The one and only Gary Payton joined me today, the day after another NBA season starts without a team here in Seattle. So why not talk to one of the most memorable players to grace this city?

We started our conversation by discussing his career, and I wanted to know what his most memorable moments were - to which he replied, "The whole '90's, basically. Especially just playing with the guys I played with. Being in Seattle, where my career started, being an All-Star and going to the Olympics. But '96 was probably the best year of Seattle ever. I can't ever stop thinking about playing in Seattle and how enjoyable it was."

He also thinks he could've won a ring in '96 - if Nate McMillan was healthy. "I think about that all the time and I talk to my friends about that all the time. We all say that if Nate was healthy, it would've been a different series."

He did, indeed, move on though, and he did, indeed win a ring - much to the disdain of many a Seattle fan. That didn't stop me from asking him about it though. "That team was supposed to be all the hard-heads and a bunch of guys that wouldn't get along with their team. Pat Riley brought all of us together. As we gelled together, we became one family and we went on that ride to win that NBA Championship - and that's how basketball goes."

He also discussed Shawn Kemp's departure from Seattle, his relationship with George Karl and life after the NBA.

Then it came time to talk about the one thing weighing on my mind right now - I still can't believe there's no NBA team here, and Gary agreed. "It's really disappointing. I think the fans are taking the heat for this more than anybody. Seattle should never be a (city) that doesn't have basketball because the fans have been so great there."

The Glove admitted he'd love to be a part of the NBA, should it return. "It just hurts, because I would want to get back into basketball and get back into it - in Seattle."

But Gary does hold one glimmer of hope for all of you Seattle fans out there! He sends a message to all fans out there, "Keep hope - keep pushing forward and I think basketball is going to come back."

We can all hope, can't we? If you missed the interview in it's entirety today, feel free to listen to it here, and tell me what you think below.

I spoke with head coach of Washington's Basketball team, Lorenzo Romar, today - and he is a man who knows what it's like to come to the end of a professional sports career. With the news that Walter Jones is on the IR, I had to ask him about it.

What really stood out to me in our conversation was the mental preparation that professional athletes lack when it comes to the end of their careers. "Most professional athletes don't prepare for that day. You somehow feel like you're going to be able to play forever."

I spoke with Lorenzo about that and much more - including the new group the Huskies have on the floor this year. Tune in at 3:10 to hear it all.

I'm sure many of you know why. Yes, today was the start of the second NBA season without the Seattle Supersonics.

Though I'll be attentively watching the NBA this season - I am human after all - it is with a heavy heart that I trudge into the start of another NBA-less season in Seattle.

What will I tell my grandchildren of the days of Sonics greatness? This is what it might sound like.

There are others, I'm sure, who feel the same way. For those who do, tomorrow I bring you the one and only Gary Payton at 4:10 - don't miss out. If there's anything you'd like to ask The Glove, leave it below.

I know, Husky fans - this is the last thing you want to hear or read - but it's true. And this is no knee-jerk reaction to the Sam Bradford and Tony Pike injuries. I seriously think this will benefit him in the long run. Here's why:

1) He will play for professional coaches

2) He will play in a pro-style offense

3) He will shadow a pro-quarterback

4) He will be in a pro-environment

Catch my drift? If you want to become a professional football player - BE in a professional arena! Now there's always something to be said for honing his talent in college and perfecting his craft - but wouldn't he be perfecting a college level craft?

Keep in mind, this is my opinion - even our very own Professor, John Clayton, disagrees and says that "He hasn't gone over the top yet. He hasn't made that one stride - other than maybe that USC game - to totally take control."

It's also been Jake's life-long dream to wear that purple jersey, and I can't take anything away from that. But you know what? If you want to be a professional football player one day - go study under Brett Favre with the Vikings!

Of course, I know all you Husky fans out there would weep at the thought - but guess what? It's going to happen in the near future anyway, so get used to it. He may as well get to the draft while his value's at its peak!

Do you think Jake Locker should enter the draft next year? I welcome your thoughts below.

Seattle native and Portland Guard, Brandon Roy was kind enough to join me today to preview his season, as well as talk about some of the greats he'll face this year.

Among those greats is none other than Kobe Bryant, who we talked to a few weeks ago (if you missed the interview, you can catch it here). Brandon admits that "Every time I play him it's like a dream come true. Here's a guy that I grew up watching and admiring. But he's an unbelievable offensive player - and as an offensive player, I just attack him like he's any other player."

Be that as it may, I had to delve a little deeper into Kobe's talents with Brandon - the ultimate question: Can we compare him to Michael Jordan? "I have to start off by saying that Kobe is an unbelievable player - but in my opinion I think Jordan is one and Kobe's gonna have to do a lot in these next years he has to be able to even be on that level. I think to say that somebody is better than Jordan - I don't know if I could see that happening."

He did tell me, "Kobe is definitely in that talk of one of the greatest basketball players of all time, but to be better than Jordan? It's too tough to give anyone."

That debate is one that will last at least until Kobe retires - so we have some time to come to final conclusions.

Brandon also discussed what Portland is expecting out of Greg Oden this year, telling me, "They're saying, 'you know Greg, you gotta be that anchor on the defensive end'. I think a big thing for Greg is everyone's asking him, 'Greg, how many points are you going to score?' and Coach wanted Greg to forget that...'you're gonna anchor this team defensively'.

Another question I've been asking today is whether or not Charles Barkley would make a good NBA GM. The Boston Globe reported today that Charles is ready to take that step. Personally, I think it would be a shame to take him off TV - he's just too entertaining. I had to ask Brandon what he thought.

"If I owned a team, you know, I'd give Charles Barkley a shot. I don't like to speak on legends because these guys have done things for the game that I can't even imagine, but yeah, if I was an owner I would give Charles Barkley a shot at being my general manager."

Also, regarding his alma mater, the University of Washington, I told him how excited I was for the college basketball season to begin. To which he replied, "You're excited? I'm excited! I can't wait Husky basketball. Here I got my first game tomorrow, but I can't wait to watch Husky basketball!."

If you missed the interview, you can listen to the whole thing right here. And feel free to drop me a line - will Kobe surpass Jordan? Would you give Charles Barkley a shot at GM if you owned an NBA team? What excites you about the start of NBA and CBB? Leave 'em below!

As gracious as I've been in not mentioning "the other guys" on our radio station (you know who I mean), I couldn't take it anymore after what I heard today on another local sports radio station.

I let it loose on the show today - it was too much and really got me going.

It's enough that I said it on the show, so I'm not going to put it in print. If you missed it though, you can listen to it again right here.

Feel free to let me know what you think about it too.

Once in a great while, I am lucky to converse with greatness - today was one of those great whiles. Peter King of Sports Illustrated was kind enough to join me, and had quite a lot to say about our beloved Seahawks.

Regarding the injuries the Seahawks' offensive line has suffered, Peter actually thinks this is something the front office has been working on. "I think they've been trying to fix that offensive line, knowing the says of Walter Jones were going to be numbered. It's been very difficult - they're not the only ones trying to fix an offensive line."

I was also curious about the front office and if the turnover was similar to that of NFL coaches. Peter assured me the two were very different. It doesn't matter that Tim Ruskell is in the final year of his contract, because as Peter said, "I'm sure what they want to do is see where they are at the end of this year and if they don't feel that they're in a good place at the end of this year, who knows what they're going to blow up?"

I guess we'll just have to wait and see what the answer to that question is - but for now, at least we know we have until the end of the season to see what comes of it.

I continued to ask the veteran NFL writer about the many things we're seeing in the NFL this year - particularly, the things that surprised me. Number one of those being Brett Favre.

When I asked Peter if he was surprised by Favre's triumphant return, though, he wasn't taken back as I was. "I'm a little surprised, just because I saw him two week before the season started and he said his shoulder was killing him - his ankles hurt, his feet hurt - and he was gonna make it as far as he could. Then I saw him after the Monday night game against the Packers and he was a different guy. He said 'the greatest thing is that my arm doesn't hurt.'"

Number two surprise in the NFL this season, which is perhaps a little more surprising than Favre, is the Denver Broncos. This one, Peter agreed with completely, saying, "I'm totally stunned - I think everybody is. I didn't think it was going to be the debacle it would be before the season - but absolutely no way did I even think they were going to be a winning team."

I highly suggest you take a listen to the interview - Peter King is one of the best, and so was everything he had to say today. Comments? Leave 'em below!

Peter King is one of the most immersed writers in the NFL - and I have the pleasure of speaking with him today.

Among the many NFL News stories floating around there this season, I'd like to know what some of his favorite career moments are. Or his least favorite. Or who is the craziest interview.

Don't forget to tune in to what will most certainly be an entertaining interview, needless to say, extremely informative.

Any questions you have for Peter? Leave 'em below!

I had the pleasure of meeting one of the Mariners' fine young pitchers today - Ryan Rowland-Smith, who joined me in studio for the 4 o'clock hour. I still think he'd make a fine jazz musician, but for now I'll take him as a pitcher.

Ryan and I began by talking about what he knows best - baseball of course. Being that he's faced the ALCS-contending Yankees a time or two this year, I asked him to break down their post-season performance to date. Though he said, "I try and keep an eye on it when I can, but I don't chart pitches or anything," I found it hard to believe after his detailed breakdown.

Also - a hot topic in MLB right now - instant replay! After last night's blown calls, I asked Ryan what he though about instant replay. "If they could find a way to speed it up, it could be useful - but when you're in the moment, it's hard when it takes so long. There's got to be a quicker way they could do it."

Another hot Mariners topic that came up in our discussion was that of Kenji Johjima's departure. Ryan said "Kenji was a guy who I always had a pretty good relationship with - he was a great teammate, and to me he calls a great game. He's going to be missed and I was sad to see him go."

When it comes to his off-season, Ryan will be traveling and definitely surfing when he gets back home to Newcastle, Australia - sharks or no sharks (though he claims to have never seen one out there). After some incessant warnings about the great whites out there, I think I actually scared him...though not enough to actually keep him out of the water.

Keep your eyes on this one folks - he's becoming more local each year, and moving his way up in the hearts of Mariners fans and ladies alike (look for him jogging at Green Lake ladies)!

Don't miss your chance to hear Ryan Rowland-Smith live in studio for the 4 o'clock hour today with Shannon Drayer and myself.

Listen in as he teaches me how to "Tweet" on Twitter (follow him at @hyphen18 and me at @KCalabroShow), fills me in on his off-season and what piques his interest outside of baseball.

Also - feel free to leave your questions for Ryan below - we'll get to them on the air at 4pm today!