XTRA Sports Radio

Joe Grande born and raised in San Jose, California where he attended San Jose State University majored in Radio Television and Film, and minored in Sociology. Joe Grande has become a very well known Radio Personality throughout California.

Joe has always loved being the guy on the microphone or the person who is entertaining everyone for a quick laugh. In High School Joe was A.S.B President and loved making the daily announcements and he even announced the home basketball games. He enjoys playing football, basketball, baseball, rugby and wrestling. Those were the sports he played in High School, when asked about them he acts like "Al Bundy"! Currently he loves to golf and plays in a few basketball leagues, but golfing is his passionate sport.

His radio career started in San Jose, California during his senior year at San Jose State. He began working in Promotions for Hot 97.7 as an intern putting up banners, decorating events and passing out stickers. That is where he was known as Big Joe, after 9 months he began working on the Morning Show called the "Dog House". After one year in San Jose, the Dog House was picked up by a San Francisco Radio Station Wild 94.9. In the year 2000 Joe moved to Los Angeles to work for Big Boy's Neighborhood on Power 106. His name was then changed from Big Joe to Joe Grande! Doing daily sports reports and going out on the streets to pull off dares and pranks is some of the few things Joe did at Power 106 with Big Boy in the Mornings.

In 2003, Joe Grande began working for XTRA Sports Radio as a co-host for the Oakland Raiders pre-game show with A. Martinez and Christian Okoye. After Football season finished a Basketball Show began "The Balling with Vic and Joe Show". Teaming up Vic "The Brick" Jacobs and Joe Grande for a Lakers Show Lakers fan fell in love with. They have exclusive interviews with the players and take calls to discuss Lakers issues.

Joe Grande is a quick wit, hip, and extremely energetic personality that loves to give his insight on every issue. When asked about the listeners he says, "I really enjoy to interact with the listeners because they give me so much love when I meet them, I feel like were all family". Joe Grande has been a great addition to the XTRA SPORTS 570 family.

Matt “Money” Smith

In 1994, after completing his junior year at Pepperdine University, Matt Smith decided it was time to start thinking about his career. As a Pre-law Student (Double Major: Political Science and Speech Communications) he did the logical thing; took a job answering phones For the Kevin and Bean morning show at Modern Rock Radio Station KROQ.

Waking up at 4 A.M. caused Matt to lose a year of his college social life, but those 18 months proved to be invaluable. He turned KROQ PD Kevin Weatherly on to some great new music, including a little band called Sublime. He not only worked with Kevin and Bean, but his love of sports brought him close to then “Sports Guy” Jimmy Kimmel. He was given the nickname “Money” and soon found himself on the air doing an assortment of comedy bits.

After graduation, realizing he needed to support himself (and pay back 38K in student loans) Matt left KROQ for a job at Polygram Records. He quickly moved through the ranks, and after 2 years, left Polygram as one of the first hires at newly created DreamWorks Records. One of the great things about both jobs was Matt’s insistence Lakers season tickets be included before signing a contract.

In 1998 while drinking a Bud Light in Kimmel’s backyard, Jimmy, Kevin Weatherly and Kevin and Bean’s Kevin were discussing what they should do about sports with Jimmy having left to start “The Man Show”. They decided even though Matt had a full time Job, he was the only person that had a shot to successfully follow Kimmel.

For the next 5 years, Smith worked 2 jobs, KROQ from 6 A.M. until 8:15, and DreamWorks from 9 until sometimes as late as 11 PM. To say he has a good work ethic is an understatement.

With Universal purchasing DreamWorks in early 2004, Matt was courted by Weatherly to work full time at KROQ. He acquiesced, became a much bigger part of the morning show, and also served as KROQ’s Music Director.

The constants through Matt’s life have always been his family, his sense of humor, and of course, sports. His playing career ended in High School, but he woke every morning to sports radio, read the Sports pages front to back, and survived for years on Top Ramen and PBR to spend what little extra money he had going to games.

After 7 years of 13 hour workdays, Smith finally realized his dream. For the 2005-2006 season, he will be part of the XTRA Sports 570 Lakers broadcast team. Tackling Pre-Game and Half-time Host duties.

It’s a long way from Constitutional Law, but Matt will tell you it’s where he always knew he would end up.

Born in Encino CA and raised in Newbury Park. My parents are Ken and Linda Cook and I have a brother Robert Cook. I graduated from Newbury Park High School, UCLA with a degree in History and National University where I earned my teaching credential. I married, Susan Cook in 1997 and currently have a son and we are also expecting another in March of 06. I have a dog named Qubee, get it QB. I currently teach high school Social Science and have been for 8 years at Chaparral High School.

The past few years I have been working for XTRA covering UCLA Bruins football as the host of the pre-game show and the side line reporter.

When I graduated from UCLA in 1994, I made my mark in the record books:

-Led UCLA to the Rose Bowl as a junior in 1993

-Ranked third in school history with 34 touchdown passes

-Ranked fourth in school history with 4,723 passing yards

-Ranked fourth in school history with 380 passing yards against ASU in 1994

-Set Pac-10 record with career interception percetage of 1.80% and single season percentage of 1.18%.

-Only player to pass for four touchdowns in a game more than once. (Three times)

-Only the third player in school history to pass for over 2,000 yards twice in career.

-Only quarterback to defeat USC in consecutive seasons since two-platoon football began.

Currently I rank:

Career

-7th all time passing

-8th in total offense

Individual

-Longest Pass, 95 yards to J.J. Stokes vs. Washington in 1993

-Fewest interceptions in a regular season - 3, Tied with Drew Olsen

Team Records

-Led UCLA to a school record 679 Yards of total offense against ASU in 1994

-I completed 18-24 passes for 380 and 4 touchdowns and also had a rushing touchdown.

UCLA Bowl Records

-Total offensive plays: 54-1994 Rose Bowl

-Passes attempted: 43-1994 Rose Bowl

-Passes Completed: 28-1994 Rose Bowl

-Led team to a UCLA Bowl Record 31 first downs-1994 Rose Bowl

Awards

-Charles Pike Memorial Award for outstanding scout team player on offense in 1990

-George W. Dickerson Award for outstanding offensive player against USC in 1993

-N.N. Sugarman Memorial Award for best leadership on offense in 1993

-Kenneth S. Washington Award for outstanding senior offensive player

I received 5 game balls-Fullerton 1992, Washington 1993, Stanford 1994, Arizona St. 1994, and USC 1994.

My entire graduating class received a game ball for four in a row against USC.

All-Pac-10 honorable mention in 1994. Played in the 1994 Blue-Gray All-Star game and led my team to victory in the fourth quarter.

Pro Career

Signed with the San Francisco 49ers in 1995

Signed with the Arizona Cardinals after being released by the 49ers.

Dresses out twice with the Cardinals before being released.

I gave up football due to a bad knee and elbow despite opportunities to play Arena Football, Canadian Football or play over seas.