The Illini Basketball team is making noise, but how good are they?  The 2005 Illinois Basketball team was ranked #1 all season and lost in the NCAA Finals to North Carolina.  Roger Powell Jr., "The Rev" was a member of the Illini starting four and now is an assistant coach for the #1 ranked Gonzaga Bulldogs.  A look back at 2005 and ahead to 2021 NCAA Tournament to see who will be the last team standing.

"Hoops Madness" with Roger Powell Jr. - Episode 045

Who was the best athlete you ever saw perform in high school?  We all have those studs that were amazing, or maybe it was the unknown who went on to professional greatness?  An Olympian?  We put this question to David Kaplan of ESPN Radio 1000, Bruce Levine of 670 The Score Sports Radio in Chicago, and ESPN senior write Scoop Jackson to find out theirs on this mini-episode of the podcast.

"Answer Me This:  Who is the Best HS Athlete You Saw?" Mini Episode 046

Ring Lardner Award winner Toni Ginnetti talks about her career as a sportswriter in Chicago.  A female trailblazer in print journalism, Ginnetti shares how her instinct led to human interest stories in baseball about former Chicago Cub Rick Sutcliffe's dog "Rookie" and the Chicago White Sox Adam Dunn.  Great stories from a woman who is a Baseball Hall of Fame voter and has covered DePaul basketball, Olympics and Politics in Chicago.

"Ring Lardner Awards Part 1" with Toni Ginnetti - Episode047

In this mini-episode we ask the age old debate that comes up every spring in Chicago:  Who will win more games the Cubs or the White Sox? From the north side to the south side it's sure to get heated as hope springs eternal in Chicago baseball!  This episode's guests giving their predictions are Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune; Jon Greenberg, The Athletic; WGN-TV's Dan Roan; Mark Potash and Richard Roeper from the Chicago Sun-Times.

"Answer me this:  Who will win more games this year, the Cubs or the White Sox?" Mini-Episode048

Ring Lardner award winner in 2020 for sports broadcasting is Chicago Sportscaster Dan Roan of WGN-TV. Thirty seven years covering Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears, Chicago Blackhawks, Notre Dame football and more.  Roan tells great stories from the worst athletes in Chicago sports to the best.  And how PGA golfer D.A. Weibring helped Roan's career while roommates at Illinois State University.

"Ring Lardner Award winner in Sports Broadcasting Dan Roan" - Episode 049

The NFL Draft is when team's hedge their bets and money on who will become great football players on Sundays.  But it's a crapshoot with often most top picks being busts.  So who are the draft picks you were completely wrong about?  We asked Brad Biggs, NFL Writer for the Chicago Tribune, former NFL player John "Jurko" Jurkovic of ESPN Radio and Greg Gabriel a former front office executive with the Chicago Bears.  Listen in to this mini episode for their "draft busts"!

"Answer Me This... What Draft Pick were you Completely Wrong About?" Mini Episode 50

The Chicago Bears trade up for the second time in four years for a Quarterback in the 2021 NFL Draft.  But, can Justin Fields of Ohio State be what Mitch Trubisky was not -- a franchise quarterback? Or God forbid will Bears fans wait half another half century to find a signal caller to take them to the promised land!  In Part 2 of "Answer me this... What draft pick were you completely wrong about?"  NFL writers, former players and analysts give us their Draft Busts.  Former Chicago Bear Alex Brown, ESPN's Jeff Dickerson, Dan Pompei & Adam Jahns from the Athletic and John Buffone of the Bears Barroom Network all chime in.  While Bears fans hope Justin Fields is NEVER on this list.

Chicago Bears 2021 Draft & Part 2 - The Picks You Were Wrong About - Mini Episode 051

Prior to the NFL Draft 2021 athletes go through the NFL Combine.  One of the myriad of tests performed is the Athletes Intelligence Quotient, AIQ which measures an athletes intelligence: the ability to acquire, process and apply information."  It's not a predictor of their success in the NFL, but it can be a contributing factor.  So, you may ask, "how smart is my QB"?  In part One of our interview, Dr. Scott Goldman delves into the how's and why's of this test and what has been said about the Off the Chart scoring my new Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields.

"How Smart Is Your QB?" with Dr. Scott Goldman - Ep052

For the first time we hear the truth behind Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields intelligence test results as explained by the Dr. who performed the test.  Dr. Scott Goldman says Fields incredibly high scores are consistent and parallel with league MVPs and Super Bowl winners of late.  So how can the Bears bring this out of their rookie QB on the field and end generational drought at the QB Position? We discuss!

"Justin Fields Intelligence Test Results Explained" with Dr. Scott Goldman - Episode 053

Mark Giangreco was the King of Local TV Sports not only in Chicago but the highest paid local sportscaster in the country.  His ouster at ABC7 in Chicago came after a wisecrack but his stories of almost four decades covering Chicago sports are still flowing.  Will he return to the local sports scene?  Tune in and hear what it takes to succeed in local Television in the Windy City.

"Phone a Friend" with Mark Giangreco -Episode 054

In this midsummer update on sports in Chicago, Jason takes over the show hosting and talking about summer baseball with the White Sox and Chicago Cubs. From the "sticky baseball" controversy in Major League Baseball the spat between Lucas Giolito and Josh Donaldson of the Twins as well as how its helping hitters like Kyle Schwarber too. Are the Cubs sellers?  Can the White Sox get back to a strong second half? Will they actually work together on a trade? Jason has thoughts on all of this as well as former Chicago Bulls star Scottie Pippen, the NBA Playoffs and more to share with you.

"Jason Takes Over Talking Baseball and More" - Episode 055

The generation gap between Peggy and Jason shows up as they talk NBA basketball.  Peggy admits she lost interest watching the NBA after the three point shot "ruined" the game she loved.  In comes, Chicago Bulls and Fox Sports broadcaster Adam Amin to convince her to watch the greatest athletes play the game.  Listen in as Adam and Jason talk NBA basketball and the game which admittedly is "not your mother's or father's NBA" anymore.

"Not Your Mother's NBA" with Adam Amin - Episode 056

Answer me this...what is your favorite Olympic Memory?  And, what event or sport should be in the Olympic Games?  Jason and Peggy share their thoughts while watching the Tokyo Olympics and reach out to others "in the know".  1992 Olympic Boxer Montell Griffin, NBC Broadcaster Kathryn Tappen, ESPN and Marquee Sports Network's Beth Mowins, Olympics producer for NBC Sports Bob Vasilopoulos and Bally Sportswriter Maggie Hendricks all chime in with their favorite Olympic memories and possible Olympic sports as well.

"Answer Me This...Favorite Olympic Memories" - Episode 057

What makes Chicago Bears Quarterback Justin Fields tick?  How did his upbringing in Georgia make him the player he is today?  And can he get out of the shadow of Trevor Lawrence?  We asked these questions to his High School Coach Matt Dickmann who remains close to the Fields family and has watched the quarterback blossom.  Whenever the Chicago Bears make him their starting QB Dickmann is confident he will live up to the lofty expectations that have been placed on him since he was 15 years old.

"Justin Fields, a QB In The Making" with Matt Dickmann - Episode 058

After talking to one of Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields High School coaches in Episode 058 it got us to reminiscing about our own favorite coaches growing up.  Who made that impression on you?  Who brought out your best?  Who pushed you to limits you didn't think possible?  We asked some friends to share with us who their favorite coach was growing up.  Tampa Bay Rays broadcaster Dave Wills, former Chicago Bears Wide Receiver Tom Waddle, Marquee Sports Network's Elise Menaker and 670 The Score Chicago Bears sideline reporter Mark Grote all chime in.

"Answer me this...Who was your favorite coach growing up?" - Episode 059

The 2021 Chicago Bears have a decimated offensive line before the season even began.  Who better to talk to than the newest Chicago Bears inducted into Pro Football's Hall of Fame than former Left Tackle Jimbo Covert?  Playing on a unit that had the same starting five for seven years, Covert gives intimate details to playing the position as well as his opinion on how the current NFL is played.  Is there hope for the Chicago Bears?  Covert will tell you in this episode.

"Talking Offensive Line with Chicago Bears Hall of Fame Jimbo Covert" -  Episode 060

Each year the greatest athletes are inducted into their sports Halls of Fame.  But not every speech is the same.  Chicago Bulls star Michael Jordan's was jaw dropping, Chicago Cub's Ryne Sandberg admonished selfish baseball players and the Chicago Bears' Walter Payton broke down crying.  His son Jarrett Payton joins us to reminisce about that day in Canton Ohio when he introduced his father and tells some stories you may have never heard.

"Hall Of Fame Speeches" with Jarrett Payton - Episode 006

Who is the funniest guy in sports?  Charles Barkley, Shaq, Peyton Manning all come to mind.  Former Chicago Bears defensive lineman Anthony "Spice" Adams joins the show to talk about how his post football career in comedy and how it took off thanks to comedian Kevin Hart and others who follow his characters "Creame Biggums and Reggie" on social media. Get ready to laugh as you listen!

"Funny Guys In Sports with Spice Adams" - Episode 009

Covid-19 hit and suddenly sports stopped in March 2020.  The NCAA tournament canceled, the NBA & NHL seasons were postponed, and MLB spring training halted.  Jason, like many struggled to fill the void.  Peggy, like many parents tried to keep perspective.  But the truth is we have never been through anything like this ... until we talked to Grandpa Poppy.  Peggy's Dad & Jason's grandfather, 85 year old Ed Kusinski shares stories of what it was like without sports when he was 8 years old during WWII.  An interesting perspective and a message of hope any generation can relate to.

"COVID-19 COPING and WWII" with Ed Kusinski of the greatest generation- Episode 019

Chicago Bears Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher joins the podcast to look back twenty years ago to when he was drafted.  The NFL Combine and the run there that changed everything.  Urlacher also speculates on why not getting recruited out of HS by big name colleges actually HELPED his eventual Hall of Fame career.  And he shares some laughs about some of the funniest pranks by his teammates.  A fun romp through one of the more recent eras of Chicago football.

"Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher & The NFL Virtual Draft" - Episode 023

A Father's Day edition of the podcast as Jason & Peggy talk about their favorite father & son duos in sports from Peggy's generation to Jason's today.  Kathy Sloan Wood joins the show to share stories about her late father Jerry Sloan.  The former coach of the Utah Jazz & original Chicago Bull died during Covid-19 of Lewy body Dementia and Parkinson's disease.  Hear about his early days in Southern Illinois to Chicago and then Salt Lake City as a Dad, an NBA player, coach and collector.

"Remembering My Dad, Jerry Sloan" with Kathy Sloan Wood - Episode 024

If you were a fan of Chicago Radio in the 90's this episode is for you!  Get ready to laugh KevHeads as Peggy calls her old radio partner Kevin Matthews and they reminisce about the radio bits with Doc, Puglsy, Geli, Jerome.  A groundbreaking radio show that talked about race relations in a comedic way with Doc, and gay rights with "Dan, the Gay American".  From the Kevin Matthews Golf outings to Chicago sports figures, rock stars and actors.  It's the Kevin Matthews show revisited!

"Phone A Friend With Kevin Matthews - What are you Goofy?" - Episode 025

Four months after sports shut down in the United States, professional and college teams and leagues are slowly returning to play.  But how will it work?  Will it last?  What are the pitfalls?  What is the one sport that is not likely going to return just yet?  Joining the podcast is WSCR 670 The Score morning show host David Haugh to break it all down with Jason and Peggy.

"Sports Returns in Covid-19 with David Haugh" - Episode 026

Just in time for the NHL summer playoffs, the Chicago Blackhawks greatest season ever takes you behind the scenes to an historic season that turned Chicago into a hockey town.  The 2010 Stanley Cup winners bring home the cup to Chicago after 49 years & Blackhawks Teammates Brian Campbell & Colin Fraser recall the games, their teammates, the hated rivalries, the behind the scenes antics and more in this fun look back.  You don't need to be a puck head to appreciate how a team can turn around a city.  It's Hockey Baby!

"2010 - Chicago Blackhawks Greatest Season Ever" with Brian Campbell and Colin Fraser - Episode 027

This is truly an example of the generation gap between mother and son when it comes to following sports in the age of new media. In this episode Peggy lets Jason pick the guest, and she's not particularly happy with his choice.  You see,  Peggy is a traditionally trained and educated sports reporter while her son Jason is a Generation Z sports blogger.  It creates tension for sure, but Jason tries to bring his mom around with guest "WhiteSox Dave" from Barstool Sports.  It's a conversation Peggy is not comfortable with, but like many parents is open to finding out what it is her teenage son sees in such a controversial blog site.

"Sports blogging" with Barstool Chicago's WhiteSox Dave - Episode 028

What a few months the Chicago Cubs have had in the 2020 offseason.  Theo Epstein leaves, Kyle Schwarber is gone, and the team announcer Len Kasper heads to Chicago's south side to call games for the White Sox.  Former Cub Ryan Dempster joins us to talk Cubs and his new night time sports talk show on Marquee Sports Network.  It's a fun conversation with a former big leaguer and all things Cubs.

"Hot Stove Cubs Talk with Ryan Dempster" - Episode 037

A special year end edition of the podcast featuring a sports panel hosted by Girls in the Game.  Cubs owner Tom Ricketts, Blackhawks interim President Danny Wirtz, Chicago Bears Director of Sports Science Jenn Gibson, Terry Savarise of the Chicago White Sox and the United Center join WNBA Chicago Sky owner Michael Alter in discussing how their teams managed to play in 2020 amidst a pandemic.  Some interesting behind the scenes stories and a glimpse into how difficult and trying it was and what to expect in 2021.

2020 Year Ender: Playing in a Pandemic - Episode 038 with Chicago Sports Team Leaders

Another busted season that ends in mediocrity and Bears fans are upset.  The front office decides to keep GM Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy as head coach despite back to back .500 seasons.  Former Bears head coach and current Fox Sports NFL Kickoff Analyst Dave Wannstedt joins the show to take us into the team's front office and ownership minds as well as discuss the future of the NFL's founding franchise.

"Busted Bears YearEnder 2020" with Dave Wannstedt - Episode 039

Nothing but a little ribbing here as Jason is graded on his predictions from the end of 2019 to the first half of 2020.  Some outrageous, some spot on!  A fun guest free episode of Chicago sports talk

"Grading Jason's Predictions" - Episode 040

On the eve of Super Bowl LV everyone's talking about THE GOAT.  Tom Brady, the Greatest QB of all Time against "the Kid" Patrick Mahomes.  But what did it take for Brady to become great, and was he always destined for that road to greatness?  Former University of Michigan 
Assistant Coach and Recruiting Coordinator Bobby Morrison takes us back to the High School QB from California who ALMOST didn't go to Michigan.  The Wolverines had their sights set on the #1 recruit in the country Bobby Sablehaus before he decided to go to Florida.  Michigan then pivoted to recruit Brady.  Morrison tells us the ups & downs of Brady's college career and what separates him from the others.  What makes greatness?  We try to find out.

"The GOAT Tom Brady" with former Coach Bobby Morrison - Episode 041

Another short but sweet episode with Peggy & Jason talking about their favorite sports team slogans in Chicago history.  This time they get input from Brooks Boyer of the Chicago White Sox front office, ESPN1000's Jonathan Hood, 670 The Score's David Haugh & Dan Bernstein, Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times and sports talker Mike North from The Barroom Network, ESPN Radio and North to North!  It may surprise listeners but no two answers are alike!  What's yours?

"Answer Me This: What's your favorite Chicago Sports team Slogan or Motto?" Mini Episode 044

Peggy Kusinski a Twelve time Emmy Award winning Sportscaster and her teenage son Jason bridge their generation gap and typical mother/son differences through a mutual love of sports.

Chicago's The Sportscaster and Her Son

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