Bald Guys On The Bench
Bald Guys On The Bench
Championship Heartbreak: When Victory Feels Like Defeat
Recorded June 22nd, 2025
A coaching triumph becomes a moment of bitter disappointment when victory arrives without the chance to compete. This emotional episode captures the heartbreak of having an earned championship game opportunity stolen away through forfeit, as one host's flag football team is denied their rightful chance at glory when opponents back out of the final game.
The authenticity is palpable as Coach Wasco shares his raw feelings about seeing four years of working with young athletes culminate in an empty trophy celebration. Behind the frustration lies a beautiful reflection on watching children grow from "little babies" into capable young men, revealing the true purpose behind youth coaching that transcends wins and losses.
Professional sports take center stage as well, with Keegan Bradley's dramatic Travelers Championship victory creating an intriguing Ryder Cup dilemma. Should the US captain become the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer in 1963? The hosts make a compelling case while analyzing his current form and what it means for Team USA's chances at Bethpage Black.
Basketball fans will appreciate the breakdown of an NBA Finals that defied all expectations, with the massive underdog Pacers pushing the dominant Thunder to a hard-fought Game 7. The discussion highlights the importance of coaching and team chemistry in championship moments, with special praise for Rick Carlisle's masterful game planning.
Whether you're a parent, coach, or simply someone who loves sports in all its emotional complexity, this episode captures why competition matters at every level. Join us for candid conversations about triumph, disappointment, and the moments that remind us why sports remain the ultimate unscripted drama.
#baldguysonthebench #graboneandcrackone #pgatour #travelerschampionship #nbafinals #okcthunder #indianapacers
Welcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench podcast, with your hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco.
Scott:What's up everyone and welcome back to another episode of the bald guys on the bench. Back to our normal night, sundays, game seven nba. We got going on right now Not really much of a game seven for four minutes and some change left. Okay, see you up 13 Graham on the other side of the world. What's going on, bro?
Graham :Hey, just enjoying a nice weekend watching the game and, to be honest, it's hot and I'm thirsty, so let's get it started. Let's grab one to crack one brother, let's go you ain't lying I've been waiting for this moment for about four minutes.
Scott:Oh man, golly graham, what's cracking? This sucks. You're down 200 bucks because it went to game seven. You made a bet with our fantasy league.
Graham :We're still talking about this.
Scott:Oh yeah, they've been blowing you up tonight in the text thread too, have they really? Oh yeah, anyhow, what's going on? How was your weekend? Let's go. I mean game seven. Blah, blah, blah. We'll get into basketball in a little while.
Graham :I'm going to hit him with the Heisman Um wasn't that funny.
Graham :Yeah, you know what. Keep on forgetting. You're a barrel of laughs over here. You know weekend's been good. Pretty much had most of it off. Uh, I keep on forgetting. You're a barrel of laughs over here. You know weekend's been good, pretty much had most of it off. Just been relaxing, watching some golf, watching some, you know, the playoff basketball Pretty chill Been laying out in the sun. Not much going on over here except work sucks. But how about you, brother? How was your weekend?
Scott:The weekend went good, had off yesterday my niece's birthday party, went over to the sister-in-law's, did that whole ordeal, came home, drank some beer, had some cocktails, watched some sports and, you know, today was the team that I coach Dillon's team flag football playoffs. Finally, it's about time.
Scott:After two weeks of weather delays, Right and dude. Let's just say you know, first game semifinals, we're the two seed playing the three seed. You saw the video. We dominated one. I don't know, we only gave up one touchdown. I don't even know what the score was, doesn't matter, it was hotter than hogs balls. Dude, it was ridiculous. We only had seven players, you know, to go out there and play and you know we're trying to rest them all for the championship game against mr blue sweatshirthirt, which the championship game is supposed to start literally right after the semifinal game, and we win the game. We're sitting there talking to the kids and we're all looking around and we're like where are the commanders? Where are the commanders? Nobody can see them. And I walk over to the league official and I'm like the commanders are nowhere to be found and she's like oh yeah, they left. They're playing in a national flag football tournament next week in Ohio and they were afraid you guys were going to hurt them. So they forfeited and you guys win the trophy.
Graham :What? All right, hold on. Let's back up a second. I know you threw out the comment of the blue sweatshirt guy For the people that don't listen to us all the time. Just refresh us on who we're talking about here.
Scott:If you don't understand the reference of blue sweatshirt, which I had to explain earlier today to Aiden, go back to episode 155, at the nine minute mark. You'll learn all about. You'll learn all about that fat fuck Dude.
Scott:We got our first trophy since I've been coaching, but you know what? It sucks. It sucks. The team earned the right to play in the championship game and because this dude and his other coaches are weak, they were scared and they didn't want to play us because they were afraid that we were going to hurt them. And they're playing in a national flag football tournament. Okay, listen to that national flag football tournament. Okay, listen to that National flag football tournament. So what does that mean to you? Oh, that, I was right. They're illegally practicing during the week. Okay, I gave them credit a couple weeks ago, saying they were good and they were, and they didn't huddle up. And I even brought up Josh McDaniels, sean Payton, kingsbury you did.
Scott:But now it all makes sense, but to rip that away from my kids that earn the right to play in a championship game, that's bullshit, dude, absolute bullshit, and it's you're a weak individual and if you knew you weren't going to play us which you knew we were going to win our first game and play you in the championship game, right then why don't you just announce it before the fact? Because now the team that you played in the semi-finals gets hosed. Not only that, the team that finished as the five seed. They don't make the playoffs. You should have just bowed out and taken your fat ass to you know the salad bar and eaten a salad and gone on a diet before your trip to Ohio. I mean, what a bitch, dude. What a bitch Like on the way home. Kellen's like yeah, I know we won the championship, but, dad, I wanted to feel the nerves of playing in a championship game. I agree 100%. I would have rather lost a good game and came in second place than get the trophy like this. Facts it's bullshit. It's bullshit, dude. Facts, absolute bullshit.
Scott:You and all of our listeners know how much I wanted this. Oh, number one because it may or may not be my last year coaching, because some other things, but I wanted it for kellen. I got emotional tonight talking to kristin about it. Love going out there. Yeah, I love going out there with my son. I love going out there with Colton. I love going out there with Shane. I sent you the picture from the first game we ever played together four years ago and these kids look like little babies To now and, like I put in my Instagram post, I'll share it on Ball Guys. They've become amazing football players. But the crazy part is they've become young men and I've gotten to be a part of that and I've gotten texts from Shane's dad and Colton's mom saying we're forever grateful that you were their coach and you've been there week in and week out. I wanted to win it the real way, dude.
Graham :Facts.
Scott:Not. Hey, we walk over to the league official and that stupid bitch goes hey, how many people do you have on your team? Here are your eight trophies. The league doesn't even give us a proper ceremony. Hey, patriots, you win the championship. They're just like here. You go Like kick rocks.
Scott:Nfl flag football the biggest joke on the planet. They charge a shit ton of money, they throw the NFL logo out there and they think they can do whatever the fuck they want because they throw that out there. They give you an hour to practice before the game and then you got a travel team over here playing in a nationwide event that practices six times. Okay, okay. Well, how about this blue sweatshirt? You non-salad-eating piece of shit? My team put up 28 points on your boys and you're a national tournament guy. You ain't good. Go kick rocks. And you know what?
Scott:And TP said it tonight when I seen the picture of me in the trophy at least I could fit in my goddamn red shirt. You fat piece of shit. I mean you pussy. You ripped this away from my kids because you were scared. You were scared. Some of these kids will never play football again, ever. They'll never be in a championship game again. And you took that away from them because you were scared and because you don't care about anything but you eating a bunch of fried foods. We all know you don't like to eat salad. I mean, what's that place in California? Salad Soup plantation, soup plantation? Yeah, you need to bring one of those goddamn things to Virginia beach, you fat piece of shit. I mean, come on.
Graham :Oh, I miss that place.
Scott:So you know your boy wins by default and it sucks. You know it sucks. I wanted to be excited about it. You know I am whatever, but I'm bummed dude look, it sucks, I totally get it.
Graham :When I texted you earlier and you shot me a picture of the chip of the cup or your trophy, I should say I'm looking at it, I'm looking at the time and I'm like, even with, even with the three-hour time difference, I was like this seems early.
Graham :I'm like, did the league screw with you again and go back on the time that they wanted to start? Like I was just so confused and then when you told me what had happened, I'm like, wait, what? What? I mean? Look, obviously I feel terrible about the situation for you, callan, and the rest of your team. I mean, yeah, congratulations.
Graham :You guys did win, but I mean, you wanted to do it in the right way. I'm aware that some parents other parents didn't take likely to the situation that unfolded and maybe they're voicing their opinions on other platforms such as that. But I'll say this I have no problem using this platform to help show the discrepancies in which that organization is run. Like if we need to make a clip from this episode and send it to whoever it needs to be sent to, like the league, roger goodell, who, not that I say has anything to do with this specifically. But I'm just saying like it's an oversight of an oversight of an oversight. I get that, but if people found out that that's how the league is run, especially and look, I get it, virginia is a big football market, like there's a lot of stars and players that come out of your area.
Graham :If that gets out how it's mismanaged, maybe the right people can be put in the situation so this doesn't happen. Because, thinking back on it even just now, the team that quote-unquote forfeited and left. We said to each other well, why would they play the first game? Well, they wanted to get a practice in for themselves 100%, dude.
Scott:And the thing that sucks, we hadn't played a game, bro, since that one a long time ago, because of the rain out. I haven't even seen my boys, dude, since that game, and you know they've practiced four times, five times, six times. You know, but you know what it, what it is. We did it the right way, they did it the wrong way and you know I've sent numerous emails to the league officials and that you know, bitch Leonard Stevens, that owns our league. Now he doesn't even reply, bro, he has his secretary reply. And, yeah, I'm calling you out, leonard Stevens. Yeah, you bald guys on the bench. Why don't you man up and call a boy back? Because you won't. You know why? Because you suck, just like the email I sent you yesterday. Your league is a joke since you bought it. Perfect performance flag. Yeah, perfect performance bees nuts. Because you suck. You have no clue. You don't have a clue if a football's stuffed or inflated. All you're doing is collecting my goddamn money and going cha-ching, cha-ching. Oh, let me pay $12 for a mouthpiece. Venmo, leonard Stevens. You know what? Shut up, bro. Go kick rocks. I pay a shit ton of money, guaranteed five regular season games and if you don't make the playoffs, you get a consolation game. You know, ran out. What happens? Oh, that game canceled.
Scott:I sent an email. Oh, what's Leonard Stevens do? Oh, let's, let me have my secretary email this guy back, dude. I mean, kick rocks, bro. I mean you don't have a clue. You know, maybe you should be driving a fucking garbage truck or something like that. Maybe you can. I mean, that's pretty easy. Hey, there's garbage on the side of the road, let's throw it in the goddamn truck. You don't have to use your fucking brain, you moron. Anyhow, I don't know, dude, it sucks, I'm pissed, but we won. And you know, I don't know, dude, it is what it is, it's just all that to come down like that. Like I said earlier, I would have rather lost in a close game than get handed the trophy without playing a game 100% I mean, and that's what a true competitor should feel like.
Graham :You know what I mean? Oh, here you go. T Nah, I want to win this shit. That, plus the fact that after last game and how it basically got called off when they're still in the third is absolute ridiculousness. I mean just the angst of wanting to get revenge on that game, regardless if it was for the championship or not, I'm sure you wouldn't have mind if it was just another regular season game. You just wanted to play them, to beat them and wipe that shit-eating grin off their faces.
Scott:I wanted them again. Dude, A hundred percent. I wanted them again.
Graham :And as you should. As you should, I mean, I wanted them again, and as you should.
Scott:But as you should. I mean, I ain't scared.
Graham :No at all, Folks. You're listening to the new commissioner of the South Virginia, whatever conference? Blah, blah, blah. No, dude, I don't want my name associated with that fucking bullshit.
Scott:I mean I'll, I'll respond to my own emails, I don't need my secretary to do it. When some dude's calling me out, I mean come on, dude, I don't know, I guess, I guess the secretary doesn't know if the ball's stuffed or inflated either oh, she probably has a more bigger clue than that leonard stevens piece of shit. I mean the the coach's official, you know, zoom, meeting before the season starts. Oh, here's my cell phone number. If you have any kind of issue, you know, reach out to me.
Graham :I'm still waiting for a call back yeah, I reach out if everything that we're reaching out for you don't respond to. It's like it's another thing. It's like how are some rules for some people and other rules are not for the rest of the league? Like I just don't. And then my assistant coach, he goes.
Scott:this is hilarious, I didn't even tell you this. He goes, he texts me and we're all night long he goes, dude. The ref today seemed hungover, honestly. He basically told me on the sideline that he sometimes lets calls go for teams that are losing bad what and I'm like okay.
Scott:and then I'm like it's funny. We did a play in the first game and, unfortunately, two people were in motion. You're only allowed to have one person in motion. I'm like it's funny you say that because they had three guys in motion twice, he never threw a flag telling the touchdown run at the beginning of the game should have been called back because he jumped about halfway through his run. I was like damn it, you got lucky. And he responds yeah, he definitely jumped 100%. That's just what you're dealing with, dude. I mean, I don't know, man, I'm sorry I got heated, I'm sorry I threw F-bombs, but you know, I don't know if I'm going to coach next year. It sounds like we are, but if not, I'm going down in history just like Bill Walsh and Joe Gibbs, dude winning the championship and retiring.
Graham :You know, Bill.
Scott:Cowher. Bill Cowher won his last season and retired, didn't he?
Graham :There you go.
Scott:I mean, just put my name right there with him. You're welcome and you know what. I did it the right way. I didn't do it the cheating, scandalous way, like Fat Boy in the blue sweatshirt walking off the sidelines. Oh, we're going to forfeit because we're afraid they're going to hurt us. Yeah, you're damn right. My boy Shane, my boy Colton, my son Kellen, we don't take no shit. Ain't backing down to nobody, motherfucker. I ain't backing down to nobody.
Graham :motherfucker and just as I say that OKC wins by 12. Damn, I knew I should have live bet that when they were up 20.
Scott:I knew I should have taken that. Nba champions. Wow, once again, your boy's a year late, remember? I called him last year. You did. I don't know if I called him to win it, I called him to win the West. Whatever, it's not important. Whatever, nobody cares. Everybody's still thinking about blue sweatshirt yeah, mr Blue Sweatshirt, when it's 90 degrees and 70 out there.
Scott:Bro, I'm gonna tell you right now I'm looking up what tournament is in ohio for flag football and I'm finding out his name and I'm gonna find him on social media and I'm gonna send him this fucking episode. And I'm going to send him this fucking episode and I, literally, on the way to the game, on the way to the game today, hold that thought. On the way to the game today, I told Kellen I'm like hey, when we end up playing them, I need you to behave Like, I don't need you to lose your shit. I told Shane the same thing, because the only people I had to worry about were Kellen, shane and Colton, the three amigos, the three OGs that have been on my team since day one, right? And Kellen's like well, dad, what if he says something to me? And I just literally look at him and I'm like you, just look, literally look at him and go eat a salad, walk away.
Announcer:Yeah.
Scott:What were you going to say? I'm sorry I interrupted you.
Graham :No, I was going to say, if you're going to do that much of a dig or deep dive on the internet or social media, find out where it is. Maybe you can find out where they're staying at, maybe you could call the hotel and be like hey, so this is coach blah, blah, blah. Can you cancel my, my, oh damn my wake up call.
Scott:You see some fat dude walking around In a blue sweatshirt.
Graham :I don't know or find the other team and just find out who they're playing and be like hey, just want to let you know that the guys that you're playing Did this to our team. Take care of business, dominate them bro.
Scott:Dominate them Alright. Spins, spin, spin, spin Dominate them, bro, dominate them All right. Spins, spin, spin, spin, spin like a goddang tornado. As much as I could talk about this all night, I know we got to move on, I mean, but you know what, like TP said, he goes dude. The people that listen to your show understand this and know how passionate you are about it. It just sucks, dude, it sucks. I agree, I mean we won it, but we didn't win it, you know.
Graham :I wouldn't say it's of the same caliber, but I was listening to an episode or a podcast online on youtube and it had, um, it was like troy palomalu, I think, ryan clark and someone else, but they were talking about how or maybe it was with, uh, cam hayward. It was palomalu on cam hayward's podcast, but basically they were talking about how, back in 2010, when they made the Super Bowl and lost to the Packers which we'll let that slide, aaron Rodgers, we'll let that slide if you take us deep this year they were talking about the fact that when you win the AFC, like they got, every member on the team got these gold watches and a lot of the players on defense didn't keep them. They either gave them away, sold them, didn't accept them something. And Paulo Mello was saying he was just like yeah, man, our whole goal is to make it to the championship and then win it. We were there, we lost.
Graham :So we don't feel like we're champions, we don't feel like we deserve a prize, and most people I know got rid of it, cause cam's like well, do you have your watch? And he's like absolutely not. He said I just happened to be at a different teammate's house and I saw the watch because he had it in his little case and he saw it and he was just like you still have that. And the guy was like, yeah, well, you know, blah, blah, blah, blah. I mean obviously it was someone that wasn't on the team for a long period of time, but it's just like, look, getting a trophy, and really what it is, even though technically you're a champion, it feels like a consolation prize, it's you know what I mean? It's almost like, yeah, okay, you gave it to me, but every time you look at it you're just going to know what happened and it's just, it's not going. I know you, I would be hard-pressed to say I don't think you would keep that out Like, do you even?
Scott:It's not going in the office.
Graham :Right, like I would think it's going to stay in the garage and like I hate saying that for you, but it's just like Dude, dude.
Scott:No, you don't hate saying it, you know me.
Graham :Yeah, yeah.
Scott:Like I said earlier, dude, those kids were stripped from playing in a championship game, and that's what sucks, right? That's the thing that hurts my heart the most.
Graham :Oh 100%.
Scott:You know it was hotter than Hades. We were three people down. We're throwing seven people out there. Kellen was sick as a dog and, like I told you earlier, after halftime, going into the second half, kellen's like I need a breather. If he's asking me for a breather, I know he ain't right. Right, and you know, going to the championship game did I think we were going to win? I don't know. We would have had to play perfect with, you know, three people out and three of them being studs, but everybody was dealing with the heat you know the heat affects everybody.
Graham :You know what I mean. It's the people that can adhere to the, the outside things will do better.
Scott:And that's and that's what coach and I kept telling him. We're like, I know you're hot, we know you're tired, you got to be mentally strong and we kept telling them. And then we turn around and there's no commanders there. Yeah, but anyhow, got home early, walked in the door, throw on the golf you know, signature event in Hartford but before we even get into that, got to throw this out. Today, June 22nd, my 23rd wedding anniversary.
Graham :That should have been in the beginning of the show.
Scott:I know, but you know how ready I was to unleash.
Graham :I know, but Kristen ain't listening at the 25 minute mark.
Scott:Oh, I'll play it back for her. You know, happy anniversary, kristen. 23 years, two kids in high school, bro, I mean, wow, it's crazy, crazy thing about. But hartford travelers signature event the week after oakmont. Hey, hey, tour players, I know you just got your dick kicked in last week at oakmont but hey, here comes a signature event with no cut, thank god, god and did.
Scott:Our boy Fowler Went out, shot even the first day, played terrible the second day. Then throws out a 64. No bogeys yesterday, let's go. Ends up finishing T36. But you know the news of the tournament, bro. Fleetwood never won on the PGA Tour, plays the last two holes of the event, last three holes, two over and he's got a one-shot lead playing the 72nd hole. And Captain America, keegan Bradley, ryder Cup captain, who we talked about last week, goes out there and hits it. Dig tight on the 72nd hole. Fleetwood misses the green to the point where he can putt it and Fleetwood his first putt and his putt was so bad he was outside of Keegan's birdie putt. We know what happens Fleetwood misses, keegan makes it Dude.
Graham :It's tough to miss a six-footer when you see the line, when you're that good number one. Number two I know we've talked about him in the past, and by him I'm referring to Fleetwood.
Scott:I wanted him to win until he started shitting the bed today.
Graham :Right, no 100%.
Scott:Remember, I texted you yesterday. I'm like dude. Fleetwood, fleetwood. Is he finally gonna get it done right? And TP brought it up in a text. As it's going on, he goes. Is Fleetwood the current day?
Graham :Colin Montgomery oh what never won a PGA Tour event oh my god, you did not just say that won the Order of Merit over there on the European Tour, never won a PGA Tour event.
Scott:Oh my god, you did not just say that Won the Order of Merit over there on the European. Tour Wow.
Graham :Wow, I'm a little stunned right now, only because what I was just about to say not that I was going to say that, but it was to the reference of, but it was to the reference of we've been talking about Fleetwood for ever, since we've been doing the podcast and even prior to the podcast. Fleetwood is a great player, not just a good player, he is a great player. And for someone to consistently be in the top 30 for how many years?
Scott:now Five at least the kids that I teach. I tell them study Fleetwoods golf swing. Oh it's beautiful. That's what you want your golf swing to look like.
Graham :I just, you know you just that colin montgomery comment just took me. Wow, I hope not, but I mean wow, I think he's a better player than him word for word.
Scott:Tp goes is Fleetwood this generation's Colin Montgomery? I know Colin never won a major, but he never won on the PGA Tour also.
Graham :Yeah, but Montgomery was winning a bunch of tournaments on the European Tour.
Scott:Same as Fleetwood.
Graham :Yeah, but isn't Fleetwood playing more events here?
Scott:He plays both.
Announcer:Look, I Dude.
Graham :The worst part is, I mean, I don't know if it's the bias of being someone from the United States, but when you're the home country for certain sports where we're the best. So what I mean by that is, like the PGA tour is the creme de la creme, the NBA is the creme de la creme. You know, other countries are creme de la creme of other sports. Like I get that we're not hockey, even though we haven't had a Canadian team win in 30 fucking years. But that's not, that's not. That's not the point. Um, I'm just saying, if the pga tour is the toppy, top, top, why, like I don't know, I I guess where I'm going with this. It's like I I know what you're going.
Scott:You were gutted for Tommy Fleetwood yeah, I mean like and I was too.
Graham :He deserves it, but it's just like it's gutted, but it's also like you know he's good. You don't want to take away from the fact that he hasn't won or that he plays on the tour, because I mean, don't get me wrong I guarantee you there's more than a handful of players that play on the European Tour that if they had a chance to play on the PGA Tour they could get dubs it would. You know what I mean. The PGA Tour, it's all about being in the right place at the right time to get availability to get on the tour. Time to get availability to get on the tour. I mean, you know that whole drama but, that being said, I just you know, when you compare him to Colin Montgomery, I'm just wow, you really. You're kind of leaving me a little speechless on it?
Graham :I don't know what to say.
Scott:Good and the question of all questions at this point. We all know Keegan is the captain of the Ryder Cup team. Right Going into this event, I think he was 17th on Ryder Cup point standings and he always said he's not going to pick himself. But they haven't updated the standing right now. But you can't name 12 players better than him to represent the United States in the Ryder Cup. And, like TP said, I didn't even think about this, this is amazing. What's? And, like TP said, I didn't even think about this, this is amazing. What's understated is Tiger not accepting being the captain at Bethpage and Keegan accepting it after Tiger said no, because Keegan said tonight in his press conference he goes. The first thing Seth Waugh said and Seth Waugh was the CEO of the PGA of America when they called to ask him to be the captain of the Ryder Cup team the first thing Seth Waugh said was we want you to be the first playing captain since Arnold Palmer you know what we can say, whatever we want, to that.
Scott:He needs to be on this team. I know his assistant captains. I know Kisner's one of them, I don't know the other.
Graham :It's hard, dude. I know it's an absolute honor to be selected as captain. 100% I get that. But and especially with the state in which golf is around the world and where we are in the Ryder Cup and how we have to win this year, after the debacle of what happened in italy two years ago, I get that, and it's crazy to say that was two years ago already.
Scott:man, time flies right like it lit not only that, but I heard this hold on real quick. Not only that, but the scrutiny that the writerder Cup captains face win or lose.
Graham :I agree, but I will piggyback in saying I almost forgot the guy's name. It came to me right now.
Scott:Zach.
Graham :Johnson, you and everyone else in life deserve the consequences of your actions.
Scott:And, like I've always said on this show, it did not matter who Zach Johnson picked as his captain picks.
Graham :I don't disagree. The.
Scott:European team.
Graham :I don't disagree Was ridiculous. We're not being a dead horse, but I'm just going to say this and we'll finish that portion of this conversation you can't pick your team and not have them practice for seven, eight weeks prior to the event.
Graham :That is the dumbest, like. I don't care if you have the five, which we did, we had the number one, two, three, four, five best players in the world. If you don't play together, you just can't tell players like, oh, practice on your own if you're giving people that much time off. Dude, scotty scheffler said it at the beginning of the week, or maybe before the week even started. I saw an interview where he basically was talking about they were talking about him because there was a question where it was just like did you hear the comment about how Scheffler had to delete his Venmo account?
Announcer:Yes that's hilarious, which is money.
Scott:Wow, espn actually updated the Ryder Cup standings. All right, hit me with it. All right, top six right now Steffler, zander Spahn, russell Henley, bryson, justin Thomas Top six. They're automatic on the team as of right now. Then you go seven Morikawa, eight, eight Ben Griffin, nine, captain Keegan, 10 Harris, 11 Maverick Menealy, 12 Brian Harmon, 13 Novak, 14 Cantley, 15 Sam Burns, 16 Tom Hoagie and 17 Cameron Young I'm just going to stop there and 17 Cameron Young, I'm just going to stop there. So we got six automatic qualifiers and then you got six captain picks. I can tell you right now guarantee you more Cowlick on the team. Guarantee you Ben Griffin's on the team. He's been playing lights out and I would like to go out and say guarantee it. Patrick Cantley, at 14, is on the team. Sam Burns is on the team.
Announcer:And.
Graham :Cam Young is on the team.
Scott:So what I was going to say is no. No offense to Andrew Novak. He's had a hell of a two years. No offense to Brian Harmon, major winner, but we are playing at Bethpage. Brian Harmon can't even hit a fairway there. He can't reach the fairway.
Graham :Look, you don't have to be I'm trying to think the most polite way of saying this, but, like you, don't have to be the sharpest tool in the shed to realize Brian Harmon at Bethpage probably not the best choice. Probably not the best choice, probably. So what I wanted to say earlier is this I'm aware that just the honor of being asked to coach or be the captain is what it is. I get that, and Keegan's already played on previous Ryder Cups. I get that. And what it would mean if Keegan stayed, I get that.
Scott:But Keegan stayed. I get that, but Keegan is now, after this win, keegan's seventh in the world.
Graham :That's what I'm saying. Like you have to go back on your previous statement, you have to renege on what you said. Do you think he felt when he said that, like oh yeah, I'm not gonna be a playing captain, like he probably is? Like look, I'm just gonna say this I need to trust my game to see if it would even get to that point, and that's the right. He said what he needed to say. I get that. But the transition of what you just said of having him play and bringing in tiger you know tiger's going to be a part of it, even though if he's an official assistant captain or or whatever have him slide in right, have keegan play, get the dub, and then you don't think they'll come right back around and give the captain's pick to Keegan again, if not the following or the next Ryder Cup after that?
Scott:I don't know if you saw the interview after the event, but they asked him about it. They said I know you said you would only be playing a playing captain if you earned it on points, but have you convinced yourself that you would be be playing a playing captain if you earned it on points, but have you convinced yourself that you would be an addition to this team?
Graham :now Deegan's response best response ever go USA of course, dude, he's gonna, whether he's gonna be a playing captain or not he would be the first plane captain since Arnold in 1963.
Scott:Does he deserve to be there? Absolutely Facts. I don't think he. I don't know, I don't know if he's going to do it.
Graham :I'll say this, and I think you would agree with me. I'll say this, and I think you would agree with me. If he decides not to, I really think it would be something he'll regret after it's over, regardless if they win or lose, but if they do lose way more, way more.
Scott:Yeah, I agree with you. Like I said earlier, he is one of the top 12 people that should be represented in the country, especially at best page. He's from New Hampshire, he's a Northeastern guy. Played Beth Page a million times.
Graham :That's what I'm saying. Bring in Tiger.
Scott:At some point, players like Scheffler and Shoffley are going to ask to be there.
Graham :Or he'll be a player's captain. He could do that too, but I do like how you were saying they need to bring in Tiger.
Scott:He said no when they asked him to be the captain.
Graham :I just I don't get it. Why, Like I don't think it's something we would ever know, I mean, that's something maybe you know. Yeah, you can't tell me. Even if that is the case, are you really telling me the face of golf is not going to fucking be there Because you know Jordan's going to be there?
Scott:Yeah, when Keegan's a Jordan ambassador, that's what I'm saying.
Graham :You're telling me Jordan and Tiger are not going to show up on the jet. All right, guys, I got you.
Scott:I'm looking at the assistant captains Jim Furyk, webb Simpson, snedeker and Kisner.
Graham :Wow, webb Simpson's, a name I haven't heard in a while. I like the guy, I'm just saying I haven't heard his name in a minute.
Scott:I don't know man, I don't know. I want him to play. I'm just scared about the situation.
Graham :He's going to play, especially dude. If he continues to play better, what if he makes it to Eastlake and wait? Is it this year that they're changing it or next year that they're changing the format? I think it's this year, I think it is this year?
Scott:Yeah, but they have to do the picks and stuff before that. I think the points are before the tour championship.
Announcer:I don't know.
Graham :Look, I'm not saying he's going to go out and win the British, but if he makes the top 20 finish, there are there. To your knowledge. I know this is off the top. I don't know if you know this. Granted, you are a PGA guy, so maybe you should know this. Are there more? I would assume there's at least one. Are there more elevated events prior to the start of the FedEx cup? I think this was it.
Announcer:That's what I thought too.
Graham :That's my man, yeah.
Scott:But I don't know, man, it's crazy, don't know what to say. I want him to play. Not sure if he is, but especially after what happened last year. Yeah, when he didn't get picked. When he didn't get picked, yeah oh fuck. He was crushed in the whole Netflix thing and Brian Harmon was there. Yeah, but he qualified, you know. I guess as we transition. I guess as we transition. I guess you know we haven't done a hot chick of the episode for a while.
Graham :Oh, hot chick of the week.
Scott:Yeah, I'm just going to go out there and keep it with Captain Keegan, his wife Jillian. If you don't know, look her up, jillian.
Graham :If you don't know, look her up Yo did you see what Brooks Koepka posted?
Scott:Oh, dude, his wife dancing around with her boobs all hanging out. I mean, she's a whore dude.
Graham :Hey, she paid good money for those boobs, all right.
Scott:Yeah, that's why our hot chick of the week is Keegan's wife, because she's all natural. I mean, come on, what's her lot, jillian, something, I'm looking it up right now. I mean, just Google her, you're welcome. Anyhow, let's transition NBA game seven. I mean we're 46 minutes in and we haven't even talked about it. Number one, because it was a lame-ass game seven.
Announcer:Yeah.
Scott:But the one thing I got to throw out there I mean it was a close game. Albertan went down with an Achilles injury and then I saw this dude and then I was just like, oh my God, sports, like we always say, the greatest reality show ever. Every player who tore their Achilles in this year's playoffs wore the number zero.
Graham :Wow, this is amazing how people can find similarities in something that's just so completely like ironic, is it Damon Lillard?
Scott:yeah and then the dude from the Celtics yeah, every one of them, or the number zero.
Graham :Jason Tatum.
Scott:Tatumum, dude, like, really. And as we talk about professional basketball, the most entertaining thing I saw this week in professional basketball was my girl, sophie Cunningham. Yo, dude, have you seen what she's doing right now? Just because she stuck up for Caitlyn?
Announcer:Yeah.
Scott:Her jersey sold out. Yeah, she has a million followers on TikTok and 840,000 new followers on Instagram.
Graham :I mean sounds to me like she should be the hot chick of the week, because yo she's, I ain't gonna lie, she's kind of sexy, she's close, but For being as tall as you, I mean.
Scott:I mean, Anyhow, Game 7, you're the NBA guy. I mean. The most exciting news out of the NBA today was Durant getting traded. That was more exciting than Game 7.
Graham :Yeah, wow, hiccups. A couple of things. One, wow, I really do got the hiccups the NBA Finals. They did not disappoint. The NBA finals, they did not disappoint. They went to seven games. Am I shocked? A thousand percent, obviously, because I said they went in five. What I will say is this I know the season's awards already came out already, but coach of the year should be hands down. Be wreck Carlisle. And if you don't know, that's the coach of the Pacers. The guy that won was the coach from Cleveland, kenny Atkinson, who he led Cleveland to the number one overall seed bro. And this year, like they, and, and even last year, they won almost 70 games. No, they won like 68 games Deserving. I cannot remember, in the 30 years that I've been watching the NBA, of a finals like this one. You have a team in OKC that, statistically, what they did over the regular season, they absolutely dominated the NBA, and what I mean by that? They lost 14 games out of 82. That's pretty good, considering the best record is 73 and nine five games off. That's pretty good.
Announcer:Yeah.
Graham :They won and this is where it's just leaps and bounds over everyone else. They won 30 games in the regular season by 20 or more points. Folks, there's only 82 games in a season. Think about it. I don't have the stats in front of me, but I would say they won 50 games by at least 10 points. That's unreal how the OKC went through the Western Conference and just annihilated all the teams. You're like, wow, they're going to make light work of the Pacers.
Announcer:Light work.
Graham :Then they get to the finals and you're just like wait, what, what?
Announcer:just happened. Happened.
Graham :It was bad yeah it's not that it was bad. It was this. For the first time in a long time you can make a distinction between a team that is coached the right way, and I don't want to say versus the wrong way. Okc coach still did an amazing job, but what I'm saying is the game plan in which Rick Carlisle had for his Pacers in the finals against OKC and how he got them ready to play is bar none. Coach of the year, the OKC was favored minus 900 to win the series. Yeah, they finally won in seven games. So you cash. But how many people were feeling happy if they took OKC to win the series?
Scott:Well, I can tell you right now one better. Mgm in Vegas wagered 1.5 million on the Thunder to win the finals at minus $700. It was a sweat, but he cast $150,000.
Graham :You got to bet $1.5 to win $150,000. Oof, right, yeah, especially because if Halliburton doesn't go down, do we have the same outcome.
Scott:Dude, he goes down and Pacers Kept plugging away. They had to leave at halftime.
Graham :Which is why the tenacity Of the coaching staff and how he implemented the offense. I just got hey Out of all this. I'm going to eat crow on this Kudos to the Indiana Pacers. I did not think that was going to happen, obviously, with the bet. I'm going to eat crow on this Kudos to the Indiana Pacers. I did not think that was going to happen, obviously with the bet, but I'm just saying I really feel like they opened the eyes of a lot of people in the NBA and good for them, and the thing that sucks is they're screwed going into next year.
Announcer:Why is that?
Scott:Halliburton, achilles.
Graham :Yeah, it doesn't help.
Scott:He might not play until the playoffs.
Graham :Yeah, but to be fair, since with the plan now, with 10 games and there's only 15 teams in these conferences, I could let that go. But it's all about chemistry of the team and that's one thing I will say. I have never seen a team chemistry like what the Pacers had this year, how they played offense, how they played defense, how they played as a team, the effort, like I honestly say I've never seen a team play with as much effort than what the Pacers did. And, to be honest, if I was another team, that white boy, tj McConnell and I'm not saying that talking shit, but that dude, the effort that he showed in these playoffs, especially in the finals, this is a dude that averages four points a game. If I was another GM bring, bring, bring. Yeah, it's the pacer, general manager, I'm thinking about offering you X amount of dollars because I want to get him on my team. Hey, I'm thinking about this guy on your team.
Graham :I want to bring him over, and why would he not get paid, have a chance to go somewhere else? I mean, I get it Kudos to the Indiana Pacers. That's all I can say, just hand clap.
Scott:Hey, they made it a series.
Graham :They lost you 200 bucks. No one in the San Diego League listens to this podcast. Not until I send this to him your boy doesn't have a job over here and you're kicking him all these down.
Scott:I'm sorry wow wow, you also got some hiccups going crazy Dude like five minutes.
Graham :I need to stop.
Scott:I know.
Graham :Anyhow.
Scott:It's been annoying as shit. Most annoying thing in the world, by the way, are the hiccups, oh facts.
Graham :As he goes, facts Facts.
Scott:And that homeboy in the blue sweatshirt has some hiccups all the time. Oh god, dang, listen to this shit. I'm about to make a real out of you hiccup. Anyhow, graham, another fun night, another fun episode. Agreed, I'm proud to be the coach of the Patriots. Can't believe? I said that You're a.
Announcer:Patriots fan.
Scott:No, my flag team were the Patriots.
Graham :I know, I know I'm just messing with you.
Scott:And couldn't be prouder of the boys they battled. It's not their fault. They got shafted and it is what it is. Man, Like I said, coach these kids forever. They're young men right now and I'm pumped for them. We won Me as a coach. I'm not excited, Kellen's not excited.
Graham :You know How's the D coach feel? Same as me, dude I.
Scott:I figured I just wanted to ask he texted me once I got home and he goes what a bunch of bitches. And I'm like coach could not agree more and this is a dude that you know.
Scott:He played division one football, got a scholarship and when we were talking that to the boys at the end of the game, you know he looked at kellen and he goes look, you're a stud, do your thing, get on the field, work hard. It was awesome. He was like work hard, you can go places in this game. Girls will always be there. Everybody out there in high school football is good. You got to work harder to be great and Kellen loves him and bought into his system. And you know Kellen's going into ninth grade, going to play JV, and I told the coach I'm like you played football, I know offense, I want him to play. I told him to tell his coach and JV to run the ball and play linebacker and he goes dude, just be on the field, be a football player.
Graham :Yeah. I mean most of the time in high school. If kids are fortunate to make it to the highest level, they're not even playing the same position, Like there's D Lyman in the league that played running back in high school Exactly.
Scott:So, like Coach, told him, he goes. Dude, I was a defensive back, switched to running back in my sophomore, junior and senior season. I ran for 3000 yards every year. He goes. You got to work harder and Kellen likes him. You know, I was talking to him tonight. The coach and I'm like yo. Kellen bought into your system. He appreciates you, he respects you. I'm going to hook Kellen up with you in the offseason and help you work with him on his footwork.
Announcer:And he's like dude.
Scott:Whatever I can do to help and Kellen's fired up, Fired up, and that's all I care about is him being fired up.
Graham :Of course.
Scott:That's the only reason I did it. You know, that's the only reason I did it.
Announcer:Yeah.
Scott:Coach my son.
Announcer:Yeah.
Scott:And, like I told you earlier, I'm posting a thing on Instagram. I'm reading it and Chris Ben and I literally break down in tears and she's like why the hell are you crying? I'm like I love doing this. I love running out on the field with them, boys, I love being in the huddle talking shit, going for one instead of two, and I'm like this team's so stupid. If you go for one, you can't run the ball. I'm like we're still throwing a play action at them. They're too dumb to realize it. And what happens when you get it? I love it, dude. But anyhow, Graham, fun episode, Fun, weird day for both of us. That's why we're here.
Graham :That it is Right. Look, I'll just finish it with this. As you were going off on your rand, you were talking about it. Even though right now we're not on video, I could see it. Eventually the others will see it, like I could see the sadness in your face when I was talking about it.
Graham :You know what I mean, it's just like I get it. You know what I mean and it's a privilege and an honor to do this with you. You know I love you to death and I love Kellen to death as well, and obviously happy anniversary to you and Kristen as well. But if there's anything, bro, you know I got you and I love doing the podcast. That being said, as the best homie always says buh-bye.
Scott:Good night friends. Blue sweatshirt, I'm going to find you, don't you worry. I'm going to announce you to the world about how much of a coward you are and forfeiting a game and taking that away Number one for my son, but number two for my team, because you are nothing but a non-salad-eating motherfucker. I hope your team gets smoked in Ohio and I hope you sweat to death in your blue sweatshirt. You fat piece of Peace out Beep Buh-bye.
Announcer:This episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench podcast is brought to you by our friends at Northstar Credit Union and Southern Auto, located in Southeast Virginia.
