The Florida Panthers Aren't Finished Yet

Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:23):
Happy Thursday, everybody, first up to tonight. Welcome to another
edition of the Thursday Night Sports Are Change, presented by
Hockey Operations LLC. The owner you see him is in yellow.
His name is Mike Santosi's my co host. I glad
to have you on, Mike again. This hockey thing with us,
it's a lot of fun. Our goal to educate and
we do that, don't we. Mike, Yeah, looking forward to

(00:44):
another good show. Scott, and of course got Stephen Ruschall
who's joining us tonight normally as a professor of the people.
Since it was Memorial Day we didn't have one. He
gets to sit in with Mike and I had talk
a little bit of hockey in the song. We have
a lot more to talk about, more of a personal show,
but we're gonna get it going. The Florida Panthers aren't
finished yet, without a doubt, So we'll begin with the

(01:06):
Panthers that are going to be drifting around the country
and the world and coming up with all kinds of
interesting topics for everybody in the chat room to go
out there. Ain't calling mat on With that said, Stanley
Top updates Panthers eliminated as Carolina Hurricane Flurida one, winning
last night five to three. So obviously you see the

(01:26):
updates here. So it's worth noting though that this could
be the final series for unrestricted free agent Aaron blick
eck Plaid. It's the Panthers surs straight dripped to the
Stanley Cup Finals. They were there in twenty twenty three
when the loss of the Vegan Vegas Golden Night four
to one. Last year, in a classic twenty twenty four,
they beat the Mtonton Oilers four to three. And this year,

(01:49):
we don't know who they're gonna play at. Maybe we'll
know tonight, maybe we won't. So let's talk about the
Panthers run right now, Mike. In terms of what you've
seen so far, this team has really shown an awful
lot of plays during the postseason, hobbling into the playoffs,
but they seem to have played better as the tournament
has gone on.

Speaker 2 (02:09):
Yeah, they If you look back on it now, it
it looks like they played it right, meaning, you know,
they went to the finals two years in a row.
I think most people, including myself, were questioning, you know,
how they were going to be able to get through
another long season and uh and a hard playoff to

(02:30):
get to the finals for a third year in a row,
because that's that's the most challenging thing when you're playing
that deep into the summer, I mean early into you know,
the first of July every year, and then you've got
injuries and things that happen when you go that far
that you you've got to recuperate from. But the Panthers, uh,
you know, they did what so many classic teams in

(02:52):
the past have done, and they understood they were a
good team. They understood that unless something crazy happened, they
were going to make the playoffs, and they didn't sell
out trying to finish first overall or win their division.
They tried to make sure that when it came playoff time,
you know, whether they were the home team or the

(03:12):
visiting team, it didn't matter. They just wanted to be
healthy and ready to go. And I think that a
couple of things they did that really helped now when
you look back in hindsight. Number one, Matthew could Chook's
injury in the Four Nations, they you know, in February,
they kept him out the rest of the season. I

(03:36):
don't know if anybody knows how serious the injury was
I'm assuming it was. But most importantly he got all
that rest and he came into the playoffs, started at
the beginning of the playoffs and it's never looked back.
I think that was huge for them. And then they
and then they did a couple of things to fortify
their team. You know, teams that win the Cup usually

(04:00):
don't go after the big time forward. You know, we've
seen this happen year and year out where teams go
after Patrick Kine, the Rangers a couple of years ago,
and last year Carolina went after Genseil, And it seems
to work out. The teams that do well are the
teams that make the deadline deals for those depth players

(04:22):
at forward and those defensemen that fortify their d And
that's that's what these guys did right Florida. They went
out and they got a Brad marsha On who really
for them only has to play a second but really
even a third line role and gives them great depth,
great experience, plays their style game real gritty. And then

(04:42):
the guy that you mentioned a few minutes ago, ex Glad,
is probably on his way out. He also self a
nice rest for another reason, because of these the performance
enhancing drug suspension, but it gave him a nice three
week rest or so before the playoff as well. And
what the Panthers did is they went out and got

(05:03):
his replacement in Seth Jones. You know, a guy that's
only a year younger. I mean, people forget he's been
around for eleven years that at Plaid is only twenty
nine years old, but Jones is only twenty eight. Same stock.
Another big guy, Ano, the right handed shot of the
blue line, and he's already signed beyond this year. So
he allows them to let Clad's money go and hopefully

(05:28):
maybe resign one of the other guys Bennett or somebody
else they want to keep in the fault. So yeah,
they've they've done it right. You know. Can they get
through one more series? We'll see. It'll be interesting, especially
if it's Edmonton in a rematch.

Speaker 1 (05:40):
Yeah. I still think that they can retain Bennett. I
really do. I don't think Bennett really wants to go,
but he's still going to test his whares on the
free agent market. He likes it there. But that plans
another story. If you had to take an educated guest,
and obviously it's only an educated guest, Anyways, where do
you think would be the best fit for Aaron Eckland.

Speaker 2 (06:02):
I think Eric eck Plad at this point, especially if
he wins the Second Cup. But he's won a Stanley Cup.
He's gonna go where he can get the most money,
and that doesn't necessarily mean the highest salary. It may
be to another place where they don't have a state
income tax, another place in the United States where he
can he can save on some tax money, which will

(06:22):
get him the most money in the end. But I'm
sure Toronto will make a play for him. You know,
they're always looking for guys like that, especially you know,
guys that are from Canada or or Ontario. I think
that's a I think that's a potential landing spot for him.
I'd be I'd be shocked to see him back with
the Panthers, though I don't. I don't think that's in

(06:43):
the cards.

Speaker 1 (06:45):
Yeah, I don't either. And another thing I should point
out that will turn over to Steven and I have
another interesting fact that came up and I'm going to
talk about too. T n t NHL analyst Paul Bissonette
ripped Pronto after Game sevens lost to Florida. He says
that they lost every single put banele pathetic performances as

(07:06):
men versus the boys, completely unprepared. So the bottom line
is it certainly looked like the Leafs were flat in
game seven. I'll give them that. But before I do
that and turn it over to you, and I have
to wonder though, what Paul is saying about the Carolina hurricane.
You're gonna tell them that they're go out there and

(07:26):
they're unprepared as well they because now they the state
of Florida itself has had six straight Stanley Cup finals.
Josha will get you in just a moment. Want to
make sure we clean up a point. So you've had
the Florida pants is going there three straight years. Half
day lightety three. But what are your thoughts about the
critical nature of this and that calling out the Toronto

(07:47):
Maple Leafs.

Speaker 2 (07:48):
Well, I mean, I thought, and we mentioned this song
shows before, the biggest problem the Leafs have is they
don't have any leadership. And what I mean by that
is leadership on the ice with players, lightership in the
dressing with players. I mean, Bruby came over. He's a
good leader as a coach, but you need guys that
can lead on the ice, they just don't have that.

(08:11):
I mean, Austin Matthews not a leader. You know, Mitch
Marnin not a leader. Talented players, but it takes more
than that. I mean, you look at the turnaround the
Panthers had when they traded Johnson huberta talented player and
came up with Matthew Kacuk. Talented player, but really has
that grit and that leadership on the ice. I think

(08:35):
that that's what the least miss most of all. And
I still believe if mister McDavid gets his Stanley Cup
in Edmonton, then he will become what Mark Messier was
to the Ranges, he will become to the Maple Leafs.
I think he'll take on that challenge and he'll be
exactly the leader that the Leafs need to make a

(08:56):
real run at a cup.

Speaker 1 (08:58):
You mentioned that last week, Glad you brought it up
this week two. I really am Mark Messier. What he
did to the Rangers and what Connor but David to
do to Toronto, that to me is legendary. I'm gonna
get to learn fact in a moment, but I was
going to.

Speaker 2 (09:15):
The one thing I'll just say quickly. I mean, you
can see the growth in McDavid as a leader from
last year to this year. I mean, he's always been
supremely talented, you know, one of, if not the most
talented guy in the game right now, but you know,
he really learned a lot from that seven game loss

(09:36):
to the Panthers in the finals last year, and he
came back a different person. Uh, you know, and now
he's got that leadership role and he's holding the other
players accountable on his team, and that's why they've been
such a surprise in the playoffs this year, especially after
the first round falling behind two o to Lakay.

Speaker 1 (09:55):
Well, turn over to Steven josh o'dors in the house.
Tiberuski's in the house as well. I'm sure have some questions.
What were we talking about. We're talking about your favorite
team at the moment, the Florida Panthers. We'll have four
things you get to Joshua. If you missed a little
bit of what we had earlier, I know you'll you'll
tune in a little bit earlier. The only thing you
pretty much missed is that we talked about the panthers
third straight trip to the finals. You know, about the

(10:16):
first two visits or see where they land with the third. Also,
just to recap a little bit, this is a sixth
straight year that a team from the state of Florida
is going to the Stanley Cup Finals Tampa Bay Light
and you have the first ring out of Panthers there
as well. That gives you a basic summary. And of course,
you know Paul Bisson that comment which I saw you
just popped in earlier, so that pretty much gives it
to you. Aaron I Plaid, Josh Mike Xanto's figures this

(10:39):
is his last rodeo with the Panthers taking the money
where we're going to go. That sums it up. But
you can listen to it again there here, so you also,
all right, Steven's been waiting, patient, Lisa, go.

Speaker 3 (10:49):
Ahead, listen. I'm not surprised. You know, the Florida Panthers
are doing their thing. You know, I've seen Surgery Bravlowski,
you know, first years here in Philadelphia, and he was
an outstanding goaltender. Once you nail that goaltender around, you know,
you can start putting pieces together and make runs. And
you know, obviously, as you already stated, the state of

(11:12):
Florida has been been owning the uh the the Eastern
Conference the latest six years or so, and you know,
not not surprising that to see Bob in the Panthers
making a run here. I hope they complete it. But
on the other side of that, I kind of don't.

(11:34):
I want to see Connor McDavid get his cup. You know,
it's uh, he's been the one of the more underrated,
underappreciated NHL stars over the last ten years. Everyone talks
about ov everyone talks about about cry Baby Crosby. I mean,
we listen, it's his time, regardless of contract where he

(11:56):
could potentially wind up in the off season. Uh, I'm definitely,
I'm definitely down to see uh Edmonton finally get over
that that hump and and and bring a cup there
because we ain't seen one since the Gretzky d so
it's been it's been a while since Edmonton has had
their championship as well. But more along the lines, I

(12:16):
want to see Connor McDavid you know, complete his tass
from you know, uh. Yeah, as Mike was saying, he
had that game game set seven, you know, punch to
the gut man. It's it's a tough thing to bounce
back from. Some guys never bounce back from. It doesn't
matter what sport we're talking about. Game seven, meltdown, can
it can almost end and the guy's confidence his his

(12:38):
career in some senses of what they were. I don't
think Connor is one of those guys who folds. So
it's uh for me, I would love to see Edmonton
kind of a spoil Florida's. Uh, Florida is a little
run here, but it's a it's a it's a fun
time when we're getting down to the last two teams. Man,

(12:58):
it's uh, we'll see who's going to be the official ones.
But I like Edmonton at being able to take it overall.
Doesn't mean I don't have a little saw spot for Bob,
but it's it's one of those things where here we're
getting we're getting down to it right the late last
two teams that we're getting down ready to talk about championships.

(13:21):
It's one of the fun times about this time as
basketball and hockey wines down, we get to see, you know,
who were the final two teams to battle it out.
It's a it's a fun time in the sports world.
I would say it that way.

Speaker 1 (13:36):
Well, according to CBS Sports. I have a really good
stat and I mean this is really worth talking about.
This is the Florida Panthers joined the National Hockey League
in nineteen ninety three, so according to CBS Fours, nineteen
ninety three, the Forest Stanley Cup final appearance had thirty
one seasons. Think about it now, that is more Stanley

(13:57):
Cup Finals than each of these NHL franchises. I'm going
to read them very slowly. Three Stanley Cup Final appearances
and fifty two seasons for the Calgary Flames, three Stanley
Cup Final appearances in fifty seven seasons for the La Kings,
three Stanley Cup appearances in forty five seasons for the

(14:18):
Colorado Avalanche, three Stanley Cup Final appearances and fifty four
seasons for the Vancouver Canucks. Two Stanley Cup Final appearances
for the Anaheim Ducks. Two Stanley Cup appearances in fifty
four seasons for the Buffalo Savers, who God only knows
how long it's going to be much longer because they

(14:40):
still can't figure it out up there. The only thing
nice about that is people in Buffalo are night but
Niagara Falls is even prettier. So if you get frustrated,
go back to the falls and win a couple of
months at the casino. You'll be wow. Carolina Hurricanes two
Stanley Cup Final appearances then forty five seasons. Even the
Sheeton Capitals get this, fifty seasons, they've only had two

(15:04):
Stanley Cup Final appearances. Now we go on to the
Vegas Gold Nights. I love their percentages. At least two
Stanley Cup Final appearances in eight seasons. We talk about
off the dynamite start. Vegas is de ver Nashville one
Stanley Cup Final appearance in twenty six seasons, the Ottawa
Senators one Stanley Cup appearance in thirty two seasons. Not

(15:29):
about those San Jose Sharks that we're going to talk
about shortly in thirty three seasons, so one in thirty three,
the Winnipeg Jets zero Stanley Cup appearances in twenty five seasons,
Columbus Bluejacket zero Stanley Cup Final appearances in twenty four seasons,
the Minnesota Wild zero Stanley Cup Finals appearances in twenty

(15:51):
four seasons, and Seattle zero appearances in four seasons. Of course,
now we have the Utah Mammoth Mike. We're going to
talk about that. But you know, I want to ask
you a quick question though, Steven. We're your thoughts about
the new nickname for the Utah and mammoth that I'll
even bring that up real quickly. We get we get
both your opinion, but we'll Mike. The Panthers have done

(16:14):
what they've had to do as an expansion team. This
is their first rodeo. How do you want for their
numbers back compared to the other teams I just mentioned.

Speaker 2 (16:23):
Well, nineteen ninety three first Panther season was also the
last time a Canadian team won the Stanley Cup, which
was the Montreal Canadiens. So the league has grown, and
as the league grows, it gets more and more difficult
to make the Stanley Cup finals or even win the
Stanley Cup. The odds are just the odds are moving

(16:45):
in the wrong direction. You know, if you really want
to look at it realistically, if there's thirty two teams
in the league, expectations should be you win the Stanley
Cup once out of every thirty two years. So the
Panthers or had to schedule, and so are a few
other teams. It's getting tougher and tougher, right, I mean

(17:08):
the Toronto Maple LEAs have never won a third round
playoffs series in the history of the of the Toronto
maple LEAs because the last time that they went and
won a Stanley Cup in the sixties, there were only
two rounds of playoffs, right, and there were only six
teams and what teams made it and that's what it was.
It's just there's more teams, the sports bigger than ever,

(17:29):
there's more parody. The game has changed. Unlike other sports,
well like other sports, I say, I should say except
for baseball, in that you know, until the mid nineties,
nineteen ninety four to be exact, there were teams that
played in different sized rinks. There were different sized ice surfaces.

(17:50):
So just baseball, where you know, you had some stadiums
with had a short right field and some had a
short left field and dimensions to the park, so you
you know, you had a different lineup that you played
or different pitchers that you pitched. Hockey standardized standardized the
ice surface in nineteen ninety four, so a year after

(18:11):
the Panthers came to being, and that's really that, along
with standardizing the size of the glass around the arena,
putting the team benches on the same side because it
used to be that the team penalty benches were next
to the home team's bench. All these advantages have kind
of gone away, and so so has the home ice advantage,
if you will, in hockey.

Speaker 1 (18:32):
So I think.

Speaker 2 (18:33):
That's that's a big reason why you see this happening.
But the Panthers are just they've just built a really good,
really good team. They're built for the playoffs, the style
of the playoffs, and I think more than anything, as
I said, you know with a while back, they have
understood that with all the things we just talked about,

(18:53):
they just need to get in the playoffs, be healthy,
and be ready to play playoff style hockey. And it
doesn't matter if they finished first in their division, or
fourth in their division, or first overall, eighth in their conference.
Just for them, they just need to get in because
they already know that once they get in they can
they get a chance to win.

Speaker 1 (19:11):
Yeah, but when you compare their numbers of four in
thirty one years versus these other teams, and they're that's
pretty impressive when you think of the totality of it.
But I don't want that number to get to my
head either, because they've been great lately. But they've been
dormant for a lot of years. The one thing they
did right is where they built a stadium in Sunrise
or successful in Prower County, so all three counties access it.

(19:35):
They did well there. Now they've built a new practice
facility at the War Memorial Auditorium. They've done well. And
another thing that will further back up your point too, Mike,
is the fact that the Miami Marlins have two World
Series championships and they got in ya the wild card,
no matter how you get in, just went and that's
what the Marlins have done actually have to so that
But again I guess we can both agree though, that

(19:57):
is a pretty impressive run when you compare what these
other teams are.

Speaker 2 (20:01):
Would you do three years ago? They were one in
twenty eight years, So that's true.

Speaker 1 (20:08):
That's true. Right, for a while, they had a hard
time winning a game in the.

Speaker 2 (20:12):
Playoffs groove right now they're in their groove right now.
We saw Tampa go through it, We saw the Chicago
Blackhawks go through it, we saw the Detroit Letherings go
through it. All teams we saw we saw Stevens Philadelphia
Flyers go through it in the seventies, right The point is,
when you're in that groove, you know, whether it's for

(20:33):
five years or ten years, you've got to make it last.
You've got to make the right personnel decisions and now
the salary caps part of that, and make that last,
you know, as long as possible, so that every year
you've got a chance at winning the Cup. Because you
know there's some teams now, you know, Buffalo, you mentioned Scott.
I mean, they're so far away from winning a Cup

(20:56):
that you wonder how they're going to get out of
that hole. You know, when I think when things are good,
when you're when you're in this situation that the Panthers
are in, now, you got to make it last. You know,
you bring up a guy like Bennett, you know, will
he stay for the last less money? Yeah, he might,
you know because in addition to the nice weather, in
addition to the no state income tax and he can

(21:17):
save on he's got a chance to win. And ultimately,
I think not everyone, but most of these players, that's
what they really want to play for. They want to
win championships, right and many sport they they want to
win championships. And you got a chance to win it
down here, and so if that means you take a
little less money to stay with the organization where you're happy.

(21:38):
You maybe your wife's happy.

Speaker 1 (21:43):
That's what well you mentioned in the last week though,
show that Dale Talent laid out the groundwork, Pilsedo finished
off the job, and that's what they've done. So I'll
ask you, what are your thoughts about the Utah Mammoth.
I know they wanted to have yety, but they were
not able to get that worked out. But the mammoth
and then here's a little cybar Well. I read out

(22:06):
there that they'd be a good rival for the National Predators,
and you consider the violent nature of both animals. So
let's have a little lot of fun with this one
as one of those two topics. Can but you're your
old thoughts about the youth the name of the Utah Mammoth.

Speaker 2 (22:19):
Yeah, I mean, look, you could you can. I'm not
a big I'm not a big I don't care what
people name their teams. What I care about is the
culture that they build for their organizations, right. I mean,
there's a lot of teams that have in all sports
that have names that aren't particularly aggressive or tough, but

(22:41):
that doesn't mean their organization isn't respected or they don't
you know, they don't play a certain way. So mammoth.
If it's mammoth, it's mammoth. Whatever I think people are,
I don't think they care what the name of the
team is as long as they're competitive and and they
give some people in that area something to be up,
you know, I mean, uh, they need it there. The

(23:04):
Jazz haven't done it for them.

Speaker 1 (23:06):
Sure, all right, see we put a lot out there
you want to talk about.

Speaker 3 (23:13):
I'll note, you know, as Mike mentioned my flyer that
was nineteen seventy five, they've been there twice since then.
Hasn't even been close. It hasn't been close. It's been
it's been an absolute drought. It's been terrible here in
Philadelphia over the last ten years. I know, you know,
we did have a run, but we ran into the
that that Blackhawks team that that was, that was that

(23:36):
was that they were they were something else. But Patrick
Caine and and Jonathan tayz and and them guys were
they they did not let let my Flyers take home
the cup. And and before that was a four not
beat sweet beating that that the Detroit Red Wings gave us.
So it's Uh, broke my heart. You broke your heart.

(23:59):
You all what the it's sarcastic. Really, it broke Eric
Lindross's heart. It tore apart the legion of Doom. So
I mean it broke the Philadelphians hard because that was
that was the beginning of the end of of what

(24:20):
was supposed to be an amazing career for Eric Lindrows.
But let's kind of get back to the point. Uh
uh you saw Mammoth Well, I mean, you know, Mike Guard,
he touches it. It doesn't really matter what the name
is at the end of the day. The Flyers, what
the hell's a flyer?

Speaker 1 (24:38):
Right?

Speaker 3 (24:39):
So, I mean, you know, regardless, Nashville Predators, Las Vegas
Golden Like, it doesn't matter. Just bringing good people, bring
a good organization, get give the home the hometown fans
something to cheer about, be happy about, be proud about,
build a culture and and see see how how your

(25:00):
organization grows. It's uh, the naming of things is so relevant.
It's it's part of the thing that gets me, Like,
like as as wocas we've been watching all these name
changes in Major League Baseball and football and stuff like that,
just like you're taking away from the culture that was
that was built, that it was initially built around. It's

(25:21):
it's silly. So regardless if it's the Mammoth, you know,
I know, you know, we got got rony Quack and
they're talking about the Eddie whatever. It's whatever, it's gonna be.
Like listen, let's enjoy the fact that we do get.
I'm glad that we get we're getting more of these
uh Midwest teams uh uh organization, some some love. You know.

(25:44):
I feel baseball is missing out completely weight waste in
a way. With the Marlins down there in Miami. I
think it should be almost done. Sets you know, set
send them at to Nebraska or something like that, like
where you know, places where baseball is beloved and and
things of that nature. Oh even Utah, give them a
baseball team. But it's it's one of these things, man,

(26:06):
it's just whatever the name is. You know, Mike had
already beat on and I'm going to get to need build,
build a culture, build something that that that you're going
to get people to rally behind, not just the fans,
but that the athletes you bringing so well.

Speaker 1 (26:21):
If you're looking at Jerseys, I will admit and I
and I don't care a lot of name names either.
I got cats and name or whatever I name them. Animals,
they don't care. They only think food and rest and attention.
That's it. You don't have to put them through college.
You don't have to do any of that stuff. But
I will say I am looking forward to the say
to seeing the day that we have the Utah mammo.

(26:42):
Thinking on the National Predator, we'll see what jersey is
a better looking one, let alone than animal. All Right,
we'll stay in a more serious thing though a little
bit in Philadelphia because I may first twenty twenty five
the legacy of Ed Van Dam who passed away plate
of years with the broad Street Bullies and as Steve
reiterrayed the expansion Philadelphia Flyers won to Stanley Cups. What

(27:06):
are your best recollections of Ed van Mm? He was he.

Speaker 3 (27:12):
I mean, listen to The first thing that comes to
my mind is the Soviet game. He he he made
an absolute impact on that. Obviously he was a part
of those those broad Street Bullies and you know, obviously
that was just just a little bit before my time.
But it's just something that uh, you know, my grandmother
and My stepdad used to used to, you know, pull

(27:35):
up old tapes and and show show me stuff. And
Ed was a wrecking ball.

Speaker 1 (27:40):
He was.

Speaker 3 (27:40):
He was somebody if you wanted to send a message
and and uh you didn't want you didn't want the
hammer to uh to beat up on him at Vantam,
but didn't have a problem taking or run a guy
and tell telling him what the business was going to be.
He you know, he's one of these these early guys
who were he he was somebody that correct people like
we we talk about police in the game and anyone

(28:03):
was taking liberties with your guys more than I more
than likely had. Van Amp was probably the first one
to take a run back at one of yours. So
he was part of that old guard man that that
we're seeing phased out here in the NHL. But uh,
you know, unfortunately, you know, his time on this earth
has come to an end. But uh, he will always
be remembered here in Philadelphia and he will always be beloved.

Speaker 4 (28:25):
What about you, Mike, Yeah, he was. He was just
a tough s ob and he he was not only
a part of that Flyers culture, but he was one
of the leaders of it. I mean, he was you know,
he was one of the veteran guys back there in
the blue line that sort of set the tone in
and from him came the guys, you know, whether it

(28:47):
was DuPont or Cileski or Schultz or any of these
other guys, and they they really the genesis of it,
The genesis of that style came from a vantage he was.

Speaker 2 (28:58):
He was the guy. I mean he I don't know,
but to me, for those those of us that remember
old time wrestling, not the not college dressing, which I adore,
but old time wrestling, he just reminds me of George
the animals Steel. I looked at him and I just
thought he was the animal Steel on on skates. He

(29:21):
was just that. He just had that that growl to him.
And uh yeah, I think Steven's one hundred percent right.
He he was probably the cornerstone of building that culture
for that Flyers team in the seven that was not
only not only a really good hockey team, but a
really tough hockey team. Yeah.

Speaker 1 (29:42):
Well, you have David Hammer Schultz on there fighting everybody inside.
I'm surprised he's not on your bare knuckles show.

Speaker 3 (29:50):
I mean all the time that it's not easy to
get these guys, man.

Speaker 1 (29:55):
You're racking them up. I'm proud of this guy. I'll
tell you one thing might to Stephen credit. He come
up with a pretty dynamite guest on the inside the
pictid show. He pulls people on like bent through. We
got our Christine Jones, I tell you. And now Marvin
Powell joined the party. Who knows what Steven's gonna come
up with? And all due respect, Mike, Stephen Reichshaw to

(30:18):
me is my right hand man behind this operation. That's
why I'm putting him on the night with you as
we're looking forward to bring you and him and I
on Monday night. Well we can do a professor and people.
Who knows I might actually cancel the professor and people
and do a real and rare on that one, And
that way it'll get Stephen on audio as well. That's
something to think about. The real and rare and we're

(30:39):
gonna do all kinds of stuff. So Steven, think about it.
You'll make your iHeartRadio debut when we pull that show
on a rime time. How's that? Somebody so? But we
all due respect, I take it tall interesting. Now get this.
I like to see the conflict a nice. I bought
a couple of videotapes at the Philadelphia in Spectrum when
I was at that Jordan Philadelphia game. It was I

(31:01):
still love watching it. I even watch some of those
things on YouTube and it's unbelievable. Hey listen, man, anytime
you can play God Bless America and you have Kate
Kate Smith, Kate Smith, thank you. That's pretty good. I mean,
the Russian got beat up and nobody played on that
brand of hockey, and that's one thing they reunited the country.
So I'll leave it at that. We could talk all

(31:24):
day long and tie them into anywhere, but I'm going
to ask an off the wall question. Mike and I
have one more Philadelphia topic. I want to get to.
Candy goes to a station break, but this caught my
attention and Mike, knowing that you're a lawyer as well,
I decided to bring this up. JP Morgan CEO Jamie
Diamond says Bank is preparing for a whole range of

(31:44):
scenarios as economy mass considerable considerable turbulence. Do you believe that.

Speaker 2 (31:52):
Yeah, I definitely believe that. I think that. I think
there's we've got a lot of turbulence in this country
right now, right and most of it is most of
it is economical and uh and because of the inflation
that we have in this country. And I wish that
you know, sides would stop blaming one another and put

(32:13):
themselves in their heads together and start to solve this problem.
And I'm just so tired of of you know, you know,
is it a Democrat, is it a Republican? I don't care. Like,
We've got to get back to being Americans and solve
our problems. And I think it starts with, you know,
people in this country having a work ethic. And you know,

(32:36):
I'm going to pick on young people today, but I
just don't see the work ethic in young people today.
And that's probably our fault because we've probably we've probably
probably brought them along or brought them up in a
certain way where you know, they think, they think all
they got to do is take selfies of themselves with
their phone and they're going to be a celebrity.

Speaker 1 (32:56):
Yeah, there's definitely is room for concerns. Steven, you want
to add something to this.

Speaker 3 (33:00):
He's not wrong, Listen. We've got to stop pointing fingers.
Oh it's a democrat. Oh, listen, listen, listen, listen, I
don't I don't care. You're you're left, you're right, you're conservative,
You're do not freaking care, do not. Let's let's get
back to to to to Americans being Americans. Let's get

(33:20):
back back to to you know, the working blue collar
people being celebrated more than freaking retarded streamers like hell, like,
look even look at the boxing or whatever. We have
to deal with freaking Jake Paul. He's beaten up senior
citizens and guys that are that are two way classes

(33:41):
below him. And then when we were there are people
touting him around as as like this great, this great guy.
Like dude, he's a he's a spoiled nickelodeon threat. I
mean stop, like please, like like listen, stop worried about
you know, what people think of you outside of this

(34:02):
and that, Like listen, Let's get back to to making
money for this country. Let's get let's get back to
you know, being Americans. And we're not just talking about
the last ten years, the last twenty years. It goes
back even further than that. We've allowed corruption on both
sides to run rampant to a point where we're watching

(34:24):
we're watching gas prices be through the roof, food prices
be through the roof, to the point where where it's
just everything so out of whack. But we want to
sit there and blame everything else. But what we need
to are fricking selves. We've allowed this to happen.

Speaker 1 (34:40):
Okay, very well said, all right, we're going to stay
in Philadelphia, and we're going to have a couple of
football topics on here, and this is one of them.
The Philadelphia Flyers Philadelphia Flyers, I mean Eagles this time.
It doesn't matter. They're both basical, Okay. Jim Howie Roseman
says the team has a policy to not scout players

(35:03):
who have been violent against women because he's made that
mistake ten years ago. What are your thoughts about his policy, Mike,
I know you've been in the front office before looking
at players, but when you think about it, he's learned
his lesson. I know other teams may look the other way,
But what are your thoughts about what Howie Roseman his
position on this one?

Speaker 2 (35:24):
Oh, I'm all for it. I just think that this
is another thing that points towards a person's character, and
that's the most important thing. We've had this discussion in
the past when I was working for clubs. I mean
probably the a number one thing I looked at at

(35:45):
any potential player was what type of character they had, right,
And that's measurable I think too many times in all sports. Now.
I just heard some crazy thing from the Patriots today
of this Stefan Diggs stuff that's going on, and uh,
you know, people are saying like, I don't care what

(36:06):
he does or how he does it, as long as
you know he can catch passes from Drake May. That's
That's not what I'm all about. And I think that's
that's what how we's saying. That's not what the Eagles
are all about. You know, they want character guys because
that's in the end, that's what's going to get it
done well.

Speaker 1 (36:25):
When you consider the success they've had recent years, it's
pretty hard to argue against the formula. Once upon a time,
Chip Kelly went in there. We all know how that went.
But seven pick up this thing. You know it better
than anybody. What your thoughts about his approach, Yeah, we're
doing business of way.

Speaker 3 (36:40):
It's one of the things that you know, kind of
came out like right before the draft that he just
doesn't look at these guys, at these guys when we're
talking about the scouting thing, but it's not just the
scouting thing, and we are we talked about a little
bit before with building a culture and bringing in certain guys,
it does matter, you know. Mike was just talking about
what's going down there and when with Stefan Diggs he's

(37:01):
partying on boat, giving girls drugs, doing this, that and
a third Like, listen, it's all that's the life you
want to live. You know. You you represent a brain,
you know, not just the New England Patriots, but the
National Football League. So it's only going to be a
matter of time before you know, there's kind of a
conversation that goes on between owners and be like, listen,

(37:21):
we need to we need to not not offer this
guy anything and just let let him go and live
his life.

Speaker 1 (37:28):
Now.

Speaker 3 (37:28):
How how like I laugh at some times where we
were over the last few years, it's like we're linked
to just about every superstar athlete that is potentially trying
to leave their thing. And I go and look at
one thing immediately is if they've had instances with domestic violence.
And I was like, there a beginning of the off season,
they're like, oh, the Eagles are going to be looking

(37:49):
into trading for Tyreek Hill. I'm like, no other, not
another he's been into. He's been into too many spats
with his girlfriends and stuff like that. Besides, I don't
think we can ford his alimony payments at this point.
It's listen, you know, I make I make light of that.
But like he he's made his own situations. And Howie's

(38:09):
Roseman's already made this clear. If he's not going to
scout guys like that, he's not going to trade for
guys like that. So like this is like going into
fake news and stuff like that. But it's one of
those things like he has a certain type of guy
that he wants to bring in there. And and I
think even A. J. Brown did a did an interview
recently where he's saying, like, you know, guys that that

(38:32):
are having problems where they're addicted to two women in
a certain type of way that they give them certain
type attention and stuff like that. Uh, It's something that
that I talk about on the fan in the end
a lot. But between me and Ben, go go and
look at some of the most successful guys, not just
in the NFL, just in sports in general, what is
the what is one of the main factors into that

(38:55):
they're married men with good home lives. The top guys
in this spot, I mean Kobe Well, Kobe Bryant, for
for example, like regardless of what you know, you know,
him not having as many championships as this guy or
that guy, but he was basically the the face of
the v NBA for a be for the better part

(39:16):
of ten years. And you know, he was beloved on
all types of levels. You know, obviously Shaquille O'Neal is
is a guy that he was partner with and every
and there was friction between them because Kobe was beloved
in a certain type of way. I believe it is
because his home life was situated where Shaq used to
used to run on and run around on his wife

(39:37):
and do what normal basketball players do. There's a reason
why these guys do that, and and and you know
that may not be domestic violence, but it's one of
those things where there's a certain there's a certain line
you don't cross, Like like if you raise your hand
to your wife and I'm raising a cerviace, I'm not
saying raised. I experienced things. I probably shouldn't experience. And

(39:58):
I just knew how my mother reacted to it, and
I just I would have it in me like I would.
I'm never gonna be that person. I'm never gonna raise
my hand to a woman no matter what she does,
Like I'll restrain somebody, but I'm not. I'm never going
to going to you know, you strike a woman in anger,
regardless of the heat of the moment or whatever. You

(40:19):
have to hold yourself accountable to this. And I'm so
glad that Howie Roseman made it a point to and say, hey,
women are number one on my list. You cannot That's
that's something you can't do. And that's something we're not
gonna accept here in Philadelphia. We're not gonna accept. For
the Eagles, it's something that that he stands by and
couldn't be happier that that he has that type of stance.

Speaker 2 (40:41):
Okay, well, I mean that's a that's a personality flaw.
If you're treating your wife, your girlfriend, your partner that way,
how are you gonna how are you gonna treat your
teammates right?

Speaker 3 (40:57):
Are you gonna leave men? How are you gonna leave
men right?

Speaker 2 (41:00):
How are you going to like how are you going
to do that? And it's it's a problem. And and
you know I'm biased, obviously, I'm a Boston guy. I
have a I have an affinity for Philadelphia and all
my friends there. But the successful organizations I find build

(41:21):
their teams for their cities. And I think the Eagles
are a good reflection of what people in Philadelphia stand for.
And I and I think that, you know, I think
how he's one hundred percent right.

Speaker 5 (41:35):
Character is Character is important, you know, whether you're whether
you're playing for the Philadelphia Eagles or whether you're you know,
working in a restaurant in South Philly. Like this is
what this is what life is all about in Philadelphia,
and this is this is what people in Philadelphia forget
about their economics standing.

Speaker 2 (41:54):
This is what they.

Speaker 1 (41:58):
Okay, all right, So let me ask you guys individual
questions here and we'll make this segment really brief. I
know we have a few other things I want to
get to, but Steve talk about your passion for combat sports,
and then I'm gonna have Mike talk about his passion
for college wrestling. I think this is good because after
you guys asked this question, we're gonna work on putting

(42:20):
a reel and a rear together, and I want to
move it along. But I think it's pretty good that
I have two people. Mike and I've already talked about
me going to one of the World Wrestling Championship and
I'll go with him anyways. But so why don't you start, Steven?
When you grew through YouTube combat.

Speaker 3 (42:36):
I fell in love with combat sports early, and it
was obviously grown initially from from the from the ww
F a k a. The WWE, when you had those
personalities and things of that nature. But then also you
grew up with guys like Mike Tyson and Vander Holyfield
and George Foreman, and like you've watched the combat I
watched combat sports athletes most of my life. And we're

(42:59):
at a time here in Philadelphia. You know, we got
you know, Sean Brady, We got you know, you know, uh,
Joey Pfeiffer, Andre Petrowski, Jeremiah Wells. You know we used
to have uh now now retired and in competator Paul
the Irish Drag and Felder. We have a rich thing.

(43:20):
And let's not forgot to get about Geron and Boots Ennis.
Who who's gonna be who's gonna be a multiweight champion
before everything's said and done. He is an absolute record ball.
We are blessed here in Philadelphia, and it's just kind
of grown. We watched, we watched, and I say combat
sports because it's not just MMA, it's not just boxing.
We got baron knuckle growing.

Speaker 1 (43:40):
Now.

Speaker 3 (43:40):
Dave Feldman's here from the Tri State area. Obviously, you
know when they launched and did everything, you know, it
was down there in Florida. But they've grown combat sports
to a point where we're at a special time when
we're talking about combat sports and things of that nature,
the pro wrestling regularly, jil wrestling, all of it. It's

(44:02):
so easily consumed now, where before you had to go
to specific sites or specific newspapers and things of that
nature where people would cover that. Now, you know, every
weekend we could very well have have uh you know,
fights Friday nights, fight Saturday nights, and then you know
something else Sunday night. It doesn't matter if it's here
in the United States, if it's international. If you're one

(44:25):
of these people who follow like one FC or or
even some uh some of the the the Russian combat
sports promotions there's just so much of it and also
so many different ways to consume it, regardless if it's
gonna be on you know, uh, you know your big
broadcast channels. Obviously, you know, the UFC is kind of

(44:48):
fading away from ESPN now they were also on on Fox,
they were. It's so easily consumed by by streaming, by
all this other other means. My I love them. It
just comes from the listen when we're talking about it.
It's kind of the the primal mail that comes out
and everyone, I mean, most of your targeted already is

(45:09):
when we're talking about combat sports is you know eighteen
to you know, twenty five, thirty, maybe thirty five. But
it's it's it's something that we can all relate to
and you know, regardless of what format is. If you're
a if you're a boxer, ify, if you're a pugilistic guy,
or or if you like like the combat the MMA
that that mix everything into the boxing, the wrestling, the

(45:31):
jiu jitsu, the judo, you know, all that stuff. It's
it's fun because the styles makes fights that there there
there's so many different guys from you know, from your backyard,
from overseas there's different styles. This guy's more of a
karate guy, this is a striker, this guy's a this
guy's more of a grappler. There's always fun matchups and

(45:51):
ways that we attach ourselves to to to these athletes,
and you know, it's it's a rare time.

Speaker 1 (46:00):
Uh.

Speaker 3 (46:00):
I think we have more parody now that than there
has ever been in any one of the sports promotions.
However you you like to break that down, but uh,
it's something that that I have an affinity for, you know,
the athletes as well.

Speaker 1 (46:14):
Like you.

Speaker 3 (46:14):
When you look at the four major the four major sports,
everything's a team. It's it's always about you know, the
best team will always win. But that that you don't
really have teams in combat sports. It's it's one man
or one woman going in there and testing their knowledge,
their skills, their their their athletics is against somebody else

(46:35):
who sometimes is uh, you know, they may be taller
or longer, they're they're a little bit more experience. Is
the one thing I do like about it is the
way class You're never gonna have that big disparity like
you did in the early days of the UFC. But
I think there's a little bit of something in combat
sports for everybody, regardless of uh of uh what what
poison you're picking?

Speaker 1 (46:57):
Well, now you know you're passionate about combat sports. Good stuff.
All right, So, Mike, what's your affinity for telegg wrestling?
I know that we know he was a hockey guy,
but let's talk about that and then one more topic
to get to for Mike and then we go to
the station break.

Speaker 2 (47:10):
I grew up playing hockey, but I also grew up
in a neighborhood that was filled with boxing and wrestling.
And I had literally right down the end of my
street was a guy named Mickey Ward who became the
Junior Wealthweight Champion of the world. And it was really

(47:31):
he's my size. He was nothing special, he was just
all heart and you know, but those who don't know boxing,
I mean he fought fought our Tarot Guardian three fights
they call the trilogy of three of the greatest boxing
matches of all time. And I had two of my
best friends where I went to school with as well,

(47:54):
who were elite wrestlers, wrestled, you know, in the NCAA Championships,
both of them three times four years at a time
when you know, wrestling didn't get the attention that it's
starting to get now. But I agree one hund with
what Steven said. There's an honesty about all combat sports

(48:20):
that doesn't exist in other team sports, right, And I'm
drawn to exactly what Stephen said, the athleticism. I'm drawn
to athletes, and to me, those are athletes just like
people that can run fast, people can jump high. And

(48:41):
as I get older, I'm more and more drawn to
athleticism and honesty in sports competition than I am in
team sports, where some guy who's just a small part
of a team and maybe can do one thing well
is given all this praise because of you know, one

(49:01):
skill that he has. But let me tell you something.
I don't have to tell Steven this. If you're if
your back's on, if your back's on the bottom of
the octagon for four and a half minutes waiting for
a round, and while some guys sitting on your chest
pounding the crap out of you, let's see what you got, right.

Speaker 3 (49:21):
We'll find out who you're made of real first.

Speaker 2 (49:23):
Yeah, And there's nobody there that's going to help you.
There's no out of bounds to run to, right, there's
no come to the bench and send the other guy
out there like that's it, man, And and and you
want to give up, that's up to you.

Speaker 3 (49:38):
Man.

Speaker 2 (49:38):
You want to you wanna you want to show the
whole world what you're made of and tap out, go
right ahead, right. But that's uh. These are the elite
of elite. I want to say men, because there are
women out there now that are that are proven that
they're great athletes to in combat sports. And and they're males, right,

(50:01):
And that doesn't the other thing I have found in
my experience very similar to the tough guys in hockey.
When these guys step outside the ring or the cage
or whatever it is wherever they compete, they're good human
beings and they and they stand for principles and doing

(50:23):
things the right way. And you know they're not then,
you know, buy and large like the rest of society,
they're they're just good people. They're not they're not crazy.
This is just what they do for a living, and
this is this is how they carry themselves in life.
I mean, I don't see how well, I guess some
people won't. I don't see how anybody can't be drawn

(50:44):
to these types of sports.

Speaker 1 (50:46):
Great, great comments for both. All right, this one's for you,
Mike only. Bill Belichick's girlfriend get this is reportedly a
mass eight million dollars and for their real estate forlo
since they were dating. What's your take on this? We
know that she's been prominently around UNC. I know there's
a little bit of drama around there, and obviously football

(51:06):
is coming close. But think about a young twenty four
year old young lady with a seventy three year old
guy a massing eight million bucks. You have any takes
on this all the way around?

Speaker 2 (51:16):
Mike, Yeah, I'm glad he was sitting next to her
on that plane and not me. Was that. I'm glad
he was sitting next to her on that plane years
ago and not me because I wouldn't want anything to
do with it.

Speaker 3 (51:30):
It's real simple. She got daddy checks.

Speaker 1 (51:33):
There you go, don't they all? I know you will
think we're going to Candy First Station break.

Speaker 3 (51:40):
Self.

Speaker 6 (51:40):
Flourd Tribune Publishing Company published a book Listens to the Microphone,
Tuning into the enduring Wisdom of Visionary Leaders. It is
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Speaker 1 (52:46):
Back to the program, taking Candy all right, four more topics.
I want to get to doing a great job. Moving
to show along. Should the NHL consider an season tournament
order to get more eyes on the regular season? Let's
not kid ourselves, Mike, Okay, well, we have a couple
more shows to go, then we're gonna take a little
bit of a break for a while. But when you
think about the fact that we both admit the regular season,

(53:08):
we all football dominates earlier. But do you like the
idea of a potential season tournament for hockey? No? Okay, no, why? Why? Why?

Speaker 2 (53:20):
Why do we need one? It's not going to increase viewers.
But I mean, we saw all the craziness around the
four Things this year, which was ten days, ten days
of hockey, and as soon as that final game was
over where the US lost the cannon overtime, the next day,
everybody forgot about it and went right back to their business.
It's it doesn't it doesn't do anything. The players already

(53:44):
play a long enough season, you know, full eyeballs away
from the NFL, especially that time of year, or college
football or any of the other things that are going on.
I mean, how successful is the NBA's in.

Speaker 1 (53:59):
Some comment I've got to comment on that. When you're done,
I want your thoughts or on the NHL's version.

Speaker 2 (54:07):
I just think it's I just think it's an afterthought.

Speaker 1 (54:10):
Yeah, all right, let me pick this up here because
I agree with the thousand percent the NBA needed it
because they're desperate. The ratings are down, Okay, we have
load management, and the league is suffering badly, and popular.
If that nobody believes us, all I have to do
the Poor Nation Tournament did compare to the NHL All
Star Game. The NHL doesn't need an in season tournament.

(54:33):
The game they play intent, they play hard for the
NBA doing anything they can find the gimmick to keep
an interesting to that time of the year. They what
do they do? Shoot three pointers instead of playing the
old fashioned prostry pulling the way. Yeah, that's why you
need something to keep that interest afloat. But not with
the NHL. They're playing hard all the time. Lets not

(54:53):
get ourselves. I think hockey players are the most underpaid
players than all the four major sports because of what
they have to go through. But because of the economics
set up, I understand the purpose, but I agree with
You'm like, the NHL does not need an ncon tournament.
Whoever brought up the idea should be ashamed of himself.
The NBA needs it because they're desperate, and Steven and

(55:15):
I are going to be talking about the seventy six
or process in a future edition of Professor and the People.
But I agree with him, like they don't need it.
The NBA is desperate and that's all I have to say,
I'll turn over to Steven give you a little typical anyway.

Speaker 3 (55:32):
I totally agree with the both of you. It's it's
it's a terrible gimmick. It was a terrible gimmick for
the for the NBA. You're absolutely right, they are dying,
dying for viewership right now, and it's their own freaking fault.
They've been putting. They've been putting the flop up up
there as the savior of the sport, and he's done

(55:53):
nothing but tear it down. You know, we were talking
about Kobe. It was probably the high said it has
been at that point because because of the type of
player that was, the type of mentality you have, and
how he played the game. They don't have guys like
that and hockey, you know, obviously, you know you have
stars all over the place. You don't, you don't need this.

(56:16):
They already you already play a tough, a tough game.
These guys, you know, as you said, most underpaid. They're
prior probably one of the toughest guys that you have
out there. P CA Saban has already already buried the
NBA on this matter. Obviously, some players have gone back
at them They don't play for anything. They play for themselves,

(56:36):
and that's why hockey doesn't need it, because they're they're
one of those guys that those their teams play for themselves.
They go out there, played hurt, touring this, broken, that
dislocated this, and they still go out there and give
you every answer what's left in their body. They don't
need an end season tournament for what. What is it
gonna do? Absolutely nothing. You're not gonna pull viewership away

(56:59):
from him. What your bases of, what your base is,
continue to develop young stars, young athletes right in some
of these bigger markets. Obviously that that that always helps,
But continue to develop stars that that's I think that's
one of the biggest things we were just talking about
combat sports, that you have stars from all over the

(57:20):
place is one of the things that you can continue
to do in hockey. You have stars from from from Russia,
from from Sweden, from Canada, from the United States. The
other thing is isn't a lot of it is is
like you have the Kentuck brothers there, now what third
generation hockey players, right, You have other things to kind

(57:41):
of bring people in, so there's no point to have
an interminent anything for for hockey, there they play the
toughest eighty two game schedule. They have one of the
toughest playoff tournaments. That that that that of most of
the four sports because of the listen, at the end
of the day, hockey players have the first. They have
to be really good at at ice skating first and foremost.

(58:04):
Then we have to get talking about the actual game itself.
You have to learn how to how to be a defenseman,
a goalie, a goalscorer. You know a guy that that's
maybe a Swiss Army and he's maybe not great at
all of it, but he's really good at all of it.
Those guys have have value in it. You don't need
to take away from what you already have. The the

(58:27):
the four Nations things is a better alternative to the
to the The NHL All Star Game is a better
alternative than any of the four sports has right now.
Pro Bowl is absolutely freaking unwatchable anymore. They're playing flag football.
No one wants to watch that. We can do that
at the Olympics. Now, ain't no point for that. I
already said to you, if you want, if you want

(58:47):
to say the NFL All Star Game, put the All Star.
Put put your Pro Bowl at at at the Hall
of Fame game during preseason is the only way you're
gonna save that. Otherwise it's dead Baseball. I think you
should go back back to some of the ways they
used to do things.

Speaker 1 (59:05):
And you know, Baseball's All Star Game is I think
why because he's got got a free trip to Wive
State and it wasn't bad there. But the Baseball Star
Games okay. But I totally agree with this, Steven. Everything
you've said is on point with this. It really truly is.
I mean, they don't need it. The NBA Cup is

(59:29):
what is it a consolation for what? Oh? Maybe our
players will get more experienced unless.

Speaker 3 (59:36):
You give them your I already said the only way
if you change that if you don't do like an
in season tournament you do you know, maybe he's the
preseason thing and then it's like the all like like
some of the best best players that you have in
the sport playing. You can't sit there and do an
in season tournament makes no sense. It goes against what

(59:57):
you're doing. This is as bad as as the play in.
What NBA is doing its stupid.

Speaker 1 (01:00:05):
Well I could tolerate to play in a little, but
not much. But will we do that? I could tolerate it.
I said, you can't find.

Speaker 3 (01:00:12):
Out who the best eight teams in each conference in
eighty two games.

Speaker 1 (01:00:16):
I don't know. I listen. I said I could tolerate it.
Didn't mean I liked it. Remember the to like And
that's all I'm gonna leave on that topic, okay, because
I'm going back to another personal thing that Mike Santos
can answer. Like we did a little bit earlier. The
Raiders had seven first round picks from twenty to nineteen
to twenty two. None of them remain on the team.

(01:00:37):
How do you blow that, mic, Seven and none of
them worked out and a three year period. I don't
get it.

Speaker 2 (01:00:45):
It happens to a lot of teams in all sports.
I mean, the Boston Bruins haven't been able to land
a first round pick that's made their squad and since
twenty fifteen, and they had one guy that made it,
Jake Debrusk, and had three three in the top twenty
that one year and none of them made it. So

(01:01:06):
that's a bad, bad organization obviously, especially when it comes
to scouting and development. You know, football is a little different.
I mean you got to you gotta scout, and you
gotta land guys. I can I can only speak to hockey.
I know one thing. In the hockey world, you're looking
at sixteen and seventeen year old players, you're drafting them

(01:01:27):
they turn eighteen and trying to predict what they're going
to be like when they're twenty three and twenty four.
A little you know, it's real tough. It's real tough.
But in the NFL, I mean that's starting to get
Like all sports, you know, guys are guys are going
playing one year, two years now and splitting at twenty
years old to go play in the NHL. In the NFL,
it just gets younger and younger, and it's just more

(01:01:50):
and more difficult to scout these guys you're looking at
you're looking at kids and trying to determine what they're
going to be like when they're adults.

Speaker 1 (01:02:00):
Agree. Agree, But I was scurious to get your opinion
on it because he worked on the inside. So Steven,
obviously we've talked about this and other shows. If you
have someone else to say on it, fine, Otherwise a
little bit lost.

Speaker 3 (01:02:13):
It's not the easiest thing. Everyone thinks that's the easiest thing.
You could have the number one pick for your team
for four years, seven years in a row, and it's
still no guarantee that the that these guys are going
to develop into anything. There's so many different variables, like it,
if these guys truly love the the game you're drafting
them into, they truly like like if they live, breathe, eat, hockey, baseball, football, whatever.

(01:02:40):
It's not the easiest thing to figure out. Injuries happen,
life happens. You know you you know, we see it
in all different guys wind up walking away after a
haneful of years, and it's not necessarily because they're not
some of the best players in the world. Barry sand
has left the left left the NFL in his prime.
He could have went anywhere and played another handful of

(01:03:02):
seasons and potentially won a Super Bowl. May be down
there with as one of the greatest running backs of
all time, but he didn't. Megatron another the Troy Troy guy.
He left I think probably with more than a handful
of years left on his table. But it's one of
these things you don't know, you don't know what you're
gonna get out of this guy. What's in between their ears,

(01:03:24):
if they're if they're a leader, if they're a follower,
if they're a yes man, if they're a company guy.
You don't know. You don't know that what you're gonna
get when you're drafting nineteen twenty twenty one year old kids.
You don't know who they're gonna become. Regardless if you
know their their family situation. They've come from nothing to
come from a great family. If they come from a

(01:03:45):
terrible family, you don't know what you're gonna get out
of that person. Each person's kind of a ball of clay.
You have to mold them into something.

Speaker 1 (01:03:53):
You know.

Speaker 3 (01:03:54):
We hear about it in Philadelphia, is the quarterback factory
you had? You just had? Kenny Pickett basically says that
he's you know, he's been under under you know, Mike
Toma there in Pittsburgh's Pie argued, we want, you know,
people call him a great coach. He said he finally
learned how to play the quarterback position from top to
bottom just one year here here in Philadelphia. I don't

(01:04:16):
know if that's going to translate to anything like that.
In Cleveland, you don't know who you're get. Everyone, says
Kenny Biget's a bust at this point in time, right,
he's a bus I can't say that yet. I could
sit there and say that he's talented. He has his deficiencies.
That that why why he's a He's not a a
elite quarterback. But I still think he's more than a

(01:04:37):
journeyman serviceman. You don't know what you're gonna get, You don't,
It doesn't matter what sport we're talking about.

Speaker 2 (01:04:44):
Nineteen eighty, the Boston Celtics, after winning another championship, drafted
a guy by the name of Len Bias.

Speaker 1 (01:04:54):
Oh God damn.

Speaker 2 (01:04:56):
He thought to be better than Michael Jordan. Yeah, and
the next day he was dead after a night of
youth in cocaine. So like Eve instead, Yeah.

Speaker 1 (01:05:10):
We'll leave it on that. We'll leave it on that
note because they're All I can say is the drafts
of crap. Shoot, we will leave it at that. But
great observation by both two topics. I want to get to.
Three finalists of the twenty twenty three NHL Coach of
the Year have been fired by their respective teams. Get
this yet, Jim Montgomery, Mike you and I have talked

(01:05:32):
about him plenty of times. Obviously for Boston, Dave Haxell
with Seattle. In fact, I actually understand I think they
hired Lane Lambert as their coach. We can go ahead
and Candy you w once you look that up to
see if it's true I got win that they did.
And of course Lindy Ruff with the new jersey and
the consolation prize at Buffalo. Mike, one of your thoughts, obviously,

(01:05:55):
if you win now, no matter what your success, We've
talked about it before. You want to talk about these
three guys, well.

Speaker 2 (01:06:05):
Two or three guys, Montgomery and Lindy Roff. And I
could even make an argument for Hackstall. There was no
reason to fire. I mean, Lindy Roff did nothing wrong
other than the fact that they're that their superstar player

(01:06:28):
up front. And Jack Hughes got hurt in the in
the Four Nations tournament and missed the rest of the season,
and you know, what are you going to do? They
just you know, they they fell in the standings and
then were eliminated the first round of the playoffs, right, uh.

(01:06:48):
Jim Montgomery, I mean two years ago, he not only
had the best record in the league, he had the
best record ever in the history of the National Hockey
League and then all of a sudden he forgot how
to coach. Yeah, right, So you know, and by the way,
both of those guys bounced back pretty well, right. I mean,
Lindy rough who's I don't know what his age is,

(01:07:10):
but I'm going to guess Lindy's He's at least in
his seventies, you know, has gone back to Buffalo where
he played and coached, and you know, that was a
great hire for them because they're struggling. They need some credibility.
Hopefully he can bring it to him and Jim Montgomery,
you know, the next week, jumped into Saint Louis and

(01:07:30):
took a team at the bottom of the standings and
went to you know, multiple overtimes of Game seven before
losing to the Winnipeg Jets this year in the playoffs.
So yeah, I don't know. I don't know why people
make decisions sometimes. I'm sure there were reasons maybe behind
the scenes that we don't know about, But in all
these cases, I don't think it has anything to do

(01:07:51):
with their ability as coaches. But there was something, there
was something behind the scenes that we don't know about it.
There was a reason for them.

Speaker 1 (01:08:00):
Well, it is confirmed Lane Lambert as the Lane Lambert
is the new coach, Sandel, you have any quick thoughts
about him, real quick? I know some unexpected, But we
also talked about rerecky news and from what I understand,
I believe Marco Stern has been hired by the Boston
Bruins as well. How about some quick comments on those
two hire more comic.

Speaker 2 (01:08:21):
I know both of those guys real well. Actually, Lane
Lambert I worked with in the Nashville organization and we're
good friends. He coached our team in Milwaukee for several seasons,
first as an assistant coach and then as a head
coach in the American Hockey League, and then he came
up and was an assistant coach with Garry Trotz. Followed

(01:08:41):
Berry to Washington where they won the Stanley Cup, and
then followed him again to Long Island and became the
coach of the Islanders after Barry Trotz resigned and left.
He'll do I think he'll do a great job. You know,
what does he have in Seattle to work with? You know,
I think I think there's a lot of work to

(01:09:02):
be done there. I think they're a team that relied
on a decent expansion draft to make the playoffs this
first year, but since then haven't done a lot to
develop their organization for future years. So we'll see. I
think that I think that's seeing Marco sterm. I actually
had Marco with the Panthers in in our twenty eleven

(01:09:24):
well season, acquired him in a trade in the trade
with Michael Sanderson that saw David Booth go the other
way to Vancouver, and I think I think if that
is in fact who the Bruins hire. I don't know
if that hire has been made yet. I know it's
been it's been rumored about, but as I understand that,
they're still interviewing a couple of people tomorrow, including Stern,

(01:09:45):
who's going in for another interview tomorrow. But if he's
the guy they hire, I think he's an excellent choice.
I just hope the Bruins are looking to rebuild their
organization to develop some young players, and they give a
guy like him that time to do that and and
develop these guys and build a team. And they don't
expect him to go in there and be a Stanley

(01:10:07):
Cup the next year too, because that's not going to
happen no matter who the coaches.

Speaker 1 (01:10:11):
Yeah, I've actually heard it has been done about a
day or two go. I'm sure we'll get more confirmation
as we go along. Too bad it didn't work for
Dan Bielsma out Seattle. But we'll leave it at that.
Those are a couple of quick coaching hires that have
come up recently. I to figure we'll get him out
of the way now, Steven. Then he quick thoughts about
the other coaches that were terminating. One more topic to
get to. We're gonna end up showing out positive note.

Speaker 3 (01:10:34):
It's tough hockey coaches, man like, because you know it's
really it takes nothing to get you fired. I mean,
you know, look here in Philadelphia. You know we had
hacks all here. We couldn't get nothing, nothing going. Hell,
we just brought Rick Rick Pockett back and for whatever
reason that that's gonna be it. It really is a
couple of things that like it's it's one of the

(01:10:55):
things that Michael saying. It could be stuff behind the scenes.
It could be you know, button heads with with the
with the talent on the teams. It could be just
you know, you're bringing new management in and they want
they want to bring their their their their guy in
or they've been waiting for for an excuse to fire
you so they can bring the guy they want to
have run the team come in. So it's it's just

(01:11:16):
like we were talking about, it's a crap shoot for
UH for drafting guys. It's a crap shoot for for
coaches too. There's some guys that you know will go
to go through three, four, five different organizations before they
get get put in a situation or have the right
guys around them to be able to to get the
best out of his guys. They you know, some of

(01:11:38):
these guys have to fail on the job a lot
until they find the right formula that work. So it's
I think it's it's just as rough as as a
hockey as it will will be in any other sport.
I mean, how we just look, we just saw basketball
that you know, the you know, the the Nuggets basically
fire their coach right before the playoffs and they're not

(01:12:00):
even three years removed from from an NBA championship. So
it's like it doesn't matter. I just think it's it's
it's it's how they they they connect with not only
the players, but the front office and that goes for
the same for for hockey as it goes for baseball, basketball, football,
it's it's it's all in reality, like it's not even

(01:12:21):
what have you done for me? Now? What are you
what you done for me lately? Type of thing. It's
it's sometimes it could be the silliest thing that that
that gets a guy, uh sent packing as far as
the coach goes. So, but let's just just say this way.
You know, you can't do everything with the players. You
have to have a guy that can connect with the players.
And you know, I'll go right back to Nick Sirianna. Everyone, everyone,

(01:12:44):
you know, four or five years ago was like, who
the frick is this guy? This guy doesn't know what
he's doing. Hell, even a year ago everyone was calling
for his head, and he turned those guys in that
locker room loved him and will go to war for him.
You have to have that. If you don't have that factor,
it doesn't matter how good of a coach, x's os guy,
guy you're going to be, does it matter the sport.

(01:13:05):
You have to be able to connect with the city,
the fan base, in the organization. And that's not the
easiest thing to to put put that stuff.

Speaker 2 (01:13:12):
Together, Okay, Pete Bore, Pete the Bore took the Jersey
Devils to the Stanley Cup Finals, got fired, went on
to the San Jose Sharks, took them to the Stanley
Cup Finals, got fired, went to the Vegas Knights, took
them to the Conference finals, got fired. Like, I mean,
who's had I mean, who's had it much more success

(01:13:35):
than Pete Bore? And he was fired like four times,
you know, in a matter of like six years, and
yet all he did was go to at least the
conference finals. In the finals.

Speaker 1 (01:13:45):
Right, So we got a couple of questions, chat room,
I'll have one for both. Yeah, well we'll start with you, Mike.
What's the best coaching hire so far for you? Mike?
And then Steven gillanswer the next one.

Speaker 2 (01:13:59):
I say it, Oh, I think, uh, I think it's
it's yet to be made. I think if if the
Bruins hire Marco Sturm, I'll go with Marco Stern if
they If we go through and and hire Marco, I
just think he's a guy that's he's cut his teeth,

(01:14:20):
he's he's developed himself as a coach, and I just
know him as a person. I think he's he's just
going to be very relatable with with the Boston organization
that needs to go young and take their lunch for
a few years. And if they do that, I think
he'll be the best higher.

Speaker 1 (01:14:36):
Okay, Steven, you know the next question. Do you think
Packet will do well? Uh?

Speaker 3 (01:14:41):
Yeah, I mean one of those things that was already centre.
He evens the city of Philadelphia. He's he's played here,
he was, he was he was a part of this
team in the uh the the late eighties, early nineties.
He gets Philadelphia. I know he hasn't been super successful
as a head coach, but I think you you have

(01:15:03):
a young Flyers team that that that's ready to win.
I think their biggest problem has been just a carousel
at goaltender over the last ten years has probably been
been the Flyers' biggest problem they had. They have guys
I think that could potentially develop and and and be stars,
if not superstars. You know, you don't have a Claude

(01:15:25):
Jerux anymore, but uh, you know, t K is a guy.
Coatie is a guy that that that I think guys
rally around. So it's they got they got an interesting
group of characters. I think I think Rick rickle toe
the line the way it needs to be. Be tough
on him when he needs to be too. Unfortunately, uh,

(01:15:45):
you know, Johnny t just was a little vile to
what how he went went about some of the things
with some of the reports that came out afterwards. He's
a he's a Stanley Cup winning coach and he couldn't
make it here in Philadelphia. That it's a there's a
certain way you have to go about things. I think
the athletes are have to be coached in a certain
way these days. I don't know if it's just that

(01:16:07):
guy's being soft. I don't know. I can't give you
that answer. I'm not in that locker room. I'm not
around that team. I can't be able to tell you that.
But I think Vick'll do fine. It's it's just a
matter of being healthy, keeping the keeping the right pieces
here and bringing some bringing maybe one or two more
guys in and seeing it see how it all plays out.

(01:16:28):
All right.

Speaker 1 (01:16:29):
Well, here's a little fyi. Royal y Clacks was on
our show one time. He says, Marco Strom did they
did job at the Ontario Range. So there you go.
He knows a little bit about his hockey. Final topic
of the night is from San Jose. San Jose didn't
have a lot to cheer about this year, but they
retired Shoe Thornton's number nineteen jersey as he became the
second player in team history to have his number retired,

(01:16:51):
joining Patrick Marlow number twelve on February twenty, twenty twenty three.
Is when Marlow is, you played fifteen season there, teams
all time assist leader in SAP Center, you ought to
know about Joe Thornton. One of your thoughts about him
getting his recognition out in the Bay Area.

Speaker 2 (01:17:13):
I think Joe Thornton was the Sharks sort of what
Matthew Kuchuk is to the Panthers now when they made
that deal that made that organization a legitimate contender for
the fifteen years he was there. There were other players
that came in and out of that organization, great players,

(01:17:35):
know Marlow included Joe Pavelski in his last few years there,
But Joe was the one constant there. He was definitely
the leader of that group. And although he's a big
man and strong player, he wasn't He wasn't what I

(01:17:57):
would call the overly intimidating, you know, physical, fighting type
of player. And he also was more of an assist
man than he was a goal scorer, but he was.
He was the leader of that of that organization for
fifteen years. And we talked about that earlier, like where
the least lead leader lack leadership. The Sharks never lacked

(01:18:23):
leadership with him in that lockerow.

Speaker 7 (01:18:27):
He did anything to say about j Thornton was a
fun guy to watch, man like, like Mike said, he
wasn't you know, he's not your your fifty sixty goal scorer,
but he's one of these guys.

Speaker 3 (01:18:38):
He's like a Swiss army knife. He can be whoever
the team needs to be. He you know, you have
to have those leaders in those locker rooms, and he
was one of those guys that guys would look to
for for stability, leadership, you know, somebody to hold his
players accountable, things of that nature. Joey, Joey Thornton. It
will be a captain in my eyes, no matter if

(01:18:59):
he has a seer on his sweater and the season
number of retired just I think speaks to who he
was and what he did his career.

Speaker 1 (01:19:07):
Cup or no Cup a great way to catch the
show off tonight with Joe Thornton and his number of
being retired by the San Jose Sharks. So well that said,
we're gonna bring Candy I but you know in here
real quick to give us a preview of Fire Up,
So do a station break. I want to thank everybody
in the chatrou for participating. Henson will be on Fire
Up shortly. Stephen Raischall did to have you on a

(01:19:28):
Thursday night. Mike is always good to have you on
Thursday night. You and I will be doing the next
couple shows, our last couple of season for a while.
As we met, try to go through the Stanley Cup
Finals and then we'll pick it up later on this fall.
But meanwhile, Candy, give us a preview for Fire Up
and a station break. What everyone you choose to do first?

Speaker 3 (01:19:47):
Station break?

Speaker 6 (01:19:48):
South Florida Tribute Publishing Company published a book, Lessons from
the Microphone, Tuning into the Enduring Wisdom of Visionary Leaders.
It is written by your host, Scott the MotorCity Man
Morgan Roth, available on Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Kindle.

Speaker 3 (01:20:02):
Google and Apple Books.

Speaker 6 (01:20:03):
Talks about Scott's forty plus years in the media business
and how it has evolved. Get your copy today. There's
also a link on our website www dot self Florida
Tribune dot com where you can find a plethora of
great content.

Speaker 3 (01:20:17):
Go check it out.

Speaker 6 (01:20:18):
If you like to listen to podcasts, you can find
us wherever you get your podcasts. If you have not
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Speaker 3 (01:20:26):
Yet, what are you waiting for? Do it now?

Speaker 6 (01:20:29):
Hit that red button like us, share us with all
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a show or sponsor a show, call Scott nine five
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you can always email us at self Florida Tribune dot
com and as far as fire up which follows you, guys,

(01:20:53):
we will be talking a little bit about NBA playoffs,
NHL playoffs. We're gonna talk about a little bit about
the payroll that Dodgers, and some MLB information. So tune
in to find out more.

Speaker 1 (01:21:08):
Thanks Scott, all right, Mike, any updates on hockey operations allc.

Speaker 2 (01:21:13):
No, not for hockey operations in general, but again everybody
should tune in and check out Boston Teacompany dot com.
We're going to be uh we're going to be coming
out with a new lot the end of June, just
in time for the fourth of July holiday here in
the States, and I think people are going to be

(01:21:34):
excited with a lot of the new the new clothing
line that we're coming out the Tea company.

Speaker 1 (01:21:39):
Great stuff, all right, Steven, let everybody know they get
hold you up by the way. Programming no Monday Night
Professor and People returns at a practically seven to fifteen
pm Eastern times. Steven and I will be doing the
show and that will be the lead in one hundred
and eight such as Baseball Talk. We were off last
week because of Memorial Day. Steven does an outstanding job
with a real and the rare among other things. So
give give him a brief overview what you do, and

(01:22:01):
we have work to do on Monday, and of course
we have it inside the Pittsgan on Tuesday. Take it away, Steven.

Speaker 3 (01:22:07):
Yeah, obviously you can follow me on on x at
the UH at the at handover right below my name there,
that's Steve Sports Talk one UH. Facebook just typing my
name Stephen Rochelle. Same with with Instagram. YouTube should be
able to find Me find me all the same there, uh,
basically every Wednesday afternoon sometimes the evening to me and

(01:22:29):
Ben hop on and we do our our show the
fan in the end, always have half fun guests. We
just had a former Indianapolis Colt tight tight end, Marcus
Pollard on on this past week. You know that that
was another fun interview uh with him. Obviously he'll be
back here at some point in time as he's working
with the Jacksonville Jaguars front office now. It was was

(01:22:50):
a fun interview. If you have missed that one, make
sure you check that out. Over the past few weeks,
we had uh, you know, a few women's MMA fighters
on both Jessica Eva I who just recently signed a
contract with b KFC, and Lauren Murphy who's going to
be making her retirement fight within the next two months.

(01:23:10):
Here for for the UFC. Make sure you guys are
tuning in and checking those episodes. I got a few
signed card giveaways they'll be attached to that. Just make
sure you like subscribe, leave a comment on on the
the YouTube links. And this weekend ain't gonna be no different.
I got a a b KFC ice fighter coming on.

(01:23:31):
Cameron Probe is gonna be on and uh BKFC Fighter
uh is also gonna be on this weekend. So always
got got some fun stuff going on, and guys, make
sure you're locked in. I got I got a fun interview.
We're gonna be doing a pre record that will air
sometime in the next month. Your guys are not gonna
want to miss.

Speaker 1 (01:23:49):
Very good Steve, and we'll see you on Monday night.
Of course, we communicate every day anyways, doesn't matter what
way or the other. Mike, we have a date next
Thursday night. We have two more shows to wrap up.

Speaker 2 (01:23:59):
Now.

Speaker 1 (01:23:59):
We took what's a playoffs on some other moves that
are pending. If I heard correctly, I believe the Islanders
are also keeping Patrick Wall one year, giving him one
year with the new regime. We'll see what happened. Figure
I get that out as well. So meanwhile, what a
show tonight? Fire Up is coming up next on behalf
of Steven Reichell and Mike Santos. My name is Scott Morgan,

(01:24:20):
Routromotive City, Madamouth. Thank you for joining us on this
edition of the Sports Exchange, and I hope everybody has
a great weekend and Candy have a great show tonight
in the Country Club. Good Night everybody,

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