Holmberg's Morning Sickness – Arizona

Episode: 09-08-25 (September 8, 2025): Comments On John's DIY Poles, YouTube TV's WNBA Quadbox, Lamar Jackson’s Michael Vick Admiration, and HR Ball 'Karen' at Marlins/Phillies Game
Podcast Hosts: John Holmberg, Brady Bogen, Bret Vesely, Dick Toledo
Station: 98KUPD | Hubbard Radio

Episode Overview

This episode delivers Holmberg-style takes on a wide range of topics: John’s DIY backyard project and the avalanche of listener commentary it provoked; John’s signature rant regarding YouTube TV’s unwanted WNBA inclusion in his NFL quadbox setup; discussion of Lamar Jackson’s controversial claim that Michael Vick is his QB idol; and an in-depth, comedic breakdown of the viral “HR Ball Karen” controversy at the Marlins/Phillies game, featuring the infamous baseball-snatching incident. The hosts—irreverent, unfiltered, and quick-witted—focus their lens on absurdities in sports, media, and everyday life, all with trademark Arizona flavor.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. John's DIY Home Project & Listener Feedback

[02:15–07:20]

• John brings up his weekend DIY project, referencing photos he plans to post online showing off his work and emphasizing the presence (or absence) of safety equipment.
• Listener emails flood in, congratulating and ribbing him. Alexander Herrera (via email) credits John but immediately admonishes him:

  “But for God’s sakes, where’s your goggles? Safety first, jackass. Can’t have America’s sweetheart going blind.” — Alexander Herrera, as read by John [03:18]

• The conversation details generational differences on safety:
  • John jokes that older generations "just get it done," and safety gear is more for those not in the know.
  • Anecdotes from listeners suggest gloves are more common (“We call those pussy mittens where I work”), and John riffs on the subject and listener ethnicities.
• Brett suggests John do a reality show:

  “John, it’s time you quit this radio garbage and start your own construction on the spectrum channel.” [05:28]

• John spins ideas for shows where amateurs attempt complicated builds with no instructions, in a “Internet Builder”-style concept.

2. Banter On Workplace Insubordination (Inspired by British Court Ruling)

[07:20–12:00]

• John brings up a European court case where calling your boss a “dickhead” was ruled not to be grounds for firing, predicting, “That’s gonna leak over the pond and come over here soon.” [07:34]
• He encourages (tongue-in-cheek) listeners to test the limits at their own workplaces—except not with his own boss, Tripp:

  “I’m not gonna call Tripp a dickhead. That’s crazy talk. He calls me that all the time!” [09:20]

• The segment’s tone is sarcastic but pointed, dissecting double-standards and the performative nature of modern HR.

3. The Ethics and Absurdity of the NFL Sunday TV Setup

John’s YouTube TV MultiView Rant
[12:04–18:49]

• John rails against YouTube TV’s multiview feature populating his coveted “quadbox” with WNBA games amid football overload, given the price he pays for NFL access.

  "If algorithms are really a thing and you know what I like based on what I watch, then don't put the motherf***ing WNBA in my multi views." [14:32]

• Mocks how little the WNBA means to fans during NFL time:

  "Anybody interested in the WNBA is not keeping their eye on it with football. They're watching that and maybe like Melissa Etheridge on a loop." [14:49]

• Laments the exorbitant cost of modern a la carte streaming (“My bill came to YouTube TV was like $400…” [13:18]) and how TV packages have ballooned compared to promises of cheaper, customizable experiences.

4. Technology, Advertising, and the Dangers of AI “Learning” the Wrong Things

[16:36–17:31]

• John details creepy targeting—how Apple TV & YouTube ads are hyper-specific, cross-device, and not always wanted.
• Anecdotes about mattress ads, lubricants, and “goggles” illustrate the uncanny accuracy … except when it comes to sports viewing preferences (i.e., still can’t shake the WNBA from his football screen).

5. Lamar Jackson, Michael Vick, and Ethical Role Models in Sports

[18:58–26:45]

• Hosts dissect a pregame interview where Lamar Jackson called Michael Vick his NFL idol.

  "Isn't it sort of the same as a running back saying, 'I just love O.J. Simpson?' ... Shouldn't that be frowned upon? The dude did horrible stuff." — John [19:00]

• John condemns sports’ tendency to “turn a blind eye” to athletes’ heinous pasts, giving a detailed, graphic recounting of Vick's dogfighting abuses:

  "Michael Vick used to take dogs that were suffering and pick them up by the legs and smash them into the ground until they were dead..." [24:36]

• He challenges the logic of still holding up Vick (and similar figures) as role models, questioning the NFL’s priorities and the memory of fans.

  "Nobody should ever aspire to like that. He ruined the privilege of being mentioned as a great." [26:22]

• The group briefly discusses race, redemption, and who gets to be “forgiven”—alongside gallows humor and raw assessment.

6. Viral Baseball ‘Karen’ at Marlins/Phillies Game

[28:26–39:40]

• The crew dives into the instantly viral moment where a woman (dubbed “Home Run Ball Karen,” a.k.a. "the Lesbian," with extended riffs about her hair) aggressively snatches a home run ball from a young boy at a Marlins game.
• Colorful hair and personality analysis:

  “She is a human Subaru Outback. Look at her. … She just jumped out of a 1988 yearbook.” — John [29:46]

• Brett summarizes the dad’s dignified reaction:

  “I hope that ball means a lot to her.” [31:33]

• The hosts deconstruct ballpark etiquette, escalate the joke, and debate whether the father’s example was better serving as conflict de-escalation or needlessly passive.

  “Well, in my opinion, he taught a lesson to his son to not stand up for himself. … At that moment, you bark at that lesbian.” — John [35:49]

• The woman’s look (“Cruella De Vil hair”) spawns a running riff about “fun hair” signifying latent insanity; multiple jabs at middle-aged women with two-tone or shaved undercuts ensue.
• They acknowledge the consequences:
  • Rumors the woman lost her job; the recipient family is showered with gifts, including an RV, for their ordeal.
• On viral justice:

  “That’s the one good and bad thing about all this. Cameras everywhere, you out the horrible people and then sometimes you feel really bad for some folks who did something dumb.” — John [40:15]

7. Other Notable Sports & Stadium Etiquette Moments

[40:28–44:50]

• The show details other incidents of adults snatching memorabilia from kids at events—referencing the U.S. Open hat theft by a CEO and the violence of old-school crowd giveaways (including a “mountain of a woman” at a Coyotes game who barreled through rows for a coupon).
• They muse on how public shaming is a double-edged sword and mock CEO-types as always being the bad guy in these viral tales.

8. Final Riffs: Haircuts, Gender Stereotypes, and DIY Anthems

[45:12–52:59]

• The “fun hair” concept is dissected further—now comparing it to men’s “flat tops” as an instant insanity signal.

  "Fun is a swing or a slide. It’s never your hair. Ever. Don’t ever cut it. You look like a Fraggle or a Beatle…" — John [47:02]

• John relishes posting photos of his DIY yard project, daring listeners to criticize.
• Quick exploration of “Handyman” (the Del Shannon and James Taylor versions) as a possible new Holmberg theme song.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DIY Safety:

  “Goggles are for people who don’t know what they’re doing or don’t have swimming pools at the ready to counteract whatever…” — John [04:22]

• On Streaming Overload:

  “My bill came to YouTube TV, was like $400… John McCain was wrong. A la carte TV is costing us thousands more.” — John [13:18]

• On Algorithm Failures:

  “Nobody wants the WNBA in the multi view… as much as I’m paying for TV, and you know what it does learn? Goddamn commercials.” — John [15:36]

• On Michael Vick’s NFL Legacy:

  “He ruined the privilege of being mentioned as a great. … O.J.—we don’t talk about O.J. … Let’s do the same for Michael.” — John [26:46]

• On Viral Ballpark Incidents:

  “She is a human Subaru Outback. Look at her … It’s more a bob, but it’s also a—It’s like a bi level. It looks like she just jumped out of a 1988 yearbook.” — John [29:46] “I hope the dad turned to his son and say, and that is why we hate lesbians. … Yeah, she’s out of her mind.” — John [32:47]

• On ‘Fun Hair’ as a Personality Warning:

  “Certain haircuts immediately make you crazy. So even if you do something a little bit off, it amplifies it by like a thousand.” — John [46:13]

Timestamps for Important Segments

| Timestamp | Topic | |---------------|-------------------------------------------| | 02:15 | John’s DIY project & listener emails | | 07:21 | UK “dickhead at work” legal ruling | | 12:04 | John’s rant against YouTube TV (WNBA) | | 18:58 | Lamar Jackson/Michael Vick role model | | 28:26 | HR Ball Karen at Marlins/Phillies game | | 40:30 | Stadium etiquette and viral shaming | | 45:12 | Fun hair and gendered haircuts | | 52:22 | “Handyman” song talk, wrap-up riffs |

Summary Tone & Language

The episode is quintessentially raw, sarcastic, and observational—delivering rants, punchlines, and insightful side-jabs that blend pop culture, sports, and blue-collar wisdom in equal measure. The hosts’ chemistry fuels the show’s rapid pace and irreverent edge, always keeping listener engagement in their crosshairs, and never shying from controversy or candid personal perspective.

For new listeners:
This summary gives you a full rundown of the episode’s comedic highlights, controversial takes, and conversational ebb and flow—no ad breaks, no fluff, just the opinions, stories, and gut laughs you come for.