Saturday, May 02, 2020

Phil & Greg

Last night news came out that Hubbard Broadcasting in Chicago had fired a dozen staffers, including some people I know and respect. Among them, WDRV (The Drive) jocks Phil Manicki and Greg Easterling.

Both are fellow former WPGUers (University of Illinois) and both are consummate pros.

I interviewed Greg back in 2009 for Chicago Radio Spotlight.

I interviewed Phil just last year for Illinois Entertainer.
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Minutia Men--Michael Jordan & Josh Gondelman

Rick and Dave discuss the most unusual smoothies ever, the fact that Michael Jordan can do absolutely anything he wants, Rick’s brush with Rock and Roll Hall of Famer Neil Young, and they interview writer/comedian/producer/author Josh Gondelman. [Ep178]

Listen to it here.
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Friday, May 01, 2020

Black Water (Live in Isolation)

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RIP Bart & Bob

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You are the Champions

Queen is revisiting a classic to salute health workers...

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Whip


The May issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and features my interview with Brian Paruch, aka Whip, from the Mix Morning show (WTMX)

Read it here.
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Is Premier League coming back?

Players are beginning to train, but oh boy, has the world changed.

*Players must arrive at training grounds in kit and wear masks at all times.

*They must not shower or eat on the premises. If clubs want to provide players with food, it must be delivered as a takeaway to players' cars.

*Only essential medical treatment would be allowed, with all medical staff in full PPE.

*All meetings and reviews must take place virtually and off-site.

More information is here.
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Grace Fights Covid 19

This book is the first American parental resource that explains the coronavirus to the youngest member of the family. The Musical Bug Squad becomes a kid-centric tool that all parents should give their emerging reader children. And teachers can use it in the classroom, too!

Priced to simply cover our costs.

Find out more about it here.
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Thursday, April 30, 2020

Fun Fact

Only four ex-Cub pitchers have defeated all 30 current MLB clubs, and only one of them was a Cub when he beat the 30th team (John Lackey). The other three are Terry Mulholland, Dan Haren, and Jamie Moyer. (Only 19 pitchers in MLB history have ever done it)

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Illinois

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Free Kicks

This week's episode of Free Kicks has all the latest news about the potential re-opening of the European soccer leagues (and there is some, by the way).

Listen to it here.
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News Radio From Home

I really thought this was an interesting look at how a Newsradio station like WBBM-AM in Chicago handles the current situation. They remain an essential source of news for Chicago, but they also have to protect their employees from the virus. It's a demanding format requiring lots of people in the best of circumstances.

Here's how they do it.

Thanks to Robert Feder for that report.
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Wednesday, April 29, 2020

Robbie Rist

This week's Minutia Men Celebrity Interview is with Cousin Oliver from the Brady Bunch, Robbie Rist.

Listen to it here.
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Tuesday, April 28, 2020

America's Lost Soul

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Lossano and Friends

Tony Lossano has been posting previous episodes of his podcast Lossano and Friends. This first episode he posted includes me as a guest (promoting my new at the time book "Father Knows Nothing"). I remember it well. It was the first (and possibly last) time I got to broadcast with the immortal Dick Biondi. That was a thrill. I've known Dick since I started at WJMK in 1993, but this was the only time I was actually on the air with him.





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David Ross story

Pretty funny story about Cubs manager David Ross during his broadcasting days...

ESPN’s Jon “Boog” Sciambi recently hopped on “The Compound,” a podcast hosted by Cubs Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner, Dakota Mekkes and Zack Short. Sciambi recalled a time where Ross got up to use the restroom during a commercial break of a Red Sox-Phillies entering the 10th inning.

The 10th already started by the time Ross returned to the booth, giving Cubs legend Rick Sutcliffe — the third member of broadcast team — a chance to mess with him.

“[Ross] puts the headset on kinda quiet, like he’s sneaking back into the booth. And Sutt, to his credit — and Sutt’s not the brightest light on the Christmas tree — sees it.

“Rossy puts his headset back on, and Sutt goes ‘That’s a great point, Boog. What do you think about that, Rossy?’

“[Ross’] eyes bulge out. He looks at me and I look at him, like ‘Well…’ It’s like one-one thousand, two-one thousand, three-one thousand, he realizes we’re ****ing with him, and he just blurts out ‘You guys are like camels; you never go to the bathroom.’”

Yes, this happened live on the air during a national broadcast of an MLB game. Three Red Sox-Phillies games went to extras from 2017-18; which of the three this story occurred during is uncertain.
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Tulips

The great Barry Butler photographs one of the most beautiful times of the year in downtown Chicago. I may have to make a trip down there to check it out...

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How is this story not getting more attention?

Am I wrong? This seems like pretty big news.

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Monday, April 27, 2020

A True Bulls Fan

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Freddie in Quarantine

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The Gov

SNL cut this for time on the air, but posted it online. I thought it was pretty strong...

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Winds of Change

Try to wrap your head around this one. From Deadline...

Did the CIA write Scorpions’ hit song Wind of Change? This is the wild story of Spotify’s latest original podcast documentary series.

The audio platform has teamed up with New Yorker investigative journalist Patrick Radden Keefe, Pod Save America producer Crooked Media and Missing Richard Simmons producer Pineapple Street Studios for Wind of Change.

The eight-part series, which debuts May 11, follows Keefe as he explores a rumor he heard from a source within the CIA: The CIA was behind the 1990 international hit. He will look at spies doing the unthinkable, a secret history of propaganda hidden in pop music, and a maze of government secrets as he attempts to untangle one of the great mysteries of the Cold War.

I played this song a million times when i was on the Loop. We pushed it hard. Don't think we were part of the conspiracy, but I must admit, this song never spoke to me. And I'm German. And I was blown away by the Berlin Wall coming down. And I love the Scorps. This song just isn't that good.

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Minutia Men



Click here to listen.
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What's Up With That?

This bit hasn't been pulled out of the closet for a while, but it was done very well on SNL this weekend. My son Tommy's all-time favorite SNL bit...

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Sunday, April 26, 2020

Walking on Sunshine

This song is 35 years old today and it still puts you in a good mood. Much harder to write a truly happy song than a sad one...

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