Winnipeg Blue Bombers prepare for Saskatchewan Roughriders, NFL Preview

e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e e he [Music] my [Music] this is Winnipeg Sports Talk daily with Andrew Hustler Patterson and Michael [Music] Remis hey what's up everyone welcome to Winnipeg Sports Talk daily as we countown to the Labor Day classic cannot wait for the weekend shout out to everyone joining us in the 1930 crew we will see you Saturday morning and Regina we will see you Saturday afternoon um we're going to head out to Regina actually to kick things off in about 20 minutes or so Jamie NY from uh from Regina the roll Co station there is going to jump on with us and we'll get the latest on how thing people are feeling in the rectangle about the uh big game coming up on Sunday Darren bombing's going to pop on after that to get the latest on the bomber side of things great news yesterday with Adam big hill a full participant in practice Stanley Bryan expected to play and drewel Atari coming off the six game as well we'll get to all of that with DB and then the long awaited return of Marat atesh marat's back from his worldly travels and is getting ready to get after it come September uh and needless to say we'll have lots to talk about on the Jets beat including morat's take on the Rucker mcity trade for brandan joerger and of course mcgi spoke yesterday we will get into that in just a minute when I welcome in my guy Conor rabak who's joining me all week long while Remis takes a few days off uh later on cannot get ready for NFL season without a visit from my pal Jeff fineberg feinberg's gonna be coming on we'll maybe hit a little bit of golf but mostly get his thoughts on the upcoming NFL season and then before the end of the show we are packed today as I mentioned Drew Todd from sport man at was going to pop by for another it takes a community toplay segment wrapping up what was an incredibly successful Manitoba Games put on by the great people out in West man in the dolphin Manitoba region so uh gonna be a good one buckle up great to have you with us don't forget the new CFL 110 is live right now and so many big stories in the CFL heading into Labor Day weekend check that out wherever you get your favorite podcast search CFL 1110 and give us a sub a sub or you can also watch it over here on the Winnipeg sports talk YouTube channel make sure to subscribe to the channel while you are there CFL 110 of course is brought to you by garage living Winnipeg also want to thank all of our Winnipeg Sports Talk sponsors that make this show happen each and every day our friends at kolette Princess Auto Consolidated Supply and Ry transfer Manitoba battery Canadian Club Wallace and Wallace F apparel Little Brown J Royal Sports Boston Pizza the beer can along with next door and hogy boys the Winnipeg gold eyes the red hot Winnipeg gold eyes we'll get to that as well Akens Lake Wilderness lares cinoa Downs Breezy Bend and we will hit a wi out question of the day for not Auto Corp at Waverly and mcgilvery let's get this show on the road welcome to everybody hanging out with us in the Winnipeg sports talk chat today and welcome to you Connor rapchak what's up pal I'm doing good doing good I spent the night at the Ballpark last night as I said on the show yesterday the gold eyes completed the sweep of the Gary southst RailCats three straight wins they're still in first in the West in the American Association they're off today I think even if they had a game they'd be off today with what the weather's looking like but tomorrow they start a four game set over Labor Day weekend against the Lincoln Salt Dogs so go check it out they're looking to clinch first in the west and if you get first in the West in the American Association you actually get to choose your opponent in the first round so it's a big deal um and the gold eyes will look to clinch it this weekend over Lincoln well um yeah and I did find it weird that they had this Thursday off normally it's kind of the Mondays are off and they'll play kind of Tuesday through to through to Monday but that's not the case this week and as you alluded to not a great day not raining out right now I you could probably get it in but there was ever a day this week where maybe it's good that you don't have a game today's the day but a big weekend at the Ballpark for the fish as they look to clinch first place what a turnaround from that tough start for the club and what a first year for Logan Watkins managing this gold eyes team just before we move on from that do you have any intel on playoffs like it is does it start at the home team or does it start at the road team and then finish with three games at the home team so I believe you have the choice of that as well um you you it's the the first series is a best of three so you will either get the first two games at home and then one on the road um I I I I'm don't really know how the format works I know it's a best of three and even if you're the lower seed you do get one home game um but I don't know you know if it's two and one or 111 uh especially with the travel and a smaller League like that I doubt yeah if the gold eyes I mean if they're going back and forth from Fargo it wouldn't be that big of an issue but all these other teams like Chicago I think they would be a long a long ride just for one game back and forth so I think it is two and one but you do get the choice of that as well if you secure the one seed along with the choice of opponent well as you mentioned I mean the fish are in first place right now they're a game and a half up on sou Falls and two full games up on the Fargo Morehead RedHawks and have put themselves in a great position to clinch it raise a banner for the west division and then get ready for postseason baseball next week so we'll keep an eye on that um we're going to be spending plenty of time talking about the Labor Day game and the latest on the Riders and the bombers as we mentioned Jamie ny's coming up Darren bom is coming up as well but uh it was it was quite interesting Connor after we finished the show yesterday we started getting word that we'd finally heard from Rucker mcity who saw the Pittsburgh media yesterday and you know said all the right things as he is apt to do um but of course we knew at some point he was going to be asked about what happened with the uh with the Winnipeg Jets and uh yesterday was that day courtesy of our pal Dean kovich yeah I I don't know he's he he didn't really answer like he said uh you know he wanted to be upfront and honest but well why don't let's play the clip let's play the clip because I think there's probably some people that have heard uh you know some of the discourse uh about what was said now just to back this up if you missed a week ago today was the trade and at the end of our program Kevin sheble off spoke live at 3M thank you again for the great timing Winnipeg Jets PR that was perfect let's stay on that schedule 3M press conferences are perfect um and of course he was asked like where did things go along with wer mcgi and you know for everyone that was saying oh the Jets needed to know this before they drafted him like the first year that he was part of the organization or was drafted by the team everything I I'm not sure I can remember a more posit positive situation in the last 11 years of the Winnipeg Jets he loved the he loved it he was fired up to be a Winnipeg jet he Charmed everybody and came to development camp and was the star of the show I mean he was incredible with the fans he was great with the media he uh he was dove into it head first so when Kevin chevala was asked where did this go wrong and was told that it just didn't feel right and that it dated back to development Camp I'll just say this the meter went off no I I have no reason to believe to believe anything other than than Chev de off is telling straightforward exactly what was told to them but the whole thing really didn't compute so I think everyone was interested to hear well what exactly was the the mcity side of the entire situation Dan kovich asked him this yesterday it is sowhat funny he does call him Braden in this question it is Rucker mordi it is not Braden joerger so a little bit of a mixup for the two guys that were traded for each other but the meat of was for winnipeggers that wanted to know where the heck did this go wrong what started this entire Saga where he said he wouldn't sign with the Winnipeg Jets well he had the opportunity to answer that question yesterday this this is how it sounded in in Pittsburgh Bren what's the best way to describe because you're the only one that can answer this what actually happened with Winnipeg why you didn't want to go there uh yeah so uh my agents talked to them um and then uh I talked to them um and I just I I wanted to be up front honest with them and uh just tell them that I wasn't going to be signing with them um and uh I got nothing but respect for those guys uh they handled it with a lot of class um and I wish nothing but the best but uh I'm as I said I'm I'm fired up to get started here now so so I mean I'll say this uh he's got a career in politics after playing uh if he needs because he took the question answered it without saying anything and uh and then just sort of smiled and moved on um you know to say that my agents talked to them and then I talked to them and then I wanted to be upfront and honest but never said anything about what the root of all this was is one of the more disingenuous answers I think you would get at any point in sports and I get how these guys are coached and coddled to you know say what you need to say my whole thing in this listen people can do what they want to do everyone has rights if there if you have reasons why you don't want to play somewhere there are options you can sit out in Rucker's case and spend a couple more years in Michigan and sign somewhere as a free agent or you can do as he said tell the team you don't plan on signing and you'd like to be like like to have a trade that happens we don't have to like it but this wouldn't be the first time this has taken place my issue with all of this is that is just the way that it was all handled like I I don't know and I tweeted this last night I mean in my book being upfront and honest might be actually being honest as to why you were doing this I mean listen you're going to get out at one point but I mean do you not owe it to the organization to give them an honest answer as to what it is like listen oh you know what I'm I'd really prefer to play in the states okay I mean that's something I didn't get along with I mean this is the key thing like from an organization standpoint if there was something that went off the rails with your development staff or at development Camp someone rubbed you the wrong way coaches like you'd want to know that and I think you're sort of owed that answer so I mean to hear what he had to say yesterday which essentially was just a live in-person version of what Kevin chevo said that they said to him which was nothing obviously rubbed some people the wrong way yeah he was being upfront that he wasn't going to sign there but he wasn't being honest about why um and and I don't now that you know this hasn't come out I don't think we will get the answer that ruer has spoken to the media and he still didn't say the answer both sides have now spoken publicly and we don't know the answer as to why other than it just didn't feel right he didn't want to play here you didn't want to sign feel right is is that's it that's it man the thing is like No One Believes That No One Believes that maybe some people believe it if they weren't around development camp that time but I mean that was 11 if you go back to our shows that week playing the clips of Rucker everything like that I mean and again he's gone like I don't want to spend too much time on this but I mean listen it's what everybody's talking about every I mean the amount of texts I had from Jet fans going oh did you hear that get a load of this I mean it it's very similar to what the uh the go uh group did to the Philadelphia Flyers and listen I you know at a certain point this is a business this is it is professional sports and I think there is an exp expectation whether it be the player their representation management as well as all the teams to you know conduct their business in a somewhat professional manner uh it was very clear the Philadelphia Flyers did not feel they were dealt with in anywhere close to a professional manner by the goce camp I mean when that trade was made I've never seen anything like it they traded him for Dale and whatever else was in the package and then that night the Flyers were I believe on NBC see Keith Jones the president is doing interviews Daniel Brier the GM is doing interviews I think the coach did interviews they might have had some of the players out talking about it they may have had the receptionist at comcat doing interviews I mean it was a full united front and I think what they needed to do was convince their fans justifiably so to not lose faith in them that hey like we didn't screw this up we drafted this we were very high on him we had high hopes we expected him to be a big time player for us and now he want out and will not even speak to us I mean that was handled in an incredibly Bush League manner I'm not saying this is the exact same but when you kind of dive into it and hear what Kevin chevo had to say and then the complete non-answer when he had the opportunity to just put it to bed you know listen it doesn't and I know their camps are close the two players are very close um I don't think it's a great trend for people to be handling that and listen it's going to he'll get over it list he'll get into the National Hockey League start playing and people in Winnipeg I'm sure will remember it for a few years and he and Brit joerger will always be sort of connected and compared to each other because of the uniqueness of the trade but for right now I mean there are a lot of people that would just like to know what happened and I mean fans whatever fans we all want to know everything right but honestly from a profession naal standpoint with the Jets organization I kind of think that they were owed a legitimate explanation as to where this went wrong if for no other reason to prevent that from happening going forward or to maybe change their course if there was something that was at all within their control that could have prevented this from happening and they didn't get any anything like that when they were making the deal after the deal and we certainly didn't get any of it more from agori when he spoke yesterday yeah I I do want to there was another answer that I listened to the whole presser I there was another answer where he was asked I'm not sure by who you know what the difference in situation was and he didn't explicitly say you know this is why like I I wanted to be here instead of there but in that answer he brought up things like development path and the city um so if you want to really read between the lines and think that that is where the root cause of this is maybe it's in a different answer kind of reading between the lines but again like you said that's not his answer he didn't answer it um and I I saw this you know Sports media and like social media nowadays is all the quote Graphics where you have the player and then you have the quote on Twitter yesterday I saw the one where it says um uh on him playing with Crosby Malin and L tang and all those guys he says like oh I love it I love winning the top comment on that post and and I went back and looked is like the Penguins haven't won a playoff series since 2018 they've missed the playoffs the last two years like yeah they won their cups in the mid2 T when Rucker mordi was like 12 years old but they you love winning they've missed the playoffs the last two years and and what happens three years from now when Rucker mcord is hitting his Prime and all those guys are gone like I don't know I I obviously he's gonna say that I'm not here to to kind of nitpick his words and say like well you're they're not actually a winning team but come on you love it you love winning that's if that's the reason Pittsburgh hasn't done a lot of it since since 2018 so I don't know no um and but but here's the thing it's not like they went in like this wasn't a a Jacob trouba situation where he said listen I I'm not resigning I would like to be traded but at the end of my at the end of next year I'm going to be a free agent and I guess you can paint some similarities to the fact that he was a college player and if he did sit out the next two years he would have been a free agent he wasn't good to sign like all of that I guess you can paint that picture trouba said listen I'm only going to extend with the New York Rangers because my family issues my my my soon to be wife fiance was going to be doing a residency in New York and that's really where I want to be and listen Kevin Chev worked that out and listen he got where he wanted he got his contract and he lived happily ever after there there like from the trade request from the mcgi camp as per shebal off and the trade it wasn't like I want to go to a team on the Eastern Seaboard so I can be closer to my family or I want to be in a it wasn't a money thing I want to go to Vegas or Florida because the taxes are better um it was just kind of it doesn't feel right and that that that's why this is this chapter really isn't closed and I did think there was an opportunity with the representation for mcor uh and certainly him yesterday to just sort of get out in front of it deal with it and move on because I'll tell you what assuming he is on this roster at the beginning of the year Conor the Pittsburgh Penguins are here in the second week of the season this isn't gonna all have blown over by then and the second that plane gets to Winnipeg and that team gets to Canada Life Center and it's media day for the first time ever the media aren't going to be crowded around Sydney Crosby they're going to be in front of Rucker mcord and they're going to be asking him all those questions again and I'm sure there would have been some semblance of that anyways but to have handled it the way they did to get the question and just punt on it expecting everyone just to move on um maybe they'll do that in Pittsburgh and again if you're in Pittsburgh you don't really care you've got the player although you paid a significant price to get him in Braden jger um but he they certainly didn't put it to bed for the people that are going to be asking those questions here in Winnipeg and certainly did nothing to to maybe tone down what is going to be an amped up building when the Penguins take the ice and for the first time as I mentioned it's not going to be all about 87 and the rest of the crew it's going to be about a young guy that has done absolutely nothing in the National Hockey League so far yeah and and like you said it's creating a bit of an ugly Trend right like now player like again players get what you want get your money when the contracts are coming up but this whole the the like forcing your way out again if you have a valid reason like Jacob trouba did okay that that's you know getting the situation you want to be in forcing your way out for no reason at all because you put on the Jersey a development camp in July and it didn't feel right is just it's just so like what are we doing here it just makes no sense like if again if you like you said if he wanted to be closer to his family or he wanted to play in the states uh he wanted to play in a in a huge Sports Town not winig isn't but whatever it could have been this whole Trend with go and mcgi who were best friends growing up that is a big and their families are close that should be noted um are are just it's just weird it's just so weird because the teams are left dumbfounded the Flyers were the Jets were and I'm sure over the next couple years if if a college player comes out they're going to look at these situations and go you know what I can force my way to Anaheim like cutter goia did I can force my way to Florida um for better state taxes or whatever the case may be just for no reason reason at all just because I have Power Players as drafted drafted players particularly ones that haven't signed yet I mean they do have a little bit of a of a hammer in that you know you can wait it out and but it's a long wait I mean these guys want to play in the NHL right now I mean to sit out two more seasons um you know is listen you're taking out significant earning power um you know that like that's a major price to pay listen some guys are really Allin on the uh CAA experience and want to do it and hey you know the guys that have done the guys that have actually gotten to that point have signed deals and you know for the most part have been I me haven't turned into Superstars or anything like that I mean Blake wheeler to be honest I mean was a a guy that you know might be the best of the entire Bunch you know that ended up playing things out then going to Boston of course ending up here in Winnipeg like I'm not here I know some people talk oh you can't draft American players anymore I think I saw list in it I mean listen I'll agree with what Kevin chevo said that the task of the scouts is to get the best player the team has to do the the you know the the the the research on the guy but by all accounts that's exactly what the Jets did like I had had some people that kind of you know hit me back on my tweet last night saying well the Jets and Chevy they needed to know this when they drafted the player well by all accounts the first year drafting the player meeting with him getting here to Winnipeg everything was great and then for an unknown reason everything went in a different direction so I mean as they say I think they owed the team even if it wasn't public and I'm sure if they said I prefer you didn't say that and Kevin you know could have easily said you know what they had some some reasons that you know that we understand and we're going to move on without it it doesn't necessarily have to get it but when you don't say anything and you leave people hanging like that all it does is create conversations like this and a guaranteed circus on the 19th of October before that game presumably when the Penguins get to town well that's what I thought Kevin shevde off was going to say uh like we were going to get a non-answer but he would have had one you know he would have gone the route of you know they told us but we're not going to say we're not going to air it out we've moved on we got brain jger we're happy with the return that's that but when he goes up there and basically's just like anyways I don't know what the answer was he just said it didn't feel right and that was that was like what what even he didn't get an answer and we're not getting an answer it's it's such a weird situation um but yeah the Jets and Kevin shovel day off like he said in his press conference do have to be happy with the return of brain jger and I'm sure lots of jets fans are excited to see him at training camp uh in a few weeks here sneaking up I know Labor Day is like the start we're getting ready for NHL season but it still doesn't feel that close as close as it really is so I'm pumped yeah it it is going to be um listen the training camp is going to be fun jger will be I mean a person will have you plenty of interest in in both from a media perspective but most importantly on the ice um and again you know he's a year younger than Rucker right he was drafted a year younger so while Rucker had done the two years and seemingly was ready at least in a lot of people's minds myself included to push for NHL work I think it's more likely than not that Braden jerger spends another year in junior hockey unfortunately not able to go to the moose but as you saw when he joined us last week on wst this is a young man that has been through an NHL training camp learned a lot from Sydney Crosby has coming into his new spot in the National Hockey League looking to make an impact and he's got to come in here focused to say I'm gonna give these guys a very very tough decision or maybe no decision at all that you just play your way onto the team more likely than not that doesn't happen and I think they'll air on the side of caution more than anything but I'm here for it um if he can come in and sort of get into the mix along with a really exciting group of young players are going to be in Camp Brad Lambert of course pushing for a spot on the team Elias salmonson and guys that were maybe in those situations in previous years like a villy hanala that seemed to be on the cusp like he was last year as long as he doesn't get hurt to uh grab a spot on the roster it's gonna be a really interesting camp yeah and the and and because the departures in free agency Monahan Dylan the opportunity is there for these young players to come in and win a job like you couldn't have really said that in a few years past where veterans were maybe taking up spots you know the top two centers were shyle and dubis so you weren't going to have a young player come in and win the 2C job and it very well may be vladislav nikov I'd say he's probably the clubhouse leader here on August 29th uh for that two seeg job but hey if Brad Lambert comes in if BR jger comes in and come and has an incredible Camp if Cole Peretti gets his contract signed and they start with him at Center and he looks amazing it's just open and on the right side of the defense they brought back Colin Miller Neil pan we've talked about him a lot vly hanala is he gonna get into the lineup they brought back Stanley Elias salamonson like there's there's opportunity for the young players to win a job uh and it's up to them and it's going to create some fun competition and some fun scrimmages practices some high-intensity practice practices at the hockey for all Center I'm I'm pumped to watch all these young players and a lot of first taste for a lot of these fans as well seeing anas salamonson who hasn't been here uh for the past or he's been here for training camps but then moves on and and you don't really pay attention to the season elsewhere but being here with a chance to make the roster uh it's going to be awesome no doubt about it Connor great stuff uh we're going to move from the Rucker story and I knew that was going to dominate our opening today uh to the Labor Day class classic and H hitting both the Riders and the bombers Jamie NY coming up in just a minute and then we'll get back to some more Jets talk with the return of Mora Tesh coming up at the top of the hour I mentioned CFL 110 is live right now on the Winnipeg Sports Talk Channel all over Labor Day weekend of course CFL 110s brought you by garage living 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Supply the leaders in irrigation systems artificial turf and golf carts not to mention other great options for your property including hot tubs and amazing outdoor kitchens and of course the small engine parts and repair leaders in town as well Consolidated supply has so much going on including the full line of Crest power tools you got to see it for yourself Popeye and CM at their showroom open the public 1395 Nia Road East or find out more online at c.ca just as we bring in Jamie NY shout out to our friends at Manitoba battery been a great summer and that Manitoba battery's been powering many of those good times whether you needed a boat battery a battery for the camper ATV or more Manitoba battery has batteries for literally everything and what most manitobans like the most is that they can shop local and get the best price in town beating the pants off the big box doors two locations now in Winnipeg Logan Avenue and the new location at 452 Dover Court drive in the South End of the city for all your battery needs get the best price in town and oh by the way they'll deliver them to you for free anywhere in the city with any purchase over 60 bucks is just that easy find out more and shop online today at Manitoba battery.com all right it's Labor Day weekend we got bombers Riders battle for first place who would have thoughted that a month ago let's welcome in the host of the green zone in Regina Jamie n of the program Jamie what's going on how are you oh it's Labor Day weekend Andrew come on let's go let's get this thing started are we partying Saturday night or what in downtown Regina you darn right we are we got a big crew that uh I'm sure will be in full force by the time we may even get to the Border never mind getting to Regina it is going to be fun and man like you know we had such a great uh last week here in Winnipeg for the Friday night game not a single Ticket available there's not a single Ticket available in Mosaic on the weekend the banjo bowl is sold out I mean there is a ton of excitement about this game and I mean we'll get into the landscape of the West in a minute as to how wide open it is but I have to ask you from the Riders perspective they had that great start they're 0 04 and one in their last five like what is sort of the vibe around the rider fan base right now that was so excited at the start and sort of seen this team struggle along with BC and now all of a sudden it's anybody's game in the west panic panic is set in in Saskatchewan that's what's going on here uh because the Riders as you mentioned you know they're won five- one in their last seven games and they're looking at a six-game stretch a third of the season if they lose in the Labor Day classic of not winning a single game in six games after starting the season five and one uh this has been a complete drop off yet again like it was the last two seasons for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders so they need to pick it up we had a topic on the show um is this a must-win game for the Rough Riders for the Lor day classic and everybody said yes even though there's six games after this for the ru Riders to turn it around but they think this is one of those Lynch pin games where you know pull the pin and it blows up if you lose or it stabilizes and he can actually start turning this thing around so uh this is for Ryder Nation anyways a monster game for the Labor Day classic and wouldn't you want it anyway other way because come on this is this is what Prairie football is supposed to be a good rivalry game with a lot on the line for these two teams well I mean listen as I've been saying all week I mean to think three weeks ago that the bombers would be going to Regina with a win could be traveling back home in first place was frankly Preposterous but everything has fallen their way the Elks way I mean BC has struggled theyve lost five in a row uh the Riders haven't won since beaten the bombers last month so I mean it is right there for the taking but Jamie I mean you've been covering this team for a long time it it's always seemed like usually one team's up one team's down I can't remember the last time we had these teams so close in the standings with so much on the line in this game in the in the Spectre of the West Division for both teams yeah last couple of years the Riders have like six and five or something like that or five and five going into the Labor Day classic and and then it derails but the bombers have been really good I remember how long I don't maybe we might be dating ourselves uh here Hustler on how long ago it was when the Billboards were up which was seven- one for the bombers and one and seven for the Saskatchewan Rough Riders and you know then the Riders go and beat them on Labor Day and the smack talk and then a couple years later it was the complete flip of that where the bombers are coming in and getting shut out 52 to nothing uh in the Labor Day classic the Riders are red hot and the bombers have just changed coaching staff so but here we go first placees on the line and these this was an 0 and4 bomber team and a 4 and0 Rider team at the start of this season I can't even understand how we got to this point but I'm glad we did because Labor Day with both with a lot on the line just makes it that much better you know it's funny you mentioned I was at both of those games I believe seven and one1 seven was 2011 and the bombers lost that game and lost the banjo Bowl as well and that was the year Ken Ken Miller came back the late great Ken Miller came in as the head coach and you know the bombers at that time believe we were in the East and they sort of moon walked into the playoffs they were 10 and8 they won the East final with that Chris Garrett game where he just basically ran all over their opponents and then they lost to BC who we recall started off 0 and five That season and won the gr cup but the the 52 nothing game you're talking about had to be the low point for the bombers we were there in the stands in the fourth quarter we were some of the few bomber fans that hadn't left and we just started an all we wants a Rouge chant and as we as we left left the stadium there's nothing more humiliating like they weren't even John at us the Ryder fans they were literally feeling bad for us offering us a beer and hey you know what you guys will be back and that that was the ultimate in humiliation but uh right now I mean this isn't just two teams that have had their ups and downs this year it is a battle for first place but you know I was talking with Matt a wanck today on the lock shop he was in for Dusty and I you know he was sort of saying you know he likes Winnipeg in this game sukat hasn't been good as of late and I ask him this question I'll put it to you how different would the narrative around the Riders be if Brett loother doesn't have an alltime clunker two weeks ago almost and I mean this is tough to say but almost single-handedly turning a win into a loss with four Miss field goals including one that went the other way like Trevor Harris was amazing in that game I thought the offense played great I thought their defense was pretty good yet they lost but it was such a weird way to lose if he just has a normal game and they win that game by seven beating the best team in the Canadian Football League which they should have how different is the conversation around Regina and this team right now well you look at over there they they're just their five-game winless streak right they're they're 04- one they had one bad game against the Edmonton Elks they the Elks ran for over 200 yards uh Javon leak was Unreal uh with two big runs 51 and 61 yard touchdown runs so you look at that and you're like oh my goodness like this is you take away that game and this ryers is a defense looks a lot different even more staunch against the run but they were close against Montreal they had a halftime lead in Montreal a double digit halftime lead and they blew it again they had a lead against Montreal and loord misses field goals they blew it they had a double digit lead just this past week against Toronto and they blew it they like the Edmonton alks at the start of this season they just can't hold on to leads and they're finding new and exciting ways to lose football games and you're just waiting for that moment where they kick in a win and it might set them back to a team that was five- one to start the season and a real threat for even a great cup contemplating a great cup appearance so the Riders are very close this isn't the a lot of people are comparing it to the last two years there was quit on those two teams like you saw them late in games just their body language looked like they were disinterested this team is not built that way Cory mace has them believing and it's just that one play extra or as you mentioned one kick extra and that doesn't go the other way for a touchdown like it did with the Leer in Montreal a couple of weeks ago and this team is you know in first place with a bit of a cushion but they're not the reality is they haven't found ways to pull out wins and they found ways to lose and hey Winnipeg is going to come in here with a lot of Brady Olivera I imagine to try to test this Rough Riders run defense and try to steal another one at mosaic stadium and I know how much bombers have enjoyed stealing games at Lab at mosaic Stadium the last couple of years yeah well it was uh it was a basically a horror show for the last 10 years of the old place they finally got that win in the final year and then it was just like the coin was flipped when uh you know the new place opened um that is such a fascinating matchup I I have to ask you about Cory mace I mean he was the toast of the town with the early start how's he handling the latest adversity of the football club and I have to ask you what you thought about in particular his reaction to his handling of the clock late in that game which was uh a Hot Topic around CFL circles on the infamous walk-off Rouge game yeah um so Corey ma is he's handled it like he's handled everything he's a complete professional um there there's no you know animosity building up with the media asking tough questions um he that that late in the game they're still being aggressive they still say they were hoping to get two or three play down field to kick a game-winning field goal rather than just taking almost people are saying you should just taken a knee and gone to overtime so they were trying to push the ball down field not sure that was the right place to put it but remember this is only 11 games into his coaching head coaching career so every coach will have blemishes early on on clock management but we'll be watching closely on those types of decisions and how they handle it because I agree with a lot of people that just all you had to do was dump it off to some somebody stay in bounds kill 5 seconds and you're punting the ball with six seconds left on the clock and by the time it hits the hands of the return guy in Jan Grant the it's zero on the clock as long as he doesn't return one for a touchdown of course or there's a face mask or something ridiculous on that play it's going to overtime anyway so I I say he he didn't read the clock right um at the end of that football game uh but hey it's a that's that those are mistakes a rookie coach will learn from or should learn from and we'll see how it goes but Cory mace he has this team believing it they still believe there's there's no doubt in that room that they still have the players to do it when it comes to competing for a title in the west division this year Jamie NY with us he is the host of the green zone in Regina covering the Riders and everything else happening in and around the Saskatchewan Sports scene um Ryder defense and you know it's funny I talk about this every day on our program and certainly with neelon on the lock shop I still think that this team is a legitimate gray cup Contender because I think their defense can play at a level much like the bomber defense which is really saved their season in a lot of ways um and we know how important that is at you know when it gets cold outside when you're playing in a West final potentially on the Prairies I mean often the defenses win the games um is it still at that level that we saw early on this season um and and I guess on the other side of the football Trevor Harris where do you see him at right now because I say I thought he looked phenomenal in his return against Montreal not quite the same last week against the Argos yeah well well let's start with the defense this defense is built for October November football they stopped the Run they they if this is a street fight and a playoff games come down to that this is a tough rugged defense you saw it on Third and one over and over and over again against the Toronto Argonauts that there is a lot of fight in the dog of the Rough Riders defense they do give up big plays they have had miscommunication on their Zone this is a very heavy zone defense and all of a sudden one guy bleeds into the wrong Zone and it leaves somebody wide open and they have given up big plays and they give up a lot of passing yards but they shut down the run defense except for that game against the Edington Elks um but so this defense is still capable of big things and they make big plays and they can turn over the ball still lead the league and turnover ratio Trevor Harris every time he takes a hit every time he runs out of the pocket you you almost felt like it did his knee give out on that one run where he just bailed on it and you're going is he GNA last again at all beyond the next couple of weeks until another injury pops up and you could see defenses start to really pressure on this offensive of line a little bit more and first down runs they're not getting a lot of production so yeah there's some big questions on this offense but you saw that mreal game and you're like man Trevor Harris still has it of course he still has it um it's just a matter of finding a rhythm and keeping him on his feet once you get and rattle Trevor Harris he's not a mobile quarterback yeah and and you're going to be able to get to him so they have to have a lot of protection and a lot of plays drawn up where he's getting the ball out in his first or second read some screen plays things like that for this Ruff Riders offense to really get that play action going which can help hold back the pass rush of the opponent well I uh listen I can't wait to see you and all our friends in green out on the weekend and get to what should be an incredible atmosphere at mosaic stadium for such a huge tilt on the best weekend of the year in the Canadian Football League Jamie thanks for doing this and now see you on the weekend yeah absolutely absolutely can't wait appreciate it there's Jamie and I host of the green zone in Regina we're going to move from the riter side of things to the bombers in just a minute with Darren bombing and of course all of our bomber reports brought to you by Princess utto proud sponsors of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and the home of the bombers Princess Auto Stadium which is going to be jammed again for the banjo Bowl if you're heading to that game make sure to take in the Princess Auto tailgate party beforehand $5 beers 350 popping hot dogs opening two hours before the game and of course Princess Auto proudly founded and headquartered right here in the peg you can visit them iners Panet Road Portage Avenue West or shop online 247365 at princess auto.com uh I know there'll be quite a few beers being enjoyed by bomber and Rider fans on the weekend you know what else is going to make the trip some Canadian Club in ginger ale premixed cocktails and cans I mean on the bus I don't think you're going to want to actually be pouring cocktails I'll tell you what though you put a few of those on Ice in the cooler and you'll be happy that you did uh if you haven't try Canadian club and ginger ale already premix cocktail and cans you can get it throughout Princess Auto stadium is of course Canadian Club is the official Spirit of the Winnipeg Blue Bombers you can also pick it up on your next trip to your local beer store and Canada's favorite oldest Canadian whiskey Canadian Club is available at your local Manitoba Liquor Mars pick it up just in time for the Labor Day weekend um you're going to want to be partying this weekend you're going to want to be taking in the football game taking advantage of the last long weekend you're not going to be wanting to spend your time building a fence if you need to build a fence or have fencing needs go to Wallace and Wallace they're the fencing and Overhead Door experts and they've been doing it since 1946 in town uh if you need the security and protection of a new fence they've got you covered with vinyl ornamental welded wire chain Linker wood fences and of course if you do need a overhead garage door they can match one perfectly with your home and add value to it as well with the largest selection of overhead garage doors in Manitoba as the clay dealer give them a call 452 2700 the Wallace and Wallace team will arrange a time to come out and give you a free estimate you can also visit them online at Wallace fences.com or pop down to their showroom on laon Crescent off of kiston and uh we won't be suiting up this weekend but come on the other side of Labor Day it's back to business for many of you if you need to up your Men's Wear game heading into fall head on down to F apparel they've got custom suits beginning at 400 bucks chinos golf pants and custom shirts both tucked and untucked styles not to mention the biggest and best selection of men's Weare accessories in town if you're having a wedding or in a wedding party talk to the guys at F about a 50 % discount when the fellas get their suits for the big day at F apparel they're down at 190 Smith Street make an appointment at F that's e apparel.com all right let's get bombing in here because we got to talk bombers we also have to talk about the trip out to Regina the 1930 crew locked loaded sold out ready to go how fired up are you not necessarily for the game that that will come on Sunday afternoon but everything that's to come beforehand yeah I'm I'm Jack to to be on the bus with all of the fans with you with Carter Chen with schnitzi and Jeffrey Bannon Pat rathell the whole 1930 crew I'm super excited to see the stuff that's come up on social media with the bomber beers they've picked up and the Jello shooters that are already chilled and primed and ready to go I don't know you know like I'm I'm going on this trip in a work capacity but I will I will indulge I just don't know how much work I'm going to get done well listen F Saturday you know you can you can lock it in on game day for uh all of you know your bonfire duties and covering the Blue Bombers Saturday though is going to be an absolute riot as it always is and I know there's plenty of folks that are saying damn I wish I got on that with you I mean this I'm sure will be the first of many um but what you should do though if you want to sort of hang with us and follow along go to x go to Instagram follow the 1930 crew and uh I know the gang will be throwing out a ton of content throughout the weekend on uh all of the high Jinks of the blue and gold crew heading down to Regina um as far as the team goes we just checked in with Jamie NY in Regina on the latest in the in the with the Riders I not surprised there's a lot of panic amongst the fan base considering the way things have gone for them after that great start to the season very different here in in Winnipeg uh the team the Panic was early they were 0 and four they were two and six they now won three in a row two huge games against BC and then pulled one out of the fire against Hamilton but it's all systems go to Regina and man Darren some great news from practice this week Drew lari back poised to come off the six game Adam big hill a full participant in practice and maybe the biggest and most important news from mik OA earlier this week Stanley Bryant expect to play listen dton shon's not coming back anytime soon but other than that some of the most important players on this team both sides of the football seemingly ready for the game in Regina Sunday yeah everybody knows how much this game matters and and like you could say well a game in June and a game in October it's two points in the standings they all mean the same but to the hearts and minds of everybody in that Blue Bombers organization and of course all of the fans is watching on too this game does mean more this series that is an annual tradition and for my dollar the best sports rivalry in Canada Bar None I don't want to hear about the Battle of Alberta I don't want to hear about you know Leaf's Habs or whatever this is the number one sports rivalry in the entire country because the fan bases at at the core we are the same people we are prairie brothers and sisters we are football fans and and sports fans and I mean you look at the way these games have shaken out through the the decades and how Troy Westwood our good old friend wesy coined the term the banjo bow because he you know calling those fan the fan base banjo plucking inbreds and all of that fire and vital and uh you know powder keg of emotion that that all uh transpired um it it's become a really really special thing so uh there's a reason why the saskatch and ref Riders sold out Mosaic for the first time this season for the Labor Day classic they haven't sold out any games this year Winnipeg has sold out a whole bunch of games doesn't seem to matter who they're playing if the Situation's right they will sell out but in Saskatchewan it is not the same situation it always was this game is sold out because you got a ton of bomber fans going to that game the banjo bowl is sold out and again back to the hearts and minds of all the people inside that organiz a whether it's Wade Miller or Michael Shay or the players a rookie a veteran they all talk about it the same way maybe not in the the media interviews week of but in February or the offseason that they don't like the green and white that they're always skeptical of you know spies and all these sorts of things it's you know it's tongue and cheek it's fun it's playful uh but in the end um a lot more than bragging rights is on the line of course this game is for first place Hustler I expect it to be I don't pull this word out often only when it's warranted an old-fashioned slobber knocker in the Canadian Football League well listen in both teams are being led by their defense I mean like I as I just said with Jamie like I've been really impressed with the Saskatchewan offense at times this year I thought the game Trevor Harris played against Montreal a couple weeks ago in the Brett lather game was you know some of his finest work in a long time didn't quite have it the same level last week against Toronto and again they found a way to lose um but it certainly wasn't just on the quarterback but to use the to use the old Jim Ross slobber knocker this is about two defenses that have been carrying their teams at times this year and certainly the Winnipeg Blue bomber defense has just been absolutely phenomenal during this sort of turnaround but the Catan defense is no joke and looking at the way the bomber offense look for 58 and 30 58 minutes and 30 seconds last week I think we all agree and the first guy to say this of anyone is going to be Zach keros this offense needs to find another level and certainly add in a little bit more explosivity in addition to really establishing the run which is also going to be a challenge against aatan Hustler if you could see my DMs my text messages my uh my inbox of bomber fans asking me why Winnipeg is not using Chris strev more you'd be overwhelmed and I understand that sentiment to to get the offense going they're like hey they got this great secret weapon the worst kept secret weapon in the CFL in Chris trer why aren't they using him why aren't they allowing him to stay in after a short yardage pickup and run a first down throw the football do some things with his legs and his arm to kind of you know be a tendency breaker for opposing defenses I personally don't think Winnipeg wants to open that chapter of the Playbook too early I think those are the things you don't want to put on film three months before the playoffs right and I think Winnipeg is trying to grow and evolve as a football team as the games go on it was an 0 and4 start and here we are in late August early September and this team's playing for first place they are tracking in the right direction Zach Karis is getting better and if you want to talk about his interceptions the the pressure that he has seen this year you know Brady Oliva being very good wiip pig seems to be able to run the football no matter who's in there or what the situation is um but I don't think Chris trer is the answer right now yeah it would work it could be an answer but I don't think it's the answer I think it's continuing to uh evolve as an offense you got changes on the offensive line yet had changes on the offensive line week one week two week three week four when they were 0 and four and and you know struggling you got more changes now with you know Stan Bryant expected to play but not confirmed yet and you know people I've talked to they can't say for sure that he is playing but yes I'm with you Hustler I too expect him to play talking to Chris WBY he's like oh he's playing that guy's gonna play unless he's got covid he's playing and I I tend to agree but they're they' are forced to make changes they're going to have to dress a different backup in Mike Vanderpool who's been on the practice roster this year uh new guy at uh at guard you know still waiting for Pat newfeld to get healthy again uh and you know changes elsewhere and I think for Zack Karis it really comes down to this you suddenly have pressure that you had never seen before you suddenly have a different looking receiving core no more safety net in Dalton shown and then being without Kenny Lawler for a month and a half plus uh has been tough they will settle in they will continue to evolve and when you look get all of the interceptions Zach colaris has thrown yeah some are some ballsy throws I like a quarterback that makes balls he throws I don't like a quarterback that makes poor decisions and yes he's made a poor decision here and there but tipped balls missed assignments um you know receivers slipping that has happened this year uh one of his interceptions bounced off a guy's helmet goes up in the air another one tipped at the line of scrimmage intercepted for a pick six in uh the loss to the toron Argonauts which they lost by two points right um they're not losing football games because of Zack kis and believe me when I tell you he knows how he's playing he knows how the offense overall is playing and they're going to get better if there is one thing you can rest assured in it's this veteran group with Lawler and Oliva and led by Um Zack Karis they are going to get better it'll be tough against the skatan they're a good defense but one thing they're not particularly good at and I know Jamie talked about you with this um is their run defense so maybe it's bully ball maybe it's uh you know just three yards and a cloud of dust all night in the Labor Day classic take the under folks uh there's a reason why it's the lowest total on the board was it 28 points between these teams last year I think almost the first team to 20 is probably going to win this football game DB I can't wait to see you on Saturday morning get some rest these next couple days say what's up to wbe for all of us and uh we'll look forward to getting together with you and the rest of the 1930 crew in heading to Rina at 9:00 A.M have not been this excited for a Labor Day classic I think maybe since 2011 where we got to pump our chests out walking in at seven and one although it didn't turn out well we'll see you Saturday morning thanks again absolutely Hustler we'll see you soon there's Darren bombing uh we'll have more on the Labor Day class classic tomorrow hoping to have the the two sides Eddie Tate and Rob vanstone join us from the bombers and Riders on that as well we're gonna get back to hockey with Mara Tesh coming up in just a second but hey for those of you that are heading out to Regina if you want to make sure that you've got your coolers full of Winnipeg's favorite local beer our friends at Little Brown Jug have an amazing deal heading into the long weekend the 1212 bundle deal is back for the long weekend you can pop down to Little Brown Jug on William Avenue and grab a 12 1919 and 12 generic all tall boys for just 5856 now until Monday or until they sell out which they normally do so whether you're camping whether you're heading to Regina for the Labor Day game are just planning a great Final Long Weekend of Summer take advantage of the 12 12 deal less than 60 bucks for a 24 12 1919s and 12 generics at Little Brown Jug right now through Monday at 39 3:36 William Avenue downtown in the exchange um speaking of great places to grab a beer if you are staying in town we had Harry black on the show a couple days ago but our friends at the beer can have a great live boxing event on Sunday at 2 p.m what a great way to get ready for the Labor Day game with eight fights in a beautiful outdoor venue like the beer can and all in support of incredible cause the PanAm place which helps homelessness in the core area of our city get over to uh if you just put in if you're listening on the podcast or even YouTube right now if you just Google boxing atthe beeran the link will pop up tickets are 25 bucks every C from this event is going to support PanAm boxing and PanAm Place Harry told us all about that great charity earlier on this week uh and I can't think of a better way to get ready for a game day if you are in Winnipeg than going down to the beer can having a couple 1919s or your favorite local beer watching some great fights and then moving on for kickoff at 6 PM again boxing for a great cause Sunday 2 pm at the beer can shout out to them hogy boys and of course next door at 116 sherb in the heart of wosley for their support of Winnipeg Sports Talk um many of you are going to be heading to Regina don't forget a stop at Royal Sports before you go to get the latest blue bomber merchandise hats hoodies jerseys whatever you need to rep the blue and gold Royal Sports has it for you all the new NFL gear coming in as well in time for kickoff next week and of course with hockey season upon us as well the number one place to go in town for over 40 years when it comes to outfitting hockey players everything you need from sticks to skates to equipment it's all there at great prices with hockey players working the store to make sure that you get the right fit for the player in your family Royal Sports 750 Pema highway hit them up on Instagram and give them a follow at Royal Sports Winnipeg for the latest merchandise drops and sale information and hey if you are in town and you want to get together with your gang for the big game on the weekend touchdown Pacific on Saturday as well the two labor games on Monday your local Boston Pizza is the place to do it no better place to get together with your friends and watch the big game than BP and enjoy some ice cold Schooners world famous BP Wings Gourmet pizzas and more make it BP for your next outing with the gang for the big game and hey tonight and every night you can get a hot and fresh to your door by ordering online at Boston pizza.com all right it has been a minute since we've had friend marada Tesh on the program marata the athletic joins us now back from his world travels how was a how was your trip pal great to have you back H it has been a minute man I missed this the the trip was great though I got away I got overseas for a few weeks uh a lot of Cliff walking in Ireland lots of lots of adventurous Forest hikes some mountains all that sort of stuff and maybe a Guinness or two as well um I'm nervous man I don't know what happened to me but over the last few weeks I got soft and uh you know I've been catching up I've been following everything I I missed chatting jets with you and I'm I'm definitely here for it I hope you're doing well too well listen doing well it's been a great summer but I like many are ready to listen I'm not in a hurry to get to next week because I can't wait for this weekend's always so much fun for that big football game and Regina but I'll tell you what I'm really looking forward to getting to Winn a pig jet training camp and Marat there's going to be a lot of focus on Braden joerger who's here coming out of the trade um a lot of interesting topics on young players a new head coach and all of that but let's face it the conversation that's dominated this program when we're talking jets for the last week has been the trade that happened a week today the Rucker majority era is over in Winnipeg and I think there might be more questions now than there were both before the trade was made but before we get into everything behind the scenes and what we've heard from the participants what was your what do you make of the deal itself two 14th overall picks and back-to-back years being swapped from organizations yeah there's a lot of symmetry there isn't there like we were talking I think back at the draft about hey what about the 14th overall pick uh two drafts from them Columbus uh Columbus's Prospect defenseman or what have you at that point um the 14th overall pick it gives Winnipeg a few things one is that it can absolutely say it got equal value whatever the projections on Braden Jagger are uh it shows another situation where Kevin chevel day off supposedly backed into a corner got good value for the player moving out of town and you know I've been talking to some of my colleagues about it there were some at the draft that were absolutely convinced there's no way Winnipeg is going to get value for this player everybody knows he wants out and it's just not happening and I think it's also a testament to the season that Rucker mcgi had uh at Michigan and and the quality of prospect that he was plus shov day off's experience in situations like this so I like that um I have I have gotten the sense that with Braden joerger coming back you know a good Prairie kid excited to be in Winnipeg Most sportsmanlike Awards he's got a few of those Memorial Cup Allstar team WHL championship um plus the that he's well-liked and you know projectable middle six center top six player if everything goes just right um I think there's a lot of things where you see fans and media and everybody get excited like hey the Jets absolutely smashed this deal he's the better Prospect by far and I think that folks are maybe getting just a little carried away in the assessment of the player because he wants to be in Winnipeg and he sees a future here um their quality prospects the both both of them on the ice the Jets did well I have talked to a lot of people who see a middle six NHL future for Jagger and maybe second line Center work and I think that's a good player to get back no question about it um I've just heard some folks maybe talk about uh first line power play all that sort of stuff and let's let the let's let the kid develop first well listen I mean as much as it's sort of incumbent on all of us to have hot takes and to to say oh this team won the trade or they did great we're really not going to know for four or five years but to your point I think what the consensus has been and listen this is not the first time people have thought that Kevin Cheval off was going to get bent over and worked and didn't you know once again the steady route being patient not doing something because you had to at the draft until you had the return that you felt was right for your team and they made the deal and you know listen jger was awesome we had him on the show on Friday he was really impressive he seemed legitimately excited to come here I know his parents are and you know it it inevitably sometimes gets to conversations about where people are from or what their background is and listen there's nothing bad about getting another Prairie kid in here but honestly it's about the player and you know they are different players I mean Rucker projects to be more of sort of a power forward probably doesn't have the big league NHL wheels that some other players have but a pretty unique package and part of the reason why I think people were so excited to see him here in Winnipeg everything that we've heard about bran joerger though is impressive in a different way I mean a Sleek very skilled forward that obviously can light the lamp I mean it's accomplished goal score uh points a leader on that team that just went deep and won a WHL championship but what stood out to me and maybe this was a little bit of Sid rubbing off on him in his training camp last year was just how much he talked about the importance of the two-way game and helping your team in both ends of the ice and I'll tell you what I'm sure the coaches in the Winnipeg Jet Room and just coaches out there had a bit of a smile hearing him describe himself as a player and what he looks to be yeah I like that too and that's something that you know I can't say that I'm a Braden Jagger expert absolutely not but I've talked to some people who do know his game really really well and the sense that I get is that if he hits as a player and again I'm seeing a middle six forward um he does the little things right and he does have that two-way game such that if he delivers the offense to justify a second line Center Spot he's not going to be a second line Center who you have questions about in your own Zone he's not going to be one of those um if he develops and if he hits the way that everybody hopes that he does I think the all-around game is going to be there and you can't say that about every Prospect right there's different strengths and weaknesses some you know you just hope that they outscore their problems and what have you others have different sorts of uh toolkits and I think that one of the things to be excited about especially with his speed and his commitment as well um is that if he does hit which I think a lot of people are optimistic about that he's not going to give you he's not going to cheat that back check he's not going to cheat that assignment and again that's a lot to put on I think he's still 19 at this point am I right so um it's a lot to put on him and he's got some development to do starting again in the WHL this year uh but it's nice to see that type of uh you know that type of projection in his game especially on a team where you know when you watch the Jets in the playoffs you you really do see players who are kind of offense first or defense first and you're looking it maybe it would be nice to have a player who really excelled in in every facet of the game well um you know he'll get a chance to show what he can do come training camp it was pretty clear he wants to come in and give them a very difficult decision when it comes to whether send him back and ideally make the club but you know if not good chance of playing a big time role again as a returnee on Team Canada for the World Junior Team and you know then begin the professional career at the next year we played the clip from mcord earlier on and I'm sure you heard chevel day off speak last Thursday afterwards um for all the speculation as to why this came to be what was it because I mean you were there I mean Rucker could not have been more Charming to everybody in the City Winnipeg could not have seen more Allin than maybe any player that's ever been at development Camp before and Kevin Chev off very flatly said that he asked I mean like you would want you'd want to know where this went wrong even if you're getting to the point of to trading a player and basically got no legitimate answer just it didn't feel right and then yesterday Rucker was asked by Dan kevich in Pittsburgh as to what happened in Winnipeg and he had the hilarious answered that he just wanted to be open and honest and then didn't say anything and it seems like that was the same bit to the Jets I mean what do you take away from the way this was handled and the fact that there's so many un unanswered questions about why after seemingly a start that was story book for the club and the player ended up doing a complete 180 and no one really having any explanation where it went wrong yeah it's one of those unique situations and I think LZ Hood tweeted this but like the more we hear the more vague it all sounds and like that's the exact truth of it um like I was there like you said at development Camp last year in July when Rucker mcord said we're we're going to be best friends one day it's just reality we might as well start now like that was the quote that was last year in July um we saw the Buddy comedy we saw the friendship with Colby uh bar we we saw it all develop and he was a leader in a room full of leaders so either at the same time underneath all of that something quote just didn't feel right to to use Cheval de off's depiction of the scenario and he just kind of kept that covered up and uh never brought it up all the way throughout the season until till the very end when chevel de off was surprised by his agents uh uh by his agent reaching out at the combine okay maybe um if that's the case then that's quite the cell job um if there was a change of heart at some point based on events based on relationships based on that sort of stuff he had the opportunity to say so in his sit down with Kevin chevel day off in June and you know I've I I believe and I've been told that chevel de off's depiction of those conversations where he's asking for the why of it all um and not getting an answer is accurate and that's you know because you wonder is he could chevel de off be saying these things just to just to not get into the reasons and all that sort of stuff but I've been told um from somebody who should know that that is how it went down that mccordi you know was clear and open and honest about his desire to be traded but not clear and not open about his his reasons for that and I think the Jets probably should have a better sense of the why based on their months-long relationship with the player I don't think that it's an absolute mystery to them but it is a bit funny to hear how little From chev's perspective how little mcgi said and then a few days later have mcgi go to Pittsburgh Press and say he was open and honest about it obviously there's a lot of information missing and that's left him open to a whole bunch of speculation from fans and as you all know I mean Jets fans have a long memory and it hasn't gone well for him perception wise in this city no uh and it will be uh I mean like there was an opportunity to put most of this to bed um yesterday in their conversations with the Winnipeg Jets and they haven't done it I mean this basically is the cutter go Playbook and I'm telling you right now that cutter go Playbook is GNA turn him into the biggest villain in Philadelphia Pennsylvania when the Anaheim Ducks go there this year and I mean the Flyers as an organization were so outwardly pissed off with how that went I mean if you recall they made the trade and literally every single member of management did a round of interviews that day National Television everywhere local saying we did everything we could to get this guy they won't tell us what it was they won't even talk to us I mean listen the go camp I think most people if you have no skin in the game would say like they got what they wanted but they handled it in somewhat of a bush League way and it certainly seems like this Playbook has been played to a in this his case I'll say this if they came with their reasons in those conversations with Kevin Chev off that said you know we'd appreciate if this sort of stayed between us I have no doubt that Kevin Cheval would have said when asked you know what they expressed some concerns about a few things I'm going to keep that you know private we're moving on with Braden joerger and that's all say the fact that they didn't and he gave the honest answer we kept asking they said it just didn't feel right and wouldn't expand on it more um I mean listen I I think you know again he never signed a contract here but you put a lot into a player you had that relationship that started there is an element I think of professionalism as far as how people their agents teams everyone's expected to conduct themselves that's really lacking in this situation and I don't think it does him any favors moving into his career having this kind of hanging around certainly when it comes into Winnipeg now like everything it will eventually blow over but I can tell you what marad it sure as heck isn't going to blow over before October 20th when the Pittsburgh Penguins come to town for the fifth game of the year yeah that's coming right up and I mean I'm under the impression mcord is gonna get at least a nine game look there so there's every chance every chance he's in the lineup and on the ice there um now of course anything could happen at Camp he could be completely outclassed and not make the team he could he could have a brilliant camp and whatever but I think the odds that he's going to be in the lineup and boot heavily there the one thing I'll say right like I mean this is a young man I think he's 20 years old if I've got that right as of today um there may be valid reasons he may have reasons that feel valid to him uh for his desire to want out and we don't know and I think that to clear things up like you said simply going to a public forum and saying to his best you know version of it what his reasons are if they are valid and if there there are some real concerns that had developed there would clear a lot of things up now if he doesn't want to do that or if those reasons don't exist um and the hope is just that it blows over because the player got what he wanted and he'll be in Pittsburgh and that's a place that he likes and all that sort of stuff it's like okay cool the the future is bright he he's gonna have the future that he wanted but he's going to absolutely eat it here in the city of Winnipeg and in any place where where perception is if you don't go through all of the steps that you're entitled and that's that's not a label that automatically applies to him because there's so much unknown but with the Gap in information he certainly left it open for that Crown to fit and that's well yeah sorry that's a concern same agent as Pier Luke dubuis who did the same thing you know in Winnipeg a year ago dubois's not wiip Peg's favorite player in in the world right now now he's a Washington Capital it didn't work out for him like there are there are reasons for jets fans to have long memories and not they don't necessarily need to be charitable in their interpretation here even if they don't know there's no need for that kind of Charity charity no and listen would we love to know why like as fans at the fan base for sure do they need to no um but I do think that you know with what the Jets invested in him the time amount of visits of Jimmy Roy and Mike keen and you know the relationship that they had started um like telling them because I mean listen if if they have made a misstep along the way that has caused it whether it be from the Development Group some training staff coaching whatever as a GM I almost think that you're owed that answer um even if it doesn't become public which is why I said if they had said hey these are the reasons but we prefer that we keep that you know us moving forward I have no doubt that that would have been the case with the Winnipeg Jets we know they're good at keeping information to themselves and we sort of move on um but it was pretty clear similar to the Philly situation with go that the Winnipeg Jets didn't feel like they were I think treated openly and honestly and I guess we'll just sort of uh sort of leave it at that um Marat are you hearing anything on coal right now and I mean listen we're just about at Labor Day weekend I think it was probably smart Mone this would happen at some point in September um you know there's still the talk that it could be a longer term deal it could be a shorter term deal but like so many of these things it seems like both sides are sort of waiting for a bit of a pressure point to try to get the best possible deal where are you at on that and have you heard anything yeah I mean like sh off told us last week and was it Thursday that that the trade happened and so he was okay so then he he had said on that day that he he touched base with or he' spoken with Peretti's Camp the day before and yeah that happened and those conversations have been ongoing throughout the summer um I don't get the sense that anything is imminent on that front but um you know this is a situation where the player likes Winnipeg Winnipeg likes the player uh he's certainly a younger guy who's who's Miss time to injury and all that sort of stuff Winnipeg probably wants to wait and see and sort of um have him prove his top six efficacy and and and really really take over I think in the next couple of years before before going long term but the Jets have had a lot of success even in situations where at this time of Summer it didn't look like they were going to do a long-term deal they've had a lot of success we could go through it we could go through the mark shle the Nikolai eers um Kyle Connor Josh morresy was a two-year Bridge deal coming out of his ELC but that was because the team was C cap crunched in a way that it isn't now and they knew at that time that they were hoping that he'd have the career everybody hoped for and that he'd sign long term and that happened usually when it's become a bridge deal the players moved on and you know that could be that could be Andrew cop that could be Patrick Li it could be Zack bagoan even though he signed long term before he was traded after that like you go back in Jets history usually when they bet on their core players they sign them long term things were work out really well the player outperforms their contract they have success the the team gets to hold on to them for an extended period of time and if the Jets assess that Peretti should be amongst that group I think they should offer a long-term deal and they should give him an opportunity to to be that player if not immediately tomorrow but you know two three four five years into this deal where he's just crushing his cap hit I think that there's a I I hold out and nobody's told me this but I hold out just a little bit of belief that that's at least possible um but Theo in these situations especially because he's missing time to injury and you know his minutes were cut and he had that slump throughout end of February and throughout all of March really um that there's still a bit of wait and see and when there's wait and see you know even if it costs them in the next contract oftentimes you end up with a two-year deal right here and now and probably just before training camp starts how um how impactful do you think is Scott O'Neal's role even throughout the offseason in this um as well as I mean I guess I'll kind of bring Nikolai eers into it because he's sort of the other question mark as to what is his future going forward I mean Rick bonus is gone Scott arneal was part of that coaching staff was on the bench as the guy for a while in a couple of situations where bones wasn't with the club but what do you make of Scott O'Neil's role as a guy that can maybe make a difference in negotiations right now and then as well when things get going assuming that eers doesn't have something done before we get going on the season yeah Scott arneil is in a good situation because the the first and longest time that he took over last year was last fall and his record was good you didn't see eers and Peretti's minutes claw back and it was also at a time let's take Peretti specifically like the guy had was it 19 points in his first 21 games don't quote me on that but it's darn close to that says my memory where he was a productive player to to come out of the gate and a solid chunk of that was under Scott arneal so even if in the second half when Peretti's offense fell off and then his minutes got cut and there was some you know you know chicken and egg to that even if Scott arneal signed off on every note on every decision that bonis made bonis is no longer the head coach Scott arneal is and he understands that he's got a young player that has a lot of quality to him and one of the easiest things to do is say hey well look you've got a new opportunity here everybody's starting fresh there's a new head coach and I as I understand it Scott Arne's you know reached out many times throughout the summer they've had those conversations um I think Davis Payne has started conversations about power play as well I think that there's a situation here where they're really genuinely is a fresh start and because it's a new coaching staff and Scott O'Neal has a good relationship with the player he really gets to point at it he gets to say like hey um everything is wide open here the opportunity is going to be yours so I like that and applies to Nikolai eers too who whose future still you know has some uncertainty to it but he gets to point at last season and this season say there's a clear break especially if he's paying attention to how all the lines do better when Nikolai eers is on them at the analytic Summit as uh you know as they're meant to have had so that's a nice spot for arneal to be in and I think that he's certainly socially aware and has leaned into that which can only do good things does it fix everything does it guarantee eers will sign no but you know everybody has said the right things eer said he loved the group The agent's not talking and saying negative things the team's not talking and saying negative things everybody sounds open to doing things in the best and most open ways possible and I think that that's good in elers his case it's good in Peretti's case it's a situation where everybody can have a happy ending here Marat Tesh is with us back on the show from his worldly travels in the summer uh two-fold question Marat what's up with you for the Labor Day weekend and what can we look forward to in the athletic uh from you yeah I'm uh I'm here in Winnipeg so you know I was at the last bombers game The Comeback and and certainly you know Fred's saying it halftime and that was fun um saw a lot of grown grown people grown adults turned into children during that that was that was fun to see then the comeback hey pass this on by the way pass this on because I was at the game I came out I was sitting actually in the North End Zone so made it through the huge crowd around Fred um obviously they blow the lead they come back and win in the fashion that they did taking the Blue Line back downtown after the game the entire bus was singing Fred Penner songs it it was an absolute scene oh my God he's like he's like the hit of the Canadian football league right now he was in BC the week before now here so uh anyways he really ins ired certainly the fans for their celebration afterwards it was uh was great but uh What uh what do you have cooking are we going to see anything this week or I guess now really all systems go on September and upcoming training camp and the big storylines around this team for sure yeah I'm I'm gathering information right now and you know I I am trying to find out a little bit more about about all the things that you asked me about about the mcgi situation um you know there there are there are some Det details there that should be should be available to us and I'm frustrated that they're not and you know if I can find them out I'll write them um the the same goes to to Peretti's contract and some comparables there I was looking at some I was building some charts today and you know what on his case uh just comparing him to to former Jets signing their second contract to current Jets as well I anyway there's there's a deep dive on that coming and then and then certainly the the open-ended approach to elers is future I think that there's some Unsolved Mysteries of Winnipeg's off season and you know certainly uh certainly I've started gathering information on those we'll see what we can unearth and and the plan is just to write as much as I can write that that sort of brings to light whatever I can dig up on those things well I'll tell you what uh I'm looking forward to September I'm looking forward to talking to you next week have a great Labor Day long weekend and uh we'll talk to you next month thanks us thanks for having me good stuff at wpg morat onx subscribe to the athletic and get all of morat's work as well as the athletic team fun having coach Jee Clemens on yesterday to talk a little NFL speaking of NFL fineberg is locked and loaded he's coming up next we mentioned right off the top gold eyes are hot right now they won five in a row they're in first place four games left in the regular season and it starts on Friday the final Series right through Labor day Monday and the team is clinched for the playoffs we should bu the show on Tuesday have some clarity as to when the fish are at home but if you haven't gotten out to the ballpark this would be a great weekend to do it tickets are available at Gold eyes.com um a big shout out to our friends at Akens Lake Wilderness Lodge for their great support of wst been a great summer out there they are already planning and booking well into 2025 if you want a worldclass flying fishing experience with Incredible Hospitality where you can be on the water in less than two hours from the city of Winnipeg Akens is the spot find out more today and inquire at aens lake.com uh no live racing tonight at a cinoa downs but of course they are back at it on Labor Day as well as Tuesday and Wednesday of next week Remo will be back we've got a bunch more race days for me to close the gap in our season betting contest I got one winner last night but still did not make up what I need to on Remis so uh but we've closed the Gap we're close uh but Monday Tuesday Wednesday live racing at a cinoa Downs get there before the end of the season and uh well you know we'll do a breezy Bren golf update coming up when fber comes on because uh we will touch a little bit of golf as the Tour Championship happens but uh let's fire it up and welcome in to the program my good buddy Jeff fineberg we are a week away from NFL season and I imagine you my friend are as excited as all of us to get through this weekend and get ready to kick off how are you can't wait wake up next week hus it's just like a game week it's a game week and then you see the treat that we get on on on Thursday night with the chance to for the Ravens to have revenge on the Chiefs feels unlikely and then on Friday it is my NFC Championship preview out of the gates right with Packers versus Eagles so you know the Thursday's always a tease but this feels even better like we're going back to the strip club on Friday for another tease before the Sunday slate you know I've been so locked in on the fifth and raising the banner and the Ravens game I completely forgot that the Packers and eals was on Friday and this is an international game in Brazil the first one ever I we were talking before whether was in Rio or S Paulo uh either way just an amazing way to start the season um how uh look before we kind of get around the league there's no one that knows the LA Chargers better than you the Harbaugh era is upon us what uh what's Camp been like and uh H how are the Vibes heading into week one for the charger Nation dude like I'm very excited but like I I don't know what to expect because any real charger fan knows the roster is not very good Hustler it's not very deep there's a lot of holes there's a lot of important holes that not every team in the league will be able to expose the Chargers for but a lot of teams will so you know I think Harbaugh would have to do a miracle work to get to get it uh you know to get them to double digits their win total I believe is eight and a half but to go overs a lot of juice I think the Chargers will be very mid but in being mid they're not going to lose games in the dumbest way possible anymore I believe we might even like steal a game or two for somebody El from someone else who doesn't put us away and allows the Chargers to like hang around a fight on a Sunday so that is in some weird way my expectation but that that's it Vibes they're I don't know they're not high but they're happy there's an adult in the room I guess if that makes any sense how's Herbert because I mean listen I thought of you immediately when I saw he was dealing with a foot problem in training camp and I'm like you know what this team just cannot catch a break um is he gonna be okay for week one yeah he's gonna be fine he's good for my understanding um you know maybe my sources are just trying to want wanting to be optimistic but a friend over at the bolt their new like Fancy practice facil facility finally not in a temporary facility like they've been their entire time in LA hopefully that can make a little difference there's very much precautionary with Justin Herbert but I'm a short chubby guy hus and anyone that golfed with me last summer and saw me whining about my planner fasciitis and how much it hurt it is debilitating like if that thing flares up on a game day I don't care if you're me or you're Justin Herbert you're in big trouble now granted he's probably got a lot better treatment you know my treatment was putting golf balls in the freezer or water bottles and like rolling on like frozen golf balls that's what the internet told me to do I'm sure he's actually getting like proper treatment but yeah it's it's no joke but it was from my understanding like precautionary there was a slight flare up and they didn't want to DARE it become anymore so but they lost two important weeks of practice and prep with a new quarterback receivers sorry a new system a new coach receivers he's not entirely familiar with and Easton stick was horrible he's horrible they got rid of him not to turn like not to make it about them getting a new backup quarterback but the point being is I think they had a very unproductive couple weeks of practice that made them realize this guy can't be around here anymore you know I'm I this team fascinates me I'm a harau fan I mean he's such a character and he's been so successful everywhere he's been I'm sort of with you I don't have huge expectations for them this year uh but as a Chiefs guy I look around the division this is the team that concerns me into the next two and three years to see if someone can knock Kansas City off the top what are you what are your thoughts on the Broncos and Raiders going into this season did I take this bonck hype and use it as an opportunity tiet inflated uh Denver unders and Denver Al Thunders yes I did hus yes I did seems like a lovely quarterback seems like he's willing to make throws that by if you listen to the you know the film Watchers guys were sort of open underneath last year for Russell Wilson he's just afraid to throw the ball bonck will not be afraid to throw the ball he'll probably complete a few of them but I don't I don't trust this one bit I don't trust this one bit and to see sea Payton smirking like this kid's the next you know the next one uh-uh uh- uh I know like you ask me a question about the Broncos and Raiders you're biased I'm biased but I'll bet behind my bias so yeah I I I'm having no part of it under I actually for week one's sake people are like all in on Denver I love what's going to happen in Seattle this year give me the Seahawks I'll lay that five and you guys have the Raiders in week one too if I'm I'm not mistaken yeah I don't this game means a lot means a lot for a few reasons the last time they played in my in my memory the final score is 62 to7 even though that wasn't the final score do you know who the favorite for Jim Harbaugh the team that would have been the betting favorite before kickoff on that Thursday night where Jim Harbaugh was supposed to go according to Vegas Vegas and then that's sort of between that and then beating you guys on Christmas Day hus a well-deserved rocket ship to Antonio Pierce but before that night everyone thought Jim Harbaugh was going to be the next coach of the Raiders and to think in some way what happened in that game embarrass the Chargers so much to not only fire their coach but to think I don't think we can like hire a firsttime guy anymore or be cheap with the next one and then they hired my GM of the last 10 years who hasn't won any anything you find me a day two draft pick that's been resigned by the Chargers in like the last five years they don't exist how did that guy get a job it's so hard that's a whole separate topic there have been a lot of great roster builds around the NFL the last decade and GMS who got fired who didn't come up anywhere else so was just that's my own in my own little head it's a very much a Revenge game I don't like that it went from three to three and a half and it's hard to lay margin on the Chargers until you see them actually make explosive plays on offense when you're breaking the game down with Dusty next week or the weeks after it's be like yeah I don't mind the Chargers they do a lot of things right but where do Expos explosive plays come from you can't cover spreads in the NFL unless you're gonna make a couple of them well I mean listen with all the receivers gone as well I mean we were talking just from a fantasy perspective I mean we know how good Justin Herbert is who's going to be getting all the balls I mean I guess Josh Palmer's going to be in the mix but I mean it it there's going to be a real real need for a few of those young guys FY team yeah they're not a fantasy team I would draft like Caleb i' ra draft the rookies like Daniels and Williams over Herbert from fantasy I mean I'm sure there'll be games where he's fine and if you got to spot start him there's some potential this is a Jim Harbaugh Greg Roman team you know you can't rebuild a receiving core in like a year in the NFL like you just can't at the current prices um so it'll take a bit and they chose to keep Mack and Bosa and let Williams and Keenan Allen leave and we'll see how that bears out this year uh Jeff uh by the way folks get over to Mayo media Network and check out the two of my favorite shows every year Pat Jeff Tim going over the win totals for the season you mentioned the Green Bay Packers we are on the same wavelength here I think this team speaking of rocket ships we saw what they could do at the end of last season we saw what they did to the Cowboys in the playoffs they were so young last year expectations are they have another big step I like them to win the division at plus 190 I think that they are absolutely in the mix to win the NFC and I'll tell you what I don't think there's a better number on the board than Jordan love at around 14 to1 to win the MVP of the league considering if they do what we expect them to do a little bit of new blood in that conversation and it will be done on the back of Jordan love with all due respect to Josh Jacobs and the young receivers that they have there um where are you at on the Packers to win the NFC and and and you know to kind of continue their Ascension that we saw in the second half of last season under love so I'm with you I I I as well think they're actually going to Dethrone Detroit and win the north I I though get the caveat like I was all in on the Packers last season and then in October I remember being on shows like apologizing for being in on the Packers and then like getting to tip my cat by the end of the round you know uh as they beat Dallas which it does feel like the betting markets and the hype counted that Dallas playoff win as like two wins it was so impressive hus because they did kind of they ran in they got into the playoffs but they their last like three games so against like Carolina New Orleans and even when they got there there was like f they cash that to make the playoff bet like this we'll see what happens and they just destroy Dallas and in our minds it almost like has the weight of Jordan love being having winning winning like two playoff games in one um Matt lefur genius I love the Packers I'm in on them again like I said near the top actually have them losing to Philly in the NFC title game but that wouldn't shock if they went all the way like I love that roster so much um you know speaking of uh Awards props I mean uh I kind of mentioned I'm liking Jordan love at 14 you have any MVP action right now or a rookie of the year um you're the king of the comeback player of the year that almost should be the Jeff fineberg award I mean it might take us a little time after that but you were you were on that island before anyone else and you were Vindicated when Joe flacko won it at the end of the year yeah I I like to I joke I was like a Neil Armstrong you know I W walk took the first steps on that on that Moon uh you know they they according to the AP they released a press release this offseason hus trying to put some criteria on uh player of the year or sorry comeback player of the year that like you can't just have like sucked the year before you actually have to like have overcome something and between Rogers and burrow and I feel like there's just so many injuries to key players I'm probably forgetting some running backs and even some other quarterbacks that that market doesn't feel the same I got nothing in terms of in terms of uh in terms of Futures it's actually pretty weird I I usually be I have the Steelers under six and a half wins and I'm actually quite high on Carolina I think they're going to be sneaky just like fine and like going from like the nut low to fine is actually a lot of wins and there's a lot of money there and being fine in the NFC South shows you might even be competing for something like way bigger than you're worthy of inside your group of four when The Season's on the line at the end just putting it that way uh I think we can just moving over to the AFC East for a second I think we can cross New England off although there's always a team that shocks the hell out of everyone nothing would be more shocking than this team being competitive this year especially in their division but you got three real good teams the Dolphins the bills and the Jets now with Aaron roders uh how do you handicap that and who do you like who who's the best team in that division that should win it and potentially challenge a team like Kansas City in the playoffs I flip-flop every day and which is kind of annoying because you know you do a recording for a show that you put out and you want to like hold to that opinion that's the recorded one but if you ask me right now like in this moment hus I'm buying like so much more of the Jets Kool-Aid it's starting to feel like way more real the roster is loaded it is loaded they got two guys going in the first round of fantasy drafts like it's crazy talking about the dominant defense and they invested in the o line I love Mike Williams for Aaron Rodgers like you've watched Mike Williams make a lot of circus catches in your career against the Chiefs I would argue he's the perfect Aaron Rogers receiver of course he has to be healthy and that's hard for him but Mike Williams is an incredible like high point upchuck you know like ballg getter he's he doesn't like run wide open Aaron Rogers loves to just you know not take a sack or just not like give away a Down just throw one up there let my guy make a play that's like the perfect Mike Williams quarter like I think they're going to be a perfect little match if he's healthy that's on top of Garrick Wilson and I could go on about the defense but that's a little more boring the problem there is the coach and the health of the quarterback but for all the hype the Jets got last off season this roster is better it's better today and they will resolve that redic issue like they will because in the end reic like needs to get paid well reck's not not going to want to like sorry reck's gonna want to get paid like that's just how it works like you can play your game but at some point you got to come back to actually get paid these guys don't give up a year hyper rare yeah I I'm with you on the Jets I uh like I think Buffalo is going to be challenged with the offseason loss that they had the loss of Matt Milano I mean we we focus so much on fantasy at this point I mean you lose your leader the middle of your defense that's tough to overcome and you know I'm very interested to see what Miami looks like this year I mean you made a great point on the AFC show in that like Mike McDaniel is under a lot of pressure I mean everyone loves the guy we love his press conferences I mean the way they blew it last year losing that game to Buffalo losing the division and then finding themselves in the middle of a polar vortex in Kansas City where I'm still surprised the Dolphins even agreed to leave the hotel on that for that game um like there are expectations to get the most out of this roster right now and a lot of pressure on him not just to get to the playoffs but to win in the postseason we all love him because you said it like for what you were making about um the fantasy football aspect of it like we love Mike McDaniel because we play Fantasy Football and you roster a dolphin you're just like y points points points so you give him a lot of free passes and he deserves all the praise excuse me but when like multiple people with huge platforms continue to call you boy genius you're not allowed to go three years without winning a playoff game in this league like a lot of mediocre coaches win playoff games all the time not time about winning a Super Bowl that's a huge ask but I'm just saying at some point you can't be called boy genius in your fourth year as an NFL head coach and not have won a playoff game and I love Mike McDaniel and it's hard to throw stones at him but let's kind of try to be fair and balanced when doing it you know like Ione want to call Herbert like a the next big thing and then he went three years without winning a playoff game you're like well guess what sorry Justin you can't be the next big thing without winning a playoff game in three years that's just the rules problem for Herbert was he was uh much better than the rest of his Supporting Cast and it's still is very much a team game hey um before we go every year we spend all the time looking at these odds we see you know who was in last place last year in big numbers and somebody wins a division often a couple teams go from worst to First any team that really sucked last year that you actually are uh thinking is kind of frisky this season yeah I'll be quick and then maybe you can let we can do one minute on the President's Cup hus we're get I've already said said it it's actually Carolina I know that like might seem crazy they a game a game last year I'm telling you the division could be so bad I don't think Atlanta is a 10- win team I think Carolina is going to be mediocre this year and that's enough I think um at probably an insane price it's a long shot but if you're making me pick the worst to first it's Carolina and I could say the Bengals that's easy I'll tell you Carolina yeah the Bengals I mean I I guess they technically were that could be that team but we're looking we're looking for the Carolina the Carolina types um quickly let's get to a little golf do you are you locked in on the Tour Championship at all it is just such a bizarre setup right now I don't know whether they're ever going to change this but like starting with one guy at minus 10 or one guy at M is eight like I'll usually bet this event just on the winner without strokes but it's so hard to handicap otherwise by the way Scotty's minus 11 Xander's minus 10 right now Windam and Hideki matama at minus8 but uh are you just in full PR cup mode right now and we're just looking to see by the way speaking of pres cup our guy Taylor pendrith five under today he shot up to t7 right now what a season he's at he's in all the majors next year he's a lock for the President's Cup team as well 5 under not only hust that would be first place on the sh leaderboard because there's not a lower round out there a 500 a couple guys have posted a 500 round today so in a normal tournament leaderboard Taylor pendrith would be at the top I got nothing which is uh I actually last year remember riding Victor's hot wave through this one and Rory before I just have no doubts it's Scotty or Xander I didn't even want to play in the 72 hole without starting Strokes Market I really bet nothing this week and I I don't feel bad about it I feel good about it at this moment um it'll be fun but I am expecting a weekend Duel of Xander and Scotty so that should be good and pendrith like incredible incredible I got some plus 200s on him to make the team from a few just a couple weeks ago so I'm looking forward to those cashing but yeah like he's the only Canadian who made it to East Lake and by that you know they've all put Mike Weir in a bit a tough spot what do you think I mean I kind of expect Connors to be on the team and I think Adam hadwin is sort of like put it this way if this wasn't in Canada I think it would be unlikely those guys are going to get the benefit of the doubt but I mean how do you see the international team shaping up and how much Canadian content is going to be on it so I agree pendri uh Connors is on it and him and pendrith will be Captain's picks we's got six of them is he going to make half of his Captain's picks Canadian cuz I'll tell you this Hustler I do not think Nick Taylor deserves to be on this team and I think there's a lot of casual golf fans at this moment who aren't aware of what exactly happened to Nick Taylor in um in the last little bit but it is not good it is not good and his current form is horrible I I don't know how they could um I honestly don't know how they could bring him at this moment and I think that's going to be a shock to a lot of just casual Canadian golf fans who aren't like following it that deeply since he won in February he's had a tough time making Cuts Pat Mayo had to bring it to my attention that he pretty much hasn't made a cut in months and the only times he plays the weekend is in no cut events and I don't know how you could take him over a guy like SEI Wu Kim right now whose floor just seems so much higher you could maybe want to try gez it's so tough to say and painful to argue against because you could take the theory that Taylor has battled some of the biggest stars in the game to win those tournaments down the stretch and he has a big game hunting ability but his his gelf game just is lost right now and I I don't I don't know I don't know but I bet you in Montreal and this is no knock on on what a great event and we're going to be hanging out I hope and looking forward to that like they might have him up on signage and Banners because how could he not make the team no it is a it is a it is a great Point um did is Adam Scott in the top six or is he gonna need to be a captain's pick as well now Adam Scott's in the top six so the the locked in players are um in no particular order Adam Scott Jason day hii Matsuyama and then um bang Hanan who's just had a remarkably consistent season Tom Kim and Sun JM so those are the locked in six and and Mike Weir in Calgary at the senior event a few weeks ago pretty much acknowledged that Connor's andman woo will be on the team so now you're at eight pendri is just he is a a he is playing there are not 12 International bodies better than Taylor pendrith no you can put him on the team Cameron Davis in my opinion you can put him on the team so now we're at 10 and then that leaves Christian Baden hoot who made it to East Lake and if you make it to East Lake it's hard to argue that there's 12 deserving International golfers who deserve to make it over you sew Kim Nick Taylor Adam hadwin and if you really want to go down the list you can include like Eric Von royan but I don't really believe you'd be a part of the discussion well we uh we just got a few weeks it's getting real cannot wait to get Tuesday the announcement is made I guess I should have finished that so um I could have my days wrong I want to say it's September 2nd or 3 so Tuesday afternoon Mike Weir's gonna have to make the announcement and he's got six Captain's picks and I don't think he's gonna make three of them Canadians well I think then count on pendy and Cory Connor being the guys wearing the red and white for the international team and just really quick on the way out how different is this us team GNA look than what we might remember from say the Ryder Cup wow right incredibly are spe and Thomas gonna be there Thomas shot 66 today he's there but so I do if you put a gun to my head right now I think Thomas will be there spe has kind of um he's acknowledged he's got to fix his rest so whether he would have made the team or not made the team deserved it to not he kind of put his hand up and said I'm done he didn't last through the FedEx Cup right um and if you've watched him all year he's had that tape I actually gave him a hard time on my podcast hust weeks ago because it's like you're Jordan spe like if you got to fix the wrist go fix the wrist like you don't need a lolly gag through the end of the season but he Wanda I guess he's loyal to the tour and the sponsors that he finished his season commitment now apparently he might be going under under the knife and you know risk surgery is scary for any golfer um so hopefully he comes back and and hopefully we can see the old Jordan next year that'd be fun but yeah the team's gonna be a lot different a lot different but at the top it's Xander it's Scotty cley's playing well again wam Clark is really playing well again Sam Burns is really playing well again but it'll be fun because we'll see some new blood the gala should be there people expect Bacha to potentially be there and and you know ke being the captain makes such a cool story he's like Rock Solid on the team so it'll be a fun dynamic in Montreal no it is going to be so much fun well listen we are it's going to be such a fun month we got NFL kickoff next week we'll find out the team next week for the Internationals and then uh three more weeks and uh we'll be cracking a couple at Royal Montreal for the President's Cup uh listen we're going to have to definitely do this before then uh but good luck to the Chargers against the Raiders in week one have awesome Labor Day weekend and uh we'll look forward to doing this again soon pal thanks again you're the man host I'll be jealous you got to drop another Banner buddy and you're gonna get a third because the Chiefs are amazing they're gonna be amazing this year you're the ban oh I hope you're right I hope you're right thanks pal there's Jeff fineberg give him a follow on x g fineberg 17 and as they say if you want more fineberg Mayo media Network the the getting ready for the NFL season listen to Pat Tim and Jeff drop their win totals for the year it is uh I mean unbelievable entertainment I'll just leave it at that anyone that's listened to the Pod knows what I am talking about big thanks to Jeff uh for coming in um listen uh we uh have one more segment actually J Tod from start sport Manitoba is gonna pop on I do want to quickly mention our why not question of the day and uh and this goes back to the Rucker mcord conversation um the why not question of the day for not autocorp over at Waverly and mcgilvery um do you uh are you I'll I'll POS it like list now that we've heard from Kevin chevel day off and Rucker mordi yesterday are you more confused now on what happened than you were when you heard that he wanted to trade um and just thoughts on the way that this was handled I think I know where most of you will be going let us know in the chat and again you can always hit us up on X at sportstalk wpg uh all right time for another it takes a community to play s with sport Manitoba talking about the amazing success of the Manitoba games let's welcome in uh Drew Todd from sport Manitoba now all right now on Winnipeg sports talk it's time for another it takes a community to play segment with our friends at sport Manitoba proudly brought to you by Manitoba Liquor and lotteries and as we get to the end of August is a perfect opportunity con to connect with Drew Todd the senior games manager from sport Manitoba on the biggest event of the year the Manitoba games which just wrapped up in dolphin in the western Manitoba area Drew great to have you on Winnipeg Sports Talk welcome how are you hey you're doing pretty good Andrew nice to good to see you thanks for having me on well listen it's great and you know we had uh just you know over the course of the last sort of six months talking with Carlo wolfenden and uh the crew and dolphin there was a ton of excitement and anticipation for and event of this scope coming out to the province and uh from all accounts it uh it went off very well I mean from your perspective as the senior games manager uh how was the the Manitoba games out in Dolphin this year it was it was amazing I I I couldn't speak highly more highly of of Carla and and Clayton and and the whole team up in Dolphin they did an absolutely amazing job we had uh you know 1500 participants from all over the province uh north south East West couple teams from Winnipeg um and you know just walking around the city of dolphins seeing the community really embrace the games uh seeing the smiles and and the just the fun that all the athletes were having um yeah we we couldn't be happier it was our first games since the pandemic we had to cancel a couple of them so we were a little iffy on on seeing how things would turn out but overall yeah we were pretty happy with wi you know we had our old pal Troy Westwood on the program we were talking a little bombers and Labor Day classic and he sort of mentioned he just got back he was coaching one of the soccer teams there and and just couldn't speak enough about the experience that he and all of you know his players had out there I mean for people that aren't really familiar with the Manitoba games give us an idea of the scope of this event um you you mention how many athletes are involved but I mean there's coaches there's volunteers there's officials um as well as everything like the actual sports that are covered um when you guys do uh make it happen here in Manitoba in the summer yeah this is not a small Endeavor by any means and when you think about the fact that you know we strategically make this a rural development program so we're going out to the smaller communities around the province um even smaller than than Brandon dolin has about I want to say 10,000 people their population and we're bringing in this influx of you know probably 2,000 plus uh when you count the the Staffing that goes into it um you know the participants the parents and that's just for like each phase of the game so each phase is about three days long um it's it's a massive influx of people into this community and um we're running 12 different sports so probably about eight Sports each phase of the games which again first phase is kind of Sunday to Wednesday second phase is Wednesday to Saturday but uh most most communities this big do not have this many facilities so we're really kind of spending a lot of money on infrastructural Capital upgrades hopefully leaving a bit of a legacy in Northwest Manitoba to to build up some sport programs in the future um but uh yeah like the amount of effort that goes into it the you got about 750 volunteers I want to say for the entire week um again when you're looking about 10,000 person population what8 n% of the entire city are involved in running the games and executing the games um it's it's pretty big when you kind of think about it in that sense well and listen I mean our our Province you know whether we're talking about the city of Winnipeg or outline areas or rural areas at you know every end of of the the big province that we are volunteerism has always been you know a huge part of I mean I think the way of life of Manitoba but I'm not sure that there is a better example of a community coming together to chip in to pull off an event of this scale than the Manitoba games and a funny story on this uh I uh you know during the event I got a text from a friend of mine that was in uh that was in dolphin that was helping out with something and I guess they had at the community center there was sort of a social hall in a beer garden and people are coming in and I look Barry trotz is bartended for this so I mean literally I mean the the most famous people in the community to probably a lot of young people that maybe are athletes in their own right doing itself I mean maybe just speak to the the the ter turnout and the support from the entire dolphin area um and the people there for pulling this off and not making it the amazing event that it was yeah again boy it's it's not an easy job in what we're asking them to do you know it's it's more so much more than just a simple tournament that's over a weekend where you know people from the local clubs or associations are there to kind of help out we've got people in the kitchen washing pans and pots until you know 11:00 at night getting ready for the next athletes coming in it's 6: in the morning I mean you got to feed you know everybody three meals a day H it adds up that's a lot of time you've got people that are running uh Access Control at each of our villages to make sure that you know only accredited athletes are getting into certain areas um and and protecting them a little bit we've got people at each of these six venues that are up at the cadon putting up tents making sure that the you know there's enough shade for the athletes and then taking them down each night and games don't last until the very end um we we are lucky in a sense the manat of games is a bit of pull for all of sport in this province so it's an easy way to I think bring people in who've never volunteered or been involved in sport in the past to get a bit of taste of what it's like and hopefully give them such a good experience that they're now going to get involved in their local tournaments moving forward and they're really helping and continuing on that Legacy of volunteerism on the flip side we need so many Volunteers in order to execute a games of this level you know you're not sending athletes to a hotel where they have the paid staff and you know cleaners and stuff going through the room rooms each day like these are people that are giving time out of their busy schedules that are going through rooms emptying out garbages uh making sure the athletes are having the best experience they can have and and having them really focus on the competition well I mean for about all accounts I mean uh they hit it out of the park right from the organizing committee to the folks that are going through the rooms changing those bags um and it really is commendable and you know certainly with our work with sport Manitoba I mean it just sort of um you know reinforces that message this you are able to uh get involved to give some of your time there are so many organizations that need it and you can make such an impact to uh you know to help pull off events like this but you know was certainly on a smaller scale throughout the year um in pretty much every sport their volunteer needs officials is another thing and listen you know we've talked plenty in this Sports space about the challenges of recruiting officials of developing officials and frankly protecting officials because there's a lot that comes along with that that you know can be somewhat negative if you could Drew speak to um you know the folks that are officiating these events how important and integral that they are and their role in pulling off something on the scope of the Manitoba games yeah and I think sometimes there's a misnomer that because officials are paid that they might have a little bit of an easier ride or something than maybe the coaches and managers but what we have to realize is that most most officials are coming in from Winnipeg so they're driving up three and a half four hours to get to the games um sometimes they're all loaded into a car together in order to to save costs um but when they actually get into dolphin they are staying in their own version of an athletes Village and as much as we would like to think the athletes Villages is a is a big beautiful thing like at an Olympic Games we see on TV a lot of these officials they are sleeping on uh CS crammed into classrooms at the local elementary school and they're riding school buses to and from their venues so um you know they have just as much of a challenge and a lot of Demands on them as some of the some of the athletes and coaches and they're doing multiple games in a row I think we were joking around that some of the volleyball officials there was only about four of them at the entire games and from the first game at 9ine in the morning uh until the last game ending U you know late at night around eight or nine they're standing up there at the net they're blowing their whistle and they're they're making sure that these games go off without a hitch and and of course you know not speaking all the challenges that they have um you know managing emotions on the teams managing um parents challenging calls that kind of thing so uh they do a fantastic job and and we are really lucky I think in this province to have so many that are willing to give up their time and and travel all the way up to a small community like dolphin in order to um run the competition as as at the standard that we expect Drew Todd's with us from sport Manitoba he's the senior games manager um wrapping up the Manitoba games which just took place out in West man in the dolphin region um you you mentioned Legacy you know I talked to Carla leading into it and they were so excited about some of the you know what what this was going to do for the community long term mentioned what they did I believe for the the mountain biking I mean kind of a one what one in the only spot in Manitoba with you even the ability to host something like this um what is the Legacy for a community I mean you work so hard everyone sort of chips in there's some real tangible benefits that they will enjoy moving forward post what isn't it yeah it's kind of funny you don't really equate Manitoba and Mountain cycling too often but fortunately we were able to help them out and if there's one benefit of the pandemic um it's delaying these games four years which gave more opportunities for us to invest in facilities and infrastructure in Dolphin but uh the Northgate cycling trails are absolutely incredible they built them out and use that venue in order to host provincials and other sorts of tournaments around uh and the other massive Legacy we're leaving on the facility side is um they were able to redo their Athletics track at the local high school and actually rubberize it and so with a a professional full grade track like that they're going to be able to start up a lot more Athletics clubs for younger athletes coming up in the area it's also going to just be open to the general public who want to have a nice walking trail in dolphin and come out to use that so building that um active for Life Fitness for Life um philosophy in the area and giv more opportunities there and the other legacies though we talked about again is is volunteering and it's the idea that even if you're from a small town you can attract big level competitions like this and you can support sport ideally these athletes are going from a Manitoba games level up onto provincial teams going to a Canada games and hopefully into the international scope there's an amazing interview with Tyler Muk up at Paris top 10 basically in in the country or sorry in the world uh with Triathlon and was given a bit of a shout out to the Manitoba games program and you're thinking you know as a as a volunteer or as somebody from a small area of the province um you can see these future Olympians and these incredible athletes in your own backyard and you can support their journey and you can be a part of that um because it it certainly takes a village as they say to to get an athlete up until the um the top levels of sport so um it's just it's an incredible opportunity for that to leave a Las an impression in a town well I mean Tyler's a great friend of ours and we've been following his journey and catching up with him leading into the Olympics and I mean the funniest part of that entire interview was he said he didn't even win the matova games it was sort of a message that with that hard work and perseverance truly anything is possible well you know again congratulations to Dolphin everybody involved in it I mean the the the the feedback from the athletes from the coaches from everyone involved was that was a truly first class event and um you know onward and upward the bar continues to be raised for this event I have to ask you drew as the as the senior games manager uh I'm sure you had an hour or two to sort of exhale um where does your focus go after the biggest event here in the province is the Senior Games manager what what are you working on and what's next uh in your portfolio yeah so we're kind of responsible for all the major games here so not just the Manitoba games but also Canada games so um I was joking around that I I think I had 28 hours back in Winnipeg after dolphin before I had to get on a plane out to newfinland and we're already starting preparations for next Summer's Canada Summer Games in St John's so uh I flew out there was out seeing some of the sites some of the venues taking some notes and I'm going to start setting up meetings with some of our Sports get them on track for their athlete and team selection and and prepare them as best I can for for next Summer's game so um you know it just kind of goes from games to games to games but uh yeah I I I couldn't imagine having a more fun job and I guess here just speaking about the Manitoba games uh I'm sure they're already working on uh recruiting volunteers and getting people involved and planning for an amazing Manitoba Winter Games I guess that next one's coming up in Thompson yeah we were really excited we got to do a big uh kind of Public Announcement during the middle of uh Dolphins games there but yeah early March in 2026 Thompson is going to host our 2026 Manitoba Winter Games program so uh about 18 months out from that one then and they are running full head on into their planning and getting prepared and they're really excited to they saw the dolphin really raised the bar and the the only thing on their minds is how can we beat dolphin and how can we exceed it so it's always fun to work with these high performance host societies one to one up one another hey you love that friendly competition well listen again congratulations to dolphin and you and everyone at sport Manitoba for putting on what was an amazing event by all accounts um we'll uh wish Thompson luck in the in the next big one here and again folks um you know you can go to sport Manitoba if you've got some time and want to get involved there's so many different Avenues to volunteer and to make a difference in helping sport grow in our community and it's all there at sport Manitoba Drew thanks so much for doing this all the best and uh good luck as you are prepared for what should be an amazing trip out to New Finland for a Manitoba athletes for the Canada games yeah thanks Andrew appreciate it there's another sport Manitoba it takes a community toplay segment here at Winnipeg Sports Talk brought to you by Manitoba licker and lotteries all right thanks to Drew for popping by and congratulations to dolphin and everybody involved in a very successful Manitoba games all right let's get to the cool B lines before we wrap the show and get the pot up some very interesting line movement in the Canadian Football League uh as we were we started the lock shop today BC was still a three-point favorite but it was plus 106 and I said do I want to well this is got to moved to two and a half soon and lo and behold a fullo movement during the lock shelf so BC is now just two-point favorites against Ottawa in the touchdown Pacific game Dusty's gonna be doing the call for that one from Victoria which unfortunately means he'll miss out on the Labor Day game we will have him back in the peg for the banjo bowl next week uh BC minus 143 on the money line and the Ottawa red blacks plus 118 no line movement and bombers Riders though saskatch and two and a half Point favorites in the game minus 141 on the money line bombers plus 116 to win the game and come back to the peg in first place in the west meanwhile TI cats home dogs of Five Points Toronto laying five on the road in the early Labor Day game and then the late game still surprised that the Edmonton alks are getting three points I like them to win that game outright plus 136 uh but Calgary three-point favorites in that game now we do have a little long shop exclusive that we cooked up um BC minus two and a half we had to put that extra half point in so it was an even number but we got a half point with the Edmonton Elks so we're getting Elks plus three and a half BC minus 2 and a half and then and I know this could blow up in our face but the Labor Day game is always so tight both teams with great defenses how does this game go over 47 a half we don't think it will bombers Riders under 47 a half along with BC minus 2 and a half Elks plus three and a half boosted to plus 615 right now in the exclusives for the lock shop partner parlay and Pat and Jake also have a college football one setup Georgia minus 6 and a half West Virginia plus 14 1/2 Florida plus 7 1/2 and USC plus 9 1/2 that one is at plus 360 Majors tonight my play of the day for Kolb bet is going to be the Blue Jays I know the Blue Jays have had their SK skids but guess what Bowen Francis is on the mound tonight his first start after that brilliant 12 strikeout Masterpiece he had last weekend we're going to ride with the Jays tonight plus 121 against the Boston Red Sox Red Sox minus 143 Full Slate of games actually a bunch of games underway right now already in the mids as it's getaway day in the majors but we got about another half dozen games on the Slate tonight the game most of you will pay attention to if you're still locked into the Blue Jays is of course Toronto at Boston uh one other thing I should mention to you and we'll touch on this tomorrow in the lock shop Labor Day weekend it's Joey Chestnut versus Kobayashi the long awaited Battle of the two greatest competitive Eaters of all time Joey Chestnut is a h 12 and a half hot dog and Bun favorite against Kobayashi chestnuts total hot dogs and buns is 62 and a half over or under that and kobayashi's total is 49 and a half I hope somebody on the bus has the ability to get Netflix on their phone because that is where you're going to be watching it on Labor Day Joey Chestnut versus teu Kobayashi of course lock shops live every day at noon we're gonna have a big show toor with myself and Pat and get into a little college football for the weekend as well and then of course next week our our weight is over week one of the National Football League I cannot wait uh if you haven't played a cool before use the promo code wst when you make your first deposit for a 100% bonus up to 200 bucks over from our friends at kolette um gang that is going to do it for us today very very busy show lots going on around the bombers and Riders great stuff with marach always love having fineberg on one of my favorites and great to have drew Todd from sport Manitoba as well that is going to do it for us today huge shout out to Adam doing a great job taking over for Mitch getting us on and off the air and making everything runs smoothly 10 out of 10 performance behind the scenes today with Remis away and yes we are back tomorrow one more show heading into labor day we'll talk bombers we will talk Riders we'll have bck jump on the program and a little NFL with hacksaw for a final week without NFL football but the main course this weekend is bombers Riders on Sunday late afternoon that's going to do it for us thanks to all the sponsors that make the show happen each and every day we get to run to get the podcast up have a great night and we'll see you tomorrow on wst oh my God shut it down let's go thanks for tuning in to Winnipeg Sports Talk daily make sure to subscribe on YouTube and your favorite podcast feed at Winnipeg sports talk.com [Music] e