Empty Netters Podcast - Connor Bedard Is A Hawks Legend For Taking 15 Million AAV

Episode Date: July 21, 2026

Bedsy gets his bag from the Hawks and it’s 3 mil less per year than Leo in a massive statement move. Mantha to the Devils has saved Jack Hughes’s life. Fanatics Fest is the greatest event in the world. If Tom Brady needs help we are the guys to help him. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Welcome to the Empty Netters podcast. Can you believe what this has become? There was a full 48 hours where I felt like I was like literally Superman. Jumbo loves playing Fortnite, so he gets on the sticks. Did TR show you the sauna cycle or was that all year? No, no, I invented that. Almost a year now that I haven't taken a body check. That's kind of nice.

So we are back. We are horned up and we are going deep. Finish tonight with some chicken fingers and a few guineasas and ran into you guys. That's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready and we're back with another episode of the MG Netters podcast brought to you by BetMGM. I'm your host, Dan Powers. We've got a special situation here because we both got the buff man, Sean Buffini, and Zachary Grant on the sticks. You got a sick shirt on Grant.

Thank you. It kind of looks like our rink shirt, but it's for... Is that SEC? Yeah. That's so funny. And then, of course, over here, Chris Bowers. As always No roast today

Yes No roast today God that is good Because your great shirt Is kind of matching your Hot shirt Hat and I'm proud of you Shout out Brooksie

We're a playground Sick hat Grant I was We were Gosh We're oh at Fanatics Fest Which we'll talk about in a second There was a big sign and poster

For the SEC And I was just looking at the SEC That is the most insane division in sports ever. Well, that they get mad about this. They get mad about it. We do talk about the fact that we are the absolute best conference in the world. It's ridiculous.

Every single team other than Vanderbilt, no offense, Vanderbilt is like. Vanderbilt's kind of nice right now. Yeah, because that, well, is he gone? He's gone. Yeah, he's gone. What was his name? Diego Pavia. Pavia.

I actually witnessed. Dude, him not getting any Hysman looks was insane. Well, when you kind of shit talking Mendoza, going to clubbing in the bar. party and all that stuff, you know. Hey, that type of stuff is my Heisman winner. Me too. I want my Heisman winner doing that shit. I'm with it, but at the same time, like, I mean, Pavia's got some crazy stories, dude.

I witnessed his coming out game was when he was at New Mexico and he beat those shit out of Auburn. And it was embarrassing, heartbreaking, and I had to shoot all of it. And then he, like, went in and was like, huh, to us on the field. And I was like, thanks, Diego, Pavia. Oh, he's a raven. Yeah, didn't he go in like the sixth round, too or something? Yeah. Danny Seisman.

Mendoza is a bitch. Disavow. Hey. Disavow. Disavow is a, first of all. That is not an empty netter statement. That is a Chris Power statement. First of all, he is a bust.

Nope. Second of all, he was mean to locks. He was mean to locks. He was mean to locks. That was ass. So you are a bitch. Yep. And third of all, you, sir, are a complete liar and a fraud and a phony and an actor.

Everything Danny was saying about Caleb on Love Island. is true about Mendoza in real life. It's a complete performance. He is not that guy at all. He just thought it would help his image. And it did. He wrote it all the way to a Heisman off one cuby scramble, which I could have found.

Can we get the lights in here more like the hold of the phone lights? I feel like I'm getting fucking blasted every time we record this show. Like, this is way better. It's pitch black. No, it's like I'm even looking at myself on screen. I don't look like Casper the friendly ghost anymore.

Yeah, but it looks so much darker on YouTube. after. Like when we blast Casper the Friendly Ghost that I watch on YouTube, I go well, that was barely lit. And now this might be pitch black on YouTube when they watch. No, we'll get it right. We'll make it look right. I think you can look back up. Let the comments decide. Yeah.

That always goes so well. We need the mood lighting, Dan. Oh, man. Well, hey, we've got a great episode today. We've got a ton of fun stuff to talk about. A lot of sad stuff to talk about, too. Not like real world sad, but just like our life's sad. Because our lives aren't.

real, nor do they matter. Yeah. Let's jump right into hockey stuff and get into Connor Bader. He did it. Signs five years by 15 mil a year locked up in Chicago. I absolutely love it. It's a happy day. It's a happy day.

For Blackhawks fans, it's a great deal. This is tremendous, tremendous business. That sounds like pretty legitimate business. All business-wise, this feels like pretty legitimate business. That is bad darned right now. I like this movement of the, and I think Leo even did this by accident,

but this five-year thing for the 20-year-olds is incredible. Because now they get paid. Dude, it used to be like you turn 22, you sign your eight-year deal. Yeah, and you sign your one more eight-year if you're nasty. Dude, these guys are going to sign again another five at 25 and then another five at 30. These kids,

it out, dude. They're all Richmond. They're going to change their name to Connor Richmond. Yeah. That would be sick if that was all of their last names. If you, you know how, like, if you're, if you become a Stark, you're a stark, but if you're a bastard, you're snow. Yeah. And in the north. If you become rich, you become a Richmond. If your contract is over 14.99 mill A.A.V, you have to change your last name to Richmond.

Can you believe that in the 90s there was a young kid? They actually made a movie about him. It's a nonfiction movie. It's a, a biopic about a young rich boy whose name was literally Richy Rich. Yeah, and what was his last name? Rich. It was Rich even. His name was Richie Rich.

Richard Rich. God, that movie was incredible. Yeah, dude. Dad, not found. Dad, not found. There were a couple of movies about young rich kids. Well, dude. One was factually accurate.

One was factually inaccurate. One was called blank check. Which was so sick. And that dumb fuck wrote a, check for himself for only one million dollars and then the next scene is him moving into a house that is approximately 10 million dollars what's the trading point i mean trading places too that also also a biopic is uh is blank check it's one million dollars he literally writes on that check one million and i is the check from he gets like hit by a car by some like big rich

douchebag and the guy right he's like i'll write you a check to make this problem go away and he like just runs away without filling out the number yeah and the kids kids like, oh my God, so he fills in $1 million. And then, of course, nothing happens. There's no people who ask questions or, you know, there's no barriers to entry. The bank went like this. This looks legit. Incredible.

Million dollars. Preston Walters. That's the kid's name in that movie. In blank check? Yep. Nice. Let's see, yeah, he just, he gets a million dollars. Oh, no, there's a, the bank teller is an undercover FBI agent.

And he's investigating the original guy from. money laundering. This movie could be gasped. You're telling me the plot of that movie is that undercover bank teller sees that happen and now goes like this. This guy is now laundering money through a kid. Yeah, dude. This is actually insane.

This is like a huge, this movie is like a massive FBI staying operation movie. That's actually pretty sweet. That is incredible. That's pretty sweet. And Rich's last name is Rich. Richard Richie Rich Jr. His dad is also Richie Richie Rich. Yeah, Richard Rich, the first.

And then Regina Rich is the mom. Do you think that Richard Rich, the first, went around finding, he was like, I can only marry a woman whose name is at least relatively close. It needs to certainly begin with an R. Yeah. But it needs to be relatively close to Richard. I wonder if there was a better RR name for her. Regina.

Regina. Rich. Rich. Rochelle. Richel, maybe. Rochelle's better. Royal. Royal rich.

That's kind of cool. I think Rachel is even better than Regina. Rachel Rich. Rachel Rich. Rachel! Right, oh! God, dude, rich And then you know how they go,

no teams won the cup with two guys making over 10 million, now we would go, no teams has ever won the cup with two richments. Yeah, yeah. And there's never been one Richmond engraved on the cup at once.

You know when, like, early days, when you would get, like, you meet someone named something Mason, you were like, this guy probably came from the family of Stone Mason's. Never met a Mason in my entire life. You've never met anyone named Mason.

I've never met anyone. Well, I don't know many people. Tis the life of a lawyer. Well, I feel like in Ireland, didn't you grow up in Ireland with several people whose last names probably the etymology of said name was probably something that their ancestors did? Usually, like, yeah, I mean, you get a lot of, like, Irish words, obviously being turned into, like, last names. Give us as an example. I don't know.

Potato. Mr. Potato head? Of course. You end up with, like, like, Fitzgerald, for example, or, like, there's, like, a 15. Gerald like kingdom tribe thing that was like long ago and so you end up with people with the name Fitzgerald because they would have originated from sure and then that's kind of like you have a whole bunch of like different kingdoms and stuff that have just kind of like homogenized into a family name and then you end up with uh I mean I know in a lot of the world you end up with sons oh yeah

big time in Scandinavia yeah yeah you get a lot of that so a I mean you you want to go down a dark hole you can especially in like UK or in England and then early US settlers you'll find a lot of last names like don't look into the history of the last name Freeman because it's going to make you sad Sean so I'm sitting here being like the first Richmond that someone met they must have been like this guy comes from money yeah this guy's rich as hell

they couldn't figure out what to call them and they just went what do we know about this guy he has all the money in the village he is Connor rich rich we can't that's a totally different podcast Sean what do you think the 10 the top 10 most common we'll call we'll start a podcast called the vocab lab and then we'll just well what if what if the word rich comes from a guy named rich who was very wealthy we're thinking of it the wrong way around how did he get oh that's what I'm saying yeah like rich might have just been a noise that someone was like, that's a good name, rich. Because they go, they go.

And then they went like this, this fucking dude rich has so much money. What do we call that? We got to call it rich. This guy's got a ton of money. And they go, he's got rich money. And they go, yes. And he goes, he's also rich. And I go, yeah, call it.

Let's call him rich. That dude's got rich money. Yeah. Now that's what rich means. Sean, and now Connor Bardard is named Connor Richmond. Top 10 most common surnames are names in Ireland. How many think you can get? Let me go with O'Neill.

O'Neill? No, strike one. What? That's in the honorable mention. That's crazy. It says a few other extremely common surnames that often appear just outside the top ten include O'Neill.

All right, let's go with Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald, also an honorable mention, Strike 2. Oh my God. What in the world? You are a fraudulent Irishman. Yeah, I guess. I've been here too long.

Let me think. We've Americanized him. He's like Smith? Yamada? We're getting them right. He's going to be like Holland soon and he's going to be full on. like Freddy Chase the Lord. I think these are really hard, by the way. Number one you should definitely

get number seven. You should definitely get. Is Murphy in there? Murphy's one. Murphy's one. Do you have any guesses? I'm looking at a list right now and O'Neill is on it. Well, O'Neill is 11 on chat. I mean, you should get all of these. Really? Yeah, my chatubes are pretty hard. Oh, again, I'm on. I just, I went with, uh, um, Gemini. Okay, okay, show you Gemini. Quick Google one. Murphy is one. Murphy's one. Do you want to just tell you? Yeah.

Number two is Kelly. Yep, that's what I go. Kelly, yeah, that makes sense. Burn. Walsh. That was six on mine. I'm getting O'Brien here. That's five on mine.

I'm getting Ryan now. That was six on mine. O'Connor. That's eight on mine. O'Neill. O'Sullivan. That's the one I thought you should have got. Yeah, Sullivan's one.

And then this one's great. Doyle. Doyle, yeah. Yeah, that's nine on mine. And then 10 on mine is McCarthy. Go ahead and ask ChatGPT there. Is Disney an Irish name? What?

That would be... Whoops. Is Disney an Irish name? Yes, dude. It says no. Disney is originally a French Norman name. Oh, so wait. It comes from the French phrase.

And Dan has a no? Mine says funny. Well, mine says this. Yes, Disney is an Irish surname, although it's relatively uncommon in Ireland today. The surname is generally believed to have Norman French origins, not Gaelic Irish origins. The family likely came to Ireland and England

following the Norman invasions in the 11th century, but over time, branches of the Disney family settled in Ireland, particularly in countries, counties such as Kilkenny. Yeah, I was going to say this does say Walt Disney's family roots in County, Kilkenny, Ireland. So yes, you guys took it. That's actually sick, dude.

The hidden Irish tribute Walt Disney hid in the Disneyland park. Whoa. What the fuck? What is that? Is that true? Apparently. Dude, we just infect everywhere. No matter where you go, we're a plague. And you know about plagues, pal.

That was dark. All right. Anyway, Connor Bardard. Connor Bardard, I heard he wanted four. They wanted seven, obviously. That's what they say. They meet in the middle. I think this answers the question,

the Leo debate we were having more than Mac. Like you kept saying, like, when Mac takes 15, it doesn't matter because Mac's different. I think this helps answer that question more where no one is going to go 18. dude this absolutely does do that and I now think these guys I think Baderd I think we'll see what Cutter does I think that's like the most fascinating but I think Badaard I think Maclin I think so many of these other guys are going to make Leo look like a jackalope yes I really do do I think that there's going to be a wave of these guys realizing wait a minute 15 mil is still so much money

And this is, I was talking to shout out Nick at working in hockey. I was talking to him about this. This is a huge, you know, when we posted this, a bunch of people came in the comments being like overpay, over. And I'm like, no, it's not at all. What are you talking about? What? People were saying that. Oh, yeah, tons of people.

But, you know, they're haters. They're, there are people who don't like the Blackhawks or don't like badard. And they're like, overpay, overpay, overpay, overpay. With the, with the market, with what people are getting paid, with his situation specifically in Chicago, who has literally no money on the books. which is weird because Byram just signed a fat deal. This is not an overpay at all. Nope. And more so than that, what we kept saying was, dude, when it gets to this big,

$3 million a year less is so much less. Oh, my God. Especially when you consider Connor as the first overall pick, Leo went second. The fact that Bard is like, we just signed at the exact same time, and I signed for $3 million less than him, and I went one and he went two. It's just such a good look for Chicago It's a good look for Connor

I think it's this an amazing deal Oh this is and dude to L you the old And he's rich The old tip of the cat from me to Bedsie for going 15 Because you are Richmond now This is a great deal and you want to be there So here's my Here's my question to you dude

I think that The Blackhawks I heard them say I heard I heard the I heard this from Someone from a source Okay That the Black Hawks were so appreciative of Badard's camp going, how about

15? Because after the Leo deal, if he had said, give me 18, they would have gone, okay. Because what are we going to do? You have all the leverage in the world. You go, Leo Carlson, and I'm not knocking Leo Carlson, he's incredible, but if you go Leo Carlson just got 18,

I am certainly getting 18. Correct. They would have to do it. With that in mind, I'm actually kind of shocked teams didn't weaponize that fact and it just fire offer sheets at him for 18 without even wanting him going I pray to God he doesn't sign this we just know that the Blackhawks will literally have to match this yeah they do they have they have all the money in the world yeah they cannot lose him so I'm like man so many teams

could have fucked the Hawks then I remembered but he wouldn't have to have signed it yep so and dude do you think if if an offer sheet goes out do we hear about it no matter what uh apparently people keep saying the only way we hear about it is if the player signs it that's what was thinking but with today's media i don't believe that i i there's part of me that's like in what world would this not leak right okay so then yeah then i'm going to operate under no one sent sure so i'm kind of like how in the fuck did no team weaponize the fact that you could you could plug the hawks right yeah and just be like i don't even want badard i just want you to have to pay m18 and ruin your your your books yeah uh so i'm shocked by that and then i'm i'm i'm

I think he, but I actually think he wouldn't have. Like, let's say, wouldn't have signed it? Yeah, he would have done to know. Yeah, it's an interesting thing for me. It's like so many people started talking about with the Chicago struggling and whatever, whatever being like,

he's going to want out. I feel like he is so committed to Chicago. Same. And yeah, I don't think he would have signed anything. It's that weird balance of, I kept saying with Philly, I was like, I can't believe they did this because it did feel like a motherfucking to Anaheim.

Yeah. But I was like, what if he, what if they don't match though? Now, you have to pay. and 18. Like that is always the fear, right, of sending an aggressive office rate is if they go like this, take them. Yeah. And you go, well, he's like, you send a fantasy football trade and you're like, oh, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck, fuck. Yeah. Truly. I know. Yeah, I yeah, me too. That's the only trades I send, dude. So I absolutely love this for everyone involved. Uh, I think Bidadard is, as we said last week,

he is unbelievable. I am predicting career year from him when he gets back for from surgery, he does have a bit of a, if you're going to be a Macklin, a Leo, where you're convincing other guys to come to Chicago, to accept a trade to Chicago, to sign a free agency in Chicago, because let's be real. They are, that is an issue for them right now. I think the Bowen Byron thing is big. Bowen obviously couldn't do anything about it, but he gets traded there, but he then signs a fat ticket there.

So it's like, you've got a great young defenseman. Puck moving defenseman, offensive-minded, has won a cup. Yep. Now you've got Pard signed up. You've got Nazar signed up on an insanely good deal. You hope that this is now enough of being like, hey, boom, five years. Connor's here. We're doing this thing.

And it makes people go, yep, I'm coming. Let's go. A lot of chatter right now about Patrick Kane. He hasn't signed. People are going, is he going to come home? I actually don't even like that. To him to the Hawks? I don't like that for anybody because, A, well, I guess it would be,

maybe it would be fun for him. I think he'd be sick. It's like, it's where he played this whole career. I get it. But like, I'm telling you right now, as someone who loves Patrick Kane, I'm telling you Blackhawks fans, that the only thing that that would do would be a nice bit of nostalgia for you to see Patrick Kane come finish his career there. He is not getting this team over the edge. Hell no. In fact, he should go to Buffalo finally. Remember, we've been screaming, go home. Taze did it. Like, Patrick Kane is a perfect, put Patrick Kane on a team where he's playing second or third. line that is already a massive contender chance.

Dude, we met that kid at Knox Fest who got Kane to sign the Buffalo thing. Yeah, that was so. How gas would that be for that kid if Kane now goes to Buffalo? Sell that for a billion dollars. Yes, that's correct. Okay, but what was your larger point about Bedard being the guy attracting people? What? You said Bedard, if you're going to be a guy attracting free agents and then you kind of went on,

we went on a cane tangent. Well, no, I'm just saying this is a good step. for getting them. Oh, oh, yeah, yeah. Okay, I like that. I like that. He's committed. Five years. Like, let's go. Dude, no, it's, it's, uh, it's awesome. I think he's, he's here for the long haul and this was a perfect deal.

It's also, dude, it must be sick to have no, not no pressure. You're a very high paid player, but to just, you're not the highest paid guy. You know, it's actually kind of nice to not have, not, not, you're like, what, dude, I took a pretty good contract and I'll be very good. It's the same, it's genuinely, the same thing as it's not the same thing it's kind of similar to that phrase of don't be the nicest house on the block yeah never want to be the you do not want to be the highest paid guy in the league

for more than five seconds what if what he i wouldn't wish that upon my worst enemy dude being the highest paid player in any position if i was the best player in the league truly and i if i was up to sign a new a contract or extension at the same time as someone else i would literally tell my agent i'd be like this just wait wait and see what they do and then some of the same time i'd be like this just wait wait and see what they do and then sign for a dollar less, one dollar. Which is so funny because so many guys are like, I have to sign for a dollar more. I need to sign for a dollar more.

I cannot exist without signing for a dollar more. Yes, and those people are dumb. Dude, I also think football has it really funny because in hockey, well, there's definitely brackets for defensemen, for goalies and then for forwards. Every position has a dollar more. But football specifically has kind of like quarterback is its own thing. And it's actually hilarious.

What do we think is two? Wide receiver? Two? Oh, dude, you would actually be surprised. It's probably not what do we think. It's offensive linemen. O-linemen and receivers. But receivers are like normally that number two,

and then it goes offensive linemen and corners. And then your linebackers will also be under there. I'm going to be honest. There are a lot of things in the NFL that, well, in the NFL in general, but that GM's coaches do that I'm like, you guys are actually done. I mean, sometimes I watch NFL coaches and their clock management, and I'm like this, a fourth grader could do this better than you really.

And I mean, I stand by that statement. CT is a real thing, okay? Yeah. These guys have all played ball and then they end up, you know. They become a coach. It's actually true. It's actually true. That makes total sense to me.

Yeah. Like when it's, frankly, if you look at football from a money ball standpoint, It's like who should, I think it should be quarterback and then offensive line. Yeah. So I'm like, good job. I was going to, what I was going to say is quarterback is so funny that they 100% do the, like, if I'm good, the next contract, I'm the guy. And Bowen Byrams actually a funny, probably the closest example I can think of in hockey, but hockey doesn't really fuck like that where if you are a good forward and you're up, you're up, you get a bag, but you're like not getting more than McDavid. Exactly.

But in the NFL, there's windows in time where they're like, Dak Prescott is. the highest paid player in the league. The NBA does that too. Remember when Jalen, maybe it was pouring out, remember when Jalen Brown was the highest paid player in the NBA? I was like, do you guys remember the Steph Curry contract? Yeah.

No. I love coming back to this one all the time because people forget about it. You know, Steph Curry was making $12 million when they first made that. Like, I know $12 million is a lot. For hockey player. For a hockey player. But he was making $12 million during that 2016, 2015 run. Like, and because he had signed this like five-year deal.

and they were like, oh, this is why this is so good. We have him forever. And then they just went paid everybody else. That's how they could afford Kevin to Raine. Because he was already, he was at $12 million. So you just had the most global phenomenon everywhere constantly, just everybody wanted to be him. And he just making $12 million a year,

which in like NBA money is actually very, very well. Oh, nothing, dude. Yeah, it's like role player money. I love that shit because, yeah, and Byron being like the highest paid defenseman or close to, right? Or is he? No, he is the highest. Yeah, that's kind of the first example where I'm like,

it kicks in next year. but yeah yeah what all right now i have another free agent topic um this one happened i think friday i think so um and i just want to bring it up because i think this is one of the most four d chess moves oh interesting of nchl signings in the history boys okay uh anthony mantha had a great year last year sure did 33 talks 31 apples 64 points and 81 games career highs across the board almost perfect hockey player territory but he actually tipped over to the wrong side to the point where I'm like is you stink

well as a wing I almost accept no if you ever have more goals than assists you are trash that's actually not a bad take I don't hate that take it's true so he had an incredible year and was a big reason I would say that pit was 100% all of a sudden competitive

and a two seed or whatever they finished at so he every time there was the big rush of early free agents, not that there was a huge class, but there was the rush of early free agents, and then he was kind of lingering. Every time you would go to NHL.com, which I don't know why you're going to in the middle of summer because there is no news. But if you did, the top headline was like, Kane, Manta, top free agents. Like that was always the link. Boom, Manta signs, okay? And he signs a two-year $9.5 million contract with the Devils. I'm completely fine. And dude, I actually, I don't know if you dug deep into this, but apparently everybody was one-yearing

him, including the Devils, and he was like, him and his camp, we're like, can I please get two years? I think he has young kids and was like, I just don't want to move again. And the Devils finally came up to two and he took it after a great chat with the GM and blah, blah, blah. But I was also like, he can't get a two year deal. 33 goals. I'm so rattled by this. He's 31 years old. I'm like, good God, man. Yeah, agree. Like, what is the world come to? What don't we know? I can't get two years from this guy? Can we, there's one thing that I really want to talk about that I, is getting very frustrating and I'm seeing it as a consistent trend in sports. These GMs y'all are like doing like with that.

Why can't he get two years? One GM will say he doesn't deserve two years and then they all follow suit. Oh, dude. Nobody is willing to give him two years. Like nobody's willing because one guy said it and they were all like, okay. Yeah. Yeah. Dude, and it's bullshit because they go, well, if I give him three and then he stinks,

I'm the asshole and I get fired. But I'm like, or you're the genius. And he's incredible for three years and now your team's good. Exactly. Don't be a bitch, dude. It's a get fired league. You're going to get fired in three years anyway, dude. Just do it.

You're getting fired in three years. Make some swings. I would go down, fucking guns blazing. It would be insane. No matter what. It truly is, Grant, the most mob mentality business in the game. Which is why, dude, I don't think you were in the studio when we were talking about this. When I was going nuts about Stevie Y last week, remember that?

Yeah. This is kind of what I mean. I would just say shit. I would just say exactly what I was doing. So there wouldn't be any like what's going on. Like I would tell every GM in the league like, hey, this is what I think this guy is worth. Exactly. Like I would straight up just talk.

Yeah. Because it's like we have talked about, dude, this is a spoiler alert, not a spoiler alert. We can dictate players salaries. I'm not kidding. Yeah, correct. When we on a show like this and chicklets, when they on a show like that, start talking about guys who have a contract coming up and we start fucking stroking them off, all of a sudden that hits Twitter and it's like trending on Twitter. And now everyone in the

hockey world is like, oh, so-and-so is probably going to get around this range. That affects things, dude. That is ridiculous. It is insane. But it's like, that's why you got to just start fucking running your mouth. Yeah. But it's like with this guy, I, like, I would be so mad if I were Anthony Manta and I just scored 33 goals in the national hockey league and I was 31 and I was like I'm gonna get a five year deal and everyone was like this one year try a one year prove it deal you pussy and I'm like I just what I proved yeah just did that dude on your GM talk Dan I when I in my TV exact life I this happened to me so often I would have these meetings with production companies because I was at the I was on the network side and I'd have meetings with the production companies and they'd be like you know what is what is your network looking for we're trying to sell to you guys and I would just be like, here's exactly what's happening. I just left a meeting. We have these shows. Here's exactly how many people are watching them.

They're really underperforming. We are sad about it. We're getting yelled at by our bosses. Here's a show on this network we're really jealous of. Here's the exact budget we can spend. And blah, like, just puk out, like, all the truth that I hear in internal meetings. And production companies would be like this. Chris is the greatest executive of all time.

And I was like, I know. Because he tells the truth. Because I'm like, I don't know why we're all lying to each other. What is the point? If I lie to the production company, they bring me something I don't want, and then I pass, because I'm like,

that was actually, we don't actually want that. Dude, I've said a million times, whenever you take a meeting with a producer and you go like this, what are you guys looking for? And they go,

um, you know, like nothing specifically, that producer sucks and don't trust them. Yeah. Because even if that's what they're saying, they know what they are looking for because they sit in those meetings

and a good producer will tell you the fucking truth because that's how you get things made. Exactly. It is crazy. Literally, just say what is happening. You will actually get something good done. Yep.

It's craziness. It is. It is. It is. So anyway, man the signs to the devils, great deal for the devils. I wish he got more years and more money, but great deal for the devils. And here's what I was here's why you love this move. Here's why I love it, dude.

So, and the early lines you have him with Brat and Jack and that's a sick. That's a great line. If he gives you the production he gave you this year, that is a, that is a fucking fantastic line. Uh-huh. So what I loved, dude, is Jack. Hughes coming off gold medal and Jack don't forget dude remember gold medal or I should say Olympics on Jack had the most was the best player in the league yeah so Jack was yeah Jack was buzzing but don't forget that Jack is a little bubble

rapid we got to take care of Jack got to protect Jack he couldn't even get to the Olympics without having a stick smashed across his face and losing half his teeth okay and we need to protect Jack. And I know he says I will be protected. But every year something fucking fucking cut my hand open, you know, some bullshit. Anthony Manta is a good hockey player. Yes. And that will help Jack.

But more importantly, Anthony Manta had the injury bug horribly at the beginning of his career. And then also tore his ACL in 2024. And they were even saying, like, do you even want to play hockey anymore? You get hurt so much. And he said, I don't know. To be honest with you. Yeah. And then he said, you know what?

I am going to make sure I am during. from this moment forward. And then bang, he gives you 81 games and career highs everything. And you know why? You know who he spent his summer with? Who?

Tom Brady and Alex Guerrera. And he got pliable. And all I'm saying is, dude, hey, I'm going to start sending videos of me stretching on the rug. And I'm going to say this is how you get plied. C.P stretches on a rug in our office every day.

It's very weird. Under a basketball. And you're the most injured you've ever been. Not true. Not true. What do you mean? Your groin is literally torn off your body as we speak.

It actually is true. You are a piece of shit. But I didn't stretch it all. I didn't stretch it all last week. You can't take it off, Dan. If you take it off, see, it's like once you get in a rhythm of something like you. Do we actually know, I make the joke that Anthony Manta spent his summer with Tom Brady, do we actually know what he did?

No, he, I don't know what he did. We should ask him. But this is my point. He did something. Yeah. And then now he gets to Miyagi, Jack. Yes. Like he's, yes, I'm here for the 60 points.

Thank you. Yes. But also I'm here that Manta is going to go, Jack. Do these things. And then you will be fine. It is a wax on, wax off situation, Dan. A career high points on, a going shoulder first into the boards off. Off.

Off. Heavy off. Like, you know how Viaghi makes him wash the car? Yeah. And then he's like, oh, shit, that's amazing. You were teaching me how to fight. What is Mantha do to Jack hanging out chores-wise that Jack then realizes, oh my god I don't know teaching me how to protect myself I think they do I think he

does slip and slides with him all summer for sure and he's doing slip and sides and then Jack goes like this he's gonna work on his shoulder strength right yeah and then he goes oh my god you were teaching me how to slide into the boards yeah and he goes wasn't that fun they were what is what is something that makes you go like this what is something that makes you shoulder pressed and you don't even realize it um he's got kids man that's kids yeah he's gonna go hey can you put my kid up on this thing no he's doing this this thing. He goes, Jack, the kids. Throw the kids in the pool. Come hand with my kids. They love getting tossed in the pool. Jack

tosses the kids in the pool all summer. And then game five. Next thing you know, he's fucking, has the biggest shoulders you've ever seen. Game five, he catches an edge, he gets pushed off the puck. He slides into the boards. And he goes, here we go again. There's my whole season. And he hits the boards, ricochets off. No, no, no. The boards dent. Implode. Yeah. Smash into a million pieces. They have to stop the game and bring in new boards. Jack gets up, starts going like this, and he's like, feels completely fine. looks at the over to the bench and mantha's there and he goes no dude mantha goes like this he

he goes and just nods to him and then gets up and walks down the tunnel and retires yeah dude what did the who did the kids come out and they're like thank you for throwing me in the pool all those times yeah yeah no no that's it mantha does he goes he nods yes and then the kids his kids are sitting right behind the bench you know and they go like this and jack jack realizes and both these kids are dressed like old men from the 1950s yes did and they just go they're like wearing like a weather like a wool cap and they and we realize they aren't even hit mantas kids they're paid actors they're paid actors that were jack threw in the pool this whole time and next thing you know jack Hughes never gets injured he did he will never be hurt again

and here comes the hundred points for all of you bet m gmers if you want the jack he's never done 100 if you want the over under this is the year You put Mantha next to him. He plays with the kids all summer. This is the time. He will never hurt his shoulder again. It will be completely fine because he now has a Miyagi with him who is on these exact crossroads, Dan.

He said, I don't even know if I like hockey anymore. I get hurt so much. And then look at him now. Look at him now. He's a Richmond. He's actually got fucked. He's not a Richmond. But he should be a Richmond.

And now it's going to happen to Jack. Okay. I love that. I mean, listen, I love it. That's signing of the summer. I do think this is tough sledding for Mantah. He should have. gotten more money.

Should be rich. But he is now going to be a New Jersey hero forever because he's going to save Jack Hughes's life. Who cares if you get a cup? Exactly. Straight up. Who cares if we get a cup? It's all about being healthy.

As long as we have our health, we can't complain about anything. We say it all the time. The best ability is availability. And Anthony Amatha is about to make Jack Hughes more available than ever, which sucks for Tate McRae. She will not be happy about that. Yeah. She's going to say, whoa, you're not available.

Yeah. And he's going to go, I'm talking about a different kind of availability. And she's going to go, oh, okay, great. She's nobody's girl. It's fantastic. All right, let's take a quick ad break, then hop back in to some Fanatics Fest talk. All right, everybody, the World Cup is over,

and now everyone thinks I don't place bets anymore. Incorrect. Incorrect. The Red Sox have won 13 straight games. I just bet on them to win 25 straight games. Do you have any idea how much money I'm about to make by mid-August? Because BetMGM cooks all season. And by the way, football's almost here.

The hockey is basically almost here, which makes me want to vomit. But that's how quickly the sports world moves. BetMGM is there every step of the way. And if you haven't signed up for BetMGM yet, I want you to use that bonus code netters. That's N-E-T-T-E-R-S when you sign up. And if you do that, if you log on and you use Netters,

you get a $1,500 new player offer on your first wager. Is that insane? That's how crazy they are. $1,500 for just signing up. You don't really how much damage I could do with $1,500. I might create a fake identity, re-sign up for BetM-M-GM, use promo code Netters just to get that new player offer.

My Red Sox bet will go to the moon. So download that app right now. You deposit at least $10,000, place a wager on any game, and if that bet loses, bang, $1,500 in bonus bets. Unbelievable, you get cool stuff like second chance promos, odds boost tokens, same game parlays, and there is so much more because BetMGM always makes it legendary. We just got back from Fanatics Fest,

and I don't even know what to say. We don't need to make this segment too long, because obviously we've got a great interview coming in future episodes with a great interview that we had there. I think everyone knows because they saw it. Oh, yeah. It's an unbelievable interview with Alex Hvetchkin. It was fucking all time.

One of the greatest moments of my career. Oh, 100%. 100%. And, dude, he is the man. He is everything everyone says. Yep. It's been so cool getting so close with guys like LTE and Osh and Brooksie and getting the stories about O,

because he does feel like a fictional character. Yes, he does. and Sid are like they're kind of untouchable, they're very private, they don't do a ton of media stuff. And you just hear stories and you're like, wow, like he just seems so awesome. So to get to spend some time with him and him live up to every single thing I've ever heard was unbelievable. Dude, my favorite part is he goes, one of the questions we were asking was about the gold chase. Don't even tease it. Don't even tease it.

I just want people to get the interview and enjoy it. Well, he's a legend and he's also a machine. Oh, my God. I dabbed him up and I was like, I when you look at people talk about the goals all the time my favorite thing about oh is the hits to be the greatest goal score in the history of the game and also be so high up on the all-time hits chart

is I don't it's insane no one no one will ever sniff that that connection yeah ever again feeling that man's embrace I could not fathom getting hit by him oh and how fast he goes to especially you know like earlier in his career Holy he puts you through a wall fucking obliterating people. There are no amount of children

throwing into pools that could save your shoulders from a hit in my eyes of it. You could throw a giant size child and it would not heal you from what O is going to do to you. God. But doing a show in front of a live audience

is awesome. We've done that a few times now. We did one with Mr. Bafini in L.A. That was incredible. But we got to be doing more of that. That was great. The audience there, the crowd there was awesome. The fellas, the, the,

amount of famous people at Fanatics Fest was staggering. You can't even walk to the bathroom without walking by an entourage. Sean, you're not the biggest sportsman. Correct. But you can still appreciate the sportsmen that were there. And it was like I arrived and, Grant, I think I told you this, I arrived and walked in the door and the first person that walked by me was Webby. and like seeing that fucking seven foot six alien in person

I'll tell you what dude I am a above average height human being but when that man walked by me and his belt was at my forehead I was like what the fuck is going on dude like this guy is huge dude it was crazy because there was there was a ton of athletes but there was also fighters and that and it was kind of crazy walking by these dudes with their belts and they're just like I was like dude that guy would kill me then like we had I mean it was great dude like J.B. was there. Yep.

Brady's there. So here's a question I have to you guys. Oh also this though cards are Wait can I time out quick? Yep to get it I just want to quickly say this this is there's no ad here this is just me talking it is remarkable

what Fanatics has become Dan like dude fanatics is what it If not the, it is one of the biggest companies in sports, what they are doing every day, the people that they work with, they have relation, more and better relationships with more prominent professional athletes than any other company or entity on earth. And them pulling off that event over three days, four days, whatever, was fucking mind-blowing.

It was mind-blowing what they are doing. And I'm like, dude, got to tip your cap to fucking Rubin because holy shit, fanatics is a wagon. wagon of a company. So again, as previously established, I don't know, a whole heap of sports balls, but the Fanatics is a card trading company, is that right? No, they're a Jersey supply company. So they basically, they're kind of a sports memorabilia company overall, et cetera. They supply, but they are the larger, like the, almost the most available jersey

provider in the world. They kind of take a lot of the official jerseys that are normally like $120, $30, $100, $140, $140, bucks they supply a $70-80 one and then that was kind of their bridge in the beginning and then now it's all of sports memorabilia a lot of it comes from fanatics and they make the the actual jerseys so they're like fanatics is the official jersey provider of the nchl so like when you're watching the nchl there's a fanatics logo on the back of all the guys jerseys which is a big deal like as you saw in the world cups like some teams are nike some teams are adidas some teams are puma dude it's like What also, what did we just learn?

Like, Fanatic, Rubin sold something to eBay and then bought a piece of that back and then that became Fanatics. Like, their origins are insane. Yeah. But what they've become now is like they just bought Tops, that card company, which Chris will get into. But, like, dude, it was crazy, Sean. It was a, it's at Javitt Center, Javitt Center? Yeah. Javitt Center in New York City, this massive convention, convention center.

they had every single league, NHL, NFL, NBA, MLB, Premier League, Formula One, like SEC, there was a setup for everything you could have ever imagined. There's, you know, limited edition, memorabilia, jerseys, sweatshirts, all these different things, cards, there's like custom WWE belts for like every NHL team. It was, if you were a psycho sports fan, that there's nothing, I can't think. of anything better on earth to be at than I don't know what the tickets cost because we were obviously there to do the show

just to be clear we got our credential badges Chris has gets his badge and on it it just says talent and it's like great which is sick yeah it's like you get to walk around Fanatics Fest and it's like I have a badge says talent people are like you know

holy shit look this guy I get my badge and it just says premier talent how about that this is some all-time bullshit but it's after it's what you mean this is some all-time bullshit can you even fucking wrap your brain around that Dan love that I'm supposed to do a fucking wait so you I didn't even notice it's just said talent and yours said premiere premier talent different type take that different color different everything and you know what

again I didn't even notice it because I don't care about things like that but Dan doesn't see color I don't see color I don't care about those things I just really want you to know. I am just, I'm thrilled to know that fanatics knows what's up. It's great that fanatics understands. That was, that was so good. And also, then OV's badge said talent guest, like he was our guest, which was hilarious. It was, it was premier talent, talent, talent, talent guest for so. I was like, these are completely out of whack. Oh, we should just say, go. What are we doing? What are we doing? Like, what the fuck. But yeah, I don't know what those tickets cost, but if you are a sports fan, fucking go if you are if you are financial flexibility to do such a thing because it was and we need

to be doing that like we almost went a couple years ago they asked us to come and we had some conflict i think it was um pro epic golf tour maybe but whatever i was like oh we can't make it the circle back around this year and we said yes i was so excited to go but i had no no inclination of how how sick it's you could have never known like i i was so i've had this circled on the calendar for a long time. I was like, this is going to be one of the coolest things that we've ever done. It was. But it's like if you were to ever get to go to the fucking North Pole for the first time, you could be excited, but you could never imagine what it is. And getting in there, I was like, this is fucking incredible. Dots. Dots was like, this is so big because the World Cup's here, right?

And I was like, no. They're Shwicky. With Shwicky, our buddy who works there was like, no, it is this big. Can we talk about the day that you guys are in New York for, by the way? I mean, World Cup final, I met life. No, Akana City Field. Yankees double. Hedder, Fanatics Fest, obviously, the most preview event and all that, but amazing. Ariana Grande at Barclays and Bon Jovia, MSG. You guys were all there on that day. That's actually insane. I didn't realize half those things were happening. I spent the entire day.

The entire day. I was going to say, that might be why United Airlines fucking butt-fucked me and you for three straight days. Incredible, dude. The two things I was going to say is, you know, when you go to, I don't know if you've been to, like, Comic Con or whatever or anything like that I have many times. I'm familiar. Yep.

He's from San Diego. You go and it's like the Lord of the Rings section is the biggest or whatever and you're like, of course, right? Like the Peter Jackson thing is so huge. It was crazy walking into Fanatics Fest where they have everything.

And by far the biggest thing was cards. And I was like, oh shit. Yeah, like by far. I was like, oh. Shameless fuck, shameless fuck. Everybody go follow Friday. Friday breaks. Friday breaks.

The video comes out today. Come on day. We launched today, gentlemen. You get to watch all the boys. We lost today. So that was extremely sick. And then Brady and Bieber were there, and they, and I'm not in a bunch of people who did this,

but they were doing the shooting puck's thing. I have a question for all of you, especially you too. The sports are hard. Playing sports are hard. And I think I don't begrudge anyone who can't skate. Look, if I see someone trying to skate and it's really hard, I'm like, yeah, obviously. Even great athletes.

Like, there's a funny video of Tom Brady trying to skate, and he's, like, you know, using a walker, basically. I don't get at all why shooting a hockey puck is apparently hard. I don't mean shooting well. I just mean, like, shooting a hockey puck is hard for people. Like, the video of Brady trying to shoot, and he's, like, and, like, pushing it forward. I'm like, just shoot the puck.

Is he shooting while on skates? No, no, he's just standing there on a mat at Fanatics Fest. And this isn't unique to him. This is like everybody that I put a hockey stick in their hand. They're like, oh. And if I put that hockey stick in the room right there in your guy's hand, do you think you could just shoot the puck or do you think you would push it? 100%. But I also grew up playing hurling and tennis and things that require an instrument. Do you think it's like when you create a character in like a video game and you like max out some attributes and Tom Brady just maxed out one attributes.

Yeah. That's really funny. That's really funny. I'm trying to think of a sport that I guess throwing a ball is kind of awkward. I think I sometimes I see non-athletes try to throw a ball. Like first pitch people. And I'm like, you can't throw a ball? I mean, like, look at Kevin Garnett trying to throw a baseball. Yeah, it's an absolute nightmare. But he throws basketball sometimes.

Like sometimes he gets rebounds and literally goes like this and fires it on a dot to somebody down the court. I'm like, but it's different. Also, I think the puck thing, like, why it's so difficult is it's the swing apparel. Like, it's how you're swinging that thing. Because, like, so often, even like a baseball swing, it's easy because it's here. Golf swing is a little easy

because you're coming down, right? But that, it's a little awkward because of how low your hands are. And also, it's like one of the only things the split grip is very strange. Exactly. I think a lot of people do that and they're like, what am I doing here?

So I'm not going to, there's a lot of things that I'm going to complain about Tom Brady about right now. Yeah. I am so flabbergasted. My gasts are flabbard by what Tom Brady is currently doing with his life.

No, I don't want to talk about this, no, we have to. No, Dan, I'm going to get two. Are you throat slashing? I am saying that I think it's true. Grant slashing Brady, dude. He's not slashing the segment. He's Grant's killing Tom Brady right from me. I think Tom Brady is doing it.

I have a lot of questions about what he's doing, but it's the same. But think about, let's think about the contextualization of who he is right now. The man is recently divorced and what happens when guys go through divorces. All we're doing is asking questions. I know, but I'm saying. There will be no criticism. I look I look I've you know my dad's widower we're at a lot of divorce I grew up around a lot of divorce guys growing up he just is a divorce guy that is also happens to be one of the best

yes okay okay okay that's fine we we both absolutely love Tom Brady he's your favorite athlete of all he is I'm not criticized I'm just asking because you know what grant you know what I think the problem is is when you see guys going through stuff like that and maybe they need help doing nothing. That is a problem. Yeah. Okay, Dan. That is a problem.

Now I'm interested because is it on me? Do I need to help Tom? And I think maybe I do. I just think when you are clearly in a grift with Logan Paul. And there's no criticism to Logan Paul either. Logan Paul has figured out a way to make money and he does it incredibly well. Yes. And I'm genuinely impressed with him.

I think it's remarkable what he's. has turned his career into. Can I tell you something about that real quick? Please. I was at D.C. I wish you had said, can I tell you an anecdote that's going to take 10 minutes? Can I tell you an anecdote that's going to take 20? Sure. I'm not happy about it, but sure. I was at the Central City Mall. I forget what I was doing there, but I think I was in the sunglasses. Maybe it was like the sunglasses. So let me get this straight. You just ask permission to tell a story that you don't even know. I can't remember what happened. Okay. Continue. I'm glad I just wanted to clear. I was doing this. I was in this. I'm just wanted to clear. sunglasses hut and a guy this is a long time ago so it wasn't even netters a guy comes a guy walks back past the door of sunglasses out while I'm in there and I see him out of my peripher and then he doubles back in and comes right up to me and he's like hey man and I say it's pre-netters because it was that's very odd pre-netters every now and then someone knows us right now you're so famous yeah yeah it happens all right all the time people go through my trash dude you should have seen me at fanatics fest dude yeah escorted out of it so this guy comes up to me and he's like hey dude and I was like hey and I'm doing that like I'm doing that like like I'm doing that like

who are you? Who are you? And he's like, can I get a pick? And I was like, and I go, uh, you said yes. No, I go, uh, I think I know where the story's going. And then he goes, and then as he's pulling out his phone, he goes, oh, dude, I'm so sorry. I thought you were Logan Paul. And I was like, this, get out, dude. That's tough. It's extremely tough. It's extremely tough. So, yeah, again, And no criticism to Logan, but what appears to be them promoting a WWE fight, I just, to me, I'm like, this is something that someone who needs money does. Tom does not need money. Well, he went through divorce.

He didn't. He lost half his money. Yes. Zachary Grant. He lost half his money. No. Because as we know, the Fox deal came in after that. And that is for $500 million.

At least, I think there's more. This man owns the Raiders. He owns Birmingham City. He does not need money. I understand that Tom, like... Alamone is expensive. Did so much, dude. Isn't he sell pregnant?

Yeah. Yeah. When Tom went through the divorce, which is difficult. It's awful. I don't want anyone to have to deal with that. You're also retired, as we know, with pro athletes.

You're then kind of like, what am I doing now? Tom has been dabbling in everything. And I love that for him. I love that Tom, as someone who loves Tom, I don't want him to fade off into the mist because I'm like, I like seeing you. Yeah, you're gorgeous.

I'd like to see you all the time. I'd like to see you every day. Come here, join the network. Come on the show. I don't, I'm not sure I like this. If I'm telling you what, guys, if this whole ordeal results in Tom Brady entering a WWE ring with Logan Paul,

I'm not sure. I'm not sure what I do from there. Dude, so I'm with you. We're just asking questions in case Tom needs help, dude. We're not going to be yet another person. Because I've seen people who love Tom, Portnoy, was like ripping on them. And I know that that comes from a place of love as well.

Yeah, but I'm sitting here saying, I'm not going to be someone that does this. I'm sitting here going like this. Do you need help? Like, do you need someone to talk to because we are here? We're not going to criticize We're not going to insult We're going to say, are you sure

This is making you happy? And if not, do you need someone to talk to? Because we can be those people. Well, Billy B was doing the same stuff. I mean, Billy B. Billy B needs help more than Tom. Yeah. And I have personally met Billy B

and I consider him a dear friend now. Yeah. But I do think he scares me a little bit. I think you guys are all about to be utterly shocked with how good UNC football is about to be this year and you are going to sit back and laugh yourself for everything Bill didn't know exactly what he was doing. I just want him to break the NFL record and he deserves that.

Yeah, maybe he still will. Maybe he wins a quick ACC championship with UNC and then all of a sudden someone goes like this, you know what, Bill, we need you. Dude, Tom hires him to coach the Raider. Yeah. That would be gas. Holy shit. How is that not happened?

How am I just thinking of this? Because you think inside the box. Yeah. And I'm encouraging you to join me on the. outside of that box. So here's my question to you, Grant. I have no issue at all. I'm on your side where I'm like, dude, do everything. He's, he's like, he's like, you're in your side. Because Grant's saying he's a divorce guy, he's living. So am I. And I'm like, all good. All good. You said he needed help. I said. No, Grant. Clip that, Grant. Grant, whip that. Tom Brady needs help.

Sean, back me up. I asked the question if he needs help. I'm saying, do you need help? I didn't say he needs help. I do you need help? It sounded an awful like, an awful lot, like you need help. But here's my question. And I'm trying to actually figure out how I feel about this in real time. So go on this journey with me. I don't, I think you're kind of right. Anyone doing a WWE fight

kind of reeks of need money, but, but. No, no, it's certainly not that. He doesn't. That was my whole point. He does not need this. So I'm now looking for the reason why he's doing it. Oh, yeah, no, that's what I'm agreeing with you. I'm saying, okay, he doesn't need money. And this looks as though you need money, but he doesn't. And also, but I'm okay with going,

if he loved the WWF growing up and was like a life experience for me would be doing a WAAE fight, I'm like, okay, I have no issue with that at all. My question that I'm trying to solve, and I'm aware, spoiler alert for anybody, but I'm aware the WVE is scripted. That's okay. It's still fun.

Whoa, whoa. And it has value, dude. It is awesome, and it is fun for that reason, but it is scripted. I get that. Hold on. I know, Dan. I know.

I know. Hold on. Vince. What parts are. Dan, Vince was deciding who was going to win those next. No. Yes. No.

Do you guys know the concept of Keyfabe? Of what? Keyfabe. No. You're talking about the thing? It's like a little circular thing that you used to get into buildings. That's a key fob. And I also thought he was talking about fob ad, but he's not.

So keyfabe. And I want a quick shout out to, Auburn University's history of race and wrestling and recipes class that I took. That was a real thing that I did take that helped me out. That's how I end up podcasting. Anyways, the concept of keyfave is basically the side talk that wrestlers do, where they obviously put exactly what Tom Brady and Logan Paul are doing right now. Hey, I got to have this fake beef to like set up this fight.

But the concept of keyfabe was basically like the third language that they developed to kind of discuss how they were going to get into these things. because a lot of them are actually best friends, spent summers together, hang out, all that stuff. And keyfabe used to be an art. There used to be books on it. WWE would teach it as a class as soon as you, like, joined the WWE.

A lot of actors still use it all the time. That's why you have like the rock and all these guys, Batista. Like they will highlight keyfave as their beginnings to understand how they became an actor. Why in the world? Like, why didn't we send Tom Brady to a keyfabe class? Why didn't we teach him, hey, if you're going to, if you're going to do this beef,

we've got to get a little back into the art of keyfay. and how to make it look real to actually get these fights going. Yeah. Well, I don't think... That's a great point. I don't think... Well, first of all, they're doing a great job because we're talking about it. Yep.

Everyone's talking about it. It is clear. I think it's been clear since the moment they had that podcast situation where Tom was being like, you're not a fucking good athlete. Yeah. Right then and there, I would say most people with common sense were like, this is manufactured. this is now all so hilariously manufactured that I don't even know what they're working towards.

Like, again, this was my exact question. I'm so good to say that, because that's what I was trying to figure out. I obviously know WW me is scripted, and if Tom really wants to fight Logan Paul in a W-W-E match, so be it. But what I can't tell is if all the, this is such a long buildup now of many fake beeps that I'm like, We know this is script. We all know this is scripted. So what I literally can't tell is I'm like, are you guys trying to, do you believe you're fooling us?

Or do you believe, do they believe, you all know this is fake, but we're just going to drag this? Okay. Like that's what I just, I can't wrap my head around. We can move on from this too, because I know it's a delicate situation

because we're talking about a man that we love. I spent a lot of time this morning thinking about this and forcing myself to remember there are so many young people in the world and dumb people in the world who will just believe whatever they see and like I think about I'm not going to name him

I think about our young cousin who I knew who we know is a Logan Paul fan oh and now he knows exactly what I'm talking about he especially when he was younger is exactly the type of person who believes this. Yeah.

Because they pop online and they see Tom Brady slapping Logan Paul and they go, oh my God. And then they run to school and they're like, did you see it? Like Logan Paul's fan base is young, young, young kids. Isn't there like the bully though at the playground who's like, you're an idiot? And that's fake. Probably. But like I actually, Chris, think the bullies are probably, especially at that age are the ones who believe this more than any because they're like, I love this shit.

Yeah. So like they are selling this to some people. Like there are, it has been funny watching. a lot of the people we interact with in the media and like everyone feels like they're on the same side of what this what is going on here but clearly people are loving yeah there's a lot of people on earth and that's what is interesting also nobody brought up his kids man like this is like he's just a dad trying to be cool to his kids i well i i i was avoiding that because i don't want to talk about people's family life but you didn't say anything bad i completely agree yeah i said

this to someone yesterday i was like dude i i think there's a huge element of this like his young kids are probably like this is so cool like my dad's like interacting with logan paul like so dad is going to fight dad just punched logan paul and this is cool that'd be sick wouldn't you want to see your dad but don't like but don't this kids love logan paul's ass yeah but wouldn't it be sick you're you're like ah my dad won't logan paul's ass like that's i love this i love i love an idea that that if you're a kid if who's a fan of anybody watching your dad punch that person is is peak you know like if my dad was ever could never punch Leo de Gabriel would be so awesome. Yeah.

Like dude, you got, you got to see my dad whale on Leo. It's fucking crazy. It's absolutely insane. I can't wait for the fight, dude. I can't wait for the fight. I know. I know. Okay, now I want to talk quickly.

We've been doing a lot of golf stuff on this show. Yeah. And I want to talk quickly about the Open Championship this past weekend. I love a little major golf. Yeah. I love a little major golf. I love a little major drama. Yep.

Yes, Dad. Very nice. I just wanted to weigh in on the Bryson DeShambeau situation from the weekend. You're telling me that you don't want to talk about Ryan Fox. Oh, I mean, dude, incredibly massive dong putt, but specifically second shot into the 18th. Incredible.

Massive, heavy dick. I also just love how he doesn't care. He seems like a guy who's like, I'm good at golf, I don't care about the ins and outs of golf. And I really like how he was like, I, he golfs fast. Yep. That's cool. Yeah.

Just a cool dude. I love him. Yeah, it was great, dude. And that, golf is cool. Also, shout out my guy, Ricky Fowler with a nice tie for 18th finish. And it's also cool. He's not dead. I'll tell you that much.

Golf is cool because tennis, the big guy just wins every time. You know, like every major, it's like the guy is going to win. It was Federer and Nade and that's it. Golf, you can just be like, holy shit, that was sick. you won a massive tournament. The Bryson thing, have you seen the video? Oh, yeah, of course.

Seen it all. Bryson, I, my larger take is this. I don't think you can totally buy that it improved his lie. Some people think it clearly improved his lie. Some people think it didn't. I don't think it's clear.

I also think it was completely just him looking at the shot. I don't think he was trying to do it. My takeaways are, one, the Rory comments were crazy. Like, Rory, it's so hard. That's like, Jesus. I need, like, a documentary about why those two hate each other so much.

Like, dude. I mean, it is like, it feels talking, talk about W.W.E. Yeah. It feels W.W.E.esque, how happy Rory McElroy is to be like this. I, you know, everyone knows that I fucking hate that guy's guts. And I'm like, Jesus Christ, pal. Like, and also, as someone who's come around on Rory heavy. Yep.

Yeah, yeah. For Rory McElroy to say, I think Bryson is performative and he does stuff for attention when you have done some of the things that you have done on tour is crazy. It's insane. Great. This man fired an iron into a fucking pond. Yeah. Like at a PGA event.

I'm like, dude, chill. Like, we all, everyone has blowups. Like, let's relax. But I, one thing I am going to say, dude, I loved how Sheffler was like, he is not a cheater, he didn't try to cheat. As someone who loves golf, loves watching golf on TV, and I'm getting more and more into golf every day.

Like, I'm starting to play a really good golf in my life, and that's great, it makes me love golf. Golf's rules are so fucking lame. Like, if golf, if you want to continue skyrocketing, literally take a page out of Happy Gilmore that came out fucking 20 plus years ago, just calm down. I think it is nuts that you can't,

obviously you can't move a ball. But like if I'm, if my ball's in the woods and there's like a branch in the way, you should be able to break that fucking branch off, dude. Who gives a shit? It is nuts how stupid those rules are. And when they're like, even Schephler being like this Bryson is not a cheater.

It makes me laugh my ass off that what he did could ever be considered cheating. Like the fact that we're using the word cheating with something like stepping on grass is hilarious to me. But I will say this. Everyone who has been like, do you think he did it on purpose? Do you think he knows what he was doing?

In my opinion, if you are a golfer on the PGA tour, you know how insane their rules are. So I don't believe that he could have walked into that grass and stepped on grass the way he did without being like this. I need to worry about if I'm doing something wrong here. So I'm like, I think he was doing that in purpose. But I don't think what he did was bad, though. Like, I don't think he was being like, I'm actively cheating.

I think he was just being like, yeah, like I'm going to try to like walk through grass. Like any normal human walks to grass when they're looking for something or like looking for. So I don't think he was making a decision to go like, I'm going to do something here. I think he was just behaving normally. Oh, yes. I think you got to where I was headed because everybody was going. I know one thing about Bryson. He's not a cheater.

And Rory's part of his comment was like, whether, it was careless or whether it was intentional, I don't think it matters. Hopefully it was careless being like, but I think you're cheating. I think you were intentionally cheating. And I'm like, dude, calm down. Calm down. He is not a cheater. And Dan, where you headed was so good for me. Golf, the reason I was mad about the ruling in the first place is the whole point of golf is these guys police themselves. Like, it's a very, it's an honorable game. But I think golf is so insane when someone's standing over a ball and then it moves. And he's like, sir, yeah, I got to be a good man. And like, someone has to be like this, did you do anything to make that move?

And I'm like, did he get on his hands and he's and blow on it? Because if not, then no, he didn't. And then the narrative after with the media is always like, this is a good example for the kids. He took a stroke penalty costing himself hundreds of thousands of dollars. And I'm like, shut the fuck up. I don't give a fuck if the ball rolled. Dude, this is the video I wanted to pull up.

I don't know what the rule was, but you remember this. 1999 Phoenix Open. Tiger Woods hits one under a rock. And you're allowed to move the rock if you can do it. So that's all the fans. the higher fans move a boulder so he can hit and then he birdies. No. And they're like, that's allowed.

And I'm like, and Bryson's stepping on a fucking branch, 10 feet behind him isn't allowed, dude. Golf? Dude, chill out. Chill out. They just need to chill out. Do you know how fucking good these guys are at hitting a golf ball? Just let them hit the golf ball. It's just, it's one of these things where I'm like, I get when people want to bring up, well, that's the game. But I'm like, sometimes the game needs to be changed.

Yeah, dude. Put that on a fucking t-shirt, dude. When we have guys mud ball, if you're not a big golf fan, mud ball is a thing that happens in golf when you hit a drive, a T-shot, any shot, and it lands in the fairway, and maybe the fairway is a little bit wet because of the conditions or whatever, and the mud gets in the divvets of the ball. And you then hit your second shot because you can't move your ball, which is, by the way, is sitting in the fairway.

Yeah. And then the ball flight is crazy because there's mud all over it. That is insane. It's so dark. When you hit your, when you pipe your drive down the fairway and it's in the fairway and it's covered in mud, you should be able to wipe that ball. They're like, no, dude. And they're like this, that's golf. And I'm like this wrong. It's like that would be like in hockey if a massive chunk of the ice came out. And they were just like this. Keep it, dude. Play it as it lies. I'm like, I just had to hit off Bigfoot's foot. Yeah. What are you talking about? Like, we can't be doing this. The game needs to fucking relax. What I want to watch is these guys play golf well. Stop making them fucking hit off of Sasquatch.

Dude, I was so bad when everybody online was like, Bryce had pulled, like, because you know how he was like, I'm going to quit. And they were like, I hope he comes. Like, he's holding the tournament hostage. And I was like, I hope he quits so badly. I hope he goes, I'm leaving, dude. Fuck you guys. Okay, I didn't like that.

But I actually know, I know what you mean. It's ridiculous, dude. So stupid. All right, let's take another quick ad break and then jump back into some fun stuff. Everyone who watches this show knows that I am all about fitness, nutrition, and that is meals, baby. When we're talking about that stuff, we've got to talk about what we're eating. And Factor has completely changed the game for me. And I'm going to be honest with you guys.

I love cooking. I'm a big, go to the grocery store, buy a bunch of stuff, prep my meals, figure out what I'm making. But listen, life gets busy. It gets crazy. It gets hectic. Sometimes we've got meetings that run long. Things pop up. Interviews come out of nowhere.

all of a sudden my schedule gets thrown out and I don't have time to cook. So then I'll get home late. Got to figure my stuff out. And instead of trying to scramble a meal together, I need something that is good. High in protein has great, unbelievable, healthy ingredients. And that's where Factor comes in. Factor is phenomenal. We've got these meals that are crafted by chefs.

They've got great nutritional value. And here's the big thing, the kicker with all of these. They taste delicious. And they can be sent directly to your door. Factor is the best way to make sure that you have good, high-quality meals with good food in there that's making you hit all of your macros, all of your nutritional goals every single day. So what we are going to do is we are going to head to FactorMeals.com slash Netters 50 off. And you're going to use code Netters 50 off.

That's N-E-T-T-E-R-S-0-O-F. And you know what that means, folks? 50% off. 50% off and free daily greens per box with a new subscription only while supplies last until the 27th of September this year. I'm telling you right now, cooking can be so crazy, especially during the week when you've got tons of stuff going on with work, you don't have time to get it done. Let Factor Meals help you by giving you these delicious meals, making you hit all your goals,

and it takes no time at all. FactorMeals.com slash Netters 50 off. Go get yours today. We teased it earlier. We got to jump into it now before we wrap things up with a purely hotline. We got to talk about the airport. What a journey. I hate to do this.

I really do because I think it's very easy to rip on airlines and to talk about your grievances with your bad travel and this and that and that and that. And I'm a big United guy. You've talked about United many times on this program. But brutal shift by United this. Absolutely brutal shift. Dude, it was crazy. It was absolutely insane, dude.

It's, and dude, it's not over. Like, I am, I am currently still dealing with the fuck-ups of United. And, like, I'm telling you right now, as a high-level flyer, United, you got, like, you need to make up for what you have done to us. And you're going to pay. Oh, no, you're not going to pay. Well, I mean, you're literally going to pay. Yeah, yeah, that's what I mean. But, like, you just do the right thing and we'll be fine.

and I'll go back to giving you double-risters, which is what you deserve, because I love United. But United fucked up, you need to make up for it. Would you like to say some of the things happen to you? You don't even want to talk about it. I'll go through the whole thing that happened to me because yours is absolutely insane. But we flew to Nashville earlier, or Thursday.

Flew to Nashville, had a connection in Houston. Why did you fly to Nashville? Went to Nashville for Mike Grinnell's Bachelor Party. Shout out G. Shout out G. Congrats. So fun. So much fun.

And shout out every dude on that trip. We can't even get into it. Such a fun trip. We couldn't even believe how fun it was. We get to Nashville and we landed in the evening on Thursday so we had to get right into it with boys. Had to go meet them for dinner. What happens? United loses my bag.

Yep. And this is an interesting one because I had my golf clubs and I had my bag that had all my clothes in it. They lost the bag with all the clothes in it. Yep. I don't even know how you lose one bag and not the other. Very strange. They are both taken by the same person, both printed off the same bag tags. And I look on the app and my bag has been sent to Baltimore.

Yeah. Like I'm looking at it. And it's like this in transit to Baltimore. And I was like, okay. So I go into baggage help or whatever, like the desk. And I'm like, hey, so like my bag's headed to Baltimore. And I love how some of these people work in a service industry job. And they are like, how dare you talk about it?

Yeah. And this woman was like, she goes, I was like, hey, so I got one of my bags. The other appears to not be here. And she's like, okay, what do you want me to do about it? She literally said, what do you want me to do about it? And I looked over my shoulders to see if there's a camera behind me. Yeah. Because I couldn't believe that someone asked me what I want them to do about their job. And I was like, I would love to figure out a way to get my bag. And she was like, okay, we can do that.

Yeah. I was like, great. Oh, great. We're back on the right track. So they tell me that my bag will be given to me, and they have no idea when. And I'm like, all right, well, that kind of sucks because I got to now go out in the clothes that I'm wearing. I have to golf tomorrow. I have to do all of our plans tomorrow, and I have no clothes. So we go about our day.

Eventually, my bag is delivered at 9 p.m. the following day, which is basically did absolutely nothing for me because we then left at 8 a.m. the next day. So I get my bag. we then get on a flight from Nashville to Newark. I go to check only my golf bag, and I'm like, I only checked my clothes bag because I was checking my golf bag, and I was like, I might as well do both. So now I'm like, I'm bringing my carry on for sure this time.

So I go to check my golf bag, gentlemen, and there is a nationwide outage in United System. So I get there to bag check. There's a huge line. I'm in like the Premier line, and even that's not moving. You are premier talent. Yeah.

Premier talent. And I'm like, what's going on here? And they go, our systems are down. No one can get their boarding pass on their apps. No one can print their boarding pass and no one can print their bag tags. So we can't take any bags. And what I found so funny, the people behind the account, these people were actually quite lovely. Yeah.

The people behind the United Desk were only like this. If you have your bag tags, you can come. And I'm like, how could they have that? Yeah. Like, what is going on? The kiosk. Everyone was being like, yeah, I obviously don't have my bag tags. So we wait there.

And the cutoff is 715 for them to be able to take my check bags. It's like 650, 7, 710. And this woman behind the desk is going, guys, don't worry about the bag check cutoff. We're going to push back all these flights because no one can do anything. All the systems are down. And I'm sitting there and I'm being like, I'm getting no notice anywhere.

And like their systems are done. so maybe not but I'm like I don't know that that's true Chris only has carry-ons so I go dude go through security and go to the gate and tell me if they're boarding because I don't I don't believe that there's good communication going on here so Chris does just that text me about 10 minutes later and he goes oh yeah we are boarding so I walk up to the front and I tell this woman I go hey I just had my brother go through he's on the same phone I'm on the 8 a.m. to Newark he says they're boarding and this woman goes what and I was like yeah the

flight to Newark is boarding. And she was like, that, that's wrong. And she, like, gets on her walkie. And she's like, oh, Bravo Fourgate, blah, blah, blah. Like, you're not boarding yet, right? Well, okay, cool. And then she looks at me, she's like, hey, they're not boarding. And then Chris has just sent me a video of the plane assuredly boarding.

People pouring on. So I literally just go like this to this one and I go, here they're bored. Like, I was not being, I was like, they're boarding. I don't know what's going on. We're on group three, dude. Like, this is the, so I was like, here's the deal. I'm going for an event that I'm performing at. I can't miss this flight.

So, like, should I just leave my clubs here with you guys? Like, you can send them to L.A. or something, but, like, I got to go if this flight is boarding. And she's not freaking out because she's like, this plane cannot be boarding. And I'm now like, what the fuck is going on? Then the systems come back on. So I go up, I give them my golf clubs, and I go, you are assuring me that these clubs are going to get on that flight that is currently boarding. And she was like, yes, because we are going to delay that flight. And I go, okay, you sure?

She was like, yes. So they tag my bag. They give me the receipt that says on it that flight. And I'm like, okay. So I go through security. And Chris is texting me and he's like, yo, dude, we're like, like the gates are closing. So I'm now running through. I run onto the plane.

I get on. And then sure enough, the plane pushes off at eight. Oh, dude. They do not delay that plane at all. So we land in Newark and we're now waiting for our bags. And Chris had to gate check his clothes. Because I waited so long for Dan that by the time I get on to board, there's no room.

There's no room. So we have to check your bag. And I was like, okay. So we land and I go to oversized baggage claim for my clubs. Chris is waiting for his normal bags. And I'm standing there, standing there. I'm on my phone. 15 minutes go by.

And now I'm like, Jesus, I find a bench. I go sit down. It's like right across from it. I'm doing, I'm like sending emails. And I, again, we need to leave. need to get to Fanatics Fest. To interview Alex Ovesque. This isn't a fucking joke, dude. And I look up and it's been 45 minutes. And I was like, what the fuck is going on? So then after an hour, I go to United Baggage help. And I'm like, hey, I was on the 8 a.m.

flight and she goes, the one from Nashville. And I was again, she's like, yeah, there's bad weather. So we're just a little caught up. And I'm like looking around, not a single carousel spinning. And I'm like, it's been an hour. Like how bad. up are you short long story short two hours go by and then we're like I have to leave so I look at my app and on my I have not been notified this I just happen to see it because I look on my app whoops my golf clubs did not get on that plane obviously so they're just on a different plane so I talked to this woman I'm like I need to leave I'm gonna leave my clubs here and I will get them tomorrow because I'm

leaving at 7 a.m. in the morning I then find out that they weren't even on the right plane. They're still in Nashville. They haven't even arrived. I fill out like six different forms to send my clubs to L.A. and have them delivered to my house. And then I waited on hold. Yes, I waited on hold that night for 45 minutes and then had to just hang up because

I was like, I have a 7 a.m. flight. I then waited on hold yesterday for an hour and a half, only to have this guy tell me, oh, yeah, we will get them sent to L.A.X. And you can go pick them up. And I went, I sure shit cannot, pal. You will deliver those to my house. house. And he was like, well, that's an LAX thing. It's not a United thing. And I was like, well, then you will tell someone from United to call an Uber to go and get my fucking clubs and

deliver them to my fucking house because you guys have fucked up. Oh, dude, it was insane. I don't even have time to get into all the saga with mine, but here are my funny stories for you guys. On the way to Nashville, Houston to Nashville, I am in an aisle seat and a older, uh, regular looking white gentleman, the 60 year old guy is like, I'm in the middle right there. And I go, great. Get up and sit down. And I have some OV research to do. So I'm like, I really need to work on this flight.

So we haven't even taken off yet. And I got my over ear, like those headphones you're wearing. I got like over your headphones on. And I pull my laptop out. And the guy looks at me. See him look at me. And he goes, you go into Nashville for fun? And I'm like, fuck.

So I go. Move my headphone and I go, uh, yes. And I just say yes, that's it. You know, because I'm like, if I can't, I can't keep going here. And he goes, you go to national fun? And I go, yes. And he goes, what kind of fun? And I go, I go, I go a bachelor party.

What about you? And he goes, funeral. I go, fuck you, dude. Literally, fuck you. You, I cannot. Dude, I have absolutely been rinsed now. Like you literally set this whole thing up. And I almost laughed because it was so insane.

And I go, oh, I'm sorry to hear about that. And he goes, yeah, my mom died. And I go, bro. His mom? Yeah. I go, your mom died, dude. So now I go. Dude, I kept looking over and seeing you yucking it up with this guy the entire flight.

And I was like, what is going on? He's grieving. He goes, he's actively grieving. Yeah, you need help. Yeah. See, Grant, this is why it's good to check if people need help. He goes. Actually, wait, not to interrupt you, Chris.

I had this happen. So, like, recently, obviously, like, I'm going to zoom through this really fast. Obviously, my mom passed away, like, when I was very young. Yeah. And sometimes my dad's a grief, like, chaplain. So that's what a lot of what he does is he spends his time, like, helping people through grief on the daily. And I went to buy a surfboard, and I went and Facebook Marketplace. And I bought Surfboard.

I was like, hey, man, this is awesome. Thank you. And then he goes, yeah, I would have been writing it, but my wife just died. And then I was like, I had, like, it. And I was also like, I'm just going to go surf, you know, like I'm so fired up. I was in that same, like, you know, mind frame. And I'm like, oh, this is awesome. That's great.

And then I was like, oh, man, like, now I got to kick in my grief response here. And that's exactly. Like, I had to kick in the grief response and then spend the next two hours. Thankfully, ended up reaching out to my dad all went good about just what to do after that. Because it was like a week before. Her life best way. And but sometimes, like, because that person's grieving. And so they're going through it.

and they just don't know what to say because they just want to talk about it. And then you like fall into that. And then you're like, but sometimes you just want to go surf. You know what I mean? Sometimes you just want to get on the plane. Absolutely insane.

So, and to your point, Grant, now I was kind of like, oh, dude, this guy needs someone, needs to talk. You know,

so I was like, so I kind of close my laptop and I go, uh, well, you know, at least, um,

the fan, you're, you're, you're going to be with family. Well, I'll be together with family. And he goes, no I'm the only one going back she's a terrible person everyone hated her

I just feel there's some biblical feel there's some biblical obligation for me to put her in the ground and I'm like bro you have got to be fucking my dad right now what why why does this stuff happen so I'm like I am now in shock you should have you should have gone like this you know what you're right fuck her yeah well Dan I go God forbid this guy ever sees this clip he's certainly not a netter's fan but I was literally did you tell him what what we do Hell no, dude.

Well, actually, kind of. Yeah, I think maybe I did. You're fucked. He is posted up grieving, watching this right now. And I just said, fuck his mom. He has absolutely rinsed me, okay, at this point. Like, he has set me up for, are you having fun? Great, my mom's dead.

And I'm like, oh, okay. So then I'm like, oh, my God, that's terrible. And he's like, he's got siblings, but he has a half brother who is already, like, trying to take the land and he's, like, going to sue them, you know, and he's like, so, you know, fuck, fuck him. And I was like, yeah, dude. Fuck him. Sure.

Like, no, you and you and your siblings should, like, be a united front. And he's like, yeah, but I don't, you know, I don't get along with my siblings. Like, they used to bully me and beat me up when I was little. When I turned 17, I started fucking hurting them, though. I'm talking broken arms, broken noses. I'll fuck them up. And I was like, I'm glad you took a stand. Like, I'm literally like, I'm like, yeah.

Nice, dude. Yeah, I'm like, yeah. This is crazy, dude. Dude, so we get into it for a while and we're chatting because I'm now, like, I don't even know what's going to happen. So I just, you know, I absorb the chat for a while. We get in the air. You know, he gets like a snack, I think. And then he kind of just like falls asleep.

He's just like a sleep in the middle chair. And I'm like, oh, my God, amazing. Boom. Headphones back up, boom. And I'm cooking, dude. I'm really into it. With like 40 minutes after the flight, he wakes back up. I see him wake up, but I'm like, you know, whatever.

Yeah. I re-get in the zone. And then he knocks, hits me on the arm. And I look over, like, take my headphones off and look over. And he's holding his phone up to me like this. There's a picture on it. And I go. I look at him and he goes, it's a beef stew I had in Portugal one time.

I swear to God, dude. And I go, what? And he goes, this is a, this is a, this is a, this is a, this is a, time out, time out, time out, time out, time out, time out, time out, time out. At any point in your prior conversation, did travel come up? No. Portugal, beef stew, or any other type of rich hearty soup? No.

Okay. Dude, he goes like this. Unbelievable. Beef stew ahead in Portugal. time and I go oh it looks amazing and then the last whole 40 minutes at the end of the flight just Portugal you know like yeah I went surfing here whatever and then we were as soon as the it was a beef stew I was like yep yeah but like a stew isn't even a particularly photogenic food no or particularly Portugal dish like I was like you just is a rogue beef stew

that you had yeah your first question should have probably been why did you order beef stew in Portugal So good, dude. Unbelievable. And somehow that was even more insane than setting me up for your dead mom. Like, I thought the dead mom was the crazy case ever happened to me. And then the beef stewed. Yeah, because he had to talk about his dead mom. He didn't have to talk about that. It was even crazier. And then this was my other hilarious part of my trip. I, on, yes, yeah, yesterday I was at the airport all day, right? Like just trying to. Yeah. Can I see this up real quick? Yeah. She slept through his 7 a.m. flight yesterday. But got.

to the airport like around 7 a.m. So he, you know, he missed it and was like, fuck, and then ripped there. What time would you like to guess that he got on a plane? In today's current climate of air travel, I'd say 3 p.m. Okay. Good guess. Took off at 9.30 p.m. He was in the airport for 14 hours.

Tough day. Tough shift for your boy, but this was the best part. Did you eat three meals in the United Watch? I just kept going back in. I was like, yeah. Here is the best part, dude. Like, at no point where you're like, I'm going to venture out and see if there's like a restaurant here that could give me a little bit. Dude, well, I couldn't because they kept bumping me to the next flight.

Yeah. I couldn't leave. Well, I don't mean the city. I mean the airport. Oh, no, no, no, no. Here was the best part, dude. I get there and I was bummed because I was the 7 a. I was going to get me back in time to watch the World Cup game here with you guys.

And I was like, oh, whatever. I'm either going to miss it now, which would suck, or I'll just watch it here. You know, it is what it is. And, dude, I said to Dan, I wasn't. missing anything if you were if you get a flight fucked up and you're like going to a wedding or something it sucks i was just coming home like it was okay you know headache not a heartache whatever so i wasn't that rattled but when i got there at seven the guy was like fuck or i got there at 705 he's like you just missed the flight and i was like i know and then um he's like well there's a 915 uh

and i was like oh my god because that landed at 11 30 and i was still gonna make the world cup game so it was the easiest like no blood this was amazing and he's like uh there's a full, but I'll just put you on standby, and you'll get on it. And I was like, thank you so much. Incredible. So I go through security, boom, I'm on standby. So I get to that flight and we're about to board. And keep in mind, dude, there's a 915, a 10, and a 12. Those I miss the game, but like just for the sake of getting home. But I'm on the 915. I get to the 915 and it's delayed. They're like, oh, delayed for like a refueling issue or something. And I'm like, oh, Christ. So it's just like we're delayed, delayed, delayed. And

I keep getting pushed so hard on that flight that now we blow through the 10, which I could have got on. But I'm on, you know what I mean? Like I'm stuck on the standby thing here. Yeah, it's a nightmare. So I'm like, fuck me. So then the 10 takes off.

And then we get delayed, delay, delay, delay, the 12 takes off. And I'm like, bro. And then finally my 9 o'clock flight is ready to leave at like 1230. I've now missed the World Cup game, but like it is what it is. And they go, Christopher, picture.

Like everyone boards. And they go, Christopher Powers. And I go, yep. And they go, boom. they scanned my fucking standby boarding pass, and they go, go down the jetway, you get your seat at the door. And you have to check your bag.

And I'm like, you know, fucking going to lose this shit, but sounds good. So I walk down the jetway. And dude, there's a ton of people on standby, right? And they're like, any more seats? Please, please, sir? And they're like, nope, just for Chris, because he's cool and has better status than you

and is a more important person. And I go, amazing. He's not premier talent. Yeah. But he is talent. And I walk down the jetway, and I look back at all the other standby peasants and I go,

I wish you all well Enjoy Newark Losers The lounge is lovely I'll say hi to everyone in California for you Good day It's been a pleasure

And I go down the jetway Hand the guy my bag The amount that you cry When you laugh It's fucking insane Like can you laugh Without crying these days It's crazy

I go down the thing And then they go So as I'm waiting, they go, oh, we'll get your seat. And the flight attendant's like getting me the number. And then the guy at the gate comes back down. He goes, Mr. Powers? And I go, yes, sir. Is some beautiful women wishing me well, sending me their numbers?

And he goes, the 915 got delayed so long that someone missed their 1015 flight. And they are now on standby. And they have better status than you. So they have just. come to this gate and they now get this seat please leave and I go like what and he goes get walk back out the jetway and look all those people in the face that you just made fun yeah and then return to your fucking seat carma bitch and dude oh my god it's like to take my bag back from the

gate check guy go back up the jetway like a loser they've they perp walked him off the plane Yep, and I come back up and all the other standby people are there, and they're like, hey, guys, we've rolled you on to the next standby flight, which was the 2 o'clock. And then I look at that one, and I'm like 12th on that list. So I miss the 2, miss the 4, miss the 5, miss the 645, and then the 725 flight I clear standby and get on. And I was like, yes.

And then they were like this, hey, we have an operational issue on this flight. It's been delayed two and a half hours. And I was like, it's amazing. And then I took it. Air travel has gotten substantially worse year over year since 20. It is like actually in, and I'll say this, clearly the bad weather on the East Coast was a problem because there were these two lovely women on my flight. One was sitting next to me. She was like, I'm 1K as well.

And it's like I've been just jerked around this one woman and her husband were coming back from Zurich flying to Denver. They got to the airport because of the weather on the East Coast or whatever. they got delayed like nine hours they had to sleep in the Zurich airport then they got flown and had to newark then she got put on a flight from Newark to L.A. and then she was like we have now a six hour layover before we fly to Denver yeah and I was like good God yeah it's crazy I was like do you would you like to sleep at my house dude John when the bags were getting fucked in in Newark when we were going to the Ovi thing since they took my clothes bag like Dan they only lost his clubs only but They took my bag.

So, dude, we were going to interview OVee, and all I was wearing was my fucking pajamas from the flight. And that's what I interviewed him in, dude. I couldn't get my bag. And I was actually, like, really bummed because I, like, not that it was going to be that cool, but I had, like, picked out clothes to wear for that. And I had my glasses on and all the shit.

And you're, like, OV, number one fan shirt. Yes, dude. You know what's really funny? He was flying in a pair of black joggers and our new, one of our new awesome hoodies that we've just released. And I sat there thinking, thank God whatever horrible outfit this clown picked out is not what he can like he actually looks cool yeah I was so I was thrilled it was just so dirty like it might like it had like stains all over

it but also why are you getting stains on all because I'm a messy eater okay fine this is gonna make the interview so much better yeah like the context that everybody has dude grant no joke I was so pissed because I go where I went in I was like where the where the back so like what is literally happening because mine his was like on a wrong plane I'm like mine was on the plane. Like, just give me the bag. And dude, they go, do you see it? Like, they pointed to a, because we were by a big window and they were like, they're right there. But there's lightning inside of 20 miles of the area. So we're not allowed to walk across the tarmac and get it. And I was like, I'll go. Literally, I will hold a metal rod up in the air and walk myself across the tarmac.

Which isn't even necessary for that job. Yeah. But that's, it was insane, dude. So yeah, it was like, so much of the experience is a fucking nightmare. It was a journey. But we survived. United, make up for this. This is the beef still ahead. All right, let's wrap things up with a nice beer league hotline. A guy left our team a few years ago and took the jerseys that our sponsor paid for. When some of the boys asked him to return them, he said he couldn't find them. We strongly believe he still has them and just doesn't care that he's left the new lads without jerseys while we wait to order replacements.

The twist is, I'm one of the. owners of the sponsoring company, should we send him a collection's notice for the jerseys? Or is that crossing the line? 100% sent him a collection notice. Also, the term collections notice is so, so tier. That's so national. And then he said lads too. I think this guy, I like this guy.

This is a proper gentleman. Here, I have some questions, though. How, someone on our team at least, has the water bottles, has the, although the rink actually very, very nicely provides Pucks now, but we used to be like, who has the Pucks? Who has the water bottles?

I'm surprised, and someone has a jersey bag of extras on our team. Yeah, okay. But people have their own jerseys in their bag. I would say most often, yes, teams. Yeah. But maybe this is a team that has so much turnaround that one guy has the jerseys

and they're like, we dole these out at every game because we don't know who's showing up and we got to make sure. Okay, fair. So that was my first question. Like, someone just has the jerseys. So this guy is that guy, that he has the jerseys,

which is how he got his hands on them. Second question is, he said a few years ago, he took them. And then he's like, now he's waiting. I think they've been sitting on this for a while. But they've just been,

what have they been wearing for years? I think they got new jerseys. Well, the lads, I think the lads are still waiting. Oh, is we wait to order. We're waiting on replacement jerseys. Yeah, what the hell's going on? And, and this.

And this submitter is the guy whose company is the jerseys. Yeah, yeah, well, that will get to. But there is a gap in time here that I'm very confused. I'm very confused about that. What have you been wearing? This guy says a guy left our team a few years ago and took the jerseys that are, so what have you been doing for years? What are you wearing?

That is something that we need to know. But let's avoid that because that's too complicated. Okay. What we have here is an absolute piece of shit. Plain and simple. Plain and simple, we've got an absolute piece of shit here. This guy leaves the team and takes the jerseys. At first, I thought it was going to be a, maybe it's like a bar sponsors the team and he owns the bar.

And he's disgruntled and he's like, we paid for these. I'm taking them. I'm starting my new team and we're going to use the jerseys. In which case, I was going to say, that's kind of a shit move, but I also get it. Yep. But not only is that not the case. The other dude, the guy who is sending us this message works for the company that sponsors the team. So this is just an absolute piece of shit move.

Yeah, it's an act of terror. This guy left the team. It's an act of terror. He's just trying to hurt the team by taking their jerseys. And dude, sometimes some guys take their own jersey. And we've even had situations where we're like, hey, can we get that jersey back? But I'm kind of like, let them have it. It's like, especially if they've been on the team a long time.

I'm like, that's a cool thing. We'll buy a new jersey. Yeah. But taking all of them, literally me, I want to follow up from this guy. We're always asking for follow up. I want to follow up from this guy who left. Yeah. Because I'm like, we're there.

all dicks? Why would, because this is such an insanely aggressive move, especially if he, they strongly believe he has them. And what are you doing? You can't even use them. It's not like he's going, I'm starting a new team with this. Actually, that would be insane. Agree. If he starts a new team sponsored by that guy's bar. Here's the thing. Jerseys aren't that expensive. So what I would say is order yourself New Jersey's, but change them up. Do a, do a home and away thing, because this is what's going to happen. Order yourself New Jersey's. Get some socks in there too. Change up the color. do the reverse of whatever the jerseys this guy stole were,

and then send this guy a bill and go, hey, dickhead, you stole our jerseys, we had to buy new ones, you're now paying for them because you stole our jerseys. Yep. What's going to happen is this guy's going to go, oh, here are the jerseys back, because he doesn't want to pay for all the jerseys. Yep. Then you have home and aways. Because I promise you, you're not going to get a dime from this scumbag.

Yeah. But if you buy new jerseys and you send him a bill and go, we had to buy New Jersey's fuck bag, pay. Yep. He will get shook enough that he go, you paid for new jerseys, here are the old jerseys. Yep. Then you have a home and away.

What if he really lost them? Then he has to pay for them still. This guy sucks. This guy sucks. There is no explanation for what this hurt human being has done other than he's a piece of shit. You can't have, good point, because you can't have lost the jerseys. You can't be team jersey guy.

Like, dude, when Rob forgets the water bottles. Sorry, Rob. When Rob forgets the water bottles, I want to punch him in the face. Yeah, I agree. Because then all of you fucking rats are drinking for my water bottle. And I'm like, too. No, it's not that. It's, I bring my own water bottle because I'm a big water guy.

Me too. And I'm like, I bring my own because I'm going to drink this thing twice through the game. And then when everyone's drinking it, I don't get enough water. Every period. Every period. So if you're the Jersey guy, you can't be forgetting the jerseys to a game. You certainly can't be losing the jerseys. And you definitely can't be stealing them.

Unless they've done something very mean to you. I want to follow up from this guy. If he follows up and goes, they were bullying me, and they slashed my tires. So I took the jerseys. It's not. What if they, Dan, what if they caused, what if they caused thousands of dollars of property damage to his house at a hockey party? And he said, guys, please help me pay for this. And they've refused.

And he goes, I'm quitting this team and taking the jerseys. Then I would actually be kind of on his side. Me too. I assume, though, if this guy is that tight enough with this team where he's hosting beer league parties at his home, I don't think that they would do that to them. We don't know these guys. We don't know. My assumption is this guy's a piece of show.

He sucks. And buy New Jersey, send him a bill. Yeah. That's that. All right, that's going to wrap up this episode. Amazing stuff. Fun stuff. We've got a ton of incredible interviews coming up here,

including Alex Hedgkin. And then also huge, huge development that we are super excited about. CP and I have been reviewing stuff over the years, movies, this, that, and the other. We are about to finally dabble into what we've been teasing forever in our deep, passionate love for fantasy and sci-fi. And we are starting a new section of the pod that will come out on the YouTube called The Sci-Fi section, where we will be doing a deep dive into our favorite fantasy and sci-fi books. And the first one is one of our personal favorites, the Red Rising series coming very soon.

Deep! Cannot wait. and we will see you there. Until then, skate hard.