Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - 5 On It & Craig Counsell got upset (Hour 3)

Episode Date: March 3, 2026

In the third hour, Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris discussed a variety of sports topics in the 5 On It segment. After that, they shared what had Cubs manager Craig Counsell upset recently. Later, they previewed the Bulls-Thunder game Tuesday evening at the United Center.

I got five. It's time for five on it. Rahini Harrison Rooney. Bring you five topics on their minds today. On 104-3, the score. I got five on it. Number one. According to ESPN's Adam Schaefter, the Seattle Seahawks are not expected to tag running back Kenneth Walker the third,

who is now poised to become an unrestricted free agent when the new league year opens. On Wednesday, March 11th, at 3 p.m. Chicago time. Here's the question, should the bears be interested in this year's Super Bowl MVP? Kenneth Walker the third. I think that any team should always do some research on a Super Bowl MVP whose contract is up. But as far as Kenneth Walker the third, I still think that not to use the phrase, and this is just a colloquialism. But you know, you know what you would say to your parent. I would like McDonald's.

They're like, we have McDonald's at home. Oh. I'm still team. I'm good with the Bears running back room, right? now. I know that you can save money with DeAndre Swift, but I don't think that you wouldn't be spending money signing a reigning Super Bowl MVP free agent running back. Like we just found out Breece Hall is getting the franchise tag and it's 14 and change. 14. Like, roughly $3 million? That's a big deal. So if he's going to get that, what do you think is going to

be the case for Kenneth Walker the third? And furthermore, who actually needs him? I think that that's a big part of this too. You know, the Kansas City Chiefs have been reported as a team that might be interested in his services. So the price goes up. You know, you're talking about a team that probably still thinks it's in its window or at the end of its window to try to contend

for a Super Bowl. The Giants are a team that has been rumored to want Walker's services or could be a team that could be connected to him. So I don't necessarily think that this is a case where the Bears should... Running back is a low-level priority for me on the

bears. They are doing the things I need them to do. I don't necessarily think that that's where I go to try to mix it up. Listen, Kenneth Walker, the 3rd's 1,309 yards from scrimmage, impressive. The durability, the fact that he rushed for 46 first downs, the fact that he averaged 4.6 yards a carry. I just think that your McDonald's money, that that's a real thing. Also, like, I wanted to double check just to make sure I had the number right when it came to the Vikings. So I did some more over the cap deductions or searches. Truly, the Vikings are according to over the cap, $46.485 million over the cap. That's a lot of money. Cowboys are 56.6. Jerry's just going to wave a magic wand and figure that one out. Chiefs are 6.6 over, so I don't necessarily know how that

works out. They're going to have to cut another offensive lineman, I think, or, get rid of one like they did with Joe Tooney. They're in a bad way. But that's, that's real bad. That's what happens when you have to pay your quarterback large sums of money. According to over the cap.com, the bears are in the middle of the pack. They're 7.46. They're actually toward the lower half.

That's very manageable. Yeah, that's not 46 million. I was like, the Vikings are 46 million. I was like, you know why? What? Because Caleb Williams isn't making 50 plus million dollars yet, let alone 70 million dollars or whatever quarterbacks are going to make by the time he gets his extension. The Vikings have a rookie quarterback contract right now with JJ.

Vikings also have pretty good defense as well. Yeh. But back to Kenneth Walker the third, there's just no reason to do this. He's going to cost more than you would think $15 million per year on a long-term deal. That's not what you do if you want to maximize your Caleb Williams rookie contract window. DeAndre Swift, Kalmanangai, could they ask more through the draft? Absolutely. And guess what? It won't cost as much as Kenneth Walker the 3rd.

Not about Kenneth Walker to third being good or not. It's just a matter where you are and what your priorities are. Number two. Fan duel proposed the following trade scenario on X, asking the question, who says no? The Bears received pass rusher. Max Crosby, Max. Shout out to my Maxinistas out there.

In return, the Raiders receive the Bears 26, first round pick, number 25 overall, the 2026 third round pick, number 89 overall, and receiver DJ Moore. Would you give this trade the green light or the red light? Okay, so here's where I want some clarification. There's been a lot of commentary about the Bears media, in quotes, wanting to trade DJ more, or they can't get them out of the building fast enough. And while I understand why that is a comment, the only way I'm trading DJ Moore

the only way is if it is for somebody like a Max Crosby because he would be a talent that the Raiders would want would Fernando Mendoza want DJ more as his WR1 probably do I still think though

that DJ is the WR1 of the Bears yeah I do I still think DJ Moore is your WR1 until people prove me otherwise I will love to see the proving process happen. DJ Moore is still that dude to me. However, I do think that he provides the most enticing possible trade package for the Raiders.

And we knew it was going to be multiple picks. Now, we had heard Ray that it was going to be two first round picks, not a first and a third. So by that logic, perhaps it would be a better deal. If you can trade for Max Crosby and your, of the Bears and you can somehow make it work under the cap. You try to figure out a way to make it happen. Green light.

Green light. Green lit. Green lit-y. Shout out to John Legend. However you want to say this. Make it happen. It's a great song. It's not even first, first, and DJ Moore is just a first, a third in DJ Moore? Yeah, that, that, and what's Ryan Poles going to do with a third round pick anyway?

You know how I feel about it? I think the Bears should do what they did last year and avoid the third. round altogether because you guys have not earned my trust in the third round. Again, trade the pick and the player. And again, I'm not, I'm the same way. I'm not trying to get rid of DJ Moore, but I am trying to address bears' needs. How about that? Because you know what?

Bears needs need to be met. And Max Crosby can meet their needs. They put themselves in this position. I understand. So now you've got to get yourself out of the position. People put themselves in bad positions every day. Yes, I do. Yeah, exactly.

I do too. Ray, Tyler, do you, have you ever made a mistake? Oh, of course. I left my coffee out that I made yesterday and I left it out too long and then I put it in the fridge and then I opened it up today and I'm not having that coffee. That is a dollar an espresso pod and some creamer down the drain. And that's okay. We'll learn from it. No, I've done, I've definitely done that multiple times.

Okay, maybe we won't learn from it. But we're going to have the bears be better than you in this particular scenario and learn from their mistakes. And better yet, be quick to course correct. Don't be a clumsy organization tripping over your own two feet, moving like a very slow bureaucracy. Quickly. Oh, we messed up. Fail fast. Keep it moving.

The Raiders. So, Max Crosby's getting 35.8 million per year. They're still $88.1 million under the cap. They're that far. Under the cap? That's why they can take on DJ Moore also. Titans are 93.8 under. Jets are 74.3.

That may change now with the Breeze Hall tag. Commanders are 70.3. Under. Under. It's a good place to be if you spend that money wisely. And the Vikings are like, we're going to fire our GM. P.S. We're $46.5 million over the cap.

Kay thanks. Bye. Wait, give me the commanders one more time. Commanders are under. Name that team. And I'll tell you How much are they underby? 70.3 they got cap space.

And their quarterback is on a what contract again? Ricky. Oh, yeah. And they got two new coordinators. I have yet to see how these guys are going to pan out with old Dan Quinn up there. Old Dan Quinn. Technically, I guess it's down there

because they're a little farther south than we are. DC is southern-ish. No. I'm looking at the map right now when you say that. I know exactly where DC is on that map. Yeah. I'm aware they say that, but still. Do we have a map in the studio now?

They're doing the weather. Ray got really confused when I said I'm looking at a map and I was looking up at the wall. Well, I looked and I was like, oh, he actually is looking at a map. WGN is on here on Rahimi Harrison Grady. Number three. This is 5001043 through the score with Lela Rahimi and Marshall Harris. The Falcons typically. they play in Atlanta where the players play,

but next season, one of those home games will be in Madrid. The Falcons are one of the Bears' opponents next season. Are you rooting for or against the idea of the Bears traveling to Spain? Okay, I thought this was cool,

but there's some stuff that happened this morning and now Trump is saying that he doesn't want to, he says the U.S. is considering terminating all trade with Spain. Does Roger Goodell step and say except for the NFL and like wink at the camera. I think so.

The NFL supersedes everything, doesn't it? This didn't affect what I'm talking about today, but I think it kind of does. So let's say that that's not an issue and that's just somebody saying something, but I don't really do that. So I would like for the Bears to be a participant in that space. That would be a really cool concept. playing in Madrid just sounds like a lot of fun. So selfishly, I just want to see everybody have fun.

Is that bad? Get some tinned fish, be hanging out, enjoying Spanish stuff, maybe some olives while you're at it. I just, you know, the gin and tonic is a very Spanish tradition, how they dress them up and what they do. But just enjoying Spain and another culture, I think that that would be a fun game. As to how many people would attend, I'm not sure.

I know the NFL wants to make this. a big initiative. You know, like the atmosphere in Germany has been talked about a lot that the stadium and the game has been really exciting. But I, like, if you get the chance to play in Wembley, for example, but in London, I don't necessarily know how, how the people of Spain would receive this. Yeah. These are, these are different times right now, you know?

And Spain's basically, you know, I won't say they kick the U.S. out, but they said you can't use our military base. Yeah, and Trump did say, like, terminating all trade with Spain. Yeah, that was the... So it just kind of made me want to avoid that right now. I want to avoid that in the near future until things get hopefully sorted out one way or another. And, yeah, so it's not really high on my list of things to see the Bears do this season. We might not get to travel much.

Number four. Cubs outfielder in front of the show, Ian Hap, is in the final year of his contract. This is what Hap told reporters, is he reflected on his time in Chicago and his future. It's been a true honor to wear this uniform for as long as I have, and so to represent the city and this fan base, you know, just trying to really take that in and enjoy every second of it. You know, the reality is that you can't control if the team wants you back

or how they, you know, how they view you. So that's the business side of it. And then, you know, it's totally plausible that, you know, another chapter of my career will unfold after this. That's Cubs Outfielder Ian Hap, heard among the Metallica playing in the background in the Cubs locker room in Arizona. If this is indeed Hap's final year in Chicago, how do you summarize his time with the Cubs? Do you do what Metallica said? Do you say sad but true? I'm sorry, once they put it in my head, I can't get anything out.

That's just kind of how it goes. Ian Hap's career as one of the longest tenured athletes in Chicago deserves the respect. That's for sure. We have a Connect Roosters Tumblr on our desk for a reason here at the score on Rahimi Harrison Grotie. But, you know, Ian Hap is in that lineup every day regularly for a reason. And we've talked about how he's had a bit of ebbs and flows when it comes to, say, the slugging, for example, which isn't really what he's known for. The OPS, which he is.

he had an all-star season in 2022. But then you look at his on-base percentage and where is it? Lining up with his last year, for example, his all-star season. 3-42-op-s or on-base percentage rather in 2022. 3-42 on-base percentage in 2025. That's who he is. He finds his level. And to be able to have done that for so much of his career,

I think speaks to why he's been a cup for so long. So there are a lot of contracts that I think the team has given to players where maybe they've regretted them. But I don't think that Ian Hap's contract has been one of them over this now, 10 years of service time that it will be with this season with the team. According to baseball reference, he's had the second highest war of his career last year at 4.0, only second to that 2022 All-Star season, which he had a 4.3. You're right about finding its level. his service to the Cubs in what it has meant, the consistency.

And part of that consistency has been the ebbs and flows of a baseball season. I thought what struck me the most about what he said is him saying, it's been a true honor. He didn't say it is an honor. It was almost as if he was talking about his time with the Cubs as a past tense thing as opposed to I've got one more season left and I have a no trade clause and I'm not going anywhere. until we find out what's going on into and through the 2026 season. So that was a bit jarring.

But as far as Ian Hap's time and the money spent and the time invested, I think if I summarized his time with the Cubs, I would just say solid. It was solid. Gold Glover, All-Star, not every year, but enough that he made an impact. And he was part of a team that ultimately, did go to the playoffs and did at least get to the NLDS and out of the wildcar round.

He was a gold glover last season once again, so that just proves your point. He's now working on four straight gold gloves after last season. Number five. It's five on it on 104. The score is our final question. State championships are this week in girls' high school basketball. Marshall was at the girls for a super sectional last night. Marshall, how did it go?

It went well. We had a well-played game, a game that was tied at halftime, 25 apiece between Wabonzi Valley, the Warriors, taking on Nazareth Academy, the roadrunners. But, you know, like the Highlander says,

there can be only one. It's survive in advance season. Home of the original March Madness here in Illinois, IHSA, get started at 10 a.m. on Thursday. I'll be there hanging out with a former Whitney Youngstar and WMBA Chicago Sky Player, Lene Harper, on the call for 1A and 3A girls. Got some, see some college talent last night.

Daniel Porcoso, who is the star for Wabonzi Valley, didn't quite have enough going up against Stella Sackalus, who's headed to BYU as a commit to BYU. And you see a lot of talent across the board when you get down to Bloomington and Illinois State. And I'm interested to see who I will be highlighted by. You know, this morning I was on conference calls heading into the show talking to 1A coaches about, you know, the impact that sports has on their schools. And one of the things that struck me is how one school was talking about how more people are following the girls' basketball team everywhere they went this season. than the boys basketball team.

And high school is kind of where that levels off. You can get just as much support as a player who plays girls sports as you do as boys sports. Because that's how community-driven, families and friends-driven it is at that level. And I really enjoy it. I mean, obviously I talk about pro sports, college sports. I've covered them all. But I really do enjoy the grassroots level sports when it comes to high school sports. Supersectional is a great weekend

with State on the line. That's always a really fun week and a really competitive week. And yeah, we look forward to the full report when you get back from down stay. I know you've got the boys next week, the girls this week. It's going to be a lot of fun to watch.

Yeah, last night it was one game. Next Monday, we got a supersectional double header from UIC over on the U. So it'll be fun. That is five on it here on Rahimi Harrison Grotie on this tag deadline day here on the show. We mentioned we will keep a track, let you know what happens. That deadline is about an hour after we get off the show at 2. That's at 3 o'clock. And there was a report that

came across Twitter yesterday. We didn't get to really spend much time on it where Jesse Rogers said, well, Craig Counsel's really letting his team hear it. He was letting him have it. And I'm like, wait, was there more to this? Not only was there more. Apparently, we found out what was going on. So some hot goss that we tracked down next. Can you imagine Lovey Smith doing the whole good, better, best thing? And saying bleep the Packers. Come on, guys, good better best.

Never let it rest. I'll see on Tuesday. Midday's 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 1043, the score. And apparently there was a bit of good. gossip to chase down at Cubs camp yesterday. Is that what we're calling it, gossip? Yeah, because it was

Jesse Rogers who was like, who boy, Craig Counsel just lit up his team. I don't think Jesse would ever say, who, boy. I really did add that, and that's how it starts, okay? One person reads something, that another person says something, the next thing you know, the whole message is messed up.

I very much enjoyed the game telephone when I was in elementary school, because it was wild what happened between kid one and kid 20. That's it. and that did not change by any means. In fact, dare I say, it got worse as time has gone on, despite you being able to refer to people's stuff like a tweet, for example, on the actual post.

That's not exactly how it's gone. So I'm going to scroll back and find it because it was, here it is. I'm not sure I've ever heard Craig Counsel raise his voice, but he just gave it to his team during base running drills. In parentheses, they deserved it. This is about as hot gossip as you can get from, from, from spring training as far as I see it. Normally it's like, oh, how did your PFP go?

What pitch are you working on? Did you let loose too many home runs when you were working on your seventh pitch today? Something along those lines, as we discussed earlier. But this, this needed further investigation. And I guess our own intrepid reporter, Bruce Levine, got to it, because the way you sold it was also pretty entertaining. That's right.

Bruce Levine, of course, as he does every day, join Mullen Haw this morning. and he set the scene for how Cubs manager, Correct Counsel, reacted when things went wrong during that drill you referred to in Mesa. So, Ron Kumer, myself, Jesse Rogers, were watching base running drills yesterday. And most of the time, you know, it's just, it's eye-wash. But this time, the Cubs were practicing, tagging up,

balls hit to the outfield, and then the, the base runner deciding if they have to tag or go halfway, and counsel totally lost it. Kevin Alcantir was confused as to whether to tag or be halfway. Counsel went out and just let everybody had it and said, if you don't know, and he wasn't pointing to Alcantra, but to everybody, if you don't know how to run the bases by the time camp ends, you're not going to be on this team.

Okay, so it was a very pointed, very hot moment for Craig Counsel, who's usually watching with the other coaches and just taking it all in. But he lost a lot of pacing. One thing about Craig Counsel, when he's upset, if you're a, if you're a Cub fan, you're watching on TV and you see him pacing in the dugout, it means he's really upset. And that's the only way he shows it. I love the body language tell there from Bruce.

So now everybody, of course, is going to be seeing, hey, is Craig standing still in that dugout or is he moving? After anything big happens in the game all season long, that's what's about to happen. I lost it when he said a lot of pacing. Like, that's the only way you can tell is when he takes steps. I'm going to go ahead and just this is my own assumption as well. When things were not going well in the playoffs,

I saw Craig Counsel not have the hat on and was running his fingers through the hair. That's another tell. So if he's pacing and running his fingers through his hair. He got some height on that hair. Like Craig Counsel's hair is impeccable, especially for somebody over the age of, I don't know, 35. And so when you consider that, and then how much height he can get on that hair and the fact that it's still brown, despite his look of bewilderment or worry at times, Very impressive. But yeah, the hair, wasn't there one day where it was like full poof ball?

Oh, it was nuts. It was a really like crazy looking hair day. After a game, like we got to give them the grace of like you just went through managing an MLB game. You used 45 pitchers in this game in the postseason. But that hair was crazy. And it was a picture that got snapped that was like that I saw going around on social media. You know, it's post-game media availability. And his hair was was together after that.

I think somebody, if not Craig himself, somebody in Craig's circle was like, sir, we need to get you a haircut. No, you know how I feel about the defiant no haircut for men? Like I kind of like the rebellion. You know what I mean? Like, I always think it's funny when guys are like, oh, I got to get a haircut. I'm like, why? Who's telling you to get the hair cut? Who?

The Yankees? Not everybody plays for the Yankees. But there's a bigger note to be had here, Marshall. It's the fact that Craig counsel, now when we know sometimes why, oh, I don't know if so-and-so gets more at bats, and I don't know why this guy gets more at bats. Well, we may have just found a reason. Okay, so was that specifically addressing the individual there or the whole team when you talk about not going to be on this team? That's what I was trying to figure out. That's what Bruce clarified in that comment.

He didn't single Al-Contra out. It was to the whole team, but to be clear, it was Al-Connor. Contra that made the base running mistake. Alconra made the mistake, but you won't be on this team was for anybody who can't run the base. The message to the team. Yeah, there was that triple play last week with old Matt Shaw. And that didn't look great where Bregman runs to third, but Matt Shaw's at third. Maybe that was in the back of his head.

You know what? I'm not giving him. I'm not giving him old Matt Shaw because old Matt Shaw wouldn't make that mistake. Old anybody wouldn't make that type of mistake. You missed the old matchaw? That's young Matt Shaw. That's very green, Matt Shaw. Well, I was being a little sorry.

I know, I know, but you're right. I just can't believe, like, you're playing Major League Baseball, and you don't understand when two people are on the same base, who's out and who's not. That's something they teach you when you are a child. Damn it, we should have cut away to Craig Counsel then and seen if he was pacing. I mean. Cardio to relieve stress? Good for Craig Counsel, though, to get your thoughts out there.

it's been openly communicated. Also, Ray, I immediately thought of the Andrew Vaughn home run and the zoom in to Craig Council on the phone. Yep, yep. That's a pacing moment if there ever was one. Okay, so did Michael Conforto add to this? Yes, he did. Michael Conforto is a recent addition to Cubs camp. And so our guy, Bruce Levine, asked him about what it's been like to get to know Craig Counsel.

He's been very vocal, and especially, you know, in some of the time. of the latest team staff. He definitely wants to make his points and make them firmly and loud. And it's been great. You were out there yesterday for that teaching moment. That's as animated as quick counsel gets. But obviously, when a certain point in spring training managers have to give their point across that regular season is close, right?

Yeah, I mean, we're a few weeks away, and one of the strengths of this team is base wrestling. I'm kind of towing that fine line of aggressive and reckless. There's a sweet spot there that you don't give outs away, but you take everything that the other team gives you. You know, I think it's good to be aggressive. You know, it's good to be on the aggressive end. It's harder to stay safe and then push guys forward. but, you know, as the point he's getting across is, hey, you know, we have to be smart too.

You know, so let's understand the game situation and, you know, think of all the things that we need to be aware of. So I thought it was good. I think a lot of guys had open ears in those moments. Man, Michael Conforto just telling us what's up. Wisdom. Wisdom being shared. He can be all Michael Confordo. How about that?

The only ones I've determined are actual ol are everybody in general and players who have an IR rest on their practice designations. Okay. But if it's a pitcher, we're going to go ahead and skip his turn through the rotation, even though he's been pitching fine. Yeah, maybe. Maybe then. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104-3, the score.

And apparently, Bruce also got to the bottom of this with Craig Counsel. You had some important, what it seemed like, important instruction moments for your guys doing base running and doing drills for relays yesterday. Is that just a general part of spring? Or, I mean, it was, you know, you got a little animated during that. Yeah, that happens, actually, more than you think. sometimes you just have to try to emphasize your points make sure they make sure it's understood good enough

yeah it was a very direct answer yeah sometimes sometimes there's a little fun in it too you could have you caught that part I said when you said you won't make this team if you get doubled off I didn't say that I said you won't be on the team

so that's obviously an exaggeration very similar Well, no, it's not. It's a very, because you won't make the teams very different than we have some people that are going to be on the team. Some players that are going to be on the team. Even if they get doubled off. Even if they get doubled off. They're going to be on the team.

That's what's different about this. You know what I mean? They're going to be on the team still. No, I understand. The fun part I might have missed, but what would you say was the fun part of the fun part of the? that. Well, there's, yeah, I think, I'm not going to explain that to you. Sometimes some things are best not explained. That's not in our world.

Well. Yeah. We understand your world. You can't just be, if you want to be a good Major League base runner, like we can, we can teach you technique. Yeah, we're going to get technique right. And there's some technical things you're going to get right. And then you also have to understand, like, the scoreboard, which is a huge part of it, which I think big differences. So the scoreboard is about winning and losing, and it's about game state and understanding

your role as a base runner in particular game states. And that's something when you're on second base, like, and you don't have a coach whispering in your ear after every pitch, like, you're on your own to figure that out. And you have to figure that out and you have to understand that. And so we talk about the game state a lot, which is kind of a fancy way of just saying, you know, what's the situation, right? And you've got to figure that out. And we try to put some, the point of it is a little bit too,

is to put some pressure on when we do the drill because we can't operate everything like a game, a real game. But sometimes my voice can apply some pressure to the situation. that's all we're trying because that makes it a little more game-like man Craig counts out here he's the one having all the fun oh my god I need more of that exchange between Craig and Bruce

did you like the the the pregnant pauses what was your favorite part of the interaction man Bruce held the line that's what happened like Bruce didn't no that's the best okay I'm giving away more state secrets number one glitter is girl code because it always tells you where it's been Number two, let somebody finish a sentence. And when you pause like that in an interview, if they just keep talking, it was, it was his answer until he was done.

And then Jesse chimes in and backs up, backs up Bruce, but where he goes, I miss the fun part. I'm not going to explain that, Lela. I lost it. I'm not going to explain that, Lila. Why not? I don't think that needs to be explained. That was probably one of the best parts. playing the role in CREC counsel.

But like Bruce is, that is some A plus interviewing by Bruce. Because when he says, I miss the fun part, play confused, see what the other guy says. And then he's still mad, isn't he? He's not happy. He's not happy. He's like, why am I dealing with this with Major League Baseball players? Basically is the sentiment that I got from that. Also, no, it's not good enough because I want to know what the hell your third base coach is doing half the damn time.

I was going to ask, where is Quentin Barry fit into this equation, if you will? Because on that triple play, guess what happened? He was turned away from the runner going. I'm not going to explain that. So if that's... But why can't you explain? You just explained everything else. Also kind of funny, he is right.

You can't make the team and be bad at base running. Unfortunately. Unfortunately. But then he's like, I apply pressure. See, I don't deal in that card game. Subtalties, that's not my thing. never been my thing fascinated by those who who have that thing so I'm like are you are you telling us how this is going because like the pause is just it's so good does it makes people nervous it's so

efficient which I am not it's something else I'll tell you that it's something else what did you think about which part all of it oh I loved it I need more of that Craig counsel going forward the one who lights up his players in real time and also the one who doesn't really want to explain, but he'll play the game with you like he did with Bruce. I love it. More of that, all season long, please. Yeah, and also...

It's entertaining. 6.3 asks a good question. If pacing, as Mad Craig, are we worried the bullpen phone cord might not stretch long enough? He's get a cordless phone for Craig. You get that right? Yeah, it's... It's 2026.

A lot of pacing. Pacing is... and pausing. Cubs get Craig a cordless phone in that bullpen, please. No, I hope to hell he doesn't need a cordless phone. He won't that part. Ray keeps signaling at us to break and I just don't want to because it's so funny. Marshall,

the Bulls did something that they hadn't done in an entire calendar month and the Thunder are here and I think you have the right level of concern about this. I'm going to hold it until after the break, but I'll explain to you why the Bulls can't be doing what they just did. A lot of pacing.

Okay. Okay. Rahimi Harrison Grody. I don't want to break time. I want to yell at Barson. Can we handle more Anthony Heron? Midday's 10 to 2 on 1043, the score. Bottom line story, the buck stops here at the United Center. The Bulls are victorious.

In an 11-game losing streak, the eyes of March. Oh, you got to love it, Bill. The final, 1-297, Bulls win, Bulls win, Bulls win. Oh, Tyler. In the month of March of 2026, all the Bulls have done is won, no matter what. And they were down in that game, but it didn't matter. They came back and went on a ridiculous 27-0 run. And I, for the plot, will say that I wanted the Bulls to have the losing streak until they played the Lakers.

at crypto. I'm calling it Staples. I can't do it. But they beat me to it and they beat the Bucks. Another team that I didn't think they were going to beat.

Yannis wasn't playing. He wasn't the elimination chamber the night before, but he was not playing. But then, Janus ended up playing against the Celtics, and they still lost. Bucks lost 108 to 81.

And this, Laila, Rahimi, is why you can't be winning these games. Wait, so you don't want to win, win, win no matter what? You want to lose, lose, lose no matter what. Marshall, in case you have forgotten, suffered through the worst of these of all time. Marshall was the pre and post game host for the Sixers during the process. I know what it takes. I know the medal that it takes to make the decision as a front office that we are going to lose basketball games. Let me be very specific about

why that win was so bad. You beat the bucks. The bucks have now lost three games in a row. You're only a game and a half ahead of the bucks in the standings. That part. The bucks could pass you and lose their way out and knock you from ninth to tenth in the old tankathon standings, dropping your chance of a top four pick from 20.3% to 13.9%. Dropping your chance at the number one overall pick from 4.5% to 3%. You got that? It's simple math. Stop losing by winning. You got it? Don't win more games because you are losing if you are winning games.

Tonight's game doesn't make it any easier because in the department of what, I swear, seems like load management, the champs are in town, the Oklahoma City Thunder, who Marshall and I think are probably the exemplary franchise in the NBA when it comes to how to build a team, yes? Yes. I think you and I are on the same page there. Yes. When you make a trade, you trade a player before he loses value, you see Paul George. And you get a player back that might turn into something,

Shea Gildes, Alexander, and you just keep amassing first-round pick after first-round pick. That aforementioned SGA out with an abdominal strain. Now, the thunder goes straight from here to play the Knicks. So... He'll be playing tomorrow. There's a back-to-back and play.

Brennan Carlson out with the back. Hartnstein is out with a calf. That guy always has good games against the Bulls. You know that, right? Not tonight he won't. Mitchell's out with an ankle Jalen Williams is out with a hamstring Oh Jalen Williams is he good at basketball?

He is, yes So you could argue that the Thunder are down What? Four of their top seven players Now Jalen Williams has a legit injury Yes but I'm just saying As for the rest I'm just saying it's the Chet Holmgren show right

Like here's the bottom line The Bulls and Bear Not Messer around and try to win this game tonight. And when I say they, I mean, Archerich Karnassova. We already know Jalen Smith's not going to play. That's good. I think Patrick Williams is out too, right? Patrick Williams is out with a quad. Yeah. These are good things. But now you've got to manage those minutes of people who are actually playing in the game in such a way that you don't allow an actual dub to happen. You don't allow a 27 to nothing run to even begin to take place. Hey, now listen, just for the record,

They did try, I think, because you remember the bench rotation was like three dudes in that game. The Bulls bench was, I mean, other people played, but it wasn't the same amount of minutes. Like, Lachlan Ulbrook is listed on the box score. He played one minute. Rob Dillingham had five minutes a game time. Yuki had one minute. He's the one who dribbled it out at the end. I need.

So it was Leonard Miller, Nick Richards, and Colin Sexton, who really, that was your essential bench. I'm sorry. Go back one more time. hit me up with the Dillingham minutes played again five Remember that time we wanted to see more out of Rob Dillingham In the search for the nine or ten good players

On this team That's trying to improve its draft position And not quote unquote Be in the middle Rob Dillingham needs to play 20, 25 minutes a game At the minimum It sounds like we have a tank Do we have a tank commander?

Is that what we... I'll be the tank No, but like campaign was the Bulls tank commander in the 2019-ish, 2018-ish time. That guy that just always played in your hopes of a tank. Well, I mean, and that was the Doug McDermott-Tage Gibson deal. I would say Lachlan Oldbrook is a better tank commander. Because he plays a position the Bulls are actually short-handed in right now, which is big. Fair enough.

So, you know, Dillingham is one of like a thousand guards. So I get that part. But the bottom line here is, while. At one point earlier this season, if I told you, hey, the Bulls beat OKC, you would have been like, wow, what a win. Now, if the Bulls beat OKC, it's what a loss. What a missed opportunity. Because here's why, looking directly in front of the Bulls in the Tankathon standing, so below the Bulls and the overall standings, the Memphis Grizzlies have messed around in one, two, in a row.

If you had just done your job and lost the game, you would be tied with the Grizzlies. and the eight spot instead of by yourself in the nine spot in the tankathon standings. Do you see how this works? Oh, no, I was with you for the process. I just left and went to Chicago during the process. And then the NBA shut it down, by the way. The league intervened. Layla, just to really illustrate what we're dealing with here,

the Bulls have won one in a row. The Grizzlies have won two in a row. Every team that's below them in the standings has not won their last game. You've got to be in tune with all those teams. Losers of three in a row, six in a row, five in a row, eight in a row, six in a row, as I go down the list. Why do I feel like the Thunder are basically daring the Bulls to win?

They're like daring the Bulls to beat them. So then what's more important, Bulls? Is it beating the Thunder or is it getting a better draft pick? Getting a better draft pick is the only answer in this scenario. What a troll job by Mark Dagnow. He's like, yes, yeah, SGA, you're out. Abdominal, intercostal muscle, something. You guys are out.

It's management. Take your time. It was listed officially as management, so there's that. Injury management, though. Yeah. But when you put the word management in, man, that's, yeah, that'll be, this is a very compelling month for the Bulls, even though it doesn't look like it. Because you know it's after this, the West Coast Road Trip.

Sounds like a good time. It's including a stop in Sacramento. To lose games. Yeah, that'll be the tank. That'll be the tank trophy. We've got to come up with a name for that game. It's the Bulls. Yeah, we'll come up with it.

That's the West Coast Bulls right there. The Spider-Man meme. That's it. No, we got to work on this. The Sacramento Kings have 14 wins. I have half a mind to just play the exchange between Bruce and Craig Counsel for the rest of the show. That's not bad. It's not a bad plan.

I'm told I can't do that. Also, I have a very important baseball guest is coming up next. Tom Verducci with Sports Illustrated and Fox Sports Major League Baseball. We'll join us next on Rahimi Harrison Grotie.