OverDrive - Hayes on the victorious season of Hayes & Bro, why Vikings are NFL story of 2024, and Raptors historic loss to Celtics

Episode Date: December 31, 2024

Host of OverDrive Bryan Hayes joins the show to put a bow on 2024 and celebrate his victory with Team Hayes & Bro. Hayes also shares his thoughts on the upcoming NFC North showdown between the Lions and Vikings, the Raptors suffering a franchise-record-setting loss to the Celtics, and more.

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The smarter way to book travel. Yes, that is true. We are the champions. Al's brother, Brian Hayes, now with us here on Overdrive. Dave Feshuk of the Toronto Star as well. Look at that hat. I got to get my hands on that hat, Hazy B. I got one for you. Your name isuk, the Toronto Star as well. Look at that hat! I gotta get my hands on that hat, Hazy B. I got one for you.

Your name is all over it, Al's brother. I will see you on Thursday. I cannot wait to see you. I haven't slept a wink in 24 hours. Champagne pouring through the streets of Toronto. It's just been an epic, epic afternoon. Great to see you, boys. Partsy,

you're the best. Dave, you're great, too. You're spectacular, Dave. I know behind the scenes you're always rooting for Hayes and Bro, and we appreciate that support. But what a ride. The idea that we're going to take a knee week 18. We might have to take a knee, a ceremonial knee. We'll let them get some wins.

Luke and O, not surprisingly, no class, right? they couldn't show up and congratulate they have absolutely no class um just an epic run epic run there's no other way to put it well congratulations boys and let me i think i i'm asking questions for all of the fans of hazen bro when i when i say where is the haenbro merchandise website? What are you guys doing here? You're squandering a great opportunity not to be selling these hats like hotcakes as we speak. It's a great point, Dave, and it is something we're looking into, believe me.

We're businessmen, right? You and I were winners. Oh, yeah. We're businessmen. These have been the hottest hats going, right, for the longest time. This is the original. This was what we were off the bat, Hazenco, and then we said, right, for the longest time. This is the original. This was what we were off the bat, Hayes and Co.,

and then we said that's not going to work. Then we went to Hayes and Bro. Now we're the champs. Al's brother, you've got this hat. You know what? I'm going to show you guys something that is actually very depressing, and I know a lot of people are listening online right now and listening to the radio and all that,

so it's not something that is necessarily going to translate in terms of the radio and the radio and all that so it's not something that that is necessarily going to translate in terms of the radio and the podcast and all that but i was a man of integrity we are men of integrity and i made sure to get these hats i can't even say that i had these hats made my man chris made them right shout out to chris he's been doing this for years chris is an awesome guy and i said listen i feel very good about where hazen bro is at we are in a very good position we are seeing the board so clearly tg is coming together tremendous information gut instinct we can't be beat but just in case can you make a few other hats that make sure the other guys

are covered and i just got i just talked to canada post shout out they're back in the swing of things these will be shipped to i don't know where these are going, South America, Asia. Pacific Mall. Ship it up to the Pacific Mall. That's where they're going. You can find these Owen Wilson 24-25 champs at the Pacific Mall. They'll be there by the weekend. These things

it's too bad. They can't stick around for long. The merch will be available. We've got to find a way to make that happen. A lot of support, brother. A lot of support. Lots of support. Lots of support.

Got a lot of texts and phone calls and tweets and all the bot army out there. Happy to see Team Hazen, bro. The good guys come through. And it's been a wild journey. We were down by nine games at one point. We were getting on the horn talking. Remember that Baker-Mayfield-Bucks game? were down by nine games at one point we were getting on the horn talking remember that remember that baker mayfield box game and we're thinking do we do we just go opposite george and do we just pick a like pick the opposite game because we haven't been able to pick a winner i think we're like six or seven in a row wrong and we said no we'll stick to the process let's stick to the

process and go with the team go with our gut instinct and go with the team, go with our gut instinct, and go with the tremendous information. And we did, and we got that pick correct. That was the TSN turning point. That was the TSN turning point for us this year, I think. I agree. I think there were so many ups and downs. I mean, it was a rollercoaster year. There were times where you'd open the FanDuel Sportsbook app, and I would be like, I can't look at this anymore because I can't see it.

I can't see the lines. Nothing is going to work for us. We are not going to pick a winner. These guys were so over the top in terms of being obnoxious, in terms of just completely lacking any sportsmanship whatsoever. They were saying they want to forfeit the season. They want a mercy rule. We've got to bring in other people to start making picks.

And then all of a sudden the pendulum swung to the point and this is what is crazy about what's happened even the last couple of weeks and i appreciate that people have taken this ride with us because it's been so much fun we pick games we have fun and we're talking nfl you can't beat it is there was a point last saturday i believe where they retook the lead alice brother like yeah we were down nine, and then we swung up to, like, plus five or six, and then we cooled off for a few picks, and they went on a heater, and Luke started talking about Rick Barry and started posting that stupid picture where he throws the free throws underhand and 62% of the time he makes it.

All that kind of stuff. They swung it back to a point where I'm like, we're in trouble here, and then the two of them could not pick a winner for their lives. They made some of the worst picks in gambling history and in football picking history. And we got red hot to the point where, again, we're going to take a knee in Week 18. In Week 18, we're resting the starters.

JP and Doogie can make the picks for us. It's completely irrelevant. We're preparing for the playoffs. We're Kansas City. That's it. It's Mahomes and Andy Reid, man. It's just an incredible scene we're in right now. And that's it, Hazy B.

Like a lot of people out here, we're going to celebrate this championship because this does mean something. It does mean something. It means a ton. It means a ton. We get a home field advantage. Love it. Go ahead, Dave.

Guys, I'm trying to put this in context because I don't think – it's not a president's trophy. It's bigger than that, right? We got to give this more respect because, to me, like the regular season of this particular endeavor is impressive, right? If you can win over the 18-week campaign, it's way more impressive than anything else. This feels more like a premiership thing.

That's right. That's a major trophy. Winning the regular season in English soccer, huge. Way bigger than winning the President's Trophy in hockey. That's it. We're Manchester City. That's what we are. I don't even know who they are.

Who would they be? Who's way down the, you know, they're West Ham or something. They're not even in the. They're getting relegated. they're not even in the they're getting relegated they're getting relegated that's exactly it they're they're they're getting relegated and um yeah i guess we're man city and that's exactly what it is this is like the premiership playoffs are important we've been there we've done that we won the playoffs last year we fully intend on doing it again this year but uh yeah it's exciting man in the nfl season i

can't believe we're already into Week 18. It's crazy. And even last night, like I'm sure you guys have been talking about it, you know, throughout the afternoon. I give Detroit a lot of credit. Like, they had no reason to do anything last night. And, Al's brother, you and I were texting earlier, I thought their defense, who did get torched, like Purdy was basically perfect.

Carved up. Yeah, he was basically perfect. Telly threw those two picks and they were bad picks and you know that's what detroit has done all year they've capitalized and they've caused a lot of turnovers but that was my concern was detroit specifically on the defensive side just we're not going to close like they clearly had their eyes on the prize of of week 18 when they host minnesota what a game that's going to be on sunday night and luckily for us we get to put our feet up else brother we just get to put our feet up, Ellis Brother.

We just get to watch as fans. We're fans in Week 18. It's a thing of beauty. We are, and it's perfect, too, that game 272 out of 272 is going to decide the AFC North and the number one seed in the NFC. Unbelievable how this is all kind of turning. And it's more about who loses the game, clearly, right? Obviously, the buildup is what's at the end of the road.

If you win the game, not only do you get a bye, you get the one seed, you get home field advantage. If you lose that game, you're on the road. You've got to go on the road, and you may never play a home playoff game. So if you're the owner, you're sitting there thinking, this game is $15 million, $20 million dollars 20 what is it i don't know i mean it's a lot of money yeah because you know i i think i think philly's likely going to win their playoff game i think the rams are in a pretty good position to do that so i mean the the seating is going to be

is really going to jam up one of these two teams. They're going to have to likely go on the road all the way to the Super Bowl based on this one game. Both of them have been phenomenal stories. They've both been great this year, Detroit, Minnesota. I think it's a really difficult game to cap. I haven't seen the line. I'm not sure what the line is. I'm looking at it right now.

I thought yesterday when I looked before the game, it was at three. So I was at three yesterday before they played, and it is still currently at 3. So Lions minus 3 at home? Lions are minus 3? Lions minus 3. Yeah. I'd lean taking the points, I think, at this point. I mean, with the way Minnesota's played.

To me, I think Detroit needs the win more. They need that bye week desperately. Like, this team is decimated with injuries. And you saw, I mean, like, they allowed Brock Purdy and that San Francisco offense to look like they were John Elway out there in the Broncos. Like, they look so clean throughout the entire game, and they were missing Brandon Ayuk. They're missing three of their top offensive linemen, including Williams. No CMC.

They were missing top offensive pieces and still moving and grooving, being able to move the ball. So Detroit, they need that week off to get healthy and to prepare and get that defense ready to go because whoever they end up playing in the divisional round is definitely going to be a better offense than that 6-19 they saw last night. And they've got to be ready to go because they can't really afford any slip-ups. I agree with you.

But what do you think Minnesota's going to do? Like, Darnold, like they just carved up Green Bay. I know the Packers made it close at the end just like they did earlier in the year. I watched every snap of that game. It was not close. Like, Minnesota dismantled Green Bay in terms of possession, in terms of yards. They look, they are so legit.

Sam Darnold is so dialed in right now. I agree with what you're saying that I think based on the injuries and based on Detroit in a way leaking oil, although they've only lost two games all year, it's kind of hard to really suggest that that's the case. I think that defense, with what Purdy and company just did, I think this is going to be a shootout. Like, I don't see Minnesota getting stopped.

Man, I think Darnold is going to really charge down the field. They're going to put up numbers because their offense in Minnesota is clicking, man. That coach out there, O'Connell, he is phenomenal. Like, the way that he sets that team up, the way that they're playing, and obviously on defense they've been really good in Minnesota. That's the story of the year. I cannot believe they're in the situation that they're in. Sam Darnold doing what he's doing.

J.J. McCarthy blows his knee out in camp. So at that point you're thinking, okay, they're probably just going to punt on the season. I thought they were completely transitioning, and they have a chance to be the number one seed in the NFC, and they would deserve all of it. I mean, Minnesota has been phenomenal, full credit to them. So I would not be surprised at all if Minnesota won that game.

I would not be surprised at all, and I don't see how anyone should be at this point, Dave, considering what we've seen through 17 weeks. No, for sure. I wanted to just turn it to a little Toronto sports talk, Hayes, because I wanted to get your reaction. Speaking of suspect defenses, we just saw the Toronto Raptors lose by the most amount of points they've ever lost by,

54-point loss to the Boston Celtics. The Celtics scored 80 points in the second half, Hayes. The Raptors scored 71 in the entire game. What do you make of what's going on in Raptorland? Well, remember opening night, how ugly it was? Yeah. I remember teeing up the season and reading a bunch of different people that are either covering the team up close, like in Toronto,

like the beat reporters in Toronto or columnists or what have you in Toronto, and then even the national media. And there was this sense that if they were healthy, they might surprise some teams, and maybe they'd chase the 9th seed, the 10th seed. I wasn't preparing for that based on what Masai said. You know, when Masai came out and said rebuild, that is a crazy comment from an executive.

Dave, you know this. Alex, brother, you know this. That is a word that they are all allergic to. No one wants to say that on the record. I think it speaks to either Messiah's security here or maybe that he doesn't care. I don't know. Maybe more of the latter. Yeah, it might be the latter.

Maybe the latter. But the fact that he put that out there, that was, to me, put the shield up. These guys are in trouble. And when they got beat by 30 opening night, I'm like, this team is not winning 17 or 18 games. I just didn't see it, let alone I think the win total on Fanda was like 27.5 or something. I remember resetting immediately and being like, there's no chance.

I guess what I'm getting to is you can prepare as much as you want, but when you see something like today, it makes you take an even bigger step back. You're like, I can't believe how awful it is. They are horrible. Horrendous. They legitimately, I was looking it up earlier this week, they have never finished dead last in the NBA at any point in their history. I want to say year one, I think they finished second last.

They finished second or third last a couple times in those 90s seasons. And there were a couple of others in the mid-2000 kind of transition years where they were at the bottom of the East, but there was always a team or two that was substantially worse. They legitimately might finish dead last. I know Washington's awful. I know Utah's been bad. New Orleans is bad.

Yeah, New Orleans is not good. There are only two games out of last place. You've got the Pelicans, who are 5-28, and then the Wizards at 5-25, and then the Raptors, 7-26 this season. They're almost at the halfway point. Again, I think it's going to get worse down the stretch if that's possible because usually there is separation. And you're playing the champs, and Boston's great,

and they jack a ton of threes, and when they hit them you're in big trouble. But I guess this is just another example before we turn the page on 24 that by the end of 25 it won't be much better unless they win the lottery and at least you have something like cooper flag or one of those top two or three guys that are going to give you some hope for the future but today's another day a stark reminder and i don't think raptor fans necessarily need it again they've won seven games. They got blown out on opening night. They haven't been healthy a ton, but still,

they really are getting outplayed a lot, and especially recently. They've had some bad losses, like bad, bad losses the last week or two. That it's going to get uglier before it gets better, and they are years away from competing. Years away from competing. Even if they get flagged, Dave. Even if you get the number one pick next year, what are they winning? 22 games?

25? Yeah, there's a 17-year-old kid. He's 17. Exactly. He's not going to take time. They're years away. And I don't know. I mean, I don't want to get to a point where you start asking, you know,

what happens with the coach. Because I think we all know. Darko's not going to be here when they turn this around no it's just it just doesn't happen that's not he's he's charlie montoyo that that's what it is and dark was going to come in and try to establish a culture and be a good guy and a player's guy and teach some sort of technique that they can carry on as they move forward but when does it get to a point where scotty is drained when do we get to a point where you wonder what are you going to do with Purtle? We've seen reports that, again, they're asking for the world for Purtle.

For what? Like, for what? Yeah. Like, really, you're not going to trade Purtle unless you get multiple picks? Like, at some point, you just got to cut bait and realize that was a stupid trade. They should not have done it. And you got to move off, and you got to move on. And it's a plan where when it

started you were hoping it was a three-year plan days like today and games like today make you realize it's probably a five-year plan maybe a six-year plan and a little longer than that it's tough man it's tough it's tough for fans it's it was a great ride prior to it too i know i'm going on here along uh rambling here a little i've been on the air in a week but the previous decade was phenomenal and i saw you heard you guys in confirm or deny if the leafs got to the conference final that'd be it and you're right dave like only in toronto would you say let's get the parade route going for that i think with the raptors you got to have some perspective right everything comes and goes they had a great decade and they won a championship and they were very competitive for a long time now they're swinging the other way and it's going

to take them a while to get back up that's just the reality yep no doubt about it wasn't a good one tonight and i don't expect it to be great moving forward into 2025 either hazy b no but uh appreciate take the time to come on we had to we had to get you out i wanted to get a glimpse of that hat it's coming for you, Al's brother. I got it for you, buddy. It's right here. Let me show you. Where is yours? Here's yours right here, Al's brother. It's in the bag. It's being protected.

That has your name written all over it. I cannot wait to see you guys. You guys should be moving units right now. You're right. The click-through rate would be tremendous. You're absolutely right. You're right about that. It would be. Anyway, happy New Year's, guys. Thanks for having me.

I appreciate it. Happy New Year's. We'll see you Thursday. We'll chat then. You got it. See you, boys. Absolutely. See you, boys.

Hazy B, joining us here up on Overdrive. Best Bets coming up next.