Locked On Penguins - Daily Podcast On The Pittsburgh Penguins - Please keep on protesting each and every day until change happens.

Episode Date: June 2, 2020

Hockey takes a much-needed backseat for this episode as Hunter shares his thoughts and speaks out about what's going on around the country with all the racism and how change needs to happen right now. He also talks about the need to keep protesting to demand change and how we all must come together to support our African American communities. Black Lives Matter. He also touches on this day in Penguins history before ending the show with a powerful statement from Jason Zucker. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Hello, welcome to this Monday evening edition of the Locked-on Penguins podcast. I'm your host, Hunter Hodes. Follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L0-U-U-U-Square. Happy Monday, everyone. Last time we spoke, we had our really good interview with Josh Yowie and Chad of Penguins' Twitter. If you guys did not check that out, it was on last Thursday's episode. Just really, really good to pick their brains about the format since there was a, of course, it was a monster week for the NHL and just, you know, get their thoughts on the Penguins'

goaltending situation, you know, Nick Fugstad being out, and a bunch of other stuff. It was the longest episode of this podcast has had yet. Always remember, this show is brought to you by Bilt Bar. We'll talk more about Bilt Bar later. Hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I know things are very, very tough right now in this country. And, you know, we're going to talk about that for a little bit in this first segment. If you guys want to skip this, what I have to say, you're more than welcome to, you know,

I'm not going to hold it against you or anything and get to the hockey in the next. two segments but um you know just what happening right now just what's happening it just it makes me sad um it just you know i think that's the best word to describe it um i 100% understand and i support everyone that's protesting because you know there's this has been a problem in this country for you got to go back what the 6 600 well well before the 1600s man it's it's it's way back you know this has been a problem going way way way way way, way back, you know, like,

before the 1400s, honestly, you know, um, we saw this come up, you know, in the Ferguson, protests in the Ferguson, Missouri ones.

And now with, uh, George Floyd, um, it just, it, it breaks my heart to just see, you know,

these acts of racism and the violence that, you know, they're just, they're, they're too prevalent in, in today's society. I mean, like,

that's honestly the best way to put it, I think, for me, you know, this shit happens so goddamn often. and it's disgusting. Like I really can't say it any other way. It's just it's absolutely disgusting, you know,

like we always need to listen to the black communities, African American communities, take action to support them. I mean, if we're not doing that, then what the hell are we doing? I mean, you know, these people aren't protesting just for the sake of protesting, you know, these people are scared. I mean, they are ridiculously scared.

They have a reason to be scared. And it's not just the events of last week. Like I said, This happens all the God damn time and nothing is done about it. And to make matters worse, you know, you have the president of the United States. You know, he's just making himself look like more of a complete dufus in office, you know, with the stuff that he says. You know, he had that quote on Twitter last week very, very late at night.

What was it? Like when the looting starts, the shooting starts. And it's like, yeah, you're literally just making this shit so much worse. It's just making it into even more of a nightmare. I mean, and now with today he's basically, with what he said today, he's invoking a law from 1807 to send military police to break up the peaceful protest so he could like cross the street to have a photo law where he holds the baby basically a Bible in front of a church. I mean, this is just ridiculous to me. I know I don't voice my opinions about this stuff on this podcast on my Twitter because, you know, I try to keep my opinions about this stuff, you know, just to myself. but with all these weeks events

I feel like I had to say something and share my thoughts with you guys because I'm just so disgusted with what's going on with just how the president has been acting and just, you know, the fact that, you know, there's just so much racial injustice

still in this country. It's disgusting, you know? Like, I'm just, there's just a lot of times like when we're in this shit happens, it just makes me embarrassed to be from this country. I'm sorry about that. That's just really how I feel when these police officers do that

to these African Americans, and we have all these cases year after year after year with all the protests. You know, it just makes me embarrassed to be from this country when this shit with these police officers, the African American community, when this shit keeps happening. It really is. It's just a complete joke. And, you know, with these protests, we want change. Everyone wants change. I'm on that side of it. And again, you know, just while the president was speaking, you know, there was police people were actually firing gas into a couple of peaceful protesters and basically just like hitting them with their shields and it's just like what the hell are we doing here man like what the hell is going on i just i really don't understand this in so many other

goddamn countries this shit does not happen and yet in our country it just this just happens year after year after year and it's been like that for over 400 500 years probably going back way longer and it's just like it's ridiculous like we need change like this shit needs to freaking stop like i really don't know how much more clear i can be and i know i'm probably sound like i'm repeating myself but you know this shit needs to change go out and vote but you know i support everyone going out and protesting this shit 100% needs to stop you know it's it needed to stop a long time ago it's still just it breaks my heart that it's still happening today it's just it's disgusting um just keep protesting i think

if you keep doing this, I think we really will get somewhere. We will win. Just keep doing it. Keep demanding for change. You know, to all the African Americans out there, you know, I say, you know, I'm 100% behind you and I support you. There is no place for this racism in this country, the racial injustice that these people face every goddamn year.

And it just, it sickens me that this continues to happen. And, you know, with these protests, you know, a lot of people are doing this peacefully, which is, you know, like, you have your friends. First Amendment right. You go out and do it and, you know, there's hopefully going to be some change to come. I just, I know I promise you guys, we will make a difference if we just, you know, we stay on this protest. We keep protesting. We keep demanding for change. I promise you it will make a difference. And this country will be better off for it. Because right now, you know, just with everything that's going on, it's unacceptable that it's like this. And by that, of course, I mean all the racial injustice

that's in this country and how there's just so much racism and hatred and all this shit that is still prevalent in all of our societies today that was like this 400, 500 years ago, like I said, and it just hasn't changed. And it's just, it's disgusting to me. But, you know, those are all my, those are my overall thoughts on that. I really appreciate you guys listening to this first segment because I really wanted to get this stuff off my chest. You know, I saw the protest happening, you know, all around the country. This weekend, you know, Pittsburgh had some, though. There is a little an incident with the Mario Lemieux statue. My thoughts on that, you know, I'm not really too fond of what happened there, but, you know, that's all I'm really going to say about that.

But otherwise, you know, Pittsburgh, you know, I love what Pittsburgh was doing. I know there's a lot happening in D.C. I'm 40 minutes outside of D.C. You know, I've seen the videos of Los Angeles. I think there was a protest down to my college at Virginia Tech. Love what they were doing. It makes my heart really, really happy that just a lot of places, you know, we're all coming together and we're demanding for change, which should have happened by now. I've seen a lot of sports teams. seems have been coming out and releasing statements. As of right now, of this recording, the Pittsburgh Penguins have not released a statement condemning this. One thing I will say,

the Penguins are going to have to be very careful with their statement. About a year or two though, they had a Blue Lives Matter flag that they tweeted out. I think the tweet was deleted this morning, actually. So yeah, they're going to have to be very, very careful with their statement. The Penguins' Twitter account has not tweeted in two days. I assume that statement is potentially coming tonight as of Monday night or it's going to be coming tomorrow. I believe as of this recording, 24 of the 31 teams have, or 32 teams, excuse me, have issued a statement condemning these acts against the African American people. But like I said, guys, thank you really much. Thank you so much. Excuse me for listening to what I had to say for this first segment. Like I said, it's something I don't really talk about a lot, but you know, with what's going on in this country, the last few days, I just feel like I really needed to share my thoughts. on everything and just, you know, like I said, to that whole African-American community out there, I support you and I'm 110% behind you every step of the way. And together, I know we will make a difference in this and changes will come.

I 100% know it. So just go out, keep protesting. We will win. I promise you that. But all right, everyone. So let's make the mood a little bit better and let's talk about a protein bar, built bar. There are tasty protein bars that taste like a candy bar, 16 amazing flavors, eight chocolate nut flavors, eight chocolate nut-free flavors.

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That's promo code locked on for $10 off at builtbar.com. All right. So we're back on this episode for Block On Penguins. I will get into some hockey stuff now. This day in Penguin's history, I even retweeted the tweet. Let's go find it real quick. So this day, four years ago today, guys, Connor Sherry did this. One to the back. LaTang has it. Waits and gave it on her to Sherry. All right. We're not going to play the Penguin Goal Horn for about another freaking 30 seconds. But yes, Connor Sherry, game two, overtime here. against the San Jose Sharks. The Penguins went up two games to none. Of course, I ended up winning the Stanley Cup final that year in six games, thanks to Chris Latang's heroics in game six

with that remarkable goal. But still, that play there, man, that set play by Cindy Crosby. I always remember the scene that the interview after the game. He was like, yeah, you know, I made that up on the flyer, set play, went back to LaTang and basically gives it to Sherry. And, you know, beautiful screen in front by Patrick Hornquist and Martin Jones just didn't even see it. I absolutely loved how Martin Jones basically doesn't even.

move there he moves his glove like a little bit but yeah he just he had no idea that was coming i just absolutely love that you know another just another more greatness uh from sidney crosbie i remember exactly where i was uh for that goal too um standing to the left side of my tv i think my mom was on the couch and saw that placodo sherry oh sherry sherry sherry sherry sherry whatever i'm like i'm gonna call him connor sherry again because uh you know he that's when he was really really producing and then ever since you know he'd said not to pronounce his name that way his career has kind of gone down um dark path a little bit so we're just going to go back to calling him connor sherry just because you know i feel like it so and then you know that puck goes in you know the noise

i think that me and my mom made um i know i've said this before on this podcast i'm pretty sure um the neighbors uh thought there was not an attack going on in my house or something i'm pretty i don't know how um they didn't file for a noise complaint or something considering the noise that we made That goal was just awesome. We heard blow the doors off, the PPG paints arena. This man, what a game that was. And I think the first goal in that game was scored by Kessel. That was off the turnover.

That was the HBK line because I think Brendan Dillon got stripped of the puck. Noted Washington Capitol Brendan Dillon got stripped of the puck. The Penguins were just torturing poor Brendan Dillon that entire series. He was just not made to go up against that Penguins team. That's, to be sure. Let's see what else is going on today in Pittsburgh Penguins history. Oh, today in 1961. Today is Paul Coffey's birthday.

Happy birthday to him. That is also my mother's favorite player. If you bring up Paul Coffey to her, her face literally turns red because she's still things. He's incredibly attractive. And yeah, she loves him. Yeah, I could tell a story about how she met Paul Coffey for an autograph and how she had to beg my uncle to go. But that could probably go on for another five minutes. So we'll have that story for another day.

Let's see what else today. On this day in 1965, Dan Quinn was born. This day in 1992, the Penguins, they defeated the Blackhawks in four games to win their second consecutive Stanley Cup championship. And who got the cup clinching goal? Yep, none other than Ronnie Francis. So yes, congratulations to the Penguins today. 1992, they won their second Stanley Cup back to back. They swept the Blackhawks out of it.

And just awesome stuff there. You know, that team was just so goddamn good. And then this day in 1996, they lost to the Panthers 3 to 1 in Game 7 in the Eastern Conference Final. And I know a lot of people, I know especially a couple people who have been on this podcast before, who have that series as one of the worst ones in Penguins. I think some of them have that as one of the, is even worse than the Islanders one. I know the Islanders one was pretty bad because, you know, with Volick and how that Penguins team was just so freaking stacked. But that Panthers one just hurts a lot too because, you know, Mario was still at the height of his,

He was still really, really good. I give his power. You know, Yager was still doing his staying. And that Panthers team just wasn't good. And, you know, they trapped their way by going to the Stanley Cup final. And then, of course, they get blown out in the Stanley Cup final. Man, I would have loved to see the Penguins go to the Stanley Cup final that year. That would have just been awesome seeing them go up against the avalanche.

I mean, that would have just, you seen going, having Sid go up. Sid, wow. Yeah. We're going to keep that in here. that is a terrible mistake. Sidney Crosby going up against the avalanche in 1996. That is where my brain is at today on Monday, folks. Me saying Cindy Crosby was going to go up against the Colorado

avalanche in 1996 when he wasn't even in the league yet. That's just, wow. So seeing Mario and Yagu up against Joe Sackick, that would have just been, oh, what a matchup. That ads team was just so goddamn good. And of course, you know, who could forget? You know, one of my favorite players ever growing up, Peter Forsberg. Yeah, I absolutely love Peter Forsberg.

You know, Patrick Waugh was, of course, in that, who I consider to be the best goaltender of all time. I have Dominic Haschik at number two. You can fight me on that. People that have Martin Broder up there, I laugh at you because Martin Broder, Martin Broder, whatever, is he's probably one of the most overrated goaltenders in Angel history.

I will die on that hill. I think he's, you know, he's top five, but I think people that say he's number one, number two. You're absolutely insane. They're just, to me, there's a big, gap between with Patrick Waugh and Don McCasheek to Martin Broder there's just a massive gap I think in my opinion

but yeah just seeing the penguins go up against Patrick Wall and they stand like a final with Sackick and Forsberg and Claude Lemieux ah man you know that just would have been so goddamn fun so that basically wraps up our this day in penguin's history we also had yesterday where the god I need to find this week is I am just not up to par

yes yesterday three years ago yesterday on May 31st, the Penguins scored three goals and three minutes to turn that one-one tie against the Predators in game two to a 4-1 lead. I was so shell-shock when that happened. I couldn't believe that, you know, just not even 20 seconds into the third period, Gensel scores. And then just like a minute later, oh, Scott Wilson.

And then just a few seconds later, Evgeny Malkin. It was just like, wow, game's over, just like that. I wish I could snap. I was never learned how to snap my fingers. It's pathetic. But, you know, just like that. I was like, wow, you know, there goes up. The Penguins go up to 2-0.

good two zero in the series i just i couldn't believe that that that series always would just be so funny to me because pecorina was just so god damn awful against the penguins in pittsburg but yet he was so good in nashville you know i'll never make sense of it but with that it is now time to talk about rock auto dot com so they're a family business they serve auto parts customers for online for 20 years you can go to rock auto dot com to shop for auto and body parts from hundreds of manufacturers. They have everything from engine control models and brake parts to tall lamps, motor oil, and even new carpet. Whether it's for your classic or daily driver, get everything you need in a few easy clicks delivered directly to your door. That's rock auto.com for all those parts.

All right. So for this last little segment, you know, we'll just, excuse me, I just, I changed my mind. We're going to keep talking about what's going on just for a few more minutes. There's a couple of things that I saw, you know, during this past weekend, which really, really just irked me, you know, that I actually thought of, you know, while doing the second segment, I had not written this. I actually totally forgot to write some of this stuff down. But just seeing, like, the videos on Twitter of, like, you know, these police officers just arresting reporters for reporting what's going on and just standing there, not even doing anything, just reporting. seeing, you know, there was that CNN reporter who was put in handcuffs for just reporting the situation, you know, seeing police officers, you know, literally just point their guns right at some reporters in all these different kinds of cities. You know, like I said, for just doing their jobs. And it's like, excuse me, what the hell is going on here?

I mean, I know I've said that so many times, but I mean, just what the ever-leaving hell? Like, is this what our country has come from? So now we're going to be arresting reporters for just doing their jobs. in reporting the facts on the situation that yeah there's a massive racism problem in this country with all the racial injustice and the hatred and we're going to have the police officers just arrest them and put him in jail for no reason i mean what the i mean what is going on it just it just it friccens me man it just it absolutely sickened me that that shit happened and another thing that stood out to me it was actually from this morning jesse marshall actually tweeted it out of course

the guest on this podcast and one of my favorite writers. You know, I loved how the city of Pittsburgh just dumped on John Staggerwall this morning for his absolutely awful, awful column, you know, where he was basically saying that racism ended when a black president was elected. I can't even put in a word just how stupid that column was and just at that point that he was trying to make, but of course, failed very, very badly in doing so because it's just 100% not true. I mean, man, that column was just, woof it was it was really bad and i'm glad that you know not just the city of pittsburgh was roasting him but a lot of people in different markets were roasting him you know john staggerwald has been just dog shit for many many

years with a lot of shitty takes and i'm glad that you know he's finally getting backlash that he deserves because he's just been like that for a long time and that column was just if you guys want to go read it go ahead but it's it was it's painful to read just because of how wrong he is and you know know, just to sum it up, you know, whether we want to admit it or not, guys, you know, we're in a civil war right now. I mean, that's just whether you want to admit it or not. Like I've said earlier on in this episode, keep protesting, you know, keep demanding for change. And I know we're all going to win and change will happen.

I promise it. I know it's going to happen. I just know it. But before we go, though, I do have this one thing to share this. Actually just popped up. Jason Zucker, what a human he is. What a statement he just put out on his Twitter page. I'll read it to you guys right now in case you guys have not read.

it read it yet. It is us versus racism. One of the most powerful things I continue to read during this time is when your children ask you about this time when they learn about George Floyd in our history books, what will you say you did in response to racism and injustice? At the very, very least, you can use your voice. I am pro-justice. I am pro-racial equality. I am pro-accountability. Black Lives Matter. I will never know the plight of our black community, but you have my support and my voice. My former teammate J.T. Brown has been and continues to be a great example of advocacy. and when he peacefully protested on a global platform, he deserved the full support of his teammates,

the NHL, and the fans supporting him. silently was not and is not enough to be better. We must listen, learn and take action. The most important action will always be to teach my children what is just, what is true equality, and what their responsibility is to our community. We also believe it is our financial responsibility to support and we will continue donating to rebuild minority businesses

that were affected during the protest. Black Lives Matter. Wow. That is Jason Zucker. I tip my hat to you. He had one of the best statements that I've seen just overall. He sums up basically, you know, that's how I feel about it too. And I'm sure when you guys listen to this and when you see it on Twitter,

I'm sure it'll hopefully some of your thoughts on this situation as well. But, you know, Jason Zucker, well done. That was an incredible statement. And I'm going to be very, very curious to see what the Penguin statement looks like when they officially released Thursday. I know it's going to be coming. excuse me, I know I talked about how they haven't released one yet. They still have not 21 minutes into this recording.

May come tonight, may come tomorrow, who knows, but I mean, they're going to have to release one. Like I said, it has to be very pretty carefully worded, though. But, you know, thank you to Jason Zucker for standing up and speaking out about this. And as to all the teams and the players and everyone involved who has stood up and spoke out about this. Just keep doing this. And like I said, I promise we will win and change will happen. So thank you guys so much for listening to this episode of Locked on Penguins. I know it wasn't hockey heavy today, but you know what, with what's going on, this episode was never going to be hockey heavy.

I appreciate you guys listening to my thoughts on the situation, even though I probably repeated myself a lot, but I just wanted to really get my point across. So, you know, follow me on Twitter at Hunter Hodes, follow the show's Twitter at L0 underscore Penguins. Also listen to the National Locked on NHL show. And I will be back later this week with another episode of Locked on Penguins. So keep it right here.