Petros Papadakis
Encyclopedia
Petros Papadakis is an American television personality and radio co-host of the Petros and Money Show
on Fox Sports Radio
. He is a former tailback
and American football
team captain for the University of Southern California
Trojans football team. He is also known as "The P."
Papadakis's family has long-held ties to USC sports. His father, John (Yiannis), and his brother, Taso, both played football at USC. His maternal grandfather, Dr. Ernest Schultz, played basketball for the Trojans. In spite of the family's close ties to USC, his younger brother Demetrius walked on to crosstown rival UCLA's football team and was a member of the 2008 team.
While playing for University of Southern California
, Papadakis scored 16 touchdowns. In 1999 and 2000, he was named USC's team captain. However, he broke his foot in August 1999, requiring several operations that caused him to miss that season. After months of rehabilitation, Papadakis returned in 2000. His teammates honored this accomplishment, voting Papadakis that season's "Most Inspirational Player."
In the 2000 season, USC won its opening game against Penn State in the Kickoff Classic
with a score of 29-5 at Meadowlands
. Playing on his repaired foot, Papadakis scored a touchdown and gained 29 yards on 11 carries
. The Trojans began the season 3-0 and were ranked 8th in the national polls. But the team collapsed and finished with a 5-7 overall record.
The Trojans 2-6 conference record in 2000 was the only time the team finished in the last league position. Since his first year in broadcasting, Papadakis has regularly called himself "the captain of the worst team in USC history".
During his university football career, Papadakis played in the 1998 Sun Bowl
, where the team lost to Texas Christian University
, scoring a touchdown during this game.
Papadakis's first experience of broadcasting occurred when he was a tailback for the USC football team, where he became a popular interviewee among Los Angeles media. When questioned about his popularity, Papadakis replied, "I just feel like the media is starved for somebody to say something different than, 'We really have to play hard this week.' That’s all good stuff, but I deal with that in meetings every day. I deal with that for six hours with coaches."
In 2004, Fox Sports Net
hired him to commentate on national Pac-10 games alongside Barry Tompkins
. Petros had no booth experience when FSN named him its top color analyst.
Papadakis hosted Pros vs Joes
on Spike TV
for three seasons. In late 2008, the network announced it would replace Papadakis with former New York Giants
defensive end
Michael Strahan
for the show's fourth season.
Since December 2006, Papadakis and Jim Watson
have called a number of games as part of the California State High School Bowl Championship game on FSN.
In the autumn of 2007, Papadakis appeared on KNBC Channel 4 as Fred Roggin
's co-host on "The Challenge," which followed NBC's Football Night in America
on Sunday evenings. He has continued on the show since then, recently completing his fourth season on the show with Roggin.
Papadakis has been featured on several television networks including KTLA
, VH-1, GSN, ESPN
and E!
. In 2005, he guest starred on the CBS
hit series CSI: NY
, where he played a sports talk radio
host.
Later on in life he also starred in the T.V. reality show "Dennis Finds a Husband"
In the summer of 2001, Papadakis began working on radio in addition to his TV duties. He co-hosted the weekly USC Insider with Pete Arbogast on the now defunct station KMPC-1540 AM
, called "The Ticket". In 2002 and 2003 Papadakis was the sideline reporter for USC games, and in January 2003 hosted the "Bonus Hour". Papadakis and Mark Willard co-hosted a show from 9-to-10am on weekday
s. Papadakis also became, and remains, a regular guest on the Kevin and Bean
morning show on KROQ-FM
in Los Angeles
.
In January 2004 "The Petros Papadakis Show" began on KMPC. It was produced by Craig Larson and featured Corneluius Edwards and traffic reporter Sabina Mora. Brian Vieira became the show's producer in June 2005.
"The Petros Papadakis Show" was known for Papadakis's musical parodies such as "I'm in Love with the Clippers" and "I Love Yee Doyers" (I Love the Dodgers). He was also known for his "Pop Culture Report", reporting the news of young celebrities in Hollywood.
Papdakis resigned from his position at 1540 The Ticket in October 2006 to concentrate on his television broadcasting. Within a month of his resignation, KMPC laid off most of its remaining local employees. Sporting News Radio
sold its interest in the station on March 30, 2007, and it became a Korean language station.
On January 8, 2007 Petros returned to AM radio with an afternoon sports program on KLAC, on 570 kHz, a Los Angeles based station, co-hosting the Petros and Money Show
with Matt "Money" Smith. Two years later, the show was nationally syndicated because of a merger between Fox Sports Radio
and KLAC.
In addition to his other media duties, Papadakis has worked part-time for the USC men's basketball team as its Public Address announcer since November 2004.
Alum, University of Southern California
Alum
Petros and Money Show
The Petros and Money Show or "PMS" is KLAC-AM, 's afternoon drive time sports talk radio program, and airs every Monday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm PST...
on Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
. He is a former tailback
Tailback
Tailback can mean:* Halfback * A line of motor vehicles caught up in traffic congestion; a traffic jam...
and American football
American football
American football is a sport played between two teams of eleven with the objective of scoring points by advancing the ball into the opposing team's end zone. Known in the United States simply as football, it may also be referred to informally as gridiron football. The ball can be advanced by...
team captain for the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Trojans football team. He is also known as "The P."
Papadakis's family has long-held ties to USC sports. His father, John (Yiannis), and his brother, Taso, both played football at USC. His maternal grandfather, Dr. Ernest Schultz, played basketball for the Trojans. In spite of the family's close ties to USC, his younger brother Demetrius walked on to crosstown rival UCLA's football team and was a member of the 2008 team.
Football career
Papadakis started his College Career at the University of California, Berkeley. He left the Cal Fall football training camp, undetected, in the middle of the night and hitchhiked back to Los Angeles after being homesick after one week.While playing for University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, Papadakis scored 16 touchdowns. In 1999 and 2000, he was named USC's team captain. However, he broke his foot in August 1999, requiring several operations that caused him to miss that season. After months of rehabilitation, Papadakis returned in 2000. His teammates honored this accomplishment, voting Papadakis that season's "Most Inspirational Player."
In the 2000 season, USC won its opening game against Penn State in the Kickoff Classic
Kickoff Classic
The Kickoff Classic was a season-opening college football game played at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey from 1983 to 2002.-History:...
with a score of 29-5 at Meadowlands
Giants Stadium
Giants Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium, located in East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA, in the Meadowlands Sports Complex. Maximum seating capacity was 80,242. The building itself was 230.5 m long, 180.5 m wide and 44 m high from service level to the top of the seating bowl and 54 m high to...
. Playing on his repaired foot, Papadakis scored a touchdown and gained 29 yards on 11 carries
Rush (American football)
Rushing has two different meanings in gridiron football .-Offense:The first is an action taken by the offensive team that means to advance the ball by running, as opposed to passing. A run is technically any play that does not involve a forward pass...
. The Trojans began the season 3-0 and were ranked 8th in the national polls. But the team collapsed and finished with a 5-7 overall record.
The Trojans 2-6 conference record in 2000 was the only time the team finished in the last league position. Since his first year in broadcasting, Papadakis has regularly called himself "the captain of the worst team in USC history".
During his university football career, Papadakis played in the 1998 Sun Bowl
Sun Bowl
The Sun Bowl is an annual U.S. college football bowl game that is usually played at the end of December in El Paso, Texas. The Sun Bowl, along with the Sugar Bowl and the Orange Bowl are the second-oldest bowl games in the country, behind the Rose Bowl...
, where the team lost to Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University
Texas Christian University is a private, coeducational university located in Fort Worth, Texas, United States and founded in 1873. TCU is affiliated with, but not governed by, the Disciples of Christ...
, scoring a touchdown during this game.
Papadakis's first experience of broadcasting occurred when he was a tailback for the USC football team, where he became a popular interviewee among Los Angeles media. When questioned about his popularity, Papadakis replied, "I just feel like the media is starved for somebody to say something different than, 'We really have to play hard this week.' That’s all good stuff, but I deal with that in meetings every day. I deal with that for six hours with coaches."
Television career
In 2002 and 2003 Papadakis continued broadcasting on FSN, and took employment as a sideline reporter for FSN's High School Game of the Week. He also became the host of the USC Magazine Show on FSN.In 2004, Fox Sports Net
Fox Sports Net
The Fox Sports Regional Networks, or simply Fox Sports Net , are a collection of cable TV regional sports networks in the United States owned and operated by News Corporation.- Beginnings :...
hired him to commentate on national Pac-10 games alongside Barry Tompkins
Barry Tompkins
Barry Tompkins is a well-known American sportscaster. He is better known for his work as a boxing commentator, but he has covered football and another number of sports as well.-San Francisco, New York City and NBC:...
. Petros had no booth experience when FSN named him its top color analyst.
Papadakis hosted Pros vs Joes
Pros vs Joes
Pros vs. Joes is an American physical reality game show that airs on Spike TV. The show features male amateur contestants matching themselves against professional athletes in a series of athletic feats related to the expertise sport of the Pro they are facing...
on Spike TV
Spike TV
Spike is an American cable television channel. It launched on March 7, 1983 as The Nashville Network , a joint venture of WSM, Inc...
for three seasons. In late 2008, the network announced it would replace Papadakis with former New York Giants
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in East Rutherford, New Jersey, representing the New York City metropolitan area. The Giants are currently members of the Eastern Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
defensive end
Defensive end
Defensive end is the name of a defensive position in the sport of American and Canadian football.This position has designated the players at each end of the defensive line, but changes in formations have substantially changed how the position is played over the years...
Michael Strahan
Michael Strahan
Michael Anthony Strahan is a former National Football League defensive end who played his entire career for the New York Giants; a career where he set the record for the most sacks in a single season and won a Super Bowl in his final year. He is currently a football analyst on Fox NFL Sunday, and...
for the show's fourth season.
Since December 2006, Papadakis and Jim Watson
Jim Watson
James Alexander "Jim" Watson is the current mayor of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. He is a former Ottawa city councillor and mayor , and subsequently represented the riding of Ottawa West—Nepean in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario from 2003 to 2010...
have called a number of games as part of the California State High School Bowl Championship game on FSN.
In the autumn of 2007, Papadakis appeared on KNBC Channel 4 as Fred Roggin
Fred Roggin
Fred Roggin is the sports anchor at KNBC-TV in Los Angeles, California. He was also a sports talk radio host at KMPC in Los Angeles, and until Fall 2007 hosted a morning sports show on KLAC with Los Angeles Times sports columnist T.J. Simers and Simers' daughter, Tracy Simers...
's co-host on "The Challenge," which followed NBC's Football Night in America
Football Night in America
Football Night in America is the studio pregame show usually preceding NBC's broadcasts of Sunday night and Wild Card Saturday National Football League games starting in the 2006 National Football League season...
on Sunday evenings. He has continued on the show since then, recently completing his fourth season on the show with Roggin.
Papadakis has been featured on several television networks including KTLA
KTLA
KTLA, virtual channel 5, is a television station in Los Angeles, California, USA. Owned by the Tribune Company, KTLA is an affiliate of the CW Television Network. KTLA's studios are on Sunset Boulevard in Hollywood, and its transmitter is located atop Mount Wilson...
, VH-1, GSN, ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and E!
E!
E! Entertainment Television is an American basic cable and satellite television network, owned by NBCUniversal. It features entertainment-related programming, reality television, feature films and occasionally series and specials unrelated to the entertainment industry.E! has an audience reach of...
. In 2005, he guest starred on the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
hit series CSI: NY
CSI: NY
CSI: NY is an American police procedural television series that premiered on September 22, 2004, on CBS. The show follows the investigations of a team of NYPD forensic scientists and police officers as they unveil the circumstances behind mysterious and unusual deaths as well as other crimes...
, where he played a sports talk radio
Talk radio
Talk radio is a radio format containing discussion about topical issues. Most shows are regularly hosted by a single individual, and often feature interviews with a number of different guests. Talk radio typically includes an element of listener participation, usually by broadcasting live...
host.
Later on in life he also starred in the T.V. reality show "Dennis Finds a Husband"
Radio career
Papadakis's first regular radio experience came in 1998 while he was a junior tailback at USC.In the summer of 2001, Papadakis began working on radio in addition to his TV duties. He co-hosted the weekly USC Insider with Pete Arbogast on the now defunct station KMPC-1540 AM
KMPC
KMPC is a radio station based in Los Angeles, California and is owned by P&Y Broadcasting Licensee, LLC. Radio Korea is a division of the Radio Korea Media Group. The station airs Korean-language programming...
, called "The Ticket". In 2002 and 2003 Papadakis was the sideline reporter for USC games, and in January 2003 hosted the "Bonus Hour". Papadakis and Mark Willard co-hosted a show from 9-to-10am on weekday
Weekday
Weekday may either refer to only a day of the week which is part of the workweek thus not part of the weekend or to any of the days of the week.-Weekday as a day of the workweek:In most countries the days of the workweek are:# Monday# Tuesday# Wednesday...
s. Papadakis also became, and remains, a regular guest on the Kevin and Bean
Kevin and Bean
Kevin and Bean is the morning show on KROQ-FM, an alternative rock-format radio station in Los Angeles, California. It is hosted by Kevin Ryder and Gene "Bean" Baxter. The show has been on the air since 1990 and intersperses music and news with comedy bits, celebrity interviews, listener call-ins,...
morning show on KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM
KROQ-FM — branded 106.7 KROQ — is a commercial modern rock radio station licensed to Pasadena, California serving the Greater Los Angeles. The call sign is pronounced "kay rock." It is the flagship station of Loveline hosted by Dr...
in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
In January 2004 "The Petros Papadakis Show" began on KMPC. It was produced by Craig Larson and featured Corneluius Edwards and traffic reporter Sabina Mora. Brian Vieira became the show's producer in June 2005.
"The Petros Papadakis Show" was known for Papadakis's musical parodies such as "I'm in Love with the Clippers" and "I Love Yee Doyers" (I Love the Dodgers). He was also known for his "Pop Culture Report", reporting the news of young celebrities in Hollywood.
Papdakis resigned from his position at 1540 The Ticket in October 2006 to concentrate on his television broadcasting. Within a month of his resignation, KMPC laid off most of its remaining local employees. Sporting News Radio
Sporting News Radio
Yahoo! Sports Radio, formerly Sporting News Radio is a United States sports radio network that broadcasts sports news, talk, scores, and highlights 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. On August 1, 2011, it was announced the network would change its name to Yahoo! Sports Radio, effective...
sold its interest in the station on March 30, 2007, and it became a Korean language station.
On January 8, 2007 Petros returned to AM radio with an afternoon sports program on KLAC, on 570 kHz, a Los Angeles based station, co-hosting the Petros and Money Show
Petros and Money Show
The Petros and Money Show or "PMS" is KLAC-AM, 's afternoon drive time sports talk radio program, and airs every Monday through Friday from 3pm to 7pm PST...
with Matt "Money" Smith. Two years later, the show was nationally syndicated because of a merger between Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio
Fox Sports Radio, abbreviated FSR, is an international radio network consisting of sports talk programming. The network is a service of Premiere Networks...
and KLAC.
In addition to his other media duties, Papadakis has worked part-time for the USC men's basketball team as its Public Address announcer since November 2004.
Education
Christ Lutheran School Alum, Palos Verdes Peninsula High SchoolPalos Verdes Peninsula High School
Palos Verdes Peninsula High School is one of three public high schools on the Palos Verdes Peninsula...
Alum, University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
Alum