Hoops Talk and The First Twins of NASCAR

Elliott and David hit the hardwood with former NBA Coach of the Year Frank Layden and former NBA Coach and Current Oregon Ducks Women's Basketball Coach Paul Westhead. Plus - we bring you twice the action when we catch up with NASCAR Nationwide Series drivers Angela and Amber Cope.

Episode Segments:

Sports & Torts: The Cope Twins of NASCAR Amber and Angela tell us about their famous racing family, how they got started on the track, and what they hope to accomplish in their NASCAR Career.
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Sports & Torts: Paul Westhead Paul has won a championship in both the NBA and the WNBA, and he discusses some of the differences in coaching men and women. We then talk about the success of his “Paul Ball” style of offense, the NBA Playoffs, and the MJ v LeBron debate.
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Sports & Torts: Frank Layden Frank gives his take on the NBA playoffs, the retirement of Shaquille O’Neal, and the end of the Jerry Sloan era in Utah. Also – why it’s time to phase out the three-pointer, and some ideas on how to improve the NBA season.
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Links to Related Websites:

Angela & Amber On Facebook The Official Page of Angela & Amber - the first Twins of NASCAR! Follow what's happening with them on & off the track

Guest(s) Appearing on this Episode

Frank Layden Frank Layden is a former coach and executive of the NBA's Utah Jazz, in addition to being a former coach and player with Niagara University. In 1979 he was hired to be the General Manager of the then New Orleans Jazz, and became the head coach of the Jazz (now in Salt Lake City) in 1981, replacing Tom Nissalke. He would be the coach of the Jazz for the next seven and a half years. He was instrumental in signing Karl Malone to the club. He retired from coaching during the 1987-1988 season, moving into the team's front office. (He was replaced as coach by Jerry Sloan.) In 1984, Layden was the NBA's Coach of the Year. He also has won NBA Executive of the Year and the NBA's J. Walter Kennedy Citizenship Award (and is the only non-player in NBA history to do so). He retired from the Jazz in 1998, and served briefly as a consultant for the New York Knicks, where his son Scott Layden served as general manager for a time. Layden has long been known for his sense of humor, for which he was hired to be the co-host of two volumes of Dazzling Dunks And Basketball Bloopers, produced by NBA Entertainment in 1989. He is one of the most quotable figures in basketball. In college, Layden was roommates with another future NBA coach Hubie Brown. He continues to live in Salt Lake City, where he is a local icon. He was inducted into the New York City Basketball Hall of Fame in 1998. Frank's Career Coaching Record

Paul Westhead The sixth head coach in the history of the Oregon women’s basketball program, Westhead came to the UO after serving as an assistant coach for the Oklahoma City Thunder for one year (2007-08). He headed to Oklahoma City less than two months after winning the WNBA championship in 2007. An innovative coach with a signature up-tempo style, Westhead translated that approach to the women’s game when he was hired by the Mercury on Oct. 11, 2005. It took him less than two seasons to build a championship-caliber squad, as he guided Phoenix to its first WNBA championship in 2007. During two seasons, Westhead led the Mercury to a 41-27 (.603) record, the highest winning percentage in franchise history, as well as a franchise-record 23 victories in 2007. His up-tempo style also set WNBA records for scoring average for two consecutive seasons. Prior to his time in the WNBA with the Phoenix Mercury, Westhead spent two years (2003-05) as an assistant coach with the NBA’s Orlando Magic. The 71-year-old last coached in the NCAA from 1993-97 at George Mason University. Prior to that stint, Westhead spent two seasons (1990-91 & 1991-92) as the head coach of the Denver Nuggets after his historic stint with the Loyola Marymount men’s basketball program. Westhead spent five years (1985-90) at LMU, helping the Lions to become an impressive program and legitimate contender in NCAA men’s hoops. During his tenure with the Lions, Westhead built a 105-48 (.686) record, leading the Lions to three consecutive NCAA tournament appearances and a run to the Elite Eight in 1990. Westhead’s other coaching stints included the head job with the Chicago Bulls during the 1982-83 season and the Los Angeles Lakers. Westhead’s NBA head coaching career began in Los Angeles with the Lakers organization, lasting nearly three years (1979-82). In 1979, Westhead succeeded Jack McKinney, leading the Lakers to the 1980 NBA championship with rookie guard Magic Johnson and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabaar on the roster. The collegiate ranks was where Westhead began his head coaching career at LaSalle University in 1970. In nine seasons (1970-79) with the Explorers, Westhead led the team to one NIT, two NCAA Tournament performances and a 142-105 record. In a combined 18 seasons at the college level at LaSalle, Loyola Marymount and George Mason, Westhead comprised a 285-223 (.561) record. Known for his high-scoring offensive techniques, Westhead has also spent time with the USA basketball programs, and in 2005 was a guest clinician at the USA women’s youth development festival teams in Colorado Springs, Colo. Westhead has also been a head coach in the ABA (2000-01) and the Japanese Pro League (2001-03). A native of Philadelphia, Pa., Westhead graduated from St. Joseph’s (PA) in 1961. He and his wife, Cassie, have four children: Monica, Patrice, Paul Jr., and Julie. Oregon Ducks Women's Basketball

Amber Cope Amber and Angela Cope became the third generation of Cope’s to enter into the world of racing, when, at the young age of nine, the girls’ parents gave them a go-kart for Christmas and thus began their road to NASCAR. Once they began competing locally, the girls made a name for themselves and became the most accomplished go-kart racers in the Greater Puget Sound region. In their seven years of driving go-karts included 50 first place wins and setting on pole position 20 times in the Pacific Northwest. Angela also set new track records at five of six tracks in the same region. At the young age of 15, they progressed to late model race cars even before they had their license to drive. In 2000, a very short time after their debut in late model stock cars they instantly acquired national attention when they were featured on Bryant Gumble “Good Morning Today.” As Amber and Angela became more experienced and confident behind the wheel, they knew that in order to pursue a career in NASCAR they would have to leave Washington. They moved across the country to Charlotte, North Carolina to start training with their Uncle Derrike. The twins put all of their focus into learning the in and outs of professional racing. They traveled with their Uncle Derrike to every Cup race that he went to and became fixtures on the track and in the pit. In 2006, the twins split seat time at the Automobile Racing Club of America’s (ARCA) Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee and Toledo, Ohio. In 2008, they qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway with positions 8 and 15. The most difficult part of the ARCA Re/Max Series was that they had to share a car. At times, there would be three weeks before one of them would get back into the seat, losing precious learning time; however, it was a great series for the twins performance-wise. 2011 is shaping up to be the busiest year for the twins. On May 22, 2011 they will also be racing against their Uncle Derrike. In addition to their race in Newton, Iowa they will continue on to compete in five to six more races throughout the year. Amber and Angela currently reside in Cornelius, North Carolina. Angela & Amber's Fansite

Angela Cope Angela Christine Cope and Amber Nicole Cope nade NASCAR history on October 23, 2010 by being the first twins to compete in one of the top three series in NASCAR. That day they made their NASCAR debut in the Camping World Truck Series in Martinsville, VA. Amber Cope, driving the No. 6 Dodge, finished 26th, while Angela Cope was involved in two incidents within 18 laps of each other early in the race and finished 30th. They began racing in Go-Karts at age 9. They quickly gained attention by winning poles and races year after year. By age 15 they stepped up to late-model race cars—even before they had driver’s licenses.[1] Angela Cope took 1st place in 2002 at the Lucas Oil Can-Am 150 at the Sun Valley Speedway. In 1995, Angela finished 1st and Amber finished 3rd in the Tri-cities Gold Cup "Yamaha Class". By 1998, both girls were PSGKA Gold Cup winners in the "Junior Piston Port". Both girls split seat time in 2006 at the ARCA Re/Max Series at Berlin, Gateway, Chicagoland, Milwaukee Mile, and Toledo, Ohio. By 2008, the twins qualified for the ARCA Re/Max Series at Kentucky Speedway, with positions 8 and 15. Angela & Amber's Fansite