
Episode 119
From MS to MVP: Nick's Unexpected Win at the inplayLIVE Retreat
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In this episode, host Shane Mercer and creator Andrew Pace recap the 5th Annual inplayLIVE Retreat in Vancouver—a massive week packed with friendships, unforgettable moments, and a testament to what makes this community special.
From heartwarming stories like Nick’s journey battling MS and being crowned MVP, to the camaraderie of softball tournaments and the thrill of live betting, this episode captures the true spirit of inplayLIVE. We’ll break down highlights from the retreat, including thrilling contests, legendary after-parties, and a few humble brags about successful bets.
Then, we’ll separate fact from fiction on the viral FanDuel parlay controversy, celebrate the explosive growth of the WNBA, and close out with expert picks and analysis on the latest Canadian football action. Whether you joined us at the retreat or are just tuning in from home, this episode is a celebration of the inplayLIVE community—and a reminder that, here, everyone has a story worth sharing and a shot at beating the books.
🎞️ Top Quotes
IPL Softball Celebration: "It was the way your team reacted and how happy you guys all were. That was an incredible moment."
— Andrew Pace [00:02:28 → 00:02:34]
Turning Doubt into MVP: "And he responds right away, I'm game then with exclamation marks. And, you know, he's like, I'll be useless in the field. I can't run and I can't can't catch. Right? But, you know, we put him at catcher for the day and not even, like, a lick of of any type of complaint from him. You know? He just freaking put the smile on his face and made the most of it all day, and that's that's why we, ultimately locked him in for MVP this year."
— Andrew Pace [00:06:58 → 00:07:24]
The Power of Unforgettable Experiences: "Nick didn't tell me this, that he messaged one of his friends in inplayLIVE that never came to the event and said he will never ever miss it again. And it was the best time he could have imagined and said to his friend, whatever you do, make sure you're there, next year."
— Andrew Pace [00:10:13 → 00:10:26]
Softball Trophy Presentation: "Then Rodge hands out our championship trophies at the club."
— Shane Mercer [00:18:59 → 00:19:03]
SX Betting Buzz at IPL Event: "I think that if people are more prepared and ready for it next year, we can pretty much bet on anything."
— Andrew Pace [00:30:41 → 00:30:46]
WNBA Expansion Announced: "The WNBA is expanding to 18 teams over the next five years. They're going to add Cleveland, Detroit, and Philadelphia all set to join the league by 2030."
— Shane Mercer [00:38:49 → 00:39:00]
The Best Betting Content Online: "This is the best betting content that exists out there today. It's not for your education. It's for your entertainment, and they're just doing such a great job. I just can't wait to look forward to their next Angel Reese post."
— Andrew Pace [00:41:04 → 00:41:18]
Social Media WNBA Controversy: "Angel Reese and her team sent them a cease and desist and had all their content taken down by Instagram and TikTok."
— Andrew Pace [00:41:30 → 00:41:37]
The Pressure on Angel Reese's First Shot Bets: "Angel Reese clearly knows about it and clearly knows her first shot is being bet on heavily right now, not just by these guys, by tons of bettors on whether she makes or misses the first shot."
— Andrew Pace [00:42:06 → 00:42:18]
New Attention on the WNBA: "The WNBA hasn't had that exposure where these athletes have been in a position where people even care in the first place."
— Andrew Pace [00:43:17 → 00:43:24]
The Rise of WNBA Betting Limits: "I think over 10K on Pinnacle for for some of the max limits there in in some of these WNBA games. So so it's it's it's certainly grown from from where it was, big big time. Yeah. It's just awesome to see awesome to see see it grow. It gives us something else in the summer, you know, to to really look at more games, more opportunities. I will say this, though, betting the WNBA is not easy. The market has become much more efficient, which is why we're able to get those those bigger limits, out there."
— Shane Mercer [00:43:58 → 00:44:29]
The Power of the Social Media Rumor Mill: "The social media rumor mill starts, you know, adding to it, right, and layering things on. And so everybody thinks the bets are voided. They were not voided."
— Shane Mercer [00:47:02 → 00:47:31]
FanDuel Sportsbook's Policy on Fraudulent Activity: "FanDuel Sportsbook reserves the right to avoid any or all bets made by any group of people acting in conjunction with each other or any individual acting alone in an attempt to defraud FanDuel Sportsbook."
— Shane Mercer [00:48:01 → 00:48:18]
Uncertainty in Football Betting: "It's really hard right now to make make these calls early in the week when we don't know who's playing quarterback for basically any team in the league on a on a week to week basis."
— John Wilson [00:52:25 → 00:52:33]
Are Winnipeg and Montreal the CFL's Top Teams?: "I think Winnipeg and Montreal right now are are the clearly the two best teams, especially if they've if they've got everybody healthy."
— John Wilson [00:53:30 → 00:53:30]
CFL QB Drop Off Debate: "One of the things we've talked about quite a bit in the CFL is the lack of drop off from the one to the two QB. I actually disagree with that now."
— Andrew Pace [00:55:33 → 00:55:40]
Montreal's Dominance in the League: "I still have them as the best team in the league."
— John Wilson [00:55:02 → 00:55:04]
👋 About The Host & Guests
Shane Mercer is the host of "Behind The Lines," the podcast powered by Pinnacle and presented by inplayLIVE. He brings energy, enthusiasm, and thoughtful commentary to every episode, guiding discussions that recap events, spotlight community members, and tackle current sports betting topics. Shane’s warm, genuine approach and passion for storytelling help make the podcast an engaging space for the sports betting community.
Andrew Pace is the founder of inplayLIVE and a key voice on the "Behind the Lines" podcast. He’s known for organizing the annual inplayLIVE retreats, bringing members together through education, competition, and community. Pace’s energy, leadership, and dedication to connecting and uplifting members are fundamental to the positive culture and success of inplayLIVE.
GosuThune, also known as John Wilson, is a regular guest on the "Behind The Lines" podcast, where he serves as the resident CFL expert for the Gridiron Grind segment. Highly regarded in the inplayLIVE community, John is known for his sharp analysis, in-depth knowledge of Canadian football, and practical betting advice. His data-driven approach and clear insights make him a trusted voice for listeners looking to gain an edge during the CFL season.