Bald Guys On The Bench
Bald Guys On The Bench
When Par Is a Good Score: Sports Talk That Pulls No Punches
Recorded June 17th, 2025
Sports sometimes strips away pretense and reveals true character – a lesson brutally demonstrated at this year's US Open at Oakmont. The legendary course didn't just test golf shots; it tested temperaments, with the world's best players facing conditions so demanding that par became the gold standard.
We dive deep into JJ Spaun's remarkable victory, analyzing how he overcame a disastrous front nine on Sunday to rally with clutch putting and laser-like driving when it mattered most. His resilience stands in stark contrast to the behavior of several top professionals, including Wyndham Clark, who reportedly damaged lockers in Oakmont's historic clubhouse after missing the cut – earning our official "Douchebag of the Year" nomination. The juxtaposition between Clark's actions and Phil Mickelson graciously signing autographs after his own disappointing finish speaks volumes about respecting the game's traditions.
The Stanley Cup Finals provided another masterclass in dominance as the Florida Panthers overwhelmed the Edmonton Oilers to capture their first championship. We break down how the Panthers led for an astonishing 255 minutes compared to just 34 for the Oilers throughout the series, completely neutralizing Connor McDavid. With significant salary cap space heading into next season, could we be witnessing the birth of hockey's next dynasty?
Meanwhile, the NBA Finals continue to surprise as the underdog Indiana Pacers have shown remarkable tenacity against Oklahoma City. Whether it's TJ McConnell's relentless energy or Tyrese Haliburton's leadership (before injury), we analyze what makes this overachieving team so compelling despite being outmatched on paper.
As summer approaches and major sports wind down, join us for this unfiltered conversation about champions, disappointments, and what true respect for the game really means. Subscribe now and let us know your thoughts on these championship moments!
#baldguysonthebench #graboneandcrackone #usopen #oakmont #pgatour #jjspaun #stanleycupfinals #floridapanthers #nbafinals
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. Wow, what an exciting weekend. What a start to, I guess, an exciting week. Scott. How you doing, brother?
Scott:I'm doing great. It's late here on the East Coast. It's Tuesday night. A Canadian team lost again in the Stanley Cup finals. And not only did they lose, but they just got domination station. I mean, it's only been 31 straight years without oh Canada touching the cup. So, anyhow, you know, like we always do, let's grab it and crack it, brother, before we even get started. Let's go, let's go, let's go. So you know it's a tuesday night, stanley cup's over us, open, and the books. You know nba finals are about to be in the books. Whenever the hell they play. You know load management, they might need a week off in between games, but you know halliburton's got a bold hammy, so let's, you know, delay it for another week so he gets healthy and then loses in the next game. But whatever, uh, you know, it's tuesday.
Scott:It's tuesday, you know. We always talk about our weekend, so, graham, get after it. How was your weekend, even though it's now Tuesday?
Graham:uh, weekend was good. To be honest, weekend was dominated by the USGA and Oakmont. Just watched a lot of golf, did a little bit of work, pretty much that. What about you, brother?
Scott:well, obviously the US Open dominated my schedule, watched a lot Saturday afternoon, watched Sunday on Father's Day, and our games for Kellen's flag football playoff were canceled because of the rain. So I'm like all right, that's cool. I get to watch the US Open and then the rain delay. Rain. So I'm like, all right, that's cool. I get to watch the us open and then the rain delay. And I'm like, dude, are you kidding me? Right now there's no hockey tonight, there's no nba, it's father's day, my wife is sick as a dog. What are we gonna? I'm like this is the U? S open, it's not going to finish.
Scott:And then it did. And golly day. I mean it didn't disappoint. I mean I know we're late to the party, you're talking about it, but I don't give a fuck. It was awesome, it was sick. Oakmont showed its teeth and it had the best players in the world packing their bags after 36 holes. Hey, bryson Buh-buh, I mean Justin Thomas Buh-buh, it had Shane Lowry, our picks, dude, step Stranka. It had Shane Lowry literally so mind fucked that he literally picked his ball up on a green without marking it.
Graham:Yeah, nuts, unbelievably nuts.
Scott:And he's playing in a group that's so set up for him, with him and his other Irish lucky charm eating asshat Rory. He's playing with his best friend and he's still flustered to the point where not sure if you saw the video he's putting and he misses a putt and he's like F? This place, f? This place, dude, I don't know man. You got Rory smashing T-markers. You got Rory helicoptering clubs. You got Wyndham Clark destroying lockers at a venue that its locker room is like a museum, that its locker room is like a museum After Wyndham Clark, at the PGA Championship a month ago, hits a drive, turns around and throws his driver at a sign, almost kills a goddamn volunteer, gets reprimanded, makes an apology, says I got to do better and then he does this shit.
Graham:I mean.
Scott:Dude, you know I've talked to you about this a million times. Oakmont, it's the hardest golf course in the world. But not only that, but let's respect the place, bro. Oh thanks.
Scott:The locker room does not have air conditioning in it. Okay, when I walked in that place, I could literally smell the cigars, the ciggies from years and years and years of history. The benches in front of the lockers they're the original gangsters. I can see spike marks where Arnie, where jack, put their foot down to tie their shoe. Yeah, and you got this ass hat destroying lockers.
Scott:Like bro, you're not bigger than the game. You won a US Open at LA Country Club and before that, you were irrelevant. You got picked on the Ryder Cup team. You're irrelevant. If all these dudes don't go to live, guess what? You probably ain't getting picked on the goddamn Ryder Cup team. Facts. And, bro, I'm sorry, you missed the cut by one by finishing bogey-bogey on 17 and 18. That's fine and dandy, but guess what? Mickelson, probably playing in his last US Open, misses the cut by one. And guess what he's doing in the parking lot? He's signing shit for people in the parking lot.
Scott:There's two types of people in this world douchebag and class. And Wyndham Clark, you're officially the 2025 Douchebag of the Year nominated by bald guys on the bench. You can make the winning cup in the Ryder Cup at Beth Page, which you're going to qualify for and I still nominate you as douchebag of the year. You ain't bigger than the game, bro. Nobody is, not even tiger. Respect the game. What is golf, known as the gentleman sport, where you call a penalty on yourself? I think my ball moved. Call a penalty on myself yeah.
Scott:Nobody cares. Wyndham Nobody cares. Okay, so sorry that my boy Fowler sit the bed at LA Country Club on Sunday playing with you. And you won, because if you didn't win, guess what? You wouldn't be in the motherfucking field, you'd be out there in Oregon hanging out with Bill Knight and Nike, cause you suck ass, you're a one hit wonder. I mean. I'm sorry, but, dude, you ain't bigger than the game. That's the thing that I hate. Oakmont's a historic venue, dude. It's hosted more US Opens than any club out there. Okay, we all know that. We know that. We know history. You go into this place, dude, and you do that. I got nothing. I got nothing, but you know.
Graham:I don't even know Two things, one just reflecting on what you just mentioned. I think what you said about Phil was probably the nicest thing you said about him in the last. How many episodes Dude I'm?
Scott:a Phil fan, bro. I know, I know I was a Phil fan until he went off the deep end. Yeah, no, I know I'm a Phil fan, bro. I know, I know I was a Phil fan until he went off the deep end.
Graham:Yeah, no, I know I'm just cracking a joke. I loved the rant, by the way. Just kind of came out of nowhere. Love that.
Scott:Yeah, but, dude, you don't do this shit.
Graham:Oh, I don't disagree with you at all.
Scott:It's a venue of all venues. Okay, it's the hardest US Open golf course that the boys play.
Graham:So I noticed on. I think it was the Golf Channel I was watching. Do you know what state holds the most majors?
Scott:I don't, but I'm probably going to say California because of Tori and Pebble.
Graham:It's number three, it's three or two. New York, then that's three or two.
Scott:So you don't even know the goddamn stats that you're asking me?
Graham:It's no, it's Pennsylvania. Pennsylvania is the number one it has had they've had nine Because of Oakmont, well, oakmont. Then there's a place outside of.
Scott:Philly Marion. That I can't think of, but yeah they've held Marion yeah With the wicker basket flags.
Graham:They've had 95 championships in Pennsylvania. It was all within the top three that you just mentioned. It was a difference of like three.
Scott:You know what I mean so yeah, I believe it was pennsylvania, california, new york.
Speaker 1:I believe yeah, one, two, three, but when I saw that I was like wow, but I was pretty shocked by that um dude it was an amazing.
Scott:we don't even need to get into the details of the tournament Things that stuck out to me in this golf tournament, Oakmont showed its teeth. Oh and all I can say is this yeah, the rough was long. Yeah, the greens were fast. If they didn't get that rain, dude, no chance. Anybody would be under par, no chance.
Graham:Facts.
Scott:At all. I mean let's just jump right in. I mean I know we didn't do notes for tonight. We were going to talk a little US Open, a little hockey, but dude, jj Spahn goes out first day. I mean, yes, he wins, but the guy was best player in the field from start to finish.
Graham:Oh yeah, the most consistent, did he?
Scott:shoot 40 on the front nine on Sunday. I was just going to bring that up, yeah.
Graham:Yeah, the most consistent Did he shoot? 40 on the front, nine on Sunday. I was just going to bring that up.
Scott:Yeah, he did. But guess what? He had one of the worst breaks you've seen on the second hole. When he hits that little whatever I don't know how many yards 70-yard wedge to a back left corner and it bounces off the flag and comes off the green. Yeah. If it doesn't hit the flag and comes off the green, yeah. If it doesn't hit the flag, it's five feet two shot swing Right. Okay. And something I learned today that I had no idea USDA championships have a different flag than what they're used to playing, and it's it's bigger, it's more stout. Notice, if you go back and watch that video, that flag doesn't move.
Graham:That's crazy. I did not know that.
Scott:He could have packed it in dude. But guess what Rain delay helps him again. Guess when else a rain delay helped our boy, jj Spahn, players' Championship earlier in the year. Yeah, granted, he lost in a playoff to Rory that year or that next Monday finish, but the best thing that happened to JJ Spahn was that hour and a half break. Yeah, he got. They blew the horn before his tee shot on nine. And guess what? After the Rain Delay comes out, hits a shot on nine. And guess what, after the rain delay comes out, hits a seed on nine. Thanks for playing. Makes a bottom on 12. My guy made like 100 foot of putts bro.
Graham:I mean it helps when you sink a 65er.
Scott:I mean, he made the longest putt of the event on the last hole, yeah, but even before that, dude, he shot three under on the back, yeah, after shooting five over on the front and the world's ending. You know he gets the bad break on three with the rake and it's like, oh my God, dude, you hate to watch people get bad breaks like that. Like dude, you hate to watch people get bad breaks like that. You know, let's fast forward real quick to you know Sam Burns, on the 15th hole, when he asked for two rules officials to come over and give him a ruling which he called casual water. Was it casual water? Yeah, probably was.
Scott:But you know that was the end of Sam Burns. Yeah, and I was talking to some buddies and you know what, when you play golf as a career and you're in the United States open, you have to be able to forget that, put it behind you and step up and move on and guess what Sam Burns didn't. You know. Step up and move on and guess what Sam Burns didn't. You know who did.
Graham:JJ Spahn when that ball ricocheted off second hole flag. You know, I feel like just watching him this week was just a continuation of how he's been playing this year. You know, just consistent One tour win and his only second time playing the U S open Dude.
Scott:It's unbelievable, the shot he hit on 17,. Obviously he drove the green. Yeah, it was remarkable, it was a seed. I was talking to one of my junior students today. The shot, the tee shot he hit on 18 with a one-shot lead, playing 18 at Oakmont, was a laser beam. He stepped up, he sacked up and he goes F the world. I'm going to rip this thing and I'm going to hit it down the middle of the fairway and he did.
Graham:Got to do what you got to doned up too.
Scott:I mean at one point, dude, there were like six guys all at one over. Yeah, I'm like holy shit, who's gonna win this thing?
Graham:yeah, it's like around the 12 13th hole. I'm looking at the leaderboard.
Scott:I'm like wait yeah what after adam scott and burns shit themselves on 11. Yeah, I'm like, oh my god, what the hell is gonna happen? And literally I'm watching it, kristin's here and after every shot these guys are hitting. I'm like, oh, he's dead, he's dead, he's dead, kristin's. Like. You said that about everybody for the last 30 minutes. And then you got Big Bob McIntyre. Yeah, one of the favorites of the show goes out and he bogeys the first hole, bogeys the third hole, then he makes like a 7 million foot eagle putt on the fourth hole and then he goes out and domination station on the back nine. He's in the clubhouse at one over. I'm like, oh, big Bob, let's go Right, dude, or even sorry, he was at, even yeah, but dude, what an event. I mean, when in your life would you ever think that Adam Scott would, on a Sunday in a major, would shoot whatever 78, 79. Yeah, never. I mean, conditions sucked. And, like I texted you during the event, if it wasn't the US Open, it would have definitely been delayed.
Speaker 1:Oh, for sure.
Scott:They were trying to get it in. Yeah, nobody wanted to see for ratings. We all know that. Nobody wanted to see a Monday ratings, we all know that Nobody wanted to see a Monday finish. No, no, I totally agree. Dude people bitching about the golf course and how hard it was and the rough and this and that Dude. Do you like watching golf tournaments on the PGA Tour where it's 27 under wins? I don't 27 under wins.
Graham:I don't know. The White Tiger even made a comment about that. He's just like look, it's just a completely different golf tournament. He's like you know, the Masters versus the Open versus the US Open. They're all different in their own aspects.
Graham:They're all different in their own aspects. Yeah, and what's great about it is you have to have different styles of game for each type of course, or should I say major that you're playing in? You know what I mean. It's just like the Masters is all about shaping your shots, playing around the green, putting and stuff, and not only that, but let's go back to this year's Masters, rory hitting that 7-iron hook around the corner on 15.
Scott:Yeah, that type of shit don't happen at a US Open. No, you know what I mean. Like we said on the last episode, when par is a good score, these guys are grinding for fours.
Graham:It's awesome all right, let me ask you this question do you think the sentiment of this tournament would have been different from the outside viewers if more of the top contenders actually made the cut?
Scott:yeah, I mean obviously the guys that set the bar. You know, I mean bryson, we obviously know his following, since he's 100 turned his image around, yeah, and youtube and everything, yeah, you know him missing the cut sucked, especially a straight of a driver as he is. Yeah, that was kind of weird. I mean, straka low are they huge names? And professional golf, no, but there was never a major championship. That was made for them, right.
Scott:And and the one thing we kept saying leading up to the U S open was what I liked those dudes If it plays firm and fast, and and what happened? They got a shit ton of rain on Monday practice round, right, and then they got a shit ton of rain on Saturday and Sunday, I mean Friday night. They got a shit ton of rain, dude, there were 13 groups or 13 players didn't even get to finish. But you know it is what it is.
Scott:The USGA sets up the golf course and they want the best player in the field to win and a lot of times they want one person to finish under par. One person finish under par, I might be wrong, but the only person, the only US Open that I can remember where only one person finished under par recently, and when I say recently, not really recently was 1999 at Pinehurst, when Payne Stewart was the only person that finished under par. But dude, I don't know. Bitch moan about the venue, say it was too hard, say it was. You know. Here's the deal. Why did they cut those areas so short? Called the fairways? Yeah, because it's easier to control your golf ball from them.
Graham:There's a reason for everything, folks. It's just like it's not even a complaining thing, but it's just like. For one tournament out of the year can we just have something that it's just like alright. Can we see what these guys are really made of? It's just like.
Graham:Sometimes, people forget that it's just like okay, yeah, they're professionals, but the level of being professional or should I say this To comprehend how good they are, is tough enough. But then to see someone that's that good and still struggle on a course, for me I don't want to say like what we watched makes them look human, but it almost kind of. Does you know what I mean? It's just like there's too many not kind of it almost kind of. Does you know what I mean? It's just like there's too many Not kind of.
Scott:Did you see the wedge Jordan hit when it was deep buried in the rough? Full swing, full swing, and it went like four yards. Did you see Scotty playing the 72nd hole at the US Open and he literally had to aim sideways and swung as hard as he could to hit it? 40 yards, dude, they're the best players in the world. The US Open is the biggest test out there. Guess what? It is strange, and that's the thing you ain't got a bomb driver.
Graham:In comparison to a tournament that you're going low at. My thing with that is like, yeah, I mean it's great to see birdies and stuff, but a lot of the time you're just watching players get hot. You know what I mean. Like there's a difference with the US Open. The American Express in Palm Springs.
Scott:What I mean, like there's a difference with the us open, the american express in palm springs. You go out there and you shoot 67 and you just lost strokes to the field. I mean that ain't fun, dude, exactly. I mean every major has its. You know well, not every, not every. We'll call the US Open the Masters and the British. They all have their own feel, right, you know the Masters, the back nine on Sunday at Augusta, you know you got the par fives that are reachable, that are. You know you got the pin placements where you can rip it back. And then you know the US Open is known for how tough it's going to be.
Scott:The Open Championship is known for the weather and link-style golf courses. The PGA has been stepping up and I mean I don't remember what Scotty shot, but I think it wasn't deep, it was 11 under and that's why everybody bitched and moaned about the pga last year at valhalla because zander shot a million under. You know, but I don't know, it was an amazing event, dude, it didn't disappoint. And to hear the story about jj, sunday early morning at 3 am having to go get something for his daughter who had a stomach virus at the pharmacy on Father's Day. Dude, it was awesome. It was awesome. I'm sitting here on that hole. He got that 64-foot putt and I'm just like, oh my god, this has got to be the craziest thing ever. What is his mind going through? I'm like there's no chance he's two-putting. Then he goes and Kristen looks at me and goes you're right, dude.
Graham:Dude, I love watching the replay and they show or not the replay, but there was a clip where they're interviewing Tyrell Hatton while he's After he almost had a temper tantrum.
Scott:Dude, on the 17 hole, my guy is just like ripping wedges and you know he's right there and he's like makes bogey on 17 and he's like getting ready, like I had 12 buddies all text me and he's like, dude, he's gonna burn the clubhouse down. You know my dad's like, oh my god, he's getting ready to have a temper tantrum. Thank god that happened, you know, because it called me down for sure. And the coolest thing not the thunder, the coolest thing I thought was was big bob in the locker room watching it on TV, sitting there at even par. If JJ three putts from 64 feet, which is very likely, they're in a playoff the next day. Jj hoops it and Big Bob is just sitting back in his chair clapping and he goes. Wow, kudos to him.
Scott:That's what golf is about. It ain't about douchebags named wyndham clark saving in a locker room. That's a museum, I concur. But anyhow, dude, it was a sick event. It was sick, I love it. It was a sick event, it was sick, I love it, it was awesome. And, like we've talked about on this show before, you know, until the first time I ever went to Augusta, the US Open was my favorite major Because I got to go to my first one in 99 when Payne Stewart won, then 05 when my boy Eric was there, and then Torrey in 08. And Augusta my first trip to Augusta wasn't until 15. And you know they're 1A and 1B, you know just for the two reasons.
Graham:They're just so different. You can't. Yes, definitely, it's just, you know, with the Masters. It's just the nostalgic aspect of it in the history.
Scott:And the history. We know in the history and the history, we know all the shots that have been hit on this hole, that hole, and you know it's the only major that goes back to the same place.
Graham:Yeah, you know every hole has one shot. People are like, hey, you remember back 10 years ago on the first hole, and then on the second hole, then on the third hole, there's always one shot from somebody. You're just like, oh yeah, totally remember that.
Scott:So yeah, it was sick dude. It was awesome, it was a great tournament, fun watching. But I don't know, let's roll into Stanley cup playoffs. I mean, geez, louise, I know you were pulling for the Oilers and I even got yelled at and called it back for him because I was pulling for the Panthers by you.
Graham:But you know, whatever I did, not say yeah, you did, yeah, you did.
Scott:You were bitter, Betty, because you lost the bet and you were all mad. You know, whatever it is, what it is, but we're not even going to go there. But dude, the Panthers just dominated. Yeah, I mean just straight dominated. And by dominate I mean I think I was telling you something earlier. You know what domination is. Something earlier, you know what domination is? The Panthers led the Stanley Cup finals for 255 minutes to 34 minutes for the Oilers.
Graham:That's insane.
Scott:You know what else is insane? Guess who has the highest cap space next year.
Graham:The Panthers. How is that possible?
Scott:Dude, you ready to see a dynasty?
Graham:How are they not one already?
Speaker 1:They were there three years in a row.
Scott:Who beat them the first year?
Graham:I can't give you a bigger alley-oop than that, bro in five games.
Scott:But dude, I mean I don't know, speaking of jj, spawn real quick. I saw this the other night and I was just like holy shit, sports are insane. He was a walk-on dude at San Diego State.
Graham:I knew you were going to bring this up. I had it and I was debating to say it Go ahead.
Scott:Yeah, he was a walk-on at San Diego State. The low amateur at the US Open, justin Hastings, san Diego State. You know who else played at San Diego State? Some dude that won the Open last year and a dude that won the PGA last year, xander.
Graham:Tell you one thing the athletic director is like yo, so the golf team needs.
Scott:Yeah, dude. But oh, man, I don't know, I don't know. So. Stanley Cup Finals you know, panthers raise a cup again. Sam Bennett, man, I don't know, I don't know. So, stanley Cup Finals you know, panthers raise a cup again. Sam Bennett, dude. Sam Bennett gets a. Oh, the Doyers are about to hit a bomb. Yep, the Doyers just took the lead. Sam Bennett gets a consmith. It could have gone in so many different directions. I mean, reinhardt scored four goals tonight, marchand dominated the series. And then I'm like, oh my God, sam Bennett gets to Sam, he dominated the entire playoffs, something we forget. Remember the Panthers opened up the playoffs on the road at Toronto and lost both games in Toronto, the first two games of their playoff, their playoff year. They were O2 going back to Florida, I just Exactly so the Oilers, first team to do this in 47 years, lose to the same opponent in consecutive years for the championship.
Graham:I mean it was close, I'm so sorry, I mean the overtime game, it's so hard to say goodbye to yesterday.
Scott:Connor McDavid, Dry Side Off oh my god Peace out.
Graham:Cub Scout and folks, if any of you had my boy Scotty Wah singing Boyz II Men on the bingo card tonight, you just won a million dollars.
Scott:Hey, they heard it once with my boy, keenan Allen.
Speaker 1:Might as well hear it again.
Scott:I mean just saying, I'm sorry.
Graham:Oh my God, that is.
Scott:I'm sorry, but you know I ain't mad at it, dude, I ain't mad at it. I don't hate Conor McDavid, but how you know, I ain't mad at it, dude, I ain't mad at it. I don't hate Conor McDavid, but how many goals did he score this whole Stanley Cup in six games? Zero, one more than me and you. And I'm not bashing him about that, because Florida is a heavier team and they're more physical. But the Oilers are faster, except for Evander Kane, who was fast to get the fuck kicked out of tonight because he was a cheap shot artist. What a piece of shit. I'd love to see him and Ryan Reeves go at it again. Oh, that was amazing. What a piece of shit, dude. Then it doesn't even come to the handshake line. I mean, come on, evander Kane. I don't know, dude, stanley Cup's over. We've got to wait until October.
Scott:The playoffs were solid this year. I mean we saw a lot of crazy shit at the end of games. I mean, going back to the Knights-Oilers night score with point whatever seconds left to win the game. Oilers did it. The Panthers did it the other night with 19 seconds left and lost in overtime. Dude, panthers did it the other night with 19 seconds left and lost in overtime, dude, we saw a lot of amazing games and that's why Stanley Cup playoffs are sick, dude. I mean all right. So I know we talked about this way back when, when the Knights won and we did our emergency episode. You know, when in the cup, you get the cup for 24 hours, so fast forward to 2025. When I ask you, what would you do in the cup? You get the cup for 24 hours, so fast forward to 2025,. When I ask you, what would you do with the cup for 24 hours?
Speaker 1:man.
Scott:Uh which is an amazing tradition, I mean so sick.
Graham:I? I mean, I'm trying to think what I can flex on with it. I mean, that's all I would do with it.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Graham:I saw I mean I remember when the Knights won seeing all the pictures on social media of some of the players taking it to the golf course taking shots there, them taking it to the different day clubs and night clubs. There, you know, them taking it to the different day clubs and night clubs. I mean, to be honest, the most things that I would care about is just drinking out of it. You know, pouring a bunch of beer in there and sipping out of it, but you know what I would do with it. Probably have you fly out and say, hey, let's go out and do something. You know what I mean. I don't know.
Scott:Probably so. You're telling me I'm not at the game, clinching. I mean, if you're a player, your boy's not there at the game when you clinch you're gonna make me fly out right now. I mean god, come on, guy, am I flying commercial now too? I mean, if you're an NHL player and your boy's, I'm flying commercial. Thanks for him. I thought we were friends.
Graham:I know you're giving NHL player and you're boys, I'm flying commercial.
Speaker 1:Thanks, Graham, I thought we were friends.
Scott:I know you're giving me a bad friend the other night for pulling for the. Panthers. I mean, now it really makes sense. I mean, I know Conor McDavid played in Erie. You know he played in Erie, your hometown. But the question that everybody's asking themselves right about now why is Graham pulling for the Oilers? Okay, folks, that's because Connor McDavid played in.
Graham:Erie for the Otters. Yeah, what is the championship?
Scott:So my question to you is how many games did you go see Connor McDavid play when he was in Erie Otter? And that, folks, is the same amount as us Zero. So you're welcome. Continue on with what you're going to do with the cup. You're welcome.
Graham:I've seen at least one.
Scott:Not with McDavid playing.
Graham:Yeah, and besides.
Scott:All right, here's the question Show me your hands.
Graham:Oh, I know what you're going to ask me. Oh, fuck.
Speaker 1:What? What's his number?
Scott:What was his number? What was his number? How old was he when he played for the Erie Otters 17.
Graham:16, 16, 17, 16?
Speaker 1:15. 16?.
Scott:No, you're wrong, and his number's 97.
Graham:Yeah, I know that. I'm just saying, I'm saying back when it was an Erie.
Scott:No, you're not, because you were questioning 17. I don't care what his number was in Erie. Nobody cares what his number was in Erie.
Graham:I mean whatever, hey, it's the hockey puck stuff that inflated. All right, Calm down over there.
Scott:You told me, mr Erie Otter fan, I mean blame Canada, hey, he was in the OHL bro Exactly.
Graham:Exactly Just as I've spent many a time in Canada.
Scott:All right times, all right, let's jump having a good old time what would you eat some poutine and go phone your mom from the washroom?
Graham:sit on the cooch. Hey, niagara falls. You can have a lot of fun up there, bro, just when you know yeah, just ask those bills fans what they do in the winter. They go to Sabres games.
Scott:Yeah, because they're real good.
Graham:Oh, it must be nice to finally support a hockey team and they just go to the Stanley Cup Finals the first year and have been relevant every year since their existence. I mean you might as well have started with the Utah Hockey Club or whatever they're called now. Start with them, why would I start there? My point is I find it hilarious that once you get into it and I get the reasons why I get it, I get it. I'm just saying you know, the convenience of them being good right away and continuing to be good is Dude, not only being good. Yeah, they.
Scott:I mean I get it. That's why they call it no they not the first year.
Graham:I know that you're one.
Scott:They were. They were the misfit dude. Nobody wanted them, nobody protected them and they dominated it. And you remember, you remember I always said it going, going into the Stanley Cup Finals if we win, I'm never watching another hockey game again. I win in year one. As a fan, I'm out.
Graham:It don't get better than that. We were this close folks. We were this close hey we won game one.
Scott:We were this close dude. Anyhow, nba finals is it over. I tell you what is over. You're bet. You know, here we go. Can we get a sigh? Can we get a sigh?
Graham:can you see this? Yeah, I see some old lady, if you don't know who that old lady is sigh.
Scott:Can we get a sigh? Can you see this? Yeah, I see some old lady If you don't know who that old lady is. Is that homegirl from the Golden Girls? And folks by bet Graham bet, he threw a text out to our Fantasy League that said I'll take anybody on 10-1 odds for whatever you want to do. That Thunder win in five games.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Graham:Considering the current odds were 3 to 1.
Scott:Whatever, but anyhow, where's the game? Is the game tomorrow or they need load management and need to take a week?
Graham:off. I mean I'm just asking they do three days in between. It's not.
Scott:Why? Because the NBA is more physical than hockey.
Graham:No, it's called TV contracts. Hockey would have them, but since they don't take timeouts ever, there's not a lot of money in that for the networks.
Scott:Because it's more exciting.
Graham:Oh, I'm sorry, Coming from the guy that's like oh, I can't take a piss right now because there's no time out.
Scott:And hockey. I know it's great. Thank God for YouTube TV because I can watch it on my phone as I'm taking a leak now.
Graham:Thank God, and to think how much I had to harass you to get YouTube TV to leave direct TV.
Scott:Well, when they started sending me those goddamn bills and lost the NFL ticket, kick rocks, it ain't that hard. But I mean, what do you think? I don't even know what the line is for the next game.
Graham:Every game the line's been nine and a half.
Scott:Except for the first game back in Indy.
Graham:Yeah, because they were up 2-1. And I think it was six.
Scott:No it was 1-1. It was 1-1.
Graham:Yeah, it was six and a half.
Scott:Yeah, if I remember correctly, six and a half or five and a half Under, favored by six and a half going into this game.
Graham:Yeah, I mean, look, obviously I thought this was going to be a breeze from the beginning, kind of like everyone else. Look, I and a lot of other people underestimated the grit of the Indiana Pacers. I've never or I'm going to say never, but I can't remember in the long years that I've been watching the NBA a team that and well together, but do it in a way of you know how a coach always says what they tell their players. It's just like you got to work harder than the next guy. It's all about the effort. It's all about the effort. It's like you've got to work harder than the next guy. It's all about the effort. It's all about the effort. And when you watch the Pacers especially the games that they won or and even the games that they lost, but they came back when they were down by 20 points the effort and tenacity that the Pacers give and leave out on the court.
Scott:They did it the other night too. It's just like they did it the other night. It's just like you can't coach that.
Graham:It's just like you can't coach that. And in sports sometimes, like in hockey, what do they say? Just shoot at the net, just shoot at the net, shoot at the net, something's bound to go in. And that's just what I think about the Pacers. It's just like their tenacity on defense and how they play the offense and just getting everyone involved. I mean, look, tj McConnell, their backup point guard, the white guy. Never heard of this guy. I'm watching him in the playoffs and I'm like this dude is acting like it's game seven of the NBA finals, every playoff game that he's been in giving 110% effort. And it just seemed like every player was giving 110% effort. And it just seemed like every player was giving 110% effort. And look, to say that all teams don't give 110% effort Cause they're in the playoffs or, and especially now that they're in the finals, is ridiculous to say. But like it's noticeable, like very noticeable, when you watch the game and look, when you're a professional and you're paid to make shots, dude, all you need to do is get hot. So if a team can get hot and they play with that tenacity, you know you have a good shooting percentage. You're gonna win some games, and that's what's happened in this series and you know the way the pacers play.
Graham:It can be very demoralizing to the other team if it can't be stopped. You know what I mean. Like they play fast, they play full court defense from the start. You know what I mean. They rotate all their guys so everyone stays fresh. And when you just have that much intensity, every minute of every game, for all the games, it, you know, it just gets relentless and tiring. To the other team. I mean credit to okc, you know, for you know making the adjustments that they needed to make. I mean, look, on paper, is okc the better team? Yes, but as we've seen, some sometimes being the better team doesn't mean anything, you know%. You know what I mean.
Graham:So I kind of feel like in this last game, okc is figuring out more how to play the Pacers, but also to be fair and give credit where credit is due. Halliburton got hurt. He didn't play the whole game and we've already established this in the previous episode for someone that's been, that was named the most overrated player in the NBA by his peers. That dude is the heart and soul of his team and the ball runs through him on everything for him not to be there. You know it's just like and I'm sure you'll agree with me on this Even if you want a certain team to win, okay, fine, but you don't want to win, you don't want to see a team win because the other team's best player got hurt. You know what I mean.
Graham:It's just like yeah, I mean they're going to win and I get it. I mean it's like in football. It's just like, yeah, I mean they're going to win and I get it. I mean it's like in football. It's just like, oh well, patrick Mahomes went down. Oh, it sucks to be you and we're going to win. Like, yeah, I get that. But it's just like, if Patrick Mahomes goes down in the first quarter and they get annihilated, are we going to say, oh, the other team played the most amazing game and they deserve to win a bowl? I was like no, their best player went down. Did they get the win?
Scott:Yeah, I mean look at the look at the Eagles, the Eagles and Niners NFC championship game a couple of years ago, when Purdy goes down.
Graham:Domination station. It wasn't even close.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Graham:And the worst part is is I think Purdy was the third string, Brady was the third quarterback that year anyway for most of that year.
Scott:Yeah, that's my point.
Graham:Yeah, but he was a starter in that game. It is what it is. Do I think the Pacers could have a chance at home? I really do. It really just comes down to how well is OKC going to be coached up to close them out. So we'll see. I don't know, I might lean the Pacers, and here's the thing I told you via our text In a lot of these games I have no idea what to bet Because, yeah, the line is at this number.
Scott:I lost the first half over last night by a half a point and I watched both teams literally miss about 37 free throws.
Graham:There's some of them, that's just like the points, the overs, whether it be first quarter, half and end, I just you never know. Because, like you said, they're still making these games at minus nine and a half and you're like, besides one of them, the Pacers have either won or basically the Pacers have covered most of them. So I'm like, well, I'm not going to take them at the start. So it's just like I don't know, Like I don't know, Like I don't know, I'm going to probably most likely take the Pacers in game six. And I tell you one thing I think it would be good for the NBA if they take it to seven. But I will say, if OKC wants to win, this is definitely their year, because it's either next year or the year after. That's when they got to start paying those guys.
Graham:And it's just like and the craziest part is it's the whole, I think we mentioned this a couple episodes ago how OKC's team was built, basically off Paul George, the Paul George trade Insane.
Scott:Insane.
Graham:Honestly, the only other news that I feel like worth mentioning and I'm just going to be a homer about it and I don't really give a shit is hey word on the street is Aaron Rodgers is looking kind of nice and I know it's OTAs. I get it. Folks, it's June, I get it. Calm down. I'm not calling the MVP, I'm not saying any of that shit. For all the hate that people have been talking about. With Aaron Rodgers, he's saying the right words and turning the naysayers around in Pittsburgh and a lot of the local reporters are coming around and he's showing commitment to the team and coaching up Will Howard and just being accountable and it's just like a lot of the things I've been hearing is, you know, what he's bringing to the franchise is being well-received, I guess.
Scott:What he should do. But it's late. Here on the East Coast your boy's got to work tomorrow. It sucks, there's no more hockey until October. But you know? But something I just saw, Senator TP Jack Kings has already got odds out for next year to raise the cup.
Scott:And I don't get how they do this. You know there's a lot of offseason shit going to happen trades, free agents leaving, they got Edmonton at plus 650. Yeah, don't bet that, I mean no chance. Free agents leaving, they got Edmonton at plus 650. Yeah, don't bet that, I mean no chance. Panthers plus 700. Stars 900. Hurricanes 900. Avalanche 1,000. Knights 1,200. Lightning 1,400. Maple Leafs plus 2,000. Yeah, that ain't happening. But here we go. Facts It'ss plus 2000. Yeah, that ain't happening. But here we go. Facts it's next year already. But as we sit here on this Tuesday night, Stanley Cup was raised. It's the end. But US Open's over. We got the British in a month. We got the Travelers, which is a fucking joke, dude. You got a signature event the week after. These guys just got their dicks kicked in at Oakmont and now you expect them to go play golf there. God knows, Dude. I'm going to tell you straight up, Cameron Young.
Graham:He played well.
Scott:I like it, let's go.
Graham:Well, it's almost like the end of an era. Nhl. We thank you. It was a good season. I enjoyed myself in the playoffs. Nba we got one game, possibly two. Left man, it's the summertime, Baseball, Dog days of summer. Hey, you know what that means the dog days of summer. Fantasy football preparation. Let's go, baby Scott. It's always a pleasure doing the podcast with you and, as the best homie always says, buh-bye Good night friends.
Scott:Good night, Wyndham Clark. Why don't you go kick your fucking car? Not a museum of a locker room at Oakmont. You and your Oregon ducks can go. Quack away, you douchebag. Buh-bye, Buh-bye.
Speaker 1:This episode of the Bald Guys on the Bench podcast is brought to you by our friends at North Star Credit Union and Southern Auto, located in Southeast Virginia.
