Inside Spittin’ Chiclets with Brian “Rear Admiral” or “RA” McGonagle | BigCeaz Show Ep. 10

Inside Spittin’ Chiclets with Brian “Rear Admiral” or “RA” McGonagle | BigCeaz Show Ep. 10

I I loved watching it, man. Like the news stories they were doing on you. It was just uh it was just so uplifting and your stories been great and and people really rallied around it and and when when Matty come over and pulled you into the parade, that was that was the best, man. I hope I didn’t bre I hope they didn’t give you the breath at the end of that. But but just seeing that, man, it it was awesome. It really it really like like I said, raised everyone’s spirits and just it was just a great sight to see. So, uh good on you, man, for for making that happen, too, buddy. [Music] Welcome back to the Big C Show, episode number 10. That’s right, 10. I can’t believe we’re already here, guys. It’s been a great year. Appreciate you all tagging along and joining me for this fun adventure. And as you already know, we had to bring in the heat today, especially for episode 10. My guest today is a legend in the hockey media world. Someone you already respect and know, none other than a Brian Rear Admiral and or as we know him as RA McGall. You know him as the OG of Spin Chicklets podcast, the voice of the common fun, the Boston Bruins ride or die hard, and one of the best storytellers in the game. And it’s crazy because he’s been away from the the media uh this last year, but he’s back. He’s back with his presence and I am excited for this one on two interview with my awesome co-host none other than Cameron. Hope you guys enjoy and let’s go. And we are here with the one and only Brian Ra. I can’t I’m not gonna say your last name because I don’t want to butcher it. So give it a try. Mafle McGo pretty good. Not Not too bad. McGonagal. Yeah, McGonagal. Not too bad, buddy. I’ve heard a lot I’ve heard a lot worse. For sure. Like the like the professor from Harry Potter, Caesar, Professor McGonagal. I’ve never seen or read a Harry Potter. No offense. I’m not nothing against it. I just I’m an old [ __ ] Star Wars. I’ I’ve only watched one episode, so I’m with you. All right. Oh, I I swear swearing aloud. I used to like give me a [ __ ] cuz they swore. This guy This guy over here has got no filter. Okay. No, we’re good, man. We’re good. We’re good. All right, let’s [ __ ] go. Okay, let’s go. Yeah. All right, man. Welcome. It’s It’s been a a crazy last couple of years, man. Um, we kind of missed you out there. I know you’ve been taking a little break, personal reasons. Um, it’s good to see you out and about now. Last time I saw you was the first time I ever met you. game seven of the Stanley Cup final in Florida. I mean, kind let’s kind of go back a little bit um to that game. How crazy was it? I mean, it was actually I think I was more nervous than anybody in that arena. I mean, it it went down to the wire. I mean, I we were in the box the whole the whole night. I mean, it wasn’t one of those sometimes, you know, we’re on the road and, you know, you you bounce around, you like kind of, you know, smoo a little bit, but everybody was at attention for for all three periods. Uh, you know, there was, you know, I contrary to popular belief, there was there wasn’t a ton of booze flowing that night on the way on the way to the game. There was quite a bit, but like everybody was just kind of watching the game. Um, and yeah, went down to the wire and uh, you know, I I I mean, oh, I had bet Florida. I I rooted for Florida. I I chose Florida. I went down to uh Now you were partying in Edmonton though. You were partying in Edmonton. 100%. Abs. Absolutely. Absolutely. I mean but Bis was as well. I mean I saw him take off that jersey and uh in the crowd that one game right with Whitney. Yeah. I mean it was I think we always you know we root for seven games. you know, sort of the I think the rodeo clowns of the NHL to some degree. And you know, we were guests of of uh Harrison Cage, the son of Daryl Kates, the the the team owner. He’s he’s a great kid. And you know, you don’t want to see be out there with a stick up your ass. You know what I mean? Like there was there was uh the young supersteene kid there. He you know, he was there. He’s a big Edmonton fan. You know, he’s a he’s a 10-y old kid, the personality of like an 80-year-old guy. And we had a great time hanging out with him. So, they scored and I was excited for him and and I faked a heart attack on the bench. I mean, yeah, it was just more theatrical than anything. I mean, again, we were we were looking for seven games, but uh yeah, it was uh it became all of a sudden I was rooting for Edmonton again, despite the fact that I I bet Florida, picked Florida and all that other stuff. But, uh yeah, it kind of it kind of went that way and uh things just kind of snowballed. So, I I I’ve got one thing that I want to bring up, Ari. Well, two things technically. So, we got the picture down there. Um I remember vividly they they made funny on the podcast the next day because you had that that choker on. Yep. that that sparkly poker. Where where exactly did you find? Where is that? Did you have that frame somewhere? Uh it’s about um seven feet from my finger right now on my my thing there. Uh okay. It’s that’s a funny story like we were going from a bus from the elbow room to the to the game and there were two or three women girls on the bus. That was it. And somebody a guy picked up I mean it’s it was actually a headband but I guess it doubles as a joke. did that night. Someone said, “Oh, any anybody loses.” And and the two or three girls in the bus said, “Not mine.” And I said, “Oh, that’s mine.” You know, obviously it was a woman’s thing. So, I claimed it and they sent it back and and instead of putting on my head, I I throw my neck. And Biz said, “You’re wearing that for the rest of the night.” And I’m not throwing like I’m not I you know, I’m a grown man or whatever, but Bis said, “Keep me wear that for the rest of the night.” And it was on for so long I kind of forgot. I was talking to someone like the second period and it was like I kind of was like I felt something I was like I was like these guys probably think I’m like like a weirdo. Like I just I just didn’t even know it was there after a little while. But yeah, we found it on the floor of the bus and uh put it on and yeah, B said you wear that for the night and that was sort of the intention with it. I guess question did Biz have a leash and kind of pull you around. I draw I draw a line somewhere buddy. I draw a line somewhere. I was gonna say, man, no, there was no no no leash pulling, but good. Yeah, it kind I mean, I think I, you know, maybe not during the interview so much, but I I think I kind of pulled it off at the end of the night, you know. No, you did. You looked good. Yeah, you looked good. It was definitely a unique uh image for you for sure. Something different. And and with the uh the Tom Petty shirt, very Florida on brand. I uh I appreciated when I was looking back at the uh the picture and the video that we took with you last year before the game. It was it was great to meet you. Ben Caesar, you want to talk about when we met him? It was you were high emotions high that night. It was crazy because um I I don’t know if you you kind of see my story, right? Uh the last couple of years and just me dealing with a lot of [ __ ] in my whole life and being able to witness Florida in the Stanley Cup final again, backtoback years and for us to be in game seven, one game away to win the Stanley Cup final was such an incredible moment. I was just taking it all in and you know watching you guys and spitting chicklets are uh you Ron Whitney uh Paul Bisnet um G everybody Merles you guys are like awesome and you know we really look up to you guys especially as us as a hockey community. You guys bring the fun in in podcasting and you guys are one of the reasons why I started one of my platforms here. Um, I’ve always wanted to be uh get involved in sports, do sports, something in sports media, right? I’m so passionate about sports in general. And we kind of we’ll go back a little bit later and kind of talk about how you ended up going into uh the business, but that moment was for me was really special just bringing it all in emotionally and being able to meet you cuz I know you’re such a great guy um off the air and you know it was really a pleasure meeting you and you were nothing but kind. Uh, we got to chat, talk about the Kachchuck family, and I really appreciate those moments that you and for you to give me the time of your time to actually talk to me and the fans outside of the arena. See, thanks first off for the the kind words about about everything. It’s it’s awful kind to you. And yes, it was like, you know, like me and we get fueled by meeting the fans no no matter what. And I mean, I just noticed the picture right there. It’s such a great picture of us, too, man. Like I remember cuz I was going in and I was actually babysitting Terry Ryan, believe it or not, that night. He was he was out of control. He he didn’t he wouldn’t have gotten the game without me. So I actually had like I’d be hand sold there and kind of take over. But I I remember meeting you and having a nice quick chat with you and uh you know it was it was good. We kept in touch and then this year was I I watched from afar. You know I I had more FOMO with you this year I think than any any interview that [ __ ] man all the all the seas lover was going on. I was like, “Oh, that’s my boy, man.” You know, I wasn’t there this year. But I I loved watching it, man. Like the news stories they were doing on you. It was just uh it was just so uplifting and your stories been great and and people really rallied around it and and when when Mattie come over and pulled you into the parade, that was that was the best, man. I hope I didn’t bre I hope I didn’t give you the breath at the end of that, but but just seeing that, man, it it was awesome, man. It really it really, like I said, raised everyone’s spirits and just it was just a great sight to see. So, uh, good on you, man, for making that happen, too, buddy. No, thank you. And, uh, and it kind We’re going to kind of go back a little bit and how it all started for you. Um, and I kind of saw it on, uh, the podcast you were just on with, um, the the Zebras. Uh, Oh, yeah. Yeah. Chirp and Zebras. Yeah. Zebras. For those of you that are watching this episode, go check them out. They are awesome. They’re former NHL uh, referees, right? So, they just had great chat with you and I got to learn a lot about you too in that episode and kind of going into how not being afraid to take your chances, right? And that’s how kind of where you’re you’re at now where you got involved with uh Ryan Whitney and and Spitting Chicklets kind of go back to that moment where or even a little bit further back with uh with Dave and giving you the opportunity with your blog, right? um kind of tell our our fans here um how it all started for you. Yeah. Oh yeah. It all started uh I I was hoping to get a writing job. I mean I I graduated college 97 um and you know all my advisers you know said advised me to get you know get into journalism because I you know ran the school paper. I loved it. I was good at it. But it was kind of crazy that none of them you know saw this steam engine coming down the tracks that was going to bury the whole industry being the internet. Um, so you know, you all of a sudden you start looking for a job in a field that that you know, jobs are dying by the day. Um, which makes it crazy that Dave Port opened a newspaper in 2003 when they were dying like literally literally by the day. Um, and I was, you know, I was a a fan of reader right away. I was a commenter and he was looking for a Bru Bruins blogger. It was 2006, maybe early 2007 and I sent in a a sample and never heard back. And later that day there was my blog up on the front page and you know as a journalism major you know it was like having you know the the front page story it was great and I I had the gig I was hoping to get a writing gig sees like I this is you know Boston was still you know like like a a small thing at the time and you know you were hoping to maybe let a website you cover the NHL or something like that and and I just kept plugging away and um you know after a few years you know I was you know Dave Little something went the be you know and uh you know but he said, “Hey, RA, like the blog’s yours as long as you want it, but I’m never hiring a Bruins guy.” And I mean, one thing about Dave I love is he gives it to you straight and he he never did hire one. And I just kept plugging away because like I tell young kids like if you do nothing, nothing happens. Uh so, you know, then, you know, I had met Ryan Whitney a couple times over the years, you know, he was local kid made well. Um you know, and he was probably the first like Boston fan athlete, you know, like like really touted the site and everything. And so, you know, he had been read my stuff for a little while and we, you know, like I said, we had a bear and shot the [ __ ] once or twice. Uh, and then he was done playing. He come home from Sweden and uh December of 2015, he sent that tweet out to Biz. Biz said, “I got a couple more years left.” And I replied, “A partner, a you know, half joking, half shooting my shot, you know, Michael Scott Wayne Gretzky, you always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” And he uh he was in my DMs 10 seconds later uh saying, “Are you serious, RA?” I was like, “Yo, abs, abs fuckingutely.” And did you had a podcast? I said, “No, and I’ll learn.” And I did. And we had our first episode out two months later. Um, and then we were off and running. And then, you know, we didn’t get hired right away. You kind of have to prove yourself. Even even, you know, Whitney as a former pro athlete, you know, Dave wanted to see what we had. And after about I think 10 12 episodes, he’s like, “Hey, like you know, like we guys are doing here, you know, going to bring you guys in and you kind of like, you know, pair up a BTO and, you know, come under their umbrella and, you know, you just they do all the logistical stuff that if you didn’t do yourself, you’d have to have someone else do it anyway. So why not work with this company we love and we I’ve already been working for.” And uh so like it was just kind of ironic sees that I was you know working all like you know towards a hopefully a writing gig but it was my big mouth somehow somehow rather that ended up getting me the payday. Normally that usually gets you in trouble right normally but like and you know because as I kept writing you know Whit was reading my [ __ ] Now I I’ve never pretended to be an X’s and O’s guy but I you know was quick to jump in with me because he knew I knew my [ __ ] about the NHL because I just kept plugging away. So, you know, you you can might be aiming for one thing and something else might pop up and and that’s kind of what happened with me. That’s awesome, man. And and it kind of goes back to what happened this year with me, right, Paul? You know, biz he started talking [ __ ] about the Florida Panther fans and I actually took that [ __ ] to heart. I’m like, “Oh, hell no. No, you’re not going to come out of here and make fun of us here.” So, you know, that’s when I was like, “You know what? Let me let me go back at him.” I never thought in my wildest dreams that he would actually reply and respond and everything just spiraled into one of the best rivalries in social media, right? Oh, it was it just added this fun element to to to the playoffs. I mean, the playoffs are great anyways. And, you know, to have that going on. I mean, it was just the the the videos going back and forth. Everybody played into it. Like I said, it was just a it was just a fun story and it just showed, you know, how like the the hockey community come together. You didn’t have to be a Florida fan or Toronto fan or a Boston fan. just it was just a fun story. You you busting business balls and going back and forth and it was just such an easy thing for the hockey world to to rally around it. Now, I regret not wearing my my Biz idiot shirt now, though, now that we’re talking about this guy. I should have I should have thought to put it on for you. All right. Do you agree with that uh that Keith Yandel statement that he said on Chicklets the other day? He’s like, ah, you know, he’s just he’s just idiot. I mean, and I feel like he’s he’s just a funloving guy. I feel like all of all of you guys on Chicklets are like that and almost all the hockey guys are like that. You’re just it’s just fun, loving, down to earth. It’s just all about community. Yeah. I I mean I’ve you know been fortunate to be have this job for nine years and even before that I was you know covering the the league and I mean the the number of you know people who were like you know even distasteful not even like it’s it’s infantessimal. It’s it’s crazy how how the percentage of people that are in the league around the league they’re just really good solid people. They’re good individuals and uh it’s just it’s just a a great league to to work in, work around and it’s just so many good people. I I mean I got like I said I can count on a half a hand how many you know actual real [ __ ] I’ve encountered in you know like probably 15 years with you know getting to have a press pass or whatever. I was going to say kind of talking into like how the the NHL athletes in general, the people in the the coaches, um their families, uh everybody in general is is honestly just second to none the best people in the world. Um not not trying to like bash any other sport, but there’s nothing like the hockey community. You could literally run into a hockey player on the street and they would sit there and take the moment of their time and chat like you’re just uh just one of the guys, right? And for Matthew Kachchuck to do what he did this year for me um at Club 11 uh where I literally got waterboarded. I was going to say like you look like you were down a freaking Guantanamo for Christ sake, bro. One of the best moments of my life. And I’m like, you know what? I don’t think anything’s gonna top this. And then two days later or a week later, here comes the parade, man. And here comes Matthew Kachchuck. He sees me from the bus. Him and his family, Walt, his mom, Chantel, and his sister. They’re all great people. Um, and for them to notice me and then they literally stopped the bus. And for him, Reinhardt and Magma to come towards me and say, “Get your ass out here. You’re going to come celebrate with us.” It it was just an unbelievable moment and I kind of lost it. I’m not going to lie. As soon as he took his ring off and he gave me his ring for those like first five minutes, like honestly, it was such a special moment and me growing up being such a big passionate sports fan. My number one love was football and the Dallas Cowboys were my number one love. But now it’s kind of like all come to circle where where now I’m a big hockey fan. But yeah, go ahead. All right. Like you’re born and raised Miami. No. No, I wasn’t born in Miami. I was actually born in New Mexico. We ended up moving Yeah. We moved to Florida when I was uh six years old, 1992, two weeks before Hurricane Andrew hit. So that was literally a welcome to Florida moment. And So you were a Cowboys fan before you got to FLA? Yeah. Yeah. So my dad was a big Cowboy fan living on the west coast close to Texas area. Um so all the games would always be on Fox and stuff. So um and of course because of my disability and I would have broken bones every now and then. So I would be red bitten. So what the only thing I had to do is just sit on the couch and watch TV. And every Sunday I would literally just watch the Cowboys play with my dad. It was something that we both had a special bond with and um from that moment on it just um I became in love with the team and and then yeah going back to the what Matthew Kachchuck done for me. It’s truly incredible and it goes to show you how great the hockey community is and how great you guys are and you guys have been to us h to the hockey fans here in general, not just in Florida but all over the world. Um I’ve gotten people from Finland. I’ve gotten people from Sweden, uh, Montreal, Toronto, Edmonton, everywhere, all over the world saying, “Hey, C’s, you’re such an inspiration. I saw you on Spin Chicklets. You you’re the [ __ ] man.” And it just, you know, just being able to like touch other people’s lives and to be able to share it on your guys’ platform, it truly means the world to me. And I couldn’t have thanked you guys enough for that. Oh, no man. I I it’s a no-brainer, man. It was It was so much fun. I mean like obviously I was on the sidelines but just from watching it I could tell the guys were having fun bringing you on the the energy you brought like just like the sort of you know nice little storyline we had going it was it was dynamite [ __ ] man and you said the hockey world yeah those folks are the best and there’s you know there’s so much other stuff too that like people don’t know about like I’ve you know that doesn’t make the papers and or doesn’t hear about just you know countless little things what whatever it may be someone’s you know needed um money to get, you know, stock the pantry in the house or something like this or airfare or that. I I’ve seen so many things where they just it’s just the generosity and and the like the spirit for people is is just I’m the president in the hockey world and yeah, it’s great to be a part of it, brother. Yeah, it’s definitely second to none the best. Um and you know, shout out to Biz and kind of talk about that moment since we’re talking about how you started off with uh Ryan Whitney and Dave. Talk about that moment that you met Biz and he’s like and you kind of talked about it on the last podcast how he had a vision. You guys were just doing it just like the fun of it, right? And he had a vision of making it big. Talk about that moment that you interacted with him. Yeah. And and I I I kind of skipped around there a bit. I mean before uh Biz we you know Grenelli had come in before that. He sent the an email and he was I had been getting frequent emails you know of hey this you know you guys the show’s great but you need you know some sound improvements and everybody was out of state you know and we needed someone on site and and Grenelli is I got his email I saw this kid somewhat local and I saved it and then the next day I mix [ __ ] the bed and that opened the door for Grenelli. So, you know, he he kind of come in and cleaned up that that aspect and then so fast forward a biz. We had him on as a guest uh uh two maybe three times and and you know it’s amazing how much just the cult’s uh tolerance for certain things has changed even for his first like it was funny hilarious he said the [ __ ] now well we wouldn’t get cancelceled because any Dave if you’re Dave P is uncancilable so like you know even now you would you wouldn’t say it just because you don’t want to deal with the backlash but right hilarious outrageous and and that’s that’s that’s one thing I love about Paul Right. He tells it as it is and just doesn’t give a [ __ ] what you think about it as it isn’t. That is true. That is true. Hey, even on TNT, he’ll tell you exactly how he feels. He’ll hold a candlelight vigil for the Toronto Maple Leafs game seven on national TV. It it is funny too how you know he can be such a goof on chicklets but then like like break it down like you know like John Madden X is a no style like super knowledgeable super does go go night and day like that but um yeah it’s uh so yeah fast roll we had on Biz a few times and you know we we weren’t looking to say hey we we need to add add a third it was like hey do you want to see if biz wants to join and if he said no we weren’t like there was no there wasn’t a plan B it was just you know like this was like you know kind you know, kind of an animal and a personality and, you know, he had huge Twitter follow and all that stuff and, you know, we asked him, he was over the moon and, uh, yeah, he joined and he’s, yeah, he had much more of a a business vision. I mean, his it’s not just business name, it’s biz because he’s always got business on the brain and you know me and what like what’s I mean, what’s set for life out there that contract you get in Pittsburgh. I me I’m scratching with the chickens that making [ __ ] though as a custodian, but have a nice little side gig here. like, you know, we weren’t we weren’t working a ton of hours and the dough wasn’t too bad. Uh, but then Biz come on and re really saw like what this could be and really helped like push it and make it, you know, the to where it’s gotten and it’s just been like a rocket ship that hasn’t, you know, like even get close to plateauing yet. So, um, yeah, Biz really had this uh business sense and just drive and ideas and, you know, and, you know, it’s sometimes, you know, there sometimes a bumpy road. It’s, you know, three three dudes like three personalities and strong personalities and and it’s like you can’t beat me up. It’s not on the ice. So, I know you I can ch back at him now. But, uh it’s uh it’s it’s you know, he wasn’t too good on the ice anyway. So, yeah, it’s been a great but it’s been it’s been a wild ride, a great ride. And uh yeah, man. Biz was the like I I make the analogy and I I hate I hope it doesn’t sound arrogant, but like Mia Whit won a title and Bis made us a dynasty. That’s the way I kind of like liken it to, you know. No, I I totally think that’s that’s dead on the nails. Um, and you guys are incredible and just the vision that he has, his personality. Um, like I said, if it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be, you know, in the social media like I am, you know. Um, but it that’s why it kind of goes to show you you got to take your chances. If you don’t take those chances, you’re never going to um Absolutely. you’re never going to get to where you want to be, right? So, and the internet forgets in a day, man. And if you if you fall in your face, boom, like the wind blows, everything goes and it it starts over again. I mean, unless you shoot unless you shoot some free throws in the north, then end of Boston, and then then you’ll never outrun that [ __ ] though. Oh [ __ ] that is so true. Um, I kind of want to talk to uh about how now that Keith Yandel is part of the show. He’s also from Boston, right? Yep. And he’s one guy um I would like to meet one day. Um how long have you known Keith Handle? And have you been watching him since he was uh playing in Boston? Uh I don’t I’m trying to remember the actual first time I met him. Um we weren’t like little kids or anything. Probably I don’t know maybe late teens, early early 20s. Like his his family’s from child. Like his basically his dad and my dad like grew up together more or less. And his uncle and my dad were like best friends there. They were like after my parents got divorced my dad and his uncle like you know they were wing men for about well there’s a joke they’re like they like Leo and Leo McDonald and Paul Yando went to a party in 1980 and came back in 1984 like that was that was the old joke about him. So uh Back to the Future [ __ ] right there. Yeah. Exactly. So like yeah the Yandals were longtime family friends but yeah but Keith you know he grew up in um you know Milton the suburb just outside of Boston. So, I didn’t like, you know, interact with them as, you know, young kids or whatever. And yeah, like I I met him and Brian probably like I said, I don’t know what whatever the specific time is, maybe early 20s, whatever. And then, you know, just kind of got to know them over the years. And, uh, yeah, they they’re characters as as you know, and, you know, like like a lot of the Yandals are, they’re just a a very funny crew of people. So, especially Brian Yand. I I I particularly love Brian Y. He’s a he’s a funny bastard. And, of course, you know, they grew up Oh, yeah. He he kills me. He’s a Boston cop, man. He he’s a good good guy. And of course they do um Oh god, I’m I’m going to brain fart like an [ __ ] there. The podcast he does motto ring shrinks. All right, I didn’t need help there. They the ring shrinks podcast and they do a great job. It’s it’s you know it’s more youth hockey oriented, parent oriented. They do a great job with it and you know give like some great advice there. So um yeah, I’m I’m a big fan of the Yandle Clan and uh yeah, it’s been a long like I said long family history with the Mongos and the Yandals for sure. That’s awesome. And kind of going into uh when you first met Mike Reelli, uh he hit you up and kind of wanted to make the show a little bit better. Um meeting him here in South Florida, he is so awesome. The guy is like literally wired like everywhere you see him go. He’s he’s always on the go and he’s always wanting to do stuff. Um talk about your relationship with Mike and over the years uh of being with Spin Chickas and meeting him. Yeah. Yeah. You know, Mike’s another perfect example of, you know, you always miss 100% of the shots you don’t take. He sent that email and I happened to save it and like I said, the next day it, you know, the mixer we had a borrowed mixer [ __ ] to bed and he he get in and uh yeah, he he was, you know, well, savior as far as audio visual thing and yeah, it’s been great with Mike. I mean, we, you know, he’s brought Alex, he’s done so much behind the scenes, you know, uh, well, the Chicklets Cup, you know, he’s he’s been doing Chickiversity University. Like, he he’s done so much to elevate the brand and Yeah, man. It’s I can’t believe like I look I look at pictures of him and he was like he looked like he was about 15 years old with his little crew cut and like he he looked so so young. Um, and yeah, we we’ve had a great ride together, man, and and hopefully hopefully a lot more years to go. Uh it’s been great working with him and you know to getting to know him and his his fiance and and you know what what she did to her her cancer battle and uh like the card she showed to you know like make videos and and put herself out there battling that Alana she what she did was was impressive as hell man and uh you know it was really really nice to see that you know she inspired so many people and I know you know they’re going to be getting married soon I don’t know if they have a date yet so but uh yeah uh the best of luck to those two man that’s uh they’re a good couple. We might have to do a little uh crane crashers there. All right. No, congratulations to them and they they are so awesome together. Uh just seeing them on TikTok, they just uh um just lively and very inspiring and what she went through like you said. Um she’s such an amazing person. So yeah, it’s tough. I mean you go through that and then you know to like put yourself out there publicly. I mean that’s you know that’s not a lot of people just want to just tune out the world right they just want to be by themselves and she literally did the opposite and credit to her man because she motivated so many people exactly very very very impressive and what she did and I and I I I sent her to let her know that it was very special what she did so um I want to get to know about your life growing up and how has sports been a big impact in your life growing up in Boston um knowing that you’re a Red Sox fan Boston Bruins fan and I’m assuming you’re a Patriots fan. Yeah, it it’s just it’s just in the DNA in the water here. Like you’re just all all four Pats, so Socks, Bruins, Celtics, like you know, we’re very fortunate to have four pro teams here. College, you know, like like it’s not nearly as right. What’s that? Boston College, right? Yeah, BC. Yeah, BC. You know, they’re not like getting dumped on, but it’s the the focus is more on the pro teams. I mean, we, you know, we like our colleges here, but it’s just when you got four major pro squads and, you know, I I mean, I was born into like, you know, a Bruins season ticket, uh, like holded them, like my parents, they well, they were still married at the time. I I was born like two weeks after they won the 72 cup and so my mother was in, you know, games one, two, and five out the hill with me inside. And and like so I I was born like, you know, into Bruins just fandom my whole life. Uh, I used to get Celtics tickets all the time. you just you just grow it in Boston. It’s just Yeah. And um so you know there were certain lulls. I mean the Red Sox were terrible. It was easy to get tickets back in the 80s. But but the run you know from the Celtics I’m sorry the Celtics the Patriots in 2001 2002 season to like with you know however long it went every single team in the city. I remember it. It was 2019. I’m a Dolphin fan. I remember exactly when it ended. It was 2019. Insane. It was insane. And uh and I mean and I used to tell other football fans like and you know like like the Patriots were the biggest laughing stock ever like I said like Cleveland fans are well Detroit’s kind of up in the upswing but look if the Patriots can come back from what they were at to to do this then any team can do it you know uh because they were one of the biggest jokes in the league the Patriots for such a long time their old stadium it was like a glorified high school stadium. Uh and then Bob Craftman brought bu built a new stadium, brought in Bellich and and just things turned around. Then I mean they’re one of the most, you know, most proh profitable and highly valued sports teams in in the landscape. So um there’s always hope, man. But it’s uh it’s it’s tough when a team sucks for a long time. Almost we know we know the Panthers have been the lapping stop for the longest time. So we’re really enjoying this moment now because we never know um when it’s going to end, right? And yeah, and and it’s it’s crazy how Bill Zto this year was able to pull off the unthinkable. We’ll kind of get back into that a little bit later on in the show, but um kind of want to ask you being a Patriots fan during that run that they win all those Super Bowls, who do you think was more valuable, Bill Bich or Tom Brady? Um I I gotta go Brady. Uh I think just because he’s the one on the field getting, you know, actually physically getting it done. Uh, I mean, I think Bellichic’s a a football genius and Savant, you know, maybe a little too overbearing sometimes to his players, but yeah, I I gotta say Brady because he’s the one who, you know, actually physically got it done and I I you watch clips from like the Atlanta 28 to three Super Bowl that I mean like you know how do you get Bill credit for that? I mean, I’m sure he called some plays there, but I mean look what Brady did there. the whole team did. But, you know, like yeah, def definitely Brady. Uh, it’s it sucked to see him leave, but you know, I’m not one of these guys who cries in his beard too much cuz I mean, after Bob was in a Chicago Blackhawk sweater, uh, there’s nothing that can really make your eyes bleed any more than that around here. So, whatever. You get over it. It’s free agency at sports. You get the older you get, the cyn more cynical you get and that’s just the way it goes. So, yeah, I was glad he won one in Tampa though, Tom Brady. Yeah. Yeah. And I kind of agree with you there, especially because he did win one in Tampa and Bill Bich hasn’t won one without Brady. So that is true, but I I would say that they could not have had the success that they had without one another. They may have they may have individually been able to pull it all together and get one or maybe get two, but they would not have had the success that they did without each other. You can’t. Yeah, totally agree. Totally agree. I I got I got another Boston related question for you, RA. So you we’re talking Red Sox Fenway. You say it’s it used to be easy to get tickets. Now it’s virtually sold out every single game. The Red Sox have been competitive for over 20 years now. I read an article that they’re going to really uh renovate the surrounding areas of Fenway Park and that’s the oldest ballpark if I’m correct. And a lot of people are concerned that the uh facade is going to be ruined of the famous sitgo sign. I want to know if you’ve heard about that and if you’re actually on board or against that because I someone who works in construction, I’m I I understand where the development comes from, but you know, I understand the aesthetic of a baseball stadium and preserving history. Um I I wish I was more up to date. I usually do know the Boston political [ __ ] but I’m trying to because I know they wanted to build be like behind um like Ipsswitch Street, I think it was. But is that the the garage they want to build right next to the pike? Is that one? Okay. It’s going to cover the iconic sitgo sign. Okay. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. There’s a How many like story tower? That’s right. Yeah, man. I I mean, you can’t see it from Fenway. I mean, I It’s like, all right. Like, what are you going to do? Not build this building because people can’t see this sign that represents a Venezuelan uh gas company that’s not even in business anymore. It’s iconic. See it from everywhere else but but Fenway. I don’t know. versus what the the this building and the money it could potentially it will bring into the city. Uh, you know, I don’t know. I I mean, it’s nice to see and look up at it, but yeah, it sucks to look up and see a tower and buddy, I mean, I’m I’m gentrified out. I, you know, I’m died a Boston Irish guy from Charles Town and, you know, the city’s changed and whatever. I’m I don’t mobile about it like some people do, but and I would not me I’m not rooting for a building through up. You can’t see the situ, but like that’s not a good enough reason to not like build that tower, I guess. See, I I asked cuz I I when I saw the article come out the other day, I saw a whole bunch of people complaining about it for the iconic skyline and I was like, uh, you know, for historic park, I I kind of get it. And it’s the same deal with uh that people have with Wrigley with the uh the rooftops on the opposite end of the street as well. And I’ve actually been to Chicago and seen that. And obviously that generates a lot of money for the local economy, just those rooftops. It’s not even affiliated with the team. Yeah. The one thing about they couldn’t really they couldn’t squeeze anything in between the rooftops and and the the game there. You know what I mean? Like as far as like this like again this is this I mean if you’ve been to Fenway it’s a no signs of fair you know fair distances. It does it looks some sometimes look like a home run is going to hit it but it’s it’s you know probably 800 900 feet away if not a thousand. But yeah it’s cool to look up and see it but yeah I don’t know. I don’t think this city is going to let like Fenway uh patrons view affect uh putting a monster building up like that. Good question though. I like it. And uh kind of go into we’re going to kind of stick into um how Brad Marshan now being traded to the Florida Panthers. In your honest opinion, what did you think when it happened? Um I was surprised it was Florida. I I I knew he was going to get traded somewhere. Um and you know, like for for the return, you obviously if they went so far and he played x amount of games, it would become a firstrounder. I thought it was, you know, fair compensation. I mean, you know, he’s 37. He was coming off injuries. I mean, he was still having a pretty good season, but he, you know, he’s a UFA, man. You know, you you’re not going to get too much more than that. Now, the Bruins, could they have I’m sure they got better offers, but I think it people need to remember they accommodated him. They had I think the they had so much respect for him that, you know, they had a deal for LA, a much better deal, probably I would I would say much better, but probably a better deal on paper. And uh Marshan didn’t want to go there. and the Bruins, where do you want to go? And they they, you know, they did they did him a solid, man. I mean, and I think that that that gets kind of forgotten in the story is like, you know, they they really did they really did a solid favor. A guy who took less pay all his time here in Boston, who’s a great captain. Um they couldn’t agree on an extension, unfortunately. Would have loved to have him here. So, at that point, all right, we’re going to cut bait. And yeah, man, they sent him to Florida and gave him his best chance to add to his Hall of Fame resume. And I don’t know, man. And and it worked out. Uh, I mean I wouldn’t I wouldn’t say I was cheering necessarily though every single round for Florida. No, but no, just, you know, I’m probably rooting for, you know, Cinderella stories or whatever. But, you know, I wasn’t I really wasn’t rooting for anybody to be honest with you this year once the Bruins were out. I just was hoping for good games. And whoever won, if it was McDavid, I would have been happy for him and and Leon and whatever. And of course, if Florida won, yeah, Marshon be I’d be psyched for him. So, I wasn’t mad about it. I know Bru was fans. Some of them act like child babies about it. It’s like like, you know, and they didn’t they cried when he went off in the playoffs. It’s like, bro, you didn’t say [ __ ] when he got traded. You now it’s like, oh, he goes off and you complain about what the compensation was. Like, no, we got a first round to do it. I was going to say, you know, got a pretty good return in it. So, yeah. And and again like they they sent him somewhere that that he wanted to go and they they didn’t they you know they they get got less back than they could have to accommodate you know a guy who’s going to have his number 63 up in the rafter someday. So uh good I love Marie always will my former neighbor. He’s still right across the street from him. So I miss now but I miss I miss being across the street from though. I was gonna say and and have you interacted with him or like how many times have you um gotten to know him personally because I just recently got to know him and not knowing him off the ice, you know, obviously we see how he is on the ice, you know, uh for any team that goes against Boston, he was the one nemesis that we hated, right? whether if especially if you’re against him, but now that you’re with him, you love the guy. Like he’s he’s definitely one of the rats now. So, um how did what was the first time like when you first interacted with uh Brad March? It was probably uh the season the Bruins won the cup 2010 2011. Um you know that was first year I had had a press pass too funny enough. So, you know, I didn’t go in the locker room every every game. And that night wasn’t necessarily writing like, you know, game is like every every, you know, like capsules of of the game the night before. I would just kind of go in, you know, maybe talk to a guy or two or just kind of get a vibe or whatever. Um, so, you know, I might have seen him in the locker room once or twice, but when they won the Stanley Cup and I was in Vancouver for that. Um, and you know, Basu was, you know, it’s it was starting to kind of like, you know, in its asento at the top there. And I I got a piece of paper and I wrote like a white trash like viva a stool sign, you know, that’s sort of a a call basel. And I wrote on on a piece of yellow paper and well, first I I was like photobombing Peter Sharelli like he was live on Boston TV walking by with it. And then when I went in the locker room, I handed it to Mashan and I I actually he held it up with Tyler Seag and I took a picture of him holding the holding the V school sign in the locker room. Uh and then yeah, like I mean I I would be bump into him, you know, around the neighborhood, but I never would engage him like if you know if he was out maybe with his kid or just, you know, as a civilian if he said hello first then, you know, but I would never, you know, engage him, you know, those during the private time. You just, you know, right? Like I said, you know, if he you know, but a couple times I went, “Hey, what’s up?” and you look up and it’s like, “Oh, okay.” It’s like, “What’s up, Ashie?” You know what I mean? So, yeah, if he said, “What’s up?” I But I would never, you know, bug him on his personal time, you know? Yeah. I’m the same way with uh with athletes. And maybe it’s that coaching in me when I was back in high school and I used to coach uh high school football. Uh I was never one to go up to a player, can I have your autograph and stuff? I always love to like give them their personal time, but if they come up to you, of course, you know, definitely love to shoot the [ __ ] and stuff and get to know them and stuff. So, yeah, I totally agree with you on that. Um, being in the Boston area and being able to speak to players in general, who’s a number one player? I know you said it on the the podcast, the last podcast you were on, um, Zeno Charara was one of your favorites. explain how he’s been one of your uh idols here uh as a Boston Bruin. Yeah, I mean he he changed the the trajectory of this franchise. Uh I mean unlike any player I mean you can make the argument since Bobby uh they signed him as a free agent excuse me in uh July 1st 2006 along with Max Zad who was a significant addition as well unfortunately a dirty disgusting hit he took or ended his career early but but Charara I mean he they get in the captaincy he just like kind of he just kind of put his anchor down uh he changed the culture of the of the clubhouse along with Patrice Burge run uh you know for example like they wouldn’t use the they don’t use the word rookie, you know, they he he like banished the word rookie so players you know were rookies wouldn’t feel like lesser or lower then and um you know we talked about that in the interview and you know he didn’t get into specifics because about what happened but he you could tell he had gone through some [ __ ] cuz you know he was [ __ ] and you know tall be you know before he made the NHL and I think he he was given a hard time I think he got a lot of [ __ ] from from guys and he didn’t want that to repeat when he got to the NHL level. So, he changed to a culture of accountability uh and just respect and like I said, just uh respect for teammates and no one’s better than the other and you know, no hazing and none of that stuff. And of course, is playing the ice, man. Uh he was the premier shutdown defenseman, you know, of his generation. I mean, shout out shout out to him the other day. He ran a triathlon, too, and in his home country I saw on on X the other day. Ran uh ran up a mountain, too, swam and then rode the bike up the mountain. It was insane. Still peak athlete. incredible athlete and and just a like a a genuinely great human being as well. Like I mean when we interviewed him like you know he he you know say oh come over you know come over my pool this summer like and like you know sometimes people say hey like and he wasn’t kidding you know I mean like he was genuinely like he genuinely meant it you know and uh yeah he he’s just a he’s a special dude and and yeah I really got the pitter patter like like that and sometimes you think you’re going to get it for one guy and and maybe not and when yeah when Zeke come in man I was like I was over the moon more than I thought and just uh tremendous uh player tremendous guy and and Yeah, really really turned around this franchise and uh I can’t wait till they put 33 up. The raft is bad. Does he Does he really look like he’s like 7 foot tall in person on the skates? Cuz I I know being 66 on skates has got to got to be pretty intimidating staring up to a guy like that. Yeah. No, I mean if you skates on the locker room, yeah, forget about it. It’s like it’s like Flex like 69 with the afro, you know, like all the way up here. Um but yeah, I mean you know when he walks in the room Yeah. He’s obviously he’s he’s super tall, but he he’s just like it’s funny how much of an animal, you know, like a lot of guys on the ice, but off the ice just just a gentle, just a a nice gentleman, you know, just like a just a really really good guy, man. Yeah, we we were blessed to have him here in Boston as long as we did. And uh yeah, uh Bruins fans really appreciated Big Z here. And uh he holds a special place in Bruins fans hearts for sure. No, that’s awesome. And yeah, I know he had one of the hardest slap shots in the league for the longest time. So just being able to watch him in a skills competition. You would always look for him to be in the slapshot competition. It was like one of my favorite uh things to watch on the All-Star break. Um yeah, him or Shay Weber. And Shay Weber, right? So those two guys were always uh top bent like this basically when they would take their shot. Crazy. Crazy. It’s amazing. It’s amazing. um kind of going into uh basketball here. Um how big of a Boston Celtics fan and um have you been and you know you lived through the Larry Bird ages, right? And being able to watch him kind of tell us how that was growing up and being able to see such an amazing player like him. You know what it’s it’s funny. Yeah, I mean I ho, you know, host hockey podcast, work at hockey media for a living, and I actually saw a lot more Celtics games in person at the Garden than Bruins game, uh, Bruins games. Bruins tickets were were tough to get in the 80s and, you know, we’d get them here and there, but I was, as far as the Celtics, they weren’t any easy. Of course, they were champions all throughout the 80s, but one of my father’s best buddies had season tickets up in our section up in balcony 99A front row, two seats, one and two. And every I mean more often than not they’ll be hey so and so bailed out so and so bailed out because I live I mean geez I’m 10 minute walk from the garden from here like it’s a that’s awesome I’m literally like five minutes away from the arena here too. So like back in the day I would literally with my little brother before he passed like he would just hop on the back of my chair and we’d be just going straight to the arena like let’s go watch some hockey. Exactly. Have it right there. So I I got quite quite a fair amount of the Celts tickets. a lot more than Bruins tickets for. A lot more than Yeah, Bruins tickets for sure. And yeah, Larry Bird, man. I mean, I I put him out on if you follow me on Instagram, probably three times a week, I’m putting a Larry Bird video out there because I’ll stumble across it. And I don’t think how people realized how bad of a mofo he was back then. And you know, because there was the 80s and they played against plumbers and mechanics. No, they did. But the 80s NBA was as toughest era decade ever. forever the NBA. This generation has no idea what basketball was in the 80s and 90s. Like I honestly I I’m not I used to be a basketball fan. Not as much anymore. I kind of kind of fallen off just because of the like I don’t know. I just feel like they’re just too much too much cryb babies out there, you know? They’re they’re just complaining too much about the money and yet they get guaranteed money throughout their whole contracts. It’s like what the hell are you complaining about? Right. And then and we I think we talked about this too, Caesar, with load management too. And then meanwhile in the hockey side, you’ve got guys like Matthew Kachchuck who are playing with a torn adductor off his bone and a sports hernia. And then Sam Reinhardt’s playing with a sprained MCL scoring a hatch. And then you hear you have LeBron James complaining about a foul who barely gets touched. So I don’t know in season tournament. I mean that’s the biggest indictment right there. Like you got to give these guys incentive like to play during the season. You know what I mean? Like that’s basically that’s ridiculous. But but I will say though that like this last finals I thought it was great. I felt bad for Indiana Hallebertton getting hurt like that. I think he could have won. I thought that so much of the game was played inside the three-point line because that’s a big criticism and a valid criticism about the game today. It’s too much. It’s like you know a guy gives up a two- foot bunny and to kick it out to a three-pointer gives up an an automatic two and and it’s a frustrating game to watch a lot of times. Uh the finals, I I thought it was a very well played finals and hopefully we’ll see a little bit more of that. A little bit more like team basketball, a lot more passive because uh you know, we always talk about the NHL having an abundance of superstars and probably the most ever. I think you probably make almost a similar argument with the NBA right now. There’s just a a plethora of great talent and yeah, I still I still enjoy a good bar basketball game. No doubt. No, for sure. And um you know, so growing up, uh what was your number one sport? Um, well, I couldn’t play any of them for [ __ ] So, um, it’s all right. Neither could I. Yeah. I I mean, you know what? Actually, I was a baseball nerd to the hilt. I was a huge baseball cards. Like, I mean, you’re probably too young to remember Micro League baseball. It was like the first computer baseball game on the Apple 2C um or Apple 2e, whatever. Um, you it was all stats based. I was a huge baseball nerd. Then, you know, then my plums dropped and I discovered girls and kind of ditched baseball for a little while. I don’t blame you. But, yeah, hockey was always, you know, was was just always there. You know, I I got season tickets uh after I graduated college for a little while. Um Patriots I I didn’t go to too many games because it’s about a 45minute ride out of the city and it’s a pain in the balls getting in and out of the stadium. I mean, I saw some like good big games down there, but you know, and then they stunk the past like stunk like I said 2001. Uh, and the Celts, man, they they they were great in the 80s and then they fizzed out in the 90s. So, I’d say probably [ __ ] man. That’s a good question. I I don’t know the 90s. I You know what? I was in college for like seven years. So, I kind of was probably more wrapped up with, you know, chasing hoodsies and and and going to fat parties and whatever than thinking of the sports. I mean, I I I paid attention to the 90s, but there was no one who really captured my attention during that era. Hockey was always the board. Hockey was always always a That’s because Kevin McCale was not walking through that door. Larry Bird was not walking through that door. Is a bad maiden the toughest guy who you ever played against. Man, going into how sports led to being part of bar stool now and you guys going into such an all-time high. Um they’ve given you the opportunity. Um, where do you guys see this going forward? And because it it just keeps getting better and better and better. I mean, it’s full steam ahead, you know? I mean, you know, like I kind of like I said, I was on LTI for a little a little bit, but I I’ll be back on the roster soon enough. And we’ll be chugging along and um yeah, I mean, full steam ahead, man. It’s like, you know, like we just she it’s like I said, it’s been a rocket ship that’s just been chugging and chugging and, you know, biz keeps getting bigger and, you know, we keep kind of branching out and that and this and that and um it’s it’s the the reach we we’ve had and and we’re just a bunch of goofballs. You know what I mean? It’s like like I said, the rodeo clowns of the NHL is is kind of how I describe us. And yeah, I mean, as you know, as far as I know, just yeah, just keep like keep plugging along, keep doing what we’re doing and um you know, until until whatever, until the wheels fall off, I guess. But um yeah, I I just it’s it’s been a [ __ ] I I can’t say a dream come true season because, you know, podcast just come out like 15 years ago, so I didn’t you know, a podcast, but but um yeah, it just the way it all all come together, just the fortuitous stuffness of it. And if I didn’t get, you know, if I wasn’t on Twitter and would sent that tweet out, man, who who knows where I’d be right now. Probably going [ __ ] 10. You wouldn’t have been on Shoresy probably either. Oh god, no. Yeah, I’m not caught up yet, but that when I saw you the in the first episode when I was started to watch the show, I was like, “Oh my gosh, they’re actually getting Jay right on air. They’re getting RA on this to talk about a lowly no-show team. This is insane. That’s that’s been one of my hugest biggest thrills uh since starting Chickle just being on Shores, you know, no doubt about it. Like like I said, I I I think there were probably a couple requests above me and it might have trickled down to me. But I was more than happy to say yes to go up to Sudbury, Ontario. And like I said, uh the first night I was up, okay, season one, episode one, I’m like, wait a minute, this I’m in the first scene of the series. Like that’s insane. I yeah [ __ ] my pants a bit and then you know uh my buddy F who plays fish there Smitty he come down the red lines with me and and kind of put me at ease and uh and then you do you do your thing and then you it comes out and you’re like holy [ __ ] man this show’s goddamn hilarious and just just to be allowed to play in Jared Kisho’s uh sandbox like that it’s a privilege it’s an honor and uh yeah man I’d love to do it like many more times or whatever he wants because he’s he’s a great guy he’s uh just a super super person does he does he does he talk like that for real is is no. No. Well, it’s funny because like you know you know we’re doing we’re filming our scenes and we I mean you know I it’s like I fly to Toronto I got picked up. It’s a 4 hour uh ride to Sudbury and typically So they actually film in Sudbury. Oh yeah. It’s on location at the arena and uh I typically usually two nights I’ll stay or but like you I’ll get there say Friday or say Thursday while we do our scenes Friday and then stay Friday night and then I’ll go right back home Saturday. It’s it’s kind of a quick hit. Um but you know you you go you go up and you do it like it’s funny between you know between setups like we’ll when I go up we’re in two episodes you know I filmed two episodes of the show within the show you know the the uh the you know the piano go right. So we we do you know one in the first episode and one and the other. So in between that when they’re you know setting up and we get changed that’s when you know I’m sitting there talking to Jay Enright and uh and Jared Flake you know like half hour 40 minutes and that’s when it was like pinch you moments you know it’s like the you know the sports center he’s like the you know Scott Van Pelt of Canada in Kiso and keep but it’s funny because Kiso has like the you know the the shy haircut but he’s like directing too so he’s got like this crazy like you know lines in his head and [ __ ] when he’s talking to him but yeah it’s just those those are moments like that man just like hanging out with those guys it’s like How how am I here right now? You know, but um I’m lucky to do it and I I pinch myself every time we do it. Those chirps are are incredible as well. So good. So good. So So Caesar So Caesar hasn’t seen Shy. So basically it’s not it’s it’s not he’s not playing professionally really. He’s playing in what they call the no show because nobody shows up to their games. He’s not in the show. He’s not in the NHL. They they’re on a losing streak. You need a Hulu login or something? Hulu hug. No, no. I I got it. I got it. It’s on my list for sure. Balls, buddy. No, no. I I I love shows like that. So, honestly, it’s been cuz I actually have a I work at night, so my night shifts are like crazy. Um, but when I do have time, I’m definitely going to catch up on on Charz because I’ve heard nothing but great things about it. Yeah, you could fly through it. I mean, this what, six episodes, like 22 minute eps. Yeah, you you can you can whiz through it. So, yeah, one of my favorite scenes that I’ve seen from this season so far, Caesar, is their their the owners of the team are in the box upstairs. They’re going, “The only real fight that you got to worry about is our boys deciding who wants to fight who.” And you could see all and it reminded me of the Panthers. All the boys on the bench are like, “I want I want to go [ __ ] Adam. I want Adam. Let me go Adam. Let me get Adam. Let me like that’s Kachchuck. That’s Bennett. That’s Marchie. That’s all those guys on the bench right there are like, oh, I’m going after you. That’s awesome. So maybe we got to get biz in that show. That would be pretty funny. Yeah. I mean, I wouldn’t wouldn’t be surprised if it happens at some point. Like I like I said, I I don’t know if it trickled on me for the first time or what, but I I was glad to say yes to it for sure. That’s so awesome. All right. Um and kind of um going into uh here in the future, um what do you have coming up that you want people to know? Um Um, basically summertime vacation, baby. No, no. Honestly, like whether however the last year went or didn’t go, like we always take the summer off anyway. So, I mean, Chicklets has in a normal year, a teacher schedule essentially, you know, September to June and then, you know, summer off for the most part. I know they got another show or two coming. So, uh, I basically for the rest of the summer just, you know, you know, graduation parties and family stuff like that. Maybe do a little bit more traveling. Oh, actually I’m going to uh Chicago to see Oasis. Um nice. Wonderful. At the end of August. Yeah, I was uh I was debating whether to go across the pond. A lot of my friends were seeing them in either like Cardiff um you know or Ireland. Yeah, they’re doing so many shows, but uh I the flights to Chicago were dirt cheap. It was only like 200 bucks to fly to Chicago. I got a ticket on the floor. Wasn’t too bad. So I’m I’m going up to Oasis at the end of August, but I’m sure I’ll do something before then. But um yeah, and then I right now I mean, you know, obviously next season’s nothing’s planned yet. Uh so I I really there’s nothing I can really really say. You know, I kind of sat the last one out. So not much to offer what’s going on so far this year. But uh yeah, I’m sure it’s just going to be the more the same, man. It’s it’s chicklets. You know, we do what we do. We get get great interviews and, you know, shoot the [ __ ] and make goofballs out of ourselves. So I don’t imagine that we’re gonna tinker with the formula all too much. Um, as far as you know, me coming back, you know, you know, my role is obviously not gonna be what what it was. No [ __ ] I mean, you know, it’s like you you’re one you’re the one C for a while and you pull him, you know, the guy comes in and he’s, you know, way better than it’s like, “All right, man. I got to be a checkup center now. I got to learn new.” You’re you’re the bottom six. You’re not the top. Yeah. Yeah. You just Okay. And it’s like it’s a role adjustment and and which is like, “All right, man.” And I’m I’m I’m eager for it. You know, it’s like Yeah. Obviously, no [ __ ] Sherlock. things change, the dynamic changes. It is what it is. But, uh, it’s whatever. It’s just, it’s just going to be a new role that’s, you know, TBD. Um, and we’ll see what happens. I’m looking forward to just kind of doing some, you know, maybe new things, different things that I didn’t before because my, you know, my role is, you know, the bus driver. Um, now I’m maybe the class, the back of the bus. So, you know, so, uh, yeah, I’m, you know, looking forward to to to that. But in the meantime, man, I’m just going to enjoy the summer. uh you know and I know I was out at work for a long time but it wasn’t vacation you know when you when you’re not in a good place uh upstairs you know it’s you know yeah you’re not working and blah blah blah or on comp or whatever the [ __ ] you want to call it LTI but like you know when you’re not like healthy mentally it’s not you know you’re not you’re not on vacation anything but like um and then you know like I turned a big corner I had a rough you know kind of you know rough ride there no [ __ ] Sherlock again and then the winter was you know up and down and then I kind of hit a like, “All right, man. I I think the the worst is behind me.” And um yeah, it’s life happens. Like I we talk to you on, you know, on DMs, man. You know, you know, so like life [ __ ] going to trip you up every once in a while and you just got to pick your ass up and get back at it. And you know, that’s that’s uh that’s what I’ve done and I I kind of feel like uh the guy I used to be a long time ago and I feel good, man. So uh I’m looking back and getting out there. That’s awesome. And you know like I I had to take some time too when I had my uh incident with um being in a cardiac arrest and you know I had to like take a look at moment in my life and it’s like hey you know I got to stop drinking. I got to start looking out for myself. I got to start being a better person. I got to start taking care of me. Not just for me but for the people around me. you know, just seeing them come to the hospital every week and being there for me knows how much they care. So, and for them to care that much, I had to do something for myself to change. And so, before being waterboarded, I was two and a half years of non-drinking, but I wasn’t going to miss that moment. So, yeah. No, that’s that’s a good point. I mean like you like I’m glad you brought that up because yeah like you know when you you your friends and your family are so essential. They’re so important. You know when you’re going when you’re going through the muck and you feel like [ __ ] and I’m you know I’m a stubborn old Irishman who sometimes doesn’t reach out for for help when I should you know maybe take too too long to do it. But uh yeah, it it it is great to have that family and friends to lean on and just uh you know questions or cry on the shoulder or whatever and you know it helps get you through it and you know time has been the best sal. I mean you know it’s uh it was you know mentally traumatic [ __ ] time for me and it’s like okay man like you just get through it eventually and all sudden one day like all right man I’m I’m I’m good man let’s go let’s [ __ ] rock and roll you know. Yeah, people don’t realize we’re all human, right? We’re not we’re not perfect. We all deal with a lot of [ __ ] in our lives. And um you know, it’s always good to have people by your side to talk about these things. So, um I’m really big advocate in mental health. So, if you always need help, always find someone that person to always talk to, you know, and RA, anytime you need to shoot the [ __ ] you know, you could always text me or anything, you know. Um we’re right here before, remember, brother. Yeah. Yeah. Oh yeah, we got we got each other’s numbers now, buddy. So, absolutely. Always here for you, too, my man. You know that. Awesome. Uh kind of to end the show here, uh I want to get your top five Boston movies of all time. Okay. Uh I should I Google my blog that I wrote about a couple years ago? I have the Boondock Saints on there, right? I’m pretty sure. Oh, god. No. Oh, okay. No. No. Bulldog Saints is No, sorry. I don’t want to I don’t like to sell people’s work. Um, no. No. Uh, I I kind I know I’m going to contradict myself. I’ll see if I can pull up this my blog here that I wrote. Now, are you excited to see the new Happy Gilmore 2? Uh, yeah. I’m looking forward to it. You know, like the the thing about Sandless Movies, um, you know, Happy Gilmore, uh, Billy Madison, well, you know, that whole that whole run. I was probably little I was probably a little bit above the like the uh target audience like I they were funny. I got a kick out of them but I was like in my mid20s. I think they were kind of more like you know kind of like teenage boys in the in the wheelhouse. You know what I mean? I’m not knocking it. I mean they’re funny. They’re classics. But I think if I was a little younger they might have had you know left more of a a sear in my brain than like other movies. But definitely I’m down for Happy Gilmore too. No doubt about it. I but I love Sandler and Uncut Gems. Thought he was great in Punch Drug. love when when he really commits to acting, man. He’s uh he’s good [ __ ] So, okay. So, here’s here’s what I’m going to read him off my the blog I wrote. No particular order, though. Okay. Well, I I put I did put him in order in order. Let’s do it. So, this is this is almost three and a half years ago. Okay. Uh number five. Oh, the original Boston Gangster movie. Uh The Friends of Eddie Coyle. You probably guys probably never heard of it, have never heard of it. My letter box fantastic. It’s a I mean it’s a 70s movie and I know like a lot of I know kids like to watch movies on Tik Tok installments in 10 seconds nowadays but it’s the original Boston gangster movie. Can’t recommend it enough. Number four I had Mystic River uh Clint Eastwood movie. You know Sean Penn’s daughter was a big my daughter that uh based on the Dennis Leane book. Uh just a tremendous movie. just a a dark very dark movie and just about masculinity and revenge and anger and all kinds of [ __ ] and really represented the Boston male pretty good. Uh number three I have the departed. That’s a good one. Which contrary to popular belief wasn’t actually a whitey bulging movie. It was a remake of the um Hong Kong movie Infernal Affairs. He said it you know Swiss says he within like a you know whitey type environment but it’s it’s not based on whitey vulture. Just uh got to get that out there. Number two, Goodwill Hunting. I love that. I love that. Phenomenal. Such a classic. It’s great flick. Uh shout out to my my pal Sue who played Carmine. Scott Pyy’s got girlfriend with the nice ass up M Street Park. And number one, I’m partial to it. I met it. Uh and they filmed it in my neighborhood right right around here, the town. I uh I am a homer when I say that, but I do take it, you know, I have no problem saying it’s the best Boston movie that that they’ve made. So, um, they nailed it. Ben Affleck did a terrific job, uh, capturing all the little, you know, tidbits that, you know, people wouldn’t know about Bank robbery and, uh, uh, you know, obviously had the Hollywood ending with Fenway and everything, but, uh, it was terrific to have even a tiny part of that movie. And, yeah, I think that’s an important boss. Now, I gotta look for you. I gotta look for you. No, you won’t find You won’t find me. I’m a I’m a I’m a I’m a it’s actually my reflection in a mirror and it’s like glory and I you won’t never know it was me but Entertainment Tonight was on the set that day and they had a set photo and like you could make you know clear as day right behind Blake Lively. It’s like that’s my evidence that I was there. But yeah, it was a great experience to be on a you know major Hollywood budget set and and to watch even like you know Ben Affle I’m sorry John Ham and Blake Lively go back and forth and do the same lines you know you got to get they have to record it from this side and that side and that side. They must have did them you know 25 takes and I don’t think either one of them butchered one line either time and you know I know people like oh that’s real hot. It’s like yeah [ __ ] is pretty high. Go you go try to do 25 takes and not butcher one. And it was, yeah, it was pretty impressive to see, you know, two pros like kind of kind of going back and forth and doing that. It was uh yeah, it was it was a really awesome day to take uh take part B in. That’s awesome. And um you know, being a Boston guy, too, um I know Mark Wahberg is big in Boston area. Do do you like him in general as an actor on the spot like that? He’s when he’s in I think I think he was phenomenal in Boogie Nights. Um I thought he crushed it as Dirk Diggler Eddie Adams Brock Lenders. Um I thought he was good good in Fear. The one with he did with um Alicia Silverstone if I’m not mistaken. Um and then I don’t know he kind of got into that uh sort of action you know just sort of a robot mode. I don’t think he’s really like done like hardcore acting in a long time. Um, I don’t begrudge him. He’s making a lot of money. He he, you know, he he produces a lot. He sets up a lot of projects. He kind of spreads the wealth around, which is, you know, a good thing. Gets people working, gets people jobs. Um, yeah, I think he maybe even focus on that now. But yeah, I would say my best um Mark Wahlberg movie is Boogie Nights by far. And I haven’t seen too too much since then. But he’s a city kid. He’s a dot rat. So, you know, he’s he’s done he’s done good. He had some early difficulties. [ __ ] up a lot, you know, was lucky he, you know, got where he did and got some opportunities, made the most of them and, uh, you know, he’s, you know, taken care of some people and city kid made done good. I can’t not rule from him at this point, you know. No, that’s I I got a I got a question, movie question then, RA, since we talked off air before we came on about Star Wars. I I see your Star Wars thing still behind your head. I want you to give me your Star Wars rankings then. At least at least at least your top three. Um, oh yeah, easy. Empire, Star Wars, Return of the Jedi. I’m We don’t say A New Hope. We say Star Wars. Um, yeah. And then I mean the prequels. I mean, I get, you know, I try not to dump on, you know, millennials and jewelry. Yeah. People like it. Well, I Hey, I I went to I went to go see the re-release, the 20th anniversary of uh of Revenge of the Sith a couple months ago, and I brought my lightsaber and everything, and I I wish the crowd was a little bit more lively. I was the only one that was actually there all like geeked up. I’m leaning over to my wife every like two lines. I’m saying the lines in her ear. I’m like, this part, this this part, this this part. See that one video, my my uh my coworker, Bobby Gu, he was at seeing I don’t know if he was in New York, and there two guys had a lightsaber fight as the final credits are going. I that’s what I wish. Yeah. Yeah. They were plot committed till the end and um you know I actually I’ve gone to like see the you know the they’ve had like all the original well the original trilogy one you know back to back to back. I’ve done that a couple times. It’s it’s a long day. But like I were talking though we gota we got to have George Lucas needs to show the original the actual version. Enough the special editions. We’re done buddy. Come on. We don’t need to see stuff that jumps off the screen. Just give us what we saw. for the first time. That’s all people, you know, that’s that’s what we fell in love with, man. So, hopefully that and yeah, I I don’t know if I have a rating for the for the sequels. The I couldn’t even tell them apart at this point. I just know that the off-hand solo and still forgot about that. And yeah, um let’s see the the other three. Yeah, Sith. Um the first first one and then the second one. I don’t remember the names. Phantom Menace and then and then Attack of the Clones. Minutes clones. There we go. Got a fug golf. We got it. Awesome, man. And kind of end it here. Um, do you have any questions for us? Um, RA, any questions for me? Um, you guys think they they got the three repeat? I mean, it’s You know, everybody keeps asking. I wouldn’t put it past them at even the favorite again, honestly. Favorite the last two years. Who else got better in the East? I mean, I don’t really see anybody that got Yeah. I mean, uh, well, ill is, you know, Carolina, you know, them maybe, but I say they did, but they’re still missing a second center. Yeah, Florida, they’re the epitome of a wagon right now. I mean, they’ve been in three cups in a row, won two of them. Uh, like I said, I was on the Toronto podcast last last week, and I would, you know, if someone called them a dynasty, I wouldn’t fight fight them about it. I mean, you know, with the salary cap and, you know, the way the league’s changed, like to go to three in a row and to win two of them. I know that the the the the dynasty has always been three three championships and whatever maybe a four or five year spin but I don’t know go to three in a row and you win two of them and you know I’m not going to like you know get in a bar fight over saying no they’re not a dynasty man I you know I I think they’re they’re certainly 90% there right now and and yeah Bill Zito’s done a masterful job and uh and it’s it’s just you know it’s funny how it took I think it was what 30 years before we got a a a intrastate playoff series between Tampa Tampa and Florida. It was like crazy, right? Yeah. And then of course we’ve gotten like what I think three of them in the last five or six years and they and and but right off the right off the hop they were slobbing on us. I mean there was that you know obviously they’re division rivals but right off the hop they hate each other. So well I think once Matthew Kachchuck got here uh he’s like you know I I hate Edmonton but I hate Tampa Bay even more. So, you know, that’s when it all started and it’s like, you know, we we need to beat Tampa Bay to be at that level and and he literally started that trend and and started to make the rivalry even more of a rivalry and it’s good to see it’s good to see for the state of Florida. Yeah. Yeah. That trade was that trade was huge, man. That was a ballsy trade and man, you know, you know, Matthew Hey, kudos to him for telling Calgary, “Hey, man, you know, I’m not going to be back.” And a lot of this kind of greased the skids for for what went down. And you know, it’s just it’s just a whole change in hockey history right there. That one trade. It’s it’s wild. It is. It is. And I kind of want to end it here. I know I said that before, but um what what what do you want to tell people um on the show? Cuz um my platform is to get people to know that, you know, sports isn’t just about winning and losing, but it’s about building relationships with others, helping with uh discipline and being able to improve yourself in life. And how has it helped you throughout your life? How has sports helped you in a positive way? uh gave me a job. Uh no, it just I think just the the the well the joy, the ecstasy and the agony of just being a fan. I think that’s just inherent anyways. But but I think with you know sees well you know my my position with you know obviously I’m co-host with two former professional athletes and I’m anything anything but and I I think like you know I I kind of like you know yeah sports are great and they’re important but I I I think I sort of maybe represent like they’re not an end all be all. You don’t have to be the greatest sport. You don’t have to be good because I I was I wasn’t. It’s don’t measure yourself by it. If you if you’re good and you have and you can succeed and get a scholarship and all that, great. But if if you know you you’re less than mediocre and whatever you realize, that’s okay. Like you know there’s there’s nine zillion other things you can do in life. Like you’re not going to be a baseball player, a football, whatever. Prime example, you know, look at Biz. Biz was never great at hockey, but he’s he’s one hell of an entertainer. Oh, Busy Boy. Busy boy. You know, hold on. I want I want to bring up Biz has less goals than Peter Warel Caesar in his career. Just just just a little fact nugget right there. Big tough guy. Peter, big tough guy. It really is. Really is, man. RA, it was fun. It was real chatting with you. We got to have you on again. Um, it’s been amazing. Continue your journey. Continue, um, you know, with everything that you’re doing. We love you, man. It was a pleasure to finally meet you last year and anytime you’re in Florida like hit me up or if anytime I’m in Boston, brother, want to send you a shirt? Um, big C shirt. So, absolutely, buddy. Do it right right when we uh finish up here. I’ll send it over to you. You want it You want it in white like me? Uh, Ari. Yeah. Yeah. Well, yeah. Wet little wet t-shirt contest there. Awesome, man. We’ll put you on put you on the pole at the Elmo room and splash water. Yeah, there we go. Perfect. Like I always say, guys, one shift at a time, one period at a time, one game at a time. Let’s go. Here we go, buddy. Thanks for having me, my friend. Likewise. [Music] [Music]

On Episode 10 of The BigCeaz Show, I’m joined by a true OG in the hockey media world, Brian “Rear Admiral” McGonagle from Spittin’ Chiclets!

We dive into RA’s incredible journey: how Spittin’ Chiclets got started, his time away from the podcast, and his deep-rooted love for all things Boston sports. From his favorite Bruins memories to the behind-the-scenes stories you won’t hear anywhere else, RA keeps it real and unfiltered.

Whether you’re a Chiclets fan, a Boston sports diehard, or just love a great story, this is a must-watch. Hit that like button, subscribe, and let us know your favorite part of the convo!
00:00 – Intro
03:10 – Meeting RA at Game 7 in Florida
05:00 – RA Wearing a Headband as a Choker
08:30 – Taking the Time to Meet BigCeaz
10:00 – How it all Started for RA
14:27 – BigCeaz Taking his Shot at Biz
16:15 – Nothing Like the Hockey Community
20:55 – A Dynasty is Formed: Biz Had a Vision for The Podcast
25:15 – Keith Yandle Becoming Part of the Crew
27:10 – Mike Grinnell Changing How The Show Is Produced
29:35 – Growing Up in Boston and Being a Boston Fan

#SpittinChiclets #RearAdmiral #BostonBruins #BostonSports #NHLPodcast #TheBigCeazShow #HockeyPodcast #PinkWhitney #BarstoolSports #hockeyfans #nhl #boston #paulbissonnette #biz