Chicago Bears add CJ Gardner-Johnson

Summary

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Dan Bernstein Unfiltered on 312 Sports

Episode: Chicago Bears add CJ Gardner-Johnson

Date: October 30, 2025
Host: Dan Bernstein
Guest/Producer: Matt Abbatacola

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Main Theme

This episode dives into the Chicago Bears’ acquisition of C.J. Gardner-Johnson, evaluating the reasoning, fit, and potential impact on and off the field. Dan and Matt also break down the Bears’ mounting injury problems, address concerns around discipline and culture, touch on the Bulls’ strong start, and share thoughts on recent sports headlines, including a viral Louisiana political rant and the World Series.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Bears’ Injury Woes and Their Implications

• [01:05–04:29] Dan paints a dire picture of the Bears’ injury report, especially at wide receiver where all top four (Luther Burden, DJ Moore, Rome Odunze, Olamide Zaccheaus) missed practice.
  • “All their wide receivers are hurt, and I'm not really kidding.” (Dan, 01:44)
• The situation strains the offense’s ability to practice new passing concepts this late in the season, hindering chemistry between Caleb Williams and his receivers.
  • “You're getting new routes in with less practice time on a passing situation that is difficult, if not bad to begin with.” (Matt, 04:11)
• Running backs Roschon Johnson and DeAndre Swift are also on the injury list.

2. The C.J. Gardner-Johnson Signing: Rationale and Risks

• [05:04–12:16]
• The Bears sign versatile defensive back C.J. Gardner-Johnson to bolster their defense amid injuries.
  • Decision driven largely by injuries and the need for an experienced, “good football player.” (Coach, 06:39)
• Discipline Dilemma: The move raises eyebrows given Gardner-Johnson’s reputation for on-field provocations and locker room volatility, contrasting with the coach’s recent emphasis on discipline.
  • “CJ Gardner Johnson is not a very disciplined player. How do they justify that?” (Dan, 05:36)
  • The coach emphasizes trust in the locker room:

    “We've got a very strong locker room … nothing’s more important than our locker room, to be clear with you.” (Coach, 08:27)

• Matt and Dan discuss the team’s plan to provide off-field support, including family integration, suggesting a holistic approach to managing Gardner-Johnson’s adjustment and reputation.
  • “We're trying to create this really soft landing… Let's connect, let's talk, and let's help.” (Matt, 09:47)

Notable Bears Lore:

• Reminder of Gardner-Johnson’s infamous fight with Bears receiver Javon Wims and then provoking another Bear (Anthony Miller) in a later game.
  • “They literally told you, don't respond to CJ Gardner Johnson and Anthony Miller did that.” (Dan, 11:01)

Fit and Role:

• Gardner-Johnson will be deployed as an inside slot corner—a position suiting his skillset.
  • “He's not going to be a boundary corner. No, that's his… He's essentially a little linebacker with fluid hips.” (Dan, 11:54)
  • The hope is that a defined role avoids the friction experienced on previous teams (i.e., Houston).

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3. Evaluating Bears’ Defensive Struggles

• [12:27–17:43]

• Matt and Dan critique Bears DC Ben Johnson’s claim that “hits and pressures are equally important as sacks,” countering that sacks are far more valuable and that the Bears lag league-wide in both sacks (25th) and pressures (last through six games).

  • “If a sack ends, the play's over, period. Changes the game. A pressure doesn't.” (Dan, 14:29)
  • “The Bears… had 59 [pressures]… through those six games?”
    “Last. Wow.” (Matt & Dan, 15:25)

• The hosts express skepticism over Johnson’s “third-down true dropback” focus, labeling it as spin rather than substance:

  • “You can make any stat work in any argument you want to make.”

• Expensive investments at defensive end/edge aren’t translating to production.

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4. World Series & Rookie Storylines

• [22:34–26:21]

• The hosts marvel over Toronto Blue Jays rookie Trey Savage’s unprecedented rise from A-ball to starring (and winning twice) in the World Series, striking out double-digit batters both starts.

  • “To make the majors in that season is already a ridiculous story… then he… struck out double digits in both.” (Dan, 23:06)
  • Anecdotes about the strain and pride on families watching their kids perform at the highest stage.

• John Smoltz Commentary Rant:

  • Humorous aside mocking broadcaster Smoltz’s “nonsensical” statements and retrograde opinions (e.g., on Latin players “over-celebrating”).

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5. Viral: Louisiana Governor on LSU Football Fiasco

• [32:31–37:57]
• Jeff Landry’s statehouse press conference rants about LSU’s $53M football coaching buyout and agent “collusion,” demanding “guardrails” for college sports.
  • “I’m tired of rewarding failure in this country and leaving taxpayers to foot the bill.” (Gov. Landry, 33:48)
  • Bernstein lampoons Landry’s style:
    “I would suggest he wear a shirt, because I thought giving that entire press conference shirtless was a decision … one of [his advisors] was simply a snapping turtle wearing a straw hat.” (Dan, 35:02)
• Discuss Louisiana’s perennial rankings at the bottom in education, economy, crime, etc.—contrasting that with state obsession with LSU football.

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6. Bulls’ 4–0 Start: Hope or Mirage?

• [42:41–47:28]

• Dan and Matt praise the Bulls’ new energetic and fast-paced approach, emphasizing “five out” lineups, improved rotation, and defensive intensity.

  • “I love the way the Bulls are playing. I love the energy, I love the pace that they're getting out and running.” (Dan, 42:48)

• Acknowledgment that defensive fortune (opponents missing open threes) will regress, but fundamentals have improved.

• Bulls’ schedule dynamics, upcoming matchups (Knicks, Sixers, Bucks), and late-season opportunities contextualized.

  • “This is a good opportunity for you tomorrow night and Sunday night to catch the Bulls against the Knicks.” (Matt, 52:01)

• Notable trade: Caruso/Giddey deal labeled “win-win.”

  • “Both teams won that trade.” (Dan, 48:21)

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Memorable Quotes & Moments

• On C.J. Gardner-Johnson’s Reputation:

  "He's not available because of performance or ability. He's available because of— Because he's a penis."
  — Dan & Matt, [09:45–09:47]

• On Defensive Line Underperformance:

  “Your defensive ends are up there in salary… It's not for lack of resources devoted.”
  — Dan, [16:26]

• On Bears’ Defensive Philosophy Spin:

  “He said not everyone will agree with this. I don't agree and I think no one else in the world agrees with it.”
  — Matt, [13:30]

• On State Priorities in Louisiana:

  “I think they care more about LSU football than they do the actual average citizen. And maybe the average citizen cares more about LSU football too.”
  — Dan, [32:15]

• On the Bulls’ Improved Play:

  “Modest continues to not be told that he can't do stuff.”
  — Dan, [44:27]

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• [01:05–04:29] — Bears’ mounting injury crisis, especially at receiver
• [05:04–12:16] — C.J. Gardner-Johnson signing: risk/reward, locker room fit, role
• [12:27–17:43] — Breaking down Bears’ pass rush woes and coaching spin
• [22:34–26:21] — World Series rookie sensation; broadcaster John Smoltz’s idiosyncrasies
• [32:31–37:57] — Gov. Landry’s LSU press conference; state priorities and dysfunction
• [42:41–47:28] — Bulls’ undefeated start, analysis, vibes, scheduling
• [48:21–50:13] — Caruso/Giddey trade, Bulls’ advanced stats and skill sets

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Additional Noteworthy Points

• The episode features fun Chicago sports banter, from old tough-man contests to Halloween traditions and Bulls broadcasting nostalgia.
• Listeners are encouraged to check out Dan’s other show appearances and the Bulls podcast “Organizations Win Championships.”

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For Listeners:

This summary covers the critical news and energetic discussion from the episode. You get inside info on the Bears’ latest roster gamble, medical concerns, and the ongoing rollercoaster that is Chicago sports, layered with classic Dan Bernstein wit and authenticity. If you want the pulse of Chicago sports, locker-room honesty, and sharp angles on even the headlines’ goofiest details, this episode delivers it all.

Transcript

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[A]

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered Unfiltered on 312Sports.

[B]

Welcome to Dan Bernstein Unfiltered DBU we call it. I'm Dan Bernstein, that is Matt Abaticola and we are busy today. We had a lot of Bear stuff.

[A]

To do and stupid.

[B]

We're both busy and extremely stupid and it makes for an entertaining combination. We can only hope A lot of Bears stuff we have to get to There is a new Chicago Bear, there are a lot of injured Chicago Bears and the World Series is fun. It was fun last night once again when this rookie spun himself and his historical gem. Just just for fun, we're going to go down to Louisiana, go down to the Boot, go down to the Swamp and play you what their governor said about LSU football because I'm not quite sure what happened but I like it and I want to hear it again and I want to hear this stuff I haven't heard yet that we're going to play that I absolutely cannot wait for. And the Bulls won. They're four and oh, so they're going.

[A]

To the Super Bowls.

[B]

Going to Super Bowl. I don't know that we need to get crazy. Crazy. Exc. It's certainly better than the alternative. I think there are some numbers in there that are going to regress to the mean because they're they are they're both good and a little lucky right now against some decent teams. A little follow up from something yesterday I got an answer to the question that I had for my faulty memory and whatever else we run into today. But the Bears injury report is kind of kind of icky right now, at the moment, all their wide receivers are hurt, and I'm not really kidding. I mean, I mean, the top four whiteouts on the roster didn't practice yesterday. So that's Luther Burden who suffered the concussion. DJ Moore is still nursing whatever that hip slash groin injury was that he suffered in Washington. He'll play, we imagine.

[A]

Yeah, I think, I mean, it's been like that for however long, two weeks now, where he misses a little bit of time during the week.

[B]

Rome Dunze did not practice with what is listed as a heel injury.

[A]

He's a bad guy.

[B]

He's just a heel. That's all it is. And Olamide Zacchaeus has a knee issue. So the top four wide receivers on the Chicago Bears did not practice. And it might just be time off and it could all be alleviated today. And the joke, the easy joke that everybody's making is, well, maybe they'll finally throw to the tight end if they don't have any wide receivers. The others on the injury report also not practicing. Roshan Johnson with a back injury. Dominic Robbins in the high ankle sprain, he's going to be out. And DeAndre Swift didn't practice with a groin issue. My guess is he's going to play as well because he also sat out last Wednesday.

[A]

But here's, here's the issue, though, and we can make the easy joke that maybe they'll throw to the tight end now. But we've heard Ben Johnson talk about time on task and how the reps are needed and how the passing game is evolving and how you're going into their eighth game now of the season, Week nine of the NFL. He adds more passing routes as the game plans develop and move along in the season, which they haven't had in the first seven games. And Ben and Ben Johnson hasn't called these. Caleb Williams hasn't thrown them. They haven't run them since training camp. And now you're getting new routes in with less practice time on a passing situation that is difficult, if not bad to begin with. It's not ideal where you need those time on task and you need those reps. And this is not good. This is not good going into this, where they should be able to take advantage in the passing game and get some points on the board.

[B]

The fact that Jade Walker and Devin Duvernay are likely the guys running those routes in practice doesn't necessarily bode well. But everything might just be fine today. Limited practice time for Cole Comet with his back injury and Tyreek Stevenson practiced in limited Fashion with a shoulder injury. So remember, he was considered day to day, week to week, and if he's already back in the practice field, that's a really good sign.

[A]

No, that's a good sign. And then on the Bengal side of things, with yesterday's practice, Frankenstein's monster did not practice as well as Trey Hendrickson did not practice.

[B]

And 50, 50 is what Zach Taylor says regarding the availability of Joe Flacco. And if it's Jake Browning, that'd be a whole lot better for the Bears. But you can't count those chickens, certainly based on like what Tyler Huntley did to them. Now, C.J. gardner Johnson, we know joined the Bears yesterday. The well traveled but still youngish nickel corner slash, little linebacker, safety, whatever you want to call him, relatively versatile defensive back, known for getting under the skin of both opponents and teammates. He's a Bear. And I think bringing yesterday, if you listen to forward progress, yesterday we talked about the potential mixed message that could be sent from a coach who was very clear about discipline issues regarding the penalties and saying, talk to the players. We need more leadership. And the locker room is where this is going to start. It's going to start with our leaders and then the very next transaction is to bring in somebody who has, for lack of a better umbrella term, lack discipline. CJ Gardner Johnson is not a very disciplined player and how do they justify that? Was this just kind of a football thing that happens in this league? The guys who are available are going to be imperfect dudes who have bounced around a lot. I think it shows a lot of trust in the coaching staff. So let's get into it. But I want to hear, I've got written down here. BJ Uncj, GJ what went into the.

[D]

Decision to sign CJ well, as you can tell, we've had some, some injuries over the course of the last few weeks. You know, our injury report last week was pretty healthy. And then this week, same thing. We had a lot of, you know, we've got guys dinged up and in and out, and so we have an opportunity and he was available. He's a good football player. You know, there's a number of us that have been with him in the past, and so it's a good fit.

[A]

His versatility is probably pretty enticing. Do you envision him, like starting a specific place slot corner with Kyler out.

[B]

Or how do you see that going?

[D]

Yeah, we'll put him. We'll lock him in one spot and have him learn the defense. You know, obviously he's Been with DA and so he's. He's should have some familiarity, but he's also bounced around to a few different other systems over the last few years, and so we'll see how quickly it comes back to him and whether he'll be ready to go this week or not.

[A]

Between the lines, he has reputation, I guess.

[B]

What was he like outside of the lines when he.

[D]

Yeah, he. You know, he. He ended up going on IR there for a long time. And so all I know is he's. He's a competitive player. You know, felt that during training camp that year that I was with him early in the season, and then when he came back late in the season, it's the same thing. He's. He. He loves being on the grass and playing football, and so we'll. We'll make sure that we have a good support system for him. You know, he's got a family. He's got kids that are important to him, and so we just want to make sure that we support him the best we can off the field.

[B]

With what you're trying to build inside your locker room, how do you assure that he adheres to the standards there? He has a reputation as being a little bit surly and at times, combustible.

[D]

Yeah, well, we've got a very strong locker room. We've got a positive veteran influence in there. I feel very strongly about that group. And nothing's more important than our locker room, to be clear with you. So that's certainly first and foremost of any decision we make, who we bring in or who we let go. And so I think we're all aware of how important that is and the fit that he has with that locker room.

[B]

I circled something in that. Okay, he's got a family. He's got kids. What does that have to do with it?

[A]

Oh, he was just talking there in that. In that context about having a support system around him to help him.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

Assimilate into the whole organization to the locker room. All the components that go into him feeling good about being in this situation they want to support.

[B]

Okay, that makes sense. I think it's a solid explanation, because otherwise it would sound to me like, in a way to sort of humanize him. Like he's not a monster. Yeah, he's a human being.

[A]

He actually has.

[B]

He actually has a family and. And children.

[A]

No, he was talking about supporting him, like, over. Outside of just football as well.

[B]

Maybe as he's grown older, the structure is getting better.

[A]

Hopefully that might. Because here's the thing. He.

[B]

He was Not.

[A]

He's not available because of performance or ability. He's available because of.

[B]

Because he's a penis.

[A]

Because of him?

[B]

Yes.

[A]

I mean, that's why the Texans released him. So. Yeah. And I think that just goes into. Hey, we're trying to create this really soft landing to make it easy and welcoming and we're going to support his family. And it's like, hey, some of the players, wives maybe. Let's, let's connect, let's talk and let's help. And here's the kids. And how can the kids get, you know, assimilated into a new community?

[B]

Easier if his name sounds familiar. I mentioned this NFP yesterday that his. This is the guy in the regular season game against the Saints. It was. He and Javon Wims got into the on field fight with the grabbing of the mouth guard.

[A]

But more than that, I saw the video of it this morning. He punched him. You remember a guy in a helmet and face mask.

[B]

And the best part, the best part is in the playoff, the quote unquote playoff game. Yeah. That they had later that year. Do you remember what happened?

[A]

I don't. Okay.

[B]

So they played him a second time and Negie reminded everybody, Listen, this guy, C.J. gardner Johnson is going to try to get under your skin. He's annoying. He's.

[A]

He is.

[B]

He. He's not going to stop yapping at you. Don't react. Do you remember what happened?

[A]

Somebody reacted.

[B]

Anthony Miller hit him. Anthony Miller smacked him and got a personal foul penalty. Like they literally told you, don't respond to CJ Gardner Johnson and Anthony Miller did that. And I want to say George McCaskey even said something about it like they ended up getting rid of Anthony Miller.

[A]

Oh, really? I don't.

[B]

Yeah. And then he went to the Titans. I think I. And I had another second round pick.

[A]

Oh, that's right.

[B]

That didn't pan out. And it was like, no, you didn't. They told you not to do it. Whatever you do, don't take the bait from this guy. So he has a place in Bear's lore. It's not exactly romanticized Bears lore.

[A]

Right. But it's there. And then we also learned later on in this, in his media session that he will be locked on the inside. He's playing on the inside. That's where he'll play.

[B]

Perfect.

[A]

Yep.

[B]

He's not going to be a boundary corner. No, that's his. That's what he's good at. He's. He is essentially a little linebacker with fluid hips.

[A]

Right. And so that would give him the opportunities under Dennis Allen to do some blitzing as well, which I know he wanted to do. And it was an issue in Houston, which is why he's no longer there. He didn't like the role that he was playing, so hopefully this suits him well and keeps him focused in on playing football.

[B]

I want to mention too that Dan Bernstein Unfiltered is brought to you as always in partnership with my bookie. More about them coming up in bit, but we had more from Ben Johnson.

[A]

One other cut.

[B]

Yeah. And this has to do with how you evaluate the quality of their pass rush. We look at sacks all the time as an easy, blunt statistic. But Johnson in a way says there's, there's more to how they're evaluating it.

[D]

Look at our third down numbers. I do think that's indicative of how, how our pass rush, maybe not from a sack perspective, but from a pressure perspective, has been able influence the quarterback and affect him. You know, not everyone agrees with this statement, but the hits and the pressures are equally important to me as the sacks are. And so I would love to have be leading the league in sacks right now. But affecting the quarterback is really important for us. And when I look at those true drop back situations, that's what I'm looking at more than anything is how much are we affecting the quarterback?

[A]

All right.

[B]

They're not as important to me.

[A]

No, they're not.

[B]

I will say that hits and pressures may be as important to him as sacks. They are not as important to me.

[A]

Well, I, and he said that not everyone will agree with this. I don't agree and I think no one else in the world agrees with it. If that's why he's trying to sell it to himself. Because they're not very good at creating pressure on the quarterback. If you. It's like hitting a home runner getting a walk.

[B]

Don't.

[A]

I'm not, I'm not, I'm not doing anything.

[B]

I just, I'm just trolling the hell out of me. No, I'm not.

[A]

What do you mean?

[B]

And I can tell by your face you're making the face again. I'm making. You're making your analogy. No, you're making your sports analogy.

[A]

It's. This isn't, this is the only face I got.

[B]

No, I know it's better than mine, but it's still, it's, it's still. I, I know, I know that. Don't, don't, don't do it.

[A]

It's just there was a missed opportunity last night and we'll get about it. I'm sorry, I just. I can't hold back. It's just there was a missed opportunity by the Blue Jays.

[B]

2.

[D]

Yes.

[A]

They could have been back to back walks and instead they hit home runs. What a wasted opportunity. Anyway, let's get back to this. So hate you. I don't think anyone agrees with him because like, like if a sack ends.

[B]

The plays over, period changes the game. A pressure doesn't create a loose ball.

[A]

It does. It can create more opportunities for turnover. Right. But a sack is much better. They're not equal at all. But here's the problem though, Daniel. The Bears, first of all are 25th in the league in sacks at 14. Okay. Not good.

[B]

Nope.

[A]

Here's the. Here's what, here's what I looked up to. And this is according to Pro Football Focus. And this takes into account quarterback pressures and any one particular play, you can have multiple quarterback pressures if you have more than one guy meeting to the quarterback. The Broncos, and This was through six games. The Broncos have 152 pressures through six games. Okay. This is the most updated number. The Bears had 59. Do you know where 59 puts them through those six games?

[B]

I don't last. Wow.

[A]

Okay. So while I understand where he's coming from, they're also not doing that well either.

[B]

Right? If you're asking us to go look that up now, that's that.

[A]

It doesn't help anything.

[B]

Don't plant your flag here now, unless he specifically.

[A]

Because he specifically identified third down drop back situations. Maybe the Bears are spectacular at that. Maybe they're leading the league in third down drop back pressures. I don't know. I don't have that number in front of me. But the fact that he identified that only. It's a very specific stat and you can make any stat work in any argument you want to make. So maybe the Bears are great in that and we can try to find that. But overall we know the Bears aren't getting the quarterback and sacking them. They're 25th in the league and through. Well, their first five games they had 59 pressures. Where the top team was at. Again, it was the Denver Broncos at 152. Huge discrepancy. And even, even looking at the next closest team at 65, then it jumps to 75, then 79. 82.

[B]

Yeah, okay. We'll fix that too. You paid a lot of money to try to fix it. You have paid. Your defensive ends are up there in salary with as far as overall amount of cap devoted in Total salary devoted to your pressure guys, your edge guys. You're right there with everybody. It's not for lack of resources. Devoted.

[A]

Yeah. And you know, I'm picking up on Ben Johnson and sometimes how he speaks to his team through the media. He's all. He also really builds up his team through the media because he was asked about his ends and the pressure that they're not getting. He says Sweats had two of his better, two or three of his better games recently and then compliments Dayo as being very good against the run. This last weekend it was his, it was his best run game. But he's not there for that. He's not there for that on the edge. He's there to get to the quarterback and create that.

[B]

The job that he did. Taking on a block with the correct shoulder, as they say, setting the edge, making sure that he's stout on the edge. But you could pay a lot less money for somebody to do that really well.

[A]

Correct. Very much so. So I just thought that was interesting when I heard him talk about that and knowing that the quarterback pressures is an easy thing to look up and the Bears just aren't very good at quarterback pressures or, or the sacks.

[B]

We will find out more today about how that injury report looks and it'll get give us a little better sense of where we are going into the game. That is a noon start in Cincinnati. I would like to welcome a new sponsor to Dan Bernstein Unfiltered because every athlete knows the difference between good enough to sometimes win and game changing. Championship teams don't win by showing up unprepared and the same applies to your game in the bedroom. Rougiette Ready is the three in one ED treatment that actually prepares you for the moment. Rougiette is designed to prime your brain, boost blood flow and start working in as few as 15 minutes. That's not just showing up, it's winning by a huge margin. It's an ED med that primes the brain because apomorphine boosts arousal at the source that's your brain and combines active ingredients. Sildenafil for fast action, Tadalafil for the long game. It's sublingual, which means it absorbs faster, works in as few as 15 minutes. It's way faster than most pills and there's up to a 36 hour active window. So it's ready when you are. And that doesn't just mean in the first quarter. So like an elite athlete, you got to dial in that pregame routine. Nutrition, mental prep Physical readiness. So visit rougiette.com R U G I-E-T.com and get your game plan from a licensed ED doctor. We have a promo code for you at checkout. Make sure you use the promo code DBU at checkout for a special offer treatment ships discreetly to your door. Time to get back in the game with Rougiet. That's rougiet.com and your code is DBU.

[C]

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[B]

You know the one guy in your group chat that hits that five leg parlay week one and then you hear about it the rest of the year? You probably are, because we're already what Week eight is this?

[A]

Week nine.

[B]

Week nine. Nine.

[A]

We're in week nine. This Bears eighth game.

[B]

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[A]

Season in a ball, yeah, that's insane. His path to the World Series is just. It's bizarre.

[B]

He began bananas this season. I'm not saying he's not. Last season, not two. He started this season in a ball, and then he's pitched at every level. A double a triple A, and then, oh, my God, even to make. To make the majors in that season is already a ridiculous story. That's a meteoric rise to the major leagues to do to every level in one single year. And then he. Not only has he started two World Series games, he struck out double digits in both.

[A]

One both.

[B]

One both. It's one of the greatest rookie performances ever in World Series history.

[A]

And he's. How old is he? 21?

[B]

22. 22.

[A]

And Jason's almost 21.

[B]

Correct. Zoe's 23.

[A]

Zoe's 23. Just. I mean, not only just the physical ability to actually do it, but like the mental state.

[B]

Call your kid. Are things fine? What are you doing pitching the World Series?

[A]

Right, Exactly.

[B]

That's insane.

[A]

It's just insane. Good for him. I mean, that's great. That's really, really great.

[B]

It's an amazing story. And I did my pregame Smoltz breathing okay. And I was okay. I was all right. I was trying to sublimate my tension, perhaps in my group chat with. With my boys and everybody. So they make fun of me even for. But occasionally there will be a Smoltzism to which everyone will react and thanks the emailers and everybody on Instagram, you, the DBU listener who is also trolling me, and now reacting because you've caught the allergy that somehow or the virus or whatever it is that makes you react to Smoltzisms. And now people are going back and realizing that it was Smoltz, who, after Oberg fell and after same sex marriage was legalized, it was John Smoltz who said, what's next? Marrying an animal.

[A]

Oh, did he really? Oh, yeah.

[B]

And it was also Smoltz who would not stop at the World Baseball Classic telling all of these Latin countries that they were over celebrating and they were disrespecting the game by having as much fun as they were having.

[A]

Oh, so he borderline dumb but also bad. Oh, yeah, Bad guy. Okay, interesting. All right. And I think one of. One of our emailers, and I do appreciate you reaching out. I think it's. He's not just trolling you. I think you've broken Leo from uptown.

[B]

Oh, did I?

[A]

I think so.

[B]

I know, yes.

[A]

I think he's broken.

[B]

I think what do we do to leave poor Leo? It's just.

[A]

Well, there's multiple emails and he's just. I think. I think it's. It's gotten to a point where he might need some help. I think you. I think you've broken Leo from uptown. So, Leo, if you hear this today, I hope you're doing okay and I apologize. Apologize for what Dan's done to you.

[B]

Yeah, it's. I'm sorry because it's. And even. Even Beth yesterday, because she's really enjoyed the World Series, and she goes, did he just say.

[A]

Say just don't do it, Beth. Just stop.

[B]

That's what I did.

[A]

Just stop.

[B]

She was. She's.

[D]

Don't do it.

[B]

She was looking at her phone because she half watches. Yeah. And she was sitting there. I think she's playing solitaire on her phone while the game is on. You know, we're nibbling and, you know, whatever and sitting at the coffee table and she's like. She goes, did he just say there's a. It's the fear of making a great pitch that causes that. And I said, just don't.

[A]

Yeah, don't even bother.

[B]

Don't try to put the words together. They rarely make sense. Just because he says it portentously doesn't mean it's important or meaningful or correct.

[A]

It should go in one ear, out the other immediately.

[B]

And then in the seventh, focus on solitaire. And then in the seventh inning, I had my toughest moment. I was tested in the seventh inning when he began a lengthy diatribe about how Vlad Guerrero Jr. Doesn't try to hit home runs.

[A]

That was one of the emails that I think Leo sent in. That was one of the comments about.

[B]

How Vlad Guerrero Jr. He doesn't swing to hit Homers. And that's why he makes so much contact. And even Joe Davis, Even Joe Davis said something like, well, I guess a lot of those just happened to be home runs then. It wasn't quite as snarky.

[A]

Yeah, but he was.

[B]

He tried.

[A]

I think he's getting tired.

[B]

He tried to bring it in to reel it in a little bit.

[A]

Like, come on, bud.

[B]

He's kind of, kind of trying to hit home runs there.

[A]

I'm not sure if you saw this.

[B]

About your police work there, but there's.

[A]

A really interesting World Series coincidence that has taken place. I'm not sure if you, if you saw this online anywhere. There have been two. 18 inning World Series.

[B]

Brad Paisley.

[A]

Oh, it's like how.

[B]

I mean, what a.

[A]

What a. Just a funny coincidence.

[B]

Brad Paisley.

[A]

Wins by. By one run, obviously. 18 innings, only time ever.

[B]

And it's Brad Paisley and he's a big Dodgers fan.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

And he's. He's owned it. He said, I couldn't believe it was happening again. I guess I. Mr. Extra Baseball or whatever. Whatever you want to say. And the fact that he's also having fun with it is fun.

[A]

Yeah, no, it's good.

[B]

He's.

[A]

He's a good dude. And so he's done the national anthem twice for two World series games and he's gotten four innings, four games worth of innings out of it. So if you want extra innings in the World Series, get Brad Paisley to sing. Maybe they can do it like a duet next time with him and Peyton Manning.

[B]

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[A]

You forgot the afternoon snack though. Oh, so lunch, then dinner and then you got that, you know, after that mid afternoon snack.

[B]

Pre pre workout or pre, pre. Like you take a. Some people take a walk or you're.

[A]

In the office and you're getting ready to fall asleep. You need something instead of going to the vending machine for like a candy bar. Yes.

[B]

Get the perk.

[A]

Something healthy gets you going.

[B]

The perk shake. Cocoa, malt, whey or espresso, Whey, protein, chocolate, whey, protein, almond milk. 24 grams of protein in the perk. And speaking of perks, that's why you have to download the app at the moment right now, limited time only.50% off at protein bar and kitchen on the app with the code DBU50. DBU50.

[A]

It's on the app only though, so just make that very clear. You have to use the app and.

[B]

It could just be like, oh, I'm going to protein bar anyway, I've got the app. Why don't you just use the code? Yeah, but if you don't have the app, get the app, download the app. Takes two seconds and then you use the code DBU50. It's not applicable on delivery or catering orders or at the PBK airport locations, but everywhere else. Just go, enjoy. I'm telling you, it is. If you have a decision to make about where you're going to go, you are going to be, you're going to not only be happy when you go to pbk, you're going to want to thank me. You're going to want to track me down and you're going to want to thank me. I've.

[A]

I've tried about half the menu now because I just, I mean, seriously. I know. I mean like the chili to the salads, to the breakfast burritos.

[B]

It's good.

[A]

This stuff's great. I mean, it's so, it's so good. And it's, it's all made right there in front of you. Like, it's nothing like, oh, we gotta pull it out of the fridge and throw it in the microwave. And you know, that's, that's not how this works. This is fresh food right there in front of you. It's, it's fantastic.

[B]

I've not heard all of this press conference yesterday, but we talked about, about Brian Kelly and his departure from lsu. The way the athletic director was trying to negotiate his way out of this massive $60 million buyout of state funds. And like, yeah, this is LSU, Louisiana State University. There are state officials involved and everybody, they probably care more in Louisiana about helping LSU football than they do helping the average or citizen of that state. And I don't think I'm exaggerating. I think they care more about LSU football than they do the actual average citizen. And maybe the average citizen cares more about LSU football too. And that's why the elected officials can get away with it. But it's a massive number on the books because of what their athletic director's done. The AD tried and I think successfully to negotiate some pennies on the dollar when it comes to this buyout. But either way, the state is on the hook and the governor is not happy.

[A]

Yeah, very much job too, man.

[B]

So is this in full?

[A]

This is in full. I didn't want to cut and, or edit any of it down. I just, this is, this is, this.

[B]

Isn'T the state house.

[A]

This is the state house. This is a governor of a state here. And it's not that far of a stretch anymore in this country. This, this. And it's a full, it's 2 minutes, 5 seconds. Didn't want to edit it down at all. I want you to hear the entire.

[B]

Ladies and gentlemen, Louisiana Governor Jeff Landry.

[E]

We are not going down a failed path. And I wanted to tell you something, this is a pattern. The guy that's here now that wrote that contract cost Texas A&M 70 something million dollars. Right now we got a 53 million dollar liability. We are not doing that again. And you know what I believe? I believe that we're going to find a great coach and maybe we'll let President Trump pick it. He loves winners. You know, I'm not going to be picking the next coach, but I can promise you we're going to pick a coach and we're going to make sure that that coach is successful and we're going to make sure that he's compensated properly and we're going to put metrics on it because I'm tired of rewarding failure in this country and then leaving the taxpayers on the foot, you know, to foot the bill. So yeah, absolutely. Who said no? I can tell you right now, Scott Woodward is not selecting the next coach. Hell, I'll let Donald Trump select it before I let him do it. I don't know. But the Board of Supervisors is going to come up with a Committee, and they're going to go find us a coach. Because I want to hold up one real quick thing on that, because here's what y' all reporters need to do. Y' all need to start looking at who represents all these people, like, these agents. You know what's interesting, if I'm not mistaken, Woodard's agent, Kelly's agent, the Texas A and M, they're all the same agent. Like, you realize, if I would be. I don't know how y'.

[B]

All.

[E]

How many sports riders we got here today?

[B]

Just you.

[E]

We should have a bunch. Okay, like, this is ridiculous. Lawyers would be this board for the way these agents act and the way they're able to represent. In fact, they may. There's no doubt they may even represent some of the players. Now, like, it's really time for the NCAA to put on some guardrails in college sports, because it is fine. We don't need to guard rails. If big billionaires want to spend all that kind of money, no problem. But if I got to go find $53 million from Kemp, it's not going to be a pleasant conversation. I'm just telling you like I know, and I think that that's important as well. Y' all should start looking into that.

[B]

Okay, first of all, next time he holds a press conference, I would suggest he wear a shirt, because I thought giving. I thought giving that entire press conference shirtless was a decision and you don't have to sit in a rocking chair. Yeah, yeah. I just, like, I think if you're the governor of a state sitting there without a shirt in a rocking chair, that's a little much. And also, the people positioned behind him. Well, not just people like his. His closest advisors were sitting behind him in the camera angle, one of which was simply a snapping turtle wearing a straw hat, and the other was a gator. Right. And I know they're his closest confidants and longtime advisors to. To the governor's office, but. And I know it's a. It's a relatively smart snapping turtle and certainly a brilliant alligator, but you just. We're not going to maybe have the same kind of confidence in the quality of state government if you keep. Want to having parade yourself out there looking like that.

[A]

Listen, I'm not going to argue with a portion of what he said about.

[B]

Stuff about Trace Armstrong, about.

[A]

About the agents. Yeah, that's. You know, he's. He's. He's not wrong there. But here's the thing that stood out. When he was like, we're tired of paying for, for losing. Okay. I, I just, I wanted to look up real quick where the state of Louisiana ranks in our country.

[B]

Oh, in like child mortality, poverty.

[A]

So this is US News and World Report and these are on 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 categories. Last year the state of Illinois or the state of Louisiana ranked 50th in 2024. Here's where they are in 2025 in all of these. Listen, overall, they ranked 50th last year.

[B]

Overall. Well, nowhere to go but up.

[A]

Crime and corrections this year. 50. Economy 50. Education. 46. Fiscal stability. 46. Healthcare. 44. Infrastructure. 48. Natural environment. 49. Opportunity as an economic opportunity. 46. Their overall ranking for 20, 25. 50.

[B]

The worst state. But they got all that money for Louisiana football, LSU, as James Carville once said, as 97,000 people are chanting. And James Carville, who himself, by the way, also has to stop giving press conferences shirtless because that guy's just a complete job. He says, he said most people in that building can't even spell lsu. And well, and well, it's. Look, I've been down in Louisiana a lot lately and I love it. I adore Louisiana.

[A]

Okay, well, you've been in New Orleans.

[B]

Yes. And I've been to Shreveport. Okay. It was the. That Shreveport was the best gambling night of my life. That's when I put $2 in the hotel lobby of the Isle of Capri Casino Hotel and I put $2 in a video poker machine. I hit one button and it came up a royal flush in order to.

[A]

How much did you win?

[B]

$500.

[A]

Wow.

[B]

And then.

[A]

That's great.

[B]

And then that night I went to the Isle of Capri Casino and I won another $150 playing roulette. And that was the last of my, of my great experiences. That was the night I felt like I was king of the world. I really did. I bet I felt like I was riding high and it was. And then they lost to the. We lost to the Shreveport Crawdads the next day because of Romeo Robinson.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Romeo Robinson had himself a game for the Shreveport Crawdads.

[A]

Yeah, that was like my night at Rivers where roulette and Red23 hit on back to back spins, walked away with a little bit of pocket money and went the next day to Ace and I bought a Traeger pellet smoker.

[B]

That's how you do it. You turn it, you go from.

[A]

You turn it left.

[B]

We left with money and turn into a hard asset an immediately depreciating hard ass. And it's not an investment. No, but you went and got something. I'm glad it wasn't a Traeger smoker. That wasn't a Jet Ski.

[A]

No, I don't do Jet Skis.

[B]

I know, but like, that's the kind of thing people buy.

[A]

Yeah, no, I got a Traeger smoker and it's served. Served us well for the last several years, including several the last couple Thanksgivings.

[D]

All right.

[B]

Two conclusions from that LSU press conference. One, if I'm Scott Woodward, I resign today.

[A]

Okay.

[B]

You have to.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

You have to. In.

[A]

The governor of the state says you're.

[B]

Not allowed to hire the coach. How do you. Whoever that coach is, you're not his boss.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah. He just cut his legs out.

[B]

Cut his leg, cut his balls off. He got his legs out. He blew him up. He blowed up real good. Like what. What do you. You gotta quit.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

If the stuff that the governor just said, your authority is gone, he absolutely vaporized your authority. You have to step down today. And the second thing is, if I'm a coach, unless they, whoever it is, gives me the same or double the buyout that I would never go near that job.

[A]

Oh, I.

[B]

There are without incredible guarantees.

[A]

Well, there are people that will run towards it because it's lsu. But if you have half a brain in your head and you're a football coach and you're not CTE and concussed, stay away from that job.

[B]

The question is, John Sumrall, stay away from that job. The current two lane coach who is going to get one of these open jobs, one of these big time legacy program open jobs, is going to be John Summerall.

[A]

But everything that's happened in the last week or so, week and a half with this, that is a red flag. Stay away, John.

[B]

Get out of Louisiana. Yeah, I'd love for you to stay at Tulane for one more year. I know you're not going to, but run.

[A]

Run out of there. I'm not sure if you watched it yet or not, but the. The Spike Lee doc on Netflix called Katrina Come Hell in High Water.

[B]

Okay.

[A]

If you haven't watched it again, I'll highly recommend you to watch it. And it just goes back to yesterday's show, the end of Yesterday's for Progress where I said, you want to find any, any issues in life, any real life issue problems, just, you know, find the old white guy. Well, that's what you'll learn when you watch Katrina Come Hell in High Water. Just follow the Old white guys.

[B]

Heck of a job, Brownie. Yeah.

[A]

Follow the old white guys.

[B]

Doing it.

[A]

Doing a job, Brownie. Heartbreaking documentary to watch and just terrible story.

[B]

Boy, I watched the Bulls last night. I was flipping between the Bulls and the World Series and you know, I just reiterating how much I miss Jason Goff on pregame, halftime and post game because I get these like, Phantom like, ooh, halftime. And now I'm like, oh, halftime. It's just. It's just not the same. Yep, it really. And like, oh, where Stacy and Adam, when they used to cut it up before the games and there was that little five minute thing there and they would have. It's just. Just the sizzle's not there. Yeah, the winking stuff, the young jokes, the energy and it's not bad. It's just fine. You know, just everything is.

[A]

It checks a box, that's sometimes that's all you're gonna get. Yeah, a box checked.

[B]

That's essentially what it is now. I love the way the Bulls are playing. I love the energy, I love the pace that they're getting out and running. And to see DeMar DeRozan out there and be reminded of what DeMar jail used to look like, to be reminded of what it was like. Oh, we'd love to push the pace. We'd love. Oh, wait, we have to stop. We have to slow everything down. We have to take 15 seconds of every shot clock to let the. Let Demar do his things and do his head fakes and then we kick it out. And then to watch Zach Levine have some spectacular drives to the basket. Some contested threes, some long threes. 30 points in a loss. In a. In a, In a. In a fairly easy loss. Yeah, they did a really nice job with Sabonis too. And I mentioned it yesterday, that as long as you guard him, as long as you try to keep him away from the basket, don't let him establish post position, don't let him on that secondary break start dishing everything out and try to guard him as best you can on the rolls. He got free a bunch of times. And you're going to do that against Vuch? Vuch got him once, though. Vuch. Vuch swung through, did his little jab step, went right by him. And Modest continues to not be told that he can't do stuff. Modest continues to say, all right, if you, Sabonis, you're an all star player, but you're too slow. You're not quick enough to guard me. And they. Billy was confident in isolating him because he's Sabonis can be had defensively when you, when you bring him out away from the basket and test his foot speed. But the Bulls continue to rebound, and somehow they're continuing to make opponents miss threes.

[A]

That voodoo magic.

[B]

Well, that is going to snap back. There's no question that's going to.

[A]

That.

[B]

That is it.

[A]

Just by the nature of the four teams, they've played well.

[B]

Orlando. Yeah, okay, but. And they, they're. They're better at rotations, they're better at closeouts. I'm not taking away some credit for what they're doing when it comes to closing out under control, not fouling and contesting threes, but there's also some wide open threes that have been missed, some unguarded threes. And that's going to change. That is going to change. I laughed out loud last night when there was a sequence in the game. That is how Sacramento has to understand the DeMar DeRozan experience. And if you know my bit, and you probably do, it was the idea of trading twos for threes. That always happens with how the demar will work and work and work and work and fall away and hit a two and everybody goes crazy and then the other team runs down and hits a three. Always. So the bit was in the. Your home PA guy, demar Dera, three point field goal, random NBA guy. And it was always just some dude. Yeah. And it was some spectacular. The crowd would go crazy because demar is up faking and spinning and up faking and leaning and drawing contact. Demar Durra and three pointer, random dude. And it happened the opposite way last night. Demar did that for the Kings and he's fighting and faking and fighting and faking and squeezes up a shot and it goes in and then boom, boom. Patrick Williams three. Yeah, get him back for it. P. Will. And they knew it. They knew it the moment it went in. They just like chuck it up to court and go, how about Patrick Williams trying the Bulls guys, Trey Jones, Kevin Herder, Patrick Williams. And now you're not. Patrick Williams is well worth his contract. He's only making what, 19 million? That's nothing.

[E]

Yeah.

[A]

So what's, what's the change here? Is it the fact that you don't have the alleged superstar, the, you know, the high contract guy demands the ball? Is it more of a team effort? What's the. Is it coaching?

[B]

It's. It is concentration. It's awareness. It's coaching. I love this five out set that they're running. Yeah.

[A]

Is that that pistol that you're talking about?

[B]

Yep. And you saw every bit of it and everything they can do off of it yesterday. The off ball cuts, the number of guys and the deflections on defense. Trey Jones, a pest. Yeah, he's a tough little nut.

[A]

I was watching some highlights the other night or last night of the game so far, and Bazella's had this one move. He went. He went. I might have been on the base, the baseline. Reverse dunk. That was really pretty. Yeah, like, that was really slick to get around. It was really, really nice.

[B]

He also, and Jason pointed this out to me. He stepped out of bounds on that play. Yes.

[A]

All right, well, I don't like that.

[B]

Yeah, he was out of bounds.

[A]

We're going to say no.

[B]

And. But I wasn't. I wasn't really sure.

[A]

So you stepped around. It never went out.

[B]

The other point that was made. And if you are a big Bulls fan, make sure you're listening to Organizations win championships. It's back. We've been having a blast, and at the moment, it's coming out every Tuesday afternoon. So you can go listen to the latest edition of it. One thing that my partner did point out was the Caruso Giddy trade. Win, win. Both teams.

[A]

Oh, yeah, for sure.

[B]

Both teams won that trade.

[A]

I liked. I like him a lot as a player. Giddy. No, Caruso. I like. I always like watching him. Yeah, I always liked watching him.

[B]

Of course you do. But he's only going to play 50 games a year because he's playing padless football out there.

[E]

I'm not kidding.

[A]

He is.

[B]

He. He plays the equivalent of Pat. Speaking of which, when I noted on OWC a particular skill of Josh Giddey, because Giddy, six, eight and long, he also has a. He's a. Does a great job timing the offensive rebound bat back. He's really good at that. Really good at high. Pointing the ball in a way where he's able to tip it back to a teammate. That's a super valuable skill, even if you're not going up with two hands. And sometimes he does go up with two hands, but still will bounce it back. Best I've seen since Marcin Gortot the Polish Hammer. All right. And I got an email who said that is a byproduct. Maybe it was in the comments on YouTube who said that's a byproduct of Aussie Rules football, where you have to learn to do that. You have to learn to make a catch or attack a ball with contact at its peak with multiple other people. Yeah, that rarely. It doesn't happen in American football as much. It's usually one other person, maybe two, but. But often you get a large group of people all trying to reach for the same ball in the air and it's just something that you learn. So for whatever reason, they struggle with giddy out too with that five out set. He gets downhil so well with that. The way they do the corner turn. He had a backspin move that was excellent. So the Bulls are worth your time, I'll say that.

[A]

Well, here's what's coming up for the Bulls. They're tomorrow at home against the Knicks. They got a home and away. Then Sunday they're at MSG. Tuesday they host the 76ers. Next week, Friday. So a week from a week from tomorrow they are at Milwaukee to take the Bucks. Then they have back to back nights and the Saturday they're in Cleveland and then they get a couple, they get a day off and then they are at home again, San Antonio. So that's what their next 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 games look like. Knicks, Knicks, 76ers, Bucks, Cavaliers and Spurs now.

[B]

But I want you to look, look at the last 10 games of their season. If you want to start looking at what you count as a loss and what you count as a win. And you start looking at near the end of the year where it. You're talking about a very, very different schedule. If you start looking at those teams near the end, look at their last 10 games.

[A]

Mavericks. This is backwards. Mavericks, Magic, Wizards, Wizards, Suns, Knicks, Pacers, Spurs, Grizzlies, Thunder.

[B]

Yeah, there are some end of year the Wizards, Wizards and the Pacers are bad. So there are. I was looking at, I started to look at the schedule a little bit now because you were talking about could they be the six.

[A]

That's interesting though. The, that's those two games against the Wizards, Dan, that you, you call out are Tuesday, April 7th at the Wizards, Thursday, April 9th at the Wizards.

[B]

Schedule's weird. And. And your playoff teams are going to be resting people too.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So that's why I always wonder. The Knicks are probably going to be resting people at that point because they're going to be trying to win the championship.

[A]

And so if you're, if you've bought in to what Dan's selling for you here on the Bulls and. No, no, listen, listen. No, I don't mean a negative way. It's just maybe you don't normally consume them and maybe now, all right, maybe you got. Your interest has been piqued a bit from what Dan is saying about the team. I think this is a good opportunity for you tomorrow night and Sunday night to catch the Bulls against the Knicks. We all know, even if you're not a huge NBA fan like myself, that the Knicks are a really good team in the East. One of the very better teams in the East. This is a good opportunity to see what the Bulls can do, not just in the East.

[B]

The Knicks could win a title in the whole thing. They could win a title.

[A]

But yeah, so you have the Knicks tomorrow night and then you have the Knicks on Sunday. So a home and away.

[B]

So just let them, they, they, they make it worth your time and maybe worth your money because of how hard they play.

[A]

Yeah. And you know, tomorrow's Halloween. Maybe you got kids going out trick or treating or you're doing things. It's a, you know, throw the game on the tv. Maybe you're sitting out in the driveway with a bonfire like we're going to do. Maybe you can throw the TV out in the garage and have the game on. Or.

[B]

Are you really?

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah, we do every. Yeah, that's, that's our thing on Halloween night. We get a little table set up. We do a bonfire. A couple years ago when I was still drinking, I would have like drinks for adults walking by the neighborhood, walking with kids and would have fun things to drink.

[B]

And yeah, our next door neighbor does like a loaded coffee and put a samovar out there for the adults with a little something. Something in it. Yeah, yeah.

[A]

I think two years ago when I did it, I. The last time I did this, I was like a spiced apple margarita. It was good stuff. And then, yeah, we'd have food, going to have some people over.

[B]

I wanna thank everybody for reminding me yesterday at this time I was trying to remember I was explaining to you that night, the night in Rockford, the fright night. I said usually there was this big night at the Metro center where fight night or something. And then everybody else would fight and we'd be. No matter what bar you went to, people would come in covered in blood and all beaten up and bruised and bloody. What it was was called Tough Man. And thanks to the Rockfordians that have reminded me, Tough man competition. And they'd set up a ring and they had gloves there and you would sign up and it was king of the hill. And people would. Regular civilians would sign up and people would pay money to watch other people beat each other up. And people would get drunk and they would think they could fight and they would go in there and it was like all comers, they would, I believe, nominally use amateur boxing rules and nominally have paramedics or people, some ring doctors standing by. But it was essentially drunken locals beating the shit out of each other for other people's amusement.

[A]

And it ended because someone died, I'm sure.

[B]

Oh, I don't even know. The owners fled to Antigua or something. I don't know exactly what was going on. But they. People would just beat each other up and then in the stands, people would fight, they would spill out, they'd fight in the streets and then they go to bars and drink more and lick their wounds and. Or continue fighting.

[A]

They literally lick their wounds.

[B]

But it would be. It would be. It was just a night where Rockford fought itself. And maybe it was a way of letting off steam, but I didn't know because I hadn't really lived there. Oh, yeah, don't go out tonight. Why? It's tough, man. I forgot the name of it.

[A]

That's insane.

[B]

It's insane. It is. It was insane. And I'd be in a bar and there'd be people like half their face missing or their nose broken or, you know, their eye hanging out by the optic nerve and you're like, what the hell's going on here? That's what it was. It was Rockford tough, man. So I wanted to put some closure on that. Also, a reminder very quickly, every Monday and Friday, I am on 97.1fm. 97.1fm the Drive, Chicago's classic rock. Every Monday and Friday at 8:15 with Sherman and Tingle. If they haven't been sent away to the home for, for the. The weird and. And crazy, I come in and if they're. If they're not sort of incarcerated, there they are. And then I do the show with them and we talk sports and things and stuff. And it's fun. It is. I love the remaining connection to terrestrial radio. But if you are happen to be a Sherman and Tingle fan, a classic rock fan, and you just want to get a little taste of stuff on the way in, give it a shot because we're really enjoying it. And just a quick reminder that you can also hear me there back on live actual radio. I got to get my DBU picks ready because I know we have to do that tomorrow as well. And if you are waiting for Sunday to start betting, you're missing half the fun and half the money. College football's already cooking upsets, blowouts, wild covers. My bookie lets you hit it all with game lines, with player props and more. Everything you need before the pros even kick off. When Sunday rolls around, you are already up. I can't make my decisions until I get today's injury report. I don't know about you if you have more confidence in your picks than I do, but I want to make sure.

[A]

I'm bad lately.

[B]

Yeah, I'm struggling. I'm getting close in all these parlays, but close does not count. So you don't hear me bragging about it or the game that I said that I should have picked and I didn't pick. My bookie has everything under one roof. You can win big on the NFL super contest and Survivor pools. And if you're new to my bookie, make sure you use our code DBU. Then any bet you choose up to $500 is fully covered. So make your play and then if it doesn't hit, you get it right back when you opt in using the bet back bonus token. It's my bookie where betters win together. Because bragging is good, but cashing in is better.

[A]

1983 movie tough enough starring Dennis Quaid features a tough man contest.

[B]

Okay, if you're interested.

[A]

In 2003, tough man faced public scrutiny after the death of Stacy Young in a Tough woman bout. Stage is part of the Tough man competition in Sarasota, Florida. Young was a last minute entry. She faced Sarah Kobe in the ring. Kobe's hits on Young led to Young's death from brain injuries. Okay, so there you go. But if you want to see the movie Tough Enough Starring Dennis Quaid, 1983, you can. The film apparently features a tough man contest. And someone who fought in Tough man or ran them or started them or did something served as a technical advisor and inspired the character played by Warren Oates.

[B]

Warren Oates, My guy. Warren Oates was Sergeant Hulka in Stripes.

[A]

Oh, really?

[B]

Yeah. Lighten up, Francis.

[A]

Oh, man.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That's what a great movie is. Such a fantastic.

[B]

Yeah, When I showed it to Jason, I did it.

[A]

Did it work or no? Did he like it?

[B]

Oh, yeah. Okay. But I forgot about the gratuitous nudity.

[A]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

When John Larroquette's character has the spyglass and he's looking into the showers. I forgot about that scene. Completely forgot about that scene. It was on the other night, actually.

[A]

Oh, is it really?

[B]

Yeah. I mean, it's not okay anymore. All this stuff and like the kind of rapey stuff that goes on at Barnacky's house and Barnacky Yeah. That's Sean Young and PJ Soules. I had forgotten that was Sean Young. The MPs.

[A]

Oh, yeah, yeah. Yes.

[B]

Yeah. There's a lot of guys in. And Judge Reinhold is in it.

[A]

Reinhold's in it.

[B]

John Candy, the Great John. That's another documentary we gotta watch.

[A]

Oh, I still haven't watched it.

[B]

Yeah, it's supposed to be wonderful.

[A]

Yeah, I'm gonna get. After this weekend.

[B]

I just wonder, do they use the song Tough Enough by the Fabulous Thunderbirds?

[A]

I hope so, because, I mean, why wouldn't you? But because you haven't heard that song enough.

[B]

A little too on the nose.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Ain't that tough enough? Yes, it is. It's tough. It is tough enough.

[A]

Well, maybe we can bring them back. The tough man things. Maybe we can. We can do one here in the studio.

[B]

I'd lose.

[A]

No, not us.

[B]

Behind us.

[A]

Oh, I thought you mean. Oh, God, we would definitely lose.

[B]

Oh, you'd clobber me.

[A]

I don't want to fight you. I know. We'd have one. Go on behind us.

[B]

Sherman and Tingle. Have them fight each other.

[A]

Oh, we could do show fights.

[B]

Show fights?

[A]

Oh, we've kicked their ass.

[B]

Well, we kicked the Mix's ass. What do you, Brian Peruk, gonna beat us up? No, you Peruke. You Brian. Brian the whipping boy.

[D]

Yeah.

[A]

No, I think we should do show fights. Do those. I would. To put money on us.

[B]

Yeah, but maybe Janda knows, like. Like Shaolin karate or something. She knows everything. She probably has, like, you know, some weird fighting style.

[A]

Well, we wouldn't fight women, though. We would just. We'd keep it within the. Yeah, but she. Women can fight each other.

[B]

She might just come in and kick our ass anyway. She's got a damn Marconi. She's gonna hit us over the head with her Marconi award.

[A]

That's why I like the way we're set up. Someone comes in, they're going for you first.

[B]

Yeah, you get it right in the back.

[A]

And I'm down.

[B]

Yeah, you're hidden behind the desk here. Yeah, I think it's how you arranged it. On purpose. All right, that's going to do it for DBU today. Stay tuned. Forward progress is coming your way. Later. We've got a special guest today.

[A]

We do.

[B]

Patrick Finley.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Of the Chicago Sun Times.

[A]

Little Bears conversation.

[B]

A lot of Bears conversation. So that's DBU. We will be back tomorrow with the top 10 Bengals of all time. So sit back, relax, and strap it down. We have been brought to you in partnership with my bookie, Dan Bernstein.

[A]

Unfiltered.

[B]

Unfiltered.

[A]

On three. One, two, sports.