There’s no soup like SPORTS SOUP!

Matt Iseman – Sports Soup host, funny guy and all around puck-head was kind enough to take some time during his trip to Las Vegas to answer a few questions about his show, the Ducks George Parros, his love of beer and the best game on ice.  (sorry, no sordid, candid pix from Sin City!)

This was the first post season hockey-centric edition of Sports Soup.  Who came up with the idea and why was George chosen?  Was he the first choice or did anyone else bow out?

Hockey has always given us gold on Sports Soup with guys like Don Cherry & Sean Avery and the unintentional comedy of Alex Ovechkin, but I think GP may be the best character in hockey right now.  Either him or his moustache.  Plus, I like that an Ivy League nerd has become one of the best goons in the game.  So, yes, he was our first choice.

What was it like meeting George?  Was there anything about him that surprised you?

 Nothing brightens up a Monday morning like an email with another one of GP’s highlights from hockeyfights.com.  I knew the dude was a beast but what most people don’t know (other than Ducks’ fans) is that he is actually an incredibly well spoken and thoughtful guy.  But I’m 6’3″ and 235lbs and George made me feel petite.  That surprised me.

George looked a bit like a deer in the headlights on screen.  How much rehearsal time did he have and had he ever read from a teleprompter before?  Did you have to coach him?

I don’t think he’d ever done prompter before, but, unlike some athletes we’ve had on, George is quite literate.  And he was funny.  Especially considering we tape at 8am on Tuesday mornings.  In the off season.

Did you talk hockey with George and if so, anything interesting transpire?

He told me who’d win the cup, but then he swore me to secrecy. Nah, when we shot, the Ducks’ season had just ended, so we didn’t talk to much puck.  I did yell “Red Wings Suck!” and I think he nodded to that one.

When Georgie puts on his cloak of intimidation, is he really as scary as everyone says?

No.  Why would you ask that?  Did he tell you some completely fabricated story about how, when he pretended he was going to punch me I peed my pants a little bit?  That George, always joking around.  Making up stories.  None of which have any truth at all whatsoever.  I changed my pants that day of my own free will.

Did you grow up playing hockey or have you always just been a fan?

Growing up in Colorado, we had season tickets to the Colorado Rockies (some know them now as the New Jersey Devils) at old McNichol’s arena.  I imagined myself flying around on the ice, my long, flowing hair as dazzling as my stick work.  But I never learned to skate so I’ve been relegated to the stands my whole life.  In college, my roommates were all on the hockey team, so that took my appreciation for the game to a whole new level, as it did my ability to drink because hockey players like their beer pong.

You mentioned that you are an Avs fan, but you live in Los Angeles.  Ever thought of shifting your alliance to the Kings or Ducks?

No.  Never.  Nothing against either team, in fact, really enjoyed watching the Ducks’ Cup run in ’07.  And with fellow alums George Parros and Jeff Halpern on the local squads, I do find myself pulling for the Ducks & Kings more often.  Still, hockey was gone from Colorado for a long time, so when the Avs arrived, with Patrick Roy no less, and then brought Colorado our first major championship ever since ’96, I was hooked for life.  The Broncos, Nuggets and Rockies are still my teams, too.

You also told me you discovered that you went to the same college as George.  How did you find that out?

As I said, my roommates were all on the hockey team.  At Reunions, they have an event called the “Can’t Let Go Classic” that involves golf, pong and many, many beers.  For my years of loyal support, I’ve been made an honorary participant.  Through this fraternity, I got to know the legend that is George.

I’ve heard of lawyers switching to comedy, but never a doctor.  What was your inspiration and how did you land on Sports Soup?

My inspiration was just finding a job I really loved.  I liked medicine but never felt like my heart was truly in it which, I realized, probably sucked for my patients… the ones that lived, anyway.  So I decided to take a year off to clear my brain and try something new.  I moved out to LA and started doing stand up comedy and loved it from the first second I hit the stage.  Then I got into hosting and then Sports Soup came along and they had the perfect guy for the job.  But I hated that guy so I pulled his sweater over his head and pummeled him until he couldn’t speak and then they gave the job to me.  And here we are.

For the ladies, what’s your relationship status?  If you are on the market, would being a hockey fan factor into consideration in any way?

I am single and, yes, any girl I date better like sports or be able to fake it really well.   Fake a love of sports, I mean, she won’t have to fake anything else with me because I know how to put it in the top shelf real good.  I was going to make a reference to “putting it in the 5-hole”, but, then I realized, maybe that’s why I am single?

I forgot one really important question: What do you think of the playoffs so far and who do you think is going to hoist the Cup?

Watching Halak take out the Caps pretty much on his own is why playoff hockey is the most wonderful time of the year.  Amazing to see San Jose with their hands off their throats and making it to the Conference finals, but I’m sticking with the Pens.  Just like in the Olympics, Crosby has been pretty quiet, but he showed up when it counted most.  My prediction : Pens in 6 over Chicago.

Check out Versus’ Sports Soup site for air times and clips!

And for info on Matt, check out his personal website here!