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About this Episode
Hour One in full
Hosts & Guests
Transcript
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My dad's not here right now.
He's still at work.
So I'm going to bless him.
Mike Shope and the Bulldog.
I'm going to see if there's a clean version.
So then my parents and the people at my school will not get met at me.
We've got the spritzer filled with water,
just in case if stock gets too fire.
I'm going to set up the speaker and I'm going to listen to Mike Shope and the Bulldog.
I think this is the best Mike Shope feature that I've heard
a long time. I think his flow is really good on it
and I like his aggressiveness on it and the Bulldog.
But not enough effort in it.
I think overall his flow was good,
but I don't like that mobile wrapping.
That was my review of Mike Shope and the Bulldog.
I didn't need the spritzer.
It wasn't fire enough.
No spritzer for you.
No spritzer.
Happy Friday, happy opening day for the Bisons.
Bisons out.
I have a friend who went.
It's my car said it was 33 degrees.
I think about that.
The sun's out.
You get a free ticket because it wasn't 50.
Great idea.
I found myself thinking this afternoon standing in my backyard
in the shade and then in the sun.
Like, okay, I'm waiting outside with my dog and I realize I'm in the shade.
Like, that's kind of cold out.
I'm thinking about the bison.
I'm going to get in the sun.
Fine.
It's a little bit better.
That's what I was.
The sun feels good.
Leading up to.
It was probably.
Probably fine.
It was probably.
It was definitely at most in the 40s for the very first opening day.
There in 88 that I went to.
Okay.
But it's worth it.
Yeah.
And it was over.
There was no precipitation, but it was not sunny.
Like, it was it was kind of a gray kind of like spotty bits of sun.
Mix of sun and clouds.
Maybe they would have said, I don't know.
You know, you should coin that.
But not like not like today.
Today is like blue sky everywhere.
It's I mean, you're going to feel the sun if you're on the right side of the field.
I think it was probably fine for the people who went.
Yeah.
Put a coat on.
Right.
Right.
No shorts.
And the sun probably would feel good.
Yes.
I wouldn't be super pretty on the shady side.
Yeah.
I should have remembered that.
I'm sure you've told me.
Yeah.
You were at the first ever game there.
I've got a great picture of my friend and Tom Prince.
It's Tom Prince at a solo home run.
But there's a picture of me sneaking a cigarette.
There's like a lady in a babushka behind it.
Like it's a it's a it's a very it looks like it could be from if I'm not in it.
The picture looks like maybe it could be from 1950.
But then there's me and my friends.
Anyway, uh, maybe I'll get around to tweeting.
Taken by Harry Skull.
No, no, no.
Taken by my friend Bud Redding took that picture, I believe.
Is he a professional?
Uh, no.
No, he just had a.
Yeah.
Just having a camera.
He had a camera.
A 1980 and a camera.
They let you take a camera.
I don't believe it was attached to a phone.
In fact, I'm sure that you would have done.
Yeah.
In the 80s.
You would have taken cameras.
The ballpark was a big deal.
It's a game anywhere.
Right.
But particularly like, you know,
you want to have some record of a historical event.
Here's this new ballpark opening downtown.
We're we're hoping it's the first step towards actually getting a majorly
baseball team.
I know that sounds insane.
Now all these years later.
Maybe, but back then it was a living breathing thing.
So like, yeah, I want to document this.
Said my friend Bud.
Well, I mean, just in general,
that people would have done that in the 80s and earlier,
taken cameras.
And that wouldn't have been something that would have been confiscated.
I think not.
Now, I mean, you can't take peanut butter on planes.
Yeah, right.
So I think maybe in the 80s, it was a different time.
You could have taken a camera while your friend was able to.
Yes.
I don't think I'm assuming he didn't sneak that in.
I'm assuming he just walked in with like, with like maybe his
girlfriend at the time had a purse the size of a small duffle bag.
And that also probably didn't matter.
You can't take a purse into the Sabers games.
Right.
You can't take anything really anywhere anymore.
You can't take anything anywhere.
Just your phone.
We still go.
Your phone in a form of payment.
But we still.
That's all that's all your phone is your form of payments.
Right.
You don't even need anything else.
You just sort of show your phone and there's the money.
There's the ticket.
We still go.
Interesting.
Yeah.
My opening day story is Rochester 1994.
I would have been 22.
I'll keep this short.
I've told the story probably too many times.
But I'll never forget it.
I got into the position of being the PA announcer there like a week before days
before the season.
Somebody, I think the guy died actually.
And they needed somebody and I got it.
So there it was 94 Rochester Ottawa.
And so Orioles expose.
The opening day is the best day for the PA announcer of the year because you're
introducing all the players you have, you know, you have time.
Get a lot of air there.
Yeah.
So it was a beautiful, warm, unseasonably warm day in Rochester.
And I was like, this is probably going to be the best day of my life.
Announcing players and in the sun and packed stadium for the opener.
Everything.
Great day.
Great moment.
Memory.
Next day, 40 degrees colder and the roof literally blew off.
The wind took a sheet metal panel off the silver stadium roof and sent it
hurtling, flying through the air toward the field.
Oh boy.
Toward the third base dugout.
People are sitting there.
They have no idea that Plymouth Rock is about to large level object is flying
toward them, right?
It could have been like a tragedy.
Yeah.
But the way, and you know, even if it sort of lands, I was going to be super sharp
on the edges.
Sure.
It just landed safely somewhat.
Maybe it made it to the field.
Hopefully it did.
I forget.
But there was a moment where like we all sort of in the press box saw this giant
piece of metal fly off the roof and head for the field.
Oh boy.
And no one died.
So that was good.
But very day two was not that no introductions, no sunshine, flying metal.
Right.
Yeah.
Very different.
Yeah.
Onward to the 1994 Red Wing season.
Okay.
Well, we hope anyone who's down there, you're having a, you're having a good day.
Stay in warm.
Tonight, Sabers and Red Wings, would you take over time?
I feel like I have to say yes.
I can still get two points.
I don't really, I might even want, I might even want
Detroit.
Now you got it.
I might even want Detroit.
Yeah.
Because tonight's, tonight for them is, I saw a win.
They're far from like in great shape.
But a win is like they're 47% to get in.
And over time loss drops it down to 30 something and a regulation loss.
This is for Detroit drops them to like 27% or something to get in.
And so I think a win for, I want, I think I want them in the pool.
You know, like there, I think they are the weakest of all of the teams that are
vying for these spots.
So I mean, I know that's a little counterintuitive, right?
Like, they're that bad.
Why would I take overtime?
Well, because I want them in, I want them in.
I like that instead of Ottawa or even Columbus or, you know,
whoever, however, that's going to shake out.
Boston, yeah, Boston, sure.
You wouldn't take an overtime loss right now.
No, neither.
No, I would take overtime.
That's why.
Yeah, I think I mean, I got to be cocky about it.
But what I'd like for the, what I'd like for the idea is for the sabers to be better at overtime.
That would be ideal.
Yeah, I don't think they've really figured out overtime.
Or they're guys like Thompson, sometimes these over times has gotten beat,
has gotten trapped or made a mistake and yeah, you got all tangled up in Anaheim.
And yeah, that's a do the thing where I'm picking on their best guy.
You know, some of these guys aren't even going to see the ice in overtime.
Yeah, I think overtime is good.
They, they, they seem, they, they have, and this is not new.
And they're not the only team that does this.
But did they not have crebs out there to take, to take the draw and lost the draw.
And he didn't go right off because I, maybe because they lost the draw,
I don't, I would think if they had won the draw, he goes off for someone else.
But I don't know.
They lose the draw.
He stays on and they never get the puck.
Um, so they, they're, they're very focused on that.
Like, let's get the puck, which, you know, I make sense.
I mean, in a, in a game like Wednesdays, they never touched it after they lost that draw.
So getting to have it first can be extremely beneficial.
You might just have one possession and end the game like Boston did.
Um, but I'm not sure I love Peyton Krebs to start overtime.
Sal said on his show that Paul said that Krebs had a better night
in the circle than Carrick.
Okay.
So maybe that's why that was.
I mean, get a save.
I would assume that there's a reason for it.
Yeah.
Like maybe just based on the game and the, the face off matchups within the game.
I know he did Krebs while out there in regulation with Tuck and Thompson,
win an offensive zone draw that they got a good scoring chance out of
in the second period.
I remember where the draw was.
So maybe that was that same matchup.
And Lindy wanted to do it again and hope that he would duplicate it and he didn't.
But yeah, get a save.
That'd be good.
They should have been able to get one.
Yeah.
Maybe they don't get the puck after that.
But you know, it's why, well,
is it even worth talking about anymore?
It's why 15 years ago,
the analytics world kind of came up with face offs really don't matter.
And then anytime somebody who thinks that that's just nonsense,
sees a play where they score somebody scores off a draw.
And they're like right after you with why this is why they do.
And like everything matters sometimes.
Everything like the seventh guy on the line on a kickoff coverage team.
Well, that really matters because one time they got beat.
Right. So you'd expect to be able to get a stop
and keep the game going.
Yeah, I don't think any.
Well, I don't know.
I don't want to speak for the analytics community on this.
But I don't think anyone would deny that this episode is brought to you by progressive.
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Testing season is right around the corner.
And this is when confidence really matters.
When kids take time to review key concepts and strengthen their skills
before assessments, it can make all the difference.
IXL helps reinforce what they're learning right now.
So they walk into every test feeling prepared,
capable, and confident.
IXL is an award-winning online learning platform
that helps kids truly understand what they're learning.
Whether they're building math confidence,
strengthening reading and writing skills,
or reviewing science concepts designed for students from pre-K through 12th grade,
IXL delivers personalized interactive practice that adapts to your child's level and pace.
It's an easy, effective way to support learning
as the school year heads into its final stretch.
Studies show kids who use IXL score higher on tests,
proven in all 50 states.
IXL is used in 96 of the top 100 school districts in the US.
Make an impact on your child's learning.
Get IXL now.
And listeners can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership
when they sign up today at IXLlearning.com slash audio.
Visit IXLlearning.com slash audio
to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price.
Get more out of every mile when you share the ride to work.
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and pick up new friends.
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who live and work near you.
Even if you're commuting just a few days a week,
it's a free service.
Carpooling.
Every dollar saved.
Every friend made.
Register for free carpool partner ride matching
at commuterconnections.org
or call 800-745-RIDE.
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Thy ticket, Lady Jennifer of Coons.
Well, many thanks, good sir.
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Get it with the times.
With the times, you're playing the loot.
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Based on the February 2025 Nilsen report.
Like, there are certainly moments in the game
where winning the face-off matters more than it does at other times.
But overall, what the face-offs don't matter
the thing was born out of is that being great at winning draws
does not mean you're going to be a good team.
There's a lot of other things that have to go right.
You can win draws and lose possession almost immediately.
But because how often are you scoring off of it?
It's that too. It's that goalie say 92% of shots.
That's like a few times a year.
You get a scoring play right off of a draw.
Yeah, to win the face-off is better than losing it.
But if you don't score off of it,
then how much was it really worth?
That's all.
And kind of in the same vein, defensively,
you're up three to two with a minute and a half to go,
and there's a draw on your end.
You want to win that draw and get a shot at the open net.
Whatever, that's a good time to win a draw.
But you can also blow that.
Win the draw and not get it out.
And you're in your own end.
And how much value was there in actually winning the draw?
Yeah, like I started by saying it's not even interesting anymore.
But it probably would be to some people,
the Olympic gold medal game,
Canada won both of the face-offs in overtime.
That was three on three for the gold medal and lost the game.
The Sabers, it can be said,
are last though in the statistic in the league.
They are 30 second.
Norris was supposed to help that.
And of course, Karak is supposed to help that.
Let's just pray that it doesn't make keys to the game.
One of these days, face-offs.
Come on.
It has been a long season and then now to be ready
for playoff keys to the game.
Oh god.
I think we could end up there.
I'm bracing myself for that.
I think it's realistic that we could end up there.
Tampa gets one point.
Did you see any of it?
I saw quite a lot, quite a bit of it.
Yeah.
Yeah, I think
Seattle really did a great job to get that game to overtime.
And I feel like they stole the extra point from Tampa.
Tampa was absolutely ragdolling them in the third period.
That game was 3-1 at one point.
Midway through maybe and then Tampa tied it up.
Shots in the third period were like at 1.12,
the two or something.
And it really looked like that.
It was just everything was in the Seattle zone.
It was Groobauer.
He played great.
And then they got a chance in overtime.
And Montour made a real nice little heavy play there.
I don't think Basilisky thought he was going to shoot it and he shot it.
And they won.
So where was this game on TV?
This game was...
Where did I have this game?
It might have been a TNT game again.
No, I don't think that's right.
NHL Network?
ESPN Plus.
ESPN Plus.
I had so...
I honestly, I'm not...
I'm not...
It had to be ESPN Plus.
Okay.
I think is where it was.
They had a ton of games last night.
I remember scrolling through their guide looking for that game.
And it took me a while, but I got there.
Yeah, I'm mistaken about TNT.
It was...
Anyway.
So I had the Tampa broadcast of the game.
They spent...
You don't need to know.
It's like...
I'm always hesitant.
I always want to dive into this.
But I'm always hesitant to do so.
Because I don't really know what it sounds like.
You know, to different people.
Whether that's based on income or based on age.
It's just...
I'm losing my mind over not being able to find games and know where to look.
And I mean, it's opening day.
And I'm not beating myself up over not knowing to go to peacock for baseball.
I didn't know that I was going to need to do that.
Because that's new this year.
Even last night, I wanted to see the Dodgers.
And okay, right, peacock.
NBC is doing this fubo, which we have.
Doesn't have NBC.
So you need peacock to watch, you know,
primarily, I guess, baseball now.
And I heard that the Nationals Cubs game.
Like Nationals fans couldn't find the game anywhere.
On the regular stream.
If that's even the right term for something.
And then the other streams, like they couldn't get it.
You couldn't get to the Nationals.
That makes sense because I did read in the run-up to baseball starting.
I won't talk about opening night in the opening day.
And anyway, whatever.
The baseball season ramping up.
There was some media reporter, I follow.
They're like, there's a handful of teams.
And maybe these two teams, or at least one of them, were among them.
Where like all of these sort of regional sports networks went belly up last season.
And the tweet was basically,
and there probably was an entire story attached to it.
You know, for these teams, they don't yet have their broadcast plans solidified.
These things often come down to the wire.
And I'm like, I'll say these teams are playing tomorrow.
And the teams can't tell their fans exactly where they're going to find the games yet.
Which is, I mean, that's the definition of going down to the wire.
So maybe that was one of those that they either didn't get it sorted out,
or people just had really no idea where to go get it.
Because word didn't get out in time, because it was decision was made so late.
It was not there, whether it was through Fios or any other service that you could have had.
There was no access to the game.
Verizon was telling people on Twitter that you need this extra channel that's available.
But reset your system and something.
You were supposed to know to do that.
And then the fans came back with,
well, this is just going to cost me more than to get this channel 579 or something.
Like, I don't know.
I think it's righteous to be completely baffled by all of this put together.
But I also think it's boring to listen to or even lame.
Just figure it out.
Figure out some way to find your sporting events.
But what do we got tonight, MSG?
Easy one.
Yeah, I think just regular old sabers tonight.
Yeah, I believe that that's the case.
One of the great things about being at the game on Wednesday was the boards don't change.
Yeah, that's a plus, you know.
You're not constantly distracted.
Do you get distracted by this?
Did you ever?
Is this just a me thing?
I hate it so much that it's always, and the biggest reason why I hate it,
is not that it really takes my eyes off the hockey game.
Because it mostly doesn't do that.
I've always been bothered.
This is even like wearing dark versus white.
Places should look like the places that they are.
And if you're changing the uniforms and slapping ads on the glass
and putting up Zach Brownband, you know, promotions for your own arena,
and I have no, all I have is the center-right logos that identify who it is.
What am I looking at?
Right.
They want you, and I'm not even kidding, I'll say it again.
When do we get to fake fans?
When do we get to, there are only 10,000 people here.
Let's slap some fake people in there.
So it looks like we have a sellout.
They would move, I mean sports teams have moved people down.
The bison's have a game on TV.
They'll move people to seats behind the plate.
So why not just put fake people behind the plate?
Some day we will.
Yeah.
I'll probably be old enough to live to the day where they put fake fans.
Where this does annoy me mostly is watching highlights back.
Because I don't always know right away where you used to know where the game was.
In part, based on what the ads on, if you don't see the center-right logo,
you kind of know, oh, this game's in Boston.
I see a giant duck and donuts ad inside the blue line.
Or, you know, whatever, for the local stuff, right?
Canadian banks for a Montreal RBC or something.
And now, yeah, that's depending on what feature-watching.
Like, if Boston's playing in Montreal, I'm getting Dunkin' Donuts on the wall.
Because it's the Boston feed if I'm watching.
And I don't like that at all.
Mostly where it bothers me, the changing, it's not so much when the digital ad changes over
during the standard wide shot of the play.
And that is jarring or it can be, but I think I've gotten used to it.
Where it bothers me is when they switch from
that regular wide camera shot where you've got the digital ads for the broadcast.
And they quickly go down to, like, an ice level shot to a guy in the corner with the puck.
And it's the stuff that's in the rink.
And then they quickly go back to the wide shot and it's back to the digital stuff.
And that just is an assault on my senses.
That bothers me.
But you can only complain about so many things in the world.
Sure.
It's just, yeah.
Once, once in a while, I've mostly gotten over it.
Yeah.
Right.
Once in a while.
All right.
So you would take over time, so would I.
Anybody else playing the night that we need to know about?
No, there's only two games in the league.
I thought it was Rangers.
What about the draft, though?
Well, that's not our problem.
You sure?
Yes.
You promise?
Yes.
NBA is big on that today.
We have this, um, rules proposal in the NFL from the Steelers that I couldn't even recite to you.
And I refused to look it up.
Sorry.
On a Friday, especially,
that like you're only getting certain number or maybe it's like adding,
I'm not sure if it's adding or subtracting.
X number of phone calls and video zoom calls you can make with UFA in the legal tampering.
The Steelers have some idea that they want to change the rules on that.
Then I thought like, okay, well, I'm just not going to learn this.
And then I saw the three pronged NBA anti-tanking proposal document.
Oh boy.
Today, and I just
three pronged.
I can't, three pronged.
I just feel like I cannot figure out anything anymore.
It's bad.
Where are the games?
The ads on the boards are confusing and these rules changes have a spin.
I am 80 now.
Well, welcome, welcome to the day.
I am 80 now.
I have no idea what any of that means.
How about just not have a lottery
or fix your site, fix your rules so that the worst teams don't get the top draft picks.
That's what your problem is.
Hockey, basketball.
That's being all sports.
That's what your problem is.
You have it built to benefit the worst teams.
Don't have a draft.
You shouldn't anyway.
The problem is though that drafts are fun and huge content creators.
So we want drafts.
But really, why have them?
Why not have it be like in the other business where people get to go,
where they were wanted and paid the most and, you know, would
the Buffalo Sabers be completely priced out of having a good team?
I don't know.
Not necessarily.
Guys want to play.
Not sorry to make it so complicated so early on a Friday.
It's on his out.
Bulldog said it.
Sam Panty out of it's coming up.
He's not going to want to talk about any of this.
You're going to want to talk tournament.
Oh, yeah.
Baseball futures.
The White Sox getting blasted.
14 to 1, whatever that was.
And who knows what else.
I was asked a question yesterday.
I don't know if you want to take a try at this.
I know we got Sam coming up.
But I was asked like how focused I am.
Like what do they feel like when the Sabers actually clinch a spot?
And I didn't really know how to respond.
Like I don't, I feel I'm not on edge.
Maybe people still are out there.
I don't know.
I've not been on edge about this team making the playoffs since New Year's.
I just felt like they were they were good.
And they're placed in the standings.
It's so good right now that I'm not focused at all on what the magic number is
and what it's going to.
I just feel like it's kind of anticlimactic at this point.
They're they're it would be beyond stunning if they missed at this point.
Every model has them at a hundred percent.
I'm not worried about it.
Right.
So that takes to me the heat off of like if I'm if I'm in a I mean,
I'm in a race for first.
I'm in a race for second or third.
Maybe right.
I'm in a race for the best spot I can get.
But I I don't feel like I'm in a race trying to fend off the senators.
You know, I don't want them in.
But I'm not worried about them passing me or taking my spot.
No, it's like I don't know.
I just wonder if fans are focused on like, you know, the the moment they clinched the game.
Well, clinch and I don't know.
I'm not really it'll be great.
I mean, I'm not saying I'll be like not have any reaction.
But it's not that important moment to me.
I think what what I've thought.
Doing this asking such questions is I don't think people really want to talk about it.
Like it's a given people don't want to assume.
Yeah, until they've officially done it.
We'll talk about it some more.
Sam panning out of its next Mike show in the Bulldog Sabers and Red Wings pregame at six here on WGR.
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The ticket, Lady Jennifer of Coons.
Well, many thanks. Good, sir.
Here is my Discover Card.
They accept a discover at Renaissance Fairs?
Yeah, they do here.
Discoverers accepted at the places I love to shop.
Get it with the times.
With the times.
You're playing the loot.
Yeah, and it sounds pretty good, right?
Discoverers accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide.
Based on the February 2025 Nielsen Report.
I'm Spencer and I work at United Healthcare.
Suspenser, why do you care?
I care because my daughter Adeline has special needs.
I am motivated by Adeline who inspires me every day.
I am driven to help families like mine navigate the healthcare system.
I'm so blessed to lead an amazing team at United Healthcare focusing on the member experience
in making that better.
I'm Spencer and I'm committed to care.
Down to five, Smith.
Shaken, Bacon, Smith puts it up.
No, the four out of the squad will point seven laps.
Jane Kaufman ran.
That's Kevin producer lead.
Purdue, into the final eight.
Where they'll face Arizona tomorrow night.
Welcome back.
Mike Schopen, the Bulldog here.
Big names lined up for tonight's tournament.
Slate.
And I'm sure a man who is ready for all of it.
Is Sam Penny out of it.
Decorated sports betting analyst.
Illinois man.
Sammy P with us on the west.
Her hotline, Sam, how's life?
How is this tournament treating you?
So far so good.
I have an exact, I guess it'd be a super fecta.
Now I'm going to jinx it.
But I have my final four all making it at 30 to one.
So I'm almost there with Illinois.
And then Duke Arizona and Michigan.
Shocker, the one seeds.
But if that's the actual final four, one, one, one, three,
I'll hit 30 to one.
So I'm sweating that big.
I missed the part where you said,
and you have the bills to win the AFC East as a part of that.
I missed that breaking up when you were saying that.
I know, by the way, before I forget,
I was at Naked City in Vegas last Saturday.
And they they wanted to give the boys some love.
They love show up in the bulldog out there.
Yes, Chris here.
I told you this because I saw pictures from you.
I was out there.
The first year I went to Las Vegas to broadcast
the night of the opener, the Thursday night,
and to do fantasy drafts.
We were set up at Naked City.
And my friend, Louis, saved us because I could not figure out how to get us on the.
Yeah, that was a, that was an equipment problem.
And literally like the open was playing when I think Mike said,
I'm here. I'm here.
I got it was really close.
It was really tight.
I'm like, okay, I guess I'm flying solo here.
I picked Illinois in my bracket because of you.
I know there was that one week where you talked about Illinois versus Michigan.
And we lost on that.
But I figured you were still pretty high on them.
So I have Illinois Iowa State, not for big money.
Oh, in the final Iowa State, I thought you had Illinois, Iowa,
and in that bottom left, I was like, holy cow.
That would have paid a nice penny.
Okay, so Iowa State goes tonight.
I can tell you, I just talked to my buddy in Vegas, John Murray,
who runs the Westgate, one of the big books out there.
And he said to two vets, they need to lose tonight.
Need to lose outright our St. John's and Iowa State.
Big public sides today.
I mean, everybody's betting St. John's, which makes sense.
I mean, they've won six in a row.
They've covered all those games too.
And now you're getting a big number.
I'm using air quotes because you can't see me.
I'm on the radio.
Well, there's a lot of points.
But if you followed college basketball the last five years or so,
when you get to the sweet 16 elite eight,
this is where the gap really widens like Arizona last night.
I had a bunch of texts from my buddies.
Well, that's a lot of points to give Arkansas.
And then Arizona scored 110 points, you know, and one by almost 20.
So I just, I warn people, when you see a big number,
psychologically for some reason, everybody loves favorites in every sport.
But then in college basketball, sweet 16 elite eight,
the public sort of flips and takes points,
especially six, seven, eight, nine points.
And I warn people, these teams that are laying seven, eight, nine points are damn good.
And I think you're going to find that out with with Duke and also another one tonight.
I mean, it's not a public side like Iowa State and St. John's.
But there will be a lot of people that will look to take nine and a half 10 with Alabama.
And if they don't make their threes, guys, they're getting blown out by Michigan.
That is interesting.
And isn't it your overall point there about how for some reason this sport or this tournament
is where the public turns to the underdogs?
Is that maybe just the way it's marketed that we think about?
And that's more, it's for a reason, but we think about upsets when we think about this tournament.
Even classics in the finals, whether that's Villanova Georgetown or something more recent.
I wonder if that's really it that when we think of the tournament and when you say public,
you're talking about casuals often, maybe we just sort of go right to the dogs.
Well, I mean, yeah, this is a longer form conversation.
I'll try and keep it as short and sweet as I can.
The dogs are not as big as they used to be in terms of the number.
I remember going back a decade, a 13 seed would be getting like, you know, 22 points.
And now the trendy 13 seed is getting like 13.
And everybody likes them, like Troy, for example, this year.
I mean, everybody bet Troy and Troy got dog walked.
Hawaii was another one.
Oh, watch out for Hawaii.
I mean, Hawaii went down 11 to one and the game was never close.
I think we only had four double digit seeds win in the first round.
And then for the first time ever in NCAA tournament history, there was a stretch
where the betting favorite won the game 22 straight times.
I think it was from Thursday night through Friday, the first Friday where the favorites won
every game, all 16.
I mean, imagine being a dog player, especially a dog money line player.
And the favorites win 22 straight in a row.
There were not a lot of upsets this year.
And then I was doing radio in Chicago and the host says,
well, Texas is a Cinderella.
I'm like, Texas spent the fourth most money in NIL this year.
That is not a Cinderella.
They were just an 11 seed.
That's all right.
They just weren't as good as the money you should have made them.
Maybe right to some extent or another.
Is this overall, I mean, I know you're happy your final four is alive.
Is it good for the tournament?
Does it even matter anymore?
Because the gambling is so, you know, you can do it from your phone now.
Like the tournament probably gets as much action.
If not more action than it's ever gotten, even if it's not as interesting to the casuals,
because the, you know, 22 favorites in a row, one.
It's interesting.
I mean, you're going to get the best matchups.
I mean, these games tonight are crazy good.
St. John's Duke, Michigan State, UConn, Alabama, Michigan, Tennessee, Iowa State.
I mean, yeah, that's hot.
Those are four really, really good games with eight really, really good programs.
And, you know, I see a lot of this, you know, in the streets on the internet,
like, especially last week.
And, oh, college basketball's dead.
I'm like, not really.
You got, you got the best team standing.
So I've always wanted the best teams.
I mean, it's a fun story when Loyola goes to the final four when George Mason breaks it through.
But in the modern day, you just, you don't expect that anymore.
I mean, last year we had four number one seeds in the final four.
The final four was awesome.
I mean, it was one of the best I remember.
Usually when that Cinderella makes it to the elite eight or final four,
they get cracked over the head with a crowbar.
So do you want to want to watch?
Do you want to watch two games that are close?
Or do you want to watch one game that's close and another team lose by 30?
I'm in the first camp always.
With Sam Penny out of it's chicken dinner.
Mike's open the bulldog here, WGR.
Do you have an ear open with all this tournament noise to the Jack Adams award race?
Lindy Ruff minus 300, Mike.
That's maybe the best it's been.
You know, we hear or hear about different hockey analysts talking about this.
Ruff and John Cooper and a couple of nights ago.
Yeah, Wednesday night.
Yeah, the TNT like intermission, you know, post game panel there.
Everyone said John Cooper and their reasoning is four different or three analysts all said
John Cooper and their reasoning was I just can't believe he hasn't won it yet.
Which, you know, I think it's fine if Lindy Ruff and the Sabers aren't having the year that
they're having, but it's one of the best stories in hockey this season.
If not the best story in hockey this season that the Sabers have gotten this hot and climbed
this far, they're not just fighting to get in the playoffs.
They're fighting for like the top seat in the conference.
It's crazy.
And I just think, you know, if that coach exists out there, then the career achievement guy,
you know, should not get the benefit of the doubt in a year like that.
I don't think and maybe he won't, but broadcasters vote on that award, Sam, and those guys are broadcasters.
That's fair.
I also, not the cross sports here, but when I hear that everybody on TV like Sean Cooper,
I think about myself sitting down on Sunday night when I watched the pregame on NBC,
and the Ravens are playing the Steelers, and all nine people picked the Ravens, and I'm like,
oh, I like the Steelers.
Yeah, I feel the same way like, okay, because the betting market disagrees.
The betting market has gotten more expensive on Lindy Ruff, who I believe a week ago was even money
or plus 110, and now he's minus 300, so you got to lay three to win one.
I guess let me ask you two a question.
Since we have the Lindy bet, the three of us together,
should we bet a little John Cooper plus 240?
That's really the question, yes or no?
I mean, if my heart weren't where it was, I would do it, probably hedge a little bit,
but it's also not that big a bet that I'm really worried about it.
You know, I'm out of hedger usually.
I don't, I like to just ride or die with what I decided to do, which I know, you know,
can cost me money, but I still, whatever, I like to just stay the course.
I like your Ravens comparison.
It would be perfect if those nine NBC panelists voted at the end of the game who would win.
Instead of, they're being a scoreboard.
But, you know, point taken on that, and I'm very much the same way.
Sabers for Cup?
Anybody?
That's more than 1000, right?
Just keep asking.
I think I said last Friday, this is the last time to get in, so no, I don't want you to bet.
I mean, if you're a Buffaloanian and you're still make it on Buffalo,
if you want to bet a little bit fine, but again, the train is leaving and you are,
you are trying to jump on and grab the railing from a price standpoint.
I mean, you know, this is a team that two months ago was 50 to one, 40 to one.
So if you want to bet 16 or 14 or 12 fine, but you're, you're getting pennies on the dollar,
in that sense, I did, you know, as I always do, I listened to the first segment.
Thank you for the White Sox Crack number one, number two, number two.
Well, they went up one nothing and then they were down 14 to one.
I'm like, oh boy, here we go.
Everybody makes a run, Sam.
I did hear that we might like the draw tonight between the Sabers and the wings, huh?
Well, just to get to, just to get a point, because we sort of like, we're playing chess here,
not checkers. I think we agree that we'd like Detroit in the playoff pool.
I think they're the weakest of the contending teams for, you know, playoff spots.
So I'd rather have them in and say auto or Columbus or the Islanders even.
So let them get a point and I'll maybe take my chances and overtime.
I perked up and then that's really I went price shopping.
So this, this is a conversation that everybody needs to have, especially during baseball season,
like the importance of price. I have three sports books up right here.
Fandall Draft King's Bet MGM. If you want to bet the regulation high,
Fandall gives you plus 290. Draft King's gives you plus 320.
Bet MGM gives you plus 333. You can get 43 extra cents just by betting on the right book.
And, you know, a lot of people only have one book.
Well, one book has 290. The other one has 333 or 333.
It's my friend Eddie Olchuk always says.
There's got to be a promo code out there. We can go on onto this.
I have a white socks playoff bet.
Uh-huh.
I mean, I know their total was down around 70, right?
70 and a half, something like that. Maybe lower.
But I don't know. Give me to 85 and see what happens.
I don't know that they're going to make the playoffs.
I, you know, I think they can get to 70 wins.
The one team that a lot of wise guy is like.
And of course, you know, it's not 1995 anymore.
You can bet on playoff markets throughout the season.
Like you used to be able to just bet it before opening day.
And then they shut the blinds.
The one team I'm hearing a lot about from Vegas is the Miami Marlins.
They took some bets at 7 to 1 and plus 650 to make the postseason.
Very young team, but their manager McCulloch.
He took them from 62 wins two years ago to 79 last year.
And they got better in the off season.
So if you're looking for some pizza money,
if you want to bet a little to win a lot,
I'm here in the Miami Marlins are getting a lot of playoff bets in Vegas.
I heard Texas. Did you hear Texas too?
Yeah, Texas, that kind of happens every year with them.
At least since they've started spending all that money.
And since they won the World Series.
Yeah, I mean, Texas is, they're like the win totals like 82 and a half.
So you're not going to get as big of a payout on them to make it.
But I've heard some people that like big picture,
like Texas to make the World Series.
So to your point, that's another very popular one in the market for sure.
Thank you, Sam. Good luck tonight.
And this weekend, anything with the podcast you want to mention?
Uh, no, podcasts will be back next week.
I'm betting Michigan tonight.
And I will be thinking of you guys when the sabers and wings are tied two to two after three.
All right. We'll take it. Good deal, Sam.
Right back at you. Thanks, Sam.
Bye-bye.
Sam Panty out of it. Chicken dinner.
Find that on YouTube.
And wherever you get your podcasts,
wanted to say that. That's how they say it.
Everybody says that. I never say that.
Yeah.
Find it wherever you get your podcasts.
Ryan Fowler on the NFL draft coming up at four.
We'll mix some baseball in it.
Of course, the sabers gain tonight against Detroit.
Also, Sal Capaccio coming up at 530.
We'll spend a few minutes with Sal in the wake of the news that tomorrow.
Hamlin is resigning or has resigned with the bills.
And I have a documentary recommendation for Sal and everybody.
Okay. My show in the Bulldog. That's ahead. This is WGR.
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save money, and pick up new friends.
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Thy ticket, Lady Jennifer of Coons.
Well, many thanks, good sir.
Here is my discover card.
They accept a discover at Renaissance Fairs?
Yeah, they do here.
Discoverers accepted at the places I love to shop.
Get it with the times.
With the times.
You're playing the loot.
Yeah, and it sounds pretty good, right?
Discoverers accepted at 99% of places that take credit cards nationwide.
Based on the February 2025 Nilsson report.
I'm Spencer, and I work at United Healthcare.
Suspenser, why do you care?
I care because my daughter, Adeline, has special needs.
I am motivated by Adeline who inspires me every day.
I am driven to help families like mine navigate the healthcare system.
I'm so blessed to lead an amazing team at United Healthcare focusing on
the member experience and making that better.
I'm Spencer, and I'm committed to care.
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