LORD STANLEY AND LARRY O'BRIEN ON THE LINE! | EP. 33

Welcome back, Benchwarmers! This episode of the WaterBros Podcast is all about the incredible Championship runs that we currently get to witness. We talk all about the Stanley Cup battle between the Golden Knights and the Canes. We break down Wemby the Alien and the Spurs going up against Brunson and the Kicks. We are loving these sports as we are counting down to football and hope you are too. 

The story lines are incredible and we cant wait to see how they all turn out. We hope you will join us on the bench. Follow, subscribe, send it to your other fanatic friends! 

Stay Hydrated! 

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

What's up, everybody? Welcome to the Water Bros Podcast. As always, we're your hosts. I'm Zach. This is my little brother Ben. And uh grab a drink, get to the bench because we are in the thick of finals. We got the Stanley Cup, the Larry O'Brien trophy on the line. Legacies might be born. We might have some repeats. I mean, all the storylines are fantastic. Benny, what are we getting into today, dude? Yeah, literally so many good things, and it is good to be back. It's good to be back because usually, right before an episode, me and you will do this little like primer and we'll just chat. Just getting back on the mic, it's like it's like writing, but you just get right back into it. Make immediately makes your mood feel better. I am pumped to be here. We're gonna be talking a lot of great things today. We are talking some fill the jug because it has been too long, so we need those jugs filled, first and foremost. I think everybody listening needs their jugs filled. We're gonna dive into some high quality H2O. There's a lot of good things happening. And maybe we might do H2O H2O some high-quality stuff from anything besides football and save that for a different time. But for later, I agree. For later. And I do have to, like, you know, today, for what we're recording, there will be a low-quality H2O moment, too. I'm just gonna let you know. I and it will be football related. We got some swamp water coming out. Some swamp. Yes, all right. Some swamp water. That will come at us. Swamp water. But then we're gonna get right into the Stanley Cup updates, which has been electrifying. I have loved watching some Stanley Cup. I'm excited to hear your thoughts on it. And then we'll dive into the NBA finals. The Larry O'Brien will pick the remaining portion of the finals because we're gonna be recording this after game three, releasing before game four. Um, and then we gotta talk the NBA draft because your Utah Jazz have the number two overall pick. That's what we got coming up today. Second pick. I love it. Can't wait. Let's get into it. Let's fill the jug, dude. What do you got? Well, first and foremost, fill the jug. I would say we gotta shout out Popo and his retirement. Um Popo retired hanging up the hard hat. Yeah, hanging up the hard hat from Enbridge Dominion, Quest Star, Quest Star Pipeline, Mountain Fuel. Um Mountain Fuel. Yeah, all the names, all the gamut. All the above 39 years. 39 years is crazy. Um, it was really cool to like go to the work where you previously worked. Both grandparents of our both grandpas have worked there, and now dad, you know, retiring. That was that was awesome. Um really cool to see both him and mom, you know, enjoying that moment after four decades of teamwork and effort, and dad just being praised by all these people around him. That was super cool. And you know, something that's awesome.

SPEAKER_02 3:23

Really filled my jug. Um absolutely love it. I couldn't agree more.

SPEAKER_01 3:31

I would also say, and then we bowled to celebrate, and we played laser tag, which I haven't played laser tag in Laser Tag is an absolute blast. We've gotta go and do that again. I that's what Drew told me. He's like, hey, dad, we need to play laser tag more often. And it's like, yeah, 100%. I'm with you. We need to go to LaserQuest, get a bigger map, yeah, really get into the the fog at LaserQuest. I love going to LaserQuest, so and I'm all about that. It was interesting, like just getting in there and you could smell the laser tag smell. I was like, Oh, it's all coming back, even in that small environment, you know what that smell is. 100%. And it I just can't help you, just get that competitive juice going, and you just it it can be so frustrating. We obviously had two uh sidekicks, you and I, as we ran through. Rudy ran with you, Drew was running with me, and it just kept cracking me up. The nickname for Drew's pack was Munchkin, and he was a little minion, and uh I would be shooting at somebody, but I'd realize I'm deactivated, and it's because Drew shot me in the back. Just over and over again. And it's like, yeah, Drew, what are you doing? Yeah, but I mean I was dealing more fun. I was dealing with that exact same thing with little Rudy Maverick, and I was like, what a cool name. Maverick. Maverick might be a cool name for a kid. I'm not gonna lie. Could you imagine Maverick Hansen? I mean, it's it just carries some aura. If you name a kid Maverick, just it immediately you gotta carry that that banner, you know. But you don't like seeing it at Laser Tag when your son has that and he keeps shooting you. I mean, that I was doing that same thing. Oh, it was so funny. It cracked me up. No, same here. And Rudy ended up telling me the same thing. He was like, we gotta play laser tag at home. I'm like, sure, let's do it. Let's keep going. Yeah, Drew, Drew wants a laser tag set now for the house, and so we're gonna have to think about that. Yeah, that might have to be uh a birthday present idea for Rudy, because that was a really good time.

SPEAKER_00 5:50

Just go down in our basement. Yeah. That'd be fun.

SPEAKER_01 5:56

Have at it. That'd be so much fun. Absolute blast. It was fun to see the kids bowl. I that was filling the jug for me too, Benny. And uh I think the only thing I would add to fill the jug, because I think you highlighted things that I would definitely put on the list. I gotta highlight our Mr. Drew Boy uh started his first ever T-ball game tonight, and it he uh hit the ball off the T the first try. Most of the the of the four times he went up, he did that three out of the four times. The first time he swung it around a little bit, but he he made good contact, he filled it a couple. Uh overall, a really good time. I was second base coach, so I was just helping the kids make sure they could get around the bases as they were running, and I mean it just an absolute blast. Drew got his buzz and bleach, I think, since the last time we recorded. That's how long it has been. Unleashed his alter ego, and buzz and bleach Drew's a t-ball guy. Yeah. So I love it. We're we're loving, loving that. So I'm excited for it. He plays twice a week through June and can't wait for for those summer night T-ball games. It's been a lot of fun. Yeah, that's an absolute blast. I I love to hear that. Drew is an absolute killer and really rocking his new look. I would say He loves. He loves the buzz and bleach. The only other thing that we that we missed out on that I was very happy that we did was our first golf outing of the of the season. We were able to go out and play. How can we forget? That was great. Uh I really enjoyed playing. We played obviously a little local course Meadowbrook.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

Meadowbrook there in Tville.

SPEAKER_01 7:51

And I have to say the uh greens are punched and sanded, but it was a fun course. Yeah, but after your surgery, you're swinging, you're swinging well. I I'm impressed. Like I was like, hey, I appreciate that. You're getting better, and I'm either staying the same or getting worse. So great trade off. Is classic. This is this is golf for being a nutshell. I hit that first ball so clean.

SPEAKER_03 8:20

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 8:22

And I hit it a little too far because I clubbed up. I hit it so clean as like, oh man, this is gonna be a perfect day. I'm on it. I'm feeling it. This is gonna be so good. And then the very next hole, I have like 13 strokes. And so it's like I just it's it's all over the place. But I mean, all of a sudden I can drive a little bit. Like I was making good contact with the driver. Uh Ben, you were chipping. You had some amazing chips. Thank you. Yeah. Was loving watching that short game come come to life. You were hitting it close to the pin. But yeah, I I uh Jane gave me the blessing to go do something golf related once a week. So that's that is my goal. Yeah, no, I think see how long we can keep going. Yeah, I think that's a good goal. And when when I get back from from Lake Pal, I want us to go again, and then I want to play down in St. George. I like that idea that you had. Because why not why not bring the clubs down? We're gonna be going to Bear Lake. I want to play in Bear Lake, we're gonna be right next to the Bear Lake golf course there.

SPEAKER_00 9:34

That'd be fun. So yeah, it's gonna be a good time. Yeah, a lot of good golf ahead, and I I'm excited for it.

SPEAKER_01 9:42

Same here. Yeah. I I love me some golf. And and it's just nice getting out there together. And Adam Brooks came and joined us, and Adam Kuhn. Heck yeah. So shout out both Adams for joining. Had the Adams rolling in and rocking, playing, playing golf with us. It was a lot of fun. That was a blast. I had such a good time. It's no better way to start your day than early morning tea time. That's true. And also before work. No better way to start an episode than fill the jug. I mean, at the end of the day, that that that is why we do this. Um, absolutely stellar. But let's jump into some high quality H2O, ladies and gentlemen. H2O. Let's do it, Benny. It sounds like you have something queued up. What do you have? What do you have uh high quality? And then obviously I know you got swamp water coming, but what do you have high quality? Yeah, we got to start with the high quality first. You know, high quality first. I would say, I mean, obviously on this podcast, I am the you know, the basketball lover, right? Like I that's in my blood. I have been absolutely loving the NBA finals. I think that this is some of the best basketball I've watched in years. It is so fun. These teams are so competitive, the fan bases are wild. I have seen a game in both of these arenas. You've seen one in MSG with me. Yep. I've seen one MSG. Yep. I have not seen one down in San Antone, but uh MSG is such a cool venue, historic, so cool. Yeah. And it's like when I went, when we went and saw it in Madison Square Garden, it was against the Nets, and it was when Darren Williams was playing for the Nets, but the Knicks were just both. Nets versus Knicks. Knicks were garbage. And the Nets were garbage. Yes, both were absolutely awful. And fun fact, when I went and saw the Spurs game with mom and dad, I saw the Spurs after they had just won the title in 2014. So I went and saw them in 2015 right before they were playing the Warriors. So right before the Warriors went on their dynastic run. Okay. So it was, yeah, pretty awesome timing. That I gotta see Steph Curry, Harrison Barnes. I gotta see Andre Goodala, Draymond Green, Clay Thompson, Tony Parker, Manu Ginobli, Tim Duncan, Kawhi Leonard, all those guys playing crazy lineup on the same in the same moment. Yeah, that is a crazy lineup. And we had great seasons. It was awesome. So that was that was a really good time. So that honestly, like the high quality has just been the quality of play. The fan bases, the the teams. I think Wimbanyama is incredible for the NBA. I mean, that OKC uh Spurs series going seven. I mean, that was pure cinema. I mean, it was so good. So good. Every every moment of that series was just fantastic to watch. And that's coming from a guy who does not watch a lot of basketball. The last two rounds of this NBA finals has had me locked in. Yeah. It's it's been a lot of fun. And you can't like there's a there's a lot of people that are like basketball purists and are saying that you know today's basketball, it's a lot of flopping and a lot of this and a lot of that. And you cannot tell me that you haven't watched the Western Conference and Eastern Conference Finals and now the NBA finals, and telling me that this isn't good, solid basketball. And I will stand by that. It is awesome. It's physical. They're they're getting after it, they're playing loose, like they're playing free. It's a close game, defense matters, matchups matter, the coaching is better, everything and stars are out. It's great. All of it's great. Yeah. No, it it really is. And I think we're seeing very much so the future of the NBA on display. Like for a long time, and we've talked about this before, for a long time, it was like, who's gonna be the future of the NBA? Who's the future face after this LeBron era comes to an end? Steph's obviously getting further along in his career, like some of the classic faces of the NBA are now getting to the veteran status, and you need that young blood. And this finals, I think, is displaying some of that in full force, and it's it's been incredible. Absolutely. Benny, I want to tag on to that, shifting a little bit. My high quality H2O is gonna be hockey related. We're going to the ice rink, but my high quality H2O is being a mammoth fan. And I'll tell you why. Because we came into the playoffs year two here in Utah, the Mammoth make it to the playoffs. We lose to the Golden Knights. But we we give the Golden Knights run. We we took some we had some wins. It was scrappy games, we had some OT thrilling games in that series, but we ultimately should came up short. But guess who's in the finals? The Las Vegas Golden Knights. And so I am feeling so good about being a Mammoth fan because they swept the avalanche, right? I'm pretty sure. Yeah.

SPEAKER_00 15:16

Yes, they did. Yeah, swept the avalanche.

SPEAKER_01 15:20

Utah gave uh the Golden Knights a much better run for their money than the Western Conference finals turned out to be in hockey. And so I'm feeling really good about our status as a hockey town here in Salt Lake, and the future I think is very bright for the Mammoth, and I can't. I'm excited about that. I completely agree with you, and I'm glad you called that out because honestly, I would say that the Mammoth probably played the Golden Knights the best in the Western Conference. Over the Avalanche, obviously, and over the Ducks. Um Mammoth are, you know, if we have another good offseason, who knows what can happen because this Golden Knights team is legit. I mean, they're so tough. Yeah, they're so tough. And the and the one game that just makes me feel so much better about our loss to them. Yes, I agree. Ultimately, if you're gonna lose, might as well lose to the you know, ultimately the champion, right? Lose to the champion, yeah. And not to spoil any picks, but that that's it's making me feel good. So yeah, they I mean they seem to be clicking right at the right time. Torts knows what he's doing down there in Vegas, I guess. Yeah, they're f they're flying, they're looking very dangerous. But before I mean we're gonna get into it, they've changed Vegas has been crazy. It has been so good. I've enjoyed watching swamp water. Yeah, I gotta get my swamp water off my chest before we got dive into hockey because and yes, I said no football in today's episode, but there is one thing that got released today that I I have to talk about. Yep. Yeah, Ben, I already know where you're going. Tell me. I'm I'm not gonna lie that you know I lost a little bit of faith in the justice system today because the judge granting the injunction for Brendan Soresby to play next season in college is absolutely disgusting to me. I think it's insane. It's disgusting for Texas Tech. I think it's disgusting for college football that he's gonna be out there, that he was betting on his own team. I don't care if you're betting for your team to win. I don't care. If your rules are as a college and professional athlete, is to not bet, and you're gonna be getting paid seven million dollars. Million dollars. You checked yourself into a rehab center and they're gonna grant you the injunction and let you go play? That's absurd. This is I I don't hope anything bad on him, but I hope it actually comes back around in the future that he just got back into it again and ruins his whole career. Because guess what? That is what you're putting at risk here. I I just I don't like it at all. I'm very upset. The Big Ten is already saying they won't play Texas Tech in any sports because of this. The Big Ten was meeting is meeting tomorrow to go over that. I I think it's I mean you can't have uh you can't have a zero tolerance policy and then not uphold the zero tolerance. Like, I mean that that's been I feel like the way everything has been treated and the injunction the precedent set by an injunction to allow him to be eligible is insanity. Like it it breaks football. Because if now all it's gonna be is a slap on the hand, you sue him with the millions of dollars you make because NIL is just no holds bar, you have no guardrails or particular really any restrictions on that money. Um, if all it takes is to sue for an injunction and you still get to play, then what's gonna stop it from being a bigger problem? That's a hundred percent. That's what I don't get at all. Like, gambling is a huge part of sports. College now, even more so, but pros, like, it's going to continue to be that way. But to keep the integrity, you can't have that happen. You can't set the precedent that you can just jump. The players doing it. Yeah. And yet they're not gonna grant people like another year because of like injuries or something, and they're gonna not let them play, but a guy who's gambling on all these games, they're just gonna let him play. That's it's yeah, it's so stupid. And I know when when the Soresby null the Soresby news dropped. I mean, you and I both said, and I didn't know the the full picture at that time. We just knew he had the gambling issue. I didn't realize he was gambling on all these games that he was a part of. Um, we didn't know that at the time. And so we were like, hey, we hope that he gets the rehab, he he gives his thing. But ultimately, we were pretty confident it's like that that probably means his game over. Yeah, he's not playing college. So that's now to be a couple a couple months removed from that, and he's gonna have a shot. And it another thing that really ticked me off is like the judge was in Texas. I know. I'm I I don't want to be skeptical. That's not fishy at all. And I don't want to say that there's any sort of foul play. It's like I wonder who he was betting on to win the national championship in the 2026-2027 season to where he's gotta get his Sores B with Texas Tech. Like, that's honestly where my brain went immediately. And uh I mean there's there's obviously no basis for that, but it's like uh come on, let's yeah, we gotta do better. And I've NCAA's gotta fight this. And you know what's interesting? So I'm just I'm pulling it up a little bit more because I'm glad you called out the whole Texas thing. Not only was it in Texas, but it was in Lubbock County. Texas Tech County, right? Like this makes zero sense to me. This should be a federal. I know you're judged by your peers, but it's like there's no bigger bias than a judge in Lubbock. It's like, what the heck are we even talking about? Yeah, it's it's the stupidest thing. It's so it's it's crazy. I can't believe it. I can't believe it. And I want people that are listening to comment on this, and I hope we make a clip of this specifically, because yes, me and you are both Utah fans. I get it. Texas Tech is our biggest threat in the Big 12. So I understand where this may be seen as where we're coming from. I want anybody to look at this, I don't care what you're a fan of, and tell me how this isn't wrong. Like, let me know. Because I am genuinely perplexed whether I'm a Utah fan or not. This is wrong. He should not play in college. This can't let him go. This can't say go to the supplemental draft and see if if you have NFL coaches that are saying it is a risk to draft him, NFL coaches are saying that in the supplemental draft.

SPEAKER_02 22:38

Yeah. But you're just gonna make zero sense.

SPEAKER_01 22:42

Turn a blind eye and let it ride.

SPEAKER_02 22:45

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 22:46

And it I mean the reality is is Soresby's probably the the biggest case, but he's not the only. Like that he can't be the only. There's there's just no way. I'm sure there's some other folks that that are just a little less headline-y, they're not the starting star QB for the the university. But I mean it it just sets such a disgusting precedent. And I think it just highlights even more that there needs to be some more concrete the NCAA needs to be revitalized. Because right now it doesn't seem to do anything, it doesn't help with NIL. And if it can't even enforce its rules on gambling, it's like, okay, we need to reconfigure college football. Because that's it's gonna it's bad for the game. It's terrible for the game. And and just hear this real quick. So he spent 35 days in an Arizona gambling rehabilitation center. And this is so according to the court documents, he placed at least 40 bets involving Indiana while he was on the roster. And then he used sportsbook accounts that were registered to family members and friends to wager roughly $90,000 over four years. Okay. Jeez. So he continued to gamble after he transferred from Cincinnati to Texas Tech. And the judge has the audacity to say in the injunction that the NCAA can't prevent Soresby from practicing, playing, or otherwise participating on Texas Tech's football team for the 2026 season. It's like, yeah, they can. Like the NCAA, according to this, what are we talking about? No authority, no power. It's stupid. There's no power whatsoever. Yeah. Oh yeah. I mean, it just makes it just makes me sick to think about. It can't happen. Justice for college football is really what I want. We need there needs to be boundaries. And uh he broke the golden rule. If you're playing in the game, you cannot be betting on that game.

SPEAKER_02 24:51

Because it it's bad for the integrity of the sport.

SPEAKER_01 24:56

So, and what I'm curious about too is is the NCAA able to appeal the injunction decision and like have it go to a higher court? Yeah, and I think that's the route that's my understanding, is what their recourse is and would be.

SPEAKER_00 25:17

Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_01 25:19

And okay, the they already filed an accelerated appeal with the Court of Appeals in the 7th District of Texas in Amarillo, yeah. Um yeah, I completely agree. Okay. Yeah, that's good. I'm glad that I should have known that, but just with the precedent that would be set, again, like it it breaks if that's what they go with and it stands, and he plays like that. I mean, that's it's just crazy like that. I can't even fathom that. You're gonna have so many more cases, I feel like. It's like, okay, well now it's just worth the risk. Yeah, I'll just file my injunction. Bad for ball. Absolutely. That is as much of a swamp water take as I've ever heard. Yep. And and I do just have to say, I hope that the football gods smite down Texas Tech if he plays us here. Because I feel like Texas Tech has to have a policy on it too. It's like at the end of the day, they need to stand on business as well. They don't care. They don't care, they just want to win. Yeah, and it's like I think that's bad. I think that's bad. I think it's bad too. That's poor coaching. I think that doesn't send the right message to your team. I I don't think it's the right thing. And I know that the guy has a problem and he's he's trying to get it fixed, but there are consequences, and if you don't get the consequence, then it's an issue. And guess what? Poor coaching, poor leadership at the university. I'm upset all around.

unknown 26:59

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 27:00

Yeah, so I mean that's a big swamp water. I'm not happy, Bob. Not happy. Not happy about it. But with that, we can go right back into all the good and positive things of what's happening in sports and and wrap up a solid episode talking about hockey and the NBA and the Jets. Um so tell me a little bit about the Stanley Cup and your your thoughts about how the series have been going so far. Well, I I'll just say Golden Knights vs. Canes, it's electric. I mean, every every game is going to overtime, double overtime. You have it these insane, like the canes scored three goals in 39 seconds. Um, you have Golden Knights surging back, being down, and ending up pulling out the win. Like you just have these just great intense play from start to finish in every single one of these games. And I I love it. Like you how can you not enjoy that level of hockey? It's high, like you're getting a lot of high scoring, high intensity. Every game feels like it's life and death, and I love it. Yeah. But not only that, from like game to game, but like period to period. Like that last game where the Golden Knights dominated the second period, and then the Canes dominated the third period. And the and the canes surge. That's what I'm saying. Like they they've just got these crazy swings in leads and tying things up and uh pulling it to those overtime periods. It's it's just been great hockey. And yeah, uh, I mean, Golden Knights, uh, we said this a little bit already, but Golden Knights are just so tough. Yeah. And uh you put out here, I think the question is, is are they the favorite? Are should they be the winner? And if they are, are they basically the a new dynasty in in NHL and just the best franchise in in hockey? Yeah, big because overall they've been around for a decade, and if they win the series, they'll have won two Stanley Cups. And they've been to three, right? Something like that. And in ten years, like that's incredible unreal run. And so I can't. I think so. I think. And so I mean it's they're not far removed from their last one, and so I mean, Golden Knights are a problem, and they're they're showing that they are here to stay and they've got it figured out in Vegas. Yeah, so overall, I mean, oh yeah, so so they yeah, so they reached the Stanley Cup final in their inaugural season. So their first season, they made it, they lose to the Capitals. Yeah. And then they've made it to the playoffs eight of their first nine seasons. They won the championship in 2023, so you got that right. And then now they're back again. So they're one and they're one and one. This could be two and one, and so in ten seasons of being a franchise, or nine seasons, this is the ninth season, they're they could potentially have two Stanley Cups. That's crazy. Vegas has a community. Especially when you look at how many teams just have not been to the playoffs for decades. You know, there's there's a good chunk of of teams that just have not been able to piece it together. So they're they're sustained success very quickly. Um I mean, it it is very impressive. And I'm just hoping that Utah Mammoth are gonna follow the same fit pattern. Yeah, I hope so too. And what's wild though about like this run this year, though, for the Golden Knights is that they fired their coach with the lap with eight games left in the regular season. Yeah, they drop him and they're going on this crazy run. Yeah, that's a great point, Ben. And that usually is never the case. Like, they usually get like a quick surge, but I don't know what Tortarola is doing, like, and how he's came in, come in there and like just brought them right back to life, but they look like a you know, one of the more dominant teams, even though they were behind the Avalanche, they were behind the hurricanes, they were behind all these teams being talked about. Now here they are. Yeah, and I mean it just think about that as a Golden Knights fan. Like your bar now is just set so high. Like you're always in the playoffs, so you're just it's like, okay, well, if we don't make it to the championship, I get that drive. Yeah, as you say, you're wearing the Patriots, you know exactly how that goes. It's like the the expectation is just unbelievable for the Golden Knights, but they're delivering. And uh, I'll say, I mean, they swept the avalanche, they dominated the avalanche, but like in that mammoth uh series, it was really scrappy, like they they did give up a lot, and we're even seeing that with the Canes where they give up a lot, but they just they have a way about them that they know how to to find the win. And they've done it throughout their playoff run. Yeah, absolutely. And it and it's been fun, and obviously, I mean this Hurricanes team is really, really good. This was one of the this stat that we saw leading into the Stanley Cup final was one of my favorites. That this is the least amount of losses that the two teams in the final have had in the playoffs, starting back from like 1987 or something. They've only lost five combined games. Yeah, because the Canes have really dominated. Yeah. Canes dominated really dominated through their run. And so it it's absolutely crazy to see how much like both these teams have really just run through the competition, and and now we're seeing an overtime, a double overtime game. Like, yeah, we're getting there, we're getting a good treat. And the same thing is happening in the NBA, but before we dive to the basketball, we gotta pick some the the remaining part of this series is the Golden Knights today stand two to one up on the Carolina Hurricanes. Yes, sir. So, Benny, I will just say before I give my pick, the Canes have had an incredible run. They're an extremely tough team. Florida is a hockey state because you got the Panthers that went and did it, I believe, last year. Right? Mm-hmm. Yeah, I think so. Yep, so Panthers got it now. The Canes are at the door. Um Florida has gotta be in love with hockey right now, which is just so funny. But I want the Stanley Cup to come back to the West. I am picking Golden Knights. I think that they're up to one. I do think the Canes. I for sure they for sure get one more, and I think we end up at a a four-two cane or knights take it in six. Okay.

unknown 34:45

I like that.

SPEAKER_00 34:46

That's what I'm gonna predict.

SPEAKER_01 34:48

Yeah, I think uh so I just pulled this up because I was curious what what the odds were currently, and it looks like Vegas is the betting favor right now, you know, which makes sense. That minus one eighty-five and Carolina's at plus one fifty. So it's still super tight, but Carolina kept holding some. Why was Why was I thinking that the canes are in Tampa Bay? What am I thinking? Carolina hurricanes, yeah. Tampa Bay lightning. But it's still on the east, but it's still on the east coast. But the storm, scratch that, forget Florida. Carolina, Carolina Canes. My brain, it's like, gonna have to go to the break. Still wanted to come back to the to the west. To the west. You let me go on this whole tirade about Florida. Well, yeah, I still wanted to come back to the West. I feel like the the sentiment was there of like bringing it from the east to the west. The sentiment was there. And so that's so funny. I was so convinced that the canes were from Tampa Bay. In my brain. My brain right now just was so convinced of that. Florida's loving hockey right now. Florida's loving hockey. Probably not because the lightning got eliminated. So oh man.

SPEAKER_00 36:12

Yeah, the Panthers aren't in, the Lightning aren't in. Oh gosh, that's funny.

SPEAKER_02 36:18

But they still are loving hockey though. Florida's loving it.

SPEAKER_01 36:24

Because they over the past decade, they they still are, they've been really good there in Florida. So nothing you said was incorrect. Nothing. Well, these warm states are loving hockey right now. Yeah. Yes, they are. Um, oh, that's awesome. So with that, then in my eyes, what I'm what I'm looking at is I think that it is very, very likely and possible that both of these series go seven games. And I hope that in the NHL it goes to seven, and I see uh the Golden Knights pulling it out on game seven. Yeah, I mean, I will not be mad at all if it goes goes seven.

SPEAKER_00 37:09

No.

SPEAKER_01 37:10

That that is just good. That is just good for Lord Stanley. Oh, absolutely. Each one of these games is electric.

unknown 37:19

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 37:19

So, Benny, we got our picks in for Stanley Cup. We're going Golden Knights to win. I think they do it in six, you think they do it in seven. Let's talk at NBA Finals and the Knicks versus Spurs. Two incredible storylines that we have going on here. Yeah, I mean, both story right storylines are fantastic. Um, starting with the Knicks, where they haven't been to the finals since the late 90s, um, where they lost to the Spurs. And so, I mean, you're really more crazy, right? The last time they were there. So you're really throwing it back, and to see all of these fans of the Knicks there in in full force, former players of the Knicks supporting them, like it's just a different vibe and environment. Um, but the storyline of the team, you've got Carl Anthony Towns, former number one overall pick, traded from the Timberwolves. They decided, no, we'd we don't think we can win with him on the team. Send him to New York, and he's been playing incredible basketball. OG Ananobi won a title with the Raptors. You've got Mikhail Bridges, who lost in the finals when he was up 2-0 on the Suns, and the Bucs won four straight. You've got Jalen Brunson, who is consistently disrespected across he's too small. 100%. He's not good enough to be a number one, not good enough to lead a team to the finals. And look what he's doing. He is the leader of the team. You've got the Josh Hart of the world flamethrower Jordan Clarkson on the team playing some minutes tonight. Had a bit of a rough patch during the game, but great storylines from the Knicks. Um, and then you've got the Spurs. When you're talking about the future of basketball, it is the Spurs. It does not go further than Victor Wembanyama. Wembanyama. And and I will say I love everything about that. That is future. That is the future of the NBA right there. What's crazy is it is a glorious future to behold, man. It really is. And what's crazy to me is it's not only the future, it's the present. He is here, and the Spurs aren't gonna have to be. And how sick is the the Nike ad campaign for him where like Victor has landed, but it's like a he's an alien, he's a I mean, complete freak, but they've leaned all the way into that, and he is he's landed. He is here, and it's it's it's great. It's great to watch. Yeah, it's it's absolutely awesome. I completely agree. That is great marketing, great ad campaign. Um, Nike's having a field day with Brunson, too. I mean, it's it's been it's been awesome to watch. I love Dylan Harper, grew up in New Jersey, grew up a Knicks fan. His dad won, I think, five titles throughout his NBA career, Ron Harper. Um, then you've got Stefan Castle, who won national championships at UConn. He's a winner, he's a bulldog. He gets it done. Let's not forget him. I mean, it's easy to just focus on Wemby, but yeah, let's not forget Castle, who is earning himself a major back. Like he's showing that he is a dude. Oh, yeah. Like that is gonna just he's gonna get paid big money because he's been awesome. He's been elected to watch him and Wemby today combined for what fifty three points between the two of them. Uh first to have two players under 22 score over 20 points in the NBA final. Like that's never happened before. So yeah, that's that's been awesome to watch. Those are great stats. I love that. Yeah, it I mean try. Yeah, it it really has been super fun to watch. I'm just pulling up the box score right now because I love that Claudio. Yeah, 55 points total between the two of them. Um, and they were both super efficient. I mean, I love the game from both of them. And really low turnovers. Only one they're playing great ball. Yeah, only one turnover by Wimbanyama, two turnovers by Castle. Um both of them were in their plus-minus. They were in the pluses, plus seven for Wimbanyama, plus six for Castle. Great game overall. Um I yeah, I've been extremely impressed with what I've been seeing from that team. And you can name additional people. You've got Keldon Johnson, who's sixth man of the year, you've got Devin Vassell, who's been on the team the longest of all of these players, and finally getting to see some wins. De'Aaron Swipa Fox struggled a little bit from the field today, but he made some key plays when he had to.

SPEAKER_00 42:11

So I I really hope that the Spurs come back and end up making this a series.

SPEAKER_01 42:19

Yeah, I mean, uh, I think a shocking start. Now that you brought up kind of the way this is unfolded, I would have never called the Knicks going up two out of the gate. I I definitely didn't think they were gonna steal both of those in San Antonio, but then Spurs answer and and win it in MSG tonight, and so uh it's like okay, can uh Wemby and and the Spurs make this a series? And I think they can. And I I hope for the sake of how good the finals and just the NBA playoffs have been up to this point, I hope we do go the distance with this series because it I think both of these franchises deserve to be on full display for what they've done in this postseason, but also I mean it's just good for the fans. Yeah, absolutely. And that's the thing, is like, and Heather pointed this out to me at the end of the game tonight where she's like, we just want good games every game, like we just want it to be close, like every single one has been, and it's like, yeah, it's it's true. I mean, I do want that, and I don't know, there's a part of me that really, really, really wants to see the Spurs win. I I don't know why. I just I just love what they're about. I love what Wimbanyama represents. I love the coach Mitch Johnson. I just I really like how they set things up, and it's just an incredible franchise, and they know how to win, you know. Yeah. So, Benny, let me ask you a question. If it goes that way, if Spurs go up and win, Wemby at twenty two gets his first crown. Is he officially the GOAT conversation?

SPEAKER_02 44:07

Does he officially just take it over? Does he end does he enter? Not yet.

SPEAKER_01 44:16

Or is it just like oh it isn't too premature? It's too premature because if do I think he will get there? Yeah, absolutely. Especially when you start at 22. Like you're gonna get on that path. But I think to to be like, hey, whenever some of these guys win like their first title because we know how good they potentially could be, it's like it is potentially premature because are you gonna put him ahead of uh Nikola Jokic?

SPEAKER_02 44:47

I mean, did Nikola Jokic do it at twenty-two?

SPEAKER_01 44:51

Not at twenty-two, but he's leading being the face of the team. Couple time MVP, face of the team. I mean, yeah, he's coup you know, a champion. He's not I mean, he's not scratching the LeBron conversation, I don't think. I don't think people typically throw in I think they say he's the greatest right now, but I mean LeBron and Jordan still seem to dominate the conversation of Ghost. Yeah, it's definitely it's like here are the names that get brought up, right?

SPEAKER_02 45:22

So it's like LeBron Jordan, and then you hear Kareem, you hear Kobe, you hear Shaq, you hear Nikola Jokic, you hear um, you throw out, then there's like the magic and bird type conversation.

SPEAKER_01 45:43

Tim Duncan's of the world, right? So it's like there's a lot of those guys, and then Wimbenyama will be there. That's the thing, is like it's not a matter of if, but but when. But there's there's a lot that still needs to happen. He he's the first ever unanimous defensive player of the year. Um, he's could be one of the youngest to win in NBA final, leading the team. Like, yeah, he's he's on the show. And if he, I mean, he'll he'll he'll be the MBA, he'll be the finals MVP uh certainly if they win. Yes. If they win, he without a double. He beat the season MVP in SGA over OKC. That's the thing. For for the next 10 years, I mean for the next 10 years, he's not gonna have an easy path in the West. Like ever. No. So No, it's always gonna be a bad thing. That's awesome. That is that is awesome. I would agree with that. No, I think I think where I come from, I don't think I've ever seen someone play like Wimby. I have never seen basketball like Wemby basketball. He is so tall and long, but he plays and moves like a much smaller dude. He's pulling up from the freaking logo. He he's not like your big man, he's not a shack, right, where he shoots a brick and uh but is dominant in the paint. Like he he really is playing across the board. He's the defensive MVP, like you just said. So he's it's not like he's backing down and uh losing those fights either. He I mean, he's just he's insane. Yeah, it's I mean it's it's absolutely crazy. And and just like talking about this series and like how good all these players are, I'm just looking at the the ticket prices were insane for tonight. But the ticket prices for Wednesday, if you want to sit on row five at half court, okay. So row five, so you're not even on the I'm wait, I'm gonna row five, I'm gonna guess, because I know the the prices have been just so insane. I'm gonna guess right at row five for single ticket, right at half court. I'm gonna guess you're like 14k a ticket.

SPEAKER_02 48:13

Not even close. And that might low? Oh.

SPEAKER_01 48:19

Not even in you're not even sniffing it. Not even in the stratus. Really?

SPEAKER_00 48:25

Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 48:26

Row five. Row five. 50k. 50k a ticket. Still not even close.

SPEAKER_02 48:34

You're joking me. We're talking almost quite how much is that? 1830.

SPEAKER_01 48:44

I was gonna say 200k. Yeah, after your fees. Don't forget your processing fees that those are gonna have attached to them. That's a percentage of the total. Yeah, the the fee is included there with uh yeah, 180,000, which it's insane. 180,000 for the fifth row. I was way off. Yeah, it's it's expensive. These tickets are crazy. Exp expensive, that's like a freaking down payment on an insane home. Yeah. What are we even talking about? I know MSG on the fifth row. Just for your team to maybe, maybe win. Maybe lose. Yeah, it's nuts. That is crazy. Those yeah, I mean, but that place was full tonight, so somebody was paying for it. Somebody paid those prices. That that's what's wild, is it is packed out. And I feel bad for like the New Yorkers who have been Knicks fans and they're like the they are the fan. I feel bad for them because they're ultimately probably majority are just priced out, right? Like they can't. Oh, yeah, no way. They can't even sniff it.

SPEAKER_00 50:01

Yeah, they're they're not uh they're not gonna be able to make it make it happen.

SPEAKER_01 50:07

But they are packed out. Like you said, the the fan show-up has been incredible. I mean, they they're packing the house and it's rocking. So yeah, it's rocking and it's fun to see. It's fun to see the passion, it's fun to see the environments. I mean, it's good for basketball, it's good for the game, it's good for the league. Like, literally, couldn't write it any better to have your future face of the NBA because LeBron still is in this league. But your future face in Wimbanyama in the finals in his first ever postseason run, couldn't write it any better. And no, 100%. So with that with that, Benny, yes, you're going right where I was going. I was gonna say, do what are we looking like in terms of picks? I'll since you pick the Stanley Cup first, I'll pick this one first. Um I think and and this may not like what I'm gonna pick may not be what I want, but it after watching tonight, I think it's what will happen.

SPEAKER_02 51:18

I think that it is very possible that the Spurs are gonna end up tying this two to two. Oh, that game four is gonna be tough, but I think the Knicks will win in seven.

SPEAKER_01 51:38

Knicks in seven. So there's I mean, for sure you're giving the Spurs a little bit of run no matter what. Yes. But the the problem is watching this Knicks team, like they are built for the postseason. Like I I just I don't know if the Spurs have enough depth and enough firepower to beat the Knicks four times. That's what I thought to myself at the end of the third quarter today in today's game. And the Spurs, but the Spurs have been in every single game. They should they probably should have won game two. Um, so maybe I'm wrong on that, but I want the Spurs to win, but I think the Knicks maybe win in seven, and New York will literally lose it if they do. Yeah, I think yeah, New York will go bananas. I for my take, Benny, I think Wemby in the the start, I mean, he acknowledged that he had some bad play. He he owned up, he's like, hey, it wasn't it wasn't my best. Um, I think the fact that they stole one from the Knicks tonight is a is huge. I think that gets them back on track. Um for the sake of parody, and uh I think for both of us, it's a little more of a heart pick. I am gonna go Spurs rallying and returning and taking it in the seven. Um, and that's purely because that's what I want the most. I think that is an incredible run for Wemby that really sets it up, but I couldn't be sad either way. Yeah, I I mean I don't think there'd be a bad outcome either way. Yeah, I don't think there's a bad result here. I think for the sake of parody, I'm I'm p picking the spurs. I think they can do it. There's a that is a there's a world where Wimby gets it done. He did it tonight. But I mean, yeah, Knicks winning for that New York market for that franchise. I mean, they haven't been in the playoffs since the late nineties, but they haven't won it since what, the 70s, I think.

unknown 53:52

True.

SPEAKER_01 53:53

They haven't been back. Yeah, they haven't been to the finals since the late 90s, but yeah, they haven't won it since 73. Yeah, so that is either way, it's just electric. Can't wait. Wednesday we shall see. Game four. Game four on Wednesday. Wednesday, I will be watching it from Washington, D.C., which will be exciting. So watching it from the nation's capital, which speaking of the nation's capital, they hold they have a team there that absolutely stinks called the Washington Wizards. And they hold the number one pick in the upcoming NBA draft. That uh the Jazz hold the second pick, and the hot topic is Mr. AJ DeBonza from Wasatch Preponza and BYU. What do the Jazz do?

SPEAKER_00 54:47

What do the Jazz do with the number two overall pick, Zach?

SPEAKER_01 54:52

You know, it's I heard a little bit ago that they were willing to shop their pick in the sense that do they go and get their guy at number one? AJ has been very vocal about he one pick BYU, but two, wants to stay here in Utah. I think he has expressed as much on uh multiple occasions, and so I can see a world where the Jazz find their way into making sure they get AJ.

SPEAKER_03 55:25

Mm-hmm.

SPEAKER_01 55:26

Yeah, I I think with that would not surprise me. I've heard more on that front, but I would not be surprised. I wouldn't be surprised earlier. I think with the way that Ryan Smith has been conducting himself as an owner, like this is now his moment. This is your time to go and get that number one overall pick. Now, what is it going to cost? Now that's gonna be a heavy debate. Yes. What what do you give up to get into that number one spot to the Wizards? Because for me, it's like, okay, is there a big enough gap in the Wizards' mind um to just drop back one? Just be in Darren Peterson or Jammer Peterson. Yeah. Which Yeah, and that that's where it might work in the jazz's favor if that's kind of the route they want to go. I mean, they can get drop back one, probably get some picks out of the jazz. I mean, I don't know how much capital the jazz are working with in that front, but yeah, and I mean the jazz do have a lot of capital. They've got a lot to play with that they could make it happen.

SPEAKER_02 56:42

But do you want like how much is too much to give up? So you sell the farm.

SPEAKER_01 56:52

And and here's the thing, too. So some of the things that he's been saying, I guess, publicly, is that um he did say that, like, you know, everyone has been saying the rumors that his preferred destination is to stay in Utah, removing to Washington, D.C. He dismissed the narrative saying that he is open to playing for any franchise that drafts him, which is probably the right thing to do. Like, publicly. I think the right thing for him to do is he should be saying and doing that. Um but a lot of what I'm hearing is that he is like his family, like they've moved here, he's been here for a few years, like there's been a lot of reasons why. Um I'd be interested to see. And he was the number one prospect coming into like he he did not have to come to BYU. No. No, not at all. I mean, I think that I think that's a huge indicator in of itself of that relationship between him and Ryan Smith, who's a BYU guy.

SPEAKER_00 58:06

Yeah, he is the BYU booster.

SPEAKER_01 58:10

I mean, he is the he's the money man. Yeah, he is yeah. And they have a few, they have a few. So BYU's got some deep pockets, and Ryan Smith being one of them. And he is, and honestly, I mean it makes a lot of sense. In terms of a storyline, you know, kid plays at Wasatch Prep, plays at BYU, and then he goes to the Jazz, that'd be awesome. Um, the Jazz are set up and ready to go. Who and the the fun fact is Cameron Boozer from Duke, who won the Wooden Award for National Player of the Year. He uh is Carlos Boozer's son, and Carlos Boozer works for the Utah Jazz front office. Fun fact. Yeah. Which that could be that could be cool too. So what would be even cooler is let's say the Jazz trade up to number one and then they trade back to like number three.

SPEAKER_00 58:59

Just trade a couple fourth rounders and go get insane.

SPEAKER_01 59:02

De Bonsa and Boozer.

SPEAKER_00 59:03

That would be insane. I mean, I doubt that would happen. That would be insane.

SPEAKER_01 59:07

That would that would be awesome. But that is coming up in the next one. Yeah, once this, once the NBA finals cut come to an end, that'll be the full focus for our basketball. Is what do the Jazz do to finally get us out of what feels like fan purgatory? Where we just haven't been able to put a season together for a while. Yeah, it's uh it's been a bit of a build, but now should be the time. And the NBA draft is on June 23rd and the 24th. Um so it'll be that that Thursday and Friday?

SPEAKER_02 59:47

No, when is that? June 23rd. Now it's bothering me. Oh, it is a Tuesday and a Wednesday.

SPEAKER_01 59:58

Tuesday, Wednesday. That's weird. Tuesday, Wednesday. That is really weird. Huh. Okay. Well, I will be very interested to see what happens on that Tuesday.

SPEAKER_00 1:00:08

I know I'll be I'll be in town, ready to watch, and we'll just see what happens.

SPEAKER_01 1:00:15

Yeah, but with that, I think it'll be it's hard to have a bad pick with those first three guys, though. I think there's a lot of good there. Absolutely. Yeah, definitely not wrong. And it's just a matter of fit for the city of Salt Lake, sit fit for the state, fit for the team, and who's the preference? Probably the guy that played in the state, probably, and or for me, I would pick Boozer over Peterson because he was born here, his dad played here, like his dad works. Like it would make a lot of sense. So if it were me, and let's say DeBonsa went to the Wizards, I would pick Boozer at two, personally. Okay. And even though even though he's not necessarily the fit based on our roster, because we probably do want more of like a guard slash wing, I don't care.

SPEAKER_00 1:01:10

You draft the guy that's gonna make it happen and be the best and for your team. And to me, that would be boozer.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:18

Yeah. I mean, there's a lot to say for desire and and wanting, like willingness to be here in in this market. I mean, that's oh yeah, that seems to always be the problem. We can't hold on to a guy, so if he wants to be here, then yeah, that makes a big difference. Yeah, exactly. So we'll see how it all shakes out, but both the NBA and NHL are on a heater right now, just absolutely crushing. Yeah, absolutely electric to watch. It's been so much fun. Benny, this has been electric and fun to talk through it. It's been too long. Uh, kudos to all the podcasters out there that keep a consistent schedule and work full time jobs because it is hard. It is a tough thing to do. But I've absolutely loved this time with you, dude. That's the best. Me too, brother. What do we tell the people before we go? Everybody, stay hydrated. Stay hydrated. Adios.