1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:11,160 Speaker 1: This is your Apologize for Nothing Leader fan Fan Radio 2 00:00:11,200 --> 00:00:16,560 Speaker 1: Network and k fa N dot Com. Two minutes and 3 00:00:17,040 --> 00:00:22,040 Speaker 1: eight seconds past the hour of three o'clock Central daylight time, 4 00:00:22,079 --> 00:00:25,880 Speaker 1: Welcome back Thursday edition of the Bumper to Bumper Program, 5 00:00:26,239 --> 00:00:30,840 Speaker 1: affectionately referred to as the Afternoon Ardvark, hosted by the 6 00:00:30,920 --> 00:00:32,280 Speaker 1: A Hole in the Afternoon. 7 00:00:32,360 --> 00:00:32,680 Speaker 2: That's me. 8 00:00:32,800 --> 00:00:35,800 Speaker 1: My name's Dan Barrero, formering stain Retch newspaper the Twin 9 00:00:35,840 --> 00:00:38,280 Speaker 1: Cities Guards. He will be a part of today's show, 10 00:00:38,320 --> 00:00:40,320 Speaker 1: but not from here and not in the producer's chair 11 00:00:40,800 --> 00:00:45,839 Speaker 1: or the sidekickchair. He will be originating about four fifteen ish, 12 00:00:45,880 --> 00:00:49,839 Speaker 1: we think from Sacramento, California, where he is preparing to 13 00:00:49,880 --> 00:00:53,000 Speaker 1: call go for women's basketball tomorrow night, a game that 14 00:00:53,000 --> 00:00:54,600 Speaker 1: can be heard right here on the Fan. I believe 15 00:00:55,600 --> 00:00:59,240 Speaker 1: as early as six thirty pm Central daylight time. So 16 00:00:59,240 --> 00:01:02,400 Speaker 1: Brett Blake Moore is back in that chair as well. 17 00:01:02,440 --> 00:01:04,280 Speaker 1: We've got to I think we've got a dandy of 18 00:01:04,319 --> 00:01:08,480 Speaker 1: a program that we are fashioning for you between now 19 00:01:08,560 --> 00:01:11,680 Speaker 1: and the usual six thirty We go in the distance today. 20 00:01:11,600 --> 00:01:15,080 Speaker 2: Three hour two or six o'clock six o'clock today? Yes, 21 00:01:15,440 --> 00:01:19,120 Speaker 2: what are we on for? Wild hockey? Thanks? Following Wild Panthers. 22 00:01:19,200 --> 00:01:21,119 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's right, we're the East Coast I for well, 23 00:01:21,120 --> 00:01:22,800 Speaker 1: East Coast time. You should we be have he's not five 24 00:01:22,800 --> 00:01:25,800 Speaker 1: to forty five because we're going right into the even 25 00:01:25,920 --> 00:01:30,319 Speaker 1: better Yeah, well, we got three outstanding guests today. I 26 00:01:30,360 --> 00:01:33,200 Speaker 1: mentioned guards he already because technically speaking, he is a 27 00:01:33,240 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: guest Russo Radio at the bottom of this hour. And uh, 28 00:01:36,840 --> 00:01:38,880 Speaker 1: my old buddy Rick bozicch we just had him on 29 00:01:38,959 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: to talk Big Dance a couple of weeks ago. I'm 30 00:01:41,880 --> 00:01:45,440 Speaker 1: bringing him back today and asking him to be his 31 00:01:45,480 --> 00:01:48,160 Speaker 1: alter ego, which is doctor Bow, because there was a 32 00:01:48,200 --> 00:01:51,360 Speaker 1: doctor Bow before there was a Doctor Dan actually, and 33 00:01:51,440 --> 00:01:55,920 Speaker 1: I want to talk mainly about his prescription to fix 34 00:01:55,960 --> 00:01:58,600 Speaker 1: the game of baseball if he thinks it needs any 35 00:01:58,640 --> 00:01:59,320 Speaker 1: further fixing. 36 00:02:00,040 --> 00:02:00,520 Speaker 2: He might not. 37 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:05,800 Speaker 1: That's always been his favorite game, and we'll see what 38 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:07,920 Speaker 1: he thinks about the state of the game, the ongoing 39 00:02:07,960 --> 00:02:11,840 Speaker 1: salary cap debate that you hear all the time now, 40 00:02:11,960 --> 00:02:15,560 Speaker 1: especially at the start of a new season, and I'm 41 00:02:15,560 --> 00:02:18,639 Speaker 1: guessing we'll probably get a couple of Big Dance questions 42 00:02:18,680 --> 00:02:21,320 Speaker 1: in there as well. There's some very intriguing matchups I'm 43 00:02:21,360 --> 00:02:25,680 Speaker 1: looking forward to on the men's side tonight, Thursday and 44 00:02:26,040 --> 00:02:29,000 Speaker 1: Friday as well, so it'll be a combo platter show 45 00:02:29,600 --> 00:02:31,760 Speaker 1: to that extent. Bratchawn Brian Cafe in text Line is 46 00:02:31,800 --> 00:02:36,440 Speaker 1: open at six four six, eight six. We will discuss 47 00:02:36,720 --> 00:02:39,080 Speaker 1: probably segment two before Russo. 48 00:02:40,480 --> 00:02:43,240 Speaker 2: A seismic. 49 00:02:44,320 --> 00:02:49,399 Speaker 1: Historic comeback from the Minnesota Timberwolves last night. I view 50 00:02:49,440 --> 00:02:58,760 Speaker 1: it as one of those nights when I think you 51 00:02:58,800 --> 00:03:04,200 Speaker 1: could have made it permissible if security had stepped aside 52 00:03:04,240 --> 00:03:07,639 Speaker 1: and allowed Timberwols fans to storm the court. Never happens 53 00:03:07,800 --> 00:03:11,400 Speaker 1: anymore in pro basketball, although it used to happen postseason 54 00:03:11,400 --> 00:03:15,960 Speaker 1: pro basketball. I've seen some great footage of court storming, 55 00:03:16,080 --> 00:03:21,200 Speaker 1: for example at the old Boston Garden. I think it 56 00:03:21,280 --> 00:03:26,640 Speaker 1: was courtstorm worthy at the Wolves Houston game yesterday, in 57 00:03:26,680 --> 00:03:30,080 Speaker 1: which Houston scored the first thirteen points of the overtime 58 00:03:31,120 --> 00:03:33,800 Speaker 1: and Minnesota scored the last fifteen points of the overtime. 59 00:03:33,840 --> 00:03:37,000 Speaker 1: You really can't make up the sequence of events that 60 00:03:37,080 --> 00:03:39,360 Speaker 1: took place, but I'll give you my theory on the 61 00:03:39,400 --> 00:03:44,360 Speaker 1: court storming and on about one other aspect of that 62 00:03:44,440 --> 00:03:49,480 Speaker 1: particular ballgame last night. But it is baseball season. Technically 63 00:03:49,560 --> 00:03:52,920 Speaker 1: it started yesterday, I guess. But Twins are in action 64 00:03:53,200 --> 00:03:56,800 Speaker 1: as we speak. We'll keep you posted a little bit 65 00:03:56,840 --> 00:04:00,760 Speaker 1: later on what's going on Twins Baltimore. Honey of a 66 00:04:00,760 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: pitcher's duel. So far zero zero at this point of though, 67 00:04:05,520 --> 00:04:07,440 Speaker 1: it looks like the Twins might have a little threat 68 00:04:07,480 --> 00:04:12,720 Speaker 1: going again here in the top four. But I have 69 00:04:12,800 --> 00:04:15,400 Speaker 1: to you know, this is the second straight day I'm 70 00:04:15,400 --> 00:04:17,560 Speaker 1: going to stand up for fans. Yesterday it was for 71 00:04:17,640 --> 00:04:22,799 Speaker 1: the hockey hard course regarding not necessarily being in love 72 00:04:23,440 --> 00:04:27,640 Speaker 1: with the Larsen higher at the University of Minnesota men's 73 00:04:27,640 --> 00:04:33,320 Speaker 1: hockey side. Today, I am even more passionate in my 74 00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:39,719 Speaker 1: defense of Twins fans who are all ready getting savaged 75 00:04:39,839 --> 00:04:44,200 Speaker 1: by the ball guys. And here's the theory that is 76 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:50,160 Speaker 1: being advanced. Well, we know that they're not very good. Realistically, 77 00:04:50,160 --> 00:04:54,080 Speaker 1: they're not gonna be very good this year. But if 78 00:04:54,120 --> 00:05:01,719 Speaker 1: you truly love the game and the process, you embrace 79 00:05:01,800 --> 00:05:02,479 Speaker 1: the process. 80 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:08,040 Speaker 2: And by that the meaning is, well, got some young. 81 00:05:07,880 --> 00:05:12,120 Speaker 1: Talent that might either be here now or might become 82 00:05:12,160 --> 00:05:18,080 Speaker 1: a part of the team through the season that might 83 00:05:18,080 --> 00:05:24,400 Speaker 1: be intriguing. And so don't just trust the process. Embrace 84 00:05:24,480 --> 00:05:27,200 Speaker 1: the process, even if you know the team's not very good. 85 00:05:27,480 --> 00:05:29,560 Speaker 2: It's okay to enjoy. 86 00:05:30,920 --> 00:05:35,599 Speaker 1: The development of a young, promising talent to see where 87 00:05:35,880 --> 00:05:42,279 Speaker 1: indeed it might go. It's basically silver linings two point 88 00:05:42,360 --> 00:05:44,200 Speaker 1: zero or in the case of this team, probably more 89 00:05:44,240 --> 00:05:49,080 Speaker 1: like three point zero at this point. I'm here to 90 00:05:49,120 --> 00:05:51,719 Speaker 1: tell you don't let the ball guys make you feel 91 00:05:51,720 --> 00:05:55,080 Speaker 1: guilty if you are not interested in that process. 92 00:05:57,040 --> 00:05:57,760 Speaker 2: And here's why. 93 00:05:58,960 --> 00:06:07,080 Speaker 1: In theory, that theory is defensible and understandable. You say, well, yeah, 94 00:06:07,200 --> 00:06:11,279 Speaker 1: it rome wasn't built in a day. Part of being 95 00:06:11,360 --> 00:06:15,280 Speaker 1: a fan is watching players develop over a period of 96 00:06:15,279 --> 00:06:18,440 Speaker 1: time to get from where they started to where they 97 00:06:18,520 --> 00:06:20,240 Speaker 1: might want to go, and that might take a minute. 98 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,520 Speaker 1: As they learn the game, is they gain experience, they 99 00:06:23,800 --> 00:06:30,960 Speaker 1: become more seasoned, et cetera. In theory, that's embraceable. But 100 00:06:31,000 --> 00:06:33,719 Speaker 1: the problem here is the theory is based on what 101 00:06:34,080 --> 00:06:38,320 Speaker 1: the theory is based on. We're in rebuilding mode, or 102 00:06:38,360 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: we have young talent that we think you'll enjoy and 103 00:06:41,320 --> 00:06:42,960 Speaker 1: that we're going to try and enjoy, and let's just 104 00:06:43,080 --> 00:06:47,400 Speaker 1: enjoy all of this together, because at the other end 105 00:06:47,839 --> 00:06:52,760 Speaker 1: of this process of this period is what a good 106 00:06:52,760 --> 00:06:59,880 Speaker 1: baseball team and an ownership that will reward said they 107 00:07:00,000 --> 00:07:06,320 Speaker 1: baseball team and better promising results with what more assets, 108 00:07:07,240 --> 00:07:12,760 Speaker 1: more money, and more potential or more possibility to get somewhere. 109 00:07:13,960 --> 00:07:17,200 Speaker 2: That's what the whole theory is based on, not just. 110 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:20,480 Speaker 1: The front end, but the payoff in the back end. 111 00:07:20,520 --> 00:07:23,120 Speaker 1: And by the way, the payoff can't always mean a 112 00:07:23,160 --> 00:07:25,080 Speaker 1: World Series, because it ain't that easy to win a 113 00:07:25,080 --> 00:07:27,480 Speaker 1: World Series, even if you're trying, and even if you're 114 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,360 Speaker 1: spending money. We get that, But if the back end 115 00:07:31,960 --> 00:07:35,320 Speaker 1: plays out the way it has tended to in recent 116 00:07:35,400 --> 00:07:37,760 Speaker 1: years with this team, it's. 117 00:07:37,600 --> 00:07:40,640 Speaker 2: All a phony and false premise, and. 118 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:43,480 Speaker 1: You have no reason to feel guilty for not trusting 119 00:07:43,520 --> 00:07:46,880 Speaker 1: it or necessarily being interested in it, because it's not 120 00:07:47,040 --> 00:07:50,360 Speaker 1: just as I said, the front end, it's what's supposed 121 00:07:50,360 --> 00:07:51,000 Speaker 1: to happen. 122 00:07:50,760 --> 00:07:51,600 Speaker 2: At the back end. 123 00:07:51,760 --> 00:07:55,400 Speaker 1: After all that patience is shown by you as a fan. 124 00:07:57,280 --> 00:08:01,080 Speaker 2: What happened the last time we got or semi good? 125 00:08:01,960 --> 00:08:05,280 Speaker 1: Well, what have we done since we got thought we 126 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:09,559 Speaker 1: got good or semi good and finally want a playoff series? 127 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:13,360 Speaker 2: For example? Do I have to go through it all again? 128 00:08:17,040 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: The infamous right sizing the payroll comment thirty million dollars 129 00:08:24,840 --> 00:08:27,520 Speaker 1: that was the reward for the team showing some promise. 130 00:08:28,160 --> 00:08:30,760 Speaker 1: At the end of the last time we were in 131 00:08:30,880 --> 00:08:35,040 Speaker 1: Silver Linings, thirty million dollars cut from the payroll because 132 00:08:35,080 --> 00:08:41,240 Speaker 1: we have to. Then we surprise anyway with a better 133 00:08:41,280 --> 00:08:43,239 Speaker 1: team than one might expect. 134 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:45,160 Speaker 2: And what was that team's reward. 135 00:08:47,080 --> 00:08:51,520 Speaker 1: Absolutely no aggressiveness at the trade deadline, one meaningless trade 136 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:55,800 Speaker 1: for one meaningless relief pitcher that lasted about fifteen minutes. 137 00:08:57,440 --> 00:08:58,480 Speaker 2: What happened after that. 138 00:09:00,080 --> 00:09:02,960 Speaker 1: Fired everybody, And we've cut the payroll another thirty five 139 00:09:03,000 --> 00:09:04,480 Speaker 1: million dollars. 140 00:09:04,960 --> 00:09:07,200 Speaker 2: So now we're down sixty five million or in that. 141 00:09:07,200 --> 00:09:09,000 Speaker 1: Range, at least for the moment if I have the 142 00:09:09,040 --> 00:09:11,559 Speaker 1: math right, and I don't always have the math right, 143 00:09:13,480 --> 00:09:16,800 Speaker 1: So I'll say again, you get cornered by a ball 144 00:09:16,800 --> 00:09:18,280 Speaker 1: guy at the water cooler, and I don't know if 145 00:09:18,280 --> 00:09:21,680 Speaker 1: anybody gathers around the water cooler anymore, because I don't 146 00:09:21,679 --> 00:09:24,600 Speaker 1: know if anybody goes to the office anymore. But if 147 00:09:24,600 --> 00:09:26,920 Speaker 1: you find yourself in that position and a guy tries 148 00:09:26,960 --> 00:09:31,440 Speaker 1: to make you look silly or bad or disloyal because 149 00:09:31,440 --> 00:09:34,760 Speaker 1: you don't, you're not going to get into watching these 150 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:39,600 Speaker 1: young guys develop in this Silver Linings period. Don't let 151 00:09:39,640 --> 00:09:46,000 Speaker 1: them intimidate you, don't let them mock you or ridicule you. 152 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:50,000 Speaker 2: You have every right to say not going there. 153 00:09:50,920 --> 00:09:53,000 Speaker 1: Now, you also have a right to go anyway. I'm 154 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:54,720 Speaker 1: not here to tell you can't. I'm not a big 155 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,040 Speaker 1: boycott the team guy. I'm not here to make you 156 00:09:58,080 --> 00:10:00,240 Speaker 1: feel guilty. If you want to waste your mone honey 157 00:10:01,200 --> 00:10:03,439 Speaker 1: at target Field, that's up to you. It's your money. 158 00:10:04,160 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: And we all know it's a wonderful ballpark. I heard 159 00:10:07,400 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: that again this morning. 160 00:10:10,200 --> 00:10:15,920 Speaker 2: You know what though, it's such a beautiful ballpark. Yeah, 161 00:10:15,960 --> 00:10:18,559 Speaker 2: we all know that. But there's supposed to be. 162 00:10:18,520 --> 00:10:21,920 Speaker 1: Something vital and at stake going on in it as well. 163 00:10:23,520 --> 00:10:27,400 Speaker 1: If you participate in the notion that, oh, let's just 164 00:10:27,440 --> 00:10:30,160 Speaker 1: go have fun going to the ballpark, that plays into 165 00:10:30,200 --> 00:10:34,920 Speaker 1: an organization that has not been serious about pursuing anything 166 00:10:35,600 --> 00:10:41,679 Speaker 1: in recent years. So I can't state this strong more 167 00:10:41,720 --> 00:10:44,560 Speaker 1: strongly I think than how I feel about it, that 168 00:10:45,559 --> 00:10:50,920 Speaker 1: you do not You're not You don't hate baseball if 169 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:55,520 Speaker 1: in this town, in this particular situation, you reject the 170 00:10:55,640 --> 00:10:57,840 Speaker 1: lectures about. 171 00:10:58,160 --> 00:11:00,480 Speaker 2: What's wrong with you? Can't you even if you. 172 00:11:00,400 --> 00:11:02,360 Speaker 1: Know the teams have very good why can't you enjoy 173 00:11:02,400 --> 00:11:05,840 Speaker 1: the progress of the young players as if you have 174 00:11:05,920 --> 00:11:08,600 Speaker 1: to explain yourself that you have to be on the 175 00:11:08,640 --> 00:11:11,840 Speaker 1: defensive for that. You can love baseball, you can even 176 00:11:11,880 --> 00:11:17,240 Speaker 1: love the process, but if on the back end, the 177 00:11:17,400 --> 00:11:21,400 Speaker 1: organization involved cheats, cheats you out of what's supposed to 178 00:11:21,440 --> 00:11:24,040 Speaker 1: be at the back end, after all those. 179 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,040 Speaker 2: Trials and tribulations, that. 180 00:11:26,040 --> 00:11:30,440 Speaker 1: It ain't a process worth paying attention to. That's the 181 00:11:30,559 --> 00:11:34,839 Speaker 1: premise that's all built on. We hear this all the time. Man, 182 00:11:34,880 --> 00:11:37,240 Speaker 1: you know, I look back on we suffered for a 183 00:11:37,240 --> 00:11:39,960 Speaker 1: couple of years, and man, we saw some bad baseball 184 00:11:40,000 --> 00:11:43,720 Speaker 1: and a lot of players struggle, but we saw some 185 00:11:43,760 --> 00:11:47,200 Speaker 1: of them get better. We saw the team add a 186 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,840 Speaker 1: couple of other pieces. And actually it does mean more 187 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:53,880 Speaker 1: now that we're winning that we kind of had to 188 00:11:53,920 --> 00:11:55,920 Speaker 1: suffer the slings and arrows because you of see where 189 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:57,959 Speaker 1: it came from and you felt like. 190 00:11:57,920 --> 00:11:59,520 Speaker 2: You were invested in it from the beginning. 191 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:04,679 Speaker 1: I get that in any normal baseball market, not here, 192 00:12:05,559 --> 00:12:09,240 Speaker 1: the normal rules, at least for now cannot and do 193 00:12:09,280 --> 00:12:12,440 Speaker 1: not apply. And just because the baseball season has begun 194 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:16,760 Speaker 1: doesn't mean we're supposed to forget everything that we've been 195 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:19,520 Speaker 1: dealing with the last four or five, six, seven years. 196 00:12:19,520 --> 00:12:22,040 Speaker 1: However long back you want to go through this particular period, 197 00:12:22,080 --> 00:12:26,480 Speaker 1: So I'm here for it. I'm standing tall on your behalf, 198 00:12:26,520 --> 00:12:29,400 Speaker 1: and I'm here when you get hammered and mocked and 199 00:12:29,480 --> 00:12:32,959 Speaker 1: ridiculed and look down on condescended to about, well, you're 200 00:12:33,000 --> 00:12:33,959 Speaker 1: not really a baseball fan. 201 00:12:34,400 --> 00:12:35,840 Speaker 2: All you're interested in is winning. 202 00:12:36,640 --> 00:12:38,920 Speaker 1: You have the material on the basis of this segment 203 00:12:38,960 --> 00:12:41,920 Speaker 1: to fire right back at that and say, yeah, I'll 204 00:12:41,960 --> 00:12:44,520 Speaker 1: play by the rules if it's a team that plays 205 00:12:44,520 --> 00:12:48,520 Speaker 1: by those same rules. But the Twins have not done that, 206 00:12:49,040 --> 00:12:52,160 Speaker 1: They've not come close to doing that, So I don't 207 00:12:52,200 --> 00:12:54,480 Speaker 1: have to sit here and go along with it and 208 00:12:54,640 --> 00:12:57,319 Speaker 1: just raise my hands in the air and say, man, 209 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:01,400 Speaker 1: I can't wait to see these young guys come along. 210 00:13:01,440 --> 00:13:03,240 Speaker 1: And even we got a lot of good people at 211 00:13:03,280 --> 00:13:06,839 Speaker 1: Saint Paul, highly thought of in the in the organization, 212 00:13:07,400 --> 00:13:09,000 Speaker 1: I can't wait for them to be brought over too. 213 00:13:09,040 --> 00:13:10,800 Speaker 1: Because this is this is part of this is the 214 00:13:11,480 --> 00:13:16,119 Speaker 1: fun part. It's only fun if you're convinced that the organization, 215 00:13:16,320 --> 00:13:18,199 Speaker 1: as I said, will then stay true to the plan 216 00:13:18,960 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: and reward the team and the fans to a degree 217 00:13:21,840 --> 00:13:26,760 Speaker 1: for hanging in during that silver linings period. We have 218 00:13:26,880 --> 00:13:30,080 Speaker 1: no such guarantee. We have no such pledge. We have 219 00:13:30,120 --> 00:13:34,280 Speaker 1: an organization that has no credibility in that particular area. 220 00:13:34,360 --> 00:13:35,760 Speaker 2: Right now, maybe they'll change that. 221 00:13:36,720 --> 00:13:39,320 Speaker 1: Maybe with this poll ad it'll it'll be a revolution, 222 00:13:39,600 --> 00:13:41,559 Speaker 1: but not none of it has happened yet. 223 00:13:41,920 --> 00:13:44,559 Speaker 2: They haven't earned the benefit of the doubt. 224 00:13:44,840 --> 00:13:47,480 Speaker 1: And so don't let the ball guys make you feel 225 00:13:47,559 --> 00:13:50,880 Speaker 1: like you're lesser of a fan if you do not 226 00:13:51,040 --> 00:13:53,720 Speaker 1: want to participate in it. Don't let them tell you 227 00:13:53,760 --> 00:13:56,520 Speaker 1: that you don't understand the process. You can understand it, 228 00:13:56,520 --> 00:13:58,200 Speaker 1: you can have you could have grown up with it. 229 00:14:00,280 --> 00:14:03,520 Speaker 1: But it can't just be about the beginning. It has 230 00:14:03,559 --> 00:14:06,000 Speaker 1: to be about, well, what's the payoff going to look like? 231 00:14:06,080 --> 00:14:09,200 Speaker 1: And is the payoff going to include investment? Is it 232 00:14:09,240 --> 00:14:12,800 Speaker 1: going to include hanging sort of tenacity and hanging with it, 233 00:14:14,000 --> 00:14:17,280 Speaker 1: or is it going to be gutting the bullpen at 234 00:14:17,320 --> 00:14:22,240 Speaker 1: the trade deadline, including, by the way, gutting players many 235 00:14:22,240 --> 00:14:22,760 Speaker 1: of them. 236 00:14:22,920 --> 00:14:25,680 Speaker 2: Who weren't old, who weren't old. 237 00:14:25,440 --> 00:14:29,040 Speaker 1: At all, in some cases absolutely worth investing it. That 238 00:14:29,160 --> 00:14:31,120 Speaker 1: might be as much baseball as we talk for the 239 00:14:31,160 --> 00:14:33,840 Speaker 1: next two months. I don't know, depends on my mood, 240 00:14:33,880 --> 00:14:37,160 Speaker 1: but that's exactly where we are. Let's get our first 241 00:14:37,200 --> 00:14:41,120 Speaker 1: pause in. As I said, an outstanding guest lineup includes 242 00:14:41,160 --> 00:14:44,000 Speaker 1: some hockey conversation with Russo at the bottom of the ear. 243 00:14:46,160 --> 00:14:49,760 Speaker 1: Wild fans, this is your season. Experience the energy, the goals, 244 00:14:49,840 --> 00:14:53,760 Speaker 1: the unforgettable moments at Grand Casino Arena. Get your tickets now, 245 00:14:54,000 --> 00:14:57,760 Speaker 1: including the Wild Canucks April second Wild Crack in April seventh. 246 00:14:57,960 --> 00:15:00,320 Speaker 1: Wild dot com slash tickets to cheer on the Wild 247 00:15:00,320 --> 00:15:11,200 Speaker 1: this season. Wild dot Com slash tickets. Darren writes, the 248 00:15:11,240 --> 00:15:13,840 Speaker 1: Twins are still better than watching the NBA half ass 249 00:15:13,920 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: at most nights. I don't even know what to say, Darren. 250 00:15:18,760 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 1: Here's what you need to know. You're the reason, or 251 00:15:24,240 --> 00:15:28,040 Speaker 1: part of the reason, the Twins feel comfortable continuing to 252 00:15:28,120 --> 00:15:28,880 Speaker 1: do what they do. 253 00:15:29,720 --> 00:15:35,680 Speaker 2: You're an enabler. They listen to that, and they're chuckling 254 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:40,240 Speaker 2: all the way to the bank. They're saying, what do 255 00:15:40,240 --> 00:15:41,040 Speaker 2: we have to worry about? 256 00:15:43,360 --> 00:15:46,600 Speaker 1: Guy still thinks we're better than the NBA half assing 257 00:15:46,640 --> 00:15:52,720 Speaker 1: at most nights. In this case locally, a team that, 258 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,840 Speaker 1: even with its ups and downs, and we've certainly not 259 00:15:56,960 --> 00:16:01,480 Speaker 1: shied away from talking about them, is in position again 260 00:16:03,200 --> 00:16:05,680 Speaker 1: to make a playoff run. After reaching the final four 261 00:16:05,720 --> 00:16:12,160 Speaker 1: to two straight years with still a very significant financial contribution, 262 00:16:14,040 --> 00:16:17,680 Speaker 1: with aggressive deals being made. Some may work out, some 263 00:16:17,760 --> 00:16:23,960 Speaker 1: may not. Does Darren understand the message he's conveying with 264 00:16:24,040 --> 00:16:29,240 Speaker 1: that dismissal what he's the message he's delivering to the Twins? 265 00:16:32,280 --> 00:16:36,080 Speaker 1: God bless you man. It's a free country. But just 266 00:16:36,240 --> 00:16:44,040 Speaker 1: understand the ramifications of that message going to make it 267 00:16:44,080 --> 00:16:45,880 Speaker 1: even easier for the Twins to say, what do we. 268 00:16:45,840 --> 00:16:48,600 Speaker 2: Have to worry about? It's bizarre. 269 00:16:48,680 --> 00:16:51,960 Speaker 1: It's between the players allegedly half asking it most of 270 00:16:52,000 --> 00:16:54,560 Speaker 1: the time, or an owner who half asses it all 271 00:16:54,600 --> 00:16:54,920 Speaker 1: the time. 272 00:16:55,480 --> 00:16:57,080 Speaker 2: I'll take the player series of owners. 273 00:16:57,160 --> 00:17:04,720 Speaker 1: Yeah, and the half asking part about I don't want 274 00:17:04,760 --> 00:17:06,200 Speaker 1: to there's not enough time for me to get back 275 00:17:06,200 --> 00:17:10,399 Speaker 1: into that debate, because let's be clear about something. A 276 00:17:10,520 --> 00:17:13,520 Speaker 1: significant portion of the individuals who say that with that 277 00:17:13,600 --> 00:17:17,919 Speaker 1: broad brush about NBA basketball don't like the sport. And 278 00:17:17,960 --> 00:17:20,280 Speaker 1: I hate to say it, but I'm going to many 279 00:17:20,280 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 1: of them don't like black people. 280 00:17:22,560 --> 00:17:24,840 Speaker 2: They just don't. That's part of the story. 281 00:17:25,840 --> 00:17:29,000 Speaker 1: And you're free to pick whatever sport you want that 282 00:17:29,040 --> 00:17:34,160 Speaker 1: you're most interested in, but it's not smart. Again, around 283 00:17:34,160 --> 00:17:36,400 Speaker 1: the water cooler, you don't look smart with these sort 284 00:17:36,440 --> 00:17:44,160 Speaker 1: of broad generalizations about how you take in an eighty 285 00:17:44,200 --> 00:17:47,520 Speaker 1: two game season, whatever the sport is. And I'll say again, 286 00:17:47,560 --> 00:17:49,560 Speaker 1: if you think that that's the only sport in which 287 00:17:49,600 --> 00:17:53,080 Speaker 1: there's half asked them, you're not paying attention. But if 288 00:17:53,119 --> 00:17:55,600 Speaker 1: you've already decided these are the sports you like, in these, 289 00:17:55,640 --> 00:17:57,359 Speaker 1: you don't guess what are you gonna do. You're gonna 290 00:17:57,440 --> 00:18:00,960 Speaker 1: associate with the ones you just dislike, perhaps because you 291 00:18:00,960 --> 00:18:04,600 Speaker 1: don't understand, you're gonna associate something more ominous with it, 292 00:18:04,760 --> 00:18:07,800 Speaker 1: because then it's easier to dismiss without even bothering to what. 293 00:18:08,000 --> 00:18:10,639 Speaker 1: My guess is, he doesn't even watch. My guess is 294 00:18:10,680 --> 00:18:13,119 Speaker 1: he hasn't watched an NBA game in probably three months. 295 00:18:14,400 --> 00:18:17,000 Speaker 1: But it's easier to just say, ah, it's all the same, 296 00:18:17,040 --> 00:18:19,320 Speaker 1: and it's all then nobody tries until the fourth quarter, 297 00:18:19,520 --> 00:18:20,000 Speaker 1: et cetera. 298 00:18:20,359 --> 00:18:21,159 Speaker 2: Game has warts. 299 00:18:21,200 --> 00:18:23,040 Speaker 1: We talk about them, but if you think it's the 300 00:18:23,040 --> 00:18:28,440 Speaker 1: only game that has warts, you've lost your mind. Last night, 301 00:18:29,480 --> 00:18:32,439 Speaker 1: and here's what I want to defend regarding reaction to 302 00:18:32,440 --> 00:18:33,960 Speaker 1: the to the comeback, the Wolves comeback. 303 00:18:34,040 --> 00:18:39,159 Speaker 2: Last night, we talked forever about. 304 00:18:39,840 --> 00:18:43,680 Speaker 1: How long the regular season and basketball and hockey can 305 00:18:43,720 --> 00:18:44,359 Speaker 1: be how. 306 00:18:44,200 --> 00:18:46,640 Speaker 2: It can feel, and. 307 00:18:49,080 --> 00:18:53,639 Speaker 1: I think what ultimately saves it or makes it possible 308 00:18:53,720 --> 00:18:57,199 Speaker 1: to get through it and hang in with it is 309 00:18:57,240 --> 00:19:01,080 Speaker 1: a game like last night, not particularly well played, I 310 00:19:01,119 --> 00:19:06,679 Speaker 1: will quickly say either team at different times, but dramatic, exciting, 311 00:19:07,280 --> 00:19:13,320 Speaker 1: ridiculous twists and turns, and you know, just an improbable, 312 00:19:13,920 --> 00:19:19,240 Speaker 1: almost statistically impossible come from behind victory down thirteen less 313 00:19:19,240 --> 00:19:20,080 Speaker 1: than three minutes to go. 314 00:19:20,080 --> 00:19:22,520 Speaker 2: In ot it is in. 315 00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:24,920 Speaker 1: The so called play by play era, which I think 316 00:19:24,920 --> 00:19:28,080 Speaker 1: goes back to the early two thousands. It is the 317 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:33,760 Speaker 1: the biggest overtime comeback in the history of the NBA, 318 00:19:34,240 --> 00:19:37,120 Speaker 1: at least as long as we have been keeping play 319 00:19:37,160 --> 00:19:41,880 Speaker 1: by play, and so even though it does still only 320 00:19:41,920 --> 00:19:46,160 Speaker 1: count for one game, doesn't guarantee anything. I think it's 321 00:19:46,240 --> 00:19:49,840 Speaker 1: those kinds of games, whatever the sport, that helps sustain 322 00:19:49,920 --> 00:19:52,800 Speaker 1: you through the slog that is a regular season, because 323 00:19:52,840 --> 00:19:57,200 Speaker 1: it does feel like something more momentous took place, especially 324 00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:02,680 Speaker 1: when you factor in the particulars right Anthony Edwards out 325 00:20:03,600 --> 00:20:07,920 Speaker 1: Io Desumu out, which we gave to the audience right 326 00:20:07,960 --> 00:20:17,120 Speaker 1: before the end of yesterday's program. McDaniels ends up hurt 327 00:20:17,400 --> 00:20:23,800 Speaker 1: and misses the overtime, nas Reed gets thrown out and 328 00:20:23,920 --> 00:20:28,800 Speaker 1: Rudy Gobert fouls out, and you're down thirteen with less 329 00:20:28,800 --> 00:20:29,639 Speaker 1: than three minutes. 330 00:20:29,359 --> 00:20:31,320 Speaker 2: To go in ot and then you make. 331 00:20:33,160 --> 00:20:34,760 Speaker 1: Pretty much it goes the way it has to if 332 00:20:34,760 --> 00:20:36,879 Speaker 1: you're gonna make this sort of momentous comeback, right, you 333 00:20:37,480 --> 00:20:41,480 Speaker 1: make every play. You score on almost every possession one 334 00:20:41,480 --> 00:20:45,480 Speaker 1: way or another down court. And the irony the guy 335 00:20:45,480 --> 00:20:52,040 Speaker 1: who started the comeback, the forgotten point guard Mike Conley, 336 00:20:53,000 --> 00:20:57,399 Speaker 1: hits a three from the left side, baseline, left corner. 337 00:20:57,400 --> 00:21:00,840 Speaker 1: Basically that's what opened the door. Now they had to 338 00:21:00,880 --> 00:21:05,720 Speaker 1: have other other things happen, and Julius Randall was tremendous 339 00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:12,160 Speaker 1: dogged determination, which we don't always you know, sort of 340 00:21:13,600 --> 00:21:17,680 Speaker 1: align that description with him. But he did all of 341 00:21:17,720 --> 00:21:21,600 Speaker 1: those things, and you had to have the help of 342 00:21:21,640 --> 00:21:26,040 Speaker 1: a team Houston gun belt tight that has its own issues. 343 00:21:26,080 --> 00:21:31,920 Speaker 1: We talked about those issues yesterday. They're not a very 344 00:21:32,280 --> 00:21:38,280 Speaker 1: secure operation right now. They have great difficulties finishing games as. 345 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:39,200 Speaker 2: Well, even with. 346 00:21:42,960 --> 00:21:44,720 Speaker 1: You know, one of the all time great scorers in 347 00:21:45,320 --> 00:21:49,040 Speaker 1: Kevin Durant, who eventually did hit some very key shots. Then, 348 00:21:49,119 --> 00:21:52,400 Speaker 1: of course, part of the cooperation from the other team 349 00:21:52,480 --> 00:21:55,159 Speaker 1: is he's got to miss a free throw late the 350 00:21:55,200 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: first of two. If he hits them both, we probably 351 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,280 Speaker 1: go into double overtime at that point. So you do 352 00:22:01,359 --> 00:22:04,280 Speaker 1: have to have anytime there's a collapse of that magnitude, 353 00:22:04,359 --> 00:22:06,159 Speaker 1: you have to have help them the other team. But 354 00:22:06,280 --> 00:22:09,800 Speaker 1: you saw all the things that you needed. You needed 355 00:22:09,800 --> 00:22:14,360 Speaker 1: some good shot making, you needed some tenacity on the boards, 356 00:22:14,520 --> 00:22:17,600 Speaker 1: which is exactly what you got from SlowMo, who I 357 00:22:17,640 --> 00:22:21,119 Speaker 1: think does still serve a purpose here regardless of what 358 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:23,040 Speaker 1: the box score indicates. 359 00:22:23,440 --> 00:22:24,440 Speaker 2: He is a connector. 360 00:22:25,440 --> 00:22:27,800 Speaker 1: He still got I think enough on the ball that 361 00:22:28,119 --> 00:22:29,920 Speaker 1: I don't think you want him in probably thirty minutes 362 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:33,080 Speaker 1: a night, but in select situations and frankly, at the 363 00:22:33,200 --> 00:22:36,400 Speaker 1: ends of many games, might not be the worst person 364 00:22:36,480 --> 00:22:38,000 Speaker 1: hat on the floor because he knows how to play, 365 00:22:38,160 --> 00:22:40,240 Speaker 1: and he knows how to play with other players as well. 366 00:22:40,760 --> 00:22:43,640 Speaker 1: So it was for me, it was fun to watch 367 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:45,480 Speaker 1: on TV. I'm sure it was fun for people in 368 00:22:45,520 --> 00:22:49,359 Speaker 1: the building. The question is how many people left, because 369 00:22:49,400 --> 00:22:52,639 Speaker 1: it would have been more than tempting to say when 370 00:22:52,680 --> 00:22:58,120 Speaker 1: Houston scores the first thirteen points of OT that I'm 371 00:22:58,119 --> 00:23:00,640 Speaker 1: going to you know it, Come on, it's not gonna 372 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:02,880 Speaker 1: happen tonight. I hate leaving, but it's not gonna happen tonight. 373 00:23:02,880 --> 00:23:05,879 Speaker 1: I'm gonna hit the garage, right. I wonder how. 374 00:23:05,720 --> 00:23:08,560 Speaker 2: Many Maybe we'll get a text from somebody who was. 375 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:11,320 Speaker 1: In the garage getting out of the garage ahead of 376 00:23:11,320 --> 00:23:15,240 Speaker 1: the crowd and was maybe out funneled on to three 377 00:23:15,320 --> 00:23:19,560 Speaker 1: ninety four. How far west were you on three ninety 378 00:23:19,560 --> 00:23:23,080 Speaker 1: four when you said, oh my god, what did I 379 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:23,640 Speaker 1: just miss? 380 00:23:23,720 --> 00:23:25,160 Speaker 2: The Wolves ended up winning the game? 381 00:23:25,200 --> 00:23:27,880 Speaker 1: Bratch on Bryant Cafe and text line that is six 382 00:23:28,280 --> 00:23:32,160 Speaker 1: four six eighty six. We'll talk puck and I'll ask 383 00:23:32,280 --> 00:23:36,399 Speaker 1: Russo that same questions as it applies to the hockey 384 00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:38,320 Speaker 1: regular season, which by the way, is about to get longer, 385 00:23:38,960 --> 00:23:42,520 Speaker 1: right next year is going to eighty four games. And 386 00:23:42,800 --> 00:23:46,119 Speaker 1: we'll talk whatever you want to with Russo if you 387 00:23:46,119 --> 00:23:48,359 Speaker 1: have questions for him. Six four six eighty six, as 388 00:23:48,359 --> 00:23:51,159 Speaker 1: I said, is the brat Shawn Bryant, kfa N text 389 00:23:51,160 --> 00:24:11,960 Speaker 1: line back in just a minute. Guardie's going to join 390 00:24:12,040 --> 00:24:15,199 Speaker 1: us from Sacramento at about four fifteen or so. For 391 00:24:15,280 --> 00:24:19,600 Speaker 1: maybe the rest of the hour, Rick Bosch will talk baseball, 392 00:24:20,320 --> 00:24:23,040 Speaker 1: the start of a new season, and maybe some big 393 00:24:23,119 --> 00:24:24,000 Speaker 1: dance stuff as well. 394 00:24:24,240 --> 00:24:26,320 Speaker 2: He will join us at five point thirty. 395 00:24:26,359 --> 00:24:29,000 Speaker 1: Russo Radio is kind of enough to join us a 396 00:24:29,040 --> 00:24:34,200 Speaker 1: bit earlier than usual via the Connectico Water Systems hotline. 397 00:24:34,800 --> 00:24:37,440 Speaker 1: You have to part of your job is to cover 398 00:24:38,640 --> 00:24:43,320 Speaker 1: the slog that a hockey season can be eighty two 399 00:24:43,400 --> 00:24:48,200 Speaker 1: games now, I think in increasing to eighty four next year. 400 00:24:49,359 --> 00:24:52,080 Speaker 1: Do you agree with the premise I laid out early 401 00:24:52,480 --> 00:24:59,359 Speaker 1: that what I think helps to get occasionally fans past 402 00:24:59,520 --> 00:25:03,159 Speaker 1: the slow or to hang in with the slog is 403 00:25:03,240 --> 00:25:05,720 Speaker 1: when you have a game just in the basis of 404 00:25:06,240 --> 00:25:09,399 Speaker 1: the drama, perhaps of a comeback, it may be a route, 405 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:13,600 Speaker 1: it may be a controversy, something that makes it feel 406 00:25:13,680 --> 00:25:16,320 Speaker 1: like it's bigger than a single game, as was the 407 00:25:16,359 --> 00:25:19,040 Speaker 1: case with the Wolves last night against Houston. That that's 408 00:25:19,119 --> 00:25:22,200 Speaker 1: what sustains people is you know, it's still only worth 409 00:25:22,240 --> 00:25:26,520 Speaker 1: one game, right, but it feels like more as at stake, 410 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:29,920 Speaker 1: just because you see stuff that you don't ordinarily see, 411 00:25:29,960 --> 00:25:31,720 Speaker 1: sometimes even historic stuff. 412 00:25:33,600 --> 00:25:36,400 Speaker 3: Yeah, no, definitely, I mean, you know, look, eighty two 413 00:25:36,480 --> 00:25:39,160 Speaker 3: regular season games. I mean you're building for the playoffs. 414 00:25:39,240 --> 00:25:42,040 Speaker 3: What the reality is is that the goal is still 415 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:46,160 Speaker 3: entertainment and fun and all that stuff. And last night's 416 00:25:46,160 --> 00:25:50,160 Speaker 3: Wolves game was exactly it. I mean, at everything, drama, anger, 417 00:25:50,600 --> 00:25:53,040 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, with Scott Foster and everything that 418 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,080 Speaker 3: happened there, and then to be down that much in 419 00:25:56,119 --> 00:25:59,320 Speaker 3: overtime and do something that no team in NBA history 420 00:25:59,320 --> 00:26:01,560 Speaker 3: has ever done, that's rallied back from ten points down 421 00:26:01,600 --> 00:26:04,840 Speaker 3: in the in the in overtime. Yeah, I mean, that's 422 00:26:04,880 --> 00:26:07,359 Speaker 3: what that that's what makes it. It's certainly not going 423 00:26:07,359 --> 00:26:09,560 Speaker 3: in and you know see them lay an egg, which 424 00:26:09,640 --> 00:26:12,480 Speaker 3: you know can happen, clearly can happen, and you know 425 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:14,760 Speaker 3: we're seeing the Wild do a lot of that at 426 00:26:14,760 --> 00:26:18,000 Speaker 3: home lately, and and so I think that that is 427 00:26:18,119 --> 00:26:19,800 Speaker 3: that's the fun of it. I mean, that's that's the 428 00:26:19,840 --> 00:26:22,320 Speaker 3: fun of pro sports. And every day you go to 429 00:26:22,400 --> 00:26:24,800 Speaker 3: the arena and you're hoping, even as a beat writer, 430 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:26,800 Speaker 3: to just watch a really good hockey game or a 431 00:26:26,840 --> 00:26:29,360 Speaker 3: really good basketball game or baseball game, or football game 432 00:26:29,440 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 3: or soccer game or whatever it is. And that's the 433 00:26:32,080 --> 00:26:34,040 Speaker 3: same for the fans. And the only difference is is 434 00:26:34,040 --> 00:26:35,800 Speaker 3: that they're the ones that have to pay the money. 435 00:26:36,560 --> 00:26:38,959 Speaker 3: You know, we're we're getting the we have the fortune 436 00:26:39,000 --> 00:26:41,040 Speaker 3: of going there for free. So if we watch the 437 00:26:41,080 --> 00:26:43,200 Speaker 3: Wild lay and Egg. We document it, but our life 438 00:26:43,240 --> 00:26:44,840 Speaker 3: goes on. We're not the ones that dropped a couple 439 00:26:44,880 --> 00:26:47,800 Speaker 3: of hundred bugs to do it right. So but that 440 00:26:48,040 --> 00:26:50,080 Speaker 3: but that's that's the fun of it. And you know, 441 00:26:50,200 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 3: and and uh and you're right, I mean, you know, 442 00:26:53,160 --> 00:26:55,720 Speaker 3: like especially late, like you know, there's a lot of 443 00:26:55,720 --> 00:26:58,160 Speaker 3: teams in the NHL that looks super tired right now. 444 00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,160 Speaker 3: And I think it's been a really tough tough year 445 00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:05,080 Speaker 3: in the NHL in terms of just you know, especially 446 00:27:05,080 --> 00:27:07,640 Speaker 3: for those that the two hundred players that went over 447 00:27:07,680 --> 00:27:10,840 Speaker 3: to the Olympics. I think that we're really seeing the 448 00:27:10,880 --> 00:27:13,040 Speaker 3: by product of that lately, because there's a lot of guys, 449 00:27:13,119 --> 00:27:16,320 Speaker 3: especially on Minnesota though, really tired. Well. 450 00:27:17,160 --> 00:27:19,000 Speaker 1: That I think is the best place for us to start, 451 00:27:19,160 --> 00:27:22,439 Speaker 1: because I feel like one of the differences between the 452 00:27:22,480 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: positions of the two Winter sports teams is that the 453 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: Walls still have some things arguably at stake, right including 454 00:27:31,240 --> 00:27:35,280 Speaker 1: the possibility mathematically because they're write in it to move 455 00:27:35,359 --> 00:27:38,120 Speaker 1: up as far as four, which clearly in round one 456 00:27:38,160 --> 00:27:41,199 Speaker 1: would give them home court advantage, which I think is 457 00:27:41,240 --> 00:27:43,360 Speaker 1: worth pursuing, even if it puts you in the side 458 00:27:43,400 --> 00:27:46,679 Speaker 1: of the bracket as Oklahoma City with the Wild, it 459 00:27:46,760 --> 00:27:50,320 Speaker 1: feels like their position, as you know, is pretty well 460 00:27:50,440 --> 00:27:55,320 Speaker 1: set for better or for worse, so that there is 461 00:27:55,359 --> 00:27:57,639 Speaker 1: a meandering that's going on, just sort of a holding 462 00:27:57,720 --> 00:28:01,680 Speaker 1: pattern until you get to the art of the playoffs. 463 00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:04,880 Speaker 1: And in a given game, it could still be troubling 464 00:28:04,960 --> 00:28:08,760 Speaker 1: to see what you see if it's not very good hockey. 465 00:28:08,800 --> 00:28:10,639 Speaker 1: But I guess I'm trying to figure out how the 466 00:28:10,680 --> 00:28:15,040 Speaker 1: average wildfan should evaluate that stuff. Should they get worried 467 00:28:15,160 --> 00:28:18,560 Speaker 1: or panicky or you say, now, it kind of is 468 00:28:18,600 --> 00:28:21,560 Speaker 1: what it is right now. It's it's not an exhibition season, 469 00:28:21,600 --> 00:28:24,720 Speaker 1: but it almost feels like it's close to it because 470 00:28:25,280 --> 00:28:28,040 Speaker 1: you're just simply in the mode I think realistically like 471 00:28:28,160 --> 00:28:32,440 Speaker 1: that you're trying to maybe experiment a little and and 472 00:28:32,440 --> 00:28:33,960 Speaker 1: and get as healthy as possible. 473 00:28:35,280 --> 00:28:37,280 Speaker 3: Yeah, I think that's part of it is that I 474 00:28:37,280 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 3: think these players right now are in that mode where 475 00:28:39,720 --> 00:28:42,080 Speaker 3: they just don't want to get hurt because they see 476 00:28:42,120 --> 00:28:43,600 Speaker 3: what the light is at the end of the tunnel 477 00:28:43,640 --> 00:28:50,600 Speaker 3: you're and that's the postseason, and and they're just not 478 00:28:50,880 --> 00:28:53,040 Speaker 3: They don't seem to have the same juice knowing that 479 00:28:53,040 --> 00:28:55,960 Speaker 3: they're locked and loaded the shame of it, though, is 480 00:28:56,000 --> 00:28:58,520 Speaker 3: that they had something to play for, you know, they 481 00:28:58,800 --> 00:29:02,000 Speaker 3: if the fact that they've laid so many eggs here 482 00:29:03,160 --> 00:29:07,280 Speaker 3: since early February and not one games in regulation at all, 483 00:29:07,400 --> 00:29:10,920 Speaker 3: it feels like they've caught them cost themselves not only 484 00:29:11,000 --> 00:29:13,480 Speaker 3: probably home it's advantage in the first round of the playoffs, 485 00:29:14,360 --> 00:29:16,400 Speaker 3: but you know, even a chance to win the conference. 486 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:18,600 Speaker 3: And you know, all I can tell you is from 487 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:22,840 Speaker 3: Bill Garin's standpoint, he's not happy. He's not happy the 488 00:29:22,840 --> 00:29:25,760 Speaker 3: way this team has played here the last two or 489 00:29:25,760 --> 00:29:29,680 Speaker 3: three weeks, the lack of urgency, the playing down to 490 00:29:29,800 --> 00:29:35,240 Speaker 3: teams that are allegedly between below them, and the reality 491 00:29:35,320 --> 00:29:38,360 Speaker 3: is is that since early February, they have the third 492 00:29:38,480 --> 00:29:41,320 Speaker 3: fewest regulation wins in the National Hockey League. So that's 493 00:29:41,400 --> 00:29:45,800 Speaker 3: just you know, and for a cynical fan base that 494 00:29:46,000 --> 00:29:50,400 Speaker 3: obviously is cynical for a reason, because this team doesn't 495 00:29:50,440 --> 00:29:53,600 Speaker 3: seem to pass the first round. Ever, it doesn't read 496 00:29:53,640 --> 00:29:56,440 Speaker 3: a lot of confidence going into the playoffs. I still 497 00:29:56,480 --> 00:29:58,960 Speaker 3: think that they're going to be fine. I still think 498 00:29:59,040 --> 00:30:02,120 Speaker 3: that that. I I would rather see the fact that 499 00:30:02,200 --> 00:30:04,000 Speaker 3: when they are up for a big game, they play 500 00:30:04,040 --> 00:30:06,080 Speaker 3: as well as the other team and sometimes better and 501 00:30:06,120 --> 00:30:08,560 Speaker 3: seem to be pulling out points in those games. So 502 00:30:08,720 --> 00:30:11,160 Speaker 3: I don't think it's as dire as maybe a lot 503 00:30:11,200 --> 00:30:14,200 Speaker 3: of the fans feel. But the fans have also the 504 00:30:14,280 --> 00:30:16,120 Speaker 3: ones that lived for the last ten years of this 505 00:30:16,200 --> 00:30:18,080 Speaker 3: team not getting passed the first round. And so when 506 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:20,240 Speaker 3: you're going and you're spending money and you're seeing these 507 00:30:20,320 --> 00:30:23,200 Speaker 3: this team plays so poorly at home, I think it 508 00:30:23,280 --> 00:30:26,920 Speaker 3: really puts a lot of people into a panicky situation. 509 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:30,160 Speaker 3: Here we go again situation and look, they've got they've 510 00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:31,960 Speaker 3: got to start playing better. I mean, there are guys 511 00:30:31,960 --> 00:30:34,959 Speaker 3: on this team that are underperforming right now. You know, 512 00:30:35,360 --> 00:30:40,280 Speaker 3: quinn Use has not been great, especially defensively lately. You know, 513 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:45,040 Speaker 3: Matt Boldy looks super tired, has really fallen off here 514 00:30:45,120 --> 00:30:48,480 Speaker 3: the last two to three weeks. You know, Caprisov hasn't 515 00:30:48,520 --> 00:30:51,520 Speaker 3: been nearly as good this year yet, even strength as 516 00:30:51,520 --> 00:30:54,880 Speaker 3: he has been on the power play. And obviously then 517 00:30:54,920 --> 00:30:57,680 Speaker 3: you have guys like Johansson that's gotten almost no points 518 00:30:57,760 --> 00:31:02,040 Speaker 3: really since January first. So there's just there's and their 519 00:31:02,080 --> 00:31:04,720 Speaker 3: goaltending has been a little bit of erratic. So there's 520 00:31:04,760 --> 00:31:06,640 Speaker 3: a lot that they've got to play for the last 521 00:31:06,720 --> 00:31:10,720 Speaker 3: ten games to prime themselves for the playoffs. But you know, look, 522 00:31:10,880 --> 00:31:14,360 Speaker 3: Dallas looks tired right now. Colorado hasn't been nearly as tight. 523 00:31:15,200 --> 00:31:17,400 Speaker 3: I think this is a byproduct of what's going on 524 00:31:17,400 --> 00:31:19,280 Speaker 3: in the league, but especially in the in the top 525 00:31:19,320 --> 00:31:22,600 Speaker 3: three teams in this division, they're pretty much set. So 526 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:25,200 Speaker 3: I just think it really is difficult for them to 527 00:31:25,240 --> 00:31:27,360 Speaker 3: get up and put out the I don't want to 528 00:31:27,400 --> 00:31:29,400 Speaker 3: say it zooded the effort and energy, because I do 529 00:31:29,440 --> 00:31:31,800 Speaker 3: think that's there, but I just think that's the juice. 530 00:31:31,920 --> 00:31:34,880 Speaker 3: But you know, the longer this goes for the wild, 531 00:31:35,560 --> 00:31:39,440 Speaker 3: the more likely bad habits are going to creep into 532 00:31:39,440 --> 00:31:41,840 Speaker 3: your game that you start to forget about your system 533 00:31:41,880 --> 00:31:45,880 Speaker 3: and things aren't as automatic. So I get the impression 534 00:31:45,880 --> 00:31:47,760 Speaker 3: from talking to Bill garn a lot the last couple 535 00:31:47,760 --> 00:31:50,640 Speaker 3: of weeks, and definitely from John that they are that 536 00:31:50,720 --> 00:31:53,400 Speaker 3: they're I wouldn't say they're getting concerned, but they are 537 00:31:53,480 --> 00:31:55,440 Speaker 3: certainly frustrated, There's no doubt about that. 538 00:31:55,520 --> 00:31:57,960 Speaker 1: Yeah, you raise a good point that when we look back, 539 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,440 Speaker 1: if this team does make a run in the playoffs, 540 00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: we'll look back and laugh about this, right, But the 541 00:32:04,040 --> 00:32:07,720 Speaker 1: reality is, I can't blame fans or you as someone 542 00:32:07,720 --> 00:32:09,880 Speaker 1: who you know covers the team every day, and even 543 00:32:09,920 --> 00:32:13,280 Speaker 1: Garan from saying, well, yeah, I don't like this feel 544 00:32:13,400 --> 00:32:13,840 Speaker 1: right now. 545 00:32:13,960 --> 00:32:15,240 Speaker 2: I don't like the vibe. 546 00:32:16,120 --> 00:32:18,920 Speaker 1: I want to see a sense of urgency, even if 547 00:32:18,960 --> 00:32:22,680 Speaker 1: there's not that much urgent at stake. It's the great unknown. 548 00:32:22,800 --> 00:32:25,479 Speaker 1: It could end up meaning nothing, it could end up 549 00:32:25,520 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 1: meeting a lot. But if you don't have the track record, 550 00:32:28,400 --> 00:32:31,400 Speaker 1: it's not surprising that that people would perhaps at the 551 00:32:31,480 --> 00:32:33,600 Speaker 1: very least start to get a little bit nervous. 552 00:32:34,240 --> 00:32:36,200 Speaker 3: Yeah, And like when I was down in Florida at 553 00:32:36,200 --> 00:32:38,800 Speaker 3: the gyms meetings a couple of weeks ago with Bill, 554 00:32:38,920 --> 00:32:41,560 Speaker 3: he pointed out to me it was almost him volunteeringously. 555 00:32:42,240 --> 00:32:45,440 Speaker 3: If they if they had won sixty seventy percent of 556 00:32:45,480 --> 00:32:48,920 Speaker 3: the games they've lost against non playoff teams this year, 557 00:32:49,760 --> 00:32:51,880 Speaker 3: you know, they'd be winning the conference right now, Like 558 00:32:51,920 --> 00:32:53,920 Speaker 3: where could they be? At a minimum, they'd have home 559 00:32:54,000 --> 00:32:57,600 Speaker 3: its advantage. And look, I mean the reality is I 560 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,000 Speaker 3: actually think the Wild are going into this first round 561 00:33:00,080 --> 00:33:02,920 Speaker 3: series and have a real good chance against Dallas. But 562 00:33:04,160 --> 00:33:07,800 Speaker 3: the reality but again, like this, this Wild team has 563 00:33:07,880 --> 00:33:11,280 Speaker 3: really no history of winning games, especially big games in 564 00:33:11,400 --> 00:33:16,640 Speaker 3: Dallas and even here in Minnesota. You know, Jake Ottens 565 00:33:17,080 --> 00:33:20,400 Speaker 3: usually doesn't lose in regulation, So there's just a lot 566 00:33:20,480 --> 00:33:23,280 Speaker 3: that they've still got to overcome, even though I actually 567 00:33:23,320 --> 00:33:26,320 Speaker 3: think that they, you know, have have a real good 568 00:33:26,400 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 3: chance in that series. But when you're but but when 569 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,880 Speaker 3: you've now blown home, it's advantage because you're not winning 570 00:33:33,960 --> 00:33:36,160 Speaker 3: these games or letting games go to overtime. I mean 571 00:33:36,160 --> 00:33:37,840 Speaker 3: even that game the other day where they beat the 572 00:33:38,560 --> 00:33:41,040 Speaker 3: Stars and overtime you gave them a point, you know, 573 00:33:41,280 --> 00:33:44,760 Speaker 3: and they're not closing out games, or they're blowing leads constantly, 574 00:33:45,640 --> 00:33:47,880 Speaker 3: you know, last game in Tampa, I kind of I 575 00:33:48,320 --> 00:33:50,200 Speaker 3: personally think they got screwed a little bit on a 576 00:33:50,200 --> 00:33:53,000 Speaker 3: couple of big time calls in that game. But but 577 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:56,480 Speaker 3: they blew a two goal lead to two goal leads, 578 00:33:56,520 --> 00:33:59,000 Speaker 3: so like, and didn't get a point in that game. 579 00:33:59,040 --> 00:34:01,719 Speaker 3: And this is the type of off that that is 580 00:34:01,800 --> 00:34:05,120 Speaker 3: now starting to get. Bill garn Yeah, I don't want 581 00:34:05,120 --> 00:34:08,239 Speaker 3: to stay concerned, but I could tell you ext without 582 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:11,080 Speaker 3: with one hundred percent confidence, if you had him on 583 00:34:11,560 --> 00:34:13,880 Speaker 3: your radio show, he would tell you he's very frustrated 584 00:34:13,920 --> 00:34:15,920 Speaker 3: by the way that the team has played, not just 585 00:34:15,960 --> 00:34:18,719 Speaker 3: the last couple of weeks but even you know, January 586 00:34:18,719 --> 00:34:19,640 Speaker 3: to February as well. 587 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:23,640 Speaker 2: So how does Garon convey that? Is he? 588 00:34:23,760 --> 00:34:25,359 Speaker 1: You know, he strikes me as a guy who's very 589 00:34:25,360 --> 00:34:27,760 Speaker 1: involved everywhere does. 590 00:34:27,560 --> 00:34:31,000 Speaker 2: He talk to say what he conveyed to you? 591 00:34:31,719 --> 00:34:34,920 Speaker 1: Can we assume he's conveyed it directly to coaches and 592 00:34:34,960 --> 00:34:37,200 Speaker 1: play How does it get filtered down? 593 00:34:37,280 --> 00:34:39,760 Speaker 2: How directly does he get when he's in that mode? 594 00:34:40,760 --> 00:34:42,400 Speaker 3: Well, he told me in that story a couple of 595 00:34:42,440 --> 00:34:45,239 Speaker 3: weeks ago that I wrote from from Florida, like he's 596 00:34:45,280 --> 00:34:47,600 Speaker 3: talked to Hines about this, and Hines is on the 597 00:34:47,640 --> 00:34:50,160 Speaker 3: same page. I don't think if he's talking to the team, 598 00:34:50,239 --> 00:34:52,840 Speaker 3: it's not a full team meeting. It might be a 599 00:34:52,920 --> 00:34:55,759 Speaker 3: couple of individuals. I think his way lately has been 600 00:34:55,800 --> 00:34:57,480 Speaker 3: to try to lighten the mood. Like the day that 601 00:34:57,520 --> 00:35:02,280 Speaker 3: they left on Monday for South Florida or sorry, Western Florida. 602 00:35:02,360 --> 00:35:04,560 Speaker 3: The Tampa game, like all of a sudden, he went 603 00:35:04,600 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 3: on the ice with the hockey stick and is in 604 00:35:06,960 --> 00:35:10,080 Speaker 3: his you know, in in regular dress shoes and started 605 00:35:10,080 --> 00:35:13,000 Speaker 3: shooting pucks at Marc Andre Fleury with half the team 606 00:35:13,040 --> 00:35:15,279 Speaker 3: on the ice. He watched practice from the bench and 607 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:19,360 Speaker 3: was messing around with players, so I think it screamed 608 00:35:19,360 --> 00:35:23,080 Speaker 3: to me to be a little orchestrated. Now. Part of it, too, 609 00:35:23,560 --> 00:35:25,320 Speaker 3: is I think he's trying to lighten the mood because 610 00:35:25,320 --> 00:35:27,440 Speaker 3: he understands that this is you know, that was the 611 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:33,040 Speaker 3: first first practice since Jesse Pierce died, and I think 612 00:35:33,040 --> 00:35:34,800 Speaker 3: he was just trying to make sure that the players 613 00:35:34,960 --> 00:35:39,719 Speaker 3: were okay and things like that. But I do think 614 00:35:39,760 --> 00:35:41,600 Speaker 3: it's more of that now. I don't think he's trying 615 00:35:41,600 --> 00:35:44,239 Speaker 3: to be heavy handed with this because this team has 616 00:35:44,280 --> 00:35:46,600 Speaker 3: achieved a lot this year. They've played a lot of 617 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:49,400 Speaker 3: really good hockey. I think he gets it as a 618 00:35:49,440 --> 00:35:51,439 Speaker 3: former player that it's hard to get up to these 619 00:35:51,440 --> 00:35:53,359 Speaker 3: games when you feel like you're locked in that third 620 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:57,880 Speaker 3: the third seed. But he, I think is definitely worried 621 00:35:57,920 --> 00:36:00,319 Speaker 3: about bad habits creeping in the game, that you can't 622 00:36:00,400 --> 00:36:03,560 Speaker 3: just turn on a switch and now on the first 623 00:36:03,640 --> 00:36:06,080 Speaker 3: day of the playoffs just become the team that you 624 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:08,680 Speaker 3: that you were. Maybe back in December and November where 625 00:36:08,680 --> 00:36:11,400 Speaker 3: they were winning every single game, it felt like, uh, 626 00:36:11,960 --> 00:36:16,920 Speaker 3: you know, really almost through routes, you can't just automatically 627 00:36:16,960 --> 00:36:20,640 Speaker 3: become that again. So I think that that that that's 628 00:36:20,680 --> 00:36:22,440 Speaker 3: more what he's doing, and then maybe he's having a 629 00:36:22,480 --> 00:36:24,680 Speaker 3: couple of individual conversations. But I can tell you that 630 00:36:24,719 --> 00:36:27,680 Speaker 3: he's definitely talked about this stuff with the coaching staff, 631 00:36:27,719 --> 00:36:30,240 Speaker 3: and I think that they are equally as frustrated lately 632 00:36:30,480 --> 00:36:32,520 Speaker 3: as Billy is, and a lot of it. You know, 633 00:36:32,520 --> 00:36:34,840 Speaker 3: they've got a lot of new bodies, so you know, 634 00:36:34,920 --> 00:36:37,919 Speaker 3: I think John's trying to find the proper spots for them. 635 00:36:38,600 --> 00:36:42,080 Speaker 3: As you mentioned before, he used the term experimenting. He's 636 00:36:42,120 --> 00:36:45,719 Speaker 3: definitely doing that. We're seeing him try different combinations. He's 637 00:36:45,719 --> 00:36:48,600 Speaker 3: got Hughes and Spurgeon playing together four or five games 638 00:36:48,640 --> 00:36:50,879 Speaker 3: in a row now, He's got Saber and Spurgeon and 639 00:36:50,880 --> 00:36:53,799 Speaker 3: Brodeine playing together four or five games in a row now, 640 00:36:54,040 --> 00:36:56,239 Speaker 3: And so he's trying different things to see, you know, 641 00:36:56,280 --> 00:36:57,760 Speaker 3: what he could pull out of his bag of tricks 642 00:36:57,760 --> 00:36:58,520 Speaker 3: come playoff time. 643 00:36:59,120 --> 00:37:01,680 Speaker 1: This is a text from Doug out of Cottage Grove. 644 00:37:02,160 --> 00:37:04,239 Speaker 1: Does it work in the Wild's favorite tank to fall 645 00:37:04,280 --> 00:37:06,040 Speaker 1: out of third place to have an easier first round 646 00:37:06,040 --> 00:37:08,600 Speaker 1: matchup beat Bettman at his own game and his goofy 647 00:37:08,640 --> 00:37:09,440 Speaker 1: playoff seating. 648 00:37:10,920 --> 00:37:15,080 Speaker 3: Yeah, you know it's too late for that. I mean, 649 00:37:15,239 --> 00:37:18,279 Speaker 3: they've they've just gotten too many points. It's it would 650 00:37:18,280 --> 00:37:21,399 Speaker 3: be I'm just quickly as I'm I'm in a parking lot, 651 00:37:21,480 --> 00:37:25,279 Speaker 3: so I'm just looking like they have twelve more points 652 00:37:25,680 --> 00:37:29,799 Speaker 3: than Utah right now, and Utah has got ten games left. 653 00:37:29,800 --> 00:37:32,160 Speaker 3: In the Wild, you got ten games left, it's impossible 654 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:32,560 Speaker 3: to tank. 655 00:37:33,200 --> 00:37:36,320 Speaker 1: Yeah, if you're you'd have to start your tanking earlier. 656 00:37:36,440 --> 00:37:39,520 Speaker 1: If that was that's what yeah, intent to attend. 657 00:37:39,840 --> 00:37:42,440 Speaker 3: I will say, Man, if the Wild we're playing Anaheim 658 00:37:42,440 --> 00:37:44,720 Speaker 3: in the first round of the playoffs this year, holy crap, 659 00:37:44,800 --> 00:37:47,319 Speaker 3: that game could have that serious, could have ended in four. 660 00:37:47,400 --> 00:37:50,600 Speaker 3: I mean, Anaheim's not very good. The Wild of beating 661 00:37:50,600 --> 00:37:53,560 Speaker 3: that team like twenty something games in a row. But 662 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:57,040 Speaker 3: that's the problem, you know, to the Texas point, that's 663 00:37:57,040 --> 00:37:58,720 Speaker 3: the problem with this format, which. 664 00:37:58,520 --> 00:38:00,680 Speaker 1: We talked about last time. Yeah, we were on in 665 00:38:00,680 --> 00:38:04,239 Speaker 1: great depth. This is from Tom out of Savage. Can 666 00:38:04,280 --> 00:38:05,960 Speaker 1: you ask Russo what he thinks so far of not 667 00:38:06,040 --> 00:38:08,680 Speaker 1: having Favor and Hughes together. I think it's been pretty positive, 668 00:38:08,719 --> 00:38:11,720 Speaker 1: both defensively and having two pairs that can generate offense. 669 00:38:11,760 --> 00:38:15,600 Speaker 3: From the point, yeah, I think that they were getting that. 670 00:38:15,760 --> 00:38:17,480 Speaker 3: You know, the last game they played together was in 671 00:38:17,560 --> 00:38:19,799 Speaker 3: Chicago and they gave up a goal against there where 672 00:38:19,840 --> 00:38:22,839 Speaker 3: it started with both Faber and Quinn on the other 673 00:38:22,920 --> 00:38:26,040 Speaker 3: side of the offensive goal. One that can't happen. And 674 00:38:26,120 --> 00:38:27,959 Speaker 3: I think with the reason why they did they made 675 00:38:27,960 --> 00:38:30,080 Speaker 3: this change is point blank and it has nothing to 676 00:38:30,120 --> 00:38:33,560 Speaker 3: do with Favor. But I think when Hughes starts to 677 00:38:33,560 --> 00:38:36,800 Speaker 3: play the way that he does, which is definitely a 678 00:38:36,800 --> 00:38:42,040 Speaker 3: almost offensive freelance of type freelancing, Favor started to think 679 00:38:42,080 --> 00:38:44,200 Speaker 3: that he could do the exact same thing, and he 680 00:38:44,239 --> 00:38:46,760 Speaker 3: could do the exact same thing, just not when Hughes 681 00:38:46,840 --> 00:38:49,000 Speaker 3: does the exact same thing. So I think this was 682 00:38:49,040 --> 00:38:51,680 Speaker 3: their way of almost taking a guy that has more 683 00:38:51,680 --> 00:38:56,440 Speaker 3: offensive side than Spurgeon than Grodean and putting him with 684 00:38:57,000 --> 00:39:00,160 Speaker 3: their and finding balance there. And then taking Spurge and 685 00:39:00,200 --> 00:39:02,680 Speaker 3: who you know, is one of the safest, smartest defensemen 686 00:39:02,800 --> 00:39:06,400 Speaker 3: maybe ever in this Wild franchise, and putting him with 687 00:39:06,440 --> 00:39:09,160 Speaker 3: a guy that that is gonna take let him, let 688 00:39:09,239 --> 00:39:12,080 Speaker 3: Hughes go, and he is the safe guy back. The 689 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:14,360 Speaker 3: only issue I feel is in the playoffs, I just 690 00:39:14,360 --> 00:39:16,720 Speaker 3: don't know if you could have two defensemen that's small 691 00:39:16,760 --> 00:39:19,359 Speaker 3: together on the same pair. So while I agree with 692 00:39:19,560 --> 00:39:24,000 Speaker 3: the person the texture that this has been pretty positive. 693 00:39:24,680 --> 00:39:27,080 Speaker 3: I just don't know a long term if that's the 694 00:39:27,120 --> 00:39:29,239 Speaker 3: way you can go into the postseason. But we'll see. 695 00:39:29,280 --> 00:39:31,359 Speaker 3: I mean, you know, the one thing about Spurgeon, he's 696 00:39:31,400 --> 00:39:34,200 Speaker 3: actually one of their more physical defensemen, which is hilarious. 697 00:39:34,200 --> 00:39:36,760 Speaker 3: He's been that way his entire career. And he's also 698 00:39:36,840 --> 00:39:39,520 Speaker 3: somebody that you know, finds a way to not get 699 00:39:39,560 --> 00:39:42,319 Speaker 3: demolished himself. He goes into corners things like that, So 700 00:39:42,360 --> 00:39:45,320 Speaker 3: maybe it's not something that they're worried about. I still 701 00:39:45,320 --> 00:39:47,279 Speaker 3: think at the end of the day, come playoff time 702 00:39:47,280 --> 00:39:50,640 Speaker 3: that they'll probably go back to the other pairs because 703 00:39:50,920 --> 00:39:54,040 Speaker 3: the reality is a favor and Hughes were great together 704 00:39:54,080 --> 00:39:57,280 Speaker 3: for the majority of the time here since Quinn was acquired. 705 00:39:57,640 --> 00:40:00,320 Speaker 3: But right now it's definitely going well. Just don't know 706 00:40:00,360 --> 00:40:02,080 Speaker 3: if this is the way you can go in the postseason. 707 00:40:02,160 --> 00:40:04,640 Speaker 3: But what is good is that if you have to again, 708 00:40:05,400 --> 00:40:07,440 Speaker 3: now you've seen it work together. So if you go 709 00:40:07,480 --> 00:40:09,439 Speaker 3: back to the old way if things aren't going well 710 00:40:09,440 --> 00:40:11,399 Speaker 3: in series or in game, you know you can switch 711 00:40:11,440 --> 00:40:12,840 Speaker 3: it up and that they're gonna be fine together. 712 00:40:13,000 --> 00:40:15,040 Speaker 1: How many games we have left this regular season that 713 00:40:15,160 --> 00:40:16,200 Speaker 1: the wild half left. 714 00:40:16,080 --> 00:40:17,040 Speaker 3: Ten ten left. 715 00:40:17,200 --> 00:40:20,640 Speaker 1: Okay, So in the in the remaining ten games, based 716 00:40:20,680 --> 00:40:24,319 Speaker 1: on everything we've talked about to this point, how do 717 00:40:24,360 --> 00:40:27,680 Speaker 1: you thread the needle? I mean, do you sense that 718 00:40:27,760 --> 00:40:32,080 Speaker 1: within the organization, GM, coach, et cetera, there is some 719 00:40:32,160 --> 00:40:36,800 Speaker 1: importance of whether there's something at stake or not getting 720 00:40:36,840 --> 00:40:39,480 Speaker 1: going in a much better direction and focusing to get 721 00:40:39,480 --> 00:40:41,640 Speaker 1: in a better direction, or is it. 722 00:40:41,520 --> 00:40:43,000 Speaker 2: We gotta we gotta rest. 723 00:40:43,040 --> 00:40:46,600 Speaker 1: People were this far into this, and so we're foolish 724 00:40:46,680 --> 00:40:48,719 Speaker 1: if we throw people out there even more and we 725 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:51,080 Speaker 1: don't give them a chance to get their bodies in 726 00:40:51,120 --> 00:40:54,200 Speaker 1: the best shape possible. How do you thread the needle? 727 00:40:54,239 --> 00:40:54,359 Speaker 3: Then? 728 00:40:54,560 --> 00:40:57,440 Speaker 2: In just the last ten games, I. 729 00:40:57,440 --> 00:40:59,960 Speaker 3: Would say, ask me tomorrow, because if they lose tonight's 730 00:41:00,080 --> 00:41:03,279 Speaker 3: Florida who has sunk and finding their backup goalie, then 731 00:41:03,320 --> 00:41:05,959 Speaker 3: I think you then you got to raise the eyre 732 00:41:06,080 --> 00:41:09,000 Speaker 3: inside that franchise. If you win Sin eight and go 733 00:41:09,040 --> 00:41:11,799 Speaker 3: to Boston win, I think the schedule actually is going 734 00:41:11,840 --> 00:41:14,360 Speaker 3: to take care of it for the Wild, you know, 735 00:41:14,640 --> 00:41:18,160 Speaker 3: like I cannot imagine in a schedule like this that 736 00:41:18,239 --> 00:41:21,400 Speaker 3: there's any other team that has four days off coming 737 00:41:21,480 --> 00:41:24,759 Speaker 3: up besides the Wild. I mean, it is It's amazing 738 00:41:24,800 --> 00:41:27,520 Speaker 3: to me that their schedule is condensed as it is. 739 00:41:27,560 --> 00:41:31,560 Speaker 3: They don't play between Sunday and Thursday, So I think 740 00:41:31,600 --> 00:41:35,560 Speaker 3: that alone is going to give them the ability to rest, guys, 741 00:41:36,040 --> 00:41:38,520 Speaker 3: not practice a couple of days, get on the ice, 742 00:41:38,600 --> 00:41:41,399 Speaker 3: have a couple of really good practices to start to 743 00:41:41,440 --> 00:41:45,480 Speaker 3: start to reinstall some things that they've seen slip and 744 00:41:45,520 --> 00:41:47,880 Speaker 3: almost have like a little mini training camp. But I 745 00:41:47,880 --> 00:41:50,960 Speaker 3: think the schedule is going to allow guys to rest, 746 00:41:51,360 --> 00:41:55,080 Speaker 3: maybe some banged up guys, some tired guys to rest, 747 00:41:55,400 --> 00:41:57,600 Speaker 3: like you know, to me, Bowldie and Hughes look dead 748 00:41:57,680 --> 00:42:00,640 Speaker 3: tired right now, and I think the four days off 749 00:42:00,640 --> 00:42:02,520 Speaker 3: are going to just be magic for this team. 750 00:42:02,920 --> 00:42:07,719 Speaker 1: Let me finish with this beyond the unspeakable tragedy itself. 751 00:42:08,280 --> 00:42:14,000 Speaker 1: Why do you believe the Jesse Pierce legacy has resonated 752 00:42:14,520 --> 00:42:17,080 Speaker 1: with as many people as it has as you've so 753 00:42:17,520 --> 00:42:18,520 Speaker 1: brilliantly written about. 754 00:42:20,000 --> 00:42:23,520 Speaker 3: Yeah, the person that she was, I mean, you know, 755 00:42:23,920 --> 00:42:26,200 Speaker 3: truth be told. I just went to her house twenty 756 00:42:26,200 --> 00:42:27,960 Speaker 3: minutes ago just because I had to see it. I 757 00:42:27,960 --> 00:42:30,360 Speaker 3: haven't haven't been able to sleep at all, and I 758 00:42:30,480 --> 00:42:32,040 Speaker 3: just kind of felt like it would help me to 759 00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:34,480 Speaker 3: just see it. And I think seeing in front of 760 00:42:34,480 --> 00:42:41,520 Speaker 3: her house almost epitomized who she was, like just flowers 761 00:42:41,560 --> 00:42:46,160 Speaker 3: and colors and all sorts of stuff left there from 762 00:42:46,160 --> 00:42:48,799 Speaker 3: friends and family and probably people that didn't even know her. 763 00:42:49,440 --> 00:42:53,120 Speaker 3: She just she had this glow about her. This you know, 764 00:42:53,360 --> 00:42:56,719 Speaker 3: I used to joke, and she used to joke that 765 00:42:56,800 --> 00:42:58,400 Speaker 3: she was like the only one that could cheer me 766 00:42:58,480 --> 00:43:00,440 Speaker 3: up when I was on a daily basis show up 767 00:43:00,440 --> 00:43:02,760 Speaker 3: to practice in a bad mood because I'm a grouch. 768 00:43:02,880 --> 00:43:05,440 Speaker 3: You know, I can be. I'm a good person, but 769 00:43:05,480 --> 00:43:08,959 Speaker 3: I could be you know, crotchety and definitely competitive at work. 770 00:43:09,480 --> 00:43:12,600 Speaker 3: But she when you first saw her, there was no 771 00:43:12,680 --> 00:43:14,399 Speaker 3: way to be in a bad mood from that point 772 00:43:14,440 --> 00:43:17,560 Speaker 3: on because she just was so friendly, so nice. She 773 00:43:17,640 --> 00:43:20,239 Speaker 3: had this way of making everybody feel like they were 774 00:43:20,640 --> 00:43:23,320 Speaker 3: a friend of hers. And I think that and it 775 00:43:23,440 --> 00:43:25,880 Speaker 3: was so genuine, Like you look around this town and 776 00:43:25,920 --> 00:43:28,319 Speaker 3: the amount of things that she would say yes to 777 00:43:28,480 --> 00:43:30,520 Speaker 3: and show up to with a big smile on her face, 778 00:43:30,520 --> 00:43:34,320 Speaker 3: whether it's you know, going to different charities like Donald Mites, 779 00:43:34,440 --> 00:43:37,240 Speaker 3: or going to the Hendrickson Foundation and playing fled hockey, 780 00:43:37,320 --> 00:43:40,799 Speaker 3: or or being a celebrity coach or things like that. 781 00:43:41,160 --> 00:43:43,319 Speaker 3: I mean just you know, I used to joke with her. 782 00:43:43,360 --> 00:43:45,960 Speaker 3: I'm like, I'd watch her take these selfies and these 783 00:43:46,000 --> 00:43:48,040 Speaker 3: pictures and all the time. And now it's like, thank 784 00:43:48,040 --> 00:43:51,160 Speaker 3: goodness she did, because you know, her glow is everywhere. 785 00:43:51,239 --> 00:43:55,520 Speaker 3: There's pictures of her everywhere, And you know, I thought this, 786 00:43:56,960 --> 00:43:59,560 Speaker 3: you know, I just think that she was just such 787 00:43:59,600 --> 00:44:01,880 Speaker 3: a special person and the way I used to always 788 00:44:01,880 --> 00:44:05,239 Speaker 3: respect the way that she could navigate being a full 789 00:44:05,280 --> 00:44:10,120 Speaker 3: time mother, obviously a wife with the really difficult job 790 00:44:10,200 --> 00:44:12,880 Speaker 3: that she had uh covering covering the wild for NHL 791 00:44:12,920 --> 00:44:15,080 Speaker 3: dot com and navigating all of that, and she was 792 00:44:15,440 --> 00:44:17,880 Speaker 3: and she she just was so good at both and 793 00:44:17,880 --> 00:44:21,399 Speaker 3: and it is it's it's an unspeakable tragedy. It's still 794 00:44:21,440 --> 00:44:24,920 Speaker 3: hard to wrap wrap our heads around it. Sarah McClellan 795 00:44:24,960 --> 00:44:26,919 Speaker 3: and I have been on the the start tribute writer 796 00:44:26,960 --> 00:44:28,440 Speaker 3: have been on the phone a lot the last three 797 00:44:28,520 --> 00:44:30,600 Speaker 3: or four days coming up with some really cool stuff 798 00:44:30,600 --> 00:44:33,000 Speaker 3: that we're going to do, continue to honor her, her 799 00:44:33,080 --> 00:44:35,839 Speaker 3: legacy and make sure that she that her presence has 800 00:44:35,880 --> 00:44:38,439 Speaker 3: always felt that the arena and in the practice rink 801 00:44:38,520 --> 00:44:41,839 Speaker 3: and you know, and things like that. We we we've 802 00:44:41,880 --> 00:44:45,240 Speaker 3: designed a pin that were that I ordered a bunch 803 00:44:45,320 --> 00:44:48,080 Speaker 3: of Today online and that's being delivered to me that 804 00:44:48,080 --> 00:44:50,440 Speaker 3: we're going to hand out to people that that knew her. 805 00:44:50,480 --> 00:44:53,200 Speaker 3: I just wanted and and so she was a very 806 00:44:53,239 --> 00:44:56,520 Speaker 3: special person, Dan and and it's really just it's just 807 00:44:56,560 --> 00:44:59,760 Speaker 3: so hard to believe and hard to accept and totally unfair. 808 00:45:00,280 --> 00:45:01,839 Speaker 2: Thank you, Mike. We'll chat soon. 809 00:45:03,080 --> 00:45:03,719 Speaker 3: Yep, see it. 810 00:45:04,000 --> 00:45:08,080 Speaker 1: Michael Russo Russo Radio will wild back, and I should 811 00:45:08,120 --> 00:45:10,720 Speaker 1: say yes the while back in action tonight right here 812 00:45:11,560 --> 00:45:14,960 Speaker 1: on the fan guards. He's going to join us from 813 00:45:15,000 --> 00:45:18,640 Speaker 1: Sacramento in about twenty minutes or so. Rick Boss is 814 00:45:18,640 --> 00:45:21,520 Speaker 1: going to join us from Louisville, Kentucky at five point 815 00:45:21,520 --> 00:45:24,879 Speaker 1: thirty to talk a lot of baseball and maybe even 816 00:45:24,920 --> 00:45:27,680 Speaker 1: some big dance stuff as well. When we come back, 817 00:45:27,800 --> 00:45:31,160 Speaker 1: let's issue for the first time in a while, the 818 00:45:31,280 --> 00:45:33,920 Speaker 1: Bumper to Bumper Seal of Approval. 819 00:45:34,239 --> 00:45:34,680 Speaker 2: That's next.