Chicago Radio Spotlight: Steve Dale

This week's Chicago Radio Spotlight interview is with the former host of "Pet Central" on WGN, Steve Dale. We talk about his long and interesting radio career, and how it intersected with mine one time, when he nearly got me fired.

Read the entire interview here.

Max Flack

On this day in 1922, the goat of the 1918 World Series, Max Flack (photo), was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for Cliff Heathcote between games of a double header at Cubs Park. Flack played for the Cubs in game 1 and for the Cardinals in game 2.

The Cubs won both games.

It's Prom Season

Last year I wrote about my cold war prom experience for NWI Parent.

You can read the humiliating details here.

(This photo is actually from my Senior prom in America, but I'm wearing the same blue velvet tux. I don't think anyone took a picture of me at Junior Prom.)

Zambrano's suspension

Carlos Zambrano was suspended for six games and will not appeal the suspension.

This guy is a child. I say they give him a timeout, ground him for a week, or make him write "I will not throw a tantrum" a thousand times instead.

Oh...my...gosh...

This is a real web video created by Gillette...

50 years ago today...

The Cubs pounded the Los Angeles Dodgers 9-4 in L.A.'s Memorial Coliseum. Moe Drabowsky got the win for the Cubs.

The Dodgers were on their way to a World Series championship (beating the White Sox), and the Cubs were on their way to a 5th place finish.

Drabowsky later beat the Dodgers (and former Cubs farmhand Ron Perranoski) in Game 1 of the 1966 World Series.

Unfortunately, he was pitching for the Orioles at the time.

Jay Silverheels

He would have been 90 this week. I miss Tonto.

Michael Jackson & Lisa Marie

15 years ago this week the big headline in all the newspapers was the surprise marriage of Michael Jackson & Lisa Marie Presley.


We had some fun with that story on the John Records Landecker show.

A cost saving plan

This is hilarious. Love the Onion.


Nation's Girlfriends Unveil New Economic Plan: 'Let's Move In Together'

This week in 1929, 1969, 1984, & 1989

1929

The Cubs are in the midst of a pennant winning season.

*Cubs ace Pat Malone is pounded by the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh on the same day that the first all-color talking picture ("On With The Show!") is exhibited in New York. The movie starred a man who would later make his name portraying players on the Cubs; Joe E. Brown.

********************
1969

The Cubs are in the midst of one of their most memorable seasons.

*On the same day a Glenn Beckert error in the 8th inning leads to three unearned runs in a loss to the San Francisco Giants, construction begins on Walt Disney World in Florida.



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1984

The Cubs are hoping to make the playoffs for the first time since World War 2.

*While Reds pitcher Mario Soto is getting into a fight (and getting suspended for five games) in Dennis Eckersley's first start for the Cubs, the video to Bruce Springsteen's brand new song "Dancing in the Dark" is getting heavy airplay on MTV.


********************
1989

The Boys of Zimmer are taking Chicago by storm.

*On the day John Smoltz and the Braves beat the Cubs 3-2 in Atlanta thanks to an error by Shawon Dunston, the Speaker of the House James Wright resigns from office amidst an ethics scandal. He is replaced by Tom Foley.

Father Knows Nothing

I posted a new Father Knows Nothing yesterday. It's called "Mow Mow Mow Your Lawn" and it's about my attempt at passing the lawnmowing torch to my sons.

Ease your pain

Has there ever been a better time to purchase one of these hats or shirts, by the way? The crying Cub logo says so much...

Last weekend at JOBC

I wasn't around last weekend, but Just One Bad Century kept cranking out the material. If you'd like to catch up, here are the links.

This week in 1908 was about the Cubs raising the 1907 championship banner. (And much more)

This week's Cubs through History was about Jesse Owens.

And on the JOBC blog, we featured the first Latino Cubs player, the Tribune Tower, and the great mustache trade.

It could be worse...

While it seems the Cubs are the suckiest bunch of sucks that ever sucked, they have been worse. For instance...


In 1964 the New York Mets were the worst team in baseball. They lost 109 games that season.

But on this day in 1964, they beat the Cubs 19-1.

Bob Buhl gave up 4 runs in the first (he didn't survive the inning), and Don Elston gave up 6 runs in the ninth, and the Cubs hitters were shut down by Jack Fisher, who led the league in earned runs that year.




I know it's pathetic. But this made me feel better about that 8-game losing streak.