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If he wants to go on 650 because he has an, uhm, interest in that station, you know like I have an interest in TSN, so be it.

Now, is it the interview I would do? No.

But that doesn’t make me better or right.

This line of questioning wouldn’t have gone over too swimmingly:

If you lose the next 15, no extension?

What’s your position on the Loui Eriksson contract?

When did you realize Jim was wrong about turning it around in a hurry?

What is your take on those who suggest Jim has been in over his head at points as a GM?

As the GM role in sports evolves away from scouts, what makes you want to double down on Jim?

BEST GAME CHANGER

You catch Rinty casually drop this one:

“Correct me if I’m wrong, but I believe (Jim) is in the last year of his contract.”

Wait, what?

Took three listens for that to sink in with me.

That’s some solid prep work.

Many I know had been operating on an assumption that next year was Jim’s last.

Someone who would know about this tried to correct me earlier this season — saying it was the final year of Jim’s contract — but I wasn’t sure.

FA said all the right things about a possible extension but I don’t believe it was widely known in the market that this is it for Jim if he doesn’t get one.

It was an earth-moving confirmation if you were among those believing Jim had signed a five-year deal.

And if you did know his was a four-year deal, where were the “Jim Benning is a lame duck GM” tweets and blogs?

It certainly adds another layer of intrigue to this season.