As I type this, it’s about 1:15 a.m. I took the day off from work to catch up on stuff. As I was settling in for the night, I was watching the Blackhawks. I get a text from a friend halfway through the game notifying me that Terry Boers passed today.
My heart dropped.
This hurts me big time. I know Terry wasn’t doing well. I was going to mention this a few months back and it skipped my mind. But I have been hooked on Dan Bernstein’s podcasts with Matt Abbatacola because Dan seems like his old self again doing that and it reminds me of the old days of The Score. When that podcast first started in late August, Terry Boers was on the show to talk to Dan and Matt. It was just like the old days. It made me smile listening to that.
I may have mentioned this in past posts about The Score. But I first heard of the station in 2000 when it went to 670 AM. I was 14 at the time. The first few years, I listened every once in a while not knowing the names of the hosts. Just listening. But in 2003 or so, I started listening much more. And by 2005/2006, it was appointment listening. At that time, I was in college. I listened to the station religiously. In my car during breaks between classes and other times, in the computer lab with my headphones in. Sometime shortly thereafter, my broke ass bought one of those generic radio Walkman’s to have it on while I was doing things around home. Terry Boers was a huge reason for that.
Boers and Bernstein were listened to first during middays (10:00-2:00?). Then they went to 2:00-6:00. From then on, it was a big part of my life. I cannot tell you the amount of times I lost my shit laughing at everything they were saying. From interrupting callers to insult them to cracking up themselves during “scoreboard updates”, it was fucking awesome. George Ofman and Chris Rongey were always part of the updates and had so much trouble getting through it because Boers and Bernstein were fucking with them. Abbatacola and Jason Goff were the producers of that show. It was “the inmates running the asylum” and in the best of ways.
I started calling The Score around 2005 and the first one was to Boers and Bernstein. And yes, both were very dismissive about my points on the Cubs that year. I said something along the lines of the season was already over in May of that year and they seemed to think I was an idiot. I found it frustrating at that moment thinking I was the dumbass because they made me feel that. Later on, I started calling more and it was much easier. I had several “craps” for famous people. I sometimes called during that segment as I was delivering food for a restaurant I worked at. I also called just to scream at why the Bears sucked.
So as you can see, nothing much has changed in that aspect. No other clip will ever be as great as Mike Ditka asking Terry “Who ya crappin’?” after Boers asked him about whether or not he had any “fire.” After that, it’s where the phrase “FIRE AND PASSION” was talked about more. Boers and Bernstein would roast any caller saying the coach or player they are calling about isn’t a good one because they don’t have “the fire and passion” that some other coaches may have. Even when you post on this very thread, I have the phrase “SHOW DA FIRE AND PASSION, MY FRENDT!” That’s exactly where it came from. And when our loyal reader Chucky says “Hello fitness friend”, that’s also a reference to the Boers and Bernstein. Although I just prefer “hello, friend” because I would sometimes start off one of my calls to them saying that. “Love ya show, love ya suit.” I still don’t get that quote. But it cracks me up.
Another thing that cracked me up were the ads for products that are more “sensual”. I think it was a product called “Pajama Gram” where it would be products for men to get their ladies for Valentine’s Day. These were fucking hilarious. The ad would go as normal talking about the products that will make her want you. Then at the end, it would end with “get it all pajamagram.com…and tell them The Score sent you and that Boers and Bernstein want to give you smooches.” Dan said that once. Then an ad sometime shortly after, Boers read one. At the end, Boers said and I quote, “Tell them The Score sent you and that Boers and Bernstein want to rub hot oil all over you.” 20-year old me just fucking lost it after that. I also can’t forget about the “David Hochberg” ads they would read as well. Just outstanding.
There are many old clips of “Boers and Bernstein” on YouTube. I feel as if I may go back and listen to some of that. I did find my voice on one of Mike Murphy’s segments back then. “Heyyyy…I like your angle.” Boers and Bernstein roasting Murph all the time was outstanding radio. While I was one of the few who also liked Murph, I didn’t understand it at first. But as the years went on and the stories were coming out, I understood why they couldn’t stand him. But regardless, the entire station was amazing at that time.
In 2008, I actually drove to Blues Bar in Mt. Prospect for The Score’s 15th anniversary show. Later that night, there was a snow storm and it took me about two hours to get home. It was worth it. I was there for about five hours. I got to see a few of their shows live and yes, even got a chance to shake Terry Boers’ hand and ask him some stupid question about Illini basketball (can Bruce Weber recruit?).
As you can see from these experiences, Terry Boers on the radio was a big part of my life. Him and Bernstein got me through some very tough days in college. I would be working multiple jobs at a time and going to school as well. Broke, tired, etc. And when Chicago sports was REALLY bad, they made it hurt a little less. And those Thursday and Friday Fung segments were fucking hilarious and took my mind off things.
I cannot finish this piece without mentioned “Larry Horse.” Yes, a caller once mentioned that name during a “Who Ya Crappin’?” segment and both Boers and Bernstein were puzzled. The caller legitimately thought Terry’s name was “Larry Horse”. I didn’t listen to that segment live. But them replaying over and over throughout the years cracked me up.
“Larry Horse” became a folk hero. So much so, that on this very site, Chucky told me all those years ago to make a sign about Larry Horse wanting a title shot to get on TV during a WWE show. I obliged. In fact, four different occasions (seen below) in 2011 and 2014, I got signs on referencing Larry. And both times, Boers and Bernstein mentioned it on their show. I felt honored and wanted to get them to chuckle.
We love Larry Horse and will miss him. And we will miss his beard, too. BY CRACKY!
Fire Ryan Poles | Fire Ben Johnson 
January 24, 2026 at 7:18 pm
Oh man, this hurts more than I thought it ever could. I feel your pain too, Fro. I’m right with you on that. Terry Boers was the very best the Score ever had, by far. I guess I’ve been listening a little longer than you, because I remember listening to Terry and Dan McNeil, the heavy fuel crew, back in the day. It was, I think, during their 820 AM days, when they’d have to sign off at sundown because their broadcast license only permitted them to broadcast sunrise to sunset. In the winter they’d claim that they 820 AM, The Score, Chicago, the official home of the Dallas Mavericks! That was because on a clear night 820 AM Dallas would actually come in! I’m sitting in my car in Crystal Lake, listening to the Score sign off, then 820 AM Dallas would come in clear as a bell. The good old days.
Fro, do you remember how Bernstein HATED taking calls from anyone named Bob? That was hilarious! You also mentioned “Who ya Crappin'” and “Friday Fung”, but do you remember a once-a-year segment (that stretched for a couple of days) called “Who Do You Love”, that took place right before the NFL draft? That was must listen to radio if there ever was such a thing! Fans would call in, give the name of some college player that they thought should be drafted. Then some goofy, hilarious sound bite would play, then Dan would run down the players good points, play another sound bite, and list his bad points. I never missed it; it was that good.
Fro, you also mentioned how you started listening in 2000. Back in 2004, I remember an incident that absolutely pissed me the fuck off, and if I’m remembering correctly, pissed off Terry as well. Doug Buffone had a time slot during the day, I forget the hours, but he co-hosted it with one (P)Rick Telander. That fucking jag-off Telander just up and quit the show, on-air, and left Buffone completely stunned and confused. I swear I remember Terry tearing Telander a new asshole for doing that. Terry and Dan both loved Doug Buffone and felt that it was total disrespect on Telander’s part, and I totally agree. Since then, Telander has been on my shit list, and he will NEVER come off of it.
Boers and Bernstein was a great show, back when most of that station was worth listening to. Today they don’t even qualify as shell of its former self. Mitch Rosen was/is an idiot. He’s mistreated some of the greatest talent in Chicago, like Bernstein, who when paired with Boers, was tremendous, Jason Goff, who was just simply wonderful on the mic, and very, very underrated, Matt “Drinky” Abbatacola, who was, in my opinion, a natural. He seemed so comfortable subbing for one of the guys. And Rosen has handled some of the worst talent like they were royalty. Guys like Mike North, who openly admired Mafia kingpins, and was an asshole in his own right, Mike Murphy (out in San Francisco. NOT FAR ENOUGH!!!) who was, for lack of a better word, a fucking hack, Matt Speigel who is, as far as I’m concerned useless. Right now, the only guy there worth listening to is Steve Rosenbloom, and he’s been relegated to midday Saturday’s, and holidays. Rosie deserves better. And so does Terry Boers, a man who brought true happiness and joy to a block of sports fans who really had very little to cheer for.
One more memory, if I may. Fro, do you remember the rather heated discussion Terry had, along with Brian Hanley, another mistreated talent, with Hawk Harrelson, over comments Harrelson made the night before about having to be an athlete to understand baseball? I somehow managed to download it and put it on a CD. Harrelson was such a…….dope.
It’s a sad day today, for many reasons. I only hope Terry went peacefully, and without pain. RIP my friend. I’ve missed you since the day you retired, and I know that our guardian of the darkest corner of the internet, Northside Fro Dog misses you too.
Thanks Fro, for posting this. It was the first that I’d heard about it. I hope you’re not too upset with me for the long post. But I kind of needed to under the circumstances.
January 25, 2026 at 10:29 pm
Chuckster!
You don’t need to apologize for anything. Just speak your mind.
I didn’t know much about sports radio before it went to 670 AM. All I listened to and knew of at that time was 670 when it was WMAQ (they had the Bulls on at that time as well as the Blackhawks). I listened to 720 and 780 quite a bit more than 670.
Yep. The calls from people named Bob was hilarious. “Is it okay to take a call from a Bob?” And yes, I remember that segment as well with the NFL prospects. They later called it “Who’s your guy?”
I do remember The Rick Telander show Mulligan and Buffone. Did he really quit on the air? I don’t remember those details. And I miss Buffone and O’Bradovich at night talking football during the one or two years the Bears were somewhat relevant. I also miss Hanley. I am still annoyed at that switch years ago. Mulligan wasn’t that bad with Hanley. But I refuse to listen to him and David Huh? in the mornings now. Kap and J-Hood on ESPN 1000 is way better. And to answer your other question, I don’t remember the issues they had with Hawk. Obviously, they made fun of him quite a bit for a lot of his odd quotes on the air.
You should definitely listen to Bernstein and Abattacola on YouTube. I’ve been hooked on it and it does take me back a bit. They did have Boers on when they first started it in August/September. All of us could tell Terry didn’t look good. But he was still in good spirits.
January 26, 2026 at 10:53 am
Hello Friend
I forgot to thank you for the shout out in your post, so, I now say…..THANK YOU!!! I’m honored that you have allowed me to vent my rage and endlessly rant the way I have. Sometimes my anger does get the better of me, and I end up going off like a roman candle. You, and everyone else here have even tolerated my vulgar language. I absolutely appreciate.
I’m also honored that you made those signs for those WWE shows. I wish I could afford to go with you, but $1800 a month in disability payments only go so far. One more thing: You know about CM Punk’s and AJ Lee’s dog Larry, who sadly had to be out down. I always thought the Punk named him after Larry Horse. Turns out I was wrong. He was named after Larry Talbot, I.E. The Wolfman, from the old Lon Chaney Jr. movies. Another instance where I’m wrong.
I remember the Telander incident vividly. I was working my first job after graduating from Devry University, and I was on a cigarette break. It was June of 2005, so the weather was ok. So, I’m sitting in my car having a smoke, and Prick Telander and Dougie was doing their show, and he just announces he is quitting immediately at the end of the show. Buffone was virtually speechless, if you can imagine that, but he was clearly pissed. I couldn’t blame him one bit. It was a bullshit move on his part. Turns out he couldn’t handle the radio show and his other job as a Chicago Sun-Times columnist. I have to admit; I missed him like a head cold. He was just brutally terrible as co-host. But anyone with a modicum of decency and class would give a week or two weeks’ notice before leaving. But then again, we’re talking about Prick Telander.
By the way, do you happen to remember “Beardy McWeirdington”? (BY CRACKY!!!!) That was another name than was mentioned on B & B, and a name that’s severely underrated.