Show Notes: Rico Brogna Joins the Round Table

The crew is on the road this week, live at the round table with Angry Jay, Crocker, the Don Father (Mac Daddy) and studio engineer Kevin Ross pulling off a glitch-free remote. Title sponsor Joe Moriello, Senior Vice President of Capital Securities (“a life well planned”), joins us at the table.

The Yankees Postmortem Another October, another early exit. The guys unload on the leadoff decision, a historically cold postseason from Trent Grisham, baserunning blunders, and an organizational culture they say has gone soft. Plus: A-Rod, Big Papi and Jeter on “philosophical change,” the Hal McGrowth boycott push on X, and why the Rays and Brewers win with ground balls, hustle and fundamentals. Angry Jay takes a well-earned victory lap on his preseason picks.

Guest: Rico Brogna Watertown’s own Rico Brogna, Detroit Tigers first-round pick, Clemson quarterback recruit, and veteran of the Tigers, Mets, Phillies, Red Sox and Braves, now a pro scout with the Seattle Mariners. Rico covers:

• Choosing baseball over Clemson football (and Danny Ford flying in on Thanksgiving)
• Legion ball legends and Watertown rivalries
• His first big-league at-bat: working back from 0-2 against Dave Stieb for a double
• First home run off Melido Perez at Tiger Stadium
• Breaking in with the Mets and the Evan Roberts podcast named after him
• Philly years under Terry Francona with Scott Rolen and Bobby Abreu
• A walk-off grand slam at Fenway with the crowd chanting his name
• Golf trips with Maddux and Glavine in Atlanta
• Why analytics have gone overboard, and what the Rays do right

Full Count (presented by Skygazer Brewing) Rapid-fire picks: favorite park (Dodger Stadium), least favorite (Olympic Stadium), the guy he hit best (John Smoltz), hardest thrower (Billy Wagner), foxhole teammate (Scott Rolen), Pedroia over Cano, Pedro over Randy, Albert Belle over Juan Gonzalez, The Natural over Moneyball, and the original Bad News Bears. Rico promises to come back with his Nolan Ryan story.

La Cosa Trivia Steve Spurrier vs. Georgia and Alabama, Joe Burrow’s late-game turnovers, Ricky Williams’ first-year rushing mark, the ‘93 Cowboys and ‘01 Patriots, Testaverde vs. Bledsoe, Tony Gwynn’s three strikeouts against four Hall of Famers, and who hit the first home run at Coors Field. (Spoiler: our guest.)

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The Bristle Boys — September 2, 2026

Live from the Don Father's, on Instagram and X. Brought to you by Skygazer Brewing and Capital Securities — SVP Joe Moriello: a life well planned.

Panel: The Don Father (host), Angry Jay, Crocker, Mac. Studio engineer: Kevin Ross. Coming up: a possible Devin McCourty, Yale coach Brian Ham, and more.

(03:36) Down to the wire

Rays up four and a half in the East, White Sox two and a half clear in the Central, Astros two up on Texas. Wild cards today: Cleveland at Houston, Chicago in the Bronx, San Diego at Atlanta, Phillies at Chicago.

Yankees have 16 games before a seven-game home finale: four with Tampa, three with the surging Orioles.

The Judge question: Jones or Grisham in the third outfield spot? Should be Jones, will be Grisham — sub-.200 leadoff hitter, bad metrics, doesn't hustle it in. Postseason arms: Cole and Schlittler at 70 pitches apiece, Rodón to the bullpen with Hill, Schmidt and Warren.

(07:03) World Series picks

• Don Father: Yankees–Dodgers
• Crocker: Dodgers, Yankees
• Kevin Ross: Dodgers, Rays
• Angry Jay: Rays, Brewers
• Mac: Yankees–Phillies, and he insists it's a prediction

Also: Brewers best-run in baseball, Rays second.

(09:51) The Draft Day Consigliere

The stack nobody talks about: QB–RB, not QB–WR. Take a high-powered offense late and bank every touchdown, run or pass:

• Swift + Caleb Williams — late fourth and around the eighth
• Javonte Williams + Dak — nobody else in Dallas sees the goal line
• Stafford + Kyren Williams

Draft QBs off Vegas passing-TD lines: Burrow 32.5, Stafford 31.5 — a touchdown apart, 20 picks apart.

Other calls: Tee Higgins is not Burrow-proof, Ja'Marr Chase is. Kelce at TE12 is theft. Garrett Wilson over Breece Hall — the Jets won't score, so take the catches. Cool on Bucky Irving. Jeremiah Love is legit, but does a 2-12 Arizona bubble-wrap him in your playoffs? QBs: Allen, Lamar, then Burrow over Daniels; Hurts at QB7 is a gift.

(23:00) Around the sport

Rookies who miss NFL rosters going back to college — universally hated here. NFL's counter: declare once, that's your shot. Plus praise for Signetti's 90-minute practices.

(27:22) NEW: The MacScarade Numbers

Players who made two numbers famous. Kobe 8/24. Nolan Ryan 30/34. Jordan 23/45 — and 12, one night in Orlando after his jersey was stolen. Reggie 9/44. Bourque 7/77. LeBron 23/6. Boggs 26/12. Ortiz 27 then 34. Durant 35/7. Messi 30/19/10. Deion 21, 37, 2 at FSU. Shaq 32/34/33.

(37:37) NEW: Pass or Cement Shoes

• Only player to win NFL MVP in his third season — Walter Payton
• Youngest to lead the league in sacks since 1982 — Shawne Merriman
• Active leader in sacks vs. MVPs — Cam Jordan, 42 (Von Miller next, 22)
• Most Vikings TD catches between Moss and Jefferson — Kyle Rudolph, 47
• Youngest QB to start a Giants playoff game — Danny Kanell
• Second to Ruth in outright MLB home run titles — Mike Schmidt

(44:47) Pick Your Poison with Angry Jay

Damon over Lofton, unanimous. Verlander over Scherzer. Wedding Crashers over Borat. Utley over Cano. Doc over Coney. Mussina over Schilling on character. Halladay over Glavine. Kuechly over Brooks. Henry over Riggins. Willis over Urlacher. Platoon over Private Ryan. Reacher the series over the movie. Draymond the bigger douchebag. Herb Brooks over Rocky, over loud objection.

Enjoy your drafts.

Episode Notes — August 11, 2026

Guest: Coach Kevin Kalat, Bristol 12U Little League All-Star Softball In studio: Bobby, Don Father, Crockett, Mac, engineer Kevin Ross. Out: Angry Jay (car and back trouble). Sponsors: Capital Securities — Joe Morello, SVP, "a life well planned" — and Skygazer Brewing.

Summary

Callett on three years with the Bristol Gators: 10U state and New England titles, an 11U East Regional crown, and a 2026 run to the Little League Softball World Series in Greenville, NC — a first for a Bristol 12U girls team. Then: NFC East over/unders, trivia, the red-hot Red Sox, the Dodgers' latest heist, a GOAT bracket, and a new segment — Foul Lines.

Chapters

• 01:12 Guest intro
• 02:00 The three-year run
• 04:40 Year-round ball, burnout, "tough but fair"
• 08:00 Pregame rituals
• 09:45 The regional final comeback
• 13:20 Relief pitching and the ESPN No. 1 catch
• 18:35 The town parade
• 20:25 What's next: 14U
• 22:40 NFC East over/unders
• 29:30 Football trivia
• 32:15 Red Sox red hot
• 37:50 Yanks: long ball or bust
• 43:00 Dodgers add another ace
• 56:00 GOAT bracket
• 1:01:10 Foul Lines
• 1:13:20 Week 1 is stacked

Softball takeaways

• Entered 10U with 8- and 9-year-olds and missed districts on purpose — the plan was experience.
• Staff: Adam Whitlock (manager), Mike Bastianz, Anthony LaFerge, Jay Thompson, Pat Tisha. Pitching with Kim Bogan in Watertown.
• On burnout: "The number one reason why kids quit sports is they're not having fun anymore."
• Rituals: Dakota Green's drum-roll cheer, Whitlock's roll call, and Callett pinching Green's cheeks every game.
• Whitlock's superpower is coaching from behind — he predicts the score and gets it right.
• Lucy's inside-the-park homer flipped the regional final; the winning run slid home an inning later.
• Best team seen: Kentucky. But Milford, East Lyme, and Fairfield are the real gauntlet.
• Not top-heavy — Juliana Pavlak grinding eight-pitch at-bats from the bottom of the order.
• Next: 14U, then Wilkes-Barre for regionals and Washington for the World Series.

Over/unders

Eagles 10.5 — unanimous over. Cowboys 9.5 — mostly over. Commanders 7.5 — mostly under (Tunsil's tricep). Giants 7.5 — split: Harbaugh optimism vs. Dart and Skattebo durability worries.

Trivia answers

1. Most receiving TDs from Heisman winners, active — Mike Evans, 58.
2. Most receiving yards per season, min. 10 seasons — Torry Holt.
3. Highest career PPG in Celtics history — Isaiah Thomas, 24.7.
4. Longest gap between NFC title game trips — Washington, 32 seasons.
5. Active non-QB with most Monday night TDs — 13, AFC, playing Week 1.

Baseball

Boston went from 14 under to right in the mix on streaks of 15 and 9 — they'll take the walk, hit it to right, steal the bag. It hinges on Crochet. The Yanks are 30-31 since peaking and it's long ball or bust. The Dodgers added Skubal to Yamamoto and Snell. Cardinals CF Nathan Church on facing Misiorowski: guess wrong out of the hand and you have zero chance.

NBA

Two best teams still in the West, but the East has closed on depth. LeBron to Philly is about the Jordan conversation. The Blazers at +8000 are quietly loaded. GOAT bracket final: Jordan over Bird — after the bracket fell apart on air.

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The Bristol Boys — June 10, 2026

Live from the Don Father's House Cast: Mac, Don Father, Angry Jay, Crocker, Studio Engineer Kevin Ross (back from cross-country road trip) Sponsors: Skygazer Brewing Shandies | Capital Securities — Joe Moriello

NBA Finals — Knicks vs. Spurs

• Series tied 2–1 heading into Game 4; crew mostly backing Knicks but expects 6–7 games
• Becky Hammond's old "Brunson too short" quote resurfaces — called a social media dumpster dive
• NYC street violence after games — strong takes on fan safety

NBA West Landscape

• OKC — youngest roster, 15 first-rounders in 5 years; concern: will Chet/Jalen Williams want out like mid-2000s OKC?
• Spurs — young, physical, team-first ("like a fraternity"); Wemby at 25 min/game
• Warriors — cooked; one more Steph run seems unlikely
• Others: Rockets, Wolves, Blazers, Lakers, Suns, Clippers, Mavs (Mark Cuban frustration)

Giannis Sweepstakes

• Wants an "iconic franchise" (Celtics, Knicks, Lakers, Bulls rumored); Bucks want picks back
• Blazers mentioned as top trade partner; Celtics could swap Brown (near-identical contracts)

Old-School Bigs in Today's NBA

David Robinson ✅ | Ewing (probably) ✅ | Laimbeer ✅ | Oakley ✅ | Duckworth ❌ | Parish ❌ KG on Rodman: "He'd be MORE valuable today — guard 1–5, get 20 rebounds, he studied where the ball came off the rim."

Baseball

• Red Sox: Chaim Bloom called an analytics disaster; young talent, no leader, let go a pitcher now sporting a ~2.00 ERA elsewhere
• Yankees: Tied for division lead but Volpe struggling, catching a black hole, Judge out 6 weeks; Ben Rice a bright spot
• Dodgers: 35–32, not running away with the NL West

Technology Has Ruined Sports (Mac's Rant)

• Huddle/film apps: Coaches scout from the couch instead of in person — miss speed, attitude, family interactions
• Game Changer app: Baseball moms checking pitch counts live — "What's he at? 79, he's not done" — crew misses the scorebook era
• Wearables/patches: D1 athletes tracked in real-time; debate: performance vs. prevention?
• Phones at events: Fans videotaping instead of watching; kids raised on highlights, not nuance
• Streaming fragmentation: Games on Amazon, Apple, ABC, MLB app — nobody knows where to find anything
• Mac's challenge: Put the phone away 3 hours on a weekend. He tried it — got antsy after 90 minutes.

Trivia with the Don Father

1. Longest playoff win streak by a non-champion? 2004 Lakers — 11 games (lost to Pistons in Finals)
2. Most DPOY votes without winning (active)? Von Miller — two runner-up finishes, Super Bowl MVP with Denver
3. Last QB to win MVP the year after losing the Super Bowl? Brett Favre (lost to Giants, won MVP next year)
4. Most career sacks in Super Bowl-winning seasons? Charles Haley — 42 sacks across 5 titles. Chris Jones 2nd, Reggie White 3rd.

Who Would You Rather — Highlights

Judge over Trout ✅ | Pedro over Randy Johnson ✅ | Scherzer over deGrom ✅ | Sicario over Fargo ✅ McHale over Anthony Davis | Robinson over Ewing | Platoon over Saving Private Ryan (3–1) Musial over Griffey (Don Father only) | Wade over Harden (clean sweep) | Meatballs over sausage Munson over Fisk | White Chocolate over Bibby | Elway over Steve Young

Episode Notes

The Bristol Boys are back — and this time with a real schedule. At least one episode a month, locked in. Follow along on Instagram, Twitter/X, and wherever else handles get figured out. Brought to you by Skygazer Brewing and Capital Securities, led by SVP Joe Mariello — a life well planned.

What We Get Into

NFL Draft Recap — The NFC East cleaned up (Giants got the only A from NFL.com, Cowboys an A-, Bears a B+). The crew breaks down the Giants grabbing the consensus #1 player at #5, Dallas landing Tyler Booker, Brock Bowers comparisons for the Jets' tight end pick at 15, and whether Geno Smith is just a placeholder for next year's loaded QB class. Plus: why the Rams reaching at 13 made no sense, the Raiders maybe finally turning a corner, and the Eagles sneaking in to grab a Steelers target.

NBA Playoff Quote Trivia — Test yourself: who said "I might be wrong, but I doubt it"? Who answered every question with "both teams played hard"? Quotes from Shaq, Iverson, Artest, Dirk, Jokić, and a Draymond zinger that sets up the next segment.

The Draymond vs. Barkley Beef — Draymond took a shot at Chuck's Houston Rockets years. The boys are not having it. A real conversation about role players vs. franchise guys, why Draymond is who he is because of Curry, Klay, and KD, and whether comparing him to Barkley is even a serious question.

The Charter Oak Story — Bristol's own leads Portland back to the playoffs in his first year as a starter. 77 games. 34% from three. Leads the league in offensive rebounds. Bristol → UConn → NBA, winning at every level.

Celtics Post-Mortem — Tatum's injury, the questionable game-seven inactive list, and whether Brad Stevens makes major moves or rides it out. Derrick White or Pritchard — who stays?

LeBron's Legacy — Played well against Houston, but is there anything left to add? Plus a son's hot take that he's a better passer than Magic.

The Load Management Debate — A full breakdown. Does it actually prevent injuries? Does it extend careers? What about the fans paying $$$ only to find out the star is sitting? Cal Ripken is rolling over. Don Father working Mother's Day weekend. Lou Gehrig wouldn't recognize the league.

Remembering John Sterling — The four iconic home run calls (Mattingly, Tino, Brosius, O'Neill), the "running the bases like they were drunk" moment, and why Dave Simms just isn't the same. A wider lament for the lost art of broadcasting — when announcers knew when to shut up and let the moment breathe.

Glenn Sather Bar Story — Big East tournament, NYC, Angry Jay carrying a 15-year-old grudge. You'll have to listen.

Aikman vs. Hurts — Jay defends Hurts. The crew does the era-adjusted comparison. It gets heated.

Yankees Are Hot — Optimism (the rotation, Ben Rice, Dominguez, Spencer Jones, Lombard on the way) vs. Angry Jay's permanent glass-half-empty take. Volpe drama. Cashman silence. Stanton on the IL again.

Trivia Hits

• Last top-3 pick to lead the NFL in rushing as a rookie (hint: Pony Express)
• Last receiver tandem with 1,400 yards each in the same season — there have been four
• Last coach to win a playoff series after losing Game 1 by 30+

Sign-Off

Studio engineer Kevin Ross — phenomenal job. Joe Mariello — thanks for stopping by. Crocker, Don Father (low on pomade tonight, 6.9), and the rest of the boys back next month.

Best player in the NBA this year? Tatum. Champ? Celtics. Winner of the draft? The whole NFC East. Both teams played hard.

Date: December 10, 2025 Location: The Don Father Studio, Bristol, CT

The Bristol Boys are back in the Don Father Studio following a remote broadcast at the Hall of Fame. On this packed episode, the crew dives deep into baseball history, officiating, and the state of youth sports with two heavyweight guests. Plus, the usual heated debates on NFL fantasy stats and NBA hot takes.

⚾ Special Guest: MLB Umpire Phil Cuzzi

The boys welcome veteran MLB Umpire Phil Cuzzi, who recently became the oldest active umpire in Major League history (August 2025). Phil shares incredible stories from over three decades of professional umpiring.

• The Minor League Grind: Phil opens up about the unglamorous road to the majors—two-man crews, all-night drives, and sleeping in roadside motels.
• Manager Showdowns: Phil dishes on the managers he’s ejected and respected.
  • The Unfair: Ozzie Guillen.
  • The Legend: Bobby Cox (fair but fiery).
  • The Strategist: Buck Showalter (who explained exactly how he would get ejected).
  • The Lou Piniella Story: A hilarious encounter on a plane immediately after an ejection.
• Historic Moments: Working the plate for Cole Hamels' no-hitter (without realizing it until the final out), the last All-Star game at the old Yankee Stadium, and the famous Brett Gardner dugout ejection.
• The Evolution of the Game: Phil gives his candid take on the pitch clock, the "ghost runner," and the robotic strike zone challenge system.

🏆 Special Guest: Coach Vic Rinaldi

Fresh off a successful run, 3-time State Champion Coach Vic Rinaldi of St. Paul Catholic High School joins the studio to talk local baseball dominance.

• Building a Dynasty: How the St. Paul program attracts talent not through recruiting, but through a culture of winning and academic success.
• The Youth Sports Crisis: A serious discussion on the epidemic of arm injuries in young players. Coach Rinaldi and the boys discuss the dangers of year-round showcases, lack of rest, and the "velocity at all costs" mindset.
• Coaching Philosophy: Moving players around to fit team needs (converting catchers to first basemen/pitchers) and maintaining relationships with umpires.

🏈 Gridiron & Hardwood Trivia

The Don Father leads the crew through a gauntlet of sports trivia and "Who Would You Rather?" debates.

• NFL Fantasy Grid: A process of elimination challenge to find the WR with the most career fantasy points (Surprise: It’s not who you think).
• QB Stat Mystery: Comparing Josh Allen to Patrick Mahomes over their last 50 starts—the numbers might shock you.
• "Say What?" NBA Edition: Guessing famous quotes from Shaq, Kevin Garnett, and Metta World Peace.
• Hot Takes: The crew debates the OKC Thunder's winning streak and revisits the contentious "Wembanyama is a bust" argument.

🙏 Special Thanks to Our Sponsors

• Joe Moriello: Senior VP of Capital Securities – For a life well planned.
• Skygazer Brewing: Home of the Pink Lemonade Shandy.
• Greg Hunt: Twister Baseball Clinics.

Would you like me to extract a list of all the specific baseball managers mentioned and their specific interactions with Phil for a social media clip description?

The Bristle Boyz are live from the Sports Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony! We’re celebrating the 2025 class of local legends, debating baseball ethics, and testing our Husky knowledge. The Don Father is playing hurt and Angry J is fired up as we interview Bristol’s finest.

We kick things off with a heated debate on the Baseball Hall of Fame—do A-Rod and Bonds belong in Cooperstown? Then, we pivot to UConn Men’s Basketball Trivia, testing our knowledge on everything from Shabazz Napier to the current run by Alex Karaban.

Guest Lineup & Timestamps:

• [04:20] Steve "Big Beach" Beecher: The Boys & Girls Club Athletic Coordinator discusses his All-American football career and the "tough love" expectations at the Club.
• [23:20] Principal Michael Higgins: The Bristol Eastern Principal talks scholar-athletes and drops a prediction for the Thanksgiving Day Bell City Bowl.
• [33:40] Bryant Lishness (2025 Inductee): A Gladiator Wrestling legend talks about Bristol's reputation as a "wrestling town" and coaching the next generation.
• [42:30] Brian "Archie" Archibald (2025 Inductee): Archie breaks down how wrestling prepared him for pitching battles and the intense Eastern vs. Central rivalry.
• [52:50] Andy Freemuth (2025 Inductee): Andy reflects on playing at Trinity College and his experience at the Fenway Park All-Star game.
• [57:10] Bob Kalat (President, BSHOF): The man behind the scenes discusses his 28 years of service and the pride of preserving Bristol’s sports history.
• [01:01:20] Coach Bunty Ray: The 2024 Inductee returns! With nearly 70 seasons coached, Bunty gives a masterclass on longevity and character development.

Key Topics:

• The PED Debate: Stats vs. Integrity in Cooperstown.
• UConn Trivia: Record holders for wins, starts, and blocks.
• The Rivalry: The deep-seated animosity (and respect) between the Rams and Lancers.

Sponsors:

• Joe Moriello: Senior VP of Capital Security
• Twister Baseball Clinic
• Skygazer Brewing

Date: November 17, 2025 Hosts: Angry J, Mac Daddy, The Don Father, Kevin Ross Studio Engineer: Brian Ferguson Sponsor: Joe Moriello, Capital Securities

🎙️ Intro & Local Beat

The boys christen the new studio ("The Home of the Don Father") and preview the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame induction ceremony happening this Friday at the DoubleTree.

• The Plan: The crew will be live in the foyer interviewing inductees.
• Class of '25 Mentions: Brian Archibald, Tom Dickow, Andrew Freemuth, and David Hernandez.

⚾ MLB Awards & Hot Stove

• The MVP Debate: Aaron Judge secures his 3rd MVP. The hosts dismantle the "East Coast Bias" argument from Mariners fans (Cal Raleigh), noting Judge's OPS dominance.
• Yankees Moves: Discussion on the re-signing of Ryan Yarbrough and rumors surrounding Japanese slugger Murakami.

🏀 NBA: Mavs Meltdown & Wemby

• Dallas "Dumpster Fire": The hosts roast the Mavericks' front office and the failed chemistry between Luka and Kyrie.
• The Wemby Question: Is Victor Wembanyama a top-5 talent? Yes. Will he ever stay healthy enough to prove it? The Don Father says "No."

🏈 Feature: Angry J’s Bracket Challenge

The Scenario: It is 4th & 1. You are the linebacker in the hole. Which RB (post-1980) do you least want to tackle?

• The Matchups: Heavy hitters like Marshawn Lynch, Adrian Peterson, and Bo Jackson.
• The Final: Bo Jackson vs. Earl Campbell.
• The Champion: Earl Campbell (The Tyler Rose). The consensus: other backs might embarrass you, but Earl would run through you.

🏈 NFL & Coaching Carousel

• Giants: Heavy criticism for Brian Daboll regarding blown 4th-quarter leads and exposing Daniel Jones to injury.
• Steelers: Is Mike Tomlin "Captain Average"? The crew debates if 9-8 seasons are enough.
• Pitt’s Legacy: A nod to the University of Pittsburgh football program (Marino, Dorsett, Donald, Revis) climbing the all-time NFL talent rankings.

🧠 "Say What?" Trivia

The crew tries to identify famous football quotes:

• "Don't worry about the horse being blind, just load the wagon." — John Madden
• "I'm in favor of it." (On his team's execution) — John McKay
• "Nobody in football should be called a genius. A genius is a guy like Norman Einstein." — Joe Theismann

Next Step: Are you attending the Bristol Sports Hall of Fame induction this Friday? Come find us in the foyer at the DoubleTree to say hello!