My friend John Ireland is the brilliant sideline reporter you've probably seen on the Lakers broadcasts. He's also the co-host of the Mason and Ireland program on 710 ESPN Radio. His usually astute analysis of the state of the Lakers missed the mark a bit before the stunning Lakers loss to the Cavaliers this week and now he's paying the price. Check out the email he sent to me and other pals explaining how he wants to make good on a flip remark made without considering the consequences. I think the way he's dealing with his embarrassing gaffe speaks to what a great broadcaster and good man John is. I made a donation and if you want to help him out, there's a link in his note.

All....
 
To those of you who know me, this story will not come as a huge surprise.
 
At the start of the recently concluded 13 day, seven game, Lakers road trip I said something that turned out to be pretty stupid.  Dave Miller, the coach who works on our pre and post game shows, said:
 
"I'm worried about the Lakers on the last game of this trip, in Cleveland--they could lose."
  
Me:  "Dave, are you crazy, it's Cleveland.  They've won eight games all year and is the worst collection of players in the NBA.  You sound like an idiot.  I would quit my job and walk home from Cleveland if they lost that game."
 
Last night in Cleveland, the Cavs beat the Lakers, 104-99.
 
Now I don't really think anybody expected me to walk home from Cleveland (although many would be happy if I quit my job), but I shouldn't get off the hook with nothing either.  So I've reached a "settlement" with Dave.  I've agreed to walk in the Autism Speaks walk at the Rose Bowl on 4/23, and to try and raise money to fight Autism.  Those of you who know my family know that this is a cause that means a lot.  So with that in mind, I'm going to help Autism Speaks raise some money off of my big mouth.  
 
I've set up a "donor page" for my walk.  You can sponsor me, and when I finish, all of the money goes to Autism Speaks.  To get things started, I donated $1000 in the name of Dave Miller (least I could do).  
 
Here's where you come in:
 
Go to this link:  http://www.walknowforautismspeaks.org/faf/donorReg/donorPledge.asp?ievent=442586&lis=0&kntae442586=175887835725444FB109EBF46C13FA12&supId=321410639
 
You can donate $5, or much more--whatever you feel comfortable with.  I symbolically set up a goal of $2344, which is the exact amount of miles from Cleveland to LA.  I hope to raise much more, but that's the minimum.
 
Can you help an obnoxious, know-it-all, loudmouth sports guy out?
 
Many thanks,
 
JI

I'm a lucky guy and I know it.

I have a beautiful and loving wife and two sons who make me beam with pride. I have a job that I love, I work with people who make me laugh every day, I have great friends from many walks of life. I know I'm blessed and I try to remind myself of this every day when I wake up. I sit on the side of the bed and just take a moment. But all of us have good days and bad and when you wake at the ungodly hour of 3:30 in the morning every day, it's easy to forget to take that moment. Some days, I just plunge in to my day immediately, reading in on the day's news, answering emails, rushing to make my first broadcast at 5 AM, pushing through the morning and then coming home. That's when Part 2 of my day begins. 

You know how that goes--taking care of the stuff we all do to keep the roof over our heads and later, running from one practice or game to the next with the boys. My wife and I spend our evenings making sure everyone's on task with their homework and duties, we get dinner on the table and then get it cleared and cleaned. On other days, I'm emceeing or volunteering my time for a non-profit, or working on new ventures or projects without pay in the hope that someday they'll pay off. Like everyone, I suppose, I get frustrated and tired and I want for this or that. I worry about any number of things and I get as stressed as the next guy when I'm having a bad day. But then, I have days like today--days when I'm reminded of everything and everyone I'm grateful to have in my life.

It's my birthday. I woke up to find homemade cards on the kitchen island from my sons. That made my day before I even walked out the door. But then I got to work and my TV family surprised me with a big breakfast from Denny's, a funny video clip they put together (here's a link: http://www.ktla.com/videobeta/d8beeeec-7cdf-4123-b9b8-cb16f1be0325/News/KTLA-Happy-Birthday-Video-for-Frank-Buckley), and a massive birthday cake with 100 candles. Everyone had a kind word. Friends and family reached out with calls and cards and emails. And many of you reached out on my Facebook page. I had more than 500 birthday greetings from folks--some of whom I've known since my high school years. Some came from viewers I've never met but who watch us faithfully. That made my day again. Thank you for the birthday wishes. 

My birthday is ending on a positive note too. I'm a loyal Trojan but as I've confessed on this page, I love Duke basketball. They're on ESPN right now as I write this beating Carolina after coming back from a double digit deficit. Thank you Duke!

Tonight I'll be enjoying a final birthday moment. As some of you know, I love the idea of ending a day in the quiet of my home, the boys asleep, my wife and I sitting at the kitchen table with a slice of pie and a glass of milk. Mind you-we never actually do that but just thinking of having such a moment someday makes me happy. I mentioned on the air this morning that my wife ordered a blueberry pie for me to make that moment happen on my birthday and who was listening but my friend Gerald who owns a number of Marie Callender's restaurants. He surprised me by showing up at the station with a dozen blueberry pies! I like pie but I can't eat that much. So the Morning News staff got to enjoy a special treat after the show. That made my day yet again.

In a few moments, I'll be sitting down with my wife and my boys to enjoy my slice of pie. I'll savor each bite and reflect--with gratitude--on one of the best birthdays ever.