The Opening Drive – December 29th, 2023

00:00 – Browns-37 Jets-20 — Despite starting 4 different QBs this season, the Browns have clinched a playoff spot — Alabama is taking extra precautions

17:25 – Real New Year’s Tradition – or not? + What is your New Year’s resolution?

37:00 – Former PGA Tour Pro Jay Delsing on why the golf ball rollback is so poorly times for the game of golf

55:21 – TIOLI

1:04:02 – Fresh Take: As college football moves toward a twelve game playoff next year, what should we expect from Mizzou football next year?

1:17:07 – The View from Vitale: Blues radio analyst Joey Vitale breaks down his expectations for the Blues against the ‘Lanche

1:33:45 – The Fight

1:48:15 – St. Louis Blues C Robert Thomas on the biggest bump from Bannister’s coaching style

2:01:37 – Rush Hour Reset

2:17:00 – 2023 Retrospective – Story of the Year

2:31:55 – Mizzou analyst Howard Richards breaks down the importance of the “Block M” logo and why Mizzou’s running game is the key to the Cotton Bowl

2:51:40 – New Year’s Segment – Resolutions for the local teams

Keep up with the show at: https://www.101espn.com/shows/the-opening-drive/

New Year from the opening drive on 101 ESPN in St Louis where it’s 7:00 in the morning your time check brought to you by Clarkson Jewelers an officially licensed Rolex Jeweler with Brook Grimsley and Matthew Rocko I’m Randy carer great to have you with us as we start this holiday weekend good morning

Brooke how you doing good morning I’m doing all right woke up with a very stuffy nose this morning so it’s a weather change Randy we went from what was it 60° Christmas weekend now New Year’s Eve weekend this it’s swing I I enjoy the cold weather but it’s whenever

You have those big shifts like that in weather that’s when I get some sort of respiratory illness it always happens I do not enjoy the cold weather if I had the choice right now I’d rather be in the Valley of the Sun where it’s warm oh

Yeah not that I don’t like being with you and Matthew I’d just rather be in the warm weather than the cold weather we should petition for that I think that’s a good idea just to have a show from there some us already have I mean I

Think I think if we just put Randy out there permanently he join in the show he he he he’d tap in there wake up at 5:00 a.m. or 6 depending on if it’s daylight saving time or not you guys are you guys got a good plan for me I like this okay

We’ll check in with you and we’ll have you on YouTube and you’ll just be relaxing yeah think about it you could set you could set I guess there depending again depending on what time of the year it is you could set 9:15 tea times in your in your time you just go 6

To 9 you could have a 9:15 T time no you’re giving him to many ideas now you are thinking sir I’m trying to keep him active for like 10 15 years in this business longm here uh so we’ve talked about how the most difficult trophy in sports to

Win is the Stanley Cup and over the years people have said oh yeah there’s no better trophy than the Stanley Cup I think that that has been eclipsed Brooke I think right now that the edible Pop-Tart is the most important thing to win in sports guys I was all over this

Last night I kept sending it to you over and over again the Pop-Tarts bowl that was incredible first of all whoever was the mascot for the Pop-Tart was fantastic he was he was all over it the dancing the energy that he provided oh and by the way Matthew did you notice

That he came out of a toaster why do you think that that is MHM I’m not sure um I personally like to uh leave as small of a carbon footprint upon the universe as I can don’t want to toast your poptarts yes because I’m environmentally conscious unlike others that’s not what

It is and he was he it it was strawberry corre yes okay yes strawberry strawberry Pop-Tarts and the toaster are delicious now I feel sorry for the fact that the Pop-Tart mascot actually did get toasted and then ultimately devoured Randy he went out doing what he loved this is

True he went out doing what he loved Yes strawberry Pop-Tart you really just stole the nation’s heart with your celebration the way that you just popped out of the toaster and the energy that you provided I forgot that there was even a game going on because I was so distracted by your amazing dancing and energy that you

Provided on the field then you went and sacrific your body for one of the best celebrations we have ever seen in Bull history thank you strawberry Pop-Tart you gave us joy you did and the way that they just ate it after tremendous I want to know if it was good

I I hopefully some players will be able to weigh in on that on social media today it looked like an actual Pop-Tart it did it was fantastic Kansas state by the way beat NC State not that it matters uh in the actual game uh the the

Poptarts bowl uh Kansas State wins it by a score of 28-19 uh where was where is it was played somewhere warm was it Orlando was it Florida it was it it looked delicious so that’s really all that matters the game the site none of that matters just

The fact that it it was in Orlando yes okay good mhm missou by the way I’m wearing my missou hoodie a missou hoodie missou plays tonight in the Cotton Bowl down in Arlington Texas down in Geral world and missou fans evidently oh what do we have I I also provided some M

Colors thank you very much it say it says give them hell I I like that and you colors and there’s a tiger and a tiger so you’ve got the smart logo there you go oh Randy what no what Matthew at times acts like an 85-year old man and his his infatuation with the

Block M just exemplifies Randy I’m going to be honest I like the Block M to oh well everybody wants to be Michigan why does everybody in Missouri want to be Michigan but don’t you see the mind game at Play here because how many times has Eli drinkwitz made fun of Michigan this

Season and all the Scandal surrounding it and then you’re going to go and use the block end one classic good look but then also two playing a little mind game with OSU oh that might be okay okay that’s a good play so he should wear the exact

Same cap that Jim Harbaugh wears on the sideline because the m is identical I sent you guys pictures of the Caps yesterday and the M’s are identical so mou could literally grab a Jim Hara black cap rather than Navy and the our friends in Michigan uh the the team up

North if if you’re a Michigan man you get it they uh they do have a black cap with a Block M just like misso so they just get they just get the letter M basically well and their official School logo I’m not I’m not relinquishing I’m not relinquishing just theot entire

Letter just like that come on now it’s old school listen I love I love the circle tiger in facty Old Men my favorite uh my favorite Tiger logo right now is actually the Sailor tiger on the white helmet I do I put that on social media

Or like yeah or like the small or any any like full-sized version of Truman where he’s like standing up and he’s got like his legs like kind of cross at the bottom and he’s doing some weird like 1920s kind of thing I’m down with any of

Those logos those all are are great I like the block especially in the Jersey I sent you guys in our group text which is when it was the Block M that finished out Missouri on the basketball jersey that’s a great looking Jersey and I think what mizou has done to try to

Appeal to teenagers which clearly they don’t need to do anymore uh with what they’re wearing tonight but well at least they’re wearing a jersey that says missou on it well and the colors help too Randy I mean the colors help they’re wearing the old gold blam they’re ridiculous nobody has any association

With the old gold Block M at missou anymore but things come back in style so teenagers now they kind of like some of those quote unquote vintage things I’ve even seen that in my generation rock you know this remember Ed Hardy those shirts oh God those are finding a way to come

Back in style so things do come back in style and that’s that’s what’s Happening Here Randy okay well it’s if the Block M is coming back into style then I hope Michigan will turn to something cool we’re not talking about the big thing which is maou paid Nike millions of

Dollars to synchronize the school into one shade of gold after having 30 different ones and they picked the wrong shade of gold they picked yellow no yellow is totally the correct sh is it do you want to wear an old do you want to have missu wearing an old gold jersey

Not old gold but I just think there’s something more I I want something a little bit less just like bumblebee yellow and a little bit more TOS of the gold palette because now now when they wear now whenever they wear their golden black Jersey as they call them they look

Like bumblebees they’re Bumblebee jerseys they’re not like golden black tiger jerseys awesome it’s not like bumblebee like the throwback Steelers jerseys with the stripes no they they’re awesome not that bad are you worried about getting mixed up with Vanderbilt Randy is that what it is with like more

Of the black and gold uh hopefully missou will never be confused with Vanderbilt at least from an athletic standpoint yeah I think the two are very vastly different uh we had Thursday Night Football last night in the NFL the Browns clinch a playoff spot with a 3720

Win over the hais Jets Joe flacko rocks I think the thing that NFL teams need to do is just go Scout 39y old quarterbacks now oh so just kind of take the Cardinals approach M yeah yeah you know the very seasoned seasoned and s season

Approach yeah I that is one of the crazi stories and the fact too that you do have to give credit to the Browns the amount of injuries that they have had this season on both sides of the ball and they’ve been able to find a way to

Work through it they deserve a lot of credit for that and ostensibly their best offensive players in Watson and Nick chub right you lose those guys Pono is still playing really well their offensive line overall is playing really well but congratulations to the fans of the Cleveland Browns and fans of the

Detroit Lions two for many many years more ofan franchises who are going to be playoff teams this year which franchise you think has been through the most oh man I I would say most tormented it’s definitely Detroit because Detroit this is a really a difficult one but at least Cleveland has won Playoff

Games but man you talk about torment the drive and the fumble against the Broncos they’ve been in the playoffs they’ve won games but they have been on the doorstep of the Super Bowl in Cleveland and they lost their franchise for three years but Lions fans man this is tough Lions fans have

Only had one playoff win since 1957 but they’ve been in the playoffs maybe I would go with the factory of sadness it’s got to be the factory of sadness cuz I think just like there’s a lot of watchable Lions football that wasn’t necessarily successful but there I mean like you

Said Mor abund was the word I used yesterday for the Browns and you used there again I mean it’s that is the best word for the Browns and when they were good they ripped their fans freaking hearts out yeah that’s a tough question right it really is it’s a coin flip

Because man there’s no worse heartbreak than losing your team and especially the way they lost it they during the season they they announced yeah we’re moving to Baltimore and obviously that fan base which is as intense and as rockus as any fan base they were devastated I think I would have to go

With the Browns yeah yeah Cleveland had a chance to cheer for Barry Sanders and Calvin Johnson and uh some of the those guys I think I would go with the factory of sadness as the the one that has been the most tormented I I hope for God’s

Sake that both of them don’t land in the super B together cuz somebody would have to lose somebody actually just texted that in yeah could you imagine oh man it would be awful so it’d be awful so I and I don’t think Detroit really needs to

Worry about it well if Joe fago is going to make it to another Super Bowl some safety has to horribly missread a ball so the question is who will that be H good question very good question other news from last night the Pistons had a 21-point lead against the Celtics on the

Road Pistons if you aren’t aware of it had lost 27 in a row they BW blew the 21-point lead and lost to the Celtics in overtime after starting the season 2- one the Pistons have now lost an NBA record tying 28 in a row wow yeah wow yeah can you

Imagine no that can’t be very fun I wonder how many people are going to those games right now and one other college football note as Alabama gets ready to play in the National semifinal several players said that they aren’t allowed to take their iPads home because some some one at Alabama is worried

About Michigan stealing their signals and their material oh that someone is Nick s seems to be pretty worried about that with Michigan I don’t know why you would be worried about Michigan doing anything like that they haven’t shown that and maybe con stallions is the reason that mizou is going with the blam

What is he doing now because that would kind of concern me a little bit more that we don’t know where Connor stallions is so is he working on one of course his vacuum business where he refurbishes them remember that was his keeps him on the on the porch on the FR

But now he has a lot of extra free time I would if I was Nick S I would be concerned about how much free time Conor stallions has maybe Eli wasn’t joking I don’t think he was maybe Eli did have a call coming in from Conor stallions yeah

I look I I somewhat get it I think it it you need to be very cautious in that situation but here’s the thing whether or not it’s true of that Michigan is going to that length to cheat in this situation it’s kind of funny cuz then

Nick Sav is also kind of putting a shot out there either way of like I don’t trust you guys this much yeah good for him I like this no you don’t me that prick Sav uh and finally the Blues play the Avalanche tonight that’s last but

Not least of course we have the pregame for you at 6 year on 101 ESPN the action at 7 with Chris Kerber and hopefully the blues will be able to win their fourth in a row LGB there you go and Thomas yes Tor and Toreno and Toreno y Bobby Tommy

Do we have Bobby Tommy no we don’t have Bobby Bobby Tommy today oh we do we do have Bobby Tommy we got J deling at the bottom of this hour we’ve got Joey V at 8:15 we’ve got Bobby Tommy at 8:45 and the 9:30 we’re going to talk to Howard

Richards about the Cotton Bowl and of course he played his pro ball for the hated Cowboys I always like to give them trouble about that you always find a way I try uh coming up here on 101 ESPN we have a tradition unlike any other New Year’s tradition or not next time 101

ESPN One of the many things I enjoy about working with Brook Grimsley is that Brook consumes information she just has an array of info in that head and interesting way to describe that yeah yeah but some of it is Meaningful and some of it is kind of silly but this is

Very meaningful this particular this might be kind of silly Randy this this might be the silly information that maybe should be funneled out of my brain but I love knowing New Year’s traditions that people have and some I understand that you might have some that you have

In your family but then there’s also some cultural ones that people do around the world so I thought why do we not try to figure out if Randy carer knows and Matthew Rocko you participate as well he’s he’s a kudon but he’ll play oh yeah

We got to get into that part yeah a little bit later on this segment is this a real New Year’s tradition or is this a fake one okay are you guys ready I’m ready okay we’re going to start out with this one eating 12 grapes at the start

Of the year to represent the 12 months for good luck no way that’s a real one I I don’t know what culture it’s from but I’ve 100% heard that before you don’t think it’s real Randy I’ve heard I is that 12 grapes yes how could you stop at 12

Grapes well because it’s it’s for the 12 months is it an Italian thing um it’s well so are you saying it’s real or frake I’m saying it’s real I’m saying that that is fake I’ve heard that before it is real bang let’s go uh so congratulations to uh to Matthew that’s

Pretty good okay it is real it’s a tradition I’ve actually done it before you have yes should I do it do we do it on New Year’s Eve or New Year’s Day so as soon as you have the new day that hits right at midnight you’re already celebrating with your family you go

Ahead within that minute some people get very technical about it within that minute you’re supposed to eat the 12 grapes it’s um oh God I I I haven’t I I have like it’s there’s a TV show that that made a that did like a whole thing about this like there’s a whole episode

Where somebody’s like I need my grapes as it’s like New Years and I cannot I don’t know we did it in my family and I’m not sure why but we do uh ice cream Sundays uh for New Year’s Eve I wonder if I could just do 12 Marino

Cherries it’s Spanish that’s okay I could not I knew I knew what I knew I I knew it was some specific culture where it like originated okay good okay next one eating collared greens and blackeyed peas to signify prosperity and well-being for the new year real or fake

Fake the blackeyed pee thing sounds like something I’ve heard before I’m going to go with real rock is right it’s real no way okay collar GRE is it’s something that is actually very traditional in the South and that’s something that we also did my parents would always do that and

Would have cornbread it’s delicious okay now I got to go reel on the next one circling around your significant other seven times for good luck in your relationship in the New Year real or fake real right now I’m going fake on that one oh rock is right again that is

Actually a a Jewish marriage tradition okay good I I got one no no I just got a text Gloria on Modern Family had a whole thing where she was looking for her grapes for New Year’s I was thinking like said there was a woman yelling but

My grapes and I’m like that’s what it’s from throwing salt over your shoulder to to ward off bad things for the new year real or fake as a New Year’s tradition I’m going to say as a New Year’s tradition fake yeah I’m I’m saying you’re conflating that one I’m going to

Go with fake you guys are correct that’s just a normal Superstition that I’ve actually done a million different times I don’t know why it’s it’s just things that get passed down okay do you do it with a Shaker or do you do it with like the big old have you ever when you

Accidentally knock over salt then you’re like oh well I got to throw it over my shoulder you got to make sure to check that there’s no retired NHL enforcers behind you oh good point you got to you got to watch out for that walking around the block carrying empty suitcases for

Hopefully a year filled with travel fake fake no way is that real or fake nobody would ever do that the the ACT sounds so fake but the explanation oh suitcas you know I’m going to say I’m just going to give you credit if you did get me on this one

Because this is a well written one I’m going to go true rock is right again what who is actually a Colombian tradition so right at midnight the families take their empty suitcases and walk around the block so they for a year filled of good travel okay so they’re

They’re doing that tonight and then going to Dallas oh there you go it doesn’t work out very well no it doesn’t you’ll kind of miss some things but if you want to go have some fun at Dallas you can so but in Colombia there’s you know they’ve got Traditions all over in

Columbia yeah okay eating lobster for wealth as a New Year’s meal is that real or fake oh that’s fake yeah Lobster used to be a trash food I’m going to go with fake you guys are both correct it’s actually believed in certain cultures that you shouldn’t eat lobster

As your New Year’s meal because they move backward and you should always be moving interesting how about that little fact okay I love me a lobster it’s I I I I I’m a lobster fan so I’m going to be honest I prefer crab more I mean I’ll

I’ll have lobster of course I think it’s yummy but if I had to choose between the two I’m a crab girl I think it’s yummy especially with the butter M crab is good crab cakes are really good okay last one guys okay I I think I’m over

For here oh no I got the last one right you got yes wearing red yellow or orange underwear on the new year for good luck leave no that’s that’s fake we go fake you guys are both wrong that is a real tradition apparently wearing certain type of underwear colors red could

Signify love and romance yellow the color signifies money and wealth orange could bring you professional success and you could wear all the colors this is an actual tradition all the colors at once yes you can do all the colors at once orange yellow and red yes and there’s

Also other ones out there as well but after hearing all this is there any Traditions that you guys will be doing tonight I’ll I mean not tonight this weekend I’ll do the grapes I’ll I’ll go I’ll I’ll you want do the underwear I I would have to go out and get the

Underwear I might do the underwear but I’ll yellow and the orange I I just don’t have no this is a good question can you consider a huge glass of wine as your 12 grapes no it has to be the 12 individual grapes does does it say if

They have to be green or red I I’ve always done green I don’t know if there’s certain because green everything the colors are supposed to you know signify different things so money oh oh Randy has his green grapes ready to go no I don’t know I don’t know

They can be a little bit too tart for my taste so the Traditions that I’ve have done growing up out of these is the 12 grapes and I know that some people even eat them underneath a table as a part of the good luck like you go under the

Table any and then eat the 12 grapes you’ve heard that that was a rick patino tradition Randy oh no stop it Randy no and then also eating the collored greens and black eyed peas with cornbread is another tradition that’s a southern tradition that I’ve done before

But that’s not under the table no if you try to do food under the table at my house you don’t get any of the food not with three dogs running around oh that’s true that is very true so everybody should send in what traditions they have

To to try out and also what your New Year’s resolution is H I haven’t come up with a new year’s resolution can I wait a minute yeah I’ll come up with one in a minute don’t you don’t need to come up with New Year’s resolution Randy just you don’t like he doesn’t like

Resolutions he does not who actually sticks to them a lot of people usually and usually a resolution usually a resolution is like a diet where every every billionaire yeah I’m sure usually yeah make more money I’m going to pay my employees better this year nah

Um just no one sticks with it and if you want to have a goal just why are you waiting to the new year as my my biggest problem is that people like wait they’re like well I’m not going to start until January 1st why would I start on

November 23rd because every day is the same I don’t know like like every like sooner better than whole new year you’re turning the page to a new chapter has anyone ever really like Turned like opened up a new chapter of their life at the new year or does it happen randomly

On a day in March yes I do it all the time I do it every single year I I like to set goals for myself and to continue to grow it also gives you hope for the new year so look at him laughing at this for the

New year you been all this planet for 30 years and you still you’re still like churning that out every year of course so I will give you my New Year’s resolution one I have two right now good I like that so one will be to continue

To grow here with the radio show and continue to work on being a good broadcaster it was a hug uge shift and that was one of my New Year’s resolutions is to start a new career path and that’s something that I was able to accomplish this past year and I

Just want to continue to grow and learn and it’s going to be so much fun learning from you and Dan even more um my second one and this has been a huge goal and dream of mine which I know will take a long time so at least just

Getting started on it is I’ve wanted to start at least a charity for young women who are looking to understand the professional world having some women who are women-owned businesses different things like that that can can kind of come and speak to young women in that

High school age about what they need to do in getting ready for college looking at internships maybe even providing some clothes because that’s one of the biggest things R you know once you graduate college and rock as well that you’re like oh wait I got to go spend a

Lot of money on a new business attire and that’s something that it’s hard for a lot of people to do and they don’t know where to start so that’s one of my goals is to start with a charity with that and at least get the foundation

Going with it I I think that’s fantastic I love that idea and if if I can help you with that Foundation I would be more than happy to do so I think that’s wonderful thank you it’s good uh I am going to go the other direction I know

That you want to grow professionally I actually want to take more time off and travel more uh and play a little so you’re going to do the luggage yeah the luggage thing you know and that has to happen on New Year’s Eve right I guess I could there’s kind of a

Block to walk around uh but yeah that’s I I I want to do less and here’s one of the things is and Brooke I appreciate you having a goal for the entire year because I think that’s important but I also think that you have to take the approach sometimes of Peter leflour who

Had life figured out I found that if you have a goal that you might not reach it but if you don’t have one then you are never disappointed and I got to tell you it feels phenomenal Randy no goals what soever you can only be disappointed no so you

Don’t disappoint yourself is that what you’re saying exactly how the movie ended for him all worked out even even small goals you know taking more vacations as you mentioned okay yeah going backwards that’s my goal eating less fast food that’s another goal that a lot of people make for the new year

Fast food that’s my goal for no Randy not more fast food I want to go to Young Brook hey look all the time I wish I could go back to Young Brook where I had fast food all the time best metabolism I’ve ever had could not even put on a

Bunch of extra weight that was that was living Randy okay so for all of us a fast food that and a fast food has to include a drive-through is this Fair any other restaurants like so for example uh there are subways that have drive-through so Subway is fast food if

It has a drive-thru somewhere it’s a drive it’s a fast food now that doesn’t just a drive-through doesn’t make it a fast food for example a breadco is not fast food right it’s not no I mean technically no no okay so a fast food that you’re going to put so hard about

That fast food drive that you will make it a New Year’s resolution to eat once in the 364 days or is is this a leap year no 2024 don’t you doesn’t it6 okay oh 366 a fast food that you will make it a point to IND in in

2024 oh this is easy for me I would say Sonic I love Sonic and I haven’t had it in a while but then I had it not too long ago and I remembered why I used to love it so much cuz they have a variety they have everything Brook their their

Breakfast burrito and their tater tots are off the charts at they’re great and Chick-fil-A I feel like I do frequent Chick-fil-A a lot so I’m thinking outside of the box there a little bit that’s that’s fast food yeah I know I go there too much though so if I’m thinking

Of like a new place you can’t go there too much I love Chick-fil-A I do too I mean you can’t go there too much I mean come on I it’s only open six days a week it was packed on Tuesday because it was closed on both Sunday and

Monday need it there you know what my favorite thing is is whenever I go to that whole the one in Brentwood how many people on Sundays that I see when I go grocery shopping who go over to the Chick-fil-A to be disappointed that it’s not open it happens all the time it’s

Brilliant marketing and I’ve done it before too yeah so um this is this is hard but for me and you know I don’t take advantage of it enough but it is Taco Bell oo I love Taco Bell so that’s going to be my one indulg Indulgence in 2024 Matthew give

Me a fast food oh God I have to stop eating less of it no no give me one that you’re absolutely going to have though in 2024 oh I mean I’m absolutely going to have McDonald’s and Chick-fil-A the the the Coca-Cola is too good we’ve got a Chick-fil-A opening a mile down the

Road are you serious wait really son of them yeah right where the Fridays used to be Friday’s torn down Chick-fil-A right corner of right before Mason it’s like at Ross have it Chick-fil-A has one of my favorite breakfasts too oh yeah it’s great Coca-Cola is ridiculously good they’re Coca-Cola everything is

Good stupid how good it is compared to they have good shakes too and it’s one of the few restaurants I told you guys this before having worked there that I will actually go back to because having worked and everybody knows this if you worked in the restaurant industry

There’s some restaurants that you worked at that you wouldn’t go back and eat at seeing things behind the scenes Chick-fil-A is one 100% will always go back to because of their protocols on how they clean everything it’s top-notch my guy Dave Bruce over at the depair

Store best great guy uh he works so hard and he’s such a good pure perfect human being works so hard to get involved and I know because you work there you don’t know how difficult it is to get into management positions and you have to

Work at it and so the people that are managing Chick-fil-A or owning Chick-fil-A restaurants they are really authentically good people you have to be a really good person I think that’s actually a qualification when it comes to and nobody and it’s not like anybody can just own a Chick-fil-A there’s a

Whole process that you have to go through yeah that’s Brooke that’s Matthew I’m Randy coming up we’re going to talk some 2023 2024 golf with our buddy Jay deling here on 101 ESPN this is Rocky with your sports center update driven by Johnny LOL Chevrolet and Johnny LOL autox the blues back in

Action tonight at home facing off against the Avalanche it’s going to be a 700 p.m. puck drop which means you can catch the pregame show right here on 101 ESPN starting at 600 p.m. also in action it’s the cotton bow tonight between number nine ranked Missouri Tigers facing off against number

Seven the Ohio State University it’s a 7 p.m. kickoff for that that team from Dallas Texas that is your sports center update driven by Johnny laof find your roads and Shop 247 at la.com and laof autoplex.com are you kidding me Brook and Randy and you’ll hear Jay delsing with Danny Mack on Sunday

Morning 8 to10 here on 101 ESPN talking Golf and Jay joins us every Friday morning talking Sports and golf and we welcome Jay to the celebrity line this morning good morning sir how you doing I’m doing great guys I’ve learned so much today I I’m I don’t know whether to

Throw salt in my eye or how many grapes it’s pretty good stuff man is there a tradition that you like to do on your Eve Jay you know Brooke at my age I don’t even go out anymore it’s like I can’t make it till midnight I just uh I I

Don’t I I got rid of my superstitions and everything I just trying to be kinder WR that’s a good goal that’s a New Year’s resolution to have any of those that appealed to you maybe the 12 grapes or luggage oh no I gotta tell you I traveled so much I

I the luggage thing was like oh my gosh can you imagine doing that um the underwear thing I thought was hysterical you know the color under underwear had some sort of significance for something I I don’t know I thought it was really interesting the stuff you were throwing

I’ never heard of it i’ never heard of any of those hey so people will go to Great Links for a lot of good luck in the New Year well as we were reflecting on everything that happened this year Jay wanted ask you what was your favorite golf moment from this

Year oh man um I got a lot of On the Dark Side um I I have to say one of the coolest things was Michael block making that hole in one with with Rory maory and before we go on to that you guys my parents used to make my brother and I my

Sisters around the house by then eat pickled herring on New Year’s Eve on a cracker and it was I could still remember the taste and my brother-in-law I were like this this cannot be good pickled pickled hairing out of this little jar and it was like my dad would

Eat like seven my mom would choke one down my brother and I would be like this is not not fun not good not great so was that like a good luck thing for the new year I think they thought it might be I’m not sure well you know my parents

Were married for 58 years so maybe that brought them good I don’t know I don’t it was I do you know that just Jarred my memory when you asked me Brook and I’m like pickled herring I mean I don’t even know what that is but

It’s bad memories of it yeah uh Jay it looks like we’re going to get an extension of the negotiations between PF and the PGA Tour what do you think and what do you know I don’t know anything which is really frustrating but I I mean we’re

The the folks that I talk to are are are we all kind of in this same camp no one really figured that they’d get the entire thing done by the the 31st I do know that the John ROM thing is significant in so many ways because it

Shows you the amount of it shows you the temperature that this his Excellency or whatever his name is with from Saudi Arabia uh what he feels about you know all these other additional investors and all this other stuff that the PJ tours brought to the table and it it just also

A thing Randy that there’s I don’t think there’s any way moving forward in golf without them I I I really don’t I think what they’re going to do if they’re not included is just continue to steal players I don’t think they give a damn about the money I think whether it’s 560

For John Ram or 350 million or whatever it is they’ll just keep throwing I I do know what they did with r was they just kept adding $50 million under the offer until he took it while the money is great are are we going to lose the

Golfer that we get five years down the road are we going to lose the golfer that cares about playing in and winning Majors yeah I mean Randy in my opinion everything that we love about golf is on the table I mean if we’re talking about some sort of World Tour that will be

Created from this thing I mean what does it do the the majors will will will still hold a test of time but where does it put the PGA tour in terms of ranking in terms of Tours in the world and how does all what does all this work what does it all look

Like and I can promise you that the that bringing tiger into the boardroom was was really significant because he’s going to draw a hard Line in the Sand about certain things that have to happen and and it’s and it’s going to be in from a historical perspective because if

We start I I don’t know if you start adding 15 or 20 events all around the world what does it do to the US events what does it do to the US sponsors and does it make it it’s it’s going to absolutely make them less significant

And it’ll have a ripple effect down to the history of the game it’s there there is a lot on the table and then the other thing the the Michael block thing was absolutely fantastic but I I’m really disappointed that the USGA chose now to

Do the golf ball roll back I mean we are in the biggest boom we’ve ever experienced in a game of golf we have more people playing golf B you’re playing down family Golf Center at Adams it’s fantastic and we’re going to go ahead and make the game harder for you

Know the average guy just makes no sense it seems so toned deaf to me I hate it yeah it is very frustrating to see this all play out and it just feels like everything is in a weird limbo and I’m sure that’s hard for all the other golfers are you hearing from anything

From the golfers currently who are still part of the PGA Tour about how they’re feeling about this and the concern level of their future in the game yeah they’re all feeling this same way I mean that we know we have to get a deal done we just don’t know what it’s

Going to look like and not being in the room we I I just don’t know specifically what he wants you know obviously there’s the the the overriding theme where he wants you know golf in his country and they want to make look good like they’ve done for Formula 1 they’re doing in for

For soccer and they’re trying to buy tennis right now and and all these other things so we know we know what the overall plan is it’s just that we I’m not sure how what all the details look like in it and I think that’s what’s really going to determine where the hell

We go from here because I mean you know it came out and and broe I’m not sure if you’re familiar with this but it came out I think Randy and I talked about this off the air that he wanted a membership at Augusta National and some

Of these seats at some really and I’m like wow I mean there’s zero chance I there’s zero chance that’s going to ever happen you know especially after you go out and publicly say that I mean it’s almost like this Unwritten rule guys if you want to get in you know you you

Can’t say any right you can’t ask you know it’s like and it’s almost like if a guy ask how much it costs you’ll never get it and so it’s it’s really this odd thing but um that’s that that’s the thing that’s that that’s most pressing in my mind is what will these details

Look like you know what do they what do they really want we know they’re Sports washing that’s been going on for ever and it’s been going on with all sorts of other sports and I did some research you guys and I think 26 of our 40 Som out

Sponsors already do business in Saudi Arabia and so that’s kind of telling to me so I’m really not sure how big an impact that’s going to have on certain sponsoring we know some will will really pull out but I’m not sure about the masses but I just don’t know what the

Future of the PGA Tour looks like because we have some studs coming out guys this this young man that um he’s already won three events around the world lb adberg is just I can’t wait to watch this guy play he’s 23 years old now and just got such such a bright

Future and I mean Victor havin is still an upand cominging guy even though he he he had such a great finish this year and we’re g to get to see tiger so there’s a lot of lot of cool stuff to look forward to this year but man I don’t know what

It’s all going to look like and and and how this thing is going to come about I’m really interested in the details and Jay before we get to your show on Sunday here’s the stat that players love last year in 2023 this year 49 Live players made aund million dollar and 149 PGA

Players made a million doll 198 pro golfers made at least a million doll so it’s regardless of where you are a good place to be playing golf I can’t even I saw those numbers a couple days ago and I was like man would it be nice to be play I mean just have

Your name on your bag right now and you’re going to get a million bucks it sounds like it’s it’s pretty uh yeah it’s it’s it’s phenomenal that sort of stuff is really I I don’t have any trouble with it I mean my gosh I I made

I was able to play for so much more money than the group that came before me but it would really if I had my brothers it’ really be nice to be playing somewhere now oh no doubt it would it would be great I mean it’s you know and

If you think about it back when I was playing if you stayed in the top 125 125 golfers you you kept your card you got full playing privileges you got into basically every tournament now but that didn’t really mean you were making you know a great living you you made you

Made some really nice money and then this tiger came along you made some really good money but now everybody making a million bucks I mean so what is the guy at 150th on the money list making Randy he’s making $900,000 I mean it’s incredible it’s a guy named

Me Mito Pereira I have not heard of him until now and he made $ 789,6 that’s number 150 on the list the number 100 golfer on the list for 2023 Nate Lashley made 1.7 million that is unbelievable Randy Meo Piera was the guy that was leading the PJ Championship down at Southern Hills

And made double bogey on the last hole okay okay got it yeah yeah I think he’s from Argentina or Chile or somewhere but uh anyway he’s a live player now so yeah it’s there’s just so much money in the game I mean it it I can’t believe this

Is going to come out of my mouth but if you start looking at our ratings and things like that I mean when does it come in when when do you start thinking that golfers are overpaid right it’s but you know what there in that sport you have to succeed

You you have to actually play to get paid unlike other sports there are no guarantees so I would suggest that if if you are able to make a million bucks you’ve earned it yeah no question no question I mean we were talking about this the other day and someone you know

It’s so hard with with with with golf because anything we kill we eat you know it’s like so so what we did last year might help us with our golf bag contract but that’s peenuts compared to you know what we’re playing for but with the other Sports my gosh if you can peace

Meal two really good years together I mean this this young man Browning the backup quarterback for Cincinnati I mean how much money do you think he’s going to earn next year he’s going from league minimum to probably 10 or 15 million bucks yeah once he gets has the ability

To move to free agency he will absolutely make a ton of money Jay who do you got coming up on the show on Sunday we’ve got Lee Travino uh Gary McCord uh Steve flash we we we’re doing some wrap up stuff of some the fun interviews that we’ve had of theen char

Classic some best up stuff yeah it’s really fun and Danny Danny Mack does such a great job of putting this stuff together I can’t wait to listen to him on with you guys I want to see what kind of traditions he has yeah we’ll find out

He he’s not a kudin he’ll be wide open about things like that I know we got to get rock some traditions and I guess some goals and hopes for next year yeah he he’s he’s he doesn’t care it sounds like if you just give Rock a

Coca-Cola things are going to be F it’s got to be a good one though right Rock Jay has Jay has this figured out uh go to Chick-fil-A get him the ice from Sonic because the ice sounded Sonic’s really good and put some coke in there and everything’s fine isn’t Sonic so

Good Jay Jay that’s so smart pretty good pretty good well you can’t you got to pick up something when you’re this old down and be dumb your whole life you’re the best happy New Year thank you so much and we will talk next week absolutely guys love you have a Happy

New Year and we’ll talk next week you better too Jay delsing with us on 101 ESPN coming up you need to text in to the Air Comfort Service text line that number 314 39996 46314 399 Yoo take it or leave it next time 101 ESPN or leave it want to say something put it out there if you like it you can take it if you don’t set it right back get your text into 314 399 9646 and give us your take it or leave it brought to you by Gloria Lou realy visit Gloria hasthe

Buyers.com and start packing that’s my final author take it or leave [Applause] it with Brooke and Matthew I’m Randy it is the opening drive of on 101 ESP last opening drive of 2023 oh my gosh you’re right yeah we done we’re done New Year’s resolution to have more shows next year I think that’s good can you at least do

That whoa whoa like more than we are like already supposed to have oh yeah 52 weeks five shows a week always be here 250 a show in 2024 I think is a good goal to have yeah there you go sometimes I’m just trying to get you rock at least

A little used to making a goal even if it’s obviously going to happen just the thought process of making a goal I have goals but I don’t start them on arbitrary days oh man actually that’s not true I would be just starting them on arbitrary days which is like a random

Tuesday that’s what that’s what I that’s my kick in the button occurs two days just celebrate Christmas whenever you want right that would be the best I mean presents all the year all right uh spring training starts in roughly six weeks take it or leave it the Cardinals

Will add a player to their roster pitcher or player by the time spring training starts oh so any player any player oh I’ll take that okay I’m GNA take that easily Rel pitcher or something like that I would like it to be a starting pitcher I would too I but

That’s I I just threw it out there I think they will add a play or two and I think it’ll be a relief pitcher and I think that’s what they’ll go to Spring trading with I 100% agree this this is going to be Randy’s favor take it or

Leave sorry okay take it or leave it I know I did this earlier but take it or leave it the Block M is the best logo and helmet for for mou football leave it like a million times it’s like the worst it’s classic but you got you’ve got the oal tiger you’ve got

The big tiger you’ve got the old school Truman the tiger it’s like if there’s five of them it’s fifth the black m is Fifth and the Yellow Block M is better than the gold Block M it’s because you feel like it’s just too old schol you

Think that what was it you said earlier that you have to be 80 to like to block him it’s old timey it’s h and I get it for people that loved the 1969 Orange Bowl I I get it but we’re living in 2024 almost and let’s let’s try to pick up

The pace a little bit in terms of our logos okay things come back in style mhm well the old Trum and the tiger did and certainly the the m has never gone out of style for Michigan if you want to PE if you want people to think you’re

Michigan cool I would rather have Mizu have their own identity and not be thought of as Michigan I’m going to take it I like it I like it too I’m not going to take it though I think it’s second I think it’s second or third is that Michigan no it’s Montana no it’s

People don’t if you’re a casual college football fan you want to have it be mizo we’re we’re trying to scare Ohio State cuz they just lost to them even the script uh okay I’ll I’ll take the Block M over the script tigers on the side of the helmet I don’t mind the script

Tigers actually I think it’s really cool especially whatever font that it is but you definitely like the Block M better I do I think it just looks really nice and clean and classic yeah looks better on a basketball jersey than then a football helmet do all say uh take it or leave

The ball game at Fenway Park should have brought out Ted Williams for the coin tars visiting Captain calls heads oh totally take it oh my gosh oh no we have to end the here with one I was like Randy’s GNA that’s going to be his favorite taker to Le for the year

I’m going to take it well of course we have to end the year with that how many times was he mentioned probably this year if you had to put another The Splendid winter yeah we probably did it what once a month at least I would say a dozen

He wouldn’t be able to make it out there he’s got a head cold oh Randy no boy that pass was a frozen rope oh no to believe New Year’s is depressing due to the fact that college football ends and we have to wait four months for baseball cuz I cannot watch

This crooked NFL anymore I’m going to leave it we’ve got hockey we’ve got blues the rejuvenated Blues who play the the Avalanche tonight no there’s there’s plenty of sports we’re fine yeah I’m going to have to leave it and the XFL eventually coming soon yes question mark

Yeah we were we were trying to figure that out yesterday when that official merger cuz they’ve been talking about it but I haven’t seen anything that said it’s officially officially happening and what exactly the changes are being made I believe it’s going to be called the UFL the United Football League so usfl

XFL so it’s just going to be the U UFL any other great ones uh actually this is this is a good one take it or leave if the blues get 10 points in the next eight games we’ll start to seriously consider them a playoff team

Take it oo 100% yeah I’m going to take it if they’re over 500 in that stretch yes I will yeah cuz yesterday you said 500 in the stretch is good enough so yeah certainly over 500 we’re taking it yep thank you sir thank gry and thank

You very much for your texts we do appreciate them as college football moves toward a 12-game playoff next year what should we expect from the 2024 Tigers that’s next on 101 ESPN this is Cory from Air Comfort Service heating cooling and insulation with cooler weather comes drier air if you

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The choice of a lawyer is an important decision and should not be based solely on advertisements the verdict is in STL Today is named under law 2023 is best s l law firm thank you St Louis and we vow to continue our mission to not only deliver exceptional results but to

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Return a fresh perspective on the day’s top stories it’s the opening dri’s fresh [Applause] Take it is 804 in St Louis your time check brought to you by Clarkson Jewelers officially licensed Rolex Jeweler and missou getting ready to play in their biggest bowl game ever tonight when they take on Ohio State in the cotton bow down in Jerry World in

Arlington Texas if we had a 12 team playoff this year missou would be participating in the 12 team playoff with the 12 team playoff next year is it fair and reasonable Brook Grimsley to expect that missou will be back in this same spot in 2024 I think 100% I think

That it would be a disappointment honestly if they weren’t able to make it because of everything that they’re getting back one they just announced an extension for Kirby Moore their offensive coordinator who we’ve talked about has been a huge asset in their growth off growth offensively this season and you’re bringing back Blake

Baker he said recently in a press conference that he wasn’t even thinking about leaving and you also are bringing back Luther Burton you’re bringing back Brady cook you have Sam Horn also available still he hasn’t entered the transfer portal that we know of and it doesn’t seem like he will and you’re

Getting so much experience back we talked to mie Cooper yesterday and he just announced that he is going to return next year I think that we’re still waiting on an official announcement from Theo weed Jr but it seems like he also will return next season so you’re returning your entire

Receiver room oh and by the way you added Courtney Crutchfield we talked about him to that room as well so there’s so much talent they’re getting back and they’re adding Talent via the transfer portal defensively and offensively I feel like it would be a disappointment if they didn’t make it in

The expanded playoffs that we’re seeing next year I think that’s the biggest thing is that they’ve been able to enhance their offensive line because of the transfer portal their their offense is going to be very experienced and the what they’ll add up front will help and because of what they’re losing

Defensively you’re losing both Corners you’re losing hoery you’re losing uh a couple of defensive lemen but they’re adding with the transfer portal and they at Missour as good as anybody at using the transfer portal I believe because of their experience on offense and what they’re going to give back uh what

They’re going to get defensively I think they should be in the same spot again next year one thing we don’t talk about a lot is replacing the thicker kicker and they’re they’re going to have to be cognizant because they had games that came down to the wire of special teams

And especially the kicker position because if it’s not for uh I I only call him the thicker kicker what’s his name again Harrison yeah isn’t that weird uh we’ve done that so many times this year because we called them one name it’s was like wait what is the Dusty

Springfield what is his real name are if you don’t have him for K State in Florida yeah uh Casey Blake Dusty Blake Dusty Blake mhm yeah yes Blake Griffin anyway why can’t I think of the co remembering the names why can’t I think of the turn W so anyway they they have

To and this is something that I talked about the day he was hired was he is he he is essentially the special teams coach so I’m sure that that part of the game will be taken care of and I look at next year’s schedule as easier than this

Year’s schedule I think that missou has a chance and they do play at Alabama and we don’t know because everybody’s involved in the transfer portal we don’t know how difficult next year’s schedule will be but right now at first blush based on the results of 2023 I think

That 20 24 has a chance to be even a better year Well if you look at the schedule by the time that missou opens up SEC play against vanderbild which well you got to watch out for the commodor that’s very intimidating they will face Murray State Buffalo and

Boston College those are four teams that have combined for 13 wins this year which I know that this year’s team will probably be different than next year’s team but can we be honest here I think that that’s a pretty good slate for missou now you could look at that as a

Positive or NE right because you want to be able to test your group as early as possible especially bringing so many of these guys back do you have any concerns with that where you feel like okay because October is where that’s the real meat of the schedule where they’ll have

Their biggest test in facing the agies and then of course Oklahoma which I think is a game that everybody is looking forward to I think the opportunity to build the defense during those first five games is Paramount for mou get everybody on the same page defensively let Blake Baker work his

Magic the offense should come into next season pretty well set they they should know what they’re doing but I like the idea now of having a schedule where you can win games but not be at the top of your game when you play in the SEC once you start the tough

Part of that that SEC schedule I want my team to ascend to that sixth game of the year they should be 5-0 and I want them to ascend to that that sixth game and have their defense ready to rock and roll well and there’s a lot of first and

New things on the schedule or things that they haven’t done in a while because they’re going to be traveling to College Station next year and they will be going to Bryant Denny Stadium which is something that they’ve only done I believe once in their history back in

2018 I was there for that game you were really what was that experience like it was great I but Jerry Judy was wind up lined up wide right on the first play of the game and I told Patrick that I think they were on their own 25 and I told my

Son Patrick I said they’re going to score a touchdown on the first play of the game and Tua hits Judy boom 75 yard touchdown Bing Bang Boom yeah uh Alabama handles handled us pretty well but I would anticipate I think any rational reasonable person would anticipate that

That game is going to be a loss I don’t know what Mike Elco is going to do in his first year ATM though and they’ve lost a ton of players after the firing of Jimbo yeah and that will be the first time that missou will travel there when

I’m talking about Texas A&M since in 10 years so those are those are two matchups where you haven’t been able to be in that territory in a long time we W Bama you want B you don’t want Bama the listen after after the the year that the

Offensive line had this year I’m no longer perpetually terrified about the the trench battle with Bama I’m not confident in it but I’m at the point now where now you get some size on the defensive line as well with the with the transfer coming off from Florida I mean

I think this might be the most the the best chance M ever had at Bama I still don’t want them I I’m being a little bit because of who’s coaching them we got text in from the 314 that says how big is the loss of Cody Sher it’s big but

They’ve got a Georgia State running back that ran for 1400 yards almost 1400 yards is coming in uh almost the same size as Cody shider by the way and then they’ve got a four-star freshman out of Texas that they’ve added so while shider loss is a big one they’re replacing him

You can’t keep everybody forever and I think they’re replacing him with Talent we don’t know if he’ll be replaced with production but all you can do is is all you can do and they’re getting the best that is available to them and I think they’ll be all right well and that’s the

Nice thing is because they’re they’re at a point where they have a lot of talent and they have talent coming in but they also have talent available who would have thought if you would have said last year that Cody Shrader would be the story of the misso Tigers this season

You’d be like wait what what happened to Nathaniel Pete what happened to you know all the other running backs that you thought maybe would rise to the top in the situation not that they haven’t been valuable this season for mizou but still the fact that Cody shider was this big

Story you just hope that somebody will step up and be able to fulfill that role right and uh Jamal Roberts uh freshman this year that is out of St Louis I believe uh is also there and they like him a lot he went to St Mary’s and they

They like Jamal Roberts a lot too we’re going to talk to Howard Richards later on in the program coming up at 9:30 that’s today’s fresh take coming up Joey V talking some blues on 101 ESPN view things a little differently just imagine how he looks at hcky wa this is

The view from vital brought to you by Scott Lee heating company a proud Mitsubishi Electric Elite contractor Losing the Avalanche tonight you’ll hear the action here on 101 ESPN at 7 o’clock the pregame at 6 Joe Vitali joins us now good morning Joseph I don’t know if you had a chance to hear earlier Brooke was giving us some unusual New Year’s traditions that people have like eating

12 grapes right after midnight or walking around the block with empty suitcases to uh perhaps pre- travel for the following year do you have any New Year’s traditions that you and or your family participate in yeah that just sounds really weird Brooke um I didn’t hear I didn’t hear on

The first take but I’m glad if I would have heard in the second take it would been even weirder um Joey these they’re supposed to represent different things to bring you luck and prosperity for the New Year I’m surprised that you wouldn’t at least give one of those a shot what

About okay this is another one I threw out there maybe this is more your speed wearing different color underwear that represents things for the new year red yellow and orange underwear red yellow listen guys I’m just trying to get to lunch Joy’s like no way not doing any of

That I wake up I wake up every day I just tell myself how do I get to lunch today I I don’t uh you know I’m just grateful to have clean underwear my wife do a great job with the underwear that’s all I know I don’t have I don’t have

Anything specific like that guy I’ll be honest with you I I’m kind of a day-by-day guy that’s the luxury I think of having multiple uh big family and kids you I think that your time has sucked and the energy sucked right out of you where with that comes the

Creativity that’s just it’s just gone in my life but I’m just in survival mode right now I appreciate the people who do that with with the five kids here’s one thing that that we’ve done and it’s maintained uh its tradition even though the kids are 29 and 26 uh we do an ice

Cream sunday on New Year’s Eve hey I really like that no I really like that a lot I think that um you know our ice cream tradition isn’t New Year’s Eve it’s it’s multiple times a week you know this is one of the things I do with

My kids you know I I’m not I’m not home all that much and I travel a lot obviously with the blues and I miss a lot of hockey practices I miss a lot of sporting events so the one the one ice cream tradition we do have Randy

Although that on New Year’s Eve is when practices are over and I have a chance to coach them like I did my son Harper last night out there at Sun teen uh it’s it’s a mandatory it’s not it’s not if we’re getting ice cream it’s where we’re

Getting ice cream you know we live in Kirkwood so there’s multiple options it’s either a clementine and Andes or or My what of my favorite not overwise I’ve we’ve been tearing up overwise so we end up coming home and you know obviously doing the the ice cream thing and

Getting a scoop even when it’s 20 degrees outside and that’s kind to become our thing as well Joey the peanut butter and chocolate over waiss is the bomb it’s the best it it’s it’s one of the greatest of all time I am 1,00 for % with you uh the cookie dough you know

What oppr wise has really good too believe it or not they have like the best bacon in the world you go into their shop there or off Manchester and Rock Hill they have bacon they have uh ice cream cake I mean and then here’s the other thing my wife drives me crazy

On this one too every year I ask for the same cake she I don’t get it I go just don’t worry about it just give you this cake the greatest ice cream cake out there is ice cream ice cream cake you know what I’m talking about yes it’s the bir birthday

Cake ice cream birthday cake that’s a mouthful but I get it yeah they have birthday cake ice cream flavor and they stuff it into a cake it’s birthday cake ice cream birthday cake it is the greatest cake in all of the in all the I think in the universe I mean if there’s

A universe out there and there’s other debates on this it would be it without a doubt take it out 30 minutes for you want to serve it up and it’ll change your life oh I love that I I’m 100% with you on that well Joey I guess we’ll ask

You some blues stuff here but the blues coming off a good win against the Dallas Stars what did you see in that game because right now it seems the blues are really continuing to roll under Drew banister five and one now under him well they’ve had two come from

Behind victories in the last four which is something they didn’t do in the first 25 games so I think that that’s one of the characteristics about this group that really stands out you know under under Craig barui not not in his whole tenure because they had some wonderful C

From behind chapters under Ruby but just this year it just seemed as if they they went behind they got behind they allowed that first goal you just it was inevitable it almost like you can just fast forward the game because it was gonna be a big L and now with bister has

Just been a little bit different I think his calm approach his a little bit uh more stoic demeanor on the bench I think has played well to some of the younger generation players we have here and whether be Thomas and kyou and Bo navic and maybe a perunovich or you know let’s

Just say Joel hord for example so I think a lot of these younger players really are thriving under a more kind of passive coach than than Craig bruy who ended up becoming you know just he’s an aggressive guy and that’s what made him so great is he got the guys going he

Rallied them on times and and for whatever reason this time now it’s just been one of those things where this group is is coming for behind it and doing it very well and they’re they’re finding different ways to win games right now Brooke and that’s what’s what’s great about teams that that win

And go the distance and win championships you know it’s last game if it was Joel hord the game before that it was the second un power play I mean you go two games before that it’s the top line of Robert Thomas they were the best

Line on the ice as they should be so different ways different people picking up the slack and of course finding different ways to win games is what good teams do as you mentioned there it was a fantastic game for Joel Hofer and I was listening to you in the game broadcast

And the postgame show after that win against the stars and you had mentioned that you think we might see more of Joel Hofer here in the next few games do you think that that will still be the case yeah I mean I said it the other night

And I I still believe it I mean we’re going to find out here in a couple hours I’m heading down to the rink here in about an hour we’re going to see the morning skate we’re going to see what Drew banister decides to do you know one

Thing he’s done is he’s trusted his his gut he’s had good impulses whether it be two games ago when he put out the second unit they score a power play goal moments later Chicago takes another penalty he doesn’t go back with the star players he went back with the second

Unit he asked was asked that question at the end of the game and the day before he said listen I just I had a gut I had a hunch I went with it and and it worked out and so this is a instinctual coach I

Think he’s going to go a lot with his gut he’s going to trust his gut and I think you look at the way Joel H played not only last game stopping 39 or 40 but go two games ago when he played the for Panthers and only allowed one goal which

Was a fluk goal by the way I it was a dump in off the ston that probably shouldn’t even gone in so maybe it’s a shut out in that game technically so he’s been facing a lot of rubber he’s been under arrest and I think that you

Know it’s one of those things where this this coach has to keep riding this high horse because you look around the league and it seems like everyone in the Central Division just keeps winning everyone else is is losing and Central division is winning uh points are very

Hard to come by I mean the blues right now five and one in their last six but they’re still kind of hanging on that playoff spot so on the wild card with with Arizona a big win the other day against Colorado and and other teams around them Minnesota starting really to

Pick up the slack and you got to keep an eye on the Amon Willers now in that wild card race who is really starting to come to one again last night so plenty of teams around them are winning points are so valuable especially this time of the

Year and I think that you you go with Jo H for again here tonight continue to ride that hot horse and then give your starting um a well-deserved rest because he was terrific throughout the month of November Joey V just my opinion but I think when the NHL schedu makers get

Together to put together a league schedule one of the things that should be like the foundation what you start with is an off day for the Blues in Pittsburgh before you they play so that Joey ve can visit his old stomping grounds I think playing on one night and

Then playing back toback the next night in Pittsburgh is just unfair for you I would rather I would rather begin my Christmas in western Canada and then have to go back out to western Canada after Christmas if it allowed me one day off there in Pittsburgh I agree with you

Randy uh it was one of the one of the sour spots on the schedule and it’s been a great schedule don’t get me wrong but there are certain cities you love going back to Pittsburgh’s one Boston obviously with so much of my college uh history there and then the blues winning

The theme seven stand Cup Championship there so much wonderful uh cities across the board uh but with all said and done I did have a chance to catch up with Sydney Crosby yesterday I I sent it talk to the great friends over there at 101 Grant Alex they have it they can you

Guys can use it at your will a really awesome 13-minute conversation it’ll be aired tonight or excuse me tomorrow night’s game I think on the pregame show on Bradley Sports Midwest uh we had a nice Zoom meeting and it was a great hot stove we shared wonderful moments from

The past a lot of great laughs and and we got into nitty-gritty because you know you look at the pittsbur Penguins when they play them on Saturday I mean you know Sid I I joked him about this I said you know you’re not a spring chicken anymore he’s 36 years old and

He’s still humming along and clicking along and getting his points he’s still one of the best players in the National Hockey League but we all see it with Alex oetkin I mean one day it just kind of the switch kind of flips and all a sudden you’re not as as relevant maybe

You’re not as good as you once were and who knows when that’s going to be for Sid but it is inevitable at some point so to sit down with him and really break it down and pick his brain and and what makes him tick and um just a true true

Leader and a guy that just continues to want to win he’s won it all I asked him this question I said you won it all you won three cups World Championship you won Olympic gold golden gold boy I mean you’ve done it all what motivates you

Every day and as simple as the answer was I just I still want to win I love to win I love to compete and that’s what drives him every day so it’s a cool interview and you guys can check it out tomorrow we will and Brooke wasn’t here

When you told the Sydney Crosby Superstition story so next week why don’t we plan on you telling the the Sydney Crosby super because I’m sure there’s a lot of listeners too that haven’t heard it we’ll set set that aside right now for next week so that you can tell that fantastic story let’s

Mark it it’s going to take about a good six to tell it right it’s going to take about a good six to eight minutes Brook so heads up we’re not going to get into too much hockey We Off The Hop there but uh it’s a great story and it really is

Boils down not only his superstitions but his routine and how important it was for players around him to kind of facilitate that routine as well Joey ve love you have a great night tonight and a great trip and a happy 2024 hey you guys as well Happy New Year

To you all love love our conversations every Friday morning makes my whole week and starts my weekend off great and we’ll be talking to you guys next week you bet thank you sir see you later that is the great Joe vital here on 101 ESPN

And maybe he’ll pick up a new New Year’s tradition along the way but Joey is very busy with with his family I totally get that you have to take it day by day at that point and I’m telling you have you ever had the Ober Weiss peanut butter

And chocolate no after you guys mentioned that I was I took note of it you have to you have to Matthew have you ever had it uh I can’t say I have I usually you know if you had yeah when I go to overw I just get straight

Chocolate cuz it’s it’s it’s that good I’ve had the Clementine that he mentioned Andy’s I I love both of those and I like iy’s playing and fancy I haven’t had that it was that I remember when we went to Enterprise center for the BL was fantastic yes it was so good

Okay we got some good ice cream here in St Louis coming up next we’ve got the fight do you need a fighter Matthew did I win yesterday I don’t know I don’t remember Jack okay uh so we’ve got the fight coming your way next and if you

Would like to participate text in 314 399 9646 314 399 Yoo the fight’s coming your way on 101 ESPN this is Rocko with your sports center update brought to you by celga Heating and Cooling the blues have one of two games this weekend tonight facing off against the Avalanche at home at

Enterprise it’s a 7 p.m. Puck trap you can catch the game right here on 101 ESPN the pregame show starts at 6 p.m. tomorrow on Saturday they travel to Pittsburgh as Joey vital was just talking about to face off against the Penguins that’ll be a 600 p.m. drop

You’ll be able to catch that pregame show right here on 101 ESPN starting at 5:00 p.m. and then earlier on on Saturday we will have the peach bow here on 101 ESPN pregame show starts at 10:30 that is your sports center update brought to you by SGA Heating and Cooling and independent

American standard heating air condition dealer welcome to the fight in the Red Corner Average Joe listner and in the blue Corner the Undisputed king of morning drive please welcome Randy [Applause] carer good morning and welcome back to the opening drive Brook Grimsley here alongside Randy ker and Matthew Rocko

And it is time for the fight and we kind of just threw impromptu Jason into the fight right now Jason I know we have the mic right here for you Jason you’re in the room today for a very special reason and we kind of threw this

On you of hey why don’t you take on Randy in the fight yes but hey I’m very excited uh to be a part of it um I say uh you know Jason Newton um and I had an opportunity to do this uh get this opportunity through um the Down Syndrome

Um Association and um my regular life I um kind of associated with that is I’m with a company called United access who which we specialize in wheelchair accessible vehicles and Equipment um but like say had this opportunity and uh looking forward to taking on Randy you’re excited nervous you don’t seem

Nervous a little nervous a little nervous I mean listen to Randy on a daily basis that guy’s pretty sharp yeah yeah he’s called mega mind for a reason all right Jason so you ready for the fight ready to take on Mega I am ready okay question number one and are you

Doing this with options or you want to do it style I’m probably going to have to do the options just to play we we did throw this at you it’s it’s very nerve-wracking so question number one Joe flacko finished December with the fourth most passing yards in a single

Month in NFL history with 1,66 which multiple MVP winning QB holds the record with 1,755 is it John Elway Payton Manning or Brett Favre I am going to go with Brett fav For the Win For the Win Flo’s game last night was the first 300 yard passing game against the Jets in 33

Games which longtime AFC East quarterback is the last to do it throwing for over 400 in that game was that Josh Allen Tom Brady or Ryan Fitzpatrick I think I’m going to go with uh Mr Brady prior to moving over to the Bost and Red Sox which national league team

Did Theo epine work for as the Director of Player Development was it the Padres the Cubs or the Astros I believe the Chicago Cubs and who is the only player in NFL history who’s had a 100 yard receiving games for six different teams is that Terrell Owens Javon Walker or Andre

Ryzen let’s go with Terrell Owens all righty I will tally the scores we will bring in Randy carer all right he’s bringing in mega mine how are you feeling after that Jason I’m I’m sweating a little bit a little bit I wish there was more baseball

Questions I feel like we’ve had like the third person that have said that this week right yeah it’s it’s like you’re purposely avoiding it now Rock aren’t you no my my uh My Trivia uh my fight question process is very uh organic which is that I I just start like kind

Of typing stuff into Google and I just kind of follow threads and sometimes there’s stuff that happens obviously in games like last night and and and I have some questions from there but yeah I just kind of like follow threads on the internet until I find a good thing I

Think is a good trivia question that we haven’t used which is getting harder oh there you go well Randy now is back in the room and so as Jason it’s it’s a special treat to have somebody actually in the room to fight I feel like we should do this moving forward yeah let’s

Plan on it hey I’m a trend Setter there you go and Randy as you know you know Jason so it’s very exting hoodies to have him in today am i z there you go all right Randy you ready to take on Jason in the fight I am ready question

Number one Joe flacko finished December with the fourth most passing yards in a single month in NFL history with 1,600 116 which multiple MVP winning QB holds the record with 1,755 I believe that would be pton Manning Randy also setting some records last night Joe Flaco’s game was the

First 300-yard passing game Allowed by the Jets in 33 games which longtime AFC East quarterback is the last to do it throwing for over 400 in that game 33 games long time and if long time AFC East quarterback 33 so that would have been during the 2021 season so Brady would have been

Gone so that would Josh Allen would seem to be the logical choice I will go with Josh Allen prior to moving over to the Boston Red Sox wish nationally team did Theo Epstein work for as the Director of Player Development Padres and Randy who’s the only player

Who’s had 100 yard receiving games for six different NFL franchises H that means he would have had to play for six teams that too I will do the lifeline was it Terrell Owens Javon Walker or Andre ryzen Okay I don’t think Walker got to six teams he was Packers Broncos Raiders or Packers

Raiders Broncos um ryzen he I don’t think he when he played like for the Raiders and the Chiefs he was I don’t know if he would have had 100 yards for them I don’t even know if he had a 100 yard game for the Packers did definitely for the Falcons obviously

So to would be logical here if we can think of six teams for him Niners Cowboys Eagles bills Bengals um and did he have one at the end of his career uh let me just run around the league here seems like he had another team that’s five right there that I would

Think that he had let’s see the ram Seahawks uh NFC South I don’t think he made his way to the South Falcons Panthers Saints bucks um no other east teams but I I think I’m going to go with him with with two anyway uh we just North he never

Played for the Ravens or Steelers or BR Browns Bengals he did um yeah I I’ll just assume that maybe I should go with somebody else because I can’t I can’t think of another team for for two Niners Cowboys bills Bengals to realize why you were saying two and then

I just got it took me a minute I got really confused it’s to Eagles uh um North Vikings no Lions Bears um East West I’ll you know what I’m going to I’m because I can’t think of a six team for two I’m going to go with Andre ryzen oh

My all right this was a close fight a little bit more low scoring than I expected so was Jason able to come into the studio and knock Randy carer off of win for the first time in for fights or does Randy carer finish out the year on one heck of a winning streak

Ring that Bell the winner and still champion of the fight Randy carer you were going to be so close Jason but unfortunately Randy carer changed that last answer and he he he he spiked the football a little bit and he he uh wins this one 3 to one I thought I

Thought I thought might be in the crazy thing is here you got the one correct that Randy got wrong which always is crazy when it happened so let’s go through those questions and answers Joe flco finished December with the fourth most passing yards in a single month in

NFL history with 1616 it was in fact pton Mannings uh 2013 December when he set the all-time record with 1755 Flaco’s game last night also the first 300 yard passing game against the Jets in 33 games second to last game of the season in 2021 it was a Tampa Bay

Buccaneers quarterback by Tom Brady who did throw for over 400 yards against the New York Jets defense prior to moving over to the Boston Red Sox Theo fste was the player director of Player Development with the San Diego Padres R you know what uh Team he interned with

Multiple times before being brought to the Padres I do not remember uh the Baltimore Orioles and then their their executive move from Baltimore to San Diego and brought him along as his assistant he eventually became player of director of player of development and the only player who’s had 100 yard

Receiving games for six different teams the Colts the Falcons the Browns the Jaguars the Chiefs and the Oakland Raiders it is in fact Andre bad moon risen who locked up six different 100 yard team 100 yard games with six different teams and a 3-1 win for Randy

Carer in the fight today did two only play for five teams did we yes uh yeah yeah 49ers Eagles Cowboys Bengals and bills got it okay well either way thank you Jason because we we really did just throw this on you and you stepped up to

The plate and it’s so nering great than for playing thank you Randy thank you thank you Jason Jason and by the way did you tell why you’re here good Don Syndrome Association of Greater St Louis does amazing work and thank you for being a part of that trivia night that I

Was absolutely I saw this this was kind of like a bucket list thing for me so chance to come on air and then chance to meet the teams great great happy to be here thanks Jason appreciate Jason Jason with us on 101 ESPN coming up Bobby

Tommy here on the opening drive on 101 ESPN blue Center Robert Thomas for those un uninitiated he’s coming your way on 101 ESPN h getting you inside the blues locker room It Go Robert Thomas it’s time now for blues forward Robert Thomas on the opening drive driven by Pure Performance

The only stop for all your aftermarket vehicle needs Brook Grimsley Randy carer with you the blues with a couple of games left in 2023 they’ll take on the Colorado Avalanche tonight at Enterprise Center 6:00 pregame here on 101 ESPN and then the action at 7 :00 and then

Tomorrow night the blues are at Pittsburgh to take on the penguins that pregame at 6 and the faceof at 700 Robert Thomas with his weekly visit with the opening drive on 101 ESPN is with us on the celebrity line now good morning sir how you doing morning guys doing

Well good first of all happy New Year to you hope 2024 treats you exceptionally well thank you guys appreciate it well Robert obviously great wins for you guys here recently I want to start with that Blackhawks game scoring five goals in the third period your second come from

Behind victory this season what in the world happen in that game and especially in the third period yeah no uh really exciting game I feel like it’s been a long time since we’ve had one of those exciting uh third period comebacks and um yeah it was a it

Was a blast of the game to to lead into Christmas break what did it feel like going into that third period that just kind of shift the shifted the momentum yeah I think we we all felt like they had so many chances to score and just couldn’t couldn’t seem to find

A way to score and then they um you know you have a good chance and they just get a breakway out of it and score a two onone and um so we always felt like we were in the game and then we got that power play goal and then you know Cappy

Makes a good play get another Power Play goal and then just knew we we were RA in it and deed one to win the game uh Robert then like you said you go into the Christmas break and you’re in a position now that you haven’t always been in where you can literally give

People that are close to you anything they want how’s that feel what’s that like for you what do you mean by that because of your contract and where you are now in your your station in life if somebody wants something you can get it for

Them yeah um yeah you know it’s uh it’s always fun having family in town and and doing some some special things um so uh really enjoy Christmas it’s always been something that’s uh super super special for my whole family did your dad do the do any staks on

Christmas uh I did not but he did cook up a storm for Christmas day so it was good R some turkey ham and ton of other stuff so it was exciting love it wow that sounds like a full Feast do you have any we were discussing this earlier

Do you have any New Year’s traditions that you do I’m sure it’s pretty busy obviously for you guys but is there any Traditions that you might have uh honestly not really um yeah I’ve never really gone too too crazy on New Year so um don’t don’t really have anything proud of you proud

Of you for not going crazy on New Year’s because people do athletes do and it’s not a great thing it doesn’t always turn out very well so I’m glad hey Robert I know how much you have appreciated representing Canada in in like World Junior competitions I don’t know how

Aware of you this you are but because I just became aware of it but there’s going to be an NHL uh International Event in February of 25 and NHL players are going to play they’re going to stop the schedule and Dom lision at the athletic says that Robert Thomas should

Be on Canada’s team how much would that mean to you to be able to represent Canada in the the biggest of international competitions yeah that that’d be pretty cool um obviously a long way till then and there’s a a lot of great players from Canada so uh it’ll be tough to to

Make that team but um yeah I mean growing up watching Canada I still every Christmas boxing day I I turn on the world juniors I watch Canada I watch all the games and um you know that’s my favorite event to to really watch and um yeah anytime you can play for Canada

It’s it’s pretty special and um something that you look forward to have you had an opportunity to see there’s seven Blues prospects playing in the World Juniors have have you had a chance to see any and Scout any for us yeah I’ve honestly watched the I’ve watched

All the games on boxing day I’ve watched you know as many as I can um so I’ve seen you know all the guys play obviously a couple hattrick yesterday I got to see that was pretty cool and um yeah divorce you look good uh I mean there’s a lot of promise coming from

There so it’s it’s exciting to you know you turn on any game and it seems like we got a blues player or a blues Prospect in there so um that part of it really nice you’ve talked about having a lot of mentors growing up and guys who

Have reached out to you and helped you throughout your career are you doing that with some of those young prospects as well you’re saying you’re watching them are you texting of them any of them giving them advice uh not really you kind of just let them enjoy the time um

You know Junior Hockey is so much fun and chaotic and um you know that’s all they they want to focus on and at least I did when I was playing there so um you know haven’t really reached out to any of them but um I know a lot of us are

Watching them so we talked to you about the come from behind win from the Blackhawks but the Dallas Stars game was another good one for you guys especially for Joel Hofer what do you think of his performance yeah he was great uh I mean he made some some very timely saves and

Really stepped up especially um in the third period um they kind of started taking it to us a little bit and um he was he was there to answer the bell every single time so uh you know great game for him and hope it hope we can

Help build some confidence for him as as uh he’s a great goalie and Robert you look at the schedule of of the eight games Dallas and then the seven that you have ahead six of those you’re going to face teams that are in the top 11 in the

NHL in terms of the standings do you look at that I know you’re one game at a time kind of guy but do you look at a stretch like this as an opportunity to find out what your team really is or do you already know what your team really

Is uh I think I think we know um I think it’s an exciting time uh you always want to play against the best teams and really put yourself up to the test and um I think that’s that’s what we’re looking forward to most um I mean it’s

Always it’s always you always have this one stretch in the schedule where it seems like you’re playing the best teams and you had a ton of games coming up um against them so I think that’s the the the biggest challenge is just being ready to go and uh these points are so

Important for us and um it’ll be a good test for us and I know we’re excited for that challenge and now a half dozen games under Drew Bannister can you take us behind the curtain what’s what’s he like as a coach what’s his demeanor and what’s he like for the players yeah he’s

Uh definitely definitely different I think he’s uh you know a lot more calm um more calculated he’s not really a scream in your face kind of guy he’s just quiet and um you know everything he says he backs up with you know video and and different points so um that’s kind

Of the way he rolls and uh it’s been a been a bive fresh air hey go get him against Colorado tonight and then have fun going against uh Crosby and the Penguins tomorrow and have a very happy new year and we’ll talk to you next week all right thanks guys Happy New Year

Thank you Robert Robert Thomas Blues center with us on 101 ESPN I went into that article the athletic had three different writers project Canada’s team and I was because Robert 25 years old and he’s ascending to a level where I think he’s going to be one of the top

Five centers that can represent Canada by that time I was surprised that Dom lision was the only one that picked him but it okay Dom you get one point from me there you go now now he’s getting back in your good graces I will have to

Say because we talked about this at the beginning of the year I don’t I don’t like that the athletic kind of was right with their predictions about the Blues I abolutely hate that yeah it’s it’s not great I I will I will grant you that but they were they were and they predicted

The firing and the way that it would be back and forth for the blues All Season yeah and here we are now though five- one in the last six and win over Colorado tonight you got to beat the devil’s team right you have to not the New Jersey Devils but the real devil

Owns the team yes San kony’s team yeah so uh let’s go Blues tonight you’ll hear it here on 101 ESPN coming up we’ve got our Rush Hour reset including a new most cherished trophy in sports that’s next time 101 ESPN Sports stories of the day on the opening drive with a rush hour

Reset Time for The Rush Hour reset here on 101 espm blues and Avalanche tonight 6 o’cl pregame 7 o’cl faceof here on 101 ESPN the cotton bow is also tonight you’ll see that on ESPN by the way we’re going to talk to Howard Richards about the Tigers coming up at the bottom of the

Hour but missou and Ohio State Ohio State is it I the line had gone to three last I saw Ohio state was favored and I am not sure this is according to ESPN bet but Missouri is going to win the game yeah there you go it seems like oh

No OSU is a five-point favorite it was two and a half earlier in the week five point favorite well and I talked about this yesterday Ohio States only sold 2third of their ticket allotment it seems like they don’t really care about this blll game no their fans are are

Spoiled and entitled and if they aren’t playing in a final four game they aren’t going they’re just going to take their ball and go home I feel like you should care you should support your program you should support your players for a season and everything that they’ve done they’re

Different they the Blue Bloods some of the Blue Bloods are really different and they think that it’s their god-given right to only play to to beat Michigan which they’ve lost to three times in a row sorry and then to play in the final four and if they don’t get that their

Way then they don’t participate which is fine because mizou bought all of their extra tickets and missou fans are showing up in Groves down in Arlington and so my hope is is that missou fans will be so loud tonight that the Ohio State Young quarterback won’t be able to

Hear what’s going on there you go and I think this is huge for missoui because either way a win is a win how how much of a bummer would it be to not be able to enjoy a season unless your team was playing for a championship I think

That’s a huge bummer I think you should always support your team no matter what especially I mean that’s that’s in my opinion it’s still a big deal and it’s important to make it to a new year six bowl regardless of if your expectations are championships every single season

It’s not realistic to always make it there so you should support your team no matter what I wonder how many Ohio State fans in Ohio have that attitude but are also Bengals or Browns fans that have never won a Super Bowl exactly that’s what I’m saying it it doesn’t really

Make much sense so I don’t know well for the Browns things have been at least going a little bit better for them right and they won last night clinched a playoff spot with a 3720 win over the New York football Jets who are is hapless a fair word for the football

Jets guys it’s snowing up I just thought i’ okay it’s beautiful it is it’s kind of like a snow globe effect right now yeah uh Browns win and I’m really happy for those true blue Browns fans I remember producing a game for them it wasn’t for them it was a football

Cardinal game in the 80s it was like the first preseason game it was 100° in their old stadium and it was packed they had 990,000 people for the first preseason game and their fans first of all they’ve been tortured by losing their team and then getting it back but

They have stuck with that team through and through you never saw a mostly empty stadium in Cleveland unless it was just the the 0 and 16 horrible Seasons but they had a lot of five and 11s and people would show up even at the end of

The year yeah and that’s why I asked earlier are they one of the most tormented fan bases oh it’s a factory of sness yeah there’s no doubt it’s they and Detroit together are right there uh I think who who played did Chris fielman play for both franchises no he played

For Buffalo and Detroit those uh here’s who played for both teams Shawn Rogers Shawn Rogers there you go big defensive Tate good little little tidbit there there you go so congratulations to the Browns on clinching a playoff birthday if the playoff started now it would be Cleveland at Kansas City and we were

Talking about the over under for that game earlier 41 and a half I think I might go under with bag’s defense and Jim’s defense the Browns defense has been top five I think all season now despite injuries that they’ve had on both side of the ball

Size of the ball so the Browns defense has been a huge factor in their success this year and the chief’s defense deserves some credit too great yes uh miles Garrett did he get a sack last night I I didn’t double check I I didn’t

See him get a sack and I don’t know if he got one but if he didn’t get a sack that would be six games in a row without a sack for Miles Garrett who arguably he was talked about as an MVP candidate earlier arguably is the best defensive

Player in the league he got there last time okay good he so he got to uh uh the Trevor Simeon the greatest trophy in sports has been replaced the Stanley Cup is no longer the greatest trophy in sports now the greatest trophy in sports is the Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy which looks

Like a football with toaster slots in it and last night not only did Kansas State win in the Pop-Tarts Bowl trophy but they also got to partake of an edible mascot a mascot walked into a toaster and came out toasted a strawberry giant strawberry poptart and the K State

Players were able to partake if Randy it was the greatest celebration for a bowl game I think I’ve ever seen the marketing was impeccable the fact that you had the Pop-Tart strawberry guy who just celebrated his grand entrance popping out of the toaster as you mention and then the beautiful ending to the

Story where he goes back into the toaster and he went out doing what he loved which is being a poptart that was perfectly toasted for them to eat and that’s important perfectly toasted for example on my toaster it’s at set at one and a half okay and my thing goes up to

Like six or seven but I said it at 1 and a half and it’s perfectly toasted at 1 and A2 do you have a range on your toaster where you like a number where you put your poptart in and it comes out perfectly done I can’t say that I have

Noticed it I just make sure that I don’t fully burn it that that is what I look for in my toaster by the way I need to apologize for a grievous error yesterday here on the opening drive on 101 ESPN when people said what’s the greatest Pop-Tart and I said s’mores I completely

Forgot about brown sugar cinnamon that’s your favorite really yeah Grievous error on my part and I apologize to everybody who was tuned in it might have ruined their day I I don’t know you probably should have sticked with the s’mores Rand because that one is a really really good

One it’s close close second brown sugar cinnamon is if I just want something simple I do Wildberry and then the hot fudge Sunday is my other top favorite okay so here’s the thing Brook Grimsley does something simple and it’s wild that’s it just doesn’t seem to Jive

Right here no no that’s wildness the Pistons lost their 28th in a row last night that’s an NBA record tying the Philadelphia 76ers and if you didn’t hear our friend Robert Thomas earlier I I said I asked him on our segment our last segment I said hey take us behind

The curtain here with Drew banister what kind of a coach is Drew and what’s what’s he like for the players and here’s what Robert Thomas had to say yeah he’s uh definitely definitely different I think he’s uh you know a lot more calm um more calculated he’s not

Really a a scream in your face kind of guy he’s just quiet and um you know everything he says he backs up with you know video and and different points so um that’s kind of the way he roll and uh it’s been a been a of fresh air it it

Happens in sports now I anybody who has watched Craig buuy red-faced and reading his lips behind the bench understands that yeah he has a tendency to be be a yeller and screamer I haven’t seen that yet from Drew Bannister so he does appear to be more calculated and I can

Imagine if you’re a blues player and things are going bad and you’ve heard Craig buuy night after night behind the bench not yelling at you necessarily but at the officials it probably became somewhat of a stressful situation for the players and so not that I would ever defend the

Firing of Craig brwby the fact of the matter is they couldn’t trade 15 players Craig bruy is going to go somewhere and he’s going to win and he’s going to win big but Doug Armstrong saw it that his team needed to change and he recognized the personality of Drew banister and

Said okay this is what this particular group of players needs at this particular time well it was easy to tell from the season right that whatever message that Craig bruy had was not fully resonating with all the players now I think a lot of the veteran guys

Like a br and shin is somebody who really Ries around him and then you had Robert bzo before he was traded another guy who would really rally around him but it does really when you hear that it really points to what we’ve talked about a lot where you’re seeing this kind of

Generational shift with players and what they prefer coaching wise that’s what it feels like right and yes and if if he’s going to tell you something he’s going to back it up with video I took a lot out of that because I know the Blues video staff is great and I’m sure Ruby

Was great with the video but here’s the thing Drew banister says okay here’s what I want you to do here’s why and this is how it manifests itself on the ice on video I think that’s a an approach you have to take now if you’re a coach yeah and look I hate it

Craig Ruby was a fantastic coach here in St Louis and as you mentioned Randy wherever he goes he will continue to win and I think that he his whole premise even though maybe it was a harder coaching style that younger players didn’t resonate with the whole premise

Was to make you better so some players understand that some don’t and maybe that’s where the shift is where that message was not getting through to a certain group anymore and that does happen I and you do have to look out for the full team aspect but I do hate

Seeing Craig bruy leave that’s that’s always going to be hard for me me too and the only young player when he took over that team that was ready to win a Stanley Cup the only young player that he had that he played was Robert Thomas fabri was around but he didn’t play

Fabri that much uh the other guys Paro was young but he was ready yes that team was ready and they were veteran Laden and this team obviously is not veteran Laden and maybe maybe buuy does need and we talked about this more of a veteran team that understands more of his old

School approach yes and you do have to get the most out of these younger players right now because that’s what’s happening yep the blues and the Avalanche pregame tonight at 6 here on 101 ESPN coming up it is our last show of the year and and coming up we’ve

Already giving given you our team of the year and our athlete of the year next up our St Louis story of the year on the opening drive on 101 ESPN one thing you don’t want to have is somebody who’s going to do work on your house come out give you an estimate and

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You that they’re going to do fantastic work check out the website gutterpro ccom set up an appointment for the new year and get new gutters for your home or your business from gutter pros.com Even though we didn’t wind up with playoffs in hockey or baseball we did have a lot of great stories that came out of 2023 both on an individual level and on a A Team level and Brooke I think if we we look around I mean look at what’s happening tonight the conclusion

Of 2023 for the missou football program it’s a wonderful story that Eli drinkwitz in his fourth season has led this Renaissance of the missou program that hasn’t experiened this kind of success since Gary pinkle was there if we look at the first year of St Louis

City SC who would have thought but what a great story they wound up being right they and I think legitimately we could have St Louis city SE as the story of the year and everything that surrounded it the great crowds the stadium the ownership the playoff run finishing first in the Western Conference

Everything about St Louis city SC was a great story but we have our stories of the Year here and these can be plus or minus stories so Brooke why don’t you go with what you have number one on your list well my story of the year is going

To be back on September 18th the Cardinals facing the Brewers after it felt like such a long time of Adam Wayne Wright trying and trying and trying to get to career win number 200 he was finally able to accomplish it and it was the way that he accomplished it too

Randy seven scoreless against the Brewers and it was Wilson and trayers who was another big story of the season for the Cardinals who was able to provide the lone run that they needed to be able to get the win and to help wayo secure career win number 200

I know it wasn’t a magical season for the Cardinals but it felt like at that moment the magic that you’re used to seeing the devil magic if you will and it all paid off for that moment for Adam Wayne Wright to push through all the injuries everything he battled through

That entire year to be able to get that career win number 200 and this is wayo after that moment real good it took me a little while to get there but it made me savor it even more you know I just uh I’m so glad I got to do it here in front

Of our home crowd so glad these fans were unbelievable for me tonight there was times where you know what just being honest I was tired out there and they got me through it so um just man what a night what a night you know I was glad I

Got to deliver for the guys tonight and before somebody starts sending me his erra from this season I this season was not a good season at all Adam Wayne W was far from the reason why the Cardinal struggled Randy we talked about it so much the entire year there’s a lot of

Things that went wrong that led to this 91 L season but in that moment it was something that was so special for Adam Wayne wght nearly 20year career for him to be able to capture that 200th win everything that he battled through it was just such a special and magical

Moment and then Brook we subsequently find out that he pitched with a partially torn labram all year long trying to help out the Cardinals and Cardinal fans in any way that he could and then in his second to last start in Baltimore he completely tears the capsule in his shoulder and there’s no

Way that a normal human being would have been able to pitch in that game where he won number 200 not only did he pitch he threw seven scoreless he it is you use the word magical it was a magical performance and I’m one of those people I know there will again be people

That’ll text you in and say well if he was hurt there’s no way he should have been pitching I’m one of those people that really appreciates players that want to win and are going to go to Every length to compete so that my team can win and that’s what Adam way Wright did

That’s what you want in your Clubhouse that is part of a championship team is to have somebody like that and he has been a part of that and the everything that he’s done for the Cardinals organization we also worked with him with big league impact he has done so

Much for this community so was exciting to see it just work out in that way all due respect to a guy like Ryan helsley who has had his health issues as well but I would love to have a guy like Ryan Hesley take on the personality the competitive personality of Adam way R

And that’s what I’m saying I mean Randy you’ve been around so many different championships with the Cardinals with other teams with the St Louis Rams when they’re here those guys are what you want in that room they have that certain mentality and it’s those guys who help

Lead an organization for a long time like Adam way right did You’ take a personality like that a million times over that’s a great story great call my story of the year we said this could go plus or minus the head coach of the first Stanley Cup champion in the first

52 years of the Blues Craig buuy gets off to a bad start and is fir and it’s not something that Doug Armstrong wanted to do but he had to do it because of the way the team was performing and whenever you fire a championship coach or manager that’s a big big story

And for me as big as mizou has been and it’s been a wonderful story and as big as St Louis city SC was I’m going to go with buuy getting fired because I did not see that coming I think you could have made a case for missou being really

Good maybe not cotton bow good but you could have made a case for them being really good Luts didn’t expect for cdsc to be as good as they were he he didn’t tell usy he expected it but ultimately they built a really good team and did something

Unprecedented but in terms of just one story that we covered this year barui getting fired to me was the the biggest Story of the Year here in St Louis I I 100% could see that because you can go either way with the story of the year it

Could be good it could be bad and with the whole way that it played out with Craig bruy the fact that we were talking about it during the break it happened so late at night and you felt like while it was unexpected it felt like it was kind

Of coming to this point because for whatever reason the message was not translating on the ice for the blues and it felt like things were coming towards an end but it still stings when you have Ruby the head coach that was able to bring a Stanley Cup here to St Louis get

Fired in that way you just hate to see that every single time right and by the way we shouldn’t dismiss the success of the basketball program at missou either they had a great stretch run and wound up in the NCA tournament Matthew yeah if gase had had the start to this season

That he had last year and it was the Cal you had the whole calendar year gays might be up there but for me I think you just have to talk about the the continuation of the story of Carolyn Carolyn kindall and and what she started

Here and then you have the you have the you have the inaugural game you have the the five-game winning streak to set the record you have the sellout streak which was incredible then you have the playoff games obviously doesn’t go the way you wanted but the fact that Carolyn Kindle

Start had this idea and they got together with with with all the you know all the the moneyed families in St Louis and they put it together and they said here’s our expansion fee we don’t need a vote from the city we’re just going to do this whole thing and then they hit

The ground running and they had that much success the entire year I think it’s City but I’m going to I’m going to center it more around what carollyn kle was able to do with her vision and also at the same time by by like June we’d all gotten over and we’re like yeah

We’re wearing pink okay yeah right like we completely just like just like just ignored the part fine it’s City red fine but she got her pink in and that worked and that she everyone’s wearing pink now and the city loves it and that’s really what I think Carolyn Kindle wanted

Everything that she put in Randy I think you were around when Carolyn was at the very beginning stages of putting this together the idea and remember she had to go Matthew sticky voice Club yeah and but also going over to to speak to the alderman were you around for those

Conversations I was not in there but that day but that was Dan yeah Danny ma yeah and the fact that she was over there and the way that she was willing to answer all the questions and really campaign she cares so much about revitalizing downtown and she’s worked

So hard hard on that and bringing soccer here to St Louis I mean it’s been such a great experience and I know that was my team of the Year yes uh yesterday and so I agree with you that is one of the biggest stories and I’m excited to see

Them continue to grow and I’m glad that we were able to come up with these 1B stories and Story number two and backups and things like that the true 1A Sports story of 2023 in St Louis is Brook Grimsley joining 101 ESPN in the opening that’s that’s the bigger

Story that’s that’s where it’s all like in in about the same month you had not the air horse in about in about the same month you had uh missou NCAA tournament run obviously cut short but so the fact that they got there was pretty impressive you had

City’s first ever game but again between those two moments Brook Grimsley started on the opening drive and that’s what we need to be talking about 100% yeah no we don’t have to talk about that but yes I’m I’m so excited to Jo no you guys are the big deal and I’m

I’m so grateful this has been been one of the greatest years that I’ve had in probably I would say a while um this was a huge moment coming over here and joining Randy you were a huge part of it as soon as I saw that there was an

Opportunity I called you immediately and I was like hey I’m hearing through the gra Vine that there might be a job opportunity I would love to come work with you because as soon as I came here to St Louis just watching how you go about your business one listening to you

But how you go about your business I gravitated towards you and I’ve learned so much from you over the years and now even more so being on the show with you thank you it’s a lot of fun we’re having a great time R if there’s anybody in this studio who has many leatherbound

Books and whose office smells of Rich Mahogany it’s Brooks oh there oh yes no doubt in my mind cigar you know the library and the Beauty and the Beast I imagine you have a room like that in your house oh of course uh it’s also doubl as our cigar

Room so you know have one of those this weekend that’s our 2023 Story of the Year coming up we’re going to head down to Arlington and find out if Howard Richards is indeed awake for hours show he’s going to be doing missou and Ohio State tonight he wondered if uh he said

You really expect me to get up after a night out with my former teammates so we’re going to find out if he’s awake next time 101 ESPN this is Rocky with your sports center update driven by Johnny LOL Chevrolet and Johnny LOL Autoplex after a day off

The blues Are Back In Action and now they have back-to-back games first one tonight at Enterprise Center 7:00 p.m. puck drop means a 600 p.m. pregame show right here on 101 ESPN and then for the long homand the blues are off for an away game on a back toback they travel

To Pittsburgh to face off against the Penguins on Saturday evening that is a 6 p.m puug drop which means a 5:00 p.m pregame right here on 101 ESPN also on ESPN tomorrow pregame for the peach bow starts at 10:30 that is your sports center update driven by Johnny laof find

Your roads shop 247 at la.com and laof autoplex.com are you kidding me missou playing in their biggest bowl game in years Rook Grimsley Randy carer with you in St Louis and we head down to Dallas where former missou offensive lineman and current missou radio analyst with Mike Kelly Howard Richards joins us

On the opening drive Howard good morning and thanks for waking up for us this morning how you doing good morning Randy how are you I’m doing well first of all want you to tell us about last night with your former teammates at missou and as you prepare for this game tonight

What was last night like in Dallas last night was fun um there a number of guys in town didn’t see everybody but uh the Eric Wright Kurt Pearson uh were guys Lamont D that huddled up with us here at the hotel uh and don’t really get to see those guys

That often I probably see Eric more than uh than the rest but it was just a lot of fun uh to ref con and um tell stories and laugh and have a few D beverages together uh seems like old times this sounds like a nice night well we were

Having this discussion earlier and Randy has a very strong opinion on this but I want to get yours what do you feel about with the Block M for the helmet that they’re going with for the game today are you serious is this even a is this even a question okay he wore the

Block M let’s let’s preface you wor the block okay ry’s not ry’s not on the side of it well well what does Randy now so here’s here’s the deal here’s the deal and if if if if I’m being completely honest here there was a logo that the university used it was never

Used for football but it was used on letterhead um across the university especially during the time that I was being recruited and for some time afterwards okay it was a version of the Block M with like a fighting tiger exploding out of that M that is my

Personal favorite it has come back you can still see it uh at places like Rally House on some of their apparel um but so if I were choosing the logo that’s the only thing you’d see but I do love the Block in because I wor and the version

Of the Block in that you see now and you will see tonight on the helmets began in 1978 under War underw owers uh prior to the 77 my freshman year re wor the smaller uh M that Pete Woods Leo Lewis those guys wore in 76 uh when they

Beat Ohio State up at the Sho uh but the larger version that you’re going to see tonight is the one that began in 1978 under Powers all right let’s talk a little bit about the game against Ohio State and Ohio State has some guys that have opted out or or transferred out but

They still have a bunch of three and four and five star guys on their team uh and Missouri has their team except obviously for people like R straw and and Hopper who are hurt what do you think of this game Howard you know from what I can tell and

These players are locked in the Missouri players are uh this bowl game means a lot to uh the program it means a lot to Missouri fans uh who have I I think looked and witnessed that a football program that is underachieved uh especially since Gary pinkle um left

Coach uh lots of High Hopes but not quite gotten there I think the best season the Tigers had was probably um 2017 or 18 when Missouri played in the Texas Bowl against Texas when Drew lock was quarterback but since then won eight games and they probably should have won

That bowl game know four nine game total total uh wins uh For That season since then um as I said I think we’ve we’ve underachieved or the team has underachieved this year has been so special to watch this group of of players and I’m I’m happy for drink and

What he has built thus far I we kind of feel like we were talking last night during our show I feel like this uh is the beginning of of something special for Missouri football we feel like this can be sustained you know with the direction that nil and transfer portal

Uh because I think with a portal you can sort of quotequote rebuild your program much more quickly than you can by only signing uh freshman players he really has utilized the portter well and has recruited well which I think is what all has led to this point we were talking

About this earlier as we know the playoffs will expand next season what do you think the expectation should be for missou next year with the recruiting classes and the fact that younger players are playing much earlier and the fact that you’re getting guys from the portal to come in and have

An immediate impact uh we saw what the impact of portal guys were um from this season from where they ended last year and the guys that came in and contributed along with the development of players like Luther Bon of course and and Brady cook uh but you saw the

Contributions of a Theo weeks uh to Ron Hopper uh Christian Williams Jaden Jernigan those guys have made an immediate impact in two years that they’ve been here and I think this is what the expectation is I think fans are looking at next year’s schedule um not by prediction but this

Is the chatter that I’ve heard the last few days you know people looking at another 10- win season if not more yeah I’m I’m among that group HS we look for tonight’s game and here we are in a New Year’s six and we think about stories

You are a guy that was a prolific college football player a first- round draft choice in the NFL what do you think of when you see a guy that came out of a division 2 School led the secc in rushing and now is playing in a new

Year six bowl game what’s it like for a football player to watch what Cody shrer is doing oh the shredder it’s but but here’s what I have always said because of what I have witnessed over the years if you can play this game someone will find you and that is the

Story of Cody shraer all it takes is one team one coach one program to believe in you um I can’t recall the name of the guy that referred raer to drink but uh I think a lot of people are happy that they had that conversation uh because he

Has been nothing short of spectacular and it’s really you know he’s a talented guy but his work ethic his attitude is exactly what you want uh not only in a player that’s going to walk onto your program because you know you know those guys are hungrier um but you know that

Is infectious it spreads throughout your program uh it shows him as a a six-year experienced guy what it takes to get your opportunity and when you get that opportunity what you have to do to sustain it in order to not just get on the field but stay on the field he is

Taking complete advantage of his opportunity at mou he really has he’s been one of the best stories this season and howbert I want to ask you there’s been so many great moments this year for missou football what was your favorite moment it could be a game it could be a

Moment like fourth and 17 or the fake punt but what was your favorite moment I would say probably uh among those which there probably a number of favorites obviously the walkoff field goal against Kansas State I I think that was a signature moment for this team uh that really gave these players the

Confidence to say we can play with anyone I don’t care who’s on the schedule we can play for four quarters we have an opportunity to win the game when it counts we can do so which they couldn’t do last year they couldn’t finish they’ve learned to finish this

Season but I think games an important game um in St Louis at the Dome against Memphis uh a good Memphis team that a lot of people weren’t giving credit for uh that team you know has I think they’ve done reasonably well this season and it turned out to be a much better

Opponent than people gave him credit for you know the Florida game getting over the Kentucky Jinx those were big games and even in a loss against Georgia and a loss against LSU mou was right there in those games if not for a few self-destructive uh mistakes Missouri

Would be 12 and0 this season wow it is amazing to to put it in that perspective Howard a couple more things number one I know that when you’re doing a broadcast you’re watching the offensive line play and one of the reasons that Missouri hasn’t been what they were under Gary

Pinkle is because of a failure to build great offensive line play on a consistent basis what do you think of what goes into tonight game in terms of what the Tigers will bring against Ohio State on the offensive line against their defensive line a very talented

One I certainly believe that um with the way this unit has I think rallied and improved every week get two brand new starters on the right side with Cameron Johnson who transferred in uh with you from Houston with Brandon Jones the offensive line coach and along with

Arman mimo who we knew was going to be a good player as a freshman last year he started four games uh and has been a model of consistency uh even though this team was pretty much a left-handed running team uh running behind Javon Foster the left tackle who’s all SEC

Left tackle and Xavier Delgado on at left guard um they have I think jelled and and let’s give Conor toson credit um of late you know he has sort of eliminated some of those mental mistakes the early snaps but he’s played much better in his second season as a starter

So I think big things are are expected from him Beyond this season and he’s the leader you you’re the center you’re the guy that’s making all the calls so the expectations are great for him he’s still going to improve as well because you’re playing against some hard noosed

Big strong defensive tackles and nose guards you’re in the middle of all the attention plus you got to make all the calls the line calls so you got to know exactly what the hell you’re doing in that position they have jailed as a unit uh pretty proud of the way that they

Have been able to run the football you know create space and daylight for C Cody Shader to do what he does best all right final thing for Howard Richards you are at least from my observation pretty even Keel guy you don’t get too excited but you obviously have an

Emotional investment in this program because you played for it you you like the Block M I can tell you have an emotional investment so when you are getting ready for a game like tonight do you get goosebumps do you get super excited maybe hyperventilate a little bit get your eyes get Misty

Ever uh of course of course I don’t hyperventilate but I do get excited about these opportunities you know it’s interesting I don’t go to the field very often before the game I will be on the field tonight uh because Frank and I are going to do a hit at uh

520 um but when I when I do walk the field before game and I and I see guys that are dressed out I feel like you know somebody has misplaced my helmet and shoulder pads I need to go and grab them you know and if it’s a grass to it

I can smell the grass and it just reminds me of of my time playing at missou and I get I do get as emotionally charged as I think the players do I don’t think it ever leaves your system so if if if these guys feel the same way

I do uh then that is an exciting thing they are as into this game as I am it will be a very exciting game tonight and also thank you Howard for helping me convince Randy that the Block M is the best logo I have not been convinced yet

Oh come on I like that I like I say this I I look at this now now it evolved from the white block in 78 to a gold Block in I actually love the gold Block in as well I think it it matches up perfectly

With what they do but I’m happy with the white block in the original uh which is what I think I’m not sure if it’s going to be the white one the gold one side H it’s a gold one I’m all I’m on board with the the white one here’s the thing

If Missouri Missouri caps look just like Michigan caps with the Block M that’s what bothers me is that I think we’re we’re taking a backseat to Michigan when you see that oval tiger everybody knows that’s missou that’s what Gary pinkle wanted he he wanted to be known as not

Missouri but missou and I think that’s what the to me the oval Tiger shows I I look at I see a lot of times especially as a blind guy I see a guy I see a missou cap with the blam I see a Michigan cap with the blam might as well

Be the same thing I don’t want to defer to Michigan hey let me settle this right now Randy what is the logo on Miss helmets tonight what we see oh it’s it’s the black m yeah and what does Michigan wear on their helmets oh they wear their W

Very much thank you very much thank you Howard thank you that’s the Michigan brand that’s the Michigan brand that Wolverine on their helmet that’s the only thing that Michigan football is identified with or should be well that’s true yeah except I don’t see Jim Harbaugh wearing stripes on his cap well

You know they hav they it’s the big turn they haven’t figured it stuff out yet hey it’s always good to talk to you happy new year thanks so much for the time this morning have a great time tonight you and Mike will be on the big

550 here in St Louis at 7:00 and we can’t wait to hear it and we can’t wait for missou to Come Away with a cotton bll Victory Brooke Randy Happy New Year to you guys too thank you thank you man see you that is Howard Richards one of

The great Tigers who still even though he’s a great tiger what did I say earlier he’s he’s an older gentleman oh Randy but then you have two younger Generations saying that we like that classic look we like the the letter I get I also started giggling with he said

The gold too because I knew that that was the other thing that irked you a little bit Yeah Matthew likes to when he signs his name does a blam so I get it with him I don’t get it with you I just like the classic look I think it looks

Great it’s clean it’s easy it makes sense to me it’s amazing to did you even look at the Caps that I sent you they’re identical I I see it Randy I saw all of them but still I think I think Howard had a great point I’m glad he was able

To say that today he didn’t convince me I could tell Randy you’re pretty hard to convince I am coming up uh New Year resolutions for our local sports folk that’s coming your way on 101 ESPN Randy carer here in the studio with my Michigan fan friends good to have you

With us here on 101 ESPN Go no you can’t just come back saying that Randy I just did I know but it if somebody hasn’t been listening they’ll be like wait a minute what rocket Brook are Michigan fans no I am a fan of the Connor

Stallion Saga but I am not a Michigan fan we are just a fan of the classic Block M the Michigan features oh no mm- it’s beautiful it’s classic it’s time for rock and roll oh by the way we still have time for you to get your ESPN merch

Until Sunday after partnering with the St Louis Shirt Company to offer a special 101 ESPN online merch store we’ve got tons of stuff some of your favorite designs including the rivers and Brad Thompson shies the dctionary t-shirt and more time running out make sure you order your 101 ESPN Swag by

Sunday this Sunday December 31st visit the 101 ESPN online merch store now at 101 espn.com powered by McBride holes okay resolutions for St Louis teams or individuals for 2024 we can each give a couple right we can do that I got one for mo mo get yourself a number one

Starter make that a resolution that that was top of my list too be Resolute in finding yourself a front of the rotation dude M add another frontend starter that’s 100% that was top of my resolution for them as well yeah and my other resolution is for blues fans

Recognize that Doug Armstrong knows more about hockey and building a hockey team than you do prove it oh prove it you said prove it I do have a blues one and my New Year’s resolution for the blues will be to fix the power play guys they have made some incremental at least

Steps forward here recently except for that game against the Dallas Stars but they’re still 31 in the league in power play percentage ouch so that is my New Year’s resolution for the Blues I have two related to that my first one is for the blues the New Year’s resolution is

Uh we will play Colton Paro on a power play unit uh the second resolution is for Colton prco which is I’m a pretty high paid defenseman if I shatter somebody’s ankle I can just send him a nice gift yeah like you’re col you just got to think shoot the puck if I shatter

Somebody the ankles I got 6.25 every year burning a hole in my pocket I’ll buy him something nice on my bad guys I was I was doing what I was supposed to do shoot the puck hey here’s the thing if you do it once if you do it once then

A lot of the other players will start to move out of the way because they know that it’s coming agreed I like that idea a lot that’s a good resolution there you go I think another resolution would be for I’m going to put this for mizou basketball and slooh basketball recruit

More locally retaining that local talent here because I think it’s something that we’ve seen with both teams this season where especially with missou Hoops the transfer portal worked out for them last year this year it’s kind of been hampering them so recruiting more locally they don’t have anybody from St

Louis right or the St Louis area no and slooh to their credit does but slooh needs to get a star when you you lose Yuri Collins they didn’t come into this season with anybody who I thought was capable of being a star and they don’t

Have one on their team now I got the resolution for uh for the for the bicin uh the resolution is um we will find a way to pay a player who has not yet appeared in bicin blue which is the when when Yuri Collins might was

Going to make the jump there was money when Gibson Jimmerson when everyone thought it was a fat compete like hey you’re going to go to a bigger program and just be their Sharpshooter Off the Bench you’re going to do that Gibson Jimerson still at St Louis there’s money

There but it seems to be for guys who have already proven something in a billin jersey you’re going to have to change the mindset there go get somebody who hasn’t played yet and I want to give one to cdsc because they’ve already started take the next step and with the

Moves they’ve made during the off season they’re prepared to take the next step and it’s kind of unfair to say okay you did didn’t do enough in your first year when you won the Western Conference but I think a lot of people and I I loved

The journey but I think a lot of people expected and hoped that they would do more at playoff time well they’re building now a team that is prepared to not only succeed during the regular season but to succeed once playoff time comes too yeah CSC is on my nice list

They they’ve done so much this year I know that you didn’t like to see that early exit obviously in the playoffs but everything that they had going on this year one of the most exciting stories and seeing so many CSC fans everywhere they’ve done such a good job of immersing themselves within the

Community and really growing continuing to grow soccer here and we have a New Year’s resolution as Dan mclaughin joins the opening drive at the outset of 2024 to bring you more great Sports Talk Radio throughout the course of the year and we hope that everybody that’s tuned

In and everybody that isn’t has a great 2024 and by the way tell your friends that they should tune in yes they should and you can also take one of the New Year’s traditions that I mentioned earlier Randy are you going at least one of them yeah suitcases around the block

Mhm no I’m going to do the I’ve got the grapes already I’m going to just just do the grapes thing so you have to do it as soon as the clock hits midnight within that minute you’re supposed to eat the grapes with a minute I wonder if I can

Fit 12 in my mouth at once I H I don’t want you to choke Randy so maybe one at a time just quickly I have a resolution for the show yes never ever ever let Yoo die oh yoo’s here for the duration yes never got it

Die that’s my resolution for this year I know Danny Mack is he’s not going to be on board with it for a while but we’ll we’ll bring him aboard well we will Yoo it’s not going anywhere no it’s staying around for 2024 yep uh great job

And a great year for our producer and he became audio and video engineer Matthew Rocko it was a pleasure Andy big part of 2023 two years down yeah I made it well done one to go you to say one to go yeah no no no I’m just thinking about I think

We had like what six producers before you in in something like two years so congratulations conations yeah uh Brooke was this fun it was a fun Year yes and I can’t wait to see you guys next week and I’ll say oh wow I haven’t seen you guys

Since last year yeah right that’ll be fun your face we want to see your face who said that you want to see my face uh we’ve got like a producer show coming up Matthew is here I see Jackson brette out in the hallway Bradford Bruns is around

They’re just lurking out in the hall are there’s Andre Marsh so it’s going to be fun and uh we look forward to hearing from them we thank you very much for being a part of our show during 2023 for tuning in and texting in and participating as much as you do and we

Look forward to much more fun and frivolity in 2024 for all of us until 2024 have a happy New Year St Louis and Now for Something Completely Different