The Bobby Bones Show: SORE LOSERS – Is the Pasta Approachable?
Episode Date: February 13, 2026
Hosts: Lunchbox & Ben
Episode highlights and memorable moments from the Sore Losers daily replay.
Episode Overview
In this lively, banter-filled episode, Lunchbox and Ben catch up on a whirlwind weekend featuring family antics, car trouble, youth basketball, a high-stakes (but not free) reading challenge event at Vanderbilt, and—most memorably—a deeply “approachable” fine-dining experience that inspires both confusion and comedy. The episode’s main focus is the art of eating out: from QR codes versus paper menus to a waiter’s over-the-top food descriptions, and the existential question—can pasta truly be approachable? Listeners are treated to stories about parenting, sports, and the never-ending quest to avoid being fleeced at every turn.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Home Life & Old School Pranks
Timestamps: [02:09]–[06:46]
- Ben and Lunchbox reminisce about classic childhood jokes their kids still play at home—like "spell I C U P" and "underwear" gags.
- Ben: “That was earlier this week and late last week and now it has shifted to…Hey, do you know how to spell I? Cup. Boom. Got him.” [04:24]
- Lunchbox reflects on how the jokes circulate from school halls right back to his living room.
- Notable: Both play into the innocent fun but admit it drives their wives a little nuts.
2. Tire Trouble & The Lost Art of the Hookup
Timestamps: [06:46]–[16:45]
- Lunchbox thanks Ben for accommodating podcast scheduling around his balding tire emergency.
- They trade stories about past “tire hookups,” where friends in the auto business would sneak them deals.
- Ben: “I had a tire hookup for years…He would slide them right out the door because he knew where there's the excess tires.” [11:36]
- Lunchbox details the American dilemma: "Am I gonna get it towed?…Am I gonna drive on it with the potential of one of them blowing?" [14:34–14:40]
- Discussion veers into the pride and dangers of driving old, beat-up vehicles (and how far you’ll go to save on a tow bill).
3. The Fine-Dining Saga: Is the Pasta Approachable?
Timestamps: [22:53]–[35:07]
- With the kids at school overnight, Ben and his wife head to a fancy restaurant.
- They rail against QR code menus, discussing their love for tactile, paper menus:
- Ben: “I would rather have a menu in my hands.” [24:51]
- Lunchbox: “If they don’t give me the menu…I’m not QR coding it. Just get me something.” [25:07]
- The waiter describes dishes with hyperbole—claiming the sea urchin (“uni”) will "change your life" and pesto pasta is "approachable."
- Ben: “He tells me, oh, that right there. That will change your life. I’m like, really? That item on your menu is going to change my life?” [26:06]
- Ben: “He goes…I gotta say, it's very approachable. This guy’s serious.” [27:19]
- Lunchbox: “What are you, Michelin man?” [28:04]
- Both hosts dissect the absurdity of describing food as "approachable":
- “The pasta has a very open mind. It is very approachable. It’s open to new people.” – Ben [28:29]
- “Sir, you are now free to approach the pasta.” – Lunchbox [28:23]
- They banter about whether the waiter’s approach is genuine, condescending, or just trying to flirt.
- The tiramisu is also promised to "change your life"—by this point, Ben is skeptical.
- Notable quote:
- Ben's wife cautions: “You’re gonna make fun of him for saying approachable?” Ben: “Absolutely.” [28:40]
4. Overly Accommodating Waitstaff & Restaurant Satire
Timestamps: [32:55]–[35:07]
- After the meal, the waiter showers them with effusive praise:
- “You guys killed it…set the tone for a magnificent evening for me. Thank you for bringing that kind of energy.” – The Waiter (as recounted by Ben) [33:00–33:29]
- Ben and his wife leave bemused, with Ben deadpanning:
- "As we get in the car, I said, what the f did he mean, approachable?" [34:56]
- Lunchbox: "That dude wanted your wife." [35:07]
5. Kids’ Basketball & Extreme Gym Rules
Timestamps: [39:07]–[44:02]
- Ben chronicles the logistics of youth sports: overlapping games, race across gyms, and a stern scorer’s table official banning pre-game dribbling:
- Ben: “No bouncing the basketballs. In the gym.” [41:03]
- Lunchbox: “I’m never having kids. See, I would never run into this.” [41:06]
- Celebrated: Baby Box 2 scores four baskets and gets tackled thrice—“Pretty physical…but we won the game.” [42:29]
6. Mr. C’s Reading Challenge: How ‘Free’ Became a $258 Outing
Timestamps: [44:02]–[66:38]
- The promised free Vanderbilt tickets turn out to cost $160 for the family, $40 for parking ("discount for future students? That’ll be $40." [45:00]), $58 for water, $14 for three chicken tenders, and more. Spirals into a family expense.
- The disappointing economics of “free” family events, with plenty of sarcastic asides.
- Arena navigation woes: Narrow hallways, out-of-reach bathrooms, and accidentally sitting in the band’s seats.
- “As you get older, you want backs on your seat. Guys, I’m just telling you, it’s just more comfortable.” – Ben [51:27]
- Ben’s son determinedly searches every arena section for his teacher after seeing her on the Jumbotron.
- Extended riff on unappetizing stadium “tendies” and the pain of paying $14 for a tiny serving.
- The family’s Jumbotron selfie never appears, much to the kids’ chagrin.
7. Dramatic Basketball Comeback…That Wasn’t
Timestamps: [57:44]–[65:17]
- Ben floats the idea of leaving the blowout early, but his kids are adamant about staying (“Dad, I earned these tickets!”), leading to a comical parent-child standoff.
- With the arena nearly empty and just minutes left, Vandy nearly completes a massive comeback, energizing his son—who is red-faced and cheering.
- “Me harassing my kid, saying we should leave early. And it turns out the game actually got pretty good.” [64:08]
- In the end, Vanderbilt loses by one. Ben: “We lost $256.” [64:57]
8. Pom-Poms at the Grocery Store
Timestamps: [65:19]–[66:38]
- The kids bring home souvenir pom-poms, using them to play pranks and amuse themselves in the grocery store.
- Ben holds them “like I was directing planes through the airport.” [66:00]
- Lunchbox: “You got to bring those to the big show…Direct people in the studio.” [66:08]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On “Approachable” Pasta
- "What the hell do you mean, approachable?” – Ben [28:09]
- “Sir, you are now free to approach the pasta.” – Lunchbox [28:23]
-
On Waiters Overselling
- “That item on your menu is going to change my life?” – Ben [26:25]
- “That dude wanted your wife.” – Lunchbox [35:07]
-
On Never-Ending Costs at ‘Free’ Events
- “So now we are $258 into this freaking event that was supposed to be free.” – Ben [48:50]
- “What was he wearing, snake oil and a briefcase?” – Lunchbox [59:33]
-
On Parenthood & Small Victories
- “He was red in the face…I felt bad telling him we should leave early—he’s saying, 'Let’s go, Vanny!'” – Ben [64:08]
Important Segment Timestamps
- [22:53] – Date-night restaurant story begins: QR codes, menus, and pasta musings
- [28:04] – "Approachable" pasta conversation
- [32:55] – Waiter effusively praises their table
- [44:02] – Beginning of the Vanderbilt/Mr. C’s Reading Challenge saga
- [57:44] – Vanderbilt’s wild basketball comeback sequence
Overall Tone & Takeaways
Bantering, sarcastic, observational, and packed with quick-fire asides. Lunchbox and Ben skewer pretentious food culture, poke fun at family logistics, and expose the hidden costs of modern “free” experiences. Beneath the sarcasm is a heart for family adventures, the nostalgia of old friendships, and the realization that sometimes, even when you lose by one, you still have to find the joy (and the humor) in the mess.
Summary Useful For:
- Anyone seeking relatable comedy about family, dining, and sports parenting
- Those who love food culture takedowns (especially of hipster waiters)
- Listeners who want a blow-by-blow of surviving the maze of youth sports and “free” events
- Fans of Sore Losers who missed the episode and want all the best lines and storytelling
(Advertisements, show promos, and sponsor reads have been omitted for clarity and focus.)