Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show - Score callers sound off on where Bears are in push to build a new stadium (Hour 2)

Episode Date: February 20, 2026

In the second hour, Leila Rahimi, Marshall Harris and Mark Grote opened the phone lines for Score listeners to sound off on the Bears’ stadium saga. After that, director Jason Sterman joined the show to discuss the film “Homecoming: The Tokyo Series.” Later, Rahimi, Harris and Grote held the Halftime segment.

This hour is brought to you by Vesectomy Clinics of Chicago. So I think this is a good way to kind of wrap it up in the sense that I would hope that that all, I've done a few of these in the past. So I think that a month or two, from where we've come to where we are, that that would be the time frame where you'll see us hopefully ink the deal. That is Indiana Governor Mike Braun who spoke to Lawrence Holmes and Matt Spiegel yesterday on Spiegel and Holmes. Mike Braun, if you missed it, that was the 5 o'clock segment.

So you can go back and listen on the rewind feature on the Odyssey app. In the meantime, we're taking your calls. 312, 644, 67. We start with Jeff in Kalamazoo. Jeff, you're on Rahimi Harrison Grody. Hey, good morning, guys. One of the things I was looking at is you're probably, I mean, the one person we need to hear about to get clarity on all of this would be George McCasky,

and you're probably never going to hear from him until a deal is done just because I'm guessing he will not want to be asked the question about the legacy that it'll be between his mother and his grandfather moving the team out of Illinois. I don't know how being the Chicago Bears fan he is, how he would deal with that. And another thing people have been wondering about is the song. What do we do with the pride and joy of Illinois? Well, I think I fixed that if they moved to Indiana. I think the lyric will be, You made fans irate when you move to the Hoosier State. Chicago Bears Bear Down.

Perfect. Done deal. I don't know. Maybe. Oh, man. I can't even tell you how many people, like mostly friends and my brother, as a matter of fact. What about the song? Who knows who texted me?

The pride and joy of Indiana? I mean, it's making the rounds right now. Yes, everybody is right. The song is messed up. But guess what? They still would be the pride and joy of Illinois, no matter what. It's like an athlete who is from a place, right? And then they go play and make their name in another state.

They're always going to be the pride and joy of Illinois. Halis Hall ain't moving? Halis Hall isn't moving. Well, the Hammond mayor did throw out there the possibility of Hallis Hall. He did say that in his press conference yesterday. Yeah, he did. To help out the caller a little. little bit because when I did go to the to the Arlington Heights pep rally, was it last week now or two

weeks ago? That was last week. I'm losing control of time right now. I got you. I did have, and I reported this then, and I'll say it again now, after the meeting I went to, I did talk to one of the top officials from one of the many northwest suburban representatives that were there. And this person's thought was, there's no way George McCasky, the bear's owner, would be able to stomach, a press conference where he is discussing the idea of the bears moving to Indiana. In other words, this person was skeptical that George would have, again, the stomach to actually do it. But then what I learned after that is that there's no way the bears would have ever even

picked up the phone to talk to Indiana if they weren't serious about Indiana. Yeah, to what I would say to that person who calls into question, George McCasky, being able to stomach a move to Indiana. It was a year ago we did think he could stomach foul language. Things change. Keep it moving. I think they're trying to get the best deal possible, but I do wonder how much that emotional aspect factors into all of this.

It's a part of it. It has to be a part of it. It's like what I was just talking about. Like I personally have come, and I wasn't there a year ago, two years ago. I have now come to grips with the idea of I would be okay. Would I be a little disappointed if the Bears left the state? Yeah, for nostalgic reasons, but that's it. I have personally come to grips with the bears moving to Indiana,

and I'm sure other people are acting accordingly. And as I'm saying, this, trust me, I'm getting texts from friends right now. It's like, what do you mean you want the bears to move to Indiana? I don't want the bears to move to Indiana. I'd be okay with the bears moving to Indiana. The point, too, is that, you know, the bottom line is the same bottom line. It's what's financially best for the residents of your state. And if Illinois thinks that the financial best for the residents of the state of Illinois

is not to pay more for the bears, then that's what they're trying to do. And the governor of Indiana thinks that it's a boon for the state of Indiana. I think additionally on top of that, though, is trying to figure out what Arlington Heights meant to the McCaskey family. Because I think that that is an underlying discussion that those who've reported on the bears for a long time seemed to think that that was something that the family wanted for a very long time, the concept of Arlington Heights. Well, I'll say, just real quick, Marshall, I'll say, like, this is something I've thought about through,

throughout this whole process, the idea, now with Indiana in play for the people, because for many people, Arlington Heights wasn't digestible. Now it's very digestible.

People are like, okay, I'm good with Arlington Heights. Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights, Arlington Heights, just as an idea to not go to Indiana. To your point that you made earlier about it being digestible. Yeah.

Tony from Juliet called us yesterday. Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony. Has he done it again? He was very much like, I realized after I called you all last time, talking about my steak dinner that I would give up. I heard that call.

And so he, I think a lot of fans have that emotional response immediately, but then reality sets in and it will be tough, but they will accept. It's educating yourself too on everything that's going on. And it's a lot. It's a lot. It's a lot to read. It's a, in my case, a lot of conversations to be had and then digesting the information and making it smaller and more digestible.

The word of the day today, kids, is digestible. I'm still, I'm still like, I really sure as hell hope you're not wasting everybody's time. Like that's my biggest thing too is I hope you're not wasting. When you say you, who are you talking about? You hope the bears are not wasting everybody. Who's time would they be wasted? I mean, if we're talking about that, they've already wasted our time. I mean, like, I think we're beyond the point of even lamenting that. So to finish my thought, I think like, you know, you go out to Indiana, you have them put forth all these bills. The Senate is making time and space on their agendas for this. You're asking municipalities to do these things. Gary, Indiana put a

pitch together. Portage Indiana put a pitch together. I hope this isn't a big time waste. That's been my biggest issue with this. You know, you want to use this leverage because you did things out of order. Well, how serious are you? Because even yesterday, they had to walk it back from where we thought we were 24 hours ago. Don't confuse when I say this because I'm in no way caping for the Chicago Bears. They're a business doing what's in their best interest, but it's not a waste of time unless a stadium doesn't get built.

This is how things get done. Well, they're not building two of them. I know. What I'm saying is you need all the people to compete and say the stadium should be here. And eventually somebody wins. That's where you build the stadium. None of it was a waste of time. That's how you get to the end result, competition.

It might be taking too long, but I don't think it's a waste of time. That's like a fine line. Unless they don't build a stadium. And if they play in Soldier Field for the rest of attorney, then yes, it was a waste of time. I have a feeling they're going to play there for at least a while. We go to Bob and Hammond. Bob, you're on Rahimi-Harrison Grody. Okay, Bob.

Hey, real quick, I just want to make the point and forget politics of the whole thing. But if you're going to put up money, help build a stadium, the state of Illinois, the county of Cook and the city of Chicago are beyond in past debt, past their eyeballs. Just the unfunded pensions in the state of Illinois would melt most people's minds. Not that in the state of Indiana, we're floating and, you know, getting carried around in gold. Golden, whatever you want to call. Let's go nuggets. We do not have the problems. I mean, when I hear about the legislature in the state of Illinois,

maybe putting the brakes on this a little bit and looking out for the taxpayers, they are so far in debt. Guys, I mean, I know this is not a political show, but I mean, you just hit the Google machine, and the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago, and the county of Cook don't have two nickels to rub together anymore. Well, I think that's why they're concerned, Bob, but I also want to tell you,

It wasn't the state that pressed pause. It was the Bears who paused that meeting yesterday. Well, that would make me if I'm the owner of the Bears, and I'm thinking of myself, yeah, you're making me this deal today. But I know that in 10 years, this place is going to be a ghost town because you can't, I shouldn't say it like that. But you are going to have, you are going to have even deeper financial obligations. You are not digging out of the hole.

You are digging the deep, the whole deeper. Who are they going to go to when they need the money, when they're back? is literally against the law. Can you trust the state of Illinois, the city of Chicago, the county of Cook to honor anything? How are they going to come up with the money? When they can't even come up, you tell the firefighters and the police department in the city of Chicago, their pension is less than 40 percent funded. You're going to come up with a billion dollars to put in for infrastructure? I don't under, I don't see that. I think you're right to question where the money is coming from because that, frankly, is your right.

to do it in the state of Indiana, you know, they're telling you that they want to levy certain taxes and change certain structures to be able to add more money for the bears. And I think the part of it on this side is state of Illinois is saying, we have this money for you. This is all the money we have for you. This is what it's going toward. And because it's infrastructure related, it's also going toward maintenance of things that are used by other people than just the bears in the state. We continue on our phones. 312-644-67, 67, and a familiar name has popped into the chat. Wayne and Lafayette.

Wayne, you're on Rehemi Harrison, Grotie. Lela, Grody, man. It's been so long. I know. I feel like a doggone cellar out in Mormon country or something. Wayne, they try to keep us apart. They try to keep us apart. There's a conspiracy going on.

It's not going to happen. They're not going to keep us apart. Ray's gardening like you're a teenage beauty queen trying to not get a date with some high school hippie. Well, Wayne, I think. I think Grody's beautiful, though. He's gotten you like a stepchild, man. He's guarding you, man.

I'm glad, Glee. I'm going to thank God, great for you for putting me through today, man. I didn't talk to my old pals here, man. All right, Wayne. Wayne, I, yes. What do you got for us, buddy? Marshall, I'm sorry. Oh, you're good.

I celebrate love. I love your love for Grody. You're going to be out there one day. I'm going to meet up with you, and we're going to have a big party somewhere, and it's going to be great. But anyway, hey, Brody, man. I'm from Indiana. I know.

And I don't want the bears to be in Indiana. They're Chicago Bears. I mean, I don't want them here. There's the Chicago Bears. You Illinois people figure that stuff out somehow or another because, that guy used to go watch them practice at Rensselaer when I was a little, my dad would take me there. Heck, when I was a little Mike Hartinstein and Doug Buffone tossed me around like I was a little basketball.

Wow. A little Hart this time. I was maybe five years old. They picked me up and they just tossed me back and forth. and my dad was getting a big kick out of it. I'm a little uncomfortable when you're getting tossed back and forth by large bears. I'm glad I didn't drop me on my head or something. I really caused problems.

It's been a long time. As I talk to you, man. Just great talking to you. I told you we're going to have a great year this year because of Ben. And you deserved that because you've been putting up with all these bad teams and keeping your chin up. Thanks, Wayne. The past few years, man, it's been hell to pay for you. I'm sorry for it, old buddy.

Wayne, you are the best. I love you dearly. I'm glad we got to talk. And we'll surprise that you're not more pro-Indiana just because of all your Indiana-ness, but it was good to catch up with you. I hope you have a beautiful weekend, Wayne. Let's talk soon. That's too, man.

Bye, Lela. Bye, Wayne. And bye, Marshall. Bye, Wayne. Well, I met Wayne at four wins when I got to hang out with Ozzy. I have some pictures. I have some pictures of Wayne and I and you and Wayne. It's great.

Now, Wayne is one of our best listeners, and he comes to our events. And I think in time, Marshall, he's going to warm up to you as well. You just have to meet him outside. I'm just kidding, man. I'm kidding. You've got to cross a couple state lines or so to hang out with Wayne. Like the Bears. That's right.

That's Wayne, man. 312, 644, 64, 67, 67. Tim in Geneva, you're on 104-3, the score. Hey, good morning, everybody. First time caller here, so I really like the show. Thanks, Tim. just a couple things. I'm not going to get into the fiscal part of it

because your previous caller did that, but I think this is a tale of two states, and I've been a Chicago Bears fan for a long time. I was at the two playoff games in 86 with the Giants and the Rams. And no matter where the Bears end up, Arlington Heights, Chicago, Hammond, Indiana, or heck, if they go to Kentucky, I'm still going to drive to the games.

I'm still going to be a Bears fan, so you're not going to lose me on that where they end up. I think this comes down to, Governor Pritzker, he's up for re-election. He doesn't want to increase taxes, as your previous caller mentioned, because we can't have that here. We can't increase taxes, and the taxpayer doesn't want it. But he also can't afford to lose the bears.

Right. With the upcoming election, because that would cost him the election. Right. Which is worse? Which is worse? That's the question. Raising taxes in the state or losing the damn Chicago Bears to your revival state. I understand the concept, and I appreciate the comments,

and I do think it is something that people will bring up. I don't know if it loses him an election when the last one was called at a 99% to 1% victory. It would just be talking points, though. It would be a red mark or black mark in the corner of, no matter what, I think, at this point, right? Pritzker raised. It was 1% of the precincts reporting. Sorry, I wanted to clarify that. Yeah, like he's going to get attacked.

If taxes go up and Illinoisans feel that and he's going to get attacked if the Bears move to Indiana. of what I don't know and I'm genuinely asking is what's worse? What's the zoom out, though, when you zoom out on maybe his aspirations? Is it just about presidential aspirations? Well, again, I'll ask the quote, what is worse even on that stage? Losing the Chicago Bears to your rival state or raising taxes to your citizens in Illinois while you govern them? I think raising taxes on the citizens is worse. Look, anytime I want, we could take this to a ballot.

That's it. That's how I feel. That's the best way to judge. how the taxpayers want to pay for a stadium or if they do. You make people vote on it and then everybody gets their say. But that usually does not favor the taxpayers wanting to pay for a stadium. That's a fact. It hasn't in a long time.

Yeah, there's a reason why this doesn't get taken to a ballot. You know, it's one thing to vote on a bill supporting a certain amount of it, like what's happening here. But even then, that bill is voted on by legislators. It's not voted on by the people. If you really want to know, you just pull the people. If you really want to know. If you really want to party with the Bears,

that's it. If you really want to party with the bears. Put your money where the people can see, then nobody would be buckwild. Nobody would have their facts. At least not at this early state of these negotiations with both Indiana and Illinois. Well, that's it.

But yeah, I believe the best way to do it is to make people vote on it because then you actually get a say. I really wonder what that vote would look like, man. I don't wonder. I know what that. I'm very, Not an accurate sample size because people like the bears on our show.

I'm very confident what that vote would look like because that will bring people out who are voting because of what's on the ballot and they do are like no more of my taxpayer money going to this. A lot of people would. I'm not subsidizing quote unquote billionaires. I get it. 312, 6444, 67.67 is our number. We have more to come here on Rahimi Harrison Grody. As we broadcast live from our score Hyundai Studios brought to you by your local Hyundai dealers coming up next. Do you remember how we didn't get to see a lot of the Cubs trip to Tokyo?

Well, apparently we've gotten some help on that. A documentary is coming out about that very trip, and we will speak to the director next. Rahimi Harrison Grody, Midday's Tindal 2, on Chicago Sports Radio 1043, the score. Seeing like a slow and base attends, hit and runs, as someone who grew up in the 90s, watching baseball, like threw me back to that era where it felt like it was a complete team,

where the lineup was constructed to build off of each other in those small ball elements. Getting into experience the uniqueness, that element to those games with the cheering and enchanting is so cool. That was Cubs Reporter for the Tribune, Megan Montemarrow, in a new film coming out, homecoming the Tokyo series. a cinematic journey told through the people in passion who fuel the game in Japan. This is Rahimi Harrison Grotie on 104 The Score. And I'm one of the many who think that we didn't get to see enough of the Cubs trip to Tokyo. And it sounds like this might help.

The director and producer of that film is joining us now via our hotline. His name is Jason Sturman. He is also kind enough to join us on Twitch. Twitch.tv slash The Score, Chicago. Thanks for coming on. Thank you for having me. So that was something that we talked, Jason, a lot about last year, was the visuals seemed so great. We saw a lot of stuff posted on social media by people like Taylor McGregor, the Cubs field reporter,

but we didn't see a lot of content when you consider what this trip meant to Major League Baseball, both the Dodgers and the Cubs. And so for you to help bring this to people, when they didn't get to see a lot of what went on in those trips, I think is a really big deal. Oh, well, I mean, the opportunity presented itself by obviously the games being played. But I wanted to take an opportunity to kind of go explore baseball culture and tradition in Japan. I mean, we're all lucky enough to see players like Dota and Saya play, as well as obviously like Dutani and Yamamoto and Roki and the other Japanese players in the league.

But I think the thing that's interesting, to me at least, is we see them at their peak when they're here. Where is it that they come from? And using the Tokyo series last year as kind of an entry point into kind of going and exploring that question was the goal with this film. And looking at this, I'm just curious, like, what your starting point was, because obviously you have the idea for this. How scripted was this in terms of how you thought it would play out versus what actually happened when the camera started rolling? So we knew there was obviously going to be the games played, right? The daughters and the clubs played two games. there was also four exhibition games, each team, the Cubs and the Dodgers both played two Nippon teams.

So we knew what was on the schedule. Outside of that, it was really designed to allow for us to discover characters along the way. And so while we enter through the Tokyo Dome and the Tokyo series, where that leads us over the course of the film is we go and explore what Little League is like in Osaka. We go and explore what fandom is like in northern Japan. We see the people who make bats in the Mizuno factory. We also see people who are refurbishing baseball mitts for kids and adults in, you know, a small area of Tokyo. One of the things that was really great, and this does tie directly into the Cubs, the Cubs organization was great of letting us tag along with some of the things that they were doing off the field. And so we went with Derek Lee and Cuske Fukumet, along with Clark, to a local elementary school,

just as like a meet and greet so that kid there could both see. Fukodome, someone who came from Japan and went and played in Chicago, but also Derek Lee, who spent time in Japan and now had come back. So those experiences are really, I think, rewarding for not only the kid, but audiences to see those reactions. That's very cool, the Kosuke Fukushima part of it, because it hits home here. He played for both the Cubs and the White Sox. The other guy I wanted to ask you about as well, Jason, is Pete Crowler-Armstrong, PCA, as he's known around here, seemed to build a really nice relationship with some of the

fans in Japan. Is there anything on PCA? Moreover, what is the, the, we know that the Japanese fans love their guys, the Say Suzuki, Shodemunaga, Sasaki, Otani, on and on and on. But what is their relationship with and their fandom like for American players like PCA? The interesting thing that I ultimately found is that obviously by following these Japanese players as they go to whatever team they may end up playing, that creates exposure for them to the other players on those teams. And so PCA is someone who got called out by some local Japanese people. That's a player that they were most interested in seeing how he performed on the field in person.

I think that that's kind of the beauty of allowing baseball to be this universal kind of translator, if you will. The Japanese people may not speak English and the English speakers may not speak Japanese, but they all speak the language of baseball. So that became the kind of unifying factor. We're talking to Jason Sturman, the director and producer of Homecoming, the Tokyo series, a feature documentary made in partnership with MLB. It is in theaters, but only on February 23rd and 24th, if you want to check it out. And what was what most moving to you may be about what you observed?

You know, you mentioned all these different levels of the appreciation for baseball in Japan. And to cover the stars like Shohei Otani, for example, or Shoda Imanaga, what meant the most to you out of what you saw? The thing that looked the most to me and the thing that was, I think, the most eye-opening and surprising was seeing how baseball is taught to eight and nine-year-olds when they enter Little League. I think we look at, you know, the Otani's and Shodas and the way that they approach the game. And I think that when we watch them play, there's a certain kind of, I want to say like respectful nature, but everyone respects the game. But I think that there's just something that's a little bit different.

Even, you know, I boil it down to like the very simple, like the Otani tipping his hat to the opposing manager. That feels like something that's very unique to Otani, but when you watch and see the way that baseball is taught to kids in Little League, you can very easily see how this is something that is not unique just to an individual player. It's the way that they approach it from a cultural standpoint. They are trying to build more respectful members of society, and baseball just plays a role in that. Jason, I'm curious because of the way that this was supposed to talk about

the differences and similarities between American baseball, and Japanese baseball. You just kind of touched on it when you talk about the Little League and the way things were taught. Was there something that you took away from this

and you were like, I wish more people knew about this in America? I wish that there was a better understanding which I think the film will be a little eye-opening to many people about the especially devotion to craft

as it relates to baseball, right? I think there's a bit of access when it comes to, I think, the American way of looking at sports and also just like, I think consumption in general, right? Like, we're really quick to go to the, this morning goods store and buy a new bat or buy a new glove or whatever may be at a time.

And the way the Japanese craft people, both on a, on a larger, more commercial level with a company like Mizuno, who is doing a mass production of their goods, down to, again, like, there's three guys who have a small shop whose whole goal is devoted to basically bringing new life into baseball mitts. Like that is their entire business. And they speak really elegantly about the way of, you know, these items carry a story. It's important to have these things pass down and be able to, you know, give back to another generation. And I think to a certain extent, that feels very much, you know, aligned with the game of baseball as well.

Maybe as an extension to that and talking about the differences in our countries. What is to you, Jason, the difference between having done all of this, the difference between American baseball fans and Japanese baseball fans. I'll speak first from what I watched and experience with the Japanese baseball fans. The closest thing that I can relate

being in the stands and watching the way Japanese baseball fans approach a game is the way that we experience college football fans. There is a spirited, ritualistic nature to the way that they watch games, down to the chanting and bands in the same. stands both and and you have them competing against one another because you have away fans and home

fans in the same in the same stadium there is a there is a chant when a player gets up to up to bat there's a chant when a player gets on base or the chant when a player scores all of those are both individualized for the player and specific to the team that's not something that i'm used to see when i go to a baseball game here in the here in the u.s um and so i think that there's this more like the lively and spirited connection on a deep level where they feel as if they're an extension of their team when they're sitting and watching their games. Jason, I know that obviously the Dodgers have a huge footprint in Japan when it comes to their popularity because of guys like Roki Sasaki, Shohey,

Otani, Yoshinobo and Yamamoto. But what was the level of Cubs popularity that you got to observe? Honestly, it was surprising. I think it was way more than I expected. I think when you go into something like this, the expectation. And we're all used to seeing, you know, Otani, Otani everywhere everywhere there as well. But there is a deep love. And I think that quite honestly, I think Kuske Fukumami is one of those players that has created like this

bridge. There was people who became aware of the Chicago clubs early on and that fandom stuck with them. Seya and Shoda have a very, very strong fan base there. And you hear a lot of people talk about them being fans, not only of the Cubs, but obviously of those players.

And we also met a lot of people who traveled from Chicago who went to those games. I was really, really surprised how many Americans in Cub uniforms and Cubs has that you would see walking around Tokyo. Don't be stopped and talked to a lot of people. And, like, they all made the trip because they wanted to see their team perform and cheer for the players that are on the Cubs that are returning home. And I think that's very, that really welcome from a Japanese fan is as well, knowing that there's fans from the U.S. willing to also travel to Japan to go see those players. Okay, so you mentioned you hung out with Clark the Cub.

How was he received? What did people think of Clark? I think, honestly, Clark may have stolen the show. The one thing that every Japanese baseball team has is a mascot. And so they are very, very welcoming to any, any mascot. So I think, you know, you'll see it a little bit in the film. But I think the kids were really excited when Derek Lee and Fukadome showed up, but they really lost it when Clark came out.

And everywhere Clark went, it was this thing. It's like people wanting to take photos. people wanted to be in his peripheral. Clark very much, I think, came out with a whole new fan base. That tracks. That definitely tracks. We're talking with Jason Sterman,

the director and producer of Homecoming, the Tokyo series, a feature documentary made in partnership with Major League Baseball. Going back to the 2025 Tokyo series between the Dodgers and the Cups. Here's my question, because I've already seen

where it's shown here and around the area on both Monday and Tuesday. Those are the only two days that'll be in the theater. do we have a streaming plan yet for this documentary after those days? Or what's the plan for how people can see this? It's something. It's in the works.

If you're not able to make it out, there will be opportunity to be able to see it in the future in streaming. But I also think, look, if it's playing near you and you have the opportunity, this is the film that was also designed to be seen in a theater with other people. And to a certain extent, it's also it feels like it's sharing the same thing of being in a baseball stadium. It's great to watch it at home, but it is also sometimes a little bit more elevated and special when you're seeing it in person.

So we tried to design it that way, both from a visual and like a sound standpoint, that is really fitting for a theatrical setting. I was just thinking about another thing, Jason, about the Japanese baseball fans. If I remember correctly last year during the Cubs, because you mentioned the chanting part and that they get loud during these games,

but they're so respectful, too, at the same time, they didn't do that against the Cubs last year, right? Like they were, because they were respectful. American traditions. 100%. It's interesting. You didn't get necessarily the chanting and the, it's called Owendon in Japan, but like the bands and the rituals to kind of like chants during the Cubs and the Dodgers games, but you did see it in the exhibition games.

So they were doing it when the Cubs played the Yomiuri Giants, which is the Tokyo Dupon team and the Hanschen Tigers, which is the team from Osaka. Both of those fan bases were incredibly spirited and very much sticking to their normal way, their normal way of operating. Well, Jason, this has been a lot of fun to talk to you and also get a look at this film one more time for people who want to see it in theaters on the 23rd

and the 24th only, homecoming the Tokyo series, a cinematic journey told through the people and passion who fuel the game in Japan. This has been a lot of fun to catch up with you and thanks for bringing this to people. Thanks, Jason. Well, thank you for having. That's Jason Sterman,

who is directing and producing that film. I think that's great because as we've discussed, we didn't get to see a lot of, I think, what went on, and it's nice to get another look at it and on these different levels. I like that Clark the Cubs has found celebrity in Japan. It's like, it reminds me like David Hasselhoff. The singing didn't go over in America, but he went to Germany and he was a pop star. The Germans love David Hassel.

I know, as I'm saying, like different parts of the world value things more than we do. I'm not saying we don't value Clark the Cub. Sounds like he is like a pop star there, though. Well, let's be honest. Clark is a friend of the show. So, you know, I was curious because Clark knows all of us. I'm like, well, who else knows Clark? He's worldwide.

Good for Clark. Yeah. He's got an international audience. Who's more Mr. Worldwide? Clark, the cover Pitbull. That's a great, I mean, Dolly. I don't know what to say other than that. Okay, so when we brought up halftime, Marshall, you, you seem to be cooking on something.

Are you ready to unleash it? What are you cooking over there, Marsh? I will let you know after the break. Oh, he wasn't ready later. Oh, I'm so sorry. He wasn't ready. I have a story, too. So we'll talk.

amongst ourselves, dealers' choices next. What time is halftime? It is halftime here on Rahimi Harrison Grody and as the Sands of the Hourglass go, I've already messed up a quote, like sands through the hourglass, so are the days of our Bears Stadium. Bears. So much bears.

Isn't that more like the young and the restless though? Because we're all restless about this? And the bears are young. And it's not the A-Man Og-Bogg, Bog, by Meagah Bears talk that we're talking about here. We're talking about the Bears owner or the Bears Stadium talk. Stage him, as we like to say. That's right. So, yeah, and we took calls.

You guys were very robust. We got to talk to Wayne and Lafitt. I tried to take more Indiana-based calls based on, you know, the fact that they may be paying for it. So that's how we try to do here. It's your day, Indiana. Well, yesterday, technically, was the Regions Day because it was 219, similar to the area code.

Oh, the 219. Shout out to our friends in North Carolina. West Indiana. We love you. Quote, the region, end quote. I like that even the governor referred to it as the region. And everybody just knew what it is. Way to take a way to make a very nondescript term descript. I love that.

In the meantime, we also just finished up talking to Jason Sturman. The director and producer of Homecoming, the Tokyo series. It's a feature documentary that was made in part with MLB about the Dodgers and Cubs trip over to Japan. That's in theaters on the 23rd and 24th, if you want. to check it out. It's halftime. Well, guys, we've reached that time of year. Minnesota playoff hockey.

And do you know why I know it? Because of the amazing viral videos that represent the usually dyed blonde mullets of the players, aka Miniflota. Miniflota is a thing? You know, like, your hair's called. Oh, I got it. I just didn't know that I didn't know if you coined it

or that was something you picked up somewhere else. Layla's into Minnesota stuff. I picked it up somewhere else. I'm into Minnesota. You are just a Minnesota person. You just love bringing up Minnesota topics. You know, I did have an aunt and uncle who live there for a while. Really?

They're in Arizona now, as most Minnesotans tend to be. They're a self-life in Minnesota. They got fed up with the weather, so they're now in Scott. That's a good action. You just dropped there. Well, what's funny is the aunt is from Texas, but she ended up with the Minnesota accent, now didn't she? But here's where things get interesting in Yee, Minnesota youth hockey playoffs.

A Minnesota youth hockey game needed 12 overtimes and a shootout to decide the winner. And these poor kids were 12 under. It looked like it was a 12 U team playoff game. Three days, 12 overtime periods and a shootout to decide a winner. Everybody gets a mullet after that game. Love that. That's just me. I don't know that they did, but they should have.

That's a ridiculously long game. The Cottage Grove Wolfpack managed to get the best of the St. Paul Saints during the shootout to advance in the playoffs. and coach Brian Deering of the Cottage Grove team said it was pretty intense. It went on for three days. And the kids showed up ready to play every time. It was pretty bizarre with how to plan for it, but it was fun to be a part of. So it was tied at one after the three 15 minute regular periods on Monday the 16th. Then the two teams played 10, six, six, 10 minute overtime periods the day the game started, but it remained tight.

So then they said they would go back to the game on Tuesday. So then after that they had to go back to the game again on Thursday for a shootout. My God. The dedication here is really what does it for me. They didn't want to end this game in a tie. I'm just imagining the smell of the hockey bags. That sounds disgusting. Also, the reason why they had to play,

the reason they couldn't play on Thursday was because the ice had to be resurfaced with the Zamboni. So that caused a bit of a delay. So that's what took it to the next. the next point of this never-ending hockey game. May I use the opportunity to shout out to the USA women's hockey team? Hell yeah. The gold medal champions. Megan Keller,

game-winning goal and three. Love watching three-on-three, man. It's fun. Watch the men the other night. And Quinn Hughes with the game-winning goal, even though a lot of people thought the people that really know didn't think it should have gone to overtime against Sweden just because the USA is better.

But entertaining as hell, I will say. these things happen. I'm looking right now at the screen in our office. 2-2. Is Canada even getting to the gold medal game in men's hockey? Whoa, yeah. Canada Oh, that would be a big setback for Lake Keep. Yes, it's the third period. 642 to go on the third.

Yes. Okay, well, we could be more overtime. Folks root for Canada, Canada, and the USA and the gold medal. Because it's fun to watch. Okay, okay. But if there's no Sydney Crosby, and they're not good enough to beat Finland, you know who they could have used that Canadian team? Ah, here we go. Connor Bidar.

If only you guys had Connor Bedard, maybe you wouldn't be in this mess against one of the Scandinavian teams. Yeah, that's right. That'll learn you. They were down 2-1 in that game, by the way. You could call it Badard's revenge. I don't know that he would exact revenge on his home country. I don't think he's that too.

I don't think he's pretty ticked off, though. I don't think he's very pleased this twice now, right? That he's been snubbed from the Canadian national team. Yeah, he played for the junior team. Yeah, snubbed is a bad word because they are just amazing. They're loaded, and he was, especially. the first time around, that you're talking about this at the second time, the first time he wasn't ready.

No, you're right. He wasn't better than the guys that were out there. Point taken. Shout out to a lot of local connections on that USA Women's Hockey Team. Of course, Kendall Cohen's Goldfield, Tessa Janicki. Kendall, you know, is from Palos Heights. And then Abby Murphy is from Evergreen Park.

Shout out. So we love the local crew when it comes to the USA Women's Hockey Team. It's really cool that they all got to take cold, especially after, you know, what can be some heartbreaking games against Canada, and that was incredible. Men's play Slovakia, I believe, 210 Chicago time in their semi-final match. So if you are like me and hoping to see Canada in the U.S., that is when you should track that.

But also, it's during the first ever spring training game on FM here on 104-3, the score. Huge. Just absolutely. Well, that's why I say you could check in on the hockey. There are ways. There are ways in this world to... You could listen to the... Multitask.

And you could watch the hockey. That's right. You know, I heard you say that in fake Pat Hughes' voice. You could listen to the baseball. He's not broadcasting. But were you guys were playing the cuts yesterday of... When did you get here? When did you get in?

When did you get in? When did you get in? When did you get in? I witnessed Pat Hughes when I was doing Cubs baseball pre-imposed from 50... I witnessed him being asked that question. Hey, Pat, good to see. when did you get in? Wasn't necessarily said in that tone,

but I've heard Pat being asked the question. Why didn't you do the edict? Somebody's got to do it. What a Hughes has to ask Pat Hughes, when'd you get in? Absolutely. When did you get in? Back to our Olympic shout-out.

Shout out to Layla Edwards, by the way. And shout out to the Kelsey brothers, who made sure that Layla Edwards, the first black woman to play for the U.S. Olympic hockey team and score our goal for the U.S. Olympic hockey team. And now a gold medalist. Her parents got to go because the Kelsey Brothers, were like, hey, we'll sponsor that trip.

Got the rents to Milan. It's awesome. Shout to the Kelsey Brothers. Shout out. She also went on to Jason Kelsey's wife's podcast and let everyone know that she was the best athlete ever from. Where is they from? Lela Edwards is from Cleveland Heights. Yes, Cleveland Heights.

That's what it is. The Kelsey Brothers are from Cleveland Heights. He's like, I'm the best athlete, though, from Cleveland Heights. And I was like, I respect it. Obviously, I like Layla Edwards already. Of course. L-A-L-A-L-A-I. Same spelling?

No. Hers is an A. Hers is L-A-I. It's funny how many different ways you can spell L-A-A. And that's the Arabic spelling. Ah. So many ways to spell. Right.

You can throw the Y in there if you want? That's the E. That's the E-C-Laptan spelling. Oh. You know me. I'm always looking for the Y's. You are always looking for the Y's. You and Matt Nagy.

Finding them's harder than I thought it would be. Matt Nagy's got an O-C job. He doesn't need us anymore. Not just an O-C job, but like with a real head coach who's got success. He got a great job. Will he do great at the job? I don't know if he'll do great at the job. I don't know if he'll be calling plays at the job.

I know that. I'm rooting for him. Joe Bartosh just walked by. Bartok. Hi, Bartok. Hi, Bartok. Bartok's trying to get steps in. Why do you call him Bartok?

There was a thing. That's a composer, by the way. In another world of the score, Joe Bartosh used to host a Sunday night show for which I did updates. Is this on 820 to score? That would have been, I think it was 670 still. So it's not that long ago. go, but there was a time and there was some, there was like a commercial or something with

somebody calling somebody Joe Bartok, which was the correct name for that person. So since then, of course, I've called him Bartok just because that's a thing that I would do. And that's the story. Great story, huh? Good stuff. I was glad you asked. When did you get here? When did you get in? When did you get in? One of you has to do it. One of you needs to ask Pat Hughes that question in spring training. And when you do, let us. know what he says. Five on it is next. I'm Rahimi Harrison Grody.