Remembering Dana (Dana Kirk and Denny Crum, The Audio)

Former Memphis coach Dana Kirk did his last radio interview with us in 2008.  Memphis had just been become #1 and we talked to Dana about the last time that the Tigers were that high in the rankings (his team).  We also rehash the story of the day Dana introduced me to Jerry Lawler.  I did not cover Dana as a coach, I only knew him as a co-worker and friend.  When I started in radio Dana was extremely supportive and good to me, and one of the first calls I got when I left my old station to come to 730 was from Coach Kirk.  Dana was a friend to me, and I am gonna miss him.
Dana Kirk on The Chris Vernon Show 2-21-08

Former Louisville coach Denny Crum joined us on the show to remember Dana.  Dana coached under Coach Crum prior to coaching at Memphis.  Coach Crum talked about Dana, the Memphis/Louisville rivalry, etc.

Denny Crum on The Chris Vernon Show 2-16-10

Watch out for St. Mary's

I was up late last night and was searching for a game to watch on TV.  There were just a few still on, and I ended up watching St. Mary's/San Francisco.  I knew that San Fran. had recently delivered Gonzaga a shocking loss, but I also knew they were not supposed to be any good.  The Dons have a couple of quick players and a couple of bangers and I could see how they beat somebody if they played out of their minds, but I don't want to talk about them.  I want to talk about my new favorite team, St. Mary's.

I fell in love with this team almost immediately.  It was as if I had formed a bond.  I am up late with a baby... their games are on late... it was meant to be.  As I was watching them I kept thinking to myself - this is the mid-major team that you don't want to see in your teams pod come tourney time.  They have a big (Omar Samhan) that is avg. 22 and 11.  They have a freshman guard named Matthew Dellavedova from Australia that quickly became one of my favorite players I have seen all year.  They have size they can bring off the bench, they are well-coached and play smart, and they have a bunch of guys that can hit shots (as well as being great FT team).

This is my team this year.  Watch out for St. Mary's.  If they are in the tournament, they are knockin some teams out.  Just like me finding them last night, it is meant to be.

Memphis coach Josh Pastner, Gonzaga coach Mark Few on the show (The Audio)

Memphis plays Gonzaga on Saturday at the Forum.  On Friday, both Mark Few and Josh Pastner were on the show to talk about the season so far, and the game this weekend.  Few is always great on the show, and you will enjoy Pastner bustin me up about being critical of SMU loss.  Both were great.  Check it.

Gonzaga coach Mark Few on The Chris Vernon Show (2-5-10)

Memphis coach Josh Pastner on The Chris Vernon Show (2-5-10)

"Mathletics" author Wayne Winston (The Audio)

Wayne Winston is a professor at Indiana University, an advanced stat guru that has worked with the Dallas Mavericks and others, and the author of the new book "Mathletics: How Gamblers, Managers, and Sports Enthusiasts Use Mathematics in Baseball, Basketball, and Football" 

Wayne joined us on the show to talk about the book, how mathematics are now being used in professional sports, how they will be used in the future, the Grizzlies and who is responsible for them winning games, etc.  He was incredibly interesting.  His website is http://www.waynewinston.com/.  Here is the interview broken into two parts...

Wayne Winston on The Chris Vernon Show part 1

Wayne Winston on The Chris Vernon Show part 2

ALL-STAR

Runaway Lane (The Kiffin Song)

Runaway Lane by Chris Vernon (featuring Justin Moore from Ingram Hill)

For old times sakes...

The UT Wild Boys Photo Shoot (aka The Orange Lamborghini bit)

hahahahahahahahhahahahaha!

Ronnie Brewer (Utah Jazz) on the show (The Audio)

Ronnie Brewer from the Utah Jazz joined us on the show on today (the off-day between the 2 games this week with the Grizzlies).  Ronnie is at the very top of the list of our favorite NBA players to bring on the show.  He is always great.  Today we talked to him about playing for Sloan, playing in Utah, being in a contract year, Memphis, twitter, the Gilbert Arenas situation and NBA players and guns, etc.  Check it.

Ronnie Brewer on The Chris Vernon Show (1-7-09)

Grizzlies Statistical Analyst Aaron Barzilai (The Audio) and Chris Wallace (Audio)

On Tuesday I read an article on TrueHoop where Henry Abbott was asking questions of stat guru Wayne Winston.  LINK In the article, one of the questions was about coach of the year.  Here is what Winston said...

9. Coach of the year?

I think Lionel Hollins or Paul Westphal. Nobody thought these teams had a shot at playoffs, but they do now. Give Aaron [Aaron Barzilai, quantitative analyst for the Memphis Grizzlies and basketballvalue.com founder] some credit for Grizzlies’ great play!

I had not heard of Aaron previous to this interview but I wanted to get him on to talk about who he is, what he does, what he does for the Grizzlies, and advanced stats in the NBA.  He was on the show on Wednesday.  It is broken into two parts.  Aaron's website is basketballvalue.com

Aaron Barzilai on The Chris Vernon Show (1-6-10) part 1

Aaron Barziali on The Chris Vernon Show (1-6-10) part 2

After Aaron was on, Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace joined us on the show for his weekly segment and he spoke about advanced stats, Aaron, etc (Rondo story is interesting).  Below is that portion of the bit today.

Grizzlies GM Chris Wallace on The Chris Vernon Show (1-6-10)

Tim Donaghy on the show (The Audio)

Disgraced former NBA official Tim Donaghy joined us on the show to talk about his story, if the NBA is a fraud, best and worst players and coaches with the refs, how refs view Memphis and the Grizzlies, etc.
Audio is broken into two parts.

Tim Donaghy on The Chris Vernon Show (1-4-10) Part 1

Tim Donaghy on The Chris Vernon Show (1-4-10) Part 2

Rudy Gay on the show (The Audio)

The Grizzlies are now .500.  We celebrate by talking to the leading scorer.  Rudy joined us on the show to talk about eating Persian food with Hamed, favorite road cities, the team, Randolph, his contract, etc.  Check it.

Rudy Gay on The Chris Vernon Show (1-4-10)

Feelings through art

Coach Pastner on the show to close the year

Coach Josh Pastner joined us on the last show of the year (and decade), to talk about the season so far, dealing with losing to UMass, the Tennessee game coming up, etc.  It is broken into two parts.  Check it.

p.s. - had to use the college pic, that crossover was serious

Josh Pastner on The Chris Vernon Show (12-29-09) part 1

Josh Pastner on The Chris Vernon Show (12-29-09) part 2

Merry Christmas

I love my ducks

what a great college football song. thnx to wes for the tip.  love the song, love the video

Philanthropy (The Picks)

Dolphins +3 (ML) over the Titans
Eagles -8.5 over 49ers
Seahawks -6.5 over Bucs
Steelers/Packers over 40.5
Rutgers -2.5 over Central Florida

Sonny Vaccaro has a story to tell (Kobe Bryant becomes a Laker)

Sonny Vaccaro joined us for our weekly chat and told us a story you will never forget.  The story of how Kobe Bryant landed with the Lakers on the night of the draft in 1996.  This event changed the course of NBA history forever.  Check it.

Sonny Vaccaro on The Chris Vernon Show (12-3-09) part 1

Sonny Vaccaro on The Chris Vernon Show (12-3-09) part 2

Philanthropy (The Picks)

Cincy -2 over Pitt
Illinois -3 over Fresno
ECU +2.5 over Houston (ml)
Bengals/Lions under 42.5
Reputation on the line.... Alabama +5.5 over Florida