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...