The Waterlaws Compromise

Neil Barrett: Welcome, welcome, welcome to the runout. I am Neil Barrett. He is Brandon Hooton. We did not have an episode last week that was on me. had some stuff going on. Brandon was kind enough to let me cancel on him fairly last minute. I think I think I did it on only a few hours before we normally record, but we have a ton going on this week. Brandon's Denver Outlaws made the PLL championship game. Tom Schreiber's comeback was cut very short and I feel like I had something else. I don't know what it was. Anyway, before we get into any of that, Brandon, how are we doing? It's been two weeks. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, been good. trying to think what all happened. Neil Barrett: I know there's a lot there's a lot. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, went to a card show a couple of weeks back, ran into a mammoth player there, that was cool. so talked to him for a minute. outside of that that last weekend was basically nothing and then this weekend obviously shot an Air Force game for the first time in I don't know what eight months, something like that. So that was that was really fun. they Neil Barrett: Did they win? @HootSportsMedia: absolutely destroyed their opponent like thirty four to zero or something, which it's it's week zero, so, you know, take it with a grain of salt, but but e they look much better than last Neil Barrett: That's right. Hey. Fly fight win. @HootSportsMedia: year is all I'll say. Yeah, it was it was nice. The the uniforms were awesome. Neil Barrett: I was gonna say, what do they wear? @HootSportsMedia: So that was good and then obviously they they wore the like America, I guess, inspired unis. It has like the American flag in the lightning bolt. Neil Barrett: the red, white and blue ones. @HootSportsMedia: The navy, which they've never worn, so that was kinda nice for me, just have some variety. This weekend they're actually wearing all blue, against NDSU, so I'm not I'm not the biggest fan of the all blue, but it's alright. But you know. It's fine. but then st Neil Barrett: I I love their shade of blue, but yeah, all the all blue can be a little tough, especially when you're fat yeah. @HootSportsMedia: I do but but at night games with the way yeah, it it it definitely you know, reflects a little bit purpley and if it's too much blue, so that's the only reason. Otherwise, like the video they put out today about it looked awesome. Like I have no complaints, but they they have one of the better wardrobes, I think. but yeah, and then CSU football got it done against Wyoming as well on Saturday, so that was that was awesome too. And then obviously the Outlaws got it done as well, so Pretty pretty great couple of weekends here. Neil Barrett: Nice. I I saw Colorado State's win and I thought about you. I was like, there it goes. also I see their I see those new uniforms that they have like all the time. They're all over my feed. @HootSportsMedia: I hate them. They're so bad. Neil Barrett: Why? I love Why do you hate @HootSportsMedia: The green isn't the green is not correct. They the green is not correct, first off. it doesn't even match the helmet. they're very generic. Like there's like there's no nothing special about them. the lettering, I think the font that they used is awful. Yeah. But you know what they're wanna know in them. So if they're gonna win, then gladly ultra on the team while they wear those uniforms. Neil Barrett: Yeah, no, I'm I that's that's fair. That's fair. keeping up with Manchester United this week. @HootSportsMedia: I will say there was a rumor that Adidas only had like two months to get everything put together from the Switch. So maybe Neil Barrett: Mm. @HootSportsMedia: that's why. But I don't know. Neil Barrett: I I saw that and that and that's like why they have the instead of having the name on the front of the jersey like sewn into the jersey, it's like there's like a name plate. And I saw that that was probably @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, yeah. Neil Barrett: the reason why. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, which was actually one of my biggest complaints about it was when they posted the images I was like, Why is that not just sewn directly into the jersey? Which is nitpicking, I get it, but you know. It's alright. Neil Barrett: keeping up with Manchester United, we drew it in the very last minute of the game. they scored and it's not been a good start for your boy Michael Carrick, so I'm gonna need you to do that voodoo that you do and and you know, fix things. @HootSportsMedia: That's un that's unfortunate, you know. Neil Barrett: It's just not you're just not gonna help, are you? @HootSportsMedia: That I mean it that's I thought draws were good in soccer, so you know. Neil Barrett: Draws can be good in soccer, but when you're the team that's winning and you lose on a screamer of a shot in the last minute of the game, we don't tend to to like that very much. No, not so much. @HootSportsMedia: okay. Neil Barrett: And I just I'm just saying, you you had no problem cursing my team last year, but now now I'm asking for some help. @HootSportsMedia: That was a you problem. That was a y that was a you problem last year. Neil Barrett: So rude. So rude. Listen, you got your team is playing in a championship in two weeks. @HootSportsMedia: I've already accepted what's gonna happen. Neil Barrett: I will I will @HootSportsMedia: I'm really alright. It it's gonna be okay. CSU football is back, that's all that matters. Neil Barrett: we'll we'll get to that. We'll get back to the outlaws in a minute. But first, since we we didn't have an episode last week, I thought let's briefly talk about the quarterfinals, but mostly what I want to focus on is the teams that lost, and kind of what the future may hold for them over the next few weeks, months, and and and year, until we see them back on the field next spring. We'll start with your outlaws playing the Denver, the Denver Redwoods, the California Redwoods. The final score ended up being fifteen to fourteen. This game was ridiculous because Denver was just absolutely in cruise control, demolished them in the first half, and then very much just took their foot off the gas and let California back into the game. they committed so many penalties in that second half and just let California come at them. But like I said, not going to talk too much about the game. I I'm looking at the Redwoods though, and I'm wondering what you see as kind of the needs for this team. what what they need to be looking at this offseason, what they're gonna be doing for next year and and whether or not what what position you think they are in heading into next season. @HootSportsMedia: I mean, I think they're in the same position they were last year and the year before. They kinda seem to be a team that has the same issues, I feel like, year to year. I don't know, like midfield wise, I just don't they they have some dudes there, a couple of but I just didn't feel like they did enough this year. at least to kinda help out. I felt like the offense was kinda just like in and out. It's like Chris Cav and Dylan Malloy, and then kinda whoever else can score a couple. So I think hate to say this, but I kinda think Ryan Crock gets the start next year. not not that I hate that for Ryan Crotick, I hate that Dylan Ward's probably gonna be out of that spot. but I just I know statistically he wasn't, you know, better, but to me it just kinda seems like you have to usher in that next that next wave. They've kind of jumped around year over year goal goalie wise, so it wouldn't shock me to see them do that. they're probably bringing back T D, which is always good. I don't know. D dif their defense a bit is a bit of a question mark, but also like then there's times they look really good and like their transition game can be really solid, so Neil Barrett: Mm-hmm. @HootSportsMedia: y I don't wanna be like, yeah, they need to add a defender or something, but like theoretically there's gonna be a a decent amount of good defenders available, so would it shock me to see them make a play at one of those guys either? No, but I don't know. They just again, it just feels like they keep running it back to a degree offensively and it just doesn't ever seem to kinda kinda pan out, but Then again I'm probably overlooking some things, but you know. Neil Barrett: No, I I'm I'm right there with you. I agree. I think it's funny because I I think generally, I think most people would probably say, Yeah, the water dog the water dogs, why do I keep doing this? The Redwoods were kind of weak in the midfield, but then you look at Andrew Makador and kind of very quietly he had a very good season. I think I I think was it Samming? They had another midfielder that also was similar. Was it Sam or was it Josh Balkarsell who @HootSportsMedia: I I think it was Sam. Sam's the one that I remember seeing in Neil Barrett: Sam, okay. @HootSportsMedia: in several games being like, Okay, he's like he's playing well. He he's not one that's putting up, you know, a bunch of points like Andrew McAdorius, but he was one Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: that like that game in San Diego remember we were talking about, like, wow, he's the only one that really came to play. Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: But then also like even like Josh Barker said, like they he played to start, I think, and then they like benched him for like half the year and then out of nowhere they brought him back, like you know. Neil Barrett: Yeah, it they they feel like a team that maybe doesn't f really know what their roster is, like what their what their like starting, you know, their best six offensive players are. They're they're confusing, but l like you said, you know, they just kind of keep running it back. And I think we've reached a point where they have to do something different next year. And I'm not saying they gotta blow it all up, but like they have to do something different. They've gotta they've gotta switch it up. Otherwise, I it does feel like they're just gonna be kind of spinning their wheels in the mud again next year, where they're like too good to to, you know, be a be a number one kind of draft pick. kind of th team, but they're they're not good enough to like really challenge for the title. and and you know, they have a lot of fans that are are very frustrated by them. you know, I I think I think the general opinion out there, even though I don't necessarily agree, and I don't think that you do either, is that they are going to go very hard for Pat Kavanaugh. I'm I'm not sure that that's it. @HootSportsMedia: I mean they might they might extend an offer, but I I think some people are kinda running with that narrative of like, he's probably coming and I I just don't I again maybe, but I don't think that that's, you know the because at that point you're pushing out Dylan Malloy, who If you're gonna make a change, that feels like the odd the odd one to make, you know, even at this stage in his Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: career. But you know, unless someone on the inside is really like, we gotta change that that left side, like I just don't see it happening, but but you know, to your t to to this discussion, Neil Barrett: My my internet @HootSportsMedia: like they were sorry, just real quick, they were three and seven in twenty four, Neil Barrett: No, go ahead. @HootSportsMedia: five and five and twenty five, and six and six this year. So, you know, back to back five hundred seasons. They have a lot of talent, but it doesn't actually translate to, you know, better win percentage for some reason. Neil Barrett: Yeah. My my internet's a little too crappy to look it up. Can you tell me it was Dylan Malloy the or was it it was probably Chris Kavanaugh that was the highest point total on on the Redwoods, right? @HootSportsMedia: like their highest scoring player, you mean? Neil Barrett: Yes, yeah. Sorry I didn't phrase that very well. @HootSportsMedia: let's find out. I I feel like that's accurate, but I don't fully know. Let's see here. Yeah, yeah, Chris Cav with thirty-four. Neil Barrett: Also no I know I know Ryder came on late too. @HootSportsMedia: Chris Cav and Dylan Malloy Neil Barrett: And then was it Dylan? @HootSportsMedia: both had thirty-four, but Chris Cav played two less games. Ryder had Neil Barrett: Gotcha. @HootSportsMedia: twenty eight, so he was third on that team. And that's all I can see on this first page. So I mean actually Ryder actually statistically Neil Barrett: Yeah. Just but @HootSportsMedia: had a decent season because I know there was talk, you know, from fans the previous year about like, is it time to kind of cut ties there? And he he wasn't horrible for him. Neil Barrett: No, I there's no way I'm cutting Ryder Garnsy because well, I I'm not gonna say no way. I mean, if if by some insane thing, which you couldn't anyway, because he's on a rookie year deal, but like if you could get CJ cursed to be on that left side, like okay, maybe. But generally speaking, I'm not getting rid of Ryder Garnsy on that left-hand side because who you getting that's better than them? Number one. And number two, like that dude has been a Redwood for the entire existence of the Redwoods. I don't think that there's anybody that that knows that team and that culture better. Plus, he was Chris Kavanaugh's coach. Like I I he's just so connected to that team. Like I there's no way I'm getting rid of him. My point was was gonna be more about the idea of getting rid of Dylan Malloy. And I just don't I just don't get it or see it. Again, my f my first question would be who are you getting to replace him? Sure, the idea of Pat Kavanaugh is is maybe enticing, but is Pat Kavanaugh an improvement over Dylanloy? Maybe he is, maybe he isn't. I'm not I'm not convinced that he is. like you said, you know, tied for the the lead league and points or the team league in team lead in points, but you know. Chris played two less games. So like I understand that aspect, but still tied for the the the team lead in points. And I just don't know I just don't know that I'm breaking up any of this attack line again, barring that you get some crazy name, which may or may not happen. and and I it really feels like it it's probably more of like a midfield thing, like You you gotta get more consistency out of midfield. And then like you said, maybe maybe some more consistency out of that defense. Maybe, maybe you get, you know, a a Bobby Van Buren or or somebody coming out this year and and you can you can kind of run with that. But but yeah, I I feel like there's a lot. I feel like something has to change, but I also don't really know what the answer is, if that makes any sense. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, well, I mean, they gave up the most goals in twenty four and the second most goals in twenty five and twenty six. So, you know statistically speaking, like that's one area that I guess needs to improve and whether you're gonna put that on, you know, the poles or the goalie or whatnot, like, you know, place that blame where you will. But that side of the ball I think if they can kinda figure some things out to where they're not giving up so many goals every week and having to kind of chase offensively, like doubt I mean, even you look at this game, but fifteen to fourteen. Like, you're you're probably winning the game if if you don't give up fifteen. You know, like and and that's easy to say because obviously, but in a literal sense, like, if you limit them to even one less a quarter, you know, you're that that's eleven. And unfortunately, like it was you know, even when your offense is going, when your defense goes and gives up a goal immediately, it doesn't help you at all. and I know they've had some kinda, you know, weird changes with their team over the last couple of years with like, you know, Westburg was kind of a staple and then now he's gone and you bring in a guy like Chris and and your goalie's changing a ton and whatnot, but I don't know. They just kinda stri i it's funny because like the way that we talk about the Carolina chaos, I feel like the Redwoods are now at that point of just like what's his team's identity? Like They look really solid in stretches and then there's other times that it's like, Yeah, this team is not who we saw even last week. Neil Barrett: Yeah. Yeah, but it feels like it feels like it's the it's the opposite of Carolina where where in Carolina I think I think you feel like the defense is solid. They just they just have to get that offense going. They have to get players over there. And then and then the the Redwoods are the exact opposite where you feel fairly good about that offense, but it's the defense where you're like, you know, you can't quite figure out like why they're not a as good or like what because they show it in in spurts where it's like, yeah, they could be a really good defense, but they're just they're just not consistent at all. And we talked about that with the Chaos offense all year about like it was Chad Palumbo and then nobody else. Not not with any consistency anyway. so, you know, I I I I'm with you. I think I think it's probably gotta be that that defense that they're looking at and One thing that you mentioned that I didn't talk about was, yeah, this feels like it's Ryan Karotik's team. hopefully that's kind of a long-term thing. I know, like you mentioned his statistically, Dylan Ward was better. And and I agree with that. And I think that's why they went with Dylan Ward in this game. but I also wonder how much, you know, if if Ryan Karotick gets more reps, if he's in there more o over the course of the season, maybe he looks better. by this point in the in the season than he did this year. But let's move over to the second quarter final that saw Boston beat the Maryland whip snakes nine to seven. this this game was just not the most entertain well actually I take it back. You probably loved it 'cause cause it was like pure defense the whole time. So I'm sure you were just like absolutely enthralled, right? @HootSportsMedia: It was alright. It was alright. Could have used a couple more goals, but it was alright. I liked that at the end it was it was a a close game that like every goal, every possession felt like it mattered as opposed to just like pucks on net every time. It was like, we ac they actually got one this time So Neil Barrett: That's fair. That's fair. That was that was enjoyable. And and look, I give you a hard time just because that's a a joke that we make all the time about offenses and defenses. But but it it really was not a it was not exactly a pretty game, but it was not it was not a boring game. like to your point. every kind of every time somebody was was taking a shot, you would think like, this could be the one. that wins a game @HootSportsMedia: Yep. Neil Barrett: or or not. And and so it was kind of a a tense thing, but the whips only ha scoring seven goals is crazy. Cause you'd like to think holding a team to nine is a game that you can win with with the guys that are on that offense. And the way that we have talked about that offense at times this year. But seven game or seven goals was just insanely low kind of number. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. I mean they should have won the game. I just I don't they they made a run at it, you know, in the fourth quarter there, but you know, you can't you can't play three quarters of just bad lacrosse and you know, tossed two was it twenty two turnovers I think they had. So Neil Barrett: Something like that, yeah. @HootSportsMedia: I don't know, again, it they feel the same as the Woods where it's just like so much talent and then seven goals. And you know, you see I think it w I believe it was the week prior, where like Patra had that crazy game, T J Malone had the crazy game, maybe it was two weeks, but you know, either which way it's like you see these guys pop off like that and then to kind of go back to this version of themselves was a little bit disappointing. But I mean, Boston I mean they did what they had to do. You know, they held a team to seven. So y that's one of the first times this year they haven't given up twelve or more. So you know, that's a solid for them, but Neil Barrett: Yeah. Yeah. No, it that that defense looked great. How much of it was was the Maryland offense not looking great, you know, is debatable. But for their part, the the defense looked great. They were making plays almost every time that Maryland was coming down the field. I guess the the sort of like we talked about with the Redwoods, like what what does this whip snakes team look like? They they feel a lot like the Redwoods do to me in terms of another year where they're they're too good to to you know blow up, but not good enough to like win championships or or really be in the championship conversation. I I think there was there was what, maybe two weeks in In the kind of early middle part of the season where we thought maybe they were gonna be a championship team. And then I think they lost like their last five games, right? So just not not great. In fact, I think I saw they didn't win again after Rob Pennell broke the record, right? That was the last game that they won. I th I think. @HootSportsMedia: Think so. Neil Barrett: so And then obviously I mean, speaking of Rob Binnell, that's a that's a big part of it. There were obviously emotions flowing after the game. it certainly felt like he thought it was his last game, though he did come out in the press conference afterwards and say that he had not made up his mind. I think I made the comment in in our group chat that it's easy to it's easy to retire at the end of a season. It's a whole different thing to still be retired by the time the season rolls back around. you know, at the especially at this is the longest season the PL has had, 12 games. it's been long, it's been grueling, especially when you are as old as Rob Pennell is. So it's real easy to be like, I am done here now today. And then when May comes around and you have rested and recuperated and you know, you you're you get that itch to get back in the locker room with the guys and get back on the field and stuff. we'll see if he stays retired. I know a lot of people thought Rob Pan not Rob Pennell. I know a lot of people thought that Paul Rabel was going to retire or to to come out of retirement and he did not. so so that's not to say that if if Rob Pennell retires that he he wouldn't stay retired, but it also doesn't mean that if he does, he will stay retired. So That is a whole nother conversation, I guess. But again, just like we talked about with the Redwoods, what what what are we doing with this team in the offseason? @HootSportsMedia: mean I think it starts with if Pennell comes back, I think they're gonna have to move around some offensive pieces position wise, but I mean overall they're a pretty, you know, decent team. They're a well coached team. They've only had one negative score differential the entire time the PL has existed, and that was twenty twenty one. So it's not like they're a team that's like, you know, really struggling defensively or anything like that. I just think there's just games like this that kind of are their Achilles heel where it's like, come on, like y you know we just saw one guy score five goals for you last week and now you're putting up seven as a team. Like you know, what is the difference here? so I think if if Pennell, you know, leaves, I think you probably see a guy like Aiden Carroll drop down to attack and and open up a spot at midi. you know, Nardella, i Neil Barrett: So so let me ask you this. @HootSportsMedia: maybe he comes back. That that would be helpful if he does, but who knows at this point, like Neil Barrett: Let me let me ask you this. If Rob Pennell leaves, let's just assume that he leaves. It f it certainly felt like he's leaving. Are you moving Joey Spilina to X and bumping Aiden Carroll down? Or are you putting TJ Malone at X, keeping Joey out wide and keeping Aiden Carroll in the midfield? @HootSportsMedia: I'd probably put Joey at X. I mean you could always, you know, swap that during a game, but I think I I think I like that better. Neil Barrett: Well and actually now that I now that I've asked it, who's on the left for them? @HootSportsMedia: Pn it's Pennell, Joey, and Malone playing Attack, I wanna say. Is their main group. Neil Barrett: Is it? @HootSportsMedia: I I'm almost certain. Let me see. Neil Barrett: feel like there's someone that we're like very clearly missing. It would help if I was a better whip snakes fan. @HootSportsMedia: The hard part is like we we've mentioned a couple times, they they you know, invert quite a bit and they they move guys around like throughout the game, so it's hard to tell who's actually playing attack for them. Joey Neil Barrett: Yeah, that's true. @HootSportsMedia: definitely did. Looking at it now. Rob definitely did, and that TJ Malone is listed as attack for them. those three thirty two points for TJ, thirty six for Joey, and thirty four for Rob. That's not saying much, obviously, because You know, Carroll had twenty six or whatever he had, so but I I think that's the main group they at least start with and then they kind of rotate. Like Adam Patra technically, like at times probably played attack, you know. Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: But yeah, I don't know. I'd probably put Joey back there, but like I'm not gonna say like sorry TJ, you could never go play X because I do think there were times this year where like Joey looked comfortable stepping down, taking shots as well, so not that that was a concern, but like Neil Barrett: Yeah. Well @HootSportsMedia: it looks fine to me. Neil Barrett: Yeah. And and to your point, we we talked about that a little bit in in our group chat was Because Joey Spilina was the guy that they set up to take that that two-point shot as the game expired. And we talked about that a little bit about the idea of Joey Spilina's not the guy I want taking two-point shots for me. However, he is the guy that has hit the most on that team this year. So it's kind of one of those things where it's like two things are true at the same time. We're like Joey's the best two-point shooter on the team, but also Joey should not be the best two-point shooter on that team. Like that that's not necessarily his strong suit. That being said, he did at times look fairly comfortable doing it. honestly to your point, I I think I think step downs or even just kind of like you know hands free kind of shot like like Logan Wisnowskis style, like you know, just catch and shoot kind of things are Are probably not necessarily something I don't want Joey shooting. He's shown comfort. It was more about the distance for me, the the two-point distance, where I'm like, you know, typically you would think you'd want someone who who maybe had a little bit more power on his shot. Although, again, you know, if he's gonna hit him, like, you know, whatever. but to your point, he certainly looked comfortable, and I and I think there is probably some wisdom in maybe having it be a little bit more free, maybe. Maybe a little bit kind of a la the water dogs with with Michael Sowers and and CJ Curse, where maybe one of them, you know, Michael Sowers is the ex attackman, but that doesn't mean CJ doesn't go back there and and and work from from X. it it just kind of they just kind of flow together and and something like that could could really work for them. the whips are just such a Confusing that. I again, it feels like it it's midfield. They're gonna get Joan Ardella back next year. That well, hopefully are going to get Joan Ardella back next year. you would think that that would be a big help to them. you know. But they again feel like someone that needs to do something, because they have been doing a lot of similar things the last few years and it and it hasn't really worked. So Let's head over to the games that happened yesterday. Do you want I guess I guess we'll start with we'll start with your boys. Do you want do you have anything to say first? Do you wanna get it off your chest? @HootSportsMedia: Nah, robbed a bank. Neil Barrett: I I have to say, our friend Jackson Van Vlake, host of Empty the Quiver, the Utah Archers fan podcast, called me on Friday. he was he was one of the ones that was like, hey, there's no episode of the run out. And so he called me and was like, I gotta talk lacrosse with somebody. So since there was no episode, I'm calling you. but he asked me about the game and And you know, we talked for a long time, but one of the things that I said to him was, I I think your best shot as as the archers, you know, because he he's representing the archers in these conversations. and I I said to him, I I think your best shot is to keep Brennan O'Neal quiet for at least the first quarter. The the longer you can make it at or the closer you can make it to keeping him quiet for an entire half, the better. And I and I was like, you know, I I think that was one of the things that helped so much the the the previous week, when Denver played the Redwoods, was that very quickly Brennan got a goal. And I just think that opens up their offense so much because of of the gravity of Brennan O'Neal that when when he scores early, it it it pulls the entire defense, I think, out towards him and gives everybody else a little bit more space to work. And and if you can keep him quiet for a while, it you can kind of sit back off of him a little bit more and and it will help out your defense. And of course, ten seconds into this game, Brennan goes straight to goal and scores. just an incredible take, went right at Brennan Lavelle, and and scored and just really set the tone for the the outlaws in this game. And especially in that first half, it was it was what, nine two? Did I make that up? Seven, two? @HootSportsMedia: it was nine to one at the half. Neil Barrett: Nine to one. Okay. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. Neil Barrett: and you know, it felt like it was gonna be a whole the only thing that I I thought was, I mean, we we had just seen them do a very similar thing to the Redwoods the previous week where they just dominated the first half and then just allowed the Redwoods right back into the game. So there was there was a a small part of me that was like, all right, you gotta come back out in the second half. And and then of course they come out in the second half and the Redwoods do kind of start scoring and it was like, here we go. Here we go again. But they they did enough to kind of hold them off and and kind of maintain that that lead but just just an incredible performance and I and ultimately I you know they are back in the championship game where we assumed they would be when the season started. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, pretty much. I mean a roundabout way to get there for sure, but you know, obviously I was worried about that third quarter just 'cause we it it that's been the outlaws issue all year was that third quarter, they just come out flat Neil Barrett: Mm-hmm. @HootSportsMedia: for some reason. It's weird, they either come out flat or they come out flat to start the game and then all of a sudden like dominate the third. I don't really understand why that, you know, has been the issue, but but yeah, like then that fourth quarter they really just you know I thought commanded the game pretty well and it was clear that hey we don't have to score. As long as we're holding them and holding the ball long enough, like we're fine. you know, they made their run there with after some penalties, and honestly that to me was where the outlaws really won this game was just they held them to one for five on the power play. Which Neil Barrett: Mm-hmm. @HootSportsMedia: I I know statistically speaking, like the outlaws power play, his defense has been, you know, pretty decent this year, but like that was definitely a point of emphasis in my head that I was like, man, like the more of these they give up, like every time they went on the power play, I literally said out loud, Well, there's a there's a goal because I just felt like there's no way to stop it and then all of a sudden they stopped that first one, the second one, third and okay, maybe like we're fine here. So but yeah, like you talked about br you know, Brennan's goal, that that was such a tone setter to go at the Neil Barrett: Mm. @HootSportsMedia: potentially soon to be D POY, play number one, completely dust him and beat, you know, the soon to be goalie of the year. That was like I I mean, credit to him. I don't I don't need what got into him, why he decided to do that. Where was that all year? I don't know, but wild. but yeah, you know, all I have to do is pick against the outlaws and they win. Also, two and in the throwback jersey. As much as I hate to say that, you know, both times I've worn that they've won. After saying I didn't like it when it released, so just saying if we win the championship and I wear it, I'm gonna have to retire that jersey. It's not ever gonna be worn again. So But I don't even know what else I was saying. Logan McNaney, I thought looked he he looks back back the way he he should be. which is just a wild switch up from him, you know, going from like forty percent a couple of games in a row to sixty eight percent there. I thought Luke Weirman did a great job on Cis. There was definitely a period of time Neil Barrett: Mm-hmm. @HootSportsMedia: there, I wanna say it was in the third ish quarter where I was like, Come on boys, like we gotta win a face off here. But yeah, overall I thought he did he did a great job. the other thing I wanted to bring up when I I was watching the game was I noticed how how different how many changes the outlaws were making to their attack line. Like to the point where like I almost texted you about it because I noticed they were flip flopping Jake Taylor and Wiz. They even mentioned on the broadcast, and then right as I was gonna send that text, Neil Barrett: Mm. @HootSportsMedia: they switched it again, and Pat was then coming out of the box for at least a possession. And I wanna say Jared was staying at attack. So I'm not sure if that was intentional or what. Neil Barrett: I saw Brennan running out of the box too. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. So I think that's just kinda what they're doing to help out with you know, JB's hamstring potentially, 'cause I noticed it last week a little bit, but this week it felt like it was just on another level. and it seemed to it seemed to work. Like everyone looked fresh throughout the entire game, which was was cool to see. So I'm I am curious to see how that goes with with Philly, because Philly has so many guys that are versatile and can play both ways and whatnot, so but yeah, I wanted to bring that up as well and Who knows? None of this matters if they don't win, Neil Barrett: Yeah. No that @HootSportsMedia: you know, in two weeks. But it w it was fun to to watch to s to say the least. Neil Barrett: Yeah, yeah. a few things. One, Logan McNaney has still never not played in the championship game as a starting goalie. That's still just an in at some point, presumably, he will not play in a championship game. But the fact that it has continued this long is ridiculous. so that's first and foremost. Brett Dobson at halftime, I thought we were looking at the first ever. Brett Dobson's sub 54% game. prior prior to this game, he had never had a 55% a 54% or lower game. and came out in the second half and was just a brick wall. And I don't remember exactly where he finished. I know he was up above 64% late in the game. so I don't remember what exactly he finished at. but of course. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, sixty five percent. Neil Barrett: 65. So, you know, once again, goalie of the year, far and away, and should be being discussed more in the MVP conversation than he is. it it seems a foregone conclusion that it will be either Michael Sowers or CJ Kirst, or perhaps both of them, which I think is super lame, but whatever, that's another conversation that we can talk about later. but just an incredible performance by by Dauber and and even a fairly lopsided loss, you know, being what it is. and then one thing that we did not touch on at all was that Tom Schreiber was scheduled to return in this game, was listed on the roster, was supposed to be playing, and then injured him I shouldn't say injured himself, tweaked his knee in the warm-up, and they just decided to not take a chance with it and to just pull him out from the game, which is probably the smarter play for the long term health of Tom Schreiber, but was a bummer because with the loss it means that he will not play at all this year, which means that it will be he missed all of last season, right? @HootSportsMedia: No, he got injured in Utah last year at the end of the year. Neil Barrett: I thought it was Utah twenty twenty four that he got hurt and then he missed all of last season. I thought @HootSportsMedia: It was twenty four and twenty five. No. Neil Barrett: it was twenty three and twenty five. No, 'cause he Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: I watched him get injured on that field in 24 and 25. That's why I made the comment. Like he should not play on that turf because he never comes out healthy. Neil Barrett: No well no, I was I was gonna get on I was gonna get to that, but I I thought he missed all of last season too. But anyway, doesn't matter. @HootSportsMedia: No, he missed the rock season. Neil Barrett: Well, I know that. I know that. but i either way, doesn't matter. he I'm with you. I you know, I said it like it sounds like I'm joking. I'm not like he should really just never play in Utah. Like it's now been three straight games in Utah that he has hurt himself or gotten hurt. I don't wanna, you know, throw it all on him. And I I use the example of, you know, Zlatani Brahimovich going back to soccer for you. when he played in the MLS, he did not play on turf fields. He had had some knee injuries in the past. when he was playing at Manchester United, he tore his ACL on a turf field and he refused to play on turf fields. And that was just like part of the deal of Yu-Gi-Oh's la time. But he is not going to play on turf fields. And I I think Tom Schreiber should be the same thing. if if there is a turf field or not not just necessarily a turf field but specifically for Utah he should just not play in Utah ever again. Just don't do it. It's not worth it. prolong his career by by not playing on on that. And and if and if he wants to make it all turf fields, I'm fine with that. Although the PLL's got to do something about the number of turf fields they play on. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, that'd be that'd be tough if they just straight out lot it, but but yeah. Neil Barrett: let's move over to the second game that saw the Philadelphia Water Dogs beat the Boston Cannons 13 to 10. as much as we have talked about the the Michael Sowers and CJ curse dynamic, this game was won by everyone else on the Water Dogs. not that not that they had a bad game. they had lesser games by their standards. Which is crazy 'cause I think they both ended up with four points, right? I think CJ was two and two and Sours was @HootSportsMedia: sounds right. Neil Barrett: like three and one. @HootSportsMedia: No no CJ had five. Neil Barrett: It's crazy that it that @HootSportsMedia: CJ had five. I believe. I'm trying Neil Barrett: Okay. @HootSportsMedia: to pull it up. The stats page is being slow, but I'm pretty sure in the player of the game it said he had five and Saurus had four. But Neil Barrett: Okay. But still, it it's it's crazy to think that they could they could combine for nine points and it would be considered a down game for them. but it it really felt like that. Like it it it really felt like this game was won by everyone else on that water dog's roster. You had Kyle Lewis had a hat trick, Joshiago had two two goals. I don't know if he had an assist or not. somebody else had a hat trick. Was it a was it Collison? @HootSportsMedia: Can't get their sta Okay, here we go. Neil Barrett: I don't remember. But @HootSportsMedia: Their stacks pitch finally loaded. Yago had two goals and an assist. Sours had four points, two and two, Neil Barrett: Okay. @HootSportsMedia: CJ had three and two. and then you had Kyle Lewis with three one point goals. Silas with the goal, Matt Collison with the goal, and McCardo with the goal. Neil Barrett: Yeah. So lots of production from guys not named Kirsten Sowers. The defense was great. Sean Byrne was great again, as he has been pretty much since he got into the the starting position. And, you know, e every time Boston felt like maybe they were gonna get on a run, s the the water dogs just came out and just scored three, four goals pretty quickly and and kind of put that run to to bed, and and were were able to to kind of run out with the win. We'll we'll talk more about Denver and and Philly here in just a second. I I wanna look at the two teams kind of like we have been doing Boston and Utah. My my question for you is going into next season, who do you feel better about? @HootSportsMedia: Probably still Utah. The logic hasn't changed, I don't think, all year. As far as just their backbone is the best in the league, so from that standpoint, like you're always gonna be quote unquote in games. Which sounds crazy considering they just got killed, but you know, like I I you put Brand Thompson on any team, you give him a bunch of fourth graders out there, I feel better about that than, you know, some some pro teams, so but They're they're obviously still gonna have to make changes. Sounds they're gonna have some significant departures, I'll call them. but but not anything that's gonna like, you know kill their team. They have a lot of young talent too. Boston, like I I mean, I they're fine. I feel fine about them, but at the same time, like they have a goalie controversy right now and how does that shape up? I you know, I just don't know. But I I mean I think they're both gonna be pretty good. Neil Barrett: Do are you one of the people that are you one of the people that thinks that if they had started Colin Kirst they might have won that game? Just based on the way he played? @HootSportsMedia: No. It was Philly all the way. The thing is that's that's su that's an easy question to ask when your team loses to be well what if this person started? And it's a fair question. I'm not even saying it's a bad question. But like I picked Philly in this game you know, last year. Like i I I didn't ever feel like who's who's in goal 'cause that's gonna change the the pick. Like Philly's just too too high powered. And they didn't have any questions about like, well Is their defense gonna do this? Is their offense gonna do this? Boston, absolutely. Is their defense gonna give up twelve plus goals? Or are they gonna go back to giving up seven like they did against the whips? Like, you know, is their offense gonna be clicking? I mean, even think about the last possession, the last couple possessions they had in this game where it like, Well, maybe that you know, they're sneaking back in. And then the last couple, I was just like, What is the like what is the goal here? Like we're we're throwing the passes, we're loose balls are getting goosed all over the place. Like it was just it they have too many of those moments a year. Where it's like I can't I can't trust you in gr in crunch time against the best team in the league. Like the deepest team in the league, arguably. So you know, I again credit to Brian Holman and what he did this year. That's why I'm not like out on them for next year. Like I think they're still gonna be a solid team. But if you're asking between them and Utah, Utah's been there done that, and a lot of their gut players have been there done that. Potentially they're getting Grant Aymet back. We'll see about Schreiber. You know, who knows? I still think even a a weakened Tom Schreiber is better than a lot of middies in the league. So and then on top of that you have a lot of young guys that are still there. More guys are gonna come in. A strong defensive class, like I don't know. Recency bias is definitely tough because I I again have seen them win. Neil Barrett: I I feel like not a word that you just said was incorrect in any way, shape, or form. And yet, I think I'm on the other side of the fence. because at the end of the day, I think the thing that we while while while the the whole like Four short stick defensive midfielders and Ada McGuire number one and all of that stuff worked far better than I think many of us thought it would. And I will, I will hold my hand up. Certainly far better than I thought it would. I think this is the game that showed what we were all saying was the issue with this plan was that at some point, someone has to put the ball in the back of the net. And they just don't have that that person, which is crazy to say about a team that has Connor Fields and Mac O'Keefe and Sam King and Ryan Steins and all of these guys that are more than capable, but none of them at any point this season have felt like the guy. You know, when Boston needs a goal, a goal, who you who are you looking out for? You know, to be looking at Marcus Holman. To be looking at Coulter Mackesy and probably Matt Campbell, at least in a in a normal season. I think him coming back from injury is made him maybe not quite that guy right now. But in a normal season, those those are three guys you know you can give the ball to and they can make a play happen. And again, I know it sounds crazy to say that about Connor Fields, who's an NLL MVP. He was an MVP front runner in the PLL several times. you know, Mac O'Keefe is is a a bucket when you get him in the right situations. But I don't know, there's just something about them that feels like this was the thing that was always going to be the issue with this team. That being said, you are absolutely right. A a team with Brett Dobson on it is always going to be in a game. And and again, like you said, I know that feels weird coming after the on the heels of this game. They also, like you mentioned, should be getting Grant Aymant back. Hopefully. I don't know what's going on with him. I'm a little bit surprised that we never really saw him doing even a a Tom Schreiber and and in practice at any point this season. But I'm also not entirely sure what his injury is. whether or not he shows back up, I I don't know. Are you Are you gonna be super surprised if if we never see Grant Ayman again? @HootSportsMedia: No, I actually don't really think he comes back. I'm just assuming that he does. for the sake of the conversation, just because I don't like a as opposed to other players on other teams where it's been like, he's probably not coming back. I haven't heard that with the Grant Aimet, which is why I'm saying assuming he's coming back. But as a like if you were to ask me, like, put a bet down, I don't think he's coming back. And if he does, I don't know if it's on the archers, because I think they have a lot of young talent i you know I I just don't I honestly I was surprised Tom was even trying to come back this year. Like I I've been I've said numerous times to you guys I thought he was just kinda waiting for the Olympics. And you know, credit to him for trying, but I just think about like you know, obviously we've heard the rumors about Connor Fields. Have we heard a rumor about Grant Aymet? Outside of just he's injured? Like Neil Barrett: To be completely honest, if Connor Fields leaves, I want Grant Ayman in my attack. That dude is such a good attacker. @HootSportsMedia: I I don't disagree. Neil Barrett: And I I feel like we've @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, I don't disagree at all. Neil Barrett: all I feel yeah, I feel like we've all forgotten that that dude was a Tawaraton finalist attackman who was I believe in a I believe he's an attackman of the year in the PL, or at least he was a finalist. @HootSportsMedia: Sounds right. Neil Barrett: I I think it's a finalist. I think he's I think he was an attackman of the year finalist and a midfielder of the year finalist. And he's like the only person that's ever done that. Or maybe Gary Gate or somebody did it. But like it's like him and one other person like a Gary Gate. And I'm like, that dude, I'm not sure that I would have left him at the midfield to begin with. when I it was one thing that year where like Tom Schreiber was kind of in or out or whatever and and they they made it work and he was like really good and they they paired. But my thought was always like get him back down into attack and have him at attack and have Tom Schreiber at midfield like Boom, you got that. but yeah, I think I would put him back if he comes back. But to your point, I don't I don't know if he's coming back. The the fact that we haven't seen him on a field in so long, like just worries me about his future. But I I @HootSportsMedia: I mean, we have people we could ask for that, I guess, which we'll have to do. But it's just again, you think about all the other players that have ever been injured, missed a season, we still hear about them throughout the year. It's still talked about, like, well, when he comes back or hopefully he's back soon or you know what I mean? Whereas this is just like, he's just gone. Like I was talking to you about earlier today about West Berg, where it was just like one day he was there Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: and the next he was just like and then he pops up on the Active roster into the pup list and silence again. And it's like, okay, what like that that is strange. Like, I just don't so but if he comes back, like that's I think Neil Barrett: Yeah, well and @HootSportsMedia: that's still, you know, great for them. And who knows, maybe they retain Connor Fields and now you have now you figure out a way to have, you know, Fields and Aymant, you know, somehow play attack. I don't know. I don't know. Neil Barrett: I'm I'm picturing in my head. I'm picturing in my head what I would do to that roster. Like I'm thinking an attack. Of Grant A meant @HootSportsMedia: Ash for Nolting. Neil Barrett: probably out on the right. Sure. Asher Nolton is gonna be a Carolina chaos. Is it can you say can you say he's gonna be a chaos? Like that just sounds weird, right? @HootSportsMedia: I mean yeah, but that's because he's only played for one team, so it sounds weird anyway. Neil Barrett: no, I just mean like I just mean like grammatically. Like what do you say if someone joins the Thunder? Like, are they a Thunder? Cause you would say, like, if someone joins the Chicago Bulls, you would like, Yeah, they're a Bull. But if if someone joins the Thunder, @HootSportsMedia: I don't I don't think you Neil Barrett: are @HootSportsMedia: I don't think you can. I they're just they just play for OKC. They just play for Carolina. That that's yeah. They're or are they a a Neil Barrett: They just play for Carolina. They are the chaos. And it's funny too, cause like. @HootSportsMedia: K K O K K O K I don't know. Neil Barrett: It's funny too, cause like Atlas would have the same issue, but they kind of gave themselves mostly because of that logo, the the bull's nickname. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. Neil Barrett: So they have a nickname for their nickname. And so people are just like, yeah, he's he's a bull. And you you know like he's he's with the Atlas. But like chaos don't the chaos need a nickname for their nickname. So that's what that's what we need. We need we need people to start writing in. Nicknames for the Carolina Chaos. And @HootSportsMedia: The scorpions. Neil Barrett: people are gonna write in, what'd you say? @HootSportsMedia: The scorpions. That's basically the same Neil Barrett: I don't hate it. @HootSportsMedia: situation as the Atlas. Neil Barrett: No, you're right. And and I don't hate it. Yeah, that's what that's what I was gonna say. @HootSportsMedia: I mean it it doesn't roll off the tongue the same way as bulls, but like but I don't know what else it would be. Like desert creatures The the the sand Neil Barrett: Listen, we could we could find something. We can find something. @HootSportsMedia: The sand bugs, I don't know. The sand pinchers. The sand what do scorpions do? Do they sting Neil Barrett: Sandbugs. It's gotten worse. @HootSportsMedia: or do they bite or something? Sting the I don't know. Neil Barrett: They do they sting and they they have claws, they pinch. But their @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, I don't know then. Neil Barrett: their real weapon is that tail. @HootSportsMedia: Either which way? Astronaut and Utah Archer. Neil Barrett: Imagine, imagine they have that whole roster. They still have Connor Fields. They get Grant Aymant back and they add Asher Nolte. Who's playing where on that team? You have like four ex attackmen right there. @HootSportsMedia: I don't care. Call up call up Bill Tyranny, be like, How'd you do it, Bill? We need some secrets. Let us know. Neil Barrett: Well y you know how Bill Bill Tierney did it. He got rid of Zed Williams and @HootSportsMedia: Okay, stop, stop, stop, stop. We don't need to bring that up, alright? I wanted Zed on the archers a year ago. Okay, I was calling for that trade. Neil Barrett: And how did that work out? @HootSportsMedia: He got traded. I got that part right. Just just the wrong team. Still mad about that. Still mad. Neil Barrett: all right, let's let's look forward here. We got Denver, your Denver Outlaws, playing the Philadelphia Water Dogs. @HootSportsMedia: Playing my Philadelphia Water Dogs. Neil Barrett: Is that what I said? @HootSportsMedia: No, my Denver Outlaws were playing my Philadelphia Water Dogs. That's what I said. Neil Barrett: Is what I said? I'm okay. Cause you 'cause you picked them. Is that why is that why you're calling them that? @HootSportsMedia: No, 'cause I used to root for them on the low before cities. And now they have so many like Denver guys, whether it be Mammoth or Denver, that like I basically win either way. I also lose either way, but it's alright. Neil Barrett: I was gonna say I'm not sure I'd go that far. But if that makes you feel better, like, you know, we'll go with it, I guess. @HootSportsMedia: Hey, hey. Neil Barrett: Any anyway, what what are you thinking about this game? you seem to be fairly pessimistic, even though that's sometimes I think a ploy. @HootSportsMedia: I don't think it's ever a ploy. But maybe that in itself is a ploy Neil Barrett: it's a @HootSportsMedia: of all ploys. I certainly reversed Jinx to the boys li th this past week, so you know, maybe I'll try that again. But I think I said all year Philly was the favorite, so I don't think much changed. I do think, you know, the outlaws looked better this week. Which was you know, they looked better than I think I expected them to, which was a surprise, just first time that they've all been healthy in in a little while. I know technically they were healthy in Denver, but like I don't know that they really were. Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: so I think that helps their case, you know, in in this game. but the problem is Sean Byrne is playing at a unreal level right now that arguably could have beat out Brett Dobson for goalie of the year if he played all year. if he kept that pace up. So that's Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: you know, scary. The other thing though is like the Denver's offense cohesively has looked really good at the same time. So the other part of me is like they put up eleven against Brett Dobson, like is eleven gonna be enough against Sean Byrne? And if it is, then you know, awesome. but I I just think Philly is just top to bottom the best team in the league, the deepest team in the league. They still have guys that are not playing right now with injury that like do they come back like is Jack Hanna playing or is he staying on IR? you know, how do their rookies look? 'Cause their rookies cooked this weekend. They looked incredible. So really this game's gonna come down to how many of the outlaws go on stick talk, before the game because the stick tok bump is is a real thing. So I did put out the bat signal Neil Barrett: Clearly. @HootSportsMedia: to them to have all the all the guys all the all the boys on the pod. So Brian, I know you're listening. I need you to get that in the works, please. you have about a week and a half to do that. Let's let's get that going. But yeah, I don't know. Should be should be a good game, either which way. I just hope it's a close game and not not a blowout. Neil Barrett: Yeah. Yeah, I it could be one of those games that goes i i anyway. I'm with you. I th I I'm hoping it's I mean I think we're all h for close games, just generally, but I'm encouraged by Denver because I think while dropping while an eleven point offensive performance is not amazing against that defense and against that goalie specifically in Brett Dobson, I'm I'm pretty happy with it. And I think while again, maybe that offense is not while the while the Archers offense is maybe not. The most amazing offense in the league. they had been pretty good. And I think holding them to five was crazy impressive. and certainly the best performance of the outlaw season defensively, I think. like you mentioned, Logan McNaney looked back to being the Logan McNaney that we expect. so While I understand that kind of the precedence of the season might suggest one thing about this game, I'm more optimistic heading into this game based on their performance this week. Like you said, I think this was the first time that they have had the the Fouraton guys fully healthy. I think the defense looked healthy and and on the same page for the first time this year. so I'm encouraged, but as you mentioned again, I mean this Water Dogs team is just incredible at every single position. but I I think also what you said is gonna be kind of one of the key factors is is how much are they gonna get out of that midfield specifically. if this is another game where, you know, Michael Kyle Lewis has, you know, no points. Joshiago maybe has a point. Matt Collison has a point. They could really struggle. I and I and I think that might be one of the keys is trying to limit those extra plays. That being said, you can't focus too much on that because then Sours and CJ are going to absolutely kill you. the the thing that I'm hopeful about and but also a little bit trepidatious about is that I think the the outlaws have the short stick defensive midfield unit that can kind of control that midfield. But the thing that worries me is that I don't know that they have the defense. JT Giles Harris is, I think, a defensive player of the year candidate every single year. Mike Manley, when he's good, is good. Sometimes I think he looks a bit his age. And then their their third poll has been kind of, you know, whoever whoever could could do it all season. So that would be where I'm worried about them a bit is on that that defensive end, but you know. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. And then when I mean having Gavin Adler on the other side too is a little bit sketchy. the one thing I will say is obviously when they played in Denver this year, Brennan did not play in that game. and that really shook up the lineup. Like if you look at that that list, like Nolan Byrne played a big role in that game. Graham Bundy played a bigger role in that game. So, you know, that potentially helps. Again, I'm not saying that that negates a ten goal loss that they took, but like that's, you know gives me a little bit more hope. but they're gonna definitely have to kind of find a way to to win those individual matchups, which unfortunately Gavin Adler shuts someone down every single week. So you know, that's just gonna have to happen. And then it's just gonna come down to like like you're saying, the the non star guys, like how do they respond? 'Cause if our midfield's doing nothing again, you know, that's a problem. But like I think the last really back half of the season, the midfield has been Pretty good. Like Dalton Young has been great. you know, th it's we like I said, they've been changing that attack line so much that like there are times where you have two attackmen playing MIDI and that's worked out a ton. So, you know, we'll see how that goes. I like the face off battle a lot. I think that's about as even as you can probably get in this league. I mean not that Weirman was great the first time they played, but you know, at the same time Logan McKinney also was twenty percent in that game. I I think it's safe to say that he's not gonna do that again. So Neil Barrett: Yeah. Yeah, there's not much @HootSportsMedia: I don't know. Neil Barrett: I'm taking from. There's not much I'm taking from that game earlier in the season. Cause like you said, they Brennan didn't play. They were I don't I'm not sure that half the guys who did play were fully healthy. Logan McNaney didn't look good. Like I I don't think that that is going to be a reflection of who they are in this game. The the one question I had for you, put on your your water dog's hat. Who are you lining Gavin Adler up against? @HootSportsMedia: Pack Avenue. Because he's he's the outlaw's Michael Sowers, I think. So you're gonna want to shut down the facilitator. Brennan like if I'm them, I'm letting Brennan do all the damage. Because you know that there's gonna be times where the ball is gonna get stuck in his stick, potentially. now granted his passing has been much improved this year. That's like no question about that. But I just think overall Pat's probably your better passer. You're not stopping Jared Bernhardt because he's too fast. So however many times he goes and takes to the rack, he's just gonna score. You know, Wiz is more stationary, so you're probably not gonna waste Adler on that. So probably Neil Barrett: Yeah, no. @HootSportsMedia: Pat. Otherwise, Brennan would be the secondary for me, but Neil Barrett: Yeah. Yeah, no, I I'm not I'm not sure that I agree with you, but I I also can't argue with the logic of it. You know, i in my mind it's it's either Pat or Brennan. And I'd probably lean Brennan, but I again I I don't think there's a hole in your logic, you know. @HootSportsMedia: I mean he held he Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: held Pat to one point in that game. Again, Pat wasn't fully healthy at that point, but one f or for three shooting. Maybe they try Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: their hand at that again. But then again, Brennan also is kind of finding his rhythm now, so maybe they'd lean that way. Maybe they do a half and a half kind of situation or split. I don't I don't know. Neil Barrett: Well and and I think part of the equation is okay, you put Gavin Adler on Pat, but then who's covering Brennan? @HootSportsMedia: That's good question. That's a good question. Neil Barrett: So I I'm s and I say that because like do you put Gavin on Brennan because you have a guy that could that could more easily you're you're number two for lack of a better term, even though I don't think ones and twos are necessarily the the same thing, but because your your second guy can cover Pat more easily than he can cover Brennan. @HootSportsMedia: I don't know, I just feel like I'd want a bigger guy on Brennan. Like I don't know how big like off the top of my head h like how how strong Marcus Hudgens and Kenny Brower are, but in my head they're they gotta be stronger, at least looking at them than than Gavin Adler is, which is why I think he matches up a little bit better with with Pat. But I'm with you on that logic of like make Brennan struggle maybe and see what what Pat does. the other thing I'm thinking too is like Pat has really been better with Jake Taylor in the lineup, you know, dishing the rock. So from that standpoint, it's like, Neil Barrett: Yeah. Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: do you wanna maybe just cut off his passing like altogether and really force everyone to be a goal scorer? Because like that that to me like that's the same argument I make with Sowers all the time of just like he's gonna find one way or another to beat you. I'd almost rather make him a goalscorer than an assister, because at least if he's not passing the ball, you know that Now CJ and everyone else has to go find their own shot, which they can all do, but at least they're Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: working for it. So yeah, I dunno, it's a good question, especially because Hudgens has played great this year. Kenny Brower's been great this year. their LSMs, you know, Jimmy Frehill obviously we know how I feel about him, so Stob's been all right too. Like Neil Barrett: Two @HootSportsMedia: I it's tough. Neil Barrett: Two quick points before we move off of this. one, you mentioned Brian earlier. I am going to circle back to Brian and say two summers ago, I think it was, I I did a video with Brian looking at Gavin Adler matching up with Brennan O'Neal. I guess it was Brennan O'Neill's rookie season. in Boston, he he basically man-marked. Brennan out of a game completely. I think Brennan had one point in that game, if I remember remember correctly. And I saw it as I'm watching Brennan, and I have, you know, I've watched Brennan for four years at Duke, and I'm watching him here, and I'm like, this is a dude that's just not. He he he did that that Brennan thing where he's like sitting back and he has decided that he is going to. Take himself out of the game and and essentially let everyone else play five on five. and Brian was like, no, Gavin is taking him out of the game. And ultimately, I think it was probably a little bit of A and a little bit of B. but Brian really showed me a lot of the things that like Gavin Adler was doing to put Brennan off. and so You know, I I I think now that being said, past success does not equal future success. I'm not sure that Brennan O'Neill today is who Brennan O'Neal was as a rookie. I going back to that first goal of the game, it reminded me so all I could think about was that I think it was last year they did one of those like players round round tables and Michael Sowers was in it. And he talked about one of the things that he had to learn when he made the step up to the PLL was to go at the game, was to go get the game instead of like, you know, a lot of people say, let the game come to you, let the game come to you. And he was like, no, I had to learn to like first couple of possessions, first couple of touches that I get. Like I have to go and try and make something happen and like, you know, push myself into the game and really assert myself. And I I and I was like, dude, that's something that Brennan has to learn. And so seeing it in this game was like, boom, like there it is. That you you completely set the tone, not just for your play for that game, but for the whole team for that game. and so all that to say, you know, who Brennan was as a rookie being man-marked out by Kevin Adler is not necessarily indicative of what could or or will happen in this game, but just interesting to To see that, you know, Gavin Adler has had success as he as he has with pretty much everyone, has had success, you know, marking Brennan O'Neill. and then the second thing I wanted to say was I wonder if if you want to put Gavin Adler on on Pat, I wonder what Kenny Brouwer looks like against Brennan. you know, I I can't imagine there are very many defenders who know. Brennan O'Neal as well as Kenny Brouwer does. they I'm sure they matched up frequently at Duke. So, you know, maybe that maybe that's an option. I don't know. But do I do I need to ask for a pick? @HootSportsMedia: we still got we still got like ten days. Neil Barrett: Yeah, but we're not gonna do another show. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, but I'm not gonna know until about Eight AM that morning. I might just pick I might just Neil Barrett: my god, dude. I can't. @HootSportsMedia: go down with the ship. Then again the reverse jinx have done me wonders, so Neil Barrett: It has. Get the reverse jinx and the retro jersey. @HootSportsMedia: Maybe I'll just I'm just gonna photoshop I'm gonna photoshop half of each logo into one and just like here's my pick. I hope both teams have fun and get out healthy. Neil Barrett: You're gonna be the the the Rob Lowe meme. @HootSportsMedia: Yep, yep. Go out dogs. Or or water laws. Yeah, go water laws. Neil Barrett: Water laws. geez. I got listen, I got plenty of PL hats if you need to borrow. @HootSportsMedia: I have I have a few. I have a I have a couple, yeah. Who know, maybe I'll just wear both jerseys. I do have my my championship water dog jersey. So maybe I'll just have both. Neil Barrett: I yeah, just just cut down the middle and sew up Waterlaws. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. Yeah. I think I think I might have to. Yeah. Yeah. I'm gonna get a custom jersey Neil Barrett: All right, @HootSportsMedia: made that says that, then I can just never lose. Neil Barrett: I like it. I like it. I'm here for it. You could be you could be like the the Kelsey mom. You know. I just @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. Yeah. I'm just rooting for good lacrosse. That's all I'm rooting for here. Neil Barrett: Good defensive lacrosse, right? @HootSportsMedia: Yes, one to zero preferably. That'd be awesome. Just Matter of fact, let's just go zero zero and go to the shootout Neil Barrett: One to zero my god. @HootSportsMedia: at the end of overtime. We'll just do that. That sounds awesome. Neil Barrett: Just a brave heart. Just a just a one-on-one brave heart for the for the PLL @HootSportsMedia: Yes. Yes. Neil Barrett: championship. my god. All right. The end of year award finalists were officially named. We talked about who we would pick a couple weeks ago. but I just wanted to kind of before we you know wrapped up on those, ha has your opinion on any of them changed? Number one, and were there any snubs or any any kind of like big miss issues? @HootSportsMedia: I mean I I know some people were mentioning Ryan Terrifanko being snubbed. Neil Barrett: Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: I don't hate that. the hard part with with this again is that some positions have three finalists, some have four, so then it's like what really counts as a snub. Because then you look at some of the groups that have four and it's like there's very clearly one that is on the outside looking in. So nothing's changed 'cause I think, you know, I don't like to let playoffs dictate my My picks. I can't find the graphics unfortunately because they post so many videos and things that I just can't pull it up, so The only thing I'll say is maybe the Philly boys split the vote and Brett Dobson wins V P. Neil Barrett: Like I said, he should definitely be higher in the conversation than he is. I think you and I both said that we had Sours, Dauber, and then CJ, right? @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, yeah. Neil Barrett: Are you are you wanting to change that? @HootSportsMedia: I I ha no, I just had to I had to think about it in in the order you said it in. Yeah, that's fine. I don't think many people would agree, Neil Barrett: All right. @HootSportsMedia: but I'm fine with it. Neil Barrett: I don't think many people would agree either, but I I I don't know why they would. @HootSportsMedia: I also just don't want to see attackmen win awards. That's really what it comes down to. Go defense. That's what I like. Neil Barrett: I don't I don't mind seeing Attackman win awards. I do think that it's a little bit ridiculous that it is basically the best Attackman of the Year award. unless @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, but that's every MVP. That it's the same thing with quarterbacks. It's e it's just call it what it Neil Barrett: That's fair. @HootSportsMedia: is. That's why I'm just like, come on. Neil Barrett: Yeah. I just it's just weird to me that like you have to you have to be something insane in order to not be in in order to to to be in the VP conversation and not be an attackman. but also there's like weird lines that they draw because I I have said it before, I will say it again. In twenty twenty one, Miles Jones should have been at least an V P finalist, if not the VP of the season. If his name was Tom Schreiber, he would have been the VP. But So I don't know. They they just draw weird lines. Back to the conversation that we were having though. The the Ryan Terra Finco one is weird because I I think he is probably deserving of being a finalist. But they decided to go with three, which is weird because like I don't understand what the cutoff like I don't is there a cutoff? Like, are we just arbitrarily doing something? Or is it one of those like baseball writer things where like you have to have like 75% of the vote to be considered, or like what it doesn't make any sense because last year, last year, short stick defensive midfielder of the year had four finalists. So why did we only have three this year and leave out one that everyone seems to be in agreement was deserving of being a finalist? I don't know. And then, like you said, there are certainly some where there's four, but you look at it and you're like, Why is that person there? Wha what are they doing? you know, @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. Neil Barrett: goalie of the year was one when they when they announced the finalists, I think we were all talking like what the other two goalies aren't even in the same league as Brett Dobson. They just apparently are just the only two that, you know, finished and s or started and finished the season, I I guess is the is the requirement that there were so there was so much goalie turnover that they just went with the other two goalies that played all season. @HootSportsMedia: Yep, yep. The only other thing I'll say is I know Brian said that Ethan Raw jumped Pasino in that L S of the year. Couldn't disagree more. But, you know. We'll see how that lands. Neil Barrett: Yeah, do you do you think that's though because of the game? Cause I my problem is so much of that conversation was af was about after the whip snakes game. And I'm like, that game is irrelevant to this. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, but also I don't think Brian would would, you know, do that. Like I think he's pretty knowledgeable and is willing to be like obviously that's a playoff game. I I saw a lot of discourse on like Twitter and such that yes, absolutely, I'm like you guys are just taking all these playoff games into account, which, you know, a quarter of the league didn't even play in, so or half the league technically. So but yeah, no, I I think he's being genuine in in that discussion. And if Ethan Rawl wins that award I'm not gonna be like, you know, pitchforks and and angry about it 'cause he did have a a crazy good year as well. But Neil Barrett: Yeah, for sure. @HootSportsMedia: but just wanna shout out Pacino again 'cause it's his award for the next decade. Definitely not biased. Neil Barrett: the other one before we move off to the awards is the WLL awards were also announced. same sort of thing, positional awards. They did not have a rookie of the year, I think they didn't have a rookie of the year because In some people's minds, everyone's a rookie, which is one of the goofier things I think I've ever heard. we all know the difference between you know Alex Ost Holman and Bridget Duffy, right? Like we can all understand the difference between a player who's actually a rookie. And someone who's just playing in the first season of the league, right? Like, I don't I don't understand why we didn't do a rookie of the year. but the other thing that I noticed, and I I don't know if you've had a a chance to really go over the the WLL ones, is that so much of them seem to be affected by that championship game. and that was Kind of disheartening to me. The four MVP finalists, there are three charm players and a palms player. which @HootSportsMedia: Rachel Clark robbed. Neil Barrett: is Rachel Clark's one. To be completely honest, when we when we talk about MVP, and we talk about this in the PLL all the time, when we talk about MVP, I think there's an element. I don't think it should be the deciding factor. I don't think it should be even necessarily the biggest factor. But I think there is an element, at least, of team success that's relevant when we're talking about the most valuable player. Because if your team is terrible, how much value were you really providing? That's debatable and and again, it's not the deciding factor for me or anything. so but all that to say, if you if you don't want Rachel Clark in there because her team was so bad, fine. I get that. But why is Taylor Moreno in there over Madison Du set? Madison Du Set beats her st in every single category and her team had the exact same record as Taylor Moreno's. They missed they missed the championship game on what? Like goal differential, right? @HootSportsMedia: Think so? Neil Barrett: I I think so too. And then with all due respect to Sydney Black, who is an incredible player and had an incredible championship and was deservedly the MVP of the championship, she's sixth in the league in points. she's the sorry, I don't even think she's sixth in the league in points. I think she's seventh in the league in points. I think she's sixth in the league in a points from an attacker. not even not even not just in her own position, not even, you know, across the board. And I'm like, you know, there was no Emma Lepento, there was no Izzy Skane, there was no, you know, all these players that were statistically better than than she was. Bridget Duffy and Allie Kennedy, I think were probably deserving. like you mentioned, I think Rachel Clark could have been. You know, I I said that about Rachel Clark and and about the Boston Cannons not or the Boston Guard not being particularly good. But I'm pretty sure Lyle Thompson was an MVP finalist when when he had 44 points and led the league, and the cannons were awful. I think the conversation was just that he couldn't win it because of MVP, because of team success or or whatever. but I'm pretty sure he was a finalist. So all that to say, you know, if Rachel Clark was a finalist, I don't think you could argue against it either. but yeah, so just just kind of disappointing to see how much it felt like the the championship game played into some of these awards that that may for all I know, people were handed ballots and were told to include the the the championship game, but you know, that that's just not how these awards are supposed to work, and I don't think they should have worked that way. but anyway. I guess we will move off of that. the before we get out of here, just a couple of of quick hits. The man cup starts Friday with the Six Nations Chiefs looking to win their fourth straight man cup, taking on. I'm gonna freaking butcher this name. And it's not even because I don't know how to say it, but it's because I'm going to second guess myself. The Coquitlam. Adnecks? @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, you got it. Neil Barrett: Okay. like I said, I've I've heard it so many times, like I know how to say it, but my brain is like, nope, not like that, not like that. Anyway, that kicks off Friday. They play a bunch of games real fast. It's not quite like an NHL Stanley Cup style series, but I think it's like if it goes to seven, it's like ten days or twelve days or something like that. Gonna be interesting to see. I know, I know Brad in Lax Lifers Club gave us some crap, which I'm not even gonna lump you in. He was really talking to me because I'm the one that said it, even though he lumped you in with it. when I said that the Chiefs looked beatable, which I didn't even what I said was the Chiefs looked the most beatable they ever have, which I don't think is necessarily you know that crazy. It it's not like saying they were going to get beat, but whatever. We'll see. We'll see what happens. that being said, you know, I I'm not I'm not expecting anyone to beat the Chiefs this year, but the and then the last little thing was I don't I don't think we've had a chance to really discuss it at all. the NFL the NFL The NLL draft and free agency got delayed again a couple weeks ago. it's now concrete. I did not write it down because I'm dumb and didn't prepare for this part of the show well enough. let me see if these dates are right. There's a draft window of September 10th through the 24th that for them to set it during that period. @HootSportsMedia: say that again? Neil Barrett: Does that sound right? @HootSportsMedia: I have I have Neil Barrett: A draft window? @HootSportsMedia: free agency is from the first of September to September eighteenth and then the draft is f is from the tenth to the twenty fourth. Which I don't understand how that works, but Neil Barrett: Okay, so yeah, that's that's what I had. That's what I said. But but yeah, no, I'm with you. I don't understand. my only thought was that maybe they're saying that they will put it during that time period, but we're @HootSportsMedia: No no no no no no. We mi we're misreading this because we're idiots. They moved the draft from Neil Barrett: Well, that's for sure. @HootSportsMedia: the 10th to the 24th. Free agency moved Neil Barrett: Gotcha. @HootSportsMedia: from the first to the eighteenth. Not a window. We're just dumb and apparently are illiterate. that's so free agency on September 18th, which is in 10 days from now, and the draft on September 24th, which is about two weeks from now. Neil Barrett: So because we're dumb and because I did not prepare well enough for this portion, so what we're saying is that there's one day of free agency? @HootSportsMedia: No no no. There's between free agency and the draft there are six days, but I think free agency will just continue, technically speaking. But it opens six days prior to the draft. Neil Barrett: Okay. And there may not be an answer, and even if there is, you may not know it. When would free agency close? @HootSportsMedia: Technically it never closes. Neil Barrett: I I guess that's true. @HootSportsMedia: It just kinda opens and then Neil Barrett: But then it has to open, so like @HootSportsMedia: It just it's just gonna open on the eighteenth and then just go forever. Neil Barrett: Yeah, they'll just n it'll just never close ever again. @HootSportsMedia: It won't close until next year. And then take a pause for the summer again and open it back up. Neil Barrett: And anyway, the the reason for them delaying it again, while not outright said, seems to be because of the Ottawa and Philadelphia of it all and their unresolved membership statuses. I think at this point we're all pretty much expecting Ottawa to officially fold. that's supposedly been coming. later today for like two or three weeks now it feels like. and then Philly, I I've never heard anything concrete one way or the other. if I well, I shouldn't say I haven't heard anything @HootSportsMedia: Every time we hear something that's that seems concrete, they the next day someone else is like, Wait, actually Neil Barrett: Right, right. That's it that's what I was getting ready to say. We @HootSportsMedia: So I don't know. Neil Barrett: we've heard concrete, but it constantly gets contradicted. So @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. Neil Barrett: Philly's Philly's very much up in the air, but I think I think Ottawa's one that everyone is is fully expecting to close their doors, which is crazy, but obviously understandable. on on Ottawa's part, Philly The the part that I think is so crazy to me about Philly is that we've been here and Philly i is is on the verge of shutting down for two, three years now and and we're still at this thing of like, well maybe, well, maybe, and I I don't want to see them close the doors, but like at some point somebody's just gotta make a decision here. Like we're dragging this out and dragging this out and dragging this out. And I I think I I'm not gonna out anyone, but I you know, la lots of our friend group have been saying, like, let's just shut it down. Let's just, let's just move on, let's move forward with what we have with what's working, and like let's let's build. And I I think there's a lot of wisdom in the idea of like, let's just stop dragging this out. And and if if a Philadelphia owner wants to emerge in the next year or two, let them And we'll cross that bridge when we get to it. But for now, let's just let's just roll with what we got and what has been working. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, I mean I've been on that train now for two off seasons, so I like again, I don't want anything to like end, but at the same time it's like Eve even if you're like you're having people kinda come in and out of like, I kinda wanna own the team, but not really, that to me is enough to be like, All right, we're not doing it then because you aren't committed. Like you look around the league and you look at some of the other owners and they're just like, Yeah, this is my franchise. Like, we're gonna make it work, we're gonna, you know, try to make st make more fans of the sport of our team, which in turn drives revenue and they just eat the loss for what it is right now, which Not that I want anyone to lose money, but like I appreciate that those owners are, you know, all in, quote unquote. Compared to these like wishy washy, like well we want a team, but like because to me, even if they sell the team, then we're gonna be in the same situation in three years and then people are gonna be like, well, look what happened and it's just like it's not really worth it. and again, I'm on the train of letting Brett Frude be an actual commissioner for once and not just trying to save franchises like Neil Barrett: Ricest negotiator. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, it it just gets to a point where it's like, How many little wildfires like do we need to and the problem is then like there's not a good way for the league to announce what is happening. And then you see fans on social media being like upset about it. And it's like, well what do you want them to say? Like seven years ago we expanded too much and so now we're you know, dealing with owners that don't want us. Do th do we they we really want the the the league to come out and be like, Yeah, Xfinity gave up on the wings? Is that what they want? Like And the funny thing is, when people like me go in the comments and tell you why these teams are folding and d these things are occurring, they try to argue with me about it. And I'm like, Br I promise you, everything I'm telling you is in good faith. I'm not making this stuff up about like what's going on. The fact that I'm having to drop screenshots of of articles that are written about the Ottawa situation specifically. And then they're like, I hadn't heard that before. I'm like, did you even research it? Like, I don't know what else you want. From the league. 'Cause then you people that Neil Barrett: No. @HootSportsMedia: tell you what's going on you say they're liars. So I'll put my hand up. Let's just get on with it. Let's let's say sorry to these two franchises and maybe the Wings franchise is just cursed and we won't bring that that franchise back. Neil Barrett: Well and I and I feel bad because I I know that there are there are passionate, loyal fans in Philly and and Ottawa that love these teams and want to see them continue and and for their sake, I I wish that they they would. But you know, at at some point you just gotta you just gotta draw a line in the sand and be like that, you know, this isn't this isn't what's best for this league as a whole and we need to we need to move on. Now, if tomorrow some multimillionaire steps in and is like, I'm in, like, cool, great, awesome. I'm for that. But, you know, like I said, there there just needs to be a a line drawn in the sand and this like, like I said, the the fact that we we have known this about Philly for literally years at this point. And we are still at a point where we're pushing back things because it's like, well, maybe, but about this one? What about this one? How many how many times have or how many different places have you and I heard that Philly was going to be playing next year just in the few months since the season ended? At least at least three, four? @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. And it's and it it literally changes day by day. Where like one day it's like, well actually it's down to like these two. there's talks about this one and then actually wait, there's not really an arena there to play and now this this place is out. Like it like and again, that's another thing. Like I'm not saying the league needs to come out and be like, We're discussing these places. Like, no do it in confidence, whatever. But like when we go from Edmonton sounds pretty likely to wait. Jamie Dalwicks now saying he's never heard Edmonton. And then Trenton was hot there for like a a quick minute, and then it was like, Okay, that's actually probably not happening. And then out of nowhere, Temple, I think it was, came out of the woodwork and was like, Well, actually now it's Temple, and then you and I were talking about it and we're like, Where like what is this arena that they're gonna play in? Like in in my bigger question, forget where they're gonna play, who's the owner? Like is it just gonna be Joe Neil Barrett: Yeah. Yeah. @HootSportsMedia: Syus funding it again? Because if he's willing to do that You know, bless that man. Like, thank you. But I don't think that makes a lot of sense to just keep going back to him and being like, Hey, how does another team sound for another year, two years, three years? Like unless he's really willing to do that, but Neil Barrett: Well well and and that was an issue that the MLL had where Jim Davis ended up owning like half the league. And guess what comes with owning a team? A vote. So it the the league more or less had to do what he wanted to do because he owned so many of the votes. and and so you know, obviously Joe Sai would have to own a lot more teams than than even Jim Davis did. But but you know the point still remains that that more teams equals a larger vote and more opportunity to influence the direction of the league. And so ultimately you know while it it's cool that he's willing to help you know keep things afloat and keep things going I'm not sure that it's the best idea. Again, as as bad as I feel for the fans in those two cities specifically, I I just am not convinced that that's the best long term option for anyone involved. Those fans, the NL, Josai for that matter. you know. So I I I'm not I'm not I'm not exactly down with that. I I think at this point, like like you said, we have just since the end of the season, we have had three or four locations that that have been this is this is what's happening with Philadelphia and they've all disappeared. And and now sa some of that was maybe rumor. I don't know, but these aren't nobodies that are telling us. Like these are these are people that are in the know about these kinds of things. and and so there there was at least some very serious discussions about these locations. And at some point you just you just gotta draw that line in the sand and and you know we'll we'll get Philly back w if and when we can get the lead back to a a a substantial growth where it we I I I I think it needs to be like the the WNBA and being like, you know, make it where Philly wants a team because they want to be a part of it, because there's something there. And it and it's growing on its own. you know, I don't I don't know I don't know how long that takes. Maybe maybe we never quite get there, but that feels like the better option at this point. All right. I guess with that we will get out of here. what you got going on in the next I guess two weeks now. for anyone that doesn't know, we're we're not gonna do an episode next week. There's not gonna be games or anything to really talk about. So we have missed two weeks in the in the last month, I think, because you were out and then I was out and those were unplanned, but this is a planned break. We are not doing an episode next week. but we will be back after the championship. @HootSportsMedia: Yeah. back at Air Force this weekend. Got a baby shower in the morning before that. Nothing nothing too exciting. gonna gonna try to Neil Barrett: I thought you meant like tomorrow morning. @HootSportsMedia: No, no, no, no, no, no. Like the like the day of the the Air Force game. in between Neil Barrett: Gotcha. @HootSportsMedia: that I have a wedding reception as well to go to. and then the very next day I'm gonna I'm gonna attempt to get up to the alma mater to shoot a game, but we'll see if they if they let me in. So hopefully there's some good vibes there that they'll Sneak me in, but we'll see. Neil Barrett: dang. Is the is this the opening weekend of the NFL season? @HootSportsMedia: tomorrow, yeah, tomorrow's the official week one open. Neil Barrett: Nice. All right. All right. @HootSportsMedia: So Monday night, Bo Nicks plays football. God bless Bo Bonex. The goat. The goat. Neil Barrett: bonec, yeah. Mm-hmm. The goat. geez. @HootSportsMedia: the best quarterback from the twenty twenty four rookie class. Neil Barrett: I love that you had get so specific. The best quarterback from the twenty twenty four rookie class who was born on a Tuesday and played for three different colleges. @HootSportsMedia: Hey, hey, there was a lot of quarterbacks taken in that draft. Alright? There was a lot. There was like six of them taken in the top twelve or something like that. I don't know how much draft you follow with your non football watch itself, all right, but Neil Barrett: How how how many people is he up against? What, like Michael Penix? Freaking @HootSportsMedia: No, it's Michael Penix, Caleb Williams, Drake May, JJ McCarthy, Bo Nicks is the fifth there. Am I missing one? It's for sure those five. Neil Barrett: I feel like I mean Dra Drake would be would be high on that list. I don't know how I feel about Caleb Williams. @HootSportsMedia: Caleb Williams is better than Drake May. Neil Barrett: Positionally. @HootSportsMedia: That's the truth. Neil Barrett: Positionally maybe so. Who's gonna win more of them? @HootSportsMedia: Caleb Williams. Drake May's team had an easy schedule last year. He absolutely fumbled in the AFC Championship game. In fact, the only reason he scored a touchdown was because Jarrett Stidam, our backup, fumbled the ball and gave it to him on the eleven yard line, I think it was. He couldn't even cross midfield on his own. Yeah. I mean he got A. J. Brown this year, so that should help, but Caleb Williams has looked better in almost every facet. Neil Barrett: Again, I'm not disagreeing with with the idea that Caleb Williams is a better quarterback. @HootSportsMedia: Are you a closeted Patriots fan? Is that what's happening here? Is that what's happening here? Neil Barrett: God no. Do you know what it was like to live up there? gross. Gross. @HootSportsMedia: Hey, hey, Drake May's a very nice person. Alright, him and Bo are great friends, allegedly. Neil Barrett: I I do like Drake May and it is hard to root against him. Also, also, Drake May, North Carolina kid, hard for me to root against him, even though he did go to North @HootSportsMedia: Okay, that okay, here we go. Neil Barrett: Carolina. Even though he did go to North Carolina, and that makes it a little bit easier. And and he's the brother of Luke May, who I freaking hate. I don't hate, because again, seems like a very good dude, but hated him. as a Carolina basketball player. so that makes it a little @HootSportsMedia: He he was a basketball player. Okay. Okay. Neil Barrett: Yeah, yeah, his brother Luke was a basketball player at at Carolina. but yeah, I mean, you know, from from Charlotte. So, you know, he's got that going for him. @HootSportsMedia: Alright. You're you're allowed to like him, but he wears a Patriot logo on his jersey, so I will not be liking him. For now, unless they unless they want to hire Neil Barrett: That he does, that he does. No, and I and I and I don't @HootSportsMedia: me, in which case. Neil Barrett: Ayy, I might then my loyalties are for @HootSportsMedia: Hey, at that point, hey Neil Barrett: sale. @HootSportsMedia: Nah nah nah. We're we're still gonna be loyal, just on the low. Neil Barrett: by the way, d I I don't think we've ever talked about this. Do you know that my sister is a is a big Denver Broncos fan? @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, that's why she's the coolest sibling in your family. Neil Barrett: No, no. She cheered for the Denver Broncos in the Super Bowl against the Carolina Patriots Panthers. I was like, are you @HootSportsMedia: See, she's smart. She's smart. Neil Barrett: Are you kidding me? @HootSportsMedia: She saw what was about to happen and she's like, I gotta be on the right side of history here. I get it, I get it. you know. Neil Barrett: So the story is, not not the story, I mean this is what happened, but the story is that she got stationed in Germany, married a guy who was in the army, she was in the Air Force at the time, and got pregnant, and he got orders to Colorado, and she got orders to Missouri. She was like, that is that's not gonna work. I can't be that far away from my husband and the father of my baby. So she got out of the military. anyway, he was from Montana and he was a big Denver Broncos fan. So he just started, you know, as one does, he was watching Broncos games and she became a a Broncos fan. and yes, that is in in air quotes for anyone who's listening and not watching. And that's just like her thing now. She's a Broncos fan now. And I'm like, mind @HootSportsMedia: Yep. Neil Barrett: you, they're they're divorced and he has no contact with his kids. I'm like, what are you doing, dude? @HootSportsMedia: That's tough. That's tough. But at least she gets to support Bo Nicks when he plays football. That's a life well lived right there. Neil Barrett: But I'm like, that was the whole reason. And now now that reason is gone. What are you doing? @HootSportsMedia: Yeah, but now she's loyal. She's loyal to the brand. That's what we like to see. Neil Barrett: This is also to be to give you a a little bit of an illustration. This is also my sister claims that she's a Carolina fan, even though she couldn't name two players that ever played for Carolina. and yet when she got a dog, she named it Duke. And I was like, what what are you doing? You can't you can't be a Carolina fan and name your dog Duke. That's not a that's not a thing. @HootSportsMedia: I don't know, you love your tar heels, so you know, I think that goes both ways. Neil Barrett: All right. There won't there won't ever be another episode of Durham. We're just ending it here. We're ending it here. geez. All right. That is all for this week. If you enjoyed this episode, the Lax Lifers Club is where our community lives between episodes. It's a Discord for fans watching lacrosse year round, not just when the PLL championship is on. AKA O'Lifer. The link to join us is in the description. Across social media, you can find me at I Am Neil Barrett and Brandon at Hoot Sports Media. If you haven't yet, rate and review the show on whatever platform you're listening on. It takes about 30 seconds and it genuinely helps people find us. But with that being said, we will be back not next week, but the week after that, after the PLL championship. So until then, we'll catch you guys in the comments.