December 17, 2025 • 34 mins
You hear him daily 3-7 w/ Fain & Jackson, but Softy drops by to discuss his thoughts on the NBA looking to announce expansion in 2026, how big is this Rams vs. Seahawks game, and much more. Mike Benton drops by for his weekly hit. The Kraken have no lost 9 of their last 10, so how can it be fixed, plus MJ wraps the hour w/ a bonus pick!
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Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Did you do you have a glimmer of hope or
do you just feel like a lot of people where
it's oh, same old, same old rhetoric.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well, first of all, thanks for having me on. How
are you?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
By the way, happy, happy hona go to you and
your family.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, I feel like I'm starting to become like the
like I am to you Jetfishes, to the Michigan Wolverines.
People say, no, you call me okay, So I know
where I stand. I know where I stand on this thing.
I'm as my buddy Rico Beard said yesterday of Jetfish,
(00:39):
I am the backup prom date on this radio program.
You must have had three or four people canceled before
you decided late last night in a panic to text
me and beg me to come on the radio show
to fill in at eleven o'clock because nineteen people said
to take a hike, and so you called me. So
I will always be there for you. Number one and
(01:01):
number two. To answer your question about the article that
came out last night, I mean, look, I get why
people are disgusted by this entire process. Mark, I mean,
it's been eighteen years, for God's sakes, since this whole
thing fell apart. You know, people have you know, lived
and died, They've had kids, born, graduate high school. How
many fathers mothers were robbed of not being able to
(01:26):
go watch the NBA with their sons and daughters because
they have not been here for twenty years. So I
get it. I get why people are angry. I get
why people are disgusted, and I get why people would say,
wake me up when the league is ready to come
back and play in Seattle. But this feels like the
most definitive timeline right that Adam Silver has put on
(01:47):
this thing since he took over his commissioner. So I'm
looking forward to it. I'm frustrated, like everybody else at
how long it's taken to make it happen. I mean,
you got to remember, man, you know you weren't here
in two thousand eleven twenty twelve when Chris Hansen basically
agreed to buy the Kings from the Malouf brothers. This
is four three, four years later after they had left,
(02:10):
and then here we are waiting another twelve years or
so whatever, thirteen since then now we still don't have
him back. So I get the frustration, But I'm I
am ready and I have a pile of cash standing
by to spend on tickets the minute they come home.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Oh man, truer words ever said, I was actually going
to surprise you today.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I was trying and know you weren't the last man.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
I was trying to get you and Chris Daniels on simultaneously,
and I was going to leave the studio.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, that would have been more of a surprise for
Chris than it wouldn't for me to realize how low
his career has fallen, that he's now sharing a radio
station with softee and there's no professional like Mark standing
by to host the damn thing. So from Chris's perspective,
I appreciate the fact that he didn't do that to him.
(02:59):
That would have been for you. Dave.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
This is a tough question, Dave, softy moler here. I
don't need to, you know, basically reset, but I'll do
it anyway. I know you talked about and I loved
your emotion and I was I was literally in the
dentist chair the day after the Mariners lost Game seven
of the ALCS and I had my like, my my
pods in my ears and and they're like, I'm like,
(03:23):
is it okay, and I'm literally getting my mouth torn,
and I wanted to hear your emotion and it was
so real and so authentic, and I felt it. I mean,
I wasn't here, but I got caught up in that
run and I could feel your pain, and I think it.
You really did such an amazing job to illustrate. That's
one of the things I always admire the most about KJR.
We're not the press box. We're the station for the fans.
(03:44):
We're the station for the listening audience. And you you
you articulate that so well.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
But Dave, if the devil came to you tomorrow and said,
I'm gonna have to keep the streak of the Mariners
never going to the World Series, but I can promise
you within by the latest October twenty twenty eight, the
Sonics will be back in Seattle. Which one would you take?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Oh God, I mean, I first of all, I hate
these questions because there's no there's no answer, obviously. Well,
I mean, either way, either way, something's going to suck. Right. Yes, Hey,
Sonics don't come back or be the Mariners never make
the World Series. So I mean, look, as much as
I just completely desire a World Series title. I think
(04:29):
anytime you could add a franchise over a championship run,
you take the franchise because you're now being given multiple opportunities,
you know, another opportunity at a title and a bite
at the apple. So I'd probably say give me my
basketball team back, But that that doesn't speak at all
(04:49):
to my lack of interest or lack of a desire
to win or to make a World Series. I mean,
right now, it's you know, number one a on my plate,
besides getting the Sonics back in town, and when you're
living in it, it's number one right right in the
middle of October and late in late October or in November,
when you're watching the World Series and Miguel Rojas and
(05:10):
all those amazing moments, it's it's it's it's number one
during that time frame. So I don't know, man, those
those questions Franklin are dumb on my show because I'm
stupid too. It We we need both. This city needs both.
This town needs both. There's no fan base in sports
(05:31):
so that has paid their dues longer and reacted better than
Mariner Baseball fames. And what I mean by that is
there's a lot of places out there, like you ever
watched like an Atlanta Hawk game by the way, and
there's like people, Yeah, yeah, ridiculous, just ridiculous. I mean, look,
we've had years where in game be where the Mariners
(05:51):
have not had great crowds. But the fact that the
Mariners are consistently at least at least mark mediocre in attendance,
it is amazing considering the context of where this franchise
has been for the last fifty years. Man, So I
don't know, screw you with your stupid ass question. Yeah,
I help me on this show to answer the dumb ones. No,
(06:13):
they're both something I want very badly. I got think
I want worse than the Sonics or the Mariners is
for this segment to end.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
All right, Well, I'm not done with it yet. I
know I'm not talking.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Hey, I want everybody out there to know how much
Dave Softy Maler is KJR. And And when you said
to me, I knew you were here for a long time,
and I know Tom Lee, the former boss here for
a while. I remember you did a funny segment in
time with Dick and you talked about how Tom Lee
thought it would be a good idea to make kJ
R the home of the Raiders, and that was really stupid.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
You you would you and Dick made fun.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Of that, and then and then Dick said, well, last
he hired both of us, and you go another stupid move.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
That was a good one, I remember. But Dave, here's
the thing.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
We used to have a big like mobile studio called
the road Hog. It was basically an RV that was converted.
The bedroom in the back of the RV was converted
into a studio and so we would take it on
the road, we go to remotes and promotions and Sonic
games and park it outside the Kingdome and outside the
coliseum for Sonic games. And when we got the Raiders,
(07:20):
Tom Lee said, Hey, not only are we going to
carry the Raiders, but we're gonna put the Raider logo
on the sports talk. Oh so the sports Hog is
driving around town with the old nine fifty am kJ
R logo with the flag on it, the Sonic logo
and the freaking Raiders logo. I mean, what the hell
is that? And you know what, actually, back in the day,
(07:41):
it kind of made sense because there was no Twitter
for people to rip us a new a hole for
doing it. So it kind of makes sense now would
be suicidal.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Yeah, my lord, you said something to me. You said
when I had a credential to the ninety six finals,
My executive producer, Christopher Kidd was like four years old
when the ninety six Finals happened. What was that like
for you covering that team?
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Well, first of all, I'm shocked the kid was that
old at number one. I always thought kid was like eleven,
So I'm Stundy was even born then in ninety six.
But you know, I mean going on the road with
Sonic fans to Chicago, the Windy City, hanging out on
Rush Street, doing radio shows on Rush Street, doing radio
shows from the United Center. And it's funny you brought
(08:27):
that up, man, because I remember, actually, and this is
this is very relevant because of the arena situation we've
gotten now, and because you mentioned the Sonics not being here.
I remember Key Arena opened up in ninety five, and
I remember walking into the United Center for the ninety
six Finals the next June, thinking, this place looks nothing
(08:48):
like Key Arena, Like, this place looks ten times better
than Key Arena. This place looks like it could hold hockey,
and it did. Blackhawks played there. Obviously, it looks bigger,
it looks more progressive, it looks like they were it
was built with more foresight than Key Arena was. And
I remember walking in there and then walking into the
Rose Garden even down in Portland, thinking, man, these these
(09:10):
arenas blow our arena out of the way. And now
here we are eighteen years later, and because they did
not build Key Arena the right way, we lost our
basketball team and we're still waiting for him to come back.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
That's unbelievable. That's an amazing story in so many ways. Well,
who would have thought that, Yeah, you're right, and you're
absolutely right, Softy here joining us.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
That's just ridiculous, right, Like the things that you think
are impossible in sports, Like what if I were to
come to you the day that USC lost to Reggie
Busch excuse me, Vince Young in Texas and the Rose Ball,
and I would have told you that night, hey, Mark,
to see you know in eight years from now, Pete
Carroll's gonna win a Lombardi Trophy in Seattle as the
(09:51):
coach of the Seahawks. What if I were to come
to you the night after Game five when the Sonics
closed the gap to three to two against Michael Jordan
and they're going out to Chicago for Game six if
I want to come to you that night and said, hey, Mark,
just cno, in twelve years, this basketball team is playing
in Oklahoma City. Okay, I mean, but you never know,
(10:12):
like what's next. What's the craziest thing you can think
of that nobody would believe it's going to happen, But
it's gonna happen in the next ten years.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
That's so true. You're so right.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I mean, yeah, your truer words never spoken. Man, it
really isn't. But hey, let's not ignore let's not bury
the lead here tomorrow night, Dave. I mean, jesus, wow,
you got two teams not only eleven and three argue
in most power rankings, for what that's worth, are ranked
one and two in the league. Softy, these two teams
(10:45):
have the best records in the NFL against the spread,
they're both ten and four.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
That tells you how great they are. Good teams win,
great teams cover.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
So tomorrow night's game, put it in perspective and what
this means to finally beat Matthew Stafford as a.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Yes, Well, here's the thing I think personally, myself. When
we talk about games like this, I think like you
turn on the radio, or you flip on TV, or
you go to Twitter, and some fifteen year old who
was gifted a computer by his mommy and daddy for
Christmas and has the PFF log in and can watch
Kate from NFL dot com is sitting there telling you, well,
(11:23):
you know, when the Seahawks go twelve personnel against the
rams Nickel defense, that's really going to be a big factory.
A shut up. You know what the big factor is
tomorrow night, Sam Darnold, hanging onto the damn football. That's
the fact that because you're very good at giving away
the ball and the Rams are very good at taking
away the ball. And this is a football team that
(11:44):
went down to La a month ago and had four
interceptions yet with a sixty one yard field goal away
from beating the Rams. So how about we freaking start
with the most simple of explanations and put the onus
on the highest paid player, he's making thirty five million
dollars a year, and tell him, gone to the freaking
ball tomorrow, Sammy. If you do that, this football team's
(12:07):
got a tremendous shot to win and probably will win period.
End the story. We can we can stop the discussion.
That's what it's all about.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
And if they do this, Softy, do you think that
that carryover effect into Carolina on the road in Charlotte
the next weekend and then of course closing out the
year at the sight of Super Bowl sixty in Santa
Clara against Frisco, do you think at that point you're
taking to me, I look at this way. Tomorrow Night's
is the NFC West Championship game. That's how I look
(12:37):
at it.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Nd percent And it's obviously way more important for the
Hawks than it is for the Rams. I mean, the
Hawks lose this, than they're done. They're not going to
win the division. The Rams win it, it's over. The
Rams lose it, they still have a shot, obviously, But
this is way more important for the Seahawks percentage wise
than it is the Rams, and it should be that way.
I mean, look, when you play a team like the
Rams twice a year, you're probably yourself the most likely outcomes.
(13:01):
We're gonna split, you're gonna lose down there, you're gonna
win up here. Period, So win win here. I mean
you get a whole game like this in front of
sixty eight thousand people on a Thursday night on a
short week. The weather is gonna be blown. When the
rain's gonna be falling, the win's gonna be holling. Not
exactly great passing weather for Matt Stafford and Pukintua and
Devontae Adams if he even plays tomorrow, by the way.
(13:22):
So I think that this is absolutely a game the
Seahawks have to win if they've got any shot of
winning the NFC West. They do worry a little bit
about a letdown against Carolina, but I will say this,
Mike McDonald since he's been here, hasn't really shown that
as the head coach of the Seahawks, and the three
games they've lost have all been tight, and they've all
been to really good teams in San Francisco, Tampa Bay
(13:43):
and the Rams. So the idea of the Seahawks mark
going on the road and kicking one against an inferior
team like Carolina, who's pretty good but not an elite
team fighting to stretch of the imagination. I think it's
something in the back of your head, but it's not
keeping me up at night at all.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Do you feel that this is the first time since
that legion of boom era and you know, kind of
sort of some synergy tomorrow night, as Richard Sherman will
be in the house with Prime. Do you feel, Dave,
that this truly not like in twenty nineteen when the
division was on the line the final regular season game
of the year against Jimmy Garoppolo and San Francisco. Do
you truly feel that Hawks win tomorrow night not only
(14:20):
on the precipice of prominence, but this is something that
is this could be the new era that we could
just see that this team could go on a run
for the next five years.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Well it's the twenty twelve Seahawks, but potentially with a
chance to do even more. I mean, this is this
is the year where you're supposed to take a big step,
compete per a championship and fall short like that twenty
twelve team did when they lost to Atlanta. So you
win this thing and you're talking about home field advantage
all the way throughout the playoffs, and you're talking about
(14:51):
maybe winning a Lombardi or making a Super Bowl right now.
And look, I mean I said that last week and
I'll say it again that I think up until we're
proven wrong and proven otherwise, that that's what Seahawks fans
should be talking about. Seahawks fans, because of the parody
in the NFL, especially in the in the NFC, should
be talking about making a Super Bowl and winning another
(15:11):
Lombardi today. I mean, like you said, they got the
second or third best odds at every Horch book in
the world to win the NFC right now, behind the Rams.
They'll be number one tomorrow if they win the game.
So absolutely, they're ahead of the curve that you know,
Mike McDonald is ahead of where Pete Carroll was for
sure in year number two when they were seven and nine,
(15:32):
and they're cutting everybody and they got you know, Tavaris
Jackson at quarterback. I mean, they are way ahead of
where they were in twenty twelve. So I love where
they're at. I love the job that John Schneider's done.
He's a freaking miracle worker. He dumps Pete Carroll at
the exact right time, he dumps Geno Smith at the
exact right time. That's after dumping Russell Wilson at the
(15:53):
exact right time. This guy's timing mark on the moves
he's made at the most important positions in football, head
and quarterbacks have been unbelievable. He's got to be the
executive of the year. He'll never win it because the
Hawks were never four and thirteen, but he's got to
be the executive of the year.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
My mind, Hey from Afar, For since he was here
in Seattle, I always looked at wherever Mark I was at.
Why can't you know, Marty Hernie be like John Schneider.
Why can't Thomas Demetrov be like John Schneider? Why can't
Bill Belichick be like John Schneider? And here I am.
(16:29):
I'm here and I get to appreciate it. Of course,
Oh you you omitted one, softy. How about turning a
second round pick from DK metcalf in that trade into
NICKI min Warri.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
No I could, I could. I could admit a lot.
I mean, you know, how about how about DeMarcus Lawrence.
How about going out for him, saying goodbye and jumping
off the sinking ship of Dodson and Baker at linebacker
A year ago, when a lot of general managersers would
have said, no, I'm gonna give these guys more time.
I signed them. I made the move for them. I
want to bring them in and give him a show
to prove or not prove, what they are. John Schnyder said,
(17:02):
the hell of that. Guys were here for two months
and he said, I've seen enough. That's it. I'm pulling
the plug. I'm gonna go trade for Ernest Jones. I mean,
and that's kind of where everything started last year. So
I think, you know, there's too many executives in sports
mark that let their egos get in the way. You know,
they want to be proven right, they want to have
their moves be proven right. And for John Schneider to
(17:24):
be comfortable enough in his skin to yank those guys
off his football team after he made them, along with
Mac obviously starting linebackers, and to admit a failure and
to correct it right away is the biggest reason why
John Schneider is John Schneider, because he's all about the
football team and not his own stupid sensitivities and his
(17:48):
own ego and making himself look good. If he's made
a bad move, he's gonna correct it and not wait
a second longer. And last year the movement linebacker was
proof positive of that.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
No doubt got to get the running game established Tomorrow
night early and often they ran for one hundred and
thirty five yards in the first game, so hopefully you
know they can get that going tomorrow night. I mean
it's gonna be epic. I mean, this is this is it.
I mean, this is if you're gonna do if there's
a super Bowl in the regular season tomorrow night for
the NFL, you got it on Thursday Night football.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
This is this is Dolphins Bears Monday Night football. Eh
my crow, wow over that game.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I was eleven years old and I was upstairs watching
out of my parents black and white TV while they
were downstairs watching the Waltons or Little House on the
Prairie or whatever.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
The Hill Street Blues, Hill Street Blues.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
But this is this is, this is that game for
this generation. Man, It's the biggest game since twenty thirteen. Wow. Three,
for the first time since twenty thirteen. They got the
best defense since twenty thirteen. I cannot wait for tomorrow night.
You go to venue kings dot com tickets for two
hundred and fifty bucks to get in a freaking or
(19:00):
Tomorrow night. It's gonna be crazy.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Cannot wait.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
And by the way, Hey, a kid, we gotta think
softy because today, because of softy taco, time is in
the house.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
So thank you to Taco to give a damn about heyl.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
I told the AE Matt, I say, just make sure
there's plenty of hot sauce.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
You know, kid, you need to have a sandwich or
a burger or a chicken soft taco. I'm a little
concerned about you, man, I mean, you got to put
some weight on, buddy. You're like you're like the EP
of producers. I can see you coming.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Up before I let you go. Let me give you.
Let me give you one little thing.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Dick Vane, Dick Vane over under vacation days a year,
one hundred and thirty six.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
I'll take the over.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yeah, you know. See, I don't know, I know what
you're doing. I don't like it. Right, I'm on, I'm
on good terms, but I love we're having a good time.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I fail.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Everybody's getting at and I don't appreciate you driving a
wedge between us. Okay, I'm just stating.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I'm just stitting something.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
I love to take as much vacation as you want
down then we can rip him when he takes vacation.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
There we go. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
By the way, kid, I almost was gonna say I
love his first name, and I just said I love
Fame because I knew you would grab it if I
just said his first name, I love Faine.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
His name is Dick. I love Dick. I don't mind
saying that. Dick.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Yeah, I love Dick Fane. Yep, we did too, all right, Softy,
we appreciate the time. We'll see you soon. Taco time
coming in the house.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, I'll be in the studio in thirty seconds. By
the way, I'll see it.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Oh, all right, there he is.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
He's easier, Softy, Dave Maller, good stuff there, Uh, Dick,
it's all in good fun. If I didn't bust your job,
I didn't bust your chops and your balls, that means
I don't like you, okay, right, so you know it's
it's all in good love. And I will say something
about Dick Fane. He takes his uh sports gambling analysis
(20:56):
very seriously and I appreciate that. And least and I
when we had that tag team challenge versus Softy and Dick,
that Dick win five and oh man, Dick was undefeated.
So but Lee and I were just a little bit
better the pros versus the Joes. All right, Coming up
next Mike Benton from mister Kraken. We will talk to
(21:19):
him next about that. It's a huge game obviously tomorrow
night for the Hawks. This is mjy and the Midday
Christopher kid Mike ben coming up next. They are averaging
one point eight goals per game. That will never win
you games in the NHL. And I have to say
I again, I will sit here and I will be
a staunch defender of Lane Lambert. This is not Lane
(21:43):
Lambert's fault again, and I will mention this.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
And I don't want to sound like a broken record here, Mike.
And I'm not mad at you. I'm not seeing that you.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
I go down to NHL points leaders and the highest
rank points leader for the Seattle Kraken, I have to
go all the way down to being tied for one
hundred and twenty six Jordan Eberley, and that's just not
how you're going to win games. Meanwhile, you've got a
nineteen year old kid named Macklin Celebrini who's got fifty
(22:15):
one points in eighteen.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Goals and thirty four games.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
So before we get to that guy that wonder Kin
in Prodigy.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
I mean, what's going on with it? One point eight
goals per game, Mike. You can't win if you can't score.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
I feel like a broken record talking about this every week,
but I mean facts for facts, MJ. I mean we
get to the injury thing. We dissected this, we have
chopped it up over and over and over, and I
think based on how the team is built, they're they're
gonna win more three two two one games. And when
you take away Jaden Schwartz and Jordan every already out
of a team who is trying to fin its way
(22:57):
and struggling here to score. That's seventeen percent of your
eye right there alone with two players who are out
of the lineup. Then we get to I think where
you're trying to hit at here with the drafts and
your draft picks, because again, free agency is a thing
where you can say, hey, let's just solve this right now,
go after a free agent. Well, not as easy as
compared to MLB and the NBA trademarket. It's it's so
(23:20):
fluctuating here. So where do you have to hit It's
a course on your draft picks. And and there's still
a waiting game. There is still a process game going
on right now with Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, Jack O'Brien,
Berkeley Catton as well. Caton's also out hurt. But this
is this is tough to go through because you know,
when you're trying to win this way and you lose
bodies out of the lineup like they are with injuries,
(23:43):
that just that really really takes a big toll on
your roster.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
It does.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
I get it, And it's got to be frustrating for
a guy in his first season who's you know, it's
the third coaching change in five years, the last five
years for the Kraken. But for Lane Lambert, I can
understand his frustration like I do. I don't care if
you put Scotty Bowman out there in his prime, it
doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Glenn Sather in the eighties.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
You need to get Glenn Sather was only great Mike
Benton because he had MESSI, a Curry coffee, a Grant
Fewer an oh the great one.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Ninety nine, Wayne Gretzky. You got to have the guys
on the ice to be able to You need those
horses up front. So what do you do.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Jason Moderol in a tough position right now, just took
over for Ron Francis, says the GM, how do you
fix this in season?
Speaker 4 (24:37):
The end season part of this mj as I think
the obvious answer for anyone trying to make quick upgrades,
and that's by trade. The problem is how much are
you willing to give up? And then one are those
names going to be available? And I think the first
place I will look at and where a lot of
the conversation goes, is do you go out to a
guy like Tay Thompson? Because Buffalo made a coaching they
(24:59):
admit a GM change. Bigger pardon we'll say that they
make a coaching change as well. But when you make
a GM change, that's a total reboot on everything that
you do. And Taate Thompson was a name that was available,
then he's not. Now questions are back up again will
he be available? And oh, by the way, who traded
for him? Jason Botterral when he was in Buffalo and
(25:19):
they swung that deal for Ryan O'Reilly. Tase Thompson is
a six foot six behemoth who can get you forty
goals or more and has an absolute rocket of a shot.
I think without going too far to say, you know,
do they make the move or not?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Maybe maybe not.
Speaker 4 (25:35):
But to get a guy like that, you're gonna have
to give up a lot, and that's going to be
I think the big question if you want to really
dip into the trade market this mid season to try
to get this thing right back on the tracks is
how much are you willing to give up? Because the
first place that other teams would would would look toward
(25:55):
are your prospects is Shane Wright Worth, it is Berkeley
cat and Worth, it.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Is Jacobrien Worth.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
That that's the ultimate balancing act that you have to
go through.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Mike ben In here for meat to crack in every week.
It's it's a tough predicament, There's no doubt about it.
It's frustrating. You got to stay the course. And it
was weird because they got off to a good start
and they were you know, they were in like oh okay.
Things change and this becomes the dog days of the season.
You start to hit you know, the meat of that schedule,
(26:25):
and now you're a four game road trip, so things
get a little bit tougher.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
With that, I mentioned Maclan Celebrini, and I mean, how
great is this guy? He's arrived, He's arrived. He's a kid. Yes,
do you know he can't drink until June of twenty
twenty seven, legally twenty twenty seven. I believe the last.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
Two players we spoke of in that same ILK might
be Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. And you ask others
around the league, what do they remind Macklan Celebriny of.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
It's Crosby. And here's the thing. He was the first
overall pick in the draft in twenty twenty four by
San Jose. That's a franchise changer. That's it. That's the
thing right then and there.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
And you talk about trades, Listen, I wanted to Kraken
to be more active, especially when Mitch Marner was on
the market, and he goes with EGK and I'm like,
oh God, that would have been That would have been
at least a piece here, and you wouldn't have to
give up anything because he was a free agent.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
The only thing I can think of is that when
you make the Marner trade, and Mitch Marner would have
done so well. I think for a lot of the
what they were free agent last year, wasn't he No,
he was trade trade Oka. I mean it was a
trade move, but again they would have to give up
a lot. Also, also trades also are relationship base. I
think that's also a part of the part of that too,
And it's it's a very very tricky complicated picture because
(27:52):
it is relationship base and then based on that, how
much are you going to give up? And there's a
lot of back and forth that you know, people aren't
usually exposed to when it comes to make those kinds
of deals.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
His amazing thing about this kid Macklin Celebrini. His father,
Rick was a professional soccer player for the Vancouver eighty
six Ers not to be confused with the Philadelphia seventy
six ers in the NBA, and he played him and
his brother. I knew about him because he played at
BU And how about this one. You talk about making
(28:27):
sure this guy is put in a position to succeed.
He's currently living with the greatest San Jose Shark of
all time, Joe Thornton, former Bruin. He's living with him.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
Also Will Smith kind of his running mate. He is
now in the same house with Patrick Marlow. Oh, and
that helps I talked with San Jose's broadcasts earlier, and
this is where twenty twenty five, thirty years of growing
a team in one march, I guess you is that
you get players in, you win with them, and they
become attracted to this area long term, and they figure,
(29:00):
I'm no longer from Toronto, I'm no longer from Saskatchewan.
I'm I'm a San Joseer here for life. And you
set roots and then you open those kinds of doors
for guys like Celebrini, for guys like Will Smith to
come on, and people also again have to be I
think also have to be reminded of San Jose tore
this thing right down to the studs about roughly six
(29:20):
years ago.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
They they said, we have to do this because Pavelski.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Aging, al Thornton aging out, Marlow aging out, and you
go through a little bit of fury to get right
back here to this point and look what I got them.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Yeah, well, I hope and listen if there comes a
point at time in the season and you hate to
hear this, but I'm gonna go.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Speaking of the Philadelphia seventy six ers former GM and
everyone talked about those three weeks they got to know
what your three orders are gonna be. Trust the process
that maybe you get to a point where they did
it withinbid, and if it takes tanking and getting the
(30:00):
next Macklin Celebrini, I'm all in for it.
Speaker 4 (30:03):
I'm here for as a guy playing in Penn State
right now named Gavin McKenna.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Oh, I've heard of him. I've heard of him, and
he is.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
He is apparently the next catch me out and he'll
be up here for this next year's draft.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Wow. All right, I like to hear that. Mike Beton.
Interesting times right now, But I'm.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
Brought to you by Mechanics Bank dot Com and Clickway Athletics.
Don't forget that's Clickwait with a K Clickwayathletics dot Com.
If youel what it's like to train the click Way
Mike Beton, we'll talk to you next week. We always
appreciate you joining us and Lane Lambert hanging there. I'm
supporting you.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I know it.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
You can.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
You know you can't. You know the old saying chicken salad,
And you know I'm with you, Lany Lambert. I believe
in you. It's not your fault.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
I feel like I need to have that scene emotional
scene and goodwill hunting with Lane Lambert.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
It's not your fault. I know, no, it's not your fault. No,
I know, no, it's not your fault. And hug them
and just let because it's not and he will get
this thing fixed. You gotta get you gotta get the
horses up front in order to win games.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Believe you me. The San Antonio Spurs suck for five
years now. They got one of the best players in
the world, if not the MVP in Victor Wembayama. But
you gotta be in a position to get the number
one pick. That's what it comes down to. Mike Benton.
We appreciate you joining us.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Mike Dugar from the Athletic will join us, coming at
noon and taco time is here in the house. Oh,
I've got a pick for you.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
I'm gonna give you a bonus pick coming up next Yes,
I got a bonus pick right here on MJ in
the midday with Christopher Kidd.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
That's draft back now. You don't just hear it, you
see it all right. Mike Dugar from the Athletic coming
up tomorrow night.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Don't forget picking the locks coming up this Friday, seven
o'clock after Softy and Dick.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
Seven o'clock. Yours truly and Lee Sterling.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
Will be in the house picking the locks every Friday night.
Hopefully it'll be replayed prior to the Miami Hurricanes Texas
A and M college football playoff game on Saturday at nine,
and I'll be landing in Tampa Airport about an hour
and fifteen minutes prior to that, so hopefully we'll have
a replay on picking the locks coming up on Saturday morning.
(32:34):
I went through analyzing all these picks for this week.
There's so many big things to look at, and you
know what I try to I want to save my
best for picking the locks.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
The one thing I'm gonna tell you, And thanks to
Ryan and Scottsdale who made this a note, The Seattle
Seahawks are now a one to one and a half
point favorite. They started off as a one and a
half to two point underdog and now all the money
has swung over to the Hawks. How about them apples?
(33:13):
All right?
Speaker 1 (33:14):
That is unfreaking believable. So, uh, what I'm gonna do,
I'm not gonna give you. I'm gonna wait to I'm
gonna wait till Friday to give out a big pick,
a big pick, But right now I'm gonna give out one.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Coming up on Sunday Night at M and T Bank Stadium,
the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. Give me
the over. I'm gonna go over.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I think Lamar Jackson's gonna score and the Patriots are
gonna score, and if they if they're both teams want
to win. The Patriots gave up thirty five points to
the Bills. The Ravens defense is not what it used
to be, but they can score and it is. It's
all on the line. If they lose this game, they're
pretty much done. I believe it's going to be a
high scoring affair. Give me the over on the Patriots
(34:12):
Ravens game Sunday Night, forty eight points. Bet it now,
wait for it, Wait for it, wait for it, Thank
me later and cash that ticket.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
You're welcome. Mike Dugard from The Athletic Next
Did you do you have a glimmer of hope or
do you just feel like a lot of people where
it's oh, same old, same old rhetoric.
Speaker 2 (00:08):
Well, first of all, thanks for having me on. How
are you?
Speaker 3 (00:13):
By the way, happy, happy hona go to you and
your family.
Speaker 2 (00:16):
Yeah, I feel like I'm starting to become like the
like I am to you Jetfishes, to the Michigan Wolverines.
People say, no, you call me okay, So I know
where I stand. I know where I stand on this thing.
I'm as my buddy Rico Beard said yesterday of Jetfish,
(00:39):
I am the backup prom date on this radio program.
You must have had three or four people canceled before
you decided late last night in a panic to text
me and beg me to come on the radio show
to fill in at eleven o'clock because nineteen people said
to take a hike, and so you called me. So
I will always be there for you. Number one and
(01:01):
number two. To answer your question about the article that
came out last night, I mean, look, I get why
people are disgusted by this entire process. Mark, I mean,
it's been eighteen years, for God's sakes, since this whole
thing fell apart. You know, people have you know, lived
and died, They've had kids, born, graduate high school. How
many fathers mothers were robbed of not being able to
(01:26):
go watch the NBA with their sons and daughters because
they have not been here for twenty years. So I
get it. I get why people are angry. I get
why people are disgusted, and I get why people would say,
wake me up when the league is ready to come
back and play in Seattle. But this feels like the
most definitive timeline right that Adam Silver has put on
(01:47):
this thing since he took over his commissioner. So I'm
looking forward to it. I'm frustrated, like everybody else at
how long it's taken to make it happen. I mean,
you got to remember, man, you know you weren't here
in two thousand eleven twenty twelve when Chris Hansen basically
agreed to buy the Kings from the Malouf brothers. This
is four three, four years later after they had left,
(02:10):
and then here we are waiting another twelve years or
so whatever, thirteen since then now we still don't have
him back. So I get the frustration, But I'm I
am ready and I have a pile of cash standing
by to spend on tickets the minute they come home.
Speaker 1 (02:26):
Oh man, truer words ever said, I was actually going
to surprise you today.
Speaker 3 (02:30):
I was trying and know you weren't the last man.
Speaker 1 (02:32):
I was trying to get you and Chris Daniels on simultaneously,
and I was going to leave the studio.
Speaker 2 (02:39):
Yeah, that would have been more of a surprise for
Chris than it wouldn't for me to realize how low
his career has fallen, that he's now sharing a radio
station with softee and there's no professional like Mark standing
by to host the damn thing. So from Chris's perspective,
I appreciate the fact that he didn't do that to him.
(02:59):
That would have been for you. Dave.
Speaker 1 (03:02):
This is a tough question, Dave, softy moler here. I
don't need to, you know, basically reset, but I'll do
it anyway. I know you talked about and I loved
your emotion and I was I was literally in the
dentist chair the day after the Mariners lost Game seven
of the ALCS and I had my like, my my
pods in my ears and and they're like, I'm like,
(03:23):
is it okay, and I'm literally getting my mouth torn,
and I wanted to hear your emotion and it was
so real and so authentic, and I felt it. I mean,
I wasn't here, but I got caught up in that
run and I could feel your pain, and I think it.
You really did such an amazing job to illustrate. That's
one of the things I always admire the most about KJR.
We're not the press box. We're the station for the fans.
(03:44):
We're the station for the listening audience. And you you
you articulate that so well.
Speaker 3 (03:48):
But Dave, if the devil came to you tomorrow and said,
I'm gonna have to keep the streak of the Mariners
never going to the World Series, but I can promise
you within by the latest October twenty twenty eight, the
Sonics will be back in Seattle. Which one would you take?
Speaker 2 (04:06):
Oh God, I mean, I first of all, I hate
these questions because there's no there's no answer, obviously. Well,
I mean, either way, either way, something's going to suck. Right. Yes, Hey,
Sonics don't come back or be the Mariners never make
the World Series. So I mean, look, as much as
I just completely desire a World Series title. I think
(04:29):
anytime you could add a franchise over a championship run,
you take the franchise because you're now being given multiple opportunities,
you know, another opportunity at a title and a bite
at the apple. So I'd probably say give me my
basketball team back, But that that doesn't speak at all
(04:49):
to my lack of interest or lack of a desire
to win or to make a World Series. I mean,
right now, it's you know, number one a on my plate,
besides getting the Sonics back in town, and when you're
living in it, it's number one right right in the
middle of October and late in late October or in November,
when you're watching the World Series and Miguel Rojas and
(05:10):
all those amazing moments, it's it's it's it's number one
during that time frame. So I don't know, man, those
those questions Franklin are dumb on my show because I'm
stupid too. It We we need both. This city needs both.
This town needs both. There's no fan base in sports
(05:31):
so that has paid their dues longer and reacted better than
Mariner Baseball fames. And what I mean by that is
there's a lot of places out there, like you ever
watched like an Atlanta Hawk game by the way, and
there's like people, Yeah, yeah, ridiculous, just ridiculous. I mean, look,
we've had years where in game be where the Mariners
(05:51):
have not had great crowds. But the fact that the
Mariners are consistently at least at least mark mediocre in attendance,
it is amazing considering the context of where this franchise
has been for the last fifty years. Man, So I
don't know, screw you with your stupid ass question. Yeah,
I help me on this show to answer the dumb ones. No,
(06:13):
they're both something I want very badly. I got think
I want worse than the Sonics or the Mariners is
for this segment to end.
Speaker 3 (06:21):
All right, Well, I'm not done with it yet. I
know I'm not talking.
Speaker 1 (06:24):
Hey, I want everybody out there to know how much
Dave Softy Maler is KJR. And And when you said
to me, I knew you were here for a long time,
and I know Tom Lee, the former boss here for
a while. I remember you did a funny segment in
time with Dick and you talked about how Tom Lee
thought it would be a good idea to make kJ
R the home of the Raiders, and that was really stupid.
Speaker 3 (06:46):
You you would you and Dick made fun.
Speaker 1 (06:48):
Of that, and then and then Dick said, well, last
he hired both of us, and you go another stupid move.
Speaker 3 (06:53):
That was a good one, I remember. But Dave, here's
the thing.
Speaker 2 (06:59):
We used to have a big like mobile studio called
the road Hog. It was basically an RV that was converted.
The bedroom in the back of the RV was converted
into a studio and so we would take it on
the road, we go to remotes and promotions and Sonic
games and park it outside the Kingdome and outside the
coliseum for Sonic games. And when we got the Raiders,
(07:20):
Tom Lee said, Hey, not only are we going to
carry the Raiders, but we're gonna put the Raider logo
on the sports talk. Oh so the sports Hog is
driving around town with the old nine fifty am kJ
R logo with the flag on it, the Sonic logo
and the freaking Raiders logo. I mean, what the hell
is that? And you know what, actually, back in the day,
(07:41):
it kind of made sense because there was no Twitter
for people to rip us a new a hole for
doing it. So it kind of makes sense now would
be suicidal.
Speaker 1 (07:50):
Yeah, my lord, you said something to me. You said
when I had a credential to the ninety six finals,
My executive producer, Christopher Kidd was like four years old
when the ninety six Finals happened. What was that like
for you covering that team?
Speaker 2 (08:07):
Well, first of all, I'm shocked the kid was that
old at number one. I always thought kid was like eleven,
So I'm Stundy was even born then in ninety six.
But you know, I mean going on the road with
Sonic fans to Chicago, the Windy City, hanging out on
Rush Street, doing radio shows on Rush Street, doing radio
shows from the United Center. And it's funny you brought
(08:27):
that up, man, because I remember, actually, and this is
this is very relevant because of the arena situation we've
gotten now, and because you mentioned the Sonics not being here.
I remember Key Arena opened up in ninety five, and
I remember walking into the United Center for the ninety
six Finals the next June, thinking, this place looks nothing
(08:48):
like Key Arena, Like, this place looks ten times better
than Key Arena. This place looks like it could hold hockey,
and it did. Blackhawks played there. Obviously, it looks bigger,
it looks more progressive, it looks like they were it
was built with more foresight than Key Arena was. And
I remember walking in there and then walking into the
Rose Garden even down in Portland, thinking, man, these these
(09:10):
arenas blow our arena out of the way. And now
here we are eighteen years later, and because they did
not build Key Arena the right way, we lost our
basketball team and we're still waiting for him to come back.
Speaker 3 (09:22):
That's unbelievable. That's an amazing story in so many ways. Well,
who would have thought that, Yeah, you're right, and you're
absolutely right, Softy here joining us.
Speaker 2 (09:30):
That's just ridiculous, right, Like the things that you think
are impossible in sports, Like what if I were to
come to you the day that USC lost to Reggie
Busch excuse me, Vince Young in Texas and the Rose Ball,
and I would have told you that night, hey, Mark,
to see you know in eight years from now, Pete
Carroll's gonna win a Lombardi Trophy in Seattle as the
(09:51):
coach of the Seahawks. What if I were to come
to you the night after Game five when the Sonics
closed the gap to three to two against Michael Jordan
and they're going out to Chicago for Game six if
I want to come to you that night and said, hey, Mark,
just cno, in twelve years, this basketball team is playing
in Oklahoma City. Okay, I mean, but you never know,
(10:12):
like what's next. What's the craziest thing you can think
of that nobody would believe it's going to happen, But
it's gonna happen in the next ten years.
Speaker 3 (10:21):
That's so true. You're so right.
Speaker 1 (10:23):
I mean, yeah, your truer words never spoken. Man, it
really isn't. But hey, let's not ignore let's not bury
the lead here tomorrow night, Dave. I mean, jesus, wow,
you got two teams not only eleven and three argue
in most power rankings, for what that's worth, are ranked
one and two in the league. Softy, these two teams
(10:45):
have the best records in the NFL against the spread,
they're both ten and four.
Speaker 3 (10:50):
That tells you how great they are. Good teams win,
great teams cover.
Speaker 1 (10:53):
So tomorrow night's game, put it in perspective and what
this means to finally beat Matthew Stafford as a.
Speaker 2 (11:00):
Yes, Well, here's the thing I think personally, myself. When
we talk about games like this, I think like you
turn on the radio, or you flip on TV, or
you go to Twitter, and some fifteen year old who
was gifted a computer by his mommy and daddy for
Christmas and has the PFF log in and can watch
Kate from NFL dot com is sitting there telling you, well,
(11:23):
you know, when the Seahawks go twelve personnel against the
rams Nickel defense, that's really going to be a big factory.
A shut up. You know what the big factor is
tomorrow night, Sam Darnold, hanging onto the damn football. That's
the fact that because you're very good at giving away
the ball and the Rams are very good at taking
away the ball. And this is a football team that
(11:44):
went down to La a month ago and had four
interceptions yet with a sixty one yard field goal away
from beating the Rams. So how about we freaking start
with the most simple of explanations and put the onus
on the highest paid player, he's making thirty five million
dollars a year, and tell him, gone to the freaking
ball tomorrow, Sammy. If you do that, this football team's
(12:07):
got a tremendous shot to win and probably will win period.
End the story. We can we can stop the discussion.
That's what it's all about.
Speaker 3 (12:16):
Yeah, no question.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
And if they do this, Softy, do you think that
that carryover effect into Carolina on the road in Charlotte
the next weekend and then of course closing out the
year at the sight of Super Bowl sixty in Santa
Clara against Frisco, do you think at that point you're
taking to me, I look at this way. Tomorrow Night's
is the NFC West Championship game. That's how I look
(12:37):
at it.
Speaker 2 (12:39):
Nd percent And it's obviously way more important for the
Hawks than it is for the Rams. I mean, the
Hawks lose this, than they're done. They're not going to
win the division. The Rams win it, it's over. The
Rams lose it, they still have a shot, obviously, But
this is way more important for the Seahawks percentage wise
than it is the Rams, and it should be that way.
I mean, look, when you play a team like the
Rams twice a year, you're probably yourself the most likely outcomes.
(13:01):
We're gonna split, you're gonna lose down there, you're gonna
win up here. Period, So win win here. I mean
you get a whole game like this in front of
sixty eight thousand people on a Thursday night on a
short week. The weather is gonna be blown. When the
rain's gonna be falling, the win's gonna be holling. Not
exactly great passing weather for Matt Stafford and Pukintua and
Devontae Adams if he even plays tomorrow, by the way.
(13:22):
So I think that this is absolutely a game the
Seahawks have to win if they've got any shot of
winning the NFC West. They do worry a little bit
about a letdown against Carolina, but I will say this,
Mike McDonald since he's been here, hasn't really shown that
as the head coach of the Seahawks, and the three
games they've lost have all been tight, and they've all
been to really good teams in San Francisco, Tampa Bay
(13:43):
and the Rams. So the idea of the Seahawks mark
going on the road and kicking one against an inferior
team like Carolina, who's pretty good but not an elite
team fighting to stretch of the imagination. I think it's
something in the back of your head, but it's not
keeping me up at night at all.
Speaker 1 (13:57):
Do you feel that this is the first time since
that legion of boom era and you know, kind of
sort of some synergy tomorrow night, as Richard Sherman will
be in the house with Prime. Do you feel, Dave,
that this truly not like in twenty nineteen when the
division was on the line the final regular season game
of the year against Jimmy Garoppolo and San Francisco. Do
you truly feel that Hawks win tomorrow night not only
(14:20):
on the precipice of prominence, but this is something that
is this could be the new era that we could
just see that this team could go on a run
for the next five years.
Speaker 2 (14:31):
Well it's the twenty twelve Seahawks, but potentially with a
chance to do even more. I mean, this is this
is the year where you're supposed to take a big step,
compete per a championship and fall short like that twenty
twelve team did when they lost to Atlanta. So you
win this thing and you're talking about home field advantage
all the way throughout the playoffs, and you're talking about
(14:51):
maybe winning a Lombardi or making a Super Bowl right now.
And look, I mean I said that last week and
I'll say it again that I think up until we're
proven wrong and proven otherwise, that that's what Seahawks fans
should be talking about. Seahawks fans, because of the parody
in the NFL, especially in the in the NFC, should
be talking about making a Super Bowl and winning another
(15:11):
Lombardi today. I mean, like you said, they got the
second or third best odds at every Horch book in
the world to win the NFC right now, behind the Rams.
They'll be number one tomorrow if they win the game.
So absolutely, they're ahead of the curve that you know,
Mike McDonald is ahead of where Pete Carroll was for
sure in year number two when they were seven and nine,
(15:32):
and they're cutting everybody and they got you know, Tavaris
Jackson at quarterback. I mean, they are way ahead of
where they were in twenty twelve. So I love where
they're at. I love the job that John Schneider's done.
He's a freaking miracle worker. He dumps Pete Carroll at
the exact right time, he dumps Geno Smith at the
exact right time. That's after dumping Russell Wilson at the
(15:53):
exact right time. This guy's timing mark on the moves
he's made at the most important positions in football, head
and quarterbacks have been unbelievable. He's got to be the
executive of the year. He'll never win it because the
Hawks were never four and thirteen, but he's got to
be the executive of the year.
Speaker 1 (16:08):
My mind, Hey from Afar, For since he was here
in Seattle, I always looked at wherever Mark I was at.
Why can't you know, Marty Hernie be like John Schneider.
Why can't Thomas Demetrov be like John Schneider? Why can't
Bill Belichick be like John Schneider? And here I am.
(16:29):
I'm here and I get to appreciate it. Of course,
Oh you you omitted one, softy. How about turning a
second round pick from DK metcalf in that trade into
NICKI min Warri.
Speaker 2 (16:40):
No I could, I could. I could admit a lot.
I mean, you know, how about how about DeMarcus Lawrence.
How about going out for him, saying goodbye and jumping
off the sinking ship of Dodson and Baker at linebacker
A year ago, when a lot of general managersers would
have said, no, I'm gonna give these guys more time.
I signed them. I made the move for them. I
want to bring them in and give him a show
to prove or not prove, what they are. John Schnyder said,
(17:02):
the hell of that. Guys were here for two months
and he said, I've seen enough. That's it. I'm pulling
the plug. I'm gonna go trade for Ernest Jones. I mean,
and that's kind of where everything started last year. So
I think, you know, there's too many executives in sports
mark that let their egos get in the way. You know,
they want to be proven right, they want to have
their moves be proven right. And for John Schneider to
(17:24):
be comfortable enough in his skin to yank those guys
off his football team after he made them, along with
Mac obviously starting linebackers, and to admit a failure and
to correct it right away is the biggest reason why
John Schneider is John Schneider, because he's all about the
football team and not his own stupid sensitivities and his
(17:48):
own ego and making himself look good. If he's made
a bad move, he's gonna correct it and not wait
a second longer. And last year the movement linebacker was
proof positive of that.
Speaker 1 (17:58):
No doubt got to get the running game established Tomorrow
night early and often they ran for one hundred and
thirty five yards in the first game, so hopefully you
know they can get that going tomorrow night. I mean
it's gonna be epic. I mean, this is this is it.
I mean, this is if you're gonna do if there's
a super Bowl in the regular season tomorrow night for
the NFL, you got it on Thursday Night football.
Speaker 2 (18:19):
This is this is Dolphins Bears Monday Night football. Eh
my crow, wow over that game.
Speaker 3 (18:27):
Oh yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2 (18:28):
I was eleven years old and I was upstairs watching
out of my parents black and white TV while they
were downstairs watching the Waltons or Little House on the
Prairie or whatever.
Speaker 3 (18:37):
The Hill Street Blues, Hill Street Blues.
Speaker 2 (18:40):
But this is this is, this is that game for
this generation. Man, It's the biggest game since twenty thirteen. Wow. Three,
for the first time since twenty thirteen. They got the
best defense since twenty thirteen. I cannot wait for tomorrow night.
You go to venue kings dot com tickets for two
hundred and fifty bucks to get in a freaking or
(19:00):
Tomorrow night. It's gonna be crazy.
Speaker 3 (19:02):
Cannot wait.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
And by the way, Hey, a kid, we gotta think
softy because today, because of softy taco, time is in
the house.
Speaker 3 (19:09):
So thank you to Taco to give a damn about heyl.
Speaker 1 (19:15):
I told the AE Matt, I say, just make sure
there's plenty of hot sauce.
Speaker 2 (19:20):
You know, kid, you need to have a sandwich or
a burger or a chicken soft taco. I'm a little
concerned about you, man, I mean, you got to put
some weight on, buddy. You're like you're like the EP
of producers. I can see you coming.
Speaker 3 (19:31):
Up before I let you go. Let me give you.
Let me give you one little thing.
Speaker 1 (19:35):
Dick Vane, Dick Vane over under vacation days a year,
one hundred and thirty six.
Speaker 3 (19:42):
I'll take the over.
Speaker 2 (19:45):
Yeah, you know. See, I don't know, I know what
you're doing. I don't like it. Right, I'm on, I'm
on good terms, but I love we're having a good time.
Speaker 3 (19:53):
I fail.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Everybody's getting at and I don't appreciate you driving a
wedge between us. Okay, I'm just stating.
Speaker 3 (20:01):
I'm just stitting something.
Speaker 2 (20:03):
I love to take as much vacation as you want
down then we can rip him when he takes vacation.
Speaker 3 (20:08):
There we go. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (20:10):
By the way, kid, I almost was gonna say I
love his first name, and I just said I love
Fame because I knew you would grab it if I
just said his first name, I love Faine.
Speaker 2 (20:18):
His name is Dick. I love Dick. I don't mind
saying that. Dick.
Speaker 1 (20:21):
Yeah, I love Dick Fane. Yep, we did too, all right, Softy,
we appreciate the time. We'll see you soon. Taco time
coming in the house.
Speaker 2 (20:29):
Yeah, I'll be in the studio in thirty seconds. By
the way, I'll see it.
Speaker 3 (20:32):
Oh, all right, there he is.
Speaker 1 (20:34):
He's easier, Softy, Dave Maller, good stuff there, Uh, Dick,
it's all in good fun. If I didn't bust your job,
I didn't bust your chops and your balls, that means
I don't like you, okay, right, so you know it's
it's all in good love. And I will say something
about Dick Fane. He takes his uh sports gambling analysis
(20:56):
very seriously and I appreciate that. And least and I
when we had that tag team challenge versus Softy and Dick,
that Dick win five and oh man, Dick was undefeated.
So but Lee and I were just a little bit
better the pros versus the Joes. All right, Coming up
next Mike Benton from mister Kraken. We will talk to
(21:19):
him next about that. It's a huge game obviously tomorrow
night for the Hawks. This is mjy and the Midday
Christopher kid Mike ben coming up next. They are averaging
one point eight goals per game. That will never win
you games in the NHL. And I have to say
I again, I will sit here and I will be
a staunch defender of Lane Lambert. This is not Lane
(21:43):
Lambert's fault again, and I will mention this.
Speaker 3 (21:47):
And I don't want to sound like a broken record here, Mike.
And I'm not mad at you. I'm not seeing that you.
Speaker 1 (21:52):
I go down to NHL points leaders and the highest
rank points leader for the Seattle Kraken, I have to
go all the way down to being tied for one
hundred and twenty six Jordan Eberley, and that's just not
how you're going to win games. Meanwhile, you've got a
nineteen year old kid named Macklin Celebrini who's got fifty
(22:15):
one points in eighteen.
Speaker 3 (22:18):
Goals and thirty four games.
Speaker 1 (22:21):
So before we get to that guy that wonder Kin
in Prodigy.
Speaker 3 (22:26):
I mean, what's going on with it? One point eight
goals per game, Mike. You can't win if you can't score.
Speaker 4 (22:34):
I feel like a broken record talking about this every week,
but I mean facts for facts, MJ. I mean we
get to the injury thing. We dissected this, we have
chopped it up over and over and over, and I
think based on how the team is built, they're they're
gonna win more three two two one games. And when
you take away Jaden Schwartz and Jordan every already out
of a team who is trying to fin its way
(22:57):
and struggling here to score. That's seventeen percent of your
eye right there alone with two players who are out
of the lineup. Then we get to I think where
you're trying to hit at here with the drafts and
your draft picks, because again, free agency is a thing
where you can say, hey, let's just solve this right now,
go after a free agent. Well, not as easy as
compared to MLB and the NBA trademarket. It's it's so
(23:20):
fluctuating here. So where do you have to hit It's
a course on your draft picks. And and there's still
a waiting game. There is still a process game going
on right now with Matty Beniers and Shane Wright, Jack O'Brien,
Berkeley Catton as well. Caton's also out hurt. But this
is this is tough to go through because you know,
when you're trying to win this way and you lose
bodies out of the lineup like they are with injuries,
(23:43):
that just that really really takes a big toll on
your roster.
Speaker 3 (23:46):
It does.
Speaker 1 (23:47):
I get it, And it's got to be frustrating for
a guy in his first season who's you know, it's
the third coaching change in five years, the last five
years for the Kraken. But for Lane Lambert, I can
understand his frustration like I do. I don't care if
you put Scotty Bowman out there in his prime, it
doesn't matter.
Speaker 3 (24:04):
Glenn Sather in the eighties.
Speaker 1 (24:06):
You need to get Glenn Sather was only great Mike
Benton because he had MESSI, a Curry coffee, a Grant
Fewer an oh the great one.
Speaker 3 (24:19):
Ninety nine, Wayne Gretzky. You got to have the guys
on the ice to be able to You need those
horses up front. So what do you do.
Speaker 1 (24:28):
Jason Moderol in a tough position right now, just took
over for Ron Francis, says the GM, how do you
fix this in season?
Speaker 4 (24:37):
The end season part of this mj as I think
the obvious answer for anyone trying to make quick upgrades,
and that's by trade. The problem is how much are
you willing to give up? And then one are those
names going to be available? And I think the first
place I will look at and where a lot of
the conversation goes, is do you go out to a
guy like Tay Thompson? Because Buffalo made a coaching they
(24:59):
admit a GM change. Bigger pardon we'll say that they
make a coaching change as well. But when you make
a GM change, that's a total reboot on everything that
you do. And Taate Thompson was a name that was available,
then he's not. Now questions are back up again will
he be available? And oh, by the way, who traded
for him? Jason Botterral when he was in Buffalo and
(25:19):
they swung that deal for Ryan O'Reilly. Tase Thompson is
a six foot six behemoth who can get you forty
goals or more and has an absolute rocket of a shot.
I think without going too far to say, you know,
do they make the move or not?
Speaker 3 (25:33):
Maybe maybe not.
Speaker 4 (25:35):
But to get a guy like that, you're gonna have
to give up a lot, and that's going to be
I think the big question if you want to really
dip into the trade market this mid season to try
to get this thing right back on the tracks is
how much are you willing to give up? Because the
first place that other teams would would would look toward
(25:55):
are your prospects is Shane Wright Worth, it is Berkeley
cat and Worth, it.
Speaker 3 (25:59):
Is Jacobrien Worth.
Speaker 4 (26:01):
That that's the ultimate balancing act that you have to
go through.
Speaker 1 (26:05):
Mike ben In here for meat to crack in every week.
It's it's a tough predicament, There's no doubt about it.
It's frustrating. You got to stay the course. And it
was weird because they got off to a good start
and they were you know, they were in like oh okay.
Things change and this becomes the dog days of the season.
You start to hit you know, the meat of that schedule,
(26:25):
and now you're a four game road trip, so things
get a little bit tougher.
Speaker 3 (26:28):
With that, I mentioned Maclan Celebrini, and I mean, how
great is this guy? He's arrived, He's arrived. He's a kid. Yes,
do you know he can't drink until June of twenty
twenty seven, legally twenty twenty seven. I believe the last.
Speaker 4 (26:46):
Two players we spoke of in that same ILK might
be Connor McDavid and Sidney Crosby. And you ask others
around the league, what do they remind Macklan Celebriny of.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
It's Crosby. And here's the thing. He was the first
overall pick in the draft in twenty twenty four by
San Jose. That's a franchise changer. That's it. That's the
thing right then and there.
Speaker 1 (27:10):
And you talk about trades, Listen, I wanted to Kraken
to be more active, especially when Mitch Marner was on
the market, and he goes with EGK and I'm like,
oh God, that would have been That would have been
at least a piece here, and you wouldn't have to
give up anything because he was a free agent.
Speaker 4 (27:29):
The only thing I can think of is that when
you make the Marner trade, and Mitch Marner would have
done so well. I think for a lot of the
what they were free agent last year, wasn't he No,
he was trade trade Oka. I mean it was a
trade move, but again they would have to give up
a lot. Also, also trades also are relationship base. I
think that's also a part of the part of that too,
And it's it's a very very tricky complicated picture because
(27:52):
it is relationship base and then based on that, how
much are you going to give up? And there's a
lot of back and forth that you know, people aren't
usually exposed to when it comes to make those kinds
of deals.
Speaker 1 (28:01):
His amazing thing about this kid Macklin Celebrini. His father,
Rick was a professional soccer player for the Vancouver eighty
six Ers not to be confused with the Philadelphia seventy
six ers in the NBA, and he played him and
his brother. I knew about him because he played at
BU And how about this one. You talk about making
(28:27):
sure this guy is put in a position to succeed.
He's currently living with the greatest San Jose Shark of
all time, Joe Thornton, former Bruin. He's living with him.
Speaker 4 (28:37):
Also Will Smith kind of his running mate. He is
now in the same house with Patrick Marlow. Oh, and
that helps I talked with San Jose's broadcasts earlier, and
this is where twenty twenty five, thirty years of growing
a team in one march, I guess you is that
you get players in, you win with them, and they
become attracted to this area long term, and they figure,
(29:00):
I'm no longer from Toronto, I'm no longer from Saskatchewan.
I'm I'm a San Joseer here for life. And you
set roots and then you open those kinds of doors
for guys like Celebrini, for guys like Will Smith to
come on, and people also again have to be I
think also have to be reminded of San Jose tore
this thing right down to the studs about roughly six
(29:20):
years ago.
Speaker 3 (29:21):
They they said, we have to do this because Pavelski.
Speaker 4 (29:23):
Aging, al Thornton aging out, Marlow aging out, and you
go through a little bit of fury to get right
back here to this point and look what I got them.
Speaker 3 (29:32):
Yeah, well, I hope and listen if there comes a
point at time in the season and you hate to
hear this, but I'm gonna go.
Speaker 1 (29:39):
Speaking of the Philadelphia seventy six ers former GM and
everyone talked about those three weeks they got to know
what your three orders are gonna be. Trust the process
that maybe you get to a point where they did
it withinbid, and if it takes tanking and getting the
(30:00):
next Macklin Celebrini, I'm all in for it.
Speaker 4 (30:03):
I'm here for as a guy playing in Penn State
right now named Gavin McKenna.
Speaker 3 (30:07):
Oh, I've heard of him. I've heard of him, and
he is.
Speaker 4 (30:09):
He is apparently the next catch me out and he'll
be up here for this next year's draft.
Speaker 3 (30:14):
Wow. All right, I like to hear that. Mike Beton.
Interesting times right now, But I'm.
Speaker 1 (30:18):
Brought to you by Mechanics Bank dot Com and Clickway Athletics.
Don't forget that's Clickwait with a K Clickwayathletics dot Com.
If youel what it's like to train the click Way
Mike Beton, we'll talk to you next week. We always
appreciate you joining us and Lane Lambert hanging there. I'm
supporting you.
Speaker 3 (30:36):
I know it.
Speaker 2 (30:36):
You can.
Speaker 3 (30:37):
You know you can't. You know the old saying chicken salad,
And you know I'm with you, Lany Lambert. I believe
in you. It's not your fault.
Speaker 1 (30:47):
I feel like I need to have that scene emotional
scene and goodwill hunting with Lane Lambert.
Speaker 3 (30:53):
It's not your fault. I know, no, it's not your fault. No,
I know, no, it's not your fault. And hug them
and just let because it's not and he will get
this thing fixed. You gotta get you gotta get the
horses up front in order to win games.
Speaker 1 (31:08):
Believe you me. The San Antonio Spurs suck for five
years now. They got one of the best players in
the world, if not the MVP in Victor Wembayama. But
you gotta be in a position to get the number
one pick. That's what it comes down to. Mike Benton.
We appreciate you joining us.
Speaker 3 (31:23):
Mike Dugar from the Athletic will join us, coming at
noon and taco time is here in the house. Oh,
I've got a pick for you.
Speaker 1 (31:33):
I'm gonna give you a bonus pick coming up next Yes,
I got a bonus pick right here on MJ in
the midday with Christopher Kidd.
Speaker 3 (31:41):
That's draft back now. You don't just hear it, you
see it all right. Mike Dugar from the Athletic coming
up tomorrow night.
Speaker 1 (31:56):
Don't forget picking the locks coming up this Friday, seven
o'clock after Softy and Dick.
Speaker 3 (32:03):
Seven o'clock. Yours truly and Lee Sterling.
Speaker 1 (32:09):
Will be in the house picking the locks every Friday night.
Hopefully it'll be replayed prior to the Miami Hurricanes Texas
A and M college football playoff game on Saturday at nine,
and I'll be landing in Tampa Airport about an hour
and fifteen minutes prior to that, so hopefully we'll have
a replay on picking the locks coming up on Saturday morning.
(32:34):
I went through analyzing all these picks for this week.
There's so many big things to look at, and you
know what I try to I want to save my
best for picking the locks.
Speaker 3 (32:48):
The one thing I'm gonna tell you, And thanks to
Ryan and Scottsdale who made this a note, The Seattle
Seahawks are now a one to one and a half
point favorite. They started off as a one and a
half to two point underdog and now all the money
has swung over to the Hawks. How about them apples?
(33:13):
All right?
Speaker 1 (33:14):
That is unfreaking believable. So, uh, what I'm gonna do,
I'm not gonna give you. I'm gonna wait to I'm
gonna wait till Friday to give out a big pick,
a big pick, But right now I'm gonna give out one.
Speaker 3 (33:32):
Coming up on Sunday Night at M and T Bank Stadium,
the New England Patriots and the Baltimore Ravens. Give me
the over. I'm gonna go over.
Speaker 1 (33:46):
I think Lamar Jackson's gonna score and the Patriots are
gonna score, and if they if they're both teams want
to win. The Patriots gave up thirty five points to
the Bills. The Ravens defense is not what it used
to be, but they can score and it is. It's
all on the line. If they lose this game, they're
pretty much done. I believe it's going to be a
high scoring affair. Give me the over on the Patriots
(34:12):
Ravens game Sunday Night, forty eight points. Bet it now,
wait for it, Wait for it, wait for it, Thank
me later and cash that ticket.
Speaker 3 (34:28):
You're welcome. Mike Dugard from The Athletic Next
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