The Bob McCown Podcast

EP 148 - BUCK MARTINEZ on the Toronto Blue Jays.

Play-by-play announcer for the Toronto Blue Jays, Buck Martinez comes in to talk about the team as they inch closer to the 60 game mark of the season, and prepare to move to Buffalo.

The three talk about the Jays pitching problems, and whether they need to start looking outside of the organization to balance their rotation. 

A lot of time is spent on the teams young core of players, with Buck stressing patience when it comes to dealing with inexperienced players. 

The Gentleman also address the Blue Jays injury issues, have the new facilities in Dunedin been working? an who he is most excited about on this Jays roster.

EP 147 - EUGENE MELNYK, owner of the Ottawa Senators.

Owner of the Ottawa Senators, and friend of the podcast, EUGENE MELNYK, hops on the show to have a conversation with Bob and John.

After a tough season with a young core of players, Eugene shares his optimism about the teams future - believing that the Stanley Cup Playoffs are well within sight for next season.

The owner also gives us an inside look at his teams re-build strategy, stressing patience, discipline & attention are the keys to building a successful hockey team.

The three spend some time discussing the future of some of the teams young studs, and what Eugene is looking for in the next captain of the Ottawa Senators.

To end the show - Bob, John & Eugene get into a lengthy conversation over the Senators plans for a new arena... and where exactly that might be.

EP 146 - BO LEVI MITCHELL, Quarterback for the Calgary Stampeders.

BO LEVI MITCHELL, QB for the Calgary Stampeders, joins the podcast to update Bob and John on the Canadian Football League, the only North American pro Sports league that has yet to return to play since the beginning of the global pandemic.

It may be an unpopular opinion, but Bo believes the recent talks between the XFL and the CFL would actually be good for the growth of the game up North as the three brainstorm ways to keep the oldest professional football league in the world relevant.

The gentleman talk about Bo's NFL dreams, his affinity to Canada, making Calgary his home, his new podcast "Benny and Bo" and how much of the Canadian game he knew about growing up in Texas... and it wasn't a lot. 

 

 

 

 

EP 145 - RICK BOWNESS, Head Coach of The Dallas Stars.

With another season in the books, Head Coach of the Dallas Stars, RICK BOWNESS joins the podcast to talk about his time in the NHL as a player, assistant and head coach, his coaching style and his experience coaching hockey during the pandemic.

EP 144 - FRIDAY ROUNDTABLE W/ KEVIN DUPONT & MIKE ZEISBERGER: NHL Playoff Preview.

KEVIN PAUL DUPONT of the Boston Globe and MIKE ZEISBERGER from NHL.com join the podcast today to preview the 2021 NHL Playoffs.

On todays roundtable, the gentlemen cover the entirety of the NHL playoff matchups as the season comes to an end.

The four cover it all, from post season favourites to potential playoff surprises, we go through each first round matchup as the group gives their opinion on the must watch games across the league and who we should keep an eye on in the race for the Stanley Cup

EP 143 - The NHL's Coaching Carousel : Recent Departures & Likely Landing Spots.

No guest on today's episode, leaving Bob and John to chat amongst themselves about the NHL and their coaching carousel. 

The two discuss the recent departures around the league and speculate as to where John Tortorella, Rick Tocchet and David Quinn could go next - Is a Torts/Rangers reunion likely?

Bob and John also wonder what's taking the Carolina Hurricanes so long to re-sign Rod Brind'Amour - with Seattle looking for their first coach in franchise history, John thinks their target could be Rod the Bod.

Also on the show, we talk about how Bruce Boudreau could make a great fit in Arizona, what coach is next on the chopping block and whether it is even fair to judge a coaches performance during the pandemic season.

 

 

 

 

EP 142 - BOB ELLIOTT & DAVE HODGE talk Major League Baseball & the Toronto Blue Jays.

Former baseball columnist for the Toronto Sun, BOB ELLIOTT and Canadian broadcast great, DAVE HODGE join Bob and John to talk Major League Baseball, and the Toronto Blue Jays.

The gentleman begin the show discussing the problem both the NHL and MLB are going to face with their Canadian teams come playoff time.

Will the Leafs and Blue Jays have to play in Buffalo when the time comes? or is hosting games in Toronto a realistic option - the four look into it.

The gentleman also talk about the uptick in soft tissue injuries around the league to start the season, the injury problems in Toronto and the importance of having patience with young pitchers.

To end the show, the four talk about Vladdy G's recent performance, Cavan Biggio and look for the Blue Jays answer to their 3rd base problems. 

 

 

EP 141 - DOUG SMITH on the Toronto Raptors.

DOUG SMITH, from the Toronto Star, joins the podcast today to talk about the Toronto Raptors one day after they have officially been eliminated from playoff contention. 

The three discuss whether or not the Raptors tanked on purpose to close out the season, and if Toronto should make a competitive offer to keep Kyle Lowry this offseason.

Bob, John and Doug also debate on who they think the greatest Raptors of all time is,  comparing the impact Vince Carter had on the game in Toronto opposed to Kyle  Lowry.

To end the show, the three address the teams needs this offseason and who Doug thinks will make the biggest leap in development for next season

EP 140 - SHI DAVIDI on the Toronto Blue Jays.

Sportsnet baseball columnist, SHI DAVIDI, joins the podcast to talk about what's been going on with the Toronto Blue Jays.

The three start the show by addressing Nate Pearson's shaky season debut - Should we be concerned?

The conversations moves from Pearson to Alek Manoah, and whether or not he's ready for the jump to big leagues as the Jays bullpen situation gets more and more dire.

Pitching problems aside - Bob, John and Shi discuss the best options for George Springer and agree that maybe keeping him as a DH for the rest of the season would be best for his health and the team.

To end the show, we discuss they Blue Jays 3rd base problems, Randal Grichuck and what kind of potential Cavan Biggio brings to the table.

EP 139 - FRIDAY ROUNDTABLE W/ JIM HUGHSON & CHRIS CUTHBERT.

Two Canadian broadcasting legends, CHRIS CUTHBERT and JIM HUGHSON join the podcast for a rare "Play-By-Play" edition of our friday roundtable talk.

 

To start the show, Bob finds out who inspired the two game callers to pursue their careers. The gentlemen  also discuss the nuances of calling a game and whether or not they are conscious of their respective "styles" in the booth.

 

We find out what the two prefer when it comes to TV or radio and  given the option, if they could call one sport for the rest of their career, which would it be, and why is it hockey?

 

To wrap up, Jim, Chris, Bob and John wonder about the future of sports broadcasting as the pandemic has shown that you can do just as good of a job remotely as you can at the game.

EP 138 - HAYLEY WICKENHEISER on becoming a doctor, the Tokyo Olympics and the "This is Our Shot" campaign.

6 time Olympian, 4 time Gold Medalist, member of the Hockey Hall of Fame,  and one of the greatest hockey players of all time - Just days away from becoming an official Doctor, HAYLEY WICKENHEISER joins the podcast to have a conversation with Bob and John.

To begin the show, we learn about "This is Our Shot", a campaign to battle vaccine hesitancy and encourage Canadians to get inoculated, something Hayley has spearheaded from the start.

Hayley shares her first hand experiences battling COVID-19, as she spreads awareness across Canada about the severity of the pandemic, and the importance of vaccination.

The three also discuss Hayleys role on the International Olympic Committee, what it will take for Canada to attend the summer Olympics in Tokyo and her experience speaking up against the idea of Japan hosting the games. 

Finally, as a former member of the team, we get her opinion on the cancellation of this summers World Championships and the potential for a tournament in Calgary in August.

 

EP 137 - Major League Baseball with JON PAUL MOROSI

MLB broadcaster, JON MOROSI, is back on the podcast for some baseball talk with Bob and John.

As he is known to do from time to time, Bob and Jon ask Morosi to put on his "hockey hat" to start the podcast as they look for his opinion on NHL and how they've been dealing with the recent Tom Wilson issue.

Moving the discussion over to baseball, Jon compares the difference between player punishment and accountability in the NHL and MLB and why Major League Baseball has proven to be more successful in that department.

The gentleman also chat about the inconsistencies in todays strike zone. As hitters continue to be at a disadvantage, is an automated strike zone the only answer?

To wrap up the show, the three address Roberto Alomar and how not only did the Blue Jays handle the situation properly but so did Major League Baseball. Now why is he still in the HOF?

EP 136 - WAYNE GRETZKY on the NHL and remembering his late father, Walter.

Our guest today needs no introduction, as most of the world already knows him as "The Great One".... WAYNE GRETZKY stops by to talk some hockey with Bob and John.

To start the podcast the gentlemen pay their respects to Wayne's late father, and one of the hockey worlds most recognizable hockey dads - Walter Gretzky. 

Wayne looks back on some of his fondest memories with his father, how just about all of Southern Ontario has seen his basement and what he said to him on the drive over to his last game as an NHL'er.

Wayne gives his perspective of the game and how it has changed during the pandemic, wishing he could have played in todays era of skill and speed.

The Great One also tells us what advice he gave to a current Oilers super star.

EP 135 - MATT DEVLIN on the Toronto Raptors, the future of Kyle Lowry and the NBA Playoffs.

Fresh off of the Toronto Raptors win over the Los Angeles Lakers, Raptors play-by-play announcer, MATT DEVLIN, joins the podcast to talk basketball.

The gentleman talk about the Lakers and how Matt seems to think they look a little disjointed. 

That leads them to discuss the loaded Western Conference... if not the Lakers who else has a shot to win the Larry O'Brien Trophy?

The three also talk about the top teams in the Eastern Conference before diving into the issues surrounding Toronto Raptors, as they could potentially miss the play-offs for the first time in 8 seasons. 

Does Kyle Lowry stay? How close are the Raptors to being a top 3 team in the East again? 

Matt, Bob and John talk all about it on todays show.

 

EP 134 - The North Division, NHL playoffs, goaltending and The Toronto Maple Leafs.

It's not too often listeners get Bob McCown and John Shannon all to themselves... today is that day.

In a rare guest-less episode, Bob and John talk some hockey but more specifically, The Toronto Maple Leafs. 

The gents talk about their goalie situation and debate who they should start come playoff time : A hot Jack Campbell or a healthy Frederik Andersen? 

Bob wonders if Andersen could ever be good in the playoffs, and asks whether or not Toronto should even keep the Danish net minder once his contract is up.

We end the show with raised voices and red faces as both John and Bob get into a spirited debate over some of the best Goalies to ever play - Should Grant Fuhr be in the Hall of Fame? Bob sure doesn't think so.