OverDrive - OverDrive - August 8, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: August 8, 2025

Join Brendan Dunlop and Michael DiStefano for Hour 3 on Mail it in Friday! Super Bowl Champion Ryan Harris joins the show to discuss Shedeur Sanders making his preseason debut. New TFC player Djordje Mihailovic stops by to discuss his move to Toronto. We give out our FanDuel Best Bets.

Getting them ready for back to school comes with a lot of questions, like... How many binders will they need? Should I buy an alarm for their alarm? And where can I get budget-friendly phone plans for my whole family? That one's easy. With Bell, the more phone lines you get, the more you save. Switch to Canada's fastest 5G-plus network today. For details and more great offers, visit a bell store or bell.ca.commodations.

Bell, back to school, just got better. from tariffs to trade deals the markets are changing is your portfolio ready for what comes next for all your questions you need a money guy calvin the money guy will help you develop a financial plan that includes the right levels of diversity the best way to navigate uncertain times with strategic advice from kelvin you can not only protect your investments you can grow them don't wait call 416 457 plan or visit ask kelvin dot ca a It's Friday, that it is, the final hour of overdrive. My name is Brendan Dunlop, happy to be in the seat today with A.B. Al's brother, happy to have been in the TSN studios this week because it has been a very entertaining week. With the Blue Jays running the show, as they did in Denver, historically destroying the Colorado Rockies. Rushing the Colorado Rockies. And now a game very much worth staying up for having other plans that don't involve not being

available to catch the Blue Jays tonight with Clayton Kershaw against Max Scherzer maybe the last time in their careers and then I think we all enjoyed as Canadians watching what Vicky Mboko did at the National Bank Open and then beating Naomi Osaka in the fashion in which she did with the dominant display

that we saw there in the third set particularly but from an 18 year old who had started this year outside the 300 333. And now we'll go to the the U.S. Open as a seated player. Yeah. I can't get enough of the Vicki and Boko story. It was really special.

It really was. And I hope that she can continue this success, right? Much like we're saying with the Blue Jays. Let's hope they can take that series against the Rockies, use that momentum and move forward to face stiffer competition in the Dodgers. She's going to play some very stiff competition at the U.S. Open. Like we're talking about a Grand Slam here,

one of the biggest tournaments of the year on the calendar. So there's going to be the top of the top. But she proved this week that she can hack it with those players. Like she's the youngest player in tennis history to down four Grand Slam champions en route to a championship. It's unreal. This is, you know, this is a big tournament. This is a A-level tournament, albeit, of course, not a Grand Slam. And to do this against the slate that she did, Cocoa, Gough being number one,

rebecca just the serve alone just the way that she fought back against those those serves against rebecca and then to beat Naomi Osaka she won this you know it took three sets she won this in the second set Osaka knew this was over well the thing I do find interesting is like the age difference I guess

between the two of them yeah the two of them and more so the fact that once and it goes to your point I think once Osaka realized that this thing was going to a third set like maybe the match is getting a little long for her as opposed to Mboko, who's very young, very spry, and had like a three-hour head start on rest, because she had played the match before, the night before.

Osaka had the nighttime match, right? So she had a little bit more rest and just a little younger, a little bit, you know, less mileage on the body. I think the longer that Mboko took that match, the higher the odds of her winning was. And the second she was able to kind of take that second set deep, you know, six, four, make that a deep match. the third match or the third set

was kind of all in Boko like she took over in that match there were a lot of nervous people in the stands on Wednesday watching Mboko and Rebacana go back and forth. It's kind of a very similar similar win yeah like because Rabakana took control

in the first in the opening set and Mboko went on won the second one the third the exact same thing last night just prevailed just completely outlasted the opposition but what I was going to say was the person that didn't, in that building that did not enjoy watching that match against Rebecca and other semifinal on Wednesday night,

was Naomi Osaka for sure, knowing that this start for her is going to be even later. She wasn't about to let that semifinal go to three sets. No. She couldn't afford it. But I did think that that would potentially be an advantage. And it did turn out to be. And then she comes out and loses the opening set 6 to Naomi Osaka.

I thought, oh, maybe I'd overestimated that. But to see the way that she prevailed. And then the class do. And let's be honest. I mean, there is, I think, some empathy that all of us can find for Naomi Osaka to, in that moment, having lost, to have, as she explained today, have forgotten to mention. Slipped her mind. It slipped her mind to mention a young Vicki and Boko. There can be some empathy towards the situation where you were very much in your own head and your own thoughts.

You didn't see it. But then to see Vicki and Boko at 18 get up there and immediately acknowledge Naomi and, Osaka, as in like I really, you know, I'll never forget that I got to play you today. Like, thank you for being a part of my journey here. And just seem like the wise, mature veteran player. That made her story all the more special in that moment of that night stand out even more, I think. Yeah. She's now the top-ranked Canadian tennis player.

And clearly the face of tennis right now, they're doing that at 18, is unbelievable. So I can't wait to see what she's got in store for us at the U.S. Open. How excited are you for this NFL season, my man? On a scale of 1 to 10. 12. Good 12. It can't come fast enough for you. No.

I mean, I am the football junkie that was watching that Raiders Seahawks game go to overtime last night, fourth quarter, fourth stringers, and I can't take my eyes off it. That's how much of a junkie I am for football. That's a NFL football specifically. That's a good description. Well, why don't we bring a Super Bowl champion into the discussion? Ryan Harris joins us the Westwood one, NFL. analyst joins us here on overdrive. Ryan, how are you, man? Nice to speak to you.

Brendan, Michael, great to be with you again. Are you also someone that gets as dialed into the preseason as my man, Al's brother over here? I know you're watching games very differently than he is, I'm sure. He's looking for props and overs and totals and numbers, and you're looking for a different set of numbers, I would assume. Well, I'm looking for players to make their dreams come true. I mean, the preseason is so important, and it's not just important to the players who who may or may not make a roster, but it's important to the veterans who know, What it takes to play in the NFL.

It's important for coaches to get used to calling plays and understanding their personnel. So I love the preseason. I'm not sure who was talking before you brought me on, but I'm right there with him. I was watching it last night. I think it was like 35 to 3 or something, but couldn't be more glued to it. And what you're looking for is somebody who's going to make a mistake, but then make a play. That's the professional you can win with. Well, you talk about guys who are looking to make an impact.

And I was watching the Colton Ravens game, and I think it was Wester. Lejeante Western made an impact in that game for the Baltimore Ravens. And I'm curious, Ryan, like, you know, what's it like being a veteran and watching some of these younger players who, you know, are long shots, I guess, to make the NFL or make the roster, kind of have a moment like that in a preseason game? Well, and that's the thing. Is it a moment or career? And you're happy for guys, right?

Whether it's a preseason or not, let's be clear. everybody listening here if you played in the preseason in the NFL it'd be real to you and it'd be all over your Instagram right so let's not act like we don't understand what we all would be doing but you know what you do know as a veteran is that as a as a rookie you still I mean there's thousands of rookies we're going to touch the field in the next two days who really have no idea if they can play in the pros they've done it in practice now enough but they don't know what a game's like and it's something different when you go out there and you see the helmet paint of the teams you watch your whole life and you still got to everything execute right you can't be shocked by it so you're just happy as a veteran to see guys get through that moment so where they think they can they believe they can and now they know they can and the next step is whether they can do it time after time and continue to improve consistency does not mean do the same thing it means constantly growing and getting better at your craft and that's what you hope that the rookies can do there's every reason to believe that shader sanders believes that he can be one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL and can be an NFL superstar the

rest of the teams in the league didn't seem to think that when they drafted him and saw him fall to the fifth round. But the Cleveland Browns are giving him an opportunity, maybe a little early, but he'll have the ball in the preseason tonight. What do you make of the whole Shadurr-Sandis situation, the way Cleveland is handling things? And do you think they're setting them up for success by giving him the start in the preseason tonight? Well, number one, I'm happy for Shadour Sanders, an incredible collegiate career with a less than incredible offensive coordinator, really put things together. Number two, there are things that happen behind the scenes that those of us in the NFL know.

Some of it very wrong that was done to Shadur Sanders. And number three, he's had the perfect attitude, right? I'm happy to be here, happy to work. He improved on his throwing mechanics. So it's one thing when all of us hear something or critique about our performance, the natural reversion is that person doesn't know what they're talking about or I can do it my way.

But what I like is Shadur Sanders says, okay, that's the word on me, watch me change, watch me grow. and starting a preseason game, it's not the best, but you do get to start, and it is a validation of the work that you put in in a couple weeks. So I think that Cleveland did a perfect, got something perfect. They got two quarterbacks in the draft, but they've got the most attention on them and they've had, you know, since they signed the Sean Watson deal. And this is probably the first good attention the Cleveland Browns have had probably in 20 years.

So happy for, happy for Shadour, happy for the Browns, and hopefully for the Browns fans out there. they get some wins, whoever the quarterback is. With Ryan Harris, the Broncos up in your neck of the woods there, I think a lot of pundits like them to take another step after a good season last year with Sean Payton and Bow Nix. What are your expectations for the group? Well, first of all, this is the first time that Bo Nix has had the same

offensive coordinator and same offensive playbook for two straight years since his junior and senior year in high school. I mean, thinking about it, he went to back-to-back playoff games at Oregon, and he still had a new playbook. So I just got done talking to him today and getting ready to call the game tomorrow night. He said the biggest thing for him is he can go deeper now on the offense. He's not having to learn the terminology and formations, and that he knows what coach wants, and he knows how coach is going to respond. So he wants to be even more accurate than the 66% he had last year.

The set a franchise record for passing touchdowns by a rookie. So, I mean, his name is already in the record books in the Broncos franchise. along some of the greats like John Elway, who, by the way, had four passing touchdowns, I think it was in his rookie season. So there's a tremendous amount to like about the most experienced and accurate quarterback in college history that put together a historic rookie season and got to the playoffs, and in no way is he satisfied. And that's the big thing.

Can you not be satisfied with remedial success? And Bo Nex has answered emphatically, yes, he's not satisfied and he wants more. Ryan, what do you think of the people who say they don't want any more of the Patrick Mahomes show? People that are bored of what's happened in Kansas City. And if the way that things have gone for the Chiefs were, I mean, look, last season they won how many games where we said, they didn't really deserve to win that game. And every good team and every winning team has a few of those. That Raiders game, I still can't believe it.

That Raiders game gets me every time. They had a lot of those. And I don't think that a certain radio personality is in a small minority here of people who are, maybe have grown tired of the Patrick Mahomes show and the chiefs in that division. Yeah, this is something I don't understand. You know, if you don't like winners, you don't like people who do it right the whole time. And sure, maybe the Oakland game last year was tough. And how about being a team that can believe through all of that, through all that failure to come out and win the game? How about being the team that gets beat up, but on the final field goal against the.

the Broncos deflects the kick. They're willing to work harder. They're willing to work longer, and they're all in it for the right reasons. And last year they did it without a left tackle. You can't one year say, oh, the left tackle second most important position behind quarterback, and then they have Joe Tuny out there, a center who has no idea what's like to play on an island, and they get to the Super Bowl. So their roster betrayed them last year.

I think that Patrick Mahomes had his best play in the pocket. He continued to improve as a pastor, and you had a tough last game of the year. If you don't like winners, I don't understand you, and I can't help you there. Maybe you can be a Maple Leafs fan or something like that. You know, they need some, you know. There we go. Oh, no, you wouldn't get tired of the Maple Leafs win in six, five or six, but you don't win. They don't win.

They don't win. The people up here would not know what to do with themselves, Ryan. That was answered like a true Super Bowl champion. Fantastic answer by you. You know, just don't understand it, but, hey, everybody's entitled to their opinion. I just want to see that offense explosive again. I think that's more so what it is. Like the last couple of years, it's been successful.

It's been efficient, but the explosion since Tyree Kill left has not really been there for that offense. Like last year, last two years, 15th in points. But prior to that, this was a team that was putting up 30, 40 points on the regular. Valid? Well, a lot of that is going to be personnel, right? You lose Tyree Kill, and yeah, it's going to affect. It's going to affect your offense, right? You lose a guy that they nickname Cheetah.

And, yeah, your offense isn't going to be as good. You know, Travis Kelsey's getting older. Again, you had some offensive line problems. And then defensively, I mean, they've been about stuff they can be. And look, guys, they beat everybody in the AFC. You asked them to, right? I mean, they beat everybody they could out. And they lost to arguably the greatest and most respected player in current NFL history in Jalen Hertz

and a monster defense that was, oh, by the way, on turf and not in the shifting grass. they face each other with before. So, I mean, they've done the best they can, but I'm telling you guys from being in the huddles with grades like Peyton Manning, like Ben Rothesberger, they don't think about losing. Even when they're down 14 in the fourth quarter, they just only think about winning. Because guess what?

We know how to fail. We know how to put pieces together. But let's go keep this together. And that's what the Chiefs do better than anybody in the NFL, and I'm looking forward to them doing it again. Look, they've got some competition in that division this season. I think a lot of people feel pretty good about the Broncos, and people feel good about the Chargers as well.

And who knows, maybe the Raiders can be a real surprise. In your opinion, the Chiefs went in the division again? No, I think you're going to get the Broncos, Chargers, or Raiders. I think enough teams now do not fear the Chiefs. And I think one of the things we talked about that Oakland game of the Chiefs last year, you need those games as a team like Oakland or last year, you know, splitting the series again for the Broncos. You have to get over the Big Bad Wolf in your division.

And once you're not afraid of that big bad wolf, now things can start to go. So I think that's going to be really competitive. I think the Chargers surprised me with how well they played in the preseason, you know, first game, all the things. But they've got to overcome a devastating loss at Houston in the playoffs. And I'm not convinced they can do it. So I think it's between the Broncos and Raiders. Ryan, is there like a door course team out there that could make a run at the playoffs that isn't getting, you know, any hype right now heading into the season? Tennessee Titans

Everybody is underrating Cam Ward I thought he should have came out last year I thought he was the best quarterback last year He's been lighting it up in training camp He doesn't care about what you think about him He heard Sederer Sanders talking trash to him While he was practicing for the combine and stuff So this is a guy who's built tough

Built to win on the team with a great coach And Brian Callahan And I just think that the Tennessee Titans Are not getting enough credit For the team they're about to put on the field what do you make about at these NFL preseason fights? I know they happen all the time

I know there's more cameras than ever I know we're going to catch them more and it makes a very good TV but we had a fight this week the Patriots camp dolphins were fighting each other I expect it when it's you know inter-joint practices

I expect that but it does seem to me like we're seeing a little more or is it just because the cameras are showing more Ryan you were in the middle of pre-seasons cameras cameras guys and look coaches are trying to get away from it but I'm going to tell you something else

people forget there are things that are said before that moment right and they're not the prettiest things not safe for radio right you know you so part of the preseason two is getting where's your point everybody's got a price everybody's got a point and whatever trash talk gets you to that point hey okay now they're going to use it against you in the game can you keep your mental acuity while someone's talking about taking off your tattoos how you do that I don't know right so I mean there's all kinds of things and these are adults. You know, this isn't like playing Xbox against 15-year-olds

and 16-year-olds and you're swearing at them. There are real comments by real men about real people, and it can get you going. And at the same time, if somebody's getting mad because they're falling down the depth chart and wants to push after the play or something against somebody like me who's going to start 18 games, we're going to fight because I'm going to show you right now.

You don't have what it takes. And so fighting is a part of the NFL. Fighting is a part of life. And it's something that has been consistent and will be consistent. the NFL and every sports league when you pit professionals against each other. Anthony Richardson got injured in the game yesterday, taking on the Baltimore Ravens. Is there more pressure on Richardson to perform this year or more pressure on Caleb Williams

last year's done one overall pick to perform? Caleb Williams, no question. Well, Anthony Richardson lost the NFL when he tapped out as a quarterback because he was tired. Maybe there was something going on that we don't know. got to give space for that. But Caleb Williams was the number one pick overall. And more than that, guys, I went and called their game last year against the Seahawks

and his parking spots, his first parking spot next to the GM. So he was one of the most sacked quarterbacks in college. That's the staff that doesn't change when you get to the NFL. And already, you're seeing the reports out of Bears' camps that are less than stellar. I hope I'm wrong. I hope that he turns

it around and has a great career. But I got to call three of his games in college, and I'm seeing what I saw there. He's fantastic. He's the best athlete on the field, he'll never be the best athlete on the field in the NFL. And I think he's slowly starting to realize that and he has to learn to play quarterback a different way. I am very intrigued by the NFC North this season.

I think AB, you are too, maybe to a different extent of me. But I'm interested to see how the Lions play out this season because I don't know if I am in the majority or the minority of people who think that their window has closed because Dan Campbell and that team doesn't think so. but I'm fearful that their best chance to win in Detroit has passed them. What say you, Ryan? I'm with you. I'm with you. It's passed. And look, they should have been in two Super Bowls,

if not for Dan Campbell calling ridiculous plays and key moments at the end of games, right? He's the problem. And I'm not saying he's the wrong coach. I'm saying he needs to understand he's the problem, that his tackle eligible plays that get called back. He showed the world he was terrified of Green Bay when he went for it on fourth down, with the lead, right? So he's still playing wild card football.

I think he thinks he's, you know, Brett Farr, as a head coach, but the Lions are in the most competitive division outside the AFC West in the NFL. I mean, all three of the four teams in the NFC North could be in the playoffs, right? The Vikings are going to be there, I think. I think you're going to be surprised by Jay J.J. McCarthy,

who, oh, by the way, won a national championship. You're going to be surprised by Green Bay, who finally now has some more receivers, and you're going to be there with the Lions who have been there. But to your point, you can win as many and play in as many NFC championship games as you can. But if you start losing them all, it really doesn't make a difference. So I think Detroit's window is closed. If not, this is the last little stop before it does close, and they've got to win now.

From one coach to another, I mean, this is McDaniel's cat to me. It seems like it always is in the media, whether he's saying some weird stuff to the media or he's breaking up fights like you did today in practice in Miami with their joint practice with the bears, Miami fighting each other for some reason. Is he the coach on maybe the hottest seat going into this upcoming season? I don't think so. I mean, players love him. He's productive. He's been to the playoffs. And look, there are tough places to play. And I'm sure this is the same way for the NHL and Canada. It's hard to be focused in Miami, guys. right. It's very, very hard.

And he's still doing it with guys. And one of them, Tyree Kill got arrested on the way to the game last year, right? So he's dealing with things that most coaches aren't dealing with. I don't think he's on the hot seat. But I do think you have some tried and true to establish coaches on the hot seat. I think Harbaugh I think both Harbaas are going to be

on the hot seat. I mean, if you have that production and performance again as the Chargers, I don't know if they keep them. And the Ravens, how long are they going to be a great team that's one play away from the Super Bowl? I mean, it's been 20 years, guys. 20 years, right? I think there's a lot of coaches on the hot seat, but I wouldn't say Mike McDaniels is one of them.

How much on the hot seat do you think Harbaugh is in L.A.? I think the temperature is rising, and it depends on how they play. It depends on how they play. So, you know, if you can come out of the gate and lead the AFC West, you know, the first quarter of the season, you just want to see him putting distance between themselves and others. But you also don't want to see it continue. of the failures that happened at Houston in the playoffs last year.

So hopefully it's an aberration. I think both Harbaughs are great coaches. You know, who's got it better than us? What a thing to say every day, right? And a heck of a creepy meme, too, from Harbaugh over there in L.A. So it's a hotter seat, especially considering the division and the performance. So I think he's pretty up there. I think he's one of the top five coaches that could get the acts if things don't go well.

and even though it's his second year, they've got to see improvement. So many storylines, and it's still August. I look forward to chat with you again, Ryan. And have a great weekend, man. Thanks, guys. Have a good one. Peace.

Ryan Harris, the former Super Bowl champion and Westwood won NFL analysts, breaking it down for us ahead of what's going to be a busy, bet-filled weekend for you, AB, and anyone else who indulges on the preseason. I felt like he put me in a body bag when I was, like, trying to explain my Patrick,

my home's take. He's like, yeah, I've been in a huddle with Peyton Manning and Ben Rathusberger and like these guys are just wired differently. Like, it's all good. They'll be okay. I'm like, you're right. Yes, I should just listen to you. I'm going to stop talking. I'm like, all right, yeah, fair enough.

Your explanation holds some weight there. Maybe you can be a maple leaf fan. Oh, that was tough. That one was tough, too. He threw that back at you quick. I'm surprised, though, that he believes that Jim Harbaugh is that much on the hot seat like they gave him a boatload of money last year they did but it doesn't in there for one season like i don't know why i didn't view them as a a coach on the hot seat personally age and

window age and window i think that they think that their window is short what they only gave them gave harbaugh a two-year window to win but also short yeah it does but look at his age i like i think it's different now right i think that yeah for harbaugh coaches they'll go into their 80s bill bel He's like 88 years old. Not in today's NFL. You know that, man. Jim Harbaugh. He's in his,

he's in his mid-60s. That's nothing in the NFL. I think it's different now. With the, with the, I do, Pete Carroll like 71 years old? Yes.

Pete Carroll is a dinosaur and he's out there. He has probably more energy than Jim Harbaugh, realistically, at 73 years old. Yeah, 73 old Pete Carroll. Okay, 661. He just, maybe it just feels then like an older,

well, because he's been around the game for, Right? Like, I mean, the Harbaugh, like the family has just been around forever, but yes. I don't know, man. Jim Harbaugh, I wouldn't be worried about him stepping away from football anytime soon, but it's more so just like, you finally got a coach, a respectable coach in L.A. with that organization, which, I mean, you could argue what was the last time they've had a respectable coach like that? Like North Turner, maybe? I would say North, yeah. Mid-2000s. Since they've had a guy like him, you're going to, you're going to give up on that for two. years? I don't think so. I just think that the seat is naturally hotter in L.A. in general. And they're fighting for relevancy and like, I think that just, it's against, it's against someone in that

position, in his, in his position. The threshold is just different. They had dealt a pretty tough blow with Roshan Slater tearing his ACL. I think he's out for the year. Their left tackle. And Brian Harris was talking about how, you know, the the Chiefs didn't have a left tackle last year and that played into kind of their sputtering offense and now the charge was going to have to try and get around not having Slater all season.

We'll see what they can do. Well, for 40 days, Toronto FC did not have a designated player, but they got one now. Georgie Mihalovich is the new man in Toronto, and he's going to be here on Overdrive next. He'll join us. This is Overdrive on TSN. Don't go anywhere.

Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a site and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. The final half hour to go here on overdrive on this lovely Friday, the second Friday of August. We all get ready for the weekend. And it will be a return for Toronto FC.

The league's cup break is over for TFC. And also the designated player drought that lasted a long 40 days. is over. As an $8 million purchase for Georgie Mahalovich has brought the U.S. men's national team forward to Toronto, and we're very happy to bring him on the line now here and on the phone with us here on Overdrive. Georgie, it's a pleasure, man. Welcome to Toronto. Welcome to Overdrive. Hey, thank you. I'm excited to be on the show. It's great to chat with you, man. You're arriving at a very interesting time for this football club, but a very interesting time in this city, of course. Just what was the appeal, I guess, to this project for you that made you feel

this was the right time, this is the right move, and this is going to happen right now for me. Yeah, for me, and I've said it a few times now, that when I think of Toronto FC, I think of trophies, I think of winning, I think of MVPs, the number 10s before me. Yeah, when I first joined the league in 2017, that season, Toronto became the first team to win a trouble. So when the name comes to my mind, I just think of those, those good moments in history for the club. And this idea came about maybe a week or two ago. And it all happened pretty quick, though, this last weekend. So I'm just really excited to join this historic club. Well, I'm with you. I came to the city also that year 2017 and watched, you know, went down

to Bimo and watch the Reds play, you know, those three years, the heyday of Javenko and Josie and, and, and, you know, Bradley, like, the heyday of Toronto FC. So, like, how can you guys get back to that glory? What's the plan here? I don't know if that's a, that's a question for me in particular. I'm part of a little piece of that puzzle, I think. But I guess it's, it's that getting that feeling of ambition back. Yeah, like you say, those players you mentioned are all serial winners, a couple of national team for the U.S. national team legends, Juivinko, those guys are top players, one of the best that this league is seen.

And yeah, you get those types of players together with the right mentality, the players that know what it means to represent Toronto. and I think I'm going to learn that over the course of my time here, what it means to represent this club. I have a teammate already, Jonathan Osir, who was there at that time when they were winning all those trophies. So I look forward to talking to him about what it really means to represent this club. But yeah, it's about having that inner drive to bring that club back to where it belongs.

It's a real unique situation for you because you're looking for a big season, two impressive seasons to play your way into the U.S. men's national team and, you know, of good performances here in Toronto can raise your stock for being in Maricio Pocetino's outfit for next season in a city in which two big American internationals

of Michael Bradley and Josie Altador were absolute superstars. Have you spoken to them? Were they amongst the first phone calls? Like just, how does it feel to be now kind of in that category and repeating a process or following footsters, I should say, that they've taken? Yeah, I took I took that thought into account, how it can play a role in that selection next year.

But for me, that is the ultimate goal for a soccer play to represent their country in a World Cup. And in order to do that, I think I have to be an environment that's pushing myself to become better, an environment that's pushing to win all the titles in the season. and yeah when when this transfer was announced josie did message me telling me congratulations that i'm joining an amazing club of course he had so much success here but yeah i'm joining an incredible club and like you said to have those national team players play here and also at the time they they represent the country as well so it shows that maybe that path is going to work for me you should hit josie up for bills tickets and if he gives

you a few extra you should toss them to my man al's brother i would love that I would love to go out there. Georgie, how would you describe, you know, your game and what you're going to bring to the Reds for the TFC faithful who will be down at BMO to take in the action? I don't really know how to answer that question. I get asked all the time. How do I characterize my style of play, I guess? Yeah, I'm a player that goes off intuition, that goes off of what I feel in the moment. And number 10 is a player that probably has the least amount.

of time on the ball and over time likes to pick up the ball in the final third where there's three four players trying to try to mark you in a little space so i have to go off of working and making decisions in a split second so uh i try to create for for my teammates create for myself to score goals because you know that's that's the fun part of the game is scoring goals and i try to create as much as i can for myself and my team this is a team that definitely needs some goals as you well know but this is a country in which you've played in before you did play it CF Montreal. How would you compare, though, yourself as a CF Montreal player to where your game is now? Because it has changed, and you do put the back to a lot more. Yeah, it's certainly

changed a lot. I like to think of myself as still young, but I was really young there. I was just leaving my hometown club. The first time playing away from home, it was completely different. But now, I guess I have, I hope I have a bit more experience. in the game. I have a family now. There's so much, so much different, but I had a good time in Montreal. I lifted a Canadian Cup with the team, made a good playoff run in my last year there, played with a few other Canadian national team players who also made moves to Europe.

But now I'm coming, like you said, I did manage to find the back of the net myself a bit more since. So I think when I got there versus now, I guess that's the biggest differences, is being a bit more clinical for myself and in front of goal. Well, how do you feel about being on the other side of that, that rivalry between TSC and CF Montreal? It's nice to know that it's not dead yet. My Instagram DMs is sure to remind me of that. No, it's good.

It's really good. Yeah, I was taught to hate a certain club when I played for Montreal, and now I'm going to be taught to hate the other club playing for Toronto, so it's good. You mentioned a couple of players that we'll be playing with, though. and also a couple of players that are expecting to have big summers next year or hoping to have big summers at a home World Cup in Jonathan Osorio and Richel O'Rea. Just speak to a little bit about playing with them

and your thoughts from being an opposing player and now being their teammate. Yeah, I'm really excited to play with them. And, of course, the rest of the team, like you said, they're going to represent Canada in a World Cup next year and the whole buzz around the club is going to pick up even more when the World Cup comes to Canada. But like you said, they're incredible players.

They both have had incredible careers so far. So Richie, in particular, being a defender, I did come across him a few times and get a couple hard tackles, so I'm glad he's on my team now. I'm probably going to feel it's still in training. But when you have guys like that that are going to push each other every day in training, it's just going to raise the level as a team.

I've never shared the pitch with Richelorea, but he does seem like the definition of a guy that you would much rather have as your teammate than play against, absolutely. But lastly, on a couple of players that you were referring to that you did play with Montreal that have gone on to have careers in Europe, and one has made a move,

and Ishmael Kone has now gone to the Seraia. Alistair Johnson has had a ton of success and has won a lot of trophies at Celtic. Just to maybe speak to how you've seen and followed kind of those guys' careers and what you think, you know, they'll bring, or the pieces that they're a part of for the

Canadians' Meds National team, because I know you're watching with the American eye, but you're going to feel a lot of Canadian questions now, and you've got some experience with some two guys that are a big part of that team. Yeah, no, we still have a group chat from my time on trail with those guys, and when this

this transferred went through, of course, that group chat was pretty hot. Just talking about, you know, the time we spent together, talking about the state of the Kedin national team. My previous coach, Chris, and Canada's coach Jesse Marsha are very close so when I was in Colorado he would always tell me about you know Jesse's time with the Canada national team and how things are going and

it's an incredible time for for Canada as a soccer country you've seen the last four or five years the sport has blown up quality all over the world now representing Canada so I think it's a really exciting time for for this nation and quite honestly I'm really excited to be in Toronto when the World Cup comes. Hopefully I'm representing the U.S. at that time, but it's just going to be a really exciting time for all the countries. Yeah, it is one of the best cities in the world. And during the World Cup, it'll certainly be one of the best places.

Don't take it personal, though, if you get the booze, if you're playing down at Bimo with the American kid on. The booze are coming. I can guarantee you that. No problem. No problem. That's what makes this sport fun. Absolutely.

Absolutely. Well, Toronto C fans are definitely looking forward to having some more fun down of BMO and looking forward to watching you so georgie appreciate it welcome to the city man and uh enjoy it looking forward to see out there on the field thank you nice meeting you guys georgia mahalovitch toronto fc's new designated player new star man the uh lorenzo insinia and frederico bernandezki era ended on july first yeah and now it's another american that will take that uh how much big weight of that designated player tag well how much more pressure you think is on him to live up to that designated player tag because like it didn't work out well when the Italians came through

and it crippled the franchise for a couple of years. It is new that in major league soccer teams can use cash to purchase a player and not have to trade bodies as we do in North American sports or other financial assets that are used in other ways but as what you would call a trade. It has to be some incomparable. The rest of the soccer world is just cash. You have a player under contract for how long? I like him. Here's this much money. That's his brand new in Major League Soccer.

And an $8 million purchase is a lot because it's 20 million Canadian, but it's also, it's a lot in that league. So there will be pressure on George Mihalovich as well. But he is someone who approved in Colorado in 53 games. He bagged 20 goals in a season and a half, about two seasons. Well, season and a half, excuse me. So he's someone that will be expected to score goals here. But is someone who scored goals in this league?

And I think that's exactly why management identified Georgia Mihalovich as someone that this team needed to help rebuild and restart a new era because the way things have gone before and the way they look to assemble the team by finding guys that could score goals in other places that didn't work out. So from that aspect, I know that Toronto Sea fans are hopeful that this era will be different. And while, you know, there is a rivalry between Canada and the U.S. that will never go away. and the hot seat is of the temperature might be a little hotter now

than it has been before. I think that it's familiar to see an American in TFC Red. Oh, it is. Coring goals. Yes, that won't be, that's not foreign to us. Yes, right?

Like, Joe Zee and Michael Bradley were, you could argue, too, the greatest TFC players to play, like to put on the uniform. Absolutely. They would definitely be on Legends Row, and Georgie Mahalovich may play himself into that. Maybe.

next few seasons. Sean Johnson, also American, one of the best goalkeepers in Major League Soccer still. And someone who Georgie was familiar with, they came up together at the same time, albeit George a little bit younger. I should say that Sean Johnson was a veteran, but they were in Chicago together. So some familiar faces, and Robin Frazier was the ex-coach of the Colorado Rapids, although their time didn't overlap, but it was nice of Georgie Mihalovich to make some time for us today on the show.

When are we going to get to a game at Bimo Field? Like, what's the next? you referenced the treble winning the 2017 that that was like your time that was yeah i don't think i've been to a game there's no cousins no italians dragged you out for bernandez i'm not well like i'm not i'm not i didn't grow up here so it's not like i got a bunch of like pison cousins up in bond right doesn't everyone have them up in the bridge i'm not from or this area i understand that but if there's like everyone it just seems like every italian whether you grew up in windsor or whether You grew up in a Brutzo or you grew up in New Jersey.

Funny enough, like my family never really made their way north, I guess, from the fall. It's like everyone kind of stayed in that area. A couple of people went over the border. But, yeah, no, not a lot of family in Toronto. I'm the only one who moved up here. Let me give you one more soccer question, okay? Yep. As someone who appreciate soccer but would not describe themselves as a soccer person,

how big do you think the World Cup will be in this city? Because I always call this one of the best places in the world. world to be during a World Cup. Yeah. Now it's actually going to be here. You're my actual? It's going to be a disaster when it comes to infrastructure trying to house the millions of people that are going to be here.

In terms of the soccer aspect, I think it's going to be amazing. It's such a multicultural city and there's so many pockets of massive, like, football fans. There we go. I like that. Football. Or football with an accent over the EU, if you really want to get Spanish with it. That's right. And, yeah, I think everyone's going to buy in. Like, it always happens that way.

It doesn't matter. That's the Canadian in sports. People, like, Canadians get really excited about something that's ours. Like, look at the Vicki and Boko thing. Like, how many Canadians truly knew who Vicki and Boko was three weeks ago? Not many. Not many. But I guarantee you, a heck of a lot more know who she is now and is excited for her to compete at the U.S. Open. Exactly. So it's the same, it's a similar situation where it's like, It's our World Cup, right? We're going to get to watch Canadians on home soil. It's going to be special, very special.

So I'm excited. Like, as a fair weather soccer fan who, you know, watches the odd game here, more of an international soccer fan. I'm jazzed up, jacked up for the World Cup to come. The traffic, it's going to be interesting. Infrastructure-wise, I don't know what the World Cup would look like for me. I feel like, you know, six games here in Toronto. It's going to be a messy place.

getting here today on the 401 and dvp was difficult you wait until 2026 might just need to rent a room at bemo field for for the entire month yeah might have to do the same with metlife stadium in new jersey but things things will be uh things should be different for toronto vc and that was the whole point of bringing in georgia mahalovich who should be available on saturday tomorrow night when dFC are back in action there in philadelphia so appreciate uh georgie mahalovitch taking the time for us in philadelphia after making the flight today after after his introductory press conference. We're not yet ready to put a bow on this show.

This is Overdrive on TSN 1050. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a site and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston pizza. The final few minutes of overdrive here as we close out of Friday. And hey, you can help support our local students too at 24.

dollar donation provides one backpack for a student and the $30 total insures. It includes all the essentials as TSN 1050 partnering with the Toronto District School Board to help support kids going back to school. I can't believe September's just around the corner. Head to TSN1050.C.A to make your donations today. You still got a couple years before the young one hit school, right? I do and I really feel it, you know. I do feel like I have to decide the best things to do in my life.

his life in the next two years here because then kindergarten comes. I do think you've got some movement and flexibility. This is a real debate amongst parents. Like how much can you move them before you've got to settle in? My consensus is like third, fourth grade. That's got to be the place you say. That's where you settle in.

It should be. Yeah, like 9, 10, hopefully at that point. Yeah. I want to move them too much, you know? Then they really plant roots. Right now he's just throwing blocks at kids at Montessori school. It's a little different, you know? I like it.

I like it. Today's best bets, powered by a Fanduel, make your picks, and assemble the same game parlay in seconds on the Fandual Sportsbook app. We're all looking at the Jays Dodgers game tonight. 100%. It's going to be a pitching matchup of the ages with Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw. But while everyone ziggs, I'm Zagin. Oh.

Yes, I'm taking Vlad and Bo both to record two plus bases tonight and Vladimir Greo Jr. to record a run tonight. You parlay those together, you got plus 286. Blad, two for two with two walks in four at-bats against Kershaw. Bobichet, two for three, two homers against Clayton Kershaw. So both those two have had a lot of success against Kershaw. In the lone meeting they had against Kershaw in their careers, they got the best of them.

I think that continues tonight as Kershaw is in the twilight of his career now. The Js, I think those bats stay on fire. So I like that parlay at plus 286. Today's best bets powered by Fandual, assemble the same game parlayed seconds, On the Fandual Sportsbook app, please play responsibly, 19 plus and physically located in Ontario. You're a big totals guy when it comes to baseball? Eight and a half tonight. It's a sharp.

Totals are sharp. But when you look at those two guys and obviously the offense of the Blue Jays have had. And the Dodgers, though. Yes. And the Dodgers. I think I'd lead me over there. Now, the Dodgers offense hasn't been nearly as potent as they'd been. That's what makes it.

I think I was taking a look at it. The over is like one, one in nine, I think in the last. 10 games for the Dodgers, but I just think that we could see some some fireworks tonight to to start off this series. Everyone's excited for the pitching matchup, but I think we'll see some offense tonight.

I don't think it's going to be a 2-1. I don't expect a 2-1 pitchers duo or both go into the seventh inning. Now, I think we'll see some offense. I think so too, but I don't know how to play it against those two guys. And especially Kirschov's got a 3-2-9 ERA. Like, he could get into a groove.

They both could. The numbers don't look as rosy, though. I'll say that. They both could. You know what? This has been a pretty rosy show. I think this is a fantastic way for me to close out the week. I agree.

I'll enjoy your gambling weekend with the boys. We'll be watching the Jays tonight. I'll be watching the Tigers. Hopefully this hits. I'll be placing this way, John Fandwalking. Guarantee you that. Yeah, I'll definitely be paying attention to that. And I'll be sitting at Comerica Park with the boy

watching the Detroit Tigers against the Angels tomorrow afternoon. So mail it in Friday brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy a $15 lunch, BP, where you get an entree, a side, and a drink, and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. The fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See it for a $15 fast lunch at your local Boston Pizza. We're great to see you on TSN. We'll see you again soon. Enjoy the weekend. Mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza, Canada's favorite sports bar. Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree aside and a drink and you'll get it all in 20 minutes or less. A fast lunch doesn't have to be fast food. See you for a $15 fast lunch at your local

Boston Pizza. A Tate Night to remember. I think you know what this is. Tate McRae hit Scotiabank Arena, August 19th, and IHart Radio could take you there. With $500 spending cash and more, just stream IHard new music for 10 minutes a day on the free IHart Radio app.

See the prompt? Tap, enter, and do it daily for your best chance to see Tate McRae live. The new album. So Close to What is available now?