Wednesday, March 25, 2009

Reading Under the Influence

A week from tonight (April 1st, 7-10 PM) I'll be appearing at Sheffield's in Chicago to participate in an event called "Reading Under the Influence." This is to promote our new Cubs book "Cubbie Blues." I'll be reading my essay from the book, as well as a famous published piece about the Cubs, and then, I'll be asking the audience trivia questions. Five other authors are also participating.

Did I mention that it's called "Reading Under the Influence" because the readers do actual shots before reading, and the audience is encouraged to drink? (Still wondering how they got me to actually leave my basement?) I'd love to see some friendly faces in the audience, so come on by. We'll be in the back room of Sheffield's, which is at 3258 N. Sheffield Ave. The cover charge is only $3, and it sounds like it's going to be a lot of fun.

To read more about it, check out the Reading Under the Influence website here.

Share Just One Bad Century via Facebook


Last week we got a Facebook widget on my "$everance" page. This week we got one on Just One Bad Century. If there's a story you see on Just One Bad Century that you think is worth sharing (I think today's is pretty good...but I'm biased), please share away!

Tuesday, March 24, 2009

The real story of my thumb injury...

...is told in the current issue of NWI Parent Magazine. You can read it here.

By the way, the cast is off and I'm almost back to normal. Two more weeks and I'll get a clean bill of health.

And if you missed it on Sunday, my latest Father Knows Nothing is called "A message from Sean's attorney." It addresses the real financial crisis...the money mysteriously disappearing from my wallet.

Fantasy Baseball

I know not everyone is a fantasy baseball fan. I happen to love it, but I understand why you might consider the whole thing a bit of a joke (I'm married to one of you).

I was sent this video by Mark Bazer, who is a writer at Tribune Media Services. This is a sketch he and Justin Kaufman from Shadenfreude.net did on stage at the Hideout in Chicago about fantasy baseball. I happen to think it's pretty funny, but if you don't get fantasy baseball, you might not.

Monday, March 23, 2009

Cremating the Curse!

I have to tell you about a great event I'll be participating in on April 5th. It's being staged by George Rawlinson, the publisher of "Cubbie Blues: 100 years of waiting til next year." George is staging this event at Michael's Funeral Home in Schaumburg, and he's calling it "CREMATING THE CURSE!"

Comedian Tom Dreesen will MC the event, and an array of notable local Cubs celebrities will be on hand to deliver eulogies for the 100 years of losing (including me), as we actually cremate artifacts from the various different Cubs curses I've written about on this site, including Merkle, the Revenge of Martin Luther, the Goat, the Black Cat, and every other curse we can think of.

Please come on out and enjoy the festivities. It's also a worthwhile fundraising event for Chicago Baseball Cancer Charities. All of the details about this event are here at the Can't Miss Press website.

The Wrigley Marquee


Now this is trivia. 49 years ago today, the Cubs painted that Wrigley Field marquee red. Before 1960, it was green.

The Roe Report


According to Tom Taylor at Radio-Info.com, Roe Conn will also be one of the replacements for Paul Harvey...

"Look for this to be announced out of the same market where Harvey himself originated - Chicago. The 20-year WLS (890) personality Roe Conn will offer short morning columns starting as early as next week, fed by ABC Radio Networks. T-R-I hears that one of the early clearances is Citadel talker WABC, New York (770). Conn has long-held ties with ABC News and was a contributor to the radio network's political coverage during the last presidential campaign. Suddenly, lots of folks in the "news and commentary" business..."

I interviewed Roe not too long ago at Chicago Radio Spotlight. If you'd like to read the interview, it's here.

Sunday, March 22, 2009

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column. I call this one "A message from Sean's attorney" and it involves the latest financial scandal...the mysterious disappearance of my money.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Rob Hart

This weekend on Chicago Radio Spotlight I talk to WGN Newsman Rob Hart. He's a reporter and an anchor and he shares some of the highlights of his career covering the news in Chicago.

Read the whole interview here.

Friday, March 20, 2009

More on Charlie Root



This week I wrote about Charlie Root, and I got a few interesting e-mails about it, including this one...



Dear Rick:

Saw your great entry about Charlie Root and so did Charlie's daughter, Della, who is 90. Would love if you could plug my web site and new book about Root that will be out in two weeks. For more details, http://rootforthecubs.com

Roger Snell

Consider it done, Roger. Good luck on the book. Charlie will also be part of "Cubs through History" here at Just One Bad Century on Monday.

Beer bottle dominoes

This seems appropriate during the week of St. Patrick's Day...

Funny Wake Story

I just re-read the spring break story in the post below, and a portion of it made me realize that the apple doesn't fall far from the tree. In the story, my son Johnny gets car sick and loses it all over the back seat.

Last night I went to a wake of a neighbor I haven't seen in years. I didn't know the deceased that well, but I knew his younger sister. She was just a few years older than me and we used to play together when we were kids. She introduced me to her teenage daughter at the wake last night as her former next-door neighbor.

Her daughter said..."Wait a second! Are you the kid who used to vomit all the time?"

Yup, that's me. I think they still have "Don't Let This Boy on this Ride" posters with my picture on it in the local carnival hall of fame.

You just never know what's going to happen, do you? You go to a wake expecting a somber atmosphere and instead you get a story that your kids are going to tell to every person they meet for the rest of their lives.

Spring Break

My kids begin their spring break later today, and this year we're just staying home and relaxing. A few years ago we ventured down to Georgia for a spring break adventure. I wrote about that road trip for SHORE Magazine. You can read the gruesome details here.

Thursday, March 19, 2009

"Elton's going to help us win ballgames"


I wouldn't want to see Elton throw a pitch, but Crane Kenney makes an interesting point. From this morning's Chicago Tribune...



"Not only will the Cubs host three concerts and open a new indoor-outdoor café in time for Opening Day, but there are more revenue-generating innovations to come.

"It's strange, because you see these people who are opposed to the concerts and they're Cub fans," Cubs Chairman Crane Kenney said Wednesday in a wide-ranging interview.

"This is going to sound odd, but Elton John's going to help us win some ballgames," Kenney said. "The CBOE [seat] auction last year paid for Rich Harden. The 'Road to Wrigley' game sponsored our Asian scouting operation.

"That's the way, from the business end, we look at these things. All these elements really help our business move forward. My view is if you're a Cub fan, you should enjoy the concerts whether you're an Elton John fan or not."

There's a photo of the cafe construction at the link above...

Thanks!

I would like to thank everyone who posted a blurb about $everance on their Facebook page. I'm going to try to thank you all personally, but there were so many people who did it that I'm afraid I might miss one or two, so I'd like to make one big public thank you too.

It means a lot to me. I owe you one.

(If you'd like to do it too, follow the Facebook logo here at my ENC Press page.)

Chicago Radio Spotlight birthdays

Over the past few weeks a few of my former interview subjects have celebrated birthdays. It seems like a good time to revisit them. Happy birthday to...

US-99's Drew Walker (March 8)
Comedian Dobie Maxwell (March 14)
Grand Rapid's Len O'Kelly (March 18)

Cubs to retire #31

From this morning's newswires...

The Chicago Cubs will retire the No. 31 worn by both Ferguson Jenkins and Greg Maddux. The two star right-handed pitchers will be honored May 3 before a game against Florida at Wrigley Field. It will be the fifth number retired by the Cubs, joining No. 14 (Ernie Banks), No. 26 (Billy Williams), No. 10 (Ron Santo) and No. 23 (Ryne Sandberg).

Jenkins, elected to the Hall of Fame in 1991, and Maddux, who won 355 games before retiring in December, are the first Cubs pitchers to have their numbers retired. Jenkins retired before the 1984 season. When Maddux broke in with the Cubs two years later, he was given No. 31.

"Being 20 years old at the time the last thing I was going to do was complain about my number. I was just happy to be there," Maddux said of the No. 31. "I thought that was pretty cool. They gave me Fergie's number. I knew he was one of the best pitchers to ever play for the Cubs and for baseball period."

Turns out Maddux became one of the greatest, too.

I guess they had to wait until Maddux retired, but the honor is long overdue for Fergie. These are two of the classiest pitchers to ever put on a major league uniform. It's well deserved.

I've previously written about Fergie (here and here), and Maddux (here and here).

Wednesday, March 18, 2009

$everance

I haven't talked about $everance on this blog for awhile, but it's still going strong. Just today we added a feature on the ENC Press site where people could share $everance on their Facebook pages. If you liked the book, and would like to share it with people you know, click here, look for the little facebook logo, and you can add it to your Facebook page. Any help you can give me would be greatly appreciated.

I'm doing a few book club appearances this month promoting the book too. It's funny, but with the recent economic collapse, suddenly my railing against Wall Street practices is looking prescient. Who knew?

The Financial Crisis Explained

Contributed by "PK"

Kelly is the proprietor of an Irish bar in New York City . In order to increase sales, she decides to allow her loyal customers - most of whom are unemployed alcoholics - to drink now but pay later. She keeps track of the drinks consumed on a ledger (thereby granting the customers loans).

Word gets around and as a result increasing numbers of customers flood into Kelly's bar.

Taking advantage of her customers' freedom from immediate payment constraints, Kelly increases her prices for wine and beer, the most-consumed beverages. Her sales volume increases massively.

A young and dynamic customer service consultant at the local bank recognizes these customer debts as valuable future assets and increases Kelly's borrowing limit.

He sees no reason for undue concern because he has the promissory notes of Kelly's customers as collateral.

At the bank's corporate headquarters, expert bankers transform these customer assets into DRINKBONDS, ALKBONDS and PUKEBONDS.

These securities are then sold and traded on markets worldwide.
No one really understands what these abbreviations mean and how thesecurities are guaranteed.

Nevertheless, as their prices continuously climb, securities become top-selling items.

One day, although the prices are still climbing, a risk manager of the bank, (subsequently fired for his realism), decided that the time has come to start demanding payment from Kelly for the debts incurred by the drinkers at her bar.

Unfortunately Kelly's customers cannot pay back any of their debts to Kelly.

Kelly cannot fulfill her loan obligations to the bank and claims bankruptcy.

DRINKBOND and ALKBOND drop in price by 95 %. PUKEBOND performs better, stabilizing in price after dropping by only 80%.

The suppliers of Kelly's bar, having granted her generous payment terms and also having invested in the securities are faced with a new and desperate situation. Her wine supplier claims bankruptcy and her beer supplier is taken over by a competitor.

The bank is saved by the Government following dramatic round-the-clock consultations by leaders from the governing political parties. They came up with a miraculous rescue plan that saved the bank.

The funds required for this massive rescue are obtained by levying a new income tax on all the non-drinkers.

Hiram Bithorn



The World Baseball Classic is being played at Hiram Bithorn Stadium this week. Not many Cubs fans realize that Hi Bithorn was a Cubs player. Read his tragic story here. Today would have been his 93rd birthday.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Charlie Root

Charlie Root was the pitcher who served up the supposed called shot by Babe Ruth, and he was born on this day in 1899.

He pitched in four World Series for the Cubs: 1929, 1932, 1935 and 1938.

He still holds the record for most career victories by a Cubs pitcher (201).

Next Monday in "Cubs through History" you'll learn a little bit about what Charlie liked to do for fun. Be sure to check that out.

The things you don't say to your wife

"BN" contributed this video...

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my newest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. It's called "Tell us a story, Dad." You can read it here.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Mary Van De Velde

This week at Chicago Radio Spotlight I interviewed the afternoon traffic reporter at WGN: Mary Van De Velde. Mary's life has recently been upended in the move from mornings to afternoons, which is one of the subjects we discussed. You can read the entire interview here.

Friday, March 13, 2009

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


Brent e-mailed a great observation...

"Funny thing. When I went to the see the Jon Stewart interview, they make you watch a commercial first. The commercial I got was for Bank of America. Irony anyone?"

Neil Sedaka

He may have written a song called "Happy Birthday Sweet 16," but Neil Sedaka turns 70 years old today.

Last summer I interviewed Clark Weber about his new book, the foreword of which is written by Sedaka. I asked how he knew him, and Clark told this story that illuminates the kind of man Neil Sedaka is...




"I knew Neil from back in the 60s, and I decided to call and ask if he would do it, and he said hell yes. He and I were good buddies, and he would call on my office at WLS from time to time when I was the program director at WLS. The record company had their own promo people but if he was in town, he would come in personally. One time he was in my office and I got a phone call about a band cancelling at a church event in Evanston that I was supposed to be hosting. Well I went there that night, and I was ready to go on stage, and the people from the church said, 'You're not going to believe who is backstage to perform.' It was Neil, and he entertained the crowd for a half-hour."

Friday the 13th


Today I'm going to walk under a ladder, break a mirror, and force a black cat to cross my path. I'm feeling lucky.

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Ricky Gervais and Elmo

No sign of tension on the Sesame Street set on the day they announce massive layoffs. Although Elmo was a little loopy...

Johnny Kaempfer


He's funny, he's quirky, he's tough, he's got a bit of a Napoleon complex, and he is 11 years old today. Happy Birthday, Johnny!

Like his older and younger brother, my middle son was born on the radio. Read all about that here.

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

40 years ago this week...

...this song won the grammy for song of the year. I personally think it holds up pretty well. The link takes you to a recording of a live performance from that year.

Thumbs Up!

I finally got my thumbcast taken off this morning. It's not completely healed yet, unfortunately. Another four weeks of being "very careful" with it. With three boys that's going to be easier said than done, but whew! At least I can shake hands with people again.

35 years ago today...

...this show debuted. Remember it? I totally do. I was 10.



Recognize the voices? Marlo Thomas & Mel Brooks.

Tuesday, March 10, 2009

We're #2!

This week's Father Knows Nothing is getting quite a bit of reaction via e-mail, Facebook, and on the site. It's a totally immature piece called "We're #2!"

Among the comments I've gotten so far...




Tina: Although I am a female, I must admit that I enjoy the occasional “male” potty humor myself. Having an older brother and father that constantly crack jokes, even today at 32 and 54, one must succumb to the saying of “if you can’t beat them, join them”!

Momkat: And let’s not forget the eternal wisdom of “He who denied it, supplied it.” But you didn’t hear it from me. And yes, I did say “but.”

ML: Oh boy, you and my former husband would have gotten along famously, Rick!!! Potty humor galore!

Bill: Good one Rick! I was laughing out loud. My whole life was the opposite. Four sisters no brothers. Two daughters no sons. It wasn't until I inherited a step son that additional testosterone entered the home. "Butt" ....that doesn't mean I didn't get your blog! (he-he)

Anita: Try disciplining your son, and in mid-yell or mid-lecture, he just stares at you and then puts his finger up his nose and pretends to dig around. Instead of yelling, you start laughing and it's all over. It's now impossible to maintain any semblance of parental power in the situation. He knows I'm an easy mark for a cheap laugh, therefore, bodily function noises and scratching himself is also used when Mom is trying to actually ACT like a parent. I don't know what I did in life to deserve so many moon shots. I thought once he was potty trained, I'd never have to see his butt ever again. I was wrong.

Feel free to add your comments at the Father Knows Nothing site. The more the merrier.

Monday, March 09, 2009

Why men look for any excuse to get out of the house

"B" tipped me off to this article. This guy has the same sensibilities as me. The article is called "Why men look for any excuse to get out of the house."

Joke for a Monday morning



This was contributed by "AH". A few one liners about my home town...





If your local Dairy Queen is closed from September through May, you live in Chicago

If someone in a Home Depot store offers you assistance and they don't work there, you live in Chicago

If you've worn shorts and a parka at the same time, you live in Chicago

If you've had a lengthy telephone conversation with someone who dialed a wrong number, you live in Chicago

If "Vacation" means going anywhere south of I - 80 for the weekend, you live in Chicago.

If you measure distance in hours, you live in Chicago .

If you have switched from "heat" to "A/C" in the same day and back again, you live in Chicago

If you can drive 75 mph through 2 feet of snow during a raging blizzard without flinching, you live in Chicago .

If you carry jumpers in your car and your wife knows how to use them, you live in Chicago

If you design your kid's Halloween costume to fit over a snowsuit, you live in Chicago

If the speed limit on the highway is 55 mph -- you're going 80 and everybody is passing you, you live in Chicago

If driving is better in the winter because the potholes are filled with snow, you live in Chicago

If you know all 4 seasons: almost winter, winter, still winter and road construction, you live in Chicago.

If you have more miles on your snow blower than your car, you live in Chicago

If you find 10 degrees "a little chilly", you live in Chicago

Bill Maher

He's often a little too abrasive for my tastes, but Bill Maher has a way of cutting through the bells and whistles to get at the truth.

Friday night he did a rave out on the role of government, which I thought was right on the money. If you'd like to watch it, it's here. Warning to the easily offended: There are a few objectionable words.

Rush speaks

Sunday, March 08, 2009

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest "Father Knows Nothing" column at the NWI Parent blog.

This one is totally immature and childish. Fellas will enjoy it. Gals will roll their eyes. It's called "We're #2!"

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

From "BK", regarding John Belushi

"Your sites are fantastic - I wondered who else remembered that Bulooch passed on 3.5.82 - You answered my question!

I remember going with my parents and bros and some of the neighbor adults to see the movie - I was 13 and we were all in the front rows. When they get into the "You promised you'd go see the Penguin the day you get out. No F-ing way", Pat and I held our laughs, looked at all the adults who were busting a gut - including Mom and Dad - and let it fly!"

Saturday, March 07, 2009

Chicago Radio Spotlight Update

This week I circled back to re-interview a half dozen people who have either been laid off, fired, moved to a new timeslot, or left town since I last interviewed them. Read what's up with Dan McNeil, Stan Lawrence, Leslie Keiling, Julian Nieh, Geoff Pinkus, and Kevin Robinson here.

Friday, March 06, 2009

Cubbie Blues


Many of you know that I contributed an essay to the recently published book "Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year." Well, the publisher's website has been doing profiles of the authors who contributed to the book, and this morning they posted my profile. It's written by the editor of the book, Don Evans.

You can read the whole profile here.



This is a small taste of it...
"Justonebadcentury.com is so packed with interesting content, I was surprised to learn it’s essentially a one-man show. Rick Kaempfer.

It was my fascination and admiration with the work of justonebadcentury.com that inspired me to contact Rick and see if he had any prose pieces that might fit Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Till Next Year. While there are other very good Chicago Cubs sites out there, including Bleed Cubbie Blue, the Heckler and Cubbie-Blue, justonebadcentury.com most matched the sensibility I brought to the anthology project.

Rick gave me a funny, personal essay called Go (Away) Sox. Originally a piece Rick wrote for his blog Half Empty, it’s the evil side of his co-blogger and good friend Dave. “We constantly fight all year-long about the Cubs and Sox,” Rick says. “I don’t have to watch the news; if anything bad happens, I will find out from Dave.”

The essay is notable for its keen comic timing. It’s a short, breezy piece that is perfectly executed, like a gymnast executing a stripped-down routine flawlessly. It hits on a longstanding civic debate, Cubs or Sox?, but does so in a fresh way."

They did an interview with me for the site too. You can read that interview here. It's all about my relationship with the Cubs.

I'll be making a couple of appearances to promote the book in April. I'll fill you in on those as we get closer to the date.

Thursday, March 05, 2009

Ken Sumka


News Radio WBBM's and WXRT's Ken Sumka is celebrating a birthday today. Last year I had a chance to interview Ken for Chicago Radio Spotlight. That interview is here if you'd like to read more about the birthday boy.

Wednesday, March 04, 2009

The Clock is still ticking

I don't know if you've seen our latest innovation at Just One Bad Century, but we've got a clock keeping track of exactly how long it's been since the Cubs last won the World Series. As of today, it's 36,666 days. If you want the precise hours, minutes and seconds, you can go to the website and check it out.

Tuesday, March 03, 2009

Father Knows Nothing

If you missed this past weekend's "Father Knows Nothing," here's the link. It was about my youngest boy Sean, and I called it "Just Tryin' to Keep 'em Alive."

Here are a few comments I've gotten about it...



"My three year old figured out how to light the lighter. I haven't slept since."
--PH

"Hope he reads that some day…..maybe when he is a dad….lucky boy"
--Jax

"The day my youngest went to first grade I cried. I felt like a total fool blubbering in the parking lot. I told him I got something in my eye."
--RS

Solving a mystery

I got the following e-mail and picture the other day...

"Rick, my name is Keith Iverson out in Rockford. I have a old Cub’s team photo ( 8”X10”) from I would guess the 1930’s - sometime. ?? I would like to confirm the year of this photo, and also see who each player might have been. Can you help me out, or direct me to a web site where such info might be available. Thanks for any help you can give."


This was my response to Keith after spending a little time with the picture. If you have any further info, let me know...

"Keith,

It's either the 1933 or 1934 Cubs. There are a few clues that helped me figure it out.


Clue #1--The big guy on the far left back row is Babe Phelps (also known as Blimp). He only played with the Cubs in 1933 and 1934. (He was the backup catcher). In 1933 he only had 7 at bats. He probably wouldn't have even been in the team picture in 1933, so my guess is 1934, but I can't be 100% sure.



Clue #2--The guy sitting on the far left in the second row from the bottom is Babe Herman. (photo) He also played on the Cubs only in 1933 and 1934.

Clue #3--Hack Wilson is not in the picture. Hack's last season with the Cubs was 1931. So it's after '31.

Clue #4--Charlie Grimm is sitting next to the guys in the suits (on the left of them), which means he was probably the manager. He became manager in 1932 and left in 1938.

Clue #5--Rogers Hornsby is not in the picture. He was the manager until mid-season in 1932.

Clue #6--The big guy in the last row (three in from the far right) is Pat Malone. (photo) His last year with the Cubs is 1934.

Clue #7--Phillip Wrigley is not in the picture. He inherited the team from his Dad in 1932, but didn't take over the day-to-day operations until 1935. I don't think his father is in the picture either, although the fattest guy in the suit does resemble him slightly. (Doubtful, however, because he died in January of 1932, and as I mentioned, Rogers Hornsby and Hack Wilson would have been in the 1931 Cubs picture, and Babe Herman and Babe Phelps were not on the team in 1932.)

The entire list of the 1934 roster is here, and the 1933 roster is here.

Hope this helps.

All the best,
Rick Kaempfer
Editor-in-Chief
www.justonebadcentury.com

Monday, March 02, 2009

Jokes for a Monday Morning


It's called "Six Affairs" and it was contributed by "TK"




The 1st Affair

A married man was having an affair with his secretary. One day they went to her place and made love all afternoon. Exhausted, they fell asleep and woke up at 8 PM. The man hurriedly dressed and told his lover to take his shoes outside and rub them in the grass and dirt. He put on his shoes and drove home.

'Where have you been?' his wife demanded.

'I can't lie to you,' he replied, 'I'm having an affair with my secretary. We had sex all afternoon.'

She looked down at his shoes and said:

'You lying bastard! You've been playing golf!'

The 2nd Affair


A middle-aged couple had two beautiful daughters but always talked about having a son. They decided to try one last time for the son they always wanted. The wife got pregnant and delivered a healthy baby boy. The joyful father rushed to the nursery to see his new son. He was horrified at the ugliest child he had ever seen.

He told his wife: 'There's no way I can be the father of this baby. Look at the two beautiful daughters I fathered! Have you been fooling around behind my back?'

The wife smiled sweetly and replied: 'No, not this time!'

The 3rd Affair

A mortician was working late one night. He examined the body of Mr. Schwartz, about to be cremated, and made a startling discovery. Schwartz had the largest private part he had ever seen! 'I'm sorry Mr. Schwartz,' the mortician commented, 'I can't allow you to be cremated with such an impressive private part. It must be saved for posterity.'

So, he removed it, stuffed it into his briefcase, and took it home.

'I have something to show you, you won't believe,' he said to his wife, opening his briefcase.

'My God!' the wife exclaimed, 'Schwartz is dead!'

The 4th Affair

A woman was in bed with her lover when she heard her husband opening the front door.

'Hurry,' she said, 'stand in the corner.'

She rubbed baby oil all over him, then dusted him with talcum powder.

'Don't move until I tell you,' she said. 'Pretend you're a statue.'

'What's this?' the husband inquired as he entered the room.

'Oh it's a statue,' she replied. 'The Smith's bought one and I liked it so I got one for us, too.'

No more was said, not even when they went to bed. Around 2 AM the husband got up, went to the kitchen and returned with a sandwich and a beer.

'Here,' he said to the statue, have this. I stood like that for two days at the Smith's, and nobody offered me a damned thing.'

The 5th Affair

A man walked into a cafe, went to the bar and ordered a beer.

'Certainly, Sir, that'll be one cent.'

'One Cent?' the man exclaimed.

He glanced at the menu and asked: 'How much for a nice juicy steak and a bottle of wine?'

'A nickel,' the barman replied.

'A nickel?' exclaimed the man. 'Where's the guy who owns this place?'

The bartender replied: 'Upstairs, with my wife.'

The man asked: 'What's he doing upstairs with your wife?'

The bartender replied: 'The same thing I'm doing to his business down here.'

The 6th Affair

Jake was dying. His wife sat at the bedside .

He looked up and said weakly: 'I have something I must confess.'

'There's no need to, 'his wife replied.

'No,' he insisted, 'I want to die in peace. I slept with your sister, your best friend, her best friend, and your mother!'

'I know,' she replied. 'Now just rest and let the poison work.'

Uh oh, here we go again...

From the website Gambling911...

"Chicago Cubs fans don't despair. Your team is a bigger favorite to win the 2009 World Series than are the reigning champion Philadelphia Phillies. The Cubs would pay $445 at Bookmaker.com for every $100 bet. The Phillies would pay $530 for every $100 bet. Once again it is the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox that come in as the annual early favorites along with the Cubs. Each pay just over $400 for every $100 bet."

Sunday, March 01, 2009

First Cubs World Series prediction

I saw it with my own eyes...Steve Phillips of ESPN (former GM of the NY Mets) just picked the Cubs to win the World Series this year (over the Yankees). That sort of prediction used to make my eyes light up.

This time I just laughed...

Remembering Paul Harvey

A few previous Chicago Radio Spotlight interviews have discussed the Chicago icon, Paul Harvey, who we lost this past weekend at the age of 90. I dipped back into the archives to highlight a few of those memories...



Jack Landreth was one of his producers in the early 90s...

Jack: Every day, I would get to the Harvey offices and listen to Paul’s 7:30 broadcast. When he was finished, he would always stop by my office, take half a step in, and in his booming delivery, exclaim “Good Morning, Jackson!”. I will never forget those days. It was THE Paul Harvey, but I always saw him as the news guy. If I put him on any other pedestal, I would never have gotten my job done! Mr. Harvey will always be a news guy no matter what, but first and foremost, he was a family guy. The love he had for his wife Angel, and the pride he had for Paul Jr. was so prevalent during the short time I worked for him. Mr. Harvey is a legend in real man’s clothes. I love him!

Rick: What was your role when you worked with him, and can you give us an insight into how he puts his newscast together?


Jack: I would go through every newspaper from every town in the country. Again, this was before internet, so all of the “For What it’s Worth” stories came from the small town print papers. Besides working on those stories, I would help out where I could from mail to phones. In Paul Harvey’s office, no one had titles, no one was better than anyone else. Most of the time, Paul changed the ribbons on the news wire machines, simply because he was the first one in.

He would get in early, 4am or so, and put on his blue smock. It was one of those smocks that doctors wear, complete with an ABC logo patch, and the name “Paul” stitched on the right pocket. All of the wire machines had spit out stories all night, and he would scour each and every fiber of those paper rolls. He would then go into his office with the stack of stories, and start typing his scripts, large type and double spaced. He would then take the daily stories, add his famous live reads (Page two!), stack the stories and include whatever we had for him. Then off to the studio where he did Paul Harvey News for the world to hear. After that newscast, it was off to Rest of the Story land, and whatever else needed to be done. When the morning was over, he would walk down to the garage and drive off in his Buick. Yes, he drove a Buick every day. And yes, it took his assistant June Westgaard years and years to convince him NOT to park on Lower Wacker!

A few years ago I asked Bob Sirott which air personalities he most admired, and he answered...

Bob: Paul Harvey continues to entertain me endlessly. Many of his stories are quite interesting, but the way he writes them, the way he delivers them, the way he slides in his own "take" on them--well, let me just say you better listen to him every day because when he stops broadcasting that will be the end of an era that will be gone forever.


I agree with Bob. The passing of Paul Harvey isn't just the end of a broadcasting idol, it's the end of an era. He will be missed.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest "Father Knows Nothing" column at NWI Parent. This latest one is about my early struggles as the stay-at-home dad. It's called: "Just trying to keep 'em alive."