Steelers Mini Camp Lessons - The Pirates Swept - Penguins Draft Rumors

Unknown Speaker (0:00): It's not on. This is the sports porch black and gold with your hosts, the technical director, the grand Schwabini, and hockey Jesus. Come on, Pittsburgh. Let's show a little steelers, penguins, and pirates love. The sports porch black and gold starts now.

Unknown Speaker (0:38): Hey. There he is.

Unknown Speaker (0:39): How is everybody?

Unknown Speaker (0:42): Was like, my,

Technical Director (0:43): I was like my cigar and I hit the wrong button here. Anyway, this is the sports, black and gold live every Monday night, little after 7PM Eastern time. Technical difficulty. Are on Facebook. We are on YouTube.

Technical Director (0:58): We are on x. If you haven't already clicked that subscribe button.

Unknown Speaker (1:02): Do so.

Technical Director (1:03): Hit notifications. You'll know when we're live. And, of course, I'm gonna drop this into a podcast right after the show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, Spotify, or anywhere you get your freaking podcast. I'm your TD. We are on the Monroeville ports where it all started many years ago, really many years ago.

Unknown Speaker (1:20): Many, many years. Sure.

Unknown Speaker (1:21): We

Unknown Speaker (1:22): were all in our forties, and we were in, like, our eighties.

Unknown Speaker (1:24): One commute one computer.

Unknown Speaker (1:26): Yes.

Unknown Speaker (1:26): And there were three or four of us on one screen.

Unknown Speaker (1:28): Right. And one microphone. Right. Remember that? All huddled together.

Technical Director (1:32): I do remember.

Hockey Jesus (1:33): He used to provide snacks and, you know, Trader Joe's items. He used to provide hot cocoa in the cold days.

Unknown Speaker (1:40): Yeah. I don't remember the hot cocoa.

Hockey Jesus (1:42): Do. Now there's just nothing.

Unknown Speaker (1:44): Yeah. Now it's bring your own snacks.

Unknown Speaker (1:46): Bring your own stuff. Pay for your gas to get here.

Technical Director (1:50): BYB. Bring stuff for me to eat. BYB. I'm your TD. We are on the porch.

Technical Director (1:57): This is the sports porch black and gold. Sitting across from me in the Monroeville porch is hockey Jesus. Why are you

Unknown Speaker (2:04): starting over?

Technical Director (2:04): Is hockey Jesus. And that right there is the grand Schwab beam. I'm not starting over. I didn't even get through you guys. So alright.

Technical Director (2:13): Let's get right to it, guys. Join the conversation. We wanna hear from you. You can always email us at OGSportsPorch@Gmail.com. You can visit the porches live dot com.

Technical Director (2:24): We're gonna talk about Steelers Mini Camp. Lot of lot of stuff going down about that, you know, TJ Watt. Amy's in the house.

Unknown Speaker (2:34): Thank you, Amy. Well, being here. The porch. Okay.

Technical Director (2:36): This may be the last time Mark is allowed at my house, but he can explain that when he gets home.

Unknown Speaker (2:40): I don't think there's any explanation.

Unknown Speaker (2:43): That's that's that's just, you know, that's for what I have to endure.

Unknown Speaker (2:47): Get a hold of your relationship.

Unknown Speaker (2:49): So, yeah. Mini camp.

Unknown Speaker (2:53): Mini camp.

Technical Director (2:53): Lot of stuff swirling around about the defense. Some new contracts given out. Some contracts, some bullshit as usual going on. What do you expect from the Steelers? We got the pirates who just got swept by Atlanta.

Unknown Speaker (3:07): They always lose to Atlanta. Yeah. They've had some injuries.

Unknown Speaker (3:09): We're gonna

Unknown Speaker (3:10): talk about what's going on with the pirates.

Unknown Speaker (3:11): The boogeyman team.

Technical Director (3:12): It is the dead zone for the penguins right now, but HJ, I'm sure has some thoughts on what's going on and of course, the Stanley Cup finals.

Unknown Speaker (3:21): Yeah. They got some rumors. Big day. Around about the pens. You'll wanna stay tuned for those.

Technical Director (3:26): Cool. We wanna know what you guys think about all this if you're here with us right now. Chris Chauda, my to my new watching hockey eye, is it fair to say the Penns really couldn't hang with either of the remaining teams? Damn. These two teams are great.

Technical Director (3:41): Thanks for being here, Chris. Once again, I'm gonna say, just no. They couldn't hang with these teams.

Grand Schwabini (3:48): No. The very few teams could hang with these teams. I mean, Montreal made a great run and couldn't hang with with Carolina who's now, you know, having a hard time hanging with a team that swept Colorado.

Unknown Speaker (4:00): So I

Unknown Speaker (4:01): mean, yeah.

Unknown Speaker (4:01): You are correct,

Grand Schwabini (4:02): Chris Chata. The top four teams are usually the best in the league, and it's absolutely true this hockey season.

Unknown Speaker (4:09): You have hockey eye.

Grand Schwabini (4:10): Can never go to sleep before the end of any Stanley Cup game now.

Unknown Speaker (4:16): You just can't. I I You never know

Grand Schwabini (4:18): what's gonna happen. I turned it off. Stanley Cup game.

Hockey Jesus (4:20): Four nothing started the third. I turned it off.

Grand Schwabini (4:23): Yeah. I did. It was easy to turn it off because it was it was a it was it was a shellacking.

Unknown Speaker (4:29): There was no chance.

Grand Schwabini (4:30): No. There was absolutely no chance.

Unknown Speaker (4:32): Did you turn it off, or did you stick with it?

Unknown Speaker (4:34): Come on, Mark.

Unknown Speaker (4:34): You turned

Grand Schwabini (4:35): it I didn't know. Never turn off Stocks. No Remember? I came in late because we were out to eat at Piccolo Forno. I highly suggest going there if you're in Pittsburgh.

Unknown Speaker (4:45): It's over in Lawrenceville. Yep.

Grand Schwabini (4:47): Great pasta. They have a risotto that's to die for, and the pizza's fantastic.

Unknown Speaker (4:52): I bet the pizza.

Grand Schwabini (4:53): We were out you know, we had some guests in from out of town from Ohio, and we were over there. So I got a late start. They didn't get home till about 09:00, and I'm like, perfect time to turn on the game. So I'm watching the game kind of in fast forward, you know, because you're like, zero zero zero zero zero zero. And my wife decided to Blake break the coffee carafe right as things were starting to go crazy.

Grand Schwabini (5:16): So I had to hit the pause button. Stitch up her finger and buy a new coffee carafe. After everything was cleaned up, then the real fun became in the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Unknown Speaker (5:27): Yep. Yep.

Grand Schwabini (5:28): Which was goal, goal, goal in thirty nine seconds.

Technical Director (5:31): So we're gonna talk about that in a little bit. Vegas TJG. So we're gonna just call this guy Vegas. He's back. Thanks for being here, man.

Technical Director (5:39): Hopefully, you hit that subscribe button last time around. You must have because you knew we were on. It should be three to nothing, but they blew game two, and it's still a series.

Hockey Jesus (5:48): Well You could also say it could be two two one Carolina.

Grand Schwabini (5:51): Yeah. STG, I know Vegas, you know, because you're in Vegas. And I know you're not necessarily a Vegas, Golden Knights fan, but I don't know. I think it could you could make it you could make a case either way. I mean, Vegas scored two goals, and two of them were scored by the other team in that game.

Unknown Speaker (6:07): Right. I mean, the yeah. I mean

Unknown Speaker (6:10): That's awesome. Including the game winning.

Unknown Speaker (6:12): Can you imagine in baseball if you hit a home run and there was some rule that made it so it counted for the other team?

Hockey Jesus (6:17): It's it's my one problem with hockey. If you push not Yeah. Stand, I can't stand crap goals like that.

Grand Schwabini (6:25): Yeah. I Especially after such such a great game.

Hockey Jesus (6:29): I just wanted to end on a, like, a clean goal.

Grand Schwabini (6:32): Even You know? Even I think Theodore was the one who scored that. Even even he said he was just like, I'm glad it's over. He he knew he knew it was just a fluke goal. Right.

Grand Schwabini (6:41): And and I do I do appreciate that about, hockey players, you know, when they do that. How about McNabb coming back? After he takes a puck right in the visor, had to get reconstructive surgery done on his nose, and he plays the next day. I mean, they did have two days off, but still Yeah. That's that's the that's the strength of the hockey player versus any other player in the world.

Grand Schwabini (7:03): Shoot an 87, mile per hour ball at anybody, Hit them in the face in football. They're out for the year.

Technical Director (7:09): Mike Lawrence, we're talking about it right now. What it would happen, to the Vegas team after a four nothing lead. Thanks for being back. The fastest hat trick in Stanley Cup history by Marner.

Unknown Speaker (7:19): That's great.

Technical Director (7:20): Then the fastest three goals in cup history.

Unknown Speaker (7:23): I know.

Technical Director (7:23): It's amazing. I wish I would've watched it. I would that was Thursday night or Friday night?

Unknown Speaker (7:28): It was Saturday night. Oh, Saturday. You were close.

Unknown Speaker (7:30): What was I doing? I don't remember what I was doing Saturday night. I had the day off. Yeah. Never mind.

Technical Director (7:36): I remember what I was doing. Anyway

Grand Schwabini (7:38): Yeah. That was that was some great hockey. You gotta keep watching. That's why I say you can't not watch. And the problem is is I'm going to the Pirates game tomorrow night.

Grand Schwabini (7:45): So I'm I'm gonna be in a I'm gonna be in a suite, so I'm hoping they have the hockey game on.

Unknown Speaker (7:50): I bet they do.

Unknown Speaker (7:51): Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (7:52): I bet they do.

Unknown Speaker (7:52): I bet they don't.

Unknown Speaker (7:53): I bet they do. I bet I bet I bet it will be on my phone. There you go. That's all the rest of day. They will have the hockey game.

Grand Schwabini (8:00): The hockey game will be watched by hockey Jesus at the pirates game.

Unknown Speaker (8:04): Your shirt is awesome, Mark. There it is.

Unknown Speaker (8:07): Thanks, brother.

Unknown Speaker (8:07): There it is. For those

Hockey Jesus (8:08): who can't see.

Technical Director (8:09): Yep. Willie Clemente and Stargel, the legends. The back to back. Where'd you get that?

Hockey Jesus (8:16): I got it in the rarest of places. There is a mall that is essentially closed called the Pittsburgh Mills Mall.

Grand Schwabini (8:24): Pittsburgh Mills Mall. There's like

Hockey Jesus (8:25): there's like three stores open, and I was walking by after going to the movie. The movie theater is still there. And I was walking by it and it's just a it's called the General Corner store. And I was like, I need some good stuff to wear on the show. And I saw it, and I'm like I mean, it's like, it was $6.

Hockey Jesus (8:44): And I'm like, hey. I gotta help. I gotta help out and keep this small business going.

Unknown Speaker (8:49): That's 6. They're the only one left in the whole. Actually, what's

Technical Director (8:53): funny what's funny, Vegas, before the show started, we were getting adjusted here, and these guys were, you know, giving me the usual crap that they always give me, but it's so much fun. Is for you. And and Mark made a comment. He was not he did not like the view of the camera. So, you know, we we had the view Because

Unknown Speaker (9:15): you couldn't see my shirt.

Technical Director (9:16): Yeah. Because you couldn't see the shirt. So, you know, you've seen the shirt. So we'll just, move it up there. Is that better, everybody?

Unknown Speaker (9:24): Is that can you see him?

Unknown Speaker (9:25): Feel that. Once a child, always

Unknown Speaker (9:27): It's like a Marlboro man commercial. Look. If he had a cigarette hanging out of his mouth right now Vegas. You think? We we got

Unknown Speaker (9:33): ourselves This is what we have to deal with.

Unknown Speaker (9:35): We've got ourselves a knucklehead.

Unknown Speaker (9:36): There you go.

Unknown Speaker (9:37): There you go. The knucklehead.

Unknown Speaker (9:39): There's Charles Barkley would say.

Grand Schwabini (9:40): Yes. Pat, track has says Pronger had something similar to DeMar Hamlin and made the next day's morning skate after a night at the hospital. Pronger was a beast. He was he was another one of those guys. He could take a slap shot to the ear, lose his ear, sew it back on, come back in the third period.

Unknown Speaker (9:58): Why even sew it back on? That takes too much time.

Grand Schwabini (10:01): Right? Well, you know, you have to you have to stop. You're not allowed to bleed another ear. You're not allowed to bleed on other people's jerseys. Oh,

Unknown Speaker (10:09): you're not you're not allowed to? No. Not anymore. What happens? Do you get penalized?

Unknown Speaker (10:13): I think there was this thing bust you in the face and then you bleed on their

Unknown Speaker (10:16): jersey. No. No. I think there was this thing called AIDS back in the nineties. I think they're still worried about it.

Unknown Speaker (10:21): Oh.

Unknown Speaker (10:21): And some people we know were worried about it. Some

Unknown Speaker (10:28): more than others.

Unknown Speaker (10:30): I got no answer for that. I got no answer for that. Look, guys, let's let's talk Steelers here. Let's get to let's to mini camp. Sports, you gotta talk Steelers.

Technical Director (10:38): Stellers. Yeah. Gotta talk Steelers because, I mean, are you three hot on the porch? I was sweating balls, water, plants.

Grand Schwabini (10:46): Amy, why is your wife's hot? Sweat balls. Well, she took marks. That's easy. Touche.

Unknown Speaker (10:53): Yeah. Touche. Piece of cake.

Unknown Speaker (10:55): My lady just says says it like it is, man.

Unknown Speaker (10:58): Yeah. It's you know? It is hot as balls, though.

Hockey Jesus (11:00): She ain't she ain't afraid. She's not worried about somebody burning her biscuits. Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (11:04): The plants the the plants are more important

Unknown Speaker (11:08): than sweaty balls.

Technical Director (11:09): That is If you guys only knew if you only knew what happened before this show started, I'm I I think Mark's gonna be on his knees apologizing to the Pittsburgh property diva show.

Grand Schwabini (11:18): No. I think she expects it.

Unknown Speaker (11:21): No. Not that big a deal. No. If she if she if

Hockey Jesus (11:24): she doesn't get it, then we worry about you. Yeah. Did you marry the right person?

Unknown Speaker (11:30): I I know I did. I know I did. Oh, said definitely. Oh, hell yeah. This is the one she's gonna listen to.

Unknown Speaker (11:36): This is the only one I know.

Grand Schwabini (11:38): I was having a conversation with with my guests from Ohio over the weekend, and we were talking about getting married, you know? And I was like, I could never figure out my my, you know, my friends. You guys are included in that. Mhmm. And we were talking about marriages.

Grand Schwabini (11:51): And for some reason, they were talking about how marriages can, you know, make somebody different. I said, oh, no. All my guys that got married, all married up. Mhmm. And I don't think anybody would deny that.

Grand Schwabini (12:02): And I said, myself included. And I think it's true.

Unknown Speaker (12:06): Yeah. It's true. I mean, some more than others.

Unknown Speaker (12:08): Don't think I don't I don't think Schwab right. I don't I don't Some

Unknown Speaker (12:12): some took a couple times. I mean, you you I mean, you're like, you went up to the penthouse.

Technical Director (12:18): Yeah. I climbed I climbed the ladder. Right. I climbed it was a hard ladder.

Hockey Jesus (12:22): You had to get first out of the sewer. Yeah. Right.

Grand Schwabini (12:27): Hey. Hey. Vegas. Right there, the tee box is right here on the golf course behind me.

Unknown Speaker (12:32): Stop lock.

Grand Schwabini (12:33): And then down that way Yeah. Somewhere over the hill back there is the green.

Unknown Speaker (12:39): Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (12:39): But we haven't been able to hit it over those trees. Yeah. What That's we keep trying to do.

Technical Director (12:42): Vegas TG, this is this is TD's house. So and, no, we do not live on a golf course. We have some acreage behind us in the Menorah

Hockey Jesus (12:52): Belt Course. Chris Look Chata with a nice little white lie there. I married a girl from a town called Trafford. I definitely hit the lottery.

Technical Director (13:00): Hey. Listen. Trafford's right over here.

Unknown Speaker (13:02): You don't even know where the hell

Unknown Speaker (13:03): it is.

Hockey Jesus (13:04): It's down the hill from I'm just saying Vegas is a smart guy. He knows if his wife peaks her, you know, peaks her head in, he's covered.

Unknown Speaker (13:11): Yep. Smart move.

Unknown Speaker (13:13): I I missed that whole thing.

Unknown Speaker (13:15): Yeah. You're you're you know? Yeah. Please stay with the show.

Unknown Speaker (13:20): Here's the best one so far.

Unknown Speaker (13:21): Hey, mister Seelers fan.

Technical Director (13:23): Here's the best one so far. Did Mark reckon to Lauren's car?

Unknown Speaker (13:27): Only If that easy. If it was only that easy.

Unknown Speaker (13:30): Oh my god. Okay. Okay. Let's, did you did

Unknown Speaker (13:35): you Still our fan.

Unknown Speaker (13:36): Are are are we gonna are we gonna stick with, the pens now first

Unknown Speaker (13:39): since It sounds like have to talk

Unknown Speaker (13:41): with about the pens. Let's

Unknown Speaker (13:42): talk about

Unknown Speaker (13:42): the Penns charts. If we did that, just tell us she's good.

Hockey Jesus (13:45): Are the rumors? Because you can't really believe anything anyway.

Unknown Speaker (13:48): Yeah. And stay with us. We'll get to the Steelers after the Penns and the Pirates guys.

Grand Schwabini (13:52): So the rumors are that, Dubis is heavily interested in moving up in the draft. Oh. And he there are a few defense spin. I didn't hear the names of the defense spin, but I know that the defense spin probably go about five or six deep.

Unknown Speaker (14:05): Okay.

Grand Schwabini (14:05): So he probably wouldn't have to move up that far. Oh. You know? He'd probably have to get a top 10 pick, which would definitely cost him a number one or at least a couple number twos. But, yeah, he seems like he's very interested in moving up to get a, you know, puck moving defenseman, somebody who can who can move the puck like the Latang.

Grand Schwabini (14:24): He's thinking about replacing Latang essentially at this point.

Unknown Speaker (14:27): Right. Makes sense.

Grand Schwabini (14:28): And honestly, that's the only rumor that I've been hearing about the draft is that, you know, the Pengs Pengs are interested. There's been a lot of other things like Dylan Larkin, for example, you know, the trade. Yep. I don't think you wanna get in on that. I I I I think he's too old at this point for the Penguins.

Unknown Speaker (14:46): I think

Unknown Speaker (14:46): he was 29.

Grand Schwabini (14:47): Yeah. That we got an we got enough 30 year olds, you know? We we wanna we wanna get 23 year olds because 30 year olds become 35 year olds by the time this team's really gonna be competitive, like, you know, like Vegas and Carolina.

Unknown Speaker (15:01): Well, you also don't really need a center, do you? I mean, you can always use them. But

Grand Schwabini (15:07): I think we do. I think we do need a a really good second line sentiment. Mhmm. Well, let's face it. Crosby's only gonna be around for two or three more years at the level he's playing at.

Hockey Jesus (15:17): Yeah. Vegas says Larkin wants to come to Vegas. Actually, it doesn't surprise me. I've actually heard that he's already pretty much telling teams he he wants to go to a contender.

Grand Schwabini (15:29): Yeah. And So Vegas would definitely be one of them.

Unknown Speaker (15:32): Right.

Grand Schwabini (15:32): Exactly. About that. Yeah. That doesn't surprise me at all. What were you saying about the cap space?

Grand Schwabini (15:40): We have the pens have most cap space in the NHL leading in off season. That is true. And a fresh team with a great leader in Crosby. It's huge. I agree with you, mister Steeler fan.

Grand Schwabini (15:52): Kyle made some good moves when we have cap space. Yeah. That's the thing. It's gonna be very interesting to see what he does with the cap space. It's very probable that he will make offers to restricted free agents.

Grand Schwabini (16:03): Now that will be that's usually kind of like not something you do in the NHL. Right. But who did it last year? I think it it some team did it last year.

Unknown Speaker (16:13): I think

Grand Schwabini (16:14): it was Saint Louis. Mhmm. I think they went after Bromberg and somebody else from from Edmonton and really hurt Edmonton, to be honest with you. But you do get some compensating you get some compensatory picks if you Yeah. If that happens.

Grand Schwabini (16:29): Yeah. So, I mean, it's not a bad deal for both teams. I would be very surprised. And, you know, the big the big the big deal out there is Jason Robertson. I I think Jason Robertson's probably gonna sign a pretty good contract with Dallas and then he's gonna get traded after that.

Unknown Speaker (16:44): There's also,

Hockey Jesus (16:46): what's his name? Robert Thomas from St. Louis.

Grand Schwabini (16:49): Yeah. Robert Thomas. So the counselor likes Robert Thomas a lot more than he likes Jason Robertson because he's more of a two way player. If you watch Jason Robertson play, he's a great goal scorer, though, Dow, probably the best goal scorer out there, certainly in the restricted or unrefr unrestricted free agency this year.

Technical Director (17:06): Unrestricted?

Grand Schwabini (17:07): Yeah. Unrestricted. But I saved myself. Thanks for making it up. And yeah.

Grand Schwabini (17:13): So but he's more of a two way player, Robert Thomas is. But who knows? Saint Louis has some money. They can sign him also. I don't know if they want to.

Grand Schwabini (17:23): Did you hear the did you hear what happened today though? No. Babcock is supposedly gonna get signed by Edmonton. Saw that. Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (17:30): What the hell? What the hell is Edmonton doing?

Hockey Jesus (17:33): By the way, that Robert Thomas, they're they're they're way over their heads in their asking price. They they the the the flyers had some interest in him, and they wanted Porter Martone for him. Yeah. Like, you're not giving up your best young player. Right.

Unknown Speaker (17:49): You know what I mean?

Grand Schwabini (17:50): They wanted Kendall, I think, in, like, two first round picks. Right. Yeah. It's forget it. He's not that

Unknown Speaker (17:56): No. He's not that good. No. Mm-mm.

Grand Schwabini (17:58): And if St. Louis is terrible, you might be able to get him at the trade deadline. Right. Right. If they don't sign him, if he stays in that restricted free agents Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (18:07): Becomes unrestricted next year. So, yeah, that's kinda what's going on in Orlando hockey. As far as and we kinda covered this with the Stanley Cup playoffs. Mark, I know you're watching. Mhmm.

Grand Schwabini (18:16): Chris, I know you're kinda watching. But the thing is about these playoffs, you just don't know when the you don't it there's no lead that's safe.

Hockey Jesus (18:25): No. There isn't.

Grand Schwabini (18:26): Carolina, you know, overcame a two goal deficit in the second game. You're like, oh, that was a one off. You know? There's no way that they're gonna do that again. Then they overcome a four goal lead.

Grand Schwabini (18:37): Right. They lose the game in overtime, double overtime.

Unknown Speaker (18:40): Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (18:41): But, yeah, I I think I think you're absolutely nuts if you shut this game off. You you just can't do it at this point. Now now that that has happened, they're probably will go back to predictability

Unknown Speaker (18:51): Right.

Unknown Speaker (18:51): Where it'll

Unknown Speaker (18:52): just be like Somebody will win three one. Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (18:54): And they they and they scored a goal with with with a goalie pulled too, which never works. Rarely works. But they had a two man advantage because of shooting the puck over the over the over the glass, which I love that rule. I'm so glad they Mhmm. Do do that.

Unknown Speaker (19:08): I I mean, I know it's

Unknown Speaker (19:08): been in the NHL. It

Grand Schwabini (19:10): too. Know I it's been in the NHL for a while, but I can remember when the devils used to do it. That's when they got in trouble, they just like, poop.

Unknown Speaker (19:16): Right. Right.

Unknown Speaker (19:17): Just shoot it out. Just shoot it out. You're like, oh god. Now they get to get off the ice. You know?

Unknown Speaker (19:21): I like that. The delay of game.

Grand Schwabini (19:23): Yeah. I think that's that's that's been really good. And and honestly, you I you have to give it to the officiating. They are have been a lot of controversial goals, and I think they've got every single one of them right. That's really hard to do at the at the speed they're playing at.

Hockey Jesus (19:38): I think I think they did a good job in this last game of not calling a penalty in overtime. Because there Yeah. There were a numb they could have called a few. But I thought it it was good just like let let the teams play it out.

Grand Schwabini (19:51): Yeah. And Vegas is saying that Dorfiev is a is a restricted free agent and so is Eichel. Eichel's not gonna go anywhere. He's he's gonna resign with them. He really likes it there.

Grand Schwabini (20:03): Right. And as far as I can't even say this name. Dor Dorfiev.

Unknown Speaker (20:08): I don't even oh, I don't I don't don't think you spelled it right.

Grand Schwabini (20:11): No. No. I think it's spelled right. Is it? Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (20:13): It's Dorf. I'm saying Dorfiev, but I'm missing a syllable in there.

Unknown Speaker (20:17): Sorry. You're not Russian.

Unknown Speaker (20:18): It's like Dorfiev. True. Dora. Dora. Dora.

Unknown Speaker (20:21): Dora.

Grand Schwabini (20:22): No. It's a Dorfiev. I must break you. He's he's but he's not been nearly as good as Brett Howden. My god.

Grand Schwabini (20:29): Brett Howden has scored more goals in the postseason than he has the whole regular season.

Unknown Speaker (20:35): Listen. Listen.

Grand Schwabini (20:36): Just in the postseason, 12 in a regular season. Who could see that coming? Nobody could see that coming.

Technical Director (20:42): I I gotta step in here and say, mister Stiller's fan is mister Stiller fan, pardon me, is is truly, truly excited about next year for the penguins. I mean, you can tell. Bells are buyers, and they're a playoff team. That doesn't happen very often, folks. Bad teams are typically the buyers in free agency, and that's across most major American sports.

Technical Director (21:03): Right? But I, you know?

Grand Schwabini (21:06): I love the I love the love he's giving to the Pittsburgh.

Technical Director (21:09): Well, I mean, I I I think for the first time in a little while, it it's a possibility. I mean, he's not wrong. You know? They they did make the playoffs. Mhmm.

Technical Director (21:17): They did have some young talent that played pretty well unexpectedly.

Unknown Speaker (21:21): Not enough of it. But, yeah, you're right. I know. The guys that played up, they did.

Technical Director (21:25): That's the point he's making. Not enough of it. But now they've got all this cap space. Mhmm. They brought Malcolm back just like you said.

Technical Director (21:32): Why not bring him back for another year? You have no real replacement. Right. So now you've got a you've got a war chest. So, I mean, I'm not saying go out and get a huge free agent, mess up the chemistry of the team, but you can you can get a supporting cast in here and and and and a good one.

Unknown Speaker (21:48): The issue is

Unknown Speaker (21:49): is there's nobody to get this year.

Unknown Speaker (21:51): Yeah. Yeah. Well, you but there's trades possibilities.

Grand Schwabini (21:54): Yeah. And and here's But the problem is is they'll want all our younger players.

Unknown Speaker (21:58): Yeah. Here's here's Chris Chauda. Here's Chris Chauda. Let's let's let's wrap up the Penn stuff on this.

Grand Schwabini (22:02): If I can make one move for the Penns, what would it be, and what's the biggest need? Well, the things that I would not do is I would not I would not go and and keep Manta. I would absolutely bring Miroshav up. I've been watching the Collar Cup playoffs, and Miroshav's played great. All the games they've lost were, like, two one, three two, and a and a lot of the goals have been controversial because guys have been bumping into him.

Grand Schwabini (22:28): I would absolutely bring him up. The problem with bringing that that would be my big move. Bring up Murashaw at the beginning of the year, Make him your number one goalie and just ride him. And the problem with that is he's not gonna play well. You Mhmm.

Grand Schwabini (22:40): He's gonna play probably pretty poorly, and you're gonna be like, but we wanna win now. That would be the worst thing you can do.

Unknown Speaker (22:47): I think you have

Grand Schwabini (22:47): to you have to realize that this past year was basically hitting the lottery with every guy you picked up, and that's not gonna happen. But you absolutely have to sign Wotherspoon and Shea to longer term contracts. You gotta resign those guys to, you know, like, 3 or $4,000,000 contracts for, like, three or four years. If you can do that, then I think you can shore up your defense. And if you could somehow somehow there's nobody to go get.

Grand Schwabini (23:15): That's the problem. So you're that means you're gonna have to probably bring up either Brunick and or, Pickering and hope that one of those guys work out. I once again, been watching the playoffs. I don't think either of those guys have it. And that's gonna be that's gonna be your problem right there.

Grand Schwabini (23:31): You're gonna be relying on your two oldest defensemen to move the puck, and they can still do it. Latang and Carlson can absolutely still move the puck, but you're gonna have to replace them with somebody young. And I think that's why Dubis wants to go up and get a young defenseman this year to make that the guy who's eventually going to replace replace him. So that's what I would do. I would move up in a draft.

Grand Schwabini (23:53): The biggest move I would make here, I'm gonna end with this. The biggest move I would make is move up, get the best moving defensive puck mover in the draft this year and play him this year no matter the cost.

Technical Director (24:05): So it looks like mister Stiller fan is gonna have a debate with you. He he he thinks somehow they can they can go out and they can do this. Not enough. They were considered bottom 10 in the league heading to the start of the season. Do we not remember the penguins were 34, 36 in 2025 season with 12 overtime losses?

Technical Director (24:22): I mean, look. It's all it's all season. They got a lot of money. Anything can happen.

Grand Schwabini (24:28): And But but remember what remember what Dubis did this year to help them. He got lucky in getting rid of Tristan Jari. That was the biggest move he made all year long. Mhmm. Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (24:38): Getting rid of Tristan Jari and being able to free up that spot to bring in Murashov. That's what you have to do now. And and I think that was the biggest catalyst.

Unknown Speaker (24:47): Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (24:48): To to to them get into the season they did. And let's face it. Man, this 30 goals, absolutely helped too.

Technical Director (24:54): So here's the thing, mister Stiller fan, and we will end on this, but I I this is, he says much improved this year in 2026, second in division, 41 wins, 25 loss, 16 overtime losses. Look, HJ and the porch, they don't count overtime losses.

Unknown Speaker (25:09): Yeah. That's forty one and forty one.

Technical Director (25:11): This team was actually forty one and forty one because those overtime losses were losses. Mhmm. So to me, I, you know, I love your positivity. I think it's great. And I think you're right.

Technical Director (25:25): But to me, I look at that and say, yeah, they made the playoffs, but everybody knows in the NHL, a lot of teams make the playoffs. They were forty one and forty one. Mhmm. You know, it's like an eight and eight or, you know, in the old days, an eight and eight team making it in the playoffs in

Grand Schwabini (25:39): the NFL. And they were much improved. Have not

Unknown Speaker (25:41): And they

Unknown Speaker (25:41): were improved.

Grand Schwabini (25:42): Have not forgotten the fact that they are much improved. I just think the way they improved wasn't by youth. I think it was by good pickups with guys that we're not gonna keep. So, I mean, minus the defense bin. Like I said, Watherspoon and Shay, you gotta keep those guys.

Grand Schwabini (25:58): Those guys are absolutely worth keeping. But as far as Mantha and, you know, they got Chinnikov. So there's no reason why Chinnikov can't be a top six guy and actually perform better if you can get him on the power play next year. He could he could he could be your 30 goal scorer next year, and you wanna do that with a a 23, 24 year old kid as opposed to 38 well, he man is 34, I think. So, you know, a much younger crowd.

Grand Schwabini (26:24): That's what you have to do. You gotta get you gotta get younger, and that's probably gonna cost us some wins next year. But I'm okay with that because in the long run, you're gonna be more like Vegas and less like Washington who, is gonna be washed up now. News or Thank you very much.

Hockey Jesus (26:42): Steelers or pirates. Where do we go next?

Unknown Speaker (26:45): I would say

Unknown Speaker (26:47): I would say you have to smash the subscribe button.

Technical Director (26:49): Yeah. That's the first thing I wanna tell you is I wanna thank you for watching us on YouTube if you are, and if you're catching us on the podcast, you can always watch us on YouTube every Monday night, 7PM live from the porch in Monroeville, which is the greater Pittsburgh area. You can catch us, also on X or Facebook. Hit the subscribe button. Click notifications.

Technical Director (27:10): You'll know. Your phone will tell you. I don't know what that is. I have no idea what that is. I I think I got rid

Unknown Speaker (27:17): of it. Just wanted to hit that button just to see what it would do?

Unknown Speaker (27:20): I think yeah. I I did.

Unknown Speaker (27:22): Our fans don't appreciate that.

Technical Director (27:23): I thought it was something else completely. I'm really kinda upset with myself. But

Hockey Jesus (27:27): The technical director all over the place.

Technical Director (27:30): I think we're gonna go with the Steelers. The Steelers. The Steelers. Do we do?

Hockey Jesus (27:37): We each pick one thing to talk about with the Steelers and leave it at that.

Unknown Speaker (27:43): Take away from Minnie King.

Unknown Speaker (27:44): Sure. Yeah. Go ahead. HJ, start.

Grand Schwabini (27:47): Let's start. First off. First, I think you have to talk about the, the signings they did. Nick Herbig gets a four year, a $100,000,000 contract extension. We should talk about that first.

Grand Schwabini (27:58): Between that contract and the Darnell Washington contract, a four year, 42,000,000. Do you think any of those made any sense at all? Mark, I'll start with you.

Hockey Jesus (28:08): I'm gonna say no. Look, Herbig may end up being worthy of that contract. I'm not saying anything negative about him as a player. Just for me right now, I feel like he's really just shown to be a quality situational pass rusher. Mhmm.

Hockey Jesus (28:34): I just think that, you know, 20,000,000 a year, 25,000,000 a year, whatever it is, is just a little bit too soon for him. Right. Darnell Washington, I mean, I don't think that he is one of the best tight ends in the league and the best tight ends in the league usually get about $1,010,000,000 dollars a year. So do I think he's worth that contract? No.

Hockey Jesus (28:57): But in the grand scheme of things, probably as time moves along, it'll probably be a bargain. So it's okay. But, yeah, I I don't know that I don't know if there's a reason to do any of those deals right now.

Grand Schwabini (29:09): Well, it should be noted that that isn't the guaranteed money. I think the guaranteed money is 20 like one

Unknown Speaker (29:14): for for both of that. Right. Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (29:16): It's like 50,000,000 or 40,000,000, I think, guaranteed for her. But Mhmm. Think it's it was I think you're right. Like 20 or 21,000,000 for for Darnell Washington. Mhmm.

Grand Schwabini (29:26): Mister Klein, TD, what do you think?

Technical Director (29:28): Was Nick Herbig worth the money? Yep. Or no. Type one or two in the chat. Let's see if anybody has a an opinion on that.

Unknown Speaker (29:36): Right now, we're asking for your opinion.

Unknown Speaker (29:38): I know you can type one or two. It is a sports talk radio.

Technical Director (29:43): This is a Vegas says one. It was worth it. I love the signings. Her big deal is going to look like a great deal in three years when he still has three years left and TJ will have something else. This is a huge deal, folks.

Technical Director (29:55): Play calling matters. Tomlin Macroman. Okay. So we're talking about his question from earlier. Let me do the Nick Herbig thing first.

Technical Director (30:02): Do it. I I watched Mark Madden talk about this, and I think Mark Madden was absolutely right. He's a backup. You gave a $100,000,000 to a backup. I'm not saying he's a bad player, and I'm not saying that he hasn't shown potential and has had some big plays.

Technical Director (30:22): Right. He has. So he's not a bust. Yep. But he's a backup.

Technical Director (30:27): And I don't care whether TJ Watt has lost a step or not, and and I happen to think he has, he still benefited from TJ Watt being on that line. Mhmm. He still benefited from it, and so did Alex Highsmith.

Unknown Speaker (30:46): Mhmm.

Technical Director (30:46): And they will continue to benefit from it this year if, if they end up playing. So I don't, I don't know, man, that that's a lot of money for a backup. And yeah, the steelers like Madden said, they never say no to anybody. He's right. They never say no to anybody.

Technical Director (31:04): And, and what are they afraid of? The Darnell Washington signing. I think what that, and I know what we all, we all know for, for those of you who are a little newer to the show, I'm a huge Mount Washington.

Unknown Speaker (31:16): She has a love affair.

Unknown Speaker (31:17): I love that. I love that guy, man. He's so big. And when he gets going, man, he's a freight train.

Grand Schwabini (31:23): He is. He ran some people over last year.

Technical Director (31:26): And I think Mike McCarthy sees that. You can tell he sees that because what did they do? They extended him.

Unknown Speaker (31:32): You got beer goggles for him.

Technical Director (31:36): So, so, you know, I'm I'm I'm just saying that I like that signing and I think we're gonna see a lot more of Darnell Washington on the field. I I you know, is he gonna be more involved in the offense in the pass game? I'm gonna say yes. How much more? I don't know, but I think he's gonna be on the field more because McCarthy also sees him as an extra blocker as well as a threat.

Technical Director (32:01): So

Unknown Speaker (32:01): Not a very good one.

Unknown Speaker (32:02): Well, I look. He doesn't have to be very good. What is three hundred and ten pounds and He's better than Fryermuth. Right. Right.

Technical Director (32:09): So if it means Watt is getting traded in the off season, then I will change my mind. Mister Still has been says he thinks it's a bad deal. It's a bad deal. So yeah. What do you guys think?

Technical Director (32:20): Good deal, bad deal for her big, good deal, bad deal for Washington. This Highsmith stuff. This is what I love. Alex Highsmith is probably going to be a hold in in camp. I mean, I know we've been talking about holdings for the last couple of years.

Technical Director (32:37): Right? But just, just don't don't come to camp.

Grand Schwabini (32:41): Well, JP Junior's doing the same thing.

Unknown Speaker (32:43): Right.

Technical Director (32:43): I mean, hold out. Don't show up there strutting around like, you know, you better pay me the money. This is the then sit on the side of

Unknown Speaker (32:50): the practice.

Unknown Speaker (32:51): I know it's

Unknown Speaker (32:52): so stupid. You know? Well, it's better than that they're not there. It's better than that.

Unknown Speaker (32:57): Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (32:58): Well, my opinion is thanks for asking. My opinion is that the herbic

Unknown Speaker (33:03): I thought we heard his opinion.

Unknown Speaker (33:04): No. I I I asked the question.

Hockey Jesus (33:06): Yes. Okay. Now we're back to you full circle. Alright.

Grand Schwabini (33:09): A not needy person. I did not answer first. Let you Yes. Yes, guys.

Unknown Speaker (33:13): Okay. There we go. There we go.

Grand Schwabini (33:15): So, yeah, I mean, you I think you're right about let's start with Washington. I it's fine. I don't care. You know? I do I do I think he's worth $10,000,000?

Grand Schwabini (33:24): Absolutely not. Does that mean they can cut him if he turns out to be garbage or, or if he gets injured in a couple years? Sure. And nobody will lose any sleep over Washington leaving or going or staying, But he is a unicorn. I mean, he's a big guy.

Grand Schwabini (33:41): He's proven that his catching has gotten better, and I believe that McCarthy's gonna utilize him better in the offense. So for that reason, I'm a little bit excited about him signing that extension with McCarthy being here. I would not have been that way had Tomlin been here. So that's the that's a caveat that I throw there. Herbig, a 100,000,000.

Grand Schwabini (34:01): That's it's that's absolutely ridiculous but it doesn't start till next year. So, he's still getting paid peanuts this year. Okay? Yeah. If if they want to, they could trade Alex Highsmith in a second and almost anybody would take him and they might and they still have let and I agree with you.

Grand Schwabini (34:20): I think Watt has lost step. You can't say that he hasn't. Look at his production at the second half of last year.

Technical Director (34:26): It look at him off the ball. It was Just look at him off the ball.

Grand Schwabini (34:29): It was horrible. It was terrible. He's no longer the dominant guy and go back to last weeks and you'll know how I feel about Watt and his importance to this team. So I I hope he does get better. And I think he could get better if they do rush four guys all the time, and I'm including Jack Sawyer in that.

Grand Schwabini (34:45): So if everybody's rushing the quarterback, you know, instead of always having the same guys in their third, maybe they maybe they bring three or all four of those guys in on a passing down to get to the quarterback. And maybe some of those guys drop back in in the past. Right? But you don't know where it's gonna be coming from. So I that's what I love about that signing.

Grand Schwabini (35:05): You're gonna have four pass rushers who can get to the quarterback, and you can run all kinds of schemes with that. I don't know that they'll do that, but if they do, I think it's I think it's I think it's a really good I think it's a really good signing, and I'm okay with it only because the guaranteed money isn't isn't big. And that's the thing with the NFL. It looks like they signed him for a $25,000,000 a year contract, but it's

Unknown Speaker (35:26): not that.

Grand Schwabini (35:26): Yeah. No, it's not that It's not that at all. So, so, yeah. I'm I'm lukewarm with both of them. I'm not too bent out of shape with either of them.

Grand Schwabini (35:36): The the other thing I wanna talk about with Finning Camp is the wide receiver situation. It looks like DK and, jeez. Pittman. Pittman junior are are gonna be great. Gonna gonna be good.

Grand Schwabini (35:51): DK's gonna be able to play that downfield role now because Pittman's not a fast guy, but he's supposedly is a great at route runner. Right. Can get off the line real quick. That's gonna help Rogers a lot. Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (36:02): The the very interesting thing is from what we've heard about, mini camp is Jeremy Bernard looked great. So supposedly. And Roman Wilson caught, like, a 80 yard touchdown pass. So if both of those guys can show up at at training camp and look like they're a viable, you know, third wide receiver like we always wanted Calvin Austin the third to be and never turned out to be. That could be that could be a very interesting, offense if one of those two guys hit.

Grand Schwabini (36:33): Now I'm I'm more interested in Jeremy Bernard than I am with Roman Wilson, but I recognize that Roman Wilson didn't really get a a fair look the last couple of Mhmm. One he was injured first year. Yeah. And and and last year, what did he have? Like, 12 receptions for Mhmm.

Grand Schwabini (36:48): 150 yards or some some crap like that, something terrible. So I'm interested in the wide receiver position. You guys have any thoughts on the wide receiver position or any of those guys?

Technical Director (36:59): I I you know what? I like I said, the last time we talked, if I never hear Roman Wilson's name again, I don't care. You know? I mean So you're over him. He I I I was never a Roman Wilson fan.

Technical Director (37:13): Okay. He was previous regime previous regime, just completely destroyed this team in my opinion from top to bottom. Now they make playoffs every year. Look, it's almost like they make the playoffs because somebody has to from the North. You know what I mean?

Unknown Speaker (37:32): It's it's it's kinda like

Unknown Speaker (37:35): so harsh.

Technical Director (37:36): So I I and and I did state that, you know, Michael Pittman Junior, he's one of my top five Steelers for this year, important Steelers. He is definitely gonna be coming over the middle. He's gonna be giving Aaron Rodgers or any quarterback that plays for the steelers in this time frame. You know, a solid target over the middle, a good route runner. He's gonna know where he's supposed to be.

Unknown Speaker (37:58): That's what Rogers didn't have last year.

Unknown Speaker (38:00): He'll be able to hit him.

Unknown Speaker (38:01): Right. Right.

Unknown Speaker (38:02): And he'll catch it.

Technical Director (38:03): And so I like that. Jeremy Bernard, I say this about every rookie. Look, gotta see him play. Mhmm. Gotta see him play.

Unknown Speaker (38:11): I mean, we said it about Pickens.

Unknown Speaker (38:12): Right.

Technical Director (38:12): And his first year was kinda like, it looked like he showed flashes. He did. And then, you know, his next year, he was really good. And then he went bat shit like AB. So, you know, I mean, you you just don't know what these guys.

Technical Director (38:25): So is he big? Is he the right guy? Well, he's the right fit. Let's put it that way. His body type, the way he plays.

Technical Director (38:33): But I gotta see him play. I I I gotta he can't be any worse in my opinion than Calvin Austin the third because I I never liked his. I I mean, I hated the Tomlin offenses anyway. So we don't have to go. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (38:46): Yeah. What about you, bud?

Hockey Jesus (38:47): Well, I think everything that's been said about the receiving room is has been said. So I'm gonna move on to something that I actually really, really like. Okay. Now I've also heard other folks on the radio talking about that they don't like this, but I really do. And what it is is the reshuffling around of the offensive line.

Unknown Speaker (39:13): Oh, yeah. Right.

Hockey Jesus (39:14): Right. I think it's I think it's a brilliant coaching move. You know, look, Fotano was played left tackle in college. That's where he feels most comfortable. It's also the most important position on the line.

Hockey Jesus (39:31): And and so I like putting him there. Mason McCormick, look, he's a guy who doesn't complain. So the fact that he's moving from right guard to left guard is is just fine with him and it's fine with me. By the way, I I don't remember exactly what it was, but there were some sort of list that came out last year of it basically, it was taking, like, the year that you were drafted, the round that you were drafted, and kind of comparing you to your peers at the position. And he, like, came out as, like, one of the highest, most productive players Right.

Unknown Speaker (40:13): You know, past where he should have been.

Unknown Speaker (40:15): So so he's You're talking Fultano. Right?

Hockey Jesus (40:19): No. No. I'm talking McCormick.

Unknown Speaker (40:21): McCormick. I'm sorry. Okay.

Hockey Jesus (40:22): Right. Zach Frazier, we know is quality in at center.

Unknown Speaker (40:27): At center.

Unknown Speaker (40:27): And

Hockey Jesus (40:27): also Spencer Anderson

Unknown Speaker (40:30): Right.

Hockey Jesus (40:31): Who I always thought should be a starter. He's got the starting position right now. Right guard. That's where he played in college, and he feels most comfortable.

Unknown Speaker (40:40): Mhmm.

Hockey Jesus (40:40): So, you know, and now you're basically sort of having IMAX and I'm drawing a blank Dylan Cook. And Dylan Cook kind of fight it out for right for right tackle. I don't know. I think what we're doing is we're putting everybody in the place they should be. Now some some folks folks look at it and they say, well, you know, last year, the right side of the line was in pretty good shape.

Hockey Jesus (41:03): Why tinker with it? But I I think we're getting people into the right spots. And so I I really like the the thought that went into that. And I think that's gonna prove really positive for the line having a good year.

Grand Schwabini (41:18): Well, and on top of that, I think the depth is there too. Let's say Broderick Jones, and he's been seen out there, you know, moving around and and hitting pads. So he's getting healthier. So there is still a chance that, you know, he'll be in that mix with Dylan cook for that, for that starting right, right tackle positions. And don't forget the dunker, You know?

Grand Schwabini (41:40): We got the we got the we got the redhead with the, mullet. I mean I can't wait to see that guy. He's gonna be he's gonna be battling out there, in training camp. So, you know, he's gonna he's gonna make some noise at one of those left or right. I'm call

Technical Director (41:53): it right now, boys, dunker hall fame.

Unknown Speaker (41:56): Boy. Guy to get the kiss.

Unknown Speaker (41:58): Did you do that?

Unknown Speaker (41:59): It's such bad luck.

Technical Director (42:01): Speaker Listen, let me talk about the offensive line here because if you guys, if you guys go back and listen to last week's podcast, we did our top five Steeler players, most important players for this upcoming season in order to make the playoffs. Who do we who needs a step up? And I pulled a fast one on these guys after, you know, HJ almost convinced me it should be TJ Watt as my number one.

Unknown Speaker (42:24): I tried.

Technical Director (42:25): And I said my number one was the entire offensive line. And you guys, you know, man, Todd Jones more than one person or you dumb, you know, that kind

Unknown Speaker (42:34): of stuff. We we already knew.

Technical Director (42:35): And here we have here we have here we have the grand Schwabini kind of backing that up and and not saying they're number one, but backing it up and making my case for me. Yes. Mike McCarthy, excuse me, knows how to put people where they play the bet. Tom, the more and and I I also watch I I've I started watching Mark Madden's clips on Instagram because I I can't take a whole lot of him, but once in a while, I want to get a take. And, you know, he said it's about

Unknown Speaker (43:05): vacation this week.

Technical Director (43:06): Yeah. Well, he's still putting out social media stuff. So anyway, he said, you know, we're going to find out very quickly when Mike McCarthy starts coaching on the field, how poorly a head coach Mike Tomlin was at the end, how poorly that staff was at the end. Right. And we're gonna find out very quickly.

Technical Director (43:26): We're we're finding out in in mini camp when they say, no, this is where you belong. This is this guy's best here. This guy's best here. The offensive line is going to make all the difference in the world. Somebody mentioned Kalen Caleb Johnson in the comments.

Grand Schwabini (43:40): Yeah. I saw it.

Technical Director (43:41): But listen. And and and they said the same thing. They they don't ever they Klein called for Jay Schrader for hall of fame. Here's the here's Pat off track. Never.

Technical Director (43:51): I never did that. I promise you, Pat. Jay Schrader, former Redskins quarterback. I hope Caleb Johnson never returns a kickoff for our team every game. Yeah.

Technical Director (43:59): I I look. Caleb Caleb Johnson was drafted by Mike Tomlin, the Mike Tomlin regime. Okay. I'm I'm gonna go back to this Will Howard thing because I still hear comments

Unknown Speaker (44:08): about it. Please.

Technical Director (44:09): Will Howard will not be on this team. He might he might be

Unknown Speaker (44:13): I don't know. Will's that

Unknown Speaker (44:14): squatting. Correct.

Technical Director (44:15): I I'm calling it right here.

Grand Schwabini (44:16): I don't know. Everybody's really like saying, oh, Will Howard, you know, he's getting some reps. He's he's he's looking pretty good out there. He's making progress.

Hockey Jesus (44:24): Well, like you always like to say, you're not an insider.

Grand Schwabini (44:28): Mhmm. The other thing the other thing I think is worth worth mentioning, you know, people are here, asking about JPJ. Yeah. They're gonna sign him. Don't worry.

Grand Schwabini (44:37): They're gonna sign him. I don't know how much he's gonna get. He's probably not gonna He's not he's not gonna get top dollar, but he'll get he'll get he'll get some money. They're they actually spent quite a bit of their salary cap right now. I think they got 5,000,000 more to spend.

Grand Schwabini (44:51): He'll get that plus some, but it won't it won't start, you know, till next season the season after next anyway. So but they'll sign him. Don't worry. JP Junior is gonna be a Steeler for the next, five years. No problem.

Grand Schwabini (45:06): He he he probably won't get Dean money, but I don't think Dean gets his big money for, like, two more years, and they can cut Dean by then also. But I I love Dean on the other side. So, I love the fact that they have two cornerbacks, and that's what I mentioned last week. As far as Caleb Johnson goes, I have to I have to agree with TD, unfortunately. I want Caleb Johnson to get a shot this year.

Grand Schwabini (45:30): I just don't I just don't know. They're bringing in Rico Daddle.

Unknown Speaker (45:34): How's he gonna get a shot when you've got two backs ahead

Grand Schwabini (45:36): of him? And and McCarthy already likes Rico. Yeah. Somebody has to

Unknown Speaker (45:39): get hurt,

Grand Schwabini (45:40): basically. Is probably gonna probably probably yeah. If somebody doesn't get hurt Right. The chances of him playing are probably gonna be very slim. But I can promise you Vegas, he will not be returning kicks.

Unknown Speaker (45:52): Yes.

Grand Schwabini (45:52): Yeah. That that's a guarantee. We saw how that worked last year. Not good.

Technical Director (45:56): And the last thing on the Steelers, I love Dean and Porter junior outside folks. We have never had this type of cornerback duo ever in my lifetime. I don't I don't know about that, but that is a huge standard to set. This has to reflect in the numbers defensively this year.

Unknown Speaker (46:11): The seventies that were good.

Unknown Speaker (46:12): Yeah. Yeah. I mean, they've had some good corners in the past,

Grand Schwabini (46:14): but Mike Webster was it or Webster? What Rod? Sorry. Mike Wagner wasn't a great cornerback.

Unknown Speaker (46:21): Well, I mean, I'm just saying they were

Unknown Speaker (46:23): one of my top

Technical Director (46:24): five was good was Jamel D. You know, he was one of my top five. I mean, so I kind of agree that we've actually got two corners now that are, you know, one Mr. Steeler fans.

Unknown Speaker (46:36): Yeah. That's alright.

Unknown Speaker (46:38): We figured this much. Yeah. If you saw Mel Blanc play, then you probably wouldn't have said that.

Unknown Speaker (46:43): Right. That counts. It's fair. In your lifetime, we'll give it to We'll give it to you. It's fair.

Unknown Speaker (46:47): It's a fair statement.

Unknown Speaker (46:48): Alright. What about those buccos?

Technical Director (46:49): What about those buccos? Well, let me tell you something about those buccos. They haven't been having a very good time, but I'm hoping that maybe just maybe, if I bring this classic back, you know, they can turn things around. Oh, yeah. You guys remember this?

Grand Schwabini (47:20): Back at old 3 Rivers. Taking me back.

Unknown Speaker (47:25): There it is.

Unknown Speaker (47:27): You remember this, Schwab? I can't say I do.

Unknown Speaker (47:32): Oh, shit.

Unknown Speaker (47:35): It was on the Jumbotron. I mean,

Unknown Speaker (47:37): I saw several games, though.

Unknown Speaker (47:41): I felt like I felt like they they had Maybe. I felt like they

Unknown Speaker (47:45): had better stuff than that. Well, you know Yeah. Graphics weren't as Right. Right. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (47:51): They weren't as good as they are now with AI.

Unknown Speaker (47:53): Always wondered why they let it go on that long. Like, look. It's still going. Like, you know?

Grand Schwabini (47:58): They had a lot of airtime.

Technical Director (48:00): That brings us to, of course, the buccos. You know, Connor Griffin's injury, maybe a little worse. You know, it's a muscle thing. They're gonna take their time with him. I continue to say that O'Neil Cruz has he's regressed to the mean average wise, but he is walking more.

Hockey Jesus (48:22): They are saying that he's playing hurt and that a lot of folks would be on the IL right now.

Unknown Speaker (48:27): Who? Cruz?

Hockey Jesus (48:29): Yes. Oh. Okay. He he may even go on the IL in the next couple days.

Grand Schwabini (48:36): They can't afford to put anybody else on the IL.

Unknown Speaker (48:38): Yeah. But I just heard that coming in.

Technical Director (48:41): Coming in. Okay. So, I mean, you know, with Lau and

Unknown Speaker (48:46): Yeah. Yeah. Although Lau

Hockey Jesus (48:47): apparently is better than expected.

Grand Schwabini (48:51): Yeah. Well, in Connor Griffin is not.

Hockey Jesus (48:54): Right. But I think that's just being careful.

Unknown Speaker (48:57): Yeah. Yeah. Which makes sense. Right. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (48:59): They're gonna rehab them before they just throw them back in there.

Technical Director (49:01): Combine that combine that, the injuries we have here with the bullpen situation and, you know, that turns into a sweep by the Braves. You know, I I continue to say, and and and HJ had said this last week, maybe he's starting to believe, well, you gotta get through this. You gotta get through this. You know, you gotta get through these injuries. You gotta figure out what's going on in the bullpen.

Technical Director (49:29): These guys just can't see. I mean, Paul Skeens is six and five. You know? I mean, it's it's it's a crime. And and they say he's lost a little bit this year.

Technical Director (49:38): He's not pitching as well. Well, what do you expect? I mean, I find a did Greg Maddox pitch every single year lights out? I mean, he pitched a lot.

Unknown Speaker (49:49): Pretty pretty much.

Unknown Speaker (49:50): Well, but he was no. No. I don't think so. Look it up. Look it up.

Technical Director (49:53): I bet you he had a year where he wasn't that that great.

Hockey Jesus (49:56): I think you're wrong actually about that.

Unknown Speaker (49:58): Alright. Now I can We'll look it up. Okay. He's gonna look

Unknown Speaker (50:01): it up.

Technical Director (50:01): I I guess what I'm saying is that in in a way, it's it's gonna be interesting to see how Donnie Kelly handles this and how the Pirates organization handles this because, you know, it's one of the things that, a major league team has to go through. You're gonna have periods of injuries.

Unknown Speaker (50:19): So Well, look. Who do you have

Technical Director (50:20): who do you have behind these guys? And that's a tough one.

Hockey Jesus (50:23): Well, to be honest, I don't really think that's so much well, look, there's there's two issues in my mind. The bullpen is issue number one. And issue number two is simply they're just not ready yet. I mean, look, they're they're a good team. They're an improved team.

Hockey Jesus (50:45): I think they're certainly a team that could finish above 500. They've got a shot at the playoffs, but I would call it they're on the borderline. You know, like I think there's just as good a chance that they'll miss the playoffs as they'll make the playoffs. But when it really comes down to it, they're not passing the tests when they're playing the good teams. You know, like when they played when they played the braves, they got swept.

Hockey Jesus (51:16): When they played the Phillies who aren't a great team this year per se, but they do have the best record in the league in like the last 35 games, They got swept. So they're beating teams that they should beat or, you know, reasonably reasonably should be.

Unknown Speaker (51:35): Right.

Hockey Jesus (51:35): But they're not beating the best teams. And now we've got another three coming up now with the dodgers. The best team. The best team. Right?

Hockey Jesus (51:42): So Yeah. You know, I think that and there's nothing wrong with that. You know, I think teams go through phases until they get to the point where they're ready to get over that hump. And maybe this year is the year that they discover offense. You know, they discover that they've got really good, you know, starting pitching even though it's taken a dip lately.

Hockey Jesus (52:07): But they're gonna have to obviously improve their bullpen whether at the trading deadline or, you know, in the off season. And they're also going to have to get a little bit more depth. Right? So and and maybe they'll be ready next year to make a serious run. I think that's the way you have to sort of look at it is that they're just not quite at the level of an Atlanta or an LA Dodgers at this point.

Technical Director (52:33): Yeah. And I think that's obvious. I mean, I I I don't think they're or if there are, there are very few Pirates fans that would put them in that category. I I mean, the record is obvious. And and I is and and it's funny.

Technical Director (52:49): Chris Chata says, do you think Skeen's performance so far will open the door for Nutting to cheap out on him, or was Nutting always gonna cheap out? I would I would take the second option on that. I mean, you know, is it gonna make it harder for Paul Skeens marginally harder for Paul Skeens to demand more in arbitration?

Unknown Speaker (53:10): No. It's not. Probably not. He's still gonna be a side.

Technical Director (53:14): Unless unless he unless he falls apart this year. You know?

Grand Schwabini (53:18): And he's already done that. So what are the chances of him doing it apart, like every four start?

Technical Director (53:23): Like, finishes he finishes the year with, like, a four four three ERA and, you know, I I I don't think so. The the the difficulty is gonna be once again what we always talk about, which is, is not even gonna pay for schemes at all.

Unknown Speaker (53:40): Well And right now to go to arbitration.

Unknown Speaker (53:42): Would say no. I know.

Grand Schwabini (53:43): But The interesting thing is it's next year, they might not even play baseball. So Yeah. There's always that out there. Yeah. Since you used 4.3 ERA is the kind of the bellwether mark.

Grand Schwabini (53:54): Greg Maddox never really had a 4.3 ERA until his last two seasons of his career.

Unknown Speaker (53:59): Okay. Well, you know, he had a couple

Unknown Speaker (54:00): of bad seasons.

Unknown Speaker (54:01): I was correct.

Grand Schwabini (54:02): Yeah. He he had a he had one season where he's 3.56, but he still won like 17 games.

Technical Director (54:08): Yeah. How many strikeouts did he have? Career? No. No.

Technical Director (54:11): No. No. In that season. In which season? The the three point.

Unknown Speaker (54:17): Yeah. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (54:19): Let me pull it up. It's three, 237.

Unknown Speaker (54:26): 237 strikeouts? How many how many games did

Unknown Speaker (54:30): you Oh, no. Wait. That's not right.

Unknown Speaker (54:31): I was like, that's a that's a

Unknown Speaker (54:33): lot even for Maddox. Strikeouts over nine.

Unknown Speaker (54:36): It's a k in the

Grand Schwabini (54:37): Well, I know, but there it's not it's not well done by ESPN.

Unknown Speaker (54:42): Well, here's here's the thing. I mean, you know, people are a little concerned with schemes just because

Unknown Speaker (54:48): Oh, there it is. He's never One ninety eight. One ninety eight. How many walks? BBs.

Unknown Speaker (54:54): Yep. Yeah. Probably three.

Unknown Speaker (54:56): Yeah. Here it is. One ninety eight sixty six walks.

Hockey Jesus (55:01): Well, here's the thing. People He walked people. People are concerned about schemes just because he's getting hit a little bit this year. But look, I I think when it's all said and done, you know, he he's gonna win over 12 games and he's gonna probably finish with an ERA in the twos, like 2.5 or something.

Unknown Speaker (55:20): Yeah.

Hockey Jesus (55:20): So, you know, look, he'll he'll put it together at some point. He'll go on a nice run-in the second half.

Grand Schwabini (55:26): So Well, I hope he starts with tomorrow because I get to see him.

Unknown Speaker (55:28): Yeah. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (55:29): Yeah. Maybe you'll see his first no hitter. Yeah. Yeah. Maybe he will.

Unknown Speaker (55:33): Against the Dodgers. Probably not.

Technical Director (55:36): Actually, no. And Paul Skeens, that's how it would happen, but, you know, they could come out and blast three home runs.

Hockey Jesus (55:42): Actually, Paul Skeens too. The one thing about Paul Skeens, which is actually sort of the thing with most good pitchers, It's like the time to get him is in the first inning, get him early

Unknown Speaker (55:52): Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (55:52): Before he settles in. Yeah. So that I I can't wait to see that first at bat schemes versus Ohtani.

Unknown Speaker (55:57): Yeah. Yeah. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (55:58): You know?

Unknown Speaker (55:59): They're gonna be swinging

Unknown Speaker (55:59): away. Definitely.

Technical Director (56:00): They're gonna be swinging away. So yeah, I mean, at this point right now, the buckos they're, they're hanging in there. They're still in the conversation. Got some tough injuries coming up, some tough, tough division too. He says, Pat off track.

Technical Director (56:14): Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (56:14): The brewers were the first one to make it the 40 wins.

Technical Director (56:16): Yeah. I mean, what did I say? The brewers are on the way. Somehow they're gonna rise to the top. They got that positive run differential.

Unknown Speaker (56:22): They they know how to play the game.

Grand Schwabini (56:24): Not as good as the dodgers. I think the dodgers is like a 114 or something.

Technical Director (56:28): Well, the dodgers, like, just blast the ball right out of the ball park.

Hockey Jesus (56:32): Brewers actually have a fantastic pitcher over there that nobody talks about that, you know, or something. Yeah.

Technical Director (56:39): Yeah. He just being some guy in the head.

Unknown Speaker (56:41): He is just yeah. But he's unbelievable. Dude, mean, his his ARA is, like, in the one point fours. Yeah. You know?

Unknown Speaker (56:47): Yeah.

Technical Director (56:47): Yeah. So the, you know, they they just proves once again, it's proving that the the small market team, if they're run correctly, well, they can come out on top, you know? So there you have it. That's the Buccos. Anything else sports wise guys before we let Schwab introduce what we are watching?

Grand Schwabini (57:03): Oh, yes. We have to talk about the fact that the French Open was played this week.

Hockey Jesus (57:08): Yes. Now, Chris, which did you enjoy more? The men's final or the women's final?

Unknown Speaker (57:14): Neither. Neither. I watched neither.

Hockey Jesus (57:17): So let me ask let me ask you this then. I'm just gonna go men's because there's maybe a point zero zero zero one chance that you could get something right on the men's versus the women's.

Unknown Speaker (57:30): So you say who's a chance?

Hockey Jesus (57:32): Two one between Zerav and Gabali. Gabali. You're incorrect. You are incorrect, sir.

Unknown Speaker (57:42): I mean, that's a fifty fifty shot anyway.

Unknown Speaker (57:44): Did go five cents, though.

Unknown Speaker (57:45): It did. It did. See? It was close. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (57:47): It was close.

Grand Schwabini (57:48): It actually wasn't that close. He pulled he pulled away in the fifth set pretty badly. I think it

Hockey Jesus (57:52): Well, he he did, but, I mean, at the end of the fourth set, it was anybody's game.

Grand Schwabini (57:56): That's true. He won seven six. That guy won seven six. Right. Which was surprising.

Hockey Jesus (58:01): It was pretty good tennis, I thought.

Grand Schwabini (58:03): I thought it was okay for all the all the all the known players not being out either injured or or getting upset. It usually happens. Do they are they calling it the Roland Garros now? It's a French Open. Right?

Grand Schwabini (58:15): They always always says Roland Garros.

Unknown Speaker (58:17): Well, that's just the that's the name of the stadium.

Grand Schwabini (58:19): I know. But they they you don't see the French Open 2026. You know? It's just Roland Garros.

Unknown Speaker (58:25): Yeah. I guess. I

Grand Schwabini (58:26): think they're trying to rebrand it. I hate it. It's it's the damn French Open. Right? Okay?

Grand Schwabini (58:31): It's the US Open. It's the Australian Open. It's Wimbledon. You know? But, yeah, I agree with you, Amy.

Grand Schwabini (58:37): I don't like that the big guys were out either. But good for, Zevrev. He, I think that's how you pronounce it.

Unknown Speaker (58:43): Zerev.

Grand Schwabini (58:44): No. I think it's Zavrev.

Unknown Speaker (58:46): I'm not sure.

Grand Schwabini (58:47): I think it is. I I was watching, and that's what the announcers were calling him. Okay. But anyway, he's a big guy. And Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (58:52): I didn't realize, like, he had been the four other finals and lost them all.

Unknown Speaker (58:56): Oh, yeah. Well, he's But I mean, look who he played again.

Hockey Jesus (58:58): Yeah. He he's the unfortunate guy who has to play in an era of Djokovic, Nadal, Sinner Right. And, and Carlos Alcaraz.

Unknown Speaker (59:08): Right. And Alcaraz.

Unknown Speaker (59:09): So how's he gonna win? He won because none of them were in the

Unknown Speaker (59:12): were in the final. Right. Right.

Unknown Speaker (59:14): Right. Right.

Grand Schwabini (59:15): Yeah. So we have we have to mention that.

Technical Director (59:18): Christopher Sanchez just gave up a run, Schwab. He's done. He's done.

Unknown Speaker (59:22): Oh, yeah. Yeah. He's done. He's garbage.

Unknown Speaker (59:24): Are we gonna shed a tear?

Unknown Speaker (59:25): Let's see. His ERA Is now is now up to 1.52.

Grand Schwabini (59:32): But no, I think that I think that was the only other sporting event that oh, unless you wanna talk about the Belmont open. Do you wanna talk to Belmont sports? The

Hockey Jesus (59:41): one thing I'll say about the Belmont is, god, it's rough that, like, you know, was it Golden Tempo? Was that

Unknown Speaker (59:49): the name of the horse?

Unknown Speaker (59:49): Yeah. I think so.

Unknown Speaker (59:50): So they won the Kentucky Derby.

Unknown Speaker (59:51): Won the Kentucky Derby.

Unknown Speaker (59:52): They won the Preakness.

Unknown Speaker (59:54): No.

Hockey Jesus (59:54): No. No. The Belmont. Yep. But they didn't

Unknown Speaker (59:57): Didn't even pull

Unknown Speaker (59:57): Didn't even try in the Preakness

Unknown Speaker (59:59): because, you

Unknown Speaker (1:00:00): know, it wouldn't have been good for the horse.

Grand Schwabini (1:00:02): The horse wasn't wasn't ready.

Unknown Speaker (1:00:04): Like, oh, what are you doing horse racing for?

Unknown Speaker (1:00:08): Should have all three.

Unknown Speaker (1:00:09): You you had you had a horse that had a shot.

Unknown Speaker (1:00:11): Oh, thank you, Pat. Triple crown. Stakes. I I apologize.

Unknown Speaker (1:00:14): You had a horse that had shot at the triple crown, and they and they blew it.

Grand Schwabini (1:00:18): Well, he probably wouldn't have won the Belmont.

Unknown Speaker (1:00:20): Probably not,

Unknown Speaker (1:00:21): but maybe they would have made some special

Grand Schwabini (1:00:23): horse. You know, kudos out. I forget I forget the woman who trained them, but it's the first time she's ever won Right. Two in the same Right. Know, two of the Triple Crown in the same year.

Grand Schwabini (1:00:33): So Mhmm. Here's to the women. They're on the way up. By the way up.

Hockey Jesus (1:00:39): Way to go, women. Alright. Alright. So it is time for our last segment and it's the most important segment. It's the segment where we give back to you, our audience, our fans, our loyal listeners, and loyal viewers.

Hockey Jesus (1:00:54): It is where we fill in the gaps in your life. And what do you do in those gaps in your life when you're sitting around after dinner on a regular Monday night, Tuesday night, Wednesday night. Maybe you're not into the NBA. Maybe you don't wanna watch the NHL playoffs if the pens are out. You know, maybe it's a Pirates off day.

Hockey Jesus (1:01:20): So you sit with your loved one and you'll watch a show. How do you determine what you watch? There's so many choices. Netflix, Prime Video, AMC. Hulu.

Unknown Speaker (1:01:37): Are we done yet?

Unknown Speaker (1:01:38): Hulu. Apple TV plus. No. We're not done. We're just getting started.

Hockey Jesus (1:01:42): Prime. And, you know, it's too much. It's overwhelming. What we do is we watch these shows for you. And we are such good judges of what is quality and what is not quality.

Hockey Jesus (1:01:57): One of us actually even watches documentaries where you already know what happened. And he even gives them a grade.

Unknown Speaker (1:02:04): I do.

Unknown Speaker (1:02:05): So Usually a good one.

Hockey Jesus (1:02:07): So, you know, right now, listen, if you're looking for something to watch, listen to what we say, and just say to your loved one or your friend or whoever it might be, family member, you just say, hey, look, guys on the sports porch said this one is on lock. And if we say Alright. No go, then if you go

Unknown Speaker (1:02:30): Don't watch it.

Unknown Speaker (1:02:31): It's your fault. You were wrong. Okay.

Technical Director (1:02:34): I feel like that took forever. So It didn't.

Unknown Speaker (1:02:36): But I feel like you're very impatient this evening.

Grand Schwabini (1:02:39): Very impatient. He wants he wants to have cigarettes.

Unknown Speaker (1:02:42): Is there something else going on?

Technical Director (1:02:44): Yeah. No. There is nothing else going on right now other than the elongation of this segment.

Hockey Jesus (1:02:50): Let's start with you, Chris. I wanna get right into your documentary. Let's do it.

Technical Director (1:02:54): Let's do it. We are watching I watched Thomas Jefferson on Netflix.

Unknown Speaker (1:03:00): It was he was he a president?

Technical Director (1:03:03): Thomas Jefferson on Netflix.

Hockey Jesus (1:03:05): Hey. I have this sneaky suspicion that he's gonna get involved with the declaration of independence.

Unknown Speaker (1:03:10): Yeah. You're probably right about that.

Grand Schwabini (1:03:12): I bet he signed some important documents.

Unknown Speaker (1:03:14): Listen, guys. I love documentaries. I I watched third

Unknown Speaker (1:03:17): president of

Technical Director (1:03:17): The United States. I watched that you're correct, actually. I I watched Teddy Roosevelt review last week. Look. These are historical documentaries.

Technical Director (1:03:27): If you're wondering about their lives and and you like history, these documentaries are pretty well done. I learned a lot of things about Thomas Jefferson that I didn't know. One of the things was that he was a, Chris has ants in his pants

Unknown Speaker (1:03:43): as impatient.

Technical Director (1:03:45): Yeah. Yeah. I actually I'd like to drag this show out as long as possible. So I don't have to go in and deal with my wife after the comments that Schwab made earlier.

Grand Schwabini (1:03:53): You can always make a run over the hill

Unknown Speaker (1:03:55): back here. She's never gonna find that's called you'll never see me again. That's right. It was good. It was good.

Technical Director (1:04:02): I gotta tell you, I think it could have been done a little better.

Grand Schwabini (1:04:05): Was there like acting or was it just like

Unknown Speaker (1:04:07): little bit of acting?

Grand Schwabini (1:04:08): They like show pictures of like getting

Technical Director (1:04:10): in his way. It was a combination. Had, you had the typical narration, then you had the typical experts, then you had the typical old pictures.

Grand Schwabini (1:04:21): Did they do any reenactments? My wife hates that.

Technical Director (1:04:23): They did a little reenactment, but not big ones, but some. But it was like six episodes.

Unknown Speaker (1:04:30): Woah. And His whole life?

Technical Director (1:04:33): Yeah. His whole life was only six episodes. So I you know, if you like historical documentaries They

Unknown Speaker (1:04:40): talk about the slaves.

Unknown Speaker (1:04:41): Yes. They did.

Unknown Speaker (1:04:42): Sounds like it wasn't as important as it wasn't he wasn't as important as we thought he was.

Unknown Speaker (1:04:46): He's very important.

Unknown Speaker (1:04:47): No. He was very important.

Unknown Speaker (1:04:49): He's very

Unknown Speaker (1:04:49): I mean, lot of big decisions in congress. Lot of big decisions.

Grand Schwabini (1:04:52): They don't just put anybody on the nickel.

Unknown Speaker (1:04:54): Yeah. Or That is true.

Technical Director (1:04:56): Or build or or build a, you know, memorial to them in Washington DC.

Unknown Speaker (1:05:02): Well, it was one of the first three.

Unknown Speaker (1:05:03): Yeah. One of

Unknown Speaker (1:05:03): the Yeah. And it's in it. But let's face it. It's the one nobody really goes.

Unknown Speaker (1:05:07): This is what I'm gonna give it. I'm gonna give

Unknown Speaker (1:05:09): it The weakest moment.

Technical Director (1:05:10): Gonna give it a thumbs up and a sideways. If you're really into historical documentaries, about the founding fathers, it's a good piece. If you're looking for something that's like absolutely outstanding, no. Chris, you can come home with Mark tonight and sleep over here in our guest room.

Unknown Speaker (1:05:29): That might be a permanent movie. I think you wanna rethink that.

Technical Director (1:05:32): I still think I have a shot at at sleeping in in bed next to my wife tonight. Oh, you definitely do. Yeah. We all

Unknown Speaker (1:05:40): have that chance.

Technical Director (1:05:41): Mark, however, may not ever be able to come back.

Hockey Jesus (1:05:44): Mate, you just you just have to you gotta learn how to move on.

Unknown Speaker (1:05:47): He's dreading having to explain this to Amy when he gets home.

Unknown Speaker (1:05:50): No. You just no. There's nothing really to explain.

Hockey Jesus (1:05:53): Amy's gonna completely understand because we're actually watching a TV program, which is why this subject was in my head. Already. He has

Unknown Speaker (1:06:03): already formulated the excuse. He has already formulated the excuse.

Grand Schwabini (1:06:07): You don't need an excuse when it's the truth, Chris.

Technical Director (1:06:09): And on that note, the Grand Schwabini has finished, I'm guessing season three Two.

Unknown Speaker (1:06:14): Season two. Excuse me, of Your Friends and Neighbors. I believe both of you guys watched this, didn't you?

Grand Schwabini (1:06:20): Yeah. I did. I gave a review.

Technical Director (1:06:23): No. I watched I watched season two. I think I I finished it last night. Okay. But I'm not a 100% sure because Lauren fell asleep, so don't give away the end.

Unknown Speaker (1:06:32): Okay. You know what I mean?

Unknown Speaker (1:06:34): Well

Unknown Speaker (1:06:35): oh, you didn't watch the whole thing yet?

Technical Director (1:06:36): No. I've got I've got maybe ten or fifteen minutes left in what I think is the season. What is the

Hockey Jesus (1:06:42): season finale? Well yeah. It just so you know, it's coming back for season three.

Unknown Speaker (1:06:46): Which it should.

Hockey Jesus (1:06:47): Yes. Yeah. So for those of you who don't know the story, Jon Hamm is basically the star of the show. He's married slash now divorced to Amanda Pete. And essentially, what happens, he's a I I guess you just call him a financial advisor slash broker.

Hockey Jesus (1:07:09): Yeah. And, you know, lives in a really nice town, country club type life, and everybody knows everything about everybody. And he loses his job. And he just sort of on a whim decides, hey, you know what? All these rich people that I'm friends with have all this stuff that they don't even realize is just sitting in drawers in their homes.

Hockey Jesus (1:07:34): Right. And I could just, you know, be a thief.

Unknown Speaker (1:07:37): Well, he needed money. He he needed to keep the cash flow going.

Unknown Speaker (1:07:40): Yeah. Because he didn't want to tell his wife the truth that he lost his job.

Technical Director (1:07:43): You mean his ex wife. Right. Because he had to pay her money. Right.

Unknown Speaker (1:07:46): So that

Unknown Speaker (1:07:47): Were they really divorced?

Unknown Speaker (1:07:48): So that was so that

Hockey Jesus (1:07:49): was the premise of season one. And season two is actually kind of interesting because it it's sort of like it it sort of like goes back because he's still, you know, he starts out and he's still stealing things. And then and then eventually, he ends up getting blackmailed by a guy who tells him to go back to his old life and be his financial adviser slash broker.

Technical Director (1:08:17): Yeah. But he but he gives him a lot of money the way. Right. Right. We're not sure where it's from.

Unknown Speaker (1:08:22): Right.

Unknown Speaker (1:08:22): Right. Exactly.

Unknown Speaker (1:08:23): I'm so glad I didn't watch season two.

Unknown Speaker (1:08:25): No. Did you like season one?

Unknown Speaker (1:08:27): I I got tired

Unknown Speaker (1:08:29): of it. Oh, you

Unknown Speaker (1:08:29): got tired? Yeah.

Hockey Jesus (1:08:30): Well, then you might get tired of this one too.

Unknown Speaker (1:08:32): Yeah. But I think I'm gonna watch it.

Hockey Jesus (1:08:33): I enjoyed it. I mean, look, I I just I think I just really like John Ham. I just Yeah. I like him as an actor.

Grand Schwabini (1:08:40): Some of the supporting characters are good too. His buddies. They're kinda funny.

Hockey Jesus (1:08:43): Yeah. And and I I just like stories that are not typical. And so this is very atypical. Now I've also heard from other people, well, it's really also pretty unbelievable, like, you know, which is true. But at the same time, I think the premise is is is neat and makes sense because it is exactly true.

Unknown Speaker (1:09:04): I mean, you know when everybody's going on vacation and and you have and you have an in with with maid. With the security professional.

Unknown Speaker (1:09:12): And the maid.

Unknown Speaker (1:09:13): And the maid. You know what I mean? So yeah. I mean so I I thought it was a thoroughly enjoyable season two. I liked it.

Hockey Jesus (1:09:20): I'm looking forward to season three. If you liked season one, I would say watch it. It's a two thumbs up for me. But not for everyone as Steven Flitch has. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (1:09:34): So I'll quickly put.

Unknown Speaker (1:09:35): I just I just didn't like the characters. I do

Grand Schwabini (1:09:37): like John Hamm as an actor, but Yeah. Just the characters just got too degenerate.

Technical Director (1:09:41): Yeah. Well, I mean, you know, you've seen worse, I'm sure.

Unknown Speaker (1:09:45): Well, of course. Moving on.

Technical Director (1:09:47): Moving on to HJ. HJ has finally finished.

Unknown Speaker (1:09:52): Did he finish it?

Grand Schwabini (1:09:53): I did. I finished the handmaid's tale. I made it through all six seasons. I flew through the first three.

Unknown Speaker (1:09:59): Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (1:10:00): I absolutely love the first season.

Unknown Speaker (1:10:03): Mhmm.

Grand Schwabini (1:10:03): And then the second season and the third season were pretty good. I have to tell you, by the time I got to the the fifth and sixth season, I was done with this thing. I thought they carried it out too long. Yeah. For those of you who don't know what the hands Handmaid's Tale is, it's it's a Margaret Atwood novel about a a a The United States turns into Gilead, which is basically a a theocracy.

Grand Schwabini (1:10:29): And there there's a problem with the birth rate in all the world. And the way they did this was they basically said, well, we're gonna do what the bible said to do. And if you can't have if you can't have children, then you just put people into slavery and you make them have your children for you. And it is pretty bizarre and it's warped and that I really liked about it. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker (1:10:52): Because What's not to like about that? To like about that? Yeah. Bizarre and but but then it It's an interesting world.

Grand Schwabini (1:10:57): And and then it just like she had so she had a previous life, of course, before all this happened. And she was trying to get that life back, and everybody basically made a move to Canada because it wasn't Gilead in Canada. It was still the free world.

Unknown Speaker (1:11:10): Right. They weren't at war with Canada yet.

Grand Schwabini (1:11:12): Not yet. Yeah. And then there's some political stuff, and it it's okay. But I just I don't know. I just didn't think that Elizabeth Moss was was the person who could take down all of Gilead if you Right.

Grand Schwabini (1:11:25): Well just wasn't believable as, you know, the person who could actually do that, and they made you believe that she was the person who

Unknown Speaker (1:11:34): did that.

Technical Director (1:11:35): But she didn't really do it.

Unknown Speaker (1:11:36): But she didn't really do

Unknown Speaker (1:11:37): it. Yeah.

Grand Schwabini (1:11:37): And Gilead never really died at the end. And the reality is is she spoiler alert. If you're gonna watch it, turn it off now. She never finds her daughter anyways. Right.

Technical Director (1:11:49): Well, there's a there's a follow-up series.

Grand Schwabini (1:11:52): I know. But I I don't know. They drug it out for, like, two seasons. I'm like, okay.

Unknown Speaker (1:11:56): I kinda felt that way.

Grand Schwabini (1:11:57): Least make something happen that's different than we're gonna attack the city, and then somebody's gonna lose a limb or somebody's gonna get lost, and then we're gonna save them. It was like the same thing over and over for the last 15 episodes.

Unknown Speaker (1:12:10): This is very difficult. Is it is it a mixed review?

Grand Schwabini (1:12:14): I say if you like those warp things about, you know, sci fi and theocracy and you can see how people can take that power to the next level. Mhmm. You should watch it. Because the last two seasons, you can get through but the first three seasons are that good.

Unknown Speaker (1:12:31): Yeah, they're okay.

Grand Schwabini (1:12:31): They're they're really, really good. Yeah. And it'll propel you to make it to the end. At least it I I was okay with it. But I just I just thought if they would have ended it after, like, season three or four and then went on from there Mhmm.

Grand Schwabini (1:12:44): Then I think

Unknown Speaker (1:12:44): it would have

Unknown Speaker (1:12:45): been brilliant.

Unknown Speaker (1:12:45): Right.

Unknown Speaker (1:12:46): What about it might

Unknown Speaker (1:12:47): One thumb up,

Unknown Speaker (1:12:48): one thumb down.

Unknown Speaker (1:12:48): It's not

Unknown Speaker (1:12:49): in your top 10. No. If they stopped at season three, it might have been.

Unknown Speaker (1:12:54): Top 15. 15.

Technical Director (1:12:56): Yeah. There you go. Alright. That was what we're watching, and this was the sports sports black and gold. Thanks for being here all over the world on YouTube, on X, on Facebook.

Technical Director (1:13:08): And if you haven't already hit that subscribe button, click notifications. You'll know when we are live, which is every single Monday at 7PM eastern time. I do drop this into a podcast right after the show on the iHeartRadio app, Apple Podcast, Spotify, or anywhere you get your freaking podcasts. And be sure to pick up our reels and our videos and our shorts on YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook for HJ sitting across from me for the grand suaveeni. Amy did ask if Mark can sleep over at my house tonight.

Technical Director (1:13:43): That's a big no.

Unknown Speaker (1:13:44): That's a big no. That's a big no. Big no.

Technical Director (1:13:46): I am your technical director. Thanks for being here. I am out. You vlogs.

Unknown Speaker (1:13:52): See you next week.