Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - 5 On It & Luis Medina talks Bears (Hour 3)

Episode Date: February 19, 2026

In the third hour, Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris discussed a variety of sports topics in the 5 On It segment. After that, Luis Medina of Bleacher Nation joined the show to discuss the latest Bears storylines. Later, Rahimi and Harris opened the phone lines for Score callers to sound off on the Bears' stadium saga.

The score. It's time for five on it. Rahimi Harrison Grody. Bring you five topics on their minds today. On 104,3, the score. I got five. It has been a busy day in the saga known as the Chase for the Bears' mythical news stadium. And just to reset here in Rahimi Harrison Grotie, we got the information from Matt Hill,

who is Governor Pritzker's deputy chief of staff for communications, that the Bears and the state of Illinois met for three hours yesterday. they requested the Bears did. The ILGA paused the hearing to make further tweaks to the bill. And then he also added the statement this morning. We were surprised to see a statement lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois. The Bears issued a statement about Indiana, saying the passage of Senate Bill 27,

which is the possible stadium development in Hammond, Indiana. The Bears said would mark the most meaningful step forward in our stadium planning efforts to date. We are committed to finish the remaining site specific necessary due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana. They went on to support the governor and the speaker and senators, and now there is this from Capital Facts, who is a very popular account that follows Illinois politics, reports on the state, proceedings, and they have this update.

Pritzker talks about bears. This is at 1159, so just four minutes ago. They asked us not to move forward with the bill yesterday. Quote, now they're saying to us that that statement is not some confirmation that they're moving to Indiana, but rather that Indiana had asked them to say that. What are we doing? Wait. What are we doing? Say that one more time.

Who is this again? Capital Facts. C-A-P-I-T-O-L-F-A-X. They reported on state legislature for a long time. Springfield. Again, update. Pritzker talks about bears. They asked us not to move forward with the bill yesterday. Now they're saying to us that the statement is not some confirmation that they're moving

to Indiana, but rather that Indiana had asked them to say that. Now, to be fair, Matt Hill's statement said, lauding Indiana and ignoring Illinois, which is what the statement did. It did praise Indiana. and it did not say anything about Illinois. But they're, according to this, they're saying to the state

that that statement is not a confirmation, but that Indiana had asked them to say that? Apparently there's sound on this, so I can't wait to get. There's sound? I'm looking at it. I'm going to send it to Ray, and we're going to get this turned around.

If it is, I can't hear it, obviously, because I'm on the air with you, but he'll check it out for us. But let's get on with five on it because I know we got some sound in that last question so we got to be tidy on this. Do we? Yes.

Number one. Well, here's big question number one. After hearing what we just heard, Layla Reed, and after talking to Pat Quinn and Adam Hogue, what other questions do you have about the new developments on the Bears' push to build a new stadium? Who you crapping? Who's zumin who?

who's bluff are you calling? Whose car is parked next door? That's a country song at the end. But that's really what this is. There's a lot of questions being asked here and there's not a lot of answers. There's concepts of a plan. There's a concept of a plan.

You know what I want to know? What is the actual plan? I want to know every detail about every pro-con list for going with the Illinois plan versus going with the Indiana plan. When I say the Illinois plan, I know it's not fully formed, but building on Arlington Heights

versus building in Ham in Indiana. I want to be able to, with a fine-tooth comb, go over all the details to understand what's better for the Bears, what's better for taxpayers in Illinois, what's better for taxpayers in Indiana, for that matter? I want to know every angle of this story. And while I do have stadium fatigue,

I understand it is my job to understand the facts in this ordeal. Because that's what's become. It's become an ordeal. The most fun part about this is our heater in the studio has been broken the entire morning, so I'm just sitting here shivering and confusion. We've got the Bear Stadium news to keep us warm, Leila. That's all we need.

Somebody was offended by me singing the Yakety Sax song. Really, Leila, really? If you're offended by that, I worry for your life. Number two. ESPN released its final 2026 offseason grades for all 30. MLB teams. The Cubs received a B letter grade. Do you agree with this grade for the Cubs? I think I do because when it comes to the Cubs offseason, they did spend a ton of money for them. They were the second, when you consider the Alex Bregman contract and the totality of their

spending to the Toronto Blue Jays. But unfortunately, that's because Kyle Tucker's contract gets deferred by the Dodgers. The evil empire stays evil. And while Bregman's bat is a wonderful addition, do I feel like they completely replace the offense that they were missing? No. They also traded for Edward Cabrera, which should be part of this discussion. But I don't necessarily know that they did enough offensively or moved enough

pieces around. And then there was also the show to Imanuga qualifying offer, which may have also resulted in the B. So I understand why it became a B. I would say B minus because of the last thing that you mentioned. The Shodamanaaga qualifying offer and the way that that went down, they had to do the other stuff to make up for that to get above a C. And that's why they end up with a B-Mittus.

You could argue that their bullpen isn't quite as strong as it was last year, but we don't know what Craig Counsel and that pitching staff, Tommy Hadovi in the game. What magic will they work this year amongst aging relievers that you're not quite sure if they're going to make it through a full season? We do know that the bullpen that starts in game one will not be the same bullpen that ends the regular season. What will the production look like from Matt Shaw

in the various positions he's asked to play? Yeah, Matt Shaw's cruising around the diamond is pretty much what I understand. Pete Groh Armstrong, first half, second half. What does the 2026 season look more like? So there's questions, and I think B minuses would have been my grade, but B is a fair grade overall because they did do enough, I think, to say

we are the front runners far and away to win the NL Central. Or is it B for B-E-aggressive? B-E-A-G-G-R-E-S-S-I-V-E. Aggressive. B-E-E-A-Gressive. Even that has made more sense in the events of this morning. Number three. This is five on it on 104-3, the score with Lailorahimi and Marshall Harris.

Here's question number three. White Sox manager Will Vettable announced that Munitaka Morikami's Cactus League debut will take place Friday against the Cubs at Sloan Park. How seriously. are the Southsiders taking spring training? Well, I think they're taking as seriously as they need to, considering that World Baseball Classic is not that far away.

And we know Japanese players are leaving earlier than the American players. So they want to see him and see what he can do. And if you go back to the last World Baseball Classic when he was launching, we're calling him moonshots now, right? When he was launching moonshots. Thanks, Kevin, Quinn. We want lots of moonshots. Amazing.

Appreciate that, Governor Pat Quinn. I think it's great to get as much out of him as you can before he has to leave for the World Baseball Classic because Japan, last I checked, they could probably be in it to win it and therefore in it for the long haul. Well, I feel like they needed to develop Munitaka Murakami. They said they wanted to. And develop is, that's probably a little bit loose of a term when you consider. They just want them to see as much major league pitching as possible. Adjust to your new league. we've seen other people do it pretty easily

for their adjustment time period but I feel like this is a reps thing just get him as many reps as he can possibly get facing major league pitching of any kind not necessarily ones versus ones here but I like that for him I think for Munitaka Murakami the more you see of that the more you'll get used to it

and the more of an accurate hitter for yourself that you will be knowing is half the battle Marikami Now you know Annohing is half the battle G.I. Joe. Murakami and the rest of the Japanese players they leave a week from today.

So you got seven days, we're really six days to figure it out. Yeah, that World Baseball Classic does mess up the schedule a little bit in a good way, but it does affect the schedule. Number four. CHSN's KC Johnson asked Bullsguard Josh Giddy about his playing status tonight.

Do you plan on prison tomorrow and play? Yep, I do. I'm back playing. Okay. Interesting phrasing there. Casey Johnson. But that's Josh Giddy talking about his playing status tonight, courtesy of CHSN. Additionally, Jalen Smith is playing, and Isaac Coro is off the injury report.

Here's the question. How does this affect a possible tank? I think it makes the tank in peril. I think it, it, uh, I think that's, I think that's, there's not a parking spot for the tank. I feel like when you have the intent on playing players and taking them off of the injury

statuses whenever there was a break that losing games is not something that I see you're looking to communicate here. So it further lets you kind of understand what the Bulls plan is, doesn't it? They have traded for several players on expiring

deals and perhaps they truly just want to see who fits with guys like Giddy. And Isaac Akoro on this team for the future. I'll be able to tell you a lot more about that tank after we find out what kind of minutes restriction Josh Giddy is on his first game back. Maybe Jalen Smith is on a little bit of a minutes restriction. Maybe you don't roll out Colin Sexton in the starting lineup because of that.

Maybe you do start Patrick Williams for the rest of the season. Yeah, you'll be able to tell pretty quickly, are Rob Dillingham and Jaden Ivy getting the lion's share of minutes? Are they playing 25, 30 minutes a game? That could be the tell right there. Ivy in his last game played 29 minutes. Dillingham played 30 minutes. That needs to continue.

And with Josh Giddy in action, and apparently you look around and see that other players are close to coming back, like Trey Jones, we're going to find out what the intention is. Are we trying to win games, or are we trying to see what these young players who have not been given chances on football? former teams what they can do. Five on it. Number five.

Five on it at 104.3. The score here's the final question. Philly star, Bryce Harper, joined the Bussin with the Boys podcast and discussed why he thinks baseball is the hardest sport to play. Can a football guy come onto a baseball field and do it? 100%. I just decided. You think that a football guy can come on a baseball field and hit a baseball?

Yeah. Really? Yeah. You want to face Paul Skeens or Scoobel? I'll stand in there. We'll take Paul Skeen's. Y'all. That's nothing.

There's always these conversations about, like, what's the hardest sport? And I think baseball is the hardest sport to play. And it's not even close because... You don't think it's even close. Dion Sanders paid both, right? Always says there's nothing harder than hitting a baseball. How many times you think you can get a hit in, like, 100 at bats against, like, Jacob de Grom? One.

You really think you can get a hit off them in a hundred at... By rep 95, I'm like, I've had enough in the tank here to make connection. But the first 15, those balls go by so fast. I just think... I think everybody talks about just the heater, right? They're not talking about the slider or the change-up or the curveball or the 101-miner cutter that he throws. throws a 96-mile or slider that he throws too.

Or like that's on my bag right now. Zach Wheeler throwing a, you know. We get it, dude. You play baseball. I mean, he explained it to me. It's Bryce Harper on the Bustin' with the boys' podcast there. Do you agree with Harper that baseball is the hardest sport to play? I think that I've seen a lot of baseball players have the statement of like hitting a round object with a round bat is one of the hardest things you can do.

and I agree with it. However, I've also seen guys like JJ Watt take batting practice. That was 10 years ago. The ball still hasn't landed. But he's being served batting practice pitches. And that's it. He brings up the aspect of facing a Terrick Scoobal or a Paul Skeens. And that's when things get really complicated.

They can make a lot of people look real silly, even the best of the best. And that's where I think Bryce Harper has it. I think he has it correct. I think that it might be the hardest sport of all to play. I consider hockey, too, because of the coordination of skating while you're also trying to do your job, whether you are on the defenseman side of things or where you're not you're trying to score or pass to your line mate. You know, that is also incredibly difficult to me. But it is a little bit easier to handle a hockey stick.

I just can't handle the aspect of being able to do both at the same time. It either comes down to probably baseball or hockey for me. Are we limiting this to, like, team sports? Or we're talking about individual sports? This is wherever you want to take it, sir. Any sport. I don't know what the parameters were in that discussion. I was considering the yuge.

Oh, okay. Well, since Laila considered the usual, Marshall, let's go with the U.S. No, bring up other stuff. Okay, because if we're just talking about the major sports, Bryce Harper is absolutely correct that baseball is the hardest sport. Because of what he said, it's not the fastball, which everyone, of course, talks about, and romanticizes, oh, I can hit 101.

Bra, what you're going to do when the 101 comes? And then you got the off-speed stuff, the nasty stuff, the slider over 90 miles per hour. The slider over 90 is just insane. Splitter. Cutter. Oh, I made contact. The ball went five feet. You know what I'm saying?

Like, it's disingenuous to pretend like basketball, for instance, it's harder than, than baseball. People play basketball every day. Pick up basketball, right? So they get this sense that I can play basketball. And even those people have wild delusions about how good they are at basketball. They do. You're right about that. Yeah. They also have wild delusions about what their knees can do on a basketball court. Or how quickly they can take a side step, right, and not fall down. And then the response is always like, oh, well, the hoop is the equivalent of two basketballs going in at the same time size. And you're like, yeah, that just makes me feel worse that I miss this shot. And so if we're doing the U's, as was described by one of you guys,

me was you, Leila, yeah, the U's. I like that term. There's a lot happening today and I'm freezing. If we're doing the U's, then yes, it's baseball. If we're not, come on. It's one of two things. It's either gymnastics or it's figure skating. And because like, what?

How many people do you think can do the stuff they do in figure skating or gymnastics? Like what percentage of the population? Percentage? Yeah, that's what I was saying. Like one out of how many people. Point, many zeros and then a one. And to everybody saying golf, I don't know that you're wrong either. But at least golf, it's a stationary ball and a stationary target.

You can go to the range and get better at those things in a way that if I said go get good at figure skating or go get good at gymnastics. No. What? Also, the cruelest thing about golf is that your biggest enemy may be yourself. Like the mental aspect of golf, as we have seen many people try to face Tiger Woods on a Sunday do, for example. Or when you know that this putt is going to give you a tournament win, that's one of the most cruel aspects of it. Yeah, downhill skiing in the Olympics, they're all hard. Yes.

It's just we're just asking what's the hardest. I know what the easiest is. What's the easiest? Bowling. Stationary pins, ball, throw ball, knock down pins. It's bowling. But then there's the amount of people who. have gotten a 300 game, you know.

A lot more people have gotten a 300 game than have done the things that we're talking about in these other sports. I don't know. Jerome Bettis, like he would always say that bowling was more difficult than playing football. But he's also Jerome Battis who had amazing talent. He was built a certain way

and had a certain quickness on his feet. So yes. I'm telling you the worst thing about golf for me is that you beat yourself. Like that's the most heartbreaking aspect of golf. That's why I don't do golf. I do The place with the guns. What's it called?

What? The place with the guns. Shooting range? No, the golf, the place, the top golf. Top golf. With the guns. That's why I'm only top golf. See, Layla was thinking in the official capacity.

You know what I meant. There's guns in the parking lot. Hey, summer's coming. Summer's coming. It's going to get warm out soon. Why did nobody mention building the bear stadium at Top Golf in April Hill today? I for sure thought we were going to get one. That's a security issue.

That's a security issue. Well, think about the jazz games. so you told us about a few weeks ago, Marshall. They've taken measures. They've taken official measures to make sure that, well, if your parlay goes bad, retribution is available to you, apparently. All right. I guess we've got to sort out the capital facts information now, too. Man. That's fine.

We've got a guest next, right? Yes, we do. Luis Medina, who's the senior writer at Bleacher Nation covering the Bears. We'll get back to your calls on the stadium discussion at 1245. And in the meantime, Louise keeps track of so much that we want to share it with you next. Rahimi Harrison Grody. Bears tight end. Cole Kamet.

Cole, welcome to the party, pal. Well, thanks for having me. I heard it was a big day. So naturally, I dropped everything I had going on today. You've complained a lot through the years about not being able to hear the score on the 670 a.m. dial when you're inevitably cruising around downtown. And now that we have an FM signal, Cole, you can now hear the score all day, all the time, all you want. You can hear all the bears hot takes you want.

Well, that's perfect. I'll make sure I'd last that in the locker room. Amy Harrison Grody, midday's Tyndal 2 on 1043 The Score. This is Rahimi Harrison Grody on 1043 the score. And what a day it has been. I've probably said 670 the score. I'm sorry. We're still on 670.

So if I've dropped that detail today out of habit because we're trying to get to everything, just know I'm sorry. This is from Brendan Moore. Brennan Moore 13 is his address on He is the Illinois Governor and Politics Reporter for Capitol News, Illinois. This is from Governor Pritzker. Governor Pritzker adds that Kevin Warren chose not to be in the meeting yesterday

with the Bears and state officials and mostly agreed on a bill. The Bears, the governor said, was told his staff today that their statement, quote, was not some confirmation that they're moving to Indiana. Let's go to our hotline. [phone] is our number, but we also want to hear from our friend Luis Medina, who is the senior writer at

Bleacher Nation. He covers the Bears. Luis is an incredible amount of information. I used to work with him at NBC Sport Chicago. He was part of the outside the Ivy Show, too. And Louise, what's your take on all of this before we get into some of the actual football talk? First of all, good afternoon. I'm so excited to be on the score. I grew up listening to the station and it was a caller at one point. So now to be on as a guest on this show is such an honor. As for the Bears, it's, it's hilarious. First of all, it's kind of sad because I just see everyone arguing about they should go here and they should go there. In reality is the people that are arguing so much and so passionately about this are the ones who are getting priced out of

no matter where the new stadium is. And that kind of bums me out to think about it. It's also kind of funny that Indiana and Illinois are going through all these hoops for the right to host a Super Bowl once every 20 years. If you think about how the Super Bowl is rotated, once every 15 to 20 years is what you can hope for. And then it's also kind of funny with, I saw this on on Capitol Facts with, you know, Illinois, like the bears, the idea of the bears using Indiana trolls to kind of push this narrative, only to have to fight those trolls for themselves. Like, you couldn't have scripted this any better if you were trying to write a comedy about a team trying to build the stadium. Luis, we're always happy to have you on. You do great work. So you're welcome on the scorny time. We're glad that this checked off a box for you.

This is a moment. This is a moment for the history books. It's a moment all the way around, Louise. Let's be honest and where we are in the day that you just happen to be on the show with us. So you're the senior writer at Bleacher Nation Bears. You can find him on the artist's, known as Twitter at LCM-1986. That's LCM-1986. She also joins us here on Twitch. Look, Luis, the Bears have some decisions to make. We've already seen some players being offloaded by other teams.

What ultimately do you think the Bears will do in terms of waving players to perhaps create some cap room? Or are they going to stand pat and maybe just restructure everybody's contract? So I don't think they can stand Pat based on what Ben Johnson said at the end of the year press conference about how there's so much turnover every year. You're never going to get the same team again. So I imagine they'll try and restructure some contracts. Cole Comette is high on that priority list because, you know, you see how often they run out of those two tight end sets.

You see how important he is as they run block or pass blocker, pass catcher. So I think that's a guy out. He's also a local guy. So he may take a hometown discount. The Andre Swift has publicly stated how much he wants to stay. And to me, I read that as a, please give me an extension, please give me a new deal. I'm willing to negotiate. After that, you're going to see some restructures possibly with DJ more.

But after DJ, because DJ is kind of iffy. I don't think they want to trade him, but they might have to. It might be one of those lesser of two evil things. But a guy like Tremaine Edmonds, who's got a big. salary cap hit. I think he's a guy who's going to be like the big name who gets either moved or even cut. This is actually a cap casualty if that is how it goes down. Yeah, absolutely, Luis. It's been something that we've been tracking and the numbers dictate based on how the contract is. You know that that cap hit is not very much compared to the salary. There was also big news that would normally

lead a show this morning that came out from the bears that has nothing to do with the stadium. And I know you guys covered it on Bleacher Nation, too. The Bears have made a decision as far as their assistant general manager, and it is Jeff King. King, they hired from within, so they're promoting from within the organization. I think this is good news for the bears that they continue to value the assistant GM position and that they like their process from inside the front office at Hallis Hall. So I'm usually iffy on internal promotions because they can go 50-50. They can go either way. I really like the Jeff King promotion because he's a guy who's been here for more than a decade. I believe he's been here 10 years. He's worked for multiple general managers, and he started

as an intern. And so when you see a guy make the rise from intern to assistant general manager, like that just doesn't happen often, especially in the pro sports world. And people forget, or might not even know, because he's kind of under the radar. But Jeff King interviewed for the Los Angeles Chargers' GM job a couple years ago. So it's not like a promotion of a guy who just happens to be the next man up. This is a guy that other teams had interest in. And I like that the Bears promoted from within for a change. Like usually that gives me the ick, but this is one of the times that like, oh, this actually makes sense.

Enough things giving the Bears fans the ick on a day like today. So let's not do that to you as well. Okay, look, I'm not saying the Bears can or will get Max Crosby, but I am curious. to your thoughts on if they were to get him, how would they proceed to do so? And what are the chances of that happening? So I've gone back and forth on the Max Crosby thing. I think where I ultimately land is that they should try to get him. Look, if there's one thing that's been constant with the Super Bowl champions in recent years,

it's pass rush dominance. The Eagles did it with waves of guys. We've seen teams do it with interior pass rushers. Chris Jones from the Chiefs is a great. example. But if you could add Max Crosby, who is also no slouch against the run, let's not forget that the Bears run defense was so bad this year that it's a high priority. How to get Max Crosby is going to be difficult. It is probably something in between the Cull-Mack trade and the Micah Parsons deal. And I thought the Micah Parsons deal was light, relatively speaking. I thought that the

Cowboys should have gotten more. And frankly, I'll never forgive Jerry Jones for giving Michael Parsons to the Packers on a platter. Amen. But I'm thinking multiple firsts, a player. It's something that is the kind of deal that could be a win-win for both sides. And those types of deals don't happen in the NFL often enough because if the Bears get Max Crosby, they fill an obvious deed. If the Raiders trade Max Crosby, they're going to get the type of draft capital that they need. need to, you know, start their rebuild. It's a much-needed rebuild in a tough division.

They got a new head coach. They have a new scheme. They have a new philosophy. Maybe they just need a fresh start and they have a player in Max Crosby. Who deserves better than what he's got? One playoff appearance in his career, he deserves better than that. We're talking to Louise Medina. He is the writer of Leacher Nation who covers the Bears. He also was on Outside the Ivy with NBC Sports Chicago. He is tracking the story about Jeff King's promotion. If you want to check that out, that's on Bleacher Nation. I put it in our Twitch chat as well. Twitch.tv.tv slash the score Chicago. I know it's been one of the hottest topics there is, Louise. I feel like last year, you know, we talked about the pursuit of, say,

Nick Chob, after the video that he posted showing how healthy he was, running back again, as you mentioned, is a big discussion. Do you think anything might override or take over the discussion about Max Crosby possibly being a Bears candidate for a trade that would supplant that idea? I think the one move that could take Max Crosby off the radar is possibly signing Trey Hendrickson in free agency. I don't think he's getting franchise tagged by the Cincinnati Bengals. He is a guy who has a history with Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. He's only one year removed from setting the world on fire with as many leading the lead in Sacks. he had an injury shortened year.

I think there might be questions about how hard he worked to get back this year, especially after how Joe Burrow worked his tail off to come back to a Bengals team that by the time he was back in action was pretty much out of contention. But, you know, when you're a guy who's played as many snaps as Hendrickson has and has been dealing with an injury and knows he's going to free agency, maybe you can understand why he might have slow played his return. but this isn't to say that Hendrickson is a better player than Max Crosby. He isn't.

But if you can get a high caliber pass rusher without trading the farm, that's a path you should probably pursue. Okay. It's interesting that we know that the bears, they need something at left tackle. What would you do if you were the bears in terms of addressing the left tackle position for next year? I've been thinking about this because this is, This is going to be a hot take right here. I don't think the Bears need a lockdown left tackle.

The Bears' offense thrived last year despite a rotating door of left tackles. You had Braxton Jones start the year, and he wasn't great. He looked off. He looked like the injury that shoved him last year still hurt. You know, then you're throwing Theo Bennett in the undrafted second-year player. Then he gets hurt. That opens the door for Ozzie Tripilo. He looked rough in the early going.

in training camp and in preseason games at left tackle, but you put him next to Joe Tuny, now of a sudden he looked better, but now he's hurt. I'm willing to give Theo Benedict another shot because I think Ben Johnson is good enough to scheme around a tackle issue. In fact, they threw Joe Tuny out there at left tackle on a whim, and I don't think they'll do that again for a full season,

but in a pinch, sure, if the Bears keep their pick at number 25. It's not going to Vegas for Max Cross. If there's a left tackle that you really like at that position or at that spot, take them, take them, put him at left tackle, develop him through camp, and don't worry about it. Otherwise, mix and match, find a veteran on a minimum deal. Get creative. We want to pick your brain a little bit more in our weeks leading up to the draft, Louis. So I feel like that's a good time to do so because this draft becomes more and more

crucial. So Louise, thank you so much again for joining us on what is an absolutely bonkers day and bringing some football to the conversation. It's always a bonkers day covering the bears. Thanks, Louise. He's right. That's the humor I miss at our office. Luis Medina, I recommend you check out his work

at Bleacher Nation, joining us on twitch.tv slash the score Chicago as well. He really did a nice article today writing about Jeff King's promotion because it's good that the bears promoted the likely guy for assistant GM and is promoting from within in their front office. As we had to break, can I give you some breaking-ish news? What? There's more breaking news.

It's not bears related. I, for one, I'm shocked. Who's the sponsor for Breaking-ish news? Did that? Whoa. Should we still take the North? Take the North podcast. Wait, is it the side episodes of the Take the North podcast when Marshall and I fill in?

Breaking News here on Rahimi Harrison Grotty is brought to you by the side episodes of Take the North when Marshall and I fill in. Yeah, so this from Joel Lorenzi, Bulls, uh, beat, reporter and covering the NBA for the athletic. Friend of the show. Friend of the show. We like Joel. Josh Giddy, Trey Jones, and Jalen Smith have all been

upgraded to probable for tonight versus Toronto. So just think about that when you're thinking about the tank tonight. You let out of prison tomorrow? Yeah, I do. Back playing. I don't know why I think that's such a funny

conversation. I think knowing Casey, I just know the smile out his face with which he asked it. Let me tell you something. I've heard people say the Bulls are going to win five of their last 27 games. If they win tonight with that lineup, some people are not going to be happy about the tank and the direction is taking. Tank will remember you. Will you

remember me? Don't let your tank pass you by. Grieve not for the memory. If they lose tomorrow or if they win tomorrow, we've got to play some tank. So play some tank, play some no limit, some Master P. Yeah. You know, make them say, oh.

Also, breaking-ish news also, brought you by the Take, The North podcast. Side episodes. It's Adam Studzinski's birthday. Happy birthday, Adam. Happy birthday, Studs. Oh, my good. And you know who else it is? Can we do another birthday shout-out?

Lou Cannellis. Happy birthday, Lou. Oh, Adam Studs, on 219 day when his beloved bears might leave his state. Dang it. Wonder how he's taking it. We need a setback sweetener for Studs. He deserves it. Coming up next year,

Rahimi Harrison Grotie. We missed a lot of your calls. So I think we need to open up the phone lines again. 3-1-2-644-67-167. And just get your opinions on what's going on. And the latest, we will also reset the information because there's a lot coming in. And do we have the J.B. Pritzker interview turnaround that has been released today? Can we get a turnaround? I'm sorry to have to ask you guys.

We are going to get it from our friends at WBBM, straight from Springfield. We are waiting. Hold on. that we are going to ask the news people in our in our office here to get it for right down the hall yeah oh those guys specialize in this that seems like a good idea so the latest on the evolving situation with the bears and your calls 312 644 67 67 this is the score

Rahimi Harrison Grody Midday's 10 to 2 on 104 3 the score you know got to think of the fans and think of the taxpayers I think Papa Bear would agree with that and I don't think Papa Bear was. He's one thing to move from Decatur to Chicago for the Bears, but not to move out of Illinois. It's another thing to, I think, of the taxpayers of the state of Indiana, who are levying new taxes in Senate Bill 27. That was Governor Pat Quinn. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie. Our number, on 104, the score is 312-644-67-67. Tony, who we last talked to told us he would give up a steak dinner for the Bears. Tony, I hate to tell you about it. I think it's going to be more money than that.

How are you today? Hey, kiddo. I love you guys first. Thanks to paying the call. I was not going to call today. I listened to all the regular Frank, all those people. And I want to apologize to you, Marshall, because I did make that call and I heard you guys. And I think listening through your emotions, you start to get to the point where you realize what's important. Yes, I live in Illinois. I would love the Bears to stay here. But every time, live called Ray. Every time, it was like, dude, I cannot believe what Caleb's doing right now. He's five games in. He's showing stuff. Eight games in, I cannot believe Ben Johnson's doing this. And then all of a sudden we see greatness and we see things coming on. Every week I call.

And I can't say all this on the year, but I was talking to me about what I served, what my friends are doing. We were freaking out. That earlier caller, Jill, honey, you know you're going to watch it. I'm to the point now. I'm sick of the discussion. And Layla, I can tell with you guys today, I've never heard a discussion on the score and I've been listening for 30 years that have had this much emotional. I'm talking to fans right now

because I think I represent them because I love it and I live it. Conversation is legit. But if fans, come on. We got Caleb. We have Ben Johnson. We are on the national level of being the next team

that could start stacking Super Bowls. This is something we have not seen before in Chicago since Michael. Caleb is legit. I mean, these are the conversations we should be having. I don't care where they're playing next year, because I'm still going to have my parties. We're still going to watch

it. And any fan that says they're not, they're living where I was when I made that call before. This is about the Bears. I get it, Tony, and I appreciate you calling in. Don't apologize for that. I feel like you, as we said earlier, people can change.

Opinions change. Facts change. You're just being real with what's happening in real time. So thanks as always for calling in. And I don't even think you own apology. No, no. He doesn't own an apology because that's what he felt that date. There was authenticity and what he was saying. And I get it.

And I understand my whole point was, look, I understand the emotions involved here. But that two shall pass. Trouble don't last always. Once they start playing, and that's this season, well before the stadium was built, you're going to be back on the bears are good or bad or I need this, I need that. You're not going to be thinking about the stadium once the game starts.

Yeah, I just don't want you to think about it when you're paying your taxes every month. That's what concerns me. So 312-644-67-67 is how you can call us. And we continue to just also give the updates here, because a lot of this is happening in real time as we are finding out. Like, for example, it was Governor Pritzker's office who said, the Bears ask for a postponement on the meeting that was scheduled. for this morning at 8 o'clock in the state of Illinois legislature.

Then there was a statement for the Bears lauding the state of Indiana about the passage of Senate of Bill 27. That's what I'm referring to. The most meaningful step forward, the Bears call it in our stadium planning efforts to date, saying the bears are committed to finishing the remaining site-specific necessary due diligence to support their vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in him and Indiana. That's the phrase that I think is getting a lot of people.

and then we hear around the noon hour that that wasn't a commitment to building a stadium. Well, the wording of it, Marshall, seemed pretty pointed to me, due diligence to support our vision to build a world-class stadium near the Wolf Lake area in Hammond, Indiana. And then we're reminded that Kevin Warren

didn't attend the meeting. Yeah, I still think we're very much... As Adam Hogue told us, they have not crossed the goal line. They might be inside the five in the intimate red zone, but they have not crossed the goal line yet. Yeah, I do giggle at that phrase, and I'm glad to see people have gone forward with it. Layla, this tweet. Yes.

Colts fans paying for my stadium? Revenge for Super Bowl 41. You know, okay, now I'm seeing it. I see the vision, Kevin. I see the vision. We've got a caller from New York. Okay, I'm curious. Let's go.

Hi, Chris. Hey, how's it going? We're good. How are you? I'm good. I'm good. Well, I mean, I wish I could say I was better than I am. So, yes, I live in New York. I have been a lifelong Bears fan since I was eight years old. First game I ever watched in my life was the 85 Super Bowl. This hits home, man. I live in New York. I have to deal with all my friends that are Jet and Giants fans,

and they don't even associate their team as a New York team. You know, the one true team that obviously is here is Buffalo. Everybody else, you know, that's got to travel to Jersey, can't stand it. They hate it. And this is just, it's heartbreaking to even think about them leaving Chicago. Like, and a lot of it, to me, I wonder about the money grab with all the new merchandising. like is this all about hey all these fans

all of us are going to go and buy all these brand new whatever they decide to come out with jersey shirts hats whatever you know are we no longer going to be the Chicago Bears because we're going to be in Hammond, Indiana I

what are being rebranded as? I don't think there's a rebranded at all. There's still the Chicago Bears I feel the thought process Chris I do but at the same time I think they still will very much be the Chicago Bears because they represent the Chicago area. And Northwest Indiana, the Regent,

is part of the Chicago metropolitan area. It's why they can listen to us. Yes, it's part of the television market. They're not the New Jersey Giants or the New Jersey Jets. They're not the Santa Clara 49ers. They're not the Arlington Cowboys. Yes, I can go on and on with this. But yeah, so I think don't let your emotions get so amped.

that you're not able to logically say, hey, there's the Chicago Bears, they're just playing in a different place. Because that's ultimately what this is. It probably isn't the place that you want if you live in Illinois, but it's not unexpected. And I understand why people see it as like a one or zero. Well, in Arlington Heights, you're still paying for a billion dollars for infrastructure versus several in Indiana and taxes are taxes. But I think the difference in this case is if you look at the Senate bill in Indiana, there will be new taxes. levied. The fact of the matter is the question of how does Indiana get the money back or how much of it does the state of Indiana get back. So keep that in mind too. Yes, taxes exist in both states. Dare I say 50? But when it comes to how much and then what they go for, that's where the details lies. So you're not wrong. You're not wrong in saying that there are taxes here by any means in the state

of Illinois. It's just a matter of how much difference is it going to be for the taxpayer. here versus a taxpayer in Indiana versus your ticket payer, for example, that type of thing. So that's where we need help. And I think we're going to get some at 125, too, when Marshall, your colleague is coming to join us, Craig Wall from Channel 7. We're looking forward to that. We also have a special guest coming up next here on 104-3, the score, former Bears receiver Alan Robinson. And with all the discussion surrounding the Bears receivers in that last playoff game, for example, I think he'd be great to shed some light on this. Who is he paying attention to as well? What does he think the Bears' offense is going to look like in the coming season?

We'll discuss a lot of that with Alan next.