The Who

I loved that Who show at halftime of the Super Bowl.

I know they are old, and I know they aren't what they once were, and I know some people questioned whether or not they were worthy, but did you hear the entire audience singing along with all of their songs?

I loved every second of it. And so did my 14-year-old son. When they launched into "Who are you" he screamed: "YEAH! They're doing my favorite song!"

And I thought Ringo's boy did nice job on the drums, too.

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Vince Argento

I'm heading out of town today, so I posted this week's Chicago Radio Spotlight a few days early. This week I talk to my good buddy and pal, Vince Argento, who was recently named the production director at the Loop.

Read the whole interview here.

More Stewart/O'Reilly

I watched part 1 last night, and I'll watch part 2 tonight. There's something very satisfying about watching such a frank discussion on Fox News.

I also really enjoyed this behind the scenes account in this morning's LA Times.

Like I said earlier, I think both of them come off pretty well in this exchange.

More Salinger speculation

This AP article speculates more about what we may find among J.D. Salinger's personal effects.

It mostly tells what his private life was like in Cornish, and what may have inspired him to write over the last forty plus years of his life.

It's probably only interesting to geeks like me, but I read the whole thing.

Here's another piece at Slate. This one is written by the person that answered his mail at his publisher's office.

Jon Miller is a Hall of Famer

Joe Morgan's partner on ESPN, Jon Miller, is joining Morgan in the Hall of Fame. From Tom Taylor's column this morning...

Jon Miller makes the Baseball Hall of Fame as the winner of this year’s Ford C. Frick Award. He broadcast the games of five different Major League teams, including the Texas Rangers (1978-79), Boston Red Sox (1980-82), Baltimore Orioles (starting in 1983) and both teams in his native Bay Area – the As (where he started in 1974) and the Giants, with whom he still works. Miller’s other work includes ESPN’s “Sunday Night Baseball.” He’ll be inducted into Cooperstown in July.

Hopefully he won't become as insufferable as Morgan.

U.S. Soccer Scandal

I know that most people don't care about soccer in the U.S., and certainly they didn't care back in 1998 when this scandal happened, but I'm a big fan, and this one totally shocked me.

It involves one player sleeping with another player's wife--which caused that player to be kicked off the World Cup team. The player that was kicked off just happened to be the captain of the team.

I remember when it happened, and I couldn't understand the move. Now I get it.

Read the story here if you're interested. It's a doozy.



By the way, I'm going to the World Cup this summer in South Africa and I'm totally excited about it. (That's not a joke...I'm serious.)

I promise to stay away from all of the players wives.

Jon Stewart on the O'Reilly Factor

Good stuff. Both of them did pretty well I think.



More to come tonight.

Poor Steve Garvey

This week at Just One Bad Century we contemplate...

If only Steve Garvey loved to play with birds.

(Spoiler alert: It doesn't end well for him.)

Ronald Reagan

This weekend is the 99th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth. Some remember him as an actor. Others remember him as a President.

I choose to remember him as a Cubs announcer and fan.

1910/1935

One hundred years ago this week, the Cubs are preparing for yet another NL Pennant winning season. Meanwhile, in London, King Edward VII is very ill. His son is being prepared to take over if and when his father passes away.
(Photos: Jack "The Giant Killer" Pfiester and King Edward VII)





Seventy five years ago this week, the Cubs are preparing for yet another NL Pennant winning season. Meanwhile in Rome, Italy is enamored with their charismatic new premier: Benito Mussolini.

Babe Ruth and Lemons

This coming weekend is the 115th anniversary of Babe Ruth's birth. Everyone remembers Babe Ruth's (alleged) called shot at Wrigley Field, but have you ever heard the part that lemons may have played in that story?

That's right, lemons.

Read all about it here.

Mel Gibson is still a jerk

Watch this interview with Dean Richards of WGN-TV, who by the way, is not exactly famous for being an abrasive interviewer. This is the first question any interviewer would ask. (Warning: Mel swears at the end)

 

The Hef

This article in the Trib caught my eye yesterday. The interior designer of the show "Mad Men" is teaming up with Playboy founder Hugh Hefner to design a special love seat to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Playboy clubs.

It will be available for purchase.

They're calling it: The Hef.

Realistic Snowman

A truly scary poll

I just want to preface this by saying that if you asked Democratic voters questions like this that fed into their most rabid and crazy left wing narrative, you'd probably also get shocking (and potentially terrifying) results too. Until they do that poll, however, feel free to read the results of this terrifying poll of Republican voters...














I really think this media world we've created here, where you can read and listen to people that agree with you without ever once being confronted by the arguments of the other side is dangerous. What happens when you don't have to listen? You win every argument. What happens when you win every argument? You start believing that you know everything. What happens when you start believing you know everything? You openly display your ignorance for all the world to see...completely unaware that you are doing so.

It was one of the points I was trying to make in my book "$everance."

And yes, that's a bi-partisan point. Like I said, I honestly believe that a survey of Democratic voters would be just as scary.

Must-See-TV

Tonight's guest on the O'Reilly Factor?

Jon Stewart.

My guess is that O'Reilly invited him as a guest because he read that Stewart has started ripping Obama. That should be a fascinating exchange, whatever your politics.

By the way, this isn't the first time Stewart has been on. He was on the show once in 2004.

Torches and Pitchforks

I hope you haven't put your torches and pitchforks away yet.

AIG plans to pay over $100 million in bonuses again this year.

There's tone-deaf, and then there's stone-deaf. Watch their surprise when the stones start being hurled at them.

What? What's wrong? Why are people so mad at us?

Joke for a Wednesday morning

Contributed by "TH"




A man goes out golfing. He is on the second hole when he notices a frog sitting next to the green. He thinks nothing of it and is about to shoot when he hears: "Ribbit 9-Iron."

The man looks around and doesn't see anyone.

Again, he hears, "Ribbit 9 Iron."

He looks at the frog and decides to prove the frog wrong, puts the club away, and grabs a 9 iron.

Boom! He hits it 10 inches from the cup.

He is shocked. He says to the frog, "Wow that's amazing. You must be a lucky frog!"

The frog replies, "Ribbit Lucky frog."

The man decides to take the frog with him to the next hole.

"What do you think frog?" the man asks.

"Ribbit 3 wood."

The guy takes out a 3 wood and Boom! Hole in one.

The man is befuddled and doesn't know what to say. By the end of the day, the man golfed the best game of golf in his life and asks the frog, "OK where to next?"

The frog replies, "Ribbit Las Vegas."

They go to Las Vegas and the guy says, "OK frog, now what?"

The frog says, "Ribbit Roulette."

Upon approaching the roulette table, The man asks, "What do you think I should bet?"

The frog replies, "Ribbit $3000, black 6."

Now, this is a 38-to-one shot to win, but after the golf game the man figures what the heck.

Boom! Tons of cash comes sliding back across the table.

The man takes his winnings and buys the best room in the hotel.

He sits the frog down and says, "Frog, I don't know how to repay you. You've won me all this money and I am forever grateful."

The frog replies,"Ribbit Kiss Me."

He figures why not, since after all the frog did for him, he deserves it.

With a kiss, the frog turns into a gorgeous girl. "And that is how the girl ended up in my room, Elin. So help me God or my name is not Tiger Woods."

The Day the Music Died

I just realized today that this is my fifth year of writing my blog and every year I have paused to mention this date...February 3rd. On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper perished in a plane crash in Iowa. 51 years ago today.

Bob Hale was the MC of that last concert. I interviewed him for Chicago Radio Spotlight a few years ago.

Bob Dearborn, who was a friend and colleague of mine at WJMK, became famous at WCFL in Chicago in the early 70s for his analysis of the lyrics to "American Pie" by Don McLean, which was inspired by that plane crash. I have that link permanently listed on my "Links to Rick's picks" on this blog.

What can I say? I'm a Buddy Holly fan.

If I'm still writing this blog next year, I'll probably mention it again.

OK, enough rambling. How about some music? This is probably my favorite Buddy Holly song...

Rick Reuschel

He was one of my all-time favorite Cubs. He didn't look like a professional athlete at all, but Rick Reuschel had a great Cubs career.

Alas, they got rid of him too soon.

That story is this week's Tale from a Bad Century at JOBC.

Norman Rockwell

The famous artist was born on this date in 1893.

In 1948, he immortalized the Cubs, and inadvertently chronicled the next two decades of misery perfectly, when the Saturday Evening Post came out with this Rockwell original on the cover.

Read all about it here.

Memory Lane

This video was made during my days at the Loop. It's a stroll down memory lane for me. You may enjoy it too...

The Oscar Nominees

I just saw the list of Oscar nominees. You can read all about it here.

I was disappointed that Amy Landecker didn't get nominated for "A Serious Man," but I was happy to see that for the first time in years, I've actually seen a few of the Best Picture nominees (including "Up" and "Inglorious Basterds"). Granted, the Best Picture category was expanded to ten this year, but still, I'm feeling a little more tuned in than usual. (I don't get out much).

I reviewed "Up" when it came out last summer. I really loved it.

The Oscar telecast will be on March 7th.

Dave Fogel comes to WLS-FM

I must say I'm surprised by this move. WLS-FM, Chicago's Oldies station, has hired former Mix afternoon man Dave Fogel to be their new morning man.

Fogel had been working in Kansas City. (Robert Feder has all the details here)

WLS has obviously made a conscious decision to go a little younger. They could have hired a half dozen famous WLS jocks from the past (including my old boss John Records Landecker) but decided not to go that route.

I will say that I've heard many good things about Dave from people that worked with him in the past.

Joke for a Tuesday morning

Contributed by "JF"...




How bad is the economy?

The economy is so bad that...

*I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

*I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

*CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

*If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them.

*Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

*McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer.

*Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.

*A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

*Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

*Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.

*The Mafia is laying off judges.

*Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

*Congress says they are looking into the Bernard Madoff scandal. Oh Great!! The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear!

*And, finally.... I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Lifeline. I got a call center in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck.

Groundhogs Day

Good morning all you woodchuck chuckers, it's Ground Hogs Day...

Tarzan

Tuesday is Great Nicknames day at Just One Bad Century, and this week we're featuring the man they called "Tarzan."

Read all about him here.

37,000 days

That's how long it has been (as of today) since the Cubs last won the World Series. I think within another 20 or 30,000 more days they will make it happen.

Etch it in stone. That's my fearless prediction.

Sammy

The Cubs traded Sammy Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles exactly five years ago today. In return, they got a peppy little infielder that still wears Cubbie blue (Mike Fontenot), and another infielder/outfielder that just won a ring with the New York Yankees (Jerry Hairston Jr.)

Seems like they could have gotten more for their all-time greatest slugger, doesn't it? Well, in this case you may not remember how bad it got at the end of Sammy's reign. It got this bad.

Just like they recently did with Milton Bradley, instead of building Sammy up to potential trading partners by accentuating his positives, the Cubs were doing their best to damage his reputation beyond repair. (Not that either guy really needed a lot of help in that department...)

Seems like a "How-Not-To" guide to trading.

Should Sirius keep Howard Stern?

The Street, a financial on-line publication, surveyed it's readers to see if they thought Sirius should pony up the dough to keep Howard.

A majority said, no, he's not worth it.

Read the article here.

I still think he will stay. They'll find some sort of a face-saving way for Howard to accept a drastic pay cut. I think even Howard realizes that nobody is worth $100 million a year.

Has Jon Stewart turned on Obama?

That's the implication of Howard Kurtz's column in this morning's Washington Post. (You can read it here)

I watch Jon Stewart every night, and it's true he has started to mock the President, but let's remember something important: He's a comedian. It's his job.

30 years ago today

All in all, it's just another brick in the wall...

This week in 1945

The Yalta Conference, Stalin on the cover of Time Magazine, MacArthur returns to Manilla (Video), George Halas, Abbott & Costello (video), Ronald Reagan, Clark Gable, Cubs catcher Dewey Williams and much more at Just One Bad Century's Monday feature: This week in 1945.

35 years ago today...

...John Lennon released this song: #9 Dream

Deep Thoughts for a Monday morning

Contributed by "AH"




1. Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?

2. Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?

3. If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?

4. If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?

5. Why do we say something is out of whack? What is whack?

6. Why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing?

7. Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?

8. Why do "tug" boats push their barges?

9. Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there?

10. Why are they called " stands" when they are made for sitting?

11. Why is it called "after dark" when it really is "after light"?

12. Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?

13. Why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites?

14. Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?

15. Why is "phonics" not spelled the way it sounds?

16. If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?

17. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

18. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

19. If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right?

20. Why is bra singular and panties plural?

21. Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

22. Why do we put suits in garment bags and garments in a suitcase?

23. How come abbreviated is such a long word?

24. Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?

25. Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

26. Why do they call it a TV set when you only have one?

27. Christmas - What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?

Ernie Banks

He was Jack Brickhouse's favorite Cub.

He was my favorite Cub.

He's probably your favorite Cub.

Hell, he's Mr. Cub, and he celebrated his 79th birthday over the weekend. Can you believe it?