[Music] Welcome back to the Mad Morning Show. Here at Coppin Head Golf Club, on with the NHL Alumni Association Golf Tournament. Danielle from Chesky alongside Matt Marchese, who's just trying to sort out some technical issues right now. Let's see if the great Stephen Coyle can get us through it. Oh, I just heard something. There he is! There we go. There we go. I think we got Matty back. Yeah, I'm back. He's back. We're at Coppin Wood. There, I said it. You said Coppin Head. Did I? No, I didn't. I said Coppin Wood. Did you? I'm pretty certain I said Coppin Wood. My head full. Josh can give us the verdict on that. Well, my headphones weren't working. There you go. That's what I mean. You're the one that didn't have a sound in your ears. Well, we are here at Coppin Wood. We are here at the Fedmore. I apologize. It's still early. It's 7 o'clock. I mean, I already got a text from my wife saying my daughter's on one this morning. So I'm happy to be here for the NHL Alumni Association's golf tournament. The NHL Alumni Association's mission is honoring the past by making tomorrow better than today for all former NHL players and their families. They aim to do this by a dedicated team of mental, physical and emotional wellness experts to support them and their families in retirement. A diverse selection of transition and educational resources for continued success in life after hockey. Opportunities to maintain connection with fellow members through NHL Alumni Association events that give back to local communities, charities and causes will be joined by the Alumni Association President Glenn Healy in just a few moments. We'll talk more about this then. But I wanted to talk about the Toronto Blue Jays. They went two of three on the West Coast in Seattle. They opened up a new series against the Giants tomorrow night. We learned that Vladimir Guerrero Jr. will be the lone representative at the all-star game, deserving honor for the first baseman because there was a lot of criticism coming into the year. You know, we talked about the power numbers, but he's really had a nice season for the Blue Jays. By far and away, the most consistent and best player on this team this year, I actually asked this question on Friday. I want to get your take on it. Who has been the second best player on this team or second and maybe third? That's a great question. The fact that you say it's a great question can go one of two ways. And I know which way it's going. It's either it's been great and there's been so many options, or it's been horrible. And there hasn't been a lot of options. I made the argument that Isaiah Kinerfilefa has been the second best player on this team this year. That's okay. That is a very compelling argument. And it's also not a good thing. No, it's not a good thing. In fact, I think I would argue that you've probably gotten more than you bargained for in IKF offensively. So with that being the case, it's definitely not a good thing. However, I would submit to you in terms of the overall hierarchy of the the most productive or the best Blue Jays seasons, players, that is, in terms of their individual production. Vladi would be number one, which tells the story in and of itself given how we started the season. And there were questions for two plus months about his power. But then I would probably go to the pitching side and I would say either Jimmy Garcia or Jose Barrios. That would probably the direction I go, because Barrios has been probably the most consistent arm that they've had. Jimmy Garcia could have probably held that mantle if he didn't get hurt. And then I think fourth on my list would be IKF. I think that's a very, very solid selection. But the point being is that not in one moment did we mention the guy that is supposed to be the first or second best player on the team in Boba Shedd. You can even make the argument about maybe it should have been Kevin Gosman. Maybe it should have been, I won't say Justin Turner. Well, I mean, George Springer is a George Springer. Yeah, he's the most, he's the other most obvious option. Okay, since he got on the George Springer thing, let's talk about that. Because this guy is red hot right now. He's got an OPS over his last 12 games, like over 1400. He's been hitting home runs like it's his job. Here's the, I know, right? Like you get paid 25 million dollars to hit the ball really far. Here's, here's, and I don't even put necessarily this criticism on George Springer here. Sure. Why did it take this front office staff, this managed, this bench staff, so long to figure out what the issue was. He wasn't catching up to fastballs. He was, he was at a horrible rate against the fastball. Why did they not come up with this idea to shorten the swing a little bit and shorten just the entire motion and just say, hey, this is what we got to try to. They didn't even look like they were trying to do different things with him. It was just, oh, well, you know, the bat speed's not there. This is what we got to live with. That's what I don't know that that to be the case, but it kind of feels like that to the point where you wonder, where would this team be had they figured this out a month and a half or two months ago and called up Spencer Horowitz earlier than they have? Yeah, that's a fair question, Maddie. I think certainly if, if let's say George had tapped into this degree of production, like you said, a month ago, they probably have at least what four or five more wins. If not, that's been conservative, I would argue. Like ours, they would definitely have more victories and be in a more favorable position. And we wouldn't be sitting here where they're eight and a half out. So he's, he's a big piece of the puzzle here. I don't know that he wasn't trying or they weren't trying different things. Like I feel like, you know, that would be a bit presumptuous because any time that I've ever been to the field and I've had the privilege of doing, you know, Saturday games here and there with show and every time we're there, you know, just take a nice little stroll around the park and have, you know, get to see what's going on down on the field or in behind the whole really more than the field area, which you don't see everything. It's about what happens behind the scenes in the clubhouse and in the batting cage area. And routinely, every single time I've been there, he's always one of the few guys or not few guys, one of the handful of guys that is in there consistently for like long stretches working on stuff all the time. And so you can see his work ethic is there. He was trying to figure things out. But for whatever reason, just like Vlad, there's they've now found a sweet spot where it feels like he's comfortable again. And he's doing damage on pitches that he should be doing damage on. And there's a natural regression curve that he is experiencing. Like he's not going to go back to being a 30 Homer guy that's in two 62 70 atop the lineup. It's not going to happen. That's just unrealistic. It's not sustainable. But you're kind of married to this contract. And so you better hope that he's able to have these stretches where he gets really hot. That will then make up for a lot of the the negative spells and slums that he's going to fall into. It's inevitable that it's going to happen. I just feel like over time and the most it's so challenging. Like we talked about this a lot with golf and baseball more than other sports because it's such a day to day grind. It is difficult to make adjustments on the fly. Like that's why everybody talks about spring training is important so that you get yourself in the right sort of the perfect, perfect rhythm heading into a season. It's important to have all your mechanics sorted out. And for George, clearly it wasn't there for him. And to make these adjustments, I think it shows a lot of a care work ethic is there. And the third thing is just the maturity. Like he knows he's probably not the same player. And he's lacking in certain areas that he once was very good at. But he's found ways to still be productive. And my favorite thing, and this is what I think yesterday highlighted more than anything one, he's having fun again. And to the emotion is there. And that tells me that that gives me a massive source of confidence and encouraging and encouragement because you see how much he is he cares. And even for a moment in that split in that three hour time span yesterday, it didn't matter what the standing said. Like all those guys, George onwards down onwards to the roster, you could see how much that one game actually meant. And the emotion piece of it, I thought was really important. And it should give us some reason to be optimistic about what he can still be as a player. Since June 25th, he is he's slashing 436. Yep. 522. 897 with an OPS of one. Whenever it starts with a one point, that's very good. Very good. 1.419. And if and I'll add one thing statistically to that. So that you referenced that since June 25th, that's a 12 game sample. Yeah. In terms of raw production, that's five homers and 16 RBI in that span in 12 games in his first 71 games this year, he had five homers and 15 RBI. That tells you all you need to know. Now, is he is he going to be close? This version? No. Is he going to be the first half version? The first 71 game version? No. But I think somewhere in the middle, if you can find that middle ground between what we're seeing now and what you saw for the first 71 games, that is where you have the perfect intersection of what he can be because his defense still plays. And it's quite frankly, he's probably having his best defensive season in a Blue Jays uniform that includes him playing center field for a handful of years. This is the best version defensively that we've seen. And if his back could just be serviceable, serviceable, it'll make because they're not he's not going anywhere. It'll make it. It'll make it what's it called palatable for you to see him in that lineup every day for the next what year plus still with his deal. The key is there when you talk about the defense still playing, he's having one of his best defensive seasons is that that tells you which is a good thing that the body's not breaking down because when he's not playing in the outfield and you're paying $25 million for a guy that DH is only and is not giving you a ton of raw numbers, then yeah, that's going to be that's going to be an entirely different story. That's a lot of money to pay an outfielder that's not playing in the outfield. So it's going to be interesting. They get the series when they play the Giants. We'll see what happens there. But I mean, let's let's just hope that that this thing keeps going down the road and they're playing some some solid baseball because God knows the the Blue Jays when they're not going very well. It's a tough watch. We are pleased to be joined here live at Coppenwood, ahead of the NHL Alumni Association's golf tournament. He is the president and executive director. He is Mr. Glenn Healy. How are you today, sir? I'm pleased just we haven't started the interview. Wait, wait till I put this in the ditch. We'll see if you're pleased. See how many people are pleased by this interview. He'll tell you whether you put this in the ditch or not. They're paying me the same regardless. So I mean, that's not it doesn't change anything to me. I don't know what it changes for you, but well, I'm taking a great slight to that. I did I I did watch when I was with the Leafs go to Joe slide left slide right everybody. Anyways, yeah, I got paid the same do. Yeah, it's not a bad thing. It's not a bad gig. So I wanted to talk to you about the alumni before we get into other hockey stuff because what you're doing with the Alumni Association is incredibly important. And I know since you've taken over it's there's been a change and it's about taking care of players post-career because I think what happens a lot of the time is fans who watch these stars and they don't even have to be stars. They could be guys that played, you know, 100 games, the NHL or whatever, but they played for a lot of guys once the career is done. People don't see that part of it and they don't see the difficult transition into I don't want to call it the real world, but it's the real world. It's not you're not in a regimented schedule. It's not the same as when you played. What was that change like for you once you were done playing? I think it's the same for everybody regardless if you're Wayne Gretzky or you're player number 5,000. We have 5,000 in our family that played one game. First thing that happens is and this happens in every walk of life. I don't care if you're a business executive, if you're a rock star, if you work at Costco, what you name it? The phone stops ringing and at the NHL where we're it and we can make a call and show up at any restaurant and hey, there was a day I might have been able to get Taylor Swift tickets. That's over, but the phone stops ringing and then there's this complete lack of structure and as NHL players, everything in your world is structured. You know, you'll have a 930 be at the arena, 1030 skate, 1130 meeting, you have your meal, you have your pregame rest, 430 another meeting, 5 o'clock power play, 530 PK meeting, general meeting at 6 o'clock, warm up at 640, 703, anthem, game, jet, rinse and repeat, do it again. Now there's no structure and it reminds me a lot of his COVID. You know, when you woke up four days in a row and you might, I got these sweatpants on again and there was no structure for us and there was no interconnectivity. We couldn't go out, we couldn't socialize because we are social animals in a lot of ways. So that that is the same for almost every player. The other side of it is you'll never have a job better than playing in the NHL. There's nothing better and that is taken away from you and it is always not by your choice. Again, I know one player that left on his own and that was Wayne and I don't even know Wayne left on his own or at the end he realized starting to get tagged a lot and getting hit a lot like it just it's not the way it was when I racked up 230 points a year. Things are a little different. And so it's typically someone else that tells you that you're not playing. So put that all together, you have a very short career but a very long life and my role is to make that long life as enjoyable as that short career. And our job with all the staff that are here is to make tomorrow better than today. However, that looks for you, your wife, your family, making sure that that long journey is as good as the short one. It is a difficult task at times. We don't all leave the game with buckets full of money and we leave damaged emotionally, physically more than anything. We are 60 year olds in 80 year old bodies. It can be a challenge and our job is to make sure that if a player needs help, we don't leave a man behind. Glenn, what are some of the programs that you guys sort of have in place or have developed over the years that you find are successful in aiding that transition? What are some of the things the actionable items that you guys have in place to help players make that transition successfully to post-plane career? It is a complete paradigm. There's not one silver bullet. So for instance, when I took over, I did that a lot of suicide calls, not a lot but one is too many. And I'm not trained in any of that. I went to Western Michigan. It's a daycare setting. Let's face it. And so we would get tragic calls, whether it's yourself, your family. And so what we did was I hired a social worker. And at the time, I didn't know what a social worker was. My parents are from Scotland. I thought they found you like tenement homes in Glasgow. That's what social workers did. They do much more. And so we hired a social work wellness team. And one of the gentlemen, he probably works with about 200 players, spouses, and their kids right now. We hired a female social worker to work with the players that have Alzheimer's dementia and Parkinson's. And the wife is the caregiver. And that is a very difficult job. Anyone who's got a family with that in their backyard, it's incredibly difficult. So she works with the wives to make sure that it's okay in their world. We have Ben Scrivens, who is an ex-NHL player, who has all the degrees in the world to be a social worker, but needs 30 years of experience. Well, you don't get that overnight. So he's working with us and does a lot of peer-to-peer stuff. Our chief medical officer is one of the leading neural surgeons in the world. And so for us, where there's no way to balance and functional integration, I won't use the concussion word, is an issue. He helps with all the medical side. We have a doctor who works with us, Dr. Clarefield, who for 30 years was a leaf doctor, helps to get players in to get surgeries. For instance, I've had both hips replaced as a goalie, that's common. But if you have to wait 16 months to get a hip replaced, and there's probably people listening that are waiting, typically it's sleeping pills to sleep, it's pain pills to manage, and you get your hip done, but you have to go to rehab. Could we not get that surgery done quicker? Canada, please. So we don't have to face another element that is devastating to families. We have that element. Then there's your typical transition, which is you wake up, the phone's up for me, you have no structure, and you go, what the f am I going to do today? And at some point, your wife will look at you and go, would you stop ironing the couch with your ass? Let's go. And so if you can take what you did on the ice, the hard work, that effort that you put forward, and transpose that into your next phase of your world, then you have a real good chance at having that great long life. So it is a complete paradigm. That's only part, that's only the tip of the iceberg. But there is no part of our world that we have not at least championed in a way to make the difference when the phone rings. It's never, I'm sorry anymore. It's okay. I pass the ball to the professionals, and they run it across the line. So it's a pretty good situation for us. In terms of the sort of the relationship that you guys have with the NHL and the way that operates, like what does that push poll look like in terms of the communication that you guys have with the league, the people that are obviously still empowering and concerned about what's going on currently in the national hockey league, and trying to, I don't want to say push in a push your agenda, but address important items that you're receiving feedback about routinely from ex players at this particular juncture. Well, I tell you what, I'll put my team up against the current NHL team any day. You guys, I'll take Gretzky over and you put someone up here. Knock yourself out. Okay, you might want Crosby. I'll take Lemieux. Yeah, there you go. Yes, my ass. I can tell you this, the players that play today, you know, the guys that are up today, well, 60 alumni today, they paved the roads for the Mitch Marner's of the world to do what they're doing, to get paid, what they're getting paid, to have the pension that they have, to have the medical that they have, to have the cottage in the scope. Look at these guys that went before them on their shoulders, they paved the way. And so we have 3,800 players that have contributed, 5,000 in total, but 38 that have made a craft out of it. And they're a pretty strong group. The NHL recognizes it and I will give Gary Betman and Bill Daley full marks, full credit. The NHL will be here today, Daley and his group, and they are helpful in every way. They never say no. No, not saying they may one day say no to me because they do ask for a lot, but they've always been helpful and have always found a way to make a difference for our guys. They recognize the importance of it. And I think the anniversary of the NHL where they had the 100 best players, there was a couple of things that stuck out to me. One, almost every guy, when they walked out, you went, oh man, he needs to have done his back's bad, his knees bad. Like that stood out. But I think the reverence that the league found at that point, realizing that, you know, the Bobby Wars and the Izermans and the Lemus and the Messes and the Gordy House and the Greskes and the Ted Linsies, like all these guys that have paved that way, they recognize the importance. And I think the worm flipped at that point for Gary and his team and they've been nothing but helpful. And the NHLPA under Marty Walsh's leadership has been the exact same. A union guy who understands his dad's work, made it for him to have a great pension. So he understands that. He understands player wellness. At one point, he had a coping mechanism issue, understands you need some help from your friends at times. So we've got a real advocate with the NHLPA. So it is a combination of the three of us that work together to make a difference. And it's been enjoyable on the ride and we will just continue to make things happen. Currently, as we speak, I'm sorry, but we have a broadcast camp going on in New York City at the NHL office. They're coming to take your jobs. This could be your last interview. So you better be damn good at this. But things like that, we're always working together to try to make a difference. But it's been a great partnership. It has. Glenn Healy, NHL Alumni Association, President and Executive Director, Joining Matt Marquez and Danieli Franceski here on the fan morning show. So one of the things that when you play part of the relationships that you build is just being in the room with these guys all the time. How much of what you guys do or the importance of what you guys do is keeping those players in touch with, whether it be players that they played with or players that they played against that they had a relationship, maybe not the guys from like the 70s and the 80s, because they hated each other. The game has changed now. But how much of that is just keeping having the ability to keep in touch with other players as part of maybe, you know, helping in that process, the post playing career into whatever the next chapter is. You know, you bring up a good point. I played with the Islanders and the Rangers through there was two of my four teams. And when they would have alumni games and, you know, a bunch of 50 year old guys, they're a little fatter than they were when they were 30, of course. I mean, you guys are looking to be funny. I'm not feeling good about this interview. But, you know, they would have fights. Like, you're 50. Yeah, stop it. It's over. But, you know, that was the animosity of some of those days. I agree with you. The locker room is a real sacred place. It is the place that most players say they miss the most. Yeah. You know, if you were ever in a leaf locker room and you watched me undress tied only every single day, it was like taking candy from a little baby. You know, he just sat there and took it. Now, he'll tell you, years later, he took advantage of me wrong. We need the Daniel Day Trump, that checker, when it comes to that. But that being said, you know, we're, we are building a player's only locker room, which would be something for the players and the spouses, where there's connectivity, where you can reach out to another player like you do on Facebook and make sure you're connected with your team. You could have a 1990s Pittsburgh Penguins Championship team that all speak and communicate with one another. But more important than that, that locker room is that place where one stop shop, your doctors, your medical staff, where you have the red button where you can reach out to get help immediately. Yep. If things are right in your world, that is getting baked. That will be out in the next couple months. But again, just an ability for us to let players know that locker room is still there for them. Might be digital, but it is still there for them. And that's what's great about these events. 60 alumni, lots of different teams, Stanley Cup champions, some like Brian Tracci with six, some that have none. Some of the Leafs I invited. Sorry. I did digitally change the man of the year banner of the 60, 17. It is in color. I know that it was black and I know. But we have done some creative things. But you know, the great part is they get to come together on a day like today. And all the money that they raise today is going to pay for someone who needs medication for cancer. And it's not covered in Canada, more in the States or a surgery or someone who has a kid who is struggling with mental wellness through what has been this horrific COVID that has taken the soul out of so many of us and our families. So every dollar today, they're here to have a good time. Yes, there's probably too many libations on too many holes, but it is kind of like an Amish hacker, right? We're doing this. We're having our Gretzky whiskey and yeah, we're taking that money and using it for people to go to rehab. It doesn't make sense, but in my world, it does. Okay. So, but again, the familiarity, the chove illness today, you'll see it. The guys, they love getting back together. And that's the most important part. Glenn, how's your golf game? How's the golf game? And if I may add, anybody that you have as a leader in the clubhouse before we even tee off, that you know, has quite the bag and is ready to go out there and actually repeat today. Kip reels is already out. Oh, well, Kip was here already. Well, no, he's played 12 holes. He's, you know, you play him. He clearly doesn't play with another group because he's like two holes ahead of you. It's like a selfish S.O.B. You're supposed to play with your group, but I think by eight o'clock, you'll score will be in. It'll be like a minus four. And he'll tell you that, but it's really a plus 44. But you know what, I think for me, having two new hips, games change. I used to play and the guys I played with regularly, I look back one time and all of them had their backs to me and I said, what are you doing? Well, we don't want to watch that swing. I mean, if that's contagious, we're done. But the game is good. But today, you know, I don't think for the most part, a lot of guys golf a whole lot. And some do, like Darcy Tucker at this course, every single day he plays almost. So he'll kill it and probably will do a pretty good job. But I think for the most part, everyone's here for the cause, the right reason, and to promote what we're all about, which is a better tomorrow than today. Well, you're doing a fantastic job. So keep up the great work. Thanks for taking a couple minutes for us. Greatly appreciated. And I mean, good luck with the swing. Mine's not pretty either. So I get it. But have fun with it. Oh, wait, are you going to be playing the bagpipes at all tonight? We will have pipers here. We we never go anywhere. I was going to say even like I come home at night at the end of a long day, someone is there to pipe me in the door. But I will say this, the greatest strength that we have, and maybe this is something for every business organization, it's the players. It is not me. It is not my team. It is not the medical doctors. They're part of it. It's the players. It's the Mario Lemuse and the Messier's and the grass keys that have said, let's do whatever we got to do to fix this. We deserve better. It's the players that make this. And without them, if you're going to try to put Glenn Healy 38 100 times on bobbleheads, pins, trinkets and trash, good luck. You're not going to sell that to anybody other than, you know, there's that group that is down in Nicaragua. Okay. I don't know if you know this, but when the NHL, when they do the Stanley Cup and it's game seven, you know, they did make Ederson Euler Stanley Cup game seven. Yep. Way to go champions. They're in the alternate timeline down there. Now they can never see the light of day. So they send them to faraway places that only you guys go on vacation, right? The middle of the Andes, where there's not even a resort and you're like, Ederson didn't win the cup in 2024. Anyways, yeah, so you can't sell a lot of Glenn Healy, but man, there's a lot of big players that are really making a difference and kudos to them because it's their friends and their family in the hockey brotherhood. It's a unique brotherhood and we need to protect and take care of one another. And even in those places, Glenn, the Toronto Maple Leafs still haven't won a cup since 1987. Yeah, rub it in at the very end of the show. You know, I did play for them for four years. I've been rooting for them for 35 years and I still haven't seen anything. Thanks so much for taking some time. Appreciate it. Keep out the great work. There he goes. Glenn Healy, NHL Alumni Association president and executive director. We're going to take a break when we come back. John Molinaro founder of TFC Republic and sports that contributor will join us. Canada soccer. The men's team off to the semifinals of the Copa America. We'll talk about that and more. When we come back on the fan morning show, Matt Marquesi Danieli Franceski with you here, we'll be back in a moment. Unrivaled insight, analysis, and opinions on all things Blue Jays. Blair and Barker, be sure to subscribe and download the show on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcast. Welcome back to the fan morning show sports that 590 the fan live at Coppenwood Golf Club for the NHL Alumni Association golf tournament just heard from Glenn Healy, the executive director and president of the association will hear from more alumni throughout the show. But before we get there, this insider brought to you by Don Valley, North Lexus, where you can expect excellence online and in the show, visit Don Valley North Lexus.com. And our insider today is John Molinaro, founder of TFC Republic. And he's a sports net contributor as well. John, good morning. How are you? Hey, good morning. So, you know, I'm watching this game on Friday and I'm thinking, you know, it's one of those galvanizing moments, even before the game started, where you look and say this could be an absolutely massive moment for the Canadian men's program, something that we really haven't had too many moments over the last 40 years. When you look at that win over Venezuela, considering the magnitude of the Copa America and getting to the semifinal, is that the biggest win in the men's history? Well, it's certainly up there. Um, you know, I would think about also the 2000 caucus cap, or sorry, the 2000 caucus cap gold cup final when they beat Columbia in Los Angeles, the only time that they won an international trophy. I think about, you know, the win over Honduras in 1985 when they, uh, in St. John's, makes a land when they clinched their first World Cup birth, or they went over, you know, Jamaica and Toronto in 2022 to sort of book their place to the World Cup. You know, those were all sort of watershed moments, and I think, likewise, the win over Venezuela was one of those milestone sort of games where, you know, they beat, you know, I team from South America to, to, again, to, you know, the same finals of the Copa America, which is one of the oldest and most prestigious international tournament tournaments in world software. So it was an absolutely massive moment that was right up there, and in terms of the most important and biggest moments in the history of the program. In team up Friday's game, John, one of the points that I had raised, or a question I had raised is, well, is there pressure on Canada? Like, is there pressure on them to get a result? And I think, depending on who you ask, they're probably differing opinions given that they, how they had looked, how they had performed. And we talked to James Sharman on Friday, and he made the point that he said, I hope they feel pressure. I hope there's a degree of pressure, because then that tells you that that they understand the magnitude of how meaningful this is. I guess my I will pose it to you in this sense. They're preparing to see Argentina again for the second time in this tournament, given that they've already played them once, and we saw that they proved they probably belonged, and they looked okay in that first meeting against Argentina. Do you feel like there is pressure or perhaps should be pressure on Canada going into a game like tomorrow night, a semi final fixture at a major international tournament? I don't think there's any pressure on them to be perfectly honest. You know, if there's any pressure in this game, it's on Argentina, they're the defending World Cup champions, the defending Copa America champions, they're expected to win. If they lose to a cockpit nation, then believe me, that's going to be his source of national shame back in Buenos Aires in the rest of the country. I think Canada goes into this playing, you know, pressure-free. I mean, I'm sure there's certainly expectations amongst themselves, amongst the players, because you know, they're not there simply to sort of fill up the numbers. They want to do well. They're in this to win it. I think they go in with a great deal of confidence after, you know, getting to this point and also playing Argentina so close in their opening group stage game in Atlanta and that two nothing loss. But I don't think necessarily there's any pressure on themselves to perform. I think there's confidence. There's, I think there's a sense that, hey, we can pull this off just based on, you know, their form of this tournament so far. John, on Friday when I'm watching the game go into penalties, even more, even before that, I'm watching the goal that Solomon Rondon scores against Max Crippo. And my first thought was, oh boy, here we go. This is, this feels like the beginning of the end. And the way that Canada came out and responded following that goal and pressing to try and end the game before it got to penalties was, was something that I think is part of the, the shift in the culture surrounding the team and also just, I mean, the talent level, sure. But just in the expectation of we're not just happy to be here. Like, we want to win this thing. Did you see that, that kind of same thing? Because I felt like the whole nation just went, oh boy, this is happening. And, you know, it was a fun run. And I don't know if we're going to be able to, to withstand this pressure because also it was a very pro Venezuela crowd at that game. What was your sense of how the team responded? And is that part of the new makeup of what this Canadian men's team is all about for you? Yeah, I mean, it was really sort of impressive. I mean, I've been impressed with the sort of composure and poise that they showed throughout this tournament, to be honest, not just in that sort of Venezuela game when they went around Don scored that goal. I mean, there's been some difficult sort of games and difficult moments of the co-op of America for Canada, whether it was, you know, face incursion to Canada and Atlanta against, with a largely pro Argentinian crowd, you know, the physical contest against Peru and Chile, where they were just kind of getting battered. They've had some refereeing decisions go against them. So it's been, you know, not a smooth sailing, but throughout it all. They've really sort of, you know, stayed above the fray and remained focused and just kind of kept poised. And that, to me, has been sort of like one of the biggest takeaways from this tournament. I don't necessarily think it's anything new because I think there was sort of that identity under, you know, John Hurd, but the team was playing under him. You know, you look at sort of that qualifying run for the 2022, you know, Qatar World Cup. You know, they were the best team in conquer cap and it wasn't easy. I mean, there was a lot, again, a lot of difficult moments, a lot of difficult games that Canada had to endure. So I don't necessarily think this is a new thing. I think it's just sort of building on what was already there, but it's certainly, you know, great to see and you, you know, hope to see more of it as the team goes forward. John, obviously Friday was a beautiful moment, but, you know, compounding that moment was the fact that we had two maritime legends coming together. Of course, one being Sydney Crosby, and the other one who was aptly named maritime messy, Jacob Schafflberg, who has been phenomenal in this tournament for Canada and has really asserted himself as one of their more important and impactful players routinely threatening on the offensive side of the ball. What's allowed him to unlock this element of his game to tap into this aspect of his skill set to where now we're seeing him be consistently game in and game out a real major threat for Canada as a guy that's driving play and providing service, trying to generate scoring opportunities. I think it's just that he's been given the opportunity. You know, he, you know, for people who have kind of followed him, you know, for a while now, we're not surprised by this. I mean, he obviously played for Toronto FC, you know, for several years and, you know, we routinely saw sort of, you know, such great attacking displays like this. And I think his career has only gotten better, you know, since the trade in Nashville FC, one of the other teams in MLS. He was, you know, he got his debut under John Herdman, but he really wasn't sort of given that much of a chance to show what he can do. But I think the difference now is that, you know, Jesse Marsh has given him a chance to shine. I mean, he's used him in all five games that he's played. I mean, he used him as a sub in the first two matches at Copa America and then, you know, rewarded him with starts against, you know, Chile and then obviously against Ben as well. And he's just within the occasion. So I think it's just about, he was kind of given the opportunity to shine. I mean, you know, opportunity that he didn't necessarily get under Herdman. And I think he's sort of recognized that there's a big chance for him to really sort of showcase what he can do and make a, you know, stake a claim for a regular spot in the starting 11. And he's, you know, he's taken it quite nicely. John, you know, that the game Friday, you know, Schafflberg was obviously great. And there's there's two moments that kind of stood out during penalties for me. One was Alfonso Davies scoring because, you know, kind of just, you know, letting go of the the ghosts of World Cup Pass, where he'd missed the penalty against Belgium. And, and the other one was watching the composure from moist bombito with, in what really felt like, you know, we mentioned the pro Venezuela crowd, it felt like he was in a South American soccer stadium. And, you know, the lasers are going, and he's standing there as stoic as stoic can be, and, and buries his penalty without any sort of reaction, just it really calm, cool, and collected. But I wanted to focus on Davies because that really felt like a big moment for him on a big stage where, you know, he was able to shed that, that, that penalty that he missed two years prior, a year and a half prior. Is that the same kind of sense that you got? Is that it was just almost like, in a way, and it was a big one because it kept the, the penalties alive? Was that kind of a watershed moment you think for Alfonso Davies as well? In some ways, yeah, I mean, I think, you know, I think he's probably still carries, you know, the ghosts of the penalty mess against Belgium at the World Cup on him. So it was allowed him to sort of exercise that. But more importantly, I mean, it was a, it was a crucial sort of penalty because had he missed, that would have been it, right? Canada would have eliminated. So he had sort of the pressure, you know, the way of the world resting on his shoulders. And, you know, he took it quite nicely. I mean, it was really a great penalty. And it seemed so effortlessly. So I think it's just sort of part of his sort of development in terms of, you know, now that he's the captain, that he's got to step off with big moments like this. And he, you know, he took it and really sort of, you know, put the, put the weight of the nation on his shoulders with that penalty and took it really well. So it's nice to see. I mean, he's, he's still good to remember. He's still a young player, right? And still sort of developing in terms of, you know, what it is for him to be a captain. He's only had the captain arms banned for a couple of games now. But he's kind of sort of, you know, sort of grow into that role as a captain and he seems to be doing it quite nicely. So yeah, I don't think there's any question. It was a big moment for him. One more for let you go, John. This is a tournament that, you know, you talk about the importance of this tournament in the grand scheme of international soccer. These guys are performing at a high level and two guys specifically that I look at that I wonder about how teams in maybe top five leagues in Europe may view them. Jacob Schappelberg, by all accounts, has had one of the best tournaments among all midfielders playing in the Copa America. And the other one is Derek Cornelius, who is playing in Europe, but he's not playing in a top five league. I think he's been fantastic. We've already seen Ismail Kone and Moise Bombito move to France. Do you see that kind of a move for a Schappelberg or a Derek Cornelius? And do you think that this type of tournament really has put eyeballs on some of the Canadian players, maybe playing in MLS, maybe playing in not in top five divisions in soccer in Europe? Do you think this tournament changes the narrative for some of these guys? Oh, sure. Yeah. I mean, that's often the case with any big international tournament. I mean, clubs from, you know, Europe are usually scouting opportunities just to see what's out there. And, you know, so it's not uncommon that after a, you know, a player has a strong run at a Copa America at a world cop at a European championship, you know, that alerts sort of other teams, sort of pro to clubs and, you know, build the bad leads to transfers. So yeah, this is a huge opportunity for the Canadian players to sort of put themselves, you know, on display and in the showcase window and just to see who comes calling. And yeah, I, you know, I think the profile of Canadian players and Canada at this tournament has been raised. I don't think there's any question, just by the way that, again, they probably played Argentina so close in the opening game and the way they progressive the tournament. It's, you know, this is a big sort of showcase event. And, you know, people are starting to ignore it. So in the Canada has won a lot of respect at the Copa America. And then as a result, you know, clubs are taking notice of, you know, Canadian players that maybe they wouldn't have noticed before. So it's a huge chance for a lot of players, especially the two that you mentioned, Cornelius and Jacob Schaffelberg to potentially earn a move, you know, to, you know, bigger teams in Europe. It's going to be a fantastic game tomorrow. It's going to be a lot of fun. It's been an enjoyable tournament and really one that is, like you mentioned, put Canada on the map here. John, thanks so much for taking some time for today. Greatly appreciate it as always, sir. Sure, no problem. There he goes. John Mullenarle, founder of TFC Republic and Sportsnet contributor. That insider was brought to you by Don Valley, North Lexus, where you can expect excellence online. And in the showroom, visit Don Valley, North Lexus dot com. Time now for wake and rate presented by Sports Interaction, your homegrown sports book 19 plus bet responsibly. So Danielle, we are looking at the odds for the remaining teams in both the Euro and the Copa America. So let's start with the Copa. Argentina leads away minus 125. Uruguay at plus 250 Columbia plus 350. And the lowly Canadians, the small little nation over here, plus 2800. I mean, Canada's not a terrible long shot, at this stage. What? 2800 for a team that's in the final four. Well, getting well, comparatively, when we look at the Euro. So we'll look at the Euro and see who the fourth team is. I think that's a great point. Let's take plus 190 England plus 250, which I think is too high because they always find a way to blow it. Something about those. Yeah, it's coming. It's coming home every time. You know what? You'll see what happens. It's more like Bob Colton. They're going home. They're going home. France plus 275 in the Netherlands at plus 450. Now, Argentina being the odds on favor for the Copa. I get it. They're the defending up champions defending Copa champions. Canada plus 2800. Like that's one of those things as my pal Jonathan Davis from NHL Network Radio, let's just say you sprinkle some pizza on it. Totally. That's, I mean, it's worth a sprinkle. That is a terrific long shot bet. It's a terrific long shot, but they're in the final form. And if they buy some miraculous act of humanity, they win and find a way to beat Argentina who, by the way, hasn't looked the most convincing note like they went to penalties against Ecuador and quite frankly lost to Venezuela. Yes. That's not for sure. Yeah. And frankly, Canada's better for parts of that game. Ecuador played Argentina. And now for Canada to be plus 2800. I get it. I get it. It's Argentina. I get it. It's messy. They've got tons of pedigree. They've won a ton of international trophies, all that fun jazz. But I think that's a little bit disrespectful, Canada. I really do. But I really do. I really disrespected in this tournament. So that kind of goes actually that kind of goes with the part and parcel. I don't know where you privy to what the betting odds with the lines were for that game on Friday. I know as far as I remember, they were flip flopped at multiple places. So it was very evenly big time. Like they were they were talking about the actually oddly enough, the the most likely odds were a draw penalty kicks. Yes. That was the highest percentage in terms of where the money was going. But if we actually looked at straight up win or loss, Canada versus Venezuela, it was pretty pretty much a split in terms of what the odds were for both of those teams. I can tell you that that is not going to be the case tomorrow. No, no. When when are you back up? No, you're with me tomorrow. We're doing the afternoon. So we get to show the regular morning show. We'll be back here and they'll be talking about this one tomorrow with those odds. How do you like the year old? That's what I was going to say. How do you like the year old? To me, Spain, I mean, Spain has been the best team consistently for me in this tournament. Agreed. Fullheartedly agree that England's not going to win because they're England. I'm sorry to all the English fans out there, but they're not winning. So I don't know, man. There's something only of liver, puddly and Trent Alexander Arnold is the guy that sends him across the line. This English team, this three Alliance team has been so infinitely frustrating for all their incredible millions of supporters that I think because they've been so frustrating to watch, this is the one that might get it done. Like, weirdly, this is the one that might get it done. I think, you know, and they're playing correct me. I'm pretty sure they're playing the Netherlands, right? They're playing the Dutch. Yeah. I mean, the Dutch haven't been very convincing. I feel like England should make the final. I think Spain is the best team, but if I had to pick value, and this goes actually in both tournaments, I'd probably pick the number two team. I would pick England. If I'm looking for a slight more value, a touch more value overall, I'd put some money down on England. And then I think Uruguay to me is the pick. Uruguay would be the pick. If you're a very smart, intelligent, betting individual and you want to find a little bit of value and invest in a team in the Copa, I think Uruguay is the way to go. See, I would actually go with the two third-place teams. But France is terrible. They have, but you know what? They've locked awful, but you know what though? They somehow have managed to get it done. Yeah, but they're not a good team. They haven't looked good. I know, but they have it's just sometimes it's the weirdest thing. You know, it's like when Italy wins tournaments, like they're they're not playing while they shouldn't be there. And then they win. France has the they also have the elite talent to go along with not playing well, but they can turn it at the drop of the hat. And that's where I look at France. And I say like they could surprise. If I was going through some value, France would be my value. And I think Columbia has looked fantastic. Columbia has the goal. And that's not a slight against Uruguay because I think Uruguay has been very, very good. I actually had going into when I was ranking like the eight teams. I had Brazil fifth. Yeah. Yeah. They did. They just did not look impressive. Uruguay had looked very good. Darwin Nunez is finally playing well, which is absolutely. So it's going to be interesting to see what happens there. But I mean, listen, doors are wide open here. It's one game. Anything can happen. It's a fun fun time. I'm trying to talk myself into Canada winning tomorrow. Right. You should. But it's both tournaments have been fun. They've been filled with drama. I actually whether it be extra time or penalties. They've both been really good tournament. Why can't it be one one? And they go to penalties and Canada wins? Why can't that happen? That can happen. That is realistically in the cards. I'm telling you that is in the car. You can do it. You sound like the kid from the girls in the field. It's happened. I even said this all of last week pertaining to the Venezuela game that I've said I was steady and consistent. They were going to win it. I'm not a certain this time around. Don't get me wrong. But I'm just saying I can see the pathway develop in front of me. Hey, the way that they've played, they've given you every reason to believe. And that is something that has not been a common thread for the Canadian men's national team. It's it's going to be very interesting to see what happens tomorrow night. That was Wake and Rake presented by Sports Interaction. Your homegrown sports book 19 plus bet responsibly. When we come back, lots more on the show. We're going to have some NHL alumni roll through the program here. And we will chat with them about their golf game. The state of the NHL right now and so much more. We're live at Coppinwood Golf Club at the NHL alumni golf tournament. This is the fan morning show. I'm Matt Marquesi. That's the Nellie Franceski. We will be back in a moment.
