The Bob McCown Podcast

We bring on Tripp Tracy and Justin Bourne today to share some personal experiences on how hockey culture impacted their alcoholism. The group comes together to discuss specific events which affected their careers, and methods of moving forward. Learn more about support systems, how to cope, and dealing with triggers and temptations.

We bring on Bill Shaikin today for some baseball chatter to start off the week. Based in LA, the three focus their energy today on the two teams based in the city of Angels - The Dodgers and the Angels. We talk to Bill about the future of Shohei Ohtani, Mike Trout and the future of the underperforming Angels before we change topics to the Dodgers, their off-season execution and the start to their Spring Training campaign.

Deputy Commissioner and Chief Legal Officer of the National Hockey League, Bill Dally, joins us on the show today to close off this week of podcasts with some hockey talk. We talk to Bill about the Bally Sports situation and get an idea on how the company's bankruptcy impacts the NHL. We find out what, if any, contingincy plans the NHL has put in place if Bally is unable to broadcast hockey games and find out how this all happened in the first place.   Before the end of the show, the three make sure to get Bill's opinion on the feedback the NHL has gotten from players and fans about the leagues current playoff and scheduling format as well as some info on where the league is at when it comes to the involvment of Russian players in International Hockey competitions amidst the Russian goverments invasion of Ukraine.

Another 2'fer today as we welcome Bruce Garrioch to the show and then, Rob Longley. With Bruce, the boys discuss the details behind the proccess of the sale of the Ottawa Senators. We get an update on what stage the franchise is at, who's interested and why Ryan Reynolds could be the one to re-energise the team. With Bruce gone and Rob Longley checking in from Florida, the three talk about the Toronto Blue Jays, getting Rob's first hand perspective on what he's observed so far from Toronto's new look roster and more.

We bring on the Dave's for todays episodeas we talk to Hodge and Perkins about Major League Baseball's fast approaching Spring Training. With a number of rule changes being implimented for next season, the foursome talk about what will be different next year as we break down the rule changes made by MLB and discuss the impact these changes will have for the players, fans and how we watch the game.  We also break down the Blue Jays new roster as they get set in Dunedin and wonder if the players, and their manager, have what it takes to meet the World Series expections that were set on this club last year.

Just days after poking the bear that is the Maple Leafs fanbase, Damien Cox joins us today to talk about his column in the Toronto Star that has raised the question - Should the Toronto Maple Leafs fire Sheldon Keefe? Damien makes his case as to why he thinks a coaching change would benefit the team and why Bruce Boudreau should be the one for the job, as we debate on whether a fresh face would be what this team needs to win a playoff series, let alone a Stanley Cup. The three also discuss Kyle Dubas' future with the club as we near the NHL trade Deadline and wonder what moves, if any, the young GM will make this year.

The President of Hockey Operations for the Vegas Golden Knights and friend of the show, George McPhee returns to the podcast to catch up with Bob and John. To start the show, the three talk about George's relationship witht he teams GM, Kelly McCrimmon. We get some insight on what the relationship between General Manager and Team President is really like as George gives us an idea as to how involved he is with the teams roster management. We spend some time talking to George about the leagues scheduling format and get his opinion on the importance of developing divisional rivalries throughout the leage before digging into some trade deadline talk as the discuss George's plans leading up to the March 3rd deadline.

The trade deadline has come and gone and there are mixed reviews regarding the moves (or lack there of) made by Masai Ujiri, Bobby Webster & the Toronto Rapotrs. The four break down the Jakob Poeltl trade and discuss what it will do to improve the Raptors roster before moving on to the deals that weren't made on Thursdays deadline. With OG Anunoby, Fred Van Vleet and Gary Trent Jr. having been tossed around as potential trade candidates for weeks, we wonder what prompted Raptors management to keep them and question what the team is going to do with their UFA's this summer.

We're dusting off the golf clubs today as we welcome our good friend and former golf pro - Ian Leggatt - to the podcast for some golf talk. With the Phoenix Open kicking off today, we talk to Ian about the tournament. We talk about Ian's experience playing at the Open, the course itself and the lacklustre field of players this year as the LIV Tour slowly poaches some of the worlds top golfers. After the break, we get into a little bit more of an in depth conversation about the LIV Tour as we pick Ian's brain about the progession of it's popularity and what it means for the future of the PGA.

We bring TSN's Gord Miller on the show today for some hockey talk with Bob and John. The NHL's current playoff format has been a controversial subject throughout the league. With fans, writers and even players voicing their displeasure. Today, Gord gives us his perspective on the issue and gives us some insight on how the NHL's schedule format has a huge influence on the post-season set-up. Before we go, we fit in some international hockey talk as the three discuss the NHL's participation in future Olympic Games and the status of the World Cup.