Angels Shake Up and The PGA

What do Newport Harbor, the PGA Tour, the MLB Trade Deadline, and Ted Lasso have in common?

On Episode 27 of The Mask & The Mic, Guy Hebert and Kent French cast a wide net across the sports world—and even brainstorm a fun new idea for the future of the podcast. Could a future episode be filmed aboard a boat while cruising Newport Harbor? The guys discuss the possibility of taking The Mask & The Mic on location for a truly unique setting.

The conversation then turns to the PGA Tour as Guy catches Kent up on everything happening in the world of golf. They recap the Rocket Classic, discuss what happened to fan favorites like Rickie Fowler and Jordan Spieth, and look at the emergence of golf's next generation of stars. With the Wyndham Championship serving as the final event of the PGA Tour regular season, the guys explain what's at stake for players trying to qualify for the FedEx Cup Playoffs. They also spotlight Southern California native Jake Knapp, his impressive season, and where he currently sits in the FedEx Cup standings.

The discussion expands into why golf has become the sport of choice for so many professional athletes, musicians, actors, and business leaders. Guy and Kent share the story of actor Tom Holland hitting balls alongside Rory McIlroy and how even one of Hollywood's biggest stars couldn't help but marvel at the incredible skill of a world-class golfer.

Next, the focus shifts to Major League Baseball following one of the most significant trade deadlines in recent Angels history. The Los Angeles Angels took an aggressive approach, trading seven players and acquiring nine prospects in return. Guy and Kent break down the organization's dramatic philosophical shift, discuss several of the key prospects now entering the system, and examine what interim General Manager John Mozeliak's vision could mean for the franchise moving forward. They also tackle one of the biggest questions facing the organization: Where does Mike Trout fit into the Angels' future, and can the club build a winner around one of the greatest players of his generation?

To close the show, the guys revisit their excitement for the premiere of Ted Lasso Season 4 and laugh about the summer blockbuster movies they still haven't gotten around to seeing.

From golf and baseball to television and future podcast adventures, Episode 27 is another fun, wide-ranging conversation you won't want to miss.

🎙️ Available on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.

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Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Hi everybody, this is GA Bear, former NHL goaltender, and I am the mask in the mask in the mic. And yeah, in split screen is my pal Kent French.

SPEAKER_00 0:12

Yes, uh, I am the Mike and the Mask and the Mike, and uh we have another podcast coming your way. We talk Angels baseball. They were sellers at the trade deadline for a first time in a long time. What did they get? What did they give up? And what does it look like moving forward? We talk about that and then we turn our attention from the baseball diamond to the Lynx, Ebo, and talk some golf.

SPEAKER_01 0:35

Yeah, I think I ramble incessantly about the world of golf. So a lot of great stuff. You're not gonna want to miss it. Uh some young and exciting PGA tour professionals that have uh maybe gotten their first victories on tour. So stay tuned.

SPEAKER_00 0:52

Yeah, in-depth conversation of why we think that uh everybody wants to be a pro golfer.

SPEAKER_01 0:56

Yeah, everybody wants to be a millionaire or a pro golfer.

SPEAKER_00 1:00

Pro golfer. That's all coming up on a podcast we like to call the Mask of the Mike. We hope you enjoy the show and evo, as always, ain't good for us. Hello everyone, and uh welcome to another edition of The Mask of the Mike. Ken French, alongside my co-host, GA Bear, as we are back. We are back to talk about all things of everything that uh take place around everywhere. Yeah, that's what we do. I think I said what I said the last time we we came on.

SPEAKER_01 1:28

You're like, what are we gonna talk about? And then like throwing the blanket, yeah.

SPEAKER_00 1:31

52 minutes later, it's like huh the net, we're out the net out there, just bring it all in and we're gonna talk about things.

SPEAKER_01 1:39

Oh, so fishing. We're gonna talk fishing. I love fishing. Yeah, we haven't been fishing in a long time. Yeah, we could we could go down that, right? We won't start the show off with fishing because people might do that.

SPEAKER_00 1:48

Do a on-location mask of the mic on a boat, going to Catalina fishing. I think that would be fantastic. So if you're out there, Catalina Flyer, we're looking for sponsorship.

SPEAKER_01 1:58

Well, I do not to let the cat out of the bag, but a lot of things that thing and great things that we have planned, of course. Uh we always have something in the works, but uh I I know I've talked to you, Frenchie. I've got a buddy who I've talked to for years about actually doing one of our pregame shows uh on the back of his boat, but I've got him where he's can he has said yes to us for a an at least one episode and see how it goes on the back of his boat. So I I can't get involved in the name of the boat, type of the boat, the name of the captain, or any of that good stuff just yet, but uh just picture this beautiful sunny morning, cool breeze on Newport Harbor on the back of a 55 or 60 foot boat, lights, camera, action, Gibo and Frenchie sitting there in a lap of luxury. Might actually have to have a morning cocktail to be able to do that.

SPEAKER_00 2:55

Sounds if it's a Sunday, it might be a mimosa, mimosa worthy. Uh that doesn't sound uh bad at all, my friend. Yeah, I I I should hang out with you and your friends more often if that's the case. Oh my goodness, that sounds terrific. Yeah, let's let's make that happen. That sounds great. I know we've we've you've you brought it up, you you piqued my interest. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 3:12

And maybe maybe uh a promotional stunt here, Starbucks uh could come aboard.

SPEAKER_00 3:17

Just a heads up though, if my wife gets wind of this, we're gonna have to, and then your wife, we're all gonna we're gonna have to make it like a family thing. The A Bears and the Frenches on the back of a boat. It might be a family podcast. Uh wait a minute.

SPEAKER_01 3:32

Listen, I think if we should do it once just to make sure it works.

SPEAKER_00 3:36

Once and then Yeah, that's a great way to do it. Hey, you know what, ladies? Let us do this one maiden voyage here. We'll figure this out and then we'll let you know if it was any good. Because I have to run everything by the captain.

SPEAKER_01 3:48

And so if the captain says this is the captain of the boat, that is. The other captain. Exactly. Not the captain in my own life, uh, because I don't I might be co-captain at best. But yeah, we could certainly uh I'll talk to my guy and then see.

SPEAKER_00 4:04

Talk to your people, talk to your people and get back to me. Let me know. Now that we've teased that to all the people out there, that I mean, this is you kind of have to make let's make this happen. All right. Yeah. So now that I'm I'm fired up. Now I'm excited. My goodness, as I'm in this blank wall room.

SPEAKER_01 4:21

You know, if I didn't know any better, I would think that like okay, listen, is Frenchie in a bunker? Where am I? Are you below ground? Like, do you have to go through a hatch and then climb downstairs to get to this private bunker?

SPEAKER_00 4:35

There is some natural light coming in. So, regardless of where I'm at, I do have natural light coming in at some point.

SPEAKER_01 4:41

But um You know, they do sell, I mean, like for a couple bucks, Frenchie, you could probably get one of those filters like on the screen. So it could be like this, isn't my house behind me, this is just a filter. I love it. So I've gotten rave reviews about hey, that looks great behind you. So I haven't changed.

SPEAKER_00 4:57

I love you have like the uh home and garden like ultimate kitchen behind you, and I have a blank wall. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:04

Uh listen, I I'm not gonna say if people DM me or not, but they might, and then they go, What's up with Frenchie? Like, I know like he looks like he's in cell block five. If I did that, like I said, it's like, is he in a bunker or is he in prison? We don't know. Is this like you know, 52 minutes or 48 minutes?

SPEAKER_00 5:22

I'm not gonna confirm or deny either at this stage in my life. Um so that being said, as we've gone almost five minutes into this we've let it absolutely nothing. We just yeah, you know, I was told that you know the front end of a podcast has got to grab the attention, so they're gonna want to stay. Are people really are they even listening to what I'm saying now? Had they already left?

SPEAKER_01 5:43

So far, I think they're thinking, well, maybe we could find Gibo and Frenchie out on Newport Harbor, so they could be circling the harbor looking for us. Uh not currently, but uh in the future. So that might have been the hook. And then they want to know where exactly French E is right now. So they're out in the inland empire driving around looking for uh, you know. Have you seen that commercial? This is all I can think of. And I don't even know what it's for. It's probably for delivery service or whatever. And two guys are in a van and they're driving out there in the desert somewhere. Looks at his GPS and he's like, We're here. And the other guy goes, What do you mean we're here? There's nothing out here. And then all of a sudden, this hatch opens up and a guy sticks his head out and he's like, Hey, you guys are right on time, and he delivers something to him, and then down the hatch he goes. So uh right now that's what I think you're waiting for your your delivery right now. And then you're gonna pop pop up to the top.

SPEAKER_00 6:38

If you hear a knock at the door or on my hatch, you'll know that something's happening around here. Oh, all right.

SPEAKER_01 6:44

Um, was there any baseball going on? I think we teased a lot of stuff with baseball. Yes, we did last episode.

SPEAKER_00 6:52

Yeah, the at the time that we are taping this podcast, it is the day after. The day after what you might ask, the day after the MLB trade deadline, which ended at 3 p.m. Pacific Standard Time on August the 3rd, which was a Monday. And the Angels were major players for the first time in a long time. They they got rid of a lot of guys, they were sellers. They were wondering, uh certainly they had the assets to sell. The question was, was were they going to sell? And John Mosalok, the uh baseball consultant and interim GM, said, Yes, we are. He got approval from Artie, he got approval from Molly Jolly, the team president, and he went to work, Gebo. He traded seven players and received nine prospects back. So well needed. Um, it's the beginning, I believe, of uh you know, the word re the word rebuild. Go ahead and say it. The word rebuild is tough to say. A lot of you know, a lot of uh, you know, uh front office people in any sport love love retool as as a word, but the angels certainly need uh to rebuild their minor league system, and that's exactly what they started to do. Um and headlining is Arjun Namala. He was a short 20-year-old shortstop. They got him in the Jose Soriano trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. Uh, he was one of their top prospects. He's the 46th overall uh best prospect prospect in all of Major League Baseball. He immediately becomes the Angels number one prospect. Um and John Mosellock had a press conference after it was all said and done yesterday and said that uh Namala is gonna be uh Major League ready in a couple years. So uh some good stuff there. They got Moises Ballesteros, he's a DH catcher. He used to be the number one overall prospect for the Cubs, got him for uh Ryan Zephyrjon, the reliever. He is gonna come over. He will be with the club today, as of Tuesday, August the fourth, do some DHing and potentially catch. So they got some prospects that are gonna be a lot of fun to watch in this Angels minor league system. And they still have Reed Detmers and Zach Neto. You might ask me, yeah, what's the significance of that? Well, those were two certainly players that were uh mentioned a lot during the deadline. Zach Netto uh has team control after this year for three more years, Detmer after this year for two more years. That makes them extra valuable. They're not just uh rentals. Um, they got a lot of interest, generated a lot of interest from teams around the league, but they didn't get the package that they wanted. So these players still could go in the offseason. So, mind you, uh I think it's just the beginning for John Mozalock and what he's doing with the Angels. So uh yeah, exciting times. It's it's a breath of fresh air for this organization, uh something they've needed for a long time to address that things aren't right and we need to fix it. Status quo isn't okay, we need to fix it, and that's exactly what they're doing. So exciting times. Angels fans should be excited, you know, regardless of what they think about some of these players that that were uh traded, what they got back, and uh as you know, Gibo, as well as anyone, prospects still are prospects, right? They still have to prove themselves and they can the numbers can be great in the minor leagues, but once they make that jump to the big club, things can change, and they certainly need to show that they can make that transition, and some players can't, but this is a big start for this team. Something the Ducks we saw do, you know, four or five years ago when uh Pat Verbeek came on board. So um good signs for the Angels moving forward. Well, long-winded answer, but there was a lot going on there. I've been on this, I've been watching all this stuff transpire over social media over the last couple days.

SPEAKER_01 10:28

Well, I I know what we were talking last week about you know, are you gonna give up on some 20-something-year-old pitchers uh that are helping you now and and possibly in the future? Uh yeah, the thing about prospects, as you said, is there's just no guarantee, right? You can be the number one prospect and you know, you should make it, you should be an all-star, you should be a lot of things, uh, but no, but never a guarantee. That's why the players that have made it are so coveted. So I think what the Angels were giving up for the most part were proven players that teams wanted to add to their current roster to make either a playoff push or add depth to their teams, and I think that those players will move on and help out uh those organizations that they went to. Now, as a fan of the Angels, which of course I am, you know, you really have to start to decide as a fan, okay, you know, am I really on board with this rebuild? And are they doing the right things? Are they sending me the right message? So the the question still remains, and it is the always the elephant in the room is where does Mike Trout figure into all of this rebuild? And if you're talking about prospects that won't be here for a year or two or three or four, uh, how quickly do they you know ascend from the minor league ranks into you know MLB and become players that can help the team? You know, that's the thing we talked about it for for hockey. I mean, obviously I'm a hockey guy, and that was my career in being a player in a locker room looking at trade deadlines and saying, okay, is this helping me in my career in the next foreseeable couple seasons to try to win or win a Stanley Cup, win a you know, a pennant, whatever. Um, so that's the question I have is so you know, how do how does you know, I mean, Mike's an icon, we love him. Um, love to see him be an angel for the rest of his career if that's what he's chosen to do. But also, it it's it's difficult for a player on any team that sees like the rebuild coming and isn't going to be part of the rebuild. And is he on board for a rebuild knowing that it it could be he may never see the playoffs for the rest of his career? Not that he's seen a lot of it, right? But it's if he's looking forward to the next couple years, how long does it take the Angels to go from last place into a playoff spot? And will he be here? Uh will he be retired? Will he decide to finally you know move on? Um, I don't know. What are your thoughts? I mean, I that there was some speculation about him being a little more amenable to a trade, and I didn't really hear a lot of stuff regarding Mike Trout in the rumor mail, did you?

SPEAKER_00 13:17

No, and it was zero. Yeah, John John Mazalock was asked that very question when he did the press conference post-trade deadline. Um, and there was no talk of Mike Trout because Mike Trout has to approve a trade. And he has not come to John to say, this is what I want to do, I want to move on, I want to move on to a contender. My window is is such that I need to be with someone that's gonna be competitive here very soon, as opposed to um you know waiting for a retool or a rebuild. Uh so this is Mike's decision. And uh yes, I agree. I am of the belief I want to see him win. I want to see him win in an angel uniform, first and foremost, but I want to see someone with that talent win. And I think I think you would agree with me that you want to see the best players play on the biggest stage, right? And have that opportunity. It was amazing to see Mike back at the All-Star Game in Philly, you know, 45 minutes from his hometown. It was great to see him in that spotlight again. And to your point, he hasn't been, he's been in the postseason once, and that was in 2014. So, but all this, this is Mike's decision. If he wants to go, he can request a trade, he can talk to John Mosalok about it. He can certainly he's certainly in control of his own destiny, but but he wants to be an angel. There is loyalty there. Uh, I appreciate the loyalty, and if that's something that he wants to do, then great. And I I'm obviously we're not privy to those conversations that he used to have with Perimanassian, the former GM, or now with John Mozalok to find out exactly how aggressive they're gonna go out and be to make this team a contender. And Mozalok was asked in his press conference, will this team contend in 2027? Right? And he's like, Yeah, I can't answer that question. And and I don't know. I I don't, I just don't know. And and based on what they're doing, what they've done at the deadline, what they're gonna do in the offseason. And granted, as we know, the you know, 2027 is certainly up in the air a little bit as far as the the work stoppage lockout, however you want to phrase it.

SPEAKER_01 15:12

So yeah, those are all it's always that it's always a difference of opinion when you talk about work stoppages, right? As like a player um you know, being locked out sends a different message to the fans than a strike, because you know, I I've been on both sides. I've been during my career, we went on strike at one point. Um it was short-lived. We got a deal done quickly and then moved on, and it wasn't really any damage. And then later on in my career, we were locked out for half a season, and you know, so the perception of the fans is you know, who who's being greedier? Uh is it the players or the owners? And why why is my you know, my love of the game and enjoyment of the game, uh, you know, being really held hostage by owners or players or both, and I think that you know, that potential work stoppage, no no one wants to see that, right? I mean, that's the thing is you like you know, can can uh cooler heads prevail and avoid that. But um, as I digress into a whole different story line with that, uh yeah, I mean I just do I think that you know, watching um, you know, the way things have transpired in the hockey world, especially this summer, how active it's been, even with players who have full no movement clauses, uh Jason Robertson is just another great example where like the team went out and tried to get a deal done and then went to the player. And so I was just curious to think, you know, hey, were the Angels at all out there talking to the Yankees, Red Sox, Astros, you know, whoever, and saying, like, hey, if Mike Trout would wave his no movement, what possibly what you know, what might you want? You know, I so I wonder if there were any of those conversations. And maybe there weren't. Uh I mean, I gotta think that some teams called and just said, hey, do you think Mike Trout would want to come play here? And this is a potential package we would, you know, we would have. Uh again, behind the scenes that we don't know about. Um would love to hear all that because it is, you know, really interesting. So it's it's funny how some stories get out into the media, you know, there's the pundits who are speculating like us. And um, you know, because I I I still gotta think that there are teams that would have said, hey, like we're a Mike Trout piece away from oh winning a, you know, winning it at all, right?

SPEAKER_00 17:36

I mean No doubt, no doubt. And I think um I I wouldn't be surprised if those conversations were taking place prior to the deadline, right? Maybe five, six, seven days out just kicking the tires and saying, what about you know, X, Y, and Z? Can we potentially start talking having this conversation? Would you know he be open to it? And it and that might have been that might have been the case. To your point, we're not privy to those conversations. Uh, and Mike might have just they've shut it down to make it so let's not work, you know, shut it down prior to the deadline saying, no, this is not gonna happen. Let's just not even have those conversations, let's focus on the rest of the team. Uh, John Mosalak did say this though. He brought Mike Trout into the uh deadline room, the war room, if you will, to see how the operation went uh with you know, negotiating, talking about players, who they could get. Uh, and he said he was fascinated by it. And one of the reporters asked, did did Mike Trout make any trades? Was he responsible for any of the deals that were done? And uh Mosellock's like, yeah, no, he did not have anything to do with trades. And if he says he he had to do with a trade, you know, let me know because that was not the case. Um, but no, he said he's a face of the franchise, Moselloch said. And of course he is, right? So, but yes, you're in your early 30s, and you know, your your body is is not maybe where it used to be physically. You're fighting injuries and you want to win, right? And you know that Mike wants to win, but again, he wants to win in you know Southern California with the Angels. So we'll see how that plays out, Gete. I mean, that's certainly you know one of the big questions surrounding this team is now that you are finally starting to do something, you're starting to make progress, which is something, right? I think fans are gonna be happy that there has been movement, movement in the right direction, movement to rebuild the monolith system, and we're gonna see what happens with Mike Trott. I will say this though. I have uh I've had the opportunity to host the Colin show for AM 830 when Trent Rush moves over to the TV side on Fridays to call Play by Play at home with Mark Gubaza. I step into his slot, his show. Sure you do. I do. I step in and do a little uh post-game radio and hear from some fans. And recently they called in, and sometimes you just don't know what you're gonna get. Um, the fans are frustrated as well as they should be. But they call in and they were very, and this is two days after the very first trade that uh John made with uh Chase Silseth and Logan O'Hopi going to the Rangers for a prospect coming our way. And I said, you know what? We appreciate what he's doing. He says something and he stands by it and he does it. We just want honesty. We want to know what's going on with the organization, we want to know you know, everything is not okay, and we've been told that for a long time. That's only going to get better, but he is actually doing things to make it better, and they're happy with the progress, the honesty, the transparency. He's been available. One of the fans said he met him walking through the concourse. And by the way, John is dressed like GQ. He's got the great blazer, he's got the sweater and the collar, he's buttoned up, he's looking great. He stops and he has conversations with fans, and they want that. They want that. Um, they want to know that things are that there's someone in this position that is doing what they say, is willing to have these conversations with fans, be accessible as well. He's accessible to us. Whenever he makes a decision, he jumps in the broadcast booth with the guys and the radio booth. Um, he's been incredibly accessible, and I think that's been been great for us, the media. It's been great for the fan base, and I really believe it's gonna be great for this team. So um there's excitement, and I will say one more thing uh when it comes to the Angels and what they're doing. John's contract runs out December 1st, right? He was brought on as an interim GM. Um, he's done some good things. He's he's you know, again, stood by his word about what he was gonna do. He's got the trust of Artie Moreno, which which is a big thing. Uh Amolly Jolly, of course, who brought him on, who's the president of the Angels. Um, but he is his term is up December 1st. And so a lot of the reporters were pushing him at on this press conference, saying, Okay, we this is great what you're doing, but how much longer are you gonna be here? Are you planning on staying past December 1st? Where are would you take on a GM role? What what are you thinking? He's like, I'm enjoying this process. It's great to be back in the game. Um as you know, Gibo, as well as anyone, whether you're a player or an executive in this business, you are working all the time. Especially executives, they don't have off seasons. So he was before coming here to Orange County, he He was enjoying his family time, right? Enjoying, you know, doing things with his family and being more present that way. But he's but he's enjoying uh being back in the game. So we'll see what the future of of John Mosalek is. But um as of now, I think everyone's excited who is you know arounding, surrounding and working with this organization, working for the organization about what's uh what's happening and what's to come. So um good things. Good things from the trade deadline.

SPEAKER_01 22:28

Well, I I mean I love that you made that point that you know John is there for an interim position right now and who knows what the future holds. But because he's in that interim tag, uh it probably does give him the freedom to, you know, be a little more transparent than maybe another person would be with a longer-term contract, um, able to rip the band-aid off maybe a little bit easier because he's not in it at the moment for long term. And the fact that, you know, it's funny because I know, you know, uh, like at schools, a lot of times there is an outgoing president, and then in the search for the new president of the school, um, or you know, head administrator or whatever, there's that interim person, and they kind of come in and sometimes they just come in and they just want to keep the peace. They don't want to really make any changes because that's not really their job. Uh, but what a great opportunity this is for John to come in and say, like, okay, hey, this is what Ari Moreno wants. Um, he's given me like, you know, hey, full clearance to go ahead and do these difficult things and make these trades and help, you know, shape, you know, in the next whatever, 12 months or whatever, for the Angels to try to get on the right trajectory to where they want to be. And and it is exciting. Listen, I've been part of rebuilds, I've been part of great teams where, you know, back with the St. Louis Blues, just adding that piece. And I read uh an article just uh yesterday at the trade deadline about you know, what are you telling your veteran players by the moves that you're making at the deadline? And you know, a lot of players are like, hey, I'm in my window and we're a good team, and you know, I don't care about, you know, selfishly, I don't care about a prospect who's gonna help us down the road, uh, you know, because we're kind of in a win now mentality, you know, for the organization, for my myself. And so as a player, you're sitting there in the in the locker room thinking, okay, you know, I I just want somebody who's gonna help this team win right now. And you know, but there are teams when you start to look, like, hey, we're we're five years away from you know really being any good. And you start thinking, like, okay, hey, with these pieces right now are gonna be household names in a few seasons. So, like you said, I I'm I'm hopeful that the Angels then and we'll be chatting about it and enjoying going to the big A in a couple seasons when all of a sudden, like the Ducks, everybody is jumping on the bandwagon saying, Hey, now we got a team that's ready for the playoffs, and now we got an exciting team to watch, and they're competitive every night. So I I look forward to those days as well.

SPEAKER_00 25:01

Yeah, and and also what's um I don't want to say telling, but you know when you've heard these stories before, when you have a popular player, one of those being Joe Adele, who was traded, he'd been with the Angels for 10 years, and up until the deadline, they have these, you know, promotional nights, right? Yep. And you have a Joe Adele football jersey giveaway night, which was happening in the near future. They're gonna have a lot of those jerseys up here. We've we've seen that with uh there was a story, I think it was actually out of St. Louis, where there was a bobblehead night and they traded the player, but when the player came back for their uh new team, they actually had still had the bobblehead night giveaway so they could give away the bobbleheads. So it's those things weren't standing in the way either. It was like this is best for the team moving forward. Let's not worry about a promotion. I mean, Zach Neto had his name all over promotions as well, and and it's like, you know what? This it doesn't matter. Let's let's do something, let's do the right thing for this team moving forward, regardless. And uh so you saw that over the weekend. So again, good stuff, good stuff with the Angels. There's a lot of Joe Adele football jerseys somewhere in boxes. We'll see what happens with those. And by the way, I and and it is too, and you can um on a side note that people need to know too, when you talk about trades, there is a human element that I don't think is talked about enough when it comes to the player. You know this better than anyone else. It's it's we we look at these players as you know, what uh as a piece we're giving away for what pieces are we getting in return. But these are you know players that are ingrained with the organization, they're really good people. Joe Adele, you know, uh has given so much to the Angels and everybody else for that matter that was traded, and they have families that are involved, right? Kids that are involved. It's like there's so much more involved than than just trading a player to a team to help them for a run, and what do you get in return, right?

SPEAKER_01 26:59

So yes, layers upon layers, layers upon layers, yeah, that are usually discussed.

SPEAKER_00 27:04

Yeah, no, so that's a human element too, and and with all the folks that were traded by the angels, some I knew better than others, but we wish them uh well and certainly they'll be missed, and and we looked forward, and I we we cross our fingers for their success with their res their new respective teams moving forward. So um, so that's that's angel talk, ladies and gentlemen. Uh certainly a lot to unpack there. Um, Gibo, I know that again, I always liked my golf reports from Gui A Bear. I feel like I need I need to go to you to stay within the game there. I because I don't I have not been watching, I really don't pay much attention unless Tigers playing and and that's not happening anytime soon. So I'm kind of way old school on that. Tell me uh tell me what happened over the weekend. I'm sure you watched a little bit of golf, am I correct?

SPEAKER_01 27:52

Yeah, I I actually don't. Did we talk about golf last week? I can't remember. But so let's rewind to two weeks ago at the 3M in Minnesota. Um, Jackson Coyman, I think he had been pro for 24 days. An incredible player in college, uh, was able to turn pro through this program that they have. If you finish with these certain amount of points in college, there's a fast track to the PG tour. Uh, he was able to do that and uh literally goes out and wins the 3M tournament in Minnesota uh with Scotty Scheffler breathing down his neck. That's right. And I watched it and it was the kid with uh incredibly composed. Um played by uh 21. Wow. And so I mean to get your first PGA tour win um, you know, after being a pro technically for like 24 days, uh obviously incredible, right? I mean, it puts you uh into a lot of the tournaments moving forward, it gives you an exemption for a certain amount of years, uh, gets you a master's invite. I mean, to win on the PGA tour is just an incredible like uh buffet of like uh awards, right? I mean, you get into these great tournaments, you get into all the majors, and I I think for a lot of those young players, I mean, just to have some breathing room to say that I have my tour card now, you know, with an exemption is incredible. So that was that week, you know, and then this as everybody's now trying to get into the top 70 for the FedEx Cup race, right? I the three tournaments, uh, it's gonna be the top 70. So everybody is trying to battle for that top 70. And there's uh this past weekend was a tournament called the Rocket Mortgage Tournament in Detroit, Michigan. And uh when I think Rocket Mortgage, I think Ricky Fowler. Ricky Fowler uh been a spokesman for Rocket Mortgage and has played in every single Rocket Mortgage tournament. Um, I think that dates back seven or eight seasons. So he's been there, uh crowd favorite. He won it uh just a few seasons ago, I think 2023, I believe. Uh, but there were a lot of guys. Uh Jordan Speeth was there trying to make sure he was getting some points and moving up that FedEx leaderboard. Um and I just got a segue off of Jordan Speath for just a second because he's one of my favorite players, and people love to watch him because uh much like Phil Mickelson back in his heyday, you know, you never know what you're gonna get with Jordan Speith because he is very erratic. He makes me feel great because when I play golf, I'll hit something pretty squirrely and I go, you know what, I know Jordan Speath would do the same thing uh occasionally. And so, Frenchie, this is how cruel golf is. So Jordan Speith, he's kind of in the mix. He needs a big finish, he's got to get into the top 70. I think he was sitting at well, most guys want to be in the top 50 because after the first tournament in the FedEx goes from 70 to the top 50. So if you can be inside that top 50, you know you're gonna play at least the two tournaments and then try to get into the top 30 for the last one. But so Jordan gets to minus nine, he's a couple off the lead, and then you know, inexplicably, he hits probably one of the worst shots of his tournament, but doesn't get up and down, and he walks away with a double bogey, and it just wrecks his whole tournament, right? So not only did he he started, I think, like at I'm gonna say maybe 56th or something like that, or but and then because of that hole, then he kind of goes into a little free fall, and I think he ends at minus six. But so then he loses spots on the FedEx. So I think he's gonna have to play in this final tournament coming up this weekend, and then uh wherever you sit, you sit, and then you have to play better in the following FedEx Cup tournament to try to continue to improve your your place. So, anyways, little uh side note with Jordan Speath, you know, crashing and burning or whatever. Um, but he is an exciting guy. Love to listen to him talk with Michael Grell or his caddy and just listen to the dynamic between the two of them. I mean, um they don't need announcers when Jordan Speith, if you have a microphone right close to him, because I mean his color commentation about himself, um, as my wife will say, kind of reminds me of me. She's like, you know, you constantly are talking to the TV. My buddies, when I do golf, they're like, Well, you're in the right second career, buddy, because all you do is talk. And uh, but Jordan does just an incredible job. I mean, it's just uh great to watch. But so there was a winner in this tournament, Michael Thornbjornsson, first PGA tour victory of his young career at I believe he's 24, and again, another young player kind of vaulting up that FedEx leaderboard. Um and then getting that first ever tournament victory on the PGA tour again comes with all those uh great incentives. And so I just think it's uh a cool thing because you didn't have a lot of the big names, you know, the Schefflers and the McElroys and you know the top players who are certainly inside that top you know 50, if not already the top 30, you know, don't play in these tournaments, you know, they kind of take that time to rest and get ready for the playoffs. Um so it gives younger guys an opportunity to really you know get a chance to shine. Um I mean there were some players that are really, you know, they're like ranked 100th, and they're like, if I can have one big weekend, you know, I can move up and get into it. So my sports report from the PGE tour, uh lot of great things. Uh I think it's the Wyndham Championship, is this last tournament this coming weekend, uh Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday, and there'll be a lot of guys playing trying to get into that uh top 70. So if you're a fan, and I know there's a lot of golf fans, especially because we're in Southern California, that it's a fun time of year. The majors are all done. Uh, you know, now it is uh the incentive and motivation is to become the FedEx champion, and there's a whole bunch of money on the line. So um, you know, regardless of how successful anybody's been, they love to be able to say that they're the FedEx Cup champion.

SPEAKER_00 34:04

Where's Jake Knapp in all this? I like to say our guy Jake Knapp, who grew up as a fan of Gui A. Bear and who was a uh who's sponsored by the Anaheim Ducks. Jake Knapp, did he shoot a 62 on a Sunday? I think he did to to get himself in contention. I'm not sure what tournament that was, but uh he should be right there, right?

SPEAKER_01 34:21

Yeah, Jake's been close. Um, you know what? I might have to just Google and see what his FedEx uh ranking is, but I I think he should be well inside the top 70, if not the top 50. Um and I love following Jake uh online social media, and uh he is sponsored by Johnny O. And so I just saw something about he was I don't know, shooting a commercial for Johnny O, and he was out there with like, I don't know, the president or the owner or whatever, and they said it was hilarious because as they were trying to do the shoot, um he just kept giving like the the president tips that did it. He's like, Hey, hey, how do I do this? And they're like, Hey, this isn't a private, you know, Jake not you know uh teaching session. This is actually a promo shoot that you're getting in the way of. But uh yeah, we love Jake. Uh he's a tremendous player. Uh, he is fun to watch, he hits the ball extremely far. Um and you know, he I I think he's one of those players who's just gotten comfortable in his PGA tour career later in and we'll call it later in his life. Um, but he is he is really fun to watch, and we always wish him well. And um, you know, hey, FedEx Cup champion would look good on our pal Jake Knapp.

SPEAKER_00 35:37

Yeah, on his golf bag that has the Ducks logo on it, which is pretty cool. Okay. Uh question for you, and I it as you talk about golf, and you kind of hear this, you've kind of heard the phrase every actor wants to be a musician, every musician wants to be an actor, kind of something like that. It seems like everybody who's not a pro golfer, when they're around a pro golfer, is immediately like a kid again. And they all want like tips and they want to watch. And I don't care how famous you are in your respective industries, whether you're a CEO, you're a huge actor, a musician, whatever it be, when you're around a golfer, it's like they are the center of your universe at that particular point. Um, and I saw something, Tom Holland, who is Spider-Man, brand new Dave, by the way, is breaking all kinds of records. Yeah, I know where you're going. He's a huge golfer, and he would he there's and I'm following him on social media, and he gets on the driving ring, he's next to Rory McElroy, and he's just in heaven, right? It's like, hey, I'm Tom. How are you? I'm Rory. Nice to meet you, whatever. And and then they show Rory teeing off, and they show uh a couple other guys teeing off, and he's just like in awe. You know, this is a guy who is killing it at the box office with the Odyssey and Spider-Man. He's at the top of the top of the top right now in Hollywood, and he's just looking at these golfers like you know, in awe. And I find that just fascinating, especially with because everybody loves to play golf. And I'm I'm grant granted, I'm I'm casting a giant net here, not everybody, but most everyone plays golf in their recreation or they like to go out around a golf course and play, and they're in awe of what a professional golfer can do. So when you tell me that story about Jake Knapp, yeah, it makes sense. Like this, the owner, the CEO. Everyone's like, all right, what am I doing? Can I what am I doing here? I got this little slice and turn my wrist this way, whatever it may be. It's just it's just incredible that just the sport of golf, the influence it has amongst all the other professions, no matter what they may be.

SPEAKER_01 37:37

I mean, it's such a difficult game, right? So I think when you when you play it yourself and you, you know, all you got to do is one thing wrong in a swing, and there's a lot of pieces to a swing, and the ball will not go where you want it or intend it to go. And then to be able to watch the best of the best and you know, just be okay, if I can just have one little sliver of knowledge of what you do that could make me better, you know, you're all ears. And it is, I mean, it could be Tom Brady, it could be, you know, any great athlete, Wayne Gretzky, yeah, but whoever, um, you know, or famous actors or whatever. I mean, if you have that passion for golf and and the desire to be better, um, it really is incredible. I mean, you know, I've had a chance to go and watch, I've had a chance to go to the masters and watch and walk the course. I've got down to Tory Pines and watch and uh uh you know a few other places and to stand right next to the players. I mean, because you know, if they hit it a little, you know, into the rough, and I mean you can be two feet away from you know any great player and just watch them go through their process, whether it's on the green or in the fairway or off the tee. And you know, for amateur golfers like us, I mean, there's not a lot of thought into it. I mean, I kind of just step up to the ball and just you know, I mean, sometimes I barely take a practice swing. So it probably not the best preparation to be a really good golfer, but you know, these guys, you know, everything that goes through their mind, you know, they set up to the ball, they have a good picture. I actually saw during the Rocket Mortgage uh one of the younger players was standing over like a wedge shot from probably 100 yards, and uh he ended up backing off and they had the microphones down close to him, and the caddy said, Wind, and he said, No, I didn't have a good picture. And so that's how dialed in and detailed they are, right? He had the picture in his mind of how he wanted to hit the ball, and when it wasn't 100% committed to that picture, um, he had to step away. And it was interesting. So then he and the caddy went right through their process again and he kind of reset. And you and I would have hit the ball 10 different times, right? I mean, we wouldn't have done that, you know. Somebody's probably yelling in the cart behind us, like, hey, hurry up, you're slowing down the whole course. So, I mean, there's a different animal to the professional level, but I just think that, you know, to watch them and watch them hit a ball, and I mean, I can just imagine, you know, I've I've been in some tournaments and pro ams where, you know, I've been able to be next to some great PGA tour players and watch them hit the ball. Uh a buddy Brendan Steele, who is going to be on this podcast at some point. So I'm I'm laying it on the line. Brendan Steele uh from Live Golf will be on our podcast, hopefully sooner rather than later, because I know the Live Tournament, I know they got a whole bunch of controversy going on. We won't talk about that, but their season is coming to a close soon, um, which is normal for this time of year. But, anyways, I've I've watched Brendan right next to me hit balls, and you know, you're just like, I don't know how he does that. You know, the compression of the ball, the purity of the ball strike, you know. Um, so yeah, I can imagine I anybody getting a chance to spend some time next to a guy like Rory McElroy would be uh pretty insane. Yeah, it's even for even Tom Holland, right?

SPEAKER_00 40:50

No, exactly. And you and you mentioned too, like the the visualization, um it's it's what it is. It's a sports psychology is so involved now, especially in in a game that is so mental-based, like golf is. I mean, you and I both know. I mean, you can get in your head just a little bit and you can throw your entire game off. So it makes sense. And and speaking of that, like just getting over the ball and not being right. I mean, back in the day, you remember when Tiger would be in a full swing and he would stop the swing. Yeah. Whether it be a noise or whatever happened, that it just wasn't right, and he was able to stop and reset and the importance of that happening. Um, I have a story, and I wasn't I wasn't there. I heard about this story. So it was.

SPEAKER_01 41:30

It's one of those.

SPEAKER_00 41:31

I wasn't there, I just heard this story. It was at Pelican Hill, Pelican Hill Golf Course, is on the driving range, and somehow it was Fred Couples MCing this clinic with Tiger Woods as his not his pupil, but the basically he would go Tiger do that. Demonstrator, Tiger do this, Tiger do, and Tiger just whatever it was, a uh slice, a hook, or whatever. I mean, he could do, as you know, do anything, anything with a golf ball. And the person that was at this particular clinic said it just it just yeah no, it it is mind-blowing, right? Uh it's just incredible, but because we we both know how hard it is. And maybe that's what the allure, like you mentioned, we know how hard it is, and all these people that are so good with these other professions, when you are the best at something that's this difficult that takes physical uh discipline, mental discipline, just those two things alone and put them together, it's crazy.

SPEAKER_01 42:27

So well, I just wondered if Rory hit Tom Holland up for like some you know acting advice, you know. I mean, Rory does a fair amount of stuff on TV, he's an incredible spokesperson. Um, but I guess that's the thing. We all play a sport that everybody loves, which is golf. And so we want to be able to, you know, be around the best golfers in the world for just any kind of information where, you know, if you're an actor, is is it the same? I mean, you just you know, it's an amazing thing that actors do. Like, I mean, I don't know, we're you know, we're on TV, but we're not actors, you know, we're you know, broadcasters, analysts, uh hosts, all that. But yeah, you you just wonder the dynamic is is a little different. And I think even for like a hockey player, like you know, people who are hockey fans love to talk hockey when we're playing golf, but it's not the same because that you know, the medium is the sport of golf, right? And that's the you know, the allure of everybody is that like, hey, you know, how can I get better? So uh and you know, if you think about one of the greatest sports to be able to be in for your entire life, you know, not only growing up playing it, but if you're lucky enough to become a PGA tour player, then you could play in the what they used to call the senior tour, right? It's the champions tour. So I mean, golf is just one of those games that you can play for a lifetime.

SPEAKER_00 43:48

Yep, absolutely. Well, that being said, uh, as we put a bow on this extraordinary conversation that we've been having, um uh let's end where we ended last podcast. Talking about Ted Lasso coming out. That's August the 5th. So as we're taping this podcast, it would be on tomorrow. It would be the fifth, right? So uh plans, Gibo, to watch Ted Lasso season four? Oh, yeah.

SPEAKER_01 44:14

I mean, without a doubt, Coach Beard will be sitting in his whole Coach Beard outfit. No, don't do that. I don't like Sarah or whatever. Might have to do like, you know. My wife would want you in a different room if you're Instagram live of me and my coach Beard.

SPEAKER_00 44:28

By the way, yes, you should do that. Yes, we need followers, damn it. So do that one. Um also have you seen the Odyssey or Spider-Man? Do you go to any of the big blockbusters during the summertime? You know, I have not.

SPEAKER_01 44:38

I I I kind of like when they come out and I can watch them right on my my own TV. Yeah. So uh I probably should. I mean the Odyssey does uh see in IMAX, and I haven't seen it yet.

SPEAKER_00 44:48

I'm saying I'm asking the question and I haven't seen any of them. So I would love I want to see uh Michelle and I want to see um Odyssey in IMAX before that leaves because obviously on IMAX you gotta I mean it's just the experience, right? The experience of going to movie theater. I haven't I'm the same as you. I'd rather be on my couch and watch it on my TV. Um, but that's one I I feel like the theater needs to establish that environment for me.

SPEAKER_01 45:11

So well listen, I know you got a lot of technology. Uh why don't you go and bootleg it for me so that I can watch it?

SPEAKER_00 45:17

There was there was bootleggers out there. I was reading articles where like you know, somehow it got online. Of course it did, right? I mean, but uh yeah, no, no, I can't do that.

SPEAKER_01 45:27

No. No, I I I just kid because I don't want Ken French in trouble.

SPEAKER_00 45:33

I don't and at this stage in my life, Gibo, I do not need to be in trouble. No, let's just let's just put it that way. Uh well listen, this has been uh some good conversation. I love it. Before we jump on, we're like, yeah, let's just press record and see what happens. So certainly uh we had a lot to talk about, which is good. And we have guests, we have guests that have said yes, and we're just trying to get them lined up and uh and have our schedules um you know work out amongst all of us.

SPEAKER_01 45:58

So yeah, and and listen, we're we're always open to uh DMs with uh potential guests. So if you're listening to it.

SPEAKER_00 46:05

Suggestions, suggestions if you want if there's someone that uh you think would be good on this podcast with us that you want to hear from, or let us know and we'll reach out to them. I mean, you know, Gebo's got uh one heck of a Rolodex, so we'll certainly lean on him.

SPEAKER_01 46:17

I know somehow the summer I thought was gonna be better for guests, but there's been a lot of guys I've reached out to and they're like, oh dude, like I I'm traveling, I you know, I can't do it, or whatever. And I I, you know, as as you've seen, I've done a couple from the road myself. So yeah, um, maybe as we get back toward you know September and kids are back in school and people are going back to work, like hopefully you and I, and um we'll get some more of the guests on here that that I do. I have good I've got a big list. You do yeah, I won't share them right now, but uh besides besides Brendan. It's Brendan.

SPEAKER_00 46:52

All right, yeah, I have a couple of potential uh football and uh hockey, so I have a couple out there as well. So, anywho, uh well listen, if you want to uh watch this podcast, uh as I'm sure you would like to, because Gebo is well lit in his kitchen. It looks fantastic. And I uh obviously, as he mentioned, I look like I'm in a lineup right now. I don't have if you want to see my blank wall in my bunker, uh you can watch it on uh The Mask of the Mike YouTube channel uh chantel channel. Uh also you can uh listen to us on Spotify and Apple Podcasts. Gebo, uh great stuff as always. Um and uh thank you folks for listening to The Mask of the Mike. And Gebo, we'll just end it as you always end it. Yeah, why don't we end it and good for us?