Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Mitch Rosen discusses the legacy of Score legend Terry Boers

Episode Date: January 26, 2026

Leila Rahimi and Marshall Harris welcomed on on Score vice president Mitch Rosen to reflect on the life and legacy of legendary Score host Terry Boers, who passed away Friday.

This hour is brought to you by Menards. Save big money at Menards. You call the sports radio 6-7 to score. Terry Moore's Brian Hanley. I have an induction. You seem resigned to the fate after the game, that there wasn't much fire in you, and you sort of stood up before the media and said,

well, you know, this is the way it is. Are you resigned to this fate? We're the same guy that wrote about me when I did have the fire, that that was the wrong thing to do. So who you crap? Well, I'm just asking. No, no, no, no. I had an injury last year during the season and kind of shut me back.

But it didn't bother you say before last year's training camp began, because that was the rumor that you knew you were hurting and that you came and tried anyway. Not to my recollection. So it was all accumulated during last season. I believe we had a bad connection. Did they sell crack door to door? Yeah, but who said this?

Who said this? Just like Les is calling you giving traffic courts. A texter said that? You know why? Because Les carries the button, man. In the afternoon when I would drive back to the city, Boers and Burstein, right? That was the show. So I got my fill of that, and they made my hour-long drives memorable, memorable, right?

Well, we banned a little bit of the creamy. It's creamy. You're flying boars, and everybody gets peanuts, and if you have an allergy and die, we just... Screw you. Stop flying. Your comfort is not more important than the other 140 people on the plane. Now we're talking. Lizard bastard.

Get off the plane, then. Go somewhere else. Hey, me do this. Then don't take her out a plane. Drive, ass face. So my favorite thing that's happened in the three hours that we've been here is watching Terry and Layla talk. Like just seeing the two of you interact

because you're the two people that have done the most with the least. Well, you know already, don't you? I'm grateful to them. I'm being so kind to me today. I appreciate them. And I appreciate them. gentle as I've said before and I wrote that without guys like these and women like there's no show there's no Borenstein nothing happens so they're the ones you know they're always say they're grateful to me no I'm grateful to you so how do I say goodbye to someone who's been I leave feeling great about what's what's happened in the last 25 years to the station and better yet about what the future is because I used to worry about the future I used to think what happens what happens now when all of the

The old veterans are gone and we're all done. I don't worry anymore. I don't give it a second thought. There's plenty to go around here, and there will continue to be at this station. How do we? This is Rahimi Harrison Grotty on 670 The Score, and it is a day where, like this past weekend, we don't have a lot of words for a man who knew how to speak with or without them. Terry Boers, an absolute legend of this station.

25 years passed away on Friday at the age of 75. We heard our news from Mitch Rosen, our station vice president, who is here now with us. Mitch, thanks for joining us today. Layla Marshall, good morning, and Tyler and Ray putting that piece of art together, just beautiful, sad but beautiful. And Terry, everything you've heard about him on the air and off the air and in our hallways, I mean, it's poignant that I'm looking out the window here in our studio and seeing Terry Borders way. He was terrific.

He was a legend. He was one of the founding on-air people at the score. January 2nd, 1992 on Belmont Avenue. For those that don't know, the score was a daytime station. The sun would go down and turn the station off. Could you imagine, you know, a Bears Packers Monday, you're all excited. And at, for instance, 4.42 in the afternoon, well, we got to shut it down. There was no streaming, you know, dating ourselves.

But he was just incredible, an incredible person. He cared about people. He took young producers, young on-ear hosts under his wings. A great father, four sons, a lovely wife, Carol, who I've been in touch with, you know, since Friday. I'll tell a quick story. Terry and I stayed in touch a lot. And we would either email or call around Christmas, just sent him an email. How you doing?

response, not totally unusual. And then Friday morning, this past Friday around 930, I sent him a text. Hey, how are you doing? And his son Joe called me and said, my dad's in hospice. And hospice, you know, I didn't expect that. And he goes, we don't expect here to last much longer. And at 1.30, he called me and said he had passed. But he was the score. And I don't think any of us, you know, the station would be as powerful as it is today without Terry Boers. It's interesting to listen to all the people who have weighed in since his passing, and it gives you the indication of how much he meant beyond the station itself and really not just even in Chicago, but his impact was everywhere, and it still resounds in people

who never even met the man, right? Right. I mean, there was a radio host in Nashville. Chris Childers, who's from the Chicago area, he put out like 150, 200 words on why he's in the business because of Terry. And then electronic media, Tony Kornheiser, you know, from ESPN said Terry kind of set the movement of print journalists moving over to TV and radio because of Terry Boers. Terry Boers' sense of humor was unmatched.

You know, it's inspired, I think, generations of people around the country when it comes to Boers and Bernstein, especially in how they impacted. I said this before, I'll say it again. They were my inspiration's inspiration. You might be surprised as to how that reach affects people you don't even know. Terry, I think, knew that better than anybody. You know, his humility, paired with his sense of humor and paired with his wit and his knowledge was one of a kind, to say the absolute least. The hard part about all of this is he created such a community, Mitch. and the good part of that is we all got to learn and spend time with him together and play old audio together and learn about the thumbprint that he has left. The hard part is that we all grieve this together.

Yeah, the audience. And Layla, you know, remember we had a celebration at real time and you were part of that and saw the interaction with you and him. And we talked about you. He listened and he respected what you brought to the score. And he, you know, in that open, he, you know, he said he worried at times about the future, but then he didn't. And you looked at, you know, people in Lawrence who started as a producer and has grown to a top personality in the country and Speegs and others. And it just, you know, it's what the score does. And the listeners, the outpouring, Steve Rosenblum on Saturday did a show and, you know, a lot of callers. and it's just a community that the score has built. And listeners don't always agree with topics and, you know, hosts,

but it's a community. There was a phrase years ago, scoreheads, and I truly believe it's the brand, and it's the people that are on this brand, like both the you and all our shows, and this brand is special, and Terry made it special over the years. It feels like I feel his presence after not getting the opportunity to work with him,

because every day I sit in the seat and I look through that window and it's honorary Terry Boers way. And it just kind of sits as this foundational stone of what this station has become. How difficult is it for you personally just weighing like the idea that you're obviously honoring his life but also celebrating it? I think that's the thing. It's it's the balance of trying to deal with the pain of it. all, but at the same time, the legacy is real. Yeah, you know, it's funny. So Speeks, Tanny and I, Russ, and Matera, our creative production boys, and Ryan Porth,

we're on this text chain. And it's like we're reaching out to people and booking people for tomorrow. And I called Speggs. I said, it feels kind of weird. Like, this is kind of fun. And he goes, it should be. We're celebrating Terry. And we're booking guests and former co-workers.

And Tanny, I call Tanny. Like, everybody's hurting. I, like, everybody had a special relationship with Terry. It's emotional, but it also feels good putting this together. And again, I've been in touch with the family every step of the way, and they feel good about this. Terry did not want a funeral. Those were his wishes. But something like this, they said he would love this.

So when you ask that, we're everybody's mourning. Everybody mourns in different ways. We know that. But to put together, I think tomorrow what people are going to enjoy between noon and 7 p.m., you're going to hear voices you haven't heard in years. You're going to hear current voices. You're going to hear unbelievable production of former elements from the shows in the past that Tanny and Russ are working on. We're excited.

But again, it was kind of weird when I called Speeagues. And he goes, no, we should enjoy this. And I think we should enjoy. That's what a celebration of life is, right? Yes, it is. I think honoring Terry's wishes is the best thing that we can. do. So tomorrow from 12 to 7 p.m. right here on the score, we will have a remembrance of Terry Boers honoring an original Terry Boers celebration of life. And as you mentioned, yes, a lot of

former co-hosts will be a part of this. Please listen to what I am trying to say. But I think that that's the important thing. Terry was celebrated by everyone. And I laugh because the conversation that Lawrence was talking about and Tyler Bueberbaugh's wonderfully prepared open. Was Terry and I talking about his audio that Wex had set up for him? The little guys, yeah. Yeah, Wex had set up his home audio in Florida

and he was super excited about it. But that's it. You know, he's inviting, it wasn't just an act. Like, Wex is the one setting up his audio states away. Like, he was dedicated to that. He and that was how he became a part of this. And if you haven't gotten to read some of the stories yet that Matt Spiegel has written and that Chris Tannahill is written, they talk about the 30th anniversary celebration, for example.

When I first started with Dan, Terry was kind enough to come on a few times. I know Marshall, you've been a part of when Terry's been on, and it's been fantastic. And part of what made the 30th anniversary party so fun was just listening. You know, that was a reunion of Terry and Dan, and Matt about a cola came in, and Chris Tannahill was just. standing there listening. I'm like, no, no, no, no, no. I want to get to listen to this, now knowing what I know. And Tanny got to be a part of it. He details that in his column. He also talks about what Terry meant to him in his life. And I think that's a part of this. Terry, having been at the score for 25 years, he was a part of everybody's life. And we do want people

to call in today. I think it's the right thing to do. So 312, 644, 67, 67. We've already gotten a lot of text, our Twitch mob as well, is chiming in in their chat, Twitch.tv.tv slash Chicago 670, the score. But this is the time to remember him and say what you want to say, because I know he meant so much to so many, for him to come out battling his health issues for us, for that party, and you wouldn't even know he had missed a step. That was such a mark that was left on me as to just who he was as a person, if we needed more proof, which we don't. I agree. Just see him that day and again, I was fortunate that we would see each other a couple times a year. But he loved being part of this station. He loved being part of this brand. He'd love talking to people. We,

you know, we try to once a year get a group of people together for dinner. And those are special. It was, you know, it could be Russ. It could be Tanny. It could be Bernstein, Jason Lawrence. And we'd laugh. There'd be some, a little crying along the way. And there's this restaurant, And Terry lived in Mokina. He was very open about that. And there was this old school kind of supper club called Mr. Bennings. And we'd go in a private room, and it was great. And, you know, at the end, we'd always take a picture.

And those memories were, I can't stop thinking about those nights. And they were just special. And like I said, we'd go around the table almost like life updates. What happened in your life this year? And, you know, people, you know, not every, we know it's life, right? Stuff happens in life, good and bad. And it was all about, the only reason we got together and we should get together more is because of Terry. That was a common denominator.

And that's something we'll never forget. Do you have a favorite Terry Boers moment that you personally relish? Or is it just too many to count? Yeah, mine are like the one-on-ones. I'd say even, you know, post-score going over to his house and just, you know, he'd ask me about my life in the station. and he was so proud of his grandchildren, and he talked about his grandchildren, and this one's doing this in sports, and Carol, his wife, we'd talk. So I get my finest memories are not even work-related.

It was just about personal life. You know, how you doing? And we'd sit down and talk in his living room and the dinners. And to me, that's my takeaway. Work was great. He was so good at what he did and how he treated people. and again you mentioned tanny's article lela on our website that really hit home with me that was work tanny talked about him teaching him how to be a good father that that was really special we're talking

to mitch rosen right now our supervisor the vice president here at 670 to score technically that is the truth okay i believe you were the one who hired the both of us last i check about what's going on here today we do want to hear from you this is a time for you guys to mourn with us as much as anything. 312, 64, 64, 67, we will take your calls in the next segment. And if you want to share your stories. And he has made the announcement that tomorrow from 12 to 7, here on the score, we are going to have a celebration of Terry Boers' life.

What inspired you guys when it was you and Chris Tannhill and Matt Spiegel, who will be hosting that show and Russ Matera, when you wanted to put it all together, what meant a lot to you about how you guys did this? Obviously, respect, but have fun with it, bring on the right hosts that we're impactful in Terry's career in life, and we'll have family members on at the end of the show. But play back some great audio, some great fun memories, have caller, listener interaction, and bring that all together, a true celebration of somebody that's so special to our audience and to people in the country. So we've been working the phones. I love old school producing Tanny Speigs and I and putting this together.

So those are the elements that we're doing. And again, great involvement from Terry's family. And it's just going to be special. And putting that all together, we think the listeners and all of our score family will really enjoy it. I reached out to Julie Swika today who worked here early on in such a sweet person. And without even saying, can you? She said, yes. People are excited to be part of this, and it'd be great.

If you haven't had a chance to properly get what you feel like you need, you do need to go to 670 TheScore.com and read what was penned by both Matt Spiegel and Chris Tannahill, both beautiful, really, I don't know if I call a eulogy, but just an honorarium of what he meant to each of them individual, and you get a real sense of the effects that you don't see necessarily on the air. But as you mentioned, Mitch, it's the behind the scenes. off the air that carries just as much and really even more weight. Yeah, and here's one other quick note. There are a lot of people maybe that didn't listen or didn't know him.

There's people at our cluster of stations here, even in sales. People come from other markets. And I sent a note out today with Tanny's audio montage from the anniversary and some of the articles. And I've received a lot of email. I wish I would have known him or I wish I was here to listen to him. And I think, you know, when you leave a funeral and you didn't know the person who away, but there was a good eulogy given or, you know, in the Catholic Church, a good homily

or a rabbi. And you walk away and go, man, I really got to know that person without knowing that person. I think that's really key. And obviously, so many people knew Terry. But if you listen tomorrow and you never listen to Terry on the ear and you walk away going, God, that was great. I think that's our goal tomorrow.

What was working with him like being, as I mentioned, you're our supervisor? What was that like with Terry? Great. Great communication, talk. We never had an issue. I'm thinking back over all the years. I've been here 20 plus years, so I came in 2005, always communication. Like, you know, at a certain point in his career, he goes, hey, I want to see my grandkids play Little League or do activities. Do you mind if I work at home if we put machinery in? And there was never a question. You know, we were always flexible with each other and always accommodating. There may have been some people like, no, you've got to come to. in the studio every day. I was like, you know, if it sounds okay, and we're always honest with the audience, we never said, oh, he's downtown. I remember there was a thunderstorm one day, and he was off the air, and Bernstein came, what should we say to people? Well, he's at his home studio in Mokina, and there's thunderstorms. You know, let's be honest. So we always had great communication, and I remember real quick, we used to do what we Budweiser sponsored it, the Who Needs to Tavern

tour. And it was like 40 remotes a year. That's a lot of remote. So I sat down with Dan and Terry. I go, this is going to be big. Obviously, it's a great sales opportunity. But in my heart of hearts, I think it's good grassroots marketing. We're going to be at different bars and things. And at first, oh, that's a lot of remotes. But I think looking back on it, I think they would both say to this day, that really helped. You know, we got out in the community, live broadcast, and it really works. So, you know, those type of things. Like anything. else in life and in work if you communicate and you're honest and you're up front, you have a good relationship with people.

Terry was authentic. There's no doubt about that. Very much so. We miss him. And we will be celebrating his life today appropriately. As I've mentioned, we've gotten a lot of calls and texts. 312, 644, 67, I want to let you guys talk and tell us what you want to say about Terry Boers today.

Mitch, thank you for doing so. Thanks for joining us. Thank you both. And thanks for talking about Terry, and we appreciate you both being here. Thank you. Thanks, Mitch. That's Mitch Rosen. He is our supervisor here at the score. He is the vice president. And as he made the announcement earlier in case you missed it, it was Terry's wishes to not have a funeral. So we are having a celebration of life here on the score tomorrow from 12 to 7. Matt Spiegel will be hosting. And if you have a question about who might be on, I think you should probably listen.

So we remember Terry Boers. On Rahimi Harrison Grotie next, we will take your calls. 312, 64, 6767.