FOJ 27 - Portillos, Trans Athletes, Coaching Kids, and Game of Thrones

Jeff and Jason are back on the couch for FOJ27, chopping it up on everything from deep Chicago eats to deep sports takes. They kick things off with a passionate love letter to Portillo’s (hot dogs, cheese fries, and yes, chocolate cake), then dive into Jason's sports betting "retirement strategy" — a system built on betting against the White Sox and for the Dodgers.From there, it’s a journey through the Bulls' “basketball hell,” the Blackhawks' youth movement, Travis Hunter’s NFL two-way dreams, and whether Shedeur Sanders' jersey retirement was a bit premature.But it’s not just sports — the guys dig into the John Oliver segment on trans athletes, the Savannah Bananas revolutionizing baseball, and how youth coaching is more about shaping kids than chasing wins. This one’s equal parts hilarious, thoughtful, and downright classic FOJ.Timestamps:00:00 – FOJ27: Back on the Couch01:00 – Portillo’s Orders & Midwest Food Culture06:00 – Betting Against the Sox, For the Dodgers: Jason’s “Strategy”12:30 – Bulls in Play-In Purgatory + “Basketball Hell”15:45 – Bedard, the Blackhawks, and Building Around Youth21:00 – Sports Contracts 101: NHL, NBA, MLB Differences23:40 – Can Travis Hunter Really Go Two-Way in the NFL?30:00 – Shedeur Sanders’ Jersey Retired?!33:00 – John Oliver, Trans Athletes & The High School Sports Line48:00 – Jason’s First Real Exposure to the LGBTQ+ Community56:00 – High School Sports: Elite or Developmental?01:03:00 – Coaching 13-Year-Olds: It's Not About the Wins01:08:30 – Torpedo Bats, Savannah Bananas, and Baseball as Theater01:11:45 – Would You Go to a Bananas Game?Keywords:FOJ Podcast, Chicago Sports, Portillo’s Review, Sports Betting Strategy, Bulls Play-In, Blackhawks Bedard, Travis Hunter NFL, Shedeur Sanders Jersey, John Oliver Transports, Trans Athletes Debate, Youth Sports Coaching, LGBTQ+ Exposure, Savannah Bananas Baseball, Torpedo Bats, Midwest Culture, Betting Retirement Plan, Coaching Tips, Youth Baseball, FOJ27