Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - John Gallagher: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1491

Episode Date: May 21, 2024

In this 1491st episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike chats with John Gallagher about why he left Toronto for Halifax, how he's doing, what he's up to and his memories of Darren "Dutchy" Dutchyshen and Bob Cole. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Yes, We Are Open podcast from Moneris, The Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Team and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

Welcome to Episode 1491 of Toronto Miked. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery. A fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. Palma Pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team. The best baseball in the city outside the Dome. Join me June 2nd.

Rod Black's mustache guaranteed to be in attendance. Come on. Buy, say hi. RecycleMyElectronics.ca, committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past. The Advantage to Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, valuable perspective for Canadian investors who want to remain knowledgeable, informed, and focused on long-term success. Season 6 of Yes We Are Open, an award-winning Monaris podcast hosted by FOTML Grego and Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. Today, taking my call all the way from Halifax is John Gallagher!

What do you know about that? How you doing, Spike? How are you doing? Buddy, I'm in the sunshine in beautiful Halifax with my pants around my ankles and thinking of, you know, I'm thinking of all the girls I've loved before traveled in and out my door. I'm glad they came along. I tried that on that was on a radio show here in Halifax a little while ago and the guy asked me, Johnny, how you doing? I'm like,

pants around my ankles and thinking of a Wendy from Dartmouth on line 11. Then I got a call from the manager afterwards don't do that anyway I'm fabulous Mike and how are you you a rock star you see those commercials when people stop told us top calling people rock stars right you're a rock star with Ozzy Oz your podcast is your podcast is through the roof and I'll tell you more about that because I'm suffering from a post stroke syndrome and most people know about my stroke because of you. But you have the floor, you've got John Gallagher, ask away. I have so many questions, so many questions for you and I want to hear about this stroke

because I think it was mentioned with Peter Gross and we'll talk about what the hell happened. But firstly, when you say, you know,... will talk about what the hell happened but firstly when you say you know you're thinking about all the girls you love before because i've listened to every episode of gallagher and gross save the world i know that's a lot of gals uh... and peter will tell you he's he's match and uh... bedded an expression i'd like to use

some pretty famous people that we all know and love. Peter... He may be 4'11", he may be small, but he's slow. Well, John, I can count on one hand the number of women that Peter Groves has been lucky enough to bed, but I would require the entire full Sky Dome to count the number of women you've been with. But, okay, John, before we even, I have many questions for you, but please share with us. Please. Before we talk about the stroke,

I think the last time you were on Toronto Mike, you were living like off Avenue Road in Toronto, and you were a Toronto guy. You've been a Toronto guy since brother Jake Edwards brought you to Q107 from Halifax but please share with us why did you leave Toronto and why are you now calling me from your home in Halifax? Well as you may have found out they're kind of killing off sportscasters in in Toronto. It's just there's no more I mean even, even weekends on a global one, CTV and CBC are gone. So there goes that. A couple of warm bodies fill in those chairs, but they're just not, they're just killing everyone off, you know? And I'll say this the right way,

I'm not exactly the right gender and I'm not exactly the right color. I'm an aging white male who they're just not putting in front of a camera anymore and God love them for that because we had our freaking run for 50 and 60 years going, you know, back to the days of, you know, Kurt Gowdy and Vince Gully. It's just, that's fine. Go run with it. You deserve it. And we, we had a run, you know, and again, it's not a racist thing or anything But you know, there's some talented people out there who who deserve to be to be seen, you know

And they're just not hiring me anymore for one thing except for voiceovers and stuff. That's that's a good sign Well, we'll get to that but John still that explains why there's no job for you at I don't know TSN or sports net or global or whatever city but but why you just felt like going home? I'm just curious like you were such a Toronto guy since you were you know brought here by brother Jake back in the day But you're back home now like is it just you felt like a home was calling you Well, I've done a view. I don't be a ribbon to Halifax, but it's one of the most undiscovered unappreciated but it's one of the most undiscovered, unappreciated, unbelievably beautiful cities.

The second most, the second sunniest city in Canada next to Port Coquitlam, and I suffer from SAD, S-A-D, the season of deficiency. And so I've gotta get up in the sun. Right now it's 18 degrees, nothing but sun. I put an SCF 15 on just for this interview and it's just beautiful out here now on a sad note I came I came back to visit my mom who's just a couple hours away and sadly we lost her at 98.6 it's like the song hey

98.6 but she's no longer with us but I came by or came back just so I can visit her and hold her hand and And hey, pretty good run, 98.6. Well John, my sincere condolences on the loss of your mom. I'm sorry to hear that, but sounds like she had a pretty good life. I'm sorry to hear she's gone. Great life. I drove her crazy, but she had a great life. And thank you for the kind sentiment.

Oh, and by the way, you talk about suffering you know, suffering from sad because I know you so well having produced you and Peter Gross on Gallagher and Gross Save the World and we got to know each other quite well. I do know you need your son. And I just saw a photo, like, I think it's from last week. You'll tell me, but you're at the pool with Ducky from Pretty in Pink.

That's John Cryer. Like, can you, like, are you buddies of John Cryer? You're just hanging out with him in Saint Martin? I am now. I am now. I mean, one of my favorite movies of all time, you know, with John Hughes, what does Spike Lee call them? Spike Lee joints.

It was a John Hughes joint and Ducky and I'm like, John Cryer? Yeah, he's just playing with his kid for two days, playing basketball by the pool in Saint Martin, the French side, the Dutch side's nice too And he's just like it's ducky, you know so let's gather around for a little reminiscent of Molly Ringwald and James Spader and and Matthew McCarthy was just it was a great movie and ducky couldn't have been nicer and you saw the photos. Yeah I mean come on talk about shit luck to you Mike. All right well I'm glad you're enjoying yourself in these sunny destinations but let's get serious

for a moment here. What's what tell me about the stroke because because Peter Gross had a stroke and it was like a little thing like a tick. I can't remember what they call this thing you'll tell me but he had a little stroke and he he had vision problems for a couple of days and now he's sort of back and in and he's his typical Peter Grosse self but tell me about your stroke I need the details yeah yeah you know it's not like I was burying the lead the other the last year or so but you know I'm coming through a couple of a couple of steps I haven't posted on social media because I didn't have to because I got 12 or 15 20 calls after you had mentioned

On the air. That's fine. Fine That I had a stroke. It was a mild one. Nothing serious sir. The bad news one of the you know, the Side of my left foot is paralyzed perhaps permanently. I couldn't hold my left arm over my head, but it was almost like a Jerry Seinfeld. Who needs the baby toe? What's the deal with the baby toe? One night I got up and Peter's father would say, the only time I'm not peeing is when I'm peeing. I was sliding off the walls and trying to make my way to the watchroom at three in the morning, holding onto the cabinets and doorknobs just completely discombobulated. Now the good news is I'm a righty so but after the oh god Mike the you know the the

12-hour stints and in the e-merge and the CAT scans the EKGs and the blood work and the x-rays I can still walk. I think Walter Brennan and Kevin Spacey but I've I'm a lot better now. Thank God I still have my usual outgoing wits and happenstance. We can continue to do these interviews, which is fine. Well, John, you're well enough to go to St. Martin and play basketball with Ducky's kid. and open bar and let's swim up and and he was trying to really be cool about that now I'm not John Crier come on you are no I just want to keep his anonymity I'm like Ducky it's me you know just the best two weeks and we just

hung out and okay you know but. But tell me something, John. So I called you yesterday, we had a brief chat and I interrupted a nap and then you told me you nap three times a day. Can you tell me a little bit about this? This is a post stroke syndrome or you're sleepy. What's going on? Yeah, yeah, it's a post stroke fatigue syndrome and I'm tired all the time. You know, I like never before, you know, I have to sleep for an hour every four or five

hours. That was really kind of early on, but my ex girlfriend who I adore, her husband had a stroke and that's how you recuperate. You know, get the brain going, get it to, you know, resurge and is that the word? I have to tell you, I asked you this nicely. Sometimes I'm really not that sharp, but you know what, it could have been, you know, it could have been a lot worse. You know, you know, I have to do my exercises and, you know, I have to, you know, I could

be sitting with my Jamaican nurse named the fabulous and mullah with a wet nap You know watching VHS tapes of all her old wrestling moves and eating tapioca pudding three times a day That's bad. Well, you know John, you know, yes You're you're everything for you in this, you know, you're a great guy and I love talking to you But your voice you have the voice. I literally hear it on Dodge Ram commercials. I'm going to ask you about that in a moment. Your voice is everything and some people have a stroke and their voice is affected. I mean, I'm thinking of Bob McCowan. I was going to ask you, but Bob, how's he doing? I'm the wrong guy to ask. John, I'm the only guy. I'm not the only guy, but he's like the

only guy who doesn't care for Toronto Mike. Can you believe it? I have no relationship with him. In fact, it's no. Yeah He he he kind of was snarky when I had the audacity to invite him to be my guest for episode 500 of Toronto Mike I should have just called John Gallagher Well, I was on episode 5. So that's good. I just know that was thousand that was episode 1000 that has We're not we're not here to split atoms here my friend, but I don't know anything about you. I do remember having a great time on the air. I always have a great time with you and and then then Peter Gross and uh and who's my good friend uh Perry Lefko is oh Perry Lefko uh loves you. He's a big John Gallagher head. Absolutely. So, okay, but, but I don't know anything about Bob McCowan because quite frankly, for whatever reason, he decided to like, just,

I don't know, dislike this podcast. Maybe it's a threat to his, his broadcasting supremacy, but if I threaten people, that's just me being myself. So I don't know anything about him, but I do know his speech was affected, his speech was affected by the stroke. And I'm listening to you now in my headphones, cause this is a phone call everybody, I can't see the great John Gallagher, but I can hear you and you sound as good as ever,

you sound Dodge Ram worthy. Oh my, do you wanna hear my Dodge Ram truck story? Well, can I play it? I don't have a good, I couldn't find it on YouTube, but I have a recording of it off the TV. Do you mind if I play a little bit of you? Okay. So I was, when I heard this voice on sports net, I heard this voice, I screamed to the

kids, I said, everybody, that is an FOTM we know as John Gallagher. Here you go, let's listen to this for a bit. Clearly it's recorded on the moon John, so you'll have to forgive me okay. But if I can find a better version the daddy rams home all goal and i'm okay so it's it's nineteen ninety and i'm having lunch at the motion in d with uh... but i think about the story about the most of the and how the bats

but paid everyone to kill107 $20,000. Paola lives, Paola lives, and I'll tell you the story real quick. $20,000 not to mention Molson for an entire year. Toronto indeed. Wait, wait, wait, wait, John, John, John. Labatz gave you personally $20,000 Canadian dollars if you promise not to say the word Molson's for one calendar year. Yes. Wow.

Connors and Donna Saker and Jeff Chalmers on the 20, $20,000 on the barrels. And Oh no. So anyway, I'm with Lee Iacocca at the Moleson Indy. And I said, listen, I'm at the Dodge corner corner too, with the Moleson Indy. and can you come by? He says absolutely I'll come by and we're doing a live hit and he's on the air and Leigh Iacocca goes you're a very enterprising young man I think I'm gonna take you down to Detroit and get you a job and I looked into the camera Moses Neimer did you hear this? He makes a lot more money than you. I'm going! So I keep in touch with the Dodge people and uh, and you know,

really out called them on the cover of a time magazine. He changed the automotive industry in Detroit. Anyway, the guy from Detroit, from Dodge, Ram Dodge, he says, and you got the commercial. If you can co-host one of the announcers to use the line Ram after the commercial runs I'll give you another good big big it what number was that John I missed it one number I don't know I'm just looking at my I'm looking at my my agent and my enough uh... the the ramps ruff you'll see it tonight

uh... no i don't think it's a game tonight you'll see it uh... it's the ramps ruff commercial uh... i won't mention the name of the guy i have to give half to i'm just just playing with you he goes drew downing rams home a goal and this game is tied in vancouver i'm like whee

but wow good chain And this game is tied in Vancouver. I'm like, whoo-ee! Wow. Ka-ching! So, I mean, Paola freakin' lives. I remember when I was living with Steve Anthony for a couple of years, and he says, hey, I got this deal with Air Jordans from Nike. Would you like a couple of boxes? You gotta wear them on the air. I'm like, would I? And I have, like, 25 boxes of Air Jordans from 1989, 1990.

It was that much music at the time. I'm like, good God, you know what they're going for on the Japanese market? Wait, John, what size foot are you? Yeah, I knew that'd be your next question. I'm a nine, John. Nine and a half. Okay, oh, because I'm a nine.

Maybe now that your foot is partially paralyzed, you'll cough those up and give them the Toronto Mike. That's hilarious. No, I'll hook you up. I'll hook you up. But so, John, the Dodge Ram, because I mean, when I think of some of the voices I've heard voicing Dodge Ram commercials, like Sam Elliott, but they said, said you know screw the Sam Elliott guy he's a bum we want the voice and since the voice is no longer with us shadow at the Ridley funeral Mark Daly we'll take

John Gallagher you are a man Sam Elliott you can't beat that oh my god you know what you know it's an overrated movie and he's the best part of it is the Big Lebowski. I really never. I never got it. I never got it. It's a bit irreverent, John, but it's one of those movies

that I find is highly rewatchable. And I feel like it's typical Coen brothers. So you're either down with the Coen brothers or you're not, I guess, but it's not gonna be universally beloved, like a Forrest Gump or something but if you get it I think it hits hard and you know John I always told you that rug really ties the room together. And the best line from that movie is John Turturro. He's Jesus. He says you ever pull that stuff on me with your gun, I'm going to take it out of my wallet,

then put it up your ass, and pull the trigger until it goes click. That is a great line. See, we're still quoting it all these years later, so it must have something going for it. That's right. And then he goes and licks his own balls, the bowling balls. Speaking of Steve Anthony, I went to Raising Arizona back in 1932. I loved Raising Arizona.

Nicholas Cage, early Nicholas Cage too. I loved that movie. Oh, good God. And then he got into Barton Fink and he got into all those strange movies. But I don't think the Cohen but Fargo just broke it up for him but I just I love the Cohen brothers. One more quick line from Big Lebowski that I like quite a bit so you know like you'll be arguing with somebody and they'll be they'll make a point but they're being a dick about it and they might be right okay but I always think of that Big

Lebowski line where he goes it's not that you're wrong it's that you're an asshole right? And back to Mr. Mustache, you know, the dude. I think I'll have a sasparilla. I think I'll have it with the dude. And I met the actual dude. He came to all the Toronto International Film Festivals and he told anyone and everyone that the character of, you know, Jeff Brid dude the deuterama the deuterimo was

after him and everyone's going you know the Rob Salem's and the Jim Sloathex yeah that's the real dude I'm like well sit down let me buy you a sass. It's funny you mentioned Rob Salem he was literally here last week making his Toronto mic debut we had a great chat me and Rob. Beautiful, beautiful. Next time he comes by, he's coming by actually soon, relatively soon, in June with Rita Zekes. Apparently they're sleeping together. Have you heard this rumor?

I think they've been doing that for 30 years or 40 years. And we've had some very interesting late nights, not so much at Rita, but Rob Salem with Steve Anthony, they are like, you know, just completely, what do you call it, at the hip? Thick as thieves, we'll say. They're thick as thieves. So how is, do you know how Steve's doing?

You know, I think about Steve a lot because he's a beloved FOTM, but how's he doing? He moved back to Toronto, right? Well, him and I, it's funny, because I say I have the same birthday week Jake Edwards brother Jake Let me tell you he's April 1st Steve Anthony's April 2nd and he frosted his April 3rd dick smite And there's how things look the big smite this morning. Yeah, my lady and I were up at the And I'm on the fifth and Letterman's on the whatever. It's just like birthday week celebration and I'm on the fifth and Letterman's on the whatever and just like birthday week

celebration and I do talk to Steve. He's in great stead and he's back in Toronto and I don't think he might need to say anything but you know we had a bed and breakfast out there in the Bay of Quintet and then COVID-19 hits and what are you gonna do with all those empty rooms? So, you ask him that. I'll ask him that. He's rebounded quite nicely. You know, I think he wakes up in the morning and there's 12 or 14, you know, radio promos for different stations from his basement, which I've been to, and his underwear, which I haven't been to but that's not really important but enough about meets. Sue. Okay, listen Bye bye Mon Cowboy So Well, you can retell it because I've I've had this chat with Steve Anthony only because I had a huge crush on meets

Sue so I live precar chat with Steve Anthony only because I had a huge crush on Mitsu. So I live precariously through Steve Anthony. Right. And she's absolutely the most gorgeous Quebec. Oh, good God. I grew up in Montreal. Steve and I went to the same high school in La Laiola, an all-boys school, Catholic school. You know, we wake up in the morning and see, gee, what kind of a time am I going to wear to impress Mr. in in in math

i wake up one morning and i see steve and uh... mid sue flirting on much music and i wake up the next day decided to get up early and mid sue was sitting there she'd snuck into my room and uh... supposedly she had to be because she stole my montreal canadians uh... bathrobe and Steve's off you know in his other morning show she's sitting at the counter Steve Anthony and I Steve Anthony Scott I'm sorry Mitsu and

I she's smoking the cigarette poking over a plate of cold poutine and thinking oh this is gonna be the next you you know, welcome, bienvenue, Quebec, this is gonna be in a billboard, Mitsou, in my abs, you know, the house coach, smoking a cigarette, eating cold poutine, it's like, come on. I just need a moment, John, I need a moment, that's a why, I mean I've heard that before and it still hits me man, what a story, What a story that is. De Mois De Mois. She comes in. I'm typing for my city TV sports and I'm typing and she comes in and she starts massaging my back. Thank you. She says, thank you very much for being so nice this morning.

You're so nice. Only in an incredibly sexy Montreal Quebec accent, and everyone in the newsroom is going, Gallagher, come on, really? I mean really? I said, bye, Mizzou, we'll see you later for drinks. Wow. Wow. And the hits just keep on coming. Wow, John, we should talk more often. These are amazing. Now quickly though, when you said he was off doing his morning show, that was the CFNY morning show, right? Before Humble and Fred, it was Steve Anthony and Fred doing CFNY, right? Yeah, but there's a guy in St. Louis, Mike, who does, he's in St. Louis,

and you'll see the gesture position of Steve Anthony, who does like 40 or 50 different radio shows during the day, all from the same studio, you know, it's 18 degrees in St. Louis, Missouri, ZZ Todd coming up out of the news. And he'll do, you know, he'll do one from Jacksonville. He'll do one. Steve does like 12 or 15, as I mentioned, a voiceover, you know, you know, good morning

coming up, your chance to win a Dodge Ram truck. And he does those for like 15, 20 stations and let's say there's no red-letter days coming for Steve Anthony that's a that's a pretty cool cool way to make a living it's a terrific voice and a better man a better man no big fan of that man big fan of that guy big fan of yours but how many times do I have to say Dodge Ram before there's one in my driveway uh... as a gift from uh... the good people that don't really know how many how many more you know what is there a uh... and again we're completely changing the subject my my lawyer's wife had her a rod rod ram dodged truck

stolen from her uh... stolen from her property of a young shepherd and i've had so many complaints and reading them a precious reader the sun the star of the the the post the globe everyone's's having their, their cars stolen, you know, out of their driveways. My humble brag, $76,000 BMW at three 25. I was stolen from, uh, stolen from my house, you know, uh, just before I left to come to Halifax. I'm like, Oh man, so what's going on there? You know, and people are barging into your homes late at night

just to get the fog and the keys to your car. They're not stealing your big Sony TV. They're stealing the keys to your car and driving away. It's a big story and I guess we're working on it. I don't know, but I will say that the secret, my secret, and you can borrow the secret, is to always drive a shit box. Or have a garage you can lock the son of a gun in, right?

Or hire security like certain rappers on the bridle path, if you can hire. Oh boy. Okay, listen, you mentioned COVID. Okay, just show me places I wanna go here. One is that, okay, here, let me do this first. You mentioned CFNY, where we would, well, I mentioned it actually, where Steve Anthony was on CFNY before there was a humble and Fred. There's actually an episode of Danny Kingsbury

from a couple of weeks ago, where we kind of break down that whole story of how humble and Fred was born. But now I'm thinking, I just want to shout out Ian Hanomansing, Ian Handsome Manthing, who — Another former hellegonian talent. Well, this is where I'm going. He discovered Toronto Mic because he listened to Brother Jake on Toronto Mic because he was wanting to hear about the show he listened to as a young man. And you're involved with that too, right?

Is it Q102? You're talking about Q104. Oh, Q104. I'm sorry. I... No problem. Is that the station that you were at with Brother Jake before you came to Q? No, I was at the under the Chumbrella. You see what I did there? Yes, yes John, we see what you did. I was under... it'd be the just the at the east coast burning you know it's on that famine and chum am and uh... and uh... i was doing a little bit of a forty seven share now with the radio guy that's like forty seven it was with what we're killing in the f m side and like a uh...

thirty shares up and i was on both you know during the morning show in the afternoon show but jake and i would just see each other at saw softball games and uh... and uh... just events and we just became sick as thieves and it was because i was playing with a softball game against his old team q one oh four i'm like how's brother this is years after he left to go to toronto how's brother jake doing

and they're like he's fantastic what are they doing for sports there well they'd just lost uh... they've lost their sports guy who went to Ottawa. His name is not popping up. Anyway, he says, why don't you give him a call? I gave him a call that night. A month later, he had a job at Q107 in Toronto.

Wow. Changed everything. Okay. Well, shout out to Ian Hanuman Singh, who you know Maritimer like yourself who is listening now because he loves hearing the old radio stories so. But no and congratulations to Ian what I mean what a talent. Yeah the guy's smooth as a baby's bottom. He's a handsome he's a handsome man thing.

And when it comes on Toronto Mike I'm going to introduce him that way. Welcome to Toronto Mike Ian Ian, handsome man thing. Hey, and also you mentioned COVID. COVID really wrecked havoc with the bread and breakfast in Prince Edward County. But I blame COVID for killing Gallagher and Gross saved the world. Can you for the record definitively tell me why did that beautiful podcast have to end? Was it COVID? It wasn't that. Gallagher and Gross saved the world. And we just bounced off of each other

like we've known each other for years. And talk about talents, Peter Gross, you know. I believe I had someone, I don't care. He's a good friend of mine from the Sharks Den, I don't care. He's a good friend of mine from the Sharks Den, who owned the, excuse my stroke. What's the bar? You're talking about Michael Weckerle. Michael Weckerle, he owns the El Macombo. Thank you.

He has his own studio. We're gonna do the show there. And then COVID hit and he couldn't book, you know, Mini Pearl and God bless her with a tag in her head. He couldn't because couldn't he couldn't book uh... you know many pearl and god bless you with a tag in her head uh... he couldn't because there was no there was no but that reference brought you by he all night i get it and i get that reference john i remember many pearls also i'm all about the matter

it's a much real and i was gay bomb before hockey night in canada's were like uh... i'm a pickin in your agreement come on the answer died anyway uh... we couldn't do he couldn't book anybody and when he did it was charging $400 ticket but that went into Thomas Crapper's water closet that idea we had always how many shows do we do with your wonderful studio I gotta check it out but it was about 35 or so around yeah yeah and they were, we should, just for fun, because they were all really, they didn't have a timeline.

It wasn't time efficient or time sensitive. We should rerun those, that'd be fun, because I just talked to Peter in the weekend. I talked to him after every major horse race, and how about that Kentucky Derby? By a nose, and a nose, and a nose. Anyway, he knows more about horse horse racing than any anyone else. I think it was yeah, COVID and we had all the sponsors lined up and then we tried again

and you know, right. No one was no one was doing anything. And next thing you know, John Gallagher is in Halifax. So did Peter by way, next time you talk to Peter, get him to tell you the story of how a recent Toronto mic'd appearance by Peter Gross has us both in some very hot water with the courts in this province. We don't even know how this story ends. Yeah, that's a teaser because this story is developing very quickly. But yeah, anyway, that's all I'm going to say about that because Lauren Honigman to my right is telling me to shut the fuck up. So, okay, Lauren, I'm not going to say any more.

Is Lauren there? Lauren's there. to my right is telling me to shut the fuck up. So, okay, Lauren, I'm not going to say the word. He's there. Lauren's there. He lives with me because I need legal representation at all times, John. Okay. Hey. Lauren Honigman. He's the man. We're talking to the man. We're talking to the Lauren Honigman. He's the man. Who's the man? Lauren Honigman. I hope he's sitting next to you. He's always in my thoughts anyway. But here here Again, we got serious because you lost your mom recently and I'm so sorry John because as you remember when we were talking about your book Your wild book that last chapter

When you're listening to David Bowie and you're thinking about ending it all because of the the issues you have with your father I mean, holy smokes the everybody can we still get that book? Can people still get a copy of your book? Yes, you can. Mike, I think it's on Amazon, could still be at some good bookstores near you, some high quality bookstores. No, but mom was the shield because when dad had a bad day and dad get his liquor on, he would, he would come after me with a frying pan and all the fun times when mom had to like keep him, keep him away. No, he was, uh, he came back from World War II and

daddy had some issues and daddy liked to drink, but daddy drunk for the drink for the government. So he just took it out on little Johnny, but that's you know It's in the book It's in the book. I'm a Kiprio's would say it's in the book It ain't pretty I'll warn you kids. It ain't pretty, you know, it ain't pretty it just looks that way Okay, but there's another guy another guy. We lost somebody We lost somebody who everyone across this country who gives a shit about sports knows the name Dutchie Darren do Titian can you tell us about your relationship with Dutchie back at TSN you were there in the late 90s

please share some memories of Dutchie for us well you know it's like you wake up from a nap or in my case any freaking nap and you look at your Facebook page and go out loud, ah, that's F-E-K, boys and girls. The tissue was just terrific on the air, you know, great writer, had a professional and loving rapport with everyone who we work with. I had to shower with the guy next to him at our facilities at TSA and the man had muscles in places that most men or women don't have places past the Dutchie down the left side. I said, well do that. Just don't drop the Irish spring.

He was, we were hired in the, in the summer of 1998. I did the Gallagher show and he was just still the gargantuan talent and there was no score. Sportsnet? What? Who? They haven't turned on camera. And Darren whispered in my ear, he says, Johnny, we're going to freaking run this place.

Well, almost. And he, you know, he, I'm getting a little emotional because I really, I'm 57 is just, it's just, you know, just too young, but we laughed all the time lovingly and wantingly, you know, and it was great with, uh, with everyone else at the end of the Gallagher show on TSN, he, do we do a two minute bit and he'd always go and Hey Johnny, your, uh, your abs are playing tonight. You're going to love this. And we just got along so well together

and he's gonna be missed. I didn't see it Mike, but I heard that James Duffy, Brad, I'm sorry, who was it, the co-host? She don't have a name. Oh, it's Rod Smith. Rod Smith and the lovely blonde in between, she was with Dutchie for a year. Oh, Jennifer Hedger. Jennifer Hgear jet and they started to cry on

the air on like what this is the market this guy made and uh... you know in the words of michael stripe of our a m dot gia i'll see in the heaven if i make the list yeah yeah yeah yeah and by the way keith peli who ran g s and back then thanks for taking a flyer and some wonderful ladies and gentlemen on this business and show in our young 30s and like it or not you've got excellent talent good luck with those leads but he just lit up the room Mike you know we had so many fun times together and 57 that's eww filling the

blanks there man man. That was bad. Bad. No, great loss. Now, I've never got the pleasure of meeting Dutchie, but of course I've now heard from dozens of people like you who knew him, and to a T, everybody will tell you, this guy was like the life of the party, a fun guy, a likeable guy. Like by all accounts, this guy was larger than life. No, to rip it, he'll be greatly missed. And I wish I knew he was suffering from cancer.

And the same thing with Martellio, I should have gone and visited the guy and just, you know, and at the end, his friends and family told me he was cracking jokes and just so inappropriate, he once told me there was a woman on the air, and we all know her at TSN. She says she's going to leave TSN to go into film and into acting, and Dutchie at the press conference leans in. Well, we know it's not going to be the porn industry. Rest well, Dutchie.

There's milk coming out of my nose because the only whispered to me, I'm like, that was the kind of guy I was. He was just, oh baby, good one there. Oh, good segue because now I'm hearing a tremendous, the best, let's call it the best Bob Cole impression this side of Mike Richards. Please share with me any memories about, now, 57, far too young, Dutchie. No, look, I can see 57 right ahead of me and far too soon to be at the party.

But at least Bob Cole... I've seen it in my rearview mirror. It's not bad. It's not bad. It's coming up close. But Bob Cole had a good run, but talk to me about Bobby. Yeah. Yeah.

You know, that's where the old baby calls. But when he was really excited excited he'd call out gore uh... hybrid of goal and score or uh... is is gold school now a couple of fun facts one night mister colonel and i said to a picture did you get that little photo essentially yeah i saw it yet i have it yeah it's bob colin my uh... ex uh... that lady uh... live in the common law

wife uh... a couple of fun facts before i get this story a maid can never enter bob coals hotel bob will not allow his room to be cleaned at our any circumstances while we stay at a hotel and you cannot do a bob call impression in front of them

remember my friend scott russell member of cdc tell us you tried to do a call impersonation of regay meeting and he didn't talk to Bob for two weeks after Bob gave him the stink eyes like oh baby that let me use a good one there mister I'll tell you I'll tell you more oh so anyway I'm at the Steve Scabros private underground layer of the ACC I took chick my girlfriend and looking quite ravishing and Gary Beckman was there Wayne was there and we're making the rounds news pat quinn and he just call me little irish all the time i do a little irish to give me a headlock

freaking quinn anyway were some of some fine whiskey i looked around and notice bob call flirting with with my girlfriend checked across the room we thought it was not until i got the phone call from check he goes she goes very funny i says what across the room without it was nothing until i got the phone call from check because she goes very funny access what well i got called go up to help is the you do i can impersonation of bob call she played the voice message

she goes out yet but not all bob calling here how would you do it but i'm down town and go up that's because call me later at the hotel when you get a chance i'll tell you and wasn't even a normal voice he was doing the play-by-play trying to pick up my girlfriend now she hadn't given him she hadn't given her business card Mike and

somehow he tracked her down to her office got the number and kept calling her to ask her out and she did it again I'm like well obviously it's Mike Richards and it wasn't it was Bob Cole trying to pick up my nine year common law wife. And then it didn't really dawn on me until I heard Catherine Humphries on City TV once and she's like with Bob Cole and you gotta look out for that Bob Cole.

Oh, don't squeeze me there like a Charmin commercial. I'm like, I knew then that he was quite the ladies man. And I'm like I knew then that he was quite the ladies man and I'm like this is great so at chicks you know party she was a pastry exact we played the Bob Cole oh baby Bob Cole here going out to the steakhouse like you may like to join me there oh mister gonna be a fun night I can't do a Mike Richards I can't do a Bob Cole but that's the way it sounded. Absolute truth story. Wow. Wait, wait, first of all, you didn't finish the story. Did he score with your girlfriend? God, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. We, uh, she never answered him back.

She never called the hotels like this. She's living with me. So it was just just the strangest happenstance to have a guy of that talent and magnitude. I said on social media, I want to clear the air that he was the gold standard. Danny Gallivan was better than Bob Cole. Dan Kelly was says you says you says you. But you're a Habs fan. You're a Habs fan. So you have a bias there you would have you would have heard more doubt Danny Gallivan than you would have heard Bob Cole, right? Yeah, like that's a- Everyone thinks that the Danny and Dick and Danny, the Dick and Danny show at Greb and Hockendick in Canada, everyone thinks that they were biased.

If it's much real, 10 and the Washington Capitals, 2. I've never seen Danny get more excited over a goal than the other team score, including Gary McAdam in the 1980 in overtime, the first round series against Minnesota. I sound like Bob Cole here. Oh, baby. Everything is happening. But yeah, I mean, and then you get Bob Cole, who's doing the Leafs game every Saturday night, and he sounded like an honor because you, you know situated not situated but you you know you had Bob and you had the Leafs every Saturday night for 25-30 years. Well this is my perspective so I'm a little bit younger than you and I grew up a obviously a Leafs fan in Toronto so to me if I had to pick

who's my favorite all-time play by play voice, to me, it's Bob Cole. I like Bob Cole with Harry Neil. That's my go to duo. But I'd never thought Bob Cole was biased because he had the same to me, to my ears, he had the same enthusiasm, the same calls for the opposition to the Leafs than he did for the Leafs. The guy who is rightfully super biased because he is the regional broadcaster who works for

the team is Joe Bowen. You can't listen to a Leafs game without the obvious Go Leafs Go coming from Joe Bowen. And the Holy Mackinac. Yeah. So Joe does not call a game both sides, right? Joe is there unabashedly with Jim Ralph, who's great as well. He's unabashedly rooting for the Toronto Maple Leafs and I never got that vibe one time from Bob Cole. There is a Bob Cole drinking game. Have you heard of this? Tell me. It's fascinating. When Bob says the right first name but the wrong family

name of the player, you take a drink. When Bob has the wrong first name but the right you take a drink when ball when bob hits the first the wrong first name but the right family name take another drink when but I could go on and on when Bob goes oh baby another enemy could happen there take another drink when Bob says holy Mackinaw take several drinks you guys too many already that's a bones I feel bad about a bones eat and he worked in Halifax you wouldn't believe the talent that worked here, including like Brian Henderson and Gordon Martino. Wait, did Gordon Martino Montreal?

But you're telling me Gordon Martino started in Halifax? Gordon Martino started in Halifax, Mike. And so did Joe Bowen. I felt so bad. And again, it's been braked up and down around the corner when Morgan Riley scored last year to win the series for Tampa poor, poor. And they were sitting in, you know, the Leafs didn't have any money to send Ralphie, Jim Ralph, and them down to Tampa, you know, for the game, you know, and they wanted to overtime. It was looking at a television freaking screen, right? A monitor. And when Morgan Riley scored poor Joe Bowen,

Mo Mo Mo Mo Mo Riley, holy neck. And then Jim's probably the elbow. I think that was I think that was to various who tipped it in. Oh, it doesn't matter. But really, it did. Yeah. But again, and he doesn't get the opportunity. He doesn't get the opportunity to call many series-winning Goals for this team because it's only happened once in 20 years

You know your your dead on your dead on well, I mean during the shadow plan, you know He's been there for were for for 10 years and just one, you know It's an in one play up one. It's almost like Jerry Howard now I didn't mind who did the play-by-play for the for the Blue Jays But like Tom and Jerry were like, like, they were like the voice of summer. Hello friends. Jerry Howard here for Royal. Okay. There she got. I loved Jerry. And if you're listening, I still love Jerry. And every time I wanted them on the, you know,

the TSN or the city TV, uh, uh, CP two four show him and, and, uh, and Tom cheek would come on. What? In fact, they sent their wives home to get nice shirts to come on the show because they just had their golf shirts on. I'm like, well, God love you for that. Tom and Jerry, but they're the voice of summer, Mike, right? Oh no, no. So I mentioned, I mentioned, I like a Bob Cole and hearing Neil for hockey. Well, there's no doubt if it's baseball, I want Tom Cheek and Jerry Howarth. That's my voice. Thank you.

Without a doubt. Thank you. Without a doubt. Yeah. John, how are you holding up? Just because I know about your post-stroke fatigue syndrome. You okay for five more minutes here? I have five more minutes.

I'm glad you asked. Yeah. Again, the the sunshine. You sound strong so let me. Little chocolate lab Jack Johnson named after the first black heavyweight champion of all time. My girlfriend's like oh Jack Johnson I have all his albums. Not that one! Oh Jack Johnson the six foot nine defenseman for Columbus. No! No. But the boxer. 1919. Love it. Greatest heavyweight champion of all time. Little Abner. So I'm just sitting with

a ball and with my, I won't say pants around my ankles, but they're getting there. I got to tell you. You sound strong. I just want you to know that yours, the stroke you got, I know it makes you tired and there's a lot of recovery, but your voice and your pattern, if you will, to me sounds strong. So I just, you know, that's good news for the Gallagher heads out there. Okay, a couple of quick hits on our way out. So you're doing, obviously I hear you in the Dodge ad, Dodge Ram, Dodge Ram, Dodge Ram, maybe one will show up in my driveway later today, but you're also doing cartoon work. What, you're doing some big cartoon work, right? I'm on a tub of tune on

Saturday mornings. I've always grown, I've always wanted uh... to but you know on saturday mornings i've always grow up always wanted to be a you know a talking dog i'm now a talking dog name boomhound and i get to talk like that uh... i'm part uh... sportscaster match part boombox

hello but you know i have a call up his kid i am a little older i mean hot dog from the arches and sc Scooby-Doo, hey Scoob! And even the nemesis for Josie and the Pussycats, he was like, and they go, okay John, do two takes and then just go off the roof, go off the roof, jump off the roof, do whatever you want. And I just talk about meeting girls and like, well, how old's your kid?

He's eight, nine years old. Have I got a great show for him? And so there's an end. You're actually a talking dog on a Saturday morning cartoon. You bet. And the fact, you know, and people do, you know, I'll say this, people go, boy, you do post a lot of, you know, you and Don Cherry and you know, you and Muhammad Ali and stuff. But I posted a Don Cherry rock them sock and

video thing, you know, all the hits, all the saves. It's down time. Don Cherry's rock them sock. I'm six now available. And I got a gig because someone said, I got a guy. I got a guy. I got a guy. He's a friend of mine. He's a former sportscaster. He's on Facebook and he did Rockum Sockum 6. And I got a gig because of the Rockum Sockum 6. So I've got an ego the size of Mount Rushmore. But you know what? If I can get these gigs just by putting them on Don Cherry's website, so is your old man. Go get them. Just smart marketing. But now I'm kind of saddened by something I'm going to share with you, which is that I always wanted to have Don Cherry on Toronto Mic'd. And back when he used to do grape, what was it called? Grapevine? Whatever his radio... The grapevine.

Okay, so he had a show that would be syndicated on the fan 590, him and Brian Williams. And at that time, I actually... Oh, that was great. Yeah. Yeah. Grape Line or Grapevine, because he had both, like one was a TV, one was a radio. Anyway, I, um, my buddy... Well, the Grape Vine was his bar, I think, Mike, but the Gra, okay? And I said, this is who I am, I have a podcast. I'd love, just like I'm doing with you now, I'd love to have a phone call with you and just talk a bit about your career and some stories. This is many years ago, because he's still on the Fan 590.

And he phoned me back. So to his credit, Don Cherry called me back and he had a great chat with me and he told me he would come on my show, but he said, he thought I was competition for Fan 590 and he didn't want to upset the people at the sports net So he politely declined. Well, anyways recently with the passing of dutchie. I started thinking about oh, you know dutchie Never came on Toronto Mike. I did ask him like seven times over the last eight years

But not that you remember the number Well, I had to go go search my gmail I don't delete these gmails. And then it turns out he never once replied. So I don't even know if he was know or he just never cared to answer or whatever. But anyway, he never came on. Now, John, John Derringer was also elusive to my friend, Tio Mike. Well, he phoned me. You know, he said, you know, here's my thought on Derringer. There's two things going on here. I'll come back to the Dutchie thing that ties into Don Cherry, but I will keep track of that except to say with John Derringer, here's my thought on that. I believe with all my heart that

John Derringer knew that I knew too much because of my relationship with Humble and Fred. Because Humble and Fred were down the hallway at CFNY when John Derringer was at Q107. And let's put it this way, they don't like each other. Humble Howard and John Derringer was at Q107. And let's put this way, they don't like each other. Okay. Humble Howard and John Derringer never liked each other. And, and, and Humble Howard and Fred knew everything because women like Colleen Rush home and they just knew everything before the news broke from Jennifer Valentine. So I believe that John Derringer, who politely declined, at least he said, no, thank you, he wouldn't come on because he was worried what I might say because I knew everything. That's my thought on that one. Interesting. Yeah. Interesting. And still

real quick with Jennifer Valentine and I listened to her, oh my god it's excruciating, but I you know I love Jennifer and the funny story. We hosted with speaking to Gordon Martino and Monica Diole and all the big names her and I were it was the the the New Year's Eve big New Year's Eve bash and the producers were like okay you got to kiss Jennifer Valentine at the stroke of midnight and three two and her boyfriends were so mad because Jennifer and I would go so I know Jennifer so well new so i don't get a personal well during her on air we would die tried

because she's dealing with the same lawyer that i know anyway long story most of it is steven hurlbut who was the most evil evil man in in television broadcasting history who was the news director at at at City TV for for years years former cameraman I he was the guy who really should have been co-ed right over the calls. Derringer was I never saw that I've worked with

John for years and years I never saw him and I worked with him from 86 to you know whenever I went to Montreal I never saw him disrespectful or talk down to women. They probably did you know, whenever we went to Montreal, I never saw him just respect or talk down to women. They probably did. You know, you got girls, you know, Maureen Holloway and Danny Elwell and other big names and what's that?

Oh, I was just, Andrea Ruse. I got a lengthy list here. I've never met her, but Jennifer, I mean, I just, it just, it breaks my heart. Jackie Delaney. There's another one. Jackie Delaney was telling me on jackie delaney jackie delaney we uh... have a interesting past uh... but i'm saying i'd never saw that in john i i never i never saw it but when i talked to jennifer oh boy and then i talked to

humble and fred they went oh boy right so johnny come back slowly uh... and take your time or don't come back at all I'm sure you got enough money rolling in just to sit back with your Did I say pants around my ankles three times? John Kenny come back like you know and by the way two things here Kenny come back Yeah from this like or does he have to lay low for the rest of his life and are people confusing you too?

Because a lot of people were telling me. Oh, did you hear about John Gallagher? And then I'd be like, Oh, do you mean John Daringer? And people got you conflated, I will say. So do people think you were doing this? Tell me. All the time, all the time. They go, Hey, hey, Daringer or Gallagher, how about those haves? They suck. I go, I'm John Daringer, not John Gallagher. If you want to talk to John Gallagher, I had the same thing with Dan Gallagher. Hey Dan, Dan I keep walking. Dan, Dan love you and much music.

Dan, it's John. Okay, but Derringer and I get it all the time when you go to the troll section of any media outlet. Yeah Gallagher guy, yeah, he really knows how to treat a lady. I'm like, oh, and I don't even respond it just you know You do the the LeBron James clap of the freaking shock and just like walk, you know Can he come back? I know you guys were close It sounds like you were ignorant to his you know, verbal abuse of these women, but so you must have

I just now you know Now, you know, but you know I don't know Mike I don't know if he's gonna come back we don't talk he doesn't answer my emails or text I thought I'd give him how long has it been good Christ couple years I thought I give him here so you know his space time and and and leeway to work things out but I'm sure he's I'm sure he's fine okay well he's fine actually becomes back of a podcast good done not that he's any competition to Tio Mike well you know he can come over here and we can talk about it all maybe that'll be that his comeback will be

that he actually comes clean and apologizes on Toronto Mike so John Derringer if you're listening come on over and just let's have a heart to heart about this, right? But, but Mr. Gallagher, uh, where I was going with John Don Cherry is I recently, uh, chatted with Timothy Cherry. Tim Cherry is of course, so he is your, he is your porthole and to enter the computer of Don Cherry. Right. So I'm talking to Tim and I'm saying, Tim, Hey, I'd, I'd, you know, even though he's 90 years old, I'd still love to have a phone call with Don Cherry because again, I'm talking to Tim and I'm saying Tim, hey, even though he's 90 years old, I'd still love to have a phone call with Don Cherry because again, I'm not afraid to talk to people who have been quote unquote canceled or whatever. I'm happy to have a conversation with any reasonable human being and I consider Don

Cherry a reasonable human being. We can have a conversation. I said, let's have like a fair and a civil conversation. And Tim said that Don, at this point in Don's life, he's completely done doing external media. Like he'll do his own podcast with his son and his, you know, his family. But he's actually- Yeah, except if you're Joe Warmington, then you got a front seat. Well, that's- I'm watching closely to see if that happens again, because apparently, you know, they've

made a decision that Don's done doing external communication and it made me sad because You know how you know we talked about Bob Cole and Harry Neil Well, you know tied to that on a Saturday night, of course was coach's corner with FOTM Ron McLean and Don Cherry and you know for better worse and I never agreed with this Well, that's his title John, that's his title. Okay, but bottom line is it did make me sad that this voice I heard and he used to be, you know, before things got a little ridiculous, absolutely appointment. Like now I don't watch anything during the first intermission. I go do other stuff, you know, but I used to

make an appointment. Like yeah, the first period's over. I'm going to go get a whatever, a drink or go to the washroom, do my whatever, get some food. But I'm going to be back in front of that television for coaches corner. That's how it was for decades. So I'm sad that basically Don might be phasing out his, you know, that part of his life. It just reminds you that time moves slowly but carries on. I must tell you before I go, the first thing that I did the next morning after they fired him was called Don Cherry.

And he called in a couple of days, I tell you there Spike Boyer, a good guy, a tight right now, a good guy from, quit back there, you know, or advisor anyway. I'm just gonna do it from my kitchen, Johnny. I'm gonna do it with Tim. I'm gonna do it with my grandson. He's gonna work the board.

I love ya. I'm like, ah, let's just do it at 901. We'll get LaBatch, we'll get Molson, or whoever. We'll just buy all the money. I tell ya, good idea. And he said no. He's gonna just make it a family thing. Is that still on the air?

Yeah, it is. You know why? When Ron Ellis passed away? I had a really really on Toronto mic to great conversation with Steve Paik and people should check that out But then I was curious. I you know, I actually wanted to know what Don Cherry had to say And so I still am interested in his his experience his insight It's just unfortunate that he's a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to some of the the politics and in social that he's a bit of a dinosaur when it comes to some of the politics and social progress in this fine country. But Don Cherry and his hockey expertise, I still appreciate it. I

don't have to take him, you know, I don't have to worship the goons and be xenophobic when it comes to Canadians better than Europeans. I don't have to share that. I still enjoy hearing from the man and I wanted to hear what he has to say about Ron Ellis. So the answer is yes. Don Cherry still records his podcast. And he's still relevant, you know, and wouldn't you like to hear? No, no, I'd love to hear what he's talking about when it comes to running goal centers and that call and the too many men of the ice. But I just wish he had stuck to hockey.

Seven of them. And does he know about too many men of the ice and just the non calls and the stupid calls cherry would have a field day and I want to listen and I want to know you know right and by the way yeah may I say that the bit how do I say this actually without kicking off a lot of people there's a lot of people. There's a lot of people on the air right now. Okay calm down John don't let it get away the The O'Neil's of the world who's the it was the old Oh dog the extra fence Oh dog Who's the ex-defenseman for for the Canucks who's on hockey night? Oh you think it a bXa? BXa. Yeah, there's guys like him and him and I love Elliot Ron

The exo, yeah. There's guys like him and him and I love Elliot, Ron, you know, but these guys look like they haven't had sex in months, you know, smile. I haven't seen any of them smile. There's other guys out there like that. I'm like, come on, make it fun. It's talking in Canada, the whole world's watching. Good God, don't talk about the X's and O's

and stuff like that. It's, you know, be a cherry,'s watching. Good God. Don't talk about the X's and O's and stuff like that. It's, you know, be a cherry, you know? Don't be a BX. Be a cherry. Be a Gallagher. Or am I way off? I hear you. I will say I've lost complete interest

in everything outside the game. So last night's a good example. Oh, that's right. You don't watch, you don't watch hockey not in Canada coaching quarters. So my wife is born and raised in Edmonton, Alberta And she's very excited about you know, actually having a hockey team that can win a playoff series I don't have that so as you know, so her team was game seven was last night and uh,

We made it it was appointment viewing last night I actually was going to go see a neil young concert and I decided to spend the night with my wife watching the edmonton oilers But i'll catch ne Neil in early July. And remind me before we say goodbye, remind me to talk to you about Honeymoon Suite. But okay. I'd love that. You know it's funny because it was with my post-stroke syndrome, okay Johnny enough, you have to sleep five freaking times a day.

It was three nothing with eight minutes to go and I went, you called me, you called me. And I'm just like Can we do this tomorrow which we had planned anyway, and then it was three two How was the finish I got to go downstairs and watch it that was I was cheering for a Vancouver because as a leaf And my first cousin is Gary Monahan He played for the conduction leads for years and you know any cannot former canuck is a He played for the Canucks and Leaves for years. And you know, any Canuck, former Canuck, is a cousin of mine, Mike.

Well, listen, my point is I caught myself doing what I always do with Leaf games, which is I watch the game, and I don't watch anything between the games. It doesn't draw me in, so I'm not saying it's broken. I like Elliot Friedman. I like these guys. Elliot's been in the basement.

But for whatever reason, there's nothing that makes me feel like oh I need to hear and see these people exactly exactly entertain me don't give me stuff you know I you know I watched for years Major League Baseball on Saturday afternoons and told me Tony Kubek is talking about a guy who had 119 for Walla Walla Wall Street and shut up you know just you know give me Bob you know just you know give me Bob Costas right you know give me Howard Cosell right hey what do you think about what do you think Bob Buker still with us do you believe it I can't

imagine how old he is now but he seemed old when I was like a teenager so actually before I was a teenager when he was on that show mr. Belvedere I always thought he was an old guy and we're going back to the mid 80s I think so that's wild, but okay. Just real quick, what do you think of this? It's funny you'd say that because I don't want to, you know, tramp on your podcast competition. Tramp away.

But I'm gonna be on tonight on I Heart Radio at nine o'clock Eastern time, talking about with the Jim Richards showground, who was a talented guy, not as talented as you, we're going with all the athletes who turned into movies and Bob Euker and I got a story about him and Yogi Berra and Billy Martin and Tommy Lasorda and Duke Snyder that's gonna knock your socks off. All right, that sounds interesting to me and Jim Richards, got a lot of

respect for Jim Richards and another guy who? Won't come over for his Toronto Mike the first Toronto Mike debut, so but I have a lot of respect for Jim Richards I'm not bitter about that. Let me make some phone calls chacha What do you know? Yeah, I'll put on the era and I've been to your house several times with my good friend Peter Gross It's a wonderful environment and you're so welcoming. And during the second or third show, I get to pop a bottle of Australian Jardinais

and you're like, bring it on. Yeah, well that's what my freezer's for, John's alcohol. I may do that right now. All right, so before we go though, I'm gonna pitch an idea and then I'm gonna ask you one question and then I'll set you free. But the idea I have is like, we need to bring back Coach's Corner, but it's not going to be called Coach's Corner. You got to give

it a new name. Because I feel like you just, you have somebody like a PK Subban, who after the first period, he talks about all the stuff you want to talk about, like just PK and co-host, maybe it's Ron McLean. I don't care actually who it is. But like somebody who's got opinions, has an interesting take on things, is articulate. It doesn't have to be PK Subban, but somebody like that. He's the name that always pops in my head. But that's what I want.

I want a return of Coach's Corner. It can't be Don, it can't have that name, but let's bring something back that will make me interested after the first period. And there's, you're right, there's so many great names. I don't watch enough because they won't get the feeds. I hear, I don't think anyone in Canada really kind of gets the feeds, but,

Brett Hall was terrific. Whenever Cherry was on with Hall on the NBC broadcast, I mean, it was just, just gold, Cherry, gold! Yeah, but there's so many, there's so many great names out there, including some of the wonderful women who have been on. Their names are nameless, faceless, I mean not nameless, not faceless, but nameless, I just can't remember their names.

Well, Cassie Campbell was there for a long time, but she quit, and it turns out her husband ... there's a conflict of interest because her husband's involved with an NHL team. It might be the Calgary Flames, as I think out loud in my head. But there was a conflict, so she went on to do work with the PWHL. Did you catch any of the women's professional hockey league this season? Just the highlights. Just the highlights. Oh, Cheryl Pounder. Yeah, she's on TSN though, but she's great. She's on TSN. She'd be terrific. And Cassie Campbell, funny story before we go. I see her all the time and I go,

Cassie, how are you? Give me a hug. Hello. Hello. Give me a little kiss. No, I'm just, she's married and she's just wonderful. Oh, now she has. She's married to some guy, GM or assistant GM with Calgary, Pascal. Oh, there you go. You just mentioned him. I do apologize. Okay. Again, don't have a stroke. You've had a stroke John. It's all good, buddy I just had a stroke exactly John Gallagher had a stroke two years ago, and he's now again Wallowing in his own mediocrity. Hey, it's a 12 I go to Cassie Campbell every time I see her Cassie how many times and this is full chestnut is been going on since 98 Nagano Cheryl not Cheryl

Cassie how many times have I asked you out and you said no. Wait for the pause. Every time, John, every time. True story. So she's the one, okay? Somebody's gotta say no to John Gallagher, come on. Oh my God.

But not Peter Gross, not Peter Gross. He's a tiger. Love that guy. Well, isn't this been a nice hour? Oh my goodness. But not Peter Gross. Not Peter Gross. He's a tiger. Love that guy. Isn't this been a nice hour? Oh my goodness, Mike. Well, last question though. You got one more question, John, before we say our parting remarks here. Uh oh, I told you no gotcha question. Yeah, one gotcha question, but you won't kill me after this, don't worry.

How much did you get for your Toronto home when you sold it? It's an interesting question. I bought the house. I was living with Steve Anthony. I bought the house in 1992 at Avenue Lawrence. Have you ever been there? Because it's a wonderful neighborhood. You never in the neighborhood.

There's like a Poussateria near there, right? That's right. Yeah. Bruno's and my friend's own safaris right across the street from me. St. Germain? I bought that house for two. Dan Paracuti. Okay, because I- And his lovely wife, Christian Fingerly.

Yeah. Okay, so I just quick is that I used to work for a software company that was owned by a gentleman, love this guy, Walter Maves. And Walter and his wife Audrey lived on St. Germain and I've been invited there many times. They literally had like a pond in the backyard with the fish koi or whatever it's called. And I always felt when I was there like, oh, have they seen my T4 because I don't belong in this neighborhood. I lived on St. Germain, exactly.

And then Trumson Plaza, up the hill. I bought my house for $244,000 in 1992 during the complete low of house buying and selling in Toronto. Sold it, sold it in 2021 for 1.8 million. Good for you. So now, thanks. And now I bought a house here in Halifax and the neighbors next to me. I bought a pretty I can't believe I'm telling you

This because I'm sure well, yeah, well, yeah What do you call it? The real estate agent and lawyer like you can't say that Of course you can I bought it I bought this us for 388 thousand in Halifax during kind of a spike and the next door Neighbor just sold theirs for 648 thousand now I'm not you know humble brag you asked but it's just just You know, I've been to your house. Please tell me you own that beautiful house. Well, I do I actually do I actually do own this house with my wife Monica. Yes, Mark smart. It's good By the way, you said spike

That seems like the perfect word to say goodbye. So Spike, let's not let five years go by before we chat again. Maybe next time we talk, it's Peter Gross comes over and we both chat you up and maybe it's like a bonus episode of Gallagher and Gross Save the World but in the Toronto Mike feed. It's the greatest tap and the greatest hour that I can spend with you and just talk just about everything because you know I didn't have the script let's just you know just spitball. When I talk to Peter he always makes me laugh I'm always got a wonderful smile and just one of the great mentions of all time and Harry Lettgoe and I think they lost us at how much I

bought my house for by the way so uh he want to cut that out and just leave go. And I think they lost us at how much I bought my house for it by the way. So if you want to cut that out and just leave it and I'm just trying. You, my friend call any time. What a nice surprise. This is great. And that brings us to the end of our 1,491st show. You can follow me on Twitter and Blue Sky and Instagram and Facebook and LinkedIn.

I'm all over the place. I'm at Toronto Mike. You'll find me. John Gallagher. Facebook and Instagram for that man. He's all about the meta. Much love to those who made this possible. That's Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Recycle My Electronics.ca, Raymond James Canada, the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, Minaris, and Ridley Funeral Home.

See you all tomorrow when Jeremy Hopkins, the official historian of the Toronto Mike podcast, returns and we're gonna discuss 10 buildings that weren't demolished and we're glad that didn't happen. I was going to say I was glad that happened, but I'm glad that they weren't demolished. It's just when you have the double negatives, who knows what I'm saying anymore. And on that note, on behalf of John Gallagher, see you tomorrow. Oh, you know that's true because everything is coming up rosy and gray Yeah, the wind is cold with the smell of snow, won't be the day

And your smile is fine and it's just like mine and it won't go away Cause everything is rolling in gray Well I've been told that there's a sucker born every day But I wonder who, yeah I wonder who