WEDNESDAY RECAP: RON MACLEAN JOINS!

We had some huge guests on Episode #286 of The RP Show! Here are the highlights:

• Rod, Dupes and Global TV’s Taylor Shire opened with The Rollout for Flooring Superstores covering these Quick Six show topics: 1) The NHL returned Tuesday with three games: Toronto 4 Montreal 2, Philadelphia 3 Pittsburgh 2 (OT) and Edmonton 4 Calgary 1, 2) The Blue Jays dumped the Nationals 5-1, 3) The Raptors fell 117-106 to the Suns in their final exhibition match, 4) Day 4 at the CEBL Summer Series saw Fraser Valley beat Saskatchewan 87-77 and Guelph down Niagara 84-64, 5) The CFL’s discussing the possibility of players opting out of the 2020 season, and 6) All kinds of NFL things including Joey Bosa’s 5-year extension and more players opting out for 2020.
• Hockey Night In Canada’s Ron MacLean joined the show from his Toronto home and reflected on the opening night doubleheader of NHL games on Sportsnet. He admitted that they were indeed having as much fun as it appeared. MacLean also told stories of the Sutter brothers, “The Entertainer” Eddie Shack, and admitted he’s not sure if they’ll be able to get through the Stanley Cup Playoffs without a Covid outbreak but they’re off to a good start. MacLean said they usually broadcast from CBC or Sportsnet studios during the playoffs so the only difference for him is that they’re not at a roundtable, but rather individual studios with “boxes” appearing on screen. Ron reflected on the Heritage Classic in Regina last October, and promoted Rogers Hometown Hockey.
• After the interview, viewers quizzed Rod on why he didn’t ask MacLean about his relationship with Don Cherry to which RP quipped, “Have you got rocks in your head?”
• The daily Capital Auto Mall/Universal Collision Centre poll question was: Who should the Edmonton Oilers start in goal in the playoffs – Mikko Koskinen or Mike Smith? At press time, 60% of respondents voted for Smith.
• Hour 2 was broadcast on Facebook Live only and we were joined by CEBL Commissioner Mike Morreale. The Ticats great admitted that the tourney has come off as smoothly as it appears on CBC Sports and CBC Gem but explained it hasn’t come without a boatload of stress. Morreale discussed the CEBL, how he became Commissioner of a pro basketball league (he applied twice to be CFL Commissioner but was turned down both times) and answered several questions from viewers including CEBL expansion, league business and the popularity of basketball in Canada.
• Shire stayed with us well into Hour 2 and examined the current woes of the CFL and more on the Stanley Cup Playoffs. He revealed that he’s having a tough time getting into hockey but will be watching his beloved Montreal Canadiens. He’s not concerned about Carey Price’s shaky start in Tuesday’s 4-2 loss since it’s only preseason. RP said “the puck doesn’t know it’s an exhibition game” and Shire countered “No, but Carey does.”
• Rod ranted on Canadians’ popular anti-America stance on social media yet it doesn’t extend to pro sports. The host feels that if you feel that strongly about being a patriotic Canadian, you should be supporting the CFL, CEBL, Junior Hockey, CPL and the like.
• HoopLife’s Andrew Gottselig joined the bunker to discuss the NBA Playoffs and predicted a Raptors/Lakers league final. He also discussed HoopLife’s summer camps for kids and the growing popularity of basketball in Canada.
• You can vote now on our Twitter poll for the Rockstar of the Day for RoxDar Supply Chain Solutions. At press time, Ron MacLean was leading. Tuesday’s vote was won by Rich Sutter.
• Be sure to join us at 10 am MT on Thursday on Game+ TV Network, Facebook Live and RodPedersen.com/ListenLive. Our guest list includes Sportsnet’s Gene Principe from inside the Edmonton bubble!