Six in the Morning with Brett Kane

7-16-26 - World Cup Final Set

7-15-26 - Trevon Brazile shines at Summer League, NFL WR Rankings, World Cup

7-14-26 - Home Run Derby, Broncos, Peyton Watson saga

7-13-26 - NFL QB ranks, HR Derby, Nuggets Summer League

7-09-26: Nuggets moves, Big 12 Media Day Journalism

0:00 - Why Soccer culture in the US won't get any better. 13:12 - Expectations for Bo Nix and the Broncos this season. 32:17 - Sean Payton might be the Michael Scott of the NFL. 

0:00 - Well...that was fun until it wasn't. Sheesh. What an embarrassing way to end USA's World Cup run. How do we feel this morning? Are you sad? Depressed? Angry? Or have you returned to your normal state of not caring about soccer?14:30 - There are 2 main ways that Nuggets fans are panicking this offseason. But Brett's at ease with both those things. He's not panicking. Why?35:20 - Seth Wickersham just published a DEEP DEEP dive on Sean Payton. He followed Payton around during the playoffs, and it turns out, Sean Payton is even more psycho than we thought.

0:00 - What a roller coaster! FIFA overturned Balogun's red card and he's eligible to play for Team USA against Belgium tonight. This reeks of FIFA corruption. But...it's helping us out! It benefits us! This is awesome! 15:04 - LeBron hasn't made an official decision yet. We don't know where he'll play next season. And you shouldn't be surprised. This is the same man who orchestrated The Decision. He's gonna drag this out as long as he can.31:15 - USA is playing Belgium tonight in World Cup action. What can we hate about Belgium? Is there anything hateable about them?

0:00 - Now that LeBron is leaving LA...would you take him here in Denver? Remember, before he signed with the Lakers, the Nuggets were supposedly a candidate to land him. 14:45 - Brett has settled down a bit. He's not as concerned about the Nuggets losing Peyton Watson to the LA teams as some of his Altitude cohorts are. Let's pull the plug on the Peyton Panic, shall we?33:00 - The NBA offseason is like no other. It's pure drama! It's the real housewives of the National Basketball Association. Why is that? What makes the NBA different?

0:00 - Word on the street is, the Nuggets declined Jalen Pickett's team option for the '26/'27 season. That's a shame. He always showed flashes of brilliance but could never find a consistent role on the team. So what's next for the team?14:31 - Yesterday on Kreckman and Lindahl, The Radio Machine Mark Springer said he thinks there's a 75% chance Jokic stays a Nugget. That's CRAZY. That's WAY too high! Does anyone actually think Jokic would leave?32:54 - Both of yesterday's World Cup games came down to Penalty Kicks. The Athletic wrote a piece about PKs and if we could maybe find a better way to end games. Are PKs the best way to decide things? And a bunch of angry soccer purists flooded the replies with some harsh words about Americans. Listen up you freaks. Say what you will about soccer/football. But keep your paws off America, baby.

0:00 - Bill Simmons said there's some "smoke" around the Nuggets right now. Some of it is legit, and some of it isn't. He thinks there could be a mutually beneficial trade between the Nuggets and Celtics. It might be all conjecture and heresay, but Simmons also has his finger on the pulse of the Celtics. 15:38 - The Avs traded Nichushkin, probably a salary dump, then immediately re-signed Brent Burns and Brett Kulak. Brett sees a parallel between how the Avs and (our coworkers) the LA Rams do business.33:58 - All weekend long, there were Nuggets rumors swirling. Brett was trying to enjoy a few days in San Diego, and his phone kept lighting up with Nuggets rumblings. Jokic hasn't signed his extension yet, and some NBA insiders claim he's using it to force the hand of ownership/the front office. Build me a winner or I'm out. Bottom line is, Nuggets fans won't survive this offseason. All this he said/she said bullcrap is gonna drive us crazy. 

0:00 - We're getting weird with it today, y'all! We're bringing back the Altitude Summer Scramble, but we're DOING IT LIVE. For the Appetizer Hour, let's pair Berto & Coach Sanford together and see what the heck happens.14:39 - CBS Sports published a list of the Top 100 Players in the NFL. How many Broncos made the cut? 33:28 - Yesterday, the Avalanche traded Val Nichushkin to the Columbus Blue Jackets (not the Predators?) for 3 future draft picks. Will we miss Val? His on-ice production was elite, but his off ice issues often struck at the worst possible time. 

0:00 - The Nuggets had two 2nd round picks yesterday and they used them both! How do we feel about them actually selecting players instead of packaging those picks for draft day dealing?15:37 - Chris MacFarland only has one number in his phone, and it's Joe Sakic's. Yesterday, the Avs sent Jack Drury to the Predators. Do we like the haul they got in return? Will we miss Drury?33:21 - ESPN ranked the WR, TE, and RB groups of all 32 NFL teams. Where to the Broncos stack up?

0:00 - Yesterday, with the 26th pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, the Nuggets selected...no one. They traded their selection to the San Antonio Spurs for No. 35 and two future second round picks. What's the plan here? This has to mean another big move is coming, right?15:49 - Big picture, what do the Nuggets need? Have we diagnosed the main issue with last season's first round exit?After that, the NFL has cancelled the Supplemental Draft. Now Brendan Sorsby can't play college football this year, and can't be drafted into the NFL til 2027. He also can't sign as a free agent until he's gone through a full draft cycle. Get ready to learn CFL, buddy. The NFL is really trying to make an example of him, and it sets a dangerous precedent.36:43 - I bumped back with "Home" by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, and it sent us down a rabbit hole about Stomp & Clap music and NPR Tiny Desk concerts. Welcome to summer radio, people.

0:00 - The Milwaukee Bucks finally traded Giannis to the Heat for a HUGE haul. None of these whispers from Shams. It finally happened.15:00 - What's the temperature in Milwaukee this morning? How do Bucks fans feel about Giannis? Is it similar to the way Nuggets fans felt when Melo went to the Knickerbockers?The Rockies Rockie'd for 8 straight innings, then walked off the Red Sox on a TRIPLE in the bottom of the 9th. Say what you will about this squad, but they're sure fun to watch.31:32 - It takes a lot of different factors to win in the NFL year after year. Some of those factors are in your control. Most aren't. 

0:00 - USA beat Australia in the World Cup over the weekend, and the reaction online from Australians was...something. Are we beefin' with the land down under now? Denver's finest and Friend of the Program Wyndham Clark won the US Open in front of a HOSTILE crowd at Shinnecock. Brett didn't realize there was so much hate for Clark! Good on him for persevering and winning his 2nd US Open. (The song I used in the show open was "The Sound of Silence." Hello darkness, my old friend. Today marks the beginning of the end.)14:09 - The Phoenix Suns are bringing back Collin Gillespie on a 4-year, $48 million contract. Remember when the Nuggets had him? Why couldn't they develop him and use him? Now, he's an integral part of Phoenix's depth.Also, Mike Sanford NAILED his Rockies 30 wins prediction. He predicted it DOWN TO THE DAY. Unreal. They won their 30th game on Saturday against the Pirates and man that was a strange finish.32:35 - Oh yeah, baby, it's time for another offseason list/ranking/ranking list/list ranking. ESPN published a list of the biggest surprise players for each team, so far, in this offseason. Jeff Legwold made the selection for the Broncos. Who did Leggy choose?

0:00 - Jeff Legwold wrote an article detailing the entire Russell Wilson dead cap saga. The Broncos paid him $85 million dollars not play play football for 2 years, and made it back to the AFC Champopnship game. They changed the way NFL franchises view/handle dead money.15:17 - Knicks Owner James Dolan recently spoke about the issues he'll have navigating the NBA CBA rules regarding salary cap going forward. Yet again, another defending champion is finding it impossible to "run it back." 8 different teams have won the NBA championship in the last 8 years. We haven't had a repeat champion since the Warriors in '17 and '18. Like it or hate it, the CBA has give the NBA ultimate parity. 30:34 - The MLB announced that they're modified the Home Run Derby format...again. Will THIS one perfect the formula? Brett thinks, if nothing else, it fixes one big issue he had the with timed derbys of the past few years.

0:00 - Chris MacFarland got to Nashville, set up his desk, connected to the Wi-Fi, then immediately called his old team to make a deal. Ross Colton is headed to the Predators. The Avs got some draft picks and a goalie in return. Sakic is back to his wheelin' and dealin' ways. What's the game plan here? What's his next move?12:39 - Broncos Mandatory Mini-Camp is underway and everyone is focused on one thing and one thing only: BO NIX'S ANKLES, BABY. LFG. What did Bo himself have to say about his ankles yesterday?31:41 - Summer means one thing: rankings and lists. And ranking lists. Lists of rankings! The Ringer ranked the Top 100 NBA players now that the season's in the books. We know Jokic is on the list. Where does he rank. How many Nuggets cracked the Top 100?

0:00 - After ALL THAT, Brendan Sorsby won't play football for Texas Tech. He's entering the NFL supplemental draft. Sheesh. What a mess. Essentially, the entire college football world bullied Brendan Sorsby into stepping away from Texas Tech. Good.14:24 - Marvin Mims has a new agent. The Broncos signed Jaylen Waddle back in March. Yesterday, the signed a speedster WR out of the UFL. What do we make of all this?Death, taxes, and the Rockies bullpen blowing it. Yesterday, they walked in the winning run. The more things change, the more they stay the same.33:18 - These sportsbooks are starting to release championship odds to next NBA season. Gotta love those way-too-early odds. Where do the Nuggets stack up?

0:00 - After 53 years, the New York Knickerbockers are NBA champions! Wemby talked a lot of smack this series, then his team blew lead after lead after lead in the series. If you talk the talk, you gotta walk the walk.Also, the Hurricanes are reunited with Lord Stanley after 20 years. And the best part is...Vegas ran out of magic. Their carriage turned back into a pumpkin. You love to see it.14:47 - While watching the NBA Finals, Brett noticed a similarity between the Knicks and the 2023 Denver Nuggets. Both of those championship teams had something in common.32:29 - The Rox dropped 23 runs on the A's in a minor league stadium yesterday. Even Drew Goodman couldn't believe that he was calling so many runs.After that, Brett's a fan of the Sean Payton extension. He's been a home run hire, and the Law Firm of Payton and Paton have been in lockstep since the beginning. 

0:00 - Joe Sakic and Josh Kroenke FINALLY addressed the media yesterday for the Avs end of the season press conference. Right off the bat, they made one thing clear: Jared Bednar is the head coach because the locker room loves him. It doesn't matter what any of us jackwagons behind a microphone think. The players want him. That's why he's still here.15:56 - Davis Webb spoke to reporters at OTAs yesterday. It's the first time we've heard from him since he took over offensive playcalling responsibilities. He said the offense is still going to look very similar this year. Sean Payton's finger prints are still all over it. So...how much autonomy will Webb have? How much influence will he have on the offense?The World Cup is underway! Nelly doesn't know jack about soccer, so he turned to someone who knows more. How do you handle the complex world of rooting for a gazillion international soccer teams all at once?36:31 - A top Dodgers prospect suffered a knee injury because he had to jump out of the bat dog's way. It looks like he avoided structural damage or any severe tears, but he'll still miss some time. Who's at fault here: the player or the dog?

0:00 - That was the GREATEST comeback in NBA history. Period. The NY Knickerbockers battled back from a 29-POINT DEFICIT and beat the Spurs to take a 3-1 series lead. Unbelievable. Thanks for playing, Spurs. This series is OVA. 17:45 - Joe Sakic will finally address the media today for the Avalanche season postmortem. What do you want him to say? What are you expecting to hear from him?32:03 - The Chiefs tacked on an extra 2 years to Mahomes' contract, keeping him in KC through 2033. His contract is now worth $504.75 million, making it the first contract in NFL history to pass the half-billion mark. Understandable. He's certainly earned it from that franchise. But will the Chiefs still be the same juggernaut they always have been? Mahomes is coming off that tough knee injury, and Kelce isn't a spring chicken anymore.

0:00 - The Canes beat the Golden Knights last night and evened up the Stanley Cup Final. Thank you, Carolina! This series continues to be a blast. But it has Brett thinking...what do those teams have that the Avs don't? 14:50 - Everyone is focused on the off-season addition of Jaylen Waddle. He's turning lots of heads already. But let's not forget...the Broncos still have Marvin Mims! For years, we've been begging the Broncos to actually use him on offense and not relegate him to just special teams.Also, Brett's officially DONE with Knicks fans. He was flip-flopping on whether or not he could root for the Knicks and their loudmouth fans, but now it's over. Get bent, Knicks fans. Bing Bong. Go Spurs.31:56 - Brandon Aiyuk recently went on IG Live and blasted the 49ers for how they handled his injury/contract situation. And we're SO thankful we don't have an Aiyuk/AJ Brown/Diva/locker room cancer on the Broncos roster. Everyone is bought in. All for one, one for all.

0:00 - The Spurs won Game 3 last night, and NOW, we've got ourselves a series. Sorry, NYC. Wemby spoiled your party at the Garden. Why don't we hate the Spurs? Shouldn't we hate Wemby? Don't we usually end up hating someone during a playoff run?You know who we DO hate? CELEBRITY ROW AT THE KNICKS GAMES. Guess what, Spike Lee and Timothee Chalamet? You're not ON the team! They're called courtside SEATS. So stay SEATED in them. 19:39 - Sam Presti is a brilliant GM. Don't get it twisted. Look at how he's turned around the Thunder. He built a championship juggernaut with a back-to-back MVP on the roster. But he's also a WHINY LOSER. He addressed the media yesterday, and we genuinely can't believe some of the words he actually spoke into a microphone. 36:46 - As reported by Ari Meirov yesterday, Texas Tech QB Brendan Sorsby "admitted to wagering at least $90,000 across more than 9,000 bets during his college career, including bets involving Indiana football while he was a member of the Hoosiers in 2022." A judge ruled he has to serve a 2-game suspension, then he can play college football for the rest of the 2026 season. That's insane.Already, multiple teams around the Big 12 are saying they'll refuse to play Texas Tech if the ruling stands. The Big 12 commissioner has a sticky situation on his hands. This is going to get worse before it gets better.

0:00 - What do the Vegas Golden Knights & New York Knicks have in common? They both have that "Team of Destiny" feel to them. When their backs are against the wall, they stand tallest. They win against all odds. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. Both Finals have been pure cinema so far.14:16 - Jonathan Cooper was arrested last Friday on domestic violence charges. According to the police affidavit, he did something we've never heard of before. He...bit a cell phone?Of course, the Broncos will wait for all the details to emerge before they make a decision. But if everything is true and they cut him loose...would that pave the way for a Von Miller return?32:15 - Long-time listeners of our show know how much we love our boy Zlatan Ibrahimović. In his playing days, he was a complete headcase in the best way. We've missed seeing him on the soccer pitch. With the World Cup coming up, he sat down for an interview with Tom Brady on Fox. He said something interesting about US sports fans, but Brett thinks it's a bit misplaced.

0:00 - HURRICANES COUNTRY. LET'S...spin? Storm? Rain? Thank GOD the Hurricanes evened the series last with a thrilling OT win. Seth Jarvis with the snipe, and we're tied 1-1 heading back to Vegas. Does Carolina have the least hated PRO sports team? Specifically PRO. There's plenty of college teams to hate in the Carolinas. I'm looking at you, Duke.16:17 - At OTAs yesterday, Courtland Sutton was asked about how Jaylen Waddle can help open up the field, and he ended his answer by defending the TE room. Unprompted. Good on Court for standing up for his teammates, but let's zero in on one specific thing he said. It might actually explain why the TE room has struggled the past few years.32:24 - Last night, Brayden McNabb took a slapshot directly to the nose. He was standing in front of the Carolina net, and a seeing-eye puck threaded the needle up and under his visor. That's gotta be one of the scariest things ever in all of pro sports. Time slows down, and you have the pleasure of watching the puck approach your schnoz. There's nothing you can do to stop it. 

0:00 - The New York Knickerbockers stole Game 1 of the NBA Finals from the Spurs in San Antonio last night. What a game! Brett noticed that both teams USE THEIR DEPTH. They're playing like 10+ players a game! It's almost like that's what we wanted the NUGGETS TO DO in their first round series! This is the new NBA. Depth wins ballgames. No more shortening the rotation in the playoffs. All hands on deck.16:43 - Chris MacFarland was officially introduced yesterday as President of Hockey Operations and General Manager of the Nashville Predators. He addressed the media in Music City and was very complimentary of Joe Sakic, the Avalanche organization, and his time in Denver as a whole. When did Nashville start chatting with CMac? Were they in touch during the playoffs? Does that matter?33:04 - Caleb Williams will be on the cover of Madden 27. Is a Madden cover the honor it once was? More importantly, does Caleb Williams have the resume to appear on the cover?

0:00 - Avs GM Chris MacFarland was hired by the Nashville Predators to be their President of Hockey Operations and General Manager. They made him an offer he can't refure, so he took his talents to the Music City. Joe Sakic will take over as GM "for the foreseeable future."Realistically, how much will change in the front office with this move? Joe Sakic was probably involved in every decision anyway. What was the division of responsibilities between MacFarland and Sakic?14:51 - The Broncos gave PSII a $5 million bonus yesterday. That kinda came out of nowhere. Here you go, PSII! Take a cool $5 mil. Brett's reading between the lines here...what was the real reason for the bonus? Were the Broncos attempting to appease PSII and prevent a potential camp holdout?32:03 - Word on the street is that Jared Bednar will keep his job. The Avs end of season presser will happen sometime next week, and they'll probably announce that Bedsie is saying. That's what all the insiders are hearing around the hockey world. He only has one year left on his contract. Usually, coaches don't coach on an expiring contract. Would they bring him back and extend him? Or let him play out his final year? A "Prove it. Cup or Bust" type situation to earn an extension.

0:00 - Ding dong, the Flop is dead! The Spurs beat the Thunder in 7, and they're heading back to the NBA Finals. Watching the WCF got Brett thinking...could the Nuggets beat either of these teams in a 7 game series when fully healthy? If the answer is no, then what should the team do in the offseason?14:58 - Well that came out of nowhere! Some HUGE blockbuster trades went down around the NFL yesterday & over the weekend. One of them poses a direct threat to the Broncos. But the trade still might go up in flames.32:22 - We still haven't heard anything about and end of the season presser for the Avs. It's probably because of the Champions League & Arsenal parade and the memorial service for Claude Lemieux. The organization is busy. Does the delaying of the presser bode well for Bednar? Is his job looking more secure?Also, Tim Bontemps said that Christian Braun or Cam Johnson will most likely be traded in the offseason to re-sign Peyton Watson. Is that doable? Is that a viable trade?

0:00 - The Avs and the Nuggets are in different situations roster-wise. The Nuggets might know what they need to do, but don't have the cap room to do it. Meanwhile, the Avalanche don't know WHAT to do, and maybe they don't need to do anything! Which scenario is worse?14:59 - The more Brett thinks about it, the Avs vs Golden Knights WCF series was a fluke. If they play that series 100 times, the Knights would sweep the Avs once. Unfortunately, that's the reality that we live in.31:06 - The NBA officially agreed on a shiny new anti-tanking solution. And here's the thing...it STILL doesn't solve the problem! I feel like I'm tanking crazy pills here!

0:00 - Today's mostly going to be an Avalanche Autopsy day. We've had another day to process this crushing defeat a bit more. As we look at the future and the long offseason, what changes do we need to see?14:31 - All things considered, would you rather be the Avalanche or the Nuggets right now?31:36 - OTAs are underway for most NFL teams and shocker...Patrick Mahomes is on the field practicing for the Chiefs! He tore his ACL about 5 months ago. That's a quick recovery! But this shouldn't come as a shock to anyone. We knew he was going to be back when the NFL announced Broncos @ Chiefs on Monday Night Football Week 1. They showed their hand.

0:00 - That's all, folks. The Colorado Wagon rolled to a complete stop last night. Vegas completed the sweep of the Avalanche and ended their quest for Lord Stanley. We're stunned. Speechless. How do we begin to dissect this stupefying series?16:05 - Ultimately, this series came down to specific plays. Individual moments. And in every critical moment, the Avalanche didn't capitalize. The Golden Knights did. That's the closest we'll get to an official diagnosis of the Avs exit.32:43 - We've experienced 3 heartbreaking playoff exits in a row. Which one was the most devistating? Bo Nix breaking his ankle, then the Broncos losing the AFC Championship in a snowglobe? The Nuggets getting punked and bullied by the Timberwolves en route to a first round exit? Or the Avalanche getting swept in the conference finals by the Golden Knights?

0:00 - What do you expect to see from the Avalanche tonight in Game 4? What do you want/need to see from the Avs to sleep easy tonight?15:21 - For everyone who wants Bednar fired, what do you want him to do differently? WHY do you want him fired? Brett is sick of people hammering the "Fire Bednar" button. Give a specific reason why you want him out. 31:21 - Tonight, we're gonna party like it's 1999! The Knicks FINALLY made it back to the NBA Finals for the first time in 27 years. They're not just winning playoff games. They're DEMOLISHING their opponents. This is a reign of terror on the Eastern Conference. 

0:00 - For people who speak into a microphone for a living, we were rendered speechless last night. That was such a monumental and meteoric collapse by the Avalanche to all but doom their season. Unbelievable. We know they're only down 0-3 and the season isn't over yet, but man it feels like it's over today. What the heck happened to this team??16:19 - After Game 2, Coach Bednar said it's Cale's decision when he wants to return to play. He doubled down on it Saturday morning. What do we make of that?33:39 - So what happens next for the Avalanche? This is a weird spot to be in. Chris MacFarland made wholesale changes to the roster for multiple years! He pushed ALL his chips into the middle of the table and went for it. And somehow, it hasn't worked. Against all odds, it hasn't worked. Multiple years in a row. So something needs to change. What's that something?

0:00 - Brett's not panicking about the Avs. You heard him say it all day yesterday. But you know who else isn't panicked? The team! If you listen to everything Bedsie and the players said postgame after the Game 1 loss, they sounded calm. They didn't sound dejected or worried.14:22 - Avs need to rattle Carter Hart. He's playing LIGHT OUT so far. The Avalanche need to put shots on net ASAFP. Pepper the net, get in his head. 31:20 - A texter asked us, "how can you say the Avs have looked good this playoffs?" then explained his reasoning. Brett disagrees. The opposite is true. 

0:00 - The Avs lost to Vegas last night in Game 1 of the Western Conference Final. Oh boy. Here we go again. But Brett's not panicking this morning. The Avalanche played a solid game last night, but couldn't execute in key moments. It was a razor thin margin. The final score doesn't do justice how close the game actually was.Do you agree with Brett? Or are you hitting the panic button today?14:40 - Nathan MacKinnon said it himself postgame - lack of execution doomed the Avs. Bednar also said he likes the way they played, but they need to tighten everything up. The devil's in the details. There's still lots of belief in that locker room that they can respond in Game 2. 32:00 - Why did the Avs look sluggish? Why was some of the execution lacking? A lot of it can be boiled down to the absence of one man: Cale Douglas Makar. 

0:00 - It's finally here. The Colorado Hockey Avalanche will play a hockey game tonight. How are we feeling, Avalanche Territory?14:55 - Brett Kulak joined PHD yesterday and they asked him what surprised him about this Avs team after he was traded. This is a guy who just played in 2 consecutive Cup Finals with Edmonton. Think he knows what it takes to make a deep run?Also, Nathan MacKinnon said Brent Burns is basically a bear because he sleeps all day. 32:38 -  Are you nervous about Avs vs Golden Knights Game 1? Do you still have residual trauma from 2021?Speaking of trauma, the Cleveland Cavaliers choked away a MASSIVE lead over the Knicks in the 4Q of the Eastern Conference Final Game 1 yesterday. Serious, that was a legendary all-time choke job. Hard to believe. 

0:00 - Best two words in sports: Game 7. Buffalo vs Montreal was, as the Scorsese meme goes, Absolute Cinema. Shoutout former Av Alex Newhook for the OT game winner! He's scored 2 Game 7 game-winning goals in the same playoff series. Speaking of absolute cinema, how about Wemby carving up the Thunder on the road in Game 1 of the WCF? Wemby has been just as good as advertised, if not better. He's only 22 years old. Strap in, y'all. He's gonna be a problem for a LONG time.14:51 - Just how bad is Cale Makar's injury? It definitely looks like a shoulder, but it's not officially confirmed yet. Can you afford to sit him if he's not ready? Should he push through no matter what?After that, people are saying that Nathan MacKinnon is on some sort of revenge tour right now because of the Olympics loss. His silver medal and that stoat plushie are fueling him on a reign of terror through the NHL. Brett says that narrative is false. MacKinnon is motivated because he's MacKinnon. If he won a gold medal with Canada, you're saying he'd be less motivated to win Lord Stanley again?32:18 -  The Nuggets are probably going to let Valanciunas go. They STILL need a backup center. Or...do they? If they keep going through backup center candidates year after year and can't find a viable option, maybe that's because they don't need one. Their Jokic-based system doesn't require one. 

0:00 - Coach Bednar spoke over the weekend about why the Stanley Cup is the hardest trophy to win in all of sports. It takes SO MANY factors to win. Some of them are in your control, and a lot of them aren't. 16:17 - SGA won his 2nd-straight NBA MVP over the weekend and it got Brett thinking...Jokic isn't very involved in Nuggets roster decisions. At least not publicly. Should he be more involved? He's the 3x MVP who's about to sign a super duper max extension. Maybe he SHOULD be more vocal with the front office. 34:14 - The NBA on Amazon Prime broadcast was pefectly primed to announce the NBA MVP in prime time (pardon the puns). Then, Shams tweeted out the announcement at 7:50am MT. Why would he do that? Did he have ulterior motives for spoiling the MVP announcement like 12 hours early?

0:00 - It's official: the Avalanche will face the Golden Knights in the Western Conference Final. How do we like the matchup? How does Vegas stack up to Minnesota?14:15 - Happy NFL Schedule Release Day! (yesterday) What did we think of the Broncos schedule release video? How about the schedule itself? The first 6 weeks of the season are a friggin GAUNTLET. 31:55 - Brett saw the trailer for the new Will Ferrell Netflix show "Hawk" about a washed up golfer attempting to make a comeback. It got Brett thinking...are new comedies just plain bad these days? Are there not many good movies anymore? Or is Brett just getting old?

You guessed it. Today's entire Appetizer Hour is about one thing and one thing only: the Colorado Freakin Avalanche beating the Minnesota Wild in Game 5, winning the series, and punching their ticket back to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2022.0:00 - What a comeback for the Avs! They immediately went down 3-0 in the first period, tied it late in the 3rd period with quick back-to-back goals, forced OT, when won it in OT. My goodness. That game was anything but pretty, but all that matters is the final score. Happy Trails, Minnesota Wild!14:51 - Mackenzie Blackwood started in net, got shelled for 3 goals in the first period, so Bednar pulled him and went with Wedgewood the rest of the way. And it worked. After the game, Bedsie said the abysmal start was everyone's fault. It wasn't just Blackwood. It was everyone around him too.Also, the Avs are proving in these playoffs that they can win every type of game: high-scoring, low-scoring, physical, slow, fast, you name it. You know which teams have that kind of versatility? Championship teams. 31:21 - You'd better root for Anaheim and Vegas to go 7 games. The Avs need all the rest they can get right now! We need guys like Lehky and Malinski back for the next round.After that, Nathan MacKinnon caught up with the TNT crew after the game and answered the two burning questions on everyone's minds: how's his nose, and why was he swimming in a hotel pool with flippers?

0:00 - Here we are 2 days later, and Brett still can't that Michael McCarron did what he did in Game 4. Hockey is the only sport in the WORLD where the players are not only allowed to police themselves, but it's encourages and ALLOWED. And yet, he spent the whole game flopping and yapping at the refs. That's certianly a choice.15:21 - The Broncos will start the year by playing the Chiefs on Monday Night Football...on the road...in KC. Is that a disrespectful move? The Broncos were within spitting distance of the Super Bowl, and yet they didn't earn a home game in Week 1? That doesn't feel right.32:08 - The Rockies an into an immovable object last night named Paul Skenes. That guy is unbelievable.

0:00 - ONE. MORE. WIN. That's all the Avs need to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Final. They beat the Wild last night in Game 4 and looked COMPLETELY different from Game 3. Much improved. Way more focused & bought in. 14:51 - Josh Manson got in a scuffle with Michael McCarron last night. He rammed his stick into the side of McCarron's head/neck area. DURING THE GAME, in an intermission interview, McCarron said Manson's a dirty player. Again, he said that DURING THE GAME. That's crazy! He doubled down on the dirtiness in his postgame comments. And honestly. GOOD. You need a pest that gets in your opponent's head.31:21 - MacKinnon caught a slapshot right in the face. Stopped that puck with his nose. Next period, he was back in the game. Even got the game-sealing empty-net goal. Hockey players are truly built different. After that, we learned today that the first Monday Night Football game of the season is scheduled for September 14 between...the Broncos and the Chiefs! Hell yeah, brother. What a way to start the season. But, Brett said this is an indication of something larger...

0:00 - Well, it's not gonna be a 2nd round sweep for the Avs. They fell flat in Game 3 and lost to the Wild 5-1. Why did the Avs play so poorly? What was the cause?16:31 - On Friday, the Nuggets held their End of the Season press conference at Ball Arena. Josh Kroenke, David Adelman, Jon Wallace, and Ben Tenzer all addressed the media. What did they have to say about the disappointing end to Denver's season, and more importantly, what happens next?32:34 - The Avs lost Game 3. No need to panic yet! It's playoff hockey. Minnesota is a good team. So, how will the Avs respond tonight? If Minnesota evens the series at 2-2 heading back to Denver, will you be concerned?

0:00 - Do the Wild have a snowball's chance in hell of winning tonight? How could they do it? If you're in that Wild locker room trying to rally the boys to a Game 3 victory over the Avs, what are you saying?14:24 - Did you watch the Carolina vs Philly game last night? Was there any hockey actually played? All we say was the tornado of fists that flew all game long.After that, the Nuggets End of the Year Presser is at 11am today at Ball Arena. Ben Tenzer, Jon Wallace, Josh Kroenke, and David Adelman will all address the media. What do you want to hear from the Nuggets Brain Trust today?31:46 - Yesterday on PHD, Scott Hastings disagreed with one of Brett's Nuggets takes. Today, Brett offered up his rebuttal. 

0:00 - STRAW POLL: What's your biggest concern with the Avs right now. And you can't say health/injuries. That's a given. Aside from that. And yes, you have to pick a concern. That's how the game works.15:13 - Draymond Green tried to roast Charles Barkley on Inside the NBA last night, and the joke fell flat. You're not Shaq, Draymond. You can't make those same jokes. Draymond might be the least self aware athlete in the sporting world right now.32:09 - Outkast rules. That's all. (for context, I bumped back from commercial with "ATLiens")After that, you know what's the opposite of Outkast? The Rockies. They suck again. They've lost 6-straight, and they're on the verge of getting swept by the Mets. The lowly Mets. Today, they need to steal 1 win and get off the schneid.

0:00 - The Avs ONLY scored 5 goals last night?? Wow, what a snoozefest. The Avalanche won Game 2 vs the Wild last night, and they'll take a 2-0 series lead back to Minnesota. That was AWESOME. That Avalanche team looks legit. They genuinely haven't looked this good since 2022.15:53 - Moser drew the short straw last night. So Altitude TV stuck him outside in the snow to do live hits in front of Ball Arena. A sweet old lady walked by him, and Moser chose and interesting phrase to say to her.32:28 - In addition to the Avs game, Brett hate-watched Lakers vs Thunder Game 1. Brett's not rooting for the Lakers because he's an American, dammit. But, OKC can't just roll through this series willy-nilly, man. Even without Luka, the Lakers can't just roll over and die, man!After that, what adjustments did the Avs make between Games 1 and 2? 

0:00 - The Avs and Wild will face off tonight in Round 2, Game 2. It PROBABLY won't look like game 1. Don't bet on a 9-goal explosion from the Avs. So, what WILL the game look like?14:48 - It's ridiculous how many national pundits are trying to tear down Jokic based on this year's first round exit. No matter what happened this year, it doesn't take anything away from his accomplishments.After that, Bennett Durando of the Denver Post said that Christian Braun tweaked his calf during the playoffs. He was dealing with that injury on top of lingering ankle issues. So, that begs the question again...WHY did the Nuggets spend the offseason acquiring depth then NOT USE THAT DEPTH?? What was the point of trading MPJ???32:53 - The Toronto Maple Leafs announced the hiring of their new GM yesterday. A reporter didn't like the hiring and wasted no time in making his feelings known at the presser.

0:00 - 15 goals in one game. Ah yes, business as usual for the playoffs. Your Avalanche started Round 2 with a BANG and dropped 9 goals on Minnesota's noggin in Game 1. But they also gave up 6 goals. How do we make sense of this crazy game?15:13 - How did Jared Bednar make heads or tails of this roller coaster of a game? What did he have to say in his postgame press conference?32:36 - According to both Bennett Durando and Shams, the Nuggets have no plans to move on from David Adelman. Is this a good move, or rather, lack of a move?

0:00 - Well, that's a wrap. It's another early exit for the Nuggets. This year, it was an even earlier exit than last year! So, now that the whole season is in the books, let's do an autopsy. What the hell happened??17:28 - Where was this team's FIGHT? Where was their MOTIVATION?? You couldn't rally to beat an injured, depleted Wolves team in an elimination game? What about all the times you got punked by Lu Dort this year? Clowned by Jaden McDaniels this series? No one stood up for this team when it mattered most. Say what you will about guys like Russell Westbrook and Paul Millsap. They didn't take crap from anyone.35:00 - Chris Finch fabricated a fake narrative that isn't there in order to rally his team. And guess what? Fake or not, it worked. As a coach, you need to find motivation and a rallying cry anywhere you can. And he found it.