What happens when sports radio looks beyond the major leagues and starts paying attention to the athletes and organizations quietly building communities right here in San Diego? You get an episode of Sports Corner that moves from Padres baseball and billion-dollar NBA deals to a floor hockey league that's been operating locally for three decades—and that many San Diegans still don't know exists.
Hosts Dave Stall and Brendan Thomas start with the San Diego Padres, taking a hard look at the team's season, GM A.J. Preller's approach to trades, and whether the current roster has what it takes to make a serious playoff run.
And then there's Manny Machado.
Brendan has apparently reached his limit watching Machado jog to first base, delivering one of the episode's more memorable lines:
"If I see Machado waddle to first base one more time, I'm going to jump over the rail and chase him."
It's classic Sports Corner—serious sports analysis mixed with the kind of frustration normally reserved for yelling at the television from your couch.
In This Episode:
⚾ The San Diego Padres' playoff chances
🔄 A.J. Preller's trade strategy and roster decisions
🏃 The Manny Machado hustle debate
🏀 Major changes involving the Los Angeles Lakers
💰 MLB vs. NBA salaries and league economics
🏒 San Diego's surprisingly established floor hockey community
🥅 How floor hockey differs from floorball, ringette, and field hockey
🎮 Nintendo and Super Mario-inspired team themes
👴 A goalie still competing in his 70s
🔵 The "floating blue line" and how it changes the game
❤️ Giving San Diego's overlooked sports organizations a voice
The episode's biggest discovery comes when Mark de Graffenreidt joins the show representing the San Diego Floor Hockey League (SDFHL).
The nonprofit organization has been around for roughly 30 years, yet Dave and Brendan admit that even they weren't familiar with it—which is exactly why they wanted Mark on the show.
Mark walks listeners through the basics of floor hockey and explains how it differs from related sports such as floorball, ringette, and traditional field hockey. The result is a sport that's competitive enough for experienced players but approachable enough for newcomers who simply want to try something different.
A Hockey League With Its Own Personality
The SDFHL isn't trying to take itself too seriously, either.
This season's teams are embracing a Nintendo and Super Mario theme, bringing a little personality and nostalgia to the competition.
Even more impressive is the range of people playing.
The league includes experienced hockey players, newcomers learning the game, and even a goalie competing into his 70s—proof that finding a competitive sport doesn't necessarily have to end at a certain age.
Whether you're a lifelong hockey fan, a Padres fanatic, or someone looking for a new way to get active and meet people, this episode is a reminder that some of San Diego's best sports stories may be happening far away from the big stadiums.
Listen to the full episode of Sports Corner to hear the complete Padres debate, the conversation with Mark, and discover why the San Diego Floor Hockey League might be one of the city's best-kept sports secrets.
San Diego Floor Hockey League: sdfhl.org
YouTube: @MrDaveStall
Website: DaveStall.com
THE SPORTS KORNER 08/16/26