The Kevin Sheehan Show - Jason Wright CEO "Finalist" + Cooley

Episode Date: June 24, 2024

Kevin opened with the news that Jason Wright was a finalist for the Green Bay Packers' President/CEO job which went to Ed Policy according to Jonathan Jones/CBS Sports. Chris Cooley jumped on to talk ...about his weekend here in DC and weighed in on whether or not the Commanders should be interested in Brandon Aiyuk. Ben Raby/Capitals Radio Network previewed and picked tonight's Stanley Cup Game 7 between Edmonton and Florida. Kevin closed with some of the more notable Game 7s in DC sports history. Download the PrizePicks app today and use code Sheehan for a first deposit match up to $100! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Transcript
Discussion (0)
Starting point is 00:00:02 You don't want it. You don't need it, but you're going to get it anyway. The Kevin Cheon Show. Here's Kevin. Window Nation is the presenting sponsor of this show. Give them a call at 86690 Nation or head towindonation.com. If you need new windows, mention my name for a free, no obligation in-home estimate. Coolie's going to be available in a few minutes.
Starting point is 00:00:29 So we will talk to him in a few minutes for just a show. short period of time because he is trying to get his stuff together to get to the airport to catch a flight to head home. He was in town for a long weekend. He had a card signing show out in Virginia on Saturday. I hung out with him pretty much the entire weekend. He stayed with me, actually, which is always interesting and always a good time. He likes to stay up in chat late into the night. I should have just recorded some of that and played it back today, but we probably would have had to edit it in a pretty serious way. We did play a bunch of golf. We played Friday. We played early Saturday. And I was hoping to get him on the show for
Starting point is 00:01:19 the entirety of the show on Friday or Saturday. He just didn't have the time for it because of various commitments, including, yes, golf, but more importantly, the card show, which was way out in Virginia and took much of the afternoon on Saturday. Man, was it hot on Saturday? But great time with him, per usual. It always is when he's back in town. So as he's packing and getting ready to leave, we'll get him on here for a few minutes coming up. Ben Raby from the Caps Radio Network will join us in the next segment to preview tonight's game seven of the Stanley Cup finals, Edmonton and Florida.
Starting point is 00:02:05 I love Ben, he's a great guest. And then after Ben, I'm going to take you through the game sevens in our city's history, at least the notable ones. there have been three game seven championship series wins for teams in our town. Most of you will remember at least two of them. So we'll finish up the show with that. Did you see this story from earlier today? It comes from Jonathan Jones at CBS Sports. He tweeted out, Washington Commander's President Jason Wright,
Starting point is 00:02:45 was a finalist for the Packers' president and CEO position sources tell. Right, a Northwestern grad and a former NFL player would have been the first black man in league history to be in what's essentially an owner's chair. Remember, the Packers are a unique franchise in the NFL. They're the only team in the league that is publicly held, and they don't have an actual owner because the public owns the shares of the team. And the president's CEO position is the top position in that organization. He did not get the job.
Starting point is 00:03:29 Ed Policy, the son of former 49ers and Cleveland Brown's executive, Carmen Policy, got the job which Mark Murphy had for many, many years, as in the Mark Murphy who played safety for the Washington Redskins back in the early 80s and was the starting safety on their Super Bowl 17 team. Mark Murphy's been a big part of the Packers organization for a long time. So that caught me by surprise. I think it probably caught some of you by surprise the report. My reaction to it is, first of all, he was interviewing for a job.
Starting point is 00:04:11 that maybe sounds similar in title, but is not in responsibility. Jonathan Jones had that right. Jason Wright became the first black team president in NFL history, and that would have been a step up. That would not have been a lateral move. I don't think it would have been. I think Jonathan Jones is right in saying that. I would certainly assume that Josh Harris knew of him interviewing for this.
Starting point is 00:04:41 position. I would doubt that his approval was necessary because it was an interview for a job that was a higher position in an organization than the one he has in Washington. Look, I can't tell you for sure why Jason Wright was interviewing for this job. It could be very simply that it was just too good of an opportunity and a much better opportunity and a more significant opportunity and position than the one he has here. It's also possible that he senses or knows that the opportunity here in D.C. for this franchise isn't forever. I don't know anything for absolute certainty. I would guess if you forced me to guess that we'll have. have an answer to that sometime soon, likely before the end of the summer. That would be my guess,
Starting point is 00:05:46 but he was one of the finalists, according to Jonathan Jones, for that position in Green Bay. Did you see this from over the weekend? Jeremy Fowler, ESPN, on Saturday, on one of the NFL live shows, I would assume, talked about what people around the league are saying about Jaden Daniels and the Washington commanders. Quote from Jeremy Fowler, Jaden Daniels not only did he have a very strong spring, by all accounts, there is definitely buzz league-wide, as I've talked to people this time of year about different players and big-picture items. I've talked to multiple scouts and executives who've brought up Daniels,
Starting point is 00:06:36 unprompted, like, hey, it's kind of scary what Washington could be with Daniels because he's got the running ability, but he's more polished as a passer than a lot of running quarterbacks coming out of college. Really, the only knock on him right now is the offensive line. If they can get that short up, Daniels could very well take off year one. That's the expectation among a lot of people around the league. closed quote from Jeremy Fowler at ESPN. Man, let's face it. I know that this is more of a feel thing because we're living it day to day.
Starting point is 00:07:15 But, you know, Gerard Mayo, the coach in New England, as it relates to Drake May, early on said he's got a long way to go. There were reports early on about Caleb Williams struggling in some of the early OTA sessions. Pennix Jr. is not going to get a shot. J.J. McCarthy, not this year. J.J. McCarthy is 21 years old and will likely, you know, start the season on the sideline with a clipboard as Sam Darnold gets the start in Minnesota. Bo Nix, the sixth of the six quarterbacks taken in the top half of the first round, actually may start because there's really no other option in Denver. So Caleb, Jaden Daniels, and Bo Nix are the three out of the six favored to start.
Starting point is 00:08:01 But man, there is no doubt, right, that in terms of complimentary reports about these six first-round quarterbacks, Jaden Daniels is leading the way. We have been hearing this really since minicamp. And let's also, you know, if we go back to prior to the draft, there was a lot of late buzz on Jaden Daniels. I kind of felt like, you know, based on what I was reading. reading and hearing and watching that it had become obvious that Jaden Daniels was the second best quarterback in the draft, according to most people. Look, there were some pundits that thought
Starting point is 00:08:43 Daniels was the best quarterback in the draft. You know, Dan Orlovsky, Lewis Riddick, Chris Cooley, did film breakdowns of the quarterbacks and thought Daniels was the best quarterback that he did film breakdowns on. But, man, since the draft, You know, we've heard about the leadership and balls not hitting the ground and people already, you know, wanting to be accountable to them and, you know, all of the positives coming out. You know, and I kind of think about this and I'm like, is it coming out because the team's front office, the team's coaching staff, you know, a lot of the guys in the building that the national NFL guys do, tend to break stories after conversations or have stories based on those conversations, even if they're off the record. And not that local people don't break some of those stories, but over the years, you know that.
Starting point is 00:09:45 I mean, these guys like, you know, Dan Quinn and Cliff Kingsbury and even Adam Peters and a lot of people, you know, in Washington's organization, they've got some veteran coaches on that staff that have dealt, you know, Anthony Lynn, et cetera, have dealt with the media. before. And so there's a lot of communication potential. Is it just coming from them, you know, and they're really trying to get the marketing ball rolling on this? Or is it just so overwhelmingly obvious that everybody's talking about this? I mean, Terry McCorn has, you know, been outspoken here about how impressed he's been with Jaden Daniels. you know, in a lot of different ways.
Starting point is 00:10:33 A lot of players have been. And look, I'm not suggesting that it's not true. I'm just saying it's coming from either, you know, the executives who are really trying to pump up and, you know, market the team and get everybody pumped up and excited. Or it's just so true that everybody can't stop talking about him. And when they're asked about him, it's just immediately, oh, my God, so impressive. Look, I'm in benefit of the doubt mode, and I'm a big Jaden Daniels fan, as you all know.
Starting point is 00:11:07 I believe that they got it right. I mean, understanding that there's a really good chance that I won't be right and that the people that like Jaden Daniels like me will be wrong. But I felt about as confident in him as I felt about anybody in recent years. And one of the things from this report and other reports previously that is a bit revealing is that, you know, you get this like, I mean, we knew he could run, but he's more polished as a passer than a lot of the running quarterbacks coming out of college.
Starting point is 00:11:41 You know, like that's, I mean, even Adam Peters, you know, until I turned on the tape. And then when I turned on the tape, I saw it. And it's funny because NFL general managers, assistant GM, some of the higher-ups, not necessarily at the scout level, They don't really focus in on this until, you know, after the season and sometimes not until after free agency. It's something we've talked about in the past. I think it's asked backwards.
Starting point is 00:12:12 I think you've got to find out whether or not you're going to draft a quarterback before free agency begins. It's like, what was Atlanta doing? Like, they should have known before they paid Kirk Cousins $140 million that Michael Pennix, Junior was somebody that they really liked and they had a really good chance of getting him at number eight overall. That just is still a mystifying thing. I mean, you should know before your offseason begins with free agency if you have a
Starting point is 00:12:46 quarterback need, if you have any need, you know, if you can address it in the draft and if it makes sense to be addressed in the draft. But it seems like really a lot of these. guys like anybody that watched a lot of LSU this year knew that yeah he is an unbelievable highlight reel as a runner but he is so so good in the pocket and even though like most of us aren't going to sit there and tell you you know well he's got his arm at this angle versus an angle that's you know less you know promoting of a good delivery you know all of the technical We're not coaches. We're not football coaches or experts, but we know what good pocket presence. We know what good delivery. We know what it kind of looks like. And I told you guys this all season long. Like this guy, it's not, he's not Lamar Jackson. He's not just a dual threat quarterback, a run, or a running quarterback. This guy is great as a thrower. He's great in the pocket. He's pulling. He's pulling.
Starting point is 00:13:57 He's got great delivery. He's got a quick release. He can really sling it. Throws a phenomenal deep ball. Has great feel, you know, in the pocket. And it's like that's what everybody's starting to focus in on as it relates to Jaden Daniels. As Doc might say, I don't know anything until they actually play tackle football. And I am with him on that. Look, I believe in Daniels. I do. And I do. And I don't know anything. I don't. I can't wait for September 8th. I can't wait for this upcoming football season because of him more than anything else. But we're just not going to know for sure until they're playing tackle football 11 on 11. I wanted to just mention before we get to Cooley, something that was really, really sad from over the weekend.
Starting point is 00:14:54 and I mentioned Doc, and Butch McAdams has been, you know, one of the great sort of basketball people in our city for a long, long time. And he's been an ongoing, you know, year after year, probably once a month, once every two months guest on Doc's show, on Doc and Coach's show, on Doc, coach's show, on Doc, on Doc, Coach and Al's show, on Doc. coach and Brian's show. You know, Coach Butch McAdams was their guy. You know, he was their guest. And I loved when he was a guest on the show. And very sadly and very suddenly over the weekend, he passed away. And basketball people in town are just heartbroken.
Starting point is 00:15:46 And it was very, very surprising and shocking. But, man, long-time coach at Marathon. Ray, truly a D.C. basketball historian and always such a great guest. Whenever he was on with coach and Doc and Brian or just Doc or, you know, I mean, I loved listening to it because I love basketball and I love, you know, the DMV basketball. I mean, you guys know that about me. That's really my first love. And I know how important the sport is to this area. It is. It is. is a basketball town. And Coach McAdams was really, you know, a guy that was there watching it and documenting it for so many years in such a big part of it.
Starting point is 00:16:36 So sympathies to his family and all of his friends. I know many of them that listen to this show. We are sad for sure. All right. Let's bring Cooley on. He's got a few minutes just texted me as he's getting. getting ready to leave for the airport. And he's got a few minutes here.
Starting point is 00:16:58 We will talk a little football with him. I'll ask him about Brandon Iyuk and the possibility of trading for Iyut. Good to have you back in town this weekend. You played some good golf. Shot two rounds out of your three, I think, in the 70s. Do you have a good time being back in town this weekend? Had a great weekend.
Starting point is 00:17:20 Yeah? I think it's hilarious. I think it's hilarious that I'm on myself. on doing your show from your house. Right. That's what you're doing right now. Well, I had to go do radio, and now, you know, you've got to go to the airport. You didn't have time to come in.
Starting point is 00:17:37 You were going to do this with me on Friday, but we were running tight on time on our way to play golf, which we played 36 holes of golf together this weekend. You played a total of 54 holes of golf because you played with your good friend, Mike McGuire and Jeff and other guys without me on Sunday out at Raspberry Falls. But you played a lot of golf while you were here this weekend. And you are a good golfer, an excellent golfer. Broke 80, by the way, two different times this weekend. What a great weekend.
Starting point is 00:18:11 So awesome. It was hot, though. Very hot. It's so wild to think about going from 65 degrees. and zero humidity to what we had this weekend. But it was beautiful. Your course is great. It was good to be back and see everybody.
Starting point is 00:18:31 Can't be three days in a row golf. How much did you want to talk about sports? I've been talking about sports with your son for the last hour. Yeah, I know. We're doing a radio show from your couch. I wish I could have recorded it. I thought it was really funny. So I had to do the – there was the –
Starting point is 00:18:51 car autograph signing dealer, the card show or it's a memorabilia show that was at the Dullet's Exeter Center. A lot of people were in town from other teams and other places and stuff and a lot of former athletes. But I found hysterical that
Starting point is 00:19:06 I'm in there, which you brought me to the show, you drove me to Cantilly farther than you ever drive west, but you did it. And you wouldn't come in. Well, you didn't. I didn't want to
Starting point is 00:19:21 They're meeting with a bunch of really nice people in the front area. At least every third person asks me, where's Kevin? Wouldn't it be cool if Kevin came to this? That's not sure. It would have been great. He brought me here. But he did not want to come. No, it is true.
Starting point is 00:19:41 Kevin. It is 100% true. Who else was doing the card signing show with you? Tell everybody. You can look it up. Well, I know Chris Sandler's, like, I don't. Emmons Smith was there the day I was there. Michael Irvin,
Starting point is 00:19:55 Kurt Warner. The next day, I think Jamar Chase was there. There was a bunch of people there. The Bo Nix was there. I think Trevor Lawrence was sitting next to me. Hold on for a second. You think Trevor Lawrence was sitting next to you? It was busy.
Starting point is 00:20:13 Yeah, it was. Trevor Lawrence, I'm sure it was. I looked over at him. Uh-huh. Okay. Did you spend any? time talking to any of the other former players or current players? No.
Starting point is 00:20:26 No? No. So it's been a few years since I've seen Chris Samuels and he was there before me and they said he had to leave you rushed out. And Bosley was there in the morning. I would love to have chatted with both of those guys. I don't know any of the former players. So it's not a, there's nothing to talk about. Right.
Starting point is 00:20:45 Yeah, that's kind of weird. You haven't told me anything about this card show, but I'm just curious since it was Virginia, was it a really good crowd? And did you have the longer lines than some of the other players? Because some of the other players there are either current much bigger names than you are, or even when they played. You know, you got some Hall of Famers in the group with Emmett Smith and Michael Irvin. So were you, did you notice? Did you have the longest line? Kevin, I paid zero attention. I don't know
Starting point is 00:21:18 who had the longest line. Well, and all of them were in at different times. So if I was out with all the people, the people, there was like one of the guy during that time and then the next hour would be two more guys, and the next hour, two more guys. And so
Starting point is 00:21:34 for the most part, I was in the back area doing this deal where you saw like, I think I sound like three trillion things. And I always hated doing that, but they paid me to come out here and essentially paid for me to stay with you and golf. I was like, what?
Starting point is 00:21:52 I'll go, I'll do the trip. I'll go see my, you see, I'll sign some autograph, and I get to hang out with Kev. See my buddies. Yeah, and we had a good time. I didn't realize that some of those other players were there and that Trevor Lawrence was there. It's a big thing. They do it every year at the Dolos Expo.
Starting point is 00:22:14 And it's a big event. What's the show? Is it called the CSA show? I'm looking it up right now. It's probably, I have no idea. But I had done that before in the past when I was playing. I mean, I've been to that show a couple times. I'm just curious about how that works.
Starting point is 00:22:31 You get paid to sign football cards, correct? Football card, your football card. It's almost no football cards anymore. You get paid. There was yours. Well, I think they do. When the public. it's the public signing.
Starting point is 00:22:46 And I've never liked that because I want, they have to pay per autograph. And then I think you have to pay for like inscriptions. So if I write Captain Koff, they have to have like another card. They're like, okay, I want him to sign this and write this, and they have to pay for both of those things. And I've never liked doing that because I want to be like,
Starting point is 00:23:04 dude, they'll pay. Just wait until I go outside. I'll sign anything for free. Yeah, but if they don't pay, then you, they're not going to pay you to come. Well, I think the bulk of the money that I'm making is not assigned to the public. I think it's all the behind-the-scenes things that then they go sell or take whatever. They take them to stores or eBay. I don't know.
Starting point is 00:23:29 I don't know really how that business runs, to be honest with you. You know, it's kind of interesting to consider is this. Your jersey, a Redskins jersey, is it in circulation? Is it being sold anywhere? because I do remember you telling me that you continued to get, you know, generate income off of the sale of your jersey even after you retired. But with the Redskins jerseys, are they in circulation? Are they being sold? No. You can't produce the label.
Starting point is 00:24:07 So, no, there's nothing being told. It was interesting at the card show because they had Burgundy Jersey. jerseys that would have been Redskins jerseys. They just, but with no logos. No logos on those jerseys. So, no, there's no way to capitalize on jerseys, which, I mean, I'm okay, but it's an interesting deal because, let's say, we sold however many jerseys. I think a couple guys that we looked at that were similar, or what would have been similar
Starting point is 00:24:38 in Jersey shows as a former player, it's like 15 to 20 grand a year. 10 years of 15 grand but you mean you mean retired players typically yeah I think it's through like a Mitchell and Ness
Starting point is 00:24:51 is like the brand that makes them through Nike or whatever it is it's like that's who sells for them or the
Starting point is 00:24:57 whatever what do you call it why can I think of the word that two sells the old players jersey retired players jersees yeah I go to Mitchell and Nest
Starting point is 00:25:05 and you can order but honestly the thing that part for me is I have a lot of people that Oh, man, could I have a jersey?
Starting point is 00:25:15 Like, no, I don't have any. Like, I don't have any more. The ones I have framed. That's all I've got left. Yeah, I mean, the point is here is that with the termination of the name of the team that you played for, the Washington Redskins, if it meant the termination of the jerseys being sold, you know, 47s and 28s and 44s and 9s and 26es and, you know, and 36es and 21s, et cetera, you don't, because the name went away, the jersey went away, so every retired player from the other 31 teams are making passive income on an annual basis off
Starting point is 00:25:59 the sale of their jersey, if they were popular enough and people have interest in buying it. And that revenue stream is cut off for former Redskins. I think so. That's our guess, right? Yeah. I don't get a check from it. I don't know what everyone really gets or what hell away gets
Starting point is 00:26:22 in residual incomes on seven jerseys for whatever purpose who, whoever you want to say. I'm not really sure what the percentage is, but I think it would all just still continue to go through the NFLPA as a record of how many things are sold. That was part of the collective bargaining agreement. It was a small percentage of things sold with your name on it.
Starting point is 00:26:41 Interesting. You know, just thinking about some of the other ramifications to the loss of the name and the loss of the logo and the jerseys from the past. Not that I'm sitting here thinking that fans feel so sorry for former players not being able to generate income off of the sale of their jerseys. But from a fan standpoint, they can't get access to those jerseys. more if they wanted them because if we're right, they're not selling them. But you had a good time, right? You're always in a good mood when you are in front of people that come out to see you that are excited to see you. I wouldn't say that I love doing them.
Starting point is 00:27:30 I appreciate all the fans. So I think it's funny because they have tables that everyone sits behind, and then there are two or three people that are monitoring or making sure the line, the situation is always all good. And I don't want to be, you've already paid whatever. I don't know where they had to pay for an autograph or thing, but I don't want to be back behind this table in this word spot, like, here, sign, have an I day, sign.
Starting point is 00:27:55 So I go sit on the front of the table. And one of the guys there was telling me that I can't protect you from anybody up here. I think we'll be all right. I think we're going to be okay up front of the table. So I just stand there and it's easier they want to take pictures or do stuff that you know like Come on down, you know, we're on the table, we'll sit on Santa Claus's lap here. Well, how are you? I try to be up front with everybody.
Starting point is 00:28:21 I'll just go out out in front. I don't know. I don't love doing them, but I do actually really enjoy people and appreciate that. All right, I know you got a roll. I know you're in a hurry to get out of there. But just one quick Washington football, Washington commander's subject. It's something I know we've talked about not on. on the podcast, I don't believe, because it's more of a recent subject.
Starting point is 00:28:43 But Brandon Ayuk, the receiver from the 49ers and the potential that he is available via a trade is, you know a lot about the Niners. You've watched a lot of Kyle's team over the last couple of years. Should Washington be interested? The question is, I guess there's other parts for this question. Is that we're going to do it because the quarterback wants it? do we have to do that now? Do we have to give basically every young quarterback sort of ownership and say in what they're doing as a team?
Starting point is 00:29:17 I don't know if I love pandering to that. What's our cap number? What's it looking like? Do we, I mean, they're really that bad at receiver? Are they that bad at receiver? No, they've got Terry. I think most of us are still hopeful about Jahan Dotson. But my personal view is that Ayyuk is better, at least slightly better.
Starting point is 00:29:38 than anything that they have. And, you know, it would cost a second rounder at the very least, and you'd probably have to pay him top five wide receiver money. I would give up the second round pick for a great starting receiver. If he's a top five receiver, you'd pay him accordingly. I don't know if he's a top five receiver. If I could definitively tell you, because I truly know who Brandon and I, you kids, which I would have five years ago. Yeah, I would tell you that.
Starting point is 00:30:11 All right, go. I know you've got to go. Appreciate you doing this, and that was fun this weekend. Thanks. I appreciate it, but. See you, fella. Thank you, fella. Thank you, friend. Chris Cooley, everybody. We will get to Ben Raby to talk about tonight's game seven in the Stanley Cup finals, right after these words from a few of our sponsors.
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Starting point is 00:33:01 It's Edmonton at Florida. The Panthers held a 3-0 series lead on to discuss it with us as somebody who can actually discuss it with us because I'm not going to give you the nuts and bolts of these two teams, but Ben Rabie can and Will with us. At Ben Rabie 31 on X on Twitter. the host of pregame, in-game, post-game on the Capitol's radio network, and he joins me right now. So before we get to kind of what you think may or may not happen in tonight's game,
Starting point is 00:33:36 like, was there any indication at 3-0? Like, were the games competitive enough? Was there any thought that Edmonton could win a game, extend it, you know, be in this situation that they're in? I mean, the NBA finals for me, Ben, Boston was just the superior team, and it was obvious, really after game one. How did you feel after three games? Was it obvious to you? But there was always the possibility, Kevin, not unlike the Dallas Mavericks winning game four in the NBA finals, that the Oilers would at least get a game. In their case, game four was on home ice a couple of Saturdays ago in Edmonton. wasn't necessarily predicting a sweep at the time.
Starting point is 00:34:22 But after watching the first three games, it certainly felt like an inevitability that the Panthers would eventually win the series, whether it be in five or six, whatever it might be, I don't think too many of us predicted this would go the distance. You watch the first three games of the series, Kevin. The Florida Panthers were having their way. They held the headliners for Edmonton,
Starting point is 00:34:44 but most part McDavid in check early in the series, as much as you could do that. Sergei Bobrovsky and goal was terrific. It came as advertised the first few games, Florida. Very aggressive, you know, heavy, physical type of team. And they looked apart, the first three games of the series, and I wouldn't have predicted, no, that we'd be here on June 24th, talking about a game seven.
Starting point is 00:35:08 All right, so we are here. How did we get here? Well, McDavid has had a lot to do with it, essentially putting the Oilers on his back, in game four and five. He had four points in each of those games, four and five, and he has been playing like a man possessed, talking about the best player in the league, McDavid, but he's been really good in four and five.
Starting point is 00:35:32 The other thing worth noting over these past few games is the Oilers have jumped out the early leads, and when we talk about what to expect tonight in game seven, we'll see if it plays out this way. The Oilers have jumped out to early leads in games four, five, and six. Panthers haven't had the lead in any of them. of these past three games. The Oilers have gone to work early, and it's been a big difference. They've been able to score a couple of short-handed goals, you know, really deflating type of goals early in first periods in game five and six, and they've really kind of dictated play in terms of
Starting point is 00:36:05 momentum and getting up early and having the Florida Panthers to play catch-up hockey. So between McDavid and between some of the depth scores behind him stepping up and providing secondary contributions. You know, you credit the oilers. They've proven to be a stingy team, but I do think it starts with number 97 in McDavid. Ben, is it unusual? I mean, we know, you know this,
Starting point is 00:36:31 but as a casual playoff hockey guy, goaltenders can strap teams to their backs. How unusual is it for a non-goaltender to do what McDavid's doing? It's a good point to the way you word it like that. I think if you look at history, there are other examples of real headliners and, you know, elite players. You know, you just look at the capitals years ago, as good as Braden Holpey was on that playoff run, and he certainly was once he got in. You looked at Ovechkin, you looked at Ovechkin. You looked at Evgeny Kuznets off that spring. But they had contributions, certainly, you know, in terms of the skilled players.
Starting point is 00:37:08 But, you know, with the Oilers, it's interesting not to downplay Stuart Skinner and Goal, who has been good of late. he wasn't even their number one to begin the regular season. This isn't a team built on, you know, goaltending and defensive play, the Oilers, you know, without going into too much detail, one of the knocks on them over the years is that they've been too much of a one-trick pony in terms of the high-end skill and leaning a little bit too much maybe on Connor McDavid and Leon Dreisdahl.
Starting point is 00:37:38 But, too, again, McDavid's credit in these playoffs, certainly, he's continued to carry the team. Skinner and goal has been good enough. And, you know, the depth scoring, which, you know, has been in and out, if you will, throughout the playoffs. It's been very present over the course of the past few games, certainly. For those that will be tuned in because it is the game, you know, deciding game, a game seven in a championship series, and they haven't been watching the playoffs throughout. explain, A, what Connor McDavid is doing in this postseason relative to history, and two, what makes him so great. We'll start with what makes him so great, and I hope you can appreciate this on TV. I think it does translate, even if you're watching on TV, even as a casual viewer. He is so fast. He is so fast, Kevin, and what makes his speed unique, you have other speedsters around the league.
Starting point is 00:38:34 There's always been guys who can skate throughout the league's history. what makes him unique is he seemingly picks up speed when he has the puck. The puck is supposed to slow you down to an extent. It's something else to keep in mind when you have the puck on your stick. It's something that could potentially, you know, cause your mind to, you know, keep the focus on the puck, et cetera, and what you're going to do. He gets the puck, and he just takes off, and it's his ability with the puck to go zone to zone. He gets it, and he is all turbo.
Starting point is 00:39:04 He is all go, and it's very entertaining. It's a very easy watch when he has the puck and he's able to maneuver as easily as he is. And perhaps you've seen highlights throughout this Cup series, not only an open ice, but he'll dangle. He'll go through defenders. He had a terrific primary. It just going back a few games ago where it looked like it was a one-on-fourth to start the play. And he literally went through three Florida defenders before making a very nice centering feet. So what makes him so good, in addition, all the intangibles, the IQ and the vision, et cetera,
Starting point is 00:39:37 The thing that really stands out is the speed and how fast he is, and how he's able to use that to his advantage. And as far as a historic perspective here, the answers play game seven tonight. I believe he's now within five points of Wayne Gretzky's all-time single postseason record. Gretzky had 47, one of his couple of years in the 80s, and McDavid has 42 points here in 24 games. But it's just been very impressive to watch, especially going back to one of your early. questions in how he's elevated his play with the series on the line, with the Oilers down three nothing and trying to claw their way back in his playing game four and five to really put the Oilers at least in this position, really, really impressive. When you said that about
Starting point is 00:40:25 McDavid, it reminded me of my very simpleton explanation of the first time that I saw Alex Ovechkin play because it was sometimes, probably in 2006, 2007, and I was doing the show at the time with Rigo, with John Riggins. And I remember, you know, he said to me something like, so you went and saw the Ovechkin kid last night. And I'm like, yeah, I did. He said, well, you know, you don't know much about hockey. What was the? And I said, it was so obvious that number eight was the best.
Starting point is 00:41:07 player on the ice because he skated much faster and he was bigger and stronger than everybody. Like, I'm just curious when it comes to Ovechkin, that is a simpleton explanation. I understand that. But did you feel like the first time you watched him like this was like a completely different cat altogether? Yeah, he was more so because of the physicality, especially when you go back early in his career and his ability to, you know, for lack of a better word, bulldoze a defender into the board to wind up with the puck and and then have the
Starting point is 00:41:42 there's just there's a strength with Ovechkin even in his shot and his shot which which has been around for 15 years plus now in the NHL there's like a brute strength so Ovechkin to your point Ovechkin's noticeable there's the eye test and don't you have the smell
Starting point is 00:41:57 test we're going to go with the eye test and Ovechkin has the eye test McDavid has the eye test not everyone does like Gretzky and the greatest of the mall Gretzky was much more subtle and almost like quietly and then before the night was over. Oh, Ho-Hummy has a goal and four assists tonight, does Gretzky. He did it almost subtle.
Starting point is 00:42:19 Crosby, I'll say to an extent, is a little bit more subtle as well. Right. What he does and what makes him so good. But McDavid, Ovechkin, to your point, that's the eye test. You know, you put it on. Number 97, you can't miss him. Well, and Lemieux did the same way, right, because of his size. Yeah, he was a big boy
Starting point is 00:42:39 And he used that, yeah He had a physical side to him as well Not even like Not even hits, but just physical Like he could he could skate through you As opposed to skating around you So tell me Look, you are Canadian born
Starting point is 00:42:54 And raised And I'm curious as to The importance of tonight's game To Canada The Montreal Canadians of 1993 were the last Canadian NHL team to win a Stanley Cup. That's incredible to think about that.
Starting point is 00:43:14 I know that there have been plenty of opportunities, including recently with Montreal in 2021. How big of a deal is Edmonton winning tonight to the rest of the country? I don't want to be a contrarian here, Kevin, but I'm going to say here's what's important as far as Canadian hockey is concerned. Really?
Starting point is 00:43:34 We spend how many times, How many minutes here have we talking about, spoken about Connor McDavid? Connor McDavid, as a Toronto native, you know, Gretti has his cup, Mario has his cup, Bobby Orr was a Stanley Cup champion, Gordy Howe, Sidney Crosby. You know, the faces of Canadian hockey, Broder and Wah as far as the goaltender. McDavid needs the cup to be on the Mount Rushmore. And I think as, you know, the next great or the current great Canadian hockey player, the best player in the world, I think there's value from a country perspective in pulling
Starting point is 00:44:11 for the current best player, and one of the greats of all time, he's going to go down as to get his Stanley Cup. I think the narrative of a Canadian-based team winning the Stanley Cup, I think that's a little bit more media-driven, Kevin, to be honest, because it's not unlike, you know, to use a comparison, you'll appreciate it. It'll come down to college. athletics whenever we talk. You know, when you have the SEC team playing in the national championship, if Georgia is playing in the national championship, are all the other schools from the conference getting behind them,
Starting point is 00:44:47 maybe pockets of them, or Alabama and LSU getting behind Georgia winning the national title game? I don't know that they are. What I'm getting at is in Canada, you know, fans of the Calgary Flames, fans of the Vancouver Canucks, fans of the Toronto Maple Leafs, were so starved for a Stanley Cup of their own, I don't know that. they're necessarily pulling for the Edmonton Oilers here tonight for that reason. Maybe they are because they'd appreciate what a Connor McDavid Stanley Cup would do as far as
Starting point is 00:45:13 the individual. But there is a narrative, and you're not wrong, that there has been a long way, 31 years in Canada since the Canadian-based team last won the Cup. Yeah. I think it's a little bit of a stretch to suggest the whole nation is suddenly rallying behind the last Canadian team standing. Gotcha. but probably rooting for the Canadian-born player to get his Stanley Cup ring. You know, I've watched some of the Stanley Cup finals, especially the games in Edmonton.
Starting point is 00:45:45 I mean, that crowd is insane at that place. What will it be like in Florida tonight, in South Florida tonight? How good is that fan base? I don't know much about it. Well, apparently, from what I understand and speaking to the colleagues of mine, who are down in South Florida covering the practices the past two days and who will be there at Game 7. They said at the airports, at the hotels, there was a noticeable uptick in Edmonton-Oiler, orange and blue, as opposed to what they would have seen for games one and two and even five, you know,
Starting point is 00:46:23 going back last week. In other words, I think it'll be interesting what the crowd is like just in terms of numbers. I'm sure it'll still be a dominant Florida Panthers crowd, no doubt. Are you seeing, I don't know, 15%, 20%, 25%, who knows of the number ultimately is? But apparently a lot of Edmonton Oilers, fans and supporters have made the trek down to South Florida, and we'll be in the building tonight. So it'll be interesting to see that. And the other thing I wonder, we've seen it many times in Washington prior to 2018,
Starting point is 00:46:56 a game 7 on home ice. You fall behind early, all the energy gets let out of the building. I referenced a few minutes ago, the Oilers have jumped out to leave in each of the past three games. If it plays out like that again tonight, after having already, you know, blown a three-nothing series lead, did the Panthers have it in them to rally here in game seven? And I am curious what the fan base and the energy in the building, what it would be like if they do find themselves in an early hole. The caps are 5 and 12 all time in game 7s with nine of those game 7 losses coming at home, which is really, really amazing.
Starting point is 00:47:39 Before I ask you for a prediction on tonight's game, let me just add to what you said, what percentage of the Las Vegas game 5 when the Caps won the Cup? What percentage of the fan base that night in Vegas was Washington Caps fans? because it was a lot. There were a lot of caps fans that night in that arena. Yeah, and it's funny you bring that up because when I have seen and received text messages telling me how many Edmonton Oilers fans are seemingly
Starting point is 00:48:09 flocking to Florida, the first thing I thought of is, yeah, I remember. I remember game five, and I remember you were walking the strip, and it was a very similar feel. You're like, wow, there's a lot of red here. And there was in the building that night. What percentage of it was, I can't say, but it was noticeable, and you could tell, I remember that night during the National Anthem for game five at T-Mobile Arena. You know, when they get to the red and the O, and, you know, you typically hear the cap fans.
Starting point is 00:48:37 You know, you can hear it that night. It was obvious from the get-go that the caps were well represented in the crowd. And we'll see tonight, again, in South Florida, a little bit of a further trek for folks to make that from Albert. Well, we'll see how they're represented. Although, you know, if you're leaving Edmonton for South Florida, Florida, this is not the time of the year to do it. Vegas in June, it doesn't matter when you're in Vegas, that's not a bad trip. What I was about to get to, though, was of all of the game sevens that the caps have played in,
Starting point is 00:49:11 17 of them, what's the most gut-wrenching loss? In retrospect, I might say 2009, which was the first time Crosby and the Penguins defeated Ovi in the cap. Right. 2009 was a blowout lot. Yeah, it was. But the cap, that series, had a two games to none lead.
Starting point is 00:49:38 They had won game six in overtime, a couple of nights previous in Pittsburgh to set up to game seven. And I say in retrospect, that might be the most deflating, because you wonder in retrospect, who knows if they beat Crosby and the Pence there in 2009, and the Penns won the Cup a couple of weeks later. You know, who knows revision and history,
Starting point is 00:49:55 how it all plays out differently. So I'll say in retrospect that comes to mind. I think if you speak to members of Capitol teams and the core of the team, the backstrom of the Ovechkins, losing 2017, also to Pittsburgh at home, the year before they won the cup. But many believe that was really the president's trophy winning team. That was a team that was, again, built to really win the whole thing. and it was, I believe, a 2-1 loss at home. That was pretty, pretty deflating as well.
Starting point is 00:50:29 Sorry that they're both from the OV era. That's very recent. Well, I'm surprised you didn't mention the loss to Halak and Montreal in the first round. Because that team was the first of the Ovechkin teams that actually was legitimately favored to go deep, deep, deep into the postseason, right? And they lost to an eight seed. Of the wins, I would assume that Tampa Bay, on the, road of the game sevens. It's funny when we were having this conversation on radio, the one that really stands out to me, and I guess it was just the drama of it, because the game seven win in
Starting point is 00:51:06 Tampa Bay to get to the cup was a blowout win. In fact, I don't think Tampa Bay scored in the final two games, but was the Joel Ward game winner in Boston against a much higher seeded team. There was just a lot to that in that moment. It was an overtime. That was the one that really stood out to me, but I would assume that Tampa is the best game seven win. Yeah, Tampa to me is actually, and I've covered the Capitals, Kevin, for 15 years. The Tampa Bay Series, and the way they ultimately won that to me,
Starting point is 00:51:41 is probably my favorite series I've covered, even more so, yes, than the Vegas Stanley Cup final. That East Final, and more so than, you know, Kuznetsov knocking off Pittsburgh around earlier, to me that the Tampa series almost gets lost in the shuffle because it wasn't Pittsburgh, it wasn't the Cup Vegas. Kevin, they're down three games to two. We talk about all the shortcomings and all the history that they had.
Starting point is 00:52:06 They win game six here, which was arguably one of the most complete games they played in the Oviaro, the three-nothing win. You're right, Tampa didn't score the final two games. But then they went into Tampa, and I was there at whatever it was called, it's called Amelie Arena at the time. And I remember the morning of game seven, we're talking about all the game seven shortcomings for the capitals. The morning of game seven, they had a looseness, they had a swagger, they had a confidence, the likes of which I had not seen. And then I went to the Tampa Bay dressing room following their morning skate.
Starting point is 00:52:39 And they were saying all the right things, but you wondered did they mean it? And I said to myself, shoot, I've been in this room before. I've seen the capitals like this with the game seven on home ice. And, you know, bringing up full circle talking about what to expect tonight and talking about what if Edmonton scores early, boom, Ovechkin scored 62 seconds into that game seven. And you just knew, Kevin. You just knew the energy was let out of that Tampa Bay crowd. The momentum was all on the cap side.
Starting point is 00:53:08 They were there for a business trip, carryover from game six. and that game seven in Tampa, to me, one of the best games, you know, most significant games in the OV era. And, yeah, just the rare game seven were, yes, they had a whole lot of swagger and confidence been carried right into the game. Yeah, I mean, you've already mentioned it and you just mentioned it again. And it's, you know, the experience really with the caps in particular with all those game seven losses at home. but the tension of that, you know, the pressure on them, look, it went back beyond the, you know, well before the Ovechkin era, you know, losing to Pittsburgh in game sevens and the devils and other teams, you know, the famous Islanders for overtime game in 87.
Starting point is 00:53:57 But the franchise history weighed in a lot on kind of the game seven at home and not scoring first. and then it's like, oh my God, you know, you could sense that they felt it, the crowd felt it. And maybe, by the way, the best thing about that Tampa game was that it was on the road, you know, in so many ways. But do you think Florida tonight will feel that? I mean, there's not really the history, right, that the caps have had, but it's the three nothing series lead that they're on the verge of potentially blowing, which is why they would feel it, I would assume. I was about to say that I would have to think it just has to do with how they've gotten here. Yeah. And they could say all the right things, and they've tried to say all the right things.
Starting point is 00:54:45 Kevin, over the past 24, 48 hours, oh, if you would ask us before the season, if we could be in a game seven on a whole life of the Stanley Cup final, you take it 100 times. You know, that's trying to talk themselves into this. But Kevin, they've been out scored 18 to 5 and losing three six games. Right. I mean, they haven't won a game because even the way the same. schedule is all spread out. They haven't won a game in like 10 days.
Starting point is 00:55:08 Like, you know, they've been through a lot over the course of those 10 days, right? Since they last won a hockey game as far as all these defeats piling and, you know, just continuing to remind themselves, hey, the cup is in the building, the cup is in the building. So I do wonder mentally, and there's nothing even a comparative. There hasn't been a three-nothing cup lead blown, you know, since the 1940. 42. You can't even, yeah, I can't even get. even drawn on, you know, past, past experiences, that type of thing. It's such a unique situation that's unfold tonight.
Starting point is 00:55:44 But I really do wonder, and one other thing real quick about the Panthers, I wonder, too, you know, without looking too far ahead, if Edmonton wins tonight, what does this do for the Panthers long? How do you come back from this in the fall? It would be a second straight Stanley Cup final defeat. They also had a President's trophy-winning season two years ago that they couldn't capitalize on. You'd be looking at a President's trophy-winning season gone for not. A trip to the Stanley Cup final last year, which ended in defeat to Vegas,
Starting point is 00:56:17 and a Stanley Cup trip to the final this year with a potential epic collapse blowing the three games to them three weeks. That's looking ahead, but you do wonder how a team potentially would have to deal with that and handle that and have to come back next year. season. A really good team, but that's a lot of battle scars right there. It's a Rory McElroye conversation, actually.
Starting point is 00:56:41 Real quickly, the goaltender for Florida Bovrovsky, he was the guy that nearly beat the caps their cup season when he was in Columbus. They were up, you know, I mean, hell, I think they had a chance. They were up
Starting point is 00:56:56 three games to two in that series, right? Or two games to none? Didn't they win the first two in Washington? games to none. Yeah. Yeah. Two games to none, and then game three required double over the capital. But you're right. But you're right. The Bob was the goaltender there, and he was the goaltender the following season, talking about a president's trophy winning season, the following year, 2019, when Columbus finally did win a playoff series, they took out the
Starting point is 00:57:21 the president's trophy winning Tampa Bay Lightning, a Tampa Bay Lightning team, which is 62 wins that year. They swept him. And yeah, Bobrovsky has a, he's got a track record. He's a two-time president's trophy winner. The league's number of one goalie and really good to start this series. For three games, he was among the difference makers. His name was in the conversation. He's going to win the Kops Mike Trophy's playoff MVP. It's been rough the past three games.
Starting point is 00:57:45 The others have gotten to him. But for the most part, you're looking at a goaltender. Yes, with the track record and, you know, who should be able to potentially come through tonight if the Panthers ultimately need to lean on him in that capacity. Crazy hockey, right? I mean, down two games to none, and in a second overtime against Columbus and the Caps, win that game, and they go on to win the Cups. So, all right, who wins tonight and why?
Starting point is 00:58:13 My gut says Edmonton. And Kevin, I'll say this, I could explain why I want Florida to win. My college roommate, one of my great buddies is their play-by-play voice on the radio side. We've been keeping tabs on this team. We have a soft spot for them for many years. I'd like to see them ultimately win, but I got to tell you, the way this series momentum has shifted, the way the Oilers seemingly have a belief,
Starting point is 00:58:38 it's almost, you know, you think about the other three-nothing, you know, the epic three-nothing comeback, right? The Red Sox going into Yankee Stadium. They went in that night game, so they had won game six night before were shilly, but they go in game seven. I think there was a good. Maybe Johnny Damon Grand Flammer. I mean, they just put them away early.
Starting point is 00:58:54 You just knew there was like a belief and an invincibility to them going into that game seven at Yankee Stadium. So look, who knows? You know, maybe the Panthers come out on top. I just see that the Oilers just, there's such a belief now and confidence and you do wonder at the other end of the spectrum what the Panthers have left here, given what they've been through over the course of the past 10 days. Would be great to see a great game, like even an overtime game.
Starting point is 00:59:20 I mean, just for the drama of it. It's great at any point during the postseason, but a game seven in Stanley Cup finals would be incredible. Thanks for doing this. I appreciate it. always enjoy having you on. Ben Rabby, everybody. Take care. Thank you, Kevin. Appreciate it. Ben Rayby from Capps Radio Network. Ben's always great. It's always a pleasure to have Ben on the show. If you're going to watch the game tonight, why not make it fun? Prize picks is one way to make it fun.
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Starting point is 01:02:36 All right, we'll finish up with sort of a history of game sevens in this city when we come back. Right after these words from a few of our sponsors. Hey guys, most of us are interested in our mental and physical well-being. to a certain degree. And with that in mind, I'd like to welcome and introduce a new sponsor to the podcast. The new sponsor is Unified Healing, Unified spelled, U-N-I-F-Y-D healing. It doesn't matter if you're a big-time world-class athlete or just a somewhat athletic podcaster like me. We all understand the importance of mental and physical well-being and proper recovery for top-notch performance. That's why I'm excited. that Unified Healing is sponsoring the podcast now. Unified Healing is a new and super innovative
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Starting point is 01:04:18 or a substitute for professional medical advice diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health care providers with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition or treatment and before undertaking a new health care regimen, including EE system. The kick in here it comes. Swag and a mess! Swag and a mess! And a World Series game seven winning Curly W is in the box. The celebration is on.
Starting point is 01:04:55 The Washington Nationals or the world champions. October 30th, 2019, that was Daniel Hudson getting Michael Brantley to swing and miss to end the seventh and deciding game of the World Series with Washington winning 6 to 2 in Houston
Starting point is 01:05:16 in a game that was actually more dramatic than the final score reflected. This segment of the show brought you by Window Nation. Window Nation's semi-annual sale has been extended through the end of this month. Call them now at 86690 Nation or visitwindonation.com to get access to 50% off on all windows with 0% interest for five years. Plus, if you schedule your estimate today and mention my name, you'll get a bonus 10% on top of the the 50%, so you'll get 60% off your window purchase. It was hot over the weekend. If you've got older windows, you're going to see it in your next air conditioning bill. Let window
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Starting point is 01:06:58 before the bullets arrived in D.C. from Baltimore, in Landover, anyway, from Baltimore. And the caps were more of a later arrival to the NHL in 1974. And let's face it, with the NBA franchise not much to write home about over the last 45 or so years. But certainly the Nats game seven win in Houston is at or near the top of the list for everybody. For me, however, it's number two on the list in terms of game seven wins by DC sports pro franchises. And that's because I'm old enough to remember when the bullets went to Seattle for a seventh and deciding game of the NBA finals on June 7th, 1978. They had trailed in that series, actually, three games to two. They won game six in Landover, 117 to 82. In fact, the 35 point margin of
Starting point is 01:08:07 victory at the time was the biggest in NBA finals history. And then they had to play a seventh and deciding game on the road, and only two teams in the history of the league had won NBA championship game sevens on the road. The Celtics had done it with the Lakers in 1969, and the Celtics did it also with the Bucks in 1974. But the bullets went to Seattle and beat the Supersonics in game seven. In the downtown Seattle, arena. It was a series which was played in the Seattle downtown arena, but also at the Kingdom, which was the Seattle Seahawks home. They played game four at the kingdom in that series, and at the time, I believe it was the largest crowd to ever attend an NBA playoff game. But
Starting point is 01:09:07 the bullets went into Seattle on that night, beat the Sonics 105 to 99. It was a game in which they not need their star Elvin Hayes. He fouled out of that game and was not a massive factor in that particular game. In fact, in the history of Elvin Hayes' career, who for those of you that don't know, Elvin Hayes is definitely one of the greatest power forwards in NBA history. I mean, he is still, I think, in the top 11, top 12 all time in points and rebounds of all time. but he did not, you know, have great playoff moments or memorable playoff moments. There were a few here and there, but in the seventh and deciding game of the only title won by the bullets back in 1978, he did not play well, and he fouled out of that game.
Starting point is 01:10:07 And the star of that game really was Bobby Dandrich, and he ended up winning the MVP. of that series. Dandrich was incredible for them throughout that postseason. Wes Unseld had a big game as well in that series. But in that final game, Elvin Hayes scored just 12 points, grabbed eight rebounds, which was much below his average, and fouled out playing just 30 minutes, while Dandrich scored 19 in 42 minutes, and Unseld scored 15, including knocking down the. clinching free throws at the end in a 105 to 99 game 7 championship win. Charles Johnson, who was a bench player, scored 19 points, including knocking down a shot from
Starting point is 01:10:59 beyond half court at the end of the third quarter. It was worth just two points. It was not worth three, but they won that game 105 to 99. And that would be number one on my list in terms of game sevens, followed by. the Nats win over the Astros, which in many ways that win by the Nationals was not anti-climactic. I wouldn't describe it that way, but the Game 6 performance by Steven Strasbourg is in all-time. You know, it's up there on a list of top 10 pitching performances in World Series history. Game 7 was a dramatic game, and it was a game in which,
Starting point is 01:11:44 which, let's face it. I mean, Houston, I think, made a big mistake pulling Zach Granke in the seventh inning after giving up a home run to Anthony Rendon, which was only the second hit of the night that he had given up. Then he walked Juan Soto, and they took him out. He was on an incredible role that particular night. And the bottom line is the relief pitchers,
Starting point is 01:12:10 Will Harris, et cetera, did not do well as the Nats, you know, got the two-run shot from Howie Kendrick for the lead and ended up winning the game going away six to two. So those would be really the championship game sevens. Now, in 1924, the then-Washington senators defeated with the help of Walter Johnson and some of those players, Bucky Harris, I think, defeated the New York Giants in seven games to win the World Series. And of course, the next one would come in 2019. but no other championship has been won by a D.C. sports team in a game seven.
Starting point is 01:12:50 That's it for baseball, 24 and 2019. We know that the bullets only have one title, but it did come in a seventh and deciding game in Seattle in 1978. And the Caps won Stanley Cup, came in a fifth game in Las Vegas. However, the Caps game seven win in the Eastern Conference Finals in 2018 over Tampa Bay, 4 to nothing. That's certainly on the list of most memorable game seven wins for a D.C. Sports team.
Starting point is 01:13:25 Alex Ovechkin scored early. You heard Ben Rabie talk about that game. The first game seven win for the caps that sort of jumped to mind for me was the Joel Ward game winner in Boston in the playoffs in an earlier round in 2020. on the road. Look, the caps were five and 12 all time in game sevens, nine game seven losses at home. That Tampa game, though, you know, the dominance of that game, you heard Ben describe it in the last segment, the fact that it sent them to their just second Stanley Cup final in franchise history. That is certainly on the list. Also on the list for me, just thinking about basketball.
Starting point is 01:14:12 and wins in game sevens. The 1979 Eastern Conference Finals game between the Bullets and the San Antonio Spurs, who were in the Eastern Conference, is not only a memorable game for Bullets fans. It's one of the great game sevens in the history of the NBA playoffs. Now, you'd have to dig up a list of like the top 15, top 20 game sevens of all time. It was a good enough game and a measurement. memorable enough game to sort of make that series that ESPN did for many years. Greatest games in NBA history.
Starting point is 01:14:49 Dan Patrick, you know, I think hosted it. And there's a whole 30-minute show about Game 7 of the 1979 Eastern Conference Finals. It was a shootout between, you know, George Gervin and then, you know, Bobby Dandrich and Elvin Hayes and Washington's team. They were, the bullets were the defending champions. They had actually won a Game 7 in the conference semifinals. which was a memorable game seven. Elvin Hayes went for 35 points. I think it was 15 rebounds and six block shots.
Starting point is 01:15:22 It's probably the signature playoff game of Elvin Hayes' career. The seventh game against the Hawks in 1979 is the defending champions at home in front of a raucous crowd, which included Jimmy Carter, the then president. But the series that followed was very memorable because they were down 3-1 the bullets were to the Spurs. And they came back, and they won game six to force the seventh and deciding game. And they were down 10 points with about four minutes to go in that game.
Starting point is 01:15:56 There was a power outage, which the Spurs faithful still to this day say that it was planned, that the Spurs had all the momentum in the world in the fourth quarter, and then they had this power outage. And the bullets came back. and Bobby Dandrich won it in overtime on a baseline jumper. And then Elvin Hayes got a block shot on James Silas in the final few seconds, and the bullets won that game 107 to 105. But it was a great NBA playoff game.
Starting point is 01:16:26 Now, the bullets went on to lose the NBA finals and a rematch against the Supersonics in five games that year. But that was a truly memorable game seven. And then, look, you've got a lot of Caps game sevens. And by the way, you've got a lot of nationals game fives, you know, in the best of five first rounds. But we're talking about game sevens here. And, you know, the Capitals are five and 12 all time, nine home losses to me. You know, the Tampa game and the win over Boston in 2012 are the two wins that stand out.
Starting point is 01:17:06 You know, we talked to Ben about the losses, and he mentioned the Pittsburgh loss in 2009. To me, the 2010 loss when the Capitals were prohibitive favorites to beat Montreal in that first round and then to go deep into the postseason. And they lost that two to one. I remember when they got absolutely blasted by the Rangers in 2013 the next year in a seventh and deciding game at home. but a lot of game seven losses, you know, going back to, you know, losing to Pittsburgh twice, once at home, once on the road, and 92 at home, 95 on the road. They lost to the devils at home. And, of course, one of the all-time great NHL playoff games, the four-over time loss in the season of spring of 1987,
Starting point is 01:18:00 a game that ended early Easter morning back on April 18th, 1987. They lost that game three to two to the Islanders, seventh and deciding game at the Capitol Center. And that was really the beginning of the heartbreaking defeats at home in game sevens. But, you know, it would be, for me, Bullet Sonic 78, Nats Astros, 2019. I can't tell you anything about the 20. 24 win. And then I think you have to because of the stakes say caps over Tampa Bay in 2018 on the way to their Stanley Cup win. You know, I think the game six win in Pittsburgh, the Kuznetsoff goal is as memorable a game in caps playoff history in terms of wins.
Starting point is 01:18:54 Look, the bullets have had some crushing game seven losses. including the loss to the Celtics back in 2017. They also lost to the Knicks in a seventh and deciding game in Madison Square Garden in their very first season in D.C. But there you go. Kind of the history of game sevens in D.C. with, I guess, my top, actually, to be fair, because I'm not as, you know, I'm not the Big Caps fan. Number one would be bullets over Sonics.
Starting point is 01:19:35 Number two would be Nats over Astros. And number three would be bullets over Spurs. Because I remember that game so well. That was just an incredible game. George Gervin was incredible in that entire series the Ice Man was. and the bullets who won that game on a big-time clutch and Bobby Dandrich was clutch, a game winner from the spot he loved to shoot from, which was that baseline.
Starting point is 01:20:03 All right, that is it for the show. I will be back with Tommy tomorrow.

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