#27 - Trenni Kusnierek - Host of NBC Sports Boston Early Edition
Click here for our newest episode!
On this episode of Missing the Point, we are joined by a special guest, Trenni Kusnierek. Trenni is an Emmy Award Winning sports anchor and reporter who works currently at NBC Sports Boston. She was previously affiliated with WQOW-TV Eau Claire, Wisconsin, WDJT-TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, ABC Sports, MLB Network, Big Ten Network, and FSN Wisconsin. Trenni shares with us the joy and struggles of an award-winning reporter during the Olympics for Rio de Janeiro in 2016, Sochi in 2014, and PyeongChang in 2018.
Trenni also shares the importance of mental health awareness in a fast-paced environment.
Tweet your questions to @MTPshow with hashtag #askMTP, email us at Craig@MTPshow.com, or leave us a voicemail on our website!
Connect with Trenni on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/trenni-kusnierek-1ab37a3/
Follow Trenni on her socials:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/trenni
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/trenninbcs/
Visit Missing the Point’s website: https://www.mtpshow.com/
Facebook | Instagram | Twitter
BOXO CRAFTS HOLIDAY BOX
Save 15% on your first order with the promo code: MTP
Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/MTPshow)
This episode of missing the point is being brought to you by box Oh crafts, save 15% off your first holiday box at checkout with the promo code MTP. That's box o crafts.com. On this episode of missing the point, we sit down with Emmy Award winning reporter and host of NBC Sports Boston's early edition tronic is naric. We'll discuss her transition from her broadcasting career in rural and polite Wisconsin, to the culture shock of moving to and working in hectic city environments like New York and Boston. We'll also discuss the current state of the Patriots. what it was like to cover three Olympic Games, the importance of taking care of your mental health, and a Boston Marathon story training would probably like to forget, but first some housekeeping. missing the point is a one hour podcast recapping the biggest stories in the world of sports with the New England flavor. The show notes and transcript from today's episode can be found in the description box below, as well as on our website, www dot MTP show.com. If you're new to the show, please consider subscribing. It's the easiest way to see when we publish new episodes. We're on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google and wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to rate us leave a review of any of our shows. We always appreciate your feedback. Let us know how we're doing and how we can sound better. Also, be sure to follow us on all of our social medias. All of our links will be in the show notes and check out our brand new website WWW dot MTP show calm, that's MTP show.com. And now this is visiting the point Episode 27. It's all relative.
Joe Malkin:Welcome everybody into missing the point My name is Joel Malkin joined tonight by Bob Kelly and our EP Craig D'Alessandro and we have a very special guest for everyone. Tonight She is an Emmy Award winning sports anchor and reporter who currently works for NBC Sports Boston. Previously she spent time with WQOW TV you know Claire, Wisconsin, W DJ t TV in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She has been an FSM Pittsburgh, ABC Sports MLB network, big 10 network and FSN Wisconsin 1999 graduate of Marquette University. And since coming to Boston, she's had stints on w e ai 98. Five, the sports club. But one thing we can't fail to mention is that back in high school, she was the captain of the muskego High School Palm squad, which is a badass name. Wisconsin native Trenni Kusnierek, Trenni, how are you?
Trenni Kusnierek:That's quite the bio you guys might have hire you bring you places when I walk into a room
Joe Malkin:I'm all about being a man so um, we wanted to bring you on tonight and talk about what it's like to cover Boston sports especially as kind of being not want to call you outside. Have you been here for a long time now but being from the Midwest,
Trenni Kusnierek:That's ok, Joe. generally so that's on Twitter when they don't like what I say.
Joe Malkin:Well, of course and they I mean they do
Rob Kelly:we all know that.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, they do it to Felger, they do it to they do it to the morning show guys toucher and rich. They just it's it's what we like to do it? Well, I shouldn't say we cuz I don't do it. But you know if you know sports, you know, sports. Way to call me out, Bobby. So I think we'll go to Bobby for this first question, because this is something we were talking about prior to coming on. But you know what it's like to be coming from the Midwest. So, Bob Kelly, go ahead.
Rob Kelly:Yeah. So my first question that came to my head is you have all this background with the Midwest. You know, you've been covering sports for all this time went from, from the Packers to NFL Network. Now coming over to Boston. What is Boston compared like, to the other cities that you've covered it and that's, that's something that's just always been that something I wonder is how our passion and how we deal with losing and winning, and everything like that compared to you know, Green Bay or Wisconsin or Milwaukee. All those different
Trenni Kusnierek:Well, I love my hometown. I am more proud of Wisconsin now than I than I was this time four years ago. But it's not even close, right? Like here. sports talk radio shows consistently are the most listened to shows in the market. in Milwaukee people listen to them, but only if you're like a hardcore sports fan. They're not like tearing up the airwaves. You don't have to regional sports networks. You don't have to, like 24 hour sports stations. But also to be fair, you don't have you don't have the money, right. So you don't have the you don't have the same championship history. Because outside of the Packers, in a league where there's a lot of parody, it's hard to win. I mean, having grown up a brewers fan like I would give anything anything for them to to like be in a world series and finally win a World Series last time they were in a world series you guys weren't even born and I was five. So like in felger was like 52 Just kidding.
Joe Malkin:That's about right.
Trenni Kusnierek:So that to me is there's like a different passion The only so I worked in Pittsburgh for five years. Pittsburgh was really passionate as well. And then I because it was in Pittsburgh, I did for whatever reason that we did a lot with Philadelphia. So I'd go there a lot. Philadelphia like to me, Boston and Philadelphia are by far the two most passionate fan bases in the entire country. I don't even think Chicago, New York, LA, none of them compared to Boston and Philadelphia. But Boston wins and Philadelphia doesn't. So
Joe Malkin:that was gonna be my next question. Because there's been you know, some videos that go around now with social media, professional athletes and sports reporters and of the like, they everybody gets to give their opinions and answer the questions. And there was a Chris gronkowski video that going around where they asked him what his favorite city to play in was, and what his least favorite city to play in was. He said his favorite was Green Bay, because everybody was nice. He thought that everybody was just being nice to him to psych him out. And he said the worst place he played was Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Trenni Kusnierek:I'm like how .. okay, I won't get supe ...
Joe Malkin:Fan wise,
Trenni Kusnierek:I won't get R rated on this because I don't know if this is a family show.
Rob Kelly:You c an get as R rated as you want.
Trenni Kusnierek:Um, okay, I can get R rated? Okay. So I went to a game in Philadelphia, the year I think was the year after the Packers lost 22 that like that 28. Like, like that. 28 and 30. Like, third and 28 game, remember that, like, far. So the next year I go to Philadelphia, I mean, a Packers jersey, I'm way up like way up like in a Packers section. And I'm walking around this avenue if it was in a new stadium or the older one, and I'm walking through the concourse. Keep in mind at this point, this is one year after they beat us on third and 28 they're crushing us at halftime, like the Packers aren't a shot at winning the game and walking through and people are booing me and they're like kind of bumping into me because I have a Packers like a Brett Farve jersey on and a guy looks at me. And he go and it looks dead in my eye and he goes, you can suck my dick Packers fan, but you're hot. And I was like, what it was like watch it happen. And then he tried to talk to me. I was like, What do you Where am I?
Rob Kelly:The worst pick up line...
Trenni Kusnierek:He might even use the C word. Like might've even been more crude than like I remember it. But I was so like, wow, this is the worst place ever. Where if you go if you go to Green Bay, I was there as a Packers fan and they're playing the chiefs. I think I think that every time I go the Packers lose. I think the Packers have lost to the chiefs. And like people were congratulating the Chiefs fans, and they're like, Where are we? What is happening right now? Like, wait, you're congratulating? They're like a game man. It was close. Good game. Good game, you know, let's go. Let's go get a beer and a butter burger crawls?
Joe Malkin:You know, it's interesting, because New England used to be like that to pre 2007 New England was like that, where were we a team would come in and we beat them or they'd beat us and we congratulate the losing team. And then after that. I don't want to read and write. I don't I don't want to I don't want to cry. I don't need any more.
Craig D'Alessandro:I don't think any of our shows have been not on Sunday have been not, you know, none of Yes,
Joe Malkin:we have to put the little e next to every one of our episodes. But after the 2007 season is when we became not so nice to opposing fans, especially Jets and Colts and Pittsburgh, Steeler fans. But I gotta say from the all the stories I hear from Philadelphia, where teddy bears compared to everybody else.
Rob Kelly:Does I feel like Boston Tell me if you think this is right, Trenni Boston has that same attitude, but at the same time, it's more of like a a friendly, like, we're gonna we're gonna hassle you we're gonna do that. But at the same time, like we're still not going to try and fight you. And that's what Philly does is like, it really gets down to
Trenni Kusnierek:Yeah, like it does. It feels like there's always a fight that's like right on the edge. And I guess maybe that's the case in Boston. And just because the team is here have been so good for so long that there hasn't been much to fight about. Or maybe now because I cover teams here and I went to those like the games in Philly more often than not as a fan. So like I experienced it a little bit more, but I don't feel like I've ever been at Fenway even like a family for like a Yankees game or at Gillette for a Jets or Steelers game or something and felt like Ooh, this might turn bad fast. Philadelphia, it's like this might turn bad.
Joe Malkin:In New England, I've noticed as a season ticket holder that sometimes it's the opposing fans. That are worse than the home fans. Seahawks fans, oddly enough? Not Yeah.
Trenni Kusnierek:Really? The crunchy, granola, tree huggers?
Joe Malkin:I know, I know, you would think you would think they must have been from Spokane or something, but you know, like western part of the state. So it's an interesting story in college
Rob Kelly:Don't call out Spokane like that. What do you have against Spokane?
Joe Malkin:It's not as crunchy in Seattle. That joke fell flat. But so one thing one thing, my wife is also not from here. She's from the west coast. And when she first came here and started working at Boston, she worked at the New England Aquarium for a short period of time. And she had her first. Okay, now I'm in Boston moment, because it is so different where, where our sports fans are a little bit friendlier. Right, but not necessarily. Boston residents. So what, what was your like, first, alright, I'm out of the you know, we're not in Milwaukee anymore. Toto?
Trenni Kusnierek:Well, so I did live in New York for a time. So I had been and Pittsburgh has more of an East Coast sort of edge to it than it does Midwest like it's a little, like rougher and tougher. So but it's weird. One of my East Coast moments, I think, like where I really was like, wow, this place is different was I might have been here. I want to say it was the second time my brother came to visit me. So I might have been here maybe two years at the time. And maybe three, and my brother had come to visit me and we're on the tee, we're taking the green line. And it just starts talking to someone on a tee. And I am mortified. I'm like, What are you to me my head? I'm like, What are you doing? speak to people like, this is the subway, you take the T read your phone or you read a book, you listen to your music, and then you get off so we get the chance like Brian, I really think it's Brian. It's like, Brian, I love you, kid. But and I know you're like trying to be you know, like, polite, chatty and conversational and friendly. I was like, but you can't talk to people when they're on the T. He's like, but what the guy taught me was like, cuz he probably thought that you were like off kilter. And you probably know there was something wrong with you and felt bad for you. It was like, you don't speak to people here. And he's like, but we talk to you all the time in the Midwest. It was like, yeah, it's annoying. Nobody wants to be talked to when they're just trying to read a book on the tee. And that's, I mean, he's like, wow, he's like, what's happened to you? And I was like, Oh, I don't know. I don't talk to strangers anymore.
Joe Malkin:You don't talk to strangers. And you realize you were in Boston in the sports? fan bases? very passionate. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, that kind of similar thing happened. My wife, she asked for directions coming out of cell station. And the guy basically flipped her off and walked away. So I was like, welcome to Boston. Sweetheart.
Trenni Kusnierek:I Do think people here if you need something and you ask for it, I do think that the East Coast gets a bad rap. Like, it's just I explain it to people in the Midwest all the time. Like, people here, it's just there's more traffic, there's more people. And so if you take, I don't mind helping you, but I don't have time to hear about your whole life, and I'm helping you because I probably only have like six minutes to get to somewhere so they get the right train. And then I keep like, you know, I was on a date doesn't completely get thrown off. And so that's all it is. I think any you know, you leave you bleeding on the ground, we would at least call 911 and I might not like ask you your whole life story while you're laying there.
Joe Malkin:Sure, which really tells
Trenni Kusnierek:Yeah, it's a it is a totally like, I go home to the grocery store, and somebody looks at my license and sees Massachusetts, and suddenly I mean, like a 15 minute conversation about what it's all Yo, are you live in Boston? Or? or What is it like out there? I've always heard it's a beautiful city. All Yeah, it's a clam chowder, really that good? What do you do here is your parents and you're like, Jesus lady. I'm just trying to buy some groceries and go to my parents house and have like a bottle of wine. And you know, it's like, it's like, they'll talk and the line is backing up and everyone just sits there patiently. No one says anything. They just stand there.
Rob Kelly:We're in Boston at Boston, a stop shop, it'd be a riot break. You know, in
Trenni Kusnierek:I would lose my mind, my boyfriend and I went to Nantucket I don't mean to throw him under the bus. But he's kind of impatient. And we're waiting to get like, where they were waiting to order like coffee. And something happened where like the guy who was in front of us was chatting with the woman. He clearly hadn't seen this woman in a long time. And I can just see him seeing under his mask. Like, I just want my coffee. We have to catch a ferry. I don't know what's going on. Why are they being social? I was like, they're just trying to catch up. That's when the Midwest comes out. me like, Oh, that's just Oh, yeah, they're just trying to catch up.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, I mean, and you're right. It's just, it's just faster here. But it's so funny because now when you go home, you have a little bit of that mix of that boss. So you're like, Alright, come on. Let's get let's get through. Yeah, well, everything moves a little bit slower. When you when you get west of New York City and Philadelphia.
Rob Kelly:So I have one other question that that's something that because I saw you work in Wisconsin Green Bay you're a Packers fan obviously grew up a Packers fan. What is one party field like? Is it that is it that amazing Lambeau Field? Lambo Lambo?
Joe Malkin:You know what? I know it's all named after
Rob Kelly:Freudian slip, you know, just saw
Joe Malkin:Bobby. I was gonna say she's gonna click leave faster than you can finish this question. Why do you don't make me a sandwich Bobby?
Unknown:Yeah.
Trenni Kusnierek:I thought someone would say to me if I had a 14 so why don't you go she's so dumb for this. Lambo honestly is if you once were all in the non before times. Thanks we're when we're allowed back in stadiums and I don't know when let's see the Patriots played the Packers here I think it was two or three years ago now so they should be coming back up on the schedule in Green Bay and the next season or two. Honest to God if you can make the pilgrimage it is a really cool place to see a football game. Like there's nothing like it. First of all, Green Bay is two hours north of Milwaukee like three and a half hours north of Chicago. I mean, once you get like a little bit out like you're passing places like Sheboygan, you're getting up near my grandma today and like right out my grandma's car descend to her for Christmas. Yes, I still have a grandmother. It's unbelievable. She's in like, Ana, you know my cousin lives in Nina like there it's just like it's it's salt of the earth and you're driving up 90 or 43 North like kind of along Lake Michigan and you come up over this like bridge and suddenly you just see Lambo it's the only thing that's in town that like stands more than four storeys tall, and you see a Lambo, and then when you get there, it's not like any other football stadium where you have like massive parking lots. There's two sort of smaller parking lots on either side. Everywhere else that people Park You Park in like a shopko parking lot, or on somebody's front lawn, like they'll charge you like and they're like 20 bucks for parking is like whew, it's expensive, you know that but then you go in their house and they allow you to like use their Packer themed bathroom, and they've got like tailgates on side streets. It's just it's like it's such a unique experience. And even when you get in the doors like the new atrium is really nice they do like a new I haven't been back since they built like a like an entertainment sort of District around. But even like the new like atrium and the there's like a couple of restaurants inside but then when you get inside the actual stadium actual bowl, if you most of the main seating area is still bleachers, metal bleachers, so cool, which I know sounds kind of miserable and like December, but if you you can rent like little chairs that you can sit on or just like grab a blanket, you know, blankets around your butt. It's it's, I mean, it's on me It's the best place in the world to see a football game.
Joe Malkin:We had that at Foxboro stadium before Gillette except Foxboro stadium now it's all boogy they have all these shops. There's a movie theater. We went there the other night to drive through the parking lots to go through the Christmas lights. It was I'm like you know, let's be a little more downhome like like Green Bay I mean, Foxborough is more like Green Bay then it's like Milwaukee.
Trenni Kusnierek:Yeah, but think about like when the national news networks come and they go to Green Bay they take like shots of cows. And here they come like they don't they rarely take any like scenics of Foxborough. It's all Boston
Unknown:flyover. Never.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, it's always 4045 minutes south of Boston, we're in Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Joe Malkin:Well, they can see my app By the way, what a mess.
Rob Kelly:Oh, yeah.
Joe Malkin:They almost make it seem like it's right next to Boston though cuz they're like, oh, we'll be right back to Gillette Stadium and then they cut to this shot of the Prudential Center and it's like well, you're nowhere near there.
Trenni Kusnierek:routed to Foxborough right now. I'd get there by like the fourth quarter.
Joe Malkin:actually funny story about that I actually made it from it was a one o'clock game. My flight landed at 1130 in at Logan I got off the plane into my mother's car with my wife. We were coming back from a trip to Dallas. patriots were ironically playing the Cowboys. And I got to Gillette Stadium at 107 I got some. My mom is a crazy driver. She's from Providence. So she's she's kind of nuts. But we got I got into the stadium and it was only two minutes left. Everyone was very impressed. And I got a standing ovation. That is actually really there was a touchdown scored on the field at the same time, but I figured it was just it was definitely for you. 100% Oh, one 100% So speaking of the the people in Boston and now we've talked about the Midwest and what it's like to watch a game at Lambeau Field. I didn't want to screw that up like Bobby did. Did you get that sandwich for trending yet?
Rob Kelly:Yeah, I did I have
Joe Malkin:it. Okay. Perfect. You
Trenni Kusnierek:I like my bread toasted on my sandwich is always a smidge better. I figured. Yeah. Mayo, mayo, mayo and spicy mustard.
Joe Malkin:Oh, yeah. All right. Well gather.
Rob Kelly:Yep. On one side that Yep. Yep. So
Joe Malkin:now I'm hungry again.
Rob Kelly:So we sandwiches all around then or?
Joe Malkin:Yes, if you could please deliver deliver them from Albany. Um, so I'm actually looking at a picture right now. Have you on the court of TD Garden? This is from the from biography Tribune. It's from witnesses from it doesn't have a timestamp on it. But it is from your Instagram. And you're sitting on the court with none other than Drew Bledsoe and Gary Tanguay.
Trenni Kusnierek:Oh, yeah, that's true. Isn't that like when he had the he was there and he was like rooting for Terry rozier or something. And then Didn't you have like a rosae for Rosie like, Wasn't there something with that?
Rob Kelly:Oh, yeah. And they had a blood here. Terry showed up with a buzzer the next day. Yeah,
Joe Malkin:yeah. Which is Yeah, cuz I think he's wearing the shirt in that interview because it's just a T shirt. Yeah. Must be his wine company, which I've always wanted to try his wine.
Trenni Kusnierek:I never tried to be an expert. It's pretty good. Well, he's
Joe Malkin:doing I mean, he played he played pretty well in the NFL. So you know, we'll I made the comment last night on our other episode that the last quarterback that the Patriots actually paid was Drew Bledsoe. I got everybody fired up. Not everybody. See, that's what I'm saying. Brady got some money. But he was here for a long time to start a whole bunch of business now, Mike? Yeah, she did just start a whole bunch of
Rob Kelly:you know, that's going right in our group chat, right. Trying to be like listen, trainee agreed with me. So like,
Trenni Kusnierek:you know, just not wrong, though. I mean, Tom Brady consistently over and over and over, you know, listen, he's not poor. It's like the, you know, as long as the guy's having to work a second job in the offseason. But he certainly structured his deals, I think with the hope that then that money would be used to put high powered weapons around him. And at least later in his career post 2007. That didn't happen. If he never got and he never got an Aaron Rodgers type deal to like, bring it back to the Packers. He certainly never even got like a give and give or get like a Jimmy Garoppolo I mean, who right now is like that, who are the top five paid quarterbacks in the NFL.
Rob Kelly:Brady wants to be Matthew Stafford Dak.
Trenni Kusnierek:I thought Dak Prescott was on that list like Dak Prescott, Matthew Stafford. And come on Tom Brady.
Rob Kelly:Hey, I'm a Cowboy's fan. I'm a Cowboys fan.
Trenni Kusnierek:What? why?
Rob Kelly:But I like to say, Yeah, I know. It's it's a travesty. It's a whole I know, you know, first Cowboys fan. I know is brutal. is brutal.
Trenni Kusnierek:How did that happen?
Rob Kelly:So my dad, my dad's a Cowboys fan. And it just kind of happened like the first football game I remember. Was the Cowboys winning the Super Bowl. And we haven't been back since. But it was the first game I ever remembered. And I just fell in love with him. I don't know that fell in love with Quincy Carter. I guess. I know. Crazy.
Joe Malkin:Lindsey Carter of all people.
Rob Kelly:So I had so I know that transitions to something real quick. Dez caught it right. He caught it. Yeah, I think it just caught that ball. You guys caught that?
Trenni Kusnierek:I think he did. But doesn't matter. Because guess what? Packers advanced. So that's all that matters. It's like the tuck rule. It's like the tuck rule in the snow game against the Raiders. Like everybody knows that, that totally like that swung the entire patriots trajectory. Probably not the right call. But...
Joe Malkin:So funny story about that, too. The week of Thanksgiving, we talked to Dean blandino. I'm sure you know. Yeah. Yeah. We talked to Dean blandino. And that was one of the questions we asked him, you know, what, what do you think? And he because he was at the time, he wasn't the replay official in the booth. But he was that basically the head of replay for the NFL at that time. And he said under the under the rules in 2001. It's an incomplete pass. Now, it would have been a completely different call, which is amazing to think about with with rules and the way they are in sports. So I I just have to change this because Craig wrote it in the chat. And it's I think it's our favorite Olympic sport of all time, and you covered it at the Sochi Olympics. You Yes. That's right, amp Yong Chang. I saw Sochi and I was like, done. She was in Russia. But you are also in South Korea. So but what was that like to one cover the Olympics to cover the Olympics in Russia and call curly.
Trenni Kusnierek:That's that's also in fairness. I didn't call I didn't have to call curling that would have been an absolute disaster because so when I went to my first Olympics, I just got really lucky. It was it was in Sochi. And there were just a couple of people who didn't. I don't remember this at the time, but they were really worried about terrorism. Mm hmm. And so there were a couple reporters, because they take a smaller staff to the Winter Olympics, and they do to the Summer Olympics. And and so at the last minute, a couple of reporters were like, you know what, I don't feel comfortable. I'm not going to go they backed out. And so it ended up having a domino effect, where like, Steve sands from the Golf Channel was supposed to be the curling reporter. And they moved him to short track speed skating instead. And then they were in a panic. And, and my boss, the guy who hired me was like, hey, I've got this reporter, she's, you know, I think she can handle the assignment. We'll set let's send her and they were like, do you want to go to Russia, they don't like expedite my visa. They literally just how long ago it was, they sent me like DVDs to watch of like curling matches. And I'm watching and I'm like, how am I going to ask athletes questions about this, this is going to be an abject disaster. But it wasn't. And it helped a little bit that that year, the United States was so bad, like the men I don't think the men want a single round robin match. And I think the women one one, my memory serves.
Joe Malkin:I remember that story. Because I remember in 2018 it was like a whole revamp of the curling system in the United States, which sounds weird even coming out of my mouth. But yeah, I remember that they have I feel bad.
Trenni Kusnierek:They have like elite teams now like where you're put on like a path where like you train separately from like, people who might not be true, like Olympians.
Rob Kelly:So like AAU for curling, essentially,
Trenni Kusnierek:I mean, a more like a layer of like, pipeline type of a program where you're, you know, you participate in bonspiels, or, you know, or tournaments around the country. And they sort of identify their high level, like performance athletes, and they put them on certain nutrition plans and weightlifting, like they have kind of this whole different sort of training. It's kind of like being a high level gymnast, like, you know, they identify you at a young age, and they're like, they might have Olympic potential, so you'll get ready differently. But the Olympics was an amazing, like, I feel so blessed that I've been able to go now from I did Sochi, and then I did Rio, and then I was in Pyeongchang. And then I was supposed to go to Japan. I was also on the NBC broadcast team for Japan, hopefully slated to go on this July I, you know, I don't know, I'd assume we'll know a little bit more in the next like, three or four months about, like, you know, how many people they can take over and what the parameters will be and whatnot. But it's such a cool experience. Like it's such is a if you're like a news broadcasting kind of a geek, it's just a production on like the largest of scales. And it's also not gonna lie, like, kind of cool that you're just like, grabbing lunch and Al Michaels is like next to you. Or, you know, I doc does not remember this at all, because he needs a million people. But in Sochi, I had breakfast like two or three times at Doc emrick. And I just did like I just did like, and he I mean, he just sat and told stories for like, ever, right? And I had to do this, just like a zoom interview with him like two weeks ago. And he was like, well, Tony, it was really nice to meet you. And I was like, Well, apparently our breakfast is Jimmy.
Joe Malkin:You know, I was gonna say, Doc was probably sitting there now telling this story to someone else gone. I met treni cuz No, no, but no, no, definitely. though. I did not leave a mark on him. Or whatever. It's fine. It's fine. does he
Rob Kelly:sound is awesome in person as he does on TV that like,
Trenni Kusnierek:yeah, amazing voice. And he's just like a really, really great kind guy. So yeah, I mean, and then like, and then not like, again, like I'm sort of named like MPM Chang like, one morning we're sitting there like Katie Kirk sides up and she just like starts chatting. And so one day, she was like, would you take these pictures of me and these boots, I want to post them on Instagram and I was like, Sure.
Joe Malkin:Okay, you were Katie Couric's photag
Trenni Kusnierek:Amazing. So it's like it's like experiences like that where it's just it's you feel like you're part of this large amazing big scale big time of that right? Like when I when I got hired at NBC, I remember telling my interview like they asked like long term goals for me and I was like one of my long term goals is I really would love to be I know that sometimes you use local regional talent at the Olympics. They said it would be a dream for me to do one Olympics. And now I've been able to do three hopefully four and then hopefully because we'll have Beijing right after Sure. Tokyo now lovely back to back years. Hopefully Beijing as well. But yeah, I mean, it's just it's like in curling it's it's fun for me because a lot of the guys are from like Minnesota, Wisconsin. So like like the I don't know if you guys are currently fans, you'll probably remember this but the Hamilton that guy Matt Hamilton doubles and then Matt Hamilton was on the gold winning team for, for Team USA. They're from MacFarlane, Wisconsin. Like, I helped Matt pick out a Christmas present one year for his wife and like dropped it off at their house. And like, cool, it's, you know, so random, you know, whereas I covered this in, you know, in reo but they're like real big stars, right? Like they're all millionaires. And, and I even saw them on the plane, it was like I didn't even exist anymore where To this day, I will still get messages from like john Schuster, or Matty Hamilton or Becca, the Hamilton or like somebody that that plays on that that played on that team like that will just see it that I tweeted something or posted something on Instagram and like comment on it. They're just so down to earth and so awesome. And it's it's a hard gig to I mean, I'm not trying to like, be like, Oh, poor me, I have to go to the Olympics. But like when you cover curling, my first First of all, your first event is the day before the opening ceremonies. And your last, my last event is always the day the closing ceremonies, no dark days. So most other sports get at least like one dark day, like just in case conditions aren't right or to give the app time to rest. Not curling curling is like every single day like, like three sessions a day, where there were times where I was working, like between 17 and 19 hours a day. Like I'm just true story. One time I went into hair and makeup. And the woman was doing my hair and she's like, I need to be Ruby like you really need to wash your hair. She's like, it's really hard for me to curl it. I was like, No, I swear to God, I watched it this morning. She was like I and she's like, no, it's really hard. So later on that day, I get back to my hotel room and exhausted I worked all day. And also I'm sitting down I was like, Oh my god, I did wash my hair this morning. And I never rinsed out the shampoo.
Joe Malkin:Oh no.
Trenni Kusnierek:I was so tired, I was so exhausted, I worked so many hours and my head was like spinning. And I literally put the shampoo in my hair and like put it in and barely rinsed it out and then just went in, like blow dried my hair and had no idea.
Joe Malkin:That's awesome. I mean, we've all worked in some form of communications, but you mentioned working 17 hour days. It's not the best though. Like I know this is wacky coming from somebody likes to coming out. But it's it's almost so fulfilling about working those long days. And just you go go go and then it's like, Alright, I gotta sleep because I gotta get back up in the morning and do it all over again. And it's like,
Trenni Kusnierek:oh, like, you know what, I don't care how old I am. I'm still gonna push it and I'm gonna go have an cocktail with the rest of the crew down at the hotel bar, you know, and then you're like, forgetting to rinse out your shampoo the next day.
Joe Malkin:So that's the story behind the story. Got it.
Trenni Kusnierek:I said all your opponent told him it's like why is he going to put it sounds like oh no, I hair person said it was dirty. crazy person kept telling her that I washed my hair. And the next day I did shoot for sleep. Come back and I was like so I technically washed my hair but I also forgot to wash out the shampoo.
Joe Malkin:At least you came clean. Ah, oh geez. dad joke and I didn't even realize that. No, I did it I was on. It is it's ingrained when you have two kids. You just it's it's the dad. Wow. They do. And my wife is really getting frustrated with the fact that I basically talking dad jokes and movie quotes.
Rob Kelly:So she's not the only one.
Joe Malkin:I understand. I'm so sorry. I don't know. I mean, we just met trainee. Okay, we don't want to ruin this of the three Olympics, which was your favorite?
Trenni Kusnierek:Ah, I mean, I'd like them all I guess Rio. But just because I like the Summer Olympics. I like warm weather. And I was able to really sort of like get out and kind of do things. But I would put p on Chang or like a one a for the simple fact that when you get to cover anyone from the United States winning a gold medal, it is the coolest experience and to watch such a it's such It was such a like legitimate like Cinder not legitimate Cinderella story. But like, I guess it was like a legitimate Cinderella story. Like no one expected the United States to win the gold in Russia was special because it was my first But Russia was weird. Russia was a weird place. Like, first of all, it felt like we felt really isolated. And everything was like you had to wear your badge everywhere you went. So like I would go training for the Boston Marathon at the time. And I would have to give these huge badges and have to like tuck it in and my bike around the neck and down the back of my shirt and also was warm. This is so weird. It was like usually in the 50s or 60s in Sochi all the time because we were down at the coastal cluster. And then like I would go running they had it wasn't really safe to just run anywhere. So when I would do long runs and there was like a couple hundreds of right to like a 16 or 18 mile, I literally just ran across, they basically built like a track, like a straight line track, outside of the hotel along the was beautiful line in the Black Sea. But then all the sudden guys it would stop. It would just stop. And then there was like weird fencing. And when I went to ask her to run one day, the concierge, whoever was like, Oh, you can go this, you know, in this direction, it's a couple miles each way and just go back and forth. He said, but when you get to the fencing on the far end, he said do not try to walk around or go somewhere else. He's like, that's the country of Georgia. And if you go over, we can't get you back. I was like, Okay, all right. Great. Fun times.
Joe Malkin:So you turn right back,
Trenni Kusnierek:I did take a picture like, Hey, I'm right, by Georgia bet. Yeah.
Joe Malkin:And times got a lot faster. Also,
Trenni Kusnierek:it also they had like fake buildings everywhere, because they they have like raised to this town in order to put up all the Olympic venues. And so one morning, I'm like looking on my balcony. And I see and I'm like, that's a weird looking house. And so I took a picture of it and zoomed in. It was completely empty on the inside. And they just had put like a tarp around it with a sketching and like an etching of like Windows and a door to make it look from far away like a house. That's so strong, no stray dogs everywhere. Because they had like,
Rob Kelly:I heard that was like a problem
Trenni Kusnierek:was like a problem. kicked people out of their homes, to build these facilities. And then not what then they didn't let them take their dogs with. They're just dogs everywhere. And then these are the youth like, it was awful. It was weird. With that said, there's something really fascinating also about Russia. It was a very beautiful country. it like it's, it's a communist country. It's a kind of It's weird. There's no I like that's not a very eloquent way to describe Russia. I would like to go back and see Moscow and St. Petersburg. It's different. I shouldn't say weird. That's not right. People probably think America is weird. in certain places. It was a different experience. It did feel very cold and restrained. Like it just whereas Pyongyang and Rio there was like a real joy even though there were always there's always issues and everywhere where there's ends up being Olympics. There's always some controversy, but something about those two places felt more joyful.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, absolutely. I mean, a little bit different. You know, South Korea and Brazil aren't exactly communist countries. So yeah, but yeah, and you were a little bit further east in Russia. So when when they say if you go over the border of Georgia, you're not coming back. That's a that's definitely
Trenni Kusnierek:they said they would shoot you and I was like, cool. It's not really what I want to happen. Not gonna do that. Yeah.
Joe Malkin:Interesting. And every day I was like, Well, will they really shoot me? what if I just what if i just like, swam over? let's find out!
Rob Kelly:one arm over the boarder
Trenni Kusnierek:I love stamps on my passport
Joe Malkin:if you could just shoot my passport. So
Unknown:Do you have like a stamp gun? yay.
Joe Malkin:Yeah. Oh boy. It's like a taser that just shoots up. Anyway, so you you mentioned you were name dropping before you name drop Katie couric. You may have dropped down. God now Chairman. I sound like a jerk. No, because we're gonna name drop someone else that we're gonna be talking to soon and someone else that you know well, and you work with and that's Abby chin. Who will be talking to on missing the point on Thursday to come out at a later date. But you know, we talked before we got on about you. There was a picture of the two of you wearing a similar dress. So now we have to know the backstory cuz obviously she was just hired back by NBC Boston. And she's coming on with us after after we talked with you. So we want to we want to hear about your relationship with Abby and what the the dress story?
Trenni Kusnierek:Well, Abby, first and foremost is one of my dearest friends. We started like three months apart. I started in September like September 10. Because my first day at NBC, she was then Comcast SportsNet she started like, around the same time but in December. So we've been like pals, like when her wedding I you know, go to our kids birthday parties, the whole nine. I've even seen them during pandemic like in real life. I've seen them her and her wonderful, real prayer. I know right? So she shows up today and I'm so excited. I come back I like it, curl my hair and put on my dress and stuff for my show. And then it came out talk to a producer and I go over and I see Mike Gorman talking to her and I was like, oh my god. Hi, Mike. I got your back and she looks at me She's like, oh my god. I'm like, oh my god are we wearing the same dress? And they weren't exactly the same but I wore the one Abby had on today a few weeks ago. hers was like more formal. hers was like nice sort of form fitting like really nice material. Mine was more like a sweatshirt II type dress and I threw on and I threw like sneakers with mine. She had like nice heels on but they both that like telling sign up we will put the same as they had these like weird sort of Star trekky puffy shoulders on them. So we look Exactly the same student made max Letterman, our producer, take a picture of us.
Joe Malkin:Mike Gorman wasn't wearing a dress, was it? No,
Trenni Kusnierek:he was not. He looks lovely though, as he always does. I thought it was nice before I was while I was eating dinner before I talk to you guys. I flipped on the Celtics. And I was like, Man, it's nice to hear Mike's voice again,
Joe Malkin:isn't it? It's really well, we can't wait.
Trenni Kusnierek:So good.
Rob Kelly:Nothing better than him. Go. Got it.
Joe Malkin:We're doing our NBA preview show on on Sunday. So we're very excited to get into the NBA and I am the least NBA fan of the group. But I will tell you, sorry. Secondly is behind Craig. But I will tell you that a former Celtic currently lives in my head rent free and I can't stand the guy and I don't mind saying it out loud. That's Kyrie Irving. Oh, I Okay, good. Yeah. Well, nobody likes Kyrie Irving. Thank you.
Rob Kelly:Is there anyone that does?
Trenni Kusnierek:Maybe his mom?
Rob Kelly:maybe Kevin Durant, and maybe his mom, his mom.
Joe Malkin:We know his mom does his mom seems like a wonderful lady. But so if you had to pick out
Rob Kelly:I know Yes. Everything that comes out of his mouth is just facepalm that's really what it's everything he says it's just like, Do what?
Trenni Kusnierek:That's great. Everything out comes out of his mouth is facepalm. I like that.
Joe Malkin:Hey, go. Now in Cleveland, we were having this discussion today. Does Cleveland win a championship? Without Kyrie if they still have LeBron when they won?
Trenni Kusnierek:I'm gonna say I don't think so. Because Kyrie did balance out LeBron and in May and it forced defenses to be accountable for someone else, because if you left Kyrie alone, which at the end of the day, when they did, he was the guy who made the big shot, right? Am I miss remembering that lady made the big winner. And that's because you had to account for for LeBron James. I do think that they made each other better. And I don't know that LeBron would have won if he wasn't there. Because LeBron wouldn't have won in Miami. If it wasn't for Dwayne Wade, and oh my god, why am I forgetting his response? Like I know, it's like Chris Paul. Just Gosh,
Joe Malkin:anyone? No one in LA if it wasn't for Anthony Davis,
Trenni Kusnierek:right? Like you can't I don't care how good of a player you are. You can't do it alone. Like one of the segments on our show today was like Giannis in Milwaukee. And whether or not him being there for five years, it's like guaranteed Milwaukee is going to be good. I was like, first of all, I live there. It's never going to be good. They're like snake bitten. Second of all, like, do we really? Are any of us really that afraid of like drew holiday and Chris Middleton? I don't know that I am. And I don't know that you can get I mean, maybe maybe Yanis brings another big star to Milwaukee but star seemed to want to go to like Miami and LA, not Milwaukee.
Joe Malkin:And that's what I said today. But now that he's signed that contract, I noticed they have some kind of leverage to say hey, Yanis is here. like come on in and let's let's go do this. But yeah,
Rob Kelly:I feel like the way they're gonna do that is by trade. That's how you're gonna see it start coming there. But then, but they honestly like because of that deal they made for Giroux, they really don't have much to trade at that point. So
Trenni Kusnierek:If anything, you'd have to get somebody on like, oh, like a short one year that just really wants to win a championship, but when you go after guys like that, who don't need long term security, you're going after an older guy. And so then there's always going to be question mark. So
Joe Malkin:that was kind of the Boston thing back in, you know, the late 2000s when they brought in carnet Nalin and that was kind of the thing it wasn't supposed to be a long term thing it turned into a longer term thing but they won that championship on the front end of those contracts. So yeah, I mean,
Trenni Kusnierek:they're gonna have to do the same thing injuries killed on bomber
Joe Malkin:so the way it goes it's what's gonna happen in Brooklyn this year, Kyrie is gonna get hurt and start also
Trenni Kusnierek:Katie is I think already like I've had enough of this guy who are far from cool up close.
Joe Malkin:What they also said that the KD was trying to bring in James Harden and that Kyrie was basically saying no to that
Craig D'Alessandro:He looks THICK tonight.
Joe Malkin:Who's does, James harden? Yeah, well, that's Did you say he looks thick?
Craig D'Alessandro:Yeah, yeah.
Trenni Kusnierek:That's right. Commit yourself, buddy. Aaron, I
Rob Kelly:couldn't get he can't. He grew the beard. So he couldn't tell that he's got a little like chop going on down here. You know?
Joe Malkin:Yeah, exactly.
Rob Kelly:I was gonna ask so before we get into anything else I want to ask. You know, we talked about your Boston sports history. We talked about the fact you filled on the sports hub. Most notably, you filled in for felger and mazz for a few a few episodes where they weren't there. Who to you who is the better, not better. Who's the bigger pain in the ass felger mazz I'll just ask you straight up. Everyone knows their balls
Trenni Kusnierek:and I'm gonna walk you guys for a second. I've opened my door. My boyfriend's coming over out and I should probably just give them a key but I don't I just keep opening the door. He can get himself But he can't get himself into the main door. I still don't trust him. I'm just kidding. Seeing my like, four foot apartment, it's a small I like that wall. Natural brick national brick natural brick. Who's the bigger pain in the ass? So I have not had to work much with mass. So I cannot speak to masses, masses. How big of a pain he is? I will say this about felger bark is worse than his bite. He plays this role like I'm such a curmudgeon a jerk on the radio, but he's actually like, I call him for some like career advice, like a week ago and he was like, well prepared. He was super kind about it. Although he is he is I will say this about him. This is where he's the same in real life as he is on the radio. No BS, like, you know how he's always like, no pleasantries. No pleasantries. Like, that's not really like when we when the conversation is done. He's like, Alright, kid good talking to you. By I was like, Oh, that's
Unknown:we're done. Okay, we're done. All right, grandpa.
Rob Kelly:So no, how you doing today? That doesn't exist. I felt good realize
Trenni Kusnierek:what I honestly don't i don't think he asked me how it was. I think it was just more like, Okay, so what can I do? What can I help you with?
Joe Malkin:That? Which is interesting? Because
Trenni Kusnierek:he needs to work together. I'd be like, oh, Sarah, how are the girls? What's going on? Fine, fine, fine. What are we talking about in this segment?
Joe Malkin:Which is weird for him, because that shows that he's been in Boston longer than you because you're both from Milwaukee. So now,
Trenni Kusnierek:you know what? He's been gone for a long time. Like he'd left Milwaukee I want to say, he was like, 16, you might have been like a junior or something. And then he lived in Naples, which is where his parents are now. And then he came to be you. And he's I mean, felger. It sounds like out him. But I think he's almost 50. So you know, if he came here at 18 he's been here for is that 32 years? That's a lot. You know, that's a long time. I mean, he's essentially more of a Bostonian than he is a Midwesterner, though, man, he still has that accent. So he
Joe Malkin:does. Oh, when he says sorry, feels he plays it? Oh, yeah. I'll be honest, I can hear it a little bit in your voice still, as well for so from time to time.
Trenni Kusnierek:If I have a cocktail or to look out,
Joe Malkin:yeah, we have friends like that. And then their Boston accent comes up with a Midwestern accent is much more pleasant than the Boston accent. I think you would agree with that.
Trenni Kusnierek:I mean, neither is McConnell, watch. Its harshest form, neither is great.
Joe Malkin:So one other thing that we really wanted to get into tonight is, for those of you that don't know, while while training is very straightforward, and, you know, doesn't take any crap, just like felger. She's also a big mental health advocate. And I think those two things go hand in hand. And in Milwaukee magazine, in 2012, trending you are quoted as saying, I had a six figure job, makeup people here, people 10,000 Twitter followers, a smart, attractive, funny boyfriend, who I wouldn't give a key to. And, and I just couldn't snap out of it, when it came to depression and anxiety, talk a little bit about depression and anxiety and working in such a fast paced job that that you work in?
Trenni Kusnierek:Yeah, it's, honestly, a time. So it was helpful to be in this kind of an industry because you have to focus, right, so you don't have I mean, your mind can wander, but it can't wander for long. Because at some point, you've got a producer who's screaming in your ear, or you're conversing with someone or you're interviewing someone. So it's a good focal point. Where it was tough was it could be extra exhausting. At the end of the day, like you have to constantly be on for people. And if you're trying to work through, you know, any kind of like massive depression or anxiety, that's exhausting already, and you don't oftentimes have the energy to do basic life things, let alone then come home, you know, then, like, go out with friends. When I was living in New York that's in the article was written kind of that time frame. When I was working for MLB network and living in New York, like I remember, there was like, a weekend that I had off. And I didn't leave. I mean, I was in New York, it was like a beautiful, like, nice weekend and I leave the house I watched like, I think two seasons of Glee, and I did not leave my couch is at that point that I realized like okay, things are kind of not great. And they sort of progressively got worse and then got better, which I think that's hard for people to understand. Sometimes I think it's hard for people to understand that it's cyclical. That it's kind of, it's something you really kind of always have to manage and keep an eye on and that it's not something you can just snap out of, you know, it's not just as easy as and God bless people because When I am open about going through something, people always say, Well, what can I do? or How can I help? I'm happy to listen. And while that's wonderful and helpful to hear, it's also not always the solution. You know, sometimes the solution is just being by yourself, sometimes the solution is talking it through, sometimes the solution is, more often than not the solutions, like actually getting professional help, and talking to a therapist or maybe even going on medication, to regulate everything. And I hope as a society, I mean, I guess one of the weird positives of pandemic, I think it's been it's shone a light on mental health issues more so than before, and made it more of like an easy conversation topic for people and less stigmatized. So I'm hoping that that helps, that, that that leaves that's come out of it, where you can do telehealth, and there's easier ways to access care. And that that Ease of Access to Care continues after this is all over.
Joe Malkin:And I think that's the one of the biggest things that you mentioned, right? There was sometimes people want to help, but you don't need it. But it's also on the flip side, sometimes when people don't understand or they try to understand, but they just don't, and then they get frustrated with you. And then it kind of sends you into a cycle of you know, I'm trying to tell you, I'm trying to help you understand. But you're you just you have to just absorb and the person that you're talking to, or vice versa, if it's somebody that's having an issue and trying to open up to you. So it's very interesting. I've had that conversation with these guys. Bobby and I had that conversation a few weeks ago, where I was having a tough time we had a misunderstanding. And it was because we weren't, as we talked about, before we came on we were in effectively communicating our feelings with each other, and how we actually felt about the situation. He didn't understand what I was going through. I didn't understand what he was going through. And now we just argue about Jimmy Garoppolo being the next quarterback in the New England Patriots and Kyrie Irving being awful. So but I know I meant to bring that up earlier. And I didn't, so I had to throw something in there.
Rob Kelly:Yeah, so So my question for you is, I know that, you know, as someone who also has dealt with something along the same lines, is it's it's always harder to admit that you're going through something because you don't know that other people are doing it, you kind of feel like you're alone, you're on your own islands, and you're the only one who feels like this. Everyone's gonna think you're crazy. Do you think that people coming out like jack, Prescott, Hayden Hearst yourself, these people in these high profile positions, really push the depression and mental health issue to that forefront and really help make awareness, almost just the other people who may not be dealing with this that like, Listen, this is a real thing that not only normal people deal with, that people you think are crazy to deal with. But people that are in these high respected positions are also dealing with these things on an everyday basis. I
Trenni Kusnierek:hope so. Um, I think it's really important for people to talk about it. And I always say like, that doesn't mean that you're like spill your guts to every single person that you meet. But even just being honest with like, one or two people in your small circle, like I feel like that has like a ripple out effect, because maybe you tell one person about it because you feel comfortable with them for whatever reason, and they're struggling or they know someone who's struggling and they understand how to better handle it. I think what's most important about athletes talking about it is that a lot of times it's male athletes. And if there's one part of the population, one, you know, part of like life where I think men, particularly white men get really overlooked is in the mental health sphere. It's still really stigmatized, it's like, you're supposed to be this like strong person who can handle everything and not get stressed out, which is ridiculous. Whether you're a pro athlete or like, you know, you know, Joe Blow who's walking down the street. I mean, like, right now, some of the people are suffering the most are middle aged white males, for various reasons. And to me, that's a group that needs to not be forgotten about and needs not to be stigmatized or told that they are wrong, or that their feelings aren't valid or worthy. That's a real crucial group. I think that we need to address that and honestly, like under, like marginalized communities, minority communities, because in those two sections, I always say this white women, like we got there be doubt like everyone's had a Therap every girl I know has had a therapist forever. It was like Sex in the City, like in the late 90s, early 2000s. Like, talked about like women are always we're always talking about our freaking feelings. Like it's not it's not as difficult of a topic, but it is a really difficult topic for someone who's living in an area that is strewn with violence and gangs and Drugs, it is a huge issue for, you know, you know, a 52 year old white guy who lost his job and is trying to support his family and trying to put up this facade that needs to know that it's okay to not be okay. Like we need. Those are the groups I think we really need to be reaching. And I'm hopeful that when somebody who is a 32 year old superstar with $100 million contract says there were days I couldn't get out of bed that that 55 year old of the family says, I'm not crazy. I'm not a failure. Mm hmm.
Joe Malkin:Yeah. And that's the biggest thing in late, Bobby. Bobby said and you just said it there is, you know, it's even in this article. I just read the quote, you know, all these things going for you. And everybody thinks you have this perfect life and nothing's wrong. But there is that shot after the game between Hayden Hearst plays for the Falcons. Right? Yes.
Trenni Kusnierek:Because he was with the Ravens. Yeah.
Joe Malkin:Yeah. And, and he, he saw, he went and found Dak running into the tunnel and stopped him. And it's such a powerful piece of video because he didn't I mean, Hayden Hearst. His story is incredible. And how he bounced back and it's just that big thing of, man, if people can advocate and somebody that makes the money that Dak Prescott does and is much in the public eye, you're absolutely right training that, that the person you know that whether it's the 33 year old guy doing a podcast or the 52 year old guy with a family, you just have to be able to understand that you're not the only one going through it and that you know, there is there is help of some kind regardless of how tough or you feel you are or as deep of a hole you think you're in.
Trenni Kusnierek:And you know, I think with too, is what's telling about how far we've come as I'm sure you guys saw this, like after Dak Prescott was really honest about things Skip Bayless being Skip Bayless called him out. So he kind of like suggested that he was weak or not a good leader for talking about it. And Bayless got skewered by Pete. Oh, yeah. Didn't go through, not again, I always I just say Twitter is not the barometer of what like real people think. But it does sort of show which ways you know, individuals are leaning and thinking. And when 97 or 98% of the comments in you know, on his comments are stopping a jerk, this is a real issue. To me that sign up is a sign of progress.
Joe Malkin:Absolutely, honestly, from those Twitter trolls, because the other 2% of accounts that Skip Bayless has following him or his burners anyway.
Rob Kelly:And on that same note, I actually saw a post recently about Dak Prescott, someone, so I always say follow up Cowboys fan. I know, for a lot of Cowboys fan pages on Facebook. And as you can imagine, the Cowboys fan base is a very diverse fan base, we'll call it. So someone posted on that it was like I think Dak Prescott, such a leader, the fact that he came out about these mental health issues shows how much of it how tough this man really is not only as like a person, but like spiritually, he's just a tough human being in that, like, he needs to be regarded as his leader. Obviously, there was comment underneath that that started calling him out like he was, you know, less of a man and all this stuff. And the comments that this comment got, we're just like, it was like, instantly there was 90 comments telling about talking to this guy about how much of a big it is. So yeah, couldn't agree more that we're definitely going in the right places in society when when you see people ganging up on someone who is trying to make someone feel less of a person for something like that. It's just, it makes you feel good. Right? Yeah.
Trenni Kusnierek:It's like it's it's like, okay, we aren't we aren't we have been completely devolved as a as a, as a species.
Joe Malkin:And sometimes those people that are making those comments or in other situations are trolls, right? At that point, you realize, alright, let's let's put a human side to this. And let's not let's not dehumanize someone, because they're talking about their feelings all of a sudden, that's just that's unfair. on so many levels. Imagine that. I send that to Dean blandino. To about officials. I was like, let's humanize officials in football. And then he used it on his podcast the next week. And I was like, All right, we're resonating. So yeah, right. Okay. So if you could just drop something Bobby says. So one thing you mentioned earlier about how sometimes you cope with things, in terms of mental health is staying busy. Whether it's work, or a few other things. You mentioned, you mentioned you were training for the 2015 marathon when you were at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. That was actually the second time you had to run a marathon because you not only run marathons, but you also climb mountains like to take your solo trips and you do you used to take motorcycle lessons, right and
Trenni Kusnierek:I learned either I hated it. Can I be honest I hated it. It's Yeah, because my anxiety was so bad like I was always gonna crash like I couldn't I don't like I don't like lack of control. No, I felt like I had no control over the thing. But I was doing it at the time I was working in radio on the walkie and like Harley Davidson was one of our advertisers and they're like, Oh, goobie Creed spot. If we like teach training, how to ride a motorcycle. We're trying to get female ridership up. I was like, Yeah, let's do it. And like, guess what, guys on a tiny little bike in a parking lot. It's really fun. When you got actual on the on actual road now, I was a hard pass. So I did get a license. I passed my test. And then when I moved here, they were like, Oh, do you want to renew your motorcycle license? I was like, Nope, I'm good. Good.
Joe Malkin:Not here.
Rob Kelly:Definitely not in Massachusetts. Do not ride a motorcycle in Massachusetts. These
Joe Malkin:are helmets and Wisconsin.
Craig D'Alessandro:erred walking.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, that's what we've been saying about New Hampshire lately. They're gonna have to change their state slogan to live free and die. So that's the dad joke. Sorry. All right. That's it. That's how
Rob Kelly:I almost felt like you had that prepared before the show. Like, you know, we were gonna talk about this, you know, I didn't, I didn't
Joe Malkin:until she mentioned the helmet thing. I was like, we're not gonna mention New Hampshire state slogan. Well, one of our other podcast members, Mike Mark Angelo is from Londonderry, New Hampshire originally, so we can't tease him much because he's a Boston guy now. But you know, how much of a new hampshire person are you if you're from Nashville anyway? So say? So tell us about running the Boston Marathon because it's something that I can tell you. I will never do. What was that experience like for you? Well, I've run it a number of times. I read it in 2010 2012 2014. But I didn't finish because I almost pooped my pants. True story. And 2015. And then I was there you telling me to go back and tell it?
Rob Kelly:Yeah. Yeah, we need to hear
Trenni Kusnierek:I'm 99.9% sure, by the way that my boyfriend is standing outside the door just listening to this too afraid to like walk in and interrupt. It only takes like six minutes to walk here. He lives up the street. So john, I hope you're enjoying this. Um, so I, I trained. I trained so hard for it, I would train while I was in Sochi, like I gave up drinking, like, okay, not entirely in Sochi, but in the times around Sochi. Like, I was determined to have the best race of my life. And like three days before the race, a map did pick up and I'm like, Hi. I'm like, under the weather. Like, like, like, I just nervous, just like a little cold. You know, body's like, immune immune response, since you're drinking like vitamin C, like, whatever emergency. And in the morning of the race, I get up and like, my stomach wasn't feeling very well. And you know, usually if you have like your morning pre run poop, like that's just what runners do. may have been a few more than usual, but I'm just nervous. This is such a big deal to me, like everybody's here is cheering me on. It's the Europe to the bombing. Like they were going to interview me like Bob, a new buyer was at the finish line. I was going to do an interview with them afterwards. And so I get to Hopkinton. And I get sick again a little bit and I'm like kind of feeling like weird, like cold hot flashes. And like I'm fine. I'm just nervous. Don't worry about it. Like run, like one mile into the race and I get like getting stomach cramps. And I was like, This is ridiculous. I'm running like an 815 bike at this point. Like I'm training to run like a 745 750 pace like, well under like three like going under like I'm hoping for like 325 to 330 like finishing time. And I'm like, Oh, that's weird. I've been going that fast and like my stomach really hurts. And like further I go the further I go in the race of like, something is not right. So I'm coming up like the crest over the hill and Wellesley that was the college and the scream channel and like I can't even listen to the girls scream because it's like, oh my god, I'm gonna have diarrhea and Wellesley This is where this is hot city. I've been here for
Joe Malkin:most people have had diarrhea and Wellesley just so you know a
Trenni Kusnierek:few years and this is what's gonna happen. This is going to be my life. I'm going to be known valgrind Mazur gonna talk about me touch on Richard gonna talk about me because everyone's gonna find out that I like explosive diarrhea on the Boston Marathon course. So I pull off I find a porta potti we think live there instead of I don't want my Jackson moment let's just call it what it is we can now call for a nice and so I I go back on the course of like, oh, I'll be fine. Like, unlike Lamar Jackson, I didn't get an IV afterwards. I was like oh, I'll just drink more water and Gator in the
Rob Kelly:course dehydrated your entire body
Trenni Kusnierek:I got so dehydrated you guys I was so dehydrated by the time I got to like it's around like miles 1617 right by Newton Wellesley hospital. I literally could not see straight like I was I was kind of weaving to the point where someone a spectator like yell like, are you okay? And I was like, I don't think so. I feel really well. I just sat down and started to cry. I was like this little girl's Water.
Rob Kelly:Water. No one was like, hey, maybe we should check on the Comcast SportsNet personality Chinese sitting on the corner over there.
Trenni Kusnierek:They did they were like, Oh, this poor thing. So Oh, and they walk to this medical area and the guys like I'm like sobbing I was like I tried so hard so you can probably finish most people can we'll just get some like like thicker fluids and you will get us some like broth and like a higher like sodium concentrated Gatorade. And then he took my vitals and he was like, Oh, no, you have to go to the hospital is like what? And he was like, your heart rate is so low, and your blood pressure is so high. He's like, you're severely severely dehydrated. Like, I cannot let you back on the course and I was like, okay, the emergency room is right there I'll walk he's like underlie Can't they had an ambulance I can sign and then I went and told the story and talk to him which the next morning
Joe Malkin:so you so you got up the next morning and everything was good. No,
Trenni Kusnierek:I felt like terrible for like three days because they so I went I went to this. I got an IV and stuff at the hospital and the woman's like, Well, it sounds like you have the norovirus. She's like lots of people have had the No, it was like it was going around. Yeah. And that's what she thinks that I had. And I went out five weeks later, and ran a PR. That's Sure. Nice. So take that Boston Marathon.
Joe Malkin:Take that neural virus take that diarrhea. mile training run. That's right. That's right. I almost ran into Georgia for this.
Rob Kelly:Sorry, I interrupted your like accomplishments of running the Boston Marathon and making you tell the story about how you pooped your pants while doing it. We're very proud of you for running the Boston Marathon. That's a great accomplishment.
Trenni Kusnierek:The other stories are good. All the other ones. Whatever I finished was fine.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, I was gonna say what happened in 2015.
Trenni Kusnierek:That was supposed to run this year. So hopefully I get to run next year.
Rob Kelly:She's like I finished. I don't know.
Joe Malkin:So So one, one last thing. A sports related that I'd like to ask you is one who is your favorite Milwaukee or Green Bay athlete of all time? Robin Yount, not even close. Fair enough. How about your since you've been in Boston, and we give just about everybody the benefit of the doubt in Boston except for Dennis Weidman and Kyrie Irving. That's my personal I can't stay Dennis, Dennis Wyman and Kyrie Irving. I don't know if Dennis Wideman was here when you played for the Bruins?
Craig D'Alessandro:he's held like a 15 year vendetta against Dennis Wyman
Joe Malkin:and really have nothing to back it up the Kyrie one I can back up until the cows come home. But the Dennis Wyden one just something about his face? I don't know what it is.
Trenni Kusnierek:You don't like everybody's face, thats fair
Joe Malkin:That's true. What about in Boston? Who was I won't say your favorite Boston athlete of all time, but who would be like one of your favorite guys to have interviewed worked with or just
Trenni Kusnierek:been around? Um, okay, so Mike Napoli will always hold a special place in my heart because he's just a nice person. And he made covering that team in 2013. So much fun, like he was and he was just a fun guy, like a good guy easy to work with, because I always go to him for anything. And absolutely, I'm a huge Jaylen brown fan. I'm like that I'm a total social justice warrior that is not going to surprise anyone but like, I just think he's a I just think he's a really articulate, thoughtful. I take so much more than a basketball player. I I just I can't and he's also I think also part of the reason I've done some mental health things with him. And he's a big mental health advocate. I'm also a huge pride love Brad Stevens like I like I probably am a little too easy on the Celtics sometimes because I like the players so much like genuinely let
Joe Malkin:me remember that during the season.
Trenni Kusnierek:Oh, yeah, I got a little harsh on Danny.
Joe Malkin:That's okay. It's okay to be harsh on ge. We've been very harsh on bill too, so I'm in Bill's been a terrible GM lately. Oh, Mike's gonna love that. Well. So Bob and I actually got into it about Danny because I I almost called the Gordon Hayward situation to a tee but just had the team wrong. And because Bobby, Bobby was like, This is great. He's gonna trade him to Indiana. We're gonna get everything back. We're gonna Myles Turner here. And I was like, No, Bobby. That's not what happened. He's gonna lie. But yes, although somebody and it was drapes before he left or the forest burn is pointed out like those guys all played with Myles Turner last year internationally. And if they really wanted them, they could have gone to Danny and Ben like this would be a great addition and they clearly didn't. So
Rob Kelly:maybe, yeah, maybe they thought Tristan was a better point.
Joe Malkin:Okay, fair enough. That's that's a good point. I like the
Rob Kelly:last name drop of the night.
Joe Malkin:Yeah. You can drop as many names as you want. You know, we tried to say that before every interview, we're like, just don't Make them namedrop it's about them. Like, let's we're gonna interview treni we're not going to interview her about all the people she's been around like, we don't want to be like, Hey, tell us more about Abby chin.
Trenni Kusnierek:I love talking about Abby Chin, so I was happy to talk about her and our matching dresses tonight.
Joe Malkin:She has been very gracious to Craig through all of this. And you know, Craig's like she's got two kids, but you're on the show to Joe so we get this like, we can't start until 815 because of my two kids. They're both upstairs hopefully sleeping at this point, not making their mother's life a living.
Trenni Kusnierek:Yeah, find out about me that I'll tell the producer like no, I can only do 30 minutes and an hour and 10 minutes later, I'll still be talking to you.
Craig D'Alessandro:I'm not gonna lie for the last the last 45 minutes I've been like, I've been like typing the don't wrap it up private, private.
Joe Malkin:I probably probably should because I am 90. I mean, I'm not even 99.9% sure I'm 100% sure my boyfriend is just sitting in the doorway like on his phone waiting for me to finish probably.
Craig D'Alessandro:Because I'm a I'm a radio producer IRL and so I'm I like your producers. I was like the deadlines. I was like come on, come on. Come on. Come on. Come on. Come on.
Joe Malkin:Yeah, but they also know that if I'm on a show or an interview that if we call for a half hour it's gonna be close to 90 minutes so
Craig D'Alessandro:if any of you are on a show the the abuse 30 we're gonna be 60
Joe Malkin:Listen, when we get guests like treni who just keeps going and telling stories we're gonna let her keep going. So give our sincerest apologies to john we're sure he's a wonderful guy
Trenni Kusnierek:that john but john, okay for a long time every every time I tell people I had a boyfriend they're like, Is it the donut guy and that Jetsons? Sorry also story not that's not a story I'll tell like probably but ask failure that story one time so for Sean has been called now they don't like I and john so but Garrett, he doesn't lie. He never likes it to be about him anyway. It can always be I'm always the center of attention. So it's perfect.
Joe Malkin:very disappointed. Say that. Without me, Well listen, and this is why we go in right now but no, he's right outside.
Craig D'Alessandro:He can't go back.
Joe Malkin:Well, tip please tell Sean that we we are giving our sincerest apologies but training before we let you go. Please tell us what you're doing now and where we can find you. Every night. Monday through Friday. I'm on NBC Sports Boston early edition. Um, it's it's it's me now. It's me. I'm in the host chair. Rip Gary. Not rip. I mean, obviously is fine and alive.
Unknown:Yeah, we know that. We
Joe Malkin:were trying to get him to bow I have a hope with that. I will tell him that he should do it. Awesome. Yeah, yeah, every night talking sports. during football season we're 630 to seven but once the Patriots are done on our football shows are done. It'll be back to my normal time of six to seven. Just our super funds for stock today. I broke down Lamar Jackson's poop run. So I mean, you're gonna get hard hitting things on my show. We may have to find that sound clip and put it up on on our Instagram just for people review a preview of what you
Unknown:can expect on this show.
Joe Malkin:You know what Ted Johnson you can take your little telestrator segment. I don't think it was anywhere close to me breaking down Lamar Jackson running to the bathroom. Well, of course not. But if Ted Johnson's doing telestrator he's just trying to be Bill Belichick and it well Now he's not coming on the show. Oh,
Rob Kelly:I don't care what Lamar Jackson said that man definitely shit his pants last night. There's no doubt about that the way he was run into that bathroom that was I have to
Trenni Kusnierek:say he might not have it might not have totally come out but holding it in.
Rob Kelly:Always in common.
Craig D'Alessandro:What gave it away when he was running through the hallway and he got the door?
Joe Malkin:Well, I'm the guy that came out which clearly was like an assistant to the assistant to the assistant equipment manager and looked at him it was like that's the large Jack's like what is he doing come into like mid game it was that was so funny. I was great. And trace McSorley let a great drive down the field too. So
Rob Kelly:who knew how much this interview would revolve around poop?
Joe Malkin:We didn't get I think treni just trending. I think you just went muted. There. We can't hear you.
Trenni Kusnierek:Oh, there we go. There we go.
Joe Malkin:No, that's all right. That's right. So anyway, yeah. Who would have known that this would have revolved around poop. so terrible. first conversation everyone trying to get in there. So I try to where can we find you on social media? We'll have it down in the in the show notes. But where can we find you? Twitter just at trending and on Instagram at trainee NBC s
Craig D'Alessandro:and she gets her own special page on the website so they'll be able to find her there too.
Joe Malkin:There you go. You're now you're famous. trinseo famous.
Trenni Kusnierek:Put my pants next time at the Boston Marathon. Someone will know who I am.
Joe Malkin:When you're sitting down in front of the emergency room. We heard you on missing the point. It's now seven years Later. This is awesome. That's great. Yeah, training is Derek, thank you for joining us on missing the point for our EP Craig D'Alessandro and Bob Kelly. I'm Joe Malkin once again to thank you to our special guest tronic is generic and we'll see you guys next time.
Craig D'Alessandro:Thanks for listening to this episode of missing the point. missing the point is a one hour podcast recapping the biggest stories in the world of sports with the New England flavour. The show notes and transcript from today's episode can be found in the description box below, as well as on our website. www dot MTP show.com. If you're new to the show, please consider subscribing. It's the easiest way to see when we publish new episodes. We are on Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google and wherever you get your podcasts. Be sure to rate us leave a review of any of our shows. We always appreciate your feedback. Let us know how we're doing and how we can sound better. Also, be sure to follow us on all of our social medias. All of our links will be in the show notes and check out our brand new website WWW dot MTP show.com that's MTP show.com. For all of us here missing the point. I'm Craig D'Alessandro. We'll talk to you next time.
Trenni Casey (Kusnierek)
Emmy-Winning Sports Reporter and Anchor for NBC Sports Boston's Early Edition with Trenni
Trenni Kusnierek is an Emmy award-winning sports anchor & reporter for NBC Sports Boston. Previously, she worked as a reporter at FSN Pittsburgh, WDJT-TV, ABC Sports, and FSN Wisconsin.
Moreover, she is also a mental health advocate and feminist.