Episode 3

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Published on:

28th Jul 2025

Toronto Trackside Talk with Meesh Beer

Join Nii Wallace Bruce and Meesh Beer as they discuss an enthralling IndyCar race in Toronto, involving Pato O'Ward's victory (03:01), the challenges and evolution of the sport, and its comparison with Formula One and NASCAR (07:01). The episode also delves into the struggles and growth of IndyCar (17:07), highlighting the importance of driver accessibility and fan engagement.

Additionally, the conversation touches on the Toronto Blue Jays' performance and the impact of sports in elevating the city’s spirit (28:25). This engaging discussion offers insights into racing dynamics, the role of female drivers in IndyCar (23:32), and the passionate community of sports fans.

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Opening and closing music courtesy of Jeremiah Alves - "Evermore".

Transcript
PSP:

Welcome into an episode of PSPI am your host Knee Wallace Bruce, and I'm

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excited 'cause I saw cars flying down

Lake Shore West last weekend in Toronto.

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Yes.

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That is indeed a traffic joke

because if you look at the city of

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Toronto, traffic moves quite slowly.

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However, we had the IndyCar

series come to town.

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So to take us through that and more.

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It is me Bia from TRE side

online and Open Wheel World.

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She covered the race from practice

through qualifying as well

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as a big event on the Sunday.

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Meesh!:

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Hi.

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PSP: in.

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Meesh!:

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Excuse my voice.

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I have been at a racetrack basically since

Thursday afternoon, and it got the best of

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me, but woo, what a day, what a weekend.

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PSP: Yeah, and the weather

showed up for the most part.

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There was a little bit of rain

on the Saturday, but it was

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largely a beautiful event.

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Now, what were your

takeaways from the event?

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The race that was won by Patto Ward?

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Meesh!:

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I was so thrilled for Patto to get

the win on the streets of Toronto.

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It has been sort of a thorn in their side

over at Errol McLaren there in Shakar.

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And so this was their first

time, , getting the win here

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and, it was a good race.

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It was, it had its messy moments.

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But that is Toronto, that is

the, that is the street racing.

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That is Toronto.

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Great crowds, for both

Friday and the Sunday.

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The race day, free Fridays always.

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Good.

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It's a charity aspect to it, and

so that's nice and it's a great way

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for people who aren't familiar with

racing to come in and just sort of

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kick the tires, no pun intended.

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And then you know

Saturday was good as well.

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I, don't need need to omit Saturday,

there were practices and qualifying, but

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Sunday is race day and right from the.

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The time the gates opened, we had

a, we had a good crowd in there.

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. The thing about Toronto is a, it's a

legacy race and you'll notice in the

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crowds in, in the grandstands and just

walking through the paddock and such.

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Like the old, the vintage shirts,

you know, team shirts, teams that

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are no longer in the series racing,

but they are all kitted out.

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All us tenured fans, shall we say.

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Still hold on to the glory

days of the race and, you know.

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But still coming out and, and hoping

for continued success of this race

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and, and maybe continued growing of

the sport with the youth of today.

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PSP: Yes, you've raised some really

good points there because I grew up with

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IndyCar in Australia, and you may remember

there was a race on the Gold Coast.

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Meesh!:

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used to sit up in the middle

of the night watching it.

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PSP: Yes, the likes of Will Power,

who is still a part of the series.

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He used to go around on the Pacific

, but that race is unfortunately

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not a part of the current series,

however, Toronto lives on.

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So let's live in the moment.

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When you talk about the award

winning the race, has there been any

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talk of him going to Formula One?

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What are your thoughts on that?

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Meesh!:

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Not gonna happen.

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Not right now anyway.

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Is he capable of it?

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Probably.

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You know, he has the opportunity because

of the McLaren Association of course.

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And he, I think he has done a couple, he's

done some test driving, with him as well.

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So,, there's always, you know, we're

gonna lose them to F1, which is laughable

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because the drivers that actually do

want to graduate from IndyCar to F1, have

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a hell of a time even getting noticed

or getting their foot in the door.

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They F1 makes it very, very

hard to acquire the license.

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Needed for that.

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And I don't know if you'd followed

over the last year Andretti, Michael

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Andretti and Andretti Racing, wanting

to get into and start a team in F1.

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And it was just roadblock after roadblock

after roadblock and really insulting, in

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their defiance against them, considering

Michael's dad is Mario Andretti, you

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know, yeah, so I don't, I don't see

Pato going over there anytime soon.

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But the association with the F1 team,

in McLaren and at the F1 team having,

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the young eyes on them from their

driven to succeed, Netflix show.

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Has only helped.

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And it might have actually sort of

confused the fan bases a little bit.

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I know last year when I was standing

in line at the autograph session,

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there was a girl on her phone and

doing a little Instagram selfie video,

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and she said, hi, I'm coming to you

live from the F1 race in Toronto.

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And I was like, oh, no.

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Oh, no, honey.

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And then I, yeah, she stopped recording.

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I said, what driver are you here to see?

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Just 'cause I wanted to, you

know, get her out of line.

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And she was waiting to meet Lando.

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And she said, Patto.

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And I was like, okay.

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Well, so it's, you've conflated

the teams in the series, but you're

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watching, clearly, you're watching

at least one of them, if not both.

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So, it's, I think he could down

the line, but I think right now his

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focus, and that's what I love about

Patto, he is focused where his feet

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are and he's an amazing young man.

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I, I.

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I sort of followed him

around this weekend.

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Not in a creepy stalker way, but just I

was really observing him because I, I like

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what I see on TV and I like what I see

during the broadcast and the sound bites

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that I've seen from him over the years,

but to actually walk around and follow

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him on the weekend and see how amazing he

is outside of the car, how he interacts

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with the his fan base, he gets it.

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Some drivers don't get it.

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They don't get the interaction, the

need for it, how important it is.

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But Pata walks around with a, a

sharpie in his hand at all times,

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and I noticed that this weekend.

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So that at any moment if a kid comes

up to him or you know, an older fan or

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whatever, comes up to him and talks to

him and wants an autograph, he's ready.

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There's no, oh, I don't have

anything, or I don't have time.

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No.

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He had a conversation with every.

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Person that approached him this weekend,

and it was fascinating to watch.

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And then he had like an

amazing race on track as well.

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And again, he, he doesn't, he

doesn't mince words, you know, he'll

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tell you straight up if his car is

good, if his car is crap, if he, if

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feeling good, if he is feeling crap.

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And yeah, so I, I think

he's here for a while.

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His goal right now is to, you

know, win the championship here.

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For McLaren, so I don't think

he's, we're not, we're, we're

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not gonna lose him anytime soon.

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PSP: Fantastic.

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It's good for the sport

and it's good in general.

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Now.

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It is important to win the hearts and

the minds, and he's definitely doing the

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right thing there with that guest show.

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When, considering that Brad Pitt is

sitting in Formula One cars on the big

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screen, F1 now has races in North America,

in Miami, Mexico City, Texas, Las Vegas.

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How does IndyCar stay relevant?

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With the North American audience.

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Also concerning that NASCAR

has its own fan base,

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Meesh!:

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we're still here.

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There's room for all three.

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I, you know, it's like there's, there's

always been the competition back and

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forth, and the who's better, you know?

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There.

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There's no better or worse.

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I mean, there is better or

worse, but I won't go there.

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PSP: Mm.

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Meesh!:

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but there's, yes, exactly.

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I'm not gonna yuck somebody else's.

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Yum.

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But they're very different.

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The series are all very different.

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They have very.

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Different fan bases and they have, there

are, there is a little, probably a little

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minority that will dabble in all of them.

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I think there's, it's easier to dabble

back and forth between F1 and IndyCar

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as opposed to F1 IndyCar and nascar.

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NASCAR is its own little thing over there.

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But you know.

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We've survived.

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We've survived.

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We've, you know, we survived the

split in 96 and we, you know, and

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that was like within our, so it's

not about outside competition.

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As I like to say, the call is

coming from inside the house.

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We are, or we, I, we, I use we

collectively as the IndyCar.

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'cause that is, that's my love.

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That's where I.

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Live in my racing fandom and

we are our own worst enemy.

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I think we just have to concentrate

on being the best we we can be,

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being the best indie car we can be.

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And I, I think the biggest hurdle

is not that F1 comes over and you

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know, if anything we should be.

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What is it?

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Flattery is, or, or oh, no, thank you.

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I'm like,

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PSP: of

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Meesh!:

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no inspiration.

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Yeah.

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Uh, Is the sincerest form of flattery.

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And because we've always been the diverse

series diverse in, in as far as drivers,

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diverse, as far as tracks and and cars.

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And you know, like now F1 is coming over

to North America, like they already,

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they can do their thing in Europe.

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They are top of the heap over there.

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But they had to come over here

because, and they went, they

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started doing the more social media.

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They started to try to become more fan

friendly, which are not, it's like getting

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close to a driver in F1 and even a nascar.

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Most of the time's unheard of.

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You are not gonna get near them unless

you know somebody, you know, somebody, you

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know somebody or you have a lot of money.

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You know, and, but here, you know,

I don't know if you've got a chance

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to go down this weekend, but, or,

you know, you, you've probably been

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to previous races where you know

how accessible our drivers are.

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You know, it's you can

see them in the paddock.

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You can go in and, and check

out the haulers and the cars

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and get pretty close to them.

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And there's autograph sessions every

weekend and the drivers walk from

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the pits back to their paddock.

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You know, sometimes they're on a

scooter or whatever, but they're

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just out there with the people.

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And that I just from talking to

F1 fans and talking to NASCAR

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fans, 'cause at some point, ooh.

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Years ago, we actually did

double bills with the NASCAR

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truck series a couple of times.

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And it was really interesting

to talk to the NASCAR fans.

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I think they were like, I can't

believe how close we can get

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up to your drivers and you.

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And it was like, yeah,

it's kind of our thing.

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So, I'm not worried.

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I, I don't, I'm not worried about.

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The other series, I am more worried

about the direction from within

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the leadership of our series.

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The inconsistencies in our

messaging, in our programming.

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We can't, for the life of us, seem

to get a consistent TV partner,

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or a, you know, consistent.

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A series or race sponsorships, you'll

get one on board and they'll activate

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and you'll be like, yes, this is the one.

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And then they're gone.

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And it's like we kind of

reinvent the wheel every couple

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of years, which is is hard.

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This year we're on Fox, which.

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You know, we don't really have

a legit Canadian TV partner.

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I guess TSN has stepped in, but

they showed the Indy 500 and

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they showed this weekend's race.

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But it's been, you know, I've

been watching the races on

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Fox, which, no, not as fun.

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So yeah, it's.

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I, I'm not concerned

with outside competition.

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I think, you know, and history has

proven that we are our own worst enemy.

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You know, the series itself split, in 1996

nd then came back together in:

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you know, and then that was the struggle,

the internal struggle and the teams from

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this and the teams from that and coming

together, and then the fan base split.

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You know, a lot of the fans didn't

come back when the, when the series

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merged, and that was difficult.

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But I think everybody's pretty much, I

mean, there's always gonna be the haters.

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There's always gonna be the

ones that I am, you know, on

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this side of the split forever.

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And, and that's fine.

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And, you know, when it comes down

to, for me, is I like racing.

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I wanna, I wanna watch racing.

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And because I was actually, reporting

on the series and traveling with the

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series at the time, I had no choice

but to merge with the, the six teams

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that came back to the merge series.

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And yeah, I mean, it's been an interesting

journey to watch, but we're still here.

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We're like the Phoenix that keeps rising.

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The same with the, the Toronto race.

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The Toronto race has gone away two

times and, hate to be the bearer of bad

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news, but it might go away next year.

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But it always comes back so.

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It, it's for fifa.

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It's part of the reason is

the fifa, thing happening.

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And then there's other, reasoning

behind the scenes as well.

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So it's either gonna be a, a date swap

with another race on the calendar or

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moving our race to a different date.

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Just separate from any of the other

races, having to make any adjustments.

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Or it just goes away for the year.

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Which I hope that's not the case 'cause

that just makes it exponentially harder to

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come back, especially in this day and age.

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And yeah, I mean, just with the

development going on in and around that

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area, that has been the threat for years.

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Losing the race from that area and

finding a new place to race in Toronto or.

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Outside of Toronto, so it

all remains to be seen.

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But, you know, the last word I got

is I watched the haulers pull out.

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That's my tradition every year is I

stay on site until the the team haulers

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pull out and head down the highway.

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And it was like, we

will see you next year.

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And I was like, great.

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That's all I need to.

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PSP: And you'll definitely see what

happens when the sport is absent.

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It has a profound effect.

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You only need to look at the Major League

baseball lockout in the nineties, the

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way it hurt the Blue Jays and Montreal.

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We'll get to some stickball later on.

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But yeah, you gotta have that

consistency and visibility of an event.

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Now, when it comes to fifa.

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And nowadays they have

relaxed things a bit.

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Back in the day, you used to have to

provide a month or two either side

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of the games where the stadium is

essentially under FIFA's control.

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They take over the whole

precinct surrounding it.

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But then I think about South Africa in

:

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in and around the men's World Cup.

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So.

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There are ways to work around

the FIFA World Cup nowadays.

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Meesh!:

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some of the, the things going on that's

making it a little more difficult

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too, is the expansion of the stadium.

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So that would encroach on, it might

have to change the layout of the track,

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depending on how they do the renovations,

which are currently underway from what

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I could see down there this weekend.

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And we have already, we already had

to change the layout of the race

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when they built the X Hotel so that,

you know, that completely changed.

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I guess the, 10 11 down

into one, area of the track.

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So, yeah, I mean, and you

change is, is inevitable.

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You know, you just, you roll with it.

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And it's funny because while we, on

the IndyCar, getting back to the F1

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versus NASCAR versus IndyCar thing.

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We have basically always been what we are.

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We're a spec series.

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We're a driver, focused series.

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It's about the drivers driving the cars.

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Everybody has the same cars.

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The difference in the teams is money,

sponsorship, you know resources.

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But on any given weekend, anybody can win

that race, whereas an F1, it's technology.

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You know, it's, it's all tech and

manufacturers and they sort of, you

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know, they're on the side of the, of the

history and it's F1 and it's very you

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know, very, we are F1 and, and everybody

else doesn't exist there shouldn't.

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And IndyCar is like, you know, spec

safety, driver talent, diversity.

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Again, like I say, diversity of

tracks and drivers, which are now

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getting more diversity in the other

series both of tracks and drivers.

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Hmm.

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Funny that, yeah.

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And then, you know, it was like,

'cause I wrote a few notes that

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down here it was like F1 shorter

races, less fan accessible.

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And then they, they copied IndyCar.

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They started to copy IndyCar

to become more fan friendly.

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And it was the same way with nascar.

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NASCAR was mainly dirt races, ovals.

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And then, you know, they started

adding road courses and then more

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recently street courses, which is

only sort of dividing their fan base.

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So they're in, in their

zeal to try to one up us.

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They're kind of hurting themselves.

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So again, in each series the call

is coming from inside the house.

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It's so, it's so funny to sort of.

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Follow it and watch it happen.

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And instead of taking us as the

example of what not to do, they're

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doing it, you know, and NASCAR started

gamifying their races and everything

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became very confused and contrived

and really alienated their fan base.

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So it's, yeah.

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And it kind of goes back

and forth, you know.

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Depending on the year, depending

on where you are in the year and

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in the season, any one of us can be

on top, have the most eyes on us at

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any given time, and then it flips,

and then it switches, then it flips.

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So I, I think it keeps us all on our toes.

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I think competition is a good thing.

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Gosh, look at, look at our,

you know, outside of sports, we

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have like one airline basically

in Canada, no competition.

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So.

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Who, who gets hurt there, we do because

there's, you know, everything's just

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expensive 'cause we have no choice.

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The same with the telecoms.

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You know, like it's all those things

where you go, if there was more

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competition, we, you know, those of us

that I guess the fans of, even though

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you don't, you're not a fan of an

airline or a telethon, reap the benefit.

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So it's the same in in sports.

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PSP: Yeah, no doubt.

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Competition breeds innovation, and

innovation typically leads to growth.

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Growth was a term that you used

at the start of the interview.

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So Mitch, how does IndyCar

grow in the next few years?

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Meesh!:

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Well, I think the realization

that, the fan base is aging out.

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We're gonna, we're gonna hang in there.

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And there's still, you know, there's

still the recognizable team owners, the

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Penskes, the, the fos, the Andretti.

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So you know, the old timers and the

tenured of us that have been around for

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a while, you know, we still have that to

hold onto the heyday and, and whatnot.

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And so it's, as long as that's

still recognizable, so you

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have to kind of keep the.

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Originals, the OG fan base, happy while

appealing to the new generation of fandom.

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And I, I experienced that this weekend

myself on the media side of things,

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because there, you know, the OG media

is going the way of the dodo bird,

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in, in the, in the media center.

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Print media is all but.

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Extinct.

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And a good portion, I would say probably

at least half of the folks in the media

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center were new media influencers, like

a very different t and like there's some,

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there are the, you know, the, the print

media that travels with the series from.

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Indianapolis.

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So there is still that there, but

I don't think there was anybody

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there this weekend from the Toronto

Star, the Toronto Sun, globe mail.

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Like I didn't even look today to

see if anybody had had written

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anything about the race, where it

used to be front page of everything.

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So it's, they are appealing to the digital

generation, the AI generation, the.

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I need my news and my pictures instantly

generation as opposed to the, ah, I'll

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:

be happy to wait until tomorrow morning

and go and get the newspaper and, you

371

:

know, open it up to the sports section.

372

:

So yeah, so I think, I think all of the

series are starting to rethink that.

373

:

And it was really interesting to be in

there and be part of it and go, wow.

374

:

Wow.

375

:

I, I'm the old dog in

the, in the dog park now.

376

:

This is interesting.

377

:

Yeah, it, you know, but

I still did, did my part.

378

:

And but again, you know, like I was taking

my pictures but then, and, and I instantly

379

:

was like sending, sending them like from

my phone, you know, doing like quick

380

:

little videos and pictures and sending

'em from my phone to to the Netherlands.

381

:

As opposed to sitting down and quietly and

writing a story and editing the photos.

382

:

And I was like, no, no.

383

:

Here, just take it.

384

:

Take it.

385

:

You know?

386

:

Yeah.

387

:

So I guess that's how

you, you grow the series.

388

:

But also I, I hope that as they grow into

a, like a more modern, youthful, appealing

389

:

sport, they respect the history of it.

390

:

And that the new fans respect the,

that this is not a video game.

391

:

These drivers aren't

characters in a TV show.

392

:

These are young men and in some

cases women who struck into a

393

:

race car every weekend and risk

their lives for our entertainment.

394

:

And the consequences are very, very real.

395

:

I lost.

396

:

Two friends over the years become close

with pretty much all of the drivers,

397

:

in which you do when you do this.

398

:

And it was, it's hard to

separate yourself from that.

399

:

And I sort of had some of the

old dogs ahead of me who were my

400

:

mentors, say, don't get too attached

because, you know, unlike other

401

:

sports people die in our sports.

402

:

And you go, Ugh.

403

:

Yep.

404

:

Okay.

405

:

And, and so I don't think,

I don't think that like.

406

:

Fan base, the youth now

coming into it get that.

407

:

So I, I think it's important to,

without being modeling about it, to also

408

:

respect that part of the sport as well.

409

:

I'm on my soapbox today.

410

:

Look at me.

411

:

PSP: No, no, no.

412

:

Stay on that soapbox.

413

:

You are listening to myself, Neil

Spruce and our guest me Beer from

414

:

Trackside Online and Open Wheels.

415

:

Make sure you check out her work.

416

:

She's on Instagram at

M-E-E-S-H-B double ER.

417

:

Now, you talked about diversity.

418

:

I have to ask, how big was the impact

of Danica Patrick on IndyCar as a sport?

419

:

Um.

420

:

Meesh!:

421

:

Oof.

422

:

I am probably the wrong person to talk to.

423

:

Who about that?

424

:

Which is ironic.

425

:

I know.

426

:

Being a woman.

427

:

It was, it was a door opener and

a hindrance at the same time.

428

:

I mean, kudos to her.

429

:

She got in, she drove the car, she.

430

:

Did well at times.

431

:

But it was, it was a little bit of

tokenism and I think some of the way

432

:

that she was marketed and the way the

series used her and the sponsors used

433

:

her and, and marketed her, actually did

a disservice to all of the other girls

434

:

and women coming up through the sport.

435

:

It is improving a bit now.

436

:

But it is a struggle.

437

:

It is an absolute struggle.

438

:

And I've had, I've, I have a couple of

friends, who are drivers I've seen it

439

:

while I was there at the track with them,

and I've seen the struggles that they

440

:

go through and they have to work eight

times harder than most of the male drivers

441

:

just to get notice, just to get in the

door, just to be treated like a driver.

442

:

Catherine Legg is an example right now.

443

:

She was with us.

444

:

She came over, she kind of got her

her start in, in the IndyCar side of

445

:

things, which is champ car at the time.

446

:

And she has driven everything,

everything on wheels.

447

:

I, I think the only, you know,

top level car that she hasn't

448

:

driven is, is an F1 car.

449

:

She has one races, she

has, she has trophies.

450

:

She, you know, she is a

fantastic driver, a very diverse.

451

:

Driver and she is dipping

her toe in NASCAR this year.

452

:

And the vitriol online, just based on the

fact that she is a girl, is insane to me.

453

:

And it is like, well, where is that

vitriol for the guy that's toiling around

454

:

in the back row that's there, you know,

just because Daddy has money or whatever,

455

:

you know like she's still finishing.

456

:

The cars, or she's getting taken

out intentionally by, by other

457

:

drivers, which will happen in nascar.

458

:

But yeah, I mean, Danica Danica did Danica

things and, and yes, it was, it was good

459

:

to have a, a female in the spotlight.

460

:

But it never, it never did what

I think it could have done.

461

:

I think it was it was

a wasted opportunity.

462

:

In my opinion.

463

:

Yeah.

464

:

I have one, I'm editing so many thoughts

and things to say, but yeah, it, yeah,

465

:

it was really a missed opportunity.

466

:

It could have been so much

more and so much better.

467

:

And I think, you know, if you were to

ask her, she would probably say the same.

468

:

If she really, you know.

469

:

Got honest about, about everything

and, and she would realize that, you

470

:

know, maybe posing in a bikini on

the hood of a car wasn't, wasn't the

471

:

way to go about starting her career.

472

:

Or, you know, getting the attention, like

just let the driving tell the story and

473

:

she wasn't afforded that opportunity to

just let her driving , tell the story.

474

:

Which is unfortunate.

475

:

PSP: I hear that now, would things

have been different if she had been

476

:

racing in 2025 as opposed to back then?

477

:

Meesh!:

478

:

Yeah, I think so.

479

:

I think if we could get, and we've

got some girls coming up through the

480

:

ranks now in all the different series.

481

:

Except over in Europe.

482

:

I don't think there's anybody

coming up the pipeline, over there.

483

:

But yeah.

484

:

I, I think, I think if a girl can, can

consistently get the sponsors, it's

485

:

just, it's, it costs money to do this.

486

:

It's not for lack of talent.

487

:

You know, it's, you could put a, a any

of my friends who are drivers into those

488

:

seats and they would get the results.

489

:

It's just that they are not

afforded the opportunity.

490

:

Getting sponsorship is just a slog and,

i, but I think it might be easier if

491

:

it, I'm hoping I'm fingers crossed for

the girls coming up through the ranks,

492

:

that, that they can get the sponsorship,

that they can get the opportunities.

493

:

PSP: We will watch this space.

494

:

when I look at the field of drivers

at Toronto's indie car race, there was

495

:

a very international flavor we had.

496

:

we had Patto Ward, will

Powell, the Australian.

497

:

You know, I always like

to see him go around.

498

:

We also had from New Zealand, Scott Dixon.

499

:

I see NASCAR's coffee.

500

:

The idea of poaching Kiwis, by the

way, as they went out and got Shane

501

:

Van Burg and over to their series.

502

:

Anyway, jokes aside, there's

an international flavor

503

:

with drivers in IndyCar.

504

:

Do you think that can translate

to races going International, once

505

:

again, outside of North America,

506

:

Meesh!:

507

:

oh, yes, yes.

508

:

It's so funny because the

fan base we used to go.

509

:

You know, Australia, Mexico Japan,

and you know, like we had quite an

510

:

international schedule and for, you know,

reasons of, you know, just the serious

511

:

bleeding and getting back together.

512

:

And then, you know, just life

happens, the world happens.

513

:

The races drop off the schedule and

but I know there's a big groundswell,

514

:

especially now with Patto Awards.

515

:

They're like, let's get

the race back to Mexico.

516

:

And you know, and, and then by the same

token, NASCAR either went or is going to

517

:

Mexico and, and the fan base was losing

their mind with negativity over it.

518

:

It was like, ah, you know, I think, yeah.

519

:

Oh yeah.

520

:

And we also raced in the Netherlands.,

521

:

We had a couple of death drivers.

522

:

We had swartzman and

and dorm boats as well.

523

:

And going back to, oh, everybody would

love to go back to Australia as far as

524

:

the drivers and teams, and especially the

crew members and, and, support staff that

525

:

were around in the, in those heydays,

would be thrilled to go back to Australia.

526

:

And I think, yeah, I, one would

hope that it would open more doors

527

:

to go international, because there

is a huge international following.

528

:

The problem is, is it's hard to, again,

back to the TV partners they make

529

:

it so hard to be a fan to follow it.

530

:

And, and as someone who had to cover

it remotely, it, it's just been a

531

:

thorn in my side for years on the

accessibility outside of the, of the

532

:

us to watch the practices and the

qualifying and, you know, like, yes,

533

:

you can find the races somewhere.

534

:

But all the other stuff, all the

support sessions leading up to the race,

535

:

it's the best kept secret sometimes.

536

:

But the fan base is there.

537

:

I met so many international fans in

Toronto this week, who had flown over

538

:

for the race, and it used to be, of

course, much bigger in the the Molson.

539

:

Indie days when it was, you know,

basically a, a year long beer

540

:

commercial leading up to the

race and, and the race weekend.

541

:

The race week actually was just amazing.

542

:

But again, that's huge.

543

:

That's big sponsorship and I think

the, the hurdle there is now,

544

:

there's just so much, there's so

many eyes, there's so much out

545

:

there, there's so much competition.

546

:

Like we thought it would all go away.

547

:

We lost a lot of sponsorship with

tobacco sponsorship being removed

548

:

and you know, you look at all of

the activities outside of racing too

549

:

that that affected, the fireworks.

550

:

International fireworks

shows that was de Moer gone.

551

:

The struggle to get sponsorship for

the international tennis, competitions.

552

:

So we survived, we survived that.

553

:

A lot of the teams had to struggle,

but, you know, found other sponsorship.

554

:

But again, right now there's so much,

there are so many sports, there are so

555

:

many racing series, there are so many

other forms of entertainment vying

556

:

for the same pool of people that it's

yeah, it's, it's, it's hard to say.

557

:

It's, it is really hard to say.

558

:

How they improve upon

it and how it survives.

559

:

PSP: No doubt.

560

:

And in the city of Toronto, Indy car

was competing with another sport.

561

:

You may have heard of it.

562

:

Baseball, further down

Lake Shore Boulevard West.

563

:

I say that tongue in cheek because on

the Friday, you hustled across town

564

:

from the race at exhibition to two.

565

:

This skydome to see the Blue

Jays, not against the Giants.

566

:

There was synergy there 'cause.

567

:

The IndyCar race does take part on

the old exhibition stadium grounds.

568

:

Why don't you tell our audience

how you've managed to get

569

:

from one event to the other?

570

:

Meesh!:

571

:

I walked, I walked 'cause the

traffic was just a nightmare.

572

:

So I I just, you know, threw my gear

on my back and just hoofed it from

573

:

exhibition stadium over to like from the

Princess Gates over to, Rogers Center,

574

:

I should say, I should say the proper,

not the Dome Rogers Center for the game.

575

:

And it's just happily did.

576

:

So it's, I was.

577

:

If there was a, you know, a way

that you could exceed happiness

578

:

this weekend, I did that.

579

:

And what what was funny is there were so

many crew members and media and just fans,

580

:

friends that had flown in for the race

that were also at the game that night.

581

:

And a couple of the dr the drivers

the prema drivers were at the game

582

:

and they got shown on the big screen.

583

:

Usually when the the race is in town, they

take one of the drivers to throw a pitch.

584

:

But this time they did the the primer

drivers just came and got to sit and

585

:

watch and they have a little YouTube video

where, you know, sort of took, takes you

586

:

through like their experience at the game.

587

:

And they, what did they call it?

588

:

American Cricket, which was cute.

589

:

Callum, I left,

590

:

PSP: Cricket.

591

:

Meesh!:

592

:

it American Cricket.

593

:

And then they, you know, they disappeared

from their seats for a few minutes and

594

:

then they came back and they were all

kitted out with a, a city connect jersey.

595

:

And, yeah.

596

:

And you know, the most important thing

on their minds that night, they wanted

597

:

a hotdog before they left the stadium.

598

:

So I think it's I think it was a

lovely crossover and I think, you

599

:

know, they're not mutually exclusive.

600

:

And I did, you brought up the you

know, exhibition stadium, which is

601

:

funny because at one point on race

day I was, you know, hoofing it down

602

:

thunder alley to get into turn three.

603

:

And in the middle of this, like.

604

:

Parking area, parking lot and

they had all the concessions set

605

:

up and it was like original third

base, the exhibition stadium.

606

:

I'm like, ah, cool.

607

:

Quickly took a shot of my foot

standing on third base and then

608

:

ran off to turn three to shoot.

609

:

So yeah, it's, it was fun.

610

:

It was a great, it was a great

weekend and, and it just proves that

611

:

like two sporting events can exist

simultaneously on the same weekend.

612

:

But a lot of happy people walking

around with everything from racing

613

:

jerseys to baseball jerseys.

614

:

Yeah.

615

:

PSP: Yeah, the baseball jerseys are

out and about in the city of Toronto.

616

:

It helps when the team is now 55

wins into the season, and they're

617

:

sitting 16 games above 500 leading

the division and all before them.

618

:

Meesh!:

619

:

make room on the bandwagon

because I'm ride or die.

620

:

I, I'm the one that's been sitting in

those seats since March and you know,

621

:

those sad nights where it's like, oh,

you just watch the wind fade away, but

622

:

always there, I, you know, I'm there

for the good times and the bad times.

623

:

That's, that's sports.

624

:

PSP: Yes, and I see MLB Network

or SportsNet in the background

625

:

with highlights, so you definitely

walk to talk their niche.

626

:

I will say that this season, the turning

point for me was against the Braves in

627

:

Toronto where the Blue Jays were losing.

628

:

They were on a bit of a streak.

629

:

And then Dalton Vara makes this

wild web gem of a catch where his

630

:

back is turned in center field.

631

:

And since then, it's just been onwards

and upwards for this baseball club.

632

:

Meesh!:

633

:

stadium itself is electric.

634

:

I, and I, I feel like I'm humble bragging.

635

:

It's gonna sound really gross,

but the week, July 1st week.

636

:

The week that we swept those two series

at home before we went on the road.

637

:

And again, I say we, it's just

a weird habit I have of mine

638

:

when I, I'm all in, I'm all in.

639

:

When I'm wearing that jersey,

I'm representing the team.

640

:

You know, it's a, and, but

I was there for all seven.

641

:

And by game three of the New York series.

642

:

, I had such an adrenaline

headache at the end of the game.

643

:

I was like, they're gonna have

to sedate me come October.

644

:

Like it's insane the energy in that,

in that building and I was so happy

645

:

for my friends that don't get to.

646

:

You know, sit in a stadium like I do.

647

:

All my friends from out of town

came to the game that night.

648

:

We were all sitting in different places in

the stadium, but again, electric energy.

649

:

And I just, I love it when I can

show off, my beautiful stadium and my

650

:

beautiful city and my amazing team to my

friends and, and they have a good time.

651

:

And especially when the

boys win, it's just yeah.

652

:

And the city itself.

653

:

It just, everybody is kidded out

in Blue Jay's gear, which I love.

654

:

I love it.

655

:

Gives me lots of people

to talk to on my mute.

656

:

PSP: Dome Sweet Dome.

657

:

It's essentially how we met that's outside

of Gate 14 near the Sports Net Grill.

658

:

It was a beautiful thing.

659

:

It's a great thing when the team is

doing well and as well as they've

660

:

been doing throughout the season.

661

:

It really elevates the city and

we need that in city of Toronto.

662

:

Hopefully they can keep that up.

663

:

Meesh!:

664

:

It's just nice to have some like a

nice happy distraction, you know,

665

:

and, and that energy, that hope,

gosh, it's palpable, you know?

666

:

But then there's also the like,

you know, the fear, like, what

667

:

if this all goes away again?

668

:

Like, what if they, and I was so glad.

669

:

It's gonna sound weird.

670

:

I was so glad they lost

before the all-star break.

671

:

Like, yes, get it outta

the way it's gonna happen.

672

:

So I'd rather them lose and then go

on the break, you know, like lose

673

:

the winning streak, blah, blah, blah.

674

:

Done.

675

:

It's done now.

676

:

Then take that like win, win, win, win,

win, break, and now the pressure on them

677

:

to come back that first game and continue.

678

:

I was like, no, they got the

monkey off their back, now

679

:

they're rested, rejuvenated.

680

:

Next part of the season is, is happening.

681

:

And look at them.

682

:

Win, win, win.

683

:

So,

684

:

PSP: all they do is win

685

:

Meesh!:

686

:

Yeah, exactly.

687

:

Yeah.

688

:

Well, yeah, exactly.

689

:

And then you know, now it's woo.

690

:

This series is gonna be,

well, it'll be spicy.

691

:

If the last, the last series was any

any indication with New York, this

692

:

one will be, it'll be interesting.

693

:

A lot of New Yorkers traveled

up for that last series.

694

:

Now could have been a bit of an anomaly

because of course it's, you know.

695

:

A long weekend.

696

:

So a lot of them traveled for vacation,

but it would be interesting to see how

697

:

many New Yorkers traveled up for, for

this one, sort of the, the revenge tour.

698

:

I guess it'll be interesting.

699

:

It will be interesting to see what happens

when the Blue Jays are on the road.

700

:

I'm sure when the Blue Jays travel

to places like Detroit and Baltimore,

701

:

there'll be added eyes on the situation.

702

:

The Tigers are a potential a LCS showdown.

703

:

It is on the road where, where we're

really gonna learn a lot about this team.

704

:

This is a team that is essentially

playing with a pro forma lineup

705

:

when it's missing the likes of

Dalton Vaio and Anthony Santander.

706

:

And it is a shorthanded bullpen, but

they still manage to win the game.

707

:

So they've won and they find

a way to come back in matches.

708

:

So it seems that the ceiling is a lot

higher than the way things are right now.

709

:

. Meesh!:

710

:

When you think about it, it's like we're,

we're playing our B squad right now.

711

:

You know, just, it blows my mind like

when we're back at full strength, when we

712

:

got VARs show back out there, when we got

Andres Jimenez out there like healed again

713

:

when we got all our bullpen boys back.

714

:

Although I think, I think we're, we're

down Jimmy now for the rest of the season.

715

:

PSP: Hmm.

716

:

Meesh!:

717

:

We still have the trade

deadline coming up.

718

:

And you know what?

719

:

I'm kind of excited.

720

:

I'm kind of excited.

721

:

I think, I think this is the year

that you know, they, they go all in.

722

:

Like, this is a, yeah,

we're buying, we're buying.

723

:

Obviously they're, we're buyers,

not sellers at the deadline.

724

:

But I, I think it's a, you know, I

would like to think that Ed Rogers

725

:

just gives them a blank check

and says, let's make this happen.

726

:

We haven't been this close and the

potential like this isn't, if it was our

727

:

a squad and we're doing well, yeah, he's

still gonna be a little more cautious.

728

:

But this is, this is magic.

729

:

This is magic.

730

:

I feel magical.

731

:

It's very Pollyanna to say that,

but it feels magical right now.

732

:

And I think, you know, an

arm, just get us an arm.

733

:

Buy us an arm.

734

:

The fact that Scherzer

battled his way back.

735

:

It was amazing, and I

think we spoke about this.

736

:

I had the opportunity to actually

talk to him, which is like,

737

:

that was a total unicorn moment.

738

:

Yeah, it's, this is the year we're hanging

a banner, at least one banner that's,

739

:

I'm putting that out there right now.

740

:

We're hanging at least one banner from

that beautifully renovated stadium.

741

:

PSP: Hang a banner in the

dome, but I put my foot down.

742

:

No more wild card banners.

743

:

We don't wanna see any more of these

participation Wild card banners.

744

:

This is the Toronto Blue Jays,

so all the Hall of Fame Banners

745

:

World, the two World Series.

746

:

Obviously they're there, but I don't

wanna see any more Wild Cup banners.

747

:

, Meesh!:

748

:

I will.

749

:

Yes.

750

:

Well, that's why I said at least

one banner, you know, that kind

751

:

of like, because that's kind of

the default banner, but like.

752

:

Yeah.

753

:

Yes.

754

:

The wild card to me is a given, but

if we can avoid it, oh, hell yeah.

755

:

Let's just, let's just put the big banner

up there and then make room for the next

756

:

I'll put it this way, you won't

get another season where the

757

:

Yankees are struggling with

pitching arms and overall defense.

758

:

A season where the Red Sox have

had so much infighting that it's

759

:

impacted the on field product.

760

:

A season where the rays

have been a nomadic team.

761

:

They'll be the rigs, but they probably

won't have a home next season,

762

:

maybe the season after as well.

763

:

And then the o's.

764

:

You wanna have another season

where the O'S have a front

765

:

office that's been so gunshot.

766

:

They should be willing to be

a bit more aggressive in:

767

:

So it's now or never,

768

:

. Meesh!:

769

:

This is the opportunity.

770

:

Opportunities presenting itself.

771

:

Take it, grab it, shake it, take it.

772

:

Yeah,

773

:

PSP: Grab it like pole position me

Really, enjoyed your time this afternoon.

774

:

Meesh!:

775

:

I feel like I was all over the place.

776

:

PSP: No, no, no.

777

:

We guided you through.

778

:

We got you to the checkered flag.

779

:

We can find you on Twitter.

780

:

Meesh!:

781

:

I'm at, what I'm thinking on.

782

:

Yeah, that's my sports Twitter.

783

:

I have two Twitters.

784

:

I have sort of like the at niche beer,

which is kind of my general Twitter,

785

:

which is, there's probably dust you

know, bats flying around on that one.

786

:

'cause I, I mainly stick to.

787

:

At what I'm thinking is my sports Twitter,

I have two, I've, I separated them out

788

:

because my non-sporting people were like,

oh my God, you only talk about sports.

789

:

And so now they just don't

get to talk to me at all.

790

:

And actually some of them have

come on board and actually

791

:

followed me on my sports Twitter.

792

:

'cause they're, they miss me

793

:

will be justing some follow ups

from the weekend and you know,

794

:

just an outlet for me to to talk

about my baseball experiences.

795

:

I, I, I, I think I told you about it, but

I'll just sort of let the audience in.

796

:

I went through a big metal medical

scare last year and, so I'm just

797

:

sort of getting my, my bearings

and my footing underneath me.

798

:

And it was, it was spoiler alert,

it was a brain tumor that will

799

:

all be in the story that I write.

800

:

I am writing a book writing the

story of how baseball saved my life.

801

:

So keep that in your back pocket.

802

:

But yeah, so now that the brain

tumor is gone, I am in remission.

803

:

Yay.

804

:

My brain.

805

:

Is firing again, and all the

things that stopped giving me

806

:

joy or giving me joy again, like

baseball and racing and writing.

807

:

So yeah, so I've started to to dust off

the keyboard and I'm like, yeah, I'm

808

:

excited to, to put my thoughts down again.

809

:

So I will be dusting that off.

810

:

So if you, if you're following me on what

I'm thinking at, what I'm thinking on, on.

811

:

TWI X or whatever the

hell it's called now.

812

:

Then yeah, I will be linking to to the,

those stories there and yeah, hopefully

813

:

just chatting with awesome folks like

yourself throughout the year as well, that

814

:

that I randomly walk up to and say, you

look like somebody I should be talking to.

815

:

Yes.

816

:

PSP: Yeah.

817

:

So I like to think that

I have that, that those

818

:

Meesh!:

819

:

Yeah.

820

:

PSP: It is been a fantastic

chat and it's been a pleasure

821

:

to have connected with you.

822

:

We'll definitely have your blog in our

show notes, so definitely check that out.

823

:

I think you've already given us a bold

prediction, but do you wanna give us

824

:

another one, or you wanna stick with

the one you've already delivered to us?

825

:

Meesh!:

826

:

The whole production for

the rest of the year.

827

:

Ah well bold projection

for the rest of the year.

828

:

We're gonna see the emergence

again of post all star He's

829

:

relaxed, he's having fun.

830

:

He's locked in.

831

:

I mean, he's, he's locked in

figuratively and literally.

832

:

And he's from what other

players have talked about.

833

:

And again, I've had the just rarefied air

privilege of speaking to a few players.

834

:

There's a big difference in

the, not the dugout, not the

835

:

bullpen, the clubhouse this year.

836

:

And he has stepped up as a

leader and I love that for him

837

:

and I love that for everybody.

838

:

And so yeah, so I think the emergence

of, of Vladdy the face of the franchise,

839

:

but also the leader of the team.

840

:

Love it.

841

:

George is gonna continue to be, George

Barger is gonna continue to just Flo us.

842

:

I'm so happy I.

843

:

Popped in his bandwagon

right from the get go.

844

:

Okay.

845

:

Bold prediction.

846

:

Oh, gonna piss some people off.

847

:

Enjoy, enjoy bull while you got 'em.

848

:

Enjoy.

849

:

PSP: Yes, 141 hits as of July

20th, projected to hit 200 hits.

850

:

Yes, I know where you are going with

that, but it doesn't seem like a

851

:

contract offer sheet is on the table,

and with the second or third most hits

852

:

in baseball, it seems inevitable that

he gets for agency and tests the market.

853

:

Meesh!:

854

:

Yeah, the the, the phantom injuries

that happened before the Allstar

855

:

break, I was like, oh, interesting.

856

:

He's making himself very

unappealing for the trade deadline.

857

:

Okay, I get it.

858

:

I get it.

859

:

I'd probably do the same thing.

860

:

Oh my back, oh, my leg.

861

:

But he's still not the bow.

862

:

He's still not the bow

that everybody talks to.

863

:

He's not September.

864

:

Now, if September shows up, then maybe,

maybe that inspires the head office to

865

:

sweeten the pot, but bow did not come this

far and battle back to not test the water.

866

:

He's not the one that's been saying

for years and years and years.

867

:

I wanna be a blue jay for life.

868

:

Now, he came out with the very lovely

PR wrapped statement last year that

869

:

he wants to play with Vladi and win

an A a a A World Series with Vladi.

870

:

So again, this is the year.

871

:

If he's still on the team post

deadline, then this is the year you

872

:

put all your eggs in that basket

and get them that, that series.

873

:

But yeah.

874

:

I, I think for the Bo fans

enjoy him, like, enjoy him.

875

:

I'm enjoying him.

876

:

When, when Bo's on, I enjoy him.

877

:

When he is not on, I don't enjoy him.

878

:

But I think he's, he, I think his dad is

not gonna allow him to take anything less

879

:

than his dad and he think he's worth,

and I don't think that Jays are gonna

880

:

offer that, if that makes any sense.

881

:

I think they know his worth, but

I don't think they're going to.

882

:

Offer that unless something

very drastic happens.

883

:

I think it's a kind of a wait and see.

884

:

I, I think it's gonna be a wait and see.

885

:

It really depends on how

this, how the season unfolds.

886

:

But I think his dad probably has a bunch

of interviews already lined up for him.

887

:

At the off season.

888

:

So yeah, I mean, and all the best to him.

889

:

I like everybody else.

890

:

We'll welcome him back and stand and cheer

for him if he plays on another team like

891

:

we do with all of our boys, you know,

they leave, they go to another team and

892

:

we welcome them back with open arms.

893

:

That's what I love about our

fandom and being, you know,

894

:

and our team, and our city.

895

:

'cause we just that we're that.

896

:

That group of fans and it pisses

all the other fan bases off.

897

:

But it does impress some of them.

898

:

It actually impressed the four,

men from New York that I met during

899

:

the last series, after the game.

900

:

We were kind of, we, we were

kind of chirping back and forth

901

:

during the game, having fun.

902

:

And then after the game

I said, sorry, not sorry.

903

:

And they all laughed.

904

:

And, and the one guy

said, no, you know what?

905

:

Honestly, we've had the best time.

906

:

We like your team is fire.

907

:

They're scary.

908

:

We love it.

909

:

Your fan base is amazing and

the way you support your team

910

:

and the venue is amazing.

911

:

We've loved being here and love the city.

912

:

And I was like, what?

913

:

Are you sure you're from New

York and they're coming back?

914

:

I, I expect to see them because I think

they're gonna be in the same section.

915

:

So I expect to see them tonight

or Wednesday when I'm back.

916

:

Which would be really funny

'cause they just had a great time.

917

:

So, yeah.

918

:

Yeah, that's again, woo off.

919

:

I go on a tangent.

920

:

It was because I wasn't able

to talk baseball all weekend.

921

:

PSP: That does it for today's episode.

922

:

I've been your host, me, Wallace Bruce,

and this has been another episode of PSP.

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About the Podcast

Pro Sports Podcasters
No Sport Left Behind
The Pro Sports Podcasters is hosted by Nii Wallace-Bruce, and Justen Williams. On this podcast there is no sport too big, or too small for us to cover. You'll learn something every episode!

#NoSportLeftBehind

Our guests include the top athletes in their sport, coaches, sports broadcasters, sports agents, league administrators, and dedicated fans. We cover every sport from every angle, and provide perspectives that other podcasts ignore. Each host has expert knowledge in a number of sports. So when the opportunity arises to educate our audience, we take every opportunity.

Our hosts Nii Wallace-Bruce, and Justen Williams have all spent time in front of the camera as well. Having appeared in commercials, dramatic roles, music videos, public events, and Live performances. The Pro Sports Podcasters are more than the voices you have come to recognize hearing twice a week.

Enjoy the podcast, and to connect with the Pro Sports Podcasters there are links in the show notes of every episode!
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