Chicago Radio Spotlight: Greg Solk

I just posted my latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. This week I interviewed my old boss, Greg Solk. We talked about his amazing run of success as a programmer in Chicago, beginning with his days at the Loop. You can read the interview here.

Happy Anniversary Elvis & Priscilla

So what if they got divorced a few years later... a wedding day is a wedding day (1967).



The anniversary is actually tomorrow, but I wanted to be the first to congratulate the youngsters.

Billy Williams 1000 games in a row

On this day in 1970, Billy Williams played in his 1000th game in a row--adding to his NL record. The previous NL record, by the way, was 694 games in a row. On the day he beat that record, he was asked about the odds of reaching 1000 one day...

E-mails, we get e-mails...

"SL" sent this to me regarding my Father Knows Nothing column about Sean's first cup...

"A little known fact....The first testicular guard "Cup" was used in Hockey in 1874 and the first helmet was used in 1974...That means it took 100 years for men to realize that their brain is also important."

 "DB" sent this to me regarding my story about Mike Royko...

"Saw your piece this morning on the legendary Mike Royko. I never had the chance to meet him, but after I discovered his column, I read it everyday that I could all through high school and college. I either started the day or ended it by reading his column. I wanted to get into journalism because of him. I changed courses into radio, though. I still have his last two books...now, I have to go find them and re-read them...That is a great story. Thanks for sharing it!"

Bob Hendley

His Cubs career was far from spectacular, but for one glorious day in 1965 he pitched the game of his lifetime.

Unfortunately for Bob Hendley, it was against Sandy Koufax...who threw a perfect game.

That amazing story is here.

Hendley turns 71 years old today.

Mike Royko

On this day in 1997, Chicago lost one of our greatest writers: Mike Royko.

I still remember my brush with Mike Royko quite well.

Lee Elia

OK, it's a tradition. Every year on this day we have to listen to the tirade that Lee Elia screamed on April 29, 1983. This is the cleanest version we have.

Dating Guide

This dating guide is from 1938. 

It's hilarious in retrospect.

Bud Abbott

He and Lou Costello formed the famous comedy team of Abbott and Costello. Abbott outlived Costello by 17 years, but the world's greatest straight man passed away this week in 1974.

I have watched this routine, or listened to it, at least fifty times. I still think it's brilliant...

Mrs. Robinson

It was released on this day in 1968...

Joke for Tuesday morning

This is the kind of joke people send to me. Thanks, DM, for sending it...



Meteorologists have determined that the dust cloud that is spreading over Europe and delaying International travel was not from the volcanic eruption in Iceland. They are now interviewing the person responsible for cleaning the Chicago Cubs trophy case.

Rogers Hornsby

He is a Hall of Famer, one of the greatest hitters in history, and he was a Cubs player and manager. As a player he led the Cubs to the 1929 World Series and had one of the best seasons in Cubs history.

As a manager he borrowed money from his players to finance a gambling addiction, tore the team apart, and was fired. That story is here.

He later returned as a roving minor league hitting instructor. In the late 50s he watched every single Cubs minor leaguer hit in the batting cage. He reported back to P.K. Wrigley: "You've only got two players; Billy Williams and Ron Santo. Get rid of everybody else."

In his later years he also did color commentary on Cubs TV broadcasts.

Rogers Hornsby was born on this day in 1897.

Seinfeld Rock Band

Seinfeld Rockband - watch more funny videos

Wrigley's Organ

On this day in 1941, the Cubs became the first team to install an organ at a Major League ballpark. The first organist was a man named Roy Nelson.

The first team the Cubs played, organ in hand (so to speak), was the Cardinals.

The Cardinals won 4-2.

Carol Burnett

She's 77 years old today. I bet here's one clip of her you've never seen...

Hack Wilson

He was one of the most colorful Cubs in history, and he still holds the record for RBI in a season with 191.

Read all about Hack Wilson, here and here.

He was born on this day in 1900. Wilson died much too young (at the age of 48), but he lives on in baseball's Hall of Fame.

Father Knows Nothing

This week's Father Knows Nothing column has been posted at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "Lost another one to showbiz" and it tells the tale of Sean's first time on stage. It happened last weekend.

You can read it here.