"Big Dogg" Joel Radwanski was born and raised in Chicago, but he spent his high school years at Downers Grove North. He’s a hardcore fan of the Cubs, Bears, Bulls and the Fighting Illini.

David Kaplan of WGN discovered Joel in 2001 selling shoes at Nordstrom on Michigan Ave. After interning at WGN, Joel did a Saturday afternoon show called “The Thirty Minute Shot Clock” on 1240am. This was the summer of 2002 and where the connection of the “Coach” and the “Big Dog” began. In September of that year, Joel began co-hosting on “The Morning Break” with Coach. Since then Coach has been spreading the truth and Joel has been passing the gas.

Joel is a true walking sports almanac. There isn’t a league champion or Mvp that he hasn’t pondered as he dreamt himself to sleep. He was able to cash in on his expertise by becoming the all-time money winner on the ESPN TV game show, “Stump the Schwab.” Many early fans of “The Morning Break” may recall his bit “Stump the Pole.” This was a take off of WGN’s DR. Stupid. The game is to stump Joel with any sports trivia after 1980. Believe it or not he came up with the name before ESPN’s “Stump the Schwab” I guess Coach was right, they were listening.

Sports are not the only things that occupy Big Dog’s mind. He is a Patriot and believes in the ideals of a free capitalist society. He hopes that one day American businesses can defeat Global warming and a dependence on foreign fuel by coming up with a renewable energy source.