Dan Bernstein Unfiltered

Episode: "Chicago Bears - Byard, Thuney and Dalman named to the Pro Bowl"

Date: December 23, 2025

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of "Dan Bernstein Unfiltered" dives into the recent Pro Bowl announcements highlighting three Chicago Bears selections (Joe Thuney, Kevin Byard, and Drew Dalman), scrutinizes snubs (notably, NeShon Wright), and celebrates the Bears’ improbable triumph over the Packers. Dan and Matt also riff on the rare accountability in sports interviews, sports fandom psychology, current MLB news (notably regarding Munetaka Murakami and Luis Robert Jr.), and touch on health scares like radioactive shrimp. Expect trademark Chicago wit, deep dives into sports culture, and moments of pure sports fan delight.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Chicago Bears’ Pro Bowl Selections

• Joe Thuney (LG): Earns his fourth Pro Bowl, praised for being the Bears’ best player and embodying exactly what was expected of him as a high-impact acquisition.
• Kevin Byard (S): Veteran safety, recognized with his third Pro Bowl nod.
• Drew Dalman (C): Gets his first Pro Bowl selection, with the hosts noting his fit in an outside zone scheme—despite a recent poor performance.
• NeShon Wright Snub: Hosts are shocked Wright wasn’t included, considering he leads the league in takeaways after being thrust into action due to injuries, emphasizing his journey from roster afterthought to star.
  • “He’s leading the NFL in takeaways... to not be included in the first pass is bizarre.” (Matt, 02:15)
• Discussion on how Pro Bowl alternates and second-team All-Pro honors can sometimes recognize overlooked players.

2. Pro Bowl Game Format Changes

• The physical Pro Bowl game has been de-emphasized to minimize injury risk, making the honor less fraught but still prestigious.
  • “As an honor, congratulations, we’re honoring you by making you do something that hurts... No, thank you.” (Dan, 02:12)

3. The Divine Intervention Sports Riff

• Dan’s long-standing wish comes true: an athlete blames God after losing, not only crediting divine power for success.
  • Nate Hobbs (Packers CB) Locker Room Quote:

    “God already chose who was going to win the game... there was so many things that went their way that just wasn’t normal... It was already written.” (Nate Hobbs, 08:06)

• Dan is delighted by the matter-of-fact attribution and explores the theology and sports psychology of blaming (or crediting) a higher power.
  • “I've waited. I've lived long enough for an NFL player after the game, so matter-of-factly, you know, that's not a joke.” (Dan, 22:00)
• Extended riff between Dan and Matt on free will, predestination, and the humorous imagery of divine interventions (the “Holy Ghost setting a pick in the end zone”), playfully mixing sports analysis with theology.

4. Fan Reactions and Sports Euphoria

• The hosts share personal anecdotes and observations about Bears fans’ ecstatic (and sometimes performative) post-game reactions.
  • Matt describes being secretly filmed by his wife during tense game moments—“That’s my pose too. When it gets real... standing sort of chin tucked to chest, arms folded...” (Dan, 12:41)
• They dissect emotional, involuntary reactions to sports wins (high-pitched joy, “surrender cobra” despair), and poke fun at over-the-top fan videos.
• Cheese-themed Bears-Packers rivalry gags are referenced, highlighting both those who “get the bit” and the angry, confused detractors:
  • “Those who get the bit, thank you. Those who don’t get the bit, a bigger thank you.” (Dan, 15:38)
• Reflection on how certain losses or wins are remembered much more deeply by competitors and fans—linking to poker and golf (23:02, 26:34).

5. Golf and Memory in Sports

• Discussion shifts to personal experiences with golf, the importance of selective memory for enjoyment, and how some people (especially athletes and coaches like Sean McVay) have near-photographic recall of plays/games.
  • “For me, it’s three shots. I need of 18... and then I can enjoy being outside.” (Matt, 28:35)
• Contrast with pros who can vividly recount every play, and how that extends to other sports (LeBron James, Larry Bird, etc.) (30:17).

6. MLB Notes: Murakami & Luis Robert Jr.

• Dan urges against exoticizing Japanese players, referencing the White Sox’ Munetaka Murakami signing and previous awkward fandom around players like Kosuke Fukudome.
  • “Please, please, please do not make this what we’ve had way too many times... It just turns gross... Japanese players, they’re baseball players.” (Dan, 41:45)
• Mentions previous Sox Japanese players (Tadahito Iguchi, Shingo Takatsu, and Fukudome himself) to make the point that having Japanese talent is not “exotic” anymore.
• Reports on Luis Robert Jr. trade talks: Sox possibly moving their once-bright star to the Reds and potentially eating half of his $20M salary—lamenting how quickly the championship window has slammed shut (45:11).

7. Radioactive Shrimp Public Health Alert

• Humorous but earnest coverage of an FDA recall for potentially radioactive shrimp sold at many grocery chains, including Jewel Osco in Illinois.
  • “83,800 bags of frozen raw shrimp... might be contaminated with cesium-137...” (Dan, 48:29)
• Jokes about potential superhuman/superhorse effects should contaminated shrimp reach local animals (shrimp man, shrimp horse quirks).
  • “I’m a little worried we could get shrimp horse.” (Dan, 51:41)
• Practical advice: if you bought such shrimp at Jewel, take it back—don’t risk it.

8. College Football & Off-Field Scandal

• Brief but scathing summary of new Athletic reporting on Michigan football coach Sherrone Moore, including workplace misconduct and propositioning multiple women on social media, and the surprising calls for “hearing his side” from Adam Schefter and some fans.
  • “Let’s not hold a blind eye to what’s right and wrong.” (Matt, 39:56)
• Notes the possibility of legal liability for the university (37:59).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On divine blame for losing:
  “God already chose who was going to win the game... it was already written.”
  — Nate Hobbs, Packers CB (08:06, played/referenced multiple times)

• Dan’s delight in hearing God blamed:
  “I've waited. I've lived long enough for an NFL player after the game, so matter-of-factly... that's not a joke.” (22:00)

• On Pro Bowl format:
  “Congratulations, we’re honoring you by making you do something that hurts. Here’s a broken leg, right? No, thank you.” (A: 02:13; B: 02:11)

• On Japanese players and cultural stereotyping:
  “Let’s not make this into some exotic thing... It's a worldwide game.” (41:45)

• On fan bit confusion:
  “Those who get the bit, thank you. Those who don’t get the bit, a bigger thank you.” (15:38)

• On selective sports memory:
  “All I need to do is remember enough good shots and forget the bad ones and enjoy being outside... I kind of stopped keeping score.” (Dan, 27:16)

• On radioactive shrimp:
  “Don't eat it. Take it back. You probably don't even want it around you, frankly... you don't want to become shrimp man.” (50:29)

• On athletes’ recall skills:
  “Most PGA guys can walk you through the entire... every club choice... LeBron is like that after a game. Larry Bird was like that.” (30:17)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment Details | |-----------|----------------| | 00:00–03:50 | Pro Bowl announcements & immediate reactions | | 08:06 | Nate Hobbs’ “God chose who was going to win the game” quote | | 12:00–15:46 | Fan reaction videos, rivalry bits, and viral moment analysis | | 22:00 | Dan’s lifelong dream fulfilled—athlete blames God for loss | | 26:34 | Poker/golf memory digression—how painful losses imprint on psyche | | 41:44–43:35 | Cultural commentary on Munetaka Murakami, history of Japanese in Chicago MLB | | 48:29–51:41 | Radioactive shrimp recall—public safety with trademark show humor | | 37:59–40:09 | University of Michigan, Sherrone Moore misconduct allegations | | 45:11–46:46 | Sox-Reds trade rumors, Luis Robert Jr. emotional recap |

Tone & Language

True to the show's title, the language is candid, witty, and at times irreverent—mixing sports expertise with classic Chicago snark and humor. The dynamic between Dan and Matt vacillates between in-depth sports analysis, lighthearted banter, and moments of over-the-top ridicule of both opponents and zealous fans.

Conclusion

This episode encapsulates what makes Chicago sports talk unique: a blend of passionate support, hard-edged skepticism, and good-natured fun—always with an unfiltered edge. From dissecting football honors and divine interventions in outcomes, to poking fun at radioactive shrimp or the pitfalls of cultural stereotyping, Dan and Matt keep things brisk, insightful, and very Chicago.