Exploring London

While we were in London, of course, we had a chance to explore the sights. Here are a few of them...

Inside Chelsea

A tremendous trip over the holiday weekend took me to Chelsea headquarters in England. We got inside access to their training facility, and went to see a game at Stamford Bridge. What an opportunity. Thanks so much to Chelsea for inviting us. Fun group, including my brother Peter. Adam and I will be talking about this in our podcast next week...

London-Bound

I'm heading out of the country today, heading to London. My Free Kicks co-host Adam and I (photo) will be doing interviews and tours at Chelsea's training ground, and then we'll be attending the Chelsea-West Ham match on Saturday. I cannot wait. This is going to be fun.

I'll be back to the blog next week.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Perfect Gift for Christmas!

Look who has *another* podcast

Here's the tease. It debuts on Wednesday.

Our first guest is John Kinsella from Field of Dreams. The actors name is Dwier Brown, and it's a doozy of an interview.

Highly recommended.

Chicago Radio Ratings

From Robert Feder's column this morning, the latest Chicago ratings. If you'd like to see it broken down by dayparts, click here.

1. (tie) WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 5.1 (4.9); WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 5.1 (4.8); WVAZ 102.7-FM urban adult contemporary, 5.1 (5.4)
4. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 4.8 (5.2)
5. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 4.7 (4.3)
6. WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 4.4 (5.5)
7. WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 4.1 (3.4)
8. WGN 720-AM news talk, 4.0 (3.5)
9. WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 3.8 (3.8)
10. WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 3.6 (2.9)
11. (tie) WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 3.5 (3.3); WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 3.5 (3.4)
13. WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 3.4 (4.3)
14. WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 3.2 (3.0)
15. WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 3.1 (3.1)
16. WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip hop, 2.9 (3.0)
17. WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.6 (2.8)
18. WLS 890-AM news talk, 2.3 (2.3)
19. (tie) WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.2 (2.0); WGCI 107.5-FM urban contemporary, 2.2 (2.4)
21. WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.1 (1.8)
22. WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 1.9 (1.8)
23. WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 1.6 (1.8)
24. WEBG 95.5-FM country, 1.5 (1.3)
25. WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.3 (1.4)
26. (tie) WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian, 1.2 (1.0); WPWX 92.3-FM urban contemporary, 1.2
28. WMBI 90.1-FM Christian ministry, 1.1 (1.0)
29. WSRB 106.3-FM urban adult contemporary, 1.0
30. WIIL 95.1-FM album-oriented rock, 0.8

My Love/Hate relationship with Pete Townshend

On the one hand, I think Pete Townshend is one of the greatest songwriters of the rock era. I love the Who, and I love Pete's solo material. But I read his book and thought he came off sounding like a grade-A A-hole.

Then I saw this article in the New York Daily News: Pete Townshend Says 'Thank God' late Who bandmates Keith Moon, John Entwistle are ‘gone’

Nice. Like I said. Grade-A A-hole.

One Town That Won't Let You Down

Monday Morning Magic. #chicago #news #ilwx #weather #sunrise pic.twitter.com/x1EKdfeWEW

— Barry Butler (@barrybutler9) November 25, 2019

2020 EveryCubEver

Look what I got over the weekend! The first copy of the updated 2020 version of EveryCubEver!

More than a hundred new or updated entries. The perfect Xmas gift for the Cub fans in your family.

Get it here!

Minutia Men--From Charleston to Bangkok

Rick and Dave discuss what causes Chinese mothers to have heart attacks, anatomically correct mannequins, Rick’s brush with conservative columnist Robert Novak, and they interview rock and roll author Bill Paige (live from Bangkok) [Ep158]

Listen to it here.

John Tesh Returns his Hall of Fame plaque

This is such a weird story. What in the world are the people at the Radio Hall of Fame doing? Tesh returned his plaque because during the ceremony, they tried to cut off his wife (who was inducting him) by playing her off with music, and then when that didn't work, cutting off the lights in the ballroom. It wasn't even being broadcast. Who is the nimrod who was running that show?

Robert Feder has the details.

Free Kicks--An English Primer

Adam and Rick prepare for their trip to Chelsea. Adam preps Rick on English grammar, football terminology, and dos and don’ts for attending a Premier League game. [Ep52]

Listen to it here.

Bill & Wendy

Truly sorry to hear this news. It was one of my favorite shows. Bill & Wendy have been let go by WGN Radio.

Robert Feder has the details.

Eric Zorn published Bill & Wendy's goodbye to their listeners.

Charleston, South Carolina

Sorry I haven't posted in a long time. I was out of town...

Janet Sutherland Madden in Orland

South side fans, put this on your calendar. A chance to meet Eckhartz Press author Janet Sutherland Madden...

Jimmy de Castro retiring

My old boss at the Loop, Jimmy de Castro, has announced he is retiring from Entercom.

Robert Feder has the details.

Eye of the Tiger

I went to a charity fundraiser at my nephew's school last weekend and came home the proud winner of a Jim Peterik autographed Fender Stratocaster. I've met Jim a number of times of the years and he's a great guy. Now all I have to do is learn how to play again. I've got a few chords down. It's a work in progress.

Music!

"The Donald Trump Song" .🤣 pic.twitter.com/DWGnQncHC4

— 🌊 𝐌𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐚 𝐁𝐞𝐚𝐫 🐻🆘 🌊 (@Betsywetsy00) November 10, 2019

I got a little verklempt

What is, "We ❤️ you Alex!"

"Jeopardy!" host Alex Trebek choked up after a contestant used his Final Jeopardy answer to send a heartfelt message. Trebek has been battling stage 4 pancreatic cancer. https://t.co/4y1WBUxWEE pic.twitter.com/brISyU3rRA

— CNN (@CNN) November 12, 2019

John Oliver Kills It

Remind me never to f with John Oliver. The last five minutes of this video is one of the greatest things I've ever seen. His response to finding out that you can say anything about someone who has sued you, as long as it's obviously a joke...

Minutia Men--Lorne Greene & Loerzel

This week's episdode includes one of my favorite stories we've ever covered, and believe it or not, it takes place in Afghanistan. Also, we interview Chicago journalist Robert Loerzel. Take a listen if you get a moment.

You can listen to it here.

Baby Blue Suits

Love this picture...

Yellow Submarine / Eleanor Rigby single sleeve - Italy 1966 pic.twitter.com/3LlgjAzCTJ

— The Beatles (@thebeatles) November 8, 2019

Hilde

Happy birthday to my mom, a person with more energy today at 78 years old, than I have ever had. I think the energy gene skips a generation. These are her energetic grandsons skiing with her.

Mason Profit

My college buddies and I have been going down memory lane lately talking about songs we used to play on our old radio station WPGU. Most of these were songs the Townies in Champaign-Urbana requested. This is one I got calls for all the time, and it's been in my head the last two days...

Nothing to see here

Trump ordered by judge to pay $2M in damages, after he used a charity’s $ to help his businesses and to buy art of himself.

The **President of the US** now isn’t permitted to start a charity in New York without special oversight from outsiders.

This follows up his previous fraud of Trump University, in which he was forced to pay millions to defrauded "students".

And 40% of the country believes that someone who is too corrupt to run a charity or a university was obsessed with rooting out corruption in Ukraine.

(Sigh)

Free Kicks--Battle of the Titans

This week's Free Kicks episode is largely about the Titans of the Premier League--Liverpool and Manchester City--previewing their big matchup this weekend.

Listen to it here.

A day I never thought I'd see...

Cubs LOWERING ticket prices for season tickets.

They should bring back the Cubs play. It's a miracle.

Kelly Crull

Sad to see this news in Robert Feder's column this morning...

Kelly Crull, who covered the Chicago Cubs (including their 2016 World Series championship) during her six years as a reporter for NBC Sports Chicago, is out at the regional sports network. “We appreciate everything Kelly has delivered to our network over the years and wish her nothing but success in her future endeavors,” the company said in a statement. Crull, who earned a journalism degree from the University of Missouri on a tennis scholarship, previously worked for Fox Sports Net in San Diego and Oklahoma City, and KOCO, the ABC affiliate in Oklahoma City.

Snowflakes

Seriously, Trump fans. Nobody, but nobody, is a bigger slowflake than you are.

Netflix offers "skip" button for Trump jokes in new Seth Meyers comedy special https://t.co/MnQ6BTcBZv pic.twitter.com/vlcMBcNud3

— The Hill (@thehill) November 4, 2019

Ken Korber

Enjoyed this podcast featuring Eckhartz Press author Ken Korber. Ken writes childrens books, and has several exciting series out already.

Listen to his story here.

Gold Glover

Congratulations to @ARizzo44 on his third #GoldGlove Award! pic.twitter.com/GpBoHuR5cJ

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) November 4, 2019

Minutia Men--Hash & Potash

Rick and Dave discuss a dead boyfriend, a lady in Red, a hash funeral, Rick’s brush with guitarist Adrian Belew, and they interview WGN-TV newscaster Larry Potash. [EP156]

Listen to it here.