Sports360AZ

Cesmat-RIP Denny Green…More than “Crown Em” in Arizona

Arizona Sports News online

Dennis Green walked into the radio studio in San Diego and introduced himself with a firm handshake and a friendly smile. It was 1989 and he was at our Mighty 690 studios to talk about being the new head coach of Stanford. The radio station was in play to carry the Stanford football games, something that would be a coup for the University. Green was also looking at a talented football/baseball player at Torrey Pines high school, John Lynch. Johns father owned the radio station…connect the dots and you have the rest of the story…

Denny would come on our airwaves often. He was “good radio” and Lynch would go on to become an almost certain NFL Hall of Famer, by way of Stanford.

The day that the Cardinals hired Denny in 2004, Michael Bidwill made it a point to come over to me and ask pointedly if I was going to use  “my Cardinals” on 3TV now that the Green was on board as a coach. I gave my standard “They are “my” team when they win, and “yours” when they lose” answer. Michael didn’t care much for that. Greens 16-32 record meant that I used “yours” much more than “my”.

Despite his win/loss record, Green played a substantive role in building the base for the Cardinal Super Bowl team of 2009. He wasn’t around as coach to see the results, but Larry Fitzgerald, Karlos Dansby, Darnell Dockett and Antonio Smith  were all drafted in Greens first season. Unfortunate for him that Matt Leinart, J.J. Arrington, and Leonard Pope showed up early the following two seasons on draft day.

When a coach is remembered most notably for a post game media meltdown rather than results on the field, then you know it wasn’t a good hire. “Crown em” will also be associated with Denny Green and Arizona. RIP…

Media personality Brad Cesmat first rose to fame in Southern California with the launching of "The Mighty 690" all-sports radio station in the late 1980's and early 90's. Brad came to Arizona in 1993 to begin a 10-year run at KTAR Radio followed by nine years at KTVK-TV in Phoenix. Brad is the Founder/ CEO of Sports360AZ.com. His vision of multi platform content marketing through sports began in September of 2011. Cesmat has served on the Advisory Board for the Salvation Army for the last 18 years. He and his wife Chris have four children.

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