OverDrive - OverDrive - February 14, 2025 - Hour 3

Episode Date: February 15, 2025

Join Aaron Korolnek and Frank Corrado for Hour 3 on OverDrive! ESPN NHL Commentator Bob Wischusen joins to discuss the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament perspective, Canada and United States' showdown and the dominance on Team USA's roster. ESPN NBA Commentator Marc Kestecher joins to discuss 2025 NBA All-Star Game, the festivities of the event and the format of the games and Doogie hands out his FanDuel Best Bets.

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Switch to Bell PureFiber, Canada's fastest internet, awarded by UCCLA. Starting from $60 a month. Visit bell.ca for more details and to check availability. Bell, internet just got better. Final hour of the week here on Overdrive. Aaron Kowulnik, Frank Corrado in for the fellas. Overdrive is brought to you by Fandle, bringing you everything from the opening line

to the final score. Bob Wishusen in about five minutes, he was on the call for ESPN last night the americans beat up on the fins six toe one frank setting the stage for what should be an incredible night at the bell center canada u s a

tomorrow night and we've had so much so many different discussions about cross be and his legacy while wearing a canadian jersey john Cooper says he will go down as the greatest player to ever represent his country. I think for Sid, well timed, right? I mean all these Olympic games that he was fortunate enough to play and I think with Wayne Gretzky are enduring image of him as a best on best participant as him sitting on the bench in Nagano with his head hung while he wasn't selected by Mark Crawford in that shootout right that's kind of how we remember Gretzky's international resume which of course was

extremely decorated but the Olympic Games weren't a thing that NHL players were playing in at the time and now they are of course and we have this international schedule that's built back in next year the Olympics then every two years hopefully going forward we will have international hockey who do you this international schedule that's built back in next year, the Olympics, then every two years. Hopefully going forward, we will have international hockey. Who do you think the American contingent would look at as the greatest to represent their country? Is it Modeno?

Is it Kachak? Is it Mike Richter? Is it... I was like, Richter was one of the names that comes to mind. Like Rangers, you know, I don't know, Greatest American Goalie or one of. I'm sure I'm forgetting someone. But Modano feels like the name. It feels like it's been Modano, but Patrick Kane could be put into that conversation as

well. It's hard. I don't know if there's one that really stands out that much above the others, but in Canada, think about Sid and everything he's done. He has been in the most pressure-packed of situations so many times and has been the guy, the guy that has risen to the occasion and scored the big goal or won in the biggest moment and has never had a misstep along the way and he's like the captain, the best player, all eyes are on him and just has never really deviated

from being the guy. It's incredible. It's really incredible. It's hard to put into words what this guy has been able to do on the international stage playing for Canada. Yeah I mean the golden goal back in 2010 and of course he was the World Cup of Hockey MVP in 2016 the last time we saw best on best and now he puts up three assists in the opening game for Canada against Sweden. So let's head down to Montreal now and catch up with Bob with shoes in the voice of the Four Nations face-off on ESPN. He was on the call last night for the Americans and the Finns fins bob good evening how are you

i'm doing great are you got excellent thank you why we start with this a question i posed a frank just moments ago if sydney crosby is regarded as the best international hockey player for canada who would be the best international hockey player for the united states in your opinion about anybody named Kachuk? Hmm yeah yeah Keith Kachuk I believe he's the all-time goalie in best on best for the Americans if I'm not mistaken. Can I make that just a family honor after last night? After last night two goals a piece

for Matthew and Brady I don't see how you could possibly have take have any issue taken with that right? Yeah i mean imagine being key from watching that right and that's going to be as good as it gets so what's it like wrangling around ray ferraro on the streets of montreal uh... yeah right it's like being with the mayor if you can't get out of the building uh... you know so he's we uh... you know but every now and then, obviously, being able to talk height jokes with Ray is

also fun, too. He's a pretty good sport. We had him standing next to Jake Ottinger last night on camera, and it was like of Mice and Men. It was awesome. I did see that on Twitter. Of course, we're watching our Canadian feed, but got to see Ray between the benches and always nice to poke fun at yourself, something Ray does well. What's your big takeaway coming out of that game?

I know the Kachaks were the big story, getting put together on the same line late in that second period. The Americans just found a way to chip at that Finland team, Yussi Saros, the wheels fell off for him like what's your what's your big takeaway from the u.s. after watching one game uh... i mean i do think there was a little bit of luck involved for them to blow it open the way that they did even you know the first power play goal by matthew was

you know glanced off of mekala stick halfway there uh... but it felt watching that game just the ability level that eventually that title wave was coming from the Americans and you know we saw it in full force the first three minutes of the third period I mean you know Finland has some terrific players and They might have the best two-way player in the world in Barkov. But having said that, they really have to play a perfect game to match what the US has in terms of all of their firepower.

And at some point, you also have to think that the injuries they have on defense are going to rear. And they did that's you know I mean you can only cover up from missing three of your top six for so long as well so to me it just heightens the anticipation for tomorrow night at eight o'clock. And on that subject Canada United States tomorrow eight o'clock the Bell Center you'll be in the building Bob what type of atmosphere? And what is your level of anticipation?

You've called some incredible sporting events over the years. Where does tomorrow night's anticipation rank for you? Yeah, this is a little different. You know, I mean, obviously, you know, being here, right? Being in as hockey crazy a place as there could be and then add you know teams wearing their national sweaters and and the rivalry you know I haven't been a part of something like this and you know I'm sure Sean McDonnell will be

calling the game tomorrow night so I get to kind of just sit there and drink it all in with no pressure on on presenting it I just get to be a fan as well and look at it and hear it. And I can't wait. I mean, if nothing else, like it was as loud a building as I can remember being in two nights ago when Canada was playing Sweden, when Mario walked out. And in the US, we were having this conversation, but we don't really have that we don't have like a national sports hero or two or

three we were trying to come up with examples I guess you know as he aged maybe like you know a Joe DiMaggio or a Willie Mays walking into a baseball stadium regardless of the rivalry but there's still going to be some people that are Dodger fans that could never find themselves cheering for Willie Mays or you know Dodger fans or Mets fans whatever couldn't cheer for a Yankee the fact that an entire nation can wrap their arms around guys the way that Canada does with their hockey heroes with Mara and then when you heard fit

get announced to the crowd in you know they're all wearing the maple leaf and it you know it it was just there was a different vibe in that building than something that we would probably have or that i've been experience before you know we were talking about uh... the roster that the united states had at the World Cup of Hockey in 2016 and just how different the names are.

Of course the names are going to change over time, but the types of players that USA is producing now, guys like Austin Matthews, Jack Geichel, Jack Hughes, these highly skilled players, some of the best in the league, and it feels like it's been a changing of the guard for US players and how they they operate do you get that sense as well when you kind of look back at the american rosters over the years and see you know where the skill level has gotten to but there's no question and obviously there was some skill back then that the style of play

was much more probably in like the Kachuk, Bill Garan, you know, mindset of just big, tough power guys that could play like a physical game and maybe, you know, play that style. But yeah, you're right. I mean, you know, the firepower that the US has, the goal scoring capability, the playmaking capability, and you certainly saw some of that last night as well, you know, Matthews to Gensel. Yeah, I think it just shows the evolution of the sport in the States. And this goes all the way back to probably,

you know, Wayne Gretzky becoming a king and the expansion of the league and a young guy named Austin Matthews that goes to watch hockey when he's like six, seven, eight years old in Phoenix and finds that as his sport. So it has clearly expanded not only nationally where the players might come from, but it's probably gotten even that

many more kids who are in places in the US where hockey's always been a big thing but it's even bigger now. You know with all of the franchises touching all of the areas of the country. So you know when I was growing up, I mean I'm from suburban New York City. I couldn't play ice hockey when I was a kid. There were no rinks. Now there are rinks, I've got 10 rinks within like a 45 minute drive of my house. And then you find out, like I've got buddies

who are in beer leagues in Miami and you know, and places to go play in Phoenix. And so it's probably only natural that there would be this evolution of now the skill players being developed in the U.S. You know, the Hughes family alone, right? I mean, it's...we didn't have that 15, 20 years ago. Bob Waschusen, our guest, he's part of ESPN's broadcast team for the Four Nations, Faceoff

Canada, USA tomorrow night at 8 o'clock. Is there a matchup that you are particularly intrigued by with regards to tomorrow maybe it's from the Canadian perspective maybe it's from the American perspective Bob if the u.s. with like the JT Miller's of the world can find a way to do something to slow down McDavid I mean to me that that's the best chance that the u.S. has in this game. Like, can they? Because even for all of the skill that we're now talking about the U.S. having, if you watch the two games, like, to me, Canada is still faster. They're

still more skilled. They're still more depth of the skill, line to line to line. Um, and you know, that line with McDavid in the middle, the other night, I mean, even in at this level still look different, right? He just looks different than everybody else out there. Um, he's the guy that could potentially, you know, flanked by two of the other best skill players in the game. If he's got Marner and Reinhardt, I'm imagining that's still going to be the line tomorrow night. And then that power play as well. I mean, as good as the US power play

is capable of being the power play. I mean, US has to stay out of the penalty box. If they're in the penalty box three or four times in this game, how would you not think they probably wouldn't give up a couple of goals so how they defend McDavid if that falls to a JT Miller as best they can to try and match and also can they not take penalties because you know we've got some guys that are pretty good at drawing and also pretty known for taking penalties in their NHL careers in this game I guess on both sides of marsh and up there but you know the kichucks find themselves drawing penalties but also both in the

penalty box a fair amount that can happen tomorrow night it is interesting how the americans decided to build their team because there's a pretty notable successful players that don't make this roster rightly page thompson's not there kohler caulfield was scoring a lot earlier in the season when they were selecting the rosters, he doesn't make the team, but they went with guys that are kind of of the build of Billy Garan, right? Like, big, strong, can play that rugged game, and we started to see that for the Americans, and as that started to happen, you can see their game come into life. And I would say with Canada in their first game, clinical first period, highly fast paced period,

and then there was a little bit of a lull for them. So they gotta find that first period pace, and I think the Americans, they built some momentum. Is that how you see both these teams headed into Saturday night? Yeah, and I think the way that both teams were built they were both built with the idea of we're not just going to basically do like a fantasy draft and get every guy that has the most skill and the best

statistics and throw them all together we're going to put together a team. Like you can see on the Canadian side and the American side the you know kind of the foundation being set in the architecture and there are all there are obviously automatic guys right like you know Reinhardt, McDavid, McKinnon, Sid you know like those guys are automatic but there's a reason that Sorelli is on this team the same way there's a reason that Vincent Trotschek is on the American side right like you want gritty guys, you want face-off specialists, you want guys that are there to play a role and not necessarily be

the stats accumulating superstar, but be the guy that goes to the dirty areas and does like the things that a team needs to have done. And so, yeah, I mean, it is interesting, you know, and some of the names that ought to, you know, kind of get left out that are on the bubble because they're not that type of player. They more mirror, you know, like a Tage Thompson is obviously going to be more mirror the goal scorers that the U.S. already has. Well, I mean, Vincent Trotschek is 61% face-off guy. You want a guy like that because there are so many situations that can come up where he's out there just to do that job. So yeah I like the way that both sides have put together their teams and then even talking to the

coaches. You know we talked to Mike Sullivan before the game yesterday and I've certainly heard John Cooper, I've had him a couple of times this year for ESPN you know for Tampa games and you, the conversation even leading up to this turned to, you know, are you thinking about line combinations and who's going to play with who and really fascinating to see the combinations not only that they put together but already some in-game adjustments like putting the Kachuk brothers together. Last night they didn't start the game on the same line and Dylan Larkin moved up. He wasn't with baldi and miller he ended up with them so the coaches are even tweaking their lines as the games go bob with regards to the goaltending of course here in

toronto in canada we're talking a lot about bennington the potential of going to aid in hell tomorrow night i don't think there's any contemplation form going away from connor hellebach that first goal last night certainly he would have loved to have back the yokey Haru goal, but what is the level of confidence in Hellebuck, especially considering some of his playoff performances have left a little bit to be desired? Yeah, he really wasn't truly tested last night, really. I mean, how many true high danger chances were there last night? Now look, I can't imagine if anyone tomorrow

was given a game that they had to win and they had a choice between Connor Hellebuck, Aiden Hill, Jordan Bennington, that you wouldn't take Hellebuck. I mean, he's kind of the runaway favorite right now to win his third, Desnon second in a row. How do you not take him? But you're right, when a guy's 2-12 in the playoffs, and these are as similar as you're going to get to an NHL playoff

scenario but not be the NHL playoffs, until he goes out there against, say, Canada tomorrow night and has one of those performances where he faces 45 shots and only gives up three, because it could be that kind of game, you know, or two and they win not around him but maybe because of him. Yeah, there's going to be a little bit of, all right, let's see him do it on this stage with the pressure on his shoulders because we haven't seen that from him when Winnipeg has needed him in the flight offs. So, from him when Winnipeg has needed him in the playoffs. So I'm as fascinated as anyone to see how he performs tomorrow night because you know I mean yes the game was close going into the third period

yesterday and yeah he had one fluttering shot from Yuki Haru that beat him but and I would put the stats up after the second I remember and it was you know like quality scoring chances or something in a two one game it was like the u s thirteen fourteen fifteen them and had like five or six and i have you know he was not tested in anyway share perform last night the way he's going to be tested tomorrow night

bobby urbic you're very busy man we appreciate your time we know how much you love the national hockey calling games for usPN and of course you do a great job calling games for the new york jets as well of course the jets have been in the news of late this week announcing that aaron rogers will not be back in new york what do you expect the jets to do a quarterback in what do you expect aaron rogers next career move to be? Aaron Rodgers is it coming back? Yeah. Breaking news. I didn't know that. I was so immersed in the Four Nations that I yeah I was able to avoid that one. Yeah look that was the number one question that everyone asked me as you would with anyone surrounding

the Jets over the past you know whatever probably since Halloween when it was kind of obvious they weren't going to go to the playoffs what do you think you think Aaron Rodgers is going to come back next year they're going to move on and I kept saying the same thing over and over again well until they have a coach and a GM like decision makers in place and then they sit down and actually look at the other options that are out there how can you answer that question? Well, to their credit, the coach and the GM were put in place and they very quickly answered that question.

And I definitely understand why they feel the need to move on. Um, it didn't work out and no one's more disappointed than I am not having the chance to call what I thought were going to be a couple of really fun seasons but you know they are now a brand new regime looking three four five six years down the road and having a 41 going on 42 year old quarterback he does not factor into anything beyond that best one year so I'm still very curious because you still have to answer that question. But right now I bet like if the three of us and we got three or four more people sat around the table and everyone wrote down on a piece of

paper, hey name the Jets starting quarterback on opening day, write it down on a piece of paper and let's slide it to the middle of the table. I bet we could turn six pieces of paper over and all six pieces of paper might have a different name. So I have no idea what they're going to do. Part of it is the draft. They've got the seventh pick. Now you're hearing rumors that the Giants with the third pick, they are a team

that definitely needs a quarterback. They might make a run at Matthew Stafford. Well, if they make a run at Matthew Stafford, are they also gonna draft a quarterback to sit behind Matthew Stafford? Or are they thinking he's going to be their guy for the next three, four, five years? Could one of these guys drop to seven? If all of a sudden one of these guys drops to five or six, would the Jets have the fire

power to move up a spot or two? And do they even have a belief in Shadriss Sanders or Cam Ward? So there's still a lot of balls in the air for them but I do understand philosophically why they felt the need to move on from Aaron. Yeah I think Aaron Glenn looking for a clean slate and removing Rodgers from the equation gives him just that. Bob thanks so much for the time great to have you on. Enjoy tomorrow night man. I think both Frank and I are jealous that we you're going to be there gonna be enjoying the festivities and sadly we will not but

uh... be a lot of great hockey to watch and i'll be a big part of free s b and thank you for this yeah i'm looking forward to it and i think you bring up the jet by the way that was my time you know you're welcome to a lot of damage and stand out a lot of money you get any info well i know rogers signed he's like all the sudden he's a jet span i know what knows no one can confirm bob if he was actually a jets fan previous to that i wasn't i wasn't

i'd got on the air rogers bandwagon because my co-host bob carlo coli akiva loves the buffalo bill so i thought it'd be great for our shows content i was just then he was a bills fan i thought it would go great for me because rogers and they tears the killings for snaps in and then. All right, well now the test will be, do you stick with us? Or do you now, you know,

decide to change the lead? I am aligned with you, Bob Washuzin, for the rest of my life. Nice, I appreciate it. We sucked you in, sorry. All right, thank you Bob, enjoy it. Thanks. All right, that's Bob Washuzin.

By the way, that work from Joe from The Bridge, and if you're not watching on TSN to you should be That we PVR it you see Joe from the bridge sweet switching from NHL for nations Backgrounds to NFL what a what a true pro very slick. There's Joe from the bridge is good, man. Yes. Yes Yes, he is. We're gonna head down to San Francisco on the other side. Mark Kestasher will join us from ESPN part of the NBA all-star festivities Which are going on you're watching overdrive on TSN to up on TSN 1050 our three continues mail it in Friday is brought to you by Boston pizza Canada's favorite sports bar Karelnick and Corrado and Frank we were celebrating the 25th anniversary of Vince Carter's iconic dunk earlier this week

Which actually I believe happened in San Francisco as well And the all-star game is back there this year and looking at the lineup for the NBA dunk contest And I used to love the NBA dunk contest It was must see TV every single year this year Mac McClung looking for his three-peat as NBA duck champion. Andre Jackson Jr., Stefan Castle and Mattas Bouzelis. You intrigued? Buddy, I'd like to say that I know who all those guys are and I pay attention to the four major sports leagues. I'll be honest, I don't know who those people are.

Yeah. Well, you know Mack McClung from the Dunk contest last couple years. But yeah, he's in the G League. A man who knows the participants intimately is kind enough to join us. He is Mark Kestasher from ESPN Radio, one of the best in the business. Mark, give us the hype up for the Dunk contest this year.

I would love to. Hey, all i could say is you know mac mcclung jumped over shacking grabbed a ball and don't do the six to so i don't know what he's got left he says he has more left all the guys i love stephan castle he's kinda my uh... rookie of the year canada but that seems to be where we are now is yong

athletic maybe something you've never seen before. I just hope like last year, and I think the year before, we had a lot of guys who nailed it, like on the first try. Cause when it's like attempt number 17 and you've lost the crowd, it's like, why don't we just finish with a three point contest? So at least, you know, guys hit their marks last year. So I know it's not as sexy. I think the three point contest is So at least guys hit their marks last year. So I know it's not as sexy.

I think the three point contest is the sexiest event tomorrow night and then I'm sure you'll get to it. But I hope that the format change for Sunday might inspire some guys to maybe play some defense for a few minutes, maybe. Where's the NBA at with this whole all-star weekend? In years past and probably last year the most, they've been flat out embarrassed by the product on the court. Where are they at with this? Is this a last try to make sure things are different or is it going to be more of the

same? I don't know where the NBA would be at with all of this. Yeah. I give them credit for trying something different. I mean, obviously, you know, we didn't have East West for a few years when we went to guys picking teams and we went to an ELAM ending a target score, if you will, and I thought a couple of years that brought a little bit of excitement left. And then, you you know 211 points

for the winning team last year. I had the scoreboard and one side didn't even have a two. Like they had to put a drape over it because it wasn't going to change from 199. So I'm hoping they're taking the format we're going to see tonight in the rising stars game, the short burst games to 40 game, the short burst games to 40. Um, and you know, those go rather quickly. And so I'm hoping that, you know, guys like LeBron and Steph and KD and maybe, you know, some of the younger guys like a Shea Gilgis, Alexander and others, um, you know, we'll put a little pride out there and just say, yeah, you know, I know nobody wants to get hurt and it's not cool to play, you know, legit defense in an all-star game unless it's close

with five minutes to go in the fourth quarter. You know, now we won't have a clock, we'll have a target score and we have a mini tournament. So I think they're just hoping, they're just hoping we can get something out of it. Mark, not sure how big a hockey fan you are, but the four nations faceoff is going on right now and there's a lot of national pride at stake in you wonder maybe the nba could look to pivot to that i know chuck barkley has drafted his global stars team that includes you'll kitchen gilgis alexander when many on the amongst others but could there be one day some kind of

u.s.a. versus the world thing that actually the players would buy into and care about? I think so. I mean, we kind of saw it in the summertime, you know, at the Olympics. And I do think, you know, all the leagues kind of look at each other and see what's successful. And I will say, you know, down here, there's a lot of excitement about what's going on in Montreal, you know, with the NHL.

And so with the NBA now, I don't know the percentage proportions of the NHL, which seems to be, you know, overwhelmingly diverse and international. And the NBA is getting there, you know, you could argue. We haven't had an American MVP in quite some time, in a few years. So maybe that is a direction to take it in. It's a cyclical league. I know eventually we're going to get back to East West and teams wearing their traditional jerseys.

But in the meantime, let's see what works. And it's a showcase. You know, it's not what you and I grew up watching where the best all-stars of whatever sport was your favorite sport would go and kind of lay it on the line for some pride. We're just not there with this generation. So let's just keep cycling until we can get something. Hopefully that will be entertaining because there's a lot of fun going on in San Francisco this weekend and it always feels

like that very last piece, the game, has been the least of the fun the last few years. Mark Kestasher, our guest from ESPN Radio, covers the National Basketball Association. Shocking, Mark, that there's no Toronto Raptors in this All-Star game. I just can't figure out why. Oh yeah, they're 14 wins or 15 wins, whatever. It's been a very tough year for the Raps, but they make them deal for Brandon Ingram before the trade deadline.

You, I'm sure, have seen Brandon Ingram so many times calling games the last couple of years. What did you make of the acquisition and the direction the Toronto Raptors are going in? Yeah, I think a really good acquisition because I don't know what's going on in New Orleans and I'm a big David Griffin fan, but it just seems like nothing's working down there. When guys leave there, there seems to be a little bit of a breath of fresh air of late,

so maybe change of scenery. He's got a lot of talent, so hopefully it can be unlocked, uh, in Toronto and they can, you know, continue to rebuild and, you know, you just look at like Oklahoma city from. Four or five years ago, you look at Detroit from last year and the, uh, the change they've made and, you know, both those teams have in common, they completely bottomed out. So I'm sure the Raptors fan base doesn't want to you know hear that but you know that's how those teams have made those turnarounds and you know

sometimes you know things guys don't work out in other markets look at Luca going from Dallas to the Lakers and you know I'm not comparing Luca and Brandon Ingram but just a change and an opportunity that maybe fortunes will be changed. I think we do have one Raptor tonight, right? Grady Dix is going to be in the Rising Stars and a former Raptor I think is going to be my choice tomorrow night. I'm going to sleep on it.

Norman Powell in the three-point contest. We love Norman Powell. Legend champion Norman Powell. Big fans. I'm so happy, I mean, I'm so disappointed for him and Damanus Sabonis, who I thought should be here at the All-Star game. I hope he shows out tomorrow night because he's had a terrific two-thirds of a season so far for the Clippers. Mark, one guy who will definitely be a big part of the All-Star game is Shea Gilgis Alexander, the pride of Hamilton, Ontario,

represented Canada at the Olympics last year. We love him. And betting favorite pretty prohibitively to win the NBA MVP. Do you think SGA and the Thunder are real legit threats to win the NBA title this year? Man, I think they are. And I don't pay attention to pop culture shocker, I'm sure you guys, from the times you've talked to me before, but I did see that his first ever shoe line, first shea, whatever ones are coming out, that's a big deal. For a guy who's very soft spoken from, if not the smallest,

the next smallest market, maybe to New Orleans in the NBA, and his game does the talking and his team has been built by Sam Presti like he's built other teams before. They're legit. I mean we've had them I think on radio three times already this year. They play the defense that can win a championship and they just got their whole team together. So, you know, the big impediment, obviously, is the West is going to be not easy in once the playoffs come around. And then, for as good as Oklahoma City and Cleveland have been this year, and I know the Celtics have been

somewhat underwhelming quote unquote, based on what they did a year ago but you gotta assume boston's gonna get healthy and to me that's the big stumbling block for okc you know if they get out of the west and if they have to face boston would be to get past that that team which you know if they flip that switch you know appears to be at least to me just a little bit better but i think okc they've got all the ingredients that they need except you know they haven't been passed the second round so that's gonna be one of

the big tests for them. You know Mark you talk about Shea and you know Canadian basketball fans are so proud so excited for him and you know if the NBA were to go to a you know USA versus the world type game to replace the All-Star game you You know, you think about it, Shea would be playing Don Cic, Jokic, Johnis. It's like... Wemby as well? Wemby... How you beating that team? Like, are we saying that the world are the favorites?

You know, yes, yes indeed. I mean, I know the US still has LeBron and KD and Steph, but there's a lot of tread missing on those tires, as great as they are, and Jason Tatum and on and on. But you just named leading candidates for most valuable player. I mean, just Janis, Jokic, and Shea Gilders Alexander, right there, those three guys. I mean, yes, I think they would be favored.

I don't think there's any doubt. And consider the American contingent, Mark, you have LeBron, you have Steph, you have Durant, all of whom are getting older, right? And we saw at the Olympics, those were the three best players. And who knows how long, how much longer that'll last for, but it's pretty clear that there is a changing of the guard at the top of the American basketball community coming in the not too distant future. Mark, you're the best. Enjoy the time in San Francisco. We'll be listening on ESPN radio and we appreciate

you doing this for us. I appreciate you guys doing a little hoops this afternoon and I hope we can bring some entertainment this weekend as we get set for the stretch run. Appreciate it guys. Thank you. That's Mark Kestasher from ESPN Radio down in San Francisco, head of NBA All-Star Weekend. You make a great point, Frank, where you look at the league leaders in points per game. Gilder's Alexander's averaging 33 a game for OKC. What a stud. And I thought Mark Rowe was the best thing to come out of Hamilton. I was mistaken. I was mistaken. Or Jim Taddy. Yeah, Mark Rowe. Mark Rowe was the best thing to come out of Hamilton. I was mistaken. I was mistaken. Or Jim Taddy. Yeah, Mark Rowe.

Mark Rowe. Mark Rowe. Just kidding, Jim. I know you're watching. Yannis, 32 a game. Jokic is averaging 30 a game. The leading American point producer in the NBA is Tyrese Maxey at 27.6 points per game. Isn't that crazy?

If you went back 10, 15, 20 years, could you ever imagine a world where, you know, the world's best players are better than all the American players if you pitted them up against each other? No, you know what? In many respects, it's the opposite of what's going on in hockey, right? Where the rest of the world is catching up. I guess it's very similar in many respects. The rest of the world's catching up to Canada, right?

Where at one point in time, the Americans were the equivalent to the Canadians in hockey and basketball and now you look at this four nations face off the upcoming olympics the world juniors the rest of the world's is right there with canada and i think in the case of basketball and what it's not a singular country right like canada can hang with the united states or

i get a like a serbia can hang with the United States or Slovenia directly with the United States Greece or Brazil whoever might be but collectively they can now in hockey it is different because all these teams really got caught up to Canada the United States is there with Canada and Sweden and Finland the Czechs and the Russians it's it's it's very interesting how the world is changed it was world sports is turning it's becoming more and more international. And I think that's a great thing for everybody involved. I agree. And you know what? The thing

with the national pride that's on the line with a tournament like the Four Nations, especially for the Canadian guys, they don't want to be labeled as the guys that the changing of the guard happened on their watch. You know what I mean? Like you think Crosby and McKinnon and McDavid want to be the guys that, hey, the Americans passed Canada over. Who was on Canada at the time when that happened on the biggest stage? This is the biggest... Say what you want about the tournament. This is the biggest stage that we've had in a long time. Those guys don't want to be responsible for someone else leapfrogging them because that's

what the conversations are going to be like whether we like it or not like we just we haven't had this as often as we'd like and this is the sample size right here and we were kind of using the world juniors as that determination right I think okay well look at the under 19 kids who are representing our respective countries the United States seems to be coming and the rest of the rest of the countries around the world seem to be doing the same thing against Canada in the last two years for Canada I've been terrible in the court before the quarterfinals, right? So it's a huge one huge one tomorrow night and you cannot understate its importance for national pride and

Everything politically going around is is obviously a big part of it. But I think further the hockey purists when you're talking about the game being played on the ice and the countries that are being represented, it is enormous for our country tomorrow night, Frank. That's what we have, man. This is what we've got. You know what I mean? Hockey is ours. That's ours.

Yeah. And you know what? You want to keep saying that for generations, and you don't want to let someone pass you over. For these guys, if you look at the four best players on Canada that are leading the way, let's go with three. McDavid, McKinnon and Crosby, those guys are super, super competitive, very passionate about their countries and have done it on multiple occasions. And the Canadian hockey allure is in the right hands with those guys to make sure that there's no one

passing them over at this point on the men's stage. We've seen it at the World Junior stage. I'm sure Team Canada gets back to winning and all that kind of stuff. But this is a different beast when everyone is available at your disposal. Yeah, and we had Jose Bautista on earlier, and we're talking about the bat flip and how that was a true where were you moment. Everybody remembers where they were when the bat flip happened.

Everybody remembers where they were when Sidney Crosby scored the golden goal for Canada back in 2010 in Vancouver. You could have that type of moment tomorrow night. Where were you when Player X scored against Connor Hellebuck to propel the Canadians past the Americans in the Four Nations faceoff? I know it kind of sounds crazy to saying it out loud because I think even just a couple weeks ago I was skeptical this tournament would have even close to the amount of juice that it has, but it's a straight up fact that everybody involved desperately wants to win again. Matthew

Kachuck called these four games that the US would likely will likely play in this tournament four game sevens. That's what we're talking about here and a lot in large part in large part is because these guys haven't had the opportunity to represent their country and best on best of the professional level. I know and Brady Kachuck is an interesting one too because he hasn't had the opportunity to represent their country invest on best of the professional level i know and brady kichuck is an interesting one too because he hasn't had the chance to play nhl playoff game exactly do you think that guy can be such a difference maker once he gets a chance to play in the playoffs

and this is like these are the biggest games that that he's played so far in his career and sure enough scores two goals yesterday against finland and was a difference maker is going to be that moving forward, especially if he plays with his brother Matthew. But like, you know, that's the kind of thing that adds a little more juice into this. Like there's the main storyline for sure, Canada, USA, you know, who's going to stay on top, all that kind of stuff. There's so many mini storylines kind of cooked into this thing that are amazing to see. It's going to be a blast. Tomorrow night, eight o'clock, Canada, United States. We have Doogie's

Best Bets powered by FanDuel to wrap up a jam-packed Friday edition of Mail It In Friday here on Overdrive. Kuralnik, Corrado. This is hour three of Overdrive, TSN 2 and TSN 1050. Melodin Friday is brought to you by Boston Pizza Canada's favorite sports bar Enjoy $15 lunch at BP where you get an entree a side 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 I was a little bit surprised walking in today not experience the at your local boston pizza not experience the overwhelming aroma

duties alone he seems to have used to tone it down a little bit as a great smell a man valentine's day perhaps is looking to attract a special someone with will reduced cologne absorption frank probably a a good man do d he's like a

a chemist with all the is colognes that he has a altar out of the whites do you very proud of it he's like he'll tell you straight up i got three on today i got this one i got one in the car emergency one leaky stashes one under the desk with with j p there it's it's crazy yes do you think one on You watch Breaking Bad back in the day, Frank? Oh yes, one of my favorites. Fantastic stuff. Been re-watching it lately. That and Entourage. I have a lot of free time. Well, you do have a lot of free time. Hopefully that changes with your Valentine's Day. You never know, you might meet that special someone

tonight. But I feel like you watch Entourage like every year you just roll through it Yeah, I have a serious serious obsession with entourage the best. I just try to live vicariously through their fictional lives. I suppose My that's what I suppose is going on. All right, if you were an agent you would be like Ari Gold. I think that's Very appropriate. I tend to agree I think that's a very appropriate I tend to agree Today's best bets are powered by fan duel make your picks and assembly same game parlay in seconds in the fan duel Sportsbook app doogie has been dominating fan duel all week long and I expect nothing less tonight doogie take it away All right boys. We're looking for a winner for Canada against the the US at Bell on Saturday night. Let's go with the safer out here.

We're going Canada plus one and a half alternate pot line. We don't know where this game is going to go. The stardom in this game is massive. So I'm going to take a safer out here. Canada plus one and a half. Connor McDavid three plus shots. I think he'll be flying. Austin Matthews three plus shots. I think he'll be flying austin matthews three-plus shots

i think ill i think on a bounce back night against canada and cindy crosby captain canada to record one plus point that parlay plays plus 392 on the fandol sportsbook air nice plus 392 that's your goods up good odds doogie well done today's best bets powered by fando live same game parlays are now available for every four nations face-off game on the FanDuel Sportsbook app. Please play responsibly. 19 plus, physically located in Ontario. Valentine's Day tonight and Four Nations face-off tomorrow. Sorry Frank. No, so you made some faces at Doogie there. Did you not agree with a lot of those things? I didn't like the plus one and a half. The plus one and a half is a little cowardly, I must say.

Is it? Yes it is, doogie. Yes it is. But it could, if they go to overtime they lose, they go to a shootout they lose, doogie covers plus 392. Doogie also apparently didn't like Auston Matthews' game for a bounce back. No, bounce back. Hit that post in the first period.

It looked like he was on the verge of tearing it up. Doogie wants to see more from Matthews. That's okay. I like it. You know what I mean hold your best players accountable I mean, I he'll be he'll be ready to go like he's going up against McKinnon. He's going up against McDavid You know Eichel's kind of right there with him. It's gonna be awesome, man. I am so excited I wish it was tomorrow today, but sadly off'll have to endure a lonely Valentine's Day instead. And then tomorrow... It's okay. You'll watch some Breaking Bad and some Entourage tonight. You'll be ready to go.

I'll watch some Breaking Bad and Entourage. That's what I'll do. That'll be the way I get through the evening. But yeah, tomorrow's gonna be great. I'm excited for it and perhaps I'll tell Doogie's best bets. What's your plan for the weekend Frank big Valentine's Day celebration? No, no Just honestly looking forward to this game like you know what I like we watch

So much NHL hockey right and like we watch the Leafs every Saturday like we have to watch all these games Stay up late watch late games, but to get one that really these games, stay up late, watch late games, but to get one that really has something special about it where the superstar power, the national pride on the line, all these different storylines, this is a treat. We watch so many mundane hockey games and we love it. It's a great job, all that. It's all very valid, but to get to watch one in the middle of a season that is just loaded with the best of the best, I'm so looking forward to it.

I think this is every hockey fan's dream to be able to watch this kind of game and see these players playing in it. And I do wonder, and I know Betman's very excited about the World Cup of hockey, which will follow every Olympic game, so in 20 2028 and 2030 the investment in the World Cup relative to the Olympics going forward I question that in that best on best is back next year the Olympics in Milan it will happen and then maybe it's just an every four years thing where the players are really invested to the point where they are in this tournament I hope that's not the case because I love everything I'm seeing from the four nations face off to the point where they are in this tournament. I hope that's not the case because I love everything I'm seeing from the four nations face-off to

this point. The Olympics it's a guarantee everyone will be going 1,000 percent for the Olympic Games. The World Cup of hockey I'm not a certain but I suppose we'll have to wait until 2028 to find that out. Let's just not wait another nine years. No, exactly. Nine years was way too long and now you know It's culminating with with this game and there's more games to come after this which is awesome Yeah, we've got Finland Sweden at one o'clock tomorrow. We have Canada and the Americans at eight o'clock I want to thank Dougie. I want to thank JP. I want to thank Joe from the bridge fantastic work all week I want to thank our audience as well

I think there's somewhat of a regular rotation back next week following the Four Nations faceoff and Brian's vacation. I want to thank you Frank for being a great friend. Thank you buddy. And a great co-host for all three hours today. Overdrive off until Tuesday family day. Enjoy the long weekend everybody.