Remember when the Fansmanship Podcast was three guys BS’ing about sports? One of those guys, Luke Johnson, stopped by this week to give us some insight into what he’s been up to. Among other sports randomness, Luke and Owen talk about who the toughest players are to officiate in the NBA.

I feel a little disenfranchised. And no, this is not a sob story.

I’m heading out to Arizona in a matter of weeks, to engage Spring Training and rounds and rounds of beer. I’ll be attempting this feat with good friends. Something I’m thankful for — this is my first time participating in the classic.

There are no bad seats at spring training, especially if you’re trying to get your tan on. By Owen Main

But as you can imagine, the majority of the nuts going are Dodgers fans. It’s something I don’t have a problem with. I just wish I didn’t feel so Khloe Kardashian about it. Let me explain.

I am a long standing Halos fan. I grew up glorifying at best, above average players, like they were perennial All-Stars. Gary DiSarcina, Dick Schofield, Dante Bichette, Chili Davis, and Devon White, were a few. Just say the name Wally Joyner and I shiver. That name alone invokes the thickest bond between brothers. That went a little too far…

But no, seriously, I’m heading to Arizona to watch a bunch of Dodgers games against crap opponents like the San Diego Padres. I’d rather watch lizard porn. Can you imagine the Padres putting up anything more than a run against the Dodgers pitching staff?

Yet despite this hard reality, I am looking forward to the experience more than I am the actual games themselves. It’s about brotherhood. And it’s about drinking. It’s not about the Halos of Orange County, hence the Khloe Kardashian comparison.

In case you’ve forgotten, this nation has a deep history in the art of intoxication. From Napa Valley to the Whisky Trail, America knows how to party.

I’m unsure whether I’ll remember much of the experience. So before I go just know this my darling reader: I am the beer pong champion. I am the Kim Kardashian of beer pong. And I am Wally Joyner’s brother.

Over the last two years I’ve grown increasingly fond of Marcus Smart. The six-foot, four-inch sophomore guard has reignited Oklahoma State basketball and displayed a mature calm on the court, similar to his pro comparison: Jarret Jack.

I believe Smart has a higher upside than Jack, reminding me at times of James Harden who, like Smart, felt comfortable as a controlled combo guard playing in a post-oriented offense. Smart is dangerously athletic, a great finisher around the rim and, like Harden, he is a lockdown off-ball defender.

On Saturday, my flattering opinions of Marcus Smart were in question.

Gallagher-IBA Arena is one of the most iconic in the midwest. Away from home Marcus Smart has been the subject of controversy this week. By Ashlux at en.wikipedia, from Wikimedia Commons

The star Oklahoma State guard was ejected from a game against Texas Tech, after shoving a fan. That fan, a fifty-something “super fan” named Jeff Orr, sat three rows from the court. Diving for a loose ball, the gritty guard worked his way back up with his teammate’s help, and then wham: before anyone could react, Orr was thrown back and the broad shouldered guard led off the court.

Memories of that epic Pacers-Pistons fight came to memory, something I, along with many college hoops fans, never would have associated with the court-quiet Cowboy star. But as the story continued to cycle, the truth illumined.

It has been reported that Jeff Orr called him a racial slur. Jeff Orr says he called him a “piece of crap.” Orr’s self-suspension (he vowed not to attend any Texas Tech games for the rest of the year) on the surface, seems noble, but not entirely honest either.

The resolution for Marcus Smart was a national apology, an ensuing character assassination and a three-game suspension handed down by the Big XII. And I have a serious problem with that.

While I understand a 3 game suspension—considering the slippery slope the Big Ten would find themselves in, if letting Smart off free—I don’t understand sports pontificators siding with Orr in the incident.

Driving home Sunday from the bay area, radio personalities Adam Schein and Chris Russo characterized Smart as an irrational teen with a serious bone to pick; Russo at one point referencing Smart as a ‘hot head.’

My issue is that the majority of sports TV and radio personalities are white. The majority of those calling the kid a ‘hot head,’ or wishing he’d ‘been the bigger man and walked away,’ have never experienced vehement racism. It’s easy to have demands of others when never having walked in their shoes.

But I won’t do the same.

Yes, I’m white, middle class, live in a predominately white suburbia, and have only a small handful of African-American friends. But that doesn’t make me ignorant either. I’m fully aware of racism’s insidious prevalence in today’s “progressive” America.

Smart has never been ejected in nearly two years, until Saturday. He’s never even received a technical foul. His coach Pat Ford, called Smart a young man with a “tremendous heart.” Smart himself — though (at some level, possibly) justified in his actions — apologetically asked the media, his fans and teammates for forgiveness. That doesn’t sound a whole lot like a hot headed thug. That sounds like a young man learning to live in his skin. Something I, and many of you reading this, will never have to confront.

Jonae Ervin can flat-out play. By Owen Main

Jonae, Jonae, Jonae.

Last week, Cal Poly’s senior point guard, Jonae Ervin, dropped 37 & 10 in a come from behind win over a team Coach Faith said should have been picked to finish first in Big West Conference Play? Good Lord girl! Put some water on that hot sauce!

What a week.

A few days later, the 5’3” guard weaved her 391^st career dime to surpass Laura Buehnin as the all time assists leader in Lady Mustang history. She clearly can do it all: third in points, first in assists, third in rebounds & first in steals. My only question is, do the Lady Mustangs have the depth to get themselves back to March’s big bracket?

I think they might.

Reigning Big West Player of the Year, Molly Schemer, has been dominant again this year. Averaging 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, Schlemer balances the outside attack of the small but speedy Ervin alongside Ariana Elegado. Elegado, anything but shy, is a guard who is willing to hoist and hoist until she catches fire. This less-than-bashful approach to her game (currently leading the team in shot attempts per game at 15.9) is a double edged sword, though she averages 16.5 points per game. Her and Ervin both shoot about 38 percent from the floor, but it’s their aggression that put teams out of position and on their heels. That’s when Schlemer, who shoots 57 percent from the floor, steps in.

Along with seniors Ervin and Schlemer, junior Ariana Elegado gives the Mustangs three players who can drop 30 points on a given night. By Owen Main

On to the role players.

It’s easy to see the firepower in the Mustangs’ Big Three, but I asked our own Mustang aficionado, Owen Main. He said that key role players include Taryn Garza, Kristen Ale, and Maddison Allen. Ale, a junior from Carson, CA is second only to Ervin in three-point shooting percentage, opening-up the floor for her teammates.

Garza, a scrappy forward, averages just six points per game, but is second on the team in rebounds per game (5.8) and provided the most-clutch moment of the season, scoring on a putback at the buzzer to send the Mustangs’ game last Wednesday vs. Hawai’i into overtime.

Allen is a remarkable athlete. Left-handed and long, the 6’4″ redshirt freshman from Australia is probably the team’s best defender, blocking over a shot per game.

Nwamaka Ofodu, another senior guard, has stepped in to a starting role recently and gets some minutes as a defensive stopper in the back court as well. These players, plus freshmen Hannah Gilbert (6′ 3″, Morro Bay High School), Sarah Lipton, and Rachel Koehler add a layered dimension to a team that could be better than last year’s squad that won the Big West Tournament and went to the NCAA Tournament for the first time ever. Main points to the continued dominance of Schlemer and the balanced guard play of Elegado and Ervin as the biggest reasons this year he’s bought in to the concept of a return to the dance.

If the defense chooses to sag on the reigning Big West Conference Player of the Year (Molly Schlemer), Cal Poly can put 3-4 shooters around the perimeter, including supersub Kristen Ale. By Owen Main

“They have so many weapons,” said Main. “You can double-team Schlemer in the post, but then Elegado, Ervin, Ale, and the others will kill you. If you don’t double Molly, she’s going to do something like score 37 points. Opponents really have to pick their poison and hope that whoever they leave open has a bad shooting night.”

I have a strong desire for Mustang glory. As a proud alumnus, I would more than love to see either the men or women’s basketball teams crowned champion in March. And while the majority of you might think I’m absolutely crazy (I am), I’m not stupid. I love the George Masons, VCU’s, St. Mary’s’ and Gonzagas of the world who prove that small schools can create a large legacy. Some mid-majors have shown they can compete at the highest of levels — yes, even in the Madness of the March bracket. All it takes are the few things happening lately in Mustang country: success, great coaching, a beautiful college town and setting, and great individual performances. The lady Mustangs have crowned four straight Big West Players of the Year. That really says something. And San Luis Obispo, as always, is heaven on earth.

It was Cami’s last day at the CJ Silas Show. Photo by Leighton Giannini

On Wednesday night, we were lucky enough to have the opportunity to guest-host the CJ Silas Show on ESPN Radio 1280 The Ticket.

CJ went on vacation and gave us the keys and we did our best not to wreck the car. We are pretty sure we got it back to her in one piece and are thankful for the opportunity.

We talked about why Mike Trout doesn’t get more attention, had JD Scroggin in to talk about Cal Poly football, and even argued about which young quarterback in the NFL will take a step forward or backward in their second season as a starter.

I wanted to also thank the CJ Silas Show Syndicate – Cami, Leighton, Bobby, and Alex – for helping make sure we got the show back to CJ in one piece.

Enjoy.

Our mics aren’t quite this old-timey, but you get the idea…

Radio host and Dodger fan extraordinaire CJ Silas joined Andy, Luke, and Owen this week. We talked the Dodgers and how fans need to look at loyalty to players on their teams differently in this day and age.

We didn’t just talk Dodgers though. We discussed working out, roller derby, and the joy of sharing microphones too. Enjoy!

You can find CJ’s website here: http://thecjsilasshow.com

And her podcast here: http://www.thecjsilasshow.libsyn.com/

Matt Jones was our 199th Facebook “like.” He also brought the heat on the podcast. Someday we’ll even talk to him about training for a marathon or distance race.

Happy 4th of July!

On this week’s episode, We called up our 199th Facebook “like,” and Luke got a chance to defend putting LeBron James so high on his list of top-20 NBA players of all-time.

Should Yasiel Puig be part of the All Star Game? Do the Angels matter in Los Angeles? Should the Lakers be begging Dwight Howard to come back?

Enjoy the podcast.

Yasiel Puig is an island of hope in the abysmal season the Dodgers continue to have. By Owen Main

A few weeks ago, amidst the most spectacular first week I’ve ever seen a major league hitter have, I called Luke a Yasiel Puig wet blanket. He was bagging on Puig and on comparisons to Mike Trout after Puig’s first week in Major League Baseball.

At the time, Puig was hitting about .500 and had hit three home runs in his first four games, including a  grand slam in a game I was at. Puig drew one of the greatest twitter account names ever and was (still kind of is) the talk of the town. So I was excited. Of course he couldn’t keep it up, but in the middle of what has become an agonizing Dodgers season, Puig has been a flash of brilliance. His at-bats are compelling, whether striking out on three pitches or hitting a home run.

He has now played 18 games, a shooting star across the galaxy of a Major League Baseball season. Certainly he will not maintain his BABIP (Batting Average on Balls in Play) of over .500. But here are some fun stats.

* Puig has a hit in 15 of the 18 games he’s played in the majors.

* In 18 games in the majors, he leads the Dodgers in WAR (Wins Above Replacement), a statistic usually accumulated with high performance over time.

* He has had multiple hits in 11 of his 18 games.

* Even after an 0-3 night vs. the Padres on Saturday, his line is still impressive: .435/.473/.739

* With two walks yesterday, Puig’s total is now at three. In 18 games. For those of you who are really bad at math, that means he walked once in his first 17 games, a carry-over from Spring Training when a walk was as rare as a boring at-bat for the Cuban star.

* In 18 games, (remember, the Dodgers have played 73 games overall), Puig is second on the team with six home runs (nobody has 10 yet), first in slugging, and first in OPS.

In a season where the Dodgers are 11 games under .500 (after yesterday’s win in San Diego), sitting in last place in the division, and spending so much money it would make your head spin, there are probably lots of things to gripe or complain about. It’s true, Puig could go into a tail spin and end up in the minor leagues again this season, but the way he”s playing, that possibility gets slimmer and slimmer every day. So please, let me have this one. Puig is really fun to watch, whether the Dodgers are winning or losing.

What’s that, you say? They are 8-10 with him in the lineup, still a pretty disappointing team? He strikes out 21 percent of the ti…. wait, shut up. Puig’s up again. Talk to me later.

Kristina Santiago made an impact as a rookie for Dunav 8806 in the Bulgarian League, winning regular season and post-season MVP honors. Photo courtesy of Dunav 8806 Facebook page.

“Call me T.”

It was the first thing Kristina Santiago ever said to me when I introduced myself to her a few years ago following a Cal Poly women’s basketball game.

While I didn’t call her T throughout the podcast, the former two-time Big West Conference MVP sat down with Luke and I to discuss her first professional season, living in Bulgaria, and what the future holds. We definitely hope Kristina becomes a regular guest on our podcast and if you listen, I think you’ll see why.

Josh Hamilton, shown here in spring training, has has a rough start with the Angels after signing a big contract in the off-season. By Owen Main

Have you seen Josh Hamilton? Since last June, he’s hit just .239.

I have a suspicion that he’s pressing. It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to see that the former American League MVP is out of sorts. He looks uncomfortable, swinging at bad off-speed pitches and missing his usual meaty low-ball strikes.

I had the pleasure of seeing the star-studded Halos lineup last week, against the Rangers. Unfortunately for us, Yu Darvish was on the mound. Darvish pitched the most dominant game I have ever seen, striking out eleven in six innings.

Is it abnormal to say that any batter looks uncomfortable against Darvish? Not at all. The guy’s five pitch arsenal is the strongest since Mark Prior in 2003, and I have a strong inkling, when it’s all said and done, Darvish will be a 200-win guy with at least a few Cy Young Awards studded in his cap.

But on two occurrences, Hamilton looked elementary in the face of his former teammate. So much so, the easily impressed Angels fan base, uncharacteristically booed the 125-million dollar man. He swung at bad pitches all night, striking out twice, not to mention his two game-altering blunders in the outfield.

And was there any response? Any fire in the belly of the man who nonchalantly smacked 43-home runs last year? Nope. Just the same old same old strike-out strolls back into the Scoscia’s crumbling lair.