Other key things as well lined up. We got our not only that, but I got a couple questions for you Randy
A big question for the audience I want to get to but we and we'll be having our fourth period as well today
We'll have River King's GM and head coach Paul Pacman joining us. He's gonna call in today, Randy
That's it's gonna be fun. It's always fun to have coach on but right now
Given that it's a little bit sunny out. We've got this you know spring like 40s degree weather almost
Going on why not talk a little baseball and our rafters
We are gonna talk with Wisconsin rapids rafters assistant GM Tyler Miller with us right now in studio Tyler
How you been? I'm good. How are you guys doing good doing good man?
Just have to give a quick shout out to coach Paul went to the River King's game last night with our food and beverage manager
And had a great time
Ben do a couple games this year. So it's always a fun time over there
We're looking forward to being there Friday gonna be at the game
I haven't gotten to see too much action this year and I need to get over there
I need to get some ice in my life. I need to get over there. It's gonna be fun
It's fun talking River King's in a little bit before right now or rafters are on our mind
Just wrapped up the hot stove event not too long ago Tyler had that go. Yeah, no, it was really fun again
It's a little special to me being my fourth season here
It's actually the first time of first time I've been able to host the event since I've been here
So COVID obviously shut everything down and we just kind of couldn't gain the traction or find a good place to bring it back up and
We kind of reached out to the hotel me this year and got it back in our contract and they were excellent hosts and then
We were able to kind of have a really fun night give a lot of inside information
Had to be there for some of it. So won't share all of it yet
But again, we really just wanted to show appreciation. That was the biggest thing for us in the past
It's kind of been a fundraising event for the rafters this year we kind of shifted and we had great sponsors
The Kellner Cafe donated the food for us
And we were able to make it free for our fans
So having packaged holders sponsors there for free just showing appreciation having a very very nice buffet meal
A great program again also a huge shout out to Bob Glatt of the coach of Lincoln
He was there and gave a gave a short talk on his program
And then we also had representation from the American Legion baseball
That's something we care about too is bringing in the locals to speak on their programs
That's a baseball community at heart. We know that we know people want to see baseball whether it's rafters or American Legion assumption
No matter what it's baseball. So we wanted to see that tell her we always talk about that on the year
What great coaches we have in this area?
We are so blessed with those and just mentioning the name of coach Galetta that just brings a smile to your face
Well, I mean it does and I mean coach Galetta coaches for us sometimes
I mean what in the late season when we are in a pinch or need some guy
I mean he's a filling guy and he loves it
I mean he he shows his appreciation to us. He he coaches these guys
It's really cool to see that so he he's a great guy
We have a great relationship with him and and and coach Hartman over at assumption as well
Yeah, the rafters like all teams in northwoods league and in this level
Your your goal is certainly in the the creation of this league is to help these players get to that next level to showcase these players and that
It becomes the mission becomes two fold and three fold off and once you become a team you're in a town
You begin become embedded with that city that town and you're a part of the identity of that town when I
Described this area to people the rafters are one of the team things that I mentioned and in description of Wisconsin rapids
That's how embedded the team has become
It's in it and I don't think about it like I just say it
It's just one of those things that I'll mention other rivers some other you know beautiful wildlife some of things like that
WFHR
Some some things like that it's it's it's a beauty
It's a beautiful thing
But it comes back to that first lesson and that first thing of helping these players advance
The northwoods league helps baseball advance and that's that becomes the goal
It's not just about the players and certainly that is a p gold
If not one a the single one goal to help these players advance and to help the rafters organization of course
But then it becomes a it's about baseball
It's about keeping the love of baseball live about
Lighten at sparking a young kid's mind that makes them want to go ahead and follow this dream and follow that game and play it
If not play it their whole life watch it their whole life
Yeah, no, I mean that's that that's perfect because that's actually funny that you mentioned that is
I there's a gentleman on Facebook actually a part of an old wood county group or whatever that I'm a part of and
He's posting he's been recently posting pictures of old wood or field yeah and
Man he just posted this one's I reached out to him because I were gonna repost it on our page and get some out there
But it's that it's the fact that I'm I saw the picture of where our offices right now used to be the main gate of wood or field
And and seeing the cards lined up and seeing the
Fans outside of the locker room waiting for the twins players coming out
It's just amazing to see I I think I mentioned this before but just a couple months ago
I really took the deep dive into the history of Winterfield and all the way from the start when it was the fairgrounds up into what it is now and
Yeah, I know the baseball part of it is huge and and again, we're coming up in 2028
It's 100 year anniversary of Winterfield. So that's amazing. It's just crazy to think about and the other thing
Just build off what you just said there James is the fact that so now you take the next step beyond this
And you talk about the Northwoods league and isn't there a lot of pride with that too because if somebody moves on to the next level
If they might get to double it, but maybe even make the majors. It's like they were in our league, right? Yeah
I mean, it is. Oh, I mean, yeah, I look at that for myself
Again, you know, even a little selfish sometimes is when I'm even the last couple years when I'm looking at these guys
It's like, okay, I'm gonna keep his card to the side because I know that you know, you just know yeah and and talk about the pride. I mean
The the Northwoods league just expanded into softball, which I mean again
I know we'll probably talk about a little bit just because it's the league as a whole
But talk about the pride and talk about the the nature of caring about athletes and caring about the growth and development
I mean, it's amazing to see that that right off the bat. They're gonna have four teams of softball and they're they're gonna
They're gonna succeed. I mean, they're gonna have fans. They're gonna they're gonna do good
I mean again, just the fact that Madison took up a team. I mean, they're they're gonna be successful
And and it's just really cool to see the league as a whole. I mean, we're all baseball softball the league meetings are the same
And the people are the same and it's just really cool to see the development and just the care that that the league has about their players
Speaking with Tyler Miller assistant general manager with your Wisconsin rapids rafters Tyler the blinds are down
It's just you and Randy and I what happened at the hot stove event that you're not supposed to know
What can we talk about I want to get to the schedule real quick
Yeah, there's some exciting things there are some players that we just recently signed some real exciting schedule stuff
Obviously marked calendars opening days May 28th at Winterfield
So that's always exciting getting ready for that. It's gonna come quickly
36 games all jam packed. We have the final two games at home
August 9th and 10th, which is really cool
That's always nice to have is having the two final games
Hopefully if it if it is a close mat, you know, if it's a playoff race is heating up
And we need that that last two games at home could really help us out
So that's a couple of seasons of past anything. Yeah, that's exactly why I brought it up
And again, we're we're really focusing this year on on the fan experience
Really developing some of our our promotional nights and some of those some of those nights that we really want to do
There's some there's some really cool things in the work in the works
Just got back some mockups and colors of our three bobble heads that we're gonna be doing this year
So some really cool stuff with that some really cool community kind of engagement pieces with that
So we'll be putting that out, but I think we should talk some players
There's someone that I released that we released at the hot stove
That's not fully fully out yet, but I want to talk about him just because I know you guys are sports guys at heart
First off Jorge de Gaudi's coming back
I mean, that's that's a huge one
He was led delete led the team and batting average and on base percentage last year huge part of the team
He's actually going to be he's on the move
He transferred out of IU and he's now down at Nova southeastern
Community college in Florida
They actually just started their season. I think this weekend. We were looking at it
So he'll be one to keep an eye on he's excited to come back. I was chatting with him actually
For the hot stove
We were just chatting back and forth about it and he's super excited, but got a new player that's coming in
Heard of the name cookie Rojas former from major league or maybe
Um, he actually played for the was all um the lumberjacks. I look. I went back and looked okay, which was really cool
That used to be the reds farm team I guess and um, so it was really cool. So um
So his son is Victor Rojas
former our former play by play guy for the angels
He's actually currently the general manager for the fresco ruff riders the triple a team
His son so Tyler Rojas
grandson of cookie is a freshman at university essential florida
And he just signed to be a rafter for this season
Hi, makes me feel hold when you say grandson
Remember see over right?
That is awesome. No, really cool. Um
Again, it's just cool to see some of these names. I had a couple hour conversation with our field manager the other day
Because it's that time of the year when I start to look at the guys and their last names and where they're from and some of that
And I'm like, all right. I mean, I tell you if you go down the list of our roster
There's a story behind each one of these guys. I bet whether it's their uncle who knows our field manager or their college coach
Who went to school with art like there's always connections, which is really cool to see and again
That's something we want to start to tell is focus on the stories part of it and how they ended up here and who they know and some of that stuff
So Tyler's really excited. He's a true freshman at UCF
So hasn't had playing time yet or anything, but um coming out of high school was one of the top recruits
And so he's wanted to keep an eye on
Again, having those freshmen that won't play a whole lot during their college career or during their freshman
Freshman season in their college coming here. He'll get lots of playing time for us this summer
That is nice some nice pickups right there
Also seen a couple of north westerners coming over. Yep. Yep. My mom was very excited about that
Very very excited about that. So there's some nice pieces coming in not only some familiar faces
But some newer pieces coming in as well. There is and and and this year's a lot of newer guys
I'll just be completely honest
I mean we've got three three returners right now and that's all we've got signed and and
again a lot of it was because he
Kirk Kirk was recruiting older guys previously and and so those guys are they've played a couple years and they're ready to go or they don't need the summer collegially anymore. So
He's he's really shifted his mindset to the younger guys guys that are hungry
Again, we talked about it. I think at the end of the season about how many guys we had come through here
We're trying to trying to tone that down a little bit
And trying to keep a consistent team if you look at the Green Bay Rockers who won the Northwoods League championship
They had a very solid team all year round
Same guys in and out same guys playing every day
That's where we're trying to go
So looking for some of these guys who are real hungry to play
That maybe aren't getting the reps that they are at the university as we've seen with this team too
While this season the preseason it's all important to be able to get that chemistry down
Some of these guys when they come back it's built on years of building that chemistry
So getting them young and getting them in nice and not bad. It's a smart move
Exactly and yeah, no the goal is to have them signed for multiple year
You know have them come back to come back then and then it's again it goes back to the pride and some of that stuff of our team
That's I get it
I some of the guys I walked in and I didn't know who they were you know when they left or when they left or who they were
So we're trying to trying to keep that consistency
And we get it there's injuries that happen. There's there's arm limits
There's different stuff that happens throughout
But overall trying to keep consistent team throughout the summer. I think that's kind of a cool balance too because you know
The fan as a fan you go to the game you go
I love to see these players and I love to see them stay around
Yes
On the other hand as a fan you're like well like to see new blood and see what they want to do for us
And then kind of come along with us for the next couple of years
It's a fun thing about being a rafter fan being in Northwoods like fam
You get to see a little bit of both in that
And it's always so much fun to see these
Players as you were touching on Tyler these kids that we just have a feeling on we just like you know
Keep an eye on this one. This this kid's gonna be something. He's gonna be all right
This we're wrapping up Tyler. Why did they touch on the MVP program? Yeah, no, of course
Yeah, we're really excited about this program that we struggled for the last couple years
Again, I love the opportunity that we're that we're able to provide to high schoolers
With their first job and we are we're able to hire at 14 so
14-year-old getting in the concession stand or getting in the bounce houses
Just monitoring kids is a very very incredible opportunity
The reason I got into baseball at 15 was a bounce house attendant at the South Bend Cubs
And that's where I realized I wanted to be in baseball forever. How do they not know that?
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah
No, no, so that's that's exactly where I was like okay
I just I need to be at a ballpark all the time
So um again the fact that we're able to give that opportunity
Hopefully maybe there are some that are like I want to stick in sports throughout my whole life
Going again, they never know when that spark could start correct correct. So with that
Comes some disadvantages. I mean just being honest, you know having 14 15-year-olds running around the ballpark
There's some disadvantages of that yeah, and and so we really want to have some adults out there have some wisdom out there
And so we started a memorable volunteer program
It is meant for those looking to get out of the house again. It's outside. It's walking around
It's it's a great atmosphere. Um, so the memorable volunteer program is basically we're asking for out of our 36 games
We're asking for 12 nights of your time to help be a greeter
Show people their seats
Just answer questions again a lot of these people they know more about what her field and I do have the talent does and so
They're like oh, yeah, Gary guy. He played here right here. He's right right there. I'm sitting here, you know, and so
Trying to attract some of those people to come out here and and really just boost the atmosphere of the stadium and and no
Where ever where you turn there's someone that can help you
Is kind of what we're going to so we're asking for 12 nights out of their night out of their summer
And they'll actually get a full season pass so they can just come to any game
They want to they'll have a meal at each game they come to so overall just a volunteer program
Trying to trying to help our younger ones have some supervision over there because I can't be everywhere at once as much as I
Think I can be
Men same with our general manager. He can't be everywhere at once
So really just trying to have some adults supervision and again just get out of the house
It's a great opportunity to be outside and and be around community people and again watch baseball
If you want to sign up for that find out more get your season tickets and plenty of more go ahead and go northwoods league
Com slash was constant rapids rafters northwoods league calm Tyler. Thank you so much for the time. No, thanks guys
I really appreciate it always fun talking with you with the way the weather is and everything will see in a week when the season starts
Well, I mean it's sweet time works. It's it's it's it's like you said may right around the corner right here
Thanks for the time brother. Oh, thank you. We'll come back and have some more fun right here on playmakers here at WF HR where we are locally grown radio
Welcome back everyone
Morning show here. Oh, uh, playmakers. I knew I was gonna do bad. I knew I was gonna do it at least once
I got excited about the music I'm gonna be honest with you
And I got excited about being able to start the fourth period
Randy Paul and James here for playmakers and we're going to kick things off talking a little hockey with our good friend coach
Peckman from the Wisconsin rapids river kings
Coach Paul joining us coach. How are you?
I'm doing great. How are you? We're doing good. We're doing good. Thanks so much for joining us sir
We appreciate the time coach Paul in the middle of traveling right now
so we don't want to
Keep you too long sir, but do appreciate the time. What are you up to right now? What were you off to head and off to
I'm actually on my way down to Madison
Just to meet one of the other owners and talk about
Playoffs and and everything good that we got going on right now. Excellent. Very cool. Very cool. Thank you
Not only for the insight, but for the time always appreciate you sir and two out of three this weekend
That's that's always something fun to talk about. Yeah. Yeah second place is fun to talk about
Raptors after the weekend
Victorious weekend that I think we can know we can all agree had
The points had and the wins had
Raptors are currently sitting in second place in the division in the Midwest west division standings coach
What stood out to you about this weekend
Well, I like the way that we bounced back on Saturday night. Obviously
You know once again Friday was a little disappointing
Um that we didn't come out with the jump that we needed
Uh, but I like the way we responded on Saturday and obviously rolling that and keeping that going into Sunday
Uh, and gaining a little ground on both the teams ahead of us the squad gent and Hudson
Uh, puts us in a better position
You know come Monday morning, right? So um, I like uh, you know
We're getting closer. We're getting closer to where we want to be and uh, we just got to keep our nose to the grindstone and keep going
The uh the team has more OT victories than anybody else in the conference
Why do you think that is and is that something that you and your team have been focusing on?
Well, I think we're in a lot of OT games because of the way we play and uh, you know again
We don't pull out anybody
Uh, other than 92 win the other night that was probably the biggest of the year, but uh
Uh, we usually are are we're in a tight
We're very defensive uh structured
So we're gonna be in close games. We don't give up a lot of goals. We don't score a lot of goals. So uh, uh, which
You know, it is it's always you're always gonna be in tight games
Uh, when you have that kind of team makeup and
And I in honestly, I think I'm okay with it as long as we come out on on the winning in the state school this time, but
Uh, you know getting ready for the playoffs. I mean, this is playoff hockey and and we've had that mentality for a while
And uh, I think uh, I think we're gonna be okay as long as uh, here we finish strong here. We got what 10 game stretch left and
Um, you know, every game matters now, and I think if we win out
We got a good shot of winning the division. So uh, we'll see how things play out coach
It's interesting to me that I would say going back to uh, and I was just listening to some of our previous interviews
I think almost December
It feels like you guys have been already in a of a playoff state of mind that you've been approaching the games that way
And I and it made me think well
Yeah, well at points like windmower
They are they are at a different part of the division that I thought are they lower that because you guys are playing like a team that has to win out to get into the playoffs
But yet you've been in this in this you know, the three two spot here for a while though three four spot for a while
And really sitting in the three for quite some time and now we come out of this weekend where you're in the two
And still I hear it in your voice. I hear the hunger. It's not just it's not good enough for you
It's not just good enough for you and this team to make the playoffs is it
No, no
Listen, you know me to be honest with you James. I mean the top eight teams make the playoffs, right?
So it eight out of nine make it. It's not where you know
I'm not satisfied making it. I'm satisfied how we make it where we make it
Um, and obviously we want to be in the top
Obviously you want to win the division, but you know in the top two spots means you get home ice for both rounds
Right, so that that's the goal. That's the first step
Uh, it's to have home ice throughout
Uh, and look we got our ice set on ash and going to nationals and
That's been the the mindset from training camp and guys know it
We talked about it all the time and to be honest with you
I mean, we were all very frustrated on Friday night
We're losing that game when huts and loss the same night, which means we could have made up some ground
And that was disappointing
You know as hard as we work that there's there's always a goal in mind and
These guys are working at tells off and they're very focused
Uh, they want to win and they want to go to mashups. So in order to do that
There's a certain way that we have to go about it and and making them understand you listen their teenagers, right?
So they kind of they they kind of wander a little bit here
But when you when you gather them all back together here, it's that let's get focused here
What are we all going to achieve and every weekend is very important
And you can't take these off
And uh, so we're sticking to the grindstone and uh
Oh, we've been fortunate. We've been fortunate. We were having a good year at 2376
Nothing to sneeze at and proud of them
Uh, but the job's not done
Coach you're finding it a little bit easier now that you're going to turn the calendar out of jenny
We're into february and and that goal that you're talking about is just right around the corner
I don't know if it's easier any
Uh, it's uh
You know, we have to win out if we're going to get it if we're going to do it because uh
You know, that means you know, we can't have any more Friday night blunders
and
I mean, yeah, there's this listen. We've beaten every team in the division. We know we can win
It's just you know, how are we all prepared? You know how well are we prepared and you know sometimes I look back
And maybe I'm not doing something right or or we're not approaching it the right way and I don't understand it
Because you know Saturday nights we just come out flying and uh
It's uh, you know, I gotta I gotta mix things up and change things around a little bit here
Try to catch their attention over the more and how important Friday nights are
Um, you know, we've got to come out with four points every weekend here. We're going to have a shot at this. So
um
Yeah, so is it easier? No, but uh
That's okay. I'm enjoying it
I know the guys are and you know, they're starting to see the light of the tunnel here and uh, you know, if you look at our schedule
It's in our favor. I guess if you want to say but yeah, you know
Any given night if you know if you don't show up you're gonna get smacking them out. So
We gotta be ready
Speaking of that coach this weekend we got the blue ox coming to town
I am going to be down there Friday
Handing out some stuff and trying to cheer you guys on looking forward to it
What are what are you looking forward to about this weekend with this team coming in?
Minnesota in the four spot in a similar situation to where you guys were a little while ago wanting to build up and
Into standings and everything. So what is it? What can you uh
What is a good preview of the blue ox? What is something that stands out about that team?
This is they are a hard
physical fast team
They are tough to play against and again if we're not ready
We're gonna be in trouble. They're a good team and right now they're on a roll and they've gave
Quietly
gripped up the ladder here and the knocking the nip ladder out of our bootstraps here and if we're not careful
They're gonna sneak up on us. So we gotta be ready
I said they're a good team, you know, and
They've caught their second win here. We gotta we gotta watch out
Coach after this weekend's a set of games. We've got another weekend
With games home games here at the south of county rec center with the
Isitani outlaws coming in those are all exciting games. We'll talk about those as we get closer
But real quickly before we let you go
I did want to mention the Valentine's game coming up with the Chicago crush versus Wisconsin rap
It's River King's is an outdoors game. How excited are you about that?
Well, unfortunately James that's not gonna happen. I apologize. I'll fix it in that and then wait a minute. We're live. Wait a minute
I'm sorry coach. I
It was my dad speaking for me. He loves outdoor hockey. So I had to ask the question
Believe me we just found out a couple days ago. They're owner called and and he had some concerns and
About the weather it actually it's supposed to be in the 40s 50s
Around that time I guess
We're worried about conditions and stuff. So I don't think it's gonna happen. We're gonna
If the weather is okay. I mean, we'll play those games, but we might stay an extra night
We might do a blue light in a squad game
Outdoors if we can weather permits. Well, that'd be cool and and a great way to rebound about that
Especially now since that game takes place on Valentine's Day
I just gave you guys a preview of my how Valentine's Day usually goes for me that that it's fumbled in it's something that I
Coach we we appreciate the time so much. We're looking forward to this weekend
I'm looking forward to seeing you guys in person. I'll meet everybody there
Let's show them what home ice advantages get your tickets and find out ways you can help support the River King's in their fundraiser
Randy and I are gonna talk about that for a minute coach
Well, we'll let you get going. Thanks so much for the time
You got a thanks guys. Appreciate it. We'll talk soon. Thanks again coach
Coach GM call Paul Peckman joining us right there from your Wisconsin Rapids River Kings
You know what next time we have to get our update on the road conditions and traffic
Right now on high is the i39. Yeah, we're definitely going to coach Paul
You know, it's not as if he doesn't have enough jobs already. Let's get one more in the sky another one out there
Yeah, get your tickets at riverking's hockey.com everybody and go there and when you go there
Not only can you see the standings some of the cool interesting other news
It's breaking with our river kings
But there is a fundraiser going on to help our river kings not only
Get a shower in bathroom a team video room a laundry room
Coaches office simple things that every sports franchise no matter how big or small deserves to have in order to grow in order to keep
Doing what they're doing
It let's help them do this. Let's help make this happen
You can help your river kings and help them build hockey up and down the river by going to river kings hockey.com
We'll take a quick time out. We'll come back and have some more fun right here on playmakers
brought you by quality plus printing at WFHR
Welcome to WFHR's playmakers
334 on the clock got your host James J. I'm joined by my partner in sports Randy Paul
Good afternoon. Oh, that was a fun half an hour right there right
They goodness, huh with full lines are open 715 424 2600 call up and join the conversation
Big shout out to Tyler Miller from the Wisconsin rabbits rafters
And of course a coach and GM Paul Peckman for joining us from our Wisconsin rabbits river kings
That was a lot of fun you guys that was great looking forward to talking more of those teams as we go forward here
Randy's got some local sports for us as well
We want to talk about whatever you want to talk about everybody 424 2600 call up and join the conversation
But I did have two questions. I wanted to throw out there for everybody and you can save your answers for next week
If you want you want to take some time to think about it. That's fine
But in honor of Bob Euchar's birthday Friday
I had the question in my head and I'm sure this has come up before but I don't think it has at least not on our show
And I always think this is a fun one for one because there's no wrong answers and for two because it creates debate and fun
And we we go back and forth and all that
And honor of Bob Euchar's birthday
Who is on your Mount Rushmore of Wisconsin sports
Who are your top four Wisconsin sports athletes now this can be any sport
It could be an athlete that didn't even play in Wisconsin
But as from Wisconsin or vice versa an athlete that played their whole career in Wisconsin
But they're not from here
424 2600
I asked my friends this question
I asked a couple of listeners about that. Got some interesting answers
Hank Aaron, Bart star, Kareem, and Yannis is what my brother threw out there
And party was looking at championships
Let's see here. Oh, no, I'm sorry. My that was my friend of mine my friend Chris my brother
Throughout their Yannis Yount Rogers and Kareem
So if that was an interesting list
Another friend of mine had Reggie Reggie White
Hank Aaron, Yannis, Lombardi, and Tony Shaloup
Not Tony Shaloup didn't play sports, but he is a proud Wisconsin
This is nice to throw it outside the lides in there
I don't if you've got five that's okay. It's understandable
It was hard to come up with four
I for me just because I got to play along a little bit here and everything
I throughout their Lombardi Lombardi, Kareem, Hank Aaron, and Bob Euchar
I think that the Euchar thing could be I could be you know talked out of but
I like the idea of putting him in there
And I and I don't think that anybody has I think there's other people that might deserve it more
But I don't think you can argue that Bob Euchar deserves to be in the conversation and arguably in that number four spot
If not somewhere else in there with what he has not only done
As a as somebody who has promoted the state and promoted Wisconsin athletics
But also you know his acting Mr. Belvedere major league some of those things
So he's getting seen by a whole bigger audience that isn't just sports
Well, interesting just to go through the different
Teams that have participated like if you go packers bucks brewers
If you go market you go Wisconsin
Just think of the wide variety come up with you come up with a berry albarez for
I just thought around Dana immediately as soon as you said the badger
Yeah, you could come up with surprisingly nobody said like Brett Farve in that
Yeah, I thought that was interesting. I really did
I thought it was weird to see more votes for and I only saw two votes a one vote for Aaron
But he was even more for him than I did for a farf I didn't hear any of those
Let's go ahead and find out from all of you good afternoon. What is on your mind?
Oh, you almost said more than you almost said it. I almost did. I heard it. It was so close
Well
You got my list but you got my list already. I sent that to you on Friday when you brought it up. Yeah, yeah, but you know
You know with my list I had you career I had
Alvarez
Bambardi, but you know you have to put almo warrior in there. I mean, I'm not a big fan of market
But what he did at martin cat
Phenomena net that school on the math
Yeah, I mean you almost half the budget my man. Yeah, I mean he sold market basketball to those players from New York like it was a little New York, didn't he?
Yeah, I mean he just that was in one of the things that he gets for you know for Milwaukee, you know, and
I mean you know if you look at the play one boy young players you'd have to go young
I can't really think
Uh-oh sender because he I mean you was there for the championship, but yeah
Yeah, you know you really can't say that. I was probably going
y'all cars
Reggie I thought a kareem and reggie in a similar light
Just because they didn't play here that long, but they did win championships when they were here
But so yeah, I hear what you're saying just about like mart star not only did he play here, but he coached here
Yeah, yeah, yeah
And it's interesting that you bring up McGuire because I asked my dad this question and he didn't have time to give me all the
All four he gave me lumbarity and McGuire like that's all he gave me so it's really interesting you said that you know
Anybody who has a trophy named after him that they're playing for into a week's stuff. It's kind of big
Well, my dad's a huge DePaul guy
And grew up at the in the heart of all of that
They're really enjoying all of those great matchups and those the way those coaches loved each other
Way they faced off against each other like that's a time in basketball that I miss I missed out on that I wish I could go back in time
And if caught and talk taken in
Yeah, you know, and then if you want to you know, it's you want to throw a couple other players in there
You know, you can look at the college level, you know, you can look at
And or not. I know just just popped out of my mind. I'm rondain
Yeah, yeah, I brought the high control for you with
He I
Part of the thing with rondain that stands out is rondain wasn't just another great running back at Wisconsin
Not just another great running back breaking NCA records
He did it at a time right when T when every game was being televised
Right at the time when all of a sudden these guys were truly getting right to almost into every household
And he was probably I know that we're here in Wisconsin experiencing it
But I've got a lot of friends around the country and rondain was a
U.S. star he wasn't just a Wisconsin star. He was big all over the country
And from what I understand he did a lot of recruiting and running backs
Yeah, we have had a lot of great running backs after him
And he had a lot of hand in that. I'm starting to I'm starting to think my list is starting to change a little
All of a sudden rondain started to creep up the list
It's a fun conversation
I think one other question that I did have for the audience and I was curious about where people stand on this one
Is I'm watching I got to see the tail ends the tail end of the Kansas City Baltimore game and Kansas cities
Accepting the hunt trophy and all of these things in Baltimore
And I'm looking around and I see that there's still quite a few people in the stands
Including quite a few people of Baltimore jerseys and they're not just booing or anything like that
They're watching they're taking video. They're taking it in
I remember when the the black hawks went in Philly and seeing a ton of flyer fans and and and other fans
Sticking around and watching it. What would you do in that scenario?
It's a little different if it's a rival
It's a little different there. I don't think you stick around
But Baltimore Kansas City don't really have that much of a rivalry or anything like that
It's still seeing history
You're still seeing something that you you may never see again a team not only going to the Super Bowl
But accepting the the your conferences championship that games MVP
I don't know if I if I'm there no matter how diehard of a Baltimore fan I am
I'm seeing legends like accepting trophies
I want to stick around and see that plus how much the tickets cost. I want to get my money's worth
You know two names that you mentioned we've mentioned here read you white and bread fire
I happen to be at that NFC championship game when they when they won
Then those two are on the podium along with home grand and Ron wolf and all those guys. You did not want to leave
One of that moment to last forever
Even though it's only 14 below that day
Would you stick around for some like that or you're out of there? Yeah, I gotta get home. It's it's it's parking. It's crazy
So I I would stick it just because I'm a true sportsman. I hear you. Yeah, you know
I would stick around
I mean, granted. Yeah, it sucks that it wasn't my team
I mean, I watched yesterday even all the impactors. I mean, there was no interest to see those teams
I watched that TV that I get like I said I said when I'm
I talked to Spartan
Did I get these
Those guys just in the dealer and Travis
Make it out on the field and all that stuff. No, I didn't know that
In the act celebration, but as a true sportsman, I mean, I think people
I mean, it looks like you're out of watch and dad's in stock with your own your team didn't win it but
I said you're kind of skin history and make it and you know, he gets a
Got the next fellow checked Brady combination. I was reading that my homes
I mean, it's just you know what would have been of never here again
What would have been a fun fact if the Lions would have hung on yesterday
The Super Bowl teams, of course, would have been Detroit and Kansas City
Who would have been the only team this year in the NFL that defeated both the Lions and Kansas City
Wow the green made that's that's I thought of as soon as you said it. That's a great stat. Oh, that's a good one
I as long as we're talking stats. I do have a couple of stats real quick
I wanted to get to the most
Career receiving yards in the playoffs most people heard Travis Kelsey broke the Jerry Rice's
Record for receptions in the playoffs, but as far as receiving yards in the playoffs
Heinz Ward is in their Tyree kill Andre Reed great name to see Andre Reed missed on Reggie Wayne
Cliff Branch Michael Irvin Rob Grunkowski Julian Edelman at number three
Travis Kelsey at number two with 1,694 yards at number one Jerry Rice with 2,245 yards
Like playoff yards. Yeah playoff yards yards in the playoffs
So that tells you that not only the good receiver, but they've got a great team that they got there that often, right?
Congratulations to Travis Kelsey blah blah blah
It look at the regular season receiving Jerry Rice is the Wayne Gretzky of why of receiving yards
receiving stats like nobody's catching him even with today's modern age of passing
Where everything is passing now even fourth and short your passing so much
More opportunities for receivers to gain yards get receptions etc etc
I have no I will put my name on this nobody is touching Jerry Rice's records
It's long Jevendy it's it's it's not just being a number one, but sticking around and being able to be a number two
The things that Jerry Rice did I I'm so thankful that I got to see that man play
Because it's impressive what Travis Kelsey is doing and I think he's easily in the argument of best tight ends of all time and all that
And it's impressive to see a tight ends this high on the list with him and Grunkowski
That's pretty cool
But Jerry Rice is not only the goat ever receiver. He may be the goat football player like it's he's that he's in that conversation
Okay, I got a question for you know James. Oh, all right. Who is Joe Montana rooting for?
Great question the great question. Yeah, that's a tough one
I I like to think that he was rooting for San Francisco, but I would be sir
I wouldn't be shocked what I really loved was seeing him and Barry Sanders at the coin toss
And I just happened to look up to see it and Joe's going in for the handshake. Barry's like no brothers hug
And Joe gets a big goofy smile there hugging
Barry Sanders and Joe Montana hugging at midfield like nothing could go wrong for me in that game
I felt for Detroit and everything, but that was a pretty cool moment
I you know, I thought when they went for it on fourth and two and fourth and three
They should have handed it off to Barry Sanders. Yeah, yeah, absolutely
convinced you would have made it both times
Even if he didn't make it, they've been exciting. Yeah, they've been exciting
They've been anywhere so we had to know right
And I am so proud of our show 47 minutes in before we talked about that. We did well
That's pretty good. That's pretty good guys. We're everybody take it take it. Yeah, that's pretty good
Uh, what was your takeaways from the weekend and what are you excited about with the the Super Bowl
And what I tell you truth, I really wish it was Detroit instead of San Francisco
I just for them when they did that hit that view of all that first fourth and three and they went for it
Yeah, I mean, that was right there. They could have went back up. They could have went back up by 17 right there
Mm-hmm. Yep
You know, and that would have that changed the whole game because right there after they did not get in there
Yeah, the momentum changed. They tightened up. They just long pass. Yep
I
Just then right after that was seven points. Boom. You know, what bothered me more was running it on that third and having to burn your time out
Oh, yeah, that that's the part that's the play that other than the Reynolds drop uh, that that's the thing that
That um that that worried me the most because they could have the most 50 seconds left
Yep, and only needed a fuel ball and there's no guarantees here
And a lot of what we're thinking about here too is if in that in that second period quarter
They score that three points or whatever blah blah blah the adjustments that can't uh, the San Francisco's made work
They were always going to make and I think we're a lot of people are assuming that they'd have been able to stop that or been able to
Continue with what they were doing without the adjustments that were made and this is something we see like
I understand this hurts right now if you're a Detroit fan. It hurts just as football fans because so many of us were rooting for Detroit
But um and I I really admire Dan Campbell's press conference
Complete accountability complete accountability
Didn't bad and I didn't lower his head didn't blame anybody else didn't wine none of that stuff
Tell them like it is and I made me like the guy even more and I didn't know that was possible
But um he's right. There's no guarantees you get there again
You even went getting the to playoffs because of how heavy the division is you know
I was talking about that after the packers lost to the 49ers they go well, we're a young team and we like well, you know what
Um damn Reno didn't get back. Yeah. No, there is just no guarantee when you get back close
You just boy you just they may never get back
You know packers might not lions might not what was really cool. Those when they would show
The lion's home stadium and how packed it wasn't that that was kind of awesome. Yeah, you can't
35,000 people they had there that is unbelievable
It's interesting that uh so many people I talked to are already bored with the Super Bowl
Like we haven't even gotten to radio row or anything like that and they're already bored of the Super Bowl
They're already like yeah, I don't care like it which is insane to me
But none of it matters and the NFL doesn't care because while they are not only gonna get all your fans that you always do with the Super Bowl
And it's gonna have record amounts of numbers something the NFL has never had that they're going to have that swift audience
That they've got that already guaranteed that's in there
So what you people like us that may not care as much about the Super they don't care
They they they they're gonna be fine those ratings are gonna be insane
With that audience that they have bring in there and had the lions been there and they're with them they'd been through the rough
Yes, yes that we missed out at you know what this reminded me of and I don't know if I'm alone here or not
Not only to keep you sir if you need to get going
No, you're good the Minnesota Super Bowl
It's the only time in my life. I've ever rooted for Minnesota
And it's all because of Randall Cunningham because how much I love Randall Cunningham and and it just seemed like that team was a team of destiny
That team was gonna do things that team was gonna not only give it to the Super Bowl
They're gonna win that dang thing in my head
It's my a question of well who's gonna be MVP Randall or Randy Moss or Chris Carter?
Like I'm thinking of it that way and stuff and then Gary Anderson the group misses that field goal
And we get just a I I felt a boring Super Bowl. I felt a really lame Super Bowl
It was the only exciting thing was Eugene Robinson outside of the Super Bowl didn't even have anything to do with the game
Like that that's our boring that Super Bowl was
Matt NFL man of the year goes to the game there's rough
To me that's what this reminded me of that we had an opportunity to have Kansas City Detroit a really exciting Super Bowl
That I think most the country could have gotten behind this one's boring
It San Francisco hasn't been there in a while sure, but I was out the last time San Francisco was in the Super Bowl
I was out in California living out there and
You wouldn't you wouldn't be able to tell the game was going on the week of the Super Bowl all the Sun
I see all these flags out people on their lawns putting out 49er signs
Like it was like it was Christmas like the only time they celebrate is the week of
The diehard sports fans out there
There were some Dodger fans that I ran into but it was mostly Raider fans not nine or fans
I think that's part of it
I think part of it is seeing a team that is going for like their record and Super Bowl wins
So I mean it's hard to really root for the Niners unless you're a Niners fan when it comes to that and as much
You could be the biggest patch from a Holmes fan in the world
You saw this this TV show last year that was the episode you saw last year was patchable
Holmes into Super Bowl
So it's hard to get too excited about any of this yeah, if you're you know if you're from Wisconsin
You're thinking 13 days after the Super Bowl's when the Brewers play right
Well, you know, you think about this though. Yeah, Detroit what it made it
Taylor Swift and M&M could have had a oh
Oh, yeah, the park out for the three days, you know, that would have been a surprise that had been pretty I don't like that
That might have been worth it. That might have been worth it right there. Always good to talk to you
Oh
Taylor Swift would have been the half-time show. That would have been kind of weird. Yeah, it would have been very weird
We figured he's still my show up
That's true, but all right you guys you guys have a great week
Right on right on hope to see you there man have a great weekend. Thanks for the call. Thank you brother
We'll take a time out. We'll come back and wrap up the show on playmakers here at WFHR
Welcome back everyone to WFHR's playmakers proudly brought you by quality plus printing getting your words out here in Wisconsin
Rapids Randy and James here with you Randy's got some locals news for us. Yeah, and high high school boys basketball from this past week on Tuesday
Rapids one at Rhineland or 74 to 66. They're gonna host Merrill tonight at the field house
Also in the valley four-thrain spash throttled three dubs 71 to 53
Well number nine Marshfield outlasted Everest 46 to 42
These top two squads will meet tonight 745 in Steven's point first place on the line
Merrill Wood's self assumption was stopped on the road by Stratford 60 to 44
Jack Wood Meyer led assumption with 16 points
The royals will host Auburndale tomorrow night and speaking of Auburndale
The Eagles had no trouble with Newman 75 to 46
Chad Kaden Weinberger led Auburndale with 22 points and second ranked marathon mall deadlier 58 to 40
As Grant Warren poured in 21 over the CWC self-port edwards hit the road and won at wild rose 55 to 45
Blackhawks will host Blair Taylor tomorrow evening first place and fifth ranked Almond Bankcroft
Ruroded Rosholt 73 to 19
Pachelli destroyed the penguins of Tri-County 92 to 27
The Cardinals will be at Pitzville tomorrow and the Panthers spaints Spencer 67 to 48
Ben Friday and Jacob Hardingery Chad 17 points for Pitzville down in the South Central
Nikusa picks up the conference W over Adams friendship 73 to 60
Brett Bestport in 23 points for the paper makers
They'll host Boston tomorrow at 7 p.m.
Boston lost at home to the Dell 65 to 49
And Wautoma whipped Westfield 73 to 35 girls high school basketball action in the valley
Lincoln picks up a W in a non-conference tilt 73 to 66 over Readsburg
Rapids will be at Merrill tomorrow night
Marshfield was 50 better than Everest 70 to 20
They'll be at point tomorrow night in a battle for first place with the Panthers as Spash got past wasaw West
65 to 50 in the Mara Wood South top ranked and unbeaten assumption one at Armourdale on Tuesday
55 to 31 Sarah Shaw and Anna school he had 13 points
Those two girls both got injured two nights later against Armourdale again
And only one this time by the final of 43 to 37
Fortunately for the Royals Jordan jay linsky
Pick things up for them as she poured in 17 points nice tonight
Sit is the
Difest test of the season as they travel to lacrosse Aquinas to face the eighth ranked
Indivision three blue golds and the Royals are facing those injuries
Yes, it's going to be interesting to see how they are going to be able to as the tournament starts just three weeks from tomorrow ready
It's a test
So now and hopefully even without a full squad hopefully they do some healing right over in the CWC self-port edward
It's a lost at home to wild rose 74 to eight the black hawks next game will be at rush hold on Thursday
Fifth ranked patchella is now 17 and one they tronstry county 97 to 31 some big scores
Pitzville improves to 15 and two as they have a 70 to 31 bombing of boulder
Rescrims 20 points like the panthers who will travel to Auburn tonight Auburndale tonight
Excuse me and Almond Bancroft also rotted roaded rush hold this last week 52 to 19
Down in the SCC Nikusa tumbles at home to Austin 46 to 20 their next opponent Westfield dump the delves
52 to 37 and Wautoma squeak past Adams friendship 51 to 46
In high school wrestling Wisconsin Rapids earns its first
Or wins first place in the valley as they get a perfect six and no conference record
They won nine out of 11 matches that they wrestled six coming via pin in a 52 to 21 victory over DC
Everest the Wisconsin Valley conference tournament will be held this Saturday in Steven's point
And in boys high school hockey on Saturday the Lincoln Red Raiders hosted Sun Prairie and picked up a six to two
W at the southwood county rec center
They improved to 13 and five on the season Josh Dakarsky and Carson gauze each netted a couple of goals for Rapids
Will host the Thomas Sparta co-op tomorrow night at 7 p.m
Great stuff Randy. Thank you as always wonderful coverage from you always always a busy time at this at this time
You were starting to wind things down regular season
Tournament time comes in February for a lot of these sports. So a lot of fun coming out
We'll get to our schedule real quick here. We got the bucks bask on bat on our dial tonight
I'll be sure to join us for that
730 our pregame will kick off for that bucks at Denver. That's a test
That's a test and and coach rivers coming in right when that happens to
And Wisconsin hockey hour tomorrow at seven right here at WFHR tomorrow
Marshfield at Lincoln high school boys basketball Michael and Seth gonna cover that one for you
Randy's gonna be coming up on Thursday with the Athens and assumption girls as we're talking about there that game will be on WRI at
705 we've got less than a minute. Let's go ahead and try to get a call then good good afternoon. What's on your mind?
Good morning James. I was going to remind everybody about the box and dock rivers debut tonight
But you already stole my thunder
I am I am really excited that you'll have it here, but I want to see some aggression on the base pass on all of baseball this year
And fallmalleter is the all-time leading stole base leader for the Milwaukee Brewers
And it's by a long shot. So let's get some hustle boys. There's another great name for a Wisconsin wall. Yeah
That's a great dimension. I love Paul Molleter and I would have never guessed Molleter is the whole that's an awesome stat man
Nicely done nicely done. Thank you for joining us man. Appreciate you have a good to week and we'll talk soon
Appreciate all of you out there joining us. That was a lot of fun real quick
Note as we're wrapping up right rice hot skins the new Milwaukee Brewers first baseman
Looks like he is going to be have no limitations going forward
27 home runs a year over twice a year when he played over a hundred games. It's a nice move right there for them
He's going to be looking good in a bridge uniform as we he mentions brewers our caller there and shout out to Wisconsin
Badger basketball moving up in the rankings and right there
They're at number six market at number nine. It's a fun time for Wisconsin basketball
Along with the bucks and everything. It's been a fun time. It's been fun hanging out with you Randy. Thanks for the time
It was a pleasure. We'll meet you back here next week for more playmakers brought to you by quality post printing here at WFHR
