March 2, 2026 • 43 mins
Mark plays some sound from The Hughes Brothers and Meghan Keller and Hillary Knights SNL appearance. Mike Defabo joins to talk Steelers report cards. Ask Mark Anything!
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
Let's hear a couple of sound bites from that opening monologue.
Up Here is Connor's story conversing with first quinn Us
and then jack Us.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Whoa Quinn? Then Jack, You guys literally just won the Olympics. Congrats, okanks,
have we been so busy playing? We haven't had time
to see your show yet. It's about hockey, right kind of?
I got my teeth popped out in the finals.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Does that happen in your show?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Metaphorically? Whammy?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
And then uh, Megan Keller and Hillary Knight chimed in.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Don't worry, we saw your show. Oh wow, Hillary, Meghan
is so cool that we're all here.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
It was gonna be just us, but we thought we
didn't bite the guys too.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
That's a great shot back a Trump's stupid non joke.
Like I said, it was absolutely perfect, so well done
by everybody involved.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It was just considering all.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
That had happened between the Golden goal and them appearing
on SNL. It was very well thought out and absolutely perfect.
Eight three, three, four one two w XDX is the
number to call. We've been talking about the Penguins all day.
Are you buying into how good they've been? Where they're
(01:31):
at in the standings. I hate the Jinks, but I'm
certainly starting to because they demolished demolished Vegas yesterday and
Vegas is thought to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender,
but the Penguins beat them five nil, and the Penguins
have more points. Penguins had more points than Edmonton, who
were in the last two finals. Penguins had more points
than Florida, who won the last two Stanley Cops. A
(01:55):
lot is going good for the Penguins, and I keep
saying they're a playoff team, maybe a team that could
win around, but not yet a legitimate contender.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Maybe I'm even wrong about that.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
We're gonna satiate your lust for Steelers football by talking
to Mike de Fabo of The Athletic at the bottom
of the hour about how crappy that Steelers report card was,
as voted on by the players and leaked through the
NFL Players Association. That's Mike the fable at the bottom
of the hour. One football development. George Pickens, as expected,
(02:34):
was franchised by Dallas, and that's a bad move, as
good as he is, because you don't win with guys
like George Pickens. Those of you who play fantasy football,
yeah you love George Pickens. Those of you who want
to collect football cards, Yeah you love George Pickens. You
don't win with players like George Pickens. And I know
that because the Steelers didn't win with Antonio Brown. And
(02:57):
you could say he went to Tampa and one yeah,
is like the number three receiver where he only could
say and do so much of the crap that made
him such a drag on what the Steelers were trying
to accomplish while he was here. And of course once
he won, he just went right back to be an
ab And I think he's on the run in Saudi
(03:17):
Arabian Hour, something like that. Simbacco News. Connor Griffin hit
another home run. He has three hits in spring training
and their all home runs. He's three for fourteen with
three home runs. Maybe he's Dave Kingman a clout or
an out. Let's hope he's well, No, Kingman hit almost
five hundred home runs, but let's hope. He's certainly a
(03:38):
better all around player than Kingman. He's got to start
the season with the Pirates. I see no upside to
starting and trip away for Connor Griffin. Besides the Pirates
fulfilling a cliched concept of development, Connor Griffin absolutely has
(03:59):
to start the season with the Bucks. Uh An ex
media guy Bozo the columnist. He was whining on Twitter
about how sad it is that nobody wants Andrew McCutcheon
even though he wants to play. Well, of course he
wants to play, wants the money, got nothing to do otherwise.
(04:19):
But the only phrase that matters in what Boso tweeted
is nobody wants him. Cotch is old and washed up
and he's not Clemente case friggin closed career, frigging over,
and he's not owed any better than that.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The Pirates got a lot out of Cutch. Cutch also
got a lot out the Pirates.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Some people trying to compare Cutch a situation to Balkans.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Not comparable.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I'll go into detail about that later today or tomorrow,
but here's an easy one if you're just going to
go all current events. Malkins appoint per game guy Cutch.
His stats last year were rotten. You could imagine they're
better than they are by putting him in the context
of the Pirates, who couldn't hit the ball or get
(05:18):
on base or do any of that ops stuff last year,
but just not good enough, not at that age and
not moving forward. Uh. I asked Tom this question earlier.
Maybe you can chime in since Hurt, we know that
at home games you're sitting way down at the end
of the press box by himself. I know he hates
(05:40):
watching instead of playing, so I know he's miserable. Should
I go talk to Sid or would that annoy him
and pester him?
Speaker 2 (05:50):
What do you think?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Eight three to three four one two W I just
got a tweet that I'm giving cuts too much. You know,
Cutch wasn't hard done by in Pittsburgh at all, even
a little bit. Cutch left here for more money and
to have a chance to win. That's another's him in Geno.
(06:12):
Gino has stayed all the way through with the Penguins.
He's seen the course. Kutch did not do that anyway.
Your response is to any or all of this dial
eight three three four one two WXDX.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
This is the Mark Madden Show one O five to nine.
But he likes eight legal nowhere but men I E
and TX at one O five nine.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I'm surprised I'm not getting more feedback on on Gino
and whether the Penguins should keep him, because I believe
all of you automatically think they should, and I think
they probably should and probably will. But I don't think
it's as cut and dry as no doubt you do.
I do know before the season they were definitely thinking
(07:00):
that this would be his last year, and I think
Gino was thinking that too, But he came out of
the gates strong, has played well all season.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
He's at over a point per game.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
He's messed real well with Chinnakoff, and that is the
Penguins number one line right now. No fact between Chinnikoff
and Malkin. Malkin moving to wing and doing so very seamlessly,
but he's still thirty nine. Nothing he's doing changes the
fact that he's thirty nine. I would bring him back
based on what's happened, but I would wait till the
(07:30):
end of the season to decide because I can't if
I'm the Penguins, and if they didn't bring him back,
I would understand that as well.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
You can't let your dressing room turn into a museum.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I'd also like to talk about that basketball situation between
Silicily Academy and Jeanette. I think it was Whippyel two Wa,
a slickly academy, beat the Brakes off Genet in the final,
and swiftly adam Me is a bought and paid for
private school team. They brought in a bunch of ringers
(08:04):
that I don't know, some booster or alum or whatever
you know, paid to bring in. And that sucks. But
that's the way the whippule is. When you don't separate
public and private in terms of athletic competition at the
scholastic level, that's just the way it's going to be.
(08:25):
It's that way with Central Catholic and football too. They
recruit from everywhere. They absolutely have an unfair advantage, but
there's lessons to be learned in high school sports beyond
winning and losing. And I think the Jeanette players, well,
there was an altercation in the handshake line. I'm assuming
the Jeanette players triggered that, but I don't know for sure.
(08:47):
They lost, though, and then afterwards their kids complained about
how unfair it was, and so did the coach. I'm
not even sure the coach's name. I just know an
adult should be setting a better example then to echo
whining and sore loser behavior after you get beat, after
you get beat in a game. I don't know if
(09:10):
Jeannette was favored to beat Siwickley Academy per se, but
I do know they were the number one seed in
the tournament, so if it was an upset, it wasn't egregiously.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
So well, no, maybe it.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I mean like when the number one seed gets beat,
it's an upset. So I don't think Jeanette covered itself
in glory with the way it behaved after losing. And
I covered high school sports for a long time, I've
seen a lot of tough losses. I've seen a lot
of situations where a private school had an unfair inch.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Let's go to Richie in Tennessee.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Richie he double n Would you bet the Pittsford Penguins
making the playoffs? And how much would you bet?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I would bet that they'd make the playoffs. I'd bet
what's my upper echelon. I would bet I bet as
much as I bet on a game I really like.
I'd bet two grand on it.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Oh nice, okay, I'll do that.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
I'll do five hundred.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
That's tough. That's because you have a lot less money
than me.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Yes, of course.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
But I appreciate you talking about your mom passing because
I lost my mom to cancer.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
So oh, well, my condolences to that.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, yesterday was my mom's birthday, and I.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Oh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
I'm sorry to hear that.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
No, no, well, no, it's I celebrate her birthday. Thank you
for mentioning her and for the call. No, yesterday was
my mom's birthday. She would have been ninety one, which
she was never going to make and normal I not
too many people make ninety one. But aside from the
last three years when she had a really bad lung
illness not cancer, something called IPF, she had a really
good run. She enjoyed her life, and she did a
(10:54):
great job raising me and coaching speech and debate and
teaching at North Hills High School, where I am connected
to this day, having a scholarship fund in her name there.
In fact, I'll be going out to speak to the
kids there and solicit applications for her scholarship within a
couple of weeks. But yeah, I went on and visit
her grave yesterday out in aleg I shouldn't say where
(11:16):
it is, uh, somebody actually, one of my hecklers on
the fake Facebook page that somebody runs, not the guy
who runs it, but somebody posted a picture of her grave,
which I did not appreciate. But but then I went
to Monicello's on Babcock, where I used to take her
very many times. So no, I am sad on her birthday,
but it's more celebration.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Let's go to Ryan. Ryan, you're on with double.
Speaker 6 (11:38):
M h mark.
Speaker 7 (11:41):
You gotta be thinking about the gensol for stamcos swap.
And if you were to tell me that they could
depends to dump Maulkin and get a ten million dollars
a year two way center and replacement, I sign up
for that.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Well, you're not dump You're not dumping Maulkin. You're you're
just you know.
Speaker 8 (11:55):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Yeah, yeah, that's unfair to the Penguins to put it
in no terms though, I mean, nothing lasts forever, but yeah,
but I'm just saying there is precedent, and I know
Stamkost got a long term deal with Nashville, but he
was also thirty three. I think the situations are comparable,
and the one thing for sure is comparable is that
you wouldn't be letting Malkin go in a vacuum you
(12:18):
would getting you would get somebody to replace them, and
you would let kindall grow into his spot and you
just are moving forward. And that would be my complaint
if they do retain Malkin, even though I would do it,
is that they would not be moving forward. Let's go
to Matt in the South Hills. Matt your own double.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
M Hey Mark, how you doing?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
What up? Hey?
Speaker 9 (12:38):
Mark?
Speaker 6 (12:39):
Step from Malkin for sign next year. I'm absolutely wanting
to sign it because I think with Chinakov he is
just starting to share what Chinikov has in him, and
I think the relation that they're making on the ice
is really starting to show.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
What happens if Gino at forty starts to play worse,
what happens to Chinakoff. Then are you that convinced that
chinakov success is ignited by Gino? Or how much has
China coof rejuvenated Malkin.
Speaker 6 (13:06):
Well, I think it's a combination of both.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
I think it is too.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
But the point I'm making is, you know, given the
age disparity between the two, there has to be a
future for Chinacough beyond Malcott at some point.
Speaker 6 (13:19):
Yeah, And I'm just hoping maybe with you know, another
year with Gino that so mature enough that he'll start
taking over.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
He's no teenager, and he's taken over quite a bit now.
I think that he gonna be fine no matter who
he's on the line with. Moving forward, let's go to John. John,
you're on with Mark.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Good day, I said, good day.
Speaker 10 (13:41):
I don't think that we should probably bring Malkin back.
I'm thinking another year older, he's just gonna get slower.
And then if he starts not producing as much as
he does this year, what do you do? You hurd
his feelings. I'm bumping down the line.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Yeah, if they bring him back, I mean, you can't
bring him back just you know, by way of getting
him everything he wants in terms of playing time and
in terms of you know, power play everything. I mean,
but guys like that who have been that good that
long with the same team, as in Andrew mccutchin's case,
think they deserve more than they actually do. But they're
(14:16):
not to be blamed for that either, And I would
bring them back, but I I no matter how I
got a feeling, Geno's gonna be one of those guys.
But no matter how it ends, it won't be good.
Does that make sense? You see that absolutely, Thank you
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hundred Gambler Up. Next're gonna talk Steelers off season and
NFLPA report card with Mike de Fabo of The Athletic
(15:49):
one oh five niney.
Speaker 10 (15:50):
X Every weekday at ten am is Travis starting your
workday commercial freight on one O five nine.
Speaker 11 (15:57):
Yeah, from the one oh five nine the X Weather.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
This report he is sponsored by Discover. We're looking at
partly cloudy skys tonight and now the super genius Mark
Madden Cream comes to the top. I feel like I'm
just bubbling over.
Speaker 9 (16:13):
You pants player on the air because I.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Who told you the exit one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Steelers did not grade out well according to their own
players on that NFLPA report card that got leaked. Joining
us now to talk a little black and gold football
from the Athletic Ke's Mike de Fabo. Mike, what is
the bottom line about the Steelers lossy report card? Is
it a bad organization or are the players with whiney
(16:41):
prima donnas.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I think it can be both.
Speaker 12 (16:46):
Both things can be true at the same time. I mean,
if you give people an opportunity to complain, they're going
to complain. But in this instance, the biggest failing I guess,
I would say is the field, and I think that
the players have a legitimate an argument there where Miles
Killebrew his season ended and who knows for a guy
who was a glorified special teamer if it may have
(17:10):
ended his career and taken money.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Out of his pocket.
Speaker 12 (17:13):
And Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback that they brought in, was
banging the drum and leading the charge when it came
to publicly bashing the field, and ultimately something had to
be done with it.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
And that's really where.
Speaker 12 (17:26):
The report card I think is valuable is in a
sense the Steelers were somewhat shamed into changing the field
surface and taking it more seriously, and now it's something
that they're going to do. But in other instances, you know,
with your remark that these guys are spoiled, I think
that something like the locker room to a degree, I
(17:46):
think that that's true. You know, they go to college
and when you're sixteen years old that before the prior generation,
before you could just simply hand player's fist full of money.
How are you going to impress a sixteen year old boy?
You're going to show him a big shiny locker with
an Xbox in it that cools your pads and you know,
all kinds of ridiculous things that you don't need to
(18:07):
play football.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
So I think that like.
Speaker 12 (18:09):
The locker room part of it, I don't know, I'm
less willing to see where the players are coming from
with some of that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Well, no, I totally agree about the field a little
less about the locker room, except for the five stalls
in the toilet. That's not nearly enough. But I just
I take all the grades with a grain of salt.
Beyond the field, and part of the problem is there
their grounds crew is somebody's nephew or somebody's kid and inherited,
and they don't care about the field. They care about
(18:37):
the buddy system when it comes to having the right
people maintain it. But I think mostly there was a
lot of popularity contest involved, because how does Tomlin get
an A but the defensive coordinator gets to see but
Tomlin really ran the defense. Again, that tells me it's
a popularity contest.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Yep, popularity content.
Speaker 12 (19:00):
To your point, there, the GM grades, the vikings, GM
who got fired got an A. Okay, he did not
do an A job. Now, I'm not saying that Omar
Khan didn't deserve his C minus, but I'm just saying
that these are arbitrary things. And I could see a
situation where, you know, a player is frustrated that Omar
(19:24):
Khan isn't giving him more money, isn't given him the
extension that he wanted.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
And that's the reason that it contributes to.
Speaker 12 (19:29):
A grade like that for a general manager. So again,
people are seeing this ingrading things based on how it
affects them personally, Like if they didn't get the playing
time that they wanted, if they didn't get the you
know anything, you know, that's what's going to contribute to
the grade that they.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Get, right, contract, whatever depth chart, it's a person it's
a popularity contest in guys voting also very personally, not
looking at great or good or a big picture, which
begs the question, Mike, if the organization's that bad, how
come none of the players ever want to leave? Was
that just Tomlin? And now will we see more turnover
moving forward?
Speaker 12 (20:10):
Well, you know, I think you know, in the end,
players aren't going to sign or not sign a contract
with a football team because they care about the grass
or they care about the locker room, or they care about,
you know, whether they have a daycare or not for
their family members. They're going to care about how much
(20:31):
money are you giving me, and what's the opportunity that
I think to advance my career into play. And I
think that that's the way the Steelers look at it
is they feel like, you know, the locker room has
never won or lost them a game, so in their eyes,
they don't think that they need to invest in it now. So,
you know, I think that that's how the Steelers probably
look at this situation.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
We're talking to Mike de Fable of the Athletic here
on the Mark Madden Show.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Here's another one that amused me.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Mike, the travel got an f what's specifically could have
been that bad about the travel?
Speaker 2 (21:02):
It's a charter flight with all first class seats.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
They weren't riding a bus or a train like a
major league Uh. Did the mimosas not get there in
a timely fashion?
Speaker 2 (21:13):
How bad could it have been?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Yeah? I don't think that it was.
Speaker 12 (21:18):
I don't think it was that bad.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I think that there.
Speaker 12 (21:21):
Are some teams that maybe travel in a luxurious way
and the Steelers maybe did not. I mean, I think
the one example that could have contributed to it is.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
When they went to Ireland.
Speaker 12 (21:33):
You know, it looked like some of the like the
other team, the Vikings traveled I don't know what airline,
and they were more premium seats. But the Steelers had
an agreement with aer Lingus. Aer Lingus was a sponsor
for them, and so I mean I flew aer Lingus
as well, and air Lingus was not as modern of
an airline, so something like that. But I agree with
(21:55):
you Mark where I think that these players to a
degree are used to being pamper and used to extravagance
and used to people giving them things, and they in
a lot of ways don't have a concept of how
things actually work when you're not an NFL football player,
that people are giving you the preferential treatment.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I mean, there's there's famous stories.
Speaker 12 (22:13):
Of Antonio Brown, you know, in other guys getting massages
and chiropractic treatment and thinking that it was for free
thinking because that they were an athlete, they deserve some
kind of a free handout from this person, not that
this was a person conducting the business and who was
providing the service, expecting compensation and return I've heard. I've
(22:36):
heard stories like that as well, so you know, some
of it I agree with you, Mark is a players
being not having a firm grasp on how the world
works when you're not an NFL football player.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Well, right, just entitlement ab was the king of that.
What is Aaron Rodgers go to commit if he is?
And are you getting kind of a wonky feeling about
how this ends?
Speaker 12 (22:58):
Well, you know, from what I've heard, it sounds like
the Steelers are pretty confident that the answer is gonna
come in the next few weeks. And I found it
interesting that that's been kind of the term that's been
thrown around. You know, I think ideally they really would
prefer it, and it makes a lot more sense to
get that answer in the next couple of days, not
the next couple of weeks, because the next couple of
(23:19):
days means you've gotten the answer before free agency.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
You.
Speaker 12 (23:23):
Number one, if you get Rogers, which they think they're
going to, then you end up making moves that support
that decision.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Number Two, if you don't get Aaron.
Speaker 12 (23:32):
Rodgers, figure out what the heck you're going to do
at the quarterback position when there aren't a lot of options,
and so I think they're going to get that answer
right around free agency, and everybody that I've talked to,
from you know, players all the way up to main
decision makers seem to be under the assumption that Aaron
Rodgers is going to come here. But it's kind of
(23:52):
one of those situations where they feel like they are
still working with Aaron Rodgers and until they actually get
that signature on the dotted line, no one wants to
speak in certain terms.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Did anything happen at the Combine that's of actual consequence
for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
You know, they.
Speaker 12 (24:14):
Interviewed I think the things you can take from the
Combine are they interviewed a boatload of wide receivers, and
they interviewed a ton of cornerbacks. They interviewed a lot
of defensive linemen. You know, they interviewed a fair number
and then then sprinkled in some offensive linemen. So I'm
not telling you anything that anyone who follows the Pittsburgh
(24:36):
Steelers doesn't know. They need a wide receiver, you know,
they need a corner opposite Jolly Porter Junior. They need,
you know, defensive linemen long term future to figure out
what life after cam Hayward is going to look like
and now, honestly, with this Broderick Jones injury, maybe they
need offensive.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Linemen more than it initially appeared.
Speaker 12 (24:55):
And I think maybe that's the biggest thing that I
learned at the combine. You know, I know that he
had next surgery, but the Steelers had kind of downplayed
it initially and made it seem like, hey, this is
no big deal. Maybe he's going to come back by
the end of the season. They even called it a
stinger at first when they first described it. And now
it's like looking like there's no guarantee he's going to
(25:16):
be ready by training camp, and if he's not ready
by training camp, you might need to start thinking about
who your left tackle is week one of the football seasons.
So at first it seemed like the way the way.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
He played this year might I'd be worried about who
my left tackle is period.
Speaker 12 (25:33):
And that's a good point too, Mark, where it's not
like he's played like he was expected to as a
first round pick. So it's disappointing because he was supposed
to be the first piece of this turnover, of the
foundation of a team that was going to win on
the in the trenches with their offensive line. Now it's
looking in like, you know, that process has hit a
major roadblock, first because of performance, now because of injury.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
And maybe if they had put him a left tackle
from the get go instead of super serving veteran respected
Dan Moore, Joe your it might have worked out better too.
Speaker 12 (26:02):
Right, Yeah, And that to me, that speaks to being
a team that actually has a long term vision and
doesn't just try to play for the only year right.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
In front of you.
Speaker 12 (26:11):
You know, you should have taken a first round left
tackle and then we're playing him at left tackles. You know,
you can go kick rock stand more because this is
better for the long term future.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Of the football team.
Speaker 12 (26:22):
Instead, they took an asset that you know, traded up
to acquire a broader Jones and completely stunted his development
and played him in a bizarre way. And that's what
those are the kind of things that have to change.
In a similar way of Roman Wilson, you know, last
year you shouldn't have been yeah, you were going to
have to work through and play through growing pains. You
(26:43):
should have done exactly that to this year he was
ready to contribute, or next year he's ready to contribute
and become a major part of the team. Instead, he's
now gone two years without playing, and who's that benefiting?
And I think those are the kind of things that
bringing back in Aaron Rodgers. You know, I could convince
myself that Aaron Rodgers is the best of bad decisions.
(27:04):
My problem with it is the ripple effect when you
bring in Markus about a scantling at the cost of
your young Roman Wilson playing time. You know, That's where
I think that the biggest sin is within bringing back
Aaron Rodgers is just the ripple effect of what the
subsequent decisions you make.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Mike, I couldn't have put it better. That's one reason
of several why I would not bring back Aaron Rodgers.
And I got a feeling it will repeat itself. I
think they need to get like three or four receivers,
but then they might get him, and Rodgers wants his
washed up gang to get out there. Scotty Miller too,
just just I think he has too much control over
the depth chart upon arrival. And I think there will
(27:45):
be even more of that with Mike McCarthy than there
was with Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 12 (27:50):
Yep, absolutely, Mark, because Mike Tomlin did stand up to
Aaron Rodgers in those instances. Mike Tomlin was the boss
in that building.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
He had always though.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
I mean you look at who got on the field, Mike.
I mean you mentioned mvs Adam Thielen and Scotty Miller.
I mean, you know, I can't play any of them
ahead of Roman Wilson.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
I just can't.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
You know what I'm I'm reading in the developmental more
than they would.
Speaker 12 (28:15):
But still, yeah, no, there were cases. I guess what
I'm trying to say is tom when I think handled
Aaron and the way that he's going to want to
have his opinion heard better than I think a lot
of other coaches because it was Mike Tomlin who'd been
their nineteen seasons.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Now it's the dynamic.
Speaker 12 (28:37):
I think it's flipped on its head where Aaron Rodgers
has been there longer than Mike McCarthy. And you know,
I think if Aaron Rodgers comes in, he's going to
have a considerable say in a lot of things that
happened with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And again, I think that
is another thing that concerns me about bringing him back
next year. But again I don't know what your alternative
(28:57):
is other than entering the Malik Willis sweep state, which
it doesn't seem like the Steelers are that interested in doing.
You know, I think this Ty Simpson situation, he would
be maybe your only quarterback you could consider in the
first round. But the way that I've heard things, you know,
he's only he only has fifteen college starts. The guys
who have fifteen college starts who have been drafting the
(29:19):
last ten years include Mitch Trubisky, Anthony Richardson, I mean
not necessarily uh In, Dwayne Haskins, Dwayne Haskins, Anthony Richardson,
and Mitch Trubisky not a great cast and support and
you know, to keep there. And so I think that
the playing time is going to signific The limited playing
(29:40):
time Black thereof is going to significantly factor into the Steelers'
evaluation of ty Simpson.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Why do I have the feeling that, even though they
need a bunch of receivers, that they're not going to
draft the receiver twenty one and mic go defense instead.
It just seems like their way, doesn't it.
Speaker 12 (29:58):
You know, it's possible, and the only argument for that
would be that this wide receiver class is incredibly deep,
and so if you.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Were going to but they need more than one MIC they.
Speaker 12 (30:12):
Need Yeah, they've only got one. They've got DK metcalfite
a couple questions.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
He's really a number two. I don't care what his
salary says. I know what his stats say. I saw
him play. He's a number two, no better.
Speaker 12 (30:25):
Yeah, I would like to see the Steelers go for
wide receiver. I've projected it a couple of times in
these mock drafts, and really the question is it seems
like there's three guys at the top that people think
are like the three clear best guys, and there's a
little bit of a drop off. And so if you're
going wide receiver, do you make that aggressive to move
up and get one of the top three or do
you sit there at twenty one and get that next.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Round of guys.
Speaker 12 (30:48):
But either way, there's probably you know, I could see six,
five or six wide receivers going in the first round,
and I think the Steelers should be entertaining the idea
of making that their first round pick, one way or another.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Mike has always great stuff. I appreciate the input.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Enjoy an off season that really doesn't exist, and we'll
talk soon.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
I hope sounds good. Mark, I appreciate you having me.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
That's Mike de Fabo. Check out his great work at
the Athletic. Now it's time to ask Mark Anything. Dial
now and ask Mark Anything. Eight three three four one
two w xdx. That's a three three four one two wxdx.
Or leave a talkback by using the microphone icon at
the iHeartMedia app one oh five ninety X.
Speaker 11 (31:29):
Time now to send in your questions for Ask Mark Anything.
Use the talkback Mike on your free ieart radio app
and record your question for the super genius.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six. Of course
you dingus one five nine.
Speaker 4 (31:47):
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let me make an announcement, shoppers, if you want a
real deal, try tide Pods. Stop paying for water down detergents,
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be Tidepods water content based on the leading Barkin liquid detergent.
Speaker 2 (32:47):
There's a brand built on freedom and adventure. You know
the one jeep. Now take freedom further with a great time.
Speaker 1 (32:56):
I'm an asked mark anything eight three three four one
two WXDX.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
You're hearing Journey. They play at PPG Paint Arena tonight.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
I am going I like Journey, but they're like to me,
I only want to hear their hits like I want
to hear Don't Stop Believing, which you heard a bit
of right there. That's their most recognizable song, Wheeling the
sky Stone and Love. I love the Greg Rawley songs
(33:25):
from when they initially broke through, like just the same
way and feeling that way, but they don't play him
because he's not in the band no more and hasn't
been literally for what forty years or so, So I
get it. But those were great songs, Annie Hoodles, Dial
eight three, three, four one two WXTX and ask Mark anything?
(33:48):
Should Malkin be re signed for another year? And is
Eric Carlson the Penguins MVP at this point? I think
you can certainly make that argument, with all due respect
to Sidney Crosby. Also, what was your take on SNL
if you saw it Saturday night with the US brothers
in Megan Keller and Hillary Knight, all US hockey Olympic
(34:12):
gold medalists on the program, along with the star of
the Gay Hockey Show, Connor's Story. I thought it was
a great show, and I thought it was great when
all four of the Olympic gold medal hockey players were
out there, and I think they hit just the right
note that there's no problem between the two teams, and
all the nonsense that was created doesn't count. That day
(34:34):
cont and the reception they got from the people on
Saturday and in the arenas they played in since that matters.
That is what counts, and we got a war to
distract us now, So forget about hockey.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Leave hockey alone. Let's go to Doug and McCandless. Doug
your own with double M.
Speaker 9 (34:54):
Hey, Mark, I've been listening to you for years, but
my fifteen year old daughter's been in the car the
last couple of weeks as I take her back and
forth to tennis, and she thinks you're mean to her
call to your callers. What should I tell her?
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Uh, well, you've listened to me for how long.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Years? Well?
Speaker 2 (35:13):
Why do you think I mean to my callers?
Speaker 9 (35:17):
I don't think you're mean. This is my fifteen year
old daughter asking, well, I.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Mean, let me, let me just cut right to the chase.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
If she's going to be any good at tennis, she
clearly has to develop more of a killer instinct than
less of a thin skin.
Speaker 9 (35:31):
She likes that answer. She's smiling.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
I can tell you for sure that Billy Jean King
would like this show.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
I can tell you for sure that Chris Everett, e
von Goolagong, they would like this show because they were tough.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
That's what made them great.
Speaker 9 (35:46):
Excellent, Mark, I appreciate the feedback.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Let's go to Cosmo and the Sasai Cosmo. You're on
double m.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
What I mean?
Speaker 2 (35:56):
What I mean?
Speaker 7 (35:58):
Yeah, so I think that we should bring in a
right winger and uh, do you think there's any chance
that we could bring in Yam or Yager?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Okay, now you thought you'd be funny, right and you
just aren't. So do we want to cut it short there?
Or do you want to keep making an ass of yourself?
Speaker 3 (36:12):
No, it would be a great retirement sendoff.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
And he see you took you took option B. Continue
to be an ass. Thank you. Let's go to Mike
in Lawrenceville. Mike ask Mark anything?
Speaker 14 (36:24):
Hey, Mark, thanks for taking my call. I had just
had a quick que comment about the shootouts, and I'm
not too worried about them losing the shootouts because I'm
just thinking in the playoffs, they're not going to have
a shootout.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Well, I know that normal they have three on three overtime,
but you got to get to the playoffs or right
now they're one and eight shootouts and while they're you know,
sitting okay in a playoff spot, they still are far
from comfortable.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
So so I mean, look at I'd bring in a shootout.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
The one reason I'd bringing a shootout guy if one
were available, and I can't even suggest to who it
should be looking at the list of the top converters
in the shootout this year, because most of them are
Star forwards and therefore unavailable at least at a reasonable price.
So so, But but if they missed the playoffs, it'll
be because of lack of success in the shootouts as
(37:17):
not not a primary reason, but well yeah, maybe a
primary reason.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
And certainly definitely a reason. Mark, thank you. Let's go
to John in the car. John, Askmark anything?
Speaker 3 (37:29):
Hey, Mark, do you agree with you?
Speaker 6 (37:30):
Steve Perry is the real voice of Journey and there'll
be no equal to him.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
I think that I think that Eryl Pinata probably sounds
better now than Steve Perry does, and since I'm going
to see the show tonight, I would rather see Pineda.
Speaker 7 (37:45):
I respectfully disagree.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Well, you're wrong. Have you ever heard Steve Perry sing lately?
For one thing?
Speaker 1 (37:50):
He barely does, which tells you tail And I don't
think he should have to be in Journey if he
doesn't want, and I enjoy seeing.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Him if he was.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
But I think you're disrespecting a guy who has done
a great job as the voice of Journey.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
He's a third line winger compared to the feria in
the hall. Are you going tonight?
Speaker 3 (38:09):
Yes?
Speaker 8 (38:09):
I am.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Well, then seriously, if you're going tonight you think he's
a third line winger, that makes you like the biggest
asshat that's called this show today. And imagine what kind
of ground take is taken in there, you idiot. Seriously,
you're calling a guy third line winger. How much did
you pay for the ticket?
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Idiot? Let's go to Kennan Beaver, Connie Ken ask Mark.
Speaker 7 (38:29):
Anything, well, mister Madden switching back to hockey a Gulf
tenant question. The young guy at Wilkesbury Murdershoff. Is he
ready to come up before the trade headline?
Speaker 1 (38:40):
Well, I think if you traded Stuart Skinner to get
like a third line center and bring morishoff up, yes,
I think he's ready. It would be a risk, but
an educated one, and I think his upside higher than Skinner.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
So yeah, I think he's ready.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
He's totally dominated the AHL. If he's not ready, he's sure,
we're doing a great job fooling everybody.
Speaker 7 (39:00):
I think he's obviously the future. The problem is if
they can't trade one of.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
The guys I got here.
Speaker 7 (39:05):
Now they might just have to write it out the
next season.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Oh no, if they don't trade Stuart Skinner, Morishoff will
finish the year in Wilkes. Yeah, barring injury, let's go
to the Egyptian Magician. Hell, all my friends.
Speaker 8 (39:19):
Hey, Mark, I didn't know it was asthma. So I
guess I'm gonna say something. You say, you're right or wrong.
I really think it's a good job that the general
manager has done, put the pieces together.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
And yeah, he's done a brilliant job. I knew he
would and I trust his vision implicitly.
Speaker 8 (39:41):
Yeah, And I thought as a coach, he has done
something excellent. And what I really like about this Penguins
is the fact that these first of all, they go
four lines that they each had, every one of them.
They come to battle and they do and they take
care of each other to have each other's back. And
(40:02):
I did not really like that Kolt to let him go,
but I know why they did it. But we are
running against time for our three stars.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Okay, yeah, you can't. You can't. You can't do the
timetable based on them.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
You can't.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
They've done great. They have three Cups. Nobody appreciates what
they've done more than me. This isn't about making sure
they get last one last kick at the can. It's
about building organically to a championship level team, no matter
when that comes through. If it comes through with them
still here, I'd have no problem with that. But but
you can't base it on that. You can't rush this
(40:43):
the process, rush the process because of them.
Speaker 8 (40:47):
So I hit fifty.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
Not bad. Let's go to a talk back.
Speaker 12 (40:53):
Super genius Eric and Toledo.
Speaker 14 (40:55):
Hey, besides having absolutely no personality whatsoever and never showing
him motion, what made Mike Johnston such a god awful coach?
Speaker 1 (41:05):
He just wasn't ready for this level. He was a junior,
a coach where he should have stayed. I think that's
where he is now. I think he did some Ahl
stuff too, but just wasn't ready, not least because the
Penguins were so packed with stars. Although they started off
very well with him as coach, and then the players
just kind of turned on him.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Let's go to Eric, Eric, what's up?
Speaker 15 (41:26):
Hey, Mark, big fan? I'm also a big fan of Arsenal,
and I know you're an intelligent fan of a rival team.
Speaker 7 (41:33):
Just wondering what your thoughts are of them.
Speaker 15 (41:35):
Are they legit? Are they pretenders?
Speaker 1 (41:38):
And they're they're they're legit and they should win the
league that have to blow it, which they've certainly done before.
But I mean all they do is score off set
pieces and corners. They're not an entertaining team to watch.
They're not as creative as their talent dictates. If they win, Hey,
any way you want it, that's the way you need it,
to quote Journey, but but I'm not impressed by the
(41:58):
way they play football.
Speaker 15 (41:59):
If that, if that resonates, And since you also watched
Liverpool win with Covid limming, is there any coincidence that
our stol might win a serious trophy and World War
three is also potentially gonna happen at the same time.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Yeah, I don't know about World War three, and I
care more about the English Premier League than I do that.
You know, we're always involved in some conflict of the other.
I don't mean to to tread lightly upon it bit
or make or crack wise, but I mean, you know,
I'm sixty five of I mean, if I gave myself
headaches over stuff like that, it always have a headache
(42:38):
so I think when you win, you win, and the
backdrop doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Let's go to a talkback. Hey, double M just finished
a book about Jim Thorpe.
Speaker 3 (42:46):
Is he the greatest athlete?
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Or is that something that can't be defined. It's tough
to define.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
I might go with Jesse Owens with all the gold
medals at the Nazi Olympics, not only proving his athleticism,
but in a hostile environment, just a really tension pack situation.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
I don't know. I think it's tough to define best athlete.
You know, I would? I mean, what about what about
John Cena?
Speaker 1 (43:21):
Okay, get more calls in eight three I'm kidding eight
three three four one two.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Just he was the first wrestler that came to mind.
Let's hear a couple of sound bites from that opening monologue.
Up Here is Connor's story conversing with first quinn Us
and then jack Us.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Whoa Quinn? Then Jack, You guys literally just won the Olympics. Congrats, okanks,
have we been so busy playing? We haven't had time
to see your show yet. It's about hockey, right kind of?
I got my teeth popped out in the finals.
Speaker 3 (00:33):
Does that happen in your show?
Speaker 2 (00:36):
Metaphorically? Whammy?
Speaker 1 (00:41):
And then uh, Megan Keller and Hillary Knight chimed in.
Speaker 2 (00:45):
Don't worry, we saw your show. Oh wow, Hillary, Meghan
is so cool that we're all here.
Speaker 4 (00:51):
It was gonna be just us, but we thought we
didn't bite the guys too.
Speaker 1 (00:58):
That's a great shot back a Trump's stupid non joke.
Like I said, it was absolutely perfect, so well done
by everybody involved.
Speaker 2 (01:07):
It was just considering all.
Speaker 1 (01:09):
That had happened between the Golden goal and them appearing
on SNL. It was very well thought out and absolutely perfect.
Eight three, three, four one two w XDX is the
number to call. We've been talking about the Penguins all day.
Are you buying into how good they've been? Where they're
(01:31):
at in the standings. I hate the Jinks, but I'm
certainly starting to because they demolished demolished Vegas yesterday and
Vegas is thought to be a legitimate Stanley Cup contender,
but the Penguins beat them five nil, and the Penguins
have more points. Penguins had more points than Edmonton, who
were in the last two finals. Penguins had more points
than Florida, who won the last two Stanley Cops. A
(01:55):
lot is going good for the Penguins, and I keep
saying they're a playoff team, maybe a team that could
win around, but not yet a legitimate contender.
Speaker 2 (02:05):
Maybe I'm even wrong about that.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
We're gonna satiate your lust for Steelers football by talking
to Mike de Fabo of The Athletic at the bottom
of the hour about how crappy that Steelers report card was,
as voted on by the players and leaked through the
NFL Players Association. That's Mike the fable at the bottom
of the hour. One football development. George Pickens, as expected,
(02:34):
was franchised by Dallas, and that's a bad move, as
good as he is, because you don't win with guys
like George Pickens. Those of you who play fantasy football,
yeah you love George Pickens. Those of you who want
to collect football cards, Yeah you love George Pickens. You
don't win with players like George Pickens. And I know
that because the Steelers didn't win with Antonio Brown. And
(02:57):
you could say he went to Tampa and one yeah,
is like the number three receiver where he only could
say and do so much of the crap that made
him such a drag on what the Steelers were trying
to accomplish while he was here. And of course once
he won, he just went right back to be an
ab And I think he's on the run in Saudi
(03:17):
Arabian Hour, something like that. Simbacco News. Connor Griffin hit
another home run. He has three hits in spring training
and their all home runs. He's three for fourteen with
three home runs. Maybe he's Dave Kingman a clout or
an out. Let's hope he's well, No, Kingman hit almost
five hundred home runs, but let's hope. He's certainly a
(03:38):
better all around player than Kingman. He's got to start
the season with the Pirates. I see no upside to
starting and trip away for Connor Griffin. Besides the Pirates
fulfilling a cliched concept of development, Connor Griffin absolutely has
(03:59):
to start the season with the Bucks. Uh An ex
media guy Bozo the columnist. He was whining on Twitter
about how sad it is that nobody wants Andrew McCutcheon
even though he wants to play. Well, of course he
wants to play, wants the money, got nothing to do otherwise.
(04:19):
But the only phrase that matters in what Boso tweeted
is nobody wants him. Cotch is old and washed up
and he's not Clemente case friggin closed career, frigging over,
and he's not owed any better than that.
Speaker 2 (04:42):
The Pirates got a lot out of Cutch. Cutch also
got a lot out the Pirates.
Speaker 1 (04:50):
Some people trying to compare Cutch a situation to Balkans.
Speaker 2 (04:56):
Not comparable.
Speaker 1 (04:58):
I'll go into detail about that later today or tomorrow,
but here's an easy one if you're just going to
go all current events. Malkins appoint per game guy Cutch.
His stats last year were rotten. You could imagine they're
better than they are by putting him in the context
of the Pirates, who couldn't hit the ball or get
(05:18):
on base or do any of that ops stuff last year,
but just not good enough, not at that age and
not moving forward. Uh. I asked Tom this question earlier.
Maybe you can chime in since Hurt, we know that
at home games you're sitting way down at the end
of the press box by himself. I know he hates
(05:40):
watching instead of playing, so I know he's miserable. Should
I go talk to Sid or would that annoy him
and pester him?
Speaker 2 (05:50):
What do you think?
Speaker 1 (05:51):
Eight three to three four one two W I just
got a tweet that I'm giving cuts too much. You know,
Cutch wasn't hard done by in Pittsburgh at all, even
a little bit. Cutch left here for more money and
to have a chance to win. That's another's him in Geno.
(06:12):
Gino has stayed all the way through with the Penguins.
He's seen the course. Kutch did not do that anyway.
Your response is to any or all of this dial
eight three three four one two WXDX.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
This is the Mark Madden Show one O five to nine.
But he likes eight legal nowhere but men I E
and TX at one O five nine.
Speaker 1 (06:37):
I'm surprised I'm not getting more feedback on on Gino
and whether the Penguins should keep him, because I believe
all of you automatically think they should, and I think
they probably should and probably will. But I don't think
it's as cut and dry as no doubt you do.
I do know before the season they were definitely thinking
(07:00):
that this would be his last year, and I think
Gino was thinking that too, But he came out of
the gates strong, has played well all season.
Speaker 2 (07:07):
He's at over a point per game.
Speaker 1 (07:09):
He's messed real well with Chinnakoff, and that is the
Penguins number one line right now. No fact between Chinnikoff
and Malkin. Malkin moving to wing and doing so very seamlessly,
but he's still thirty nine. Nothing he's doing changes the
fact that he's thirty nine. I would bring him back
based on what's happened, but I would wait till the
(07:30):
end of the season to decide because I can't if
I'm the Penguins, and if they didn't bring him back,
I would understand that as well.
Speaker 2 (07:38):
You can't let your dressing room turn into a museum.
Speaker 1 (07:42):
I'd also like to talk about that basketball situation between
Silicily Academy and Jeanette. I think it was Whippyel two Wa,
a slickly academy, beat the Brakes off Genet in the final,
and swiftly adam Me is a bought and paid for
private school team. They brought in a bunch of ringers
(08:04):
that I don't know, some booster or alum or whatever
you know, paid to bring in. And that sucks. But
that's the way the whippule is. When you don't separate
public and private in terms of athletic competition at the
scholastic level, that's just the way it's going to be.
(08:25):
It's that way with Central Catholic and football too. They
recruit from everywhere. They absolutely have an unfair advantage, but
there's lessons to be learned in high school sports beyond
winning and losing. And I think the Jeanette players, well,
there was an altercation in the handshake line. I'm assuming
the Jeanette players triggered that, but I don't know for sure.
(08:47):
They lost, though, and then afterwards their kids complained about
how unfair it was, and so did the coach. I'm
not even sure the coach's name. I just know an
adult should be setting a better example then to echo
whining and sore loser behavior after you get beat, after
you get beat in a game. I don't know if
(09:10):
Jeannette was favored to beat Siwickley Academy per se, but
I do know they were the number one seed in
the tournament, so if it was an upset, it wasn't egregiously.
Speaker 2 (09:22):
So well, no, maybe it.
Speaker 1 (09:24):
I mean like when the number one seed gets beat,
it's an upset. So I don't think Jeanette covered itself
in glory with the way it behaved after losing. And
I covered high school sports for a long time, I've
seen a lot of tough losses. I've seen a lot
of situations where a private school had an unfair inch.
Speaker 2 (09:47):
Let's go to Richie in Tennessee.
Speaker 5 (09:48):
Richie he double n Would you bet the Pittsford Penguins
making the playoffs? And how much would you bet?
Speaker 1 (10:00):
I would bet that they'd make the playoffs. I'd bet
what's my upper echelon. I would bet I bet as
much as I bet on a game I really like.
I'd bet two grand on it.
Speaker 3 (10:11):
Oh nice, okay, I'll do that.
Speaker 5 (10:12):
I'll do five hundred.
Speaker 2 (10:14):
That's tough. That's because you have a lot less money
than me.
Speaker 3 (10:17):
Yes, of course.
Speaker 5 (10:19):
But I appreciate you talking about your mom passing because
I lost my mom to cancer.
Speaker 2 (10:25):
So oh, well, my condolences to that.
Speaker 1 (10:27):
Yeah, yesterday was my mom's birthday, and I.
Speaker 3 (10:29):
Oh, I'm sorry.
Speaker 5 (10:30):
I'm sorry to hear that.
Speaker 1 (10:31):
No, no, well, no, it's I celebrate her birthday. Thank you
for mentioning her and for the call. No, yesterday was
my mom's birthday. She would have been ninety one, which
she was never going to make and normal I not
too many people make ninety one. But aside from the
last three years when she had a really bad lung
illness not cancer, something called IPF, she had a really
good run. She enjoyed her life, and she did a
(10:54):
great job raising me and coaching speech and debate and
teaching at North Hills High School, where I am connected
to this day, having a scholarship fund in her name there.
In fact, I'll be going out to speak to the
kids there and solicit applications for her scholarship within a
couple of weeks. But yeah, I went on and visit
her grave yesterday out in aleg I shouldn't say where
(11:16):
it is, uh, somebody actually, one of my hecklers on
the fake Facebook page that somebody runs, not the guy
who runs it, but somebody posted a picture of her grave,
which I did not appreciate. But but then I went
to Monicello's on Babcock, where I used to take her
very many times. So no, I am sad on her birthday,
but it's more celebration.
Speaker 2 (11:36):
Let's go to Ryan. Ryan, you're on with double.
Speaker 6 (11:38):
M h mark.
Speaker 7 (11:41):
You gotta be thinking about the gensol for stamcos swap.
And if you were to tell me that they could
depends to dump Maulkin and get a ten million dollars
a year two way center and replacement, I sign up
for that.
Speaker 2 (11:52):
Well, you're not dump You're not dumping Maulkin. You're you're
just you know.
Speaker 8 (11:55):
Wow.
Speaker 1 (11:57):
Yeah, yeah, that's unfair to the Penguins to put it
in no terms though, I mean, nothing lasts forever, but yeah,
but I'm just saying there is precedent, and I know
Stamkost got a long term deal with Nashville, but he
was also thirty three. I think the situations are comparable,
and the one thing for sure is comparable is that
you wouldn't be letting Malkin go in a vacuum you
(12:18):
would getting you would get somebody to replace them, and
you would let kindall grow into his spot and you
just are moving forward. And that would be my complaint
if they do retain Malkin, even though I would do it,
is that they would not be moving forward. Let's go
to Matt in the South Hills. Matt your own double.
Speaker 6 (12:35):
M Hey Mark, how you doing?
Speaker 3 (12:38):
What up? Hey?
Speaker 9 (12:38):
Mark?
Speaker 6 (12:39):
Step from Malkin for sign next year. I'm absolutely wanting
to sign it because I think with Chinakov he is
just starting to share what Chinikov has in him, and
I think the relation that they're making on the ice
is really starting to show.
Speaker 1 (12:53):
What happens if Gino at forty starts to play worse,
what happens to Chinakoff. Then are you that convinced that
chinakov success is ignited by Gino? Or how much has
China coof rejuvenated Malkin.
Speaker 6 (13:06):
Well, I think it's a combination of both.
Speaker 3 (13:08):
I think it is too.
Speaker 1 (13:09):
But the point I'm making is, you know, given the
age disparity between the two, there has to be a
future for Chinacough beyond Malcott at some point.
Speaker 6 (13:19):
Yeah, And I'm just hoping maybe with you know, another
year with Gino that so mature enough that he'll start
taking over.
Speaker 1 (13:26):
He's no teenager, and he's taken over quite a bit now.
I think that he gonna be fine no matter who
he's on the line with. Moving forward, let's go to John. John,
you're on with Mark.
Speaker 2 (13:38):
Good day, I said, good day.
Speaker 10 (13:41):
I don't think that we should probably bring Malkin back.
I'm thinking another year older, he's just gonna get slower.
And then if he starts not producing as much as
he does this year, what do you do? You hurd
his feelings. I'm bumping down the line.
Speaker 1 (13:55):
Yeah, if they bring him back, I mean, you can't
bring him back just you know, by way of getting
him everything he wants in terms of playing time and
in terms of you know, power play everything. I mean,
but guys like that who have been that good that
long with the same team, as in Andrew mccutchin's case,
think they deserve more than they actually do. But they're
(14:16):
not to be blamed for that either, And I would
bring them back, but I I no matter how I
got a feeling, Geno's gonna be one of those guys.
But no matter how it ends, it won't be good.
Does that make sense? You see that absolutely, Thank you
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Casino bonus must be wagered gambling problem call one eight
hundred Gambler Up. Next're gonna talk Steelers off season and
NFLPA report card with Mike de Fabo of The Athletic
(15:49):
one oh five niney.
Speaker 10 (15:50):
X Every weekday at ten am is Travis starting your
workday commercial freight on one O five nine.
Speaker 11 (15:57):
Yeah, from the one oh five nine the X Weather.
Speaker 2 (16:01):
This report he is sponsored by Discover. We're looking at
partly cloudy skys tonight and now the super genius Mark
Madden Cream comes to the top. I feel like I'm
just bubbling over.
Speaker 9 (16:13):
You pants player on the air because I.
Speaker 2 (16:15):
Who told you the exit one oh five nine.
Speaker 1 (16:20):
Steelers did not grade out well according to their own
players on that NFLPA report card that got leaked. Joining
us now to talk a little black and gold football
from the Athletic Ke's Mike de Fabo. Mike, what is
the bottom line about the Steelers lossy report card? Is
it a bad organization or are the players with whiney
(16:41):
prima donnas.
Speaker 3 (16:44):
I think it can be both.
Speaker 12 (16:46):
Both things can be true at the same time. I mean,
if you give people an opportunity to complain, they're going
to complain. But in this instance, the biggest failing I guess,
I would say is the field, and I think that
the players have a legitimate an argument there where Miles
Killebrew his season ended and who knows for a guy
who was a glorified special teamer if it may have
(17:10):
ended his career and taken money.
Speaker 3 (17:11):
Out of his pocket.
Speaker 12 (17:13):
And Aaron Rodgers, the quarterback that they brought in, was
banging the drum and leading the charge when it came
to publicly bashing the field, and ultimately something had to
be done with it.
Speaker 3 (17:24):
And that's really where.
Speaker 12 (17:26):
The report card I think is valuable is in a
sense the Steelers were somewhat shamed into changing the field
surface and taking it more seriously, and now it's something
that they're going to do. But in other instances, you know,
with your remark that these guys are spoiled, I think
that something like the locker room to a degree, I
(17:46):
think that that's true. You know, they go to college
and when you're sixteen years old that before the prior generation,
before you could just simply hand player's fist full of money.
How are you going to impress a sixteen year old boy?
You're going to show him a big shiny locker with
an Xbox in it that cools your pads and you know,
all kinds of ridiculous things that you don't need to
(18:07):
play football.
Speaker 3 (18:08):
So I think that like.
Speaker 12 (18:09):
The locker room part of it, I don't know, I'm
less willing to see where the players are coming from
with some of that kind of stuff.
Speaker 1 (18:16):
Well, no, I totally agree about the field a little
less about the locker room, except for the five stalls
in the toilet. That's not nearly enough. But I just
I take all the grades with a grain of salt.
Beyond the field, and part of the problem is there
their grounds crew is somebody's nephew or somebody's kid and inherited,
and they don't care about the field. They care about
(18:37):
the buddy system when it comes to having the right
people maintain it. But I think mostly there was a
lot of popularity contest involved, because how does Tomlin get
an A but the defensive coordinator gets to see but
Tomlin really ran the defense. Again, that tells me it's
a popularity contest.
Speaker 3 (18:58):
Yep, popularity content.
Speaker 12 (19:00):
To your point, there, the GM grades, the vikings, GM
who got fired got an A. Okay, he did not
do an A job. Now, I'm not saying that Omar
Khan didn't deserve his C minus, but I'm just saying
that these are arbitrary things. And I could see a
situation where, you know, a player is frustrated that Omar
(19:24):
Khan isn't giving him more money, isn't given him the
extension that he wanted.
Speaker 3 (19:28):
And that's the reason that it contributes to.
Speaker 12 (19:29):
A grade like that for a general manager. So again,
people are seeing this ingrading things based on how it
affects them personally, Like if they didn't get the playing
time that they wanted, if they didn't get the you
know anything, you know, that's what's going to contribute to
the grade that they.
Speaker 1 (19:48):
Get, right, contract, whatever depth chart, it's a person it's
a popularity contest in guys voting also very personally, not
looking at great or good or a big picture, which
begs the question, Mike, if the organization's that bad, how
come none of the players ever want to leave? Was
that just Tomlin? And now will we see more turnover
moving forward?
Speaker 12 (20:10):
Well, you know, I think you know, in the end,
players aren't going to sign or not sign a contract
with a football team because they care about the grass
or they care about the locker room, or they care about,
you know, whether they have a daycare or not for
their family members. They're going to care about how much
(20:31):
money are you giving me, and what's the opportunity that
I think to advance my career into play. And I
think that that's the way the Steelers look at it
is they feel like, you know, the locker room has
never won or lost them a game, so in their eyes,
they don't think that they need to invest in it now. So,
you know, I think that that's how the Steelers probably
look at this situation.
Speaker 6 (20:51):
Uh.
Speaker 1 (20:51):
We're talking to Mike de Fable of the Athletic here
on the Mark Madden Show.
Speaker 2 (20:55):
Here's another one that amused me.
Speaker 1 (20:57):
Mike, the travel got an f what's specifically could have
been that bad about the travel?
Speaker 2 (21:02):
It's a charter flight with all first class seats.
Speaker 1 (21:05):
They weren't riding a bus or a train like a
major league Uh. Did the mimosas not get there in
a timely fashion?
Speaker 2 (21:13):
How bad could it have been?
Speaker 3 (21:17):
Yeah? I don't think that it was.
Speaker 12 (21:18):
I don't think it was that bad.
Speaker 3 (21:19):
I think that there.
Speaker 12 (21:21):
Are some teams that maybe travel in a luxurious way
and the Steelers maybe did not. I mean, I think
the one example that could have contributed to it is.
Speaker 3 (21:31):
When they went to Ireland.
Speaker 12 (21:33):
You know, it looked like some of the like the
other team, the Vikings traveled I don't know what airline,
and they were more premium seats. But the Steelers had
an agreement with aer Lingus. Aer Lingus was a sponsor
for them, and so I mean I flew aer Lingus
as well, and air Lingus was not as modern of
an airline, so something like that. But I agree with
(21:55):
you Mark where I think that these players to a
degree are used to being pamper and used to extravagance
and used to people giving them things, and they in
a lot of ways don't have a concept of how
things actually work when you're not an NFL football player,
that people are giving you the preferential treatment.
Speaker 3 (22:12):
I mean, there's there's famous stories.
Speaker 12 (22:13):
Of Antonio Brown, you know, in other guys getting massages
and chiropractic treatment and thinking that it was for free
thinking because that they were an athlete, they deserve some
kind of a free handout from this person, not that
this was a person conducting the business and who was
providing the service, expecting compensation and return I've heard. I've
(22:36):
heard stories like that as well, so you know, some
of it I agree with you, Mark is a players
being not having a firm grasp on how the world
works when you're not an NFL football player.
Speaker 1 (22:46):
Well, right, just entitlement ab was the king of that.
What is Aaron Rodgers go to commit if he is?
And are you getting kind of a wonky feeling about
how this ends?
Speaker 12 (22:58):
Well, you know, from what I've heard, it sounds like
the Steelers are pretty confident that the answer is gonna
come in the next few weeks. And I found it
interesting that that's been kind of the term that's been
thrown around. You know, I think ideally they really would
prefer it, and it makes a lot more sense to
get that answer in the next couple of days, not
the next couple of weeks, because the next couple of
(23:19):
days means you've gotten the answer before free agency.
Speaker 3 (23:23):
You.
Speaker 12 (23:23):
Number one, if you get Rogers, which they think they're
going to, then you end up making moves that support
that decision.
Speaker 3 (23:30):
Number Two, if you don't get Aaron.
Speaker 12 (23:32):
Rodgers, figure out what the heck you're going to do
at the quarterback position when there aren't a lot of options,
and so I think they're going to get that answer
right around free agency, and everybody that I've talked to,
from you know, players all the way up to main
decision makers seem to be under the assumption that Aaron
Rodgers is going to come here. But it's kind of
(23:52):
one of those situations where they feel like they are
still working with Aaron Rodgers and until they actually get
that signature on the dotted line, no one wants to
speak in certain terms.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
Did anything happen at the Combine that's of actual consequence
for the Steelers.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
You know, they.
Speaker 12 (24:14):
Interviewed I think the things you can take from the
Combine are they interviewed a boatload of wide receivers, and
they interviewed a ton of cornerbacks. They interviewed a lot
of defensive linemen. You know, they interviewed a fair number
and then then sprinkled in some offensive linemen. So I'm
not telling you anything that anyone who follows the Pittsburgh
(24:36):
Steelers doesn't know. They need a wide receiver, you know,
they need a corner opposite Jolly Porter Junior. They need,
you know, defensive linemen long term future to figure out
what life after cam Hayward is going to look like
and now, honestly, with this Broderick Jones injury, maybe they
need offensive.
Speaker 3 (24:53):
Linemen more than it initially appeared.
Speaker 12 (24:55):
And I think maybe that's the biggest thing that I
learned at the combine. You know, I know that he
had next surgery, but the Steelers had kind of downplayed
it initially and made it seem like, hey, this is
no big deal. Maybe he's going to come back by
the end of the season. They even called it a
stinger at first when they first described it. And now
it's like looking like there's no guarantee he's going to
(25:16):
be ready by training camp, and if he's not ready
by training camp, you might need to start thinking about
who your left tackle is week one of the football seasons.
So at first it seemed like the way the way.
Speaker 1 (25:28):
He played this year might I'd be worried about who
my left tackle is period.
Speaker 12 (25:33):
And that's a good point too, Mark, where it's not
like he's played like he was expected to as a
first round pick. So it's disappointing because he was supposed
to be the first piece of this turnover, of the
foundation of a team that was going to win on
the in the trenches with their offensive line. Now it's
looking in like, you know, that process has hit a
major roadblock, first because of performance, now because of injury.
Speaker 1 (25:54):
And maybe if they had put him a left tackle
from the get go instead of super serving veteran respected
Dan Moore, Joe your it might have worked out better too.
Speaker 12 (26:02):
Right, Yeah, And that to me, that speaks to being
a team that actually has a long term vision and
doesn't just try to play for the only year right.
Speaker 3 (26:10):
In front of you.
Speaker 12 (26:11):
You know, you should have taken a first round left
tackle and then we're playing him at left tackles. You know,
you can go kick rock stand more because this is
better for the long term future.
Speaker 3 (26:21):
Of the football team.
Speaker 12 (26:22):
Instead, they took an asset that you know, traded up
to acquire a broader Jones and completely stunted his development
and played him in a bizarre way. And that's what
those are the kind of things that have to change.
In a similar way of Roman Wilson, you know, last
year you shouldn't have been yeah, you were going to
have to work through and play through growing pains. You
(26:43):
should have done exactly that to this year he was
ready to contribute, or next year he's ready to contribute
and become a major part of the team. Instead, he's
now gone two years without playing, and who's that benefiting?
And I think those are the kind of things that
bringing back in Aaron Rodgers. You know, I could convince
myself that Aaron Rodgers is the best of bad decisions.
(27:04):
My problem with it is the ripple effect when you
bring in Markus about a scantling at the cost of
your young Roman Wilson playing time. You know, That's where
I think that the biggest sin is within bringing back
Aaron Rodgers is just the ripple effect of what the
subsequent decisions you make.
Speaker 1 (27:22):
Mike, I couldn't have put it better. That's one reason
of several why I would not bring back Aaron Rodgers.
And I got a feeling it will repeat itself. I
think they need to get like three or four receivers,
but then they might get him, and Rodgers wants his
washed up gang to get out there. Scotty Miller too,
just just I think he has too much control over
the depth chart upon arrival. And I think there will
(27:45):
be even more of that with Mike McCarthy than there
was with Mike Tomlin.
Speaker 12 (27:50):
Yep, absolutely, Mark, because Mike Tomlin did stand up to
Aaron Rodgers in those instances. Mike Tomlin was the boss
in that building.
Speaker 3 (27:59):
He had always though.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
I mean you look at who got on the field, Mike.
I mean you mentioned mvs Adam Thielen and Scotty Miller.
I mean, you know, I can't play any of them
ahead of Roman Wilson.
Speaker 2 (28:11):
I just can't.
Speaker 1 (28:11):
You know what I'm I'm reading in the developmental more
than they would.
Speaker 12 (28:15):
But still, yeah, no, there were cases. I guess what
I'm trying to say is tom when I think handled
Aaron and the way that he's going to want to
have his opinion heard better than I think a lot
of other coaches because it was Mike Tomlin who'd been
their nineteen seasons.
Speaker 3 (28:36):
Now it's the dynamic.
Speaker 12 (28:37):
I think it's flipped on its head where Aaron Rodgers
has been there longer than Mike McCarthy. And you know,
I think if Aaron Rodgers comes in, he's going to
have a considerable say in a lot of things that
happened with the Pittsburgh Steelers. And again, I think that
is another thing that concerns me about bringing him back
next year. But again I don't know what your alternative
(28:57):
is other than entering the Malik Willis sweep state, which
it doesn't seem like the Steelers are that interested in doing.
You know, I think this Ty Simpson situation, he would
be maybe your only quarterback you could consider in the
first round. But the way that I've heard things, you know,
he's only he only has fifteen college starts. The guys
who have fifteen college starts who have been drafting the
(29:19):
last ten years include Mitch Trubisky, Anthony Richardson, I mean
not necessarily uh In, Dwayne Haskins, Dwayne Haskins, Anthony Richardson,
and Mitch Trubisky not a great cast and support and
you know, to keep there. And so I think that
the playing time is going to signific The limited playing
(29:40):
time Black thereof is going to significantly factor into the Steelers'
evaluation of ty Simpson.
Speaker 1 (29:46):
Why do I have the feeling that, even though they
need a bunch of receivers, that they're not going to
draft the receiver twenty one and mic go defense instead.
It just seems like their way, doesn't it.
Speaker 12 (29:58):
You know, it's possible, and the only argument for that
would be that this wide receiver class is incredibly deep,
and so if you.
Speaker 2 (30:07):
Were going to but they need more than one MIC they.
Speaker 12 (30:12):
Need Yeah, they've only got one. They've got DK metcalfite
a couple questions.
Speaker 1 (30:16):
He's really a number two. I don't care what his
salary says. I know what his stats say. I saw
him play. He's a number two, no better.
Speaker 12 (30:25):
Yeah, I would like to see the Steelers go for
wide receiver. I've projected it a couple of times in
these mock drafts, and really the question is it seems
like there's three guys at the top that people think
are like the three clear best guys, and there's a
little bit of a drop off. And so if you're
going wide receiver, do you make that aggressive to move
up and get one of the top three or do
you sit there at twenty one and get that next.
Speaker 3 (30:46):
Round of guys.
Speaker 12 (30:48):
But either way, there's probably you know, I could see six,
five or six wide receivers going in the first round,
and I think the Steelers should be entertaining the idea
of making that their first round pick, one way or another.
Speaker 2 (31:00):
Mike has always great stuff. I appreciate the input.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Enjoy an off season that really doesn't exist, and we'll
talk soon.
Speaker 3 (31:06):
I hope sounds good. Mark, I appreciate you having me.
Speaker 1 (31:10):
That's Mike de Fabo. Check out his great work at
the Athletic. Now it's time to ask Mark Anything. Dial
now and ask Mark Anything. Eight three three four one
two w xdx. That's a three three four one two wxdx.
Or leave a talkback by using the microphone icon at
the iHeartMedia app one oh five ninety X.
Speaker 11 (31:29):
Time now to send in your questions for Ask Mark Anything.
Use the talkback Mike on your free ieart radio app
and record your question for the super genius.
Speaker 2 (31:41):
It's The Woody Show weekday mornings at six. Of course
you dingus one five nine.
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I'm an asked mark anything eight three three four one
two WXDX.
Speaker 2 (33:00):
You're hearing Journey. They play at PPG Paint Arena tonight.
Speaker 1 (33:05):
I am going I like Journey, but they're like to me,
I only want to hear their hits like I want
to hear Don't Stop Believing, which you heard a bit
of right there. That's their most recognizable song, Wheeling the
sky Stone and Love. I love the Greg Rawley songs
(33:25):
from when they initially broke through, like just the same
way and feeling that way, but they don't play him
because he's not in the band no more and hasn't
been literally for what forty years or so, So I
get it. But those were great songs, Annie Hoodles, Dial
eight three, three, four one two WXTX and ask Mark anything?
(33:48):
Should Malkin be re signed for another year? And is
Eric Carlson the Penguins MVP at this point? I think
you can certainly make that argument, with all due respect
to Sidney Crosby. Also, what was your take on SNL
if you saw it Saturday night with the US brothers
in Megan Keller and Hillary Knight, all US hockey Olympic
(34:12):
gold medalists on the program, along with the star of
the Gay Hockey Show, Connor's Story. I thought it was
a great show, and I thought it was great when
all four of the Olympic gold medal hockey players were
out there, and I think they hit just the right
note that there's no problem between the two teams, and
all the nonsense that was created doesn't count. That day
(34:34):
cont and the reception they got from the people on
Saturday and in the arenas they played in since that matters.
That is what counts, and we got a war to
distract us now, So forget about hockey.
Speaker 2 (34:48):
Leave hockey alone. Let's go to Doug and McCandless. Doug
your own with double M.
Speaker 9 (34:54):
Hey, Mark, I've been listening to you for years, but
my fifteen year old daughter's been in the car the
last couple of weeks as I take her back and
forth to tennis, and she thinks you're mean to her
call to your callers. What should I tell her?
Speaker 2 (35:08):
Uh, well, you've listened to me for how long.
Speaker 3 (35:12):
Years? Well?
Speaker 2 (35:13):
Why do you think I mean to my callers?
Speaker 9 (35:17):
I don't think you're mean. This is my fifteen year
old daughter asking, well, I.
Speaker 2 (35:21):
Mean, let me, let me just cut right to the chase.
Speaker 1 (35:24):
If she's going to be any good at tennis, she
clearly has to develop more of a killer instinct than
less of a thin skin.
Speaker 9 (35:31):
She likes that answer. She's smiling.
Speaker 2 (35:33):
I can tell you for sure that Billy Jean King
would like this show.
Speaker 1 (35:38):
I can tell you for sure that Chris Everett, e
von Goolagong, they would like this show because they were tough.
Speaker 2 (35:43):
That's what made them great.
Speaker 9 (35:46):
Excellent, Mark, I appreciate the feedback.
Speaker 3 (35:48):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (35:50):
Let's go to Cosmo and the Sasai Cosmo. You're on
double m.
Speaker 3 (35:55):
What I mean?
Speaker 2 (35:56):
What I mean?
Speaker 7 (35:58):
Yeah, so I think that we should bring in a
right winger and uh, do you think there's any chance
that we could bring in Yam or Yager?
Speaker 1 (36:05):
Okay, now you thought you'd be funny, right and you
just aren't. So do we want to cut it short there?
Or do you want to keep making an ass of yourself?
Speaker 3 (36:12):
No, it would be a great retirement sendoff.
Speaker 2 (36:15):
And he see you took you took option B. Continue
to be an ass. Thank you. Let's go to Mike
in Lawrenceville. Mike ask Mark anything?
Speaker 14 (36:24):
Hey, Mark, thanks for taking my call. I had just
had a quick que comment about the shootouts, and I'm
not too worried about them losing the shootouts because I'm
just thinking in the playoffs, they're not going to have
a shootout.
Speaker 1 (36:36):
Well, I know that normal they have three on three overtime,
but you got to get to the playoffs or right
now they're one and eight shootouts and while they're you know,
sitting okay in a playoff spot, they still are far
from comfortable.
Speaker 2 (36:51):
So so I mean, look at I'd bring in a shootout.
Speaker 1 (36:54):
The one reason I'd bringing a shootout guy if one
were available, and I can't even suggest to who it
should be looking at the list of the top converters
in the shootout this year, because most of them are
Star forwards and therefore unavailable at least at a reasonable price.
So so, But but if they missed the playoffs, it'll
be because of lack of success in the shootouts as
(37:17):
not not a primary reason, but well yeah, maybe a
primary reason.
Speaker 2 (37:21):
And certainly definitely a reason. Mark, thank you. Let's go
to John in the car. John, Askmark anything?
Speaker 3 (37:29):
Hey, Mark, do you agree with you?
Speaker 6 (37:30):
Steve Perry is the real voice of Journey and there'll
be no equal to him.
Speaker 1 (37:35):
I think that I think that Eryl Pinata probably sounds
better now than Steve Perry does, and since I'm going
to see the show tonight, I would rather see Pineda.
Speaker 7 (37:45):
I respectfully disagree.
Speaker 2 (37:47):
Well, you're wrong. Have you ever heard Steve Perry sing lately?
For one thing?
Speaker 1 (37:50):
He barely does, which tells you tail And I don't
think he should have to be in Journey if he
doesn't want, and I enjoy seeing.
Speaker 2 (37:57):
Him if he was.
Speaker 1 (37:57):
But I think you're disrespecting a guy who has done
a great job as the voice of Journey.
Speaker 2 (38:04):
He's a third line winger compared to the feria in
the hall. Are you going tonight?
Speaker 3 (38:09):
Yes?
Speaker 8 (38:09):
I am.
Speaker 1 (38:10):
Well, then seriously, if you're going tonight you think he's
a third line winger, that makes you like the biggest
asshat that's called this show today. And imagine what kind
of ground take is taken in there, you idiot. Seriously,
you're calling a guy third line winger. How much did
you pay for the ticket?
Speaker 2 (38:25):
Idiot? Let's go to Kennan Beaver, Connie Ken ask Mark.
Speaker 7 (38:29):
Anything, well, mister Madden switching back to hockey a Gulf
tenant question. The young guy at Wilkesbury Murdershoff. Is he
ready to come up before the trade headline?
Speaker 1 (38:40):
Well, I think if you traded Stuart Skinner to get
like a third line center and bring morishoff up, yes,
I think he's ready. It would be a risk, but
an educated one, and I think his upside higher than Skinner.
Speaker 2 (38:52):
So yeah, I think he's ready.
Speaker 1 (38:53):
He's totally dominated the AHL. If he's not ready, he's sure,
we're doing a great job fooling everybody.
Speaker 7 (39:00):
I think he's obviously the future. The problem is if
they can't trade one of.
Speaker 2 (39:04):
The guys I got here.
Speaker 7 (39:05):
Now they might just have to write it out the
next season.
Speaker 1 (39:08):
Oh no, if they don't trade Stuart Skinner, Morishoff will
finish the year in Wilkes. Yeah, barring injury, let's go
to the Egyptian Magician. Hell, all my friends.
Speaker 8 (39:19):
Hey, Mark, I didn't know it was asthma. So I
guess I'm gonna say something. You say, you're right or wrong.
I really think it's a good job that the general
manager has done, put the pieces together.
Speaker 1 (39:33):
And yeah, he's done a brilliant job. I knew he
would and I trust his vision implicitly.
Speaker 8 (39:41):
Yeah, And I thought as a coach, he has done
something excellent. And what I really like about this Penguins
is the fact that these first of all, they go
four lines that they each had, every one of them.
They come to battle and they do and they take
care of each other to have each other's back. And
(40:02):
I did not really like that Kolt to let him go,
but I know why they did it. But we are
running against time for our three stars.
Speaker 2 (40:13):
Okay, yeah, you can't. You can't. You can't do the
timetable based on them.
Speaker 3 (40:20):
You can't.
Speaker 1 (40:21):
They've done great. They have three Cups. Nobody appreciates what
they've done more than me. This isn't about making sure
they get last one last kick at the can. It's
about building organically to a championship level team, no matter
when that comes through. If it comes through with them
still here, I'd have no problem with that. But but
you can't base it on that. You can't rush this
(40:43):
the process, rush the process because of them.
Speaker 8 (40:47):
So I hit fifty.
Speaker 2 (40:49):
Not bad. Let's go to a talk back.
Speaker 12 (40:53):
Super genius Eric and Toledo.
Speaker 14 (40:55):
Hey, besides having absolutely no personality whatsoever and never showing
him motion, what made Mike Johnston such a god awful coach?
Speaker 1 (41:05):
He just wasn't ready for this level. He was a junior,
a coach where he should have stayed. I think that's
where he is now. I think he did some Ahl
stuff too, but just wasn't ready, not least because the
Penguins were so packed with stars. Although they started off
very well with him as coach, and then the players
just kind of turned on him.
Speaker 2 (41:22):
Let's go to Eric, Eric, what's up?
Speaker 15 (41:26):
Hey, Mark, big fan? I'm also a big fan of Arsenal,
and I know you're an intelligent fan of a rival team.
Speaker 7 (41:33):
Just wondering what your thoughts are of them.
Speaker 15 (41:35):
Are they legit? Are they pretenders?
Speaker 1 (41:38):
And they're they're they're legit and they should win the
league that have to blow it, which they've certainly done before.
But I mean all they do is score off set
pieces and corners. They're not an entertaining team to watch.
They're not as creative as their talent dictates. If they win, Hey,
any way you want it, that's the way you need it,
to quote Journey, but but I'm not impressed by the
(41:58):
way they play football.
Speaker 15 (41:59):
If that, if that resonates, And since you also watched
Liverpool win with Covid limming, is there any coincidence that
our stol might win a serious trophy and World War
three is also potentially gonna happen at the same time.
Speaker 1 (42:15):
Yeah, I don't know about World War three, and I
care more about the English Premier League than I do that.
You know, we're always involved in some conflict of the other.
I don't mean to to tread lightly upon it bit
or make or crack wise, but I mean, you know,
I'm sixty five of I mean, if I gave myself
headaches over stuff like that, it always have a headache
(42:38):
so I think when you win, you win, and the
backdrop doesn't matter.
Speaker 2 (42:41):
Let's go to a talkback. Hey, double M just finished
a book about Jim Thorpe.
Speaker 3 (42:46):
Is he the greatest athlete?
Speaker 2 (42:48):
Or is that something that can't be defined. It's tough
to define.
Speaker 1 (42:57):
I might go with Jesse Owens with all the gold
medals at the Nazi Olympics, not only proving his athleticism,
but in a hostile environment, just a really tension pack situation.
Speaker 2 (43:10):
I don't know. I think it's tough to define best athlete.
You know, I would? I mean, what about what about
John Cena?
Speaker 1 (43:21):
Okay, get more calls in eight three I'm kidding eight
three three four one two.
Speaker 2 (43:25):
Just he was the first wrestler that came to mind.
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