Beyond the Punchline: Life, Loyalty, and Sports

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What does true loyalty look like in today's world? Whether it's sticking with your heartbreaking hometown sports teams or staying at the same company for over three decades, John Middleton embodies a steadfast commitment that feels increasingly rare in our current culture.

In this engaging conversation with host Mike Bono, John shares the emotional rollercoaster of being a Cleveland sports fan—from the gut-wrenching "Drive" and "Fumble" eras through the Baker Mayfield years to the current Deshaun Watson debacle. "You have to be loyal," John insists. "I cannot go away from my hometown." This devotion extends beyond sports into his professional life, where he's built a 33-year career at Component Repair Technologies, rising from factory worker to visual dimensional inspector for jet engine parts.

The discussion takes a fascinating turn when Mike opens up about his 13-year journey as the self-described "angry white comic" navigating today's comedy landscape. Both men reflect on how growing up in close-knit families (Italian for Mike, Scottish for John) fostered the resilience needed to thrive in a world increasingly sensitive to humor. "I think if people just laughed more, we would be a much happier society," John observes.

Their conversation weaves through shared passions—from golf's unique appeal as an individual sport to the powerful pull of ancestral homelands. John's trips to Scotland have connected him with family and history, while Mike speaks of his future plans to visit Italy: "It's not if we go, it's when we go."

The episode concludes with John's simple yet profound advice: approach life positively and learn from every experience. As Mike notes, "Failure doesn't mean you lost, it just means you learned something." In a world fixated on constant change, there's something refreshing about celebrating the quiet dignity found in loyalty, perseverance, and maintaining a sense of humor through life's inevitable challenges.

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