Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Toronto Mike'd #31

Episode Date: April 10, 2013

Rosie returns from Florida and special guest Mike Muzzin chats with us about movies, Rob Ford and Kadri.

Welcome to the 31st episode of Toronto Mic'd, a weekly podcast about anything and everything, often with a distinctly Toronto flavor. I'm Mike from torontomic.com. Joining me as always is Rosie from mytorontoscoop.com. And special guest today is Mike Muzzin from creativebarter.ca. Our special guest today is Mike Muzzin from creativebarter.ca. And hosting this audio file are the good people at Core Fusion. Welcome back, Rosie, and welcome to Toronto Mic'd, Mike Muzzin.

Thank you for having me. I have two friends here today. Two Mikes. Two Mikes. Let's just decide now to call him Muzzin. Muzzin. It's just much easier. I don'tuzzin. Muzzin. This is much easier. I don't do calling people by their last name.

Well, it's better than what you normally call me when the mics aren't turned on. Maybe I'll just call you Michael today. Me or him? You. No. I'm Mike. He's Muzzin. Muzzin.

Hello. It's very common. Hey, Muzzin. Happy to be here. Rosie and I, we often discuss Italian last names. Rosie's so bored of this topic, but I'm fascinated by the fact that your last name does not end in a vowel. Yeah. But you are of Italian descent, right? Of Italian descent on my father's side.

My mom's side, I'm a caker. But your mom doesn't give you the last name. No, no. So explain it to me. That would be weird. My dad's last name, Muzzin, no. So explain it to me. That would be weird. My dad my dad's last name, Muzzin, in Italian is pronounced Muzzin

and it's, people love hearing that for some strange reason. Muzzin, yeah. Makes me hungry. Yeah, yeah. It's like a menu item. So you didn't drop the vowel, like it wasn't Muzzini. No, it wasn't Muzzini, it wasn't Muzzino, nothing like that. Wow. Just like Benetton, right Rosie? Just like Benetton. Right, Rosie?

Just like Benetton. Like Benetton, right? Mike just can't seem to get past it that there's just some Italian last names that don't have vowels. I love it. It's because going back in history, you have, I guess, descendants that go back to Austria and also to France. and also to France. And so you have a lot of the names that have been mixed up over the many, many hundreds of years

that have come into Italy and have obviously settled there and are family generations or go back generations. So that's where it's all from. That's fascinating, Muzzin. Now, I want to hear about Florida because lovely Rosie, my co-host,

was not here last week. Elvis took your spot. He was inferior. It's unanimous. I don't believe it at all. Yeah. Yes, we went. Scott's mom and dad have a place in Naples, Florida, and we are very lucky to get to go to it.

Was it warm? Oh, my gosh. I forgot what it feels like to be warm and to have sun shine on you. I actually really did forget. It's been so gray and so dreary. And don't get me wrong. I like winter. I like the seasons changing.

But it felt really good. It was like 85 degrees every day. What I love about Florida... What's that in Celsius? Look at how quickly you've gone Fahrenheit on me. Oh my gosh, I have no idea. You know what's really funny is you get there, right? Is it 20?

We got off the plane. You know what? I should know with my weather background. 25? It's completely fallen out of my head. That sounds, yeah. 25? Because that's really nice.

Yeah. So we get off the plane and his mom and dad are there to get us. And they're carrying coats and jackets and they're bundled up. They're like, oh my gosh, it's cold. It's cold. It was Fahrenheit 77. When it falls under 80, everyone panics. And it's hilarious watching the local news there because all they really have to say is,

there might be rain coming. There was no rain coming. For like five days, there might be rain coming. It's just gorgeous every single day. So I get the whole snowbird thing, you know, like I get it. I get why people, when they retire, go there. And it was really nice. And Nicholas swam every single day. He's such a good little swimmer by the end.

I was really actually nervous about the flight because three hours, a three-year-old, I was fully expecting Scott to be piggybacking him up and down the aisle. But he was so civilized. He sat in his chair. Did you sedate him? No.

No gravel or whatever? Honestly. People were actually suggesting that to me. Muzzin's a new father, by the way. He's going to take tips now. He's taking notes. Congratulations. Okay, we need to talk about that next because I love babies.

But yeah, I was fully expecting complete just meltdowns. He like sits back, has his snacks, he's got his iPad, he's watching the little TV, the Wiggles. He has a quick smoke. He was so civilized. He was more civilized than like some of the old people who were asking for breakfast items.

This is a three-hour flight? Yeah. You know, all my flights lately have been like 12 hours, 10 hours. Three hours sounds laughable to me. Well, it's, you know, for a grown-up, it's, you know,

but the elderly people are hilarious. You know, they're asking the flight attendant, it's like nine o'clock at night. Do you have any eggs? No, there's no eggs at nine o'clock at night. They people are hilarious. You know, they're asking the flight attendant, it's like nine o'clock at night. Do you have any eggs? No, there's no eggs at nine o'clock at night. They're just hilarious. You had in-flight entertainment system?

Yes. Did you have grumpy old men on the in-flight entertainment system? You know what? I don't think so. But what they did have was a little documentary section. I was having a full on meltdown because I was worrying about Nicholas.

And finally Scott says to me, okay, he's fine. The only one not okay here is you. He's like, relax and enjoy it. And I'm like, you're right. So I looked at the entertainment and because we had just been talking about documentaries, um, I was all had documentaries in my head and there was a little documentary section in the, in flight entertainment. And I watched the most fascinating documentary about the Lindbergh, who murdered the Lindbergh baby. And this is the kind of thing where, you know, if you were at home,

you're probably not going to, you know, watch something like that. But on the plane... You're a captive audience and you focus on it. It was fascinating. Like, honestly, Charles, watch it.

Fascinating. If you have any... It's not even just about the kidnapping and murder of the baby. It's all the investigative stuff that went into it after. And Lindbergh... But you don't remember the name.

It's just called the Lindbergh story. I think it's called Who Murdered the Lindbergh Baby. Is that? That sounds right. Yeah, yeah. Who Murdered Lindbergh's Baby, I think. It's a documentary. Fascinating.

Okay, fine. Can I just, I have to just say, I saw a documentary called Project Nim about a chimpanzee that was raised by a family. And this is an HBO documentary. And I watched it last week with the kids and Monica. And it's fantastic. Project Nim, N-I-M. All right. Muzzin, you got Monica and it's fantastic. Project NIM. Muzzin, you've got to recommend a documentary.

Now, go. Actually, I'll recommend multiple. Anybody who's interested in any kind of sports should watch the ESPN 30 on 30 series. Did you read my notes? Look where my finger is. Do you see that note starting with do men? No way. I didn't see that. I have a note.

My next sentence is about 30 for 30. No, they're not. They're great. They're like, well, sometimes, but they're all over the place. They're all over the place.

They'll talk about Bo Jackson. They'll talk about the Wayne Gretzky trade. They'll talk about all kinds of different ones. I see the one you're going to talk about, so I'll leave that one.

But yeah, I've seen many. There's one on Ben Johnson. This season has one on Ben Johnson. Yeah. Rosie, these are actually fantastic. When you read about this on your internet site after...

My internet site? Rosie, it's 2013. All the sun shines melted my brain a little bit. I like when you list the stuff we see and talk about, even just for myself. Okay, 30 for 30. I like that one that Mike mentioned.

But there's 30 of them and then they had such success they made for myself. Okay, 30 for 30. I like that one that Mike mentioned. But there's 30 of them, and then they had such success they made a second season. So 30 for 30 was supposed to be 30 documentaries to celebrate the 30th anniversary of ESPN. And they made 30 very good filmmakers. We're talking good filmmakers here. Were commissioned to do 30 docs, and they were all good.

And now they're on a second season. And you finish your thought, and then I have a thought to say about 30 for 30 and then I'm going to give Muzzin a big hug and kiss because he's got good taste in television. Those 30 for 30s rock. They are very, very well done. And if you're a sports fan, you just embrace them even more

because you don't see that on Trader Joe's sports coverage. You just don't see it. So when you have these in-depth documentaries that cover me being a huge Gretzky fan, covering the Gretzky trade and his career and so on, that just was awesome. I think it was my favorite. And they transcend sports often, Rosie. So even if you weren't a big sports fan, these stories go beyond.

They're all so good. And I'm going to talk about one in a minute. But what were you going to say? I was just going to say that I want to hear about Mike's new baby. Okay, then let me do a 30 for 30 sentence and then we can hear about his life sentence now that there's a new baby as i mentioned i can't i can't stop thinking about it till we talk about it so fine when i have new babies we'll talk about them too right rosie okay so uh it was i was gonna ask quickly because we have another

man at the table we never have rarely have another man at the table. We rarely have another man at the table. I was going to ask if... Il Duce was the last one for when I was here. Yeah, Il Duce. And he's barely a man. So, Muzzin, do you ever cry when you watch movies or documentaries? Well, this is a pretty good possible segue because I was reviewing your top 10 favorite movies of all time. Oh, yeah.

I wrote that yesterday. And it was really, really well done. I have a few questions, actually, if we can get to it. If we don't, that's okay. First, yeah. I wrote that yesterday. And it was really, really well done. I have a few questions, actually, if we can get to it. If we don't, that's okay. First, do you ever cry? Well, check it out because on my list is Field of Dreams.

Oh, yeah. I always cry. And I always cry. It's a slam dunk cry for me. Yeah. You won't have a catch. That's the scene. The water works.

I don't even want to talk about it. It's like Niagara Falls. Good one. It's bad. Have we talked about this before? Crying at movies? Yes, we did. And I talked about Field of Dreams

and Big Fish and yeah, Field of Dreams definitely. Okay, so you do cry at movies so I'm not alone. It depends on the film. If it tugs at the heart

in an effective way. Listen, I watched this 30 for 30 on the weekend about NC State winning the 1983 NCAA basketball tournament and I had, at the end,

when they have the team of 83 together and their coach died of cancer shortly thereafter, and they're talking about their coach and the grown men are weeping openly. And I started crying. I was alone. Michelle's in my bedroom watching some Chihuahua hotel movie or whatever.

And I was sitting on this couch and I was thinking like I was alone and I was watching this and I was alone and I was watching this and I had, tears were coming out of my eyes. I didn't know if I was like hitting menopause or if I were potentially,

maybe I was pregnant. Menopause? I just made that up. What would you have said if Michelle came out and saw Daddy Cry? Oh, she saw me cry. You know what?

I watched Big Fish and every time I see Big Fish, I openly weep at the end. Every single time. And I watched it with the kids. I took my shirt over my head because I didn't know. I don't mind them seeing Daddy cry. It's not that kind of thing.

They should know men cry. But I was openly weeping like a baby. So I had to put my... And then I did the same thing with Field of Dreams when I watched it with them at that scene. I'm crying. And I kind of tried to hide it a bit, but not too much. You know a list of movies? I saw it last night.

Actually, the only one on it that I didn't like was Big Fish. Me too. I couldn't understand Big Fish. It evokes emotions in me that sociopaths like me normally don't have, Rosie. The only one I didn't. Openly admitting a sociopath. That's great. But I did cry at

30 for 30. Yes, sir. Cole. Do you want to talk about Cole? Let's talk about Cole. Cole Enzo Muzzin was born July 15th, 2012. So he's about almost nine months. Congratulations. Thank you. It's a good Irish name, Enzo. Such a nice name.

What a nice name. Are they family names? Or was Cole one you liked and then Enzo was a family member? Enzo is my father's name and he's a saint. So therefore he got his name. But Cole is amazing and anybody who has had children, you know,

is both. That's all of us. Thank you. Is that, that's like, it's such an eye opener but it's such a blessing and it's such a,

it'll just change your world upside down in the best way. Nine, nine months now. Almost nine months. That's a nice age. They're so,

they're starting to do really adorable, adorable things. Yeah, like his first word was dad so that was cool. Dada. So that was, Almost nine months. That's a nice age. They're starting to do really adorable, adorable things. Yeah. Like his first word was dad. So that was cool. Dada. So that was, I don't care if it was just baby talk.

To me, it was the first word. And it was really great. That is beautiful. Yeah. I swear for every 50 times Nicholas says, daddy, daddy, daddy. He says, mama. These little guys, they love their daddies. Do you know what my 11-year-old calls me?

Daddy bear. He's 11. Monica thinks it's ridiculous because he's a big man. He's like a very large man. He's taller than Monica now. He's succeeded in Monica's height. So he's bigger than Monica. And he'll go, Daddy bear?

And she thinks it's crazy. But he's 11. He calls me Daddy bear. I love it. Oh, Mike, 11 is still a baby. Come on. Just because he's physically big. He shaves every morning, Rose.

My God, 11 years old. You need your daddy when you're 11. Listen, we went swimming the other day. Things are changing, okay? This boy is on the verge. But you know what's funny is some kids do all their growing all at once. By 12, they're fully grown.

And then he'll probably level out. We'll see, because right now they call him Zidane O'Chara when he plays hockey. So we'll see what know level out like he's we'll see because right now they call him zidane ochara when he plays hockey so we'll see what happens wow that's tall that's seven feet with your skates on tall what yeah james is seven feet with his skates on his skates are set are five feet his blades okay so uh how do you feel so cole is like a miracle child you love him but you realize everyone in this freaking room did that. We all popped out a kid. Doesn't matter.

I just think it's the miracle we all are capable of. Which makes it not a miracle at all. No, I think it's the thing. It's funny my dad said, because I don't know for Cole, but Nicholas was the first grandchild for both sides. So it was kind of like a miracle, right? It was bananas. But my dad is is like

you know he's sort of similar to you in the sense that he would have a sentiment like that sort of a dead and signed it's true you know it's a miracle but he did he did say he you know i remember he looked at him once and he was like isn't it amazing it happens a million times every day but it still blows your mind because it's yours, right? Yeah, that's the big difference. Coal belongs, came out of your balls. Yep. How many babies have come out of your balls?

Just one. That you know about. That I know about. But I tell my wife and I say, look, you owe me because you can't have this guy without me. It's true. But it's true. I'm the supplier. You're the oven.

So just keep that in mind. I get very, very macho male when it comes to that stuff. I'm very macho male. I'll tell you both one thing. Maybe all three of us in this room have had children. We can't do it without you. But I'm telling you right now, if either of you had to experience the pain of childbirth,

Cole would be the first and it would stop there and sweet little Michelle may not have existed. Okay, you know what? It's funny because right now, just when I was waiting for Rosie to show up for the podcast,

I published a guest blog entry for my buddy Tim who's writing about male rights advocacy or something. He's all about male rights. So I get a message from Monica. How ridiculous it is. She hates this whole concept of this male rights advocacy So I get a message from Monica. How ridiculous it is that she hates this whole concept

of this male rights advocacy because I personally, I don't think Tim listens. I don't understand why white men need an advocacy group. If you're not persecuted, you don't need an advocacy group.

But Muzzin thinks it's a good idea. I don't want to go down this road, but do you feel oppressed? I don't feel oppressed at all, but if there can be advocacy groups...

Blue-eyed white guy, do you feel oppressed? Heterosexual too. Pretty all. But if there can be advocacy groups... Blue-eyed white guy, do you feel oppressed? Heterosexual, too. Pretty blue eyes. And heterosexual, thank you. Here's the thing. If there's rights groups and advocacy groups for all kinds of other groups, I don't want to get into that,

but you can talk about race and sexual gender or choice. My point is that why can't we have one? They have a gay parade for crying out loud all week long. You understand though.

You understand that there's no heterosexual parade because gay is the oppressed group. It doesn't matter. Why? And how long do we have You really don't see it? You guys get a parade

every time the Argos win. I feel sorry for Muzzin that doesn't get it. You don't see the difference between a heterosexual parade and a homosexual parade? Every day is a male heterosexual parade. Every single day. Every day is a male heterosexual parade.

Every single day. I'm going to have one right now. That's actually an interesting comment. I'm going to have one right now. All right, Muzzy. What I'm getting at is that I understand why they exist. I'm saying, do we have to go on about it forever? On about what?

Okay. Okay. So let's just say Black History Month. Carabana? Yeah. Okay. Carabana or Black History Month. What's it called now? Month. Carabana? Yeah, okay, Carabana or Black History Month. What's it called now?

The Scotiabank Caribbean Festival. I like Carabana better. I like Target practice because there's always a gun violence. Whoa, Muzzin, you're not invited back. So what I'm saying is that, no, Carabana's not a good example. Target, that's offensive. Well, maybe, but it's the truth. You ever been to an Irish soccer match?

No, it's a hooligan fest. So, no, but the thing with it is that, and let's talk about Black History Month. And that's great. Do we have White History Month? No. I'm not saying... Every month is White History Month.

Thank you. But all I'm getting at is that why does it have to go on for years and years and years and years and years? We understand what they went through. We wrote the history books. I understand what everybody has gone through that have been persecuted or oppressed.

I get all that, but why does it have to go on forever? I don't understand why that happens. So when's this magical date where you see we don't need a pride parade anymore because it's so accepted and omnipresent that they're on the same footing? That's a great question. Thank you.

So the other way around is is that why can't you have a male advocacy group? Yes, the same reasons why we still have a pride parade. You've got a mayor who doesn't even recognize the existence. We've got a long way to go, buddy. We've got a long way to go. I think he's at his cottage,

if memory serves correct. Yeah, for the flag raising. We're not doing this again, but come on. I'm sorry. Say the last name. Who are we talking about? Me?

Speaking of the mayor, I just read that he wants to get rid of the shout. You know what? Anything that has to do with bikes, this guy doesn't even think about it. If he hears bike, he's against it with all the passion in his heart. I read that

it was, yeah, they wanted to... I hate this guy. What is it? They want to have a place for bikes at City Hall and showers if you bike to work. It's paid showers. You know that? You pay for the shower. Yeah, it makes money. I knew. It's so progressive and You know that? You pay for the shower. Yeah, it makes money. I knew. It's so progressive and sensible. I mean, maybe I've been spending too much time in Amsterdam lately or other European states.

We're going to the 1950s now. We're going as fast as we can in the other direction. He'll spend money to tear up bike lanes, but he won't spend money to build showers that will make money. And Nathan, it's progressive. He's not progressive. We're the fourth largest city in North America and we're tearing down, like we're getting rid of bike lanes. Yes. He's going backwards. Yeah. When I saw that, I was like, I have to see what my... All his passions are to put humongous casinos downtown where they don't fit at all. Have you seen the size of these casinos? Two Yorkdale malls. Two Yorkdale malls. You can't fit that downtown. He wants to stick them down there

because he thinks it'll pay for stuff, but he makes up the number they will generate. He makes up a number. Wynn, everybody who says, we don't know where that number came from, Mr. Ford, he doesn't explain where it comes from. He says, oh, that'll be the number. He doesn't get the say. Oh, well, he's a provincial.

The Gaming Commission is provincial. Wynn says, no special deal for Toronto. It's going to be more like $20 million, not the number he's floating. He makes up the number. He's not accountable. He lies when he speaks. You can't trust him. You have to cut him out and go to the original source to see what the truth is. And now he wants to kill anything that has to do with bicycles.

Remember his quote? At the end of the day, it's their fault. Bike lanes... I know Muzzin beside me I'm going to look at him for a minute I don't want to spend too much time on Ford

it actually makes my blood it really is bad for my health oh I'm picking up on that I every week he does something that upsets me more

I don't it's the coach you hear he hired his football coach for director of operations and logistics which taxpayers pay for

but he will not tell anyone. He will not disclose what the job entails. No job description, no, even a courtesy. Yeah, we interviewed 20 people and my old football coach was the best guy for the job. He will not comment on the personnel decision, but he decided my old football coach has a director job at city hall that we all pay for and everybody, what we can't do anything about it. Sure, and that's going to have a very healthy pension at the end of it as well. You know what directors get paid at City Hall, right?

Yeah, this is... It's lovely. It's lovely for his old football coach. I'm sorry, how much do they get paid? Well, we don't know because he won't disclose it. But the title director in Toronto, minimum, I'm going to say minimum 120, minimum. He's going to be well into the six figures

and he's going to have all the benefits. Ford will not disclose. And do you realize be well into the six figures, and he's going to have all the benefits. Ford will not disclose. And do you realize this? His old football coach, and he's the one who's preached to Oakley every single morning about gravy at City Hall, and he's going to come in, and he's going to clear out the gravy.

He's piling the gravy up at the door. Give me a break. He likes the buffet. Here's the thing. You know, I didn't make the fat joke. I just want everyone to know Muzzin made the fat joke. I love the buffet, too, and I'm not fat. Well, not that fat. But anyways. You're not fat. So my point, I didn't make the fat joke. I just wanted everyone to know Muzzin made the fat joke. I love the buffet too, and I'm not fat. Well, not that fat.

But anyways. You're not fat. So my point, well, you never know these days. But anyways, I'll go on record as saying I love Rob Ford. Oh, I know that. You're my Facebook friend. Oh, I didn't know this. This is interesting.

Although the things you brought to light, I'm not for. What do you like about him? Well, hang on. I'll get to that. That's my only question. Okay. So all I'm saying is I didn't know about the bike stuff in a sense that I didn't know he wants to get rid

of the bike station. Passionately. First of all, I think there's a whole lot of other things you can get rid of before the bike station. Okay. So my point is that you should keep a lot of things that... What do you think of the casinos? I'm for the casinos. I'm not for two York days.

Downtown? No, I think it should be up either at Downsview... Woodbine, right? I think Woodbine. I think Woodbine. Actually, I think it should tear down International Centre and put it there. Maybe, but not downtown. Not downtown.

So we agree. I'm not against the casino being in Toronto. I'm against the casino being downtown Toronto. Yeah, there's no need for more congestion. We can't handle... You're going to slap two York deals. They're all slot machines, apparently. Yes.

How much tourism do you get out of slot machines? No, no, you need tables. People who play slot machines live in the city. You know those guys. They get their welfare check and they go straight to the slots because the one-armed bandit's going to take the rest. For me, with casinos, I'm not. I had never been in one until I was in my 20s.

But one of my uncles was a blackjack dealer for many years. And growing up, I would hear the stories he would tell. And they're heartbreaking. But the fact is, they're around. Exactly. It's like drinking. Go to Ram or something. But I'm just saying that.

I know. I agree. It is heartbreaking. It just always gave a negative. So I don't like casinos at all. But I recognize it's that. Yeah, I know. I agree. It is heartbreaking. For me, it just always gave a negative, so I don't like casinos at all, but I recognize it's a choice. We can have them. They generate revenue.

Just don't put them. Can we not have a beautiful waterfront? Can we not have- I agree with you, Rosie. Without having- Amen. Come on. When you go to Chicago,

and we've talked about this before, it's beautiful. It's inspiring. It's gorgeous. You can go there with a family, and they managed to do it without having a before. It's beautiful. It's inspiring. It's gorgeous. You can go there with a family and they managed to do it without having a casino. He's not creative.

He's not a creative thinker. It sucks. Casino is the only, that's the best we can do in this city. Toronto, we're trying to be, you said the fourth biggest?

Fourth biggest. Yeah, please. No one's trying. Muzzin, what do you like about him before we move on from the great Rob Ford? Because you love him on Facebook. Lots of people love him. I know. Freddie P and Muzzin, do you like about him before we move on from the great Rob Ford because you love him on Facebook

lots of people love him I know Freddie P and Muzzin that's two I'm looking for a third Argy very few of them except for Muzzin

actually lives in the 416 that's what makes him exceptional maybe it's because his roots go back to our area maybe that's part of it Etobicoke Etobicoke I didn't know from people

to know where he lived that's okay I don't think we hit it. It's all temporary. It's like a Florida house that I revealed recently. There you go. I like the fact

that he has a business background like myself and I like the fact that he runs a... But his dad's business. Okay, but he still has run the business. But his dad made it

very successful before Rob touched it. That's true, but he still learned how to run the business as far as I know. And as far as I know, it's still quite successful.

Oh yeah, he didn't ruin it yet, you mean. He didn't ruin it yet. Well, he cut all the gravy, so. This label, do you think this label

on my wedding invitation is from Deco Labels? No, I wouldn't let Monica go to Deco. I wave at Deco Labels when I drive around the 401. Okay, but so he has

a business background. So my point is, is that I believe. And he's an Etobicoke resident. And I believe in smaller government. I don I believe in smaller government. I don't believe in big government. So I think that he operates the city with a bit more fiscal responsibility than, say,

a David Miller who lost, I don't know how many millions of dollars and then founded it before he died. Did you know the consultants came in and said there was no gravy under Miller? There was no wasteful spending. We had a revenue problem, not a spending problem. How do you know that? The KPMG, is that the right initials? I don't want to mess it up.

KPMG put out a very expensive, very thorough, unbiased audit of... And where was this promoted? Everywhere. It was huge news. When Ford first came into office, that's what he asked for and that's what he got. And it was David Miller. It basically revealed there was nowhere to cut. You're going to have to cut

essential services and things people actually like in the city if you want to save money. Yeah, libraries, exactly. They came out of that. That's where the library nonsense came out of. There was nowhere to cut. Ford kept saying there was lots of wasteful spending

at City Hall. He'd come in and kill the waste. All he did was give her a coffee at City Hall, which saved nothing. It's a joke. And now he thinks the casinos will solve the money problem when they actually will not. They will build 60 meters of subway.

60 meters. So don't even bother putting a shovel. They will build 60 meters of subway. 60 meters. So don't even bother putting a shovel in the ground if you can only pay for 60 meters. I'm telling you, he was wrong. It's public record, the KPMG. I know. You like him because we lefties and CBC listening people,

we hate him. And that is the reason you and Freddie P and the others hate him. I mean, sorry. What happens to Freddie P's website? What happens to Freddie P's website? He still writes. He hasn't. He doesn't write very often. Not recently. I need him to keep writing because that's where you guys would all, not you

personally, but all the Ford lovers who litter my comments with their Ford love, they used to go there and do it. And now they're on my site doing it. So I they used to go there and do it. And now they're on my site doing it. So I need Freddie back. It's because you deserve it. Maybe he can't with the new job.

Maybe he's not able to do that. Of course he can. He just doesn't want to spend his energy on that when he'd rather spend his energy on his podcast. Fair enough. I just think that the media plays such a big role in slamming Rob Ford. I can't. What slam, though? They report. What are they supposed to do that's their job let me just say the fact is he's

ridiculous so if he looks ridiculous on print it's because he is ridiculous okay well let me ask it's not a bias even his son's got stuff on him that's that's horrible stuff this director of operations and logistics came from the toronto sun um, so let me just ask you. Go ahead. And let's talk a little bit about the incident with regards to Toronto Star and Daniel, what's his name? Daniel Dale. Yeah, I like Daniel Dale. Go ahead.

Yeah, well, I don't know if Rob Ford likes him in his backyard taking his picture, but whatever. You do know, can I tell you this? Tell me, you're going to tell me anyway. Yeah, I'm going to tell you anyways. So real quick, I'm going to do it real quick because we went through this thoroughly

back in the day. But when Rob Ford goes and asks the city for public parkland, he essentially at that minute makes the parkland behind his house part of the story because he's the mayor. So when the mayor makes that request, it's different than when you make that request. Do you agree with that? Yeah, that's fair. Okay, so Daniel Dale, who I've known for years, and I actually quite like him. I interact with him on Twitter.

We don't go out and have coffee together, but I daniel dale he's a bright bright guy and daniel dale wanted to see the land that's the public park land that ford was asking the city to give to him or let me buy it at market value let's let's not go crazy here he was taking pictures into not not in his backyard no pointing the camera towards his house. I didn't love that either. By the way, this is the same man who invites the city publicly to his backyard for a barbecue every single year, right? Yeah, but that's different. So the fact is, we all happen to know where the mayor lives because he made a public record. So I bike by it and I go to kids, I'll say, hey, that's Rob Ford's house because it's part of what he's put into the public space.

Daniel Dale, I think, should be a good journalist and take pictures of this public land that Rob Ford wants to, so he can write about it properly. How do you write about that land if you haven't seen it? Here's the thing. He wasn't poking his...

It's not appropriate. Why would Daniel Dale want to have his camera in Rob Ford's house? Rosie, if you're going to take that damn neighbor who came over and caused the ship by saying he was standing

on something and looking, I don't believe that neighbor. That neighbor tells Rob Ford what would create the great drama that we all witnessed that day when he took Daniel Dale's phone and phoned from it that night, which was theft, right? Why was he there at night? It was a night. It was never dark when

he was there. It was light. It was 100%. I think Daniel Dale could have handled it a lot better than he did. Okay, but my point is this is all you have at the stars after Ford because they're pointing their cameras in his backyard. It was light out.

I'm just saying that. It's fair enough. It was light out, though. Daniel Dale did such a great job doing it. I have no problem with what Daniel Dale did. If he did it to David Miller, I'd have zero problem because David Miller would never, ever go to the city and say, give me that public land for my house because he would know at the outset that that is an inappropriate request from a mayor.

It's conflict of interest. He would never make that request as mayor. Well, all I'm saying is... Ford has no sense of conflict of interest. That was just one example. But there's no question that the Toronto Star is not pro-Ford. Would you agree with that? No, they're as sensible as I am, and I'm not pro-Ford.

Would you consider it a left-wing publication? It's a liberal-minded publication. That's all that needs to be said. Thank you. So my point is that if it was the other way around, this would never happen to a David Miller. Would you agree with that? Honestly, I don't agree with that.

I don't agree with that for a second. David Miller was so conscious of conflict of interest, as most politicians are, from Obama to Barbara Hall. They're all sensitive to conflict of interest because they realize you're not a regular citizen when you're mayor. You can't do certain things and say certain things and ask for certain things as mayor without it being a conflict of interest. But Ford has zero sense of conflict of interest, zero. We've seen evidence of it in how many court cases and different violations have we seen in his two years.

The problem with it is that he comes off socially somewhat inept, and that's the way the media portrays him. I don't think that's completely accurate, but I just don't think they do a very good job of portraying him in the media because he gives them fodder for them to target. Like, you know, the way he looks if he's had a drink. Why did he make the public weigh-in a public thing? Like, why was the weigh-in public? He made it Monday. Everybody take pictures of me on this giant circus scale.

He made that a public thing. You should do it in private next time. You know what? Miller got in shape in private. I think what's unfortunate there was that he didn't follow through on it, right? So don't start it if you're not going to follow through. But I think it served to probably endear. I think a lot of people struggle with their weight.

And I think it endeared him to a lot of people. It's just a shame that it didn't. It taught them to give up. He gave up. It's a shame. Don't be so hard on him. I want to move on. I can't do it anymore.

There's nothing about this man to defend. There's zero about him. You're being a little harsh. Come on. He's the mayor of Toronto. I think we all forget that. This isn't the guy we'd let run the zoo. I'm not sure he'd be an effective leader of the, okay? I'm not sure he'd be an effective leader

of the Toronto Zoo. I'm not sure he'd be right for that job. But I know he's not right to be mayor of Toronto. Well, the vast majority of citizens thought otherwise. in northern Ontario.

No, I agree. He got 48% or some whopping number like that. I also think he got a perfect storm in that the only rival was so tainted by previous provincial scandals and

only downtown wanted the other guy. And I think if you had a decent rival for Rob Ford, somebody like Olivia Chow, I think Rob Ford loses. And only time will tell. I guess we will find out because that's probably what's going to happen. Let's see. I hope so. Can we move on?

We can totally move on. There's only one thing that is more... Oh, jeez. This is nothing but a target list. I just read the Kadri line. Oh, you're not supposed to read ahead, Muzzin. Let's jump to that real quick, okay? No.

I'm your Facebook friend. Yes, we are. When you say Facebook friend, he's your friend. It's not just Facebook friend. He's somewhere between Facebook and wedding invitation obviously because I didn't get one there's something

between the two somebody's your Twitter friend and you've never met them in real life they're actually not your friend no but on Twitter they're not friends they're followers

sure so different Twitter you got people you never heard of following you on Facebook everyone who's my friend is somebody in the real world

I have interaction with Muzzin is my Facebook friend Argy will never be my Ar Muzzin is my Facebook friend. Argy will never be my Facebook friend. Argy will not be my Facebook friend. But he can be my Twitter follower. He's your TorontoMike.com friend. Right, but he's not a Facebook friend. The TorontoMike.com world.

Right, so Rosie, you're my Facebook friend and my wedding friend. Muzzin's my Facebook friend. He's almost like if I were getting married next year, I think Muzzin would be in that group. I'd probably make it. We're group. I'd probably make it. We're close. I'd probably make it.

But we're still bonding. We only met recently. We do hug. I'm just going to go publicly with that. I hugged him when he came. Your frankness makes me laugh. Well, no. I mean, where's the line?

It's refreshing. That's another debate. Where's that line between friend and you get one of the 120 spots at the wedding? Well, you know, it's funny. And then there's work friends. And I remember at my wedding... I'm inviting one work friend.

Yeah, same thing. I invited like one or two because they transcended, you know, when I stopped working there, they became just real life friends. But it's just interesting, all the different labels we have for friends. So when the Maple Leaf season started, I saw a message from Mike Muzzin

beside me that we should trade Nazem Kadri for a bag of pucks. That's the same trade I'd make for Bargnani, okay? So you basically put Kadri in the Bargnani bucket. This is before the season? Before the season.

Well, that sounds fine. Rose, he's 23 with huge upside. Yeah, but you never know what people are going to do. So why is this completely unpredictable? You can't give him a hard time. I'm sorry. No, Rosie, you're wrong.

You know why? What if we had traded Kadri for a bag of pucks? Well, you would never know. Those would be some good-looking pucks. But we know Kadri would be on another team exce we had traded Kadri for a bag of pucks? Well, you would never know. Those would be some good-looking pucks. But we know Kadri would be on another team excelling, and we'd have a bag of pucks. We don't know that.

I can understand why you're giving him a hard time for saying something before you have no idea. Let me acknowledge. Up until, and I think you will have to agree with this, up until this season, he has been inconsistent. He's 23. Hang on. Let me finish. Up until this season, listen to what I said. Up until this season, he has been inconsistent. He's 23. Hang on. Let me finish.

Up until this season, listen to what I said. Up until this season, he has been inconsistent. People have said he has poor defensive awareness ability in his own zone. And he also has a poor work ethic. This was up until this season. Okay. One second. Yes.

So far, so good? Sure. Okay. He has proven since then that he obviously has brought his game to another level and he has played well. I have also gone record since my puck trade thing as saying that he has obviously proven himself and he's playing at a higher level. And you're glad we didn't trade him for a bag of pucks. Is that fair to say? I am glad we didn't trade him for a bag of pucks.

Because Rosie thinks you were well on your right to trade him for a bag of pucks. I said he's well on his right to make a comment about how he thinks he's going to do before the season. To say I think he'll be shitty is different than saying give him away to some other team. But I will say this. One, we can keep him in AHL

and the other one, we don't have the rights to him anymore. That's true. But the thing with it is Just tell me you love Padre now. and the other one we don't have the rights to him anymore. That's true. But the thing with it is, you know, he... Just tell me you love Padre now. I don't love... First of all, that goes back. I'll tell you that story in a second.

I think you might even know the story, but I'll go back to that in a second. You know, a lot of it comes down to opportunity and timing, especially when you're playing professional sports because you're put in a position where you are able to succeed. The Leafs, with all due respect, had, you know, low expectations coming into this season. And, you know, he's put in a position

where he's obviously excelled. But if he was on another deeper team, he may not get that opportunity. You know, if he was playing for... Or if he was playing for Ron Wilson, for example, he would not get that opportunity. And I'm not a Wilson fan. Wilson is an idiot.

Wilson is an idiot. I was never a Ron Wilson fan. He's as bad as Rob Ford. He is not as bad as Rob Ford. Oh, good. I agree. And he got the big severance package from his buddy, Brian Burke, and then he got fired. And then he gave me a cease and desist.

And then he gave you a cease and desist. Asshole. Which suddenly sounds like an STD when you say it like that, but that's another story. Mike was so upset that day. I would be upset too. It was crazy. But afterwards, right? It was cool.

Now it's cool because I check my door every day for big Brian Burke henchmen and they're not showing up. And you know they're Irish. It was crazy. I know. That's why I was mad. It was really crazy.

I got representation, but I don't need it now. And I'm sort of wishing Burke would come at me again so I can use this representation. I think you take him one-on-one. Let's go. Okay, so Kadri's the best. Thank you.

Kadri's not the best. One of the best. He is, to this day... He got the Don Cherry kiss. To this day, which I thought was great, but to this day, the sample size... We have to wrap this up. I'm sorry.

The sample size is very, very small for his... Yeah. You know, in terms of what he's accomplished. Yeah, it's one season. So let's, before we throw even more pressure on this guy, and just like lots of other Toronto athletes who have failed, before we go throw lots of pressure on this kid, let's see a larger sample size to see if he can actually do this.

You know what, though? Now you're making sense. That's better than trading him for a bag of pucks. You're working with him. Like I said, they would have been a really nice set of pucks. I'm glad Rosie's not the GM of the Leafs. But listen, the hate of Kadri, and I'm going to use the word hate. I have a Ponekrovsky still.

There's hate of Kadri? There was hate of Kadri. Okay, tell me why. We were playing down at MasterCard Center, me and some buds. Okay. And Kadri was there watching us. Okay. And he was giggling, I guess, at our ability.

Was Lupo tickling him? No, he was solo. I guess he was early for practice. So as soon as I saw that, I was like, can we swear here? Yeah. You motherfucker. No. Because at the end of the day.

It's a bad swear. Yeah, it's pretty bad. I'm sorry. But it's not as bad as a C word. Just saying. Don't say that. I won't. So the thing with it is, so when I saw him, I was like, you know, I won't say it again.

And I was pretty pissed because, you know, who do you think you are? You know? How do you know he wasn't reading a text of a funny joke that Kessel sent him? He wasn't holding anything. Oh, yeah, right. He was being a dick. By the way. He was completely being a dick.

You can't judge. I mean, Doug Gilmore was a dick in his younger years. He also shared that, apparently, with some whatever. I know. But I'm saying we forgave him. Some people don't even know about that. I know about it. Most people don't even know about that. I know about it. Most people don't even know about that.

Sports fans do. Okay. But anyways, so I'm getting over the cash. I'll tell Rosie later what we're talking about. Off air because it's illegal. And we'll move on from it because I'd like to see how he does in the playoffs. And that goes for Reimer too.

I like Reimer and I like Kadri and I'm looking forward to Maple Leaf playoff action. Because of Cole was born. Rosie. Aw, that's nice. Cole, is that the reason? That's the reason. Because they haven't played a playoff game

since Michelle was born almost nine years ago. There you go. So Cole is the auntie of Michelle. Excellent. Or joining Michelle. She's already almost... Oh, she was born before. She's almost nine

and she's never been alive for a playoff game. So Cole is not only... He's the antidote. He's the antidote. He's the cure. Speaking of the cure, the cure for the Liberal Party's woes might be a young man named Justin Trudeau. He has a style about him when he speaks that I have a note from Rosie.

I'm going to present this to Rosie and let her comment. But I noticed this too. It's very theatrical. Is that like drama student sometimes? I don't know. Dramatic? I remember when his father passed away and he gave that speech or he spoke.

And I remember the reaction to it was so, people had such different reactions to it. Some people thought it was poignant, moving, you know, this young man, his father's past. It was so heart-wrenching. And a lot of people also felt that it was sort of overdramatic and corny. I actually, the effect it had on me was I thought it was,

there was just something about the way he spoke that it felt, it felt a bit false. It felt a bit put on. You're saying the word corny. And I've always got the sense of him a little bit. Every time he speaks, he's a little bit corny. And I don't, you know, for that reason, I can't, even though I think the way he does connect to people

certainly gives him the advantage over all the other, you know, liberal leadership candidates. Well, now that Garneau's out, there's nobody left. Well, I don't even think he had much of a shot. He just skipped the vote. But, well, I don't know about that. Look what no one thought

Stéphane Dion, those... Yeah, but he didn't have Trudeau in the wings. And I'll have to say, there's just something about him that keeps me from, you know, thinking he's... So he's not Obama

because he's too corny to be Obama. Well, it's when Obama speaks. It's not as corny. It just sounds so genuine. It doesn't sound like a performance is being put on, whereas when Justin... I know what you're saying.

I've seen that video. I don't know. It's a little like, almost like it's over the top. It's over the top. It's a bit over the top. He's got to tone it down a bit. You know, it's going to be... I don't know, but I think that's just, you's just his style. I think it is his style.

I think it is a little almost flamboyant, a little extravagant. Because when you look back at Pierre Trudeau speaking, even when he was eccentric or flamboyant, it seemed really him and real. Just watch me. Well, it was genuine,

right? So I don't know. Maybe it's such a hard thing to be the son of Pierre Trudeau and now to have a liberal leadership. Yeah, that's how my son feels. But I have to say I'm very curious to see how it's all going to go down. To see him in a debate with Stephen Harper will be really, really fascinating. No, I'm excited too because he's interesting. I can't wait.

It's definitely interesting. But yeah, I just wish I could just feel him a little more that's all he's a bit like Kadri he's still young, you don't want to trade him for a bag of pucks let's see, he's still got some promise let's work with him the sample size is too small

may I go back to movies and bookend this podcast because we lost Roger Ebert last week. And he actually, just the day before, I learned his cancer had returned and he was going to have to step away. And that was one day later I heard he passed.

It seemed because just one day, I had one day to sort of come to grips with the fact that he was maybe not long for this world again because the cancer returned. I loved Roger Ebert. I watched Siskel and Ebert. It was syndicated. They put it on at midnight or something

and I recorded it to VHS and it was appointment viewing to me every single week. There's no movie review show I'll watch anywhere, but I watched Siskel and Ebert every single week in the 80s and 90s. Amazing, yeah. I totally agree. I used to, the whole, you know,

the whole two thumbs up, I liked it. I wanted to know, you know, whether or not I agreed, but there was just something about it I liked. But the thing with Roger Ebert that in the last few years that I sort of didn't really realize was, and this was after reading an article he wrote in the Washington Post, and if you can try to find it,

Google it. It is one of the most beautiful things I've ever written because he was an incredible writer. He wrote so beautifully. And he wrote about his wife and his, I think they had just come up on a major anniversary. And he wrote so beautifully and poignantly about his wife, his relationship, life, love. Google it. Find it. It was in the Washington Post. It was amazing.

And it's like, Robert Ebert, you. And they asked him about that. Roger. Roger. Robert. That's his brother. This is how much I'm into him. I don't know his name.

Just call him Ebert. He's beautiful. You have to find him. What a beautiful writer. He's an excellent writer. Beautiful writer. He's Pulitzer Prize winner. The only reviewer to do that.

It's pretty cool. Everything he wrote. I thought, whether he was writing about same-sex marriage or marriage equality, we should call it, or whatever he was talking about, he was so poignant.

Gun control, it didn't matter what he was talking about, it was very well written. And he spoke about dying and I remember reading an article, I think it might be

that Washington Post one, where he wrote about he didn't fear dying, he hopes his exit is as painless as possible, but in death, he will be the same as he was before he was born, and there will be no pain

because there's nothing, and it's not painful. So he doesn't fear death at all, and it was very reassuring to me to think about it that way. I never thought of death as the state before you were born. He says it will feel the same way

life felt before I was born. That is what it will feel like when I die. Let's hope. So just keep the exit on your way out, the door. Keep it as painless as you can. Hopefully, maybe in your sleep as an old man, you just pass in the night. That's the way to go. If you can have a painless exit, there's nothing to fear in death.

Thank you, Roger Ebert. Quick story that's a little lighter is that when Gross Point Blank came out in 1987, I friggin' loved that movie. I loved the sound. The 80s came back and soundtrack. It was a great soundtrack. It was a great movie. I loved it.

And at the same time, Romy and Michelle's High School Reunion came out, which was similar themed. It had an 80s thing going on. So I watched Romy and Michelle's's high school reunion and hated it. I actually hated it. Maybe because I had just seen Gross Point Blank and absolutely loved it. Siskel and Ebert gave Gross Point Blank two thumbs down, and they gave Romeo and Michelle's high school reunion two thumbs up.

And I never forgot that moment in my life because that's the moment. It's like part of my youth was gone. I realized that Siskel and Ebert would sometimes get it completely wrong no you should have realized Romy and

Michelle was an awesome movie that is just sad Rose? how did you not think Romy and Michelle? sometimes I don't

understand what's wrong with you did you see gross point blank? yes I did and I also enjoyed it just tell me which is better

it's not even they're two it's different you can't compare those two movies to say which is a better movie? No, no,

I'm not going to. I'm muted in your wake. I agree with Rosie. You've never seen this movie, Romy and Michelle's. Muzzin agrees with Rosie. I've seen them both. You've seen Romy and Michelle's

High School Union. Yeah, and it was okay. Okay, but how was Gross Point Blank? It was much better. I think it was great, but I don't think

it was as good as, it wasn't as good as, but I just mean that I don't think they're really on the same level. No. One is like a ridiculous comedy. Movies are subjective, okay?

No, it's not. We can't. Actually, you know what? What Mike just said is not subjective. It's right. It's completely. You can't be like, oh, Gross Point Plague was so good. Romy and Michelle was terrible, which it wasn't, which obviously is the right answer because

Roger and Robert. It was horrible to me. Ebert. And Robert Ebert got it wrong. And so did Roger. Gene Siskel, the great Bulls fan. They were like together, right?

They slept together? They were like Ernie and Bert. Because Bert's gay, right? Bert's like seven years old or something. Well, you know what's really funny? There was a bit of a movement a few years ago for Sesame Street to have them come out.

And Sesame Street said, you know, it's not our position to sexualize the characters. But I love them. They're my favorites. They're so cute. Muzzin, I have a question

for you. A serious question. I've noticed some vibes. Do you think homosexuality is a choice? Is it a choice? A gay person makes a choice to be gay are they born that way i think it's both actually all right i thought so because a lot of what you say suggests you think it's a choice no i think it's both i think a lot of people are born that way and i think some people are kind of you know leaning

or on the fence okay so you agree though that gay people are born gay. Typically. So typically I think they are. Okay. Okay. Would you consider yourself homophobic? I wouldn't. No.

Sorry. Should I go on? No, it's just cause you hate the pride parade and you, I don't hate the pride parade. I don't think it's, I don't think it's a great idea, but I don't hate the pride parade. I think homo is good cause it was good for the podcast, but I don't hate the Pride Parade. I think Como was good because it was good for the podcast.

But I thought Bert... This is the wrong podcast. This is not the Futs. Okay, I'm sorry. But I thought... No, just like what you were saying, Rosie. I thought Bert was gay and then Ernie was the friend. But they have separate beds.

They have separate beds. I know. That's what I'm saying. Not like friend-friend. I just thought Bert was gay. Friend with benefits? No, not even that. I just thought he was the gay friend living there, but that Ernie was not the gay one.

Oh my God. I have to rescue Muzzin from this. No, I'm good. I have to rescue him because Ernie and Bert, for the record, have no sexuality. They are young. Right, Rosie?

How come you don't have sexuality? Thanks for listening, everyone. Bye for now. And that brings us to the end of our show. You can follow me on Twitter at TorontoMike Bye for now. And that brings us to the end of our show. You can follow me on Twitter at Toronto Mike and Rosie at Rosie in Toronto and Muzzin and his protected tweets. Why are they protected? What are you hiding?

I'm not hiding anything. I'm just concerned. At Michael Muzzin on Twitter. See you all next week. I want to take a street car downtown.