Dan Bernstein Unfiltered

Episode: Ben Johnson's Double Down | Chicago Bulls 3-0 | World Series Game 3
Date: October 28, 2025
Host: Dan Bernstein (with co-host Matt Abbatacola)
Podcast: 312 Sports

Overview:

This episode dives deep into a wild night in sports, with a focus on:

• The wild Game 3 of the World Series (Dodgers vs. Blue Jays)
• The surprising, energetic 3-0 start for the Chicago Bulls despite missing key players
• Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson publicly challenging his team's leadership amid penalty crises
  All delivered in Dan Bernstein’s signature straight-shooting, dryly witty style — with Matt Abbatacola providing rapid-fire, smart banter and colorful anecdotes.

Key Discussion Points

1. October’s Sports Deluge: Juggling Big Games

• Both hosts recount their late-night multitasking: World Series madness, Bulls basketball, and personal tales (such as salvaging an Uno’s pizza disaster).
  • “If you don’t have multiple screens, you got to be really good at keeping tabs on things. If in fact you’re also making dinner and trying to do other… there’s a lot going on.” — Co-host [03:28]
• Dan only watched the first World Series game, co-host stayed up to 1:15am.

2. World Series Game 3 in Depth (Dodgers win over Blue Jays in 18 innings)

• Crazy Length & Drama: 18 innings, 609 pitches, epic exhaustion.
  • “I checked this morning and saw that it went 18. And I’m like, well, thank God [I went to bed].” — Dan [01:14]
• Freddie Freeman’s walk-off:
  • “Freeman has ended it. It’s a repeat hero with the last word and a game three classic.” — Co-host mimicking TV call [01:59]
• John Smoltz Annoyance Segment:
  • The hosts’ mutual disdain for Smoltz’s commentary, especially his opposition to analytics, becomes a recurring theme.
    • “He makes baseball fans stupid. When you say dumb shit that you make up… ‘Vlad Guerrero doesn’t swing hard.’ Watch him.” — Co-host [27:32]
    • “That’s all a radar gun does — it measures the speed. It’s not going to be fooled.” — Dan [30:45]
  • The discussion is peppered with exasperated and comic hyperbole:
    • “At some point, what do you think they’re trying to do? Gently feather the ball like a tennis drop shot?” — Co-host [26:25]
    • “He’s broadcasting from 1988. All the other stuff about the movement of his pitches… all of it’s measured.” — Co-host [28:55]
  • Notable laughs:
    • “Sit John Smoltz down with any young GM today and see how that conversation goes. That’s all you need to know.” — Dan [34:57]
• Memorable Moments:
  • Shohei Ohtani’s incredible performance: two homers, two doubles, four walks, on base nine times.
    • “Ohtani has two home runs and two doubles, and they walk him four times… nine times!” — Co-host [15:52], Dan [15:57]
  • “We had a guy get tagged on the dick at second base.” — Co-host (regarding Shohei’s stolen base mishap) [11:05]
  • Fangirling over celebrity Dodgers fans who stayed for all 18 innings; random Glenn Powell gossip.

3. Chicago Bulls: Surprising 3-0 Start

• Despite missing Kobe White and Zach Collins, Bulls have started 3-0, playing an energized and fun brand of basketball.
  • “They have beaten three teams that are going to finish with more wins than the Bulls… by playing entertaining basketball.” — Co-host [04:03]
• Detailed praise for the team’s depth and Billy Donovan’s rotation:
  • “Eight guys in double figures... They share the ball, they play really hard. Patrick Williams… something lit a fire under his ass.” — Co-host [44:17]
  • “Nice 3-0 start. Best start in several years they’ve had.” — Dan [47:42]
• Atlanta Hawks are highlighted (“Hawks are really good. Quinn Snyder runs some beautiful half-court stuff”). Co-host gives “Great Barrier Thief” nickname for Dyson Daniels props to Adam Amin’s broadcast.

4. NBA News: Gambling Scandal Ignored Amid Standout Player Performances

• Hosts express ironic surprise that the NBA’s major gambling scandal isn’t the day’s main story, thanks to the on-court brilliance (Giannis, Austin Reaves, Markkanen).
  • “They just had a massive gambling scandal — an all-time gambling scandal — and we’re not talking about it because… have you seen what Giannis is doing?” — Co-host [13:44]

5. Bears Watch: Ben Johnson’s Media Messaging (and Penalty Crisis)

• Bears coach Ben Johnson publicly challenges locker room leaders after penalty disasters.
  • “Poor Ben Johnson is trying so hard to fight his battle through the media… the media isn’t really helping him. Ben, we’ll help you.” — Co-host [04:03]
  • “He’s pointing at them. Police yourselves. I’m not here.” — Co-host [41:39]
• Negative 279 net penalty yards — worst in the league by a mile; solutions discussed remain “not strong enough.”
  • “It’s a crisis situation. The solutions… just don’t seem strong enough for the urgency that this situation is calling for.” — Dan [42:03]
• Notable injury updates:
  • Shemar Turner out for season (ACL)
  • Robinson out with high ankle sprain, Austin Booker to play

6. Peak Sports Nerd: Donut Review and Mariano’s Store Rant

• Dan receives the legendary Stan’s Donuts + Affy Tapple caramel apple donut live, provides multi-sensory, comedic food review.
  • “Oh my God. That is heavy. Holy shit… There’s a lot going on here. It’s real, real busy.” — Dan [50:46–51:32]
  • “There’s sort of a mouth emergency when… there’s so much to deal with.” — Co-host [51:35]
• Nostalgic and local shoutouts to Mariano’s and Affy Tapple (Niles-based).
• Exasperated tangent about grocery stores constantly rearranging:
  • “Stop rearranging the stores, please. Killing me.” — Dan [54:15]
  • “It’s not optimized for me!” — Dan [54:45]

Memorable/Sample Quotes & Timestamps

• “Freeman has ended it. It’s a repeat hero with the last word and a game three classic.” — Co-host (quoting TV) [01:59]
• “He makes baseball fans stupid. When you say dumb shit that you make up.” — Co-host (on John Smoltz) [27:32]
• “Ohtani has two home runs and two doubles, and they walk him four times… nine times!” — Co-host [15:52], Dan [15:57]
• “Eight guys in double figures... They share the ball, they play really hard. Patrick Williams… something lit a fire under his ass.” — Co-host [44:17]
• “It’s a crisis situation. The solutions… just don’t seem strong enough for the urgency that this situation is calling for.” — Dan [42:03]
• “Oh my God. That is heavy. Holy shit… There’s so much caramel, I feel like it’s falling out of my mouth.” — Dan (on the donut) [50:46, 51:50]
• “Stop rearranging the stores, please. Killing me.” — Dan [54:15]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [03:28] Multi-sport multitasking and Bulls quick start
• [08:31] John Smoltz avoidance & exasperation
• [11:05] Game 3 World Series chaos: key plays, Shohei antics, wild outs
• [14:15] NBA gambling scandal and standout early basketball season notes
• [15:52 – 16:07] Shohei Ohtani’s historic performance
• [23:27 – 28:55] John Smoltz’s anti-analytical takes (detailed breakdown)
• [41:10 – 42:03] Bears penalty problems and Ben Johnson’s player callout
• [44:14 – 47:45] Bulls win breakdown: balanced attack, what’s working
• [50:17 – 52:49] Stan’s x Affy Tapple Donut live review
• [54:15] Mariano’s grocery rant

Takeaways:

• Dan and Matt’s blend of old-school sports honesty and new-school sarcasm is on full display, especially in the World Series/John Smoltz roast and Bulls praise.
• The episode’s tone is lively and conspiratorial; whether marveling at Shohei’s feats, lampooning bad baseball broadcasting, or dissecting Bulls strategy, it all feels like classic Chicago sports talk — equal parts analysis, comedy, and community gripe-fest.

For Listeners:

If you missed the episode, you’ll come away with a play-by-play of an epic World Series night, insight on why this Bulls team is actually fun, and a sense of what the Bears’ coaching staff is wrestling with. Plus, you’ll know where to get a life-changing caramel peanut apple donut — and to avoid grocery store aisle changes at all costs.

For daily, unvarnished Chicago sports talk with plenty of laughs and “did he just say that?”, Dan Bernstein Unfiltered remains appointment listening (and now, appointment summarizing).