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Why Fundamentals Still Matter in Baseball | The Shawn Mackey Show S.3 Ep.4

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I’ll be honest—there’s nothing better than talking baseball with someone who truly understands the game. In Season 3, Episode 4 of The Shawn Mackey Show , I brought on my first guest of the season, Robert “Soup” Campbell, and we dove deep into everything from old-school baseball fundamentals to the modern-day obsession with launch angles. Robert and I go way back, and when it comes to sports—especially baseball—we’re like brothers from another mother. This episode felt natural, authentic, and exactly what I want this show to be about: real conversations, real knowledge, and real passion for the game. We started by breaking down Robert’s journey—from being a Division II ballplayer to getting a shot with the Reds. That alone tells you the guy knows what he’s talking about. But what really stood out to me was how aligned we are when it comes to philosophy. Fundamentals. That’s the word that kept coming up over and over again. In today’s MLB, it feels like fundamentals are becoming a...
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Cubs Questions, WBC Drama & Bears Rebuild Talk | Season 3 Episode 3

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 This week on The Shawn Mackey Show , I found myself diving headfirst into uncertainty—and honestly, that’s the theme right now for both the Chicago Cubs and the Chicago Bears. Let’s start with the Cubs, because the biggest concern right now is Seiya Suzuki. After his injury in the World Baseball Classic, we’re stuck in a frustrating “wait and see” situation. There hasn’t been imaging yet, and that alone is enough to make any fan uneasy. Knee injuries are tricky, and even something as simple as a bruise can linger longer than expected. At this point, Opening Day availability is a real question mark. And that leads to a bigger issue—depth in the outfield. If Suzuki misses time, now we’re looking at guys like Dylan Carlson, Michael Conforto, and even Matt Shaw potentially stepping into larger roles. That changes everything. What once felt like competition now feels like necessity. Speaking of the World Baseball Classic, I’ve got mixed feelings. It’s incredible to watch the best pl...
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Spring Training Concerns, Chicago Bears Moves & The Reality of Running a Solo Sports Podcast

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  Season three of The Shawn Mackey Show is officially underway, and I’ve got to be honest with you—I dropped the ball a little bit on the premiere episode. I had created new graphics, updated visuals, and planned some cool features for the show. But when it came time to edit the episode, the image file wasn’t sized correctly, and everything got cut off. That meant I had to rebuild the graphic from scratch. When you run a podcast solo like I do, with a full-time job on top of it, stuff like that happens. I don’t have a production crew or a fancy studio. It’s just me doing the editing, producing, recording, and promoting. But the truth is, I love doing it. I love sitting down each week, sharing my opinions, and talking sports with you. And eventually, I hope more of you jump into the conversation. Spring Training: Hope or Cause for Concern? Spring training in Major League Baseball is always tricky to evaluate. The games don’t count, lineups are constantly rotating, and you see ...
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Season 3 Begins: Cubs Offseason Moves, Alex Bregman Controversy & The Chicago Bears Stadium Debate

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  Season three of The Shawn Mackey Show is officially underway, and I wanted to kick things off by expanding the show into more of a traditional sports format. Instead of focusing on just one topic every episode, I’m going to start mixing in multiple sports discussions—from the Chicago Cubs and MLB to the Chicago Bears and the NFL. So with that in mind, let’s dive into the first big topics of Season 3: the Chicago Cubs offseason moves and the ongoing Chicago Bears stadium saga . Evaluating the Chicago Cubs Offseason Now that we’re into March and spring training is underway, the big question is simple: Did the Cubs actually have a successful offseason? That answer isn’t completely clear yet. There were some moves that I absolutely loved, and others that left me scratching my head. Phil Maton: A Bullpen Upgrade with a Local Connection One of my favorite signings this offseason was relief pitcher Phil Maton . What makes this move even more interesting to me is the local connection. ...
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My Top Chicago Bears of All Time – And Why This Stadium Drama Has Me Fired Up

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This season two bonus episode of The Shawn Mackey Show was personal. Before we kick off season three, I wanted to put a bow on something that’s been rattling around in my brain for years—my all-time greatest Chicago Bears list based on the players and personalities I’ve actually witnessed in my lifetime. And yeah… I cheated a little. But when you’re talking about legends, history, and one of the most iconic franchises in the NFL, sometimes you’ve got to bend your own rules. #10 – Devin Hester Let’s start with electricity. The opening kickoff return in Super Bowl XLI. I still get chills thinking about it. One of the most explosive players I’ve ever seen. Special teams? Offense? Defense? It didn’t matter. Hester changed games. Period. And when he finally earned his Pro Football Hall of Fame induction in 2024, it felt right. Some guys are exciting. Some guys are clutch. Hester was both. #9 – Charles Tillman The Peanut Punch. Nobody did it better. Timing, awareness, physicality — that was...
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Super Bowl Recap & Chicago Bears Legends: Building Toward Season 3 of The Shawn Mackey Show

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  Season 2, Episode 25 marked the final episode of the season—and it delivered a mix of Super Bowl analysis, Chicago Bears history, and big announcements for Season 3 . From breaking down championship football strategy to honoring iconic Bears players who shaped a generation, this episode blended modern NFL insight with old-school defensive grit. As the show transitions into a more video-focused format, the future promises deeper analysis, graphics breakdowns, and even a Cubs vs. Cardinals rivalry segment with a new contributor. Let’s break it all down. This year’s Super Bowl reinforced a timeless football formula: Elite defense Ball control offense Minimize turnovers Take the points Seattle’s defense proved dominant, applying consistent pressure and forcing critical mistakes. While the opposing quarterback showed flashes, inconsistency and turnovers proved costly. On the other side, the offense stuck to fundamentals—run the ball, control possession, and capitalize ...
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Bears vs Rams Recap: What Season 2 Episode 24 Tells Us About the Chicago Bears’ Future

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The Chicago Bears’ season officially came to an end against the Los Angeles Rams, and while the loss stings,  Season 2 Episode 24 of The Shawn Mackey Show dives into why this game felt like both a success and a warning sign. The Bears went toe-to-toe with the number one scoring offense in the NFC and held the Rams to just 20 points . That alone says something about the growth of this defense. For the first time all season, it felt like Dennis Allen had his unit fully locked in, disciplined, and prepared for the moment. The Bears didn’t get blown out. They didn’t fold. They had multiple chances to win. And that’s exactly why this loss hurts. The turning point wasn’t effort — it was decision-making . Repeated fourth-down gambles by first-year head coach Ben Johnson left points on the field, and in a playoff-level game, that’s a risk Chicago fans don’t forgive easily. Three different drives ended without points when field goals were available. One successful conversion likely cha...
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