Live Chat: Gladow and Young weekend preview

(04/11/2008)

11:57

Dave Gladow:

We're back again to talk NOLA sports for the next hour.

Friday April 11, 2008 11:57 Dave Gladow

11:59

Dave Gladow:

The Times-Picayune's Nakia Hogan wrote a heck of an article that ran into today's paper relating to Tulane's athletic focus -- http://blog.nola.com/tulanebeat/2008/04/baseball_program_crown_jewel_o.html

Friday April 11, 2008 11:59 Dave Gladow

12:00

Dave Gladow:

In short, the article paints a picture of Tulane as being somewhat fixated on baseball, to the possible detriment of other sports (at least in a fiscal sense).

Friday April 11, 2008 12:00 Dave Gladow

12:01

Jude Young:

Good afternoon....good call, Dave. Ken Trahan spoke about it in detail WGSO All Access just a few moments ago. Check out the replay and podcast of the show at WGSO.com

Friday April 11, 2008 12:01 Jude Young

12:01

Dave Gladow:

Like most pundits, I think it's curious at best for a program to look to baseball as its flagship sport.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:01 Dave Gladow

12:02

Jude Young:

If that is indeed the case behind the scenes at Tulane, they are choosing the easy route to success.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:02 Jude Young

12:03

Jude Young:

They know they can win in baseball. and they can compete at the highest level.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:03 Jude Young

12:04

Dave Gladow:

The thing is, a sport like baseball can only generate so much revenue. Maybe they can eventually pay off that baseball stadium, for instance, but can baseball carry the athletic budget for the rest of Tulane's teams?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:04 Dave Gladow

12:05

Jude Young:

no, baseball cannot...they still need to find a way to make money with football.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:05 Jude Young

12:05

Dave Gladow:

Exactly. I don't know if an on-campus stadium is the way to go, but football is going to have to be successful for that athletic department to really flourish.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:05 Dave Gladow

12:07

Dave Gladow:

My main concern at the moment, however, is whether the Hornets can win AT Los Angeles tonight.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:07 Dave Gladow

12:07

Dave Gladow:

This game is going to be absolutely huge.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:07 Dave Gladow

12:10

Dave Gladow:

What will be interesting is to see whether Pau Gasol can do any legitimate damage -- he sat out most of the last meeting with an ankle injury and Kobe Bryant eventually fouled out in a great Hornets win.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:10 Dave Gladow

12:10

[Comment From Mike ThomasMike Thomas: ]

Hey, how far will the hornets go in the playoffs?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:10 Mike Thomas

12:11

Jude Young:

The Hornets don't necessarily match up with everyone in the West. Seven game series exploit team's weaknesses.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:11 Jude Young

12:12

Dave Gladow:

My copout is to say it depends on the matchups. I don't like a 7-game series with Utah, given what we saw the other night.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:12 Dave Gladow

12:12

Jude Young:

The Hornets lack depth and bulk in the frontcourt. You saw what a gritty, rugged team like Utah can do the New Orleans this past Tuesday night. the Jazz are a bad potential matchup in the playoffs.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:12 Jude Young

12:12

Dave Gladow:

But I honestly think most of the rest of the West can be had.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:12 Dave Gladow

12:12

Dave Gladow:

It's Boston and Detroit that scare me...

Friday April 11, 2008 12:12 Dave Gladow

12:12

[Comment From Ron HitleyRon Hitley: ]

Hey guys, should anyone care whether Chris Paul wins MVP?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:12 Ron Hitley

12:13

Jude Young:

I agree, Dave. The West is loaded with good teams...but no GREAT team. Everyone has holes.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:13 Jude Young

12:13

[Comment From Mike ThomasMike Thomas: ]

And that hornets weakness could also be the defense..and chris paul's inconistency in schooting?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:13 Mike Thomas

12:13

Jude Young:

Utah and San Antonio in are bad matchups for the horrnets.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:13 Jude Young

12:14

Dave Gladow:

The Hornets have holes in their defense, but overall they play a good game at that end of the court.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:14 Dave Gladow

12:14

Jude Young:

The Hornets defense has pluses....producing offense with defense with guys like Paul, Pargo, and Wells producing steals. But, they can be had in the paint.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:14 Jude Young

12:15

Dave Gladow:

A well-coached team that knows what weaknesses to exploit (Peja's lateral quickness, West's help "D") can do well against this team, but it takes discipline. Paul can really disrupt things out on the perimete

Friday April 11, 2008 12:15 Dave Gladow

12:15

[Comment From Mike ThomasMike Thomas: ]

Should CP3 get a new deal this offseason or is it too early for that in his career?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:15 Mike Thomas

12:16

Jude Young:

In the end, the Hornets must win with outside shooting. And Paul's penetration creates the open looks.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:16 Jude Young

12:17

Dave Gladow:

Tying into the earlier question, I think we SHOULD care that he's in the MVP discussion -- any positive press New Orleans can get, New Orleans should take.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:17 Dave Gladow

12:17

Jude Young:

CP3 will get the max contract in his next deal. He says he loves NOLA, so hopefully he will sign sooner than later. His only reason to want to leave at this point is more marketing potential (and extra cash as a result) in a larger market).

Friday April 11, 2008 12:17 Jude Young

12:18

Dave Gladow:

Keeping CP3 happy is mission No. 1 for the front office ... whether that includes a reworked deal this offseason or not is anyone's guess.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:18 Dave Gladow

12:18

Jude Young:

And, I don't see Paul as the type of guy who cares about market size and adding extra cash to his what will already be a big pile of dough

Friday April 11, 2008 12:18 Jude Young

12:19

Dave Gladow:

I also don't buy into the idea that Paul would be more worried about his contract than re-signing some teammates for a championship run, for instance.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:19 Dave Gladow

12:19

Dave Gladow:

He is a driven man.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:19 Dave Gladow

12:20

Dave Gladow:

But again, it's all speculation until after the end of the season. Let's hope that's a couple of months from now rather than a couple of weeks.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:20 Dave Gladow

12:23

Dave Gladow:

By the way, here are New Orleans' final four games:
at Lakers
at Kings
vs. Clippers
at Mavericks

It would not surprise me if the Hornets dropped at least two of those ... meaning a No. 1 seed might be tough to reel in, but the Hornets should still be tops in their division.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:23 Dave Gladow

12:24

Jude Young:

As long as they are top 2, that'll work.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:24 Jude Young

12:24

Jude Young:

Beating LA tonight would mean a Number one seed. I think they win at SAC and versus LAC at home.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:24 Jude Young

12:25

Jude Young:

With the big MO from a win at LA, they roll in the next 2. And, that would likely lock up number one and make the Dallas game meaningless.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:25 Jude Young

12:25

Jude Young:

So, what are everyone's thoughts on Trent Johnson taking the reins at LSU?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:25 Jude Young

12:27

epepis:

Johnson has already won at other programs and has recruited well in that time. He's been to 2 sweet 16s and does not have the academic pressure he did at his previous two stops. I like the hire and Johnson is the right guy to turn this program back into a perennial SEC contender.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:27 epepis

12:28

Dave Gladow:

I like him. I don't have any insight into how he'll work out at LSU just yet, but he's definitely got the resume to succeed.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:28 Dave Gladow

12:28

Jude Young:

I think johnson is a rock-solid hire. His lack of background in this area could be tough for him, so I know he is trying to retain Butch Pierre as an assistant.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:28 Jude Young

12:28

Jude Young:

epepis, introduce yourself to the people, My Friend.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:28 Jude Young

12:29

epepis:

My name is Emmanuel Pepis and I work with Jude Young at WGSO. I am a member of the sports block as a co-host of two shows called Prep Plus and Fantasy Frenzy.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:29 epepis

12:30

Dave Gladow:

Welcome aboard!

I'm curious what everyone's thoughts on the Saints' draft are. We'll be holding another mock draft the week of the draft (April 22), and the Saints' pick could go any number of directions.

T-P beat writers Mike Triplett and Jimmy Smith are both now singing the praises of linebacker Keith Rivers. I'm not buying into that line of thinking just yet.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:30 Dave Gladow

12:30

[Comment From WesWes: ]

why does the saints go with a saftie not Cb, it can not all be with the Conerbacks to be the problems with the deep ball?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:30 Wes

12:31

Jude Young:

Safety is an option, but not at pick 10

Friday April 11, 2008 12:31 Jude Young

12:32

Dave Gladow:

I don't think you can find anyone on the free agent market better than what the Saints currently have either.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:32 Dave Gladow

12:32

epepis:

Wes if you're talking about the first round then there are no viable prospects at safety with the 10th pick.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:32 epepis

12:33

Dave Gladow:

If you really want to upgrade there, the common wisdom would be to trade down and try to land the kid from Miami later in the first round.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:33 Dave Gladow

12:33

Dave Gladow:

Jude, I know you've been a big Cromartie fan almost since Day 1. Have you changed your thinking at all?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:33 Dave Gladow

12:35

Dave Gladow:

Personally, I love his upside but worry about the Saints taking him so high.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:35 Dave Gladow

12:36

epepis:

As far as Rivers goes I certainly like him as the 10th pick for the Saints, but at the same time I'm not going to be playing the trumpet for his arrival. I still think there are other options at 10, mostly at cornerback with guys like Cromartie or (if the Saints trade down a few spots) Mike Jenkins. Another interesting prospect is if Sedrick Ellis slips to 9 (and this was brought up on Ken Trahan's morning edition of All Access by Al Dupuy) it's a question of how badly the Saints want Ellis if they are willing to trade up. That trade shouldn't be too taxing on the Saints.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:36 epepis

12:37

Dave Gladow:

Emmanuel, the Bengals covet Ellis. Badly. You'd have a heck of a time trying to swing a deal with them ... you'd be better off trying to swap picks with Baltimore, who picks a spot ahead of Cincinnati.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:37 Dave Gladow

12:40

epepis:

I do agree with that Dave, but the Bengals' defensive weaknesses cover more than just defensive tackle, although that is their biggest need. I agree will cost the Saints, but I don't think the price will be too high.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:40 epepis

12:43

Dave Gladow:

What's really interesting to think about is what the Saints might do in the following rounds. Certainly many people would want them to go all defense in the draft and would yell and scream if the Saints looked offense, but you've got to think the team might think tight end or running back sometime in the 2nd-4th rounds.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:43 Dave Gladow

12:45

Dave Gladow:

I know plenty of people would be overjoyed if the Saints drafted Forte or Hester ... and just as many would be livid.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:45 Dave Gladow

12:45

[Comment From Mike ThomasMike Thomas: ]

if reggie bush n charles grant fail to make an impact this season, are contract restructures possible or maybe trades?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:45 Mike Thomas

12:48

Dave Gladow:

Anything is possible. In my honest opinion, it would not take much for Bush to redeem himself OR wear out his welcome at this point. Right now he's just sort of middling, which is frustrating no doubt, but not exactly cause for the team to dump or reward him. If his performance gets better (or worse), you'll begin to see some movement though.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:48 Dave Gladow

12:48

[Comment From SoottySootty: ]

why do people continue going to see the eternal 8-8 Saints, while championship basketball is being played and the Hornets struggle for 17,000 people to show up?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:48 Sootty

12:49

Jude Young:

The struggle for fans at the NOrena has stopped. Winning fixed that.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:49 Jude Young

12:49

Dave Gladow:

Jude, you have to admit the public awareness is not what it should be though.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:49 Dave Gladow

12:49

epepis:

Because this is a football town Sooty. The Hornets have done a much better job in proving the tried and true point that winning fixes attendance problems. The Saints are going to draw no matter what.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:49 epepis

12:50

Dave Gladow:

There are plenty of people who still think the Hornets are a novelty.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:50 Dave Gladow

12:50

Jude Young:

but it has vastly improved, Dave.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:50 Jude Young

12:51

Dave Gladow:

This is true -- I'm just saying it has to get better, or else the second this team goes on any kind of nosedive (like starting next season 4-12 for instance), the fans will run away as fast as they can.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:51 Dave Gladow

12:51

[Comment From MoMo: ]

CP will get his extension this summer. It won't kick in until either 09/10 or 10/11,

Friday April 11, 2008 12:51 Mo

12:51

[Comment From MoMo: ]

People need to stop with that 'this is a football town' crap. This is a sports town.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:51 Mo

12:51

Jude Young:

The Hornets basically started over here..again

Friday April 11, 2008 12:51 Jude Young

12:51

[Comment From joe dirtjoe dirt: ]

Its because basket ball is a dull sport

Friday April 11, 2008 12:51 joe dirt

12:51

[Comment From CaitCait: ]

I'd love to see Baby Cromartie here, for one thing. As for the Hornets, I think there's a paradigm here that the Hornets are a second-tier team.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:51 Cait

12:52

[Comment From MoMo: ]

And also Soooty, it's easier for people to come from further areas of the region to see the Saints on a Sunday.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:52 Mo

12:52

[Comment From CaitCait: ]

I.e., it's disloyal to support the Hornets when the Saints are in town. Do you think Orleanians only have room for one team in their hearts, Jude?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:52 Cait

12:53

[Comment From MoMo: ]

Basketball is not dull. It's exciting. This Hornets team is definitlely exciting. A better overall game experience than football. I'm not putting football down though. But the Hornets games has something for everyone.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:53 Mo

12:53

Jude Young:

No, Cait. People will support a winner. But, the Saints will always be number one here.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:53 Jude Young

12:54

Dave Gladow:

I can say from my perspective that there's room for both. I've embraced all the teams in this town in my short time here, and I would think the residents can too.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:54 Dave Gladow

12:54

Jude Young:

The Hornets need to grab ahold of the area. It takes years...not months...to become a full part of community life.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:54 Jude Young

12:55

Jude Young:

And, trust me, they put on a good show at the NOrena. Once people see it...plus, winning basketball, they'll get hooked.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:55 Jude Young

12:56

Jude Young:

Remember, the Jazz didn't leave NOLA due to poor attendance. They had some of the best crowds in the league during a dark era.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:56 Jude Young

12:56

Dave Gladow:

This is really a fantastic time to be a sports fan in New Orleans. The Saints and Zephyrs are competitive, the Hornets and VooDoo are playing at a championship level, and LSU just won a title. Heck, we've also hosted a world-class golf event, the Sugar Bowl, the BCS championship game, the women's NCAA tourney and the NBA All-Star Game in just the past six months. If people haven't realized it yet, this is a GREAT sports town.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:56 Dave Gladow

12:56

[Comment From CaitCait: ]

The Hornets marketing is hideously bad.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:56 Cait

12:57

[Comment From MoMo: ]

Exactly Dave. Support who you WANT to support and who you CAN support.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:57 Mo

12:57

[Comment From CaitCait: ]

I work in marketing and media relations, and as far as I can tell, despite the fact that the Hornets players have been very involved in the community - their marketing department is not capitalizing on that the way the Saints marketing team has.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:57 Cait

12:58

Dave Gladow:

It's an issue of coverage as well. The Hornets don't get the media attention the Saints do, and there are several reasons for that.

Friday April 11, 2008 12:58 Dave Gladow

12:58

[Comment From SoottySootty: ]

I think some problems with midweek games are people don't want to drive back downtown

Friday April 11, 2008 12:58 Sootty

12:58

[Comment From NickyNicky: ]

Whyh does Saints stuff always pop up in Hornets chats?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:58 Nicky

12:58

Dave Gladow:

Because this is a NOLA sports chat, not just Hornets?

Friday April 11, 2008 12:58 Dave Gladow

12:59

Dave Gladow:

Friday April 11, 2008 12:59 Dave Gladow

12:59

[Comment From SoottySootty: ]

and because A-bear and arrogant Kenny Wilkerson want to talk about the offensive line in Mid- January

Friday April 11, 2008 12:59 Sootty

1:00

Dave Gladow:

Well, you give 'em what they want to some extent. On the other hand, NOLA has been all over the Hornets since the start of the season ... back when it wasn't popular to support them. I see some of the other media outlets coming around though....

Friday April 11, 2008 1:00 Dave Gladow

1:01

Jude Young:

Cait, the Saints have a headstart of decades. The Hornets are being bailed out by winning right now. We'll see if they can take that new Fleur-De_Bee and reach out to the people.

Friday April 11, 2008 1:01 Jude Young

1:01

[Comment From SoottySootty: ]

Hornets need thirsty thursdays like the Z's. I'd never miss a game!

Friday April 11, 2008 1:01 Sootty

1:02

Dave Gladow:

And that seems like a pretty good note to end on. :)

Friday April 11, 2008 1:02 Dave Gladow

1:02

Jude Young:

Remember, Folks... WGSO 990am has sports talk weeknights from 6-10pm including my show, The Second String, and Manny's show, Prep Plus.