The Puck & Hoop Podcast: Recent Episodes
Brian Dunstan/Keith Reedon
Well the name pretty much says it all. We are here to talk about the two sports we grew up loving and have followed for Life - Puck & Hoop. This is that podcast.
My apologies to announcer extraordinaire Bruce Buffer for appropreiatiing his catch phrase - but yeah it's time. The Dallas Mavericks and Boston Celtics arer set to tee off in the NBA Final. Compelling match-up? You bet! To that end this is an all hoops episode of the Puck & Hoop Podcast, hope you enjoy it. We'll give Puck tehsame treatment with Episode 53 coming up soon.
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The Sheldon Keefe Era is over in The 6. So what's next? Oh and apparently all that matters in Toronto is winning the Stanley Cup. Plus Play-off lessons in Puck & Hoop and Keith has Lebron/Bronny jokes. All that and more in Episode 51. Enjoy.
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This isn't all about the Leafs... BUT... It's ALL about the Leafs.
Ok, not really, but it's the same old song and dance for us Leafs fans. There's always next... I'm not even going there.
Changes are coming? You bet?
As for the rest of the Puck and Hoop world? We're on to Round Two.
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Soooo... I dropped that 10$ word in the title for this episode for a reason:
per·e·gri·na·tion/ˌperəɡrəˈnāSH(ə)n/nounLITERARY•HUMOROUSplural noun: peregrinations
- a journey, especially a long or meandering one.
Maybe not so long and meandering for the Leafs.
But as always the only thing we Leafs fans have is HOPE.
And that may be about to run.
At any rate Episode 49 is ALL about the Leafs.
Just know this: Jalen Brunson is a BAAAAADDD Man.
Enjoy EP49.
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Not a whole lot to say other than... this is what we've been waiting for. Well maybe not EXACTLY if, like me, you are a Leafs Fan. But you get my drift. The podcasts will be coming fast and furious because play-offs right? Enjoy 48, 49 soon come.
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Nice season Montreal.
That improvement groove bodes well.
Tough season Raps. Be careful San Antonio is watching.
I say ( write, type, input?) all of the above just to get to this:
It's TIME Leafs!
This regular has been about one thing and one thing only.
So yes, get ready, finalize those lines, get those D-pairings straight and get your minds right. 'Cause from here on out - LITERALLY everything is on the line.
Or at least it soon will be.
VINSANITYHOF Sho' 'nuff, ya dig!
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No this isn't some Doomsday prediction! But yeah, the end is near - of the regular seasons in both Puck & Hoop. So the Raps and Habs are already looking ahead to next season, but for the Leafs? The moment of truth is nigh. And I for one can't wait! So dig in and enjoy Episode 45. Oh by the way, Lebron James is pretty good. Zach Edey. Zach Edey. Zach Edey. 'Nuff said.
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...PLAY-OFFS!!
Hands down the BEST time on the sports calendar, because for my money the first rounds of the PUCK & HOOP Play-offs are the most entertaining, intense, awesome - through any adjective you want in there - spectacle in sports. And they are just around the corner.
How great is that?
Enjoy Episode 44.
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Hey everybody Episode 43 is here for your listening pleasure. And can you believe it... we are in the stretch run of the Puck & Hoop seasons! Now for my money this year is shaping up to be the most competitive run for a Championship in both leagues in a long time. Which means the Play-offs will be something to behold. We may not be quite there yet... but they are close.
Enjoy Episode 43.
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I don't.
Hate.
Refs.
Lets just leave it at that. But I do think they leave a little - well maybe a lot - of room for criticism of their performance.
Particularly in the NBA. Where it is shaping up to be a hell of a playoff season.
The same can be said in Puck as well. Including that comment about the refs as well.
But I guess when it comes to Puck & Hoop you have to be willing to take the good with the bad.
And right the refs are the latter half of that. previous phrase.
Enjoy Episode 42.
EDITORS NOTE: Due to a corrupted file their is a bit of distortion present. on this cast. Hopefully it won't detract - too much - from your listening pleasure.
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Every once in awhile you to have focus on the things that really matter. So while we are all about all things Puck & Hoop, when it comes down to it it's the Habs, Leafs and Raps above all.
That's just the way it is for us and likely for you too - since you are listening to this podcast.
Don't worry though, we'll be taking our usual look at all things Puck & Hoop in upcoming episodes.
Enjoy 41.
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I told you it was coming right up.
And no we didn't HAVE to include The Bruins.
We'll save them for Episode 41.
If you listen you will know what I mean. Enjoy.
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...There it is! We thought it was asking a bit much for you to have listen to 3HOURS of Puck & Hoop content. So we took it upon ourselves to break Ep40 into a two-parter. And to make it even more of a twist... Part1 - as you can tell is all about sitting back realxin' and getting into your hoop-sphere. Enjoy the chat. I know we did. Part2: Puck is coming up!
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And we're back! In a BIG WAY. This is - I believe - our longest SINGLE podcast to date. And would you believe we are just talking about the Leafs, Habs and Raps? But what can I say? There was certainly a lot of grist for the meal. Look it up and you'll see what I mean if you don't get that one. So yes this is a LOOOOOONNNNNGGGG one. So settle in - or listen in chunks. We are on to 40. It's coming up... DON'CHA DARE MISS IT!
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Winner.
The NBA In-Season Tournament.
Winner.
The L-A Lakers & LBJ.
Winner.
The Edmonton Oilers & Conor McDavid.
Winner.
Zach Edey playing at Home in Toronto
What made all those things winners? Each realized Great Expectations. Check out Episode 38.
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Don't be surprised if you find yourself agreeing with Keith and I, that Lebron James after 21 seasons - just let that sink in for a second - is still a force to be reckoned with in the NBA. Consider me gobsmacked! That's just one thing we picked out of the Worlds of Puck & Hoop - at least to this point in the season(Editors note: lol, inside joke), that has left us amazed, intrigued or dumbfounded. And as always we dive into what's happening with the Leafs Habs and Raps. Enjoy Episode 37.
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You after all the years I have spent in and around the World of Puck & Hoop, you think it would get easier to withstand the ups and downs that occur within the respective seasons of both sports.
It doesn't.
Believe that.
You get overly excited when the team you love is rebuilding and starts to look like they just might have... "IT".
On the flip-side you get crushed beyond recognition when the team you love just can't get it together.
But that's the joy & pain of being fan.
Enjoy Episode 36, oh hey shout out to my Man Keith Reedon for fighting through this one. Glad you made it.
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Ask any professional athlete whose team gets off to a slow start and at some point somebody, somewhere will say:
"Y'all better get a move on, 'cause it gets late early."
It does. In both Puck & Hoop a slow start - hello Maple Leafs - or a disastrous start - you can't hide Edmonton Oilers - can derail a season. But if you can right the ship before "it gets late early" then that slow start becomes just a mere footnote.
And speaking of footnotes, the audio gremlins were at it again.
Took 'em down for the most part, but some of those suckers are hard to get at. Sorry for the audio distraction.
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...I want to be reminiscing. I want o be sitting here revelling in the fact that I was alive to bear witness to the greatest season in Leafs' history. Why not? It could happen. As for the Habs? Get ready for some more growing pains but, I - and I'm pretty sure Keith agrees - think serious strides are about to me. Now about yours and mines fav hoops team. This could be such a fun season to watch the Raps, or we could be watching a dismantling of epic proportions. Either way, it's going to be interesting. One thing about this stage of the Puck & Hoop season hope is still a real and tangible thing. At least I hope so.
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Yeah I know, it's the good ol' Summertime. But that doesn't mean things aren't happening in the World of Puck & Hoops. So dive into Episode 33 and take a listen to a few things we had to chat about. And hey, how about our Men's National Basketball Team?!
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And no that isn't a typo in the title of this Episode - #32 - of The Puck & Hoop Podcast. It's a pun-nish commentary on just what Summer is for those who live in the World of Puck & Hoop... particularly if you are Raptors or Leafs fan, becaUSE CHANGES ARE COMING. Just wait & see. As for expectations? Well we just happen to be at the outset of what could be the most revolutionary basketball talent to ever lace up a a pair of sneakers. Too much hype? Wait & See. Enjoy Ep32.
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If you are musically inclined you may have gleaned there is a semi-solid reference to a classic Stevie Wonder album in the title of this episode. But that's a topic for another podcast down the road. And speaking of roads, we have reached the end of the PLAYING roads in Puck & Hoop. Shout to the Denver Nuggets and the Vegas Golden Knights. Worthy Champs both. And a special mention goes out to Kitchener, Ontario's Jamal Murray. Two years of rehab Hell that culminates with the Larry-O. Now that's a bit of all right, as the Brits say. Enjoy Episode 31!
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And no, the title of Episode 30 is not just a lame play on the Miami NBA franchise's name. It's actually kind of the underlying theme for this episode of TP&HP.
The heat IS on for the Nuggets, who are the favourites but find themselves in a serious dogfight with the Pitbull-esque Heat. As it is for the Florida Panthers who face the daunting task of digging out of 2-love hole to the mammoth Vegas Golden Knights. And the heat is mos def on newly-appointed Leafs GM Brad Treliving for a myriad of reasons. Oh and for Ja Morant? We all know what kind of water he's in right now and it ain't no ice bath. Enjoy Episode 30.
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Those who notice these things will catch which one's which in the title of this episode, but yes we FINAL-ly have the combatants for Lord Stanley's Mug and The Larry O (thank you Kwahi). And yes it sure looks like So. FLA is the place to be for the next few weeks with both the Heat and the Panthers in the midst of epic runs. Too bad the teams they are both facing are playing at their respective best right now. At any rate there will be no shortage of compelling story lines to follow in both PUCK & HOOP. Enjoy episode 29... oh and pay attention to the disclaimer up front of this episode. Wassup Tree!?
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It must be something in the water.
Or maybe it's just having franchises that at the very core is a steely determination backed by relentlessness and toughness... means you are bound for play-off success.
And maybe a championship. Or two.
The Miami Heat are manhandling the Boston Celtics and the Florida Panthers are up 2-0 after winning both games in Carolina.
Two So.FLA franchises who scraped into their respective play-offs by the thinnest of margins are poised to compete for the Stanley Cup and the Larry O.
Watch out for Florida. Man. Enjoy Episode 28.
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NB/ EDITOR'S NOTE: THE EDITING SOFTWARE WE UTILIZE TO PUT THIS PODCAST TOGETHER HAS DEVELOPED A GLITCH. TO THAT EXTENT THERE ARE SOME NOTICEABLE AUDIO DROPOUTS IN THIS EPISODE. I APOLOGIZE FOR ANY DISRUPTION OR DISPLEASURE THIS MAY CAUSE IN YOUR LISTENING. WE ARE EFFORTING TO GET TO THE ROOT OF THIS ISSUE TO PREVENT IT REOCCURRING IN FUTURE EPISODES.
WHEN IT COMES TO THE MAPLE LEAFS IT WAS PATENTLY OBVIOUS THAT CHANGE WAS INEVITABLE. WHEN IT COMES TO JA MORANT IT IS NOW PATENTLY OBVIOUS THIS DUDE JUST CAN'T GET OUT OF HIS OWN AND CONTINUES TO MAKE BAD CHOICES. NOW BOTH OF THESE THINGS MAY WIND UP WORKING OUT IN A POSITIVE FASHION, BUT MAN... THE PATHS TO GET THERE JUST GOT A WHOLE LOT MORE DIFFICULT, INTERESTING, ROCKY, ALL OF THE ABOVE? ENJOY EPISODE 27, SORRY ABOUT THE AUDIO GLITCHES.
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Fate. Destiny. Pre-ordained. Kismet. Call it what you will, it's seemingly never going to be in the Leafs favour. The path was there for a long play-off run, but the florida Panthers had other ideas. And so, once again, us Leafs fans are left to look to next year. Hoping things will be different, knowing that it's unlikely to be much different than the previous 56. Good thing this is The Puck AND Hoop podcast, huh? At least I have the spirited play of the Lakers, the forever rival Sixers-Celtics series, the sublime return to form of Jamal Murray and the unrelenting toughness of Jimmy Butler and Kyle Lowry to distract from yet another crushing Leafs non-result. Enjoy Episode 26.
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Yet somehow we managed a little over 20 minutes talking about how this 'supposedly' great Leafs team is writing a narrative that most thought impossible to even consider. Yet here it is. The Leafs are about to get swept out of the 2nd round of Stanley Cup Play-offs. Lets just leave that there and deal with it when it actually happens. Okay? Okay. So, how about those NBA play-offs? Mat Ishbia... yes ownership has it's privileges, but lets not get carried away here huh. Episode 25, like Ontario, it's yours to discover.
GOLEAFSGO. Please.
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"The situation is desperate, but not hopeless." - Fred Flintstone circa 3200 B.C.
Ok not exactly how I thought this week would turn out for my Maple Leafs, but if this was meant to be easy it wouldn't be so hard. Don't think about that one for too long, just accept it. Anyway the Leafs played well enough to win and made just enough mistakes to lose. No problem right? They've won on the road before - so long Tampa !!! - so why not do it again. Milwaukee Bucks say see-ya to Mike Budenholzer. Didn't the Raps do a little dance with him before signing Nick Nurse? I think he still has two left feet, so please Masai STAY AWAY! And the NBA Play-offs? They're FANTASTIC! By teh way Steph Curry can DIME!
GOLEAFS GO
OKAY. I know this is called THE PUCK & HOOP PODCAST... but you will have to pardon me if we - and be we I mean me, Brian - got a little carried away with the recent turn of events. To say the least. 19 years in the making the Leafs have FINALLY won a round in the play-offs. Slaying dragons, redemption, monkeys off backs, blah, blah. Whatever you want to call it, they got the job done. Now the real work begins. We're on to Florida. Yes Boston choked. Enjoy
"If you look back on our play-off history these are the type of games we lose... we bent but we didn't break." - Sheldon Keefe
As a Leafs fan you learn never to get your hopes up. You understand that no matter how good things MAY look in the moment, calamity will most likely streak at some point. But what if it doesn't? What if there actually is something different about this collection of skaters in the REAL Blue & White uniforms. Game 3 certainly showed us something, Game 4? Well we need to SEE something more. And it is the end of the most successful era in Raptors history. The firing of Head Coach Nick Nurse signals a period of transition for the Raps, because as Masai Ujiri put it: "...I think changes will be made on all fronts."
Welcome to the Scottie Barnes Era. #GOLEAFSGO
- 56.19.7.6.1 If you want to know what those numbers mean ask a Leaf Fan and I'mm pretty sure they can come up with a salient explanation. Or you can just listen to Episode 21: Part 2. All shall be revealed there. Enjoy.
So we so thoroughly enjoyed doing a two-parter in our last episode we decided to comeback with another one. I'm only half-kidding. Given that both PUCK & HOOP are heading into their respective post-season's, a two-parter was a necessary thing. So part 1 is all HOOP as we take a fair bit of time to put a fork in the Raptor's season because it is DONE LIKE DINNER. We also make our picks for the first round of the NBA play-offs. Enjoy. Comment. Subscribe
Hey there Puck and Hoopers - in case you didn't know I just made that up, so we'll go with it for now - this is the 2nd half of our 20th episode of The Puck & Hoop Podcast. In this portion we serve up our thoughts on the Leafs, Habs and of course, the Raps. Oh those Raptors... just the thought of them makes me shake my head and wonder what they could have been if they had just got their collective act together this season. But hey there's the play-in, right? Enjoy Episode 20 pt2, we had a good time making it, we hope you have a good time listening to it. GO LEAFS GO! Sorry Keith, I had to say it.
So here's something a teensy bit different than our usual fare here at THE PUCK & HOOP PODCAST. It's a 2-parter. Kind of in honour of reaching our milestone 20th FULL podcast episode and kind of because we just had so much territory to cover in this edition. So dive in, enjoy and then come on back for Pt2.
Don'cha dare miss it!
There is a lot of talk flowing around out there right now about NBA Commissioner Adam Silver being on the short list to be the next CEO of the Disney Corp.
Whether there is any merit to that talk or not, I wouldn't be surprised if Silver were to be offered the job he'd grab it with both hands.
Issues are coming. And they have been for a long while. The growing enmity between players and on court officials is approaching a boiling point.
Ja Morant appears bent on destroying his future and with it any chance the Memphis Grizzlies have at becoming a bona fide Championship contender.
Oh and Kevin Durant is hurt. Again. And Zion Williamson is still hurt. Again.
It's all Hoop this time on The Puck & Hoop Podcast. Thanks for listening.
...well you know the rest. The Eastern Conference. Whether it's Puck or Hoop is NOT a place not for the faint of heart. Even with a couple of Superstars departing for the West, the NBA's Eastern Conference is turning into a very difficult place to ply your trade. Which will make for some interesting jockeying for position with play-offs just around the corner. The same is true to an even GREATER extent in the NHL. No fewer than 6 teams can count themselves as serious contenders for the Stanley Cup. And if that doesn't get you excited - no matter who you root for - then you really don't care about hockey. Oh and speaking about caring, you have to wonder just how much Ja Morant cares about what is - or was(?) - shaping up to be a championship run by the Memphis Grizzlies. Keith and I chat about that as well as a few tid bits about our favs. And yes we are ready to RUUUUUUMMMMMBBBBBLLLLLLEEEE!
This episode has been published and can be heard everywhere your podcast is available.
There are times when you see it coming. This was not one of those. The Boston Bruins are setting a torrid pace atop the NHL's Eastern Conference. And by torrid, I mean historic. When it's all said and done and the regular season gives way to play-offs, the Bruins may well have fashion the best ever season in NHL history.
BUT.
And it's a big one. The last time a team won the President's Trophy AND the Stanley Cup was the 2012/13 Chicago Blackhawks. And that was a lock-out shortened season. Also, starting with the 1985-86 season when the award was created, only seven teams have won this trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season. In fact, three of the last four Presidents' Trophy winners have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
So yeah Boston is great. In the REGULAR season. But if you want to win the Stanley Cup, be a little wary of that greatness. It may wind up being not so great.
Enjoy episode 17. It's a whole lotta PUCk with a little HOOP thrown in at the end.
There are times when you see it coming. This was not one of those. The Boston Bruins are setting a torrid pace atop the NHL's Eastern Conference. And by torrid, I mean historic. When it's all said and done and the regular season gives way to play-offs, the Bruins may well have fashion the best ever season in NHL history.
BUT.
And it's a big one. The last time a team won the President's Trophy AND the Stanley Cup was the 2012/13 Chicago Blackhawks. And that was a lock-out shortened season. Also, starting with the 1985-86 season when the award was created, only seven teams have won this trophy and the Stanley Cup in the same season. In fact, three of the last four Presidents' Trophy winners have been eliminated in the first round of the playoffs.
So yeah Boston is great. In the REGULAR season. But if you want to win the Stanley Cup, be a little wary of that greatness. It may wind up being not so great.
Enjoy episode 17. It's a whole lotta PUCk with a little HOOP thrown in at the end.
NBA All-Star Weekend is in the rear view mirror. Thankfully - some might say. Whatever you think of the game, the attendant festivities and all that goes with it, the NBA and the NBAPA know how to put on a show and continue to cement the NBA as the most culturally and social conscious member of the Big Four professional sports. Shout to Jully Black and the late great Marvin Gaye. Also in this episode, Keith and I get into about whether the Raptors need to embrace Pascal Siakam as THE MAN. No blows were traded in this 'discussion'. Take a listen. Enjoy the banter. And yes, one word CAN make a difference.
SOOOO... that Brooklyn thing didn't really work out, huh? Now it's the Valley of the Sun for Kevin Durant and yet another chance to turn a great team into a Super Team. The Lakers may have found away to make themselves relevant - MAYBE. And the Raptor? Sometimes you just might have to reach back into your past to push yourself forward. Take a listen to The Puck & Hoop Podcast take on the NBA Trade Deadline.
MLB can't help but play a real game. The NFL wouldn't dare play a real game. The NBA? Well it's not a REAL game but it's a reasonable facsimile of one. So why can't the NHL follow suit? Take a listen and you'll hear what Keith and I think about the All-Star 'Game' and see if what we say doesn't hit home with you.
Peace.
B
As a child of the 70's and living close enough to my grade school that I could go home for lunch, The Flintstones were a daily staple of my lunch time activities.
There was this one particular episode where Fred got hold of his Granpa's "Stone World War" Diary. Fred starts to read it to Barney and the adventure Fred relays is about a combat mission his Granpa got caught up in. Granpa Flinstone described it this way: The situation was desperate, but not hopeless.
The phrase has always stayed with me and it certainly is an apt way of encapsulating the current state of the Raptors. 'Cause yes, the losses were mounting, the season was shrinking, a 7-game, 13-day Western road swing was looming. Absolutely the situation appeared to be desperate, but apparently the Raptors were never without hope. And pride. And Heart. And Defence. And Toughness. And FVV.
This Episode of The Puck & Hoop Podcast is a little different - it's all Hoop, specifically Raptors.
Because the Raptors are playing desperate basketball and that means there might be reason to hope.
Enjoy Episode 15.
FredFlintstone
Hey there.
Episode 13 is here for you to sample at your leisure. But be warned - if you are a Raptor fan - we are diving into a situation that may be about to go from desperate to hopeless. The again it may not. All shall be revealed, pretty much by February 6th. Oh and the Habs are terrible and getting worse, but you wouldn't know that from the way they play Leafs. BRUCE THERE IT IS!!!
NB/In our News & Notes segment, Keith's audio suffered a little bit of interference that we just couldn't isolate.
Soooo Brooklyn has a no K-D problem, Lebron is making a great case for LeGoat and we get into it about our favs the Leafs, Habs & Raptors.
Enjoy Episode 12. And for the sake of argument... JORDAN is the THE GOAT. AT least for now. #RELEASETHEKRAKEN!
So one of the things I promised myself I would never do on this podcast is talk about my own meager abilities as a hoops player. But Man, I actually LIKED PLAYING DEFENSE. Shutting a great player or a great team down was something I prided myself, and the teams I played for, on. But if you have been following Puck & Hoop you know that defense in both sports has been overwhelmed by offense. Well at least the Maple Leafs are giving the defensive side of the game some attention, the Habs - not so much. But what was that old saying: Offense fills seats, but defense wins championships. I think that OLD saying may be about to get retired. And oh hey, that Lebron James dude. He's pretty good.
First and foremost, Season's Greetings to everybody. Here's hoping you and your Families make it through the Holiday's hale and hearty. Something not to be taken for granted - believe me on that. So we have been a little delayed in getting Episode 10 out, we actually recorded back on December 15. Now for the most part we weren't dealing with anything that was going to overtly date us, as we were taking a look a back at some of our early season prognostications. Hence the "Who Knew" title for this Episode. Of course we still hit our favs the LEAFS, HABS & RAPS, so we are not completely up to date on standings and such, but our convo wouldn't be changed by that much anyway. At any rate, enjoy Episode 10. Have a Happy New Year. Episode 11 is coming soon. Don'cha dare miss it!
When your nickname contains the word GREAT, you usually are. Great that is. Look despite what some people are saying out there Alex Ovechkin is not the GREATEST goal scorer of all time. Yet. But by the time he is done, with the continuous good health that has been one of the hallmarks of his career, there is little doubt that the Great 8, actually better make that the GR800, will have wrested that once untouchable mantle from that other GREAT goal scorer.
Every once in awhile Keith and I get into, what I like to call, micro-debates. So we figured why not let you in on the chatter. This one is about something that I'm sure ALL puck-heads have an opinion on. But at the end of the day, and the end of this QuickCast, love it or hate it OT is here to stay in the NHL.
...because anyone that would say that is an ASSHAT. Full stop. However I will say this; yes Lebron has earned the right to be the pre-eminent spokesperson for The Assosciation. But steal a line from my favourite Marvel character: "With great power comes great responsibility." Meaning not every topic needs you to add the weight of your voice to it. In fact by staying away that may be even more impactful. Especially when the topic is wholly concocted by those who - to put it mildly - truly ascribe to the 'tempest in a teapot' way of reacting to something. If you don't know what that idiom mean then ask somebody. AND if you don't know what 'idiom' means... well anyway, how about them Leafs!
There really are no heroes in Sport. Puck & Hoop are no different. If you want tangible proof that there are no heroes in Sport, just give Kyrie Irving a Google.
But there are LEGENDS.
And Borje Salming is DECIDELY that. On the ice, there are few that carved a path through the NHL like Salming did. And the ones that did, like him, are all in the Hall of Fame. Salming is not just on the short list of greatest defencemen ever, but should be mentioned as one of the greatest PLAYERS ever. I'll make that argument forever. As a kid I was forever amazed at the number of great plays Salming authoured. So much so that anytime anyone made a great play - in any sport - my friends and I would yell out: BORJE SALMING! Forever the epitome of greatness. Forever a Leaf. Enjoy Episode 8.
...but it's still The Puck & Hoop Podcast. So we took a bit of break there, sometimes Life gets in the way of Living. But we are back and with a little bit of a different slant to our focus - particularly when it comes to our News & Notes segments. Too often off-ice and off-court issues take up a large part of the conversations that Keith and I have away from the microphone. Well that just seemed a little, let's say, limiting. So unless we hear otherwise from you, our focus WILL remain on the court and on the ice, but stories, events and circumstances that have impact and import? Heck, if we are talking about them, you're gonna hear it. "Don'cha dare miss it." - Billy Red Lyons
You know veery once in awhile it's good to reach back and remind yourself of why you love Puck & Hoop. Whether it's something you watched, an event you attended or even something you partook in - ahhh memories of The Cage (hoopheads will know of what I speak). those memories are the placeholders in our hearts and minds of why these games mean so much to us. Shout out to Pete Rock & C-L Smooth, Keith M and Black Jesus, oh and Brendan Shanahan.
Peace.
B&K
OK, so right off the bat I've gotta let you know that Ep6 was recorded prior to the Raps beating Philly on Wednesday night. Good win. Made all the better by the return of Scottie Barnes from an ankle injury. I say - write this - because Keith and I get into how Barnes being injured is a good/bad scenario for the Raps at this point in the season. Sure it's nice to give other guys on the roster an opportunity, but having Scottie B. in the line-up... that's just better. Waaaaaaaayyyyyy better.
Enjoy Episode 6. Keith and I sure did.
C-ya!!
If there is anything that is a given in professional sports - especially one that takes place on an unstable playing surface (hello hockey) - is that NOTHING IS GIVEN. Things can be expected, just listen to all the pre-season prognostications in both puck & hoop, but sh&t happens Man. So a week into the puck season is no need to panic or get over-stimulated - depending on how you view a 2-win, 2-loss start. Or a minor injury heading into the opening of your season. Whatever the case maybe in either puck or hoop, it's a looooonnnngggg season and yes we can all have expectations but, nothing is given. Enjoy Episode 5.
The Puck season is in full swing, Hoops is just around the corner. And boy are we glad for it! If you didn't know it, we hale from Canada and there is nothing that makes a long, cold, Canadian winter (it's coming, it always does!) bearable like a regular dose of Puck & Hoop. Helping you get ready for that is what we are all about here at TP&HP. So sit back, relax, put on your head gear - if that refrain rings a bell you truly are Old Skool - and dive into Episode 4 of The Puck & Hoop Podcast. Yes, this is THAT podcast! Oh and shout out to Mark Morrison. If you don't know ask somebody.
C-ya!
There is much to be learned while watching the exhibition seasons in Puck & Hoop. New additions to the roster to take note of, you get to see how another Summer of development reveals itself in the younger players, and what if - any - new tricks the old dogs (relatively speaking) have added to their arsenal in the off-season. Those things are pretty much common in both Puck & Hoop. It's those things that have me watching what some call the "silly season" with keen interest and anticipation of the incredible games and highlights that will be available for my viewing pleasure from now until June. Pretty much the best part of the sports calendar if you ask me. It also gives Keith and I whole lot to banter about on The Puck & Hoop Podcast. And by banter I mean argue about, but in a nice way that always occurs between Leafs and Habs fans (riiiiight) who just happen to share a love of hoop as well. Enjoy Episode 3, look out for Episode 4 where we get into, what I like to call, "The Return of the Max". For Old Skool Hip Hop people who also know hoops you'll get that pun. For those of you that don't, all shall be revealed in Episode 4.
Peace,
B
First off I have to apologize. One, for the lateness in getting Episode 2 out to you and two, for the noticeable hum you hear in this Episode. Rest assured I am working on correcting the latter for Episode 3. Oh and that one will definitely NOT be late. At any rate hope you enjoy this one and it's a long one so here's a break down for your listening pleasure:
- 00:00 INTRO
- 00:38 News & Notes
- 14:39 Go Leafs Go!
- 34:53 Les Habitants Sont La!
- 52:30 Let's Go Raptors!
As always if you have any questions, comments or criticisms drop us a line at: the puckandhooppodcast@gmail.com
Cya!
Everyone has an opinion. That's nota bad thing. In fact it's a good thing. Differing opinions are a great way to spur a conversation, engage in healthy debate and even have - on rare occasions in our case - agreement. That's why I think lists are fun. So here are our Top 5 players in Puck & Hoop heading into the '22/23 season. Debate. Discuss. Conversate. Agree or disagree. That's what this is here for. And if you want to talk with us about your choices feel free to drop us a line:
thepuckandhooppodcast@gmail.com
We'll hit you back as quick as you hit us.
Go Leafs Go!
Growing up in Toronto you kind of had to become a hockey fan by default. Becoming a hoops fan... well lets just say that took a little effort.
But it certainly was a labour of love. Puck and Hoop, there are those that will tell you the two can't co-exist in one sports heart. We - Keith Reedon and Brian Dunstan - are here to tell you that not only do we love Puck & Hoop, we LOVE talking about them. So come in and join in on the conversation of the two sports we Love. Puck & Hoop. This is THAT podcast.
Feel free to share your love of these two great games by hitting us up via email at: thepuckandhooppodcast@gmail.com
Be well,
B
In the beginning the Gods created the Sixers, the Habs and the Leafs.
And not necessarily in that order.
This is the Puck and Hoop podcast.
Hosted by Keith Reedon – Habs fan.
And Brian Dunstan – Leafs fan.
We both grew up loving the Philadelphia 76ers…
But with the Raptors coming to Toronto in 1995…
Well you gotta support your hometown team, don’t you?
Which begs the question, why the heck is Keith a Habs fan?
Something that will probably come up a time or two on this podcast.
At any rate, we are just two guys talking about, and sometimes arguing about – the two sports they love.
Puck & Hoops.
This is that PODCAST.
We are here to talk about EVERYTHING on the ice or the court. Well ALMOST everything.