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Pat Benkowski R.I.P.

Posted by Media Reader <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=Media+Reader' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 11, 2026, 4:14 pm

A little bit from the obit:

Pat’s career in broadcasting became the defining passion of his life. Throughout the 1980s and 90s, he worked at SportsPhone, Q101, WMET, and Channel 5 News, becoming a recognized voice in Chicago sports media. He later created his own broadcasting company and produced the Benkowski Sports Spotlight TV show, further cementing his status as a charismatic fixture of the local sports scene.

Link: Pat obituary

Re: Pat Benkowski R.I.P.

Posted by detectivetom <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=detectivetom' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 11, 2026, 8:56 pm, in reply to "Pat Benkowski R.I.P."

The first one to greet him at the pearly gates was fellow Sportsphone alum, Les Grobstein.

I remember it well. The number was 976-1313, I think. No need to dial area code in those days as everything was 312.

Prior to Sportsphone, one had to call a recorded message at the sports departments of Tribune and Sun Times.

Re: Pat Benkowski R.I.P.

Posted by ABRockNJock <iframe src='https://members.boardhost.com/chicagomediachat/info/user=ABRockNJock' width='330' height='300' border=0 style='border:none;'> on February 12, 2026, 12:58 pm, in reply to "Re: Pat Benkowski R.I.P."

If I remember correctly, Pat Benkowski also had his own production company which produced some 1,500 episodes of his "Pat Benkowski Sports Spotlight" which used to air on the long, since defunct SportsChannel Chicago some 35-40 years ago. This was well before Comcast SportsNet Chicago, NBC Sports Chicago & even the current CHSN and Marquee Sports Network.

I found this episode on YouTube. It dates back to 1988 with former Bears' left tackle Jim Covert. Check out the production quality...Or maybe lack thereof:

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