Sturdy Stock

We had a foot of snow and an earthquake in Chicago, and still, school isn't canceled in my school district. That's pioneer stuff, right there.

Sturdy stock.

Johnny Evers

The Cubs fired one of their all-time greats, Johnny Evers, on this day in 1914. He had been their player/manager, and was replaced by Hank O'Day--a former umpire.

Evers, who had led the Cubs to four pennants as a player, didn't pout. He simply went to Boston and led the Braves to the championship.

Bill Veeck

He was born on this day in 1914. I know this drives White Sox fans crazy, but Bill Veeck grew up a Cubs fan, and died a Cubs fan.

Read about his Cubs love here.

Watch him at Wrigley Field here.

Eventful weekend

I took the family on our annual skiing vacation this past weekend. The boys are really starting to get into the sport, which has been fun to watch.

That enthusiasm may have taken a slight hit on Friday morning, however. My oldest boy Tommy (age 14) broke his leg. One ski dug into the ground, and the rest of his body kept going, including the other ski, which slammed into his leg just above the boot.

We're going to the orthopedic surgeon today to see whether or not he needs surgery.

I may not be posting quite so much the next day or two.

On the other hand, I do have a good Father Knows Nothing column on the way this weekend.

Father Knows Nothing

I posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This one is called "Mr. Mom, the Rewrite," and it's about why my kids don't understand that movie at all.

You can read it here.

Coleman Griffith

This educator/psychologist passed away on this week in 1966. He was a trailblazer in the subject of sports psychology at the University of Illinois (Urbana-Champaign), and that attracted the attention of P.K. Wrigley who hired him to work for the Cubs in the 1930s.

That didn't turn out so well.

His stint with the Cubs inspired this character in the film "The Natural."

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Vince Argento

I'm heading out of town today, so I posted this week's Chicago Radio Spotlight a few days early. This week I talk to my good buddy and pal, Vince Argento, who was recently named the production director at the Loop.

Read the whole interview here.

Ronald Reagan

This weekend is the 99th anniversary of Ronald Reagan's birth. Some remember him as an actor. Others remember him as a President.

I choose to remember him as a Cubs announcer and fan.

1910/1935

One hundred years ago this week, the Cubs are preparing for yet another NL Pennant winning season. Meanwhile, in London, King Edward VII is very ill. His son is being prepared to take over if and when his father passes away.
(Photos: Jack "The Giant Killer" Pfiester and King Edward VII)





Seventy five years ago this week, the Cubs are preparing for yet another NL Pennant winning season. Meanwhile in Rome, Italy is enamored with their charismatic new premier: Benito Mussolini.

Babe Ruth and Lemons

This coming weekend is the 115th anniversary of Babe Ruth's birth. Everyone remembers Babe Ruth's (alleged) called shot at Wrigley Field, but have you ever heard the part that lemons may have played in that story?

That's right, lemons.

Read all about it here.

Joke for a Wednesday morning

Contributed by "TH"




A man goes out golfing. He is on the second hole when he notices a frog sitting next to the green. He thinks nothing of it and is about to shoot when he hears: "Ribbit 9-Iron."

The man looks around and doesn't see anyone.

Again, he hears, "Ribbit 9 Iron."

He looks at the frog and decides to prove the frog wrong, puts the club away, and grabs a 9 iron.

Boom! He hits it 10 inches from the cup.

He is shocked. He says to the frog, "Wow that's amazing. You must be a lucky frog!"

The frog replies, "Ribbit Lucky frog."

The man decides to take the frog with him to the next hole.

"What do you think frog?" the man asks.

"Ribbit 3 wood."

The guy takes out a 3 wood and Boom! Hole in one.

The man is befuddled and doesn't know what to say. By the end of the day, the man golfed the best game of golf in his life and asks the frog, "OK where to next?"

The frog replies, "Ribbit Las Vegas."

They go to Las Vegas and the guy says, "OK frog, now what?"

The frog says, "Ribbit Roulette."

Upon approaching the roulette table, The man asks, "What do you think I should bet?"

The frog replies, "Ribbit $3000, black 6."

Now, this is a 38-to-one shot to win, but after the golf game the man figures what the heck.

Boom! Tons of cash comes sliding back across the table.

The man takes his winnings and buys the best room in the hotel.

He sits the frog down and says, "Frog, I don't know how to repay you. You've won me all this money and I am forever grateful."

The frog replies,"Ribbit Kiss Me."

He figures why not, since after all the frog did for him, he deserves it.

With a kiss, the frog turns into a gorgeous girl. "And that is how the girl ended up in my room, Elin. So help me God or my name is not Tiger Woods."

The Day the Music Died

I just realized today that this is my fifth year of writing my blog and every year I have paused to mention this date...February 3rd. On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper perished in a plane crash in Iowa. 51 years ago today.

Bob Hale was the MC of that last concert. I interviewed him for Chicago Radio Spotlight a few years ago.

Bob Dearborn, who was a friend and colleague of mine at WJMK, became famous at WCFL in Chicago in the early 70s for his analysis of the lyrics to "American Pie" by Don McLean, which was inspired by that plane crash. I have that link permanently listed on my "Links to Rick's picks" on this blog.

What can I say? I'm a Buddy Holly fan.

If I'm still writing this blog next year, I'll probably mention it again.

OK, enough rambling. How about some music? This is probably my favorite Buddy Holly song...

Norman Rockwell

The famous artist was born on this date in 1893.

In 1948, he immortalized the Cubs, and inadvertently chronicled the next two decades of misery perfectly, when the Saturday Evening Post came out with this Rockwell original on the cover.

Read all about it here.

Memory Lane

This video was made during my days at the Loop. It's a stroll down memory lane for me. You may enjoy it too...

Joke for a Tuesday morning

Contributed by "JF"...




How bad is the economy?

The economy is so bad that...

*I got a pre-declined credit card in the mail.

*I ordered a burger at McDonald's and the kid behind the counter asked, "Can you afford fries with that?"

*CEO's are now playing miniature golf.

*If the bank returns your check marked "Insufficient Funds," you call them and ask if they meant you or them.

*Hot Wheels and Matchbox stocks are trading higher than GM.

*McDonald's is selling the 1/4 ouncer.

*Parents in Beverly Hills fired their nannies and learned their children's names.

*A truckload of Americans was caught sneaking into Mexico.

*Dick Cheney took his stockbroker hunting.

*Motel Six won't leave the light on anymore.

*The Mafia is laying off judges.

*Exxon-Mobil laid off 25 Congressmen.

*Congress says they are looking into the Bernard Madoff scandal. Oh Great!! The guy who made $50 Billion disappear is being investigated by the people who made $1.5 Trillion disappear!

*And, finally.... I was so depressed last night thinking about the economy, wars, jobs, my savings, Social Security, retirement funds, etc., I called the Suicide Lifeline. I got a call center in Pakistan, and when I told them I was suicidal, they got all excited and asked if I could drive a truck.

Groundhogs Day

Good morning all you woodchuck chuckers, it's Ground Hogs Day...

37,000 days

That's how long it has been (as of today) since the Cubs last won the World Series. I think within another 20 or 30,000 more days they will make it happen.

Etch it in stone. That's my fearless prediction.

Sammy

The Cubs traded Sammy Sosa to the Baltimore Orioles exactly five years ago today. In return, they got a peppy little infielder that still wears Cubbie blue (Mike Fontenot), and another infielder/outfielder that just won a ring with the New York Yankees (Jerry Hairston Jr.)

Seems like they could have gotten more for their all-time greatest slugger, doesn't it? Well, in this case you may not remember how bad it got at the end of Sammy's reign. It got this bad.

Just like they recently did with Milton Bradley, instead of building Sammy up to potential trading partners by accentuating his positives, the Cubs were doing their best to damage his reputation beyond repair. (Not that either guy really needed a lot of help in that department...)

Seems like a "How-Not-To" guide to trading.

Deep Thoughts for a Monday morning

Contributed by "AH"




1. Is it good if a vacuum really sucks?

2. Why is the third hand on the watch called the second hand?

3. If a word is misspelled in the dictionary, how would we ever know?

4. If Webster wrote the first dictionary, where did he find the words?

5. Why do we say something is out of whack? What is whack?

6. Why does "slow down" and "slow up" mean the same thing?

7. Why does "fat chance" and "slim chance" mean the same thing?

8. Why do "tug" boats push their barges?

9. Why do we sing "Take me out to the ball game" when we are already there?

10. Why are they called " stands" when they are made for sitting?

11. Why is it called "after dark" when it really is "after light"?

12. Doesn't "expecting the unexpected" make the unexpected expected?

13. Why are a "wise man" and a "wise guy" opposites?

14. Why do "overlook" and "oversee" mean opposite things?

15. Why is "phonics" not spelled the way it sounds?

16. If work is so terrific, why do they have to pay you to do it?

17. If all the world is a stage, where is the audience sitting?

18. If love is blind, why is lingerie so popular?

19. If you are cross-eyed and have dyslexia, can you read all right?

20. Why is bra singular and panties plural?

21. Why do you press harder on the buttons of a remote control when you know the batteries are dead?

22. Why do we put suits in garment bags and garments in a suitcase?

23. How come abbreviated is such a long word?

24. Why do we wash bath towels? Aren't we clean when we use them?

25. Why doesn't glue stick to the inside of the bottle?

26. Why do they call it a TV set when you only have one?

27. Christmas - What other time of the year do you sit in front of a dead tree and eat candy out of your socks?

Ernie Banks

He was Jack Brickhouse's favorite Cub.

He was my favorite Cub.

He's probably your favorite Cub.

Hell, he's Mr. Cub, and he celebrated his 79th birthday over the weekend. Can you believe it?

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This one is called "Hot Buttons."

You can read it here.

Chicago Radio Spotlight

I just posted a new Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. This week I spoke with Fresh-FM morning man Steve Fisher.

You can read the entire interview here.

Zambrano & Carrey

According to the Chicago Tribune, Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano said he would like to work with Jim Carrey someday. I contributed to this piece in the Beachwood Reporter speculating on what that might look like.

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

It's always nice to get feedback about my books. This came into my e-mail box this morning.






Good morning Mr Kaempfer,

Just a quick email to introduce myself...I work for a music producer from Australia..He has a 2 hrs weekly show (pre-recorded) and it is syndicated in 20 countries worldwide so far.

My job is helping the producer and organising the content of the show. As I am very young (24) and new to this job (we are a team of 3 people and we just started in October), everything is a discovery.

I wanted to tell you that I've purchased your book 'The Radio Producers Handbook' and I am finding it brilliant, very inspiring and full of material. So I wanted to thank you for that!

I will email you again once I finish the book.

Best regards,
-AF

Oprah's poop

Oprah and Alicia Silverstone talk about their poop.

I kid you not.

(Video at the link...of the discussion, not the poop)

We are the World

25 years ago today...

Poems for a Thursday morning

Contributed by "BP"...



A WOMAN'S POEM:

Before I lay me down to sleep,
I pray for a man who's not a creep,
One who's handsome, smart and strong.
One who loves to listen long,
One who thinks before he speaks,
One who'll call, not wait for weeks.
I pray he's rich and self-employed,
And when I spend, won't be annoyed.
Pull out my chair and hold my hand.
Massage my feet and help me stand.
Oh send a king to make me queen.
A man who loves to cook and clean.
I pray this man will love no other..
And relish visits with my mother.

A MAN'S POEM:

I pray for a deaf-mute gymnast nymphomaniac with
big t*** who owns a bar on a golf course,
and loves to send me fishing and drinking.
This doesn't rhyme and I don't give a s***

Order those World Series tickets now

Xavier Nady

Chad Tracey

and

Chan Ho Park? (that's the rumor...not a done deal yet)

Well, you have to give Jim Hendry credit. He did say that the Cubs weren't going to make a big free agent splash this year. He has been true to his word.

Chuck Swirsky

He is now the radio voice of the Chicago Bulls, but back in the dark, dark days of the early 1980s, Chuck Swirsky had a little run-in with the Chicago Cubs.

Read all about that here.

The Swirsk turns 56 this weekend.

Off the Couch

The latest issue of NWI Parent just arrived in the mail. As always, I wrote the back page "Family Room" essay for the issue.

This one is called "Off the Couch," and it's about the impersonation of me that led our entire family to have a healthier summer.

You can read it here.

Andre's an Expo

I find it difficult to quibble with the reasoning behind the announcement that Andre Dawson will enter the Hall of Fame as an Expo.

We loved him in Chicago too, but let's face it, he played in Montreal for ten years and those really were his best years (despite the MVP with the Cubs.)

The full story is here.

It's cold, but it's not this cold...

Antarctica is a whole different ballgame...

The Throw In

On this date in 1982 the Cubs made one of the best trades in their history. They swapped shortstops...Ivan DeJesus of the Cubs went to Philadelphia in exchange for Phillies starting shortstop Larry Bowa.

Oh, and the Phillies threw in a minor league second baseman too. (Photo)

He became a Hall of Famer.

Paul Newman

He would have been 84 years old today. This is from 1959...

Ernie's advice for Sammy

Ernie Banks to Sammy: Time to come clean.

The story is here.

Ernie thinks Cubs fans will forgive Sammy if he fesses up. I think Ernie is right. Many will probably forgive him. Cardinals fans have already forgiven McGwire. He just got a standing ovation at the Cardinals convention.

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

This came in from "RP", and it made me feel better. He also has three sons (and they are grown up now). He was responding to this week's Father Knows Nothing column about my son Tommy's current dislike of his dear old dad. He writes...

"Yes, it hurts. And you have yet two more.

Hold on to one thing you wrote: 'He still calls this the best week of his life.'

Still. Even now. As he tries to push you away with both hands.

He will come back to you as a man. I promise."

Thanks, RP. That does make me feel better. I hope you're right.

Jack Brickhouse

Former Chicago Cubs announcer Jack Brickhouse was born this week in 1916. Good old Jack was the Cubs announcer during their darkest days, including the 20-year streak of finishing in the second division (1946-1966). He retired after the 1981 season.

Needless to say, his favorite Cubs player was Ernie Banks. He explains why in this video.

Very Mary Kate

Very Mary-Kate, Episode 1 from Mary-Kate Olsen on Vimeo.

The value of a Catholic Education and a #2 pencil

Contributed by "MR" (a Catholic) and posted by me (another Catholic)...



Little Susie was not the best student in Catholic School. Usually she slept through the class.

One day her teacher, a Nun, called on her while she was sleeping.

'Tell me Susie, who created the universe?'

When Susie didn't stir, little Johnny who was her friend sitting behind her, took his pencil and jabbed her in the rear.

'God Almighty!' shouted Susie.

The Nun said, 'Very good' and continued teaching her class.

A little later the Nun asked Susie, 'Who is our Lord and Savior?'

But Susie didn't stir from her slumber. Once again, Johnny came to her rescue and stuck her in the butt.

'Jesus Christ!!!' shouted Susie.

And the Nun once again said, 'Very good,' and Susie fell back asleep

The Nun asked her a third question...'What did Eve say to Adam after she had her twenty-third child?'

Again, Johnny came to the rescue. This time Susie jumped up and shouted, 'If you stick that damn thing in me one more time, I'll break it in half!'

The nun fainted.

40 years ago today...

...this movie was released. Needless to say, it was a little raunchier than the TV series, as this trailer makes clear...

Phil Collins

25 years ago this week Phil Collins released his huge hit album "No Jacket Required."

Did you know the title of that album was based on something that happened to him in Chicago? That story is here.

It's a little easier to understand than this song from that album. I still don't understand what it's about 25 years later.

Wish Fulfillment

What if Wile Coyote actually caught the roadrunner. What would happen to him?

(Warning: Not suitable for workplace, there are a few swears.)


Road Runner Funny Clip - The most amazing home videos are here

Hymie Weiss

This ugly mug was born on this day in 1898. He was shot to death just 28 years later, right in front of the Holy Name Cathedral.

Read all about this notorious North Side Chicago gangster here.

He may not be our proudest member of the fraternity, but Hymie Weiss was a Cubs fan.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. It's called "The Father-Son Roller Coaster" and it's about the arc of the father-son relationship.

You can read it here.

Chicago Radio Spotlight

I just posted my latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. This week I interviewed Todd Ronczkowski, the program director of WVON.

We talked about what it's like for a white guy to program a black station, and we also looked back at his days as the producer for the Roe & Garry show.

Check it out here.

Mike Krukow

Former Cubs pitcher Mike Krukow is celebrating his 58th birthday this week.

Krukow pitched for the Cubs from 1976-1981, and during those years he was a well known prankster.

Cubs fan Jerry Pritikin (The Bleacher Preacher) told Just One Bad Century all about one of the pranks that Mike Krukow liked to pull. Watch the video here.

Bohemian Rhapsody

This is incredible...

Beer People vs. Wine People

My latest article just came out in Shore Magazine.

It's called "Beer People vs. Wine People."

Thanks to all the readers of this blog that helped me write this piece!

Lew Fonseca

Lew Fonseca was a big-league player that played for, among other teams, the Cincinnati Reds and the Chicago White Sox between 1921-1933. Fonseca was born on this day in 1899.

He never played for the Cubs, but he did become one of their very first radio announcers.

He is part of this audio montage of early Cubs announcers.

Leno addresses his PR nightmare

Jay Leno is upset about the way he's being portrayed in the media, and it's true, he is getting killed from a PR standpoint. He had taken a few veiled shots at the powers that be, but he hadn't addressed it directly until last night. You probably missed this too, so I'm posting it here if you're interested.

This is Jay's explanation of everything that has happened...

YouTube's biggest star

I wouldn't know this if I hadn't searched for video from 1945 for my This Week in 1945 feature at Just One Bad Century.

YouTube's biggest star is Adolf Hitler.

There are literally thousands and thousands of different videos featuring Hitler, mocking Hitler, using Hitler as a comic foil, and yes, even Lego Hitler. Have you seen them?

You've probably seen a number of different versions of that subtitled scene from the Hitler movie, where Hitler is in the bunker and gets the news that the end is at hand. But have you seen Hitler singing?

For my money, these are the most inspired. This morning I was looking for a clip of the Jefferson's theme song because the show premiered exactly 35 years ago today. Guess who I found singing that song?

Yup. Here it is. This is pretty darn funny.

Hopefully I haven't been put on some sort of a government watch list for posting this (not to mention watching a hundred or so others).

1910, 1935

One hundred years ago this week, the Cubs are preparing for yet another NL Pennant winning season. Meanwhile, in Los Angeles, the world's first Aviation Meet is held.


Seventy five years ago this week, the Cubs are preparing for yet another NL Pennant winning season. Meanwhile, the FBI corners and kills the Barker Gang, including Ma Barker and her son Freddie.

All you need is love

This is pretty cool...

Tom Clay

I post this every year on Martin Luther King day because I believe there's nothing more appropriate. The man who put this together is Tom Clay. Clay was a Detroit disc jockey who captured a terrible time in history almost as perfectly as possible...

The First Lady

Michelle Obama celebrated her birthday over the weekend. The First Lady of our country is (gulp) 46. Yes, that's right, she's my age.

While the First Lady may not be a Cubs fan, the Cubs have always been very good to the Ladies. In fact, they invented something called "Ladies Day."

Read all about that tradition here.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This is one is about my middle boy Johnny, and it's called "Definitely not a Vulcan."

You can read it here.