Monday marked the first day on Chicago’s Sports Radio 670 The Score without Dan Bernstein on the roster since 1995. Notably, it was announced on Friday afternoon that Bernstein had exited the station following a social media incident with a follower. The situation began when Bernstein posted a picture of a large fish, writing that it was “a helluva fight.” This prompted a follower to claim that the fish was a pregnant northern pike.
As the exchange escalated, Bernstein faced criticism for allegedly killing the fish. In response, he engaged in a heated back-and-forth with the follower, ultimately threatening them to a fight and potentially doxxing the individual. Following the incident, Bernstein was off the air last week, leading to Friday’s official announcement from Mitch Rosen, the vice president and brand manager of 670 The Score. In the statement, Rosen confirmed that Bernstein and The Score had parted ways.
To open Monday’s program, co-hosts Marshall Harris and Leila Rahimi addressed Bernstein leaving The Score, spending the first segment discussing what Rahimi termed “the elephant in the room.”
“I think I learned a lot in a short amount of time. I can call Dan Bernstein, not only a co-host and a partner in this industry, but also, honestly, a friend,” said Harris. “He’s someone who is super supportive of me from day one, and so I appreciate that. And it’s like I said, it’s unfortunate that our time together has come to an end.”
For over ten minutes, Harris and Rahimi acknowledged that while they could not speak directly about the incident involving Bernstein on social media, they also would not avoid discussing the impact Dan Bernstein had as a person and broadcaster.
“I understand that this brings a lot of emotion. It does for us as well,” said Rahimi. “I think it would be insensitive to not acknowledge it, but Dan, whether or not people want to admit it, was one of the most influential hosts in the country. Dan’s words just didn’t carry weight. I feel like they could move forces, and I know that’s a big reason why a lot of people listen to us. It’s a big reason why a lot of people listen to The Score.”
Building on that sentiment, Harris reflected on his time working alongside Bernstein. After auditioning for the role and working with several other talents at the station, Harris ultimately landed as Bernstein’s co-host.
“Dan was actually the last person I was actually on with, and we worked together for seven straight days,” noted Harris. “By the end of that time, I was asked to be his full-time partner. It was only six months, but I learned so much from the man. People often ask me, what was Dan like? How is it working with Dan? Some variation of those things, and the past tense has only come this past weekend.”
Despite the circumstances, Harris expressed appreciation for his time with Bernstein while also reinforcing the idea that no one individual is greater than the station itself.
“No one host is bigger than the station and the institution itself,” said Harris. “I respect the fact that Dan Bernstein will go down as one of the people who helped build it into the powerhouse and the beast that it is today. Which I’m happy to work for. You can’t tell the story of Chicago radio without the name Dan Bernstein. He is a radio legend that’s indisputable because of the effect that he’s had on so many people and the way he’s shaped the bigger picture for so many fans of sports and really Chicago.”
As of now, there has been no official word from Audacy or 670 The Score management regarding who will become Harris’s full-time co-host. However, The Score’s website has already updated the show’s name in the daypart to Score Middays.
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