Bears WIN - First Place in the NFC North - Kevin Warren's Game Ball

Summary

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – Episode Summary

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Date: November 17, 2025
Episode Title: Bears WIN - First Place in the NFC North - Kevin Warren's Game Ball

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Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the Chicago Bears' recent win that propelled them to first place in the NFC North with a 7-3 record. Dan and his longtime producer, Matt Abbatacola, analyze an under-the-radar controversy: the postgame locker room decision to give Bears president and CEO Kevin Warren a game ball, as opposed to players who made critical contributions—most notably, cornerback Nishan Wright, who coped with a personal loss that week.

The hosts balance sharp critique and celebration of the Bears’ improbable winning ways, touch on the Bulls' thrilling double OT game, discuss current NBA storylines, and share personal anecdotes, tying it all together with wit and Chicago sports savvy.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Game Ball Controversy

Timestamps: 01:30–14:31

• Dan Bernstein’s Rant: Dan is visibly bothered ("rankled") that head coach Ben Johnson gave a game ball to team executive Kevin Warren instead of players like Nishan Wright who, Dan argues, were more deserving.

  • “Nishan Wright deserved a game ball yesterday and Kevin Warren didn’t.” — Dan Bernstein [03:02]

• Why It Matters: Dan emphasizes the symbolic significance of postgame honors for players, saying that a game ball can become a cherished memento decades later.

  • “It matters when they have their little rooms at home 20 years from now, 30 years from now, 40 years from now, when they look back on the big days in their career…” — Dan Bernstein [02:04]

• Backstory on Nishan Wright: Wright, a guest captain and former team member, had just lost his JUCO coach and father figure, John Beam, to murder days before. Wright made a huge interception before halftime that likely preserved the win.

  • “When my dad was killed, he [Beam] came to my house and got me out of bed... He did a lot for me and my brother and my family.” — Dan Bernstein (quoting Wright) [06:30]

• Critique of Kevin Warren’s Role:

  • Both hosts question why Warren is so prominent postgame, with Matt saying, “I've never liked the fact that from the front office he’s in the locker room.” [05:10]
  • Dan: “He needs to get the damn stadium built. He's here to do one thing.” [09:40]

• Mitigating Possibility: The hosts briefly acknowledge that Wright may have declined public recognition due to his emotional week—but short of that, they maintain the coaching staff missed a chance at authenticity and leadership.

2. Bears’ “Winning Ugly” Identity

Timestamps: 16:46–23:12

• Point Differential Paradox: Despite leading the division, the Bears have been outscored over the season, making them the only NFL division leader with a negative point differential.

  • “Enjoy it. Make that your identity—be the team that’s 7-3, maybe not that good…how does that do in the playoffs? Bad.” — Dan Bernstein [17:12]

• Team Reaction: The Bears themselves admit they’re winning ugly and not playing their best football yet. Both coach Ben Johnson and QB Caleb are quoted as being unsatisfied with performance.

  • “You can be critical of the team and enjoy the wins at the same time. You can do both.” — Matt [19:49]

• Fan Overreaction: Bears Twitter went into an uproar after misreading a tweet that called a team “the worst 7-3 team ever”—which wasn’t even about the Bears.

  • “All the Bears reflexive fanboys went crazy.” — Dan Bernstein [22:13]

3. Around Chicago Sports: Bulls, NBA Notes

Timestamps: 28:08–33:55

• Bulls Recap: The Bulls lose a thrilling, double OT, highest-scoring NBA game of the season (150-147), with Kobe White leading in scoring and Lowry Markkanen lighting up the scoreboard for the Jazz.

  • “Lowry Markkanen had 47 points in 46 minutes…He is at the peak of his powers right now.” — Dan Bernstein [31:01]

• NBA Storylines:

  • Draymond Green Fan Incident: They lampoon Green for getting offended by being compared to Angel Reese and taking gender-based offense.
    • “You can't keep calling me a woman. I got four kids, one on the way.” — Dan Bernstein (quoting Draymond) [43:05]
    • Dan and Matt skewer this response as vintage toxic masculinity.

• Personal Note: Dan shares a story about catching his first steelhead trout, crediting a local guide’s skill and generosity. [50:17–53:25]

4. Culture, Cinema, and the Pope’s Speech

Timestamps: 54:08–59:48

• Pope as Cinephile: Dan reads Pope Leo’s speech to Hollywood, appreciating how cinema and culture keep cities vibrant and can be “holy” in the communal, human sense.
  • “Cultural facilities such as cinemas and theaters are the beating hearts of our communities…beauty is not just a means of escape, it is above all an invocation.” — Dan Bernstein (reading Pope Leo) [56:15]

5. College Football Quick Takes

Timestamps: 65:55–68:03

• Dan recaps the weekend’s major college football upsets and rankings shifts, emphasizing how volatile and odd the standings can be.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the game ball:
  -"That should have been his [Wright’s] game ball…Why are you giving one to the president and CEO of the team? It was so cringy." — Dan Bernstein [08:34]
  -"If Kevin Warren can duplicate [the Vikings’ stadium]…I'd gladly drive to his house and hand him a game ball." — Co-host [23:48]

• On “winning ugly”:
  -"I'm gonna dig in even harder by saying it is more fun to be the team that is 7-3, maybe not that good. Enjoy it." — Dan Bernstein [17:12]

• On Draymond Green:
  -"You can't keep calling me a woman. I got four kids, one on the way." — Dan Bernstein (quoting Draymond Green) [43:05]
  -"What are we doing here with some of these tropes? This doesn't help anything or anybody." — Dan Bernstein [45:06]

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Important Timestamps

• 01:30–14:31: Bears’ locker room & game ball controversy (with emotional context for Nishan Wright)
• 16:46–23:12: Bears’ identity as a “winning ugly” team, fan reactions, and point differential discussion
• 28:08–33:55: Bulls/Jazz instant classic recap and NBA storylines
• 43:03–45:55: Draymond Green’s “Angel Reese” incident and discussion of gender-based taunting
• 54:08–59:48: Pope’s speech on cinema as communal and holy; broader cultural commentary

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Tone & Style

Dan and Matt bring their trademark blend of sarcasm, directness, and Chicago sports passion. The conversation is sharp, fast-paced, and often witty, with genuine empathy where warranted (notably around Nishan Wright’s personal loss). There are recurring bits about nostalgia, toxic masculinity in sports, and city pride. The show is unapologetically opinionated but remains self-aware and humorous.

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Conclusion

For anyone following Chicago sports, this episode captures the exact spirit of being a Bears fan in 2025: enjoying wins that defy expectation, critiquing management with candor, and relishing the culture—warts and all—that surrounds both the teams and the city.

[End of summary]

Transcript

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Co-host]

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[Dan Bernstein]

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[Co-host]

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered Unfiltered on 312 sports.

[Dan Bernstein]

Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered 312 sports brought to you in partnership with my bookie. Lot to discuss regarding the Bears. They're seven and three. They're in first place. We're not sure how good they are, but I'm rankled by something that happened in the wake of that victory yesterday. And this was a rare Bears misstep. And it's just it's sticking with me in a way that I didn't think it would. So I want to get this out of the way first before we get on to the fact that they're in first place in the NFC North. They are 7 and 3. And all the things that we're celebrating about these Bears. There was still something that stuck with me after the game yesterday, and it was for in the Ben Johnson era, it was a rare lack of understanding. It was a tonal perception failure. He didn't. He could have done something really cool. Instead, he did something cringy. And the point is this. Nishan Wright deserved a game ball yesterday and Kevin Warren didn't. We can say what we want about the symbolic value or the ceremonial value of such Things as a game ball. And the reason I bring it up is because I know it matters to the players. I really do. I do. I know it matters to players. It matters when they have their little rooms at home 20 years from now, 30 years from now, 40 years from now, when they look back on the big days in their career that can even grow in meaning as they age, to see that that ball with the white panel on there commemorating something they did, no matter what else happens in their lives, it matters a lot to them, ultimately. Maybe not as much now as it might later. But it bugged me that in that locker room, Ben Johnson decided to award the president and CEO a game ball. For what? For what? And I'm gonna make my case for why this was a misstep and why, I bet, given time, or maybe not even given time, maybe asked about it directly. And I think he should be. I think he should be. I think Ben Johnson should be asked why he made this decision, how he made this decision. It's ultimately not gonna be a major deal, but it feels like today, to me, it feels like a big deal. Why did you give Kevin Warren a game ball and not Nishan Wright? I'll explain, but this is how it was right after the game, last one.

[Co-host]

Here, man, is this special man. And a lot of you guys don't see what he does behind the scenes.

[Dan Bernstein]

But he worked here for a number of years, okay? It's his birthday tomorrow. And I know this one meant just a little bit more to him. Kevin Warren with you. Good job. Good job, good job. When you get my age and the longer you live, you recognize two words. Trust God. Okay, fine, whatever. We can debate what he's doing in the locker room anyway. Like, why is the CEO there? Why is he always notice he's always in the camera shot. He knows exactly where that camera is. Every time they show it, he. And he's. He's great at that.

[Co-host]

Well, I didn't know that you were going to bring this up, and it's something I haven't mentioned to you at all. I've always had an issue with why he's in the locker room post game. And this was the only time I thought it was like, okay, that makes sense to me. He worked there. He probably has relationships still. He wanted to go back and visit. To be in the locker room, fine. To get the game ball. I didn't quite understand or agree with, but I've never liked the fact that he's from the front office in the locker room.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay, well, let's but, but that, that's. I'm glad you expressed that. No, and I'm glad it was expressed. Let's hold that because the bigger deal to me is this. Nishan Wright was in was a captain.

[Co-host]

For the week, guest captain, as he. As stated by Ben Johnson.

[Dan Bernstein]

Guest captain, guest captain.

[Co-host]

You know, they have the five and then they add one every week and.

[Dan Bernstein]

They added him because he was making his return to his former team. Also. I don't know if you know what happened earlier in the week, but earlier in the week a man named John Beam, who was Nishan Wright's juco coach, was murdered on November 13. It was apparently targeted. It was somebody that he knew. You may know John Beam from Laney College, from the Netflix series Last Chance you. But when he was a juco coach, he coached Nishan Wright before transferring, before Wright transferred to Oregon State. And apparently Wright said he called me the night before he passed and told me that every game he watched I just seemed to get a pick. I know he was behind me today. He said he meant the world to me. Is Nishan Wright. When my dad was killed, he came to my house and got me out of the bed. He was someone I could confide in, someone that I just loved dearly. We talked once a week, easily. He did a lot for me and my brother and my family. He's been there. He's been there every step of the way. It won't stop. I gained an angel. This was after the game in the wake of the murder of his former coach and surrogate father figure, John Beam. You gave a game ball to Devin Duvernay for the field flipping 56 yard kickoff return. You gave a game ball to Cairo Santos for all his field goals that culminated in the 48 yard game winner. And all I was waiting for was for that third one to go to Nishan Wright, your special captain of the week, who as this is all going on, is talking to reporters about what he had been through emotionally in the week. That was a huge play at the end of the half. That saved you three points at a minimum. At a minimum. It saved you three points that interception. What was the final score again?

[Co-host]

1917.

[Dan Bernstein]

How many is that? That's two, right?

[Co-host]

Check the math. That is two.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. And they screwed this up. That should have been his game ball. That should have been his game ball. Why are you giving one to the president and CEO of the team? It seemed it was so cringy. The whole thing was so cringy. It just seemed needless. It didn't seem locker room focused. It didn't seem team focused. You had a chance there because I guarantee you, all of Nishan Wright's teammates knew what he was going through with the loss of his former coach and father figure, what he was dealing with all week, and he was there talking about it. It's just too bad. It's too bad. Generally, I think that Ben Johnson's got a really good sense, a good handle on what's going on, and ultimately it's. It's not going to be a huge deal. But I would like to think that if he had it to do all over again. Kevin Warren doesn't need a game ball. He needs to get the damn stadium built. He's here to do one thing.

[Co-host]

Well, it's his birthday today, though, Dan, so he deserved a game ball.

[Dan Bernstein]

Come on, man. Yeah, come on, man. He's not a toddler. I don't care if it's his birthday. Yeah.

[Co-host]

I just. I don't like it. I haven't liked it from the start. I've. Every time I watch the video, I'm always like, why? Why is he there? You know, fine, if you want to be there, you're the president of the team. You can, you can go where you want, but to be in the background, to not be part of it, I think would be more appropriate. That's just me. And I think everyone has their own opinion on it. I just. I just don't find it to be necessary to put yourself in the middle of it. You want to be down there and hear the head coach speak, great. But I don't think you need to put yourself in the middle of it. As the team president, this, this was the only time I thought it made the most sense. Going back to Minnesota. I don't know. Again, I don't know what relationships he may have. He wants to go back and visit.

[Dan Bernstein]

Not this day, not this game. Not when you've got a more deserving recipient right there.

[Co-host]

Oh, I never think he would be deserving of a game ball. Now, if you want to give him a shout out and say, hey, it's Kevin's birthday.

[Dan Bernstein]

Happy birthday.

[Co-host]

Happy birthday, Kevin. You know, let's give it up for Kevin. You know, he worked here for a long time. Glad he made the trip with us. Happy birthday, Kevin. But a game ball, never, never appropriate. I just don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't see it. I don't see it at all.

[Co-host]

And the only, the only thing I can say, Dan, I'm trying to think what would be, you know, Just trying to play devil's advocate with you. Unless it was specified, I don't want anything special. I don't want to be recognized.

[Dan Bernstein]

Thank you for saying that. Yes.

[Co-host]

It's too much for me. I don't want to do that in the middle of the team.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't, I'm too emotional to want to speak in front of. It is possible and you know, we won the game.

[Co-host]

That's more important to me as a teammate right now. I don't want to be highlighted for this. Unless that was done. Unless that was done. I truly think it was a missed opportunity.

[Dan Bernstein]

Thank you for saying that. Thank you. Because it is, it is certainly within the realm of possibility that Nishan Wright was like, hey, I'm, I'm too emotional to want to be in front of the team right now.

[Co-host]

Too much. Let's not just too much.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I don't want to be the center of attention right now. It is absolutely possible, but anything short of that.

[Co-host]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

And maybe they're like, okay, well we can just. I still would rather he finds a player. I still would rather he gives it to Cole Commit for running people knocking three guys down and every nine yard gain and 10 yard gain, 11 yard gain they had give it to Kevin Byard for baiting the rookie into a league leading fifth interception. You know, still, even if that's the case, even if Wright had said no, thank you, I appreciate it, coach, but this isn't. There are other things that are more important to me. I don't need a symbolic talisman right now. I don't need a material thing. It doesn't matter to me. Yeah.

[Co-host]

And it's very possible too that he did something private off camera for Nishan and highlighted him that way to be around him as a team. All of that said and done. I think for me the bottom line is why is Kevin Warren getting a, a game ball? I just, I don't, I don't like it. I don't like him being there in the first place. Of all the games, of all 10 games, this is the only one that makes sense to me. But you don't need to be in the middle of it all.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, I appreciate your perspective on that and I'm, and I'm glad you had some mitigating thoughts there. I don't, I don't think it's necessarily devil's advocate. I think you were just kind of being the grown up there and I, I appreciate.

[Co-host]

Mark that down. That's a first in my life.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, it's, it's not, I think in this iteration, I, I know what, when I, when I need something like that, but could have been handled better. And I, if, if Nishan Wright does feel like, hey, you know, I'm kind of been through a lot. I was kind of captain this week and what, what are we doing here? That I, it was, it was too bad. It felt weird to me. It felt, it felt jarring, it felt cringy. The whole thing felt weird. I mean, I'm in a winning locker room.

[Co-host]

I'm really hoping that that's the case, that it was said, hey, let's not highlight this. Let's, let's do something privately because not only was it an important play in the game, but it's one of the best interceptions you'll see.

[Dan Bernstein]

I mean it was, we mentioned it yesterday. That was, that was not some, I mean right place, right time tipped ball. It was not him jumping around. It wasn't one of these center field overthrow catches. That was him taking advantage of maybe a slight under throw by high pointing the ball and ripping it out of the air in the back corner of the end zone.

[Co-host]

He was bent backwards too. An unbelievable play. And when I saw it happening, I was like, oh shit. And then he just put his hands up and they just kept going and going and going and he snagged the ball. It was great. It was a great play that deserved recognition. And again, hopefully there was something that was said about it and he didn't want to be the center of attention. Hopefully that's what happened. That's all. Why choose a sleep number Smart bed.

[Dan Bernstein]

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[Dan Bernstein]

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[Co-host]

To get you into heaven.

[Dan Bernstein]

Gardens of Evil is the unbelievable story of the Zion Society cult Told by those who lived it. Find Gardens of Evil inside the Zion Society cult. Wherever you listen to podcasts, Dan Bernstein Unfiltered is always brought to you in partnership with my bookie. We look forward to doing our DBU picks a little bit later on, as we do every Monday and Friday. I don't know if you've been betting overs a lot this year, because there's been a ton of them, and if you've been cashing in on them with my bookie, good on you. But maybe there's other things that you like. My bookie has everything that you enjoy. Player, props, game lines, all kinds of same game parlays. Whatever you like, whatever your specialty might be, my bookie has it. And right now, you can unlock a special promotion at MyBookie AG with the code that our show provides, DBU. That's the code for Dan Bernstein Unfiltered. So when you sign up, when you deposit, you'll get a bonus bet credit. If you use that code, dbu, you might just be building your bankroll. You might be looking to hit the lotto. Check out Moneybag if you wanna spin the big wheel. And you can bet on anything, anytime, anywhere with my bookie. Bears are 7 and 3. They are the only NFL division leader with a negative point differential right now.

[Co-host]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

Now, this is not the same sort of measuring stick that it is in baseball. It's not the equivalent of a Pythagorean record. The way runs scored versus runs prevented is because of the nature of the game and because certain scores are worth six and certain are worth three or two or one. But the Bears are notable in being the only division leader that has been outscored this year. In total, in their 10 games, they've scored 258 points. They've allowed 264. I think the Bears identity that we're always talking about, what's right, what is their identity? I think it's kind of established and I think it's more fun. I am going to. You always think I'm gonna take the fun out of stuff. Why are you criticizing a first place team? I am gonna. I'm gonna. I'm gonna dig in even harder by saying it is more fun to be the team that is 7 and 3. Maybe not that good. Enjoy it. Enjoy it. Make that your identity. Make that you're. You're that team. I go back to 83 in the White Sox. 83 and the White Sox. Oh, they're just winning ugly. They're just winning ugly. I think it Was the Red Rooster. Doug Raider. Don't leave a birthday cake in the clubhouse when the old Red Rooster's around. But I think he's the one that coined the term winning ugly. And they printed up T shirts. Okay, we'll be the winning ugly team. How does the. How does that do in the playoffs? Bad.

[Co-host]

Yeah. You look at the point score, too. The Bears are second in point scored among division leaders, so they're just behind the Rams. And overall in the nfc, they have the sixth highest point total for points scored. Yeah, but as you point out, the only one with a negative net 4 points allowed and points scored. Again, not the same as you mentioned in baseball. It's still fun to look at. And this is just who they are. And they've now had three, you know, late fourth quarter wins, probably improbable type wins.

[Dan Bernstein]

Five out of seven now have been.

[Co-host]

Like, even as the coach yesterday, he said.

[Dan Bernstein]

But he.

[Co-host]

Like he used the word ugly. Yeah. Sometimes, you know, it's as ugly as it gets.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I think Kevin Byard was the one who said, we. We're not going to apologize for anything.

[Co-host]

And as they shouldn't.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Co-host]

But.

[Dan Bernstein]

But that's okay. That's a fun identity. That makes it more fun. We don't know how good they are. They admit they don't know either. They admit it. Well, I guess we're seven and three.

[Co-host]

I mean, you know, the coach refers to it as ugly and there's a lot to clean up. The. The quarterback spoke yesterday and said, you know, we're not. We're not playing our best football yet. And there's still a lot to come, which, you know, I want to dive into a little deeper on Ford progress today.

[Dan Bernstein]

And we will.

[Co-host]

But it's okay to be critical of the team and enjoy the wins at the same time. You can do both. You can. You can do both. They're doing it and say, Caleb didn't have a very good game. He had a rating under 70 yesterday. He didn't have a very good game and there was some missed opportunities. But you can say, hell yeah, they're seven and three and they're in first place. And you can be very proud of that and enjoy it very much.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think some of that uncertainty and some of that sort of accidental greatness is fun. It's okay. You don't have to. I'm not asking for you to apologize. You don't have to wear a hair shirt and flagellate yourself. You can if you want, or flatulate yourself. That can be fun too. But you're not going to make a whole lot of friends. The. The aspect of whatever this Bears team is is undeniably fun. And it's been a long time since I could feel like the other team goes up one with 50 seconds left. And my default setting is, oh, you left too much time. You just left too much time. I didn't know that it was gonna be the kickoff return. I thought it was going to be a more methodical drive down the field and getting them into field goal range. But however they got to do it, the one time. The one time Devin DuVernay does something, there it was. Yeah, there was. And he got his game ball and Cairo got his game ball and did his dance and did his dance. But I say just own it. I don't know if you got to come up with a catchy slogan. I'm not sure you got to come up with a meme, but you don't have to dig in too hard and feel like you have to defend the Bears if you want to. If somebody wants to call them a bad 7 and 3 team. And did you see what happened on Bears Twitter yesterday? Somebody tweeted something, and I'm getting this all secondhand. Yeah. Somebody tweeted something like, this is the worst 7 and 3 team I've ever seen.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

And Bears fans went crazy. The only problem was the person wasn't talking about the Bears. They were talking about the Chargers. Oh.

[Co-host]

Oh, didn't. He didn't call out the team or people.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just however it happened, somebody just said the word, we're seven and three team.

[Co-host]

All the retweets and everybody went.

[Dan Bernstein]

All the. All the Bears reflexive fanboys went crazy and say, I wasn't talking about the.

[Co-host]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just.

[Co-host]

I don't get that immediate need to protect the team.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, listen.

[Co-host]

They're calling it ugly and a lot to clean up, and we're not even playing our best football. And there's still more to come. We're just scratched the surface. Those are their comments. That's the starting quarterback and the head coach again. It's okay to be critical and enjoy the wins. You can do both.

[Dan Bernstein]

You heard Ben shot. We got a lot to clean up there.

[Co-host]

He said it was ugly, but it's as ugly as it gets.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes. Yeah. And that's okay because it's still a W. So that. That is the Bear's identity, like it or not. If you want to accident your way up the standings and into first place and the dust settles, you're like, how you guys doing? How are these games? I don't know. They're kind of rough. Well, where are you? We're on top of the damn North. Yep. Really?

[Co-host]

Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

Cool.

[Co-host]

So Kevin Byard leads the league with five interceptions. Tremaine Edwards, Lloyd from Detroit. Is that Detroit? I'm not even sure. Nishan Wright also has four. Nishan Wright, one of only four players to have a touchdown on an interception. And, I mean, that's insane. Three of the top four are from the Bears.

[Dan Bernstein]

Ben Johnson's got four road wins.

[Co-host]

Yeah, you know, the road Vikings. That was their fourth home loss. They're one in four at home this year.

[Dan Bernstein]

It is a beautiful building, though.

[Co-host]

Oh, it does look beautiful. If Kevin Warren can duplicate that for Chicago, then I would gladly drive to his house and hand him a game ball.

[Dan Bernstein]

There was a joke that somebody made that as they're presenting him the game ball. I think it was in Marlon Brando's helper monkey that sent this in yesterday. Yeah, I think it was. Who said that George McCaskey was going to intercept the game ball? Like, not until you build my stadium. You're here to do one thing. You don't get this game ball until you build my stadium.

[Co-host]

Devin Lloyd of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Co-host]

Yes.

[Dan Bernstein]

He's got four. Devin Lloyd. Sorry.

[Co-host]

If you're listening, Devin, I apologize for that. And thanks for listening.

[Dan Bernstein]

Northwood was a quiet, idyllic American suburb, but the beautiful landscaping hid a dark secret. The horror that happened inside those homes with such a pretty facade, it just didn't make sense. The immaculate yards were designed by retired landscaper Arvin Shreve. It reminded me of Mr. Rogers. But Arvin was not who he appeared to be.

[Co-host]

He's proclaiming to be a prophet.

[Dan Bernstein]

Arvin's message was, if you do all.

[Co-host]

These things for me sexually, then I have key to get you into heaven.

[Dan Bernstein]

My mom took me to this house, and then I never lived with her again. My podcast, Gardens of Evil tells the unbelievable story of the Zion Society cult and an investigator who rescued dozens of children from the clutches of a predator. It reveals tactics used by abusers like Arvin or anyone who manipulates for their own selfish ends. And it's the story of resilient survivors who are finding ways to heal three decades later. Forgive yourself. Keep moving forward. You didn't know any better. Find Gardens of Evil inside the Zion Society cult. Wherever you listen to podcasts, when you get a little bit peckish during the day and you say, you know, I could go have a few handfuls of chips, or I could get one of those giant milkshakes from the corner coffee place. It's all full of sugar. And you know what, why don't you go to Protein Bar and Kitchen and that way you can get the best of all worlds. That way you can get a pick me up and you can get something that is absolutely full of protein and good stuff. Because that's what Protein Bar and Kitchen does. They have all kinds of healthy swaps. You can get exactly what you want, when you want it, whether it is for breakfast, whether it's lunch, before a workout, after a workout, dinner. And the cool thing about Protein Bar and Kitchen right now is we've got a code for you to get 50% off. Use the app. There's protein bars everywhere. They're all over Chicagoland. The one here on Lake street is the one close to us. Even though there's construction around there, it's open. They're doing something really cool at that location. They're testing out. You can be part of their test audience here. For a gluten free, crispy chicken, it is in their PBK classics. The Buffalo bowl, the Caesar wrap, the Cobb salad. You can sub it in the chicken Caesar salad. If you want a crispy chicken Caesar, they do a grilled chicken, but you can sub that other chicken out as well. So you can give that a shot for a gluten free option. But make sure you use our code. Whatever you use. DBU50. DBU50. That in the app is going to get you 50% off your next visit on a max value of $25. So it's gotta be the app. But use DBU5O for protein bar and Kitchen. They're also offering something new. They're offering creatine boosts, shakes, smoothies and the acai bowls for for $1.99. They're partnering with Arrival Creatine. And this isn't like the way it was in the mid-90s when everybody would just jam creatine to try to get huge there. Also, we know now that it elevates energy, it aids in recovery and the arrival creatine. They also tell you that it promotes mental clarity. So give that a shot where whenever you're thinking about when you're making that decision, try Protein Bar and Kitchen. I know you're a huge fan. I know my daughter loves that. That PB and J. Yeah.

[Co-host]

I'm going to stop on the way to the train this afternoon and grab dinner. I'm going to grab a couple bowls.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Mexicali.

[Co-host]

No, I Think I'm going to do the Chicago Med. I can't get enough of that one.

[Dan Bernstein]

The Mediterranean. That's with the tahini.

[Co-host]

Yeah, it's like preserved lemon tahini.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's hard to not do that. You get that? The. Yeah, I love that. That's good. Yes. Breaking into Hawk. We're going to do a lot more Bears obviously on forward progress today, but that Bulls game was rollicking last night. Game?

[Co-host]

Yeah. Double overtime. Highest scoring game of the NBA season.

[Dan Bernstein]

What a game. That was fantastic.

[Co-host]

Like, is it. So what was the final was 150 to 147. Yep. Okay, I'll admit. I mean, yesterday was NFL day, so I watched football all day. Just when I checked in on the score and it was a final, I didn't automatically think it was an overtime game.

[Dan Bernstein]

Double.

[Co-host]

I just thought it was a regular NBA game today. 150 to 147.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, there are some.

[Co-host]

Isn't that terrible though?

[Dan Bernstein]

No. Yes. Why is it terrible?

[Co-host]

I don't know.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's. That's the NBA.

[Co-host]

Grew up with too much.

[Dan Bernstein]

No, like the old. Those Western games and where you're looking AT box scores.

[Co-host]

88 to 84 defensive match. No, man, I, I was watching.

[Dan Bernstein]

When you look at. See Kiki Vandaway at 42 and Alex English had 38 and Fat Lever is dishing out assists. Fat Lever. Yeah. You're looking at all those, all those. Those wild, high flying west coast games.

[Co-host]

Yeah. 150 to 147 in my brain. Never thought once, oh, they must have gone overtime.

[Dan Bernstein]

Kobe White was back. He played 27 minutes, which was more than he was supposed to from his minutes limit. But he had 27 points to lead all Bulls and looked like he had some of his quickness back. The field goal shooting only 5 of 14, but he was 14 of the line and he's. I love what he does. Knowing. Knowing what his hairdo can do. He is great at the James Harden or DeMar DeRozan head snap. And because his hair is so bouncy, he gets calls. I'm not kidding. You really see it when he throws, when he throws his head back on contact, he gets calls. So grow that out and don't ever cut your hair. That is. That's like Samson and Delilah because I think that works. This team with or without Josh Giddy is a completely, completely different team. 26 points, 13 rebounds, 13 assists. Yet another triple double for Josh Giddy. And he makes Vuchevich better too, because the way they play off each other when they Run that screen. But, yeah, the Bulls lost the game, and they lost the game because. Holy shit, Lowry, Markkanen.

[Co-host]

Yeah, I loved him on the Bulls.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, I think they're probably going to end up shopping him in a trade, but.

[Co-host]

And the Bulls get him back.

[Dan Bernstein]

Lowry Markkanen had 47 points on 15 of 33 shooting to go with seven rebounds. 47 points in 46 minutes. Keonte George is a problem as well, but Markkanen got. This is rare to get bigger. Usually when a guy bulks up, it's at the expense of speed and quickness. Say, look, we just. We need you to be stronger. We need you to be bigger, to be able to hold your ground, to be able to push people out of the way. And usually the ideal is if you can bulk up and maintain your speed and quickness. Somehow. Lowry Markkanen has gotten noticeably bigger and stronger and quicker. He is at the peak of his powers right now. The dive cut that they run, it's funny, they run the same offense, a lot of the same plays as the Bulls. They do a little bit more back screening for him, they use. Because he's great at that dive cut and taking advantage of Vuch's feet, that's a huge problem. The. The. Nikola Vuchevic's lack of foot speed remains a massive problem no matter who they play. And your boy, are you going to see that tonight? It's going to be ugly tonight in his match at Denver tonight, right? Yeah. Yeah, that. That's going to be.

[Co-host]

Yeah. And I didn't. I didn't realize that Kevin Love was still in the league, still playing.

[Dan Bernstein]

I didn't either.

[Co-host]

18 minutes last night.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he looks really good, too. Like, he's. He's one of these guys just gonna age really well. Yeah.

[Co-host]

When I say he's 37. Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he's got the. He's got the salt and pepper hair. He's. He's going to look better with some age on him. And it was good to see Kevin Love out there. Kyle. They got Kyle Philipowski out there trying to be another one of these. These. These big, quick guys. It's a weird team right now with Walker Kessler out. It really is weird. And they're. They're in transition. Keonte George is going to be a problem. Ace Bailey going to be a problem. But they're not yet. I think some of these trades are going to make room for some of these people, but it was a fascinating game that the Bulls could have won. And they had some defensive lapses late. They had some confusion late in some of the way. The ways they were switching screens around the perimeter. They didn't have any individual player that could stop Lowry, Markkanen. They just. They tried to put Patrick Williams on him late, and then they struggled when there was some decision to be made on who switches and who gets over some of these screens. But this is a. This is a perimeter league where being able to have the correct rules and correct assignments on a lot of these perimeter ball screens is going to define the key moments of some of the games. And, boy, he. He. He got. Markkanen is a. Just an absolute beast. Somebody's going to put together a package for him where he's going to be a difference maker for a playoff team.

[Co-host]

Now, Vuch had the final shot to trying to tie the game.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's good luck. Okay.

[Co-host]

Is that because he had one in the. He hit the three a couple games ago that they won, and he hit a big three and it wasn't a likely win there. Oh, that was.

[Dan Bernstein]

That was the corner. Yes.

[Co-host]

Unbelievable pass.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Co-host]

So is that. Is that deliberate setup that we want him taking last shot?

[Dan Bernstein]

No, he was open.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

He was open. I. He was. He happened to be that guy, and he got a good look. Okay. It's not your first choice, but I don't think that they. They went into this saying, this is the guy who's going to get that shot. I'd have to go back. It was late. I was. I did. I wasn't planning on staying up that late. I was getting. It's like another overtime. Like, all right, I'm. I'm in for a penny, in for a pound.

[Co-host]

But it was good to See Colby White 14 of 14 from the. From the line, which I just. I. Man, if. When I watch NBA games and I see guys miss consistently from the free throw line, it just. It drives me. It should insane. It should insane. Like you're a professional NBA player. Make your damn free throw.

[Dan Bernstein]

It should make you crazy.

[Co-host]

And then last night, George and markkanen were combined 21 of 23 from the line. That's what you need from your guys. You have to have that.

[Dan Bernstein]

They really missed Trey Jones, they missed an alternate ball handler, and they turned it over 17 times. Josh Giddey had six of those, which he's going to have because the ball's in his hands a lot. I don't want him to get a quadruple double at any point with turnovers. But they struggled. IO I. You know, IO is not a ball handler. He's got a tighter handle when he's driving to his right to score. He's not a point guard. He just isn't. And I realized in Trey Jones's absence how much they miss a secondary facilitator. They ask Kevin Herder to do a little bit of that. It doesn't. It doesn't suit him ideally. Although I like his game, he's a tough, smart player as a rotational bench player. But we'll talk during DBU picks about what I expect tonight, but the Bulls remain very watchable and it was an exciting game and I'm glad I watched it. Several homes in the suburb of Northwood had the most beautiful landscaping. Such perfection. The neighbor, responsible retiree Arvin Shreve. It reminded me of Mr. Rogers. But Arvin hid a dark secret. My mom took me to this house and then I never lived with her again. Arvin's message was I have a key.

[Co-host]

To get you into heaven.

[Dan Bernstein]

Gardens of Evil is the unbelievable story of the Zion Society cult told by those who lived it. Find Gardens of Evil inside the Zion Society cult. Wherever you listen to podcasts, if you need windows, there's one place you have to go and one guy you have to call. The place is Chicago Window Guys and the guy is Russ Armstrong. And you have to say like, when's the last time you decided whether or not you needed windows? And look, look down at the little metal spacer in your double pane window. If that's rusting out. If you've got a blown seal and you're seeing there's a condensation building up inside there, you need new windows. That means the window isn't doing its job anymore. And especially as it's getting col. You don't want to hear the heat continuing to click on because it's working so hard to keep up with your bad windows. Russ will come to your house. He will give you the best possible deal with a price match. And that way you're not going to fall for these. Buy one, get one free banana in the tailpipe sales gimmicks. And he'll match any deal you get. He's going to explain why his windows and his deal are better. And it makes sense when you say oh, oh, okay, so these other places aren't exactly telling the truth. So call them at 847-302-9171. Check out his 5 star reviews at ChicagoNowguys.com I I just got a text from Russ because he's making some custom windows for our upstairs. He just texted me. He Said we're a couple weeks out and telling me exactly when the install date is going to be. And they do. They keep you at the. Absolutely informed of when your windows are being made, when they're going to be ready, when the install is going to happen. And it's his people that install. There's no subcontracted labor. And he's got a warranty that he offers you a lifetime guarantee. Lifetime guarantee on parts and labor. That's Russ Armstrong. That's Chicago window guys. That's 847-302-9171 and chicagowindowguys.com youm know, and.

[Co-host]

Speaking of the not gonna fall for the banana, the tailpipe, we watched the Eddie Murphy documentary that's out right now on Netflix.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

But I would highly recommend you watch.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Co-host]

Yeah, it was very, very entertaining. Very entertaining. And it's just, it's a really fun look and to hear, to hear guys that I, you know, I love Eddie Murphy. I've always loved Eddie Murphy. And you know, having a lot older brothers, I grew up earlier than I should have. And so watching that version of Saturday Night Live when I was probably too young to be watching it, but watching it anyway, that's when I, you know, I fell in love with Mr. Robinson's neighborhood and Gumby and the. When he would do Stevie Wonder and who played Frank Sinatra? Joe Piscopo.

[Dan Bernstein]

Like, you are blind as a bat. Yeah. And I have psyched.

[Co-host]

Oh, dude, like, those lyrics are in my brain.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's all pops and whistles to me. I can't understand a word he's saying.

[Co-host]

It's great. And it was such a great documentary. And you know, I never really watched Dave Chappelle's show, but every time I see a Chappelle thing, how much he owes. Well, how much but how good he is. And everything I, I see of Chappelle, it's so good. And to hear Chappelle on Eddie Murphy's this documentary talking about like he sees Eddie Murphy and he geeks out. I just, I really like. It was, it was great. It was really, really good. And just, just to, to see that, I would, I would recommend it. But I thought of it when you mentioned the we're not going to fall for the banana, the tailpipe.

[Dan Bernstein]

We were thinking about it the other day. We had like the 80s serious channel on.

[Co-host]

Okay.

[Dan Bernstein]

Party all the time came.

[Co-host]

Oh, my God. Yeah, that's featured in the, in the doc.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's bad.

[Co-host]

It's real bad. It's real bad.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's so bad.

[Co-host]

It's. It's not good, but, you know, but.

[Dan Bernstein]

The nostalgia held me. I'm like, okay, this is actually. He did this, and it wasn't a joke. It wasn't a bit. This was earnestly done.

[Co-host]

Oh, he. He plays a lot of music during the documentary. He's always playing music. He. Yeah, he really, really enjoys it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Another basketball note. What's wrong with Draymond Green? What's wrong with him? What do you.

[Co-host]

What are you doing different than what was wrong before.

[Dan Bernstein]

Did you hear what happened with Draymond Green last night? What do you do? All right. He got into it with a fan.

[Co-host]

Oh, that's surprising.

[Dan Bernstein]

They were playing against the New Orleans Pelicans.

[Co-host]

Was it Jason?

[Dan Bernstein]

When I saw that it was a Pelicans fan, and I'm thinking, because he'll buy a $3 ticket there, and they kind of let you walk down sometimes.

[Co-host]

Yeah. Well, he puts his guardian helmet on. They can walk anywhere. All right, let him through. It's fine.

[Dan Bernstein]

So it's okay now, see, now I'm picturing him like Mike Myers character on the playground, the kid who's chained to the jungle gym with the bike helmet on. Just don't. Whatever you do, don't get a concussion. So Draymond Green got into it with a fan identified as Sam Green of New Orleans. And apparently Draymond a couple times was getting his own rebounds on his own missed shots. Now, we used to call that the Moses Malone. That was always the joke was that Moses Malone would bounce it off the corner of the backboard a couple times because he was the biggest guy out there. And he'd. Instead of taking a power dribble, he'd kind of go up there and get pad these rebounds. So we'd always doing the Moses, and they do it. He'd get fouled. He'd go to line, the whole thing. Ha ha ha. Well, now it's identified with Angel Reese getting your own rebound. She has even copyrighted the term me bound. And. And it was. It's also taken on sort of an insulting way of saying, oh, you. You're getting all these rebounds because you keep missing all these shots you can't shoot. And somebody was taunting Draymond by calling him Angel Reese. So he got mad. And I saw the headline, and I thought it says Draymond Green. The tags are like, fan confrontation, Angel Reese chant. So I'm like, okay, Draymond is mad. He's insulted because you're saying he's missing all these shots. And, you know, Draymond's half a bit anyway. It's always half a wrestling bit with him because it just, you know, content on his own podcast and everything, so. And then I read it and it was. It was worse than that. So why was he mad? Why was Draymond Green mad about.

[Co-host]

Was he mad because they were calling him a girl?

[Dan Bernstein]

He said he just kept calling me a woman. Later, he said the fan was calling him, quote, a woman's name. This is his quote. Now. It was a good joke at first, but you can't keep calling me a woman. I got four kids, one on the way. You can't keep calling me a woman. Come on, man. What year are we in? I would love to ask him. Why is that an insult? Why is that an insult?

[Co-host]

Yeah. So I didn't know any of this story. And when you just said it, they were calling him Angel Reese because of the me bound. I actually, like, I thought that was funny.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah, that's pretty creative. Yeah, but that's. But like. And I understand if he's mad from a basketball perspective. If he's like, hey, man, I can make threes, I've won. I got rings, I'm a Hall of Famer. First of all, you probably shouldn't say anything, but we know that he's easily baited into some of this stuff. And you can respond. It's like, Angel Reese is a really good player. Angel Reese is an all star player. Angel Reese is a strong, developing.

[Co-host]

He even said it was funny at first, and then it just became too much. Kept calling me a woman, but why?

[Dan Bernstein]

And then I was also disappointed in Steve Kerr because I think I know Steve Kerr knows better. He said, as long as it doesn't escalate, it's fine to go over and have a discussion. I had no problem with it. It would have been nice if security got there a little bit earlier and he said, it's hard to comment on it because I don't know what was said. Well, now that Steve Kerr knows what was said, I'd like him to perhaps respond to why his player.

[Co-host]

Yeah, I would like to know if.

[Dan Bernstein]

He'S so mad, what's the insult if.

[Co-host]

That'S all he was saying? If he was just making fun of his game and calling him Angel Reese, but who cares? But if he wasn't being vulgar or saying anything inappropriate, you can say whatever you want. Just ignore it.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just don't like this quote. You can't keep calling me a woman. I got four kids, one on the way. What does that prove?

[Co-host]

He's A man.

[Dan Bernstein]

Your male potency. What are we doing here with some of these tropes? What are we doing? This doesn't help anything or anybody to fall back on this stuff, man.

[Co-host]

I saw a story the other day, Dan. Maybe you saw it, too. There's a current NFL wide receiver that has more children on the way currently than he does touchdowns.

[Dan Bernstein]

Von Diggs.

[Co-host]

Oh, is that who it is?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Co-host]

He's a man, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. You're proving your masculinity that way that's so important to you. It's just a bad look that just makes you look even more insecure. Like, how dare you compare me to. Come on. Why is that an insult to you? Why does that touch a nerve with you? Why are you so bothered by that?

[Co-host]

Well, you remember, that's the same as. Along the same lines of why. Why Hawk got mad at me and stopped using my name. Because there was. There was a game where there was a play at home, a collision at home, and he didn't like the. Some of the. The reaction.

[Dan Bernstein]

You said, like, put a skirt on or something like that.

[Co-host]

Players need to put a skirt on. And I. I took him to task a little bit the next time I was on the air talking about, you know, how I asked how White Sox. How female White Sox fans felt about that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Right.

[Co-host]

And then he got. He got mad about it. It got back to him. I'm sure it was distorted in a certain way when it was eventually shared.

[Dan Bernstein]

Back to him, but usually is.

[Co-host]

Yeah, that's why he got mad, and he started getting mad at me on the air, and then he stopped saying my name.

[Dan Bernstein]

Aw.

[Co-host]

The Hawkism was dead.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, no. I was a little disappointed. I always thought that Draymond, considering he's also a. You know, his podcast is really important to him.

[Co-host]

He is.

[Dan Bernstein]

His broadcasting. He's appearing in the Dick Sporting Goods commercial, making fun of his record reputation. By the way, who plays the Santa in the. In the Dick's Sporting Goods commercials?

[Co-host]

It's Santa.

[Dan Bernstein]

What is that a known actor that. I think it's because I have to look up some people. People need to be iraqpo'd in for some of these. For me, I need.

[Co-host]

What do you mean, who's playing Santa?

[Dan Bernstein]

Speaking of which, on the iraqpo meter.

[Co-host]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

Retta has also been Iraqpo'd.

[Co-host]

Retta?

[Dan Bernstein]

Retta the comedian? Actor. I forgot which show she was on. She went to grade school with my wife and high school in Matawan, New Jersey. But, yeah, she's like. Somebody refers her as Miss Retta, and she has thoughts.

[Co-host]

Oh, you know what commercial it is? I don't.

[Dan Bernstein]

I don't know, but there was like, it was a pretty hardcore Iraq poing that was done. So they hit you right over there.

[Co-host]

But you know what, though? Anything with Draymond Green shouldn't disappoint you. I mean, I'm not surprised here.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know you can't call me a woman. I'm out here fathering children. Really? Dude, I'm a man.

[Co-host]

Yeah, right.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay. All right, You're a man. Sorry about that. Whatever. All right. It's one thing to get into it with a fan. Sometimes that's fun, sometimes it's not like the Spike Lee stuff. But to go that direction, I just like. Okay, fine. It's just kind of gross.

[Co-host]

I started a new breakfast routine, thanks to my friends over at Huel. I've told you about it. Now for a couple weeks, I have a small light bite at home, so I had some. I've been doing oatmeal with flax seeds.

[Dan Bernstein]

Do you do the overnight?

[Co-host]

No, I just do regular, like instance.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Co-host]

Got a good organic brand. And with that I have my Huel Daily Greens drink. Now, earlier today, I had the, the blueberry one, along with my, my oatmeal, which I do love, and it's such a great, great taste. They also have the, the apple and the peach. But I really was blown away by the taste. I was never a guy going for a green drink, but I do love the Huel Daily Greens. They're full of vitamins, minerals, superfoods, electrolytes and antioxidants. They were developed by registered nutritionists and dietitians. With only 25 calories, they have 4 grams of fiber. And here's the catch. 1 gram of sugar only. That's it. Now for lunch, I'm having my Huel Ready to Drink meals. You see them back there? I got, I got one ready to go in the fridge.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's.

[Co-host]

I got the iced coffee today. Each container has 35 grams of protein, 27 vitamins and minerals, and 6 grams of fiber. Such an easy way for me to have a healthy, great tasting lunch. I usually have it with me on the train on the ride home out of the city. So I'm going to stop, I'm going to do that. I'm going to get my drinks and I'm going to have it on the train. Huel Complete Ready to Drink meals are gluten free. There are no artificial sweeteners. They're available in strawberry, banana, chocolate iced coffee and chocolate peanut Butter. Now I think I'm leaning towards the chocolate peanut butter as my favorite because that's the one I reach for the most.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's the one I tried. Yeah, it's good. It's good. Yeah. Yeah.

[Co-host]

I'm doing iced coffee again today, but I don't know. I'm deliberately avoiding the chocolate peanut butter so I use the other ones up as well. But I do love them. And you'll love all the, all the taste too, I promise. Here's some big news too. Just this month, Huel launched into Target stores nationwide. And Huell makes healthy eating very simple. So you can try both products, the ready to drink meals and the daily greens with 15% off your purchase for new customers with my exclusive code, it's DBU. Go to huel.com DBU that's h u e l.com DBU for 15% off your order. Use the code, fill out the post checkout survey, help out the show. That's Huelled.com DBU A thank you to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Local fisherman and a friend of the show, Quinn Woonar, who is also a fishing instructor and a naturalist. He invited me on Saturday, just we were texting, he's like, hey, we're going to be chasing some salmon and steelhead Saturday if you want to come out and join us. And I thought, sure. It's not really my specialty. I don't know a lot about it. But he was nice enough to invite me out. I'm not going to say where. All I'm going to say it is within the city limits, within the city of Chicago. And he invited me and he coached me through my very first ever steelhead that I caught. I've never really fished for him. I'm much more of a bass guy.

[Co-host]

Is it just based on location or what you use?

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, it's everything.

[Co-host]

Is this like a, it's like a trout, right?

[Dan Bernstein]

It is a trout. Steelhead is a rainbow trout. He's a rainbow trout that behaves more like a salmon and they get much bigger. But it is literally the same species as a rainbow trout. But their behavior in the Great Lakes means that and their spawning pattern, they refer to them as a steelhead.

[Co-host]

Interesting.

[Dan Bernstein]

And he, he put me on one first cast. I was there all day, you know, I was, I was up at 5:30 in the morning, got home at 4:30 in the afternoon, got a co host salmon and also got this gorgeous 8 pound steelhead. But his ability, once I hooked it, to walk me through the fight, you know, never raised his voice, explained what was Going, he could mind meld with this fish. And to say, all right, it's got two more runs. And I thought it was off. He's like, no, it's charging you. I'm not used to that. I'm not used to a fish coming directly at me, which means the line goes slack. I'm like, oh, I lost it, I lost it. It's off. He goes, no, no, no, he's charging you. Reel up, reel up, reel up. I don't know how he knew. Cause he couldn't see it. It's down.

[Co-host]

Yeah.

[Dan Bernstein]

But he could tell by the way the line was moving and just knew exactly what was going on. Told me exactly where to step as he was trying to net it. How to turn my wrists, because it's a tiny, tiny tin and they're very delicate fish that you have to. And even the release, explaining to me how to do it, how to hold it in the water until it's ready, how to turn it. I mean, really was a great day, and I learned a ton.

[Co-host]

It was a good looking picture, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, it's a gorgeous fish. I mean, just, they're so beautiful. But this is. And for everybody who's out there snagging and trying getting into snagging season, don't, don't snag. Don't do that. You don't need to do that.

[Co-host]

Is that just a line with hooks.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or whatever is that? It's a giant treble hook. And it's. There's all sorts of corruption going on and horrible things within snagging. So don't, don't do that. You don't need to do that. But it was a great experience for me and I'm glad I did it so thanks to him. And, you know, there's a lot of local fishermen were there. There was, you know, Ken and Dale and Danny and Eve, and I think even Jiggin Ed was down there. Like a lot of these. Jig and Ed jigging. Some people call him Jiggin Ed and some people call him Jigger Ed. Oh. So you got to be careful with that. Could do.

[Co-host]

But like a sports morning talk show in Texas.

[Dan Bernstein]

Jig and Ed.

[Co-host]

Jig and Ed.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah.

[Co-host]

So as you get older in life too, you should, like, avoid snacking too. So snagging is bad snacking. Limit your snacking as you get older too. Just keep that in mind.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think that's really good advice. Thank you. We talked last week about Pope Bob from Dalton, his movies and his movie list and how interesting it was. And I Didn't know that he cared as much as he did about movies. And he had a bunch of people. That's why I voted for him at the Vatican. Yeah, smart of you. I know those campaign ads just beat you over the head after a while, but you know, you can finance.

[Co-host]

He's the movie pope. That's what we always called him.

[Dan Bernstein]

He had a bunch of people out there. Spike Lee and Greta Gerwig and Adam Scott. And they're a bunch of Hollywood luminaries. You see, Spike Lee presented him with a Knicks jersey.

[Co-host]

I did not.

[Dan Bernstein]

At some point.

[Co-host]

Oh, but he was second, though.

[Dan Bernstein]

Chuck Schwirzki.

[Co-host]

Get the bullshit. Chuck beat him to it.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yeah. And we know that he got a Cubs jersey from the head of, like, the Greek Orthodox Church, who was trolling him, who's also from Chicago and was trolling about giving a Cubs jersey. The point being first. Point being Pope Bob's getting going to have, like, a man cave, because he's not going to wear these, is he? Maybe on White Sox game days he'll wear a Sox jersey.

[Co-host]

Well, he can wear it under his stuff.

[Dan Bernstein]

I wonder. Or does he have a. In his office. Are they framed? Do they. Does he have a room with all his swag?

[Co-host]

You don't think he wears it when he shoot hoops?

[Dan Bernstein]

It's all good. Maybe during Mardi Gras. Apparently. Jerseys are a big thing during Mardi Gras.

[Co-host]

Maybe he can just tear down part.

[Dan Bernstein]

Of the Vatican and.

[Co-host]

And, like, add a whole wing and.

[Dan Bernstein]

Put a ballroom in just for his jerseys.

[Co-host]

Ballroom and a man cave.

[Dan Bernstein]

I just wanted to.

[Co-host]

Movie theater.

[Dan Bernstein]

I wanted to read you a couple paragraphs of his speech to these Hollywood folks. This is the Pope, and I loved this. I loved hearing some of what he had to say about movies and the nature of going to movies. This is really thoughtful stuff from Bob from Dalton. I love this guy. He says, cultural facilities such as cinemas and theaters are the beating hearts of our communities because they contribute to making them more human. If a city is alive, it is thanks in part to its cultural spaces. We must inhabit these spaces and build relationships within them day after day. Nonetheless, cinemas are experiencing a troubling decline, with many being removed from cities and neighborhoods. More than a few people are saying that the art of cinema and the cinematic experience are in danger. I urge institutions not to give up, but to cooperate in affirming the social and cultural value of this activity. The logic of algorithms tends to repeat what works in quotes, but art opens up what is possible. Not everything has to be immediate. Or predictable, defend slowness when it serves a purpose, silence when it speaks, and difference when evocative. Beauty is not just a means of escape. It is above all an invocation. When cinema is authentic, it does not merely console, but challenges. It articulates the questions that dwell within us and sometimes even provokes tears that we did not know we needed to express.

[Co-host]

That's good stuff.

[Dan Bernstein]

That's Pope Leo. And you know what he's describing? He's describing holiness. I know he's referred to as his holiness, but there's been a lot written about the nature of holiness. He is describing cinema as holy. He didn't use that word, but to the extent of what I understand it means. I also think it's fascinating that these comments parallel what we hear from religious leaders, especially in the Catholic Church, about the emptiness of so many cathedrals. And I know it's something that I've heard when in Europe, when. Wherever it is, when we've been in France, in Italy, in Spain, going to these beautiful, gorgeous, important historic buildings and how many of them, in the actual services only of a handful of people, that they are there as relics? They are there more historically than to be open places of worship. And how that's lamented and how there are people who said, look, this should be full of worshipers as this communal space for exactly the same reasons to make cities alive. I love the fact that this pope from this city. From this city is saying these things about what makes cities that much demonized. Right now, cities are considered evil, awful places of horror and iniquity and immigrants and crime, crime, crime, crime. But when he discusses this, the beating hearts of communities. If a city is alive, it is thanks in part to its cultural spaces. And for him to do so, this could easily be about churches. And he is making an argument for art, for. For the nature of cinema in its own way, to be holy in this regard. And this really his. His words here really resonated with me and I thank him for them.

[Co-host]

That's awesome.

[Dan Bernstein]

And I have.

[Co-host]

On that note, I saw a movie Friday night with the boys. They wanted to see Predator Badlands.

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Co-host]

So I was. I was excited to see it. It looked like a good action film, and I did not anticipate liking it as much as I did. It's a really cool story they developed. It's written really well. It ends up being a buddy movie.

[Dan Bernstein]

Is the CGI overdone? Because there's a lot of. Sometimes these movies are ruined by cheap cgi.

[Co-host]

It's not. It's really good. And it's. It's a. It's a beautiful setting and this planet that he ends up going to.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Co-host]

Cool storyline. Okay. And like, you're really into the story. It develops really well. And like I said, it ends up being a buddy movie. My buddy. Yeah. Dude. And it's.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's my Predator.

[Co-host]

It's a lot funnier than I thought it was going to be. It was. And they. They set you up for a sequel at the end, which is great. Boys. Loved it. Henry said it was probably his favorite movie I've ever seen. His favorite movies ever seen.

[Dan Bernstein]

Remind him of that. I will remind him at his wedding. Remind him at his confirmation or at his wedding or whatever he's got coming. I would say I just make sure.

[Co-host]

He'S got neither coming up soon, I hope.

[Dan Bernstein]

Make sure the record reflects.

[Co-host]

I would never know with you, the confirmation thing. If he's going to the Catholic church, I'm unaware. And then if he's getting married. Congrats, Hank. That's great.

[Dan Bernstein]

I do. But just make sure that this. This young man said his favorite movie of all time is Predator Badlands.

[Co-host]

At the age of 12, almost 13. 13, January 1st. His favorite movie, Predator Badlands. Jack liked it, too.

[Dan Bernstein]

I also want the record to reflect. My dad is going to be 82 next month. His favorite movie, Predator. No.

[Co-host]

Oh, yeah. Is it really?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yep.

[Co-host]

Of all time.

[Dan Bernstein]

I think so.

[Co-host]

Your father?

[Dan Bernstein]

Yes.

[Co-host]

And I'm sure you've seen a lot of movies.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, yeah.

[Co-host]

His favorite movie of all time is Predator. Oh, my God. Yep.

[Dan Bernstein]

I'm not kidding.

[Co-host]

See, it's okay. So, yeah, he's. He's. He. He just jumped the family list of my favorite Bernsteins.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, really?

[Co-host]

Yeah. You're still in the bottom, so don't worry.

[Dan Bernstein]

I know. I never want to get out of the cellar.

[Co-host]

No.

[Dan Bernstein]

Hey, 14 teams have already hung 40 or more this year. The overs are printing. And if you've been cashing in with my bookie, you're doing it right. You can be cashing in on every one there. Game lines, player, props, same game parlays, whatever you're writing, my bookie has it. You know what else we have for you with my bookie? A code. That code is dbu, and that gets you started with the bet back bonus. So your first bet up to $500 is fully covered. If it misses, the bet back token keeps you in the game. She can reload and fire another shot. But you got to use the code. Make sure you sign up, you put in your deposit and use that code, dbu. Whether you're building a bankroll or you're looking to hit the lotto with Moneybag, you can bet on anything, anytime, anywhere with MyBookie. And that brings us to these Monday DBU picks that are presented by MyBookie. My parlay hit my Friday parlay. That was the Bears plus three and DeAndre Swift over the 58 and a half rushing yards. He blasted through that. The Bears blasted through that three points that they were getting. So those both hit. I know you got one leg of yours that you gave.

[Co-host]

Yeah. The JJ McCarthy under 215 that hit for me. And then the Caleb over one and a half touchdowns did not hit, unfortunately. But I have a play for tonight's game. Need a reason to watch Cowboys and Raiders if you want to take the night off of the NFL, I'm gonna, I'm gonna. I'm gonna allow that right now. For you listening.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, I didn't know you were in charge. Yes.

[Co-host]

If you have a documentary, a show, a movie you'd like to see, maybe you want to go to the theater and see, you know, maybe you were inspired by. By Pope Leo. You want to go see Predator Badlands? I'd highly recommend it. Maybe you want to watch the Eddie Murphy documentary or you haven't watched Will and Harper yet.

[Dan Bernstein]

Or I gotta watch that one.

[Co-host]

Late last night after football, I finished the documentary that Natalie made me start on David Beckham. The Beckham documentary.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, it's great.

[Co-host]

Oh, it was fantastic.

[Dan Bernstein]

It's great.

[Co-host]

And she kept for months. She's like, you gotta watch it, gotta watch it, gotta watch it, gotta watch it. So I finally started it, couldn't stop watching. Was fantastic.

[Dan Bernstein]

What I came away with. She is a delight. Oh, yeah, she's wonderful. Talking about being a mom and raising their kids and all that, I had no idea how grounded, like, what a conscientious mom she is.

[Co-host]

Yeah, it's just really, really unexpected. Very, very surprising enjoyment of that documentary, the whole Beckham thing. So, hey, you want to watch something different? I will allow the night off. So enjoy that.

[Dan Bernstein]

Fair enough.

[Co-host]

But if you're going to watch, here's what I'm watching for. I, you know, I got into the prop bets now because of you. I'm like, looking at those in every game, and I went with something a little different today. I picked a guy who's going to score the first touchdown today.

[Dan Bernstein]

Just the first touchdown, first touchdown. And you picked. Wait, I'm going to do my Mentalist bit here. You picked CD Lamb.

[Co-host]

I did 100%. I picked CD Lamb.

[Dan Bernstein]

Really.

[Co-host]

Hopefully he's playing, but I picked him. So that. That's my. That's my DBU pick for tonight. CD Lamb with the first touchdown of the game.

[Dan Bernstein]

All right, I've got a basketball one and I've got a one for tonight's football game as well. My DBU picks Ashton Genty over 64.5 rushing yards. Right. And I have the Denver Nuggets winning by a margin of 11 to 15 points. And I'm getting plus 365 on that one. Over to Bull, over to Boo. I'm having Denver winning by. By the margin, by the range of 11 to 15. Those are my DBU picks. Lock in your picks now with my bookie. Bet on anything, anywhere, anytime.

[Co-host]

One final thought before we wrap things up as we. As we exit and we'll get more into it as the week goes on. But, but college football over the weekend, I just want to take a quick look at what took place. What happened? Georgia gets the big win over over Texas and drops Texas seven spots in the standings. So they went from 10 down to 17. Oklahoma with the win over Alabama, dropped Alabama six spots from four to 10. And by those happenings, Vanderbilt moved up a spot from 13 to 12.

[Dan Bernstein]

Okay.

[Co-host]

Notre Dame got the win over Pitt, a pretty easy win. Whatever. Fine. But they stayed at 9. The win over 22 pit didn't help them at all.

[Dan Bernstein]

I definitely also want to mention that Tulane. Yes. Is now 24th with a record of 8 and 2. North Texas is at 9 and 1. James Madison is 21st at 9 and 1. James Madison Is getting a lot of attention. Is that potential group of five winner. They haven't beaten anybody. They haven't beaten anybody.

[Co-host]

Yeah, they were ranked before and they actually climbed up three spots.

[Dan Bernstein]

The winner of the American should be the representative. I know they'll get their ass kicked whoever. But whether it's. It is the North Texas Mean Green or Tulane or somebody else, the winner of the American should go. Yeah.

[Co-host]

You had four teams that were not ranked ranked this week. North Texas, Missouri. Who has been up and down? Tulane, as you said. And then Houston is now 25. But.

[Dan Bernstein]

Well, Missouri too. Missouri at 23. I've got five teams that were not ranked.

[Co-host]

Yeah, but Missouri was ranked previously.

[Dan Bernstein]

They had this week.

[Co-host]

Oh yeah, they've been in and out.

[Dan Bernstein]

Got it.

[Co-host]

With some losses and some wins. So yeah. Who's the fifth one that wasn't ranked?

[Dan Bernstein]

I got James Madison, North Texas, Missouri, Tulane and Houston.

[Co-host]

James Madison, they were ranked last week. In week 11.

[Dan Bernstein]

Oh, you're right. They were.

[Co-host]

Yeah, they moved up three spots. Sorry.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sorry. Yeah.

[Co-host]

Yeah, they were 24. They moved up. Moved up after this week.

[Dan Bernstein]

Sorry, I got it wrong.

[Co-host]

It's okay. But. Yeah. Vanderbilt's up to 12. Alabama's down to 10. Texas drops because I told you they were not a top 10 team. Texas was not. They shouldn't be. They're at 17. That's better.

[Dan Bernstein]

That is Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered. Brought to you in partnership with my bookie, Dan Bernstein. Unfiltered. Unfiltered.

[Co-host]

On three. One, two, sports.