Patrick Kane and The Blackhawks Go Together Like Lamb and Tuna Fish

Summary

Empty Netters Podcast – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Patrick Kane and The Blackhawks Go Together Like Lamb and Tuna Fish
Date: July 28, 2026
Host: Dan Powers (DP), with Sean Buffini (SB), Chris Powers (CP), and Zach
Podcast: Empty Netters by Almost Friday Media

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Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dives deep into the NHL’s biggest news: Patrick Kane’s return to Chicago, signing a two-year deal with the Blackhawks. The hosts debate the hockey and legacy angles, dissect financial and fan perspectives, and tie it into broader themes like ring chasing in sports. Off-ice, the episode is generously peppered with digressions into video games, basketball’s summer bombshells, chip rankings, movie adaptations, and the ultimate beer league drama.

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Segment-by-Segment Highlights

1. Cold Open Banter & Video Game Chat

Timestamps: 00:00–08:34

• Vibe: Laid-back, with brotherly digs and classic banter.
• Highlights:
  • Dan raves about just finishing 007 First Light ("There’s never been a game that is more for me. Like, I am a huge James Bond guy." – DP, 03:31) but laments the short story mode compared to titans like Red Dead Redemption 2.
  • Humor around what makes a good spy character—questioning why a James Bond would have a huge scar ("That seems like a bad thing for a spy." – Zach, 07:17).

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2. Hockey Deep Dive: Patrick Kane Returns to Chicago

Timestamps: 08:34–27:39

Kane’s Contract Breakdown & On-Ice Value

• News: Kane signs two years, $8M AAV, full no-move clause.
• Debate:
  • Dan: "There is zero problem with this deal, in my opinion." (10:14)
  • Sean: There’s a camp that says it’s a massive overpay, but for Chicago, with no high-value UFAs and a need for headline players, "who else are they signing?" (12:37)
  • Zach: Full no-move clause raises eyebrows ("If they get to a place where they’re missing the playoffs… I’m Kyle Davidson. I’m taking that first for Kane." – paraphrased from 13:13)

Fan and Legacy Perspective

• Sean’s concern: Does Kane risk tarnishing his Chicago legacy if the team’s years are bad? ("If I'm a Chicago fan, I'm glad I didn't have to watch Johnny Taze kind of stink." – SB, 16:33)
• Dan: Dismisses the fear, comparing to legends returning late to their original team—it's about the “homecoming pop,” even if performance wanes.
• Contract rationale: No other stars are vying for Chicago; $8M isn’t a cap issue for a rebuilding team.
• Potential Risks: Age, injury, expectations. Sean highlights, "now he's another year older, another year closer to death." (16:26)
• Upside: "This is going to be electric. It's going to sell so many more jerseys... and be great for media. All this, the business side, is a very big win." – DP, 11:26

Stats and Milestones Watch

• Sean: “Kaner has 1400 points on the nose… I would like him to get to the 1500 mark. That’d be cool.” (24:59)
• Kane’s position in Blackhawks history: 3rd in goals, 2nd in assists and points; closing in on Duncan Keith in games played.

Memorable Quotes:

• "I think, objectively, he is closer to death than he was last year." – DP, 16:28
• "People die. People die every day." – SB, 19:29

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3. Basketball Detour: LeBron Joins the Sixers

Timestamps: 28:44–48:45

Sports Crossover Talk

• Justification: “The court goes on top of the ice.” (29:37)
• News: LeBron James shocks by signing with the Philadelphia 76ers.

Philadelphia Fanbase Reaction

• Hosts lampoon Philly fans shifting from “championship or bust” to managing expectations post-signing.
• Dan: "You cannot run around and be like, oh, my God, LeBron James... then go, I hope we have a good season. It is championship or bust. Embrace it." (33:34)
• Portnoy reference: “If you win, you get to brag and grave dance for a year. If you lose, you have to suck it up.” – SB, 34:09

LeBron's Track Record & Ring Chasing

• LeBron brings championships, but “he destroys careers” in his wake (45:47) – run-down of Wade, Bosh, Kyrie, and Anthony Davis’ post-LeBron arcs.
• Debate over whether "ring chasing" actually merits criticism: "Don’t you want to win?" – SB, 36:33

Memorable Quotes:

• “You cannot have both. If you win, you get to ram it down everyone’s throats. But you cannot then try to say, ‘He’s old, it’s a vet minimum.’”—DP, 33:48

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4. Peak Nonsense: Prawn Cocktail Chips & The Odyssey Film Adaptation

Timestamps: 48:45–71:41

Snack Time: Prawn Cocktail Chips

• Hosts sample Tayto Prawn Cocktail Crisps (made in Ulster’s only true castle), launching into flavor debates.
• "It tastes nothing like what it says, and they are doing themselves a disservice." – SB, 52:46
• Discussion of Tayto theme park and the chip’s taste profile—mystery flavor > namesake.

The Odyssey Film Chat

• Nolan’s The Odyssey draws a lengthy segment—debating fidelity to Homeric source vs. creative adaptation.
• Beef with changes: “The most famous hot chick in literature history… has a literal identical twin. What in the flying fuck?” – SB, 64:06
• Tangents to favorite film adaptations, Christopher Nolan vs. Denis Villeneuve, and the lost art of practical spectacle in cinema (68:56–74:45).

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5. MCU & Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider

Timestamps: 76:17–82:44

• Gosling is cast as Ghost Rider. Skepticism all around after the MCU’s “23-movie run”—MCU needs to “earn back my trust.” (80:09)
• Memorable: “Comic book movies, I don’t care. In fact, I encourage (reboots). It’s like Bond movies to me…” – SB, 80:23

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6. Rapid Fire & Beer League Hotline

Timestamps: 85:01–97:02

Family Feud Hockey Edition

• Quick play-through of actual Family Feud questions from the USA Hockey teams’ recent TV appearance.

All-Time Beer League Drama

• Beer league story: Team’s best free agent (“the stud”, a cop) repeatedly domes shot in warmup, beef with goalie, then arrests said goalie for DUI after a game.
• Team is split: the goalie now refuses to play unless the “stud” is kicked off.
• The hosts’ ruling: “The goalie is in the wrong… you can’t get rid of the guy. If the goalie refuses to play, you go find a new goalie.” (96:27)
• Memorable: “Stop arresting your teammates.” – DP, 96:36

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Notable & Funny Quotes – With Timestamps

• “There is zero problem with this deal, in my opinion.” —DP (10:14)
• “Every single person in the hockey world… trying to make fun of the Blackhawks for this is literally doing it to look cool.” —DP (10:14)
• "You know what? People die every day." —SB (19:29)
• “LeBron goes places and leaves terror in his wake...” —DP (47:32)
• “Don't you want to win?” —SB on ring chasing (36:33)
• “It tastes literally nothing like what it says. And they are doing themselves a disservice." —SB on Tayto Prawn Cocktail chips (52:46)
• “If you let this guy go to another team... that will be the worst moment of your life.” —DP (95:11)

Important Timestamps (Segment Landmarks)

• Patrick Kane contract deep dive: 08:34–27:39
• LeBron to Sixers and ring chasing: 28:44–48:45
• Prawn Cocktail chip test: 48:45–56:00
• The Odyssey film adaptation discussion: 57:19–71:41
• Ryan Gosling joins MCU: 76:17–82:44
• Beer league DUI drama: 89:10–97:02

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Language, Tone, and Atmosphere

• Original language: Irreverent, quick-witted, and frequently profane.
• Vibe: Rowdy, passionate, slightly unhinged—classic Empty Netters. The hosts mix hockey knowledge with pop culture, sibling-style ridicule, and tangent-heavy conversations.

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For Listeners Who Missed It – Why This Episode Matters

• Get the full, nuanced breakdown of Patrick Kane’s Chicago return—from contract mechanics to legacy, stats, and what it means for Blackhawks fans.
• Dive deep into how “rings and legacy” debates play out in both hockey and basketball, from Kane to LeBron.
• Enjoy off-ice banter about quintessentially weird snacks, movie adaptation nerdery, and rowdy beer league stories—true to Empty Netters’ DNA.
• Memorable laughs (“People die every day”, “Stop arresting your teammates”) sit right next to thoughtful sports debate.

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In sum:
This episode is Empty Netters at its best: passionate hockey analysis, no-bullshit takes on sports culture, and a sprawling, hilarious tour of everything on the hosts’ minds—from Patrick Kane’s pay to LeBron’s “curse” to prawn cocktail chip conspiracies and beer league justice. All grounded by sibling chemistry and a sense that anything—on or off the ice—might happen next.

Transcript

[Dan Powers]

Welcome to the empty Netters podcast.

[Sean Buffini]

Can you believe what this has become? There was a full 48 hours where

[Dan Powers]

I felt like I was like, literally Superman. Jumbo loves playing fortnite.

[Chris Powers]

So does he gets on the sticks.

[Dan Powers]

Did TR show you the saunacycle or

[Chris Powers]

was that all you did?

[Sean Buffini]

No, I invented that.

[Dan Powers]

Almost a year now that I haven't

[Sean Buffini]

taken a body check. That's kind of nice.

[Dan Powers]

So we are back. We are horned up and we are going deep.

[Chris Powers]

Finished tonight with some chicken fingers and a few guinnesses.

[Sean Buffini]

Ran into you guys.

[Dan Powers]

That's where this pod came to life. Ice is ready. And we are back with another episode of the MT Netters podcast, brought to you by BetMGM. I'm your host, Dan Powers. We have known astrology hater Sean Buffini on the sticks.

[Sean Buffini]

I'm. Me too, though I don't want him taking all the grenades there. Me too. There was.

[Dan Powers]

I never said anything bad about it. And then over here, C.P. chris Powers, as always. How are you?

[Sean Buffini]

I am.

[Dan Powers]

You scheduled a haircut yet?

[Sean Buffini]

No, but I was trying to, and

[Dan Powers]

then Nikki was full, and then he

[Sean Buffini]

was only free on Friday, and I obviously can't go on Friday, so I was like, okay, I gotta.

[Dan Powers]

Why can't you obviously, you obviously can't go on Friday. Please, please try to say something that you think makes logical sense as to

[Sean Buffini]

why I can't go this Friday.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, you mean this Friday. I thought you meant on Fridays in general.

[Sean Buffini]

Are you insane?

[Dan Powers]

I was like, you are an idiot fool for what time?

[Sean Buffini]

Dude, there is no time.

[Dan Powers]

You are such a pathetic, helpless, helpless alcoholic. It's just absolutely disgusting. Your fiance even knows it. Maybe you, her dog, everyone in the world.

[Sean Buffini]

Oh, yeah, that was funny. Yeah, maybe. Oh, I could check that. We'll get. We're gonna get one. Dude, it's coming in.

[Dan Powers]

Chris was about to have the start of this show be about him looking at a schedule of when he could get a haircut.

[Sean Buffini]

This is important.

[Dan Powers]

That's what you were about to fill air time.

[Sean Buffini]

Important news.

[Dan Powers]

Well, you said maybe you were about to fill air time. What is this with you trying to schedule a haircut?

[Sean Buffini]

I forgot about that. Yeah, this is me tough, Dan. You might never get one.

[Zach]

We do one on the podcast. Should we just have the barber come in?

[Dan Powers]

That would be incredible.

[Sean Buffini]

Come in. That would be so fun. That would be able to do that.

[Dan Powers]

Well, we've got a great surprise coming for this episode that you have know nothing about. We've got fun news to talk about, other fun stuff to talk about. First and foremost, I would like to talk about a video game, if that's okay.

[Sean Buffini]

Oh, my God. Amazing.

[Dan Powers]

Sean, do you play video games ever?

[Zach]

I dabble.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay.

[Dan Powers]

I recently got 007 first light came out recently. Oh, sick.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

I am a sucker for story mode games. So I've talked on this show many a time. Assassin's Creed is my bag. I love those games. The most recent one kind of sucked, but I love those games because the story is so great. I've heard nothing but great things about Red Dead. I got. I downloaded Red Dead and I got like one mission into Red Dead and stopped because I was like this. I can tell how good this game is and I don't have the bandwidth for this. Like, Danny was telling me he has spent.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Days playing that game. And I don't mean accumulatively. I mean literally, he has spent a full day before just playing that game.

[Sean Buffini]

And I can't find him sometimes.

[Dan Powers]

And we're like, it's like 50 hours

[Zach]

to finish Redemption 2.

[Dan Powers]

So I play 007 first light and there's never been a game that is more for me. Like, I am a huge James Bond guy. It's a great story mode. It's a combination of secret agent game where you're doing crazy missions, you know, mowing down bad guys, but then also you have to do secret agent stuff where you have to like spy and eavesdrop and like solve puzzles. And I'm. I'm playing the game and I'm playing it yesterday. I was like, oh, it's a nice Sunday. I'm alone. I'm gonna vid.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

And it just finished. Like, I really don't think I had played it that long. Like.

[Sean Buffini]

You get it yesterday?

[Dan Powers]

No, no, no, no. I got it, you know, months ago. But like, I've only played like three days and I've played for like a couple of hours.

[Zach]

You're just too good, you know, at the game.

[Dan Powers]

I think it's short, honestly. Like, I looked it up and they. I think it said double seven first light. I think it said it was like 14 to 20 hours of gameplay is like the story mode.

[Zach]

Yes. That's 20 hours here.

[Dan Powers]

And like, that's not that much, dude.

[Zach]

I mean, some would say that that's a lot.

[Dan Powers]

Is it?

[Sean Buffini]

And also, what do you mean you've played three days and you just finished this 20 hour game?

[Dan Powers]

Well, it's obviously I've played more than three days. It's probably been like five days. I've probably played like five days for like, two to three hours, and I just don't think that's enough.

[Sean Buffini]

That's. Well, that's still wrong. It says this says 20 to 30 casual players.

[Dan Powers]

No, no, no, no. That's wrong.

[Sean Buffini]

But 20 is the. Is the lowest possible.

[Dan Powers]

Look up the gameplay of red Dead Redemption 2. I think it's like 100 hours.

[Zach]

Yeah, I think. I think. I think it's about 50, 40 to 54.

[Dan Powers]

That's what I.

[Sean Buffini]

And this is 20 to 30.

[Dan Powers]

That can't be the average, because I believe Red Dead is, like, the gold standard. But, like, I'd like 30.

[Sean Buffini]

But you're getting it. Bond is 20 to 30.

[Dan Powers]

No, it's not. I'm telling you, it's there.

[Zach]

Like a multiplayer.

[Dan Powers]

Mine says 14 to 20. I don't know what you're looking at.

[Sean Buffini]

I'm looking at the fucking game.

[Dan Powers]

I don't think there is.

[Zach]

Right.

[Dan Powers]

Put it this way. The game's incredible. I absolutely loved it. And as is always the case with these video games, the story is a movie. It's better than most movies I have seen recently. But I just. I wanted more. I wanted way more. And it was like, 007 will return. But we all know with video games, that means probably in five years.

[Zach]

I've heard really good things about First Light, because that used to be a thing when I was growing up, was that the 007 games were always really good. Yeah. And then they just kind of, like, phased out.

[Dan Powers]

I. That's kind of what I thought. Like, I. It was so funny when I saw this, like, it's, like, popped up on Twitter for me. It was like, double Seven, First Light, new James Bond game. Get it? I was like, oh, they finally made a James Bond game. That's genius. And then I had to think back, and I was like, wait a minute. Goldeneye was, like, the greatest game of all time when I was a kid. So I might play it again. I literally might start from zero, because I was.

[Sean Buffini]

So did you take it to full completion?

[Dan Powers]

I do need to. It was late. I believe there might be, like, a couple of those sides. It looks like. Yeah, there. There might be a couple of those. Like, hey, you can do this little thingy as well. Like, side mission thingies. Yeah. But I took my time. Like, I don't rush through the game. I. I do all the side quests. I, like, try to collect all the little thingies.

[Sean Buffini]

The sides. It looks like the sides cure cancer.

[Dan Powers]

So they do. The sides do cure cancer. The game was incredible. That's all I have to Say he looks like Tom Cruise, the character.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

No, he does not.

[Sean Buffini]

That guy looks like. Looks like Tom Cruise. I don't know if it's a different guy in the actual. No, that's.

[Dan Powers]

That's him from the side. From afar. I'll give you, like, at a quick glance, but when you're playing it. No, he does not.

[Zach]

He has a scar. This version of 007 has a scar on his face.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, a big scar.

[Zach]

That seems like a bad thing for a spy.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, it's very recognizable.

[Dan Powers]

It's incredibly recognizable. You don't really blend in. It's also, when we have Ernst Stavrell Blofeld as maybe the most famous villain in James Bond lore, having a massive scar down the side of his face, I did also find it to be an odd decision, in fairness.

[Zach]

I guess James Bond's thing was never blending in, you know?

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, he's like, Bond, James Bond. And it's like, oh, right.

[Zach]

He has the expensive suits and the expensive cars.

[Dan Powers]

But anyway, it was sick.

[Sean Buffini]

Who's the girl? Is there a smoke girl?

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, there's several.

[Chris Powers]

Fuck.

[Sean Buffini]

I got to get this game.

[Dan Powers]

But you know what's the best part about them is their brains.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, of course they are.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

It's James Bond.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

And like, Moneypenny rocks. God, it's just a great game.

[Zach]

The. I haven't seen the last James Bond film. I heard it was really good.

[Dan Powers]

It's really good. No Time to die.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Zach]

I did see the killer, though, which is kind of James Bond esque, but like a lot more kind of like gritty and. Yeah, that was good. Yes.

[Dan Powers]

The Fassbender movie.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Fincher movie.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Really good score in that film.

[Zach]

Really good score.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Finch and Ross or Trent Reznor and.

[Zach]

Oh.

[Sean Buffini]

Oh, great.

[Dan Powers]

Atticus Ross. Let's get into some hockey talk.

[Sean Buffini]

Sure.

[Dan Powers]

Let's get into some news. Patrick Kane's got to be the biggest news of the day.

[Sean Buffini]

Showtime.

[Dan Powers]

Showtime.

[Sean Buffini]

He's back. He signs a two year deal to return to the Hawks at 8 million AAV. What was he making? I do need to look that up.

[Dan Powers]

I believe it was four.

[Sean Buffini]

That might be wrong with the wings.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay, let's see here. Patrick Kane.

[Dan Powers]

The amount of airtime Chris is using searching today is.

[Sean Buffini]

That is a normal time.

[Zach]

Gotta fill out this.

[Dan Powers]

Just saying to start, you're doing a lot of searching.

[Sean Buffini]

Any episode that you're not searching is a horrible episode.

[Dan Powers]

So what if you just know all the information?

[Sean Buffini]

Because then you're surprised by nothing that's actually coming to read the stuff you've looked up. I want to learn on the show.

[Dan Powers]

Okay.

[Sean Buffini]

I like that he was making. He signed a one year in 20, 23, 24, he made 2.75 from the wings. 24, 25. He made 4.

[Dan Powers]

But this is not. That's not his AAV. This is like you're looking at like the salary breakdown. No one gives a flying fuck about that. They only care about the aav.

[Sean Buffini]

I think you signing one year deals. That's what this says. At least one year deal. One year deal. One year deal.

[Dan Powers]

That actually is probably true.

[Sean Buffini]

It was his average annual value for that.

[Dan Powers]

Fucking people did give a flying fuck about that.

[Sean Buffini]

4 mil 24, 25. 3 mil 25, 26.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

And then the Blackhawks go like this. Try eight.

[Dan Powers]

I'm going to clap at you here, dude.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

I think every single person in the hockey world who is trying to go like this, look at me. Let me stick my nose up in the air and make fun of the Blackhawks for this is literally doing it to look cool and to try to make a clickbait moment. There is zero problem with this deal, in my opinion.

[Sean Buffini]

There's. There's only. Okay, go. Go on.

[Dan Powers]

Let me. Let me. Steve Corellia. 0. 0.

[Sean Buffini]

What's his name? Mark.

[Dan Powers]

Mark Baum.

[Sean Buffini]

Mark Baum.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

And then Gosling goes. He did that.

[Dan Powers]

He did see what I was dealing with. He really actually did that.

[Sean Buffini]

A great movie.

[Dan Powers]

There is zero problem with this deal.

[Sean Buffini]

I have two things to tell you, okay. One, this camp is that there is a slight problem with this deal. But I actually think you're right. Like, you can ignore the slight problem with this deal. But then in this camp, there is a massive problem with this deal, which I will face you with.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Here's my take. First of all, Patty Kane had 57 points in 67 games last year.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

So everyone was conveniently forgetting about the fact that Patrick Kane is still very good at hockey. So here you go. He is a great player. The homecoming element of this is worth its weight in gold. This is going to be electric. It's going to sell so many more. You know, it's the same jerseys that they have, but people are going to buy new Blackhawks jerseys with Patrick Kane on it. Patrick Kane being a very similar build type player to Connor Bedard. Playing with Connor Bedard will be nothing but good. It's going to be great for selling out tickets. It's going to be great for media. All this, like the business side is what I'm Saying that is going to be a very big win. He is a good player barring any injuries. Who is going to perform for the Blackhawks for I would guess at least one year, probably the two years.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

$8 million with this team that has no one signed is not a big fucking deal at all. And I think the bigger thing, and if you want to talk about this being a problem, you can, but it has nothing to do with Patrick Kane. Who else are they signing? Dude, yeah, seriously, I'm.

[Sean Buffini]

I'm.

[Dan Powers]

I'm asking a question. Literally no one. No one like we went through all of ufa. No one was signing with Chicago. No one is asking for a trade to Chicago. So you need players. I would rather Bedard played with Patrick Kane then with. No, I'm not going to disrespect anybody, but you know what I mean. No one like a random guy. Call someone up from the fucking wolves and be the wolf pack and be like, I'll play with. Play with us. Like, no pass. This is a good move. The 8 mil is going to be gone like that. The one thing I will say, I think it is insane that he is a full no move. Yeah, because no, no, because frankly, like, dude, Patrick Kane, you are the greatest US Hockey player of all time. But if I'm Davidson and I give this guy 8 mil, I give him $16 million. I'm going like this. I will send you in the fuck your bra. I am giving you a full no move because like if they get to a place, dude, where they are missing the playoffs and someone who is about to ring chase it looks at Patrick Kane and goes, I'll give you a first round pick for him. I'm Kyle Davidson. I'm going like this. Yes, you will. And I'm going to take. It is crazy to me that he is also like this. Let me steal all your money and also give me a full no move.

[Sean Buffini]

Dude, remind me to talk about a movie thing later in this that I wanted to say right there, but I can't derail this conversation. I won. You're right. I wonder if they go, dude, I will give you a no move so that I can't just fuck you. Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Not gonna send you to Calgary, but you need to.

[Sean Buffini]

Sorry. Calgary. Jesus Christ.

[Dan Powers]

I was just thinking of a place that Patrick Kane wouldn't go.

[Sean Buffini]

The poor people in Alberta. That was awful. If he. Maybe he went, dude, I won't. I'll give you the no move so I don't have the ability to fuck you in the dark of Night. But you need to understand that you will be waving this if the right opportunity. Maybe I don't know that they had no opportunity.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, I agree. Like, you have to. That has to be a possibility.

[Sean Buffini]

Debbie Kaner was like, yeah, no problem.

[Zach]

We'll talk.

[Sean Buffini]

So, dude, this camp that I was talking about, that it's actually not that bad is the money. It's the people that are going 8 million to that I say they need to spend money. They are spending it on nobody else. It's only two years. I wish it was one for their sake, but it's only two years. So largely, who cares? Even though. Even though 8 million is. I don't know how we got to that number. Like, I gotta believe if they'd been like, hey, dude, here's a two year, four AAV contract, he would have gone, sure is one of those. It was one of those, like, negotiation things where the guy slides you the paper and it's like five times what you. What your paper said. And you're like, yes. Like, there's just no way he thought he was getting anywhere near 8 million AMV. And then he's like, oh, my God.

[Dan Powers]

I mean, like, all jokes aside, I think a lot. Lot of people's like, it was just. It is so much higher than he was just on. And that people probably expected. But yeah, like there. I mean, I've seen a couple of creators being like, this is the worst contract of it. And I'm just like, no, it's not.

[Sean Buffini]

That's the camp that's wrong.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

Even though I will slightly say too, Dan, you. And so was I. But we were both last year as the Wings were winging again. Yeah. We're like, you need more.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

I mean, more out of package.

[Dan Powers]

He only had 16 goals.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

And that's seven games.

[Sean Buffini]

But still.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, but I mean, still, right?

[Sean Buffini]

Could have got 20. Like, I think 20 is the mark

[Dan Powers]

for him where I'm like 20 in 67. If he had had 20. Like, if. Let's bump that up and let's say Patrick Kane had 61 points in 67 games and 20 goals. I'd be like this. That's exactly agreed.

[Sean Buffini]

Agreed.

[Dan Powers]

So, like, he wasn't that far off. But yeah, I'm with you. We need 20 from Patty Kane and

[Sean Buffini]

now he's another year older, another year closer to death.

[Dan Powers]

So, dude, that people do forget that. That objectively he is closer to death than he was last year.

[Sean Buffini]

He's on the wigs. Here is the camp where it's not good in my opinion, The people of Chicago got the blessing. The hockey fans of Chicago got the blessing of watching Patrick Kane.

[Dan Powers]

I think I'm gonna disagree with this.

[Sean Buffini]

And Johnny Taze, and it was amazing, and it was so good. And when Taze was coming back, I remember people being like, I hope he goes to Chicago. And he just said, he's gonna retire, do the one day retire as a Hawk. Amazing. But they were like, I hope he goes back to Chicago. For that. He went to Winnipeg, which was actually a homecoming for him, and cool. And then was not good. It wasn't bad, but he was just like, whatever.

[Dan Powers]

Couldn't really play.

[Sean Buffini]

And I am like, if I'm a Chicago fan, I'm like, I'm glad I didn't have to watch Johnny Tay's kind of stink. I'm glad he just kind of stunk on Winnipeg. And I love him for everything. He's one of my favorite players ever. And he gave me such three Cups and such joy.

[Dan Powers]

I think I disagree with that, dude. Patrice Bergeron could come out of retirement right now and play for the Bruins and come out on the ice with a walker. And I would go like this.

[Sean Buffini]

Yes, I would cheer the year, but I would. And I would cheer for him every time he's out there. But it would make me sad if the Bruins were, like, floundering and missing a playoff spot because he was a dash 20.

[Dan Powers]

But I was like, oh, my God. I think the difference, though is. And I don't want Chicago fans to get mad at me here, because I do think last year they were very exciting at the beginning of the year. Like, the Chicago. Chicago fans at the beginning of the year were like, we're going to make playoffs. And I was like, you're probably not, but this is great momentum. And Bedard looked amazing. I don't think this team's going to make playoffs. And to me, I'm like, so what if. If. If Bedard comes back from this surgery and performs the way I believe he's going to perform, and you get him and Patty Kane connecting on the power play here and there, and they just miss playoffs. I'm like, that was a fucking win. Like you read about. I mean, dude, we saw the Buffalo Sabres last year make the playoffs for the first time in what was 16 years.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

And everyone and their mother was trying to go to playoff games. And they were like, no, we need every cent of this money. Like the Blackhawks, you know, they're fine, obviously, but, like, they. This is going to be a good boost for them in a lot of ways. And if they miss playoffs and Patrick Kane plays fine, I think it is a colossal win.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay, I'm not as sold on that, but that's not even guaranteed. Like, they might miss playoffs and he stinks.

[Dan Powers]

And there's no, you think that's even remotely possible?

[Sean Buffini]

I don't think there, I don't think

[Dan Powers]

there is any way that this dude who, frankly, man, get your money. But I don't think Patty Kane is signing a two year deal if he himself feels like his body is like, dude, I am close to dead.

[Sean Buffini]

Agree. But I just comes fast, right? Like, he had that, he had that hip injury that people were like, he might never play again.

[Dan Powers]

And he's back, dude.

[Sean Buffini]

I know, but I'm saying, like, one tweak and he's like, oh, and on an injury, that's not fair because, you know, people, you know, people get hurt all the time. People die.

[Dan Powers]

People die. People die every day.

[Sean Buffini]

But if he's just like, oh, man, I picked up a knock and it slowed me down. And he scores 12 goals and the Hawks stink. Yeah, I, I, I'm legit. Because when he came back on the wings and he scored that shootout goal in Chicago and I was like, what? That was the greatest return ever. Like, he's like, how are you?

[Dan Powers]

This is me.

[Sean Buffini]

I almost just wanted both sides, Dan. I wanted the fans to only have their Patrick Kane memories of epic Hawks tenure, and I wanted him to only have his memories of when I was a Hawk. I was a fucking golden God. And now he just comes back like, hey, what's up?

[Dan Powers]

I, I, I, I think that your take is you're doing it out of love. It is, it is a purely love, I'm telling you. I think you are, I think you're being too scared. I'm scared because, like, he's only, he's 37.

[Sean Buffini]

Like, he's, I can't even get out of bed in the morning.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, but you are a crippling alcoholic who treats your body like a dumpster. And he doesn't.

[Sean Buffini]

We don't know that.

[Dan Powers]

We don't. That's actually fair.

[Sean Buffini]

We don't know that.

[Dan Powers]

That is actually fair. But I just, I don't think he's as close to the back of the shed as you think.

[Sean Buffini]

The other interesting thing, I thought from his pov, and this is also said out of love for him, and I'm sorry, Hawks fans, he's got three cups. He's the highest scoring American of all time. Like, he doesn't need more accolades, surely. And I'm actually going to get into a ring chasing conversation in a second. But I'm slightly surprised. When he went. He went Hawks. Rags. Rags. Wings, right?

[Dan Powers]

Correct.

[Sean Buffini]

So when he went to New York, that team was good. That team was a team that people were like, this team is trying to win.

[Dan Powers]

Absolutely.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

And I remember it was like they fleeced Chicago because he was like, I will only go to New York. And then that did not go well.

[Sean Buffini]

Correct. And then Detroit, which. This sounds hilarious now, considering Detroit hasn't made the playoffs for seven years and Yzerman has been fired. But when he went to Detroit, I remember thinking on talking with you on the show, like, hell, yes, Detroit is. Is making a push. This is a. This is a great signing. They are going to compete.

[Dan Powers]

It's like 10 years, by the way.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, yeah, I guess Eiserman's was seven years, but, like, they haven't made it in a long time. He went to the Wings to win. You know, I'm not saying he was. He was going to the super team, but he went to the Wings to win.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

This. This is to me. And I'm again, I'm sorry, Chicago feels a little concessiony of like, I'm just going to go play for the Hawks and then retire with literally zero chance of winning a cup, and then my career's over.

[Zach]

Oh, crap.

[Sean Buffini]

Zero chance. Zero.

[Dan Powers]

Zero.

[Sean Buffini]

So I'm like, oh, wow. And no knock. If you want to go back to Chicago, go back to Chicago. But I was like, if I'm Patrick Kane and I still don't think I have a little gas in the tank, which we both think he does. I probably would have tried to go somewhere where I'm like, I might take a bit at winning one more time. They might not even make playoffs for two years. I hope they do, but they might not even make playoffs either of these two years and then he just retires.

[Dan Powers]

That is also very possible. But it's also weird. The Ducks making playoffs last year came slightly out of nowhere, and then they beat the Oilers. And then there was a period when we were there in Anaheim when they beat Vegas, where we were like, they might go to the Western Conference final.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

So, like, it can happen quick. But again, when I look at the Ducks roster construction last year, it is so much better than the Blackhawks roster construction. So, yeah, I mean, if the Hawks make the playoffs last year, it is going to take colossal cliff dives by multiple teams. That's not a knock on Chicago. That's Just like, you're in a really hard division.

[Sean Buffini]

It happens.

[Dan Powers]

You're in a really hard division. There's a lot of really good teams right now. It would be a really amazing achievement for the Blackhawks to make playoffs, let alone win a Stanley Cup.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

So, yeah, it is a weird thing. I mean, I don't think it's that weird. I think he signs this deal and he's like, yeah, cool.

[Sean Buffini]

He gave me a shitload of money.

[Dan Powers]

I'm gonna play some. I got 16 million more dollars.

[Sean Buffini]

And, dude, maybe we don't know this. It's been a minute, right? He's been a free agent for. Since July 1st.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

Maybe he wasn't getting any offers from teams that were actual contenders. So he's like, all right, fuck it. I'll go to Chicago for 8 million. But if he was, I'm kind of surprised that he's essentially signing up to never win a cup again.

[Dan Powers]

I do.

[Zach]

I am.

[Dan Powers]

I mean, like, I love Vlasic. We both love Bowen Byram. But, like, I. There's stuff I like about this team. Dude.

[Sean Buffini]

Dude, they're. They're not.

[Dan Powers]

Renzel and Levshinov on D. I love. We love Frondell, Obviously. We think Bedard's going to have the best year of his career when he comes back from this surgery. I love Oliver Moore and obviously we love Nazar, but who knows? Maybe we get a lot of big jumps.

[Sean Buffini]

Well, but big jump would be playoffs. Like, they can't win. Big jump is like, wow, they might make playoffs.

[Dan Powers]

Little big jump. They make playoffs this year and blow everyone's dicks off.

[Sean Buffini]

Big jump again.

[Dan Powers]

And then next year, because of the big jump and playoffs, a bunch of guys are like, I'll sign in Chicago. But then they go, we can't because we have no money because of how

[Sean Buffini]

much you paid Patrick Kane and Bull and Byron. Because everyone said, it doesn't matter, just pay. It doesn't matter. We gotta hit the floor.

[Dan Powers]

No, listen, I think Chicago is. We were having this conversation the other week. I think they're way closer than people think. Because I do believe in. I believe in the big jump. I believe in Connor Bedard. But I agree with you this. I think this is just like a cool, really awesome homecoming. I think he's going to do well. And I think he will retire a Blackhawk as they are starting to enter playoffs.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep. Which is cool. I'll give you this, A couple tidbits. Couple, couple, couple. Eichel watch couple. Kaner watch things for next year.

[Dan Powers]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

Kaner has 1400 points on the nose, which is gas for the Hawks or for all host teams. And he is. I would like him to get to the 1500 mark. That'd be cool. He should. But he's been just over 50 the last couple years and I would like him to do that.

[Dan Powers]

I bet he can do that.

[Sean Buffini]

Me too. You gotta stay healthy.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

And then in Hawk, I was actually shocked by this. Cause I was like, oh, he's about to chase down some Hawks records. But he's actually like kind of far behind the guys. So in hawks history, he's third in goals all time. 446 behind Bobby Hull. 604 and Stan Makita 541. Those feel uncatchable unless he play. Unless he signs another.

[Zach]

No, no, no.

[Dan Powers]

Those are.

[Sean Buffini]

Those are uncatchable.

[Dan Powers]

Those are uncatchable.

[Sean Buffini]

And he's second in assists, 779 and points, 125. Makita had 926 assists and 1467 points. Both feel uncatchable.

[Dan Powers]

Both are uncatchable.

[Sean Buffini]

He's third all time games. 1,161 behind Mak. 1,396 uncatchable. But Duncan Keith, 1,192. Which he will get. Which he will break this year. Dude.

[Dan Powers]

And what. How. How funny that text is going to be because, like, I bet. I bet Keith was like this. Gotcha.

[Sean Buffini]

Got him.

[Dan Powers]

And now Kaner signs again for two years.

[Sean Buffini]

And he's like this.

[Dan Powers]

Not only did I just get 16 mil, but I'm also coming for that number two spot.

[Sean Buffini]

You. Yep. So I want him to catch Keith in games. And even though he can't catch the guys in goals getting, he's at 446. So he's 54 goals away from 500.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, maybe. Maybe we get to 1500 points all time and we get to 500 Hawks goals.

[Sean Buffini]

That's my big. I really want in the next two years, Patrick Kane needs to score 54 goals. That's. Which I think he can do.

[Dan Powers]

That's really fun. 500.

[Sean Buffini]

It's a lot. Like, he. It's. He needs two big years.

[Zach]

He needs.

[Dan Powers]

He needs two ceiling years.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Like, what is current ceiling?

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah. Where I'm like, that's the best we got. I love that he hasn't scored. Wow. That's actually crazy.

[Dan Powers]

When was the last time you scored 30?

[Sean Buffini]

Last time he scored 30 was 2019. 2020. He scored 33. Then he scored 15 and 56. Then he scored 26 but that's. Then it was 2116. 5 20, 2116. And I knew I do need two 27 goal seasons.

[Dan Powers]

No, we need two 20 or. Yeah, yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

So it's going to be tough, but I really want him to get 500 goals.

[Dan Powers]

This is the, this is the art of Connor Bedard. That's what I'm saying.

[Sean Buffini]

So get the keeper going, Caner. Watch 54 Goals and I'm saying yes, Dan. I'm taking the hit because he's going to be rejuvenated and they're. They need him. They need him. They need him to score. So give me 54 goals from Patrick Kane in the next two years. 50. Mark 500. Mark 1500. 1500 points. 500 Hawks goals and more games than Keith.

[Zach]

Boom.

[Dan Powers]

Done.

[Sean Buffini]

That should be pretty sick.

[Dan Powers]

Incredible. You want to take an ad break?

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, let's take an break.

[Dan Powers]

Let's take an ad break. Let's talk about BETMG for a second.

[Sean Buffini]

You know that we love BETMGM more than anything over here at Empty Netters. And I want you to feel that love. I want you to enjoy the love and the warmth and the joy and the happiness that I feel. You deserve that. I deserve it. You deserve it. So if you haven't signed up for BETMGM yet, use that bonus code, netters. It's nett e r s When you sign up and you get up to a fifteen hundred dollar new player offer on your first wager. Here's how it works. All you have to do is download the BetMGM app and then you sign up using that bonus code, netters. And then you just deposit 10 bucks. At least 10 bucks and placed your first wager on any game. Literally anything you want. Put at least 10 bucks. Boom. Make the wager. If that bet wins, cash, you won your bet. Good job. If that bet loses, you receive up to fifteen hundred dollars in bonus bets. Then you get access to second chance promos, odds boost tokens, same game parlays. So much action cooking up with BetMGM. You get all of it and you get the new player offer. All you have to do is sign up and use that code netters. It's incredible. BetMGM. Make it legendary.

[Dan Powers]

All right, now we're going to do some hockey on the court.

[Chris Powers]

Ooh.

[Dan Powers]

We're going to talk basketball, dude. The I. I'm actually, I'm more excited to talk about this than I am anything in today's episode.

[Sean Buffini]

Me too.

[Dan Powers]

So the I really hope all of our listeners aren't pissed that we're talking basketball.

[Sean Buffini]

But here's the thing.

[Dan Powers]

The court goes on on top of the ice. Also, it's the offseason at a lot of rinks.

[Zach]

Our listeners have to listen to us talk about a lot of different things. Basketball, surely the least of their concerns.

[Sean Buffini]

I was going to say Sean, when I'm Sean.

[Dan Powers]

Talk about Sean not getting haircuts, cuts,

[Zach]

about him not showering, about him not using the same towel for eight months at a time. Like, surely basketball is the thing that's more closely related to hockey.

[Dan Powers]

That you are correct. But I don't know. This might be the straw that broke the camel's back. People might be like this basketball on this hockey podcast.

[Sean Buffini]

Y, sir. Well, the court goes on top of the ice.

[Dan Powers]

It sure does.

[Sean Buffini]

A lot of re. At a lot of arenas, so.

[Dan Powers]

And including this one.

[Sean Buffini]

Will you put the ice down, kaner? Now we're putting the court down.

[Dan Powers]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

We are following protocol here. Correct. This is standard procedure.

[Dan Powers]

And LeBron James has chosen to join the Philadelphia 76ers. That deserves to be talked about on any sports podcast.

[Sean Buffini]

I agree. And it's also the biggest sports story of the summer.

[Dan Powers]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

All right. Post World Cup, I guess.

[Chris Powers]

Yes.

[Dan Powers]

And we talked all about World Cup. We're doing our job.

[Sean Buffini]

And, Sean, you aren't a big sports ball guy, But I'm sure LeBron choosing the Sixers came across your desk. I'm sure you heard about that.

[Zach]

I've heard whispers.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

See, like, objectively, this is not the first moment you've heard about this.

[Zach]

No, this is not the first moment I've heard about this.

[Sean Buffini]

That's what I'm saying. It's a big deal. LeBron James to the Philadelphia 76ers.

[Dan Powers]

I have so many things to say about this.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay, what would you like to talk about first?

[Dan Powers]

I would first like to talk about Philly fans moving the goalposts.

[Sean Buffini]

Oh, okay.

[Dan Powers]

So first of all, the. This is a moment of celebration. I don't care if you hate LeBron.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

I have spent many years of my life hating LeBron until many, several years ago. I bet the knee. I was like, you are the greatest basketball player to ever live. He's not my goat, if that makes sense, but I do think he is the greatest basketball player to ever live.

[Sean Buffini]

I don't know if that makes sense,

[Dan Powers]

but I will take MJ. But I think LeBron is the greatest basketball player.

[Sean Buffini]

So I think. And I'm not trying to.

[Dan Powers]

We're not. We can't get into that discussion.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay.

[Dan Powers]

But I bent the Knee. And I was like, this man is undeniably amazing. This is a moment of celebration. If he had signed with the Celtics, I would have been like, holy shit, that's unbelievable. Which, by the way, I actually think that would have been the coolest thing for him to do, because I believe genuinely that the only fan base in the NBA that objects objectively still tries to be like, I hate that loser. Yeah. Is Boston fans. And they would have sucked him off immediately the second he signed. It would have been the coolest heel move by LeBron to be like this. And I've got you now, too.

[Sean Buffini]

But Dan, I actually think he up because did you see during this process, his comments where the only team in the league he wouldn't sign for is Boston?

[Chris Powers]

Correct.

[Dan Powers]

And I was like, you're a. I disagree completely. I think he. That it might be the only integrity he has left is his hate for Boston.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay.

[Dan Powers]

Like, it truly. Yeah. Like, he's like, I will not. I. I was talking about every team, and you guys, I hate you. So this is a moment of celebration. And affiliate fans who celebrated. You deserve to. Fucking locks. Running around shirtless in his apartment being like, oh, my God, yeah.

[Chris Powers]

Oh.

[Dan Powers]

And I'm like, yeah. That's how you should respond. Yeah. However, what I am seeing a lot now is a lot of Philly fans in that moment, screaming, locks included. It's championship or bust. And now, come Monday morning, a lot of people are on. On the Bird app. They're on their shows, talking this and that, and they're going, well, I mean, it's. You know, It's. He's like 41. He's. Is he. Is he 42? How old?

[Sean Buffini]

I don't know.

[Chris Powers]

Let me see.

[Dan Powers]

They're like, he's in his 40s. He's on a vet minimum deal. Like, this isn't LeBron, LeBron 41. And I'm like, you're not allowed to do that. You traded Paul George's albatross, horrendous contract, and you got Jaylen Brown and LeBron James from it. You. I don't care what the fucking sportsbook odds say. It is championship or bust for this team, and you are not allowed to go. Well, no. I mean, no, no, no, no.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Like, buy in, guys. Fully buy in. And it's okay if you bust. A lot of us bust.

[Sean Buffini]

I bust all the time.

[Zach]

You.

[Dan Powers]

You cannot. You cannot.

[Sean Buffini]

I've always busted.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

Incredible.

[Chris Powers]

You can't.

[Dan Powers]

It's a sign of a healthy body. You cannot run around and be like, oh, my God. LeBron James, Jaylen Brown, Tyrese Maxey, VJ Edgecomb, Joel Embiid, and then go, I

[Sean Buffini]

hope we have a good season.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Like, it is championship or bust. It's. And it's. That is good. Don't then try to say the. Oh, well, he's old. Oh, it's a vet. No, no, no, no. Embrace it and understand that you are going to get shit talked. If you lose, that is okay. Because if you win, you get to ram it down everyone's throats. But you cannot have both.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, dude, that's sport. This is also a Portnoy thing where he goes. He's like, that. That is. That's how this works. Like, you. You get to. If you win, you get to brag and grave dance for a year. Yeah. And if you lose, then you have to suck it up and take all the beatings because there's no middle ground of like, I'm just here to have fun. This is nom, dude. And correct. Like, what are you talking about? Also, I loved the resurfacing of that Embiid stream when they. It's like right after the SEAS one and they're talking about Tatum kind of like compared to Embiid, and they're like, tatum's won a ring. And Embiid goes, he's got a super team. If I have an off night, we get blown out. Like, it's easy to be Jason Tatum. And I'm like, first of all, that Celtics team was not a super team, you fucking clown. Second of all, now here you go. You have the superst of super teams I've ever seen on earth. So same with not just Philly fans. Same with Joel Embiid. Either you win the title this year and you get to go see, I just needed my super team, which, first of all, you shouldn't need a super team to win, but fine. And second of all, if you lose, you now have to wear all of that forever.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

You got everybody and then lost. So I'm with you on that big time.

[Dan Powers]

How much of a factor do you think the fact that Caleb Love and Dean Wade are on this team played into LeBron's decision? Like, he saw Wade on the back of jersey and Love on the back of Jersey and was like, I've done that before.

[Sean Buffini]

And one. I did that in one. Did that in one how?

[Dan Powers]

I'm just saying.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep. I like, I think it's huge.

[Dan Powers]

Every. People are posting the graphics of all the players on this team, and I don't think enough people are Talking about Caleb Love and Dean Wade. I think they might be the two most important pieces on this team.

[Sean Buffini]

I think so, too. Just for. Just for morale. Just saying. Do you think he's. He's won a ring everywhere he's gone. Every time he goes somewhere, they win.

[Zach]

Boom.

[Dan Powers]

That is an actual fact.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep. Except for his Cleveland first stand.

[Dan Powers]

Doesn't matter because he. Because he came back and finished the job.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah. Yep. So history is on their side of winning a ring here.

[Dan Powers]

Do you think where LeBron goes, he brings champions?

[Sean Buffini]

I want to. I want to ask. This is what I was talking about with Kane earlier. I want to have a conversation about ring. Ring chasing.

[Dan Powers]

I. Yeah, I think I've spoken about this.

[Sean Buffini]

I don't think. Yeah, maybe you have. I don't know why people get so mad about this.

[Dan Powers]

I don't get it at all, dude.

[Sean Buffini]

Like, don't you want to win?

[Dan Powers]

I don't get it at all.

[Sean Buffini]

I want to go to a terrible team. Like, honestly.

[Dan Powers]

Because you know what I find so funny? Here's the deal. If. If you are a full on sellsword and you go to a different team every two years and you're really good. That I don't think we've ever seen anything like that. I think in the NHL, the best example of ring chasing that I can really think of is Marion Hosa. No disrespect to Marion Hosa. I love Marion Hosa. But like, he had that period where he was like every. He would join a team, they would lose in the final and then he would get traded to the other team, they would lose and then he eventually wound up in Chicago and they won and it was like, nice job.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

But he is like an all star player. That had a really funny. Because, like, wasn't he on Pitt and lost to Detroit and then went to Detroit and lost to Pitt and then he went to Chicago even that's like

[Sean Buffini]

barely ring chasing because he's so sick. And he was like, we want this guy.

[Dan Powers]

Yes. But like, that is. That is ring chasing. Like, Jerome McGinlow was ring chasing at the end. I don't give a fuck. I want you to get your ring, especially if you're that good of a player. I look at players who ring chase and when I. At the end of it, if they get one, we all love the story.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

I mean, Taylor hall was not doing this at all. But how often were we talking about Taylor hall during this Carolina run being like, I'm so happy that Taylor hall is getting his ring.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

We talk about it with Brent Burns, when Chicago or Colorado loses, we were like, fuck, Burnsy. Like, we want him to get a ring. Everyone loves it. And when they do achieve it, it's amazing when they don't. Like a Jarome Iginla, for example, I'm not like, that looks so lame. I'm like, that was electric. Yeah, it was awesome. Seeing Jerome McGinla playing for the Aves and the Bruins and the Penguins. Like, it was. It's objectively cool when these fan bases get these legendary players, and it sucks when they don't get it, but I'm like, at least you went for it. I look at a fucking Dame Lillard, and I'm like, this. You died in Portland, dude. Like, what are you doing? Why did you do that?

[Chris Powers]

Especially.

[Sean Buffini]

Especially when they get older. Like, everyone you just listed is an older player. And LeBron is 41. He's old. I think the. It's easier to hate on the Durant ring chase because he was in the peak of his powers. Going to a 73 win team. You go, okay, yes, this is ridiculous. But when someone's 41 and they go, oh, you went to a team that. That's already good. I'm like, yeah, dude, I'm sorry. I didn't want to go.

[Dan Powers]

And brother to.

[Sean Buffini]

I don't even know the thing with LeBron.

[Dan Powers]

Like, I saw someone being like. I mean, he went to, like, the second Jaylen Brown showed up, he goes there. I was like, yeah, no shit. Because, like, all the people talking about Cleveland, no disrespect Cleveland, Like, I just listen. I know they're a good team, but I was like, I don't think Cleveland's that good. And, like, he already won in Cleveland. I know it's his home and all that bullshit, but I'm like, why? What the fuck is the point of LeBron at 41 going to any team that is not a top three contender in the league?

[Sean Buffini]

This is his best. This team was by far his best chance to win. By far.

[Dan Powers]

There is. There is no point. Like, if he didn't sign here, I would have hoped he signed in Miami or in New York. Yeah, those are the only teams that made sense to me. So I'm like, of course. Do this. Of course. My other two points on this are, one, the dude, if and when the 76ers win a championship, not only is Brad Stevens fired, but Brad Stevens should be disbarred. He can never have a job in basketball again, and the entire front office of the Boston Celtics should be fired. And I, Danny did a great job explaining, like, this is the new CBA or whatever. It's like this is going to happen to a lot of teams where like, you're going to get fucked and you're just going to have to eat a different or, you know, lose player edict, whatever, whatever. But it is insane that in the east, within reason, the Knicks and the Sixers are probably the two biggest rivals of the Boston Celtics. And you've lost to the Knicks when you frankly shouldn't have. Or you lost to the Sixers when you definitely shouldn't have. You lost the Knicks two years ago. Right. And you have watched the Knicks win a championship and now you've got like this take Jaylen Brown and subsequently get LeBron James because of it. Yep. Like, you are. This is like, the Celtics are so dead if the Sixers win. It is unbelievable. I will like, Brad Stevens is fired on the spot if they win.

[Sean Buffini]

I, yeah, like this so much depends on what he does. Because, because you're right. We had to get rid of Jaylen Brown, but the idea that there was no other option other than Philly to send him is so crazy. And dude, I, this is my, this is my next point. What is your. How are you going to root for this to shake out as a, like, obviously you're a Celtics fan. You're not the biggest basketball fan. Neither am I. But as a Celtics fan, as a Boston fan, I, I love what goes through your masochistic. My masochistic brain too, about what you want to happen with now that this super team exists.

[Dan Powers]

I. My current situation with the Celtics is I do not see a way forward. Yeah. I don't like, I love fast pp. I, you know, decent little pick. But like Paul George is a corpse parading around in a NBA uniform.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

I like the Celtics are a first round loss and I don't know what their plan is. I don't know if they have a plan. Yeah. But like Derek White's great, Pritchard's great. Tatum is obviously a top five player in the NBA in my opinion. They are not winning shit. So it is literally just about who, who do you lose to and who winning is the least brutal thing. I loved the Knicks this year.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

I actually, dude, I was talking about this the other day. I do think the Knicks winning a championship should have been this like, that is one of the most all time moments ever. And I can't wait for the city to just be a party for the rest of time. And I actually do. I'm not Trolling. I do believe that the World cup And now this LeBron news has overshadowed that.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, I, That's a fair take. I wonder if it was just. I was gonna say, I wonder if it's just because we're old now and things matter less.

[Dan Powers]

No, dude, I have a lot of New York Knicks fans out here, and I barely hear them talking about. I would be. I wouldn't stop talking about it if I were a New York Knicks fan. And, like, they've kind of been cucked by the World cup and Argentina being cheaters and.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Powers]

But it's like, that is a factor. So I don't know. Like, I, I, I think I want New York to go back to back because Wemby's a villain now, though. Oh, you know what? I would have loved to have seen LeBron go to Minnesota because I love the war.

[Chris Powers]

Me too.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

I love Ant. And, like, if he had gone there and made them better and made them

[Sean Buffini]

win that, I think Ant wouldn't have liked it. Ants 2 ant's 2 alpha.

[Dan Powers]

Ant is.

[Sean Buffini]

Get the out of here.

[Dan Powers]

How do you think Embiid's gonna handle? Cuz, like, this is LeBron's team now. Wherever LeBron goes, it is his team.

[Sean Buffini]

Well, that's what he's saying. He's saying, I'm not gonna. I won't touch the ball that much. Whatever. Whatever. But it's just the, the fan, the frenzy around it is gonna change.

[Dan Powers]

Okay, so I have two ohs.

[Sean Buffini]

Well, let me say how what I think about the super.

[Dan Powers]

Okay, okay, okay.

[Sean Buffini]

Because that's what I was asking you. I legitimately. Dude, I root so many people now. Unless you are Philly, the narrative is I want them to lose. That's what I'm hearing. Philly fans, of course, want the win. Everyone else is like, God, they're the villains now. Ben Barrett was like, I'm about to enter a generational hate watch. Which was very funny. I love that I, in my twisted brain, literally become fans of them. Like, I'm like, I hope they win because it's just. It's so crazy that this has happened that I'm like, they have to win now. And I also hope the Celtics miss the playoffs because I don't want to have to get steamrolled by these guys in the first round. I'm just like, leave me alone.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

Missed playoffs, I hope. Phil.

[Dan Powers]

I mean, it's a very weird. Like, I love Jalen Brown so much, and I. I'm like, I'd love to see Jalen win again. But then I'm like, do I want to see Embiid win? Like, I think Embiid is such a clown.

[Sean Buffini]

Bum, bum.

[Dan Powers]

And so, like, I don't know. But here are my two. Oh, yeah. Number one, we got windy out here. Reporting that LeBron is apparently going to live in New York City and commute to games via helicopter.

[Sean Buffini]

What? Dude, you got.

[Dan Powers]

Did we learn nothing?

[Sean Buffini]

That's your guy. Dude.

[Dan Powers]

Did we learn nothing?

[Sean Buffini]

That's literally your guy.

[Dan Powers]

Truly. Truly. That is the biggest tempting fate I've ever heard in my life. What are you talking about?

[Sean Buffini]

He. Because that means even for the road games, he, I presume, will fly with the team. So he has to helicopter to the Philly airport to then fly with the team. Like, he won't fly alone from New York.

[Dan Powers]

Are you flying to practice, brother?

[Sean Buffini]

No, he's helicoptering to practice. They don't practice.

[Dan Powers]

I just said flying. Like, yeah, the helicopters fly. What? What? What are you talking about? This cannot happen.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

This cannot happen.

[Sean Buffini]

Crazy decision. Crazy. Yep. And here's. Loves the city, dude.

[Dan Powers]

Here's my other one.

[Chris Powers]

Dude.

[Dan Powers]

Dude, no one's talking about this. I was listening to part of my take, and someone they were talking about, like, this, like, bumps people down the lineup. And so I think someone said that, like, this might be bad for Edgecomb. Like, it might, like, stunt his development, because now he's, like, a fifth option or whatever. And Max on part of my take was, like, he's going to learn from one of the greatest players of all time. Have we ever talked about this, dude? LeBron. Wherever LeBron goes, he brings championships.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

Also, wherever LeBron goes, he destroys careers.

[Sean Buffini]

Oh, okay.

[Dan Powers]

Dude. LeBron goes to Miami.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Dwayne Wade's knees blow up. Chris Bosh gets blood clots, which is awful. I'm not making a joke about that. It's terrible what happened. It's like the scariest shit in the world. But, like, he's, like, he was forced to retire because of it.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

He then goes to Cleveland, wins a ring with Kyrie, and then Kyrie loses his goddamn mind, becomes a flat Earther, and now, like, one of the biggest cancers in the NBA goes to the Lakers. Anthony Davis, who was supposed to be the next one, no one even knows where he is.

[Sean Buffini]

I don't know where he is.

[Dan Powers]

People are like, this. Is he in Washington? We saw him in Utah. Anthony Davis was literally supposed to be the next one.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

He's just like, no one even knows to play for the Wizards.

[Sean Buffini]

I don't know

[Dan Powers]

Yet Luca. Luca becomes fatter than he's ever been in his life.

[Sean Buffini]

But then. But then he. Lucas power shield pushed back. Like, Lucas got so trim that LeBron had to leave LA.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

Literally. He was like, okay, I can't fat him, dude. I like to think he was mean girling him.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Giving him counting bars, dude. Yeah. I'm just saying, dude. LeBron goes places and leaves terror in his wake with what would, like. People are like, one of the great stars in the NBA. Career over, career over, career over.

[Sean Buffini]

So Edgecombe dead.

[Dan Powers]

Well, I'm looking at, like, Maxi. I'm looking at Jalen. Like, guys, be careful.

[Sean Buffini]

Sell the car.

[Dan Powers]

You might win a ring, but it might be. It might come at a cost.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah. Oh, yeah, it will.

[Dan Powers]

You will win a ring. What did it cost, dude?

[Sean Buffini]

Everything.

[Dan Powers]

Bronnie's NBA career, everything dead. He.

[Sean Buffini]

The Sixers should literally have two lineups. Like, three of those. Two or three of those guys should just agree to not start. Instead of being like, we're going to start all five of you. We have a super team. I'm like, that doesn't work. So what you should do is go. We start, and it's Embiid and Maxi and whatever. I would. The backup unit is LeBron, Edgecombe, and Jalen. And you're like, oh, you'll never lose.

[Dan Powers]

I would dead ass not. I'm being so serious. I would literally not play Joel Embiid until, like, fucking.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, I agree. February. Agree.

[Zach]

I'd be like.

[Dan Powers]

I'd look at him and go like this. You're not playing, dude.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, we don't need to at all.

[Dan Powers]

I'm sorry. Like, just like, please just be healthy at all. Unbelievable. Nice basketball talk.

[Sean Buffini]

That was great. I hope we get. I hope we get the. We keep saying that the NHL is, like, 10 years behind the NBA and everything. Yeah. And I hope we had here. I hope we're on the way here. I hope McDavid and Matthews go together.

[Dan Powers]

To Utah.

[Sean Buffini]

To Utah.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

And then we go, holy shit.

[Dan Powers]

That would be sick.

[Sean Buffini]

That would be sick. All right, now even more nonsense.

[Dan Powers]

I mean, listen, dude, it's the off

[Sean Buffini]

season, but this is great. Sean. We've all seen the Odyssey finally.

[Zach]

Good.

[Sean Buffini]

Thank God.

[Zach]

It's great.

[Sean Buffini]

I.

[Zach]

Did you actually think that I did, Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

I have some important questioning on.

[Zach]

Look who's coming in.

[Sean Buffini]

Z.J.

[Dan Powers]

zach, come sit right here.

[Chris Powers]

Okay. Come sit right there.

[Dan Powers]

Is that microphone on?

[Zach]

It is now.

[Sean Buffini]

Wow.

[Chris Powers]

I got a text from him, and it just said, from Dan. And all it said was, come in

[Sean Buffini]

we have a surprise also.

[Dan Powers]

This is great because we just finished a segment on LeBron.

[Chris Powers]

Okay.

[Dan Powers]

And this is a perfect time to have a quick break.

[Chris Powers]

Okay.

[Dan Powers]

Because I have something for the two of you. Wow.

[Chris Powers]

Okay.

[Sean Buffini]

Holy shit, dude.

[Chris Powers]

Wow.

[Dan Powers]

For listeners at home.

[Chris Powers]

Wow.

[Dan Powers]

I have just given Zach and Chris a bag of prawn cocktail chips. Crisps, to be specific. And, Sean, you like that Tato brand?

[Zach]

Yeah. Where did these come from?

[Dan Powers]

Don't. I don't worry about that.

[Chris Powers]

We did a little chip ranking.

[Dan Powers]

I did a chip ranking, and I said, that prawn cocktail is in my top three flavor of chips. And I got absolutely sewered by these two because. Yeah, it's like a popular one, though.

[Zach]

Prawn cocktail is kind of popular, though, is it not?

[Dan Powers]

It's not here.

[Zach]

Okay.

[Chris Powers]

This is. Well, think of. This is a Dan Ash chip. Like, if you were to look at a chip and you go, what describes Dan Powers?

[Dan Powers]

Which is very fair. But I want you two to open those right now and eat them. And I want to hear you admit to me that you go, wow, this is a really good chip.

[Sean Buffini]

I just want you to hear that. This says, set deep in Ulster's countryside is Tayto Castle, where Tayto have been making some of the world's best loved crisps and snacks since 1956. Correct. Using the best local ingredients, Mr. Tato selects the finest specially grown spuds, gently cooking them until crisp and golden. Finally, in a secret part of the Tayto Castle, our crisps are given their special flavor, ensuring you get irresistible crisps every time. The secret is in the flavor.

[Dan Powers]

How about that?

[Chris Powers]

It's irresistible.

[Dan Powers]

These crisps were made in a castle.

[Sean Buffini]

That's what I'm saying. They were made in a castle. And he went like this. What if I could make the chip taste like a shrimp cocktail?

[Chris Powers]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

You love shrimp cocktails. I know, but I don't want. I want to eat it. I don't want the chip. Oh,

[Chris Powers]

there you go, guys. I also. This is like, if any chip were to be made in a castle, that'd be one that Dan wants checks out so much. All right, ready?

[Dan Powers]

Yep.

[Chris Powers]

Wait to be.

[Dan Powers]

This is your first prawn cocktail crisp.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah. That's not bad, right? Yeah, but it doesn't taste like shrimp at all.

[Sean Buffini]

At all.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Neither do ketchup chips.

[Chris Powers]

It tastes like a barbecue chip.

[Dan Powers]

It's just a delicious crisp.

[Chris Powers]

Dan is eating a lie of a chip, okay?

[Dan Powers]

So don't get into the semantics of what it tastes like or what it doesn't taste like. Just tell me if you're eating a chip right now and going, I enjoy this. This is a good chip.

[Sean Buffini]

So here's why. You're right. It's a delicious chip. And 100%, anyone that tries this chip would go, this chip is good. Maybe not in everyone's top five, but anyone that has this in their top five, I am now fine with. Now that I have tasted it.

[Chris Powers]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

What I am still upset about is it tastes literally nothing like what it says. And they are doing themselves a disservice. Because guys like ZG and I, when someone goes, try a prawn cocktail chip, I go, no, that sounds horrible.

[Dan Powers]

And that's why people like me are so important in this world.

[Chris Powers]

Because you'll eat a chip like this.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. And then I get to share them with you.

[Chris Powers]

They don't even have, like, they have the cast on the bag, but there's not even.

[Dan Powers]

By the way, look at. Look at what Sean has pulled up right now. Tayto has, like, literally a theme park, dude.

[Sean Buffini]

Because it's potato and he's the man, dude.

[Zach]

Yeah, it's Mr. Potato.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Zach]

This is our version of Disneyland.

[Chris Powers]

Wait, this is. This is a Sean ship. Are you telling me that Dan was secretly in Sean's best place? This is.

[Zach]

Well, I don't know where Dan got. Got these, but this Tayto park is like. It has, like, the saddest zoo you've ever seen in your life.

[Dan Powers]

Disagree, Sean. The saddest zoo you've ever seen in your life is actually in York Beach, Maine, in our hometown. It is actually horrendous that they allow animals to live there.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

I also. This is incredible to me because I, when I heard Cocktail assumed that there was some sort of shrimp. Like prawn cocktail. Sounds like shrimp to me.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, that's exactly what it is.

[Chris Powers]

Which it is. But there's no shrimp on the bag.

[Sean Buffini]

So true, dude.

[Chris Powers]

It's just literally shrimp colored. That's all it is.

[Zach]

So we used to. When I think of, like, prawn cocktail, there's another. Is it made by Tayto? It might be made by Tayto.

[Dan Powers]

I think of walkers. Walker's is the prawn cocktail crisp that I'm most familiar with. But I do love Tayto.

[Chris Powers]

These are really good.

[Dan Powers]

They're really good.

[Chris Powers]

They are really good.

[Sean Buffini]

Do they all taste like this one in your.

[Dan Powers]

Walker's and Tayto taste very similar.

[Sean Buffini]

Wow.

[Dan Powers]

I mean, dude, why can't you just let me have this? Why can't they just.

[Sean Buffini]

Why. Why do they have to name it like, all dressed is. Tastes similar to me. That these do.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

And that's because I'm like this. I don't know what all dressed means, but I'm like, that kind of makes sense for this.

[Chris Powers]

There's a bunch.

[Sean Buffini]

This mystery flavor. That is good. Yeah. They could have come up with a description of this mystery flavor, which is good. But instead they named it a flavor. A thing that is not it. This at all. You know what I mean? Like, I was like, if they had called this Taytolan chips. Tato.

[Dan Powers]

Tayto.

[Sean Buffini]

Tato jizz. I'd be like, amazing.

[Chris Powers]

That's awesome.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah. But instead they went like this. Here's a food item that has a flavor.

[Dan Powers]

Sean.

[Sean Buffini]

And then we're calling this chip that. Even though it tastes something like.

[Dan Powers]

Listen, I hear you. But, like, it's delicious.

[Sean Buffini]

It is.

[Dan Powers]

It's really good chip. It's my favorite crisp. It's unbelievably crisp.

[Chris Powers]

But also, of the people in this room, of the four of us in this room, if you were to be presented with a bag that said it was made in a castle.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Chris Powers]

It had nothing to do with the exact item that it was. And it's much fancier than the others, but it tastes really good.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Chris Powers]

Who would you go that describes that person? And I would go, Dan.

[Sean Buffini]

As we all would. As we all would.

[Chris Powers]

I would go, this is the Dan Ash.

[Dan Powers]

I am going to. I am going to wear that.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

With honor. Because it is correct.

[Sean Buffini]

100% correct.

[Dan Powers]

Sean. I think we all need to go to Tato Land.

[Zach]

I think we natters needs to. The company needs to pay for us.

[Dan Powers]

That's what. I'm being serious. Like, us at Tato Land doing a video would be numb.

[Chris Powers]

Could you imagine the Tato Land sponsorship?

[Dan Powers]

Like, that would be if we get netters a brand deal with Tayto. That would be fucking.

[Sean Buffini]

That actually now feels doable now that you say that. Like, we need to get Tato on the.

[Chris Powers]

The phone.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Chris Powers]

Dude. Could you imagine, like, I mean, we're

[Dan Powers]

gonna make a clip of this moment

[Zach]

and all these other.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

We can surely we can get Tato. We don't know.

[Chris Powers]

I mean, Tato could be. They could be big business.

[Sean Buffini]

Taking a quick ad break to say that deep inside Ulster's countryside in Tayto Castle, we've been making some of the best crisps since 1956. Boom. Use code GRANT for 10% off.

[Dan Powers]

Wow.

[Chris Powers]

Wow.

[Dan Powers]

That's a big.

[Chris Powers]

That's a huge deal.

[Dan Powers]

Well, hey, listen, I know you got a lot of work to do. But thank you. I want you to take that back. I want you to take that bag with you, and I want you to enjoy those. And I'm glad that you guys have now had prawn cocktail crisps.

[Zach]

We're gonna find those in the trash later.

[Dan Powers]

I will.

[Chris Powers]

I actually will.

[Dan Powers]

Truly. That would rip my heart out of my chest.

[Chris Powers]

No, I wouldn't do that.

[Sean Buffini]

Take those with you to the annex, and then take this one up to Sean so he can try some of that.

[Chris Powers]

Beautiful.

[Zach]

Yeah, I want to say I'll try it.

[Chris Powers]

This is Dan. Proven evidence that Dan feeds the editors. We do get fed here and supported

[Dan Powers]

with left for content.

[Chris Powers]

This is the first meal I've had in three weeks.

[Sean Buffini]

Back to your cage, Grant. Back to your cage.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, my God.

[Zach]

Been living off potato crisps and mug root beer.

[Sean Buffini]

Take those for a spin. Sean, you've had them, right?

[Zach]

Yeah. Yeah, these are good.

[Dan Powers]

They're great.

[Chris Powers]

It's amazing to me that a country that went through a potato famine, like, is also, like, I'm all in on still having a potato.

[Sean Buffini]

Has a. Dude.

[Dan Powers]

That's how you take ownership of the moment.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Don't let. Don't let it control you. Control it.

[Sean Buffini]

So good.

[Chris Powers]

The script, huh?

[Dan Powers]

It's unbelievable. All right, so we saw the Odyssey.

[Sean Buffini]

We saw the Odyssey. And here's my biggest question. Or I guess I'll say this about myself first. I. The Trojan War is something that I legit forget, is fictionalized. It just seems like a thing that I'm like, that happened. That happened in ancient Greece, like, ancient Rome. And history is crazy.

[Dan Powers]

This is one of those moments where I think a lot of people went and saw this movie. And with all of the talk around it, I think a lot of people are embarrassingly being like, thought that happened.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, right. So I'm like, oh, yeah. It's like. And that happens to me with dragons, even. Like, sometimes I'm like, yeah, dragons. We're like dinos, like, dinosaur era, 65 million years ago. And they're like, chris, there are no dragons.

[Dan Powers]

And I'm like, I actually saw something very recently about T. Rexes.

[Sean Buffini]

They could breathe fire.

[Dan Powers]

Well, no, it was like, so this. This person was, like, talking about a T. Rex and, you know, showing the rendered images of what we think T. Rexes look like and the fossils. And this person was like, do you honestly think there was this massive apex predator with teeny little arms? Those are the initial bones of wings. T. Rex were dragons. And I was like, this is a tinfoil hat theory that I will.

[Sean Buffini]

I Will die.

[Zach]

Are they like chickens?

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Zach]

Aren't they just giant chickens?

[Dan Powers]

But chickens have wings.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Zach]

And I was like, penguins.

[Dan Powers]

I was like, I'm all in, if you want.

[Sean Buffini]

I mean, I'm in, I'm in. So I kind of like, forget that it's not real, but okay, it's a fictional. And there's, by the way, because I did a deep dive last night. There are a lot of historical things that are. Like in modern day Turkey, there was this massive city, like, gorgeous. That would be Troy, you know, so they're like, there's. There's a. There's a high probability that there was a Troy and Greece fought over it. You know, it's the. It's the horse part of it that's like. Yeah, that was made up, we think. But there is source material, right? Like, this is a. Homer's thing. Is like a poem, really, but like, there's a thing. And then we're adapting movies into that. So I got rattled in the Odyssey. And I know you have some information about this, I'm just saying this to you, that I saw Troy, which I love, all those years ago, and benchmark things happen, like Menelaus gets killed. Is that how you say his name? Menelaus.

[Zach]

Menelaus.

[Sean Buffini]

Menelaus. Menelaus gets killed. Helen escapes with Paris. And then I watch the Odyssey and they're like, menelaus is here, is fine. And Helen. He got Helen back. And I'm like, wait, dude, which one? What. How do the. How does Troy and the Odyssey have differing set of facts? And Dan was like, well, there's another rewrite of the Odyssey that Nolan, blah, blah, blah. But I'm just like, this infuriated me.

[Zach]

It's not based off of Homer's Odyssey. Correct.

[Dan Powers]

Based off like Emily Wilson or something

[Zach]

from like 2015 or something.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah, 17.

[Zach]

Yeah. So it's. I mean, I'm guessing it has a lot of play. I don't remember. I remember the Iliad much more from school. I don't remember the Odyssey.

[Dan Powers]

Well, in the. In the Odyssey, Menelaus survives the Trojan War, reunites with Helen, and lives out peacefully life as king of Sparta.

[Sean Buffini]

That's in. In hers.

[Dan Powers]

That's in the Odyssey. In Homer's the Odyssey.

[Sean Buffini]

Interesting. So I'm like, what is going on?

[Dan Powers]

Well, it's a work of fiction and we've decided we can change it however we want the movies to look like.

[Zach]

Everyone speaks with American accents.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, fair. But I just think if in the Harry Potter HBO show, the dungeon troll kills Hermione in season one. And they go, that's sick.

[Dan Powers]

It's a work of fiction. I don't know why you picked that one moment. But, dude, I would. I would actually fucking. I would. No, I would go. That is the most bold decision anything has ever done in the history of cinema and television. And, like, it is not far off from what these stories are doing. Like, they're being like this. Yeah, this is one of the most famous books, poems of all time. I'm just gonna fucking change it.

[Sean Buffini]

He's dead, all right. No, he isn't.

[Dan Powers]

Go for it.

[Sean Buffini]

Because I think Withering Heights did that a little bit. I haven't really seen many of them, but I heard. I saw the new one, and I

[Dan Powers]

heard it was Greta's Little Women did that in a big way, which I actually loved. I thought the changes were. It was like, a really nice story moment.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Zach]

I don't think being, like, changed to the source material is indicative of it being bad or good. It's like everything is its own thing. So, like, when you adapt something, it's like you need to change massive parts of it anyway just to fit the medium that you're fitting it into. So it's like how. It's always been a weird argument when people use how close an adaption is to the source material as an indication that it is good or bad.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Zach]

It's like. I think it's like it. Just let it do it.

[Dan Powers]

I think one of the most famous ones is no Country. Right. I mean, they. The Coen brothers adapted no country for Old Men. And they. When they won the Oscar, they were like. We literally just transcribed the book into a screenplay. And it's. Many people think it is a top 10 movie of all time.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

But there are. I mean, that would actually be a fun deep dive for us three to go on of. What do we think are the best adaptation book to film or tv that, like, really changed it. The Shutter island change is brilliant. I don't know.

[Zach]

The original.

[Sean Buffini]

The. The original. You just. Careful. Spoilers.

[Dan Powers]

I would. That would devastate me. I know that's an old movie, but still. That would devastate.

[Zach]

I'll read it. I've seen the movie.

[Dan Powers]

We can tell you. We'll talk about it after the show. Yeah, but it's a very.

[Zach]

I didn't even know it came from a book.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

The Prestige Book is quite different.

[Dan Powers]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

And that movie is.

[Dan Powers]

Did you have anything else to talk about with the Odyssey?

[Sean Buffini]

Yes. Okay. I just.

[Dan Powers]

I wanted. Didn't Want us to get too off track.

[Sean Buffini]

My biggest thing, and I think this is in the Emily adaptation. But if it is, I'm fuming mad at her. And if it isn't, I'm fuming mad at Nolan. Dude, when they go. And I'm watching the Odyssey and they go, oh, here's Agamemnon, they're like, I'm learning how. Spoilers, by the way, if you haven't seen the Odyssey, how Agamemnon dies, like he's. He. Like, they meet him in Hades and he's like, this is what happened to me. And he's like, yeah, my. My wife killed me. Helen's twin sister. And I'm like, okay, so the most famous hot chick in literature history that launched thousand ships has a literal identical twin. What in the flying fuck? Because that's not in Homer's. So whoever added that. And I love Christopher Nolan, but if it was you, then fuck you. Either Emily or Chris. That is the most tapped plot point I've ever heard. When they're like this. The entire premise, the inciting incident of this epic, is that this chick is so hot, we now have to go fight. And she has an identical.

[Zach]

Turns out there's another one right over here.

[Sean Buffini]

I was like, are you fucking high, dude? Like, I couldn't sleep the second night when they were like, helen had a twin.

[Dan Powers]

I was like, okay, yeah, I don't love that part either. I am. I'm very with you on that.

[Sean Buffini]

Mind blowing, dude. Where do you have it, Sean? Roughly? You don't have to give me in order, but in your Nolan power ranking.

[Zach]

Oh, I don't. I think that it's. It might be in the top top five. It's not my number one. Yeah, that's for sure. It's probably not my number two. I say the highest that it might come to is number three.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay.

[Zach]

Which is. I mean, they're all fantastic. So it's like, that's no slight towards the Odyssey. I thought it was a fantastic film. Yeah, I'd say maybe. Maybe number three. Let me pull up. Wow. All the Nolan films are.

[Sean Buffini]

Because you. Are you a history Nolan guy?

[Zach]

Like, do you.

[Sean Buffini]

Do you enjoy Dunkirk and Oppenheimer? Or are you a mind fuck Nolan guy?

[Zach]

You know what? I like Dunkirk. Like, I like all of Nolan's films. But. But Dunkirk I don't think is in my top five.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay. Cause I'm. Dude, I am in no particular order. I'm such a mind fuck Nolan guy. That Inception, Prestige, Interstellar, Dark Knight, Batman Begins, even, and Memento.

[Zach]

I was gonna say memento are probably

[Sean Buffini]

in my six in some capacity. Then I never saw the following or Insomnia, so I'll take those out. But then you start getting into the history stuff. I think Dark Knight Rises is actually better. I was one of the people that kind of shit on Dark Knight Rises at first, but it's still sick. But then Odyssey's pretty low for me, is where I'm headed. I don't have my exact number yet, but I didn't hate the movie. But I was just like, okay, I said this to Dan already, Sean. But I almost left it feeling like I left Avatar 1, which was. That was so awesome, genuinely. I was like, what an awesome experience and what a spectacle and what an accomplishment. I didn't love that story, but wow, I had a great time. That's kind of how I felt leaving Odyssey.

[Zach]

I was like, okay, I won't go harp on this too long. I don't understand why people don't like the humans in Avatar. I know that the movie tries really hard to make us not like them.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Zach]

But I'm fucking one of them. It's like, what am I supposed to do? It's like, oh, well, we need this rare material that's underneath the hugging tree so we can save humanity back home.

[Dan Powers]

And it's like, oh, well, this is a great.

[Zach]

We have a species traitor who just wants to fuck the blue cat lady.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Zach]

So he, like, dooms all of humanity back on Earth.

[Sean Buffini]

They're probably astrology freaks over there too, dude, you know?

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Zach]

And we're supposed to side with our species being doomed. Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

I'm so with you, dude.

[Dan Powers]

I think maybe the most insulting thing that James Cameron has ever done to me personally is name that material in the first movie. Unobtainium. That is like, you got to be shitting me with that name. It is the least creative thing of all time. Realistically, Avatar is about a selfish dude who wants his legs back.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, Good point.

[Dan Powers]

I don't blame him.

[Zach]

You know what? He was promised his legs back. The guy was like, hey, I'm going to see to it when you get back to Earth. You're going to get your legs back.

[Dan Powers]

And you remember he literally.

[Sean Buffini]

That's the exact line, too.

[Dan Powers]

He goes, I'm going see to it that you get your legs back. And I'm like, hell, yes, dude. But he's already got his legs with the Avatar.

[Sean Buffini]

Dude, I put on fire and ash the other night.

[Dan Powers]

All right.

[Sean Buffini]

Because I was like, maybe I'll watch This. Have you seen it? No, I. I watched it for, like, 20 minutes. I was like, this is horrible. So I just turned it off, but I forgot that. And I've seen, too, but I forgot that that. That mean guy. Homeboy's back, and he's got a kid. He's also a blue guy, and he's got a kid. Oh, yeah, that.

[Dan Powers]

That's his kid.

[Chris Powers]

Oh, man.

[Sean Buffini]

Dude, he's got, like, the scar still. I think.

[Dan Powers]

Sean, if you want to watch Avatar, that is a less.

[Zach]

Or.

[Dan Powers]

Where the. The internal struggle is not as easy because we're talking about blue aliens. Watch Dances with Wolves or Pocahontas or. Or the Last Samurai, Last of the Mohicans, Dude, I think.

[Chris Powers]

Or.

[Sean Buffini]

No, it's okay. It's okay. It was an anecdote. I'll tell you later.

[Dan Powers]

This is what's crazy that I've been, like, trying to express to people. I do think that there's been a lot of hype about the Odyssey because of the spectacle, which it deserves.

[Sean Buffini]

Agree.

[Dan Powers]

And I am, like, seen it three times now. I've spent three hours, nine hours of my life watching the Odyssey. I tried to explain to people, the first time I watched it, I was alone, and I was alone two times, but I legitimately. I was getting distracted by. From the story, by every shot. Like, there were times where I was just looking at it in imax and I was going, how the did they do this? And I wasn't paying attention to the movie. Like, that's how genuinely miraculous it is.

[Zach]

And this is. We've lost that in theaters a lot with the advent of CGI and stuff. It's like, you go see. The audience knows you can do anything now with computers, so it kind of becomes a question of, like, what don't you do?

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Zach]

And so when you go see, like, a Marvel movie or something, and, you know, it was all filmed. It was all made inside a computer, and it was all filmed against a green screen. It's like none of the Spectacles actually. Wow, you. And they have, like, you know, planets colliding into each other and stuff, and crazy things like that, and none of it is at all interesting. But with this, when they're, like, just, you know, setting sail, like, they're just climbing the boats and, like, setting sails in the mass and the storm. It's like, you know, that that was all real, and it creates that awe for the spectacle.

[Dan Powers]

Sean, That's. There's that scene where the dolphins jump out and. And everyone's pointing to that or. Because Nolan has talked about it. He's like, that just happened. And it was awesome. And obviously we put it in the movie. And there's just a lot of really lovely articles that are like, this is why practical shots are worth it. Because something can happen, happen.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

And I love that take. I bring this up as to say I loved that movie and I genuinely think it is my ninth favorite Nolan movie.

[Zach]

Wow.

[Dan Powers]

That's how good, Nolan.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Like, I loved that movie. I saw it three times in a week.

[Sean Buffini]

The. I'll say this because I said this to you, but I think you resonated with a little bit. I almost thought, Sean, it's. Especially when Nolan goes history. I find that he zooms in so aggressively on a thing, a moment in time, like Dunkirk, get them off the beach, Oppenheimer. Like, this trial happened. And this movie is so big or the story is so big that I'm almost like, ah, you know what? Actually, here's my take. I legitimately wish Nolan made the Odyssey a trilogy and was able to be like, oh, wow. Because the third act of that movie was my favorite. Like Odysseus getting back and being in disguise. I was like, this is actually really fun. But it went pretty quick. And then all the checkpoints of the journey home almost felt like checkpoints, where it was just like, trouble, immediate solve, trouble, immediate solve, trouble. Like something would happen. I turned them into pigs. Just kidding. They're back. Let's go. You know, we never lived in any of those things long enough for me to feel any stakes because I was like, okay, just. Just get out of it. And then go to the next thing, you know, oh, here's the sirens. Okay, leave. Like, I almost wish it was like we went harder on him. Cause he's so good at that.

[Zach]

Studios would love you.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Zach]

Because you have three times the ticket sales, 100% for the same concert.

[Sean Buffini]

Do you ever see that picture where it's like. It's a picture of a bookshelf and it's like Lord of the Rings, Two Towers, Return of the King. And then it's like three movies. And then it's like the Hobbit three movies. And I'm like, crazy, how did that happen? But we should have done that with this.

[Zach]

The Odyssey trilogy, one nine hour movie.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah. Which I also would have seen.

[Dan Powers]

I got into it. But we can move on from the Odyssey here. But my last point is I got into a big. I mean, Chris. Chris Nolan is my. I hate saying this now because I've, you know, that I felt this Way for decades. My last executive job in my office, I had shout out. My buddy Teddy bought me these beautiful custom made prints of all eight. At the time he'd only had eight films, eight of his movies. And I actually reached out to that artist to have him make all the newest ones. So like he is a hero of mine. I absolutely love him. I think I have officially reached a point where the way I talk about Chris Nolan, I am not allowed to do that without also talking about Denis Villeneuve. Because Denis is like we are witnessing in my opinion, two of the most generational runs of directing of all time.

[Zach]

I do. I mean, it's probably going to be unpopular. I think Denise and a different league to Nolan. I think he's of a higher caliber.

[Dan Powers]

I. I respect this take. Yeah, dude, like Denis literally cannot miss and his every one of his movies are all time. It's insane.

[Zach]

Nolan's a professional, but it's like Denise like an actual artist. And I don't mean that as any sort of like shade towards Nolan. I think that it's like what he does and how he's able to craft films that no one's able to craft, no one else in the same way. But what Denis able to do with like even how he adapted Dune, it's like just simple things like you know, he could have made when. When you know, Paul Atreides uses the voice to control people. He could have made that like, oh, the person turns into a zombie like they did in the original.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Zach]

But the, his use of editing on like how he was able to convey that this person is doing things against their will without it looking cheesy. Yeah, it's like he's problem solving things at like a minute level and the level of detail that's there. Whereas I think Nolan's a little bit more big picture, so it's a little bit less about the craft of the individual things. That's more about like, how do I get to the place I want to go to sell this scene. And so like when you watch inception, the first 20 minutes of that film feels like you're watching it on fast forward. Because it's just like we got to explain this high concept idea which is going to be a vehicle for these action scenes, which is going to be a vehicle for like the emotional punch at the end, which is kind of the formula that a lot of Nolan films follow.

[Dan Powers]

It's a really good take.

[Zach]

Whereas Denis, every single film is its own beast with its own problems. And every single like every shot, every detail has Been meticulously thought out. Nolan started that way when he did memento. And when he even down to his shorts, like, I think doodlebug, it was like very much, you know, the camera is a character. The camera stays in the room. You know, you gotta treat it has a physical space inside the set. And then by the time he's making interstellar, he's like, we're going to treat these imax cameras like gopros. We're just going to tack them on everywhere. We're going to figure it out because we just need to get to this place where we can have this effect so we can have this big bombastic scene. That's awesome. That's great. No one else is able to do that. No one else can. There's very few directors left alive right now who people will go see it because it's that director. There's Nolan Tarantino, Denis, probably not even one of them.

[Sean Buffini]

I know, it's crazy.

[Dan Powers]

You don't think so.

[Zach]

I don't think people will go see a film because it's Denis.

[Dan Powers]

I think, actually I completely agree with you that especially Here in the US, Denis name is not like. I think a lot of people, Denis. Like, for example, I was at lunch with two of our best friends yesterday, and I was talking about the odyssey. And I was like, well, I think I made this point. And they're like, who is that? And I was like, oh, yeah, yeah, it's easy.

[Zach]

But his like, blade runner, Everyone will know Dune. Everyone will know.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Zach]

Like, his films are famous more than he is. Whereas Nolan might be as famous as his films.

[Dan Powers]

I agree. Our last point, our buddy Ben yesterday said, and I think this will resonate with you very much, he was like, I would give anything to see Chris Nolan direct a film that he did not write. And I thought that was a brilliant point.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Because, like, I think what I think one of Denis great strengths is he finds great scripts to work with, whereas Nolan does both. And I can get Harry.

[Sean Buffini]

That's cool.

[Zach]

That's how memento's such an interesting one. Because I think his brother wrote the novel at the same time as he made the film. Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

I think Jonah wrote with him for a long time and then he kind of went off, did a ride Westworld, which was gas. And then his other brother's a hitman.

[Zach]

True story.

[Sean Buffini]

Really?

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

That's so sick.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. Are you aware of that?

[Zach]

I know. That's crazy.

[Dan Powers]

Kristen, Jonah, Nolan's other brother is like, literally a MI6 hitman. Like, he's like, it's insane.

[Zach]

It's like fucking impossible.

[Dan Powers]

It also makes so much sense.

[Sean Buffini]

Oh, I get that movie now.

[Dan Powers]

You want to talk a little, Gosling?

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, just real quick. I saw, because I was really interested what you think about this, Dan, but Gosling joins. Finally, Ryan Gosling joins the MCU as Ghost Rider.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

And I was like, dude, like, even when Bale. What fucking movie was that?

[Dan Powers]

Thor, Love and Thunder.

[Sean Buffini]

Even when Bale joined, he was the

[Dan Powers]

only good part of that movie.

[Sean Buffini]

I was kind of like, dude, the MCU train has left the station.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

And that was then, dude. And Bale was great in it and whatever. And I don't begrudge anyone getting that fat MCU dollar. But I was like, do we need Ryan Gosling as Ghost Rider in the ashes of the MCU right now?

[Dan Powers]

Okay, I'm gonna make this quick.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Ryan Gosling can do no wrong. He's my goat. But so much of this for me hinges on Doomsday. Yeah, we know. Brand New Day is going to be good. Yep. Spider man is its own thing. Even. It's kind of funny because like Spider man still has the whole like Amy Pascal, Sony craziness. Spider man is like, it's in the mcu, but it lives in its own world. They have done such a good job. I think Tom is such a good Spider man and that movie is going to be fantastic. Doomsday is going to be, for me, impossibly indicative of. Have you righted the ship? Are we back on track or are you about to shove all of these characters that frankly, over the last seven years they had movies that we don't give a shit about? Are you going to try to shove them down our throats with the Trojan Horse of Thor is still in it and Steve Rogers is back. But is it actually Steve Rogers and like Robert Downey Jr. S back, but he's not Iron Man? If that movie sucks, I will be absolutely terrified about this Ghost Rider. The one thing I'm very excited about it is I think Ryan Gosling, for a long period as he became a movie star, did a bunch of things like first man and like Place beyond the Pines. And what the fuck was the second movie he did with after the Drive guy? He did that movie Neon Demon. Is it? No.

[Zach]

Only God Forgives.

[Dan Powers]

Only God forgives. Yeah, like these really dramatic roles. And I think Ryan is so good, but I don't think that's where he is at his best. He is best when he is being charmingly funny. Not in a full on comedy like the nice guys, incredible fall guy. Incredible. But like project Hail Mary, where legitimately I hope he wins an Oscar. He is the perfect combination of charming, funny and heartfelt. I think Ghost Rider, the best versions of the comics are quite funny.

[Zach]

It's interesting that he's escaped being like a face of a franchise for so long.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Zach]

It's unusual that this point in his career, he's like superhero movies.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Zach]

It feels like that's the opposite of what most people are trying to do. I know where they get the role. Like Tom Holland become Spider Man. And now it's like, I really want to be in the Odyssey, but everybody looks at me and still sees a 17 year old who's Spider Man.

[Dan Powers]

I think someone brought up in an interview with him recently, he was like, when he did the first Spider man, he was like, if I'm still Spider Man At 10 years from now, something has gone terribly wrong. And it's been 10 years.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Powers]

And he was like, well, I mean, I obviously don't feel that way now, but it's like, I. To me, if they make this funny, I mean, Ghost Rider is a demon skeleton riding a motorcycle engulfed in flames. That's funny. I have high hopes for what Gosling could do with it. I don't. Marvel needs to earn back my trust.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

That's what scares me.

[Dan Powers]

I said, I'm gonna make this quick. That.

[Sean Buffini]

What are you doing? And also, I want to say that the. The. That 23 movie run of the MCU is one of the great achievements in in studio work literally ever. That was so fun to go on that ride.

[Dan Powers]

Unbelievable.

[Sean Buffini]

But I. In comic book movies, because I do think we have a reboot problem in the world where they're like, oh, just make the same movies over and over again. Comic book movies, I don't care. In fact, I encourage because it's like Bond movies to me where I'm like, yeah, just I want like three to five max. Craig did five, right? Three to five movies max with my Bond. And then literally just pick a new James Bond and do it again. And I'm like, sweet.

[Zach]

You know, we. Every James Bond movie, it's not James Bond becoming James Bond again. And the problem that we had for a long time with different actors playing it was like, okay, so we have Tobey Maguire, Spider Man. We have to see him at how he became Spider Man. Then we have Andrew Garfield. We have to see that again. But by the time they got to Tom Holland, they were like, like, we just need to do this. He is Spider man, we just start from there. Which I agree with you that we can just do the same thing. I. I just think that, like, I. I haven't cared. Yeah. Since Endgame. And I. I think that it's. The problem is you can't hype up an audience about this being the. The. The biggest.

[Sean Buffini]

The end game.

[Zach]

The end game, it's the biggest cinematic event of the entire 20 odd years of building up to this and then expect people to still care when it's finished.

[Dan Powers]

No, I mean, listen, so many great points were made in there. I think the big thing for me is when they connected all the worlds with Avengers. I mean, when they first did it in the end of the Incredible Hulk with Ed Norton, When Robert Downey Jr. Shows up, I remember as a comic geek being like, oh, my God, they're gonna do it. And then I remember so vividly the first time Joss Whedon's trailer for Avengers came out. I was like, there is no way this is gonna work. And it worked stupendously. I do not envy them for where they are because now literally every movie and fucking TV show, they all have all these directors and writers have to consult with each other. Good friend Michael is a great. Is the writer of this movie. It's like he has to talk to 50 people before he writes one page. It's too hard. And it's like, it's almost why I look at Pattinson and Reeves is the Batman. And it's like, good. Like, you should just do your own thing, dude. Like, we. We need to get back to Tim Burton's Batman where it's like, yeah, to just make Batman movies.

[Sean Buffini]

Do them again, dude. They could do a new.

[Dan Powers]

I think. I think it was a massive mistake by. Not a massive mistake, because I understand, but I think it was a mistake by the MCU after Endgame that they didn't, to use sports terms, blow it up.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Like, start over if you want all these new movies. Like, start from the ground up and then get to this place. But, like, the fact that we're like. Feels like what? You know, several years later, we're like, doomsday. And I'm like, what, dude? I don't even know who these fucking people are. So, yeah, it's great. Crazy. All right, let's take a quick ad break and then wrap things up. This episode of the Empty Nerders podcast is brought to you by BetterHelp. Mental health is so important in this life. It's super important in hockey as it is in every aspect of life. And we are encouraging you to get the help you need whenever you need it. There is a stigma around mental health and talking about it, and we've got to break that stigma because it is the most important thing that anyone can do to be open to seek help when you need it and to feel empowered to talk about it when you need to. Better Help's 2026 State of Stigma report surveyed 2,000Americans and revealed that 85% of Americans believe getting support is wise, yet 74% say society discourages people from doing so. We've got to break that down. And BetterHelp is doing an amazing job of helping with that situation, because when you need help, you should seek it. And sometimes it's not always easy. You can't go out, find a therapist, meet someone. You don't have time to go to someone's office. That's why online therapy, like BetterHelp, is such an amazing option. They have over 30,000 therapists. BetterHelp is the world's largest online therapy platform. They've served over 6 million people globally. And it works. They've got an average 4.9 stars out of 5 with over 1.7 million client reviews. You have all of these certified professionals who you can go through the matching process with and find who is right for you. Whatever you're going through, whatever your issues are that you need help with, you can fill out the survey and find the perfect person to help you with whatever is going on in your life. BetterHelp is fantastic and it is a perfect way for you to get the mental health help that you need and to break down this stigma that we're trying to knock down every single day. So do not let the stigma stand in the way of support. Start therapy with BetterHelp and sign up and get 10 [e-mail] netters that's better. H E L p.com netters we are back.

[Sean Buffini]

And the Team USA men's and women's went on Family Feud. There's been a celebrity family feud run and it's been really cool. And some of the boys were on it. Hellebuck was there.

[Dan Powers]

I think Hellebuck smashed right.

[Sean Buffini]

I heard. So, dude, the boy there was actually. So it was. It was Helly and Larks from the men's team and then some. Some guys from the sled team. The Paralympics sick. And Larkin had a really funny moment, actually, where he was like. They were like, what? It was. It was a regular round, not the fast money round. And they were like, what are something People hang from their rear view mirror. And Larkin was like. Like a. Like a. Like a spiritual, like, ribbon thing or like, what's that ribbon? It's like a spiritual thing. It's like a ribbon thing. And, like, Steve Harvey's just. Just Steve Harveying him, you know, and then it's obviously wrong. And then it goes to the girls, and they're like, across. And he's like, yes. Larkin was like, ah, yeah. Yes.

[Dan Powers]

What's that thing?

[Sean Buffini]

A T. Yeah, yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Across from that lowercase stand for Whose name is that? It was like, larks. Well, what are you. What do we do? What are we doing here?

[Sean Buffini]

I want. You're gonna play this fast money round that Hellebuck did, and I'm gonna see if you do better than him.

[Dan Powers]

Okay.

[Sean Buffini]

And the guys. Dan, you know you have tried to get to 200. The guys got to 308 and crushed.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

So they did really well.

[Dan Powers]

Just give it to me.

[Sean Buffini]

Are you ready? Yeah. We're not gonna watch that. Are you ready?

[Zach]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

I'm gonna give you. Do you want 20 or 25 seconds?

[Chris Powers]

Give me.

[Dan Powers]

Give me 25.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay, 25 seconds on the clock when I finish reading the first answer.

[Dan Powers]

Okay, go.

[Sean Buffini]

Teenagers don't ask for each other's phone numbers nowadays. Instead, they ask for each other's. What?

[Dan Powers]

Snapchat.

[Sean Buffini]

Fill in the blank. Back to blank.

[Dan Powers]

Back to back.

[Sean Buffini]

Name an occupation. Where? You better know. CPR Nurse. Name a game show that has a celebrity version.

[Dan Powers]

Family Feud.

[Sean Buffini]

How many eggs do you use to make scrambled eggs?

[Dan Powers]

Three.

[Sean Buffini]

Great job, Dan. Really good, Dad.

[Dan Powers]

I feel like those are pretty easy questions, though.

[Chris Powers]

Good.

[Sean Buffini]

Okay, so Hellebuck said Twitter.

[Dan Powers]

Oh, no, I think mine's better than that.

[Sean Buffini]

And what'd you say? Snapchat. The next guy, Griffin, who's on the

[Zach]

sled team, said, pause for a moment just to. Has anyone ever been like, oh, give me your Twitter?

[Sean Buffini]

No. No.

[Dan Powers]

Yeah. I was like, it only got.

[Sean Buffini]

And I was like, helly Twitter. And you could tell he goes like. He paused. He was like, twitter.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

I was like, oh, no.

[Dan Powers]

I could see ig, but I feel like kids do Snapchat now.

[Sean Buffini]

Griffin said. Griffin said, ig. And that was the number one answer. I don't know what Snapchat is because no one said, but Griffin. Griffin got the number one answer. Instagram. Fill in the blank. Back to you said back to back. Hellebuck also said, back to back. Number two answer. Griffin said, back to black. Steve Harvey loved that.

[Dan Powers]

Steve Harvey's the man.

[Sean Buffini]

Ed, I don't know what number One answers. What do you think?

[Dan Powers]

Back to basics.

[Sean Buffini]

Oh, that's good. Back to basics.

[Dan Powers]

Back to the future.

[Sean Buffini]

Back to front. Back to the future. Name an occupation. Where you better know cpr. You said nurse.

[Chris Powers]

Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

Hellbuck also said nurse. That was number two answer. It was great. Griffin said paramedic. Number one answer.

[Dan Powers]

That's the number one answer.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, but both work. Really?

[Dan Powers]

I bet lifeguards up there.

[Sean Buffini]

Oh, good one. Name a game show that has a celebrity version. You said Family Feud. Hellbach also said Family Feud. Number one answer. Yeah, and Jeopardy. Was number two. That's what Griffin said. And how many eggs do you use to make scrambled eggs? You said three.

[Dan Powers]

Hello.

[Sean Buffini]

Also said three. Number two answer. Griffin said two. Number one answer. The boys. Two pussies. You have two scrambled eggs.

[Dan Powers]

You're a.

[Sean Buffini]

So I hope you played along with Dan and you did really good because you got three. Number two answer. Family feud. Number one answer. Nurse. Number two answer. Back to back number two answer. And then Snapchat, which I have to believe is number two.

[Dan Powers]

Got to be number two. Yeah.

[Sean Buffini]

Tremendous work, Dan. And you only get. You only took 15 seconds.

[Zach]

Seconds.

[Sean Buffini]

Hey, you are smashing that.

[Dan Powers]

Nice.

[Sean Buffini]

Really good. Really good. Okay, let's close it out with a beer league hotline. And this one's a long read, Sean. So I'm sorry. I'm sorry for more for Grant to try to make this a clip, but it's an important read and, yep, this for the people.

[Dan Powers]

That guy doesn't count.

[Sean Buffini]

He can't even weed this for people home. This is going to take Sean 20 takes to get through this.

[Chris Powers]

All right.

[Dan Powers]

Why, because it's funny or because it's so long? Both.

[Zach]

Because I can't read.

[Sean Buffini]

He can't read, Dan.

[Zach]

This guy. I've just, like, been guessing what the words mean.

[Dan Powers]

To be fair, it's his. It's his second language.

[Zach]

It is my second language. We picked up a free agent and he's by far the best player in the league. Puts up three plus goals a game and feeds the boys tons of sick apples. Most of us love him, but our goalie can't stand him. He always remembers. Strips the first shot of warm ups off our goalie's dome. Our goalie chirps him back hard, calling him bacon boy. Last week we had the early game and our stud bails to pick up an overtime shift. He's a cop. After the game, the boys have a few beers and head home. At 3am the group chat explodes because our stud arrested our goalie for a dui. A Mile from the ring. Now our goalie won't play unless we kick the stud off the team. None of us want to play against the stud or get pinched ourselves if he holds a grudge. Plus now our goalie has no license for 90 days and we're going to have to drive him to all the games. The boys are split right now. Please be the tie breaking vote.

[Dan Powers]

There is no fucking way this is real, dude. No chance.

[Sean Buffini]

This is made up. This is insane.

[Dan Powers]

There is no way this is real.

[Sean Buffini]

Pinched him. He got pinched, dude. And he was parked outside the rink. I know he was parked outside the rink.

[Dan Powers]

I need to truly guys on this team DM us. I need to know if this is real. And this is maybe one of the. This is an all time beer.

[Sean Buffini]

This is a predicament.

[Dan Powers]

This is an all time predicament. This is fucking brutal.

[Sean Buffini]

The.

[Dan Powers]

The feud between the goalie and this guy must be deeper than what we know.

[Sean Buffini]

He's just this free agent. How could it be?

[Dan Powers]

Because why are you dome piecing your goaltender? Every warmup? They're saying it's like every warmup.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Because immediately when they were like the goalie hates him, I was like, why? There's no reason to hate this guy. But if he hit puts a fucking cruise missile between his eyes and warm ups every game, then that is. I don't wake you up? Also, the fact that this guy's a cop.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

Is insane.

[Sean Buffini]

Where.

[Dan Powers]

What. What are we doing? Is this mystery? Alaska dude? Is this John Beebe? Like, what's happening?

[Sean Buffini]

Sheriff and I cops play beer league.

[Dan Powers]

But I'm just.

[Zach]

I'm.

[Dan Powers]

No offense. I'm just surprised that this stud, the best player on the team, is a cop.

[Sean Buffini]

Maybe it's not that high of a level.

[Dan Powers]

Why are you doing this to the goalie?

[Sean Buffini]

He doesn't like him.

[Dan Powers]

That's crazy. It is crazy.

[Sean Buffini]

Maybe he's just shoots high and wars like maybe he's not intentionally dome piecing him. He's just like, I'm ripping.

[Dan Powers]

It sounds like if it's this significant, I mean if it happened one time in the goal. He's being a bitch about it. Then you're being a bitch about it. But it's. They're making it sound like he does it often. So I'm like, why are you Liberty belling your goalie every day and then arresting him?

[Sean Buffini]

Well, Dan, we don't condone DUIs.

[Dan Powers]

We sure do not. First of all, first of all, guys, do not fucking drink too many beers after the game and then drive home we talk about that all the time. Just get a fucking Uber. I don't care how far away you are. But you can't be giving him a

[Sean Buffini]

DUI if you pull him over.

[Dan Powers]

If you pull him over.

[Zach]

Hang on. That would be corruption if he doesn't. Just because he knows him and he's not going to.

[Dan Powers]

Sean, that's the whole point of knowing people. That is this. You talk. You were talking about fucking Unobtainium earlier and how the world works. This is how the world works. You get away with shit by the people you know. You get special treatment because of the people you know. Pull, buddy. Pull him over.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

See that? It's your goalie. And go, you idiot. Pull him out of his car, put him in your cruiser and drive him home and go. We'll come get your car tomorrow.

[Zach]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

Done and dusted.

[Zach]

Yeah.

[Dan Powers]

You're arresting him? Dewey, you idiot.

[Sean Buffini]

He swore an oath.

[Dan Powers]

He's probably. He's probably got a body cam, too.

[Sean Buffini]

He swore an oath to serve and protect. His body cams on. You know, and. And maybe, I don't know even know what you do. You have to blow into the breath Lazar yourself and go, oh, here.

[Dan Powers]

Here's the facts of the matter, dude. This is absolutely terrible. I mean, this is brutal. I don't. I can't even speak how crazy this whole situation is. But I'll tell you what, dude. The goalie's in the wrong.

[Sean Buffini]

The goalie's in the wrong. And he's going, but. But the goalie's now going, I won't play with him. Is that in the wrong?

[Dan Powers]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

Are you sure? Yes. You just said, knowing people, he should have helped you out. He could have helped you.

[Dan Powers]

That would have been great. But at the end of the day, you drove drunk, pal.

[Sean Buffini]

Yep.

[Dan Powers]

Sorry. You drove drunk and you got fucking pulled over.

[Sean Buffini]

He's accepting his punishment for that, though. He's saying, okay, my license spent.

[Dan Powers]

No, you're not accepting your punishment if you're gonna be a bitch about it and go kick him off the team. Wrong.

[Zach]

Dude.

[Sean Buffini]

Would you play with that guy? Would you sit in the locker with that dude who domed you up every game and deweyd you? I think I'd be like, bro, I quit it.

[Dan Powers]

I would be so butt hurt all the time. But the shame of getting a DUI would. I would be like this. What am I mad about, dude? Yeah, I was an idiot and I drove drunk, and this guy fucking scores

[Sean Buffini]

four goals a game. Yeah. So we need him, dude.

[Dan Powers]

And you know what? I'll Tell you what, dude, you would. You would be in a. You talk about a dark place. Not having your license for 90 days. You got a Dewey. You feel like an idiot. Dude, if you let this. No. If you let this guy go to another team and now he's fucking dome piecing you and scoring four on you every night, that is. That will be the worst moment of your life.

[Sean Buffini]

That's what this goalie doesn't realize. You're 100% correct. He does not realize that kicking him off the team put means he plays against him right now. He only has to deal with him in warmups. If he is lighting him up like a fucking Christmas tree every game, that is. You don't recover from that ever because he starts chirping you then, dude, he goes, he goes. He. He pumps you high glove for the third time that night. And he goes, look. Feeling a little glove hand, a little slow tonight. Have a few pops for the game. You little drunk. And you're like, shut the fuck up, dude.

[Dan Powers]

This is going to end in a homicide.

[Sean Buffini]

Yeah, yeah, exactly.

[Dan Powers]

We already have a dui. We're going to add homicide to the list. If you let this guy go to another team and he starts lighting you up like a Christmas tree.

[Sean Buffini]

And the boys, the guy who sent this in, I give a lot of credit to. Because the boys have. Have a vision. Because not only will he be pumping you in beer league, but you cannot afford to have this man who would not help out his teammate. You cannot afford to have him as an enemy.

[Zach]

Correct.

[Sean Buffini]

You cannot. He is on the force.

[Dan Powers]

This is what you do. The cop picks up the goalie and brings him to the game every game.

[Sean Buffini]

I don't think the goalie can ride with him.

[Dan Powers]

This is how you fix the relationship. You need to heal this relationship. Whatever these two are dealing with, they need to heal it together. And this is how you will with deal.

[Sean Buffini]

So the vote is. Our tiebreaking vote is you keep him on the team.

[Dan Powers]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

He drives the goalie to the games.

[Dan Powers]

Yes.

[Sean Buffini]

Fix the relationship. And if the goalie refuses to play,

[Dan Powers]

then you find a new goalie.

[Sean Buffini]

You find a new goalie because you

[Dan Powers]

can't get rid of this guy.

[Sean Buffini]

I cannot be getting pitched.

[Dan Powers]

But also, dude, stop arresting your teammates. I think I got it. First and foremost, stop driving drunk, you idiots. Dude, there we talk about this all the time on the show. There are a billion ways to get home without driving drunk. Stop driving drunk. But also, don't. Maybe don't arrest your team.

[Sean Buffini]

Don't arrest the boys. I think that's like, I don't know.

[Dan Powers]

I don't want to. You know, I don't condone anything but like, maybe don't arrest your nightmare. All right, that's gonna do it for this episode. Big stuff coming this week. We've got unbelievable interviews, including the great eight Alexandrovechkin, possibly most exciting for us this Wednesday. Tomorrow, you're listening to this on Tuesday. Tomorrow, our first episode of Sci Fi section covering Red Rising is dropping. It's the most fun I've ever had in my entire life recording any show if you're. No, no offense to empty Netters, but like, that was the most fun I've ever had.

[Sean Buffini]

If you're a fan of sci fi, come check it out. If you aren't, but you have a friend who's a fan of sci fi who's not a fan that doesn't listen to empty Netters, go. Hey, dude, I got just the pod for you.

[Dan Powers]

It's amazing. If you haven't read Red Rising, the first episode covers chapters one through six, part one. And if you have, so have we. That's the most exciting part. We're just deep diving into one of our favorite books and series of all time. It's going to be a blast. Make sure to check it out. Make sure to go snag some merch at emptynighters shop. Make sure you please to hammer that subscribe button. Send the show around to your friends. Follow us on all the socials. We love you guys. And until tomorrow for Red Rising and then later in the week for more netters, Skate hard.