Kap & J. Hood

7/16 7 AM: Connor McKnight

Hour 1: ESPN White Sox Pre & Post game host Connor McKnight joined Kap & J. Hood with the latest updates on the White Sox. Bad weather in Chicago had most TV networks looking like "Weather Redzone Tornado Coverage". The MLB Home Run Derby had a bad National Anthem, rank the worst performance of all time. Also, the Chicago Bears rookies report to training camp today! J. Hood and Chris Bleck have 5 Burning Questions ahead of Bears Training Camp. Chris Bleck was in for Kap.

Duration:: 47m
Broadcast on:: 16 Jul 2024
Audio Format:: mp3

Chicago. This is your morning routine. Listen to respect my name. Cap and G hood. That's right. That's right. We're bad. Uh-uh. Watch the show on Twitch. Follow ESPN 1000 Chicago. Swing the show on the ESPN Chicago app. And on in there. 100.3 HD2. And on ESPN 1000 Chicago. No, no, no, no. David Kaplan and Jonathan Hood. Good morning, everyone. Bring 'em out, bring 'em out. Bring 'em out, bring 'em out, bring 'em out. Bring 'em out, bring 'em out. Bring 'em out, bring 'em out. Bring 'em out, bring 'em out, bring 'em out. Bring 'em out, bring 'em out. Bring 'em out, bring 'em out, bring 'em out. Ooh. Welcome in to the Cap and G hood morning show on ESPN 1000. And we are streaming on the ESPN Chicago app with Chris Fleck in for Cap. I am Jay Hood. Thanks so much for being with us here on this Tuesday morning with open phone lines for you. 3-1-2, 3-3-2 ESPN, 3-3-2-3-7-7-6 is our telephone number. So much to get to before we're done here at 10 o'clock. We hand it over to Mike Greenberg. Chris, it's good that you able to make it in and safe after all the storms and all of that craziness that happened last night. We've made it in. Yeah, I mean, what a night. Obviously storms across the entire Chicago land area, but also we've made it to this point of the summer, Jonathan, today is the day that rookies report to training camp for the Chicago Bears. Come on back. Here we go. Today's the day. But yeah, a lot of trees down in the area. A lot of people dealing with power outages this morning, a lot of stuff going on in the city. It is. I just want to point out that the Super Bowl happened last night. It wasn't a Super Bowl for you and I. It was a Super Bowl for a meteorologist and weather people across the city. You're watching television and all of a sudden you hear this noise coming out of your phone like, what the hell is that? You never get used to it, by the way, you never get used to that phone. You get used to, you know, tweets or messages, whatever, you know, emails and those little dings that happen on your phone. Christopher, Chris, you never get used to that screeching sound of, oh my God, there is weather in the area. Find a space. I'm hitting your phone like you hear everyone else's, I'm sure. Yeah, it absolutely did. It startled everything. I know that they were watching the different news channels and the coverage that there were tornadoes within the city, which is not something we're used to. I know in the suburbs, people like Joliet area, they were hammered last night. So hopefully everyone's safe and you'll get your power back soon and everything's okay. But a lot of trees down in the city. Yeah, it was a rough night, back-to-back nights of this. You get a... I think we're good for a while. Let's take it easy. Well, let's ask Tracy, we've got to find out if we are going to be safe. I just like the idea that programming is interrupting. It's not your little two or three minute weather cast that you get on your news. No, it's full Super Bowl coverage. When we use weather people, we're on for hours and hours and hours, bent over a computer terminal to be able to express what's going on, the ongoing map, where the tornadoes are, where the rain is. I'm fascinated by it because there's no commercials. There's no net, Jay Moore. You have to be able to just keep going and just inform people, which is a great service. Yeah, they were running three screens yesterday on ABC 7. Everybody had their little screen and they were just going at it like, "Oh, it's this, it's crazy, man." I'm pretty sure they had two double boxes, Ron. Yes. Didn't they have two individuals on the screen? There's three. And then there were the little boxes as well. Yes. You know what it was? It's weather red zone. It really is weather red zone, it is. That's what the coverage is. No commercial breaks just going from one storefront to the next to here's a pressure situation. We can maybe see that there's tornadic activity in the area. Yes. I mean, it's crazy. Hopefully everyone's safe this morning. No Octobox, but you did get three or four. I mean, that's pretty crazy. I mean, you didn't usually get like the, you know, the eight games going in at one time, there's Hall of Touchbacks at the new kicks. No, in this situation, I'm talking about here at ABC7 and a little Brant Miller on Channel 5 and Ivory on Channel 9. I'm going back and forth, just looking for the best coverage possible. Just when you can be able to just see in real time, hey, there's a storm coming, you got to get to a basement, I mean, or get to a closet or someplace, I mean, people need to do that. You just can't just, it's that business as usual when you have weather like that. You know how it goes though? They say tornado warning, tornado watch, and you say, oh, where, right? And then they show usually a specific area. There were multiple times last night where they said, the entire Chicagoland area, you're under a tornado watch. It's different, isn't it? That's a different, we don't see that often here, at least that I can remember that from the northern suburbs all the way down to the southern suburbs, throughout the city, north and a little bit. Northwest Indiana, everywhere, everyone in the area essentially was under a watch last night. So I mean, you know, there's a lot of sports to go on and the home run derby was entertaining to watch until I had to go seek shelter. So I mean, it was, you know, it was a good, good evening of television watching and hopefully everyone's safe. Any more, it's nothing like being a kid, and you get those, that tornado activity, and they say go to a basement and your parents take you downstairs and a radio's on, just a one, no TV, just a radio on, and they say shh, let the Lord work, let him do his work. He's bowling upstairs. You ever get that one? Yes, yes, yeah. Yes, yeah, let the Lord work. We'll be upstairs soon, but just let him do it. Like, oh, now you're really scared of me. Now you're just like, like, when is, are we going to be safe here? As a kid, you don't know what that is. You just know it's loud. You know, you also add in, there's the thought that a tornado cannot touch down in the city. You ever hear that? I've heard that. And I don't think that's true. I don't think it's true either. But in the last two nights, whether people on TV have made people aware that if you're in a high-rise, if you're in the downtown area, like, seek shelter, like, it could absolutely happen in the city as well, which it was a rough two nights. It was. And when I think about that, I think about taking a pause, thinking about this country, and thinking about seeing the national anthem. And the rockets red glare, the bombs bursting in air, gave proof through the night that our flag was still there. Damn. Let me tell you something. Ingrid Andress, who, Ingrid Andress, if that's really her name, sang the national anthem before the Major League Baseball home run derby. We turn now to musical expert, Jay Moore now, Jay Moore, usually in this scenario, especially when you don't have an organ or a music accompaniment. You like to have a harmonica in your back pocket, don't you have a little something to just keep you on key. And then you just go with that, don't you have a little something, right, a little harmonica, a little something to keep you in tune. Yes. Could you explain to me what that was yesterday? Go right ahead. Here's Jay Moore's hot garbage. Straight up. I mean, I never heard of the girl. And she was definitely flat, could have been nervous. Her nerves got to her. But yeah, that was terrible. Yeah. Very. I don't know who that is. It took a while last night. What do you mean she's Ingrid Andress? I just told you. You know, and I saw the name trending on social media and I tried to look her up and it took a while. It was a deep Google to find who this was. She's a country artist I've never heard of. I listened to country music from time to time. No idea who this is. I then said, OK, this game is taking place in Texas. Maybe she's a local. I don't believe she's from Texas. I don't think she's local. I don't understand the I don't know. I don't have any idea who this is. That was terrible. That was one of the worst we've ever heard in sports, right? I mean, what's happening there? It makes Carl Lewis sound like Jim Cornelison. Oh, say can you see And the rock is that bad. Damn. I'll make a board now for the land of the free. You know, it's bad when people are laughing. Ooh. That was not that was not the sound effect. There's actual people laughing. I mean, but Carl was better. Yeah, I'd say Carl, like, he knew he was bombing. So we made the comment, right? Like, well, it'll get better. Here we go. I'm going to reassure everybody that I'm strong. Yeah, I know this is bad, but let's go. He was smooth in the flats. Yes, yes, yes, he was. Very flats. Yeah. I mean, listen, when you hear this. And the rock gets red glare. That sounds probably the only dog should be able to hear that. Unfortunately, we all heard it. I kind of think, though, Chris, that Fergie. [MUSIC PLAYING] Yeah. You're back. Yeah. [MUSIC PLAYING] Hey. Hey. Hey. Go to the state war. He's remixed. I love it. Oh, man. But again, even Fergie, better than-- [MUSIC PLAYING] You know, here's the thing. The other two, we knew who they were. So you almost get a pass for being that bad. Like, it was funny bad for Carl Lewis and Fergie. Who knows who this girl is. We'll just know that someone's saying the National Anthem poorly at the Home Run Derby, but she's so anonymous. She'll be known for this. Yes. Like, this is what she's going to be known for. Boy. I mean, so the only thing I could come up with is she was cheaper than an actual star. I think that's how you look right there. It's cheaper. Did Major League Baseball spend all of their budget on Michael Buffer? I don't know. That's a true question that I had last night. I think that might be the case. Like, before the final round, that was pretty cool. Bring both players out. Give the announcement. Let's get ready to rumble like the whole thing. Boom. That was awesome. That would cost a pretty buddy. I think it was the new word that's going around the nepotism. Oh, is she-- who is she? She's somebody's daughter. Manfred? Manfred? Manfred? Somebody? Is it Manfred's daughter? That's not starting a vicious rumor now. I'm asking a question. Is it Manfred? It's the love child. Hello. You throw the fans. Look, I know that could have been better to you. But how about the national anthem? I mean, seriously. Boy. But again, Chris, it's just anonymous. Like, I don't know who this is and then to be able to be that bad and then some of the players standing there laughing, boom, from the Phillies, laughing, just trying to suppress the laughter about how bad this is. How can you not? Because, like, when Fergie performed, do you remember the NBA players? Wasn't Draymond caught on camera laughing? Yes. That's how bad it was. Steph Curry, too. Yeah, Steph. I mean, it's incredible. I mean, so could you-- because, Jaymore, you can explain this better than the rest of us here within Kevin and Chris. I just want to know, like, when you go into the practices-- I mean, in the practice, did this sound like that? Did she have music? Did she go and say, no, I'm good. I'll just do this acapella. Usually, when you have your practices, your sound checks, it's no one there but the people getting the venue together or whatever in your team. So I'm sure she did an extensible amount of rehearsing. And sometimes, when you get to that point where it's live and sometimes the moment gets too big and you get nervous, it's just all over the place. She's not a PTP primetime player. So clearly, the person that is producing this is a Chris Black-like figure because there is black right there in the sound check with the headset on, listening to it. And he's thinking to himself, oh, this is going to be good. But you don't tell anybody. This is what you do. You don't tell anybody. She's terrible, but you won't tell anybody until you see it live. So I'm sabotaging her? No questions. There's no question that you would be like, no one that she's terrible. You're just me to yourself giggling the way you do to yourself saying, this is going to be great. Meaning this is going to be terrible. - Are you saying as a radio producer, I've been in that spot where I've seen something that's going off the rails, but I don't really do anything to put a stop to it because it is comical? Is that what you're saying? You're saying that I would be as a producer to witness a program that could be funny to some. Can I just let it happen? - How long have we worked together? - Quite a long time. - Exactly. And I'm still here. We're probably thinking of the same thing. (laughing) - 3-1-2-3-3-2-E-S-P-N-3-2-3-7-7-6-Zart telephone number. Ah, our country. ♪ And the rocket's red glare ♪ ♪ Oh ♪ ♪ There's a star ♪ ♪ And the rocket's red ♪ ♪ Not very yet ♪ ♪ Not very yet ♪ ♪ Not very yet ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh ♪ ♪ Not very yet ♪ ♪ Not very sweet and sweet ♪ ♪ Not very yet ♪ ♪ Oh, let's play the basketball ♪ ♪ Not very sweet ♪ (laughing) ♪ It's, it's, it's, it's, it's ♪ (laughing) - Yeah, so there you have it. - That's brutal. - Well, if you missed that, that's why we bring it to you. Was that here? I think that was on ESPN 1,000, too, right? Was we ran the home run derby, I'm sure that that whole anthem was on the, (laughing) - They usually carry that stuff. (laughing) - 3-1-2-3-3-2-E-S-P-N-Zart telephone number. You heard that. Her name is Ingrid Andress. And she was the national anthem singer before the home run derby. And that's what it sounded like, folks. What do you think? Still to come, we have five big questions regarding the bears because, as Chris told us, the rookies are here. Well, most of them, as far as we know, will be in camp today as the gates swing open for the rookies for the Chicago Bears. Here we go. It's all part of the mix. If you don't hold, you will be on the air on The Captain J. Good Morning Show. ♪ Welcome back ♪ ♪ Welcome back to Captain J. Good ♪ ♪ On Chicago's home for sports, ESPN Chicago ♪ (upbeat music) - Captain J. Hood, weekday morning, seven to 10, here on ESPN 1000. And we are streaming on the ESPN Chicago app. Chris Black is in for cap, 3-1-2-3-2-E-S-P-N, 3-3-2-3-7-7-6-Zart phone number. Still to come, we'll hear from Connor McKnight, with the latest on the second half of the Major League Baseball season. We'll hear from Connor, part of the ESPN 1000, Hard Rock, Casino, White Sox Network. And don't forget, Sean and No Shot, come here, wait eight o'clock right here on a cap in J. Hood. So, people also watch this, the All-Star festivities, the whole run derby. And what about this anthem singer? If you're just joining us, this was Ingrid Andress. ♪ And the rocket's red glare ♪ ♪ The bombs bursting air ♪ ♪ Gave proof through the night ♪ - Good. ♪ That our flag was still there ♪ - That hurts. - The reaction from the crowd as well. - Is that great? - No. - I actually have heard of her now. I found one of her songs that I'm aware of. Wishful drinking with Sam Hunt. Apparently, that's a pop hit. - Careful. - I know, I know. He's a big-time artist. - But I'm aware. - Yeah. Having Z-Pack, is that okay? - I'm not familiar with him, what's his name? - Sam Hunt. - Okay. - Yeah. - He's the country version of Drake. - Oh, wow. That bad, huh? - No, he's good. - I'm just saying. - I'm just saying. - Drake's not bad. - I mean, Drake's fine. I mean, he's down on his luck lately. I mean, on or off the field. - He's good. - Yeah. Sam Hunt's really good. - Yeah, I mean. - But yes, that was terrible though. - Yeah, it was. - That was terrible. I mean, Kevin and Oprah gone. - Boy. - ESPN 1000, Kevin, good morning. - Hey, morning guys. Love the show. You're a great pairing. - Thank you, man. - Yeah, I was gonna say, I never heard of her either. I listened to the country music, but I think Black, you nailed it earlier. She's gonna be absolutely famous for this. She's gonna be like the polar opposite of the Hawk 2a girl. Everyone loves that girl, but this one is gonna be bad, bad, bad, bad. And honey, what are you talking about practice for? - And we're just talking about practice, Kevin. We're just talking about practice. - Is the Hawk 2a girl, is it the 15 minutes? Are we done with that as a society? Are we still wrong with that? - She's getting a reality show. - Yeah. - Is she really? - You gotta get through that. - She's on a minute 11. - Yeah, that's not bad. - Can I actually tip of the cap to a Hawk 2a girl? - I think we all can. - Well, have you seen her latest or in the last week, she had a video that was posted about being aware that she had 15 minutes of fame. Then she went to a dog shelter and brought a bunch of like supplies. - Yeah, she made like big donations to a shelter trying to get these animals adopted. So she's using her powers for good. - And in the video, she's like, I'm not going to be famous for long. So let's do something good. Like, oh, okay, all right. All right, that's all right. Hawk 2a, type of the cap. - So because of that, slower on the clock. - Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Almost a timeout on the clock to a timeout. - Two helmet stickers, you know, I make a good job. - Timeouts, Hawk 2a, that's our first timeout. - Yeah, she can get a little run. - I think that's okay, but you got to get through the reality TV show or reality series. And then afterwards, that'll be it. I mean, someone's got to fill the bill on VH1 all the three runs. - One more thing, right? - There used to be a hot channel once upon a time. All those reruns on there now? Oh, he was watching some reality show from, I don't know, Women in Miami. I looked at the description, 2011. - Yeah. - Holy smokes, what happened to that channel? - Yeah, I know. - How about something new? - I don't think they, I have no idea. I don't even think I've-- - Just went through it just like-- - Stumbled across VH1 in the last 15 years. - I just looked at it, I was like, oh, I remember that show from 2011. - Do they still have a pop-up video? - I don't know. - Wasn't that a show on VH1? - It was. - That was awesome. - Yes, you were child. - Yeah. - That time. - So, small boy. - A child now. Nate in Naperville on Cap and Jhood. Nate, good morning. - Hey guys, good morning, love your show. - Thank you. - I think that Ingriv was a little nervous, nerves get to her, and she put down a few glasses of some sort of cocktail because when the ESPN guys came back, they sort of alluded to, I think they said something to the point of, now it's time for the festivities, and apparently it looks like someone's already, you know, been doing the festivities. So, you got that-- - Oh wow, did they really, I don't think so. Did they really say that? - A little 50 dot from Carl Ravitch? - I think there's 10 seconds of dead air, which felt like an eternity while we were watching, and they made that comment. So, if you have that audio, let's run that back and see what they said. - All right, let's see if we can find that. The Pithy comments from Carl Ravitch of all people. - Do you think Jesse knows what happened? Jesse's there. He covered the event. I know that Jesse was tasked for the other shows to get players. Are you aware of this? He was tasked to get Aaron Judge for Carmen and Yurko. - Oh, old school. - They put together a list. It was like Aaron Judge, Bryce Harper, and Crochet. - Yeah. - And I think he went 0 for 3 yesterday. I don't think he was-- - Kevin, you produced Carmen and Yurko. Did Jesse get any of the all-stars on the show? - No, we had Shay, though, to talk about the college football game. - So, yeah. So, Jesse went 0 for 3 on the Carmen and Yurko request. - Good job. - So, maybe Jesse could get something, you know, out of this story. Maybe he could break some news with this story. She was boozin' before the National Anthem. Maybe that's what he could write for ESPN.com. - Legally, that could have happened. Again, maybe he could find angry. Maybe she's still in town. - Yeah, I mean, he's a super booker. He could do that. I think that's outstanding, actually. And so, the person that watched the most of this coverage is one Kevin Zpac. And because he's a kid when it comes to these things, he loves a home run derby, loves the all-star game. One thing I will say, Kevin, is like, I'm just kind of similar to the slam dunk competition. I think that this competition yesterday was bereft of top flight quality home run hitters. Meaning stars. I mean, like, Tasco Hernandez was the winner of this, correct, from the Dodgers? - Correct, yeah. It'd be Bobby Witt in the last round there. - I can give you four or five Dodgers that I would like more than the Tasco Hernandez. I mean, five, and I watch enough of Dodgers baseball to know. I know he's on the team, but even in the all-star game, I believe he's hitting eighth. But he won the home run derby. - He's not really who you think of when you think of your prototypical, you know, slugger. - That's correct. He's a great player, but he's not Shohei, you know. He's not even Freddy Freeman. - I think that that's what was missing in the home run derby yesterday. Like, I love that you have youth like Gunnar Henderson from Baltimore, 'cause that's the next generation. I think that you were missing that. Also, I'll point out that I don't think the ball carried very well in that ballpark at Globe Life. For whatever reason, that's not retractable, is it? That's just a dome if I'm not mistaken? - Yeah, I believe it's just a dome. - I don't think it traveled very well, Kevin. I think that that was the reason why we didn't get like the Maguire Sosa, you know, home run power. - It is a retractable roof, but yes. - Really? - Yeah. - Oh, I don't think I've ever watched a game where they've had the roof open. - I, you know, I lived in Houston, which is also retractable, was never open once because it gets quite humid down there, Chris. - No, I know that. I thought that we've moved past the idea of having retractable roofs. I thought that this stadium was new enough where they're like, we're in Texas. There's no reason in building a retractable roof. - No, it gets too hot. You want to have some control. - Right, exactly. So you'd never open it. - Wasn't that the entire point to the Rangers building a new stadium? Was that they were sick of playing out in the sun during the summers? - So they built the new stadium. The Texas Rangers for many, many years outdoors playing. And on Sunday night baseball, they would have their Sunday night baseball game, but also the Rangers would play their home game also at seven o'clock 'cause it was cooler. - Yeah. - 'Cause it was a nice 105 by the time you get to seven o'clock. But the reason why the Rangers had won a championship is because they played in 115 degree weather every home game. - Wow, it is retractable. Look at the pictures. Why would you build a retractable roof in Texas? Just build a roof. - There's gonna be some times where you can open it up, maybe for concerts or other events. - Well, I would say as I was watching it last night, I thought to myself, home run derbies are more fun when there's no roof. So your idea of maybe the ball didn't travel as much because of that leads to that. Like I don't, like go back in my head, I can't think of a great home run derby that took place inside. Can you guys, I can picture outdoor venues. Half the time in my head, no. No. So what would you think, Kevin? Because I thought, okay, it's always good. 'Cause here's the thing that I really like, is that the players are having fun. I like that. They're actually rooting for one another. It's not like American League versus National League. These guys are having fun. And so would you think of it overall? Because I thought the ball didn't travel as well as I thought it would in this contest. - No, it's, listen, if you're a big baseball door like me, you're going to take things in like the home run derby, you're gonna enjoy it for what it is. But I think for a more casual baseball fan or somebody that just wants to see big names and high accumulation of numbers, you definitely didn't get that. The pace of it, I don't think was great. I think it just kind of slogged a little bit. So, you know, they tinker every year. I'm sure it'll be a little bit different. It's outdoors next year, by the way, Chris is gonna be in Georgia, truest park. - Oh, I like that. - The Cal County Braves, yes. - All right. So you're going to get maybe a little bit more of that next season. - That'll be good, I like that. Nothing wrong with that. - As he trails off, folks, he trails off. Nothing wrong with that. - The excitement is palpable. - I watched last night. - Yeah. - You gonna watch tonight? - Yeah, it's the only thing on tonight until nine o'clock when the sky play. - Yep, I agree. - And the bowl's in Summer League early. - So, yeah, so Summer League, Hulu, and then the sky. - It's the only thing on TV tonight, Kevin, come on. Tonight is baseball night in America. - I thought you might be watching Bravo, like you do. - It's the mid-summer classic. - Don't do that. - What is wrong with you? - Chris, don't do that. - Yeah, come on. - Don't do that. - It's a mid-summer classic. - Okay, don't do that. - Is it not? - No, we speak truth here on the show. - No, I know. - Okay, well, don't do that. - It's baseball. - Yeah, okay. Okay, I could fill a thimble of how much baseball you talk on black and a dollar. So don't do that. - Well, I could fill a thimble. I've got to move on now because we've got five big questions about the Chicago Bears as the rookies are ready to go. We think all of them. We'll talk about it coming up next with Chris Blackin for "Cap, I'm Jay Hood" on the "Cap and Jay Hood" morning show. - Here's to Dave's headline, headline, with "Cap and Jay Hood." - Frank, yes. - Last night, Tia Oscar Hernandez wins the home run derby over Bobby Whit Jr. He's the first Dodger to win the home run derby. The MLB All-Star game is tonight. You can listen to it right here on ESPN 1000, starting at 6.30. All skeens against Corbin Burns. They are the starters for the All-Star game tonight. The sky face off against the Las Vegas aces. That game will be on prime video at nine o'clock in the WNBA and the Chicago Bulls are in the summer league. They face off against the Pistons at 5.30 on NBA TV. Those are your headlines. - If you missed something, get the podcast on the ESPN Chicago app. (dramatic music) - "Cap and Jay Hood" are back on Chicago's home for sports. ESPN Chicago. - It's a "Cap and Jay Hood" morning show on ESPN 1000, and we are streaming on the ESPN Chicago app with Chris Black. And for "Cap," I'm Jay Hood. We're with you until 10 o'clock than green. You will step in at 10. Carmine Yurko at 12. Wobblin' Peggy. 2.30 to 6.30 into the All-Star game. From H. League Baseball, you hear the entire game right here on the home from H. League Baseball and the White Sox, ESPN 1000. It is now time for five big questions about the Chicago Bears. Chris, we will start with number five. - Number five. - Which one of the weapons is the most vital for Caleb Williams and the Bears' success offensively? Which weapon is the most vital for Caleb Williams and the Bears? - I'm gonna say Roma Dunezet. I think if DJ Moore gives us what we've seen in the last couple of seasons, and we know that Keenan Allen has a Hall of Fame career in the making at the moment, I think if they give us what we're used to, the Bears' offense is gonna be pretty decent. If Roma Dunezet is fantastic as a rookie, that takes this whole thing to a different level. So I think if Rome can be a productive rookie and be a game changer from the start, which I think we're expecting he might be being a top 10 pick, I think that's what's really going to push this over the top of the Chicago Bears. - Next one, number four. Houston's CJ Stroud is now in a sophomore campaign in the NFL. Caleb Williams is gonna be in his first year with the Bears. From a team or organization perspective, how much could Caleb succeed? Because it was a better chance for Stroud to win than Caleb Williams in his first year. - You know, going into last season, the Houston Texans were not expected to win. Seems like they hit on the coach. They also hit on a top level defensive player in last year's draft. And then obviously if you get the quarterback position right, you're set in the NFL. I think this Bears team has actually set up better than what CJ Stroud was walking into last year with the Houston Texans, not only with the weapons offensively, but this Bears defense, if healthy, which kind of goes into all of our training camp conversations, if healthy, they should be pretty good. I think they should be a top 10 defense, led by Montes, Sweat and Jalen Johnson. So I think that this team is a better equipped team that Caleb Williams is joining than say CJ Stroud last year with the Texans. - We'll be looking at the big five questions for the Chicago Bears as rookie training camp opens and like Forrest, let's go to the next one. - Number three. - Number three is list the best rosters in the NFC North in order. - Okay, this is easy for me. Last Minnesota, third would be Chicago, two would be Green Bay to Troyt's the best roster in the division. I think this division has a chance to be the best in the NFL. And therefore, even if I'm placing lines and Packers ahead of the Bears, that doesn't mean that the Bears won't be good. - I think all three teams will be good. Detroit's a Super Bowl contender. And I think Green Bay is just right there. I mean, winning that road playoff game last year for Jordan Love was, that was a big step. They've got their guy and they're a pretty good team. - I'm gonna put a pin in number three 'cause I have a follow up to that. - Okay. - But we move on to the next one. - Number two. - How much could the added spotlight of hard knocks and increased attention be a detriment to the team's success? - Okay. I might have an unpopular opinion on this. - Big spotlight, a lot of attention. Right over our shoulders on the get up, they all way, we're breaking down the schedule for the Chicago Bears and then asking the question, hey, Williams, will he throw for 4,000 yards? Is that really a question on Greenberg's show this morning? - Yeah. I think the Bears are going to be a top story in the league with or without hard knocks. Hard knocks is just an added bonus for fans to watch every Tuesday. I believe it is released on Tuesdays throughout the week throughout the training camp and preseason. I don't think it adds any additional pressure to the actual team on the field. I don't think, I think it's something that fans and sports talk radio hosts are talking a lot about and I don't think it has any impact on the actual team and games on the field. So yes, there's gonna be a lot of attention and spotlight on this team with or without hard knocks. They're the biggest and most interesting story in the NFL right now. And so I think everyone's interested in it, whether it be HBO, NFL Network, ESPN. And like you said, Jonathan, this morning, we've already seen ESPN television have multiple segments run on ESPN about Caleb Williams, the Chicago Bears and what they can accomplish. So I think fans are really into the hard knocks. I don't think it really has anything to do with how they're going to play on the field. And lastly, number one, how important is this season for coach Matt Iberflus? Extremely important. Dragon slide. They can't back slide. Let's go, Mike. You built momentum in November and December last season at the end of the year. The defense played for the coach. They won some football games. Right. It felt as if the offense was a little bit better. They'd be a playoff team last year. They weren't. So don't back slide. Don't start off to a 0-4 start this year. Don't put yourself behind it early on. Get to camp, get some work in. You and I were both up there last year. Didn't seem like it was that competitive of a camp. Let's get the team in. Let's work and let's get ready for week one. And this team needs to start off with a good start. And yeah, I think it's extremely important for Iberflus to have a good year. And that's five questions about the Chicago Bears here on the cap and Jhood Morning Show on ESPN 1000. And on the ESPN Chicago app. A couple of things, a couple of follow ups, if I may. Yeah. Let's talk about the Vikings for a second. Sure. So you listed your top four rosters. And I would say that even though Caleb Williams is unproven because we haven't seen him play yet, Sam Donald does have experience. Sam Donald may not be the full time quarterback with the Vikings either. There's a reason why that the Vikings drafted J.J. McCarthy because I think at some point we'll see McCarthy start for this team. Now, look, you and I are college football fans. When people ask me about certain players in the draft, I say, well, I can only tell you through the college prism of all the investment that I have on Saturdays and tell you what it looks like on Saturdays. And J.J. McCarthy was held in a little box by Jim Harbaugh and just said, keep handing off the football. Keep handing it off. Keep handing it off. Nickel and Diamond down the field, you had to make me any big plays. And by the way, Michigan didn't have to. They didn't have to make a lot of big plays down the field. They weren't vertically, they were not a vertical offense on a regular basis. And so maybe in the NFL, he'll show that he could be able to do that, but he didn't have to do that in Michigan. But look at the veterans that they have. You cannot turn a blind eye, Chris, too. Justin Jefferson is arguably the best why receiving the NFL if not top two, top three. I say he's the best. They still have a veteran defensive line. You mentioned how great this division could be. However, we can't just fold our cards and say, well, because Caleb's here and because the Bears did so much that the Vikings are fourth. I mean, they're gonna be hurt from here. Even though this is gonna be post-curt cousins, they're gonna be hurt from because, if you don't believe in Sam Darnell, believe in everything else they have, good enough offensive line, Justin Jefferson's all-world and wide receiver, strong defense. That's not easy. - Yeah, I'm not saying it's easy, and I think that goes back to, this could be the best division in football because the Vikings being last in the division could still be a seven or eight-win team. And I don't see them being bottom of the league three or four wins. That's not how bad this team's gonna be. They also added players in free agency, like Aaron Jones, who, as Bears fans know, with Green Bay tormented us. Just go back to last year, especially the opener. I mean, those screen passes, those killed the Bears in that game in the opener last year. - Yeah, you're right. They have vets. The quarterback position is certainly the weakest, I think, in the division. Sam Darnell has played a little, not great. JJ McCarthy, unknown. It'll be interesting to see how that battle goes throughout camp or how long they claim that Darnell is the starter before they replace him with McCarthy. And then defensively, just looking at what the Vikings kind of bring to the table, they're always able to get after the quarterback, but they've added some different pieces like Greenard, Jonathan Greenard, and you have Harrison Phillips inside. They should be okay. I just don't think they're gonna be better or more talented than the Bears. - We're gonna see. - Yeah, what we're talking about is one team that's been together, this is without Kirk Cousins now, but as far as the core, it's been together. So O'Connell, I think, is up and coming young, coach. Again, Sam Darnell aside, the team, I think, is gonna be good. They are actually more tenured than the Bears are. All these new parts happening with the Bears, and I'm not trying to push the Bears aside. I'm just saying that the Vikings will be a threat. - Yeah, it's gonna be a good division, right? Like, if you get four teams that are all projected to be around eight or 10 wins, that's gonna be a really good division. You don't really have a sucker in the group. There's no one at the poker table who you know can't play. - You'll know through 10 weeks, Chris. - Yeah. - Exactly where the Bears are. And the reason why I say 10 is because week 11, here comes the rest of the NFC North. You're just starting the NFC North on November 17th against Green Bay. Green Bay, Minnesota, Detroit, come right at ya. And that's why you have to get off to a fast start. - Yeah. - You cannot enter those divisional games towards the end of the season. Sub-500 behind it, right? Like, you need to build up a little buffer if you wanna actually make the playoffs this season. - Connor McKnight is coming up next as we talk MLB with him. Shout out to No Shout out of eight o'clock on the cap and Jhood Morning Show. - Make me feel better. - Ladies and gentlemen, can I please have your attention? I've just been handed an urgent news story. - The cap and Jhood are back. - Cannonball! - On ESPN Chicago. - Connor McKnight is on the Car X tire, not all hotline. - Rattle, rattle, thunder, batter, boom, boom, boom. - Don't worry, call the Car X tonight. - He's with us on cap and Jhood, brought to you by Access Community Health Network. Connor, good morning. - Good morning, hoodie. Good morning, black and good morning cap. So I assume it's in his palatial retreat in Osh Vegas. How are you guys? - We're doing fine. The Home Run Derby was blank. - It's on tape delay at the McKnight household. This is the All Star Break and I am taking that in stride. The All Star festivities are awesome and they've always been around my birthday and ever since, or up until the point where I started working baseball. I'll be honest with you, I sit down and I watch every All Star game. I watch the Home Run Derby. And these days, I catch up with them when I can. It's just a different life. I'm glad Te Oscar Hernandez won the thing. 'Cause I like to see, you know, like a different name get around, we get a different power bat, kind of get around the audience and stuff. I actually had a Dolies Garcia. So watching through Twitter updates during the Home Run Derby, while trying to make sure that my house was, or wasn't in a tornado watch and/or warning area last night. We were all in a warning area. It was kind of fun, but I'm glad they changed the format, at least. I'm glad they changed the format 'cause that seemed to have gone much, much better than the old stuff. - Connor, something Jonathan mentioned earlier in the show was about the star power within the Home Run Derby. Would you have been more interested if some bigger bats were involved? - Yeah, I think I would have, you know, obviously, Shohei Otani would have been a lot of fun. I think Aaron Judge would have been a lot of fun. I think, like, the nerds have done the work, and I include myself among them, to kind of prove that it does not mess up the swing, right? But ever since Bobby Abreu back in, what was that, 2008 or something like that, I think it's really hard to prove to other players. Like, there are still players who feel like, oh, don't talk about that. It's gonna mess up my swing, and I don't want to be interested in that, 'cause I don't know what it's gonna do to me in the second half, it's like, we've proven it. It doesn't really happen. And yet, it's this, like, kind of bogeyman in the closet. We don't really like kind of peering into it for a lot of guys. I understand it, but I do wish that it were more widespread and more players to get involved. - Connor, what is your favorite stat for baseball in 2024? - I think, well, pitching or hitting? - Yes. - Okay. - All of it. - Okay, so I, like, expected, waited on base average for hitters right now. Like, I just kind of want them into right now. I like that it kind of tells you, or at least tries to tell you, where the quality of contact expects to go for particular hitters. And I think those of you, those of our listeners, our fans who are a Cubs fan, have been watching expected, waited on base, climb for guys like Christopher Morell, and the things on the field, not happening, for guys like Christopher Morell, and going, why? But I like expected, waited on base. I think for pitching, I'm still kind of a Sierra guy, and that's not just because Sierra was the brand name of all of the computer games that were back in the day, when I was a very small child, and those two generation will remember them. I like that it tries to both predict and kind of like drill down to the base rates in and around leagues, and in run environments. Like, we are not in a good, guys, often, if you looked at numbers around baseball this year, yes, no one can hit, no one can hit. And like, that matters when it comes to how good our pitchers, how good our pitchers really give in the run environment within. And I think staff like Sierra kind of do the work to get to get a stack. - Well, a little baseball face would tell you, if you're bringing a six or seventh inning guy in, he's throwing 100 miles an hour in the black, it's gonna be hard to hit that ball. Yes. - That's what I'm talking about. There's an extra four or five feet, you gotta read on that baseball. - Yes. - Lower. - Hell yeah. - Car does your crochet get traded before the deadline? - I'm sticking with no on the, what was it, three weeks ago on White Docs Weekly, which you can download and listen to at your leisure with the ESPN Chicago app, or the ESPN Chicago.com, but you don't have a smartphone. You can listen to the show, and I made the bold prediction then, I went full cap, and I don't think crochet or robber get traded at this year's deadline. I could obviously be wrong, and it would be far from the first time. I just think the moving parts that are involved in a crochet trade and a robber trade, which are different, like different sets of moving parts, are too many to get this deal done now when the White Sox have time on their side, right? You can do those things in the winter if you deem them to be the necessary path for this team, and there are still a lot of meaningful trades that Chris gets and the White Sox can make at this deadline to improve the fortunes of this ball club long-term. I think there is still peak value left with each one of those players when it comes to waiting into the winter, and I think the asking price, you do not want to back down on your asking price for either one of these guys considering the importance that that trade would make, or would mean rather to the long-term of this franchise, and I think that because there are so many different criteria and caveats that go into each player, I think they happen in the off-season if they happen. - What's likely to happen? Soto stays with the Yankees or Alonso stays with the Mets? - Oh, I'm gonna go with Soto stays with the Yankees? I'm gonna go with Soto stays with the Yankees because... Well, now, see, I was gonna say it's because of his age, but I guess Alonso's age probably makes him more palatable to stay in the place. I'm gonna go with Soto stays with the Yankees just because the money's there and you can see what that offense needs, right? I mean, like that, it's Soto, it's Soto, it's Soto, it's Joto, it needs to be there, and then the Yankees need to feel out what the rest of that offense looks like. I think it's gonna be Soto. - Why'd you do that? I gave you a great question. I gave you a good chest pass, and then you just fumbled it out of bounds. Why'd you do that? - Yeah, but the shot went up, but the shot went up, right? - Sure. - And that important shot went up. - Good salient quality, restaurant quality baseball conversation, he does that, with judge, Soto. - Love it. - Alonso. - It's great to be here. - And point for salient, and point for salient. - And Sierra. (laughs) ♪ Rattle, rattle, thunder, batter, boom, boom, boom ♪ ♪ Don't worry, call the car X name ♪ - And as Connor McKnight brought to you by Access Community Health at every age through every stage, Access Community Health Network is your family's medical home. - I was thinking of a different Sierra. - Thank you, Connor. - Yeah. - See you, Connor. Two minutes, we'll give you a shot of no shot.