Windy City Sports Talk

Don Kleppin joins the podcast for this episode. We preview the NFC North as we wait for training camp to start. Don (a Packer fan) gives us his thoughts on the Packers' roster. Don also gives his opinion on the roster the Bears have built around rookie QB Caleb Williams. We share some thoughts on the Lions and Vikings. Lastly, we give our way too early NFC North predictions.

The White Sox are bad as expected. However, it's been frustrating to see the Cubs struggle as badly as they have. We talk about both disappointing baseball teams and what is ahead for them both as the season progresses. We also give our thoughts on the Bears' roster and upcoming schedule as we wait for training camp to start.

Baseball is back! The Cubs are off to a great start while the White Sox sink to the bottom very quickly. We talk about the early season woes the White Sox are facing with injuries and offensive production. Does this Cubs team remind you of the 2016 team? We are split on that answer. We also give our thoughts on the ridiculous criticism Caleb Williams is facing. Lastly, we ponder what the Bears should do with the #9 pick.

We recap the eventful free agency period for the Bears. We spend a lot of time giving our thoughts on the Justin Fields trade and debate whether or not this was the best decision. We also give our thoughts on the other moves made this offseason. We then look ahead to the draft and start to give our record predictions for next season based off of the moves made so far.

The Blackhawks have had a challenging 2024 season. The prospects are gaining valuable experience on the ice, but they are dealing with a lot of adversity as well. It's been a season full of injuries and some drama off the ice. It's been a lot of fun to watch Conor Bedard though. He is the future of the franchise and that's what helps us get through a tough season. We review everything that has happened so far this season and give our thoughts on the Blackhawks being quiet at the trade deadline.

In this episode we debate Justin Fields vs. Caleb Williams. We also discuss some possible destinations for Fields should the Bears trade him. We talk about some other moves the Bears need to make this offseason. We give our thoughts on the Bulls standing pat at the trade deadline and talk about what this means for the future direction of this team.

We give our thoughts on the Super Bowl and we look towards the future by pondering what the NFC North might look like next year. We give our way to early predictions for the division as well.

The Bears haven't won a Super Bowl in nearly 40 years. Yet, the organization does nothing but celebrate the past.  The fans are getting tired of constantly talking about 1985 and all the great defensive players that have played for the team over the years. We want a legit QB. We want to watch a modern-day NFL offense.  In today's episode we talk about why the Bears need to change their identity. We also give our thoughts on the stadium situation and what could be done to Soldier Field and the surrounding area.

In this episode, we begin to look at what the 2024 season will have in store for the White Sox and Cubs. We give our thoughts on whether or not the White Sox are about to go into a full rebuild. For the Cubs, we talk about the hiring of Craig Counsell and explain why the Cubs need to be more aggressive when it comes to adding more talent to their roster. Lastly, we give our thoughts on MLB free agency as a whole.

The podcast is back! There's not better time to return than now with the Bears deciding to make a few changes to their coaching staff for next season. Matt Eberflus is staying, Luke Getsy is out, and Justin Fields' future is still in question. In our return episode, we recap the season and give our thoughts on the decisions made on the coaching staff. We also give our takes on what the Bears should do in the offseason with Fields and the rest of the team.

Zach Keilman joins the podcast to discuss the eventful offseason the Bulls had while they reconstructed most of the roster. Zach and I discuss where Coby White stands with the team after the addition of 3 new point guards. We also talk about how big of a boost the offense gets with the acquisition of DeMar DeRozan. Zach and I also want to tell Zach LaVine to be patient on the new contract and focus on creating a highly competitive team with his new teammates. Lastly, Zach and I give our thoughts on whether or not the Bulls can compete for the playoffs this year in the Eastern Conference. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

ESPN 1000's very own John Jurkovic from "The Carmen and Jurko Show" joined the podcast today to talk about the upcoming NFL season. He shared this thoughts on the Bears' QB situation and he also expressed his concern for the defense. Since Jurko is a former player, I asked him about his thoughts on the NFL's first 17-game season and if he thought the players' disapproval of it is warranted. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Madden 22 comes out in a few days. EA has promised and promoted many changes and additions to the long-time franchise. Will they succeed or will it be another frustrating year for fans of the series? Zach Keilman returns to the podcast to preview the game with me. We also give our thoughts on the reviews that have already come out since the game's trial edition released last week. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Well, the Cubs finally done it. They traded away the most lovable core the franchise has ever had. The Golden Age is over. Ryan Walsh joins the podcast to discuss the heartbreaking trade deadline. We recap the moves and discuss whether this should have happened. We look back on all the issues that basically led up to the breakup. We also discuss the future of the team now that Jed Hoyer is in charge, and we also discuss whether Willson Contreras should receive a contract extension to become the new leader in the locker room. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Drew Klawitter joins the shows and recap the eventful trade deadline the White Sox had. We discuss why we liked each of the moves the Sox made. We also talk about how the return of Eloy Jimenez and Luis Robert also feel like major acquisitions. Drew and I also talk about how ridiculous it is that the White Sox are still disrespected and forgotten about among the rest of the MLB. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The Blackhawks had a very eventful offseason. It was also very surprising. I had to invite Brooke LoFurno back on for this episode since last time we talked we thought the Blackhawks were done being relevant for awhile. Well....we were wrong. The Blackhawks made a lot of big moves which included trading for a Hall of Fame goaltenders, a 2-time Stanley Cup Champion, and more. Brooke and I recap all the big moves the Blackhawks made and we give our thoughts on how this new, intriguing roster can perform this upcoming season. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Brook LoFurno joins the podcast today to talk about the Duncan Keith trade. We discuss some of our favorite memories of Keith's 16-year career with the Blackhawks. With only 2 players remaining from the cup teams (Toews and Kane), we give our thoughts on if this is truly the end of the Blackhawks' glory days. Lastly, we discuss what the team will look to do now with the draft and free agency quickly approaching. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Jon Zaghloul from Sports Talk Chicago and WCKG joins the podcast for the first time ever to discuss the upcoming offseason for the Bulls. Jon and I give our takes on what the Bulls should do with Lauri Markkanen and Zach LaVine. Jon and I explain why we both think the Bulls need to improve at Point Guard. Lastly, we talk about the kinds of players the team should target in both the draft and free agency. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Brooke LoFurno, Blackhawks contributor for The Hockey Writers, joins the show to share her final thoughts on the 2021 Blackhawks. Brooke and I then give our thoughts on which players GM Stan Bowman must re-sign and which areas the team needs to improve in later this summer in Free Agency. Lastly, Brooke and I discuss just how much an impact Jonathan Toews can provide to this team if he does return next season. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Legendary Chicago sports broadcaster George Ofman joins the podcast to recap the eventful draft the Bears had. After taking a look at the draft class, specifically Justin Fields, George and I talk about what's next for the team as they prepare for training camp and beyond. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

My good friend Drew Klawitter joins the podcast to talk about the White Sox for the first time in the 2021 season. We review an eventful, yet sluggish start to the season. We give our thoughts on Tony La Russa's management style. We talk about Carlos Rodon's sudden resurgence and the current state of the pitching staff. Drew gives his take on how the Eloy Jimenez injury affects the team, but also explains how the emergence of Yermin Mercedes may help the team out long-term. Lastly, we give our thoughts on which team will challenge the Sox for the AL Central crown this season. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Brooke LoFurno from TheHockeyWriters.com rejoins the show to talk about the Blackhawks' recent up and down play. We give our opinions on the recent trades GM Stan Bowman made. Brooke and I discuss what the Hawks need to do to reacquire the final playoff spot in the Central Division. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Today is April Fools' Day. What great time to talk about how every Bears fan was fooled into thinking that they would have Russell Wilson as their new QB! Zach Keilman joins the show today to talk about a rather disappointing offseason for the Bears so far. We also speculate what the Bears could do in the draft. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The legendary George Ofman joined the podcast today to discuss his podcast, "Tell Me a Story I Don't Know". He also talked about some of his greatest memories covering Chicago sports for 47 years. George and I discuss how the broadcast industry has evolved over the years. Lastly, I had to ask George to share his thoughts on the Bears' QB situation. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Believe it or not, the Blackhawks are exceeding my expectations so far this season. However, with plenty of work to do, can they sustain this success and make the playoffs? Joining me on this episode is Brooke LoFurno, she covers the Blackhawks for TheHockeyWriters.com. We give our analysis on the team's performance so far. The Blackhawks have a lot of new and young faces on the roster this year. Brooke and I pick our most impressive newcomers. We talk about Kevin Lankinen and his chances of becoming the #1 goalie. Lastly, we give our thoughts on if the Blackhawks can contend for a playoff spot and if that will prompt GM Stan Bowman to be active at the trade deadline in April. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ryan Walsh and I collaborate on this podcast as we evaualute the ownership families of the Cubs (the Ricketts) and Bears (the McCaskeys). We talk about what frustrates us the most about each family. We eventually make a determination on which one is the most infuriating. Ryan and I also talk about Jon Lester's legacy as a Cub and how much he meant to the franchise over the last 6 years. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

ESPN 1000 and NBC Sports Chicago's very own David Kaplan joined the podcast today to give his thoughts on both the Bears and the Cubs. Kaplan explains why he was not a fan of the Bears' end of season press conference. He talks about what needs to be down in the offseason to make the team better now that Ryan Pace and Matt Nagy will be left in charge. Kaplan also gives his thoughts on the Yu Darvish trade and why he thinks more moves are coming. Lastly, he explains what the roster needs to look like in order for the Cubs to have a shot at contending in the NL Central. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Josh Kesner comes on the podcast to share his thoughts on the uniquely designed 2021 NHL season. He also gives his outsider view on the Blackhawks who are about to start year 1 of their rebuild without some important players. Lastly, we talk about Corey Crawford's legacy. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ryan Walsh and I discuss a very eventful Cubs' offseason so far. We debate whether or not the team is going into rebuild mode after trading You Darvish and Victor Caratini. We talk about some of the other players rumored to be on the trade block. Ryan and I give our true emotional thoughts on whether or not we believe these are the right moves for the Cubs to make as ownership claims they need to save money. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Zach Keilman joins the podcast for the first episode of 2021. We recap the Bears season and debate whether or not the 8-8 record and playoff appearance should be consider a success. We give our takes on if Ryan Pace, Matt Nagy, and Mitch Trubisky will return next year. Lastly, we preview the Wild Card matchup against the Saint. Both Zach and I explain why it will be a quick in and out in the playoffs for the Bears. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The final podcast of 2020 features a roundtable discussion with 4 great guests. Zach Keilman, Codey Emerson, and Yash Padhye join me in discussing the hotly debated College Football Playoffs. We recap a strenuous 2020 season which endured many obstacles due to the pandemic. We talk about the end of season Top 25 Poll. We spend the rest of the podcast debating the current College Football Format. Some of us like it while the other half wants to see changes. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

As the NBA preseason gets underway. My good friend Codey Emerson joins the podcast to talk Bulls, Pacers (his team), and the Central Division as a whole. Codey gives his outsider's opinion on the Bulls and I give mine on his Pacers. We give our thoughts on how both teams stack up against their Central Division rivals and the rest of the Eastern Conference. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

The Bears are now losers of 5 straight. Zach Keilman and I recap the horrible loss to the Packers. We spend the rest of the podcast debating on whether or not the Bears should rebuild and just how far the rebuild should go. Should Nagy and Pace be fired? Should Ted Phillips be fired? Should both the offense and defense be rebuilt or just the offense? Find out all the answers to these questions and more! --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Yash Padhye joins the podcast today to recap all the crazy moves made during the first week of the NBA Offseason. We give our thoughts on the major rumors swirling around James Harden, the Brooklyn Nets, and Houston Rockets. Yash, a Cleveland Cavaliers fan, gives his outsider’s take on the Bulls and if the new front office started off of the right foot. Lastly, Yash and I analyze the Bulls and Cavaliers and give our takes on who has had the better rebuild so far. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Josh Kesner joins the podcast today to talk about the Blackhawks' offseason as they finally admit it is time to rebuild. Josh and I discuss the current state of the Blackhawks after the departure of Corey Crawford and the Brandon Saad trade. We look back at Jeremy Colliton's coaching style during the playoffs. We also chat about Stan Bowman and whether or not he should still be the GM. Lastly, we recap a few of the big moves made around the league during free agency. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Zach Keilman joins me yet again for another podcast where we vent about the Bears. I convince Zach that it's time to admit that the Bears have no playmakers on offense (besides Allen Robinson). We debate on if Nagy and Pace should be fired. We also debate on whether or not the defense should be blown up in order to free up money and get more draft picks to rebuild the offense. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Drew Klawitter and I breakdown the White Sox hiring Tony La Russa as the next manager. We explain why it might not be such a good idea with the type of team the Sox currently have. We also discuss whether or not this hiring affects the Sox's chances in landing a big fish in free agency. Lastly, we take a look at this year's Free Agency class and talk about who the Sox should target. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

It would not be another Bears season if there wasn't a bad offense to complain about. Zach Keilman and I discuss the Bears' horrible loss to the Rams. We breakdown all the reasons why the Bears have struggle on offense. Zach and I debate on whether or not Foles is the answer and who is to blame more for the subpar offense, Matt Nagy or Ryan Pace. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This is the second part to my sports video game series. My friends Codey Emerson, Yash Padhye, and Zach Keilman join the podcast today to talk about Madden. We take a trip down memory lane talking about our favorite aspects of the game franchise. We give our thoughts on why the franchise is so heavily criticized today. We discuss what Madden's future my look like as we head into the next generation of console gaming. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

This is part 1 of a 2-part special series on sports video games. My friends Yash Padhye and Codey Emerson join the show to talk about NBA 2K. We take a trip down memory lane by talking about when we first started playing 2K and revisit some of our favorite moments from the series. We go through our favorite game modes and MyPlayer builds. We talk about other aspects that make 2K one of the most popular sports video games franchises. Lastly, we talk about things we want to see change and what other aspects we want to see added to the game as we enter the next console generation. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Frequent flyer Zach Keilman joins the podcast again today to talk about the Bulls hiring Billy Donovan. We also speculate potential moves the organization may make in regards to the roster. Lastly, we give out thoughts on whether or not the Bulls should rebuild and if they should push for the playoffs next season since the Eastern Conference is still weak. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Drew Klawiter joins the podcast to recap a fun and eventful 2020 season for the White Sox. We recap the first 2 games of the Wild Card series against the Oakland Athletics. We give our thoughts on what the batting order should look like for game 3 and we also discuss different pitching options for the Sox since they already used both of their aces in the first two games. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Ryan Walsh joins me today to recap the Cubs' regular season. We give out thoughts on if the Cubs' regular season struggle will be their downfall in the playoffs. We evaluate player performances and talk about some offseason changes that could happen. Lastly we give our Wild Card Series predictions and explain why we approve of the MLB Playoff Bubble. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Zach Keilman joins the podcast today to discuss a very up and down 2-0 start for the Bears. We talk about Trubisky's performance so far. We discuss why we don't think the offense has lived up to the hype yet. We talk about the new dynamic pass rush duo in Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn. We give our predictions for their Week 3 matchup against the Falcons. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Sports Mockery's Dhruv Koul joins the podcast to preview the 2020 Bears. We discuss Mitchell Trubisky being named the starting QB. We breakdown the full 53-man roster. We preview Week 1 against the Lions and give our record predictions. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Gridiron Gallery and XFL Newsroom's very own Zach Keilman joined the podcast to talk about the revival of the XFL. Zach and I shared our thoughts on new ownership, broadcasting possibilities, and markets the league should target. We also discuss how today's current events could affect the league's third attempt at becoming a legitimate sports league in the U.S. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

Josh Kesner joins today's episode to discuss the return of the NHL. We talk about the success of the bubble in Canada. We give our thoughts on how the play-in tournament went down and if it was worth doing. We talk about the surprise run the Blackhawks went on. We give our predictions on how the rest of the Stanley Cup Playoffs will go down. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

On this episode, Will Farlow joins the podcast to talk about the White Sox. We discuss how the team has been performing so far. We talk about how the new players have impacted the team. We also debate whether or not this year's results should impact the fate of Manager Rick Renteria. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

WJOB Network's Ryan Walsh joined me on this episode to discuss the expectations for the Cubs for the altered 2020 season. We break down the entire pitching staff. We also discuss why we are excited for David Ross's management style. Ryan and I also give our thoughts on what the Cubs should do with their top players like Bryant, Rizzo, and Baez who all need new contracts soon. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

A few months back the Bulls made changes to their front office. It is about time! Zach Keilman joins the podcast to discuss the new hires with me. We predict Jim Boylen's fate and what could become of the roster in the future with new management. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app

On this episode, I interview Bracey Smith who works for The Glimpse Group in New York. Bracey and I discuss the growth of Virtual Reality gaming and how it is now entering the competitive sports scene. Bracey describes the current status of the VR gaming and what the future of the industry looks like. --- This episode is sponsored by · Anchor: The easiest way to make a podcast. https://anchor.fm/app