Chicago Radio Spotlight: Greg Easterling

This week's Chicago Radio Spotlight shines on Greg Easterling, the overnight host at WDRV, The Drive. Greg has had a long and interesting career in Chicago radio. Read the entire interview here.

Bonus Friday video

Leo Durocher on the Judy Garland show. Judy is not a baseball fan.

NWI Parent

The latest issue is out and includes my "Family Room" essay on the back page. This one is called "Summer Camp Blues". It's about my mixed emotions about sending Tommy & Johnny to summer camp this year.

It's also an homage to Allan Sherman's "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh."

Funniest ad you'll never see on TV

Old Jews Telling Jokes

This made me laugh...

52 years ago today

If you'd like to hear audio play by play from this day in 1957, click here.

Sandy Koufax is pitching for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Dick Drott is pitching for the Cubs. Guess who won?

Actually, Koufax didn't have his A-game that day. Ernie Banks hit a 3-run home run off him in the 6th. On the other hand, he did win the game (7-5) and struck out 12.

More $everance news

$everance is now also available as an e-book. You can read a great big chunk of it if you click here.

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

I think that Cubs loss last night really affected people, judging by my bulging e-mail box. Here's one from "AS."


I want to rant, too. May I? Thanks so much.

You know what? You’re right.

And as I look at the top of the standings and see my childhood favorite sitting there, it’s like even MORE taunting from Beelzebub (who looks a great deal like Bud Selig in my dreams).

I grew up in Wisconsin . I rooted for the Milwaukee Brewers in the AL and the Chicago Cubs in the NL. Everything was nice. It was almost perfect. Well, with the exception of the number of championships I actually saw, which was ONE. The 1982 AL pennant. I actually went to see a World Series game! I don’t remember a lot of it, but I know that I was there (enjoying a great deal of Old Style). I think I have a stub somewhere to prove it. Back in 1982, it didn’t cost half a year’s salary to get a ticket and the Wisconsin drinking age was 18. SCORE!

Then, in 1984, I moved to the “other side” of Lake Michigan to continue school. Without the internet, Brewers news was scarce. It’s so much easier to follow your out-of-town favorites, now. Anyway, I had cable (and thus WGN), so I got to see my NL team. Driving to Chicago for a game wasn’t so bad. I could glance at the standings and see that the Brewers were in the midst of years of basement dwelling suckitude, so they NEVER appeared on national television broadcasts. Once Paul Molitor (my all time favorite player) and Robin Yount left town, I could barely name anyone on the roster.

When Bud Selig got the bright-assed idea to move the Brewers to the National League and into the Cubs’ division, I was faced with a Sophie’s Choice. Pick one, dummy. Bud says you have to. I think lots of southern Wisconsin baseball fans were faced with the same dilemma. It wasn’t difficult to hate the White Sox when the Brewers were in the AL . They’re the WHITE SOX, for chrissakes. They wore ugly uniforms, played in a crappy stadium, and their fans came to Milwaukee and threw beer and peanuts at the locals. My first live baseball game was a Brewers/Sox doubleheader with a two hour rain delay tossed in. I was in sixth grade. I’ve never seen so many drunks in one place in my life. There was even a fight on the field. The Sox wore those hideous, untucked, beer league softball uniforms. I came home after nine hours at the ballpark, reeking of beer and repeating many new colorful phrases that I had learned, thanks to the Sox and Brewers fans screaming at each other. My parents were so pleased.

I didn’t buy this whole “we wanted to establish a rivalry with the Cubs” bullspit that Bud Selig was dishing out when he moved the Brewers, either. What makes more sense? Putting Milwaukee in the AL Central with the Sox, Detroit , Minnesota and Cleveland , or sticking them with the Cubs, St. Louis , Houston , Cincy and Pittsburgh ? The AL Central actually resembles the NFC North (then Central) where there are long time, established, bitter football rivalries between folks in the SAME STATES, Bud. What a doorknob you are.

So, anyway….I didn’t make an immediate choice, but logistic came into play. I moved away from Wisconsin (a move I still question to this day). Which team does my local sports guy talk about now? Cubs. Which team can I see on TV? Cubs. Which team did my little boy (who was born in South Bend ) like and ask to see? Cubs. Which team have I seen in person the past 20 years? Cubs. A natural progression. I had chosen the Cubs without consciously doing so. However, I can never root against the Brewers. When the Cubs play them, I root FOR the Cubs, but never really against the Brewers. I can’t yell at the TV and call them colorful names. I just sit there, watch the game and cheer when the Cubs do something right. It’s weird. I LIKE to hate the opposing team. I like to call their star players “pansy asses,” and the like.

Now, the Brewers are sitting in first place and the Cubs are blowing no hitters and five run leads. I’m in HELL. The Brewers are waving at me, taunting me, saying, “You never stopped being a Packers fan after you left, did you?” Football is different. They play once a week and you can see just about any team you want at any time. There was never a lack of coverage. It was easier to stick with them, even in the Lindy Infante era. Plus, being around Chicago Bears fans in 1985 was OBNOXIOUS, especially to someone who had just left Wisconsin . It kind of cemented my Bear hate for eternity. Plus, my ex was a Bears fan. ‘Nuff said, there.

Sorry to ramble, but I’m pissed. I made a SACRIFICE for these guys! I CHOSE THEM over my other baseball love, and what have I gotten since? Heartache. Steve Garvey and Bartman balls. Sammy Sosa, corked bats and steroid accusations. LaTroy Hawkins, Corey Patterson, Bob Howry and now Kevin Gregg. Dusty Flippin’ Baker. What did I do to deserve this? Oh, and did I mention my spurned team is in FIRST FREAKING PLACE?

Sigh.

$everance

There is an on-going discussion about the state of the media (specifically as it relates to my book $everance) on the ENC Press page at Facebook. If you're on Facebook, and you've read $everance and would like to participate, click here.

By the way, this week is the two-year anniversary of $everance's release. If you'd like a $everance refresher course...

My original interview with John Records Landecker is here.

The first three chapters of the $everance audio book is here.

The $everance radio commercial is here.

And a sample chapter of $everance is here.

It's still available for purchase too. You can get it here for a very reasonable price.

The Crying Cub shirt

Sold a bunch of these last night. It really does help you recover from a loss like that monstrosity on Tuesday...

Get one and see for yourself.

The Cubs...

...are dead to me.

Did you see that game?

Wow, does it suck to be a Cubs fan.

I mean, seriously, every now and then a mirror is held up and I see what it is that I have become.

I see that blue and red Lucifer looking back at me,laughing at me, and saying "you think you will ever experience happiness watching one of my games? HA HA HA HA HA HA! NEVER! You will NEVER have happiness rooting for me and I've dug into your soul and made sure you will NEVER be able to root for a different team. HA HA HA HA HA HA!"

"Think you're safe with a five run lead in the eighth during a no hitter? HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA! Right now I'm whispering in Kevin Gregg's ear saying 'Channel your inner Mel Rojas/Latroy Hawkins/Dave Smith/Doug Jones/Terry Adams/Kyle Farnsworth and throw the one thing the fastball hitter won't expect in the bottom of the ninth...a fastball right down the middle.

Whoops? Did he hit out of the ballpark?

Oh, sorry, my bad. HA HA HA HA HA HA HA HA!"

Tomorrow I'm going to add up the number of hours I've spent watching this team, figure out how many years of my life I've lost, put a monetary value on it, and send them a bill.

Mary Poppins on Acid

I thought this was pretty cool. You may or may not agree...

Thanks!

I must admit, I was a little surprised when I saw this on the site meter this morning because I haven't checked it in a long time. There have now been more than 200,000 readers of my blogs this year.

Thank you for checking 'em out.

It makes me feel like I'm not just a guy sitting in a basement cranking this stuff out (although that's exactly what I am).

This week in...

1929

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

*On the same day the Cubs survive a 10-9 Wrigley Field slugfest against the Giants thanks to homers by Hack Wilson (he hit two), Rogers Hornsby, Charlie Grimm, and catcher Earl Grace, George Eastman demonstrates the first technicolor movie (in Rochester New York)

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

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

*The bottom of the Cubs order, Jim Hickman, Randy Hundley & Don Young, drive in all four runs to lead Bill Hands to victory over the Astros at Wrigley Field. A few hours later the final episode of Star Trek airs on NBC.


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

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

*On the day that Ryne Sandberg is hit by a pitch with the bases loaded to break a 0-0 tie in the eighth inning versus the Cardinals, Cyndi Lauper's song "Time after Time" becomes the #1 song in the country.



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

The Boys of Zimmer are taking Chicago by storm.

*Rick Suttcliffe wins his seventh game of the season as the Cubs beat the Cardinals 5-2 despite Doug Dacenzo's unsuccessful attempted steal of home plate at nearly the exact moment that 10,000 Chinese soldiers are blocked by 100,000 citizens protecting students demonstrating for democracy in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.

Some classy humor

Thanks to "JH" for pointing this one out...

Jimmie Foxx

On this day in history the Cubs acquired the legendary Hall of Fame slugger Jimmie Foxx. Unfortunately for the Cubs it was 1942, not 1932. Oh what a difference a decade would have made.

His nickname was THE BEAST.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. It's called "The Hills Are Not Alive," and it's about the worst summer of my life.

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.



********************
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.

Going to Detroit

I won't be blogging this weekend because I'm going to Detroit to visit my little brother. (He doesn't actually live in Detroit). He has two boys around the age of mine, so the cousins always have a great time together.


There won't be a Chicago Radio Spotlight interview this weekend or a new Father Knows Nothing until Tuesday (I'm hoping for some good material to emerge this weekend), but Just One Bad Century will continually update with new features and blog posts.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Thanks Oak Park

Thanks to everyone who came out to Oak Park Public Library last night for our panel discussion. It's always fun to talk baseball, especially with my fellow writers from "Cubbie Blues"; Robert Goldsborough, James Finn Garner and Don Evans. That's a really nice library too, and their baseball display is tremendous. You should check it out if you get a chance.

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

From a Cardinals fan...

"I have to comment on that onesie. It still rubs me the wrong way. You should make a new one that says, "I already have more teeth than the Cubs' offense."

Rick responds: If it's rubbing you the wrong way you might not be wearing it correctly. The snaps should be in the front.

An exciting debut

This is an important day in Cubs history.

The year was 2002. I bought a ticket that day, a single ticket, and went by myself because I wanted to be able to tell my kids I saw it in person.

I ran into both Bob Sirott and Bill Zehme at the game--they went there for the same reason.

The player everyone in that ballpark came to see didn't disappoint. He won the game for the Cubs, and pitched a gem.

His name was Mark Prior.

Sigh.

Another reminder

I'll be in Oak Park tonight along with my fellow contributors to Cubbie Blues (Don Evans, Don De Grazio, James Finn Garner, and Robert Goldsborough).

Come out to the Oak Park Public Library (Main Library, 2nd Floor, Veterans Room, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park) at 7PM and see a lively panel discussion about the Cubs.

It will be funnier (and more rewarding) than watching the game against the Cardinals.

The Onion...

...is even funnier than the Daily Show. Exhibit A is below...


Police Slog Through 40,000 Insipid Party Pics To Find Cause Of Dorm Fire

So they lost the first two...

I still say this onesie is funny.

Buy yours here.

Cubs trade Chuck Klein

He's a Hall of Famer, but mostly because of his years with the Philadelphia Phillies. He had a couple of decent years with the Cubs, but Chuck Klein never approached the numbers he had in Philadelphia.

On this day in 1936, the Cubs traded him back to the Phillies. He hit a home run in his first game back.

Jesse Ventura

Am I a hopeless weirdo if I admit that I love Jesse Ventura? Watch him vivisect Sean Hannity and tell me you don't agree...

My latest for the Beachwood Reporter

I review the salad bar at Chuck E. Cheese's in Batavia.

No, I'm not kidding.

Rick is leaving the basement!

If you're in the Oak Park area tomorrow night, I'll be appearing at the Oak Park Public Library to promote the "Cubbie Blues" book.

Here are the details...

Thursday, May 21, 2009, 7 p.m.: Oak Park Public Library (Main Library, 2nd Floor, Veterans Room, 834 Lake Street, Oak Park). "Cubbie Blues" editor Donald G. Evans serves as moderator for a panel of contributing writers to the book, including Don De Grazia, James Finn Garner, Robert Goldsborough and Rick Kaempfer, who will give voice to the essence of being a Cubs fan.

Face Plant

All I can say is Ouch. Thanks to "BP" for the heads up.


Wall Faceplant After Diving Catch - Watch more Funny Videos

Babe Ruth's last appearance in Chicago...

...was on this day in 1935. He was a member of the Boston Braves, and he hit a home run. He retired as an active player two weeks later.

The Babe had a run at a movie career after his playing days were over.

Wow, was he bad.

My latest for SHORE Magazine

This article is entitled "People Persuasion, Innovation Invasion" and it's one of the cover stories in the June issue of SHORE Magazine. I've got another cover story coming next month.

Pete Townshend

He is 64 today. 30 years since he wrote the words to this one...

Joke for a Tuesday morning

Contributed by "KK," with apologies to lawyers...



A man happened upon a friend of his while walking down a suburban street. The man noticed that his friend's car was total loss and covered with leaves, grass, branches, dirt and blood. So, the man asked his friend, "What in the world happened to your car?"

"Well," the friend said, "I ran into a lawyer."

"Okay," said the man, "that explains the blood. But what about the leaves, the grass, the branches and all of the dirt?"

His friend replied, "Well, I had to chase him all through the park."

A good way to waste a morning

Thanks to "BP" for pointing out this site. It's called Loserloserloser.com

Brandmeier tackles "The Bobby Scales Story"

If you don't know who Bobby Scales is, he's the 31-year-old rookie the Cubs just brought up who is off to a great start. Everyone's rooting for him...

Bill Murray to invest in Cubs?

Ladies and gentlemen, can you imagine the potential fun we have in store for us if this story is true?

Kaempfer's Woodpecker

I know this sounds like a joke, but there really is a bird named: "Kaempfer's Woodpecker." Insert your "Kaempfer pecker" jokes here.

As you may know, I've been periodically tormented by a woodpecker at my house, so I find this bird's name appropriate in so many ways.

Harry Caray returns to SNL

This week in...

1929

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

*On the day that Charlie Root pitches three innings of shutout relief (2 days after pitching a shutout) and Rogers Hornsby homers to beat the Pirates at Wrigley Field, General Feng Yu-Xiang of China declares war on Chiang Kai-Shek government.


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

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

*Dick Selma strikes out nine and shuts out his former team the San Diego Padres on the same day The Who releases the rock opera "Tommy."




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

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

*Future Cubs closer Dave Smith walks in the winning run in the bottom of the ninth at Wrigley and the Cubs beat the Astros 7-6. The number one song in the country is the Phil Collins song "Against All Odds," which many Cubs fans see as "a sign."


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

The Boys of Zimmer are taking Chicago by storm.

*As Greg Maddux is beating the Reds in Cincinnati, the Dow goes past 2500 for the first time in history, and the Chinese government declares martial law.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest "Father Knows Nothing" column at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "The Man with the World's Longest Name." It celebrates the tenth anniversary of my award-winning children's story/poem.

23-22!

On this day in 1979, the Cubs lost to the Phillies 23-22. Fox 32's Dane Placko was there...

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Kipper McGee

This week's Chicago Radio Spotlight interview is with former WLS Program Director Kipper McGee. If you'd like to read it, the entire interview is here.