Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - Live From Christie Pits: Toronto Mike'd Podcast Episode 1531

Episode Date: August 4, 2024

In this 1531st episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike records live from Christie Pits during the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball game after throwing out the first pitch. Elvis co-hosts as they chat with Ben Rayner, Stro, Blake Bell from Today in Dave Stieb History, Lesley Taylor, Rick A., and Ruth K. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, Ridley Funeral Home, The Advantaged Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada, The Toronto Maple Leafs Baseball Team and RecycleMyElectronics.ca. If you would like to support the show, we do have partner opportunities available. Please email Toronto Mike at [e-mail]

Let's go, batter up! We're taking the afternoon off! It's a beautiful day for a ball game, for a ball game today. The fans are out to get a ticket or two, from Walla Walla, Washington to Kalamazoo It's a beautiful day for a home run But even a trip was okay We're gonna cheer and boo And raise a hullabaloo At the ballgame today Welcome to episode 1,531 of Toronto Mike. Proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery.

A fiercely independent craft brewery who believes in supporting communities, good times and brewing amazing beer. Order online for free local home delivery in the GTA. DTA. Palma Pasta. Enjoy the taste of fresh, homemade Italian pasta and entrees from Palma Pasta in Mississauga and Oakville. The Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team. The best baseball in the city outside the dome. We're recording live right now at Christie Pitts. Woo, I just threw out the first pitch. More on that at a moment.

Recycle my electronics dot C a committing to our planet's future means properly recycling our electronics of the past and Ridley funeral home pillars of the community since 1921 today. Live from Christie Pitts where the Toronto made beliefs are taken on the Guelph Royals, it's my friend Elvis. Welcome back Elvis. Hey, what's up Mike?

How you doing? It's been a while. Let's, well since Festivus. Yeah, I guess so. It's like six, seven months ago, I guess. Oh my God, time is flying. Okay, so you're very well known Elvis to the OG FOTM's out there. We just met a couple.

We'll talk to them later They will remember you because they've been listening for 10 11 12 years to this podcast and most recently you're the Strange guy who visits on Festivus Oh Oh Canada's playing like are we obligated to shut this down and and sing or can we keep? We can carry on right they carry on like professional broadcasts.'Canada is going on. They usually go to commercial break. Do they? Okay, we're going to a commercial break. I was kidding. All right, so tell us, who the heck are you, Elvis? Who are you? Just let the new listener... Do I really have to do this?

Yeah, like just give us a little... I got criticized in the past because I have this episode and they go like, who the hell is this guy? You didn't tell us who he is. I feel weird talking during the anthem. Do you? I don't think my mics are going to pick it up. Like, if my mics could pick it up, I'd let it go. My ears pick it up. Okay. Well, everybody, the anthem, I'm going to do play by play like a whisper respectfully. So Oh Canada is playing. I was just on this field. So Elvis, after we find out who you are, we're going to paint a picture of this scene today at beautiful Christie pits here in Toronto. And we'll talk about what I did. And your son was

on the field when I did it. and we'll kind of describe exactly what happened before this recording who's singing the anthem. Can you see the singer? No, I'm trying to find my son. He was on the just have your son and his buddy. Oh, but they're not there now. This is lost his children at Christy Pits everybody, but my kids are missing to Monica doesn't seem worried. She's here beside me here. So there they are. Alright Elvis, we can talk now. The anthem's over. Who the hell are you? How long have I known you for? I've known you. We met in a professional capacity in say 2006 I would say and then that professional relationship turned into a friendship. A romance? We've

known each other for a long time, almost 20 years. 20 years and two years, I guess. And you're like famous for your Festivus episodes. Yeah. I don't know how many we've done, probably seven or eight, I guess. Well, it's not Festivus unless you pay a visit. So that's a long drive as we've done it on Festivus

every single year except for this past one. This past one, we did it on the 23rd. I can't remember why. I don't remember. You had something going on. Some conflict on the 24th. But you're a busy man because you play Santa on the 23rd. I can't remember why. I don't remember. You had something going on. Some conflict on the 24th. But you're a busy man because you play Santa in the malls. Yes, but the restraining order prevented me from doing that this past year. Yeah, so yeah, we've known each other since like we've been married and kids I think right because I want I went to

your 20 years you were at our wedding Monica is like I can reach out and touch her there I touched her right I might have I might have been just married or going to get married when we first met we weren't obviously you know close enough to have you come to our wedding but if I got married now you wouldn't want that if I got married now you'd be at the wedding okay that's amazing about that so what are the odds of a second marriage that game? Now like who would be there and who wouldn't bunch of people would be cut and then you'd add new bright Yeah, for sure. Yes, cuz either they're dead or you want them to be dead, right?

I shout out to Ridley funeral home proud by the way, but the official funeral home of Toronto Maple East baseball Do you know that was it really cuz I know I know you don't listen to Toronto Mike. So Okay, so funeral home of Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. Do you know that? Oh, is it really? Cause I know, I know you don't listen to Toronto Mike. So, uh, okay. So okay. Elvis is yelling at his son. If you want to eat something or whatever, just let me know. Okay. Oh, that's a good deal. Get some dogs. Okay. So let's set the table though. Elvis paint the scene. Now the music we hear in the field, uh, they're playing country music today. This is country music day. Perfect. Perfect. It's a perfect day for me to be here since I love country music so much

Well, I was thinking here like oh, yeah, let me do it now So I was thinking do I like country music and I do like a bit but here's a question Elvis. No, it's not Is this a country song? It's not a country song. It's a little bit of flavor to it. It's called Boots are hard Yeah, and it's kind of got a country flavor. Sure. It's got flavor, sure. It's got country flavor. So you say this is not a country song? No, because it's a rock band doing it. I mean, is Beyonce a country artist? No, but she can make country music. Ray Charles made country music. Yeah, I don't know.

Wait a minute. I'm going to say no. I'm saying no. It's not country music. But, uh, Yay or Nay, great song or the best song? Is it a good song? It's a great song. Great song. The best song they did? No.

No, no, but it's a great song. Great song. Absolutely great song. Okay. So let's paint this picture of what we're seeing now. Cause you're, when was the last time you were at the Toronto Maple Leaf baseball game? Uh, it would be two decades ago. Early 2000.

It's been a long time. Or, or, yeah, early 2000. Paint a picture. You used to call, uh, sporting events for a Western Western radio you were kind of famous for calling football games. Is that what you were calling football? I did some hockey soccer Yeah, okay, so paint a picture. I'll close my eyes Christie Pitts is such a unique venue because it's really a

True baseball park in the middle of the city. I mean, you could walk five minutes from here, 30 seconds from here and feel like you're in the middle of a bustling downtown city, certainly on a long weekend that we have here. But you come into this little nook of the park and Christie Pitts is is sunken beneath the street and so there's hills on the left field and right field side and they're filling the hill where people sit and watch the game and we're in straightaway center with you know there's community center behind us along with some parks and stuff where

but all left of center we're pretty damn close to center pretty damn close to with, you know, there's community center behind us, along with some parks and stuff. But all- Left of center. We're pretty damn close to center. Pretty damn close to center. I've lost my bearings. Yeah, we're in center field. And so it's just like a really lovely community park,

but it's a full diamond. We've got, you know, full length fields, got lights. We've got a scoreboard. I thought you were gonna sing okay, Blue Jays for a minute. We got the diamond. We got the it really is a gorgeous gorgeous. I don't know what, how do you like a diamond within? It's a diamond in the rough. Okay. This is a, a gem in the middle of the city. It really is. I mean, I'm not sure what other teams play here, but whoever gets to play here is incredibly lucky. Okay. So there's a place got it. Okay. Oh, they could use a little

bit of a, so he, so error throwing a first by the third baseman. Did you see that? So this is semi pros. You get a pretty good caliber ball, but you also get plays like that. Right? So it's like, these are guys either trying to catch somebody's attention to get like a personal try, like a try out so they can get back to the majors. Or these are guys who are like on the other side of their career where they're just playing some semi pro ball ball because they want to play some baseball like that like the Butler brothers did it's a lovely lovely mound and yeah, Rob Butler I believe still has the All-time batting he does I did 500 in the season didn't yes he did almost 500 and then his brother Had like with one game left in the season had the record Rich Butler

And they asked him if he wanted to like sit and he said no I want to go I want to play and I think he went what did he say he went like one for four and he ended up you know losing the record and his brother got to keep it but Rich told us that story last time I recorded live so Elvis I just hard to talk about this myself because it just happened but what did you witness you and Monica on the sidelines watching me throw out the first pitch well I threw out the first pitch in this game I mean there was a good and bad the good was you were really kind enough to bring out some kids my son included as well as one of my son's friends is here

with us they're sitting here right beside us on a blanket watching the game they play they play rep baseball together in 10 you and so they're they just finished up their regular season and they are heading to the playoffs next year so or next weekend excuse me so they're here as well but we saw you throw out the first pitch you brought out a couple of kids your kids my kids and I mean what what would be the score the score on that pitch would technically be a wild pitch I believe because no no no that's nonsense The score on that pitch would technically be a wild pitch, I believe, because-

No, no, no, that's nonsense. No, hold on. I can get Tobias Vaughn over here. Rick A, who witnessed it as well. It's technically a wild pitch, I believe. I could be wrong, because you bounced the ball before the plate. A wild pitch means that it gets by the catcher.

I believe, though, that- He caught it in one bounce. That's not a wild pitch. I believe it's a wild pitch. It's a low, it's a ball. If you throw the ball and it bounces before the plate, I believe that is technically a wild pitch. I believe it's a wild pitch. It's a low, it's a ball. If you throw the ball and it bounces just for the plate, I believe that is technically a wild pitch. A wild pitch means someone advances

because it gets beyond the catcher, right? I don't think anybody has to advance for it to be a wild pitch. Okay, I think that's crazy. If you do a Ricky Vaughn just a bit outside and no one's on base, that's still a wild pitch. I don't think so. I think it's just a ball.

You don't think it's a wild pitch? I think a wild pitch, somebody has to advance. All right. You can Google that. Okay. Let me bring in Jarvis though, who was on the mound. So I get right. Uh, well you mentioned your son was on the mound with me. I had a collective. I took Tobias Vaughn's son. So he's a good FOTM. He's here. They, okay. Oh, they call them safe at second stealing second. My goodness gracious. There's no video reviewing this. Okay. We're both wrong on them. Okay. Elvis explain that. And then we're going to talk to you. You're going to talk on this mic, but let's hear from me first

That's my son Jarvis everybody in baseball a wild pitch is charged against a pitcher when his pitch is too high Too short or too wide of home plate for the catcher to control with ordinary effort, right? Thereby allowing the base runner or the batter absolutely dance, right? So you're also wrong No, that's what I said has you asked to advance But you said that it was in a wild pitch if it was too short. It bounced before the plate. No, the catcher caught it. I need somebody else who witnesses this.

Yeah, he did touch it. It bounced before the plate. Yes, but the catcher caught it, so no one's advancing on that play. But, listen, you're wrong. They didn't get to the backstop. I admit that I'm wrong that it's not a wild pitch because he caught it. But it was way short of the plate. It was a ball. It was a way true. Okay, so Jarvis. It was on the mound

What was a shitty pitch? Tell us Elvin Jarvis. Okay. Yeah, so you threw the pitch like on like almost like on the ground But like he like caught it something like it like I think I like bounce, you know I'm throwing off the mound so it was a little low, but I threw it in pretty hard It did bounce just before the catcher. He caught it on one bounce, would have been called a ball. But I think if there was a batter, he would have swung wildly for that pitch and missed it. It would have been a swing.

Not have swung out. Really? Who's swinging out the ball that's bouncing before the play? OK, but then Rob Butler caught my ball. I did wave off. He had he wanted me to throw my my slider, my Dave Steve slider. And I shook it off. I said, and then I finally said, I'm going to throw the heater. I did throw off. He wanted me to throw my slider, my Dave Steve slider, and I shook it off. I said, and then I finally said I'm going to throw the heater. I did throw it a little low. Like I said, I think of a batter was up. He would have swung a miss. What do you want, Morgan? Oh, I love you, Morgan. Give me a kiss. Okay. But he did sign the ball and I have it here. So I threw the first pitch. That's exciting. Elvis, I'm going to play a song because I want to ask you about an artist.

And then we're going to have a lot of fun here today. So we are going to discuss this band right here. Oh boy. This song, I think we've talked about this in the past. This is the definitive montage. Like if I'm making a montage of sporty moments, maybe including my, you know, ceremonial first pitch today, I'm going to set that video to Aerosmith's stream on. What's it really? You are. Let's say you. I'm going to set that video to Aerosmith's stream on. What say you? Oh really? You are? What say you?

I'm surprised. I can picture in my head great sporting moments, emotional moments on the field set to this song. I feel like this would be best if you're the montages of a team or a player losing something, right? You're wanting, they lost it and they're dreaming for more. Yeah. Right? Regardless, this is our montage time.

Because we are the champions would be, you know, what you would play if you won. Yeah, and I'm a loser by back, so you'd be playing with me. Okay, so Elvis, did you hear the news? Nice. Aerosmith is no longer touring. Have you ever seen them live? Oh yeah, I've seen them probably three or four times. You know what's funny, I just heard that

on the news yesterday that Steven Tyler's vocal chords are not allowing him to go out on full tour. It's sad. It's sad. Would you sing the song with me? I feel emotional. I'm not singing the song. You feel emotional. I'll sing it with you. Oregon's like, I want to hear it. I'm like, I don't have a pair of headphones for you. Mine barely work here. How are things? People want me to check in with you, Elvis. How is your health? How are you feeling? Are you having a good summer?

Yeah. So your wife was asking me that. we were talking about the summer and it's busy Well, all three kids are in sports dance baseball You're in soccer Yeah, so it's it's a busy busy summer August will be a little bit lighter as things start to wind down a little bit for us But it's been busy my son's on travel baseball. So we've been all over The greater GTA and beyond. I was talking to Rob up there about your son.

Yeah. He says you got to say first name and last name. You can't just call him by his first name. Oh yeah, he's one of those things. So Elvis, we're going to cycle in some people in the third mic. You and I are going to chat them up and then I have some bits. I call these greatest bits. These are like, you and I are going to chat them up. And then I have some bits. I call these greatest bits. These are like, you know how you and I love to talk about doing it live. You know, I'm going with it. Eff it. We'll do it live. And then we'll do a live bucket. We'll do a live. So I've, you know, again, are we allowed to say that? Yeah, I guess so. I mean, it's a family environment, but I can drop

F bombs. That's okay. We can drop that. So Rick, here's we're gonna go here. We're going to do Rick. I need another person. So get out of here. Stick this on. This is the elevator man, Rick A, here's Rick A, no, here, we're gonna do Rick A, I need another person, so get out of here, stick this on. This is the elevator man, Rick A, he's a great FOTM. We're gonna get him on the mic so you can talk right on that thing. The bad guys are winning 1-0 right now, still in the top of the first, looks like. Okay, keep us updated. Do you know we scored a...

There might have been a pitching change. Already? I think so. Maybe he... Or at least Rob went out there. Well, you know, we got... I can't imagine that. We scored 22 runs yesterday. Did they change pitch 22 runs yesterday. Yeah, it's like, no, they didn't change. No, they didn't. It just had a conversation. Rick, you witnessed the first pitch.

Okay. I, uh, Elvis and I were talking about my ceremonial first pitch. Can you in as much detail as you can share, what did you witness when I was on the mound throwing out that pitch? The crowd was deafening. It was, it was very hard to concentrate. Now you've lost all credibility. And how you doing, buddy? I'm doing great, Mike. It's great to be here. Is this the first time you've been on Toronto Mic'd microphones? I've come close a few times, but today is the first day I'm talking live.

How come you've never dropped by a TMLX event? You live in South Etobicoke? That is correct. Unfortunately, the days don't always work out for me. I'm hoping to make it one of these days. It's good to know you're real. Okay. Even though at some point I biked over some stuff for you, what did I drop off? Do you remember? A fantastic Toronto Mike sticker. Oh my God, yes.

From sticker you. Amazing. So just because Elvis and I were discussing, he said it was a wild pitch. I just want your honest assessment. I stand corrected. I stand corrected on that. It was a shitty pitch, but it wasn't wild by definition. In terms of being up on a mound, probably for the first time ever like that, right. The pitch was pretty quality. It was down, down the middle. It bounced in,

but maybe you shouldn't have shook off that first. Rob Butler took it on the one. You're right. It was a little low cause it bounced, but then Rob Butler caught it easily on the one bounce It wasn't a Baba booey. You shook off the first pitch first request. I think Shook off the second call to Rob couldn't couldn't sell me on what he wanted. I'm like Mitch Williams up there But I think three of us Taped it all from the same angle. So we'll be posting that. Oh good. We didn't plan that very well Well, you know what? That's true. You guys could have separated there. I look forward to reviewing the tape. I want to know like there's a booter tape

It's gonna be But good thanks for being here Rick. It's good to see you and I really do hope you can make it I think we'll have the next TML X event at Palmas kitchen, which is in Mississauga But they will be back at the brewery like I don't know June maybe June I think we'll be back at Great Lakes where we're gonna go. That's far. Is that far? I don't know. I gotta plan these things out. When should I have the next TML X Elvis? I don't even know what that is Oh my goodness, this is a business already random letters

So we're gonna give up your mic Rick Your account of things you got me in glad I finally got to be. Okay. Yes. Okay. Come on in. So we're going to give up your mic, Rick. Good to get your account of things. Glad you got me in. Glad I finally got to be on your show live. Are you leaving now? Yes. Yes.

Thanks to do this afternoon. But I'm honored you were here, man. You witnessed something that will never happen again. Toronto Mike throwing out the first pitch at a professional baseball game. Well done. Well done. Thanks for being here, buddy. Take care.

My pleasure. Watch your headphones. Okay. We're going to... This gentleman here. So Elvis, do you know the name Jesse Hirsch? Yeah. What do you know about Jesse Hirsch? Uh, I've seen his name in a chat that I'm in. Right there. I feel like I should know more about who he is. Oh, you know what?

Yeah, I'm in chat. But I don't really know who he is. So Jesse Hirsch used to be on CBC all the time. That's it. He's an interesting guy. Sure, that's it. Good writer, but he also is a farmer now. Like, he moved...

He just, like, he's a city guy who moved to the country and now he's a farmer. What does he farm is a farmer now. Like he moved. He just like a, he's a city guy. You moved to the country and now he's a farmer. Like what does he farm joining me now? I can't remember a thing about you. So, so I'm, uh, I'm Jesse Hershey's friend from, uh, from childhood, basically high school. What's your name? Uh, it's a stroll one Marcus Stroman. Nope. Just Strow STRO oneT-R-O-1. Okay. It's my actual name is Gregory Meister, but it went from Meister to Maestro, just to Strow and I'm not a Strow. And so as far as I know, Jesse is farming goats and things. Like real, like animals. He has to kill these animals at some point, right? I don't think he has to. I think maybe he's like...

You eat these things. I think he's farming them for a circus. Is that right? No, I'm joking. Okay, no, you know what? You had me there. You had me going this... I'm so gullible.

I'm like, oh, that makes sense. Is there still circuses out there? Just goat circuses. Maybe it's like the Riverdale farm, right? Like the petting zoo. Yeah, it's like that. You know, I think we'd have to reach out to Jesse. Jesse was scheduled here, so the last TMLX event, which was on June 27th, Jesse was scheduled earlier that day to come back to the Toronto Mike Studios and he was under the weather and he had to cancel the whole trip, so he couldn't come

to TMLX or come back to the basement But at some point he will return and we'll find out exactly what the hell he's doing on that farm Yeah, so I'd like to know myself. Did he get fired or quit CBC? Do you know? Oh, yeah He told this story in his debut. It was not his decision. Gotcha. It never really is is it they stopped calling him political reasons now gotcha of course he is a revolutionary thinker and I think that's problematic he wants to AI to do everything no I don't think he wants to do everything but I think I think he wants AI to be managed ethically if that's a if that's possible

right we I think we know it is the question who the ethical manager of it ethically if that's possible right? Well who manages it is the question. Who is the ethical manager of it? People say that all the time about social media and different things and I'm not trying to bust your balls here or anything but someone has to do that. Who are you and who are we empowering to do that? That's a scary thing. I don't want anyone to do that. I would like to nominate Jesse Hirsch as the Minister of Ethical AI. It works for me. It's good to have FOTM's in high places. Okay, so, Strow 1, what's your story? You know, it's funny because Jesse said, hey, I got a buddy, can you drop by and jump on the third mic? And I'm like, yeah, absolutely, send him over.

And then I completely forgot about it. Like, you have to remind me of everything. You played professional hockey. I had a cup of tea with a professional team. But I'm more of a... They paid you in tea. Yeah, they paid me in tea. I did it. I did it. You know, I started playing hockey really late in my...

I'm a big sports person, right? My first love was soccer, but then I immigrated to Canada and fell in love with hockey and baseball. From where? I was born in Poland. Oh yeah. In Gdansk. Beautiful. And I came here when I was 10.

Getting from out of the, behind the iron curtain there. And yeah, I started playing hockey at about 12. Fell in love with the game and made it to a pretty high level here, but never made it pro. And then I realized, you know, cause hockey hockey's one of those big, big learning curve kind of things to master, right? Takes, uh, takes a lot of ice time to master as everybody knows. It's a,

it's a hard game to play. Anyways, long story short, I didn't make it and I started playing beer league hockey and I actually started mastering the game, right? Because I never stopped playing and at 33 I decided to go give myself a shot of playing professional hockey in my hometown of Gdańsk, a pro team at the time. So you're here, but you're good enough that you can play pro in Poland. Right, because Poland is like a third tier, second tier kind of hockey country, right? It's not, they don't have a lot of ranks, they don't have a lot of players. So yeah, I was able to, I was playing in Canada, I was able to call up the coach, especially

having a place to stay with family there in Gdańsk. I was like, hey, I'm a Canadian, I was born here in Gdańsk, so you don't have to give up one of your import spots, I could play as a national. Yeah, you're domestic. Domestic there. Domestic brew. Gave me a chance. So I showed up a little late for training camp. I was not in great shape and that was the last cut on the team because this 18 year old kid that was just let go by San Jose, he was a late round pick for San Jose, came and wanted to play close to home and took my spot and the coach said I was an old horse.

So after spending training camp and preseason there, so I never really actually got to play pro but I got to be the last cut on a pro team and it was actually one of the best experiences of my life. Wait, so you never got in a game? I never got in a professional hockey game, no. What do you say Elvis? Is he a professional hockey player or have you never got in a game. I never got in the professional hockey game. No What do you say Elvis is he a professional hockey player have you never got in a game? I mean technically no, but you know made it through time as much a pro hockey player is true one Well, let's not say that much. Well, well, you know what? We got to get out on the ice

So I had a number of professional games we played that's fairly That's where I with the first pitch in a semi pro baseball game game. It's 3-0 Guelph, by the way. Bottom of the first now. Yeah, that was some messy baseball right there. You know, at the throw to first, not good, right? I think my wild pitch, as Elvis called it, was more accurate than that throw to first. But we're going to keep on.

I was told by an insider, the great Stephanie Wilkinson, that they played very late in Chatham last night they got 22 runs and she expects a very tired Toronto Maple Leafs team here today. If you're betting at home so Brian Gerstein I'm addressing you directly right now okay. Is there a line on these games? There must be some. Isn't there a line on everything? Somebody will take that bet right? Call Dan O'Toole. Hey I have a question for you. Yeah Mike. St Mike stro one isn't the law now in Ontario that you can have celebrities. I asked Dan about this He's not trying to like to ask them. Yeah, I asked him So is he he's basically doing this fully admitting that he's like not even a D less celebrity

He's doing this in the persona of he's an actor Playing this character. He's not there as Dan O'Toole but it says his name on the fucking screen well what do you say Strowman I'm not sure what the question you're not allowed to be a celebrity in Toronto to promote a gambling gambling use celebrities to do it right to promote their thing if you if you gamble too much call this number if you have a problem. I think that's an exception to the rule. Because Wayne Gretzky can't do his gambling commercials in Canada or Ontario anymore.

And those were, you know, the Connor McDavid, Wayne Gretzky's are not allowed anymore. And you can't get Jamie Foxx, right? But Dan O'Toole can. Right. So Dan O'Toole's admitting that he's not a celebrity? I think that's their argument. How do you determine if you're a celebrity? I mean, that's what I'm... Like, what's the criteria? What's the parameters of being a celebrity? I

think I'm a celebrity. I think Strow 1 is a celebrity. I think you Elvis, you're a celebrity. So Strow 1. Yeah. Again, I honestly I apologize that I don't remember the Jesse interaction other than I absolutely 100% wanted to talk to you. So you played pro hockey. Was that was there something else? Was there like a? Yeah, I mean, there's I got to that's not enough, but you didn't get in a game. You know what I mean? No. Well, yeah, I got into I got into preseason games. I got into preseason games right beside you, man. Oh, nice catch. And he's bigger than I am. So I'm playing with fire. So you know, the story is that I've kind of been on a crazy journey through life as an artist, as a broadcaster, as an athlete. And I do want to say that I didn't stop the love of hockey right there

and then. It actually fueled my love of the game and I doubled down on, you know, because you know what it made me realize Mike? The game is the same there's one game you're playing one game it doesn't matter what level you're playing at there's one puck and the game is the same and you do what you do on in that game at that time and that's why you can transcend levels if you really study the game have a have a good attitude and work hard towards your goals so I came back and I started like just becoming a beer league legend to a point where I started the beer league hockey Hall of Fame. Check it out BLHHOF.com or beerleaguehockeyhalloffame.com That is amazing. What's the nomination process? You just email us and

there's a committee and... This is a real thing. This is a real thing? Check it out BLHHOF.com or Beer League Hockey Hall of Fame.com. Beer League Hockey Hall of Fame.com. My podcasting partner and I. This is a guest, Mike. This is a guest. Fucking great. Shout out to Jesse Hirsch. You know, at first I thought it was Jesse Barfield who wanted me to get this guest. I was very excited, but it's Jesse Hirsch. Okay. So people can submit if there's a beer league legend, you should be in the hall of fame. Absolutely. And there's different categories. There's builders, there's teams, there's players, obviously there. There's a, yeah, check it out. It's all, it's all there on the website.

We haven't had a, we haven't had an induction ceremony for a while. There's been a lot of law going on between my partner in this endeavor. Chipy do blah. Who's also my name. One more time. Chipy do blah. Sounds so romantic when you say yes, he's a, he's a beauty. Hey, so yeah, we have a podcast called hockey night in beer league so if you want to kind of it's it's a bit of a lifestyle podcast now you know we talk about everything probably like you do

because you know sport is life and everything else encompasses that. Back to back guests who are polyamorous and and also pansexual back to back guests. Nice. I'm all about lifestyle can we can we just review who's in the beer league hockey Hall of Fame I have it yes Adrian Mizzi yeah he was the first inductee he's the traveling goalie I don't know if you've heard of the traveling goalie Adrian Mitzi but he's he's played hockey in over 50 countries he's in Guinness Book of Records for playing at the highest altitude hockey game and a legend and a builder of the

game. Can you continue with this wonderful guest because I'm gonna just go set up Ben Rayner and I have to get my kids some food. Sure. I will be back. You're in charge. You need a runner. And if I need to run the board I know how to do that. So you've got so then you've got Wales. I know we good Wales HC I'm assuming that's that's the Wales hockey club yeah legendary beer league hockey club okay ghetto blasters that's right yeah is that a team as well that's a team yeah okay cam punchy green yes let me let's just pause here and cam punchy green yeah yeah this he's a he went in as a builder, uh, ex Pat moved to New Zealand's 20 something years ago. Yeah.

And, uh, missed hockey, right? But he's not, he's not a high level player. Yep. Somehow started a league that's now turned into a developmental league for the pro and IHF and New Zealand teams. Oh, wow. Uh, and runs one of the coolest hockey leagues in the world. Like, and it's like a beer league, but they draft everybody, every team drafts

every year, you know, and there's, there's two tiers, right? There's like the, he, he basically started the coolest beer league because he missed playing, he missed hockey here in Canada and he started that in New Zealand so now there's hundreds of players, some of them have gone on to play for New Zealand, the IHF coming out of that league. Just a legendary player, also one of the sweetest guys in the world. Very cool. Yeah, very cool.

Shout out to Punchy. Andy Tanzer, it says here that he's probably the only player who's played on six continents. Yep, yep. He's a German player, a beer leaguer, just does whatever he needs to do to go play hockey anywhere in the world. And then someone like Schärer, only one name, Laurie. Laurie. Laurie Viscardis, yes. So this this guy's 70 years old never played growing up started playing in his like 40s and Still plays at 70 with kids in their 20s coming out of oh Junior and stuff like just for the love of the game You don't have to be great to love playing a sport and then the last two is Mike Mike Lalonde Mike Lalonde an official Ray Portelli

Yes, so Ray Portelli was a ref up at, uh, Etobicoke Ice Sports, uh, sadly passed away, uh, over, uh, during COVID. Uh, but one of the guys that, you know, there's reps that dial it in and there's reps that really engage the community. And, uh, uh, he was one of the good ones. And then, uh, yeah, Michael Alonde, basically that one was based on stats alone. This guy has like 3000 points in the SHL hockey. According to him.

Yeah, no, no, no. According to the, according to the league. No, cause when I played in the, like this level, there is stats on the website. Yeah, yeah, yeah. It's all, it's all tracked, right? So it's an exclusive club, Mike. There's eight people in the Hall of Fame right now. So far, we've only had two

induction ceremonies. The stories are pretty cool. It started in 2019, so I'm certainly not, I'm not throwing shade here or anything, but it seems pretty legit. Like the stories are cool. And did Stro- I'm sorry, I'm just catching up, but did you promote your podcast? So Hockey Night in Beer League? Hockey Night night in beer league and you haven't got a cease and desist from Rogers on that like they're okay with that title. Why wouldn't they be? It's not hockey night in Canada, it's hockey night in beer league. Completely different and somewhat the same but yeah. Go ahead. Lord Honickman, what do you say about that? Too close for comfort? Listen, I would love to piss off Rogers like whatever it's me too I mean, I mean I would love to change the culture of Rogers. Did you hear this story?

What happened to Merrick? Jeff Merrick was in Vegas Elvis you might know this story, but I heard this story Jeff Merrick's in Vegas covering the draft the NHL draft for Sportsnet as An official broadcast partner. He's told who's being drafted like about two minutes before they make the announcement right so he can get you know he knows who he's gonna talk to and he can do homework stuff it's just a nice thing they do but he was texting his buddy two minutes before the pick to say who it will be well this buddy and I won't name this name because I don't want any I don't want to call Lauren Honigman again But would be on Twitter and would tweet that a you know this

I mean so NHL caught wind pretty quick that he's getting tipped off Right Merrick on these picks and this apparently in the world of sports betting the world of day So that's a big no no the world of gambling I put I just went over there and put 20 bucks on the Trombe Beliefs to lose because I heard about the late night Stephanie Wilkinson said they had a late night last night in Chatham. Hold on, PopFly right in front of us. And he's got it right in front of us. Routine catch.

Routine fly out, okay. Good. Caught by number four. But Jeff Merrick was basically sent home, like he did his interviews for day one, they sent him home and terminated him. So Jeff Merrick's available to join our podcast. 100%. By the way, I used to work with Lauren back at City TV.

I'm dropping the name Lauren Honigman here and this guy worked with Lauren. Yeah, I used to work at City TV. So who else did you work with? Did you ever work with? You name it. Okay, Peter Gross. Yep. Howie. Howie, oh my god, yes. Jim McKinney. So who else did you work with? Did you ever name it? Okay, Peter Gross. Yep Let's howie howie. Oh my god. Yes, Kenny Jim McKinney You know, I have a great story speaking to Rogers speaking to Rogers and Howie the day that chum got bought out by Rogers

Yes They took us down to the campus from City TV. They put us on the bus. So Jimmy and I are sitting together. Yeah and he starts telling me the story about, uh, being in the, uh, he's like, if this was our bus in a day, back in the day, when he was on the leaves, he's like, there'd be a cold case of beer on this bus, right? Like you never had a bus ride without cold beer on it. Did you know what you are going to? Yeah, yeah, yeah. We knew that that

sale was going through, right? When Bell and Rogers, we just happened to land. That's when Rogers had to sell CP24 to Bell Media. Yeah. Okay. But they kept City TV. So how long is it? So why did you leave? That was the day they just said, we don't need you anymore? Or did you ask? No, no, no, no. We stayed, like, I went through the turnover. I ended up working there at Young Don't Ask Square for a year before the first round. Amazing. The first round of layoffs and I took a package.

Harold Hussain, did you work with Harold Hussain? Oh my God, Harold and I were very close. I actually have a lot of his Calypso music on CD. How do you not have this guy on already? I didn't, Jesse Barfield, sorry, Jesse Hirsch. Jesse Hirsch. The commish. Exists. So do you know the name guy on already? I didn't, Jesse Barfield, sorry, Jesse Hirsch. Hadn't yet told me. The commish. Exists.

So do you know the name Ben Rayner? Okay, Ben Rayner wrote about music at the Toronto Star forever. Beloved FOTM. He's only here for a short time. I gotta put him on the stage, Mike. And then we're gonna do Greatest Bits, Elvis. Here I am slapping you.

So, give us final thoughts like your, who's the guy who did the final thoughts? Jerry Springer. Jerry Springer. Give me Jerry Springer final thoughts like you're, who's the guy who did the final thoughts? Jerry Springer. Give me Jerry Springer final thoughts. Stroh's final thoughts. It's always good to get on the podcast and I hope, you know, I find the way to connect again and maybe I'll have you on Hockey Night and Beer League

and definitely on People Like Us, which is a new podcast that's gonna be coming out when I figure out how to do this podcasting thing again because I set it up I'm happy to help you thank you very much mike hey you sound like a good guy I like you already you too there's lots of stories to tell I do want to I do want to show one thing out if you want to know a little bit more about my story what's been happening lately in my life, and the world of hockey in this country, I just went to the North for over a month last year. The Berry? No, like, I went to Tukta Yaktuk.

Oh, that's where Metallica played. Arctic Ocean. But I went on a journey with a guy named Ronnie Shuker, he's got a book coming out this fall called Our Country Our Game. And it's the same kind of stories, you know, not the elite pro controlled corporate hockey, but the real hockey community stories about our country and about the game. So you get to read that book, Our Country, Our Game

by Ronnie Shooker. Okay. And maybe we'll have a chat another time. Yeah. Listen, you're now an FOTM. That means friend of Toronto Mike. What a pleasure. If you do hang around after I cycle through some of these cats here, maybe I'll need to get you back. Who knows? Great. Yeah. I'm here with my kids just playing some ball, watching the baseball game. What's this? Oh, this is just fashion.

I thought it was the Bayside Tigers. That's where Zach Morris played. Oh, right. Okay, yeah, yeah, yeah. Elvis, did you watch, uh... I'm just letting you guys. Saved by the bell? You guys should really get a podcast.

Yeah. Nah, Merrick's taking my job, okay. Dude, take out the headphones, your mate. Wait, last, final five. One last side. One last thing. Jeff Merrick and Jesse Hersh and I went to the same high school. Fuck, which high school? Humberside. Chicken Ahoy, Chicken. Wait, last, final thought. One last side. Jeff Merrick and Jesse Hersh and I went to the same high school.

Fuck, which high school? Humberside. Chickadohoi, Chickadohoi, cha cha cha. OK, we're going to do this now, OK? So we're drinking Leafs Lager, OK? Leafs, so thank you for saying Humberside. Take off those headphones. Ben Rayner, get your ass on in here.

So Ben Rayner is going to join us, everybody. We haven't talked to Ben in a while. But here's the thing with Humberside. The owner of Great Lakes Brewery, his name is Peter Bullet. I know you can't hear bullet, Peter Bullet. That's good name. B-U-L-E-T. Okay. Good handle. Peter Bullet and Mike Lackey, Mike Lackey. They were best friends at Humber side collegiate. Okay. Which is very close to like,

I'm going to say Annette and clendenin that area there. My, my two oldest went to Humber side. so I know it very, very well. And my ex-wife went to Humburside, so a lot of connections there. But Mike Lackey became dear friends with Peter Bullitt, and then Mike Lackey is now the chief, what do you call it, the guy in charge of the brewing at Great Lakes Brewery. The brewmaster. The brewmaster, thank you. You know your words.

You know who knows words? By the way, Great Lakes is delicious, but we should shout out that we are not listening. We're not drinking great lakes today. It's pretty good. We're drinking a leaf logger from left field brewery, the official beer of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball team, Ben Rainer. Hello, pleasure. It is to see you. It is. It's been a while. I'm drinking. I'm drinking out of school today. Right in front of that. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Sound great. Yeah.

Elvis, have you met Ben Rainer before? You know, yes. I at one of these, one of these things, things when I wrote, when I basically walked to Mississauga and showed up 10 minutes to close. I think I might've been on the mic with him before. I can't remember. I remember now. I do remember now it was Paul in his kitchen. You and I were doing the same thing. That probably it and Ben Rayner popped on the third mic Ben Rayner has got some of the greatest pipes has a beautiful daughter This is my daughter Polly. Do you want to say hi real quick before? Let you visit Christie pits today this was all according to the bosses dictates because I am a sad

divorced dad these days and we don't have much time together and we like beaches. So we got to decide the beach. I love the beaches. They're friends of mine. But we were trying to decide on the

beach. So we agreed we'd go to the secret beach at Humber Bay West and route via Christie. Can you give me a little more detail unless you want to keep it a real secret? Only because I bike at Humber Bay West and route via Christie. Okay, can you give me a little more detail, unless you want to keep it a real secret, only because I bike up Humber Bay West like all the time. You know, I'm the man to talk to about secret places to swim. If you go, God, ruin it for everybody.

But if everybody listening for like on the on the west side of Mimico Creek, because the Humber Bay West has the two, the two sections. If you follow... Because the bridge, I kayak this bridge. Yeah, yeah. But you follow the path out, past the yacht club. Yes.

There's a rock beach way far out. People dive. Is this where they put up that silver monolith? Yes. Like, like a beyond that, though. You gotta go beyond the yacht club. Okay, I'm with you. And then it's kind of a dead end.

Yeah. But those rock beaches there are intensely swimmable. Obviously not after like immediate rainfall. But there's a wreck about a kilometer out that people die. The river they're swimming in in Paris. But yeah, yeah, yeah. Yes, exactly. In in Olympic terms, it's spotless.

OK, good tip from Ben Rayner So I need to know I was asking Elvis's earlier because we haven't heard from him in a while But we haven't heard from you in a long time. How the fuck is Ben Rayner doing? How are you? I'm okay. It's I've had I've had a weird year The last time you won you weren't identifying as a divorced dad No, I was I mean it's like separated from my common love. No, no it's been a lot of, I don't know, yeah I identify now as a divorced dad. Elvis doesn't understand, but I do, okay? You know what? Look at my eyes. I am also a divorced dad. I know you are. And I know, I know, it's been like a year and a week or two weeks. My whole life

kind of fell apart, but I have my kid. I have my kid because it was already falling apart yeah you've been with me for the whole collapse yeah maybe it's my fault no it's it's been weird it's like honestly this is I'm gonna do this because I'm gonna make the send them a link my my dad and my step mom were whacked by a drunk driver on the lot last weekend and nearly died so they're like still in the ICU. So I'm gonna send this out to Dad and Nancy, to Rob Rainer and Nancy. So I got, that was like the capper to a year.

What are their names? Rob Rainer and Nancy Rainer. When you said, when you said, whack though doesn't really fly that they were hit by a- That's like a hit man, right? Yeah, yeah, yeah. Were they targeted? Yeah, well, like unintentionally.

Oh dear. No, so- Were they targeted? Yeah, well, like unintentionally. Oh dear. No, so that was- Were they pedestrians? Yeah, I- Or were they in a car? My, it's so strange. I don't know if it was a car accident or if it was a pedestrian accident.

Was it a drive-by? I grew up in rural New Brunswick, where people drive drunk and there are no sidewalks. Right. So it's not uncommon for people to be, every year my high school yearbook or my junior high yearbook would have a memoriam to someone killed in a drunk driving or drunk voting act.

So that was like the capital. Shadow to the maritime. Yeah, yeah, hell of that. Atlantic Canada, come on. Okay, Atlantic Canada. That includes Newfoundland. Yeah, I'm including Newfoundland because I lived there too.

But yeah, so that's like. My buddy's parents were, they were driving out in New Brunswick and from there. Drunk? I don't, I won't even comment on that because I have no idea. Except that they ran into a moose That's like my buddy's parents were they were driving out in New Brunswick and strong from there I don't I won't even comment on that cuz I have no idea except that they ran into a moose and both died That's the me like I've hit a moose. It's part of life I it's everyone's hit him with I we hit a moose my my Ex's late step my ex's late father was driving. We hit a moose and he tumbled.

He was a young moose. The moose is the he? He tumbled as he was coming out of a ditch. So we didn't quite get the full impact and his face scraped along my window leaving us so live a trail. And even though we had screeched to a halt, it was like backing into a brick wall.

Like, it was crazy how heavy that moose was and we survived. If you hit a moose full on like you're dying you're dead you're dead. That's what happened to my buddy's parents. I don't know if you caught that because you were communicating to loved ones but my buddy's parents in New Brunswick driving night on the highway they're from there and they hit a moose and both died. Oh gosh. No, the highway between like Frederickton and St. John through the Ormachto military base actually has flashing cutouts of moose every 10 kilometers. To remind you.

And with the number of people killed on that stretch of road. Okay, so Robin and Nancy are still alive. Yeah, they'll be all right. But they're in the ICU. Yeah, it's gonna be, it's tough to be hit by a car when you're like 25. It's I think tougher when you're in the ICU. Yeah, it's gonna be, it's tough to be hit by a car when you're like 25. It's I think tougher when you're 77. Who was driving the car?

I have no details. It wasn't Elvis, was it? This is the weird thing, it was Elvis. Where? Elvis Presley, he lives in New Brunswick. Where, so it was happening in New Brunswick this time? Yeah. Oh, good.

Yeah, I have no details. Oh, didn't you have an Alibi? Yeah, yeah, it was in New Brunswick. You didn't leave North Oshawa? I have, yeah. Babe, do you want a dog? I have not. Okay.

Your kids want dogs, right? This is chaos here. I kinda like it. No, they don't want anything right now. Okay, they don't want anything right now. All the children are rejecting hot dogs. My daughter has a freezy. She seems happy.

Is the marriage, how do I say this with respect? Is the marriage, is it done? Or is there, you know, is that too raw? No, no, no, it's been a year. It's done. I'm like a good lookinglooking single dad now, so Have you I'm not gonna die alone yet No, no, but you know what here's the other like here's a shout out to my piece of shit landlord because who used the opportunity

Is that all of my ex Elvis is my of my my ex leaving the lease to try and Jack my rent 25% We knew very Toronto fashion and is now trying to evict me because I objected. So this is, I've had a very Toronto. Do they know who you are? Oh dear. Yeah, they don't know who I am. And they'll lose. But it's like, it's just been one thing after another.

And then my folks get. Yeah, but you're a survivor. I see you here with your beautiful daughter at Christie Pits. And I'm thinking you look happy. Yeah, no, I have, when I have my poly, it's the best. It's like a little vacation, you're a divorce I have when I have my Polly, it's the best. It's like a little vacation. You're a divorce day. When I have my daughter Saturday night to Tuesday morning, it's like a little vacation for me.

Ality and I love it and we're I'm all in like, wait, there's no sitting around the house on your devices or watching TV. Since she was like three months old, you and I, you know that we do adventuring. So we do something. Well, you're looking, you know, I I was worried you weren't gonna be here today because Polly's calling the shots Yeah, yeah, but she okayed it you okayed it right kid She's ignoring She has a enormous freezing Yeah, now as long as we get so we're doing two beach days. She's an hour. She has a friend a new friend

We made last weekend and at the beach So we're having two beach days. She has a friend, a new friend, we made last weekend and at the beach. So we're having two beach days. Can I play something before it? Cause I don't know how long we have you for Ben, but Elvis, this is really for you. So are you paying attention? Yeah, yeah, I'm paying attention.

So Elvis, cause I did say I loaded up a bunch of bits and a lot of these have swear words in it, but here's the first one I want to play. This is a kind of a bit we need to listen and then react, but let's play this. I don't pay attention to rumors. I don't pay attention to moving magazines. They don't read them because they're all junk. I don't mean to put anybody's job down. I'm talking about they have a job to do and they got to write something. So if they don't mean to put anybody's job down. I'm talking about they have a job to do,

and they gotta write something. So if they don't know anything, they make it up. So in my case, I make it up. But I hear rumors flying around, I got sick in the hospital. Well, I was, you know, in this day and time, you can't even get sick, you are strung out. Oh, by God, I'll tell you something, friend, I have never been strung out in my life except on music

When I got sick here in the hotel I Got sicker that one that had 102 temperature. They wouldn't let me perform From three different sources. I heard I was strung out on heroin. I Swear to God, hotel employees Jack, bell boys, freaks who carry your luggage up to the room, people working around, you know, talking, maids. And I was sick, I was, you know, I was getting, had a doctor, had the flu, and I met over one day, was I. But all across this town, I was strung out. So I told him earlier, and don't you get offended, ladies and gentlemen, I'm talking to somebody else. If I find or hear the individual that has said that about me,

I'm going to break your goddamn neck, you son of a bitch. That is dangerous. That is damaging to myself, to my little daughter, to my father, to my friends, my doctor, to everybody in my relationship with you, my relationship with up here on the stage. It is dangerous. I will pull your goddamn tongue out by the roots. Thank you very much. Thank you very much. Thank you.

I mean, I think in his defense, I can't recall there ever being a suggestion that he was on heroin. No, no, no, he's more of a- I'm for hiding of other substances. Yeah, I mean like he- More of a pill guy, really. He named the one drug that he didn't do.

I mean, he has a point. I'm not strung out on heroin today. He's totally playing to his basement too. I want to also shout out to his doctor, who is filling him full of drugs constantly. Was charged after he got... The whole idea, like, oh, I was strung out. I wanted to start with Elvis because I want to know Ben Rayner, who's been covering music forever for the Toronto Star.

We're going to find out what he's up to these days. But Ben, what are your thoughts on Elvis Presley? I have a lot of respect for Elvis Presley. I mean, he's just a cool customer. Anyone who could Terrify parents that much with a simple thrust of his pelvis Is like, you know, he's in my good books. He may have been appropriating another You know a culture that wasn't his own, but he sold it to the white kids. Yeah, that's right.

No, I like it. Who doesn't love Elvis? Elvis was Elvis. Elvis's biggest fan is to my left here, so that's the reason I call this gentleman, you know, his birth name is not Elvis. I call him Elvis because he's a massive Elvis fan. Well, I wouldn't say that I'm his biggest fan first and foremost, but two, I would say that, yeah, I mean, he's the king of rock and roll, whether you agree that he's actually

the king or not, he certainly plays a huge part in the history of the music that we love today. Whether it's fair or unfair, I think is, you know, we can argue about that, but he's the man. Oh, neither of us would be sitting here without Elvis Presley's influence, I guarantee. I mean, rightly or wrongly, he did a whole lot of stuff. There's a woman I just she has to share your mic though can you get right in front of this mic you can kiss Ben if you want he's single now by the way are

you single are you single? I'm hot too. This is so chaos. Okay can you bend down and just give tell us who you are you won't be able to you can only hear us out in the I don't have headphones for you but who are you? Ruth Kapilis. I was at a wedding with you. You were. You were at the Cam Gordon wedding. I was at the Cam Gordon. Am I close enough to the mic? You got to get right in there. OK, yes, I was. I've known him since I was 14 years old.

That's a mind blow, because I know you're from Twitter. But we've never met, right? Even though we were at that wedding, I biked away early. I had a long bike ride. It was a long ride. Because you biked like 40 kilometers. OK, so yeah, yeah, we're ordering you right on that mic Ruth Kapilus. Okay, Ruth Kapilus making her Toronto debut and what brings you out here? Are you here for the baseball game?

Yes, well, I'm on the board of Sabre Toronto, Hamlin's Point, so we're involved with IBL. Okay, I feel like Ben Rayner would be all over this and you said you know someone who's a bigger Elvis fan. I do. Yes, my friend Rachel is a bigger Elvis fan. She has been Yes, my friend Rachel is a bigger Elvis fan. She has been to Graceland once. She's going again. Have we ever met? Have we ever met?

You and Rachel? No, me and you. Maybe. What's your name? Were you at Cam Gordon's wedding? Well, I just think it's funny that she says that she knows someone who's a bigger Elvis fan than me, and she doesn't know who I am.

Well, who are you? Well, who are you? She's probably overheard it right now. And right now, she overheard it. I heard it as I walked by. I was trying to wait. Okay. But I mean if we want to have a competition I don't know how it would work and how we would prove it. Ruth Kaples can we get one Cam Gordon story before we say goodbye like do you have any Cam Gordon story? Well I have an amazing Cam Gordon story. Okay right on that mic for this. This is a hall thing. Okay so do you remember Ben Wicks the Be Nice Clear Your Eyes? Of course. Be nice clear your eyes a message from the city of Toronto So for some reason he got a full-size cardboard cutout of Ben Wicks Cam did this ham did this and he used to terrify his sister and I he would like hide it in the bed and in closet

that's amazing home and Find Ben Wicks would like pop out of the closet and I would like scream blue murder and run away Because you would think it was a person in there and then it was always you know I thought that makes like that's a cool story about cam you don't have anything less cool like I don't know I could you know something for the less cool that wasn't damaging no I know I think that makes cam look cool did you go to the Thornley is with Stu Stone of course yeah okay so you're the you're, okay, it's all coming to me now. So Stu Stone, Cam Gordon.

So you're too young to have gone with Gion Gomezchi, for example, or Noah Mintz. Or to be grabbed, groped by Gion. I know Noah very well. Did you ever date Gion Gomezchi? No, but I know Noah very well. I watch his dog for him sometimes. Gion?

No, Noah. But his brother Billy and I were there at the same time and Billy used to play guitar for me when I sang at something called Sway, which was some wonderful entertainment. Okay, do you know Hayden? Yes. Paul Desser. Yeah. Okay.

Okay, Ruth, I gotta talk to Ben before he disappears, but if you are hanging around later, I'll put you to sit down after Ben leaves because whenever Paulie has to get to the beach Ben's gonna take over. Okay Ruth Kapilis so nice to meet you you're now an FOTM friend of Toronto Mike we were at a wedding together but we didn't talk. Well you were working! Was I? Yes you were a DJ. I don't think was I DJ? I don't think I was. I actually don't think I was working that event. I was sitting beside Cam at

the big table. Oh the wedding ceremony yes was, I was working. You're right. Cam put me to work. Okay. So we're gonna put, okay, thank you Ruth Kapilis. Back to you, Ben. Amazing. Yeah, come back. I think my kid's about to run the bases with your kids. This is Elvis. His name is Elvis. Yeah, Elvis. Yes. Okay, he wants to talk. So Ruth Kapilis. So I was at a wedding with that woman, but that's actually the first time we met. And she's high school friends of Stu Stone and Cam Gordon for those following along at home. But, uh... I enjoyed that Cam Gordon story.

Yeah, uh, Ben Wicks? I hope he still has that Ben Wicks cut out. You remember the Ben Wicks? Be nice, clear your ice ads. Yes. He used to do those little things where he'd draw. Like, they were like interstitial things on CBC. My mom hated those so much. I'm a youngster. Oh, this is rubbish.

Poor Ben Wicks. 100% here, okay. No, I think I got time, because the fear is that your wife has taken my daughter off to. Is your headphones good? Mine are messed up too. You messed up my fucking headphones, man.

There we go, that's a little better. Okay, okay, that's better. So with all this recording, I learned these headphones are fucked, so one side doesn't work. And if you just touch this a little bit, neither side works. And then you need to start to go fund me now. You know what? Can, can you guys send me my, I know you just bought me a kayak, but I need headphones. There's a Ben, I need to tell you seagulls on the field. What are you at? The exhibition stadium. I got a kayak now that you fold up and you put in a backpack and I've been

kayaking Humber River and See, I'm a stand-up paddleboard guy. Okay, I find it very zen. Do you have to get the inflate that right? Yeah, it's a real pain in the ass. So mine is just a fold you fold it like origami and it's been amazing It was a gift from the listenership. What? Yeah. Okay, Ben Do you have a moment? Do you have time for me to kick out another one here? Kick out a jam. Kind of the godfather... I got nowhere to be. Like I said, I think your wife just kidnapped my daughter and she's running the bases.

At some point my wife... Go ahead. Did you have a purpose in playing that Elvis clip? Like, was there something you wanted to say about it? Just greatest bits. I had nothing to say except that it's one of the bits I collected. Like this one I'm going to kick out now, which is like the godfather of all these... Can you imagine...

That's tomorrow. And that is it for us today. Thanks. We'll come back to your thought there. Okay, I don't know what... Whatever it is, it's not right on the teleprompter. I don't know what that is. I've never seen that. No, there is. This is the best one. We are going to do Sting, yeah. Okay, but... I can't read it. There's no words on it. Okay. there's no words there to play us out what does that mean to play us out it's thing is going to do it's a video what is the correct i don't know what that means to play us out what does that

mean can the show yeah alright go go in 5, 4, 3 that's tomorrow and that is a in 5, 4, 3 that's tomorrow and that is it for us today and we will leave you with a I can't do it

we'll do it live it will do it live now but i don't like but i don't like i can't all right and i will do it live on it so much fucking things up uh... that's tomorrow and that is it for us today i'm bill o'reilly thanks again for watching will leave you with staying at a cut off his new album. Take it away. Two comments.

He was right to do it live. Two comments. Yeah, he said it on it live in the first place. What a professional broadcaster where you could go off that way, that much, and then just immediately change gears and do it properly. Right. And two, he's playing, like he's never heard any of these things that are being said to him. Like what a goof.

No, that's spectacular. He's fantastic. That reminds me of the video back in the day of actual like VHS, you know, like the Mr. Show underground videotape for hellra. But like the guy flaming out trying to do a Winnebago ad. I think they made it They made a documentary. That shit was like Amazing so angry just an update everybody

So Monica just informed me that my two my two youngest your child Ben Rainer and one of your three children Elvis and his buddy are gonna be running the bases. Oh, we're gonna be sitting here Is that a yes. I'm a better good video. They're they're getting it all set up. So these kids will be running the bases shortly. Did they grab them or they? Yeah, well, they were in line to get another beer.

Yeah, me too. Well, we get a leaf's logger for this. But this I got to say, so let's just moment here, Ben. And a moment, Elvis, to just paint in more pictures. So the sun is out. It's an absolutely gorgeous day. I see a bunch of people enjoying I mean we're down for nothing, but Well, you know, we had a few wrinkles there but we're in the third inning

I think I can see it's difficult the sun but looks like the third inning or nothing down for and Down for right and we have what is a beautiful, beautiful day. People on the hill. We got delicious leaf logger. I mean, I know my kids just had a hot dog and they looked really happy. They're all running the bases now. What a great Sunday afternoon. What was the cost of your ticket to be here, Ben? Absolutely nothing. And I've been bringing my when my daughter was like a an infant This was like an easy thing to do on a Sunday afternoon because it's a it's a free event Yeah, I want some baseball. Does your kid want to run the bases? I don't know

I can see Jarvis there right there walking I can see him right there and I know Monica's just took Paulie I see a posse of kids They're going to got just took Polly. I see a policy of kids They're going to run the base. Yes. Okay, so they say no they have chips They're cool for this. He can run real basis But this is like one of like Toronto's simplest pleasures I don't think a lot of people realize that you can just wander over here watch a baseball game every you know I I go to New York a bunch or used to anyway for work and I would always you know Ask people what we could do and stuff and and go to New York a bunch or used to anyway for work and I would always, you know,

ask people what we could do and stuff and and people in New York, I think are pretty consistent in saying the best free thing to do in New York is take the ferry from Manhattan to Staten Island. Yeah, well that's my my one of my go-to's is like just ride the ferry from like Toronto Island. Oh, yeah, it's the same thing. But this is this is this is up there. Yeah, that one's like seven bucks. It's one of the best things that you can do in the city for free. Beautiful. And it's easy even when you couldn't consume alcohol legally around here. You could easily consume alcohol illegally. In a Tim Hortons cup or something. Absolutely. Yeah you can now legally drink the beer in the park.

You're weak Mike. I like to lay it out there. My 40 answers. I'm looking in the, I see in the corner of my, Keith Stein is sitting, he's the guy in the white t-shirt sitting in there. He's the CEO of this team. He's the reason that, uh, Toronto Maple Leafs baseball is a great partner of Toronto Mike. And it's been a blast like coming out to these games, recording here, soaking it all in. It is absolutely one of the best kept secrets in the city. So our job is to make sure it's not such a secret.

I thought I was going to be calling the game with you. Well, you want to call this a bad year? Yeah. I don't have my contacts and I don't even know what's up. It's so hard to tell you what's going on. So thank you to Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. We've already shouted out Great Lakes Brewery because we were talking Humburside Collegiate

and that's where Mike Lackey and Peter Bullitt went and Jeff Merrick went there too that's where that story goes but Jeff Merrick did work for a week or two at Great Lakes Brewery I think just before he buried hello hey it's Leslie Leslie's here okay we got to get Leslie Taylor on soon oh she's got a hot dog everybody hey did you work with my nephew today, so my nephew is getting some help riding a bicycle and Leslie is giving him instruction like they met in Mimico and she was teaching him how to ride a bike. So more on that later with Leslie Taylor whose father should be in the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame and of

course her sister is one of the Baroness Vaughn sketch. She ever watched Baroness Vaughn sketch? I know. I love Baroness von Sketch. Okay, okay, okay. Leslie, who's to my right here, her sister's Carolyn Taylor. Oh. And she's the star of-

I'm gonna fanboy out now. Yo, Ben Rayner- That show is brilliant. Ben Rayner wants an autograph from you later. I don't want an autograph, just a hug. Okay, so, Palmapasta, I did bring this up last episode, but one more time,

I want to give my sincere condolences to the Petrucci family because Marcello Petrucci just passed away this past week and Marcello Petrucci was 100 years old, 100 Ben. Are we going to be 100? I probably won't live to be 100. I never know though. Maybe my innards are so toxic. You're out walking the city. You're out swimming in the ocean. Ocean. This is a fucking ocean.

You're swimming in the lake. It's an inland ocean. Yeah, thank you. It's ocean-esque. It's ocean-esque. But you do have a healthy lifestyle. I do. Do you shoot heroin into your bloodstream?

I don't. I've ingested a lot of things. I'm an old raver. I've done drugs you've never heard of, but I've never shot heroin into me. No. So you're doing the right things. You ever snort coke? That's your bar of doing the right things?

I've snorted so many things. I'm a dick. That's a pretty high bar. Have you snorted anything? I've done, like I said, I've done drugs you've never even heard of. Today? Yeah, today. I did like some 4FA on the way up here.

Now here I am trying to have a moment. I'm with my daughter. What kind of show? This is a family show. She's running the bases. She is about to run the bases. We'll be giving play by play of our children. Although Elvis's child has opted out

because he's too cool to do that. But I do want to say our condolences to the Petrucci family, Palma pasta, delicious, authentic Italian food. And I mentioned this off the top, but oh, here's the running the bases part. So this is happening right now. Very exciting. But Ridley Funeral Home, not just pillars of my community, but they are the official funeral home of Toronto Maple Leafs.

Oh my God, they're running the bases. So there's a guy of a Toronto Maple Leafs flag, and he's got a cowboy hat on because it's country music night. OK, these kids are running the bases. Hold on. Oh my god I'm gonna cry. Seriously Ben soak it in. Your kid is running the bases. Where is she? Which one's your kid? What color is she? She's like number two right behind your daughter. So Morgan's in that orangey top right there. My buddy, my buddy, Jarvis is my buddy but he's in the Toronto Maple Leafs blue cap kind of trailing there. This is happening right now Pink your daughter's in the pink. I think just an update on the game Guelph Royals player number 15 I think just went went to go take a pee

Don't you love that? They have to walk by us to take a piss. Yeah, it's it's the walk of shame So like live washroom updates. Okay, they only got to go around the bases once. I thought they might go for a second round, but that's pretty exciting. They look pretty happy. They run a tight ship here. What? Did you know, Ben, did you know

I threw out the first pitch? No, we were here, no! I think I was arguing with my daughter about where to sit. You didn't miss much. Yeah, was it a little bit of a, what do you call it? Salmon fist? Tobias Vaughn said I'm on the mound if it's a harder to gauge so you do throw it a little low Mine bounced just before the catcher world series champion as long as you didn't hit anyone in the nuts I feel like when 50 sent through his fucking right or Baba booey Baba booey

Okay, speaking of Baba booey because this was played many times on and I'm not behind you here. How is it once on? No, he's a show did you out Keith Stein everybody say hello of the Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. Yeah, and now they're talking It's for nothing for Guelph you know and we are Coming up to the top of the fourth. You know Keith. She told me? And we are coming up to the top of the fourth, I believe. Do you know what Keith just told me? I think your wife is hot or something. Yeah, I heard that. Is that what he said? Yeah. Your wife is smokin'.

I'm takin' her home. Your wife is beautiful and your children are beautiful too. So that's what he just said to me. So here it is. I want to play this one. So we played the Fuck It, We'll Do It Live, which is my favorite of those bits. So great. But this is my second favorite.

You ready guys? Oh yeah. Now, we're up to our long distance dedication. You want a beer? Yes please. Do you want a beer? I want a little bit. And a situation that we can all understand, whether we have kids or pets or neither.

It's from a man in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pets or pets or neither! Dear Casey, this may seem to be a strange dedication request, but I'm quite sincere and it'll need a lot if you play it. Recently there was a death in our family he was a little dog named snuggles but he was most certainly a part of let's come start again I'm coming out of the record play the record okay please see when you come out of those up-tempo goddamn numbers man is impossible to make those

transitions and then you gotta go into somebody dying. You know, they do this to me all the time. I don't know what the hell they do it for, but goddamn it, if we can't come out of a slow record, I don't understand it. Is Don on the phone? Okay, I want a goddamn concerted effort to come out of a record that isn't a fucking up-tempo record every time I do a goddamn death dedication now make it and I also want to know what happened to the pictures I was supposed to see this week this is a god last goddamn time I want somebody

uses fucking brain to not come out of a goddamn record that is that's up tempo and I got to talk about a fucking dog dying. Amazing. Fucking ponderous, man. I love ponderous too. Fucking ponderous. Oh yeah, non-stop music. Rick Deez, let me get that phone. Alright, you got a special request? Okay, I want a goddamn concerted effort to come out of a record that isn't a fucking

up-tempo record every time I do a goddamn deaf dedication. No problem. We'll play it for ya. Here's the deaf dedication. Okay,, we'll play it for ya. Here's the deaf dedication. Okay, so this has gone off. Okay, that recording I got from YouTube, I guess at the end they do something goofy there, because Rick Tease wasn't a part of this.

How was it, Pauly, to run the basses? You can say something. She's not shy. What was it like to run the basses? It was fun. He ran in circles, and I was the last one to go to the home. I'm the slowest slowest yeah, okay Everybody she was like taking it like a race

Coming here Morgan just say what it's like to run the business It was really fun. Okay, the opposite of shy you can say what it was like to run the best now She's not ready to become an FOTM. So a couple things is the gentleman this now she's not ready to become an FOTM so a couple things there's a gentleman taller gentleman here who is gonna pop on the mic after Ben and he runs the Twitter account today and Dave Steve history does anyone is anyone here familiar of that account I guess a great account and he's like a Dave Steve fanatic and you get this great daily updates on today and Dave Steve history I think I still have Dave Steve baseball cards tucked away from when I was a kid.

That guy, best, he's the best. Does he operate it during the winter as well? Like, does he know what Dave Steve? Yeah, all year round and it's fantastic. So he'll come on and talk about Dave Steve in a minute. Sweet. It was fun. Okay, Paulie said it was fun.

Paulie, you're now an FOTM. It happened. Even on the show now. So what are the thoughts on the Casey Kasem? What was the, what was the- Do you get a Leafs vlogger? It's the greatest thing ever. I think his daughters commented on it too, hasn't she? I believe like- Jean Kasem? Like while he was, I don't know, mummified in Africa or something.

Do you want to hear a fun fact? Mummified years before he died. Do you know who was married to Casey Kasem when he died? Elvis. The woman who played ready for this. Oh, yeah. Nice. Tortelli's. Yeah. So on Cheers. Cheers. Yes. That was Jean Casey. Carla's ex, his wife, Nick Tortelli's wife was a tall blonde woman. Has he actually has he been buried yet or is she still keeping him hostile?

I do not have that information. Yeah, I assume he's filled with sawdust to me and dragged around from town to town at state fairs. Is Ted Williams still frozen? You know, his head, his head was frozen. What did I wrote? Like, like Han Solo style. Yeah, I feel like just the head. I'd hedge my bets on my whole body. I don't want just my head cut off in a jar.

It's very Futurama. I guess if you're, if you're doing that here. Okay. So Casey Kasem and do you guys want another one? Well, I'll take one more. Okay, those are two good ones. Okay, the more profane, the better. My it's a pretty profane. Let's hear we got and you guys could talk over it. If you want to think, have you heard that the troggs one or the guy flames out in the studio? I'll find out for you next. Take

your fucking ass. I was just gonna say the Christian Bailway. I'm gonna walk the fucking set you prick No, don't just be sorry think for one fucking second and it goes on. The fuck are you doing? Are you professional or not? Yes, I am. Do I fucking walk around and rip that? No, shut the fuck up Bruce Do I fucking walk around and rip that no shut the fuck up Bruce do I want no No, shut me up Am I gonna walk around and rip your fucking lights down in the middle of a scene then why the fuck are you walking right through? That I like this in the background. What the fuck is it with you? What don't you fucking understand

What don't you fucking understand? You got any fucking idea about, hey, it's fucking distracting having somebody walking up behind Bryce in the middle of the fucking scene? Give me a fucking answer! What don't you get about it? Oh, good for you you and how was it I hope it was fucking good because it's useless now isn't it fucksake man you're amateur look gee yeah fucking something to say to this prick? I didn't see it happen.

Well, somebody should be fucking watching and keeping an eye on him. It does go on, maybe he'll break it down. There's a second time that he doesn't hear that you fuck. What was it like, Terminator 4 or something? Salvation, yeah, yeah, yeah. Terminator Salvation and Christian Bale. I'm trying to fucking do a scene here and I'm going.

Just going off on this lighting guy or whatever who walks through to the scene. What is he doing? Which is basically a live action, like a cartoon with a few live actors in it? Remind me there's no Arnold Schwarzenegger in Terminator. So now it is they apologize. He did apologize for this I believe yeah, and he knows why does she should if he's a human being So, okay, so let's not take a firstly we have an injury on the field Let's all because Christian Bale keeps going on and on.

It's one of those, this bit. But we have an injury on the field. He looks like he's got up here. I'm clapping for the guy, you know, cause he looks like he's up on his own strength here. Injury at first base here. It's a Guelph Royal who seems to be hurt. Number five in case his mom's listening.

Oh yeah, but he's okay mom, because standing up on his own power, under his own power here. So Ben again What are you still working at the record store? Yeah, I managed the cops records on the damn fourth I write when I need to write Conversation now at this conversation with Chrissy Hind a few years ago when she dropped in these fucking names. I love Chrissy High I Honestly, you get her on Toronto Mike. I'll work on it But she obviously at this point. I'm sure she put her book out, which is great. She read her book

I came from was called She got a lot of flack for it because she's very plain-spoken and she kind of like Blames herself for putting herself in some situations with bikers that were unfortunate and a lot of you know there was kind of and people were like you're anti-feminist it's like fuck you this is Chrissy Hynde that there's nobody more like yeah from Ohio but that band is British right like she's just yeah yeah but anyway but I was like I like the pretenders what do you think of it

pretenders Elvis is doom-scrolling Instagram see what's going on I think he's I's looking up her book name so I can yeah. Yeah. No, it's a great book It's a quick read But we had a great interview and I was like I like that you've never really Overburdened the marketplace, you know, there's not a lot of stuff out there and then they don't pretenders don't tour that often and She's like, you know what, Ben? I've always just done enough to get by. And that's kind of the way I roll. So when I need money these days, because as you know, writing takes a tremendous toll on my mental and physical health. And that's

why I left the Toronto Star. So I turn it on and I like, I did a bunch of stuff in the spring and then I'm like, now I'm, now I'm panicking because I'm like, September is going to be lean, but PJ Harvey's coming. I've got a bunch of stuff in the spring. And then I'm like, now I'm panicking because I'm like, September's gonna be lean. But PJ Harvey's coming. I've got a bunch- And they're jacking your rent? Yeah, yeah, no, no. I've been in a couple of legal fights

and all this shit, distracting shit. But I love managing a record shop and I write when I have to. So I have to write again now. So I have a bunch of stuff coming up. But I took a month off because it was like, I got money in the bank, screw it. And then I'm like, Jesus Christ, September's coming.

You never saw it coming. Yeah, no, I never saw it coming. What do you mean September's coming? The book is called Reckless. Reckless, it's great, it's great. But I'm kind of like that, I've always been that way. I just do enough to get by, I'm kind of like that. I've always been that way. I just do enough to get by. I'm kind of lazy. I kind of like being semi-retired even though I don't have a pension.

And I scrape by. Like it's been weird being... You can't retire, right? You can't retire. No. Well I have a star pension. If I live for a few more years I could retire. But I... But now these days I like like I pick my battles. I'm I yeah I write when I want to write. I've got a bunch of stuff coming up now that I want to write about so I'll be writing again. It's just like I've taken some time off to be a dad. I'm hugging my kiddo right now. So like Saturday night to Tuesday morning, nothing happens. I have

Polly and I'm all in. I'm just a dad. And that has taken away from my ability to be a writer, but that's okay because I like being a dad right now. And your mental health, like you're in good spirits, you feel positive. When I have my kid, I'm great. Okay. Well, but what about you don't have your kid 100% of the time. So because I remember this. Yeah, there are nights you don't get to tuck in your kid. And that's when you realize, oh, yeah, you've been through it.

But those nights, you call me if there's trouble, man. And I know I Ben Rainer in this fucking world. Okay. It's it's it's it's rough getting used to not having she's sitting standing right next to me, but she knows. Like it's tough. I get preemptively sad on Mondays because I know I'm gonna say goodbye on Tuesday morning. And it's a strange adjustment.

And that's, so I've had to take a step back from some of my life. Elvis, is your marriage okay? Yeah, yes. Yeah, yeah, well hang on to it. Guess what? If it wasn't, I wouldn't say it here. How about that?

Yeah. Jesus Christ. Now we know the truth. We're trying to tell you, don't go down our path here. Are you trying to get on the mic now? No, she's just chewing gum. So Ben, I want to put Leslie Taylor on the mic. She wants more food.

And then I want to get the Dave Steve guy. I will give you guys a big hug. So Ben, honestly, we need to get you back in the basement to yeah more jams let's do a kick out the jam okay I'm so glad we got to catch up because you're one of my favorite FOTM and I legitimately worry about you because sometimes you get quiet and distant and I'm like it's been okay it's funny I like I love all my your eyes Polly she's got great eyes now everybody everybody worries about me and I do go dark sometimes. I appreciate yeah Well, we were coming over and therapy something and that I worry that you'll have those thoughts again. Yeah

No, it's a it's a play like you It's therapy for me to come on. Well, you're gonna come on again then dude I need to I need I need to ride out to the to the west end just walk it man take your daughter to the park she wants to go to the park we're going to a pool or a beach all right thank you Ben Rainer much love Elvis was been as good this time as he was last time a big he, the Royals are killing us, I'm getting the hell out of here. You caught the yeah. Leslie wants to see the replay, there's no screen here, I'll have to talk to Keith.

Yeah, that was a nice play. Alright, thank you Ben, you're awesome. We'll get Leslie Taylor here. Much love, thanks for having me on Elvis, good to see you. Good to see you too Ben. I'll be back. Take care buddy. Elvis was a hero to most.

Good seeing ya. But he never meant shit to me. Shut up. Leslie, you're up. Have you, did you notice that their right fielder looks kind of like Hulk Hogan? Oh my God. He's got like a handlebar mustache. What do you mean looks like?

That's Hulk Hogan. He's got a handlebar mustache. Hulk Hogan's in right field. Blonde hair. I like number 11 here made a hell... We had the best seats in the house. Great timing catch. 11 made a great catch right in front of us for the Guelph Royals.

What are we down now? Stole a double. That would have been a double. Now on Father's Day, Elvis, I know you don't listen to Toronto Miked, but can I tell you that on Father's Day, I dropped an episode of Toronto Miked. Beautiful, tear-jerking episode. I heard about this. But you didn't listen. No. Why didn't you? Well, because I know the story. That's bullshit. Well, okay. Leslie has a dad who called expo games and he's screwed out of being in all the fame Well, I don't know that he's done a whole lot of really cool

I know that I would say screwed out. I get I mean he's trying to be on your side. I know I know I know I have to say though Christie Pitts here. It's it's giving Jerry Park vibes. Oh my god. Tell me about this I've never been to and I well I hear Brian Gerstin say Jari Park. No, it's Jerry. Like Jerry, like Jerry Seinfeld? Almost. It's a bit more of an A. It's J-A-R-E. But I say Jerry. Where in Montreal? Because my daughter is there a lot and I'm there a lot. It's in the north end of the city. This is in Montreal, Leslie? Yeah, in Montreal. So the Expos played before Olympic Stadium. Yeah. Oh, really? Yeah. And a big reason they were there was Russ Taylor. So yeah, that's part of the whole story.

They would have played from 67 to 76. 69 was their first season. And so in 69, they were actually sort of in the summer of 68, they still didn't have a stadium to play in. And they almost lost the team. I think they were going to maybe send them to Buffalo or somewhere like that if they couldn't find a stadium. Anyway, my dad and one of the other sports writers in Montreal, Marcel Desjardins, they took John McHale and whoever the president of the National League was back then up to Jerry Park and said, we think this is a place that you can play and it ended up happening. So from 69 to 76 basically?

Yeah they started I guess the 77 season at the Olympic Stadium. Right. Yeah. Cool. That's I didn't know that at all. And Jerry Park was a small park and the one of the the sort of the lore of Jerry Park was the fact that there was a municipal swimming pool in right field like just beyond the right field fence so it was always like okay which baseball player is gonna be able to hit a ball and land in the swimming pool. It's like McCubby Cove in San Francisco. Yeah exactly but this was a swimming pool. That's fine. But I think Willie Stargell managed to there were probably a few others but Willie Stargell of the Pirates was able to. It's very cool. When you were talking about the summer of 68

or whatever years, I was thinking, oh, now we can talk about the summer of 69. And then I remembered that, okay, so you were with my nephew, Nate. Yes. We'll get to that in a moment. But Nate's cousin, my other nephew, his mother, we were at, this was many years ago

because my brother's no longer with her, but she was referencing the song Boys of Summer by Bryan Adams and I said no you're conflating things I said no Bryan Adams is Summer of 69 yeah correct Boys of Summer is Dawn Henley of course yeah of course everyone knows awesome song and she's stuck to her guns who was it who is it? Did you prove her wrong? The mother of my my nephew so my nephew's mother who just say your brother's ex-wife. My brother's ex-wife. Okay, girlfriend, partner, whatever. Yeah, my brother's ex-partner, who is great. Shout out to Carrie. Hello. But this moment, I remember her doubling down on it, but I was thinking, oh, how do you double down on

something that's just wrong? But anyway, so summer of 69. Okay. Was there no Google to prove her wrong? No, I don't. I can't remember if we had mobile phones back then. This might be to be mobile phones. Actually, I think now that I think about it, because this kid was born in 04. But please, how was the bicycle instruction for my nephew Nate? It went really well. He's a star. He had a really great, he had a fantastic attitude, was really eager to learn and that makes a big difference because I've had students who were there because their parents wanted them to be there, they didn't want to be there and yeah anyway so he did really well he's gonna come back for another lesson I think he

left happy which is always my goal that people leave happy. Do you know there's a Toronto Mike sticker behind the sign where Norris Crescent becomes the Martin Goodman Trail? I did not know that. They said look for the Toronto Mike sticker and I was like where's the Toronto Mike sticker? Because there's one on my bike. Elvis is shaking his head right now. What a ridiculous trivia question. It's a fun fact. You gave me a Toronto Mike sticker to put on my bike and I thought that's what he meant when he said something about the Toronto Mike sticker. No, there's one behind a sign. So when you come off in Norris Crescent, then you, you enter the Martin Goodman trail.

Is there an app available for me to locate all of the Toronto Mike stickers in the city? That's a good idea, Elvis. You're the idea guy. So Leslie Taylor, uh, shout out to Nate, who I was with yesterday because we were having a party for my mom's 75th. So I was spent like hours with Nate yesterday and we were talking about you. Why wouldn't we talk about Leslie Taylor? Great FOTM, great Father's Day episode. So the 2024 Father's Day episode, Elvis may not have listened, but it was fantastic, Leslie Taylor.

Thank you. So I want to bring things back to Elvis actually and the Toronto Mike Universe, because everything goes full circle here, right? So I want to talk about how important the TMU is, okay? This time last summer. No, maybe it was earlier in the summer Elvis puts out a message in our TMU group chat. I'm looking for someone to do announcing at a baseball game in Oshawa. Baseball tournament in Oshawa and I'm like, well, I'll do it. And I'm thinking, I have no experience doing this. I don't have any background in it.

And it's like, he's never going to want me. And he's like, sure, I'll take you. I'm like, so I got to fulfill a dream of announcing, uh, you know, introducing players at a baseball tournament because of the TMU, like I didn't know Elvis. I'd never met him or anything. And he took a chance. Does anyone really know Elvis? But you know, yet's a great example that you was awesome got

to fulfill your dream yeah Leslie was she was great she brought her dog and so my daughters and her friends babysat the dog what we still talk about the dog what's his name again chili chili that's a chili yes chili but it was great it was like TLC. There's a chili. Do you know this? Is there? Yeah. Oh yeah. Yeah. Yeah. I know. Yeah. It was, it was really good. Plus they did a great job. It was fun. Thank you. A lot of fun. Yeah. That's a crazy. If you've ever hosted a kid's tournament though, man, it's a busy weekend.

We had five diamonds going and it was just like craziness. Well, the thing that, that surprised me was how all the, like I was supposed to be there to announce and call all the players to the plate and they all had their own walk-up music and they had like even the guy from the dome, whatever his name is, the announcer for the Jays, announcing their names. TJ Langton. And I'm like, oh, what do they need me for?

There's a lot of... They don't need me. They've got like, there's this professional guy announcing their, uh, you know, their column, your music and all that. Yeah. It can be a lot of money in kids baseball these days, which is pretty crazy. Is it Tim Langford or he's an FOTM. So why am I struggling with this? I think it's Langton. But it's funny. Is this the same, uh, gig that was almost taken by the Toronto mate beliefs hockey public address announcer, Mike Ross. Yes. Yes. He, you know, Mike Ross, he calls, he's the one who says goal scored by, no, that's, I can't do a Mike Ross. It's a good, he, uh, I spoke to him. Um, oh wow. And he

was totally into it cause his sons are in baseball as well. Right. Oh, East York. Around the same age. And he would have totally done it, but he had a conflict that weekend. Do you want a mind blow? I believe this is to be true. Everybody ready? Mike Ross coaches with Chris Cooksey, who is the host of the Advantage to Investor podcast from Raymond James Canada. So I believe Chris Cooksey and Mike Ross are tight in the East York baseball community. Another gentleman who's part of that community is Troy Burch from Great Lakes Brewery

whose sons play baseball there. I triad Troy coaches. I see him post on LinkedIn. You see Troy, does he drive the GLB mobile? No, I see him post pictures on LinkedIn of coaching. Oh my God, Leslie's in a small world. It is. And how are you doing Leslie?

So you came over on Father's Day, you were underwhelmed by the studio. No, underwhelmed by, no, no, the equipment and everything that was, it was. You thought it was bigger. No, it was just the size, it was smaller than I thought. I was told, Monica's within years, that size doesn't matter.

Is this Vladdy in center field? I know, that's what Mike Richards is saying. From behind. Well, I said Vlad has cut his hair, but from behind I'm like, oh my god, he looks like Vlad. He's a good player, this guy too. You know what I'm telling you, best seats in the house are what we see here. So it's still four-nothing though. The good guys here, it's the fifth inning already, four-nothing. Toronto Maple Leafs are down. Did I hear a rumour that Dalton Pompeii

was going to re-sign with the Guelph Royals? Did you hear this rumor? Okay, Leslie has no intel on this one. We're gonna find out. I didn't see him here today. But do you know this pitcher who played for the Blue Jays named Dave Steeb? Leslie, do you know this guy? Yeah. And Elvis, you know this guy Dave Steeb? I have heard of him once or twice. Okay. So Leslie, on Twitter, you're on Twitter still or or did you move off of it? No, I'm more on like Blue Sky and Threads. I'm there too, but I don't like Threads. I don't go to Twitter very often. I'm on Twitter because I follow an account called

This Day in Dave Steve History, or something in that effect. The gentleman who runs that account, okay. So I'm gonna put this gentleman in your seat just to talk about this Dave Steve account. Somebody's tapped me, I'm like what? gentleman in your seat just to talk about this Dave Steve account somebody's tapped me as well so and also Elvis this is for you more than anybody Monica's now going to go to Scotiabank Arena because she's going with her sister to see Queens of the Stone Age I fucking love I love songs for the deaf I can play

it through over and over again songs for the album Yeah, so my friend who is she seeing though? You can't leave me hanging. I know she's Queens of R&B So she's going to her sister. Yeah, and they're gonna go for dinner first. So she's actually leaving this place right now But what oh, he's got lungs. So I love it I got a kiss from Ben Ray Tall gentleman to my right This guy's got lungs. I love it. Ben Rainer, kiss me. I got a kiss from Ben Rainer. Tall gentleman to my right. Introduce yourself to the Toronto Mic listenership.

Well thank you Mike for having me. My name is Blake Bell and I'm one of the operators of the Today in Dave Steeb History Twitter account at Dave Steeb Today. And I've been following your account forever. We've cribbed a couple of things from you with Mr. Millson and the gang talking about Steve. So yeah, we love your account. Any Hep C content that you cause cause I would always talk to Mark Hemsher about, but maybe here's my question. Will you do warts and all or is it just a flattering portrayal of Dave Steve?

No warts and all. So it's something that happened in his history every single day. So some days there weren't great days, as we know from 1986, 1992. And yes, we do have some Hep C content. He follows us and we follow him. He's great. Do you tweet over the winter as well? Like I would imagine those kinds of things

would be hard to find out now. On this day he had an egg Benedict. Yeah. Like he was angry at. He was, especially before the 1983 season when he was always constantly going through arbitration battles with Pat Gillick in the game. Okay, so first, let me just disclose to the listenership that I follow this account and love it very much. Thank you very much. You know, my favorite team of all time is the 1985 Blue Jays.

What do we hold on? It's very, it's very distracting to record from Christie Pizz because now Morgan's putting a Freezy in my, is this for me? Why would she be giving you a Freezy? She just wants me to know if she has a Jumbo Freezy. It looks delicious, right? What's your favorite flavor of Jumbo Freezy? I'm gonna go with white. Okay. What is the flavor of white? Is that cream soda? I think, yeah, maybe. Jarvis says it's cream soda. So my favorite, Blake, do you have a favorite flavor of Freezy?

It's been a long time since I've had a peanut colada maybe. So mine has always been purple. Like this purple flavor, I guess is grape. Grape, yeah. I love grape. And you both got grape. Jarvis approved. Okay Jarvis, I need to talk to Blake Bell here. Blake Bell, that's a cool name. Okay. So Blake, let's just, for those who don't know, although you're really just talking to Gen X here when I figured it out, but Dave Steve is drafted as a outfielder. So Blake, let's just, for those who don't know, although you're really just talking to Gen X here

when I figured it out, but Dave Steeve is drafted as a outfielder. I am amazed by how this outfielder so rapidly becomes the most dominant pitcher in the majors. Like, how the hell did this happen? Like, did this, is this a fever dream? No, you're right. He went to Southern Illinois University. He was a center fielder and they needed some arms at some point so they tested out his arm. He had a super strong arm. He was a center fielder right? So when they were doing a double header one day they pulled him into pitch and he could throw he could make it happen.

And then the Blue Jays, Alamakia and Bobby Maddux showed up to a game when he was pulled in from center field to pitch and they were like we don't necessarily think this guy's bat is great even though he was like he was the MVP and he batted 394 that year so they drafted him that's all and then they said hey we'll let you hit in Dunedin but you know we'd like you to try some pitching on the side and then they saw a slider like he just had that innate slider maybe that's why he was so angry he was always so angry I think he's I think and I'm gonna let Blake speak because he's the expert but I think he was just had such high standards for himself Like he seemed to be this perfectionist, you know his book tomorrow

I'll be perfect and then he did eventually pitch a no-hitter but not a better perfect game This heckler guy is amazing to you're right here. This guy's amazing. I should put him on the fucking mic But Blake and he's heckling in French. I think I'm not seeing the resemblance jug. But Blake. And he's heckling in French, I think. Is it me? He's a Pinball Clemmons shirt on too, and I'm not seeing the resemblance. Juggernaut maybe, I don't know about Pinball. So, oh, I thought it was a rocket launcher. So, tell Blake two things going on here.

One is, why was he so prickly? That's where I was going with the, is it only? I think in his defense, you would know the answer much better than I would, but baseball players are notorious assholes. they're not media friendly so his super agent Bob Lamont who like has all the football coaches who've won everything that's still an agent right he he coached him in his football team high school football he said he was the most competitive person that he'd ever seen

but you have to keep in mind right here's a guy who unlike a Roy Halliday right who grew up as a pitcher had that philosophy into the mindset when as as soon I let a ball go, I forget about it and I move on to the next pitch. Right. So here comes this outfielder. He comes up, he's drafted onto the worst team on the planet, the 1979 Blue Jays. Right. He's a SoCal guy, he comes to a foreign country, right, exhibition stadium.

Yeah. And he has expectations. And if you know anything about, if you know anything about baseball of expansion era right yeah in those days by certainly about the third year 1979 these were just hangers-on guys they couldn't care they were trying to make the last dollar they could I come into Blue Jay Land in 83 right which is a good time to come in that was a good I missed 79 completely but it looks like it would just be yeah awful it was it was tragic but with the one hope he just be yeah, awful It was it was tragic

But with the one hope he was the first ray of hope because he was the one who actually Cared about winning and you could see that every single, you know five days he went out there But that Shakespearean tragedy those juxtapositions of you know So Cal guy in Toronto expansion versus perfection and having and having no real pitcher expansion versus perfection and having no real pitcher mentality growing up with because now he's counting on everybody else to help him out whereas before when he's a center fielder he's batting right or he's catching the ball so yeah it was just wonderful to watch this but we just saw the first real superstar come onto the scene and I think that's what attracted a lot of hopes.

Okay now Mark Hebbscher I co-hosted a show of him for five years. I heard many a story about how he treated the media. Hebbsy did not have good experiences of Dave Steve. Yeah, for sure. The first, I would say the first, he has two career arcs, right? He has that 79 to 85 and then he struggled in 87, sorry, 86 and 87 and then he had that rebound. He was, Mike Wilner, I talked to him the other day at the last left field brewerwery Open. He said yeah from when he covered him from 88 he was fine right but when I talked to Steven Brunt and I said was it as bad as it was in those early days Brunt just gave me that look and was like oh yeah. Right so he was prickly because he was struggling and he was playing for a

struggling team. Well yeah when he started he was he was on fire he was the top pitcher from like 1982 to 85, but until 83, they had nothing. So yeah, again, his mindset, he was such a perfectionist, he didn't have anything going on. That's not an excuse for aberrant behavior, of course. So again, in the account, we don't try to pretend he's this God who is the nicest guy in the plant.

That's not what we're about. But just the fascination of those dualities is really interesting. Your account, what I like about your account is it really gives you context as to how underappreciated Dave Steve is. Like if you drill into the numbers, because he's on some bad baseball teams there in the early years, but if you drill in, this guy should be in the, forget the Canadian baseball hall of fame where Russ Taylor belongs. This guy should be in Cooperstown.

You're a wise and discerning gentleman, Mike. I can tell you that. So yeah. Tell me something I don't know. By the numbers of today's standards right from the Felix Hernandez years of the last 10 12 years onwards absolutely he would have had Cy Young's at minimum 82 83 84 perhaps even 85 so you give him three to four Cy Young's and Pat Henke said the same thing right yeah all those underlying numbers think about he had no Tom Henke no Dwayne war during his peak era he had in the nineteen eighty five season the blue jays win ninety nine games steve wins the e r a title the two forty eight and goes fourteen and thirteen but all

writers cared about then and into the early two thousand was was when his your wins is if you have control over that i don't know what talks about a metal no no no easy money he would have made it do you think there is a shot for him to get in via the veterans Committee? There was until they changed that in the last couple of years. So now they do it, they don't just review it every year and take things, so you have to wait, like, I think it's like three years, Len could remind you.

Oh, so like if they say no, then there's a cooling off period? Yes, now that is the case. There used to be like a Veterans Committee every time. But also there's another blue jay who's been overlooked. Carlos Delgado has been overlooked. I feel like, so Dave, Steve, the numbers, I mean, who's the gentleman, John Boyce?

Who's the gentleman who put the video together? Have you seen this video series? No. Am I saying it right, John Boyce? Yeah, John Boyce. So John Boyce put together this video series. You have to watch this, Elvis. Where do I see it?

YouTube? YouTube. YouTube, yeah. Blew my mind in how it dives into how fucking good Dave Steeb was. And they have the video footage. I don't know, like I'm so jealous. I had nothing to do with its production.

Cause I'm like, this content is gold. What is it called? Captain Ahab. I think it's called Captain Ahab, the Dave Stebe story. I might- It's unbelievable. Six hours worth four parts. I watched every minute and I, that was unbelievable. You know what?

I saved this and realized how long it was. And I was like, oof. Can I watch that much? It was the, it was the inspiration to cause we, Len and I had been talking about, we should do it today. And Dave, Steve, I was going to ask you what made you start the Twitter account? We've been thinking about it forever. And then all of a sudden Len lets me know this boy's thing is coming down the hill. And then I'm in Florida at spring training and I'm like, hell yeah, let's start it up. And so March of 2022,

we went for it and there we are. Okay so so this is all coming together here culminating here but that that John Boyce I couldn't recommend it highly enough like this is the such tremendous and what he really puts in perspective is he had a couple of starts in a row where he goes eight and two-thirds of no hit ball right Dave Steve? Yeah September 24 September 30th 1988 literally goes down to like almost the final strike both times. Bush Bloop single I think is but there's a bad hop. Julio Franco in Cleveland right over Manny Lee's a little too short head sadly. Yep and then they break it down math wise like

like the odds of this happening and they start to crunch these numbers and it's astronomical. Even worse today August 4th, less than a year later is the anniversary of him losing a perfect game 26 up 26 down to Roberto Kelly at the Sky Dome against the Yankees. Today is the anniversary of August 4th, 1989. How did he remind us? How did he lose it? Well the umpire let it run to a 2-0 count when the first pitch was clearly a strike. Steve makes a good curve but Roberto Kelly, who was the ninth hitter, I think it was his first year, good hitter for sure, just went down and got it and stroked it to George Bell

in left field. George was a little schalant so turned it into a double. Then the next guy comes and gets a single. So he's lost the shutout in like two at bats. He's lost the perfect game. He's lost the shutout. He finally gets the win though. Thank God. But out of that, so.

Imagine a, a, a universe where Dave Steve never throws that no hitter in Cleveland. Like I just feel like, like, like, I don't know. But so, so Elvis, when you, can you see the video package this together on how many times, you know, tomorrow I'll be perfect, right? How many times did you go eight and two thirds of either perfect or no hit ball just to have something go wrong with two outs in the ninth inning? Like this guy was so damn good and your account is very good. Well thank you very much we really enjoy it. I didn't even know this guy would be here and I'm like swooning here that the great place else. Well because I saw your tweet about the game and I was literally over there at my partner's house and he

just walked right over I was like let's do it. Okay so did you know the great Ben Rayner was just here? I saw Ben Rayner Toronto Star film critic. And the woman who was here before you her father is Russ Taylor and there's a great Father's Day episode of Toronto Mike I want you Blake to listen to because Russ Taylor was a big deal with the origin of the Montreal Expos and he was calling games with Dave Van Horn and I did an episode with Leslie and her brother and Dave Van Horn for Father's Day. Almost, you're up next.

Ruth Kapilis is back. Oh, great. She's gonna talk to Elvis with us. This is gonna be a fun way to finish up here. But Blake, so remind us, what is the account on Twitter people should follow? It's today at Dave's, today in Dave's deep history,

but it's at Dave's Steve Today. Does he know about the account? Right. Yes, he none of that social media but as we send his daughter things she's in touch with us, his ex-wife follows us and all that so yeah it's really cool. We got mentioned on the Blue Jays broadcast out of nowhere in August of 2022. Dan Sheldon mentioned it? Yeah because we run into Tabby Cat, we'd run into the Tabby Cat, Pat Tabler on the streets of New York that weekend when we were there and then I tweet about it and then dan brings it up says hey you ran into some big day street twitter fans they're really good about talking about

meeting fans when they're on the road it's really good very good i um i have a mind bubble while you think of that okay real quick so i was at a game at the dome last game of the season against detroit in Halliday, young Roy Halliday is on the mound. You know where I'm going. Yep. Eight and two thirds of no hit ball Elvis. I've never witnessed a no hitter live. I was with my son James. I was so excited. Oh my God. I'm here for a no hitter. Bobby Higginson hits a home run two outs in the ninth inning and correct me if I'm wrong, Blake. I know I'm not because I saw it in the John Boyce video who catches the ball in the outfield Dave Steve who

came back to be a relief pitcher after he left the Blue Jays he came back to be a relief pitcher yes right he's he catches Len and I are right over Steve when that's happening I feel faintish I'm gonna hit the ground it hits the back right below us it hits the back of the bullpen wall and ricochets right into Steve's hand. We're standing there watching it, we're like, did this just happen? That's crazy. And there's never been another no hitter. That's crazy. There's still never been a no hitter because they haven't retired number 37 and there never will be. That's the truth. Have you ever met Dave? Oh yeah. During that time, we started a Dave Steve website. when we when it was announced that after the age of 40 He was gonna come back in 1998 and March because he was down in spring training. He was still looking great We started a Dave Steve website. We had press passes We submitted to Syracuse for us to get press passes to cover his minor league ascension back up

So yeah, absolutely We met him and yeah, he was grateful for the work we were doing and subsequently had met him in previous and future times too so nice guy you know he's not a social media guy he's not like right you know big fan guy but he came back what I remember Hepsey saying is when he does come back for this second tour of duty of the Blue Jays as a reliever it's a kinder gentler Dave Steve he said it was night and day from what he saw in the early 80s yeah five years away it humbles you you know the way the way the career ended in such a tragic freak injury back in 1991. Do you think if he was nicer to the press, he'd be in the Hall of Fame today?

That's a very, very, but it's very likely, right? There's still we're human beings, right? If somebody treats you well, right? Everybody loved him reigns that helped, you know, every day. It's crazy to be like that popularity. You know, like back in the early 80s, he was a jerk to you and now you're not gonna vote for him to be in the Hall of Fame.

But people are small. It just seems so dumb, yeah. Oh, these people are small. Seems crazy. One last note on that, okay, because I really do believe Dave Steeve belongs in the Hall of Fame and I really do, and I know I have some bias because this is my team,

but Carlos Delgado, the numbers, he belongs in the Hall of Fame, and I always wonder, he took a political stance, he's proud Puerto Rican, and he stopped standing for the national anthem because of the occupation of Puerto Rico by American soldiers. He had a political reason to no longer stand for the American national anthem. And I always wonder if that is in the back of some of these American sports writers' minds when they vote for the Hall of Fame and if that affected

him. I think there's two other things that are impacting Delgado. Number one, he played in a Blue Jays era in which the whole team just sunk into the ocean. And a terrible logo. Yes, it sunk right into the ocean. Nobody paid attention. And the other thing that I think has impacted his stats is if you look at the amount of home runs he hit per season, there were a lot of people hitting a lot of home runs simultaneously. There were people hitting 40 home runs every single year, right? So I think that that is how also had a perceptual impact, but he was a

great player for sure. And yeah, it'd be great if he was reconsidered like Fred McGriff was reconsidered. That's a great point. Yeah. Ready? Great comparison. Crime dog. Okay. And with no Fred McGriff, no, uh, am I allowed to say the name Roberto Alomar said allowed I Saw him play it happened right it happened I come murdered somebody Yes, he's a murderer. Okay, you know they still have oj simpson in the Buffalo Bill Stadium It's still on the wall Well the when he died the football Hall of Fame sent out a tweet offering condolences to his family Okay, so what it was you're saying you know, you can separate what happens between the

lines of the field and the character of the human being. Same way in the arts, right? You look at Woody Allen, you look at all these things. Where do you draw the line between the art and the life and what do you appreciate? Elvis loves R. Kelly's ignition remix. I'm not suggesting that OJ Simpson shouldn't be in the hall of fame. I'm not sure that the Hall of Fame should be sending condolences to his family when he died. I think so many OJ jokes. Norm MacDonald is just ringing in my head.

Make a gun is a great fucking movie. Do you agree with that? Naked gun. It's been so long since I've seen that movie. The great movie, the part where he goes and pees. Remember? And he's got the micro. I was crying about Mickey work and Dave Steve's career going okay so keep up the good work you're doing important work and I support you and you're now an FOTM Blake I'm that's fantastic I have one last question is there any day that you have to repeat because only one

interesting thing happened sometimes yeah but there's a of, we call them interstitials, where we'll go, it's Steve Card Sunday and that will make all the weird cards like that. But yeah. Gotcha. Okay guys, I don't care what you think of this Elon Musk fellow, follow this great account on Twitter. Hold on, here's a play here. Right? Oh, it's going to be the, well, he's called it off. So center fielder caught it. I love watching this game. Uh, you come out to Christie Pitts often? Yeah, for sure. You know, I, I played Leeside, I played Leeside zero. I played a Leeside baseball, right? So some of the people graduate. Ryan Davy was up. He was playing on my team in 87 at Leeside when we won the

championship. My ex-wife married a guy whose son played for this team. Is that weird? That's weird. I guess. Okay. Rob Butler, a world series champion. Uh, he signed my baseball. I threw out the first pitch today. Oh, congratulations. I know that's weird. Okay, Rob Butler, World Series Champion. He signed my baseball. I threw out the first pitch today. Oh, congratulations. I know you were trying to do that like earlier, right? And it got rained out?

It got rained out and I did it today. Morgan, don't lose that. Rob Butler, Dave's team teammates back in the day. That's right, yes. Okay, I love this so much. Blake Bell, everybody. Thank you, sir. Thank you, gentlemen.

Appreciate you. Nice to meet you. If you're around when we wrap, I'll give you a big hug. All right, appreciate that. Take care, have a great day, guys. Okay, thank you. That was awesome. Did you meet, you know If you're around when we wrap, I'll give you a big hug. All right. Take care. Have a great day guys. Okay. Thank you. Uh, that was awesome. Did you meet, you know, I, I love it when I just tweeted, I was going to be here and Blake's like, I'm going to talk. That's fantastic.

I could talk Dave Steve. I love Dave Steve, eighties blue J's early nineties, blue J's handsome man, right? Freaking love it. Who is more handsome? Rick five as a young man or Dave Steve is a man because they were the two I remember Rick five. Cause Dave Steve was a handsome guy. Let Five. Because they were the two I remember. Rick Five. Because Dave Steve was a handsome guy. Let's ask Ruth about Dave Steve. I can't get, it's hard for me to get beyond the Dave Steve being an asshole thing. Even though he never was an asshole to me.

Asshole to reporters makes him kind of sound decent to me. Who are you an asshole to? Steve Simmons? Yeah, well, Steve Simmons. He's a piece of work, that guy. Okay, Ruth, you've got to be right on these mics. Can you hear us in the headphones there? I can can you hear me? Are you a Dave Steve fan? I'm a huge Dave Steve fan that guy runs the official like

I know I feel like I met a celebrity kind of as he walked past me. I love his account, but enough about Elvis, okay. I Would describe Dave Steve as the original mom slayer. I think he was the original what mom slayer. I think he was the first J's player to get moms into baseball. Oh, you know why? Cause the, yeah, cause he was hot, right? Yeah.

Like I was getting food from my children. The moms got into baseball because of how sexy Dave Steeve was. Oh, I thought you were talking about Kevin. And when he was on the mound, he was always carrying on the tradition. We were, I was at a, I was at my son's baseball game. Okay.

And the news came across the phone that Kevin Kiermaier was traded to the Dodgers and we went and told the moms and there was, we were winning big that game. We were like into double digits and there was tears. Okay. Was Ke, was Kevin Kiermaier the hottest Blue J? Like in history? No, of his particular team. Oh.

Yeah, who else is, yeah. Okay, can I tell you, so again. Cause he's like very traditionally. And the eyes, right? It's the eyes though. Yeah, it's the eyes. His eyes are amazing. Oh, and he's, he's.

But I don't know if he's. He works out. I creamed my jeans. He's such, he's a babe. I don't know if you noticed, he was like wearing his jersey, like unbuttoned almost down to the navel lately. I cream my cheese such he's he's a babe Wearing his jersey like I'm buttoned almost Started on Canada today is a little gift to the country. Yeah Okay, Ruth. So just a recap here. Okay, cuz recently there was an episode of Toronto Mike

That was a deep dive into the song take take was a submission for the 1993 new music search from CFNY. It was submitted by Hayden, but the singer on this song was Noah Mintz. Have you ever heard this song Take? Oh my gosh, probably. Probably, okay. I have head songs on my Spotify. So yeah, uh, two H and heads. You know that, right? Two Hs, small H, big H. So I'm trying to, I know that they had some great jams, but they got screwed over by a record company thing that got shelved or whatever. But happy was their submission that won that 1993 new music search. Is that right?

They won, they won a hundred, they won a hundred thousand dollars in that contest. I didn't know that. 1993 dollars, Ruth, 1993 dollars for a very, I feel like that's a lot of money. I wonder, no, I had very long curly hair back then. I wonder if that was part of it. Did you date, did you date Noah Minson high school? No, he's older than me. We crossed paths. Plus he went to union bill because he was in the arts program. Oh, that's right, actually. And my sister was the same year as Billy, I'm pretty sure. But everybody knew the men's boys. And I think possibly everybody knew the capitalist girls. Maybe not.

Why would you? Why not? To be true. So Ruth, just saying some one-on-one here, okay? Okay. So like, who the hell are you other than I went to high school with Stu and Pam? I'm nobody. I mean, like, who am I? I need some one-on-one here, okay? So like who the hell are you other than I went to high school with Stu and Pam? I'm nobody. I mean like who am I? I'm not.

You don't need to be someone like Blake Bell's here is like, yeah, I run the Dave Steve account and I'm like, I fucking love that Twitter account. I run the at Ruth Kaplitz account. Okay. Is that a spicy takes on that account? It's what Ruth did on this day. Will you tweet about it? It pretty much is what Ruth did on this day with a lot of selfies. There's a lot of narcissism in my account.

Will you be, cause you much like Kevin Keirmeyer, you have beautiful eyes. Oh, thank you. Would you like a moment? Should I unbutton some of the buttons on my... Hey now. ...match Kevin Keirmeyer? I mean, I'm involved in the baseball world, but in some ways, like the Thornhill scene became part of the like Toronto music scene.

We all know each other and sure all the comedians know each other. Everyone that was like a comedy bar knows each other. But like, I mean, you don't have to disclose too much. All the time, like Steve Cole and Tyler Campbell, two of your biggest fans. So you know, Tyler Campbell? Yeah. So I did, because I know David biggest fans. So you know Tyler Campbell? Yeah, so I did, cause I know Dave Modini. Do you know this name?

Tyler Campbell is the VP of sales. Oh yeah, yeah, I know that guy. Like a huge supporter. He sells a lot of stuff. Yeah. No, he doesn't. He's VP of sales. Okay, so slow down Ruth, I'm overwhelmed right now.

If that's a word, I know it's not cause I looked at it. It's funny cause I'm underwhelmed. Yeah, well that's the funny thing is, so if I may so if I may that's Elvis that's where I was going when I said I made that episode about take it was the third in a series the first one being on underwhelmed oh so the first one was underwhelmed I knew where you're going yeah and I have to think for a second our picture oh the second one was Rusty's wake me actually I like it better when I'm in your basement. Women don't owe you shit. That's what I always say. Okay what the hell was I just about

to say? You were talking about underwhelmed. Yes. Overwhelmed. I'm overwhelmed. I'm trying to process a few things. How do you know Tyler Campbell? So he follows me on Twitter and Dave Bedini was doing an event for Ontario Place. West End Phoenix Dave Bedini. And I went to go behind him. Who tried to buy this team? Do you know the story? A lot of people I know tried to buy this team.

So did... Elvis? So did Elvis, I think. Yeah. Okay, so the true story is... I would consider buying the team if they would have given it to me for a reasonable amount. So the family that owned this, the husband and wife owned this forever. This version of this team, because this franchise is better off, but this version starts in 1969.

Playing at Christie Pitts. Because they tore down Maple Leaf Stadium in 67 or something. Where was that? That was where you know the Tip Top Tailors? Yeah, yeah. You know what they call Stadium Road? That's why they call it Stadium Road. Oh, good one. Good, good, good. Okay, but Dave Badini, who's with the West, he owns the West End Phoenix. Yes. He really wanted to own this team. So the Domenico family is selling it and it turns out Keith Stein and Rob Godfrey, who is Paul Godfrey's son, they go in and

buy this thing for like a million bucks plus. Okay? Keith Stein, it turns out, is the biggest Toronto Mike fan on the planet. That's why I'm here today! Because Toronto is very small! Thankfully, Badini didn't buy this fucking team or I wouldn't be here today. Well, that's why... Pretty cool. I could have put in an order for you, Dave.

Okay, so wait. And because I know you wanted to do this. If I'm hearing you right, I know that Tyler is affiliated... He likes to deliver papers for the West End Phoenix and does volunteer work with them Yeah, you also do that Well, I offered to volunteer because it was a big like day of various music acts and I knew half of Sarah Harmer was part Of this and she's gonna be on Toronto make because of that go on so I offered to be the Talent liaison from the one bar across the street to like get to the West End Phoenix

But they all kept going on their own and staying on schedule so I didn't do very much. I did spend the day there and enjoy some beers and listen to some great music. What beer do they have? Like what craft brewery was helping them out that day? Well it was at Monona Lodge so they shut down the bar to allow us to have it and be the sort of green room for people. Okay. But they weren't really come, most of the musicians weren't coming, so my job is to like walk them across the street but I kept making them go to the lights and waiting for the light to change because I'm a

rule follower so no one really walked across the street with me. They didn't want to go to the light and wait for it to change. Okay. But. But safety first. And so Tyler was there volunteering too and he's like Ruth when he saw me and I panicked because I think I'm supposed to know who he is but then I knew who he was when he said. Because he follows you on Twitter. Yeah and every other tweet is a selfie of yourself. Yes and like four people recognize me and because I post too many photos of myself. Well you enjoy sharing your selfies. I enjoy sharing many photos of myself. Well, you enjoy sharing your selfies with the world.

I enjoy sharing one or two. Elvis does that too, but it's personal messages I get. Elvis's selfies every fucking two hours. Yes, that's right. Elvis, I know you're handsome, get over it, okay. So he's texting you. So you bonded with Tyler Campbell. Yes.

Okay, that's a fun story because Tyler Campbell, like I said, I think he was a big wheel in the Toronto White kayak purchase. So I feel like it's all connected. And Steve, who I think is part of your group chat, Steve Cole. Steve Cole is a big Expo's in the wild guy. Yes and I took a photo of an Expo in the wild when I was on my way to the WBC last year. Is it too much? We're going to wrap up soon but this is too much. Well, this is too much. Like we're all going to wrap up soon, but this is too much, right? It is because Steve brought me Ms. Vicky's sweet and spicy ketchup chips when I couldn't find them.

And he had them at Costco. He drove all the way from his house to give them to me during the pandemic. Ruth Kapilous. I was at a Blue Jay game and I tweeted, I think my daughter was with me at a Blue Jay game at the Dome and I tweeted a photo and I get a DM from Steve Cole to say,

I'm here with my wife, can we meet you at this section or whatever? So I go to the section to meet them and she says her name is Judy. Yes. She's and I'm not lying to you she says this is I met Paul McCartney but this is the most excited I've been to meet a famous person. A selfie with me Elvis! Oh wow. Pardon? Judy aim higher that's my advice. I can mute your microphone. Honestly, Ruth, I can mute your microphone. They took a selfie with you as well, but I made an exchange.

I gave them a J's. Did you say aim higher? No. Do we know who that woman was that was taking our photo? That was weird. That was my friend, Liz. Oh, okay. That's for Ruth.

Oh, okay. Thanks for being here. So for Ruth's Twitter account. Now what I'm looking for is the mask. It depends on how I look. The last time I recorded from Toronto Mike, my co-host was Mike Richards. And I closed the episode with the mascot, this young woman who is boiling to death in the dog pot shit.

Yeah, I saw her. Why does this mascot not have a name other than mascot? So we talked about it. I recommended the name Butler the Bulldog after the Butler brothers who are the two greatest Toronto Maple Leafs players of all time. Is that a good name? Yes. Thank you. So that's my suggestion, but we're going to have a contest next year. But why the dog?

Why a dog? What's the connection to the team with the dog? Do we know? Is it a historical thing or do they just come up with a dog? It was probably the cheapest costume. I think kids like dogs. Kids do like dogs. Kids do like dogs, yeah. But so... She's sweaty. or do they just come up with the dog? It was probably the cheapest costume, I guess. I think kids like dogs. Kids do like dogs, yeah.

So, she's sweaty. Do you have a great story for us, Ruth, that you can share to see if we can vamp until the dog gets over here. We close with the dog and then we shut this down. I feel like she's getting ready to do something. Where is the dog? It looks like there's all these players up there too, right?

You see the lamppost right in front of us right there? That lamppost, at the bottom of the lamppost is the dog. Okay. like there's all these players up there too, right? You see the lamp post right in front of us, right there? That lamp post at the bottom of the lamp post is the dog. It's the butler, the bulldog. Does she know she's coming here? No. So how are you going to finish with her? Well, she's going to come back here. That's her home base.

It's right beside us and I'm going to close it here. I have so many stories. You've got to narrow it down. And Elvis and I will react. Ready to react to these stories? Give us the best story you have. The best story I have? I don't know, I could tell you a story. I had a one-on-one chat with Chuck D at the

C&E band show. I could tell you stories. What is Ruth Kapilus's, other than the fact you're friends of Stu Stone and Cam Gordon, and you were close enough to Cam Gordon that you got invited to his wedding to MF. MF who made her Toronto mic debut at Christy Pitts for I think it was opening day which was May 12th. Wow. So you got invited to that wedding that's how close you are to Cam Gordon. And well it's whole family I spent every Christmas there. My mind is fucking blown. So you must have a story and I don't care if it's about Cam Gordon or if it's about when you were hanging out with Wayne Gretzky or whatever the fuck the story is Give me a roof capitalist story and i'll see if the dog is gonna make uh her way here

Go ruth and if you don't have one i'm gonna shut this down. Oh my god. I have so many stories I'm trying to narrow it down. I'll just help her like one good one. Yeah, alvis. Give me like a She has so many stories. She can't tell us one Yes, you got to tell me what you want me to talk about and then I can Broadcasters dream is the guest who has so many stories she can't tell us one. Yes, you got to tell me what you want me to talk about and then I can talk about anything. A broadcasters dream is the guest who has so many great stories she can't even start formulating one. Like move your lips and tell one. I don't care if it's the best story or not.

Tell me a fucking story. So my dad had a friend who had very good season tickets at the Jays. This was when the Jays were not particularly good. And this was before Jose Bautista. So it was 2024. Yeah. Became Jose Bautista.

And it was right behind the dugout. And I brought a friend of mine from university. And the first thing he says to me when he sit down, he realizes how close you are to the field, is don't embarrass me. And I was like, what's that supposed to mean? And he's like, you know what it means. And so.

I think I do know what it means. Yeah, I think everybody knows what's that supposed to mean? And he's like, you know what it means. And so- I think I do know what it means. Yeah, I think everybody knows what it means. But anyway, I took it as a challenge because screw that. And I latched onto like Jose Bautista because he was coming out of right field. Who's an FOTM by the way, friend of Toronto Mike. Been on the program. Oh wow.

That's true Elvis. So he would come in from right field. So he was the last one to come into the dugout. Right. And so I would like wave and blow kisses at him and he started like waving and blowing kisses and taking his hat off. Like doing like a whole, every time he came in back into the dugout, he would do like a little pantomime for me and I thought my friend was like going to seriously murder me. And just at the end of the game, he grabbed the ball and he like delicately bounced

it off the dugout. Did he write his hotel number on it? It landed in my lap. Like I'm a Simpsons? Oh, I should have checked. Holy smokes. I'm like two degrees of separation from Jose Batista. I know.

It was very exciting. Okay. So did you embarrass your friend? Yes. Oh, absolutely. Yeah. Okay. So here's okay.

I'm going to play one more. I was doing greatest bits of Elvis. Ruth, you can respond to this Elvis. I'm gonna play another one. You ready? Hi, this is Barry white Please join me on Friday Saturday and Sunday May 8th 9th and 10th for the first for the first fucking thing I'm cutting the fucking spot Tony I'm cutting the fucking spot Tony. Kids. Hi this is Barry White and Paul Quinn College cordially invite you

to a weekend in Texas on Friday, Saturday, one more time. Saturday and Sunday. Shit. Hi this is Barry White and Paul Quinn College cordially invite you to a weekend in Texas on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

May 8th, 9th, and 10th. As the shit. Hi, this is Barry White and Paul Quinn College cordially invites you to a weekend in Waco, Texas, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 8th, 9th, and 10th. This gala weekend will include the welcoming of celebrities, reception on Friday, the first, second, and third rounds of tennis tournament. The first, second, and third rounds of... Hi, this is Barry White. Welcoming celebrities reception on Friday. Let's take it after the eighth, ninth, and tenth. Okay? Do it over. Fuck it.

Hi, this is Barry White, and Paul Quinn College cordially invites you to a beautiful weekend in Waco, Texas on Friday. This asshole fucked these words up, man. I mean, he's got words that he don't even need. Hi, this is Barry White and Paul Quinn College cordially invites you to a beautiful weekend in Waco, Texas. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 8th, 9th, and 10th. This gala weekend will include the welcoming celebrity reception on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, May 8th, 9th, and 10th. This gala weekend will include the welcoming celebrity reception on Friday, the Barry White concert with the Love Unlimited Orchestra, of course, and the post-concert reception on Saturday. And a championship semi-finals.

Fuck this shit, man. I'm going to lay cut this shit all. All right, fuck this. I'm going to take it up to concert and Love Unlimited Orchestra. That's where I'm gonna take it up to concert and love unlimited orchestra that's why I'm gonna stop it so get your tickets now hi this is Barry White and Paul Quinn College in course cordially shitty cordially invites your ass to come on down hi this is Barry White and Paul

Quinn College cordially invites you to a beautiful weekend on Friday, Saturday, ain't just a bitch. Bar adieu. In his defense, it is a horrible sentence. The script is horrible. Yeah. That was good. I hadn't heard that one before.

Well, I'm bringing the goods here today. Okay, so what I'm going to do now. That dog's way over there, dude. Yeah. I don't know if she's coming back. And I need a dog. And a dog's not coming back. I'm having a dog right now. I'll get you a dog right after this. So I want to say thank you to Ruth Kapilis. What's

your Twitter handle? Add Ruth Kapilis. Say it again? Add Ruth Kapilis. It's my name. It's not very inventive, but it's accurate. Follow Ruth. When you're following that Dave Steve account, throw Ruth in the pile. Maybe you'll tweet Cam Gordon stories. Maybe.

Yeah, I could. You know, he's in the FOCM. Who? Brad Hart. The only professional wrestler ever to appear on the Simpsons. Do you know that? Yes. Yeah.

You knew that. He's got the little Simpsons. Do you know that? Yes. Yeah. You knew that he's got the little not even Hogan didn't know only Bret Hart is the only professional WWF or WWE wrestler. I think any professional wrestler is, but it's funny because when I'm listening to Barry White, all I can think about is the Snake Whacking episode, Whacking Day, where he's singing about sexy, sexy snakes. Barry White, shout out to Ridley Funeral Home. Ruth, I didn't know, so you know Brett the Hitman? I do. I can tell you a quick story that just happened. I'm bringing this down for you.

Now she has a fucking story. Where was the story when I was begging you for a fucking story? It was not, man. To get me to the goddamn door. OK, well, let's see the dog dog. Fuck it. So I went to Chicago last week. And I was at a White Sox game.

And there was a guy sitting behind me who looked a little bit like Elvis actually wearing a Brett Hart shirt. Were you in Chicago last week? No. And I said do you mind if I take a picture I want to send it to Brett and he like he's like are you lying and I'm like that'd be a really weird thing to lie about and his name was Johnny Showtime and he was a wrestler and he got into wrestling because of Brett. So I sent Brett the photo and he's like, what a random small world. But he made me like prove it. But how do you know Brett the Hitman hurt?

So I worked at March of Dimes Canada for a number of years and he was the spokesperson for the stroke recovery program because he has survived a stroke. And he used to do a lot of stuff at Comedy Bar. He would come to Toronto and I would accompany him and we just became very good friends. Can I ask you a quick wrestling question before I do the outro? Do you know the name Samoa Joe? Of course.

OK, so Elvis. Yeah, I know Samoa Joe. OK. Why would I not know Samoa Joe? The teaser for a future episode where I will dive into the world of Samoa Joe, because I had a one-on-one of Samoa Joe. You did? Yeah.

While he was filming his show or while he was wrestling? He is in town filming something with the aforementioned Stu Eisenstein. Yes, that's how I knew him. Stu Stone. Yeah. Who- Karrion Stu.

Is making those Dark Side of the Ring episodes. Yes. Yes. Yes. And he's like the producer now. This moment happens at the C&E Bandshell while I'm there with Monica and my daughter and her boyfriend to watch Cyprus fucking Hill. It's pure amazing.

So I meet Samoa Joe and this story, and there's more to the story I'll share in a future episode, but I didn't know Samoa Joe until Ryan Wollstad from the Toronto Sun told me that Samoa Joe and this story and there's more to the story I'll share in a future episode, but I didn't know Samoa Joe until Ryan Wollstad from the Toronto Sun told me that Samoa Joe was there and I had to Google him and find out. He was most recently the AEW champion and of course had to lose the belt because he was going to film this TV show. Season two, maybe three, something like that. My mind is blowing here. All right, Ruth, you're an FOTM now. Thank you. Mission accomplished.

Elvis, always a pleasure, man. No, pleasure's mine. I'm gonna watch some baseball with my, my, uh. I see, your boy. My boy and his friend. Are we allowed to say his name or is that a? Who, Charlie? Charlie Monaco?

Only because I was told by Rob Butler that he's a hell of a player with great spirit. They both are. And you can't call him by his first name. You have to put the two names together. I do wonder this allowed and you're a baseball fan, Ruth. So you appreciate this. When your favorite player has an off year and you're like 10 years old, how does that affect you?

Like I'm thinking of Beau Bichette, who was a perennial all star. Well, you can ask Charlie his favorite players. All right. Do you want to close with him quickly here? Do you want to tell us about Bo Bichette? Like, are you okay with the fact that he had, he's having an off year and he's not currently playing, but he's having a terrible year even regardless. Is he still your favorite player even though he's not playing right now? Are you with him through thick and thin?

Is it because of your hair and his hair? I think that hair is because of Bo Bichette, right? That hair is absolutely. Is that hair because of Bo Bichette? He's also number 11. Well, yeah, there you go. There's a whole- I'm number 11 too, for George Bell.

Well, he's for number 11 for Bell. Have you met George Bell yet? No, but I will play- Speaking of angry. Hi, I'm George Bell. You listen to Toronto Mike. Love that guy. Ooh.

And that, I'm running out of song. I'm gonna have to play it again. And that brings us to the end of our 1530 first show live from Christie Pitts where the Blue Jays are currently trailing the look at this ball right here oh he's got that easy Toronto Maple Leafs are currently Toronto Maple Leafs oh my god thank you Ruth my god I'll fix that in post the Toronto Maple Leafs are currently trailing the Guelph Royals it's 4-0 in the seventh inning you can follow me all over the place at Toronto Mike go to

torontomike.com. Much love to all who made this possible. Now Toronto Maple Leafs baseball, thank you. Another great night. I love coming to Maple Leaf games at Christie Pitts. I love Toronto Maple Leafs baseball. Best value in the city. Get down here, get a dog, get a Leafs logger.

It was delicious. Elvis, how was the Leafs logger? It was fantastic it was so good that I want another one and Ridley Funeral Home is the official funeral home of Toronto Maple Leafs baseball that is a fact but I also want to shout out recycle my electronics dot CA that's where Elvis goes he's probably got a room full of old cables old devices I do all electronics he doesn't throw that shit in the garbage he goes recycle my electronics dot CA puts in his postal code and finds out where in North Oshawa he can drop that off and have it properly recycled.

It's at weirdly enough, they gave me my own address back. So people drop their shit off at my house. I thought you said give it to Rob Butler. No, they give it to me. How close does Rob Butler live to you? Four houses down. That's amazing. How often does he recycle his electronics with you?

Often. He's over quite a bit to drop off stuff. He's got some old Stoney Walkmans you've had to get rid of, right? I think he collects it from the team here as well. He's got that eight track player he doesn't use anymore. I gotta say, Rob is, he's an A-class dude. He's a really nice guy. Did you know Ruth, I threw out the first pitch? I did, I watched you do it. Barely. Did you see it? Barely.

Was that a wild pitch? No. I already said it wasn't a wild pitch I did I watched it Wild pitch no Wasn't a wild pitch. It wasn't a well this cold it a while Even though it was a little bit low. It was like it bounced just before That's all I want to redo I want to mulligan. I just swung at it. That's what I think I think it was one of those Steve Steve sliders sure I want to say thank you to Great Lakes Brewery. Unfortunately, Great Lakes doesn't make the leaves longer, but if they did, I bet you would taste even better.

But shout out to Great Lakes Brewery and shout out to Palma Pasta. Again, my condolences to the Pachucci family on the passing of their patriarch. Ditto. Marcilio, remember we used to fuck with Anthony when he was on the blog, leaving those those comments as like do you remember I'll do J. Yeah, it'll do J. Yeah, you know, yeah, I need a hot dog Mike. Okay. See you all

next week