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Pointless Exercise - A Desipio Podcast

Pointless Exercise - A Desipio Podcast

By Pointless Exercise

The only podcast you'll ever need...
Hosted by Andy Dolan of Pointless Exercise and formerly of The Athletic. Regular podcasts on the Cubs with Mike Praznowski, Major League Baseball with David Brown and Remember This Crap with Mike Donohue. Regular guests include Jon Greenberg, Andrew Lawrence, Kelly Dwyer, Mike Pusateri and others.
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120. Remember This Crap? The 2001 Cubs - Pointless Exercise Podcast

Pointless Exercise - A Desipio PodcastApr 08, 2021

00:00
01:29:21
305. MLB Season Preview Roundtable - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

305. MLB Season Preview Roundtable - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

The whole Pointless Exercise team has assembled to do a mega preview of the upcoming baseball season. Join Andy, David Brown, both the Mike P's (Praz and Pusateri), Remember this Crap's Mike Donohue and the new guy, Oleg, as they make way too many predictions. They break down each division, use their big baseball brains to tell you who's going to the World Series and winning all the big awards. If you have a gambling problem like Shohei's former pal, Ippei, you're in luck, they also share their favorite prop bets.

Mar 27, 202401:55:10
304. The Cubs playoff path just got harder - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

304. The Cubs playoff path just got harder - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

Ready or not, baseball seasons starts in the wee hours of Wednesday morning so David Brown is here to talk about how Blake Snell signing with the Giants makes the wild card path tougher in the NL and what's up with Jordan Montgomery. They discuss the Dodgers just forgetting to find a shortstop and how Mookie Betts solves everything. How many other players would be willing to try switching positions on the fly. They talk about great moments in David Ross losing the DH, and the height of Joe Torre's pants. Were the Spring Breakout games anything but baseball's attempt to charge a full big league gate for a minor league spring game (which are usually free), and why was it impossible for the Cubs and White Sox to play it on a different day. They make fun of Jim Bowden's list of players due to break out, talk about old friend Yu Darvish who is making the opening day start for the Padres and much, much more.

Mar 20, 202453:15
303. Let's set the Cubs roster and lineup for them - Pointless Exercise Cubs Podcast

303. Let's set the Cubs roster and lineup for them - Pointless Exercise Cubs Podcast

Less than two weeks to opening day and it's time for Andy and Praz to do the hard work for Craiggy and Jed and make the Cubs final cuts for them. Who's got options, who would get through waivers and who might actually be useful to round out the bench and the bullpen. Oh, and then they take a look at how best to order the batters. Talk about being helpful.

Mar 15, 202401:15:40
302. Cubs best of a bad bunch, collusion, misnamed pitchers and more - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast with David Brown

302. Cubs best of a bad bunch, collusion, misnamed pitchers and more - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast with David Brown

With one move the Cubs went from fourth best to best in the very flawed NL Central and David Brown is back to discuss it and to take a look at the contracts that Scott Boras got for Cody Bellinger and Matt Chapman and what the market might look like next year. Andy calls Blake Snell "Ian" about a dozen times and they talk about what the prospects for Snell and Jordan Montgomery signing before the deadline are. Is JD Davis an actually valuable trade piece for the Giants and would the Cubs be interested? How would that impract Christopher Morel at third? They discuss the Royals bucking the bad uniform trend and Joe Maddon and Terry Francona discussing the greatest game ever played. All that, and more.

Mar 06, 202401:18:14
301. Bears QBs, the F1 season and MLB jersey fails with Andrew Lawrence - Pointless Exercise Podcast

301. Bears QBs, the F1 season and MLB jersey fails with Andrew Lawrence - Pointless Exercise Podcast

Looking for a non-meatball take on the Bears' QB situation we reach out to The Guardian's Senior Writer Andrew Lawrence and he delivers. Though he lives in Atlanta now, so he wouldn't mind seeing Justin Fields play there. We talk about Netflix's Drive to Survive, the many interesting things going on with the F1 season upon us, and Drew just wrote a piece about Fanatics and Nike screwing up baseball's uniforms. Plus, he talks about his time at Monday Morning Quarterback with the recently "retired" Peter King.

Mar 01, 202401:27:13
300. Cody just got hit by a car in the outfield - Pointless Exercise Cubs Podcast

300. Cody just got hit by a car in the outfield - Pointless Exercise Cubs Podcast

It's the 300th Pointless Exercise podcast (and you said it wouldn't last) and Andy and Mike Praznowski are giddy about the Cubs re-signing Cody Bellinger, but fearful that a sponsorship deal gone awry might have him in traction on opening day. They also lament the loss of the great Bailey Horn, or somebody they aren't really sure, are excited that the manager seems to grasp the obvious and they make a compelling case for Matt Shaw to make the opening day roster (even though he won't.) Praz learns more about Bob Horner than he ever wanted to, they talk about what Cubs should be most excited that Cody's back, what Cubs should have pretended to be mad about it, and much, much, more.

Feb 28, 202401:11:17
299. Remember This Crap? Cubs Left fielders - Pointless Exercise Podcast

299. Remember This Crap? Cubs Left fielders - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The Cubs have been playing somebody in left field every game for more than 125 seasons and in a few of those games the left fielder was actually good. The guys take a look back at the good, the bad and the Zuleta of guys who have played left. You will learn how Wildfire Schulte got his nickname, who the second best left fielder in franchise history is, why Billy Williams is the coolest, why Dave Kingman isn't, and just how many guys have tried and failed to nail down the job over the last 50 years.

Feb 23, 202402:02:49
298. Why do fans blame the agent? - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast with David Brown

298. Why do fans blame the agent? - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast with David Brown

National baseball writer David Brown joins the podcast to discuss all the hot topics like Nico Hoerner giving the longest "no" in recorded history, why baseball fans habitually side with teams over players and their agents, when will the 'Boras Four' sign, why the Cubs haven't improved their roster more, who would win the NL Central if rosters were frozen right now, did the Corbin Burnes trade signal the Orioles are going to spend, what would happen if the Reds ever spent, why Kap called Andy seconds after a Tweet, the reasons Rob Manfred is retiring with five years notice and what the hell is going on with the A's. All that, and more.

Feb 17, 202401:08:47
297. Just sign Cody - Pointless Exercise Cubs Podcast with Tom Loxas

297. Just sign Cody - Pointless Exercise Cubs Podcast with Tom Loxas

Tom Loxas joins the podcast to talk about what it would take for the Cubs to resign Cody Bellinger, what happens if they don't, and how Michael Busch and Petecrow Armstrong fit into all of this. They talk about the Cubs PECOTA projections and how close the Cubs are to actually building a good bullpen. Then, they talk about what the Bears are going to do with the number one overall pick, what Justin Fields' trade market looks like and much, much more.

Feb 07, 202401:13:41
296. Almost time to hug Carter - Pointless Exercise Podcast

296. Almost time to hug Carter - Pointless Exercise Podcast

It's a solo pod and all the hot topics are hit on, when do the Cubs get to hug Carter Hawkins and could the Cubs turn that into a fundraiser? Why haven't they signed Cody Bellinger yet? What do they do if they don't sign Cody? Do they know their current roster is bad? How could they make getting a big payroll a game for Todd? And then why can't Chicago media adequately cover the Bears? And why would anybody try to rank the top 20 Chicago media people? All that, and more.

Jan 25, 202441:57
295. We can Bearly wait for all the changes - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

295. We can Bearly wait for all the changes - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The guys discuss the eerie quiet from Halas Hall as everyone awaits announcement on changes big or small or not at all. Andy goes on an unhinged rant about the future of the Bears' quarterback position and the Mikes take a more reasoned approach to what the smartest option would be. They discuss how even if Jim Harbaugh were the right move for the franchise just how much they don't want to have to put with that weirdo, and they discuss just how close the Bears really are after a season of improvement, considering the low bar they had to clear to be better than last year. All that and more.

Jan 10, 202401:04:02
294. Roundtable - A look back at 2023 and ahead to 2024 with the entire podcast crew

294. Roundtable - A look back at 2023 and ahead to 2024 with the entire podcast crew

All of your favorite Pointless Exercise podcasters have assembled to kiss off 2023 and look ahead to 2024. David Brown, Mike Donohue, Mike Pusateri and Mike Praznowski join Andy as they discuss what shocked them last year in all of Chicago sports and what crazy stuff lies ahead.

Jan 05, 202401:21:41
293. 'You are looking live' - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

293. 'You are looking live' - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

All hands are on deck for this week's Bears podcast and the guys discuss the win over the Falcons, Justin Fields and DJ Moore's perfect half, the Panthers handing them the number one overall pick and how a return to CBS is just the thing the Bears will need to slap around the Packers and knock them out of the playoffs. You'll learn the five things that will determine Justin Fields' Bears future, why it's not so bad, maybe, that The Flus is going to return and what the first sign of their intentions will be when the season ends on Sunday. And, how to scout quarterbacks like a pro using ESPN's Skycam feed of college football playoff games. All that, and more.

Jan 03, 202458:36
292. Continued home dominance - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

292. Continued home dominance - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

If you haven't noticed, and judging by interest in the team, you haven't, the Bears have won FOUR straight home games. Really. Only one of the Mike P's was available for this week's podcast to revel in the Bears continued home dominance. Andy and Praz look back at a game you probably only saw parts of because it was on in the middle of the afternoon on Christmas Eve, and don't worry, if you missed the second half, you missed nothing. They talk about how the number one pick can be wrapped up this weekend and how that will impact the futures of several prominent Bears. They also wonder why anyone thinks Kevin Warren has any decisions to actually make. All this and more.

Dec 27, 202301:10:53
291. Losing from ahead - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

291. Losing from ahead - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The guys are back to, incredibly, break down a THIRD Bears fourth quarter collapse, and they look ahead to the many different permutations this offseason could take. The Flus gone and Fields back, both gone, both back, what have you. Is Ryan Poles any good at this job? Was The Flus hired to be the Bears' Ricky Renteria? They talk about the Brown games' two Fail Marys, the defense's fourth down struggles, why Cairo wasn't asked to kick those long field goals, and what Darnell Mooney should have been sorry for. All that and more.

Dec 20, 202301:02:52
290. Remember This Collapse? Cubs Collapses from 1969-1999 - Pointless Exercise Podcast

290. Remember This Collapse? Cubs Collapses from 1969-1999 - Pointless Exercise Podcast

In part one (ep. 288) we brought in a young to help us look back on more recent Cubs collapses, but for this one we needed an old, so Forklift is here to discuss the Durocher, Franks, Frey and Riggleman editions of Cubs choke jobs, and they were plentiful. We ponder why the '69 era Cubs are so beloved considering they not only didn't win anything important they only won 90 games once. We take another look back at 1977 and watch in horror as the '84 Cubs completely fall apart in 1985. And then are collapses you might not even know happened like in 1996 and 1999. (Oh, and Fork's mic struggles for a little bit in the first 15 minutes, but is rectified for the remainder of the podcast.)

Dec 15, 202302:02:58
289. The Bears are still alive - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

289. The Bears are still alive - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

One thing we know for sure is that the Bears are better than the Lions. They kicked the LIons asses for 117 of the 120 minutes the two teams played against each other that year. But as the guys will tell you, that and two bucks will get you a cup of soup. The podcast meanders from the Bears impressive home win over the Lions, the resurgent defense continuing it's fine play, Mitch Trubisky coming up big for the Bears finally (in absentia), the possibility of the Bears having the number one pick two years in a row and not using it either time, Shohei Ohtani's contract (really), the worst passing games in Bears history (as bad as the Bears last visit to Cleveland was--they've been worse) and much, much more.

Dec 13, 202359:43
288. Remember This Collapse? - Cubs collapses since 2001 - Pointless Exercise Podcast

288. Remember This Collapse? - Cubs collapses since 2001 - Pointless Exercise Podcast

David Ross' final season as Cubs manager resulted in one of the biggest end of season collapses in team history, but where does it rank? Remember This Crap becomes Remember This Collapse as the guys are joined by Mike Praznowski for a look at years the Cubs choked away the postseason from 2001 to the present. How does 2023 compare to collapses under the watches of Don Baylor, Dusty Baker, Lou Piniella and Joe Maddon? As always, the guys unearth some unexpected stuff.

Dec 08, 202302:44:49
287. Baseball Winter Meetings with David Brown - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

287. Baseball Winter Meetings with David Brown - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

Baseball expert and first time Hall of Fame voter David Brown is on the pod to talk about the Winter Meetings, the joys of the Opryland Hotel, guys falling into fountains and whether or not Shohei can hold up the entire the market. They make the case for why Shohei should get out and see more of the country, wonder how close the Cubs actually came to getting him last time, something Joe Maddon doesn't get enough credit for, what Cody Bellinger's real value is, why the Cardinals settled for bad, old pitchers to replace their bad, old pitchers and if the Cubs really signalled they're ready to pay when they hired Craig Counsell. They also talk about the Hall of Fame, and why off the field stuff other than steroids is and should be keeping some guys out. And, why it took Andre Dawson 12 years to realize he had an Expos logo on his plaque. All that, and more.

Dec 05, 202350:35
286. You can fire him without telling him - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

286. You can fire him without telling him - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The guys celebrate another aesthetically satisfying Bears win by wondering how you can get an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty for having someone try to rip your face mask off. They congratulate Matt Eberflus on finally winning a division game and wonder if he'd accept a demotion in lieu of getting fired after the season, and if he'd even notice if nobody told him. They try to make sense of the Bears offensive game plan, laud the defense for their continued good play and bask in the wonder of the greatest kicker of all time. All that, and more.

Nov 29, 202301:01:37
285. A lot of fresh Lions jerseys - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

285. A lot of fresh Lions jerseys - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The guys recap the Bears stunning yet inevitable (there has to be a German word for that) last second loss to the Lions and blame it all on the shifty Lions' timekeeper. They compare when in the game they realized the Bears were going to lose, they ponder what the mood in George's Camry was on the long ride from Detroit to Sycamore and, as one does, they Google whether or not Martha Firestone Ford is still alive. (No spoilers.) They also talk about the Bears upcoming visit to US Bank Stadium to face the Vikings, and Crane Kenney for some reason, and Andy makes fun of a certain Cubs' blog for their relucantce to "get their hopes up" because they can't handle the disappointment. Man, they picked the wrong team to root for.

Nov 22, 202353:26
284. All Bears all the time - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

284. All Bears all the time - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

With Mike Praznowski on the injured list it was up to Mike Pusateri and Andy to soldier on with a podcast focused intently on the Chicago Bears and their thrilling victory over the Panthers and upcoming tilt in Detroit. And on the actor's strike, and Chicken By George, and Craig Counsell's press conference and how to make an audio transcript online for free in just 15 easy steps. You'll get the recipe for The Flus' drink of choice, and more about the Cubs and some hilarious takes from other podcasts about the Bears not going for two and how close Eddy Piniero actually came to making that 59 yard field goal and much, much, more.

Nov 15, 202356:45
283. Bears can't lose even if they lose - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

283. Bears can't lose even if they lose - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The Bears take on the Panthers in one of the least anticipated Thursday Night Football games of all time, but it actually is a pretty important game for them. Not only could Justin Fields return, but since they own both their pick and the Panthers first rounder they win even if they lose. As every podcast should these days, it starts with the guys talking about the Cubs hiring Craig Counsell and firing David Ross, but then they get into important football topics like did Tyson Bagent play well even while turning the ball over four times, can any of the guys make a 29 yard field goal, what would benefit the Bears more a win, a loss or a tie, what would it take for The Flus to get Ross'd after the game, and much more.

Nov 08, 202301:00:26
282. Cubs launch Ross and hire Craig Counsell - with Tom Loxas - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

282. Cubs launch Ross and hire Craig Counsell - with Tom Loxas - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

The way the rumor mill churns it's a rare thing to be completely shocked by sports news, but the Cubs pulled it off by stunning us by firing David Ross and replacing him with baseball's best manager, Craig Counsell. Did that really happen? Tom Loxas and Andy went on each other podcasts (at the same time--don't overthink it) to discuss the news, to give Jed Hoyer credit for it, and ponder what this means for free agency, possible trades, Ian Happ's hold on the three spot in the lineup, and so much more.

Nov 07, 202353:52
281. Gonna make you sweat - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

281. Gonna make you sweat - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The guys have another riveting Bears loss to discuss, but there's also the trade deadline where the team spent another second round pick on a player at a position of need and dangled another young veteran defender for a possible deal. Why does Montez Sweat make sense for the Bears? Why would the Bears let Jaylon Johnson's agent investigate trade possibilities? What the hell is wrong with Cris Collinsworth? What can fans do to keep networks from picking the Bears to ruin prime time games? All that and more.

Nov 01, 202346:53
280. Remember This Crap? Bears/Chargers - Pointless Exercise Podcast

280. Remember This Crap? Bears/Chargers - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The Bears and Chargers face off on Sunday night, so it's time to give the LA/SD/LA Chargers the Remember This Crap treatment. Where else are you going to get in-depth conversations about whether John Hadl went to Notre Dame, when was Sid Luckman the Bears' offensive coordinator, the best way to use Rolf Benirschke on a fake field goal, Chuck Woolery and Pat Sajak, Rico McDonald giving Junior Seau CTE, Bobby Duckworth dropping the ball at the three yard line, Jim Harbaugh's illustrious Chargers career, the last time (maybe) that Don Meredith sang "Turn Out The Lights" on Monday Night Football, the Rusty Lisch/Ed Luther Game, Jay Cutler breaking his thumb and Matt Nagy, Mitch Trubisky and Eddy Piniero conspiring to kill the 2019 season? And much, much more.

Oct 26, 202301:37:59
279. - They were due - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

279. - They were due - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The guys bask in the glow of the Bears' first home win in nearly 400 days and who better than longtime Bears fans to discuss the play of a backup quarterback. After all, no fanbase knows what bad backup quarterbacking looks like better than the Bears, and Tyson Bagent was far from bad. They talk about whether it's a good idea for Justin Fields to hurry back to face the Chargers, why this might not be a revenge game for Khalil Mack, why the 'Flus isn't so good at counting words and what the Bears will do with their embarrassment of riches at running back. They talk about the improved defense and if Ryan Poles really has a reputation for trading young talent. All that and, for some reason, how the Cubs could improve their road jerseys.

Oct 25, 202357:34
278. Jon Greenberg on the legacy of the 2003 Cubs - Pointless Exercise Podcast

278. Jon Greenberg on the legacy of the 2003 Cubs - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The Athletic's Jon Greenberg discusses the interviews he did for the 20th anniversary oral history he wrote on the 2003 Cubs. Mark Prior, Kerry Wood, Dusty Baker, E-ramis Ramirez, Jim Hendry, Gabor Bako, Eric Karros, Shawn Estes and more (all the stars) talked about their fond and not so fond memories of that season that was really great until it wasn't. Find out which ex-Cubs dodged his calls, and how he ended up with enough stuff for three columns with a fourth yet to come. Find out how he sleuthed an email address for one of the most in-demand characters in the entire saga. Jon theorizes that Steve Bartman was, and probably still is, a loyal reader of Desipio/Pointless Exercise. They also talk about an event earlier that season that foreshadowed the way it all ended. All that and much more.

Oct 19, 202346:59
277. Bagent of Change - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

277. Bagent of Change - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The Bears just cannot have nice things. After Justin Fields put his best nine quarters of football together, he face planted figuratively in the first half and then literally as his facemask made his thumb bend in the wrong direction. The guys talk about Tyson Bagent's debut, the health prognosis on Fields (and what clues we can take from the Bears signing Trace McSorley and that likely means the IR is inevitable for Josh), and whether this is the worst QB room in Bears' history. They look back at whether the Bears would have won if Fields hadn't gotten hurt (probably), a solid performance by the defense for once, and who Matt Eberflus looks like when he's "concentrating." They also look ahead to this week's matchup with the Raiders and their backup QB.

Oct 18, 202357:35
276. The playoffs are not the regular season - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

276. The playoffs are not the regular season - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

David Brown is back to talk about the baseball playoffs and the guys discuss the overwrought narrative around the first round byes, and how it's really OK that the playoffs are unpredictable. They also talk about the Phillies home field advantage and what made that possible (there's a direct connection to the current mental state of Cubs fans believe it or not), Bryce Harper's base running, Yordan Alvarez going from the commode to the batter's box to homer...twice. Are the Rangers and Phillies already on their way or can Dusty's Astros and the plucky D'bags fight them off? They talk about the return of Ken Griffey Jr. as a pitchman, Evan Carter coming out of nowhere, and much, much, more.

Oct 17, 202301:06:14
275. Back on track - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

275. Back on track - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The guys have a spirited discussion in this one, which starts with Andy talking about paying to go see somebody else's podcast live, but then turns into a discussion of what happens to Justin Fields if the Bears end up with the number one overall pick, but it's not their pick. Then they, like the Bears, get back on track and revel in the Bears kicking the Commanders' asses, make fun of "Riverboat" Ron's nickname, wonder who is going to run the ball with everybody hurt, discuss great 35s in recent history and then look ahead to a Vikings' game where the opponent will not have their best player.

Oct 11, 202301:03:34
274. A short week and a short leash - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

274. A short week and a short leash - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The guys ponder the future of Bears overmatched head coach Matt Eberflus, and whether or not the mini-bye that comes from playing a Thursday night game is the worst possible timing for him if he's trying to keep his job. Look back and the Bears' historic stubborn refusal to fire a coach in-season. They look back at key moments (gambling and otherwise) in the mind-numbing loss to the Broncos. They talk about the Toy Story broadcast of last Sunday's ESPN+ game (seriously), and then they look ahead to the week five matchup with Washington and why "Riverboat" Ron needs to surrender that nickname.

Oct 04, 202301:15:37
273. Cubs postmortem and playoff preview - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

273. Cubs postmortem and playoff preview - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

Despite the Cubs falling down and crapping on themselves, the baseball playoffs will start on schedule without them. David Brown joins the pod and after Andy gives the most awkward intro ever, the guys start and end the podcast with deep thoughts on the recent past and near future of the Cubs, and they zip around the playoff bracket to talk about the actual good teams. Wait until you hear the big idea about how to fix the tiebreaker system and no, it does not involve run differential.

Oct 03, 202301:16:01
272. - Remember This Crap - Bears v. Broncos - Pointless Exercise Podcast

272. - Remember This Crap - Bears v. Broncos - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The Bears and Broncos matchups go back more than 50 years and there have been some infamous heroes (Devin Hester, Eddy Piniero, Tim Tebow) and hapless goats (Marion Barber III, Dave Wannstedt, Jim Flanigan). Some Bears greats played for both teams like Jay Cutler, Kyle Orton, Brandon Marshall, Todd Sauerbrun and Eddie Royal. Guys like Vic Fangio, Vance Joseph and John Fox have coached for both teams. Sean Payton is the Broncos coach now and was a scab Bear in 1987. The Broncos had no answer for Bob Avellini's incredible 2-for-17 passing in one game and Brock Osweiler began his legacy of Bears' torment in another. Plus, the guys talk about Johnny Bench, Terry Bradshaw's acting career, why everyone should watch "Hooper" instead of Bears games and much, much more.

Sep 29, 202302:05:17
271. - Home dogs to a team that just lost by 50 - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

271. - Home dogs to a team that just lost by 50 - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

Against their better judgement the guys relive the week that was at Halas Hall and Arrowhead Stadium. At least the Bears made Taylor Swift happy, so that should be worth something, right? They dig into the Peanut Tillman raid, Justin Fields yelling at reporters for...reporting what he told them, $100,000 worth of stolen lawn mowers and the joys of playing with a concussion. They discuss the possibility of the Bears having their first-ever interim head coach, and whether George or Virginia would do a better job in the role. Then, they look ahead to the game this week with the Broncos, which is so big that CBS is sending THREE mediocre announcers to cover it, and the Bears are so bad that they are underdogs at home against a team that just lost by 50 points last week.

Sep 27, 202348:09
270. Remember This Crap - All-time Bears' indignities and Bears-Chiefs history

270. Remember This Crap - All-time Bears' indignities and Bears-Chiefs history

Remember This Crap is back and it's a two-fer? Who better than these guys to recall the most embarrassing days in Bears history, and to regale you with tales of Bears-Chiefs history? It's the only Bears podcast you'll hear this week with discussions about Jeremiah Ratliff, Sam Hurd, Alonso Spellman, gun range punchings, the Johnson Twins Tank and Todd, Joe Delaney, Mirro Roder, Frank Gansz, Terry Shea, Christian Okoye, Gary Crowton, John Roveto and Abe Gibron.

The Bears and Chiefs haven't met that often over the years and most of the matchups haven't meant a whole lot, but the matchups have had a few great moments, including one of the greatest and most iconic runs of all time.

And no, it wasn't by Tim Worley. 

Sep 22, 202301:52:51
269. Winning Time was not about these Bears - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

269. Winning Time was not about these Bears - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

You things are going well when the podcast starts with a discussion about an HBO show that just got cancelled, but two weeks in, this is where we are. Mike Pusateri and Mike Praznowski are back to break down the Bears breakdown in Tampa, and the guys try to figure out when this might actually get a win. Who is to blame, and why is it multiple people? They talk about the elusive Baker Mayfield (guh), a determined but futile defensive effort, Justin Fields teasing us with the kind of throw that it seems he should be trying a lot, the Chase Claypool mini-redemption and why a screen pass from your own end zone should get you banned from calling plays at any level. 

 

Sep 20, 202301:06:40
268. Multi system failure - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

268. Multi system failure - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The Bears loss to the Packers might not have been a shock to smart fans like you, but the totality of the butt whupping was unexpected and the guys are there to tell you who to blame. There's plenty of it to go around. Odd playcalling, poor design, the inability to pull the trigger and let's not forget a defense that didn't come within an area code of the Packers backfield on most plays. But there's still reason for hope, and we can look ahead to better times in the upcoming game in Tampa.

Sep 13, 202358:22
NFL Season Preview - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

NFL Season Preview - Pointless Exercise Bears Podcast

The Bears podcast returns with a new addition. One Mike P. wasn't enough, so joining Andy and Mike Pusateri on the pod is Mike Praznowski. The guys will take potential corporate sponsorship from anybody so they devote an entire segment to providing increasingly spicy takes from every level of the Taco Bell sauce lineup from Mild to Diablo. Which Bears are going to break long held records? Who's getting fired? Who's getting traded. You won't know until you listen. No Bears podcast would be complete without going through the schedule week by week and predicting whether they'll win or lose and then, they break out the DraftKings Sportsbook over/unders and pick out the most intriguing ones to bet on.

Sep 07, 202301:13:17
266. Cubs Podcast with Tom Loxas - Pointless Exercise Podcast

266. Cubs Podcast with Tom Loxas - Pointless Exercise Podcast

Tom Loxas is back to talk about the Cubs and whether or not David Ross can avoid sabotaging the playoff run. They discuss Ross' moves and his perceived leadership qualities, Jed's take on how close they came to selling and how Dansby Swanson shamed him into trying to win. They talk about rebuilds in general and how the Cardinals missed a golden opportunity this year. They have thoughts on what huge part of the Cubs organization is handicapping the excitement level with fans and they talk about Cody Bellinger and Shohei Ohtani's upcoming free agentness. All that and more.

Aug 24, 202355:33
265. Somebody's not gonna make it - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

265. Somebody's not gonna make it - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

Bally Senior MLB Writer David Brown is back on the podcast as the guys look at the playoff races and try to figure out who the odd teams out in each league are going to be. And, about eight minutes in, Christopher Morel interrupts the proceedings by hitting a walk-off homer, taking off all his clothes and helping save the Cubs season. They discuss how baseball should redeploy Shohei Ohtani now that the Angels have completely crapped the bed, and suggest a whole bunch of new rules that would make the playoffs more fun, even if the rules themselves would be an abomination of the game we all love.

Aug 17, 202357:49
264. Post-trade deadline afterglow - Pointless Exercise Podcast

264. Post-trade deadline afterglow - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The trade deadline came and went and the Cubs came out pretty big winners. Let's look at the their big move(s), and how they stack up against the other 'contenders' in the NL Central and Wild Card. Who's a sleeper to come from even farther back than the Cubs to get a Wild Card spot, how long are the Reds going to fake it and a look at everybody else in the mix in the NL.

Aug 04, 202331:47
263. Remember This Crap - Cubs - White Sox "rivalry" - Pointless Exercise Podcast

263. Remember This Crap - Cubs - White Sox "rivalry" - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The Cubs and White Sox have met in a World Series, in exhibitions and for the last 26 years regularly in interleague play. Lots of guys have played for both teams, they've made the occasional trade and now they battle for a sponsored "cup" that nobody gives a damn about. The guys look back at the history between the teams, why it means so much more to Sox fans than it ever will to Cubs fans and how much more successful one franchise has been than the other. They also remember key games and players and kinds of other nonsense.

Jul 24, 202302:30:19
262. - The trade deadline approaches - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

262. - The trade deadline approaches - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

Dread it. Run from it. Destiny arrives all the same.

The trade deadline is less than two weeks away and teams need to figure their crap out post haste. David Brown joins the baseball podcast to discuss why teams like the Orioles and Reds should have already done more than they have, what's up with the Cardinals lame attempt to get good pitching by trading bad pitching for it, why the Cubs should try to avoid opening more holes instead of filling them and what's the deal with Shohei.

They also discuss the proposed legends home run derby and bad All-Star Game uniforms. And much, much more!

Jul 20, 202355:10
261. Will the Cubs buy, sell or just crap themselves? - Pointless Exercise Podcast

261. Will the Cubs buy, sell or just crap themselves? - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The second half of the season is upon us and the Cubs are just as meh as we all suspected they would be, which means little Jeddy has to make a big decision. What are the arguments for selling or buying and honestly, why do you have to do either? Would it be that crazy to trade based on need instead of contract status and controllable years? Probably. Also, a look at simple things the Cubs could do to increase their on field competence, why it's great that MLB keeps stiffing them when they ask for an All-Star Game, and other stuff.

Jul 14, 202346:07
260. Movie Deep Dive - 1776 - Pointless Exercise Podcast

260. Movie Deep Dive - 1776 - Pointless Exercise Podcast

Just in time for Independence Day the guys are doing a deep dive of a movie made just...FIFTY years ago? It's the movie version of the musical 1776, starring KITT from Knight Rider, the White Shadow, the governor from Benson and Gwyneth Paltrow's mom. But, if you've seen it, you know it's a really good movie and if you haven't...well, we dare you to listen to this podcast and not race to your TV to watch it. It's the story of the second Continental Congress featuring all of the old dead guys in wigs that you remember from history class. And just like the podcast, it's funny and poignant and riveting.

Jul 02, 202301:59:10
259. Remember This Crap? Cubs Centerfielders - Pointless Exercise Podcast

259. Remember This Crap? Cubs Centerfielders - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The Cubs have been a professional baseball for (most of) their 148 years of existence and you'd think that over that time they would have a long history of excellence in center field. You'd be wrong. The guys are back to Remember This Crap about Cubs centerfielders over the years, with a special focus on the guys who've tried to play there the last 50 years. Some are better than you remember (Rick Monday, Brian McRae), some are even worse than you feared (Corey Patterson, Felix Pie) and some you hardly remember at all (Marlon Byrd, Emilio Bonifacio, Carlos Lezcano). They make the case that even though we grew up being told third base was the problem it hardly ever was, especially compared to center.

Jun 30, 202302:39:51
258. The A's' are moving, the Cardinals are sinking and the Cubs need to pick a lane - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

258. The A's' are moving, the Cardinals are sinking and the Cubs need to pick a lane - Pointless Exercise Baseball Podcast

The A's are off to Vegas and all Andy and David want to know is what does that do to the blackouts. The new stadium is going to be built on the strip, but did MLB get Moe Green's permission? The Cardinals are bad and getting worse and somebody's going to pay for it, but who? Just how bad has Willson Contreras been since he moved back to catcher? Hint: Baaaad. Andy breaks out his Suzyn Waldman impression and a few John Sterling stories. The Reds are young and fun, but are they really any good? The Cubs just swept the Pirates, but how much longer do they have before they need to pick a lane for the rest of the season? Why won't they at least negotiate with Marcus Stroman and Cody Bellinger? All that, and more.

Jun 16, 202301:07:59
257. The Cubs are really something - Pointless Exercise Podcast

257. The Cubs are really something - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The Cubs are oozing back to the bottom, and some people are shocked by this. Let's look back at how the free agent signings have worked out, what we can expect to get out of Matt Mervis and Christopher Morel, and why having three catchers is a complete waste of time. We'll discuss why there's no reason to call the tiny little infielder back up from Iowa, why Mike Tauchman should be rooting for Cody Bellinger to return ASAP, and why the Cubs should create a fake ainjury for Tucker Barnhart like they did Edwin Rios. Also, why won't the Cubs play Morel in the field, or make a sensible and obvious change to their batting order. And, a case for why they shouldn't be buyers or sellers at the trade deadline, but they should be active. Then, a quick look at what's really going on with the Bears' stadium stuff, and the return of HBO's secretly greatest show.

Jun 08, 202356:17
256. Jon Greenberg on the Bears, the Cubs, Marquee and more - Pointless Exercise Podcast

256. Jon Greenberg on the Bears, the Cubs, Marquee and more - Pointless Exercise Podcast

The Athletic's Jon Greenberg is back again and there's plenty to discuss. Did new Bears president Kevin Warren really botch the Big Ten's TV contracts or is it just impossible to try to work for 14 university presidents at the wrong time? And what does it mean when a guy would voluntarily decide he wants to work for the McCaskeys?

Are the Bears as good as the NFL is counting on them to be given the TV schedule they gave them? Why did George vote against allowing Amazon to flex Thursday Night Football games, and why wasn't he savvy enough to trade what could have been the pivotal vote for something he (not we) really wants?

What does Otis Spunkmeyer have to do with the Soldier(s) Field press box? And why do the Bears insist on making it so weird with the media all the time? And there's an impeccable Mike North impression.

Then, there's a 27 second in-depth discussion of the White Sox before a much longer chat about the Cubs.

What would it take for David Ross to ever actually be on the "hot seat?"

Why are games on Marquee even weirder than normal this season, even if you (like we) kind of like the occasional Joe Girardi third man in stuff? Is there any good reason to ever have a dugout reporter? Why is Boog talking so much? And has anybody ever seen the postgame show?

Then they talk about what it would take for the Cubs to actually be a seller at the trade deadline.

All that, and more.

May 25, 202301:04:57