The Bob McCown Podcast

Not too long ago, Canada and Olympic basketball did not mix. Twenty-four years after their last appearance at the Games, the same cannot be said about our hoopers north of the border.

Now, with all exhibition games complete and a game against Greece scheduled on Saturday to kick off their Olympic competition, Canada finds itself as a favorite to medal in Paris. Doug Smith joins Bob and John today to talk about it as the three dig into everything we need to know about the squad ahead of an exciting few weeks of international competition.

A common theme lately is that the Toronto Blue Jays are in trouble. With seemingly no present or future to look forward to, Warren Sawkiw joins the show today to give his opinion on the mess that is the Toronto Blue Jays organization.

Jim Rutherford returns to the podcast for a conversation with Bob and John.

The three discuss the surprising success the Vancouver Canucks had last season and hear Jim’s thoughts on their second-round playoff loss to the Edmonton Oilers.

After the break, Bob and John learn more about the role a President plays within a hockey organization and get insights into the Canucks' plans for the upcoming NHL season.

Richard Deitsch is back on the podcast today, this time as a guest as he joins Bob and John to discuss some of the more relevant stories during an otherwise slow time for sports.

The three start with The Open Championship and share their thoughts on the tournament before previewing the upcoming Olympic Games in Paris. To end the show, it’s Blue Jays talk as Bob, John, and Richard try to figure out what’s happening with Toronto’s baseball team.

With the MLB Playoffs out of the question for the Toronto Blue Jays, what should they do now? Richard Griffin joins Bob and Richard Deitsch to try to answer that question as they wrap up the week with some Jays talk.

Rich, Richard, and Bob pull no punches today as they take a deep dive into what Toronto needs to do to improve for next year. They examine the security of jobs in the front office, if any, before shifting their focus to the team’s roster. With the trade deadline fast approaching, should the Blue Jays make a move now or wait until the off-season?

The NFL season is fast approaching, with its first pre-season game scheduled to kick off on August 1st. With Richard Deitsch filling in for John, and Trey Wingo joining him and Bob, the three start to set expectations for what is to come.

Bob, Richard, and Trey discuss the seemingly bad idea of adding yet another game to the regular season schedule before taking a look at some of the early storylines to come up so far, potential contenders for next year, and much more.

The major season concludes this week in Scotland with the start of the 2024 Open Championship at Royal Troon. Richard Zokol and Ian Leggatt joined Bob and John today to preview the tournament.

The gentlemen assess the field of play, course conditions, and more with an in-depth look into all the golf we will see over the weekend.

With a year under his belt as the CEO of the Edmonton Oilers, Jeff Jackson returns to the show to chat with Bob and John.

The three discuss the near Stanley Cup win against the Florida Panthers, the team's search for a new General Manager, and how his relationship with the players he represented as an agent has changed with his new role.

When describing Paul Godfrey's career, it’s easier to ask the question - what hasn’t he done?

A prominent Canadian businessman and former politician, Paul became the publisher and CEO of the Toronto Sun in 1984 and played a pivotal role in the development of Toronto's SkyDome, which opened in 1989. Throughout his career, Godfrey has been influential in both the media and sports industries in Canada, with many saying he was the driving force in bringing MLB to Toronto.

Now, in 2024, Paul joins Bob and John to talk about his recent induction into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame, his outstanding bet with the Bobcat himself, and much more to start another week of podcasting.

For a long time, it was a win for a Canadian Athlete to even qualify for the Summer Olympics… now as we approach the Games in Paris, expectations are much higher for the Canadian competitors. Scott Russel joins the show today to preview the games with Bob and John & to share with them all the info they need to know regarding our country’s medal favourites, new additions and the athletes to watch.

One of Bob’s favourite CFL guys from back in the day joins the podcast today, as Jim Barker shares his thoughts on the Canadian Football League.

From how to get more fans in the stands to how to keep players in the country, the three go over it all today as they take a look at everything they think needs to be changed if we are going to see some real growth in the popularity of the Canadian Football League.

With the playoffs becoming more and more realistic for the Blue Jays, what’s next? JP Morosi joins Bob and John today, sharing his insight on what he thinks Toronto should do before season’s end. With question marks surrounding the future of pretty much every member of the organization, the three try to determine the best course of action for this struggling team.

It wouldn’t be a show with JP if we didn’t give him a chance to scratch his hockey itch as he also shares his experience at the 2024 NHL Draft in Las Vegas.

Daren Millard is filling in for Bob today as he and John welcome Dave Hodge and James Sharman for a two-for-one podcast special.

The two speak with Hodge first, digging into the Toronto Blue Jays and the overall state of professional sports in Toronto, followed by a preview of Team Canada’s semi-final match against Argentina tonight in the Copa America.

Best known for his tenure as the general manager and coach of the Edmonton Oilers, Glen Sather led the team to five Stanley Cup championships in the 1980s. He later served as the president and general manager of the New York Rangers, significantly impacting the team's development and success while cementing himself as one of the NHL’s greatest contributors. Now, at the age of 81, Glen is leaving the NHL for good.

Bob and John welcome Glen to the show today to take a look back at his legendary career in the National Hockey League.

Despite the fact that baseball fans in Canada are losing interest in the Blue Jays faster than they can win games, Adnan Virk joins the show to end the week with some baseball talk with Bob and John.

What is going on with the Toronto Blue Jays? Are they trading Bo? Vladdy? Is Ross Atkins still going to have his job in the summer? There are more questions than answers when it comes to this team, as Bob, John, and Adnan do their best to make sense of this underperforming and underwhelming baseball team.

We’ve got a couple of Americans celebrating the 4th of July with some Canada soccer talk on the show today as Richard Deitsch joins Bob for a conversation with Craig Forrest to preview Canada’s quarterfinal matchup against Venezuela tomorrow in Texas in Copa America action.

The three set expectations for tomorrow's match and evaluate the Canadians' performance so far. As the conversation continues, the gentlemen deliberate on a few things, with the main questions being: win or lose against Venezuela, was this tournament a success? And is this team ready for the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

Richard Deitsch is filling in for John as he joins Bob for a conversation with the voice of the Toronto Raptors, Matt Devlin.

From a draft recap to a refresher on the Raptors' plans for the off-season, Bob and Richard get the inside scoop on what the Toronto Raptors have planned for next year. The three also touch on some other deals that have transpired early on in NBA free agency before ending the show with an update on Canada’s Men’s Basketball team and their road to the Olympic Games in Paris at the end of the month.

NHL Free Agency opened up on July 1st, and already the amount of money and term being handed out is shocking. Doug MacLean joins the show today to talk about it with Bob and John, among many other NHL-related topics.

A friend to both & Bob’s favourite Program Director to work with, Nelson Millman joins today’s show to catch up with Bob and John on Canada Day. 

There are two things that Nelson has a grasp on better than anyone else… Radio and how to work with Bob McCown. Both are put on display today as the three take a look through the lens of a Sports Talk Radio Program Director and analyze the growing trends of AM radio, why it works and why it doesn’t while sharing stories of their time working together at Sportsnet. 

Steve Simmons, a man who’s never afraid to share his opinion and a staple in Toronto Sports reporting joins the podcast today. Building off of his article calling for change in the Blue Jays front office - the three start the conversation today with Toronto’s baseball team. Bob and John get to hear Steve’s opinion on their performance this year.

After the break, we get into the process of selecting inductees to the Hockey Hall Of Fame & end the show with a passionate conversation about the direction the CFL is heading in.

Our un-official Official Sports Business Expert Brian Cooper is on the show today.

A man who has had many fingers in many different pies over his career, we start with his role as Chairman of Canada Basketball. With Zach Edey being drafted to the Memphis Grizzlies 9th overall last night the question is now - Will he play for Canada at the Olympics? With inside knowledge on the matter, Brian gives Bob and John his opinion, expressing his thoughts as to why having the 7’4” Rookie Centre could help the team in Paris. The three spend a bit more time on Canada Basketball before the break as Bob and John get caught up to speed with the teams selection process leading up to the games along with developments from the women’s side of things as well as Canada’s 3x3 teams.

After the break, focus shifts to the business side of sports. After learning about the increase in American viewership for the Stanley Cup Final, the three get into where the league is trending when it comes to streaming and sponsorships as they try to anticipate what direction sports, sponsorship and viewership is going in for the future. 

Do consumers have too many options when it comes to watching sports? That's the question Bob, John, and Richard Deitsch ask on today's show as the discussion begins with the Stanley Cup Final and the NHL’s attempt to grow more fans in the United States.

Building off their initial conversation, the focus turns to Copa America and soccer’s attempt to grow in popularity in North America. From there, the three transition into talks about the Toronto Blue Jays and the team’s glaring need for change from the front office down to their roster.

After the break, it's all NBA draft talk as the league prepares for its draft tonight. Bob, Richard, and John look into who they think the Toronto Raptors should draft at 19 before noting the lack of talent in this year’s draft pool.

Carter Verhaeghe notched a goal and an assist, Sam Reinhart found the back of the net, and Sergei Bobrovsky recorded 23 saves as the Panthers triumphed over the Edmonton Oilers 2-1 in Game 7 of the Stanley Cup Final at Amerant Bank Arena on Monday.

The Panthers, who have been part of the NHL since the 1993-94 season, secured their first Stanley Cup championship after three previous unsuccessful attempts in this series. After taking a commanding 3-0 lead, they dropped the next three games and were on the brink of becoming the first team since 1942 to lose four consecutive potential clinching games in the Stanley Cup Final.

Eric Duhatschek and Scott Burnside join the show today to talk about it all with Bob and John.

Much to John’s dismay, and to Bob's amusement, the suspension of one of the Blue Jays’ top prospects has forced the two to dedicate the first half of today’s show to baseball talk.

Rob Longley joins the podcast first to give Bob and John his analysis of Orelvis Martinez’s 80-game suspension after recording his first MLB hit over the weekend. Rob gives them an idea of how this will impact the Blue Jays going forward and what to expect from the team as they try to get over yet another hump in their tumultuous season.

After the break, Mike Futa joins the two for some hockey talk as we prepare for one of the league's most anticipated Game 7s in recent history, with Edmonton in Florida to play the Panthers.

With both the Euro and Copa America taking over summer sports, if you turn on your TV,there’s a good chance soccer is going to be on.

Reacting to Canada’s 2-0 loss to Argentina last night, James Sharman comes on the show to give his thoughts on Copa America’s opening match and what to expect from our Canadian men. During the second half of the show, James shifts focus to the Euros as we get a breakdown of everything happening in the soccer world to end the week.

Paul Jones joins Bob and John for some hoops talk. The three begin by sharing their reactions to the Boston Celtics' convincing 4-1 series win over the Dallas Mavericks to take home the franchise's 18th NBA Championship. 

Next, they delve into the Toronto Raptors' offseason, discussing the team's goals and expectations for the upcoming season, including insights on Gary Trent Jr. Finally, the trio wraps up with a look at Canada Basketball, analyzing their training camp roster and setting expectations for their performance in the 2024 Olympic Games.

Baseball is on the agenda today as Bob and John welcome Dave Hodge and Gregor Chisholm onto the show.

At the age of 93, one of baseball’s legends has passed away. Bob, John, Dave, and Gregor start today's show by remembering the Hall of Famer in a tribute to one of the game's greatest to ever do it.

After the break, it’s all Blue Jays. The four discuss the inconsistent play that has essentially been the only consistent trend with this team over the last year. There seems to be more bad than good with this team as the four take a look at their long list of things to improve and try to decide where this organization should start first, as one thing is clear: this is not the team the front office wants fans to believe it is.

Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, owner of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, Mystics, and more, is now a guest on the Bob McCown Podcast.

A tech guru turned sports owner, not many have shared the same success Ted has had in the business. Always at the forefront of innovation, he shares his approach to running multiple franchises and what he does to provide fans with the best possible product.

With the acquisition of CapFriendly taking over the hockey world and frustrating the majority of its fans, Bob and John talk to Ted about the decision to buy the stats website and why he thinks it can add a competitive advantage as the sports world delves deeper into the world of analytics.

It’s Deitsch Monday as Richard joins Bob and John to react to a “weird” weekend of sports.

With both the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final taking a backseat to Pinehurst and the US Open, the three start their conversation with some golf talk. A self-proclaimed “casual” golf fan, Richard weighs in on Rory McIlroy’s collapse, leaving room for a Bryson DeChambeau win before they turn to baseball and the Toronto Blue Jays.

It’s not too often that Bob looks forward to having a “Hockey Puck” on the show… but it’s not too often that Bruce Boudreau shows up either.

The former coach joins Bob and John to end the week of podcasting with some hockey talk. With Florida leading the Oilers 3-0 in the series, the three touch on the Stanley Cup Final before they get into the thick of things. From the teams he’s talked to regarding a potential coaching position to his thoughts on his former team, the Vancouver Canucks, playoff performance, Bruce gives us an update on where his head is at when it comes to making a return to the game of hockey.

Doug Smith joins Bob and John today as the three react to Game 3 of the NBA Finals between the Dallas Mavericks and the Boston Celtics.

From the mouth of Mr. Smith himself, this series couldn’t be done fast enough. From the lack of depth on the Mavericks' roster to the detrimental behavior coming from the team's star, Luka Doncic, the argument has shifted from “Can the Dallas Mavericks manage to win this whole thing?” to “Can the Mavs win even one game?” Bob, John, and Doug share their thoughts on the series so far before shifting to the Raptors and what's new… if anything, in Toronto.

Sports Broadcaster & Announcer for PGA Tour Radio, Kevin Sylvester, joins Bob and John for some golf talk ahead of the US Open to preview the field and set expectations for the weekend.

From how the course will impact the field to who is primed for a breakout tournament, Kevin breaks down what he thinks could and will happen this weekend as Bob, John, and Kevin spend most of their time focusing on Pinehurst and the tournament to come, with tee-off set for Thursday morning.

Despite the loss in game one, you could argue that the Edmonton Oilers looked like the better hockey team. But after two games? It’s a different story. Having been outshot, outmuscled, and outscored by the Florida Panthers last night, the Oilers are heading back to Edmonton down 2 games in the Stanley Cup Final. If you ask their head coach Kris Knoblauch, there is no reason to panic. But if you ask Bob McCown, the Oilers are done for. Sharing a similar sentiment, Darren Pang is, at the very least, not as fatalistic.

From the team’s defensive schemes to their physical style of play, the Florida Panthers look primed to take home the Cup. Not much can be said about the Oilers as Bob, John, and Darren spend today’s episode sharing their thoughts on what they have seen from both teams after the first two games in Sunrise.

It’s Monday, meaning unless a bigger name says yes, Richard Deitsch joins Bob and John to recap a weekend of sports.

With both the NBA Finals and the Stanley Cup Final underway, the three don’t have to think too hard about what to talk about. Bob, John, and Richard start with the NBA Finals. The Mavericks aren't looking good when heading back to Dallas down 2 games to the Boston Celtics sparking the gentlemen to debate whether Kyrie Irving and Luka Doncic have what it takes to make this a series, let alone win against a stacked Boston Celtics team.

After the break, it’s hockey talk as Bob, John, and Richard break down game one of the Stanley Cup Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers, after what appeared to be a solid game from the Oilers everywhere but the scoresheet, the three wonder if Panthers goalie Sergei Bobrovsky can maintain the same level of dominance that stopped all 33 Oiler shots on Saturday for the rest of the series.

What else needs to be said that isn’t in the title? Scott Burnside & Eric Duhatschek check into the podcast a day before the Edmonton Oilers play the Panthers in Florida for Game One of The Stanley Cup Final to break down all the things hockey fans have been overthinking after nearly a week of no hockey.

Brian Lawton returns to the show today for some hockey talk with Bob and John as we approach Game 1 of the Final between the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers.

Being at the forefront of the NHL’s integration of analytics into everyday hockey operations, and having a Stanley Cup preview scheduled for the end of the week, the three take a different approach to the conversation by focusing on the use of analytics and why it shouldn’t be a surprise to see the Oilers and Panthers in the Final. Brian shares why he thinks there aren’t nearly enough teams taking advantage of the number crunching and gives Bob and John his opinion on how to use them, what to pay attention to, and when it gets to be too much.

After the break, with Bob’s distaste towards the effect a head coach has on a professional sports team, the three get into the overall impact one has, with Brian expressing the importance and influence the man behind the bench has on the team, especially in the playoffs.

Finally! The NBA Finals tip off tomorrow with the Dallas Mavericks in Boston to play the Celtics.

Bob Ryan joins us today for a Finals preview, focusing primarily on the Celtics and why it is their series to lose as they search for their first title since 2008, and their 18th in league history.

You can only “preview” a championship series for so long before you run out of things to actually preview… And that’s where Bob, John, and Richard find themselves today as Deitsch joins the show on a Tuesday.

After briefly sharing their thoughts on the matchup between the Oilers & Panthers in this year’s Stanley Cup final, set to begin on Saturday, the three take advantage of the lack of action in the sports world by leading the discussion into the world of NHL Expansion.

Noting the smaller number of U.S.-based teams compared to the other North American leagues, it is clear that the NHL has not yet tapped into some of the major southern sports markets. The possibility of a 36-team league is becoming more and more realistic, and the expansion into more “non-traditional” hockey cities is inevitable… but should it be? Bob, John, and Richard spend most of their time wondering why Canada seems to be stuck with 7 NHL teams, and if they were to get an 8th, where would it go?

Robert MacIntyre held on to win the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday for his first PGA Tour title. Bob and John have former Tour member and one of the podcast’s resident golf experts, Ian Leggatt, on the show to talk about it.

The three break down the play seen in Hamilton over the weekend and discuss the relevance of the Canadian Open, which consistently features an underwhelming pool of competitors. From the quality of its holes to the timing of the event, Bob, John, and Ian look at the good, the bad, and the ugly that comes from the Canadian Open each year before changing subjects to more general golf talk. They finish the show by looking ahead to some of the bigger tournaments on the PGA’s horizon.

After 38 seasons as a coach in the NHL, Rick Bowness has retired from the game of hockey… or at least from coaching the game of hockey. 

With his future in the game, Rick’s future is undecided. As he joins the show to end the week of podcasting today, the three take a look back on his career, figure out what went wrong with the Winnipeg Jets in the playoffs and discuss his other former team, the Dallas Stars, as they try to take down the Edmonton Oilers in the Western Conference Final to reach the Stanley Cup Final for the second time in four years.

Announced just a few days ago by the Columbus Blue Jackets, longtime NHL executive Don Waddell has agreed to a multi-year contract to serve as the club’s president of hockey operations, general manager, and alternate governor.

Bob and John speak with Don today and learn about his expectations and those set upon him with his new hockey team. As the conversation continues, Don reflects on his time in Carolina with owner Tom Dundon and, with multiple teams sending him job offers, why he chose Columbus as his next challenge.

Jon Paul Morosi joins the show today to talk about the Blue Jays with Bob and John.

From the team's management to their players' performance, J.P., Bob, and John assess the job that this organization has done over the last five years and try to see where they went wrong. With a depleted farm system and a tendency to draft poorly, the Toronto Blue Jays are in a tough spot when it comes to the future. Bob, John, and J.P. try to figure out where the team should go from here on today's show.

Bill Walton, a National Basketball Association Hall of Famer and one of the sport's biggest broadcasters, has died at age 71.

Richard Deitsch joins the show today as the three reflect on Walton’s career in both basketball and broadcasting.

Given Bill’s involvement in social justice issues, Bob, John, and Richard spend some time discussing the social impact an athlete can have. The three wonder whether or not the influence professional athletes have should be used to tackle the world’s issues, and if so, how much weight should these opinions hold?

It’s the beginning of the week, and McCown and Shannon are joined by Arash Madani for some general sports talk.

John Shannon said it best - Arash is the type of guy who can hit any curveball you throw at him, and he puts it on full display today. The three bounce from conversation to conversation, starting with the upcoming Summer Olympics and the details behind Canada’s men's basketball team, their roster, and their hopes for gold at the games.

International basketball shifts to NBA action as the three break down Dallas’ win over the Timberwolves last night. After the break, the three get into some baseball talk, with the Toronto Blue Jays dropping yet another series, this time to the Detroit Tigers.

When there's lots to talk about, who better to do it with than Richard Deitsch?

Bob, John, and Richard bounce from topic to topic on today’s episode, starting with the WNBA. Having not spoken with Richard since the news of a new WNBA franchise making its way to Toronto in 2026, Bob and John get his opinion on what it means for the city and the sport. The three also debate the merit of women’s pro sports and wonder: Is this just a fad? Or will this rise in popularity last?

After the break, the three break down the Oilers' double OT win against the Dallas Stars in the NHL’s Western Conference Final. Bob, John, and Richard talk about the significance of winning the Stanley Cup and question what it would do for Connor McDavid’s legacy before we end the show with a conversation about the future of the NBA on TNT.

The Toronto Blue Jays actually won a series! Albeit, it was against the Chicago White Sox, but a win is a win! The team was hitting, the Home Run Jacket is back, and all is well in Toronto, right?

If we have learned anything about this team, the answer is a resounding no. Rob Longley joins the show today to pick apart this baseball team as Bob, John, and Rob take a look at their inconsistent offense, unreliable batting, and ultimately, the mismanagement over the last few years from the front office.

The Florida Panthers are in New York tonight to play the Rangers in game one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs' Eastern Conference Final. The Oilers play the Stars in Dallas tomorrow.

Kevin Weekes joins the show today before it all goes down to give us his opinion on what kind of hockey we’ll be seeing from both matchups as we prepare for the Stanley Cup Final.

Seeing a Canadian Golfer win anything used to be rare… now not so much. 6 Canadians have taken home a trophy on the PGA Tour over the last three years and they don’t look to be slowing down. After winning the Byron Nelson 3 weeks ago, Taylor Pendrith became the latest to end a weekend on top of the leader board and he joins Bob and John today to talk about it, the rise in Canadian Golf and his excitement for the Canadian Open in Hamilton tat the end of the month. 

The Daves are back! Dave Hodge and Dave Perkins join the show for some Jays talk today with Bob and John.

But first, before the four raise their blood pressure levels talking about the Toronto Blue Jays, there is a new coach behind the bench for the Maple Leafs, and his name is Craig Berube.

The Daves, along with Bob and John, spend the first five minutes of today’s show addressing Berube’s hiring before spending the next 50 minutes on the Toronto Blue Jays. From their lack of depth to the front office's lack of action, the foursome gets into the nitty-gritty of the first half of the season.

The scores were low, Scottie Scheffler got arrested, and Xander Schauffele actually won a tournament. The PGA Championship produced a lot of storylines this, so Richard Zokol hops on the show today to talk about everything that went down at Valhalla over the May long weekend.

Is it time for the Toronto Blue Jays to blow things up and start all over again? We aren’t at the often talked about 60 game mark but Warren Sawkiw seems to think so. 

The three take a look at the struggling Toronto Blue Jays and, while they can’t fix the team’s problems themselves, Warren, Bob and John try to see a path where this Blue Jays team could still make the playoffs this year despite a difficult start to the regular season. 

Scott Burnside & Mike Harrington join Bob and Job on today’s show for some hockey talk as the series in the second round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs approach completion.

The foursome go over some of the most recent developments regarding coaching changes and openings around the league after a familiar face in Lindy Ruff was announced to be their Head Coach to start the 2024/25 NHL Season.

Then it’s all playoff hockey with the group digging into the lack of accountability the NHL, their refs, and review process has shown when it comes to making consistent rulings on the ice. The four also spend a significant amount of time breaking down each series in the postseason on today's show as we near the end of another week of podcasting."

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The Toronto Raptors can’t seem to catch a break these days.

After falling below the 6th spot in the NBA Draft, subsequently losing their lottery pick to the San Antonio Spurs in the process, the  Raptors find themselves in a tough spot. Paul Jones, Bob, and John spend the first half of the show trying to figure out what the Raptors should do next and wonder if Scottie Barnes could really be "The Guy," before delving into an in-depth analysis of the second round of the NBA Playoffs.

No one could have had a better view of Sam Bennett’s hit on Brad Marchand in game three of the Bruins' matchup against the Florida Panthers than Darren Pang, who joins the show today to talk about what he saw and to share his thoughts on everything else going down in round two of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. The three also have a conversation about the relevence a coach actually has for their respective hockey team as rumours heat up about who will be behind the bench in Toronto next season. 

Another Monday, another visit from Richard Deitsch.

Bob and John react, with Richard, to the news of a WNBA team coming to Toronto in 2026. With popularity in women’s basketball at an all-time high, the three take a look into what adding a professional team means for the city and the continued growth of women’s sports.

After the break, Bob, Richard, and John take a look at the changing landscape of TV rights, specifically in the NBA, with a new deal seemingly in place. Before they go, the three briefly touch on the Toronto Maple Leafs’ search for a new head coach and the bumbling baseball team that is the Toronto Blue Jays.

It’s been six days since the Toronto Maple Leafs lost yet again in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and just one day since Maple Leafs Management decided to let go of Head Coach Sheldon Keefe. Steve Simmons was at their Press Conference today where he saw Brendan Shanahan, Brad Treliving, and Keith Pelley all address the media and assure Leafs fans everywhere that they have everything under control.

But do they really? Steve, Bob, and John break down some comments made at the press conference, debate on who of their “big four” is out the door, and more as the three end the week with a question: What do the Toronto Maple Leafs do now?

After 5 seasons as the Head Coach of the Toronto Maple Leafs, Sheldon Keefe has been relieved from his duties. Joe Micheletti comes on the show to talk about it with Bob and John as the voice of the New York Rangers shares his opinion on the firing, gives us his perspective on the this Toronto Maple Leafs team as an outsider looking in and fills us in on everything we need to know about this Rangers team as they vie for the Stanley Cup.

Finding ourselves in a similar situation to many years before, the Toronto Maple Leafs cleaned out their lockers yesterday and Mike Zeisberger returns to the show to break it down with Bob and John.

The three break down some of the answers and acknowledgements from the players and coaching staff in yesterdays interviews but the same question still remains: Is this the offseason of change that Leafs fans have been waiting for?

Building off their conversation from Friday’s episode with Adnan Virk: Richard Deitsch, Bob, and John start the week reacting to a disappointing outcome in Boston for the Maple Leafs and the bleak showing of baseball seen from the Blue Jays over the weekend.

The Toronto Blue Jays aren’t good, and it’s obvious. The three spend the first half of the show talking about the disappointing progression the Blue Jays have shown over the last few years and try to figure out what the team has to do to course-correct and when.

After the break, it’s all Maple Leafs. Bob, John and RIchard try to figure out whats next for this organization after a strikingly familiar end to yet another year of unmet expectations and frustrating results.

With a few of the 1st Round Matchups already decided and a few more on the edge of completion, Mike Futa joins Bob and John today to talk about them.

The three focus on the series that have ended already and some of the teams who are waiting patiently for their second-round matchup to be revealed for the first bit of the show before dedicating the latter half of the conversation to the Toronto Maple Leafs, the Boston Bruins, and what he thinks will happen tonight as the Leafs try to force game seven in Boston this weekend.

The Boston Globe’s Bob Ryan joins the show today for some hoops talk as the trio shares their opinions on what they have seen so far in the first round of the NBA playoffs, focusing on the Boston Celtics, but making sure to cover all of the action and storylines that have emerged already in the post season. 

Already, a few NHL coaches have lost their jobs, so who better to bring on today’s show than a man who knows what it’s like to get “relieved of his duties”? Doug MacLean joins Bob and John today to discuss potential hires for the new vacancies behind the benches of various teams around the league, look into the dumpster fire that is the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, and more on this hockey edition of today’s show.

It’s Deitsch Monday with Richard Deitsch joining the show to start the week with Bob and John.

A conversation about the Toronto Blue Jays’ series against the LA Dodgers quickly gets taken over by the disappointing performance from the Maple Leafs in game 4 of their first-round matchup against the Boston Bruins today, and it stays there.

Bob, John, and Richard try their best to figure out who the heck this Toronto Maple Leafs team is after another disappointing showing in the Stanley Cup Playoffs this weekend. After seemingly trying the same thing for years with no improvement, the three try to determine what Brad Treliving has to do this offseason to turn things around after another first-round series exit seems all but imminent.

President of the Toronto Blue Jays, Mark Shapiro, is on the show today to end the week with some insight into the Jays and their plans for the season.

Bob and John don’t give much time to get comfortable as the two question Mark on the performances of both Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Alek Manoah. Bob and John try to get a sense of where the organization is at with the two underperforming stars and pick Mark’s brain on the team's patience and plans for them moving forward.

After the break, and with the Dodgers in town, Bob and John get some information on just how close the Blue Jays were to landing Shohei Ohtani and why they elected not to pursue other big names on the free agent market

At the age of 90, and after a broadcasting career that spanned more than half a century, Bob Cole, the legendary play-by-play caller, passed away Wednesday night in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

On today’s bonus episode of the podcast, Bob and John welcome John Davidson, and then Mark Askin, two men who have worked closely with Cole, to share memories and reminisce about their time with the most recognizable voice in the game of hockey.

Some more hockey talk today as Ken Hitchcock joins the show to give Bob and Job a coaches perspective on the Stanley Cup Playoffs and his philosophy on what makes a good hockey team in the post season. 

After the break, the three focus on the hockey that’s being played right now as Bob and John pick Ken’s brain on why the Vegas Golden Knights look so good, what Toronto needs to do to win their series against the bruins and more. 

Dave Hodge joins the show today as Bob, John, and Dave focus on the two active Toronto sports teams - the Blue Jays and the Maple Leafs.

Starting with baseball, Bob, John, and Dave focus on the Blue Jays first as they try to figure out the identity of this ball club. The three struggle with the question of whether or not the Blue Jays should try to make a big trade or stick to what they have right now.

After the break, it’s all hockey with Bob, Dave, and John reacting to the first two games between the Maple Leafs and the Boston Bruins in round one of the Stanley Cup Playoffs. William Nylander’s absence, home-ice advantage, and more are touched upon before ending the show with a brief look at a few of the other compelling series taking place right now.

With both the NBA and Stanley Cup playoffs generating more buzz than ever, April could very well be the best time of the year for sports fans. Richard, Bob, and John react to some of the games in both the NHL and the NBA last night before discussing the inevitability of streaming’s takeover of live sports.

With all signs pointing to the NBA following in the NFL’s footsteps when it comes to hosting their live events on a streaming service, Richard, Bob, and John discuss the impact that will have, both good and bad, on viewership and reach before ending the show with a brief discussion on the Toronto Blue Jays.

Coming off of a 9 year stint with the DP World Tour as their CEO, Keith Pelley is back to Canada to lead the charge With Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment as their new president & CEO. 

Known for his business acumen and his penchant for change, Keith plans on bringing exactly that to MLSE. Bob and John spend today’s show catching up with Keith and find out what immediate plans the new CEO has for the Entertainment Group, and learn how Mr. Pelley plans on fitting with some of the other bigger names and even bigger personalities within MLSE.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs start tomorrow, and it wouldn’t be The Bob McCown Podcast if John didn’t bring on Kevin Paul Dupont & Eric Duhatschek to the show to talk about them.

In this bonus episode of the podcast, the four take a look at each of the 8 series, giving us their in-depth analysis on how they think the Stanley Cup Playoffs will play out this year.

Paul Jones & Doug Smith are on the podcast today to talk about the Raptors and playoff basketball.

Not much has changed in Toronto regarding the Raptors as the four break down Masai Ujiri’s end-of-season press conference and set expectations for a long off-season for the club.

With Raptors talk out of the way, Bob, John, Doug, and Paul discuss playoff basketball as they take a look at some of the favorites entering the postseason and talk about why no one should be sleeping on last year’s NBA Champions, The Denver Nuggets.

Based in Los Angeles, Bill gives us his perspective on the fallout, if any, from the Shohei Ohtani investigation before focusing on Shohei’s performance so far, then takes a broader look at the play of the Dodgers as a whole. Bill also shares his first impressions of some of the other teams around the league, including the Blue Jays, as the three discuss baseball on this Thursday installment of the podcast.

After signing a one-year deal to stay in Minnesota, Marc-Andre Fleury is set to play in his 21st NHL season, and his agent, Allan Walsh, comes on the show to give us the details on how the decision was made and why the goaltender insisted on staying in Minnesota.

Allan also takes some time to discuss the roller coaster that is the Arizona Coyotes and the decision to relocate the team to Salt Lake City. With Allan representing a few players within the organization, we get some insight into how a relocation will look for the players and the process they will go through once the season ends before the end of the show.

Have we been too hard on the Toronto Blue Jays? That could be the case as Richard Deitsch joins the show to talk about his and the public’s changing opinion around Canada’s baseball team.

The three admit that they might have been a little too critical on the Blue Jays not even 20 games into a 182-game regular season, noting the pressure placed on this team to succeed in the first half of the show.

After the break, conversation shifts to the abrupt retirement of longtime Yankees play-by-play announcer John Sterling, which sparks a broader discussion focusing on the intricacies of sports broadcasting and the impact an announcer can have on a team and the sport.

Glenn Healy, Executive Director & President of the NHL Alumni Association, joins the show to kick off the week of sports talk with Bob and John.

The Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to begin on Saturday - before the finalization of matchups, Bob and John bring Glenn Healy onto the show for a playoff preview and to set expectations for front-runners like the Vegas Golden Knights, Florida Panthers, and, of course, the Toronto Maple Leafs.

Richard Deitsch joins the show to end the week rather than start it this time, as the three react to the passing of O.J. Simpson.

After the break, the three talk Blue Jays and Raptors. With both teams not living up to expectations, Bob, John, and Richard take a look at how they got to where they are and what they can do to improve.

Host of Jay’s Central, Jamie Campbell, joins the show today to talk about the Toronto Blue Jays with Bob and John.

The three try to find a semblance of a difference between this year’s Blue Jays and last year’s... and they have some trouble. Jamie and Bob analyze the team’s roster and wonder, among many other things, if the lack of consistency in lineups and positions will prove to be costly for this team.

With just a day before The Masters at Augusta National, Ian Leggatt and Richard Zokol Join the show to talk about it with Bob and John.

The foursome takes a look into how the projected weather could impact the field’s play today before setting expectations for Tiger Woods and his performance for this weekend. Bob, John, Richard and Ian also talk about the rising star that is Scottie Scheffler before taking a broader look at the field and much more on today’s Masters Preview.

Could Kevin Weekes be the most tapped in analyst in the NHL? After breaking the news about Gary Bettman meeting with representatives from both Atlanta & Houston about expansion in the NHL, Kevin joins Bob and John today to talk about it. 

Kevin gives Bob and John reasons for both cities to have an NHL team while sharing his opinion on where he thinks the fit would work best before the three shift their focus from expansion to re-location. Why is there still an NHL team in Arizona?

After the break, the three break into a discussion about this year’s Hart Trophy candidates and debate on Kevin shortlist of 5 players he thinks deserves the award. 

J.P. Morosi checks into the show today so he, Bob and John can check in on the Toronto Blue Jays. 

It is far too early in MLB’s regular season to make predictions but that hasn’t stopped us before, right? The three take a look at the Toronto Blue Jays today as Bob, John and Jon give their first impressions on the roster, the teams performance and more on Opening Day in Toronto.

Kenny Wiebe and Bruce Garrioch help Bob and John end the week with some hockey talk on todays show as the foursome take a look at some of the strongest teams in the league and debate on topics such as the best coaches in the league & the dying interest in hockey fights as we approach the NHL’s Stanley Cup Playoffs.

Conversation about Vince Carter’s recent induction into the NBA Hall Of Fame quickly turns into a discussion about the relevance of Hall of Fames in general, as Bob and John question the process by which players are inducted.

The two also spend some time on the Toronto Maple Leafs in today’s Bonus Bobcast, debating the value of both Mitch Marner and William Nylander, and wondering if Leafs captain, John Tavares, would be willing to take a pay cut to stay with the Leafs once his contract expires.

Kevin Sylvester makes his debut appearance on the Bob McCown Podcast today as the radio broadcaster for the PGA Tour stops by to talk some golf with Bob and John.

With Scottie Scheffler dominating, the talent pool on the PGA Tour looks rather shallow. Bob and John discuss with Kevin the perceived lack of depth on Tour as he shares some names to look out for this year and much more on today’s golf-focused podcast.

Pierre McGuire checks into the show for some puck talk with Bob and John.

If you don’t know Pierre by now - the man has an answer for everything and anything hockey-related, so Bob and John put him to the test. The two grill him on hypotheticals about some of the biggest stars in the NHL, get his opinion on the franchises stuck at the bottom of the barrel, and much more on today's show.

Steve Simmons joins the show today to discuss baseball and a little bit of hockey with Bob and John. Is it time to panic when a pitcher with fewer than 10 career starts throws a no-hitter against the Toronto Blue Jays? Steve says no. The three delve into the Blue Jays' 2-3 start to the regular season, offering their initial thoughts on the team.

After the break, the focus shifts to hockey, with Steve sharing his opinion on where Auston Matthews ranks in the conversation of the best goal scorers of all time. The show concludes with some general hockey talk.

Happy Easter & Happy Deitsch Monday!

Zach Edey, the 7’4” Canadian center, just dropped 40 points and 16 rebounds in his team’s Elite 8 win over the weekend. But why isn’t his draft stock higher? The three discuss the peculiar case that is Zach Edey’s draft stock and argue over where he should go in this year’s NBA Draft. They also discuss the Toronto Blue Jays' start to MLB’s regular season, the idea of adding a WNBA franchise in Toronto, and more on today’s show to start off yet another week of podcasting.

Paul Jones & Doug Smith join the show today for some Raptors talk to end the week.

Coming off of a massive 44 point loss to the Knicks, the Raptors don’t look good… the foursome talk about the direction the team is seemingly heading in and the hot water their centre, Jontay Porter, is currently in on this Good Friday episode. 

A Voice in the National Hockey League For over 30 years, Jeff Rimer, the longtime Play-By-Play Announcer for the Columbus Blue Jackets is set to retire at season’s end. He joins Bob and John for a bonus episode of the podcast today to reflect on his career, talk some hockey and extend an invite to Bob for next year’s Winter Classic at Ohio State.

We are taking a look at the human side of hockey on the podcast today as Bob and John have a conversation with Jay Harrison, and then Kelly Chase.

Bob and John talk with Jay about his “First Line Initiative” as he works with the NHLPA to not only reduce the stigma of mental health among hockey players but also provide resources to help teammates support each other.

After the break, Kelly Chase joins the show to give us an update on his fight with leukemia and inform us about his “Puck Cancer” event in St. Louis on April 5th."

I've added commas before "and then" for clarity and changed "leukaemia" to "leukemia" for consistency with American English spelling. Additionally, I've capitalized "April" and added a period after "5th" for consistency and clarity.

The Daves are on the show today as Perkins & Hodge need to let off a little steam before Thursday’s start to another MLB Regular Season.

The foursome address the elephant in the room that is Shohei Ohtani & MLB’s investigation into the illegal sports betting by his interpreter before taking a look at the Toronto Blue Jays and Bob, John, Dave & Dave’s expectations for the team this year."

Executive Vice President and Director of Hockey Operations of the National Hockey League, Colin Campbell, is on the podcast to talk to Bob and John about the NHL’s recent GM meetings in Florida.

The three go over some of the rule changes that were decided during the meetings, with Bob throwing some ideas of his own around before the conversation shifts to Gary Bettman’s persistence in keeping the Coyotes in Arizona, Colin’s opinion on how the game has changed, and the playoff format on today's show.

MLB’s Investigation Into Shohei Ohtani, His Interpreter, & Illegal Sports Betting with Richard Deitsch.

Like any other Monday, Richard Deitsch joins the show... unlike any other Monday, one of the biggest stars in sports is under investigation for illegal sports betting.

While Shohei Ohtani’s lawyers claim the newest Dodgers star was a victim of a “Massive Theft,” others think it could go deeper than that. With the Japanese Superstar set to address the situation later on in the day, much is still unclear... what we do know for sure, though, is that Ohtani and his longtime interpreter are at the center of an investigation into massive sports gambling debts.

Bob John and Richard dig into the situation at hand and speculate on what could come next as the three take a look at all of the angles in a case that, so far, has provided more questions than answers.

The Nashville Predators have gone 14-0-2 in their last 16 games and look pretty comfortable in the first wild card spot as we near the NHL playoffs.

Their General Manager, Barry Trotz, comes on the show today to talk with Bob and John about the team’s stretch of good play, what spurred it & his thoughts on his first year as a General Manager in the NHL after spending over 20 years behind the bench as a Head Coach.

There hasn’t been much hockey talk this week, so Bob is making it up to John by bringing on a couple of hockey pucks in Daren Millard and K.P. Dupont to talk some hockey today.

Is it possible for the Boston Bruins to be bad? Apparently not as Bob, John, Daren, and Kevin discuss the Bruins’ recent success before talking about the problems the NHL has with their Overtime and Playoff formats, Video Review  and some other storylines surfacing throughout the league.

Bob and John are honoured to be in the company of Curling Royalty, as Brad Gushue checks into the podcast from Newfoundland today.

The first man to skip teams to six national men's championships, it’s not tough to make the case that Brad Gushue is the best Curler in the world, let alone Canada. Now, as he prepares to represent Canada at the World Championships in Switzerland at the end of the month, Brad talks with Bob and John about the tournament, the increasing interest in the sport, and the work he still wants to do to grow the sport’s popularity on an international level.

Is there a team in Chicago that is actually good? George Ofman comes on today’s show to figure that out with Bob and John as the three breakdown the head scratching Justin Fields trade, the poor play from the Chicago Blackhawks, the state of the cities facilities and more in a not so encouraging podcast for any Chicago Sports fan listening. 

Richard Deitsch is back for Deitsch Monday with Bob and John to start the week.

With March Madness ready to go, the three start the show with a discussion on college basketball as they try to figure out the reason for the apparent lack of interest in the tournament and the sport in general.

After the break, Bob, Richard and John shift focus to the ever growing popularity of the Professional Women’s Hockey League and end the show with some talk about the Toronto Blue Jays.