Full Strength Podcast
4 guys and lifelong friends discus weekly sports news.
Full Strength Podcast
Episode 17 - Big Playoff Action
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Join the guys this week as they discuss the current NBA and NHL Playoffs and the top 5 best undrafted players of all time.
Hello, everybody. Welcome to another episode of the Full Strength Podcast. I'm Brandon Michael. We got a big week. We got round two NHL Stanley Cup final or Stanley Cup playoffs going. We've got NBA playoffs are now going into round two. We had the Kentucky Derby. We had the first leg of the Triple Crown happen this week. A little bit of baseball news and so on and so forth. So with that said, Steve, how was your week, man?
SPEAKER_04Week was rough. I got sick.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, allergies are absolutely killing me. That's why my nose probably looks red.
SPEAKER_04I got to watch the Carolina whoop on the Flyers for the first game of the second round. That was always nice to see. Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, right on, man. Yeah, we're gonna get into the Stanley Cup playoffs as we had the end of round one, which is awesome. So uh Brandon, what's up, man? How was your week?
SPEAKER_02The same way, been sick, and uh I've said this before, I'll say it again. If you're a parent and you send your kid to school sick, yeah, I can't stand you. Keep your sick kids at home.
SPEAKER_05Yeah, sick.
SPEAKER_02I hate getting sick all the time because parents send their kids to school sick.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's unfair.
SPEAKER_02I had a nice ride planned for Saturday that I ended up having to spend in a Nyquil coma instead.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. That sucks, man. Well, I'm glad you're feeling better, man. Nick, how was your week?
SPEAKER_03Weekend was good. It was my first weekend without my kids. Yay, divorce. Um, things went well though. Uh, kids got sick, and so now they're on the mend. Uh, been watching tons of sports. Awesome. Weather's been great here in Flagstaff, and uh ready for lucky number 17, episode 17.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, man. All right, with that said, we'll kind of get into it. Uh, let's let's talk about the uh the Kentucky Derby, man. Um, they were talking about the scratches, right? There was a whole bunch of scratches. We'll uh we'll talk about that. I'll give you exact reasons why they were scratched. Um the Kentucky Derby winner, Steve, go Golden Tempo.
SPEAKER_04It was actually a good race. It uh he came back from she came back. I'm sorry, she came back from being second to last and to win it by a crazy over a length. Crazy, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I I thought it was like four or five lengths, right? It was yeah, I mean I know it was at least more than a length. I like I was watching, you could watch, they had a great like video of it from like drone footage. The coverage was incredible, absolutely looked like a horrendous day, right? It was uh muddy spring. There is literally, you will not find anything positive I will say about spring ever. Mud, rain, sucks, sucks. Allergies sucks. Bipolar weather sucks. Spring sucks, but the Kentucky Derby was full of mud and rain. So it was uh an incredible comeback. Uh, Brandon, did you watch any of it?
SPEAKER_02Uh yeah, I watched the highlights of the race. It was awesome seeing that horse just suddenly just burst through everybody.
SPEAKER_01I the the replay of it, they have like a red arrow on it, and you're just watching her the horse just you know coming up. It was just absolutely, absolutely insane. It was great. Uh, second place was Renegade. Uh, third place was I don't even know how to say this, so I'm not gonna try, but it's O C E L L I. Fourth place was Chief Wallaby, and uh followed fifth place was Dan and Bourbon. What a name. Um, Nick, what'd you think from the race, man?
SPEAKER_03Uh I wish I would have put some money down on what is a 23 to 1 long shot. That would have been nice.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they uh it's excuse me. The payouts golden tempo paid 48.26, 22.30, and 1218, I guess. That's per dollar, I think. That you bet. Um, across the board, the 50 cent trifecta 19, 1 and 22 paid $5,625.39 per dollar.
SPEAKER_03That's that would have been a nice, it would have been a nice little second payday. Uh but I just couldn't I watched the replay.
SPEAKER_01What an amazing race. It was it was still cool. It's you know, what an awesome thing. I know um it's Ashley's like it's on our sports bucket list, right? Um, which which is cool. And it it's I know it's a big event. Even if you're not a horse fan, the Kentucky Derby is like you know the Super Bowl of horse racing. You know what I mean? People would think, well, why isn't it the Belmont Stakes? You know, that's the end. It's like, nah, man, the Kentucky Derby, it it's it's uh it's just a huge event. You have what the hats, the ladies wear the nice hats and the beautiful dresses, men are in like Sunday best, right? And it's it just looks like a julips. So yeah. Um, okay, the scratches, real quick, we'll we'll get into the scratches before the 2026 Kentucky Derby. I looked these up. Um, people are always confused, like, man, scratch before the race. You always think it's maybe whatever. But it was mostly medical, I think. It was great white, it was a late scratch. This is kind of crazy. Flipped backwards and threw jockey Alex a chard, leading to a precautionary scratch by vets shortly before the race. Like, that's wild. Like, I'm sitting here thinking, like, flipped backwards. I'm like, what? So I like to see a video on that.
SPEAKER_04They were probably worried about the other horses in case it wasn't temperamental enough.
SPEAKER_01Well, who knows? But it just an injury, nobody knows why it happened. Uh, the puma scratched on Saturday morning before the race due to leg swelling. Uh, right to party was scratched on Friday after concerns regarding his front right leg. Based on the uh name, I would say right to party, just wanted to go party. Um, full effort was scratched on Thursday after a bone chip was discovered in his right hind leg. And silent tactic was scratched early on Wednesday due to a bruised foot. So it's all medical that they get scratched. I mean, that's as an owner and a jockey of those of those riots, it's that's gotta be that's gotta be a gut punch, right?
SPEAKER_04Oh, absolutely. They said thousands, hundreds of thousands of dollars on these horses.
SPEAKER_01It's such big money, it's absolutely insane. You know what I mean? Like so, anyway, um, big deal.
SPEAKER_03Uh Brandon, go ahead, Nick. I was gonna say Puma was the top contender, wasn't it? Before it got scratched.
SPEAKER_01I have no idea. I do not know, but uh it yeah. So it says, you know, most of them are just usually due to injuries, physical issues, and last-minute pre-race incidents. So that's usually why horses get scratched before these big races. So uh Brandon the stuffed trainer wanted to touch on some wrestling news. So, Brandon, go ahead and uh take that away, buddy.
SPEAKER_02All right, I had a couple of major stories over the past week. First was uh the new day, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods suddenly leaving WWE over a contract dispute. They're trying to restructure their contracts under TKO now, and they weren't happy with that, so they're gone and they've been with the company for like 15 years now. Been like a cornerstone of the cornerstone of the show. So that's a big departure.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. Okay.
SPEAKER_02And then another more sad news. It's hard for me not to tear up when I talk about this. Uh, a W-star rebel, she's been off TV since 2022 dealing with uh cancer. Recently made it publicly known that she is just recently being diagnosed with ALS.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah, that's a rough go, huh?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so send it all her way.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. Yeah, absolutely, man. That's uh that's yeah, that's a rough go of it when something like that happens to you. Wow. Wow.
SPEAKER_02Yeah, so that's one of the major things in the wrestling world.
SPEAKER_01Gotcha. All right. Well, thank you for reporting on it. We appreciate it. If you have any comments, leave it down below. Um and yeah. All right, uh next we got the NBA. The NBA is uh moving into the second round. Um, I the NBA is a trip, man. I these some of these teams, they just I was watching again, I keep turning this stuff on and trying to watch it and be like, it's gonna be more exciting in the playoffs. And it's just again, it's just I the defense is just embarrassing. And it's again, it's like you got these teams shooting 40 plus three pointers a night and they're making like 12. It's like, hey, maybe don't do that. Maybe it's like it just depends night to night, whoever's gonna win, and it's just whoever can shoot the three. It's there's no other, there's no other route to victory. It's it's it's pretty just I just don't see it. I I don't get it. Um, I will say Webin Yama, who uh is just huge kid uh for the San Antonio Spurs in the last round. I forgot to bring this up, but man, he did an absolute face plant. Like I'm talking no hands, boys, no hands going into the hardwood and just and was out for a few games, but was able to make a full recovery. So he is back, but uh that didn't look like that's that's pleasant. No, I mean it's hard enough. It's like hitting concrete, it's like Jesus. So, and I'm talking, I mean, no joke, he did not no hands or nothing, guys. I mean, face planted. It's like ooh, so that probably didn't hurt. Um OKC will rolled through. They, I think, you know, they're defending champs, they got to be the favorite again. It's uh the Lakers moved on to the second round. Uh, you've got Minnesota, the number six, beating the number three, Denver Nuggets in six. They will face San Antonio, who didn't have any issues with Portland as they uh they rolled right through in five. Um, so in the West, you've got OKC and the Lakers. Obviously, OKC is gonna breeze through that one because they have more three-point shooters. Um, San Antonio Spurs, number two against the number six. I Minnesota could could push that one. So I'm gonna take, but I'm still gonna take San Antonio and I don't know, I would assume that. You know what I mean? And then we had Detroit, who barely got by Orlando. I watched Detroit a bunch during the regular season, and I'm telling you straight up their wins and losses just depend on how they're gonna shoot the three. I watched them get rolled by the Washington Bullets, who are terrible, and just rolled them out of the building, and all they kept doing was shooting threes. Brick, brick, brick, brick, brick. That's all they did. It's like try something else, it doesn't work. So anyway, uh Cleveland beat Toronto in seven, uh, New York beat Atlanta in six, and Philadelphia number seven beat number two Boston in uh seven. And like Steve pointed out pre-show, it was they they were uh like Boston was up three games to one and just lost three straight. It's what a comeback by Philadelphia, but you know, they've uh Philadelphia sports fans got to be sitting on high. You know what I mean? They've got Philadelphia coming back to be Boston, they're in the second round. You got the Flyers and the NHL. So any comments, Steve, on uh NBA and what you think?
SPEAKER_04Um, no, it was the Celtics. Um, that's the first time they've ever lost blown from that ramp in franchise history. Brutal, brutal. Wow, yeah, brutal. That's that's gotta be rough for them to be up uh one game away from taking it and then losing all the rest of it.
SPEAKER_01And the Bruins just got rolled by the Sabres. It's like Philadelphia's up here, and Boston's like, F this, let's get drunk. You know that's what they're doing. So, but uh yeah, I it's Jesus, man. It's like this the Bruins, you know, they won a couple games, but God, they got rolled in that series, they just got dominated. And then the Boston sports fans are like, that's all right, man. We got the South, we're up, let's go. And then, like, okay, they lost one. It's 3-2, we're still up, and it's like, oh man, the Flyers are coming in swinging today. Coming back to Boston, baby. Let's go, let's go. Fuck. Brandon, did you uh what do you think, buddy?
SPEAKER_02Well, first, remember when there used to be this area on the court called the paint that you tried to get the ball to and score from? Yeah, that doesn't exist in this. But yeah, my picks to be in the finals are still there. I picked it to be Oklahoma and uh the Knicks at the end.
SPEAKER_01Oh, I like yeah, I like it. They were close last year. You know, it's this is getting harder and harder to watch. Nick, what do you think, buddy?
SPEAKER_03Don't really like basketball, but uh, I am laughing about the spreads on all these conference games that we uh conference semifinal games. The Lakers are about to get rolled on. I mean, their spreads at 15, 15 and a half uh right now against the Thunder.
SPEAKER_01I was just talking about this though. Uh it the NBA, oh boy, some of those spreads don't always mean anything. It's uh they should say like uh the spread depends on who shoots the three better, because that's all we're gonna do. And we're gonna do it from like 33 feet because I don't know why.
SPEAKER_03Oh idea. So sad to see the Suns bounce after four games, but yeah, sports are sports.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I know. It's just uh yeah, basketball. Again, we've talked about this. Basketball's broken, man. I don't, yeah. I I just don't, I don't, I don't get it. I don't so anyway. That's uh moving on. We got uh let's move into baseball now. Baseball has gone through its first month. Uh love where the season's going right now. I do have good news. There was a big scare yesterday. I Ronald Okuna Jr. for the Atlanta Braves is one of the most electric players. If you go to a if you have a chance to go to a ball game and he's playing in it, it's it's always a good time. I watched him uh we were we were on like a campy road trip. We were going all the way up through Wisconsin, back down through Illinois and Indiana, and we we stopped at this place. It was really cool campground, but anyway, it we we're only like 45 minutes from Cincy, and so I'm like, let's take you know, let's go, let's go knock off a ballpark. So we went to Great American Ballpark, and they happened to be playing the Braves. Man, I watched Akuna Jr. hit a ball, it was a line drive that went 420 feet, it went off the batter's eye in dead center, and you could hear it. It hit so hard, dude. The kid is awesome. But anyway, he's had just a string of brutal season-ending injuries. He tore his right ACL, then he tore his left ACL. So he went down the other day and was like, looked to be in a lot of pain. But MRI revealed that it is a grade one hamstring uh injury. So they're they just put him on the 10-day IL. So that's great news out of Atlanta. Um, and then other news, we've just uh the season's going well. I I'm honestly wondering could the Pirates be pulling themselves out of the funk that they've been in? It you look at it and they're like, oh, they're in last place at 19 and 16. That looks like a pretty strong division so far. The NL Central is what I thought I was really surprised with this year. They look strong, but I think we've seen this before with the NL Central, and then all these teams just end up not being so great. But Nick, your cubbies, buddy, are 22 and 12. They look really good. Atlanta's best team in baseball, but it's yeah, man, that they look good, dude. Um, and over in the AL, you've got the Yankees atop the AL East. Um, the AL Central looks just terrible. Um, Cleveland's in front right now at 18 and 17, tied with Detroit with the same record, and then the ALS also looks a little rough, but it's again that's the first month of baseball. I love that the A's are in first place. The Sacramento slash Las Vegas Athletics. I'm I'm loving it. Loving the way the stadium's going down there in Vegas. Um, Steve, what are you thinking, buddy? Uh about baseball.
SPEAKER_04It's still early. I don't think there's a lot, you know. Obviously, there's the are you looking forward to getting the big dog in a game? Oh, yes, we'll get to that. Um, you know, you got the Dodgers and the Yankees are always on the top. I'm actually pleasantly surprised to see Atlanta doing so well. Because they're not one of those teams that usually spend a lot of money.
SPEAKER_01But they've got the team, they they're not that far removed from winning it uh a title, but no, but they don't buy their team. That's what I like about them. Yeah, they you're right. Uh, it's always great to see teams that that do that. It can be done. Look at the Giants, right? 10, 12, 14, back in 16, 19. It's like that team was built with draft picks, and that's what Atlanta's done a really, really good job at. Yeah.
SPEAKER_04I just like to see that, you know, not to see that I don't like seeing like the Dodgers and the Yankees always on the top.
SPEAKER_01But here's the thing I know the Dodgers won too, but it's like really they've lost more than they've won when it comes to in the playoffs. So it's like, and the Yankees haven't done squat. So it's I know, I know it's like I a lot of people don't like that the baseball doesn't have a salary cap, this, that, and the other. But it's like it those teams don't always win. It's not a guarantee. Like, there are teams like when the Rangers won, I think their payroll was like 17th or something.
SPEAKER_04Oh, I totally agree. I just like seeing the well, my point is I just like seeing those teams that like the Atlanta, who you know, yeah, they're not known for going out and you know, signing a person that did really well the previous season and sign them to a huge contract just to bring them over, like the Dodgers and the Yankees do.
SPEAKER_01Sure. I got yeah, that makes sense. I get that. I get that. Nick, what do you think of the Cubs? How they how you liking their play?
SPEAKER_03The Cubs are doing great. Um, we have so many pitchers on the IR right now, though. I oh, okay. Like nine of our pitchers in our rotation.
SPEAKER_01I did, I was gonna ask you about that. No, I'm super happy. Here's the thing, though, man, is they're getting they're calling guys up, and those guys are doing a good job. That's the thing. That shows that they're drafting well, don't you think?
SPEAKER_03For sure. Uh that they we have pieces in place for where we're not developing holes that are ruining our our drive right now. I mean, like I said, we are on a five-game win streak, we're seven and three over the last 10 games. Um super stoked. The only team that's on a better heater right now, really, is the Tampa Bay uh who am I thinking of? Uh Tampa Bay Rays. They're they're nine and one in the last 10. But yeah. Uh yeah, super stoked. I love baseball.
SPEAKER_01Well, I mean, Atlanta is right now power rankings, everybody's power rankings, Atlanta's Atlanta's number one. I mean, they're they're just they're a wagon right now, man. They had a really, really good month. And uh, you know, that's why I was like, God, of course, like God, let a kuna go down. That poor, that poor kid just wants to play. And it's like he's so fun to watch. But you hate seeing any player get riddled with injuries. I mean, the Cubs, hopefully that's not a trend in Chicago. You know what I mean? Like, it'd be a really long summer in dog days if if your if your team just gets hit riddled with injuries. We see it in every sport, right? We saw it in hockey, the Florida Panthers. We saw it at the 49ers, right? In the divisional round, they had like seven practice squad guys. It was terrible. So it's like you hate to see good teams or or teams, any team get riddled with injuries, and that's why they're struggling. So it's like hopefully that's just uh you know, early thing with the Cubs, and hopefully they get a lot of those guys back.
SPEAKER_04So, but uh Brandon starting rotation awful hurts awful a lot uh when it comes to baseball, though. One or two of them can really mess up your next couple weeks.
SPEAKER_01Oh, it can uh screw you completely. It's like you lose if you lose your top two rotation guys, you're done. It's like that's your season, honestly. I mean, yeah, absolutely right. A good pitching rotation is what has carried so many dynasties. It's like look at the Braves in the you know 90s and in the early 2000s. God or the 11 and uh yeah, Baltimore back a long time ago. I can't think of the decade, but Baltimore had an absolute ridiculous rotation when they had their dynasty in the 60s, maybe, but it Overall, the Yankees, like you somebody just said, it's like the Giants when they were good. It's like you look at that, and it's like those rotations can carry teams. Actually, the Giants are a great example because that team in 10 was not an offensive team, neither was 14. So it's like you look at those squads, it's like they their pitching is what and defense what's gets you there. It's just like any other sport. Obviously, you want to have bats because it makes things a lot easier. Yeah. Well, excuse me. Um, Brandon, what do you what do you think, bud?
SPEAKER_02Uh for me, the NL is pretty much shaken out the way I thought it would with who's on top. Nothing really surprising there for me. AL, like I said, mentioned earlier, wasn't expecting the athletics to be on top at any point this year.
SPEAKER_01I mean, they listen, I know they're rebuilding, but I they are, but they're doing a good job. I and they've they've re-signed some of their talent, they're not letting it go, they're hanging on to certain guys. It's like I I'm gonna tell you what, man. They got out of one of the most toxic situations in major league baseball history, and I know the fans will play victim here. Three teams in five years. Sorry guys, it's not that's not an ownership problem. You know what I mean? It's like people say that they worked with Fisher, and it's like, no, they didn't. Just stop. So it it's like they're out of that toxic situation, they're in Sacramento, which I love the ball games there. It's it's absolutely fantastic at Sutter Health Park. You got it's like spring training year-round. You get grass seats, whatever, but it they're setting up to have a winner by the time they get to Vegas, Brandon. Yeah, when does that stadium open? Do you know 28, right, Brandon? Yeah, still a couple of years.
SPEAKER_04So a couple years out. Okay.
SPEAKER_02I get updates.
SPEAKER_04I know the Oakland stadium was so bad that they had to I mean, there was like, wasn't there like a sewage problem? And oh, dude, that was just yeah, they yeah.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, yeah. There was multiple problems with that ballpark. Um, they'll blame it on you know, Al Davis when the Raiders came back. And I honestly, uh yeah, it I'm sure he could take some of the Mount Davis, it did, it ruined that ballpark's like uh eye appeal, you know what I mean? Like, you used to be able to look out at the at the mountains, the Oakland Hills, and it was a great view. You look at pictures from like the 80s, it was great. So, Mount Davis, it really did. It it they just wanted the Raiders back in Oakland at the time, and so I think they just agreed to anything to get them back. But it Fisher tried for a long time. It was like the Howard terminal deal. They were like, Well, yeah, we'll give you this much money and you build this, but then we also want you to build all this other stuff. It was like nine billion dollars, and it's like they also wanted to own it, they the Fishers weren't gonna own the stadium that they paid for it and they built, right?
SPEAKER_00It's absurd, and it's like fans get all up and on, oh yeah, my tax dollars are not gonna go to this at all, and that pisses me off. Well, guess what, dum dum?
SPEAKER_01Here's the deal. If you want, if you expect the owners who aren't gonna own the stadium to pay for it, then go ahead and tell the city, state, or county officials to sell them the land, and they will. They will build it on their own. They will. How many owners? I'm gonna ask you guys, because this is always a good one. How many owners in the NNFL own their stadium? I know the exact number. I have no idea how many. I know it's not very many. Nick? Two Brandon?
SPEAKER_02I think it's just a few.
SPEAKER_01Three.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Three owners own their stadium. The Cowboys and who else? Um, I don't I don't remember the other two teams, but yes, the the Cowboys is one. Here's the thing Cities, states, and counties don't want they want to own these stadiums because then they can use them for whatever they want in the offseason. Because the NFL, these teams only use those stadiums eight eight times a year or with playoffs, maybe if you include preseason, maybe 12 days. Okay. If the NFL, if I'm an owner and I own that stadium, I'm not putting concerts in there, I'm not putting anything in there. That is my team's stadium, and that's it. Okay. I don't care about the other revenue. I don't want people in the stadium. The city and county wants it because again, they make money off of it and revenue. And then on top of that, they charge the teams 25, 30, 35, 40 million dollars a year to be the main tenant in that stadium. So they have a lease agreement. So it's like, yeah, I always ask people, like, okay, so the house um that you own, let's say that you don't own it, but you're required to pay for it to be built, and then on top of after you pay for it to be built, you also have to pay rent. Yeah, but you get no ownership rights to that house. You have to get approval to change anything you want. That's cool with you, right? Makes me.
SPEAKER_00I always get that's not the same thing, god darn it. That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying my tax dollars do not go to these stadiums for rich billionaires.
SPEAKER_01It's like, shut up, dude. You don't you sound like an idiot. You're a clown. Like, no. If if they don't own the stadiums, then no, they shouldn't pay for them. The city and state should pay for them. It's not a billionaire's playground and a billionaire's this, and I don't like people that make lots of money. Then don't go. Then don't go to the games, don't support it. But whether you like it or not, the city sees that as a value, and the tax dollars that you don't even know is missing from your check. Taxes go to whatever the city, state, and county you know want to put it towards. So it's like there's literally no sense in being upset about it. Be upset with the city, state, or county that didn't sell them the land and let them build their own stadium. So I love it. I love that they're going to Oakland to Vegas, and uh Fisher is paying for the majority of that stadium to be built. He did get help though. How much did he get, Brandon?
SPEAKER_02Well, I don't know.
SPEAKER_01I've had those like four or five hundred million or something like that.
SPEAKER_02Well, definitely somewhere around that.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, he's paying the rest. Look at Vegas, man. That's crazy. With five years ago, they didn't even have any pro teams. I know, right? And now they're gonna have three. Yeah, now they have a ton, so it's like, yeah. Almost every major sport. Do they have uh soccer yet?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, they got soccer, FC lights. Yeah, you go.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, it's cool. So they're just gonna need a basketball team and they'll be all set.
SPEAKER_02No, we don't need a basketball team, we're fine.
SPEAKER_01A lot of people don't want a basketball team.
SPEAKER_02They recently did a proposal for a basketball arena that would make it look like a diamond.
SPEAKER_01Isn't that in the old uh the water park where the old water park was? That property, isn't that one of the ones they're looking at? What's the Sahara now? It's not the Sahara anymore, right?
SPEAKER_02So the Sahara's still there, and then it's that is uh Fontaine Bleu.
SPEAKER_01I remember they read they finally finished the Fontaine Bleu.
SPEAKER_02Yeah.
SPEAKER_01So but yeah, that's baseball. I mean, it's I I I love the A's are doing well. I can't wait to see them in Vegas. I'm excited for them to get into a location that is got a great new ballpark. It looks like it's gonna be amazing. I still I'll say it again, I like the look of it. I don't know if you guys, Nick, Steve, it looks like the old opera house in uh Sydney, Australia.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, you said that. Uh it just fits the motif of that whole like global intersection.
SPEAKER_04Yeah, yeah, we talked about that before. That's right, with the new York and the Paris. Yeah, yeah.
SPEAKER_01I I think it's cool. I'm excited for it.
SPEAKER_04So I like how Vegas does that, though. They kind of bring things from around the world into one city.
SPEAKER_01Yeah. A lot of negative galies. We should put this on TikTok and see what happens. Cut a clip, Brandon. Cut a clip. Um anyway, so moving on. Um let's get into it, boys. Uh, it's it's round two. Here we go. Um, what a great ending to uh the first round the other night. I Tampa Bay and Montreal. Montreal had nine shots on goal in game seven. Nine. Dude. Nine. I it's 29 to nine. It it's uh it was the first in franchise history for the Montreal Canadians to not have any shots on goal in an entire period. The second period, they had no shots on goal. They still won. And they won. Let me just say the two tips in this game. I I believe it was uh so Nick Suzuki obviously he tips the puck, it goes, hits the ice, skips like a rock into a Tampa Bay player's right leg and goes right into the net past Vasileski. That's how they scored their first goal. I'm just like they definitely used up all their luck in that game. And then the tipped goal for Tampa. Did anybody see this one? This was one of the most impressive tips I've ever seen. I wish we could bring the clip up. If it was live, we would. But dude, I'm gonna tell you right now. Let me find it was tipped. I thought it was uh Dominic James, I believe. Anyway, tipped it right in mid-air. It was incredible. What a goal. So it's uh it just what what a you know, what a what a what a game. What a game it was. I great job by Montreal defensively. They got in shooting lanes, and they're that the 10 he's just standing on his head. It's like incredible. So it's now like now we've got all of our matchups set. Um yeah, we're I know we're finally there, right? It's like I've I've already uh I've got my picks in. I'm gonna go right now. Let's go Colorado, Minnesota. I have got again Colorado winning this series. I I'm gonna say six. The first game all the way to six on that. The first game was insane. Nine to six. Can we also talk about game one of that series?
SPEAKER_03Dude, it was so much fun to watch.
SPEAKER_01Nine too much.
SPEAKER_03Everybody was scoring.
SPEAKER_01Absolutely just insane. And nobody had a hatty for Colorado. Nine goals, no hat tricks. Insane. I'm still going Colorado. I Minnesota's gonna win a game or two in this series, maybe. I I think they're going to. I just don't know. I'm gonna say six though, because I believe Minnesota's a great hockey team. I really do. Steve, who you got? Same thing, it'd be Colorado.
SPEAKER_04I would have been staying closer to five, but it could be six is probably the most likely of it. Um okay, but Colorado and six.
SPEAKER_01Let's just say also, uh, real quick, since I I've got Steve here in a conversation, it's like, uh, how do you feel about the Boston Bruins right now? I mean, I after watching all those games, yeah. Hey, they still had a chance. I just gave you such a hard time about that pick, dude. I was like, for those of you listening, I every night of one of those games, I was like, dude, I was like, the Bruins aren't even trying. Like, they're I know they didn't do very well. I mean, the how but they won two games. I mean, but they got beat. Jeremy Swayman, hats off to him. He kept that team. It was Jeremy Swayman, is why those games were close and just played absolutely great. Otherwise, Buffalo literally just I mean, they they dominated throughout the ice every period that they were on the ice, Buffalo dominated, even in games that they lost, but again, they got beat by the goaltender. So, anyway, uh, it it just great first round. Any other reaction, Steve, from the first round? Anything you liked?
SPEAKER_04Uh, I mean, it was I'm I was a little surprised that they started the second round before the first round ended.
SPEAKER_01Um, that's just that's scheduling.
SPEAKER_04But uh beyond that, I mean it was it was it was a fun first round. It was yeah, as the hockey always is, it's just it was just action-packed everywhere you looked. It was, I mean, probably you should look it up. I think it was the most overtimes. Oh, I don't I don't know.
SPEAKER_01I didn't get that. I didn't, but but it's yeah, it there was a lot of good hockey. I mean, it was I one thing that I was gonna say too for the from the first round was that I Connor McDavid man is dealing with something. Would you watch him when he would get off the ice and it was like it took he would have to push his body weight to get himself onto the bench? Whatever that kid's dealing with, it's like I I remember a couple years ago when Edmonton got eliminated because Leon Dreisidel couldn't even move, he couldn't pivot, he was just out there to be out there with his boys, and it was like I think Connor McDavid, when it comes right down to it, he's I guarantee he's already had surgery. He's dealing with something, and it's like you just gotta get these guys are different, man. They're built different, right? It's just hockey, you're just expected to go. Just get me, get me right, get me to where I can, I can do something. You know what I mean? And it's like you gotta respect hockey players in the sense that like when Leon Dry Sidd was hurt a couple years ago. I remember this players weren't taking runs at him, you know what I mean? Like players like guys know, like, oh, he's not being super effective, like something's really wrong. The other team isn't gonna go out and just level, level him, right? Like, there's a uh just a respect that you can see when they're out there with each other. Like, guys would go easier on Dry Siddle if he'd even tried to go into the corners because they know he's I'm not gonna hit this guy, right? I'm not you know, I'm not gonna take advantage of of a weak person. Go ahead, Nick. What were you gonna say?
SPEAKER_03No, I just I think it's a great show of sportsmanship and the true, you know, the true love of the game. Those guys know that he's still dangerous on the ice at half speed, like talking about dry title, um, or Connor McDavid. Still dangerous, like so. There's still a little respect there that they, you know, yeah, they're gonna play defense, but they're not trying to they're not trying to end his career, which I think is just goes to show like the quality people that are playing, you know, in in hockey, period.
SPEAKER_01Because they understand how tough that kid is and what he's dealing with is serious. It was obviously a knee. I believe Dry said on a torn ACL and he's out there playing. Joe Thornton from San Jose. I remember when he had a torn ACL and MCL and still went out and played in the playoffs. I like it again. I know how you can do that, but it's tough. Every time you pivot, it's like extrusiating pain, and you can't do much. I played through uh played with a torn MCL, and it was like, and it wasn't even fully, it was like ended up being like 70. I remember I couldn't even you can't do anything, and it was like, and that wasn't even getting paid to play. It's like, all right, what are we doing here? So anyway, but it just shows you what they are and what the fabric is. Like, I get again, McDavid hats off. I know Edmonton had a rough year, and kudos to Anaheim, you know, for you know, for recognizing that and burying them. I mean, it's like um, you got uh Dallas. I just I don't think they played terribly, I think Minnesota was just the better team. Yeah, and then again, um what else was it? Um, the Philadelphia Pittsburgh series was everything I thought it was gonna be, and more. What what a just those two teams are always classic when they go up against each other, they just hate each other so much. I think it was Crosby years ago that said, you know, why don't you like I just don't like them? I just don't like him. A young Sidney Crosby, it was freaking awesome. When I went to game five real quick, up on the Jumbotron in the third, it literally said the whole I just don't like him. Something about Philadelphia, I just don't like him. That freaking arena went nuts. I think that was the highest my decibel meter got that night, actually. If I look at the recording of it, excuse me, guys, sorry. Um anyway, and then um we covered Buffalo, but again, uh you know, we said in the first round or before the second first round started, we said Montreal and Tampa was also gonna be a great series. So uh Brandon, what are your things?
SPEAKER_02Well, going back to McDavid was announced that he in game two, he got a fracture in his foot. So that's what he was playing with.
SPEAKER_01Broken foot, yeah.
SPEAKER_03I it's there's no way to make that not hurt every step.
SPEAKER_01No, every step. Go ahead. I tell people all the time, and they're like, Oh, he just blocked a shot. Like, why is he limping? And I'm like, I I challenge somebody to go out and throw your foot out when you go to block a shot, because there's a way to block the shot. You kind of stick your, you know, when you go down, it's like you'll turn with your elbow facing towards the shot. It's like because you have some padding there, it's like, and then it's like everybody does this where you you go down, you know, and you're trying to use a way to block a shot, you know, from that's coming from the point. If you stick your leg out, you have the inside of your knee. Yes, there are pads there, but go ahead and take an 80 plus mile an hour snapshot, wrist or whatever it is, off the inside of your leg. I'll tell you what, 65 miles an hour. Go ahead and try doing 65. Okay, it still does not feel great if it's hard enough and it hits hard enough in the right spot. The inside of your knee, remember, is extremely painful. It's you know what you would call a stinger. And then the worst one is your skate. And yes, we the skates are hard, they are padded to a certain point, and you also put um, if you're a shot blocker, especially, it's like you'll have there's an extra like pad that you can go, put goes on top of your skate and it like velcro's underneath or buckles, like you'll have like a strap and then it'll buckle, uh, not buckle, but uh velcro. Even with those things on, guys, there's there's spots that if you get the right spot, especially on the inside of your foot, uh you're gonna know what pain is for a little while. It's like that's when you see guys that are having trouble even getting up, especially the inside of the knee is just brutal.
SPEAKER_04Those guys trying to block those shots right in front of the net.
SPEAKER_01And it's give it takes one to the knee. Somebody once asked, they were like, Why don't you just not do that? And I'm like, it's literally impossible to not do it. It's just how you react, it's just what it is. I might be hurt, broken, beat up. I'm still gonna instinctively stick that leg out or turn or whatever to block a shot. Because honestly, like when I played, there was nothing more proud than leading the team and block shots. I like goals are great, great assists is awesome. But like there's little things that aren't really talked about except for in that room, and it's like a guy that's just throwing his body on the line and blocking shots is everything, dude. It's it's just it's everything to your teammates. Like, they're just that's it's a big deal. You know what I mean? It's I don't know, it's a good look. Maybe somebody will disagree with me, but that's okay. Um, all right. So, Steve, who do you got? Colorado and Minnesota? Colorado. Oh, you said that I'm sorry, Brandon. Who do you got in the first round? Colorado, Minnesota.
SPEAKER_02Well, first I'll say that first game, I think it's gonna be an anomaly. I don't think we're gonna see that again.
SPEAKER_01I think I think I agree with you.
SPEAKER_02I think even though Colorado won, I think they're gonna be still very unhappy with allowing six goals. Don't I even though you win, you don't want to lose that.
SPEAKER_01Both teams, I think, know that it's not gonna be like that again.
SPEAKER_02But uh, you know, I'm I'm going history with this. Uh President's trophy winner generally goes out in the second round. So I'm going with the wild in seven.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Wild and seven.
SPEAKER_01All right. Nick, who do you got, buddy?
SPEAKER_03I got the Avalanche in five.
SPEAKER_01I think that's more accurate.
SPEAKER_03They looked so good. And yeah, like they would get a goal or a two-goal lead, and you would see them like, ah, take a deep breath, and then the wild would score. They're like, damn it. And then it's just if they keep their foot on the gas, they'll lose maybe a game. Yeah, and I'm looking it.
SPEAKER_01It's they're I don't even think they're playing their best hockey yet. I think they're still getting, I think they're still getting there.
SPEAKER_04Do you think even Vegas or the Ducks can even beat Avalanche if they did? Five, maybe six. Maybe six. Because I'm looking at those other two teams, and I don't think they either one of the if they make it, I don't think they can even beat the Avalanche.
SPEAKER_01The the conference. Is going on right now between Colorado and Minnesota. That's your conference final. Whoever gets to face either Vegas or Anaheim, and it's I know we'll do this again, but it's like that's who's going to the cup. Neither one of those squads are gonna beat either Minnesota or Colorado. Yeah, I don't think they have the teams for it. I mean it, I it's yeah, it's just no, I I I don't no way. It it'll I who knows, but no way. In the West, I mean. And then so yeah, I I mean we could go, so we'll might let's dive into Vegas and Anaheim. Um I Anaheim is playing good hockey right now, they really are. Um I really thought Utah might get it done. It was like a toss-up, but um no, I think I think you got Vegas here. I really do. I but I think it's gonna be seven, it's gonna be a dog fight. Steve, what do you think? I got Vegas in six.
SPEAKER_04Six? Yeah, I I think I think it's younger.
SPEAKER_01Vegas has the legs for it. Yeah. Yeah, that's fair. I I yeah. Brennan?
SPEAKER_02I think it's pretty obvious where I'm gonna be going with this, you know. Like I said, uh tougher series came out on top. And I had a little bit easier time with McDavid being hurt. So with this, I'm going. I think I'm gonna go ducks and six.
SPEAKER_01You're gonna go ducks and six.
SPEAKER_02Yeah. Okay.
SPEAKER_01What's making you go that way?
SPEAKER_02Uh I just I think I think they have the better goaltending right now.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Yeah. So goaltender again talked about how important goaltending is this time of year. So okay. I got you. Um, Nick, Vegas Anaheim. What are you looking at, buddy?
SPEAKER_03I really like the Ducks. Um, they got a bunch of young players, got a bunch of speed. They play faster, I feel like, than the Knights do. Um I got the Ducks in. This is before seeing game one. I got the Ducks in six.
SPEAKER_01Okay. Good enough. All right. So we got Ducks and two for Vegas. Beautiful. Uh, moving into the east, we've got Carolina and Philadelphia. Um, Carolina currently at the end of one in game two is down two to one to Philadelphia. Um, I that's is that the first time that Carolina's given up two goals in a game this playoff?
SPEAKER_04Well, up until that first goal that the uh that the Flyers got, Carolina was at 618 minutes leading.
SPEAKER_01Oh, leading. Okay. I was like, if they give up. For 618 minutes, they had they hadn't been tripping. So I've I'm gonna I'm still going Carolina in this game. I it not in this in in the game, but the series, I've got Carolina and five. Same for me, Carolina and five.
SPEAKER_04Okay, they'll take I think the Flyers will take one at home.
SPEAKER_01I that's what I'm saying. I think Philadelphia is gonna be jacked. I even I would even go far as to say it's gonna be game three. Uh you know, they'll come right into Philly. I think they'll take a take one. Carolina at that point will have won six in a row. So I yeah, I could see that. I could see that. So that's where I'm going. Good enough. Uh, Brandon?
SPEAKER_02Yeah, I think this is gonna be the funnest series of this round. Classic.
SPEAKER_01I I I can, yeah, that makes sense. I I agree. I think that's yeah, I see why you would go there. And I tend to be like, yeah, probably.
SPEAKER_02Seems to me just classic strength versus speed matchup. Uh going with Carolina in six.
SPEAKER_01In six, yeah. I and that's the thing. Like, I it could go six, you know what I mean? Like, Philly is is is a great, great young team. I mean, they're gonna be good for a few years. Um, it's funny, I was just having this conversation about Mishkoff, is I feel like Mishkoff was kind of a disappointment this year, but and they even benched it, they even scratched him in a playoff game. It's like Matt Bay Mishkoff uh was drafted seventh overall by Philadelphia um in 2022. It was the year that uh Bedard got drafted first overall. Um, the San Jose took Will Smith fourth overall. Um, there was a question about whether or not Mishkoff was gonna come over or not right away because he was predicted second in that draft behind Bedard. There was even during that season, there was talks of like, hey, Matt Bay Mishkoff could be as good or better than Bedard because they were watching his highlights. And I I did the same thing, and I I fell into it, and I was watching Mishkoff over in Russia, and I was like, dude, this dude's a this dude's a beast, bro. And it was like I was excited about Mishkoff, and I was like, man, I wouldn't be upset if San Jose took him at fourth overall, but it was like again, he was fallen because there was a question about whether or not when he was gonna be available to come over from Russia. Remember, they're still brutal over there in that country, so it's like always that question, you know what I mean? So when I saw Philadelphia take him, I was jealous. I was like, man, but I obviously Will Smith worked out pretty well in San Jose, but uh yeah, so I I agree, Brent. I think it's gonna be a great series. There, they are fun to watch. That one line when they get in with at in the Pittsburgh series. I kept saying, like, God, watch them skating close to the boards. It's insane. Their fore check and back check is ridiculous. So, Nick, who do you have in this series, man?
SPEAKER_03I gotta go with the Kaniacs. Uh, you're welcome, Steve. I'm gonna go with uh Carolina in five. Um I'm just going I'm going with the speed over speed over power. They're actually losing right now.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, they're losing two to one after one in game two. And I will and they shut again another shutout for Anderson. Here's the thing with Carolina is that goaltending. Brandon brought it up with you know, why he's taking Anaheim over Vegas is because of goaltending, and it's like, okay, yeah, I get that. You know, um, I keep waiting for Vegas to really realize their potential, but it's I yeah, I I get that, but again, Anderson, God, he's just I saw the score tonight, and I'm like, what? How did Anderson give up two in a game period? But it, you know, they got him out of the game. But they don't score another goal, and I'll bet Carolina wins four to two. I you know what I mean. It's but we'll see. Um, I again I like the pick, Nick. We got five three for in five, I think. All three of us picked five, and then Brandon's taking six, and it's that's just respect that Philadelphia deserves. Is yeah, I could see him taking two. So Brandon might be right on the money. Um, the final series is Buffalo and Montreal. Um, we saw Buffalo dominate Boston. You know, I know it went six. We said this a few times now, we won't repeat it too much, but Buffalo dominated every period of every game. And Jeremy Swayman again, hats off. Great job. You were amazing in that series, keeping the the Bruins in it. And that's a good sign for Bruins fans. If you ask me, it's like, man, Swayman was playing really, really well most of the games. He did lose one six-nothing, but or six-one. Um, and then Montreal, what they just got out of a very tough emotional series. I mean, it's holy smokes, but it's a hard this is a hard pick. Buffalo, I I don't I Buffalo's gonna win this series. Um, I'm gonna say in I think this one goes seven, but um, I can see Buffalo taking it sooner. So it's again just something with Buffalo. But yeah, I've got Buffalo and Carolina in the ECF. I'm sticking with that pick. It's been my pick. It was my pick in the beginning, but uh you know, we'll see. But yeah, I think it's this is this this guy's is going to be a rough, tough series. This one will lead the league in penalty minutes for the second round.
SPEAKER_04Go ahead, Steve. Yeah, this one's gonna be a bang up one. It's I I but I agree with you. I they do it was a tough pick, but I think it's gonna be Buffalo in six or seven.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I seven games. It's gonna be a long road. Yeah, it's gonna be a beat. They are going to beat the pants off of each other. So it's like, yeah, I yeah, go ahead, Bryn.
SPEAKER_02This was an easy pick for me. I'm picking Buffalo easily in six. To me, Montreal's always been a cursed team ever since the horrendous watch raid in the 90s.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I mean, they went to the cup finals just in 21. But again, I remember that was that was in the bubble, and yeah. Those those titles don't, yeah, they're like whatever. So okay, so you got Buffalo and six or seven. It's like kind of saying it could go seven. I get that. Right on, Nick. What do you think, bud?
SPEAKER_03Go with the Sabres just because of how dominant of a team that they are in all aspects. But as far as in how many games, it kind of comes back to what we were talking about last podcast, and I touched on it again in this podcast. Sabres have had a five-day break since they've skate or since they've played hockey. Um, granted, everyone's skating, but I don't know about that goaltender. I know, but I don't know about that goaltender. So I'm gonna say I'm gonna say the sabres and five again, and I'm gonna say they're gonna lose game one.
SPEAKER_01The sabres are gonna lose game one and then do a sweep. Yep. Okay. It it's that'd be good for Buffalo. I yeah, I mean, I get that. Yeah, it would. It'd be uh it'd be really good. They get some rest, but okay. So those are your picks, folks. That's what's in. Don't forget to like, follow, subscribe, share. Um, go to our YouTube channel, give us some views, give us some subscribers. Um, we keep posting content. You keep watching it. Um, we appreciate the support on the actual podcast. You can find us on all platforms: um, Apple, Apple iTunes, Android, Google Play, um, iHeartRadio, etc. So go check us out. Give us a follow, a like, a share. Whatever. Find us on TikTok. We're there too. Um, sweetheart. I will say also from the previous series, this guy Benson for uh Buffalo is really good at getting under the skin. I love players like this. He is, I'm gonna say it now, this next coming of Brad Marshawn. People hate Brad Marshawn on some circles, they call him a rat. Benson is that kid. He is got is that what everybody's deal with the Kachuk brothers is?
SPEAKER_04No, it's they what I don't I hear about people not liking the Kachuk brothers. Um, I well like if I watch a video and it'll be like I I'm just people will be like they're happy that Ottawa is not in it just because the Kachuk is not playing anymore. And I just never understood what the the beef is that people have with the Kachuk brothers. I don't know. Because they're good.
SPEAKER_01I okay, yeah.
SPEAKER_03I thought maybe you know you knew what's going on. They just they don't like them because they're they're good, they're busy, they're big, they're physical. Like they play a certain kind of hockey. They yeah, who starts the fights every game at the first puck drop? It's the Kachuks. That's just that's hockey.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and fans, fans are over-emotional, so they're over-emotional. So there's no real reason. Okay, no, no honest, like reason that we're good, no good reason makes sense or sound makes somebody sound like they're not an over-emotional fanboy. Okay. Um, it's the same thing, like Brad Marshawn again. I well, Brad Marshawn has done some dirty shit, and he knows that. You know, he's done a couple of slew foots, which is really kind of a dirty play. Stuff like that. I mean, it I remember he licked. You look up the uh look, just look up Brad Marshawn licked face. It's it's freaking great. When he got a thousand points or a thousand games played, I forget which one that player said he's like, yeah, what's up, rat? I'll never forget the time you licked my face. It's like they had a lot of fun with it. It was great, honestly. But that's what Benson is. Benson is that player that's going to get under your skin. He's gonna play a little dirty at times, but that's because he's gonna go into the corners and he's gonna be physical and mean and take no prisoners. That type of player you love when he's on your team and you hate him when your team is facing him. That's who this kid Benson is. And I can't, it's gonna be fun to watch what he does again this Montreal series, who's a division rival. It's it's gonna be a lot of fun. I guarantee Saber fans love Benson, Habs fans who are already super emotional about everything. Like Habs fans, you can't have an objective conversation with them about hockey or the Habs or anything, so don't even try.
SPEAKER_04I just watched the video about him licking the face. Oh, did you? Yeah, it's funny. Right, he he licked Ryan Gallaghan's face.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, and the guy just he could just tell how he was Tampa Bay. Yeah, it's it was it's just a grid. I remember when it happened. So, but again, they're just good at if you get under a player's skin the right way, their game goes to shit because they're so emotional and pissed off. Players like like I played really, really well when I was angry. I just get so focused, it's like, yeah, I'm just I don't care what I'm angry about. It's just I'm I'm mad. I'm gonna take it now. So it's it's I think a lot of athletes and players are like that, Steve. You can probably relate, everybody can probably relate. So, but uh anyway, so there was an incident though with Charlie McAvoy, the Boston Bruins. He did an overhand, like two-hand baseball bat swing slash on that player. Okay. So Charlie McAvoy is looking at five plus game suspension. The NHL has already uh granted a request for an in-person review at NHL headquarters in New York City. So Charlie McAvoy is definitely it was it that's what Benson did. He got under his skin. It was almost on the highlight, looked like he might go for a slew foot. So I was like, oh, that's don't don't be that guy. Don't be that guy. You know what I mean? Especially in close to the board. So I think McAvoy took like was upset about that and got his emotions got the better of him. Because I'm gonna say this right now, uh, you know, I'm not a Bruin fan, but Charlie McAvoy is not a dirty, bad player. That it was way out of character for Charlie McAvoy. So I think that has a little bit will will have something to do with his punishment grade and what the player safety guy will is gonna do in New York. So I I again stupid, stupid move by Charlie, but I yeah, he deserves a suspension. I mean, you gotta you he did something really dumb, but that's not who he is, and I don't think that's how we should define Charlie McAvoy. Steve, any thoughts on this?
SPEAKER_04No, I mean it just yeah, just the you were talking about the the suspension. Uh there was the also the suspension that uh a two-day suspension from last series where Ottawa and Carolina played. The guy uppercutted the um the player that was in the headlock. He came back, he got a two-game suspension starting next season.
SPEAKER_01That was gonna be next. Greg, something something, Greg. It's it's Greg. It's his name's his last name's Greg. He's number 71. I was gonna bring that up next. Um, we can address both of them now. Um, so the other one that Steve brought up that I was gonna bring up next is uh number 71, Greg uh on the Ottawa Senators. A player was engaged in a fight. There was a line brawl going on. Um, it was the final game, it was game four in Carolina. This guy had him headlocked and was kind of stopped punching him because he had him headlocked, and the player that this guy was engaged with knew that. Here comes 71 Ottawa, not engaged with another player. He punches him in the head in the side and then uppercuts him in the face while the other player had him headlocked. Huge. This to me is even worse than the Charlie McAvoy thing. Both are like heinous acts, they're dumb. Like, come on, your professionals act like it kind of thing. But this guy, Greg, I was very angry. I thought it deserved more than a two-game suspension. I was kind of pissed about that. But um, and then McAvoy is getting five, so or more. So, anyway, yeah, both are Bush League, but yeah. Brandon, what do you think?
SPEAKER_02Very interesting debate I was hearing about the uppercut, is you know, all the referees were engaged elsewhere in that line, so they didn't see it. So the question is was uh should the you know HQ be able to call down to the ice and have that penalized, or should that just be completely left in the hands of the referee?
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I it we can't have HQ now just calling down because that will set a precedent, is the problem with that. It'll set a precedent. Oh, well, that was offside, so let's call down for that. Oh, that was this, let's call down for that. It's like opening up that door is just I think sets the wrong precedent. That's why player safety is there. He got away with it, but now he's getting suspended. So I don't know. That may be, you know, they I don't, I mean, I don't see that ever happening or being a thing. But again, in a situation that's that chaotic, it doesn't happen all the time, but that's why it's I I mean, that's why he's getting dealt with now. It's still not enough, in my opinion.
SPEAKER_02But yeah, just a debate I heard people talking about, and I know the referees are against that sort of thing happening because they want to be able to call everything on the ice.
SPEAKER_01And they should, I agree.
SPEAKER_04So there was so much going on that though, they couldn't see everything.
SPEAKER_01Right, it's a rare occasion, but it it's it shows that the NHL is good at reprimanding players afterwards, though. Like that's a big, you know, it's it's good that they are taking care of them, but anyway. Nick, any thoughts on this?
SPEAKER_03I just it's got no spot, it's got no place in hockey. The cheap shots, and I get it, like you get frustrated because whether somebody's running their mouth getting you know, trying to ruin your game.
SPEAKER_05Sure.
SPEAKER_03We have to like we don't want to hurt people that puts them out of the postseason or got a career in hockey because you're not like that.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, that's no, not like that.
SPEAKER_03So we need to be a little bit better, a little bit smarter, level headed. I mean, we gotta remember we we shake hands, we still shake hands. We don't see anybody get hurt, but just it's gonna happen, but also you don't want to see somebody hurt somebody on the purpose, right?
SPEAKER_01That's that's what you're yeah.
SPEAKER_03I I agree. I mean, we have to remember that in this sport we still shake hands like gentlemen at the end of the at the end of the series. Yep, and that's the one of the only sports to still that that does that, and uh we need to remember that. Sure. Um, when they can, I mean, but they're usually being swarmed by media, but yeah, that's um like this is part of the game, part of our game, and I we can't forget that. Um, I did have one question for Brandon though. Um, you said Sloughfoot, and I'm not familiar with that term, and I'm sure some of our listeners aren't. Can you explain what that means?
SPEAKER_01Uh verbally, I would say get on YouTube and look up Sloughfoot because to describe it is very difficult. It's a player that's behind another player and basically takes their skate and like pushes it out from underneath them. It's the best way I can describe it. Best thing I can say is to honestly get on YouTube and look up what a slew foot is in hockey. Um, you'll understand why it's a dirty play, it's it's not a good look. No, and it's very, very dangerous. So uh, but to be able to explain it is very difficult. You honestly have to see it to really understand it. So it's like look up Slough Foot.
SPEAKER_03Uh I'm assuming this could cause injury, the Sloughfoot.
SPEAKER_01I mean, anything in close to the boards like that is insanely dangerous. Yeah.
SPEAKER_03Yeah.
SPEAKER_01Uh you really want to see why people don't like Brad Marshawn for all these years. Look up Brad Marchand Slough Foot. And you understand. So, anyway, with that said, uh, we hope you enjoy the Stanley Cup playoffs. We'll be back again next week. And you know, second round should be well into the second round at that point. Um, again, like, follow, subscribe. Um, at this time, we are gonna go into this week's top five. This week's top five is the top five greatest. We're gonna stick with the NFL. Undrafted players of all time. Top five best undrafted players of all time in the NFL. We're sticking with the NFL draft for another week, and here we go. So, what is an undrafted player? An undrafted player is somebody that goes through the draft and doesn't even get Mr. Irrelevant. Basically goes undrafted. Teams do this all the time, they're always still looking for players. They'll invite players to camp, and a lot of times those players have to now fight against all of your draft picks. They say in the NFL, if you get drafted in the fifth, sixth, or seventh round, you have about a 2% chance of making an NFL roster. That's how tough it is. That's how getting drafted is only the beginning of the journey. A lot of players still don't get picked up. If you're drafted in the third or fourth round, you have a better chance sometimes of maybe getting the practice squad or being low on the depth chart going into the regular season. But you might still make a 53-man roster. First or second round players are usually the ones that are definitely on the roster. They're definitely getting a decent contract, so on and so forth.
SPEAKER_04For at least a couple years.
SPEAKER_01What's that?
SPEAKER_04For at least a couple years.
SPEAKER_01Sure. First, second, unless they're above the fourth round are usually your players that are gonna make the NFL roster. Guys like Brock Purdy are very, very rare, as well as these players who have went undrafted at all. So with that, we're gonna start with number five. Steve, what is your number five? Arian Foster. Arian Foster. Houston Texans from the Houston Texans. That's a okay. Wow. How long ago was that? 2014. 2014. What position? Like, go ahead and give us the rundown on it.
SPEAKER_04All right. Uh he was the running back, Aaron Foster. He was undrafted. Uh, he played for Houston and the Dolphins for one season. It was only six seasons, but he did very well. Um, he got three Pro Bowls. Yep.
SPEAKER_01Um, yeah. Awesome. Thank you, Steve. Number five. Brandon, what is your number five?
SPEAKER_02My number five is Joe Jacoby off tackle from 1981 with the Redskins. Okay. He helped him uh with three Super Bowls. He was part of the all decade team in the 80s.
SPEAKER_01Awesome. Yeah, great player. Love the old school stuff. I think you guys will like my number five. It's it's one of my favorite all-time players. This guy was a lunatic. Nick, what is your number five?
SPEAKER_03Going back to 2003 when Antonio Gates was not drafted because he played basketball at Capstage.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, he's on my list too. That's a great number five, man. Great number five. Uh, my number five, boys, is Dick Nitrane Lane. Okay. This guy is why the forearm shiver is illegal. In 1952, he set the NFL rookie record with 14 interceptions that still stands to this day. 1952, folks, is before the Super Bowl era, but Dick Night Train Lane, I implore you to get online, get on YouTube, and search for Dick Nitrane Lane. This dude was and was a monster. And this was at a time in the NFL when there really wasn't any rules about hitting receivers across the middle. The passing game wasn't huge. If you came across the middle against Dick Nitrale, you might not be alive anymore.
SPEAKER_04You were getting punished. I was watching some of those videos actually when he came up on my list.
SPEAKER_01Oh, they're so great, they're so great. Yeah, literally, folks, forearm shiver, Dick Nitrane Lane. Um, all right, Steve, number four.
SPEAKER_04Um, Doug Baldwin, Seattle Seahawks. Okay, yeah, I great receiver, right? I can't believe that he was not drafted when I looked that up.
SPEAKER_01Here's the thing when you look at this stuff, it shows you like how many great players were undrafted or drafted in the seventh round or sixth round, Tom Brady, 199th overall. It's like it just shows you that these things get missed, scouts get missed, or remember, these kids are eight, like what 21, 22 that are getting drafted. It's like work ethic is huge. Like, how are these guys gonna mature? Not just their work ethic in general, but when people mature as a person, their bodies they get better, they can you know turn into stuff.
SPEAKER_04In contrast to how we, you know, last week's of the people that busted. Um, you have these ones who didn't even make the draft, right? And a lot of them are you know Super Bowl winners or all-star players.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, absolutely. Right on, man. Great number four.
SPEAKER_02Brennan, trainer. What is number four, buddy? My number four already said was Antonio Gates.
SPEAKER_01Antonio Gates.
SPEAKER_02Over 10,000 yards, over 100 touchdowns. Amazing player.
SPEAKER_01Love it. Nick, number four.
SPEAKER_03Number four, uh, undrafted in 1978. Quarterback Warren Moon.
SPEAKER_01That's a great one.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, 291 touchdowns that he threw and he ran for 22 before a mobile quarterback was even a thing. Yeah, yeah, he was the original mobile quarterback.
SPEAKER_01Yep, he got started too in the CFL for six years. Yeah, because he didn't get drafted and he went to the CFL and was a legend in the CFL. I mean, he's yeah, maybe the greatest quarterback ever in the CFL. So, um, anyway, great number four. So, my number four, and I'm gonna put this on the list because he is the NFL's all-time leading scorer, period. I know kickers don't always get drafted, okay, but he was undrafted, won a couple of Super Bowls, should have been a Super Bowl MVP. Um, and the greatest kicker of all time is Adam Vinateri. Undrack. A lot of kickers, great kickers, do get drafted. We've seen it. Um, some get drafted in the first round. We've talked about that. So Adam Vinateri, though, is the NFL's all-time leading scorer, and that's why he made my list. And this guy was lights out clutch. He won two Super Bowls for the Pats against the Rams, that was Vinateri. Against Carolina Panthers, that was Vinateri. So that's why Vinateri's on my list. Um, okay, Steve, number three. It was already said it was Warren Moon. Awesome. Brandon, number three.
SPEAKER_02My number three is Cornell Green, deep back from 1962 with the Cowboys. Wow. Yeah, right. They have 34 interceptions, and it was part of their first the first Cowboys team to win the championship.
SPEAKER_01Love that. Love that pick because he made a serious impact in the NFL. Love those types of picks. Great, great number three, Brandon. Nick, number three.
SPEAKER_03Number three, 1990. Undrafted John Randall. You may have heard of him from undrafted to Hall of Famer. Yep. Uh seven-time Pro Bowl. Yep. Six-time uh first team all pro, and then he got inducted in the Hall of Fame in uh 2010. Yep.
SPEAKER_01One of the great I the face paint from Randall was always just like, God, I do I would not want to line up against him and try to stop him from getting to my quarterback. John Randall was again, folks, he played for the Vikings. Um, yeah, dude, just an absolute monster. So, okay, so uh my number three is also Warren Moon. Okay, I we've said this now, three people had him on our list. Here's why Warren Moon, okay. He didn't just not get drafted, he didn't even get a phone call, man, afterwards. So instead of country, instead of instead of being a martyr or getting down or boo-hoo, that kid went to work. He went to work, became a CFL Hall of Famer, okay, and then comes into the NFL and was just a god great. I remember seeing a video of him when he was with the Houston Oilers, and it was when they started micing players up, and he's just yelling off to the sidelines like let me get in a rhythm, let me get in a rhythm. Just then says, stop calling plays, let me get in a rhythm, let me get in a rhythm, and then would go out and get in a rhythm. Like Warren Moon was just incredible. Now, Warren Moon was also on the receiving end of possibly one of the most embarrassing collapses in NFL playoff history, and on the other side turned out to be one of the greatest comebacks in NFL playoff history when the Buffalo Bills came back from 35 to 3 down to win. I was like, oh, Warren! Yeah, and it wasn't even Jim Kelly. Yeah. Anyway, moving on.
SPEAKER_04Steve, number two, buddy. Uh, we were talking about one that you didn't want to that were afraid to stare down, James Harrison. Oh, yep. Another Steelers.
SPEAKER_01The one draft monster was insane.
SPEAKER_04Yes. I mean, he was up until the just a few years ago. I mean, he was known as the guy you didn't want, the linebacker you didn't want to see.
SPEAKER_01No. And honestly, guys, folks, if you want to see one of the greatest SNL spoofs of all time, go to YouTube again after you're done looking at just after you're done looking at full strength podcast YouTube channel and subscribing. Go to your search bar, look up the James Harrison SNL spoof. It's it's one of the most hilarious things. It was after he made the 99-yard interception return, or maybe it was 100 yards interception return against the Arizona Cardinals in that Super Bowl and made it all the way to the end zone. The spoof of this is just hysterical. They did it on weekend update, and it was like he still got his oxygen on. He says, I saw Jesus, and Jesus said to me, James, are you ready? And he said, Yep. Just hilarious. So anyway, great number two. Yeah, oh dude, look it up. Brandon, number two.
SPEAKER_02My number two is got up there partially because of nostalgia.
unknownYeah.
SPEAKER_02Earliest game I can ever remember watching was an Oilers game. Warren Moon, a quarterback. So his name has always been deep in my subconscious.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, man. Yep, Warren Moon. Just a great player, man. Just a great player. Him and Randall Cunningham were in the same era, and they were they were great. Cunningham obviously went to Philadelphia and got drafted. But anyway, Nick, what's your number two best NFL undrafted player of all time?
SPEAKER_03Uh number two, Night Train Lane. Uh already been said. But I will say that he buy the players. Is it because he played for the Bears?
SPEAKER_01Huh? Is it because he played for the Bears?
SPEAKER_03I'm just saying that if he by I was gonna say my smart ass comment was that he bypassed the NFL draft because he entered the army draft. That's why he didn't go.
SPEAKER_01Hold on, is that legit? I didn't know that.
SPEAKER_03Yeah, he served in the army. That's why he didn't, that's why he didn't enter the draft.
SPEAKER_01Oh my god, man. That god, I I apologize. Dick Night Train Lane is everybody's number one. Wow, that's that's a great thanks, Nick, for that for that little tidbit, folks. That's brought to you by Nick Brown. That's awesome, man. I missed that as well. Like, that's pretty incredible. I should have gone on Wikipedia. I was just I just knew that he was undrafted. I didn't, I should have looked up a little bit more, but what a great fact by Nick Brown, folks. That is absolutely awesome. So yeah, Dick Nitrain Lane. So, either way, he was undrafted, and that makes him an even better, just I don't know, human being, in my opinion. So that's awesome, dude. That is absolutely incredible. Wow. Do you think we all have the same number one? Yes, I think we do. Yeah, I do too. I think we do. I do. My number two is gonna be Antonio Gates, played for the San Diego Chargers. Listen, Antonio Gates and Phillip Rivers were like one of the greatest combos during that like three, four, five-year period. I the fact that that chargers team never won a Super Bowl is just one of those things that's like man, unfortunate team really just does they got so close so many times. They had Ladanian Tomlinson, man. Like that team was a what I they went 13 and 3, 14 and 2. Like they were just legit for so many years. Antonio Gates was he was so good. Like he he's not even mentioned in the likes of Tony Gonzalez, uh um Travis Kelsey, and um Witten. Or yeah, um whom I think it of from the 49ers right now, and I'm drawing a total fucking blank. Davis Davis Vernon Davis? No, the 49ers current tight end right now, dude. Oh current George Kittle. So it's uh it's just it's kind of embarrassing that we don't ever mention Antonio Gates and what he did. Like his numbers were massive. So and what they're what tight ends are doing today, like really Antonio Gates was kind of at the forefront of that. Being like a really like you could use him as a wide out. So anyway, Tony O'Gates is my number two. Steve, go ahead. Number one, Kurt Warner. Yeah, mine's Kurt Warner, Nick's is Kurt Warner, and Brandon's is probably Kurt Warner. No, it isn't okay. So we'll just do Kurt Warner. So listen, here's the thing. Yeah, number one, he like two-time MVP, super different MVP, two different teams he won and took to the Super Bowl. Let's talk about Kurt Warner for a second before we get to Brandon's number one. Here's the thing, dude. The guy was homeless, bagging groceries, trying to play in the arena football league, trying to play anywhere that he could, literally homeless, trying to raise a family, bagging groceries one day, and then is gets an arena football league deal that all they do is basically pay those guys on incentives like he was having a hard time keeping the heat on in his house. If he had a bad game, he didn't get played. Then ends up on the Rams. The offensive coordinator like hates him. Hated him. Dude never gave up. No, I mean it's not just the greatest undrafted player, but it's one of the greatest stories in NFL history. And yeah, I take that back in sports history.
SPEAKER_04Ragsta Richards type of thing.
SPEAKER_01Like his story is legit. Everybody talks about Rudy. Well, but we know that unfortunately it's a good movie. But the Rudy story is riddled with holes thanks to Joe Montana. But listen, it's like I I don't even know who else has accomplished that with so many roadblocks. Absolutely incredible. And now we go ahead and an analyst. Yeah. I it's I mean, my god, dude. Go ahead, Brandon.
SPEAKER_02Alright, you know, I can't argue with any of that. Mine's just a call back to the last week and proof why you don't need to waste your number one draft pick on a kicker when you got Adam Vinateri just hanging around. Okay. Very good.
SPEAKER_01Yep, a good, a great player. Yeah. Yeah, absolutely. So, yeah, a great list, everybody. Great number ones, great number uh, great top five this week. Um, we're gonna be back again next week. Uh, a great show today. Um, hope everybody's gonna enjoy the Stanley Cup playoffs. Let us know what your top five is if we miss somebody in the comments. Um, like, follow, and share. Um, again, don't forget to subscribe. We're on YouTube and TikTok um and all platforms for the podcast. So, again, thank you everybody. Great week. Uh, we appreciate you. Um, cheers, Brandon, Michael. I'm out. Steve, any last thoughts?
SPEAKER_04Last thoughts. Hockey always. Um, hopefully, Carolina's gonna sweep the flyers.
SPEAKER_01We're gonna see. I'm gonna go finish watching the game right now. Brandon, any final comments, this stuff. What do you got?
SPEAKER_02Uh, just enjoy the hockey this week. It's gonna be some fun matchups.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, it's gonna be awesome. I agree, Nick. Uh, or sorry, whatever your shirt says. What uh any final thoughts?
SPEAKER_03Uh Danny here. Um, I would just tell you that I read a book called All Things Possible. It was the autobiography autobiography of Kurt Warner. It is an amazing book that really sets that his whole story is really, really it's touching, it's impressive. His passion for the game.
SPEAKER_01I it it's insane to me, man. I I can't imagine what it's like to be homeless, okay? I especially if it's not, you know, because of drugs or alcohol or you know for sure, you know, vagrants are what they are, and it's like okay, they're just part of society, but it's like when you're just god, life's just literally beating you down, man. It's like, how do you end up in the NFL?
SPEAKER_03It's the book was awesome, and they they made a movie about it too. Uh what's the uh book again, Nick? For everybody all things possible.
SPEAKER_01So All Things Possible and then Nick, what's the movie?
SPEAKER_03Uh I don't remember the movie. It's like undrafted or un undraftable or something. Uh it's it's a document, or it's like a documentary kind of okay.
SPEAKER_01Yeah, I know what type of movie it is. American Underdog. That's it. American Underdog. American Underdog. You know what's funny is I remember hearing about that, and I never got uh a chance to watch that movie. I you know what? It's I will watch it by next week so we can talk about it. Oh, awesome. We'll do it right off the bat at the beginning of the show. And it's American Underdog, Steve. Yes. There you go, everybody. American Underdog, go watch the movie. And uh again, Nick, the book is All Things Possible. All things possible. We've said it like 18 times. There's no reason for you to not go get that book and read it and give Kurt Warner. I'm guessing I'll bet all the proceeds from the sale of that book go to a charity because that's what they do. They've also got a special needs kid, by the way. Yeah, I like it's amazing.
SPEAKER_03What he's yeah, it's crazy.
SPEAKER_01One of those stories that's just like if you're feeling down in the dumps, go check out this story and be like, okay, I'm not doing that bad. So, anyway, thanks everybody. Uh, until next week. Again, cheers. We're out of here. Thanks everybody.