Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Nikki Reyes: Toronto Mike'd #805

Episode Date: February 22, 2021

Mike chats with Nikki Reyes about her love for Raptors basketball, how she broke into the sports media business, her moves to Vegas and Boston, her stint at Sportsnet and her new gig covering the Raps for TSN Radio.

Welcome to episode 805 of Toronto Mic'd, a weekly podcast about anything and everything. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, a fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. beer. CDN Technologies, your outsourced IT department. Contact Barb. She's Barb at cdntechnologies.com. Palma Pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. Stickeryou.com. Create custom stickers, labels, tattoos, and decals for your home and your business. Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of the community since 1921. And Mike Majeski, or as I call him, Mimico Mike. He's the real estate agent who's ripping up the Mimico real estate scene. Learn more at realestatelove.ca.

I'm Mike from torontomike.com and joining me this week is Nikki Reyes. Welcome Nikki. I was waiting for like the applause track. I just figured I'd just jump in. Thanks for having me, Mike. I have an applause track, but I can't remember what button it is. Is it this? No. Okay. See, that's why I don't play the applause track. That's more like it, actually. I'm used to that sound. Well, great to, I guess, is this meeting you? Like, can I tell people I met Nikki if we Zoom? is this meeting you? Can I tell people I met Nikki if we Zoom?

I think this is the way it works now. This is the new reality. So absolutely, it's nice to meet you. I feel like it's not, it's a bit disingenuous. That's the word I'm hunting for. I feel like I didn't really meet you. We just had a, we connected virtually,

but I feel like it's not the same. But I don't want to be disingenuous and tell people i met nikki reyes and if i if i didn't really meet nikki so i'm struggling with that one you need to seal it with a handshake or like a high five or something is that like what seals the deal do you think we'll ever do that again like do you think when we eventually do like meet each other i don't think we'll be doing that what do you think will we ever go back to handshakes and high fives i don't know man i i hope so i don't i yeah i good question well definitely not hugging anymore remember the hugging was a thing oh my god i don't think anything anymore with like co-workers or strangers

or you know what i mean like that kind of stuff i stuff I know I'm with you like it'll be for like uh family and lovers or whatever like the acquaintances they don't get a hug anymore no exactly we'll work on the handshakes maybe with gloves I don't know you know I gotta be safe Mike it's all I know right yeah it's like I don't know did you ever watch Seinfeld yes so it'll be like you know know, Elaine had sponge worthy, like she'd meet a guy. Is he sponge worthy? Like we'll size everybody up and we'll be like, are they hug worthy? Oh, but then that is really insulting though. Because if you don't get a hug, you know, like, Oh, this person clearly doesn't like me because they're obviously not hugging me.

And then that's going to be a whole thing. So, Oh boy, what adventures ahead. But, uh, let me ask you this. Are you a, you a Toronto born girl? hugging me and then that's going to be a whole thing so oh boy what adventures ahead but uh let me ask you this are you uh you a Toronto born girl are you from Toronto uh Toronto born but I grew up in Markham and like the latter half of my life I guess so my family is in Markham right now but Toronto's always been home so how old were you when you left Toronto for Markham um probably like eight yeah do you remember I mean I guess you do remember at eight or ten but you remember what neighborhood you grew up in in Toronto uh my parents when they moved to Canada they moved to like the Fleming Flemington area. So Don Mills and whatever that is.

And then I went to like elementary school, like Midland and Finch, no Midland and Lawrence area, I guess it is, that part of Scarborough. And then we moved to Barnum. It's all vague. It's all like, yeah, a wash now. Scarborough, like there's so many greats. Like when I think about like a Mike Myers or like

the bare naked ladies, you often hear of these like, you know, globally famous people that they didn't come from Toronto, you know, they'll tell you they came from Scarborough, like this, you know, like, so yeah. So are you from Scarborough or do you just say you're from Toronto? I just say I'm from Toronto because people understand what that is. Like if I tell my people I'm from Markham, they'll be like, and so especially when I lived in the States, you know, I just say Toronto because it's a nice general place. And then people ask for specific like, oh, I have family in Brampton. I'll be like, oh, okay, well, then I'm really from Markham. So unless you really dig deep and ask me, I'll just say Toronto because it's just easier.

Unless you really dig deep and ask me, I'll just say Toronto. It's just easier. Oh, yeah, for sure. For sure. Awesome. And now I was going to load up the theme. See, I'm sorry. I was going to load up the theme for NBA Inside Stuff.

This was my plan. I'm looking. We have time. Do it. Let's get this production up here, Mike. Okay. So while I'm looking for this, hold on. Cause I used to watch NBA inside stuff. The original plan also was, in fact, I did have that. I had a Prince song loaded up for you.

And then, then I thought maybe like, maybe the, you know, the lyrical content, maybe I shouldn't play the Prince song. Do you know what song? I know exactly what you're talking about. It's not for kids. Definitely not. So I didn't play it, but I totally was. And then I had somebody on Facebook Live say, you can't play the Prince song.

And I'm like, oh, I guess I can't. But I totally was going to do that. It's a great song. I love Prince. And I love that he uses his voice. My name is actually Nicole. We're going with government names. I I, I pretend he's talking not to me, but like, yeah, I love that song.

Oh, that's funny here. I'm going to play a little commercial for this anyways. It's not quite, let me hear what this sounds like here. This week on NBA inside stuff, you've seen them play games on the court, but how did the Philadelphia 76ers end up playing this game? Name the ugliest player in Indiana. Find out who will win the 76ers family feud. You won't believe the rim-rattling dunks of jam session.

And rewind the week with the NBA's best moves. Get the inside stuff tomorrow. Check your local listings. Okay, so remind those who don't remember, like what was NBA inside stuff? Only the best show of my childhood ever. I think it was every Saturday morning, Ahmad Rashad, Willow Bay.

It was basketball meets like the hip-hop not even hip-hop culture because that wasn't a thing back then but it was like basketball and then showing the players who they really are and amada shah did an amazing job of that and so did willow i'll give her credit too yeah i loved it and it was like a hipper version for basketball, obviously, as what this week in baseball was for us, for baseball fans. Yes. Yes. And so that was I would watch that every Saturday morning. And it kind of inspired me to get into this business, this wacky business that we're in. Now, I won't ask you your age, but you're so much younger than me. I'm wondering, like, were the Raptors always here?

Like, I mean, do you go back to pre-Raptor'm wondering like, were the Raptors always here? Like, or like, I mean, do you go back to pre Raptor era with your NBA love? Is that even possible? I do. I am that old. I was always, you know, I was always a Michael Jordan fan. So he was the one that started my love and now that's it. That was it. I was like, how do I meet Michael Jordan? I'm like, I'm going to be like Ahmad Rashad and Willow Bay. And this is how I'm going to get to him. But then as soon as Toronto got a team, I was like, Mike'm going to be like Ahmad Rashad in Willow Bay. And this is how I'm going to get to him.

But then as soon as Toronto got a team, I was like, Mike, you're out of here. So, and I've been a Raptors fan since day one. Amazing. Amazing. So I recorded that first Raptor game to VHS cassette. Like I have it somewhere. Yeah. Do you have it still? Yeah, I absolutely do.

In fact, I think I might've lent it. I know I have it somewhere, but I might have lent it to Retro Ontario. Are you familiar with Retro Ontario? No. So he basically, he's like an archivist who's like taking old VHS cassettes and making sure he grabs all the old commercials and, you know, different things like from TVO or whatever, Much Music, whatever. So I know, I think he had it to rip it

and I have to follow up with him. His name's Ed and find out where that VHS is at. But that was the, oh crap, Robertson, right? So Alvin Robertson put in like 31 points or something and the Raptors won that first game. Did you ever watch a game at the Sky Dome? Absolutely. Yeah, did you? Yeah, yeah, for sure I did. I was a game at the sky dome absolutely yeah did you yeah yeah for sure i

did i was a big reggie miller fan too i remember going to a pacers game and he was walking out of the tunnel the game was over and i like ripped his uh sweatband off of his arm and i was like basking in it like basking in reggie miller's sweat which is weird but i was a big fan and yeah what are you gonna do i was young i was a big fan. And yeah, what are you going to do? I was young. I was so young. You can get away with that when you're really young. I feel like now, if I did that, it would be super weird. Oh yeah. Well, they might shoot you or something or maybe ma'am, ma'am, you'll have to leave ma'am. Yeah.

Or at least taser you maybe the, you know, like I was also pre Raptors. I was a big fan of who wasn't a big fan of the jordan bulls right and uh i think the the great season one highlight if it was season one i think it was when the raptors beat the bulls uh at the dome i don't remember that game see this is now you're making me well yeah i've got at least and i don't know i won't i don't i won't ask but i have at least a decade on you here know, I won't, I don't, I won't ask, but I have at least a decade on you here. So this is going to be a much more brighter memory for me,

I think. But we, and I think we held Jordan to something like, I want to say 12 points or something like that. Like it was one of those, like, and that was a season when like the bulls didn't lose very many games that season.

They might've lost eight games or something, but we did take them out at the Dome. That's a huge win for the Raptors. I saw Jordan when he was on his farewell tour with Washington when he came to Toronto. I was sitting way up in the Sprite Zone or whatever the hell they call it back then. And I could say I saw him play,

although he wasn't himself anymore at that point. No, but yeah, you got to say you saw him, which is the key. And yeah, the Sprite Zone was exactly what that was called. And I think it was like $10.75 a ticket to sit in the Sprite Zone. That is insane. Did they give pizza out at that time? Was that a thing? I just know they had a lot of people up there to entertain the young.

There was no alcohol allowed in that section, if I remember correctly. Oh, okay. And they would have, like, they did a lot of, like, T-shirt giveaways. And, like, they gave you stuff. Like, they definitely tried to entertain you. Because I guess the idea, which is a really smart idea, like, get me a young. Get me, like, a 7-year-old. And I'll get him to fall in love with raptors.

And then I have him for the next 70 years. You know what I mean? Like it's kind of a smart marketing move. Absolutely. They did a really good job of when the, the franchise was launched to get people and, you know, keep them, keep them and make them fans for a long time. And, and we're seeing that now. Absolutely. Yeah. No doubt. What did you think of the nickname when it was first?

And this is all fresh in my mind, this conversation, because episode 800 and 801 was Rod Black. And he's a day one broadcaster of the Raptors. So we actually, we were just talking about all this. What did you think when they announced the team was going to be called the Raptors? I don't remember my initial thought,

but I do remember being like, oh, that's interesting. That's weird. Like, why? Like, it has nothing to do with Toronto. But then, like, people were like Toronto Tower or whatever the hell. Like, you know, it was weird. Yeah. I just remember being made fun of a lot because it was like, oh, dinosaur.

What is this? Barney and that whole thing. Well, because we chose purple. Like, that was a bad convoy. That was a tough call. Yeah, it really was. I remember the Barney and that whole thing. Well, because we chose purple, like that was a bad combo. That was a, it was a tough call. Yeah, it really was. I remember the Barney jokes. And of course, this is all coming off of like a, a Jurassic Park fad. So it just felt like, why are you naming your team after a fad?

That didn't seem like a long-term great idea, but you know, and you mentioned the towers. Like I still remember reading that list of like final names or whatever, but the name I was always pushing for that I thought was going to be a part of the pun, a slam dunk. And I still remember my disappointment when the Raptors were named. Cause I thought for sure we'd be the Toronto Grizzlies. Like I thought that was going to happen for sure. Oh, you wanted to be the Grizzlies. How many, how many Grizzly bears are in Toronto? Did I say Grizzlies? Oh no oh no i don't even that's too funny

i don't even mean grizzlies i don't know why i say grizzlies husky i meant huskies that's a weird yeah i don't see the huskies i could see huskies yes that makes sense i think you're you're reminiscing romanticizing the grizzlies here r.i.p to the vancouver grizzlies but i was thinking a big country bryant reeves there i don't know why grizzlies husk RIP to the Vancouver Grizzlies. I was thinking a big country, Bryant Reeves there. I don't know why. Grizzlies, Huskies, they got like conflated in my head. Of course. Now though, I mean, like 25 years later, it's cool now.

And then like the retro Raptor jersey is cool now. But at the time it was a bit tough. It was a bit embarrassing. Well, as you know uh winning fixes everything like it was you know we were awful as all french as all um you know and new teams are awful but and then now that we speak here in 2021 we both have like championship memories so fresh in our mind that like you could call us anything we would be kind of like proud of it because we were world champs in 2019 exactly all those dark days of like papiel rougeau and all those guys like those are some dark times when i

was doing nba excel i mean i didn't know it at the time because when i did that show it was it was still fun you know what i mean like i was still doing a dream job but then when you look back on it man those were some bad teams those are some really bad oh yeah for sure well let's talk about nba xl okay so obviously you grew up with that now was this is it safe to say that basketball was your favorite sport yes absolutely yeah basketball was it man that's what got me into it was michael jordan and nba inside stuff and then that was just the dream was like how do i talk to jordan how do meet him? I'm going to dedicate my life to a craft so I can, I can just talk to him.

And that's how it started. It really is. It's so lame. It's so basic. It really is. There's no exciting story behind it. Well, now I have to tell you that the voice of Bugs Bunny,

who was on Toronto Mike recently, and he's going to star in the new. So I was thinking, you know, Jordan was in Space Jam. Right. LeB going to star in the new, so I was thinking, you know, Jordan was in Space Jam. Right. LeBron James is in the new Space Jam, which comes out this summer.

I don't know where it comes out to, because I'm not going to any movie theaters this summer. But anyway, the voice of Bugs Bunny and all the other Warner Brothers characters in that movie is a Scarborough guy. It is. I know. How incredible is that?

And, and I can say this, because my wife is. I know. How incredible is that? And I can say this because my wife is of Filipino descent. He's a Canadian born in Scarborough whose parents emigrated to Canada from the Philippines. Exactly. So I was ready to

sign me up. I'm the biggest fan already because I'm Filipino as well. I'm a big fan of your wife now. I know. And half of my children uh are half Filipino so super cute kids by the way really cute kids well thank you that's yeah again that's all their mom doing that so uh so you loved you loved basketball how do you score that like sounds like a fantastic gig for you being host of NBA XL on NBA TV.

Yeah, I was, I don't remember how I got that job. I know I sent an email, actually. Her name is Sharon Coombs. She works at ESPN now. She was producer of NBA XL at the time. So this is under MLSC, Maple Leaf Sports and Entertainment. And I just sent her a cold email. And I was like, Hey, listen, I really, you know, I love basketball. I grew up

watching it. And they told her the whole NBA, you know, inside stuff thing. And, oh, I think it's because Nam, Nam was leaving NBA Excel. I got, I found out she was leaving and I'm like, I need to be your next host. And so I did like an audition and then I landed a gig so and then it just kind of you know went from there does this mean your next stop is going to be uh tv Ontario the agenda I feel like that's the uh that's where Nam is now right yeah I don't know if I'm that smart though those are really like cerebral shows like I just I can talk about sports i can watch sports anything too heavy and it's just like oh i'm not that i'm not that i'm not at that level nam is nam is a brilliant brilliant person so you're following you're filling some big shoes there but that's kind of an amazing story because

it sounds like a cold call that you're you know did you have any like anything you could show her in terms of like a portfolio or any kind of you know video of like you you hosting something yeah i did so when i my first tv job in toronto um was on omni television i did this show called flip um it was me and he's a comedian named ron jostle or ron jostle however you want to pronounce it. And we it was a weekly show about just, you know, being Filipino about being showing off the culture and not, you know, how my mom and dad see the culture, but how, you know, young people see the culture and just trying to expose other people to it. So I built up my reel doing that it was like a just a lifetime

lifestyle entertainment show, which was a lot of fun. And then I showed that I, that was my demo to NBA XL. Okay. No, cool. That sounds cool. And again, I can't claim, I'm not a Filipino descent, but I'm around it a lot. And basketball is really key. It seems to the Filipinos in my wife's family, like basketball really is like one A one B it seems to be, you know, if it's a big leaf playoff game, like basketball really is like 1a 1b it seems to be you know if uh if

it's a big leaf playoff game her facebook page is like crickets because no one seems to really care but if the raptors are playing it's that's everything so there's a lot of basketball love in that community it's cute shoot in that whole country right because it's it's cheap to play you can play in your flip-flops all you you need is a ball and a hoop, right? And that's how I grew up too. Like hockey wasn't a real big thing in my house because my parents came from the Philippines. And so basketball was always on and that's what I was exposed to.

So for my love for hockey is like, I love hockey. I have an appreciation for hockey, but it'll always be first and foremost basketball. And when Pac-Man is fighting, it's boxing, too. And Pac-Man's fighting. Yeah. But I was also exposed to like boxing at a really young age, too. Like my family, my parents would have parties with their friends and, you know, rent a big fight and all those Tyson fights and Oscar De La Hoya fights, Felix Trinidad, all those guys. So I was exposed to that at a young age, too. And I eventually worked in boxing

as well, I think, because of that, because of what my parents, you know, exposed me to. Did you just change something with your audio? No. Okay. You said, okay. Cause it's like a snapped in. It got so much better. This is cool.

Okay. It's a good, it's a good thing, but it's just like that. This is great. Okay. So you're hosting NBA XL on NBA TV. I did see that you also did some work with Much Music and I'm like just forever. I'm a Much Music freak and I've got to know what you were doing at Much Music. What was I doing? I was like an associate producer at the time. I think I was just out of college or in college still. And I was working on the show, Much On

Demand, MOD, that live show that they had every day. And it was a great, listen, it was a great job. I like you, there would be concerts, I'd be sitting at my desk, and they'd be live concerts, live shows around me every day. And it was such a wild experience just to be in that building that, you know, that iconic building on Queen Street. It's something, you know, you walk around downtown with your friends and just aspire to be there. So just being in the building was amazing. But it just like entertainment is not my it's not my scene. It's not my bag. And so I loved working there.

I love the experience. But as soon as I was able to land. Oh, no, I was able to land. That's when I kind of landed NBA XL I think after that okay so you were doing much work at much music uh before NBA XL I was I was I was no yeah I was I love you know what I love I love how unsure you are like I love it was like like I don't want to like age myself but we're talking about like decades ago like hey I can barely remember what I had for lunch yesterday. This was ages ago and there were so many jobs in between. I remember precisely the day I was writing that email to Sharon about NBA XL. I was, I was an intern at chorus, a course entertainment. And so I was like, you know,

dicking off work and writing an email, trying to get another job. But I don't remember where much music fills in between that. It must have been after. I must have graduated from college, went to Centennial and then worked at MuchMusic. And then worked at MBXL. Okay, good. You know, this is important, Nikki.

I'm taking notes. I want to make sure it all. Yeah, seriously. Someone's going to come back to me and be like, Nikki, I saw your resume and no, you're wrong. And I'm taking notes. I want to make sure it all. Yeah, seriously. Someone's going to come back to me and be like, Nikki, I saw your resume and no, you're wrong. And I'm probably wrong. I don't want to make you sweat too hard here. RJ Haas, by the way, is watching us live on Facebook. And RJ wants to know when was the last time you played tennis?

And RJ must know you because he's like, I recall seeing you at his local court as a kid playing tennis. Hi, RJ. I appreciate that. I tried playing tennis this past summer, actually, with my dad, because my dad's a big tennis addict. He's 75, and the man plays four days a week, five days a week, maybe. Oh, wow. Good for him. Yeah, he's serious in like tournaments and does the whole thing. I tried playing with him, and I couldn't keep up. So I put that down really quickly, but I grew up trying to play tennis as well. Just wasn't my thing. My dad, my dad, like, I don't want to say he sucked the fun out of it, but like would drag

us out like early in the morning and be like, come on, let's go. We're going to play tennis. And it just wasn't my thing waking up early and, you know, breaking a sweat like that. But I do love tennis. It is fun to play for sure. Cool. Now he also wants to know if you, if you had broadcast aspirations and he says, while attending FMM, uh, what's FF and what is FMM? Those who know, no, no, it's father Michael McGivney. I think it's called an academy now. It's the high school that I went to in Markham. Yeah, man. I I always I had broadcast aspirations since I was 12 years old and that was it I I really am just a one-trick pony I couldn't

I wasn't good at anything else in FMM like science math it became really really apparent at a young age what I can do and can't and I accepted that fate it was a broadcast or bust is that fair to say broadcast or basically I mean I didn't know I really don't want to do anything else so I just kept grinding and trying different jobs and like you know each one led to another one and it just kept you know going for me fortunately and I'm still uh I'm still doing it today so is it really is it just putting in your reps and getting better as a presenter? And like, what, like, is it essentially, and I should talk, I think I might be the world's worst communicator, but is it just, uh, practicing doing what I'm

doing now, which you would think I haven't done before, even though it was episode 805. I was going to say, give yourself some credit, dude. You're on 805 here. You can't be that terrible. You're fantastic. I think it's reps and i think it's just timing like like it's all about timing and finding the next opportunity and you know making that happen like i worked at nessen in boston and that was another cold email i just emailed uh whoever the manager was and their vp of the network and i said hey i'm looking for a job. Here's my reel. What do you guys think? They just happened to be hiring. And then they gave me a shot. So it's shoot your shot. And it's all about timing really.

Okay. Amazing. We'll talk about this. I didn't even know that you said it. I was thinking any SN, but it's Nesson. You can't say any SN, but yeah, it's Nesson. New England sports network. Yeah. And that's where Hazel May was, right? It was, that was where Hazel went for sure for sure i was i'm a hazel stalker apparently i stalked her at nesson and then i followed her to sports net oh it's funny uh she lives not in mimico basically in south mimico so uh with of course brad uh with uh what's uh barker uh what's his first name barker i should yeah kevin barker i was gonna say brad barker but brad barker is actually he's uh with the the uh the pursuit of happiness and working at jazz fm and is a completely different dude

oh not to be confused with bob barker rest in peace as well wait he's not dead bob barker he's not dead is he dider? He's not dead. Is he? Did I kill Bob Barker? I think you just, I honestly don't believe him to be dead. Okay. Well, I'm sorry. If I have dead anyone,

I'm just knocking on wood for Bob Barker. I could have sworn he was, he passed. I don't think so. He's still with us, but he's, he's definitely alive. I mean,

if he dies today, it's on you. I just want to put that out there, but he's 97 years old. No way. Yeah. But he's definitely alive i mean if he dies today it's on you i just want to put that out there but he's 97 years old no way yeah but he's still alive wow price is right big big show in my house growing up i mean who didn't love that show i like that show except i didn't like how you couldn't uh bid over so you always had that last guy who would just bid a dollar a hole yeah oh what a snakey move that bugged me like for some reason it bugged me that the last guy just sneaks in with a dollar and would always you know have a

good chance of taking it so yeah that was that's always heartbreak city and if you're the person like right you know that should have won you're just like you mother effer but yeah no it was a great show they always had great prizes like oh i want no i mean i don't know if it was sick days or whatever it was or during the summer i caught my fair share of uh the prices right and he had that long thin microphone that was like the bob barker yeah he looked like he was 97 back then i can't believe he's 97 now wow no yeah i knew he was alive because he just you know he just rescued all of our elephants or something like in the last i don't know five years or something didn't he get didn't of our elephants or something like in the last, I don't know, five years or something.

Didn't he get, didn't he help get the elephants out of the Toronto zoo? Like he's a big on like rescuing like animals, right? You always said spay. Yeah. He would, he would end every show of like spay, spay. Yeah. Yeah. And I guess he had a hookup somehow he had a hookup with like an elephant reserve in like California and he, he got the Toronto zoo elephants there somehow. I don't know. I know a lot about him. So, okay. So Nikki almost said, Oh, darling,

Nikki, but I didn't play that song. Whereabouts in this wonderful sports media start, do you end up at the score? Oh, when I was doing NBA Excel. So I was able, I was freelancing for MLSC and NBA Excel. So I was able to work at the score as well. So I did both shows and I think, I think they aired NBA Excel on the score.

But I did both of them at the same time. Yeah, that was like 2000. NBA XL on the score. But I did both of them at the same time. Yeah. That was like 2000. I don't, I'm not saying, I'm not saying years, Mike. So don't try to trick me into this.

Well, we already know you attended a game at the dome when the Raptors were there. So we're all doing that math already. So I think I was a toddler. Okay. Ripping that sweatband off Reggie Miller. I was a toddler. You were like,

you thought you had a pacifier and you were just reaching out for. So the I'm, I'm very curious about the move to Vegas. So, cause you're a Scarborough, well, Scarborough, and then I guess Markham and then you're in the, all these Toronto things you're doing. Cause there's a lot of media in Toronto. And then I know that you went to Vegas. Like how did that happen? Well, I was,

this was with the time when there was the, the, the, not the great recession, but the economic recession that we had in 2009, 10. Yeah. Well, it was the end of the, so the W era ends in 08, like January 08. So he kind of left that and then Obama starts picking up the pieces in 08. Yeah. Right. Yeah. I'm good with the NBA Excel. I've done it for a couple of years now. I think I'm just going to enjoy this next chapter of my life and, and move to Vegas and got married. That's like every girl's, you know,

every girl dreams of that fan. Right. Yeah. So I did that. That was an interesting conversation with my parents one day, like, Hey, so I'm just going to get married and move to Vegas. You guys can visit anytime you want. Okay. There's lots of sunshine there. So that was fun. Did that for a bit. That's how I ended up. The marriage the vegas thing okay so the uh are you still married are you still married to this guy i'm not no no i don't know that's so i i got married i lived in vegas for a couple years i think we're married almost five years got divorced and then i moved to boston and that's when i worked at nesson. Okay. And is it in Vegas?

You're kind of doing some correspondent work with the fight network. I did. Yes. So I was working with top rank boxing at the time, which was amazing because of course I'm Filipino and being that close to Manny Pacquiao was, was just awesome. I was doing that and I was able to freelance with, with the fight network and I was just freelancing with anyone and everyone. I was doing stuff for Showtime and Extra and just, you know, this is before, of course, sports teams were in Las Vegas. So I was just doing whatever entertainment and sports I could find. Yeah, it was interesting. It was interesting. I really liked living in Vegas. I will say that. It's not like how you, you know, go to Vegas and binge for a weekend. It's definitely not like that. There is a normal life and community to Vegas. But it's kind of, my understanding is it's kind of a 24-7 city, right? Like where that's where it's uniquely different from other cities is that it's sort of 24 seven. So it's everything's 24 seven. It's super convenient. Anytime you want anything, you can get it. And then when I moved to Boston, Boston is a pretty strict city. I was I was it was

almost a bit shocked. I was like, what do you mean I can't get a cocktail at 11am? Like, come on, this is America, right? It was very different yeah okay not 11 it was like 7 a.m it's a long story but well bottom line is if you can get a drink in vegas 24 7 that's uh quite different from the vast majority of cities on in this uh on this continent i agree god bless vegas for that and now you know because now they have every team now that I don't live there. Well, uh, that's right now. Uh, you've already, I feel like we're moving you to Boston now, but you might've already said too much about your Vegas years because you know, what happens in Vegas is supposed to stay in Vegas. True. I know. What do you want to know? I see the hamster running in your head. No, we'll get to Boston here.

So you just applied. You said this was like a cold call. Like you just called up Nesson, as I now know to refer to it as. And yeah. That was it. It was like I knew I heard of Nesson because, well, because, you know, just being in sports and I knew obviously that Hazel worked there. So I just looked up on LinkedIn who their hiring manager was,

who the VP of the network was. And I just sent them, you know, an email and my demo said, hey, I'm looking for an opportunity. And they got back to me. And next thing you know, I moved to Boston. If listeners take nothing else from this episode, it's that there's value in the cold call, because you would think that that had kind of gone the way of the dodo

at some point in like the 1980s or something I wouldn't think the cold call would work but it's worked for you at least twice and maybe more because this episode isn't over yet yeah well no that was it that was it but still twice more than I would have thought yeah tell us like I'm always just like you know shoot your shot I'm not going to not get a job I don't have right so I will I will ask people and I will approach people and get at least ask for what I want I and people always ask me well how did you get into tv and I tell them that and I don't know if that works now I don't know if this is something people still can do but yeah you can still send an email to somebody and look for an opportunity I don't think that'll ever change.

But yeah, it's funny. It worked out for me. I mean, there's no harm, no foul. Like it's one of those things where the worst case scenario is you never hear back, which I'm sure is the vast majority. But it doesn't, you know, it's like you said,

is it Michael Scott who said what Wayne Gretzky said that you miss 100% of the shots you don't take? Exactly, exactly that. Yes. But believe me, there's people who, who I never heard back from too. So it's not like I heard back from everyone that I've ever emailed. Yeah. I've been rejected for a lot of jobs in my life. Like you can't work in television. And I remember like when I was, when I was getting into TV and I was auditioning and I would come home upset knowing I didn't get a job. My dad's like, listen, you can't do this.

If you don't have thick skin, you better think about something else. If this is how you're going to be. And I was like, shit, I don't have any other, sorry. Like I don't have any other skills. And so I just, you know, you, I've, I've been rejected for a lot of jobs in my life. And you know, the 1% of the jobs that I have gotten, I'm very thankful for. Now, what would your dad say if he knew you swore on this podcast? Would he care?

My parents are old school and since they don't like swearing, like they don't, I'm not allowed to swear when we're having a conversation, even if it's not directed at them. Like they just, It hurts their ears, and I try to be respectful to that. I just worry RJ Haas might tell your dad

because I just learned that RJ Haas played doubles. He was your dad's doubles partner during league stuff. There you go. I told you. RJ had no idea right that you played with my dad my dad my dad plays a lot of tennis i'm telling you wow holy smoke part of a club in scarborough and uh there's a lot of filipinos and non-filipinos there and sam is like the mayor he likes to chat it up with people and play tennis well send sam the zoom link i'll put him on here

i got questions for him. He has no idea how to use Zoom. Oh, my gosh. He would have no clue. So what exactly were you doing at Nesson? I guess you were on Nesson Sports Today and Nesson Live. Yes, I was anchoring. I was the weekend anchor.

And then I was just a general assignment reporter. So I did patriots i did celtics did some red socks and um i'm missing one bruins and some bruins ringside reporting so you know who's there now is those sophia urstakovich yes exactly and sarah davis who's at tsn was there as well we were there at the same time together. We were actually roommates in our last year of living in Boston, which was a lot of fun and a lot of times. But yeah, nothing likes Canadians for some reason. And we like to work there. So it was great. Like Boston's a great city, man. They have amazing sports teams, great culture. It's a beautiful city, like historic.

I had a great time living there. there well that's a great period of success right because uh what years are you in boston 2014 to 17 like i mean you got your patriots or champs and you get uh well you're not far removed from a celtics championship and you've got uh not far removed from bruins but then you have the red sox win while you're there right yeah exactly yeah that's what i'm saying. It was just fun. And seeing, well, coming from Toronto, the Toronto fans are great. Don't get me wrong.

But Boston fans bring it to another level. And I don't know if it's a good thing or a bad thing, but man, they are, like, they live and die by each win and loss. And it was really something to be a part of that and just see the passion and the vitriol when they do lose. And if Tom Brady ever messed up, it was, yeah, it was a lot of fun living there. And what brought you back home? I had, well, Sportsnet at the time was hiring and then Sportsnet never hires. And so

actually Sarah Davis was the one that, that showed me the posting. She's like, I'm going out for this job. Do you want to go for it too? And I was like was like sure I just felt like it was time to you know maybe come back to Toronto and see what life back home was like and and um applied for the job and I got the job so and what like what exactly was that job I was a general assignment reporter I just kind of you know again just uh I was whatever they needed me to be. So I would cover Raptors, Leafs practice. I would do the CWHL. I was doing youth sports. I'd go on the desk.

It's just kind of all over the place. And how long were you at Sportsnet? Sportsnet was three years. My contract ended just this past October. Okay. Why, like, did they simply not renew the contract or did you want to go do something else? Well, they did not renew the contract

and from what I was told, it was like, you know, obviously COVID has changed the broadcasting landscape and how we have access to players and everything. So they, you know,

I, my, my job was essentially phased out. Like there was no need for me. So my contract just wasn't renewed. Which is okay because it opened the opportunity and the door, which I'm in now doing the Raptors broadcasts for TSN. So,

Oh no, you landed on your feet. No doubt. But I still think a parting ways with you is a short-sighted decision by Sportsnet. I can say that because I don't have to worry about getting a gig at Sportsnet. But I just think that if the position you were in was, you know, I don't know, redundant or eliminated due to COVID, which is fine, then surely there is somewhere else in the empire for Nikki Reyes. I appreciate that, Mike. Thanks.

You know, I do appreciate it. I tried to express that sentiment. My issue was, or if I took any umbrage to the parting of ways, it's because, you know, as a woman in sports and a minority in particular, I felt like, you know, let's pump that. Let's use this. Let's use me.

I'm already in the door. Let's figure it out. But no, it wasn't meant to be. Let's use this. Let's use me. I'm already in the door. Let's figure it out. But no, it wasn't meant to be. So that's okay. No doubt. You mentioned the fact you're a woman of color. Because again, you're not a white woman, you're a woman of color. And diversity is our strength is sort of the slogan we hear from Sportsnet. And you would be, I would think, a vital part of the changing the face of the sports media, sports broadcasting, you know, empire at Sportsnet to be just a little less white male. Yeah, I was hoping to be a part of that. You know, it's something I had voiced and expressed and championed, obviously. But I can't explain it, Mike.

I don't know. No, I know. It's really unfair for me to even. How would you know? You kind of get. It was obvious. I would be the one sitting in a meeting with 13 white guys and be like, as the only female and the only person of color and think this is weird. This is, this is not balanced in any way. This doesn't, uh, you know,

show different perspectives and ideas and, and, and, you know, that everything about diversity that we talk about. And I think that, you know, they've recognized that, um, I'd say in the last year and they're trying to change that. I hope at least. Okay, Nick again. I think I made some part of that because I made it abundantly clear when I was there and then when I was on my way out, I just, I let them know. Well, I will say this as a consumer of sports media that if we exclude the aforementioned very talented Hazel May.

So if we exclude her, I'm unable at this moment, maybe you can help me to name another woman of color at Sportsnet. I cannot. Interesting. Okay. So you were, you were half, you were 50% of the woman of color at Sportsnet. And God for Hazel. We got Hazel in the building though. Like, and she's the best man. She's so good at what she does. And she, and, and that's a, you know, that's a crown Hazel wears proudly too. She understands what she represents, not just as a woman, but as a woman of color and a

Filipino and very proud of that. And, and, you know, as a Filipino person, really proud of that as well. But you're right. Your, your math is right in that department, Mike. You're not, So, but you're right. Your math is right in that department, Mike. You're not, but then again, it's just, it's across the board of sports in Canada. Like it's just not well-represented and I don't know why. I don't know why that is.

Well, I was told it's a grassroots issue. They're trying to get people in the grassroots level to take interest in playing, in working in sports. And my argument would be like, well, then you need to put people in front of the camera so people can aspire to want to work in sports and know there's a place for them. So it's like a, it's a circular, it's a circular debate. Yeah. It's a self-fulfilling prophecy or am I miss,

maybe I'm mixing up my metaphors here, but okay. So you're at Sportsnet. They had to get a contract there that expired and they chose not to they chose a part ways that was uh what did you say october 2020 yeah so in covid times 2020 yes and i just had a gentleman named john pole on who was part of like some recent radio cut so is it in in covid times uh they let you go via phone call is that right or is it like a zoom call or something they just like a phone call yes actually that's. I just saw that article in the Star about people, you know, who are... Well, can I go off for a minute? Because that article in the Star, which has, it almost reads exactly like the episode I had done on Friday with John Paul.

So there's an episode of Toronto... I know. I don't mean to... I haven't read the article, so spoiler alerts. But okay, what did you I said I don't mean the article so spoiler alerts but okay what did you what and I haven't heard the pod but what was it what was the conversation like uh well you know um many many people on a uh a remote kind of conference call with a like 90 second uh robo call like a recording for 90 seconds a very cold voice kind of saying that your services are no longer required. Like this is the, this is the way it happened. Now I'm just, did you have at least a real life person on the phone with you or via zoom?

I did. My manager spoke to me directly and, you know, and he was, he was, he said, you know, all the, all the nice things and the right things, like this is very difficult for him. And this is the hardest part of his job. And, and we had a conversation and I, you know, I was able to say all the things I needed to say. So, and yeah, I feel, I feel bad for people in the COVID area era who are let go of that way, because there's, you know, if you watch Seinfeld, you just need some closure sometimes, you know, you need the closure. And I felt like I was able to get the closure so I'm fortunate so that's I'm happy to hear that you've bounced back and that you're uh covering the Raptors for

TSN radio like how did that come to be uh Hazel May you know it all comes back wow what a sweetheart uh she really is hazel's like uh you know this is she's like i'm she just took it upon herself she just like i reached out to some people for you and i'm like oh okay thanks so like i had lost i didn't tell anyone that i i was uh let go and but hazel was one of them and um and she just reached out to some people at TSN Jeff McDonald who's you know in charge of the radio department at TSN Toronto um reached out to him and then Jeff and I connected and it just kind of went from there Jeff was like what you lost your job that's crazy come on over so I was like okay uh so it all it all comes back to Hazel oh I see that's I that's great to hear well Hazel Hazel's been over she an FOTM, so you're now an FOTM as well.

So we root for the FOTMs here. So she makes some calls, but then, of course, you have to actually get the gig on your own merit there, but you landed it. So what exactly are you doing with TSN? I'm a co-host with Jim Taddy, the pregame, halftime, and the postgame shows on TSN 1050. Want to hear another way that we are, you and I are now connected.

You want to hear this? The list is growing. Tell me Mike. So you co-host the show with Jim Taddy. Yes, I do. Yes, guy. You ready for this? And I hope this means something to you because again, you're much younger than me, but I co-host a show with Mark Hebbshire. Oh, so, okay. again you're much younger than me but i co-host a show with mark hebbshire oh so okay so to help you out because uh this might be before your time of consuming late night uh sports highlights but yes yes yes the big for old farts like me the big uh sports highlight

show that we all grew up watching was called sports line on Global. Yeah. And the two primary hosts that I adored were Jim Taddy and Mark Hebbshire. Wow. And now you co-host with one and I co-host with the other. Look at that. What did you do with him? What did you do with Mark? Every Friday for a couple, over two years now, every Friday morning, we record Hebbsy on Sports.

We're live on we're live on facebook and youtube but we also it's a podcast so hebsey on sports i produce hebsey on sports and i co-host it with mark hebshire and that's uh every friday morning there you go there's the plug for the show and a little history lesson for y'all yes guy that is so great have, but here in this COVID era, have you met Jim Taddy? I have, yes. So with the first couple shows that we did, the first couple of games of the season, we went to, we went to Agent Corps, to TSN,

and we did them just so we can develop some kind of chemistry, some rapport. And he's the best. He is, besides the fact that he is a legend in this industry, he's the nicest, nicest guy. And he's just so willing to teach and willing to help. And I love that. It's hard to find, you know, in this industry. And I understand why people kind of, we need to look out for themselves in

it. But so when you meet genuine people like the Hazel Mays, like the Jim Taddy's, uh, it's really, really nice. I will say though, like I'm a bit fortunate. I haven't really met any, I haven't met any real like jerks or snakes in this industry. I'm surprised. Yeah. Have you, you sound like you've been, you've been scorned a few times. Oh, of course. Yeah, I know. But, but I have a long list. Do you want to hear them? Okay. So you're now, this is kind of a dream for you in the sense you,

we talked about you being there for day one of the Toronto Raptors and now, you know, at 10 50 TSN, you get to cover the Raptors. I think that's fucking amazing. Like, I think that's amazing. It is amazing. I'm really happy that kind of, I ended back with the Raptors. I mean, you know, I took a little break there when I moved away, but I've been a lifelong fan and covering this team for a long time. And I've been in it like through the dark days.

So it's nice to be back now. Obviously it's different because, because we're zooming and we have no access and it's completely changed how we do it, but it's just nice to be in the mix. It really is. And this season's been like kind of a tale of two seasons in a way, like the, the, the terrible start, like it was just kind of an awful start. And then the turnaround and like now we're above 500, which I honestly didn't think I wasn't sure that would happen this season. And like now there's so many reasons to be kind of hopeful and optimistic

about the season when I was honestly, I was ready to just like get me a lottery pick and let's build for the future. Like I was, that's where I was at. So. Well, when you start two and eight, I mean, yeah, it's pretty depressing. And I was like, Oh man, here we go again. Like I've lived through these days. I thought they were done. But yes, it's absolutely nice to see that they've turned it around and who knows what's going to happen. You know, who knows?

Like Messiah could pull a fast one and we can be looking at a different team this time next month. And, and you know, but, but it's, they make it fun. At least they're a fun and entertaining team to watch now. No, absolutely. They're an entertaining, like you said, they're an entertaining team to watch now. Do you think Masai Ujiri sticks around? I hope so.

I mean, I really do, but I would totally understand if he didn't. He's so, he has, whether he sticks around for the long term or not i i think he has such a such a bright bright career future whatever he is whatever he does choose to do um yeah i i but i hope he sticks around here i really do i like what he does for the organization i like what he does for the culture and then for the community and so much more like his his voice and his reach is beyond basketball, which is, which is obviously what makes him so important. Love that guy.

Has there been any conversations with TSN about you being in front of the camera and not just in front of the microphone? There have been, I've talked to some people there. I was, I was fortunate enough just to meet everybody. It was kind of like I get to know like, hi, nice to meet you guys. I'm Nikki. This is what I do. This is who I am. But, you know, I'm just staying open to any opportunities. And right now I'm just really enjoying doing the rap as broadcasts from home in my kitchen. So I can't complain. Well, you know, you're now in the Bell Media empire. So maybe, maybe you'll be hosting the social next week. Who knows, right? Hey,

I, you know what, I'm just taking it one day at a time. Like I'm just taking it one day at a time. Awesome. Awesome. I have, I have a bunch of questions from your fans. But first, just want to shout out some partners that help fuel the real talk here and to let you know nikki that when we do eventually you know meet each other there might not be like i might not be hug worthy i understand that but i just want you to know i have fresh craft beer so that's the ipa with the octopus in the back. Yeah, the octopus wants to fight from Great Lakes Brewery.

Yeah, they're fantastic sponsors of the program. That is one of my favorite IPAs as well. The octopus wants to fight. And I will score you some, absolutely. And I'm being dead serious. As soon as we can, you know, it's safe to meet. Then that's such a weird sentence to say. As soon as it's safe to meet, I'm going to get you some fresh craft beer. And if at some point you return, are you a big music fan?

I am a big music fan. Yes, absolutely. All right. Here's what I would like. When it's safe to do so, like I have to add that caveat to everything I say now, when it's safe to do so, when you can come over maybe for a backyard, we call them kick out the jams and guests return to, we play their 10 favorite songs of all time and we get to learn like, what does that song mean to you? Why do you love it?

It's really, really fun. And I'll get you not only the beer, but I'll get you a lasagna, a frozen lasagna from Palma Pasta. And I assure you, Nikki, it'll be the best lasagna you've ever had from a frozen lasagna from palma pasta and i assure you nikki it'll be the best lasagna you've ever had from a store it's absolutely incredible oh okay you're tempting me and i can't wait till it's safe i'm down for this i want it i want it i want the whole experience you know this is great don't get me wrong but i feel like i'm being cheated oh no don't get me

started on this i missed the in-person interview. It's like, you know, this has been great, but it's not the same thing. I'm also going to get you, that's a small one, hold on. I have multiple sizes for you. What am I talking about? I'm talking about Toronto Mike stickers

from stickeru.com. So I'm going to hook you up with that. And I even have Ridley Funeral Home is sent over these great little hand sanitizers uh I've got one of you know hand sanitizer for you from Ridley Funeral Home as well bring it on man I'm I'm all about the free stuff some swag never wear or I'll just wear to bed I get bring it over and maybe you'll like this hood because I live in a neighborhood called New Toronto, and it's right beside, we share a border with Mimico. Old Toronto. Yeah, Old Toronto, yeah.

The other side of the Humber River is Old Toronto. But let's say you fall in love with the hood here, and you're like, I could see myself by the lake here. It's cooler by the lake. I know the guy who can put you in a home in Mimico, regardless of budget. You talk to Mike Majewski. I know the guy who can put you in a home in Mimico, uh, you know, regardless of budget, you talk to Mike Majeski. I call him Mimico Mike. He's in the know in Mimico. You can check them out. Realestatelove.ca. Sounds good. That's a beautiful area, by the way.

Uh, are you familiar with Mimico? Uh, I with Mimico. I have a friend that lives out there. It is a lovely area. Yes. Did you ever get sent to Maple Leaf Practices when you were at Sportsnet? Uh-huh. Yeah. Okay. All the time.

I believe that's like just dancing on the border. I believe it's New Toronto, but it's like across the street, I think, is Mimico. That's how close that is. That's like the border. Oh, okay. I didn't know that.. It's like the border. Oh, okay. I didn't know that. So that's New Toronto, that area there. Yeah, that towards the lake, basically.

Yeah. And that's, of course, we're talking about, they changed the name of that place and they didn't really tell anyone. I just know because I live in the neighborhood, but it was forever. It was like the MasterCard Center of Excellence or something. And then one day the sign said the Ford Center of Excellence.

And I don't think I ever saw a press release about it or anything or if i did i missed it like it just sort of changed names didn't you know no one didn't tell anybody didn't they didn't ask for an opinion huh i thought they should call it the great lakes brewery arena that's what i thought they should do but uh okay one more one more thank you and then I'm gonna get to these questions Nikki because you got a lot of fans out there you do you ever get like uh like I have you got used to the fact that there's like people out there who are big Nikki Reyes fans like are you aware of this no and I'm sweating with you talking about that we'll say that because I have like I'm a I'm an introvert, like I really am.

And I have performance anxiety. But then you chose the wrong career, Nikki. Like, I feel like you shouldn't be pursuing in front of the camera, in front of the microphone work if you don't want to be performing in front of people. I know it is.

It's really strange. But again, no real skills like to watch basketball. So that's why I'm here and I'll put up with it. Sorry, let me see what you got there. Okay, but you could write about it, right? Like that's an option. Maybe that's less of an option than it used to be

now that I think about it. Because, you know, the sun only has the one guy doing it, Ryan Walstat. Shout out to Ryan, who's a hip hop head. And yeah, Doug Smith doesn't seem to want to go anywhere from this. You're right. There's not a lot of that job work out there yet, but anyway, I was thinking you could always write behind a keyboard or something,

but okay, let me just tell you really quickly. Barb Paluskiewicz is with CDN Technologies. CDN Technologies are your outsourced IT department, so if you're responsible, and not you personally, Nikki, but if somebody listening is responsible for a network of computers and you're considering outsourcing the IT responsibilities to a company like CDN Technologies, talk to Barb.

If you write her, she's barb at cdntechnologies.com. She will send you a free copy of her great book, IT Scams, How to Avoid Being Ripped Off by Your Computer Guy in IT Services. There's a lot of helpful hints in there. So give Barb a shout and just tell her that Toronto Mike sent you. Okay, Nikki, you ready for your questions? I think so.

Here we go. So these are fan questions because all the good questions come from me, but these are fan questions. Okay. Okay. What was her first raptors live experience oh i think the first memory i have was that one i talked about when i went to see the raptors at the skydome and playing the indiana pacers and i met reggie miller i didn't meet reggie miller i stole his sweatband but

uh that was it that was a big night because I was like yeah for one of the first times you know we took the subway into the city with my friends and watched the game and of course like that's when the fandom I think really began because got to soak in the whole experience and it's yeah I remember watching that team at the dome and it was so cavernous for basketball but you were just so excited that you had a team like it didn't even matter didn't matter i didn't i didn't even but i had nothing to compare it to so i would i was just like wow this is just amazing i don't care if it looks empty i don't care if no one's here but me amazing uh this one i think we've discussed actually because you're a day one-er but this question from matthew is uh how did she become a Raptors fan?

Well, the real answer is, how could you not become a Raptors fan? But you can address that one for Matthew. Yeah, let me tell you, I'm not one who likes people who like flips teams, like a flip-flopper, like you ride or die with your team. But I was a Chicago Bulls fan,

but the day that Toronto got a team, I was all about it. And the true answer, there's a Seinfeld bit bit we've mentioned Seinfeld a couple of times where he talks about how essentially you're cheering for laundry like there's this whole bit you cheer for laundry because you cheer for the uniform but there's a even a truer sense like you're in Markham okay yeah you know you moved from Scarborough you're in Markham of course you were going to be a Raptors fan. Like 99% of people who live in Markham and outside of Toronto and in Toronto will be Raptors fans if they like basketball. Because you root for the home team, right?

Of course. I mean, and all your friends are doing it. It's just what you see. It's what's on TV. You really don't have a choice. I have a good buddy, Mike Kasha, who grew up in the Junction. And we were all diehard Maple Leaf fans, like just nuts for Wendell Clark and everything. And he just decided at a very young age that he was going to be a Bruins fan.

And he always lived in the GTA. And he still is a diehard Bruins fan. And I think it's gross. What's the point of that? Like, right? It's like Strombo. Do you know George Strombolopoulos? Like, have you ever met him?

I don't know him, but when I worked at MuchMusic, I would always like have to watch some of his interviews and that guy is just next level brilliant. He might be brilliant, but the man is from Rexdale, okay? And he decided to be a diehard Montreal Canadiens fan.

Oh, that's weird. That is weird. Yeah, like I think it's... Go ahead. No, of all the teams that Montreal and Bruins first of all, how do you watch their games? It makes it very difficult. Not so much these days, but back in the day I can't imagine how hard it was to find a game.

He left my wedding early so he could go watch a Bruins playoff game. No. Mike Cash, not Strombo, but Strombo wasn't at my wedding, but a true story. And anyway, I just find it strange when you treat another team like it's your home team that you're passionate about, but you're not like, but you have no connection. It's not like your dad moved from there or, or like,

if you're an older dude, like you'll meet an older guy who is a big Tigers fan, let's say, or Red Sox fan or something. And you're like, well, what about the Jays? And you're like, I fell in love with baseball before we had the Blue Jays. So if you decided to stick with the Bulls, I'd be like, yeah, like when you were young and you were first falling in love, you fell in love with the Chicago Bulls. And even though have a home team you decided to stick with them I get that but if other than those situations I don't unless you have a family member who played for the team

I don't understand I don't understand I don't get it either but that's your friend you should you should you know get to the bottom of this really i'm gonna work on it here okay so uh next question how many i don't know this this is again this is matthew's question and matthew seems to be a very nice gentleman on twitter but this question i don't think is great it says uh how many current and raptors how many current and raptors alumni has she met like are you supposed to produce a number for us now like you you've met 43 members of the Toronto Raptors. That's an impossible, that's an impossible task. Right. Who's your favorite Raptor?

How about this? I appreciate the question. I've met a lot. I'm changing the question. I don't like that one. Who's your favorite Raptor of all time? Ooh, person or player? Do both. Do both. Like do one that's your favorite person that could be junk

your dog if you like and then you can tell me your favorite player and that can be kyle lowry or something um oh man that's tough that's a tough question like i i want to say mo peep oh peep's one of my favorites great But I also, we also did a great thing with him on NBA Excel. We went back to Flint, Michigan and, you know, he showed us his hood and where he lived and where he grew up. And, you know, it's, you can, that's when you develop a relationship and really get to know somebody. So I think that's why I have an affinity towards him, but yeah, I guess, and DeMar DeRozan's another one like i met damar he i met damar when he was at usc like he was just a day back in the day and so i feel like i've been with damar since

day one and i would you know still listen i'm not angry about the trade but it just still cuts deep is all i'm saying okay i get it we want a championship but it still hurts i think a lot of us are holding out hope that one day he returns like that we kind of had to we had to lend him a lend push get him away to win the championship of kawaii but that maybe one day he comes back where he belongs i would love that look at the prodigal son please just come back tomorrow i don't know if he would want to come back do you think he would want to come back uh i don't see i mean well you think he's got hurt feelings because we traded him for you know think about that trade who could who could take that

personally like i know you can't i remember seeing like his first return to toronto i was in i was in the locker room and um i saw him go behind the curtain and he did that that handshake with masai and i saw it happen and i was like oh, Oh my God, this is amazing. They were okay. So he's going to come back one day. So I don't, I don't know if he would, but I'm sure he's always welcome here. Uh, one last question from Matthew, uh, how many Raptors jerseys does she own? Uh, zero Matthew. I'm sorry. I don't know. I don't own any jerseys. I own like a couple of t-shirts, but I don't own any. I'm not a jersey person.

I think sometimes, you know, like working in the industry for as long as I have to, it's like, I'm still a fan. Don't get me wrong. I will always be a fan. It's just your perspective changes a little. You know, unfortunately, you get a little jaded. I have a question. So thank you, Matthew.

You've had your fill here. My question is, in your bio, it refers to that your career, it says your, it says Nikki's career has taken her across three countries and two continents interviewing some of the best, best athletes in the world. My question is what's that second continent and third country that I don't know about? Oh, I, when I was, I moved to

the Philippines when I was like, uh, 18 years old. I finished high school early and I moved to the Philippines. I just wanted to start working in television. I just wanted to get out there. And I had an opportunity to work with ABS-CBN, which is, which is a network in the Philippines. And so I just packed my bag. This is another one of those conversations i had with my parents i'm like hey i want to do this thing where i'm going to move to the philippines and you know like be an actress and so they're like okay and uh i did that for about a year and a half before i went to college and then i came back home went to college and then and then started my career here now i understand okay by the way uh fun fact you might know already of course is that kayla marie williams who's at CP 24. Do you know where I'm going with this? She's half Filipina. No, no.

Well, that's, yeah, that's for sure. But, uh, I was going to refer to the fact she went, she moved to the Philippines to play professional volleyball. Yes. Yes. Like that's, you know, I've spoken to Kayla just, you know, as we wait for athletes to come out of the locker rooms and dressing rooms and yeah she's got a great story too she's awesome i love her and uh well you're awesome this has been a great convo i thought we could close maybe you could tell us a little bit about what uh your work with the humane society means to you oh well i'm like i'm just a big sucker for dogs and and animals in general. And when the pandemic happened, I just, you know, I had some time on my hands and I figured I can try to use it wisely and be of service to the community and the humane society. And so I go in there a couple of days and,

you know, I just do whatever they need me to do. It's nothing glamorous. I'm like cleaning toilets or mopping floors or just, and then I go look at the dogs and, and it makes it all worth it. But, I think, you know, that's like one of the, one of the nice things, not about losing your job is that you have time to do things that I've never been able to do before. I'm watching TV shows. I've never been able to watch and I get to do things like volunteer at the humane society. So, you know, good for you. Caroline Shved,

who just quit Sportsnet i believe to right yes she she's a huge advocate like like she i'm pretty sure she likes dogs more than people like i think that's for sure in here 100 oh huh yeah i i i see caroline yeah we follow twitter on twitter i know she follows the humane society as well. We both have adopted dogs, and I will always, you know, say adopt, not shop. But, yeah, love my work at the Humane Society. Well, good for you, Nikki. Like, that's great that you're doing that. And I think it's awesome that you're at TSN Radio covering your Raptors.

And you're with Jim Taddy. I'm with Hebsey. you're with Jim Taddy. I'm with Hebsey. If we all got together, we could reunite the sports line duo from the, you know, the eighties and the nineties. Let's do that. Let's do a reenactment. That'd be great. I honestly would love to. I've tried, but Taddy hasn't been in the mood yet. So maybe if you catch him on a good day, you can say, you know, you should do Toronto Mike to Mark Hebsey. Just throw it in there.

I will. I will do that for you. And that brings us to the end of our 805th show. You can follow me on Twitter. I'm at Toronto Mike. Nikki, how can people follow you on Twitter? I am at Nikki underscore Reyes. R-E-Y-E-S. Don't forget that underscore.

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