Scoops Callahan made an appearance at Phil Jackson’s presser!
If you tuned in to see the Mavericks’ 122-86 shellacking of the Lakers last night that completed the sweep, then you probably witnessed Phil Jackson’s last game. Not the way I’d like to see the Zen Master leave the game, but still, satisfying nonetheless for the non-Lakers fans out there. Don’t be surprised if he comes back. He’s flirted with retirement in years past, only to come back yet again. Remind you of anyone he used to coach back in Chicago? If this was his last game, it was a truly pathetic display. The team lost its cool. Surprisingly enough, Ron Artest was not ejected, but his teammates Lamar Odom and Andrew Bynum made up for it with a 2-for-1 special. To top it all off, Jackson was fined $35,000 for criticizing the refs.
If there was a bright spot surrounding Jackson, it was the appearance of Scoops Callahan at the end of Jackson’s presser. It was a nice comical ending to an embarrassing series for Jackson. “You have to ultimately take a lot of pride in knowing that you and your Cajun career were nothing but the bees knees,” said Callahan, whose real name Tom Griblle. Jackson’s response? “Amen.” Gribble is the producer for Sportsradio 1310’s BAD radio show in Dallas and he does an incredible impression of 1920’s style journalists, with phrases like “Champ! Champ!” and “the cats meow.” Over the years, he has appeared at several other press conferences. How he gets credentials for this shtick is beyond me. Hilarious nonetheless. Check out his bits with Phil Mickelson, Tom Brady, and Bill Belichick.
He didn’t say “Cajun career.” He said “caging career.” Cagers, old-style slang for basketball players. Makes more sense now? And he gets his credentials from being a producer at Dallas’ No. 1 sports talk radio station. Number one by a mile.