Transcript of Hour 2: The 3-Day Household Name (feat. Sid Seixeiro) New

This is the Dan Levatore Show with the Stugats podcast.

I continue to see all kinds of videos coming from Eleven last night with, obviously, the US men's team is excited, and they are celebrating the gold medal. We have locals down here that are all posting videos, having a great time. Mike Ryan, what time did you get home last night from 11: 00?

I was bed at 1: 00 AM because as you know, this is a hockey capital of the world, and we've had so many celebrations at 11: 00, celebrating all these championships. The novelty has worn off just a little bit.

Yeah. Let's bring aboard Sid Secero, host of This is Sid Secero Show, powered by Sic Media. You can watch the show live Monday through Friday at noon, live on YouTube. Listen to the show wherever you get your podcast. Sid, who do you think right now is the face of insufferable US hockey fandom?

Well, right now, you. Right now, this show. Because you're the one in front of me. Good to see everyone. You guys are the ones... Mike, were you seriously there last night? You were there? Yes, I was. I was there, too. Yes. Oh, me, everyone else was there? No. No. Any other invites get thrown out?

Greg didn't make it.

They don't let old people in. Greg didn't make it. No.

No, I'm glad I'm talking to all eight hockey fans in South Florida. I'm really excited. I really appreciate the opportunity. I really appreciate the opportunity. No. And by the way, congratulations. You filled a nightclub in Miami. Good job, guys. Good for you. Good for you. Hockey's alive and well. Did you go to the elbow room where five people didn't notice gold medals walk in last night? Did that happen in Miami, too? Did that take place? No, it's great. I love where hockey lives, where hockey lives in Miami and in the Miami area. God bless all of you. Miami Miami Dade County. I really appreciate it. Yeah. A pill. Miami Dade County. Of hockey fandom.

So I'm familiar with your work here, and I find it even more funny because it's actually true. We don't care that much, and it must kill you that we don't care that much. I actually think it's way funnier this way.

It is for you. You guys should be laughing constantly at this. We are. It is ripping our guts out of our chest and laying them bare on the table. Yeah, loving it. This is the worst thing ever. This is like if Latvia beat you guys in Olympic basketball. Honestly, what headspace would you be at? And it's not just this. It's the Panthers thing. I'm here in the Toronto area. It's all the things. I heard Aaron Ekeblad on a radio show here. I'm not making this up. It was during the summer, he was golfing, and he told the guys in the interview, they took the cup into the elbow room, and no one noticed was there. No one. And we are dying up here watching by the tens of millions trying to get this gold medal, trying to beat the Panthers once. And you guys got your feet up just enjoying this for eight seconds. You move on and talk about the kid from Kansas who hates basketball, doesn't want to play. I know how you guys operate. That's exactly what's going to happen on this show. And we're dying. We need psychiatric help. And you guys like, Good party at the club last night.

But don't you feel good for Austin Matthews? He's a winner now, Sid. He's a winner.

Good for you. Good for you. He was carried by three guys, Connor Halibuck. If you didn't change everyone's diaper in that gold medal game, you would have lost. All right? And then patted everyone on the way out. The Hughes brothers, great games. That was a shot total two to one in our favor. If Crosby's not hurt, you guys are done.

That's definitely right, Sid. I have to interrupt you about Crosby. All of you are done.

Conjecture.

No, I disagree. Absolutely. If 87 is out there, they win the gold medal. I don't know if you're making yourself feel better with that, Sid.

What side are you on, trader?

I like Sydney Crosby, as a matter of fact. Do you think the pushback I've gotten on if Sydney Crosby had played, Mike Ryan has said, Oh, who cares? He's their fifth best player. If Cooper had a choice of who he had out on the ice, I think it goes Kael Mccar, one, Cydney Crosby, two, and he goes from there. How say you?

Their fifth best player.

Yeah.

Sid- Are you kidding me? I'm a hockey expert.

He is our foundation.

I'm a hockey expert, and I have my finger all over the pulse of this league. I just started paying attention to hockey eight years ago. I'm from a swamp. But Celabrini, McDavid, McKinnon, Mekar, actively, right now. Not who he'd want on the team, though.

Peek of their powers.

He's the fifth best player.

If you want to look at age, if you want to make this about ageism, if you want to look at the young Bucks coming up, maybe you're right. But here's what Crosby would have done, which would have sunk your whole operation. In that moment where panic started to set in, and Connor Halibuck makes the save of his life on Taves. People started to panic wearing red. I've rarely seen it. They started to panic. You saw it in the overtime. Who wouldn't have panicked? Who would have been steady? Who would have been our concrete foundation as we tried to build yet another hockey conquest? Would have been '87, and he wasn't out there. He studies the ship. He's the vet. He is the conscience. He is the calming influence. He is better than any American player to ever live. He wasn't out there. If he was out there, we would have won. I hate excuses, but I'll make it in this case. He's better than McJeeezus, too. I don't believe he was our fifth best player. I mean, let's not get crazy. Mcjeeezus is pretty good. But I believe Crosby- Who's the winner, though?

I think we parked our cars in the same garage here, Sid. Who's the winner? We're not talking about who's got more skill, ultimately. It's who you want in big spots. It's Sydney Crosby, not Connor McDavid, clearly.

Right. Now, I don't like this McDavid discourse because the kid's a hell of a player. He's great, obviously.

Have you met Greg, obviously? Have you met Greg?

Say hello to Greg. I know.

There's only a few things Canadians hate more than Greg Cody. A few things. After that, McDavid incident. Mcdavid at 29, two-strike Cup finals, been to a gold medal game. I'm very uncomfortable ripping this kid. Greg's cool with it. I'm very uncomfortable.

Okay, let me mention. First of all, my last name is pronounced Cote because I'm French-Canadian. Do you agree, and you can speak for all of Canada on this. You can speak for all of Canada. Are you finally coming to grips with the idea that Connor McDavid is Mcoverrated? I shouldn't even need to explain it, but whenever he's on the-Cit is fuming right now. Whenever he's on the biggest stages, his excellence is not enough. He's just not been able to lift his country to where it needs to be. Great career, great stats, overrated.

Two things. Greg, don't touch the goatee. It looks fantastic.

Second- Disarming me.

Second, you look 18 years younger.

You look fantastic. Thank you. Second, McDavid. I need that. Five scoring titles for McDavid. He's 29. Five scoring titles. There's the best, especially when they agree with me. Three MVPs, okay? Two straight Stanley. Do you know how hard it is to win a consomite award when your team loses that Cup final? It has rarely happened in my lifetime, like J. S. Shiger and McDavid. That's about it. Roni Hexal.

Mcdavid.

Two Titans of the game. We can all agree. Two Titans.

And Roni Hexal in '87.

Anytime you can be in J. S. Shiger's company.

Roni Hexal. One of the greats. Ron Hexal. One of the best finals ever played, Philly and Edmonton. But listen, he's 29. He's better than any American player to ever live. To ever live. And I'm not going to sit here and say he's a choke job artist because he happened to be a part of another losing team. Canada outran the States out of the rink on Sunday. You know it. Halibuck stood on his head, but Matthew could chuck out there. Katie could chuck out there. Even Austin Matthews pulled up on a shot in front of the net because he was scared. He was jumping out his own shadow. You got your gold medal. Congratulations. Congratulations, plural. Frauds. Usa Hockey are frauds for that performance, and you know exactly what I mean. Yes, Mike Ryan. I said it. Frauds.

All of them. This great hockey nation with illustrious history. You dare sideswip us? We are the gold medal winner just because you got more shots, and one of those shots didn't actually hit the frame. Thank you very much, Nathan McKinnon. Just because the US executed, you played right into their game plan. Absorb the pressure. Be efficient with your chances.

That was the game plan.

It was Rope-a-dope. That's what it was. It was Rope-a-dope.

And Muhammad Ali is considered the greatest.

Yes, Ali. Yes, Ali. Of course. Of course, Vincent Trosheck. Now, Muhammad Ali because of the Ropa dope. Amazing. Yes. Amazing. By the way, what a great hockey nation. All of one camera there to meet the gold medalist at the Miami airport yesterday. What a media frenzy that was. Why do you need multiple cameras? I saw a boom mic and one camera. Look out, guys. Matthew, some guy is with his luggage out of customs. He has five gold medals behind him. He doesn't care. None of them cared. Well, congratulations. Thank you.

That's a hell of a moment for you. Sid, can Nathan McKinnon be the one to pop his chest out and say that the better team did not win?

He can. Is that his exact quote? I didn't hear that exact quote.

Yeah, it was basically everyone knows what was There's a lot of people out there on the ice. Everyone knows who the better team was.

Except the final score.

Listen, final score is the final score. I just hope in this country, we look at the team selection differently because what's happening up here is, what are you going to do? Hellebuck. That bothers me. That bothers me. Drew Dauti should have been on this team. Some guys showed up injured to hell with country. They wanted to play. That hurt the team. Some guys close to you, actually. It was obvious. I hope we have that discussion, but I still would rather have the gold medal get out played than what Sunday. Man, that bothers me.

Let's go back to Connor McJeezus and the guy who's been heralded for at least a half a decade as the guy who's going to, by the time he retires, at worst, be the 1A greatest player in the history of people. I say he's tracking towards and getting real close to being the one... I mean, versus the other three major sports in North America. There is not an obvious answer to the best player to never win a Stanley Cup. Dan Marino is the guy in the NFL. Connor McJeezus is going to go down as the biggest loser in NHL history. And by the way, it's especially crazy in Edmonton that dry cycle is one of the top five players in the league as well. Two of the top five players, and they've never won a cup together is wild stuff. How say you?

To call him the biggest loser is quite a statement.

You get what I'm going for, man.

I do, but I do believe we need to pull back I think what Josh Allen and the Bills didn't do this season is probably a greater travesty for that fan base than whatever just happened in Milano Cortina on Sunday. I think there are a lot of example. The Chiefs were neutered this season. Neutered. How do you not win this year? How do you not at least get to a Super Bowl? Stuff like that would bother me more. Connor McDavid took a pay cut to stay in Edmonton for another two years. A pay cut. That guy's will to win cannot be ignored. He's bored and cannot be disrespected. I'm sorry. Now, if he goes another 6, 7 years, he's 29. If he goes another 6, 7 years, and I don't think he'll stay in Edmonton for the duration, and still no cup, oh, yes, 6, 7, Yes, I saw the six, seven. Yes. It's real mature. Then maybe we have a discussion that he is the greatest guy to never win a Cup outside of Marcel Dion in the National Hockey League. Yes. I think we'll get there. We're not there yet.

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Don Leberta card.

This guy comes in as the next Wayne Gretszky. His nicknames include the Chosen One and McJeezus. He's a great player. He scores a lot of goals. He scores a ton of assists, but it hasn't translated to make making Edmonton a powerhouse in the league. They're in the final.

Stugatz. What's your nickname for him?

Mcovorated. This is the Dan Levatard Show with the Stugatz.

See, David, what are your thoughts in general of the United States as a hockey nation?

Well, I think the enrollment numbers say a lot. It's basically on par now with us or close, and it's been happening for 20 years, and people in Canada have been fairly dismissive of it, and it's been to our detriment. Prices for hockey in the youth level up here are pretty damn expensive. I'm assuming, considering it's still starting out in the States, it isn't at that level. You may get there one day. But I think at the World Junior level, World Junior Hockey Championship level, it's a big deal up here in Canada around the holidays. I know NHL Network does a pretty good job with it. It's now become a fair fight basically every year. We used to own that thing. Own it. That's not happening anymore. I do give a lot of credit at youth levels, under-18s, in their 19s, considering what they're doing. Listen, Austin Matthews plays in the city I'm in here in Toronto, Arizona kid. In what time in my youth did I anticipate someone from Arizona being a number one overall pick in the National Hockey League and winning an Olympic gold being captening the US to a gold medal. It never entered your thought process.

Well, the reason why I asked- I respect what they're doing is what I'm trying to say. Because in your coping, I saw your socials. You were quick to point out that the United States men's hockey team hadn't won a gold medal since 1980.

Dave, you know about that coping?

Hadn't won a gold medal since 1980, and you were having to go at them for that. Then I realized the US Canadian men went 50 years without a gold, went from 1952 to 2002 without a gold. I'm guessing, does history only start when Canada was allowed to have NHL players in the Olympics?

Yes. 1,000% yes. I am proud of that selfish take. Yes. Good math? I got better math. Yes, math. That's when it starts. That's when it starts.

Sid, speaking of math, the fact it's been more than 30 years since the Canadian team has won the Stanley Cup, how does that rank on the angst level among Canadian fans? Is it frustrating at all, or are you all rationalize it by saying, Canadian players, American players, they're all mixed now? It doesn't really matter, or it doesn't matter?

I didn't completely realize I would speak on all negative Canadian stories during the segment, but I do welcome the opportunity. Thank you. We do think about that a lot. To answer your question, yes, Mr. Coty. We think about that all the time because we believe Montreal Canadiens in '93 was way long ago, and Patrick Walsh should have been taken over by some other net miner in this country to win. Now, the other reason for that, I believe, is the media markets are a little tough up here, and I like it that way. There's obviously a tax situation. But listen, there have been a lot of players within the last four years that have been in the Canadian market like a Matthew Kchuck, who ran away very quickly. I don't know if Randy Kchuck is going to stay in Ottawa. I don't know what's going to happen. Quin Hughes can get out of Vancouver fast enough. For some reason, there's a thing with certain elite-level hockey players in this country. I think it's they can't take the heat in the media market, and they want a nice comfortable media market where there's one camera at the morning skate every day.

That's my own personal belief. But it is something we think about a lot. We don't like it. It's not good for us.

Think about this. This is a cross-sports metaphor or analogy, or I'm not sure what. Connor McDavid is akin to a slalom skier who flies so fast down the hill. He goes around the gates, barely even touching them. That works well in the regular season, not in big-time, tighter-knit hockey games. Sydney Crosby is a NASCAR driver or maybe the car himself, banging into his foes all the way through, bringing on the contact and surviving it, that's a better brand of hockey to play. This is an analogy? That's why McJesus has not won so far. How say you?

Well, I'll say this in terms of... I think it was evident in the overtime on Sunday. Connor had one speed, which is I'm going at Hallibuck. I don't care how many bodies are in front of me here wearing USA jerseys. I'm going to try and score this goal. So you did like... It makes sense. The analogy makes sense with McDavid a little bit, for sure. Crosby, though, what American hockey fans don't understand about Crosby is he is the greatest Swiss army knife we've ever had. Because Pete Crosby could dance through anyone. Crosby, a little older, he's still getting his points. Needs something in front of the net. You need to win something in the corner. What do you need?

What do you need for that stuff? Greatest mucker of all time. He's never in his career. I think, well, actually, to be accurate, twice in his career, he's gone into the corner to retrieve a puck and not come out with it. He is the greatest, as you say, Swiss army knife hockey player. What are we talking about second place for?

What do you mean? What is this?

Whoa, whoa, whoa.

We didn't even get to Lemieux over Gretsky.

Stop doing sports radio, Dave.

I got a question for Sid. Sid, we had a very heated debate over here because some people, I'm not going to name names, but some people say they value a Stanley Cup for their local team that they root for over a gold medal for their nation.

You can mention me. I'm proud of it.

Sid, what is your stance on that?

I think if you asked most Canadians privately, they would take a cup any day of the week. Sure.

What? Sure.

They're human beings. The Toronto Maple Leaves are a joke and have been a joke since 1967. Generally, aside from Maybe three seasons. I'm going to tell you something right now. If there's a choice on the table... Do you know that before... The city of Toronto was shut down four days, multiple days, if a cup arrived in this market. Same with Vancouver, same with Edmonton, same in Montreal. To me, I don't think that's a discussion. This is a big-time moment, especially with all the geopolitical stuff. We all get it. But Stanley Cups in Canadian markets, don't mess with that thought because they will take that. They will sell unborn children to get a cup in their market.

But said, isn't that also a function of the lack of cup success recently over the last few decades versus, You guys have won gold medals? Here, Zazel is a Panthers fan. They've won two cups in a row. Usa hasn't won two gold medals ever before Sunday.

Put in front of me, gold medal on Sunday or a third Stanley Cup, it's not even a decision. I say third Stanley Cup so fast, Steve.

Isn't that so ridiculous? First of all, you've never seen one in your lifetime, a gold medal until Sunday. Second of all, it's only happened twice ever in the history.

I mean, it's a party looking for a reason to throw the party the gold medal. It's the same thing as 1980. America celebrated the result or or what they hoped would be the result against the Soviets, and then the party ensued. Same goes with this. The Stanley Cup is the goal every year as you enter the year. A gold medal, it's not a contrivance to celebrate. Obviously, we knew the Olympics were coming, but it's very different than rooting for your favorite hockey team annually.

But best on best. Sorry, guys. The difference there is best on best in hockey is still relatively new. We're talking 26 years, right? If you were to ask an English soccer fan, like a Chelsea supporter or a Man City supporter, or not Arsenal because they don't win anything, but like one of the other teams, would you rather see your team win another Premier League title or watch England win a World Cup for the first time in your lifetime? Because that best on best means different. That best on best is a completely different thing under the FIFA umbrella. It's well over 100 years, and it is just different. I think the Stanley Cup argument Zaz is making is completely rational in reference to how long hockey best on best has been around and how inconsistent it still has been. I'm still leaning cup, and I can guarantee you every Canadian market would say the same thing. Team.

Okay, but, Sid, let's say Montreal wins the Stanley Cup next year. Am I wrong to think that part of one province is going to be thrilled, apoplectic with joy, and the rest of Canada is going, Why not us? Do you think the whole country is going to be ecstatic because one Canadian team won a Stanley Cup versus Canada winning the gold medal the other day, which unites the whole country? How can you even compare the two?

Well, I can tell you, just from the experience up here, watching Edmondson in the last two finals against the team you're familiar with and watching one Greg Cody anger the country in a way I've rarely seen in my life.

Is he a household name, Sid? Greg Cody? Yeah.

For that three days, he was. Yes.

Remind them it's pronounced Cautet.

I'll take it. It's Coté. Thank you. Cautet. Sorry.

Yes. From the Chicoutimi area of Quebec. Coté. Yes. Just from my own experience, the oilers were that close. I was on Team Ireland. Now, I think there's half the country, like the other 20 million, who don't care about anything but their market, and that's fine. But I think a bigger portion of the country, Greg, than you think would galvanize here. The TV ratings are proof of that.

Except for the Leifs, though, right? As I understand it, I've only recently come to understand the fact that most Canadians hate the Toronto maple leaves outside of Toronto.

The other part, it's true, but the Leifs do have the biggest fan base in the country, so they immediately split the country up. I'll tell you this, when the Leaps travel up to Edmonton and Calgary and Vancouver once a year, it's 80/20 in the crowd. The Leaps fan base in Canada, to some, is completely nauseating, and to others, is the greatest thing they've ever seen. It is the biggest one. No question about it. So there would be a section, Greg. I know it's a weird argument to make, but I've felt it. People would galvanize around one Canadian team. Not everybody, but a large section of the population would, I think. Well, I'm sure you're filled with jealousy as this hockey team has totally unified a divided country, saying that everybody can rally around and not at all politicize.

I hope you're happy sitting in second place. And one last thing, just because we sell your sport doesn't mean you get to take the selling of unborn children. That's ours. That's ours. That's us. That's America's Jack.

All right?

Just like hockey.

Can I ask you one last question on the way out? And Roy is not in today, which is good because I know he'd know the answer to this. But I want to ask you guys this hotbed of hockey knowledge that I am speaking to here. Can I ask one question, Mike, on the way out? Just one? Sure.

You can ask it of Tony. He's a hockey expert. Talk to me, Sid.

In this moment of love for the sport, in Miami, Dade, how many points out of a wild card spot are the Florida Panthers entering the resumption of NHL play tomorrow?

Why you got to bring up- Good interview.

They're always about three or four, five, six, seven, eight points out of the playoff. But they have a game in hand. They have a game in hand.

They need to go 19 and 6.

You know about that game in hand?

We don't deal with the negative around here.

Got to go 19 and 6.

No idea. Thanks for that. Appreciate it.

Sid Secero, Monday through Friday, live at noon, YouTube, and wherever you get your podcast. Thank you, Sid. Silver.

.

See you, boys. Okay, Nikola. Quizfrage. Homeoffice-berstade oder Fahrtkosten. Was bringt uns mehr? Moment. Ich check das kurz.

Oha, Homeoffice gewinnt.

Bringt uns 150 Euro mehr im Jahr. Ja, richtig. Aber wieso weißt du so was? Weil, wieso Steuer die Erstattung live anzeigt? Das ist einfach die Steuer-App für alle Fälle. Ja, und Fragen beantwortet sie auch.

247 und ohne Beamtendeutsch.

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There is no question. Dan Levatard show included. Anybody else that this guy is the best player on the planet. Whether he wins the Stanley Cup or the Cots might this year, there is no question about it.

Stugatz. Overrated?

Wait, something overrated? What's going on? Dan Levatard. How are you doing? Are you living in an altered world? Oh, my goodness. This is the Dan Nascar show with the Stugats.

Why is it me doing sports radio, Mike Ryan, for me to ask the question?

You've been holding on to that.

All right. Like I said, I would have been more than happy to move over to Lemu is better than Gretsky.

I appreciate the NASCAR analogy because I wouldn't have understand a word you were saying otherwise.

I didn't understand the word he was saying.

It actually made it way more confusing. It was like a G-Dog on a flight tip. That's my way. How are you going to make a hockey analogy and reference two more obscure sports to make your point?

It's like a biathlete coming down and wondering what it means.

It's like a wallam in a NASCAR driver.

It's a G-Dog on a flight tip.

All right, listen, I'm doing the high arithmetic here. I'm sorry you guys couldn't keep up.

Guys, we are at the point of the show today where we do a little something called, You know about that?

I'm ready.

And of course, you know about that? We look right at our boy, Amin. I got a bunch of questions for you here, I mean. And in case folks out there don't understand how this goes, I'm talking to you, Greg. I mean is going to tell us if he knows about that. Are you ready? I'm ready. I mean, last night, big NBA showdown took place between the Detroit Pistons and the San Antonio Spurs. The Spurs came away victorious. Kate Cunningham, who's an MVP candidate, he went five for 26. Big struggle. You know about that struggle from Kate last night?

I know all about that struggle from Kade. It is why on this program yesterday, when you were out sick with your Boo Boo, like a sniffly nose had you in bed, couldn't make it to a big show after a gold medal win. We talked about this, how I have questions about the Detroit Pistons. Last night was a microcosm because you have, A, a very heliocentric offense. Guys, that means when you have a star and that star has got to do everything, that's Kate Cunningham. If he doesn't have a good game or if he's neutralized, guess what? There's nobody else who could step That's what happened. Number two, a bad three-point shooting team. By volume, by efficiency. Last night, seven of 36, 20% from three. Awful shooting, but also 36 three attempts. That's really low, guys. You got to get some volume out there, even if you don't have the efficiency. Then number three, this part didn't really kick in, bad free throw shooting. Last night, they shot well from the free throw line. They didn't get there enough. Only 19 trips to the free throw line. Last night was a game, a microcosm of what I fear about the Detroit Pistons moving forward.

But I support my boy Tony in saying that's good money.

It's good money on K, but also if he doesn't go seven for 26, they're in that game and they win that game. If he goes 11 for 26, there's a chance that they win that game. Yes.

If Connor McDavid plays, apparently Canada wins. Cindy Crosby. Or Sydney Crosby, yeah.

All right, let's keep the answers a little bit tighter. Sounds like Amine knows about that. Amine, you're telling us that the Kevin Durant burner situation, that there's no real hard evidence, but we do have hard evidence that Kevin Durant and his team at his company Boardroom, they did fire his entire editorial department. You know about that?

I know all about that. Actually, someone who used to work at Boardroom confirmed that this was something that had nothing to do with Burnertgate. No, this is something completely different. It's called Hey, running a media company in this economy is really hard. Boardroom, for all of the great content it puts out-Imagine doing it during a pandemic.

Building an airplane in the sky.

Infrastructure.

Hollywood went on strike. Thank you, Dan. The boardroom content that is most popular is typically aggregation. It's not original content. They do make original content, and it is typically good, but the stuff that does the best for them is the stuff that requires the least editorial oversight.

In case anyone didn't hear me, let's tighten up the answers. All right, it sounds like a mean knows about that.

How the answer was him talking? Not at least, Greg.

I mean, Luka Donchik, it seems like we're at the point in the season where when the Lakers losing games, he's all about that non nonstop complaining. You know about that nonstop complaining?

Yes.

Okay, you could expand a little bit. I'll allow it.

You walked into that one there.

This is who he is. I feel like this is just people discovering who he is because Laker fans, they claim to be huge NBA fans, but a lot of them are just Laker fans, meaning if it's not happening to their team, they don't see it. And so this is the Luca that we've known since he came in the league. I've told stories about watching him say things to his own coach, Rick Carly, that I'd never seen any player, let alone a rookie, say in-game. This is just part of the Luka experience.

I would like to hear an example. Can you give an example?

Absolutely. His rookie, I watched him play against Oklahoma City. I had really great seat. Shout out to Dallas PR. I was basically one of those courtside media seats. Luka does some little trick thing, and he turns it over. Thunder, push it back, throw it up ahead to Paul George, goes up, windmill dunk, and Luka's jogging back. Rick Carly, he yelled to Luka, Luka, Luka, Luca, you got to get back there. Luca just looks at him and goes, he just points like, What am I supposed to do with that? The guy windmill dunk, what am I going to do? I wait through 80 and I'm 6'6 or whatever. Then he comes back and Rick Carly calls to play, and Luca looks at him and says, Shut up. He literally says, Shut up, and waves his hand dismissively and calls his own play.

The Greg Cody backhanded wave?

Not backhanded. It was a forehand.

Not as disrespectful as the backhand, but close.

All right, it sounds like you know about that Luca nonstop complaining. I mean, Anthony Edwards, overall star weekend. He specifically asked Norm Powell how he enjoys Miami, the vibes be looking nice. You know about them Miami vibes?

I know all about those Miami vibes. Those Miami vibes were alive and well last night at 11: 00, where we witnessed the gold medal-winning Team USA. Come in there. Champagne bottles than Ethan, and cigar smoke, and flags, and women sliding down poles with the flag wrapped around them. Nice. All glory. Miami vibes. There are no vibes in this nation that are quite as strong as Miami's vibes. Unfortunately, there's a thing called the collective bargaining agreement. Oh, come on.

What are you doing there?

I just don't see it happening. But could he be curious? Maybe.

All right. Sounds like you know about that Miami vibes. I mean. Finally, one more for you ask here. The Knicks are at the Cavs tonight. Big time Eastern Conference match. You know about that big time Eastern Conference matchup?

I know all about that big time Eastern Conference matchup. A lot of people pooh-poohing the Cavs. A lot of people say, Oh, so you got another guy who chokes in the playoffs. Big deal. But guess what? Cleveland is a team that started the year really rough. Injuries, losing. People said, What happened to that 60 plus win team from last year, but they've been slowly getting their act together. The addition of James Harden is an addition because the guy he replaced was hurt and not playing. For whatever you say about James Harden in the playoffs, he is a very real factor in the regular season as a guy who plays games and plays heavy minutes. This is exactly what Donovan Mitchell needed. The Knicks must win this game. This is a must-win game for the Knicks. A must-win game in February. Malware. Yes.

All right. Amin, I got to tell you, it sounds like you know about that.

Doesn't know about what must win game means because whether they win or lose, they are going to be required by the league and the network partners to show up for their next game.

That doesn't mean they must not win.

He didn't say win or go home. He didn't say that. He said must win.

Well, must win indicates that the thing's going to come apart if they don't win, right?

Exactly right. Must win means, yes, the season becomes in jeopardy if they don't win this I think I know about must win games more than you do.

I mean, thank you. I don't know.

What was the last time you asked someone about a must win game, you fraud? You sitting over there talking about if 87 was out there. What do you know about must win games? A must win game happened on Sunday, and you guys I was just saying, Oh, must not.

Mike Rable didn't know what a must-win game meant. He said it was. Then he didn't win.

Were you rooting for Canada?

He was. It seems like you were rooting for Canada. How many times do I have to make clear to anybody? He was. Absolutely. By the way, I should mention for No reason other than I'm vain. I once was in a bar in Pittsburgh, and the color analyst for the Pittsburgh- Don't deflect. Were you rooting for Canada?

What are you talking about? Were you working for Canada?

I'm telling you why I care about black and gold. One time- I don't care about black and gold. He asked me about Canada.

I care about the stars and strike spell.

They're related. We had three Panthers on that team. I have had beer, not just any beer, Iron City beer from the Stanley Cup after I had hoisted it over my head with my pals. This is a strange as anything. Of course, I care about black and gold. Of course, that's what matters to me. Ergo, I was rooting for number 87 to score the big goal. I was not rooting for Canada at a week.

You were rooting for Canada and not the stars and bars. Not at all.

Not at all.

Over time. Certainly not in a gold medal game. I wasn't because 87 didn't even dress for it. So I was rooting for USA 100%.

So let me ask you a question, Dave. If in overtime, third period ends. It's a tie. We're going to overtime. Sudden death, three on three. All right, Canada, who you got out there? We got Connor McDavid. We got some other Canadian guy that I can't name. What's that? Is that Sid? Sid's got his kit on, his sweater on.

I don't need your hypothetical because in 2010, When Sydney Crosby scores the golden goal.

I'm not asking you about 2010.

Sydney Crosby scores- That's what you're asking me about.

I'm asking you about Sunday.

All right, back then.

Yes, I would still want Sydney Crosby to win score the game winning a goal.

You would flip you, Federer Arnold.

Yes, I would rather Sydney Crosby. And in fact, I cheered it. And then I took my concerns because the man in the mirror did have some. I took them to Sydney Crosby and said, Is it okay that I cheered for you when you scored the golden goal? And he said, Yes, I'll allow it. If 87 was cool with it, then I am, too.

You probably would root for Aaron Burr, wouldn't you?

Sir, shame the devil. Listen, I'm not here to explain myself to you. I'm Zaz and I- You're quite literally here to explain yourself.

Aaron Burr, friend.

And I just did. I just did. Black and gold over even, red, white, and blue for this guy.

I mean, there are three Panthers on Canada, one of them being my absolute favorite player in the world, Brad Marshan, and I was so thrilled to watch the US win. We ain't built the same.

Guys, I don't use this word lightly, but I think in this case, it's appropriate. Judge Zaslow, I accuse him of sedition.

Of the highest one.

Mike, you know I have one rule to live by, right?

Don't place parlays on multiple long Don't say a game is one when it hasn't hit triple zero.

Always drink your Jägermeister ice cold. That's the rule. Everything else is merely a suggestion.

Everything else?

Everything else.

Wearing clean underwear every day?

Well, that's just a personal decision.

Brushing your teeth?

Obviously smart, but not a rule.

Never PP on an electric fence.

Okay, maybe there are two rules, but the one that is 100% that I insist on completely, Jägermeister must be drunk ice cold. Or don't drink it at all.

Damn, that's cold.

Exactly. You're finally starting to get it.

Drink responsibly. Jägermeister L'Core, 35% alcohol by volume, imported by Mass Jägermeister US, White Plains, New York.