Andy lights up the Sam Signal™ and they do an emergency podcast to talk about the news that the Cubs have settled on a new manager and, to no one's surprise it's David Ross.  What did Ross say in his mock Spring Training speech that won the front office over?  Why do we always say "Theo and Jed" when nobody knows what Jed even does? Was the Joe Espada love real or just a way for the Cubs to make it look like they didn't decide on Ross three years ago? 

Andy, Mike and Kyle look back with trepidation at the Bears' loss to the Raiders, look ahead to the return of Mitch Trubisky, ponder the future of Kyle Long (not for long), tell the Mike Murphy "pro bowler" story, look back at Chicago Sports Webio, try to figure out who the Bears are, try not to think about the last time the Bears played a game after a bye, wonder if Matt Nagy still knows that David Montgomery is on his team, make their predictions for the Saints game, consider Drew Brees' legacy, and spend a lot of time talking about Mike Tomczak.

Andy is joined by his favorite NBA writer, Kelly Dwyer of The Second Arrangement, and the longtime pals wax nostalgic about their early days at On Hoops, Indiana wildlife preserves, Jim Boylen’s spirit, being able to actually root for Bulls’ wins again, why Zach LaVine’s defense is oddly impressive, the time Kris Dunn landed on his face, Denzel Valentine’s vertical, Jimmy Butler and the “Wahl method”, player empowerment and which teams’ inevitably benefit, can Paul George put his arms up, Oklahoma City dog food, Bob Feller (as any good NBA podcast has a story about), why Andy roots against the Celtics, Kyrie and KD, Barry Manilow, and what MJ learned from Jerry Krause.

Andy, Kyle and Mike are back to talk about the Bears win over the Vikings, whether there’s a “quarterback controversy,” what we should know about Roquan’s absence, how Vag McCaskey thinks the team is traveling to London, former Bills’ safety Mark Kelso’s helmet, Rusty Lisch, Greg Landry, the Chicago Blitz, how George Allen died, how the Raiders have already won two games, great Oregon quarterbacks, Mike Leach’s offense, Cade McNown’s mom, and how Khalil Mack should avoid being hit by a falling girder in Tottenham’s crap new stadium.

Joe Maddon is out, but Andy and Sam are in to talk about it, about Theo Espstein's annual post mortem press conference, the Cubs most likely to be traded, what to do with the bullpen, rotation and bench.  They wonder what Theo thinks is wrong with the offense, why David Ross is the presumptive lead candidate for the managerial job and they have the definitive answer for Cardinals fans as to why Mike Trout is better than Yadi. 

Andy, Mike and Kyle enjoy an actual Bears' winning streak and the Bears' defense doing very mean things to the Redskins. Andy complains (again) about how impossible it is to follow even part of a game if you have to listen to the Bears' radio call of it. They marvel at pretty much everything Khalil Mack does, Danny Trevathan's pass rush deke, and how Ha Ha Clinton-Dix had somehow not scored a touchdown since "little league." They wonder how a kicker gets hurt in the weight room, fall down a Hard Knocks rabbit hole, dare to re-live the Ernie Accorsi GM and coach search and have a slightly more optimistic take on Mitch Trubisky--well, Andy and Mike do.  Then they look ahead to the upcoming Vikings game and complain about the start time of the game against the Raiders in London. 

Andy, Kyle and Mike revel in the Bears first win of the season and not only wonder if that was the worst quarterbacking performance in team history in a win, they actually look it up!  You'll find out what a "Rusty Trubisky" is, if Eddy Pineiro has settled the kicking conundrum for the season, tell you if it really takes three days to acclimate to altitude and why Vic Fangio should have been less aggressive and kicked the extra point.  Previewing the Bears-Redskins Monday night game, you'll learn about the Bears' sad recent history against the 'Skins, and pull up a chair as Mike tells you about the most famous punt in Washington history.

It's a podcast "talent" lineup that we've never seen before, and in this pod you get a breakdown of the big Cubs-Cardinals four game series coming up at Wrigley, a look at the most and least likely scenarios for how the division and wild cards are likely to shake out, a look back at the greatest regular season Cubs-Cardinals' series in history, and a detailed look at the schedules remaining for the teams still in the race for the final three National League playoff spots. 

A week clear of the Bears sad little offensive showing against the Packers, Andy, Kyle and Mike are back on the case trying to sift through the wreckage.  Did Matt Nagy abandon his gameplan or never really have one?  Can Mitch read?  Did Anthony Miller miss his ride to the stadium? The Packers offense was equally throttled by the Bears' defense, except for one brief moment of hurry-up-offensive-competence.  They look ahead to Denver where old friend Vic Fangio gets a shot at the offense he saw every week last year, but it could all come down to the immortal question, who plays worse, Joe Flacco or Mitch?