Buckets & Birdies
The Buckets & Birdies Podcast hosted by @cbills23 and @mg1nyard
23 minutes of hoops, golf and sports across the state of North Carolina.
Buckets & Birdies
The Whole World Is Watching
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The World Cup has arrived and it's doing what only the World Cup can do — bringing the entire planet together. Marcus and Carter talk about soccer fans coming out of the woodwork, the unmatched passion of European supporters who pack stadiums by the thousands every weekend, and the chants and die-hard devotion that make soccer fandom unlike anything else in sports.
Back home, Carolina's own Caleb Wilson is headed to the Chicago Bulls — following in the footsteps of a certain Tar Heel legend. Plus, golf talk: Viktor Hovland outduels World #1 Scottie Scheffler in a playoff to win the Travelers, and the Open Championship is right around the corner.
This episode is dedicated to the memory of Jack Roney — NC State swimmer, devoted father and husband, and a longtime friend of Carter's who passed away this week. We love you, Jack.
Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to the Buckets and Birdies Podcast. Buckets and Birdies is a weekly glimpse into the worlds of basketball and golf.
SPEAKER_01We'll also balance national sports trends with ACC Insights and provide a lens of notable happenings of sports in our home state of North Carolina.
SPEAKER_00Two friends and industry professionals getting together to bring you 23 minutes of fun each week with shared experiences around buckets and birdies. He's Carter Bills, sports agent and seasoned consultant in the golf space.
SPEAKER_01Joining me on the mic is national champion, Tario Great, Marcus Guineard. Welcome to Buckets and Birdies.
SPEAKER_00Welcome to another episode of the Buckets and Birdies Podcast.
SPEAKER_01It's early Thursday morning, July 9th, and when everyone's hearing this one, Marcus, it will be Friday, July the 10th.
SPEAKER_00That's right. Dropping new episodes every Friday at high noon.
SPEAKER_01Thanks to everyone for tuning into this one, listening to 23 minutes of Buckets and Birdies. And as positive people who like positive things, we'll start as we always do with the quote of the day. And the quote of the day today, Marcus, is there is no greater connector in our nation than sports.
SPEAKER_00I love it, SVP. Glad that we got our little um SVP interaction in earlier this year down at the Masters. But uh, what an incredible uh time that we're in right now as we've got so many sports happening. Um, and you get to see quite literally people from all across the world coming together uh to enjoy sports, whether you're talking about Wimbledon or the World Cup. Um a lot of people watching basketball out in Vegas, if I'm not mistaken, Vegas, Utah, uh, with the summer league. And so um you and I both know as as we've spent a lot of our lives around sports, um it really is a beautiful thing and uh a really cool way to bring a lot of people together.
SPEAKER_01No doubt. And when we last talked, it was approaching Father's Day weekend, so mid to late June, only a couple weeks ago. But as we said, a lot has happened in the sports world, probably nothing more greater to your point, Marcus, than the FIFA World Cup being hosted here in North America and then ultimately whittled down in the United States. Unbelievable time for the FIFA World Cup. It really feels like it has connected this country, even though you've got your Norway fans over here, Cristiano Ronaldo fans, you have your messy Argentina fans. Everybody seems to be getting behind it though. The U.S. made a magical run. Unfortunately, their run has been cut short. Uh, but it was fun to see U.S. soccer feel like they had a real chance. And I got to give you kudos. You you picked France from the top. No surprise where you spent some of your most fond years in your professional playing career in the country of France. France is still going. And in fact, Marcus, they played this afternoon, I believe.
SPEAKER_00They do. I do. I'm really excited to try to sneak away a little bit and uh and catch that game this afternoon. But uh, man, you're right. It's been an incredible uh couple of weeks now watching the World Cup and just seeing so many people, whether they're cheering for the same team or not, just seeing so many people come together and and and watch games at bars or at people's homes together, uh, going crazy, cheering, crying, you know, all the emotions that that come with sports, uh it's really fun to watch. But but truly, it's crazy to see some people that never talk about soccer, didn't know they owned soccer jerseys, are now out all over the place going to games. But again, that that's to me what it's all about. It's okay if if this creates new fans. You know, I don't really subscribe to to calling people bandwagon fans or anything like that. If this is an opportunity to make you a fan and to get you involved and get you interested, great. Then the next time around, you you know, you won't be a new fan. So uh I really just love all of these different um events that are going on that that that really get people engaged because I believe sports um is is really one of the best things that you can experience in this life.
SPEAKER_01No question. No question. And listen, I I like soccer. I played growing up, uh, and but I can't pretend, Marcus, I don't stay as locked into it year-round. My son plays American football opposed to global football, but I get pretty amped up when the World Cup comes around. It's fun to tune into. And like you said, whether people are kind of rejuvenized by it or whether they're they're becoming soccer global football fans for the first time, I think it's good for the sport. Uh, it's certainly been fun to be the host country. I wish USA could have held on a little longer to uh make an even more magical run playing here in front of the fans in the States. What are your thoughts as they get knocked out by Belgium? A great, a great side, obviously, Belgium, but you know, they end up kind of running away with it four to one. What are your thoughts? You've got a lot of analysts saying, hey, US was respectable. They felt like they were in every match until that one. It was unfortunate they didn't play their best in the final match that they played. Um, and then you've got other people that say, hey, we've been to the round of 16 a few times. In 2002, the Tim Howard and Landon Donovan led squad, you know, went beyond that. And that's the furthest we've gone. But uh there was a lot of hope, a lot of passion for this team. And some people are saying, hey, it wasn't enough. It got caught short. What says Marcus Ginyard? Was it a magical run or do we need to do better?
SPEAKER_00You know, Carter, first let me just say I I too do not follow uh the global sport of football that closely. Actually, just got my second football kit ever uh just a couple of months ago. Shout out to Pablo Vega, who got me in an arsenal kit for the uh the Champions League final a couple a couple months ago. But um, you know, I I've seen the same, Carter. I've seen it, you know, magical run, not enough. I mean, at the end of the day, I I think it was a great showing. Um it looked like we ran out of gas there in that last game against Belgium, but you know, I I felt proud of their performance up until that point. Um, I think when you want to be a name on the on the global stage that people talk about as a contender, you're gonna have to perform at a higher and higher level, right? As you're trying to literally raise that bar. Um so if you do want to be thought of as a world power in that way, um I maybe it's not enough. But at the same time, I I think the energy, um, the momentum, and and just seeing everybody kind of come together around USA soccer was something that was very, you know, noteworthy, and and I think they should be proud of that. So kind of depending on which angle you're taking, you know, that that will decide whether you feel like it was enough or not. But you know, not many people are gonna remember the last 16 teams, right? A lot of people don't even remember the loser. So depends on what you want to be remembered for, right? Um, having a good run and getting everybody all fired up, or do you want to be remembered as a winner? So just depends on which way you want to look at it.
SPEAKER_01You saw it when you were over in in France. What are what are uh some of your your best memories of global football? I'm sure you went to some matches while you were abroad.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, man, uh it's it's it's crazy to think about how many people fill into these stadiums. I mean, on a weekly basis and are going absolutely nuts, you know, and and it's crazy to grow up here in the States and to and to have very little sight into it. Obviously, as you get um, you know, as time has gone on and the globalization of all things and you know being able to stream games, we we've seen a lot more of it. But you know, when I was growing up, I I didn't know that there was a hundred thousand people filing in the stadiums to to watch soccer, you know, every week in Europe. And um and you just can't replicate the the passion that they have around sports in general, but but certainly uh around football in Europe. And so it was very fortunate to see some some great games. Didn't get you know to go to the the Barcelonas or the or the Bayern Munichs uh of the world, but um saw a couple of lower-level games that were still really exciting.
SPEAKER_01How do you how do you compare games you went to? You talk about those crowds and trying to describe it, hundreds of thousands of people, or at least a hundred thousand people, right, pouring into a stadium seemingly never empty, every seat is full, every moment is filled with a song or a chant, and you can just feel the passion oozing. How do you compare that to, let's say, you know, you're growing up in Northern Virginia, Washington versus Dallas Cowboys game, or in college playing and being a part of a Carolina Duke game in Cameron or in the Smith Center. How do you compare the passion of those to the global football scene in those games?
SPEAKER_00There's no comparison. In my personal opinion, there's no comparison. In you know, in the US, we are we're cheering when there's moments, right? Yep. When we score or even when we get scored on and you're trying to pick your team up, we're cheering in moments. And then there's like there's ups and downs. Man, where you're out there in Europe at these games, I mean, they are cheering nonstop all game long, chants to your point. Everybody knows them from the eight-year-old to the eighty-year-old. They know all the songs, all the chants, they're all in unison. I mean, they're on their feet the entire time. Um, to me, it's just a whole nother level of engagement um and of enthusiasm. Don't get me wrong, Cowboys game or whatever the case may be is gonna be great. It's gonna be fun. You're gonna have the tailgate and then all the things, but in the stadium during the game, from start to finish, I just don't think there's any comparison.
SPEAKER_01Another thing that's been happening on the global sports team market since we last connected, of course, is Wimbledon. And as late June ended and early July has turned now. That tournament is well underway. We're into the semifinals. You and I both enjoy following Coco Goff. She has advanced Marcus as far as she ever has and plays later this morning in her semifinal match, which is exciting. She, of course, won in 2023 the U.S. Open as a young star and really broke through as a Grand Slam champion, put another notch on her belt last year, winning the French. She looks Marcus to win the third of four career Grand Slams and has two more matches to do it. That next stride in her journey at Wimbledon this year is this morning.
SPEAKER_00Man, Wimbledon is such an incredible sporting event. And it's wild to me to think that I haven't really seen much of it because I've been so focused on the World Cup. And so it's crazy to have two, you know, major events happening simultaneously and hard to keep keep my attention focused in one spot there. But but certainly um excited to see Coco and the rest of the field continue to battle for that championship, that Grand Slam championship, as you mentioned. Um just another premier event. I love tennis, not a great tennis player myself, Carter, but uh do love getting out there. Um have never played on grass either, which uh I think is always really cool to think about this tournament and all the different surfaces, but um obviously a special tournament. And uh, yeah, like I said, man, look forward to seeing uh who's gonna hoist that trophy up at the end.
SPEAKER_01So, Marcus, another thing that's been going on since we last spoke, of course, is the NBA draft. It's spilled right into summer league. Let's take a glimpse back into the draft. That takes us nicely right into our bucket section. Our boy Caleb Wilson from the University of North Carolina went four to Chicago. There was another University of North Carolina great that went early in the draft three, I believe, in 1984 to Chicago. No pressure on Caleb. No one should be put up against the pressure of a Michael Jordan, but man, Caleb looks confident. He looks proud to be drafted for. His sentiments seem to be like, you were crazy not to take me one, two, three. But it comes off in an endearing way, certainly in a confident way. Marcus, what are your thoughts post-draft? What are your thoughts on Caleb?
SPEAKER_00Well, I mean, you said that we shouldn't put that much pressure on him, you know, in that same conversation as Michael Jordan, but it's interesting because Caleb brought that up himself. You know, he did not shy away from that comparison at all. You know, he mentioned, hey, there's an interesting connection here between Chapel Hill and Chicago. He wants to go down as one of the greats. And so, um, and to your point, in a way that that doesn't feel overconfident at all, but um, you know, someone who clearly believes in himself, uh, believes in the work that he's put in, believes in um, you know, his talents, which, you know, I believe in him too. I mean, I got to watch him firsthand, and he's an incredible player, um, an incredible person. And so really excited, not that I have any connection with Chicago, but really excited about um, you know, the type of player that that organization is going to get. And I know that his future is going to be bright. So really looking forward to seeing him blossom there. Uh, I know he's gonna be a great player. So that's great. Um, you know, the rest of the draft for me is, you know, I try not to take um, you know, put too much weight on it because there's so many stories about people who were drafted high that didn't turn out, or people who got drafted low that became all-stars, and people who weren't drafted that, you know, became great players. And so it's interesting to kind of go down the line and see where people ended up almost just like, I don't know, like you're going through your bracket, right? Like this is who you picked, and let's see if you were right. But at the end of the day, who knows how it's all gonna shake out, right? You got injuries that could happen, you got off-the-court stuff that can happen. A lot of things affect, you know, people's careers. And so the draft isn't necessarily something that's gonna be what shows you how what these players are gonna be like in the future. So, not too much weight on it, nothing too surprising. I mean, there's a handful of folks that I thought might have gone earlier, but you know, at the end of the day, uh watching Summer League and then you know, watching these next couple years to see how these young players um you know start to step into their their new career and the new chapter uh as a pro is really what's what I'm gonna be watching. All right, Carter. Now as we transition from Buckets to Birdies, the famous game here, Nets and Jackets. We're gonna make a little bit of a twist here given you know the the changing landscape of all the events happening right now. So now what we're gonna do is um the Nets portion of this is gonna be the number one draft pick in the NBA in any given year. And the jackets is going to be the winner of the Open, otherwise known as the British Open for folks that aren't golf nerds like myself out there. So, number one draft pick in the NBA and the Open Championship. Your year is 1999.
SPEAKER_011999. I think 98 is one of the trickiest draft years ever, because I think it was Michael Olacandy, which is crazy for the the Clippers, which was not a great pick in hindsight. So I don't want to get tripped up by that. I think 99 was Elton Brand of Duke, probably also to the Clippers, if I remember right. And I think 99 is it is it Ernie Ells?
SPEAKER_00Hey man, I think that's pretty respectable. Correct Elton Brand to the Clippers, 1999. Um, and it's Paul Lowry. I hope I'm saying his name right. Paul Lowry, 1999 Open Championship winner.
SPEAKER_01I would not have gotten that one. I was I, you know, you're in the Tiger Phil VJ era. Um, but I I just for some reason I knew 99 was not one of those guys. I thought it might have been Ernie Ells, the the big easy, but Paul Lowry, okay.
SPEAKER_00I learned something today. I love it. Well, tell us what we've been missing in the world of golf.
SPEAKER_01Yes, we talked about Marcus when we last spoke. It was championship week of the U.S. Open that was going on, and what a showdown it was at Shinnecock on Long Island. You had Wyndham Clark coming down, who led after round one, that goes on to win the championship, ends up one of the few wire-to-wire winners, right, in open championship history at the U.S. Open and takes down world number one Scotty Scheffler. And what a moment for him because Wyndham had sort of um gone from winning the US Open at LA a couple years ago at LACC. He had played some great golf as a top 10 player, and then over the last year or so was struggling to kind of find his way back into that top form. He won earlier this year, got the confidence back, similar to what he did in May of 23 when he won and then went on to win the U.S. Open. He did that this year, got his confidence, and man, it was great to see Wyndham hoist the trophy. He's got an incredible story, was very close with his mom, who he lost. His dad ended up being there on Sunday. I don't know if you saw that, Marcus, which was Father's Day. He didn't even know his dad was going to be there. So a special moment for him. Uh, and Scotty was really chasing the world number one, is probably trying to find his best form. But gosh, how good do you have to be when you're trying to find your form and you're seemingly still in the hunt every week. So kudos to an amazing U.S. Open. Scotty Settler was right there, and and Wyndham Clark ends up in a different conversation now, Marcus. He's not a one-hit wonder, he's a two-time major champion, and he'll forever be at least that, which is impressive.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, no, it's good to see him back up on that leaderboard and and hoisting another trophy. Um, I remember him, gosh, like a couple years ago, maybe winning that quail. Um so knew that he you know had it in him, um, a young player that's that's still got a lot of potential ahead of him. And so uh good to get that major championship underneath his belt, I'm sure. And uh I'm sure we'll be seeing his name uh a lot more moving forward. And tough, tough go for Scotty. Um always hurts to lose in those uh those tight matches like that. And and I know the the the travelers championship that that you'll talk about here shortly was another tough one for Scotty.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, no question. Scotty was coming down in the hunt again. He always keeps himself in the mix, which I think is part of his greatness, Marcus, right? He he never plays his way out on a Thursday or Friday, and then he seems to push the gas on Saturday and Sunday. And when he's playing extraordinarily well, you just can't catch him. But he's been hunting a little bit lately, opposed to having been the hunted. And uh he was doing that again at Travelers. And Victor Hovlin, your boy, who you picked, I believe, to win the U.S. Open. So you were only one week off. You you could feel Victor playing well, apparently. That was good. So Victor ends up winning, right, on a Monday after playoff. Scotty's right there again, heartbreaking for him because you know he can taste the wins, and he hasn't won since the American Express at the top of the calendar. And again, how good do you have to be to say he hasn't won since just earlier in the year? You know, winning is what you're accustomed to uh when you're as great as Scotty Scheffler, but what a tournament it was. We talked a lot about World Cup off the top of this episode, and there was a Norway match in the Boston area, not too far, about an hour 45 from TPC River Highlands, where the Travelers' Championship is played. And they made their way down to witness the final signature event of the year and to cheer on their Norwegian brethren and Victor Hovlin, and they turned out in droves, Marcus. I'm sure you saw on the broadcast, on social, on all sorts of outlets of the coverage, they brought that World Cup spirit, chanting and rowing and the whole vibe to the Travelers Championship, and it was fun. It was additive to the atmosphere. Victor was a good sport, the American fans were a good sport, and man, what an atmosphere that created. It was fun.
SPEAKER_00Man, I did see that, and that looked awesome. And I know we've got to be a little quieter out there on the golf course than we do at a football match, but uh would love to bring a little bit more of that energy out there. But but good to see that um, you know, again, sports bringing people together, literally from across the world. Um, glad that Victor had some uh some of his home folks there to cheer him all for that win.
SPEAKER_01Special stuff. He's in great form. I think a lot of people um love the idea of him continuing to play well as we go into the Scottish Open this week and the British Open or the Open Championship, as you said, Marcus, the following week. There was one more event before the guys went abroad. It was the John Deere Classic following travelers, and Chris Godderup, Marcus, wins his third time this year. What a win for Chris!
SPEAKER_00Man, another young guy that that we keep talking about more and more and more. Uh, I'm glad that you brought his name up to me several months ago. So now it's somebody that when I see, I'm like, all right, I know we've been talking about this young kid. I know he's got gas and gas in the tank here. Let's see what he's able to do out there. So excited to see um another young guy get out there and get a win.
SPEAKER_01That's right. That's right. As you look back a year, Chris won the Scottish Open last year, I believe. So this recent win at John Deere was his fifth. And in a calendar year, I saw something, Marcus. I believe in the last calendar year, there have been three players to win five or more times. And it's like Scotty 10, uh, Chris Godderup five, and Rory five. Um, and so what what company to be in if you're Chris Godder up? And we talked about Victor being one of the favorites as the guys head over to the UK for the Scottish Open this week. And without question, Chris Godderup is one of the favorites as well to defend.
SPEAKER_00Look forward to that. Should have some good competition out there.
SPEAKER_01That's right. Takes us right back into the Open Championship, the fourth of four majors in the golf scene this year. Marcus will go to Royal Burkdale next week. The last time the event was at Royal Burkdale, Jordan Spieth won in crazy fashion on a Sunday. Um, and he is playing well again, too. So interested to see Jordan go back to Royal Burkdale, interested to see Scotty and Rory maybe going head to head at another major. And then you've got Chris Goddard up and Victor Hovlin and Wyndham Clark and all these players we've been talking about playing well. It seems like a lot of town on the PGA tour is peaking at the right time, Marcus, and it'll be a fun major to watch again as we watch this one with coffee, uh, given given the time difference, which I always enjoy.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, I don't mind that at all, my friend.
SPEAKER_01And Marcus, if you don't mind, before we close this one out, I just want to dedicate this episode to a close friend uh and listener of the show who has unfortunately passed away, Jack Rooney. Jack was an athlete here in North Carolina. He swam at NC State. You heard me reference my friends before in a couple of stories we shared, that buddies that I had that swam at NC State, one of my dear friends and groomsmen at my wedding, Brian Crowder, uh, is how I met Jack. I met him in college. We stayed in touch through weddings, through fantasy football, through text every week. And uh unfortunately, Jack passed away this past week. But Jack was a listener of the Buckets and Birdies podcast. And it just to make the connection for you, Marcus, if you'll remember about a month or five weeks ago, you you sent a message to Pablo and me and said, Hey, I was moving through RDU and some guy shouted out to me, Buckets and Birdies. And uh about the same time I received a text from Jack that said he saw you in the airport and shouted out Buckets and Birdies to you. And so I don't I don't know if you realize that, but to make the connection, that was Jack. He was always a guy that was uh you know making light of situations and brought humor into every possible situation in a good way. And uh just want to shout out uh Jack, he's an incredible soul and um you know thoughts with with his family and and and children in this time.
SPEAKER_00Yeah, and I definitely remember that. And um did see that news and um obviously terrible news and and condolences to his family. I know he leaves leaves behind a big family, so um, but but definitely appreciate Jack for his relationship with you. Um obviously sounds very special, and um appreciate him being a supporter of the pod, but um condolences to his family.
SPEAKER_01All right, that's all we have for today.
SPEAKER_00Thanks for tuning in to the Buckets and Birdies Podcast.
SPEAKER_01That's 23 minutes of our thoughts for you. For Marcus Guineard, I'm Carter Bills.
SPEAKER_00I'll be in top. Allez les Blue.
unknownLet's go.