If you missed it live, don't worry, we say the best parts. This is the Drive Podcast. Welcome in. Let's get this thing fired up. It is a Friday drive right here on WSJS.
News, talk, sports for the triad. What a day. What a day. The USA. Open up World Cup action tonight.
Will Pelagic, the voice of Charlotte FC, gonna help us break that down. The College World Series. It's live from Omaha. The Tara Heel is going to be in action tonight. I got West Virginia and Troy on my screen right now.
We'll update you on that in a second. and Carolina. The Hurricanes are one game. Away. Uh Last night.
What a scene in Rollywood. A couple of things on this. First of all, it was finally the Sebastian Aho. And Andrei Svetchnikov. Come alive game.
We've been waiting for it all playoffs. We've been waiting for it. These are two guys that We can acknowledge they've played well in their own way. But they're not do or they had not been doing what you pay them the big bucks to do. I mean, we've over the years come to You know, recognize Sebastian Aho, Andrei Svechnikov.
Like, those are your dudes. Those are your top-tier guys on this Hurricanes team. And In these playoffs, it hasn't been Svetch. It hasn't been Ajo. It's been Logan Stankoven.
It's been Nick Ehlers. Boy, has it been Jordan Stahl that have been providing a lot of the offense? Seth Jarvis finally started to come along in his own way, but Svetch, Ajo. Especially Aho, not really a lot coming from them. Offensively in these playoffs.
That changed last night, especially in the third period as the Kanes put this thing away. It was a 4-2 final ultimately in Raleigh last night. Also, The decision to go from Freddie Anderson. It's a Brandon Bussey. to ride the bussy?
Might be what saved the finals for Carolina. Might be. I mean, when you look at the fact that Freddie Anderson gave up 12 goals. And again, Freddie Anderson is a big reason why the Kanes got to this point in these playoffs. Let's ignite.
Again, this is the part where, as humans, You can hold two thoughts in your head at the same time. You can do that. You can't, you don't have to say, oh man. Freddy stinks now because we no, no. Freddie Anderson is a big reason why the Kanes are in this position.
He is. It's one of the best, if not the best goaltender in the Stanley Cup playoffs. leading up to the finals. But Vegas had his number. scored on him twelve times.
And in the third period. Of That third game Rod Brindenmore made a decision. He decided, you know what? Let's go to Brandon Bussey. I know he hadn't played in two months.
Let's go to him anyway. Brandon Bussey was ready. And then they went to him again in game four. He was ready. And last night.
Ready again, only giving up the two goals. He's been fantastic against Vegas. I don't know. Maybe he just plays better, or maybe. His skill set is better to defend against Vegas than Freddy's.
I don't know. Maybe it is. But That decision right there, Rod Brindemore. Making that pivot when he did might have been.
something that saved These finals for Carolina.
Now, assuming they still got one more to get it done, let's not. Let's not acknowledge that, but if they do close this thing out, that's going to be a decision that we remember. Also, Jordan's stall continues. To make an all-time case for the Con Smith Trophy or your Stanley Cup final MVP. Make it an all-time case.
He got in the net again. last night.
So he's scored in five straight games. If you recall, In game four, he scored twice. And he became the first player since 1992 to score five goals in four games.
Now he scored again last night. I think he's the MVP if they get this thing done. I really do. And Keep in mind though. Carolina, while they are up 3-2 in this series, now it heads back to Vegas this weekend.
If Carolina needed any more motivation, which I don't think they do, Like uh we in the media tend to You know, make these narratives. Oh, they needed a little extra motivation, or they're up 3-2, so they're not going to be as fired up. Shut up. Yes, they are. They're competitive, professional, the best hockey players on the planet, athletes.
They're just as fired up. But if they did... Need any more motivation? Little extra juice to put in to sprinkle in there. Vegas head coach John Tortorella.
Provided it Last night. After the game. We'll be back here. We're just going to do it in a different order. We've got to find a way.
I'm gonna leave my clothes here, that's for sure. They'll be in the hotel. I see. They're going to be in the clothes are going to be in the hotel. He's not.
He's not going to be packing up everything, is what he says. He vows this series is coming back to Raleigh for a game seven. With that said. I agree with him. I tend to agree.
Something Something smells like Vegas is gonna go ahead and get another one. They've lost back-to-back games now.
Something the Kanes haven't done since January. I think Vegas Is going to get one. On their home ice this weekend, I do. And we and listen. Didn't see nine goals scored last night and That's why your boy took the under six and a half.
It just didn't feel, I had a feeling some of the fireworks were going to come down a little bit. Taylor Hall even said it in his media availability the day before. Yesterday's game, when he was asked, do you think nine goals are going to be scored again tomorrow night? It's like. I don't think so.
It it wasn't. It was six.
So. I think it's going to be a nail biter. I think it's going to be a tight one. I think both teams are going to look great as they, for the most part, have in these playoffs every game or in these finals every game. I think Vegas takes game six.
And it comes back to Raleigh tied. At three games a piece, and we are getting the best thing there is in sports. In our backyard in Raleigh, and that is A game seven. 336-777-1600. If you have thoughts, on the hurricanes going up.
3-2. Maybe you disagree. Maybe you think they're going to go ahead and close the deal. Maybe you think they're going to close the deal in Vegas this weekend. Just go ahead and get it done and win three straight to finish it off.
Maybe you do. I'd like to hear from you. 336-777-1600 is the number to call. By the way, Sean McDonough. Was on the call for ESPN last night.
Just one of the best. in the business. Yeah. Here was the final call what it sounded like on ESPN last night. I like crazy.
Caroline Burner's going to take us. Three games to two leads. Back to Vegas Electric stuff. That building was electric last night. And I think it's going to be electric once more this year.
in a game seven. Morgan Corson, executive producer of the show. Were you locked in on the. What were you watching last night? Were you locked in on the Kanes?
Was it soccer? Did you watch Korea? What'd you do? I had a horrible headache the second this show ended. It just kicked in pulsing headache.
Wasn't because of the canes. No, it wasn't.
So I laid down yesterday and just kind of sat around, didn't watch anything 'cause screens were hurting my head.
So I uh I watched uh the highlights here a few minutes ago. And I'm happy to see Aho. Yeah, fine. I talked with my brother who's a little more. hockey inclined than I am.
and I asked him if Aho does nothing this series. And the Kanes win it. Do you think they're going to hear out traits for Aho? And he said, absolutely not.
So, maybe I was in the wrong there for asking that, but I mean, if your star player isn't performing the way you want him to. Maybe you explore. Not the chance here. Aho's. He pulled it out last night, and it was good to see that finally.
Yes, it was. And in a very opportune spot. Great time for it. By the way, let's get a little live action. I think it's a good time for that.
We'll do it live. We'll do it live! In Omaha, right now, Omaha, as we speak. It's Troy. It's West Virginia.
Pat McAfee's West Virginia Mountaineers. Both of these teams It's the first time they've each been. to the College World Series. Been to Omaha. And This first game It's not disappointing at all.
From the top of the first on.
So to set the stage here. Top of the first inning. West Virginia is at the plate. And Armani Guzman Had Made it to third. He was in scoring position there.
And for the first time And this if you're watching on our YouTube stream, our X stream. You can see this, what happened? If not, this is what it looked and sounded like. On the call. On ESPN earlier today.
From Georgia Southern trying to get Goosebot home. The play is still tall. Wow. Mike Monaco on the call. That is correct.
Armani Guzman. Guzman, however you say it, he stole straight steal. To the plate. It's the first time that has happened in the College World Series since 2000. And he got in, and that's what opened up scoring in this game.
That's what put West Virginia on the board, one to zip. And Yeah. What an incredible first game we've got here. It's 5-4. Top of the sixth.
West Virginia leading the way by a run. Their jerseys are sick. They're sweet. They look terrific. They're like the cream color with a baseball.
you know, logo theme W V on the front, just terrific, so good. Give credit to Troy's hats, though. Those caps are cool. Oh, yeah. And they did.
They did respond in the bottom of the first, they tied it up in the bottom. But there's been a lot of scoring in this game so far. UNC all missed tonight at 7 o'clock. A game you can listen to right here on WSJS. We'll get into that here in just a little bit.
But right now, Jalen Coker. Happy Jalen Coker Extension Day. To all the cokeheads out there. That's right. I'm a cokehead.
Never thought I'd say that on live radio. I'm looking at you. One of the most underrated players in the NFL over the last couple of years since he got, well, since he didn't get drafted, because he was an undrafted guy out of. Holy Cross. He just got paid last night, we learned.
And I remember when Josh Graham was the host of the show, and I was the producer. We had um Anish Shraf. Come the come on the show. voice of the Carolina Panthers on the radio, uh Panthers radio network. And He told us.
This dude This was right after the 2024 draft. He's like... This dude at a Holy Cross, I like him. He he might be a guy. Panthers think he might be a guy.
They were talking about Jalen he was talking about Jalen Coker. And from that moment on, I... We watched and you saw. And he's developed into One A fan favorite. Again, shout out to the Cokeheads.
It is a thing. Coke heads unite. Every time he makes a great play, that's what we say. But he is now an elite wide receiver, two option. for Bryce Young.
And I should point out. Zero drops so far in his career. Not a one. Not one. And it couldn't have happened to a better guy.
to a nicer guy. See, we get to interact with these guys in the locker room after games and You know, sometimes when you get around athletes, it might seem one way on TV, and then they're different when you actually get around. Jalen Coker is. He's a really just chill. Good dude, you can tell.
And It's one of the things we love about sports. Seeing these types of stories. Guys that didn't get dra you know, was a great receiver at Holy Cross. in 2023 goes undrafted. and then gets the call from the Carolina Panthers and it lights his world up.
And if you if you don't believe me, I actually I I went and I had to dig up the clip. I don't know who posted it, but It was the video of him answering the phone from his agent His either girlfriend or fiancé was there with him. And again, this incentive to go to our YouTube channel, our Xtreme. This is what it looked like. If you're not able to do that, this is also what it sounded like.
When his agent Called him Jalen Coker. to let him know, hey. you're going to be a Carolina Panther. Oh, I'm officially like a a Carolina Panther. Yeah.
What are you brother? Yeah, they're gonna send a contract over here soon.
Okay. Uh you ordered it. Enjoy with your family. Yeah. Hi, how are you?
I need this song. Four. Working fun ahead, so man. I'm so proud of you. And this is just the beginning.
Thank you, man. I appreciate it. Oh god, Kevin, you're gonna make me cry.
Alright, I'm hanging out. Yeah. Jalen Coker. It couldn't have happened to a better guy. Uh and now he gets An extension.
It's a three-year deal. Um In terms of the numbers and in terms of the details, it's worth up to $41 million. And Comes off a year where he passed Xavier Legette. in the packing order for wide receiver two. Had a touchdown in four.
of his last six games, including The wild card game. against the Rams. Where he went off, had 12 targets that game. Had 134 yards, did find the end zone. Had a nice 54-yard gain at one point in the third quarter.
That was a big moment, but none more important than this one right here when he found the end zone. You all know what it is. It was that beautiful ball that Bryce dropped to him that only Jalen Coker could catch in the corner of the end zone. And bank of him, this gives the Panthers the lead. In the fourth quarter, with about two minutes and change to go, here's how it looked and sounded.
This canalis is. Blitz comes. Young. Corner of the end zone. Conker.
A die. A touchdown, a Panther lead. Yeah. The Panthers should have won that game. I'm getting upset.
It is very ironic.
So now, what you got? With this deal done, The Panthers are expecting, you know, this is all great and everything, but now the Panthers, their expectations of him just went up even more. The same way if Bryce gets extended after this year, their expectations of him are going to go up even more. You got T-Mac, who just won offensive rookie of the year as your wide receiver one. And now Jalen Coker's been paid.
He's two. And now we wait. to see who emerges as that third guy. Is it Xavier Legette? Is it Chris Brazzle who they just drafted?
Is it John Mechie? Who is it? It's very fitting. It's very ironic that this news. Dropped yesterday, right after Xavier Legette said what he said to the media about, yeah, I can't have another year like I just did a year ago.
Can't happen. It's very fitting that that news came out when it did right after that. Another segment, another bad take you'll argue about all night. You're on the Triad's longest-running live sports talk show, The Drive. Back at it on the drive, right here on WSJS.
Will Pelagic, the voice of Charlotte FC, going to join us. And hour number two to break down. What our expectations should be. of the USA and these In this World Cup. And we'll dive into a little bit of that here in just a minute.
But right now, Let's talk some college world series because It is underway. West Virginia and Troy, But tonight is the main event. It's the main event around here because it's Tatar Heels. Scott Forbes, his group. Going to be in action.
Against Ole Miss, who took out number four Auburn at their regional, super regional, I should say. And I believe That Carolina has the most to prove of any team that's in these. in this College World Series, me personally. For one. It is Their 13th trip.
Period. and 11th this century of the men's college World Series. And it's the second. In three years under Scott Forbes. They don't have a title to show for it.
So that's the first part of this. I remember when I was a kid. I feel like Carolina was always going to the College World Series. I really do. Like when I was in the little league.
Felt like all the time they were in the College World Series and it just... never could happen for them. Shout out to Dustin Ackley's Tar Heels back in the day. If you know, you know. And it's true.
To that point, they were runners-up in 06 and 07. Back-to-back years, couldn't close the deal.
Now The other part of this is Not only how many times they've been. with nothing to show for it. Right now, they might have the best pitching rotation. in the entire country. I think about Jason DeCaro.
Who's a junior now? Yeah. Junior year. And there's no better example of this. Then His performance in game two this weekend at the Chapel Hill Super Regional.
With Carolina. backs against the wall. They had lost game one to USC. And The Caro. And they'll animal workhorse that he is, Comes out.
And goes nine. Nine times. Nine shutout innings. Against USC. To get them a game one or a game two win to tie that series at one game apiece, giving them the opportunity to go for the game three the next day and They walked it off and it was epic.
But that's the type of pitching staff that they have that are capable of doing stuff like that.
So That's kind of a factor of like, yeah, no excuses. And then the other thing is. There Sitting here in a bracket, no shade, to West Virginia and Troy. But they're sitting here on the side of the bracket with West Virginia and Troy, two teams that have never been to Omaha. And then you got Old Miss.
Where all the other SEs SCC firepower. is on the other side. you know, looking at Georgia. And teams like that.
So I like Carolina. I think they have the most approved of any of these teams, and they really should be in a position to win the whole thing.
Now, obviously, that's easier said than done. And as a former baseball player, I can tell you that's a lot easier said than done. But with what they've got, with where they're at in the bracket, They need to go ahead and get this thing done. They really do. And bring the title back to the Bosch for the first time in program, program.
History. Who do you like in the College World Series, Morgan? I always like a good underdog. I think The underdogs are obviously West Virginia or Troy. I think West Virginia has the best chance of getting out of this series.
For this game.
So I say West Virginia, but I love that Troy's in it too. I think it's a great story for them. That was terrific. 9,000 people in a 2,000-person stadium. I mean, this stadium is just immaculate.
Every year, it just looks so good. Yeah. Right now it's 5'4 West Virginia, top of the seventh inning. And then tomorrow, it's talking about the other side of the bracket where the bulk of the SEC power is. That's where Alabama faces Oklahoma in the first game tomorrow.
Georgia will then face Texas. Four SEC teams over there.
So What could be waiting for Caroline on the other side if they make it through this side of the bracket and they should could be difficult. But. The road to get there is favorable for the Heels. It's a tie game. Oh, Troy just had a shot.
4:30. 5-5. West Virginia and Troy knotted up. A two-out homer in the top of the seventh inning. God, I love college baseball.
It is fantastic. Also love the World Cup. That's right. And by the way, again, you can listen to Carolina take all of Carolina's games in these College World Series. You can listen to it right on WSJS.
First pitch is 7 o'clock. tonight. Be here to listen to that. But Getting to the World Cup. Action for the US.
It's not going to be boring sports weekend at all. In addition to Carolina. Action for the USA begins tonight. 9 o'clock. At Sofine Stadium.
I call it so fine, I know it's so fi. I think Shannon Sharp started calling in that, so I just picked it up. Um Out in LA, out west, taking on Paraguay and Will Pelagic listen. I'm a casual when it gets full disclosure. I'm never gonna sit up here.
Behind this mic and pose as an expert on something. I'm a casual soccer viewer. Full disclosure, I am. That that's just the way it is. But that's why we bring on Will Pelagic.
The voice of Charlotte FC to further like break down things in a in-depth way that I personally cannot do. But here's what I will say. And he joined us in hour number two, to be exact. The USA are The betting favorite to come out of Group D? This group Includes Paraguay, who they play tonight.
It Includes turkey. It includes Australia. The items. And I cannot wait to see the scene. out at L A Stadium.
Where that's where they've got like the big watch parties. Big screens, a big concert stage out there. Like if you saw Mexico, The fans that packed that place for the Mexico game yesterday, just incredible. I can't imagine what it's going to look like with the USA tonight. All the stars, it's going to be packed.
The environment's going to be terrific. But that's the watch party. If the game itself. We'll see how it goes. The good thing for the USA, they have a home.
Obviously, home advantage on home soils. The first time in 32 years they've had a home soil advantage. They also have a travel advantage in the sense that all their games are out west. They don't have to go anywhere.
So that's good. And they have a group of players that seems to be right at the beginning or just ahead of their prime.
So, young group. Paraguay, on the other side, they're making their first World Cup appearance since 2010. And I'll just say this. Leading up to this, the USA, they got a reality check. against European teams back in March They had a bad 5-2 loss.
to Belgium in a friendly that was bad, that was ugly. And then they had Uh Another loss that was just so-so 2-0 against Portugal. That was the March window. But That that five too long like That combined with the 5-2 loss, that was really bad, that was a little alarming. People weren't sure what to make of this.
But In these most recent friendlies in the last several weeks, like you had the. 3-2 win against Senegal. That was a Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte. And then In a 2-1 loss to Germany in Chicago, they lost, but. They actually look pretty solid for a good portion of it.
Just happened to lo just happened to lose the the match.
So Gimme the USA. To open tonight with a win. Against Paraguay. We're going to be doing one thing and one thing only. We make your commute worth it.
Welcome to the drive. Back at it on the drive. right here on WSJS. Where it's a segment every week, or most every week. When we preview what's happening in NASCAR or Bowman Gray, or just the racing world in general.
And this weekend. They're going to the Tricky Triangle in Pocono. And Morgan. Being the resident NASCAR expert racing, racing. Expert that he is.
gives us the scoop in this week's in the fast lane. Oh. Where speed meets the mic. Wow, what a move! This is the fast lane on WSJS.
Put on your seatbelt, check your mirrors, let's begin. Your fast track to racing talk. Before we get into this week's action. I have an update on Christopher Bell. Hard hit.
Hard, hard hit. On lap, I think it was like 140, 148. of the race at Michigan. They're going 200 miles an hour. And Jace Elliott.
just hits one of the bumps, gets really loose and They go from about 200 to about zero miles an hour and Three seconds. He has been cleared by an Ascar to race at Pocono. but he does have a fractured left wrist. I saw Dale Jr. on On his podcast, The Dale Jr.
Download. And listen. Junior's seen stuff. He's been around the block. Several times.
He said that's one of the hardest hits he's ever seen. And he's not wrong. Yeah. The data, the data and analytics program they use called Delta V, which we don't have the information that's strictly for the teams in for NASCAR to look at. measured the largest hit Since the next gen debuted in 2022 and at least the last decade.
So, in the last 10 years, that hit was the hardest hit at NASCAR's fastest track. Yeah. And We also got news that Josh Berry, in his second season with the historic Wood Brothers Racing, will not. Be coming back next year. He got a win for them last season.
They're a Penske-backed program. They're sitting thirtieth in points, which is Out of 36 drivers, not great. But I mean, there's not much Josh could have done. This car isn't great. It's about that area.
for its thing so he's doing what the equipment is doing for him Penske and Wood Brothers and all the Fords are really struggling this season. Sad to see him get moved on, but we'll see where he ends up. Probably going to be. In another series, if I had to guess, if not part-time in the cup.
Now on to Pocono, the tricky triangle. All three corners. are different Corners. None of them are uniform.
So, like when you go to Texas or Atlanta, Daytona, all the corners are pretty much the same. Three completely different corners, which is what makes this track so tricky. You set up your car for turns one and three, and you're horrible in turn two. You set up your car for turn two, you're horrible in turn one. There's really no way of mastering it, and you can see on the screen here.
Turn one is from the Trenton track, turns four and five. Number two is from the iconic Indianapolis, just a 90-degree corner.
Well then turn three is Milwaukee's turn three and four. Turn one is a heavy breaking zone following a monumental 300 or sorry, 3,740 foot front stretch, the largest straight in NASCAR.
So they will be carrying some heavy speed into turn or turn one. And they'll be breaking. And they'll convert a big passing opportunity on that front stretch into one. Turn two is very tricky, it's called the tunnel turn. The tunnel to get into the track goes under there.
Lots of bumps, different types of ground there as well, different race surfaces there.
So that one always. Seems to have trouble, and then turn three. Very tight. Wall to wall, look for a lot of passing there, and looking to set up to pass on the 3,700-foot front stretch. And now the last argument that we've been having for decades about Pokédev.
Is it three turns or five turns? See that?
So on this graphic here, That we've got on our YouTube and X stream. Says Pocono is five turns, but it looks like three.
So it's a triangle. The Indianapolis turn is one. It's one single turn. But in NASCAR, a single corner is generally considered two turns: an entry and an exit. Turn four or turn one is taken from another track, and it's taking turns.
four and five from that track.
So that should be considered two turns. And then turn three is from Milwaukee's turn three and four, so that should be considered two turns as well.
So technically speaking, and Dale Jr. himself agrees. Pocono is a five-corner track. Five turns at Pocono.
So, do you think it's a five-corner track? It's five-corner. It's five turns. You got five turns at Pocono. But this has been a very controversial conversation amongst NASCAR.
I can see why that is. Coming out of the traditional turn three on the track, there's painted on the wall always. Turn 4 question mark.
So they play into it too. But that's been the controversy amongst Pocono. Look for some big runs. And some maybe a big wreck 'cause they always seem to produce one here. Interesting.
And I saw, was Denny Hamlin the favorite to win this thing? Yes, he is. He's. And he's been winning a lot lately. For whatever reason.
Denny does not make the triangle look tricky. He's always been dominant at this track. Looking for three straight wins now. Toyota or Denny Hamlin or the team that he has owned 23-11 has won 53% of the races this year. Jeez.
Dominating. That's dominance right there. That's it.
So look for him to pass Kyle Bush this week. That's my only favorite for the week. Nobody else. Denny Hamlin? It's just Denny.
There you go. That's been in the fast lane with Morgan. I did see where, um They're also they got some tributes already to Kyle Bush out there. Yes, they repainted on the front of the start-finish line. They have rowdy.
Yep. And on some of the banners around the track, you're going to see Rowdy or Bush. Win his number eight on there as well. Um really nice touching thing for uh Pocono to do. Yeah.
Man, I still can't get over that Christopher Bell thing. Yeah, and a lot of people were saying it was Chase's fault because he hit the apron, which is the flat part, but next to the banking on the turn. Yeah. And it's not, he just loses it going into four, and there's nothing that you can do is just to hold on. I was just watching it again.
Actually, what you're supposed to do is let go. Because fun fact, if you hit when you hit the wall, the steering wheel jerks really fast, you can actually break your fingers and your arm and your wrist.
So you're trained to let go and put them over your chest, like a cross over your chest, so that you're not the steering wheel doesn't snap and break your fingers or your arm. Yeah, I'm wa I'm watching the NCAR cam right now and they j Yeah. Man. It could have been so much worse. This next-gen car has come a long way in part of safety.
This was the first year 2022 in this next-gen car. We might not be seeing Christopher Bell racing this week just because it wasn't there safety-wise.
So glad to see him be able to race this week for sure. Especially top 10 in points looking to get up in this new chase format. Warning: listening may cause yelling at traffic. Be the ones watching, they be hating. I'm the one doing this here.
No debating. Hear me out. The Drive, the Triads-only live sports talk show. Back at it on the drive, right here on WSJS. So we get ready to wrap up our number one.
of the program? Still all tied up, five apiece, bottom of the eighth inning. Coming down the stretch here in the first game of College World Series action. West Virginia at the plate. They've got a couple of runners on their first two of this inning.
Nobody out. Troy's gettin' the bullpen movin'. It's going to be a great finish. It was a great start. Where you head?
A stolen A straight steal home for the first time since 2000. And now you got a great finish here in the eighth inning. We'll keep you posted on that. But We dipped under 500 in the bets this week. We didn't we've been trying to Gah.
Call back. We just did two last night. Give me two. Let's see how they did in Dalton's dollars. Stack it up, stack it, stack, gotta stack it up.
Get the money, get the money on the floor. It's time to cash in. Welcome to Dalton's Dollars. Yeah. Show me the money.
All right.
So the two that we made last night Keynes, Golden Knight. I went with Kanes. as one and a half point favorites. That cleared. Show me the fire!
Cleared that one 4-2 final. And then So The total has been five and a half every game of these finals. Old body. Both of those runners just moved to second and third for West Virginia. This thing's going to get interesting.
Um. It's been five and a half total between Carolina and Vegas, and over has been like free money every time.
Well, yesterday it kicked up to six and a half. Coming back to Raleigh, I was like. Mm something feels off about that. Vegas. They're trying to pull one on you.
They know that over has been hit and they raised it up. Nine goals in the previous game. Uh-uh. He's like, nah.
So I went under six and a half. The total hit six. Show me the budget! Tweeted out after that fourth goal. In the third period, I was like, financially, can no more goals be scored in this game?
Thanks.
So 2-0 last night, which brings us to 500.31. And 31, we sit. Gotta get back in the green now, though. It's not good enough. Come on now.
It's like Wimby said. It's not good enough. After that. We'll hear from Victor Wembanyama here in just a little bit what he had to say about trying to come back from down 3-1. But looking at what I want to do this weekend, there's a lot to choose from.
Starting with the USA going up against Paraguay tonight. In the Opener for Team USA. I'm just going to go very simple here. At minus 105 odds, I get the USA money line. Gonna take it.
You'll be divided! They're a half goal favorite in this. I thought about taking that too, but I'm like, mm. Let me just go with the money line. Just be simple here.
And then you got Uh game five. Or, excuse me, game six in San Antonio between the Knicks and the Spurs. And Oh no, this is game five. Yeah, this is game five. Math, we're great at it around here with the Knicks leading 3-1 in this series and.
I think very simply, I'm going to go OG Ananobi to score 19 or more. STROVEN! I get that at minus 103 odds. Needed him to score 15 or more. in uh game four and My guy just said, Dow have 33.
How's that sound? Great. Thanks.
My pockets appreciate that. They do.
So that's gonna be A bet that I take for game five. I'm also gonna take the Spurs money line. Show me the I like the Spurs to get it done. I like the Spurs to bounce back, get a win. On their home court, they have yet to get one in these finals.
New York won the first two there. I like the Spurs money line on that. And then. Keynes. Golden Knight.
Game six. of this series. In Vegas. In terms of the odds for that one. Total is five and a half again.
I'm gonna hit that over again. Show me! Went under six and a half and it hit six. I mean, it's just like something that happens over and over. If they bring it down to five and a half, we're gonna take that, get that at minus 130 odds.
And then I'll take the Vegas money line on that spot, minus 105 odds. DROVING!
So that's a nice card. for the weekend right there. USA Money Line tonight against Paraguay. OG Ananobi 19 or more. Gonna take the Spurs money line.
Going to take the over Kanes Vegas, game six, over five and a half. and Vegas Money Line. in that one. That's busy. That's a busy card.
Oh boy. Live action! We'll do it live. Okay. Look up.
We'll do it live! Mm. Um So West Virginia had a couple of runners on with nobody out. They moved to scoring positions, second and third base. Everything was all knotted up.
Five apiece with Troy, bottom of the eighth inning. They have scored both of those runners, so now they lead seven to five. Bottom of the eighth inning, two outs. Just had a challenge call go Troy's way to get that. For they picked off the runner at first and they saw it because one frame showed him a millimeter off the base.
Man. Gotta love. Review video review. Gotta love that.
So good challenge for Troy. That gets them their second out, but the damage done. For West Virginia. as they lead by two runs and now they just need three outs. to take game one.
of that first game out at Omaha. Again. Love college World Series time. Love super regional. I just love playoff college baseball.
It doesn't get much better than that. Carolina, Ole Miss, 7 o'clock tonight. You can listen to that game right here on WSJS. Very quickly, though. Are you talking about Nick Spurs?
I like the Spurs to go ahead and win game five on their home floor. I like that. A couple of factors I'm looking at. The key for the Spurs They get a couple of days' rest.
So that's good. And also, just stop doing dumb stuff when you get a double-digit lead. They've blown five double-digit leads in these playoffs. You heard Chuck calling him. Telling him some.
He didn't mince words talking about the Spurs the other night after that win for the Knicks. They just got to stop jacking up the threes and doing that stuff with double-digits lead, double-digit leads. It's almost like they just don't look like they know where they want to go with it, where they need to be. It just. They need to stop that.
Also, But This is favorable to the Knicks. They've been terrific on. They have been elite. In uh capital letters, elite. On the road in these playoffs.
They're 8-1 in the playoffs. Again, two of those have come in San Antonio. But the Spurs' confidence has not wavered. Wimby, here he was on the mindset of the team needing to come back from 3-1. Yeah, absolutely.
Yeah, everybody thinks, everybody knows we're gonna do it. I don't know if I agree with you. I feel like we need to uh we need to isolate that one game and take it one game at a time. I think it'd be a mistake to Waste our energy on on different, you know, on multiple games. They're focused one game at a time.
Spurs have been a very confident team despite where they're at in this series. I like him to take that game against the Knicks in game five. What are you talking about? What's he talking about? I'm talking about the one and only.
Will Dalton has your afternoon sports fix. You're on the drive. Back at it on the drive, right here on WSJS, where. It's part of our Friday tradition. To welcome in the voice of Charlotte FC, Will Pelagic.
Now, there's no. Charlotte FC soccer happening right now. We won't have that till next month. But it's an even bigger deal right now with the World Cup, and Willie P is rocking a sweet kit. USA kit.
What do you got there, Willie P? This is the Tim Ream official kit from the U.S. Benz national team. Figured, you know, with Charlotte FC's. Own player in there as the captain, you have to represent, and a real great thing.
Very happy to see it, and happy to see those guys get it going today against Paraguay. Yeah, so nine o'clock tonight out west in LA. Uh USA will open things up. And they are part of Group D, which includes Turkey, Paraguay, Australia, and USA, they're the betting favorites to come out of that group. But you're, you know, the soccer aficionado around here.
How What are reasonable expectations for Team USA? Because I've heard mixed things. Like, I've heard people that are like, this is the least exciting team in a long time. I've also heard people say this might be one of the better teams in a long time. It's like they're young, maybe right ahead of their prime.
Where do you land on this?
So, this is where I laugh a lot of times at the discourse that surrounds the U.S. men's national team because. A lot of times it just kind of comes off as largely negative for the sake of being negative because there are people who think that we need to be better or bigger than where we are. There's one real big key point that I go to when people ask me.
Well, what are you expecting? The answer is, and this is not necessarily meant to be a cop-out, is that we don't know. Because For the first time in 30 years The United States has not had to qualify for this tournament. They are in this tournament. As a host nation, when you are the host nation, you do not have to go through qualifying, meaning that.
Your 18 months of games have little to no consequence to your bearing and standing in the tournament.
So The way that Mauricio Puzzuttino, the head coach, has gone through this process is that he has been largely experimental. And there have been some windows where he's gotten the full cop of players. There are some windows where it's gotten really only the MLS level players. For example, the Gold Cup last summer.
So there's. A lot of people who think that they know what's happening and what will happen with the United States, but the truth is. Anybody right now is just guessing.
Now, If you look at the teams that they're playing in the group stage and you look at their FIFA World rankings and you look at our history against all of them. You would venture to say that getting through the group is an absolute must for the U.S. They're going to be favored in all three games. I think they're a decided favorite in their first two contests. I think that they're a slight favorite in their final contest at the group stage against Turkey.
So that tells me they should get through the group. And I think if you win two games, you're automatically getting through the group. Because the first two teams who are first and second place in the group get through almost automatically. And then the eight best third-place teams will get through as well.
Now, getting through the group. is an absolute stamp and must. But in my opinion, I feel like you have to win at least two games, if not all three, in the group stage because that puts you at number one, the top of the group, but it gives you the best chance to advance in the knockout stage.
Now, when you get to the knockout stage, this is where you see the variance in opinions. There are some who feel like it'll be a gargantuan effort just to get to the knockout stage. I feel like if you win one game in the knockout stage, get to the round of 16. I feel like that's a decent accomplishment. If you get to the quarterfinal and you're in the last date, That puts you in a very rarefied air in the United States soccer history.
It's kind of been like a bit of a ceiling on the round of 16 for the United States here. In the last couple of times, they've gotten to the knockout stage. I think it's something where, if they get to the round of eight, you're finding yourself in some pretty rare company. But the thing about it is, a lot of this is result-dependent, Will, because. With it being an expanded field, It's very hard to predict who the U.S.
is going to play because it could be any one of three teams in the cross-group comparisons. And that being said, You're probably going to see a team in the round of 16. If you get past the round of 32, you're more than likely going to see a round of 16 team that's either won a World Cup or is a favorite to win this one.
So I say all that to say a lot of this depends on their draw once they get out of the knockout state or once they get into the knockout stage. But I think, you know, round of 16 or further, I feel like the USC, the United States will have done itself a good service. Will Pelagic with us here on WSJS. Let's get to. A Charlotte FC Nugget that has started to pick up a little bit.
So, Wilfred Zaha is not going to be with the team anymore, of course. And Looks like this is going to be his replacement. Charlotte FC agreeing to a deal with Alan St. Maximin. Uh what can you tell us about this guy?
Yeah, the deal's not 100% official yet, but I can tell you that it was first reported by Fabrizio Romano, who basically is the soccer shams, if you will, to give you an insight into what he is. I used to call him Soccer Woj, but now since Woj is doing PR work for an East Coast college, I call him the Soccer Shams. A little bit better ring to it. And it's also been picked up and confirmed by a bunch of other soccer reporters worldwide.
So this is going to happen. It's going to be a three-year deal. It's not a 100% like for like move. I think they do a lot of similar things. I think Same oximon might not necessarily be the kind of finisher and or goalscorer that Wilfred Zaha was when he was in his prime, but I think he's a better dribbler than Wilf Zaha is now.
And I think he's a better Offensive take-on to defender type player than Wilfred Zaha is at this current stage of his career. Because we saw Wilf attract a lot of attention and have a hard time getting away from that attention when he was in MLS. And I think part of the reason Charlotte makes this move is they want to get younger at the position. Sam Maximon is only 29 years old. He's another player who has, again, had a bit of a A checkered past in terms of productivity.
He was at Newcastle where he was a superstar. And then he'd take a couple of moves, one in Saudi Arabia, one at Club America. Those had kind of middling to not good performances and reviews on those performances. But then he ended up signing in the last six months with Laws in France. And he played very, very well.
Not in as much playing time as he would have liked because he joined the team midseason, but he was a very big part of the team getting themselves to the final of the Coupe de France, which is their equivalent of, say, the FA Cup or the U.S. Open Cup, and they won the whole thing.
So he lifted a trophy, and he's a player with a high profile, you know, multiple million followers on Instagram.
So you're looking at a player who comes in with a lot of promise. And with him being on a three-year deal, that means he's got a point to prove. And so much about the designated player spot in MLS is that you really can't afford to get it wrong. Uh and when you Sign players to long-term contracts. You're hoping they honor those contracts.
He's signing a three-year deal to hopefully be here for all three years and maybe even beyond. And the best teams in MLS. don't turn over the designated players very often, if at all. If anything, maybe they turn over one in kind of a continuous form to kind of, you know, basically supplant the team needs. But you really want to have two that really don't change after over a long period of time because of their productivity.
And I think you have one of those already with Pep BL.
Son Maximon is the bid to try and get you a second. And there's obviously the conversation around what happens with that third spot. Liel Abada is still on the team as of now. He's got a contract that runs through the end of this season with a club option for another year. But with him not getting a lot of playing time here this season, and particularly down the stretch, there's wonder whether or not he will still be with the squad come the resumption of play on July 22nd.
I don't necessarily have a good feeling one way or the other if that's going to happen or not, but there are a lot of people who are wondering maybe another move can come as a result of that, potentially for a box-to-box midfielder or potentially an heir apparent to Ashley Westwood. That's something to monitor. All in all, Son Maximon's a good signing for this club, and hopefully he gives you maybe a little bit more of that youthfulness and something that maybe you weren't getting out of WilfZaha. And hopefully also he does it without the. The attention toward what happens with him and the referees as opposed to what was happening with Wilf.
Will Pelagic, the voice of Charlotte FC, with us here on WSJS, getting. to the Carolina Panthers.
So Dave Canalis, he wrapped up minicamp a day early. And I'm paraphrasing here, and he essentially said on his media availability that he told the team, get ready for the hardest training camp of your life, which is like, ooh, all right. Um But yesterday. Later in the day, we got the news drop that Jalen Coker, Cokeheads, Unite, Jalen Coker. Is getting a three-year extension.
And I mean, he's established himself as wide receiver two behind T-Mac on this team in the last season. And I mean, I think I have it right that he's had no drops in the last. couple of years Uh, how about I mean, when you look at Jalen's story from undrafted at a holy cross. And to now getting paid like this with the Panthers, and he seems like a great guy. It's a great thing, a great person for something like this to happen to.
What are some of the parts of his story that stand out to you?
Well, the thing that I go back to, and I remember that offseason very vividly. Is that they were almost more excited about him than any of their draft picks. Like, they felt like when they signed him as an undrafted free agent and he was going into rookie minicamp, they're like, man, we got to steal. And it became evident early on that he was going to be one of the better performers among the rookie class. And I think it's one of the.
I would say two best moves. Of Dan Morgan's tenure here with the Carolina Panthers, signing Jalen Coker and then trading a seventh-round draft pick in Michael Barrett, who is yet to play in the league, if I'm not mistaken, for a starting caliber corner in Mike Jackson.
Now, Mike Jackson, ironically enough, brings up. The other bit of potential off-season business for the Carolina Panthers is that now that Coker is signed, what is it to make of Mike Jackson who's going into a contract year? And the Panthers having drafted a corner in Will Lee and feeling all right about another one in Corey Thornton. How do you feel about potentially rewarding Mike Jack with a contract, somebody who had Honestly, I think a better season than J.C. Horn at times.
And that's something that you look at and say is a real big thing on Dan Morgan's table, along with the potential for a Bryce Young extension, which I don't think comes this offseason. But it became very evident that they like Coco from the moment that they laid eyes on him, and he is definitely impressed. He became a great third-down outlet for Bryce Young over his first couple of seasons. And I think, too, the other part of this is that. They had him on an exclusive rights free agent deal this year.
He was on a restrictive free agent deal next year. The fact that they. Made it a three-year deal and say, you know what? The heck with that, we're going to rip up what you currently have and put you in. Is it that they believe that the future surrounds him and Teteroa McMillan at the wide receiver position?
It also says to Xavier League at Boy, you better play this year. Or else, we might be looking for another place for you to play your NFL football. And he knows it, he knows it. I give, I give him a ton of credit for you know stepping up to the mic and facing the music. He could have very easily just been, you know, you know, what I'm going to go back to Mullins and ride my horse and come back in training camp and not say a word.
But he's taken this personally and he's been very visible, as you may or may not know throughout the offseason. He was over with the Hornets doing some stuff. I saw him over at the U.S. men's national team friendly against Senegal. I mean, he's doing a lot of stuff, and he's been very, very visible, as visible as he ever has been.
It's a big, big year for him, 100%. And uh I'm rooting for him to get it figured out. I think the off-the-field story is very, very great and incredible. And as somebody who was a late bloomer in college, I think it stands to reason that he definitely has receptions, touchdowns, and glory in his locker. He just has to find it at the NFL level consistently because if it doesn't happen for him, then he obviously finds himself in another conversation among the biggest busts in the history of the Carolina Panthers.
Willie P. I see uh Scotland. has been over there in Charlotte. Scott's their headquarters. Yes.
They've taken over the Charlotte FC training facility. I was over there yesterday. Got to meet a bunch of the reporters from Scotland. Got to talk to one of their players, Kenny McLean, who scored an incredible halfway line goal during the qualifying stages of Scotland's World Cup qualifying run, which It was nothing short of amazing. They beat Denmark in their home building 4-2.
And again, he scored a halfway line goal, which is a very, very hard thing to do. If there is a sentimental favorite outside of the Americans or any of the host countries, it has to be Scotland, unless you ask any of the Brits, obviously, the Englishman, I would say. But. They're really fun, and they're going to bring over a very big traveling contingent. Their fan base is called the Tartan Army.
So, they're all going to be wearing their tartan and their plaid.
So, it's very, very cool to see what they bring to the table. They are a decided underdog, but the one thing about the new expanded form of the World Cup is that it allows for there to be a Cinderella. And we didn't even need an expanded form to see two of them the last time we had this tournament. Both Morocco and Croatia got way further than anybody thought either of those countries would have gotten in the World Cup last time around. And one of the questions I asked Kenny was: you know, what does it take to be Morocco, Morocco, or Croatia in this year's World Cup?
And it goes back to, you know. Making sure that you have your eyes focused on what is immediately in front of you, and what's immediately in front of them is a Haitian squad who also kind of feels like they could be a bit of a Cinderella in their own group, uh, playing on Saturday at Foxborough in New England.
So, that's going to be one of the more intriguing matchups, I think, in the opening stage of the World Cup. They got a tough group to get out of because they got Brazil in their group as well. That will not be fun. They got to go down to Miami to play that game, and then they'll go back to Boston for their finale against, ironically enough, Morocco.
So, it's interesting to see how. A lot of these different stories develop, and can't wait to see it happen here over the course of. the 104 matches of the World Cup. Will Pelagic, the voice of Charlotte FC. Enjoy the soccer.
Go USA, go America. We'll do it next time, Willie P. Thanks again, my friend. Thank you, Willie. Appreciate you, pal.
