Friday, July 31, 2009

Have a nice weekend!

I'm heading out of town in a few minutes, driving up to Wisconsin to pick up the boys from summer camp, delouse and disinfect them, then going on a mini-vacation to Green Bay to visit some old friends.

Just One Bad Century will continue to update all weekend, and I will have a new Father Knows Nothing column on Sunday (probably late in the afternoon/early evening), but I'm shutting down this blog for the weekend.

Have a great weekend, and Go Cubs!

The Bull

He was known as "The Bull" and he was an All-Star first baseman for the Chicago Cubs during the 1980s.

Unfortunately for him, he also let a ground ball get through his legs at just about the worst possible time.

Today is his 52nd birthday.

Read all about Leon Durham here.

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Another great laughing baby

Sure to cheer you up...

ESPN to do Bartman documentary

Phil Rosenthal reports in today's Chicago Tribune that ESPN has ordered a documentary about Steve Bartman.

Here's a portion of Phil's report...


"Steve Bartman, an accidental icon of Chicago Cubs futility, is getting thrust into the spotlight once more.

ESPN announced Wednesday that it has commissioned a one-hour documentary on Bartman, the Cubs fan whose attempt to catch a foul ball late in Game 6 of the 2003 National League Championship series was cast as some kind of catalyst in the long-hamstrung team's eventual collapse that year.

The revisiting of the Bartman incident and a look at its ugly legacy by Alex Gibney, writer-director of the Oscar-nominated "Enron: The Smartest Guys in the Room" and the Academy Award-winning "Taxi to the Dark Side," will be part of ESPN's "30 for 30" series.

According to ESPN, Gibney will attempt to answer the question: Can Bartman ever forgive Chicago?"

I'd love to know if Bartman has actually agreed to participate. If so, that will be a heavily watched show. If not, it's just picking off an old scab.

I have never blamed Bartman. Even that night. And I wouldn't blame him if he has a chip on his shoulder. I think his story is a tragedy.

The Colonel


Robert McCormick was born on this day in 1880. He was a Colonel in World War I and insisted on being referred to as such the rest of his life.

Most of that life was spent owning the Chicago Tribune.

One of his lasting achievements was the building of the Tribune Tower.

Wednesday, July 29, 2009

Lindsay Lohan's E-Harmony Profile

Funny stuff...

1980 Cubs


I went to the ballgame last night with my buddies Dave & Dane and had a great time. The Cubs lost, but we sat in the bleachers, and relived our youth.

Things have changed a little since this team patrolled Wrigley Field: The 1980 Cubs. (They are today's Tale from a Bad Century)

You could walk right up and buy tickets for a buck or two then, and the bleachers were considered the cheap seats. Last night they were $60 a piece.

Tuesday, July 28, 2009

Summer Camp

Got the first phone call today from summer camp. Tommy has been lost twice already. He and Johnny just got there on Sunday.

Sigh.

This was my NWI Parent story about my summer camp fears.


Keeping my fingers crossed they can make it through three more days.

Shatner does Palin

Mark Buehrle on Letterman


I thought he did a nice job with the Top Ten List last night.

Time to bring these out again...



Losing is soooo last century.*

Your shirts are available here. Still selling for 19.08% off.






*I know I stuck a fork in the season on May 1, but what can I say, I've been sucked back in again. Maybe you have been too.

Birthday announcements

Two famous Cubs fans were born on this date.

Joe E. Brown was born in 1892.

Walter Jacobson was born in 1937.

Also, your humble Just One Bad Century editor Rick Kaempfer was born on this day in 1963.

Monday, July 27, 2009

Piano playing otter

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

I have to say, I'm beyond touched by this e-mail. It's from the people that gave Sean and I the great seats at the Cubs game on Friday. (If you missed it, I wrote about it in this weekend's Father Knows Nothing column.) I sent them the column via e-mail as an additional thank you, and this is how they responded...

"Good morning Rick,

I think that Cheryl and I were the real winners Friday. How can you beat helping a cute little fella like Sean in having his best day ever? Friday is what life is all about. Kids having fun and a special day with their dad. Sean won't remember the score or many of the details of the game, but he will always remember who shared his special day with him. Congratulations on being a wonderful parent, a very nice and appreciactive guy and a fabulous writer! Your article was great, and I would be thrilled to read your book. That is very generous of you. Thank you. I'm glad that we got to share a great game and some time with you and Sean. People like you help remind me what is still truly good in a hectic world today. Thanks again for for sharing a lot of smiles with us! Karma really is a beautiful thing!

Tell Sean we say hi!

Brian and Cheryl"

Leo the Lip



Leo was born on this date in 1905.

He was a big challenge for Lou Boudreau to interview every day during the Cubs pre-game show (Durocher in the Dugout). There weren't enough bleeps in the world to clean up some of those radio interviews.

Ever hear one of the unedited versions? Listen to this with caution. It's full of unbleeped f-bombs. Consider yourself warned.

Sunday, July 26, 2009

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest "Father Knows Nothing" column at NWI Parent. It's about my day at the ballpark with my youngest son Sean. You can read it here.

Mick is 66


That just sounds wrong doesn't it?

His days in Chicago are recounted here, if you're interested.





And here's a taste of Mick in his prime...