Episode 20 - The Final Battle

Join the guys this week as they discuss everything going on inspirits including all of the roster shakeups in the NFL, and NBA Finals, and the NHL Finals.

Transcript

SPEAKER_02 0:00

Hey everybody, welcome back to another episode of Full Strength Podcast. It is I, Brandon Michael, here with Steve, Brandon, and Nick Brown. Busy week in the NFL. Holy cow. We've got the Stanley Cup final that has commenced. Um, we've got the Women's College World Series going on. Um, and we've got a good top five for you guys this week. So kicking it off, let's go with Steve. Steve, how was your week?

SPEAKER_03 0:26

I was good until yesterday. Until they lost Carolina lost the first game.

SPEAKER_02 0:32

Well, yeah, they did the same thing against Montreal.

SPEAKER_03 0:35

But uh, yeah, otherwise, uh, it's been a good week. Good, man.

SPEAKER_00 0:39

Right on, Brandon. What's up, buddy? We've been pretty good, especially after yesterday with Carolina losing. Cool. Good week. Yep, good week. No complaints.

SPEAKER_04 0:53

Nick, how was your week, buddy? Week's been good. Uh, kids started summer camp, so they got some fun stuff happening. Uh, had a lot of fun doing the live with everybody. Uh, I just need more people to join us, but had a blast yesterday. Um, yeah, getting ready to dive deep into sports. Let's do it.

SPEAKER_02 1:09

Yeah, yeah. The live was fun. Uh, if you're listening, we are trying to do some more lives, especially while watching uh like the Stanley Cup final. Did it last night, it was fun. I think um I found out a bunch of people were actually watching it. Uh, they just didn't join the actual live, so it was like, okay, I'm like, that's cool. Like I said, I had a feeling some of that was going on because when people were popping up on the bottom, like to invite it, was like they were sitting there watching it and they just they just didn't join the actual live. So I don't know. I do it all the time with lives. It's like I'll go through all the lives to see what people are talking about and stuff like that. So it's like, yeah, but uh yeah, it was fun. If you do see us on live, feel free to jump in, say hello, um, ask us questions if you have any questions about hockey, whatever we're watching. Um, yeah, so yeah, it was fun.

SPEAKER_03 1:59

We had some good interactions too.

SPEAKER_02 2:01

Yeah, it was cool. I, you know, uh it was it was great, good first game. Um, you know, energetic, a lot of energy. So um, yeah, it was fun. It's good times. So um, with that said, uh, we'll kind of get into it. Let's get into the the women's college world series right now is going on full throttle. Um, some great uh some great games have been going on. I was just going through the bracket here a little bit. Um tight game. Uh it's double elimination, is the way the tournament works. So you've got some of your you know, top seeds, like you've got Tennessee, Texas. Tennessee beat Texas in the winners bracket, like bracket the first day. So um Tennessee uh beat Texas, and then so Texas goes into the elimination bracket and then beats Mississippi State, who lost to Texas Tech. And then number one, Alabama beat number two UCLA, but then UCLA beats Arkansas, who lost to Nebraska. They just go back and forth. So if you lose, you have to go into the loser's bracket and kind of like you still have a path to get back.

SPEAKER_03 3:18

So yeah, well, Texas made it back in.

SPEAKER_02 3:20

They did, yes.

SPEAKER_03 3:22

They end up beating Tennessee again and then making it back in the back. Correct.

SPEAKER_02 3:25

And then um Tennessee beat uh Texas Tech, and then again, yeah, Texas beat Tennessee. So, and then I believe it's like you see, if you look at the bracket, it's like a two-game series, or you know, first one to win two, I think. So you've got Texas Tech now that beat Alabama 5-4 and 2-0, and then Texas came back and beat Tennessee 5-2, and and then again four to nothing. So the actual College World Series is now going on. You've got game one, it's it's Texas and Texas Tech. Um, I was reading about it, both really good teams, both great programs, obviously. Both actually have good baseball and softball programs. So, yeah, you got Texas and uh Texas Tech, Steve. What do you think?

SPEAKER_03 4:22

I mean, and they've all obviously been playing well. Um, obviously, Texas is gonna win that, but um they're just a better team. And they obviously lost that first game, but they definitely came back. And uh, from what I've saw from the highlights that I've watched, they have some really, really good pitching on Texas.

SPEAKER_02 4:38

Yeah, like crazy, right? They yeah, it's it's so it's different if you know anybody that's played hardball and faced like you know fast pitches, you have only a second to really react. And softball's crazy, though. These girls learn how to manipulate the ball. I have a neighbor um whose daughter Leah is an absolute turning into a unit, this kit, and she's learning how to pitch. Um great video. She's already broken a window practicing it, which is great. Great video. Um, but anyway, uh, it's just they learn how to do it's a different rotation and a different torque. You know, obviously, overhand hardball, you're putting so much torque on your elbow and your shoulder, but these girls, their shoulder is like that motion is pretty wild, and it takes a lot of practice to get that down, you know, just as it does, you know, as a baseball pitcher, but it's pretty cool to watch. You know, they have like the drop balls and then they have the riser, and you know, it's uh it's pretty neat, and it's fun to watch. The the crowds of these games are super lively. So it is it is definitely uh it's definitely a lot of fun to watch. So yeah, June 3rd is Texas, Texas Tech. June 4th is again Texas, Texas Tech. So Texas starting up here. So game starts in an hour. Yeah, yeah, first game. So yeah. You guys like it? You gonna watch it?

SPEAKER_00 6:19

For sure.

SPEAKER_02 6:20

Yeah, no, I'll probably have it on for a little bit tonight and just see who's see who's winning. I I mean I think I think it's gonna be Texas, but at the same time, it's like Texas Tech is definitely no slouch. Um Texas Tech, they kind of they had to go through the elimination bracket, and they had a great game against UCLA to get back. And so it's like again, some of these good teams sometimes they just need that wake-up call to be like, hey, oh, hey, we got to get it together. So, so, anyways, if you're looking for some good action, again, these games are a lot of fun to watch. The crowds are into it, it's a fun, even uh, it's a fun, it's fun to watch. So, give it a watch, check it out tonight, 8 p.m. on ESPN, Texas and Texas Tech open up the championship round of the College World Series, women's college world series. So, yeah, very cool. And then uh also starting tonight, you've got the New York Knickerbackers going up against the San Antonio Spurs. So the NBA final starts tonight. Um, I think it's cool the Knicks are in it. New York's gonna get gonna be pretty wild. Um, New York fans, sports fans are always a little nuts. But uh, I don't know. I think it'll be the Spurs surprise me, man. I you know, again, I continue to try to watch the NBA. It is very hard to watch at times, but anyway, you've got uh the Spurs have home court advantage in this one. They are the higher seed, they're number two. Knicks were a number three in the east, so you're looking at the Spurs who have home court advantage in this.

SPEAKER_03 7:58

I always get flashbacks when it comes to the Spurs from the 2000s and them in the the Phoenix Suns.

SPEAKER_02 8:03

They were an absolute wagon, dude.

SPEAKER_03 8:05

Yeah, they I mean it was they were always kicking the shit out of the Phoenix Suns.

SPEAKER_02 8:09

Yeah, yeah. I mean, you've got you you had you had Tim Duncan, you had the end of David Robinson's career, right? But you had Tim Duncan, you had Manu Ginobli. Like those guys, that team was just they were an absolute unit, dude.

SPEAKER_04 8:23

Uh, what's his name? Tony. Um, who's the point guard? Manu Ginobli.

SPEAKER_05 8:31

No, you're talking about Tony Sharker?

SPEAKER_03 8:34

Wait, no, Tony Parker, yeah, the little shark guy. Yep, yeah. Tony Parker.

SPEAKER_02 8:38

Yeah, that was good basketball back then. Nope, the whole team. I believe they won five championships in that run. And so it was, yeah, they were they were awesome. Yeah, San Antonio Spurs. They were definitely a unit. It's funny you bring up the Suns during that time. It's like if they weren't running into somebody, they were running into somebody else. It wasn't this team, it was the other team. It was kind of like always a Texas team. Yeah, it was like the Trailblazers in the early 2000s, they were such a fun team to watch. Um, if you don't know, folks, if you haven't seen it, they put out a uh a Netflix has a series untold, and they're called the Jail Blazers. It's kind of an interesting team back then. But uh um I we were in Portland, Steve, if you remember correctly. Oh, yes. I was I was there for you know, but it was like, yeah, I remember going and seeing the Lakers play the Trailblazers. We were could only afford like the very last row of the stadium. In fact, we stood up with our backs against the wall, and we watched uh Rashid Wallace and the Blazers beat the Lakers. It was 96, 86, I believe, in that game. But those playoff series in 2000, 2001 were pretty memorable. But anyway, getting off topic there a little bit. But uh, I I don't know, man. There's something different about this Knicks team. I kind of like them to take this, but at the same time, it's like, I don't know. I think it'll go seven. Who do you got? Steve.

SPEAKER_03 10:03

Uh, I'm gonna go with the Spurs. Are you? Yeah. They're just they're I think they're hitting it right when they need to hit it. And I think they're gonna I think they're gonna take the Knicks on.

SPEAKER_02 10:16

Okay, so real quick, with that said, I'm just gonna give you this, okay? And I remember I think I brought this up last time, is that I believe the Knicks right now. Hang on, let me get this right. Yeah, so the Knicks have swept two straight series. They swept Philly 4-0, and then they swept Cleveland 4-0. They beat Atlanta 4-2. So they're right now, they're 12-2. The Spurs, on the other hand, they had a pretty easy time with Portland. They won that one in five, they beat Minnesota in uh in six, and then Oklahoma City was a very, very tough round. So it you could almost make the argument that San Antonio, while they're sitting at 12 and 6, they've had a much tougher round, and they knocked off the team that everybody, I think, was predicting okay. To win at all. Yep. Yeah, everybody was. So uh there's a pretty good argument for both. I kind of want to. I I'd love, I think it's like my heart wants to see the Knicks win, but at the same time, it's like the Knicks did not have a tough road to get here. Any road is tough in the playoffs, but I don't know. We'll see. So uh, Brandon, who do you have?

SPEAKER_00 11:42

Yeah, I was originally thinking I wanted to see the Spurs win for the safety of the citizens of New York. But then I thought, you know, regardless of whether they win or lose, New York's gonna probably riot either way. So I think New York's gonna, I think the Knicks are gonna win it because I think the Spurs are a little bit too dependent on those three-pointers. Uh very much so.

SPEAKER_02 12:13

Yeah. Yeah. Uh San Antonio does have a more refined, well-rounded game, right? It's like we've talked about this with the NBA. What's wrong with the NBA? It's a three-point shooting contest most nights. It's like it's terrible.

SPEAKER_03 12:29

Whoever can make the most three-pointers win.

SPEAKER_02 12:31

That's that's why Detroit, Detroit, like it's like the Pistons. I keep bringing up the Pistons because it was like they didn't have a chance to make it even to the to the final, to the to the conference finals. There was so one-dimensional, it's pitiful. I remember watching a game with them against the Washington Wizards, and it was like dude. They got blown out by the worst team in the league by like 30. Why? Because all they can do is shoot the three. So if they're if their three-point shooting is off, they're done. That's it. They cannot like pivot and try to make something else happen. So it's just like, whatever. So again, I I still think New York will definitely put some pressure, but I honestly I see the Spurs winning this thing in six, but it'll probably go seven. I think it'll go seven.

SPEAKER_04 13:20

So, Nick. I got the Spurs riding high off that OKC uh win in game seven. I think they're gonna keep that that pressure, that that mindset, and uh they're gonna beat they'll beat the Knicks in six.

SPEAKER_02 13:37

Okay. Yep. I again it's it's yeah, I could see that happening. So yeah. There you have it. Real quick, let's touch on this real quick. Explain because I have a hard time. I again, I'm very cerebral, analytical. I, you know, try to make sense of um idiocies in uh or idiocracy. Um explain to me why fan bases celebrate their team winning a championship by destroying their city. Can anybody explain to me the the the thought process or the reasoning behind the utter stupidity of this?

SPEAKER_03 14:19

I I don't know, I don't even know when it started, so no, because I know soccer fans love to do that.

SPEAKER_02 14:24

So go celebrate, go drink, go have fun, go get naked, go do whatever you need to do. Why do you find it necessary to tip cars over and light them on fire and climb up light poles and pull signs down?

SPEAKER_01 14:39

It's it's like the real garbage can on fire, and you know, yeah, man. Why? It's a good question. What is the point of it? I need somebody to explain this to me.

SPEAKER_00 14:53

I think it's just I would bet um good. I think it's just there's some people that just want to use it as an opportunity to destroy stuff and then it just spreads to others.

SPEAKER_02 15:04

More of an excuse. Yeah, but what is wrong in their brains that this is sounds like fun? What's fun about it?

SPEAKER_04 15:12

I don't think it is. I think it's like what Brandon said, where they're they're trying to hide amongst the crowd so they can, or it's just takes one idiot, and then the herd mentality, herd mentality takes over, and before you know it, there's two people. Oh, now there's four people, and before you know it, you know, there's no more all the windows and walgreens are broken out, and everyone's running around with shampoo and condoms.

SPEAKER_02 15:38

Yeah, I yeah, I it's just I so people aren't smart enough to think for themselves. They're like, hey, those guys doing it. I must have to do it too.

SPEAKER_03 15:48

I'm stupid, and I'd like to say that it's mostly teenagers, but we all know it's not.

SPEAKER_02 15:53

No, no, no, no, grown ass men grown adults that do not know how to just behave in society in general, they're just morons. I it's just yeah, it's pure idiocy. So I I don't know, I just I don't understand it. Doesn't make sense, it's never made sense to me. When I was 16 years old watching people do this, I'm like, why you you have all this pride, right? You have all this pride, my city won. And then so you go out and destroy it. How did we go from having pride, wearing the city's team's jersey, like rooting for this team? You always sit there and say, Oh, my team won. Well, no, it's it's the team you root for. You have absolutely no connection to this team. You're not on the you're not in the front office, you're not on the roster, it's not your team. You root for the team, but now, so now that they won, now you go and destroy the city that that team represents. Like, I it it's just I have a really hard time understanding like what's wrong with people's brains and where the disconnect is and what neurons aren't firing or connecting. Oh boy, yeah. But it's it, I don't even see that kind of stuff happening as much as they're just destroying stuff, flipping cars over, lighting them on fire. Again, it's just I I yeah, absolutely zero sense. So, but anyway, all right. Well, anyway, so moving on. So uh huge week, NFL free agency, and trades have just erupted, right? In the NFL. So obviously, I think a lot of people um do definitely want to talk about the fact that sorry, um holy cow, the Miles Garrett trade. Yeah, that's what started it off. It was like uh you know, a kind of a chain reaction here.

SPEAKER_03 18:02

Um so damn it, the Rams always get the good players.

SPEAKER_02 18:08

Yeah, I again it's like, yeah, I get it, you know, but uh yeah, so the Browns trade two-time defensive player of the year, Miles Garrett to the Rams in a blockbuster deal. So they got back a two-time all-pro. Um, I'm trying to find his name, and I'm striking out literally everywhere. Uh here it is. Uh Jared Verse. Verse. So Jared Verse, he again, he's been to the Pro Bowl twice. He's a absolute solid. In the last several years, he's third in quarterback pressures. So great player. And he's also been in the talk for defensive player of the year a couple of times. So getting an absolute stud back. Obviously, Miles Garrett is the best defensive end in the league since Aaron Donald retired. Um, they also got a first-round pick in 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2028. So the Browns again are getting draft capital back. Here's so here's my argument for the Browns. They had a really good draft, right? They had a really good draft. They know they're not competing for anything this coming year, right? They don't have a quarterback, they've got uh two guys that are third string QPs at best and not high-end ones. Um you're gonna win maybe three or four games this year. Miles Garrett is kind of gonna be 30, right? I think he's it's going into his 30-year-old year. I know it's hard to see a player of that caliber go. You just stacked, you're stacking more first-round draft picks for next year. Am I wrong there? What do you guys think?

SPEAKER_03 19:55

I I mean, I I like the deal for the for the uh the Browns. I mean, they get a good draft class. Um, he's old, he's I mean, not old, he's 30. So I mean, he's probably got another three, four years out of him. So I mean, he'll probably retire at out as a Ram.

SPEAKER_02 20:12

No, no doubt. That's what I'm saying. But I mean, it's like again, you're still stacking for the future. Like, you only let's be honest, like the Browns are be lucky to win four games next season.

SPEAKER_03 20:23

And unlike the Rams, who now just strengthen their defensive line, yeah, definitely more than it already was.

SPEAKER_02 20:30

The 49ers, Seahawks, and Rams are all Super Bowl contenders, right? So the Rams just strengthen that for sure. No, it's a it's a huge move for them. It's a huge move. Great, great team. You know, you're looking at Stafford, maybe this might be his last year, and so you're looking at, you know, going all in, it seems like, is what the Rams are doing. I I think I don't think it's a it's again, you're getting rid of a very popular player. Fans are very emotional people, so they're looking at this and just seeing maybe the negative. But honestly, you can possibly next year's draft is gonna be very strong for quarterbacks, and on top of that, you're getting another first-round draft pick. Who knows what you're gonna get with that? You know, so I don't know. I thought that one that's that's my two cents on it. I I you know, Nick, did you have something else?

SPEAKER_04 21:23

I was just gonna say that I I think the the average Browns fan is probably just pissed off because that was their one talking point of like, well, yeah, well, like we still have blah blah, you know, we have Miles Garrett. We can they'll never run to the left or whatever, and now they have well, you have nothing. They're just hanging on to the one glimmering hope.

SPEAKER_02 21:47

There's Browns fans that actually think Shador Sanders is a starting quarterback.

SPEAKER_04 21:52

Yeah, because they're cleaning over any shiny object they can get because the Browns fans.

SPEAKER_02 21:58

Yeah, Shador Sanders. Oh man. I I don't think he's in the top 32 seconds.

SPEAKER_03 22:06

I still don't know how he got drafted last year.

SPEAKER_02 22:09

I know. Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 22:12

Absolutely.

SPEAKER_02 22:13

I mean, he's yeah, he put up a bunch of yards at CU, but it's like you really dive into his stats. He is not a good quarterback.

SPEAKER_04 22:22

So anyway I did think I did think it was funny before we move off of Miles Garrett. Um Aaron Donald and called in or got called from the the McAfee show, and he said he would contemplate coming out of retirement if asked to play on his team.

SPEAKER_02 22:37

Yeah, it's not gonna happen.

SPEAKER_04 22:38

I don't think it will either, but that would be that would is that is a scary image right there.

SPEAKER_02 22:42

Sure.

SPEAKER_00 22:43

Um the other one what's that? I did watch Garrett talking to the media and he basically said he felt like you know this is his time, he wants to win a championship, and this is the team to do it with, basically.

SPEAKER_02 22:57

Well, this is gonna be his best chance, absolutely. Huge motivating factor, sure. So it's yeah, huge motivating motivating factor. But yeah, we'll see what happens there. And then uh moving on, we've got AJ Brown going to the Pats. Love this move. AJ Brown was not happy in Philadelphia. Apparently, they you know, AJ Brown's not happy anywhere he's at. Well, he's still a lot of talent. You put him with the guy that's you know, Drake May. You know, now you're going to a more uh passing you know tight team versus you know, Philadelphia is not. I mean, I like uh I like the quarterback.

SPEAKER_03 23:33

He's just one of those kind of players where I always look at him like, is he really worth the hassle that bring that comes along with him? I mean, we're not talking about Brandon Ayuk here.

SPEAKER_02 23:44

We're talking about Adrian Brown. If he's happy, yes, he is. If he's happy, absolutely. Because he's not gonna be a problem if he's happy. If he's one of those players, if he's unhappy, sure, it's terrible. You don't even want you don't want to deal with him. But if he's happy, like watching his workouts already with the with with the Pats, it's like he looks pretty happy. He's smiling, he's having a good time, and again, it's really early. I get that, Steve. But yeah, I yeah, if he's happy, absolutely.

SPEAKER_03 24:14

I mean, and he's going to a good team, obviously, a good quarterback.

SPEAKER_02 24:17

And I think C West is gonna be the best division. It's you've got you know, Mike Evans now in San Francisco, they're gonna be healthy. You've got the Seahawks, who actually lost a couple of people. I think the Seahawks might even take a step down, and I think, and then the Rams obviously are gonna be good. So but you put you put AJ Brown on the Pats, man. I'm like, they yeah, they just went to the Super Bowl. I that team could win that division again. So anyway, um, anyway, so part of that, what was that trade?

SPEAKER_04 24:55

Um, so I know they've got I was trying to see what god stop they got a 20 uh 2027 fifth round and a 2028 first round. So again, they're wow, absolute trash here.

SPEAKER_02 25:10

Sorry, guys. Um it's great. You got the Eagles stacking picks as well. So I don't know. I like it. I like that trade as well. I think uh if you've said that again, I'm gonna lose it.

SPEAKER_03 25:25

Um I just got this uh looks like um 49ers Brandon Aruki just got a rest quart put out for him.

SPEAKER_02 25:34

Yeah, I I brought it up in the beginning of the broadcast, but yes, Brandon Ayuk has been an issue by Santa Clara. Uh, I read a several things about it earlier. Brandon Ayuk posted a video on social media doing a hundred and like six in a 35 mile an hour zone driving by Levi Stadium. And one thing that people have to realize right next to Levi Stadium, in fact, they share a parking lot with Great America. Great America is like six flags, it's a six, like a six flags theme park, it's a fantastic place, a lot of fun. Um, but it it's again, it's also they've got raging waters there. So you have a major theme park plus a water park, and this scumbag is doing 106 in a 35. And he how stupid do you have to be to post it? He posts it on social media and then tries to apologize, and this, that, and the other. And it's like, no, arrest him. It's like it's like committing a crime and calling the police on yourself. I said this when they were going through the whole negotiation of his contract. I was like, please trade this guy, get like, get rid of him. I knew massive amounts of Niners fans that are like, this clown is not number one, he's not worth it. He was not, and then the 49ers got two trades for him. Just to give you a little backstory. So they had him going to the Browns, the Browns were gonna sign him at 30 million a year. Turns it down. Why? Because he knows doesn't have a quarterback in Cleveland. Then they get a trade going to New England. New England was gonna sign him at 35 million a year. Trade and sign Niners are doing what he wants, they're like, see ya. He's like, No, no, no, no, no, no. Again, doesn't want to leave Brock Purdy. Anyone with half a brain knows Brock Purdy is a top eight, top probably five actually quarterback in the NFL. Stats back it up, everything backs it up, right? People that don't are just I I I don't know. Some people are just emotional idiots.

SPEAKER_03 27:42

So I would say top ten, not top five.

SPEAKER_02 27:45

I'm talking statistically. Statistically, he's actually above that. He's like top four. So it's top ten. I'm talking numbers, though, Steve.

SPEAKER_03 27:58

Yeah, it's just numbers. I know I'm just giving you a hard time.

SPEAKER_02 28:00

Oh, I could give a shit. I'm just saying it's like just numbers. Numbers and a lot of stuff, he's first, second, or third. Overall, numbers, he's well into top five. So better playoff record than just about everybody in the NFL. Um, so anyway, he knew he didn't want to go to these places because they didn't have a quarterback to get him the ball, so they sign him again to the original deal that he offered. What everybody doesn't realize is his wife is sitting here pulling the strings, and she is an absolute succubus. So it's I I don't know what it is. If he's met got a mental illness thing going on, it's like it's just I I keep telling myself there's no way a player is this dumb. So I don't know, he's pretty dumb. What do you guys think? Arrest him? Absolutely.

SPEAKER_00 28:57

I mean, there was a couple of writers that have done that here over the years.

SPEAKER_02 29:01

Oh, yeah. Again, we get into rugs again, but we covered it.

SPEAKER_03 29:05

I think they go way too easy on these any pro sport player. I think they go way too easy on them.

SPEAKER_00 29:10

That's why they think they can get away with it.

SPEAKER_02 29:13

100%. Yep. I and that's that comes down to it again, Brandon. It's like they just think they're invincible, they think they're this, they think they're that, they're above this, they're above that. And it's like he thinks that his little apology is gonna work. It's like, dude, you've just proven over and over again that you're a scumbag.

SPEAKER_03 29:29

Nobody's I don't think most normal people would lose their license from that, from something like that.

SPEAKER_02 29:35

Oh, absolutely. That's criminal speed by what 40? What it's like Nick, you might know this too. Uh, it's like I think anything more than 30 miles an hour over the posted speed limit, number one, is reckless and criminal.

SPEAKER_04 29:49

Oh man, I don't remember anymore.

SPEAKER_02 29:51

70 something over that, 71 miles an hour over the posted speed limit.

SPEAKER_04 29:57

My only question is if he's in a parking lot, we played devil's advocate to be clear.

SPEAKER_02 30:04

No, no, no, it's a it's a road. He's not in a parking lot, he's on a road.

SPEAKER_04 30:07

He is he was on a road, not in a parking lot around. No, all right, then yeah, he's actually deserves deserves trail time.

SPEAKER_02 30:13

Postage speed limit is 35 miles an hour.

SPEAKER_00 30:17

Oh, yeah, I've been on that road outside of there. It's yep, that ain't a straight road.

SPEAKER_02 30:24

Yeah, many times growing up. So anyway, so yep. So that's going on with Brandon Ayuk and the 49ers and Brandon Ayuk saga, which just does not seem to want to end. Um, Russell Wilson announces his retirement. Um okay. Um and the funniest piece of NFL news this week is that Caleb Williams is going to be on the cover of Madden. And it it I just still don't understand what people see in this guy. Got a strong arm, so does every quarterback in the NFL. His accuracy is clearly the worst in the NFL. Um, they say he's got magic. He like they got they got lucky in a few games, they went on a run. It's like I a team is guaranteed they're not gonna win that division. I do not understand the lure around Caleb Williams. I see people literally, and again, these are fans, and it's like, you know, which is always comical to see like their top 10 quarterbacks. People have Caleb Williams as a top 10 quarterback, and I'm like, based on what made the playoffs. Open a dream. He he made the playoffs. It was certain okay. That team made the playoffs. It wasn't because of the I'm just saying that's a lot of people's arguments. Okay, fair enough. I got you.

SPEAKER_03 31:51

He was good enough to make the playoffs, so that means arguably in the top ten.

SPEAKER_02 31:59

That that puts you in the top ten, all right. Well, Nick Foles is a top 10 quarterback. Okay.

SPEAKER_03 32:06

I mean, I don't agree with that, but and Nick Foles is a Super Bowl MVP, so anyway.

SPEAKER_02 32:12

Um what are you guys' takes on those two things? Go ahead, Steve. What's your take? On Russell Wilson retiring, and who by the way real quick about Russell Wilson is I I I don't even think like Russell Wilson was mobile when he was young, extended some plays. Can we be honest about the Seahawks teams? Like, that wasn't because of Russell Wilson, it was because of that defense and the Legion of Boom is why that team was as good as they were. Like, you look at his stats in that Super Bowl, he didn't do anything.

SPEAKER_03 32:50

Well, the good thing about Russell, he wasn't a I mean, there was talks about him making the Hall of Fame, but he wasn't he wasn't bad as the thing, he didn't make a lot of bad decisions during during those.

SPEAKER_02 33:04

That's what that team was. Like, as a so he just didn't lose the games for him like a lot of quarterbacks do. No, and he was like I said, he had a couple of years where he was great, but outside of those, like maybe two seasons, what are we talking about? That was Marshawn Lynch and the Legion of Boom. Yeah, like that was like saying, Yeah, Trent Dilfer was a great quarterback, he belongs in the Hall of Fame because he won one Super Bowl with a defense. I'm like he should have retired three years ago, oh, a long time ago. I remember Steelers fans when they got Russell Wilson, and I'm like, dude, you guys are not going to the place. They're like, with Russell Wilson, yeah, we are, and I'm like, Oh, you're not. And I came back to them weeks later, and I was like, I literally everything that I said came true. Everything. And they were like, Well, they were like this, and I'm like, just stop and admit you were wrong. It's like you have emotional takes and you have factual, like analytical takes, and that's that's what it is. It's what you base this stuff on. But people are so emotional about this stuff, it's like, okay, bud. Brandon, what do you got? Oh, sorry, Steve. I I cut you off there. Go ahead, bud. No, I was gonna I'm the fun brand. I got you, yeah, yeah, yeah. Brandon, what do you think?

SPEAKER_00 34:23

Russell Wilson had a good career. Their championship win, that was a fun game to watch.

SPEAKER_02 34:30

But against the Broncos, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 34:34

But you know, good career, you know, fine. Decent quarterback, yeah, good career. So congratulations on the retirement.

SPEAKER_02 34:44

Yeah, certainly not a Hall of Famer. No, no, no, he is not a Hall of Fame quarterback. Um, what do you think about Caleb Williams? On the cover of Madden. This is just beyond hilarious. What's that? That's all mixed. Yeah, okay. It's the most absurd. This might be the worst decision for Madden cover of all time.

SPEAKER_01 35:10

Oh my god, settle down.

SPEAKER_02 35:12

Yeah, tell me, tell me who is a dumber. I honestly let me ask you a question. What has he done to get on the cover of Madden versus every other person that's ever been on the cover? Who in God's name?

SPEAKER_04 35:30

Go ahead. Um, first off, I would like to say goodbye to Russell Wilson. Um, yeah, all I can ever remember is him going out to a practice field as a Bronco and practicing high-fiving people down low as he went to the practice field when there was no one there. He lit, it's a video I saw it. It was beyond cringe.

SPEAKER_02 35:50

That was such a train wreck of a signing to one of the worst all time.

SPEAKER_04 35:55

But definitely not a Hall of Famer, but he had some great years. And if you want to talk about what that what his Legion of Boom team was made of, yeah, do you? I mean, you obviously remember how that Super Bowl ended when they didn't run the ball at the one-yard line.

SPEAKER_02 36:08

Having a player like a quarterback with the of Russell Wilson's throwing ability, which was never great, it definitely below average, um, compared to other quarterbacks, okay. And you've got Marshawn Lynch. The first run, they were on the five, they get to the what, maybe one and a half yard line.

SPEAKER_04 36:30

It's like one or two, yeah, exactly.

SPEAKER_02 36:32

You're second in goal. I don't care. You are running that ball three more times.

SPEAKER_04 36:38

Three times.

SPEAKER_02 36:38

I guess exactly. Three times. Listen, if they stop Marshawn Lynch, they deserve to win that Super Bowl at that point.

SPEAKER_04 36:44

That's just the way it is. That year, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 36:47

But you throw the ball with a quarterback like Russell Wilson, who it telegraphs all of his throws. I mean, it's like, come on, dude. And he was a rainbow thrower. It's like, and Malcolm Butler said in an interview, I saw the play, I knew exactly what they were running, and that's how he was able to jump the route. One of the worst calls, if not the worst call in Super Bowl history. For sure.

SPEAKER_04 37:18

Um, but getting back to the main point, I don't know what everyone's problem is with Caleb Williams. I get it. Statistically, analytically, he's not as good as everyone else. He paints his nails, whatever your beef is.

SPEAKER_02 37:33

Oh, who cares about that? Nobody cares about that.

SPEAKER_04 37:35

I'm not saying you, I'm just saying people complain about all kinds of things. Um, he brought winning football back to Chicago, which has not had winning football in a decade. Caleb Williams. Caleb Williams was the quarterback who led our team last year to a winning record and a postseason. I can see your point of view. Are we unstoppable? God knows are we the best team in our division? Probably not. But you don't know. Um, but statistically, but you never know what the hell's gonna happen. And why not put somebody that little kids are trying to make rep like to replicate that throw that's on the cover? He's just the hot talking point. Like, why wouldn't he be on the cover? Who else would you put on the cover? You know who's gonna be on the cover next year? A Manning. Probably. Does he deserve to be on it? Uh little Manning?

SPEAKER_02 38:31

There's I there. I can't there's so many other players that I would put on the cover of that. I'd put Drake May on the cover of it. I would put the Super Bowl MVP for the Seattle Seahawks on the cover of it. I would put Miles Garrett on the cover of it. These are guys that are game changers, that are great future Hall of Famers. That's who I would put on the cover of Madden. I got somebody that's somebody that is a top, somebody that is even a top 20 player in their position, I would put on the cover of Madden. I I I think it's yeah, I I it's the worst player to ever be on the cover of Madden.

SPEAKER_00 39:11

I surprised. I think you're slightly biased, but what's that, Nick?

SPEAKER_02 39:16

No, what'd Brandon say?

SPEAKER_00 39:17

I'm surprised Deion didn't pay them off to put his son on the cover.

SPEAKER_02 39:21

That it's we're we're not far from the absurdity. Sorry. And I've talked to a ton of people about about this today, and I did not get one person that said, Yeah, oh yeah, absolutely, you deserve everybody's like, what are they doing? We'll see.

SPEAKER_04 39:50

God Yeah, I yeah.

SPEAKER_01 39:53

Yes.

SPEAKER_04 39:54

I mean it's one year, this is a one year I really, really, really hope the Madden curse doesn't come true.

SPEAKER_02 40:02

I would say uh you should hope for it because you've got a quarterback that's better sitting behind him. And in what is his name? Bag is it baggett. You really don't like him, do you? Dude, no, he doesn't.

SPEAKER_04 40:17

He's giving me shit about Caleb Williams. Here's the thing about Caleb Williams, okay?

SPEAKER_02 40:21

This is this is what Caleb Williams is. He was an overhyped player who could not beat a top 25 team when he was in college, had horrible stats against any team that was decent in college. Why? Because if you make him not run in college, he can't, he's yeah, his accuracy is pitiful. The only thing he's got going for him is he is very athletic, just like any other player in the NFL. He's just I it's I'm sorry, but he's not a good quarterback. The guy sitting behind him could be a future quarterback for the Bears. I would even go far as to say there's receivers that left because Caleb Williams was a quarterback.

SPEAKER_03 41:14

Yeah, I was just reading it. Apparently they picked him mainly for the pose. What's that? He was picked mainly for the pose in the backdrop of the Chicago skyline. It's an absolute joke.

SPEAKER_04 41:27

Man, you say that, but it's gonna make me buy Madden next year. Or this year.

SPEAKER_02 41:32

Yeah, if you're a Chicago fan, I'll buy Madden, not because of who's on the cover of it.

SPEAKER_04 41:37

No, but I don't buy Madden every year, but I'll buy it next year. I'll buy it this year.

SPEAKER_02 41:40

Dang it, I can't find the where is the NFL in this in this holy smokes, like there it is. Um okay.

SPEAKER_03 41:51

Oh, and it was okay, and it was also uh a throwback to Jordan. It's the same kind of pose for the Chicago Bulls. The Chicago leg spread pose. Yep, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 42:04

Tyson bag uh bag. I don't know how you say his last name, but Bagant.

SPEAKER_04 42:10

It's right, it's Bag.

SPEAKER_02 42:12

Yeah. You just look look at his look in 2023, he played in five games, had a completion percentage of 65%, had 859 yards, uh, and had a couple of good games.

SPEAKER_03 42:29

It just I William's stats are actually good last year. Thank you. Almost 4,000 yards, 27 touchdowns, only seven interceptions.

SPEAKER_04 42:38

First time that's happened in how long?

SPEAKER_03 42:40

A franchise record. I mean, that's not that's that's good stats.

SPEAKER_02 42:47

You gotta okay, watch, watch the way he plays. It's dude, yeah. Had a lot of talented receivers. A lot of that was check downs. He is a bubble screen princess. That's what he does. And now that says more about the coach and his play calling. He was like, okay, that was two years ago.

SPEAKER_04 43:03

Bubble screen was two years ago, not last year. It was last year, too. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Absolutely not. Oh my god. I need to ask ChatGBT percentage of plays the Bears covered that were bubble screen. Last year was two years ago.

SPEAKER_02 43:18

What was his average air yards, bud? He was 31st in the NFL. 31st in the NFL with average air yards. That means distance of passes.

SPEAKER_03 43:26

Man, we are gonna have an interesting football debate with football football.

SPEAKER_02 43:32

Any passes over 10 yards, he was the worst quarterback in the NFL.

SPEAKER_01 43:38

Worst. Dead last.

SPEAKER_04 43:41

Statistically.

SPEAKER_01 43:44

That's not a statistic. All you have to do is watch the guy. He's awful.

SPEAKER_02 43:48

He throws the ball, he throws more balls 10 yards over their head or in their feet if it's over 10 yards. He's not good.

SPEAKER_04 44:01

Good enough. Yeah, I mean, what's that? Good enough for the playoff, Berth. Good enough to beat the Packers. Good enough to make the cover. Good enough for me. And I know it doesn't look good enough for you.

SPEAKER_03 44:15

Good enough for a Chicago fan.

SPEAKER_04 44:18

Damn right.

SPEAKER_03 44:22

I mean, it is a cool, it's kind of a cool cover, especially the deluxe ones.

SPEAKER_02 44:26

This is not a good quarterback. All right. Are we in the playoffs had a QBR of 65.9?

SPEAKER_03 44:38

What do you think about Odell Beckham coming back?

SPEAKER_02 44:41

So yeah, we can get into that. We can move on from the embarrassment of this conversation. Um, okay, so yeah, I the New York Giants look great. They're I think they're on the up and up. They really are. I think Odell Beckham Jr. I mean, he's I'd be surprised if he plays six games. Um, but no, I I like I like the New York Giants, if that's what you're asking about. I mean, how long has he been out? Um, I think the more bigger signing was the fact that Drake London, Atlanta locked up Drake London. Super smart move. Drake London is an insanely talented uh uh receiver, they just need a quarterback in Atlanta. Although it's still early. I take that back. It's still early. But uh yeah, he got signed, I think, to what was it, four-year, five-year extension, 140 million, 100 of it guaranteed. But Drake London's legit. He is an awesome, he's just a great, great, great receiver. So very smart move there by Atlanta. How much of that's guaranteed? 100 million.

SPEAKER_03 45:51

Wow, dang. That's so Odell Beckham didn't even play last season.

unknown 45:59

No.

SPEAKER_03 46:00

No, he hasn't played in he played in two in 2024. He played nine games. Half the season. Very bad. He only caught 55 yards. Nine catches. Yeah. Um makes me wonder why he's even come trying to come back. He got busted for performance-enhancing drugs last year.

SPEAKER_02 46:24

Because he needs the money, because he's not an intelligent human being, probably, and didn't, you know, it's huh. Same old story. Um, where was I going here? The Atlanta Falcon. So let's see, blah, blah, blah. You got the Falcon. Um God. So Michael Penix Jr., I they've got Tua, who that's God, they better hope Michael Penix doesn't get hurt. Um, you got B. John Robinson. Um, now you got Drake London. You've got Jahan Dotson, great number, great number two receiver. Um, I I'm not sure that Michael Penix Jr. is gonna be any good. It's like he's he's had it's mostly been rough, but I think he's shown signs of being good. He's I think it's uh accuracy is what's gonna be the most thing. His yards, oh that's sorry, that's wrong thing, but uh yards per attempt, 7.4. Uh little, little still pretty average. Um, definitely better than 6.4 yards per attempt. Um, let's see, 2024. He was only in five games in 24. Did okay. Um, last year in nine games, he had a 60% completion percentage, under 2,000 yards, QBR of 88.5, only nine touchdowns in those games with uh only three interceptions. But again, they you know break it down, they don't really let him sling it too much. So average yards per attempt was 7.2. Again, that is still just about average in the NFL. So I it'll be interesting to see Atlanta continues to build, but great move, Simon Drake London. So, Brandon, what do you got? Anything?

SPEAKER_00 48:20

No, nothing else besides that. Okay, awesome. Um, Steve, anything else with the NFL, buddy?

SPEAKER_03 48:27

No, not that I'm saying it's 100. That just so you know that the deal was a four-year 141 million extension.

SPEAKER_02 48:34

So it was uh it was four years. I couldn't remember if it was four or five. I said 140, it was 141. Guaranteed, I believe, is 100, correct?

SPEAKER_03 48:41

Uh it doesn't, I can't see anything about guaranteed, but I think we're reading it earlier. I believe it was 100. Yeah, hang on, I got you right here.

SPEAKER_02 48:49

Makes him the third highest paid receiver. Uh yeah, it is 100 million guaranteed. So, yeah. And it also it's with incentives and everything else, like over that four-year period, there's another nine million potentially that he can make in incentives and bonuses. So, yep. Um, anyway, that's all I got. Nick, you got anything else with the NFL?

SPEAKER_04 49:19

I was just gonna give a little tip of the hat to the Steelers for locking up their outside linebacker. Uh, Nick Herbig got a big contract four-year extension, $100 million.

SPEAKER_02 49:29

Cool, very good.

SPEAKER_04 49:31

But no, that's a good one. I'm excited for football. I'm excited for hockey. I'm like, I'm ready. Let's go. I'm so ready to talk crap with Brandon.

SPEAKER_02 49:41

So let's go ahead and just do this now. I've got a thousand dollars. The Bears do not make the playoffs. You ready to go? How confident are you?

SPEAKER_04 49:49

As a single father of two, no, I'm not betting you a thousand bucks.

SPEAKER_02 49:55

They will not make the playoffs.

SPEAKER_04 49:57

I will absolutely make a more ridiculous bet that influences one of us on this podcast. Like a dumb hat or something, but I'm not gonna get I'm not gonna bet you a thousand bucks, no.

SPEAKER_02 50:08

Where's the confidence there, buddy?

SPEAKER_03 50:10

I don't have a thousand dollars, bro. Confidence comes with the money, though.

SPEAKER_02 50:17

Yeah.

SPEAKER_03 50:20

Easy money.

SPEAKER_02 50:21

Easy money. Um, all right. Easy money. Okay, so we'll move on. We've got uh the NHL. So let's get into it. We've got the NHL. Uh the draft is just in a couple of weeks. Um, there's been some mocks now that are saying that some people think that Ivon Sternberg, who's listed as the number two overall prospect, I've watched some of his games and uh some of his stuff was sweet. Dude, dude's legit. There's no question about it. Um, they're saying that he could fall, some people believe he could fall to fourth. And like Caleb Malhotra's uh stock has definitely risen. Um, again, incredible player, possibly going to Vancouver, but Ivar is if going to Chicago, that's big. That's big. Because really, Connor Bedard doesn't have like what San Jose has, or um, you know, with you know, San Jose, their top line is looking like with Will Smith and Igor Chernesov. It's like those are all that first line for San Jose's got what two guys that are probably gonna have 80 points. Macklin Celebrini, who knows how many points he's gonna have next year, 130. Um, so it's like getting a guy like that going to Chicago, that would be a big, big, big play. Um, you know, there you still see I've seen a ton of stuff with like some absolutely just absurd trade ideas and stuff like that. Um there won't be any trades. I no, I keep I keep saying that. Thank you. Uh the big thing, obviously, with San Jose, they keep saying, like, oh, San Jose is gonna do this and that and the other. And I'm like, San Jose is taking Chase Reed. Definitely not in the top 10.

SPEAKER_03 52:12

There's not gonna be any trades.

SPEAKER_02 52:13

Because a lot of those teams need that pick. They really some of those teams need it. Even if you don't need it, it's the top ten pick. I mean, yeah. Obviously, we all feel really, really bad for Gavin McKenna having to go to Toronto um and dealing with that. It's like poor, poor Gavin. Um let's see. I like New York, new the Rangers having the fifth pick. They're not well, I guess they've sold off a lot of their stuff. It's I don't know if what they're doing, if they're retooling or if they're gonna go into a full rebuild. What do you guys think? You think they're gonna trade? That's a team that I could see possibly move. If anybody's gonna move their pick in the top 10, it could be the Rangers. I could see them doing some crazy shit like that.

SPEAKER_03 53:09

Really? I mean, I guess it's possible, but I don't think there'll be any trades in the top 10. No, I and I completely agree, but I'm just saying if there is a too many good players, uh, it's a great draft. It really is. If you're in the top, if you're in the top 10, you want to stay in the top 10 just to grab one of those players.

SPEAKER_02 53:26

It's there's teams that are in like even the bottom. It's like you've got some good good players. Um, there's some great offensive-minded like uh defensemen. Like Keaton Verhoff is again, this is the kid at UND, University of North Dakota. Uh, he's was initially listed as the number one defensive prospect, and then obviously Chase Reed's development has been absolutely incredible. That's why they're saying, okay, well, that's the top defenseman. San Jose, they're thinking is going to take him. And again, people really don't look into this, but San Jose's got an absolute stud bunch of little young studs that are still developing defensive prospects. But yeah, I Keaton Verhoff, whoever gets him, he's possibly gonna slide maybe even out of the top five. I think that's who a lot of people think the Rangers will take. I don't know. But Steve, you're you're pretty certain you think they're gonna nobody's gonna trade out of the top ten. Like who was it on here that said it's like a zero point something percent chance, right?

SPEAKER_03 54:33

That was me.

SPEAKER_02 54:34

Yeah, was it yeah?

SPEAKER_03 54:35

Yeah, that they're and it's very rare. I think the last one was like in the in the 90s when they actually somebody actually traded out yeah out of the top 10.

SPEAKER_02 54:44

That it I yeah, I like that. I mean, it's you know, let's see. It was, yeah, New York. Now, like there this one is saying car. Oh, this is another kid, Carson Carrells, who his draft stock has also gone up after the IIHF, the World Juniors plus uh the World Championships that just happened. It's like, you know, you saw Canada get uh ended up in I think fourth. They didn't even meddle. So yeah, they're disappointed possibly going sixth to Calgary. So I it's it's good. Uh Florida's another one. Florida's, dude, they're still a unit, man. Like they and they had a really bad year and end up with the ninth overall pick, so they're getting some stud, possibly. They're looking at uh they this thing has uh Daxon Rudolph possibly going ninth again. A great defenseman playing in the WHL. Um, a lot of these guys are still really, really they're really young, still development. Somebody asked last week, is there anybody that's NHL ready right now? It's like I don't know. What do you guys think? anybody?

SPEAKER_00 55:57

No, no, no thoughts on the draft. My thoughts are still the same.

SPEAKER_03 56:02

I mean I don't think anybody's ready for the NHL yet.

SPEAKER_02 56:08

No, I mean there could be some guy. Uh Gavin McKenna could be.

SPEAKER_03 56:13

If he could be the closest, but even then, I don't think he's ready yet.

SPEAKER_02 56:18

Also, he doesn't have to. Well, it's like look at Michael Miso with San Jose, like 18 years old, picked second overall last year. He developed in the NHL. Gavin McKenna is good enough to be in the NHL. Plus, he doesn't have he's not going to a team that he has to carry the team, or he, you know, all eyes will be on him, but you still have players that are there that are good enough, and they'll, you know, so he can stay there and develop and not have too much pressure. I mean, obviously being in Toronto sucks, but just with the media and the fan base and how they treat players, and you know, so anyway, right on anything else? Yeah, I guess.

SPEAKER_03 57:07

Just last night's game.

SPEAKER_02 57:09

Yeah, it'll be really interesting to see where some of these kids end up. And so I'm excited for the draft. I think it's gonna be a lot of fun being Buffalo on June 26th. Might even go to the first round. I don't know. My kids kind of bugging me. He's like, can we go to the draft? And I'm like, yeah, technically, but we'll see. So um, but anyway, so uh the meat and potatoes, we've got uh last night was game one. The Stanley Cup final has commenced. You got Las Vegas and Carolina. Um, a great game last night. Give it hats off to Vegas' number 93, Mitch. That was a goal. There at that puck was in the net. It was going in the net. That block shot probably won them that game. It absolutely incredible throwing his body like that in front of that net. That puck was absolutely going in. Well, it tied it up, and yeah, it it started off obviously amazing for Carolina. It was they and Vegas didn't panic, they buckled down, scored three straight. Carolina came back, it went back and forth, and then ultimately Vegas won game one. Um, just like the last round for um Carolina, they lost game one as well, and then obviously went on to win four straight. So um, it's funny. All the conversations I've had, it's identical to the Montreal conversations.

SPEAKER_03 58:39

Yeah, only problem is Vegas is a lot better, a lot better of a team.

SPEAKER_02 58:43

Well, they're yes, they have better offensive players, but not a better goaltender. So it's Dobris is not better than Carter, or Carter Heart is not better than Dobris. But again, yeah, Vegas is a good team. I think you guys are right.

SPEAKER_03 59:03

So I think it's probably gonna go six.

SPEAKER_02 59:07

You still have it, I still have it at six, yeah.

SPEAKER_04 59:10

Were you saying Nick? I just think after watching that first game with y'all, I think that the Hurricanes lost their game, and and the Vegas Knights won. I mean, the only people that the hurricanes can blame is themselves. They came out look they looked flat from time to time. That's fair. I agree. They did not play their best hockey last night. We said it. There were glimpses of there were glimpses of hurricane hockey, and we talked about it. Like it was something suffocating, and they were their fore check and just yeah, but then that especially after that start of that second period, they looked flat. Oh, they all got yelled at. Yeah, okay.

SPEAKER_02 59:46

I get that. Um, but again, don't take anything away from Vegas. They it they still executed. No, Carolina was I I don't even think 60% of what they're capable of. Last year.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:02

My biggest complaint would have been the fact that they weren't finishing the hits.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:06

Yeah, they weren't finishing checks. Uh, their passes were offline and terrible. Yeah, um, I I think we saw so many opportunities that that Vegas was just here. You go. They just weren't, they just didn't execute. You know, they did the same thing last round.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:25

But everybody changed their tune. Everybody was talking about how this is going to be a very boring series after that first game, though. Some of these people were talking about that's one of the best playoff games that they've ever seen.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:35

Let's Steve, let's be honest. Like, when you say everyone, you mean Montreal fans.

SPEAKER_03 1:00:40

Yeah, whoa, Canadian fans, honestly.

SPEAKER_02 1:00:45

I know, man. It's just something that they do. Again, it's Montreal fans. And I don't like to say it's not all Montreal fans. I got a guy that uh my kid my his son and my son played hockey together a couple years ago. He's a huge Montreal fan. Great guy. Not anything like these Montreal Canadian fans. So again, it's not all of them, but it's maybe 95 or God. It's like I've tried so many times to have in like good intellectual conversation about hockey with them, and it's impossible. It just doesn't, it can't, it's like, what the F. So it's yeah.

SPEAKER_01 1:01:31

Anyway, I did like the live though we did last night.

SPEAKER_02 1:01:33

That was fun. Yeah, I think we'll do it again at some point during this series. Um, yeah, it'll it'll it was it was great. Um, you know, I think it'll grow, we'll get more viewers as time goes on, but I think it's a good way to get more viewers as well, too. Sure, sure. Absolutely. So uh Brandon, do you have anything?

SPEAKER_00 1:01:54

Just uh game reminded me a bit of the one against Colorado where Colorado went up 3-0. Uh soon as just Vegas just keeps fighting back with everything they have. It's gonna be a tight game every every one through this series, I think.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:14

Well, uh yeah, we'll see. We'll see how the series goes. Yep.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:19

They're definitely gonna be close games, though, yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:21

Sure.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:22

I agree with you on that, Burnham.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:24

Yeah, everybody's gonna be.

SPEAKER_03 1:02:25

I don't think either team is gonna win more than by no more than two goals.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:31

Yeah, I think it's it's funny. This is only the second time that Carolina's given up more than two goals, and they've lost both those games.

SPEAKER_05 1:02:38

So yeah.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:40

Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:02:45

All right. Nick. Oh, I already said I I I felt like the Hurricanes lost that game, and the Vegas Knights stepped up and won it. Just didn't see a lot of hurricane hockey.

SPEAKER_02 1:02:57

Yeah, absolutely. Fair enough. Fair enough. So anyway, that's that's where we're at. Series is going. We'll uh obviously be doing some more content on on the cup as it goes on. Um, I think Steve and I, as of right now, tentatively will be uh at the tailgate uh for game five. Um, we're gonna be in the parking lot. And uh next Thursday. Yeah, that'll be that'll be interesting. That'll be fun. So hopefully it's still tentative. Um, we're gonna I'm I'm definitely gonna try to get down there. That's the plan as of now. So hopefully that uh hopefully that can uh happen. Um, like I said, as of now, that's what we're doing. So you know, but anyway, with that said, uh let's get into this week's top five. So this week's top five, um, we are gonna go with the top five best con Smythe winners of all time. That is our top five. Here we go. Let's get into it. Starting us off as usual is Steve Wood. So Steve, I put your number five.

SPEAKER_03 1:04:03

I put Connor McDavid um a couple years ago. The reason I put him, he actually did they actually didn't win right that, but which is actually a pretty big deal. He did win, yeah, he did win it, and it was just a great performance.

SPEAKER_02 1:04:20

Absolutely insane performance. He was absolutely phenomenal. Yeah, absolutely good, great, great, great, uh yeah, great number five. I really, really like it.

SPEAKER_00 1:04:35

Uh, Brennan. What do you got, dude? My number five was also on a team that didn't win it. From oh, three in the Ducks, uh Jean-Sebastian Guy Guerr. Derek Goalie, uh 1.62 goals against average. Okay. He was dynamite that year in the playoffs, and that's why he got the trophy.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:01

Yes. Correct. Uh, what'd you say? That was uh in 02-03. Um, he was 15-6 with a 1-6-2 goals against and a 945 uh save percentage, second all time to only one player.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:18

Including five shutouts, including of those five, three straight in the conference finals.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:25

Uh for yeah, Gene Sebastian. So yep, he had a one-six two um goals against, and again, his nine forty-five was second to only one player. So, yeah, awesome. Nick, what do you got for number five?

SPEAKER_04 1:05:38

Uh, if you couldn't tell by my fact that I pulled that number out of my butt, uh, mine is also Sebastian Gere uh from the 2003 Money Ducks.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:47

Good enough.

SPEAKER_04 1:05:47

So not very often that a losing team is given the MVP title.

SPEAKER_02 1:05:51

Sure. Sure. Um, okay, so yeah, my number five is gonna be Jonathan Quick in 2011 2012. He was 16-4 with a 1.41 goals against average, and he was 946 save percentage. Best all time in a playoff series by a goaltender, and literally carried that team to the cup. Um, which is why, again, that's why he won the con Smite that year. So that was my number five, was Jonathan Quick in 2011, 2012 for the LA Kings.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:24

Steve Wood moving right along. My number four is actually one because I watched it, and I know it's I know it wasn't the best, but it was I just have a thing. I think goalies just to do what they do is just not easy to do.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:38

So mine's uh important most important player in the playoffs is a goaltender.

SPEAKER_03 1:06:43

So mine's the Tampa Bay Lightning, the 2020 uh 2021 run. Uh Andrewski, thank you.

SPEAKER_02 1:06:53

Yeah, he was 16-7 with a 190 goals against average and a 937 save percentage, and also five shutouts. Yep, absolutely absurd, absurd numbers. So, yeah, pretty incredible, man. So great, Brandon.

SPEAKER_00 1:07:10

Number four. My number four is Brian Leach with the 94 Rangers. Okay, one of my favorite championship teams, but he let the entire playoffs by with scoring as a defenseman, which is something that's not normally done. Right on.

SPEAKER_04 1:07:32

Good deal. All right, Nick, number four. Number four, going back a little bit to 1970, 1972, to Bobby Orr of the Bruins. Um revolutionized the defenseman position. And in the 1970 playoffs, he capped off one of the greatest individual seasons in sports history, some say. Um, aside from scoring the famous flying through the air cup winning goal against St. Louis, he also led the playoffs in scoring with 20 points in 14 games while also being a defenseman.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:02

Right on. All right, good. Good number four. My number four again is Connor McDavid in 23-24 in a losing effort. Had eight goals, 34 assists, 42 points. Just you know, again, that was just legendary numbers. Uh, he almost drug them back from a 3-0 deficit and almost did like the near impossible. So that's uh yeah, my number four was that Connor McDavid uh performance. Just historic numbers in the playoffs. And it wasn't just that, but the way he played. Watching him is just and getting to watch him live is just God. Him and Nathan McKinnon. They just incredible players. So anyway, Steve, number three.

SPEAKER_03 1:08:47

1991 Pittsburgh Penguins, Mario Lemmox.

SPEAKER_02 1:08:51

Mario Limmix Cup.

unknown 1:08:53

Huh?

SPEAKER_03 1:08:54

Mario Lemieux. Mario Lemieux, sorry. I typed it in here wrong. You're good. Um, back to back cups. And back to back.

SPEAKER_02 1:09:07

What okay. I got you. What year are you saying? 91 was the first year. 91 season is when he won the con Smythe. Yep, okay. I got you. Right on.

SPEAKER_00 1:09:17

Yeah, Brandon, number three. My number three was Bobby Orr from 1970. Just a legendary player, and that flying goal is just iconic. Right on. Right on. Nick, number three.

SPEAKER_04 1:09:32

Number three is the one and only person on my list that I've seen play in person. Um, and the only three-time Consmyth winner, Patrick Croix. Goalie for the Canadians in the Avalanche. Um, and his 1993 run with Montreal is legendary because he refused to lose. He led the Canadians to an NHL record 10 consecutive overtime wins. Proved that he refused to lose. Gotcha.

SPEAKER_02 1:10:00

Okay. Uh, my number three again, Steve. I was gonna rattle off some stats, but I had the same number three, so I thought I would wait. But yeah, Mario Lemieux in 1991. Um, 16 goals, 28 assists for 44 points. 44 points. That's a two-point, almost a two-point per game uh tip there. So um, yeah, it actually 1.91 points per game, which is the highest ever for a single postseason among players, the highest points per game total ever done um in the playoffs. Uh yeah, 14 multi-point performances during that championship run. So yeah, my number three was also Mario Lemieux from 91. So, Steve, what is your number two? Gretzky. Okay. What two which year?

SPEAKER_03 1:10:54

I haven't listed 85 or 88. The two years that he won it, but I think the 88 performance was better than the 85. But um, yeah. Okay, I had to put him in there somewhere in the top five.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:09

I got you. Yep, no, I was just asking because 85 was is the record for points all time in a in a playoff series. So that's why I was asking what year you were going for.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:18

All right.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:19

Um, Brandon, number two.

SPEAKER_00 1:11:22

Number two is also Gretzky from 85, because as you said, that record-breaking performance with points.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:29

47 points. Yeah, man. Yeah.

SPEAKER_04 1:11:33

Um, all right, Nick, number two. Mario, Mario Lemieux back in '91. Uh, for the reasons already listed. Obviously.

SPEAKER_02 1:11:41

Gotcha. Right on. Yeah. Uh, my number two is going to be Patrick Waugh. Uh, really at 1986, Patrick Waugh, because he was 20 years old. He was a rookie and went 15 and 5 with a 1.93 uh goals against average in a 923 save percentage as a 20-year-old rookie. Uh, the 93 run again, uh not quite as good at numbers at 16 and 4, 2.13 in 929. Um, had the 10 straight overtime wins, and then Colorado, he was 16 and 7, won seven and 934. So he's done it three times. Nobody's ever he's won the most con smites all time, so that's why I had Patrick Watt in there at uh as high as number two.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:25

And that's kind of a gap between years, too. I mean, that's not you know, like two or three years, like a lot of the other players. I mean, that's what pretty wild. That's seven years and then another five years before he won another one.

SPEAKER_02 1:12:37

So yep. Um, yeah, it uh the note says uh led the Avalanche to their second Stanley Cup and set a single postseason franchise record with four shutouts for the uh for the Av.

SPEAKER_03 1:12:49

So um because Patrick's my number one, too.

SPEAKER_02 1:12:53

Only player to ever do it three times, and that's your number one, yeah. Okay, so we just rattled off the numbers for it. So yeah, only player to ever win it three times, even beat Gretzky, who won it twice. So, yeah, hats off to Patrick Wah, no doubt about it.

SPEAKER_00 1:13:08

Uh, Brandon, number one, my number one was also Patrick Wah specifically 93, because that's when you had it. Young, little the stuff watching that performance. Okay, little the stuff and deciding he wants to be a goalie just like him. Right on. Okay.

SPEAKER_04 1:13:28

Nick, number one. Number one, I went with Gretzky uh for his 85 run. It's pretty self-explanatory. He's the great one for a reason.

SPEAKER_02 1:13:37

No, that's fine. Uh, again, that's my number one just because he's number one with that con Smythe in so many categories. Um, scored 17 goals, 30 assists, 47 points in 18 games. Yeah, that's just nuts. 2.61 points per game average will never be broken. I do not care, but nobody's ever going to get that kind of production uh again. It's um Gretzky's 47 points remains the all-time NHL record for a single postseason. He posted an incredible 2.61 points per game average, dominating the playoffs with 11 multi-point games. So uh, but you look at Mario Lemuse, he had 14 multi-point games, so it's like again, those those two runs 44 and 47 points, then you add in the Connor McDavid performance was losing effort. So I think you know, I don't know, it Connor McDavid is just insane. So is Nathan McKinnon, but that performance in '85 was just stupid. I mean, it's just yeah. So that's our top five. Uh, let us know. Uh, post us on TikTok. Let us know in the comments what you guys think who your top five is. Um, and that's it. We thank you so much for you know joining us again. Another episode of Full Strength Podcast. Listen, follow us, like us, share us, uh, and don't forget to subscribe on YouTube um and elsewhere. We appreciate it. Steve, final thoughts this week.

SPEAKER_03 1:15:17

Just keep an eye out for us. We're gonna be uh we'll do a few more lives, and uh you'll see me and Brandon at uh some videos of us at the for the next hurricane game for game five.

SPEAKER_02 1:15:27

Listen, if you're at the tailgate, come say hi if you recognize us. Probably don't. We haven't really got there yet, but um, yeah, we'll be we'll have our bells on and we'll be walking through the crowd and just having a great time. Um, still trying to obtain some uh tickets for game five, which is still a possibility. Um, you know, again, come find us, come check us out, uh, be friendly. Um, we're friendly people, we're gonna be having some fun in that tailgate. So, and then possibly either inside or outside watching the game um there on campus at NC State at uh Lenovo Arena. Um depending on the price, probably outside though. Yeah, well, we'll see. Got some stuff from the works, actually. So um, Brandon, final thoughts?

SPEAKER_00 1:16:11

Yeah, we got the athletics coming to town next week, playing a couple series against the Brewers and the Rockies. Awesome. So probably be attending one of those games.

SPEAKER_02 1:16:21

I listen, real quick, stadium's looking great. They just set the uh the first beams. Um, I know we really didn't hit on baseball this week because we had so much other stuff to talk about, but yeah, the uh the first beams have been set for the new stadium there in uh in Vegas. Super pumped to get out there and go see that game or that stadium. It it just really cool. I love that it fits with the everything going on. It's it's looking like it's gonna be a really neat stadium. So um could not be happier for that organization. And uh yeah, so three teams in five years, definitely not an ownership problem.

SPEAKER_04 1:16:58

So anyway, uh Nick, final thoughts. Final thoughts is don't forget that if you want to watch the three-point contest, game one is tonight.

SPEAKER_02 1:17:07

Yep, true, got the NBA finals and uh starting any minute, and just started is uh the women's college world series. Don't forget to check that out. Texas and Texas Tech game one of the Women's College World Series, check that out. Um, and again, final thoughts for me is just uh yeah, have a great week. Enjoy the Stanley Cup playoffs. Um, if you're going to a game in anywhere, in any way, shape, or form, whether it's baseball, basketball, or uh hockey, whatever it is. Listen, home fans, police your own, okay? Make visiting fans feel the way that you would want to be treated when you go to a game in an opposing stadium, okay. Also, if you are a fan in an opposing stadium, be respectful, okay? Be respectful. Know that you're on, you know, somebody else's uh, I guess, turf. Okay, but don't be a jerk, be polite, be nice, respect thy neighbor, just be good people, man. I see too many things still, again, with people fighting in the stands, like uh those idiots need to take a look at the players on the ice. Hey, they actually shake hands and like you know, they're polite. Don't be an idiot. That's what I got. All right, thanks everybody, full strength podcast. We'll see you again next week. Same bad time, same bad place. Cheers, everybody. Night, thanks, everybody.