Ben Johnson's hiring - biggest sports story in Chicago for 2025

Summary

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – Episode Summary

Podcast: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered
Host: Dan Bernstein with Matt Abbatacola
Date: December 31, 2025
Episode Theme: The hiring of Ben Johnson as Chicago Bears head coach – the defining Chicago sports story of 2025, year-end reflections, notable sports media developments, college sports changes, and lighter moments.

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Episode Overview

On the final day of 2025, Dan Bernstein and producer Matt Abbatacola reflect on the most significant Chicago sports stories of the year, with a focus on the Chicago Bears’ hiring of head coach Ben Johnson. The episode also delves into Dan Bernstein’s own journey as a major Chicago sports media figure, broader changes in the sports landscape, personal growth, and the evolution of their podcasting venture. The conversation is punctuated with wit, banter, and candid reflections.

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1. The Biggest Chicago Sports Story of 2025: Ben Johnson Hired by the Bears

[03:37]

• Dan Bernstein identifies the Bears’ hiring of Ben Johnson on January 21, 2025 as the city’s signature sports story.
• Bernstein and Abbatacola reflect on the lead-up to Johnson's hiring, the skepticism around whether the Bears could land him, and the energy his arrival brought to a struggling franchise.
• Johnson’s impact transcended the typical “winning the offseason” sentiment often attached to the Bears. His opening press conference impressed everyone:

  “He knocked it out of the park that opening press conference. No notes. The guy did everything. He was confident. He was also a little vulnerable. He was honest.” – Dan Bernstein [05:36]

[06:49]

• The Bears, after a rocky 0–2 start in the division (including brutal, demoralizing losses), made a stunning turnaround to win the NFC North.
• Bernstein credits Johnson’s leadership for the team’s resiliency and culture change:

  “They won the division in large part because of this guy, because of their coach.… Ben Johnson mania, the whole good, better, best thing, and the wiener circle and him taking off his shirt.” – Dan Bernstein [07:10]

• The pair note that Johnson elevated not just the team, but GM Ryan Poles, CEO Kevin Warren, and rookie QB Caleb Williams.

[11:02] Notable Quote:

“Without Ben Johnson, the Bears aren’t where they are right now. It's the Ben Johnson factor that has propelled them to take the division in his first year as the head coach.” – Matt Abbatacola

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2. The State of Chicago Sports – 2025 in Context

[08:35] Chicago’s Other Teams:

• White Sox: Stepping out of their "deepest wilderness," showing some stability and continuity but still have a ways to go.

  “They set up a camp. They've got a fire going.… They may be nourishing themselves a little bit… I think their arrow's pointed up.” – Bernstein [08:42]

• Cubs: Made the playoffs and won a series but suffered a painful exit; rivalry drama with Milwaukee highlighted.
• Blackhawks: Flashes of promise but a disappointing finish.
• Bulls: A continual source of frustration and mediocrity.
• Sky: Off-court “mishigas” involving Angel Reese, but didn’t move the needle like Bears.

[10:40] 2025's hierarchy: Bears/Johnson at the top, Cubs' playoff run a distant second.

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3. Personal and Professional Reflections

[12:15] Bernstein’s Own Story

• Dan candidly discusses his own journey as a top Chicago sports media story—his exit from traditional radio and the tumult at the start of 2025, subsequently launching the podcast network.

  “It gets me sort of contemplative and reflective about 2025.… I wouldn't change a damn thing because I couldn’t be more excited, optimistic, pleased with what we’ve been doing…” – Dan Bernstein [15:02]

• Emphasizes the difference in working for a family-owned company (Hubbard Chicago) and building a podcast network from scratch.
• Acknowledges Matt Abbatacola’s partnership and the growth of their team, highlighting new projects like "From the 50".

[18:48]

• Matt brings up the importance of processing regret and growth, referencing Brene Brown’s book Atlas of the Heart:

  “Regret, when used constructively, regret is a call to courage and a path to wisdom.”
  – Matt Abbatacola [19:59] Quoting Brene Brown

• Both share how personal and professional challenges have fueled growth and connection with listeners.

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4. Building the Podcast, Community & Mental Health

[27:26]

• Bernstein discusses learning to adjust from daily radio to podcasting; enjoying the different pace, interaction, and audience relationship.

• Both reflect on unexpectedly becoming a forum for open, vulnerable conversations, particularly around men’s mental health:

  “It’s been a really fascinating, surprising, and satisfying, fulfilling byproduct of what we do is having the number of people say thank you or just in some ways even gruffly appreciating the fact that this forum is here…” – Dan Bernstein [28:44]

• Listeners from diverse backgrounds have reached out expressing gratitude for open discussions beyond sports.

[31:56]

• Matt encourages listeners to embrace vulnerability and take change "one day at a time" in the new year:

  “If there’s something you want to change or do differently in 2026… start with January 1st. Then get through January 1st. And then when January 2nd comes, do it again…” – Matt Abbatacola

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5. Lighter Moments & Banter

[22:26] Laughs over Elton John lyrics:

• The duo debate (and Google) the lyrics to “Don’t Go Breaking My Heart” by Elton John and Kiki Dee, joking about clown references and spinning it into a dark bit.

[35:12] College Football Bowl Games:

• An extended riff on the day's bowl games, misnaming the “Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl” and taking the joke to absurdist lengths with imagined narratives about Tony the Tiger’s fictional son.

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6. College Sports Lawsuits & Eligibility

[36:23] Diego Pavia v. NCAA

• The hosts discuss the antitrust lawsuit led by college QB Diego Pavia, challenging eligibility restrictions for JUCO transfers.

  “The NCAA is… a slave labor cartel, period… The NCAA is essentially a toothless organization and there’s a massive power and authority vacuum.” – Dan Bernstein [37:39]

• Bernstein argues NCAA authority is waning, welcomes paying athletes, but wonders how college sports will change if eligibility rules are loosened.
• Matt predicts only a small percentage of older players will extend eligibility, keeping most of college sports culture intact.
• They joke about increasingly older college athletes, referencing the 28-year-old Heisman winner Chris Weinke.

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7. Year-End Losses – In Memoriam

[49:35] Notable Passings:

• Two recent deaths noted:
  • Pat Finn (Chicago Second City alumnus, TV actor)
  • Isaiah Whitlock (Memorable for HBO's "The Wire")
• Matt shares personal connections with Finn and expresses sadness over losing both men, while lamenting the lack of progress on cancer cures.

[47:13] Oscars In Memoriam Tangent:

• Playful speculation on “who gets the last spot” in the Oscars In Memoriam: Robert Redford or Rob Reiner.

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8. Odd News: Stolen Lobster Story

[54:36] $400,000 of Costco-bound Lobster Stolen

• A shipment stolen via a scam mimicking a freight carrier, highlighting the rise of organized criminal networks targeting perishable goods.

  “For a mid sized brokerage like ours, a $400,000 loss is significant. It forces tough decisions and ultimately drives up costs across the supply.” – Dylan Rexing, cited by Bernstein

• The story morphs into a discussion about dubious street sales in Chicago, including socks and warm, vacuum-packed meat.

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9. Closing Banter

[61:41] Socks & Slides:

• Lengthy, lighthearted talk about hole-ridden socks, kids’ habits, and footwear trends among sports families.

[64:47] Bernstein’s Dramatic Duet Acting:

• Bernstein reveals a past as a high school dramatic-speaking state finalist, surprising Matt and inspiring playful ribbing.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Ben Johnson hire:

  "The defining story of Chicago sports in 2025 happened in January, and it kept perpetuating." – Dan Bernstein [07:10]

• On regret and growth:

  "Regret, when used constructively, regret is a call to courage and a path to wisdom." – Matt Abbatacola [19:59]

• On the shift to podcasting:

  "It’s a different relationship… more than anything else. I think it fits where I am better." – Dan Bernstein [27:26]

• On men’s mental health & community:

  "It’s more than okay. It’s important… If in fact something we’ve said… has helped you, that makes it all so much bigger…” – Dan Bernstein [28:44]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• 03:37 – Ben Johnson’s hiring as Bears’ head coach
• 06:49 – The Bears’ dramatic season turnaround
• 12:15 – Bernstein’s own journey as a media story
• 19:59 – Discussion of regret (Brene Brown quote)
• 27:26 – Reflections on podcasting & mental health
• 35:12 – College football bowl games banter
• 36:23 – NCAA/junior college eligibility lawsuit
• 49:35 – Year-end in memoriam (Pat Finn, Isaiah Whitlock)
• 54:36 – Stolen Costco-bound lobster heist
• 61:41 – Sock/footwear debate
• 64:47 – Bernstein’s drama competition revelation

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Summary Conclusion

In their unvarnished style, Dan Bernstein and Matt Abbatacola close 2025 by shining a light on the impact of Ben Johnson’s tenure with the Bears, the state of Chicago sports, the evolution of their own careers, and the tight-knit, authentic community they’ve built around their podcast. Their blend of insight, humor, and vulnerability delivers a satisfying capstone to the year for Chicago sports fans.

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Transcript

[A]

Dan Bernstein, unfiltered.

[B]

Unfiltered on 312 sports. So my goal on DBU today on this, the last day of 2025 is to make it worth our while to close out this year with a banger just to make sure that this. This really lives up to being worthy of the final day of the calendar year. Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered, as always, is brought to you in partnership with my bookie. I'm Dan Bernstein. That is Matt Abaticola. And I think that. I think that's the color of one of the fishing shirts that I got that should be arriving today.

[A]

Oh. Oh, you know what this was? This was a fall league two years ago day. Started out like 70, and then at first pitch, it was like 30.

[B]

Oh, yeah, I know.

[A]

Well, and this was a Target purchase. There was a Target nearby wherever.

[B]

Oh, emergency. Those Emergency hoodie. I have. I have a personal rule where the length of time you have and use an article of clothing or an accessory is proportional to the level of emergency that caused you to buy it.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

Like, it's. It's those things you never think you're going to purchase that you have forever and use forever. For some reason. It happened to me with a pair of shoes where I was going to, like, a big meeting and I forgot, and I had to pull over and find the nearest shoe store and run and spend $100. I walked out with the wrong. I didn't pack my dress shoes.

[A]

Oh, you had shoes on.

[B]

I had shoes on, but I didn't pack my dress shoes. I had to go. And the pair, like, the pair of dress shoes I emerged. You had to emergency buy. Yeah. Are the ones are my. Are my top, you know, starters. So it's really weird. Like, things like that always end up emerging as more important than you otherwise think they're going to be.

[A]

Yeah. My buddy and I, another dad on the team, we. We ran the Target and we're picking out hoodies. And I got this because our colors. That was a slammers team. Well, this is like. This is our Libertyville colors. Orange. Ish.

[B]

So I bought everything that was on sale because nobody else wanted those colors. So I've got.

[A]

This is the same color.

[B]

The fishing shirt you got pea green, tangerine, some weird blue. Whatever was $12.78 my size. I just bought up. I just gave cares tangerine. It's a little.

[A]

Little more dull or faded to be tangerine.

[B]

Fine. Whatever it is, it looks like whatever is coming in.

[A]

Emergency hoodie.

[B]

Yeah, I love mine. Will be Dull and faded as well, just like me. So it's perfect. It's been weird thinking about the sports stories of 2025. I will just say this. The Chicago sports story of 2025, if we're really being honest, it occurred soon after the new year. It occurred on January 21st of 2025. And that story has built and built and built and built and carried. You can, you can say whatever about anything about if, if we're really being truthful about this city. In a year in which the Cubs made the playoffs, the Cubs won a playoff series. That's not the biggest sports story of 2025.

[A]

It is not.

[B]

It's not even close. The biggest sports story is the hiring of Ben Johnson by the Bears. It is. It overshadows anything that the Bears have been doing with their, their stadium farce that has been going on with whatever that ongoing comic presentation is. The hiring of, of Ben Johnson. Let's just understand where we were with this. When Matt Eber Flus was fired in Thanksgiving, there was all that time and all of the denouement through the. The Thomas Jones and oh, is this guy a candidate for the job? Is he working his way into a candidacy? Boy, it's good to hear his no nonsense. And the team was bad and he was bad and nothing was good. And with the stadium thing going nowhere, it was sort of a low ebb for Kevin Warren, too, for everything involved with the Bears, for Bears ownership. And then we all put our lists together, if you'll remember, and it was about, well, they're probably never going to get. Why would Ben Johnson want this job? Why wouldn't he wait and find a much better place to land? And all of a sudden, out of nowhere, boom. They got him. The Bears got him. And if you remember that day and the triumph, the winning the off season, the Bears have been great at that. Oh, they get the number one draft pick. Oh, they make some deal. They get. This was yet another. Well, Bears win the off season again. And he knocked it out of the park that opening press conference. No notes. The guy did everything. He was confident. He was also a little vulnerable. He was honest. He Then they did a great job. The social media channels of the Bear, they show Ben Johnson going into Hellas hall and everyone coming out on that balcony and giving him a standing ovation. The energy in the building. He's pumping his fist. He's got his adorable family with him. Everything was perfect. And then those of us would be like, oh, well, okay, well, this was all fun. Yeah, well, we'll see Van, Coach. We'll see what can happen here. And then you go in with an open mind and you listen to what he says as training camp is starting and as they. They begin going through everything. And he's talking about what he's installing and how he's doing it, and he's answering questions and he's being available, and he's doing it with a smile on his face. And then they dropped the first two. And we're here. We were here, right here in this space saying, the hell is going on? What did they do? Why is he so overwhelmed? How did you let the Lions do that to you? And now look. Now look. They started 02. They won the division. They started.

[A]

Oh, and they started 02 in the division. Right.

[B]

They started 02 in the division, and there they won it. The Bears won the North.

[A]

And those first two losses weren't. Weren't just losses. I mean, that was a failure and a collapse in the fourth quarter to a guy who was a bum the first three quarters.

[B]

A devastated collapse.

[A]

Got killed in the second game.

[B]

Yep. Had no chance in the second game. You got run off the field in the second game. And they won the division in large part because of this guy, because of their coach. Then. Then Johnson mania, the whole good, better, best thing, and the wiener circle and him taking off his shirt. And I don't know how we'll look back on it with more time, but let's not lose sight of that and its clear place as the number one Chicago sports story. The defining story of Chicago sports in 2025 happened in January, and it kept perpetuating. Now, in large part, that's also an indictment of the Bulls being the Bulls in everything that they do. The Blackhawks looked promising, and now they're back and doing whatever. I actually watched them last night talk about that. That 55 pretty good. White Sox took a step out of the deepest part of the wilderness. Finally, finally, with a little bit of stability, a little bit of continuity.

[A]

Still in the woods, though, but.

[B]

Oh, there. Yeah, but they're not in the deepest, darkest part of the woods.

[A]

They have a compass now.

[B]

They set up a camp. They've got a fire going. Okay. Right. They've got. They've got a tarp. They've got shelter. They've got a fire going. And they may have. They may be nourishing themselves a little bit to the point where they can get things together enough to contemplate emerging from the wilderness within the next couple of years, because there's been at Least for the White Sox, I would say without question. I don't know the extent to which it's pointed up, but I think their arrows pointed up.

[A]

No, I agree with that.

[B]

I think they've bottomed out. I think. I think the White Sox have bottomed out and I don't. I don't really think that Chris Getz is any kind of visionary. I don't know that he's essentially even really qualified for job. But they've got assets. They seem to be hiring smart people around him and I liked some of the young players performances last year and they. In getting the.

[A]

The.

[B]

A new fun slugger. There'll be reason to watch here and there. So yeah, I think the White Sox were. Will end up being a positive story. And if you are betting a long trade on the Sox, you probably get a. Still get an inexpensive stock price and hold it for a while and that would be something. I think that wouldn't be unreasonable. And the Cubs gave us a hell of a year and then a lot of pain at the end. It sucked to lose the way they did. And I give a lot of credit to Milwaukee for trolling them as hard as they did, but it sure could set up another exciting season for them. So the secondary story certainly was the performance of the Cubs. And then there was also all that mishigas with the sky and Angel Reese and that. I don't know what that was either. But the. The landscape of Chicago sports made it very easy for the Ben Johnson story and. And the Bears winning the division. But I think that's secondary because of what Ben Johnson did to do that. I think he has earned top billing over his team when it comes to assessing what was most significant in Chicago sports. Fair enough.

[A]

Yeah. No, absolutely. Because without. Without Ben Johnson, the Bears aren't where they are right now. He's. It's the Ben Johnson factor that has propelled them to take the division in his first year as the head coach.

[B]

And helping make everybody look good. Making Caleb Williams.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Making Ryan poles look good. He makes Kevin Warren look good. That's why Warren is standing there. Every time he gets the chance, you see him in the background, be like, hey, I'm here. I'm here. I have my shovel. Look at me, I'm here. I got the. He has like three different credentials on. He's got. I don't know why does he really need all that? How often are they scanning Kevin Warren's credentials around Soldier Field?

[A]

Well, he carries the game ball around too, so.

[B]

And. And the golden shovel. Yeah. Just in case he needs to break ground on something, he's got it with him.

[C]

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[B]

You know, December doesn't have to be the most expensive month of the year if you're betting with my bookie, because we're in the middle of 12 Days of Christmas. And that means daily offers that are dropping back to back in the sportsbook, in the casino bet and gets and profit boosts and free spins and even surprise drops for social users and telegram users. December is full. Oh, my God, we got a full calendar today. There's, there's a Bulls game. We've got three college bowl games, one that actually counts for something. And there's all the NFL. We're talking about college hoops. These are all chances for you to cash in. So what you do is you go to my bookie and you register and you deposit. And when you do that, you punch in the code that I'm giving you right now. DBU for Dan Bernstein, unfiltered. And then your first bet's covered up to $500 and you say, what does it mean, my bet's covered? What it means is you could make a bet up to $500 on something and you miss it. You get it wrong. Aha. But you have your bet back, bonus token. And that way it's like it never happened. And you run it back. That's only right now with the code dbu bet on anything, anywhere, anytime. Only with my bookie. Now, this is going to get a little weird here when I talk about another sports story from 2025. And the. The more I read and. Or scroll that other story, you're looking at it because I've read in two different places now. I read on in the Chicago Sun Times, it said Bernstein is number one for the sports media story of 2025. And then I saw it wasn't just local, it was national. That Barrett Sports Media said their number one sports media story of the year was what happened to me. And what is, I guess, continuing to happen for better or for worse, for worse or for better. And that's a little weird because it gets me sort of contemplative and reflective about 2025. And it would be, I think it would be easy to say, boy, glad this year is over. I'm not saying that. Not at all. Because I'm not a, I'm not a believer in this sort of the magic wand of say, well, if you could do it all over again. I don't know. I don't. I certainly think that there were aspects of my behavior that, that made me disappointed in myself and ashamed and angry and all of those things that I've cataloged many times since. But I wouldn't change anything about being here right now doing this and the fact that you're here with me and you, Mattie, this, this whole vision that came to be. I'm going to celebrate 2025. I'm going to look back as it being a year that had a real bad start, but the kind of finish that I really couldn't envision. And in the position I'm in right now on December 31, 2025, thinking about what's to come, thinking about what we've been doing since August 25th and well before when we started planning it, I wouldn't change a damn thing because I couldn't be more excited, optimistic, you know, pleased with what we've been doing and with everybody at Hubbard Chicago, everybody internally, externally, the culture of the company. I didn't know, I didn't know I'd only worked for one company in my entire life. And I just didn't know how different a corporate culture could be when it, when it's a family owned company, when you have somebody like Jenny Hubbard at the top of it and the people that are here at Hubbard and, and the people that are here at Hubbard Chicago. The support and the, the excitement, the belief. I wouldn't change anything. I wouldn't. And I just, it's just a long way of saying I'm very, very happy to be here right now looking at our, our first new year as, as a podcast network at 312Sports. Our first new calendar year. As for Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered for forward progress for organizations win championships. And now for your new podcast that's going to be starting from the 50. You know, a lot of this stuff. To have the plans in our head and then see them, to actually know that we talked about things and the idea of creating something from scratch. I've never gotten to do that before, ever. And this year was that year.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

It's weird to read about everything I've been through and that the family has been through, obviously. And also I want to say that both of the stories that I read about my own story by Jeff Agrest and by Barrett Sports Media, very fair, I thought, handled in, in always. I got, you know, go ahead, have at it. And, and the. As long as the facts are the facts. Absolutely. And, and I think both were, both stories were, were. There's nothing, I got no qualms, nothing on how you want to talk about it, how you want to handle it. Whatever happens, happens and have your thoughts, your opinions. Go ahead, bring it. And I was. It just, it's just very interesting. It's sort of this meta feeling because we do what we do and we talk about sports stories and I look at the sports pages and I look at all of these things and then it's like, oh, yeah, I guess I have to be honest, if we're talking about big stories of 2025, you know, and being in the middle of it, it's very strange.

[A]

Yeah. It's been a fun, fun year for us since, since March when this all began. And even, even for me, you mentioned from the 50 podcast, that was a vision I had in my head back in January, early February, before any of this even started. So to be able to see that happen and come together and start. We'll have our first episode come out next week with, with John Ortiz. And I'm really excited about what from the 50 can be and what it can do to add to the 312 sports family. We've been lucky that John Goforth, who runs Gamut Podcast, part of Hubbard, who's like our, our boss for our podcast network, he brought in Cody not too long ago to help with the social media stuff. So that's been super helpful. And he's killing it. Doing a great job with our social media stuff, which I had zero knowledge or experience with. And he just steps right in as an absolute pro and is just killing it. So it's been great. And one thing that you mentioned about looking back on your year, there was one really important book that I read years ago from Brene Brown. I don't know if you've ever read anything from Bernie Brown. She had a book called Atlas of the Heart, and it's a really cool journey looking at emotions and feelings that we all experience. And she kind of dives into them and one of them was regret. And she had a quote about regret that's never left me since I read it and she said, regret, when used constructively, regret is a call to courage and a path to wisdom. And I think, I think we, we view regret as, you know, you only live once, no regrets, you know, kind of like live without consequence. And that's not really what regret should be. When you can look back at something and realize, hey, this was wrong, my behavior was wrong, my decision was wrong. And look back at it today and say, that's something I would never do. Now, that shows that growth and that call to courage, that path of wisdom. So it was just something that's been really important in my life and my growth, my personal journey over the years. And I know what you've experienced this year and looking back on things and we're able to joke about it, which I think is good too. But I know the sincerity that you have in what you've gone through and what your family went through and where you're at today. And, and I know that we're, we're kind of building the plane as we're flying it. We've all joked about that and mentioned that because it, we had a process and then the process started and it just fired really quick. And so here we are several months in now, and, you know, we are building it as we're flying it. We're figuring it out. The easy thing that you and I have always said when this process started was the content won't be the hard part.

[B]

Like, just know when the lights on. That's, that's, that's, that's the easy part for us.

[A]

Yeah. And just being able to, and even if we don't have an exact plan, just our, our, I mean, 20 plus years of friendship and working together, it's just, it's easy to do this and it's just been a lot of fun. So I don't know, you know, where three one, two sports goes, how it grows, where we end up, you know, a year from now, five years from now. But I just, I just know that it's just been, it's been a lot of fun every day to be able to do this and talk about Chicago sports and sometimes just complete nonsense. Like earlier today, we're getting ready for the show and we're debating and arguing the lyrics of Don't Go Breaking My Heart by Elton John. And was it Kiki Kiki D? Because you were singing it, you were humming yourself. Yeah, I'm humming it. But then we start singing simultaneously and we sing different lyrics and we start arguing about the lyrics.

[B]

Well, I thought you made up that it was when I was down. Parenthetically, I was your clown. So I started laughing and I did the merva. Honk, honk, whee. Like, what are you singing? And then you said, go look at the lyrics. And then I thought you were still kidding. And then it is, I was your clown. I never knew that.

[A]

And so that's just the stupidity of, like. Like, this is our work. Like, this is what we get to do for a job.

[B]

So when I was down, like, what kind. I hope you're not like one of the creepy clowns. Like, right?

[A]

And so then that. That conversation about debating lyrics over a song turns into a whole bit about what kind of clown is it? Because I'm immediately picturing it, you know, I'm Pennywise. Yeah, that's right.

[B]

I pictured John Gacy like, oh, you're feeling down. Oh, I'll cheer you up. I got 47 bodies in the crawl space. How about that?

[A]

How you feeling now? You're still feeling down? Yeah. You still.

[B]

You're still feeling down. Look, I did to this one.

[A]

Yeah. And then, you know, earlier we came across racist Google. So I just, like, you know, there's.

[B]

Just. Stay off of racist Google.

[A]

Yeah. Do not. If you're searching things, do not use racist Google like I did earlier today. Just regular Google is the way.

[B]

Advise against. Very strongly I advise against racist Google.

[A]

So it was, it was, it was. It was great to see, you know, in the Sun Times, Jeff Agrest and then Barrett Media, you know, is the number one, like, sports media story. And to be a part of it.

[B]

To be here for being a psycho. All right.

[A]

But it's fun where it's at today. December 31st, we started August 24th. Was that our first day?

[B]

5Th, I think.

[A]

25Th. Whatever that when I got back from Italy. But it's just. Yeah, it's been, it's been a great, A great, you know, a great start for us. And we're still learning, we're still developing and growing and evolving. I've kind of got, like, the picture is coming more into focus for me of what the shows are going to look like and sound like and be. And, you know, it's just been. Yeah, it's take time and, you know, we're. We're getting there, but the, the fact that we've had an 11 and 5 season up to this point for the Bears. With our first year putting a Bears podcast out there, we just, we couldn't be luckier and more. More grateful for it. And just a lot of Gratitude for the opportunities that we have here today. And I know we've gotten a ton of. Of feedback over the last several months. And, you know, there's the negative stuff and then there's the positive stuff, but really just want to thank you for listening and being a part of it. Whether you hate us or you love us, and if you do love us and support us and you share those. Those thoughts, Whether it's in YouTube or emails or the 312Sports app, we really do appreciate it. And it means a lot that this has become a daily part of your routine. And it's just, It's. It's really special to hear when people say that they listen for every episode to drop. And that means a lot. So we do appreciate it. We're very grateful for that.

[B]

I want to make sure I get this quote right. Regret is a call to courage and a path to wisdom.

[A]

Yeah. When used constructively, regret is a call to courage and a path to wisdom.

[B]

I love that.

[A]

And when I read that book. Well, I shouldn't say I read it. I listened to. It was an audiobook, and I would listen to it when I was working out. And. And that. That quote, man, I stopped right when I heard that. And I wound it and played it again. Played it again, and then put it in my phone. And it's a quote that's never left me. Yeah. Like, it's changed my perspective on looking back at past failures or, you know, things in life that you're just not proud of. And it's no longer that. That burdensome guilty feeling of dark sorrow and regret. It's just. It's a turning point and saying, yeah, that's stuff I would never do today, wouldn't behave that way. That's not even me, who I am today. And it's about growth and progression, and so that's why it's really valuable.

[B]

And hard work. It's about a lot of heavy lifting, a lot of. Of hard work, a lot of internal confrontation and reconciliation and commitment is what it's about. But I like that. I think I'm not a big inspirational quote guy, as you know. I'm not real coachy in that regard.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

But there's. There's really had. There's been. There's been a couple others for me, and one is George Bernard Shaw who said, if you want to tell people the truth, you better make them laugh or they'll kill you. That was one. There's Mel Brooks, the. The difference between comedy and tragedy. Tragedy is when I cut my Finger comedy is when you fall into an open sewer and die. And I may add this one, I may add a serious one to my very short list of inspirational quotes. But yeah, I'm going to look back. I think the further I get from 2025, my goal is, the better it looks to me that the further I get from it, the more I'm too close to it now. We're still in it at the moment.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And I just, I want to think that the further we get from it, the more I appreciate it. I guess I could put it that way. And let me add to your comment about you the part of this podcast family or whatever we call it, however we do it, it's for my process to go from four or five or three hours of daily radio, of over the air broadcast terrestrial radio to this. I'm still learning. I'm still it is, it's a different relationship and part of the podcast relationship and understanding the, the pace of it more than anything else, the way it moves, the way the relationship interacts and how that's different from radio is still taking a bit of an adjustment for me. And that's then that is also all good. But I'm really enjoying it. I think it fits where I am better. And I've, I have been enjoying the interactions that I've had, whether it's been via email or a little bit on, on Instagram or the places where I do look at, at responses and notifications and having some of those exchanges. But I think what has been really unexpected, unexpected and satisfying has been not through any planning on our part. We didn't go into this saying that we had some sort of lofty goal about the way men talk about mental health and the way men who love sports and are really into sports talk about it. But it's been a really fascinating, surprising and satisfying, fulfilling byproduct of what we do is having the number of people say thank you or just in some ways even gruffly appreciating the fact that this forum is here and that we've said, however you use this, whatever relationship you have with us and what we do, the extent to which it's parasocial, how that crosses over into actual social wherever it is and wherever you are. If in fact something we've said or something about this or our openness to talking about it has helped you, that that makes it all so much bigger than whether we're Talking about a 3, 4 defense or a pick and roll action or a draft, stuff like that of people of all ages. When I've heard from people who are in their 20s and people who are in their 70s, all saying the same thing, that there's a comfort level or there's an understanding that we know what's really important and what's not, and we can come out here and have our righteous indignation about the stupidest things in sports and beyond. And there's a time and a place for that. And there's also a time and a place to be real and vulnerable. And that's okay. It's more than okay. It's important. So for anybody, if I have been. If I haven't been able to communicate my appreciation for that in a quick email or an emoji, or being able to keep up with everything that comes in and just to have that contact and say, hey, thanks. If I say thanks and your name, or thanks and a thumbs up, it's. It's more than that. I just, It's. It's hard to, to be that present in every response to everything I get. But trust me, it's there. And the appreciation really is there. So thanks for being along for the ride. If you come from wherever it was way back, whether it was score or anything else, and now to here and being here on the ground floor, which we are still, we're still not even done building the foundation of this before we even start to build it upward. But thanks for being here now, because you don't. You don't forget that you know who your people are. And thanks. Thanks for being one of them. Yeah.

[A]

And if I could encourage you out there, as you're listening to this, when, you know, you mentioned about being open and vulnerable as important, it's more than important. It's a necessity for growth and for change. And as we're coming up on the New Year, I know a lot of people do New Year's resolutions and look forward to what they're going to change or do differently in 2026, and that's great. I don't generally participate too heavily in that kind of stuff. My advice to you is this. If there's something you want to change or do differently in 2026, start with January 1st. No, start with January 1st. And then get through January 1st. And then when January 2nd comes around, do it again. And then when January 3rd comes around, do it again. And in growth, whatever it might be, whether it's physical or mental, emotional, whatever growth you're targeting for yourself or change, there's always going to be a couple steps forward, a couple steps Back and then a step forward and a couple step back and then three steps forward. It's always going to be, you know, roller coaster type movement activity, back and forth. Just take it one day at a time. Don't look at the month, don't look at the year. Just start January one and do it january first and then wake up january second, say, hey, I've accomplished my goal, january first, let's do it again. So just take in smaller bits and pieces for you. Yesterday's done and gone forever. Tomorrow's no guarantee. Just attack it today.

[B]

That's.

[A]

That's my advice to everyone.

[B]

I think that's terrific advice. So I hope everybody has a very happy, healthy, fulfilling 2026. I have to get used to saying that because that's where we are tomorrow.

[A]

So be safe tonight too. If you're out doing things, if you're listening to the podcast at some point today, please be smart. Be smart tonight. Like, have fun, celebrate how you're going to celebrate me. I'll be on the couch. If I make it till midnight, that'll be a surprise. But just have fun and be safe.

[B]

We've got an actual meaningful college football game today with Miami at. Is it Ohio State?

[A]

You mean Iowa and Vandy?

[B]

I would. Vandy is the. The which bowl?

[A]

That's the Reliaquest Bowl.

[B]

The Relay A Quest Bowl.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

There's Michigan and Texas and that is the Cheez Its.

[A]

Citrus Bowl. Not Citrus flavored Cheez Its.

[B]

The Citrus Citrus.

[A]

Yeah, Citrus Bowl.

[B]

Okay, and then sponsored by Cheez Its.

[A]

And then the real game is Miami and Ohio State.

[B]

Okay, and what? That's the Cotton Bowl.

[A]

That is the Cotton Bowl.

[B]

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl.

[A]

The Goodyear Cotton Bowl. But not the best bowl game of the day, though. The best bowl game of the day is Arizona State and Duke.

[B]

Why?

[A]

Because it's the Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.

[B]

Tony the Tiger has a son.

[A]

No. S u n, it's the Sun Bowl.

[B]

Oh, Tony the Tiger's Sun Bowl. No, he's Steve and he's great, right? And he'd be great if he cleaned his room.

[A]

And he listened to his mother. God damn it.

[B]

They pan over. They pan over and there's this surly tiger, like, on his phone. My parents suck. Did you see this? You see this meme? This guy hates Caleb Williams. What? Why do people not like Caleb Williams still? What do you say, dad? Shut up.

[A]

Yeah. And his dad. And he gives his dad the six, seven. It's like, yeah, I'll listen to you. Dad. Dad, do you like you like nuts? How about these nuts? Yeah. So. No, it's. So it's. Remember this? There was the sunball. There's been the sunball forever.

[B]

Okay. S u n, I thought. I swear. I swear to God. But you said it's the Tony the Tiger's son Bowl.

[A]

Tony the Tiger's son's bowl, right? No, it's Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.

[B]

But it's not frosted. It's not the Frosted Flakes Sun Bowl.

[A]

No, I'm reading it off at ESPN here. Tony the Tiger Sun Bowl.

[B]

Okay. All right. While we're talking college.

[A]

That's not why you called.

[B]

While we're talking college football. Real quick, if you play out this Diego Pavia lawsuit, can I just. Can we just do this for fun here?

[A]

Yes, sir.

[B]

All right, so Pavia is the lead plaintiff. It's an antitrust suit against whatever's left of the ncaa, talking about if you transfer from juco, those seasons shouldn't count as full seasons of eligibility. Saying they're ability to earn money is restricted. They don't get the same opportunities for nil and professional careers because of. He's punished for having played juco before he goes to actual ncaa. Right, right.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

So, yeah, there's.

[B]

There's a.

[A]

There's a current active lawsuit. Pavia. Pavia versus the ncaa. And there's. It's not. It's. It's a clash action lawsuit. There's about 25 or 26 other individuals involved with Diego Pavia, but of course, he's the main. The main.

[B]

Right, right. So. So it'll ultimately be called the Diego Pavia effort because he's the guy putting his name on it.

[A]

I think he's calling it. It's called the Diego Pavia Fuck Indiana.

[B]

Lawsuit and the voters. And. And if we don't win, my drunken brothers will attack you. So if they win, though, it's going to get weird. I keep thinking, and I am. This is what I was rooting for. I was rooting for everything to get out of control of the ncaa, because the NCAA is a. Had been a slave labor cartel, period. They were getting off the backs of free labor. They were raking in all the money. And that is inevitably the NCAA is going away. We know that the whole bowl system that we have now, the NCAA is essentially a toothless organization and there's a massive power and authority vacuum. You've got Nick Saban saying, well, I can fix everything, but nobody's listening to me. No one's here, and I can fix everything. Well, no, then there was supposed to be a presidential commission and he was supposed to be in charge of the presidential commission. And then that never happened because they're busy building a ballroom for half a billion dol dollars. So Nick Saban is crying to everybody that nobody's listening to him and all of his solutions are like, well, Congress has to get together and okay, well, you lost me already. So that's not happening. It's just going to be a slow erosion and disillusion of the old NCAA authority until it dries up and blows away in the wind. And for the moment, I want players to get paid. I want players to be empowered. The problem is when does, when do you really cease to be a reasonable approximation of a college student? Because we've already seen the mission creep into the fifth year eligible, the sixth year eligible, the COVID eligibilities where you got grad students out there. Are we going to have professors, are we going to have adjunct professors or tasks playing in these games? It's just going to get weird. Where we're used to going to college and you go to class and I don't want to, and I'm not, don't take this the wrong way, but the idea of being a college student is to see your peers who are competing on the teams, theoretically they're in class next to you. And I know that has changed too, because they don't have to go to class or they have an entirely separate school where they don't have to interact with the general population. But you know, I would, I would walk into a building and Christian Laitner or Bobby Hurley would be sitting there, Grant Hill would be there in class with their books and you'd see them on campus and you go to the cafeteria and you'd sit down like, oh, there's Grand Hill. But I know that is could change completely. It's going to be weird when Your quarterback is 27 and is married with two kids. They're not living in the dorms.

[A]

Yeah. You know, it's interesting because I've, I've thought, thought through a little bit and as we started talking about it and just working through it in, in my head, I, I don't think it's going to be as significant or as impactful in changing the culture of college sports as we might initially have thought or think through here. I, I think a majority of guys are going to be high school level prospects that go to Division 1 schools that move on. You know, if you're NBA, you're a year or two and if you're football, you're playing for three or four years and then they're going to move on. I think this is going to be a very small percentage of the Division 1 athletes that are getting paid to be college sports. It's, it's not going to be that significant of a number of people.

[B]

I don't think you'll have quarterbacks because you're going to have, you'll find the perfect slot of a guy like Pavia who can't play professionally but could be paid collegiately.

[A]

And I also think there are, there are guys like in his, in his case, that won't be, you know, taken into a Division 1 school, you know, two or three years into his playing time. You know what I mean? I think if he, if they're, if they're generally that good of a player, they're going to be going into a Division 1 school as a freshman and maybe they're there for five years.

[B]

Right. You have to be kind of a late bloomer.

[A]

Right.

[B]

Or somebody had slipped through the cracks.

[A]

Yeah. And for what. And, and I think for Pavia too, it was more of a perfect storm of just getting the right coach at the right time in the right offense to really utilize his skills. And then it really ends there, though. It doesn't go beyond college football. It just, it just, I just don't, you know, I'll, I'll still take that bet that he takes at least one snap in the pro somewhere.

[B]

We have that bet. We've had a dinner, right?

[A]

A dinner, yeah. And then I think Matt Miller somehow got his way into it as well, too. But I just, I don't, I don't think there's going to be a significant number or percentage of people that, that are, that are involved in this. I, you know, if I'm all about the best kids playing and the best teams playing, and if a kid went to JUCO for two years, because that's all I could get into or afford or was recognized to be able to play great. And then you start somewhere in Division 1 school, give them the four years to play, and if he comes out at 24, comes out at 26, I mean, generally is not going to be going to the pros at that point anyway, if you're starting off at that level.

[B]

I think it depends on the school. I think if you're talking about a massive professional program like Ohio State, for example, where somebody sitting in some rural Ohio town who is just rooting for somebody to dot the I of script Ohio and Essentially rooting for, like a pro team doesn't really care. But when you're on the campus itself, it's probably going to be a little different if you have grown adults that are representing your university. I don't know. I'm trying to not be old fashioned here. And I'm also trying to make sure that the players have agency. I want them to be able to transfer as much as they want until there are contracts and maybe it all gets fixed. And you just say, look, we're not going to pretend they're students. Here's your contract. You want to play for Ohio State for 15 years? Go ahead and play for Ohio State for 15 years. And this is, this is all you got.

[A]

Penn State just hired Camp Matt Campbell. Is that his name?

[B]

From Iowa State?

[A]

Yes, Iowa State. So, yes, I was reading about yesterday, Iowa State has 15 or 16 kids on their roster for next year because of transfer portal and graduations, like so many kids have left.

[B]

A lot of schools are like that. Down to 25, down to 24. You had schools in bowl games, 15 kids. That's. They'll fill it up.

[A]

That's a lot of work to do.

[B]

They'll do it. They'll do it. And look, this is. And like Jerry DiNardo said on that show that we did last week, you only get one of those classes if you're the coach coming in, you get if you want to bring your guys that you had already recruited and already played for you, you get that once and then you got to prove it again. And that he kept saying that about, about a guy like Signetti, where, if, if. And this is going to be like with Summerall, who's already taken all the Tulane guys to Florida with him. You only get to do that once. And then you've got to start it on your own and you got to plant your own seeds. So. Sure. Rather than just bringing over everything you've harvested before. So we'll see where it goes. I just think it's very strange and I think the best leverage Diego Pavi is going to have is he can just say, if you don't rule in my favor, my stupid drunken brothers are going to, are going to find you. I think he should go in the offensive and, and use. He's got these, he's got like this, these shock troops. They don't know where they're going and they run into stuff and they fall down a lot and occasionally they're shirtless and passed out. But he's, he can always send Roel and Javier to go, you know, take care of things for him.

[A]

Now he's working through this lawsuit and it's trying to increase the, the amount of eligibility that he would have left. Even though he said he's, he's leaving college, he's going to the pros.

[B]

Yeah. But I guess he's doing this, you know, the Pavia name will be on this effort.

[A]

Yeah, I know. Oh, I know. But you know, because at first I thought this guy wants to play another year or two. I, I thought he was older than he is. I thought he was like 25. I didn't know he was. He was just 23.

[B]

He is. He's just 23. But there'll be. You're gonna have somebody. You're gonna have a Chris Wankey. Remember in Florida State, he won the Heisman? He wasn't he 29?

[A]

Right. 28 or 28.

[B]

I voted for him, I think.

[A]

Yeah. Again, I just, I just think that's going to be a small percentage of people, even if this is allowed and, and you're. They're getting more time to play college football. I don't think it would be as weird or as impactful. I think if, because if you're good, you're going on to get real money.

[B]

Now I've got a list of things I think I went a little long in my, in my top. So a list of things. I know we're going to get to some of this in forward progress. I, I know it's. It's a bad day to be one of the Diggs brothers. And I'm not sure that the Bears are going to be looking for another defensive back right now. They've got other problems. That's something I think that we're going to end up discussing. But while we're talking end of year stuff, this is, this is a morbid question for you. Who, as of right now, this is, this is the last day, if you're a celebrity, to die. Right. To be included. Or is the Oscars in Memoriam based on the year from the ceremony or is it the calendar year?

[A]

I think it's the ceremony. Right, because when, when is the, when is the Oscars even on tv? I don't even know. Is it March or April?

[B]

They'll sneak people in.

[A]

Yeah, I think, I think it goes. It goes like show to show. Not.

[B]

Not calendar year, not calendar year. Because at the moment, at the moment, usually the most. The biggest name is featured last in the pre produced In Memoriam segment. Is it Redford or is it Reiner? Redford or Reiner as of right now.

[A]

All right, I'm gonna try to be serious. I wanted to turn it into a game show, but I won't do that.

[B]

Welcome to Redford or Reiner. Who's more significant in the world of cinema?

[A]

I think. Who gets last spot? I would probably. My initial thought is Redford. It goes Reiner than Redford just because of his. Of his acting and his acting resume. I know, I know. Rhino Reiner. I know. Oh, I know. But.

[B]

No, but Redford directed, too.

[A]

He did direct too. But when you think of Rob Reiner, what do you think of. You think of the behind the behind the camera stuff. That's your initial.

[B]

Except see at the Emmys because of the significance of television also to Rob, Reiner may take away where Redford, with the exception of a Twilight Zone episode, is all Hollywood.

[A]

Yeah. So maybe Reiner gets the billing in the Emmys and Redford at the Oscars.

[B]

I mean, I'm sure. I think somebody's going to come in with a wild card entry here that we're not thinking about. But I would. I would say the. It's probably. If I'm. If I'm really being truthful, it's Redford.

[A]

Yeah, I think so.

[B]

It's. It just. He's big. It's a bigger name, bigger star. And they both were sort of equally off away from the screen. The other causes where. Where Reiner was a lot more openly political. Redford also was involved and very, very giving and did so much with other filmmakers and the film festival and everything else. Yeah. So there's. I don't know. I was just something I'm thinking about. And there were a couple people that are recently that I know you wanted to get to that I. That you probably know more about than I do.

[A]

Yeah. I just wanted to mention two. Two guys who recently passed away. First one was Pat Finn, who's a local guy, Chicago guy.

[B]

He.

[A]

He came to. To fame more in television than movies, but, you know, he was in some movies as well, too, but more in tv.

[B]

The.

[A]

The George Wendt show, the Middle Murphy Brown. Pat was a guy that came up through Second City with Chris Farley and was really, really tight with Chris Farley and I. And Pat, being a Chicago guy, I got to know him a little bit through social media and we actually connected just because of my time at the SCORE and through Chicago Sports. And so we would chat occasionally through Instagram. We followed each other and there would be messages back and forth at different times of things. And he was Just a really good dude. He was a really, just genuine, like down to earth regular guy, a family guy. And so when I heard of his passing, he had a long battle with cancer. And it just, you know, I was, I was sad by it to hear about it because he was just, he was, he was a good guy. He was a good dude. And so my, you know, my condolences go out to his family. You know, he had kids as well too, so. But it's just, you know, it was, it's just really sad to see. And you know, cancer is just a. And you know, we spend all this money in this country on a lot of things and man, if we like, I just like, you know, let's put our efforts financially, scientifically, all the smart people we have, like, let's fucking get rid of cancer. Like, seriously, it's, it's time. Well, why don't we like a number.

[B]

One, why don't we focus the funding, restore the federal funding to, to the.

[A]

Research and the development of finding a cure for cancer.

[B]

That's one of the first thing, the first thing we can do is prioritize the restoration of federal funds that go to that and, and not demonize the scientific method, not demonize academia, that it's going to take smarts and not active celebration of stupid to accomplish those goals.

[A]

Yeah, and I know like, protecting our country and the military is a great expense and great cost. I think I read one time that we spend more than the next 25 nations after us and like 24 or 23 of those are like allies. So I just, it's just like, let's focus on getting rid of fucking cancer. Let's, let's do that. Other guy I want to, want to mention is, who just recently passed away is Isaiah Whitlock. And if you were a fan of the Wire, you know Isaiah Whitlock and he's done a lot, a lot of movies though. He's been in TV and always enjoyed his work. But I mean, he sticks. He stands out for me primarily because of the Wire. So Isaiah Whitlock just recently passed away. So just condolences to his family as we get here towards the end of the year. And you know, a couple guys that I just enjoyed their work and enjoyed, enjoyed Pat as a person and Isaiah just really enjoyed his work on movies that I've seen him in, particularly the Wire on tv. So yeah, they just recently passed away. Wanted to mention them here at the.

[B]

End of the year. Something else you can do for the next year is get yourself some new windows and call Russ Armstrong to do it because he makes the windows here at his factory in Chicago. We're talking about the Chicago window guys. He is so easy to deal with when it comes to your anxiety about doing something as big as buying windows because you hear all of these ads about windows. Buy one, get one free, buy one, get one 50% off from these big window companies. If you want to deal with an actual person who is here in Chicago who you know, I know and can tell you personally is great to deal with, just call Russ. 847-302-9171. Check out his five star reviews at ChicagoNowBeyond.com and the reason I can recommend him is because he'll explain everything in a way you can understand about what is an actual deal, what windows actually cost, cost what you're getting for what you pay. And then he sets it all up and he comes out and it's all his people in and around your house. So he knows everybody. You don't have to be worried about subcontracted labor, third party stuff. Everybody works for Russ. And you can ask, go ahead and get quotes, but ask these other companies who's installing my windows. They won't be able to tell you because they don't use the same people every time like Russ does. And they'll measure. He'll make the windows, he will put them in. He'll and they clean everything up. They're great. He's super communicative so you never have to worry about that. That's why I've recommended Russ to everybody. So get yourself some new windows. It's time already. 847-302-9171 and check out his five star reviews and his price match guarantee at ChicagoNowdownGuys.com One other story that I've been meaning to get to, I bumped it yesterday and I want to get to it today. Did you see that Illinois is out? Apparently Illinois and Minnesota out nearly half a million dollars of Costco lobster.

[A]

I did see the story. Yeah. I knew you would get into it so I didn't dive into the story.

[B]

Now initially I was going to have a ton of fun with this story. And then the more I read about it, I thought that there's some, there's some really serious stuff going on here. A $400,000 shipment of lobster was stolen. It was headed for Costco stores. This is via NBC. This is according to Dylan Rexing, the president and chief executive of supply chain company Rexing Companies. That's the freight company he said he believes the driver was impersonating a legitimate carrier and stole the seafood. The lobsters, which were not alive, were on their way to Costco stores in Illinois and Minnesota. He said the theft wasn't random. It followed a pattern. We're seeing more and more where criminals impersonate legitimate carriers using spoofed emails and burner phones to hijack high value freight while it's in transit. Said for a mid sized brokerage like ours, a $400,000 loss is significant. It forces tough decisions and ultimately drives up costs across the supply. It costs consumers who ultimately end up paying. Costco did not immediately return a request for comment, but he said brokers are on the front lines of this problem. We need federal agencies to have modern enforcement tools to keep pace with organized criminal networks. Until that happens, these thefts will continue to disrupt businesses and impact everyday prices. So it is apparently the More I've read that they did have a faked email where the it was one character off from the regular email. They they decorate their trucks to look the same. Their drivers have uniforms and paperwork and they show up with an order that says we're here to pick up that order and they've already pre arranged where they're going to offload it to whom they're going to sell it on on the black market. And because it's not traceable, because these theft networks have gravitated away from things with serial numbers and microchips and whatever other cargo may be more traceable, perishable food products are not. They don't do that with perishables. And if you can get them and keep them refrigerated and move them and who knows what restaurants they're showing up in or what other grocery stores they're showing up in at what prices. But these, this they'll find the soft targets. And it does appear that something like lobster is right now a much softer target for organized criminal networks. So if somebody approaches you and says these things fell off a truck, be wary. Did.

[A]

Did the story indicate at all how like how much lobster this was?

[B]

No. I guess it was one truck. Was was and I don't know if the retail value is 400,000 or the wholesale value is 400,000 it may end up being a lot more than that. I that I don't know. I don't know enough about lobster pricing to tell you I know that the whatever is the Australian or the spiny lobster tails are bigger and can cost more than the Maine lobster. I don't know what's aquacultured or what has to be wild caught at this point, but it's, it's something to keep an eye on. Do you remember when we did a remote? I don't know if you were there that day. It was a long time ago. And we did a remote from the, the sports dome in the west suburbs. Is it Darien, where there was a, it was like there was a Ditka branded barbecue place thing.

[A]

Yeah, I don't think I went to that one.

[B]

In a big sports dome where it has these, these like revolving doors in the, you know, the vacuum dome. And people were doing all sorts of. There's a golf thing and they're batting cages or whatever it was in the western suburbs. And near the end of the show, this rando shows up and he's got a backpack and he's walking around trying to sell people meat. Remember? You weren't there.

[A]

I was not there. I think I was living in the city and that was too far to go.

[B]

He was like, hey, want to buy some meat? And it was all vacuum packed, but it was warm, so it was.

[A]

How much did you buy?

[B]

Well, I said, well, how much you got? But he's like, yeah, I got more out in my car. And I just like, really? Like you're coming in selling warm vacuum packed steaks and like, what the hell, man?

[A]

So you're saying he wasn't a trustworthy guy?

[B]

I think maybe this is kind of what we were talking about then. It was sort of like when I was at the, at the corner of north and Elston, there's that gas station there, and I was getting gas and I got scared because this guy ran up on me. He goes, you want to buy some speakers?

[A]

Oh, I remember that.

[B]

Yeah, no, I got some speakers. No, thanks.

[A]

Wasn't there a guy at a, at a, at a stoplight somewhere in the city that you would buy socks from?

[B]

Yes. Oh, yeah, those guys, those are all the socks that they're getting. The, the improperly made irregular socks that they couldn't sell. It used to be at Roosevelt, right.

[A]

When you buy it, right?

[B]

Yeah. Every once in a while if a guy's knocking on my windows, hey, you want some socks? Let me see him. Yeah, sure. How much? Yep. What?

[A]

Nothing.

[B]

You sit in silent judgment of me?

[A]

Nope. I would never judge your clothing purchase habits, ever.

[B]

I don't think I have any of those socks. I also buy them, like on the way out if I stop into to Dick's Sporting Goods to buy some quarter ounce drop shot sinkers. And on the way out there's like, that big pile of socks.

[A]

Socks from Dick's Sporting Goods are fine. Socks from the random guy at the street light are not fine.

[B]

But they were branded. They were like Champion or Adidas or something.

[A]

Yeah. And one's like a size 12, like 10 to 12 sock, and the other one's like a 6 to 8 sock.

[B]

Right. So.

[A]

Okay, all right.

[B]

So it doesn't. That doesn't.

[A]

I'm not judging you. I love your clothes.

[B]

They're just socks, and they were inexpensive and nobody cares.

[A]

Oh, I know there's someone. There's at least one person in your family that cares.

[B]

Well, she only cares if there are holes in them. Okay? She does not care. She doesn't, like, check my socks.

[A]

Hey, I know with Jason being 21 now, you don't check his. His socks, but when he was. When he was a grade school, like later grade school school, middle, middle school, high school.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, put a brand new pair of socks on holes in them that same day. Was that, like, was that a thing for kids back then?

[B]

Yes, because he would run around outside sometimes in just socks or right at his friend's house down the alley in just socks.

[A]

I don't understand. Because my kids don't walk out of the house in just socks. They wear shoes when they leave the house, but they can put socks on, and by the end of the day, there are holes.

[B]

Yes. In this part of it is they'll put slides on because the baseball players and the hockey players, because they're always in between shoes.

[A]

Oh, no. Yeah, it's slides.

[B]

Crocs.

[A]

And now like Ugg. Uggs. Ugg. Slides are like a thing now.

[B]

And mammoths or whatever they call them or the.

[A]

The boys, they wear Nikes or, you know, cleats when it's game time only.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But they're always. They're always wearing Uggs or Slides or Crocs and it drives me insane.

[B]

But what happens is if they're playing football or basketball in a carpeted basement, which socks.

[A]

That happens down here all the time.

[B]

Yes. That's what's happening is the socks are rubbing when they're jump stopping on carpeting and playing in their socks.

[A]

I throw socks away pretty much every day. It drives me insane.

[B]

Yeah, you go through a lot.

[A]

Like, then they'll get dressed for the day and they come downstairs and their shorts and their socks, and I go. And I go, did you just put those on?

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Did you realize there was a hole in the bottom of one?

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Okay, stop asking stupid questions like Take it off. Put on a different pair of socks.

[B]

No, I can't do that because my socks, a lot of them had holes in them to these. Let me check. No, these actually don't. Wow.

[A]

All right, well, I don't. I don't wear socks ever in the house. I'm always barefoot. Except for two days ago when I was so cold, I put socks on and fell down my stairs. Almost died.

[B]

Yeah, I know.

[A]

My back hurts so bad. Like, I'm ten times more stiff today than I was yesterday when I.

[B]

Sorry for laughing, but no, it's fine.

[A]

And I slept on the recliner again the last two nights. I know. So Natalie goes out of town, I'm left alone, and I almost died walking down the stairs.

[B]

She can't trust you because you can't walk down the stairs by yourself.

[A]

It hurt really bad. I got this. I got a huge knot, like, on the. My lower back. And then my back is stiff and hurts.

[B]

Ice Rest. Anti inflammatory.

[A]

That's what I've been doing. And then. Yeah. Slept in recliner for two nights now in a row, because I can't lay down. It hurt. I. And then I was. I laid down two nights ago, and I was like, I don't know if I'll be able to get up, you know, in the. In the morning, if I'll be able to get out of bed. So I'm like, I'm just gonna go sleep on the couch and. Sat in the recliner. Slept there. And I did it again.

[B]

Dogs. With you, at least. Oh, I put Izzy come over.

[A]

No, because they would. They would distract me more, so I'd put them in their. And they sleep in crates at night. They got these giant crates, and they're right next to each other, so they can see each other, and they sleep there, so.

[B]

Oh, are they like Julius and Ethel Rosenberg? I think they have separate rooms.

[A]

They're not married. They're siblings.

[B]

No, but I mean, like, in the prison, where they're, like, passing each other notes.

[A]

Oh, yeah. But I have the cages. The crates touch each other so they could do that.

[B]

There was some horrible play about.

[A]

Should you say Vision Quest?

[B]

Is that about inquest?

[A]

Vision Quest? Bicycle riders?

[B]

I think not. Vision Quest. I used to compete.

[A]

Why did you say Vision Quest when.

[B]

I compete in dramatic duet acting. When I competed in this, there was somebody. They were pretty good.

[A]

Hang on a second. Say that again for me. You competed in what?

[B]

Dramatic duet acting.

[C]

Okay.

[A]

It was a competition.

[B]

Yeah. We made the state tournament. Yeah. Catherine Stone and I.

[A]

What state is this?

[B]

We Were really good. The state of Illinois. I was. I was in humorous interpretation and dramatic duet acting. Double entered in. In the state tournament. Yeah, I just trained at this. Yes. You knew that.

[A]

I didn't know that you could be. Dude, trust me, if I'd have known that you competed in dramatic duet acting.

[B]

I was good. I'm sure you were. No, I was. I played the husband of. She was the star of our. Of our. Our play but she. I was the frightened, confused husband of an artist who was schizophrenic who had to be on anti schizophrenic drugs but then could not create her art so would have to go off the drugs to be able to access the part of her brain to create the art. And I was the husband trying to be supportive but also trying to make sure she was healthy and not a danger to herself or others or me.

[A]

So how old were you when doing this? That's pretty storyline.

[B]

This was senior year of high school. He had a good coach.

[A]

Okay. Senior high school. All right.

[B]

Yeah. So in the same day I would have to go from performing that to running if I was double interpretive days so that I have to run down a hallway in a high school and run into another room and. And do a Neil Simon play or a Woody Allen play or movie. Not. Not a play but what he would, you know, writing. Yeah, it was a play where I was doing all seven parts of that where each had its own accent, mannerisms, speech pattern.

[A]

And then from there you would go to pose nude for the art class.

[B]

Oh, anytime. You better believe it. Whatever they needed. Yeah. All things to all people. December does not have to be the most expensive month of the year if you're betting with my bookie and you should be because there's so. It's so much fun. There's so many things you can do but go. Don't be with my basketball picks lately. I'm going to keep trying, but I'm in a petrified forest when it comes to my basketball picks. Jesus. We're in the 12 days of Christmas. Daily offers are dropping back to back across sports and casino profit boosts bet and gets free spins. Surprise drops for social users and telegram users. And December is full of stuff. There's three games today. There's Iowa, Vandy. There's Michigan, Texas. There's Miami, Ohio State. You've got Bulls and Pelicans tonight as well. And there's college hoops everywhere. Go to my bookie. Use the code DBU for Dan Bernstein. Unfiltered number one sports story of 2025. Better believe it and get your first bet covered up to $500. So if you go big and you miss on that first bet, you've got a bet back bonus token. And you can run it back because you've used the code dbu. And then you can bet on anything, anywhere, anytime, only with my bookie. If you want your hardcore Bears stuff, we got it coming up for you in forward progress. Lots, lots of X's and O's and possible acquisitions and all of those things for you. But that's going to do it for Dan Bernstein. Unfiltered. And we are brought to you by in partnership with my booking Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered. Unfiltered on three.

[A]

One, two Sports.