Dan Bernstein Unfiltered – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Frank Thomas SNUBBED by the White Sox | Bulls Trade | NFL must investigate Steve Tisch
Air Date: February 2, 2026
Hosts: Dan Bernstein (A), Matt Abbatacola (B)

Overview

This episode of Dan Bernstein Unfiltered delivers the hosts’ signature blend of sharp critique, Chicago sports passion, and irreverent humor as Dan and Matt dive into three major stories:

1. NFL’s looming Steve Tisch scandal and expectations for Roger Goodell.
2. The Chicago White Sox’s shocking omission of Frank Thomas in a Black History Month tribute.
3. Chicago Bulls’ tepid trade deadline activity.
   Amidst the hot takes, the hosts also touch on topics like pharmaceutical ads, Midwest weather, March Madness hopes, and nostalgic sports stories, all wrapped in unmistakably candid Chicago banter.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. NFL, Steve Tisch, and League Accountability

Timestamps: 00:38 – 14:24

• Main Story: NY Giants owner Steve Tisch is named in the latest Jeffrey Epstein document dump with evidence suggesting inappropriate liaisons facilitated by Epstein. The hosts argue the league must hold owners to the same standard as players, referencing the NFL’s stringent personal conduct policy ("It is a privilege to be part of the National Football League. Everyone... must refrain from conduct detrimental to the integrity and public confidence of the NFL." – Dan, 03:18).
• They critique the slow DOJ release of documents and speculate on the extent of misconduct being withheld.
• Memorable Quote:

  “Giants owner Steve Tisch is a creep and they've got to figure it out at the moment before anything else happens. He should probably go on. Whatever you do with players, you need to do it with owners. And this is a huge test because it is Super Bowl week... Goodell cannot walk in front of the media today without them having an action plan on what to do about Steve Tisch.” (Dan, 00:38)

• Comparison is made to Donald Sterling’s NBA ouster, emphasizing league precedent.
• The hosts stress this is a defining test for Goodell and the collective owners’ willingness to self-police, expressing skepticism that meaningful discipline will occur without external (media or union) pressure.
• Notable Moments:
  • Dan reads from the NFL conduct policy, making explicit the breadth of its application (04:10).
  • Matt points out the deliberate continued association between Tisch and Epstein, as detailed in Dan Wetzel’s reporting (06:38).

2. White Sox Omit Frank Thomas in Black History Month Tribute

Timestamps: 16:54 – 31:57

• Incident: The White Sox published a 'momentous firsts' graphic for Black History Month but minimized Frank Thomas, the franchise’s greatest player and a prominent Black baseball figure.
• Frank’s Response: Frank Thomas tweeted:

  "I guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable. Don't worry, I'm taking receipts." (19:46)

• Dan and Matt express disbelief, oscillating between “unbelievable oversight” and “deliberate snub rooted in organizational pettiness”.
• They humorously but pointedly question how such an iconic player could be excluded:

  "Maybe I screwed up. Maybe he isn’t black. This whole time…He’s a white guy with a great tan. I mean, come on." (Dan, 23:28)

• Matt insists it’s not an oversight and recalls personal memories relating to Frank Thomas, underscoring his central place in White Sox history and fan culture.
• Memorable exchange:
  • Dan: "How do you think that doing that won’t snap back at you?" (27:52)
  • Matt: "It is unbelievable to me…You should have Frank Thomas all over this thing. He’s your best player ever." (24:13)
• By conversation’s end, both hosts believe the snub was “100% deliberate” and criticize the ownership's “bitterness and pettiness”.

3. Chicago Bulls' Minor Trade Activity & Lack of Direction

Timestamps: 34:12 – 38:43

• Bulls acted as a facilitator in a minor NBA trade, netting a couple of second-round picks.
• Matt rules this does not count as a substantial trade for their ongoing bet, since the Bulls were not the “main player” and management doesn't value such picks.
• Both hosts bemoan it as too little, too late—a token gesture rather than a sign of a serious strategic shift.
• They remain skeptical that bigger or more meaningful moves (i.e. rebuilding the roster) will occur at the upcoming deadline.
• Notable quote:

  “It’s very, very late in his tenure to now say, well, I’ve changed my mind and now we understand the value of future assets.” (Dan, 36:16)

4. Quick Hits & Cultural Commentary

a) College Basketball Futures & Illinois’ Final Four Potential

Timestamps: 43:24 – 48:29

• Dan praises Illinois’ depth and talent but expresses skepticism about Coach Underwood’s situational in-game acumen.

  “They have the bones of a Final Four team…I just don’t trust Brad Underwood as a situational game coach.” (44:10)

b) Hilariously Irreverent Pharma Ad Rant

Timestamps: 51:41 – 59:44

• Extended comedic riff on the side effects in pharma commercials, especially a drug that could cause “fatal taint swelling.”
• Matt and Dan riff about the absurdity and delivery of these commercials, turning it into a running gag.

  “Swelling of the area between the anus and genitals that could result in death. Taint swelling…fatal?” (Dan, 54:32)

c) Super Bowl Talk, Weather, and Groundhog Day Parlay

Timestamps: 14:24 – 43:24

• Super Bowl betting, fundraising squares, and the annual family parlay involving Phil the Groundhog’s shadow.
• Midwest weather talk, springtime hopes, fishing nostalgia.

d) Personal Sports Memories (Frank Thomas at Herman’s Sporting Goods)

Timestamps: 28:03 – 29:46

• Matt shares a personal story about meeting Frank Thomas as a young retail worker, humanizing the legend and reinforcing his legendary status for the franchise and fans.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Steve Tisch Scandal:
  “If they do not hold the controlling owner of the Giants to that policy, then if you’re a player, if you’re the union, and you want to go to them right now and say, we don’t have a policy…” (Dan, 05:00)
• On the White Sox & Frank Thomas:
  “If this still is bitterness and sour grapes on the part of ownership and anybody else that’s still in that building, shame on them…to minimize the contributions of the best player in your franchise’s history by a mile, just out of spite and just out of petty sour grapes…what are you doing?” (Dan, 21:05)
• On Bulls' Trade:
  “While it is a trade, and there was some movement made, the Bulls weren’t the main player in it. They were just a facilitator to help two other teams make their transaction. So this doesn’t count towards our bet…” (Matt, 36:38)
• On Fatal Taint Swelling Ad:
  “How is this not a bigger story? How many people had this actually occur? … The drug is great. We have seven people die because their taint swelled up and they died.” (Dan, 54:38)

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Time | Segment | |------------|-----------------------------------------------------------| | 00:38-14:24| NFL/Epstein/Tisch Scandal & League Accountability | | 16:54-31:57| White Sox Snub Frank Thomas for Black History Month | | 34:12-38:43| Chicago Bulls' Trade Deadline Inactivity & Commentary | | 43:24-48:29| College Basketball – Illinois’ Prospects | | 51:41-59:44| Pharmaceutical Ad Side Effects Comedy Bit | | 28:03-29:46| Matt’s Story: Meeting Frank Thomas |

Tone, Language & Style

The conversation embodies Chicago sports radio at its sharpest: biting, honest, and deeply invested in the local teams, but willing to be irreverent, self-deprecating, and tangential (see: pharma ad rants, personal anecdotes, and running gags about “Dick Hammer” and “Dick Warlock”). Dan is the more analytical and intense, Matt is more laid back and jocular, both are unfiltered and deeply in-the-know.

For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

• The NFL is under pressure to apply its own standards to a powerful owner implicated in a major scandal—will it, or will the story be buried?
• Chicago’s beloved Frank Thomas sees his legacy snubbed by White Sox ownership during Black History Month, irking fans and players alike.
• The Bulls continue their tradition of tepid, inconsequential trades and appear directionless.
• Plus: Funny side stories on drugs with bizarre side effects, suburban fishing, and how families turn Groundhog Day into a gambling event.
• Most importantly: If you’re a Chicago sports fan who expects honesty and humor without filter, this is your podcast.

Relevant Quotes with Timestamps:

• Dan (03:18): “It is a privilege to be part of the National Football League. Everyone... must refrain from conduct detrimental to the integrity and public confidence of the NFL.”
• Frank Thomas’s tweet (19:46): “I guess the black player who made you rich over there and holds all your records is forgettable. Don't worry, I'm taking receipts.”
• Matt (24:13): “You should have Frank Thomas all over this thing. He’s your best player ever.”
• Dan (54:32): “Swelling of the area within the anus, that what? That is fatal. Taint, swelling. Fatal?”

In Closing

Dan Bernstein Unfiltered continues its tradition of pulling no punches, dissecting everything Chicago sports and beyond with a perfect mix of righteous outrage, sharp analysis, and streetwise wit.