Blogging Lite

It's day two of summer vacation for my boys, and it's already become obvious that I won't have much time to blog this summer. I will still blog whenever I get a chance (I find it therapeutic, believe it or not), but the posts will not be as frequent.

Just One Bad Century continues to be updated daily. If you want to follow that more closely, please follow me on Twitter or click like on the Just One Bad Century facebook page. I'm not going to be posting it here every day anymore.

Eckhartz Press has five books coming out between now and the end of the year, including my own (yikes!). So I've got some serious editing/writing to do. I'll update here when we have some new books ready to go. (The usher book is going to be ready today, I believe).

My Illinois Entertainer column comes out the first of every month. I'll still post the links here. Bob Stroud is my next interviewee.

If you send me funny links or pictures or polls or whatever, I'll still post those. I appreciate you sending those.

But other than that, I'm afraid I'll be taking a mini-hiatus from blogging this summer. Isn't Friday the 13th the perfect day to decide that?

Just One Bad Century--June 13

We've got kind of a light day at Just One Bad Century today.

There are only two Cubs born on this day, and neither is really a Cub of note. One was nicknamed "Lefty", and the other is on the current roster.

Today in Wrigley history goes back to 1942 and 1980.

Today's Historical Event is the creation of Miranda Rights. Where were the Cubs?

And the A/V Club is Babe Ruth's farewell address to Yankee Stadium.

So today is a bit light, but this weekend will be jam-packed. Tomorrow's the anniversary of the Eddie Waitkus shooting, and Sunday is the anniversary of the Lou Brock trade. Plus there were tons of Cubs greats born this weekend, including one of my all-time favorites, Billy Williams. We'll also post a new This Week in 1908 and This Week in 1945.

It's worth a visit.

Have a great Father's Day weekend!

World Cup Fever

I'll be busy for the next month. Feel free to leave a message.

Just One Bad Century--June 12

We posted a new week's worth of Historical Events on JOBC. Today's entry is the birth of President George H.W. Bush. Where were the Cubs?

Today in Wrigley history goes back to 1923 and 1979. A strong man's best day, and a soccer event (which is appropriate considering the World Cup begins today)

Today's Cubs birthdays include one of the most eclectic mixes you'll find anywhere: a pitcher who was electrocuted, a cup of coffee from the 1950s, the most German-sounding name in big league history, and a player who was born in the Czech Republic.

The Cubs try to salvage a series split tonight in Pittsburgh.

Green White Soccer Club

One of my on-going writing projects is writing the history of Green White Soccer Club, a club co-founded by my dad. 1988 in Green White history has been posted and features an interview with perhaps the greatest player in Green White history--Rudi Mayer--who retired after the 1988 season.

Read all about the soccer career of the 3-time player of the year, collegiate National Champion (at Michigan State), 1972 U.S. Olympic team member, and professional soccer player (with the Chicago Sting), and how much Green White soccer club has meant to him.

It's at this link.

I'm Just Happy Our Crib Wasn't Big Enough for Me

Although I feel this father's pain. Those first few years are so hard...

A Rare Good Comments Section

From DNAInfo yesterday...

School Shooting Map

This map represents all the school shootings in America since Sandy Hook. I was at a party recently when somebody actually worried out loud that his "second amendement rights were in danger". Take a look at this map. All of these shootings have happened in the last year, and not one single thing has happened to those precious second amendment rights. Not one. If anything, you have clear proof that nothing will ever happen to your gun rights. Not after first graders are shot indiscrimately. (There have been 74 more school gun incidents since). Not after a movie theater is shot up indiscriminately. Not after a sorority, a church, a school, a college, a McDonalds or hundreds of other places are shot up. Not after a president, a pope, a civil rights leader, a governor, or a rock star are shot. Nothing ever happens to your gun rights. Nothing. You can still get an assault rifle. You can still buy a gun at a gun show without registering it. There still is no database kept on gun purchases. The government is still banned from even researching the effects of guns. (This is not a joke...it's an actual law).

As long as the second amendment stays indoors and doesn't go out in the public where gun freaks can now openly carry weapons and shoot if they feel threatened, it will be perfectly safe.

It's the rest of us that are screwed.

Top 10 Ways to Give Your Kids a 1970s Summer

This blog post made me reassess my summer plan to work the boys until their fingers bleed. It did it by reminding me just how easy my summers were when I was a kid.

I must add one caveat, however. This does not apply to teenagers. We all had summer jobs when we were teenagers.

Great Advice from Jim Carrey

I can't believe I just wrote that headline, but this is good advice, kids.

More Chicago Radio Ratings

Robert Feder has the Chicago radio ratings leaders for...

Middays

&

Evenings.


Glad to see my old pals Greg Brown (#1!) and John Records Landecker (#8) on the list.

Just One Bad Century--June 11

At JOBC we posted a whole new week's worth of "The Week in Wrigley History". Today's entry goes back to 1952 and Hank Sauer's best day as a pro. We've even got the audio.

There are some really interesting Cubs celebrating birthdays today, including the Cub who quit on the day Warren Harding died, the Duke of Tralee, and Deek. Plus, did you that Jimmy Stewart and Frank Thomas were both on the Cubs? It's true. Check it out here. Jimmy Stewart is also featured in the A/V Club.

Today's Historical Event is a tragedy at Lemans in 1955. Where were the Cubs?

If they don't get rained out, tonight they'll be in Pittsburgh.

Bob Stroud

I turned in my latest Illinois Entertainer column yesterday. In the July issue I'll be talking music with Bob Stroud. Bob and I used to chat about music in the hallways of the Loop all the time, but I have never gotten any of his views on the page before. I think you'll enjoy it. The July issue will be out on July 1st.

John Oliver Rips FIFA

Nicely done. I agree completely...

Chicago Radio Ratings

Robert Feder has the Chicago radio ratings leaders for...

Mornings

&

Afternoons.

Other than the top three in both categories, there were some real swings here. I was a little surprised to see WILV's Brian Peck in fourth place in the mornings. Congrats to him. Also, Garry Meier goes out on top. He's in the top ten in the afternoon ratings.

I'm just happy that I'm not in the business anymore. When the ratings come out this often, and the ratings change this much each month, the pressure must be ridiculous.

World Cup Fever

ESPN is going big on the World Cup with the most ambitious digital World Cup coverage ever.

CNET has the story.

I'm getting very excited.

Just One Bad Century--June 10

I actually listened to the Cubs game on the deck last night and enjoyed the broadcast (if not the outcome). Ron Coomer is growing on me as the color man.

Today on JOBC we go back to 1908. How long ago was 1908? This is the week that Chicago decided on it's grid system of addresses, and declared that Madison & State Street was the center point of the city. All addresses were changed to what they are now. The Lusitania is also in the news, and the Cubs are in Brooklyn and Philadelphia.

Today in Wrigley History goes back to 1942. It was also a big day for Fergie Jenkins on this day in 1983, so we featured Fergie in the A/V Club.

Today's Historical Event is the founding of Alcoholics Anonymous. Where were the Cubs?

There aren't that many Cubs celebrating birthdays today. Only two. Both of them have great back stories, involving being raised by deaf-mute parents, and working in a coalmine. Read their stories here.

Now that the dust has settled from the draft, here's a new look at the top fifteen prospects in the Cubs system. Is this the group that will help lead us out of darkness? I sure hope so.

How Good Was Karen Carpenter?

This good...



She was only 20 when she recorded this in one take.

I'm on my fifth cup right now

Thanks to "RW" for sending it...

People Hate Their Cable Companies

This Washington Post article should serve as an eye opener for cable companies: ‘A soup of misery’: Over half of people say they’d abandon their cable company, if only they could

Why won't it matter? Because cable companies have a monopoly in most markets.

And the F.C.C. is seriously considering a merger that would give even more power to cable companies. And they're also giving cable companies MORE power/control over the internet.

Sometimes you can only shake your head.

Bill Watterson is back?

The creator of Calvin & Hobbes has been off the funny pages for more than 20 years, but he recently returned in a stealth way.

This is the story behind his triumpant return.

For my money (and many other people's money), he is the greatest comic strip writer of all-time.

The Story Behind the Cubs Leaving WGN

Tom Taylor has a little more info this morning (via the Sun Times) regarding how and why WBBM wrestled Cubs radio rights away from WGN...

The Chicago Sun-Times says that by going into the concert business with CBS, any revenue from a big concert at Wrigley Field “would be exempt from [the] revenue-sharing calculations” that are reported to Major League Baseball. That would give the Cubs “a potential shelter for some of their local revenue,” by letting the team report that their rights fees from radio hadn’t increased. And CBS could make out by using its radio station assets to promote major shows at venerable Wrigley. Cubs Business President Crane Kenney says “nobody in Chicago has more access to more talent and the top artists than CBS Radio.” Just for starters, CBS has country “US 99.5” WUSN, adult alternative WXRT (93.1) and rhythmic “B96” WBBM-FM. That’s a lot of genres and potential bookings. And CBS could exploit the show well past the far-suburbs of Chicago. CBS Market President Rod Zimmernan mentions an event that CBS did at the Barclay’s Center back East in Brooklyn, which was promoted in 26 markets.

Printer's Row Lit Fest Photo Album

We couldn't have asked for better weather for this year's Printer's Row Lit Fest. Many of the Eckhartz Press authors were on hand, including Joel Daly, Randy Richardson, Chuck Quinzio, Dan Burns, David Stern, and Rick Kaempfer.

Here are a few photos of the gang...

Just One Bad Century--June 9

I went looking around this morning for reviews of the Cubs draft, and it doesn't appear the reviews are too strong.

SB Nation gave the Cubs an F for their first pick. Baseball America's analysis of him also won't exactly excite Cub fans.

Sports Illustrated named the Cubs and Pirates as the biggest losers of the draft.

This is really the only positive review I saw: Bleacher Report gave the Cubs a B+ in the draft.

I'm one of the people who bought into this whole rebuilding process, but I wouldn't be completely honest if I didn't admit that I am beginning to have my doubts that they know what they're doing. I hope I'm wrong, but that stomach-rumbling anxiety is back again. I don't think it will go away until one of these draft picks actually shows up at the big league level and does some impressive things.

This past weekend while the Cubs were winning five in a row and celebrating the 1940s (with a return visit by 97-year-old Lennie Merullo!), This Week in 1945 was posted at JOBC. Read about the recommendation NOT to drop the A-bomb, Gwendolyn Brooks, George H.W. Bush, and a Cubs prospect taken away by the war. There's also a clip of a very politically incorrect Danny Kaye movie that came out this week.

Today in Wrigley history goes back to memorable games in 1963, 1977, 1978, and a memorable event in 2012.

Today's Historical Event is one of the biggest stories in Chicago history, the murder of Chicago Tribune reporter Jake Lingle. There's also a bonus event--the moment Joseph Nye Welch confronted Senator McCarthy and said: "Have you no decency, Sir?" Where were the Cubs?

Today's Cubs birthdays include the Cubs shortstop just before Ernie arrived, a man who batted three times in one inning, cups of coffee from the 40s, 60s, and 00s, and one of the Cub players who contributed to the playoff run of '07 and '08. That player is also featured in the A/V club today.