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Former Missourinet Sports Director says Boston will bounce back from this tragedy (AUDIO)

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David Sprague considers himself a true Mid-Missourian. He went to the University of Missouri, lived at the Lake of the Ozarks and Jefferson City. He still cheers for the Cardinals and pulls for the Chiefs. The former Missourinet Sports Director, settled down in the Boston area with his wife and their three young children, including a daughter who is just a week old. However, after what he saw and experienced this week, he now considers himself a true Bostonian.

I wanted to talk with David to get an idea of how people are coping with the shock and ever changing events surrounding the Boston Marathon bombing. As you listen to him, you can sense the shock and disbelief of how something like this can happen, but you also get the feeling that the city will rebound and come back stronger than ever.

David is a part of the Mizzou Alumni Association in Boston and he and some fellow Mizzou alum were planning on taking in Friday’s Royals-Red Sox game at Fenway Park. Whether or not the game is played is yet to be determined, but he said once the immediate danger is cleared, it’s important to show the world that the people of Boston are not afraid to live their lives.

AUDIO Interview with David Sprague (14:30)

 

A St. Louis spin on Mizzou sports (PODCAST)

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Vahe Gregorian from the St. Louis Post-Dispatch talks Mizzou basketball and helps clarify some comments made from Frank Haith following the Tigers 73-70 loss at LSU.  Is there time for Mizzou to turn this season around? It’s funny to write that when they are currently ranked 17th in the nation.  Vahe and I discuss Phil Pressey. Is he the root of all Mizzou troubles?

Vahe also lays out a good timeline and gives you a better understanding of the NCAA’s investigation into Haith while at Miami and why he thinks Haith will come away with minimal damage. 

AUDIO Talking Mizzou with Vahe Gregorian (16:00)

World Series Champ still misses the game (PODCAST)

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Joe Crede visits with Missourinet after learning of Missouri Sports Hall of Fame selection.

Joe Crede visits with Missourinet after learning of his Missouri Sports Hall of Fame selection.

September 13, 2009. Joe Crede remembers that day. It was his last game as a major league ballplayer. He jokes that with his induction into the Missouri Sports Hall of Fame it takes the sting away of going 0 for 4 with four strikeouts at that game in Minnesota.  While Joe will be just 35 this April, he still has the itch to play baseball, but after three back surgeries and one more unsuccessful comeback attempt in the winter of 2010, Crede realized his body could no longer take the grind of a major league baseball season.

Joe is staying active, working on his cattle farm and tries to swing the golf club when he can.

“I’ve been able to play in a few (golf tournaments), I’ve lasted about 10, 11 holes…sometimes nine. I’ve kind of accepted it…tried to deal with it…its just a constant reminder (his back) of when I try to do things on the farm.”

While Joe tends to his farm and raising his kids with his wife, he expressed a desire to get  into coaching whether it’s on the professional level and in his home town of Westphalia, Mo.

PODCAST Listen to our visit with Joe Crede (8:41)

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Expert says Chiefs stuck picking a QB with No. 1 pick (PODCAST)

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Scott Wright of DraftCountdown.com, says the Chiefs will need to bite the bullet and take a quarterback with the overall number one pick in this April’s draft. Wright says the team could be a .500 team if they hire the right coach and find the right quarterback.

Wright says that the Chiefs should have a good stable of talented wide receivers to choose from with lower round picks. This would help any Chiefs QB who will likely be without free agent Dwayne Bowe.

While this is upcoming draft is loaded with defensive players, there are two strikes against the Chiefs. For starters, they already have several first round picks on the defensive side of the ball and with so many great players to choose from this year, it will be tough for the Chiefs to trade down to another team looking for defensive help. Wright says other teams will be able to sit with their mid to late first round picks and find a good defensive player.

I also asked Wright about Georgia quarterback Aaron Murray. We saw him against Mizzou, three straight years of over 3,000 passing yards and he lit Nebraska up for 427 yards and five touchdowns in the Capital One Bowl. Could Murray be a good choice for the Chiefs if he leaves early? Wright explains why Murray is NOT the answer.

AUDIO Podcast with Scott Wright (10:00)

Berkman, Lohse not expected back for the Cardinals (PODCAST)

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St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Fernando Salas packs bags as he cleans his locker out at Busch Stadium in St. Louis on October 23, 2012. UPI/Bill Greenblatt

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and Manager Mike Matheny were at Busch Stadium on Thursday to talk to the media about the end of the season and moving forward to 2013. What we know so far is that Lance Berkman will not be back with the team next year. If he comes back to play another year of ball, he would only be a bench player for the club and that is not a viable option.

The Cardinals will not re-sign Kyle Lohse, the team’s most consistent pitcher. At 32, and many young arms coming up, they can save the money.

Rafael Furcal (elbow) and starting pitcher Jaime Garcia (shoulder) will not have surgery and elect for offseason rehab.

Kevin Wheeler, the pre and postgame host for Cardinals baseball on KMOX-AM, joins me on this Pressbox Podcast to look back at the 2012 season and the what he says is a bright future for Cardinals baseball.  I asked him if the window of opportunity for the Cardinals to be successful is actually closing and he scoffed at the idea saying the next 3-5 years look very promising. I still believe there are some big question marks.

AUDIO Listen to Kevin on the Pressbox Podcast (16:00)

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Mizzou-Bama preview that’s as good as Gold (PODCAST)

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The Alabama Crimson Tide practice earlier this week as they prepare for Mizzou. photo/rolltide.com

Back on the Pressbox Podcast is Eli Gold, the voice of the Alabama Crimson Tide. Eli breaks down this weekend’s matchup and while you may not expect much from a Mizzou team this week or season, Eli offers Tigers fans some hope.

The key to this game as Gold points out will come on the line of scrimmage. He says Missouri will see the best offensive line in the nation and the third or fourth best defensive line in the country as well. The offensive line goes 311, 320, 302, 303 and 335 pounds. Missouri will try to counter with the speed of defensive ends Kony Ealy and Brad Madison who both weight 265 pounds and both impress Gold.

Missouri lacks depth compared to the top SEC teams and Gold says the Tigers will benefit in recruiting in the years to come now that they are an SEC member. Gold points to how Alabama had four running backs who could have been starters on any SEC team this year and with the injuries to two, their run game has not suffered.  He breaks downs Alabama’s offense for us.

AUDIO Listen to our interview with Eli Gold (15:00)

A sports blogger shares his travel experiences in the SEC (PODCAST)

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Jeremy Branham is a sports and travel blogger who is traveling the country taking in college football games every weekend and then reporting back to his followers. Jeremy is a fan of the SEC and a Gamecock fan (we won’t hold that against him), but his travels go beyond the SEC on his College Football Travel Tour.

His goal is to not just go to the football game, but share his travel experience, including tips, where to eat, where to sleep and how to connect with the people and culture of where he is visiting. Jeremy has been to Knoxville, TN and Gainesville, FL, both on Mizzou’s schedule later this season.

Jeremy shares his tips for Tiger fans traveling and tells you how you can share your experience as well.  Follow Jeremy on his own website  for more in-depth stories and photos.

AUDIO Listen to Jeremy’s tip for Mizzou fans (6:00)

Meet Mizzou’s mountain man, Max Copeland (VIDEO)

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When I watched Mizzou’s first football scrimmage on Saturday, #61 Max Copeland caught my eye as he was coming off the field. As the number one offensive line took a seat on the bench, I noticed Copeland with a big smile on his face, giving his linemates high fives. The walk-on from Montana looked like he was having the time of his life. When Copeland went back onto the field for his next series, it was like someone flipped a switch. The happy go lucky guy turned into a raging lunatic.

As the Tigers lined up for a goal line push, Copeland’s voice filled Memorial Stadium as he yelled, “WE’VE GOT TO FIGHT. WE’VE GOT TO KEEP FIGHTING.” I’ve never seen another Missouri offensive lineman being as vocal as Copeland. He wasn’t finished. Just before he got set, he looked across the line and let out another big “ARRRRGGGHHH!” before crashing into Sheldon Richardson.

Copeland is the epitome of a free spirit. He listens to heavy metal before games, studies physics in school where, Head Coach Gary Pinkel says, he carries at least a 3.7 GPA. Pinkel says he hasn’t seen someone quite like him on the field in a long time.  Copeland has seen time with the number one unit, after Jefferson City native Travis Ruth injured his arm.  While Copeland is having fun, he knows he also has a long way to go.

AUDIO Pinkel on Copeland (2:00)

Mizzou’s Moe just ready to play (PODCAST)

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The Missouri Tigers completed the first of 21 August practices as they prepare for their inaugural season in the SEC. Mizzou wide receiver T.J. Moe is tired of the hype and lack of respect shown towards the Tigers. He’s done with all of the SEC talk and just wants to get back on the field.

When Moe actually gets on the field, is still to be determined. Moe said he tweaked his hamstring a few weeks ago. Both he and head coach Gary Pinkel brushed it off as nothing major. Moe still stretched and ran, but stayed out of seven-on-seven drills on Thursday, as temperatures hung around the low 90’s on the Tigers outdoor practice fields.

Moe was on the sidelines and had Dorial Green-Beckham next to him the whole time during those passing drills. Moe says he was just trying to offer up what he was seeing on the field and remembers back to his freshman year and how the older players helped him along. Fans are ready to see what DGB can do this season, but as far as becoming a starter, Moe says not so fast.

AUDIO One on one interview with T.J. Moe (4:oo)

Mizzou players leave strong impression at SEC media event (PODCAST)

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My SEC insider, and Missourinet.com contributor, Phil Kornblut spent the week in Hoover, AL. for the football media day event and came away very impressed with the Missouri Tigers. He has no doubt the Tigers can compete in the conference.  However, Phil  basically called out some of the fringe media outlets who view college football with SEC blinders on.  Listen to him complain about the lack of respect given to Mizzou. 

Phil also tells us to not get too upset over the fact that only E.J. Gaines and Elvis Fisher made the third team preseason SEC media poll. He assures us, once media outlets become familiar with the Tigers, recognition will come. We also talk about the importance of that first game with Georgia at Faurot Field and he breaks down the Eastern Division.  Check it out below my conversation with Phil as he traveled from Birmingham to Atlanta.

AUDIO Listen to the Pressbox Podcast on Mizzou football (12:00)