And now we wade into the shallow end of the sports abyss, waiting until those trucks leave from Fenway.
D.A. Does the Winter Classic
1.1.10 New Year's with Bruins Nation.
A day of hockey celebration couldn't have ended any better for puckheads in New England.
The weather cooperated, the Bruins won a thriller in overtime and Fenway looked festively fantastic.
Oh, and hundreds of hockey fans had the privilege of being needled by D.A. at FanFest.
In the Verizon Wireless V-Cast tent, Bruins and Flyers fans squared off in "Ice Breakers," an NHL trivia game show with D.A. doing his best Wink Martindale impersonation (except instead of a leisure suit, a Bruins pom hat and a Lucic jersey).
Thanks to all who came through the FanFest and said hello.
A perfect (and perfectly freezing) weekend of hockey in Boston.
Sports Guy Meets Sports Hub
11.13.09 D.A. braves the book tour.
Been a quiet week around these parts.
In the middle of bizarre Red Sox hot stove rumors (decrepit Matsui to patrol the Green Monster? Really?) and Manning-Brady megahype, the Sports Guy has been embroiled in a tiff with (cough) another sports radio entity in town.
(The aforementioned high road appears well below sea level after the use of chicken sound effects and a segment labeled "Fraud of the Week.")
Lost in the mix was two appearances for book signings here in Boston by the Sports Guy. After waiting in line with the rest of the loons at the Barnes and Noble at the Pru, it struck D.A. - Why not get out there and document the scene later in the day down near the Garden at Hurricane O'Reilly's?
What follows is... well. You be the judge. Yup, these are his readers (and maybe our listeners).
Media Mess
11.12.09 Overexposure is back. But it's not our fault.
Look, we're not afraid to admit it.
We have crowned ourselves the King of Overexposure for a reason.
Local television station needs a last-minute guest to dissect the Bruins powerplay? We're in.
Boston sports blog needs a quote on whether Hub Headlines Anchor Chucky Perks is really that awesome? Sign us up.
Boating insurance conference needs an emcee? Principal looking for a detention room speaker to keep kids off drugs? Check and check.
But the recent string of D.A. Show media coverage is not our fault this time around. No really!
Start with this recent blog post by loyal D.A. Show listener and emailer, BHL. (BTW Anonymous, eh? Coward! Who goes by initials!? Oops.)
"The purpose of this article is to document D.A.'s clear cut proclamation on Sept. 28 that Joey Galloway is finished, and this author's opinion that D.A.'s proclamation was extremely and potentially embarrassingly premature."
Maybe. But it was right. In fact, waiting until Week 4 to declare JG a disaster was too late. (To be fair, the author called the show and apologized when Galloway was eventually released. No worries. There'll be plenty more times I'll be wrong.)
Meantime, our friends over at The Batter's Box on NESN, taped a segment with us and threw it up there on YouTube. The editing and camerawork is outstanding. It's like Larry King meets "Cribs." Live the magic!
And finally, the man, the myth, the legend Perks decided to document behind the scenes of the D.A. Show (like him driving on the Mass Pike). Could it get more exciting?
With all of this meaningless show fodder swimming around the portals, you may not be able to wrangle it all. Fear not. When there is D.A. overexposure on the intrawebs, we promise to bring it to you.
Going Global
10.14.09 The Boston Globe sends love.
So far, so good at 98.5 The Sports Hub.
Just two months into the the brand-new station and our launch has been much better than the Bruins' season!
The Globe has published a few pieces on both the Sports Hub and The D.A. Show, so we figured we would send them along (goodness knows the good pub won't last much past D.A. calling out the impending doom of newspapers yet again).
In Sunday's Boston Globe Magazine, D.A. was named "Rookie of the Year" in the sportstalk battle (helps that there's no competition for the spot. Who are we to argue!?).
"He's prepared, easygoing, engaging - never mind he's from New York." Um, thanks, we think.
"An unfamiliar voice who makes an effort to be deeply knowledgeable about his subject matter is a considerably more appealing option than a familiar voice that does not." That sounds less like a vote for us and more a vote against the existing hacks on the air... but hey, we'll take it!
"There was natural skepticism when Amendolara, a New Yorker via Miami, was hired. What insight could this outsider possibly provide about Boston sports? The answer: A lot more than the majority of longtime sports radio hosts in the market. Amendolara has proven himself to be beyond informed and even progressive."
We're getting the feeling the bar was set really low around here for Boston sports talk.
D.A.'s in the room to respond to some of the more critical feedback in the comments section to these articles:
"I lived in Kansas City back when he had a morning show there. I haven't listened to him since he started here, but at that time he was just Jim Rome Lite. Maybe he's improved since then."
Classic. Phenomenal. Rack that!
"I've given the new guy a chance, but it's clear he has no idea what he's talking about, from an inability to pronounce Junichi Tazawa's name correctly, to encouraging "Nick Green to the bullpen" talk."
We should all be happy I didn't attempt to pronounce his birthplace (Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture). And Nick Green's VORP is off the charts!
"I only get to hear this guy briefly (10-20 mins) on my way home from work and I do NOT like him. He sounds like he is arguing with me. He just sounds like a know it all with no sense of humor. I am not impressed."
WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT? I'M NOT ARGUING WITH YOU! BUT I'M DEMANDING AN EXPLANATION! EXPLAIN YOURSELF!
"DA is a DB. Easily the worst fake radio voice I've ever heard. Drives me nuts."
Uh oh. I need to get a new fake voice.
Thanks everyone for listening! Love you too!
D.A., The Sports Hub and the Facebook/Twitter Movement
8.17.09 Yeah, we're geekin' out too. Everyone's doin' it.
When the NBA Playoffs are on Twitter, something's wrong ("The Disney Corp. is hoping for Lakers-Cavs!").
SportsCenter has a Facebook page? I need nothing to do with "poking" Steve Levy.
As Jimmy Fallon drones on about his Kindle, one has to wonder when it will all stop.
Yeah, the techie, geekoid world is simply there to make old people and corporate suits more embarrassing as they try to keep up.
But it's impossible to fight. So, guess what? We all 'bout it!
Basically, any possible way you wanna chat with D.A. (or send him feedback that his last segment sucked) is now available to you.
You think we're gonna let the suits have all the fun?
Hello, Beantown!
8.13.09 A new destination for The D.A. Show: 98.5 The Sports Hub in Boston.
After two years sleeping afternoons away at the beach and moving down 34 rows at Marlins games, D.A. takes you though the evenings from 6p-11p every night on New England's new home for sports.
We are thrilled to launch Thursday, August 13th, with a complete airing of the three Patriots championships, followed by Boston veterans Mike Felger and Tony Masserotti (good to have a fellow Paisan on board) and the Pats first pre-season game.
The Sports Hub is the home of the Pariots and Bruins and D.A. will be taking you through each and every night on one of the best signals in the Northeast.
We'll bring you insight on the night's action, energetic opinions on all the Hub's home teams, a hard-hitting lineup of guests and a sense of humor while doing it.
D.A. has spent plenty of time in Beantown, especially at Fenway. Both his brother Jay and cousin Greg attended school here in Boston (Emerson and Boston U., respectfully), lending itself to more than a few (ahem) inebriated weekends at the homes of the Sox, Pats, C's, Bruins, Terriers and Eagles.
In fact, in July '99, D.A. witnessed the Steroid Era in all its glory, standing on Landsdowne Street watching Big Mac's bombs sail over his head and onto the Mass Pike. What juice!?!?
The listeners will be a vital part of the show. In fact, they'll have their own name: Team D.A. Via phone lines, email, Twitter, Facebook or text, we'll use one of the most passionate fan bases in the country as the biggest contributor to the show. The 98.5 Sports Hub army will drive the show.
We smell better than the old Garden's visiting locker rooms, we dress better than Dick McPherson and sound better than a Duck Boat's muffler. But just barely.
Boston knows its sports. Now let's hear it every night.
So Long the Women of South Florida
8.9.09 D.A.'s Final Miami Episode.
There's no debate. The best part of The Miami-edition of The D.A. Show was the women.
The incredible Dolphins cheerleaders. The NBA dance-team dynasty of the Heat. The sultry Marlins Mermaids. Heck, even the Panthers had their hottie Ice Dancers (yes, the hockey team had dancers).
Throw in magazine models and gentleman's clubs entertainers and there was a never-ending stream of beautiful women dropping by the studios.
For that, we thank South Florida. 'Tis nowhere like it (for better and... ahem, worse). Here's the final episode of The D.A. Show in Miami, also available on our iTunes podcast (as seen above).
Like plenty of other Northeasterners, we won't be strangers. We'll just see ya around January when our fingers are frozen to the steering wheel.
Team D.A. Soccer Camp
7.28.09 Team D.A. took the pitch.
We dodged rain drops and lighting strikes to get in a morning of awesome soccer fun.
With the help of our friends at Miami FC and Brickell Soccer Rooftop, we invited campers of all ages to learn some pointers on the beautiful game.
Some of the campers were so skilled, they taught us a thing or two!
The D.A. Show loves the beautiful game. We play. We coach. And we wanted to give back.
Team D.A.'s camp was completely free, as we couldn't have done it without the support of everyone that made it work.
The kids were terrific, the venue was awesome and Team D.A. would like to thank everyone who helped make this happen. Miami FC, Ignacio Rodriguez, Adam Beasley, Brickell Rooftop, Lee Feldman, WQAM and most of all the campers!
We'll see you at the next event! And remember: Team D.A. - Where teaching the beautiful game is half the battle.
One Wedding and a Funeral.
7.24.09 R-Jeff shake n' bakes his nuptials.
Something old, something new, something blue... something awkward like an email.
NBA star Richard Jefferson is now a Spur. And he's now single.
R-Jeff bolted on his wedding to a former Nets dancer on the eve of the reception, leaving his road dawgs at the Mandarin Oriental overlooking Central Park with his black AmEx card.
"Sorry boys, I'm bailing on the wedding. But go do some damage, yo."
Well, girlfriend. Your fiancee is a multi-millionaire athlete, the wedding would've cost more than Myanmar's gross national product and he emailed you the night before.
I'm gonna go ahead and guess this will be on Page 3 of the Post before long.
Oops. Too late.
Free Summer Hot Spot.
6.10.09 Team D.A. takes the pitch.
Team D.A. is announcing our most ambitious project yet.
With the help of our friends at Miami FC and Brickell Soccer Rooftop, we're holding the first ever Team D.A. Summer Soccer Camp Saturday July 25th.
Children, ages 6-14 and all skill levels from beginner to advanced, are invited to join us for a day of incredible soccer fun completely free.
The D.A. Show loves the beautiful game. We play. We coach. And now we want to give back.
Summer soccer camps can usually be pretty expensive. There is an entire generation of talented players who can't afford the advantage of top-of-the-line coaching.
Team D.A.'s camp is completely free.
Each child will get one-on-one individual coaching from professional players on Miami FC and have an awe-inspiring experience high above the downtown skyline at the Brickell Rooftop fields.
Plus, campers will get an entire gift bag of Miami FC and WQAM giveaways.
The camp will run all morning, from 10a- 1p. Just email us with your information here. Include the child's first and last name, his/her age and an email address so we can get ahold of you.
We'll see you on the rooftop! And remember: Team D.A. - Where teaching the beautiful game is half the battle.
The NFL Films Treatment.
5.18.09 It took only two decades, but we've gone from watching NFL Films to being part of them.
One Sunday afternoon around eight-years-old, while glued to the monolithic, 300-pound, wooden-trim Zenith in the living room, we stumbled across Alcoa's Greatest Football Finishes.
It was an NFL Films production, giving the good ol' fashioned John Facenda-treatment to the Immaculate Reception and the Ice Bowl.
Needless to say, we were hooked. For life.
While some are addicted to booze or gambling or Sausage-n-Cheese Hot Pockets, we are NFL Films Junkies.
So, it's with some pride that we announce: The D.A. Show has made it's first NFL Films appearance.
The NFL Network is running a new season of Top 10 this summer and last week's Top 10 Rookie Seasons was a dooze.
Good thing we didn't charge per word.
It was a grand total of twelve seconds on-camera. But oh, what a memorable twelve seconds.
Expect more split-second flashes on NFL Network throughout the summer. We'll keep ya posted.
Until then, don't blink.
Wacko Zacko: The Best Of.
5.12.09 Well, our little Zack is all growns up, huh?
After a historic start this season, landing the cover of Sports Illustrated and inciting talking heads outside the KC Metro to give the Royals some attention, we have come full circle.
Years ago, The D.A. Show garnered national attention for its spring training one-on-one sitdowns with Zack.
It became a Cactus League Rite of Passage to pick the bizarre, yet hilarious, brain of the pitcher we affectionately coined Wacko Zacko.
We had to back off the moniker after it was revealed that Zack was dealing with emotional and psychological issues.
Vintage D.A.: Relive the '05 Greinke Classic.
Vintage D.A.: Relive the '06 Greinke Classic.
But as you can hear from our classic interviews, the Wacko had only to do with how Space Cadet-esque his sounds bites inevitably were.
Our favorites were very clearly March 2005, when Zack analyzed the recent Aniston-Pitt divorce with this classic.
"I just sat in the corner and cried. Why? Why?!"
And the next season when he outlined in great detail his Chipotle addiction.
"Sometimes I can eat two in one sitting. I get extra cheese. I used to get the spicy beef, but I recently switched to chicken."
God, we love this guy.
The D.A. Show Ringside.
5.6.09 We just went Bert Sugar on ya.
No, we weren't chomping a Cuban stogie with a 1970s fedora and eschewing the hitting prowess of Marciano.
But we did take in Vegas and catch up with our fair share of boxing celebs for the Pac-Man/Hatton bout.
Luckily, our coverage lasted far longer than the fight itself (approximately 4.76 seconds).
Here's our verbal sparring with the Golden Boy and the Executioner, Oscar De La Hoya and Bernard Hopkins.
Also, the legendary Freddie Roach surprisingly came down hard on the HBO Sports doc Thrilla in Manila.
Reminder: Team D.A. is podcastable daily now on iTunes or our On-Demand site (just click on the links to the left).
Because listening is half the battle.
The D.A. Show is i-to-the-Tuned.
4.16.09 We get the complaint all the time from Team D.A. loyals.
"I'm not usually in the car, at a radio or in front of a computer while on you're on the air, D.A. You gotta get on at a better time slot."
We gotchu.
Now, we're on at the best time slot.
We're anytime.
Yep, Steve Jobs has given us the thumbs up, so The D.A. Show is podcasting on iTunes daily.
We know the common refrains; It's late. I'm not in the car. There's too much static at night. I don't live in the area.
Excuses are over.
We've given you The D.A. Show whenever you want it.
Holla.
Totally Futbol-ed.
4.12.09 It's not a popular position to be in as a sportstalk host these days.
I. Love. Soccer.
There, I said it.
For myriad reasons (mostly because Alexi Lalas' beard smells) being a media member on the soccer bandwagon is not always easy.
But I coach an Under-12 boys' team in Miramar, have created multiple scoring chances at Kansas City Wizards media competitions and concoct drinking games for CONCACAF qualifiers.
Luckily, my college buddy and partner in crime Adam Beasley (aka "The Beez") is the Total Futbol savant.
So, when Miami FC extended an invitation to its open tryout Saturday, we went.
Of course, we went.
To show how serious the Miami FC coaches took us, we were allowed to play 12-on-12 with the two of us on opposite teams.
Nothing says legitimate competition quite like fielding the incorrect number of players.
There was no call-back the next day and most of the wannabe FC'ers seemed horrified that we were even within 50 yards of the pitch without notebooks or microphones.
But we ran. We sweated. And our hearts almost exploded.
Check out the photos here, listen to Team D.A. nights on WQAM and keep clicking Total Futbol.
Never know when a pair of washed-up athletes will try out for a professional soccer team and live to tell about it.
NBC-6 News
February 2008
With Shaq trade buzz sparking a wild fire in South Florida, NBC-6 stopped by WQAM and the DA Show to get caller reaction. Yes, the King of Overexposure is back, baby!
BEST OF: The Panthers Dancers stop by and don't stop talking for twenty minutes. Wait, you're home schooled? BEST OF: Heat legend Glen Rice in studio on dropping 56 on the Magic, Final Fours and MMA. BEST OF: "The Obama Guy" now has D.A.'s old job! He asked the Prez a question, then he joined the show. BEST OF: Phil and Chris Simms drop by the broadcast to rap about dad's career and son's future. BEST OF: Why so few minority college coaches? DA answers with one word: Boosters. BEST OF: When a Super Bowl MVP and Hall of Famer talks, you listen. The immortal Lynn Swann. BEST OF: TNA Wrestling's Traci Brooks on being blessed with, ahem, great dimensions. DA LOVES THE KIDS: After Marlins summer-camp day, the next gen of Fish Fans might be in trouble. DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 1 Heat charity camp shows us D-Wright's defense needs a little work.
DA LOVES THE KIDS: Part 2 Not everyone is thrilled with the hiring of Eric Spoelstra. INSTANT CLASSIC: Free-agent Joe Horn blasts his old coaches and asks for Dolphins forgiveness, all live on the show! INSTANT CLASSIC: The man who took down Kimbo Slice: overnight celebrity Seth Petruzelli talks about the fight that stunned the fight world. BEST OF: Author Jeff Pearlman on the controversial Cowboys dynasty. Uh, ew. BEST OF: Heat rookie Mario Chalmers needs help hot-boxing. Cough, cough.. BEST OF: DA is named a Godfather. Can he handle the responsibility or will he sleep with the fishes? BEST OF: DA witnesses the greatest kids game ever. Rock, paper, scissors, space! STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 1 DA goes where no sportstalk host has gone before: Star Wars premier night.
STAR WARS GEEKS: Part 2 Will DA make it out alive or turn into an extra from the Cantina Bar? INSTANT CLASSIC: Legend of the MMA Dan "Hendo" Henderson on the circus attraction to Kimbo and the rise of UFC. BEST OF: New UFC Champ Forrest Griffin on the belt and bouncing out of fighting while the gettin's good. INSTANT CLASSIC: Zo's youth clinic brings us immediate joy: Heat Kids Say the Darndest Things BEST OF: Miami boxer Joey "Twinkle Fingers" Hernandez found himself on the streets. How he got his mojo back. BEST OF: CBS4 Weather Wizard and Miss Florida Lissette Gonzalez on the jet-stream and the wave. BEST OF: Marino delivers a commencement speech and DA's own graduation horrors. INSTANT CLASSIC: Cats winger Nathan Horton is married to a Playmate? Oops. INSTANT CLASSIC: What does JoePa really mean at pressers? Ask Penn State 101. INSTANT CLASSIC: St. Patty's Day means celebrating Irish sports legends: DA Show style. INSTANT CLASSIC: Canes Big Man Dwayne Collins has his Aladdin DVD stolen. The Horror! INSTANT CLASSIC: Dontrelle says peace to South Florida with DA. Here's his Top-3 movies of all-time. SUPER BOWL XLII: NYG's Lawrence Tynes stops by after the ticker tape parade. INSTANT CLASSIC: Is Shaq becoming M.C. Hammer Jr? Say it ain't so. INSTANT CLASSIC: DA melts down as his alma mater brings brings back the dimwitted Greg Robinson for more SU pain. INSTANT CLASSIC: This placed DA squarely on the Chiefs blacklist forever. DA and King Carl in THE Battle Royale. BEST OF: Where it all started: Herm
and Carl agree... Damon is a nice name. SUPER BOWL XL: D.A. does his best investigative work ever. It's the field turf press conference from Detroit. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Mark Mangino Montage tastes better than ever! INSTANT CLASSIC: The 2007 Herm-Gasm. 'Nuff said. INSTANT CLASSIC: The Chiefs Dept. of Misinformation is at it once again. Are the Chiefs wearing white or not? Don't ask them. INSTANT CLASSIC: Chicago's legendary Mike North joins DA to preview Chiefs- Bears. Da Bears! INSTANT CLASSIC : The annual DA Show NBA Mock Draft is here... with a return from Stormbot. FEATURED AUDIO: Royals legend Denny Matthews has bought his first cell phone. Unfortunately, it's not as easy as 6-4-3. FEATURED AUDIO: A fond DA Show farewell to Buddy Bell. He really was "Our Buddy." FEATURED AUDIO
: Lauren Nichole has made quite an impression with her traffic reports. Great or gross? You decide. The
one, the only, Zach Greinke from Royals Spring Training. The
2007 One NIT NIT Moment.
The 2006 Caller Hall of Fame Track One: Christopher Walken's legendary roast
of the new class
First the staff. Then listeners. Now LJ has the Herm-gasm? Crazy
Ray sings the Growing Pains theme song. The
Royals 70's jingle that puts a smile on your face during another horrid season
in KC. The
local TV anchors slip up on the broadcast and luckily the D.A. Show was rolling
tape. 6-6-06:
The Crypt Keeper's Holiday Crazy
Ray displays his talent for singing. Could he make a run at the next American
Idol? Oklahoma
takes it on the chin with this famous call from R.B. Missed
any of the NIT NIT action? Check out the recaps of the games and a special
edition of The One NIT NIT Moment. We
couldn't leave Alex the Intern out of the mix, check out the drunk dial message
Alex left for D.A. The
D.A. Show tribute to Alan Thicke.
Is
Crazy Ray really crazy? Take a listen to find out.
A
D.A. Show Investigation reveals color commentators handing out the pink slip
to local college coaches.
Quinner's
feeling a bit down. We ask, what's wrong with Quinn Snyder? Herm Edwards gave us quotable material right from jump street. He gets a montage based on his introduction presser. A
staple of any good office party. It's the Dick Vermeil montage XP: final edition.
Duh, ok.
DA's Hometown Hottie contest created controversy throughout KC. Radio superstar Johnny Dare stuck his nose in the middle of it. The
callers finally had their own chance to put their stamp on the Vermeil montage Why
do the sista's hate the show? It all started here: Yvette's call of the day The original D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off (circa '04). The '05 D.A. Show parody of Jim Rome's smack-off, complete with a certain national columnist. The '06 smack-smack, which brought all the D.A. Show legends together for one fab event. You asked for it. We delivered. DA Show icon Alan Thicke's first appearance.
Oh, and hundreds of hockey fans had the privilege of being needled by D.A. at FanFest.
Look, we're not afraid to admit it. 
So far, so good at 98.5 The Sports Hub.
When the NBA Playoffs are on Twitter, something's wrong ("The Disney Corp. is hoping for Lakers-Cavs!"). 
After two years sleeping afternoons away at the beach and moving down 34 rows at Marlins games, D.A. takes you though the evenings from 6p-11p every night on New England's new home for sports. 
There's no debate. The best part of The Miami-edition of The D.A. Show was the women. 
Something old, something new, something blue... something awkward like an email. 
5.12.09 Well, our little Zack is all growns up, huh?
5.6.09 We just went Bert Sugar on ya.
4.16.09 We get the complaint all the time from Team D.A. loyals.
4.12.09 It's not a popular position to be in as a sportstalk host these days.