Podcast Summary: Dan Bernstein Unfiltered - "Chicago Cubs Owner, Tom Ricketts, Sets the Tone for 2026 – World Series"

Episode Date: February 17, 2026
Host: Dan Bernstein (DBU)
Co-host/Analyst: Matt Abbatacola

Main Theme

The episode centers on Cubs owner Tom Ricketts’ annual preseason address, where he emphatically sets championship expectations for the 2026 season, saying the Cubs “should win the division” and explicitly setting a World Series as the standard. The hosts dissect not only the team and Ricketts’ statements but also wade deep into the realities of MLB’s changing business landscape: TV rights, labor negotiations, and the coming storm of franchise economics. The show also veers into lighter and offbeat territory—from youth sports insanity to Chicago sex dungeons, a Winter Olympic update, and tributes to culturally significant figures.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Tom Ricketts’ State of the Cubs Address & Expectations

• [02:56] Ricketts discusses the moment, the Cubs’ history, the loyal fan base, high expectations—and bluntly says the goal is more World Series titles.

  • “We just have to win more World Series…I mean, it’s about winning. All this other stuff, it all leads to one thing, and that’s about winning.” — Tom Ricketts ([04:25])

• [04:31] Bernstein underscores how Ricketts saying “we should win the division” and outright mentioning the World Series matters:

  • “Words are cheap. They are. Sure. But saying stuff matters. The owner using the term World Series...that's good. That’s why it matters more this year, because of where they are in their window.” — Dan Bernstein

• The expectation is no longer “be competitive”—it’s “be dominant now.”

2. The Broader MLB Landscape: Labor Uncertainty & RSN Collapse

• Discussion shifts to looming labor strife and the challenge of MLB’s regional sports network (RSN) model collapsing, with MLB poised to possibly move to a centralized, national TV deal.

  • “The secret in this has been the failure of the RSN model. It has been the collapse of bally slash fanduel…MLB now has essentially the TV rights to half the teams...Manfred would like…all the television rights, all of them.” — Bernstein ([08:31]–[10:22])

• Ricketts artfully dodges questions on salary cap/floor, deferring to “the league,” but Bernstein calls this out:

  • “Dude, you are the league. You’re the owner of one of the wealthy teams…To say you’re just following the league is a bit of a projection.” — Bernstein ([06:40], [13:38])

• Key point: Owners are divided—big-market teams run their own RSNs, small-market teams want revenue-sharing. Labor peace rests on them settling business among themselves before talking to players.

3. Marquee Network’s Future and MLB’s Business Tug-of-War

• [13:38] Discussion about the Cubs’ RSN, Marquee Sports Network:

  • Ricketts’ public support of Marquee is read as positioning in negotiations—“We love the network and our independence”—but Bernstein calls it a “projection”:

    • “I still think that’s a way of telling Rob Manfred, for the right number, you can have it.” — Bernstein ([13:38])

  • Marquee’s profitability is questioned; layoffs and lackluster original content cited.

• The hosts agree a national TV deal may be coming, with the crumbling RSN business pushing the issue.

4. MLB Labor Negotiations: A Coming Storm

• MLBPA Executive Director Tony Clark reportedly resigning over financial scrutiny; Bruce Meyer, lead negotiator, likely successor.

  • Owners’ fight: “owners vs. owners” more than owners vs. players right now.

  • The need for a salary “band” (cap and floor) is discussed but seen as logistically and politically difficult:

    • “There’s going to be no floor without a cap. No cap without a floor.” — Bernstein ([21:35])

  • Randomness of baseball playoffs means spending doesn’t guarantee World Series wins. Example: playoff narratives hinge on tiny moments.

5. Youth Sports & “Insane” MLB Recruitment: The 11-Year-Old Prospect

• [27:02] The co-host shares a wild story about Phillies reportedly offering $1.8 million to 11-year-old Venezuelan David Besabe.
  • The hosts decry the distortion of youth sports by money and parental fantasy:
    • “This is the kind of sht that ruins parents when it comes to their kids in youth sports.”* — Co-host ([29:25])
    • “Your kid sucks is usually the answer.” — Bernstein ([29:54])

6. Frank Thomas: Restored as a White Sox Legend

• [32:13] White Sox finally include Frank Thomas on a Black History Month poster after previously snubbing him—a running joke about “being Black again” for the Sox.

7. Winter Olympics Update

• [36:16] Matt updates on the Winter Olympics highlights: American Ilana Myers Taylor wins gold in women’s monobob at age 41; U.S.-Canada women’s ice hockey gold medal matchup set; Brazil’s startling gold in alpine skiing.

8. Quirky Local News: Chicago’s Sex Dungeon Crackdown

• [44:48] Wild detour into Chicago’s “sex dungeon” underground: coverage of business licensing headaches, famous dungeons shut down, tax loopholes for BDSM venues, and a debate about the line between legal kink and criminal acts.
  • “I don’t know that I want like eggs Benedict with my BDSM. Maybe some people do.” — Bernstein ([46:07])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• [04:25] “We just have to win more World Series. I mean, it’s about winning. All this other stuff, it all leads to one thing, and that’s about winning.” — Tom Ricketts
• [06:40] “Dude, you are the league. You’re the owner of one of the wealthy teams.” — Dan Bernstein
• [13:38] “We love the network and we love our independence...I still think that’s a way of telling Rob Manfred, for the right number, you can have it.” — Bernstein
• [29:54] “Your kid sucks is usually the answer.” — Dan Bernstein (on parents aspiring to MLB contracts for their kids)
• [46:07] “I don’t know that I want like eggs Benedict with my BDSM. Maybe some people do.” — Bernstein
• [33:22] “Frank Thomas is front and center…appropriately so. Congratulations. Frank Thomas is once again…at least per the White Sox…he once again qualifies as Black.” — Bernstein

Timestamps for Major Segments

• [02:56]–[04:25]: Tom Ricketts’ address: Cubs expectations, World Series talk
• [06:39]–[13:22]: MLB business, RSN collapse, Ricketts’ stance on TV/network future
• [19:01]–[24:23]: Labor issues, MLBPA leadership change, salary cap/floor debate
• [27:02]–[30:29]: Phillies’ $1.8M offer to 11-year-old; youth sports/parenting
• [32:13]–[34:07]: Frank Thomas & White Sox poster
• [36:16]–[40:00]: Winter Olympics update
• [44:48]–[53:02]: Chicago sex dungeons, licensing loopholes
• [55:56]–[63:10]: Obituaries for Jesse Jackson and Robert Duvall
• [65:00]–[67:10]: Michael Jordan’s birthday/Miscellaneous banter

Tone and Style

As ever, the conversation is razor-sharp but irreverent—a blend of inside-baseball candor, veteran skepticism, and deadpan Chicago humor. No punches pulled, especially when holding owners accountable or skewering absurdities in sports culture.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode does more than recap team news—it situates Ricketts’ championship talk in a much broader struggle over the future of baseball’s finances and media. It’s a must for any fan who wants to understand not just whether the Cubs “should” win, but how MLB’s very structure could be about to change—and how the Cubs are more central to that battle than ever. The side journeys—whether youth prospect excess, Chicago’s sex dungeons, or the Olympic medal count—remind listeners why unfiltered Chicago sports talk is never just about the score.