July 2, 2025 • 56 mins
Recorded June 30th, 2025
What happens when competitive fire meets life experience? Eric Meichtry's journey from tournament champion to respected golf coach offers a fascinating glimpse into how professional golfers evolve throughout their careers.
Fresh off competing in the US Senior Open at the Broadmoor, Eric joins hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco to share the highs and lows of his remarkable career. The conversation takes us back to 2002 when Eric arrived at SCGA Members Club and promptly shot a course-record 62 in his first Golden State Tour event. From winning the 2000 Hooters Tour Championship to qualifying for the 2005 US Open at Pinehurst, Eric's playing credentials speak for themselves.
But the most compelling moments come when Eric reflects on his transition to teaching. "The mistakes that I make now, I didn't make when I was playing full-time," he admits with refreshing candor. Unlike many former pros who view teaching as a fallback, Eric embraces his role as a coach with genuine enthusiasm. "I'm so happy with what I do that I wouldn't want to play a full schedule," he explains, describing how his competitive experiences now benefit his students.
The episode features hilarious stories from the 2005 US Open, including a practice round with Jason Gore, Colin Montgomery, and Scott McCarron that culminated in Gore intentionally topping a drive – prompting Montgomery to quip, "Well, that was an American thing to do." These behind-the-scenes glimpses reveal the camaraderie and characters that make professional golf special beyond the competition itself.
For Eric, the highlight of his recent US Senior Open appearance wasn't his performance but "having my whole family there" – a perspective that reflects how priorities shift throughout a career in golf. From the singular focus on performance to valuing relationships fostered through the game, Eric's journey offers valuable insights for players at all levels.
Want to improve your game with lessons from Eric? Reach out through his Instagram @ezegolf60 and learn from someone who truly understands both the technical and mental aspects of golf excellence.
Have you experienced a similar evolution in your golf journey? Share your thoughts in the comments or on social media!
#baldguysonthebench #graboneancrackone #ericmeichtry #ezegolf60
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Announcer (00:07):
welcome to another episode of the bald guys on the
bench podcast, with your hostsgraham cohen and scott wasco
what's up everyone and welcomeback to another episode of the
Ball Guys on the Bench.
Scott (00:26):
You know that fun comedy sports podcast you guys all love
, so we're having a little gueston tonight.
We're doing things a littledifferent.
My boy, Eric Maitry, fresh offthe US Senior Open in Colorado
Springs, right, Yep yep.
At the Broadmoor Graham whatyou got, bro?
Graham (00:46):
Hey, I got this nice cold beer.
Eric, why don't you join us?
Let's grab one and crack one.
Let's go.
Eric Meichtry (00:52):
Oh, God, we're waiting for this Fuck.
Scott (00:55):
Right.
It always takes forever to getthis shit going.
It's like, oh man, can I crackthis God?
Eric Meichtry (01:01):
damn, I haven't had a beer in like 37 minutes.
Scott (01:07):
I'm like okay, shit, I gotta wait to crabber and
crackling with the boys, right?
So first off, eric, I knowyou're in tahoe with the family
and drinking, doing the wholething cooking.
You obviously took the time offthe grill and you don't even
think about my boy, boy Eric'sgrill status, but that's another
topic we'll get into it anothertime, but thank you for you
(01:29):
know taking a few minutes away.
Yeah, um, just thought it wouldbe cool to have you on after
playing in the senior open.
You know, your first one andyou know, let the world get to
know Eric Maitrey.
Yeah, you know, let the worldget to know eric miktree.
Yeah, yeah, so just real quick,I'm I don't dude.
(01:50):
When did we meet?
When did you move to murietta?
Uh, kristen and I were tryingto think about that.
Eric Meichtry (01:55):
So I got there in o2.
Um, august of o2, we moved fromnorthern California down to the
eight fairway at, uh, SCGAmembers club Right, and uh, I
needed a place to play inpractice.
So so Pat Kimball was there andyou were there, and uh, so that
(02:16):
was August of oh two and thenOctober of oh two.
I played in, I think, my firstGolden State Tour event and shot
62 in the first round.
You guys basically gave me thekeys to the place.
You can do whatever the fuckyou want to do.
I just set the new courserecord.
Scott (02:35):
Pretty much.
I mean, I don't remember whenyou moved there I started SCGA
July of 02.
Yeah, you were brand new.
Yeah, kristen and I got marriedof june of 02, right, so you
were freshies.
Eric Meichtry (02:50):
I mean, oh yeah, I was a little pup dude yeah,
yeah, and you came out on thethe second round.
I remember the second round, um, on the 13th hole is whatever,
I think it's like 585 and I haddriver from I think I had about
285 into the into that righthole location.
I hit driver off the deck andyou were in a golf cart out
(03:11):
there watching and I rememberyou're like holy shit, what the
fuck did?
I just watch and I knocked iton the green and two put it, I
think I think, to shoot 100 barfor the day and only win by a
couple yeah, I, I think I was 62.
Scott (03:25):
Thanks for playing, yeah, first round.
But I was, you know, looking ateverything, thinking about the
past with you and I, you know, Itexted you last night.
I'm like send me your playingresume, like some highlights,
(03:49):
and you hit the nail on the head, dude.
And I was like not only thisguy, amazing golfer, but he's a
better man, better father,amazing husband, boys to me,
amazing with Kristen.
I mean before we had kids.
You know I'm from Virginia, wedidn't have kids.
Your family brought us in forChristmas and Easter.
Yeah, that's right.
I'll never forget hanging outat your parents' house on the
hole at scga having christmasdinner and easter dinner.
Yeah, that's right.
And you know that was nuts, itwas awesome.
(04:12):
Still remember it, dude, wedidn't have family there.
Yeah, you know, you were myfamily.
Yeah, even though you're afucking fuck.
I mean just to rattle off acouple of quick things.
You know we're here to learnmore about Eric Maitry the man.
I mean golf, everybody's gothighlights and shit.
But you know, 2000 Hooters Tourchampion 2005, california State
(04:37):
Open champion 2005, played inthe US Open at Pinehurst.
One of my favorite memoriesever I mean especially you know
this is 2005.
I talked to you about it acouple weeks ago, the longest
day in golf.
There was no smartphones backthen.
All I knew was you were in aplayoff to get there and I'm
(05:01):
like, hitting refresh on my damncomputer, over and over and
over, the phone rings, it's youand I'm like, oh god, oh god, oh
god, and I answer it.
And it's your wife and and I'llnever forget it she's like so
you're ready to go to Pinehurst?
yeah, that's right, I rememberthat phone call, dude, and do
(05:23):
you remember my response?
Eric Meichtry (05:24):
Uh, like fuck yeah exactly.
Scott (05:28):
Yeah, you nailed it.
You nailed it.
Yeah, fuck.
Yeah, that was so sick, it wasawesome.
Yeah, then your dad menace outthere.
Graham (05:39):
Good old T-bone.
Scott (05:42):
Yep.
Eric Meichtry (05:43):
So, eric, uh, talking about the uh Oh5 us open
at pinehurst, tell us thislittle story about what happened
on your practice round onwednesday with you, jason gore,
colin montgomery and scottmccarron like what on the 18th
remember, on the 18th hole on 18, yeah, oh, the greatest, yeah,
it was Scott McCarron hit oneand the grandstand was huge just
(06:08):
behind the tee or on the sideof the tee, and McCarron pipes
one and nobody really didanything.
And McCarron's like dude, whatthe fuck you guys?
I just striped one down thistight-ass fairway and nobody
clapped.
So then I stripe one.
Everybody goes crazy,everybody's cheering.
And then Jason Gore one.
Everybody goes crazy,everybody's cheering.
And then jason gore steps up,he goes I can watch this, I'm
gonna top it.
So mccarron goes to the crowd,he goes.
(06:29):
You guys really want to seesomebody hit it.
Watch this guy hit it.
He just freaking, just laysover and just full tops it and
crowds like what the hell youknow?
And montgomery walks off thetee as we're walking off and he
goes.
Well, that was an american thingto do, right, just over ripping
him yeah, it was, uh, it wascool man, it was such a cool
(06:51):
experience.
And uh, in 05, and then to seea lot of the same guys back here
last week at the broadmoor umwas pretty cool.
I haven't seen a lot of them ina long time.
Scott (07:03):
I will never forget.
After Gore, your mom looks atme and she goes.
He did that on purpose, right,and I'm like yes 100%.
Eric Meichtry (07:14):
It's hard.
It's hard to top a golf ball onpurpose well well, on purpose,
graham, yeah, on purpose, graham, yeah on purpose.
Scott (07:30):
One of the fun stories about that week.
I mean just real quick.
After the practice round we'resitting there at the pool at
your hotel and, like you said,my dad came down and we're
sitting there at the pool andI'll never forget Gorg looking
at us and being like I'm scaredto death.
I hit three fairways in threedays of practice rounds.
And then he's in the last groupwith Goosen.
(07:51):
Yeah, not going to say what heshot in that last round, that's
not important, but whatever.
Eric Meichtry (07:56):
Let's just say he won the 84 Lumber Classic a
couple weeks after that, exactly, exactly, exactly.
Couple weeks after that,exactly, exactly, exactly.
So it was cool because one ofmy students qualified for the
2019 USM, which was back atPinehurst Right.
So I went, I went back with himand caddied for him and it's
(08:20):
the first time I've been back toPinehurst since, since 05.
And we're in the player diningarea and I got this big guy over
my shoulder, you know, kind ofbreathing on me like dude, what
the hell.
And it was jason gore because hewas working for the usga at
that time and I'm like no way,dude.
So we we jumped in a golf cartone of the afternoons and rode
around pinehurst number two andjust talked and memories and
(08:44):
flashbacks, and it was so coolman to spend, you know, spend a
couple hours with him back thereand then, you know, then he
qualified for uh, when I saw hequalified for broadmoor, I text
him that afternoon.
I go, dude, I know you're kindof a big deal, but can we get a
practice on monday at thebroadmoor?
So we never we hooked up but wedidn't play.
(09:06):
We kind of our schedules kindof didn't Okay, yeah, it didn't,
didn't blend, but we did gettogether for a good hug.
Scott (09:13):
That's good.
Yeah, that's awesome.
Graham, you're going to ask him.
Oh yeah, I don't know if youknow this, but you're going to
die and it's going to be ahundred percent.
Graham (09:23):
So just backtracking back to the oh five at Pinehurst
.
Did Scott ever tell you thestory about, uh how he got into
the player dining lounge and hadsome beers and was uh messed
with David Toms?
Scott (09:36):
No, dude, you, you gave me the player family badge and
remember one of them two of myboys from college were there.
My dad and you're making theturn and I go in the player
dining room and I'm literallystuffing my shorts full of
Miller Lights and as I'm doingit, David Toms is walking past
(09:59):
me and he looks at me and he'slike first time at the US Open,
son.
Yeah, Just kept on going, dude,We'll never forget it.
Nice, oh man.
Yeah, but you know, now you'respending a lot more time.
You know teaching people, right?
Yeah, I mean, I follow you onInstagram and how has the
(10:22):
transition been from being thatguy that's chasing the dream and
still are to helping players?
I mean, um, myself as a PGAmember who runs golf courses and
teaches, I love helping theyoung and gotten more into
teaching the better players.
Yeah, you as a player, and Ialways told my dad I'm like if
(10:46):
Eric was a baseball player, he'dbe on a major league roster.
If he was a football player,he'd be on a roster.
There ain't room on golf tours.
Yeah, you know somebody withyour caliber, it's.
I mean, look at Jason Gord, youknow.
Yeah, he's hot and wins acouple events and that's the
thing.
How have you transitioned?
Eric Meichtry (11:09):
I'm so happy with what I do that I wouldn't want
to play a full schedule.
If I got status, I'm not goingto go to the Champions Tour Q
School.
I don't want that life.
I enjoy being around my family.
I enjoy being around my family,enjoy being around my students.
The things that I've learned inmy career it's for my students
(11:35):
at this point.
So the transition was tough, ofplaying full-time and I coached
soccer for 10 years as I wasstill playing and starting to
teach golf.
All of those experiences justmade me a better golf coach.
And even this past week at theBroadmoor it's going to make me
a better golf coach, you know.
So the desires to like, chasethe dream and play I don't have
those desires.
(11:55):
I'd love to play a handful oftournaments a year on the
champion store Nothing, nothingless than that.
I don't need to go back andplay in the Long Beach Open.
I don't need to play in theState Open.
I've won all that stuff atthose levels.
I don't need to play a CornFairy event.
You know, playing in the samearena as the best old guys in
the world, dude, it's so fuckingcool man.
(12:17):
That to me was a highlight.
You know, I didn't do shit toprepare.
I mean, I did some, but priorto the April 29th first
qualifier at goose Creek, Ithink I'd probably played like
four times, you know, this yearprior to that and practice like
very little, you know.
And then between April 29th andJune 2nd for the second one, I
(12:41):
played maybe twice and practiceda little bit and then, from you
know, getting in a couple ofweeks that I had, I then played
a little bit more and practiceda little bit more.
But yeah yeah, so the of courseyou know my schedule's pretty
full with teaching and Ifreaking dig it from all levels,
all ages, that's people, brandnew, good players.
(13:03):
Players want to turn pro.
I'll take them all.
Scott (13:06):
If you're a good person, I'll teach you how to suck less
at golf I love it, and what Ireally love is I don't know who
was doing the instagram live theother night.
Yeah, my future son the guybuying a beer for me.
Dude, I'll venmo you.
It was awesome.
Kristen and I are sitting herewatching it on a friday night in
(13:28):
virginia you know I'm screenreporting it because my dad
doesn't have a clue on how toget on there and it was.
It was awesome, dude, it wascool to see you back in that
arena, and the first shot I sawyou hit when it was instagram
live.
I'm like man, he's got the sameswing, but but it's gotten a
little shorter.
Eric Meichtry (13:47):
It's gotten a little shorter.
Scott (13:47):
My guy's getting old.
Yeah, that's it.
I'm like my guy's getting old.
I'm like holy shit man yeahit's shorter.
It was awesome, dude.
You had your hat on backwardsand you know it was just you
being you.
Eric Meichtry (14:07):
You know, know, it was awesome, it was cool.
Scott (14:08):
So lee quigley, the guy with, the jet that flies us a
bunch of cool places.
Yeah, yeah, who's this guy andhow do I get on board with this?
Eric Meichtry (14:12):
yeah, I like taco dude.
So we we flew.
We were in the fairway, middleof fairway.
It's par five, the ninth hole.
On friday and I had 210 to thehole and I'm hitting five iron.
He turns to all the.
You know we had like 20 friendsand family following and he
goes, he goes.
Hey, if he doesn't fucking makebirdie on this hole, he's
(14:33):
flying Southwest home tomorrow.
So I'm like, I'm like, come on,man.
I got to make birdie Cause hehad the.
He had the jet lined up forSaturday morning, you know.
So we flew from ColoradoSprings to French Valley and
dropped him off, and then heextended the plane for us to fly
(14:55):
us to Reno, to get our car tocome over to Tahoe on Saturday.
Wow yeah, and that was withAnge and the girls and both
their fiancées.
So, yeah, he's been a goodfriend for about six years and
you know he's on the bag.
Yeah, yeah, whatever I do.
Scott (15:12):
I saw was your brother, Caddy.
Eric Meichtry (15:14):
No, that was Lee, that was Lee Quigley.
Scott (15:16):
Oh okay.
Okay, yeah, I couldn't tell whowas Caddy, but it was awesome.
I said on the instagram liveI'm like hey, tell ang, I see
she's not on the bag.
Tell ang scotty and kristin sayhi and whoever.
Somebody was like who's scotty,why yeah?
Kristin I'm like come on, guy,I'm one of the ogs, that's right
(15:39):
.
Eric Meichtry (15:39):
I'm like scared I'll tell him he's here with us
right now.
Scott (15:44):
Yeah, okay, good.
So I know you didn't do whatyou wanted to do.
I mean, you know, like you said, you played three or four
rounds of golf, but what was themoment of the week at Broadmoor
?
Eric Meichtry (16:00):
playing with those guys.
Playing with those guys, I mean, I played with Jerry Kelly on
Wednesday, oh nice.
I played with Len Matisse andJeff Sluman, so I wasn't trying
to play practice rounds with bignames.
I've seen those guys for somany years and they're so cool
to play with Yep being on therange, seeing Miguel Angel,
(16:24):
andernard, longer and ernie andall the greats dude, it was like
it's.
And then lee, my caddy, aswe're hitting balls he's like
dude, they don't hit it anybetter than you do, right?
So, uh, not at all.
No, not at all and no, not atall.
And the difference is they'replaying every week.
(16:46):
I'm teaching golf every week, sothe mistakes that I make now, I
didn't make those when I wasplaying full time, you know.
So it's just I'm not as sharpas I used to be.
But the highlight, dude for theweek was was having my whole
family there my kids, theirfiancees, my mom, my sister, my
(17:07):
brother, you, you know, my dadpassed six years ago, you know.
So I'm really obviously missinghim.
But having you know, my uncle,one of my students, cade, and
his mom drove out, spent timewith us.
I got him inside the ropes onthe putting green, so that the
highlight for the entirety ofthe week was being able to share
it with my friends and family.
Hands down, you know I feltlike I could be.
Scott (17:30):
That's the guy you've always been since I met you.
Eric Meichtry (17:32):
Yeah.
Scott (17:33):
You know 100%.
Yeah, I mean and caddying foryou.
I'll never forget.
You called me and you were likehey, I'm playing in the
nationwide event up at empirelakes.
I played shitty first round.
Can you caddy tomorrow?
And I'm like wait, what you'refiring and?
(17:53):
and I'm like I don't know, I'mnot, I'm not, I'm not messing
with ang, like ang's gonna whipmy ass yeah no, come caddy, and
I'm like and I remember doing itand I was like, oh my God, I'm
going to triple my dick.
And you know, I don't want toscrew this guy up.
Graham (18:10):
But it was.
You know, that's just the guy.
Scott.
When was the last time youwalked 18 holes?
Eric Meichtry (18:17):
2002 at Empire Lakes.
Announcer (18:19):
That's my point.
Scott (18:23):
Well, I went to Scotland in 2004 and I walked everywhere
out.
So yeah, yeah, but anyhow, eric, anybody that's listening to us
a lot of people in the inlandempire area.
If they want to get lessonsfrom you and not only that, but,
you know, get coached by you,because you're more of a coach
(18:46):
than a teacher.
You can give them experiencesand stuff.
How do they get in touch withyou?
Eric Meichtry (18:52):
um, I don't even know my instagram easy e golf 60
.
Yeah, I don't know if you couldpost it somewhere.
Scott (18:58):
My same with my youtube yeah, we'll tag you in ours and
when we send this out, theepisode apple podcast, spotify
the whole thing.
You know, we'll send it to you,throw it on your instagram and
let's get you some more business, because we obviously know
inland empire california is ahotbed for golfers yeah, max
(19:21):
yeah, but, dude, thanks fortaking time out on your little
family vacation.
Yeah, oh, and I said hi, yeah,and sam and chris, the girls,
are engaged yeah dude, the girlsare.
Uh.
Thanks for making me feel old,uh huh yeah I got a couple
shithead son-in-laws.
Eric Meichtry (19:44):
Yeah, dude, I'll be 56 next month, man.
Graham (19:47):
What.
Eric Meichtry (19:48):
Yeah.
Scott (19:49):
Yeah, wow, like I told you the other night, you were
like family looks good.
I'm like, yeah, I got two highschool kids.
Yeah, never, it's crazy.
You look just as old as I do,damn Just as old as you.
Hey, hold on.
Graham (20:05):
Since you're getting off pretty soon.
I got to end with this, sincewe are talking about how old you
are when I had to send you thelink to do the podcast who the
fuck?
Still uses AOL.
Eric Meichtry (20:18):
I don't change my shit.
I don't change my golf swing.
I hardly change my underwear.
My email is the same since it'sbeen in the 90s.
Graham (20:28):
He said that to me and I was like what the?
Announcer (20:30):
fuck is this?
Eric Meichtry (20:32):
Dude, I get that all the time and I'm keeping it
just because of the reactions Iget from people.
Announcer (20:39):
That's awesome yeah.
Scott (20:41):
Eric, real quick as we get off.
I got to ask you, dude, theseyoung kids, the dude that won
yesterday on the tour.
Yeah, eric, real quick as weget off, I got to ask you, dude,
these young kids, the dude thatwon yesterday on the tour.
Yeah, average ball speed 195plus.
Yeah, what the shit man.
Yeah.
Eric Meichtry (20:59):
Insane.
The thing now, like we see itin soccer, right, we're seeing
girls soccer.
There's athletes coming fromdifferent sports that are
tapping into soccer, so it'schanging the speed of the girls'
game.
So now we're getting theseathletes that are playing golf.
So when we get thesefast-twitch athletes and get a
club in their hand and get theirgolf swings organized, we're
(21:22):
seeing these ball speeds.
So, yes, the equipment's great,but these great athletes that
would normally go play baseball,football, basketball, whatever
it is, now they're playing golf.
So we're seeing these greatathletes come into our sport
that are just like wow, we'venever seen that shit before
because we got all the nerds wegot all the band kids and the
(21:44):
nerds playing golf right when wewere young, because golf was
gay.
So so now all these greatathletes are trans, they're not,
they're just skipping over allthe traditional sports and
they're just diving right intogolf.
So, and they have fast twitchmovements that you know, that we
haven't seen and we're startingto see it.
Scott (22:01):
It's like holy shit they're hitting it a ton as I'm
watching it.
Yesterday, you know, when Itexted you about tonight, all I
could think about they keptshowing this hot guiders grip
and his strong ass grip and allI can think about is the dude
giving you range balls on therange at Piners and saying to
(22:23):
you nobody's ever beensuccessful with a strong grip.
Announcer (22:27):
Right.
Scott (22:28):
And I'm like really dude, this guy's handed my guy range
balls and he's criticizing hisgroup.
Eric Meichtry (22:35):
You're right.
Does he know?
His face is closed.
Scott (22:36):
The next year Zach Johnson wins the Masters and I'm
like, oh yeah.
Eric Meichtry (22:44):
Yeah, you have a strong grip, uh-huh.
Scott (22:47):
I mean this Aldrich guy.
I mean how's he hitting theselittle bleeders with that grip?
Eric Meichtry (22:53):
I don't get it, but it's nuts.
Scott (22:56):
Yeah, pretty cool.
Anyhow, dude, thanks for comingon.
I appreciate it.
I'll send you the episode.
Dude, thanks for coming on.
I appreciate it.
I'll send you the episode.
So, as Eric takes off, I justhave to say thank you for him
coming on and spending a fewminutes with us on his vacation
with the family.
(23:16):
It was awesome.
I had a blast reminiscing withsomeone that I've had a lot of
fun times with, with someonethat I've had a lot of fun times
with, and you know I know youdon't know him very well, but
you know you can obviously tellin a 20-minute conversation just
how fun of a guy he is Factsand amazing golfer.
(23:37):
But you know, like I said atthe beginning, we're doing
things a little backwards.
We had a guest on Graham.
How was your weekend Good?
Graham (23:49):
Well, the weekend's been very chill, you know, just been
dedicating it to working on mytan, finding a new job and just
watching some golf.
A lot of fireworks happened,although not over the weekend,
which you know.
(24:10):
We've said this many timesbefore, but I'm a firm believer
in things happen for a reason.
And it was kind of a good thingthat we didn't do the podcast
last night, because, boy oh boy,was there some news that
happened today, Talking aboutthe Pittsburgh Steelers baby.
And let me tell you, you know,Scott thinks either I live under
(24:32):
a rock or I sleep until 4 pmbecause I finally texted him and
he's like bro, are you justwaking up now?
and I was like no I didn't seeany notifications on my phone.
I'm like what's going on?
This is hot news, a trade thathappens at like what?
10 am east coast time no 11dude.
Scott (24:51):
I'm literally giving a lesson to one of my little
juniors and we're done on therange and we're getting ready to
go on the course.
I grab my phone and I'm likeI'm sorry, what?
And I texted you at 11 10 mytime am.
I'm like, wow, that's crazy,because the first notification
did not include Johnny Right,and that's why I said well,
(25:16):
that's odd.
And I don't get a response fromyou until 7 o'clock my time.
And I'm like okay, are youalive?
I mean, we'll get into that ina minute.
Graham (25:33):
Yeah, craziness, but you know enough about me.
How was your weekend, brother?
Scott (25:39):
It was great.
You know you and I were on thephone Saturday night.
We both made a couple live betson the tour.
You know we took Max Gracerman.
I had a free $10 bet, gracermanhad 7-1.
I had a free $10 bet, gracermanhad 7-1,.
Had another free $10 bet, tookChris Kirk at 8-1.
(26:02):
And they end up being in athree-way playoff and I'm like
all right, I got two of the guysin the playoff and homeboy
Aldridge Guider decides he'sgoing to win.
And was it four or five-holeplayoff?
I mean I'm loving my chances.
You know I knew you had Maxbecause I was talking to you
(26:24):
about him, right, and I was likeall right, I'll take Max, I'll
root for Max Kirk misses thatshort putt on.
I don't know what playoff holeit was.
I'm like okay, still got it.
And then the end.
I mean, but whatever, playedsome, you know, watched some
(26:45):
golf.
One of my students you know thechick I've talked to you about
14-year-old girl had an amazinground, a couple firsts for her,
it was awesome Went and had somebeers with Billy, it was fun.
I was stressed out for a secondround.
And you know, yesterday, as I'mhanging out at home, not
(27:06):
leaving the house, because it'sa million degrees here.
She played her ass off dude,I'm super excited.
And she took the step, you know, the next step.
And this afternoon played nineholes, with her being her versus
my assistant and her grandpa alittle nine-hole match and she
(27:28):
hit it great and obviously thegood guys won the match.
And, dude, I'm excited you know, I've talked to you about it,
my dad and all my buddies.
She's really good, and byreally good I mean really good.
(27:50):
She will play in college.
She's an upcoming freshman.
I'm certainly more excited bythe way she played I mean, dude,
not to go off on a tangent, butI was looking at a couple
things yesterday she played theback nine it was a 36-hole event
(28:12):
, so she played the back nine.
She had four birdies, two eagles, two doubles and a bogey and
played the back nine in two days, three under.
Graham (28:25):
What.
Scott (28:27):
With two doubles and a bogey.
Graham (28:32):
That's insane.
It was awesome.
I mean, the real question isthis Not throwing any jabs at
any and particular people butthe real question is for how
good she is, do you think shecould play from the tips and
beat a 20 handicapper?
Scott (28:54):
Not even a question in my mind.
14-year-old girl 100%.
Graham (29:00):
Gotcha.
Scott (29:02):
I mean she hits it 220.
I mean yesterday it was herbest round ever, day one she was
74.
And we chatted Saturday afterher first round and I'm like,
hey, remember, one shot at atime.
I know that was her best roundever.
(29:23):
Have fun, you know, do yourthing.
She literally made it eight onthe first hole yesterday.
And when I talked to her aftera round, I mean she shot 44 on
the front, nine.
Yeah, and I told Kristen I wasworried about yesterday's round
because it was her career best.
I mean, what do they always sayon the tour?
(29:43):
Dude goes out and shoots 61.
What's coming up the next day?
It ain't going to be easy 75?
Right, yeah, it ain't going tobe easy 75, 77.
Yeah, and literally she shoots44 on the front and then she
goes out on the back and shootseven par with a double and a
(30:04):
bogey and I was pumped.
I mean she's heat off at 1145and it was like four 30.
I'm like, all right, she hasn'ttexted, she hasn't called.
I'm looking up the score online.
It's driving me insane.
Looked it up, then she textedme, call me when you got a
chance.
And I'm like sorry I cheated.
All right, you know, like yourscore, but you know I was pumped
(30:26):
, dude.
I mean, after an eight on thefirst hole, it's very easy, and
shoot 44 on the front, it's veryeasy to be like I'm out, but so
getting, I'm stoked.
Eighth grader, it's not evenhigh school yet, dude, it's
awesome.
But it was a fun weekend.
We had our boy, mike Tree, on.
(30:47):
Like I said, when we weretalking to him I watched the
Instagram live.
You know, friday night it wassick, it was awesome, brought
back memories of hanging outwith him and, you know, go to
work today and, you know, givehim a lesson.
And then all of a sudden, thenotification comes up about your
Steelers.
And as soon as I saw it, youknow, like I said, the first
(31:09):
notification was Minka forRamsey, Right, and I'm like,
wait what?
I didn't get it.
And then it came out that itwas Minka for Ramsey and Jonu
Smith and I was like, all right,I kind of get it.
Arthur Smith coached Jonu inTennessee and I think in Atlanta
(31:34):
, yeah, and he's a big fan ofJohn U nothing against Friar
Muth, but John U has been a stud.
But the craziest thing to mewas remember back in the day the
Dolphins traded Minka to theSteelers, not with Steelers
(31:54):
trading him back.
Graham (31:55):
It's like 2018.
First round pick.
Scott (31:58):
It's crazy yeah.
Graham (32:00):
It's crazy to think that , you know.
It's funny looking back onSteelers' previous first round
picks and how we said inprevious episodes how within the
last like six or seven yearswe've only re-signed one of our
first-round picks, which isinsane to think.
And now to think, wow, we gaveup a first round to get Minka,
(32:20):
which we did re-sign.
So I mean that works out.
I'm still happy we made thetrade.
He was a great player for us.
I mean, look, I'm still in shocka little bit about the trade
because the thing was I knewPittsburgh was going to make
another move you know it is thequote unquote NFL's on vacation
(32:43):
and I'm air quoting folks but Iknew they were going to make
another move.
What it was, who knows.
I mean, I figured John Newmight be in it, I figured Ramsey
might be in it, just because ofthe rumblings that has been
going on.
But to make a move in which wegot both of those guys, because
I'm thinking to myself, I'm like, before this trade happened,
(33:03):
what would need to happen forPittsburgh?
Who would they get rid of?
Right, like, who would theytrade to get these guys?
And I wouldn't have done astraight up Ramsey for
Fitzpatrick.
Scott (33:18):
Minka's younger right Two years, like I was talking to
you about earlier.
Before we got on air.
Ramsey and Derwin are bestfriends, obviously.
They both played at FloridaState, the Chargers.
They always said Derwin wantsto play with Ramsey and Ramsey
(33:39):
getting up there in age andRamsey saying he wanted to play
on the West Coast and theChargers podcast guys were like
it ain't going to happen.
Folks because, uh, you knownickel safety plays in the box
and ramsey, as he's gettingolder, is basically the same guy
(33:59):
.
You know corners.
As they get old they transitionthem to a safety right playing
in the box.
They're both big physical guysand I was like never thought
about that.
And then the trade happens andI'm like all right, the Steelers
are getting rid of Minka forRamsey.
Graham (34:20):
I mean you have some decent corners but you still get
Ramsey in return, but you getJohn it right that, plus the
fact that one of the biggestpositions we needed to fill we
did in the offseason.
I mean we need to help a corner.
We got that, you know gettingBly but that nickel corner spot
(34:44):
has been an issue for us for thelast X amount of years.
You know we've just beendrafting guys, rotating guys,
you know free agent guys, andit's just like now, because the
NFL is getting to such a passhappy offense and they're
throwing the ball so much more,you need those extra quote
(35:07):
unquote cornerbacks or guys thatwill transition from the
outside to the inside and togive you that same level of
competition, basically, and toget a guy like Jalen Ramsey, who
for how many years wasconsidered the number one corner
in all of football and lookyeah he's 30 years old, I get it
.
Is he what he was four years ago?
Scott (35:28):
No, I remember back when he was someone out of college,
florida State I wanted him more.
I think he was in Bosa's draftclass.
I think Didn't he get draftedby the Jaguars?
I wanted Ramsey more than Iwanted Bosa, I think at pick
(35:51):
four.
Graham (35:51):
I don't know why it's sticking out in my head.
It was like pick four.
I mean it was early, real early.
Scott (35:58):
I mean, I think Bosa went three.
Graham (35:59):
Wow, that's crazy.
Scott (36:02):
And I wanted Ramsey.
Remember Kevin, my boy from theChargers, him and I sitting on
my back porch at our last housein California and Kristen was
inside inside and the TV was ondelay draft night and we
announced Bosa and I was Kevinand I were like Kristen saw it
(36:23):
earlier, but dude, ramsey justdied, right, I mean and people
will say what they want to sayabout him recently the contract
is what was killing it.
Yeah, but, dude, he's going tobe solid.
Graham (36:40):
He is going to be solid.
And look, as you're talkingabout the contract, he's not
going to play a straight corner.
No, and that's fine.
Scott (36:48):
He's going to play the Derwin role as being that safety
nickel in the box kind of guy,and that's what I want.
And that's the best thing.
That's the best thing thathappened to the Chargers once.
Beanie head, I don't evenremember the ass hats Stadium
head coach, don't even matterwhy you got to say that.
Announcer (37:08):
Once the Haley left.
Scott (37:10):
Tori, how'd you get out of the bedroom?
My dog's running around now.
Tori, how'd you get out of thebedroom?
My dog's running around now?
That's the best thing thathappened once Jesse Minner got
there was Derwin was around theball Right, and I can see Ramsey
filling that same role with youguys.
I mean, Minka got hurt a couplegames last year.
The only thing that I questionis y'all are taking I don't know
(37:36):
what the dolphins are eating ina salary, but like you said
earlier, they gave him a littlebit of a raise.
What's going to happen with?
Graham (37:44):
Watt.
We got money, we had money tospend and, like I said earlier,
we were paying Minka a buttloadof cash as well.
So the swap was really I don'twant to say it evened each other
out, but Minka was getting paidin the at least $20 million a
year.
I want to say around $25.
(38:05):
And this is all off the top ofmy head, folks, so don't kill me
in the comments and you knowRamsey's in that like $25 to
range, so it's not that much ofa difference.
I was kind of surprised.
I saw, dude, we fullyguaranteed Jono Smith at, I
think, $12 million, which ispretty good for a tight end.
(38:27):
I mean, who's to say at thispoint?
But look, we still got to sign.
Tj Pittsburgh had money tospend.
But look, the owner, art Rooney,was just like hey, he said to
Tomlin the previous year look,get your shit together.
(38:47):
We are the Pittsburgh Steelers,we are a storied franchise.
We can't be good enough to makethe playoffs and have
first-round Like.
We need to do something aboutit.
And last year they did Likethey made moves.
You know we brought in Russ, webrought in Justin Fields, we
brought in you know, some otherpieces.
You know Patrick Queen andthings like that, which helped,
but it didn't get us over thehump per se.
(39:10):
And what I mean by that is, youknow, not even a deep run.
How about just a win?
Can we start with a playoff win?
I mean, I'm not greedy rightnow, but last year was last year
, this year is this year, right,and I think this year, because
everyone's talking about, oh,the quarterback, the quarterback
situation, what's Pittsburghgoing to do?
(39:30):
I mean, look, the whole AaronRogers situation rubbed everyone
except the internal core peopleof the upper management of
Pittsburgh Steelers the wrongway, like, oh, what do you mean?
You're not gonna sign?
What do you mean you're notgonna tell us anything?
What do you mean?
I really think it came down tothe communication between Art
Rooney, but more especially MikeTom, mike Tomlin, between Aaron
(39:54):
Rodgers, where he's just likelook, I'm going to be here.
I still like, I'm nottechnically committed, but I'm
going to let you know I'm goingto be here.
I got things that need to takecare of.
We'll just keep it on the DL,we'll let time ride out, but
I'll be here for right.
And and look, everyone wasgiving him shit prior to the
draft, after the draft, that twomonths that it was.
(40:17):
And look, did he sign?
Yes, is everyone happy at first, but him being in the building
and him coming to OTAs, thevoluntary OTAs it really showed
a lot.
No-transcript.
(40:56):
Look, we got John Hugh Smith,who's technically a tight end
but I mean he plays more or lesslike a wide receiver.
I like him as a greatcomplement to the other wide
receivers, and by wide receiversI mean tight ends and Fry ends
and Friar Muth.
Announcer (41:12):
Darnell.
Graham (41:12):
Washington, which, by the way, aaron Rodgers loves.
Bro, aaron Rodgers, yeah, buthe's a blocker yeah, he is.
But watch out, hey, you heardit here first Darnell Washington
, I'm taking the over in threeand a half touchdowns.
You heard it here first.
Anyway, between those moves,but then this move that they
(41:35):
just made, the ceiling is there.
I mean, at this point, all itcan come down to, and especially
how it is in the NFL, what'sthe number one asset of a player
in the NFL?
Announcer (41:50):
Their health.
Graham (41:50):
Availability.
If the guys that we brought inand our core guys can stay
healthy for the whole season, orat least if they do, can we get
banged up a little bit in thebeginning of the season?
But if we can stay healthy, hey, don't.
Can us out that defense lookinggood with the additions that we
had through the draft, theoffense, Aaron, how smart he is
(42:14):
and how he can help run theoffense.
I just I don't want to soundlike a homer I'm going to.
I'm not saying we're winningthe division, I'm not saying
that, but you heard it herefirst.
We're getting a playoff winthis year and it might be more
than one if we stay healthy.
I'm just telling you right nowI like our chances.
Scott (42:38):
So the 2016 draft, when Ramsey was picked, coming out of
Florida State Rams took JaredGoff one, eagles took Carson
Wentz to.
Like I said, chargers took Bosathree, cowboys took Zeke
Elliott four.
And the Jaguars took Ramseyfive.
Graham (43:00):
I mean.
Scott (43:04):
And that's when Laramie Tunsell was supposed to be early
and he was smoking weed throughhis gas mask and wow, he went
13 to Miami.
Graham (43:14):
And then he went to.
Scott (43:17):
Houston and now he's with Washington.
Yeah, how about Derrick Henry?
Dude went 45th overall toTennessee.
That's crazy, crazy.
But you know, I mean, it allcomes down to Aaron Rodgers.
(43:40):
Dude Facts.
It all comes down to AaronRodgers.
Graham (43:44):
I mean, at this point the pieces are set.
I know we still got to sign TJ.
It's going to happen, I'm notworried about it.
There's no level.
Well, I can't say no level, butI mean from everyone that I've
been watching online thereporters and different stuff
everyone says it's going tohappen.
So if they say that, I believeit.
(44:06):
And look, this is it, this isthe shot, this is our best
chance we've had in a while.
And the thing is it's just likeI want to do it with our guys.
Specifically, I want to do itwith the Cam Haywards that have
been so good for us for so manyyears now.
I mean, dude, he's I think thisis Cam's 14th year, 13th or
(44:27):
14th year, you know TJ's not,unfortunately, getting any
younger either.
I mean, look, would I haveliked to also put Mika
Fitzpatrick in this conversation, absolutely, but he gone, so
sorry about it.
But you know, look, maybe theextra you know playoff
(44:51):
experience from Ramsey, you know, on the defense, will help.
I just, I mean, the thing iseveryone's like oh well, ramsey
didn't have that great of a yearlast year with the Dolphins.
Yeah, did you see what theDolphins did last year?
They had no pass rush.
Like for anyone that watchesthe NFL, things have to happen
(45:11):
for individuals to succeed.
Right, if you're a good corner,like, the reason why you're a
great corner is because you havea great pass rush.
Scott (45:22):
And that goes back to my boy, ben Seeland, from the very
first episode of this show whenI was complaining about our
corners.
And Ben C goes.
Stop talking fanball, talkfootball.
He goes.
Any wide receiver in the leaguecan get open in five seconds,
(45:43):
don't care who's covering them,but dude the Dolphins.
I just.
I don't care who's coveringthem, but dude the dolphins.
I just.
I don't understand.
I mean, ramsay was a captain,johnny was a captain, calais
campbell was a captain.
They're all gone.
What kind of faith can you havein the Dolphins if you're a
(46:06):
Dolphins fan right now?
I mean, what can you thinkabout the Dolphins?
Is it his fault?
Is it his fault the GMs tradedaway everybody?
Is it his fault?
Tyreek wants out?
I mean, remember the yearbefore when the Dolphins played
the Bills in the playoffs inBuffalo.
(46:28):
Wasn't it their third guy?
Fourth guy?
I mean I don't know, but I mean, as a fan of an NFL team, I
mean, if Herbert goes down, do Ireally have faith in the
success of the future of theseason?
What, dude?
(46:48):
I mean the Eagles, carson Wentz, nick Foles, the Patriots back
in the day, through Bledsoe,enter Tom Brady.
I agree.
Graham (47:01):
I agree, you know it's the next man up and the problem
is there's a reason why I don'twant to say this.
So I was listening on NFL radio, on Sirius XM and not this.
I'm not going in oppositedirection just by saying this,
but there was a segment wherethey were talking about growing
(47:22):
the game, especially overseas,and you know they made a good
point that it's just like we'renot going to have teams overseas
, or at least especially likeanother division overseas, for
at least another 20, 30 years.
Because think about it, if youhad four more teams, are there
(47:44):
four more quality NFL startingquarterbacks?
Scott (47:48):
It ain't happening, they ain't going to.
Graham (47:49):
Well, I'm just saying like they want to.
But I'm just saying like thegame hasn't developed enough in
other countries to where we cansay like there's a reason why
there's 10.
We'll just say 10 is a roundnumber.
There's 10 quarterbacks in theNFL right now that you could be
like all right, I'd be finetaking you 10 quarterbacks in
the NFL right now.
(48:09):
That you'd be like all right,I'd be fine taking you After 10,
.
You're like, yeah, it'll work,but do I have all the confidence
in the world?
You can lead us into theplayoffs and make a deep run.
Scott (48:16):
But, lou, I mean I keep saying it and you keep laughing
at me.
I'm just going to throw it outthere.
Wouldn't surprise me.
I know you all drafted WillHoward late.
I know you got Aaron Rodgers,who's already announced this is
his last season.
Would not be shocked, dude.
(48:37):
Kyler Murray is the quarterbackfor the Steelers next year.
Wouldn't be shocked.
Graham (48:44):
All right yo, if Kyler Murray is the quarterback next
year I'll shave my head.
All right, bro.
I'll tell you.
All right yo, if Kyler Murrayis the quarterback next year
I'll shave my head.
Scott (48:51):
All right, bro, I'll tell you.
All right, everybody.
June 30th at 1135.
2025.
Graham (48:58):
There is no FAA.
Eric Meichtry (49:00):
Dude, why not?
Why not?
Graham (49:04):
Okay, okay.
So if Herbert went down with acareer-ending injury, are you
getting?
Scott (49:10):
I'd take him over Will Howard.
I mean, he's got startingexperience.
He's played in a good offense.
You know, did they overpay him?
Yeah, maybe.
Well, he has started a a goodoffense.
You know, did they overpay him?
Yeah, maybe.
Well, he has started a playoffgame.
Graham (49:31):
You can't look me in the face and say they definitely
didn't, but he's got experience.
Okay, what?
Running around like a littlekid in a playground and then
throwing the ball up in the air,looking for miracles?
Scott (49:43):
And he's had success.
It's more than Will Howard'sdone looking for miracles, and
he's had success.
It's more than Will Howard'sdone.
Graham (49:47):
Yeah, he hasn't played a down yet in the NFL.
Eric Meichtry (49:50):
Give him a chance .
Graham (49:54):
Hey, you heard it here.
Second, I'll take Will Howardover him all day, every day.
Dude Yenzers, real Yenzers,want nothing to do with him,
nothing.
He can't even see over theoffensive line.
How are we supposed to?
Scott (50:11):
block for him.
How'd that work out?
How'd that work out?
Graham (50:15):
Yeah, well, okay yeah, have you ever heard of a unicorn
?
They exist, but you knowthere's a reason why they're few
and far between.
Scott (50:25):
Anyhow, Another crazy trade and another sport my Vegas
Golden Knights.
Mitch Marner today.
Dude from the Maple LeafsInsane.
You know, tomorrow starts freeagency in NHL and it all came
(50:48):
down to if we signed him as afree agent, he could only sign a
seven-year deal.
If it was a sign-and-trade hecould sign an eight-year deal.
So Maple Leaf signing andsign-and-trade.
The worst part about the wholesituation is my boy, Nick Waugh
(51:09):
you know, spelled R-O-Y is nolonger a knight and loves having
him on the team, just becauseeverybody knows my nickname is
Waugh.
But, dude, him and Eicheltogether let's go Instantly
favorites to win the West.
What, Dude Marshan re-signedwith the Panthers.
(51:33):
Panthers are, like I saidearlier, dude, they're about to
steamroll.
The league Would not imagine orwould not be surprised if they
won again next year with theircap.
Sam Bennett, I mean, dude, it'sinsane, Insane.
(51:54):
But, Graham, this was one of myfavorite episodes.
Got to reconnect with Mike Treeand his US Senior Open this
past week in Colorado Springs atthe Broadmoor.
Like I was telling you theother night, it was a blast to
watch it on Instagram Live andyou know it was super cool.
(52:17):
He's a down-to-earth guy, he'sone of my favorite people and it
was a blast dude people and itwas a blast dude.
So anybody in murrieta,temecula you know, inland empire
that's looking for proper golfinstruction you know we're gonna
(52:37):
tag him in our episode,instagram, the whole deal.
Hit him up, go out there andget better.
Hit him up, get out there andget better.
Hit him up, get out there andget better.
But, Graham, it's the dog daysof summer.
You know it's about to be thefourth.
Have a great holiday everybody.
Happy fourth, Be safe.
(53:00):
And not sure if you saw it, butthe hero of the day, the Disney
Cruise.
You see the littlefour-year-old girl that fell off
the balcony on the fourth floorof the cruise.
Graham (53:17):
Dude no.
Scott (53:18):
Four-year-old girl fell off the balcony of the Disney
Cruise and her dad jumped in thewater to save her.
They had to tread water for 20plus minutes.
Got him Everybody's good andsame.
That's what a dad does, dude.
Graham (53:40):
I mean, I'd obviously do the same, but just imagining
jumping off a cruise ship.
How close you would be to theship, Wouldn't you be concerned
Like you'd get sucked under the?
Scott (53:49):
ship.
When is your four-year-old kid?
Graham (53:50):
Oh my God, no, I get it, I get it, I get it.
I'm just saying.
And, by the way, how did we gofrom Hot Chick?
Announcer (53:59):
of the Week to Because, dude, that's just
insane.
Graham (54:03):
I was just like no, no, you're definitely right, but you
just took me a complete leftturn.
Announcer (54:09):
I was like oh, who are we?
Scott (54:10):
going to talk about now.
I was the hot chick of the weekthe last couple.
Who's your hot chick of theweek?
Graham (54:16):
Well, I mean you normally.
You know you're the guy forthat, so I didn't know.
I had the chance to vote forthat.
Announcer (54:22):
So, folks, next week I got the hot chick of the week.
No, no, no, no no, no, not nextweek Stay tuned.
Scott (54:27):
Right now on the spot hot chick of the week.
Graham (54:29):
Yeah, I have.
Who is the hot chick of theweek?
Who am I?
I don't know.
I finally finished the last twoepisodes of Full Swing, so
we'll bring out your girl again,amanda Bellionis.
Announcer (54:52):
She's the hot chick of the year, I mean just saying
on that note, scott.
Graham (55:04):
It's always a pleasure doing the podcast.
Super appreciative to have Ericon the podcast Today.
Can't wait to get this out andshow it all over social media.
Another great episode.
Can't wait to do it again nextweek.
And as the best homie alwayssays, Buh-bye.
Scott (55:20):
Good night friends.
Eric, thanks for coming ontonight.
You fucking fuck AmandaBaleonas.
You already know, if you don't,my boy Badger will sell you a
clue.
Announcer (55:36):
Bye-bye.
This episode of the Bald Guyson the Bench podcast is brought
to you by our friends atNorthstar Credit Union and
Southern Auto, located inSoutheast Virginia.
welcome to another episode of the bald guys on the
bench podcast, with your hostsgraham cohen and scott wasco
what's up everyone and welcomeback to another episode of the
Ball Guys on the Bench.
Scott (00:26):
You know that fun comedy sports podcast you guys all love
, so we're having a little gueston tonight.
We're doing things a littledifferent.
My boy, Eric Maitry, fresh offthe US Senior Open in Colorado
Springs, right, Yep yep.
At the Broadmoor Graham whatyou got, bro?
Graham (00:46):
Hey, I got this nice cold beer.
Eric, why don't you join us?
Let's grab one and crack one.
Let's go.
Eric Meichtry (00:52):
Oh, God, we're waiting for this Fuck.
Scott (00:55):
Right.
It always takes forever to getthis shit going.
It's like, oh man, can I crackthis God?
Eric Meichtry (01:01):
damn, I haven't had a beer in like 37 minutes.
Scott (01:07):
I'm like okay, shit, I gotta wait to crabber and
crackling with the boys, right?
So first off, eric, I knowyou're in tahoe with the family
and drinking, doing the wholething cooking.
You obviously took the time offthe grill and you don't even
think about my boy, boy Eric'sgrill status, but that's another
topic we'll get into it anothertime, but thank you for you
(01:29):
know taking a few minutes away.
Yeah, um, just thought it wouldbe cool to have you on after
playing in the senior open.
You know, your first one andyou know, let the world get to
know Eric Maitrey.
Yeah, you know, let the worldget to know eric miktree.
Yeah, yeah, so just real quick,I'm I don't dude.
(01:50):
When did we meet?
When did you move to murietta?
Uh, kristen and I were tryingto think about that.
Eric Meichtry (01:55):
So I got there in o2.
Um, august of o2, we moved fromnorthern California down to the
eight fairway at, uh, SCGAmembers club Right, and uh, I
needed a place to play inpractice.
So so Pat Kimball was there andyou were there, and uh, so that
(02:16):
was August of oh two and thenOctober of oh two.
I played in, I think, my firstGolden State Tour event and shot
62 in the first round.
You guys basically gave me thekeys to the place.
You can do whatever the fuckyou want to do.
I just set the new courserecord.
Scott (02:35):
Pretty much.
I mean, I don't remember whenyou moved there I started SCGA
July of 02.
Yeah, you were brand new.
Yeah, kristen and I got marriedof june of 02, right, so you
were freshies.
Eric Meichtry (02:50):
I mean, oh yeah, I was a little pup dude yeah,
yeah, and you came out on thethe second round.
I remember the second round, um, on the 13th hole is whatever,
I think it's like 585 and I haddriver from I think I had about
285 into the into that righthole location.
I hit driver off the deck andyou were in a golf cart out
(03:11):
there watching and I rememberyou're like holy shit, what the
fuck did?
I just watch and I knocked iton the green and two put it, I
think I think, to shoot 100 barfor the day and only win by a
couple yeah, I, I think I was 62.
Scott (03:25):
Thanks for playing, yeah, first round.
But I was, you know, looking ateverything, thinking about the
past with you and I, you know, Itexted you last night.
I'm like send me your playingresume, like some highlights,
(03:49):
and you hit the nail on the head, dude.
And I was like not only thisguy, amazing golfer, but he's a
better man, better father,amazing husband, boys to me,
amazing with Kristen.
I mean before we had kids.
You know I'm from Virginia, wedidn't have kids.
Your family brought us in forChristmas and Easter.
Yeah, that's right.
I'll never forget hanging outat your parents' house on the
hole at scga having christmasdinner and easter dinner.
Yeah, that's right.
And you know that was nuts, itwas awesome.
(04:12):
Still remember it, dude, wedidn't have family there.
Yeah, you know, you were myfamily.
Yeah, even though you're afucking fuck.
I mean just to rattle off acouple of quick things.
You know we're here to learnmore about Eric Maitry the man.
I mean golf, everybody's gothighlights and shit.
But you know, 2000 Hooters Tourchampion 2005, california State
(04:37):
Open champion 2005, played inthe US Open at Pinehurst.
One of my favorite memoriesever I mean especially you know
this is 2005.
I talked to you about it acouple weeks ago, the longest
day in golf.
There was no smartphones backthen.
All I knew was you were in aplayoff to get there and I'm
(05:01):
like, hitting refresh on my damncomputer, over and over and
over, the phone rings, it's youand I'm like, oh god, oh god, oh
god, and I answer it.
And it's your wife and and I'llnever forget it she's like so
you're ready to go to Pinehurst?
yeah, that's right, I rememberthat phone call, dude, and do
(05:23):
you remember my response?
Eric Meichtry (05:24):
Uh, like fuck yeah exactly.
Scott (05:28):
Yeah, you nailed it.
You nailed it.
Yeah, fuck.
Yeah, that was so sick, it wasawesome.
Yeah, then your dad menace outthere.
Graham (05:39):
Good old T-bone.
Scott (05:42):
Yep.
Eric Meichtry (05:43):
So, eric, uh, talking about the uh Oh5 us open
at pinehurst, tell us thislittle story about what happened
on your practice round onwednesday with you, jason gore,
colin montgomery and scottmccarron like what on the 18th
remember, on the 18th hole on 18, yeah, oh, the greatest, yeah,
it was Scott McCarron hit oneand the grandstand was huge just
(06:08):
behind the tee or on the sideof the tee, and McCarron pipes
one and nobody really didanything.
And McCarron's like dude, whatthe fuck you guys?
I just striped one down thistight-ass fairway and nobody
clapped.
So then I stripe one.
Everybody goes crazy,everybody's cheering.
And then Jason Gore one.
Everybody goes crazy,everybody's cheering.
And then jason gore steps up,he goes I can watch this, I'm
gonna top it.
So mccarron goes to the crowd,he goes.
(06:29):
You guys really want to seesomebody hit it.
Watch this guy hit it.
He just freaking, just laysover and just full tops it and
crowds like what the hell youknow?
And montgomery walks off thetee as we're walking off and he
goes.
Well, that was an american thingto do, right, just over ripping
him yeah, it was, uh, it wascool man, it was such a cool
(06:51):
experience.
And uh, in 05, and then to seea lot of the same guys back here
last week at the broadmoor umwas pretty cool.
I haven't seen a lot of them ina long time.
Scott (07:03):
I will never forget.
After Gore, your mom looks atme and she goes.
He did that on purpose, right,and I'm like yes 100%.
Eric Meichtry (07:14):
It's hard.
It's hard to top a golf ball onpurpose well well, on purpose,
graham, yeah, on purpose, graham, yeah on purpose.
Scott (07:30):
One of the fun stories about that week.
I mean just real quick.
After the practice round we'resitting there at the pool at
your hotel and, like you said,my dad came down and we're
sitting there at the pool andI'll never forget Gorg looking
at us and being like I'm scaredto death.
I hit three fairways in threedays of practice rounds.
And then he's in the last groupwith Goosen.
(07:51):
Yeah, not going to say what heshot in that last round, that's
not important, but whatever.
Eric Meichtry (07:56):
Let's just say he won the 84 Lumber Classic a
couple weeks after that, exactly, exactly, exactly.
Couple weeks after that,exactly, exactly, exactly.
So it was cool because one ofmy students qualified for the
2019 USM, which was back atPinehurst Right.
So I went, I went back with himand caddied for him and it's
(08:20):
the first time I've been back toPinehurst since, since 05.
And we're in the player diningarea and I got this big guy over
my shoulder, you know, kind ofbreathing on me like dude, what
the hell.
And it was jason gore because hewas working for the usga at
that time and I'm like no way,dude.
So we we jumped in a golf cartone of the afternoons and rode
around pinehurst number two andjust talked and memories and
(08:44):
flashbacks, and it was so coolman to spend, you know, spend a
couple hours with him back thereand then, you know, then he
qualified for uh, when I saw hequalified for broadmoor, I text
him that afternoon.
I go, dude, I know you're kindof a big deal, but can we get a
practice on monday at thebroadmoor?
So we never we hooked up but wedidn't play.
(09:06):
We kind of our schedules kindof didn't Okay, yeah, it didn't,
didn't blend, but we did gettogether for a good hug.
Scott (09:13):
That's good.
Yeah, that's awesome.
Graham, you're going to ask him.
Oh yeah, I don't know if youknow this, but you're going to
die and it's going to be ahundred percent.
Graham (09:23):
So just backtracking back to the oh five at Pinehurst
.
Did Scott ever tell you thestory about, uh how he got into
the player dining lounge and hadsome beers and was uh messed
with David Toms?
Scott (09:36):
No, dude, you, you gave me the player family badge and
remember one of them two of myboys from college were there.
My dad and you're making theturn and I go in the player
dining room and I'm literallystuffing my shorts full of
Miller Lights and as I'm doingit, David Toms is walking past
(09:59):
me and he looks at me and he'slike first time at the US Open,
son.
Yeah, Just kept on going, dude,We'll never forget it.
Nice, oh man.
Yeah, but you know, now you'respending a lot more time.
You know teaching people, right?
Yeah, I mean, I follow you onInstagram and how has the
(10:22):
transition been from being thatguy that's chasing the dream and
still are to helping players?
I mean, um, myself as a PGAmember who runs golf courses and
teaches, I love helping theyoung and gotten more into
teaching the better players.
Yeah, you as a player, and Ialways told my dad I'm like if
(10:46):
Eric was a baseball player, he'dbe on a major league roster.
If he was a football player,he'd be on a roster.
There ain't room on golf tours.
Yeah, you know somebody withyour caliber, it's.
I mean, look at Jason Gord, youknow.
Yeah, he's hot and wins acouple events and that's the
thing.
How have you transitioned?
Eric Meichtry (11:09):
I'm so happy with what I do that I wouldn't want
to play a full schedule.
If I got status, I'm not goingto go to the Champions Tour Q
School.
I don't want that life.
I enjoy being around my family.
I enjoy being around my family,enjoy being around my students.
The things that I've learned inmy career it's for my students
(11:35):
at this point.
So the transition was tough, ofplaying full-time and I coached
soccer for 10 years as I wasstill playing and starting to
teach golf.
All of those experiences justmade me a better golf coach.
And even this past week at theBroadmoor it's going to make me
a better golf coach, you know.
So the desires to like, chasethe dream and play I don't have
those desires.
(11:55):
I'd love to play a handful oftournaments a year on the
champion store Nothing, nothingless than that.
I don't need to go back andplay in the Long Beach Open.
I don't need to play in theState Open.
I've won all that stuff atthose levels.
I don't need to play a CornFairy event.
You know, playing in the samearena as the best old guys in
the world, dude, it's so fuckingcool man.
(12:17):
That to me was a highlight.
You know, I didn't do shit toprepare.
I mean, I did some, but priorto the April 29th first
qualifier at goose Creek, Ithink I'd probably played like
four times, you know, this yearprior to that and practice like
very little, you know.
And then between April 29th andJune 2nd for the second one, I
(12:41):
played maybe twice and practiceda little bit and then, from you
know, getting in a couple ofweeks that I had, I then played
a little bit more and practiceda little bit more.
But yeah yeah, so the of courseyou know my schedule's pretty
full with teaching and Ifreaking dig it from all levels,
all ages, that's people, brandnew, good players.
(13:03):
Players want to turn pro.
I'll take them all.
Scott (13:06):
If you're a good person, I'll teach you how to suck less
at golf I love it, and what Ireally love is I don't know who
was doing the instagram live theother night.
Yeah, my future son the guybuying a beer for me.
Dude, I'll venmo you.
It was awesome.
Kristen and I are sitting herewatching it on a friday night in
(13:28):
virginia you know I'm screenreporting it because my dad
doesn't have a clue on how toget on there and it was.
It was awesome, dude, it wascool to see you back in that
arena, and the first shot I sawyou hit when it was instagram
live.
I'm like man, he's got the sameswing, but but it's gotten a
little shorter.
Eric Meichtry (13:47):
It's gotten a little shorter.
Scott (13:47):
My guy's getting old.
Yeah, that's it.
I'm like my guy's getting old.
I'm like holy shit man yeahit's shorter.
It was awesome, dude.
You had your hat on backwardsand you know it was just you
being you.
Eric Meichtry (14:07):
You know, know, it was awesome, it was cool.
Scott (14:08):
So lee quigley, the guy with, the jet that flies us a
bunch of cool places.
Yeah, yeah, who's this guy andhow do I get on board with this?
Eric Meichtry (14:12):
yeah, I like taco dude.
So we we flew.
We were in the fairway, middleof fairway.
It's par five, the ninth hole.
On friday and I had 210 to thehole and I'm hitting five iron.
He turns to all the.
You know we had like 20 friendsand family following and he
goes, he goes.
Hey, if he doesn't fucking makebirdie on this hole, he's
(14:33):
flying Southwest home tomorrow.
So I'm like, I'm like, come on,man.
I got to make birdie Cause hehad the.
He had the jet lined up forSaturday morning, you know.
So we flew from ColoradoSprings to French Valley and
dropped him off, and then heextended the plane for us to fly
(14:55):
us to Reno, to get our car tocome over to Tahoe on Saturday.
Wow yeah, and that was withAnge and the girls and both
their fiancées.
So, yeah, he's been a goodfriend for about six years and
you know he's on the bag.
Yeah, yeah, whatever I do.
Scott (15:12):
I saw was your brother, Caddy.
Eric Meichtry (15:14):
No, that was Lee, that was Lee Quigley.
Scott (15:16):
Oh okay.
Okay, yeah, I couldn't tell whowas Caddy, but it was awesome.
I said on the instagram liveI'm like hey, tell ang, I see
she's not on the bag.
Tell ang scotty and kristin sayhi and whoever.
Somebody was like who's scotty,why yeah?
Kristin I'm like come on, guy,I'm one of the ogs, that's right
(15:39):
.
Eric Meichtry (15:39):
I'm like scared I'll tell him he's here with us
right now.
Scott (15:44):
Yeah, okay, good.
So I know you didn't do whatyou wanted to do.
I mean, you know, like you said, you played three or four
rounds of golf, but what was themoment of the week at Broadmoor
?
Eric Meichtry (16:00):
playing with those guys.
Playing with those guys, I mean, I played with Jerry Kelly on
Wednesday, oh nice.
I played with Len Matisse andJeff Sluman, so I wasn't trying
to play practice rounds with bignames.
I've seen those guys for somany years and they're so cool
to play with Yep being on therange, seeing Miguel Angel,
(16:24):
andernard, longer and ernie andall the greats dude, it was like
it's.
And then lee, my caddy, aswe're hitting balls he's like
dude, they don't hit it anybetter than you do, right?
So, uh, not at all.
No, not at all and no, not atall.
And the difference is they'replaying every week.
(16:46):
I'm teaching golf every week, sothe mistakes that I make now, I
didn't make those when I wasplaying full time, you know.
So it's just I'm not as sharpas I used to be.
But the highlight, dude for theweek was was having my whole
family there my kids, theirfiancees, my mom, my sister, my
(17:07):
brother, you, you know, my dadpassed six years ago, you know.
So I'm really obviously missinghim.
But having you know, my uncle,one of my students, cade, and
his mom drove out, spent timewith us.
I got him inside the ropes onthe putting green, so that the
highlight for the entirety ofthe week was being able to share
it with my friends and family.
Hands down, you know I feltlike I could be.
Scott (17:30):
That's the guy you've always been since I met you.
Eric Meichtry (17:32):
Yeah.
Scott (17:33):
You know 100%.
Yeah, I mean and caddying foryou.
I'll never forget.
You called me and you were likehey, I'm playing in the
nationwide event up at empirelakes.
I played shitty first round.
Can you caddy tomorrow?
And I'm like wait, what you'refiring and?
(17:53):
and I'm like I don't know, I'mnot, I'm not, I'm not messing
with ang, like ang's gonna whipmy ass yeah no, come caddy, and
I'm like and I remember doing itand I was like, oh my God, I'm
going to triple my dick.
And you know, I don't want toscrew this guy up.
Graham (18:10):
But it was.
You know, that's just the guy.
Scott.
When was the last time youwalked 18 holes?
Eric Meichtry (18:17):
2002 at Empire Lakes.
Announcer (18:19):
That's my point.
Scott (18:23):
Well, I went to Scotland in 2004 and I walked everywhere
out.
So yeah, yeah, but anyhow, eric, anybody that's listening to us
a lot of people in the inlandempire area.
If they want to get lessonsfrom you and not only that, but,
you know, get coached by you,because you're more of a coach
(18:46):
than a teacher.
You can give them experiencesand stuff.
How do they get in touch withyou?
Eric Meichtry (18:52):
um, I don't even know my instagram easy e golf 60
.
Yeah, I don't know if you couldpost it somewhere.
Scott (18:58):
My same with my youtube yeah, we'll tag you in ours and
when we send this out, theepisode apple podcast, spotify
the whole thing.
You know, we'll send it to you,throw it on your instagram and
let's get you some more business, because we obviously know
inland empire california is ahotbed for golfers yeah, max
(19:21):
yeah, but, dude, thanks fortaking time out on your little
family vacation.
Yeah, oh, and I said hi, yeah,and sam and chris, the girls,
are engaged yeah dude, the girlsare.
Uh.
Thanks for making me feel old,uh huh yeah I got a couple
shithead son-in-laws.
Eric Meichtry (19:44):
Yeah, dude, I'll be 56 next month, man.
Graham (19:47):
What.
Eric Meichtry (19:48):
Yeah.
Scott (19:49):
Yeah, wow, like I told you the other night, you were
like family looks good.
I'm like, yeah, I got two highschool kids.
Yeah, never, it's crazy.
You look just as old as I do,damn Just as old as you.
Hey, hold on.
Graham (20:05):
Since you're getting off pretty soon.
I got to end with this, sincewe are talking about how old you
are when I had to send you thelink to do the podcast who the
fuck?
Still uses AOL.
Eric Meichtry (20:18):
I don't change my shit.
I don't change my golf swing.
I hardly change my underwear.
My email is the same since it'sbeen in the 90s.
Graham (20:28):
He said that to me and I was like what the?
Announcer (20:30):
fuck is this?
Eric Meichtry (20:32):
Dude, I get that all the time and I'm keeping it
just because of the reactions Iget from people.
Announcer (20:39):
That's awesome yeah.
Scott (20:41):
Eric, real quick as we get off.
I got to ask you, dude, theseyoung kids, the dude that won
yesterday on the tour.
Yeah, eric, real quick as weget off, I got to ask you, dude,
these young kids, the dude thatwon yesterday on the tour.
Yeah, average ball speed 195plus.
Yeah, what the shit man.
Yeah.
Eric Meichtry (20:59):
Insane.
The thing now, like we see itin soccer, right, we're seeing
girls soccer.
There's athletes coming fromdifferent sports that are
tapping into soccer, so it'schanging the speed of the girls'
game.
So now we're getting theseathletes that are playing golf.
So when we get thesefast-twitch athletes and get a
club in their hand and get theirgolf swings organized, we're
(21:22):
seeing these ball speeds.
So, yes, the equipment's great,but these great athletes that
would normally go play baseball,football, basketball, whatever
it is, now they're playing golf.
So we're seeing these greatathletes come into our sport
that are just like wow, we'venever seen that shit before
because we got all the nerds wegot all the band kids and the
(21:44):
nerds playing golf right when wewere young, because golf was
gay.
So so now all these greatathletes are trans, they're not,
they're just skipping over allthe traditional sports and
they're just diving right intogolf.
So, and they have fast twitchmovements that you know, that we
haven't seen and we're startingto see it.
Scott (22:01):
It's like holy shit they're hitting it a ton as I'm
watching it.
Yesterday, you know, when Itexted you about tonight, all I
could think about they keptshowing this hot guiders grip
and his strong ass grip and allI can think about is the dude
giving you range balls on therange at Piners and saying to
(22:23):
you nobody's ever beensuccessful with a strong grip.
Announcer (22:27):
Right.
Scott (22:28):
And I'm like really dude, this guy's handed my guy range
balls and he's criticizing hisgroup.
Eric Meichtry (22:35):
You're right.
Does he know?
His face is closed.
Scott (22:36):
The next year Zach Johnson wins the Masters and I'm
like, oh yeah.
Eric Meichtry (22:44):
Yeah, you have a strong grip, uh-huh.
Scott (22:47):
I mean this Aldrich guy.
I mean how's he hitting theselittle bleeders with that grip?
Eric Meichtry (22:53):
I don't get it, but it's nuts.
Scott (22:56):
Yeah, pretty cool.
Anyhow, dude, thanks for comingon.
I appreciate it.
I'll send you the episode.
Dude, thanks for coming on.
I appreciate it.
I'll send you the episode.
So, as Eric takes off, I justhave to say thank you for him
coming on and spending a fewminutes with us on his vacation
with the family.
(23:16):
It was awesome.
I had a blast reminiscing withsomeone that I've had a lot of
fun times with, with someonethat I've had a lot of fun times
with, and you know I know youdon't know him very well, but
you know you can obviously tellin a 20-minute conversation just
how fun of a guy he is Factsand amazing golfer.
(23:37):
But you know, like I said atthe beginning, we're doing
things a little backwards.
We had a guest on Graham.
How was your weekend Good?
Graham (23:49):
Well, the weekend's been very chill, you know, just been
dedicating it to working on mytan, finding a new job and just
watching some golf.
A lot of fireworks happened,although not over the weekend,
which you know.
(24:10):
We've said this many timesbefore, but I'm a firm believer
in things happen for a reason.
And it was kind of a good thingthat we didn't do the podcast
last night, because, boy oh boy,was there some news that
happened today, Talking aboutthe Pittsburgh Steelers baby.
And let me tell you, you know,Scott thinks either I live under
(24:32):
a rock or I sleep until 4 pmbecause I finally texted him and
he's like bro, are you justwaking up now?
and I was like no I didn't seeany notifications on my phone.
I'm like what's going on?
This is hot news, a trade thathappens at like what?
10 am east coast time no 11dude.
Scott (24:51):
I'm literally giving a lesson to one of my little
juniors and we're done on therange and we're getting ready to
go on the course.
I grab my phone and I'm likeI'm sorry, what?
And I texted you at 11 10 mytime am.
I'm like, wow, that's crazy,because the first notification
did not include Johnny Right,and that's why I said well,
(25:16):
that's odd.
And I don't get a response fromyou until 7 o'clock my time.
And I'm like okay, are youalive?
I mean, we'll get into that ina minute.
Graham (25:33):
Yeah, craziness, but you know enough about me.
How was your weekend, brother?
Scott (25:39):
It was great.
You know you and I were on thephone Saturday night.
We both made a couple live betson the tour.
You know we took Max Gracerman.
I had a free $10 bet, gracermanhad 7-1.
I had a free $10 bet, gracermanhad 7-1,.
Had another free $10 bet, tookChris Kirk at 8-1.
(26:02):
And they end up being in athree-way playoff and I'm like
all right, I got two of the guysin the playoff and homeboy
Aldridge Guider decides he'sgoing to win.
And was it four or five-holeplayoff?
I mean I'm loving my chances.
You know I knew you had Maxbecause I was talking to you
(26:24):
about him, right, and I was likeall right, I'll take Max, I'll
root for Max Kirk misses thatshort putt on.
I don't know what playoff holeit was.
I'm like okay, still got it.
And then the end.
I mean, but whatever, playedsome, you know, watched some
(26:45):
golf.
One of my students you know thechick I've talked to you about
14-year-old girl had an amazinground, a couple firsts for her,
it was awesome Went and had somebeers with Billy, it was fun.
I was stressed out for a secondround.
And you know, yesterday, as I'mhanging out at home, not
(27:06):
leaving the house, because it'sa million degrees here.
She played her ass off dude,I'm super excited.
And she took the step, you know, the next step.
And this afternoon played nineholes, with her being her versus
my assistant and her grandpa alittle nine-hole match and she
(27:28):
hit it great and obviously thegood guys won the match.
And, dude, I'm excited you know, I've talked to you about it,
my dad and all my buddies.
She's really good, and byreally good I mean really good.
(27:50):
She will play in college.
She's an upcoming freshman.
I'm certainly more excited bythe way she played I mean, dude,
not to go off on a tangent, butI was looking at a couple
things yesterday she played theback nine it was a 36-hole event
(28:12):
, so she played the back nine.
She had four birdies, two eagles, two doubles and a bogey and
played the back nine in two days, three under.
Graham (28:25):
What.
Scott (28:27):
With two doubles and a bogey.
Graham (28:32):
That's insane.
It was awesome.
I mean, the real question isthis Not throwing any jabs at
any and particular people butthe real question is for how
good she is, do you think shecould play from the tips and
beat a 20 handicapper?
Scott (28:54):
Not even a question in my mind.
14-year-old girl 100%.
Graham (29:00):
Gotcha.
Scott (29:02):
I mean she hits it 220.
I mean yesterday it was herbest round ever, day one she was
74.
And we chatted Saturday afterher first round and I'm like,
hey, remember, one shot at atime.
I know that was her best roundever.
(29:23):
Have fun, you know, do yourthing.
She literally made it eight onthe first hole yesterday.
And when I talked to her aftera round, I mean she shot 44 on
the front, nine.
Yeah, and I told Kristen I wasworried about yesterday's round
because it was her career best.
I mean, what do they always sayon the tour?
(29:43):
Dude goes out and shoots 61.
What's coming up the next day?
It ain't going to be easy 75?
Right, yeah, it ain't going tobe easy 75, 77.
Yeah, and literally she shoots44 on the front and then she
goes out on the back and shootseven par with a double and a
(30:04):
bogey and I was pumped.
I mean she's heat off at 1145and it was like four 30.
I'm like, all right, she hasn'ttexted, she hasn't called.
I'm looking up the score online.
It's driving me insane.
Looked it up, then she textedme, call me when you got a
chance.
And I'm like sorry I cheated.
All right, you know, like yourscore, but you know I was pumped
(30:26):
, dude.
I mean, after an eight on thefirst hole, it's very easy, and
shoot 44 on the front, it's veryeasy to be like I'm out, but so
getting, I'm stoked.
Eighth grader, it's not evenhigh school yet, dude, it's
awesome.
But it was a fun weekend.
We had our boy, mike Tree, on.
(30:47):
Like I said, when we weretalking to him I watched the
Instagram live.
You know, friday night it wassick, it was awesome, brought
back memories of hanging outwith him and, you know, go to
work today and, you know, givehim a lesson.
And then all of a sudden, thenotification comes up about your
Steelers.
And as soon as I saw it, youknow, like I said, the first
(31:09):
notification was Minka forRamsey, Right, and I'm like,
wait what?
I didn't get it.
And then it came out that itwas Minka for Ramsey and Jonu
Smith and I was like, all right,I kind of get it.
Arthur Smith coached Jonu inTennessee and I think in Atlanta
(31:34):
, yeah, and he's a big fan ofJohn U nothing against Friar
Muth, but John U has been a stud.
But the craziest thing to mewas remember back in the day the
Dolphins traded Minka to theSteelers, not with Steelers
(31:54):
trading him back.
Graham (31:55):
It's like 2018.
First round pick.
Scott (31:58):
It's crazy yeah.
Graham (32:00):
It's crazy to think that , you know.
It's funny looking back onSteelers' previous first round
picks and how we said inprevious episodes how within the
last like six or seven yearswe've only re-signed one of our
first-round picks, which isinsane to think.
And now to think, wow, we gaveup a first round to get Minka,
(32:20):
which we did re-sign.
So I mean that works out.
I'm still happy we made thetrade.
He was a great player for us.
I mean, look, I'm still in shocka little bit about the trade
because the thing was I knewPittsburgh was going to make
another move you know it is thequote unquote NFL's on vacation
(32:43):
and I'm air quoting folks but Iknew they were going to make
another move.
What it was, who knows.
I mean, I figured John Newmight be in it, I figured Ramsey
might be in it, just because ofthe rumblings that has been
going on.
But to make a move in which wegot both of those guys, because
I'm thinking to myself, I'm like, before this trade happened,
(33:03):
what would need to happen forPittsburgh?
Who would they get rid of?
Right, like, who would theytrade to get these guys?
And I wouldn't have done astraight up Ramsey for
Fitzpatrick.
Scott (33:18):
Minka's younger right Two years, like I was talking to
you about earlier.
Before we got on air.
Ramsey and Derwin are bestfriends, obviously.
They both played at FloridaState, the Chargers.
They always said Derwin wantsto play with Ramsey and Ramsey
(33:39):
getting up there in age andRamsey saying he wanted to play
on the West Coast and theChargers podcast guys were like
it ain't going to happen.
Folks because, uh, you knownickel safety plays in the box
and ramsey, as he's gettingolder, is basically the same guy
(33:59):
.
You know corners.
As they get old they transitionthem to a safety right playing
in the box.
They're both big physical guysand I was like never thought
about that.
And then the trade happens andI'm like all right, the Steelers
are getting rid of Minka forRamsey.
Graham (34:20):
I mean you have some decent corners but you still get
Ramsey in return, but you getJohn it right that, plus the
fact that one of the biggestpositions we needed to fill we
did in the offseason.
I mean we need to help a corner.
We got that, you know gettingBly but that nickel corner spot
(34:44):
has been an issue for us for thelast X amount of years.
You know we've just beendrafting guys, rotating guys,
you know free agent guys, andit's just like now, because the
NFL is getting to such a passhappy offense and they're
throwing the ball so much more,you need those extra quote
(35:07):
unquote cornerbacks or guys thatwill transition from the
outside to the inside and togive you that same level of
competition, basically, and toget a guy like Jalen Ramsey, who
for how many years wasconsidered the number one corner
in all of football and lookyeah he's 30 years old, I get it
.
Is he what he was four years ago?
Scott (35:28):
No, I remember back when he was someone out of college,
florida State I wanted him more.
I think he was in Bosa's draftclass.
I think Didn't he get draftedby the Jaguars?
I wanted Ramsey more than Iwanted Bosa, I think at pick
(35:51):
four.
Graham (35:51):
I don't know why it's sticking out in my head.
It was like pick four.
I mean it was early, real early.
Scott (35:58):
I mean, I think Bosa went three.
Graham (35:59):
Wow, that's crazy.
Scott (36:02):
And I wanted Ramsey.
Remember Kevin, my boy from theChargers, him and I sitting on
my back porch at our last housein California and Kristen was
inside inside and the TV was ondelay draft night and we
announced Bosa and I was Kevinand I were like Kristen saw it
(36:23):
earlier, but dude, ramsey justdied, right, I mean and people
will say what they want to sayabout him recently the contract
is what was killing it.
Yeah, but, dude, he's going tobe solid.
Graham (36:40):
He is going to be solid.
And look, as you're talkingabout the contract, he's not
going to play a straight corner.
No, and that's fine.
Scott (36:48):
He's going to play the Derwin role as being that safety
nickel in the box kind of guy,and that's what I want.
And that's the best thing.
That's the best thing thathappened to the Chargers once.
Beanie head, I don't evenremember the ass hats Stadium
head coach, don't even matterwhy you got to say that.
Announcer (37:08):
Once the Haley left.
Scott (37:10):
Tori, how'd you get out of the bedroom?
My dog's running around now.
Tori, how'd you get out of thebedroom?
My dog's running around now?
That's the best thing thathappened once Jesse Minner got
there was Derwin was around theball Right, and I can see Ramsey
filling that same role with youguys.
I mean, Minka got hurt a couplegames last year.
The only thing that I questionis y'all are taking I don't know
(37:36):
what the dolphins are eating ina salary, but like you said
earlier, they gave him a littlebit of a raise.
What's going to happen with?
Graham (37:44):
Watt.
We got money, we had money tospend and, like I said earlier,
we were paying Minka a buttloadof cash as well.
So the swap was really I don'twant to say it evened each other
out, but Minka was getting paidin the at least $20 million a
year.
I want to say around $25.
(38:05):
And this is all off the top ofmy head, folks, so don't kill me
in the comments and you knowRamsey's in that like $25 to
range, so it's not that much ofa difference.
I was kind of surprised.
I saw, dude, we fullyguaranteed Jono Smith at, I
think, $12 million, which ispretty good for a tight end.
(38:27):
I mean, who's to say at thispoint?
But look, we still got to sign.
Tj Pittsburgh had money tospend.
But look, the owner, art Rooney,was just like hey, he said to
Tomlin the previous year look,get your shit together.
(38:47):
We are the Pittsburgh Steelers,we are a storied franchise.
We can't be good enough to makethe playoffs and have
first-round Like.
We need to do something aboutit.
And last year they did Likethey made moves.
You know we brought in Russ, webrought in Justin Fields, we
brought in you know, some otherpieces.
You know Patrick Queen andthings like that, which helped,
but it didn't get us over thehump per se.
(39:10):
And what I mean by that is, youknow, not even a deep run.
How about just a win?
Can we start with a playoff win?
I mean, I'm not greedy rightnow, but last year was last year
, this year is this year, right,and I think this year, because
everyone's talking about, oh,the quarterback, the quarterback
situation, what's Pittsburghgoing to do?
(39:30):
I mean, look, the whole AaronRogers situation rubbed everyone
except the internal core peopleof the upper management of
Pittsburgh Steelers the wrongway, like, oh, what do you mean?
You're not gonna sign?
What do you mean you're notgonna tell us anything?
What do you mean?
I really think it came down tothe communication between Art
Rooney, but more especially MikeTom, mike Tomlin, between Aaron
(39:54):
Rodgers, where he's just likelook, I'm going to be here.
I still like, I'm nottechnically committed, but I'm
going to let you know I'm goingto be here.
I got things that need to takecare of.
We'll just keep it on the DL,we'll let time ride out, but
I'll be here for right.
And and look, everyone wasgiving him shit prior to the
draft, after the draft, that twomonths that it was.
(40:17):
And look, did he sign?
Yes, is everyone happy at first, but him being in the building
and him coming to OTAs, thevoluntary OTAs it really showed
a lot.
No-transcript.
(40:56):
Look, we got John Hugh Smith,who's technically a tight end
but I mean he plays more or lesslike a wide receiver.
I like him as a greatcomplement to the other wide
receivers, and by wide receiversI mean tight ends and Fry ends
and Friar Muth.
Announcer (41:12):
Darnell.
Graham (41:12):
Washington, which, by the way, aaron Rodgers loves.
Bro, aaron Rodgers, yeah, buthe's a blocker yeah, he is.
But watch out, hey, you heardit here first Darnell Washington
, I'm taking the over in threeand a half touchdowns.
You heard it here first.
Anyway, between those moves,but then this move that they
(41:35):
just made, the ceiling is there.
I mean, at this point, all itcan come down to, and especially
how it is in the NFL, what'sthe number one asset of a player
in the NFL?
Announcer (41:50):
Their health.
Graham (41:50):
Availability.
If the guys that we brought inand our core guys can stay
healthy for the whole season, orat least if they do, can we get
banged up a little bit in thebeginning of the season?
But if we can stay healthy, hey, don't.
Can us out that defense lookinggood with the additions that we
had through the draft, theoffense, Aaron, how smart he is
(42:14):
and how he can help run theoffense.
I just I don't want to soundlike a homer I'm going to.
I'm not saying we're winningthe division, I'm not saying
that, but you heard it herefirst.
We're getting a playoff winthis year and it might be more
than one if we stay healthy.
I'm just telling you right nowI like our chances.
Scott (42:38):
So the 2016 draft, when Ramsey was picked, coming out of
Florida State Rams took JaredGoff one, eagles took Carson
Wentz to.
Like I said, chargers took Bosathree, cowboys took Zeke
Elliott four.
And the Jaguars took Ramseyfive.
Graham (43:00):
I mean.
Scott (43:04):
And that's when Laramie Tunsell was supposed to be early
and he was smoking weed throughhis gas mask and wow, he went
13 to Miami.
Graham (43:14):
And then he went to.
Scott (43:17):
Houston and now he's with Washington.
Yeah, how about Derrick Henry?
Dude went 45th overall toTennessee.
That's crazy, crazy.
But you know, I mean, it allcomes down to Aaron Rodgers.
(43:40):
Dude Facts.
It all comes down to AaronRodgers.
Graham (43:44):
I mean, at this point the pieces are set.
I know we still got to sign TJ.
It's going to happen, I'm notworried about it.
There's no level.
Well, I can't say no level, butI mean from everyone that I've
been watching online thereporters and different stuff
everyone says it's going tohappen.
So if they say that, I believeit.
(44:06):
And look, this is it, this isthe shot, this is our best
chance we've had in a while.
And the thing is it's just likeI want to do it with our guys.
Specifically, I want to do itwith the Cam Haywards that have
been so good for us for so manyyears now.
I mean, dude, he's I think thisis Cam's 14th year, 13th or
(44:27):
14th year, you know TJ's not,unfortunately, getting any
younger either.
I mean, look, would I haveliked to also put Mika
Fitzpatrick in this conversation, absolutely, but he gone, so
sorry about it.
But you know, look, maybe theextra you know playoff
(44:51):
experience from Ramsey, you know, on the defense, will help.
I just, I mean, the thing iseveryone's like oh well, ramsey
didn't have that great of a yearlast year with the Dolphins.
Yeah, did you see what theDolphins did last year?
They had no pass rush.
Like for anyone that watchesthe NFL, things have to happen
(45:11):
for individuals to succeed.
Right, if you're a good corner,like, the reason why you're a
great corner is because you havea great pass rush.
Scott (45:22):
And that goes back to my boy, ben Seeland, from the very
first episode of this show whenI was complaining about our
corners.
And Ben C goes.
Stop talking fanball, talkfootball.
He goes.
Any wide receiver in the leaguecan get open in five seconds,
(45:43):
don't care who's covering them,but dude the Dolphins.
I just.
I don't care who's coveringthem, but dude the dolphins.
I just.
I don't understand.
I mean, ramsay was a captain,johnny was a captain, calais
campbell was a captain.
They're all gone.
What kind of faith can you havein the Dolphins if you're a
(46:06):
Dolphins fan right now?
I mean, what can you thinkabout the Dolphins?
Is it his fault?
Is it his fault the GMs tradedaway everybody?
Is it his fault?
Tyreek wants out?
I mean, remember the yearbefore when the Dolphins played
the Bills in the playoffs inBuffalo.
(46:28):
Wasn't it their third guy?
Fourth guy?
I mean I don't know, but I mean, as a fan of an NFL team, I
mean, if Herbert goes down, do Ireally have faith in the
success of the future of theseason?
What, dude?
(46:48):
I mean the Eagles, carson Wentz, nick Foles, the Patriots back
in the day, through Bledsoe,enter Tom Brady.
I agree.
Graham (47:01):
I agree, you know it's the next man up and the problem
is there's a reason why I don'twant to say this.
So I was listening on NFL radio, on Sirius XM and not this.
I'm not going in oppositedirection just by saying this,
but there was a segment wherethey were talking about growing
(47:22):
the game, especially overseas,and you know they made a good
point that it's just like we'renot going to have teams overseas
, or at least especially likeanother division overseas, for
at least another 20, 30 years.
Because think about it, if youhad four more teams, are there
(47:44):
four more quality NFL startingquarterbacks?
Scott (47:48):
It ain't happening, they ain't going to.
Graham (47:49):
Well, I'm just saying like they want to.
But I'm just saying like thegame hasn't developed enough in
other countries to where we cansay like there's a reason why
there's 10.
We'll just say 10 is a roundnumber.
There's 10 quarterbacks in theNFL right now that you could be
like all right, I'd be finetaking you 10 quarterbacks in
the NFL right now.
(48:09):
That you'd be like all right,I'd be fine taking you After 10,
.
You're like, yeah, it'll work,but do I have all the confidence
in the world?
You can lead us into theplayoffs and make a deep run.
Scott (48:16):
But, lou, I mean I keep saying it and you keep laughing
at me.
I'm just going to throw it outthere.
Wouldn't surprise me.
I know you all drafted WillHoward late.
I know you got Aaron Rodgers,who's already announced this is
his last season.
Would not be shocked, dude.
(48:37):
Kyler Murray is the quarterbackfor the Steelers next year.
Wouldn't be shocked.
Graham (48:44):
All right yo, if Kyler Murray is the quarterback next
year I'll shave my head.
All right, bro.
I'll tell you.
All right yo, if Kyler Murrayis the quarterback next year
I'll shave my head.
Scott (48:51):
All right, bro, I'll tell you.
All right, everybody.
June 30th at 1135.
2025.
Graham (48:58):
There is no FAA.
Eric Meichtry (49:00):
Dude, why not?
Why not?
Graham (49:04):
Okay, okay.
So if Herbert went down with acareer-ending injury, are you
getting?
Scott (49:10):
I'd take him over Will Howard.
I mean, he's got startingexperience.
He's played in a good offense.
You know, did they overpay him?
Yeah, maybe.
Well, he has started a a goodoffense.
You know, did they overpay him?
Yeah, maybe.
Well, he has started a playoffgame.
Graham (49:31):
You can't look me in the face and say they definitely
didn't, but he's got experience.
Okay, what?
Running around like a littlekid in a playground and then
throwing the ball up in the air,looking for miracles?
Scott (49:43):
And he's had success.
It's more than Will Howard'sdone looking for miracles, and
he's had success.
It's more than Will Howard'sdone.
Graham (49:47):
Yeah, he hasn't played a down yet in the NFL.
Eric Meichtry (49:50):
Give him a chance .
Graham (49:54):
Hey, you heard it here.
Second, I'll take Will Howardover him all day, every day.
Dude Yenzers, real Yenzers,want nothing to do with him,
nothing.
He can't even see over theoffensive line.
How are we supposed to?
Scott (50:11):
block for him.
How'd that work out?
How'd that work out?
Graham (50:15):
Yeah, well, okay yeah, have you ever heard of a unicorn
?
They exist, but you knowthere's a reason why they're few
and far between.
Scott (50:25):
Anyhow, Another crazy trade and another sport my Vegas
Golden Knights.
Mitch Marner today.
Dude from the Maple LeafsInsane.
You know, tomorrow starts freeagency in NHL and it all came
(50:48):
down to if we signed him as afree agent, he could only sign a
seven-year deal.
If it was a sign-and-trade hecould sign an eight-year deal.
So Maple Leaf signing andsign-and-trade.
The worst part about the wholesituation is my boy, Nick Waugh
(51:09):
you know, spelled R-O-Y is nolonger a knight and loves having
him on the team, just becauseeverybody knows my nickname is
Waugh.
But, dude, him and Eicheltogether let's go Instantly
favorites to win the West.
What, Dude Marshan re-signedwith the Panthers.
(51:33):
Panthers are, like I saidearlier, dude, they're about to
steamroll.
The league Would not imagine orwould not be surprised if they
won again next year with theircap.
Sam Bennett, I mean, dude, it'sinsane, Insane.
(51:54):
But, Graham, this was one of myfavorite episodes.
Got to reconnect with Mike Treeand his US Senior Open this
past week in Colorado Springs atthe Broadmoor.
Like I was telling you theother night, it was a blast to
watch it on Instagram Live andyou know it was super cool.
(52:17):
He's a down-to-earth guy, he'sone of my favorite people and it
was a blast dude people and itwas a blast dude.
So anybody in murrieta,temecula you know, inland empire
that's looking for proper golfinstruction you know we're gonna
(52:37):
tag him in our episode,instagram, the whole deal.
Hit him up, go out there andget better.
Hit him up, get out there andget better.
Hit him up, get out there andget better.
But, Graham, it's the dog daysof summer.
You know it's about to be thefourth.
Have a great holiday everybody.
Happy fourth, Be safe.
(53:00):
And not sure if you saw it, butthe hero of the day, the Disney
Cruise.
You see the littlefour-year-old girl that fell off
the balcony on the fourth floorof the cruise.
Graham (53:17):
Dude no.
Scott (53:18):
Four-year-old girl fell off the balcony of the Disney
Cruise and her dad jumped in thewater to save her.
They had to tread water for 20plus minutes.
Got him Everybody's good andsame.
That's what a dad does, dude.
Graham (53:40):
I mean, I'd obviously do the same, but just imagining
jumping off a cruise ship.
How close you would be to theship, Wouldn't you be concerned
Like you'd get sucked under the?
Scott (53:49):
ship.
When is your four-year-old kid?
Graham (53:50):
Oh my God, no, I get it, I get it, I get it.
I'm just saying.
And, by the way, how did we gofrom Hot Chick?
Announcer (53:59):
of the Week to Because, dude, that's just
insane.
Graham (54:03):
I was just like no, no, you're definitely right, but you
just took me a complete leftturn.
Announcer (54:09):
I was like oh, who are we?
Scott (54:10):
going to talk about now.
I was the hot chick of the weekthe last couple.
Who's your hot chick of theweek?
Graham (54:16):
Well, I mean you normally.
You know you're the guy forthat, so I didn't know.
I had the chance to vote forthat.
Announcer (54:22):
So, folks, next week I got the hot chick of the week.
No, no, no, no no, no, not nextweek Stay tuned.
Scott (54:27):
Right now on the spot hot chick of the week.
Graham (54:29):
Yeah, I have.
Who is the hot chick of theweek?
Who am I?
I don't know.
I finally finished the last twoepisodes of Full Swing, so
we'll bring out your girl again,amanda Bellionis.
Announcer (54:52):
She's the hot chick of the year, I mean just saying
on that note, scott.
Graham (55:04):
It's always a pleasure doing the podcast.
Super appreciative to have Ericon the podcast Today.
Can't wait to get this out andshow it all over social media.
Another great episode.
Can't wait to do it again nextweek.
And as the best homie alwayssays, Buh-bye.
Scott (55:20):
Good night friends.
Eric, thanks for coming ontonight.
You fucking fuck AmandaBaleonas.
You already know, if you don't,my boy Badger will sell you a
clue.
Announcer (55:36):
Bye-bye.
This episode of the Bald Guyson the Bench podcast is brought
to you by our friends atNorthstar Credit Union and
Southern Auto, located inSoutheast Virginia.
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