So it is a four-hour show. We like to call it our five-hour day because we got our podcast that we drop after the program.

But we start hour number three. And I'm pumped to say we are joined right now by a sports-oistrated senior baseball writer.

He is an MLB Network insider, a Fox Sports MLB reporter, a five-time Emmy Award winner, a three-time winner of the National Sports Writer of the Year award, and a best-selling author whose books include The Cubs Way. We are joined by Tom Verducci. Tom, I know that it is an absolutely crazy week. I really appreciate you, and I really appreciate you making time. How you doing, Tom? I'm doing great. Yeah, it's a great week, man. The trade deadline, don't forget, we also have the Speedway Classic game on Saturday, which is going to be tremendous eye candy, by the way. Can't wait for that one. That is going to be cool. So it's a crazy, crazy week and a lot going on. So I hate to bring us down with one question, but as great a week as this is, it's also a really

sad week in the sense that Hall of Fame of Ryan Sandberg passed away Monday at the age of 65.

What kind of memories do you have of covering the 10-time All-Star, who really was the quintessential

five-tool player?

Yeah, just a pleasure to be around, Jim.

I mean, just a gentleman, so humble, as you mentioned, this guy could do anything on a baseball field.

And I tell people, when you think about what the Cubs are today, which is a huge national brand, you know, packed rooftops, packed restaurants and bars, the neighborhood jumping, you can trace it back to 1984, really, because that was the first year the Cubs ever drew

two million people.

They shed the lovable losers tag.

And it was Ryan Sanber, was the MVP of that year.

Of course, the Sanberg game, which was in June of that year of 84.

Actually, that was a Saturday game of the week, Jim,

and that was four days after Chicago Bulls drafted a number of another 23, Michael Jordan.

You talk about two guys that influenced sports in that town, culture in that town.

You know, Ryan Sandberg was the one who I thought brought just class and dignity and just

one of the best second basement of all time.

But I think about the man himself, the guy who was so humble, when he wanted to manage him

with a Hall of Fame resume, he didn't wait for somebody to knock down his door.

He went down to the minor leagues to earn his way back.

That was really impressive.

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