James Soften

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Clock out, crank up. Here we got the park one and we're gonna show. The drive starts now on WSJS. Here we go. It is a Wednesday drive right here on WSJS, News Talk Sports for the Triad.

I'm Will Dalton. Rocking with you. Cruising with you.

However, you want to die. We're just hanging out. We're just talking sports. That's it. Might even talk things that aren't sports.

Who knows what can happen around here? You just never know. You really don't. But glad to have you in, however, you're watching, however, you're listening. Got plenty of options for that.

The YouTube channel, the XStream, and of course, WSJS.com. You can live stream the audio there. We have. A slam packed show today.

so much that my head is spinning. can hardly think. There's a lot happening. A lot happened last night. There's a lot happening right now.

It's going to be happening, and there's a lot of people we have.

Some great guests today.

Some great guests that I'll tell you about here in just a minute, but we got to talk about. The cat's out of the bag. The cat's out of the bag you got. Actually, the cat's been out of the bag. When I'm talking about the Cleveland Cavaliers.

And For a little while, for the majority of that game last night in MSG. The Cavs actually looked like they were about to go in there and steal game one from the Knicks. They were up 22. Late. Fourth quarter.

And then Cleveland showed up. The actual Cleveland. Cleveland Net Literally took turns blowing games against Detroit. That series literally came down to who wanted to blow the game more. Kaz would do it on a given night.

On their home floor, then Detroit would do it on their home floor. They just literally took turns until finally Cleveland came out on the right side of it. And I'm somebody that had Cleveland going to the NBA Finals, you guys, by the way. Full transparent. I'll own it.

I do, but I didn't feel good about that pick going into this series. And this is why. Last night is why? They blew a 22 point lead. to the Knicks last night.

Jalen Brunson lost his mind. was just Cooking. James Harden.

Now it did end up going to overtime. But Brunson with an impressive 38 points. Ugh.

So what do I say? When somebody shows you who they are, You should believe him. That's the old anecdote that we say, and it is true. Like, you might give somebody one pass. On something, like if they screw you over, if they lie to you or cheat on you, for it's a you might give them one pass.

But if they do it again, if they do it a second time, They're showing you who they are. Believe them. And the Calves, time and time again. In these playoffs, have done this sort of thing. And they did 22-point, like it doesn't get more blatant than that, a 22-point collapse.

They just started playing prevent. Prevent defense, to use a football term. That's literally what they did. They started to play. not to lose as opposed to win.

And the Knicks took advantage of that. Kenny Atkinson. Didn't really utilize his timeouts the way he should late.

So The Nick's took advantage of Cleveland. In that respect. Playing the pre-vent defense. And the other takeaway that I had really from this game We saw like why these conference championships, these conference finals, they're not the same. We got a clap like I believe we are going to have a classic series.

Between the Thunder and the Spurs, You saw evidence of that in game one. where even on A night where the Spurs didn't have De'Aaron Fox. And SGA didn't really have his best stuff, probably a lot because of what the Spurs were doing. Defensively, Chet couldn't do anything to stop Wimby. Not sure he's going to be able to.

But despite those things, the Thunder battled back. They forced it to double OT, but the Spurs end up pulling it out.

Meanwhile, you. You have the Cavs up 22 late and they blow it. And it's like... The Knicks didn't go out. The Knicks did not take that from them.

The Cavs just gifted it to them. They did.

So These conference finals, they are not the same at all. I feel like The Thunder or the Spurs would handle their business against either of these teams that we saw last night. But the Knicks They get it done. NOT On the back of Jalen Brunson dropping thirty-eight points. Yeah, I pulled the scores.

With eight nineteen left in the game, the Cavs scored just twelve points the rest of the way from eight nineteen to the end of overtime to the Knicks forty four points. They got out scored forty four to twelve. In thirteen minutes? I think that's right, 13 minutes. Just inexcusable.

It really is, and it... You saw James Harden. You saw him kind of start to sputter. He's not going to be a defensive option. He's not going to be that.

And it just Everything collapsed. It just did.

So The Knicks? They reclaim game one after the Cavs were about to get it. Um but that was Less about impressive Nicks. And don't get me wrong, Jalen Brunson was cooking. We know what he's going to bring to the table.

We know what he's capable of. That was that was less about the Knicks. Taking it. That was about Cleveland giving it up. That's what re that really came down to.

That voice you heard just then, Morgan Corson, he's the executive producer of this show. We'll do it live.

Okay. We'll do it live.

Are we going to do it live? Is that what we're going to do? Oh boy. Huh. You know, I kind of wanted to talk about Aaron Rodgers.

Kind of wanted to talk about the Steelers, but it. Just depends. Yeah, ACC tournament action in baseball happening right now. As we speak, Stanford is playing Miami. Miami is leading that 11-2 in the bottom of the eighth inning.

The game, the morning game today, Duke, another morning game. This one not as dramatic. Virginia wins six to four. Your mid-afternoon slate is going to be Notre Dame, Virginia Tech at 5 p.m. And to wrap up the evening, Hometown Wake Forest here plays Pittsburgh.

Yeah, I was watching that Miami game. Miami was uh handling their business over there. in the Queen City. Thank you so much. Thank you.

Thank you for that. Can we talk some football now? Can we talk some shield? Is that okay with everybody? Yeah.

Aaron Rodgers is going to be calling it a career after this year. That's what he's gonna do.

So He met with the media at training camp. earlier today and uh He uh He was asked if this was going to be it for him. He's back on a one-year deal with the Steelers, worth $22 million. And here's what A-Rod had to say. Aaron, do you believe that this could be your last year?

Do you have to think of that right now? Yes. This is it, yeah. There you go. He didn't mince words at all on that.

So, Aaron Rodgers. Gonna be done after this year. A lot of people suspe you know, thought This was going to be one last ride. Last year. But he never really confirmed that.

He kind of hinted at, like, we'll see. You know, I think it's actually exactly how he answered it. Might have been on Pat McAfee that he said that, but he never really gave a concrete, I'm going to be done after this year. That's concrete right there. Aaron Rodgers.

For the for whatever you want to say about him For whatever you want to say about the lack of Super Bowl rings for a quarterback as talented as he is. He's definitely going to go down as one of the most talented quarterbacks of all time. One of them. Yeah, I mean, I'll step up to the plate here and say I'm not a huge Aaron Rodgers fan. Mainly that's because my brother's a Packers fan and sibling rivalry.

But I will admire what he's done, and I will say when he played in the NFC, there were some really good teams that came through the NFC while he was there. But I don't think that takes away from the MVPs. that he won 'cause that shows just how good of a player he was. Four-time MVP. The contract is worth up to $25 million.

This one right here. Reuniting with Mike McCarthy. After You know, they did win a Super Bowl together in Green Bay all those years ago. Don't know, I mean. This is the thing about the Steelers that we've been talking about.

They have a good team.

So any anything I say here or anything anybody else says about, you know, why are the Steelers doing this? They're gonna be good. But they're not I don't know that they're going to be good enough. And when I say good enough, I mean to win a Super Bowl because that's really where you need that. That's where you need to be, either trending towards winning a Super Bowl or bottoming out and starting fresh.

And st and you know Getting the future started.

Now, at least now you know more concretely. This is going to be it for Aaron Rodgers.

So, there's not going to be a third act here. There's not going to be a third part to the story with him in Pittsburgh. This is it.

So, I will be fast, even though we're just at training camp ahead of this season. I am going to be fascinated to see. What the Steelers then do. After he's gone officially, because you got Drew Aller you just drafted, you got Will Howard that you drafted last year. Not sure what the future holds for Mason Rudolph, but he ain't the future.

So I I wonder what they're Are the Steelers going to continue to Steeler after Aaron Rodgers is officially retired and try to bring in. you know, somebody else just to keep things steady. And get you to an 8, 9, 10 win season, which you have had. You just look back at it. The Steelers, last three seasons have been ten win seasons.

Also lost in the wild card game the last three seasons, too. I Steeler fans, do you like that? Do you like the fact do you like being just good enough to get into the playoffs, but no further? They haven't won a playoff game since twenty fifteen. Or 26 team, excuse me.

The team behind them. We know very well around here. That's the Carolina Panthers. They haven't won a playoff game since 2015. But that's just goes to show how long it's been.

for the Steelers, 'cause you think Steelers are like, man, they're, you know all-time legendary franchise and they are. which is why the standards should be different. Other than just, hey, we got to the playoffs. We had a nice regular season. Mike Tomlin, you know, never had a losing record.

Like, no, we need more than that. They haven't won a playoff game since 26. Team.

So They lost in the conference finals that year.

So We'll see what the Steelers do. They do have a talented roster, but it's just the AFC is so good. They mu I don't know if they get past a wild card again this year or Past a divisional, maybe. I don't know. You got DK Metcalf, you got Rico Dowdle coming out of the backfield, you got some good players.

But here was Aaron Rodgers on his decision to come back and run it back one more time. Yeah, there was some doubt for sure, but I had good conversations with Mike. Going back to when he was hired and Yeah, it's nice to come back. I mean, it felt different than last year 'cause I knew some of the guys and Some of the people that work here and stuff, so it felt good coming in. Aaron Rodgers, this is his last ride, gonna retire.

after this year with the Steelers. From the stand to the studio. It's showtime, put it on the line. Buckle up for your fire. This is The Drive, the triad's longest-running live sports talk show.

Back on the drive, right here on WSJS, where we are joined. by Ross Chastain, the winner of last year's Coke 600 Ross, how are you? I'm good. I cannot believe it's already almost been a year since. They took 600 last year.

Well, let me let me ask you about that because You know, winning it last year, here we are again. You just mentioned a year later. What type of emotions are you already starting to feel? What type of memories are coming back up? And what do you think you're going to feel when the green hits on Sunday?

Yeah, I think going into the racetrack for the weekend will be impactful. I've been back several times throughout the calendar year since last. Memorial Day Sunday, but Knowing that we're coming back for another chance, I've been all three races: Friday night's truck race, Saturday's a rally race, and the cup race on Sunday. We'll be in the track way before the cup cars are ready, but. Yeah, the first time on the Oval since the win, having run the rule also Definitely looking forward to To get back on track, driving in turn one, driving in turn three again, race cars.

Now you mentioned in Ross Chastain with us here on WSJS. Uh you you mentioned there that you're going to be involved in all three races. This weekend. And that actually brings me to what I wanted to ask you about next, which is. Just the grind that that entails, both physically and mentally, by the way.

We had John Hunter Nemachek on the show a couple of weeks back, and we were talking about. Stephen A. Smith's comments a while back about how NASCAR drivers are not athletes, which I think is absolutely ridiculous. And I can't think of a better example of how that is not true than racing three different races in a weekend. Just describe for us the physical, the mental toll that that takes on your body in a full weekend.

I do believe it's a higher percentage mental than physical if The seat is right. And the race car isn't. Doing something out of the ordinary, the race cars. In an okay window of handling, and your seat is built correctly for your body. Uh, I definitely spent and had races, even at Charlotte, where I was in someone else's seat.

And that was not comfortable. But it just makes a muscle fatigue because you're having to hold yourself in the seat.

So my seats now at Track House and at JRM and at Nice are they're all three the same. They're identical. I cannot tell a difference and they fit great. Um Yeah. I'm not with the Mob of the NASCAR group that says Stephen is wrong.

I think he is very intentional in how he says that. I'm not as athletic as any player on any other Professional sports team at the top level.

So, I mean, there's not a single NFL player that is I'm less athletic than all of them. I see what he's saying because you don't have to be able to run, jump, kick, throw, catch anything to be an ASCAR driver. You have to be able to sit in a car and drive the car.

So we are specialized in all my workouts. Clearly, I'm not lifting the heavyweights. I'm specializing in what I think makes me the best in the race car.

So, um, Yeah, I will be more mentally tired after the weekend than physically, just speaking honestly.

Now, you have one of the more interesting celebrations after you win races that I've seen where you smash the watermelon, you have watermelon designs on your cars. Fill us in on where that comes from. I was born into that. Eighth generation watermelon farmer. Talking to you today, I'm not currently farming, chasing race cars.

So, son of a farmer, brother of a farmer, the family has. the watermelon farm and the business under Better control than if I was around to be there day to day.

So yeah, they're in a great spot. We work with a lot of family farms across this country and sell watermelons year round.

So Melon One is our brand. That's the label you'll see in the grocery stores. And we don't sell to every grocery store every day, but we are we do have year-round supply to a lot of chain stores.

So race fans across the country can find our watermelons sometimes.

Now, how did you get involved in racing for the first time? Because I mean, like you just said, you were born, you know, into a family of watermelon farmers. How did you get into racing and decide, you know, that's the career path I want to pursue? That was a hobby. My dad did a little hobby racing in the late 80s, early 90s.

I was born at the end of 92 and Dad had gotten out of it when my little brother Chad was born. Two kids at home growing the business. My mom was like, okay, time to sell your race cars and grow up. to my dad and then When I was 12 in 2005, he I think his way to get back into racing was to let me drive. And so mom was in full support then if I got to do it.

And we borrowed a race truck, started driving at the local short track. end up buying one the next year and just fell in love with it it brought our family closer together And then I was going to fast-forward through all the hobby racing. And in 2011, we decided to do one truck race out at IRP in Indianapolis. It was supposed to be a one-time thing and just that was it and and we never looked back. Ross Chastain with us here on WSJS, the winner of last year's Coke 600.

And we're just ahead of this year's Coke 600. You can get your tickets at charlottemotorspeedway.com. I wanted to ask you about. You know, because I was reading up on some of your journey and you really were a grinder coming up. And How did things like the way you race or your mentality of racing?

Did that change for you whenever you got signed by Track House? No, um No, I feel like I still grind through it. I grind through the on-track and the off-track.

So, when we started in Gen 7, which is when Track House hired me. Man, we we had it figured out. We had our cars fast compared to everybody else. Looking back, the whole field was so slow with Gen 7. We didn't know what was happening with these cars.

And as we've evolved over several years, we still have the same chassis, same bodies. They're making small tweaks. NASCAR is as the league, but Really, the cars are very similar to the Very first. Bushlike clash at the Coliseum out there in Los Angeles.

So definitely. Um you know, we we've not kept up with the with the times of speed, but um I'm working hard to get back there now. One of the things that I really like about the Coke 600 is they do a great job all weekend, you know, celebrating Memorial Day, honoring the fallen troops. And my producer, Morgan, he, you know, you're in racing country here in the triad in North Carolina, but my producer is actually the racing nut here of the two. And he actually had an interesting question about the Memorial Day stuff he wanted to ask you.

Yeah, Ross, NASCAR does a lot of great things for Memorial Day, such as encouraging patriotic pain schemes. What are some other things that the NASCAR, the teams, and the drivers do to celebrate Memorial Day? Bringing the families to the racetrack.

So for us, we were Jockey has been our sponsor with Track House. And last year we had the McRae family out the track alley and her sister, her mom. Um of their of Allie's father, who was on the car last year. And now with Ashlyn, daughter of the McCain name that we're going to have on the car, it's just seeing the families behind the name, meeting people, is special.

So that's for me, that's what brings it full circle. Seeing them letting for the McRae's last year, it was their first NASCAR race ever. And then we crashed and they showed up Sunday and they didn't know what to think. They were so excited, although we were last, starting in the back. They were super excited, and then we ended up winning at the end.

And I just remember in Victory Lane telling them, This is not normal.

So do not. Think this is normal, don't. Like, don't take this for granted. Like, this is very special. And they understood that.

So, as we go through the rest of this week, Ashlyn's going to come be with us at the racetrack.

So I hope to have the same experience, maybe minus the crash on Saturday. Ross Chastain. We appreciate you doing this. Go get you a win this weekend, and we'll be watching very closely. We appreciate the time very much.

Yeah boys, thanks.

Alright, I think all the levels are set. Showtime.

Now, welcome to the drive, setting the sports agenda before dinner. Back at it on the drive, right here on WSCS, where. We gotta check in on our guy Will Wade. I didn't expect to talk this much about him after he left for NC State. We're a local program.

You know, we want to talk about what Justin Gainey's doing over with the pack. Paul McNeil being back. Hey, that run. Um But Will Wade has just made it a spectacle at every step of the way, whether it's how he left. NC State spinning in the eye of Wolfpack Nation.

Whether it's the same pretty much remix of an introductory press conference that he had when he got to Baton Rouge, then whether it's a couple of weeks ago, whether he. Essentially said, Oh, I had such a tough time sleeping the night before I left. As if you didn't know it was coming for months. For months So anyway. He did say Hmm.

Hey, I He did say when he was talking about The transfer portal and why LSU had been very quiet on that front. He says there weren't a lot of good players in the portal. That's what he said about it. But he said, Hey, there's some guys you don't know about yet. That'll be common.

We're starting to learn about it. And it's got Will Wade getting ripped to shreds right now by the college basketball world, what he's doing, the roster that he is assembling. in Baton Rouge. I mean, just look at this. This roster features A guy that was drafted in 2020.

He's 25 years old. He was drafted in the just to give you context here. He was drafted in the same draft that featured LaMello Ball. Anthony Edwards, James Wiseman, That's how long ago it was since this guy was trapped in. And he's played Relish U college basketball.

And then Yesterday, we learned he's taking RJ Louise, got a commitment from him, who was the Big East Player of the Year in 2024, was a G Leaguer last year. And according to John Rostein, there's literally a 2% chance he's even going to play. That's probably a good chance for all a solid portion of these guys. They may not even suit up. But Will Wade has money.

He's trying to throw it around. And if there's one thing we know about him, he is going to get. He's going to try and bend some rules or try to. Be non-traditional with following the rules. And The the latest guy we learned about.

was drafted last year by the Cleveland Cavaliers. He was picked number 58 or something like that. Second round. It's just insane. I can't even pronounce the guy's name.

Can't do it. I'll try. Sela Nyang Nailed it. Drafted in the second round by the Cavs last year. He's going to college.

That's what this roster features.

So let's. This led. To Jeff Goodman of the Field of '68, who actually has a really good relationship with Will Wade. Just going on a rant. Yesterday With Rob Doster.

Let's get to some of the highlights of it. Here's. The first from Jeff Goodman. Will Wade. I wish you didn't.

Come back to college basketball. I honestly, I mean that. I like Will. I've known Will since he was an assistant at Harvard back in 2007, 2008. But man, you suck for college basketball right now.

Seriously, you suck for college basketball. Like you're making it into a mockery, and look in the mirror and understand it's not just about you. This is about more than just you. This is about the sport of college basketball. Have some pride.

Have some dignity.

So that would be a start. I don't think pride and dignity are two words that should belong in the same sentence with Will Wade. Again, NC State fans know that all too well. Here was more from Jeff Goodman. I know People are trying to push the rules.

I get it. Scott Drew did it last year. With James Nagi. Nate Oates did it last year, obviously, with Charles Bediaco. But this is ridiculous.

This is absolutely ridiculous. First of all, you got a second chance here after being run out of the sport. You were great at McNee State. And then, you know what? Another high major gave you an opportunity at NC State.

And what did you do? You did this after one year. You did this after one year at NC State, and you said, I'm gone. I'm going back to LSU. And now it's the same all over again.

Obviously, the rules have changed. We know that. But come on, man. Again, have some pride. Like Have some dignity in your profession.

In your profession, have some dignity. Jeff Goodman was getting a little fired up there at the end. Yeah. And he did do this to NC State, and what you didn't see there. Uh Jeff Goodman was giving the bird to the camera, saying that's what Will Wade did to NC State, because he did.

And you might be asking, you know, you might be an LSU fan, or you might just be somebody that's like, well, what exactly did he do wrong? He's essentially trying to bring in ineligible players. And get them to be eligible by bringing in lawyers, or he's got players that could be in the gray area, and we don't know. Like, it's just slimy all the way around. That's what he's doing here.

And that's the other part, which is a college basketball issue, is you don't even know what the rules are half the time because nobody really dictates that. Um Lastly, It's not just Jeff Goodman who's taking issue with this. It's other coaches, apparently. Here is Jeff Goodman talking about just a few, didn't mention names, but just a few of the texts from coaches around the sport that he's getting. I'm just gonna rattle off some of them.

Like four different high-major head coaches, all top 20 guys. Not gonna say who they are, but the first one was: I tweeted earlier: you're being an idiot just for the sake of being an idiot. What you're doing is fing it up for everyone else. It's a blatant. You and some really good coaches are going to leave the game because of you.

This is stupid. It's not fun. It's a blatant. It's really disheartening. That's one of them.

Uh another one just said this is this is so f up. Who would do that? He said, Who else would have done that? This you don't have to do this. He said, Nobody else.

Will Wade's the only coach in America who's going to do this and go all in like this. Another one? He just continues to push the envelope. He doesn't care about anything. I don't know anyone who speaks to him or even says hello to him.

Imagine being the AD who has to deal with Will Wade, Lane Kiffen, and Kim Mulkey. Imagine that. Boy, that's a list, isn't it?

So again, it's not just Jeff Goodman. It's not just NC State fans or anybody else who Does it like Will Wade or L This is his contemporaries, college coaches that are like, what are you doing?

Now What would be hilarious if he goes all this trouble and they stink? It's like, yeah, karma. That's It ain't just a cat. It means something else.

So, I guess I'm a little confused on the rules. I guess everybody is. Everybody is. But it was my understanding that. you didn't get players once they entered the draft.

Isn't that kind of the thing that you have a cutoff date once you end up the draft that you can't go back? Isn't that what we were talking about with Vesar? Yes. So, why is it a gray area? There's something gray in it.

It's light gray, but. Or there are players that I think there might be something in there where players that entered the draft and didn't get drafted, and then maybe they signed as an undrafted free agent. There's some type of gray. Again, the fact that we're having this conversation is literally the point. It's like he.

Yeah. He, as a coach, thought, you know what I could do? Let me go get this guy that was in the Lamello ball draft. And Edwards, let's see what he's up to. It's like, you don't need to do all that.

I mean, even Todd Golden took exception to this. Todd Golden had comments about it. Earlier. Said it's not what college athletics is about. Hey, there's a virus on my computer.

It's Will Wade! He heard me! I My computer's tapped! All right, I'm done. Thanks to your support, the nonprofits VetTix and FirstTix have given away tens of millions of tickets and counting to America's heroes.

Got extra tickets to concerts, games, or special events, or want to see if you qualify? Go to VetTix.org and FirstTicks.org today. Your attention, please. You're on the drive, built for fans who never changed the station. Back at it on the drive, right here on WSJS, and this is pretty cool.

So, we are joined now. By a guy that had a nice long MLS career, was a member of the US national team back in the day, and is now. The midfielder for the CONCAFA Soccer Club over in the TST that's going to be coming back to carry. It is Brett Shea. How are you doing, Brett?

I'm doing good. How about yourself? I cannot complain. I'm pretty excited about this.

So, this is something that you've been involved in every year since 2023. And I know you guys made it to the semifinals last year. And for those that don't know, this is Pat McAfee's team that you are a part of. And I've seen how intense the soccer can get out there. But for those that have not seen it, that might be going for the first time coming up here soon, what is different about the competition level or the style of play even compared to traditional MLS?

I mean, I guess at the end of six days, you get a million bucks if you win.

So there's a little competition there. And I think for a lot of us, me, myself, and I know Jeff Cameron, we. It's like we relive the glory days. You know, we get excited and you know, you have that adrenaline pumping.

So you just, the aggression just comes out, you know, but it's fun. It's all good. And. Um it's it's our one time a year that we get to have competitive games and and get that juices flowing again. It is true.

So it's three different divisions. There's men's, there's women's, and there's mixed, and you guys are all playing for a million bucks. And this has been considered, this has been called the Coachella of Soccer even. That's what they call it on the website.

So that's a pretty cool deal. When you retired, though, from the traditional pro game, did you think you'd ever have this kind of outlet to get this type of competitive soccer itch again? And, you know, if so, how has that you've been able to satisfy that in the TST? No, I never even heard of it until kind of right before it happened the first year I went after I retired. But no, it's not only the competitive and all that, the competition that's exciting.

It's going there and seeing players you played against years and years ago or played with years and years ago. I had kids I'd seen, I'd played club with. I haven't seen them forever.

So it's kind of like a little reunion, you know, like a. I don't know. It's just the whole thing. Every time I've been each week, it's been a blast. Not only on the field, but off the field.

I mean, my whole entire family comes, so they enjoy it. It's exciting. The way TST set up the games, you have the. the golden uh The goal and goal at the end, you know, it's like the walk-off home run, if you will.

So it makes every game exciting.

Now you do have a mix of You know, celebrities out there. We mentioned Pat McAfee. You know, we've seen Chad Ocho Cinco out there, you know, a mix of former pro guys. What has surprised you the most in that combination of different types of players? What has maybe surprised you the most about the level of play that you see?

I don't know. Last year we played against JJ Watt. Like seeing that guy in the field was, I didn't really want to get stepped on by him. I thought I was a big guy. He's a tank and what a nice guy and actually could move pretty well.

So I was very surprised. But you know, Pat played soccer when he was younger. He's actually surprisingly good when he gets out there. And, you know, Ocho Cinco has always been a big soccer fan.

So it's great to see him and what he does for the game itself just by always advocating for it, always pushing it.

So it's great to see him and others like him out there. Who's some of the biggest trash talkers out there when you get out on the Yeah. I think some of the guys on my team are the biggest trash talkers. Drew Ruggles and Stefan. Mitovich is, they are probably some of the best trash talkers I've ever heard, and I'm glad I'm on their team.

Love that. We've got Brecht Shea with us here on WSJS, the TST 7v7 World Championship. Come back to Carry May twenty seventh through June first.

So you have the TST that you get to scratch the soccer itch. What are some of the things you're doing now that you're retired? What type of things are you involved in? On the day today, me and a teammate of mine on this team, Jeff Cameron, are building a Training facility for soccer, all things soccer, whether it's on the field, off the field, nutrition, video. But we've also picked up Padel.

So that's like the tennis mixed with racquetball and squash, all that is the easiest way to explain it. But it's been a lot of fun. But it's not pickleball. It's not pickleball, though, right? No, it's like a tennis court with.

Racquetball balls on the NIO. Yeah, yeah. Points are longer. It's quicker. You know, you run more of the pickleball.

It's actually a lot of fun.

So that's, I guess, the other side where we get a little bit of. the itch out but um we really enjoy it and and the more we do it you know the Where we want to do it to get better, you know, to play those games and inter-tournaments.

So it's kind of fun. Last thing for you here: what's the best Pat McAfee story you've got? Because I know that dude's a character, and you know, this is a sports radio show, so a lot of sports. You know, fans that consume his show. What's maybe the best that you can share on air?

What's maybe the best at the McAfee store that you've got for us? On air, I will start by saying the way he is. When you see him, that's... That's just him. That's not a personality, a persona or anything.

That's literally him. And He he's really good at playing I would say, like, clueless or dumb, if you will, but he's very smart, like, a very smart guy. And then, like, he picks up on things. Like, I was very impressed just hanging out with him and being around him. I'll give you an example.

We went to First Watch one time, and the whole team, you know, he just, and nobody, he was like, no menus. Can the chef just make a plate of eggs, plate of bacon, a plate of pancakes? We'll do buffet style. And By the time that wreck was done, he knew the chef's name. He knew all the waitresses' name.

And then, to end the trip, six days later, we went back and he. Remembered all the chefs' names, all the waitresses' names, and it was just really, I mean, just little things like that. You know, these people, you know, he saw for 30 minutes and he remembered their names after all the other people he'd met throughout the week and doing his show and all that, like all this stuff going on. And he still had the time to remember these people's names. And, you know, he's just a very generous.

and pretty funny guy.

So it's it's it's entertaining to be around him at all times. The TST, the soccer tournament, 7v7 World Championship out at Cary. And we want to get you out there.

So call us right now. We've got a couple of pairs of tickets at 336-777-1600 so you can get out there and see Brech Shea on the pitch. Brett, good luck to you this year. Hope you get past the semis and get it done, get the dub, get the chip, and we appreciate the time. All right.

Thank you for having me and I hope to see you out there. There he goes, Breck Shay. Yeah, maybe I will get out there. I love Wake Med Soccer Park. Like I remember I did um I did some PA announcing for the College Cup back in, I want to say 2021.

Still, COVID times, and that was back as a young broadcaster where, like, Like I had been an intern For David Glenn, who joined us yesterday now of the NC Sports Network, but back when he had his. you know, statewide syndicated show in Raleigh. I interned for him for like 10 years. And then COVID shut everything down. Like, right as I was about to have my first j or try to find my first job in sports broadcasting.

And I remember I just had to. Piece some things together.

So I did some play-by-play broadcasting for my alma mater, William Peace, and Raleigh. Because that's where I was at at the time. But I also did the College Cup, some PA announcing out there at Wake Med and Cary. And it is just a gorgeous facility. Obviously, the home of the Carolina Courage out that way.

Women's soccer.

So. I might have to get out to this event because I want to see what Pat McAfee's up to out there. I think Chad Ochocinko is going to be out there again. I know Chris Paul has been involved in this. this tournament in some way But That's the way it works.

Men's division, women's division, and they have a mixed division. And the winner, it's like 160 matches across the whole thing. Um And and then the winner gets a million bucks. I mean, how can you beat that?

So we got tickets for that. It looks like we just had somebody on the line: 336-777-1600. If you would like to go to that. May 30th. Yeah, we still have two pairs of tickets if two people want to call in and get some TST tournament championship tickets.

Get out there and see Pat McAfee. Kick it around a little bit. Your team, your take, let's get the show going your drive home. Back at In the Drive, right here on WSJS, where now we are joined by Joe Gilio of the Ovious and Jilio podcast. He's there in the studio looking sharp.

Jilio, how goes it? It goes well, W.D. I appreciate you taking some time for me today. Of course. There's nobody else I'd rather talk to right now because the Kanes.

About to be in action, the Eastern Conference Finals, Keynes, Canadiens tomorrow night. And So Montreal, they won all three meetings in the regular season. They did do that, outscoring the Kanes 15-8 technically, but. I'm somebody that believes that the Kanes have a more complete team despite that. I think they've been the best team in net in these playoffs with Freddie Anderson.

And, you know, I think they've just been steady in about every possible situation that's been thrown at them so far. What do you believe the X factor is in this series for Carolina?

Well, brace yourself for some real hashtag analysis because only I can deliver. I just happen to have the yellow pad with me. Montreal, so far in the playoffs, they have converted on 25% of their power play opportunities. They have 13 power play goals. The Hurricanes have only given up two.

Power play goals in forty opportunities, so there you go. Um No, I listen. Montreal has a skill level, particularly of their top line with Nick Suzuki and Cole Caulfield, that the Hurricanes have not seen in these playoffs. Straight up. The people who can deride the hurricanes.

For their path to the conference finals, there is validity to that. I believe Philadelphia was the worst team in the playoffs. I believe Ottawa, well Spunky. Um still swept. but not tippy-top skill.

Montreal has tippy-top skill. They have the guy in Cole Caulfield, second in the NHL with 51 goals this year, and at 100-point. Player in Nick Suzuki. Hurricanes have not had a 100-point player for reference. Since 2006.

Okay. So it just doesn't happen that often. Certainly not for the hurricanes, but it just doesn't happen that often in general.

So they have two guys, and then on the power play, and Lane Hudson, they're a little bit smaller defenseman. They are super skilled, WD.

So the question is. Can the hurricanes hold up defensively? And in that Against a team that has a skill level that they haven't faced yet. You've already answered the question about during the regular season, they could not. And it's a real clash in styles.

You have the hardworking depth. and kind of grind mentality of Rod Brandemore. The captain of the Hurricanes in 06 when they won the Stanley Cup. Against Marty St. Louis.

A little bit of a smaller guy, a munchkin, if you will. And Suzuki, Hudson, Caulfield, they're all a little bit smaller in stature. They've adopted that mentality of Marty St. Louis, a skilled, fast player. Catch me if you can, if you will.

And I think it makes for a fascinating contrast, and I do believe it'll be determined by the power play success. of Montreal. Joe Gilio with us here on WSJS of the Ovius and Gilio podcast. Um, Do you think this is going to be the series where either Aho, Svetch, or Seth Jarvis finally come alive offensively? Because they.

You know, Rod Brenda Moore said that he believes they've played well despite not scoring at a, so you laugh, because you're paying them to score at a high clip and they haven't done that yet. Do you think this is where one or multiple of those guys are going to come alive? No, they they have to in order to put their names on the Stanley Cup that Line with Aho has to come alive. And I was the one who asked Rod Brendan Moore about that. And it was, oh, no, no, no.

They've neutralized the other team. And it's like, and I've, and God bless our friend Adam Gold. I mean, he's great. He really is. I'm not being a jerk right now.

Remembering my FCC rules, but Tim Stetzler probably could have scored about eight different times. In game two alone for Ottawa and didn't.

So we're going to assign You know, this idea. That uh fishy's line, aho, fishy, sebastian, uh, sea bass, fishy. The idea that Fishy's line has been a net neutral because the opponent hasn't been scoring. Like Tim Stutzla and the Ottawa's top line skated circles around them. Whatever voodoo the Hurricanes and Freddie Anderson were performing allowed Tim Stetzla to not score in.

For the majority of that series, I think you scored one goal. But it was clear if you watched the game with your own eyes that that line had outplayed. Fishy's line. And what Logan Stankovin and Taylor Hall And Jackson Blake have done. They've become the line, as I like to say it.

Forget the numbers. They're the line right now, scoring at a clip. That's higher than any other team in the playoffs right now. And that's that's amazing. That's fantastic.

I've always said if Sebastianaho is your second best. center, you have a chance to win the Stanley Cup. And that's what's happening right now. But In order to put your name on the cup, you need that line to produce. And I do believe, because of the speed and size of the Suzuki line, I do believe it will be Ajo's responsibility and Jarvis.

and sweet to match up against them because I just Jordan Stahl is amazing. Please don't get me wrong. They will use him on face-offs as often as they can. But and normally he does match up with another team's top line. I just don't think at his age.

in his size. I don't think it's a great idea to use him against the Suzuki line. I want to ask you about Will Wade and what's going on at LSU right now. See, I'm of the belief that once Will Wade was gone, great. NC State fans don't worry about him anymore.

We don't have to talk about it anymore. But he continues to. Put his name in the news. And Now, like he's got Jeff Goodman of the field of 68 ripping him a new one yesterday. Todd Golden had some things to say.

And what it is, is this roster he's putting together at LSU that features. A dude that got drafted in 2020. That's the Anthony Edwards Lamella ball draft, for those not recalling that. That's how far back this goes. A guy in RJ Louise, who was.

Traded intervol in an NBA trade. It's insane, Jillio. And then, uh, Last night, I saw where there was a guy that they picked up that was drafted by the Cavs in last year's draft in the second round. What the hell is Will Wei doing?

Well, I don't blame Will Wade for trying to take advantage of the rules. Yeah. He also has a lot of money.

So he's throwing a lot of money at these players in order for them to eschew whatever. European or G League riches that await them.

So I don't blame him for either one of those things. The question is, and I asked this during the Final Four. I mean not to pat my not to sprain my elbow patting myself on the back here Go ahead. I asked this during the final four. If you're an Illinois fan, And you got three pros from Montenegro.

And another, who might as well in Strakovich, they called him the Balkan Five. The point guard got hurt. Are you really that excited? That your team of Montenegrin pros Carried you to the final four. I would not be.

But that I I got a lot of blowback from Illinois fans. Sure.

Well, no, you're just a hater. You only know anything about the triangle.

Well, let's expand it now. Let's just say this gambit works for Will Wade and you're an LSU fan. Are you I mean it This is like rooting for the pitcher, the 18-year-old pitcher in Little Leak. What are you doing? What an analogy.

Right? Like, what? Yeah, cool. Right? Like...

I don't get it. I don't get it. And I'm not trying to. Be wistful for a bygone era. I'm just merely pointing out.

If you're paying a 26-year-old professional to play for your college team, What joy or connection with the fan base is there to come from that.

So it's the responsibility of the NCAA. in order to Make sure this doesn't happen. I suspect they'll lose. They'll probably, if there's seven guys he's trying to get in, I bet you he gets four.

So we'll see how it all ends up working out for Will. But I'm with you. Like, I. I didn't plan on talking about Will much. But you're going to continue to make news.

And Jeff Goodman, by the way. Really is partially responsible for Jeff Goodman and Will Wade have a tremendous relationship. He's partially responsible for Will Wade getting the NC State job. I've told that story before on our podcast. But it's true.

Will Jeff helped will Get that job. And When he came up for the Duke Carolina game, he came over and the state played somebody that afternoon. They won the game. He stopped in. He was on the couch recording with Will, doing this whole thing.

And norm old me would have been upset. But I was like, no, that's the relationship that that Jeff and Will have.

So for him to take the blowtorch to him the way that he did. for Jeff to take the blue torch the weather and they did. And Jeff's absolutely right about it. You know, what part of this is college basketball? I don't know.

And if I'm an LSU fan, like if you were gonna sit here and say we're gonna win the national championship. With these guys, I'd be like.

Okay. Cool. Cool. Go team. Go Tigers.

Go Tigers. Joe Gillia with us here on WSJS. Couple of football items for you on the way out.

So ACC spring meetings last week, Amelia Island and It seems like Jim Phillips is very much in support of a 24-team play. Playoff expansion, the Big Tens in support of it. But this is the first time we've really heard Jim Phillips. talk about it and I just feel like this would really affect Saturdays in the fall. Like, I think we value the regular season of college football, maybe even a little bit more than we do in college basketball, just because of implications of like, if Alabama, if they lose to two of the wrong teams, it's like in there on the cut line.

If Notre Dame loses to two of the wrong teams, we see what happened to them.

So How do you think this would affect? The regular season. If this happened. Yeah, so the idea of losing your out. Ended with the four-team playoff.

So we got to start there. Again, speaking of being wistful of an era gone by.

Okay. Then you add it, you get to 12, and I'll say this for the 12 team field. The wins still mattered last year. That's why it was so important that Notre Dame did not get in over Miami. The wins still have to matter.

And I think that was upheld.

Now, if you go to 24, my problem with going to 24. I'm in favor of expanding to 24, but I'm also in favor of fixing the regular season, fixing the divisions, fixing the conferences, fixing the calendar, fixing the schedule. These are all things they should do simultaneously. You shouldn't advance to 24 as a money grab and then eventually get to fixing all of the other things that I mentioned. There's a fairly easy way to fix some of those other things.

They just don't want to do it. Much like the NCAA tournament in men's and women's basketball. I'm in favor of expanding it. but they're going to do it the wrong way. I think it's a good idea that's going to be enacted the wrong way.

I want to ask you one last thing on the way out because I saw. Bill Belichick's been making the rounds lately. Like he went on with Big Cat. He went on with the bar still guys there. And then I saw he was on Sean Hannity's podcast.

Wasn't ready for that. Oh, specialist. Yeah. Yeah. Like he's making the rounds here.

Do you think this is like a PR, you know, trying to repair that a little bit after a lot of tough PR with Jordan Hudson and Carolina not being good? Like, what do you think he's doing here? I would have enjoyed trying to get into the Profile Hall of Fame. I would have enjoyed. Listening to the conversation.

Between Jordan Hudson and Bill Belishak. when this idea was floated hey like First of all, hey, these guys like you, you've been on them before. They're great. It appealed to a little bit of a younger audience. And I could just hear him like, hey, babe.

You know what we really need to do. There. Yeah. The old Jason Sadak character, BEP. You know, we really need to do.

We really need to get old white guys back on my side. How do we do that? And I could just see Jordan be like, uh Bill, Coach, just so you know, they're already on your side. No, no, babe, babe. We definitely need like the 60s and 70-year-olds.

On my side.

Well, I mean, going with Hannity. Oh, that's awesome, babe. Great idea, babe. Love that analysis. That's great.

Joe Gilio, the Ovius and Gilio podcast, go on YouTube, check out their work. They do a tremendous, tremendous job. Joe, we appreciate the time as always, and we'll do it again sometime soon. Anytime, WD, anytime. There he goes, Joe Gilio.

Discussed a nice plethora of things there. Really did. Very quickly. Before we take it to the house, gotta remind you of the YMCA? Gotta do that.

See, I didn't work out today. Don't shake your head at me, Morgan. Don't do that.

Well, that's that's not nice. It was my off day. I've worked out at uh I worked out. Sunday, Monday, Tuesday. Today's my midweek off day, and we'll get back.

Actually, I kind of want to go now. It's like I. And I could. At the Y. Couldn't do that.

So There's 24-7 access. Out at the Alexander Davy Stokes County Wise. Life gets busy. It does. But your workout doesn't have to wait like mine has so far today.

24-7. Access the Alexander County family, Davie family, Stokes family, YMCAs. You can work out whenever it works for you. Early morning, late night. Or anytime in between, quite frankly.

More flexibility, convenience, and fitness on your schedule over at the Y. You a late night or a morning workout type of guy when you go? I'm gonna be honest, I don't work out too much. Then you really shouldn't be shaking your head at me. Yeah, no, probably not.

Something I've been meaning to get into, just haven't gotten into it yet. Probably go for a bike ride here this week. Start it off a little cardio. Bike rides are good. They o'er that.

See, I like to work out in the mornings. That's what I like to do. But I also do it 'cause I like to work out fasted. on an empty stomach. Attacks the fat, so there's no like calories there from the day.

It attacks the fat. Fitness tip 101 from WD. Getting sciencey. That's how you got to do it. You got to hack the system.

Boy, the Knicks, they hacked the system. Or did Cleveland have a 404 connectivity error? Yeah, yeah, they like that. The n the Knicks just waited. They just waited around because they knew.

They knew it was going to happen. I don't know if the Cavs are going to be able to bounce back from this. Yeah, James Soften really struggled very late in the game. James Soften. Yeah.

Described his defense. You come up with some good nicknames. I'll say the the Snorials. Shea floppy is alleged. Shea floppy.

That's pretty good. I got to give you credit. Thank you. Throw it in. Um.

Yeah. When people show you who they are, Just believe them. You might give somebody a pass the first time, but the second time, just believe them. And the Cavs, I mean, they showed you constantly against the Pistons who they were in the series before that as well. I mean, the Cavs and the Pistons were literally a back and forth on who wants to give it up more.

And then ultimately, it was Detroit on their home floor that did it a little too much than the Cavs did on theirs. But I mean, meanwhile, the Knicks have just been blowing teams out in these playoffs. And down 22 last night, it's the largest postseason comeback in New York Knicks' history. And obviously, Jalen Brunson had something to do with that, with his 38 points, not denying that. But the Cavs lost this game more than the Knicks won it.

That's just what happened. I mean, when you're up 22. On R on the road. And it's game one. Of a series like that, you just can't drop games like that.

You just can't do it. And This is not going to fit in well with the legacy of James Harden in the postseason. Or Donovan Mitchell, for that matter, who I believe gets a little unfairly lumped in with James Harden in this conversation. But Uh it's not great. It's not great today for Cleveland.

Because you should have had that one last night and... You know. 202 22 points later. 22-point comeback later. That's...

That's where we're at. with the Knicks taking game one. And it looks like we've got A phone caller to sneak in here before we take it to the house. Doug and Winston. WG, first of all, congrats on getting Josh's gig.

You're well-deserved. Way to go, man. Way to go. What do you got that? What do you got?

All right, let's talk a little bit about both series. You they're going to seven. I mean, that's all there is to it. The networks they can't afford a sweep, that that's not going to happen. And The problem is this.

You're smart. You know what's going on. James Hard is a wash. He's a wash. Yeah.

That's all there is to it. Yeah, he's wife. He hit a big shot, don't get me wrong. And then the other kid almost ended the game. The ball came in and out.

So the that game was almost over. But as far as that's concerned, and then the other thing is this, And just think about what I'm about to tell you. You don't have to react right just seconds. The Lakers are going to move on. They just don't know how to do it.

Yeah, so go ahead and go to Cleveland. Let's just go to Cleveland, end it in Cleveland and and help out help out Cleveland. I mean, you got the one kid, he can't do it all by himself. He can't. And you give him the Knicks last night, let's face it.

Some of those shots, that was he was playing horse. He was playing horse. He threw it way off the glass and banked it in four times. Stuff like that doesn't happen. That just, I mean, what's your take on it?

You think he's going seven, or you think. That Nick's got something for him. Uh Doug, thank you so much for the call. I think Nixon five, I think Spurson seven. But after game one, and depending on what happens tonight, I might I mean, I've made my pick.

It's Spurs in seven. And I'm somebody that had the Cavs in the Eastern Conference Finals. But I got Nixon five. Cause, you know, new data changes your opinion on things from the start of the playoffs.