Time Out, episode 102

This tape features a 1984 episode of "Time Out," a weekly sports program that is hosted by a number of Chicago area journalists and sportscasters. This week's commentators are John Schulian of the Chicago Sun-Times, Kenny McReynolds, a WBMX Sportscaster and Assistant Coach for DePaul University's Men's Basketball team, WIND Reporter Fran Spielman, and former NBA star John Mengelt. On this episode, Reggie Theus of the Chicago Bulls is interviewed. Bill Veeck also appears.

00:00Copy video clip URL This video begins with a black screen and a number of promo spots.

00:39Copy video clip URL Cut to the intro segment for “Time Out.”

01:01Copy video clip URL Dissolve into a shot of a neon sign that hangs on a wall of the set. The camera pans over to a shot of Schulian, McReynolds, Spielman, and Mengelt talking sports over a few beers. The four first discuss drug testing in professional sports, specifically about Chicago Cubs General Manager Dallas Green and his enforcement of strict drug tests on Cubs players. Schulian states that it is a violation of an individual’s rights. Spielman believes that Green is taking the right approach with a “heavy handed attitude.” Mengelt talks about the use of steroids in professional sports. The four go on to talk about the effects of drug use in amateur sports as well.

06:22Copy video clip URL Cut to a commentary on drug testing in amateur sports from Bill Veeck. He discusses the NCAA’s slap on the wrist approach to enforcing drug testing on players.

07:57Copy video clip URL Cut back over to the four commentators. They go on to talk about the Chicago Bulls’ treatment of player Reggie Theus. Bulls management had said that they planned to trade him, but ended up benching him for the first half of the 1983-1984 season. This leads into an interview between Schulian and Theus about his experience with the team.

08:45Copy video clip URL When asked how it feels to go from being an All-Star to an outcast on the Bulls team, Theus expresses uncertainty about the situation. “That’s a difficult question for me. I don’t know. The problem has been basically the lack of responsibility that they’ve [Bulls management] taken in the situation. They’ve let it perpetuate into something that is bigger than basketball.” Theus talks about the lack of camaraderie within the organization. He also relates a specific incident in which his consecutive games played streak was deliberately broken by Head Coach Kevin Loughery. “The day before my streak was broken, and I’ve never said this before… The day before my streak was broken, I talked to Rob Thorn [Bulls General Manager] and told him the only thing that Kevin hasn’t tried to do is break my streak. The very next day, he broke my streak. That to me showed that there had to be a deliberate thing done there.” Theus goes on to say more about Loughery’s actions. “He still has not given a valid reason for this happening, none that would be acceptable in anybody’s book, because the real story hasn’t been told. ” Schulian goes on to ask Theus about the notion that the team has “cheapened” Theus as a trade prospect. Theus states that the situation will not jade him in any way because of his love for the game. Schulian asks Theus hypothetically whether Theus would be able to forgive and forget the past if Loughery were to start playing him again. Theus states, “You know my love for Chicago is so intense that my first reaction would be, ‘Oh great.’ It would be difficult for me to say, you know, ‘Screw you.’ But the fear that I have is that if they allowed it to get to this point once, would I always be scrutinized so thoroughly that I would never be able to play freely. And that’s a tough thing because I am the type of player that needs to be under control, feeling confident, almost a little cocky on the floor because I need that edge. … I have to be able to feel that I can take a chance if I need to.” Theus goes on to talk about his view that one should present himself professionally when going to work. Theus had been known to dress very well, showing up to games in a suit and tie. However, because of the stress of his recent situation, Theus began to show up for games in workout clothes. For Theus, this was an indication of his distancing himself from the situation. “And when I started coming to the stadium in a sweat suit, not caring what was going on, I knew that my wall was so thick and that I had removed myself emotionally from a lot of what was going on. And that was pretty dramatic. I had to go home and think about that one.”

15:22Copy video clip URL Cut back to the four commentators who discuss their thoughts on the exile of Reggie Theus from the Chicago Bulls team. All four agree that Theus was being treated unfairly and weigh in on the matter. They then play some clips of interviews with Chicagoans on the subject.

16:49Copy video clip URL Amidst the soft rumble of the Billy Goat Tavern, Chicagoans put forth their views of Reggie Theus and the Chicago Bulls. Many believe Theus is getting a raw deal. Some believe that Theus shouldn’t be playing with the Bulls at all. A woman amusingly states that Theus is “good looking” and that she would like to meet him.

17:49Copy video clip URL Cut back to the studio where the four commentators continue to talk about Theus. Shortly afterwards, Mengelt introduces a segment with Bill Veeck on baseball expansion and spring training.

18:13Copy video clip URL Cut to a shot of a sign that reads, “58 Days until Opening Day.” The camera cuts over to a shot of Bill Veeck at TJ’s Bar in Hyde Park. Veeck is speaking with Chicago Tribune Sports Writer Jerry Holtzman and NBC Sportscaster Al Lerner about expansion in MLB baseball. Holtzman talks about the possible induction of six new teams into the MLB by 1990. Veeck asks Holtzman where he thinks the new ball players will come from. Holztman says that most will come from the Triple A farm teams. Lerner responds to this by asking, “So you’re going to say that we’re going to have six more teams of Cubs throughout the Major Leagues?” Veeck quickly retorts by saying, “Oh it’s not going to be that bad.” He goes on to cite that fans do recognize poor playing when they see it and can decide to not attend ball games in response to that. Veeck brings up the possibility of creating a new baseball league made up of the best players from Japan and Central America. Both Lerner and Holtzman seem to be opposed to that idea, arguing that if fans aren’t going to pay money to see a new MLB team, why would they pay money to see a team in an entirely new league? Holtzman says that the creation of a new league could destroy Japanese baseball. Lerner talks about the logistics that would get in the way of the creation of a new league, such as travel time back and forth to the other countries where the teams would be playing. The three go on to talk about the potential buyers of the expansion ball clubs. Lerner calls the buying of an expansion team “the height of idiocy.” Veeck, however, says that those buyers would get some sort of return off of the purchase. He goes on to showcase his point about creating a new league within MLB. The segment ends shortly afterwards.

25:49Copy video clip URL Cut back over to the four commentators discussing the thought of new expansion teams making their way into baseball. They go on to make a couple of predictions about that week’s sporting events in and outside of Chicago. The credits begin to roll shortly afterwards. A number of promos roll for the duration of the tape.

30:08Copy video clip URL Tape ends.