Baseball Hall of Fame-caliber manager Bobby Valentine joins Neil Smith and Vic Morren for the premiere NHL Wraparound Celebrity Series episode. The former manager of the Texas Rangers (7 years), New York Mets (NL pennant), Boston Red Sox, and two-time champion in Japan shares a lifetime of stories. From playing for 17-year-old Lou Lamoriello in Cape Cod to the iconic 1999 mustache disguise, managing Mike Piazza's emotional 9/11 home run that healed New York, pioneering American success in Japanese baseball, teaching ballroom dancing exhibitions, and calling Shohei Ohtani the greatest athlete in a baseball uniform. Plus the 40-15 prediction he nailed exactly, George W. Bush partnership, Tommy Lasorda's influence, Sacred Heart University athletic director tenure, and philanthropic work with Special Olympics. This is Bobby Valentine uncensored.

IN THIS EPISODE:

[00:00] - Welcome to NHL Wraparound Celebrity Series premiere with baseball legend Bobby Valentine

[01:00] - Fifth franchise: stepping outside hockey to learn from sports icons across disciplines

[02:00] - Bobby joins from Valentine Sports Academy in Stamford, Connecticut on exercise bike

[03:00] - 1994 Stanley Cup photo at Shea Stadium: Rangers or Devils cup with Doug Romano

[04:00] - Age 17: playing for Lou Lamoriello in Cape Cod League 1967

[05:00] - Lou's baseball background: Providence College coach, Pan-Am League player at 23-24

[06:00] - First-generation Italian parents: couldn't spell Cape Cod, Bobby spent summer in Yarmouth

[07:00] - Lou's discipline from day one: couldn't ride in trunk of car to road games

[08:00] - Baseball vs hockey management: everyday grind, respect of opposition and teammates

[09:00] - Accountability on ice same as diamond: only difference hockey players drink more (Canadian thing)

[10:00] - Texas Rangers: seven years as manager with George W. Bush as GM/owner

[11:00] - Bush made change 1992: "good idea, I was there long enough, time to move on"

[12:00] - Japanese GM's mission: finding first non-Japanese manager for professional league

[13:00] - Going to Japan: "right-eyed and bushy-tailed gonna teach everyone everything"

[14:00] - Learning while teaching: rewarding experience understanding Japanese baseball culture

[15:00] - Spectacular Japanese players: Ogasawara and others, closed society not up for change

[16:00] - Hideo Nomo: first real MLB player, threw no-hitter when Bobby won championship

[17:00] - Cross-section working: 1934 Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig exhibition to modern day

[18:00] - Cooperstown Hall of Fame: Ichiro Suzuki induction, US-Japan baseball exhibit

[19:00] - Shohei Ohtani: best athlete in baseball uniform ever seen, either side of Pacific Ocean

[20:00] - 2006 draft: wanted two-way player, first baseman/pitcher threw 95 mph, drank beer instead

[21:00] - What Ohtani's doing is really tough: unprecedented two-way excellence

[22:00] - Chiba Lotte Marines: attendance doubled, hosting ballroom dancing classes

[23:00] - International ballroom dance champion: teaching chacha to community before games

[24:00] - Exhibition in tuxedo with partner: full ballroom dress on field before national anthem

[25:00] - Changed costumes during anthem, came out to manage game immediately after

[26:00] - 2005 return to Japan: bringing American fan-friendly atmosphere post-1995 MLB strike

[27:00] - Kids running bases, autograph sessions: opening up Japanese baseball culture

[28:00] - June 1999 Mets: eight-game losing streak, GM fired three coaches instead of addressing players

[29:00] - Predicted 40-15 in next 55 games or would quit: media ready to hold feet to fire

[30:00] - Catcher's balk: Mike Piazza stepped outside box before Pat Mahomes (Patrick's father) released

[31:00] - Randy Marsh call: read about it for years, never seen it

The much-awaited first game between Mitch Marner and his former Maple Leafs teammates did not disappoint in a night rife with terrific storylines.

In Boston, #33 was raised to the rafters while the Sabres did some honoring of their own in winning for the 15th time in 17 games. The Jets and Blue Jackets are showing signs of life while the 20-game point streak of Connor McDavid comes to an end.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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From Eastern Conference Finalists in 2022 and 2024 to NHL bottom-feeder. The New York Rangers fall from the NHL’s elite has been stunning with much of the blame being heaped on GM Chris Drury.

Vincent Mercogliano covers the Rangers for The Athletic and joins Neil and Vic to do a deep dive into the current state of the franchise, how they got to this point and where they go in a 100th anniversary season that has been anything but memorable.

In Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To, it took more than half of the season but we finally have a head coaching change. Also, the Lightning remain on fire while guess who’s back in a playoff spot?

IN THIS EPISODE:

[01:43] – Three Things You Need to Pay Attention To

[13:10] – Vince Mercogliano joins the show and delivers a very extensive breakdown of how things have fallen apart at MSG. The on ice product is visible to all but much of the issues of today have their roots going back as far as two years with several episodes taking place off the ice.

[22:25] – Further elaboration on the acquisitions made by GM Chris Drury and why hasn't there been greater accountability from ownership?

[26:04] – Perhaps equally distressing for the Rangers organization is an equally weak team in Hartford with three prospects continuing to struggle at the NHL level. Add in the underwhelming career of the first overall pick in the 2020 Entry Draft.

[31:06] – Perhaps one of the biggest rubs with GM Drury has been his treatment of players. This coming from a former player, captain of the Rangers and a Stanley Cup Champion in Colorado.

[34:10] – The future of Artemi Panarin.

[37:13] – The positives Vince sees in the immediate amidst the mess of the 2025-26 season.

[39:44] – Updates on Adam Fox and Igor Shesterkin

[40:21] – More on Fox. Injury aside, the reported pursuit of Quinn Hughes in New York and the not getting a call for the Olympics has been a double whammy.

[43:36] - Putting a wrap on the discussion with Vincent Mercogliano.

[45:35] - Coaching updates on a milestone for Jon Cooper and a health scare for a former NHL coach working in the KHL.

[51:36] - 2026 NHL Draft to be held in Buffalo.

[55:00] - The ongoing drama at the main rink at the Milan-Cortina Olympic site.

[58:00] - Personnel items.

X: https://twitter.com/NHLWraparound

Neil Smith: https://twitter.com/NYCNeil

Vic Morren: https://www.linkedin.com/in/vic-morren-7038737/

NHL Wraparound Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nhlwraparound/

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