Scott Simon of NPR and Howard Bryant of Meadowlark Media discuss the Final Four of the NCAA and the once unbreakable NHL record which is now equal.
Scott Simon, host:
And now it’s time for sport.
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Simon: March Madness. Oh, wait, it’s April. Women’s Championship tomorrow – South Carolina and Uconn. Final four men tonight. Howard Bryant of Meadowlark Media joins us. Howard, thank you for being with us.
Howard Bryant: Hello, Scott. How are you doing?
Simon: I’m fine, thank you, my friend. Let’s try the April hysteria. Women’s tournament, finals that take place after the South Carolina beat Texas 74 to 57. UCONN strangled UCLA 85 to 51. In your opinion, which has the advantage in the final tomorrow?
Bryant: It’s a great question. You are talking about a team, Uconn, who won the thing 11 times with Geno Auriemma. Then you talk about Dawn Staley in South Carolina. These are the reigning champions. So hard to say who has the advantage. I think I am – You know me. Scott, we have been doing this for a long time. You are still – you are the champion until someone beat you. So even if Uconn …
Simon: Yeah.
Bryant: … seemed phenomenal, even if I think they have the best player in the country of Paige Bueckers and they seem to be absolutely ready to finally do something that Paige did not do, which is to win the championship. She was in the Final Four almost all her career, apart from …
Simon: Yeah.
Bryant: … you know, the knee injury 2023. But it is so close. And you want to climb this mountain, it’s time to do it. But at the same time, you face a championship team that looks battable, but here they are again. South Carolina Champion for a reason.
Simon: Male tournament, Final Four tonight. Florida faces Auburn. Houston faces Duke. All the seeds n ° 1 in play. First time in the Final Four since 2008. So, I mean, what is Mars (laughs) – What was Mars?
Bryant: Yeah. Well, it’s interesting because the last time it happened, and the only time it happened, it was in 2008 in San Antonio, and we are again in San Antonio. SO…
Simon: Yeah.
Bryant: … that – you have large teams. I think they are – these are the best teams. They were all a sort of trading being n ° 1. Or very – you know, very close. I didn’t think Aburn would get there. They – because they can be so erratic. But they all played tight matches. They have all won eruptions. They all play Defense. I think Houston is the one whose offensive is not really – is not as good as others. I mean, Duke A Cooper Flagg, who – you will probably see him in the NBA in about six months. And so each team here has a reason it can win. You even look, you know, a team like Florida that no one thought they were as good as – it’s a good team. They didn’t do it – well, you know, they lost a match …
Simon: Yeah.
Bryant: … since February 1st. So everyone is great. They all play similar styles. Then you have the superstar with Cooper Flagg and Duke, but they are the youngest team. So let’s go.
Simon: And, of course, last night in the NHL, Alexander Ovechkin of Washington Capitals equaled the NHL marking record held by Wayne Gretzky. He scored two goals last night. Thirty-nine years, still playing at such a high level. Just…
Bryant: And broke his leg this year, by the way.
Simon: right. I had forgotten that.
Bryant: (laughs) and broke his leg in November. Amazing. And I think it’s – I mean, it’s one of these discs, Scott. You are not supposed …
Simon: Yeah.
Bryant: … to break the record of Wayne Gretzky. And having done it in one – and binding it in one less game is also incredible. And I think that when you look at Ovi, the score, the goals, the ferocity, the way he plays the game, there is so much to love in what he has done. I think that the incredible thing is, obviously, it is one of these discs that you are never – you expected no one when Gretzky broke the record of Gordie Howe at 801 …
Simon: Yeah.
Bryant: … In return, you know, 30 years ago, you didn’t think someone was going to reach 894, and we are there. And if he wants it, because he always plays so well …
Simon: Yes.
Bryant: … he could score 950 – he can score a thousand goals …
Simon: Wow.
Bryant: … if he wants to continue. But it is fascinating to see that it happens, to attend one of the great records of all time. And I think that the thing I really appreciate on this subject too is that it is also what it takes. Because don’t forget, before winning the Cup, you know, seven years ago, people thought he had finished …
Simon: It’s true.
Bryant: … that he had finished.
Simon: It’s true.
Bryant: And here he is at the top of the mountain – a moment of Mount Rushmore for the unbreakable record on the verge of being broken.
Simon: Ok. Howard Bryant of Meadowlark Media, thank you very much for being with us.
Bryant: Oh, my pleasure, Scott.
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