AI Summary
5 min readThe No-Struggle Bus: Hockey, Soccer, and NFL Drama
The Carolina Hurricanes won the Stanley Cup by doing something that should not have worked. They handed the net to a 27-year-old undrafted backup goaltender from Long Island named Brandon Bussey, who had 31 career wins and a $5.7 million contract extension—pocket change by NHL standards—and he outplayed Vegas's expensive, star-caliber goaltending. Bussey stopped 81 of 87 shots starting in game three, posted a 93.1 save percentage, and became the first goaltender in NHL history to win his first two career playoff starts in the Stanley Cup Final. The Golden Knights did not lose the series, as Ben Maller put it; "Brandon Bussey repossessed the Stanley Cup." The story is a classic underdog fairy tale: a journeyman undrafted from Long Island, signed for backup money, turned into a holy terror in net. Maller compared it to a visit to Panera Bread—you skip the bread and go straight for the soup. The lesson is that Carolina found their difference maker on the clearance rack, and he outplayed the luxury models when given the opportunity.
The World Cup Rating: Spectacle vs. Sustained Interest
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What you'll learn
- 1 (02:40) **Hour 3 Kickoff & Stanley Cup Final Recap** - Ben opens the hour, recaps the Carolina Hurricanes winning the Stanley Cup by shutting out Vegas 3-0 in Game 6.
- 2 (08:27) **The Bussey Underdog Story** - Ben argues the biggest storyline is backup goalie Brandon Bussey, an undrafted journeyman, becoming the hero.
- 3 (11:38) **World Cup TV Ratings: Mainstream Hit or Spectacle?** - Ben examines whether the record 15.9 million viewers for the US-Paraguay World Cup match proves soccer is mainstream in America.
- 4 (17:08) **Brandon Aiyuk's Instagram Negotiation** - Ben analyzes 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk's latest social media moves, including a video of him dancing in a robe with the caption "coming to an end zone near you."
- 5 (21:01) **Maller Riddle of the Day** - Ben presents the riddle: Knicks star OG Anunoby was left baffled after an accidental blank happened during the post-championship celebration.
- 6 (26:07) **Riddle Answer & Caller Banter** - Ben reveals the answer: OG Anunoby accidentally started a live stream on his phone and couldn't figure out how to turn it off.
- 7 (33:50) **Andrea the Astrology Insider on Wemby** - Caller Andrea analyzes Victor Wembanyama's "hissy fit" after the NBA Finals, attributing his sullen behavior to his Capricorn zodiac sign.
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Guests on this episode
Show Notes
Ben Maller talks about the Carolina Hurricanes defeating the Las Vegas Golden Knights to take home Lord Stanley's Cup, if the World Cup's opening TV ratings prove soccer is finally a mainstream hit in the USA, the latest on 49ers WR Brandon Aiyuk, Insta-Advice Line, and more!
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