1 00:00:06,707 --> 00:00:10,427 Speaker 1: You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine 2 00:00:10,747 --> 00:00:12,067 Speaker 1: from News Talk, ZEDB. 3 00:00:12,907 --> 00:00:16,787 Speaker 2: Sports Cafe and icon of New Zealand sports television and 4 00:00:16,827 --> 00:00:19,387 Speaker 2: became a household name in the nineties and early two thousands. 5 00:00:19,387 --> 00:00:22,947 Speaker 2: It has made a triumphant return whether it's all new 6 00:00:23,027 --> 00:00:26,987 Speaker 2: podcast rendition on the iHeartRadio podcast network. The podcast is 7 00:00:27,027 --> 00:00:32,067 Speaker 2: called Sports Cafe Ish, new episodes available every Wednesday. It's 8 00:00:32,107 --> 00:00:35,387 Speaker 2: hosted by three of the original crew, former All Black 9 00:00:35,427 --> 00:00:39,747 Speaker 2: and Warriors player Mark Ellis, comedian Lee Hart, and journalist, 10 00:00:39,827 --> 00:00:42,907 Speaker 2: TV presenter and producer Rick Salitso who joins us? 11 00:00:42,947 --> 00:00:43,147 Speaker 3: Now? 12 00:00:43,347 --> 00:00:44,987 Speaker 2: Rick, I've heard you say in the past that this 13 00:00:45,667 --> 00:00:47,907 Speaker 2: Sports Cafe when you were doing it was one of 14 00:00:47,947 --> 00:00:50,107 Speaker 2: the most stressful things you've ever done in your life. 15 00:00:50,147 --> 00:00:51,947 Speaker 2: So how much do they have to pay you to 16 00:00:51,947 --> 00:00:52,787 Speaker 2: put yourself through this? 17 00:00:52,867 --> 00:00:58,027 Speaker 3: Again, Let's just clarify one thing. At the start. Mark 18 00:00:58,107 --> 00:01:02,187 Speaker 3: doesn't get top billing, So yeah, we don't start with 19 00:01:02,187 --> 00:01:05,227 Speaker 3: Mark Ellis. You know, No, it was Look, it was 20 00:01:06,507 --> 00:01:09,227 Speaker 3: into Mecca when we were at the World Cup in 21 00:01:09,267 --> 00:01:12,507 Speaker 3: France and I'd been living in the US for a 22 00:01:12,507 --> 00:01:15,067 Speaker 3: few years and I hadn't seen them for ages, and 23 00:01:15,147 --> 00:01:17,307 Speaker 3: I just really enjoyed catching up. And then when I 24 00:01:17,347 --> 00:01:19,347 Speaker 3: came back to New Zealand and caught up with Lee Hart, 25 00:01:19,827 --> 00:01:23,227 Speaker 3: and I just reminded myself of just how much money 26 00:01:23,307 --> 00:01:25,067 Speaker 3: is and how what a genius he is, and so 27 00:01:25,947 --> 00:01:29,587 Speaker 3: I thought, why don't we just do something together, you know. 28 00:01:29,827 --> 00:01:33,467 Speaker 3: And the thing I love about it is, you know, 29 00:01:33,547 --> 00:01:36,627 Speaker 3: with this new sort of you know, podcast and YouTube 30 00:01:36,707 --> 00:01:39,787 Speaker 3: and social media and all these things, is you can 31 00:01:39,827 --> 00:01:43,507 Speaker 3: go direct to your audience and that's really exciting for 32 00:01:43,907 --> 00:01:47,587 Speaker 3: a creator. So so the opportunity to sort of work 33 00:01:47,587 --> 00:01:50,067 Speaker 3: in those new mediums with people that you really enjoy 34 00:01:50,667 --> 00:01:52,787 Speaker 3: working with. I mean, it was just a no brainer. 35 00:01:53,187 --> 00:01:55,187 Speaker 2: So what can we expect when we when we listen 36 00:01:55,227 --> 00:01:58,867 Speaker 2: to episodes of Sports Cafe is okay. 37 00:01:58,747 --> 00:02:03,387 Speaker 3: No, it's like, put it this way, what you can 38 00:02:03,507 --> 00:02:08,027 Speaker 3: expect is the opposite to what I prepare. Yep, that's 39 00:02:08,067 --> 00:02:08,587 Speaker 3: probably it. 40 00:02:08,947 --> 00:02:09,107 Speaker 1: Well. 41 00:02:09,147 --> 00:02:11,267 Speaker 2: I think that was the secret of the show, or 42 00:02:11,307 --> 00:02:13,307 Speaker 2: one of the secrets of the show when it was 43 00:02:13,947 --> 00:02:16,427 Speaker 2: on television, was that you never really knew, did you. 44 00:02:16,587 --> 00:02:18,547 Speaker 2: And you got the feeling as a viewer that you 45 00:02:18,587 --> 00:02:19,507 Speaker 2: never really knew either. 46 00:02:20,347 --> 00:02:24,467 Speaker 3: No, no, no, Like I knew what it was when 47 00:02:24,507 --> 00:02:26,787 Speaker 3: I started out, you know, he's a paper, and I 48 00:02:26,827 --> 00:02:28,507 Speaker 3: was like, this is what the structure of the show is. 49 00:02:29,387 --> 00:02:31,667 Speaker 3: And then Mark would do everything he could do to 50 00:02:31,787 --> 00:02:35,107 Speaker 3: ruin that, and Lee would you know. I used to 51 00:02:35,107 --> 00:02:37,347 Speaker 3: say to Lee when we were going sending him out 52 00:02:37,387 --> 00:02:39,387 Speaker 3: to do a story, I'd ask him to do something 53 00:02:39,427 --> 00:02:41,147 Speaker 3: and he'd come back with the opposite. So then I 54 00:02:41,147 --> 00:02:43,627 Speaker 3: would tell him the opposite of what I wanted, hoping 55 00:02:43,667 --> 00:02:45,987 Speaker 3: that I'd get what I wanted. And that worked for 56 00:02:46,027 --> 00:02:47,867 Speaker 3: about two weeks, and then he worked that out, and 57 00:02:47,867 --> 00:02:50,707 Speaker 3: then it got so confusing. I couldn't work out whether 58 00:02:50,747 --> 00:02:52,747 Speaker 3: I was telling him the opposite or I was telling 59 00:02:52,787 --> 00:02:54,427 Speaker 3: him the real thing, because I couldn't work out what 60 00:02:54,507 --> 00:02:59,867 Speaker 3: stage we're at. But yeah, I mean, it's just, you know, 61 00:03:00,427 --> 00:03:03,227 Speaker 3: if you want to know the motivation for doing it, 62 00:03:03,227 --> 00:03:05,587 Speaker 3: it's just because I want to have some fun and 63 00:03:06,027 --> 00:03:10,307 Speaker 3: they they have fun too. There's nothing deeper than that. 64 00:03:12,107 --> 00:03:15,067 Speaker 2: And I mean, in many ways, that's that's probably the 65 00:03:15,187 --> 00:03:18,147 Speaker 2: most pure reason for doing anything. Really. It's not as 66 00:03:18,187 --> 00:03:20,467 Speaker 2: though you're going to make you a gazillion dollars out 67 00:03:20,467 --> 00:03:22,787 Speaker 2: of it, probably, although you might get some sponsors on board, 68 00:03:22,827 --> 00:03:25,507 Speaker 2: I presume, and make a bit of coin. But yeah, 69 00:03:25,787 --> 00:03:28,587 Speaker 2: and again, that was what it always seemed like watching 70 00:03:28,627 --> 00:03:30,107 Speaker 2: it on TV back in the day. Was it just 71 00:03:30,187 --> 00:03:33,147 Speaker 2: a bunch of people around having fun with one another 72 00:03:33,187 --> 00:03:35,507 Speaker 2: and bringing the audience along for the ride. So I 73 00:03:35,547 --> 00:03:39,027 Speaker 2: get the feeling it will translate perfectly into the podcast realm. 74 00:03:39,547 --> 00:03:41,307 Speaker 3: Yeah, let me give you a tip. The way to 75 00:03:41,387 --> 00:03:44,987 Speaker 3: make money is not by making TV shows and podcasts. 76 00:03:44,987 --> 00:03:47,867 Speaker 3: It's making its selling orange juice and potato chips. Yes, 77 00:03:48,147 --> 00:03:53,947 Speaker 3: that's the That's where the money is. That, that's the 78 00:03:53,947 --> 00:03:56,627 Speaker 3: the whole thing is. You know, here, I am sort of, 79 00:03:56,907 --> 00:03:59,147 Speaker 3: you know, fifteen twenty years ago to the boss, sort 80 00:03:59,147 --> 00:04:02,227 Speaker 3: of starting them out. Now they sort of doing me 81 00:04:02,267 --> 00:04:05,507 Speaker 3: a favor in between, you know, the orange juice millions 82 00:04:05,507 --> 00:04:07,707 Speaker 3: and their potato empires. 83 00:04:08,107 --> 00:04:10,347 Speaker 2: Do you think people who never saw Sports Cafe on 84 00:04:10,427 --> 00:04:12,467 Speaker 2: TV will get something out of this podcast too? 85 00:04:13,467 --> 00:04:18,587 Speaker 3: Yeah? I think so. It's been that's been really like 86 00:04:18,787 --> 00:04:21,107 Speaker 3: I've had a lot of feedback obviously, and and and 87 00:04:21,147 --> 00:04:24,707 Speaker 3: the beautiful thing about social and and and stuff is 88 00:04:24,747 --> 00:04:27,627 Speaker 3: people tell you what they think, and sometimes they don't 89 00:04:27,627 --> 00:04:30,547 Speaker 3: think when they tell you. But what's really cool about 90 00:04:30,587 --> 00:04:33,027 Speaker 3: it is that there lots of people in there in 91 00:04:33,067 --> 00:04:38,187 Speaker 3: the early twenties are getting into it. And it's funny 92 00:04:38,187 --> 00:04:40,987 Speaker 3: because I hear the word political correctness thrown around all 93 00:04:40,987 --> 00:04:43,907 Speaker 3: the time, and you know, you guys are so anti 94 00:04:43,987 --> 00:04:47,347 Speaker 3: PC and stuff like that, and it's like not really, 95 00:04:47,467 --> 00:04:49,787 Speaker 3: like we're just us. You know, we're just normal. We're 96 00:04:49,867 --> 00:04:54,587 Speaker 3: just behaving like we normally do, and like we're just 97 00:04:54,627 --> 00:04:59,787 Speaker 3: not complaining about stuff. So, you know, we're just we're 98 00:04:59,827 --> 00:05:01,827 Speaker 3: just focused on having fun. And I think that I 99 00:05:01,827 --> 00:05:06,787 Speaker 3: think I think that younger demographic sort of that excellent. 100 00:05:06,867 --> 00:05:09,387 Speaker 3: But at the end of the day, I make this 101 00:05:09,507 --> 00:05:12,787 Speaker 3: for people that think they're in their twenties, Like that's me, 102 00:05:13,147 --> 00:05:15,547 Speaker 3: Like I've got three skateboards in the next box, Like 103 00:05:15,627 --> 00:05:19,067 Speaker 3: I still think I'm twenty three. So and I know 104 00:05:19,187 --> 00:05:20,907 Speaker 3: plenty of people like that, and I think you're one 105 00:05:20,907 --> 00:05:21,267 Speaker 3: of them. 106 00:05:21,307 --> 00:05:22,907 Speaker 2: Absolutely absolutely. 107 00:05:23,067 --> 00:05:28,107 Speaker 3: Yeah. So it's a mindset. It's not an age I am. 108 00:05:28,507 --> 00:05:31,027 Speaker 2: I'm looking at the at the official release from this 109 00:05:31,467 --> 00:05:34,747 Speaker 2: from the podcast, and it says listeners can expect discussions 110 00:05:34,747 --> 00:05:38,467 Speaker 2: on current sporting issues and surprise guest appearances. So you 111 00:05:38,587 --> 00:05:40,907 Speaker 2: got a few surprise guests jacked up? 112 00:05:42,067 --> 00:05:42,427 Speaker 3: Have I. 113 00:05:43,907 --> 00:05:44,067 Speaker 1: Me? 114 00:05:44,867 --> 00:05:47,627 Speaker 3: So that's a surprise, the surprises. I didn't know that, 115 00:05:48,187 --> 00:05:52,387 Speaker 3: So so that's good. No, well, well, I mean hopefully 116 00:05:52,387 --> 00:05:55,987 Speaker 3: we'll catch up with with you know, everyone from the 117 00:05:56,107 --> 00:06:00,907 Speaker 3: from the old crew at some stage, like probably fifty 118 00:06:00,947 --> 00:06:05,267 Speaker 3: percent of my comments so far. Where is Lana, Yes, 119 00:06:06,107 --> 00:06:11,427 Speaker 3: and we're chasing it. She's not returning my calls. But yeah, 120 00:06:11,467 --> 00:06:13,227 Speaker 3: I mean it's it's been good to catch up with 121 00:06:13,267 --> 00:06:17,227 Speaker 3: people and good to like this week's episode, we caught 122 00:06:17,307 --> 00:06:20,507 Speaker 3: up with Sam Kane, which was really cool. Last week 123 00:06:20,507 --> 00:06:26,067 Speaker 3: it was Shari Sharay Kaka from The Blackman Sevens. The 124 00:06:26,107 --> 00:06:30,587 Speaker 3: great thing about technology now is, you know, it's always 125 00:06:30,587 --> 00:06:32,947 Speaker 3: been easy for radio. I mean, I started out on radio. 126 00:06:32,987 --> 00:06:35,187 Speaker 3: It's always been easy for you to ring ring someone 127 00:06:35,267 --> 00:06:37,107 Speaker 3: up and record them and chuck them out. But it's 128 00:06:37,107 --> 00:06:40,067 Speaker 3: always been hard for TV to do that. You know, 129 00:06:40,707 --> 00:06:42,267 Speaker 3: in the old days, we used to have to sort 130 00:06:42,267 --> 00:06:45,707 Speaker 3: of put up a satellite, you know. But now with technology, 131 00:06:46,027 --> 00:06:48,427 Speaker 3: people can be in their lounges and they can be 132 00:06:48,467 --> 00:06:50,467 Speaker 3: a guest in your show. So it makes it a 133 00:06:50,507 --> 00:06:52,587 Speaker 3: little bit easier than it used to be. 134 00:06:52,747 --> 00:06:55,707 Speaker 2: Absolutely look forward to new episodes every Wednesday. Hey Rick, 135 00:06:55,787 --> 00:06:58,547 Speaker 2: just well, I've got you. You had three years a 136 00:06:58,627 --> 00:07:01,747 Speaker 2: CEO of Rugby United New York. I just want to 137 00:07:01,747 --> 00:07:03,707 Speaker 2: get your assessment of where the game of rugby is 138 00:07:03,747 --> 00:07:04,747 Speaker 2: in the US right now. 139 00:07:06,387 --> 00:07:08,267 Speaker 3: You know, the first thing I did was get rid 140 00:07:08,307 --> 00:07:11,147 Speaker 3: of United, so we changed it to Rugby New York 141 00:07:11,307 --> 00:07:16,107 Speaker 3: because you know, nice soccer team. But yeah, it's a 142 00:07:16,147 --> 00:07:20,027 Speaker 3: fascinating It was a I really enjoyed myself in New York, 143 00:07:20,587 --> 00:07:22,587 Speaker 3: you know, running a professional rugby team. And we had 144 00:07:22,627 --> 00:07:25,467 Speaker 3: a great crew of people. We had Andy allis what's 145 00:07:25,507 --> 00:07:28,907 Speaker 3: u in the hollow name of the Scudder, you know, 146 00:07:29,627 --> 00:07:31,347 Speaker 3: render the kind of Jason Emery, A lot of New 147 00:07:31,427 --> 00:07:38,267 Speaker 3: Zealand names with us. It's Americans are American rugby people. 148 00:07:39,467 --> 00:07:41,227 Speaker 3: It's like a bad courage for them to be a 149 00:07:41,307 --> 00:07:44,267 Speaker 3: rugby fan or and and they really are proud of it, 150 00:07:44,307 --> 00:07:47,107 Speaker 3: and they they give it so much love and attention, 151 00:07:47,227 --> 00:07:51,587 Speaker 3: and it's I really enjoyed working with those people. The 152 00:07:51,707 --> 00:07:56,667 Speaker 3: game is growing all the time, and the competition MLR 153 00:07:57,147 --> 00:08:00,187 Speaker 3: is is you know, it's I don't know it's seventh 154 00:08:00,307 --> 00:08:03,427 Speaker 3: or eight year, but it's it's just keeps learning and 155 00:08:03,827 --> 00:08:06,707 Speaker 3: evolving and moving in different places and different ways, and 156 00:08:08,147 --> 00:08:10,627 Speaker 3: you know, it's it's really exciting and it's really exciting 157 00:08:11,387 --> 00:08:13,267 Speaker 3: for the game of rugby. I mean that was a 158 00:08:13,307 --> 00:08:16,507 Speaker 3: big part of the attraction for me was being at 159 00:08:16,507 --> 00:08:20,067 Speaker 3: the you know, in the in the world west, the 160 00:08:20,107 --> 00:08:23,267 Speaker 3: frontier of a new of the game, growing in new 161 00:08:23,307 --> 00:08:26,027 Speaker 3: places and and it's really exciting. 162 00:08:26,147 --> 00:08:29,267 Speaker 2: Good stuff, good stuff. Well looking forward to hearing. As 163 00:08:29,307 --> 00:08:31,867 Speaker 2: I say, new episodes of Sports Cafe is dropping every 164 00:08:31,867 --> 00:08:35,187 Speaker 2: Wednesday on iHeart Radio or wherever people get their podcast. 165 00:08:35,227 --> 00:08:37,147 Speaker 2: I'll give it the correct building now rix Elite So 166 00:08:37,307 --> 00:08:40,307 Speaker 2: with Lee Hart and Mark Ellis as well, and some 167 00:08:40,427 --> 00:08:42,547 Speaker 2: surprise guests actually. 168 00:08:42,667 --> 00:08:45,427 Speaker 3: Don't even give Mark Ellis a billing, just say rix Alito, 169 00:08:45,507 --> 00:08:46,147 Speaker 3: Lee Hart and. 170 00:08:46,107 --> 00:08:48,787 Speaker 2: Others rix Alite So, Lee Hart and others on the 171 00:08:48,787 --> 00:08:52,627 Speaker 2: Sports Cafe Ish podcast. Great to chat Rick, Thanks Bunny, 172 00:08:54,307 --> 00:08:56,587 Speaker 2: rix Alite So They're always good to get the chance 173 00:08:56,627 --> 00:09:00,267 Speaker 2: to catch up with him. Iconic Sports Cafe Sports Cafe 174 00:09:00,507 --> 00:09:03,267 Speaker 2: Ish just look for it on iHeartRadio or wherever you 175 00:09:03,307 --> 00:09:06,027 Speaker 2: get your podcast from. Might be something to add to 176 00:09:06,107 --> 00:09:09,987 Speaker 2: your to your weekly listening with new episodes every Wednesday. 177 00:09:10,587 --> 00:09:13,747 Speaker 1: For more from Weekends Sport with Jason Fine, listen live 178 00:09:13,867 --> 00:09:17,147 Speaker 1: to News Talk Set B weekends from midday, or follow 179 00:09:17,187 --> 00:09:18,827 Speaker 1: the podcast on iHeartRadio