Bald Guys On The Bench
Bald Guys On The Bench
Sports Talk and Birthday Shots
Recorded May 11th, 2025
Scott's birthday celebration sets the tone for this sports-packed episode as we ride the emotional rollercoaster of fatherhood, fandom, and friendship through the lens of sports.
The celebration begins with Scott's recap of coaching his son Kellen's flag football team to a dominant 38-16 victory in their season opener. The pure joy in his voice captures that special father-son bond that only sports can create—turning a simple youth league game into a memory that will last a lifetime. From Shane's opening touchdown to Kellen's run-pass option score, every detail comes alive through proud-dad storytelling.
Hockey takes center stage as we dissect the Vegas Knights' miraculous last-second victory over the Edmonton Oilers. With just 0.4 seconds remaining, they pulled off the impossible, shifting momentum in a series that seemed lost. The passion in our breakdown reveals why the Stanley Cup playoffs remain unmatched in sports drama, with fifteen overtime games already showcasing the incredible intensity of postseason hockey.
Golf enthusiasts will appreciate our deep dive into PGA Championship predictions. Graham backs Justin Thomas given his previous success at Quail Hollow and recent consistent form, while Scott puts his money on Xander Schauffele with Shane Lowry as his value longshot. We even tackle the unique angle of PGA club pros competing alongside the world's best, boldly predicting exactly two will make the cut this year.
The NBA playoff landscape gets thorough examination too, from the Pacers' surprising 3-1 lead over Cleveland to the Knicks stealing games from Boston. We analyze how injuries—particularly Steph Curry's absence for Golden State—are reshaping championship odds and potential matchups.
Subscribe now and join our unfiltered sports conversation every week. Whether you're a casual fan or hardcore analyst, our friendship-based approach to sports talk will keep you entertained, informed, and coming back for more.
#baldguysonthebench #graboneandcrackone #nhl #stanleycupplayoffs #nba #nbaplayoffs #pgatour #pgachampionship
Welcome to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench podcast, with your hosts Graham Cohen and Scott Wasco.
Graham:What's up everyone? Welcome back to another episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench. Guess what? This is a back-to-back birthday edition. What up, brother Scott? You know what we'd like to do? We're going to talk sports, but we need to grab one and crack one and let's get it going.
Scott:Damn, you took the opening and the grab one and crack one. What do I get to say here, I mean, do I get to talk here? Actually, crack one. What do I get to say here, I mean, do I get to talk here? Actually, it's not my birthday yet. We got an hour left. So this grabbing one and cracking one goes out to all the moms out there. Fair enough, it is mother's day, you know it's the day it wouldn't be, here, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Scott:Well, you know everybody says that and I'm not trying to throw shade on this, but you know it takes two to tango, you know I'll remember that when it's father's day.
Graham:No, I mean, you know what I'm saying.
Scott:I'm just messing with you but yeah, no, it's mother's day, dude. I mean you gotta give it up to your mom. I mean everybody's mom. They do work, dude, it's like the behind the scenes shit they do. But let's go, it's beyond time. Grab it, crack it, let's go. Yeah, buddy. And by the time, graham, probably you know he's trying to joke on me, saying it's my birthday Crack it, let's go. Yeah, buddy. And by the time Graham, probably you know he's trying to joke on me he's saying it's my birthday.
Graham:He's probably going to say something oh, you're 47. You're old, you're bald.
Scott:Whatever. I wasn't going to say any of that. Whatever, dude, I mean, I'm three years away from being able to play the senior teams and our PGA events and you know I'm just gonna, by the time you edit this and get it out, I'll be 47 and one day old. So you know, there you go, rude. But anyhow, graham, how was the weekend?
Graham:You know, I know you worked and hey, you look good for almost 50, bro it's all good. Um, it's all good.
Scott:Yeah, just work this week you know who else we have to say happy mother's day to and I see this every year and it's the hilarious post from Barstool all the ladies in the adult industry. You know what you know, you know, barstool always throws it out. Happy mother's day to the real moms out there. And it has all the older adult female actresses out there. It's hilarious. They do it every year. They're like oh time for the annual post. Hilarious.
Graham:Oh, just had to throw that out there.
Scott:I did not see that one coming no, you didn't, and we'll start the hot chick of the week. We'll throw that out there to them. So if you don't know now you know yeah, um, wow, um.
Graham:So yeah, how was the weekend? Guy Saw a movie. I think I saw like two movies this week.
Scott:Dude, you've seen like 12 movies this week.
Graham:Nah, I well, in the last week and a half I've seen three, but they were all three good movies. Saw the Accountant 2, which was really good. Saw Amateur talked about that last week, but then the other day day I saw the Marvel movie Thunderbolts and it was actually pretty good.
Announcer:So, it was better than I thought it was going to be.
Graham:But look, you all know I got the monthly pass. I got nothing to do sometimes. Why not check it out? But that's what I did on my weekend. Scott, I know you're chomping at the bit to talk about your weekend, so please let the listeners know. How was your weekend, brother?
Scott:it was awesome you know birthdays tomorrow. I had the family over last night for a little birthday party and then kristin surprised me and invited billy and his wife and johnny and his wife over. Didn't know they were coming, they just showed up like 45 minutes after everybody else got here. Kristen surprised me and invited Billy and his wife and Johnny and his wife over. Didn't know they were coming, they just showed up like 45 minutes after everybody else got here, just for the surprise. It was hilarious. I had a great time. May or may not have had way too much tequila, but it was fun. The Knights got the dub. We'll talk about that in amazing fashion Like wow, still can't believe it. But you know, the highlight of the weekend was we started Kellen's Flag League today.
Announcer:Oh yeah.
Scott:Dude. It's been a long time coming, bro, like we were supposed to start our season Master Sunday.
Scott:Damn yeah and that's a month ago there was an issue with the vendors, with the jerseys, and then opening day was supposed to be last week and it was raining, so it got canceled. So finally we got to play a game today. And you, it was the first time I got to meet my assistant coach, who I talked about on here before, and we got a guru. Bro, my guy played safety in college, knows defense, you know. Had the boys we only have an hour to practice before the game had the boys on defense, you know, learning their responsibilities and where they're supposed to be in this and that, well, we get the ball first. We were the away team. They won the toss. They deferred boy, they probably shouldn't have done that. Let me just tell you.
Scott:First play of the game. First play of the game. Okay To the house. My boy, shane, grabs one Cutty First play. First play, thanks for playing. Hold them three and out we get the ball. They punt.
Scott:You know we talked about the run pass option on the episodes before, about how Kellen's going to be the running back. Well, second play on offense for us. Kellen gets the handoff run pass options there. Pumps to the right, he gone. Tutty, it's 14 to nothing. We've ran two plays Damn, it's 14 to nothing. We've ran two plays, damn.
Scott:And all I can think about is last night, when I was on the phone with Graham I may or may not have over served myself and Graham was like, all right, you keep talking to the offense and this and that you're putting the run pass option in there. Don't even come at me unless you score 30. And I'm like that was my motivation. And I'm like that was my motivation and I'm like, all right, you bald-headed, I got your 30. So what'd we do? Threw up 38. Let's go, let's go, let's go 1-0. 1-38-16. Dude, I'm just going to say this right now If there was ever a chance for us to win the whole thing, it's now. Yeah, I got a dude on defense that knows what the hell he's doing. It's, it's sick, it's amazing. The other team did listen to this shit.
Scott:So the rules of the league the boys aren't allowed to have pockets on their shorts makes sense, right? Because it's flag football and you're pulling going to pull for a flag, your hand gets stuck in their pocket, you break your wrist. Get it okay. So it's 22 to 6, one minute before halftime, and a parent on the other team is bitter Betty, because we're laying out to them, and she's like oh, referee, that kid has a pocket on his shorts. Wait, is that the reason your team's getting boat raced? Because my guy has a pocket? It's 22 to 10. Oh, they're kicking the shit out of usaced because my guy has a pocket. It's 22 to 10. Oh, they're kicking the shit out of us Cause homeboys got a pocket. Well then, come and find out three of our chainside pockets and they had to run over to the headquarters for the league and put duct tape on their goddamn shorts One minute before halftime, like you're just looking for a reason that your team sucks and is unathletic and you're getting boat raced by a guru who? A defensive guru, but anyhow, it was amazing.
Scott:Kellen had a blast, I had a blast. Obviously it was a fun first game of the year. Then we all went out to dinner for Mother's Day my dad and mom and Kristen's mom and dad. Then we're here, we're back, it's time. It's bald guys on the bench. Weekend wrap-up is complete. I don't even know where to start. I mean, I think I'm going to start off. Let's jump real quick into the Stanley Cup playoffs. We got some series dude. Not only that, but something that is amazing to me I think through Thursday night, we've had 15 games go to overtime so far in the first and second round.
Graham:That's insane.
Scott:That's wild dude, wild, wild, wild shit. But you know, last week I was throwing shade at the NBA and how shitty their playoffs are and this and that and the blowouts. I'm going to eat a little crow because there's been some amazing endings of games in the NBA. Yeah, and not if you're a Celtics fan.
Announcer:But we'll get into that.
Scott:I mean geez Louise, but you know the NBA playoffs have there's been their share of blowouts, but there were a couple of games early in round two that you were like did that just happen?
Graham:What.
Scott:Yeah, pretty amazing. But anyhow, stanley cup playoffs. Dude, I'm just going to jump right in. Everybody knows I'm a Knights fan. The Knights lost game one when you're up, two to nothing. Then game two, that was thursday night, wasn't it when I went to overtime? Yeah, yeah, because we started tuesday, it's tuesday, thursday. Yeah, dude, we're up, we're down two goals going into the third period. I'm like all right, we're done, we're going to lose both home games. Then we tie it, take the game to overtime. I'm losing my mind. It's in overtime. 10, 11 minutes left in overtime. Nick Wobb does the dumbest thing I've ever seen him do in my life and cross-checks homeboy to the face. The guy's been an amazing player his whole career, never done anything stupid. Now we're going on a power play kill, a five-minute major against the team. That is the best power play unit in the NHL. I'm like this shit's over.
Graham:Thanks wall and hey he was sticking up for his goalie?
Scott:no, that wasn't that, that was. That was a whole different. That was white filed in the vanderkeen. Was the dude that? No wall? I thought that was checked. Homeboy in the face oh, I thought he, that was in overtime oh, I thought he did that when he was on the ground.
Graham:Oh, my apologies.
Scott:We kill a five minute major. We have the momentum, the crowd's going apeshit, okay. And then McNabb is going after a puck and the oiler guy blatantly trips him into the board. Should have been a penalty. Nothing called. 30 seconds later, right side, I'll meet, david. Thanks for playing. You ain't going to stop that they win, dude. It's not me as a fan, because I was bitter Betty. Obviously it's bullshit. I was bitter Betty. Obviously it's bullshit. But all the media, all the hockey guys, nhl radio on Sirius the next morning on the way to work, it's just bullshit, bullshit, bullshit. His stick was between his legs. Am I saying we would have won in overtime if that was a power play? Absolutely not.
Graham:I'm just saying right, it was bullshit I mean it's kind of sounding like you know the nfl, where you can't throw a challenge flag on certain plays.
Scott:That don't happen, happen the only time you know what I'm saying reviewed as if it's a major. And that's because of when the knights got effed in the butt raw against the sharks, when cody eakin got called, when it was a five minute major on him because some sharks guy doesn't know how to skate and the the Sharks came back and won, so they changed the rule because of that. But anyhow, whatever we take the ass beating, we're down two games to nothing at home, going into America's top hat, canada. And now we're down McNabb. Then Nicholas Wall has a hearing with the NHL to see if he's going to be suspended and we're like, oh great, we're down McNabb because of the tripping and his injury into the boards. And now Wall is going to get suspended. Like there was no doubt in my mind that Wall was getting suspended. Comes out Friday, not suspended, because it was his first offense. Only fine, whatever, not a lot of money.
Scott:Then the game last night. You know, I've got everybody over here at my house and game kicks, starts off a little later. We're down two to nothing. Dude in, like the first nine minutes. I'm like well, whatever, it's your birthday, have a good time. You know, don't even think about it. It is what it is, don't let it ruin the night. And bada, bing, bada boom, we tie it up. We score two goals in like 54 seconds and I'm like, okay, let's go. Baby hello, dude, anyhow, we're up a goal, dude, with four minutes left and the america's top hat team, the oiler, score goal to tie it. And I'm like, oh, dude, we're about to go to overtime. I'm literally watching it on tv from the front porch as johnny's waiting for his uber and I'm like, bro, I gotta go inside. There's three minutes left. He's like, go, dude, dude, I get it. Go, go, go, dude.
Graham:You're a friend, I can't believe you gave him that much.
Scott:Three minutes left I'd have been like please, the only score, dude, was 0.4 seconds left. And the crazy thing was, when it's happening live, you couldn't even really see it go in because as it went in and came out it hit the camera in the back of the net. It ricocheted out so fast, right, and they, they had to review it. And all the nights players are like going nuts and I'm like kristin, if they're going nuts like that, this shit's a good goal. And obviously they reviewed it and you were seeing it and it was clearly in the net. Let's go.
Scott:Pickard, the Oilers goalie that got hot against the Kings, got hot against us, won six games in a row. He got injured Thursday night when Thomas Hertel fell on him and he didn't start. Last night. The Knights, literally in the career of Skinner being in the net for the Oilers, the Knights have a four-goal-per-game average against them and I'm like, let's go, we got the dub, we had to do what we had to do. We had to get that win Number one. Like I was telling Jerry and Tyler and maybe you, I didn't want to see my boys get eliminated on my birthday. So at least I escaped that. Okay, I escaped that. We gotta, we gotta. We got a tough hill to climb. But guess what? It was announced today pickers out, tomorrow, skinner's back, baby. But it but it sucks With the win.
Scott:Stone got hurt. Everybody stepped up Wild, bill Carlson, jiminy Crickets, dude, insane game yesterday. One of the best games of his career, maybe ever, but it was insane. Guy stepped up. We got our number one goal scorer back. He hadn't been in the game in two weeks. Pavel Dorfov he came back last night. That was huge, but anyhow, dude.
Graham:You know, one thing I want to say, real quick One, and this has nothing to do with the fact of me liking that money, but I'm surprised. Do with the fact of you know me liking that money, but I'm surprised out of the both of us and how big of a fan you were and just the confidence like I don't want to say lacking, but how was I the one that had the most confidence in your boys to get it done and put money on them on the money line?
Scott:You know me, dude, I don't like to bet on my team. You know me, dude, I don't like to bet on my team like to bet your team. I, I like to bet on my team, like as far as over unders goals scored, yeah, that kind of thing I. I didn't.
Graham:It was a must win, dude, it was a must win yeah, that's what I'm and that and that's what I was telling myself. I'm like it's one of those and, plus being here in Vegas and I was bartending that night, so I had some people and we were watching the game and stuff, and it's just like to be in the moment and cheer for them. It was just like we got to win.
Graham:And it's just like if you got to win, you know they're gonna put it all out there. So I was just like, if there's any bet that I feel semi-confident in, and and here's also what kind of led me to it was the nhl knows or not the nhl, but vegas knows, and by vegas I mean the, the uh bookie makers this is a must-win game. They, they're coming back from 0-3. I mean, not that it's not possible, but let's be real, against that team.
Announcer:Yeah.
Graham:For them in a must-win game away to be plus 100, I was like I like those odds, I don't disagree. I mean I thought for sure it would have been like minus 130 or something, just because like they have to win. But when I saw the plus 100, I was like yeah.
Scott:You said it before the game. You're like, I like it, yes, sir. Earlier, before the card was announced, is not playing. I forget what it was. The Knights were plus. And then, here on DraftKings, once Skinner was announced as the starting goalie, it went to even. It was a pick-em, basically. But anyhow, we got a big game tomorrow night and it's your boy's birthday and let's go Even it up, man. Even it up, and let's make it a best of three when two of those three are at home. That's what we got to do.
Announcer:Right.
Graham:So myself and the listeners are kind of curious and it just popped up in my head right now how much of that tequila ball is left? I don't even know Last night.
Announcer:Funny thing is, my dad asked me that tonight at dinner too I don't know.
Scott:I'll tell you this much though. Okay, this might, this might give you a little bit of a hint. Uh, I told you, john and his wife ubered home. Well, what has two thumbs in their car still sitting in front of my house on sunday night at 11 20?
Graham:not me, not you, johnny uh, dude, the best part about last night was, um, after you know the game's over, you called me or you text me, bro, you done with work and I'm, and I'm like I'll call you, I'll call you, and then I finally call you the first thing out of your mouth is not even like our traditional guy. First thing out of your mouth is 8.5. And folks?
Scott:if you don't know, Scott and I have this thing.
Graham:And folks. If you don't know, scott and I have this thing where we can tell usually how intoxicated the other person is. But we always ask on a scale of hey, on a scale of 1 to 10, where do you think you are right now? 10 obviously being the drunkest, 1 being sober, and normally when Scott and I have conversations later in the evening it fluctuates in between like 3 and 6 or 7. It's rare to get the 8.5, nines, very rare. But when you said 8.5 is the first thing that you said and I was like oh boy, let's go.
Scott:Baby, I'm just going to confirm my eight and a half, because your boy woke up on the couch at 6 am. Anyhow, it was a fun night. I mean, come on, let's go, it's your birthday, your boys are here.
Scott:Hey birthday weekend, Mother's Day weekend and the first thing I said to Kristen was because it was my parents and her parents, and then Billy and John surprised me. Like I said, the first thing I said to Kristen this morning was, besides, happy Mother's Day was. I was pretty lit last night, was I okay when your parents were here?
Graham:And she was like yeah, you were good and I was like yeah, you said you waited.
Scott:I was like okay, my parents cracked open that bottle, whatever, don't care, but you know I had to be on good behavior, so that was the first thing I said. Dude, it was hilarious, she was laughing at me, but anyhow uh, that dude it was hilarious.
Scott:She was laughing at me, but anyhow, uh, dude, let's jump right in. Hurricanes are up two games to one after the caps won the first game in washington. Dude stars up two games to one after they got the dub today, first game in Dallas against the number one seed in the west, the Jets dude, miko Rantanen. What can you say? The dude gets traded from Colorado to the Hurricanes, then gets traded to the Stars, scores three goals in game seven in the third period against the team that traded him away, then in game one against the Jets. Not only did he have a hat trick in the second period, he had a natural hat trick and Graham, I know you don't know what a natural hat trick is. That means when you literally have three goals in a row. That means when you literally have three goals in a row, all right, I had six goals in three periods. Going back to game seven.
Announcer:Damn.
Scott:There you go, as SportsCenter is showing this right now on TV, with five three-point games through teams' first ten playoff games. First player ever Is that any good?
Graham:I mean it's all right and homeboy got traded from Colorado.
Scott:But I don't know, dude. Toronto wins the first two games against the Panthers and Canada and looked like a force dude. And then Florida just screamed back and won both of their games. In Florida Series is 2-2. Love it, it's amazing. Every series is right there. Bro, no-transcript. If we win tomorrow night to tie it up to to going back to Vegas making an invest of three with two of the three games in Vegas, I might change my mind a little bit. But we got to. We got to play, dude, we got to play fast. We're not playing fast. We got the two goal lead early in game. One literally played prevent defense the rest of the game. You can't do that against those guys. We know Connor McDavid, we know Dreisaitl. I mean, come on, the game went into overtime Thursday night. People were like dude, he'll look like shit. It's a two-on-one fast break. As a goalie you've got to guess. You're guessing. Is McDavid keeping it or is he dishing it? He guessed wrong. What the fuck are you supposed to do against those two?
Scott:Good fucking luck, just shut up and it was stupid good, just shut up and go eat some poutine and sit on your cooch and go take a leak in your washroom or whatever the hell they call it, and go phone your mom, you know. Star your bitter that your best sport in your country hasn't won a championship in a long ass time. So you know.
Graham:Someone's getting Uber Eats poutine tomorrow night. Shit's disgusting.
Scott:You send me that dude and I'll just. Mmm who puts gravy on fucking French fries? They're potatoes. It's disgusting.
Graham:They're the same thing Disgusting. Now, what I wanted to ask you, are you rooting against the number one seeds?
Scott:Well, obviously I'm rooting against the Jets because they're in the West and if we somehow have a miracle and come back and win the series, we have home ice, right? I mean, obviously I'm rooting for the Canes because the only teams that would have home ice against us in the Stanley Cup Finals would be the Capitals and the Jets. We would have home life, yeah.
Graham:The canes have been looking. I mean, when I watched that game at work, dude, they've been looking really good, I agree with Jerry.
Scott:I was like all these games and all these series everybody looks super fast on the ice, but the canes and capitals series they look really slow. It's weird. It's weird, it's weird. But here's a fun stat, dude. Toronto Maple Leafs, you know, won the first two games, lost the last two games. Austin Matthews, you know the superstar for the Maple Leafs. He's the highest paid player in the NHL, right? I don't know if you know that. You know how many goals he has in this series against the Panthers?
Graham:I'm going to say I'm not as remind. Yeah, he's the dude that didn't he? Didn't he like tie the record of his one short for I?
Scott:don't know. He just never shows up in the playoffs dude, it's crazy. I don't know he just never shows up in the playoffs dude, it's crazy. I don't know what to say. Yeah, that's tough. I'm not throwing shade at him because the dude's a stud, but oh yeah, but hey, well, you know it's, this is actually a nice little.
Graham:I don't want to say a segue, but you know I was talking with my dad about this. So when we went to see the movie the other day, uh, when we got out, it just so happened it was like the last three minutes of uh, the nuggets and okc their game two days ago or whatever it was, and we were watching it. Then, after it was over, you know, we're driving back and we were talking and he's just like you know, because, uh, sg, or shane gildress, alexander, he's most likely gonna be the mvp of the league, and my dad's just like and we've talked about this before why do regular, why do league awards? Only, I don't want to say dictate, but why is it?
Scott:only the regular season. No, I get it.
Graham:He's under the belief and I know, we've talked about this before in previous episodes, but it's just like it's the full body of work. Granted, there could be people that could be the mvps and they just don't make the playoffs. I get it yeah yeah, you know what I mean, but it's just like when, the way he said it, it's just like it makes sense I mean, yeah, I mean you can make the argument either way.
Graham:You know what I mean. And it's just like it. It it's truly amazing how people can and it's not all, and it's not just a few, but, like the, there's a few superstars that are out there that can just dominate the regular season, and then it's just come playoff time, it's like, yeah, they're okay, like they're good, but it's not like yo, bro, what happened to that shit that you were doing?
Scott:in the regular season. And then you got dudes that don't put their asses off in the regular season and show up in that clutch moment. Yeah, aka, homeboy for the Knicks I can't think of his name. Yeah, nobody ever thought I was a guru of the NBA, but dude, I can't think of his name. He had like 11 points in the fourth quarter the other night.
Graham:Yeah yeah yeah, brunson you talking about. Yeah, yeah, he's pretty good.
Scott:But anyhow, before we jump into the NBA playoffs, you and I met because of our love of another sport and that is golf. But, graham, it's time, second major of the year, pga championship well, hollow in Charlotte, north Carolina. Aka what Jordan speed said to Rory, rory McIlroy country club. It was hilarious, dude. I guess somebody said something, or Rory said something to Jordan and was like how amazing would it be if you won the PGA and we had two Grand Slam winners in back-to-back majors in the same year? And Jordan's response was oh yeah, of course, at Rory McIlroy Country Club, love it, I mean. I mean, we got lots of storylines you make you know lots what you just hold on a second.
Graham:What you just said seemed like it was downplayed. There are only six people on planet Earth who have ever lived that have the career Grand Slam, and we have an opportunity to have a seventh. So to have one already happen, to have two in the same year is mind-boggling.
Scott:Not only in the same year, but back-to-back Right.
Graham:Right, Just back to back. Right, Right, Just it's. Jay Monahan is just like well.
Scott:I don't even think that dude, I don't even think that. I think the sport of golf is, you know, oh, true, true, true, true, true. That's the main thing. Yeah, I agree, the sport of golf. I mean the ratings last week when Scotty shot 31 under and won by a million. Okay, those ratings were absolutely incredible. I forget the exact numbers, but I was shocked when they were talking about it. They were Because the tournament was over. Wow, basically, after nine holes on saturday, scotty was, I mean, it was yeah, unless he shot a. I mean on sunday, like we talked about last week, homeboy van ruen or whatever shoots 30 on the front nine doesn't even gain a stroke. I mean the ratings were incredible. It's like, okay, the number one player in the world, scotty, he's running away with it and people were still on tv on their tvs watching it.
Scott:So the sport of golf needs this right now. It's the pga championship. People say, other than tpc at sawgrass, this is the best field in golf. Pga championship because there's no amateurs. Okay, you, you know every other major. There's amateurs there In the PGA Championship. No amateurs. They have a bunch of club pros like myself that play way more golf than I and don't have as many responsibilities as I, but not throwing shade at them, they're way better golfers than I.
Scott:okay, not even saying that, but there's 20 of them, dude, 20 club pros, playing in this event. We got a local dude from Virginia Beach, sick, playing in it. Michael Block. The American story from a couple years ago when he made the hole-in-one played with Rory Insane, right, I mean stupid.
Graham:I think our whole episode that weekend was about him. At least 40% of it was about him. Might have been.
Scott:But best stories dude I mean Bryson just went on Live a couple weeks ago. Rory finally got the Grand Slam. Now he can just cruise. Would you be shocked to see Rory just go on this air? I wouldn't.
Graham:You took the words right out of my mouth. I mean to be honest for him to, it's like he's playing carefree. No stress he has the mickey off his back. There's no one like, oh you can't do it Like dude. One of the most important things about playing golf is just having that level of comfortability with yourself where you're just like turning your brain off and just letting the muscle memory do its job.
Scott:It's playing free. Back, when I played in a lot of events in Southern California, I used to have this little cheat sheet thing that I had in my pocket and it had my yardages. Because when I'm playing an event I would always be like, oh, I got 150 yards. Instead of swinging full at a nine iron, playing free, I would, oh, let's hit a little chip eight iron. And I would be like and I had it. And then on the back of it it said play free, free yourself up.
Scott:And I tell all my students, think about a pitcher in baseball that just walked two people in a row, just threw eight balls, and then their next batter they're facing. What are they trying to do? They're trying to steer it, they're trying to throw a perfect pitch. That ain't how you play golf, dude Rory. Everything this dude does or did leading up to that moment on that Sunday in April was in preparation for what? That? That moment, that moment, yeah. And we all saw it the way he broke down when he made that. God dang putt. We saw it. So guess what, if he goes out and goes crazy on a golf course, he's won multiple times at it. Would it surprise you Not at all? No, not at all, no, not at all.
Graham:And the thing you know. We've talked about it on previous episodes. You know, before he won the Masters I don't want to say it was far-fetched, but when you brought up the over one and a half majors for Rory, I was like oh thanks for bringing that back. Where can I find those odds?
Scott:Not to mention, but now it's like open championships in Ireland.
Graham:That's my point. You got two great chances. He could dude. I mean, knock on wood here, don't say it. There's a chance he could, he could dude, I mean knock on wood here.
Graham:Don't say it, there's a chance he could go three for four, I know, but now with a little transition in that if he's feeling so free, I know he wouldn't take the foot off the gas. But since there's no pressure when it comes to the Ryder Cup, you know that's his event and he likes to go over the top with it and he can just show himself and he's like look, all that other stuff is the other stuff, now that he doesn't have to worry about that. I guess what I'm trying to ask is is there a chance he I don't want to say he doesn't take it as no?
Graham:personal no chance personal, but just like no chance, it's no chance, it's still you know, pedal to the metal.
Scott:What's the old saying? All gas, no brakes, dude, he still wants to be that guy. We all know that, right oh for sure, for sure. It frees him up. Guess what question he never has to answer again.
Announcer:Yeah.
Graham:Yeah, and it's not like he was getting any younger and me saying that, what's he? Only 36?
Scott:I don't know the guy's the best driver of the golf ball out there. I mean, oh, I was listening to the subpar podcast last week and it was Derek Anderson, the old quarterback for the Panthers, that actually played in the Superbowl and his boy is Kevin Chappell. And Kevin Chappell was an alternate into the New Orleans event. Okay, playing with Tom Hogan. Well, somebody drops out. Kevin Chappell gets in and Anderson's there caddying for his boy. The first two rounds they're paired up, with rory and lowry opening the first round. Okay, this is hilarious and if anybody hasn't listened to this episode, listen to it because it's absolutely amazing. Anderson's on the bag for chapel, rory hits his t-shot and they said derrick anderson is going slapping and he looks around. He goes. Oh shit, I'm a caddy, I'm not supposed to be clapping. He goes. He goes the t-shot he did on the first hole of the event. He goes and I and he's a member at whisper rock out in scottsdale where all these guys are, and and he goes.
Scott:I play with Rahm, I play with all these tour players. He goes. It's different. He goes. When Rory hits a driver, he goes. Not only is it dead straight, but he goes in the first 50 yards of the golf ball, the launch, he goes. He's hitting it over a goddamn pole, fucking electrical pole, he he goes. It's up there fast like yeah, it was amazing, but I don't know. So that brings us to. You know, we do it for every major favorite and long shot. We talked before the. We're not allowed to pick Rory or Scotty as their favorite, because obviously you'd pick Rory, then I'd pick Scotty, or vice versa, or we'd both pick.
Announcer:Rory, but whatever.
Scott:Who's your favorite? Let's throw that out there and who's your long shot? I mean.
Graham:Alright, so I'm going to go with someone that has been playing very consistent.
Scott:Another top three now finish after what happened today, I know exactly where you're going.
Graham:Someone that has I like it yeah, of course you do. Someone that has won at this place already.
Scott:Pretty sure it was his first major right?
Graham:Yeah, first major, and let's not make it as suspenseful anymore. I'm going with Justin Thomas, bro Dude, I mean the way he's been playing these last couple of months it feels like he found his game. I mean, I'm just saying, towards the end of last season it was a little spotty, but I mean he's just been consistent. I mean, in golf people just underestimate how important consistency is. It's the name of the game, bro. I mean, even if it was just consistent, like I'm doing top 20s every week, what did Kisner say? I'll take top 20s.
Scott:A lot of money involved in that top 20. I mean Exactly. Just think about today elevated event Our boy Fowler and Romano finished T15 elevated event, 350 Gs.
Graham:I mean, I wouldn't sneeze at that.
Scott:But Justin Thomas, your favorite, I like it, I mean, and he's sitting there at 17 and a half to one.
Graham:And that's my point, like, as you were saying, the previous experience there, how he's been playing. We're not taking the top two guys. I mean the other option, look, bryson's been playing well, he won last week. I get it, but it's just like I think I'm gonna. I mean, I normally would take bryson here in this instance, but familiarity with the place is important, especially if you've won there before. Not to mention, look, a lot of these guys play the same courses all the time. Things can be different because courses change over a couple-year period where they do tweaks on certain holes and it can be a completely different golf course. I get that, but just knowing the golf course won there before, playing consistent, I like him. That being said, long shot Now granted, long shot, we're not picking bottle to barrel here but someone that is 50-1 or 40-1,.
Graham:It's hard to go back-to-back in this league. By league I mean the pga. It's difficult. But that being said, stroka, he did win today, but he also has been so consistent does he win I'll give him a fair shot but will I bet him to place top 20?
Scott:let me just tell you this last year at Quail Hollow for the Truist Championship, the regular event T8 there you go.
Graham:So I you know, I'm not mad at it. Jt and Strata, I'm not mad at it so where am I going?
Scott:I have no idea. No idea. I know. We know. Well, you know who my long shot is going to be and I don't even call it a long shot, but I'm just going to go out there. You know I'm going to be and I don't even call it a long shot, but I'm just gonna go out there. You know, I'm gonna say my favorite is somebody last year who had the lead going into sunday and then rory goes out there and shoots I, I don't know lights out and wins by five. But then this player ends up winning his first major the very next week at Valhalla. I'm going with Xander.
Scott:Xander plays well, there, I like it. You know I don't know Long shot, dude, there's two. Yeah, I know I'm only allowed to pick one, but I'm picking two. Okay, I know, dude, I know, I know, you know who my one is. Okay, because I was praying last night that this person didn't win today, because I really wanted to pick him next week, and that's Shane Lowry. Not that I don't want somebody to play bad and lose, but no, for sure, for sure.
Graham:I know what you mean.
Scott:His game's trending bro. He's been playing his Irish dick off and he's 40 to 1. I like it a lot and somebody else I like a lot and I'm not making this my official pick, but somebody to look at his odds for top 20 for this and that Somebody that's 60 to 1 and that literally finished C for 10 last year at the truest One earlier on a tough golf course. Russell Henley, the guy controls his golf ball dude. It's a major, it's a major what do you got to do in a major fairways.
Scott:It greens, but facts. I don't know. I mean, and I'm going to go out there and say it I don don't know. I wish there was a place I could find the odds. There's 20 pga club pros like myself that are playing in this event. I'm gonna go out there and I'm gonna say out of those 20, my gut reaction is two of the 20 are gonna make the cut. Why did I take the words right out of your mouth?
Graham:It's almost like we're best friends, because I was literally just going to say, as you were doing your little thing about your long shots, the next question out of my mouth was so, out of all these PGA pros, how many do you think are going to make the cut? Literally was what I was about to ask you.
Scott:And is one of those two, our boy block just for shits and giggles? No well right. Write it down like one of the greatest movies ever. Friday write it down take a. I don't give a fuck.
Graham:Speaking of Friday did you?
Announcer:hear.
Scott:They're filming a fourth round. Oh Lord and Rancho Cucamonga. What Was that? Two or three?
Graham:Two, no no. Friday Friday after next I don't remember, was it two yeah, two, no, no.
Scott:Friday, friday after next, I don't remember, Was it two.
Graham:Yeah, two that was a funny one.
Scott:You get me thinking about it. I'm going to say two dude, two of them. I mean, am I wishing bad things against the other A team? Absolutely not. I'm just being realistic.
Graham:Dude as a PGA Pro. I would think you'd want. I mean, you're obviously rooting for all of them, but it's just like dude to have a PGA Pro make the cut at the PGA. That's what made Block Story three years ago. I can't believe it's been three years already.
Announcer:Jesus that's what made.
Graham:Block Story three years ago. I can't believe it's been three years already. Jesus, three years ago, block Story made it so unbelievably amazing the fact that he had a chance.
Scott:You're paired up with Rory on Sunday. I know not only do you make a hole in one, but you go loop it, don't even hit the goddamn ground. And you know the worst part about it, and this is probably the first time I've ever admitted this. I didn't even see it live. You know why? Because that was the day Andy and Steph got to my house in Virginia and it was the Knights playoff game on Sunday afternoon and we were in overtime as the PGA Championship was going on and my phone goes absolute ape shit.
Graham:And I'm like what is going on you?
Scott:know incredible, but all right. So you got Justin Thomas and Straka.
Graham:Dude, straka's a beast, he's a beast, it just sucks that he had a southern draw and plays on the god dang European Ryder Cup team hey, and believe me, I'm going to be a Beth Page booing the shit out of him. He's a Georgia.
Scott:Bulldog and just gets it done. Bro, Gets it done.
Graham:You know, when I was looking at the list that you sent me, you know, for the long shots, it's like you know there's some of these guys where it's just like you know. I know you mentioned something about Henley. You know Corey Connors is right there. Justin Rose, does he pull a little magic out of the hat that he did from Augusta? I mean, who knows? Jason Day, cameron Smith, jason.
Scott:Day last year there finished T4. Right, that's what I thought. How about don't forget somebody that has been struggling and then found this golf game at Augusta, played well this week at Philly Cricket Club and has won at Quail Hollow none other than Max Homa.
Scott:Yes, I remember you bringing this last night, finished eighth last year there, than Max Homa. Yes, I remember you bringing this last night, finished eighth last year there. Anyhow, it's going to be solid. It's going to be a fun week. Steven Yeager bro. Steven Yeager, god, I love him. What is my?
Graham:deal? You MF'd him up and down. What is my deal with Yeager dude? I don't understand. You MF'd him.
Scott:He's such a good player. Finished T7 this week at Philly Cricket. Finished T20 last year. What At Quail Hollow?
Graham:So we bet him last week for top 20.
Scott:That was a couple weeks ago.
Graham:We don't bet him this week, whatever.
Scott:Oh, two weeks ago. It is sports betting. How about the moron that laid 60 grand today on the Cavaliers money line, minus whatever 60 grand to win 30. How'd that work out? 60 grand to win 30.
Graham:How'd that work out Well, considering. I just realized that they lost by 20.
Scott:God damn it. And another NBA team scores 80 points at halftime.
Graham:Dude, you know some of those series have just been Right. You know some of those series have just been Right.
Scott:You know some of it is just like I don't even know how to put into words because it's like the funny thing is I went back and listened to last week's episode when we were talking about the NBA and what we thought who has a chance, who doesn't have a chance and it was pretty funny.
Graham:What had happened?
Scott:was. I mean the God dang Knicks are losing by 20 in game one and game two and Boston and win both games. The Celtics were minus 800 for winning the series. Yeah, the Cavaliers, and the Cavaliers the overall one seed in the East. And you called it last week. I was like did the Pacers have a chance? And you were like, if any of the teams playing a higher seed have a chance, it's the Pacers. Well, guess what? They're up three games to one.
Graham:They got a chance. I mean, look what I'll say about that. I didn't realize about their game earlier today. You know the Cavs had their top two score Well, not top two, but two and three score because Donovan Mitchell's their top scorer. But you know they had three guys out that were starters for game one and two. Those were close games at home that they lost. But they came back for game three. They won. They came back for game three. They had to. They had a full lineup, which is why I mean, look, between work and then Mother's Day, I haven't had a chance to really dive in and to see what happened with this game.
Graham:But the Pacers have players Like you know. Halliburton is a stud, siakam is a stud. Um, there's another guy I can't. I can picture him, but I can't think of his name right now. He's really good. I mean they. Well, what did I tell you the other day when we were on the phone? It's just like within any sport, it's the most important thing for any player, or should I say for any professional athlete. It's it's always availability. If you're not healthy, you don't give your team a chance to win and it doesn't matter what you did for us in the past to get us here. That's great, that's great, but now we're here and we're playing, and if you're not here to play, it makes a significant difference.
Scott:If you don't believe that, just ask the Golden State Warriors. Who won game one and who's not playing Steph and who's not even going to? They're basically saying they're not even going to evaluate him until game five.
Graham:You know, what I will say about that series is I got to give a lot of credit to Jimmy Butler, golden State acquiring him. I mean, look, people have always said he's a great player. He has been somewhat of a diva the last couple of years just because of his contract and him basically dictating where he wants to be. It is what it is. But Guess what, graham, that's Steph's team. Guess what? Right.
Scott:It's officially May 12th.
Graham:That it is Happy birthday. I haven't sang in a while that it is happy birthday I haven't sang in a while but we're gonna sing tonight.
Scott:Go, shawty, it's your birthday. We're gonna party like it's your birthday. Let's go birthday shot I got some. I got some patron in the refrigerator.
Graham:I thought you said you couldn't find it.
Scott:Oh no, I knew where it was. Anyhow, dude. Okay, see, I put all my eggs in their basket, dude.
Graham:You did, I personally. Out of the four series, the two on each coast, west and East, that's been the best series. Dude, they're tied, they're 2-2. Hands down, it's 2-2. All the games have well. Besides, game 2 was a blowout and that's only because Denver stole Game 1. The OKC was up more or less the whole game. They were up nine in game one with like a minute and a half left, and lost, that's what I'm saying. So they were pretty bitter-bitty, and when I say they laid the wood, oh my.
Scott:Would they score 87 points in the first half.
Graham:Yeah, that's unbelievable. But then look, denver, a veteran team. They won it two years ago. They got grit, they played well. It's tied 2-2 right now. That's my favorite series right now. I mean the Knicks-Boston series. The Knicks look, let's be honest, the Knicks had gifts fall into their lap, basically coming through at the end, like you were saying, dude, they were down most of the game in both of those games and they stole it. So they stole game one, stole game two. The Celtics only scored two points in the last six minutes of the game in both of those games and they stole it.
Scott:So they stole game one. The Celtics only scored two points in the last six minutes of the game and they were both free throws yeah, so it's just like I mean that series could be 3-0 Boston right now.
Graham:So like the Timberwolves Warrior series, that's pretty good, but the thing is every game in that series.
Graham:I think my bet, if I'm going to do another bet in that series, don't pick a game, or should I say don't pick a team, because the line more or less has been like minus four and a half, and it's minus four and a half without Steph, which is pretty remarkable. But what's been consistent? The under the first two games with Steph it was 220. Even with Steph, I think the first game was only 190. They were under by 30 points. They adjusted the next two games, but it's just like it was like 80. They didn't even score 180.
Scott:Dude, I'm looking at series odds right now, okay. Okay, see Two to two Minus 575. Yeah yeah. Cavaliers and Pacers, Pacers are minus 300. Celticsknicks Knicks are up two games to one. What do you think that is?
Graham:I would say it's Boston minus. You're close 290. I almost said 300 so.
Scott:I mean what do you think Minnesota Golden State is?
Graham:It has to be Timberwolves. I'd say Timberwolves minus 450.
Scott:Oh, with them not evaluating Steph until after game five.
Graham:Yeah, no, you're right, I should have gone higher on that. Yeah, you got a good point. I don't know.
Scott:Who knows what do we know? You know what do we goddamn know.
Graham:Yeah, I mean, the thing that sucks is the Pacers don't have a chance. Like, oh man, if Boston beats, the Knicks comebacks and beat them. I don't know if the Pacers got a chance to beat Boston. That's the only thing that sucks. So it would be Boston. And then look that I mean this Nuggets-OKC series. I think can go either way and I think either of those two teams against the Timberwolves is going to be a great series. It's just now it comes to that point of which of those three teams can beat Boston at this point.
Scott:Boston ain't winning. And by say not winning, I mean by not winning, I mean winning the championship.
Graham:That's what.
Announcer:I mean.
Graham:Because I was going to say the NBA would love, love, the Knicks to win, yeah, and I would love for my best friend on the planet to win the lottery.
Scott:But guess what? That's not going to happen because you don't play the lottery.
Graham:Yeah, not when the Mega Millions is final or it's a piece.
Scott:now, johnny got me some scratch-offs for my birthday and I haven't even looked at it yet. I could have a shit ton of money right now in my hand and don't have a clue.
Graham:Well, it's about that time. You know what it's your birthday.
Scott:That we need to do is take a shot. Do you have something to?
Graham:take a shot of.
Scott:Sorry, g, it's the end of the show. It's officially your boy's birthday. I'm 47. I'm three years away from senior tees. Let's go. We said we're going to do a shot. Get us out of here as we do this shot. I got a little Patron. What you drinking on? Little Blantons, I think he said.
Graham:Got me some Blantons right now. Scott. Happy birthday, brother. I love you to death. I love doing the podcast with you. Can't wait for the schedule to be released on Wednesday. But as the best homie always says, boobah, good night, friends 50 Cent.
Scott:Go shorty. It's your birthday. We're gonna rip this shot like it's your birthday. Oh wait, it is my birthday. Let's go Knights. Let's do this shit. Go Knights. Go Hashtag F E Rip it, shot time. And for all of you out there that don't know what hashtag F E is, I'm still not going to tell you. Good night, friends.
Announcer:This episode of the Ball Guys on the Bench podcast is brought to you by our friends at North Star Credit Union and Southern Auto, located in Southeast Virginia.
