomorrow? What are you call them about?
Oh? One? I hope that soccer gets on the national international stage.
But I'm I'm a parent. Two kids they played when they were they didn't
play soccer and I'm I'm I'm I kicked my heels. I'm so glad because
I'm not a soccer fan at all. Was the worst of the five sports.
Well glad, I'm happy and rejoicing. My kids didn't play soccer.
Well that wasn't a fan either, and then my boys played for forever forever.
So I'm glad I did become one. Oh, I had a blast
when I was in high school. It was eighteen degrees that' sabino and I
played outside. We're only t shirts and shorts is eighteen degrees. That was
fun running around for me. But oh, real quick, I'll hit on
points. Okay, I cringe when you say we're old. I had dinner
with my Maife and I are the same age, you know, right between
you two guys. We had dinner with my aunt who's seventy five. Her
cousin was seventy eight nine. They she doesn't, they don't feel they're old.
And then they were saying, oh, Don's is smart way till you
hear old. The guy was old eighty two, ninety ninety ninety, so
they didn't feel old. And it's like, you know, if we want
to put ten years to all of our ages. Then we can say we're
old. Okay, thank you, I'm young. That means i'm young.
I'll see we'll see you tomorrow, Howard. Oh, and that's that's about
the game tonight. They're not gonna shoot lights out. Sanford's the gate team
that shot lights out against us, right, yeah, okay, oh yeah,
we're gonna bury him by fifteen tonight. Okay, okay, I'll put
one hundred dollars on your your account, on your account tomorrow. Tell soul
your time. Yeah, we can give you. You can give me my
dinner tomorrow too. Then you know, I know, thank you Howard.
All right, yeah, thank you. Hey, let's talk real quick.
You go about four minutes about be out at d'll sol tomorrow, right,
show showtime cards doing a show unless unless the last minute changes, we don't.
We just believe we're gonna be out there to get a hold of George.
But yeah, he said let's come over. So he's host. He's
hosting the event. It should be a big event. It's not just him,
it's a lot of people. Right, he's got he's gonna have a
players. I don't know about tomorrow, but he's gonna have players out there
over the weekend probably stuff like that. So yeah, no, uh yeah,
it should be fine. We'll get out there and you know, come
out, check us out, check out the show, and maybe get you
on the show. Yeah, okay, cool, I know this is coming
to the news to you. Yeah, yeah, you've been you've done this
tom for a remote right, Yeah, oh that's right, that's right.
Yeah, it was kind of tough. So that's what's gonna happen tomorrow.
And then we got to figure out how to get you in. So they
want to rest you outs, right, to break it in. That's right,
we'll figure it out. A good show today. We still three minutes,
three minutes. If you guys want to give us a last second call,
please do what your thoughts on tonight's game. He said fifteen. I
don't like thirteen. I think it's too many points, and then as Rhino
was explaining how good they are, I don't even like thirteen very much at
all. Now I think I think ten would have been my mind, eleven
would have been okay, but uh, thirteen, man, that's tough.
Got one more call, Yeah, okay, Carl, thanks for calling.
Yeah, man, Ni Nico, we're not We're making fun of him.
Actually, we're having fun with him. That was very cool. Hey man,
he is on the lower tier, man. How hey man, I'm
in the closet Big East sand and I know he doesn't get those calls.
He played Providence. He's complaining about him playing against Providence. Providence. Isn't
that good. It's the name name, Nico. I throw around your name
around this town and everybody loves you. I'm a love of guy Torch.
You are you still engaged? I'm not. I'm not sitting on my left
knee like another. That was funny that he brought that up. Yeah,
okay, you're still engaged. No, are you too serious? Yes?
I knew that wouldn't last. You're like Taylor Swift and what's his name?
Kelsey? Hey man, But she was talking about naming kids. I was
like, I got it out. Okay, be well, thank you,
I gave I gave her the ring right, smart many, thank you?
Nico? All right, man? All right, tomorrow, okay, tomorrow,
okay, because we already have our guests. I'm just thinking we have
guests to those work, right, Yeah, we have good guests. Tomorrow.
We're gonna have Andrew Begnatto he was with me during the selection mock selection
for the UH for the n C Double I didn't really explain to our listeners
what you were doing, So yeah, I want to explain that. Yeah.
About thirty about twelve of us the media from the state went up there
and we did with hung out with the n C Double A people that actually
do this, and we helped put together a mock draft maca n C Double
A tournament. I think I can say that, yes, Arizona was the
number one in our draft, but who knows or our mock Uh, it's
obviously not official, it's just a pretend one. But we felt that they
were good enough to be a number one. In fact, somebody thought they
could be even higher given how they played. And then, uh, so
we're gonna have Andrew, and then we're gonna have Jim live and good he's
he he texted me, he said, he'll come on all right, all
right, So we'll we'll do all of that tomorrow. And so if you
want to, if you get a chance, come on out, take a
sand what else sold we'll be out there so and then hopefully we'll uh have
a good show. We have a good show tomorrow talking about tonight's game,
so UH catches back tomorrow.