Cable, current temperature 44.
And now it's time for peaking inside the Great Vine with Jimmy the Great Yon.
Wow, thank you, Sammy.
Good morning, everyone.
My guest today is going to be our insider.
Haven't had him on in a while.
From Green Bay, Wisconsin, blocks from the tundra.
The lone Detroit lion fan in Green Bay, potentially.
Richard Candice is going to join us.
We're going to meet our sponsors and bring Rick in.
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Time to bring in our insider, a good friend from Green Bay, Wisconsin, Rick Zercanis.
Good morning, Rick.
good morning jim how are you doing my friend
uh... rick we're plugging through obviously uh... you know how it goes at our age uh... it's one day at a time and sometimes that's too much ask for up but that's it buddy you know it all right we're gonna spend our usual ninety seconds on the mba then we'll talk football then we'll get into our passion hockey uh... i'd
I'll be a first on that, Rick.
I don't watch much NBA.
Oh, there's absolutely nothing on, and once we get in the high stakes, I'll watch a little.
I watched some of that Piston game last night between commercial breaks and over times with that wild hockey game with Colorado and Minnesota.
Again, that's all I'm hearing this morning.
This is how the refs missed the call, and so on and so forth.
The Pistons found a way to pull a nine-point lead under two and a half minutes left, and everybody's saying it's based on one call.
I
mean,
this narrative where every time you lose, it's the rep's fault, it's beyond sickening, Kate Cunningham has turned it a bow over at a record pace before it turnovers a game, give or take.
Again, they're one trick pony.
That's why they tried to get help at the deadline and they couldn't.
Right.
And you know, I'm going to have a biased opinion on the officiating part of it.
I mean, there's not more than just a minute or two in a game.
All right.
Yeah.
I don't know.
It's getting frustrating with the excuses on my, you know, the way I think it's like, come on people, let's not make excuses.
I mean, you look at the good coaches and all that and the way they approach their teams and try to help them out and put them in the right mindset.
And some of the best coaches I had
Back in the day, you know your Jim Lumas and you know Bill Riva and all that.
It's like don't worry about the stripes Right, I'll worry about the stripes you play the game, you know get get get out of that mindset and just just play you know, so it's frustrating.
I mean I Don't know his sport sports is a lot different than from the 80s Jim.
Oh Yeah, and I agree with the officiator.
I mean every time and it's these people who are professional journalists
I mean, come on, not to say your name on ESPN, but if I had her email, I would tell her, why don't you apply and be an official?
But it's old, it's not going away, but whoever complains to me about it in my sports, I just tell them, go fill an application, there's not one game in the world.
With an official and human players where you might miss one or two and I bet
it
makes me sick But that's our two minutes on the NBA record.
Well, I got one more thing I'd like to add to that to
Jim is Okay, you even see it in high school and all that now is where they have this buddy Replay I get it the world wants the call right, but you're taking me the human element out of the game as far as the exciting aspect goes and like frankly
I've been there with a lot of this stuff, and it's like, you start second guessing your time.
You overthink stuff to make sure that you don't get it wrong.
And what happens when people do that, they get it wrong because they're worried about that digital aspect.
And then you look at baseball.
I mean, they went to the pitch block a couple years ago to reduce the time of games, which are ongoing sometimes.
So what do you turn around and do then this year?
You're allowed to tap your head or your helmet or something if you want to overturn a ump's call.
You're
right
back to where you were at the length of the game after you took time away with the pitch clock, which is fascinating and it worked.
But now I want to get five or six challenges of the game where the batter can tap his helmet if you want to call reverse.
Now you're going right back to almost long undergames the word before you went to the pitch clock.
Right, right, and stuff like that.
It has the trickle-down effect where you see it, you know, you'll see it in the, you know, the majors through the minors and it gets to college the way that the players conduct themselves and want all this kind of stuff and even, you know, see, you know, American Legion High School ball and all that and it's like, you know what, just go out there and play the game.
Have fun.
It's getting too confusing and, you know, two rules oriented.
You know, if you ask me, just go out and play a game, it's a sport.
Well, Rick, football season right around the corner, I'm sure there's 100 watch parties in Green Bay for the schedule at least, right?
I was in Green Bay a few weeks ago, and I got to spend significant time there again in June.
But question, Rick, we have fun with the salambo painters.
I noticed one of those fences on Lombardi Avenue was a solid, fresh, white-coated paint.
Do you know what the painters plan on putting on this fence, Rick?
haven't heard of
a word yet.
I mean, I mean, we, you go, this off season has been pretty crazy.
I mean, you get the, you know, you naturally, you go through the, the end of the season stuff and all of this guy stinks and all free agency hits and we lost that, but we didn't get this and, you know, now the flavor of the week, uh, this past week has been the kicking game.
Right.
You know?
Yeah.
So it's, yeah, but I have not heard anything on usually a,
They released that around training camp time, so...
You and your staff are your family, Rick.
I know you work for the City of Green Bay, which is a phenomenon.
I love this city, but in the other space, it's a tradition in the Packers, but the fan base can be a little bit irritating on the fun side.
Are you going to any watch parties tonight, Rick?
for
this for this you know what jim i'll just give you my can excuse the uh... the sun got in my eyes and earned my ears whatever you want to call i i i i just don't see myself going tonight no
well you probably had a half day off in green bay i don't care for any football event don't they give you a pay vacation for four hours but i wish it would be nice that i'd go
All right, before we leave football, the odds are out for a Super Bowl, obviously way too early.
I don't get too worried.
I don't like it.
I haven't watched the draft in years, but the Rams are favored at plus 800, followed by Seattle plus 950, Baltimore plus 950, the bill is at plus 1,000, Kansas City plus 1,100, the Eagles plus 1,000, the Packers plus 1,500, San Fran at plus 1,700.
Kansas City, you don't even know if Mahomes coming back, he's probably gonna...
uh... green bay i've got uh... i'm here in speculation parson might even put on a public to start the season
who i hear that
uh... there's no talk last night this morning that he might be behind schedule but again a lot can change and that that happened your old four games but one team missing her rick i i've found an interest in the trice not in this is from the heavyweight stuff the wise guys the right not even in the top eight what are your thoughts and
am i missing something with the lion's obviously you lost to your one of your two-headed monsters in the backfield but uh... they don't seem to get much respect uh... with with the heavy hitters out in vegas
well you know much like the just say the n c double a football preseason polls every year you can predict them based you know easily and uh...
Well, I'll just say it, you know, these people that, you know, the Lions being out of it, you know, fine, you know, they don't have them on their list in top 15 or whatever, but these were the same folks that a year ago had them go into the Super Bowl.
Right.
So, you know, take it with a grain of salt is what I do.
And until you get on the field and the one key, look at Packers.
Micah Parsons goes down.
That changes your whole football team.
You know, everybody's good or bad on paper.
you got to get out on the field on the ice on the court whatever it is you got to play the games deal with the injuries i think one of the best examples of that is is um... hl playoffs you know great reason all that it's you know it's you gotta dig deep find the next day of it you know what it's what what do you got inside you know i remember
a story story told you many times and others when you go to polls and then ratings
uh... good friend jeff olson i don't ever met him the former islamian coach one half of the state titles he said to those polls uh... that's the reason god created paper shredders put him to put him right through
yeah exactly i couldn't agree with you more
already cocky before you get to the n-h-l-w-e-s or winding up on nine minutes professional women's hockey league named two more expansion teams last night in hamilton in vegas and that's three complete with the trite
puts them up to what?
Eleven teams, I believe?
I
don't have one more not to make an even amount, but what are your thoughts on almost doubling the size of the league?
And my question is, the expansion draft, and a lot of college, a lot of phenomenal lady of college and semi-pro hockey players, but are they kind of pushing the envelope a little bit too much, making this this big this fast?
You know,
it's hard to say.
But, you know, I haven't really followed it closely to, you know, a lot.
I've watched a couple games and, you know, these gals can play and, um, no doubt, um, yeah, my father-in-law and I were in Detroit about a month ago for the Flyers Red Wings game and, uh, they had a game.
It was either the day before or the date of the same, you know, same time that the wings played.
And there were a lot of people walking around with stuff on there.
There was a lot of interest in Detroit anyway.
How's that?
They played a game there.
So it's pretty cool.
It's hard to say.
You know, let's be honest, they're not going to draw like the NHL teams do consistently.
You know, when they have the games in certain cities, sure, they sell out and all that, but can you do that consistently?
And how are they being funded?
I think it's great that they have this league for the gals.
I mean, it's fun hockey to watch, but we'll have to see how it goes.
You expand to your point to where, okay, have we peaked yet?
Do we need to trim back?
I think that's yet to be seen, Jim, to be totally honest with you.
And a good point with the arena is me and a good professor, Bill Sprotog, about this.
You have the one-off you're going to sell out.
Take it.
I think we're five, so don't merit that in the longevity of it.
And we're out of these teams.
I started now after a year or so.
They're going to smaller secondary buildings.
I know he tried
to
plan as to play at Little Caesars and there's be a new build arena built, I understand, for Detroit professional women's basketball team, which they have, and Plymouth, I think, might have come into play.
But after
a
while, yeah, you're going to have to gear it on me.
You're not going to draw 20 grand every time you play a game.
Correct.
Correct.
But yeah, good for them.
It's glad that they have this league for the gals.
It's growing in popularity.
There's no doubt about it with more and more gals playing hockey.
I think Las Vegas is a perfect fit.
Las Vegas is a good fit.
Oh, yeah.
And that's going to make money right now.
Oh, Jesus.
That's golden out there.
No pun intended, you know.
Yeah, exactly.
We were there a few weeks ago for the frozen four.
I mean, it's got that point.
You almost got to pay to breathe.
They've got that ratio
there.
Right.
Yeah.
Well.
uh... i think i'll play out for a few flies are out there and my friend they ran out of gas against a really good carolina club that hasn't lost
yeah
i mean it's over and then and
then with that jimmy think about it all the predictions with them yet i don't even think that for fifth place in the division so those those preseason predictions scan biome that's my advice
And they're having post-mortem reports obituary written for the Flyers and Rick Tockett in January, if I remember correctly.
Oh, they wanted him gone.
Oh, did they want him gone?
In Minnesota last night, did their best to give a game away at 3-0 leading the first period.
They sat on it, give them two goals and a minute and a half spam late in the third, then the overtime winner, overtime winner Kulak for Colorado, first player in NHL history to get an overtime going to playoffs.
to play twenty-five games for three different teams in one year and then trade in a Pittsburgh where you have twenty-five of both of these teams and you can't make it up in minnesota just about that that first and second second goal i mean they're with defense when a witness protection record
yeah i've unfortunately my uh... natural body clock shut down because they get up so early for work so i didn't get to see the third and i went to bed comfortable that
well okay the minnesota is going to win that we got a series again and when i woke up this morning around the radio on the way in and i was like you're kidding me what happened what happened
you get a chance watch that go by mckinnon after they get that colorado pulled the gold tender but the wall of st paul had a hole in it and the defense and went down about two seconds early he'd be worried what the block of shot uh... from the face of circuit of blue line mckinnon took one step to the left
He buried it over, it was a classic goal, but some of the play was, and then Colorado, they're good.
I mean, Deming, Carolina appear to be on a collision course.
Tonight, we have Anaheim taking on Vegas, Vegas going for the kill, and also a series I'm very passionate about, and I know you're keeping a lot of attention, Buffalo and Montreal.
Man, it just turned out to be a fun series with two young aggressive teams.
Yeah, yeah.
Yeah, it's a lot of fun right now watching this stuff.
It's crazy.
When you watch this, Rick, from afar, and obviously you're a diehard hockey fan, overall, what is your take on the playoffs?
It almost looks like Carolina, and whoever comes out of Buffalo, Montreal, I don't know how much success you're going to have against Carolina.
I don't buy it a rest or rest.
It is what it is.
I just bullet points when there's nothing else going on.
And
also
over in the West, Vegas, and or Anaheim,
uh... well i have to get by colorado i think it's almost seems carolina colorado on a collision course or which were the top two teams in the league
the that's what it seems no i i i actually predicted carolina for the cup this year and you know you just watch their style it's it's fun to watch i mean they just swarmya and uh... but my boys gave him a good run you know i kept kept some of the game most of the games close and all that but
They are just a fine-tuned machine.
Yeah, maybe Montreal's speed might mix them up a little bit for a while if Montreal gets past the Sabres.
But I see Carolina coming out of the East initially.
My prediction, I had Minnesota going.
I really felt good.
I like the moves that Bill Garen made with the people he brought in this year.
colinas are on colorado's a machine you know that you can never overlook them they have so much they are so loaded with talent as well i think that like you like you said carolina colorado uh... in the finals i've got uh... slight edge to caroline i think this is their year we got to get rod brindlemore a cup
well i'd love to rock the bottom of the column i'd like to tell
you
tell me a freeman said with n h l network
Carolina doesn't have a number one line.
They got four second lines.
They're so structured, and Cory Markham would say, fundamentally sound.
There's zero holes.
My question with Carolina, again, over the years, Freddie Anderson will wear down after a while, but so far he hasn't had to play that many minutes.
But if you get Carolina in a long series, that seems to be the one Achilles heel.
and i'm uh... i'd like colorado i'd do it now with mccarvey uh... but if i had to pick one of those two teams assuming they both get there i'd probably take colorado and uh... why all the entertainers here is they could tell you how to get
to it yeah if we get to that i think it will be but you know i think you hit the nail on the head who's going to be the hot bully that that series because they're they're all loaded you know but i don't like that both teams can roll four lines let's be honest they mean
Either coach isn't afraid of doing so.
In my opinion.
Right, you look at it.
It's the goal-tending night.
You know, they've been juggling tenders in Colorado too.
Right.
Oh, they made a switch last night again.
I mean,
you look at some of the
teams, like Blackwood and Edgewood, whatever their names are, some of the teams.
The old-time coaches say, Rick, if you've got two goal-tenders, you don't have one.
And I'm up for them believers.
You need one guy to ride.
Colorado is so deep sometimes.
I mean,
you don't mind getting a goaltender just to service a game.
They can put the puck in a net just and wrap them like fashion.
But yeah, it's just the goaltender at the end of the day is going to win or lose.
And I'm just this rotating goaltender sooner or later is going to catch up with it.
You would think.
Yeah.
Yeah.
Yep.
I would like I can.
Yeah, you ride the hot guy.
i mean philly was a good example of that this year you know um... they went to our lump in uh... you know they're at work after the you know in january but after that seems like pocket said blot are here guy were rolling with you come out of the water he makes a person there a little bit but he said he stuck with a guy and i think that does a lot for the mindset granted i've never been a goalie the closest thing i've ever been to a goalie is uh... uh... a catcher in baseball but those guys are crazy
I'd love to get in
their
minds.
Mark, I'm
talking to
you.
I think Jeff listened as well.
That's a whole different breed.
Well, Rick, we're up against it.
Tom, when we get you back, we get the final round.
Sounds good.
Sounds good.
And when you come down
next month, you let me know.
I'll come and check it, come and talk to you a little
bit.
Just how I'm going to be in St.
Mary's, I'll leave it right there, okay?
Yeah, I can run to the store for you if you need anything.
Can't bring you the
good stuff, but you know.
You might have to run a lot of places.
That's okay, that's okay.
Everything is within 10 minutes in this town.
Rick, you might have to run up here even.
I'm reaching out to everyone.
Everyone I know wants you to run out.
I'm starting to run out of options
here.
All right, we've got four wheels and a full tank full of gas, Jim.
We'll be there for you.
Oh, no, we're talking.
all right right well this is always a blast to have you will get you back in that two or three weeks okay okay sounds good jim talk to you soon okay now if you change your mind go on it is a schedule party semi-picture would get but i will i will definitely do so it may
be
yeah
it might be from a from afar from my uh... from my chair in the living room but uh... i'll get you something
just go to the sun here we go but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but but
Happy
assumed, Jim.
Bye-bye.