Cards Radio
02-14-2007, 04:08 PM
Omo's Pro Bowl Blog Part I (http://www.azcardinals.com/news/detail.php?PRKey=1533)
Jim Omohundro
azcardinals.com
Cardinals Broadcast Manager/Producer Jim Omohundro has been turned loose in Hawaii this week and takes us behind the scenes at the NFL Pro Bowl. We figured that since everyone seems to have some sort of blog these days, Omo should too. Enjoy.
Rollin’ With The Top Down – Thursday, February 8
Cardinals defensive tackles Darnell Dockett and Kendrick Clancy are in Hawaii as special guests of Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson. That is truly a super nice gesture from A-Dub, isn’t it? There is one problem though. Darnell and Kendrick didn’t have a set of wheels, and of course, they looked to the man who could help them out in that department. Me. Have you ever driven in a convertible with two huge NFL defensive tackles? Neither had I…until Thursday morning.
Dockett and Clancy demanded a ride to the NFC/AFC practices, which take place at a resort about 45 minutes west of we are staying. They wanted to hang out with the other NFL players. That would certainly be fun, however there was another problem. Have you ever seen the back seat of a convertible? They are made for small things like golf clubs or Cardinals sideline reporter Paul Calvisi, not huge NFL players. There is simply not enough room to be comfortable. After assessing the situation for roughly two seconds, Darnell and Kendrick decided to sacrifice comfort for the ride. They then performed their best impressions of circus contortionists, literally squeezing themselves into the car.
With my face nearly pressed against the windshield and Clancy’s knees rearranging my spine, we set off for the journey across the island. We were not even a mile into the trip when Dockett said something to the effect of “Man…where did you learn to drive?” I was not about to mouth off to a dude who would squash me like a bug so I promptly put a mix CD into the stereo.
I like to think that I know my audience so I played mostly hip hop for them and they were digging it. They replayed certain songs so I knew that things were going to be fine in that department.
After many more verbal beat downs regarding my driving, we finally arrived at practice. Dockett and Clancy joined the other NFL players in a tent while I tried to do some work.
It was pretty hot out there as wide receiver Anquan Boldin and Wilson participated in the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge. After about four hours, the event was over and it was time to go. Wait a minute. You guessed it. There was yet another problem! Darnell and Kendrick were nowhere to be found. Great.
About the same time I thought that I’d never find my traveling buddies, I spotted Anquan walking across the field and asked him if he had seen Dockett. He said that he hadn’t. However the guy he was talking to, super agent Drew Rosenhaus, had just seen him. Rosenhaus called Dockett (another one of his clients) on his cell and told him that I was ready to go. Drew even posed for a photo with Anquan for azcardinals.com. Thanks for the assist in both areas Drew!
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/qanddrewprobowl.jpg
I was really beat and ready to get back to the hotel to relax, so once again, we squeezed into the car for the trek back to Waikiki Beach.
Cruising with the top down and the stereo cranked to eleven, we were making good time…until it began pouring down rain. Kendrick was getting pelted by huge raindrops. I bet that felt good. Maybe like getting hit by thumbtacks shot from an air gun?
I had to pull over to put the top up while Darnell insisted that I could do it while driving on the highway. Thank goodness I did not listen to him.
The final chapter to this saga was perhaps the best. We were almost back to Waikiki Beach when I innocently asked Darnell if he wanted to hear “the best Johnny Cash song ever.” He gave a seriously angry look and an emphatic “No!”
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/omoblogprobowl.jpg
John Lott Does Hawaii – Thursday, February 8
I was roaming the sidelines at the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge on Thursday when some dude asked me if I worked for the Cardinals. I was decked out in my Cards golf shirt so it was certainly a valid question. Just when I was wondering who “the dude” was, I realized that it was new Cardinals strength and conditioning Coach John Lott.
NFL Network flew him to Hawaii to oversee the Strong Man competition at the Skills Challenge. Let me tell you. After watching those guys throw up 225lbs on the bench press in the neighborhood of 30-40 times, I feel really, really, really, really weak. Did I mention that I feel weak?
NFL Network has made Lott into a celebrity of sorts by putting a wireless microphone on him at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine. He has a unique way of motivating guys to get those last few reps out of them. If you don’t believe me, then check out the video feature.
Click here (http://play.rbn.com/?url=nfl/nfl/open/nflfilms/demand/s2006/nfln-ta/off/best_of_john_lott_300k.rm) for the video.
I talked to Lott for about 30 minutes and I felt really bad for him. He had to leave Hawaii that afternoon and then fly to Cleveland. It was 24 degrees there on Thursday. Brrrrrr!
I tried to get a picture of Lott for azcardinals.com while he was spotting the bench press. However the security at the Skills Challenge was so tight it would have made Jack Bauer sweat.
So I improvised.
There were a bunch of the NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders in our vicinity and we took a picture with them. Weight bench vs. Cheerleaders…NO CONTEST!
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/lottatprobowl.jpg
Anquan Boldin = Fan Magnet – Thursday, February 8
A few hours after my adventurous trip in the convertible with Darnell Dockett and Kendrick Clancy, I was headed out to dinner with Cardinals Media Relations Manager Chris Melvin. Like Dockett and Clancy, Melvin is also a guest of Adrian Wilson as a thank you for serving as his unofficial publicist this season.
There we were, waiting in line at the taxi cab stand and who arrives at our hotel? It was none other than Anquan Boldin and his family. We went up to him to say hello and to confirm an interview request for the next day. I was distracted by two things. Anquan’s diamond coated timepiece (can you say major league bling?) and a swarm of autograph seekers that made a nearby security guard nearly buckle under the pressure.
Allow me to paint a picture of the scene.
Try to imagine Ricky Martin at an all-girls school. (Thanks for the line Ron Wolfley!)
Or maybe it was like the frenzy that occurred every time the Beatles took the stage.
No, no, no.
The best examples are those bug zappers that attract bugs with light, only for the bug to be zapped to death when they got too close.
It was the same principle with Boldin, but Anquan only attracted, he didn’t zap.
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/anquanatprobowl.jpg
True to Boldin’s character, he patiently signed autographs for roughly 25-35 people…even though some were wearing Cowboys apparel! Gross!
Good for you Anquan! That is a big reason why you see a ton of #81 Cardinals jerseys in the crowd at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Pro Bowl – Superstars Galore! – Thursday and Friday, February 8 & 9
Wherever I go in Hawaii, I seem to run into someone from the NFL, past or present. Pro Bowl Week is loaded with some of the best names that the game has to offer. Of course the current NFL Superstars are here. Many non Pro Bowl players are here as well. In addition to the aforementioned Dockett and Clancy, we saw Cards fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo in our hotel waiting to meet up with his brother Brendan. Brendan is the NFC Special Teams Pro Bowler from the Chicago Bears, just like the Cardinals own Ron Wolfley was…four times!
Many Hall of Famers are here too. Guys like Warren Moon, Marcus Allen, and former Cardinals great Dan Dierdorf. I was so happy to run into Dierdorf on Thursday. He is in town calling the Pro Bowl for CBS. I talked to him about his good friend and former Cardinals teammate Roger Wehrli, who was just elected to the Hall of Fame during Super Bowl week. Dierdorf was beaming with pride, just like everyone else that I have heard speak about Roger. It was very nice to see.
However one of the coolest moments that I have seen so far this week was when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell helped brighten the day for a handful of kids from the Make-a-Wish Foundation. All of the kids had great big smiles on their faces. Many players like Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Broncos safety John Lynch, and San Diego running back LaDanian Tomlinson all stopped by to sign autographs for the kids. It was awesome!
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/goodellprobowl.jpg
Speaking of Tomlinson, I was talking to him for a few minutes about former Cardinals and Chargers safety Kwamie Lassiter. Lassiter is currently a pre-game analyst for the Cardinals Radio Network and talks to Tomlinson on a regular basis. The San Diego “Supercharger” even posed for a picture with me. Thanks L.T.! What an unbelievable talent and a very nice guy.
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/LTandomo.jpg
Jim Omohundro
azcardinals.com
Cardinals Broadcast Manager/Producer Jim Omohundro has been turned loose in Hawaii this week and takes us behind the scenes at the NFL Pro Bowl. We figured that since everyone seems to have some sort of blog these days, Omo should too. Enjoy.
Rollin’ With The Top Down – Thursday, February 8
Cardinals defensive tackles Darnell Dockett and Kendrick Clancy are in Hawaii as special guests of Pro Bowl safety Adrian Wilson. That is truly a super nice gesture from A-Dub, isn’t it? There is one problem though. Darnell and Kendrick didn’t have a set of wheels, and of course, they looked to the man who could help them out in that department. Me. Have you ever driven in a convertible with two huge NFL defensive tackles? Neither had I…until Thursday morning.
Dockett and Clancy demanded a ride to the NFC/AFC practices, which take place at a resort about 45 minutes west of we are staying. They wanted to hang out with the other NFL players. That would certainly be fun, however there was another problem. Have you ever seen the back seat of a convertible? They are made for small things like golf clubs or Cardinals sideline reporter Paul Calvisi, not huge NFL players. There is simply not enough room to be comfortable. After assessing the situation for roughly two seconds, Darnell and Kendrick decided to sacrifice comfort for the ride. They then performed their best impressions of circus contortionists, literally squeezing themselves into the car.
With my face nearly pressed against the windshield and Clancy’s knees rearranging my spine, we set off for the journey across the island. We were not even a mile into the trip when Dockett said something to the effect of “Man…where did you learn to drive?” I was not about to mouth off to a dude who would squash me like a bug so I promptly put a mix CD into the stereo.
I like to think that I know my audience so I played mostly hip hop for them and they were digging it. They replayed certain songs so I knew that things were going to be fine in that department.
After many more verbal beat downs regarding my driving, we finally arrived at practice. Dockett and Clancy joined the other NFL players in a tent while I tried to do some work.
It was pretty hot out there as wide receiver Anquan Boldin and Wilson participated in the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge. After about four hours, the event was over and it was time to go. Wait a minute. You guessed it. There was yet another problem! Darnell and Kendrick were nowhere to be found. Great.
About the same time I thought that I’d never find my traveling buddies, I spotted Anquan walking across the field and asked him if he had seen Dockett. He said that he hadn’t. However the guy he was talking to, super agent Drew Rosenhaus, had just seen him. Rosenhaus called Dockett (another one of his clients) on his cell and told him that I was ready to go. Drew even posed for a photo with Anquan for azcardinals.com. Thanks for the assist in both areas Drew!
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/qanddrewprobowl.jpg
I was really beat and ready to get back to the hotel to relax, so once again, we squeezed into the car for the trek back to Waikiki Beach.
Cruising with the top down and the stereo cranked to eleven, we were making good time…until it began pouring down rain. Kendrick was getting pelted by huge raindrops. I bet that felt good. Maybe like getting hit by thumbtacks shot from an air gun?
I had to pull over to put the top up while Darnell insisted that I could do it while driving on the highway. Thank goodness I did not listen to him.
The final chapter to this saga was perhaps the best. We were almost back to Waikiki Beach when I innocently asked Darnell if he wanted to hear “the best Johnny Cash song ever.” He gave a seriously angry look and an emphatic “No!”
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/omoblogprobowl.jpg
John Lott Does Hawaii – Thursday, February 8
I was roaming the sidelines at the Pro Bowl Skills Challenge on Thursday when some dude asked me if I worked for the Cardinals. I was decked out in my Cards golf shirt so it was certainly a valid question. Just when I was wondering who “the dude” was, I realized that it was new Cardinals strength and conditioning Coach John Lott.
NFL Network flew him to Hawaii to oversee the Strong Man competition at the Skills Challenge. Let me tell you. After watching those guys throw up 225lbs on the bench press in the neighborhood of 30-40 times, I feel really, really, really, really weak. Did I mention that I feel weak?
NFL Network has made Lott into a celebrity of sorts by putting a wireless microphone on him at the 2006 NFL Scouting Combine. He has a unique way of motivating guys to get those last few reps out of them. If you don’t believe me, then check out the video feature.
Click here (http://play.rbn.com/?url=nfl/nfl/open/nflfilms/demand/s2006/nfln-ta/off/best_of_john_lott_300k.rm) for the video.
I talked to Lott for about 30 minutes and I felt really bad for him. He had to leave Hawaii that afternoon and then fly to Cleveland. It was 24 degrees there on Thursday. Brrrrrr!
I tried to get a picture of Lott for azcardinals.com while he was spotting the bench press. However the security at the Skills Challenge was so tight it would have made Jack Bauer sweat.
So I improvised.
There were a bunch of the NFL Pro Bowl Cheerleaders in our vicinity and we took a picture with them. Weight bench vs. Cheerleaders…NO CONTEST!
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/lottatprobowl.jpg
Anquan Boldin = Fan Magnet – Thursday, February 8
A few hours after my adventurous trip in the convertible with Darnell Dockett and Kendrick Clancy, I was headed out to dinner with Cardinals Media Relations Manager Chris Melvin. Like Dockett and Clancy, Melvin is also a guest of Adrian Wilson as a thank you for serving as his unofficial publicist this season.
There we were, waiting in line at the taxi cab stand and who arrives at our hotel? It was none other than Anquan Boldin and his family. We went up to him to say hello and to confirm an interview request for the next day. I was distracted by two things. Anquan’s diamond coated timepiece (can you say major league bling?) and a swarm of autograph seekers that made a nearby security guard nearly buckle under the pressure.
Allow me to paint a picture of the scene.
Try to imagine Ricky Martin at an all-girls school. (Thanks for the line Ron Wolfley!)
Or maybe it was like the frenzy that occurred every time the Beatles took the stage.
No, no, no.
The best examples are those bug zappers that attract bugs with light, only for the bug to be zapped to death when they got too close.
It was the same principle with Boldin, but Anquan only attracted, he didn’t zap.
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/anquanatprobowl.jpg
True to Boldin’s character, he patiently signed autographs for roughly 25-35 people…even though some were wearing Cowboys apparel! Gross!
Good for you Anquan! That is a big reason why you see a ton of #81 Cardinals jerseys in the crowd at University of Phoenix Stadium.
Pro Bowl – Superstars Galore! – Thursday and Friday, February 8 & 9
Wherever I go in Hawaii, I seem to run into someone from the NFL, past or present. Pro Bowl Week is loaded with some of the best names that the game has to offer. Of course the current NFL Superstars are here. Many non Pro Bowl players are here as well. In addition to the aforementioned Dockett and Clancy, we saw Cards fullback Obafemi Ayanbadejo in our hotel waiting to meet up with his brother Brendan. Brendan is the NFC Special Teams Pro Bowler from the Chicago Bears, just like the Cardinals own Ron Wolfley was…four times!
Many Hall of Famers are here too. Guys like Warren Moon, Marcus Allen, and former Cardinals great Dan Dierdorf. I was so happy to run into Dierdorf on Thursday. He is in town calling the Pro Bowl for CBS. I talked to him about his good friend and former Cardinals teammate Roger Wehrli, who was just elected to the Hall of Fame during Super Bowl week. Dierdorf was beaming with pride, just like everyone else that I have heard speak about Roger. It was very nice to see.
However one of the coolest moments that I have seen so far this week was when NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell helped brighten the day for a handful of kids from the Make-a-Wish Foundation. All of the kids had great big smiles on their faces. Many players like Colts quarterback Peyton Manning, Broncos safety John Lynch, and San Diego running back LaDanian Tomlinson all stopped by to sign autographs for the kids. It was awesome!
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/goodellprobowl.jpg
Speaking of Tomlinson, I was talking to him for a few minutes about former Cardinals and Chargers safety Kwamie Lassiter. Lassiter is currently a pre-game analyst for the Cardinals Radio Network and talks to Tomlinson on a regular basis. The San Diego “Supercharger” even posed for a picture with me. Thanks L.T.! What an unbelievable talent and a very nice guy.
http://www.azcardinals.com/nm_files/Image/offseason%20/LTandomo.jpg