Prime Time Sports

Busy show on the eve of Blue Jays Opening Day! Bob McCown is joined by Joey Vendetta for the first hour, and the pair talk to Jim Daopoulos, former NFL official, on the new rule changes in the NFL(13:49); John Gasaway stops by for some March Madness discussions(34:08); Stephen Brunt joins as co-host for the rest of the show, and he and Bob chat with Cliff Floyd on the Jays(57:02); Blue Jays manager Charlie Montoyo dishes on his nerves before the season starts(1:21:04 ); NESN’s Billy Jaffe discusses the wild NHL season to date.

Bob McCown is joined by Brad Fay for the first hour, as the guys talk to NHL.com’s Mike Zeisberger on John Tavares’ big night vs. the Florida Panthers [12:54], and Jimmy Arias on the performance of the Canadians at the Miami Open [32:05]. Stephen Brunt pops in for the rest of the show, as he and Bob chat with Brian Burke (in-studio) on the Leafs and Jon Cooper’s extension [45:36]; ESPN’s Ariel Helwani joins to discuss the latest on Conor McGregor [1:12:30]; SN’s Dan Shulman discusses the Jays down in Montreal [1:32:30]; our own Paul Jones previews Raptors-Bulls later tonight [2:01:30].

Joey Vendetta is in with Bob McCown for the first hour of Prime Time Sports as they speak with the Boston Globe's Bob Ryan about Rob Gronkowski's retirement and debate whether he is the greatest tight end to ever play the game [11:55]. Later in the hour, Doug Smith discusses the Raptors' heartbreaking loss to the Charlotte Hornets and Jay Triano stepping away from Canada's National basketball team [31:47]. Stephen Brunt joins the show as Bob's co-host and they place a call to Shi Davidi who chats with the guys from field level at Olympic Stadium in Montreal ahead of the Blue Jays-Brewers exhibition game [56:36]. Later in the hour, Charles Davis of the NFL on FOX and NFL Network discusses potential rule changes in the National Football League with the owners meetings ongoing in Phoenix [1:17:32]. In the final hour, Jim Hughson of the NHL on Sportsnet recaps a busy weekend on the ice [1:31:29], and The Ringer's Michael Baumann stops by PTS to break down the big money extensions handed out to star players around Major League Baseball [2:01:38].

Bob is joined Jeff Blair, Richard Deitsch and Joey Vendetta.

March Madness is upon us so Bob McCown and Joey Vendetta place a call to Dan Shulman to hear his thoughts on the tournament and the Canadians playing in it (16:43); then Hilary Knight of Les Canadiennes de Montreal joins the show to look ahead to Sunday's Clarkson Cup where Les Canadiennes will face the Calgary Inferno for the CWHL championship (36:05). The second hour is nothing but in-studio guests as Bob and Richard Deitsch go around the NHL with Sportsnet's Brian Burke (45:00); and ask him about the relationship between Kyle Dubas and Mike Babcock, and his own relationship with Babcock when both men were together briefly in Anaheim. After Burkie, CEO of Golf Canada Laurence Applebaum swings by the studio to share all of the details for this year's Canadian Open with Rory McIlroy joining the field for the tournament (1:15:48). Vice President of Baseball Operations for the Toronto Blue Jays Ben Cherington is the lead-off man in the show's final hour as he joins Bob and Richard from the Dominican Republic (1:37:08), and then the show concludes with the one and only Eugene Melnyk - the outspoken owner of the Ottawa Senators.

The Maple Leafs’ week starts how the last one ended – with a loss; so Bob McCown and John Shannon place a call to Sportsnet’s Maple Leafs analyst Greg Millen to assess the team’s struggles (13:30). Later in the hour, Bob and John speak with Dave Smart, the best university basketball coach in Canada, about moving away from his successful career on the sideline to be the new Director of Basketball Operations for the Carleton Ravens (33:53). In the second hour, ESPN’s Brian Windhorst chimes-in on the Raptors’ play, their chances at keeping Kawhi Leonard, and why the final stretch of the season will have a significant financial impact on some of the league’s top stars (56:45). Sports Illustrated’s Andrew Brandt rounds out the hour by recapping NFL Free Agency and speculates what the punishment could be for Patriots’ owner Robert Kraft (1:16:22). In the final hour, Bob and Richard Deitsch go around the NHL with former Head Coach and current analyst for ESPN Barry Melrose (1:31:56); and Jon Paul Morosi discusses Eloy Jimenez’ new contract with the Chicago White Sox; and if a similar contract is something the Toronto Blue Jays should consider with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1:59:06).

Kyle Lowry went down with an ankle injury in last night's Raptors' win, so naturally Bob McCown and John Shannon place a call to another Philadalphia native who played point guard for the Raptors: Alvin 'Boogie' Williams [14:22]. Later in the hour, Bob and John dial up Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe who shared his thoughts on Mike Trout's record-breaking deal, Craig Kimbrel remaining unsigned, and who could surprise in the NCAA's March Madness tournament [30:19]. Bob and Richard Deitsch go more in-depth on Mike Trout’s $430M contract with the man who broke today’s big story, Jeff Passan of ESPN [59:07]. Jeff explains how the deal came together, and what it means for future stars in the sport. Following Passan, London Knights’ boss and former Assistant GM of the Toronto Maple Leafs Mark Hunter joins Bob and Richard to discuss his new role with Hockey Canada’s Program of Excellence, if he has any interest returning to the NHL, and the Maple Leafs’ recent woes [1:18:18]. In the final hour, Bob and Richard go around the National Hockey League with Jim Hughson [1:31:07]; and Ben Nicholson-Smith and Arden Zwelling of Sportsnet’s ‘At The Letters’ podcast have returned from Florida and swing by in-studio to discuss the latest on the Toronto Blue Jays [1:57:13].

Bob McCown is back after a week of with plenty to talk about! Doug Smith of the Toronto Star weighs-in on the Raptors' loss to the Pistons, and with Bob's return, looks back at last week's game against Los Angeles and the struggles within the Lakers organization [14:02]. Later on in the hour, Minnesota Wild Head Coach Bruce Boudreau joins Bob and John Shannon to discuss his team's fight to make the Stanley Cup Playoffs [33:26]. In the second hour of the show, Nick Kypreos of the NHL on Sportsnet stops by in-studio to delve into the Maple Leafs' current struggles, but only after speaking to Bob and Richard Deitsch about Bianca Andreescu's victory at Indian Wells [58:24]. After Kyper, one of the best MLB insiders the business, Ken Rosenthal, spoke about his story on the Toronto Blue Jays increasing wages for their minor league players and the trail they are blazing for other organizations in baseball [1:17:47]. In the final hour, Sportsnet's Robert Bettauer shares his analysis on the story dominating the country: Bianca Andreescu's win over Angelique Kerber at Indian Wells, the greatest singles win in Canadian tennis history [1:31:09]. In the final segment, play by play broadcaster Brian Anderson previews March Madness as he will be calling the NCAA Tournament for Turner Sports [2:02:10].

Brad Fay, Richard Deitsch, John Shannon and Donnovan Bennett assemble the Friday round table

Joe Bowen, the radio voice of the Toronto Maple Leafs, joined Gord Stellick and John Shannon to weigh-in on the team’s struggles and why Morgan Rielly would be his choice for captain (11:41). Later in the hour, Brian Ramsay the Executive Director of the CFLPA called in and explained how CBA negotiations are going with the league (28:26). LeBron James makes his return to Toronto tonight since sweeping away the Raptors in last year’s playoffs; so Gord and Richard Deitsch place a call to Michael Grange ahead of tonight’s game at Scotiabank Arena (56:53). At the bottom of the hour, Toronto FC President Bill Manning joins the show to discuss the state of his team ahead of Sunday’s home opener against the New England Revolution (1:16:15). In the final hour, Brian Burke makes his presence felt and looks back to when he was GM of the Maple Leafs and they named Dion Phaneuf captain (1:34:05); and tennis analyst Jon Wertheim of Sports Illustrated discusses the impressive showing by the Canadians at Indian Wells – notably Bianca Andreescu (1:57:32).