like that. Yeah. Yeah. Now, now that we are completely on the airwaves, we were streaming,
but we're, I don't know if anybody could hear us there. We're joined by Michael Comer.
We're talking right away about the WIA State Championship and our lady royals winning.
So, Michael, with that, how did the game go for you and Randy, just getting there, I mean,
take us through the morning, take us through the whole type of thing. Which day the championship day?
The championship, yeah. Oh, okay. Well, actually, how do you say that? How did go getting down there?
You would read it. Have you guys traveled together? How's that go? We're talking the whole time.
We're talking about the game. Then we're talking about life. Then we're, you know, family things.
And then we're talking national sports and some of his adventures. And you talked to Randy. He's
got some amazing stories over the years when he went and Terry Stake was around and Terry and
Randy go off on adventures to media things for the Brewers or for the Packers. And, you know,
those are opportunities. I hope someday to have. Obviously, with Terry being retired and
Randy, he's doing everything that Randy does. And that's an always work that way. But, you know,
just talking about some of the games that we've watched over the years, both on the chair,
on the couch. And then actually being at them, working them. It's so much fun.
So, you guys get down there. You know, the first game goes our way. Oh, and with you. We talked
about this one last week. Oh, and with you more, too many turnovers. Oh, yeah. And from what I
heard over the weekend as well, a bit of a, you know, a team that, not to say that they didn't
deserve to be there. I don't mean that, but they did outplay themselves in some ways with just being
a lower seed, getting a little higher. That is not the case with our championship game. No.
That first game, the interesting thing with that is the Black Hawks and not Port Edwards. But,
oh, and with you. Yeah. They turned the ball over 38 times in the game. And 33 of them were from
steals. And Sarah Shaw, one of the seniors, she set, she tied a all state record. Doesn't matter
the division for 12 steals in the game. And that's what propelled the royals into the championship
game against Barnabelle. With that game with Barnabelle, there's just a couple instances that,
that is where the game turned in favor of the royals. First part was when they took that lead
real late in that first half to go up 17, 16 at the half. Then they started on a 5-0 runner,
so in that second half, coach Meyer from Barnabelle, who's top notch. I think he's the all-time winning
as girls basketball coach in the state. I believe so. So he called timeout. And then right after that,
there was a media timeout that you just have to take. There's nothing to, you know, outplay me and
Randy, I guess if you want. But it's mostly TV timeout. So they called that out and that just
stopped him to quote Sergeant Tanner from Red Dawn. Stopped the royals but cold right there.
And their shooting just went quiet. They did not make a shot from the floor for the last five
minutes of the game. That's crazy. They made four free throws. Now here's where God interesting was
there was a timeout that was called late in the second half. Now royals had the ball. There
was a rebound. Royals had it. And they trapped. I forget who it was in that corner of the court.
And they're going for a jump ball held ball. Well, coach Klein sees that and screaming timeout
down at the other end of the court. And there's a official right hip to hip with them. And he's
screaming timeout, timeout, timeout, timeout, timeout, timeout, timeout. Well, then the
gold legal player, she grabs it and the official who's right there, loads of whistle, held ball,
thumbs, both thumbs up in the air. I'm like, you know, unlike the fans. Yeah. And and he's
jump ball, jump ball. Well, the possession error was for a barn of held. And coach Klein and coach
Jaglinski, they're both going ballistic at this point saying we call timeout way before that.
And the two officials met. And how often do you see it at any level that no, no, no, didn't
hear you. No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, I was slow on the whistle.
He had it before that. He called the timeout timeout royals ball. So that's what happened there.
And that right there, my opinion is really what did it because that would have gave
the gold needles an extra possession with the ball. And under their basket and the royals
defense just clamped down and they got the job done. Statistically speaking, I'll tell you what,
buddy, Sarah Shaw, she is like second for whole tournament with 16 steals in in a tournament.
And the royals in just two games obliterated the old record that I'd have to like a quick pull up
on my phone here. Um, I know it wasn't too high. It wasn't in double digits. I don't even
know, but I do. I thought I saw it somewhere. Uh, it was actually. I wasn't. Okay. Yes, it was.
It was impressive. It was impressive. And once you find that, I'm curious also from listening from
home, I was curious if the Jordan injury played any factor into their anything. I don't know if
it really did. If anything, I might have made her mad. Right. But that was where I was going to go
with like, I wonder if it's like just the motivator or even more, not the thing lady needed or any of
these players needed any motivation, but every little bit helps. And when you're, when you're so
evenly stacked with another team and we're talking like, you know, just being blunt here and at
no, no, catch with it. Just be blunt. We're talking about high school athletes where, you know,
there's a line where, you know, we understand that it's the game is only going to get to be this
yes, let it lead this or whatever. When you have, uh, it almost even, even more with Jordan's
injury, it just stands out even more. I can only imagine, um, when you've won this many titles,
uh, as, as assumption has, and they may blur together for some, I would think this one stands out
quite a bit. I think each one on their own merit has one. Oh god. And my, I mean, as far as like,
when, as time as the ages of time age us, yes, the ages of time age us, that's a sentence. I'm proud
of it. Way, way on us get you some butter toast. Yeah. And I'm nicely done. And our memories, uh,
fade a little bit more. We remember certain things more than others. Uh, this one, the Jordan
industry, the way that the thing that you just said to start this whole thing off, how many times
do you say a team didn't make a shot in its last five minutes and they won? That doesn't happen
very often. That's been assumptions on doing the last few years against the sectional semi-final
in this group of seniors were sophomores. They lost by two points to Edgar. And they could not,
they couldn't hit a shot. And then last year, they were beating Albany Montsello. Uh, and then
last part of the game, they're beating them by eight with about four minutes to go. And they came
back and lost 47 42. Now here's here's what I got for the numbers here. Uh, most deals in a game
before was 27. And that was sent in 2007. That was division three. So that's all divisions right
there. Assumption broke that for one single game with 33. The old division three record was 23,
which is Newman Catholic against. Oh, and with you now, now, now, uh, uh, uh, now for a tournament,
the old record, it was tied between Aquinas in 18 in Ashkosh West in 2003. Now that one with
Ashkosh West, that was back when they played three games. Division one schools played three games at
state. And that old number old, yeah, hold, uh, was 38. The royals have 46. Wow. And the old division
five record was 32 set by Randolph in 2022 again. And that was when they beat the royals for a title
and then Black Hawk in 18. So, so team records right there, the royals have it. Sarah
Shaw, I believe she ranks tied for second with 16 steals individually across all divisions.
Addie and Sarah with ice water in their veins at the end of that game too. Yeah. And you,
that's one thing that coach Klein and I and Randy and we always just kind of laugh and even when
Joe Berkhaus were the coach, uh, just kind of laughing and saying, well, if we we do everything
else so well, we press so well, we shoot well, we blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah, we can't
hit our free throws. What's wrong? And that was one area where in and Sarah Shaw would be one that
says, yeah, I maybe don't hit the best free throw percentage in the world. But you know what?
Didn't couldn't tell couldn't tell and they make it they made it essentially, I mean, it was still
one possession game. If you follow on a made three points shot. So I always call that one possession
game, even if it's four points, but they took away the three point, the three point tie ties or
gives them the lead. They took that away and put all the pressure on the on Barnville and the
Royals came out on top. But he that that was that was a fun one. And they all they all have
pretty cool reasons like for this one. It was just the defensive pressure. My goodness gracious.
Shut them down. You go back to the one in 2021 that Randy and I called together in LaCrosse.
When everyone had to wear the masks and all that other crap that was going on them.
That was one when we showed up because they had a barn or a black hawk. Yeah, it was black hawk
and three likes felps had already played. And everybody say, well, it's going to be might be
assumption, but it's going to be black hawk. No questions. Ask Bob. No, three likes felt
beat them. And when we got there and people are coming out of the arena of LaCrosse Center and
telling us that me and Randy looked at it and we just I said, do you want to say it or should I?
You say it. And I said, I think we're going to watch state championships tonight. I think we're
going to bring home a gold ball because notice respect to McDonald Central and notice respect
three likes felps. There was no way they were losing it. And even when I saw Laura down here at
the office right before the the tournament, she asked what I thought about it. And I I quoted
Tom Bergerner from major leagues when they're faced with the only choice to have win the whole
thing. And I said, they're going to win the whole. So I you can ask Laura. I called it right here
in this office, you know, no baited breath with minerals or nothing, but which that was so much
fun getting that in there. And the butter buttered buttered toast was one that stuff came up with
that we we tried and that that was wasn't as easy as minerals, but I'll tell you what, it was
a pretty good line. Well, that gave you nicely done. Oh, you are on fire this morning today,
this afternoon. When it comes to the the fun you guys were having over there, we're doing our
show over here. And it was contagious. We're I think I think your guys is fun blended to our show
over here. Well, I heard that I heard that Laura disrupted the show because she was laughing so
hard. She's got one of those laughs. Yeah, you can hear it. Yeah, we love her. She's great. It's
awesome. It's great. It's great. Well, we do around here. We want that. That's a great that was
a good problem. That was a good thing. And you guys did an amazing job. I do want to send a shot
out certainly to all of the referees, all of the teams involved, all of the parents getting these
kids the practices, all the coaches, of course, and their staff. And we certainly want to think
the players for entertaining us for giving us something to do and some fun, especially in some
of these colder months and colder days. No, it wasn't cold there. I was wearing shorts with these,
buddy. In the Texas dirt. I do want to send a special shout out to you and Randy and all of our
board operators throughout the whole season. Don, Seth, Laura, Beth, everybody that ran over there.
I ran over there for a game. Everybody covering the board. And it's certainly to you and Randy.
And the great work you guys did all season long. We're going to talk more about that in a moment.
And a special thank you to our sponsors. Absolutely. We are not here and able to do this without
them. The more sponsors we have, the more high school sports we can cover. That's as blunt as I
can be, everybody. The more you play, you know, your teammates of ours, the more we can be teammates
to this community. So go ahead and keep being a part of the team. We're looking forward to more
covering more high school sports. It'll be around again before you know it. Well, I've got the spring,
the early spring schedule kind of figured out already that I've got to put on an email to you and
Pam and Seth and everybody. But yeah, I mean, sure, basketball, hockey, wrestling's all over,
but we've got baseball, softball. And who knows? Maybe even soccer if someone wants to do a soccer
game. But first and foremost, we can't do it. I'm going to start work with the administration,
the coaches and the kids. We can't do this without them. It's otherwise we're just sitting here like
what we're doing, which is fun and entertaining. I like to think. But it's a little more meaning
when they get involved in it. When you get involved in the success of our youth and the people
of tomorrow that we've got that we're doing such we have, yeah, like like I had some positives
really do about it, but but that we're getting help in them and they're helping us. Absolutely.
Um, we all play a part. Yep. And I mean, I, you know, I appreciate the the the show notes
they're James. I know Randy does too, but it comes down to the sound operators, you know, Beth,
Laura, you, uh, Chuck, I know, uh, Seth Don, uh, we couldn't do it without you guys because we're,
it's set up here, obviously, but we couldn't do it without you guys. It's a fun, uh, partnering.
We'll, uh, we'll, uh, also wrap up the river king season in the moment too. But first,
most importantly, take a call. Good afternoon. You're in the game.
Well, I got to just say one thing when, uh, I was heading over to point on Saturday afternoon.
We got like by Donnie, who's super sports and we like, what's all the, you know, there's some cops
sitting there or, you know, law enforcement and then we get up a little bit further, right?
Connie, where were you? There's some more law enforcement people sitting there and I'm like, well,
what in the world is going on? Well, then we got up when we got up by by badger motors and, uh,
golden sans b way, we saw the, uh, the, the ass court coming home on Saturday and boy,
let me tell you something that put chills down my spine when I saw that, you know, them,
you know, bringing the law enforcement in with bringing in the boss. That was one of the
coolest things, you know, and, um, especially when you don't know it's coming when it just kind of
gives you, yeah, yeah, that's cool. Yeah. I mean, I, I had an opportunity to be involved in a
couple of those, those parades when I was in high school when we were, when we were,
with playing baseball, um, it's cool. I mean, it's cool when you see the support of the community
and come out and, um, support these athletes and, and, and get involved and kind of pump them
up a little bit. I mean, like I said, right, we had it with baseball. So, you know, by the time we
had a chance to go to the state schools out already. So there wasn't, you know, but they still
packed gymnasium for one way you want it, you know, when we left. And, um, it's cool. I mean,
it's really cool. And you can see that. And then getting that score at home and everything,
it is, it is pretty neat. What was really cool with that was, um, we, me and Randy were kind of
talking about it. And I was in contact with Joe Berkhozer about what the, uh, what was going to be
going on with that, what time with anything was or everything was. And, uh, what was really neat
was we had been, we got into Clover and St. Brown's church. And we see, we see, uh, uh, a cop vehicle
facing East. So I'm like, you know, Randy with his lead foot, of course, uh, hey, Randy just,
they, there's cop there, just letting you know, and which he, he goes like 500 speed limit,
which is great. He's such a troublemaker. You know, oh, yeah. I mean, he's a great driver.
I'll tell you what, I don't know how many times he, you want to go north, Randy? No, we're out
north. But, uh, but, uh, we got there and I saw them, I saw that and then I saw Wood County
and I saw the big em rap there and I said, oh, they're meeting there to get the escort in.
And they had a portage county sheriff escort them to the line. And then they had everybody
and their brother escorting them to the back of the, uh, the back of assumption. And what was
really neat with all that was when they come up and that em rap, they had, uh, Lady St.
Rosas there and, and Jordan Jaglinski up through the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the spider hole
there where they mount a machine gun or whatever. And, uh, they're out there waving to everybody.
I mean, it was cold and, of course, maybe in the guy I am in friends with, you know, all the coaches
stuff, um, coach Charlie Nelson comes out the back and I'm like, oh, imagine that Charlie in the
back of a sheriff's vehicle. There you have it. And I mean, we're laughing and having a good time,
high fives. And it was just, it was just a lot of fun. And it was, the kids has served it. And
unfortunately in the stage, you always get those, those ones, the tractors for it. And that's a waste
of time and money on our resources to do that. But they just want to game. Okay. And, you know,
you see that and those people to quote grumpy old men, you know, hey, Schneider, pull your bottom
lip over your head and swallow, you know, that, that's what those, just sometimes keep it to yourself.
And those kids worked hard. All kids are working hard. I understand that. But to win a state title,
I don't think people realize how much time effort, and this is a multi year thing. It just
doesn't happen in a year. Um, just to piggyback off of that point real quick, man, because I saw
some of that noise too. And while I don't agree with it, I, I welcome everybody's opinion.
Oh, yes. Go ahead as long as you ain't hurting anybody. Right. And if you're being an adult about
it, because some of these people, most of the what I saw were people acting like children. Yes.
And I find that ironic that they're complaining about money being spent on children and they're
acting like children. Yes. Um, right. But I, it doesn't, it doesn't take me many loops to make
this connection that is financially sound for people that are worried about that out there.
Right. Um, as, as we are all getting older and all three of us are in different ages,
but we know something that these kids don't know. And nobody knows at that age that as you get older,
those moments are less and less. Yes. So the Kevin just started this by telling us here,
remember when this happened to him, uh, what was it? 70, 80 years ago, I'm kidding. Yeah.
Well, they're not that long ago, not that long ago, but, but a while ago. And, and so, yeah,
the George Holland days, I imagine that the, it helped build some confidence in a young
kev. I imagine that it helped somewhat to see his community supporting him. So that the idea
that we're doing that for every one of these young ladies that are going to go on into the future
and be taxpayers and do jobs in our communities around the world. Uh, this is a worthwhile
investment. We are investing in them. We are celebrating. We are having some fun. But this is a
celebration about young people being successful and us as a community showing that we're, we're proud
of that. Yeah. I can't see where, um, I, I don't like, I would, it would have to be like a Hollywood
action film budget for me to be like, well, okay, maybe we shouldn't have spent it. Right.
You know, yeah, maybe we didn't need five choppers. Maybe we didn't need a celebrity guest
appearance from somebody. You know, okay. Well, they had me and Randy. Well, that's, you know,
me, but you guys, you guys will probably know you guys where you came with the deal. Um,
it, like, no returns. I, I think that there is plenty of things to bark about in life. I,
I feel like you got to choose your battles wisely. This doesn't feel like otherwise. That wasn't
in today's day and age where all you hear about is the, not all you hear about. I should,
I'll let me rephrase that. But the one, the, the most notoriety is when someone in our,
in our youth does something wrong or bad. You hear so much more of the bad than you ever do the good.
And it's, you know, like I talked to Randy about, you know, and I know I mentioned to you,
Don Henley, you know, I can tell you about all this bad stuff because it sells. The good stuff
doesn't sell. And that's why I just take a step back and you're absolutely right. You can have
an opinion that no, I shouldn't done it. And I get it as long as you're respectful about that.
Yeah. And, and that's where, man, those kids, those kids had an opportunity that not too many
are going to. And you, I'll make it a little smaller here and like Kevin get back to, to,
to the call is these kids, you're going to see probably the all four seniors go into the assumption
I let a call of fame all at once. Because this is tennis with Adi and Sarah and volleyball. They
made a sectional. So there's, there's Claire and Anna basketball. There you have it. And then
the spring sports with soccer and Adi and Sarah where they made two state appearances. And then
you got Claire and Anna who are softball state champions and made another appearance at state.
And who knows what they're going to do the spring. It's a very, really good point, man.
Kevin, we got a couple of minutes before break. What do you got?
Well, I just, I just think, you know, like you said, it's just a bunch of noise people being
people. And what I mean, some of these officers were probably off that day too. So they volunteered
your time to do what they did. Well, Sheriff Becker was exactly, exactly. That's another good point.
Yeah, you know, and but yeah, I'm just excited for assumption. I'm happy that they,
they completed what they want. They started at the beginning of the year and you know,
one lost the whole season. It just, I mean, it's, it's, it's a cool thing. So, um,
but yeah, so I just, I mean, I hope the best form for softball and continuing to do their,
they're, they're, I would have to say they're dominance in softball the way it's been the past
three years. And keep right on going. So what else has your sports band with over the weekend?
Well, I mean, I mean, there's a whole other topic that I would like to talk to you guys with,
with the big 10 and, and playing the amount of games that, I mean, they expanded their, their,
their conference. The me is, is ridiculous. I mean, for, you know, the batters had, I mean,
Michigan had to play three games with Wisconsin had to play four games in a row to get to there.
You could see yesterday afternoon that their legs were shot. I mean, every, everything they threw
up there was, it was short or air abolished or it just, and you, they were tired. They were
mentally tired, too. I mean, it was both sides. And then now they have to turn around and play
on a Thursday morning game in Colorado. I know, but it's, I do agree with you. Talk about this
on Wednesday and when we go through our brackets and, yeah, that sounds good. I do like, I will say
right away. I like Wisconsin. Go ahead. Yeah, I mean, Wisconsin, I mean, if they, but the thing used
there, they're, if they beat Montana, and they got to possibly face BYU, and they can chew the
lights out. I mean, it's, it's gonna be a tough, it's gonna be a tough game. And, and to me, it's
almost like, that could almost be a home game for, for BYU, because you taught us not to have far
from Colorado, and compared to what Wisconsin has. I think they kind of got to rod the a little bit
on this, but you know, very, very saddened. You play the game to play the game. Yeah, I know that
it was constant. You would have liked them to be playing them walkie. And I was a little disappointed
to when they didn't get that number three spot when the brackets were revealed. W I is not. No,
no, when I was looking at it, though, and I was thinking about like some of the, the matchups that
could be, and what it means for these kids. And the way this team has played going West Coast this
season, I kind of like this. I kind of like it. I mean, I know that we'd love to have them in
state and how exciting that being. Oh, my God, the promotional money is and all the money and
everything. But if you're, if you're in this, like, this is the way I think in some ways,
you kind of have to look at it. If you're in this for that, then, then yeah, you're going to feel
like you missed out. If you're in this to see the badgers get to the final four and possibly win
this thing, you couldn't ask for a better draw. I don't think. Right. Monten, home, home court
advantage doesn't mean a darn thing anymore. If it ever did, really, if it wasn't just us
manufacturing, because even at this level, these athletes, if they're going to miss a free throw,
they're going to miss a free throw. They're not going to miss it because the opposing fan base
has some crazy low gold thing. Picture change, sir. Yeah, yeah, exactly. I mean, even that is
distracting and crazy. And quite honestly, disturbing is that might be. Well, you push in that.
I don't think that that's going to, that really faces these kids. They're two,
they're two in tune. This is what they do. Now, I will say, I do think it means something
certainly to the universities. And again, the promotional ideas, the things that you could do
if you were university was constant, and they're playing Milwaukee. That's an easy travel bit
and everything. But if there's one thing that, what is one of the most famous, I would say,
one of the most popular things said about Wisconsin fans. And I'm saying this is somebody who's
lived in three different, four different states we're doing. And I've heard this about you guys.
Wisconsin fans travel. Yes, I don't care what team we're talking about Wisconsin fans travel.
If we're talking about Brazil or we're talking about Montana or anywhere else, the fan base travels.
So I'm going to tell you about that. How many times have have Wisconsin fans
made Pasadena and LA dry or Tampa or Miami? It doesn't matter. That Wisconsin fans travel.
And you know what, looking at that bracket, and I know we could talk more about it on Wednesday.
And I'm looking forward to that by the way, I'll have time to really analyze it. But Wisconsin,
at a three. Okay, VCU at 11, BYU six. That could go either way. VCU is playing very good ball right
there. And then Alabama, I'm not sold on them. I think Wisconsin can make the elite aid against
Duke. And then, well, who knows what that. But that's a very winable bracket to make the eight
there for the badgers. I don't disagree with you on that one, Michael. And that was just kind
of glancing at it. I mean, I got two days to get prepared for you guys. Yes, Wednesday,
we are going to dive into this heavy. I will say is where you got to go to break here real late for it.
I did have a question for you, Kevin, but it's something you can answer on Wednesday. I'll let
you even think about it if you want, otherwise you go right ahead. But I'm going to say something
very unpopular right now with the Aaron Rogers saga and what's going on with that. I got to admit
to everybody. And I don't know if this ever happens to me when it comes to sports or anything.
I'm kind of curious. I'm kind of interested. I admit it. I admit it. I admit that I'm kind
of curious, but what hair where he goes. I have I have started to know to I have drink the cool
late and it's dragged out this long like I wasn't up until this weekend. And I thought for sure
he was going to sign yesterday. I thought he would try to take the tension away from the
insane brackets and all this stuff or anything. And we all know that he's going to drag this out
as long as he can because of what we're doing right this second talking about him. And I try
so hard not to give into it. But I have to be honest. If nothing with you guys, I am honest.
And I have to be honest. I'm a little curious of what happens with this guy. Is anybody else?
I'm not even going to ask what team you go to. I'm not even talking about him being successful.
That's not my point here or anything like that. Part of what I'm curious about is the
train wreck that this could be given the places he goes. So I'm not even asking this as far as
like with most free 99% of free agents. Hey, does this make sense? This guy going here can that
help them win with this particular athlete. It's just me sitting there eating my popcorn and
knowing that it's not my team. It's not it's not going to be you know, it's not my team. So
not my circus. Yeah. Is anybody else will he do admit that? No. No. I you know, it's a joke. I mean,
he's getting what he wants. He's getting airtime. Every time he turned on sports center,
where's Aaron Rodgers going? What's this going on? You know what? I mean, I'd listen to Bill
Michaels and he talked to some people from Minnesota today and they don't want him. No,
they don't want him. No fan base does. But it's the ownership group that you know, if they could
be with green Bay twice a year, I mean, that's what they're that they're happy and the head coach
is that the way it sounds. The head coach doesn't want them. They don't want the circus. They,
you know, and if they do come in, they don't want him to do a fat back if he showed. They want him
to be there. I mean, teams want him there in the off season during the OTAs and I mean,
and he won't be there. And to me, it's a joke. I mean, to me, he just should just retire
because all he's doing is hurting his brand. Do you? Do you think there's an option?
There's a possibility, no matter how high or low that he, the NFL season starts and he's not on a team.
It's hard to imagine, but I mean, guys, I mean, there's your talks that Russell Wilson might
want to go into the Giants. You know, obviously Giants and Pittsburgh and Minnesota are the three teams
that are been talking about Rogers, you know, and so now everybody's hopeless. I mean, one other thing,
yeah, one other thing I do want to say real quick before we go to break that I've been saying for five
minutes. We're going to go to break. Real just is and I know I know I'm overthinking this,
but I'm also talking about a guy who is an overthinker. So I know a little bit about that part of it.
I don't know anything else. I don't relate or identify with Aaron Rogers in any other way,
but I will say that as an overthinker, I wonder if there's something, there's something I
am that saw what happened to Kirk Cousins and he might not be waiting until the after the draft
to sign somewhere. I wouldn't be surprised if that, but again, I might be overthinking this and
he just wants the attention. There could be, you know, it could be fair either way, I think,
when you can make the argument, you know, but it's an interesting storyline. That's all I'm saying.
I had not been interested up until yesterday and now I realize I'm kind of interested
in where he goes. I don't care after that. I could care less if I hear his name after that until
he's into inducted into the Hall of Fame or something, but I am curious right now to see where it
goes. Kevin, appreciate the time, man. You have a great night. Sorry, you guys have a great night.
See you, buddy. We'll be back after more. We'll be back with more playmakers here, brought to you by
family and after fruits and quality plus printing.
Welcome back, everybody. Playmakers here at WFHR. James and Michael hanging out with you. I
had to do it again. You have to. It was just too much fun. A great job by you guys again on the
call. You did have one last note on this. One last little bit of note there. Jordan Jagelinsky,
a very big three-point shooter for the Royals. Junior's you crashed a thousand points and she's
got a opportunity with one full year back barring injury or anything like that to be an all-time
leading scorer in the girls side of things, which that's an old record boys at all. But she was
eligible for the three-point shooting contest that is held before the championship games on Saturday.
Well, because the Royals were there, she could not compete in that. But the Royals are going to
be represented in the boys division where Logan Eisterm, a junior as well. He will be shooting the
three-point competition before the boys championship games on Saturday. I just think it's really,
really cool that both teams have long, long sharp shooters beyond the arc there that it's not
too often you get two. You do this year and it's just a huge tip of the cap to those two Royals.
Makes you wonder what those early in the seasons and everything the practices when there's
those joint practices, one going on a one hoop, one of the other. The fun it must have been for
those coaches to watch these little steps shooting these things all over the place. I actually think
one does morning, one does evening, no, just so it's no distractions. But story-wise, it was
cooler in my head. I did ask that. I did ask that, and I'm like, please tell me, and they're like,
no, we never did. There's too much distraction. Oh, all right. Michael, again, we tip our hat to
our Substant Lady Royals 2025 division five champions and the gold ball is back where it belongs
here in Wisconsin Rapids. Well, we do want to talk about our Wisconsin Rapids River Kings,
we also had a playoffs going on this weekend. Didn't go the way we wanted it to with the kings.
But as I said on Friday, there wasn't, there is no losing. I understand for the players,
for the coaches, for them, that how what they feel, and that there is no, especially in hockey.
It's interesting how this works because there is ties in hockey. Most people know that. But to a hockey
coach player, I don't care if your 20 years removed from the game, there are no ties. It's winning
or losing, and that's it. So I'm not at all going to, you know, try to use kid gloves with coach
or anything like that. But I will say right away, my first thought scene that score was, my God,
thank you. Thank you for an amazing season. Yep. Everything I was saying about the assumption and
high school sports around here, you can times that by at least 10 with the, with whether we're talking
river kings or rafters, and the economic impact that makes it a community. You wouldn't know
what if they weren't here, everybody. Set the night we're talking about this morning, and he brought
up a very good point. Whenever there is a disaster, whenever there is something bad in this area,
these kids are the first ones to show up rafters or river kings. They're there right away helping out
doing what they can for the community. And you even see that at Lincoln and Assumption to
import in Acusa. There's a bad storm like the football team from Acusa will go, hey, who needs
help in town? And they'll, if they can meet up there, they'll do it. So I mean, it's, it's not
just a river king rafter thing. It's, it's just the community. I mean, rap and football did that
with that Durekyo that we had that knocked out power for some people for a week here a few years
back. They're over ski show weekend. So the youth, whether it's river kings rafters, any of them,
what they do for this community is more important than any win and loss. Absolutely. Just, just focusing
on these kind of semi-proteams though, when it comes to that, you know, we expect that of our
our kids are the youth of our community, let alone the athlete, youth community. These kids
it's not expected. No. They're coming here to play a game and kids game and that's it. And then
they go home. That's, that's the job. They never come back. They don't have to do these things,
but they do. Yep. And it's important to them. The front office is the scouting, whether it is
coach Paul or it is the front office of the rafters. One of the main things that I talked to
about them on air, off air, their championship, championship, championship, they're all about that.
But the thing that whether they they realize it or not that is more important to them that comes
out in these conversations is character, not championship character and what kind of people they're
bringing in because they're bringing in people that intertwine with the community that's already
here in character that is already in this community. So there is no losing when it comes to that.
We can't lose. I don't care if they go O and 28. We still win because we get River King's hockey
so many home games this season. We're being entertained in these colder months and everything.
Now that being said, we had a dang good season. Very. Very. A lot of excitement, a lot of good wins
and a lot and one of the deepest lines I've seen in a in this division of hockey yet with with
the way that we were one through four. And I will say something to every other team in our division.
This is the worst thing that could have happened to you. Yep. This is the worst thing that could
have happened to you. Took the words right on my my melon here. Michael and I see coach quite a bit
and not that we're saying we know the man, but I think we've gotten to know him pretty well. Yeah,
over to that. And this is one of the more motivated he would be because I've ever met and I grew
up around hockey people and he said more just as intense as anybody I've ever known. The motivation
that they are going to have into this off season with this loss is is just something that the rest
of the league you would be careful. You come for the king. You better not miss because man,
this team next season is going to be coming at all coming at you with all cylinders. Right. And
that's one thing that coach Paul's talked about. He's already got a good part of that next year's
squad put together and they're going to be showing up and he's told me about a few of them.
Oh boy. Yeah. You got some big kids. You got some fast kids. You just got good players and
not nothing gets players. This year's they're very good as well. You know, with all strand and
swipes or you know, you know, I was feld or all those guys diamond alien. But the one thing
that coach did talk about is right when the regular season was winding up, it's like, you know,
you can say it so much early in the season that every game matters. And I can't do it in his accent.
But either way, every game matters. And we know we're going to be out of the number one seed by one
game. And that's one where we lost an overtime or what have you. And the boy, he's like, the boy,
the boys are going to see that just exactly how much it does matter. And then unfortunately,
they go on the road, they lose overtime game one and they just got beat in the third period.
They ran out of gas in that third period against a squash to get squashed out. But that's a thing
that he, I know just when I saw that, I said, coach, just going to have a pretty good message to
that we're not going to win ever game. It's impossible to win ever game.
Unless you're vernal out in the west coast that still hasn't lost. Yeah. But the thing is that he's
going to do is just prove this what happened last year. You see, you're going to see what it is
like to play in rapids. You're going to see those home comb crowds. You're going to want that
in the playoffs. And that's why yeah, we're not going to win them all. But we should make an effort
to win them all because you're going to want and who knows how they change the playoff format
next year. Who knows in the scheduling because there would have been a conflict this weekend.
Anyway, so who knows what would have happened. But every game matters, every game matters.
You got to win every stinking game and you want to play a home throughout.
Coach is great about contacting us and jumping in on the show here throughout the off season.
So we'll be talking to him and looking forward to that. But the conversation did get me in
Seth actually talking a little bit about the NHL and something that I thought was quite interesting.
And I talked to my dad about this and neither him nor I and he is my hockey historian.
Could really find any evidence of it not really being the case. In almost every sport,
we can name a amazing athlete, a damn marino, a Charles Barkley, a guy who was legendary.
Nobody questions all time great, but didn't win at all. Didn't win a championship.
And hockey, this just doesn't happen very often. You look at the greats and from how to
Gretzki to Lemieux to Crosby. I need these guys.
Yeah, the greats win championships, at least one, oftentimes two at the very least,
which is part of the reason why last year's game seven was so insane to me.
And I still don't think I've ever seen anything like it where McDavid is right there.
And you think that he's going to be, he's going to fulfill his legacy and his destiny
and all these things of being the great and everything. And it's not him. It's Reinert.
It's Kachak. It's those guys. And the game ends in the corner. And I don't, I know that this
has happened before, but I can't think of many game seven Stanley cups that have ended like that,
where it's so insane. Get the puck out of the corner. Get the puck out of the corner.
I don't know. And then it happens where it does. And it's all lined up for McDavid.
It's already forward like that it's here. And it doesn't happen. And he's got a long career
ahead of him. He could still win. He could win multiple championships, but he's just
the old and all those boys too. Wild to think of that not happening. Wild to think of him not in
that moment, not winning it or even drizzled for that matter. There's, well, now we can have
an argument about all time great and where he would rank up there. And it's probably proximity by us.
By no, you know, I already know where I'm going with that.
Joe Pavellski. Yeah, Joe. He never won one. He, I think you played for one or two.
One, I think with down for sure. Dallas. Yeah. But it's how many records does he have in the
NHL games, played or goals or sister points or whatever it was. It was a number that I saw. And
if you have those numbers out of the long career and long history book that hockey has,
the NHL start with what the first eight, I think it was. Oh, yeah. And so you have that starting
in the first six, even the first six and eight. I know what you mean, but you know what I mean,
but he has that record. Joe Pavellski, I said this when he retired, he's going to go down as
one of the top 10 American players. Yeah, I think he will. He never won one. And that's that's where
I guess we could say he could be just in the terms of not winning a title. And I'm sure he's,
if he's listening, he's tired of me saying that at Dan Marino, Jim Kelly, all time great that
just couldn't. We don't, I don't know. I will say this. I don't believe that, you know,
whenever it happens, and I hope it's 100 years from now that Coach Peckman is, you know, is
done coaching the GMing this team. Yeah, I will put my name on it. That man is going to win
a natty. That man is going to win one in his time. And I'm excited to be here for it. We're
looking forward to you being here for it. Off season, regular season playoffs, where it never
is. Follow your boys of winters. They build hockey up down the river river kings hockey.com.
Be sure to follow them on social media as well, especially through the off season. It's great
way to keep updated and all the cool things they're doing and get ready for the next season.
Michael and I will be back after this final time out for more playmakers.
Welcome back everybody. Playmakers here at WFHR. I'm going to take it right to the top of the
hour, wrap up the show for today. But we'll be back Wednesday and Friday with more playmakers,
all thanks to our friends at Quality Plus Fritting and Family Natural Foods. Big shout out to
them by local support, local everybody. Phone lines are wide open. Hit us in the number 715-424-2600.
Feel free to call up and join the conversation. I did, you know, because normally I would say,
well, we're definitely going to talk about selection Sunday and you know, teams have got, but,
you know, didn't get in, didn't all those things. We'll do that Wednesday. We have more time.
We've got less than 10 minutes of show left and there's just no way to cram all that in.
I do want to talk about two quick notes, though, that I saw talking to Packer fans and hearing
from the kind of Packers Twitter and some of that over the weekend. And a lot of it started with
the Packers. I say this loosely missing out on Dante Fowler, Jr. That happened and there was
apparently some people that wanted to throw this and Brian Couton's face saying that his promise
fell flat or something like that. Two things here. One, I don't believe that this is a front office
that is, if I could be just honest here, dumb. I don't think that they're going to waste money.
And I think, and I feel like, and I cannot understand this, of all the front offices in all of
football. There's maybe three or four that maybe are ahead of the Green Bay Packers, but there's not
many that I believe have earned the benefit of the doubt. Okay, I'm not saying you trust them
blindly. We all love our teams unconditionally, but we also, it's a weird thing where we love
them, but we don't always trust them. That sounds like a healthy relationship, honestly.
It really does. No, it does. In this scenario, couldn't agree more, man. When it comes, but still
even with that, I've never known a Packer fan to necessarily use kid gloves with that team.
And if they got an issue, they say something. Oh, yeah. So I am hearing a little bit of noise
here and everything. And I immediately that attracts me because I also don't believe it's a fan
base that winds. I don't know it as a fan base that complains unless there's a reason to.
Unlike Philly and some of these other teams. Philly just won a Super Bowl and their whole fan
base is crying. Like over it. You lose team. Oh, wow. Super Bowl winner lost team.
William, the other teams are poaching your players. Yeah, that's how it works. That's what happens
when you're good. Yes. But for them to get this bent out of shape about Dante Fowler Jr.,
I found it very, and I don't mean this is a shot at him. He's a fine athlete and a lot of teams
would be better off with him. But I don't know that he was the magic thing that we're talking about
with this team. I know. And especially the money he signed for. I think you could even almost make
an argument, a split in that between two other lots of defensive players and getting a Dante Fowler
in that regard. You know, getting a even better version in some ways. Yeah, I guess with
Fowler and assumption last few days, I've kind of missed what this is all about. I heard that
I heard the name and I heard some rumblings with it, but I just haven't followed it. I think what
a big part of it is is wanting what you want and we are expectations. Yeah. And not being realistic
about it. I don't believe that I really felt like they were in on. If the Raiders and Cleveland,
we're willing to trade those two big pieces in Max Crosby and Miles Garrett. I felt like the
Packers would be in on that. Yeah. I don't think that they were ever on the mark. No. So I don't
think that they were ever in the running of this. Right. So I never really expected the Packers to do
anything splashy this season. Now you still got pieces out there and there's still a long time to
go here between now and the regular season. But I also still even if you know we're here opening
day and they didn't make any moves, I wouldn't be I'm not losing my mind if I'm a Packer fan. No,
the move now had they not made the moves they did last year with Jacobs and McKinney. Yeah.
And I'm going to keep leaning on those two because they're they're not just I'm leaning on
those two in particular, not just because they were great. They're great athletes. It's their great
athletes on and off the field, which is the one thing that I think the Packers really need. Do
you need a playmaker? Do you need somebody that can punch people in the mouth? Do you need
somebody who can stretch the field and runs off the floor? Sure. Yeah. All that stuff be nice.
But what you really truly need I think on the youngest team in the NFL is not only
veteran leadership, but but the right type of leadership that matches everybody else. It's a
weird thing we're seeing right now in it. We saw it with Philly and it's happening with Green Bay
too. Usually it is the coach that has to calm the players down. In both of these scenarios,
the players are calmer than the coaching staffs. I find that interesting. I don't judgment here.
I don't think there's any right. Obviously Philly just want a Super Bowl doing that. But it's
just wild to me that I don't I didn't see that coming. That being said, that players on the
on the Green Bay side is a younger team doing this. So when you have a McKinney and Josh Jacobs brought
in that brings some leader that brings some guys that know what they're talking about that can back
up their talk. You bring in pieces like that. That's why I was so into the the Khalil Mack thing
because that's a guy who nobody's ever questioned his mentality or the way he approaches the sport.
Bringing in guys like that. Yes, you want to bring in all world breakers. Nobody's out there
like that. No. No. And what good does it do to be the the offseason champion? Well, let me tell you
everybody as somebody who is the biggest fan in the world of the team that has probably won the
offseason last two years. It has gotten me nothing but hope. And yes, I'm hopeful. And yeah, I have
a lot of excitement next season and everything. It's gotten you hope and no. Exactly. What was I
doing during the playoffs, finding storylines to root for? Like my team wasn't involved. Like
so there's nothing that gets there. Nobody wins a Super Bowl in the offseason. It's about what
you've got already in house and what pieces you could bring in to fill holes. I do think they do
need is somebody on that defense to to be these things. But doesn't mean that he's not already in
a house. All right. It could be somebody who's going to show you something this season. Cooper.
It could be a number of guys like that. I don't think I think there's the only thing I don't think
is that it's Jayarl Alexander. That's the only thing I'm hopeful about. Other than that, I think that
you kind of I'm not saying you can't be a little nervous or you can't want them to do things. But
the idea of actually getting on Twitter and think and writing something out and then hitting
send and the anger and the negativity involved with this team when they they have they're so there.
I don't get that. I don't understand it. People people need to realize that that's their job.
They know what they're doing. Yeah. And for everything, I don't think anybody had them signing
Josh Jacobs last year. Nope. Like that that came out of nowhere. Yeah. Yeah. So I mean, who knows
where they're going to go with this offseason. And when they did it, they're like, oh my god,
look who we got. So I can tell you one thing though, we will be there to cover it. We'll be
following it. Michael, great to have you and on a Monday about it. It's great for another
manic Michael Monday. Yes, it was good. You guys have a great night out there.
