Owner of the Ottawa Senators, and friend of the podcast, EUGENE MELNYK, hops on the show to have a conversation with Bob and John. After a tough season with a young core of players, Eugene shares his optimism about the teams future - believing that the Stanley Cup Playoffs are well within sight for next season. The owner also gives us an inside look at his teams re-build strategy, stressing patience, discipline & attention are the keys to building a successful hockey team. The three spend so...
May 19, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 147
BO LEVI MITCHELL, QB for the Calgary Stampeders, joins the podcast to update Bob and John on the Canadian Football League, the only North American pro Sports league that has yet to return to play since the beginning of the global pandemic. It may be an unpopular opinion, but Bo believes the recent talks between the XFL and the CFL would actually be good for the growth of the game up North as the three brainstorm ways to keep the oldest professional football league in the world relevant. The gent...
May 18, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 146
With another season in the books, Head Coach of the Dallas Stars, RICK BOWNESS joins the podcast to talk about his time in the NHL as a player, assistant and head coach, his coaching style and his experience coaching hockey during the pandemic. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.
May 17, 2021•46 min•Ep. 145
KEVIN PAUL DUPONT of the Boston Globe and MIKE ZEISBERGER from NHL.com join the podcast today to preview the 2021 NHL Playoffs. On todays roundtable, the gentlemen cover the entirety of the NHL playoff matchups as the season comes to an end. The four cover it all, from post season favourites to potential playoff surprises, we go through each first round matchup as the group gives their opinion on the must watch games across the league and who we should keep an eye on in the race for the Stanley ...
May 14, 2021•47 min•Ep. 144
No guest on today's episode, leaving Bob and John to chat amongst themselves about the NHL and their coaching carousel. The two discuss the recent departures around the league and speculate as to where John Tortorella, Rick Tocchet and David Quinn could go next - Is a Torts/Rangers reunion likely? Bob and John also wonder what's taking the Carolina Hurricanes so long to re-sign Rod Brind'Amour - with Seattle looking for their first coach in franchise history, John thinks their target could be Ro...
May 13, 2021•47 min•Ep. 143
Former baseball columnist for the Toronto Sun, BOB ELLIOTT and Canadian broadcast great, DAVE HODGE join Bob and John to talk Major League Baseball, and the Toronto Blue Jays. The gentleman begin the show discussing the problem both the NHL and MLB are going to face with their Canadian teams come playoff time. Will the Leafs and Blue Jays have to play in Buffalo when the time comes? or is hosting games in Toronto a realistic option - the four look into it. The gentleman also talk about the uptic...
May 12, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 142
DOUG SMITH, from the Toronto Star, joins the podcast today to talk about the Toronto Raptors one day after they have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. The three discuss whether or not the Raptors tanked on purpose to close out the season, and if Toronto should make a competitive offer to keep Kyle Lowry this offseason. Bob, John and Doug also debate on who they think the greatest Raptors of all time is, comparing the impact Vince Carter had on the game in Toronto opposed to Kyl...
May 11, 2021•47 min•Ep. 141
Sportsnet baseball columnist, SHI DAVIDI, joins the podcast to talk about what's been going on with the Toronto Blue Jays. The three start the show by addressing Nate Pearson's shaky season debut - Should we be concerned? The conversations moves from Pearson to Alek Manoah, and whether or not he's ready for the jump to big leagues as the Jays bullpen situation gets more and more dire. Pitching problems aside - Bob, John and Shi discuss the best options for George Springer and agree that maybe ke...
May 10, 2021•47 min•Ep. 140
Two Canadian broadcasting legends, CHRIS CUTHBERT and JIM HUGHSON join the podcast for a rare "Play-By-Play" edition of our friday roundtable talk. To start the show, Bob finds out who inspired the two game callers to pursue their careers. The gentlemen also discuss the nuances of calling a game and whether or not they are conscious of their respective "styles" in the booth. We find out what the two prefer when it comes to TV or radio and given the option, if they could call one sport for the re...
May 07, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 139
6 time Olympian, 4 time Gold Medalist, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame, and one of the greatest hockey players of all time - Just days away from becoming an official Doctor, HAYLEY WICKENHEISER joins the podcast to have a conversation with Bob and John. To begin the show, we learn about "This is Our Shot", a campaign to battle vaccine hesitancy and encourage Canadians to get inoculated, something Hayley has spearheaded from the start. Hayley shares her first hand experiences battling COVID-19,...
May 06, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 138
MLB broadcaster, JON MOROSI, is back on the podcast for some baseball talk with Bob and John. As he is known to do from time to time, Bob and Jon ask Morosi to put on his "hockey hat" to start the podcast as they look for his opinion on NHL and how they've been dealing with the recent Tom Wilson issue. Moving the discussion over to baseball, Jon compares the difference between player punishment and accountability in the NHL and MLB and why Major League Baseball has proven to be more successful i...
May 05, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 137
Our guest today needs no introduction, as most of the world already knows him as "The Great One".... WAYNE GRETZKY stops by to talk some hockey with Bob and John. To start the podcast the gentlemen pay their respects to Wayne's late father, and one of the hockey worlds most recognizable hockey dads - Walter Gretzky. Wayne looks back on some of his fondest memories with his father, how just about all of Southern Ontario has seen his basement and what he said to him on the drive over to his last g...
May 04, 2021•47 min•Ep. 136
Fresh off of the Toronto Raptors win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Raptors play-by-play announcer, MATT DEVLIN, joins the podcast to talk basketball. The gentleman talk about the Lakers and how Matt seems to think they look a little disjointed. That leads them to discuss the loaded Western Conference... if not the Lakers who else has a shot to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy? The three also talk about the top teams in the Eastern Conference before diving into the issues surrounding Toronto Raptors, ...
May 03, 2021•47 min•Ep. 135
It's not too often listeners get Bob McCown and John Shannon all to themselves... today is that day. In a rare guest-less episode, Bob and John talk some hockey but more specifically, The Toronto Maple Leafs. The gents talk about their goalie situation and debate who they should start come playoff time : A hot Jack Campbell or a healthy Frederik Andersen? Bob wonders if Andersen could ever be good in the playoffs, and asks whether or not Toronto should even keep the Danish net minder once his co...
Apr 30, 2021•48 min•Ep. 134
ROB LONGLEY from the Toronto Sun and DAVE PERKINS of the Toronto Star are back on the podcast to chat some MLB but more specifically, The Toronto Blue Jays and their recent health issues: Do the Jays put too much emphasis on high performance training? The gents also talk about George Springer's long awaited debut as a Blue Jay and the lack of offence generated by the teams top players. As always, Bob brings up the never ending pitching issue that is plaguing Major League baseball, and the fourso...
Apr 29, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 133
With the NFL draft only a day away, Executive Producer and Analyst for "NFL Matchup on ESPN" Greg Cosell joins the podcast to talk some football. The three discuss various aspects of the draft, from which position is toughest to evaluate to why they think running backs are getting taken lower and lower each year. Greg shares his opinion on who he thinks the most talented football player in the draft is, and why he won't get picked 1st overall. The gentleman also spend some time on the Quarterbac...
Apr 28, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 132
Majority Owner of the Carolina Hurricanes, TOM DUNDON stops by to talk about his team but first the gentleman discuss another one of his business ventures - Top Golf. Then it's all hockey talk, as Bob and John ask about the owners plans with their current head coach, Rod Brind'Amour, and his expiring contract. Will he be back? Or will the canes have a different boss behind the bench next season? Dundon stresses the importance of finding a balance between Analytics and the age old "Eye test" when...
Apr 27, 2021•48 min•Season 2Ep. 131
ADRIAN DATER, writer for the Colorado Avalanche, and Islanders columnist for The Athletic, ARTHUR STAPLE join us to talk about their respective teams and all of the other playoff teams that us Canadians haven't seen much of this year. Th gentlemen break down what it will take for both the Islanders and the Avalanche to take the next step in the playoffs, as well as debate whats more important come playoff time - Stanley cup experience? or team chemistry. The gents wrap the show up with some goal...
Apr 26, 2021•47 min•Ep. 130
Baseball columnist for The Athletic, JAYSON STARK, joins the podcast to discuss his recent article "Can The Blue Jays Be Baseball's Next Behemoth?" with Bob and John. Jayson has spent some time in Dunedin, and believes that the Toronto Blue Jays are building something unique with their club, as he tells the gentleman that the Jays have an upside unlike any other team in Major League Baseball. The three talk about the teams nucleus and how difficult it will be for them to keep around.. but Jayson...
Apr 23, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 129
Former commissioner of the CHL and current commissioner of the OHL, DAVID BRANCH joins the podcast to talk about the Ontario Hockey League as it heads into the second straight year of no hockey. Fresh off of the announcement that the league won't be playing again this year, Branch talks about their proposed bubble plan for the league and why it didn't happen. We discuss the implications this shutdown will have on the leagues players, eligibility for next year and a potential "Top Prospects" even...
Apr 22, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 128
Soccer AND meat pie expert, JAMES SHARMAN, joins the podcast to tell us everything he knows about this failed Super League idea that has taken over the footy world. James talks about where the idea came from, the fan reaction, the influence American ownership had, and UEFA's swift response to the plan. We end the podcast by talking about the progression of the sport in North America and we learn about James' newest venture - Meat Pies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 21, 2021•47 min•Season 2Ep. 127
NBC hockey insider, PIERRE MCGUIRE joins the podcast to let Bob and John know why Sidney Crosby is the most disrespected superstar in the NHL. That leads the gentleman to discuss the top talents in the league, and who is at the top of Pierre's list when it comes to the greatest hockey player playing in the NHL today. The three also chat about how the size of goaltenders equipment has gotten out of hand, the shelf life of an NHL coach today and Pierre informs us as to why thinks having playoff ex...
Apr 20, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 126
Former Columbus Blue Jackets Captain, NICK FOLIGNO joins Bob and John while he is in quarantine. The three talk about what it was like for Nick to be traded as the leader of a franchise, the high expectations set in Toronto and how he can help the team in the playoffs. Nick also gives us a little insight on who John Tortorella is as a person and a coach, and what role he expects to have as a Maple Leaf as he makes the transition to the North Division. We also find out if Nick has "re-kindled the...
Apr 19, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 125
ROD BLACK, from TSN, and Sportnet's ERIC SMITH come in to discuss whether the Toronto Raptors have had a fair shake this season... spoiler alert, they have not. The roundtable discussion leads the gentleman to debate the skill level of Toronto's "Big Three" of the future, and whether or not we'll see Kyle Lowry in a Raptors uniform next year. The foursome also talk about Pascal Siakam’s ceiling, Masai Ujiri’s future with the team and are the Raptors tanking or competing? See omnystudio.com/liste...
Apr 16, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 124
KEN DAVIDOFF, baseball columnist for the New York Post, jumps in to talk Major League Baseball with Bob and John. We talk about the Yankee's slow start, their pitching and whether or not he has any concerns, the Toronto Blue Jays and the emerging New York Mets. The three also discuss whether they want more or less inter-league play, and naturally, Bob finds out what side Ken is on when it comes to "The evolution of pitching." See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 15, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 123
Sabres columnist, MIKE HARRINGTON, and NHL.com writer MIKE ZEISBERGER join Bob and John following the NHL Trade deadline. The four chat about who won and who lost as they go in depth on all the moves the Canadian teams made. They wonder if "Dealin' Dubas" made too many tweaks this year considering where they are in the standings and look at teams who should have been more active And finally, with both players being moved, the gentleman ask the question; Would you rather have Taylor Hall, or Anth...
Apr 13, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 121
Award winning journalist, ALLEN ABEL, joins the show once again to chat with Bob and John. Not short for stories, Abel remembers when he was a beat reporter for the Toronto Blue Jays and Maple Leafs, the greatest athletes he's ever seen and the difference between the ABA and the NBA. Abel also shares why he was respected as a sports reporter in Toronto, as he remembers interactions he had with some of the star players and finally, he lets us know the difference between reporting on sports and po...
Apr 12, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 120
Two former "targets" as Bob calls them, DARREN PANG & GREG MILLEN join the podcast to go over the NHL trade deadline as it fast approaches. The two former goalies and now broadcasters give their take as to why so many goalies transition to broadcasting after their playing days are over, and remember their first audition tape they sent to our very own John Shannon. The roundtable discusses whether or not the Canadian media over-dose it's coverage on the deadline, and how this years expansion ...
Apr 09, 2021•46 min•Ep. 119
Former Raptors broadcast legend and current play-by-play man for the Chicago Bulls, CHUCK SWIRSKY stops by to talk some hoops with Bob and John. The three talk about the recent trade the Chicago Bulls made and how much better it makes their team, this years playoffs and play in tournament. The three also toss around the idea of eliminating the East/West playoff format and discuss the differences Chuck has noticed after working in both the NBA and NCAA. Finally, it wouldn't be a basketball show i...
Apr 08, 2021•45 min•Ep. 118
Former tour golfers IAN LEGGATT and RICHARD ZOKOL join Bob and John just in time for the Masters. Richard shares his experience playing at the Masters and why Augusta National is one of his least favourite courses to play on while Ian lets us know just how close he was to getting there. The gentlemen talk about the "Magic of the Masters", and preview the players in one of the most wide open fields the Master has had in a while. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information....
Apr 07, 2021•46 min•Ep. 117
