I hope Petros returns to sports talk radio. I really do believe that radio is his best medium.

Petros is the best!

Papadakis should be off the radio. His program has been "Off the Wall," for sure. His program has contained little sports information and lots of irrelevant blabber. I have been embarrassed to have people know that he is a Trojan. He does a better job on TV.

I'm sorry to hear Petros is leaving. Though I didn't always agree with him, he was entertaining (much more than the 2 Live Stews, IMO). His movie reviews and pop culture reports always rocked. And he often obtained good USC- and other Pac-10-related guests. Best wishes to him in his future pursuits.

As for the Ticket... Well, the only good thing they have is Dave Smith. He deserves to go national but I miss him being local. I do hope he returns to his traditional 4-7pm slot in addition to his national show, if that's somehow possible. But somehow I get the feeling 1540 will just stick its listeners with Arnie Spanier (sp?), who I absolutely can't stand.

1540 used to be just great, with Petros, Fred, and Dave's noon-to-evening locally focused talk shows...and of course, having USC football and basketball. But now, it basically sucks. And there's no alternative, except just more nationally-based copycats of the figure heads one can see on ESPN.

Petros will be missed. His off the wall antics were mostly entertaining, granted some of it was geared towards the 17 and 18 year olds out there but that is part of the market a host needs. Raido needs Petros' high energy. Gook luck Petros in whatever you pursue.

Dave Smith is all that 1540 has going for it. Beyond Dave, there is no reason to listen to the Ticket anymore.

Turk...you just don't get it...this is probably a product of your age so it's not totally your fault...Petros wasn't for everyone...you had to understand his references to truly get him...I imagine you are one of those SC snobs so it's easy to see how these people can say this guy was "off the wall"...not really...he was right on the pulse of this city...he truly understands the everyman around town...

Ben Maller's take:

"Just Asking... Was Papadakis asked to leave? Moles report, Sporting News corporate types went crazy after Petros talked to a caller on the air about the bleak future of 1540am. The station is for sale and many feel will flip from its sports format."

http://www.benmaller.com/#odd_notes_stuff

shame on anyone who took offense or were too stuffy and uptight (majority of SC fans) to get p's show. if stats and facts were what you were looking for, this definitely wasn't the show for you. what you did get was a virtual kaleidascope of humor, pop culture, music (you'd never hear on the radio), and insight from a different kind of guy who even the people that got him sometimes didn't get him; and some "great sports talk" sprinkled in. p, you will be missed.

Scott, please relay my sorrow at P's departure from the LA sport radio scene. He was a huge tie for me back to Southern California (as is this blog). I will miss him a lot on the radio! His show was unique and special.
However, I look forward to seeing him on TV.

Sandi from Indianapolis

How Do You Do?

With all due respect to Petros and his "shows" on radio and TV, maybe he also getting a little burned out or taking less of his medication. I enjoyed his "old" 12-2 radio show much more than his more recent slot.

And I was really surprised that BOTH he and Barry Thompkins on the Fox Sports telecast of the Washington v. USC football game last Saturday conjectured about why Ty Willingam questioning the USC fake field goal with refs: Petros said "well clearly Mike McDonald's knee is on the ground (when ball snapped ostensibly for the PAT) and so the play is over." Huh? Petros and Barry suggesting that the fake field goal and Mike's pass to Smith should be called back because McDonald's knee down and play over. That would be the case every time just about: the holder has one knee down as he awaits the center snap. If he gets up instead, the play is clearly NOT over.

Well this goes to show you that at the end of the day everyone in the world (Regardless of what they say out of their mouth) are going to do what is best for them.

I recall hearing a comment out of Petros' mouth recently that he was not going to go out like Fred Roggin. While I don't know all of the details about this particular situation, it sure looks like it to me like he went out like Fred Roggin!

I listened to this guy's show since the beginning and after it is said and done he goes on to bigger fame and fortune and what I am left with? I sort of feel cheated and like I wasted my time listen to the guy!!! But hey, he most definitely landed on his own 2 feet with more fame, fortune, popularity, and I wasted a lot of time listening to and supporting him.

Now he is probably going to get a new radio contract sometime next year after the football season and the poor fans and supportors of the "P" won't get a piece of trash for all of their efforts.

I guess that is why the Free Enterprise System works so well in this country!

It would have been nice to hear a farewell from the guy but when you got it like that he can just stick his nose up at ALL of us and take his checks to the bank!

Amazing huh?

If interested, see 'Some of the best of Petros' posted on the Tom Haffarth piece. And now here are more lines over the years from the P-Daddy:

We come to work here rain, sleet or shine. There are others who won't show up if their staplers run out of staples

He is one of my favorite people-- on earth

The way I feel I would be better off if someone walked through my door right now and blew my head off with a '45. That's how I feel

Hope you didn't disappoint your mother, as usual

For the price of an apartment in L.A. you can live like God in Fresno

I lead my life without a safety net

What do I do?-- I'm completely useless to society

This university is filled with hungry minds and pulsating brains

His eyes are darting around like a man who just robbed a liquor store

Roggin was a member of the Jewish mafia

I love it when people smarter than me ask me for advice

I don't want to be in her 'friend-zone'

Now, look, don't suck up to me-- I'm not havin' it

We treat people the way they deserve to be treated

I'm an anti-sports guy on a sports show

What are they going to do--cut my throat, with a butter-knife?

Drag my cold, dead body outta here

And, finally, on a personal note, I would like to say to you Petros Papadakis, thanks for the good times, the laughs, the incisive interviews, for "being real," for seldom being "boot-leg", and finally, "dog," for being one of the greatest personalities I ever experienced.

Where else am I going to learn about Kolokotronis !?!?!

Petros taught us more than how to speak properly and write clearly. He taught us how to have fun and live passionately and Kolokotronis !

One of my favorite Petros stories was when we was telling his listeners 'How much of a G' he was. We gave the example, "I am a G cause none of you will just jump out of your cars and just start running aimlessly."

Fight On - NYC Trojan - Class of `98
Ray

Its so depressing to not have "P" on the radio. Its what kept me sane while in traffic.

Come back Petros!

The Ol' P will certianly be missed my those of us who recognized the creativity he put into his show every day - stuff that is so lacking in the usual radio sports talk show out there. Pop Culture report, Fight Club, Lance Romance, Dudes in the League - I sure hope someone local tries to 'rip off' at least some of this fun stuff, but it will be hard to duplicate P's attitude and energy.

God knows Felix Chevrolet and barrystickets.com will never have such boisterous support on the radio again...