WEBVTT - EP. 149 - Scott Van Pelt 0:00:00.080 --> 0:00:02.640 Welcome to the Clubhouse with Shane Bacon, a production of 0:00:02.680 --> 0:00:14.360 I Heart Radio Welcome to the Cubhouse with Shane Bacon. 0:00:14.560 --> 0:00:19.759 I am your host, Shane Bacon, and usually we might 0:00:19.800 --> 0:00:23.919 play the Master's theme music right about now. It's Monday morning, 0:00:23.960 --> 0:00:27.680 you're waking up. If typically you would be heady to work, 0:00:28.240 --> 0:00:32.200 your mind would be elsewhere, it would be in Augusta, 0:00:32.800 --> 0:00:36.599 preparing for golf fans top two or three favorite week 0:00:36.640 --> 0:00:38.840 of the year. I understand that I am the exact 0:00:38.920 --> 0:00:41.360 same way. I was supposed to be flying to Augusta 0:00:41.400 --> 0:00:43.559 on Monday and had some things to do, when was 0:00:43.560 --> 0:00:46.000 gonna go out to the tournament, and really just it's 0:00:46.040 --> 0:00:49.960 a part of my year that is extremely special. While 0:00:50.000 --> 0:00:52.600 I'm not broadcasting it and it's not the US Open, 0:00:52.640 --> 0:00:54.120 I feel like you get to see a lot of friends, 0:00:54.120 --> 0:00:55.920 and you see a lot of faces, and you chat 0:00:55.960 --> 0:00:57.600 with some people that you really only get a chance 0:00:57.640 --> 0:01:00.880 to chat with during that week. And of course, with 0:01:00.960 --> 0:01:03.840 everything going on, that's not gonna happen. And while our 0:01:03.880 --> 0:01:07.840 thoughts are with everyone dealing with everything that we are 0:01:07.920 --> 0:01:11.480 facing currently, of course, as a golf podcast and as 0:01:11.520 --> 0:01:13.560 a golf fan, you know we're bummed out that there's 0:01:13.560 --> 0:01:17.200 no Masters, and that is what today's podcast is about. 0:01:17.280 --> 0:01:20.080 I had my friend Scott Van Pelt of ESPN, who 0:01:20.360 --> 0:01:22.960 is they're covering it every single year, jump on normally 0:01:22.959 --> 0:01:25.840 we do this podcast and we're talking about conditions and 0:01:26.280 --> 0:01:29.360 the way the Greens are playing and who's informed and 0:01:29.640 --> 0:01:32.560 can Tiger win another one? And all of those questions 0:01:32.680 --> 0:01:35.120 roll out, and of course none of that did, but 0:01:35.480 --> 0:01:37.600 it was a good conversation. It was a fun conversation. 0:01:37.840 --> 0:01:39.720 Scott is one of my favorite people in all of 0:01:39.760 --> 0:01:43.320 sports media, and we went along. We we broke down 0:01:43.360 --> 0:01:46.760 our five favorite Masters ever at the end of the podcast, 0:01:46.840 --> 0:01:49.320 so stick around for that. And just simply a couple 0:01:49.360 --> 0:01:52.360 of guys talking about something that they're going to miss 0:01:52.400 --> 0:01:54.040 that's a big part of their lives, and that is 0:01:54.400 --> 0:01:56.840 the Master's Tournament of Augustina, Nashville, and that is what 0:01:57.480 --> 0:02:00.760 today is. So just hoping everybod he's out there staying 0:02:00.800 --> 0:02:04.760 safe and smart and healthy and following guidelines and protocol. 0:02:05.600 --> 0:02:07.880 I am doing that. We're hunkered down at the house 0:02:08.520 --> 0:02:12.080 and man, my hands, I'm washing my hands so much 0:02:12.120 --> 0:02:15.000 that they're cracking. I've got the knuckle crack going so 0:02:15.040 --> 0:02:19.680 I've been I've been overlotioning the hands now because I'm 0:02:19.760 --> 0:02:22.880 over washing the hands to stay safe. This is what 0:02:23.240 --> 0:02:25.760 happens in two thousand twenty, apparently, this is what we 0:02:25.800 --> 0:02:29.000 deal with. But just a reminder that I've got another 0:02:29.000 --> 0:02:32.919 podcast with Maxima called Get a Grip with Max Homa 0:02:33.080 --> 0:02:35.600 and Shane Bacon, and that that will roll out on 0:02:35.639 --> 0:02:37.800 Monday as well, and of course we will chat about 0:02:37.840 --> 0:02:41.040 Max and what he thought would be his first trip 0:02:41.080 --> 0:02:43.560 to Augustin Nahal and his first Masters, and plenty of 0:02:43.560 --> 0:02:46.280 other shenanigans that we will figure out when we figure 0:02:46.280 --> 0:02:49.520 it out. Big thanks for following and for listening and subscribing. 0:02:49.760 --> 0:02:52.600 You can follow at the Clubhouse Pod on Twitter and 0:02:52.720 --> 0:02:55.600 on Instagram, and we continually give out stuff over there, 0:02:55.639 --> 0:02:58.600 so make sure you do that. Let's get to our guests. Well, 0:02:58.639 --> 0:03:01.520 we welcome back into the Clubhouse, Scott van Pelt and Scott. 0:03:01.639 --> 0:03:04.880 Normally this calls on a Monday. You may or may 0:03:04.880 --> 0:03:09.280 not be breaking augusta national cell phone protocol and policy 0:03:09.440 --> 0:03:12.799 talking to me about the week. That is an excitement 0:03:12.840 --> 0:03:15.760 happening around the Gulf world and uh and yet we 0:03:15.840 --> 0:03:19.079 sit here at our respective homes across the country, and 0:03:19.639 --> 0:03:21.640 it's a bomber man. I mean, there's so many things 0:03:21.639 --> 0:03:24.040 that are a bummer about what's happening right now. But 0:03:24.520 --> 0:03:27.000 you know, the Masters is this thing that we have 0:03:27.160 --> 0:03:29.920 circled every single year, and of course now it's Master's 0:03:30.000 --> 0:03:34.440 Week with no golf to be had, it's really really 0:03:34.480 --> 0:03:38.120 difficult to not be there this week. And I mean, 0:03:38.280 --> 0:03:41.440 I'll say this at the very beginning, and I'm not 0:03:41.440 --> 0:03:46.440 gonna say it again. Obviously this is framed by what's 0:03:46.440 --> 0:03:49.320 going on and what is you know, clearly more serious 0:03:49.320 --> 0:03:52.000 and as the health of people across the country and 0:03:52.480 --> 0:03:54.960 people that are losing jobs, and we understand all those 0:03:55.000 --> 0:03:56.920 because two things could be true at once. We can 0:03:56.960 --> 0:03:59.600 be concerned about that and at the same time be 0:03:59.720 --> 0:04:01.880 really bummed out about what we would be doing in 0:04:01.920 --> 0:04:04.560 the absence of this pandemic, which is being at Augusta 0:04:05.120 --> 0:04:07.720 and enjoying this week. And it is change. It's my 0:04:07.800 --> 0:04:10.600 favorite week of the year, and I've been I mean, 0:04:10.680 --> 0:04:13.160 this is my twenty year ESPN. I've been there every 0:04:13.160 --> 0:04:15.520 single year since I've been with the ESPN, and so 0:04:15.600 --> 0:04:19.839 to not be there is I mean odd doesn't begin 0:04:19.920 --> 0:04:24.720 to do it justice. It's just it's really really impossible 0:04:25.000 --> 0:04:27.880 to process. Rankly, Yeah, I was gonna ask how many 0:04:28.279 --> 0:04:30.279 you've been to in a row? I mean dating back 0:04:30.279 --> 0:04:32.000 to Golf Channel. Did you get to go back in 0:04:32.040 --> 0:04:35.600 the Golf Channel days or did all that start ESPN? No, 0:04:35.839 --> 0:04:38.120 My first one was ninety seven, which was a good 0:04:38.120 --> 0:04:42.040 one to make your debut at UM. We showed up 0:04:42.080 --> 0:04:44.359 and like, oh, this is a this is this is 0:04:44.360 --> 0:04:46.640 how they do it here. Uh, that was the first 0:04:46.680 --> 0:04:50.200 one and I missed what isn't that omare is a 0:04:50.320 --> 0:04:53.080 ninety eight? But I want to say, I think I 0:04:53.120 --> 0:04:55.839 think it's been everyone but one since ninety seven. I 0:04:55.839 --> 0:04:59.279 honestly don't remember. Um, I just know that ever since, 0:04:59.320 --> 0:05:01.680 you know, ever since yes, I started with ESPN, I know, 0:05:01.800 --> 0:05:03.560 I know for a fact, it's been all of those. 0:05:04.240 --> 0:05:06.440 So I mean, and it's been you know, I've been 0:05:06.480 --> 0:05:10.880 really fortunate, I think in terms of the job descriptions there, 0:05:10.920 --> 0:05:12.880 I've kind of done every bit of it, whether it's 0:05:12.920 --> 0:05:16.640 being on the ground reporter who's doing the interviews post round, 0:05:16.680 --> 0:05:20.040 whether it's being an you know, Uh, it used to 0:05:20.040 --> 0:05:22.560 be over at to Gustic Country Club where we initially 0:05:22.600 --> 0:05:24.960 had our setup where we were doing sports and our stuff. 0:05:24.960 --> 0:05:27.400 And then and then obviously in Mike Tiko took the 0:05:27.440 --> 0:05:29.960 job with NBC and I split into the Butler cabin 0:05:30.040 --> 0:05:32.080 and do some stuff there. So I mean, it's it's 0:05:32.400 --> 0:05:36.200 I've had kind of uh, I've had a great opportunity 0:05:36.279 --> 0:05:38.760 to have some of the variety of of of covering 0:05:38.760 --> 0:05:41.920 the event. But I mean, let's be honest, whatever your 0:05:42.000 --> 0:05:44.440 job is, if you're on the grounds, just to be 0:05:44.520 --> 0:05:46.760 there for the week is just such a treat and 0:05:47.400 --> 0:05:50.480 it's one that, as I say, it's what we look 0:05:50.520 --> 0:05:52.960 forward to all year, all year long. Yeah, I mean 0:05:53.160 --> 0:05:56.960 it's it's really across the board. I mean, you said it, 0:05:56.960 --> 0:05:59.920 it is. If you're in the broadcasting space this week, 0:06:00.360 --> 0:06:03.440 it's an unbelievable experience and you cannot wait to get there. 0:06:03.480 --> 0:06:06.000 If you're a writer, it's a big week to to 0:06:06.160 --> 0:06:09.920 really kind of propel your stories on the front page, 0:06:09.960 --> 0:06:12.279 not just at the sports page, but potentially on the 0:06:12.320 --> 0:06:14.800 front page of news if Tiger or somebody got in 0:06:14.800 --> 0:06:17.159 the hunt and had a chance to win. And I 0:06:17.200 --> 0:06:19.080 always feel like for the golfers, I mean, for the 0:06:19.120 --> 0:06:22.719 guys that are playing, all of the weeks matter sure, 0:06:22.880 --> 0:06:25.560 but you know this one matters a lot more for 0:06:25.600 --> 0:06:28.960 the players, especially the events they have played leading up 0:06:29.320 --> 0:06:32.880 to Augusta Nationals. So universally, it's just one of those 0:06:32.880 --> 0:06:36.480 where I went to my my iPhone app on Wednesday 0:06:36.480 --> 0:06:40.400 of last week and deleted Masters scheduling for the week. 0:06:40.440 --> 0:06:42.760 It was it was one of those as I'm hitting 0:06:42.839 --> 0:06:45.719 delete event, I just wanted to take a moment, go 0:06:45.880 --> 0:06:48.279 for a walk, or just go sit outside in the 0:06:48.320 --> 0:06:53.040 backyard because I couldn't believe that this was actually happening. 0:06:53.520 --> 0:06:56.960 You've talked a lot about the Masters with me over 0:06:57.000 --> 0:06:58.920 the years and how important of a week it is 0:06:59.000 --> 0:07:02.320 for you personally. When you got the call the first 0:07:02.360 --> 0:07:05.600 time to go work the Master's tournament, you know this 0:07:05.720 --> 0:07:09.320 thing circled on every golf and every sports fans calendar. 0:07:09.480 --> 0:07:12.160 What was it like for you personally and professionally, knowing 0:07:12.560 --> 0:07:15.400 now this was always going to be something you've done well, 0:07:15.440 --> 0:07:21.760 it's it's it represents something on as you say correctly 0:07:21.800 --> 0:07:25.200 on the calendar that you know is it's a legend maker, right. 0:07:25.320 --> 0:07:27.520 I mean, if you're Larry Mies and you're gonna have 0:07:27.560 --> 0:07:30.000 one moment in your career, and he had more than one, 0:07:30.120 --> 0:07:32.320 but if you're gonna have one, one moment, make it, 0:07:32.400 --> 0:07:35.360 make it on the eleventh hole against Greg Norman in 0:07:35.400 --> 0:07:38.440 your hometown, and make it and make it an all 0:07:38.520 --> 0:07:41.360 time moment. And so going to a place like that 0:07:41.400 --> 0:07:43.360 where you know that history has made every year, as 0:07:43.360 --> 0:07:46.840 Phelt Nicholson says correctly, um, and to think that you're 0:07:46.880 --> 0:07:50.000 going to get a chance to be part of covering it. 0:07:50.000 --> 0:07:51.960 It was obviously going to be a big deal, and 0:07:52.000 --> 0:07:54.840 then it turned into something far more than that. It 0:07:54.880 --> 0:07:58.440 became truly historic as a as a newsmaking event because 0:07:58.440 --> 0:08:00.920 Tiger wanted and then getting a chance to sit down 0:08:00.960 --> 0:08:02.880 and talk to him about it after the fact, and 0:08:02.920 --> 0:08:07.040 that that interview really helped propel You're right when you said, 0:08:07.040 --> 0:08:10.080 I mean you get it propelled my career Without him 0:08:10.080 --> 0:08:12.560 winning at ninety seven and having a chance to sit 0:08:12.600 --> 0:08:14.360 down with him after the fact and him giving me 0:08:14.440 --> 0:08:16.520 the time he gave me and being as great as 0:08:16.520 --> 0:08:19.960 he was in that interview, I don't think my my 0:08:20.120 --> 0:08:24.440 career um rises in the way that it did. So 0:08:24.480 --> 0:08:26.440 I mean I was he was the tide that lifted 0:08:26.440 --> 0:08:28.160 all boats, and I was just one of those boats. 0:08:28.200 --> 0:08:30.600 So I didn't know when I got to go there, 0:08:31.760 --> 0:08:33.800 you know that it would be that. But that's that's 0:08:33.880 --> 0:08:37.000 every bit of what it was. I remember my first 0:08:37.200 --> 0:08:39.920 Masters covering that I was writing, I believe for CBS 0:08:40.000 --> 0:08:43.600 Sports at the time, and just arriving and while you're 0:08:43.640 --> 0:08:45.960 on eggshells because you don't want to do anything wrong 0:08:46.360 --> 0:08:49.320 to possibly lose your credential or your badge. At the 0:08:49.360 --> 0:08:52.600 same time, you know, every single year I've gone since 0:08:53.000 --> 0:08:54.839 it is what are the is is gonna look at 0:08:54.840 --> 0:08:57.040 when I get there? What's the golf course gonna play like? 0:08:57.640 --> 0:08:59.720 What's the new merch? I mean, they're all of these 0:08:59.800 --> 0:09:02.440 little checklist that I think are a little forgot, and 0:09:02.480 --> 0:09:04.920 that's just for people to get a chance to go. 0:09:05.480 --> 0:09:08.800 What are you and your team planning this week in 0:09:08.920 --> 0:09:12.280 terms of quote unquote coverage of the Masters, look backs 0:09:12.320 --> 0:09:15.400 on on past tournaments and events. What are you guys 0:09:15.600 --> 0:09:18.120 gonna do to kind of keep this theme going despite 0:09:18.160 --> 0:09:21.800 not having an actual live tournament. Well, we're gonna talk 0:09:21.920 --> 0:09:27.520 to Jack always. Any any Masters list begins with Jack 0:09:27.520 --> 0:09:30.840 because he's Jack Um. We're gonna have a conversation, I know, 0:09:30.920 --> 0:09:34.440 with Bubba because we're doing primetime broadcasts of events that 0:09:34.559 --> 0:09:37.120 that are of past Masters, and we're gonna talk to 0:09:37.240 --> 0:09:40.800 Bubba as well. Um, and it's funny you think about 0:09:40.840 --> 0:09:43.800 that shot when the Pines tryn ten and you know, 0:09:44.000 --> 0:09:47.920 like again a legend maker. Um, we're gonna talk to 0:09:48.000 --> 0:09:52.440 Jim nance I believe Monday that's the goal anyway, but 0:09:52.559 --> 0:09:55.160 it's it's really dependent upon his his schedule. And I 0:09:55.160 --> 0:09:57.080 mean talked about a guy who has the greatest week 0:09:57.120 --> 0:09:59.079 every year. I mean, he called the national title game 0:09:59.120 --> 0:10:02.200 on a day night. You're calling the Master's champion the 0:10:02.200 --> 0:10:04.120 following something, and that would have been an easy drive 0:10:04.160 --> 0:10:07.320 from Atlanta. And my heart breaks for Jim this for 0:10:07.480 --> 0:10:10.439 for his week. Um, we've got some other feelers out. 0:10:10.559 --> 0:10:12.280 I mean I threw it out the Tiger. It's always 0:10:12.320 --> 0:10:13.720 a matter that you know, if he's got the time 0:10:13.880 --> 0:10:17.400 or if he's even Um interested isn't even right word, 0:10:17.640 --> 0:10:19.400 because I mean it's just it's just a matter of 0:10:19.480 --> 0:10:21.480 do you want to sit down and and and and 0:10:21.520 --> 0:10:24.440 talk about this, because I'm sure he's pumped out, you know. 0:10:24.480 --> 0:10:26.600 I mean, I think it means different things to different people, 0:10:26.600 --> 0:10:28.960 but it's all some version of the same thing, which 0:10:29.000 --> 0:10:31.280 is how much do you miss it? But it'll be 0:10:31.320 --> 0:10:33.960 you know, prime time coverage of the event, you know, 0:10:34.040 --> 0:10:36.680 and I think I found myself watching the Women's Amateur 0:10:36.760 --> 0:10:39.560 over the weekend. I just I just enjoyed and by 0:10:39.559 --> 0:10:41.880 the way, they played great, But I just you just 0:10:41.920 --> 0:10:43.679 want to see people hit shots on the holes that 0:10:43.800 --> 0:10:46.080 you know what I mean, You just want to see it. 0:10:46.120 --> 0:10:49.880 You wanna, you wanna more than any other golf course 0:10:50.040 --> 0:10:53.760 in the world, just seeing that it's the only course 0:10:53.760 --> 0:10:55.840 where the course is the only event, rather where the 0:10:55.840 --> 0:10:58.920 course is the star. Truly, truly, the course is the star. 0:10:59.520 --> 0:11:02.480 And so I mean, I guess throughout the week we'll 0:11:02.480 --> 0:11:04.840 have the course on TV if you want to watch it. 0:11:04.880 --> 0:11:07.000 If it's too painful, I get that too. And you're 0:11:07.080 --> 0:11:10.319 you're out here deleting apps. I get it. Man, You're 0:11:10.360 --> 0:11:12.160 just going to see that phone number pop up on 0:11:12.160 --> 0:11:14.440 your phone and see that see that x's name. I 0:11:14.440 --> 0:11:16.439 guess you just wanted to be a number and like, 0:11:16.480 --> 0:11:18.200 I don't know who that is. I'm not answering that goal. 0:11:19.000 --> 0:11:21.800 You you brought up Tiger, and this was something that 0:11:21.920 --> 0:11:25.760 I was discussing with a buddy just yesterday and you 0:11:25.880 --> 0:11:28.640 say bummer and again you already said it, and I'm 0:11:28.679 --> 0:11:31.439 gonna say it to start this podcast. This is very, 0:11:31.559 --> 0:11:33.880 very small potatoes in terms of what's going on. But 0:11:34.600 --> 0:11:36.840 for Tiger Woods, you know, he's forty four years old. 0:11:36.840 --> 0:11:38.480 He turns forty five at the end of this year. 0:11:38.720 --> 0:11:40.640 Of course, he wins this thing last year and it 0:11:40.720 --> 0:11:43.199 was an unreal moment. I'm gonna ask you for your 0:11:43.240 --> 0:11:45.880 five favorite Masters a little bit later, and I'm assuming 0:11:46.640 --> 0:11:49.920 probably gonna sneak in there somewhere. But for Tiger Woods, 0:11:50.640 --> 0:11:52.880 all of the things he's accomplished, all the stuff he's 0:11:52.920 --> 0:11:56.640 done in his lifetime to miss a Master's potentially now 0:11:56.679 --> 0:11:58.240 we don't really know what the schedule is going to 0:11:58.320 --> 0:12:00.240 be like for the rest of this year year, and 0:12:00.280 --> 0:12:03.480 maybe October, maybe November, obviously the rumors have swirled around. 0:12:03.840 --> 0:12:08.559 But for Tiger to miss a Master's, a regular masters 0:12:09.120 --> 0:12:12.480 is a huge letdown for the guy because he doesn't 0:12:12.520 --> 0:12:14.199 have a whole bunch of years left to go out 0:12:14.200 --> 0:12:17.520 there and possibly get another green jacket. Now, you're right, 0:12:17.640 --> 0:12:19.960 and I felt the same way for Federer and for 0:12:20.000 --> 0:12:23.720 Serena with Wimbledon, and that's more definitive because that's canceled. 0:12:23.840 --> 0:12:26.800 You know, that's not postponed, that's canceled. And it's a 0:12:26.840 --> 0:12:28.960 little different obviously in golf you can go, you can 0:12:29.000 --> 0:12:32.480 go longer. Um. And for Federal and Serena, it's at 0:12:32.480 --> 0:12:36.080 that time is really getting short for them. But if 0:12:36.200 --> 0:12:40.319 if you didn't have the Masters, then been clearly for 0:12:40.320 --> 0:12:43.000 for Tiger, like, how many more are there where you 0:12:43.120 --> 0:12:48.160 really truly can serve that he's got a legitimate shot? Um, 0:12:48.200 --> 0:12:51.760 not many, I mean, not not ten, not maybe five. 0:12:51.800 --> 0:12:53.720 I mean you tell me that's a lot. That's a 0:12:53.720 --> 0:12:57.120 lot too for being honest. So, um, who knows given 0:12:57.120 --> 0:12:58.920 the fact that his back had been acting up and 0:12:58.920 --> 0:13:01.640 if it turned into a fall deal, maybe that actually 0:13:01.720 --> 0:13:04.600 benefits him in some way. Um, you know, of course 0:13:04.640 --> 0:13:06.839 it could be cooler than Yeah. But but just in 0:13:06.880 --> 0:13:10.240 the grand scheme, just the idea for anybody that whose 0:13:10.400 --> 0:13:15.600 age starts with the four, um, whose bank is fused. Uh, 0:13:15.920 --> 0:13:18.720 you want as many clean cracks at it as you 0:13:18.720 --> 0:13:21.600 can get. And this one is uh for the moment, 0:13:21.679 --> 0:13:24.040 it's it's a question mark. We don't know. Yeah, what's 0:13:24.040 --> 0:13:26.560 been the event. I'm assuming we're gonna both throw the 0:13:26.559 --> 0:13:28.880 Masters out because you've already said it's your favorite week 0:13:28.880 --> 0:13:30.160 of the year, and I'm a little bit of a 0:13:30.160 --> 0:13:31.600 golf nerd. I don't know if you knew this or not. 0:13:31.840 --> 0:13:34.600 And the Masters is one of my favorite couch couch 0:13:34.760 --> 0:13:37.280 weeks of the year, or if I'm somewhere in and 0:13:37.320 --> 0:13:39.120 around August, is just one of my favorite events to 0:13:39.160 --> 0:13:41.960 be around. What's been the one that has bummed you 0:13:42.040 --> 0:13:44.840 out the most? And you're a guy that gets to 0:13:44.880 --> 0:13:49.320 cover everything when you talk about every single sport, high school, college, pro, everything, 0:13:49.800 --> 0:13:53.000 what's been the event that you've either already missed or 0:13:53.160 --> 0:13:55.360 is coming up that's going to be missed or possibly 0:13:55.400 --> 0:13:58.400 canceled that's really bummed you out as a sports fan. 0:13:59.720 --> 0:14:01.959 It's not close. I mean, like the Masters is different 0:14:01.960 --> 0:14:05.959 because it's so personal um and and so that's that's brutal. 0:14:06.040 --> 0:14:10.120 But as much as that week being put on pause 0:14:10.200 --> 0:14:13.880 for now, I'm still hopeful that it's a fall deal. 0:14:14.320 --> 0:14:17.600 The incident played tournament not being played is you can 0:14:17.640 --> 0:14:21.280 never reconcile that. I mean, I root for Maryland. I 0:14:21.280 --> 0:14:24.960 don't think that's any great closely held secret. And they 0:14:24.960 --> 0:14:26.720 were they were pretty good. I mean they want to 0:14:26.760 --> 0:14:28.680 share the Big ten. I don't know, they'd probably been 0:14:28.720 --> 0:14:32.080 a I don't know, three seed, maybe four seed, to 0:14:32.160 --> 0:14:33.800 be a two if they won the big team whatever, 0:14:33.840 --> 0:14:35.520 it is they were. They were one of those teams 0:14:35.560 --> 0:14:38.240 that had a shot to me to Atlanta, and um, 0:14:38.480 --> 0:14:41.400 you know, their senior point guard is Oh is gone. 0:14:41.480 --> 0:14:44.080 Their junior I mean, their soft or big man a 0:14:44.200 --> 0:14:46.480 Jayleen Smith, I presume is going to go pro. So 0:14:46.520 --> 0:14:49.240 that means that you'll never get a chance to see 0:14:49.280 --> 0:14:51.480 that team. And and you know, Kansas fans are going, 0:14:51.600 --> 0:14:53.680 you know, hey, we were really good. Of course they 0:14:53.680 --> 0:14:56.440 were number one in Michigan State fans and Gonzaga fans 0:14:56.520 --> 0:14:58.800 and you know, Duke fans. I can keep going. There's 0:14:59.040 --> 0:15:02.120 any college team out there that that that had a 0:15:02.160 --> 0:15:04.360 shot is thinking we could have made it to Atlanta. 0:15:04.880 --> 0:15:07.120 UM and by the way, any of these teams could 0:15:07.120 --> 0:15:09.040 have lost in the first round too. Gate My god, 0:15:09.080 --> 0:15:11.440 they had the best year they've ever had. So you 0:15:11.480 --> 0:15:16.000 know that that tournament not being played is just crushing 0:15:16.120 --> 0:15:19.080 to me because it's it's my favorite three week event 0:15:19.160 --> 0:15:24.120 of the year. And um, I mean it's just never 0:15:24.160 --> 0:15:25.840 going to be I just don't know how you ever 0:15:25.960 --> 0:15:29.520 make that makes sense. Yeah, I went to Arizona Scott 0:15:29.760 --> 0:15:32.360 and I think this might be the first year since 0:15:32.600 --> 0:15:36.160 maybe the year after I graduated where I was actually 0:15:36.200 --> 0:15:39.600 okay with the tournament not happening because this team was 0:15:39.880 --> 0:15:43.000 I was going so nuts with this basketball team and 0:15:43.080 --> 0:15:47.200 program and coaching and last five minutes and of course 0:15:47.400 --> 0:15:50.040 the tournament being canceled was It was a massive bummer. 0:15:50.160 --> 0:15:52.160 As as a sports fan and somebody that likes to 0:15:52.200 --> 0:15:54.120 a bracket and keep up with it for a couple 0:15:54.160 --> 0:15:58.120 of weeks, but as a personal Arizona fan, I didn't 0:15:58.120 --> 0:15:59.480 think we were going to have much of a run. 0:15:59.560 --> 0:16:02.160 I didn't think our chances were that great to do 0:16:02.240 --> 0:16:04.440 stuff that maybe some of the other teams have been 0:16:04.480 --> 0:16:08.280 talked into from experts and others are like, you guys 0:16:08.320 --> 0:16:12.640 are actually fastening in case study because analytically they really 0:16:12.720 --> 0:16:14.800 liked you a lot, Like there are a number of 0:16:14.800 --> 0:16:19.360 different sort of models that really would really favorite Arizona. 0:16:19.440 --> 0:16:22.160 And then there the fact that they've lost a bunch 0:16:22.160 --> 0:16:25.280 of games put them on you know, the pracketologists seed 0:16:25.280 --> 0:16:27.240 lines that were lower, which would have made for a 0:16:27.320 --> 0:16:30.120 very interesting situation because you guys might have been seated 0:16:30.160 --> 0:16:33.360 lower than the kind of predictive models would have suggested, 0:16:33.440 --> 0:16:35.760 which might have indicated chain and maybe you guys would 0:16:35.760 --> 0:16:37.480 have been ready for a run. You never know, But 0:16:37.560 --> 0:16:40.840 see that's the thing you just you don't know and 0:16:41.080 --> 0:16:43.560 you'll never know. And that's the part that just is 0:16:43.640 --> 0:16:46.800 crushing to me, is like you'll you me and none 0:16:46.800 --> 0:16:50.040 of us will ever know, and that just sucks. Yeah. Well, 0:16:50.280 --> 0:16:52.680 something you did that I love and and something you 0:16:52.720 --> 0:16:56.760 really do with your show that I've always been impressed by, 0:16:56.760 --> 0:16:58.920 and something I tried to you know, if this is 0:16:58.960 --> 0:17:01.240 a compliment I try to man make a bit is 0:17:01.360 --> 0:17:05.119 you have always tried to spend stuff positively. I although 0:17:05.119 --> 0:17:07.639 I feel like with Bad Beats, Bad Beats is a 0:17:07.640 --> 0:17:11.040 fun segment. It highlights a negative, but I feel like 0:17:11.080 --> 0:17:12.920 you turned into a positive because you have so much 0:17:12.960 --> 0:17:15.000 fun with it. I mean, you're laughing about it. It's 0:17:15.000 --> 0:17:17.560 a it's a bad gambling moment, but of course you can. 0:17:17.920 --> 0:17:20.000 And that's what I'm saying. And that's something you've done 0:17:20.040 --> 0:17:23.080 so well. One thing you did and you asked right 0:17:23.160 --> 0:17:26.560 away about we're stories of young players that weren't going 0:17:26.600 --> 0:17:30.119 to be able to fulfill high school, college, whatever, and 0:17:30.160 --> 0:17:33.320 you wanted to highlight those players. How was that in 0:17:33.440 --> 0:17:36.080 terms of getting a chance to dive into stories that 0:17:36.119 --> 0:17:39.520 you wouldn't have followed otherwise. It's been amazing, man, it's 0:17:39.560 --> 0:17:42.679 been it's I've been really, really, really really lucky in 0:17:42.760 --> 0:17:45.960 my career. I think that's something I've shared with each 0:17:46.080 --> 0:17:48.439 in the years, just just being grateful for all of it, 0:17:48.600 --> 0:17:51.600 and UM, August just part of it. There's a lot 0:17:51.640 --> 0:17:52.959 of things are part of it, you know, as thing 0:17:53.000 --> 0:17:54.679 as I get to do, and I'm thankful for all 0:17:54.720 --> 0:17:59.120 of it. The the Senior Nights segments that we've done 0:17:59.240 --> 0:18:05.160 has been some I'll always remember as um the one 0:18:05.280 --> 0:18:08.880 positive out of this giant negative, because what it happened 0:18:08.960 --> 0:18:11.639 is we asked for people to share with us the 0:18:11.680 --> 0:18:16.840 stories of the high school kids and teams and college 0:18:16.920 --> 0:18:22.360 kids and and teams that had their seasons just abruptly end. 0:18:22.640 --> 0:18:27.280 And I've learned about these places and these teams in 0:18:27.480 --> 0:18:33.159 small towns and Wisconsin and Indiana and Arkansas. Just thinking 0:18:33.160 --> 0:18:35.360 out loud, there's a girl named McKenna and I can't 0:18:35.400 --> 0:18:38.320 think of her last name in Arkansas who was in 0:18:38.400 --> 0:18:40.880 the I See You as a sophomore, had this rare 0:18:41.480 --> 0:18:44.639 kidney issue and like she's touch and go, and then 0:18:44.640 --> 0:18:46.800 she got out of got out of the hospital, she 0:18:46.880 --> 0:18:49.240 got better, and by the time she's a senior, she's 0:18:49.280 --> 0:18:51.159 an All state player and they're going to play for 0:18:51.280 --> 0:18:55.360 state title. And it's like, well, all right, I never 0:18:55.400 --> 0:18:58.320 would have known that that this Gal McKenna out in 0:18:58.440 --> 0:19:00.560 Arkansas is this great player is getting ready to go 0:19:00.640 --> 0:19:02.560 to Central Missouri. I want to say it is on 0:19:02.560 --> 0:19:05.119 a basketball scholarship. Well why I found out about a 0:19:05.200 --> 0:19:07.439 story because I asked people share them with it. And 0:19:07.480 --> 0:19:10.600 so it's it's lacrosse players and soccer players and baseball 0:19:10.640 --> 0:19:14.520 players and swimmers and the equestrian team at tc U 0:19:14.760 --> 0:19:17.560 and all these different people I mean coast to coast 0:19:17.600 --> 0:19:20.439 man and and and I've we've tried our best to 0:19:20.480 --> 0:19:23.719 try to represent you know, men and women small and 0:19:23.760 --> 0:19:29.040 big like, just because the mosaic of their stories tells 0:19:29.080 --> 0:19:31.600 the story of our country and how much sports matter, 0:19:31.640 --> 0:19:36.000 and how proud people are of the teams in their communities. 0:19:36.040 --> 0:19:38.240 And I've been I've just been moved by it. And 0:19:38.480 --> 0:19:40.959 I've been moved by how much it meant to them. 0:19:41.000 --> 0:19:44.399 We've heard from so many of their coaches, uh and 0:19:44.560 --> 0:19:48.719 communities that they're appreciative that they just um like, somebody 0:19:48.720 --> 0:19:51.399 forward to me an article from the the Goshen something 0:19:51.400 --> 0:19:53.600 in Indian of the paper there and just the kids 0:19:53.600 --> 0:19:55.879 were saying like how cool it was to hear their 0:19:56.000 --> 0:19:59.520 names sent on sports and you're like, you mean, you 0:19:59.560 --> 0:20:01.159 know what the says that what we do. I mean, 0:20:01.200 --> 0:20:03.560 we don't take it particularly seriously, but like these mics 0:20:03.600 --> 0:20:06.639 are on and people listen and and and it matters 0:20:06.640 --> 0:20:09.240 in those communities to feel like they're getting they're getting 0:20:09.320 --> 0:20:12.760