Air the Bear

Fine dining, questionable bathroom etiquette and some decidedly un-fine basketball results. Welcome to Episode 7 of Air the Bear.

Jason and Mark take Oakland's early-season struggles to Overreaction Theatre, where the conversation turns to an offense increasingly dependent on Nassim Mashhour and Chris Fields Jr. They also tackle the wild world of college basketball NIL: Could a single Alabama player be making more than Oakland's entire roster? (Um, yes.)

Then, we go Beyond the Blacktop with a special guest: Dave Visnaw, director of the Grizz Band! Dave takes us behind the music at the O'rena, explains how the band builds its setlist, and reveals some brand-new tunes for the 2026–27 season. Naturally, Jason and Mark have a few requests of their own.

Plus, the guys introduce the new Ask the Guys feature at airthebear.com, preview Oakland's matchup with Boise State, and go Behind Enemy Lines with Michael Spahn, editor of the Norther Iowan.

It's basketball, band music, bad jokes and a little fanalysis. Just another week in the Den.

EPISODE CHAPTERS

00:00 – Bring me your best mid-range pinot!
00:55 – Introductions
01:20 – An action-packed show ahead
03:30 – Ask the Guys is live at airthebear.com
04:10 – Mark learns what TL;DR means
04:45 – Mark goes to a fancy restaurant
08:25 – Jason goes to a fancy bathroom
09:55 – Setting the mood in the facilities
10:45 – Overreaction Theatre!
15:00 – Nassim, Fields, and…good luck
26:30 – Does one Alabama player make more than Oakland's entire roster?
37:15 – We really miss Neal
37:40 – Beyond the Blacktop: Meet Grizz Band director Dave Visnaw
52:00 – How the Grizz Band builds its setlist
55:50 – Dave reveals NEW Grizz Band tunes for 2026–27!
57:45 – Jason and Mark call the request line
1:02:15 – Boise State is up next
1:05:00 – Behind Enemy Lines with Michael Spahn

Mark and Jason have officially entered the Crisler Universe. Armed with media credentials, questionable composure and nearly 30 years of Oakland basketball fandom, the guys head to Ann Arbor for the Golden Grizzlies' showdown with Michigan.

Did they look like legitimate journalists? Were they accidentally at the library? And can two lifelong fans actually stop acting like fans long enough to attend a Greg Kampe press conference?

The guys break down Oakland's performance against Michigan, fire up Overreaction Theater and revisit Kampe's comments about a missed opportunity.

Then it's time to go Behind Enemy Lines for a packed stretch of upcoming opponents. We preview Stanford, head to the Thunderdome for UC Santa Barbara and welcome Fisher Isbell of The Crimson White to talk Alabama basketball.

Plus, Mark's pants are fighting for their lives, we correct an egregious jersey-number mistake and there's even more Neal Ruhl.

0:00 Scaring kids on Halloween.

1:00 Intro to Episode 6. Mark has a hard time buttoning his pants.

3:15 Our favorite #6s + owning up to an egregious #5 error.

7:00 Mark and Jason’s special journey to Ann Arbor as VIPs.

9:50 A bit unnerved heading to the Kampe press conference.

11:00 Were we at the library?

11:45 Fans trying not to be fans.

12:10 Overreaction Theater: UM vs. OU.

15:50 Kampe chats about a missed opportunity.

16:23 Full game recap from the Crisler Universe

36:40 Behind Enemy Lines: Stanford

45:30 Behind Enemy Lines: Stanford The GAUCHOS in the THUNDERDOME

51:50 ROLE DAMN TIDE! Fisher Isbell from “The Crimson White” joins ATB

1:06 More Neal Ruhl!

Episode 5 is chock full of goodness.

Mark and Jason recap Oakland’s exhibition against Tennessee State, debate whether there’s anything to actually worry about, introduce Underreaction Theater and discover that credentials apparently do not guarantee access to a buffet.

Then, Oakland Director of Broadcasting Neal Ruhl joins the show for a wide-ranging conversation about his career, his “pinch me, I’m doing this” moment, the changing world of college sports broadcasting and plenty more. We also somehow come dangerously close to our first lawsuit.

Finally, we go Behind Enemy Lines with University of Michigan beat writers to get the scouting report on the Wolverines before Oakland heads to Ann Arbor.

0:00 An episode chock full of goodness.

1:00 The guys beat the under.

2:45 Mark and Jason are real journalists now.

3:00 Our favorite OU #5 from a limited talent pool.

4:55 The guys took on Hoops and Culture at Wayne State.

6:10 a 10 out of 10 National Anthem.

7:15 Oakland vs. Tennessee St. recap.

9:00 Inappropriate feelings.

11:40 RJ is a half-step faster because of his shoes.

13:30 Exhibition experimentation.

18:00 Underreaction theater.

20:45 BTW, we lost 89-75.

25:00 Under pressure.

28:45 We also have KenPom, so we’re kind of a big deal

35:00 Neal Ruhl!

37:00 And…we almost already have a lawsuit.

43:00 Neal’s “pinch me, I’m doing this” moment.

1:04 Behind enemy lines: University of Michigan.

1:07 It’s the Cadeau Show now. 

1:17 No buffet? But we’re credentialed!

1:18 OU played a game today! (Podcast almost over.)

The first exhibition is in the books, which means it’s time to overreact responsibly. Mark gives us the eye test from GVSU, we dig into a box score filled with threes, offensive rebounds and 13 Grizzlies, and somehow arrive at the only logical conclusion: Taylor Time.

Plus: our favorite #4s, Adidas shoe game, Warren Marshall filling up the stat sheet, Deuce getting loose, the Air the Bear Lightning Round, a Tennessee State preview and some big interview news about next week’s show.

0:00 Extreme Grizz Makeover

2:20 GVSU did not do a tribute to Jason. A big miss on their part.

3:00 We talk our favorite #4s in episode 4. 

11:20 Overreaction Theater: The first exhibition

16:40 The Adidas shoe game; Warren Marshall wore it best. RJ wore work boots?

18:00 It was raining threes.

19:20 We think the zone confounds the new guys.

21:00 18 offensive rebounds for GVSU?

22:00 Coach Lampman says, “my work is done.”

24:00 Lots of Taylor talk. 

26:00 Wait, we didn’t score in the paint until 12:00 in?

27:00 Mark and Jason nailed the starting 5 last week. Kudos, bros.

28:30 13 guys played? Does everyone play 5 minutes?

31:30 How do you keep everyone happy. And how do you keep them in general?

32:30 Taylor Time!!

33:50 Kevin Beers is our Ernie Harwell. The season starts when he says so.

36:45 Chris Fields eye test.

38:00 Mark does not have a good feeling about the inside game.

40:00 Warren Marshall filling up the sheet.

42:20 Jason suggests using the i9 sports mentality in practice.

42:50 Ryder Bradley plays gritty.

45:00 Deuce gets loose.

47:00 63% of OU shots were threes. Is this our identity?

51:40 Air the Bear lightning round!

54:00 Previewing Tennessee State (this Saturday)

1:06 Beyond the Blacktop! New Grizz!

1:13 Special interviews next week! Guests from the University of Michigan

The roster is new, the expectations are rising and Mark has apparently started bringing historical artifacts to the studio.

In Episode 3, the guys dig into Oakland’s 10 new faces, lock in their projected starters and try to figure out what an “OU-type” player actually looks like.

Plus, Darth Bader takes on the best #3s in program history, Nassim gets his flowers, Chris Fields has us intrigued and Jason makes the perfectly reasonable prediction that the Grizzlies may never lose another Horizon League game.

0:00 Discussing promotional ideas and reminiscing about the “chicken drop” from years ago.

1:55: Welcome listeners, both veterans and new ears.

2:25: Jason apologizes for sending Mark 350 texts per day, which scares him. Mark’s house is littered with sticky notes.

3:40: Mark brought a man-bag with a special historical Oakland relic. There is no certificate of authenticity. 

5:30: The words “smooth ball” are said too much. Too much. 

6:35: Our favorite #3s. Can anyone beat Darth Bader? Uh no.

11:25: Roster turnover. 10 new players!

14:15: Mark starts to talk starters.

15:30: Do you need to be a coach, a General Manager or an emotional support animal these days?

18:00: Oakland is an amazing university right in our backyard. Sometimes, absence makes the heart grow fonder.

19:45: Nassim feels like a 4-year player for Oakland, which the guys appreciate.

20:25: Players with the greatest impact. Spoiler! It’s Nassim!

24:20: Mark proposes a scientific way for he and Jason to determine their shooting percentage.

27:20: Committed to the zone. Wright State seems to have figured it out.

28:00: The guys “lock in” the backcourt starters.

31:00: Shake n’ Bakery!

33:00: Chris Fields excites us. Please stay on the court. 

35:37: Mark says we have the twin towers in the frontcourt – if Josh Hill’s uniform comes in.

38:10: Do non-injury redshirts happen anymore? Is Jason living in the past?

41:00 Feels like a very deep team. 

43:00: Feels like a very “OU-type” team. Jason doesn’t see them losing a game in the Horizon.

44:40: Mark is ready for GVSU. 

Episode 2 proves that Jason and Mark aren't giving up just yet.

The guys open with a painfully bad attempt at Oakland band music, celebrate their almost-100-listener empire and deal with some hurtful criticism of the theme song. There’s apple picking, a miserable Lions road trip, Instagram shaming from an Oakland legend, trivia dominance and possibly the first-ever Air the Bear Podposal.

Eventually, they even talk basketball.

Jason and Mark make their cases for their favorite Oakland players to wear #2, check out the new Adidas gear and dive into the 2026–27 non-conference schedule. Then come the upset picks, including Jason making the completely reasonable prediction that Oakland can beat Michigan State at the Breslin Center. Mark has concerns.

Plus, memories of MSU at the O’Rena, the phantom foul on Kay Felder, actual research into the dreaded non-con hangover and a first look at Episode 3.

And remember: the Air the Bear hotline is officially open at airthebear.com.

TIMECODES

0:00 — Jason and Mark sing OU band songs. They’re awful.
1:15 — Welcome back, Episode 1 veterans. And welcome, newbs.
2:00 — Mark goes apple picking, apparently unaware that Meijer sells apples.
3:40 — Jason goes to the Lions game in Charlotte and discovers two things: the Lions are not good and Charlotte fans are mean.
6:00 — Overreaction Theater: We nearly had 100 listeners, which means we’re pretty awesome.
8:00 — Friendly fire over the length of the theme song. Hurtful.
10:30 — Air the Bear needs student ambassadors. Or band ambassadors. We’re flexible.
11:00 — Oakland has the best band in college basketball. We said what we said.
13:00 — Jason gets shamed by an OU legend on “the gram.”
14:40 — Jason crushes Mark’s trivia.
17:00 — A Podposal? Maybe!
17:40 — Finally, a basketball topic: Our favorite Oakland #2s.
18:00 — Guys with number names who don’t wear that number. Tray wearing 3? Eleven suiting up for Hawkins High? Discuss.
22:30 — Mark makes the case for the Godfather of Oakland #2s: Mychal Covington.
25:30 — Fit Check: Oakland’s new Adidas gear for 2026–27.
27:00 — The schedule. Bold takes begin.
32:30 — Most

Jason and Mark introduce themselves, explain why Air the Bear exists and almost immediately wander into a few Grizzly Holes. They break down the Oakland schedule, preview a few players and get sidetracked by whatever else comes up along the way. Basically, the first episode is a pretty good preview of what this podcast is going to be.

OPEN - High-energy Air the Bear theme song

1:00: - What the hell are we doing here; Mark discusses the vibe in Jason's basement

4:30: Mark regales his days as a high school basketball star, Jason claims he's an expert because he coached RARA basketball

11:00: Why we're doing the podcast + our first Grizzly Hole topics (schedule, roster, etc.); Maybe Jason and Mark do a murder podcast next? Jason's mom hasn't subscribed to Air the Bear yet

19:00: Introducing the weekly segments

21:00: Talking 3 and D nonsens e

23:00: Why does the Grizz wear human shoes? And do bears have hoofs or paws? Is Clawz in the portal? (This goes on too long)

26:00: Explaining Grizzly Holes

30:00: On the Horizon segment overview

31:00: Mini team preview from our old-school printout

42:00: The schedule meat grinder