Tag: Chicago Bears | No Filter Sports

Episode 211: Denny and The Hammer

January 25, 2021 01:21:12

Welcome to No Filter Sports Podcast with Bob Page and Denny McLain!

Super Bowl LV is set: Tom Brady VERSUS — “the greatest quarterback ever?” At least according to Denny!
Matthew Stafford is OUT as Lions quarterback. Good for MATT! But what now? Is SHEILA really gonna make the call?!
Who better to comment on the death of the great HANK AARON than a former Braves teammate named DENNY McLAIN?
But Denny reveals a shocker from that era when asked if he and Hank ever had a few pops together out on the town.
Are the Wings dead — already?! They sure played dead in Chicago over the weekend.
Sunday’s loss saw the debut of ex-coach Mike Babcock in-studio on NBC Sports. Bob rips NBC’s Empty Suits a new one!
Sure was great to see the storied Wings-Black Hawks rivalry renew. Wait’ll ya hear THIS story about Stu vs. Probie!
U-M basketball WAS rolling but now has to sit down for TWO WEEKS — a victim of its OWN administration.
C.Y.A. (“Cover Your Ass”) may be a military term, but it sure looks like Jim Harbaugh is buying into it.
The Tigers’ Al Avila keeps buying into his own, as Bob puts it, “Bum of the Month Club.”
Mercy, mercy, ME — still another black eye for a once-proud athletic department which USED to be just “The U-D!”
In YOUR mailbag segment, a listener turns the tables on Denny: “So, did YOU ‘ever think about coaching?'”
Those stories, Brandon on The Big Fight, Mr. McLain back on the appearance circuit — and much more right here!

Episode 207: INSIDE the Jim Harbaugh Deal

January 11, 2021 01:16:18

Welcome to No Filter Sports Podcast with Bob Page and Denny McLain!

As Ohio State and Alabama go at it for the national title, WE look into a local college football story:
The Jim Harbaugh contract extension. U-M reporter/podcaster Michael Spath takes us behind the scenes!
A big football gambler? Or just nothing better to do during the pandemic? You REALLY watched ALL those playoff games?
If the former Cleveland Clowns can get to the NFL post-season, can the LIONS be far behind?
Bob provides a primer on how NOT to run an NFL team via a franchise even worse than the FL’s!
The Pistons are off to a brutal start, but Tom Gores worry? He’s about to make more billions on PAY TOILETS!
Yes, we all were outraged over the storming of the U.S. Capitol, yet the NBA’s chief KNUCKLEHEAD is taking it too far.
And speaking of “knuckleheads,” how about James Harden and what one NBA all-time great said about HIM?
It’s a Big Week in the Big 14! At least for Michigan and Michigan State. The boys sing Juwan’s praises.
Tigers fans say “good riddance” to two guys who’ve tormented them in recent years.
While Denny says good-bye to Tommy LaSorda AND comments on MLB’s new pitching scandal.
Those stories, the Red Wings are BACK, YOUR mailbag and much more — right here!

Episode 205: Bear Bryant’s Last Captain: Steve Mott

January 3, 2021 01:33:22

Welcome to No Filter Sports Podcast with Bob Page, Denny McLain — and that’s IT!

A new era for the show begins after Eli’s self-imposed “retirement.” WE hope he comes back to us.
Meantime, ex-Lions center STEVE MOTT, one of the great players in Alabama history, joins us on THE Big Game and more.
FREE BEER? This is what Lions fans are left with after ANOTHER disastrous year?! The FL’s are even messing THIS up!
Is Matthew Stafford coming back? Who’s the new GM? The LATEST head coach? So MANY questions.
And who speaks for YOU? A famous voice from Texas, through remarks intended for a different team.
They’re partying in Columbus and the Bama game hasn’t even been played. WHY? Jim Harbaugh’s staying at Michigan!
No Eli? Producer Brandon McFee may be just as opinionated! He and Bob tangle over a big issue in college football.
After destroying the fleabag Duke’s Mayo Bowl, somewhere Mr. Z is smiling. The game came to a fitting — and hysterical — climax!
How good is U-M basketball! How good is U-M freshman Hunter Dickinson?! Bob says enjoy him while you can.
Dave DeBusschere must be rolling over after a WUSSY move by his once-proud alma mater.
Dumped by a phony girlfriend — then rejected by the Pistons too! But guess who’s getting the last laugh?
Those stories, Denny remembers MLB’s seven HOFers we lost in 2020, YOUR mailbag and much more — right here!

Photo image of a person pushing the 0 from 2020 off a cliff

Episode 204: Good-bye, 2020: UGH! Good-bye, ELI?

December 28, 2020 01:26:13

It’s hard to separate sports from reality.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

Happy New Year, everybody, as we ALL look ahead with hope for better days to come.
Maybe COVID didn’t hit YOU or yours. Maybe YOU made big $$$ in the market. No matter, good riddance to 2020!
It was a year that perhaps has triggered a major change in Eli’s very life as he’ll explain to you.
Denny actually became LOOPY over Saturday’s Lions’ fiasco, a game SO ridiculous that one die-hard Lions fan even …!
Then listen to Denny become MORE loopy when Eli reads him a quote from Tigers G.M. Al Avila.
HOW many TD’s in ONE GAME?! Our producer Brandon McAfee relates a tale of woe from football’s fantasy leagues.
Tom Gores takes heavy flak from Eli — again — as Denny reveals how HE suffered from Gore’s hand in PRISON!
Remember the NFL’s CHICAGO Cardinals? Yes? The boys do, which means they — and likely YOU — are OLD!
Still another baseball Hall of Famer has died. Denny recalls PHIL NIEKRO and Phil’s late brother Joe. He played with both.
Those stories, Bob has another edition of YOUR mailbag — and much more right here!

Episode 203: When the Irish “Tied One for the Gipper!”

December 21, 2020 01:36:31

The Game of the Century!

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

MSU’S CLINT JONES guests on playing in the storied 10-10 game, on being a black STAR in the turbulent 60’s and MORE!
GOLF’S next black star? Eli will tell you all about him — and choke back his tears as he does.
College football’s four-team playoffs are now set, but does Notre Dame really belong in them?
One thing’s sure: no matter WHAT Denny predicted here, the Lions won’t be in ANY playoffs.
And while wiping the egg off his face from that, is he taking his frustrations out unfairly on Matt Stafford?
WHAT?! A plain mayonnaise sandwich? Denny: YUM! Eli: Have I got a mayonnaise for YOU!
“Typhoid Rudy” signs a $200 million deal while Bob tells us what ONE dollar once meant to two great NBA centers.
The NHL announces a January return with new divisions due to COVID. Will its players first have to be vaccinated?
And they called Pete Rozelle “The Grinch Who Stole Christmas?” A LOT of “grinches” will steal THIS Christmas.
Bob rips MSU basketball a new one — but then Tom Izzo does too! And, OMG, such STUPID BLACK uniforms!
Those stories, a big loss for the Tigers, YOUR mailbag segment and MUCH more right here!

Episode 201: “Yee-Hah!” The Wild Ride of Mike Henneman!

December 14, 2020 01:37:14

I went to Toledo with an attitude.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page.

Tigers reliever, RODEO star, finding his long-lost family, marrying a teammate’s widow? What a journey for MIKE HENNEMAN!
Bob is APOPLECTIC, stammering in anger, spittle flying. Now the P.C. Posse’s even killed the CLEVELAND INDIANS!
“Champions Week?” How about “LOSERS WEEK” — courtesy of the Big Ten(14) with its cockamamie football schedule.
And does Ohio State really deserve to be crowned a “champion,” having played so few games?
Another Sunday, another loss for the Lions. Weirdly enough, Eli and Denny somehow are seeing hope for them.
The Tigers do NOT figure to have much hope in 2021. Maddeningly, Al Avila’s making no apologies for that.
Eli rants about a Detroit Pistons team that oughta wear name tags at practice just to become acquainted.
Wayne Gretzky’s rookie card has sold for a staggering sum! Resident sports memorabilia expert Denny explains why.
Both undefeated, both in the nation’s top 20, but Bob says there’s a big diff between U-M and MSU basketball.
Those stories, Eli with “This Day in Sports,” YOUR Mailbag segment and much more — right here!

Episode 199: “I Came to Hate Joe Paterno!”

December 7, 2020 01:35:13

He really didn’t like me very much.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Denny McLain & Bob Page.

One of Penn State’s greatest players, ex-Detroit Lions star KEITH DORNEY, talks about his FASCINATING life.
To paraphrase a famous song by The Clash, “Should he stay or should he go?” Harbaugh rumors are FLYING!
It’s Michigan-Ohio State week and Bob says WHAT? “BFD?!” If you’re on the U-M side, MANY feel the same way.
How DARE Denny’s beloved Chicago Bears blatantly rip off the Lions’ M.O.? Isn’t it copyrighted?
Who IS this guy, Darrell Bevell? And who IS actually running the FOOTBALL side of the franchise these days?
A famous football man says women don’t generally like or follow sports? Golly gee, shocking. So why apologize?
The Sarah Silliness just won’t go away — and neither will Eli in slamming it!
Not good enough to catch for the catcher-less Tigers — but good enough for one of MLB’s top teams?
Do we have a new feature on the show? Eli declares the Nets’ Kyrie Irving his inaugural “Idiot of the Week!”
On our “This Day in Sports” AND on this Pearl Harbor Day we recall an American sports star and hero of WWII.
Those stories, Bob with YOUR mailbag and much more — right here!

Episode 198: Two-Sport Star — to Superstar COACH!

December 3, 2020 01:41:34

But we know him best as a running back for Bo.

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Bob Page, Denny McLain & Fred Heumann sitting in for Eli Zaret!

One of the great athletes in Michigan high school history is now one of its great MENTORS: our guest, THOMAS WILCHER.
OUTRAGEOUS! How DARE Herbie claim Harbaugh doesn’t want to play Ohio State! But, uh, DOES he? Really?
A Wednesday afternoon NFL game? The boys agree: an abomination in damn near every sense.
And now COVID-19 begins another reign of sports terror: the NBA says 48 players just got it!
So you think nothing excites curmudgeonly Bob? Just ask him about Michigan State basketball this year.
Denny’s excited about his beloved Bears’ “Polish kid” versus the Lions, then gets the word: Trubisky is NOT Polish.
Dennis Dale McLain — JEWISH?! Oy, who knew?! He’s FULL of surprises today:
Teddy Ballgame once said WHAT to him? Denny in a fistfight with a teammate in the Tigers’ locker room?
A 27-year-old former World Series hero is on the open market “CHEAP.” Should the Tigers grab him?
Fred knows whom HE wants to see the Tigers sign. Bob AND Denny: “Fuhgettaboutit!”
Those stories, YOUR mailbag segment and much more — right here!

Episode 197: Blind Faith: Do Long-Suffering Lions Fans Have a CHOICE?

November 30, 2020 01:24:57

They were starting to mention guys already…

Welcome to No Filter Sports Podcast with “The Original Three:” Eli Zaret, Denny McLain and Bob Page!

As a young Johnny Carson asked on his 1950’s TV show every week: “Who Do You Trust?” SURELY not Sheila and Rod?!
Whom WILL the duo hire as new Lions general manager? Former star wideout Herman Moore pounds the table for an ex-teammate.
Too late to make our show taping today: Michigan football “paused” due to COVID-19! Frankly, it couldn’t have come at a better time.
While Penn State provided the LATEST embarrassment for U-M, MSU is riding high — at least until (gulp!) the Bucks hit town this week.
And Ohio State NEEDS to play this game in the midst of a veritable SEA of nationwide COVID cancellations.
Golf wackos Eli and Denny, of COURSE, watched the Phil/Steph/Peyton/Barkley extravaganza, but non-wacko Bob has a question about Sir Charles.
WHAT “wackos” watched Saturday night’s Mike Tyson-Roy Jones abomination? WE’VE got TWO of ’em right here on the show!
Tom Izzo and Coach K ready to rumble again! IF MSU is as AWESOME as it was against Notre Dame Saturday who can beat them?
The Pistons make an announcement that would have been UNTHINKABLE anywhere in sports just a few years ago.
Eli fears his “This Day in Sports” is hitting a wall. Bob has YOUR mailbag — and we’ve got much more right here!

Episode 194: Scared of Butkus? Not a Young GREG LANDRY!

November 19, 2020 01:24:48

But you always wanted to know where he was…

It’s the latest No Filter Sports Podcast with Eli Zaret, Bob Page, Fred Heumann AND Lary Sorensen!

Okay, so maybe they weren’t “glory days,” but the Detroit Lions of our guest, GREG LANDRY, were at least FUN!
NOW, Eli says the COVID crisis has taken the “fun” element OUT of sports. Bob, Fred and Lary disagree.
Still, what a world we’re in! MSU’s football game a COVID cancelation. MSU basketball expecting cancellations.
Sports TV ratings are way down and surveys indicate most of you will not go to live events til there’s a COVID vaccine.
All those kids! What WERE the Pistons thinking about in the NBA draft, which was at least high on MUSICAL talent.
With another embarrassing loss for U-M a possibility Saturday, would the Jets try to hire Jim Harbaugh anyway?
Easy come, easy go. One airhead MLB player loses a guaranteed $24 million for taking steroids!
“This Day in Sports” finds one of our fans bravely staying at his battle station during “Malice at the Palace!”
Those stories, Lary ripped by Howard Cosell on national TV, YOUR Mailbag and much more — right here!