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Mark McCray
You know what's missing. Real talk about what Black men go through mentally and emotionally. Man Listen Mental Health Conversations for Men of Color we're diving into the real stuff. The pressure, the struggles, the healing. No filters, just brothers sharing their truth about navigating life and finding purpose. Whether you're living it, supporting someone who is, or just want to understand, this is for you. I'm Mark McCray and I'm ready to have these conversations. Find us by searching. Man Listen Mental wherever you get your
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Dan Bernstein
Dan Bernstein Unfiltered Unfiltered on 312Sports DBU on 312 is brought to you by our friends at Chicago Window Guys, that's Russ Armstrong, you know, 847-302-9-171 in ChicagoNowGuys.com and also in partnership with my bookie. It is always my goal to make sure you have the best possible information when it comes to the biggest stories. So I always do my best to try to be open to all kinds of opinions on the things that matter most and make sure we're being fair. So let me say first, I'm always going to call bullshit on stadium deals and subsidizing billionaires I think is generally bad policy for governments to just hand out money to sports teams owners because yay sports. I think a lot of people get screwed over and it's bad for everybody. However, not every sports deal is bad. Some are better than others. Obviously you want the billionaires to pony up a whole lot of money and I just, I want to rewind some of this Bears stuff because we are in there's a lot of bear stuff going on right now because they're back on the field mincing around in their pajamas at what we call the voluntary workouts of organized team activities. And none of the action really signifies anything other than opportunities to see people and talk to people and find out what Kyler Gordon's latest injury is. So this is a case where I've always said that the governmental money is used well when it is in support of what a community wants. And if a sports team wants to pay most of the freight or all of the freight to build their building, that is when a municipality, a state, a, a county, all of the governmental bodies to come in and say, all right, well, let's do our best to make sure if you're going to do this, that it can be convenient, it can be safe, it can be the best that it can be to maximize growth for everyone. Ignore all the studies that teams put out of jobs and jobs and jobs and economic driver of this and that because those are always wrong and it's always larded with stuff that they make up. And the problem that we have and this, this is a problem in a lot of aspects of our lives right now is our media stripped and sucked down and eroded to the bone in large part by the vampire squids that are private equity or completely compromised. And it's even darker than that, that people are simply reporting what they want for their overlords. But we're not gonna get that dark on this show. Stripped down media has become less critical. That's what's happened. And the recent response to the Cook county study of the Bears tax bill and the tax impact and how much money is actually going to be created for a tax base has been poorly reported overall, I think. And finally, we've got somebody calling out what this and calling it what we explaining what we really need to know. And I think you deserve to hear some of this because it's really important to remember we went through this at Wrigley Field about who owns what and what is what where. Wrigley Field itself and landmark status and tax breaks and everything we talk about is just for that building, not everything else around it. And I think what's important to remember in stadium deals, as much as we talk about the stadium, the stadium, the stadium, the more important part in a lot of ways, when all is said and done, what matters more is what's outside the walls of the stadium. Just outside the walls of the stadium. Because all that extra is why owners of sports teams become real Estate barons, where they make their money is on the real estate, the value of the land itself. A lot of these things are land deals. The value of the land and what you're doing with the land and what is being taxed on the area around mixed use entertainment district. M, U, E, D. Those are the four letters that you need to remember when it comes to stadiums because that's where the. When I say the Cubs think Hickory Street Partners, that's Tom Ricketts, but that's not the Cubs. And the accounting is really important because of revenue sharing, because of what, what they have to share and what they don't. Tom Ricketts would much rather have you buy a $15 beer right outside Wrigley Field than inside Wrigley Field because the economics are so different and he can keep so many more pennies on the dollar when you buy that beer outside. And those beers add up. So thank you to Rich Miller, who sends out a newsletter, a subscription newsletter called the Capital Facts from Downstate. And he does a really good job trying to explain what's real about the Bears, the taxes that they owe and who's going to benefit. So if nothing else, I just, I want to put this out there and, and know. Wait a second, Bernstein, are you saying that this is a, this is a good. I'm not saying any deal is perfect, but for this state to be putting together a deal like this, you just need to know the truth about where all this money is going to come from and what breaks they're apparently going to get and what breaks they're not going to get. There are reasons for incentive structures for large projects. There are reasons for pilot payment in lieu of taxes because a lot of money is still better than no money on undeveloped land or a pittance of money on undeveloped land. I do think that Rich Miller has done an awesome job with his explanations of this. So first he says, this is what he says. I find corporate tax breaks distasteful and even sometimes counterproductive. He said, I have no official or personal position on a deal to move the Bears to Arlington Heights except for my personal hatred of Indiana. This is him, not me. He said studies like the ones that Cook county and Maria Pappas put out make me cringe. And he said the report focuses on the big bucks the Bears will save in their property tax bills if they make this move. But that's the whole point of corporate subsidies. And as Cam Buckner has said, you can't count full tax revenue from a project that doesn't exist. Or may never get financed, may get tied up in court, may go to another state. The choice isn't full taxes versus reduced taxes. The choice is a negotiated payment on a real project or full taxes on an empty lot. And what this study ignores for the wow factor of the headlines. And he points out a specific headline because you always say, well like which headline said WTTW mega projects bill would mean a $39 million annual property tax break for the Bears. He said. But what's happening is media in large part is ignoring a couple of important things. The report fails to point out that the vast majority of the 326 acres of currently vacant Arlington Heights land will be developed into a year round entertainment district. Hotels, other stuff, hotels, retail, maybe even residential. When we're talking about what this could be, park areas, everything that district, none of that land, none of it is included in this mega project district, none of that is part of these pilot numbers that we're talking about. That is all going to be assessed by your Cook county assessor. Is that what Patrick Hines is that right now, who replaced Fritz Kagi? That's just going to be assessed? And those additional property taxes, all of that, once this gets all built up, a hotel that is. They're not getting any break when you start comparing with like again Wrigley Field. Look at their, their property tax bill was under $4 million but there were millions more paid by all the other areas of the Cubs businesses, not the Cubs themselves but Hickory Street Partners owns. So it's a lot of new money. And you have local governments there who are looking at this like yeah, bring that. That's all new money. So I think it's really important that is noted. And the other thing is that
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
you've
Dan Bernstein
got increased costs of education, local services that are necessitated by the project. And here's something I learned. I did not know all local governments, including the school districts would have weighted votes on approving this, the terms and amounts. I did not know this. Arlington Heights schools have half the weighted vote based on taxes received in most areas. The school districts will have 60% of the weighted vote. And more importantly, the legislation protects school district budgets from unforeseen expenses. And this is Rich Miller here said the state's Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity is involved in the approval process which lessens the likelihood of a monorail scam. Well, it's clearly not that, but I do think it's really important to note 326 acres for the pilot program. We're talking about the building the Stadium, not the. Everything else. Not the, all of it. Not the bars, the restaurants, the stores, the hotel, motel, Holiday Inn, everything else that's put up there. And if there's going to be apartments, whatever, there's going to be all just joining the community, joining the tax base and not getting any breaks from this legislation as it is. So as we're talking about this, let's just make sure that there could be a lot of scary headlines because there are a lot of clicks, there's a lot of ways to just grab away. The Bears are getting this and this. Yeah, it is a mate. It happens to be the Bears for this major project. This legislation isn't only for the Bears. What's driving this one is for the Bears, but they're going to Bears and the McCaskeys, I should say, depending on how much of that they want to own and how much they want to divide up. Because I do think if the McCaskeys are smart, that land is parceled and you can make a lot more money with tenants on your land and spreading out some of these tax bills and spreading everything out by parceling it out. They're not going to 100% own everything from start to finish. But the McCaskeys are in a position where they'll be making a lot of money and paying those schools in those areas a ton of money in taxes that isn't even even being talked about, negotiated in this program, particular bill. So that's all. I just think that, that, that we need to make sure that we're aware of everything that is actually happening and what we're actually talking about as we're counting down to the end of the month and whatever gets pushed through here. I had a, I had an interesting back and forth yesterday with the governor's office trying to get an official statement based on what he said about is saying, I've seen miracles happen. And I thought, wait a second, why are you using the word miracle now? And I said, well, wait a second here. He used the word. Does he still think this? And officially the word that I got was our stance remains the same. It hasn't changed. We expect the Senate to take up the bill. And that was despite Pritzker saying, I've seen miracles happen every year, every single year. So officially, their stance at this moment as of this morning has not changed. So they remain optimistic and we shall see. But it does mean there's a lot of money coming in to that community. And because of the way the voting is weighted, it does allow those School districts to have massive sway. If they don't want the deal, the deal doesn't happen. And if they want it, it does. So I think you can let the locals decide if they think this is something that benefits them.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
So where does that put Hammond at? Dan.
Dan Bernstein
Sorry you had to. Yeah, Poor Hammond. Yeah, I think they're. They're hoping they're waiting. Old Gill's gonna make a sale. It's coming. Yeah, the Wells Fargo wagon is a coming. Oh, please let it be for me. Oh, sorry. You know, everybody's got a World cup opinion, and my bookie gives you a place to put it. I'm seeing the. The overall volume of World cup advertising and sports is there, and it's more celebrities who. I need iraqpo'd for me because I. Ooh, that's a handsome man. My guess is he's a football star.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
And then they tell me who he
Dan Bernstein
is, and then David Beckham says, I'm David Beckham. And I said, I knew who you are. You don't need to tell me who you are. I've seen your documentary. But it's. It's coming. And maybe you've picked a country already. Maybe you've got. You want to bet against the favorite. Maybe you just want to bet against your friend who is going crazy about a country in which he doesn't live and doesn't even pronounce correctly. Well, that's not what makes the tournament fun. What makes it fun is you being involved in it with my bookie. Because as a new player, you got a special promo code here. Dbu. And then when you sign up and register, you can claim an exclusive My bookie offer just because you're listening to dbu. The World cup turns every match into a conversation. My bookie lets you turn that opinion into action. Back your side before the kickoff. Follow the match live. Stay locked in from the opening whistle to the final kick. It's the World cup, and it only comes around once every four years. Don't just watch it from the sidelines. Get in on the action in my bookie. Must be 21 plus. Please gamble responsibly. I've got some thank yous, first of all, to send to everybody who responded to our discussion yesterday about Kurt Bush and the horrible tragedy that befell him due to his desire to try to power through bilateral pneumonia and race. And I brought it up yesterday after I read Brad Keselowski's comments about the fear of drivers being replaced and they want to push through everything. And that's why he kept racing and he had that weird comment about he felt badly and he knew he was sick, but he had the doctor give him a shot. And he kept fighting and pushing and pushing and racing and pushing until his body went into sepsis and he died. And yesterday I wondered, like, how can a league, how can the highest level of a professional sport allow this to happen? What is going on in the sport that makes that such where somebody can't say, hey man, I can't race, but they feel pressured to and they do it against the better judgment. And certainly if you're talking to doctors, you're doing against the better judgment of a lot of those doctors. Well, there is a thread that I got on Blue sky here from somebody who just identifies himself as Johnny Pilot. And I'm hearing from a lot of people who know the sport a lot better than I do. And I guess I've spent the last 24 hours learning. And some of these explanations are they're well done. But they describe a sport that does indeed have some issues that I think we might have identified. He says. Regarding your segment on Kyle Busch, this is, this is Johnny Said. I'm a longtime NASCAR fan and there's some truth to what Brad Keselowski was saying. It applies to drivers specifically like Brad and Kyle Busch, drivers in their 40s where skills are in decline and risk aversion is on the increase. Said see Fernando Alonso's quote after a 2005 Grand Prix in Japan. If you want the clearest example. Said Bush was an all time great. He was a top five driver in the history of the sport. This year in particular, some mounting questions about Kyle Busch's ability to perform at the highest levels. He was also in a contract year at rcr. Was that Richard Childress Racing? This was more likely than not, huh? Sure. Yeah, I think it is. Okay. This is more likely than not. His last shot at a highly lucrative contract. In addition, look into the lawsuit they had with the Pacific Life Insurance Company. I can't help but wonder if the desire to assure one last big bite at the apple was a contributing factor. There is a wealth of young talent in the lower series of stock car racing. Their biggest issue is a lack of available seats at the cup level. If Busch missed time and a prospect driver performed well, at the very least it had hurt Kyle's negotiating position as it pertains to an extension. The main point you made about men's health is what deserves the most attention. The sport has made strides in this area, particularly as it relates to head trauma. Kyle's brother Kurt was was forced to retire due to concussions. Faces of the sport, such as Dale Earnhardt Jr. Who also retired in no small part due to concussions, have been sounding the alarm over the long term health implications for drivers in other areas. The sport still has a long way to go, however, he says. And he adds, thank you for covering this. Like I say, I cover things that that interest me where some things where I say this doesn't seem right. Why doesn't it seem right? And I'm going to ask some of these questions so there's more here. Longtime emailer Not Dead Guy he said I'm a NASCAR fan, he said the fear of losing their seat is there for most drivers, not all for someone like Kyle Busch. Unless it's contract renewal time, he's got nothing to worry about. He's among the greats. But it's more about how NASCAR championships are won because every race is worth points and the better you finish weekly, the more you earn toward the championship. You're pooled at the end of the top 16 and there is an elimination based on race finish, said Kyle Busch is in his second year with a new team that's had some struggles this year. Missing a single race could knock him out of a playoff run. If a driver takes his spot, that driver gets the points, not Kyle. There's huge pressure to race weekly from sponsors, etc. There's sponsor obligations throughout the week and the decision making on this is mostly on the driver unless it's a clear safety issue on the track. Kyle and others like him who are elite are highly competitive. So unless there's a proven safety concern, there's no one to save a guy like Kyle Busch from himself. This was preventable, he said. It's not about blame. It is about prioritizing your health and family above all else. It's not NASCAR specific. It's not sport specific. Both a culture and mental health wellness and wellness factor in. Well, but it is sports specific. If the culture is demanding, you've got to go, go, go, go, go until you drop dead because you ignore something that could kill you or you mask the symptoms because you say after it, I feel bad but you know, special doctor has to give me some nebulous shot so I can keep going and then your body responds by shutting down in sepsis. Like this is not okay. This is exactly what I was asking about. It's not okay.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah, if you're not afforded to miss a race because you have pneumonia.
Dan Bernstein
Come on.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
It's probably not a business to be in.
Dan Bernstein
No, no, no, no, no, it's not. There's more here. There's a. There's another email I want to read. TJ and Park Forest. He said. Thanks for talking a little nascar, even if under these circumstances. I'm a lifelong fan. I go to multiple races every year. I spend time in the garage and the pits. I watch races from the pit boxes with the Penske teams. Through my job, I work for a company that is a top level sponsor. My job involves schmoozing. Here's. Here's some context. Why did Brad Keselowski say what he said about Kyle being replaced? Yes, NASCAR is a cutthroat business for drivers, but it's not a miss a couple of races and lose your ride situation. There's examples that show that's not really how it works. Keselowski, though, said the quiet part out loud. Kyle Busch and his team had been underperforming. There had been tension there for a couple seasons. There was a real chance this could have been Kyle Busch's last year with Richard Childress Racing. How likely that actually was, we'll never know now. But Keselowski was speaking a bit out of grief and the rambling came from that when he made that comment. Regarding NASCAR medical culture, it's unique compared to other sports while it is evolving. Thank you, Michael Jordan. NASCAR franchises have a really wide disparity in value and resources. There are still two cup teams right now that are basically one car family shops. One is a rich guy fielding a car for his dipshit kid. The other is a rich guy who straight up admits he just likes being in the series. There are lower end teams that might not even have a full sponsor slate. So medical care is not at F1 or NFL level across the board. It is likely a guy like Kyle Busch has his own medical care subsidized in his contract at the team level. If there is any medical support, it's more PT style maintenance. No one's doing diagnostics or treatment out of the race shop. Okay, well that's a problem. But even, even something like this that doesn't involve a workplace related injury, it's just a person being deathly ill. A person being in a frightening, urgent health situation. Bilateral pneumonia is dangerous and urgent and can kill you. And to be forced to race or compelled to feel like one must race due to whatever the sport is allowed to pressure you to do isn't okay. So I want to thank everybody for responding in the way that they did and also having a little bit of grace with my lack of NASCAR knowledge and just looking at this from the outside and I've got completely fresh eyes on this and I just see somebody, an otherwise healthy 41 year old who were he in a different job, would likely be alive. And it's too bad. But thank you. I appreciate all of this feedback and everything everybody said. And like I say, it's been a big time for learning for me for a sport that I, you know, look, I spent five years in North Carolina, so I was around it for a long time during the heyday. And I didn't know that in your early 40s that you're already considered that you're aging because they, back in the day in nascar, there was a bunch of old big fat dudes who would sit behind the wheel and, you know, drive their Monte Carlos around. And I, I, that's the sport. I just changed a lot.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I just think though, back in the day when you were a kid, you know, looking 40, you, you looked like you were sick.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, that's true. Those guys did look older then.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
And they were probably 35.
Dan Bernstein
No. Guys like Bobby Allison and Cale Yarborough.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I don't know, like some of the movies you saw, like in the 70s and 80s when actors were, you know, they were 50.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
80.
Dan Bernstein
I know, I know, but, but I, I've got to be right about something. Like, I thought like maybe they considered your prime as a, as a bootlegger. You're showing off the speed of your car was a little bit, maybe into your 40s, that you were just kind of hitting your stride.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah. Wasn't. Wasn't the cast of Cocoon like younger than we are?
Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
When they made that movie.
Dan Bernstein
Well, not all of them.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Brimley, he was like 50, wasn't he?
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. Brimley had just turned 50. I think
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
he looked 85.
Dan Bernstein
I know it's more striking in, in a lot of ways. I mean, you talk about men in one way. It's almost more striking when, when you look at, you know, hell, just look at my, my algorithms and you're just like, okay, these are this like, you know, Jennifer Gardner and Padma Lakshmi and Elizabeth Hurley and all these kids. You remember what like 55 year old women used to look like when we were kids. Like that has changed that, that understanding has changed completely.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
What do we just. We started watching a show on Netflix. The Burroughs and the Duffer Brothers. The guys who did. Who did Stranger Things, they put out series and it's about a retirement community and Geena Davis is in it. And she's 70 years old, and I would have never guessed in a million years she was 70.
Dan Bernstein
Well, I mean, a lot of people have a lot of good work now, a lot of careful and tasteful work. You can see the stuff that's bad, and it's awful, but I don't know, because you can. And some have, some haven't. You know who was on the other day? Who was on. Was it CBS News? Patti LaBelle is 82. She doesn't have a wrinkle. Like, that's not fair. And look at, like, Zoe Saldana.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Oh, wow.
Dan Bernstein
She's.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Oh, she's 82.
Dan Bernstein
She's 82. How old is Zoe Saldana? Is she 50?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I don't know.
Dan Bernstein
Come on. Like, some of this stuff is just. And that's not.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
That's 47. Zoe Saldanas. 47. Patti LaBelle is. Wait, so how old am I? What am I?
Dan Bernstein
53.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
So she's a couple years younger than my mom.
Dan Bernstein
Patti LaBelle's my mother's age. Wow. Yes. Yeah. It has lived, like, three different lives. I. I couldn't remember all this stuff that she was doing. Night. Yeah. Yeah, that's. It's just some of this stuff just not fair. Good for her. Hey. You know, but, yeah, like, that's. I think the NASCAR drivers, I always thought they were older then and that I didn't really think.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah, they probably weren't. Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
As a young man's sport.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah. But it's just. It's. It sucks, man. The dude had pneumonia. Like, you couldn't.
Dan Bernstein
He was coughing blood.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Coughing.
Dan Bernstein
I'm good. I'm. I'll be okay.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I just need a B12 shot. I mean, like, what's. What's happening? What is going on?
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, you need a reckoning somewhere. Whatever you're.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
If he wasn't allowed the opportunity to go to the hospital and get the treatment that he needed and still have his car to drive whenever he was healthy again. That's just. That's insane.
Dan Bernstein
Right? Or if his judgment was so pressured by the sport that nobody could say, hey, hey, hey, hey, hey, ding a
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
ling, let's go to the hospital.
Dan Bernstein
You know what? I think we're going to do something other than drive a car at 200 miles an hour today. I think we're going to go to the hospital.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah. Like. Like you stated that if he felt so compelled that he had to be in the car. That's just.
Dan Bernstein
That's terrible. Yes. Yes. There needs to be some. Something built into your system that allows for somebody to feel it's okay to go to the hospital when they might die.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Like, I get it, because remember a couple weeks ago I had that sinus infection and you were like, well, you can't miss the show. You've got to be on the podcast. So. And I couldn't go to the doctor because you wouldn't let me. So I get it happens, you know, sometimes, but it's just.
Dan Bernstein
It's. It's.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
It's unfortunate that he had pneumonia and he felt, like, compelled to race.
Dan Bernstein
Are you trying to turn this into. You're trying to make this an attack on me and. And our policies here at 312Sports? Are you saying that I. That this is a glass house? That I. That I make you worry about doing anything? Remember that time during the middle of open heart surgery?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Don't even take that sentence out of your mouth or you smack it out. Make you make me work. You don't make me do Mr. Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
I said, you're coming in, and I
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
don't care because I'll. I'll be in today. Wait. Oh, hang on a second. That's right. I'm at home.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. Remember when we had. We had to perform that emergency lobotomy on Cody because of. I think it was after the seventh loss that we had to go in there and. And do all that. And when I made him work during the surgery.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
You know, I gotta tell you, I gotta. I feel like I should come clean with you. I lied yesterday in our text message.
Dan Bernstein
About what?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
When I said that I was done.
Dan Bernstein
Of course you weren't.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah, I. I watched the whole game. I texted you. I think it was five to nothing. And I said, I'm done for tonight. Well, I. I lied. I. I, I waited.
Dan Bernstein
I turned it back on, too.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Final out. And then I. Yeah, then I flipped
Dan Bernstein
over to basketball because I was sitting down, and Beth comes running down the stairs, and she's like, when does basketball start? I said, 7:30. And she said, well, hockey's on. I want to watch hockey. You gotta. You gotta go to a different room. Well, usually I would say, go to a different room, but. But I'm like, you know what? If you wanted to put this Cubs game somewhere else that's not on this television right now, feel free. So she's like, awesome. And then she said, where's the hockey? Where's the hockey? Where's the hockey? And. And then she said, oh, I guess it's not until 8. Like, well, I guess I got to watch more Cubs. So.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah, no, I stayed the Whole. The whole way through until the final out and then flipped over to the basketball game and Natalie and I are watching and. And even she, you know, not the, you know, she hasn't watched NBA in years.
Dan Bernstein
And it's just.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
She's like, man, this. Because we watch. We've been watching the Knicks too. And she's like, it looks like two different leagues. And this is just like a very casual NBA observer.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. It just.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
It doesn't look. She's like, this looks like varsity. The other thing looks like jv.
Dan Bernstein
I. I still think the Knicks might win a game.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Well, I'm pulling for the. I'll be pulling for the Knicks, which I never thought I would say ever in my entire life just because their
Dan Bernstein
fans are so great. Have you seen the videos of the. Of the fans celebrating outside Radio City Music Hall? Yes. Where it's like, it's. You've got women in hijabs. You've got orthodox Jews, you've got somebody like running around with a plate of pastries, and then you have all like Jersey clad Nick's Bros to. It's. It's hysterical. Hysterical. And it's so awesome.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
I mean, you just to see that mix of people all that excited over this basketball team that really, when you look at it and you look at their history. Yeah.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
It's not. Yeah, yeah. I mean, we're not talking Yankees here.
Dan Bernstein
No, like, that's. They. They carry themselves as if they're the Celtics or they've got. Their history kind of blows. Yeah.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Well, it's. It's New York, man. You. You get that added confidence just by being in New York.
Dan Bernstein
Something that I didn't know. And I might bring this up later. In owc. Do you know where Jalen Brunson stands in all time Knicks scoring?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I'll take a guess here. Just by the way you're asking the question. Is he. Is he. I don't want to be too low on it. I don't know. Is he fall somewhere between 20 and 30.
Dan Bernstein
Oh, did somebody give me a bum steer in this? And it might be. Excuse me.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Well, bum steer. Remember, like that cow we bought?
Dan Bernstein
That was bad. Let me. I gotta make sure I find this correctly before I, I mention this because it may be in. In points per game, but I. Because I read something that said that he was already. No, because he's not top five. That's what I thought.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
He's not top five. He. He is 17.
Dan Bernstein
Yes, he did. Here it is.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
It's all time regular scoring points.
Dan Bernstein
Points per game. And I did not. It was in points per game. And I, I bet you can't even name the Knicks all time leader in points per game because it's, it's, it's bizarre because you.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
And it's not, it's not Ewing or Frazier. Who is he?
Dan Bernstein
Only, he only played there for three years.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Okay, who is it?
Dan Bernstein
Bob McAdoo.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Oh, yeah. I would have never.
Dan Bernstein
It's Bob McAdoo, Bernard King, Jalen Brunson.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
And that's points per game. Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
Jalen Brunson is third in points per game.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Okay. Because he's, he's 17th on their all time scoring list.
Dan Bernstein
Correct. But ahead of Carmelo Anthony, ahead of Patrick Ewing, ahead of the great Richie Garon, ahead of Walt Frazier, Willis Reed, Alan Houston. Yeah. And it was the Allen Houston teams. That's the last one that was in the finals.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I don't know how many people yesterday online, it was the last time the Knicks were in the finals. Like these things didn't exist. It was like iPhones, Twitter, Instagram, I mean, all these different. I wish I had, I wish I
Dan Bernstein
had to save that.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
That was. Well, you could say that a lot of teams, I mean, I, I will
Dan Bernstein
also note that last night was not the finest hour for the Western Conference finals either.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
It was ugly. That was a really. That was a difficult game. That was the worst game by far.
Dan Bernstein
By far. Because they, they, they were at a stand and I thought I saw some tired legs out there. For the very first time in the series. It looked to me like your guy looked tired.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I thought Wemby looked.
Dan Bernstein
I did too. I thought, I thought there was the first time in the series. It might have been the travel back there that both teams to me physically looked like a little out of sorts. Although Hartenstein was throwing his body around out there and she. Gil just. Alexander takes a pounding. Just because he falls down on purpose all the time.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yes.
Dan Bernstein
He's like one of those fainting goats that they show the videos of.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
He's really good. He could, he could teach like stunt people how to, how to fall.
Dan Bernstein
He's really good at it. He is good at it. I've seen the study. It works. He gets calls one out of every two times. He falls on purpose. He gets a call. But it's. He.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
There was a lot of it last night.
Dan Bernstein
He's unbelievably floppy.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I thought there was more, more of it on the spurs side as well, too. More than normal. You, I mean, I think you kind of disagreed. We chatted about it earlier. I I thought there was. There was more phantom stuff on the spurs part too as well, trying to maybe make it up. But there was that one. There was one stretch where there was a whistle on every possession going back and forth and it was annoying.
Dan Bernstein
It was. It was raggedy. It was. It was not the. Because nobody was making shots. Yeah, that was the.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Oh God, no, my God.
Dan Bernstein
Nobody was making shots. Nobody's making threes. There were a lot of like, you know, air balls and things that hitting the corner of the backboard. And that's some of that could be tired legs too. Where I just think they've been. They have been going at a breakneck pace for 48 minutes or more in every single one. I don't know how many, but it's. You can't sustain that. And that's what happens in playoff series is sometimes you get one where you got to win the ugly game. The Bulls were great at that. That's one thing that like the 90s bulls, the second three peat bulls. The uglier the game, the more likely they could find a way to win it. But they won some terrible basketball game.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah, they were good at it. We've been talking about this series and encouraging people to. I've been at least encouraging people to watch who are similar to me and the fact that you don't watch a lot of NBA and I, I hope that last night wasn't the first time you checked out that series. Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
I hope it didn't turn you off. That was not good. I hope it did not turn you off. I want to also mention too that we've got just have a few days left for you to win our prizes for the month of May that we have in the 312 sports app and@312sports.com but the best thing for you to do and you have to get the app if you haven't gotten the app yet, you're missing out on all kinds of stuff. All the convenience and ease of use and everything you can do. It's our rewards. So when you go to the rewards page these are. We give you all of our rewards that are still alive for May for any of these rewards. The code is that guy's name Matt. Matt is the code for this month and this includes dinner for two at Giordano's. Our dear friends at Giordano's authentic deep dish pizza serving Chicago style deep dish stuffed pizza since 1974. You know the Capital Grill dinner for two there upscale nationally renowned steakhouse known for dry aged steaks and their extensive wine list and elegant setting. And Anticoposto, the cozy Italian restaurant and wine bar tucked away in Oakbrook Center. Those are the restaurant promotions. This is the big one here. Tickets to see Weezer the Gathering tour with special guests. The Shins and Silver sun pickups Sept. 22 at the United Center. So you've got those again, same thing, promo code, Matt, if you want those Weezer tickets with the Shins and Silver sun pickups. So get the 312Sports app, register your account and put in for those rewards for your opportunity. And I that you will be very, very happy you have done that. I also want to thank our friend Russ Armstrong for being a part of today's show and also for doing all the awesome windows in my house because they're way better than what the original builders had in there. And now as the weather is getting warmer and when I hear the air conditioning come on less often, I say, oh, I know why that is. That is because I say, I haven't heard that in a while. The house is holding everything in better because the windows are better. See how that works? It's really simple. And buying windows should be simple. I know you're, you're terrified because it's complicated because you hear so many ads and you're worried that you're going to miss out on something and you're not going to get the best price. So Russ is going to make sure you get the best price because no matter what, go ahead, ask around, have people out and have, have them take up four hours of your time giving you a PowerPoint presentation on everything Russ promises he's not going to do. He's just going to get you the windows that you want of the best quality with the most convenient possible installation as soon as he can. So call him. 847-302-9171. Go to chicagowindowguys.com there's no subcontracted labor involved. There's no third parties. It's his factory. It's here in Chicago. And then he's got a lifetime warranty on all parts and labor. If that window breaks because your kid's an idiot and he throws something through the window, you just call Ross, say, fine, I got it, and he'll take care of that. He'll put a new window on there for you for free. 847-302-9171. I've recommended him to everybody. He's done windows in my house a couple of times. We have him out there. And maybe there's More because we got some ideas, things we might want to do, and he can do all sorts of stuff. If you have some fun. Little things are like European style. All of it. 847-302-9171 and chicagowindowguys.com all right, I made
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
a, A play for tonight on the Cubs game.
Dan Bernstein
Dan, you bet the college fund on the Cubs. I did.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Cubs minus one and a half over of nine on the game.
Dan Bernstein
Okay. I like it. And I also think that it, You're, You're. If it has anything like your basketball sense, then you're gonna be fine because your basketball numbers. As a wager, I did not get my third Devin Vassell three last night. And he kept trying. And he was trying.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yes.
Dan Bernstein
He couldn't hit a bull in the ass with a banjo last night. I got my Second one from McCain and all I needed was one more, Devin. One more. And there's like two and a half minutes left. And he came off a staggered double screen and he caught it like, there it is, Devin. Nope. God damn it.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
All right, so I'm. Yeah, I'm 60, 69, 40 and 1. So let me ask you. Because the, the tie that won was the push. It was part of a three team parlay that counted as a win even though. Because the other two hit. And then that third one was a push. But it's still. I still won the parlay. So can I, Can I categorize that as a, as a. As a W and call it 70 and 40?
Dan Bernstein
Go ahead. Okay.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
All right.
Dan Bernstein
Perfect. Go ahead. Why not?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
We're at 70 and 40.
Dan Bernstein
Okay, 70 and 40. Nice and clean. Yes. Crisp and clean with no caffeine.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Not bad for a guy who doesn't watch the NBA. Right?
Dan Bernstein
Well, I mean, maybe there's something to it. Maybe it's the. Maybe it's the uncluttered mind that you have. I always. I always wonder if there's.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
There's no heart, no. No emotion, no feelings.
Dan Bernstein
I, I have a couple of White Sox thoughts that I want to offer, and I'm going to give them to you. One is that throw by Riku Nishida from right field last night. Yeah. It happened to be just when I turned the game on because usually, you know, I'll flip and I'll go there and then I'll hear doofus and I'll leave and then because. But I want to stick around for Stoney because Stoney has so many interesting things to say. If you can just get through doofus. And so Nishida makes this Unbelievable throw. And it was like, if you coach baseball, that, that's what you want to teach there. Like even his, his aggressive crow hop, everything that he did to wheel himself into that throw and get his whole body behind it because he has to.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah, he's a little guy.
Dan Bernstein
He is. But I. There, there's something also about Japanese outfield play. That is where the, the. I always talked about the former Giant center fielder Tsuyoshi Shinjo that I loved watching him properly get behind a pop up, get behind a fly ball and catch it in his car. Not catch, transfer, begin the throwing process, be already into his power step, catch and then begin to throw. And that's how it's taught or used to be. And so few people do it. I love to watch when someone can maximize a small frame like that for any, any little person who's ever played outfield before and knows that if I'm going to get that throw there, my mechanics have to be just right. And you got to make sure it's all. That's how it looks. That's how it looks. Now. The bunting thing was a disaster and I don't know why he was doing it. And what like, oh no, no, no, don't have him. Oh no, this isn't gonna. No. And even the look on his face is like, what happened? What. What am I doing up here?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Well, it was, it was bad.
Dan Bernstein
The other thing is a tangential White Sox note that I, I want to pat myself on the back on this one.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Oh, of course you do.
Dan Bernstein
Of course I do. Do you remember? Because I. Diane Vicier signed with the White Sox in 2008 and he played for five years. Do you remember what I said about Diane Viciero? No, not.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
No. No idea.
Dan Bernstein
Early in his White Sox career, I said, he looks to me like a guy who, who's going to go to Japan and be awesome. Okay. Like a Vladimir Ballentin or one of those guys.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
And has that come to pass now?
Dan Bernstein
Well, he just retired. Okay. Dion Viciero just still playing baseball? Yeah. He just announced his retirement after an 11 year run mostly for the Chunichi Dragons. Wow. Where he slashed.286.352.457 with 1040 hits and 142 home runs and 4046 plate appearances. He announced his retirement over the weekend. He played his final game on Saturday and even at his advanced age had a 100 ops plus going this year for the Bay Stars. But he has he, he became what I thought he would Become Diane Viciero. Nicely done. And. And we thank you for your White Sox service. Much appreciated. Did you see that Brandon Johnson is going to visit the Pope in Rome? Oh, boy. Oh, boy what? Don't. Don't oh, boy me.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
No, I'm just wondering what's he going to do to mess this up now?
Dan Bernstein
I don't know if it's going to mess it up, but I just found this a little strange. Okay. Like bringing gifts from your city to the Pope or he's the mayor of Chicago and he wants to bring stuff to the Pope.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
No. Can I guess? What's he bringing?
Dan Bernstein
Just. Just wait.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Italian beef tray.
Dan Bernstein
The Pope is from here, right? And he's currently where.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Rome.
Dan Bernstein
Right. Where is pizza? Is he Rome? Is where Rome is in Italy.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Italy.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
He's not bringing pizza, okay.
Dan Bernstein
Oh, come on. Just. I'm just like, watching the gears in your brain turn.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Oh, what's he. What's he doing?
Dan Bernstein
He. What's he bringing?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
He's bringing food.
Dan Bernstein
He is bringing the only thing his office has confirmed among the many Chicago themed gifts. The one they're talking about, the one they are confirming, the one they are saying he is bringing the Pope. Authentic Chicago Italian giardiniera. Now, I don't think I have to tell you about the history of giardin era in Chicago. Depending on which company you want to. Whether it's Marconi that was right around the turn of the century, or the one that he is bringing, which is from J.P. graziano, which I think started in 1930s, the idea of pickling summer vegetables so you could have them throughout the year was a tradition of southern Italy and Sicily. So those who settled here in Chicago kept it going and created what is believed to be a, you know, a Chicago condiment. But it's. It's an Italian tradition. It is an Italian style of pickling with oil and spices that is done. Say, okay, here's our vegetables. We will jar them for the winter, so we will have them year round. The Pope is in Italy. That's where he is. That's where he lives. And he's from here. So the idea of saying, oh, we come from far and wide to bring you the special gifts from our homeland. Oh, holy Father. And second of all, do you know if he's a Graziano's guy? Maybe he's a Marconi guy. You don't know?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Maybe he makes his own.
Dan Bernstein
Maybe he likes his own.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Maybe he likes my guy, Jeff Morrows. Morrow's provisions.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, maybe he's got a. Maybe he's got a strong opinion on the Gardner that he likes and. And for a specific time or place. But, like, you're going halfway across the world to bring a Chicago guy in Italy. Canned Italian condiment. Yeah, Canned Italian vegetables. All right. Oh, boy. That's a choice. And apparently it's going to be a photo op where he's going to try to get the Pope to say, keep the Bears in Chicago. But. So I'm not weird for thinking that that was a little.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
No, it's. It's too bad,
Dan Bernstein
because here's what's going to happen. The Pope, and I know he does this with everything, all his jerseys and all his hats, and he's got. Probably got him in his man cave where he sits and flips channels, and my wife yells at him to put the hockey on. But talk more hockey. Pope, stop talking hockey. Holy Father. So what this is what that Gardnera is going to be in the Pope's fridge is like, when. And I always do this, and I know I'm going to do it, and I do it anyway. You go to Saugatuck, right? And it's gorgeous. And you're walking around and there's little samples at a place of a thing, and you're, ooh, this is really good olive tapenade. You know what? Let's grab a can of that. And it's like $11 or something for a jar of it. Or you're like, oh, that, that. Oh, this. What is that? A. That's a cremini. Dried cremini mushroom spread with a. Oh, okay, let's. Yeah, let's grab that. I could use that on pasta or something. And that goes into a magical place in the fridge where time does not exist.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Correct.
Dan Bernstein
And it's there forever.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yep. It's never touched.
Dan Bernstein
No, but it's there. And you. And you know, at one point you wanted it, but the moment you get home, that erases from your memory that. That cookie gets deleted from your hard drive. And then you look at it, you're like, when does that jar of. What does that say? Jalapeno honey mustard. Because you tasted it on a Wheat Thin in Saugatuck. And then it has to take up space in your fridge, but we do this. And a certain percentage of your fridge has the jars of the things. And, you know there's some left because maybe someone else in your family had it or used it or put it on their scrambled eggs or something. But it's just a mystery. You don't really remember how it got there. You don't know why it's there. You don't ever even remember having a taste for it. So I picture the Pope having like this giant, like all his ceremonial stuff. People have to drag him away, and I don't even know what he likes. And maybe it's. Oh, we've, we have. We have come from the Himalayas and we've. It has been a cold journey. And we bring you all of this pink salt in a burlap sack. Well, that sounds good.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
All right.
Dan Bernstein
With pink Himalayan salt.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
All right. Thank you. All right. Hey, set this with the other stuff, with all the Pope stuff. And do you think he goes wandering around late at night when he gets hungry? He comes down, he goes, you know what? Where's that? Did somebody bring me cheez its? Yeah, did some. Hey. He calls his assistant. Hey, and all the gift stuff, are there any cheez its? What do you mean? You ate those? Like, I just wonder if he's got a whole room where he can kind of wander and find some special things. Oh, yeah, those Vietnamese shaman came by and gave me that thing.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Of course.
Dan Bernstein
Cobra venom. All right, cool.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah. It's like when you. If you received a. Like a food gift basket from someone, like the worst of your house.
Dan Bernstein
The worst. You never eat any of it.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
You don't. Well, maybe one or two items out of the whole basket, and then you put other stuff, like in a cabinet somewhere. And then one day you're looking for something in your pantry, and then there's all these jars.
Dan Bernstein
Yes. Of preserved lemons. What do I do with. Never going to touch. What do I do with preserved lemons? Thank you. Thanks for sending. And when I opened it, I actually thought, oh, preserved lemons. Yeah. And maybe the concept is they're just preserved forever. You don't actually eat them.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
You just contribute to the preservation. I'm part of the Jarred Lemon Preservation Society now.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I don't know, but it just, it seems like, hey, you're going to go see the Pope in Rome. You're at the Vatican. Here's some jardinier.
Dan Bernstein
Put it on my shoes. I will.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
If you do like, if you're. If you like to buy jarred store purchased jardiner. I do recommend the moral provision stuff, but he has one there. It's his. It's a pepper relish. It's called Honey G. So it's got great heat with a little bit of sweet to it.
Dan Bernstein
It's okay.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah, I put it on a ton of stuff.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. And I look, I like Gardnera I do, too.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
I just don't count it as a gift.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
I'm just.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
I'm not going to bring it to the Pope.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah, he's. He can.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
He's from here.
Dan Bernstein
He's from here and lives there. And he's there where the actual fresh vegetables are, especially at this time of year, where he's in a bounty of fresh Italian vegetables in the middle of Rome. That stuff's for the winter. And I don't think he's. He's getting a beef sandwich. And maybe he is. I don't know. But Italians don't know what an Italian beef sandwich is. You mentioned that the other. What the hell are you talking about?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Right.
Dan Bernstein
They didn't invent it.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
There's Italian beef shops in. In Italy.
Dan Bernstein
Right. It's like when you remember when Jennifer Lopez got in trouble.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
No.
Dan Bernstein
Don't you remember when they asked her what she was in Italy and they said, what's your favorite Italian food? And she said, chicken parm.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Oh, boy.
Dan Bernstein
Which, as we know, chicken. Chicken parm is chicken strips that are covered in red sauce and. And melted cheese on the top. Yeah. Over pasta. That's your favorite Italian food ever. Most of you like what?
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah, just like most people don't know what real Alfredo is either.
Dan Bernstein
Well, Alfredo was invented here, too.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah. Right. But. But real. Real Alfredo is just. This is butter and cheese. Yeah.
Dan Bernstein
It's not cream.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yeah, there's no. Yeah, there's no cream to it.
Dan Bernstein
I thought. I thought the actual. I thought Alfredo was an American dude. I thought he was a guy at one of these guys at a hotel. Like, it's all from somebody in a New York hotel.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Yes. Like.
Dan Bernstein
Like salad originates. Yeah, it's all. It's always like Cobb salad and Delmonico steak and all this stuff. It's always after some guy. And everybody thought it was cool to go to the same restaurant at a hotel in New York and then it got a thing. Yeah, we're past that point now. Damn. It doesn't happen anymore.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Come on.
Dan Bernstein
I also brought you a super taco from Jojo's.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Right. Thanks.
Dan Bernstein
Garrett's popcorn. Hey. Here you go.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
Oh, okay. Yeah, that would be. Yeah, that would be it.
Dan Bernstein
I see everything.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
There's a jar. Jar there. And here's some caramel popcorn for you
Dan Bernstein
to wash it down. Hey, thanks there. You know, I'm the closest human being to an all powerful God. Thanks for the popcorn, though. Appreciate it, man. That would be cool if you were the Pope, to constantly remind people you're the Pope. I Think I probably would. I will remind you that my bookie is your place to play. Your angles, your hunches, your thoughts. If you want to, you want to. If you're like I am and you're constantly craving validation and you, you're never going to feel good about yourself unless you somehow have some marker that tells you how good you are at, like, knowing things. Well, that's what you can do with my bookie. Because when you get a feeling like, hold on, no one else knows what I know about this game, okay, well, you can put money on it. You can turn those thoughts, those special opinions that you have that nobody else has into action. Maybe you're watching the NBA playoffs now and you get that feeling that a team, you look at the live line. I, I've seen that guy miss a bunch of shots. And I think it's likely if they make this substitution that he's going to get some chance. See what I mean? Like thinking along those kinds of things. Now you can act on it at my bookie. Maybe you want to do it for the World cup this summer soon. It's coming. My promo code, DBU is your promo code. When you sign up, use the code DBU for Dan Bernstein unfiltered. And then you can get an exclusive offer just because you're listening. So you back your team before the game. You follow everything live. Make all those moments that you already care about feel bigger. And that's the reason to check out my bookie. You're already watching. You got to take play it. Bet on anything, anytime, anywhere with my book. He must be 21 plus. Please gamble responsibly. Lots more questions about merchandise, about stuff in our pro shop and yes, yes, yes, thank you. Please, please, please enjoy everything that you're enjoying. But we are going to have some show themed stuff that is going to be working its way in. I'm on it. I know you keep asking me questions. When is it going to be DBU stuff? Will there be OWC stuff? Will there be a. Like a. From the 50 hoodie we're going to have? We're going to be able to expand things, but hang in there. Get your 312 T shirts, get your 312 hoodies. Get your 312 hats. And if I see you, I'm going to sneak up and I'm going to give you big hugs and maybe smooches as well. So that's possible that technically I will be assaulting you, but I expect you to just. What? Nothing.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
We're good.
Dan Bernstein
What? No we're not. We're clearly not.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
No, we're good.
Dan Bernstein
Okay.
Co-host or Guest with Dan Bernstein
We're good.
Dan Bernstein
Yeah. So go to the pro shop and buy your merch, buy your things and go out and show out and be proud and do all that. That's going to do it today for Dan Bernstein, Unfiltered. We have been brought to you by Chicago Window guys and Russ Armstrong at 847-302-9171. And in partnership with my bookie, Dan Bernstein, unfiltered. Unfiltered. On 31 2, sports.
Episode Date: May 27, 2026
Host: Dan Bernstein (with co-host/executive producer Matt Abbatacola)
Platform: 312 Sports
In this episode, Dan Bernstein puts the Chicago Bears’ stadium project under the microscope, dissecting the truth behind the headlines and the politics of stadium deals. Bernstein scrutinizes how taxpayer money, real estate interests, and political spin have shaped the conversation around the Bears’ potential move to Arlington Heights. Later in the episode, the conversation shifts to broader issues in sports culture, including the tragic passing of NASCAR’s Kyle Busch and the pressures drivers face regarding their health, a quick dip into Chicago sports news, and a lively debate over Chicago’s mayoral gift to the Pope.
Timestamps: 01:32–15:56
Timestamps: 16:43–32:03
Timestamps: 34:11–46:23
Timestamps: 49:32–58:10
| Topic / Segment | Timestamp (MM:SS) | |-----------------|------------------| | Bears Stadium Context Begins | 01:32 | | Stadium Subsidy Rant/Principles | 03:08 | | Real Estate/Revenue Sharing | 05:28–07:00 | | What's Actually Taxed | 09:20 | | Rich Miller Explainer | 09:59–11:43 | | School Districts’ Weighted Votes | 11:43–15:30 | | NASCAR/Kyle Busch Segment | 16:43–32:03 | | NBA/Knicks Discussion | 34:11–39:58 | | Betting Notes & White Sox Japan Note | 43:50–48:24 | | Chicago Mayor & Pope Giardiniera | 49:32–58:10 |
This episode clarifies the Bears Stadium project by challenging common misconceptions and cutting through political and media spin. Bernstein takes listeners behind the headlines, offering the expertise and skepticism required to understand massive public projects. The show also doubles as thoughtful sports culture commentary, touching on the health sacrifices made by athletes and the oddities of local sports traditions.
It’s a must-listen for Chicago sports fans, urban policy buffs, and anyone interested in the business and culture behind the games and the headlines.