Episode 16 of the podcast is filled with a variety of content for you sports fans! Mark Hespen begins the show with his thoughts on last week's AAF league debut and then outlines the impact of the Joe Flacco trade in the NFL. Our sports reporter, Paul Mellema, then joins Mark to discuss news around the NBA, like the Bulls future and recent acquisition of Otto Porter, before transitioning into their feelings towards All-Star Weekend. They go on to wrap up their NBA talk with predictions towards different NBA awards that will be distributed at the end of the season. After that, Paul goes on to give his analysis of the NHL, and more specifically, the recent play of the Chicago Blackhawks and St. Louis Blues. The guys then end the show with MLB free agency and Chicago Cubs/Sox. Thanks for tuning in!

Episode 16: Macomb Region

For our 15th episode, Mark Hespen begins the show with his thoughts on the recent Super Bowl. Our sports reporter, Paul Mellema, then joins Mark for a lengthy discussion on the NBA Trade Deadline and how the rest of the league will be affected. That's all we got for this week, thanks for tuning in!

Episode 15: Macomb Region

On this week's episode of the podcast, Mark Hespen is joined by Paul Mellema and Thaddeus Fifer for a lengthy discussion about the upcoming Super Bowl. They voice their thoughts on both the New England Patriots and Los Angeles Rams as they prepare to face off on Sunday. The crew previews the anticipated matchup before making their final predictions. We end the episode with our surprise live reactions from the Kristaps Porzingis trade! Thanks for tuning in!

Episode 14: Macomb Region

We begin 2019 with a jam-packed episode full of guest interviews with WIU Baseball head coach, Ryan Brownlee, and our very own sports reporter, Paul Mellema as they sit down with our host Mark Hespen for exclusive studio interviews. Mark's first guest, Ryan Brownlee,joined mark earlier in the week on his morning show to discuss the upcoming WIU Baseball Leadoff Dinner, season, and expectations from players. After that, Paul joins Mark to talk Macomb Basketball, WIU Hoops, and their top NFL Predictions. Thanks for tuning in to episode 13! 
Times:
(2:23) Interview with guest Ryan Brownlee
(3:03) WIU Baseball Leadoff Dinner
(9:42) Upcoming season/ Return of experienced players
(12:45) Interview with guest, Paul Mellema
(13:45) Macomb Basketball Performance
(21:25) WIU Basketball
(26:30) WIU's very own Khalen Saunders 
(30:00) NFL Predictions
(39:00) MLB Free Agency

Episode 13: Macomb Region

Our very last episode of 2018 serves as the perfect segue into the holidays for all you local sports fans! Head coach of the Macomb Bombers varsity girls basketball team, Zach Keene, joins Mark Hespen for a lengthy interview about the team's recent performance as they move into the halfway point of the season. After that, Dan Vasko, sports reporter from WHBF of the Quad Cities, returns for his 2nd appearance to share thoughts on Da Bears, NFL Playoffs, and disappointing Chicago Bulls season so far. Mark then wraps the show up with his highly debatable list of top-5 Christmas movies! Thanks for tuning in and we'll see you in 2019!

Times:
(3:05) Interview with Coach Keene
(3:48) Rotation Questions
(6:05) Real-Life Lessons
(7:40) Senior Leadership
(8:45) Impact of Erika Dawson 
(10:00) Different Lineups
(11:45) Previous Performance against West Central
(13:56) Development of Younger Players
(16:00) Future of Macomb Basketball
(22:35) Interview with Dan Vasko
(23:10) Chicago Bears
(31:15) Rest of NFL
(38:55) Chicago Bulls Talk
(52:55) Mark's Top-5 Christmas Movies

Episode 12: Macomb Region

We have a bit of a different format for this week's show! Mark Hespen is joined by Paul Mellema and Thaddeus Fifer for a lengthy discussion about Macomb Basketball, WIU basketball, and the NFL. The guys go over some recent games for the local basketball teams and then move into a preview for upcoming NFL action this weekend. That pretty much wraps things up, thanks for tuning in!

Episode 11: Macomb Region

Episode 10 is already here! This week's podcast is filled with loads of basketball content at both the local and national level. Goalburn Reynolds joins Mark Hespen first to discuss WIU women's basketball and the NBA season so far. Paul Mellema then hops on the mic to provide his insight on the Men's Leatherneck Basketball squad and gives his opinion about the College Football Playoff. After that, Paul talks about the MLB off-season with Mark before special guest, Megann Horstead, from Chicago Bulls blog, Pippen Ain't Easy, joins the show to give her thoughts on the team. Mark then transitions into Macomb Bombers basketball until Thaddeus Fifer joins the show to preview the highly anticipated NFL Sunday night matchup between the Bears and Rams. Thanks for tuning in!

Times:
(2:20) WIU Women's Basketball with GB
(5:10) NBA Discussion
(12:50) WIU Men's Basketball with Paul
(19:00) College Football Playoff Thoughts
(27:45) MLB Off-season
(37:15) Bulls Talk with Megann Horstead
(46:53) Macomb Bombers Basketball 
(50:45) Bears vs. Rams Preview with Thaddeus Fifer

Episode 10: Macomb Region

This week's podcast is brought to you by The McDonough Democrat! On this episode, Mark Hespen is joined first by Paul Mellema to discuss WIU women's basketball, the MLB offseason, and NHL season so far. Goalburn Reynolds then comes on the show to talk about WIU men's basketball and the NBA with all the recent trades. After that, special guest, Cole Paxton, from the Daily Northwestern joins Mark via phone with his thoughts on the huge college gameday matchup between Ohio St. and Northwestern this weekend. To wrap the show up, Mark provides his weekly NFL Preview. 

Times: 
(2:40) WIU Women's Basketball
(7:15) MLB Offseason
(14:30) NHL Discussion
(21:00) WIU Men's Basketball
(30:35) Interview with Cole Paxton about Northwestern
(45:05) NFL Preview

Episode 9: Macomb Region

We have a special Thanksgiving edition of the podcast for this week brought to you by The McDonough Democrat! 

Mark Hespen is joined first by Paul Mellema via phone to discuss the end of the football season for WIU fans, along with the NFL. Mark dives deeper into the NFL and more specifically, Chicago Bears, with his next guest, Dan Vasko, who is the Weekend Sports Reporter for WHBF in the Quad Cities. After that, Thaddeus Fifer joins the show to preview the upcoming Thanksgiving Day games in the NFL. Thank you for tuning into episode 8 and don't forget to check out themcdonoughdemocrat.com to get all your favorite action photos by Dave Norton from Bushnell and West Prairie sports teams!

Times: 
(2:00) Interview with Paul Mellema concerning WIU/NFL
(12:08) Interview with Dan Vasko about Bears/NFL
(28:47) Thaddeus Fifer joins to discuss Thanksgiving NFL Games

Episode 8: Macomb Region - Thanksgiving Special

This week's edition of the podcast features Mark's special interview with writer Parker Hurley for Bearsgoggleson.com as they preview the Chicago Bears upcoming game against the Minnesota Vikings. Mark is also joined by Paul Mellema to preview the Bears, along with the Leathernecks as they prepare for Indiana State to come into town. Those guys go on to share their thoughts about the Bulls and Blackhawks before Goalburn Reynolds joins the show to discuss WIU Men's/Women's basketball and finishes up with an NBA Update. Thaddeus Fifer then returns to the show to talk with Mark about their NFL Locks, Upsets, and Must-Win games of the week. Thanks for tuning in this week! We have a special Thanksgiving edition of the podcast planned for next week, so make sure to check it out!

Episode 7: Macomb Region

Mark Hespen is joined by Paul Mellema and Goalburn Reynolds to discuss the upcoming Quarterfinal playoff game for Monmouth-Roseville as they travel to Herscher. Monmouth-Roseville Head Coach, Jeremy Adolphson, returns to the show and shares his thoughts on their matchup. WIU is also on the road in an important game against South Dakota as they start to make a playoff push. The crew previews that matchup, along with thoughts on the NHL, specifically Coach Q, and the NBA. Mark goes on to preview the Chicago Bears game, then Thaddeus Fifer joins the show to discuss NFL mid-season awards and make some bold predictions. Thanks for tuning in to episode 6!

Times:
(2:45) Monmouth-Roseville Preview
(5:35) Interview with Head Coach Jeremy Adolphson
(11:43) WIU Preview with Paul
(16:13) Blackhawks/Coach Q Discussion
(24:00) WIU Preview with GB
(26:07) NBA Talk
(30:25) Bears Preview
(37:12) NFL Awards Predictions

Episode 6: Macomb Region

We have a special show planned for this episode of the podcast! Head coach of Macomb High School Football, Tony Westen, joins us for a lengthy interview to discuss the season and moving into next year. Paul Mellema also provides an interview with head coach of Monmouth-Roseville, Jeremy Adolphson, as he looks forward to this week's playoff matchup against Eureka. The final interview is with Ben Pope, headwriter for Northwestern Football, as he talks with Mark about the big college gameday matchup between Northwestern and Notre Dame this weekend. Goalburn Reynolds and Paul go on to provide their usual insight about the respected high school matchups, as well as thoughts on WIU vs. SIU, the NBA, and NHL. Thaddeus Fifer then joins Mark to close out the show with a Bears Preview and a new segment called NFL Bold Predictions. Thanks for tuning in to episode 5!

Times:
(1:36) Interview with Head Coach Westen
(24:25) Illini West Preview
(27:04) WIU Preview with GB
(28:44) Thoughts on NBA Performances
(31:56) Monmouth-Roseville Preview
(33:55) Interview with Head Coach Adolphson
(38:25) WIU Preview with Paul
(40:40) NHL Talk
(46:00) Interview with Ben Pope
(56:00) Bears Preview/NFL Bold Predictions

Episode 5: Macomb Region

Mark Hespen, Paul Mellema, and Goalburn Reynolds discuss local high school football playoff games around the Macomb Region. Illini West hopes to stay undefeated against Mercer County, Monmouth-Roseville hosts Wilmington, and WIU will be visited by the #17 ranked Northern Iowa Panthers. Paul and Mark cover the Macomb girls volleyball regional final as well, and then get into their thoughts on the World series and Chicago Blackhawks. Thaddeus Fifer then provides his fantasy update and also joins Mark to talk about the NBA season. The show will finally wrap up with Mark's thoughts on the Chicago Bulls, Bears, and NFL as a whole. Special thanks to head coach of Monmouth-Roseville, Jeremy Adolphson, as well as Illini West head coach, Lyle Klein, for joining us on this episode. Thanks for tuning in!

Times:
(1:45) Macomb Volleyball
(3:02) Monmouth-Roseville Preview
(4:15) Interview with coach Jeremy Adolphson 
(9:07) WIU Preview with Paul
(12:50) World Series Thoughts
(17:34) Chicago Blackhawks 
(21:15) Illini West Preview
(22:13) Interview with coach Lyle Klein
(25:32) WIU Preview with GB
(29:56) Thaddeus Fifer's Fantasy Update
(37:15) NBA Talk
(50:15) Mark's thoughts on Bulls
(55:12) Bears/NFL Preview

Episode 4: Macomb Region

Mark Hespen, Paul Mellema, and Goalburn Reynolds discuss the local football games scheduled for this weekend around the Macomb Region. Monmouth-Roseville travels to Kewanee for a shot at home field advantage in the playoffs with a win, Rushville-Industry takes on Astoria at home, Illini West look to stay undefeated against a tough opponent in Elmwood/Brimfield, Macomb's last game of the season is a couple hours away against Mahomet-Seymour, and finally, WIU hopes to avoid a 2-5 hole as they travel to Missouri State to take on the (4-2) Bears. This week's episode then goes on to feature Paul's interviews with the head coaches of both Monmouth-Roseville and Rushville-Industry. Big thanks goes out to those respected coaches, Jeremy Adolphson and Bryan Lafferty, for joining us via phone during this busy week. The episode doesn't stop there, as Mark and his guests provide their opinions on the NHL and NBA early in the season. After that, Thaddeus Fifer returns on the podcast to provide his NFL fantasy update for Week 7. Mark then wraps this episode up with thoughts on Macomb's final game, the Chicago Bulls/NBA, and his NFL games of the week; along with a Chicago Bears preview against the Patriots. 

Thanks for tuning in to episode 3!

Times:
(2:05) Monmouth-Roseville Preview
(3:16) Paul's Interview with Head Coach, Jeremy Adolphson
(8:25) Rushville-Industry Preview
(9:38) Paul's Interview with Head Coach, Bryan Lafferty
(15:33) WIU Preview with Paul
(18:09) NHL/Blackhawks 
(22:25) Illini West Preview
(24:00) WIU Preview with GB 
(26:10) NBA Predictions
(30:30) Thaddeus Fifer's Fantasy Update
(42:08) Mark's Macomb Preview
(45:05) Mark's thoughts on Bulls/NBA
(53:45) Mark's NFL Games of the Week 
(57:00) Bears Preview

Episode 3: Macomb Region

Mark Hespen, Paul Mellema, and Goalburn Reynolds cover the busy upcoming weekend filled with significant matchups around the Macomb Region. Rushville-Industry takes on undefeated Illini West, Monmouth-Roseville travels to Princeton for a shot at the conference championship, and Macomb hosts upstate Richmond-Burton on Senior Night. The Leathernecks return home this week in search of a win, but it won't be any easier with #1 FCS ranked NDSU visiting Hanson Field. We also had Macomb head coach Tony Westen, WIU QB Sean McGuire, and Northwest Herald reporter, Joe Stevenson, join us via interview to discuss their thoughts on the respected matchups this weekend. To wrap up the show, Thaddeus Fifer provides his weekly fantasy update along with Mark Hespen's NFL picks of the week.
(1:43) Rushville-Industry vs. Illini West Preview with Paul 
(3:32) Monmouth-Roseville @ Princeton Preview with Paul
(4:30) Macomb vs. Richmond-Burton
(5:20) Paul's interview with Coach Westen
(9:07) WIU vs. NDSU Preview with Paul
(11:40) WIU QB Sean Mcguire Interview
(15:40) Rushville-Industry vs. Illini West Preview with GB
(18:37) WIU vs. NDSU Preview with GB
(21:08) Mark's Interview with  Joe Stevenson
(28:51) Mark's thoughts on Macomb vs. Richmond-Burton
(33:27) Thaddeus Fifer's Fantasy Update
(46:44) Mark Hespen's NFL Picks of Week 6

Episode 2: Macomb Region

Mark Hespen, Goalburn Reynolds, Paul Mellema, and Thaddeus Fifer cover local football in this episode. NBA and NHL news will also be discussed, along with NFL fantasy updates.

(1:25) Bushnell vs. Peoria Heights Football Preview

(3:40) WIU vs. ISU Preview with GB

(6:35) NBA Update

(9:30) Macomb vs. Quincy-Notre Dame Football Preview 

(14:37) WIU vs. ISU Preview with Paul

(20:45) NHL Update

(23:50) NFL Fantasy Update with Thaddeus Fifer

(42:40) Mark Hespen's Interview with Macomb High School Football Coach Westen 

(50:01) Mark Hespen's NFL game of the week

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