17th birthday

This is what he really wanted for his birthday, so I took him last night. Great game, but the end results were a little disappointing.

Free Kicks--Upset of the Year

The latest episode of Free Kicks is out. We've now started to give score predictions for our wagering friends. If you're a Premier League fan, check it out: https://radiomisfits.com/fk44/

Jimi

He was only 27 when he died, and he died on this day in 1970...

Strawberry Fields

The place that John Lennon sought refuge as a kid is finally opening to the public. Strawberry Fields is in Liverpool, and it inspired the Beatles song.

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see.

RIP Alex Grammas

On Friday September 13, we lost another ex-Cub. Alex Grammas played on the Cubs in 1962-1963, the last two seasons of his playing career. He later became a coach, and served on the staffs of two World Series champs (1975 Reds, 1984 Tigers). Here is his obit.

Here's his entry in Everycubever...

~Alex Grammas 1926--2019 (Cubs 1962-1963)
Grammas was a big league infielder for ten years, the last year and half of which were with the Cubs. He came to the Cubs (along with Don Landrum) from the Cardinals in the midst of the College of Coaches fiasco. The veteran glove man backed up young Cubs studs Ken Hubbs, Andre Rodgers, and Ron Santo. After his playing career he became a big league manager for the Pirates and Brewers.

Bobby & Chuck

Happy birthday to two Eckhartz Press authors today, Bobby Skafish and Chuck Quinzio. Best way to celebrate their birthday is to buy their incredible books ("We Have Company: Four Decades of Rock and Roll Encounters" and "Life Behind the Camera"). Both are still available at www.eckhartzpress.com. If you love television (Chuck's book) and rock and roll radio (Bobby's book), you won't be able to put these books down.

RIP Cokie Roberts

One of my favorite political pundits is gone. Cokie Roberts was 75 years old.

They are dropping like flies now.

RIP Ric Ocasek

Lost another R&R great over the weekend--the Cars singer/guitarist Ric Ocasek was found dead in his apartment in Manhattan. He was 75. Actually I was surprised he was that old. That means he was 40 when this song was a hit...

Socctoberfest '19

Weekend was jam packed for the Kaempfer family. We were all out at the Green White soccer fields on Saturday and most of Sunday serving food and drinks to hundreds of families of soccer players. Hard work, but rewarding to see so many happy customers. Thanks again to everyone who helped.

Brain Aneurysm Walk

Even though the skies were threatening and it was a little chilly yesterday morning, we had a great turnout for the Brain Aneurysm Awareness Walk/Run at College of DuPage. Thanks to everyone who came out to support a good cause. We raised quite a bit of money. I brought along my son Sean, and he actually "won" the race, although to be fair--most people walked.

RIP Eddie Money

I didn't realize that Eddie had cancer. He passed away today (Friday the 13th) at the age of 70. Eddie has several hits (most famously "Two Tickets to Paradise"), but this is one I always liked the best...

RIP Tom Phoebus

Last week (9/6) we lost former Cubs pitcher Tom Phoebus at 77 years old. He pitched in the World Series for the Orioles, but his last year in the big leagues (1972) was with the Cubs.

This is his obit in the Baltimore Sun.

Here's his writeup in Everycubever...

~Tom Phoebus 1942--2019 (Cubs 1972)
Phoebus was a member of the very impressive Baltimore Orioles starting rotation of the late 60s. He was a star right out of the gate. He threw shutouts in his first two big league starts and was named Sporting News Rookie of the Year in 1967. He won 15 and 14 games the next two years as well, tossed a no-hitter against the Red Sox, and won a game in the 1970 World Series. By the time he came to the Cubs in 1972, however, he was primarily a relief pitcher. He struggled with his control in Chicago, and the Cubs traded him to the Braves after the season for a career minor leaguer named Tony LaRussa. Not sure what happened to that LaRussa kid.

RIP Charlie Silvera

One of the oldest living Cubs is living no more. Charlie Silvera has passed away at the age of 94. He was really known more for his time with the Yankees, but his last season in the big leagues was spent with the Cubs (1957).

His NY Times Obit is here.

Socctoberfest

I'm gonna be busy this weekend. Two book signing appearances at the Green White soctoberfest. I'll also be working there the rest of those two days.

Brain Aneurysm Walk

On Sunday morning Eckhartz Press author Janet Sutherland Madden will be appearing at the College of Dupage for the Brain Aneurysm walk. She'll have copies of her book for sale there, naturally, because "Nose Over Toes" is the inspiring tale of her recovery from a brain aneurysm. The walk starts at 10. Books will be on sale before and after. I'll be out there in the morning too. Stop by if you can. https://give.bafound.org/site/TR?fr_id=2021&pg=entry

A Very Brady Renovation

I thought this idea was genius when I first heard about it. The Brady kids were enlisted by HGTV to renovate the home (used for outside shots only) from their TV series. HGTV bought the house, got all six Brady kids to participate, and it debuted on Monday night.

HGTV scored their highest ratings ever. Details are here.

Great Article About Abbey Road

Mark Lewisohn is the foremost expert on the Beatles. This piece is about his new stage show, which discusses the making of Abbey Road. It includes a tape recording of a meeting they had, which reveals some truly shocking news: They were planning their "next" album, which they never did.

This one is for the Beatle nerds like me.

h/t to Brent Petersen for pointing it out to me.