Weber Grills

The history of Weber Grills is this week's Cubs through History. Yes, there is a Chicago connection. Plus, it's a fitting subject matter for a big grilling day like Labor Day. Read all about it here.

The C Word

Newsweek has an article analyzing the origin and use of the C word. Yes, that C word. Yes, Newsweek.

You can read it here.

Don't worry, the word isn't actually used. Just discussed.

This week in...

1929

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

*The Cubs beat the Phillies 5-3 at Wrigley Field thanks to homers from Hack Wilson, Riggs Stephenson and backup first baseman Chick Tolson. It was Tolson's only homer of the year. On the same day of Tolson's heroics, San Francisco Mayor Rolf proudly unveils the country's first pedestrian crossing light.


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

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

*While Rod Laver is winning the US Open in New York (Sept 8), the Cubs are just a few miles away, losing both games in a short series to the Mets. They are clinging to first place by their fingernails. They will only be there one more day. By September 10th, the Mets will take over for good.


********************
1984

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

*On the day that Rick Sutcliffe wins his 14th game for the Cubs against the Mets 6-0 (a dominating four hit, 12 strikeout complete game shutout), Martina Navratilova beats Chris Evert Mills in the U.S. Open.


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

The Boys of Zimmer are taking Chicago by storm.

*Greg Maddux wins his 17th game (a 4-3 win over the Expos at Wrigley Field) on the same day that Boris Becker beats Ivan Lendl to win the U.S. Open.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week it's a very handy "English/Teenage Boy Dictionary."

You can read it here.

The 1929 World Series

This week's bonus Tale from a Bad Century is about the fascinating 1929 World Series. Hack Wilson, Rogers Hornsby, Charlie Root, Pat Malone, Gabby Hartnett and friends, against Connie Mack's Philadelphia A's.

Read all about it here.

The Antelope

He hit exactly one home run in his Major League career, but he had some wheels on him. So much so, that he was once nicknamed "The Antelope."

Emil Verban hit that one home run for the Cubs on this date in 1948 against the Cincinnati Reds.

Chicago Radio Spotlight

This week I updated previous interviews with John Records Landecker, Steve Dale, Andrea Darlas, Jerry Agar, Dobie Maxwell, Mark Zander, Jack Silver & Dave Benson.

Read 'em here.

This week in 1908

A momentous week in Cubs history, Joseph Kennedy, Jane Addams, and the 1908 Labor Day Parade in Chicago (photo), in "This week in 1908."

Bob Newhart

Actor.

Comedian.

Cubs fan.

80 years old today.

America's future

Sigh...

Weird Eyes

This is how I feel during hayfever season...

Watching Media Sausage Made

Gawker used the Freedom of Information act to get all the e-mails media outlets used to lure Rod Blagojevich to come on their shows.

This is how the media really works.

It's not pretty.

E-mails, we get e-mails

"MB" sent me this regarding my interview with Dane Placko...



"Dane: "I really really enjoy getting a good tip."

Here's a good tip: Wear a shirt when you're frying bacon!"

Imus' new TV Gig

From this morning's Radio Online...

"It's official. Citadel Media's syndicated Don Imus signs with the Fox Business Network to simulcast his morning show based out of WABC-AM/New York, beginning October 5 from 6-9am. Previously, his show was simulcast on Nashville-based RFD cable network. The agreement ended last month after some two years.

"We're excited to welcome a renowned broadcaster like Don Imus to the Fox Business team," Fox Business Executive VP Kevin Magee said. "His 40 years of on-air experience, combined with his superb interviewing skills and capitalist sensibilities, will be a great addition to our lineup."

Imus said, "I love Fox. Roger Ailes is the preeminent genius of American Broadcasting. Who wouldn't want to do this?"

This should work out well for Imus. He can "nappy head" to his heart's content. There's nothing he can say about black people that will get him fired from Fox. Ask Glenn Beck.

The true definition of torture...

...Is happening in California. Check out this headline: "An 18-hour “Dr. Laura Marathon” launches the news/talk format on L.A.’s KFWB (980)."

Truly cruel and unusual punishment for a community already going through so much.

Sights & Sounds

Two very cool items are featured on this week's Sights & Sounds at Just One Bad Century. We have a film from 1938, showing Charlie Grimm and Gabby Hartnett in their brand new jobs (midseason that year), and a song from 1969...featuring two members of the 1969 Cubs.

See it and hear it here.

The streak

I know this is a once in a century sort of thing, but on this date in 1935, the Cubs won the first game of what became a 21 game winning streak. The winning pitcher for the Cubs was Larry French (photo).

When the streak began, they were in third place. They ended up winning the pennant by 4 games. Then they lost the World Series to the Detroit Tigers.

Is it possible they'll do it again this year? Stranger things have happened.*




*Um, but don't ask me to name any.

No words necessary

Why is this shirt selling so well right now at Just One Bad Century?

It says so much, without saying a single word.

Get yours here.

Alfonso Soriano

Sucks.

Dane Placko

I just posted the full unedited version of my interview with Fox-TV reporter Dane Placko at Chicago Radio Spotlight.

You can read it here.






Coming this weekend at CRS: Updates from John Records Landecker, Steve Dale, Andrea Darlas, Jerry Agar, Dobie Maxwell, Mark Zander, Dave Benson, and Jack Silver.

Disney/Marvel

This is the back story of the Disney acquisition of Marvel. They negotiated over every single one of the 7000 Marvel characters to come up with a price tag.

By the way, I can't wait for "Spiderman: The Musical."

5 Holes

Contributed by "AH"

These holes are not only amazing, but some are really terrifying! The sheer scale of these holes reminds you of just how tiny we are.


Kimberley Big Hole - South Africa
Apparently the largest ever hand-dug excavation in the world, this 1097 meter deep mine yielded over 3 tons of diamonds before being closed




Glory Hole - Monticello Dam, California
A glory hole is used when a dam is at full capacity and water needs to be drained from the reservoir. It is the largest spillway of this type in the world. It consumes 14,400 cubic feet of water every second.




Great Blue Hole , Belize
This incredible geographical phenomenon known as a blue hole is situated 60 miles off the mainland of Belize. There are numerous blue holes around the world, but none as stunning as this one.




Sinkhole in Guatemala
This is a sinkhole that occurred early this year in Guatemala. The hole swallowed 2 dozen homes and killed at least 3 people.





RAT HOLE in Washington D.C.
It is capable of swallowing trillions and trillions of U.S. Dollars-annually! The money that falls into this hole is never heard from again!

LA fires affect Chicago radio

From this morning's Tom Taylor column at Radio-Info.com...

"Chicago’s smooth jazz “L” was affected by the Mt. Wilson fire. WLFM-LP (for “L FM”) at Channel 6-TV audio 87.7 lost its feed from L.A.-based Broadcast Architecture yesterday around 7am, and it wasn’t restored until early afternoon... Who would’ve thought a forest fire 2,000 miles away would temporarily interfere with that?"

Beatle wallet

After watching Beatles videos all afternoon yesterday, followed by watching two hours of Beatle specials on VH1 last night, I've decided I really should invest in a Beatles wallet. I have a sneaking suspicion I'll be emptying it on September 9th when all of their albums come out again...digitally remastered.

Yes, I know I already own all of them. I just can't help myself. These will sound even better. Right?

Charlie Watts quitting the Stones

Actually, according to this article, he has already quit.

I always knew that he was a quitter. Some people just don't have that certain something. Call it what you will (dedication, commitment, longevity, etc). I mean, really, after only 47 years on the job, to just walk out on them like that?

Where are they supposed to find another 68-year-old drummer?

Mike Royko

A great reporter.

A great columnist.

A great Cub fan.

He's this week's Celebrity Cub Fan at Just One Bad Century.*



(*Update on the bad century: We're now at 36,849 days since a World Series championship)

Gonzo & the Brat

The man the Cubs called Gonzo was born on this date in 1967. He had the game winning hit in the World Series, but of course, not for the Cubs.



The Brat was also born on this date (in 1916). He won many pennants in his career, but none with the team that brought him to the Majors, the Chicago Cubs.

Lost in Translation

Or is it really deep?

Beatles Rock Band (Again)

Thanks to JRS for pointing this out to me. This is so damn cool. One week from today (9/9/09)...

Chicago is America's most stressful city

This report via Forbes.com and ABC...

Few enjoy their commute. Just ask Stephen Dinwiddie, M.D., a psychiatrist at the University of Chicago.

"I think anybody who, like I do, commutes on the Kennedy on a daily basis knows exactly what stress is," he says, of his daily home-to-work commute on Chicago's expressway that extends from the Chicago Loop to O'Hare International Airport. "It takes anywhere from 30 minutes to several centuries--at least subjectively."

But more pressing factors make Chicago for the second year in a row the country's most stressful city. Crowding, poor air quality, a high 11% unemployment rate and free-falling home values have created a cocktail of constant worry affecting many in the Windy City.

Have you ever tried the cocktail of constant worry? It's delicious. I've been drinking it since 1963.

Sandy Koufax throws a perfect game

This week's Tale from a Bad Century goes back to 1965--the last time the Cubs were no-hit. It might have been the best pitched game in MLB history.

Not only did Sandy Koufax throw a perfect game, Cubs pitcher Bob Hendly threw a one-hitter...and the one run the Dodgers scored was an unearned run.

Read all about it here.

Milt Pappas

On this date in 1972, Milt Pappas threw a no-hitter for the Cubs against the San Diego Padres.

Milt is famously still upset that it wasn't a perfect game. He walked the 27th batter he faced (San Diego journeyman outfielder Larry Stahl) on a borderline 3-2 pitch.

Beatles Rock Band

OK, now this is a cool commercial...

Why don't we do it in the road?

Kids, when the Beatles sang "Why don't we do it in the road," they didn't really think anyone would.

As it turns out, it's actually against the law.

Silly Jilly

In a Chicago Radio Spotlight interview earlier this year, legendary programmer John Gehron specifically mentioned Kiss-FM's Silly Jilly as someone who can help radio connect with a younger generation. Looks like she'll be doing it from Houston now.

From All Access last night...


"CLEAR CHANNEL Top 40 WKSC (103.5 KISS-FM)/CHICAGO night jock SILLY JILLY will be departing the station at the end of her contract to join CBS Top 40 KKHH (HOT 95.7)/HOUSTON for nights.

JILLY tells ALL ACCESS, "I loved working with (WKSC PD) RICK VAUGHN, but the offer from CBS made a lot more sense for me, so it's time to move on."


Can you imagine how much Clear Channel sucks right now? She's picking Houston over Chicago, and she's going to CBS, which is only slightly better than Clear Channel, but still another soulless beast. Whoa.

The Guiding Light

On September 18th it will end a 72-year run on radio and television.

And I never heard it or saw it once.

I could check it out before September 18, but that would end a 46-year run, and I'm superstitious that way.

Lou Piniella

The Onion has at least one Cubs fan on their writing staff: "Lou Piniella Lauded For Not Getting Anyone's Hopes Up This Year"

Thanks to "RR" for pointing this one out.

Ryno

His nickname was not given to him because he resembled the horned beast. The homophone is purely coincidental. Nevertheless, we feature him this week as our Great Nickname at Just One Bad Century.

You can read more about him here.

Lee Smith debuts

On this date in 1980, Lee Smith made his Major League debut for the Cubs. He came in to relieve Dennis Lamp in the 5th inning. The first batter he faced was Dale Murphy, the future MVP of the league. Murphy grounded out.

That 1980 Cubs team was among the worst in Cubs history. And that's saying something.