May 30, 2025
Sports

I'm Just Saying....With Brian Bedo

By JEFF ARNOLD

Cary-Grove graduate Brian Bedo (left) has carried his passion for sports over to a career in broadcasting, working Bradley men's basketball games as well as calling college basketball and baseball at the mid-major conference level. (Photo provided)

Brian Bedo knew his competitive playing career was over once he graduated from Cary-Grove in 2003. But the lifelong sports enthusiast and Cubs fan who runs his own Cubs blog knew he wanted sports to be part of his future. After graduating from Bradley in 2007, Bedo now works as a part-time sports producer at WGN Radio and also calls college basketball and baseball games on television broadcasts on Comcast SportsNet Chicago at his alma mater and for other mid-major conferences.

When you call a game, I know it sounds like a cliche', but it doesn't seem like work. I'm a huge Cubs fan and so working on Cubs broadcasts is a lot of fun and getting to go work at Wrigley Field is a huge thrill. I love calling basketball for [Bradley]. I was a huge fan when I was there and that's continued. So I more or less feel like a fan with a microphone in front of me. But you have to be objective. When you're a broadcaster for a team as opposed to a network where you're completely unbiased, I think fans want you to want the team to win. You want to be energetic when things go well, but you have to be objective. You have to recognize good play on the other side and you have to be objective whether it be with referees and umpires because I feel if you're not objective and you speak with too much emotion, then you lose your credibility.

When I was growing up (playing) NBA Live '93 with Michael Jordan, I was the guy who always to hit the game-winning shot and always announce it. If he missed it, I hit the reset button and do it again. I'd do that with the Cubs, too – with them not having too many great teams. I know they haven't won a World Series since 1908, but in the '90s, I was a World Series broadcaster for every Cubs (video game) World Series team. I think they won in nine years in a row when I was playing the game. They nine-peated.

I did a (career day at C-G) two or three weeks ago and it was a little strange. I just had my 10-year reunion this summer and it doesn't seem like I've been that gone. But I loved that high school – even when I was going there. So I enjoyed my day going back even though it was a little awkward. I remember being 18 and being a senior and thinking, 'Let's just get through this year so I can go to college.' But it was good catching up with everyone. I had lunch with a couple of my baseball coaches and so even though it was a little strange going back, I had a great day.

I really haven't lost any of my fandom. I'm still the biggest Cubs fan in the world and I still love Bradley basketball because at the end of the day, I look back and why I joined the (broadcasting) field and it's because I love sports and I love these teams so much because otherwise, why would I be doing this? I understand (journalists lose the ability to be fans) almost all the time and, so I try and I do my best to realize why I do this in the first place. I'm still living on the edge of my seat with a lot of these games. So I haven't lost anything there. I try and do it less with the teams I'm covering or that I'm part of, but the teams that I'm not a part of, I definitely let the emotions out. I'm a Bulls season ticket holder, and I think they're going to win the NBA title this year because they have no flaws. So there are times when I allow myself to just be a fan.

• I'm Just Saying is a regular Sunday feature. If there's someone you would like to see featured here, write to me at jarnold@shawmedia.com or send me a message on Twitter @NWH_JeffArnold.