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Wednesday 11-05-2008 8:49pm PT
 Thursday 11/06/08: Josh's Afternoon Blog: I had a great time with my family in Los Angeles this past weekend. We were all happy to transform into the ultimate tourists for about 48 hours. Our cameras were out to click away at anything from the Hollywood sign to the movie character statues at Universal Studios. There are actually a few nice aspects of L.A. but I would probably never choose to live there. My reason is the obvious reason: traffic. Nothing can be done quickly in L.A. Randy Newman wrote a song called "I love L.A." and I have no clue what the hell he is talking about. I like L.A. a lot, but love is a tad extreme. Maybe Randy Newman was okay with the smog, high cost of living, and lack of NFL football, but I can't get past the traffic. In San Diego, if I need to rush to the grocery store to get some milk for my cereal, I don't have to carve out 5 hours of my day to sit in gridlock, and park my car at the valet service. That's a headache. If I lived in L.A., I would probably just buy a moped. I would just learn how to operate it a little better than Monte Ellis. And that is officially the longest segway in the history of XTRA Sports 1360 blogs.  On August 26th, it was revealed that Monte Ellis had torn a ligament in his left ankle. However, there was no reason why. He had just signed a new 6 year/$67 million dollar contract extension, and had quickly become the face of the Golden State Warriors franchise at the age of 23. With Baron Davis bolting for the Los Angeles Clippers (a move that sounds like a nightmare to me), Ellis had assumed the role of young superstar up in Oakland. All hopes for success rested comfortably on his shoulders. His injury was a mystery. Ellis said it happened in a simple pick-up game of basketball, but nobody believed him. The injury was too severe to just happen on a court. His ankle was mangled.  After a brief investigation, it was found that Ellis had injured himself in a low speed moped accident. This clearly violated his new contract where he agreed to avoid dangerous activities, like riding a damn moped. What a rough rider this guy must truly be! A moped? We're talking about a moped, not a Harley, but a moped! What are we really talking about here, a moped? So, just like every other team I cheer for, bad luck had struck. Ellis lied...Ellis was caught in the lie...Ellis severely injured himself...Ellis was suspended for 30 games without pay...Ellis will probably be back by Christmas, but it may be too late by then. The woeful Warriors may be mathmatically eliminated by then. He let down the fans and his teammates, but I still love him. I can't hold a grudge. I tried to hate him, but he's only 23 and people make mistakes.  The moral of this story is simple. If athletes sign multi-million dollar contracts, they should give up every single activity in their life outside of their sport. No snowboarding, no rough orgies, no break dancing, no sky diving, no fighting, no surfing, and especially no moped riding. Monte, please listen up, NO MOPED RIDING. Especially for people who have no clue how to ride them. Yes Monte, I'm still talking to you.
-JR
Monday 10-27-2008 3:08pm PT
Friday 10-24-08: Josh's Afternoon Blog: Another NBA season begins next week. This is the greatest time of the sports year for hoops fans. It's the initial part of the season where there's a tiny bit of hope in every NBA city. Even the fans who know their teams will be awful can get excited for a moment or two in late October. There's no reason to go into a brand new season in a bad mood. My Warriors will most likely miss the playoffs again, but I can easily convince myself that it's time to shock the world (or just NBA fans in the United States of America) and advance deep into the playoffs. Tuesday night at the Sports Arena was too much fun. The place wasn't even packed, but the action was awesome. It was a simple preseason game at a run down arena featuring the pitiful Bobcats and the dominant Lakers. However, it was one of the more enjoyable nights in the 9 years I have lived in America's Finest City. We got to to the show from the Arena Club and had a chance to sit down with Kurt Rambis, Stu Lantz, Jared Dudley, and D.J. Augustine. That's an all star cast in my eyes. After the show, we had a chance to sit right behind the Bobcats bench. We were right in the huddle. Spoiled? Yes. But that's the best way to watch basketball. If I had the money, I would spend it on courtside seats any opportunity that came my way. For me, sitting that close was nothing new, but it never gets old.  My true passion for Warriors basketball needs to be explained. San Diego is not an NBA city and probably never will be again. I understand the Rockets and Clippers were here, but those are distant memories. Oakland is an NBA city, and one of the best. That's not just my opinion, that's shared by many fans around the league. My dad moved from New Jersey to the Bay Area in the late 70's. At that point, the NBA was not even close to being the draw it is today. He and a couple friends put in some money to split a season of tickets where front row ran about $15 (FIFTEEN BUCKS!!). That's ridiculous. Stadiums were half full during that down era for the NBA. I was born in 1981, and was immediately immersed into Warriors basketball. I would sit on my dad's knee to see the games in the very front row. The injured players would sit next to us and share nachos. I have so many great memories from the old Oakland Coliseum (which has since been renovated, losing some of the intimate feel). I would slap the players hands as they entered the court for warm ups. From Mullin to Manute, there were some unforgettable characters playing for some sub-par teams. We could hear Don Nelson rip Tim Hardaway apart for being selfish, and talk to beat writer Ray Ratto (who sat directly behind us and gave us stat sheets). We had a chance to meet the broadcasters, dancers, radio voices, and P.A. announcers. It was heaven.  These days, I just order the NBA league pass for about $130 and it's worth every penny. It's not as good, and usually leaves me in a bad mood on the couch, but I still feel connected in a way to the good old days in Oakland. I would not really be that big of a fan without that kind of an upbringing. I find it necessary to have a home team to cheer for. I'm definitely not a casual NBA fan. For kids growing up in San Diego today, the NBA is barely on the radar screen. It's a very small percentage who even care. In some cities, it's the main topic on sports radio, TV, and print. Here, it takes a distant backseat to many sports. I have accepted it. I will move on. But on Wednesday night, when the Hornets come to the Bay to battle the Warriors, I will be more excited than I would be for Superbowl Sunday, the World Series, or the Final Four. Something is wrong with me, but at least it has all been explained now. -JR
Monday 10-27-2008 3:04pm PT
Tuesday 10-14-08: Josh's Afternoon Blog: My name is Josh. I went to San Diego State University. I majored in Journalism. I attended sporting events as a student, and still go to games nowadays as an alum. I rarely have anything to smile about. Cheering for Aztecs athletics causes more suffering than happiness, more frowns than smiles, more anger than joy, more sadness than jubilation etc. 
I have accepted that the 2008 SDSU football season is officially over. Sorry folks, there will be no bowl game this year. The top 68 teams in college football go to a bowl game. The Aztecs are so far from that 68, they can't even see it with binoculars (expensive binoculars). The Aztecs would probably struggle with Oceanside High. I've seen Oceanside on Channel 4, and the coaching is much better.
 So knowing football is in the toilet and currently being flushed, I have turned my attention to hoops. Basketball is by far my favorite sport from the high school level to the NBA. I enjoy watching a good basketball game over anything, except for certain Ginger Lynn movies. I enjoy the cinematography from that era. I was delighted to see the Aztecs picked number 3 in the Mountain West Conference preseason poll. The respect is there, the hope and promise is there...but I'm not sure Lorenzo Wade will be there. 
I'm a Lorenzo Wade fan, but after reading the news today, I wonder if I've seen the last of him. He is being accused of felony burglary, that's all. I can no longer stay positive. This university is absolutely cursed. There are way too many instances of players not living up to their potential. Evan Burns, Wesley Stokes, and Jerome Habel come to mind. Kyle Spain is on the list too. I will always cheer for the name on the front of the jersey, but some of the names on the back of those jerseys over the years are stains on the program.
 What ever happened to the scholar athlete who enjoys going to class and playing basketball? Those seem like very enjoyable endeavors. A free education and playing the greatest game on the planet is not good enough for some of these guys. I can't relate. Lorenzo Wade has destroyed his reputation. He has put Steve Fisher in a terrible predicament. He has let him teammates down. He has disappointed students and season tickets holders. He has hindered the chances for March Madness. Lorenzo is just the latest case. You can take this last paragraph and just insert any name you want. Way too many to count. -JR INSIDE THE MIND OF ROSENBERG
Monday 10-27-2008 2:59pm PT
October 1st will be the mark of a new era for XTRA Sports 1360. I will be jumping to afternoons with Jeff Dotseth. Mike Costa will also be along for the ride as the anchor and feature act. Herman Gasaway will make the leap too as the musical technician, DJ, MC, and studio engineer. Danny Simmons will also be joining the show as the All Star producer, entertainment coordinator, and club promoter. This is considered a dream team. We're kind of a big deal, like the great Channel 4 news team of the 70's. There is potential for great things beginning on Wednesday. Tune in to experience the magic, 3-7pm, Monday-Friday. To steal a line from the great Dan Patrick, it's going to be "En Fuego."
Speaking of Dan Patrick, he joins our new look lineup as the new morning show from 6-9am. I'm a fan of this show. His guests are top notch, and the humor he brings to the air is second to none. You can enjoy keeping the radio on 1360.
Had a great time at D Street Bar & Grill in Encinitas. Thanks to everybody who came out. The food was spectacular and the beers were cold and delicious. Mark Priceman may need a few thousand of those beers to get over the Georgia Bulldogs performance. Holy choke job. I know Alabama is good, but Georgia didn't show up until the 4th quarter. That game was indicative of a final score that doesn't represent the tone of the game. The Crimson Tide dominated the Bulldogs. Even Uga, the English bulldog, looked sad. Maybe he bet on the game. He seems like a busy bulldog. Did you know that they put a pile of ice next to him so he can cool off if he gets too hot. I've seen him pelvis grind the ice, like a stripper on a pole. That bulldog has an agenda. Very cute.
I love real live mascots. The Baylor Bear, The Colorado State Ram, The LSU Tiger, The Texas Longhorn, The Colorado Buffalo, etc. These animals get the crowds going! So much better than some moron in a furry costume. Real animals on a leash create more college spirit than anything. I'm just waiting for one of these animals to get loose one time. "2nd and 10 for Colorado on their own 20 yard line, and a buffalo has ran onto the field. The Buffalo is attacking a linebacker. The Buffalo has just eaten a ref. The buffalo just pissed on the uprights. The Buffalo is running into the student section to wreak havoc."
Let's all pray against that. But, it's only a matter of time!
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